bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Independent genomewide screens identify the tumor suppressor VTRNA2-1 as a human epiallele responsive to periconceptional environment
Authors: Silver Matt J , Kessler Noah J , Hennig Branwen J , Dominguez-Salas Paula , Laritsky Eleonora , Baker Maria S , Coarfa Cristian , Hernandez-Vargas Hector , Castelino Jovita M , Routledge Michael N , Gong Yun Yun , Herceg Zdenko , Lee Yong Sun , Lee Kwanbok , Moore Sophie E , Fulford Anthony J , Prentice Andrew M , Waterland Robert A
Published: June 2015

Background

Interindividual epigenetic variation that occurs systemically must be established prior to gastrulation in the very early embryo and, because it is systemic, can be assessed in easily biopsiable tissues. We employ two independent genome-wide approaches to search for such variants.

Results

First, we screen for metastable epialleles by performing genomewide bisulfite sequencing in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) and hair follicle DNA from two Caucasian adults. Second, we conduct a genomewide screen for genomic regions at which PBL DNA methylation is affected by season of conception in rural Gambia. Remarkably, both approaches identify the genomically imprinted VTRNA2-1 as a top environmentally responsive epiallele. We demonstrate systemic and stochastic interindividual variation in DNA methylation at the VTRNA2-1 differentially methylated region in healthy Caucasian and Asian adults and show, in rural Gambians, that periconceptional environment affects offspring VTRNA2-1 epigenotype, which is stable over at least 10 years. This unbiased screen also identifies over 100 additional candidate metastable epialleles, and shows that these are associated with cis genomic features including transposable elements.

Conclusions

The non-coding VTRNA2-1 transcript (also called nc886) is a putative tumor suppressor and modulator of innate immunity. Thus, these data indicating environmentally induced loss of imprinting at VTRNA2-1 constitute a plausible causal pathway linking early embryonic environment, epigenetic alteration, and human disease. More broadly, the list of candidate metastable epialleles provides a resource for future studies of epigenetic variation and human disease.
The post-genomic era of biological network alignment
Authors: Faisal Fazle E , Meng Lei , Crawford Joseph , Milenković Tijana
Published: June 2015

Biological network alignment aims to find regions of topological and functional (dis)similarities between molecular networks of different species. Then, network alignment can guide the transfer of biological knowledge from well-studied model species to less well-studied species between conserved (aligned) network regions, thus complementing valuable insights that have already been provided by genomic sequence alignment. Here, we review computational challenges behind the network alignment problem, existing approaches for solving the problem, ways of evaluating their alignment quality, and the approaches’ biomedical applications. We discuss recent innovative efforts of improving the existing view of network alignment. We conclude with open research questions in comparative biological network research that could further our understanding of principles of life, evolution, disease, and therapeutics.
Coincidence point theorems for generalized contractions with application to integral equations
Authors: Hussain Nawab , Ahmad Jamshaid , Ćirić Ljubomir , Azam Akbar
Published: June 2015

In this article, we introduce a new type of contraction and prove certain coincidence point theorems which generalize some known results in this area. As an application, we derive some new fixed point theorems for F-contractions. The article also includes an example which shows the validity of our main result and an application in which we prove an existence and uniqueness of a solution for a general class of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind.
Cell-based construction site simulation model for earthmoving operations using real-time equipment location data
Authors: Pradhananga Nipesh , Teizer Jochen
Published: June 2015

Background

Simulation is a proven technique for effective construction site layout planning and heavy equipment resource optimization. Traditional simulation uses historical data as input for task durations. Data is fed into activity cycle diagrams which many times do not consider any of the rapidly changing spatial constraints that are present on a construction site. Very little research has been conducted towards more realistic, real-time simulation involving data gathering from live actors and documenting the effect of potential changes to such a spatial-temporal work environment.

Methods

Cell-based simulation, incorporating continuous spatial changes to the site layout during project operations and real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) location tracking data from equipment resources, is introduced for more realistic and rapid modeling. The potential of analyzing and visualizing the effects of spatial consideration of varying resource combinations in earthmoving cycles on productivity and site congestion are explored. It provides insight and awareness in decision making for resource management, site layout and internal traffic control planning.

Results

The proposed cell-based simulation system handles complex and more realistic scenarios. Various cell parameters were tested in a case study of common earthmoving operations. The advantages of the cell-based over a traditional simulation model include ease of visualization and simplicity in modeling spatial constraints (e.g., ramp restricting traffic to one-way flow). The system provides full control over the flow of resources by using predefined rules or algorithms. It simplifies the design process since, except for some certain key cells, other ordinary cells followed the same rules without being programmed individually. Future research may involve multiple, non-interacting crews competing for resources and study of time-space conflicts in more detail.

