bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topical Treatment of Skin Injury Inflicted in Mice by X-Ray Irradiation
Authors: Meimeti Evangelia , Kafanas Antonios , Pavlou Panagoula , Evangelatou Antonia , Tsouparelou Panagiota , Kanellopoulos Stelios , Kipouros Panagiotis , Koliarakis Nikolaos , Leonis Georgios , Ioannou Efstathia , Roussis Vassilios , Rallis Michail
Published: April 2018

Background/Aims: There is no treatment, without side effects, efficiently preventing or curing skin burns, caused by radiotherapy. A new experimental topical treatment protocol was assessed in mice receiving orthovoltage X-rays at an equivalent dose to that applied to human breast cancer patients in conventional radiotherapy. Methods: SKH-HR2 female hairless mice were irradiated on their dorsum with a total dose of 4,300 cGy during a 1-month period (20 fractions). The treatment group received a combination of 3 topical products, an oil-in-water cream, a gel containing Pinus halepensis bark aqueous extract, and an ointment containing olive oil extract of the marine isopod Ceratothoa oestroides. The positive control group was treated with a conventionally used commercial gel, whereas the negative control group did not receive any topical treatment. Skin alterations were evaluated by macroscopic examinations, measurements of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), melanin content, erythema intensity, hydration, and histopathology assessment. Results: Sixty days after radiation, TEWL and hydration values were abnormal and elements of acute, chronic, and granulomatous inflammation were present in all cases. The severest damage was detected in the deeper dermis. Treatment showed a comparatively beneficial effect on chronic and granulomatous inflammation while positive control was beneficial on acute inflammation. Conclusion: Skin anti-inflammatory treatment was the most effective but must be applied for several months. Further preclinical studies should be conducted, assimilating a human cancer radiation therapeutic schema with the aim of optimizing skin inflammation treatment.
Simvastatin Attenuates Neurogenetic Damage and Improves Neurocongnitive Deficits Induced by Isoflurane in Neonatal Rats
Authors: Wang Ning , Lu Yang , Wang Kui , Li Wei-song , Lu Pan , Lei Shan , Li Rong , Zhang Hong , Zheng Juan , Lu Hai-xia , Chen Xin-lin , Liu Yong , Zhang Peng-bo
Published: April 2018

Background/Aims: Isoflurane inhibited neurogenesis and induced subsequent neurocognitive deficits in developing brain. Simvastatin exerts neuroprotection in a wide range of brain injury models. In the present study, we investigated whether simvastatin could attenuate neurogenetic inhibition and cognitive deficits induced by isoflurane exposure in neonatal rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day (PND) 7 and neural stem cells (NSCs) were treated with either gas mixture, isoflurane, or simvastatin 60 min prior to isoflurane exposure, respectively. The rats were decapitated at PND 8 and PND 10 for detection of neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus by immunostaining. NSC proliferation, viability and apoptosis were assessed by immunohistochemistry, CCK-8 and TUNEL, respectively. The protein expressions of caspase-3, p-Akt and p-GSK-3β both in vivo and vitro were assessed by western blotting. Cognitive functions were assessed by Morris Water Maze test and context fear conditioning test at the adult. Results: Isoflurane exposure inhibited neurogenesis in the SVZ and SGZ, decreased NSC proliferation and viability, promoted NSC apoptosis and led to late cognitive deficits. Furthermore, isoflurane increased caspase-3 expression and decreased protein expressions of p-Akt and p-GSK-3β both in vivo and in vitro. Pretreatment with simvastatin attenuated isoflurane-elicited changes in NSCs and cognitive function. Co-treatment with LY294002 reversed the effect of simvastatin on NSCs in vitro. Conclusion: We for the first time showed that simvastatin, by upregulating Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway, alleviated isoflurane-induced neurogenetic damage and neurocognitive deficits in developing rat brain.
Characteristics of Ice Impedance Recorded From a Ring Electrode Placed at the Anterior Surface of the Cryoballoon
Authors: Avitall Boaz , Kalinski Arthur , Kocheril G. Stephen , Lizama Ken S. , Coulombe Nicolas , Laske Timothy
Published: April 2018

Background:

The success of cryoablation of the pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is dependent on transmural and circumferential ice formation. We hypothesize that rising impedance recorded from a ring electrode placed 2 mm from the cryoballoon signifies ice formation covering the balloon surface and indicates ice expansion. The impedance level enables titration of the cryoapplication time to avoid extracardiac damage while ensuring PVI.

