bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unionizing the Police Service: The Case of Botswana Police Service
Authors: Motshegwa Baakile
Published: February 2017

Police labour relations in Botswana have been on the spotlight in recent years in Botswana. Whilst government in their Labour Policies appreciates the need for collective arrangements by employees to bargain for their conditions of service, the same favour has not been extended to the Police. It is always an issue for investigation why the Police find themselves managed by their own special Acts that explicitly prohibit them from organizing themselves for collective bargaining. This paper analyses unionization with regards to the Botswana Police Service. Whereas unionization is internationally recognized, the Police in Botswana find themselves prohibited from such action. The Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisations Act, the Public Service Act and the Police Act are analysed in order to find harmony amongst these pieces of legislation. It also draws lessons from other Police Services in Southern Africa to get an international experience.
Unfinished Revolution: The Arab Spring at the Crossroads
Authors: Idahosa Osaretin , Tonwe Daniel
Published: February 2017

Currently, the Arab world is going through a critical phase of its collective existence as the entire region is under the grip of a revolutionary fervour.  The consequences have both political and economic ramifications. Hitherto, totalitarian and dictatorial regimes in the region had not only tightly controlled the levers of power through political threats and manipulations but had also exploited whatever economic benefits which were available therein. This was accentuated by poor economic performance, unemployment, corruption and inequality that acted as catalysts for a general revolt. This gave birth to what is presently dubbed “Arad Spring’’. Within months of the self immolation of Mohammed Buazizi, Tunisian President, Zine Al-Abidin Ben Ali who had ruled the country for 23years, fled the country. Also in Egypt, the wave of protests swept off President Hosni Mubarak after 29years in office. Despise the regime change in both countries; the political institutions that supported the old order were left intact. As such, the benefactors of the spring were not the masses but the members of the elites that were either supportive of the toppled regimes or their antagonists who used it to secure the much needed elusive political powers. This study is a survey of the countries where the authoritarian regimes have been replaced as a result of the Arab revolts, specifically; Egypt and Tunisia are the case studies. The emphasis is on how unmet expectations and unrealized goals have tended to derail the realization of the initial dreams of the citizenry in these countries.
Studying the Relationship between Workplace Incivility and Employees’ Job Positive Attitude in Rafsanjan Tejarat Banks
Authors: Ziaddini Mohammad , Mohammadi Hamid
Published: February 2017

Workplace Incivility is one of negative and deviational behaviors involved in present organizations and can affect on employees’ attitudes. This research aims to study the relationship between Workplace Incivility and employees’ job positive attitude in Rafsanjan Tejarat banks. Statistical society of the research includes employed employees of Rafsanjan Tejarat banks containing 152 people and regarding limitation of statistical society, statistical sample is selected equal to statistical society. Measuring instruments are two questionnaires. Questionnaire of discourtesy behavior that was designed and organized by Hasani (2013) is 0.92. Also to measure job positive attitudes, standard questionnaire of Saeedi (2012) is used for which validity is 0.98. Using Cronbach alpha method reliabilities for every questionnaire are 0.87 and 0.94 respectively. To test hypotheses Kendal and Spearman correlation coefficients are used. All statistical analyses are done by SPSS statistical software. Regarding the results it is determined that there is no meaningful relationship between Workplace Incivility and its components ( excluding others, gossiping, roughness and hostility) with employees’ job positive attitudes in Rafsanjan Tejarat banks.
Comparative Analysis of the Shipping Center Competitiveness of Major Port Cities in China
Authors: Ke Rong , Wang Chuanxu
Published: February 2017

With the development of the Chinese economy, many port cities aim to establish shipping centers. Due to the status of international routes, the scope of the hinterland, the economic development level, the conditions of individual cities, and other factors, different international shipping centers adopt different development strategies. To identify the advantages and disadvantages of individual shipping centers and reasonably determine their relative competitiveness, it is important to establish a competitiveness evaluation index system suitable for evaluating the characteristics of shipping centers. Hierarchical analysis, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis are applied to classify the Chinese shipping centers of main port cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Dalian, Chongqing, and Qingdao. Our method ranks the cities according to both their soft and hard environments to analyze the main influencing factors, as well as establish a corresponding shipping center competitiveness evaluation index system.
A monograph of the Serbian folk literature
Authors: Bojović Jovana
Published: February 2017

This paper presents a review of the oral tradition of the Serbian people. The author focuses upon the richness of the motives in the oral lyrics, epics and folk tales, pointing out the influences and conditions related to the development of this kind of literature. The results of all classifications referring to the oral literature are demonstrated, as well as the issues of the language, versification and style. The attention is also paid to some of the most beautiful scenes of spiritual life of our people in the past centuries. The content of all the chapters of the monograph entitled 'Serbian folk literature' by Vladimir Bovan is systematically presented as well.
Social representations of trust among teachers and principals in Cameroonian, Indian, and Finnish schools
Authors: Pirttilä-Backman Anna-Maija , Menard Rusten , Verma Jyoti , Kassea Raul
Published: February 2017

