bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Springing into arts and crafts
Authors: Pandit Kalpana
Published: March 2015

Easter and springtime co-exist happily each year and offer the inventive practitioner an almost endless source of inspiration for making and doing, creative practical activities.
Fruit & Veg: N is for Nectarine…
Authors: Hammond Paula , Lillie Stephen
Published: March 2015

This month, we continue our extended adventure around the alphabetical vegetables and fruits of the world, by looking at a fruit that generates a great deal of confusion!
Thinking on your feet
Authors: Webb Penny
Published: March 2015

There is no statutory requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage to produce written planning, so why do so many of us feel the need to regiment the days of our children?
Mythical creatures – fairy folk
Authors: Garner Lynne
Published: March 2015

The final article in our series that has been examining mythical beasts, their history, their place in storytelling and activities that will help children bring them to life once more.
Flea allergic dermatitis
Authors: Paterson Sue
Published: March 2015

Flea allergic dermatitis is a common cause of allergic skin disease in cats and dogs. A diagnosis can best be achieved by taking a full clinical history and making a thorough examination of the animal. The institution of a rigorous flea control programme is important in achieving control.
Emergency care and first aid of invertebrates
Authors: Pellett Sarah , Bushell Mark
Published: March 2015

Invertebrate medicine has been overshadowed in the past by work and research in vertebrates. It is now becoming of greater importance to understand invertebrate disease, since more animals are kept within captivity and species such as the honey bee, with a commercial importance to the UK industry, are now in decline. This article describes emergency and first aid procedures for some of the more common injuries in invertebrates.
Engaging with the past and present: thinking outside the box
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: March 2015

Meaningful engagement with an older person can be made in any number of ways. Aysha Mendes discusses how memory boxes, bubbles, music and games are just some of the ways to spark old memories and reconnect a person with their identity
Accidents and incidents reporting: the legal implications
Authors: Williams Poppy
Published: March 2015

When things go wrong at nursing and residential homes, those who run them have a number of legal obligations. Poppy Williams runs through what needs to be done
An Integrated Approach for Platoon-based Simulation and Its Feasibility Assessment
Authors: Ng Kok Mun , Reaz Mamun Bin Ibne
Published: March 2015

Research on developing mathematical and simulative models to evaluate performance of signalized arterials is still ongoing. In this paper, an integrated model (IM) based on Rakha vehicle dynamics and LWR model is proposed. The IM which imitates actuated performance measurement in signalized arterials is described using continuous timed Petri net with variable speeds (VCPN). This enables systematic discretized description of platoon movement from an upstream signalized intersection towards a downstream signalized intersection. The integration is based on the notion that speed and travel time characteristics in a link can be provided using Rakha model. This will assist the LWR to estimate arrival profiles of vehicles at downstream intersection. One immediate benefit of the model is that platoon arrival profile obtained from the IM can be directly manipulated to estimate queues and delays at the target intersection using input-output analysis without considering the effect of shockwaves. This is less tedious as compared to analysing the LWR model through tracing trajectory of shockwave. Besides, time parameters of a platoon could be estimated for self-scheduling control approach from a cycle to cycle basis. The proposed IM is applied to a test intersection where simulated queues and average delays from the IM are compared with the platoon dispersion model (PDM) implemented in TRANSYT, cell transmission model (CTM) and HCM2000 for both under-saturated and oversaturated situations. The comparisons yielded acceptable and reasonable results, thus ascertained the feasibility and validity of the model.
Denboraren gezia
Authors: Brizuela David
Published: March 2015

Denboraren gezia denboran norantza berezi bat finkatzen duen edozein efektu edo prozesu bezala defini daiteke. Artikulu honetan denboraren geziaren kontzeptua aztertuko da fisikaren arlo desberdinen ikuspuntutik. Funtsean fisikaren legeak bi multzotan banatzen dira. Alde batetik oinarrizko partikulek jarraitzen dituzten legeak denboran simetrikoak dira. Beste aldetik partikulen sistema makroskopikoei aplikatzen zaizkienak, termodinamikaren bigarren printzipioa bereziki, denboran asimetria bat finkatzen dute. Nola izan liteke denboran asimetria bat egotea azpitik dauden legeak itzulgarriak izanik? Itzulezintasunaren paradoxa hau aztertuko da eta literaturan proposatu diren erantzun posibleak eztabaidatu.
Von den Zahlen zu den Inhalten – „Bench-Learning“ als Follow-Up-Prozess der Kundenbefragung
Authors: Puchta Thomas
Published: March 2015

