bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A State-Level Review of Diversity Initiatives in Congregate Meal Programs Established Under the Older Americans Act
Authors: Porter Kristen E. , Cahill Sean
Published: September 2014

The Older Americans Act (OAA) congregate meal program (CMP) targets those most at risk for nutritional deficiencies, social isolation, and institutionalization. Social minorities (racial, ethnic, cultural, and sexual minorities) are at high risk for all three. This study explores state-level diversity initiatives to welcome these social minorities in CMPs. A national survey was distributed to each State Unit on Aging, all but three states participated. The majority of states (64.6%) target CMPs to a specific racial, ethnic, or cultural minority; five states target sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT]). Negative binomial regression results find state minority population percentage is a significant predictor of the number of diversity initiatives at CMPs. States with LGBT CMPs reported the highest levels of racial/ethnic/cultural diversity initiatives and high levels of statewide LGBT protective policies. Recommendations are suggested that build upon the diversification success of states to further the mission of OAA in reaching high-risk older adults.
The determinants behind Chinese companies’ incremental equity issue decisions
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan
Published: September 2014

This paper studies the determinants behind Chinese companies’ decisions to make seasoned equity offerings (SEO). Probit regressions are employed and a Monte Carlo simulation method is used to confirm the non-existence of the spurious correlation problem found in traditional models of capital structure. Evidence is found to confirm the privilege of state-controlled enterprises to access equity. A corporate governance indicator based on the completion of the Split Share Structure Reform is also introduced. However, no evidence to support the importance of corporate governance is found. The results of this study imply that in a country where the state dominates the intermediation of capital, investors and thus companies are less sensitive to the quality of corporate governance. Different factors have been observed to affect Chinese firms’ SEO decisions prior to and post the Split Share Structure Reform. The influence from the state has also been weakened after the reform, particularly after the global financial crisis.
Nonvascular drug-eluting stent coated with sodium caprate-incorporated polyurethane for the efficient penetration of paclitaxel into tumor tissue
Authors: Jeong Dooyong , Lee Don Haeng , Lee Dong Ki , Na Kun
Published: September 2014

To increase the therapeutic potency of nonvascular drug-eluting stents, sodium caprate was employed as a drug-penetration enhancer. A polytetrafluoroethylene-covered drug-eluting stent was coated with a mixture containing sodium caprate, paclitaxel, and polyurethane via the rolling coating technique. The coated stent has a smooth membrane surface with a 40-µm membrane thickness. Paclitaxel was released from the coated stent for two months. In the multilayered cell sheet model, sodium caprate in the polyurethane membrane (PUSC10) showed the possibility of enhancing the paclitaxel tissue penetration. The amount of penetrated paclitaxel for the sodium caprate-containing polyurethane membrane (PUSC10) was two times higher than that of sodium caprate-free polyurethane membrane. Additionally, the potential of sodium caprate was confirmed by a tumor-bearing small animal model. PUSC10 incorporated with Nile red (as a model fluorescence dye for visualization of drug penetration; PUSC10–Nile red) or PUSC10 incorporated with paclitaxel (PUSC10–paclitaxel) membrane was implanted at tumor sites in Balb/c mice. In the case of PUSC10–Nile red, the tissue penetration depth of Nile red was significantly increased from 30 µm (without sodium caprate) to 1060 µm (with sodium caprate). After seven days, an almost four times higher therapeutic area of PUSC10–paclitaxel was observed compared to that of polyurethane–paclitaxel (without sodium caprate) by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. The results indicate that sodium caprate improves the penetration and therapeutic efficiencies of drugs in drug-eluting stents, and thus, it has potential for local stent therapy.
Thermodynamic losses of hetero and homogeneous condensation in steam turbine cascades
Authors: Št'astný M , Šejna M
Published: September 2014

The approach used in this paper for the condensation of flowing steam is based on the homogeneous condensation of steam and also on the heterogeneous (binary) nucleation of water droplets with a representative chemical impurity NaCl. The physical and mathematical models are briefly described. The homogeneous and binary nucleation numerical models are then used for the calculation of steam flow with condensation in the two-dimensional nozzle-blade cascade of the first wet stage of the low-pressure part of a fossil-fuelled condensing 200-MW steam turbine and in a similar cascade of the low-pressure part of a nuclear 1000-MW turbine. Results of the calculations of the flow in the cascades and of the thermodynamic loss are presented and analysed. It is recommended to situate the salt solution zone of NaCl upstream of a turbine nozzle cascade, to use a lower expansion rate on the cascade, and to realise there, primarily, a heterogeneous process (binary nucleation of steam and NaCl) for the initial condensation.
Correcting the expression of miRNA-155 represses PP2Ac and enhances the release of IL-2 in PBMCs of juvenile SLE patients
Authors: Lashine Y A , Salah S , Aboelenein H R , Abdelaziz A I
Published: September 2014

