bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oral Health–Related Quality of Life in Children in Chile Treated for Cleft Lip and Palate: A Case-Control Approach
Authors: Aravena Pedro C. , Gonzalez Tania , Oyarzún Tamara , Coronado César
Published: July 2015

Objective

To compare the oral health–related quality of life of patients treated for cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) versus unaffected children between 8 and 15 years of age using a Spanish-language version of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP-Sp) administered to a Chilean population.

Design

A cross-sectional study with a matched case-control design was used.

Methods

Participants were 48 children (mean age 11.3 years) with a history of CL/P from three cities in Chile and one group of 96 children (mean age 11.2 years) unaffected by CL/P. The COHIP-Sp was applied to both groups. Quality of life was compared according to the overall score and the average score of items and domains on the COHIP-Sp scale between the two groups (Mann-Whitney U test; P < .05).

Results

The COHIP-Sp score was 94.1 ± 19.3 in children with CL/P and 97.1 ± 15.6 for the control group ( P = .31). A significantly lower score was observed in the group with CL/P in the domains “functional well-being” ( P = .001) and “school environment” ( P = .001); the only average in favor of the quality of life in children with CL/P was in “self-image” ( P = .0002).

Conclusion

The oral health–related quality of life of children with a history of CL/P was similar to that of the control group. Nevertheless, a lower quality of life was observed concerning items associated with speech and being understood by other people. Further study into the risk factors associated with surgery and rehabilitative treatment is recommended.
A study on mechanical properties of cement paste using magnetite-silica nano-composites
Authors: Bolhassani Mohammad , Sayyahmanesh Maryam
Published: July 2015

Micro- and nano-siliceous particles have been employed as one of major components of Portland cement composites because of their filling effect and pozzolanic reaction. Enhancing the mechanical properties of Portland cement composites using nano-particles without workability reduction and dispersion difficulties is one of the challenges in the cement field of research. In order to overcome disadvantages of nano-particles in cement, a new method was investigated in this study. Magnetite-silica core-shell nano-composites (MS), which have been widely used in biological fields, were employed here as fillers and reinforcements in cement pastes. These nano-composite particles consist of nano-magnetite (NM) cluster and nano-amorphous silica shell. Different types of analysis such as X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer were conducted on these particles to investigate their properties. MS particles were synthesised by coating nano-magnetite particles with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a source of silica. MS particles were used as an additive material in cement paste mixes with cement replacement ratios of 0·05, 0·1 and 0·2%. Additional samples were also made with the same cement replacement ratio of NM and nano-silica (NS). Experimental results indicated that the compressive strength of cement paste can be increased up to 14%. This is mainly attributable to the pozzolanic effect of silica shell in combination with the filler and nuclei effect of these particles. It was also found that the MS does not change the workability of mixes considerably. Additionally, the microstructure of cement pastes was characterised using scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the effect of NM, NS and MS particles on the microstructure of cement pastes.
The effects of temperature and wet-dry cycling on water-repellent soils
Authors: Jordan Christopher S. , Daniels John L. , Langley William
Published: July 2015

The synthetic modification of soils through the addition of organosilanes to create a water-repellent barrier is a developing area of geoenvironmental engineering research. Organosilane modification of soils can be used for different geotechnical aspects such as landfill covers to prevent infiltration of water into the subsurface waste layers and reduce leachate generation. Research was conducted to evaluate temperature effects on artificially induced water repellency of two different soils and an industrial by-product (coal fly ash). The stability of the water repellency was investigated through exposure of treated samples to wet/dry cycles. To determine the water entry pressure that a modified soil can sustain, soil samples were prepared in a permeameter and connected to a standpipe where water was introduced at a controlled rate. These trials were repeated for different temperatures of the water-soil setup. The stability portion of the tests involved cyclically saturating then drying samples while periodically measuring the effect on water entry pressure. Rainfall runoff depth estimates were combined with the temperature-dependent water entry pressure data for evaluating runoff due to water repellency.
Analyzing the value of the residue of crops grown on arable land with stochastic optimization
Authors: Zlatniczki Ádám
Published: July 2015

Determining the value of the residues of crops grown on arable land is a non-trivial task, depending much on how it is defined. In this paper the value of residues is considered to be the savings achieved on the total expense of artificial fertilizer distribution by returning the residues into the soil. A general linear programming approach is presented to obtain optimal artificial fertilizer allocation. Since the amount of artificial fertilizers required depends on uncertain inputs Monte Carlo simulation is applied in conjunction with linear programming to solve the arising stochastic optimization problem. The input data, such as the national average yield, specific amounts of nutrients required by crops to achieve the national average yield and publicly available details of different artificial fertilizer products are specific to Hungary, but the mathematical model presented is general in nature. Simulations are executed for some of the major crops, including wheat, corn, sunflower and rape. The distribution of savings achieved on returning their residues to the soil is provided at the end of the paper for further use.
Qualidade pós-colheita de frutas e hortaliças cultivadas de forma orgânica
Authors: Pereira Emmanuel Moreira , Santos Yvana Maria Gomes dos , Leite Filho Manoel Tolentino , Fragoso Sinara Pereira , Pereira Bárbara Bruna Maniçoba
Published: July 2015