Eine Kundenbefragung war nur dann ein Erfolg, wenn die Ergebnisse im Anschluss von den Bibliotheken tatsächlich zur Qualitätsentwicklung und Angebotssteuerung genutzt werden. Aufgezeigt wird anhand der Methode des sog. „Bench-Learnings“ wie ein geeigneter Follow-Up-Prozess gestaltet werden kann. Zunächst werden Konzept und organisationale Voraussetzungen des Bench-Learnings erläutert, um anschließend anhand der konkreten Berliner Strukturen die geplante Vorgehensweise zu erläutern. Verschiedene Arten von Auswertungsmethoden werden schematisch vorgestellt und erläutert.
A checklist for critical appraisal of studies of biological variation
Authors: Bartlett William A. , Braga Federica , Carobene Anna , Coşkun Abdurrahman , Prusa Richard , Fernandez-Calle Pilar , Røraas Thomas , Jonker Neils , Sandberg Sverre , on behalf of the Biological Variati
Published: March 2015

Data on biological variation are used for many purposes in laboratory medicine but concern exists over the validity of the data reported in some studies. A critical appraisal checklist has been produced by a working group established by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) to enable standardised assessment of existing and future publications of biological variation data. The checklist identifies key elements to be reported in studies to enable safe accurate and effective transport of biological variation data sets across healthcare systems. The checklist is mapped to the domains of a minimum data set required to enable this process.
Whole blood thromboelastometry profiles in women with preeclampsia
Authors: Spiezia Luca , Bogana Gianna , Campello Elena , Maggiolo Sara , Pelizzaro Elena , Carbonare Cristina Dalle , Gervasi Maria Teresa , Simioni Paolo
Published: March 2015

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and significant amounts of protein in the urine. Various coagulation abnormalities have been described in pregnant women with PE. The aim of the present case-control study was to evaluate whole blood thromboelastometry profiles, performed by ROTEM

Standard ROTEM

Preeclamptic women showed a significantly more rapid propagation phase in EXTEM assay than controls (CFT 62±15 vs. 75±15 s and α-angle 78±4 vs. 75±4°, p<0.01 in both cases). Moreover, MCF was significantly higher and ML significantly lower in women with PE than in healthy pregnant women (p=0.001 for all comparisons).

ROTEM
Culture or language: what drives effects of grammatical gender?
Authors: Beller Sieghard , Brattebø Karen Fadnes , Lavik Kristina Osland , Reigstad Rakel Drønen , Bender Andrea
Published: March 2015

Although investigations of linguistic relativity originated in cultural anthropology, the role of culture in the interplay of language and cognition has rarely been addressed. The debate on whether the grammatical gender of nouns affects how people represent the entity denoted by the respective noun is a typical example of this. A common research strategy has been to compare the gender associations for non-animate entities as a function of their grammatical gender between two languages spoken in different cultural groups. In the study reported here, we try to disentangle linguistic and cultural effects on such gender associations, by focusing on members of one cultural group speaking two language variants that differ in whether or not they distinguish masculine and feminine gender. Participants were asked to assign a male or female voice to nouns from a broad range of semantic categories (animates, allegories and artefacts). Our findings indicate that the gender system does indeed have an impact on voice assignment. However, this grammatical effect is small compared to the variation induced by culturally conveyed associations within and across the semantic domains. In conclusion, we discuss some implications and guidelines for future research on how to control for culture as a problematic confound in cross-linguistic studies.
How to Apply the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard Concept
Authors: Krstić Bojan , Sekulić Vesna , Ivanović Vladimir
Published: March 2015

Many successful enterprises have identified a large significance of non-economic determinants of business and their influence on competitive success. Social responsible behaviour becomes an imperative of modern business environment. Corporate social responsibility emphasizes more effective environmental and social performance management so that its influence on financial performance becomes more and more obvious. In that sense, the aim of this paper is to point out the theoretical foundations of the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBS) concept, and to demonstrate an example of enterprise, which will show how to develop SBS in the aim of its successful application.
The Quality of Financial Reporting in the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Đukić Tadija Đ , Pavlović Miloš
Published: March 2015

High quality financial statements should truly and objectively reveal the financial position, business results and changes of a business entity. Satisfied users of financial statements according to which they make decisions represent the best confirmation of high quality financial reporting. The paper deals with the conceptual framework of financial reporting and with an attempt to create unified and revised conceptual framework as a joint project by FASB and IASB. Moreover, it considers novelties that the framework brings. Also, the paper points to the current state in terms of financial reporting quality in the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, the paper points to some shortcomings of accounting regulation at the national level as a prerequisite of high quality reporting. Finally, the authors propose certain measures and activities for enhancing financial reporting quality in the current economic and political conditions in the Republic of Serbia.
Distributed Multi-Agent-Based Protection Scheme for Transient Stability Enhancement in Power Systems
Authors: Rahman M. S. , Mahmud M. A. , Pota H. R. , Hossain M. J. , Orchi T. F.
Published: March 2015

This paper presents a new distributed agent-based scheme to enhance the transient stability of power systems by maintaining phase angle cohesiveness of interconnected generators through proper relay coordination with critical clearing time (CCT) information. In this distributed multi-agent infrastructure, intelligent agents represent various physical device models to provide dynamic information and energy flow among different physical processes of power systems. The agents can communicate with each other in a distributed manner with a final aim to control circuit breakers (CBs) with CCT information as this is the key issue for maintaining and enhancing the transient stability of power systems. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated on a standard IEEE 39-bus New England benchmark system under different large disturbances such as three-phase short-circuit faults and changes in loads within the systems. From the simulation results, it is found that the proposed scheme significantly enhances the transient stability of power systems as compared to a conventional scheme of static CB operation.
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As), Market Structure and Inventive Activity in the Agricultural Biotechnology Industry
Authors: Oehmke James F. , Naseem Anwar
Published: March 2015