Methods and Results:

In 12 canines, a total of 57 pulmonary veins were targeted for isolation. Two cryoapplications were delivered per vein with a minimum of 90 and maximum of 180-second duration. Cryoapplication was terminated on reaching a 500 Ω change from baseline. Animals recovered 38±6 days post-procedure, and veins were assessed electrically for isolation. Heart tissue was histologically analyzed. Extracardiac structures were examined for damage. PVI was achieved in 100% of the veins if the impedance reached 500 Ω in <90 seconds with freeze time of 90 seconds. When 500 Ω was reached >90 to 180 seconds (142.60±29.3 seconds), 90% PVI was achieved. When the final impedance was between 200 and 500 Ω with 180 seconds of freeze time, PVI was achieved in 86.8%. For impedance of <200 Ω, PVI was achieved in 14%. No extracardiac damage was recorded.

Conclusions:

Impedance rise of 500 Ω at <90 seconds with freeze time of 90 seconds resulted in 100% PVI. Impedance measurements from the nose of the balloon is a direct measure of ice formation on the balloon. It provides real-time feedback on the quality of the ablation and defines the cryoapplication termination time based on ice formation, limiting ice expansion to extracardiac tissues.
Alternative Splicing of
FOXP3
Controls Regulatory T Cell Effector Functions and Is Associated With Human Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability
Authors: Joly Anne-Laure , Seitz Christina , Liu Sang , Kuznetsov Nikolai V. , Gertow Karl , Westerberg Lisa S. , Paulsson-Berne Gabrielle , Hansson Göran K. , Andersson John
Published: April 2018

Rationale:

Regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress immune responses and have been shown to attenuate atherosclerosis. The Treg cell lineage-specification factor FOXP3 (forkhead box P3) is essential for Treg cells’ ability to uphold immunologic tolerance. In humans, FOXP3 exists in several different isoforms, however, their specific role is poorly understood.

Objective:

To define the regulation and functions of the 2 major FOXP3 isoforms, FOXP3fl and FOXP3Δ2, as well as to establish whether their expression is associated with the ischemic atherosclerotic disease.

Methods and Results:

Human primary T cells were transduced with lentiviruses encoding distinct FOXP3 isoforms. The phenotype and function of these cells were analyzed by flow cytometry, in vitro suppression assays and RNA-sequencing. We also assessed the effect of activation on Treg cells isolated from healthy volunteers. Treg cell activation resulted in increased FOXP3 expression that predominantly was made up of FOXP3Δ2. FOXP3Δ2 induced specific transcription of GARP (glycoprotein A repetitions predominant), which functions by tethering the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF (transforming growth factor)-β to the cell membrane of activated Treg cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the impact of alternative splicing of
FOXP3
in relation with atherosclerotic plaque stability in a cohort of >150 patients that underwent carotid endarterectomy. Plaque instability was associated with a lower
FOXP3Δ2
transcript usage, when comparing plaques from patients without symptoms and patients with the occurrence of recent (<1 month) vascular symptoms including minor stroke, transient ischemic attack, or amaurosis fugax. No difference was detected in total levels of
FOXP3
mRNA between these 2 groups.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that activated Treg cells suppress the atherosclerotic disease process and that FOXP3Δ2 controls a transcriptional program that acts protectively in human atherosclerotic plaques.
Sadeler and Procaccini: The Secular Decoration of Castello Visconti di San Vito in Somma Lombardo
Authors: Conte Angelo Lo
Published: April 2018

The paper investigates the pictorial decoration of Castello Visconti di San Vito in Somma Lombardo, one of the finest examples of Lombard aristocratic villa of the first half of the seventeenth century. Built on a pre-existent medieval structure, the castle was richly decorated by a secular iconographic program that, drawn from Flemish sources, was executed in the period 1604–1609 by an équipe of painters gravitating towards the bottega Procaccini: the most important Milanese workshop of the time. The study, for the first time, retraces the genesis of this commission as well as the execution of the decorative program. Specifically, it individuates the complex series of iconographic sources used by Carlo Antonio Procaccini and his assistants, highlighting a coexistence of both Emilian and Flemish artistic references that is unprecedented in Lombard early Baroque art.
Meredith Hanmer’s Career in the Church of England, c. 1570–1590
Authors: Andreani Angela
Published: April 2018

This article deals with two pivotal decades in the life of Meredith Hanmer, an Anglican divine of Welsh descent who built his career in the Church of England against the backdrop of shifting ecclesiastical policy, religious debate and the upsurge in anti-Catholicism. Hanmer was close to the establishment but his career trajectory apparently shifted in the early-1590s, when he resigned two London benefices to move to Ireland. This study reconstructs the years preceding this move focussing on Hanmer’s professional advancement and on the publication of his first works, which will enable us to gauge his multifaceted profile as a scholar and as a clergyman. While he courted favour and established his name as a learned preacher, archival records bear a clear witness to his highly controversial conduct.
Edmund Spenser’s Ancient Hope: The Rise and Fall of the Dream of the Golden Age in The Faerie Queene
Authors: Russell Jesse
Published: April 2018

