bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of pro‐inflammatory markers plasma C‐reactive protein and urinary prostaglandin‐E2 metabolite in colorectal adenoma risk
Authors: Davenport James R. , Cai Qiuyin , Ness Reid M. , Milne Ginger , Zhao Zhiguo , Smalley Walter E. , Zheng Wei , Shrubsole Martha J.
Published: September 2015

C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a pro‐inflammatory protein with potential as a biomarker in predicting colon cancer risk. However, little is known regarding its association with risk of colorectal adenomas, particularly by subtypes. We conducted a colonoscopy‐based matched case‐control study to assess whether elevated plasma CRP levels may be associated with colorectal adenoma risk and further whether this association may be modified by urinary prostaglandin E2 metabolite (PGE‐M), a biomarker of systemic prostaglandin E2 production. Included in the study were 226 cases with a single small tubular adenoma, 198 cases with multiple small tubular adenomas, 283 cases with at least one advanced adenoma, and 395 polyp‐free controls. No apparent association between CRP level and risk of single small tubular adenomas was found (ptrend = 0.59). A dose‐response relationship with CRP level was observed for risk of either multiple small tubular adenomas (OR = 2.01, 95%CI = 1.10–3.68 for the highest versus lowest tertile comparison; ptrend = 0.03) or advanced adenomas (OR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.10–2.96 for the highest versus lowest tertile comparison; ptrend = 0.02). In a joint analysis of CRP level and PGE‐M, risk of multiple or advanced adenoma was greatest among those with highest levels of both CRP and PGE‐M in comparison to those with low CRP and low PGE‐M (OR = 3.72, 95%CI = 1.49–9.72). Our results suggest that elevated CRP, particularly in the context of concurrent elevated PGE‐M, may be a biomarker of multiple or advanced adenoma risk in a screening age population. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Partial Manifestation of Anti‐NMDA‐R Encephalitis with Predominant Movement Disorder
Authors: Udani Vrajesh , Desai Neelu , Botre Abhijeet
Published: September 2015

Childhood anti–N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDA‐R) antibody encephalitis is a well‐recognized autoimmune encephalitis presenting typically with a combination of varied movement disorders, seizures, mutism, behavioral and sleep disturbances, and autonomic changes. Monosymptomatic or incomplete forms of the disorder are rare, but have recently been reported. Here, we describe 2 children with nonparaneoplastic anti‐NMDA‐R encephalitis with partial presentation in the form of movement disorder and minor behavioral changes.
ADOMA: A Command Line Tool to Modify ClustalW Multiple Alignment Output
Authors: Zaal Dionne , Nota Benjamin
Published: September 2015

We present ADOMA, a command line tool that produces alternative outputs from ClustalW multiple alignments of nucleotide or protein sequences. ADOMA can simplify the output of alignments by showing only the different residues between sequences, which is often desirable when only small differences such as single nucleotide polymorphisms are present (e.g., between different alleles). Another feature of ADOMA is that it can enhance the ClustalW output by coloring the residues in the alignment. This tool is easily integrated into automated Linux pipelines for next‐generation sequencing data analysis, and may be useful for researchers in a broad range of scientific disciplines including evolutionary biology and biomedical sciences. The source code is freely available at https://sourceforge. net/projects/adoma/.
Fast acquisition of multidimensional NMR spectra of solids and mesophases using alternative sampling methods
Authors: Lesot Philippe , Kazimierczuk Krzysztof , Trébosc Julien , Amoureux Jean‐Paul , Lafon Olivier
Published: September 2015

Unique information about the atom‐level structure and dynamics of solids and mesophases can be obtained by the use of multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Nevertheless, the acquisition of these experiments often requires long acquisition times. We review here alternative sampling methods, which have been proposed to circumvent this issue in the case of solids and mesophases. Compared to the spectra of solutions, those of solids and mesophases present some specificities because they usually display lower signal‐to‐noise ratios, non‐Lorentzian line shapes, lower spectral resolutions and wider spectral widths. We highlight herein the advantages and limitations of these alternative sampling methods. A first route to accelerate the acquisition time of multidimensional NMR spectra consists in the use of sparse sampling schemes, such as truncated, radial or random sampling ones. These sparsely sampled datasets are generally processed by reconstruction methods differing from the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). A host of non‐DFT methods have been applied for solids and mesophases, including the G‐matrix Fourier transform, the linear least‐square procedures, the covariance transform, the maximum entropy and the compressed sensing. A second class of alternative sampling consists in departing from the Jeener paradigm for multidimensional NMR experiments. These non‐Jeener methods include Hadamard spectroscopy as well as spatial or orientational encoding of the evolution frequencies. The increasing number of high field NMR magnets and the development of techniques to enhance NMR sensitivity will contribute to widen the use of these alternative sampling methods for the study of solids and mesophases in the coming years. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of thermal treatment on potato starch evidenced by EPR, XRD and molecular weight distribution
Authors: Bidzińska Ewa , Michalec Marek , Pawcenis Dominika
Published: September 2015

