bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual Differences in Negotiation
Authors: Elfenbein Hillary Anger
Published: April 2015

The commonsense notion that personal characteristics influence how effectively we negotiate has presented researchers with a mystery: Throughout the decades, scholars have concluded that there are few reliable findings to support it. In this article, I review existing research as well as new research in which my colleagues and I join a growing minority revisiting this nearly abandoned topic. The categories of individual differences previously studied include background characteristics, abilities, personality traits, motivations, and expectations and beliefs. Reviewing this work presents an optimistic conclusion: The strongest and most reliable predictors of negotiation performance are also the most open to personal change. Namely, positive expectations and comfort with negotiation consistently predict better performance. Another consistent finding is that abilities such as cognitive intelligence and creativity help for win-win agreements. Results suggest promise for a topic that is important to researchers, educators, organizations, and the public alike.
“Mixed” Results
Authors: Gaither Sarah E.
Published: April 2015

Multiracial individuals report that the social pressure of having to “choose” one of their racial groups is a primary source of psychological conflict. Yet because of their ability to maneuver among their multiple identities, multiracials also adopt flexible cognitive strategies in dealing with their social environments—demonstrating a benefit to having multiple racial identities. The current article reviews recent research involving multiracial participants to examine the behavioral and cognitive outcomes linked to being multiracial and pinpoints possible moderators that may affect these outcomes. Limitations in applying monoracial identity frameworks to multiracial populations are also discussed.
Challenging convention: Methodological explorations in contemporary qualitative inquiry
Authors: Garratt Dean
Published: April 2015

Based on a recent inaugural lecture, this article presents a critical appreciation and analysis of the application of different research methodologies to selected social and educational research contexts. The analysis is set against the backdrop of an ontological question concerning the possibility of truth. Specifically, it seeks to explore the untenability of any notion of absolute truth in contemporary qualitative inquiry, and examines the corollary implications for determining the nature, role and status of research. It is argued that the ability to challenge convention offers the possibility and the productive capacity to unsettle dominant research methodologies, while also critiquing normative social and professional research practices. Utilising three contrasting methodological frameworks – Gadamerian hermeneutics; Foucauldian theory; and Lacanian psychoanalytic theory – the narrative follows a journey of personal development and shows how seemingly different and diverse theoretical perspectives can reveal critical new insights on contemporary social research issues and practices, cultures, and communities.
Investigation of stress of Fe–Cr alloy coating under rolling contact
Authors: Zhou J. , Xu B.-S. , Wang H.-D. , Xing Z.-G. , Zhu L.-N. , Chen S.-Y.
Published: April 2015

The aim of the paper is to investigate the rolling contact fatigue mechanism of the Fe–Cr alloy coating under different stress conditions. The Fe–Cr alloy surface coatings and Ni–Al alloy undercoatings were respectively deposited on the steel substrates using a high efficiency plasma spraying system. The distribution of maximum stress and shear at the interface and the inside of the coating were obtained using finite element simulation and experiment. The maximum stress is the critical failure stress, and shear stress does the main driving force for coating failure. The different failure modes are due to the synergy of the maximum stress and the shear stress.
Why do they die? Comparison of selected aspects of organ injury and dysfunction in mice surviving and dying in acute abdominal sepsis
Authors: Drechsler Susanne , Weixelbaumer Katrin M , Weidinger Adelheid , Raeven Pierre , Khadem Anna , Redl Heinz , van Griensven Martijn , Bahrami Soheyl , Remick Daniel , Kozlov Andrey , Osuchowski Marcin F
Published: April 2015

Background

The mechanisms of sepsis mortality remain undefined. While there is some evidence of organ damage, it is not clear whether this damage alone is sufficient to cause death. Therefore, we aimed to examine contribution of organ injury/dysfunction to early deaths in the mouse abdominal sepsis.

Methods

Female OF-1 mice underwent either medium-severity cecal ligation and puncture (CLP-Only) or non-lethal CLP-ODam (CLP with cisplatin/carbontetrachloride to induce survivable hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity). In the first experiment, blood was collected daily from survivors (SUR; CLP-Only and CLP-ODam groups) or until early death (DIED; CLP-Only). In the second experiment (CLP-Only), early outcome was prospectively predicted based on body temperature (BT) and pairs of mice predicted to survive (P-SUR) and die (P-DIE) were sacrificed post-CLP. The overall magnitude of organ injury/dysfunction was compared in retrospectively and prospectively stratified mice.