MicroRNA-155 is involved in immune cell, differentiation, maturation and function. MiR-155 showed variable dysregulated expression in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. MiR-155 was previously confirmed to directly target CAMP response element binding protein (CREB), which was previously identified as a positive regulator of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). PP2A is a key negative regulator of interleukin-2, which is an important immune modulator and was previously shown to be decreased in SLE. In this study we aimed at investigating the regulation of PP2A by miR-155 and hence its role in juvenile SLE disease pathogenesis. MiR-155 showed significant downregulation in PBMCs from juvenile SLE and juvenile familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and significant upregulation in PBMCs from juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients. In SLE, miR-155 expression was negatively correlated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score and proteinuria and was positively correlated with white blood cell (WBC) count. The mRNA of the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2Ac) showed significant upregulation in PBMCs from SLE and FMF but not in JIA patients. Additionally, the relative expression of PP2Ac mRNA was positively correlated with SLEDAI score. Forced expression of miR-155 led to decreased relative expression of PP2Ac mRNA and increased IL-2 release in cultured-stimulated PBMCs. This study suggests for the first time the possible role of an miR-155-PP2Ac loop in regulating IL-2 release and identifies miR-155 as a potential therapeutic target in juvenile SLE disease through relieving IL-2 from the inhibitory role of PP2A.
Detecting associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the X chromosome in case control genome-wide association studies
Authors: Chen Zhongxue , Ng Hon Keung Tony , Li Jing , Liu Qingzhong , Huang Hanwen
Published: September 2014

In the past decade, hundreds of genome-wide association studies have been conducted to detect the significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms that are associated with certain diseases. However, most of the data from the X chromosome were not analyzed and only a few significant associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms from the X chromosome have been identified from genome-wide association studies. This is mainly due to the lack of powerful statistical tests. In this paper, we propose a novel statistical approach that combines the information of single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the X chromosome from both males and females in an efficient way. The proposed approach avoids the need of making strong assumptions about the underlying genetic models. Our proposed statistical test is a robust method that only makes the assumption that the risk allele is the same for both females and males if the single-nucleotide polymorphism is associated with the disease for both genders. Through simulation study and a real data application, we show that the proposed procedure is robust and have excellent performance compared to existing methods. We expect that many more associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the X chromosome will be identified if the proposed approach is applied to current available genome-wide association studies data.
China and India in Energy Sphere: A Comparative Overview, Challenges and Scope for Cooperation
Authors: Jain Varinder
Published: September 2014

While understanding the current situation and the nature of pervading challenges, this article explores the scope for mutual cooperation between the Asian giants, namely, China and India, in the sphere of energy. It brings out that the two economies are heavily dependent on coal and the oil dominance remains largely irreplaceable. Similarly, the consumption of natural gas has been gaining significance. But, the renewable resources are not adequately harnessed. With regard to major challenges, the article notes the widespread incidence of energy poverty and inequality. There prevails a high level of energy inefficiency. Assured long-run supply of hydrocarbons remains the concern and the pace of harnessing renewable energy sources is slow. The article finally examines the scope for mutual cooperation by locating various areas within the energy sector.
Book Review: Antara Dutta. 2013. Refugees and Borders in South Asia: The Great Exodus of 1971
Authors: Singh Neeta S.
Published: September 2014

Antara Dutta. 2013. Refugees and Borders in South Asia: The Great Exodus of 1971. Abingdon, Oxon, USA and Canada: Routledge, 135$, i-vii + 1– 229 pp., ISBN: 978-0-415-52472-8, 978-0-203-10461-3.
Book Review: Mahmood Farooqui. 2010. Besieged: Voices from Delhi 1857
Authors: Sigroha Suman
Published: September 2014

Mahmood Farooqui. 2010. Besieged: Voices from Delhi 1857. New Delhi: Viking, ₹ 499, xxxvii + 458 pp., ISBN: 9780670999422.
Effect of smooth moving punch in an initially stressed monoclinic magnetoelastic crystalline medium due to shear wave propagation
Authors: Singh Abhishek K , Kumar Santan , Chattopadhyay Amares
Published: September 2014

This work studies the effect of a semi-infinite smooth moving punch on the shear wave propagation in an initially stressed magnetoelastic monoclinic strip. The closed form expression of dynamic stress concentration due to the punch for the force of a constant intensity has been established. The speed of moving punch associated with shear wave speed in the medium, vertical compressive initial stress, vertical tensile initial stress and monoclinic magnetoelastic coupling parameter have a substantial effect on the dynamic stress concentration owing to a semi-infinite smooth moving punch. Numerical computation and graphical demonstration has been carried out for quartz crystal with monoclinic symmetry to observe the profound effect of these affecting parameters on dynamic stress concentration. In order to highlight some of the important peculiarities of the problem, a comparative study of dynamic stress concentration in an initially stressed magnetoelastic monoclinic strip and initially stressed magnetoelastic isotropic strip has been made. Weiner-Hopf technique indicated by Matczynski has been adopted to solve the problem. In particular, some special cases have been deduced from the obtained expression of dynamic stress concentration due to the smooth moving punch.
Structural damage identification based on residual force vector and response sensitivity analysis
Authors: Li Hao , Lu Zhongrong , Liu Jike
Published: September 2014