Effect of heating of the potato starch on damages of its structure was investigated by quantitative electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and determination of the molecular weight distribution. The measurements were performed in the temperature range commonly used for starch modifications optimizing properties important for industrial applications. Upon thermal treatment, because of breaking of the polymer chains, diminishing of the average molecular weights occurred, which significantly influences generation of radicals, evidenced by EPR. For the relatively mild conditions, with heating parameters not exceeding temperature 230 °C and time of heating equal to 30 min a moderate changes of both the number of thermally generated radicals and the mean molecular weight of the starch were observed. After more drastic thermal treatment (e.g. 2 h at 230 °C), a rapid increase in the radical amount occurred, which was accompanied by significant reduction of the starch molecular size and crystallinity. Experimentally established threshold values of heating parameters should not be exceeded in order to avoid excessive damages of the starch structure accompanied by the formation of the redundant amount of radicals. This requirement is important for industrial applications, because significant destruction of the starch matrix might annihilate the positive influence of the previously performed intentional starch modification. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal control analysis of a mathematical model for unemployment
Authors: Munoli Surekha B. , Gani Shankrevva
Published: September 2015

Unemployment is continuously increasing worldwide because of enormous increase in population. This paper attempts to propose an optimal control policy for a deterministic unemployment model. The model considers three states, namely, unemployment, employment, and newly created vacancies. Factors like retirement and death of employed persons, termination from job, and so forth are also included in the model. The optimal control analysis for proposed unemployment model is performed using Pontryagin's maximum principle. The conditions for optimal control of the unemployment problem with effective use of implemented policies to provide employment to unemployed persons and to create new vacancies are derived and analyzed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Und sie bewegen sich doch
Authors: Jokat Wilfried , Krause Reinhard A.
Published: September 2015

Vor hundert Jahren formulierte Alfred Wegener seine Theorie der Kontinentverschiebung. Diese stützte er im Kern auf geophysikalische Argumente wie die hypsometrische Stufung der Erdoberfläche und die damit korrelierte Isostasie und andere stichhaltige Begründungen. Aber erst in den 1960er bis 1970er Jahren vollzog sich die kopernikanische Wende – der Paradigmenwechsel vom Fixismus zum Mobilismus. Die neue Form der Plattentektonik auf der Grundlage von Seafloorspreading and Subduktion kann Schwächen der Wegenerschen Darlegungen überwinden.
Fermi‐Gase unter dem Mikroskop
Authors: Zwierlein Martin
Published: September 2015

Mit ultrakalten atomaren Gasen lässt sich das Verhalten von Elektronen in Festkörpern simulieren – in extremer Zeitlupe und in tausendfacher Vergrößerung. Elektronen sind Fermionen, Teilchen mit halbzahligem Eigendrehimpuls (Spin), man benötigt also fermionische Atome. Nun wurde ein Mikroskop für atomare Fermi‐Gase entwickelt, mit dem jedes einzelne Atom an seinem Ort aufgelöst werden kann. Damit lassen sich in Zukunft theoretische Modelle beispielsweise der Hochtemperatur‐Supraleitung experimentell testen.
A Long Journey from Childhood to Senility: The 23rd HUPO BPP Workshop
Authors: Magraoui Fouzi El , Schrötter Andreas , Heinsen Helmut , Leite Renata , Park Young Mok , Meyer Helmut E. , Grinberg Lea T.
Published: September 2015

The HUPO Brain Proteome Project (HUPO BPP) held its 23rd workshop in São Paulo, Brazil, April 16–17, 2015. The focus of the spring workshop was on strategies and predictive therapies concerning neurodegenerative diseases.
DNA methylation screening of primary prostate tumors identifies SRD5A2 and CYP11A1 as candidate markers for assessing risk of biochemical recurrence
Authors: Horning Aaron M. , Awe Julius A. , Wang Chiou‐Miin , Liu Joseph , Lai Zhao , Wang Vickie Yao , Jadhav Rohit R. , Louie Anna D. , Lin Chun‐Lin , Kroczak Tad , Chen Yidong , Jin Victor X. , Abboud‐Werner Sherry L. , Leach Robin J. , Hernandez Javior , Thompson Ian M. , Saranchuk Jeff , Drachenberg Darrel , Chen Chun‐Liang , Mai Sabine , Huang Tim Hui‐Ming
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND

Altered DNA methylation in CpG islands of gene promoters has been implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and can be used to predict disease outcome. In this study, we determine whether methylation changes of androgen biosynthesis pathway (ABP)‐related genes in patients' plasma cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) can serve as prognostic markers for biochemical recurrence (BCR).

METHODS

Methyl‐binding domain capture sequencing (MBDCap‐seq) was used to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in primary tumors of patients who subsequently developed BCR or not, respectively. Methylation pyrosequencing of candidate loci was validated in cfDNA samples of 86 PCa patients taken at and/or post‐radical prostatectomy (RP) using univariate and multivariate prediction analyses.

