bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrothermal Alteration Associated with Copper-Gold Mineralisation at Dhani Basri, Dausa District, Rajasthan
Authors: Sharma R. K.
Published: January 2015

The shear controlled, epigenetic Cu-Au mineralization at Dhani Basri area in Dausa district of Rajasthan is hosted within silicified zones traversing Mangalwar complex of rocks, of Archaean age. The mineralisation here is distinctly associated with the hydrothermal alteration manifested in the form of phyllic, propyllic, potassic and silicification alteration domains. The field and microscopic evidences are in conformity with the geochemical variation in the parameters within the mineralized zone, in the hanging wall and footwall alteration zones. Besides using the conventional method of presentation of the alteration data, the author on an experimental basis has used Alteration Box plot (Large et al. 2001) and the Alteration Index (AI) (Ishikawa, 1969) to depict the hydrothermal alteration in the environment other than the volcanic hosted massive sulphide depositional environment, for which these ratios and diagrams have been recommended by Ishikawa (1969) and Large et al. (2001).

In the present case the author has been able to demonstrate the alteration very effectively with the help of these ratios and indices and has observed that these could very well be utilized in the environments other than the one, for which these diagrams are prescribed. The different trends described by Large et al. (2001) in their alteration box plot very clearly discriminate between the hydrothermal trends and the diagenetic trends of alteration, hence even if there is slight contamination by the meteoric fluids in the environments other then the volcanic hosted massive sulphide that can be separated out in the diagram. The author in his effort has observed that using the Al can very well bring out the trends of various alteration types and CCPI (carbonate-chlorite-pyrite index) in combination with the alteration mineralogy. A case study of hydrothermal alteration at Dhani Basri copper gold mineralization has been presented here.
Interactive lens through smartphones for supporting level-of-detailed views in a public display
Authors: Kim Minseok , Lee Jae Yeol
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we propose a new approach to providing interactive and collaborative lens among multi-users for supporting level-of-detailed views using smartphones in a public display. In order to provide smartphone-based lens capability, the locations of smartphones are effectively detected and tracked using Kinect, which provides RGB data and depth data (RGB-D). In particular, human skeleton information is extracted from the Kinect 3D depth data to calculate the smartphone location more efficiently and correctly with respect to the public display and to support head tracking for easy target selection and adaptive view generation. The suggested interactive and collaborative lens using smartphones not only can explore local spaces of the shared display but also can provide various kinds of activities such as LOD viewing and collaborative interaction. Implementation results are given to show the advantage and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A comprehensive approach for managing feasible solutions in production planning by an interacting network of Zero-Suppressed Binary Decision Diagrams
Authors: Takahashi Keita , Onosato Masahiko , Tanaka Fumiki
Published: January 2015

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) ranges from design concepts of products to disposal. In this paper, we focus on the production planning phase in PLM, which is related to process planning and production scheduling and so on. In this study, key decisions for the creation of production plans are defined as production-planning attributes. Production-planning attributes correlate complexly in production-planning problems. Traditionally, the production-planning problem splits sub-problems based on experiences, because of the complexity. In addition, the orders in which to solve each sub-problem are determined by priorities between sub-problems. However, such approaches make solution space over-restricted and make it difficult to find a better solution. We have proposed a representation of combinations of alternatives in production-planning attributes by using Zero-Suppressed Binary Decision Diagrams. The ZDD represents only feasible combinations of alternatives that satisfy constraints in the production planning. Moreover, we have developed a solution search method that solves production-planning problems with ZDDs. In this paper, we propose an approach for managing solution candidates by ZDDs' network for addressing larger production-planning problems. The network can be created by linkages of ZDDs that express constraints in individual sub-problems and between sub-problems. The benefit of this approach is that it represents solution space, satisfying whole constraints in the production planning. This case study shows that the validity of the proposed approach.
Promotional phrases as questions versus statements: An influence of phrase style on product evaluation
Authors: Hagtvedt Henrik
Published: January 2015

This research investigates consumer responses to simple promotional phrases styled (i.e., framed) as questions versus statements and the moderating role of arousal. Study results indicate that under low arousal, questions have a more favorable influence on product evaluation than statements do; this influence is mediated by the perceived interestingness of the phrase. Under high arousal, the influence is reversed, and it is mediated by perceived clarity. The differential influence of phrase style (framing as question vs. statement) also extends to purchase behavior among consumers in a supermarket.
Non‐invasive sensitive detection of KRAS and BRAF mutation in circulating tumor cells of colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Mohamed Suhaimi Nur-Afidah , Foong Yu Miin , Lee Daniel Yoke San , Phyo Wai Min , Cima Igor , Lee Esther Xing Wei , Goh Wei Lin , Lim Wei-Yen , Chia Kee Seng , Kong Say Li , Gong Min , Lim Bing , Hillmer Axel M. , Koh Poh Koon , Ying Jackie Y. , Tan Min-Han
Published: January 2015

