bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Review of Current Research into the Biogenic Synthesis of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles via Marine Algae and Seagrasses
Authors: Fawcett Derek , Verduin Jennifer J. , Shah Monaliben , Sharma Shashi B. , Poinern Gérrard Eddy Jai
Published: January 2017

Today there is a growing need to develop reliable, sustainable, and ecofriendly protocols for manufacturing a wide range of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles. The biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles via nanobiotechnology based techniques has the potential to deliver clean manufacturing technologies. These new clean technologies can significantly reduce environmental contamination and decease the hazards to human health resulting from the use of toxic chemicals and solvents currently used in conventional industrial fabrication processes. The largely unexplored marine environment that covers approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is home to many naturally occurring and renewable marine plants. The present review summarizes current research into the biogenic synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles via marine algae (commonly known as seaweeds) and seagrasses. Both groups of marine plants contain a wide variety of biologically active compounds and secondary metabolites that enables these plants to act as biological factories for the manufacture of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles.
Diabetes-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species: Mechanism of Their Generation and Role in Renal Injury
Authors: Fakhruddin Selim , Alanazi Wael , Jackson Keith E.
Published: January 2017

Diabetes induces the onset and progression of renal injury through causing hemodynamic dysregulation along with abnormal morphological and functional nephron changes. The most important event that precedes renal injury is an increase in permeability of plasma proteins such as albumin through a damaged glomerular filtration barrier resulting in excessive urinary albumin excretion (UAE). Moreover, once enhanced UAE begins, it may advance renal injury from progression of abnormal renal hemodynamics, increased glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickness, mesangial expansion, extracellular matrix accumulation, and glomerulosclerosis to eventual end-stage renal damage. Interestingly, all these pathological changes are predominantly driven by diabetes-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and abnormal downstream signaling molecules. In diabetic kidney, NADPH oxidase (enzymatic) and mitochondrial electron transport chain (nonenzymatic) are the prominent sources of ROS, which are believed to cause the onset of albuminuria followed by progression to renal damage through podocyte depletion. Chronic hyperglycemia and consequent ROS production can trigger abnormal signaling pathways involving diverse signaling mediators such as transcription factors, inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and vasoactive substances. Persistently, increased expression and activation of these signaling molecules contribute to the irreversible functional and structural changes in the kidney resulting in critically decreased glomerular filtration rate leading to eventual renal failure.
Arsenite Effects on Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Human and Mouse Primary Hepatocytes Follow a Nonlinear Dose Response
Authors: Chavan Hemantkumar , Christudoss Pamela , Mickey Kristen , Tessman Robert , Ni Hong-min , Swerdlow Russell , Krishnamurthy Partha
Published: January 2017

Arsenite is a known carcinogen and its exposure has been implicated in a variety of noncarcinogenic health concerns. Increased oxidative stress is thought to be the primary cause of arsenite toxicity and the toxic effect is thought to be linear with detrimental effects reported at all concentrations of arsenite. But the paradigm of linear dose response in arsenite toxicity is shifting. In the present study we demonstrate that arsenite effects on mitochondrial respiration in primary hepatocytes follow a nonlinear dose response. In vitro exposure of primary hepatocytes to an environmentally relevant, moderate level of arsenite results in increased oxidant production that appears to arise from changes in the expression and activity of respiratory Complex I of the mitochondrial proton circuit. In primary hepatocytes the excess oxidant production appears to elicit adaptive responses that promote resistance to oxidative stress and a propensity to increased proliferation. Taken together, these results suggest a nonlinear dose‐response characteristic of arsenite with low‐dose arsenite promoting adaptive responses in a process known as mitohormesis, with transient increase in ROS levels acting as transducers of arsenite‐induced mitohormesis.
Laminin-521 Promotes Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheet Formation on Light-Induced Cell Sheet Technology
Authors: Jiang Zhiwei , Xi Yue , Lai Kaichen , Wang Ying , Wang Huiming , Yang Guoli
Published: January 2017

Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell sheets (rBMSC sheets) are attractive for cell-based tissue engineering. However, methods of culturing rBMSC sheets are critically limited. In order to obtain intact rBMSC sheets, a light-induced cell sheet method was used in this study. TiO2 nanodot films were coated with (TL) or without (TN) laminin-521. We investigated the effects of laminin-521 on rBMSCs during cell sheet culturing. The fabricated rBMSC sheets were subsequently assessed to study cell sheet viability, reattachment ability, cell sheet thickness, collagen type I deposition, and multilineage potential. The results showed that laminin-521 could promote the formation of rBMSC sheets with good viability under hyperconfluent conditions. Cell sheet thickness increased from an initial 26.7 ± 1.5 μm (day 5) up to 47.7 ± 3.0 μm (day 10). Moreover, rBMSC sheets maintained their potential of osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. This study provides a new strategy to obtain rBMSC sheets using light-induced cell sheet technology.
The Obesity Paradox in Survival after Cancer Diagnosis: Tools for Evaluation of Potential Bias
Authors: Mayeda Elizabeth Rose , Glymour M. Maria
Published: January 2017

