bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of a native vowel contrast by Dutch monolingual and bilingual infants: A bilingual perceptual lead
Authors: Liu Liquan , Kager René
Published: February 2015

Purpose:

Facing previous mixed findings between monolingual and bilingual infants’ phonetic development during perceptual reorganization, the current study aims at examining the perceptual development of a native vowel contrast (/I/-/i/) by Dutch monolingual and bilingual infants.

Design:

We tested 390 Dutch monolingual and bilingual infants from 5 to 15 months of age through a visual habituation paradigm.

Data and analysis:

Mixed-effect model analyses were conducted within 320 infants, with infants’ log10 transformed looking time as the dependent variable, age (4-level) and language background (2-level) as the fixed factors, and participant and order (2-level) as the random factors.

Conclusions:

All infants show weak initial sensitivity to the contrast regardless of language background(s), and sensitivity improves with age. By the second half of the first year, infants discriminate the contrast, indicating the emergence of the relevant vowel categories. In addition, a perceptual lead is observed in bilingual infants, probably due to: 1) a perceptual transfer from the close-category counterpart of the other native language; 2) heightened acoustic sensitivity in bilingual infants given their rich linguistic experience; and 3) a general bilingual cognitive advantage. The influences of contrast salience and bilingualism on language development are discussed.

Originality:

Overall, these findings constitute an extension of existing work on vowel perception and display a novel acceleration effect for the bilingual infants in phonetic perception. In addition, we propose a novel heightened acoustic sensitivity hypothesis, arguing that bilingual infants may pay more attention to acoustic details in the input than their monolingual peers.

Significance:

The observed progressive phonetic discrimination pattern of the native contrast contributes to our knowledge in infant language development, and specifically perceptual reorganization patterns, in the first year after birth. The observed acceleration effect, along with its explanations, provides new insights into the influence of bilingualism and potential bilingual advantages in infancy.
Looking Backward, Thinking Forward
Authors: Bagatell Nancy , Mason Ashley E.
Published: February 2015

As autism spectrum disorders become more prevalent and comprise a growing percentage of occupational therapists’ caseloads, it is important to examine trends in the literature. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide a historical analysis to illuminate changes and gaps in the occupational therapy literature related to autism spectrum disorders to inform the direction of research and practice. A total of 115 articles published in five occupational therapy journals in the United States from 1980 to 2013 were reviewed. Publications were coded by article type, with intervention studies coded in detail. Results indicated a consistent increase in number of publications as years progressed. Analysis by decade highlighted a shift from a biomedical focus to an occupation focus. Suggestions for future research include building a stronger evidence base, developing occupation-based assessments and interventions, and addressing needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families across the life span.
Cognitive Rehabilitation After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Stephens Jaclyn A. , Williamson Karen-Nicole C. , Berryhill Marian E.
Published: February 2015

Nearly 1.7 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. These injuries can result in physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences. While many individuals receive cognitive rehabilitation from occupational therapists (OTs), the interdisciplinary nature of TBI research makes it difficult to remain up-to-date on relevant findings. We conducted a literature review to identify and summarize interdisciplinary evidence-based practice targeting cognitive rehabilitation for civilian adults with TBI. Our review summarizes TBI background, and our cognitive remediation section focuses on the findings from 37 recent (since 2006) empirical articles directly related to cognitive rehabilitation for individuals (i.e., excluding special populations such as veterans or athletes). This manuscript is offered as a tool for OTs engaged in cognitive rehabilitation and as a means to highlight arenas where more empirical, interdisciplinary research is needed.
Long-Term Follow-up to a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Peroneal Nerve Functional Electrical Stimulation to an Ankle Foot Orthosis for Patients With Chronic Stroke
Authors: Bethoux Francois , Rogers Helen L. , Nolan Karen J. , Abrams Gary M. , Annaswamy Thiru , Brandstater Murray , Browne Barbara , Burnfield Judith M. , Feng Wuwei , Freed Mitchell J. , Geis Carolyn , Greenberg Jason , Gudesblatt Mark , Ikramuddin Farha , Jayaraman Arun , Kautz Steven A. , Lutsep Helmi L. , Madhavan Sangeetha , Meilahn Jill , Pease William S. , Rao Noel , Seetharama Subramani , Sethi Pramod , Turk Margaret A. , Wallis Roi Ann , Kufta Conrad
Published: February 2015

