bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TSEE and TL of Li2B407:Cu Single Crystals
Authors: Kutomi Y. , Tomita A.
Published: February 2017

TSEE and TL from copper-doped lithium tetraborate single crystals irradiated with X rays, at room temperature were measured simultaneously. TSEE glow peaks at about 90 oC(E1), 165 oC(E2) and 255 oC(E3) and TL glow peaks at about 90 oC(L1), 165 oC(L2) and 230 oC(L3) were observed using a heating rate of 15 oC.min-1. All the TL glow peaks show an emission spectrum which peaks at about 360 nm. ESR measurements were also made. The mechanisms of exoelectron emission are discussed based on the results.
Radiofrequency Detection by Bubble Dosemeter Technology
Authors: Olsen R.G.
Published: February 2017

In an initial attempt to utilise solid state dosimetric technology for non-ionising radiation, planar bubble type detectors were irradiated with microwave energy at 2.38 GHz. Individual devices were produced as thin discs (8 cm diam. x 0.6 cm) rather than in the normal test-tube configuration. Both aqueous and non-aqueous-based devices were exposed to plane-wave irradiation inside a microwave anechoic chamber at power densities ranging from 40 to 80 mW.cm-2. Specific absorption rate (SAR) in the disc shaped devices was thermometrically determined with the aid of a non-perturbing temperature probe and was approximately 0.3 (W.kg-1)/(mW.cm-2). Results showed the irradiation-induced bubble response to be relatively uniform in both types of devices, but the sensitivity was lower than that needed in a practical microwave dosemeter. We believe that improved sensitivity will be obtained by adding materials with a high microwave absorption cross section.
Afterglow and Thermoluminescence Response of Europium-Doped Alkali Halides Dosemeters
Authors: Meléndrez R. , Pérez R. , Clark A. , Aceves R. , Barboza-Flores M.
Published: February 2017

It is well known that Eu2+-doped alkali halides show a persistent luminescence, often referred to as afterglow, after being subjected to ionising radiation. Several mechanisms responsible for the observed afterglow and thermoluminescence have been proposed which are dependent on the type of alkali halide crystal, of radiation used and the aggregation - precipitation state of the impurity. We have carried out detailed afterglow and thermoluminescence measurements in europium-doped KC1, irradiated with X rays. Our conclusions support the occurrence of at least two main mechanisms originating in the existence of impurity vacancy dipoles and the recombination of F centres and other defects with interstitial halogen ions.
TSEE, TL and Optical Properties of LiF Single Crystals
Authors: Uchrin G.
Published: February 2017

LiF:Ti,Mg single crystals, of which the Ti content is 100 µmol.mol-1 and Mg concentration varies between 10 and 1000 µmol.mol-1, LiF single crystals (type DTG-4, Russian) and cold pressed LiF prepared from Harshaw TLD-100 powder were studied. TSEE and TL responses after beta or gamma irradiation were subsequently recorded using computer aided photon counting (Daybreak TL), and a multineedle counter type TSEE reader. TL and TSEE glow curves were studied in the temperature range of 50 to 500 oC. The optical absorbance and its dose dependence was measured in the 200-450 nm range. Properties such as TL and TSEE glow peak positions dose responses were determined and analysed. An explanation of probable TL-TSEE correlation is given with a discussion of the applicability of TL-TSEE readings for personal accident dose evaluation.
A Mathematical Description of Sublethal Damage Repair and Interaction During Continuous Low-Dose Rate Irradiation
Authors: Wuu C.S. , Zaider M.
Published: February 2017

A mathematical formalism that calculates survival probabilities for cells exposed to ionising radiation while progressing through the mitotic cycle is described. The formalism, based on the linear quadratic expression -InS(D) = aD + ßD2, includes phase-specific cellular parameters and recovery constants for sublethal damage, the interaction between sublesions produced at different stages of the cell cycle, and the time spent by cells in each phase of the cycle while being irradiated. Survival curves calculated with this formalism are compared with model calculations where the overall survival probability is obtained (in the authors' view, incorrectly) as a simple product of phase specific probabilities.
Soil Gas and Radon Entry into a Simple Test Structure: Comparison of Experimental and Modelling Results
Authors: Andersen C.E. , Søgaard-Hansen J. , Majborn B.
Published: February 2017

A radon test structure has been established at a field site at Riso National Laboratory. Measurements have been made of soil gas entry rates, pressure couplings and radon depletion. The experimental results have been compared with results obtained from measured soil parameters and a two-dimensional steady-state numerical model of Darcy flow and combined diffusive and advective transport of radon. For most probe locations, the calculated values of the pressure couplings and the radon depletion agree well with the measured values, thus verifying important elements of the Darcy flow approximation, and the ability of the model to treat combined diffusive and advective transport of radon. However, the model gives an underestimation of the soil gas entry rate. Even if it is assumed that the soil has a permeability equal to the highest of the measured values, the model underestimates the soil gas entry rate by a factor of two.
Optically Stimulated Luminescence Dosimetry
Authors: Rao R.P. , deMurcia M. , Gasiot J.
Published: February 2017