Conclusions

The presented cell-based simulation system is able to model and visualize the cyclic activities of earthmoving equipment that occur on a construction site in greater detail than previous simulation methods have done. Using near real-time location data from equipment as input value in the simulation helps construction site project engineers, planners, and managers to improve coordination and monitoring of such construction resources.
Development of a standardized testing system for orthodontic sliding mechanics
Authors: Fathimani Maryam , Melenka Garrett W , Romanyk Dan L , Toogood Roger W , Heo Giseon , Carey Jason P , Major Paul W
Published: June 2015

Background

The primary objective of this study was to develop a computer-controlled three-dimensional friction measuring system, the orthodontic friction simulator (OFS). A clinically-based in vitro experiment considering wet and dry friction for conventionally and self-ligated brackets is presented to elucidate debate surrounding sliding mechanics and illustrate capabilities of the OFS.

Methods

The OFS was designed and manufactured using sound engineering principles and with the primary concern of being able to measure all forces and moments generated during sliding mechanics. This required the implementation of a six-axis load cell. A variety of translation and rotation stages were also incorporated to allow for precise positioning of the bracket relative to the archwire. Once designed and built, the OFS was then used to compare conventional and self-ligation methods in both the wet and dry state. Damon Q brackets and 0.018″ × 0.025″ stainless steel wires were used for all tests with a sample size of n = 65 for each ligation method. Archwires were pulled at a speed of 0.1 mm/s in 11 increments of 0.1 mm. At each increment, the bracket would be rotated 0.5° resulting in a total archwire travel of 1.1 mm and a second-order bracket angle range of 0°–5°. A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to determine if ligation method and/or addition of moisture effected resulting orthodontic loads.

Results

The developed equipment for studying orthodontic sliding mechanics was able to measure forces and moments in all three directions; a capability not previously realized in the literature. Additionally, it was found that passive ligation significantly reduced resistance to sliding, P ≤ 0.05, while the dry/wet state did not.

Conclusions

The OFS certainly proved to be an adequate instrument for the scientific evaluation of orthodontic sliding mechanics. It is capable of measuring loads generated in all directions and is a fully automated apparatus allowing for simple and repeatable friction tests to be conducted. Furthermore, the addition of saliva was not found to significantly influence the loads generated during sliding mechanics regardless of ligation method.
Risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation and behaviour in Rwandan children
Authors: Ng Lauren C. , Kirk Catherine M. , Kanyanganzi Frederick , Fawzi Mary C. Smith , Sezibera Vincent , Shema Evelyne , Bizimana Justin I. , Cyamatare Felix R. , Betancourt Theresa S.
Published: June 2015

Background

Suicide is a leading cause of death for young people. Children living in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV rates are disproportionately high, may be at increased risk.

Aims

To identify predictors, including HIV status, of suicidal ideation and behaviour in Rwandan children aged 10–17.

Method

Matched case–control study of 683 HIV-positive, HIV-affected (seronegative children with an HIV-positive caregiver), and unaffected children and their caregivers.

Results

Over 20% of HIV-positive and affected children engaged in suicidal behaviour in the previous 6 months, compared with 13% of unaffected children. Children were at increased risk if they met criteria for depression, were at high-risk for conduct disorder, reported poor parenting or had caregivers with mental health problems.

Conclusions

Policies and programmes that address mental health concerns and support positive parenting may prevent suicidal ideation and behaviour in children at increased risk related to HIV.
Hepatic De Novo Lipogenesis in Obese Youth Is Modulated by a Common Variant in the GCKR Gene
Authors: Santoro Nicola , Caprio Sonia , Pierpont Bridget , Van Name Michelle , Savoye Mary , Parks Elizabeth J.
Published: June 2015

Objective:

This study's aim was to evaluate whether the GCKR rs1260326 variant increases hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL).

Setting and Design:

To test this hypothesis, 14 adolescents, seven homozygous for the common allele (CC) and seven homozygous for the risk allele (TT), underwent measurement of hepatic DNL during the fasting state and after consumption of a carbohydrate (CHO) drink (75 g glucose and 25 g fructose). DNL was assessed through incorporation of deuterium in the palmitate contained in the very low-density lipoprotein.

Results:

Subjects with TT demonstrated higher fasting fractional DNL (P = .036) and a lower increase in fractional DNL after the CHO challenge (P = .016). With regard to absolute lipogenesis, TT subjects had both higher fasting rates (P = .015) and 44% greater area under the curve of absolute lipogenesis during the study (P = .016), compared to CC subjects. Furthermore, subjects carrying the TT genotype showed higher basal rates of glucose oxidation (P = .0028) and a lower ability than CC subjects to increase the rates of glucose oxidation after the CHO load (P = .054).