Background. Evidence supports peroneal nerve functional electrical stimulation (FES) as an effective alternative to ankle foot orthoses (AFO) for treatment of foot drop poststroke, but few long-term, randomized controlled comparisons exist. Objective. Compare changes in gait quality and function between FES and AFOs in individuals with foot drop poststroke over a 12-month period. Methods. Follow-up analysis of an unblinded randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01087957) conducted at 30 rehabilitation centers comparing FES to AFOs over 6 months. Subjects continued to wear their randomized device for another 6 months to final 12-month assessments. Subjects used study devices for all home and community ambulation. Multiply imputed intention-to-treat analyses were utilized; primary endpoints were tested for noninferiority and secondary endpoints for superiority. Primary endpoints: 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) and device-related serious adverse event rate. Secondary endpoints: 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), GaitRite Functional Ambulation Profile, and Modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile (mEFAP). Results. A total of 495 subjects were randomized, and 384 completed the 12-month follow-up. FES proved noninferior to AFOs for all primary endpoints. Both FES and AFO groups showed statistically and clinically significant improvement for 10MWT compared with initial measurement. No statistically significant between-group differences were found for primary or secondary endpoints. The FES group demonstrated statistically significant improvements for 6MWT and mEFAP Stair-time subscore. Conclusions. At 12 months, both FES and AFOs continue to demonstrate equivalent gains in gait speed. Results suggest that long-term FES use may lead to additional improvements in walking endurance and functional ambulation; further research is needed to confirm these findings.
CXCR4 expression on pathogenic T cells facilitates their bone marrow infiltration in a mouse model of aplastic anemia
Authors: Arieta Kuksin Christina , Gonzalez-Perez Gabriela , Minter Lisa M.
Published: February 2015

Key Points

NF-κB differentially regulates CXCR4 expression on naïve and pathogenic CD8+ T cells. CXCR4 expression on pathogenic T cells facilitates their trafficking to the BM in a mouse model of AA.
Surface functionalization by covalent immobilization of an innovative carvacrol derivative to avoid fungal biofilm formation
Authors: Gharbi Aïcha , Legigan Thibaut , Humblot Vincent , Papot Sébastien , Berjeaud Jean-Marc
Published: February 2015

Carvacrol, an aromatic terpenic compound, known to be antimicrobial was grafted onto gold surfaces via two strategies based on newly-synthesized cross-linkers involving either an ester bond which can be cleaved by microbial esterases, or a covalent ether link. Surface functionalizations were characterized at each step by reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). The two functionalized gold samples both led to a loss of culturability of the yeast Candida albicans, higher than 65%, indicating that the activity of the freshly-designed surfaces was probably due to still covalently immobilized carvacrol. On the contrary, when a phenyl group replaced the terpenic moiety, the yeast culturability increased by about 30%, highlighting the specific activity of carvacrol grafted on the surfaces. Confocal microscopy analyses showed that the mode of action of the functionalized surfaces with the ester or the ether of carvacrol was, in both cases, fungicidal and not anti-adhesive. Finally, this study shows that covalently immobilization of terpenic compounds can be used to design promising antimicrobial surfaces.
Self-potential monitoring of the enhanced biodegradation of an organic contaminant using a bioelectrochemical cell
Authors: Revil A. , Fernandez P. , Mao D. , French H. K. , Bloem E. , Binley A.
Published: February 2015

A bioelectrochemical system was developed to facilitate biodegradation of an organic contaminant (propylene glycol) using a sandbox containing an iron bar that crossed the capillary fringe. In the days following the introduction of the organic contaminant, a strong negative electric potential anomaly (on the order of −35 to 50 mV) was observed at the top surface of the sandbox, evidencing the transport of electrons in the metallic bar and the degradation of the organic contaminant. The iron bar served to transmit electrons between the electron donor (i.e., biodegradation of the propylene glycol) and oxygen used as the terminal electron acceptor. Numerical modeling indicates that the source of current associated with the electric potential anomaly is at the position of the iron bar. The monitoring of this anomaly possibly can be used to monitor the amount of electrons passing through the electronic conductor and the radius of influence of the bioelectrochemical cells with respect to biodegradation of the organic contaminant.
Extracellular Electron Transport Scarcely Accumulates Proton Motive Force in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1
Authors: Tokunou Yoshihide , Hashimoto Kazuhito , Okamoto Akihiro
Published: February 2015

Periplasmic pH (pHp) was monitored by an in vivo assay that was developed for Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 based on the outer membrane permeability of a biosynthesized flavin molecule. The pHp data obtained by this method suggest that proton motive force is not generated during anaerobic respiration associated with either intracellular fumarate reduction or extracellular electron transport to electrodes.
Dynamic-driven Surface Segregation of a Hydrophilic Component in Diblock Copolymer Films
Authors: Zhang Cui , Oda Yukari , Kawaguchi Daisuke , Kanaoka Shokyoku , Aoshima Sadahito , Tanaka Keiji
Published: February 2015

We here show how a hydrophilic component can be stably partitioned to the film surface of multicomponent polymer systems using well-designed diblock copolymers.
Enhanced Fluorescence of Loosely Packed Dye Aggregates
Authors: Ryu Naoya , Hachisako Hiroshi
Published: February 2015

