bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvements in Detection of Light Precipitation with the Global Precipitation Measurement Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (GPM DPR)
Authors: Hamada Atsushi , Takayabu Yukari N.
Published: April 2016

This paper demonstrates the impact of the enhancement in detectability by the dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on board the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core observatory. By setting two minimum detectable reflectivities—12 and 18 dBZ—artificially to 6 months of GPM DPR measurements, the precipitation occurrence and volume increase by ~21.1% and ~1.9%, respectively, between 40°S and 40°N.

GPM DPR is found to be able to detect light precipitation, which mainly consists of two distinct types. One type is shallow precipitation, which is most significant for convective precipitation over eastern parts of subtropical oceans, where deep convection is typically suppressed. The other type is probably associated with lower parts of anvil clouds associated with organized precipitation systems.

While these echoes have lower reflectivities than the official value of the minimum detectable reflectivity, they are found to mostly consist of true precipitation signals, suggesting that the official value may be too conservative for some sort of meteorological analyses. These results are expected to further the understanding of both global energy and water budgets and the diabatic heating distribution.
Elite or middling? International students and migrant diversification
Authors: Luthra Renee , Platt Lucinda
Published: April 2016

Student migrants from former sending regions now form a substantial share of non-European Union migration flows to Europe. These flows represent the convergence of extensive internationalisation of higher education with increasing restrictions on family and labour migration. This article provides the first examination of student migrants’ early socio-cultural and structural integration by following recently arrived Pakistani students in London over an 18-month period. We use latent class analysis to identify both elite and two ‘middling’ types – middle class and network-driven – within our student sample. We then ask whether these types experience early socio-cultural and structural integration trajectories that differ in the ways that the elite and middling transnational literatures would suggest. We find differences in structural, but less in socio-cultural outcomes. We conclude that to understand the implications of expanding third country student migration across the European Union, it is important to recognize both the distinctiveness of this flow and its heterogeneity.
Mutanalyst, an online tool for assessing the mutational spectrum of epPCR libraries with poor sampling
Authors: Ferla Matteo Paolo
Published: April 2016

Background

Assessing library diversity is an important control step in a directed evolution experiment. To do this, a limited amount of colonies from a test library are sequenced and tested. In the case of an error-prone PCR library, the spectrum of the identified mutations — the proportions of mutations of a specific nucleobase to another— is calculated enabling the user to make more informed predictions on library diversity and coverage. However, the calculations of the mutational spectrum are severely affected by the limited sample sizes.

Results

Here an online program, called Mutanalyst, is presented, which not only automates the calculations, but also estimates errors involved. Specifically, the errors are calculated thanks to the complementarity of DNA, which means that a mutation has a complementary mutation on the other sequence. Additionally, in the case of determining the mean number of mutations per sequence it does so by fitting to a Poisson distribution, which is more robust than calculating the average in light of the small sampling size.

Conclusion

As a result of the added measures to keep into account of small sample size the user can better assess whether the library is satisfactory or whether error-prone PCR conditions should be adjusted. The program is available at www.mutanalyst.com.
SoftPanel: a website for grouping diseases and related disorders for generation of customized panels
Authors: Wang Likun , Zhang Cong , Watkins Johnathan , Jin Yan , McNutt Michael , Yin Yuxin
Published: April 2016

Background

Targeted next-generation sequencing is playing an increasingly important role in biological research and clinical diagnosis by allowing researchers to sequence high priority genes at much higher depths and at a fraction of the cost of whole genome or exome sequencing. However, in designing the panel of genes to be sequenced, investigators need to consider the tradeoff between the better sensitivity of a broad panel and the higher specificity of a potentially more relevant panel. Although tools to prioritize candidate disease genes have been developed, the great majority of these require prior knowledge and a set of seed genes as input, which is only possible for diseases with a known genetic etiology.

Results

To meet the demands of both researchers and clinicians, we have developed a user-friendly website called SoftPanel. This website is intended to serve users by allowing them to input a single disorder or a disorder group and generate a panel of genes predicted to underlie the disorder of interest. Various methods of retrieval including a keyword search, browsing of an arborized list of International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes or using disorder phenotypic similarities can be combined to define a group of disorders and the genes known to be associated with them. Moreover, SoftPanel enables users to expand or refine a gene list by utilizing several biological data resources. In addition to providing users with the facility to create a “hard” panel that contains an exact gene list for targeted sequencing, SoftPanel also enables generation of a “soft” panel of genes, which may be used to further filter a significantly altered set of genes identified through whole genome or whole exome sequencing. The service and data provided by SoftPanel can be accessed at http://www.isb.pku.edu.cn/SoftPanel/. A tutorial page is included for trying out sample data and interpreting results.