A two-stage approach based on residual force vector and response sensitivity analysis is proposed for structural damage identification in this study. Local damage is represented by a perturbation in the elemental stiffness parameter of the structural finite element model. Primarily, the difference between the virtual residual force vector of an intact and damaged structure is used to localize the damage. Then, a response sensitivity-based method is adopted to identify the perturbation of the stiffness parameter (i.e., the extent of the local damage) from the measured dynamic responses. Numerical simulations are conducted to identify both single and multiple structural damages under sinusoidal or impulsive excitation. The proposed approach gives satisfactory results with artificial measurement noise.
Rethinking Competition in TIGER
Authors: Lowe Kate
Published: September 2014

Increasing the use of merit-based competition has become a popular policy idea for federal transportation funding. Focusing on a competitive program—the 2009 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program—this article asserts thatsuch competition does not guarantee transparency or that awards will actually maximize benefits. In addition, competitive award programs can widen gaps across places and among people. Rather than rush towards competition, careful program design is needed, and more debate on the federal role in transportation is warranted.
Experiential Brand Deployment: Improving Tourism Brand Evaluations
Authors: Chen Hsiu-Li , Mathews Shane
Published: September 2014

This article examines the use of an experiential branding process to help leisure resort businesses evaluate their brand. We integrate experiential marketing and the quality function development approach in combination to help understand the brand from the perspectives of both the consumer and firm, to help resort service businesses build their experience-oriented competitive brands. The value of this study is that it provides a real-world brand framework, especially those resorts with limited resources. Much is spoken about the influence of the brand and why it is important, but little is known about decisions related to developing a brand, especially for firms that have limited resources such as resort tourism operators. Tourism operators tend to be small-to-medium enterprises that do not necessarily have the capacity to do everything suggested. Therefore, we explore how firms assess the critical elements of their brand by using an integrated approach. For example, the study finds that, first, by using the quality function development method resorts can identify the most critical brand elements, and second, we identify the associated strengths of each brand element and confirm the identified resort’s critical brand elements for investment. Results show the potential strategies to create a more holistic set of experiences.
Vita tua, mors mea: The experience of family caregivers of patients in a vegetative state
Authors: Cipolletta Sabrina , Pasi Margherita , Avesani Renato
Published: September 2014

This study aims to understand whether, and possibly how, caregivers of patients in a vegetative state experience an emotional paradox between life and death. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 (19 females and 5 males) caregivers of vegetative state patients living in northern Italy. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Caregivers felt they were the only ones able to understand and give answer to patients’ needs, but neglected their own lives in their total commitment to the patient. The findings highlight the importance for vegetative state caregivers in considering new possibilities of life that go beyond the assistance of vegetative state patients.
The slow violence of state organized race crime
Authors: Ward Geoff
Published: September 2014

The politicization of crime challenges theoretical and empirical criminology, while drawing the discipline into politics of criminal social control. This complication and complicity is considered in the case of state organized race crime, and especially its “slow violence”, where victimization is attritional, dispersed, and hidden. Criminology is not merely compromised here—or limited in theoretical and empirical reach—but complicit, contributing to under-regulated racial violence rationalized in large part by the criminalization of race. The discipline might contribute to increased understanding of state organized race crime, and lessen its role therein, with greater commitments to critical race research and teaching.
Modeling and estimating continuous Improvised Explosive Device supply chain behavior
Authors: Liu Tony , Pond Kevin
Published: September 2014

Over a given period of time, coalition forces can collect data on the number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that are found or detonated. However, the number of IEDs emplaced and in construction, as well as the rates in which IEDs are moving throughout the supply chain, remains unknown. We show that using the data on IEDs detonated and found, we can mathematically estimate the behavior of the entire supply chain, thus providing estimates on previously unknown aspects of the IED supply chain. This provides useful information on the unobservable parts of the supply chain and offers better metrics for gauging the effectiveness of counter-IED efforts.
Diagnostic Role of ECG Recording Simultaneously With EEG Testing
Authors: Kendirli Mustafa Tansel , Aparci Mustafa , Kendirli Nurten , Tekeli Hakan , Karaoglan Mustafa , Senol Mehmet Guney , Togrol Erdem
Published: September 2014