This article explores the relationships among mergers and acquisitions (M&A), consolidation, concentration and inventive activity in the agricultural biotechnology industry. We adapt testable hypotheses from the conceptual literature. We empirically test each hypothesis and interpret the results in terms of existing explanations of consolidation and the level of inventive activity, and antitrust policy. We find aggregate inventive activity to be related to M&A activity, but whether the effect is positive or negative is dependent on the type of M&A. Further, greater number of public sector firms in the research market, as well as increasing industry concentration, are both found to increase overall innovation.
Channel Concentration and Retail Prices: Evidence from the Traditional Cheese Market of Cyprus
Authors: Markidou Anna , Michis Antonis
Published: March 2015

This study examines the impact of channel concentration on retail prices in the traditional cheese market of Cyprus. The analysis is based on a panel data model for retail prices and a non-linear simultaneous equations model for the estimation of market power. Our results suggest that retail cheese prices tend to be positively related to producer concentration and negatively related to channel concentration. We provide explanations for these results based on the structure-conduct-performance and countervailing buyer power models in published industrial organization studies.
Altered cardiovascular autonomic function in young normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents – Is obesity an additional risk factor?
Authors: Johncy Selvaraj Smilee , Karthik Challakere Subramanya , Bondade Suresh Yankanna , Jayalakshmi Malavar Kariyappa
Published: March 2015

Background: A study was undertaken to analyze the nature and magnitude of autonomic dysregulation that starts early in the offspring of a hypertensive parent and also whether obesity in them add an additional risk for future hypertension.

Methods: Forty normotensive subjects aged 18–25 years with at least one hypertensive parent constitute the study group. The study group was divided into obese and non-obese depending on their body mass index (non-obese with BMI 18.50–24.99 kg/m2; obese with BMI≥30 kg/m2). Twenty age-matched normotensive, without parental history subjects constitute the control group. Anthropometric parameters, heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressures were recorded. Heart rate variability indices like total power, LF, HF, LF/HF, SDNN, RMSSD, and PNN50% were studied. One-way ANOVA was used for simultaneous multiple group comparison followed by post hoc Tukey’s test for groupwise comparison. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between BMI and other variables.

Results: Subjects who were obese with parental history of hypertension showed significantly higher heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, LF, LF/HF ratio and reduced total power, HF, SDNN, RMSSD, and PNN50% compared to the other groups with normal BMI. HF and all the time domain indices showed negative correlation and LF a positive correlation with BMI.

Conclusions: In the obese offspring of hypertensive parents, HRV markers, which represent a vagal dominance were reduced substantially, and indices of sympathetic activity were increased. So obesity in a normotensive offspring of a hypertensive parent is an additional risk factor for the future development of hypertension as it further dysregulates the autonomic control of the heart.
On the length of the shortest non-trivial element in the derived and the lower central series
Authors: Elkasapy Abdelrhman , Thom Andreas
Published: March 2015

We provide upper and lower bounds on the length of the shortest non-trivial element in the derived series and lower central series in the free group on two generators. The techniques are used to provide new estimates on the nilpotent residual finiteness growth and on almost laws for compact groups.
A uniform model for almost convexity and rewriting systems
Authors: Brittenham Mark , Hermiller Susan
Published: March 2015

We introduce a topological property for
finitely generated groups,
called stackable, that
implies the existence of
an inductive procedure for constructing
van Kampen diagrams with respect to a
particular finite presentation.
We also define algorithmically stackable groups, for which
this procedure is an algorithm.
This property gives a common
model for algorithms arising from both rewriting
systems and almost convexity for groups.
The relationship between prosodic weakening and sound change: evidence from the German tense/lax vowel contrast
Authors: Harrington Jonathan , Kleber Felicitas , Reubold Ulrich , Siddins Jessica
Published: March 2015

The study tests a model of sound change based on how prosodic weakening affects shortening in polysyllabic words. Twenty-nine L1-German speakers produced minimal pairs differing in vowel tensity in both monosyllables /zakt, zaːkt/ and disyllables /zaktə, zaːktə/. The target words were produced in accented and deaccented contexts. The duration ratio between the vowel and the following /kt/ cluster was less for lax than tense vowels and less for disyllables than monosyllables. Under deaccentuation, there was an approximation of tense and lax vowels towards each other but no influence due to the mono- vs. disyllabic difference. On the other hand, Gaussian /a/ vs. /aː/ classifications of these data showed a lesser influence due to the syllable count in deaccented words. Compatibly, when the same speakers as listeners classified synthetic
Ein Blick in den Stollen von Skepsis: Vier Kapitel zur frühen Uberlieferung des Corpus Aristotelicum
Authors: Primavesi Oliver
Published: March 2015