Conclusion

SoftPanel provides a convenient and powerful tool for creating a targeted panel of potential disease genes while supporting different forms of input. SoftPanel may be utilized in both genomics research and personalized medicine.
SAR reduction in the modelled human head for the mobile phone using different material shields
Authors: Dutta Prabir Kumar , Jayasree Pappu Vankata Yasoda , Baba Viriyala Satya Surya Narayana Srini
Published: April 2016

Every mobile phone emits radio frequency electromagnetic energy. The amount of this energy absorbed by the human head is measured by the specific absorption rate (SAR). There are standard limits, according to which phones sold should be below certain SAR level. To maintain these limits, shields can be used for the mobile phones. In this paper using ANSYS HFSS, modelling of the human head is done. The modern mobile phone design is used for simulation. SAR distribution is measured for different layers of the head due to exposure to radiation from the mobile phone operating at GSM-1800 frequency band. The performance of the mobile phone antenna due to different shields is observed. Proper shielding material properties are found.
Seismic sparse-spike deconvolution via Toeplitz-sparse matrix factorization
Authors: Wang Lingling , Zhao Qian , Gao Jinghuai , Xu Zongben , Fehler Michael , Jiang Xiudi
Published: April 2016

We have developed a new sparse-spike deconvolution (SSD) method based on Toeplitz-sparse matrix factorization (TSMF), a bilinear decomposition of a matrix into the product of a Toeplitz matrix and a sparse matrix, to address the problems of lateral continuity, effects of noise, and wavelet estimation error in SSD. Assuming the convolution model, a constant source wavelet, and the sparse reflectivity, a seismic profile can be considered as a matrix that is the product of a Toeplitz wavelet matrix and a sparse reflectivity matrix. Thus, we have developed an algorithm of TSMF to simultaneously deconvolve the seismic matrix into a wavelet matrix and a reflectivity matrix by alternatively solving two inversion subproblems related to the Toeplitz wavelet matrix and sparse reflectivity matrix, respectively. Because the seismic wavelet is usually compact and smooth, the fused Lasso was used to constrain the elements in the Toeplitz wavelet matrix. Moreover, due to the limitations of computer memory, large seismic data sets were divided into blocks, and the average of the source wavelets deconvolved from these blocks via TSMF-based SSD was used as the final estimation of the source wavelet for all blocks to deconvolve the reflectivity; thus, the lateral continuity of the seismic data can be maintained. The advantages of the proposed deconvolution method include using multiple traces to reduce the effect of random noise, tolerance to errors in the initial wavelet estimation, and the ability to preserve the complex structure of the seismic data without using any lateral constraints. Our tests on the synthetic seismic data from the Marmousi2 model and a section of field seismic data demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively derive the wavelet and reflectivity simultaneously from band-limited data with appropriate lateral coherence, even when the seismic data are contaminated by noise and the initial wavelet estimation is inaccurate.
Microseismic event localization by acoustic time reversal extrapolation
Authors: Li Zhenhua , van der Baan Mirko
Published: April 2016

Traditional ray-based methods for microseismic event localization require picking of P- and S-wave first arrivals, which is often time consuming. Polarization analysis for each event is often also needed to determine its absolute location. Location methods based on reverse time extrapolation avoid the need for first-arrival time picking. Traditional reverse time extrapolation only incorporates particle velocity or displacement wavefields. This is an incomplete approximation of the acoustic representation theorem, which leads to artifacts in the back-propagation process. For instance, if the incomplete approximation is used for microseismic event locations using three-component (3C) borehole recordings, it produces a ghost event on the opposite side of the well, which leads to ambiguous interpretations. We have developed representation-theorem-based reverse time extrapolation for microseismic event localization, combining the 3C particle velocities (displacements) and the pressure wavefield. The unwanted ghost location is removed by explicitly incorporating a wavefield and its spatial derivative. Moreover, polarization analysis is not needed, because wavefields will focus at its absolute location during back propagation. Determination of microseismic event locations using wavefield extrapolation also necessitates a robust focusing criterion. The Hough transform allows for accurate determination of source timing and location by summing wavefront energy in the time-space domain. Synthetic examples demonstrated the good performance of the wavefield extrapolation scheme and focusing criterion in complex velocity fields for borehole acquisition geometries.
A Gaussian-based framework for local Bayesian inversion of geophysical data to rock properties
Authors: Jullum Martin , Kolbjørnsen Odd
Published: April 2016

Working in a Bayesian framework, we have derived a procedure for inverting rock properties based on geophysical data. The purpose was to arrive at a widely applicable and general procedure in which few and weak assumptions are required for application to various inverse problems within the geophysical industry. Our Bayesian statistical approach combines sampling-based techniques and Gaussian approximations to assess local approximations to quantities related to the posterior distribution of rock properties. These approximated quantities define the Bayesian inversion. A conceptual advantage of our approach is that there are few restrictions on the initial model, allowing realistic statistical models to be approximated directly. The methodology is easily parallelized and offers a range of procedures, which gives a trade-off between inversion speed and accuracy. We have tested the approach in a monitoring setting using seismic amplitudes by evaluating a synthetic case and real data from the Sleipner [Formula: see text] injection project. For the synthetic case, the inversion results correspond well with the rock properties used to generate the data and the posterior distribution derived using an MCMC approach. We also found improved accuracy compared with a frequently used Gaussian inversion approach. In the real data case, we clearly identified high-saturation layers present in previous qualitative interpretations.
Least-squares Gaussian beam migration
Authors: Hu Hao , Liu Yike , Zheng Yingcai , Liu Xuejian , Lu Huiyi
Published: April 2016

