bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Coal Burnout in the Raceway of an Ironmaking Blast Furnace
Authors: Shen Yansong , Yu Aibing
Published: January 2015

Pulverized coal injection (PCI) is widely operated in ironmaking blast furnace (BF). In the past, coal burnout was usually characterized along tuyere axis due to technical difficulties, rather than the whole raceway surface. Recently, a three‐dimensional (3D) PCI model included a 3D raceway and the combustion of two different fuels—pulverized coal and coke, allowing for calculating coal burnout over the whole raceway surface, in addition to along the tuyere axis. In this paper, in order to confirm whether the coal burnout tendencies at the two locations are consistent or not for the changes of a range of key operational variables, the influences of key PCI‐related variables on coal burnouts is overviewed and compared at the two different locations. The comparisons show that the tendency of coal burnout over the whole raceway surface is largely inconsistent with those at the end of raceway along tuyere axis for the changes of key operational variables, and thus the latter cannot fully represent coal burnout in the raceway. For this reason, the former should be employed in the future when examining the combustibility of specific coals under BF conditions.
Super‐Connectors: A New Model of Internationalization from the MENA Region
Authors: Anwar Syed Tariq
Published: January 2015

The main purpose of this case‐based research is to investigate and analyze three fast‐growing airlines (Emirates/Dubai, Qatar Airways/Qatar, and Etihad Airways/Abu Dhabi) and their internationalization from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The three carriers that are commonly known as “super‐connectors” in the airline industry continue to excel in their business models and internationalization. Based on secondary data, surveys, and company‐specific information, the article uses a longitudinal case‐based research approach to discuss the three airlines. Findings of the work reveal that the three super‐connectors have aggressively expanded in the MENA region and beyond by seeking multiple alliances, joint ventures, long‐term collaborative agreements (code sharing), and foreign direct investment (FDI). These activities represent innovative business models and operational efficiencies in the global airline industry. We believe that non‐MENA airlines may not have the same dynamism, strategic clout, corporate‐related efficiencies, and financial prowess that we witness among the three super‐connectors. In international business (IB) and multinational corporation (MNC)‐related areas, researchers, industry analysts, and policymakers need to pay attention to the MENA region's super‐connectors and their emerging internationalization models. The article also provides useful trends and implications that can be benchmarked by practitioners, researchers, and airlines regarding the issues of internationalization, growth, and new business models. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Re: Ultrasound guidance during embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. D. M. Teixeira, L. A. Dassunção, C. V. R. Vieira, M. A. P. Barbosa, M. A. Coelho Neto, C. O. Nastri and W. P. Martins. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015; 45: 139–148
Authors: Drakeley A.
Published: January 2015

Linked Comment: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2015; 45: 139–148
Microstructure, mechanical properties, and flame retardancy of nanoclay‐incorporated polyurethane flexible foam composites
Authors: Rastin Hadi , Ahmadi Zahed , Saeb Mohammad Reza , Formela Krzysztof
Published: January 2015

The present work seeks to investigate microstructure, mechanical properties, and flame retardancy of polyurethane/nanoclay flexible foam composites. In this regard, we prepared various nanocomposites with and without nanoclay and observed the resulting morphologies to correlate them with the other corresponding characteristics. The results provided support for the fact that tensile strength and compression set will increase with nanoclay content, while elongation at break and tear strength decrease to some extent. Flame‐retardancy test results showed that the introduction of nanoclay into the polyurethane flexible foam causes an almost optimal trend in the flame retardancy over clay content. The microcellular‐properties correlations were established on account of changes in microcell architecture. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:415–422, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Noncoding RNAs and their annotation using metagenomics algorithms
Authors: Ray Shubhra Sankar , Maiti Sonam
Published: January 2015

This article provides an overview of noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) involving their structure, function, computational methods for structure prediction and the algorithms for analyzing ncRNAs from metagenome samples. Different techniques for ncRNA structure prediction such as dynamic programming (DP), genetic algorithm (GA), artificial neural network (ANN) and stochastic context‐free grammar (SCFG) are discussed. The basic concepts of metagenomics along with their biological basis are mentioned and the relevance of ncRNAs in metagenomics is also explored. Similarity and composition based computational methods for analyzing noncoding sequences in metagenomes are then mentioned along with their biological findings. An extensive bibliography is included. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2015, 5:1–20. doi: 10.1002/widm.1142

Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Biological Data Mining

Algorithmic Development > Structure Discovery

Application Areas > Science and Technology
Generating ensembles of heterogeneous classifiers using Stacked Generalization
Authors: Sesmero M. Paz , Ledezma Agapito I. , Sanchis Araceli
Published: January 2015

Over the last two decades, the machine learning and related communities have conducted numerous studies to improve the performance of a single classifier by combining several classifiers generated from one or more learning algorithms. Bagging and Boosting are the most representative examples of algorithms for generating homogeneous ensembles of classifiers. However,Stackinghas become a commonly used technique for generating ensembles of heterogeneous classifiers since Wolpert presented his study entitledStacked Generalizationin 1992. Studies that have addressed theStackingissue demonstrated that when selecting base learning algorithms for generating classifiers that are members of the ensemble, their learning parameters and the learning algorithm for generating the meta‐classifier were critical issues. Most studies on this topic manually select the appropriate combination of base learning algorithms and their learning parameters. However, some other methods use automatic methods to determine goodStackingconfigurations instead of starting from these strong initial assumptions. In this paper, we describeStackingand its variants and present several examples of application domains.WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov2015, 5:21–34. doi: 10.1002/widm.1143