The effects of overweight or obesity on survival after cancer diagnosis are difficult to discern based on observational data because these associations reflect the net impact of both causal and spurious phenomena. We describe two sources of bias that might lead to underestimation of the effect of increased body weight on survival after cancer diagnosis: collider stratification bias and heterogeneity in disease bias. Given the mixed evidence on weight status, weight change, and postdiagnosis survival for cancer patients, systematic evaluation of alternative explanations is critical. The plausible magnitudes of these sources of bias can be quantified on the basis of expert knowledge about particular cancer types using simulation tools. We illustrate each type of bias, describe the assumptions researchers need make to evaluate the plausible magnitude of the bias, and provide a simple example of each bias using the setting of renal cancer. Findings from simulations, tailored to specific types of cancer, could help distinguish real from spurious effects of body weight on patient survival. Using these results can improve guidance for patients and providers about the relative importance of weight management after a diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(1); 17–20. ©2017 AACR.
Evaluation of the Macular Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer and the Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Early to Severe Stages of Glaucoma: Correlation with Central Visual Function and Visual Field Indexes
Authors: Bambo Maria Pilar , Güerri Noemi , Ferrandez Blanca , Cameo Beatriz , Fuertes Isabel , Polo Vicente , Garcia-Martin Elena
Published: January 2017

Objectives: To compare the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) in glaucoma patients at different disease stages and to evaluate correlations between optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters with central visual function and visual field (VF) indexes. Patients and Methods: One hundred forty patients were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. Subjects diagnosed with chronic open-angle glaucoma and 20/40 or better vision were recruited and classified as having early, moderate, or severe VF defects based on Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson criteria. cpRNFL and macular GCIPL were measured using Cirrus high-definition OCT. Central retinal sensitivity and visual acuity were recorded. Results: All OCT measurements differed significantly between patients with early and severe VF defects (p < 0.001). Correlations between central vision and VF indexes with OCT measurements were moderate but significant; better-correlated OCT parameters were the inferior cpRNFL quadrant, average cpRNFL thickness, inferior and inferior temporal GCIPL sectors, and minimum GCIPL thickness (r = 0.63-0.71, p < 0.001). Visual acuity was not correlated with either circumpapillary or macular OCT measurements. Conclusions: Inner macular parameters performed as well as cpRNFL in patients with different stages of glaucoma. Inferior macular GCIPL sectors, minimum GCIPL thickness, and the inferior cpRNFL quadrant best differentiate disease severity and correlate with central visual function and VF indexes.
Conservative versus Surgical Management of Iatrogenic Tracheal Rupture
Authors: Panagiotopoulos Nikolaos , Patrini Davide , Barnard Matthew , Koletsis Efstratios , Dougenis Dimitrios , Lawrence David
Published: January 2017

Iatrogenic tracheal rupture (ITR) represents a life-threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis, management, and treatment. The management of ITR is challenging, and treatment options depend on tear location, size, injury extent, and the patient's respiratory status. Although this complication has been extensively reported in published literature, the best evidence practice, for the management, requires clarification. In this review, the authors focused on the establishment of a differential diagnosis and the potential mechanism of the injury, the decision-making process, and the therapeutic approaches. It is suggested that for small lacerations or stable patients, conservative management could be considered sufficient, whereas invasive surgical therapy would be more appropriate in cases of large defects with significant air leak and patient instability.
Association between Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase and de novo Lipogenesis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Amirkalali Bahareh , Sohrabi Masoud Reza , Esrafily Ali , Jalali Mahmoud , Gholami Ali , Hosseinzadeh Payam , Keyvani Hossein , Shidfar Farzad , Zamani Farhad
Published: January 2017

Objective: This study explored the association between serum nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and determined whether or not this association is sex dependent. Subjects and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 consecutive patients (32 males, 30 females) with NAFLD were recruited. Serum NAMPT (by ELISA), palmitic acid, and the DNL index of erythrocyte membranes as markers of hepatic DNL (by gas chromatography) were analyzed. The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and body impedance analyzer were used to assess hepatic and body fat, respectively. Univariate and multiple linear regressions (to adjust for confounders) were used to analyze the association of serum NAMPT with palmitic acid, DNL index, CAP, and body fat. Results: The respective values of serum NAMPT (2.44 ± 1.03 vs. 2.45 ± 1.13 ng/mL, p = 0.98), DNL index (3.11 [2.60-3.71] vs. 3.05 [2.40-3.59], p = 0.90), and palmitic acid (20.55% [15.34-24.04] vs. 22.64% [21.15-25.95], p = 0.07) were not significantly different between men and women, but those of CAP (326 [300-340] vs. 300 [261.25-329], p = 0.002) and body fat (37.71 ± 3.80 vs. 26.60 ± 5.70, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in women. In women, serum NAMPT had a significant negative association with the DNL index (β = -0.56, p = 0.01). The DNL index also had a significant negative association with body fat (β = -0.46, p = 0.02). In men, the only significant association was the positive association between serum NAMPT and CAP (β = 0.35, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Higher serum NAMPT in women was associated with a lower hepatic DNL index, while in men it was associated with higher hepatic fat and had no association with the DNL index. Therefore, the serum NAMPT level interpretation for NAFLD prognosis is probably sex dependent.
Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types
Authors: FERRARIS CARL J.
Published: January 2017