Least-squares migration (LSM) can be effective to mitigate the limitation of finite-seismic acquisition, balance the subsurface illumination, and improve the spatial resolution of the image, but it requires iterations of migration and demigration to obtain the desired subsurface reflectivity model. The computational efficiency and accuracy of migration and demigration operators are crucial for applying the algorithm. We have developed a test of the feasibility of using the Gaussian beam as the wavefield extrapolating operator for the LSM, denoted as least-squares Gaussian beam migration. Our method combines the advantages of the LSM and the efficiency of the Gaussian beam propagator. Our numerical evaluations, including two synthetic data sets and one marine field data set, illustrate that the proposed approach could be used to obtain amplitude-balanced images and to broaden the bandwidth of the migrated images in particular for the low-wavenumber components.
Relating source-receiver interferometry to an inverse-scattering series to derive a new method to estimate internal multiples
Authors: Löer Katrin , Curtis Andrew , Angelo Meles Giovanni
Published: April 2016

We have evaluated an explicit relationship between the representations of internal multiples by source-receiver interferometry and an inverse-scattering series. This provides a new insight into the interaction of different terms in each of these internal multiple prediction equations and explains why amplitudes of estimated multiples are typically incorrect. A downside of the existing representations is that their computational cost is extremely high, which can be a precluding factor especially in 3D applications. Using our insight from source-receiver interferometry, we have developed an alternative, computationally more efficient way to predict internal multiples. The new formula is based on crosscorrelation and convolution: two operations that are computationally cheap and routinely used in interferometric methods. We have compared the results of the standard and the alternative formulas qualitatively in terms of the constructed wavefields and quantitatively in terms of the computational cost using examples from a synthetic data set.
Kisspeptin Expression in the Human Infundibular Nucleus in Relation to Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation
Authors: Taziaux Melanie , Staphorsius Annemieke S. , Ghatei Mohammad A. , Bloom Stephen R. , Swaab Dick F. , Bakker Julie
Published: April 2016

Context:

Since the discovery of its central role in reproduction, our functional neuroanatomical knowledge of the hypothalamic kisspeptin system is predominantly based on animal studies. Although sex differences in kisspeptin expression have been shown in humans in adulthood, the developmental origin of this sex difference is unknown.

Objectives:

Our objectives were to determine the following: 1) when during development the sex difference in kisspeptin expression in the infundibular nucleus would emerge and 2) whether this sex difference is related to sexual orientation or transsexuality.

Design and Setting:

Postmortem hypothalamic tissues were collected by The Netherlands Brain Bank, and sections were stained for kisspeptin by immunohistochemistry.

Patients:

Hypothalami of 43 control subjects were categorized into three periods: infant/prepubertal (six girls, seven boys), adult (11 women, seven men), and elderly (six aged women, six aged men). Eight male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals, three HIV+ heterosexual men, and five HIV+ homosexual men were also analyzed.

Main Outcome Measure:

We estimated the total number of kisspeptin-immunoreactive neurons within the infundibular nucleus.

Results:

Quantitative analysis confirmed that the human infundibular kisspeptin system exhibits a female-dominant sex difference. The number of kisspeptin neurons is significantly greater in the infant/prepubertal and elderly periods compared with the adult period. Finally, in MTF transsexuals, but not homosexual men, a female-typical kisspeptin expression was observed.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that infundibular kisspeptin neurons are sensitive to circulating sex steroid hormones throughout life and that the sex reversal observed in MTF transsexuals might reflect, at least partially, an atypical brain sexual differentiation.
TSH/IGF-1 Receptor Cross Talk in Graves' Ophthalmopathy Pathogenesis
Authors: Krieger Christine C. , Place Robert F. , Bevilacqua Carmine , Marcus-Samuels Bernice , Abel Brent S. , Skarulis Monica C. , Kahaly George J. , Neumann Susanne , Gershengorn Marvin C.
Published: April 2016

Context:

The TSH receptor (TSHR) is considered the main target of stimulatory autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO); however, it has been suggested that stimulatory IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) autoantibodies also play a role.

Objective:

We previously demonstrated that a monoclonal stimulatory TSHR antibody, M22, activates TSHR/IGF-1R cross talk in orbital fibroblasts/preadipocytes obtained from patients with GO (GO fibroblasts [GOFs]). We show that cross talk between TSHR and IGF-1R, not direct IGF-1R activation, is involved in the mediation of GO pathogenesis stimulated by Graves' autoantibodies.

Design/Setting/Participants:

Immunoglobulins were purified from the sera of 57 GO patients (GO-Igs) and tested for their ability to activate TSHR and/or IGF-1R directly and TSHR/IGF-1R cross talk in primary cultures of GOFs. Cells were treated with M22 or GO-Igs with or without IGF-1R inhibitory antibodies or linsitinib, an IGF-1R kinase inhibitor.