The fluorescence of a hemicyanine dye was considerably enhanced by the formation of loosely packed aggregates, compared to tightly aggregated and molecularly dispersed hemicyanine dyes. Loose dye aggregates were realized by introducing a self-assembling unit to the dye molecules and by adjusting the mixture of good solvent and nonsolvent for the dye moiety.
What Do We Know about the Evolution of Top Wealth Shares in the United States?
Authors: Kopczuk Wojciech
Published: February 2015

I discuss available evidence about the evolution of top wealth shares in the United States over the course of the 20th century. The three main approaches—the Survey of Consumer Finances, estate tax multiplier, and capitalization methods—generate generally consistent findings until mid-1980s but diverge since then, with the capitalization method showing a dramatic increase in wealth concentration and the other two methods showing at best a small increase. I discuss strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. The increase in capitalization estimates since 2000 is driven by a dramatic and puzzling increase in fixed income assets. There is evidence that estate tax estimates may not be sufficiently accounting for mortality improvements over time. The nonresponse and coverage issues in the SCF are a concern. I conclude that the changing nature of top incomes and the increased importance of self-made wealth may explain difficulties in implementing each of the methods and why the results diverge.
Tetranucleotide usage highlights genomic heterogeneity among mycobacteriophages
Authors: Siranosian Benjamin , Perera Sudheesha , Williams Edward , Ye Chen , de Graffenried Christopher , Shank Peter
Published: February 2015

Background

The genomic sequences of mycobacteriophages, phages infecting mycobacterial hosts, are diverse and mosaic. Mycobacteriophages often share little nucleotide similarity, but most of them have been grouped into lettered clusters and further into subclusters. Traditionally, mycobacteriophage genomes are analyzed based on sequence alignment or knowledge of gene content. However, these approaches are computationally expensive and can be ineffective for significantly diverged sequences. As an alternative to alignment-based genome analysis, we evaluated tetranucleotide usage in mycobacteriophage genomes. These methods make it easier to characterize features of the mycobacteriophage population at many scales.

Description

We computed tetranucleotide usage deviation (TUD), the ratio of observed counts of 4-mers in a genome to the expected count under a null model. TUD values are comparable between members of a phage subcluster and distinct between subclusters. With few exceptions, neighbor joining phylogenetic trees and hierarchical clustering dendrograms constructed using TUD values place phages in a monophyletic clade with members of the same subcluster. Regions in a genome with exceptional TUD values can point to interesting features of genomic architecture. Finally, we found that subcluster B3 mycobacteriophages contain significantly overrepresented 4-mers and 6-mers that are atypical of phage genomes.

Conclusions

Statistics based on tetranucleotide usage support established clustering of mycobacteriophages and can uncover interesting relationships within and between sequenced phage genomes. These methods are efficient to compute and do not require sequence alignment or knowledge of gene content. The code to download mycobacteriophage genome sequences and reproduce our analysis is freely available athttps://github.com/bsiranosian/tango_final.
About neural network modeling and prediction epizootic tulartmia at tula state territory
Authors: Евстегнеева  , Evstegneeva V. , Честнова  , Chestnova Tatyana , Смольянинова  , Smolyaninova O.
Published: February 2015

Epizootical monitoring of natural tularemia focuses for 1976-4014 years showed that main carrier of infection is common vole (Microtus arvalis). For the part of all obtained cultures of tularemia bacteria common vole has 51,2%. Its strength and infection can change. At period for 1976-2006 years, natural tularemia focuses were at high activity level, but since 2007 year for now, they are at low activity level. By using method artificial neural network made mathematical model of prediction epizootical tularemia; found that climatic factors (downfalls, temperature, snow depth) playing main role at processes reduction activity and strength of natural tularemia focuses, for example, tularemia epizootia can happen in case of froze December, numerous downfalls and high snow depth.
Environmental Priorities in the Natural Resourses Law
Authors: Zharikov Yuriy
Published: February 2015

Definition of environmental priority is revealed, essence of environmental priority principle and its economic action are examined, issues of application of civil legislation in regulation of land and other natural resource relationships are discussed, legislation gaps in the sphere of environmental informatization of society are revealed as well. Foreign practice of environmental informatization of society concerning environmental projects is given, as well as examples of strong and weak environmental legal decisions, difficult debatable issues of environmental and natural resource law are discussed.
Tamoxifen: scientific basis, use and nursing implications
Authors: Barnish Lara
Published: February 2015

Tamoxifen is widely used as a treatment for breast cancer. This article considers the development, scientific basis and patient implications together with some current issues concerning the drug. The importance of using a scientific knowledge base to improve nursing practice is highlighted.
The growth of an NDU in a paediatric outpatient department
Authors: Lowson Susan
Published: February 2015

The granting of nursing development unit (NDU) status to a paediatric clinical area indicates the desire to promote excellence in child care. This article describes the progress of the children's outpatient department at Southampton General Hospital since it was granted NDU status.
Halving the load and doubling the benefits
Authors: Ashworth Sally
Published: February 2015