Optically stimulated luminescence from MgS:Eu,Sm phosphors is characterised. First analysis shows that this method has some interesting features for dosimetry measurments: high sensitivity, non heating and fast reading time can be retained. Widespread use of this technique will require some complementary investigations.
Absolute Energy Deposition Measurements in a Mixed Gamma Ray and Fast Neutron Environment
Authors: Knipe A.D.
Published: February 2017

The absolute photon energy deposition calibration procedure and the fast neutron response of 7LiF thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLD-700) have been studied experimentally. The results, and their application, are examined in the context of the mixed radiation environment of a zero power fast reactor.
Bonded Thin Layer Detector for Integrating Solid State Dosemeters
Authors: Holzapfel G. , Lesz J.
Published: February 2017

Construction and features of new thin layer detectors for integrating solid state dosemeters, particularly thermoluminescence dosemeters based on LiF:Mg,Ti are described. Simultaneous application of high pressure and elevated temperature causes plastic flow of the LiF powder grains and physico-chemical bonding with aluminium substrates (Al/LiF-detectors), or with graphite substrates provided with a boron bonding layer and an Al2O3 reflection layer (C/B/Al2O3/LiF detectors).
Long Term Stability of a Large Population of TL Dosemeters Used in a National Monitoring Programme
Authors: Grogan D. , Bradley R.P. , Ashmore J.P.
Published: February 2017

Personnel TL monitors were introduced across Canada, as a replacement for film dosemeters, in 1976. By March 1981 the technology conversion was completed and all X, beta and gamma exposure estimates were subsequently made by utilising TLD. During the period 1976 to the present, the Radiation Protection Bureau has processed approximately 3.5 x 106 personal monitors. A monitor inventory of 0.2 x 106 is maintained to meet the service demands with 1% of this inventory designated for use as reference standards. Of the total number of monitors processed, approximately 4% of the data relates to these standards. Essentially all dosemeters in the inventory have now been calibrated individually one or more times. Long term usage data are presented, concerning sensitivity variation, zero dose stability, physical deterioration, system response etc., for the two LiF elements contained in each dosemeter.
Patient Dosimetry in Radiodiagnosis: A Computerised Irradiation Card
Authors: Le Gouic M. , Richard M. , Roulleau J. , Morucci J.P.
Published: February 2017

A study of the literature shows that there is a large variation in the dose delivered to the patient during a radiological examination. The absorbed dose depends on the patient, on the staff performing the examination and on the radiological equipment. Thus the estimation of the dose absorbed at the skin and at critical organs for each individual requires the calibration of the radiological equipment and modelling the patient. The X ray equipment of two diagnostic rooms of our department were calibrated and a model of the two examinations (plain A.P. view of the abdomen for the first room and intravenous pyelography for the second one) and of the patients was constructed. An individual irradiation card, taking into acount the patient thickness, the number of films and the exposure factors used can be issued using a microcomputer. An estimate of the absorbed doses in different organs can be calculated from the calibration. Lithium borate can be used during these examinations for in vivo measurements and to check the validity of the calculated absorbed doses that are received by the patient.
The Effect of Pulverisation of Irradiated Materials on Their Thermoluminescence Emission
Authors: Nakajima T.
Published: February 2017

The effect of pulverisation on the thermoluminescence (TL) emission from irradiated substances was studied to obtain a more accurate value for the dose received by the irradiated substances. When irradiated substances were powdered using mechanical pressure, the TL intensity of the powder was found to be lower than that of corresponding samples powdered before irradiation. This reduction of the TL intensity was dependent on the pulverisation period, crystal size before pulverisation, and grain size of the sample powdered after irrdiation. The effect was practically independent of dose in the linear region and independent of the glow peak temperature. The TL intensity from bricks powdered after irradiation was approximately 43% of that from similar bricks powdered before irradiation. The pulverisation effect on TL emission should be thoroughly investigated as one of the correction factors in the re-evaluation of the gamma ray doses from the A bomb explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Radiation Dosimetry by Photo-Acoustic Spectrometry
Authors: Biró T. , Diószeghy T. , Kelemen A. , Lörincz A.
Published: February 2017