Arrhythmia is not uncommon in the etiology of syncope which mimics epilepsy. Data about the epilepsy induced vagal tonus abnormalities have being increasingly reported. So we aimed to evaluate what a neurologist may gain by a simultaneous electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG) recording in the patients who underwent EEG testing due to prediagnosis of epilepsy. We retrospectively evaluated and detected ECG abnormalities in 68 (18%) of 376 patients who underwent EEG testing. A minimum of 20 of minutes artifact-free recording were required for each patient. Standard 1-channel ECG was simultaneously recorded in conjunction with the EEG. In all, 28% of females and 14% of males had ECG abnormalities. Females (mean age 49 years, range 18-88 years) were older compared with the male group (mean age 28 years, range 16-83 years). Atrial fibrillation was more frequent in female group whereas bradycardia and respiratory sinus arrhythmia was higher in male group. One case had been detected a critical asystole indicating sick sinus syndrome in the female group and treated with a pacemaker implantation in the following period. Simultaneous ECG recording in conjunction with EEG testing is a clinical prerequisite to detect and to clarify the coexisting ECG and EEG abnormalities and their clinical relevance. Potentially rare lethal causes of syncope that mimic seizure or those that could cause resistance to antiepileptic therapy could effectively be distinguished by detecting ECG abnormalities coinciding with the signs and abnormalities during EEG recording.
Rendering Invisible Punishments Visible
Authors: Welsh Megan , Rajah Valli
Published: September 2014

As the pendulum swings away from mass incarceration, feminist criminologists must be alert to the ways in which forms of invisible punishment continue to oppress and marginalize crime-processed women. Institutional ethnography is a mode of inquiry that examines work processes and how they are coordinated, often through texts and discourses. Through illustrative examples from a sample of formerly incarcerated women in post-realignment California, we demonstrate institutional ethnography’s importance as a feminist research tool that places the reentry work of crime-processed women in conversation with the invisible punishments imposed on them after and in lieu of incarceration.
Focus on the Family
Authors: Morash Merry , Andersen Tia S. , Yingling Julie
Published: September 2014

Interviews with 27 girls and the professionals who worked with them yielded retrospective accounts of court interventions into families. Contradicting prior criticisms, for the setting and sample, girls were not confined to control sexual activity or as punishment for crimes committed after they ran from abusive families. Intervention problems included holding girls responsible for fighting with physically abusive caretakers, and electronically forced presence in homes with destructive caretakers. Family counseling benefitted girls with troubled families. Independent living benefited those with intractably destructive families. The research generated contemporary local information about broad criticisms leveled against juvenile courts’ responses to girls.
Comparative/International Research on Women and Crime
Authors: Kim Bitna , Merlo Alida V.
Published: September 2014

Despite the recent advocacy of comparative/international and collaborative research by the leaders in the field of criminology and criminal justice, there is uncertainty regarding how much comparative/international research on the topic of women is being conducted. Using the published abstracts of papers presented at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) Annual Meeting and the European Society of Criminology (ESC) Annual Meeting, the authors examine presentations on women and crime with a cross-cultural or international focus. The current study found that research on crime with an international or comparative focus accounted for an average 14.1% of the ASC women and crime presentations over the 12-year period, and about 24.2% of the ESC women and crime presentations over the 10-year period. With respect to comparing the topical areas of the research, domestic violence was the most prevalent topic in presentations on women and crime at both the ASC and ESC Annual Meetings, while presentations on sex crimes and trafficking occurred more frequently at the ESC Annual Meetings than the ASC Annual Meetings. The authors also discuss the role that the ASC Division of Women and Crime and the Gender, Crime and Justice Working Group of the ESC can play to encourage the study of women and crime internationally.
The ASC Division on Women and Crime From 30 Years Out
Authors: Rasche Christine E.
Published: September 2014

The Division on Women and Crime (DWC) of the American Society of Criminology (ASC) is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2014. Anniversaries are good times to reflect on where we have come from and where we are going. This article traces the history and origins of the DWC from its inception in the 1970s, through its struggles in the 1980s to win recognition within the ASC, to its current status today as one of the largest and most vibrant divisions within the ASC. The discussion includes the DWC’s development within a traditionally male-dominated profession and parallel to the emergence of the women’s movement in the United States, along with an analysis of specific strategies employed by the DWC which helped to make it successful within that context.
Probabilistic model–based multi-integration formulas for quantifying a generalized minimal cut sequence
Authors: Ge Daochuan , Zhang Ruoxing , Chou Qiang , Yang Yanhua
Published: September 2014

Many sequence- and function-dependent failure behaviors may exist in fault-tolerant systems, in which the failure of the systems depends not only on the combination of basic events but also on their failure sequences. Such systems can be modeled by dynamic fault tree with Priority AND gate, Spare gate, Sequence Enforcing gate and Functional Dependence gate. The existing analytical methods for analyzing these dynamic gates are mainly Markov-based or inclusion–exclusion-based approaches. Compared with Markov approaches, the inclusion–exclusion-based method presents notable advantages. However, to the author’s knowledge, no references by far have presented general multi-integration formulas applicable for solving a generalized minimal cut sequence, which is an unavoidable problem in inclusion–exclusion-based method. In this article, new multi-integration formulas are proposed based on traditional probabilistic models, which are applicable for solving a generalized minimal cut sequence as well as any dynamic gate. The rigorous derivation processes are given. The application and advantages of our proposed approach are demonstrated through a case study and the results indicate our proposed approach is reasonable.
A Novel, Stable, Aqueous Glucagon Formulation Using Ferulic Acid as an Excipient
Authors: Bakhtiani Parkash A. , Caputo Nicholas , Castle Jessica R. , El Youssef Joseph , Carroll Julie M. , David Larry L. , Roberts Charles T. , Ward W. Kenneth
Published: September 2014