Main Outcome Measures:

Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid [HA]) secretion was measured as a major biological response for GOF stimulation. IGF-1R autophosphorylation was used as a measure of direct IGF-1R activation. TSHR activation was determined through cAMP production.

Results:

A total of 42 out of 57 GO-Ig samples stimulated HA secretion. None of the GO-Ig samples exhibited evidence for IGF-1R autophosphorylation. Both anti-IGF-1R antibodies completely inhibited IGF-1 stimulation of HA secretion. By contrast, only 1 IGF-1R antibody partially blocked HA secretion stimulated by M22 or GO-Igs in a manner similar to linsitinib, whereas the other IGF-1R antibody had no effect on M22 or GO-Ig stimulation. These findings show that the IGF-1R is involved in GO-Igs stimulation of HA secretion without direct activation of IGF-1R.

Conclusions:

IGF-1R activation by GO-Igs occurs via TSHR/IGF-1R cross talk rather than direct binding to IGF-1R, and this cross talk is important in the pathogenesis of GO.
Substance and Independence in Descartes
Authors: Schechtman Anat
Published: April 2016

Descartes notoriously characterizes substance in two ways: first, as an ultimate subject of properties (that is, a subject in which properties inhere without itself inhering in anything); second, as an independent entity. The characterizations have appeared to many to diverge on the definition as well as the scope of the notion of substance. For it is often thought that the ultimate subject of properties need not—and, in some cases, cannot—be independent. Drawing on a suite of historical, textual, and philosophical considerations, this essay argues for an interpretation that reconciles Descartes's two characterizations. It proposes that both characterizations invoke a type of independence that obtains just in case there is no relation to another entity that holds by the nature of the entity in question. Even though the ultimate subject of properties is sometimes not independent in other respects (for example, modally or causally), it satisfies this independence-by-nature condition.
Locke's Simple Account of Sensitive Knowledge
Authors: Smalligan Marušić Jennifer
Published: April 2016

Locke seems to hold that we have knowledge of the existence of external objects through sensation. Two problems face Locke's account. The first problem concerns the logical form of knowledge of real existence. Locke defines knowledge as the perception of the agreement or disagreement between ideas. However, perceiving agreements between ideas seems to yield knowledge only of analytic truths, not propositions about existence. The second problem concerns the epistemic status of sensitive knowledge: How could the senses yield certain knowledge? This essay argues that the key to solving both problems is Locke's claim that simple ideas are all real, adequate, and true. This explains why, on Locke's view, we have certain knowledge through the senses. It also explains how sensitive knowledge can consist in perceiving an agreement between ideas: perceived agreements among simple ideas of sensation are guaranteed to track relations that obtain among really existing things.
Curating Will & Jane
Authors: Barchas Janine , Straub Kristina
Published: April 2016

“Curating Will & Jane” provides an overview of the exhibition, Will & Jane: Shakespeare, Austen, and the Cult of Celebrity, opening at the Folger Shakespeare Library in August 2016. Shakespeare and Austen became literary celebrities roughly 200 years after their deaths, and the Will & Jane exhibition tells the story of that process through the display of many and various objects—from porcelain figurines and portraits, to advertisements and bobbleheads—that are part of the marketing and cultural dissemination of literary fame. The authors of the article also reflect, as literary-scholars-turned-curators, on what they learned about how material culture produces and records celebrity when the objects of study range beyond standard printed artifacts.
THE STATUS OF THE UNIVERSITY AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND A TOOL FOR PARTNERSHIPS
Authors: Неретина Евгения , Neretina Evgeniya , Соловьев Тимофей , Solovev Timofey
Published: April 2016

Higher education institutions are functioning in the context of globalization of social and economic processes of growth dynamism and of uncertainty factors of the environment, rapid changes in the means and methods of competition, cooperation and collaboration in various fields. The most important tool to gain and maintain competitive advantages of the university are the brand, reputation and status related to intangible assets. The article discusses the status of the university as one of the most important competitive advantages in two aspects: the operating status and network status. Particular attention is paid to the status of the university as a tool for building and strengthening partnerships with other universities, research and business structures, authorities.
ON THE ROLE OF MARKETING IN STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Authors: Резник Галина , Ryeznik Galina
Published: April 2016

The article reveals the role of marketing in strategic management.

The reasons for the sharp growth in the value of strategic

planning and management. Discusses approaches of foreign and

domestic scientists to reveal the nature of strategic management.