Photo-acoustics, or, in general, particle acoustics (PA) offers new potentials in various fields of radiation dosimetry. As a spectrometric method it can be used to obtain new information on material properties for a wide range of dosimetric materials including opaque and powdered samples, and to measure dose by absorption spectrometry. On the other hand, as a calorimetric method, it can be used as a direct means of measuring the absorbed dose rate of pulsed or chopped radiation beams of any kind of energetic particles. The PA spectroscopy (PAS) response of powdered LiF (TLD-100) that had been exposed to 60Co gamma rays was investigated and it was found that the absorption peaks at 380 and 444 nm provided a means for measuring absorbed dose in the 0.003-1 MGy range. PA signals generated by 4 to 5 MeV electrons from a linac were detected and the energy deposition profiles in Al, Cu and Fe were measured.
Mechanisms of Thermoluminescence Production in Materials for Radiation Dosimetry
Authors: McKeever (INVITED) S.W.S.
Published: February 2017

This paper discusses recent examples of the progress made in our understanding of some of the basic physical mechanisms involved in the production of thermoluminescence in a selection of common TLD materials. Special emphasis is given to a discussion of the defects responsible for thermoluminescence in LiF, CaF2 and SiO2. The paper demonstrates how a variety of experimental techniques need to be brought to bear on these problems and points out the limitations of our present understanding.
The Estimation of Proximity Functions from Track Structure Models
Authors: Kiefer J. , Straaten H.
Published: February 2017

Proximity functions for ions are calculated in a two step fashion. The first component is computed from an approximation for distance distributions within individual electron tracks integrated over all electron energies. The second part is derived from the energies deposited in spheres randomly placed in the ion track, which can be calculated using track structure models. The results are compared with Monte Carlo calculations for protons. A good agreement is found between the two methods, suggesting that the present approach offers an alternative to the very time consuming Monte Carlo simulations.
The Microdosimetric Regularities of Nanometre Regions
Authors: Bartels E.R. , Harder D.
Published: February 2017

Regions with nanometre dimensions differ greatly from micrometre regions with regard to the contribution of delta rays to the fluctuation of energy deposition, because the fraction of delta rays escaping from their region of origin increases with decreasing size of the region. Under these geometric conditions, the delta ray term of the distribution of energy deposition in a nanometre region traversed by a primary particle is essentially determined by low energy delta rays originating and stopping within the region. This distribution is found to be practically independent of the mass and energy of the primary particle. The remaining primary-particle-dependent variable determining the fluctuation of energy deposition in the nanometre region is linear primary ionisation density or its energy equivalent, restricted LET. Restricted LET should therefore have the properties of a characteristic parameter of radiation quality. This fundamental conclusion is proven by evaluating the predictive potential of restricted LET for energy deposition fluctuation of electrons, protons and alpha particles in nanometre targets, and with regard to the yield coefficient a for radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in human cells. Methods for the determination of restricted LET are discussed briefly.
Thermalisation and Recombination of Subexcitation Electrons in Solid Water
Authors: Goulet T. , Patau J.P. , Jay-Gerin J.-P.
Published: February 2017

The results of Monte Carlo simulations of the thermalisation of subexcitation electrons in solid water are reported. In the simulations, the possibility is taken into account that, prior to being thermalised, the electrons either recombine with their parent cation (H2O+), or undergo a dissociative attachment to water molecules. A particular emphasis is placed on the description of the recombination process and on the influence of the parent cation on the electron's motion. The simulations are performed for different initial electron energies Eo in the subexcitation energy range (i.e. Eo < 7.4 eV). For each of these energies, the mean thermalisation distance th and time th are determined, as well as the proportions Prec and Pdis of subexcitation electrons which, instead of thermalising, undergo recombination or dissociative attachment. An average of these quantities over the range of Eo values yield: th ( 14 nm, th ( 60 fs, Prec ( 5%, and Pdis ( 3%.
Track Interaction Theory for Heavy Charged Particle TL Supralinearity
Authors: Horowitz Y.S. , Rosenkrantz M.
Published: February 2017

Microdosimetric phenomena, not addressed by conventional kinetic calculations in the framework of 'conduction band/valence band' atomic models, play an important role in the thermoluminescence (TL) dose response and the relative TL efficiency of various types of radiation fields of different microscopic patterns of ionisation density. In this paper we discuss the contribution of higher order nearest neighbour interactions in track interaction theory applied to heavy charged particle (HCP) induced TL linearity and supralinearity in LiF:Mg,Ti. For example, at a fluence of 1010 particles.cm-2 and for an average charge carrier migration distance of 3700 Å, the relative contribution to the measured supralinearity factor of 1.65 for peak 8 in LiF:Mg,Ti from first, second and third nearest neighbour interactions is 70%, 24% and 6% respectively. Even higher order track interactions contribute less than 1% to the supralinearity. The track interaction model should be viewed as the model providing the microdosimetric framework which, when coupled with other appropriate physical mechanisms (spatial localisation of traps and recombination centres, competing centres in the recombination stage, variation in the capture cross section with temperature) can be used to describe all the dominant features of the linear/supralinear behaviour of LiF:Mg,Ti.
Phototransferred Thermoluminescence and Exo-Emission in Alpha Alumina
Authors: Iacconi P. , Lapraz D. , Alessandri-Fraccaro M.F. , Addi D.
Published: February 2017