Background:

Commercial glucagon is unstable due to aggregation and degradation. In closed-loop studies, it must be reconstituted frequently. For use in a portable pump for 3 days, a more stable preparation is required. At alkaline pH, curcumin inhibited glucagon aggregation. However, curcumin is not sufficiently stable for long-term use. Here, we evaluated ferulic acid, a stable breakdown product of curcumin, for its ability to stabilize glucagon.

Methods:

Ferulic acid-formulated glucagon (FAFG), composed of ferulic acid, glucagon, L-methionine, polysorbate-80, and human serum albumin in glycine buffer at pH 9, was aged for 7 days at 37°C. Glucagon aggregation was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and degradation by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A cell-based protein kinase A (PKA) assay was used to assess in vitro bioactivity. Pharmacodynamics (PD) of unaged FAFG, 7-day aged FAFG, and unaged synthetic glucagon was determined in octreotide-treated swine.

Results:

No fibrils were observed in TEM images of fresh or aged FAFG. Aged FAFG was 94% intact based on HPLC analysis and there was no loss of bioactivity. In the PD swine analysis, the rise over baseline of glucose with unaged FAFG, aged FAFG, and synthetic native glucagon (unmodified human sequence) was similar.

Conclusions:

After 7 days of aging at 37°C, an alkaline ferulic acid formulation of glucagon exhibited significantly less aggregation and degradation than that seen with native glucagon and was bioactive in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this formulation may be stable for 3-7 days in a portable pump for bihormonal closed-loop treatment of T1D.
Cervical Angina
Authors: Sussman Walter I. , Makovitch Steven A. , Merchant Shabbir Hussain I. , Phadke Jayant
Published: September 2014

Cervical angina has been widely reported as a cause of chest pain but remains underrecognized. This series demonstrates the varied clinical presentation of patients with cervical angina, the delay in diagnosis, and the extensive cardiac examinations patients with this condition typically undergo prior to a definitive diagnosis. Recognition of this condition in patients with acute chest pain requires a high index of suspicion and an awareness of the common presenting features and clinical findings of cervical angina.
“Dad Doesn’t Text”
Authors: Schon Jennifer
Published: September 2014

Advancements in technology have altered how and when communication occurs between individuals in a relationship. Although research has investigated how new information communication technologies (ICTs) affect peer relationships and parents’ communication with their young children, how ICTs influence parent–adult child relationships is less clear. Based on media multiplexity theory (MMT), this study tested whether the number of media used to interact influences communication and relationship satisfaction for emerging adult children. Results indicated that the number of media parents and emerging adult children utilize to maintain their relationship does modestly influence communication and relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, these results imply that utilizing additional media can offset a parent’s low communication competence. These findings extend MMT to family relationships and underscore the importance of communication competence in communication and relationship satisfaction.
Environmental Disputes and Opportunity-Threat Impacts Surrounding Natural Gas Fracking in Louisiana
Authors: Ladd Anthony E.
Published: September 2014

Despite the increasing socioenvironmental controversy over the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology in unconventional natural gas development (i.e., fracking), few sociological studies have used citizen interview narratives to examine attitudes toward shale fracking at the local level. Drawing on sociological research, discursive documents, and in-depth interview data collected from regional stakeholder groups/citizens, this article offers a qualitative analysis of the environmental disputes and opportunity-threat impacts perceived to surround natural gas exploration and hydraulic fracking in the Haynesville Shale region of Louisiana. The narratives reveal that the fracking dispute largely revolves around divergent diagnostic and prognostic beliefs about shale gas development, as well as whether the perceived economic opportunities of development outweigh the alleged socioenvironmental risks to the Haynesville community. Some conclusions about the utility of qualitative research for the study of environmental controversies like fracking, as well as the potential future direction of the growing national debate over shale gas and oil extraction, are discussed.
Power, Quiescence, and Pollution
Authors: Shriver Thomas E. , Adams Alison E. , Messer Chris M.
Published: September 2014

The number of communities dealing with industrial pollution in the United States has increased dramatically over the past three decades. Environmental campaigns have consequentially emerged and so has research on successful mobilizing efforts. A gap remains, however, on cases where mobilization fails to materialize. In this article, we develop a typology of power’s multidimensional nature in an effort to address mechanisms by which elites prompt quiescence in the face of grievous injustice. We then analyze a case in point, Blackwell, Oklahoma—a community contaminated with lead, zinc, and cadmium from a decommissioned zinc smelter facility—and the proactive and coercive methods used to maintain local quiescence. Despite assurances that the community had been successfully remediated in the mid-1990s, residents learned in 2006 that environmental pollution continued to emanate from the facility. Our data come from in-depth interviews with community residents and city officials, participant observation, and document analysis. Findings highlight forms of control employed to keep citizens quiescent and to thwart the efforts of more vocal residents in the community.
Staking Territory in the “World White Web”
Authors: Kettrey Heather Hensman , Laster Whitney Nicole
Published: September 2014