A checklist of Recent and fossil catfishes (Order Siluriformes) is presented, summarizing taxonomic literature published through 2005. From 4624 nominal species group names and 810 genus group names, 3093 species are recognized as valid, and are distributed among 478 genera and 36 families. Distributional summaries are provided for each species, and nomenclatural synonymies, including relevant information on all name-bearing types, are included for all taxa. One new name is proposed herein: Clariallabes teugelsi, as a replacement for Clarias (Allabenchelys) dumerili longibarbis David & Poll, 1937, which is preoccupied by Clarias longibarbis Worthington, 1933, but has been treated as a valid species of Clariallabes by Teugels. Acrochordonichthys melanogaster Bleeker, 1854, is designated as type species of Acrochordonichthys Bleeker, 1857, inasmuch as no earlier valid designation has been found. A new genus Pseudobagarius, is proposed for the “pseudobagarius group” of species formerly placed in Akysis. The status of 228 species group names remains unresolved and 31 names based on otoliths ascribed to catfishes are listed but not placed into the checklist. The current emphasis given to catfish taxonomy at present is likely to result in a dramatic increase in the total number of valid taxa as well as major changes in the membership of some of the higher level taxa recognized here.
Phylogeny and new taxonomy of the Booted Eagles (Accipitriformes: Aquilinae)
Authors: LERNER HEATHER , CHRISTIDIS LES , GAMAUF ANITA , GRIFFITHS CAROLE , HARING ELISABETH , HUDDLESTON CHRISTOPHER J. , KABRA SONIA , KOCUM ANNETT , KROSBY MEADE , KVALØY KIRSTI , MINDELL DAVID , RASMUSSEN PAMELA , RØV NILS , WADLEIGH RACHEL , WINK MICHAEL , GJERSHAUG JAN OVE
Published: January 2017

We present a phylogeny of all booted eagles (38 extant and one extinct species) based on analysis of published sequences from seven loci. We find molecular support for five major clades within the booted eagles: Nisaetus (10 species), Spizaetus (4 species), Clanga (3 species), Hieraaetus (6 species) and Aquila (11 species), requiring generic changes for 14 taxa. Additionally, we recommend that the Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) and the Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) remain in their monotypic genera, due to their distinctive morphology. We apply the recently resurrected genus Clanga for the spotted eagles (previously Aquila spp.) to resolve the paraphyly of the genus Aquila such that the clade including the Booted Eagle (H. pennatus), Little Eagle (H. morphnoides), Pygmy Eagle (H. weiskei), Ayres’s Eagle (H. ayresii) and Wahlberg’s Eagle (H. wahlbergi) can remain in the genus Hieraaetus. The Rufous-bellied Eagle should be retained in the genus Lophotriorchis. For consistency in English names, we recommend that the term “hawk-eagles” be used only for the species in the genera Nisaetus and Spizaetus. We suggest following new or modified English names: Cassin’s Eagle (Aquila africana), Bonaparte’s Eagle (A. spilogaster), Ayres’s Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii), and Black-and-chestnut Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus isidori).
#BlackBodiesMatter
Authors: Ashley Rokeshia Renné , Jung Jaehee
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the willingness and motivation to engage in body modification to attain an ideal body image from a cross-cultural perspective of Black women in the United States and Black women in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews ( n = 30) reveal that exercise is the most salient method of modification because it is inexpensive, promotes health and wellness, wards off familial health issues such as diabetes, and shapes the body to better fit clothing. Surgical methods are considered but, naturalness, costs, and potential health effects are viewed as deterrents. Both groups vary in terms of depicting what each group aspires to replicate through body modification. The findings in this article contribute to social comparison theory by expanding the theory and providing a lens for examining Black women’s body modification.
Ending Grand Alliance Politics in Western Europe: US Anti-communism in France and Italy, 1944–7
Authors: Brogi Alessandro
Published: January 2017