a-Al2O3, irradiated by ionising radiation and submitted to UV illumination (?>250 nm), presents a phototransfer phenomenon that is characterised by thermoluminescence (TL) and by thermostimulated exoelectronic emission (TSEE). The TL and the TSEE glow curves of a-alumina from -196 to 700 oC are compared, to parallel one phototransfer observation with another and to draw various conclusions concerning the stability of the traps involved in dosimetric applications.
Partitioning The Effects of Eco-Evolutionary Feedbacks on Community Stability
Authors: Patel Swati , Cortez Michael H , Schreiber Sebastian J
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACT

A fundamental challenge in ecology continues to be identifying mechanisms that stabilize community dynamics. By altering the interactions within a community, eco-evolutionary feedbacks may play a role in community stability. Indeed, recent empirical and theoretical studies demonstrate that these feedbacks can stabilize or destabilize communities, and moreover, that this sometimes depends on the relative rate of ecological to evolutionary processes. So far, theory on how eco-evolutionary feedbacks impact stability exists for only for a few special cases. In our work, we develop a general theory for determining the effects of eco-evolutionary feedbacks on stability in communities with an arbitrary number of interacting species and evolving traits for when evolution is slow and fast. We characterize how eco-evolutionary feedbacks lead to stable communities that would otherwise be unstable, and vice versa. We show how this characterization provides a partitioning of the roles of direct and indirect feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes on stability, and how this partitioning depends on the rate of evolution relative to the ecological time scales. Applying our methods to models of competing species and food chains, we demonstrate how the functional form of trade offs, genetic correlations between traits, and the rate of evolution determine whether eco-evolutionary feedbacks stabilize or destabilize communities.
Variation in recombination rate and its genetic determinism in sheep (Ovis Aries) populations from combining multiple genome-wide datasets
Authors: Petit Morgane , Astruc Jean-Michel , Sarry Julien , Drouilhet Laurence , Fabre Stéphane , Moreno Carole , Servin Bertrand
Published: February 2017

Recombination is a complex biological process that results from a cascade of multiple events during meiosis. Understanding the genetic determinism of recombination can help to understand if and how these events are interacting. To tackle this question, we studied the patterns of recombination in sheep, using multiple approaches and datasets. We constructed male recombination maps in a dairy breed from the south of France (the Lacaune breed) at a fine scale by combining meiotic recombination rates from a large pedigree genotyped with a 50K SNP array and historical recombination rates from a sample of unrelated individuals genotyped with a 600K SNP array. This analysis revealed recombination patterns in sheep similar to other mammals but also genome regions that have likely been affected by directional and diversifying selection. We estimated the average recombination rate of Lacaune sheep at 1.5 cM/Mb, identified about 50,000 crossover hotspots on the genome and found a high correlation between historical and meiotic recombination rate estimates. A genome-wide association study revealed two major loci affecting inter-individual variation in recombination rate in Lacaune, including theRNF212andHEI10genes and possibly 2 other loci of smaller effects including theKCNJ15andFSHRgenes. Finally, we compared our results to those obtained previously in a distantly related population of domestic sheep, the Soay. This comparison revealed that Soay and Lacaune males have a very similar distribution of recombination along the genome and that the two datasets can be combined to create more precise male meiotic recombination maps in sheep. Despite their similar recombination maps, we show that Soay and Lacaune males exhibit different heritabilities and QTL effects for inter-individual variation in genome-wide recombination rates.
RixsToolBox: software for the analysis of soft X-ray RIXS data acquired with 2D detectors
Authors: Kummer K. , Tamborrino A. , Amorese A. , Minola M. , Braicovich L. , Brookes N. B. , Ghiringhelli G.
Published: February 2017

A software with a graphical user interface has been developed with the aim of facilitating the data analysis for users of a new resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectrometer installed at the ESRF beamline ID32. The software is organized in modules covering all relevant steps in the data reduction from a stack of several hundred two-dimensional CCD images to a single RIXS spectrum. It utilizes both full charge integration and single-photon centroiding to cope with high-flux and high-resolution requirements. Additional modules for further data analysis and the extraction of instrumental parameters are available. The software has been in routine use for about a year now and in that time many additional features have been incorporated. It now meets the users' need for an easy-to-use data analysis tool that allows looking at and understanding data as it is acquired and thus steering users' experiments more efficiently.
The impact of career ambition on psychologists’ extrinsic and intrinsic career success
Authors: Otto Kathleen , Roe Robert , Sobiraj Sonja , Baluku Martin Mabunda , Garrido Vásquez Mauricio E.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between career ambition – defined as high achievement motivation and strong career orientation – and both extrinsic (salary, position) and intrinsic success (job satisfaction, goal attainment) of psychologists. Over and above this, the authors explore whether extrinsic success predicts intrinsic success or vice versa.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to analyze the impact of career ambition on extrinsic and intrinsic success, the authors conducted two online studies with psychology graduates – a cross-sectional study (Study 1; n=119) and a longitudinal one (Study 2; n=63; two-three years interval between assessment points). The authors applied regression and cross-lagged analyses to investigate the interplay of career ambition and career success.