Sally Ashworth outlines how a shared post can be an ideal way to maintain a career in teaching for those who have young children or other commitments.
Help them to head in the right direction
Authors: Donohoe Tom
Published: February 2015

Orienteering can be an exciting cross curricular activity, combining cognitive skills with physical ability. The first task for pupils is to ‘set their map’, says Tom Donohoe.
Aiming to catch them young and close the gap
Authors: Mckeown Sal
Published: February 2015

The government would like to see more two-year-olds in schools. Sal Mckeown talks to those for and against and discovers there are many challenges on the ground.
Questions, questions…
Authors: Cartwright Eva
Published: February 2015

By preparing questions in advance, teaching assistants can help all pupils to get more out of their lessons. Quality questions will encourage deeper thinking and responses.
Being held to account
Authors: Crossley Nicola
Published: February 2015

Effective use of the pupil premium is very much on Ofsted's radar and decisions on where to spend it should be informed by careful research, advises Nicola Crossley.
Runaway train: public participation and the case of HS2
Authors: Crompton Amanda
Published: February 2015

Public participation is a key feature in policy decision making yet there is limited understanding of public participation as an organic phenomenon. In this paper we seek to contribute to debates about public participation by exploring the interactions between policy makers, planners and the public. Our empirical case focuses on the informal participatory mechanisms concerning the development of a high speed rail network in England (HS2). We seek to understand 1) how social actors respond to formal consultation around policy issues, 2) how social actors strive for public deliberation and 3) how ‘informal origins’ of participation emerge and develop.
The politics of quangocide
Authors: Dommett Katharine , Flinders Matthew
Published: February 2015

This article returns to Christopher Hood’s influential work, The politics of quangocide, to examine the United Kingdom’s coalition government’s approach to public bodies reform since May 2010. It combines theoretical-innovation and fresh empirical research to argue that the coalition has not simply engaged in quangocide, but has adopted a dual-track strategy based upon ‘bureau-shuffling’ and a focus on strengthening internal control rather than outright abolition. This has significant international and comparative relevance due to the manner in which these findings resonate with broader ‘post New Public Management’ narratives of state restructuring.
Exploring intentional instability as a quality of a learning environment
Authors: Edström Ann-Mari
Published: February 2015

The article explores how intentional instability may be defined as a quality of a learning environment, thus aiming to contribute to the discussion concerning the complex question of what constitutes a creative learning environment. The study uses interviews and observations from three different art academies’ learning environments as a point of departure. Five variations of intentional instability are discerned and discussed, and intentional instability defined as follows: By intentionally twisting what we experience as familiar a bit, thus adding some instability, we are forced to shift positions and experience the familiar in new ways, and it is in this gap created in the discrepancy between balance and off balance that new insights may be articulated.
Reviews
Authors: Caddis Mike , Parkins Natalie , Britt Helena , Thorne John , Biggs Prof Michael
Published: February 2015

Sebastião Salgado. Genesis, Lélia Wanick Salgado (2013) Cologne: Taschen, 520 pp., ISBN: 9783836538725, h/bk, £44.99

Color Studies, Third Edition, E. Anderson Feisner and R. Reed (2014) Bedford Square, London: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc, ISBN: 9781609015312

Symbol, Pattern and Symmetry: The Cultural Significance of Structure, Michael Hann (2013) UK: Bloomsbury, 376 pp., ISBN: 9781472503121, p/bk, 24.6cm x 18.9cm, £29.99

Design for sustainability: History, method, practice and possible futures

The Handbook of Design for Sustainability, Stuart Walker, Jacques Gaird and Helen L. Walker (eds) (2013) 1st ed., London: Bloomsbury, 550 pp., ISBN: 9780857858528, h/bk, £95

The Handbook of Design for Sustainability, Stuart Walker, Jacques Gaird and Helen L. Walker (eds) (2013) 1st ed., London: Bloomsbury, 550 pp., ISBN: 9780857858528, h/bk, £95
Community music as a cognitive training programme for successful ageing
Authors: Bugos Jennifer A.
Published: February 2015

Reflecting upon several music training programmes developed to assist beginning older adult musicians as a cognitive training intervention, the author suggests a model for connecting community music programmes and musical training to successful ageing. Musical training has the capacity to promote cognitive transfer, self-efficacy and overall quality of life, essential for successful ageing and therapeutic rehabilitation. This model provides a holistic perspective regarding the relationship between music participation and programmatic structure necessary to facilitate change in physiological, psychological and emotional health. Interviews from participants suggest that music education programmes, when structured as a cognitive training programme, can enhance cognitive and emotional status. Community music programmes and music education opportunities offer aesthetic enrichment, intrinsic enjoyment and high ecological validity, elements lacking in current cognitive training programmes.
The development and cultural translation of a brief theatre-based programme for the promotion of bystander engagement and violence prevention
Authors: Plourde Cathy , Taket Ann , Murray Virginia , Werf Patrick Van Der
Published: February 2015