Quantitative studies on trust often attempt to measure levels of trust, while neglecting local meanings of trust. These studies are usually based on Eurocentric models in Western cultures, though the models may have limited ecological validity. As a result, this study sought to investigate trust as locally produced structures and practices in Cameroon, Finland and India. In each country, teachers and principals were interviewed individually, while nineteen focus groups among teachers were also conducted (N = 111). The theory of social representations provides the methodological framework for the study. Our analyses suggest that in Cameroon understandings of trust were anchored in complementarity, in Finland in contracts, and in India in social hierarchies. We suggest that the Cameroonian representations were more fluid than in the other two countries, which may be due in part to the working arrangements there. In all of the national contexts, numerous metaphors and imagery helped to solidify trust as phenomena built in everyday practices. Cooperation was an important element in the data from all of the country contexts, although it had particular and varying meanings in each. Finally, we interpret culturally embedded dichotomies, or themata, that participants draw upon to imbue workplace trust with meaning. We discuss the analyses and interpretations in terms of local practices and the concrete conditions in which the participants worked.
Poutine Dynamics
Authors: Fabien-Ouellet Nicolas
Published: February 2017

Taking everyone by surprise, poutine—an unpretentious Quebecois dish originally made of fries, cheese curds and brown gravy—found its way onto the Canadian State Dinner menu organized by the White House in March 2016. Drawing on my personal relationship with poutine, this paper intends to expose how poutine has managed to enact a form of social mobility. The tasting experience of poutine is first deconstructed through its taste ‘on the tongue’ and its taste as a dynamic social process, to investigate poutine’s palatability and mainstream appeal. Through this tasting analysis, poutine emerges as a new(er) and distinct way to consume food that is increasingly adopted and adapted. A working definition of poutine as a new dish classification label in its own right (just like sandwiches, dumplings, soups, flatbreads or sushi) is proposed. The social mobility of other foods (e.g. lobster, kimchi, garlic, and sushi) is further explored, before discussing how poutine is also connected to a stigma, which weakens the agency of the Quebecois. Using the social identity theory, it appears that Quebecois youth are dismissing this ‘poutine stigma’ through a revaluing approach, which resembles a reappropriation of poutine, not necessarily linguistically (as seen with ‘black’, ‘queer’, or ‘geek’), but rather in a culinary fashion. Coupling poutine’s sociohistorical stigma and its growing Canadization (that is, the presentation, not the consumption per say, of poutine as a Canadian dish), two related situations—the ongoing process of poutine culinary appropriation and the threat of Quebecois cultural absorption by Canadians—are exposed.
« Chez nous, c’est la culture qui est obscène »
Authors: Biron Michel
Published: February 2017

Pourquoi André Belleau affirme-t-il : « chez nous, c’est la culture qui est obscène » ? Quel est le sens de cette idée étonnante et paradoxale qui constitue le noeud d’un court essai paru en 1977 dans Liberté sous le titre « Culture populaire et culture “sérieuse” dans le roman québécois » ? Cet article cherche à répondre à ces questions en mettant l’accent sur la part honteuse et conflictuelle rattachée au Québec, selon Belleau, à la culture « comme lointain et comme profondeur ».
Are sawfishes still present in Mozambique? A baseline ecological study
Authors: Leeney Ruth H.
Published: February 2017

Sawfishes (Pristidae) were formerly abundant in the western Indian Ocean, but current data on sawfish presence and distribution are lacking for most of the region. This paper summarises historical records of sawfishes in Mozambican waters and presents the findings of the first assessment of the presence and status of sawfishes in Mozambique. A countrywide baseline assessment was undertaken between May and July 2014, using interviews with artisanal, semi-industrial and industrial fishers, fish traders and fisheries monitoring staff as the primary source of information on sawfish distribution, recent catches, socio-economic value and cultural importance. Additional interviews were conducted via email or telephone with individuals running sport fishing operations or who otherwise had considerable experience interacting with the fishing sectors or the marine environment in Mozambique. Where encountered, sawfish rostra were photographed and a series of measurements and associated data were collected. In total, 200 questionnaire surveys and seven interviews with recreational fishing and dive operators were conducted, and 19 rostra were documented from museum archives and private collections, belonging to two sawfish species, the Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis pristis)and Green Sawfish (P. zijsron). The most recent captures of sawfishes were reported to have occurred in 2014. Two key sites were identified where both recent encounters were reported and numerous Largetooth Sawfish rostra were documented. Gill nets were the fishing gear most commonly attributed to sawfish catches. Sawfishes did not hold any cultural importance in Mozambique, but they have at least some socio-economic importance to artisanal fishers, primarily through the sale of their fins. The meat did not appear to be held in high regard and was usually consumed locally. Sampling and further research is now required to confirm the presence of sawfishes and to assess the primary threats to sawfishes in those areas. At one site where a number of rostra were present and where fishers stated that they still catch sawfish, gill nets are being provided to fishers as an alternative to beach seining. This may have a serious impact on the local sawfish population and more broadly for other elasmobranchs in the area. Immediate action is required to develop a landings monitoring programme in this and other key habitats, and to encourage fishers to release sawfishes alive.
MOF Template‐Directed Fabrication of Hierarchically Structured Electrocatalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhou Jian , Dou Yibo , Zhou Awu , Guo Rui‐Mei , Zhao Min‐Jian , Li Jian‐Rong
Published: February 2017