Results

At day 7 post-CLP, survival in CLP-Only was 48%, while CLP-ODam was non-lethal. In CLP-Only mice within 24 h of death, urea increased to 78 (versus 40 mg/dl in SUR), ALT to 166 (vs. 108 U/l), LDH to 739 (vs. 438 U/l) and glucose declined to 43 (vs. 62 mg/dl). In CLP-ODam, hypoglycemia was exacerbated (by 1.5-fold) and ALT and LDH were 20- and 8-fold higher versus DIED (CLP-Only) mice. In CLP-Only, predicted deaths (P-DIE) were preceded by a significant rise only in cystatin C (268 vs. 170 ng/ml in P-SUR) but not in creatinine and troponin I. Respiratory function of mitochondria in the liver and kidney of P-SUR and P-DIE CLP-Only mice was not impaired (vs. controls) and ATP level in organs remained similar among all groups. Histologic injury scores in the liver, kidney, heart and lung showed no major disparities among dying, surviving and control mice.

Conclusions

In CLP-Only mice, although the deregulation of parameters indicative of organ injury/dysfunction was greater in dying versus surviving mice, it never exceeded the changes in surviving CLP-ODam animals, and it was not followed by histopathological damage and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. This shows that interpretation of the contribution of the organ injury/dysfunction to early deaths in the CLP model is not straightforward and depends on the pathophysiological origin of the profiled disturbances.
An Analytical Modeling Framework for Primary Lateral-Load–Resisting Unreinforced Masonry Walls
Authors: O'Donnell Andrew P. , Kurama Yahya C. , Taflanidis Alexandros A.
Published: April 2015

This paper investigates an analytical modeling framework for the primary lateral-load–resisting walls, including out-of-plane effects, in unreinforced masonry (URM) building structures. Integral to each URM wall model with door and window perforations is a macro-element that represents each solid masonry panel within the structure. The macro-element consists of multiple discrete elements for modeling different characteristics of URM wall behavior, including sliding, rocking, and diagonal tension/compression. Validation of the model is conducted through comparison of the analytical predictions with observed behavior from previous tests available in the literature. The simplicity of the macro-element modeling approach, together with its material/geometry-based ability to predict URM behavior, permits the extension of this framework to a wide range of analyses (e.g., numerous ground motion records, variable material properties, diverse geometrical features, and building layouts) to support a semiautomatic seismic assessment for URM typologies.
Frequent Screening With Serial Neck Ultrasound Is More Likely to Identify False-Positive Abnormalities Than Clinically Significant Disease in the Surveillance of Intermediate Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients Without Suspicious Findings on Follow-Up Ultrasound Evaluation
Authors: Peiling Yang Samantha , Bach Ariadne M. , Tuttle R. Michael , Fish Stephanie A.
Published: April 2015

Context:

American Thyroid Association (ATA) intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients who achieve an excellent treatment response demonstrate a low risk of structural disease recurrence. Despite this fact, most patients undergo frequent surveillance neck ultrasound (US) during follow-up.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical utility of routine screening neck US in ATA intermediate-risk patients documented to have a nonstimulated thyroglobulin less than 1.0 ng/mL and a neck US without suspicious findings after therapy.

Patients and Design:

Retrospective review of 90 ATA intermediate-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma patients treated with total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation in a tertiary referral center.

Main Outcome Measures:

A comparison between the frequency of finding false-positive US abnormalities and the frequency of identifying structural disease recurrence in the study cohort was measured.

Results:

Over a median of 10 years, 90 patients had a median of six US (range 2–16). Structural disease recurrence was identified in 10% (9 of 90) at a median of 6.3 years. Recurrence was associated with other clinical indicators of disease in 5 of the 90 patients (5.6%, 5 of 90) and was detected without other signs of recurrence in four patients (4.8%, 4 of 84). False-positive US abnormalities were identified in 57% (51 of 90), leading to additional testing, which failed to identify clinically significant disease.

Conclusions:

In ATA intermediate-risk patients who have a nonstimulated thyroglobulin less than 1.0 ng/mL and a neck US without suspicious findings after therapy, frequent US screening during follow-up is more likely to identify false-positive abnormalities than clinically significant structural disease recurrence.
Measured Aggregate Gains from International Trade
Authors: Burstein Ariel , Cravino Javier
Published: April 2015

We examine the implications of workhorse trade models for how aggregate productivity, real GDP and real consumption, as measured by statistical agencies, respond to changes in trade costs. In a range of models, changes in measured productivity are equal to the inverse of an export-share weighted average of changes in variable trade costs incurred domestically. Under certain conditions, despite the multiple biases in the CPI, measured real consumption captures the first-order effects of changes in variable trade costs on welfare. Through the lens of these results, we interpret some of the empirical work on measured gains from trade. (JEL E21, E23, F11, F43)
Consumption Volatility, Marketization, and Expenditure in an Emerging Market Economy
Authors: Hicks Daniel L.
Published: April 2015

In response to income fluctuations, households smooth consumption by substituting between market expenditure and time inputs. This paper provides evidence of this substitution in the context of food consumption over transitory and permanent income fluctuations in Mexico. Household time investments drive a wedge between consumption and expenditure, amplifying measured expenditure volatility. Volatility decompositions for Mexico and the United States suggest that the extent of bias in expenditure-based measures induced by changes in marketization is relatively larger in the Mexican setting. These findings imply that volatility comparisons between commodities or across countries are misleading when consumption measures ignore home production. (JEL D12, D91, E21, E32, O11, O12)
Welfare Cost of Business Cycles with Idiosyncratic Consumption Risk and a Preference for Robustness
Authors: Ellison Martin , Sargent Thomas J.
Published: April 2015

