bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age and race differences on career adaptability and employee engagement amongst employees in an insurance company
Authors: Tladinyane Rebecca , Van der Merwe Marna
Published: November 2016

The objective of the study was to determine whether age and race groups differ significantly regarding career adaptability (measured by Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) and employee engagement measured by Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). A quantitative survey was conducted with a convenience sample (N = 131) of employees in an insurance company within South Africa. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to achieve the objective of the study. The results showed significant differences between age and race groups in relation to the constructs. Organisations need to recognise biographical differences with regards to career adaptability and employee engagement with reference to engagement interventions and the career counselling setting.
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Diabetic Adults
Authors: Adhikaree Ajay , Kohli Suresh Chandra , Pokhrel Daya Ram , Bhatta Dharma
Published: November 2016

Introduction: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a well- known complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Its spectrum ranges from Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ABU) to acute pyelonephritis. Many studies have delineated an increased prevalence of ABU in DM whereas to the same degree other studies have come to naught showing insignificant association. Hence, this study was drafted to evaluate the presence of ABU among diabetics and assess various risk factors.

 

Methods: Total of 116 diabetic adults without symptoms of UTI attending medical out-patient department, Manipal Teaching Hospital were enrolled by detailed clinical history, examination and laboratorial examination as per standard set of questionnaire from February 2013 to May 2014. Data were analyzed by SPSS (17.0).

 

Results: The rate of ABU in diabetic adults was 10.3% and was significantly associated with duration of DM, fasting blood glucose level and poor glycaemic control. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen which was sensitive to Nitrofurantoin and Imipenem.

 

Conclusion: Being asymptomatic, diabetics fail to recognise ABU, however, ABU is preponderant in DM and is linked mainly with duration of DM and poor glycaemic control. Hence screening for ABU is imperative in diabetic adults if above mentioned risk factors are present.
Presentation and Management of Soft-Tissue Foreign Bodies in a Teaching Hospital of Western Nepal
Authors: Joshi Ruban Raj , Dwivedi Rajeev
Published: November 2016

Introduction: Accidental penetrating injuries with foreign bodies are a common presentation in hospital's emergency rooms. If missed, these bodies can remain dormant or result in a wide range of complications. This study evaluated the characteristics of patients, presentation and management who suffered foreign body embedded in soft tissue at a teaching hospital of Western Nepal.

 

Methods: The study was conducted at Department of Orthopaedics, Lumbini Medical College Teaching Hospital from September 2013 to August 2015. All cases confirmed to have a foreign body in soft tissue were enrolled. Surgical exploration with removal of foreign body was carried in operating room under tourniquet control. The patient demographics, cause of injury, nature of foreign body, occupation of the patient, diagnostic yield of radioimaging, procedures undertaken for retrieval of foreign body, and complications were  recorded. All patients were followed-up up to five months.

 

Results: Total 28 patients, nine (32.1%) males and 19 females (67.9%) were observed. The mean age was 35.6 yr (SD=11.1). Housewives (n=14, 50%) were the common sufferers. Most of our patients (n=17, 60.7%) presented two weeks after injury. Accidental prick while cutting grass or tree was the common mode (n=13, 46.3%) of injury and among foreign bodies, wooden or vegetative were the commonest (n=19, 67.9%) observed. Among the extremities, hand (n=10, 35.7%) and foot (n=5, 17.9%) were commonly affected. All patients had successful surgical exploration and retrieval of the foreign bodies under anesthesia and tourniquet control in operating room. Image intensifier was employed in seven cases to locate the foreign bodies per-operatively. Wound infection developed in 14.2% (n=4) of patients, all of whom were managed successfully with oral antibiotics. None of the patients required re-hospitalization. All patients were fine at final five months follow up.

 

Conclusion: Managing foreign body embedded in the soft tissue are challenging. Surgical exploration under tourniquet control suffice a definitive management. At times, image intensifier is required to locate the foreign body.
Hermeneutics of taste Gadamer’s critique of Kant’s aesthetics in truth and method
Authors: Grubor Nebojsa
Published: November 2016

The Article explains Gadamer?s critique of Kant?s aesthetics in Truth and
Method (1960). The paper first examines basics characteristics of Kant?s
foundation of modern aesthetics (I). This is followed by consideration
Gadamer?s interpretations of the process of the subjectivization of
aesthetics in Kant?s Third Critique (II). Finally, it considers critique of
abstraction aesthetic consciousness and conception of aesthetic
differentiation as Gadamer?s attempt to through analysis of Kant?s theory of
taste complete its own hermeneutics of art (III).
Economic feasibility of decentralized hybrid photovoltaic-diesel technology in Saudi Arabia: A way forward for sustainable coastal development
Authors: Shaahid Syed
Published: November 2016