RESULTS

Putative DMRs in 13 of 30 ABP‐related genes were found between tumors of BCR (n = 12) versus no evidence of disease (NED) (n = 15). In silico analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data confirmed increased DNA methylation of two loci—SRD5A2 and CYP11A1, which also correlated with their decreased expression, in tumors with subsequent BCR development. Their aberrant cfDNA methylation was also associated with detectable levels of PSA taken after patients' post‐RP. Multivariate analysis of the change in cfDNA methylation at all of CpG sites measured along with patient's treatment history predicted if a patient will develop BCR with 77.5% overall accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, increased DNA methylation of SRD5A2 and CYP11A1 related to androgen biosynthesis functions may play a role in BCR after patients' RP. The correlation between aberrant cfDNA methylation and detectable PSA in post‐RP further suggests their utility as predictive markers for PCa recurrence. Prostate 75:1790–1801, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficacy of essential oil of Piper aduncum against nymphs and adults of Diaphorina citri
Authors: Volpe Haroldo XL , Fazolin Murilo , Garcia Rafael B , Magnani Rodrigo F , Barbosa José Carlos , Miranda Marcelo P
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND

Insecticide application is the main way to control Diaphorina citri. However, it causes environmental contamination, has a negative impact on beneficial organisms and leads to psyllid resistance. The essential oil of Piper aduncum has low toxicity towards the environment and contains dillapiol, which has proven to be effective against several crop pests. Here, we studied its efficacy against nymphs and adults of D. citri under laboratory conditions. Oils with three concentrations of dillapiol (69.3, 79.9 and 85.4%) at 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0% dilutions plus 0.025% adjuvant were tested.

RESULTS

All treatments caused 90–100% mortality in nymphs. Topical treatments with oil containing 79.9 and 85.4% dillapiol at 0.75% and 1% dilutions were effective (mortality ≥80%) in adults. However, the essential oil showed no residual activity against adults (mortality ≤30%).

CONCLUSIONS

Dillapiol‐rich oil is a promising compound for D. citri control. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Plant disease management in organic farming systems
Authors: van Bruggen Ariena HC , Gamliel Abraham , Finckh Maria R
Published: September 2015

Organic farming (OF) has significantly increased in importance in recent decades. Disease management in OF is largely based on the maintenance of biological diversity and soil health by balanced crop rotations, including nitrogen‐fixing and cover crops, intercrops, additions of manure and compost and reductions in soil tillage. Most soil‐borne diseases are naturally suppressed, while foliar diseases can sometimes be problematic. Only when a severe disease outbreak is expected are pesticides used that are approved for OF. A detailed overview is given of cultural and biological control measures. Attention is also given to regulated pesticides. We conclude that a systems approach to disease management is required, and that interdisciplinary research is needed to solve lingering disease problems, especially for OF in the tropics. Some of the organic regulations are in need of revision in close collaboration with various stakeholders. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Point defects and interference effects in electron emission of Si/SiO2:Li,Na,K structures
Authors: Buntov Evgeny , Zatsepin Anatoly , Slesarev Anatoly , Mikhailovich Anna , Mikhaylov Alexey
Published: September 2015

SiO2 films, grown on a Si substrate and implanted with Li, Na, and K ions were studied by means of optically stimulated electron emission spectroscopy (OSEE). Interference effects of exciting light were observed in OSEE spectra. Application of original normalization technique allowed to compensate interference fringes in the experimental results. Three categories of defect states were identified and studied: intrinsic luminescent, emission‐active silica defect centers, and implanted cation‐related localized states.
Local structure and photoluminescence properties of nanostructured Zn1‐xMnxS material
Authors: Curcio Ana Laura , Bernardi Maria Inês Basso , Mesquita Alexandre
Published: September 2015

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) pure or doped has received remarkable attention because of fundamental properties, versatility and potential for several technological applications as luminescent material. In this study, the local structure and photoluminescence properties of nanostructured Zn1‐xMnxS samples have been characterized. X‐ray diffraction results show that ZnS:Mn samples crystallized completely without the presence of secondary phases and the diffraction patterns correspond to the cubic zinc blende. Theoretical and experimental XANES (X‐ray absorption near edge structure) spectra at Zn K‐edge suggest the incorporation of Mn atoms into the ZnS host and indicate the occurrence of Zn and S vacancies, which are confirmed by EXAFS (extended X‐ray absorption fine structure) fit results. These vacancies can be related to a red‐shift observed in the peak emission of photoluminescence spectrum for ZnS sample, which is centered at ∼ 504 nm. As the Mn content increases, a yellow‐orange emission centered at ∼ 590 nm can be observed besides the blue‐green emission, which is associated with the 4T1–6A1 transition within the 3d shell of Mn2+. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Genome‐wide analysis reveals conserved transcriptional responses downstream of resting potential change in Xenopus embryos, axolotl regeneration, and human mesenchymal cell differentiation
Authors: Pai Vaibhav P. , Martyniuk Christopher J. , Echeverri Karen , Sundelacruz Sarah , Kaplan David L. , Levin Michael
Published: September 2015