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Classification
Energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction and fluorescence portable system for cultural heritage applications
Authors: Mendoza Cuevas Ariadna , Bernardini Federico , Gianoncelli Alessandra , Tuniz Claudio
Published: January 2015

A portable X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) system, based on energy dispersive detection in reflection geometry, has been developed for the non‐invasive study of cultural heritage materials. This analytical system is an open‐work platform based on a low‐power miniaturized X‐ray tube (Ag anode), a single Si‐drift detector, and a set of collimators that have been mounted on a compact and versatile manual or motorized stage, which allows independent and precise angular positioning of both source and detector and the study of complex geometry objects. The design of two instruments and experimental setups, and their advantages are discussed. The XRF and XRD analytical performance has been tested through the analysis of standard reference materials and some applications, including provenance study of obsidian and ‘green stone’ artifacts, identification of pigments in a model of fresco painting, and chemical element analysis of bones. The main advantages of portable energy dispersive X‐ray diffraction systems compared with commonly used angle dispersive X‐ray diffraction (ADXRD) instruments are shorter measurement times and compactness. Moreover, optimum XRF spectra can be collected because a polychromatic beam is used instead of a (quasi) monochromatic beam as in an angle dispersive X‐ray diffraction‐X‐ray fluorescence portable system. Results demonstrate that it is possible to identify the main crystalline phases in a measurement time of 100 s–600 s and the system is sensible enough for answering common questions, as the ones presented, in the cultural heritage field. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multibody collision contribution to the slowing down of charged particles through metals
Authors: Molinari V. , Teodori F.
Published: January 2015

Investigating charged particle transport through solid matter is important in those fields, such as particle induced x‐ray emission analysis, where quantifying and identifying the reactions produced in the medium are of fundamental interest. A rigorous approach by solving the transfer equation means to face many difficulties most of which arise from the long range nature of the Coulomb interactions, involving more than one particle simultaneously. The common practice of neglecting the multibody collisions, though correct for rarefied neutral gases, often leads to very poor approximations, when charged particles move through dense matter. Here, we discuss a numerical simulation of the Fokker–Planck equation where the multibody collisions are taken into account. The model allows to calculate point‐wise the distribution of energy and momentum transferred to the target. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal Structure Determination of Ag3Pb4Bi11Se22 by Microfocussed Synchrotron Radiation
Authors: Heinke Frank , Meyer Ralf , Wagner Gerald , Oeckler Oliver
Published: January 2015

The structure of a Ag3Pb4Bi11Se22 microcrystal was determined using microfocussed synchrotron radiation. Several crystals from an inhomogeneous sample were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, which revealed the unit‐cell dimensions and the quarternary composition. A crystallite that was pre‐characterized this way was used for the microfocus experiment. The structure of Ag3Pb4Bi11Se22 [space group C2/m, a = 13.853(3) Å, b = 4.2108(8) Å, c = 19.721(4) Å, β = 104.57(3)°, Z = 1, R1(all) = 0.032] is similar to that of the mineral dantopaite, which belongs to the pavonite‐type family. Slabs that correspond to sections of the NaCl structure type are interconnected by ribbon‐like elements from the GeS (SnS) structure type.
Effect of HIV Housing Services on Engagement in Care and Treatment, New York City, 2011
Authors: Terzian Arpi S. , Irvine Mary K. , Hollod Laura M. , Lim Sungwoo , Rojas John , Shepard Colin W.
Published: January 2015

The federal Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program addresses housing needs of low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene oversees 22 HOPWA contracts for over 2,400 clients, and manages the NYC HIV Registry. HOPWA clients (N = 1,357) were matched to a random 20 % sample of other PLWHA (N = 13,489). Groups were compared on HIV care retention, viral suppression, and rebound. HOPWA clients were, on average, 3 years younger and more likely to be concurrently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. While HOPWA clients were more likely to be retained in care (94 vs. 82 %; mOR = 2.97, 95 % CI 2.35–3.74), they were no more likely to achieve suppression (84 vs. 86 %; mOR = 0.85, 95 % 0.70–1.03) and were more likely to rebound (11 vs. 7 %; mOR = 1.45; 95 % CI 1.10–1.91). HIV care retention does not fully translate to virologic suppression in this low-income service population.
On the value of the ‘subjective’ in studies of human behavior and cognition
Authors: Goldszmidt Mark , Chahine Saad , Cristancho Sayra , Watling Chris , Lingard Lorelei
Published: January 2015

None
Appendicitis caused by ingestion of metal foreign body
Authors: de Almeida Neto José Inácio , Guerini Bruna Schawn , de Almeida Felipe Fernandes Nogueira
Published: January 2015

Introduction The ingestion of foreign bodies is a frequent occurrence, especially among children. The majority of these objects travel safely through the gastrointestinal tract, without causing symptoms or leaving sequelae. Acute appendicitis is the emergency surgical pathology of greater prevalence. However, the impaction of a foreign body into the appendicular lumen as an etiologic agent of appendicitis is a very rare event.