Early scholarship on the Web suggested that, in an online world, physical markers of marginalization would be invisible and race would become obsolete. Instead, recent research indicates that the Web is a white space that grants easier access and greater power to white users than users of color. In fact, studies indicate that both overt and color-blind racism are circulated online. Still, optimistic scholars maintain hope that the Web can provide a space for meaningful discourse around race and, hence, promote the deconstruction of racism. In this study, we analyze 2,000 comments posted to YouTube forums to examine patterns of overt racism, color-blind racism, and dissent against racism. Logistic regression reveals that comments posted by users identifying as persons of color have greater odds of eliciting overt racist responses than comments posted by users not specifying a racial identity. In addition, users exhibit greater odds of dissenting against overt than color-blind racism—with qualitative themes suggesting some users mistake color-blind racism for dissent. Thus, we argue that both overt and color-blind racism play roles in maintaining white spaces online, with the former maintaining racial boundaries and the latter convoluting conversations about race and impeding the dismantling of racism.
Morality, Sociological Discourse, and Public Engagement
Authors: Brueggemann John
Published: September 2014

In avoiding the topic of morality, sociologists have weakened our own capacity to advance the public understanding of one of our root ideas—namely, that society is an important force—and have largely ceded control of public dialogue to ideologues. In this article, I call for a renewed effort in sociology to explicitly take up the topic of morality and not shy from using value-oriented terms in our work and in public engagement. To illustrate this point, I examine the implications of the ever-expanding market culture. I use moral foundation theory to formulate key questions around this topic and, more broadly, offer a framework that sociologists might draw from in attending to the societal consequences of current social practices and trends.
The Emerging Crisis in American Female Longevity
Authors: Cockerham William C.
Published: September 2014

For the first time in modern history, the life expectancy of a particular segment of the American population—namely non-Hispanic white women with low levels of education and income living in certain rural counties—is declining. The exact causes are currently unknown, although smoking and obesity are likely important. In this article, I highlight this pattern and also compare it with the decline of male longevity in Russia. More broadly, I call on health and epidemiological researchers to undertake more in-depth research on this relatively new and emerging health crisis in the United States and suggest that Health Lifestyles Theory offers a valuable springboard for doing so.
Preheating friction stir spot welding of Mg/Al alloys in various lap configurations
Authors: Shen J. , Li Y. , Zhang T. , Peng D. , Wang D. , Xu N.
Published: September 2014

The influence of different lap configurations and preheating process on the macro-/microstructures and mechanical properties of friction stir spot welding welds with both similar and dissimilar materials (6061-T6 aluminium alloy and AZ31B magnesium alloy) was investigated. The results showed that the different lap configurations resulted in different macro-/microstructures and mechanical properties of welds. Defect free welds and intermetallic compound containing welds were obtained in configurations of similar (Mg/Mg and Al/Al) and dissimilar (Mg/Al and Al/Mg) respectively. The welds with similar materials had the highest tensile shear strengths, followed by the Mg/Al welds; the Al/Mg welds had the lowest strength. The preheating process improved the tensile shear strengths of Mg/Mg, Al/Al and Mg/Al welds and reduced that of Al/Mg welds respectively.
Effect of Pd concentration on electroless dense Pd-PSS membrane fabrication
Authors: Pujari M. , Agarwal A. , Uppaluri R. , Verma A.
Published: September 2014

This work addresses the effect of palladium solution concentration on combinatorial plating characteristics of surfactant and sonication coupled electroless plating baths for the fabrication of dense palladium films on porous stainless steel substrates. All plating experiments were carried out using palladium solution concentration of 0·005 and 0·01M plating baths with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant at four critical micelle concentrations and loading ratio of 203 cm2 L−1. The evaluated combinatorial plating characteristics include selective conversion, plating efficiency, plating rate, Pd film thickness and per cent pore densification. The enhancement in palladium solution concentration was found to be insignificant to provide better combinatorial plating characteristics, and the plating bath consisting of 0·005M Pd solution concentration has provided 99·98% per cent pore densification with a Pd film thickness of 8·81 μm and plating efficiency of 80·69%.
Growth of three-dimensional graphene layers using plasma enhanced CVD
Authors: Qu B. , Huang M.-L. , Wu Q.-H.
Published: September 2014