The purpose of the paper is to defend a modified version of the report given by Strabo about the transmission of the writings of Aristotle during the Hellenistic period. The basic dilemma was pointed out by Dom Jean Liron in 1717: The existence of our Corpus Aristotelicum entails that Strabo must be exaggerating either in assuming that the manuscripts brought by Neleus to Scepsis were the only manuscripts of the Aristotelian and Theophrastean writings, or in asserting that these manuscripts were severely damaged. Many writings of our Corpus are missing in the Hellenistic catalogue of Aristotle's works while they are listed in the later catalogue of Ptolemy al-Gharïb; furthermore, the single books of the transmitted treatises are labelled by means of the pre-Hellenistic system of 24 letter labels, whereas in the Hellenistic catalogue the single books are numbered by means of the Hellenistic system of 27 alphabetic numerals. This suggests that the treatises missing in the Hellenistic catalogue formed part of a collection which was inaccessible in Hellenistic times and which, therefore, preserved the pre-Hellenistic system of book-labelling. After the rediscovery of the collection (ca. 100 BC) its system of book-labelling was maintained by the editors who laid the foundations of our Corpus. The same criterion reveals the Eudemian Ethics in eight books to be a later compilation.
Carbon Isotopic Composition Of Earlydiagenetic Methane: Variations With Sediments Depth
Authors: Jędrysek Mariusz Orion , Hałas Stanisław , Pieńkos Tomasz
Published: March 2015

We demonstrate the annual cycle of methane in fresh sediments of two lakes - Moszne (E Poland) and Skrzynka (W Poland). The vertical gradient in δ
Investigation of Blade Angle of an Open Cross-Flow Runner
Authors: Katayama Yusuke , Iio Shouichiro , Veerapun Salisa , Uchiyama Tomomi
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to develop a nano-hydraulic turbine utilizing drop structure in irrigation channels or industrial waterways. This study was focused on an open-type cross-flow turbine without any attached equipment for cost reduction and easy maintenance. In this study, the authors used an artificial indoor waterfall as lab model. Test runner which is a simple structure of 20 circular arc-shaped blades sandwiched by two circular plates was used The optimum inlet blade angle and the relationship between the power performance and the flow rate approaching theoretically and experimentally were investigated. As a result, the optimum inlet blade angle due to the flow rate was changed. Additionally, allocation rate of power output in 1st stage and 2nd stage is changed by the blade inlet angle.
Selective Activation of Microglia Facilitates Synaptic Strength
Authors: Clark Anna K. , Gruber-Schoffnegger Doris , Drdla-Schutting Ruth , Gerhold Katharina J. , Malcangio Marzia , Sandkühler Jürgen
Published: March 2015

Synaptic plasticity is thought to be initiated by neurons only, with the prevailing view assigning glial cells mere specify supportive functions for synaptic transmission and plasticity. We now demonstrate that glial cells can control synaptic strength independent of neuronal activity. Here we show that selective activation of microglia in the rat is sufficient to rapidly facilitate synaptic strength between primary afferent C-fibers and lamina I neurons, the first synaptic relay in the nociceptive pathway. Specifically, the activation of the CX3CR1 receptor by fractalkine induces the release of interleukin-1β from microglia, which modulates NMDA signaling in postsynaptic neurons, leading to the release of an eicosanoid messenger, which ultimately enhances presynaptic neurotransmitter release. In contrast to the conventional view, this form of plasticity does not require enhanced neuronal activity to trigger the events leading to synaptic facilitation. Augmentation of synaptic strength in nociceptive pathways represents a cellular model of pain amplification. The present data thus suggest that, under chronic pain states, CX3CR1-mediated activation of microglia drives the facilitation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the dorsal horn, which contributes to pain hypersensitivity in chronic pain states.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Controls Ingestive Behavior, Agouti-Related Protein, and Neuropeptide Y mRNA in the Arcuate Hypothalamus
Authors: Garretson John T. , Teubner Brett J.W. , Grove Kevin L. , Vazdarjanova Almira , Ryu Vitaly , Bartness Timothy J.
Published: March 2015