The welfare cost of random consumption fluctuations is known from De Santis (2007) to be increasing in the level of uninsured idiosyncratic consumption risk. It is known from Barillas, Hansen, and Sargent (2009) to increase if agents care about robustness to model misspecification. We calculate the cost of business cycles in an economy where agents face idiosyncratic consumption risk and fear model misspecification, finding that idiosyncratic risk has a greater impact on the cost of business cycles if agents already fear model misspecification. Correspondingly, endowing agents with fears about misspecification is more costly when there is already idiosyncratic risk. (JEL D81, E13, E21, E32)
Solving Variants of the Job Shop Scheduling Problem Through Conflict-Directed Search
Authors: Grimes Diarmuid , Hebrard Emmanuel
Published: April 2015

We introduce a simple technique for disjunctive machine scheduling problems and show that this method can match or even outperform state-of-the-art algorithms on a number of problem types. Our approach combines a number of generic search techniques such as restarts, adaptive heuristics, and solution-guided branching on a simple model based on a decomposition of disjunctive constraints and on the reification of these disjuncts.

This paper describes the method and its application to variants of the job shop scheduling problem (JSP). We show that our method can easily be adapted to handle additional side constraints and different objective functions, often outperforming the state-of-the-art and closing a number of open problems. Moreover, we perform in-depth analysis of the various factors that make this approach efficient. We show that, while most of the factors give moderate benefits, the variable and value ordering components are key.
Epileptic Seizures and Epilepsy in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Alexiev Filip , Semerdjieva Nikolina , Milanova Milena
Published: April 2015

Purpose: Epilepsy and epileptic seizures occur more frequently in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). In this patient population most often are reported complex partial and secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and some demographic characteristics of patients with epileptic seizures or epilepsy and MS who have sought specialized medical care in the area of Sofia, Bulgaria. 
Methods: A prospective study with 67 consecutive cases of patients with definite MS which was realized at a Clinic of neurology of a University hospital. In all patients a disease history was reviewed with a focus on epileptic seizures and other motor phenomena, as well on epilepsy. 
Results: Epileptic seizures were identified in 4 (6.0%) patients in our group. Epilepsy was identified as well in 4 (6.0%) patients. Of these, we identified simple focal motor seizures, simple focal sensory seizures, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Paroxysmal activity on electroencephalography (EEG) was registered in three patients.
Conclusions: Our locally performed study corroborates the overall opinion that epilepsy and epileptic seizures are more frequent in patients with MS than in the general population. The seizure semiology was not different than previously reported in other MS and epilepsy studies. We did not identify any patient with an epileptic seizure as an initial or the only presentation of MS.
Cerebral Vasospasm and Hemodynamic Alterations Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Revealed with Combined CT Perfusion and CT Angiography
Authors: Zhao Yiping , Zhang Bo , Zhang He , Xu Ke , Li Songbai
Published: April 2015

Purpose: Vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is considered to be one of the major factors leading to neurological deficits and is associated with poor outcome in SAH. In this study, we utilized combined computed tomography angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP) techniques to assess radiographic cerebral vasospasm with attempts (1) to determine if cerebral vasospasms can be detected in patients with onset of SAH less than 3 days, and (2) to assess the perfusion deficits or hemodynamic alterations of the affected brain tissues following acute or delayed SAH. 
Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight patients with SAH and seven without SAH were recruited in the present study. After SAH was confirmed with a baseline non-enhanced head CT scan, the combined CTA-CTP procedures were performed and the CTP maps were created simultaneously. Quantitative CTP measurements including cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), mean transit time (MTT) and time-to-peak (TTP) were carried out for each of the territories in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and the posterior cerebral artery (PCA), respectively. 
Results: Among 38 patients with SAH, a total of 33 aneurysms were detected and their anatomic locations were as follows: PCA (17), ACA (10) and MCA (6), respectively. Furthermore, multiple aneurysms were also present in 7 of the 33 patients with SAH. Whole-brain CTP measurements showed perfusion deficits in all of the patients with SAH. Both CBV and CBF values were significantly reduced in the affected areas of brain tissues. The incidence of cerebral vasospasm was significantly higher in the patients with delayed SAH (61.5%) than those with onset of SAH in less than 3 days (12%) (Fisher exact test, p<0.05). Additionally, quantitative analysis of CTP measurements of the patient without cerebral vasospasms with those with CVS reveals that, when compared to the control, all the patients with or without cerebral vasospasms showed significant differences in all four parameters measured (p<0.05, one-way ANOVA). Furthermore, according to their corresponding territories of the ACA, MCA and PCA, there were significant decreases in the mean CBV and CBF values of the ACA, MCA and PCA of SAH patients compared to the control patients, respectively. Moreover, a significant prolongation in the mean MTT and TTP values in SAH patients was also evident. 
Conclusion: Although a much higher incidence of cerebral vasospasms usually occurs in the delayed SAH, cerebral vasospasm could be detected in less than three days following the onset of acute SAH. Furthermore, the combined CTA-CTP procedures, along with the baseline CT scan, could also offer diagnostic benefits for assessing changes in global perfusion following the onset of aneurysmal SAH.
Forestier’s Disease in a Young Student: A Genetic Origin?
Authors: Assogba Komi , Apetsè Kossivi M. , Kombaté Damelan , Oniankitan Inoussa , Balogou Koffi A.A.
Published: April 2015