In the later twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, a debate has rumbled over the sources and significance of Platonic and Neoplatonic motifs in Edmund Spenser’s poetry. While this debate has focused on the presence (or absence) of various aspects of Platonism and/or Neoplatonism, critics have largely ignored the hints of magic derived from Neoplatonism. Through the probable influence of John Dee, Marsilio Ficino, and Giordano Bruno as well as Spenser’s own wide-ranging and particular reading, The Faerie Queene makes it evident that the English poet found himself attracted to an ancient hope in the restoration of a Golden Age that would be inaugurated by a great monarch. However, by the end of the poem, Spenser has largely lost faith in the restoration of this Golden Age; what he has uncovered along the way forces a retreat to Christian hope in his personal salvation.
Leonardo’s Dragons—The “Rider Fighting a Dragon” Sketch as an Allegory of Leonardo’s Concept of Knowledge
Authors: Khalifa-Gueta Sharon
Published: April 2018

It has long been known that Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches showing a rider in combat with a dragon do not portray St. George. Viewing these sketches in connection with several of Leonardo’s writings, this essay suggests that they are allegories that should be interpreted on several levels. On the basic level, these combat scenes represent the battle of contraries, based on the symbolism common to Leonardo’s period where a combat between an equestrian and a dragon represented the clash of light versus darkness, life versus death, good versus evil, etc. However, I argue that they also comment on the scientific and philosophical issues that occupied Leonardo, including action versus reaction and the true concept of knowledge as opposed to falsehood and sophistry. This essay interprets these sketches as offering an insight into Leonardo’s analogical approach, which connects common symbolism to his personal perspective on science and philosophy, and thus points to a new way of looking at Leonardo’s drawings and paintings and decodes new aspects of Leonardo’s personal symbolism.
Two New Species of Lauraceae from Ecuador
Authors: PALACIOS WALTER A.
Published: April 2018

Two species of Lauraceae of Ecuador are described: Aniba magnifica and Ocotea granulosa. Aniba magnifica is characterized by its large vegetative parts and its dense strigulose indumentum on the underside of its young leaves, inflorescences and bracts. Ocotea granulosa is distinguishable by the dense strigulose indumentum, mixed with amorphous blackish granules on the underside of the young leaves, peduncles, pedicels and receptacles, and by a flat or slightly recurved leaf base.
A new soldier beetle Malthinellus exiguus sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) from the Ryukyus in southwestern Japan, with a key to Japanese species
Authors: TAKAHASHI NAOKI
Published: April 2018

Malthinellus exiguus sp. nov., from the central Ryukyus in the southwestern part of Japan is described and illustrated. An identification key to the Japanese species and the checklist of the known species of Malthinellus are provided.
Romanogobio skywalkeri, a new gudgeon (Teleostei: Gobionidae) from the upper Mur River, Austria
Authors: FRIEDRICH THOMAS , WIESNER CHRISTIAN , ZANGL LUKAS , DAILL DANIEL , FREYHOF JÖRG , KOBLMÜLLER STEPHAN
Published: April 2018

Romanogobio skywalkeri, new species, is described from the upper Mur River in the Austrian Danube drainage. It is related to R. banarescui from the Mediterranean basin. Romanogobio skywalkeri is distinguished from R. banarescui by lacking epithelial crests on the predorsal back, having 12–14 total pectoral-fin rays (vs. 10–11) and usually 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. 7½). It is distinguished from other Romanogobio species in the Danube drainage by having a very slender body; a moderately long barbel, extending slightly beyond the posterior eye margin; and no epithelial crests on the predorsal back. Romanogobio skywalkeri is distinguished by a minimum net divergence of 6.3% (uncorrected p-distance against R. banarescui) in the COI barcoding region from other European Romanogobio species. A key to the Romanogobio species of the Danube drainage is provided. Romanogobio banarescui from the Vardar drainage and R. carpathorossicus from the Danube drainage are treated as valid species.
The Hidden Side of Trust: Supporting and Sustaining Leaps of Faith among Firefighters
Authors: Pratt Michael G. , Lepisto Douglas A. , Dane Erik
Published: April 2018