In view of growing concerns of global warming and depleting oil/gas reserves, many nations are considering use of hybrid photovoltaic-diesel technology as an option for power generation The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has higher level of solar radiation and is a prospective candidate for deployment of solar photovoltaic systems. Literature indicates that commercial/residential buildings in the Kingdom consume about 10-45% of the total electric energy generated. The aim of this study is to analyze solar radiation data in city of Yanbu to assess the technoeconomic feasibility of utilizing hybrid photovoltaic-diesel-battery power systems to meet the load of a typical residential building. The monthly average daily solar global radiation ranges from 3.61 to 7.90 kWh/m2 . National Renewable Energy Laboratory?s HOMER software has been used in the study. The simulation results indicate that for a hybrid system, composed of 4 kWp photovoltaic system together with 10 kW diesel system, and a battery storage of 3 hours of autonomy (average load), the photovoltaic penetration is 21%. The cost of generating energy from that hybrid system has been found to be 0.180 $/kWh. With use of this hybrid system, about 2 tons per year of carbon emissions can be avoided entering into the local atmosphere. Also, for a given hybrid configuration, the operational time of diesel generators has been found to decrease with increase in photovoltaic capacity. The investigation examines impact of photovoltaic penetration on: carbon emissions, diesel fuel consumption, net present cost, cost of energy, etc.
Thermodynamic analysis of a single effect lithium bromide water absorption system using waste heat in sugar industry
Authors: Kumar Balaji , Selvarasan Iniyan , Annadurai Gurubalan , Ramalingam Senthilkumar
Published: November 2016

Energy analysis plays a vital role in the industry due to the use of electrical energy, global warming, and economy crises. This paper describes the waste heat available in the exhaust of the steam turbine and beneficial use of the waste heat. The sugar industry steam turbine exhaust carries enthalpy of steam at 2500 kJ/kg, this thermal energy can be put into beneficial use as the heat source to the vapor absorption refrigeration system to compensate energy required for DC thyrist motor, and this can also be used for cold storage. Energy savings in terms of cost and fuels are calculated. Investigation on the heat and mass transfer in evaporator has been carried out in vapor absorption system by varying the operating parameter. Less circulation ratio is required to increase the coefficient of performance. The inlet temperature of the coolant should be less for achieving higher coefficient of performance.
Hygrothermal study of dwelling submitted to passive cooling
Authors: Kharchi Razika , Imessad Khaled
Published: November 2016

A significant portion of energy consumed in buildings is due to energy usage by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Free cooling is a good option for energy savings in the systems. In recent years, scientists, engineers, and architects designed successful and innovative buildings which use passive cooling techniques, such as natural ventilation. The house studied in the present work, is a pilot project undertaken jointly by the Centre for Development of Renewable Energies (CDER) and the National Centre for Studies and Research of the integrated building (CNERIB) in the framework of the MED-ENEC project (Mediterranean Energy Efficiency in Construction structure). The house under consideration has a surface area of 65 m2 and is located in the region of Algiers which characterized by a Mediterranean climate with relatively mild winters and a hot and humid summer. The aim of this work is to study the thermal comfort inside the house in summer without air conditioning systems, only ventilation is considered. The aim of this work is to study the effect of natural ventilation on both thermal and hygrometric comfort inside the house during the summer period. Numerical simulation is made using the TRNSYS software and the results obtained are in good agreement with measured values. The prototype home is designed in a way that natural ventilation allows thermal comfort which induced energy saving from air conditioning. The mean temperature measured in the interior of the house is 26?C. The relative humidity reaches about 70% in August. Thermal comfort is related to relative humidity that are the essential parameters of the feeling of comfort. Humidity is an important parameter in thermal comfort, it is why we can conclude that we have reached a relatively good hygrothermal comfort.
Radially varying magnetic field effect on peristaltic motion with heat and mass transfer of a non-Newtonian fluid between two co-axial tubes
Authors: Eldabe Nabil , Abou-Zeid Mohamed
Published: November 2016

The present analysis discusses the effects of thermal-diffusion with thermal radiation, Joule heating and internal heat generation on peristaltic flow of a non-Newtonian fluid obeying Jeffery model. Heat and mass transfer are also taken into consideration, the flow is between two co-axial tubes under the effect of radially varying magnetic field. The inner tube is uniform and at rest, while the outer tube is flexible with sinusoidal wave traveling. The problem is modulated mathematically by a system of partial differential equations which describes the equations of momentum, heat, and mass transfer. These equations are solved analytically under the assumptions of long wave length and low-Reynolds number in non-dimensional form. The solutions are obtained as a functions of physical parameters of the problem. The radially varying magnetic field effect on the temperature and concentration distributions is analyzed and it is shown that the increase of Hartman number tends to reduce the temperature, while it increases the concentration.
Heat recovery in compost piles for building applications
Authors: Walther Edouard , Ferrier Renaud , Bennacer Rachid , De Sa , Thierry Eloise
Published: November 2016