The ever‐increasing demand for clean and renewable power sources has sparked intensive research on water splitting to produce hydrogen, in which the exploration of electrocatalysts is the central issue. Herein, a new strategy, metal–organic framework template‐directed fabrication of hierarchically structured Co3O4@X (X = Co3O4, CoS, C, and CoP) electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is developed, where Co3O4@X are derived from cobalt carbonatehydroxide@zeolitic‐imidazolate‐framework‐67 (CCH@ZIF‐67). Unique hierarchical structure and synergistic effect of resulting catalysts endow abundant exposed active sites, facile ion diffusion path, and improved conductivity, being favorable for improving catalytic activity of them. Consequently, these derivatives Co3O4@X reveal highly efficient electrocatalytic performance with long‐term durability for the OER, much superior to previously reported cobalt‐based catalysts as well as the Ir/C catalyst. Particularly, Co3O4@CoP exhibits the highest electrocatalytic capability with the lower overpotential of 238 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2. Furthermore, Co3O4@X can also efficiently catalyze other small molecules through electro‐oxidation reaction (e.g., glycerol, methanol, or ethanol). It is expected that the strategy presented here can be extended to the fabrication of other composite electrode materials with hierarchical structures for more efficient water splitting.
Modeling of oxygen permeation through filled polymeric layers for barrier coatings
Authors: Nyflött Åsa , Petkova‐Olsson Yana , Moons Ellen , Bonnerup Chris , Järnström Lars , Carlsson Gunilla , Lestelius Magnus , Minelli Matteo
Published: February 2017

This paper presents an extended model for gas permeation through a filled polymer layer, and it is applied to the case of oxygen permeability through a poly(vinyl alcohol)/kaolin dispersion coating. The model is based on a description of polymer and penetrant properties in a thermodynamically consistent framework. The gradient in chemical potential is considered the driving force for the diffusion of the penetrating gas. The well‐established nonequilibrium lattice fluid (NELF) model for the polymer phase is extended in order to account for the additional features of the polymer/filler system, such as the concentration and aspect ratio of the inorganic filler, which enhance the penetrant tortuosity. The model predicts the behavior of penetrant permeability with respect to polymer crystallinity and filler fraction. The calculated results are compared to experimentally obtained data for oxygen permeability through a dispersion coating layer consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) and two types of kaolin with different aspect ratios. A good agreement is found in terms of the effects of polymer crystallinity, filler concentration, and filler aspect ratio. The experimental results also indicate a complex interplay between the polymer and the filler as the permeability of two differently surface modified kaolin clays was determined, displaying slight deviations from model predictions. Significant differences were observed in the experimental results between the two fillers investigated, and the one characterized by the smaller aspect ratio affects to a minor extent the oxygen permeability, as illustrated by the model. Furthermore, the lower hydrolysis degree of PVOH gives a reduced barrier performance, as expected. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44834.
TNFR1 and TNFR2 differentially mediate TNF‐α‐induced inflammatory responses in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes
Authors: Zhang Hongfeng , Xiao Weiguo
Published: February 2017

TNF‐α has long been implicated in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, how the receptors of TNF‐α, namely TNFR1 and TNFR2, mediate TNF‐α‐induced inflammatory responses in fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) in RA has not been elucidated. In the present study, primary FLS cells were isolated from RA patients and treated with TNF‐α in vitro. The exogenous TNF‐α induced the expression and release of endogenous TNF‐α in FLS. In addition, TNF‐α led to gradual downregulation of TNFR1 following 1 h treatment. By contrast, the expression of TNFR2 was markedly upregulated after 12 h treatment with TNF‐α. Moreover, following TNF‐α treatment, the expression of interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐6, and IL‐8 was gradually increased with time, but their mRNA levels dropped significantly at 48 h. We further investigated the differential functions of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in FLS by conducting siRNA‐mediated knockdown. The TNF‐α autocrine was inhibited to a greater extent in TNFR1‐silenced FLS compared with TNFR2‐silenced FLS. Silencing of TNFR1, not TNFR2, activated intrinsic apoptosis and inhibited TNF‐α‐induced cytokine production in FLS. These results suggest that TNFR1 is the major pro‐inflammatory mediator of TNF‐α in FLS, whereas TNFR2, which is upregulated in response to prolonged TNF‐α stimulation, may act as an immunosuppressor in FLS for the prevention of overwhelming inflammatory reactions.
Iron chemistry at the service of life
Authors: Sánchez Manu , Sabio Laura , Gálvez Natividad , Capdevila Mercè , Dominguez‐Vera Jose M.
Published: February 2017