Forestier’s disease or ankylosing hyperostosis is a non inflammatory esthesopathy that ossifying the anterolateral spine face and sparing the disc and joint space. It is often occurred in elderly men over 50 years old. We aimed to report an early onset Forestier’s Disease in a 20- year –old student. He was admitted for walking trouble, decline hearing and speech disturbance that began progressively four years ago. The neurological examination let appear walking ataxia, slight amyotrophy of both legs and deep sensibility impairment. Somatic exam has revealed the outgrowth bones areas. Ophthalmic examination has noted decreased visual acuity less than 4/10th in both eyes. The audiogram has showed bilateral decline in hearing. X-ray showed an anterior weaving hyperostosis in spine, multiple new bones formation in joints of skull, mandible, scapula, humerus and knees.
Portopulmonary Hypertension: An Effect of Vasomodulation and Mortality Post-Transplant
Authors: Ferro Tammy , Alsina Angel , Pham Thuy , Rumbak Mark
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Portopulmonary hypertension (PPH) complicates the perioperative conditions in patients who anticipate orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). PPH is rare-occurring in only 6% of those referred for OLT. There is decrease in survival with the moderate to severe PPH subgroup with OLT. Overall only a third live to 5 years time after transplant. Treatment of PPH with vasomodulative therapies before transplantation has increased survival both pre- and post-transplant. The purpose of this study is to report the mortality, prevalence of vasomodulator therapy in PPH before and after OLT depending on group severity. 
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study conducted from our liver transplant database over the course of 15 years. Patients were selected if they were diagnosed with PPH and received OLT. There pulmonary pressures were recorded preoperatively thereby categorizing patients into severity stages. Patient age, ethnicity, gender, BMI, and concurrent comorbidities were also included. The outcomes were overall and group-specific survival, and vasomodulator therapy types used. 
Results: The most common cause of liver failure in both groups was Hepatitis C and alcohol-induced cirrhosis. Overall mortality was 50%. There was an increase in use of sildenafil and epoprostenol post-transplant in the PPH group. Forty-percent of transplanted patients lived to more than 1200 day end-point. Patients in moderate to severe had a sustained survival rate from years 1-5 post-transplant. 
Conclusions: Patients with pulmonary vascular disease have a complicated liver transplant course specifically with moderate to severe PPH. This retrospective study suggests that in the setting of PPH and liver transplant, mortality is greatly improved after OLT with long-term treatment with vasomodulators, specifically those with moderate-severe disease.
Use of Acoustic Assessment to Detect Decay and Assess Condition of Wooden Guardrail Posts
Authors: Sinha Arijit , Morrell Jeffrey J. , Clauson Milo
Published: April 2015

Wood guardrail posts are the most common wood materials currently used in highway construction. Maintenance crews and engineers are often faced with the challenge of rapidly assessing the extent of decay or damage in individual posts. Many conventional intrusive techniques are unsuitable for inspecting guardrail posts because they are too time-consuming. Acoustic detection could be an ideal inspection method because of its rapid assessment. The potential for using acoustic inspection for wooden guardrail posts was assessed on treated hem-fir guardrail posts removed from western Washington State. The posts were tested nondestructively using an impulse hammer, and then increment cores were removed from each post for assessing preservative treatment and fungal colonization. The posts were then tested to failure in bending to determine flexural properties. All but one of the posts met the minimum threshold for strength according to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. There was a weak correlation between acoustically predicted modulus of elasticity (MOE) and actual MOE. Correlations between acoustically predicted MOE and modulus of rupture were slightly better but still weak and lower than would be acceptable for this method to be used in the field. The results indicate that acoustic methods might be useful for detecting the presence of advanced decay but failed to provide definitive estimates of post properties.
O que vou ser quando crescer? A Relação Entre a Atividade Profissional e a Perspectiva de Atuação após o fim do Curso de Graduação
Authors: Cassundé Fernanda Roda De Souza Araújo , Lima Antônio Jessé Alves de , Rodrigues Camila Vieira , Quirino Cláudio Alberto De Sá , Maia Leonardo Guerra
Published: April 2015