Endogenous bioelectric signaling via changes in cellular resting potential (Vmem) is a key regulator of patterning during regeneration and embryogenesis in numerous model systems. Depolarization of Vmem has been functionally implicated in dedifferentiation, tumorigenesis, anatomical re‐specification, and appendage regeneration. However, no unbiased analyses have been performed to understand genome‐wide transcriptional responses to Vmem change in vivo. Moreover, it is unknown which genes or gene networks represent conserved targets of bioelectrical signaling across different patterning contexts and species. Here, we use microarray analysis to comparatively analyze transcriptional responses to Vmem depolarization. We compare the response of the transcriptome during embryogenesis (Xenopus development), regeneration (axolotl regeneration), and stem cell differentiation (human mesenchymal stem cells in culture) to identify common networks across model species that are associated with depolarization. Both subnetwork enrichment and PANTHER analyses identified a number of key genetic modules as targets of Vmem change, and also revealed important (well‐conserved) commonalities in bioelectric signal transduction, despite highly diverse experimental contexts and species. Depolarization regulates specific transcriptional networks across all three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) such as cell differentiation and apoptosis, and this information will be used for developing mechanistic models of bioelectric regulation of patterning. Moreover, our analysis reveals that Vmem change regulates transcripts related to important disease pathways such as cancer and neurodegeneration, which may represent novel targets for emerging electroceutical therapies.
XPS analysis of the interface between AA2024‐T3/CF‐PPS friction spot joints
Authors: Goushegir Seyed Mohammad , Scharnagl Nico , dos Santos Jorge F. , Amancio‐Filho Sergio T.
Published: September 2015

Friction spot joining (FSpJ) is an advanced, alternative technology suitable for joining metal‐composite overlap structures. In this paper, the principles of the FSpJ technique are briefly described. Furthermore, the influence of aluminum surface pretreatments (conversion coating and phosphoric acid anodizing) on the adhesion between aluminum alloy AA2024‐T3 and carbon‐fiber‐reinforced poly(phenylene sulfide) (CF‐PPS) friction spot joints was examined. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the changes in the chemical composition of the aluminum after surface pretreatments, as well as chemical bond formation at the interface between the aluminum and composite. The joints were mechanically loaded until failure, and the fracture surface of the joints were analyzed on the aluminum side. XPS results showed evidence of Al–C and Zr–C bond formation at the interface for the selected surface pretreatments in the course of the joining cycle. Chemical bond formation was confirmed through the analysis of C1s and Al2p regions in which the appearance of new peaks with different binding energies compared with the aluminum and composite were identified. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laserstrahlschweißen im Vakuum
Authors: Jakobs Stefan , Reisgen Uwe
Published: September 2015

Das Laserstrahlschweißen (LBW) und das Elektronenstrahlschweißen (EBW) sind beide industriell eingesetzte Fügeprozesse. Das Elektronenstrahlschweißen hat seine Haupteinsatzbereiche im Fügen von Bauteilen mit großen Wanddicken und bei der Fertigung von Bauteilen des automobilen Antriebstrangs in kleinen Vakuum‐Taktkammer‐Schweißmaschinen. Das Laserstrahlschweißen wird hauptsächlich zum Schweißen im Dünnblechbereich mit Blechdicken bis 6 mm als Einzelprozess oder als Teil eines Hybridprozesses mit Lichtbogenschweißverfahren eingesetzt. Trotz einer kontinuierlichen Weiterentwicklung der Laserstrahlquellen in Hinsicht auf Strahlleistung und Strahlqualität liegt der konventionelle Laserstrahlschweißprozess deutlich hinter dem Elektronenstrahlschweißen, was erreichbare Einschweißtiefen und innere Nahtqualitäten anbelangt. Die neue Prozessvariante des Laserstrahlschweißens im Grob‐ und Feinvakuum (LaVa) wurde am Institut für Schweißtechnik und Fügetechnik ISF der RWTH Aachen University zu einem Fügeprozess konzipiert und entwickelt. Der LaVa‐Prozess schließt die Lücke zwischen den beiden Strahlschweißverfahren und öffnet neue Anwendungsbereiche für das Laserstrahlschweißen. Dies gilt für das Fügen von dickwandigen Bauteilen genauso wie für das energie‐ und qualitätsoptimierte Schweißen mit geringen Einschweißtiefen. Der folgende Artikel gibt eine kurze Übersicht über den LaVa‐Prozess, erreichte Schweißergebnisse an unlegierten Stählen und einen Ausblick auf die Möglichkeiten der Strahlpendelung.

Laser Beam Welding under reduced pressure – Range of possible applications for thick‐plates. Laser Beam Welding (LBW) and Electron Beam Welding (EBW) are both processes that are well established in industry. EBW has its main application fields in thick‐plate joining as well as in manufacturing automotive drive train components in small indexing vacuum machines. LBW is widely used in thin‐plate welding (6 mm and below) as a stand‐alone process or as part of hybrid processes with arc welding variants. Despite the continuous development of laser beam sources regarding output power and beam quality, the LBW process remains behind the EBW process in terms of achievable weld‐in depths and inner weld seam quality. The process variant of LBW in low to medium vacuum (LaVa) as investigated and developed by the Welding and Joining Institute (ISF) closes the gap between the two beam‐welding processes and opens up new application fields for the Laser. This includes the joining of thick‐walled structures beyond the possibilities of the common LBW process as well as the energy and quality optimized joining with small weld‐in depths. The following paper will give a brief overview of the LaVa process, the results achieved on unalloyed steel and the possibilities of laser beam oscillation.
Cytogenetic and cytometric analyses in artificial intercytotypic hybrids of the emergent orchid model species Erycina pusilla
Authors: Yeh Hsuan-Yu , Lin Choun-Sea , Chang Song-Bin
Published: September 2015