Iron is an essential element for almost all organisms on Earth. It is necessary for a number of crucial processes such as hemoglobin and myoglobin transport and storage of oxygen in mammals; electron transfer support in a variety of iron‐sulfur protein or cytochrome reactions; and activation and catalysis of reactions of a wide range of substrate like alkanes, olefins, and alcohols. Living organisms adopted iron as the main metal to carry out all of these functions due to the rich coordination chemistry of its two main redox states, Fe2+ and Fe3+, and because of its abundance in the Earth's crust and oceans. This paper presents an overview of the coordination chemistry of iron that makes it suitable for a large variety of functions within biological systems. Despite iron's chemical advantages, organisms were forced to manage with some drawbacks: Fe3+ insolubility and the formation of toxic radicals, especially the hydroxyl radical. Iron chemistry within biology is an example of how organisms evolved by creating molecular machinery to overcome these difficulties and perform crucial processes with extraordinary elegance and efficiency. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(6):382–388, 2017
Effects of tissue digestion solutions on surface properties of nitinol stents
Authors: Sullivan Stacey J. L. , Stafford Philip , Malkin Elon , Dreher Maureen L. , Nagaraja Srinidhi
Published: February 2017

Analysis of explanted medical implants can provide a wealth of knowledge about device safety and performance. However, the quality of information may be compromised if the methods used to clean tissue from the device disturb the retrieved condition. Common solutions used to digest tissue may adversely affect the surface of the device and its severity can be material and processing dependent. In this study, two groups of stents made from the same material (Nitinol) were shape set in a salt pot (SP) or further processed by mechanical polishing (MP) and then immersed in one of three tissue digestion solutions (TDS): nitric acid (HNO3), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), or papain enzyme (papain). Nickel (Ni) ion concentrations were measured for each stent‐TDS combination and post‐immersion stent surface constituents, morphology and oxide depths were compared to baseline samples. Exposure to the HNO3 TDS resulted in relatively high Ni ion release and surface damage for both stent types. Papain TDS induced a greater Ni ion release than NaOH TDS, however, both were significantly lower than HNO3. The NaOH TDS increased the oxide layer thickness on MP stents. In contrast, all other stent immersions resulted in thinner oxide layers. For the Nitinol finishes used in this study, HNO3 is not recommended while papain and NaOH solutions may be appropriate depending on the post‐retrieval analysis performed. This study elucidates the importance of preliminary testing for TDS selection and how the surface finish can affect the sensitivity of a material to a TDS. 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 331–339, 2018.
Effects of intermittent CO2 convection under far‐infrared radiation on vacuum drying of pre‐osmodehydrated watermelon
Authors: Chakraborty Rajat , Mondal Pijus
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUND

Watermelon, a tropical seasonal fruit with high nutrient content, requires preservation through drying due to its perishable nature. Nevertheless, drying of watermelon through conventional processes has a negative impact either on the drying time or on the final product quality. In this work, osmotic dehydration of watermelon followed by far‐infrared radiation‐assisted vacuum drying (FIRRAVD) was optimized to develop dehydrated watermelon with minimum moisture content. Significantly, during FIRRAVD, an attempt was made to further intensify the drying rate by forced convection through intermittent CO2 injection. Drying kinetics of each operation and physicochemical qualities of dried products were evaluated.

RESULTS

FIRRAVD was a viable method of watermelon drying with appreciably high moisture diffusivity (Deff,m) of 4.97 × 10−10 to 1.49 × 10−9 m2 s−1 compared to conventional tray drying. Moreover, intermittent CO2 convection during FIRRAVD (ICFIRRAVD) resulted in appreciable intensification of drying rate, with enhanced Deff,m (9.93 × 10−10 to 1.99 × 10−9 m2 s−1). Significantly, ICFIRRAVD required less energy and approximately 16% less time compared to FIRRAVD. The quality of the final dehydrated watermelon was superior compared to conventional drying protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel CO2 convective drying of watermelon in the presence of far‐infrared radiation demonstrated an energy‐efficient and time‐saving operation rendering a dehydrated watermelon with acceptable quality parameters. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Changes in epilithic fungal communities under different light conditions in a river: A field experimental study
Authors: Miura Aya , Urabe Jotaro
Published: February 2017

In lotic ecosystems, the community structure of periphytic fungi changes depending on the quantity and quality of allochthonous organic matter supplied. However, little is known about the effects of the input of autochthonous organic matter on the community structure. To examine the relationship between a periphytic fungal community grown on inorganic substrates and the algal production, we performed field experiments. If the fungal species differ in their relative ability to exploit allochthonous and autochthonous organic matter, the species composition of the fungal community might differ between shaded conditions, without algal production, and light conditions, with algal production. To examine such a possibility, we assessed the fungal community that developed on ceramic tiles that were fixed on opaque or clear pipes at three sites in the Natori River. The experiment showed that the periphytic chlorophyll a and the number of fungal species in the unshaded tiles were significantly greater than those in the shaded tiles. However, a nested structure was not detected between the fungal assemblages of the unshaded and shaded tiles. Instead, the taxon compositions largely differed between these tiles, which indicated most fungal species that colonized the shaded condition were replaced by others in the unshaded condition where algae grew. The results indicate that light facilitate the colonization and growth of several epilithic fungal species through the growth of sessile algae and suggest that not only the supply of autochthonous organic matter but also biological interactions play a pivotal role in shaping the epilithic fungal communities in lotic habitats.
Further assessment of exome‐wide UVR footprints in melanoma and their possible relevance
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Pamela , Roberts James A. , Walker Graeme J.
Published: February 2017