As frutas e hortaliças movimentam uma grande parte da economia regional e nacional, a produção orgânica vem ganhando cada vez mais destaque, pela qualidade, isenta de contaminantes químicos advindos de agroquímicos. Objetivou-se nesse trabalho determinar a qualidade pós-colheita das hortaliças tipo folha (alface, couve folha e rúcula) e fruto (pimentacumari) assim como as frutas cítricas (toranja e tangerina) em diferentes estádios de maturação, produzidas de forma orgânica no brejo paraibano. O experimento foi conduzido no Laboratório de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Produtos Frutohortícolas pertencente ao Centro de Ciências Humanas Sociais e Agrárias– Bananeiras/PB, pertencente à Universidade Federal da Paraíba. As características analisadas foram: Sólidos solúveis (SS), Acidez titulavel (AT), pH, Vitamina C e Condutividade elétrica (CE). Para as frutas (laranja e toranja) e hortaliça tipo fruto (pimenta), avaliou-se em diferentes estádios de maturação, em função da coloração da casca. A alface, couve e a rúcula apresentam bons teores de sólidos solúveis totais e vitamina C. Para a pimenta Cumari todos os parâmetros com exceção do pH sofreram aumentos consideráveis a medida que avança a maturação. Para tangerina e cravo necessita-se de mais estudos. A toranja apresentou bons teores de vitamina C.
Visualization and Analysis of Surfactant Imbibition Into Oil-Wet Fractured Cores
Authors: Mirzaei Mohammad , DiCarlo David A. , Pope Gary A.
Published: July 2015

Imbibition of surfactant solution into the oil-wet matrix in fractured reservoirs is a complicated process that involves gravity, capillary, viscous, and diffusive forces. The standard experiment for testing imbibition of surfactant solution involves an imbibition cell, in which the core is placed in the surfactant solution and the recovery is measured vs. time. Although these experiments prove the effectiveness of surfactants, little insight into the physics of the problem is achieved.

In this study, we performed water and surfactant flooding into oil-wet fractured cores and monitored the imbibition of the surfactant solution by use of computed-tomography (CT) scanning. From the CT images, the surfactant-imbibition dynamics as a function of height along the core was obtained. Although the waterflood only displaced oil from the fracture, the surfactant solution imbibed into the matrix; the imbibition is frontal, with the greatest imbibition rate at the bottom of the core, and the imbibition decreases roughly linearly with height. Experiments with cores of different sizes showed that increase in either the height or the diameter of the core causes decrease in imbibition and fractional oil-recovery rate. We also perform numerical simulations to model the observed imbibition.

On the basis of the experimental measurements and numerical-simulation results, we propose a new scaling group that includes both the diameter and the height of the core. We show that the new scaling groups scale the recovery curves better than the traditional scaling group.
Tests on Seismic Behavior of Pre-cast Shear Walls with Vertical Reinforcements Spliced by Two Different Grout Ways
Authors: Yajun Lv , Naiyan Guan
Published: July 2015

To evaluate the seismic performance of pre-cast concrete shear wall with vertical reinforcements spliced by two
different grout ways, quasi-static tests of two concrete shear walls holed by prefabricated corrugated pipe and one
concrete shear wall holed by drawing out the pipe were tested. The test results showed that the wall holed by prefabricated
corrugated pipe was basically the same as the wall holed by drawing out the pipe in failure modes. The hysteretic curves
of the specimens are full, the trend of the skeleton curve is basically the same and the capacity of the energy dissipation is
close. The displacement ductility factors are more than 4. For the two walls holed by prefabricated corrugated pipe, when
the lap length is reduced, the seismic performance decline as well, but the wall still meets the current seismic code
requirements.
The Analysis of the Seepage Characteristics of Tailing Dams Based on FLAC3D Numerical Simulation
Authors: Yuan Li , Lei Jia
Published: July 2015

In this paper, the Guangxi’s red mud disposal field is taken as the study area. Appropriate calculating parameters and boundary conditions were selected based on the survey data to build a Mohr-Coul0mb and fluid model under the plane-strain condition. FLAC software was adopted to simulate the distribution of pore water pressure, filtrate seepage paths, and leakage of the dam body under conditions with no anti-seepage design, with partial anti-seepage design and with full anti-seepage design respectively, which provided a technical base for the anti-seepage design of this tailing reservoir. The results showed that this software could better simulate the leakage of red mud tailing dams. The reservoir area displayed obvious leakage characteristics, so full anti-seepage measures and appropriate seepage-proofing materials should be employed to deal with the dam body and the reservoir area to prevent environmental pollution and guarantee the stability of the tailing dams. The method not also can provide the technical reference for the evaluation of anti-seepage works, but also gives important guidance for the anti-seepage works.
The Design of Oil Well Production Engineering Analysis System
Authors: Zhao Panpan , Wang Xiufang , Liu Ying , Wu Mengmeng , Yue Wufeng
Published: July 2015