This work proposes an estimation of the possible heat recovery of self-heating compost piles for building applications. The energy released during the aerobic composting of lignin and cellulose-based materials is computed by solving an inverse problem. The method consists first in an experimental phase with measurement of the temperature within the heap, then a numerical procedure allows for the inverse identification of the heat production due to the chemical reaction of composting. The simulation results show a good accordance with the experiments for the chosen source-term model. Comparing the results to the theoretical values for the energy released by aerobic composting provides an estimate for the efficiency of the reaction. The reached temperatures and recovered energy fit with the order of magnitude of building needs.
A Synthesis of Three Commentaries on Measurement and Performance Reporting
Authors: Hales Jeffrey , Rees Lynn , Wilks T. Jeffrey
Published: November 2016

SYNOPSIS:

The issues of measurement and performance reporting have presented particularly difficult challenges to standard setters for years and, in the process, have generated much discussion among academics, preparers, and financial statement users. In this commentary, we summarize and compare three new perspectives on these two issues: Linsmeier (2016), who suggests that standard setters focus on recurring versus non-recurring operations; Marshall and Lennard (2016), who suggest distinguishing among business types; and Nishikawa, Kamiya, and Kawanishi (2016), who suggest using a dual measurement approach. In discussing these three proposals, we also identify areas where academic research is needed to provide evidence on the costs and/or benefits of the proposed changes.
Autocorrelation analysis of plasma plume light emissions in deep penetration laser welding of steel
Authors: Mrna Libor , Sarbort Martin , Rerucha Simon , Jedlicka Petr
Published: November 2016

The light emissions of the plasma plume in the deep penetration laser welding of metals typically have the character of irregular short-time pulses. Their nature indicates that the size of the plume significantly fluctuates and the plasma flows out of the keyhole in the form of short bursts rather than a continuous flow. In this paper, the authors study the plasma plume light emissions using an autocorrelation analysis. The authors show that it is an efficient tool for the detection of the plasma bursts period which is typically in the order of milliseconds. The authors compare the autocorrelation characteristics and the geometry of the welds made on a 2 kW ytterbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Yb:YAG) fiber laser welding machine for the X5CrNi 18-10 stainless steel and the S235JR carbon steel. The welding parameters settings is varied over a range of laser power (1–2 kW) and welding speed (10–30 mm/s) usually used in industry. As a result, the authors identify a linear dependence between the plasma bursts period and the weld depth.
Population pharmacokinetics of a single dose of meloxicam after oral and intramuscular administration to captive lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor)
Authors: Zordan Martín A. , Papich Mark G. , Pich Ashley A. , Unger Katy M. , Sánchez Carlos R.
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To determine the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of meloxicam after IM and oral administration to healthy lesser flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) by use of a population approach.

ANIMALS 16 healthy captive lesser flamingos between 1 and 4 years of age.

PROCEDURES A single dose of meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg) was administered IM to each bird, and blood samples were collected from birds at 3 (n = 13 birds), 2 (2), or 1 (1) selected point between 0 and 13 hours after administration, with samples collected from birds at each point. After a 15-day washout period, the same dose of meloxicam was administered PO via a red rubber tube and blood samples were collected as described for IM administration. Pharmacokinetic values were determined from plasma concentrations measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS Plasma drug concentrations after IM administration of meloxicam reached a mean ± SD maximum value of 6.01 ± 3.38 μg/mL. Mean area under the concentration-versus-time curve was 17.78 ± 2.79 μg•h/mL, and mean elimination half-life was 1.93 ± 0.32 hours. Plasma concentrations after oral administration reached a mean maximum value of 1.79 ± 0.33 μg/mL. Mean area under the curve was 22.16 ± 7.17 μg•h/mL, and mean elimination half-life was 6.05 ± 3.53 hours.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In lesser flamingos, oral administration of meloxicam resulted in higher bioavailability and a longer elimination half-life than did IM administration, but the maximum plasma concentration was low and may be insufficient to provide analgesia in flamingos. Conversely, IM administration achieved the desired plasma concentration but would require more frequent administration.
Assessment of frailty in aged dogs
Authors: Hua Julie , Hoummady Sara , Muller Claude , Pouchelon Jean-Louis , Blondot Marc , Gilbert Caroline , Desquilbet Loic
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To define a frailty-related phenotype—a clinical syndrome associated with the aging process in humans—in aged dogs and to investigate its association with time to death.

ANIMALS 116 aged guide dogs.

PROCEDURES Dogs underwent a clinical geriatric assessment (CGA) and were followed to either time of death or the study cutoff date. A 5-component clinical definition of a frailty phenotype was derived from clinical items included in a geriatric health evaluation scoresheet completed by veterinarians during the CGA. Univariate (via Kaplan-Meier curves) and multivariate (via Cox proportional hazards models) survival analyses were used to investigate associations of the 5 CGA components with time to death.

RESULTS 76 dogs died, and the median time from CGA to death was 4.4 years. Independent of age at the time of CGA, dogs that had ≥ 2 of the 5 components (n = 10) were more likely to die during the follow-up period, compared with those that had 1 or no components (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.9 [95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 10.9]). After further adjustments for subclinical or clinical diseases and routine biomarkers, the adjusted hazard ratio remained significant.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that signs of frailty appeared to be a risk factor for death in dogs. The concept of frailty in dogs requires further development.