Case report We describe the case of a 21-year-old male patient with lower abdominal pain over approximately six days, in association with vomiting, fever and abdominal distension. After imaging studies, a radiopaque foreign body was identified in a pelvic topography, with distention and air-fluid levels in intestinal loops. Our patient was submitted to an open appendectomy, evidencing acute perforated appendicitis and the presence of two foreign bodies in its lumen. The patient progressed satisfactorily in the post-operative period, with use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Discussion Foreign bodies impacted in the gastrointestinal tract are usually removed by endoscopic techniques. When these bodies cause infections, there should be a resolution, preferably by surgical laparoscopy, which will serve both for diagnostic as therapeutic purposes.
A double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial with Agaricus sylvaticus fungus in anthropometric profile of women with colon cancer
Authors: Fortes Renata Costa , Souza Jhuly Amado , Novaes Maria Rita Carvalho Garbi
Published: January 2015

Introduction Colorectal cancer is a disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Medicinal fungi and/or its extracts have been used in the adjuvant therapy of cancer because of their pharmacological, nutritional and immunomodulatory properties.

Objective To evaluate the anthropometric profile of colorectal cancer women after dietary supplementation with Agaricus sylvaticus fungus.

Methods Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in a public hospital in the Federal District – Brazil for six months. Sample of 32 patients with colorectal cancer, female, was separated into two groups: supplemented with Agaricus sylvaticus (30 mg/kg/day) and placebo. We conducted anthropometry (weight, height, body mass index, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference and fat percentage) during the treatment. The results were analyzed at three different times (before the start of treatment, three months and after six months supplementation) using the Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS 19.0, using Student's t-test and F, with significance for p ≤ 0.05.

Results The Agaricus sylvaticus group showed a significant increase in body mass index, arm circumference, percent body fat and triceps skinfold, and non-significant increase in arm muscle circumference after six months of supplementation. These results were not observed in the placebo group.

Conclusion The results suggest that dietary supplementation with Agaricus sylvaticus is capable to have benefits in anthropometric parameters of women with colorectal cancer.
THE EPISTEMIC ANALYSIS OF LUCK
Authors: Stoutenburg Gregory
Published: January 2015

Duncan Pritchard has argued that luck is fundamentally a modal notion: an event is lucky when it occurs in the actual world, but does not occur in more than half of the relevant nearby possible worlds. Jennifer Lackey has provided counterexamples to accounts which, like Pritchard's, only allow for the existence of improbable lucky events. Neil Levy has responded to Lackey by offering a modal account of luck which attempts to respect the intuition that some lucky events occur in more than half of the relevant nearby possible worlds. But his account rejects that events which are as likely as those in Lackey's examples are lucky. Instead, they are merely fortunate. I argue that Levy's argument to this effect fails. I then offer a substitute account of the improbability condition which respects this intuition. This condition says that the relevant notion of probability for luck is epistemic.
Room for Realignment: The Working-Class Sympathy for Sweden Democrats
Authors: Oskarson Maria , Demker Marie
Published: January 2015

How is it that the Swedish populist nationalist party the Sweden Democrats receives its strongest support from the established working class, in spite of the high degree of class voting and left–right mobilization which is known to characterize Swedish politics? Based on surveys from the SOM (Society, Opinion, Media) Institute as well as the Swedish National Elections Studies, this article shows that this is not a result of increasing anti-immigrant attitudes in the working class or of decreasing left–right polarization among voters. Rather, we present the argument that the weakening alignment between the working class and the Social Democratic Party and the weakened left–right polarization between the main parties have created a structure which has left room for a realignment between large parts of the working class and the Sweden Democrats along the alternative underlying ideological dimension of authoritarianism/libertarianism.
Granular segregation in circular tumblers: theoretical model and scaling laws
Authors: Schlick Conor P. , Fan Yi , Umbanhowar Paul B. , Ottino Julio M. , Lueptow Richard M.
Published: January 2015

We model bidisperse size segregation of granular material in quasi-two-dimensional circular tumbler flow using the advection–diffusion transport equation with an additional term to account for segregation due to percolation. Segregation depends on three dimensionless parameters: the ratio of segregation to advection, ${\it\Lambda}$; the ratio of advection to diffusion, $\mathit{Pe}$; and the dimensionless flowing layer depth, ${\it\epsilon}$. The degree of segregation in steady state depends only on the ratio of segregation effects to diffusion effects, ${\it\Lambda}\,\mathit{Pe}$, and the degree of segregation increases as ${\it\Lambda}\mathit{Pe}$ increases. The transient time to reach steady-state segregation depends only on advection, which is manifested in ${\it\epsilon}$ and $\mathit{Pe}$ when ${\it\Lambda}\mathit{Pe}$ is constant. This model is also applied to unsteady tumbler flow, where the rotation speed varies with time.
Entrainment and mixed layer dynamics of a surface-stress-driven stratified fluid
Authors: Manucharyan G. E. , Caulfield C. P.
Published: January 2015