Conclusions:

This study reports for the first time rates of DNL in obese adolescents and suggests that the GCKR rs1260326 gene variant, which is associated with greater glycolysis, increases hepatic DNL. These data highlight the role of glycolytic carbon flux in liver lipid synthesis and hypertriglyceridemia in these youngsters.
Bag of Marbles controls the size and organization of the Drosophila hematopoietic niche through interactions with the Insulin-like growth factor pathway and Retinoblastoma-family protein
Authors: Tokusumi Tsuyoshi , Tokusumi Yumiko , Hopkins Dawn W. , Schulz Robert A.
Published: June 2015

During Drosophila hematopoiesis, Bag of Marbles (Bam) is known to function as a positive regulator of hematopoietic progenitor maintenance in the lymph gland blood cell-forming organ. Here we demonstrate a key function for Bam in cells of the lymph gland posterior signaling center (PSC), a cellular domain proven to function as a hematopoietic niche. Bam is expressed in PSC cells and gene loss-of-function results in PSC overgrowth and disorganization, indicating Bam plays a crucial role in controlling the proper development of the niche. It was previously shown that Insulin receptor (InR) pathway signaling was essential for proper PSC cell proliferation. We analyzed PSC cell number in lymph glands that were double mutant for bam and InR pathway genes, and observed bam genetically interacts with pathway members in the formation of a normal PSC. The elF4A protein is a translation factor downstream of InR pathway signaling and functional knockdown of this critical regulator rescued the bam PSC overgrowth phenotype, further supporting the cooperative function of Bam with InR pathway members. Additionally, we documented the Retinoblastoma-family protein (Rbf), a proven regulator of cell proliferation, was present in cells of the PSC with this expression dependent on bam function. In contrast, perturbation of Decapentaplegic or Wingless signaling failed to affect Rbf niche cell expression. Together, these findings indicate InR pathway-Bam-Rbf functional interactions represent a newly identified means to regulate the correct size and organization of the PSC hematopoietic niche.
Embryo oxygenation in pipefish brood pouches: novel insights
Authors: Goncalves Ines Braga , Ahnesjö Ingrid , Kvarnemo Charlotta
Published: June 2015

The pipefish brood pouch presents a unique mode of parental care that enables males to protect, osmoregulate, nourish and oxygenate the developing young. Using a very fine O2 probe, we assessed the extent to which males of the broad-nosed pipefish (Syngnathus typhle) oxygenate the developing embryos and are able to maintain pouch fluid O2 levels when brooding in normoxia (100% O2 saturation) and hypoxia (40% O2 saturation) for 24 days. In both treatments, pouch fluid O2 saturation levels were lower compared with the surrounding water and decreased throughout the brooding period, reflecting greater offspring demand for O2 during development and/or decreasing paternal ability to provide O2 to the embryos. Male condition (hepatosomatic index) was negatively affected by hypoxia. Larger males had higher pouch fluid O2 saturation levels compared with smaller males, and levels were higher in the bottom section of the pouch compared with other sections. Embryo size was positively correlated with O2 availability, irrespective of their position in the pouch. Two important conclusions can be drawn from our findings. First, our results highlight a potential limitation to brooding within the pouch and dismiss the notion of closed brood pouches as well-oxygenated structures promoting the evolution of larger eggs in syngnathids. Second, we provide direct evidence that paternal care improves with male size in this species. This finding offers an explanation for the documented strong female preference for larger partners because, in terms of oxygenation, the brood pouch can restrict embryo growth.
Heteropolyacids as Efficient Catalysts for the Synthesis of Precursors to Ethylene Glycol by the Liquid-phase Carbonylation of Dimethoxymethane
Authors: Wang Junpeng , Liu Jianhua , Song Heyuan , Chen Jing
Published: June 2015

Methyl methoxyacetate (MMAc), a precursor to ethylene glycol (EG), was synthesized successfully via the liquid-phase carbonylation of dimethoxymethane (DMM) catalyzed by heteropolyacids (HPAs). The experiment results showed that H3PW12O40 (PW12) exhibited the best catalytic performance for the carbonylation of DMM, and its high catalytic activity was attributed to the synergistic effect between its superior acidic strength and the high polarity of the solvent.
Nurses' health behaviours and physical activity-related health-promotion practices
Authors: Bakhshi Savita , Sun Fei , Murrells Trevor , While Alison
Published: June 2015

Many registered nurses (RNs) are not achieving the recommended daily levels of physical activity. This study collected data from 623 RNs about their personal health behaviours and their professional, physical activity-related health-promotion practices. The findings showed that 75% of the sample reported engaging in personal physical activity, 25% were at risk of hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorders, 17% were past smokers and 11% were current smokers, 47% reported having a normal body weight-size, and 73% desired to be a normal body weight-size.

Nearly half of the sample reported that they were promoting physical activity within their clinical practice. Personal physical activity behaviour, perceived health status, length of clinical practice, clinical specialty, and actual body weight-size were significantly related to the RNs' professional, physical activity-related practices.

This study highlights a need for training on physical activity-related counselling, including awareness of the latest recommendations and strategies to promote physical activity. Health-care employers should also consider addressing nurses' barriers to the promotion of physical activity within their clinical practice so that all health-care contacts are able to maximise opportunities to promote active ageing.
Nurse collaboration in community and psychiatric care: a Swedish study
Authors: Brändström Linnéa , Mazaz Nader , Berggren Ingela
Published: June 2015

Aim

The aim of the study was to examine registered nurses' (RNs) experiences of collaboration in the community health care and psychiatric inpatient care systems.