IMPACT FOR HUMAN MEDICINE The concept of frailty, as defined for humans, seems transposable to dogs. Given that they share humans' environments and develop several age-related diseases similar to those in humans, dogs may be useful for the study of environmental or age-related risk factors for frailty in humans.
Effects of various antiplatelet drugs on ex vivo platelet activation induced by equine herpesvirus type 1
Authors: Hernandez Daniela , Yeo Wee Ming , Brooks Marjory B. , Ness Sally L. , Divers Thomas J. , Stokol Tracy
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of treatment of horses with standard platelet inhibitors on ex vivo inhibition of platelet activation by equine herpesvirus type I (EHV-I).

ANIMALS II healthy adult horses.

PROCEDURES In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study, horses were treated orally for 5 days with theophylline (5 mg/kg, q 12 h), pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg, q 12 h), clopidogrel bisulfate (4 mg/kg, q 24 h), acetylsalicylic acid (20 mg/kg, q 24 h), or placebo. Horses received all treatments, each separated by a 3-week washout period. Platelet-rich plasma was prepared from citrated blood samples obtained before each treatment session and 4 hours after each final drug dose. Platelets were exposed to 2 EHV-I strains (at I plaque forming units/cell) or positive (thrombin-convulxin) and negative control substances for 10 minutes, then platelet activation was assessed by determining the percentages of P-selectin–positive platelets and platelet-derived microparticles (PDMPs; small events positive for annexin V) with flow cytometry. Platelet aggregation in response to 10μM ADP was also assessed.

RESULTS No significant differences in median percentages of P-selectin–positive platelets and PDMPs in EHV-I-exposed platelets were identified between measurement points (before and after treatment) for all drugs, nor were differences identified among drugs at each measurement point. Only clopidogrel significantly inhibited platelet aggregation in response to ADP in platelet-rich plasma samples obtained after that treatment session.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Treatment of horses with standard platelet inhibitors had no effect on EHV-I-induced platelet α-granule exteriorization or microvesiculation and release of PDMPs ex vivo, suggesting these drugs will not prevent platelet activation induced directly by EHV-I in vivo.
Assessment of in vitro release of carboplatin from six carrier media
Authors: Risselada Marije , Marcellin-Little Denis J. , Messenger Kristen M. , Griffith Emily , Davidson Gigi S. , Papich Mark G.
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To investigate in vitro carboplatin release from 6 carrier media.

SAMPLE 6 carboplatin-containing carrier media.

PROCEDURES An in vitro release study was performed with 6 commercially available carrier media: a hemostatic gelatin sponge, a poloxamer copolymer gel, and 2 sizes (3 and 4.8 mm in diameter) of beads molded from each of 2 commercial calcium sulfate products. All carrier media contained 10 mg of carboplatin. Carrier media specimens were placed in 37°C PBS solution for 96 hours. Carboplatin concentrations in PBS solution were measured by use of high-performance liquid chromatography at 15 time points to calculate the amount and proportion of carboplatin released from each specimen.

RESULTS Peak release of carboplatin from the poloxamer copolymer gel and hemostatic gelatin sponge were achieved after 4 and 20 hours, respectively. Maximum release did not differ significantly between the poloxamer copolymer gel and hemostatic gelatin sponge, but both released significantly more carboplatin within 96 hours than did both of the commercial calcium sulfate products. The poloxamer copolymer gel released 99% of the carboplatin, and the hemostatic gelatin sponge released 68.5% of the carboplatin. Peak release of carboplatin from the calcium sulfate beads was not reached within 96 hours.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this study, carboplatin release from the hemostatic gelatin sponge was incomplete. The poloxamer copolymer gel and hemostatic gelatin sponge released carboplatin rapidly in vitro, whereas calcium sulfate beads did not.
Security and biomechanical strength of three end-pass configurations for the terminal end of intradermal closures performed with unidirectional barbed suture material in dogs
Authors: Regier Penny J. , Smeak Daniel D. , McGilvray Kirk C.
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To compare security of continuous intradermal suture lines closed by use of barbed suture with 3 end-pass configurations or without an end-pass configuration.

SAMPLE 40 full-thickness, 4-cm-long, parasagittal wounds in canine cadavers.

PROCEDURES Each continuous intradermal closure was terminated with 1 of 3 end-pass techniques or without an end-pass configuration (control group). A servohydraulic machine applied tensile load perpendicular to the long axis of the suture line. A load-displacement curve was generated for each sample; maximum load, displacement, stiffness, mode of construct failure, and load at first suture slippage at termination (ie, terminal end of the suture line) were recorded.