Characterization of genetic alterations in tumor biopsies serves as useful biomarkers in prognosis and treatment management. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) obtained non‐invasively from peripheral blood could serve as a tumor proxy. Using a label‐free CTC enrichment strategy that we have established, we aimed to develop sensitive assays for qualitative assessment of tumor genotype in patients. Blood consecutively obtained from 44 patients with local and advanced colorectal cancer and 18 healthy donors were enriched for CTCs using a size‐based microsieve technology. To screen for CTC mutations, we established high‐resolution melt (HRM) and allele‐specific PCR (ASPCR) KRAS‐codon 12/13‐ and BRAF‐codon 600‐ specific assays, and compared the performance with pyrosequencing and Sanger sequencing. For each patient, the resulting CTC genotypes were compared with matched tumor and normal tissues. Both HRM and ASPCR could detect as low as 1.25% KRAS‐ or BRAF‐mutant alleles. HRM detected 14/44 (31.8%) patients with KRAS mutation in CTCs and 5/44 (11.3%) patients having BRAF mutation in CTCs. ASPCR detected KRAS and BRAF mutations in CTCs of 10/44 (22.7%) and 1/44 (2.3%) patients respectively. There was an increased detection of mutation in blood using these two methods. Comparing tumor tissues and CTCs mutation status using HRM, we observed 84.1% concordance in KRAS genotype (p = 0.000129, Fishers' exact test; OR = 38.7, 95% CI = 4.05–369) and 90.9% (p = 0.174) concordance in BRAF genotype. Our results demonstrate that CTC enrichment, coupled with sensitive mutation detection methods, may allow rapid, sensitive and non‐invasive assessment of tumor genotype.
Opera Acts
Authors: Henson Karen
Published: January 2015

Opera Acts explores a wealth of new historical material about singers in the late nineteenth century and challenges the idea that this was a period of decline for the opera singer. In detailed case studies of four figures - the late Verdi baritone Victor Maurel; Bizet's first Carmen, Célestine Galli-Marié; Massenet's muse of the 1880s and '90s, Sibyl Sanderson; and the early Wagner star Jean de Reszke - Karen Henson argues that singers in the late nineteenth century continued to be important, but in ways that were not conventionally 'vocal'. Instead they enjoyed a freedom and creativity based on their ability to express text, act and communicate physically, and exploit the era's media. By these and other means, singers played a crucial role in the creation of opera up to the end of the nineteenth century.
Opera and Modern Spectatorship in Late Nineteenth-Century Italy
Authors: Campana Alessandra
Published: January 2015

At the turn of the twentieth century Italian opera participated to the making of a modern spectator. The Ricordi stage manuals testify to the need to harness the effects of operatic performance, activating opera's capacity to cultivate a public. This book considers how four operas and one film deal with their public: one that in Boito's Mefistofele is entertained by special effects, or that in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra is called upon as a political body to confront the specters of history. Also a public that in Verdi's Otello is subjected to the manipulation of contemporary acting, or one that in Puccini's Manon Lescaut is urged to question the mechanism of spectatorship. Lastly, the silent film Rapsodia satanica, thanks to the craft and prestige of Pietro Mascagni's score, attempts to transform the new industrial medium into art, addressing its public's search for a bourgeois pan-European cultural identity, right at the outset of WWI.
The Language of Organizational Styling
Authors: Wee Lionel
Published: January 2015

The ways in which commercial organizations and service providers 'style' themselves – creating the image they wish to portray to their potential consumers – is a long-established area of research in the fields of sociology and business studies. However language also plays an important role in organizational styling, something which until now has been largely overlooked in the literature. This is the first book-length study of the linguistics of organizational styling, looking at the language and semiotic resources used by holiday resorts, pharmaceutical companies, restaurants and insurance companies in order to project their identities, and style themselves. It discusses in detail a number of case studies and presents an innovative take on the notion of style, as well as bringing together work from linguistics, business studies and sociology. This interdisciplinary book will be of interest to scholars and advanced students in sociolinguistics, and scholars of sociology and business studies.
Functional Remediation for Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Vieta Eduard , Torrent Carla , Martínez-Arán Anabel
Published: January 2015

Managing the cognitive difficulties experienced in bipolar disorder poses a significant challenge to patients, relatives, researchers and clinicians. This book equips readers with a thorough understanding of these cognitive deficits and, importantly, the usefulness of current treatment approaches, such as remediation, to improve functional recovery. This manual guides readers in the application of the functional remediation programme, providing a collection of materials enabling therapists to run group sessions. The first part focuses on cognitive deficits and their impact on functional recovery. The second part describes the operation of the programme, session by session, with reference to handouts and slides available for download from an accompanying website. Topics covered include memory, attention, and executive functions. The final part describes the efficacy of this programme, particularly the functional improvements seen in participants. An essential resource for psychologists, psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals caring for patients with bipolar disorder.
Narrative of a Pedestrian Journey through Russia and Siberian Tartary
Authors: Cochrane John Dundas
Published: January 2015