Background

RNs in one area in the west of Sweden have indicated the need for collaborative routines between the community health care and psychiatric inpatient care systems.

Method

Qualitative content analysis of focus group interviews.

Results

RNs felt the web-based health-care communication programme was a major obstacle to the development of a collaboration plan. The poor collaboration between RNs was due to the absence of knowledge about the duties of each nursing team.

Conclusion

The findings contribute to the understanding of the barriers to collaboration between RNs in community health care and psychiatric inpatient care, and highlight the need for nurse managers to ensure well-functioning routines.
A contemporary review of peripartum cardiomyopathy
Authors: Stamatelatou Marianna , Walker Fiona , Pandya Bejal
Published: June 2015

Heart disease is the single leading cause of maternal death in the UK and peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), although rare, is frequently found within the cardiac maternal mortality statistics. It is too often diagnosed late, and frequently results in death, a trend that could be reversed with greater recognition of the problem. The hallmark of PPCM is the development of impaired ventricular function with depressed ejection fraction during pregnancy or for up to 6 months postpartum. The aetiology remains unknown but its presentation and treatment are similar to heart failure due to any other cause.

This article discusses the background, clinical presentation, diagnosis, outcome, prognosis and treatment available for women diagnosed with PPCM. Its aim is to raise awareness of the condition and provide the knowledge-base, which will help the reader make an earlier diagnosis and potentially save lives.
Bath time: More than good clean fun
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: June 2015

Bath time offers a multimodal sensory environment, including interactions with other people, that seems to encourage an infant's social, cognitive and behavioural development. Odours, such as those in the bath environment, can profoundly influence behaviour and physiology. Olfaction's unique anatomical pathway means that smell potentially influences mood, memory and the ability to use new information. Furthermore, numerous studies from several species suggest that tactile stimulation may improve cognitive, behavioural, motor and social development. Bath time offers an ideal opportunity to expose a child to a wide range of tactile stimuli. However, many parents do not seem to appreciate the potential opportunity offered by bath time to strengthen their bond with their infant and bolster their child's development.
More needs to be done to prevent Group B strep infection in the UK
Authors: McQuaid Fiona , Plumb Jane
Published: June 2015

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of sepsis and meningitis in infants under the age of 3 months with a 10% mortality and significant morbidity for many survivors. In the UK, over 40 babies die each year of GBS-related sepsis. Early-onset infection can be prevented in the majority of cases by giving women known to be colonised with GBS intravenous antibiotics during labour, but this requires a screening process which is not currently recommended in the UK. In many countries, including the USA, Canada and much of Europe, screening for GBS colonisation is part of routine antenatal care. This article aims to review the issues surrounding antenatal screening for GBS and argues that we could be doing much more in the UK to prevent this potentially devastating infection in newborn babies.
There's an app for that—but how do we know if it's a good one?
Authors: Power Alison , Gordon Adel
Published: June 2015

Mobile phone applications or ‘apps’ are increasingly becoming an integral part of our daily lives, with the number of mobile app users in the UK predicted to exceed 43 million by 2016 ( The Statistics Portal, 2015 ). The App and Play stores are saturated with thousands of apps that claim to cater for all elements of our lives: healthy living, education, entertainment and more. Undoubtedly apps can be a convenient way of accessing information; however, in relation to pregnancy and childbirth, how do women know whether the app they are downloading is providing high-quality, evidence-based information?

This short article outlines the history of apps, discusses potential quality and credibility issues and provides suggestions for how to navigate the apps minefield to ensure the apps you download or recommend to others are credible and trusted.
Effect of practical blood flow restriction training during bodyweight exercise on muscular strength, hypertrophy and function in adults: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Head Paul , Austen Benjamin , Browne David , Campkin Timothy , Barcellona Massimo
Published: June 2015

Background/Aims:

Practical blood flow restriction training (PBFRT) is a novel method of resistance exercise that has been proposed to increase muscular strength and hypertrophy at lower intensities than is currently recommended in guidelines for resistance training. This study aimed to investigate whether practical, inexpensive elastic wraps for PBFRT during a 6-week bodyweight resistance training programme increases lower limb muscular strength, hypertrophy and function.

Methods:

This study was designed as a parallel, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Young men and women were randomised to either the PBFRT (n=7; 2 males and 5 females) or control (n=5; 2 males and 3 females) group. The intervention was a single leg squat (SLS) bodyweight resistance exercise to fatigue, twice a week for 6 weeks. The PBFRT group performed the SLS exercise with an elastic wrap around their proximal thigh at a perceived tightness of 7/10, and the control group at a perceived tightness of 0/10. The following outcomes were then measured: knee extensor concentric, eccentric and isometric strength (dynamometer), thigh girth and single leg vertical jump height.