Findings

The results show that career ambition impacts on both extrinsic and intrinsic success. More specifically, extrinsic success was positively predicted by career orientation in Study 1. In contrast, achievement motivation was negatively related to intrinsic success (Study 1) and even diminished it over time (Study 2). Findings of the cross-lagged analysis further underlined that intrinsic success predicts extrinsic success.

Originality/value

The study contributes by separately investigating two aspects of career ambition and showing their different effects on career success in the specific profession of psychologists. As cross-lagged findings revealed that psychologists’ intrinsic success predicted their extrinsic success and not vice versa, the authors discuss whether psychologists might be worsening their career development in the long run by showing high achievement motivation.
Ambition at work and career satisfaction
Authors: El Baroudi Sabrine , Fleisher Chen , Khapova Svetlana N. , Jansen Paul , Richardson Julia
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating role of pay in the relationship between employee ambition and taking charge behavior, and its subsequent effects on employee career satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave quantitative investigation was conducted among alumni of a large public university in the Netherlands.

Findings

The results show that taking charge behavior mediates the positive relationship between employee ambition and career satisfaction. They also show that pay positively moderates this mediation, such that the relationship between employee ambition and taking charge behavior is stronger when ambitious employees receive an increase in pay, leading to increased career satisfaction. Conversely, a decrease in pay does not moderate ambitious employees’ taking charge behavior and the impact on their career satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The study draws on self-report data collected in one country: the Netherlands.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of pay for higher job involvement, demonstrating its impact on taking charge behavior among employees with higher levels of ambition.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to examine the impact of pay on employees’ taking charge behavior and the subsequent implications for career satisfaction.
Global careers in the Arabian Gulf
Authors: Baruch Yehuda , Forstenlechner Ingo
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of expatriation, both firm-initiated and self-initiated. The authors identified factors influencing the motives of expatriates to locate to the Arabian Gulf, and possible factors that may influence their decision to remain.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative approach, the authors conducted 123 semi-structured interviews with expatriates in the United Arab Emirates, from various backgrounds. These interviews are analyzed based on the thematic analytic approach.

Findings

The authors identified four clusters of reasoning for global assignments to the Gulf and the outcomes of the expatriation. Remuneration was the main motivator cited for the move, but an obstacle for returning to the home country. For Westerners, the second most important factor was career opportunities, whereas for expatriates from Muslim countries it was cultural fit.

Practical implications

The findings may be a valuable source of reference for individuals and for policy makers, employers, HR practitioners, and career counselors to provide an understanding of expatriation in emerging economies.

Originality/value

The paper uses evidence from the Gulf to bridge the gap between current knowledge of expatriation and the context of emerging economies.
Perceptions of stakeholders on the critical success factors for operational management of public-private partnership projects
Authors: Osei-Kyei Robert , Chan Albert P.C.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the perceptual differences on the factors that contribute to the successful management of public-private partnership (PPP) projects at the operational stage among stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

An international questionnaire survey was conducted with purposively sampled PPP experts from the private, public and academic sectors. Survey responses were analyzed using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W), mean score ranking analysis, Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test.

Findings

The research findings show that each stakeholder group considers an efficient and well-structured payment mechanism as the most important operational management critical success factor (CSF). Moreover, the public sector considers open and constant communication among stakeholders as the second most important CSF, whereas the private and academic sectors consider effective operational risk management and well-structured legal dispute resolution mechanism, respectively. Further analysis using non-parametric tests (i.e. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U statistics) reveal significant differences in the importance of three operational management CSFs – “open and constant communication among stakeholders”, “effective changes of shareholdings in private consortium” and “stable macroeconomic indicators”.

Research limitations/implications

The generalizability of the research findings is limited considering the low sample size and non-participation of users/general public in the study. Hence, it is recommended that future research should be conducted in a specific country using both face-to-face and email questionnaire distribution approaches. This would likely increase the response rate and facilitate the inclusion of the general public/users.