Presents the most common problems of practical implementation

of strategic management systems in domestic practical management.
SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF FUNCTIONALITY OF SOCIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL CAPITAL OF THE ENTERPRISE
Authors: Гонтарева Ирина , Gontareva Irina
Published: April 2016

The article presents the conditions on use of the recommendations of the Commission on the measurement of economic performance and social progress at the enterprise level. The system characteristics of social and institutional capital enterprise defined and analyzed for this, as well as their unity and difference are proved. The conditions of the transformation of social capital into organizing one are defined using the methods of the theory of functional systems. The concept of the mechanism of the enterprise efficiency formation formulated taking into account organizational capital. Characteristics of effectiveness the degree of influence on quantitative and qualitative results of the company identified.
ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOAL-SETTING PROCESSES FORMALIZATION IN APPLIED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Рождественская Софья , Rozhdestvenskaya Sofya , Клочков Владислав , Klochkov Vladislav
Published: April 2016

Authors prove the necessity of strengthening the formalization

of goal-setting in applied science for ensuring consistency

of the goals of applied research with the strategic goals of the state.

The simplified model is constructed to estimate the acceptable

portion of work time that can be devoted to the formalized procedures

of selection of priority targets for research.
Technological support of machinery performance attributes
Authors: Безъязычный Вячеслав , Bezyazychny Vyacheslav
Published: April 2016

The relation of quality parameters in a surface layer of the surface worked with technological conditions of processing is stated, and also a computation definition of machinery performance attributes: fatigue resistance, durability, strength of press-fit connections are shown.
Problem in product manufacturability
Authors: Базров Б. , Bazrov B.
Published: April 2016

The analysis of a problem state in produce design manufacturability is presented, the necessity in the development of theoretical fundamentals for produce manufacturability assurance and their content is shown.
Research Note—Content and Collaboration: An Affiliation Network Approach to Information Quality in Online Peer Production Communities
Authors: Kane Gerald C. , Ransbotham Sam
Published: April 2016

The 15-year history of collaboration on Wikipedia offers insight into how peer production communities create knowledge. In this research, we combine disparate content and collaboration approaches through a social network analysis approach known as an affiliation network. It captures both how knowledge is transferred in a peer production network and also the underlying skills possessed by its contributors in a single methodological approach. We test this approach on the Wikipedia articles dedicated to medical information developed in a subcommunity known as a WikiProject. Overall, we find that the position of an article in the affiliation network is associated with the quality of the article. We further investigate information quality through additional qualitative and quantitative approaches including expert coders using medical students, crowdsourcing using Amazon Mechanical Turk, and visualization using network graphs. A review by fourth-year medical students indicates that the Wikipedia quality rating is a reliable measure of information quality. Amazon Mechanical Turk ratings, however, are a less reliable measure of information quality, reflecting observable content characteristics such as article length and the number of references.
A Review of the Structure, Biosynthesis, Absorption of Carotenoids-Analysis and Properties of their Common Natural Extracts
Authors: Kiokias S. , Proestos C , Varzakas T
Published: April 2016

Carotenoids are a class of natural pigments familiar to all through the orange-red colours of popular foods like oranges, tomatoes and carrots and the yellow colour of many flowers. They have been studied for a number of years because of their diverse roles in photobiology, photochemistry and photo medicine. Carotenoids are also added as colorants to many manufactured foods, drinks, and animal feeds, either in the forms of natural extracts (e.g annatto, paprika or marigold extracts) or as pure compounds manufactured by chemical synthesis. Carotenoids are often described as provitamins A, as this particular vitamin is a product of carotenoid metabolism. The distribution of carotenoids among the different plant groups shows no obvious pattern. b-Carotene is the most abundant in leafy vegetables, though the colour is masked by its co-existence with chlorophyll, and this carotenoid has the highest vitamin A activity. Zeaxanthin, a-carotene and antheraxanthin are also present in small amounts. In the tomato, lycopene is the major carotenoid, while fruits contain varying proportions of cryptoxanthin, lutein and antheraxanthin. In this review paper the natural occurrence of carotenoids (with focus on certain natural extracts) is described along with its structure and physicochemical properties. The biosynthesis - industrial synthesis and absorption of carotenoids is also discussed. Finally, a brief overview of analysis and properties of commonly available natural carotenoid extracts (annato, paprika, xanthophylls, lycopene) are also reported.
Managing chronic oedema in a patient with arterial disease and leg ulceration
Authors: Cooper Robin
Published: April 2016

Treating lymphoedema in patients with critical arterial disease can be contraindicated. This case study describes current methods of managing lymphoedema in a patient with arterial disease and leg ulcers. The patient, a 65-year-old male, had paraplegia and lower-limb lymphoedema with leg ulceration for 18 years, as well as arterial disease. The patient was referred to the lymphoedema/vascular service in 2013. Duplex ultrasound indicated superficial femoral occlusion. The arterial disease was treated with an angiogram and angioplasty, and when the blood supply was improved, the lymphoedema was treated. Emphasis was placed on self-care and reducing the need for community nurse involvement. Selfcare included compression bandaging, use of FarrowWrap, low-level light therapy, and ulcer dressings. Outcomes were measured using a telemedicine software programme. The patient's lymphoedema was reduced, leg ulcers healed, and quality of life transformed.
Prevalence of lymphoedema in the UK: focus on the southwest and West Midlands
Authors: Cooper Garry , Bagnall Andrew
Published: April 2016