Globalização, tecnologias de informação, valorização do capital intelectual e exigências do mercado têm provocado significativas mudanças no mundo do trabalho. Assim, é objetivo do artigo traçar o perfil que evidencie a relação entre atividades profissionais dos estudantes dos dois últimos anos de Administração da UNIVASF e a sua perspectiva de atuação após o curso. Para isso, foram utilizados 60 questionários aplicados aleatoriamente. Conclui-se que há a predisposição dos estudantes, pelas áreas de maior relevância no mercado de trabalho local, especialmente no setor privado e que o curso de Administração é um dos que, por seu amplo campo de atuação e particularidade curricular, tem motivado estudantes quanto à decisão sobre o rumo das suas carreiras após a graduação e constituído habilidades que nortearão escolhas, porém nem sempre o fato está associado ao papel que exercem no ambiente de trabalho, implicando em insatisfações, estresse e desempenhos ruins.
Elemental Analysis of Fossil Fuels and Related Materials
Authors: Nadkarni Kishore R. A.
Published: April 2015

Description

Sixteen comprehensive chapters cover the importance of elemental analysis of fossil fuels, analytical techniques, basic analytical protocols, and proficiency testing programs for elemental analysis.

Includes the latest information on the analysis of:
Hidden and Null Curricula of Sexual Orientation
Authors: Sawyer Richard , Norris Joe
Published: April 2015

An earlier version of this article appeared as a chapter in Democratic Responses in an Era of Standardization as “Null and Hidden Curricula of Sexual Orientation: A Dialogue on the Curreres of the Absent Presence and the Present Absence” (Norris & Sawyer, 2004). While not labeled as such in the original, this piece marked the beginning of the dialogic research methodology called duoethnography. In just more than 10 years, in addition to articles published in a number of journals by various scholars, two books that document its history, outline its tenets, and articulate its philosophy have been published, one as a edited volume and another that articulates duoethnography's salient features. It is reprinted with revisions here as a historical reference point.
A Dialogue among Bilingual Language Educators
Authors: Colomer Soria Elizabeth , Olivero María Matilde , Bell Julia
Published: April 2015

Although more women than men enroll in U.S. doctoral programs (U.S. Department of Education, 2009), they, especially ethnic minorities, are less likely to obtain a doctoral degree (V. Castro, Garcia, Cavazos, & A. Y. Castro, 2011). Challenges associated with work-life balance in graduate school are more pronounced among women and international students (Brus, 2006; Haynes et al., 2012; Oswalt & Riddock, 2007), thus, these students often struggle to complete their programs. Many graduates, however, have described undergoing a transformative process characterized by moments of tension, stress, and identity shift (Jazvac-Martek, Chen, & McAlpine, 2011; Walker, Golde, Jones, Bueschel, & Hutchings, 2008). This trio-ethnography explores the experiences of two doctoral students and a tenure-earning assistant professor in the academic pipeline. This paper seeks to engage doctoral students, faculty members, and administrators with the stories of three women to consider the ways they transformed themselves and each other as they sought to understand their academic experiences through dialogue.
Novel Genes Affecting Blood Pressure Detected Via Gene-Based Association Analysis
Authors: Zhang Huan , Mo Xing-Bo , Xu Tan , Bu Xiao-Qing , Lei Shu-Feng , Zhang Yong-Hong
Published: April 2015

Hypertension is a common disorder and one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to identify more novel genes for blood pressure. Based on the publically available SNP-based P values of a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies, we performed an initial gene-based association study in a total of 69,395 individuals. To find supplementary evidence to support the importance of the identified genes, we performed GRAIL (gene relationships among implicated loci) analysis, protein–protein interaction analysis, functional annotation clustering analysis, coronary artery disease association analysis, and other bioinformatics analyses. Approximately 22,129 genes on the human genome were analyzed for blood pressure in gene-based association analysis. A total of 43 genes were statistically significant after Bonferroni correction (P < 2.3×10−6). The evidence obtained from the analyses of this study suggested the importance of ID1 (P = 2.0×10−6), CYP17A1 (P = 4.58×10−9), ATXN2 (P = 1.07×10−13), CLCN6 (P = 4.79×10−9), FURIN (P = 1.38×10−6), HECTD4 (P = 3.95×10−11), NPPA (P = 1.60×10−6), and PTPN11 (P = 8.89×10−10) in the genetic basis of blood pressure. The present study found some important genes associated with blood pressure, which might provide insights into the genetic architecture of hypertension.
Analysis of RNA Interference Lines Identifies New Functions of Maternally-Expressed Genes Involved in Embryonic Patterning inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Liu Niankun , Lasko Paul
Published: April 2015