We consider experimentally an initially quiescent and linearly stratified fluid with buoyancy frequency $N_{Q}$ in a cylinder subject to surface-stress forcing from a disc of radius $R$ spinning at a constant angular velocity ${\rm\Omega}$. We observe the growth of the disc-adjacent turbulent mixed layer bounded by a sharp primary interface with a constant characteristic thickness $l_{I}$. To a good approximation the depth of the forced mixed layer scales as $h_{F}/R\sim (N_{Q}/{\rm\Omega})^{-2/3}({\rm\Omega}t)^{2/9}$. Generalising the previous arguments and observations of Shravat et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 691, 2012, pp. 498–517), we show that such a deepening rate is consistent with three central assumptions that allow us to develop a phenomenological energy balance model for the entrainment dynamics. First, the total kinetic energy of the deepening mixed layer $\mathscr{E}_{KF}\propto h_{F}u_{F}^{2}$, where $u_{F}$ is a characteristic velocity scale of the turbulent motions within the forced layer, is essentially independent of time and the buoyancy frequency $N_{Q}$. Second, the scaled entrainment parameter $E={\dot{h}}_{F}/u_{F}$ depends only on the local interfacial Richardson number $Ri_{I}=(N_{Q}^{2}h_{F}l_{I})/(2u_{F}^{2})$. Third, the potential energy increase (due to entrainment, mixing and homogenisation throughout the deepening mixed layer) is driven by the local energy input at the interface, and hence is proportional to the third power of the characteristic velocity $u_{F}$. We establish that internal consistency between these assumptions implies that the rate of increase of the potential energy (and hence the local mass flux across the primary interface) decreases with $Ri_{I}$. This observation suggests, as originally argued by Phillips (Deep-Sea Res., vol. 19, 1972, pp. 79–81), that the mixing in the vicinity of the primary interface leads to the spontaneous appearance of secondary partially mixed layers, and we observe experimentally such secondary layers below the primary interface.
Measuring the Cost of Privacy: A Look at the Distributional Effects of Private Bargaining
Authors: Kucik Jeffrey , Pelc Krzysztof J.
Published: January 2015

Transparency is one of the most contested aspects of international organizations. While observers frequently call for greater oversight of policy making, evidence suggests that settlement between states is more likely when negotiations are conducted behind closed doors. The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) legal body provides a useful illustration of these competing perspectives. As in many courts, WTO dispute settlement is designed explicitly to facilitate settlement throughprivateconsultations. However, this study argues that the privacy of negotiations creates opportunities for states to strike deals that disadvantage others. Looking at product-level trade flows from all disputes between 1995 and 2011, it finds that private (early) settlements lead to discriminatory trade outcomes – complainant countries gain disproportionately more than the rest of the membership. When the facts of a case are made known through a ruling, these disproportional gains disappear entirely. The article also finds that third-party participation – commonly criticized for making settlement less likely – significantly reduces disparities in post-dispute trade. It then draws parallels to domestic law and concludes with a set of policy prescriptions.
Influence of canopy-forming algae on temperate sponge assemblages
Authors: Cárdenas César A. , Davy Simon K. , Bell James J.
Published: January 2015

Experimental removals of the dominant canopy-forming kelpEcklonia radiatawere conducted at two sites on rocky walls in New Zealand and monitored for approximately 1.5 years. We hypothesized that the removal of theE. radiatacanopy would affect the structure of subcanopy assemblages, such that there would be a reduction in sponge species richness and abundance. Furthermore, we investigated the biological and physical (predictor) variables that best explained variability in sponge assemblages after canopy removal. Canopy removal led to a community dominated by turf algae, which corresponded with a decrease in sponge abundance and richness. Our results suggest that theEckloniacanopy may positively influence the presence of sponge species such asCrella incrustans; we propose that the canopy may allow its coexistence with turf algae underneath the canopy by altering the light regime and other environmental factors, which may be detrimental for some species. Our results highlight how any loss of canopy-forming species might have negative effects on sponge assemblages, which could affect the energy flow and the overall biodiversity found in these habitats.
Public information, public learning and public opinion: democratic accountability in education policy
Authors: Clinton Joshua D. , Grissom Jason A.
Published: January 2015

Theories of political accountability assume citizens use information about the performance of government to hold public officials accountable, but whether citizens actually use information is difficult to directly examine. We take advantage of the importance of citizen-driven, performance-based accountability for education policy in Tennessee to conduct a survey experiment that identifies the effect of new information, mistaken beliefs and differing considerations on the evaluation of public officials and policy reforms using 1,500 Tennesseans. Despite an emphasis on reporting outcomes for school accountability policies in the state, mistaken beliefs are prevalent and produce overly optimistic assessments of the institutions responsible for statewide education policy. Moreover, individuals update their assessments of these institutions in an unbiased way when provided with objective performance data about overall student performance. Providing additional information about race-related performance differences does not alter this relationship, however. Finally, support for specific policies that are intended to improve student performance is unchanged by either type of performance information; opinions about policy reforms are instead most related to race and existing partisan commitments.
Sporadic salmonellosis in Lower Saxony, Germany, 2011–2013: raw ground pork consumption is associated withSalmonellaTyphimurium infections and foreign travel withSalmonellaEnteritidis infections
Authors: RETTENBACHER-RIEFLER S. , ZIEHM D. , KREIENBROCK L. , CAMPE A. , PULZ M. , DREESMAN J.
Published: January 2015

To investigate risk factors for sporadic salmonellosis, for each notified case four randomly selected population controls matched for age, sex and geographical region were interviewed via self-administered questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression analysis of 285 matched pairs revealed significant associations for raw ground pork consumption [odds ratio (OR) 6·0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·8–20·1], taking antacids (OR 5·8, 95% CI 1·4–24·5), eating meat outside the home (OR 5·7, 95% CI 2·2–14·6) and daily changing or cleaning of dishcloth (OR 2·1, 95% CI 1·2–3·9). Animal contact and ice cream consumption were negatively associated with salmonellosis (OR 0·5, 95% CI 0·2–1 and OR 0·3, 95% CI 0·1–0·6, respectively).S.Typhimurium infections were significantly associated with raw ground pork consumption (OR 16·7, 95% CI 1·4–194·4) andS.Enteritidis infections with having travelled abroad (OR 9·7, 95% CI 2·0–47·3). Raw egg consumption was not a risk factor, substantiating the success of recently implemented national control programmes in the poultry industry. Unexpectedly, hygienic behaviour was more frequently reported by cases, probably because they overestimated their hygiene precautions retrospectively. Although animal contact might enhance human immunocompetence, underreporting of salmonellosis by pet owners could have occurred. Eating raw pork products is the major risk factor for sporadic humanS.Typhimurium infections in Lower Saxony.
Interference in a three-dimensional array of jets
Authors: WESTWOOD P. E. , SMITH F. T.
Published: January 2015