RESULTS Values for maximum load, displacement, and stiffness did not differ significantly among the 3 end-pass techniques, and load at first suture slippage at termination was not significantly different among the 4 groups. A 1-pass technique slipped in 5 of 9 samples; 3 of these 5 slips caused failure of wound closure. A 2-pass technique slipped in 3 of 9 samples, none of which caused failure of wound closure. Another 2-pass technique slipped in 4 of 10 samples; 2 of these 4 slips caused failure of wound closure. The control group had slippage in 10 of 10 samples; 9 of 10 slips caused failure of wound closure

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE An end-pass anchor was necessary to terminate a continuous intradermal suture line, and all 3 end-pass anchor techniques were suitable to prevent wound disruption. The 2-pass technique for which none of the suture slippages caused wound closure failure provided the most reliable configuration.
Comparison of desired radiographic advancement distance and true advancement distance required for patellar tendon–tibial plateau angle reduction to the ideal 90° in dogs by use of the modified Maquet technique
Authors: Pillard Paul , Livet Veronique , Cabon Quentin , Bismuth Camille , Sonet Juliette , Remy Denise , Fau Didier , Carozzo Claude , Viguier Eric , Cachon Thibaut
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the validity of 2 radiographic methods for measurement of the tibial tuberosity advancement distance required to achieve a reduction in patellar tendon–tibial plateau angle (PTA) to the ideal 90° in dogs by use of the modified Maquet technique (MMT).

SAMPLE 24 stifle joints harvested from 12 canine cadavers.

PROCEDURES Radiographs of stifle joints placed at 135° in the true lateral position were used to measure the required tibial tuberosity advancement distance with the conventional (AM) and correction (AE) methods. The MMT was used to successively advance the tibial crest to AM and AE. Postoperative PTA was measured on a mediolateral radiograph for each advancement measurement method. If none of the measurements were close to 90°, the advancement distance was modified until the PTA was equal to 90° within 0.1°, and the true advancement distance (TA) was measured. Results were used to determine the optimal commercially available size of cage implant that would be used in a clinical situation.

RESULTS Median AM and AE were 10.6 mm and 11.5 mm, respectively. Mean PTAs for the conventional and correction methods were 93.4° and 92.3°, respectively, and differed significantly from 90°. Median TA was 13.5 mm. The AM and AE led to the same cage size recommendations as for TA for only 1 and 4 stifle joints, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Both radiographic methods of measuring the distance required to advance the tibial tuberosity in dogs led to an under-reduction in postoperative PTA when the MMT was used. A new, more accurate radiographic method needs to be developed.
Systemic and ocular immune responses in cattle following intranasal vaccination with precipitated or partially solubilized recombinant Moraxella bovis cytotoxin adjuvanted with polyacrylic acid
Authors: Angelos John A. , Chigerwe Munashe , Edman Judy M. , Hess John F.
Published: November 2016

OBJECTIVE To evaluate changes in systemic and ocular antibody responses of steers following intranasal vaccination with precipitated or partially solubilized recombinant Moraxella bovis cytotoxin (MbxA).

ANIMALS 13 Angus steers with ages ranging from 318 to 389 days and weights ranging from 352 to 437 kg.

PROCEDURES Steers were assigned to receive 500 μg of a precipitated (MbxA-P; n = 5) or partially solubilized (MbxA-S; 5) recombinant MbxA subunit adjuvanted with polyacrylic acid. A control group (n = 3) received the adjuvant alone. Each steer received the assigned treatment (1 mL/nostril) on days 0 and 28. Serum and tear samples were collected on days 0 (before vaccination), 14, 28, 42, and 55. Changes in MbxA-neutralizing antibody titers and MbxA-specific IgG concentrations in serum and tears and changes in MbxA-specific IgA concentrations in tears were measured.

RESULTS Mean fold changes in MbxA-specific IgG concentration in serum and tears and MbxA-neutralizing antibody titer in tears for the MbxA-P group were significantly greater than those for the MbxA-S and control groups. Mean serum MbxA-neutralizing antibody titer did not differ among the 3 groups. Although the mean fold change in tear MbxA-specific IgA concentration differed significantly among the groups in the overall analysis, post hoc comparisons failed to identify any significant pairwise differences.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Systemic and ocular immune responses induced by intranasal administration of the MbxA-P vaccine were superior to those induced by the MbxA-S vaccine. Additional research is necessary to determine whether the MbxA-P vaccine can prevent naturally occurring infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis.
A Post Publication Review of “Publication anxiety, quality, and journal rankings: Researchers views”
Authors: Lim Weng Marc
Published: November 2016

A short post publication review of a recent AJIS paper.
Patates, pain, et lard salé valaient-ils mieux que céréales, bacon et bœuf haché? La diète quotidienne et la santé au Québec, 1861–1941
Authors: Durand Caroline
Published: November 2016

Cet article expose certains facteurs qui permettent l’amélioration de la diète et identifie des conditions qui nuisent à l’obtention d’une alimentation abondante et variée pour les ouvriers urbains et les paysans du Québec entre 1861 et 1941. Il décrit d’abord quelques défis méthodologiques qui rendent difficile la description de grandes tendances dans l’évolution de la diète et de la santé. Ensuite, il compare les aliments consommés dans trois ménages, selon les données fournies par deux enquêtes sociographiques menées dans Charlevoix en 1861 et à Québec en 1903, et par un article décrivant le travail d’une nutritionniste auprès d’une famille pauvre de Montréal, en 1941. Cette comparaison révèle que les conditions matérielles d’existence et les revenus déterminent grandement la diète quotidienne durant cette période marquée par l’industrialisation et l’urbanisation.
Before the Obesity Epidemic: The Body Mass Index of Canadians in the First and Second World Wars
Authors: Cranfield John , Inwood Kris , Ross J. Andrew
Published: November 2016