The postwar ascendancy of the French and Italian Communist Parties (PCF and PCI) as the strongest ones in the emerging Western alliance was an unexpected challenge for the USA. The US response during this time period (1944–7) was tentative, and relatively moderate, reflecting the still transitional phase from wartime Grand Alliance politics to Cold War. US anti-communism in Western Europe remained guarded for diplomatic and political reasons, but it never mirrored the ambivalence of anti-Americanism among French and especially Italian Communist leaders and intellectuals. US prejudicial opposition to a share of communist power in the French and Italian provisional governments was consistently strong. A relatively decentralized approach by the State Department, however, gave considerable discretion to moderate, circumspect US officials on the ground in France and Italy. The subsequent US turn toward an absolute struggle with Western European communism was only in small part a reaction to direct provocations from Moscow, or the PCI and PCF. The two parties and their powerful propaganda appeared likely to undermine Western cohesion; this was the first depiction, by the USA and its political allies in Europe, of possible domino effects in the Cold War.
MicroRNAs and Periodontal Homeostasis
Authors: Luan X. , Zhou X. , Trombetta-eSilva J. , Francis M. , Gaharwar A.K. , Atsawasuwan P. , Diekwisch T.G.H.
Published: January 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small RNAs that control gene expression in all aspects of eukaryotic life, primarily through RNA silencing mechanisms. The purpose of the present review is to introduce key miRNAs involved in periodontal homeostasis, summarize the mechanisms by which they affect downstream genes and tissues, and provide an introduction into the therapeutic potential of periodontal miRNAs. In general, miRNAs function synergistically to fine-tune the regulation of biological processes and to remove expression noise rather than by causing drastic changes in expression levels. In the periodontium, miRNAs play key roles in development and periodontal homeostasis and during the loss of periodontal tissue integrity as a result of periodontal disease. As part of the anabolic phase of periodontal homeostasis and periodontal development, miRNAs direct periodontal fibroblasts toward alveolar bone lineage differentiation and new bone formation through WNT, bone morphogenetic protein, and Notch signaling pathways. miRNAs contribute equally to the catabolic aspect of periodontal homeostasis as they affect osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function, either by directly promoting osteoclast activity or by inhibiting osteoclast signaling intermediaries or through negative feedback loops. Their small size and ability to target multiple regulatory networks of related sets of genes have predisposed miRNAs to become ideal candidates for drug delivery and tissue regeneration. To address the immense therapeutic potential of miRNAs and their antagomirs, an ever growing number of delivery approaches toward clinical applications have been developed, including nanoparticle carriers and secondary structure interference inhibitor systems. However, only a fraction of the miRNAs involved in periodontal health and disease are known today. It is anticipated that continued research will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the periodontal miRNA world, and a systematic effort toward harnessing the enormous therapeutic potential of these small molecules will greatly benefit the future of periodontal patient care.
Examining the Current Legal Environment Facing the Public Accounting Profession: Recommendations for a Consistent U.S. Policy
Authors: Reinstein Alan , Pacini Carl J. , Green Brian Patrick
Published: January 2017

We examine the recent history and trends of U.S. auditor liability to third parties to help regulators and legislators develop policies to protect and maintain audit quality while limiting auditor liability exposure. Although the United States has yet developed a formal policy to address auditor liability, some European Union member countries and Australia, in varying degrees, support such limitation. Thus, we also explore current EU and Australian policies as examples of potential recommendations to U.S. policy makers. In light of a litigious environment, U.S. Certified Public Accounting firms generally accept potential clients only after analyzing potential risks, dismiss many risky clients, raise their total or hourly fees, spend more time examining attestation evidence, and perform other procedures to reduce their litigation risk. This risk arises largely from the federal and state legal systems, assuming that auditors can better absorb and control losses from misleading financial statements than can financial statement users. While culpable, this litigious environment led to the demise of two large international Certified Public Accounting firms—Arthur Andersen and Laventhol & Horwath. Is the global economy better off having fewer accounting firms with the capacity to perform international audits? A Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s recent Exposure Draft would require auditors of issuers to expand significantly their audit reports beyond current Pass/Fail standards, which could increase audit firms’ disclosures and resultant liabilities. After examining U.S. federal and state statutes plus court decisions regarding auditor liability, we suggest methods to protect the public while allowing audit firms to thrive in these environments.
Kurdish stemmer pre-processing steps for improving information retrieval
Authors: Mustafa Arazo M , Rashid Tarik A
Published: January 2017

The rapid increase in the quantity of Kurdish documents over the last several years has created a need for improving information accuracy and precision in text classification and retrieval. Language stemming is an imperative pre-processing step for increasing the possibility of matching terms in a document in text classification tasks. Stemming helps reduce the total number of searchable terms within a document or query. This article proposes an active approach for stemming Kurdish Sorani texts to reduce variations of words to single terms or stems. The outcomes of the process, described in this article, demonstrate that decreasing the dimensionality of feature vectors in documents will increase the effectiveness of retrieval when the stemming process is used. This process applied for Kurdish Sorani can be adapted and applied in Kurdish Kurmanji as well for greater efficiency and effectiveness in digital text classification and applications.
Parental Feeding Behaviors and Weight-Related Concerns in Children With Special Needs
Authors: Polfuss Michele , Simpson Pippa , Neff Greenley Rachel , Zhang Liyun , Sawin Kathleen J.
Published: January 2017