John Dundas Cochrane (1780–1825) was destined for the sea from an early age, but is best remembered as 'the Pedestrian Traveller'. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, he set out on a six-year tour of France, Spain and Portugal on foot. When in 1820 the Admiralty turned down his offer to explore the river Niger, he decided instead to walk round the world via Russia, Siberia and North America. On his arrival in St Petersburg, the Russian government gave him money to continue his journey using sledges and canoes where necessary, but he abandoned it in Kamchatka, marrying a local woman and returning with her to England. This account of his travels was published in 1824 and was immediately popular, going into several editions. By no means a scientific survey, it is full of interesting anecdotes and observations about a then unknown and mysterious area of the world.
The Court and Reign of Francis the First, King of France
Authors: Pardoe Julia
Published: January 2015

This two-volume work by the historian Julia Pardoe (1804–62) was published in 1849. (Her bestselling account of life in Turkey and her biography of Marie de Medici are both also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection.) Pardoe began writing poetry and novels, but later turned to non-fiction, especially travel narratives and historical biography. In this work, she attempts to remove the accretions of myth which have clung to Francis I and to his court. Noting the tendency of French historians to glorify the monarchs of the distant past, she observes: 'it is only by reference to the more confidential records and correspondence of the period' that the modern historian can arrive at 'a just estimate of the character and motives of the sovereign'. Volume 1 begins with Francis' accession and its historical context, discusses his Italian wars, and ends with the death of Bayard in 1524.
The Genuine Works of William Hogarth
Authors: Nichols John , Steevens George
Published: January 2015

This illustrated three-volume catalogue of the works of painter and engraver William Hogarth (1697–1764) was the result of 'Hogarthomania', the enthusiasm for all his productions which arose soon after his death. The publisher and author John Nichols (1745–1826), assisted by the collector and literary critic George Steevens, published a life of Hogarth and a list of his works in 1781, and as disputes increasingly arose over the genuineness of some of the prints attributed to him, enlarged versions appeared in 1782 and 1785. This work, published between 1808 and 1817, is the last in the sequence of Nichols' works on Hogarth, and remains a useful source for art historians and anyone interested in the cultural life of the eighteenth century. Volume 3, published seven years after Volume 2, contains further plates, critical essays, and a 'key' to the scenes in Hogarth's prints allegedly derived from classical sources.
Flow in Porous Rocks
Authors: Woods Andrew W.
Published: January 2015

Focusing on simplified models of physical flow processes, this book develops a series of quantitative models to describe the recovery of oil and gas from hydrocarbon reservoirs (including fracking), the physics of geo-sequestration of CO2, geothermal power production, and the potential for underground contaminant dispersal in the long-term storage of nuclear waste. The author approaches these problems by developing simplified mathematical models and identifying the key dimensionless variables that control the processes. This analysis is then used to demonstrate the challenges and constraints of modelling flow in complex and heterogeneous rocks, which often have uncertain flow properties. Analytical solutions for flows are provided where possible, and analogue laboratory experiments are also presented to help illustrate and provide a different perspective on the flows. Incorporating end-of-chapter exercises, this is an important introduction to the different controls on flow in porous rocks for academic researchers, energy industry professionals and graduate students.
Hints on Household Taste in Furniture, Upholstery, and Other Details
Authors: Eastlake Charles Locke
Published: January 2015

Later recognised for his work in interior and furniture design, Charles Locke Eastlake (1833–1906) had shown early promise in making architectural drawings, and he was awarded a silver medal in 1854 by the Royal Academy. His passion for Gothic style developed during a tour of Europe in the late 1850s, and his History of the Gothic Revival (1872) is also reissued in this series. Focusing on interior design, the present work was published in 1868 and influenced the style of later nineteenth-century 'Modern Gothic' furniture. It contains many illustrations of Eastlake's own designs for furniture, tiles and wallpaper, including colour plates which can be viewed online at www.cambridge.org/9781108075343. The book moves from the street into the home and then from room to room, finishing with chapters on crockery, cutlery, glassware, and dress and jewellery. It gives a fascinating insight into the late Victorian taste for the medieval, also fostered by the Arts and Crafts movement.
Theory of Inelastic Scattering and Absorption of X-rays
Authors: van Veenendaal Michel
Published: January 2015

This comprehensive, self-contained guide to X-ray spectroscopy will equip you with everything you need to begin extracting the maximum amount of information available from X-ray spectra. Key topics such as the interaction between X-rays and matter, the basic theory of spectroscopy, and selection and sum rules, are introduced from the ground up, providing a solid theoretical grounding. The book also introduces core underlying concepts such as atomic structure, solid-state effects, the fundamentals of tensor algebra and group theory, many-body interactions, scattering theory, and response functions, placing spectroscopy within a broader conceptual framework, and encouraging a deep understanding of this essential theoretical background. Suitable for graduate students, researchers, materials scientists and optical engineers, this is the definitive guide to the theory behind this powerful and widely used technique.
The Crisis of Global Modernity
Authors: Duara Prasenjit
Published: January 2015