The theoretical investigation here of a three-dimensional array of jets of fluid (air guns) and their interference is motivated by applications to the food sorting industry especially. Three-dimensional motion without symmetry is addressed for arbitrary jet cross-sections and incident velocity profiles. Asymptotic analysis based on the comparatively long axial length scale of the configuration leads to a reduced longitudinal vortex system providing a slender flow model for the complete array response. Analytical and numerical studies, along with comparisons and asymptotic limits or checks, are presented for various cross-sectional shapes of nozzle and velocity inputs. The influences of swirl and of unsteady jets are examined. Substantial cross-flows are found to occur due to the interference. The flow solution is non-periodic in the cross-plane even if the nozzle array itself is periodic. The analysis shows that in general the bulk of the three-dimensional motion can be described simply in a cross-plane problem but the induced flow in the cross-plane is sensitively controlled by edge effects and incident conditions, a feature which applies to any of the array configurations examined. Interference readily alters the cross-flow direction and misdirects the jets. Design considerations centre on target positioning and jet swirling.
Lower apoptosis rate in ovine preantral follicles from ovaries stored in supplemented preservation media
Authors: Gonçalves R.J.S. , Cavalcante A.Y.P. , Gouveia B.B. , Lins T.L.B. , Barberino R.S. , Menezes V.G. , Barros V.R.P. , Macedo T.J.S. , Figueiredo J.R. , Matos M.H.T.
Published: January 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ovarian tissue transportation conditions (medium and period of time) on the morphology, apoptosis and development of ovine preantral follicles cultured in vitro. Each ovarian pair was cut into nine slices, with one fragment being fixed immediately (fresh control). The remaining fragments were placed individually in cryotubes containing conservation medium (minimal essential medium (MEM) without supplementation or MEM+ – with supplementation) and stored at 35ºC for 6 or 12 h without (non-cultured) or with subsequent culture for 5 days. Then, the fragments were processed for histological and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) examination. Preservation of ovarian slices in MEM or MEM+ (non-cultured) resulted in similar percentages of normal follicles when compared with the fresh control. Nevertheless, compared with the fresh control, a decrease in the percentage of normal follicles was observed in tissues cultured for 5 days. Only for tissues preserved in supplemented medium (MEM+) for 6 h, the percentage of TUNEL positive cells was similar between non-cultured tissues and tissues cultured for 5 days. Follicular activation and growth (follicular and oocyte diameter) were higher in cultured tissues than in fresh control or non-cultured tissues, except those from fragments preserved for 6 h in MEM and then cultured for 5 days in which no growth was observed. In conclusion, ovine ovarian tissue was successfully preserved in supplemented medium (MEM+) at a temperature close to physiological values (35°C) for up to 6 h without affecting apoptosis in the ovarian follicles and their ability to develop in vitro.
Rocuronium Versus Suxamethonium: A Survey of First-line Muscle Relaxant Use in UK Prehospital Rapid Sequence Induction
Authors: Hartley Emma L. , Alcock Roger
Published: January 2015

Introduction

Prehospital anaesthesia in the United Kingdom (UK) is provided by Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS), a road-based service. Muscle relaxation in rapid sequence induction (RSI) has been traditionally undertaken with the use of suxamethonium; however, rocuronium at higher doses has comparable intubating conditions with fewer side effects.

Hypothesis/Problem

The aim of this survey was to establish how many prehospital services in the UK are now using rocuronium as first line in RSI.

Methods

An online survey was constructed identifying choice of first-line muscle relaxant for RSI and emailed to lead clinicians for BASICS and HEMS services across the UK. If rocuronium was used, further questions regarding optimal dose, sugammadex, contraindications, and difference in intubating conditions were asked.

Results

A total of 29 full responses (93.5%) were obtained from 31 services contacted. Suxamethonium was used first line by 17 prehospital services (58.6%) and rocuronium by 12 (41.4%). In 11 services (91.7%), a dose of 1 mg/kg of rocuronium was used, and in one service, 1.2 mg/kg (8.3%) was used. No services using rocuronium carried sugammadex. In five services, slower relaxation time was found using rocuronium (41.7%), and in seven services, no difference in intubation conditions were noted (58.3%). Contraindications to rocuronium use included high probability of difficult airway and anaphylaxis.

Conclusion

Use of rocuronium as first-line muscle relaxant in prehospital RSI is increasing. Continued auditing of practice will ascertain which services have adopted change and identify if complications of failed intubation increase as a result.