Embryonic patterning in Drosophila melanogaster is initially established through the activity of a number of maternally expressed genes that are expressed during oogenesis. mRNAs from some of these genes accumulate in the posterior pole plasm of the oocyte and early embryo and localize further into RNA islands, which are transient ring-like structures that form around the nuclei of future primordial germ cells (pole cells) at stage 3 of embryogenesis. As mRNAs from several genes with known functions in anterior–posterior patterning and/or germ cell specification accumulate in RNA islands, we hypothesized that some other mRNAs that localize in this manner might also function in these developmental processes. To test this, we investigated the developmental functions of 51 genes whose mRNAs accumulate in RNA islands by abrogating their activity in the female germline using RNA interference. This analysis revealed requirements for ttk, pbl, Hip14, eIF5, eIF4G, and CG9977 for progression through early oogenesis. We observed dorsal appendage defects in a proportion of eggs produced by females expressing double-stranded RNA targeting Mkrn1 or jvl, implicating these two genes in dorsal–ventral patterning. In addition, posterior patterning defects and a reduction in pole cell number were seen in the progeny of Mkrn1 females. Because the mammalian ortholog of Mkrn1 acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, these results suggest an additional link between protein ubiquitination and pole plasm activity.
TheDrosophila melanogasterMutantsapblotandapXastaAffect an EssentialapterousWing Enhancer
Authors: Bieli Dimitri , Kanca Oguz , Gohl Daryl , Denes Alexandru , Schedl Paul , Affolter Markus , Müller Martin
Published: April 2015

The selector gene apterous (ap) plays a key role during the development of the Drosophila melanogaster wing because it governs the establishment of the dorsal-ventral (D-V) compartment boundary. The D-V compartment boundary is known to serve as an important signaling center that is essential for the growth of the wing. The role of Ap and its downstream effectors have been studied extensively. However, very little is known about the transcriptional regulation of ap during wing disc development. In this study, we present a first characterization of an essential wing-specific ap enhancer. First, we defined an 874-bp fragment about 10 kb upstream of the ap transcription start that faithfully recapitulates the expression pattern of ap in the wing imaginal disc. Analysis of deletions in the ap locus covering this element demonstrated that it is essential for proper regulation of ap and formation of the wing. Moreover, we showed that the mutations apblot and apXasta directly affect the integrity of this enhancer, leading to characteristic wing phenotypes. Furthermore, we engineered an in situ rescue system at the endogenous ap gene locus, allowing us to investigate the role of enhancer fragments in their native environment. Using this system, we were able to demonstrate that the essential wing enhancer alone is not sufficient for normal wing development. The in situ rescue system will allow us to characterize the ap regulatory sequences in great detail at the endogenous locus.
Single-Cell Based Quantitative Assay of Chromosome Transmission Fidelity
Authors: Zhu Jin , Heinecke Dominic , Mulla Wahid A , Bradford William D , Rubinstein Boris , Box Andrew , Haug Jeffrey S , Li Rong
Published: April 2015

Errors in mitosis are a primary cause of chromosome instability (CIN), generating aneuploid progeny cells. Whereas a variety of factors can influence CIN, under most conditions mitotic errors are rare events that have been difficult to measure accurately. Here we report a green fluorescent protein−based quantitative chromosome transmission fidelity (qCTF) assay in budding yeast that allows sensitive and quantitative detection of CIN and can be easily adapted to high-throughput analysis. Using the qCTF assay, we performed genome-wide quantitative profiling of genes that affect CIN in a dosage-dependent manner and identified genes that elevate CIN when either increased (icCIN) or decreased in copy number (dcCIN). Unexpectedly, qCTF screening also revealed genes whose change in copy number quantitatively suppress CIN, suggesting that the basal error rate of the wild-type genome is not minimized, but rather, may have evolved toward an optimal level that balances both stability and low-level karyotype variation for evolutionary adaptation.
Response of Polygenic Traits Under Stabilizing Selection and Mutation When Loci Have Unequal Effects
Authors: Jain Kavita , Stephan Wolfgang
Published: April 2015

We consider an infinitely large population under stabilizing selection and mutation in which the allelic effects determining a polygenic trait vary between loci. We obtain analytical expressions for the stationary genetic variance as a function of the distribution of effects, mutation rate, and selection coefficient. We also study the dynamics of the allele frequencies, focusing on short-term evolution of the phenotypic mean as it approaches the optimum after an environmental change. We find that when most effects are small, the genetic variance does not change appreciably during adaptation, and the time until the phenotypic mean reaches the optimum is short if the number of loci is large. However, when most effects are large, the change of the variance during the adaptive process cannot be neglected. In this case, the short-term dynamics may be described by those of a few loci of large effect. Our results may be used to understand polygenic selection driving rapid adaptation.
Novel Genes Critical for Hypoxic Preconditioning in Zebrafish Are Regulators of Insulin and Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Manchenkov Tania , Pasillas Martina P , Haddad Gabriel G , Imam Farhad B
Published: April 2015