In this major new study, Prasenjit Duara expands his influential theoretical framework to present circulatory, transnational histories as an alternative to nationalist history. Duara argues that the present day is defined by the intersection of three global changes: the rise of non-western powers, the crisis of environmental sustainability and the loss of authoritative sources of what he terms transcendence - the ideals, principles and ethics once found in religions or political ideologies. The physical salvation of the world is becoming - and must become - the transcendent goal of our times, but this goal must transcend national sovereignty if it is to succeed. Duara suggests that a viable foundation for sustainability might be found in the traditions of Asia, which offer different ways of understanding the relationship between the personal, ecological and universal. These traditions must be understood through the ways they have circulated and converged with contemporary developments.
Religion and Politics in the European Union
Authors: Foret François
Published: January 2015

This book analyzes the place and influence of religion in European politics. François Foret presents the first data ever collected on the religious beliefs of European decision makers and what they do with these beliefs. Discussing popular assumptions such as the return of religion, aggressive European secularism, and religious lobbying, Foret offers objective data and non-normative conceptual frameworks to clarify some major issues in the contemporary political debate.
The Making of Liturgy in the Ottonian Church
Authors: Parkes Henry
Published: January 2015

This highly original study examines the history and religious life of the Ottonian Church through its ritual books. With forensic attention to the writing and design of four important manuscripts from the city of Mainz - a musician's troper, a priest's ritual handbook, a bishop's pontifical and a copy of the enigmatic compilation now known as the 'Romano-German Pontifical' - Henry Parkes transforms liturgical sources into eloquent witnesses to the ecclesiastical history of early medieval Germany. He also presents the first comprehensive revision of Michel Andrieu's influential 'Romano-German Pontifical' theory, from the dual perspective of Mainz's cathedral of St Martin and its Benedictine monastery of St Alban. Challenging long-held assumptions about the geographies of Ottonian power, in particular the central role of Mainz and its archbishops, the book opens up important new ways of understanding how religious ritual was organised, transmitted and perceived.
State Strategies in International Bargaining
Authors: McKibben Heather Elko
Published: January 2015

Bargaining between states in the international system is governed by rules which shape and constrain their bargaining behavior. However, these rules can be changed. When, why, and how do states bargain differently? Drawing on original qualitative and quantitative evidence, this book demonstrates how the rules of the game influence the cooperative or coercive nature of the strategies adopted by all states in a negotiation. These effects influence each state's incentives regarding whether to play by the rules or to change them. Examining these incentives, as well as the conditions under which states can act on them, McKibben explains the wide variation in states' bargaining strategies. Several bargaining interactions are analyzed, including decision-making in the European Union, multilateral trade negotiations, climate change negotiations, and negotiations over the future status of Kosovo. This book provides a rich understanding of the nuances of states' behavior in international bargaining processes.
Middle Egyptian Literature
Authors: Allen James P.
Published: January 2015

A companion volume to the third edition of the author's popular Middle Egyptian, this book contains eight literary works from the Middle Kingdom, the golden age of Middle Egyptian literature. Included are the compositions widely regarded as the pinnacle of Egyptian literary arts, by the Egyptians themselves as well as by modern readers. The works are presented in hieroglyphic transcription, transliteration and translation, accompanied by notes cross-referenced to the third edition of Middle Egyptian. These are designed to give students of Middle Egyptian access to original texts and the tools to practise and perfect their knowledge of the language. The principles of ancient Egyptian verse, in which all the works are written, are discussed, and the transliterations and translations are versified, giving students practice in this aspect of Egyptian literature as well. Consecutive translations are also included for reference and for readers more concerned with Middle Egyptian literature than language.
The Second Formation of Islamic Law
Authors: Burak Guy
Published: January 2015

The Second Formation of Islamic Law is the first book to deal with the rise of an official school of law in the post-Mongol period. The author explores how the Ottoman dynasty shaped the structure and doctrine of a particular branch within the Hanafi school of law. In addition, the book examines the opposition of various jurists, mostly from the empire's Arab provinces, to this development. By looking at the emergence of the concept of an official school of law, the book seeks to call into question the grand narratives of Islamic legal history that tend to see the nineteenth century as the major rupture. Instead, an argument is formed that some of the supposedly nineteenth-century developments, such as the codification of Islamic law, are rooted in much earlier centuries. In so doing, the book offers a new periodization of Islamic legal history in the eastern Islamic lands.
A CONTINUOUS INTERPOLATION BETWEEN CONSERVATIVE AND DISSIPATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE TWO-COMPONENT CAMASSA–HOLM SYSTEM
Authors: GRUNERT KATRIN , HOLDEN HELGE , RAYNAUD XAVIER
Published: January 2015

We introduce a novel solution concept, denoted${\it\alpha}$-dissipative solutions, that provides a continuous interpolation between conservative and dissipative solutions of the Cauchy problem for the two-component Camassa–Holm system on the line with vanishing asymptotics. All the${\it\alpha}$-dissipative solutions are global weak solutions of the same equation in Eulerian coordinates, yet they exhibit rather distinct behavior at wave breaking. The solutions are constructed after a transformation into Lagrangian variables, where the solution is carefully modified at wave breaking.
Prospective associations between socio-economic status and dietary patterns in European children: the Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-induced Health Effects in Children and Infants (IDEFICS) Study
Authors: Fernández-Alvira Juan Miguel , Börnhorst Claudia , Bammann Karin , Gwozdz Wencke , Krogh Vittorio , Hebestreit Antje , Barba Gianvincenzo , Reisch Lucia , Eiben Gabriele , Iglesia Iris , Veidebaum Tomas , Kourides Yannis A. , Kovacs Eva , Huybrechts Inge , Pigeot Iris , Moreno Luis A.
Published: January 2015