The aim of this research study was to estimate the potential prevalence of lymphoedema and the causes for this prevalence within two regions in England. This study is one of the first to undertake such a comparison in England and complements existing studies. The study calculates a regional prevalence figure for the Southwest (SW) of 3.59:1000 and 2.29:1000 in the West Midlands (WM). The local variation in the regions is 0.98–8.81:1000 for SW and 0.78–15.3:1000 for WM. Patient diagnosis of primary lymphoedema was 1:5129 in the SW compared with 1:2763 in the WM. These figures have relevance to patient care when considering population needs in the commissioning of services and the effect of wider determinants of health. Recommendations consider the need for national policy and the availability of education and training. Further research is required in both regions to consider age and gender set against diagnosis. Despite raising additional questions, the study has offered an opportunity to explore the effect of lymphoedema within the chosen regions.
Presenting the Contramate contraception app
Authors: Menzies Alison
Published: April 2016

In her regular column, Alison Menzies shares her experiences as a research scholarship holder and on the development of an app aimed at young offenders.
Preformed metal crowns placed using the Hall Technique
Authors: Warner Claire , Waddington Martyn
Published: April 2016

A look at the vital roles of dental nurses by Claire Warner and Martyn Waddington
In their shoes
Authors: Park Christine
Published: April 2016

Using three likely scenarios, Christine Park considers the challenges the dental team faces when handling child protection
Flavour of the moment?
Authors: Cope Graham
Published: April 2016

Graham Cope enlightens us on the controversial pull of e-cigarettes and their role in smoking cessation
When the headlines scream ‘Dental patients at risk’
Authors: Waters Rebecca
Published: April 2016

The topic of infection control has drawn a bit of a media circus of late, thanks partly to a few newsworthy breaches in dental practices and the Zika virus. Here, Rebecca Waters asks if your standards are high enough
Don't be a fool!
Authors: Bissett Julie
Published: April 2016

This April, is your practice ready for new regulations?
Understanding post-herpetic neuralgia in older people
Authors: Perry Margaret
Published: April 2016

Post-herpetic neuralgia is an unpleasant complication of shingles, that predominantly affects older people. Margaret Perry discusses the prevalence, risk factors and managment of this challenging condition

Shingles, or herpes zoster, will affect 10–20% of the population at some point in their life. Post-herpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles that is more common in older people. Post-herpetic neuralgia results in persisting pain which may continue for months or even years after the shingles rash has resolved. The pathophysiology of this condition is not well understood. Risk factors for developing post-herpetic neuralgia include the site of the shingles rash and age. The management of post-herpetic neuralgia can be difficult and the risk of interaction with other medications must be considered, particularly in older people. Vaccination can reduce the risk of shingles and the incidence of complications.
Research Roundup
Authors: Winter George
Published: April 2016

George Winter provides an overview of recently published articles that may be of interest to practice nurses. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Find your direction
Authors: Hewson Claire
Published: April 2016

Once children have grasped the tricky issues of left and right, they are ready to progress to more involved directions that will draw on a range of skills and learning.
Validation Evidence for the Elementary School Version of the MUSIC® Model of Academic Motivation Inventory
Authors: Jones Brett D. , Sigmon Miranda L.
Published: April 2016

Introduction. The purpose of our study was to assess whether the Elementary School version of the MUSIC® Model of Academic Motivation Inventory was valid for use with elementary students in classrooms with regular classroom teachers and student teachers enrolled in a university teacher preparation program.Method. The participants included 535 first- to fifth-grade students from the classes of 29 teachers from six schools. Students completed the Elementary School version of the MUSIC® Model of Academic Motivation Inventory, which assessed students’ perceptions of empowerment, usefulness, success, interest, and caring related to their class activities. We calculated Cronbach’s alpha values for each of the MUSIC Inventory scales, computed Pearson’s correlation coefficients for the MUSIC Inventory scales, and conducted confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) to examine how the items in the MUSIC Inventory fit the five-factor structure of the MUSIC model.Results. The internal consistencies of the items within each scale were aceptable, as were the factor loadings from the CFAs. Results of the CFAs, conducted by grade level and teacher type, revealed that the data fit the five-factor structure of the inventory well for teachers and student teachers at the lower- and upper-elementary grades.Conclusion. The results provide evidence to support the validity of the scores produced from the Elementary School version of the MUSIC® Model of Academic Motivation Inventory with elementary school students in first to fifth grades in the US.
Antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide associated with a new vehicle (Triethanolamine)
Authors: Junior Jaci Simi , Machado Ricardo , Stiz Rafael , Figueiredo Cristiane , Vansan Luiz Pascoal , Ferrari Carlos Henrique , Back Eduardo Donato Eing Engelke , Silva Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal
Published: April 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of calcium hydroxide associated with a two conventional (anesthetic liquid and olive oil) and a new vehicle (Triethanolamine). Material and methods: Initially, microorganisms were collected from four upper incisors presenting unsatisfactory root canal treatments and persistent apical periodontitis from the same patient using sterile absorbent paper cones placed inside the root canal following initial access and root filling removal. Next, they were grown in a BHI culture medium for 24 h. Afterwards, they were placed in 10 Petri dishes with 3 holes, where different formulations of the medications studied were placed. After 48 and 72 h, readings were taken of the growth inhibition halos. Results: After using Kruskal-Wallis test with significance level of 1% (? = 0.01) it was observed that, calcium hydroxide associated with Triethanolamine, produced results similar to those produced by the anesthetic liquid. Both combinations were superior to the association with olive oil. Conclusion: Considering the results of this in vitro study, it is possible to consider that Triethanolamine can be a viable alternative to be used as a vehicle associated with the calcium hydroxide.Keywords: Vehicles; Calcium hydroxide; Endodontics.
La cultura escrita en el Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano de Medellín:Un estudio de caso
Authors: Ospina Chica Mario , Londoño Vásquez David Alberto
Published: April 2016