C>T substitutions at dipyrimidine sites dominate the melanoma genome. We recently analyzed the exomes of spontaneous and neonatal UVR‐induced murine melanomas, noting a dramatic change in the genomic footprint at C>T substitutions in the latter. Here we re‐analyzed published exome‐wide footprints in human melanomas stratified in terms of likely previous sun exposure. Acral and mucosal melanomas were heterogeneous in terms of base substitution types, but most C>Ts occurred in the context of 3′G, probably resulting from spontaneous deamination of the cytosine. C>Ts in sun‐exposed melanomas were statistically different from acral/mucosal lesions only in preferring an adjacent 5′T and 3′C. Pyrimidine dimer adducts can form between any pyrimidine (TT, TC, CT, CC). Hence in melanoma C>Ts are overwhelmingly induced at TC or CC photoproducts, or, there are peculiarities in DNA repair that favor the mutation of cytosines with these two pyrimidines adjacent. If melanoma UVR footprints at C>Ts reflect a specific dimer type (eg, 6–4 photoproduct or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer), these could be removed post UVR, for instance using photolyases, to potentially reduce melanoma risk. If specific modes of DNA repair and/or replication cause these footprints, methodically downregulating selected DNA polymerases in UVR‐induced animal models of melanoma, combined with exome sequencing, could begin to assess this. Finally, a preponderance of TpCpC as opposed to NpCpG at C>Ts exome‐wide is likely to be a good indicator of whether a melanoma has incurred even a small amount of sun damage. This information will assist epidemiological studies in predicting individual levels of sun exposure.
The effect of the affordable care act dependent coverage provision on patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Tumin Dmitry , Li Susan S. , Kopp Benjamin T. , Kirkby Stephen E. , Tobias Joseph D. , Morgan Wayne J. , Hayes Don
Published: February 2017

Background

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, expanded private insurance coverage of young adults through the dependent coverage provision. This policy's implications for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are unknown.

Methods

The CF Foundation Patient Registry was used to identify patients seen at CF centers, 3 years before and after ACA implementation. Patients were grouped according to eligibility for the dependent care provision (18–25 years old in 2010) or ineligibility (26–35 years old). Year‐level difference‐in‐difference logistic regressions evaluated the association between ACA enactment and insurance status (private, public, or no insurance). Routine annual care consistent with CF Foundation guidelines (≥4 clinic visits, ≥4 respiratory cultures, and ≥2 pulmonary function tests/year) was a secondary outcome.

Results

The analysis included 4,024 and 3,132 patients in the eligible and ineligible groups, respectively (35,353 patient‐years). In the eligible group, 62% had private insurance before and after ACA; 18% had public insurance before and after ACA; and 5% switched from public to private insurance. In the eligible group, lack of insurance coverage became more common in the post‐ACA period (relative risk ratio vs. private insurance [RRR] = 1.95; 95%CI: 1.57, 2.43; P < 0.001). Public insurance coverage also became more common (RRR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.39, 1.62; P < 0.001). Use of routine care increased post‐ACA, but more strongly in the ineligible group than in the eligible group.

Conclusions

The ACA dependent coverage provision did not increase private insurance coverage or use of routine care among CF patients who were potentially affected by this policy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:458–466. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimal experimental design that targets meaningful information
Authors: Morgan J. P. , Stallings Jonathan
Published: February 2017

Computer generation of experimental designs, for reasons including flexibility, speed, and ease of access, is the first line of approach for many experimentalists. The algorithms generating designs in many popular software packages employ optimality functions to measure design effectiveness. These optimality functions make implicit assumptions about the goals of the experiment that are not always considered and which may be inappropriate as the basis for design selection. General weighted optimality criteria address this problem by tailoring design selection to a practitioner's research questions. Implementation of weighted criteria in some popular design software is easily accomplished. The technique is demonstrated for factorial designs and for designing experiments with a control treatment.WIREs Comput Stat2017, 9:e1393. doi: 10.1002/wics.1393

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Knowledge Discovery
Non-discretionary resource allocation as political investment: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Asunka Joseph
Published: February 2017

When would politicians reduce or eliminate their own discretion in the distribution of valued benefits to voters? I argue that the answer lies in the extent of partisan attachments among voters: politicians would be more likely to adopt non-discretionary or self-binding resource allocation rules in contexts where voters evince weak attachment to political parties. Non-discretionary distributive rules allow politicians to reach unattached voters with benefits without angering their loyal supporters who might otherwise expect to be favoured. They also signal politicians’ commitment to unbiased distribution of public resources, which, research shows, attracts unattached voters. Analysis of data on allocations of legislators’ development funds in Ghana provides strong support for this argument. This result is robust to controls for alternative explanations and thus advances understanding of when politicians in new democracies would pursue reforms designed to reduce or eliminate political discretion.
The migrant in a plotted adventure: Self-realisation and moral obligation in African stories from Istanbul
Authors: Şaul Mahir
Published: February 2017