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is clinically targeted for type II diabetes treatment; however, rosiglitazone (ROSI), a PPARγ agonist, increases food intake and body/fat mass as side-effects. Mechanisms for these effects and the role of PPARγ in feeding are not understood. Therefore, we tested this role in Siberian hamsters, a model of human energy balance, and C57BL/6 mice. We tested the following: (1) how ROSI and/or GW9662 (2-chloro-5-nitro-N-phenylbenzamide; PPARγ antagonist) injected intraperitoneally or into the third ventricle (3V) affected Siberian hamster feeding behaviors; (2) whether food deprivation (FD) co-increases agouti-related protein (AgRP) andPPARγ mRNA expression in Siberian hamsters and mice; (3) whether intraperitoneally administered ROSI increasesAgRPandNPYinad libitum-fed animals; (4) whether intraperitoneally administered PPARγ antagonism blocks FD-induced increases inAgRPandNPY; and finally, (5) whether intraperitoneally administered PPARγ modulation affects plasma ghrelin. Third ventricular and intraperitoneally administered ROSI increased food hoarding and intake for 7 d, an effect attenuated by 3V GW9662, and also prevented (intraperitoneal) FD-induced feeding. FD hamsters and mice increasedAgRPwithin the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus with concomitant increases inPPARγ exclusively within AgRP/NPY neurons. ROSI increasedAgRPandNPYsimilarly to FD, and GW9662 prevented FD-induced increases inAgRPandNPYin both species. Neither ROSI nor GW9662 affected plasma ghrelin. Thus, we demonstrated that PPARγ activation is sufficient to trigger food hoarding/intake, increaseAgRP/NPY, and possibly is necessary for FD-induced increases in feeding andAgRP/NPY. These findings provide initial evidence that FD-induced increases inAgRP/NPYmay be a direct PPARγ-dependent process that controls ingestive behaviors.
Single Granule Cells Excite Golgi Cells and Evoke Feedback Inhibition in the Cochlear Nucleus
Authors: Yaeger Daniel B. , Trussell Laurence O.
Published: March 2015

In cerebellum-like circuits, synapses from thousands of granule cells converge onto principal cells. This fact, combined with theoretical considerations, has led to the concept that granule cells encode afferent input as a population and that spiking in individual granule cells is relatively unimportant. However, granule cells also provide excitatory input to Golgi cells, each of which provide inhibition to hundreds of granule cells. We investigated whether spiking in individual granule cells could recruit Golgi cells and thereby trigger widespread inhibition in slices of mouse cochlear nucleus. Using paired whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, trains of action potentials at 100 Hz in single granule cells was sufficient to evoke spikes in Golgi cells in ∼40% of paired granule-to-Golgi cell recordings. High-frequency spiking in single granule cells evoked IPSCs in ∼5% of neighboring granule cells, indicating that bursts of activity in single granule cells can recruit feedback inhibition from Golgi cells. Moreover, IPSPs mediated by single Golgi cell action potentials paused granule cell firing, suggesting that inhibitory events recruited by activity in single granule cells were able to control granule cell firing. These results suggest a previously unappreciated relationship between population coding and bursting in single granule cells by which spiking in a small number of granule cells may have an impact on the activity of a much larger number of granule cells.
Anatomical Identification of Extracellularly Recorded Cells in Large-Scale Multielectrode Recordings
Authors: Li Peter H. , Gauthier Jeffrey L. , Schiff Max , Sher Alexander , Ahn Daniel , Field Greg D. , Greschner Martin , Callaway Edward M. , Litke Alan M. , Chichilnisky E.J.
Published: March 2015

This study combines for the first time two major approaches to understanding the function and structure of neural circuits: large-scale multielectrode recordings, and confocal imaging of labeled neurons. To achieve this end, we develop a novel approach to the central problem of anatomically identifying recorded cells, based on the electrical image: the spatiotemporal pattern of voltage deflections induced by spikes on a large-scale, high-density multielectrode array. Recordings were performed from identified ganglion cell types in the macaque retina. Anatomical images of cells in the same preparation were obtained using virally transfected fluorescent labeling or by immunolabeling after fixation. The electrical image was then used to locate recorded cell somas, axon initial segments, and axon trajectories, and these signatures were used to identify recorded cells. Comparison of anatomical and physiological measurements permitted visualization and physiological characterization of numerically dominant ganglion cell types with high efficiency in a single preparation.
Cascades and Cognitive State: Focused Attention Incurs Subcritical Dynamics
Authors: Fagerholm Erik D. , Lorenz Romy , Scott Gregory , Dinov Martin , Hellyer Peter J. , Mirzaei Nazanin , Leeson Clare , Carmichael David W. , Sharp David J. , Shew Woodrow L. , Leech Robert
Published: March 2015

The analysis of neuronal avalanches supports the hypothesis that the human cortex operates with critical neural dynamics. Here, we investigate the relationship between cascades of activity in electroencephalogram data, cognitive state, and reaction time in humans using a multimodal approach. We recruited 18 healthy volunteers for the acquisition of simultaneous electroencephalogram and functional magnetic resonance imaging during both rest and during a visuomotor cognitive task. We compared distributions of electroencephalogram-derived cascades to reference power laws for task and rest conditions. We then explored the large-scale spatial correspondence of these cascades in the simultaneously acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Furthermore, we investigated whether individual variability in reaction times is associated with the amount of deviation from power law form. We found that while resting state cascades are associated with approximate power law form, the task state is associated with subcritical dynamics. Furthermore, we found that electroencephalogram cascades are related to blood oxygen level-dependent activation, predominantly in sensorimotor brain regions. Finally, we found that decreased reaction times during the task condition are associated with increased proximity to power law form of cascade distributions. These findings suggest that the resting state is associated with near-critical dynamics, in which a high dynamic range and a large repertoire of brain states may be advantageous. In contrast, a focused cognitive task induces subcritical dynamics, which is associated with a lower dynamic range, which in turn may reduce elements of interference affecting task performance.
Importance of Reelin C-Terminal Region in the Development and Maintenance of the Postnatal Cerebral Cortex and Its Regulation by Specific Proteolysis
Authors: Kohno Takao , Honda Takao , Kubo Ken-ichiro , Nakano Yoshimi , Tsuchiya Ayaka , Murakami Tatsuro , Banno Hideyuki , Nakajima Kazunori , Hattori Mitsuharu
Published: March 2015