With the rapid development of oilfield information construction, the requirements for the analysis of oil well
production are also getting higher. The traditional method, which is by experience, cannot meet the demand of oilfield information
construction for the analysis accuracy. Based on some common problems in the analysis of oil production, this
paper designs and implements the oil well production engineering analysis system based on NET. The design of the system
mainly includes two parts. One part is the calculation of temperature and pressure field of the wellbore and the other
part is the drawing of system efficiency control chart. This system can provide the distribution results of temperature and
pressure of the wellbore during the production process, and according to the system efficiency control chart, we can accurately
determine the production situation of oil well. This system has the advantages of simple operation, accurate calculation,
clear analytical results, and comprehensive analysis.
Modeling Study on Dynamic Spectrum Sharing System Under Interference Temperature Constraints in Underground Coal Mines
Authors: Guizhen Chen , Enjie Ding , Gang Wang , Xue Xue
Published: July 2015

This paper proposes a dynamic spectrum access system for underground wireless communication——a
dynamic spectrum sharing system under interference temperature constrains. It can make the best of spectrum resources
and improve the utilization efficiency. Then, a multi-dimensional Markov chain is used to model the system. On the basis,
the secondary users’ performance under interference temperature constrains is obtained. As two important performance
indexes to measure secondary users’ performance, cognitive users’ interrupting probability and blocking probability are
calculated. Finally, cognitive users’ performance under different users’ access is analyzed, and the performances in
dynamic spectrum access system and overlay access system are compared. Simulation results indicate that the dynamic
spectrum sharing access system under interference temperature constrains is superior to the overlay access system and
helpful to improve the spectrum sharing system in coal mines.
Alcohol consumption among students - a cross-sectional study at three largest universities in Serbia
Authors: Visnjic Aleksandar , Jovic Sladjana , Grbesa Grozdanko
Published: July 2015

Introduction. The prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use among university
students is increasing in many countries. Objective. The aim of the study was
to investigate alcohol consumption and alcohol-related knowledge, attitudes
and risky behaviors among Serbian university students. Methods. The
cross-sectional study was carried out at the three state universities from
January to June in the academic year 2009/2010 and included 2,285 students of
both genders. The students filled out a questionnaire consisting of 70
questions with respect to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics,
their lifestyle habits, styles and attitudes, health assessment, as well as
exposure to different risk factors. Results. It was found that 77.7% of
students drank alcohol occasionally, 4.6% of them consumed it on a daily
basis. Friedman?s test (p<0.001) showed that students prefer drinking beer to
all other alcoholic beverages. Students in Belgrade and students of Technical
faculties are undisputed champions when it comes to how often they drink six
or more drinks on a single occasion. Older students in Serbia drink more and
get drunk more frequently. Conclusion. A high percentage of Serbian students
consume alcohol, and even though they have their first drink at an early age,
they generally drink less than students in many other countries.
A case of autoimmune cholangitis misdiagnosed for cholangiocarcinoma: How to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention?
Authors: Ignjatovic Igor , Matic Slavko , Dugalic Vladimir , Knezevic Djordje , Micev Marjan , Bogdanovic Marko , Knezevic Srbislav
Published: July 2015

Introduction. Autoimmune cholangitis or immunoglobulin G4-associated
cholangitis (IAC) has been recently regarded as a new clinical and
histopathological entity and is a part of a complex autoimmune disorder -
IgG4-related systemic disease (ISD). ISD is an autoimmune disease with
multi-organic involvement, characterized with IgG4-positive plasmocytic
infiltration of various tissues and organs with a consequent sclerosis, which
responds well to steroid therapy. Most commonly affected organs are the
pancreas (autoimmune pancreatitis, [AIP]) and the common bile duct (IAC). IAC
and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) share many clinical, laboratory and imaging
findings. Case Outline. We present a case of a 60-year-old male with a
biliary stricture of a common bile duct, which was clinically considered as a
bile duct carcinoma and treated surgically. Definite histopathological
findings and immunohistochemistry revealed profound chronic inflammation,
showing lymphoplasmacytic IgG-positive infiltration of a resected part of a
common bile duct, highly suggestive for the diagnosis of IAC. In addition,
postoperative IgG4 serum levels were also increased. Conclusion. It is of
primary clinical importance to make a difference between IAC and CCA, in
order to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Therefore, IAC should be
considered in differential diagnosis in similar cases.
Changes needed in the classification of anxiety disorders in childhood: Options for ICD-11
Authors: Stankovic Miodrag , Grbesa Grozdanko , Kostic Jelena , Stankovic Sandra , Stevanovic Jelena
Published: July 2015

Considering the intensive preparation of the 11th revision of the
International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), we discussed the
justification of the existing classification of emotional disorders with
onset specific to childhood. This paper presents the citations from the
ICD-10 (F93 block) and the authors? comments as a critical review of the
justification of further existence of emotional disorders with onset specific
to childhood as a separate block in ICD-11 classification. We concluded that
the block F93 is insufficiently defined and should be completely changed or
removed from the ICD-11 classification. Additionally, the specificities of
the clinical picture of anxiety disorders in children should be adequately
described within the future category of anxiety and phobic disorders by
giving an explicit set of instructions for identifying clinical
manifestations which vary by age.
Immunoassay analysis of proteins in gingival crevicular fluid samples from resorbing teeth
Authors: Rody Wellington J. , Wijegunasinghe Manjula , Holliday L. Shannon , McHugh Kevin P. , Wallet Shannon M.
Published: July 2015

Objective: 

To carry out an immunoassay analysis of biomarkers expressed in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) with the main goal of finding a useful diagnostic pattern to distinguish between resorbing deciduous teeth and nonresorbing controls.