Results:

There were no significant differences between groups (PBFRT and control) for all outcome measures assessed from baseline to post-intervention testing.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that the use of PBFRT in conjunction with an SLS bodyweight resistance exercise was not effective at increasing lower limb muscular strength, hypertrophy and function.
The effects of continuous vs intermittent exercise on lipid profile in obese children
Authors: Mahgoub Mohamed Serag El-dein , Aly Sobhy
Published: June 2015

Methods:

A randomised pretest–posttest design was implemented to compare the effects of continuous and intermittent exercise, measuring lipid profiles in obese children before and after the intervention. Thirty obese children (11 male and 19 female; age range: 12–15 years; body mass index ≥25) were randomised into two exercise intervention groups to engage in an 8-week exercise programme consisting of either continuous exercise (Group A) or intermittent exercise (Group B).

Results:

Data showed that there was a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in both groups following intervention. There was a significant improvement in the lipid profile results of Group B compared with Group A.

Conclusions:

Intermittent exercise programmes are more effective than continuous exercise programmes in improving lipid profiles in children with obesity. Findings from this research could lead to improved health outcomes in obese patients by increasing aerobic capacity, wellness and metabolic fitness.
Conceptualising wellbeing for young people living with mental illness
Authors: Honey Anne , Coniglio Francesca , Hancock Nicola , McDougall Tim , Callaghan Jane
Published: June 2015

Background/Aims:

Assisting clients to achieve wellbeing, even in the presence of ongoing mental illness, should be a primary goal of mental health services. However, little is known about what wellbeing means for young people living with mental illness. The aim of this study is to explore the ways in which young Australians living with mental illness conceptualise their wellbeing.

Methods:

Five focus groups were conducted with young people (n=20; age range: 16–25 years) living with mental illness. Results were analysed qualitatively using constant comparative analysis.

Results:

Analysis of the data indicated that participants were describing two different but complementary types of concepts. We conceptualised these two types of concepts as ‘building blocks’ and ‘foundations’ of wellbeing, respectively. Five building blocks were identified, which together constituted wellbeing for participants: i) sense of self; ii) relationships; iii) sense of the future; iv) feelings and experiences; v) agency. These building blocks were supported or undermined by seven foundations: i) activities; ii) having things; iii) mental illness; iv) the past; v) coping strategies; vi) environmental supports and barriers; vii) personal characteristics.

Conclusions:

The findings support the use of a recovery paradigm for young people with mental illness. The framework presented can be used to assist young people to consider different aspects that make up their wellbeing and plan ways to address these by attending to multiple foundational factors.
Who will make a stand?
Authors: Aitken Liz
Published: June 2015

While a school council takes time and effort for all those involved, it empowers children, enables them to have their voices heard and introduces valuable life skills.
Listen to their views, make them feel valued
Authors: Gibson Poppy
Published: June 2015

Establishing a warm relationship with pupils, where they have the confidence to express themselves and know they will be heard, is key to successful learning.
American Beauty: The art of work in the age of therapeutic masturbation
Authors: Weeks Mark
Published: June 2015

American Beauty (Mendes, 1999) was an outstanding commercial and critical success at the turn of the millennium, generating considerable media and eventually scholarly attention. In the various critical approaches to the film, some attention has been given to its portrayal of erotic fantasy, yet a related element that has not been dealt with, though occasionally noted, is its conspicuous depictions of, and references to, physical autoeroticism. Observing a certain uneasiness towards discussions of the subject, this article argues that the foregrounding of masturbation, far from being incidental prurience, reflected and consolidated a significant cultural movement. While in part it was an outgrowth of a liberalization of discourses around sex, a closer examination of American Beauty in its cultural–historical context reveals its connection to important neo-liberal changes in the concept of the individual self and its relationship to society. Indeed, it is associated within the film itself to changes in labour economic and familial relations around that time which inform the United States today. Neither denouncing nor promoting the portrayal of masturbation, the article ultimately seeks to demonstrate the utility and significance of bringing the discussion of embodied forms of autoerotic pleasure more thoroughly into cultural analysis.
Comparison of alternative roundwood pricing systems – a simulation approach
Authors: Malinen Jukka , Haring Mika , Kilpeläinen Harri , Verkasalo Erkki
Published: June 2015

In a closed market, roundwood buyers pricing system affect the roundwood flow from the stands to different roundwood users. If a buyer is capable to discriminate higher value stands from low quality stands better than its competitors, the buyer should be able to buy better raw material. In the study, a discrete event simulation was used to examine the effect of residual value appraisal (RVA) -based pricing of roundwood by log dimensions and grades compared to the traditional pricing based on average unit prices (UP) of roundwood assortments on roundwood flow. The core of the simulation model was the data containing 51 pine dominated stands from southern Finland. Sample trees were theoretically bucked by the bucking simulator in order to estimate the volumes, dimensions and grades of the logs and roundwood assortments. The simulation model of roundwood markets included four roundwood buyers, two corporations and two saw milling enterprises. The main finding of the study was that the buyers who use RVA gains an advantage and receives better quality compared to buyers who use UP. As the number of buyers using RVA increases, the competition increased and the advantage decreased.
Karakteristik Hubungan Muhammadiyah dan NU dalam Menggunakan Hisab dan Rukyat
Authors: Azhari Susiknan
Published: June 2015