HartleyEL, AlcockR. Rocuronium versus suxamethonium: a survey of first-line muscle relaxant use in UK prehospital rapid sequence induction. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(2):1-3.
Impact of a nutrition award scheme on the food and nutrient intakes of 2- to 4-year-olds attending long day care
Authors: Bell Lucinda K , Hendrie Gilly A , Hartley Jo , Golley Rebecca K
Published: January 2015

Objective

Early childhood settings are promising avenues to intervene to improve children’s nutrition. Previous research has shown that a nutrition award scheme, Start Right – Eat Right (SRER), improves long day care centre policies, menus and eating environments. Whether this translates into improvements in children’s dietary intake is unknown. The present study aimed to determine whether SRER improves children’s food and nutrient intakes.

Design

Pre–post cohort study.

Setting

Twenty long day care centres in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Subjects

Children aged 2–4 years (n 236 at baseline, n 232 at follow-up).

Methods

Dietary intake (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea) was assessed pre- and post-SRER implementation using the plate wastage method. Centre nutrition policies, menus and environments were evaluated as measures of intervention fidelity. Comparisons between baseline and follow-up were made using t tests.

Results

At follow-up, 80 % of centres were fully compliant with the SRER award criteria, indicating high scheme implementation and adoption. Intake increased for all core food groups (range: 0·2–0·4 servings/d, P<0·001) except for vegetable intake. Energy intake increased and improvements in intakes of eleven out of the nineteen nutrients evaluated were observed.

Conclusions

SRER is effective in improving children’s food and nutrient intakes at a critical time point when dietary habits and preferences are established and can inform future public health nutrition interventions in this setting.
The Composer as ‘Good European’: Musical Modernism,Amor fatiand the Cosmopolitanism of Frederick Delius
Authors: COLLINS SARAH
Published: January 2015

This article argues that early twentieth-century debates about both musical modernism and the idea of Europe were conditioned by prevailing attitudes towards autonomy. It will challenge the current rendering of modernist autonomy as depoliticized by showing how the attribution of ‘cosmopolitan’ characteristics to the music and persona of Frederick Delius indicated both an absence of affiliation and a definitive marker of Englishness. Underpinning this argument is the idea that attending to the dialectical interplay between independence and cooperation in the notion of ‘rooted cosmopolitanism’ can offer a model for a renewed conception of autonomy and commitment in musical modernism. Delius’s devotion to the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, and Nietzsche's own analysis of European nihilism, will act as the backdrop to this discussion and help to suggest how both ‘Europe’ and musical modernism can be understood – via the notion of cosmopolitanism – as dispositions extending beyond their conventional geographical and historical demarcations.
The Genealogy of a Song: Lady Gaga's Musical Intertexts on The Fame Monster (2009)
Authors: BURNS LORI , WOODS ALYSSA , LAFRANCE MARC
Published: January 2015

Lady Gaga's work is noted for her references to the work of other artists and is often criticized for borrowed content that is perceived as exceeding mere generic norms. In this study, we engage closely with the musical and lyrical content of two songs from her extended play release, The Fame Monster (2009), with the goal of identifying and interpreting the intertextual pathways that led to these works. Relying upon theories of intertextuality, we unearth a network of texts invoked in each of her songs and consider these connections to comprise a musical genealogy, invoking Foucault's conception of genealogy as the process of revealing historical knowledge.
Blood protein polymorphism and genetic diversity in locally adapted Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Nigeria
Authors: Oguntunji A.O. , Ayorinde K.L.
Published: January 2015

Characterization and genetic diversities among members of a species are fundamental to their improvement and conservation. This study was conducted to characterize and estimate genetic diversity in the ecotypes of the locally adapted Muscovy duck in Nigeria using blood proteins (haemoglobin, transferrin and albumin) and enzyme (carbonic anhydrase) markers. Blood samples collected from 20, 40 and 20 adult Muscovy ducks sampled randomly from the Rain Forest, Derived Savanna and Guinea Savanna ecotypes, respectively, were typed for blood proteins and enzyme polymorphism with cellulose acetate paper. Genetic variability in the studied population was accessed using heterozygosity (H), effective number of allele (ne) and polymorphism (percent P). All the 13 allelic variants expressed at the four loci were expressed in the Derived Savanna ecotype but 12 each in the Rain Forest and Guinea Savanna ecotypes. Results showed that all the four loci were polymorphic (100 percent) and the estimated heterozygosity among them was similar (0.424–0.481). Similarity in the estimated genetic variability parameters among ecotypes indicate that the sub-populations understudy was under similar evolutionary forces and there were no appreciable differences among them.
«Big Data» – grosse Daten, viel Wissen?
Authors: Hothorn Torsten
Published: January 2015

Der Begriff «Big Data» wird seit einigen Jahren verwendet, um Technologien der empirischen Wissensgewinnung zu beschreiben und ist mittlerweile auch Diskussionsthema in den Massenmedien geworden. Da auch die Medizin eine empirische Wissenschaft ist, soll an dieser Stelle diskutiert werden, was der Begriff «Big Data» bedeutet und welcher potenzielle Nutzen sich für die medizinische Forschung daraus ergibt.
Fatale Agranulozytose nach Metamizol-Reexposition
Authors: Zeiner Evmarie , Blaser Lea S. , Tisljar Kai , Heim Dominik , Taegtmeyer Anne
Published: January 2015