Materials and Methods: 

A split-mouth design was used in this study with a total of 22 GCF samples collected from 11 patients in the mixed dentition. For each child, one deciduous molar with radiographic evidence of root resorption was used as the test tooth whereas the contralateral first permanent molar with formed roots was used as the control tooth. Samples were processed with immunoassays using a panel of selected biomarkers including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and dentin sialoprotein (DSP).

Results: 

There were no statistically significant differences in levels of IL-1b, OPG, and MMP-9 between test and control sites (P > .05). IL-1RA was the only biomarker to show a significant down-regulation (P  =  .04) in GCF samples collected from resorbing teeth. RANKL data showed a heavily skewed distribution and was deemed unreliable. Only one deciduous GCF sample had detectable levels of DSP; therefore, no further statistical calculation was applicable because of the limited amount of data for this biomarker.

Conclusions: 

This study indicated that IL1-RA is down-regulated in GCF from resorbing primary molars, thus suggesting this cytokine as a potential analyte to be included in a panel that can discriminate between resorbing and nonresorbing teeth.
Alterations of a Cellular Cholesterol Metabolism Network Are a Molecular Feature of Obesity-Related Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Ding Jingzhong , Reynolds Lindsay M. , Zeller Tanja , Müller Christian , Lohman Kurt , Nicklas Barbara J. , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Huang Zhiqing , de la Fuente Alberto , Soranzo Nicola , Settlage Robert E. , Chuang Chia-Chi , Howard Timothy , Xu Ning , Goodarzi Mark O. , Chen Y.-D. Ida , Rotter Jerome I. , Siscovick David S. , Parks John S. , Murphy Susan , Jacobs David R. , Post Wendy , Tracy Russell P. , Wild Philipp S. , Blankenberg Stefan , Hoeschele Ina , Herrington David , McCall Charles E. , Liu Yongmei
Published: July 2015

Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to identify obesity-associated molecular features that may contribute to obesity-related diseases. Using circulating monocytes from 1,264 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants, we quantified the transcriptome and epigenome. We discovered that alterations in a network of coexpressed cholesterol metabolism genes are a signature feature of obesity and inflammatory stress. This network included 11 BMI-associated genes related to sterol uptake (↑LDLR, ↓MYLIP), synthesis (↑SCD, FADS1, HMGCS1, FDFT1, SQLE, CYP51A1, SC4MOL), and efflux (↓ABCA1, ABCG1), producing a molecular profile expected to increase intracellular cholesterol. Importantly, these alterations were associated with T2D and coronary artery calcium (CAC), independent from cardiometabolic factors, including serum lipid profiles. This network mediated the associations between obesity and T2D/CAC. Several genes in the network harbored C-phosphorus-G dinucleotides (e.g., ABCG1/cg06500161), which overlapped Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE)-annotated regulatory regions and had methylation profiles that mediated the associations between BMI/inflammation and expression of their cognate genes. Taken together with several lines of previous experimental evidence, these data suggest that alterations of the cholesterol metabolism gene network represent a molecular link between obesity/inflammation and T2D/CAC.
Inhaled Formoterol Diminishes Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Belfort-DeAguiar Renata D. , Naik Sarita , Hwang Janice , Szepietowska Barbara , Sherwin Robert S.
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVE

Hypoglycemia is one of the major factors limiting implementation of tight glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality during intensive insulin treatment. β-2 Adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists have been reported to diminish nocturnal hypoglycemia; however, whether long-acting inhaled β-2 AR agonists could potentially be used to treat or prevent hypoglycemia has not been established.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Seven patients with type 1 diabetes and seven healthy control subjects received inhaled formoterol (48 μg), a highly specific β-2 AR agonist, or a placebo during a hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic clamp study to evaluate its capacity to antagonize the effect of insulin. In a second set of studies, five subjects with type 1 diabetes received inhaled formoterol to assess its effect as a preventive therapy for insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

During a hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic clamp, compared with placebo, inhaled formoterol decreased the glucose infusion rate required to maintain plasma glucose at a target level by 45–50% (P < 0.05). There was no significant effect on glucagon, epinephrine, cortisol, or growth hormone release (P = NS). Furthermore, in volunteers with type 1 diabetes 1 h after increasing basal insulin delivery twofold, glucose levels dropped to 58 ± 5 mg/dL, whereas hypoglycemia was prevented by inhaled formoterol (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Inhalation of the β-2 AR–specific agonist formoterol may be useful in the prevention or treatment of acute hypoglycemia and thus may help patients with type 1 diabetes achieve optimal glucose control more safely.
Clinically Relevant Cognitive Impairment in Middle-Aged Adults With Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Nunley Karen A. , Rosano Caterina , Ryan Christopher M. , Jennings J. Richard , Aizenstein Howard J. , Zgibor Janice C. , Costacou Tina , Boudreau Robert M. , Miller Rachel , Orchard Trevor J. , Saxton Judith A.
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and correlates of clinically relevant cognitive impairment in middle-aged adults with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