Erycina pusilla is considered a potential model organism for orchids, because of several advantageous features, such as short juvenile period, low chromosome number and all year round blooming. Two different chromosome numbers (2n = 10 and 2n = 12) are reported for E. pusilla, which suggests two cytotypes. To reveal the genome homology between these two cytotypes, we generated hybrids from the intercytotypic reciprocal crosses (2n = 10 × 2n = 12 and 2n = 12 × 2n = 10), and applied 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, genomic in situ hybridization and flow cytometry for genomic and cytogenetic analysis. The parental genomes showed high similarity both in genomic composition and content. The hybrids displayed a chromosome number of 2n = 11 in mitotic cells. Moreover, five bivalents and one univalent were observed at meiotic metaphase I stage. We observed meiotic synaptic behavior and found homeologous pairing with unpaired loops between parental chromosome pairing segments. These results demonstrated that chromosome rearrangement events have occurred between parental cytotypes during evolution. This study also illustrated the genome homology and homeologous pairing at pachytene phase, indicating that the chromosome number variation of two cytotypes mainly resulted from chromosome rearrangements, not changes in genomic constitution.
Promises and Pitfalls of Anchoring Vignettes in Health Survey Research
Authors: Grol-Prokopczyk Hanna , Verdes-Tennant Emese , McEniry Mary , Ispány Márton
Published: September 2015

Data harmonization is a topic of growing importance to demographers, who increasingly conduct domestic or international comparative research. Many self-reported survey items cannot be directly compared across demographic groups or countries because these groups differ in how they use subjective response categories. Anchoring vignettes, already appearing in numerous surveys worldwide, promise to overcome this problem. However, many anchoring vignettes have not been formally evaluated for adherence to the key measurement assumptions of vignette equivalence and response consistency. This article tests these assumptions in some of the most widely fielded anchoring vignettes in the world: the health vignettes in the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) and World Health Survey (WHS) (representing 10 countries; n = 52,388), as well as similar vignettes in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (n = 4,528). Findings are encouraging regarding adherence to response consistency, but reveal substantial violations of vignette equivalence both cross-nationally and across socioeconomic groups. That is, members of different sociocultural groups appear to interpret vignettes as depicting fundamentally different levels of health. The evaluated anchoring vignettes do not fulfill their promise of providing interpersonally comparable measures of health. Recommendations for improving future implementations of vignettes are discussed.
The Attitudes toward Gender Roles in Conservative Christian Contexts Scale: A Psychometric Assessment
Authors: Sharp Penya Lynette , Macaluso Suzanne Fournier , Bailey Garry
Published: September 2015

Prior research measures gender-role attitudes among Christians. However, these measures are generally limited to societal and familial contexts. Little prior research has examined gender-role attitudes in conservative Christian religious contexts. Research that has focused on religious contexts is qualitative or uses simple measures that are not validated. Therefore, the present paper presents data from two national samples describing the psychometric properties of the attitudes toward gender roles in conservative Christian contexts scale. Ways in which this scale can be used to measure adherents’ gender-role attitudes in congregational settings are addressed.
Group Work with Children who have Experienced Trauma using a Sensorimotor Framework
Authors: Wolan T. , Delaney M. A. , Weller A.
Published: September 2015

At the Victorian Child Trauma service, we are using a sensorimotor framework to help children recover from their experiences of trauma. Informed by the work of Pat Odgen, this approach helps children to feel safe, aware and connected to their bodies and minds. In this article, we will describe the development of a group program incorporating sensorimotor principles, with the aim of helping children to regulate and engage in healing relationships. Group outcomes suggest that the use of sensory elements and principles in guiding our group program helps dysregulated children to establish safety and connection in meaningful ways with those around them.
Rising to the Challenge: The Ebola Outbreak in Sierra Leone and How Insights Into One Nongovernmental Organization’s Response Can Inform Future Core Competencies
Authors: Gursky Elin A.
Published: September 2015

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play a critical humanitarian role in the developing world. Over 100 NGOs currently operate in Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa that ranks 183 out of 187 in the United Nation’s Human Development Index. Following a brutal 11-year war that ended in January 2002, the country has been unsuccessful at building a sufficiently resourced, robust, and anticipatory public health and medical care infrastructure. Consequently, Sierra Leone suffers from high levels of poverty, infant mortality, and limited access to safe drinking water, as well as morbidity from malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, hepatitis A, cholera, and typhoid fever. Large international NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders have attempted to fill the void left by fragile and fragmented government health services but have been overwhelmed and saturated by the continual spread of Ebola virus disease and growing numbers of cases and deaths. Smaller NGOs endeavored to assist during this crisis as well. One of them, Caritas, has actively sought public health knowledge and has applied public health principles to reduce and contain Ebola virus disease transmission. The Ebola outbreak illuminates the importance of building basic public health capabilities within the core competences of NGOs.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:554–557)
Guarding the Public Interest: England's Coroners and Organ Transplants, 1960–1975
Authors: MacDonald Helen
Published: September 2015