Some occupations and organizations rely heavily on trust, as their members’ roles involve risk and are interdependent. Trust can emerge from two sources: knowledge or evidence that is meaningful in that context, which has been studied extensively in the literature on trust, and faith, which has not. Through a multi-phase, largely inductive study of firefighters in the United States, we explore processes that facilitate and maintain leaps of faith. These processes are critical to trust under high uncertainty, when direct experience in a task domain is chronically limited, as is the case in our context because very few calls coming into a fire station are fire related. We suggest that leaps of faith are initiated and perpetuated through two sets of dynamics: supporting and sustaining. Supporting dynamics, such as telling stories about fighting fires, evoke domain-relevant standards that are applied to weak, non-domain-specific evidence, such as how routine tasks are performed at the fire station, to help members feel a sense of certainty about whom to trust. Sustaining dynamics both limit the impact of new evidence about trustworthiness and bolster one’s sense of certainty surrounding existing evidence. These two sets of dynamics, embedded in broader task and occupational conditions, act together as a largely closed system that allows trustors to be at peace with the uncertainty surrounding trust assessments—they make leaps of faith possible by increasing certainty and inhibiting doubt. Our study helps address key questions in both psychological and sociological treatments of trust, exploring an enigmatic phenomenon core to the concept of trust but rarely examined.
Strand-spacing dependency on the tensile response of tri-component elastic-conductive composite yarns
Authors: Wang Yong , Yu Weidong , Wang Fumei
Published: April 2018

This study focuses on the effect of strand spacing on the tensile behavior of tri-component elastic-conductive composite yarns (t-ECCYs). The fabrication procedure of t-ECCYs was previously reported using a modified ring frame. The tensile data were analyzed with SPSS using one-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc Fisher’s least significant difference test (α = 0.05). The results demonstrate that with elevated strand spacing up to 14.0 mm, the breaking tenacity and extension at break of yarns increase, beyond which they reduce, and mean results were considered significantly different. Furthermore, a two-parameter Weibull distribution and box-whisker plot can be appropriately used to quantify the variability of tensile strength. It is evident that strand spacing plays a crucial role in influencing the structure and hence the final behavior of yarns. The shape of twisting triangle was obviously asymmetric, primarily due to modulus differences of its sub-strands in the resulting yarns. In particular, a bottom-and-right displacement of convergence points was observed with the increasing strand spacing. Finally, the electrical conductivity of t-ECCYs in various stretching states was characterized. With the superior conductivity under different stretching, t-ECCYs have tremendous prospects for wearable electronic applications. More importantly, desirable characteristics that are possibly possessed by the yarns are industrial weavability and knittability, which will pave a convenient but highly effective way for the large-scale production of wearable electronic textiles.
Jail Versus Probation: A Gender-Specific Test of Differential Effectiveness and Moderators of Sanction Effects
Authors: Caudy Michael S. , Tillyer Marie Skubak , Tillyer Rob
Published: April 2018

This study uses data from male and female adult offenders sentenced in a large urban county in the United States ( n = 15,727) to examine the relative impact of jail and probation on recidivism. The study also explores how various risk and need factors moderate the effects of a jail sentence on an individual’s likelihood of rearrest. Gender-specific, multivariate logistic regression and survival analyses were conducted including risk and needs assessment data to control for individual risk for recidivism and examine risk as a moderator of sanction effectiveness. Results indicate that individuals sentenced to jail experienced an increased risk for recidivism relative to similarly situated offenders sentenced to probation. In addition, the criminogenic effect of jail was exacerbated for offenders assessed as high risk for recidivism and those with existing treatment needs. Gender-specific analyses revealed a gender-neutral criminogenic effect of jail, and gender differences in terms of moderators of sanction effects.
Salmon, sensors, and translation: The agency of Big Data in environmental governance
Authors: Ascui Francisco , Haward Marcus , Lovell Heather
Published: April 2018

This paper explores the emerging role of Big Data in environmental governance. We focus on the case of salmon aquaculture management from 2011 to 2017 in Macquarie Harbour, Australia, and compare this with the foundational case that inspired the development of the concept of ‘translation’ in actor-network theory, that of scallop domestication in St Brieuc Bay, France, in the 1970s. A key difference is the salience of environmental data in the contemporary case. Recent dramatic events in the environmental governance of Macquarie Harbour have been driven by increasing spatial and temporal resolution of environmental monitoring, including real-time data collection from sensors mounted on the fish themselves. The resulting environmental data now takes centre stage in increasingly heated debates over how the harbour should be managed: overturning long-held assumptions about environmental interactions, inducing changes in regulatory practices and institutions, fracturing historical alliances and shaping the on-going legitimacy of the industry. Environmental Big Data is now a key actor within the networks that constitute and enact environmental governance. Given its new and unpredictable agency, control over access to data is likely to become critical in future power struggles over environmental resources and their governance.
Osteomalacia, renal Fanconi syndrome, and bone tumor
Authors: Gou Manting , Ma Zhongshu
Published: April 2018

We herein report two cases of Fanconi syndrome with refractory hypophosphatemic osteomalacia that was difficult to correct by phosphorus replacement therapy. The pathological result was a bony giant cell tumor and osteosarcoma, respectively. Interestingly, after resection of the tumors, the patient with osteosarcoma recovered completely but the patient with the bony giant cell tumor had a relapse. Although she underwent nine operations, her symptoms and laboratory tests did not improve. These findings indicate that Fanconi syndrome can result from a bone tumor.
Population Study about the Attitude toward Organ Xenotransplantation in the Population from Eastern Europe Resident in Southeast Spain
Authors: Ríos Antonio , Martínez-Alarcón Laura , Sánchez José , Jarvis Nicholas , Guzmán Dolores , Parrilla Pascual , Ramírez Pablo
Published: April 2018

Background

The objective of this paper is to analyze the attitude toward xenotransplantation and to determine the variables that influence this attitude in the population of southeast Spain who were born in Eastern European countries.