Parental feeding behaviors and concern about child weight are associated with obesity among youth who are typically developing. Little is known about this relationship among parents of youth with special needs, despite these children having higher obesity risk. This study used an online survey to explore associations among parental feeding behaviors, parent weight concerns, demographics, and child weight status in a sample of 356 parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, and Down syndrome. Specific parental feeding behaviors were significantly related to the child’s weight and intensified when the parent was concerned about the child’s weight. Child’s diagnosis, family income, parent age, and parent gender influenced select feeding behaviors. Obesity has significant health ramifications and negatively affects an individual’s ability to self-manage, which is crucial in individuals with special needs. These findings present an opportunity for the health care community to educate and promote healthy feeding practices in this vulnerable population.
Eta- and partial eta-squared in L2 research: A cautionary review and guide to more appropriate usage
Authors: Norouzian Reza , Plonsky Luke
Published: January 2017

Eta-squared (η2) and partial eta-squared (ηp2) are effect sizes that express the amount of variance accounted for by one or more independent variables. These indices are generally used in conjunction with ANOVA, the most commonly used statistical test in second language (L2) research (Plonsky, 2013). Consequently, it is critical that these effect sizes are applied and interpreted appropriately. The present study examined the use of these two effect sizes in L2 research. We begin by outlining the statistical and conceptual foundation of and distinction between η2 and ηp2. We then review the use of these indices in a sample of published L2 research ( K = 156). Among other results, we show that ηp2 values are frequently being mislabeled as η2. We interpret and discuss potential causes and consequences related to the confusion surrounding these related but distinct indices. Within the context of reform efforts in quantitative L2 research, the current study seeks to respond to the recent, pointed calls for improving study quality (Plonsky, 2014) and statistical literacy (Loewen et al., 2014) in the field.
Safety of gelatin solutions for the priming of cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ghijselings Idris , Himpe Dirk , Rex Steffen
Published: January 2017

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety of gelatin versus hydroxyethyl starches (HES) and crystalloids when used for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-priming in cardiac surgery. MEDLINE (Pubmed), Embase and CENTRAL were searched. We included only randomized, controlled trials comparing CPB-priming with gelatin with either crystalloids or HES-solutions of the newest generation. The primary endpoint was the blood loss during the first 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included perioperative transfusion requirements, postoperative kidney function, postoperative ventilation times and length of stay on the intensive care unit. Sixteen studies were identified, of which only ten met the inclusion criteria, representing a total of 824 adult patients: 4 studies compared gelatin with crystalloid, and 6 studies gelatin with HES priming. Only 2 of the studies comparing HES and gelatin reported postoperative blood loss after 24 hours. No significant difference in postoperative blood loss was found when results of both studies were pooled (SMD -0.12; 95% CI: -0.49, 0.25; P=0.52). Likewise, the pooled results of 3 studies comparing gelatin and crystalloids as a priming solution could not demonstrate significant differences in postoperative bleeding after 24 hours (SMD -0.07; 95% CI: -0.40, 0.26; P=0.68). No differences regarding any of the secondary outcomes could be identified. This systematic review suggests gelatins to have a safety profile which is non-inferior to modern-generation tetrastarches or crystalloids. However, the grade of evidence is rated low owing to the poor methodological quality of the included studies, due to inconsistent outcome reporting and lack of uniform endpoint definitions.
Graft Fixation in Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Brand Jeff , Weiler Andreas , Caborn David N. M. , Brown Charles H. , Johnson Darren L.
Published: January 2017

Cruciate ligament reconstruction has progressed dramatically in the last 20 years. Anatomic placement of ligament substitutes has fostered rehabilitation efforts that stress immediate and full range of motion, immediate weightbearing, neuromuscular strength and coordination, and early return to athletic competition (3 months). This has placed extreme importance on secure graft fixation at the time of ligament reconstruction. Current ligament substitutes require a bony or soft tissue component to be fixed within a bone tunnel or on the periosteum at a distance from the normal ligament attachment site. Fixation devices have progressed from metal to biodegradable and from far to near-normal native ligament attachment sites. Ideally, the biomechanical properties of the entire graft construct would approach those of the native ligament and facilitate biologic incorporation of the graft. Fixation should be done at the normal anatomic attachment site of the native ligament (aperture fixation) and, over time, allow the biologic return of the histologic transition zone from ligament to fibrocartilage, to calcified fibrocartilage, to bone. The purpose of this article is to review current fixation devices and techniques in cruciate ligament surgery.
Challenges and opportunities of biodegradable plastics: A mini review
Authors: Rujnić-Sokele Maja , Pilipović Ana
Published: January 2017