During 2010–2013, 97 adults diagnosed with T1D and aged <18 years (age and duration 49 ± 7 and 41 ± 6 years, respectively; 51% female) and 138 similarly aged adults without T1D (age 49 ± 7 years; 55% female) completed extensive neuropsychological testing. Biomedical data on participants with T1D were collected periodically since 1986–1988. Cognitive impairment status was based on the number of test scores ≥1.5 SD worse than demographically appropriate published norms: none, mild (only one test), or clinically relevant (two or more tests).

RESULTS

The prevalence of clinically relevant cognitive impairment was five times higher among participants with than without T1D (28% vs. 5%; P < 0.0001), independent of education, age, or blood pressure. Effect sizes were large (Cohen d 0.6–0.9; P < 0.0001) for psychomotor speed and visuoconstruction tasks and were modest (d 0.3–0.6; P < 0.05) for measures of executive function. Among participants with T1D, prevalent cognitive impairment was related to 14-year average A1c >7.5% (58 mmol/mol) (odds ratio [OR] 3.0; P = 0.009), proliferative retinopathy (OR 2.8; P = 0.01), and distal symmetric polyneuropathy (OR 2.6; P = 0.03) measured 5 years earlier; higher BMI (OR 1.1; P = 0.03); and ankle-brachial index ≥1.3 (OR 4.2; P = 0.01) measured 20 years earlier, independent of education.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically relevant cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among these middle-aged adults with childhood-onset T1D. In this aging cohort, chronic hyperglycemia and prevalent microvascular disease were associated with cognitive impairment, relationships shown previously in younger populations with T1D. Two additional potentially modifiable risk factors for T1D-related cognitive impairment, vascular health and BMI, deserve further study.
The Role of Markers of Low-Grade Inflammation for the Early Time Course of Glycemic Control, Glucose Disappearance Rate, and β-Cell Function in Recently Diagnosed Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Weber Katharina S. , Nowotny Bettina , Strassburger Klaus , Pacini Giovanni , Müssig Karsten , Szendroedi Julia , Herder Christian , Roden Michael ,   for the GDS Group
Published: July 2015

OBJECTIVE

Inflammatory processes are involved in the progression of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction in individuals with prediabetes and contribute to the development of diabetes. We hypothesized that higher levels of biomarkers of low-grade inflammation are associated with the early progression of recently diagnosed diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Within the prospective German Diabetes Study, patients with recently diagnosed type 1 (n = 42) and type 2 (n = 94) diabetes underwent detailed metabolic characterization within the first year after diagnosis and 2 years thereafter. Associations between changes in markers of low-grade inflammation with changes in glycemic control, β-cell function, and glucose disappearance rate were assessed using multivariable linear regression analysis. Associations were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, and 2-year changes in BMI, smoking status, and glucose-lowering medication.

RESULTS

Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes exhibited good glucometabolic control at baseline (mean HbA1c 7.08 ± 1.58% [54 ± 17 mmol/mol] and 6.43 ± 0.98% [47 ± 11 mmol/mol], respectively) and 2 years thereafter (mean HbA1c 7.03 ± 1.20% [53 ± 13 mmol/mol] and 6.62 ± 1.14% [49 ± 13], respectively). Two-year increases of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in type 2 diabetes and of IL-18 in type 1 diabetes were associated with 2-year increases of HbA1c. Additionally, 2-year increases of sE-selectin were associated with 2-year decreases of prehepatic β-cell function in type 2 diabetes (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that with the clinical onset of diabetes, low-grade inflammation relates to worsening of glycemia and that endothelial activation may contribute to decreasing β-cell function.
Livestock depredations and attitudes of local pastoralists toward carnivores in the Qinghai Lake Region, China
Authors: Li Chunlin , Jiang Zhigang , Li Chunwang , Tang Songhua , Li Feng , Luo Zhenhua , Ping Xiaoge , Liu Zhao , Chen Jing , Fang Hongxia
Published: July 2015