Wir stellen den Fall eines 63-jährigen Mannes vor, der einen schweren septischen Schock mit letalem Ausgang auf Basis einer Agranulozytose entwickelte. Aufgrund des zeitlichen Zusammenhangs, der Verbesserung nach Dechallenge in der Vorgeschichte und aktuellem Rechallenge ist der Kausalzusammenhang für eine erneute Metamizol-induzierte Agranulozytose sicher. Wir diskutieren die Wichtigkeit, Patienten mit einer verdächtigten Metamizol-induzierten Agranulozytose nicht erneut zu exponieren und Patienten sowie behandelnde Ärzte lückenlos zu informieren.
Brain Barrier Properties and Cerebral Blood Flow in Neonatal Mice Exposed to Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia
Authors: Ek C Joakim , D'Angelo Barbara , Baburamani Ana A , Lehner Christine , Leverin Anna-Lena , Smith Peter LP , Nilsson Holger , Svedin Pernilla , Hagberg Henrik , Mallard Carina
Published: January 2015

Insults to the developing brain often result in irreparable damage resulting in long-term deficits in motor and cognitive functions. The only treatment today for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns is hypothermia, which has limited clinical benefit. We have studied changes to the blood–brain barriers (BBB) as well as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in a neonatal model of HIE to further understand the underlying pathologic mechanisms. Nine-day old mice pups, brain roughly equivalent to the near-term human fetus, were subjected to hypoxia-ischemia. Hypoxia-ischemia increased BBB permeability to small and large molecules within hours after the insult, which normalized in the following days. The opening of the BBB was associated with changes to BBB protein expression whereas gene transcript levels were increased showing direct molecular damage to the BBB but also suggesting compensatory mechanisms. Brain pathology was closely related to reductions in rCBF during the hypoxia as well as the areas with compromised BBB showing that these are intimately linked. The transient opening of the BBB after the insult is likely to contribute to the pathology but at the same time provides an opportunity for therapeutics to better reach the infarcted areas in the brain.
New loci and coding variants confer risk for age-related macular degeneration in East Asians
Authors: Cheng Ching-Yu , Yamashiro Kenji , Jia Chen Li , Ahn Jeeyun , Huang Lulin , Huang Lvzhen , Cheung Chui Ming G. , Miyake Masahiro , Cackett Peter D. , Yeo Ian Y. , Laude Augustinus , Mathur Ranjana , Pang Junxiong , Sim Kar Seng , Koh Adrian H. , Chen Peng , Lee Shu Yen , Wong Doric , Chan Choi Mun , Loh Boon Kwang , Sun Yaoyao , Davila Sonia , Nakata Isao , Nakanishi Hideo , Akagi-Kurashige Yumiko , Gotoh Norimoto , Tsujikawa Akitaka , Matsuda Fumihiko , Mori Keisuke , Yoneya Shin , Sakurada Yoichi , Iijima Hiroyuki , Iida Tomohiro , Honda Shigeru , Lai Timothy Yuk Yau , Tam Pancy Oi Sin , Chen Haoyu , Tang Shibo , Ding Xiaoyan , Wen Feng , Lu Fang , Zhang Xiongze , Shi Yi , Zhao Peiquan , Zhao Bowen , Sang Jinghong , Gong Bo , Dorajoo Rajkumar , Yuan Jian-Min , Koh Woon-Puay , van Dam Rob M. , Friedlander Yechiel , Lin Ying , Hibberd Martin L. , Foo Jia Nee , Wang Ningli , Wong Chang Hua , Tan Gavin S. , Park Sang Jun , Bhargava Mayuri , Gopal Lingam , Naing Thet , Liao Jiemin , Guan Ong Peng , Mitchell Paul , Zhou Peng , Xie Xuefeng , Liang Jinlong , Mei Junpu , Jin Xin , Saw Seang-Mei , Ozaki Mineo , Mizoguchi Takanori , Kurimoto Yasuo , Woo Se Joon , Chung Hum , Yu Hyeong-Gon , Shin Joo Young , Park Dong Ho , Kim In Taek , Chang Woohyok , Sagong Min , Lee Sang-Joon , Kim Hyun Woong , Lee Ji Eun , Li Yi , Liu Jianjun , Teo Yik Ying , Heng Chew Kiat , Lim Tock Han , Yang Suk-Kyun , Song Kyuyoung , Vithana Eranga N. , Aung Tin , Bei Jin Xin , Zeng Yi Xin , Tai E. Shyong , Li Xiao Xin , Yang Zhenglin , Park Kyu-Hyung , Pang Chi Pui , Yoshimura Nagahisa , Yin Wong Tien , Khor Chiea Chuen
Published: January 2015

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness, but presents differently in Europeans and Asians. Here, we perform a genome-wide and exome-wide association study on 2,119 patients with exudative AMD and 5,691 controls, with independent replication in 4,226 patients and 10,289 controls, all of East Asian descent, as part of The Genetics of AMD in Asians (GAMA) Consortium. We find a strong association between CETP Asp442Gly (rs2303790), an East Asian-specific mutation, and increased risk of AMD (odds ratio (OR)=1.70, P=5.60 × 10−22). The AMD risk allele (442Gly), known to protect from coronary heart disease, increases HDL cholesterol levels by 0.17 mmol l−1 (P=5.82 × 10−21) in East Asians (n=7,102). We also identify three novel AMD loci: C6orf223 Ala231Ala (OR=0.78, P=6.19 × 10−18), SLC44A4 Asp47Val (OR=1.27, P=1.08 × 10−11) and FGD6 Gln257Arg (OR=0.87, P=2.85 × 10−8). Our findings suggest that some of the genetic loci conferring AMD susceptibility in East Asians are shared with Europeans, yet AMD in East Asians may also have a distinct genetic signature.
Draft genome sequence of adzuki bean, Vigna angularis
Authors: Kang Yang Jae , Satyawan Dani , Shim Sangrea , Lee Taeyoung , Lee Jayern , Hwang Won Joo , Kim Sue K. , Lestari Puji , Laosatit Kularb , Kim Kil Hyun , Ha Tae Joung , Chitikineni Annapurna , Kim Moon Young , Ko Jong-Min , Gwag Jae-Gyun , Moon Jung-Kyung , Lee Yeong-Ho , Park Beom-Seok , Varshney Rajeev K. , Lee Suk-Ha
Published: January 2015