The concept of materials coming from nature with environmental advantages of being biodegradable and/or biobased (often referred to as bioplastics) is very attractive to the industry and to the consumers. Bioplastics already play an important role in the fields of packaging, agriculture, gastronomy, consumer electronics and automotive, but still they have a very low share in the total production of plastics (currently about 1% of the about 300 million tonnes of plastic produced annually). Biodegradable plastics are often perceived as the possible solution for the waste problem, but biodegradability is just an additional feature of the material to be exploited at the end of its life in specific terms, in the specific disposal environment and in a specific time, which is often forgotten. They should be used as a favoured choice for the applications that demand a cheap way to dispose of the item after it has fulfilled its job (e.g. for food packaging, agriculture or medical products). The mini-review presents the opportunities and future challenges of biodegradable plastics, regarding processing, properties and waste management options.
The ignored audience: A multi-method reception study on children and television news in Albania
Authors: Kaziaj Emiljano , Van Bauwel Sofie
Published: January 2017

Children are not considered to be an appropriate audience for news coverage based on their presumed lack of emotional maturity, critical thinking and proper knowledge. This article challenges these views by presenting the opinions of children aged 10–15 who report having watched broadcast news nearly every day. Additionally, the views of adults aged 25–62 are investigated. Children contest to the ways they are being portrayed by the news media and demonstrate their need to be considered as active participants in the public sphere, which is presented by the news media as an exclusive domain for adults.
High-resolution Holocene climate and hydrological variability from two major Mediterranean deltas (Nile and Rhone)
Authors: Jalali Bassem , Sicre Marie-Alexandrine , Kallel Nejib , Azuara Julien , Combourieu-Nebout Nathalie , Bassetti Maria-Angela , Klein Vincent
Published: January 2017

High-resolution records of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and terrestrial n-alkanes (TERR-alkanes) combined with pollen from the same sedimentary sequences were generated to assess variations in the Nile River discharge over the Holocene. These independent proxy records indicate a period of wetter conditions in the Nile watershed during the early-Holocene consistent with insolation-driven enhanced monsoon precipitation, known as the African Humid Period (AHP). The detection of a dry episode around 9200 yr BP in the TERR-alkane and pollen time series suggests a temporary weakening of the monsoon intensity most probably triggered by extratropical cooling in the North Atlantic. An interval of C4 grass expansion between 8800 and 8400 yr BP was also evidenced from the TERR-alkane distribution and confirmed by palynological data. SSTs of the coastal waters off the Nile delta reveal strong fluctuations in the early-Holocene followed by a slight warming and two pronounced cold intervals around 3500 yr BP and 1500 yr BP. Comparison of these results with the same proxy data acquired from the Rhone River sediments (NW Mediterranean Sea) highlights an east–west contrast in the climate signals.
Union renewal: what can we learn from three decades of research?
Authors: Murray Gregor
Published: January 2017

Drawing on three decades of research on union renewal, this article asks what we can learn from these studies. It covers successively the modernisation of union strategy, the re-engineering of union structures and organising techniques, the renewal of collective action repertoires, and the search to bridge the gap between labour market insiders and outsiders. While the research on these four themes yields few easy answers, it does highlight a continuing search for trade union renewal from which real understanding emerges. The overarching argument is that this long process of democratic experimentalism in union purpose and practice needs to be understood in exactly those terms. It also highlights the critical role of strategic capabilities and the need to develop these capabilities in order to experiment with innovations likely to reveal new sources of vigour for worker organisations.
A Motivational Perspective on Mass Communication Students’ Satisfaction With Their Major: Investigating Antecedents and Consequences
Authors: Madison Ed , Hopp Toby , Santana Arthur D. , Stansberry Kathleen
Published: January 2017

This study used self-determination theory (SDT) to investigate the motivations for selecting a major among mass communication and media majors at 18 colleges and universities across the United States. Specifically, 669 mass communication majors were queried on their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for choosing a major, their degree of major satisfaction, and positive outcomes related to academic performance and overall well-being. As a whole, the findings suggest that students who select their major on the basis of its perceived ability to satisfy intrinsic needs tend to be more satisfied with their major selection and report higher levels of academic performance, career surety, and overall life satisfaction. These results are discussed in the context of both post-secondary mass communication programs and students’ ability to successfully navigate the transition into professional life.
Visuality as Greenwashing: The Case of BP and Deepwater Horizon
Authors: Kassinis George , Panayiotou Alexia
Published: January 2017

We use a visual semiotic approach to explore how BP utilized the power of the visual after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Through the careful construction and use of images on its corporate website, BP narrated a visual story that helped the company construct a “logic of representation” when its “logic of practice” became problematic and heavily scrutinized. We argue that the BP case has wider applicability in understanding how companies deploy the visual to create a reality that averts the limelight from risky practices, aid their post-disaster image restoration efforts, or even enhance greenwashing practices when decoupling is exposed. The study adds to a growing literature that raises the importance of visual literacy for both management practitioners and researchers of organizations. It also adds to the literature on greenwashing by showcasing the role of visual imagery in shaping green communication.
Protective personality traits: High openness and low neuroticism linked to better memory in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Leavitt Victoria M , Buyukturkoglu Korhan , Inglese Matilde , Sumowski James F
Published: January 2017

Background:

Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS) is common, although few risk/protective factors are known.