From the mid-twentieth century, England's coroners were crucial to the supply of organs to transplant, as much of this material was gleaned from the bodies of people who had been involved in accidents. In such situations the law required that a coroner's consent first be obtained lest removing the organs destroy evidence about the cause of the person's death. Surgeons challenged the legal requirement that they seek consent before taking organs, arguing that doing so hampered their quick access to bodies. Some coroners willingly cooperated with surgeons while others refused to do so, coming into conflict with particular transplanters whom they considered untrustworthy. This article examines how the phenomenon of “spare part” surgery challenged long-held conceptions of the coroner's role.
“A Horrible Looking Woman”: Female Violence in Late-Victorian East London
Authors: August Andrew
Published: September 2015

Scholars have attributed a steep decline in violent crime in nineteenth-century England to a “civilizing offensive” launched to discipline violent masculinities. In East London, however, a significant minority of those brought before summary courts on charges of violent offenses were women. Newspaper accounts of these cases show that some women committed assaults that resembled the violent actions of men. The courts and newspapers evaluated defendants against standards of femininity. Those women who successfully performed dominant versions of femininity received lenient treatment in the courts and approval in the newspapers. The courts harshly punished those who did not conform. These accounts reveal a campaign against disorderly femininities that paralleled the civilizing offensive directed against unruly masculinities.
Roundtable: Imperial History by the Book: A Roundtable on John Darwin's The Empire Project. Comment: Desolation Goes before Us
Authors: Bell Duncan
Published: September 2015

In an age when both the traditional book form and the world that the British Empire made are arguably in crisis, it is remarkable that big books on British imperialism abound. Contributors to this roundtable assess scale and genre as well as content in their discussion of the claims and impact of John Darwin's tome, The Empire Project. John Darwin's response is also included.
Roundtable: Imperial History by the Book: A Roundtable on John Darwin's The Empire Project. Reply
Authors: Darwin John
Published: September 2015

In an age when both the traditional book form and the world that the British Empire made are arguably in crisis, it is remarkable that big books on British imperialism abound. Contributors to this roundtable assess scale and genre as well as content in their discussion of the claims and impact of John Darwin's tome, The Empire Project. John Darwin's response is also included.
Characterisation of acoustically linked oscillations in cyclone separators
Authors: Grimble T. A. , Agarwal A.
Published: September 2015

The hydrodynamic oscillations of a cyclone separator – in particular the precessing vortex core (PVC) phenomena – are investigated by measuring their radiated sound spectra. Strong coherence was observed between internal flow oscillations measured via hot wire anemometry and the external acoustic field measured via microphone. This means that the oscillations can be characterised by using acoustics as a proxy. The oscillations cause narrow-band noise, referred to as cyclone hum. System characterisation by dimensional analysis used velocity and length scales of the vortex core region as scaling parameters. The relevant non-dimensional parameters are a Strouhal number for the cyclone hum centre frequency, a Reynolds number, a geometry based swirl number and numerous geometric scales defining the shape of the device. Cyclones with multiple sizes of inlets and outlets were tested at different flow rates using external microphones to detect the cyclone hum. The results produce an excellent collapse of the data, yielding a simple relationship for Strouhal number as a function of swirl number and the outlet diameter ratio. The non-invasive method of examining oscillations that is presented in this paper could be applied to other swirling systems.
Feeding probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus (MTCC 5897) fermented milk to suckling mothers alleviates ovalbumin-induced allergic sensitisation in mice offspring
Authors: Saliganti Vamshi , Kapila Rajeev , Sharma Rohit , Kapila Suman
Published: September 2015

The neonatal period is often polarised to T helper (Th2) response at the time of birth, predisposing offspring to allergic disorders. Passive immunity through the mother’s milk is critical for immune system development of newborns. Probiotics have been proposed to harmonise Th1/Th2 imbalance in allergic conditions in adults. In the present study, the anti-allergic effects of feeding probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus-fermented milk (PFM) either to dams during the suckling period or to their offspring after weaning individually or else in successive periods against ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergy in newborns was analysed. After allergen sensitisation, physical symptoms of allergy, gut immune response, humoral immune response and cell-mediated response through interleukins were detected. Consumption of PFM by mothers and offspring showed a reduction (P<0·01) in physical allergic symptoms in newborns with an increase (P<0·01) in the numbers of goblet and IgA+ cells in the small intestine. Similarly, considerable (P<0·001) decreases in OVA-specific antibodies (IgE, IgG, IgG1) and ratios of IgE/IgG2a and IgG1/IgG2a in the sera of newborn mice were recorded. A decrease in IL-4 and an increase in interferon-γ levels further confirmed the shift from Th2 to Th1 pathway in PFM-fed mice. It is logical to conclude that the timing of PFM intervention in alleviating allergic symptoms is critical, which was found to be most effective when mothers were fed during the suckling period.
Total, insoluble and soluble dietary fibre intake in relation to blood pressure: the INTERMAP Study
Authors: Aljuraiban Ghadeer S. , Griep Linda M. O. , Chan Queenie , Daviglus Martha L. , Stamler Jeremiah , Van Horn Linda , Elliott Paul , Frost Gary S.
Published: September 2015