Methods

A random sample was taken of natives from Eastern Europe residing in southeast Spain (n=320). The sample was obtained randomly between November 2005 and April 2006 and stratified according to the respondents' nationality. Attitude was evaluated using a validated questionnaire which was self-administered and completed anonymously. The control group was a random sample of the native Spanish population (n=250). The statistical analysis used included Student's t-test, the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and a logistic regression analysis.

Results

The questionnaire completion rate was 83% (n=267). Regarding the use of animal organs for transplantation in humans, if the outcome were similar to that achieved when using human organs, 43% (n=114) would be in favor, 32% (n=86) undecided, and the remaining 25% (n=67) would be against it. This attitude is less favorable than in the control group (43% versus 74%, p<0.001). The attitude was related to the following factors: 1) the country of origin (p<0.001); 2) participation in social help activities (p<0.001); 3) discussion on organ donation and transplantation within the family (p=0.005); 4) previous experience of organ donation and transplantation (p=0.002); 5) the respondent's religion (p=0.002); 6) knowing that one's partner had a favorable attitude toward transplantation (p<0.001); 7) the respondent's belief that he or she might need a transplant in the future (p<0.001); 8) the attitude toward human donation, both from cadaver (p<0.001) and living (p<0.001) donors. The following were also independent variables in the subsequent multivariate analysis: 1) favorable attitude toward cadaver organ donation (OR=4.998); 2) previous experience of donation (OR=2.857); 3) partner's attitude against transplantation (OR=0.079); and 4) attitude toward living donation (OR=12.703).

Conclusions

The attitude toward xenotransplantation is less positive among Eastern Europeans living in Spain than in the native Spanish population and is influenced by many psychosocial factors that are mainly related to human organ donation.
Modeling Strengthens Molecular Link between Circadian Polymorphisms and Major Mood Disorders
Authors: Liberman Amanda R. , Halitjaha Lumbardh , Ay Ahmet , Ingram Krista K.
Published: April 2018

Anxiety and other mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), affect nearly one-fifth of the global population and disproportionately affect young adults. Individuals affected by mood disorders are frequently plagued by sleep and circadian problems, and recent genetic studies provide ample support for the association of circadian and sleep syndromes with depression and anxiety. Mathematical modeling has been crucial in understanding some of the essential features of the mammalian circadian clock and is now a vital tool for dissecting how circadian genes regulate the molecular mechanisms that influence mood. Here, we model the effect of five clock gene polymorphisms, previously linked to mood disorders, on circadian gene expression and, ultimately, on the period length and amplitude of the clock, two parameters that dictate the phase, or alignment, of the clock relative to the environment. We then test whether these gene variants are associated with circadian phenotypes (Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness scores) and well-established measures of depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) in a population of undergraduates ( n = 546). In this population, we find significant allelic and/or genotypic associations between CRY2 and two PER3 variants and diurnal preference. The PER3 length polymorphism (rs57875989) was significantly associated with depression in this sample, and individuals homozygous for the PER3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs228697) reported significantly higher anxiety. Our simple model satisfies available experimental knockdown conditions as well as existing data on clock polymorphisms associated with mood. In addition, our model enables us to predict circadian phenotypes (e.g., altered period length, amplitude) associated with mood disorders in order to identify critical effects of clock gene mutations on CRY/BMAL binding and to predict that the intronic SNPs studied represent gain-of-function mutations, causing increased transcription rate. Given the user-friendly structure of our model, we anticipate that it will be useful for further study of the relationships among clock polymorphisms, circadian misalignment, and mood disorders.
Service quality and perceived customer value in community pharmacies
Authors: Guhl Dennis , Blankart Katharina E , Stargardt Tom
Published: April 2018

A patient’s perception of the service provided by a health care provider is essential for the successful delivery of health care. This study examines the value created by community pharmacies—defined as perceived customer value—in the prescription drug market through varying elements of service quality. We develop a path model that describes the relationship between service elements and perceived customer value. We then analyze the effect of perceived customer value on customer satisfaction and loyalty. We use data obtained from 289 standardized interviews on respondents’ prescription fill in the last six months in Germany. The service elements personal interaction (path coefficient: 0.31), physical aspect (0.12), store policy (0.24), and availability (0.1) have a positive significant effect on perceived customer value. Consultation and reliability have no significant influence. We further find a strong positive interdependency between perceived customer value, customer satisfaction (0.75), and customer loyalty (0.71). Thus, pharmacies may enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty if they consider the customer perspective and focus on the relevant service elements. To enhance benefit, personal interaction appears to be most important to address appropriately.
Study on damage behavior of carbide tool for milling difficult-to-machine material
Authors: Cheng Yao-Nan , Nie Wan-Ying , Guan Rui , Jia Wei-Kun , Yan Fu-gang
Published: April 2018