Exploring changes in children's diet over time and the relationship between these changes and socio-economic status (SES) may help to understand the impact of social inequalities on dietary patterns. The aim of the present study was to describe dietary patterns by applying a cluster analysis to 9301 children participating in the baseline (2–9 years old) and follow-up (4–11 years old) surveys of the Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-induced Health Effects in Children and Infants Study, and to describe the cluster memberships of these children over time and their association with SES. We applied the K-means clustering algorithm based on the similarities between the relative frequencies of consumption of forty-two food items. The following three consistent clusters were obtained at baseline and follow-up: processed (higher frequency of consumption of snacks and fast food); sweet (higher frequency of consumption of sweet foods and sweetened drinks); healthy (higher frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables and wholemeal products). Children with higher-educated mothers and fathers and the highest household income were more likely to be allocated to the healthy cluster at baseline and follow-up and less likely to be allocated to the sweet cluster. Migrants were more likely to be allocated to the processed cluster at baseline and follow-up. Applying the cluster analysis to derive dietary patterns at the two time points allowed us to identify groups of children from a lower socio-economic background presenting persistently unhealthier dietary profiles. This finding reflects the need for healthy eating interventions specifically targeting children from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Older adults' meanings of preparedness: a New Zealand perspective
Authors: TUOHY ROBYN , STEPHENS CHRISTINE
Published: January 2015

Contemporary Western social policy encourages older adults to maintain independence in the community. Socio-cultural norms of independence have recently become associated with successful ageing. Personal autonomy and self-responsibility are cultural markers by which older adults increasingly define their lives and identity. Many older adults seek to remain independent within their communities, while coping with age-related decline, and living alone with decreased social connectedness. These characteristics have also been associated with personal and social vulnerability and explain why older adults are at higher risk of experiencing disproportionate negative outcomes during disasters. This paper describes findings from narrative interviews with a sample of independent community-dwelling New Zealand older adults. The interviews sought to explore their views about disaster preparedness. However, within their accounts was a collective and bigger story about personal preparedness, and social relationships in later life, which extended beyond the context of preparing for a future disaster event. Older adults identified age-specific preparedness as a way to maintain independence in the everyday context of their lives. Concerns about health influenced their choices and actions as they evaluated and prioritised goals and strategies to maintain independence and wellbeing. Social relationships were also considered an important resource to support independence. Understanding the role of preparedness in the everyday lives of older adults has implications for improving the disproportionate negative outcomes this vulnerable age group can experience during a disaster. Therefore, health, gerontology and emergency management have much in common when considering older adults' preparedness during non-disaster times.
Asymptotic properties of unbounded quadrature domains the plane
Authors: KARP LAVI
Published: January 2015

We prove that if Ω is a simply connected quadrature domain (QD) of a distribution with compact support and the point of infinity belongs to the boundary, then the boundary has an asymptotic curve that is a straight line, parabola or infinite ray. In other words, such QDs in the plane are perturbations of null QDs.
Mathematical analysis of a variational inequality modelling perpetual executive stock options
Authors: LAI XIN , CHEN XINFU , WANG MINGXIN , QIN CONG , YU WANGHUI
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we establish the existence and uniqueness of a classical solution of a degenerate parabolic variational inequality of which a strong solution was shown to exist by Song and Yu [21]. The problem arises from optimal stochastic control of exercising continuously perpetual executive stock options (ESOs). We also characterize the basic graph, continuity, and monotonicity properties of the free boundary from which the optimal control strategy can be described precisely.
Iodine-deficiency disorders in the Aseer region, south-western Saudi Arabia: 20 years after the national survey and universal salt iodization
Authors: Abbag Fuad I , Abu-Eshy Saeed A , Mahfouz Ahmed A , Al-Fifi Suliman A , El-Wadie Hussein , Abdallah Samy M , Musa Mustafa G , Devansan Charles S , Patel Ayuub
Published: January 2015

Objective

To study (i) the current prevalence of iodine-deficiency disorders among schoolchildren in south-western Saudi Arabia after universal salt iodization and (ii) the iodine content of table salts and water.

Design

Cross-sectional study on a stratified proportional allocation sample of children. Thyroid gland enlargement was assessed clinically and by ultrasound scanning. Urine, table salt and water samples were taken to measure iodine content.

Settings

The Aseer region, south-western Saudi Arabia.

Subjects

Schoolchildren aged 8–10 years.