Severe hypoxia is a common cause of major brain, heart, and kidney injury in adults, children, and newborns. However, mild hypoxia can be protective against later, more severe hypoxia exposure via “hypoxic preconditioning,” a phenomenon that is not yet fully understood. Accordingly, we have established and optimized an embryonic zebrafish model to study hypoxic preconditioning. Using a functional genomic approach, we used this zebrafish model to identify and validate five novel hypoxia-protective genes, including irs2, crtc3, and camk2g2, which have been previously implicated in metabolic regulation. These results extend our understanding of the mechanisms of hypoxic preconditioning and affirm the discovery potential of this novel vertebrate hypoxic stress model.
Gene Network Reconstruction by Integration of Prior Biological Knowledge
Authors: Li Yupeng , Jackson Scott A
Published: April 2015

With the development of high-throughput genomic technologies, large, genome-wide datasets have been collected, and the integration of these datasets should provide large-scale, multidimensional, and insightful views of biological systems. We developed a method for gene association network construction based on gene expression data that integrate a variety of biological resources. Assuming gene expression data are from a multivariate Gaussian distribution, a graphical lasso (glasso) algorithm is able to estimate the sparse inverse covariance matrix by a lasso (L1) penalty. The inverse covariance matrix can be seen as direct correlation between gene pairs in the gene association network. In our work, instead of using a single penalty, different penalty values were applied for gene pairs based on a priori knowledge as to whether the two genes should be connected. The a priori information can be calculated or retrieved from other biological data, e.g., Gene Ontology similarity, protein-protein interaction, gene regulatory network. By incorporating prior knowledge, the weighted graphical lasso (wglasso) outperforms the original glasso both on simulations and on data from Arabidopsis. Simulation studies show that even when some prior knowledge is not correct, the overall quality of the wglasso network was still greater than when not incorporating that information, e.g., glasso.
CFD Benchmark Tests for Indoor Environmental Problems: Part 2 Cross-Ventilation Airflows and Floor Heating Systems
Authors: Kazuhide Ito  , Kiao Inthavong  , Takashi Kurabuchi  , Toshikatsu Ueda  , Tomoyuki Endo  , Toshiaki Omori  , Hiroki Ono  , Shinsuke Kato  , Koji Sakai  , Yoshihide Suwa  , Hiroshi Matsumoto  , Hajime Yoshino  , Weirong Zhang  , Jiyuan Tu
Published: April 2015

Commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software is practically applied in indoor environmental design recent years but the prediction accuracy of CFD simulation depends on the understanding for the fundamentals of fluid dynamics and the setting of appropriate boundary and numerical conditions as well. Additionally, deeper understanding to a specific problem regarding indoor environment is also requested. The series of this study aimed to provide with the practical information such as prediction accuracy and problematic areas related to CFD applications in indoor environment, air conditioning and ventilation, then performed benchmark tests and reported the results. In this Part 2, benchmark test results for cross-ventilation airflows and floor heating systems were introduced.
The highest reproducibility of the predicted results compared with the wind tunnel results occurred when the Z0-type wall function was used as the floor-surface boundary condition and the SST k–ω for the turbulence model in case of cross-ventilation flow and SST k–ω model showed also the closest matching results with experiment in case of natural convection in a room with floor heating.
Education: An Instrument to Enhance Women Empowerment and Inclusive Growth
Authors:   MBA Business Sustainability, TERI University, Jha Bhavesh
Published: April 2015

Education provides a basis for a positive change and transformation of the society. This exposes new and innovative thoughts, understanding and important skills in a person towards developing self and surroundings. Education empowers women to understand the economics of managing resources and grab the opportunities for value generation in a micro (household) and macro (societal) level. The topic exhibits about the necessity of women education and benefits thereto in the process of competitiveness of a society and a nation at large. Researchers say that educating a woman means educating a family. More empowered the women are; more empowered would be the society. Educated women have multiple advantages (tangible and intangible) as far as families’ and social needs are concerned. They play various roles as a responsible citizens, housewives, mothers etc. and also as contributors to families’ income. Women accounts for half of the human resource. Despite various awareness programmes, regulations worldwide on gender equality and women empowerment, the situation is not good. According to United Nations Development Programme, two thirds of global illiterate population is women. 7 out of 10 women are reported experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, says UN Women. Women earn only 10 % of all the income, only 1% of the property and yet produce half of the world’s food. Irrespective of class, culture or income, women are discriminated all over. The situation in developing and undeveloped countries is worse. According to a global poll by Thomson Reuters, India is said to be the 4th most dangerous country in the world. India needs to do a lot as far as security, freedom, economic empowerment etc. are concerned. Education can play a crucial role in enhancing their social status and empower them to stand against the discrimination. This is a tool to encourage them to attain self reliance and gives them power to fight against the evils.
Development of Critical Thinking Skill Programme for the Student Teachers of Diploma in Teacher Education colleges
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Chavan A. A.
Published: April 2015