Water chamber head is an important component of nuclear power unit, and the main material is 508 III steel of difficult-to-machine material, which has the characteristics of high hardness, high strength, high plasticity and high profile shrinkage, etc. During the milling process, the tool is subjected to the cyclic impact load, which make cutting force and cutting heat change violent and occurrence of tool damage failure accelerate. In this paper, the damage behavior of carbide tool for milling difficult-to-machine material is studied first, and then field experiment was carried out on 508 III steel material, tool failure modes were analyzed, which include impact damage and fatigue fracture, and the failure theory and the crack propagation of carbide material were investigated in the process of tool damage. Then, the impact damage model of carbide tool is established based on the classical strength theory, and the critical condition of impact damage is determined according to simulation analysis. Finally, the theoretical model of carbide tool fatigue life is established and the tool fatigue limit is analyzed. Theoretical basis and technical support are provided for the tool failure mechanisms analysis, life prediction, parameter optimization, tool design and development aspects during the study.
Nonrelative sliding of spiral bevel gear mechanism based on active design of meshing line
Authors: Chen Zhen , Zeng Ming
Published: April 2018

In this paper, an active design method of meshing line for a spiral bevel gear mechanism with nonrelative sliding is presented. First, the general meshing line equations for a nonrelative sliding transmission mechanism between two orthogonal axes are proposed based on the active design parameters. Then, parametric equations for contact curves on the drive and driven spiral bevel gears are deduced by coordinate transformation of the meshing line equations. Further to this, parametric equations for the tooth surface of each bevel gear are derived according to the conical spiral motion of a generatrix circle along the calculated contact curves. Finally, a set of numerical examples is presented based on two types of motion equation of the meshing points. Material prototypes are fabricated and experimentally tested to validate the kinematic performance of the functionally designed spiral bevel gear set.
Dynamic evolution, spatial spillover effect of technological innovation and haze pollution in China
Authors: Liu Xiaohong
Published: April 2018

This study investigates 30 provinces in China between 2003 and 2014. Kernel density method is used to analyse the dynamic evolution of haze pollution and technological innovation research and development (R&D), while spatial econometric analysis is used to study the impact of technological innovation on the haze pollution. The results show that haze pollution presents global spatial autocorrelation and local spatial cluster in China. China’s haze pollution has a significant spatial dependence and spatial spillover. A disproportion distribution pattern of haze pollution exists among provinces in China: the central region is the most polluted area followed by the western region, the northeast region and the eastern region. The kernel density curve shows that the gap between technology innovations R&D among provinces has expanded year by year. There is a polarization between the technological innovations R&D. Dynamic evolution results showed that during 2003–2012, the kernel density distribution curve of haze pollution showed a leftward shift, indicating that provincial haze pollution decreased gradually. However, the kernel density distribution curve of haze pollution showed a rightward shift in 2014, and the provincial haze pollution increased. During 2003–2012, the gap of haze pollution among different provinces in China gradually narrowed, while in 2014, the gap increased significantly. Spatial econometric results show that the indirect effects and the total effects of technological innovation are significantly negative. Technological innovation can not only reduce the regional haze pollution but also indirectly lead to the decline in the haze pollution of adjacent provinces through the knowledge spillover effect. The increase of population density can effectively reduce the haze pollution. There is an inverted ‘U type’ relationship between economic development and haze pollution. The increase of traffic pressure will aggravate the degree of haze pollution.
Connected cruise control of a car platoon: A time-domain stability analysis
Authors: Juárez Luis , Mondié Sabine , Cuvas Carlos
Published: April 2018

A compact representation of a vehicle platoon following model considering the headway, velocity, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication delay is presented. Then, a connectivity structure is selected, which includes vehicles equipped with connected cruise control and a conventional vehicle as the leader. The platoon exponential stability and its robust stability with respect to time-varying matrix perturbations are studied. The analysis is carried out in the time domain, via Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals depending on the delay Lyapunov matrix. The stability results are illustrated by stability charts of the plane of control gain parameters. A total of three platoon illustrative vehicle scenarios show the interest of the approach.
Moratorium or waithood? Forms of time-taking and the changing shape of youth
Authors: Cuzzocrea Valentina
Published: April 2018