This article focuses on a theatre-based intervention for the promotion and protection of health and well-being, an area of applied arts that is increasingly seeing more interest. You the Man (YTM) is an American theatre-based programme for bystander engagement and violence prevention. It is a brief intervention, consisting of a 30–35 minute play about dating violence and sexual assault plus a post-performance panel discussion. The script of the play remains unchanged from performance to performance, but the format of the post-performance discussion is tailored to the local setting, circumstances, and other violence prevention activities happening locally. Panel members present for this discussion are drawn from local support agencies, and the discussion serves to introduce people to the local resources that are available. This article describes the original process of development and application of YTM in the United States, followed by the process undertaken to produce an Australian version of the programme; the term cultural translation is used to describe this process.
Enhancing informal interaction and knowledge co-construction among forest owners
Authors: Hamunen Katri , Virkkula Outi , Hujala Teppo , Hiedanpää Juha , Kurttila Mikko
Published: February 2015

It is a common concern that non-resident private forest owners are less able to make informed decisions regarding their forests. Moreover, the present guidance given by forest professionals is not reaching all owners. In this study, we suggest enhancing knowledge exchange among forest owners by increasing their mutual and informal interaction that could inspire them to co-construct new knowledge. The first objective is to identify present emerging activities that constitute knowledge exchange contexts (communities) for Finnish forest owners. The second objective is to discuss the challenges of current Finnish forest extension and their implications when introducing Communities of Practice as a complementary response to existing, yet insufficient, professional-led extension. Data consist of Finnish forest ownersâ and forest professionalsâ (nâ=â43) focus group interviews. The qualitative analysis was theoretically oriented followed by data-driven coding and grouping. According to the results, the role of expert-led encounters is strong in Finland and ownersâ opportunities for good mutual communication are rare. Informal communities exist mainly in the countryside among neighbouring owners and within families. To enhance knowledge sharing among owners, one needs to identify innovative topics and activities that would inspire owners to commit to their forest property and perform active silviculture. These communities would operate as creative learning environments allowing participation of different levels. When cultivating forest ownersâ communities it is important to consider actorsâ roles. Forest owners themselves are responsible for the functions and continuity of these communities, although forest professionals could also initiate new and sufficiently homogenous reference groups for the owners.
Application of Computer Vision Methods and Algorithms in Documentation of Cultural Heritage
Authors: Káňa David , Hanzl Vlastimil
Published: February 2015

The main task of this paper is to describe methods and algorithms used in computer vision for fully automatic reconstruction of exterior orientation in ordered and unordered sets of images captured by digital calibrated cameras without prior informations about camera positions or scene structure. Attention will be paid to the SIFT interest operator for finding key points clearly describing the image areas with respect to scale and rotation, so that these areas could be compared to the regions in other images. There will also be discussed methods of matching key points, calculation of the relative orientation and strategy of linking sub-models to estimate the parameters entering complex bundle adjustment. The paper also compares the results achieved with above system with the results obtained by standard photogrammetric methods in processing of project documentation for reconstruction of the Žinkovy castle.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance in the adult population of the Moscow region
Authors: Dreval' A V , Misnikova I V , Barsukov I A , Ponchakova G V , Kuznetsov A V
Published: February 2015

Currently in Russia, as well as throughout the world, has been steadily increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism - impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose. It is shown that in the first year after diagnosis "prediabetes" in 5-10% of patients becomes type 2 diabetes, in five years - at 20-35%. If impaired glucose tolerance combined with impaired fasting glucose, the type 2 diabetes within 5 years develops in 38-65%. The true prevalence of overt type 2 diabetes several times higher than registered, from time to onset of the disease before its detection can reach 7-12 years. Up to 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes at diagnosis already have those or other complications. In this case, early detection of type 2 diabetes and early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism contributes to the timely initiation of treatment and prevention of complications of diabetes, can lead to disability of the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the results of oral glucose tolerance test the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism among a select group of the adult population of the Moscow region.
Osobennosti adaptatsii novorozhdennykh u materey s ozhireniem
Authors: Zernova L Yu , Kovalenko T V , Popova N N , Strelkov N S
Published: February 2015