As human population increase, human‐wildlife conflicts have reached unprecedented levels, often resulting in negative attitudes toward regional conservation initiatives, and thus are of concern for conservation communities. From April to May 2011, we carried out a survey to quantify carnivore‐induced livestock losses perceived by local pastoralists in the Qinghai Lake region on the pastoral Qinghai—Tibetan Plateau and examined the ecological and socio‐economic dimensions in the conflict. We finished 286 in‐person interviews using a semi‐structured questionnaire with mixed closed‐ and open‐ended questions. Our results showed that 93.7% of the respondents reported livestock depredations by carnivores from March 2010 to March 2011. The perceived losses represented 3.7% of total standing value of livestock in the region. The losses were positively correlated with livestock number in each household and showed significant seasonal and diurnal difference. Adult sheep and goats were the mostly killed (54.9%), followed by lambs (21.0%), adult yaks and cattle (19.1%), calves (4.9%) and horses (0.1%). More than 80% of the respondents reported that they could not tolerate the contemporaneous depredations and nearly two thirds expected compensations for their losses. Wolf Canis lupus was blamed for most of the killings (76.0%) and was perceived most negative followed by brown bear Ursus arctos, Tibetan fox Vulpes ferrilata, red fox Vulpes vulpes and raptors. Attitudes toward the problem carnivores were positively correlated with livestock size but negatively with magnitudes of the depredations. The attitudes also varied among the three survey sites, which may be attributed to the different extent of openness and livelihood dependence on animal husbandry. In the light of our results, we suggested possible measures to mitigate the conflict and maintain coexistence between human and wild carnivores on the Qinghai—Tibetan Plateau.
A simple and effective method for obtaining mammal DNA from faeces
Authors: Ramón‐Laca Ana , Soriano Laura , Gleeson Dianne , Godoy José Antonio
Published: July 2015

The use of faecal DNA, although a promising tool for the population monitoring of mammals, has not yet become a fully exploited and standard practice, mainly because low target DNA concentration, DNA degradation, and co‐purification of inhibitors demand extra laboratory procedures to improve success and reliability. Here we evaluate a simple method that enables sampling of DNA in the field through the collection of the intestinal cells present on the surface of a scat using a swab. The swab is immediately placed in a vial containing a lysis buffer that preserves the DNA for its later extraction. DNA extracts of three species of herbivores (goat, fallow deer and white‐tailed deer), two carnivores (Iberian lynx and domestic dog) and one omnivore species (brushtail possum) were characterised in terms of target and total DNA quantity, PCR inhibition and genotyping success. Direct comparison was carried out with duplicate samples preserved in 96% ethanol and extracted via a commonly used commercial DNA extraction kit for faecal material. Results from these comparisons show that swabbing the samples in situ not only simplifies field collection and sample handling in the laboratory, but generally optimises target DNA recovery, minimises co‐purification of PCR inhibitors and provides good quality DNA for the species tested, especially for herbivores. This method is also less time‐consuming and more cost‐effective, thus providing a more convenient and efficient alternative for non‐invasive genetic studies.
LCF Coupling Failure in a Two-Feet Light Railway
Authors: Neidel A. , Giller M. , Riesenbeck S. , Scholz A.
Published: July 2015

The failure of a coupling in a two-feet light railway occurred when the engine began to move out of a station. According to the machinist who operated the steam engine at the time of failure, a number of railcars were coupled to the engine. The railcars carried an unusual high number of passengers but were not over-loaded. The crack was driven by a mode that was cyclic in nature. The crack propagated in a fully reversed bending mode. It could be ascertained that the crack propagated in a low cycle fatigue (LCF) mode.
The Quality of Prepared Specimens of Si-Wafers for Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Kolb F. , Deluca M. , Maier G. A.
Published: July 2015

In order to be able to carry out reliable measurements using a Raman Spectrometer it is important to know what stresses and localised changes have been induced in the specimen by the preparation process. To investigate this, a trial was set up to investigate the changes which occur in the structure of the material as a result of the specimen preparation process, thus leading to an optimum method of preparation for Raman Spectroscopy.
Neural Estimation of Localization and Classification of Soils for Use in Low-Traffic-Volume Roads
Authors: Ribeiro Antonio Júnior Alves , da Silva Carlos Augusto Uchôa , Barroso Suelly Helena de Araújo
Published: July 2015

This research proposes the development of a method of localization and prediction of AASHTO soil classification that can contribute to the decision-making process in projects for low-traffic-volume roads in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Geoprocessing and artificial neural networks were used as modeling techniques, and biophysical and spatial variables were used to explain the modeled phenomenon. The characteristics investigated (pedology, geology, geomorphology, vegetation, altimetry, and position) were correlated with the AASHTO classification. The soil AASHTO classification data were taken from projects and preexisting studies and totaled 876 points. In the development of this geotechnical estimates generation model, artificial neural network topologies were calibrated, validated, and tested so as to find a model that could best fit the set of tests. The model had an accuracy rate of 92.6% for the generation of estimates of AASHTO soil classification in the Fortaleza region, on the basis of the biophysical variables studied. The tested model was used to construct neural geotechnical maps that can be used to predict the AASHTO classification of soils not yet characterized in the lab and to predict the type of subgrade of a region not yet explored. Results show that the artificial neural networks technique is promising for geotechnical studies of low-traffic-volume roads.
Improvement in Physical and Mechanical Properties of Soils by the Addition of Lime for Paving Roads
Authors: Marcon Antonio Fortunato , Corrêa Juliana Francisca , Trichês Glicério
Published: July 2015