Developing Erikson’s concept of ‘psychological moratorium’ (1968), literature on youth transitions has a central focus in the procrastination of adult roles. Forms of time taking may either be erratic, or take more institutionalised and/or middle-class-oriented shapes such as ‘gap years,’ and they are generally justified by the aim of self-experimentation. However, on a different institutional level, they enter in contrast with the recent imperative of becoming ‘fit for work,’ which is realised mainly through obtaining an increasing number of qualifications and skills considered essential to meet the challenges of employment, and ultimately embody a model of ‘active citizenship.’ But how do these two contrasting demands come to terms with each other in the experiences of youth? And how is youth itself re-shaped through this interaction? Contrasting the concept of psychological moratorium (and its developments) with a wider literature on social acceleration, where an emphasis on active citizenship and employability can be framed, this article revisits forms of time taking among youths. It does so by discussing a Sardinian case study, where varieties of time taking also reverse into forms of ‘waithood,’ and are therefore in contrast with social acceleration. More analytically, I have identified two modalities of moratorium (i.e. classic moratorium and waithood) and two sub-modalities of waithood (justified by either the accomplishment of procedures or by waiting for someone else’s intervention). These findings are discussed with reference to a broad political framework through which it is possible to revisit the changing shape of youth under the pressures of late modern society.
Farmers prevailing perception profiles regarding GM crops: A classification proposal
Authors: Almeida Carla , Massarani Luisa
Published: April 2018

Genetically modified organisms have been at the centre of a major public controversy, involving different interests and actors. While much attention has been devoted to consumer views on genetically modified food, there have been few attempts to understand the perceptions of genetically modified technology among farmers. By investigating perceptions of genetically modified organisms among Brazilian farmers, we intend to contribute towards filling this gap and thereby add the views of this stakeholder group to the genetically modified debate. A comparative analysis of our data and data from other studies indicate there is a complex variety of views on genetically modified organisms among farmers. Despite this diversity, we found variations in such views occur within limited parameters, concerned principally with expectations or concrete experiences regarding the advantages of genetically modified crops, perceptions of risks associated with them, and ethical questions they raise. We then propose a classification of prevailing profiles to represent the spectrum of perceptions of genetically modified organisms among farmers.
Listened to, but not heard! The failure to represent the public in genetically modified food policies
Authors: Lassen Jesper
Published: April 2018

‘In the mid-1990s, a mismatch was addressed between European genetically modified food policy, which focused primarily on risks and economic prospects, and public anxieties, which also included other concerns, and there was a development in European food policy toward the inclusion of what were referred to as “ethical aspects.” Using parliamentary debates in Denmark in 2002 and 2015 as a case, this article examines how three storylines of concern that were visible in public discourse at the time were represented by the decision makers in parliament. It shows that core public concerns raising fundamental questions about genetically modified foods, and in particular their perceived unnaturalness, were not considered in the parliamentary debates. It is suggested that the failure of the parliament to represent the public may undermine the legitimacy of politicians and lead to disillusionment with parliamentary government.
Building School Connectedness for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Authors: Marsh Robbie J.
Published: April 2018

Designing and implementing effective interventions for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) continues to challenge teachers. School connectedness is an emerging construct that is preventative for engagement in health-risk behavior and bullying. This article highlights a shift in intervention design and proposes a multifaceted intervention to meet the unique needs of students with EBD. Each component of the school connectedness construct is discussed with accompanying intervention strategies that can be implemented simultaneously to improve the behavioral and academic outcomes for students with EBD.
Chinese Inclusive Education: The Past, Present, and Future
Authors: An Zhe Gigi , Hu Xiaoyi , Horn Eva
Published: April 2018

Since the Declaration of Salamanca in 1994, many countries, including China, have been moving toward a more inclusive approach to schooling. This column discusses the history, status quo, and future directions of Chinese inclusive education. It also examines facilitators, barriers, and challenges in the development and implementation of Chinese inclusive education and provides corresponding recommendations.
Preparing Literacy Professionals: The Case of Dyslexia
Authors: Gabriel Rachael
Published: April 2018

In this article, I discuss implications of the discourse and rhetoric of dyslexia advocacy and of recent state policies for the preparation of literacy professionals. I then synthesize reflections on my experiences teaching and learning about dyslexia and reading difficulties within university-based schools of education, and in trainings offered by publishers of commercial reading programs. Here, I draw a distinction between being trained to deliver a program and developing a professional knowledge base for the teaching of reading. I use these reflections to identify two goals for university-based graduate programs aimed at ensuring equity and inclusivity in the current policy context.
Effect of salt water conditioning on novel fiber metal laminates for marine applications
Authors: Najafi M , Darvizeh A , Ansari R
Published: April 2018