En este artículo se aborda el tema de la lectura y la escritura concebida como prácticas que hacen parte de la cultura escrita en la universidad, en relación con el aprendizaje de todas las asignaturas. Por ello, en este texto se plantea la dificultad que subsiste en la educación para que la lectura y la escritura entren a jugar un papel fundamental en el que puedan participar los docentes y los estudiantes, que comparten cursos propios del currículo de Ingeniería y Tecnología, de pregrado y de postgrado. En esta perspectiva, se persigue integrar la escritura y la lectura, como instrumentos que habilitan, en el quehacer educativo, el aprendizaje, la reflexión, la participación y la investigación de cada objeto de formación. Se presentan algunos datos que sirvieron de base para dar un primer paso a la investigación “Literacidad y cultura escrita académica universitaria. Un estudio de comprensión y producción de textos escritos en el Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano (ITM), 2013-2 – 1024-2”, en convenio con la Institución Universitaria de Envigado (IUE). En ella, específicamente en el proceso de análisis, han participado jóvenes integrantes del semillero de Lengua Materna. Seguidamente se tienen en cuenta cinco grupos: cuatro controles y uno experimental, a los que se les aplicaron una prueba de entrada y otra de salida, con la consiguiente evaluación desde el marco de la lingüística textual, concebido en la aplicación de una rúbrica.
El fraude académico universitario: el caso de una universidad privada en la ciudad de Barranquilla
Authors: Martinez Gomez Anabella , Borjas Monica Patricia , Andrade Jose Joaquin
Published: April 2016

Es responsabilidad fundamental de toda institución de educación superior – IES- la formación de profesionales competentes con sentido ético para desempeñar su labor en la sociedad. El fenómeno del fraude académico entendido como cualquier acción que atenta contra la legitimidad del trabajo académico por parte de estudiantes o profesores universitarios, va contra esta misión. Diferentes estudios muestran que este fenómeno está presente en las universidades bajo diversas modalidades. Estos señalan la percepción que tienen los estudiantes sobre el comportamiento de los pares, sobre las políticas de prevención del fraude en las IES y los sistemas de evaluación pueden incidir en la prevalencia del fenómeno. Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio realizado en una IES de la ciudad de Barranquilla que buscó caracterizar dicho fenómeno en cuanto a tipología, incidencia, prevalencia, nivel de gravedad y factores asociados a su causa desde la perspectiva de sus estudiantes. Los resultados confirman lo encontrado en otros estudios y señalan aspectos que deben ser estudiados en mayor profundidad, como las valoraciones de la gravedad de algunas modalidades de este y la influencia de los sistemas de evaluación.
Editorial
Authors: Nassaji Hossein
Published: April 2016

The focus of this special issue is instructed second language acquisition (ISLA). It is to explore some of the most recent developments in this area of SLA research and its implications for classroom instruction. Drawing on some current definitions (Leow, 2015; Loewen, 2015; Nassaji, 2015; Nassaji & Fotos, 2010), ISLA is defined as an area of SLA that investigates not only the effects but also the processes and mechanisms involved in any form-focused intervention (explicit or implicit) with the aim of facilitating language learning and development. Instructed SLA differs from naturalistic SLA, which refers to second language (L2) acquisition taking place through exposure to language in naturalistic language learning settings with no formal intervention (Doughty, 2003). It is also different from classroom instruction with no focus on form. Furthermore, although instructed SLA is often taken to refer to what is learned inside the classroom, instructed SLA can also take place outside the classroom through, for xample, various instructional strategies (such as feedback, tasks, or explanation) that are often associated with instruction. Of course, this does not mean that the processes involved in SLA in and outside the classroom are exactly the same. Although there might be commonalities in learning processes, the classroom context has its unique features that might have an impact on learning. For example, in classroom learning a group of learners come together in a particular place to learn the language jointly during a given period of time. This might have an impact on learning opportunities in terms of the nature of the discourse created, learners’ participation, interaction, and engagement with language. As Allwright (1984, p. 156) pointed out, language interaction in the classroom setting is collectively constructed by all learners and “the importance of interaction in classroom learning is precisely that it entails this joint management of learning.”
The role of extensive recasts in error detection and correction by adult ESL students
Authors: Hawkes Laura , Nassaji Hossein
Published: April 2016