Originality/value

The results of this study highlight and provide significant insights into how different PPP stakeholders perceive the critical conditions that are required to ensure the operational efficiency of PPP projects. This would, therefore, enable a better cooperation and collective effort from all stakeholders towards achieving the overall project success. In addition, the study offers new and additional CSFs which would enhance the comprehensiveness of the existing list of CSFs for the general implementation of PPP projects.
Insurance and financial stability
Authors: Kobayashi Shinya
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to consider implications of the IMF Global Financial Stability Report (April 2016 edition) for the regulation and supervision of insurers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first summarises the IMF Report and then discusses possible implications, examining the underlying hypothesis on which the “Tsunami view” has been formulated.

Findings

This paper finds that the Report provides some important implications for the regulation and supervision of insurers, although no commonalities in life insurers’ asset composition, which is the underlying hypothesis of the Tsunami view expressed in the Report, have been observed at a global level. One of the key implications is the importance of monitoring insurers’ exposures at granular levels in a more intensive manner from the perspective of macro-prudential supervision.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers that try to challenge the findings and recommendations of the IMF Report and, at the same time, consider what implications can be taken for enhanced regulation and supervision of insurers.
Thermally expandable microspheres of poly (acrylonitrile/ethyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid) with fast thermal response property
Authors: Ji Li Jun , Jiang Ya Shuai , Liang Ge , Liu Zhu Qing , Zhu Jian , Huang Kai , Zhu Ai Ping
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to synthesise a thermally expandable microsphere (TEMS) with fast thermal response property and small expansion temperature range, and investigate the factors affecting the expansion properties of the microspheres.

Design/methodology/approach

A new kind of TEMS with fast thermal response property was synthesised by suspension polymerisation method, using acrylonitrile, ethyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid as the main monomers; Mg(OH)2as the main dispersing agent; and isooctane orn-hexane orn-pentane as the blowing agent.

Findings

The TEMS possessed the best expansion capacity when encapsulated isooctane andn-hexane were about 18.5 Wt.%. The expansion process of the TEMS could be finished by raising the temperature to 18°C from the expansion onset, much less than the reported 30-50°C. The morphology of the TEMS turned from sphere to irregular concave shape following the content increase of the blowing agent.

Originality/value

A new kind of TEMS composed of acrylonitrile/ethyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid as the polymer shell was synthesised. These TEMS showed the fastest thermal response speed reported.
Accuracy of Dental Age in Nonadults: A Comparison of Two Methods for Age Estimation Using Radiographs of Developing Teeth
Authors: Santana Sierra A. , Bethard Jonathan D. , Moore Tara L.
Published: February 2017

This research tests the accuracy of two methods for age estimation, Cameriere's European formula and AlQahtani's London Atlas, on a multi‐population American sample. Digitized radiographs of 360 European American, Hispanic, and American Indian children aged 6–17 years were analyzed. The accuracy of these methods was assessed using the mean and absolute mean difference of the residuals. Results indicate that Cameriere's European formula underestimated age for both sexes, with a mean difference of −1.19 years for girls and −1.32 years for boys, prompting the first author to create an American‐specific formula. The London Atlas underestimated age with a mean difference of −0.18 years for girls and −0.16 years for boys. Sex and ancestry had no significant affect on accuracy. The results indicate that both methods can be used for age estimation in an American population.
Effect of Salt and Ethanol Addition on Zein–Starch Dough and Bread Quality
Authors: Smith Brennan M. , Bean Scott R. , Selling Gordon , Sessa David , Aramouni Fadi M.
Published: February 2017

Development of viscoelastic doughs from non‐wheat proteins allows for a wider range of gluten‐free products. Little work has been completed to describe mechanisms of zein functionality in food systems. To identify factors responsible for dough development in zein–starch mixtures and their influence on zein bread quality, a mixture of 20% zein–80% maize starch was mixed with water and various reagents. Salts, NaSCN, NaCl, and Na2SO4 were evaluated at concentrations from 0 to 2M for their influence on the properties of zein–starch dough systems. NaSCN at low concentrations produced softer dough. Ethanol treatments produced softer more workable dough in the absence of salts. Increasing concentrations of NaCl and Na2SO4 resulted in coalescing of the proteins and no dough formation. The addition of β‐ME had minimal softening effects on zein–starch dough. Specific volumes of zein–starch bread increased with decreasing NaCl addition in bread formulations. Likewise, including 5% ethanol (v/v) in the bread formula increased bread quality.
Time course and reasons for 90‐day mortality in fast‐track hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Jørgensen C. C. , Kehlet H. ,   the Lundbeck Foundation Centre for Fast‐track Hip and Knee Replacement Collaborative group
Published: February 2017

Background

Post‐operative mortality is an important adverse outcome, including in total hip (THA) and knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, whether mortality is due to anaesthetic/surgical complications, surgically induced organ dysfunction or unrelated to surgery is rarely considered.

Methods

Prospective observational study in 13,775 consecutive THA/TKAs with similar fast‐track protocols and a median length of stay of 2 days. Complete 90‐days follow‐up through national registries, followed by review of medical records and death certificates. Relation between mortality and surgically induced organ dysfunction were classified as certain, probable, possible or unlikely.