According to various authors, obesity among pregnant recorded at a frequency of 15.5 to 26.9%. There is strong evidence that obesity contributes to complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, provoking the development of gestosis, placental insufficiency, abnormalities of labor, bleeding, et al., Which suggests the possibility of adjustment disorder in the neonatal period in infants of obese mothers. It should be recognized, however, that the available information on the subject are scarce and fragmentary. The purpose of this study was to investigate the features of postnatal adaptation of newborns of mothers with obesity. According to the study found that obesity in women is associated with a high incidence of reproductive disorders, gestational complications and pathological course of labor, resulting in abnormalities in the neonatal adaptation in the postnatal period. Disadaptation syndrome is manifested by the development of jaundice sustained over, edema, transient changes of the cardiovascular system, hypoglycemia. Violations in health are detected in the majority of infants (83.3%) born to mothers with obesity. The most significant pathologies are infections specific to the perinatal period (40.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (3.6%), diabetic fetopathy (4.8%), congenital malformations (2.4%).
Efficiency Biliopancreatic bypass surgery in bulimia nervosa
Authors: Yashkov Yu I , Bekuzarov D K , Nikol'skiy A V
Published: February 2015

A clinical significance in the treatment of bulimia nervosa patients with morbid obesity had already been raised [10, 13], but we did not find publications on the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in these cases. There is also information about the possibility of applying the operation bilio-pancreatic bypass, effective in patients with morbid obesity with uncontrolled eating behavior for the treatment of patients with anorexia BILIM not suffering from morbid obesity. In this article the data of clinical observation of a small sample of patients. As a result, the treatment of these patients found that severe nervous BILIM can be seen as a latent form of morbid obesity. The choice of treatment should depend not only on the initial body weight of the patient, but also on the severity of the nervous BILIM. Unsuccessful attempts at organized-balanced, conservative treatment of patients with severe bulimia nervosa may be considered a variant of surgical treatment, while bilio-pancreatic bypass surgery is considered as the most preferred operation, compared with the installation of the gastric balloon and others. All candidates for surgical treatment of obesity must identify clinical signs of bulimia nervosa, as this may influence the choice of method of operation. Further study of the role of hyperinsulinemia, secretion of ghrelin, leptin, intestinal peptide may contribute to the elucidation of the true causes of bulimia nervosa, probably has a similar origin with morbid obesity.
Experience of using Xenical for pilots
Authors: Ametov A S , Belykh A A
Published: February 2015

Lack of exercise, hypoxia, stress, constant psychological stress, longer shifts, a violation of the feeding process contribute to the development of metabolic disorders. Thus, persons Summer Special can be seen as a model for the study of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and the development of optimal preventive measures that determined the relevance and purpose of the study. The purpose of research - to evaluate the effectiveness of the correction of overweight and disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with risk factors for type 2 diabetes. For the correction of body weight was used Orlistat (Xenical) - specific inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases, acting locally in the lumen of the gastrointestinal trakta.Materialy and methods The study was performed at the Central Clinical Hospital of Civil Aviation. The study found that those aircrew who are overweight are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is due on the one hand, metabolic disorders due to abdominal obesity, and on the other - especially the professional activity (physical inactivity, a violation of the process food, emotional stress). As an effective therapy to persons aircrew appropriate to recommend treatment with Xenical against the background of a moderately hypocaloric diet combined with the expansion of physical activity.
Generation of axolotl hematopoietic chimeras
Authors: Lopez David , W. Scott Edward
Published: February 2015

Wound repair is an extremely complex process that requires precise coordination between various cell types including immune cells.  Unfortunately, in mammals this usually results in scar formation instead of restoration of the original fully functional tissue, otherwise known as regeneration.  Various animal models like frogs and salamanders are currently being studied to determine the intracellular and intercellular pathways, controlled by gene expression, that elicit cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration of cells during regenerative healing.  Now, the necessary genetic tools to map regenerative pathways are becoming available for the axolotl salamander, thus allowing comparative studies between scarring and regeneration.  Here, we describe in detail three methods to produce axolotl hematopoietic cell-tagged chimeras for the study of hematopoiesis and regeneration.
Psellos and Plotinos
Authors: Lauritzen Frederick
Published: February 2015

Michael Psellos (1018-1081?) had a limited and specific interest in Plotinus’ writings. He rarely quotes them, preferring the later Neoplatonist Proclus. Nevertheless, four essays reveal his study of Enneads 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 3.7, 5.8 and 5.9. Generally, he indicates his disagreement with the ancient philosopher except on the question of time. From the context it appears that the period of such research was ca 1055-1075 and may have been prompted by a friend such as Xiphilinos.
Üçayak: a forgotten Byzantine church
Authors: Mihaljević Marina
Published: February 2015