Enlistment medical examinations indicate that Canadian soldiers in the Second World War had a lower Body Mass Index (BMI), or weight adjusted for height, than soldiers in the First World War. This evidence, if representative of Canadian society more generally, implies either that the long-run trend to increasing obesity in Canada did not begin until after 1945 or that the generation that came of age between 1914–1939 had particularly challenging socio-economic experiences. The patterns visible for Quebec differ insofar as BMI was initially lower and remained roughly the same from one war to the other.
“A Wholesome Article of Food”: Rhetoric of Health and Nation in Canada’s Oleomargarine Debates, 1917-1924
Authors: Lieffers Caroline
Published: November 2016

This article examines the rhetoric employed in the 1917-1924 debates over oleomargarine’s legalization in Canada, noting that health, extending from the individual to the collective body, emerged as a key battle cry. Oleomargarine was at once a tool of citizenship and a nexus for new theories of food science, anxieties about race and otherness, women’s emerging political influence, and contention about the roles of both industry and government in dictating food choices. As both sides promulgated their respective products’ contributions to personal and national welfare, health and citizenship stood as entwined ideals, inviolable but not uncontested.
From Milk-Medicine To Public (Re)Education Programs: An Examination Of Anishinabek Mothers’ Responses To Hydroelectric Flooding In The Treaty #3 District, 1900–1975
Authors: Luby Brittany
Published: November 2016

This paper explores how Anishinabek women managed their households during the hydroelectric boom of the 1950s and provides new insight into flooding impact analyses. To date, historians have sought to understand how hydroelectric development compromised “subsistence” living. Research has addressed declining fish and game populations and the corresponding decline in male employment. But, what do these trends mean once the nets and traps have been emptied? By focusing on the family home, we discover that hydroelectric power generation on the Winnipeg River disrupted the environment’s ability to provide resources necessary to maintain women’s reproductive health (especially breast milk). Food shortages caused by hydroelectric development in the postwar era compromised Anishinabek women’s ability to raise their children in accordance with cultural expectations. What emerges from this analysis is a new lens through which to theorize the voluntary enrolment of Anishinabek children in residential schools in northwestern Ontario.
“Nutritional Wastelands”: Vending Machines, Fast Food Outlets, and the Fight over Junk Food in Canadian Schools
Authors: Gidney Catherine
Published: November 2016

In light of a growing obesity crisis among children and concern about junk food in schools, this article investigates the attempt by food and beverage companies to gain entry into Canadian schools. Focusing in particular on the introduction of fast-food franchises in cafeterias and on school boards’ secret exclusivity deals with soft drink manufacturers in the 1990s, it examines how and why this process occurred, public reactions to it, and government responses. Placing this phenomenon within a larger pattern of commercialization in North American schools, it argues that long-lasting reforms require government intervention and enforcement.
A Novel Mobile Communications Authentication Scheme with Roaming Service and User Anonymity
Authors: Chain Kai , Kuo Wen-Chung , Cheng Jiin-Chiou
Published: November 2016

Many novel, effective, and efficient applications and networking services are being developed for the Social Internet of Things. Recently, Li proposed a more secure and efficient authentication scheme with roaming service and user anonymity for mobile communications. The security analysis and discussion of the agreement phase is sufficiently safe; however, an attacker can intercept the identity of a mobile user’s home agent in the authentication phase. By using this information, the attacker can mount distributed denial-of-service attacks in the roaming phase through replay attacks targeting the network’s foreign agent and mobile user’s home agent by using their corresponding session keys. Li’s method also has some shortcomings regarding anonymity that we aim to address. To overcome these issues, this study proposes an elliptic curve–based wireless roaming anonymous login method for the authentication phase. The problems faced in the roaming phase are resolved, and this approach provides balanced session key computation between senders and receivers. Burrows-Abadi-Needham logic (BAN-logic) is used to verify the security of the proposed scheme. The proposed scheme affords good security, efficiency, and integrity and maintains anonymity.
A Novel Hybrid Semi-Active Mass Damper Configuration for Structural Applications
Authors: Demetriou Demetris , Nikitas Nikolaos
Published: November 2016

In this paper, a novel energy- and cost-efficient hybrid semi-active mass damper configuration for use in structural applications has been developed. For this task, an arrangement of both active and semi-active control components coupled with appropriate control algorithms are constructed and their performance is evaluated on both single and multi-degree of freedom structures for which practical constraints such as stroke and force saturation limits are taken into account. It is shown that under both free and forced vibrations, the novel device configuration outperforms its more conventional passive and semi-active counterparts, while at the same time achieving performance gains similar to the active configuration at considerably less energy and actuation demands, satisfying both strict serviceability and sustainability requirements often found to govern most modern structural applications.
Biodegradable Polymeric Substances Produced by a Marine Bacterium from a Surplus Stream of the Biodiesel Industry
Authors: Bhattacharya Sourish , Dubey Sonam , Singh Priyanka , Shrivastava Anupama , Mishra Sandhya
Published: November 2016