During brain development, Reelin exerts a variety of effects in a context-dependent manner, whereas its underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. We previously showed that the C-terminal region (CTR) of Reelin is required for efficient induction of phosphorylation of Dab1, an essential adaptor protein for canonical Reelin signaling. However, the physiological significance of the Reelin CTRin vivoremains unexplored. To dissect out Reelin functions, we made a knock-in (KI) mouse in which the Reelin CTR is deleted. The amount of Dab1, an indication of canonical Reelin signaling strength, is increased in the KI mouse, indicating that the CTR is necessary for efficient induction of Dab1 phosphorylationin vivo. Formation of layer structures during embryonic development is normal in the KI mouse. Intriguingly, the marginal zone (MZ) of the cerebral cortex becomes narrower at postnatal stages because upper-layer neurons invade the MZ and their apical dendrites are misoriented and poorly branched. Furthermore, Reelin undergoes proteolytic cleavage by proprotein convertases at a site located 6 residues from the C terminus, and it was suggested that this cleavage abrogates the Reelin binding to the neuronal cell membrane. Results from ectopic expression of mutant Reelin proteinsin uterosuggest that the dendrite development and maintenance of the MZ require Reelin protein with an intact CTR. These results provide a novel model regarding Reelin functions involving its CTR, which is not required for neuronal migration during embryonic stages but is required for the development and maintenance of the MZ in the postnatal cerebral cortex.
Imbalanced Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin C1 and C2 Activity in the Cerebellum of Angelman Syndrome Mice Impairs Motor Function
Authors: Sun Jiandong , Liu Yan , Moreno Stephanie , Baudry Michel , Bi Xiaoning
Published: March 2015

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by deficiency of maternally expressed ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), an E3 ligase that targets specific proteins for proteasomal degradation. Although motor function impairment occurs in all patients with AS, very little research has been done to understand and treat it. The present study focuses on Ube3A deficiency-induced alterations in signaling through the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the cerebellum of the AS mouse model and on potential therapeutic applications of rapamycin. Levels of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2), a negative regulator of mTOR, were increased in AS mice compared with wild-type mice; however, TSC2 inhibitory phosphorylation was also increased. Correspondingly, levels of phosphorylated/active mTOR were increased. Phosphorylation of the mTORC1 substrates S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and S6 was elevated, whereas that of the mTORC2 substrates AKT and N-myc downstream regulated 1 was decreased, suggesting enhanced mTORC1 but inhibited mTORC2 signaling. Semi-chronic treatment of AS mice with rapamycin not only improved their motor performance but also normalized mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling. Furthermore, inhibitory phosphorylation of rictor, a key regulatory/structural subunit of the mTORC2 complex, was increased in AS mice and decreased after rapamycin treatment. These results indicate that Ube3A deficiency leads to overactivation of the mTORC1–S6K1 pathway, which in turn inhibits rictor, resulting in decreased mTORC2 signaling in Purkinje neurons of AS mice. Finally, rapamycin treatment also improved dendritic spine morphology in AS mice, through inhibiting mTORC1 and possibly enhancing mTORC2-mediated regulation of synaptic cytoskeletal elements. Collectively, our results indicate that the imbalance between mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity may contribute to synaptic pathology and motor impairment in AS.
Emergence of Complex Wave Patterns in Primate Cerebral Cortex
Authors: Townsend Rory G. , Solomon Selina S. , Chen Spencer C. , Pietersen Alexander N.J. , Martin Paul R. , Solomon Samuel G. , Gong Pulin
Published: March 2015

Slow brain rhythms are attributed to near-simultaneous (synchronous) changes in activity in neuron populations in the brain. Because they are slow and widespread, synchronous rhythms have not been considered crucial for information processing in the waking state. Here we adapted methods from turbulence physics to analyze δ-band (1–4 Hz) rhythms in local field potential (LFP) activity, in multielectrode recordings from cerebral cortex in anesthetized marmoset monkeys. We found that synchrony contributes only a small fraction (less than one-fourth) to the local spatiotemporal structure of δ-band signals. Rather, δ-band activity is dominated by propagating plane waves and spatiotemporal structures, which we call complex waves. Complex waves are manifest at submillimeter spatial scales, and millisecond-range temporal scales. We show that complex waves can be characterized by their relation to phase singularities within local nerve cell networks. We validate the biological relevance of complex waves by showing that nerve cell spike rates are higher in presence of complex waves than in the presence of synchrony and that there are nonrandom patterns of evolution from one type of complex wave to another. We conclude that slow brain rhythms predominantly indicate spatiotemporally organized activity in local nerve cell circuits, not synchronous activity within and across brain regions.
Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Extended Training during Sleep Deprivation in Humans: Evidence for Local, Task-Specific Effects
Authors: Bernardi Giulio , Siclari Francesca , Yu Xiaoqian , Zennig Corinna , Bellesi Michele , Ricciardi Emiliano , Cirelli Chiara , Ghilardi Maria Felice , Pietrini Pietro , Tononi Giulio
Published: March 2015