This article studies the matter of ḥisāb and ru’ya, particularly conducted by the following two extremely well-known socio-religious organizations, NU and Muhammadiyah. The reason for this choice is that the two for most of Indonesian people is the symbol of difference, even, of dissension among its Muslims referring to the thought of lunar calendar in Indonesia. The choice and the usage of the two matters frequently take place to determine the beginning of Ramaḍān, Shawwāl, and Dhū’l-Ḥijja in spite of the others. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with how the relation between NU and Muhammadiyah is due to the matters. To find out the answer for the inquiry theoretical framework developed by Ian G. Barbour i.e.: Conflict, Independent, Dialogue and Integration will be exercised.
Assessing phytase activity–methods, definitions and pitfalls
Authors: Qvirist Linnea , Carlsson Nils-Gunnar , Andlid Thomas
Published: June 2015

Phytases are nutritionally important for increased bioavailability of dietary minerals and phosphate for monogastric animals including humans. Release of minerals and phosphate is accomplished by the enzymatic stepwise degradation of phytate (inositol hexaphosphate, IP6). Activity determinations of phytase is often based on analysis of total released phosphate (Pi), but phytase activity in its purest form represents released product per time from IP6 only. Microbial and plant preparations often also contain mixtures of phosphatases and organic phosphate compounds; hence some released phosphate in enzymatic assays may originate from non-phytase phosphatases degrading non-phytate molecules. Moreover, even purified enzyme extracts assessed via Pi release may result in errors, since commercial IP6 commonly contains contamination of lower inositol phosphates, and further, the products of phytase IP6 hydrolysis are also substrates for the phytase. These facts motivate a quantitative comparative study. We compared enzyme activity determination in phytase assay samples at four different time points, based on analyzing the substrate IP6 versus the product Pi using different selected methods. The calculated activities varied substantially. For example, at 15 min into enzymatic assay, variations from 152 mU/ml (by IP6 analysis on HPIC) to 275-586 mU/ml (by Pi analysis using several methods) was detected. Our work emphasizes the importance of defining the type of activity assessed, showing that phytase activity based on released Pi may yield false positive results and/or overestimations. We propose to differentiate between phytase activity, being the activity by which IP6 is degraded, and total inositol phosphatase activity, corresponding to total released phosphate during the enzymatic reaction.
The educational and careeriInterest scale (Science-Tecnology-Matematics): Validity and reliability study
Authors: Arslan Serhat , Kurbanoğlu Namudar İzzet
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study is to examine the psychometric features of Educational and Career Interest Scale (ECIS) developed by Oh et al. (2013) in order to assess the high school student's own interests in the fields of Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) on Turkish sample. The scale consists of three sub dimensions called Science career interest (SCI), Technology career interest (TCI) and Mathematics career interest (MCI) as well as 9 items. The sample of the study comprises of 588 students who study at three different high schools. The studies of internal consistency, item and factor analysis and criterion cohesion validity were performed to examine the psychometric features of the scale. The values obtained from the internal consistency analyses of the scale was .89 for SCI sub dimension; .81 for TCI sub dimension; .88 for MCI sub dimension and .87 in total, and it was shown that the scale has sufficient reliability levels. The results of item discrimination and confirmatory factor analysis showed that the original three-factor structure of the scale is suitable for Turkish sample. So, it is thought that the scale is a valid and reliable tool to be used for determining the educational and career interest levels for Turkish sample group.
Modeling passenger flows in public transport stations
Authors: Kırlangıçoğlu Cem
Published: June 2015

There are many architectural design parameters for public transport stations which include urban and station level studies. Each station must be designed in accordance with the basic passenger requirements such as accessibility, safety, comfort, satisfaction and etc. Circulation spaces must be formed and sized to meet the minimum movement needs of passengers. For an underground station; main entrance region, position of gates, location and number of turnstiles, escalators, stairs, ramps, passageways, intermediate concourses and platforms must be arranged to minimize walking distances and to prevent congestion. In this study, circulation of passengers is simulated in a quantitatively verifiable manner, taking into account how individuals interact with each other and with the physical obstacles in their environment in a metro station. Virtual experiments are performed to see the continuity and density of pedestrian flow at different levels of Haram Area East Metro Station of the first metro line of Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia. According to the predictions, more than 40.000 passengers are expected to use this station in one hour after a Friday prayer during Ramadan period in the year of 2040. That means a critically high travel demand and it is really significant to design the most convenient underground station for these passengers to fulfil the necessary requirements.
Variations on a theorem of Beurling
Authors: Garg Rahul , Thangavelu Sundaram
Published: June 2015