This article presents the cases of two migrant men, a Senegalese and a Nigerian, who spent many years in Istanbul. Although their backgrounds, personalities and circumstances were different, they both did export-related commercial work in the city. After describing sub-Saharan migration to Turkey and the literature concerning it, the text focuses on the stories these migrants spontaneously presented as they explained why they had become migrants. It was striking that with very different personal details, events and coincidences, both stories attribute the decision to migrate to Istanbul to a traumatic accident that forced the protagonists to change a life that until that point did not involve transnational migration. In the stories the protagonist's ambition, determination and will are rendered invisible and he is presented as a victim. I call this rhetorical topos ‘great mishap’. It resonates with stories I have heard from other migrants. I interpret it as an expression of compunction, of social responsibility weighing on the actor for abandoning close others in favour of an individual quest for self-realisation.
Training fellows in paediatric cardiology: the Harvard experience
Authors: Brown David W. , Allan Catherine K. , Newburger Jane W.
Published: February 2017

The Fellowship Program of the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children’s Hospital seeks to train academically oriented leaders in clinical care and laboratory and clinical investigation of cardiovascular disease in the young. The core clinical fellowship involves 3 years in training, comprising 24 months of clinical rotations and 12 months of elective and research experience. Trainees have access to a vast array of research opportunities – clinical, basic, and translational. Clinical fellows interested in basic science may reverse the usual sequence and start their training in the laboratory, deferring clinical training for 1 or more years. An increasing number of clinical trainees apply to spend a fourth year as a senior fellow in one of the subspecialty areas of paediatric cardiology. From the founding of the Department to the present, we have maintained a fundamental and unwavering commitment to training and education in clinical care and research in basic science and clinical investigation, as well as to the training of outstanding young clinicians and investigators.
Training fellows and residents in paediatric cardiac critical care
Authors: Tabbutt Sarah , Ghanayem Nancy , Almodovar Melvin C. , Charpie John , Roth Stephen J. , Fortenberry James , Bronicki Ron
Published: February 2017

As pediatric cardiac critical care becomes more sub-specialized it is reasonable to assume that dedicated units may provide a better infrastructure for improved multidisciplinary care, cardiac-specific patient safety initiatives, and dedicated training of fellows and residents. The knowledge base required to optimally manage pediatric patients with critical cardiac disease has evolved sufficiently to consider a standardized training curriculum and board certification for pediatric cardiac critical care. This strategy would potentially provide consistency of training and healthcare and improve quality of care and patient safety.
LincRNA-Gm4419 knockdown ameliorates NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammation in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Yi Hong , Peng Rui , Zhang Lu-yu , Sun Yan , Peng Hui-min , Liu Han-deng , Yu Li-juan , Li Ai-ling , Zhang Ya-juan , Jiang Wen-hao , Zhang Zheng
Published: February 2017

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) as the primary cause of end-stage kidney disease is a common complication of diabetes. Recent researches have shown the activation of nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and NACHT, LRR and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome are associated with inflammation in the progression of DN, but the exact mechanism is unclear. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have roles in the development of many diseases including DN. However, the relationship between lncRNAs and inflammation in DN remains largely unknown. Our previous study has revealed that 14 lncRNAs are abnormally expressed in DN by RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in the renal tissues of db/db DN mice. In this study, these lncRNAs were verified their expressions by qRT-PCR in mesangial cells (MCs) cultured under high- and low-glucose conditions. Twelve lncRNAs displayed the same expressional tendencies in both renal tissues and MCs. In particular, long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA)-Gm4419 was the only one associating with NF-κB among these 12 lncRNAs by bioinformatics methods. Moreover, Gm4419 knockdown could obviously inhibit the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and renal fibrosis biomarkers, and reduce cell proliferation in MCs under high-glucose condition, whereas overexpression of Gm4419 could increase the inflammation, fibrosis and cell proliferation in MCs under low-glucose condition. Interestingly, our results showed that Gm4419 could activate the NF-κB pathway by directly interacting with p50, the subunit of NF-κB. In addition, we found that p50 could interact with NLRP3 inflammasome in MCs. In conclusion, our findings suggest lincRNA-Gm4419 may participate in the inflammation, fibrosis and proliferation in MCs under high-glucose condition through NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway, and may provide new insights into the regulation of Gm4419 during the progression of DN.
MiR-27a rs895819 is involved in increased atrophic gastritis risk, improved gastric cancer prognosis and negative interaction with Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Xu Qian , Chen Tie-jun , He Cai-yun , Sun Li-ping , Liu Jing-wei , Yuan Yuan
Published: February 2017