Prospective cohort studies have shown inverse associations between fibre intake and CVD, possibly mediated by blood pressure (BP). However, little is known about the impact of types of fibre on BP. We examined cross-sectional associations with BP of total, insoluble and soluble fibre intakes. Data were used from the INTERnational study on MAcro/micronutrients and blood Pressure (INTERMAP) study, including 2195 men and women aged between 40 and 59 years from the USA. During four visits, eight BP, four 24 h dietary recalls and two 24 h urine samples were collected. Linear regression models adjusted for lifestyle and dietary confounders to estimate BP differences per 2 sd higher intakes of total and individual types of fibre were calculated. After multivariable adjustment, total fibre intake higher by 6·8 g/4184 kJ (6·8 g/1000 kcal) was associated with a 1·69 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure (SBP; 95 % CI −2·97, −0·41) and attenuated to −1·01 mmHg (95 % CI −2·35, 0·34) after adjustment for urinary K. Insoluble fibre intake higher by 4·6 g/4184 kJ (4·6 g/1000 kcal) was associated with a 1·81 mmHg lower SBP (95 % CI −3·65, 0·04), additionally adjusted for soluble fibre and urinary K excretion, whereas soluble fibre was not associated with BP. Raw fruit was the main source of total and insoluble fibre, followed by whole grains and vegetables. In conclusion, higher intakes of fibre, especially insoluble, may contribute to lower BP, independent of nutrients associated with higher intakes of fibre-rich foods.
From Religion to Revolution: Theologies of Secularisation in the British Student Christian Movement, 1963–1973
Authors: BREWITT-TAYLOR SAM
Published: September 2015

The collapse of the British Student Christian Movement in the long 1960s is conventionally ascribed to its mimicking of student radicalism at a time of increasing secularisation. Yet analysis of the SCM's rhetoric demonstrates that in the early 1960s the movement imagined a religious crisis when student Christianity was still strong. By embracing a theological vision of ‘secularisation’, which demanded the deliberate transposition of Christian eschatologies into secular form, the SCM embarked on an early, original and influential journey into political radicalism. In this way, the SCM made a significant contribution to British student radicalism in the late 1960s.
Guild composition and habitat use by Tetraodontiformes (Teleostei, Acanthopterygii) in a south-western Atlantic tropical estuary
Authors: De Andrade Amanda Carvalho , Santos Sérgio Ricardo , Verani José Roberto , Vianna Marcelo
Published: September 2015

Sampling of the demersal ichthyofauna of Guanabara Bay was conducted bimonthly for 2 years at 10 stations distributed along a hydrobiological gradient. A total of 16,081 Tetraodontiformes specimens were collected, representing 10 species distributed among Ostraciidae, Monacanthidae, Tetraodontidae and Diodontidae. Tetraodontiformes appear to be well adapted to hydrological variations and inhospitable conditions prompted by intense eutrophication. However, abiotic factors traditionally considered important in estuarine community structure play a secondary role in the distribution of Tetraodontiformes. The type of sediment appears to be the most important physical factor but acts only as an indicator of ecological domain. The low explanatory power of physicochemical variables, in addition to the relative stability of the bay's ichthyofauna, suggests an influence of biological parameters. The species exhibited wide variation in their use of Guanabara Bay and utilized it as a resting, feeding and growing area. Among the species captured,Stephanolepis hispidus, Lagocephalus laevigatus, Sphoeroides greeleyi, Sphoeroides testudineus, Sphoeroides tyleri, Chilomycterus reticulatusandChilomycterus spinosuswere categorized as marine estuarine opportunists, andAluterus heudelotiiandAluterus schoepfiiwere classified as marine stragglers.Acanthostracionsp. could not be categorized. The boom ofC. spinosusindicates an ecological misbalance and must be carefully investigated.
Dynamic modeling and characteristics analysis of lateral-pendulum unicycle robot
Authors: Daud Yohanes , Al Mamun Abdullah , Xu Jian-Xin
Published: September 2015

Lateral-pendulum unicycle robot is a type of single-wheeled mobile robot which utilizes an inverted pendulum mounted laterally for its stabilization and control. Even though this concept was first mentioned in the 1980s, it has not been sufficiently explored especially from the theoretical point of view. Therefore, this robot represents a niche which is still open for more thorough research. This paper presents four contributions to the research of this particular robot. First, the complete model of the robot dynamics is derived and this model can facilitate more accurate study of the robot's static and dynamic behaviors. Secondly, two important constants namely (1)lateral-statics boundaryand (2)lateral-statics constant, which are useful for the lateral stabilization, are derived and analyzed. Thirdly,turning constant, required for the control of the turning motion, is derived and used to study the achievable path curvature in maneuvering control. Lastly, dynamics couplings during steady linear motion and steady circular motion are studied and the necessity of integral action in the lateral controller for circular motion is shown and explained. Throughout this paper, numerical simulation is used intensively and two case studies are presented to illustrate the concepts.
On strongly decreasing solutions of cyclic systems of second-order nonlinear differential equations
Authors: Jaroš Jaroslav , Takaŝi Kusano
Published: September 2015