Results

Of a total of 44 deaths (0.3%), 28 (0.2%) were found to have certain or probably relation with surgery and were considered as surgery‐related. Surgery‐related deaths were more common after THA than TKA (0.3% vs. 0.1% P = 0.044), occurred after median 14 days and 19 of 28 were between day 0–30. Of the remaining 16 deaths (0.1%), nine were found to be possible and seven to be unlikely related to surgery, and occurred a median of 42 and 61 days after surgery. The most common initial organ dysfunction for surgery‐related deaths was pulmonary (6/28) and gastrointestinal (6/28), while the most common reported cause of death were pulmonary (9/28) and cardiac events (6/28). In five of the seven unlikely related deaths mortality was attributed to underlying cancer.

Conclusion

Ninety‐days mortality was 0.3% in THA and TKA, but only 28 of 44 deaths (64%) were found to be surgery‐related. Reporting total mortality rate or cause of death without considerations on surgery induced organ dysfunction, may be insufficient for future aims to reduce post‐operative mortality.
Severity of alcohol dependence is associated with the fatty acid amide hydrolase Pro129Thr missense variant
Authors: Sloan Matthew E. , Gowin Joshua L. , Yan Jia , Schwandt Melanie L. , Spagnolo Primavera A. , Sun Hui , Hodgkinson Colin A. , Goldman David , Ramchandani Vijay A.
Published: February 2017

The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in reward and addiction. One of the two main endocannabinoid neurotransmitters, anandamide, is metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase, an enzyme with a functional genetic polymorphism (FAAH Pro129Thr, rs324420). The Thr129 allele has been linked to problem drug and alcohol use, but the association has not been widely replicated and may be stronger for clinical measures of severity rather than categorical diagnosis. In the present study, we sought to determine whether the Thr129 allele was associated with both alcohol dependence (AD) diagnosis and severity in a sample of 1434 European American and African American individuals, 952 of whom were diagnosed with lifetime AD. Participants were genotyped for FAAH rs324420, and ancestry was determined via a genome‐wide panel of ancestry informative markers. Subjects participated in Structured Clinical Interviews for psychiatric disorders and 90‐day Timeline Followback interviews to assess recent alcohol use. European American participants with current AD had a higher Thr129 allele frequency than non‐dependent controls. In European Americans with lifetime AD, there were significantly different distributions of drinking days and binge drinking days between the two genotype groups, with Thr129 carriers reporting a median of 10 fewer abstinent days and 13 more binge drinking days than Pro129/Pro129 homozygotes. In African American participants, there were no significant differences between Thr129 allele frequency in cases and controls and no significant differences in measures of AD severity by genotype. These findings provide evidence that the Pro129Thr missense variant is associated with AD severity in European Americans.
Exacerbation of spontaneous autoimmune nephritis following regulatory T cell depletion in B cell lymphoma 2-interacting mediator knock-out mice
Authors: Wang Y M , Zhang G Y , Wang Y , Hu M , Zhou J J , Sawyer A , Cao Q , Wang Y , Zheng G , Lee V W S , Harris D C H , Alexander S I
Published: February 2017

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been recognized as central mediators for maintaining peripheral tolerance and limiting autoimmune diseases. The loss of Tregs or their function has been associated with exacerbation of autoimmune disease. However, the temporary loss of Tregs in the chronic spontaneous disease model has not been investigated. In this study, we evaluated the role of Tregs in a novel chronic spontaneous glomerulonephritis model of B cell lymphoma 2-interacting mediator (Bim) knock-out mice by transient depleting Tregs. Bim is a pro-apoptotic member of the B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family. Bim knock-out (Bim–/–) mice fail to delete autoreactive T cells in thymus, leading to chronic spontaneous autoimmune kidney disease. We found that Treg depletion in Bim–/– mice exacerbated the kidney injury with increased proteinuria, impaired kidney function, weight loss and greater histological injury compared with wild-type mice. There was a significant increase in interstitial infiltrate of inflammatory cells, antibody deposition and tubular damage. Furthermore, the serum levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)−2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17α, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were increased significantly after Treg depletion in Bim–/– mice. This study demonstrates that transient depletion of Tregs leads to enhanced self-reactive T effector cell function followed by exacerbation of kidney disease in the chronic spontaneous kidney disease model of Bim-deficient mice.
Aeroconservation for the Fragmented Skies
Authors: Davy Christina M. , Ford Adam T. , Fraser Kevin C.
Published: February 2017