MiR-27a rs895819 is a loop-stem structure single nucleotide polymorphism affecting mature miR-27a function. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis about the association of rs895819 with gastric cancer risk and prognosis, atrophic gastritis risk, as well as the interactions with environmental factors. A total of 939 gastric cancer patients, 1,067 atrophic gastritis patients and 1,166 healthy controls were screened by direct sequencing and MALDI-TOF-MS. The association of rs895819 with clinical pathological parameters and prognostic survival in 357 gastric cancer patients was also been analyzed. The rs895819 variant genotype increased the risk for atrophic gastritis (1.58-fold) and gastric cancer (1.24-fold). While in stratified analysis, the risk effect was demonstrated more significantly in the female, age >60y, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) negative and non-drinker subgroups. Rs895819 and H. pylori showed an interaction effect for atrophic gastritis risk. In the survival analysis, the rs895819 AG heterozygosis was associated with better survival than the AA wild-type in the TNM stage I–II subgroup. In vitro study by overexpressing miR-27a, cells carrying polymorphic-type G allele expressed lower miR-27a than wild-type A allele. In conclusion, miR-27a rs895819 is implicated as a biomarker for gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis risk, and interacts with H. pylori in gastric carcinogenesis.
Dimethyl Fumarate ameliorates pulmonary arterial hypertension and lung fibrosis by targeting multiple pathways
Authors: Grzegorzewska Agnieszka P. , Seta Francesca , Han Rong , Czajka Caitlin A. , Makino Katsunari , Stawski Lukasz , Isenberg Jeffrey S. , Browning Jeffrey L. , Trojanowska Maria
Published: February 2017

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal condition for which there is no cure. Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF) is an FDA approved anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory agent with a favorable safety record. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of DMF as a therapy for PAH using patient-derived cells and murine models. We show that DMF treatment is effective in reversing hemodynamic changes, reducing inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis in the experimental models of PAH and lung fibrosis. Our findings indicate that effects of DMF are facilitated by inhibiting pro-inflammatory NFκB, STAT3 and cJUN signaling, as well as βTRCP-dependent degradation of the pro-fibrogenic mediators Sp1, TAZ and β-catenin. These results provide a novel insight into the mechanism of its action. Collectively, preclinical results demonstrate beneficial effects of DMF on key molecular pathways contributing to PAH, and support its testing in PAH treatment in patients.
Epigenetic regulation of nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible (Nos2) by NLRC4 inflammasomes involves PARP1 cleavage
Authors: Buzzo Carina de Lima , Medina Tiago , Branco Laura M. , Lage Silvia L. , Ferreira Luís Carlos de Souza , Amarante-Mendes Gustavo P. , Hottiger Michael O. , De Carvalho Daniel D. , Bortoluci Karina R.
Published: February 2017

Nitric oxide synthase 2, inducible (Nos2) expression is necessary for the microbicidal activity of macrophages. However, NOS2 over-activation causes multiple inflammatory disorders, suggesting a tight gene regulation is necessary. Using cytosolic flagellin as a model for inflammasome-dependent NOS2 activation, we discovered a surprising new role for NLRC4/caspase-1 axis in regulating chromatin accessibility of the Nos2 promoter. We found that activation of two independent mechanisms is necessary for NOS2 expression by cytosolic flagellin: caspase-1 and NF-κB activation. NF-κB activation was necessary, but not sufficient, for NOS2 expression. Conversely, caspase-1 was necessary for NOS2 expression, but dispensable for NF-κB activation, indicating that this protease acts downstream NF-κB activation. We demonstrated that epigenetic regulation of Nos2 by caspase-1 involves cleavage of the chromatin regulator PARP1 (also known as ARTD1) and chromatin accessibility of the NF-κB binding sites located at the Nos2 promoter. Remarkably, caspase-1-mediated Nos2 transcription and NO production contribute to the resistance of macrophages to Salmonella typhimurium infection. Our results uncover the molecular mechanism behind the constricted regulation of Nos2 expression and open new therapeutic opportunities based on epigenetic activities of caspase-1 against infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) secretory component binds to commensal bacteria and pathogens
Authors: Kelly Cecelia , Takizawa Fumio , Sunyer J. Oriol , Salinas Irene
Published: February 2017

Commensal bacteria co-exist on the mucosal surfaces of all vertebrates. The host’s mucosal immune system must tolerate commensals while fighting pathogens. One of the mechanisms used by the mucosal immune system to maintain homeostasis is the secretion of immunoglobulins (Igs) across epithelial barriers, which is achieved via the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Rainbow trout pIgR is known to transport IgT and IgM across epithelia. However, other biological functions for trout pIgR or trout secretory component (tSC) remain unknown. This study investigates the interaction of tSC with commensal bacteria, pathogenic bacteria and a fungal pathogen. Our results show that the majority of trout skin and gut bacteria are coated in vivo by tSC. In vitro, tSC present in mucus coats trout commensal isolates such as Microbacterium sp., Staphylococcus warneri, Flectobacillus major, Arthrobacter stackebrantii, and Flavobacterium sp. and the pathogens Vibrio anguillarum and Edwardsiella ictaluri with coating levels ranging from 8% to 70%. Moreover, we found that the majority of tSC is in free form in trout mucus and free tSC is able to directly bind bacteria. We propose that binding of free SC to commensal bacteria is a key and conserved mechanism for maintenance of microbial communities in vertebrate mucosal surfaces.
Tunable plasmon lensing in graphene-based structure exhibiting negative refraction
Authors: Zhong Shifeng , Lu Yanxin , Li Chao , Xu Haixia , Shi Fenghua , Chen Yihang
Published: February 2017