Crude glycerol is generated as a by-product during transesterification process and during hydrolysis of fat in the soap-manufacturing process, and poses a problem for waste management. In the present approach, an efficient process was designed for simultaneous production of 0.2 g/L extracellular ε-polylysine and 64.6% (w/w) intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) in the same fermentation broth (1 L shake flask) utilizing Jatropha biodiesel waste residues as carbon rich source by marine bacterial strain (Bacillus licheniformis PL26), isolated from west coast of India. The synthesized ε-polylysine and polyhydroxyalkanoate PHA by Bacillus licheniformis PL26 was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and 1H Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The PHA produced by Bacillus licheniformis was found to be poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (P3HB-co-3HV). The developed process needs to be statistically optimized further for gaining still better yield of both the products in an efficient manner.
A Broad Consideration of Risk Factors in Pediatric Chronic Pain: Where to Go from Here?
Authors: McKillop Hannah , Banez Gerard
Published: November 2016

Pediatric chronic pain is a significant problem associated with substantial functional impairment. A variety of risk factors have been found to be associated with chronic pain in youth. The greatest amount of evidence appears to support that temperament, anxiety, depression, subjective experience of stress, passive coping strategies, sleep problems, other somatic-related problems, and parent and/or family factors are important variables. However, a great deal of this research focuses on a single risk factor or on multiple risk factors in isolation. Much of the literature utilizes older diagnostic criteria and would benefit from replication, larger sample sizes, and comparison across pain disorders. Problems also exist with disagreement across definitions, resulting in inconsistency or unclear use of terms. Furthermore, recent consideration has suggested that outcome measures should include functional disability in addition to pain. A second generation of research is needed to shed light on the complex interactions that likely play a role in the transition from acute to chronic pain. Building on recent calls for changes in research in this area, we propose the next steps for this research, which involve consideration of both biopsychosocial and developmental contexts.
Fiber-Mixing Codes between Shifts of Finite Type and Factors of Gibbs Measures
Authors: Jung Uijin
Published: November 2016

A sliding block code π : X → Y between shift spaces is called fiber-mixing if, for every x and x ′ in X with y = π ( x ) = π ( x ′ ) , there is z ∈ π - 1 ( y ) which is left asymptotic to x and right asymptotic to x ′ . A fiber-mixing factor code from a shift of finite type is a code of class degree 1 for which each point of Y has exactly one transition class. Given an infinite-to-one factor code between mixing shifts of finite type (of unequal entropies), we show that there is also a fiber-mixing factor code between them. This result may be regarded as an infinite-to-one (unequal entropies) analogue of Ashley’s Replacement Theorem, which states that the existence of an equal entropy factor code between mixing shifts of finite type guarantees the existence of a degree 1 factor code between them. Properties of fiber-mixing codes and applications to factors of Gibbs measures are presented.
American’s Energy Future: An Analysis of the Proposed Energy Policy Plans in Presidential Election
Authors: Cheng Ming-Hsun , Yang Minliang , Wang Yu
Published: November 2016

As the leader of the largest economy, President of the United States has substantive influence on addressing climate change problems. However, a presidential election is often dominated by issues other than energy problems. This paper focuses on the 2016 presidential election, and examines the energy plans proposed by the leading Democrat and Republican candidates. Our data from the Iowa caucus survey in January 2016 suggests that voters were more concerned about terrorism and economic issues than environmental issues. We then compare the Democratic and Republican candidate’s view of America’s energy future, and evaluate their proposed renewable energy targets. We find that the view on renewable energy is polarized between Democratic and Republican candidates, while candidates from both parties agree on the need for energy efficiency. Results from our ordinal least squares regression models suggests that Democratic candidates have moderate to ambitious goals for developing solar and other renewables. The Republican candidates favor fossil fuels and they choose not to provide any specific target for developing renewable energy. In addition, this trend of party polarization has grown more significant when compared with the past three presidential elections. Our observation suggests that energy policies need to be discussed more often regarding the diversification and decarbonization of the nation’s energy system.
Transforming Justice in REDD+ through a Politics of Difference Approach
Authors: Marion Suiseeya Kimberly
Published: November 2016