Results

The study included 3046 schoolchildren. The total goitre rate amounted to 24·0 %. Prevalence of enlarged thyroid by ultrasound was 22·7 %. The median urinary iodine concentration of the study sample amounted to 17·0 µg/l. The iodine content of table salt ranged from 0 to 112 mg/kg; 22·5 % of the table salt samples were below the recommended iodine content (15 mg/kg) set by WHO. The total goitre rate increased significantly from 19·8 % among children using table salt with iodine content ≥15 mg/kg to reach 48·5 % among children using table salt with 0 mg iodine/kg. Analysis of water samples taken from schools showed that the majority of water samples (78·8 %) had an iodine content of 0 µg/l.

Conclusions

The study documented that 18 years after the national study, and after more than a decade of universal salt iodization in Saudi Arabia, the problem of iodine-deficiency disorders is still endemic in the Aseer region. Efforts should focus on fostering advocacy and communication and ensuring the availability of adequately iodized salt.
Are therapeutic radiographers able to achieve clinically acceptable verification for stereotactic lung radiotherapy treatment (SBRT)?
Authors: Hudson J. , Doolan C. , McDonald F. , Locke I. , Ahmed M. , Gunapala G. , McNair H.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of radiographer led verification of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images for patients with solitary lung tumours treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment (SBRT).

Material and methods

CBCT setup images of 20 patients from the first fraction of each patient were retrospectively registered by therapeutic radiographers. The displacements recorded were compared with the clinical oncologist’s original online match. The time taken by radiographers to verify the CBCT images was also recorded.

Results

Overall agreement for all radiographers when compared with the clinical oncologist match was 91%. Interobserver variations between radiographers were X plane 0·87 (0·76–0·94); Y plane 0·74 (0·51–0·88); and Z plane 0·88 (0·78–0·95) intraclass correlation coefficient and 95% confidence interval. The average time taken for verification was 128 seconds.

Conclusion

Therapeutic radiographers are able to verify CBCT images for thorax SBRT with results comparable to the ‘gold standard’ clinical oncologists’ match, however additional training will be provided for online verification. The time taken was within acceptable limits.
Short-term matters: the determinants of reforms of the core democratic rules
Authors: Bedock Camille
Published: January 2015

Current theories on institutional change tend to interpret it either as the result of long-term gradual trends, or of disrupting shocks following periods of punctuated equilibrium. Less is known about the moments in which change is more frequent. Focusing on the short-term determinants of reforms of core democratic rules in consolidated democracies, the article shows that proximate shifts in the electoral arena have a distinctive impact on the number of institutional reforms that are adopted in a legislature. Using the empirical and theoretical findings of the literature on electoral reform, the article develops a model tested in statistical analyses aggregating a large sample of institutional reforms in Western European democracies between 1990 and 2010. The results show that rising electoral uncertainty measured by volatility, and the change of preferences of the actors in power measured by the advent of new forces in government lead to the adoption of more institutional reforms. These results appear consistent when some categories of reform are added or subtracted, giving confidence that this model can be applied to a wide range of institutional reforms.
Unintended consequences: the negative impact of e-mail use on participation and collective identity in two ‘horizontal’ social movement groups
Authors: Flesher Fominaya Cristina
Published: January 2015

The relation between face-to-face and online communication and its impact on collective identity processes is understudied. In this article I draw on two case studies conducted during a 3-year ethnographic study of the Global Justice Movement network in Madrid, Spain, from 2002 to 2005 to explore the unintended impact of e-mail on the sustainability, internal dynamics, and collective identity of two groups committed to participatory and deliberative practices as key features of their collective identity. I found that despite an explicit commitment to ‘horizontalism’ the use of e-mail in these two groups increased existing hierarchies, hindered consensus, decreased participation, and worked towards marginalization of group members. In addition, the negative and unintended consequences of e-mail use affected both groups, independently of activists’ evaluation of their experience in their face-to-face assemblies (one of which was overwhelmingly perceived as positive and one of which was perceived as negative). The article draws on e-mail research in organizations, online political deliberation research, and existing studies of e-mail use in social movement groups to analyse these findings.
The Relationship between Glucose Metabolism, Resting-State fMRI BOLD Signal, and GABAA-Binding Potential: A Preliminary Study in Healthy Subjects and Those with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Nugent Allison C , Martinez Ashley , D'Alfonso Alana , Zarate Carlos A , Theodore William H
Published: January 2015

Glucose metabolism has been associated with magnitude of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal and connectivity across subjects within the default mode and dorsal attention networks. Similar correlations within subjects across the entire brain remain unexplored. [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]-FDG PET), [11C]-flumazenil PET, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were acquired in eight healthy individuals and nine with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Regional metabolic rate of glucose (rMRGlu) was correlated with amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFFs) in the fMRI signal, global fMRI connectivity (GC), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and gamma-aminobutyric acid A—binding potential (GABAA BPND) across the brain. Partial correlations for ALFFs, GC, and ReHo with GABAA BPND were calculated, controlling for rMRGlu. In healthy subjects, significant positive correlations were observed across the brain between rMRGlu and ALFF, ReHo and GABAA BPND, and between ALFFs and GABAA BPND, controlling for rMRGlu. Brain-wide correlations between rMRGlu and ALFFs were significantly lower in TLE patients, and correlations between rMRGlu and GC were significantly greater in TLE than healthy subjects. These results indicate that the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems are coupled across the healthy human brain, and that ALFF is related to glutamate use throughout the healthy human brain. TLE may be a disorder of altered long-range connectivity in association with glutamate function.
Reference Region Modeling Approaches for Amphetamine Challenge Studies with [11C]FLB 457 and PET
Authors: Sandiego Christine M , Gallezot Jean-Dominique , Lim Keunpoong , Ropchan Jim , Lin Shu-fei , Gao Hong , Morris Evan D , Cosgrove Kelly P
Published: January 2015