Since its discovery, graphene has been the star material either in scientific studies or potentially technical applications. There are various methods for preparation of graphene films (e.g. mechanical exfoliation, epitaxial growth, molecular assembly, chemical vapour deposition, thermal photocatalysis, and chemical or electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide). In this article, we briefly reviewed the growths of three-dimensional graphene films on metallic and non-metallic substrates using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition by emphasising on their growth mechanisms. Since this technique is still in its early stage, the general absence in understanding of the graphene growth processes is thus needed to be clarified. Moreover the utility of plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition allows synthesis of graphene films at relatively low temperatures and therefore it is possible to directly grow graphene on the substrates that could not survive at high temperatures.
Pulse plating of manganese oxide nanoparticles on aligned MWCNT
Authors: Schneider M. , Weiser M. , Schrötke C. , Meißner F. , Endler I. , Michaelis A.
Published: September 2014

In the present study, aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) arrays were electrodeposited with manganese oxide as electrode material for capacitor application. The electrode material was prepared in a double-stage process. The first stage, the preparation of the MWCNT array on thin nickel foils by chemical vapour deposition is well known and has already been published. This study has its focus on the second step, the electrodeposition of manganese oxide on MWCNT. Electrodeposition was performed by pulse plating of manganese oxide from a manganese acetate electrolyte. The mechanism and kinetics of this deposition process were electrochemically characterised. Additionally, the manganese oxide modified MWCNT arrays were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the capacitor performance and the increase in the capacitance of the modified MWCNT arrays were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in a sodium sulphate electrolyte.
Investigating efficiency of α-Al2O3 diffusion barrier layer in oxidation of EB-PVD NiCrAlY coatings
Authors: Hosseini S. H. , Mirdamadi S. , Rastegari S.
Published: September 2014

MCrAlY coatings, as a group of high temperature coatings, have extensively been considered for protecting gas turbine blades against oxidation and hot corrosion. At temperatures of more than 1000°C, interdiffusion between superalloy substrate and coating is one of the most important factors for controlling the lifetime of these coatings. In this paper, thin layers of α-Al2O3 were used as a diffusion barrier between superalloy substrate and coating using electron beam physical vapour deposition method. These barrier layers successfully blocked the diffusion of substrate alloy elements such as tungsten, molybdenum and, in particular, titanium into the coating. Results showed that using these diffusion barrier layers between superalloy substrate and coating can considerably improve the oxidation resistance of NiCrAlY coatings so that the parabolic rate constant in the samples with micrometric diffusion barrier layer is about one-third of that in the samples without it.
Dry cutting performance of tools deposited with TiSiN–WS2/Ti–WS2 coatings
Authors: Li S. P. , Deng J. X. , Zhang G. D. , Zhang K. D. , Zhou Y. H.
Published: September 2014

Two kinds of hard lubricant coatings, TiSiN–WS2 (TW) and TiSiN–WS2/Ti–WS2 (TTW), were deposited on cemented carbide tools. Microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. Dry cutting tests on hardened steel were conducted. Results showed that TTW coating had higher adhesive strength than TW and TiSiN coatings. After 2000 m dry cutting, the lubricant layers of TiSiN–WS2 and TTW coated tools were worn out, but the TiSiN layer almost kept intact and still protected substrates. Tools with TTW coating exhibited the best cutting performance with the smallest cutting force, lowest cutting temperature and no Fe adhesion on rake face. While behaviours of TiSiN–WS2 coated tools were similar to that of TiSiN coated tools, especially in high cutting speed. The deposition of WS2/Ti increased lubricant layers wear resistance and played a transition role between TiSiN and WS2 layers. This is much helpful to prolong its lubricant effect and to decrease tool wear.
Oxidation behaviour of glass–quartz and glass–quartz–aluminium composite coatings on Ti–6Al–4V alloy
Authors: Xiao Z. , Tan F. , Wang W. , Lu H. , Cai Y. , Qiu X. , Chen J. , Qiao X.
Published: September 2014

Glass–quartz and glass–quartz–aluminium composite coatings were successfully produced on Ti–6Al–4V alloy by slurry method. The oxidation behaviour of the specimens at 800°C for 100 h was studied. Both composite coatings exhibited good high temperature oxidation resistance. After oxidation for 100 h, quartz and diopside were main crystalline phases in the glass–quartz composite coating. Some open pores appeared on the surface of the glass–quartz composite coating, which might be related to the intensive crystallisation of diopside in the composite coating. While in the glass–quartz–aluminium composite coating, no open pores could be seen, and some new phases such as silicon and alumina were observed. The silicon and alumina phases might be originated from the reaction between glass and molten aluminium. Because of this, incorporation of aluminium particles into the composite coating slows the nucleation and growth rate of diopside.
The influence of aminophylline on the nanostructure and nanomechanics of T lymphocytes: an AFM study
Authors: Huang Xun , He Jiexiang , Liu Mingxian , Zhou Changren
Published: September 2014