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis var. angularis) is a dietary legume crop in East Asia. The presumed progenitor (Vigna angularis var. nipponensis) is widely found in East Asia, suggesting speciation and domestication in these temperate climate regions. Here, we report a draft genome sequence of adzuki bean. The genome assembly covers 75% of the estimated genome and was mapped to 11 pseudo-chromosomes. Gene prediction revealed 26,857 high confidence protein-coding genes evidenced by RNAseq of different tissues. Comparative gene expression analysis with V. radiata showed that the tissue specificity of orthologous genes was highly conserved. Additional re-sequencing of wild adzuki bean, V. angularis var. nipponensis and V. nepalensis, was performed to analyze the variations between cultivated and wild adzuki bean. The determined divergence time of adzuki bean and the wild species predated archaeology-based domestication time. The present genome assembly will accelerate the genomics-assisted breeding of adzuki bean.
Fabrication of high-Q lithium niobate microresonators using femtosecond laser micromachining
Authors: Lin Jintian , Xu Yingxin , Fang Zhiwei , Wang Min , Song Jiangxin , Wang Nengwen , Qiao Lingling , Fang Wei , Cheng Ya
Published: January 2015

We report on fabrication of high-Q lithium niobate (LN) whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) microresonators suspended on silica pedestals by femtosecond laser direct writing followed by focused ion beam (FIB) milling. The micrometer-scale (diameter ~82 μm) LN resonator possesses a Q factor of ~2.5 × 105 around 1550 nm wavelength. The combination of femtosecond laser direct writing with FIB enables high-efficiency, high-precision nanofabrication of high-Q crystalline microresonators.
A method for the comparison of multi-platform spectral histopathology (SHP) data sets
Authors: Ergin Ayşegül , Großerüschkamp Frederik , Theisen Oliver , Gerwert Klaus , Remiszewski Stan , Thompson Clay M. , Diem Max
Published: January 2015

Results of a study comparing infrared imaging data sets collected on different instruments or instrument platforms are reported, along with detailed methods developed to permit such comparisons.
Photo-responsive self-assemblies based on bio-inspired DNA-base containing bolaamphiphiles
Authors: Al-Shereiqi Ahmed S. , Boyd Ben J. , Saito Kei
Published: January 2015

Photo-responsive thymine incorporated bolaamphiphiles/superamphiphiles that can transfrom the aggregation morphology into spherical structures from ribbon-like structures by UV irradiation were investigated.
Silver-mediated direct phosphorylation of benzothiazoles and thiazoles with diarylphosphine oxides
Authors: Zhang Hui-Jun , Lin Weidong , Wu Zhengjian , Ruan Wenqing , Wen Ting-Bin
Published: January 2015

A AgNO3-mediated, efficient phosphorylation of thiazole rings with Ar2(O)PH was developed, which may produce a convenient route to the synthesis of various novel P,N-ligands.
Aqueous medium induced optical transitions in cerium oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Inerbaev Talgat M. , Karakoti Ajay S. , Kuchibhatla Satyanarayana V. N. T. , Kumar Amit , Masunov Artëm E. , Seal Sudipta
Published: January 2015

Experimental and theoretical investigations were performed to investigate the effect of water on optical properties of nanoceria as a function of Ce3+ concentration.
Oscillations and patterns in a model of simultaneous CO and C2H2oxidation and NOxreduction in a cross-flow reactor
Authors: Hadač Otto , Kohout Martin , Havlica Jaromír , Schreiber Igor
Published: January 2015

Spatiotemporal patterns predicted by a model of a cross-flow tubular reactor with a complex heterogeneous reaction are linked to unstable reaction subnetworks identified in the mechanism.
Image molecular dipoles in surface enhanced Raman scattering
Authors: Teodorescu Cristian Mihail
Published: January 2015

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is explained by considering interactions of molecular dipoles with their image charges formed in metal substrates.
Stable compositions and structures in the Na–Bi system
Authors: Cheng Xiyue , Li Ronghan , Li Dianzhong , Li Yiyi , Chen Xing-Qiu
Published: January 2015

Predicted phase diversity and interesting properties of the Na–Bi system in the range of 0–320 GPa from first-principles calculations.
Carrier mobility of MoS2nanoribbons with edge chemical modification
Authors: Xiao Jin , Long Mengqiu , Li Mingjun , Li Xinmei , Xu Hui , Chan Kwoksum
Published: January 2015

Charge mobility can be regulated by edge chemical modification in MoS2ribbons.
An investigation of organic photovoltaics improvement via extension of the exciton lifetime
Authors: Yao En-Ping , Tsai Yi-Jhe , Hsu Wei-Chou
Published: January 2015

Doping the phosphorescent material, Ir(ppz)3, in a P3HT:ICBA film successfully enhances theJSCviaextension of the exciton lifetime.