Detecting fluctuations in synaptic dopamine levels in extrastriatal brain regions with [11C]FLB 457 and positron emission tomography (PET) is a valuable tool for studying dopaminergic dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. The evaluation of reference region modeling approaches would eliminate the need to obtain arterial input function data. Our goal was to explore the use of reference region models to estimate amphetamine-induced changes in [11C]FLB 457 dopamine D2/D3 binding. Six healthy tobacco smokers were imaged with [11C]FLB 457 at baseline and at 3 hours after amphetamine (0.4  to 0.5 mg/kg, per os) administration. Simplified reference tissue models, SRTM and SRTM2, were evaluated against the 2-tissue compartmental model (2TC) to estimate [11C]FLB 457 binding in extrastriatal regions of interest (ROIs), using the cerebellum as a reference region. No changes in distribution volume were observed in the cerebellum between scan conditions. SRTM and SRTM2 underestimated binding, compared with 2TC, in ROIs by 26% and 9%, respectively, with consistent bias between the baseline and postamphetamine scans. Postamphetamine, [11C]FLB 457 binding significantly decreased across several brain regions as measured with SRTM and SRTM2; no significant change was detected with 2TC. These data support the sensitivity of [11C]FLB 457 for measuring amphetamine-induced dopamine release in extrastriatal regions with SRTM and SRTM2.
Mast Cells Promote Blood Brain Barrier Breakdown and Neutrophil Infiltration in a Mouse Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: McKittrick Craig M , Lawrence Catherine E , Carswell Hilary V O
Published: January 2015

Blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and neuroinflammation are key events in ischemic stroke morbidity and mortality. The present study investigated the effects of mast cell deficiency and stabilization on BBB breakdown and neutrophil infiltration in mice after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo). Adult male C57BL6/J wild type (WT) and mast cell-deficient (C57BL6/J KitWsh/Wsh (Wsh)) mice underwent tMCAo and BBB breakdown, brain edema and neutrophil infiltration were examined after 4 hours of reperfusion. Blood brain barrier breakdown, brain edema, and neutrophil infiltration were significantly reduced in Wsh versus WT mice ( P<0.05). These results were reproduced pharmacologically using mast cell stabilizer, cromoglycate. Wild-type mice administered cromoglycate intraventricularly exhibited reduced BBB breakdown, brain edema, and neutrophil infiltration versus vehicle ( P<0.05). There was no effect of cromoglycate versus vehicle in Wsh mice, validating specificity of cromoglycate on brain mast cells. Proteomic analysis in Wsh versus WT indicated that effects may be via expression of endoglin, endothelin-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Using an in vivo model of mast cell deficiency, this is the first study showing that mast cells promote BBB breakdown in focal ischemia in mice, and opens up future opportunities for using mice to identify specific mechanisms of mast cell-related BBB injury.
ZEB2 drives immature T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia development via enhanced tumour-initiating potential and IL-7 receptor signalling
Authors: Goossens Steven , Radaelli Enrico , Blanchet Odile , Durinck Kaat , Van der Meulen Joni , Peirs Sofie , Taghon Tom , Tremblay Cedric S. , Costa Magdaline , Ghahremani Morvarid Farhang , De Medts Jelle , Bartunkova Sonia , Haigh Katharina , Schwab Claire , Farla Natalie , Pieters Tim , Matthijssens Filip , Van Roy Nadine , Best J. Adam , Deswarte Kim , Bogaert Pieter , Carmichael Catherine , Rickard Adam , Suryani Santi , Bracken Lauryn S. , Alserihi Raed , Canté-Barrett Kirsten , Haenebalcke Lieven , Clappier Emmanuelle , Rondou Pieter , Slowicka Karolina , Huylebroeck Danny , Goldrath Ananda W. , Janzen Viktor , McCormack Matthew P. , Lock Richard B. , Curtis David J. , Harrison Christine , Berx Geert , Speleman Frank , Meijerink Jules P. P. , Soulier Jean , Van Vlierberghe Pieter , Haigh Jody J.
Published: January 2015

Early T-cell precursor leukaemia (ETP-ALL) is a high-risk subtype of human leukaemia that is poorly understood at the molecular level. Here we report translocations targeting the zinc finger E-box-binding transcription factor ZEB2 as a recurrent genetic lesion in immature/ETP-ALL. Using a conditional gain-of-function mouse model, we demonstrate that sustained Zeb2 expression initiates T-cell leukaemia. Moreover, Zeb2-driven mouse leukaemia exhibit some features of the human immature/ETP-ALL gene expression signature, as well as an enhanced leukaemia-initiation potential and activated Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signalling through transcriptional activation of IL7R. This study reveals ZEB2 as an oncogene in the biology of immature/ETP-ALL and paves the way towards pre-clinical studies of novel compounds for the treatment of this aggressive subtype of human T-ALL using our Zeb2-driven mouse model.
Volume and porosity thermal regulation in lipid mesophases by coupling mobile ligands to soft membranes
Authors: Parolini Lucia , Mognetti Bortolo M. , Kotar Jurij , Eiser Erika , Cicuta Pietro , Di Michele Lorenzo
Published: January 2015