Recent work has demonstrated that behavioral manipulations targeting specific cortical areas during prolonged wakefulness lead to a region-specific homeostatic increase in theta activity (5–9 Hz), suggesting that theta waves could represent transient neuronal OFF periods (local sleep). In awake rats, the occurrence of an OFF period in a brain area relevant for behavior results in performance errors. Here we investigated the potential relationship between local sleep events and negative behavioral outcomes in humans.

Volunteers participated in two prolonged wakefulness experiments (24 h), each including 12 h of practice with either a driving simulation (DS) game or a battery of tasks based on executive functions (EFs). Multiple high-density EEG recordings were obtained during each experiment, both in quiet rest conditions and during execution of two behavioral tests, a response inhibition test and a motor test, aimed at assessing changes in impulse control and visuomotor performance, respectively. In addition, fMRI examinations obtained at 12 h intervals were used to investigate changes in inter-regional connectivity.

The EF experiment was associated with a reduced efficiency in impulse control, whereas DS led to a relative impairment in visuomotor control. A specific spatial and temporal correlation was observed between EEG theta waves occurring in task-related areas and deterioration of behavioral performance. The fMRI connectivity analysis indicated that performance impairment might partially depend on a breakdown in connectivity determined by a “network overload.”

Present results demonstrate the existence of an association between theta waves during wakefulness and performance errors and may contribute explaining behavioral impairments under conditions of sleep deprivation/restriction.
Academic Excellence in Technical Institutions
Authors:   Department of Management, National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research, Bhopal, Gupta Dr. B. L. , Gupta Meenakshi ,   Communication Skills, Star Academy of Technology and Management, Indore
Published: March 2015

The paper describes the changes taking place in the external environment of education institutions and their effects on the functioning of institutions. It highlights various management philosophies being used by industries and companies providing employment to graduates. All the stakeholders expects the excellence in all respects from educational institutions. It is very dificult to translate and satisfy the expectations of different stakeholders. So in this paper deinition of excellence, its dimensions, and characteristics in context of education institutions are described. At the end formats are suggested to assess the effectiveness of the institution on dimensions and characteristics of excellence. The paper is based on literature review, experiences of the authors and views of experts.
EFA’s Goal 5: Assessing Gender Parity and Equality In Education: Unfinished Agenda for 21st Century
Authors:   Lect. D.A.V college, Chandigarh, Choudhary Nidhi
Published: March 2015

International consensus on education priorities accords an important place to achieving gender justice in the educational sphere. Both the Dakar Education for All’s 5th goal and the Millennium Development goal emphasise goal that are distinguished as gender parity goal [achieving equal participation of girls and boys in all forms of education based on their proportion in the relevant age-groups in the population] and gender equality goal [ensuring educational equality between boys and girls]. In turn these have been characterised as quantitative/numerical and qualitative goal respectively. There is thus need to understand the reports of UNGEI, EFA’S global monitoring report and MDG framework so that the meaning of the term gender parity and gender equality with reference to education can be connoted, linkages between them can be explored, and the best mechanisms to measure progress towards these goal can be identified and also take a stock of the progress made with respect to some of these questions in various countries and sub-regions especially in reference to the fifth goal of EFA Act (Education For All’s act). The paper concludes with need recognizing that bringing all girl children to school is not merely an educational action but requires transformation of attitudes and behavioural dynamics of society, so that gender equality is seen as a value in itself worth pursuing.
Thinking Comparative Engineering Education: India and the Rest
Authors:   National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), Kolkata, Roy Rajarshi
Published: March 2015

Engineering education in the globalized perspective undergoing metamorphic changes in changing paradigms. In the context, as a developing nation, India has an opportunity to share the experience of the advanced nations and thereby, through juxtaposition, can adopt appropriate policies for strengthening the existing system of engineering education, best suits for national situations. Perception about the profession and problem context of engineering education needs ramification. Shortcomings in engineering practice need to be identified in the areas of innovation, research and development, design and technical improvisation. System related and profession oriented issues need to be addressed through the global experiences. Contrasting values of employer organizations and profession for an engineer need a clear synthesis for the development in different perception-context. The paper present a snap views on the stated issues which believed to be contributing factors for strengthening the Indian engineering education.
CAPACIDAD DEL MÉTODO DE PARCHES DE SUDORACIÓN PARA DETECTAR EL EFECTO DE UN ANTITRANSPIRANTE.
Authors: Aburto Corona Jorge Alberto , Aragón-Vargas Luis Fernando
Published: March 2015