One of the issues with the widespread use of polymer matrix composites in marine applications is their high susceptibility to environmental degradation, particularly hygrothermal conditions. Therefore, the present research intends to contribute to the better protection of the marine polymer matrix composites through the introduction of a newly developed fiber metal laminate for marine applications. This type of fiber metal laminate consists of a marine aluminum alloy of 5083 alternating with glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite layers. In order to evaluate the characterization of the environmental durability of this novel material, the specimens made of fiber metal laminates as well as commercial woven glass–epoxy composites were exposed to hygrothermal aging and hygrothermal cycling in boiling salt water. Then, to study the structural degradation caused by exposure to salt water, the mechanical properties of fiber metal laminate and woven glass–epoxy specimens under three-point bending and impact loading were evaluated. Results show that exposure to the saline environment generally decreased the flexural strength of woven glass–epoxy and fiber metal laminate specimens, whereas a smaller deterioration in flexural stiffness of both laminate types was found. Moreover, it was observed that the hygrothermal conditioning in salt water did not affect significantly the impact properties of both the fiber metal laminate and woven glass–epoxy specimens as compared to the flexural properties.
To Lead Is to Err: The Mediating Role of Attribution in the Relationship Between Leader Error and Leader Ratings
Authors: Follmer Kayla B. , Neely Brett H. , Jones Kisha S. , Hunter Samuel T.
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was threefold: to expand the existing leader error taxonomy to include a third dimension of leader error (i.e., ethical errors), to examine the differential effects of error type on leader ratings, and to test a mediated model in which behavioral attribution mediated the relationship between error type and leader ratings. Results showed that ethical errors were distinct from previously established dimensions. Ethical and relationship errors resulted in lower ratings of leader liking and willingness to follow the leader, as compared to task errors. In addition to showing how error types differentially affected leader ratings, this study provided evidence for how this relationship is transmitted. Across two mediation models, behavioral attribution mediated the relationship between leader error and leader ratings after an error occurred. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed as well as future directions for research.
Authenticity in leadership: Reframing relational transparency through the lens of emotional labour
Authors: Kempster Steve , Iszatt-White Marian , Brown Matt
Published: April 2018

In this paper we problematise relational transparency as an element of authentic leadership when viewed through the lens of emotional labour. Using the method of analytic co-constructed auto-ethnography we examine a senior hospital manager’s experience of seeking to be authentic during a period of intense challenge as he pursues the closure of a hospital ward. A first-person account is developed that speaks to the necessity of hiding felt emotions and displaying his perceptions of desired emotions warranted in the context in which he seeks to lead. That this is not experienced as inauthentic is seen as deriving from two dimensions of experienced authenticity: strength of identification with leadership role and fidelity to leadership purpose. The veracity of this reframing of authenticity in leadership practice is explored through a second study, of practising leaders required to balance the demands of performing emotional labour and appearing and feeling authentic. We suggest that reframing relational transparency as ‘fidelity to purpose’ may be a valuable counterweight to the goal of relational transparency promulgated by the leadership industry and a practical advance for those seeking to practise authentic leadership.
The effect of movement variability on putting proficiency during the golf putting stroke
Authors: Richardson Ashley K , Mitchell Andrew CS , Hughes Gerwyn
Published: April 2018

Movement variability has been considered important to execute an effective golf swing yet is comparatively unexplored regarding the golf putt. Movement variability could potentially be important considering the small margins of error between a successful and a missed putt. The aim of this study was to assess whether variability of body segment rotations influence putting performance (ball kinematic measures). Eight golfers (handicap range 0–10) performed a 3.2 m level putt wearing retro-reflective markers which were tracked using a three-dimensional motion analysis system sampling at 120 Hz. Ball roll kinematics were recorded using Quintic Ball Roll launch monitor. Movement (segment) variability was calculated based on a scalene ellipsoid volume concept and correlated with the coefficient of variation of ball kinematics. Statistical analysis showed no significant relationships between segment variability and putting proficiency. One significant relationship was identified between left forearm variability and horizontal launch angle, but this did not result in deficits in putting success. Results show that performance variability in the backswing and downswing is not related to putting proficiency or the majority of ball roll measures. Differing strategies may exist where certain golfers may have more fluid movement patterns thereby effectively utilising variability of movement. Therefore, golf instructors should consider movement variability when coaching the golf putt.
The Taricco saga
Authors: Manacorda Stefano
Published: April 2018

On 8 September 2015, a new chapter opened in the history of European Criminal Law as a consequence of the judgment issued by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice in the Taricco case. As a background hereto, the complex series of judicial decisions that have taken place must be recalled, by stressing the role played – among others – by the Italian Constitutional Court and the European Court of Justice (I). On such a basis, a comparative overview will allow us to identify some of the essential legal dilemmas at stake by focusing on the different conceptions surrounding the legal regime of time limitation for criminal offences and the wider implications arising therefrom (II). Apart from the divergence of perspectives which arises between the Italian and European judges, the judicial saga represents a turn in the history of the so-called European Criminal Law which deserves to be analysed.