Although much progress has been made in the illustration of the mechanism of aminophylline (AM) treating asthma, there is no data about its effect on the nanostructure and nanomechanics of T lymphocytes. Here, we presented atomic force spectroscopy (AFM)-based investigations at the nanoscale level to address the above fundamental biophysical questions. As increasing AM treatment time, T lymphocytes' volume nearly double increased and then decreased. The changes of nanostructural features of the cell membrane, i.e., mean height of particles, root-mean-square roughness (Rq), crack and fragment appearance, increased with AM treatment time. T lymphocytes were completely destroyed with 96-h treatment, and they existed in the form of small fragments. Analysis of force-distance curves showed that the adhesion force of cell surface decreased significantly with the increase of AM treatment time, while the cell stiffness increased firstly and then decreased. These changes were closely correlated to the characteristics and process of cell oncosis. In total, these quantitative and qualitative changes of T lymphocytes' structure and nanomechanical properties suggested that AM could induce T lymphocyte oncosis to exert anti-inflammatory effects for treating asthma. These findings provide new insights into the T lymphocyte oncosis and the anti-inflammatory mechanism and immune regulation actions of AM.
Existence of positive solutions for a discrete fractional boundary value problem
Authors: Wang Jinhua , Xiang Hongjun , Chen Fulai
Published: September 2014

This paper is concerned with the existence of positive solutions to a discrete fractional boundary value problem. By using the Krasnosel’skii and Schaefer fixed point theorems, the existence results are established. Additionally, examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the main results.

MSC:26A33, 39A10, 47H07.
The Prophylactic Effects of a Traditional Japanese Medicine, Goshajinkigan, on Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and its Mechanism of Action
Authors: Matsumura Yukiko , Yokoyama Yoshihito , Hirakawa Hachidai , Shigeto Tatsuhiko , Futagami Masayuki , Mizunuma Hideki
Published: September 2014

Background:

This study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of goshajinkigan (GJG) on paclitaxel (PTX)-induced neuropathy and to elucidate the mechanism of action.

Results:

There was a time-dependent irreversible decrease in pain threshold in PTX group. In PTX/GJG group, pain threshold showed changes in the same level as control. Electron microscope showed that although the ganglion cells of control and PTX/GJG groups were normal, degeneration of the nucleus and swelling of the mitochondria were observed in PTX group. Expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) gene in PTX group significantly increased compared with that in control and PTX/GJG groups. In TRPV4 knock-out mice, no PTX-induced hyperalgesia was observed, and there was no significant difference in pain threshold between the 3 groups.

Conclusions:

These results showed that PTX induced hyperalgesia by enhancing TRPV4 expression, and suggested that GJG might alleviate hyperalgesia by preventing degeneration of the ganglion cells and suppressing TRPV4 expression.
Meloidogyne incognita - rice (Oryza sativa) interaction: a new model system to study plant-root-knot nematode interactions in monocotyledons
Authors: Nguyễn Phong Vũ , Bellafiore Stéphane , Petitot Anne-Sophie , Haidar Rana , Bak Aurélie , Abed Amina , Gantet Pascal , Mezzalira Itamara , de Almeida Engler Janice , Fernandez Diana
Published: September 2014

Background

Plant-parasitic nematodes developed strategies to invade and colonize their host plants, including expression of immune suppressors to overcome host defenses. Meloidogyne graminicola and M. incognita are root-knot nematode (RKN) species reported to damage rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated in upland and irrigated systems. Despite M. incognita wide host range, study of the molecular plant - RKN interaction has been so far limited to a few dicotyledonous model plants. The aim of this study was to investigate if the rice cv. Nipponbare widely used in rice genomic studies could be used as a suitable monocotyledon host plant for studying M. incognita pathogenicity mechanisms. Here we compared the ability of M. graminicola and M. incognita to develop and reproduce in Nipponbare roots. Next, we tested if RKNs modulates rice immunity-related genes expression in galls during infection and express the Mi-crt gene encoding an immune suppressor.

Results

Root galling, mature females, eggs and newly formed J2s nematodes were obtained for both species in rice cultivated in hydroponic culture system after 4-5 weeks. Meloidogyne graminicola reproduced at higher rates than M. incognita on Nipponbare and the timing of infection was shorter. In contrast, the infection characteristics compared by histological analysis were similar for both nematode species. Giant cells formed from 2 days after infection (DAI) with M. graminicola and from 6 DAI with M. incognita. Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) data indicated that RKNs are able to suppress transcription of immune regulators genes, such as OsEDS1, OsPAD4 and OsWRKY13 in young galls. Four M. incognita reference genes (Mi-eif-3, Mi-GDP-2, Mi-Y45F10D.4, and Mi-actin) were selected for normalizing nematode gene expression studies in planta and in pre-parasitic J2s. Meloidogyne incognita expressed the immune suppressor calreticulin gene (Mi-crt) in rice roots all along its infection cycle.

Conclusion

RKNs repress the transcription of key immune regulators in rice, likely in order to lower basal defence in newly-formed galls. The calreticulin Mi-CRT can be one of the immune-modulator effectors secreted by M. incognita in rice root tissues. Together, these data show that rice is a well suited model system to study host- M. incognita molecular interactions in monocotyledons.