Un antitranspirante efectivo es supuestamente capaz de disminuir la sudoración hasta en un 50%, como lo afirman las compañías que fabrican estos productos, pero hay poca evidencia publicada al respecto; es posible que la disminución real sea tan pequeña que no pueda ser detectada por los métodos convencionales. El propósito de este estudio fue verificar si el método de parches de sudoración es capaz de mostrar una disminución en la tasa de sudoración localizada que debería ocurrir por el uso de un antitranspirante. Además, se midió la magnitud de este efecto. La influencia esperada del antitranspirante (condición A, piel rociada con antitranspirante) se verificó con base en la tasa de sudoración localizada de la zona escapular durante 20 minutos de ejercicio a una intensidad entre 78 y 80 % de la FCmáx con una temperatura ambiental promedio de 29,7 ± 0,5°C y una humedad relativa de 54 ± 3,4 %, comparada con una condición control (C) (piel sin antitranspirante). Por consiguiente, se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las condiciones A = 14,6 ± 10,3 μL * min-1 y C = 19,2 ± 12,6 μL * min-1 (p = 0,001) en la tasa de sudoración de la zona escapular, lo cual significa que los participantes sudaron aproximadamente un 24 % menos cuando se les aplicó antitranspirante comparado con la piel intacta, según las mediciones obtenidas con el método de parches de sudoración.
An algorithm to compute a primary decomposition of modules in polynomial rings over the integers
Authors: Idrees Nazeran , Pfister Gerhard , Sadiq Afshan
Published: March 2015

We present an algorithm to compute the primary decomposition of a submodule N of the free module ℤ[x1,...,xn]m. For this purpose we use algorithms for primary decomposition of ideals in the polynomial ring over the integers. The idea is to compute first the minimal associated primes of N, i.e. the minimal associated primes of the ideal Ann (ℤ[x1,...,xn]m/N) in ℤ[x1,...,xn] and then compute the primary components using pseudo-primary decomposition and extraction, following the ideas of Shimoyama-Yokoyama. The algorithms are implemented in Singular.
Polynomial rings over NLI rings need not be NLI
Authors: Chen Weixing
Published: March 2015

It is proved that there exists an NI ring R over which the polynomial ring R[x] is not an NLI ring. This answers an open question of Qu and Wei (Stud. Sci. Math. Hung., 51(2), 2014) in the negative. Moreover a sufficient condition of R[x] to be an NLI ring is included for an NLI ring R.
MOD oxide buffer layers on metallic substrates for YBCO coated conductors
Authors: Augieri A. , Mancini M.R. , Vannozzi A. , Angrisani A. A. , Fabbri F. , Rizzo F. , Mancini A. , Rufoloni A. , Galluzzi V. , Celentano G. , Sotgiu G.
Published: March 2015

We present a detailed study carried out on oxide buffer layers grown by Metal-Organic Decomposition (MOD) on metallic substrates for YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) coated conductor applications. Precursor solutions have been made starting from acetates or pentanedionates and characterized by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric (TG) analyses coupled with Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thin buffer layers have been grown by spin-coating on Ni-5at.%W substrates. X-ray diffraction spectra (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) have been employed in order to optimize buffer layers in terms of film microstructure and surface quality, with the final aims of producing a suitable template for YBCO growth. It will be shown that the optimization of the recrystallization process can lead to high quality buffer layer allowing the growth of YBCO films showing good superconductive properties.
The Effect of Crystallographic Imperfections on the Photoluminescence of ZnO Thin Films
Authors: Kelly Matthew W. , Oder Tom N. , Solomon C. Virgil
Published: March 2015

ZnO thin films were synthesized by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering of high purity ZnO solid targets on sapphire substrates. Depositions were carried out at selected temperatures between 293 K and 1173 K, and post-deposition annealing was performed at 1173 K for 3 min. in an O2 atmosphere. Samples for electron microscopy investigations were prepared by lift-out technique in a multi-beam FIB/SEM instrument. The ZnO thin films show generally uniform thickness (about 1µm), determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. Irrespective of the deposition temperature, the ZnO thin films are polycrystalline, with individual grains exhibiting columnar morphology with the long axis oriented perpendicular to the ZnO/sapphire interface. The grain size varies with the deposition temperature, and a direct correlation between grain size and photoluminescence has been observed. Analyses performed using low-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements at 12 K revealed luminescence peaks at 3.361, 3.317, 3.218 and 3.115 eV. The intensity of the luminescence peak at 3.317 eV decreased with increasing deposition temperature. The films deposited at lower temperatures also exhibited a higher density of stacking faults as observed from the atomic resolution TEM. The crystallographic imperfections/photoluminescence relationship is not clear. The purpose of this study is to quantify the observed crystallographic imperfections and understand their effect on the photoluminescence of undoped ZnO thin films deposited on sapphire substrates.