Objective:

To examine relationships of personality to memory/non-memory cognition in MS.

Method:

80 patients completed a cognitive battery and a personality scale measuring the “Big 5” traits: openness, neuroticism, agreeableness, extraversion, and conscientiousness.

Results:

Memory was most related to openness, with higher openness linked to better memory and lower risk for memory impairment, controlling for age, atrophy, education, and intelligence quotient (IQ). Lower neuroticism was also related to better memory, and lower conscientiousness to memory impairment. Non-memory cognition was unrelated to personality.

Conclusion:

Personality may inform predictive models of memory impairment in MS.
White out of mind: Identity suppression as a coping strategy among Whites anticipating racially charged interactions
Authors: Marshburn Christopher K. , Knowles Eric D.
Published: January 2017

Discussing racial issues often makes Whites anxious, particularly when their conversation partners are Black. We theorized that Whites seek to avoid anxiety by suppressing thoughts of White identity prior to such interactions. In Study 1, White participants expected to discuss a race-related or nonracial topic with a Black or White partner. An Implicit Association Test (IAT) measured subsequent changes in the activation of participants’ White identities (i.e., self–White associations). The prospect of discussing race-related (vs. nonracial) topics with a Black partner reduced participants’ self–White associations, implying identity suppression. Moreover, participants’ nonverbal responses suggest that identity suppression functioned to mute participants’ anxiety. In Study 2, participants completed the identity activation measure only after learning that they would not interact with a partner. Consistent with “rebound” effects known to follow suppression, participants who previously expected to discuss a race-related topic with a Black partner showed heightened self–White associations.
Wind loads and effects on rigid frame bridges with twin-legged high piers at erection stages
Authors: Han Y , Chen Z Q , Hua X G , Feng Z Q , Xu GJ
Published: January 2017

This article presents a procedure for analyzing wind effects on the rigid frame bridges with twin-legged high piers during erection stages, taking into account all wind loading components both on the beam and on the piers. These wind loading components include the mean wind load and the load induced by the three turbulence wind components and by the wake excitation. The buffeting forces induced by turbulence wind are formulated considering the modification due to aerodynamic admittance functions. The buffeting responses are analyzed based on the coherence of buffeting forces and using finite element method in conjunction with random vibration theory in the frequency domain. The peak dynamic response is obtained by combining the various response components through gust response factor approach. The procedure is applied to Xiaoguan Bridge under different erection stages using the analytic aerodynamic parameters fitted from computational fluid dynamics. The numerical results indicate that the obtained peak structural responses are more conservative and accurate when considering the effect of each loading component on the beam and on the piers, and the roles of different loading components are different with regard to bridge configurations. Aerodynamic admittance functions are source of the important part of the error margin of the analytical prediction method for buffeting responses of bridges, and buffeting responses based on wind velocity coherence will underestimate the results.
High-speed ultraviolet chemiluminescence imaging of late combustion in diesel spray flame
Authors: Kondo Katsufumi , Kuribayashi Masaki , Sakai Kosuke , Aizawa Tetsuya
Published: January 2017

For modern diesel engines employing relatively small injector nozzle holes, reduction of late combustion in high load operation is an attractive potential strategy to shorten the combustion period and thus thermal efficiency. However, the governing mechanism of the late combustion has not intensively been studied. This study aims to experimentally investigate where in the diesel spray flame the late combustion heat release is occurring and what governs the phenomenon. As a practical and qualitative marker of local heat release location and existence, which is applicable not only to idealized vessel experiments but also to future production engine experiments, ultraviolet emission from diesel spray flame during the late combustion was examined. First, the ultraviolet emission spectra of diesel spray flame during the late combustion were measured and found to mainly consist of OH* chemiluminescence with some background due to broadband CO2* chemiluminescence and soot luminosity ultraviolet components. Second, simultaneous high-speed imaging of 310 nm ultraviolet emission and visible soot luminosity from flame were performed to distinguish the OH* chemiluminescence from the soot luminosity. Third, simultaneous high-speed imaging of 310 nm ultraviolet emission, visible soot luminosity, and 266 nm ultraviolet absorption in diesel spray flame were performed, showing similar spatial and temporal distributions of heat release locations and combustible mixtures during the late combustion. The observation results suggest that the late combustion heat release occurs in the mixtures losing momentum and accumulated at the spray tip region.
‘NO OUTLET’: a critical visual analysis of neoliberal narratives in mediated geographies
Authors: Gutsche Robert E , Shumow Moses
Published: January 2017