The imposing ruins of a Byzantine church known as Üçayak, situated in the vicinity of the city of Kırşehir in central Anatolia, on the border between the historic Byzantine provinces of Galatia and Cappadocia, exhibit several conspicuous architectural features. The church presents a combination of an ambiguous twin-church plan, a distinctive building technique, and a remarkably sophisticated exterior design comparable with those of metropolitan buildings. Together these features leave doubts about the sources of the church’s design, its original function and its patronage. In order to ponder the relationship between Üçayak‘s architecture and metropolitan and regional architectural developments, this paper deals with the church’s design and structural type within the framework of the totality of eleventh-century building activities, and examines possible function of the twin-church by comparing it with other regional Byzantine-rite churches. This study brings to the fore the extraordinary place of this church within the context of the regional construction, and establishes its close ties with eleventh-century metropolitan architecture. It also reveals the engagement of a master builder closely familiar with metropolitan practice and suggests that the building activities in the region of Bithynia may have facilitated the transmission of metropolitan architectural concepts further inland. In all probability, Üçayak‘s patron was a member of the local elite, which was customarily connected to the capital. Regarding the possible function of the twin-church of Üçayak, this article argues for the burial and commemorative functions, which often motivated the double arrangement in Cappadocian rock-cut churches.
Du recueil à l’invention du texte: le cas des Parastaseis Syntomoi Chronikai
Authors: Odorico Paolo
Published: February 2015

The author considers the manuscript tradition of the Parastaseis syntomoi chronikai, with the goal to understand the nature of the text. Against the recent view which sees in this collection the product of «philosophers» of 8
Eine Schmähschrift des Michael Apostoles
Authors: Stefec Rudolf S.
Published: February 2015

The present article offers the first complete edition of a pamphlet written by the Cretan scholar and scribe Michael Apostoles (†1478), addressed to one Lukios. The text gives us an insight into the prosopography of Cretan scholars of the late 15th century and is remarkable for its elaborate style and numerous and explicit references to homosexuality.
Refocus on Contacts
Authors: Cesa Mark
Published: February 2015

With the recent selection of our new Acting Secretary General, Colin Humphris, and the hiring of our new Executive Director, Lynn Soby, IUPAC’s organization and infrastructure are functioning well. Efforts are under way to streamline our processes, to enhance our financial position, to improve our publications and web site, and to develop new and improved projects and programs. As a result, we now have an opportunity to focus more on contacts with our adhering organizations, individual scientists, and other bodies.
Chemistry: Meeting the World’s Needs?
Authors: Tarasova Natalia
Published: February 2015

“The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) serves to advance the worldwide aspects of the chemical sciences and to contribute to the application of chemistry in the service of Humankind. As a scientific, international, non-governmental and objective body, IUPAC can address many global issues involving the chemical sciences.” These words meet the visitors of the Union website. If IUPAC wants to be visible outside the community of chemists and really intends to help meeting the world’s needs, a broad picture of these needs is to be understood by all. A short overview of the “state-of-art” in this field is given below.
Concepts in Toxicology: Development of Online Instructional Modules
Authors: Huggins D.J. , Schwenk M. , Templeton D.M. , Duffus J. H.
Published: February 2015

Currently, technology is used widely to support educational objectives in both online and face-to-face environments. In view of this trend and its success in many settings, we have developed modular, tutorial, video clips as instructional materials to accompany/complement the information presented in the book, Concepts in Toxicology [Duffus, Templeton, and Nordberg, 2009, RSC Publishing]. The book is based on the IUPAC Recommendations published in
The Semiotic Function of the Kola Nut in Nigeria
Authors: Ekundayo Steve Bode O. , Ugwu Esther Nkiruka
Published: February 2015

Kola nut is a ubiquitous crop that is the most valued, respected and widely used of all foods and cash crops grown in Nigeria. The presence of kola nut at a gathering or the offer of it generates a whirlpool of feelings in the giver and the receiver. In addition to building on existing knowledge of the kola nut, this paper - semiotic in approach and based on many years of empirical study - establishes and elucidates the inherent qualities and contents that make kola nut unique, iconic and symbolic. The paper concludes that kola nut is a great icon of socio-economic, socio-cultural and religious values and thus it enhances national cohesion.
Classical vs. unit area method in the evaluation of differential renal function in unilateral hydronephrosis
Authors: Kepenek Ferat , Koç Zehra Pınar , Orhan İrfan , Balcı Tansel Ansal , Aydın Funda , Güngör Ahmet Fırat , Ozan Tunc , Tektas Cihat
Published: February 2015

Background: There are some problematic results in determination of differential renal function (DRF) by means of Tc-99m DMSA renal scintigraphy in hydronephrotic kidneys. In this study the classical method (CM) and unit area methods (UAM) in the estimation of DRF in unilateral hydronephrosis before and after intervention were compared.

Methods: Twenty patients (12 M, 8 F; mean: 42.6±18.5 years old) who were candidates for surgery or intervention because of unilateral hydronephrosis were the subjects of this study. All the patients were evaluated by Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy before and 3–6 months after the intervention. In order to estimate DRF both CM and UAM (obtained by division of the counts including the kidney ROI to pixel of the same ROI) were performed. Bland-Altman analyses were performed in order to compare the DRF values obtained from both methods.

Results: The agreement between CM and UAM was poor in the preoperative estimation, however, the agreement was good after the operation or intervention.