We consider functions satisfying the subcritical Beurling's condition, viz.,
On an explicit form of the Green function of the Robin problem for the Laplace operator in a circle
Authors: Sadybekov Makhmud A. , Turmetov Batirkhan K. , Torebek Berikbol T.
Published: June 2015

The paper is devoted to investigation questions about constructing the explicit form of the Green's function of the Robin problem in the unit ball of ℝ
One-Sided Games in a War of Attrition
Authors: Asako Yasushi
Published: June 2015

This study develops a war-of-attrition model with the asymmetric feature that one player can be defeated by the other but not vice versa; that is, only one player has an exogenous probability of being forced to capitulate. With complete information, the equilibria are almost identical to the canonical war-of-attrition model. On the other hand, with incomplete information on a player’s robustness, a war where both players fight for some duration emerges. Moreover, a player who is never defeated may capitulate in equilibrium, and this player will give in earlier if the other player’s fighting costs are greater.
Quantifying the complexity of human colonic pressure signals using an entropy measure
Authors: Xu Fei , Yan Guozheng , Zhao Kai , Lu Li , Wang Zhiwu , Gao Jinyang
Published: June 2015

Studying the complexity of human colonic pressure signals is important in understanding this intricate, evolved, dynamic system. This article presents a method for quantifying the complexity of colonic pressure signals using an entropy measure. As a self-adaptive non-stationary signal analysis algorithm, empirical mode decomposition can decompose a complex pressure signal into a set of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Considering that IMF2, IMF3, and IMF4 represent crucial characteristics of colonic motility, a new signal was reconstructed with these three signals. Then, the time entropy (TE), power spectral entropy (PSE), and approximate entropy (AE) of the reconstructed signal were calculated. For subjects with constipation and healthy individuals, experimental results showed that the entropies of reconstructed signals between these two classes were distinguishable. Moreover, the TE, PSE, and AE can be extracted as features for further subject classification.
A constructional analysis of English un-participle constructions
Authors: Schönefeld Doris
Published: June 2015

The present paper reports on an investigation into an Englishun-participle pattern that is called unpassive, or is described as an adjectival passive. The main characteristic of the pattern is an (adjectival) past participle prefixed byun-, which is used as a predicative complement to a verb. Besides the different terms used for the pattern, there is also some indeterminacy with respect to its particular form. All of the descriptions focus on the verbbe, but mention is also made ofgoandremain. That is, the specifications of the pattern’s formal side differ to some extent. To provide information on this issue and to get hold of potential (verb-related) differences in the pattern’s function, we conducted an empirical analysis from a usage-based construction grammar perspective. Our focus is on the form-function interplay of the pattern in order to gain information about its constructional status and its exact formal and semantic make-up. The database selected for this study is the BNC, from which all occurrences of ‘verb plusun-participle’ were extracted. The data were submitted to collexeme and covarying collexeme analyses to identify the spectrum of meanings/functions associated with these forms, and distinctive collexeme analyses were carried out to see whether theun-participles found pattern differently with the individual verbs. The results indicate that, on closer examination, theun-participle construction does not represent a homogeneous category, but must be seen as a schematic template of related, though different, usage events that may have expanded analogously from a prototype construction. On the basis of our analyses and informed by findings from developmental studies, we suggest that the related constructions form a network.
Strong approximation and descent
Authors: Derenthal Ulrich , Wei Dasheng
Published: June 2015

We introduce descent methods to the study of strong approximation on
algebraic varieties. We apply them to two classes of varieties
defined by

P
⁢

(
𝐭
)

=

N

K
/
k

⁢

(
𝐳
)

{P(\mathbf{t})=N_{K/k}(\mathbf{z})}

: firstly for quartic extensions of
number fields

K
/
k

{K/k}

and quadratic polynomials

P
⁢

(
𝐭
)

{P(\mathbf{t})}

in one
variable, and secondly for

k
=
ℚ

{k=\mathbb{Q}}

, an arbitrary number field K
and

P
⁢

(
𝐭
)

{P(\mathbf{t})}

a product of linear polynomials over

ℚ

{\mathbb{Q}}

in at least
two variables. Finally, we illustrate that a certain unboundedness
condition at archimedean places is necessary for strong
approximation.
Assessing the Feasibility of Optical Probe in Phase Holdup Measurements and Flow Regime Identification
Authors: Gheni Saba A. , H. Al-Dahhan Muthanna
Published: June 2015

Despite the hydrodynamics of trickle beds experiencing pilot size, on the contrary, the possibility of measuring hydrodynamic parameters locally and for large scale and finding an indicator to pinpoint the flow regime from trickling to pulsing remains obscure, to assess the feasibility of getting such information the reactor bed was randomly packed with equal-sized spherical beads of 3 mm diameter. Gas and liquid holdup measurements and flow regime identification were achieved at various flow conditions from trickling to the pulsing regime by an optical probe method using time series processing method. This method is shown to be simple and efficient provides quantitative information about the gas and liquid holdup variation in different flow regime. The various experimental results were compared to available literature models and correlations for confrontation and recommendations. The trickle-to-pulse flow transition boundary shifted towards higher gas and liquid superficial velocities, aligning with the findings on a variation of holdup along the axial direction confirmed to broaden the trickle flow domain.