This article turns to Miami, Florida’s (USA) Upper Eastside – an eclectic stretch of about 20 city blocks in one of the nation’s ‘global cities’ – for a critical visual analysis that uses mapping and photography to explore how neoliberalism is communicated. With an approach that considers geography as a visual ‘vernacular landscape’, this research further supports the role of visual communication as a means to reveal deeper meanings of geography, particularly in terms of identifying ideological qualities of the neoliberal project that are often hidden in plain view. The authors’ photographs and maps supply data for this article, which are then read through the process of ‘geosemiotics’.
The many faces of equal opportunity
Authors: Temkin Larry S.
Published: January 2017

The ideal of equality of opportunity plays an important role in contemporary social and political discourse, and it is one of the few ideals which most people, across the political spectrum, accept. In this article, I argue that the seemingly widespread agreement about the value of equal opportunity is more apparent than real. I distinguish between relatively narrow principles of equal opportunity that focus on certain social, political, and legal benefits; the equal opportunity merit principle; and wide principles of equal opportunity that focus on any goods or benefits that impact the quality of a person’s life. In doing this, I aim to illuminate the intuitive and philosophical underpinnings that these approaches provide to equal opportunity and explore their various strengths, weaknesses, and implications. I also note that questions analogous to those raised about the value of equality can be raised about the value of equal opportunity. In particular, one might wonder whether one should care about opportunities from the perspective of an egalitarian; or from the perspective of a prioritarian, a sufficientarian, a utilitarian; or someone who feels compassion toward people lacking important opportunities. I suggest that there are, indeed, reasons of comparative fairness to be concerned about equal opportunities, but then note that the notion of equality is, itself, enormously complex, and that this complexity will be carried over into the notion of equal opportunity. I then consider possible connections between equal opportunity and education, noting that the different approaches to equal opportunity may have different implications regarding equal opportunity for education, equal opportunity in education, and equal opportunity through education. I conclude that equal opportunity is a complex notion, and that much work will need to be done to accurately understand its nature, scope, and implications, as well as how much weight the different approaches to equal opportunity should be given relative to each other, or other important ideals, for the purposes of social, political, and moral reasoning generally, or our thinking about education, in particular.
Multi-mobile agent itinerary planning algorithms for data gathering in wireless sensor networks: A review paper
Authors: Qadori Huthiafa Q , Zulkarnain Zuriati A , Hanapi Zurina Mohd , Subramaniam Shamala
Published: January 2017

Recently, wireless sensor networks have employed the concept of mobile agent to reduce energy consumption and obtain effective data gathering. Typically, in data gathering based on mobile agent, it is an important and essential step to find out the optimal itinerary planning for the mobile agent. However, single-agent itinerary planning suffers from two primary disadvantages: task delay and large size of mobile agent as the scale of the network is expanded. Thus, using multi-agent itinerary planning overcomes the drawbacks of single-agent itinerary planning. Despite the advantages of multi-agent itinerary planning, finding the optimal number of distributed mobile agents, source nodes grouping, and optimal itinerary of each mobile agent for simultaneous data gathering are still regarded as critical issues in wireless sensor network. Therefore, in this article, the existing algorithms that have been identified in the literature to address the above issues are reviewed. The review shows that most of the algorithms used one parameter to find the optimal number of mobile agents in multi-agent itinerary planning without utilizing other parameters. More importantly, the review showed that theses algorithms did not take into account the security of the data gathered by the mobile agent. Accordingly, we indicated the limitations of each proposed algorithm and new directions are provided for future research.
Influence of polyacrylic ester and silica fume on the mechanical properties of mortar for repair application
Authors: Jiang Chaohua , Zhou Xiaobin , Huang Shanshan , Chen Da
Published: January 2017

Experimental investigations on the influence of different amounts of polyacrylic ester and silica fumes on the mechanical properties of mortar such as the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, bonding strength, and abrasion resistance are presented in this article. The results show that the compressive and splitting tensile strength of mortar can be improved with the addition of polyacrylic ester and silica fumes. Results obtained from both the direct tensile bond test and flexural bond test indicate that the addition of polyacrylic ester and silica fumes improves the bond strength significantly, and the enhancement is more obvious with polyacrylic ester paste as interfacial adhesives. Furthermore, mortar incorporation of polyacrylic ester and silica fumes shows superior abrasion resistance compared to the control mortar. Therefore, the correct combination of polyacrylic ester and silica fumes to produce mortars has been shown to have synergistic effects, which results in excellent properties including high bond strength and superior abrasion resistance. Mortars containing polyacrylic ester and silica fumes are ideal for repairing concrete especially for hydraulic concrete structure.