The importance of education and its role should be to open up minds and ensure that it thinks reasons and analyzes. The National Curriculum Framework 2005 places demands and expectations on the teacher, which need to be addressed by both initial and continuing teacher education. To enhance the knowledge, values and skill among student it is necessary to enhance these in teacher first. Critical thinking is a type of reasonable, reflective thinking that is aimed at deciding what to believe or what to do. This paper examines the critical thinking skill of three D.T.Ed, college student teachers’ in the Kolhapur city and develop a programme to check the effectiveness of It. Findings are discussed most of the student teachers are poor in acquiring expanding question skill aspect, evaluating question skill aspect and analyzing question skill aspect of critical thinking skill. The treatment given to experimental group has produced significant difference in score of critical thinking skill and it can be said that the programme on development of critical thinking skill significantly enhances the critical thinking skill.
Physical Learning Environment and Inmates Participation in Post Literacy Project in Government Prisons in Kenya
Authors:   Senior lecturer and associate Dean, School of Continuing and Distance Education, Kyalo Dorothy Ndunge , MuIwa Angeline Sabina ,   Lecturer, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, Matuta PhyIisters D. ,   lecturer, School of Education, Rutere M. Jedidah W. ,   Researcher, university of Nairobi, Nairobi-00100, Kenya
Published: April 2015

Adult illiteracy remains a worldwide phenomenon in spite of numerous efforts being made by the government, church, community-based and non-governmental organizations. The phenomena surrounding adult illiteracy is fundamentally an abuse of human rights since, it deprives the adult their psychological, social and physical provisions. It is against this background that research was conducted in the Nairobi government prisons (GK prisons) to establish the extent to which physical learning environment influences the participation of inmates in the post-literacy adult classes. Survey and naturalistic designs were employed. Probability sampling procedures were employed to select three adult education officers, six prison welfare officers, 32 teachers and 96 learners (prisoners) and one adult education teacher. To obtain the information from the respondent, questionnaires, interview guide, observation schedule and document analysis were used. Data was collected and summarized into frequencies, percentages, graphs, cross tabulations, charts and narrative reports. The null hypotheses were tested using independent samples t-test and One-way ANOVA. The findings of the study revealed that effective participation in post-literacy project in prisons has been hindered by lack of qualified adult education teachers, lack of facilities and teaching and learning materials.
Functioning of School Management Committee in Rural Elementary School: A Case Study
Authors:   Department of Education, ravenshaw university, Cuttack, Odisha-753003, India, Rout Sarat Kumar
Published: April 2015

This paper intends to explore the role of School Management Committees (SMCs) in rural elementary schools pertaining to the different variables under investigation, e.g. enrollment, utilization of allotted funds and development of infrastructures. Balikhand Primary School situated at Purusottampur Grampanchayat, Simulia Block, Balasore District was selected for case study. The paper highlights the functioning of SMC in this school and reveals many facts pertaining to the different areas under study that have important implications for the major stakeholders of Elementary Education. The study revealed that the SMC discharged its role actively for achieving universal enrollment by checking the attendance and absenteeism of the learners. It also showed interest in developing the infrastructures by communicating the authorities regarding different avenues of infrastructures and the SMC had utilized the allotted funds in proper means so as to develop the system.
Two new similar species of Masdevallia (Orchidaceae: Pleurothallidinae) from Pasco, Peru
Authors: Dalström Stig , Ruíz Pérez Saúl
Published: April 2015

Two new species of Masdevallia, subgenus Pygmaeia, section Amaluzae are described, illustrated with line drawings and color photographs, and compared with similar taxa. The two new species are sympatric and share many morphological characteristics, but differ from each other through features such as pubescent sepals versus glabrous sepals, size and coloration. Both new species differ from all other members of the same subgenus and section by much larger plant habits.
A novel seed baiting technique for the epiphytic orchid Rhynchostele cervantesii, a means to acquire mycorrhizal fungi from protocorms
Authors: Cruz-Higareda Jesús Bernardo , Luna-Rosales Bárbara Susana , Barba-Álvarez Amadeo
Published: April 2015

We developed a new and novel seed baiting technique sowing mature seeds of the epiphyitic orchid Rhynchostele cervantesii under natural conditions, We introduced a sponge in each package that may serve as a reservoir for water retention to benefit germination; In three of 22 packets we found protocorms in an early stage of development, six of wich were of sufficient size to warrant fungal isolations; Nine strains were isolated in pure culture and were inoculated on seeds and protocorms under in vitro conditions.
A new and previously misidentified Cyrtochilum (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae) from the high plains of central Ecuador
Authors: Dalström Stig
Published: April 2015

A new and previously misidentified, small-flowered Cyrtochilum (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae) from central Ecuador is described, illustrated with a line drawing and photographs, and compared with the species that it has previously been taxonomically mixed-up with by the author. The new species is readily distinguished by the dark yellow, gibbous and carnose lip callus, versus more elongate, longitudinally furrowed and bilobed calli for similar species.