From birds to bacteria, airborne organisms face substantial anthropogenic impacts. The airspace provides essential habitat for thousands of species, some of which spend most of their lives airborne. Despite recent calls to protect the airspace, it continues to be treated as secondary to terrestrial and aquatic habitats in policy and research. Aeroconservation integrates recent advances in aeroecology and habitat connectivity, and recognizes aerial habitats and threats as analogous to their terrestrial and aquatic counterparts. Aerial habitats are poorly represented in the ecological literature and are largely absent from environmental policy, hindering protection of aerial biodiversity. Here, we provide a framework for defining aerial habitats to advance the study of aeroconservation and the protection of the airspace in environmental policy. We illustrate how current habitat definitions explicitly disadvantage aerial species relative to non‐aerial species, and review key areas of conflict between aeroconservation and human use of the airspace. Finally, we identify opportunities for research to fill critical knowledge gaps for aeroconservation. For example, aerial habitat fragmentation may impact biodiversity and ecosystem function similarly to terrestrial habitat fragmentation, and we illustrate how this can be investigated by extending existing methods and paradigms from terrestrial conservation biology up into the airspace.
Climatic Disequilibrium Threatens Conservation Priority Forests
Authors: Huntley Brian , Allen Judy R.M. , Bennie Jonathan , Collingham Yvonne C. , Miller Paul A. , Suggitt Andrew J.
Published: February 2017

We test the hypothesis that climatic changes since 1800 have resulted in unrealized potential vegetation changes that represent a “climatic debt” for many ecosystems. Caledonian pinewoods, an EU priority forest type, are used as a model system to explore potential impacts of two centuries of climatic change upon sites of conservation importance and surrounding landscapes. Using methods that estimate topographic microclimate, current and preindustrial climates were estimated for 50 m grid cells and simulations made using a dynamic vegetation model. Core Caledonian pinewood areas are now less suitable for growth of pine and more favorable for oak than in 1800, whereas landscapes as a whole are on average more favorable for both. The most favorable areas for pine are now mainly outside areas designated to conserve historical pinewoods. A paradigm shift is needed in formulating conservation strategies to avoid catastrophic losses of this habitat, and of many others globally with trees or other long‐lived perennials as keystone species.
Naphthoylenebenzimidazolone dyes as one‐component photoinitiators
Authors: Strzelczyk Rafał , Podsiadły Radosław
Published: February 2017

The appropriate substituents have been added to a 7H‐benzimidazo[2,1‐a]benz[de]isoquinolin‐7‐one skeleton in order to obtain a one‐component initiator system. The absorption, fluorescence, and electrochemical properties of these naphthoylenebenzimidazolone dyes and their usefulness as visible light initiators of free radical polymerisation of trimethylolpropane triacrylate were examined. The initiation efficiency of these dyes was compared with that of the parent 7H‐benzimidazo[2,1‐a]benz[de]isoquinolin‐7‐one in the presence of a coinitiator. Results show that these bifunctional dyes are able to initiate polymerisation without an additional coinitiator. Photopolymerisation studies and the relationship between the rate of polymerisation and the free energy change for electron transfer revealed that, depending on the concentration, initiating radicals are generated via intra‐ and intermolecular electron transfer.
A New Scale of Poverty: How the Officially Recorded Poor People in Turkey Perceive Themselves
Authors: Yakışık Harun , Dölarslan Emre Şahin , Zülfikar Berna Şafak
Published: February 2017

Governments adopt policies to prevent and address the socioeconomic problem of poverty. This article examines how officially recorded poor people perceive themselves and the causes of their poverty. It is based on a sample of 531 officially recorded poor people living in the Turkish province of Çankiri. A questionnaire was administered comprising 69 characteristics of poverty. The findings suggest that there are four main causal explanations for poverty attributions: fatalism, discrimination, moral deficiencies and personal deficiencies. The measure developed for this research can be tested and applied to different cultural groups with a high level of validity and reliability.
Relative influences of environmental and spatial factors on stream fish assemblages in Brazilian Atlantic rainforest
Authors: Cetra M. , Petrere Júnior M. , Barrella W.
Published: February 2017

Understanding the role of local and spatial factors in the structuring of aquatic communities is a goal in ecology. The hierarchical structure of stream systems provides opportunities to test the hypothesis that fish assemblages that are more isolated in headwaters are structured by local and/or regional variables. Fishes and abiotic data were collected in 18 stream reaches from two hydrographic basins in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. The variance of species composition was partitioned into fractions explained by environmental and spatial factors. The pure environmental fraction explained ≈17% of variance and was represented by regional, habitat availability/heterogeneity and perturbation gradient. The pure spatial fraction explained ≈15% of the individual fraction. Environmental data revealed a species sorting process, and the spatial effect might be a result of different dispersal routes that fish performed during the formation of the hydrographic basins, actual land use and water resources management. The importance of maintaining connectivity in these systems was emphasised because it cannot be guaranteed that the dispersion ability of species is still occurring under current land use change.