Most of the laboratory studies on recasts have examined the role of intensive recasts provided repeatedly on the same target structure. This is different from the original definition of recasts as the reformulation of learner errors as they occur naturally and spontaneously in the course of communicative interaction. Using a within-group research design and a new testing methodology (video-based stimulated correction posttest), this laboratory study examined whether extensive and spontaneous recasts provided during small-group work were beneficial to adult L2 learners. Participants were 26 ESL learners, who were divided into seven small groups (3-5 students per group), and each group participated in an oral activity with a teacher. During the activity, the students received incidental and extensive recasts to half of their errors; the other half of their errors received no feedback. Students’ ability to detect and correct their errors in the three types of episodes was assessed using two types of tests: a stimulated correction test (a video-based computer test) and a written test. Students’ reaction time on the error detection portion of the stimulated correction task was also measured. The results showed that students were able to detect more errors in error+recast (error followed by the provision of a recast) episodes than in error-recast (error and no recast provided) episodes (though this difference did not reach statistical significance). They were also able to successfully and partially successfully correct more errors in error+recast episodes than in error-recast episodes, and this difference was statistically significant on the written test. The reaction time results also point towards a benefit from recasts, as students were able to complete the task (slightly) more quickly for error+recast episodes than for error-recast episodes.
The Laguerre Collocation Method for Third Kind Integral Equations
on Unbounded Domains
Authors: Ghoreishi Farideh , Farahbakhsh-Tooli Elena
Published: April 2016

The aim of this paper is to approximate the solution of a class of
integral equations of the third kind on an unbounded domain. For
computing such approximation, the collocation method based on the
generalized Laguerre abscissas is considered. In this method, the
unknown function is interpolated at the nodal points

{

t
i

}

i
=
1

n
+
1

${\lbrace t_i\rbrace _{i=1}^{n+1}}$

, where

{

t
i

}

i
=
1

n

${\lbrace t_i\rbrace _{i=1}^{n}}$

are the zeros of
generalized Laguerre polynomials and

t

n
+
1

=
4
n

${t_{n+1}=4n}$

. Then, the given
equation is transformed to the Fredholm integral equation of the
second kind. In the sequel, according to the integration interval,
we apply the Gauss–Laguerre collocation method on the interval

[
0
,
∞
)

${[0,\infty )}$

by using the given nodal points. Therefore, the
solution of the third kind integral equation is reduced to the
solution of a system of linear equations. Convergence analysis of
the method in some Sobolev-type space is studied. Illustrative
examples are included to demonstrate the validity and applicability
of the technique.
Crystal structure of N-phenyl-2-(pyridin-4-ylcarbonyl)hydrazinecarboxamide with Z′ = 4, C13H12N4O2
Authors: Pansuriya Pramod B. , Patel Chintan , Friedrich Holger B. , Maguire Glenn E. M.
Published: April 2016

C13H12N4O2, orthorhombic, Pbca (no. 61), a = 16.2353(11) Å, b = 16.8474(12) Å, c = 36.028(2) Å, V = 9854.5(11) Å3, Z = 32, R
gt
(F) = 0.0903, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.1773, T = 163 K.
Crystal structure of 4-(pyridin-4-ylmethylsulfonyl)pyridine, C11H10N2O2S
Authors: Liu Rui-Heng , Qin Zhao-Xian , Guo Hui
Published: April 2016

C11H10N2O2S, monoclinic, Pc (no. 7), a = 12.0784(4) Å, b = 5.3304(2) Å, c = 8.9370(3) Å, β = 108.263(2)°, V = 546.40(3) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt
(F) = 0.0303, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.0782, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of 2-((dimethylamino)methylene)-5,5-Dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione, C11H17NO2
Authors: Ghorab Mostafa M. , Alsaid Mansour S. , Ghabbour Hazem A. , Al-Mishari Abdullah A.
Published: April 2016

C11H17NO2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 5.9245(2) Å, b = 17.7243(6) Å, c = 10.2915(4) Å, β = 95.352(1)°, V = 1075.97(7) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt
(F) = 0.0419, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.116, T = 100(2) K.
Susceptibility of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris Seedlings of Various origins to Heterobasidion annosum and H. parviporum
Authors: Zaļuma Astra , Gailis Arnis , Burņeviča Natālija , Korhonen Kari , Gaitnieks Tālis
Published: April 2016

Five-year-old Norway spruce and four-year-old Scots pine seedlings of various origin were inoculated with Heterobasidion annosum s.s. and H. parviporum to estimate whether the susceptibility of seedlings to Heterobasidion was affected by origin of seeds. In total, 520 spruce and 538 pine seedlings from different seed sources and provenance regions of Latvia were tested. Four months after inoculation the fungal growth was measured. The results highlight differences between development of H. annosum and H. parviporum in spruce and pine seedlings. We did not find any seed source that was more resistant than others.