Conclusions: In this study it seems that DRF estimation with CM in unilateral hydronephrosis might be problematic in the determination of surgery thus UAM might be introduced as the method of choice in the determination of DRF in unilateral hyronephrosis.
On the properties of dynamic value functions in the problem of optimal investment in incomplete markets
Authors: Mania Michael , Tevzadze Revaz
Published: February 2015

We study the analytical properties of a dynamic value function and of
an optimal solution to the utility maximization problem in incomplete markets
for utility functions defined on the whole real line. It was shown by Kramkov
and Sirbu [Ann. Appl. Probab. 16 (2006), no. 3, 1352–1384] that if the relative risk-aversion coefficient of the
utility function defined on the half real line is uniformly bounded away from
zero and infinity, then the value function at time t = 0 of utility
maximization problem is two-times differentiable and the optimal wealth is
differentiable in probability with respect to the initial capital. Similar
results are true for utility functions defined on the whole real line if
instead of relative risk-aversion the same condition on the risk-aversion
coefficient is imposed. Besides, assuming the continuity of the filtration
F we prove that the derivative of the optimal wealth is strictly positive
and that the derivative exists also in the sense of L
1-convergence. This
enables us to show the existence of a strictly increasing (with respect to the
initial capital) and absolutely continuous modification of the optimal wealth.
We also study the differentiability properties of the value function V(t,x)
and of the optimal wealth process Xt
(x) for any t ∈ [0,T] and give
the conditions under which the second derivative of the value function and the
derivative of the optimal wealth process are continuous. We need these
properties to show that the value function satisfies a certain backward
stochastic partial differential equation used to characterize the optimal
wealth process.
Improved synthesis of 6-[(ethylthio)methyl]-1H-indazole
Authors: Sirven Agnès M. , Stefak Roman , Rapenne Gwénaël
Published: February 2015

In the improved synthesis of 6-[(ethylthio)methyl]-1H-indazole (5), the mesylate intermediate is replaced by the bromide derivative, which increases the overall yield (six steps) by a factor of 3.
Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to study sphingolipid signaling
Authors: Deng Xinzhu , Kolesnick Richard
Published: February 2015

Sphingolipid signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans is vital for sensing environmental change and effecting appropriate cellular response. Many molecular components in sphingolipid intermediary metabolism are conserved throughout evolution. Here we review use of C. elegans as a model system for conducting sphingolipid-based scientific investigation, which has helped us better understand vital roles these remarkable lipids play in human metabolism and disease.
Why All Dictators Have Moustaches: Political Jokes in Contemporary Belarus
Authors: Astapova Anastasiya
Published: February 2015

Based on the repertoire of Belarusian oral political jokes collected between 2011 and 2013, this article compares contemporary Belarusian humor to the earlier Socialist and contemporary non-Belarusian jokes. During this study, I discovered that Belarusian oral jokes mostly have versions created through various schemes of adaptation in other countries and about other figures (not necessarily political). The continuity goes far beyond the exchange of jokes between dictatorships (as it may initially seem after the comparison of Belarusian and Socialist jokes). I also discovered that Belarusian oral jokes are mostly authoritarian – ridiculing the regime and the president, unlike post-totalitarian ones targeting ideology. Finally, drawing from the emic perspective which coins many more forms and themes as the markers of political jokes than the scholars usually do, I show how expansive the notion of political humor may be.
Understanding the Sequential Resources for Doing Humor in the Language Classroom
Authors: Reddington Elizabeth , Waring Hansun Zhang
Published: February 2015

Humor scholars have made great strides in identifying markers of humor such as prosody and laughter as well as the various social functions of humor in both everyday talk and workplace communication. Less research has been devoted to understanding the mechanisms of humor or how humor is done in naturally occurring interaction. Based on videotaped data from adult English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classrooms, we describe a specific set of sequential resources for producing humor in the language classroom and do so within a conversation analytic framework. We also give some preliminary consideration to the applicability of the findings in other interactional contexts as well as to the question of whether participants are oriented towards moments of humor as opportunities for language learning.
Determination of Volatile Compounds of Chinese Traditional Aromatic Sunflower Seeds (Helianthus annulus L.)
Authors: Zhu Mengmeng , Shen Xu , Chen Jianglin , Yang Tingting , Hou Ruyan
Published: February 2015

Chinese aromatic sunflower seeds (ASS) are a traditional snack food of China. During the production process, raw sunflower seeds were boiled by adding several traditional Chinese spices and then roasted to dryness, which lead to the formation of typical aroma, taste and healthful properties of ASS. In this study, volatile compounds from ASS were isolated by static headspace (HS) as well as simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) and determined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results show that the boiling process is necessary to obtain the typical aroma of ASS. A total of 82 compounds were identified, with phenols being the most abundant followed by spice components such as E-anethole and so on. Additionally, an SDE-GC/FID method was established to analyze the quantities of five main volatile compounds with eugenol being the most (16.06–29.30 µg/g). The levels of these five compounds could be used to adjust parameters during production and processing.