[Correction added after online publication June 26, 2015: To unify the adjective everywhere in this manuscript, optic fiber probe was changed to optical probe.]
Antihistamine from Tragia involucrata L. leaves
Authors: Alagar Yadav Sangilimuthu , Ramalingam Sathishkumar , Jabamalai Raj Anitha , Subban Ravi
Published: June 2015

Background: Synthetic antihistamine drugs cause various adverse effects to overcome these problems with natural phytomedicine or phytoconstituents.

Methods: Tragia involucrata leaves were extracted with soxhlet apparatus and fractionated with column chromatography the homogenized fractions were monitored with thin layer chromatography (TLC) and characterized by using UV-visible, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS spectral studies. Isolated compounds were screened their antihistamine activity on ileum preparation, bronchoconstriction and triple response on histamine-induced guinea pig.

Results: Antihistamine 5-hydroxy-1-methylpiperidin-2-one has been isolated and characterized from the leaves of Tragia involucrata L. A promising muscle relaxant, bronchorelaxant and anti-allergic effect of 5-hydroxy-1-methylpiperidin-2-one was observed in histamine-induced guinea pig and found to be 55.54±2.78% protection at the dose level of 12.5 mg/kg in bronchoconstriction effect and 49.05±2.45% protection in triple response. These findings were confirmed by in silico molecular docking also against histamine H1 receptor compared with chlorpheniramine maleate and mepyramine. This shows that the 5-hydroxy-1-methylpiperidine-2-one possess good inhibitory effect on histamine-induced guinea pig. The muscle relaxant, bronchodilating and anti-allergic potency of 5-hydroxy-1-methylpiperidin-2-one has been discussed in context with its probable profile as an anti-asthmatic agent from T. involucrata L. leaves.

Conclusions: We can conclude that isolated 5-hydroxy-1-methylpiperidin-2-one from T. involucrata L. has potent antihistamine agent on histamine-induced guinea pig.
Evaluation of a commercial LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of ethyl glucuronide in urine for alcohol intake monitoring
Authors: Becker Susen , Brauer Romy , Böttcher Michael , Thiery Joachim , Ceglarek Uta
Published: June 2015

Background: A commercially available in vitro diagnostics (IVD)-approved mass spectrometric assay for the quantification of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) in urine (RECIPE Chemicals+Instruments GmbH, Munich, Germany) was verified for monitoring of recent alcohol intake after transplantation.

Methods: For sample preparation, 50 μL of urine sample was mixed with an isotope-labeled internal standard solution. After centrifugation, 5 μL of the supernatant was analyzed by LC-MS/MS in a total run time of 3 min. An API 6500 tandem mass spectrometer (AB SCIEX, Toronto, Canada) combined with a Shimadzu UFLC system (Duisburg, Germany) was applied.

Results: The limits of quantification for the commercial assay were 0.07 mg/L for EtG and 0.03 mg/L for EtS in urine. The coefficient of variation for both analytes was lower than 7% (within-day) and 15% (between-days). Accuracy ranged between 101 and 144% for samples from an external quality assurance program. The comparison of the commercial test kit and an established LC-MS/MS method showed a very good agreement for EtG (r=0.96) and EtS (r=0.97) over a broad urine concentration range.

Conclusions: The commercial IVD-certified LC-MS/MS assay is suitable for the analysis of EtG and EtS in human urine[0] to assess recent alcohol intake in transplant monitoring.
Large-Scale Land Acquisitions, Commitment Problems and International Law
Authors: Diergarten Yorck , Krieger Tim
Published: June 2015

Developing countries with weak institutions often face severe commitment problems. International investors are reluctant to invest in these countries because their property rights are insufficiently protected. We argue that in order to overcome the commitment problem countries may subject investors’ rights protection to independent investment tribunals. These tribunals are known to strictly support property rights protection and to be reluctant to honor human rights considerations, although they might be applicable. This may explain why human rights of the local smallholders in large-scale land acquisitions are hardly protected in the Global South.
Tree selection by roosting bats in a European temperate lowland sub-Atlantic forest
Authors: Tillon Laurent , Bresso Katia , Aulagnier Stéphane
Published: June 2015

Trees are the main roosts for several European bat species but forestry practices are most often detrimental for them. After checking for the presence or absence of bats in trees, we collected a number of variables to describe trees within a lowland sub-Atlantic oak-dominated forest. We modelled the usage of the trees by bats according to the main characteristics of trees (11 quantitative and 13 qualitative variables) with a logistical regression analysis. Our results show that the number of cavities in the tree is the main variable that induces the occupancy by bats. There is a “typical” lowland tree preferred by bats which is a healthy oak tree of large diameter. We finally provide some guidance for woodland managers to maintain bat roosts, including maintaining some trees of large diameter, protecting small areas of old trees with cavities).