This paper presents the results of a laboratory study of three expansive soil samples collected on the SC-112, an unpaved state road that connects the city of Rio Negrinho to Vila Volta Grande in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The road's lack of pavement inhibits the development of the region by obstructing traffic during the rainy season. The study estimated the percentage of lime that would need to be added to the soil to minimize expansion of the soil and evaluated changes in the physical and mechanical characteristics of the soil. The study used the miniature, compacted, tropical (MCT) classification, which was developed in Brazil to study the properties and behavior of tropical soils. The following tests were used to study the physical and mechanical characteristics of the soil samples, soil–lime mixtures, and lime: Atterberg limits, grain size, compaction, California bearing ratio, MCT soil disk method, and chemical analysis of the lime. Lime requirements were estimated with the lime fixation point, pH, and MCT soil disk methods. The results of plasticity limit tests showed that the base exchange reactions of lime with the soil occur immediately after the addition of water to the soil–lime mixture. Use of the MCT methodology tests showed that the natural soil samples with the addition of lime changed their behavior from nonlateritic to lateritic. The addition of 3% lime to two soils and 2% to the third soil caused physical and mechanical changes in the soils that allow their use as subgrade of low-volume road pavement.
The Long History of Geosynthetics Use on Forest Roads
Authors: Keller Gordon , Berry Jonathan
Published: July 2015

Geosynthetics have been used in a wide range of applications on forest roads over the past 40 years. Some of the earliest uses involved reinforcement in simple walls, drainage or filtration in geocomposite underdrains, and subgrade stabilization. These early efforts were typically experimental. Geosynthetic application over time became better defined by function, and use was specified for drainage, filtration, separation, or reinforcement. Road uses were typically in underdrains to keep a granular filter material clean, for separation over soft subgrade soils to keep aggregate from becoming contaminated, as reinforcement layers within a mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall or reinforced fill, and as interlayers within a pavement. Today geosynthetic use is more sophisticated and better defined: materials for each function have specific strength and durability properties appropriate for their use. New combinations of materials have resulted in drainage geocomposites, multilayer filters, geogrids with geotextiles, geofoam, and geocells. Many applications in erosion control, as well as other creative uses, have also been developed. Today, more attention is given to quality control and properties testing to better characterize the materials. Although use of geosynthetics has gained wide acceptance in many sectors of civil engineering and highway construction, it is still limited on forest roads. This paper documents the evolution of geosynthetics' use on forest roads, highlights current creative and cost-effective applications of geosynthetics, and promotes geosynthetics in the construction of low-volume roads.
Low-Volume Roads with Neat Sand Bases
Authors: Paige-Green P. , Pinard M. I. , Netterberg F.
Published: July 2015

Vast areas of Southern Africa are covered with surficial sands of Tertiary to Quaternary age. These consist of aeolian sands that are widespread in the western areas of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Angola and reach as far north as the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as coastal and alluvial sands more prevalent in the eastern areas of South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Many of these sands are extremely thick and blanket most conventional construction materials, which occur only at inaccessible depths beneath them. The sands, consisting mostly of particles within the size range of 0.06 to 2.0 mm, are normally well outside standard base course specifications for roads and are routinely rejected for use. However, experience in several countries has shown that such materials can be successfully used in the upper layers of low-volume road pavements. This finding led to an investigation into the possible specification of sand for use as base; the investigation concluded that the successfully used sands appeared to be restricted to those that were dark red, which is indicative of the presence of significant iron. It was suspected that the iron was possibly producing some form of self-cementation that increased the strength of the sand, making it successful. This paper describes the results of a follow-up investigation in which several sands, including some that were not red but appeared to be successful in road pavement layers, were investigated. Sampling and testing have shown that the aluminum content also appears to have a beneficial effect on the materials and that iron is not necessarily the main contributor to performance. A preliminary test regime and suggested material specification for the use of neat sands as base are introduced.
Local Resource Solutions to Problematic Rural Road Access in Laos
Authors: Kelly Kieran , Gillett Simon , Mitchell James
Published: July 2015