Short DNA linkers are increasingly being exploited for driving-specific self-assembly of Brownian objects. DNA-functionalized colloids can assemble into ordered or amorphous materials with tailored morphology. Recently, the same approach has been applied to compliant units, including emulsion droplets and lipid vesicles. The liquid structure of these substrates introduces new degrees of freedom: the tethers can diffuse and rearrange, radically changing the physics of the interactions. Unlike droplets, vesicles are extremely deformable and DNA-mediated adhesion causes significant shape adjustments. We investigate experimentally the thermal response of pairs and networks of DNA-tethered liposomes and observe two intriguing and possibly useful collective properties: negative thermal expansion and tuneable porosity of the liposome networks. A model providing a thorough understanding of this unexpected phenomenon is developed, explaining the emergent properties out of the interplay between the temperature-dependent deformability of the vesicles and the DNA-mediated adhesive forces.
Hollow fiber based liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction combined with sweeping micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the sensitive determination of second-generation antidepressants in human fluids
Authors: Zhou Xiaoqing , He Man , Chen Beibei , Hu Bin
Published: January 2015

HF-LPME is combined with sweeping MEKC for the sensitive determination of second-generation antidepressants in human fluids.
Analysis of nucleosides and nucleobases by microemulsion electrokinetic capillary chromatography coupled with field-amplified sample injection
Authors: He Yu , Zhang Wenmin , Chen Jinfeng , Gu Fang , Cheng Jintian , Zhang Lan , Chen Guonan
Published: January 2015

A microemulsion electrokinetic capillary (MEEKC) chromatography method was online-coupled with field-amplified sample injection (FASI) for the analysis of nucleosides and nucleobases.
Simultaneous determination of four main impurities in cefuroxime lysine by ultra fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to the analysis of products in stability testing
Authors: Cui Yan , Tang Lei , He Bosai , Liu Ran , Li Qing
Published: January 2015

A UFLC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of four impurities in CL and analysis of products in stability testing.
A novel photoelectrochemical sensor for the detection of α-fetoprotein based on a mesoporous TiO2–CdS QD composite film
Authors: Yang Xiaoyan , Li Jingyu , Fu Junliang
Published: January 2015

A label-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor based on a CdS-modified mesoporous TiO2 film is reported to detect α-fetoprotein (AFP). The assay platform exhibits excellent selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit of 0.02 ng mL−1 for AFP is obtained.
Extraction of dl-anabasine from Alangium platanifolium root using an emulsion liquid membrane
Authors: Guo Zhifeng , Su Huidan , Cai Ru , Ma Xiaoli
Published: January 2015

An experimental study on the extraction of dl-anabasine from Alangium platanifolium root (APR) using an emulsion liquid membranes system (ELMs) has been reported.
A preanodized 6B-pencil graphite as an efficient electrochemical sensor for mono-phenolic preservatives (phenol and meta-cresol) in insulin formulations
Authors: Vishnu Nandimalla , Kumar Annamalai Senthil
Published: January 2015

A low-cost pre-anodized 6B-pencil graphite (6B-PGE*) is shown as a fouling-free and renewable electrochemical sensor for mono-phenols and can be used for the detection of mono-phenolic preservatives in pharmaceutical insulin formulations.
Towards the development of a sensitive electrochemical sensor for the determination of chloramphenicol residues in milk
Authors: Liu Guoyan , Chai Chunyan
Published: January 2015

A simple and sensitive bioelectrochemical immunoassay method has been developed to detect chloramphenicol (CAP) residues in milk.
Aptamer and rolling circle amplification-involved sandwich assay for platelet-derived growth factor-BB with absorbance analysis
Authors: Lv Li , Guo Limin , Zhao Qiang
Published: January 2015

An aptamer-based absorbance assay for PDGF-BB was developed by combining rolling circle amplification reaction and catalysis with horseradish peroxidase.
Multicomponent 5-fluorouracil loaded PAMAM stabilized-silver nanocomposites synergistically induce apoptosis in human cancer cells
Authors: Matai Ishita , Sachdev Abhay , Gopinath P.
Published: January 2015

Herein, we report the development of a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer based multicomponent therapeutic agent forin vitrocancer therapy applications.
Caught! Crystal trapping of a side-on peroxo bound to Cr(iv)
Authors: de Sousa David P. , Bigelow Jennifer O. , Sundberg Jonas , Que Lawrence , McKenzie Christine J.
Published: January 2015

A Cr(iv)η2–peroxo complex is a likely intermediate in catalytic disproportionation of H2O2 in solution – and solid state.