We propose a novel method to achieve tunable plasmon focusing in graphene/photonic-crystal hybrid structure exhibiting all-angle negative refraction at terahertz frequencies. A two-dimensional photonic crystal composed of a square lattice of dielectric rods is constructed on the substrate of a graphene sheet to provide the hyperbolic dispersion relations of the graphene plasmon, giving rise to the all-angle plasmonic negative refraction. Plasmon lensing induced from the negative refraction is observed. We show that the ultracompact graphene-based system can produce sub-diffraction-limited images with the resolution significant smaller than the wavelength of the incident terahertz wave. Moreover, by adjusting the Fermi energy of the graphene, the imaging performance of the proposed system can remain almost invariant for different frequencies. Our results may find applications in diverse fields such as subwavelength spatial light manipulation, biological imaging, and so forth.
Fermi level and bands offsets determination in insulating (Ga,Mn)N/GaN structures
Authors: Janicki L. , Kunert G. , Sawicki M. , Piskorska-Hommel E. , Gas K. , Jakiela R. , Hommel D. , Kudrawiec R.
Published: February 2017

The Fermi level position in (Ga,Mn)N has been determined from the period-analysis of GaN-related Franz-Keldysh oscillation obtained by contactless electroreflectance in a series of carefully prepared by molecular beam epitaxy GaN/Ga1−xMnxN/GaN(template) bilayers of various Mn concentration x. It is shown that the Fermi level in (Ga,Mn)N is strongly pinned in the middle of the band gap and the thickness of the depletion layer is negligibly small. For x > 0.1% the Fermi level is located about 1.25–1.55 eV above the valence band, that is very close to, but visibly below the Mn-related Mn2+/Mn3+ impurity band. The accumulated data allows us to estimate the Mn-related band offsets at the (Ga,Mn)N/GaN interface. It is found that most of the band gap change in (Ga,Mn)N takes place in the valence band on the absolute scale and amounts to −0.028 ± 0.008 eV/% Mn. The strong Fermi level pinning in the middle of the band gap, no carrier conductivity within the Mn-related impurity band, and a good homogeneity enable a novel functionality of (Ga,Mn)N as a semi-insulating buffer layers for applications in GaN-based heterostuctures.
Occurrence of acrylamide carcinogen in Arabic coffee Qahwa, coffee and tea from Saudi Arabian market
Authors: Khan Mohammad Rizwan , Alothman Zeid Abdullah , Naushad Mu , Alomary Ahmed Khodran , Alfadul Sulaiman Mohammed , Alsohaimi Ibrahim Hotan , Algamdi Mohammad Saad
Published: February 2017

The present work describes the outcomes of the assessment on acrylamide contents in a number of thermally treated foods (Arabic coffee Qahwa, coffee and tea) obtained from the Saudi Arabian markets. A total of 56 food samples of different brands and origin were studied, the amounts of acrylamide in Arabic coffee Qahwa, coffee and tea were obtained in the range of 10 to 682 μg kg−1. In comparison to coffee (152–682 μg kg−1), the Arabic coffee Qahwa (73–108 μg kg−1) and tea (10–97 μg kg−1) contain lower amounts of acrylamide. Among the analyzed samples, the green tea contained low amounts of acrylamide ranged from 10 to 18 μg kg−1, and thus the green tea could be considered as a healthier hot drink. A great variation of acrylamide formation has been observed in these food products. This divergence may be due to the initial concentration of amino acids especially asparagines and reducing sugars in food products, in addition to roasting temperature and time, pH and water activity. The obtained data can also be used in epidemiological investigation to estimate the acrylamide exposure from nutritional survey.
Microfabricated tools for quantitative plant biology
Authors: Elitaş Meltem , Yüce Meral , Budak Hikmet
Published: February 2017

The development of microfabricated devices that will provide high-throughput quantitative data and high resolution in a fast, repeatable and reproducible manner is essential for plant biology research.
Gauging circadian variation in ketamine metabolism by real-time breath analysis
Authors: Martinez-Lozano Sinues P. , Kohler M. , Brown S. A. , Zenobi R. , Dallmann R.
Published: February 2017

Real-time in vivo pharmacokinetics to investigate time-of-day variation in drug metabolism.
Long Stokes shifts and vibronic couplings in perfluorinated polyanilines
Authors: Dallas Panagiotis , Rašović Ilija , Puchtler Tim , Taylor Robert A. , Porfyrakis Kyriakos
Published: February 2017

We report the effect of surfactant addition on the optical properties of perfluorinated polyanilines synthesized through liquid–liquid interfaces.