The South East Asia Community Access Programme (SEACAP) aimed to identify cost-effective, community-oriented approaches for improving year-round access to remote rural areas. The program promoted low-cost and local resource–based improvements to roads. In 2007, trial surfacing sections were constructed on seven low-volume rural roads (LVRRs) near Houay Xai in Bokeo Province, northwest Laos. The surfaces included concrete, bituminous seals, stone, and gravel. The research sites were monitored after construction in 2007 and once more in 2009. However, after 2009 no funding was available to continue the monitoring and there was a risk of valuable knowledge being lost. To avoid that outcome, the African Community Access Programme (AFCAP) funded a third monitoring visit, which took place in October 2012. The objective was to assess the performance of the trial sections after they had been trafficked for 5 years. The information will be used to supplement knowledge gathered from a project in Tanzania, where demonstration sections have also been constructed and are being monitored. A separate paper on their performance has also been prepared. The present paper outlines the main findings from the monitoring process in Laos and makes some recommendations on the basis of these findings, particularly in relation to surfacing and pavement choice for LVRRs. Both SEACAP and AFCAP are funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development.
Estimation of the Risk of Rutting on Forest Roads during the Spring Thaw
Authors: Vuorimies Nuutti , Kolisoja Pauli , Kaakkurivaara Tomi , Uusitalo Jori
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine whether portable devices for measuring the bearing capacity of an unpaved road can be used to evaluate the extent of damage caused by heavy vehicles during the spring thaw. A portable bearing capacity measurement device is easily transported—for example, in a forester's car—where it is available for quick use. In the spring of 2012 and 2013, E moduli were measured by dynamic cone penetration, light falling weight deflectometer, and falling weight deflectometer devices a few days before loading runs were performed on forest roads. The measurements were made at 10 test sites, half of which were located on mineral soil and half on peat. The profiles of the road surfaces at the test sites were determined by mobile laser scanning before and after the loading runs to indicate rutting at the measurement points. Rutting was converted into rut depth increase per pass of the truck used. A comparison of the E moduli determined with the different measurement devices in relation to the rutting revealed that each device had a threshold value below which the tendency and depth of rutting increased. These threshold values will help in evaluating whether timber loads can be transported via the forest road during frost thawing. The applicability of the results must still be verified in actual operating conditions.
Effect of Tire Configuration on the Performance of a Low-Volume Road Exposed to Heavy Axle Loads
Authors: Kolisoja Pauli , Kalliainen Antti , Haakana Ville
Published: July 2015

A series of response measurements was conducted at an instrumented low-volume road test site to determine the effects of different tire con-figurations of a heavy vehicle on the performance of the road structure. The test site road had a thin asphalt concrete surface, and the total thickness of its structural layers was about half a meter; the road rested on a silty subgrade. The response measurements with two axle loads, 80 kN and 100 kN, included recording of road surface deflection and vertical stresses at three depths below the road surface. The results indicated that the stresses inside the road structure were up to 30% higher when narrow types of single tires were used instead of normal dual tires. According to the employed distress models, this means a threefold to fourfold difference in the service life of the road.
An Efficient Synthesis of 5-Chloro-2, 3, 4-Trifluorobenzoic Acid
Authors: Yu Shuitao , Zhou Weiyou , Xia Zhengjun , Lin Song , Chen Zaixin
Published: July 2015

5-Chloro-2, 3, 4-trifluorobenzoic acid, a key intermediate for preparing quinolone-3-carboxylic acid derivatives, was synthesised from the commercially available 2, 3, 4, 5-trifluorobenzoic acid in excellent yield by a reaction sequence involving nitration, selective reduction, diazotisation and chlorination.
Three Chiral Schiff-Base-Manganese(III)-Based Complexes: Synthesis, Structures and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Zhang Daopeng , Zhang Hongyan , Chen Kexun
Published: July 2015

Three chiral manganese(III) Schiff-base complexes [Mn(R,R-Salcy)(CH3OH)(N3)], [Mn(S,S-Salcy)(DMF)(N3)] (both monomers by X-structure determination) and the trinuclear complex (X-ray structure) {[Mn(R,R-Salcy)(H2O)]2[μ-Ni(CN)4]}·3CH3OH·H2O [Salcy = N,N′-(1,2-cyclohexanediylethylene)bis(salicylideneiminato)dianion)] have been synthesised. The trimeric complex shows weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the adjacent Mn(III) ions.
Cross-Sectional Study of Neck Pain and Cervical Sagittal Alignment in Air Force Pilots
Authors: Moon Bong Ju , Choi Kyong Ho , Yun Chul , Ha Yoon
Published: July 2015

BACKGROUND: There is a high prevalence of neck pain in air force pilots; however, the causes are not clear and are considered work-related. Kyphotic changes in the cervical spine have been known to cause neck pain. In this study, we investigated the association between neck pain
and cervical kyphosis in air force pilots.METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 63 Republic of South Korea Air Force pilots. We examined the C2-7 absolute rotation angle (ARA) using the posterior tangent method and other radiologic parameters on whole spine lateral radiographs.
We divided the participants into a neck pain group (N = 32) and no neck pain group (N = 31), and subsequently analyzed the difference in radiographic parameters and clinical data between the two groups.RESULTS: There were no significant differences found in age, body
mass index, total flight time, or aerobic or anaerobic exercise between the neck pain and control groups. The fighter pilots had higher 1-yr prevalence of neck pain than nonfighter pilots (84.4% vs. 15.6%). The lower C2-7 ARA (OR = 0.91, 95% CI 0.846, 0.979) and fighter type aircrafts (OR
= 3.93, 95% CI 1.104, 13.989) were associated with neck pain.CONCLUSIONS: Fighter pilots experienced neck pain more frequently than the nonfighter pilots. Those fighter pilots suffering from neck pain were shown to have more kyphotic changes in the cervical spine than control pilots
through evaluation of whole spine lateral radiographs using the posterior tangent method. These key findings suggest that the forces involved in flying a fighter type aircraft may affect cervical alignment and neck pain.Moon BJ, Choi KH, Yun C, Ha Y. Cross-sectional study of neck pain
and cervical sagittal alignment in air force pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015; 86(5):445–451.