Since Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation “Plus” (REDD+) starting gaining traction in the UN climate negotiations in 2007, its architects and scholars have grappled with its community-level justice implications. On the one hand, supporters argue that REDD+ will help the environment and forest-dependent communities by generating payments for forest carbon services from industrialized countries seeking lower cost emissions reductions. Critics, by contrast, increasingly argue that REDD+ is a new form of colonization through capitalism, producing injustice by stripping forest communities of their rights, denying them capabilities for wellbeing, and rendering forest peoples voiceless in forest governance. This paper argues that current REDD+ debates are too focused on relatively simple visions of either distributive or procedural justice, and pay too little attention to the core recognitional justice concerns of REDD+ critics, namely questions of what values, worldviews, rights, and identities are privileged or displaced in the emergence, design, and implementation of REDD+ and with what effects. This paper examines the tensions that emerge when designing institutions to promote multi-scalar, multivalent justice in REDD+ to ask: what are the justice demands that REDD+ architects face when designing REDD+ institutions? Complexifying the concepts of justice as deployed in the debates on REDD+ can illuminate the possibilities for a diversity of alternative perspectives to generate new institutional design ideas for REDD+.
The Goal of Adequate Nutrition: Can It Be Made Affordable, Sustainable, and Universal?
Authors: McFarlane Ian
Published: November 2016

Until about 1900, large proportions of the world population endured hunger and poverty. The 20th century saw world population increase from 1.6 to 6.1 billion, accompanied and to some extent made possible by rapid improvements in health standards and food supply, with associated advances in agricultural and nutrition sciences. In this paper, I use the application of linear programming (LP) in preparation of rations for farm animals to illustrate a method of calculating the lowest cost of a human diet selected from locally available food items, constrained to provide recommended levels of food energy and nutrients; then, to find a realistic minimum cost, I apply the further constraint that the main sources of food energy in the costed diet are weighted in proportion to the actual reported consumption of food items in that area. Worldwide variations in dietary preferences raise the issue as to the sustainability of popular dietary regimes, and the paper reviews the factors associated with satisfying requirements for adequate nutrition within those regimes. The ultimate physical constraints on food supply are described, together with the ways in which climate change may affect those constraints. During the 20th century, food supply increased sufficiently in most areas to keep pace with the rapid increase in world population. Many challenges will need to be overcome if food supply is to continue to meet demand, and those challenges are made more severe by rising expectations of quality of life in the developing world, as well as by the impacts of climate change on agriculture and aquaculture.
Developing Lyell’s Legacy: Contributions to the Geosciences of the Anthropocene
Authors: Alves Carlos
Published: November 2016

In this new edition of the Geoscience of the Built Environment [1], we hope to continue our contribution to the development of Geosciences studies in the Anthropocene, considering classical issuesthatareatleastasoldasCharlesLyell’smajorworks[2,3],whichcanbeconsideredthefounding literary works of modern Geology.[...]
Aniline Induces Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis of Primary Cultured Hepatocytes
Authors: Wang Yue , Gao Hong , Na Xiao-Lin , Dong Shu-Ying , Dong Hong-Wei , Yu Jia , Jia Li , Wu Yong-Hui
Published: November 2016

The toxicity and carcinogenicity of aniline in humans and animals have been well documented. However, the molecular mechanism involved in aniline-induced liver toxicity and carcinogenesis remains unclear. In our research, primary cultured hepatocytes were exposed to aniline (0, 1.25, 2.50, 5.0 and 10.0 μg/mL) for 24 h in the presence or absence of N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage, cell viability, and apoptosis were detected. Levels of ROS and MDA were significantly increased and levels of GSH and CAT, activity of SOD, and mitochondrial membrane potential in hepatocytes were significantly decreased by aniline compared with the negative control group. The tail moment and DNA content of the tail in exposed groups were significantly higher than those in the negative control group. Cell viability was reduced and apoptotic death was induced by aniline in a concentration-dependent manner. The phenomena of ROS generation, oxidative damage, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage and apoptosis could be prevented if ROS inhibitor NAC was added. ROS generation is involved in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA injury, which may play a role in aniline-induced apoptosis in hepatocytes. Our study provides insight into the mechanism of aniline-induced toxicity and apoptosis of hepatocytes.
Associations between Meteorological Factors and Aseptic Meningitis in Six Metropolitan Provinces of the Republic of Korea
Authors: Joshi Yadav , Kim Eun-Hye , Kim Jong-Hun , Kim Ho , Cheong Hae-Kwan
Published: November 2016

We assessed the association between climate factors and a number of aseptic meningitis cases in six metropolitan provinces of the Republic of Korea using a weekly number of cases from January 2002 to December 2012. Generalized linear quasi-Poisson models were applied to estimate the effects of climate factors on the weekly number of aseptic meningitis cases. We used generalized additive and generalized additive mixed models to assess dose–response relationships. A 1 °C increase in mean temperature was associated with an 11.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 9.6%–13.3%) increase in aseptic meningitis with a 0-week lag; a 10 mm rise in rainfall was associated with an 8.0% (95% CI: 7.2%–8.8%) increase in aseptic meningitis with a 7-week lag; and a 1 mJ/m2 increase of solar radiation was associated with a 5.8% (95% CI: 3.0%–8.7%) increase in aseptic meningitis with a 10-week lag. Nino3 showed positive effects in all lags, and its one unit increase was associated with an 18.9% (95% CI: 15.3%–22.6%) increase of aseptic meningitis at lag 9. The variability in the relationship between climate factors and aseptic meningitis could be used to initiate preventive measures for climate determinants of aseptic meningitis.