The n-dimensional cyclic system of second-order nonlinear differential equations

is analysed in the framework of regular variation. Under the assumption that αi and βi are positive constants such that α1 … αn > β1 … βn and pi and qi are regularly varying functions, it is shown that the situation in which the system possesses decreasing regularly varying solutions of negative indices can be completely characterized, and moreover that the asymptotic behaviour of such solutions is governed by a unique formula describing their order of decay precisely. Examples are presented to demonstrate that the main results for the system can be applied effectively to some classes of partial differential equations with radial symmetry to provide new accurate information about the existence and the asymptotic behaviour of their radial positive strongly decreasing solutions.
Thermal Calibration Procedure and Thermal Characterisation of Low-cost Inertial Measurement Units
Authors: Wang Qingjiang , Li You , Niu Xiaoji
Published: September 2015

This paper investigates the thermal characteristics of typical Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) with a reliable thermal test procedure. Test results show that MEMS sensor errors, not only biases, but also scale factors and non-orthogonalities, may vary significantly with temperature. Also, MEMS sensor errors can have significant inconsistent curves under different temperature changing profiles. The existence of such inconsistencies posed a challenge to the following assumption of thermal calibration: the thermal drift of a sensor error is only related to the temperature of the sensor core. A robust way to mitigate this issue is given by using the sensor data during both heat-and-stay and cool-and-stay processes to establish the final thermal models. The performance of both IMUs and inertial navigation systems improved significantly after compensation with the established thermal models. Additionally, the variation of the IMU thermal parameters with time was observed, which suggests that periodical thermal calibration is necessary for MEMS IMUs.
Long-term modifications of coastal defences enhance marine biodiversity
Authors: MARTINS GUSTAVO M. , JENKINS STUART R. , NETO ANA I. , HAWKINS STEPHEN J. , THOMPSON RICHARD C.
Published: September 2015

Realization that hard coastal infrastructures support lower biodiversity than natural habitats has prompted a wealth of research seeking to identify design enhancements offering ecological benefits. Some studies showed that artificial structures could be modified to increase levels of diversity. Most studies, however, only considered the short-term ecological effects of such modifications, even though reliance on results from short-term studies may lead to serious misjudgements in conservation. In this study, a seven-year experiment examined how the addition of small pits to otherwise featureless seawalls may enhance the stocks of a highly-exploited limpet. Modified areas of the seawall supported enhanced stocks of limpets seven years after the addition of pits. Modified areas of the seawall also supported a community that differed in the abundance of littorinids, barnacles and macroalgae compared to the controls. Responses to different treatments (numbers and size of pits) were species-specific and, while some species responded directly to differences among treatments, others might have responded indirectly via changes in the distribution of competing species. This type of habitat enhancement can have positive long-lasting effects on the ecology of urban seascapes. Understanding of species interactions could be used to develop a rule-based approach to enhance biodiversity.
Formulating constraint satisfaction problems for the inspection of configuration rules
Authors: Tidstam Anna , Malmqvist Johan , Voronov Alexey , Åkesson Knut , Fabian Martin
Published: September 2015

Product configurationis when an artifact from a product family is assembled from a set of predefined components that can only be combined in certain ways. These ways are defined by configuration rules. The product developers inspect the configuration rules when they develop new configuration rules or modify the configuration rules set. The inspection of configuration rules is thereby an important activity to avoid errors in the configuration rules set. Several formulations of constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) are proposed that facilitate the inspection of configuration rules in propositional logic (IF-THEN, AND, NOT, OR, etc.). Many of the configuration rules are so calledproduction rules; that is, a configuration rule is an IF-THEN expression that fires when the IF condition is met. Several configuration rules build chains that fire during the product configuration. It is therefore important not only to inspect single configuration rules but also to analyze the effect of multiple configuration rules. Formulating the tasks as variations of the CSP can support the inspection activity. More specifically, we address the reformulation of configuration rules, testing of feature variant combinations, and counting of item quantities from an item set. The suggested CSPs are tested on industrial vehicle configuration rules for computational performance. The results show that the time for achieving results from the solving of the CSP is within seconds. Our future work will be to implement the various CSPs into a demonstrator that could be tested by product developers.
An ecological analysis of pertussis disease in Minnesota, 2009–2013
Authors: IROH TAM P. Y. , MENK J. S. , HUGHES J. , KULASINGAM S. L.
Published: September 2015

The increase in pertussis cases in Minnesota in the last decade has been mainly attributed to the switch from whole cell to acellular pertussis [as part of the diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP)]. It is unclear, however, to what degree community-level risk factors also contribute. Understanding these factors can help inform public health policy-makers about where else to target resources. We performed an ecological analysis within Minnesota to identify risk factors at the county level using a Bayesian Poisson generalized linear areal model to account for spatial dependence. Univariate analyses suggested an association between increased pertussis rates at the county level and white maternal ethnicity, being US born, urban counties and average household size. In the multivariable analysis, the rate of pertussis was 1·79 times greater for urbanvs.rural counties and 4·75 times greater for counties with a one-person larger average household size. Pertussis rates in counties with higher (i.e. 4+DTaP) receipt in children were 0·97 times lower. Examining county-level factors associated with varying levels of pertussis may help identify those counties that would most benefit from targeted interventions and increased resource allocation.