bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“A General Separation of Colored and White”
Authors: Aragon Margarita
Published: April 2015

This article uses archival research to explore important differences in the discursive and institutional positioning of Mexican American and African American men during World War II. Through the focal point of the riots that erupted in Los Angeles and other major cities in the summer of 1943, I examine the ways in which black and Mexican “rioters” were imagined in official and popular discourses. Though both groups of youth were often constructed as deviant and subversive, there were also divergences in the ways in which their supposed racial difference was discursively configured. I also consider the experiences of each group in the World War II military, a subject that has received little attention in previous work on the riots. Though both groups were subject to discrimination and brutality on the home front, only African Americans were segregated in the military—a fact that profoundly influenced the 1943 riots. Examining the very different conditions under which these men served, as well as the distinct ways in which their presence within the military and on the home front was interpreted and given meaning by press, law enforcement, and military officials, helps to illuminate the uneven and complex workings of racism in America, disrupting the common conceptualization of a definitive white/nonwhite color line.
Games, Changes and Fears: Exploring Taiwan’s Cross-Strait Dilemma in the Twenty-first Century
Authors: Magcamit Michael Intal
Published: April 2015

This article examines Taiwan’s cross-strait relations with China by analyzing the linkages between their respective security interests and free trade objectives in the twenty-first century. It argues that these entanglements induce a scenario akin to the prisoner’s dilemma that compels Taiwanese leaders and policymakers to preserve the Chinese-dominated cross-strait status quo. To enhance their political appeals during general elections, the major political parties in Taiwan are being forced to cooperate with each other, albeit artificially. By adopting a parallel, watered-down approach to sensitive political issues, particularly with respect to Taiwan’s sovereignty status, the omnipresent China factor is being legitimized further. Such an approach homogenizes the parties’ political agendas with respect to Taiwanese autonomy which leads to the island’s perpetual entrapment within the One-China trajectory. Using original and secondary sources in the empirical analysis of the security–trade nexus mainly from the Taiwanese perspective, the article highlights the slow yet steady co-optation of Taiwan’s sovereign interests within China’s sinicization project.
Lattice strain framework for plastic deformation in complex concentrated alloys including high entropy alloys
Authors: Mishra R. S. , Kumar N. , Komarasamy M.
Published: April 2015

Alloys involving multiple solutes where the concentrations are such that it becomes difficult to identify a “solvent”, such as the so called “high entropy alloys”, have the potential for interesting combinations of properties. A key question relates to the fundamental mechanisms of plastic deformation in these alloys. A simple lattice strain framework is proposed for complex concentrated alloys to address the energetics and kinetics of dislocations and twins. It is argued that the lattice strain in highly concentrated alloys raises the base energy of the crystal and thereby reduces the additional energy required to nucleate dislocations and twins. However, the kinetics of dislocation motion are dampened by the lattice strain and local energy variations. This is reflected in lower values of activation volume. This framework can be used to design non-equiatomic high entropy alloy matrixes that enhance the properties achieved thus far.
α-Globin as a molecular target in the treatment of β-thalassemia
Authors: Mettananda Sachith , Gibbons Richard J. , Higgs Douglas R.
Published: April 2015

The thalassemias, together with sickle cell anemia and its variants, are the world’s most common form of inherited anemia, and in economically undeveloped countries, they still account for tens of thousands of premature deaths every year. In developed countries, treatment of thalassemia is also still far from ideal, requiring lifelong transfusion or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Clinical and molecular genetic studies over the course of the last 50 years have demonstrated how coinheritance of modifier genes, which alter the balance of α-like and β-like globin gene expression, may transform severe, transfusion-dependent thalassemia into relatively mild forms of anemia. Most attention has been paid to pathways that increase γ-globin expression, and hence the production of fetal hemoglobin. Here we review the evidence that reduction of α-globin expression may provide an equally plausible approach to ameliorating clinically severe forms of β-thalassemia, and in particular, the very common subgroup of patients with hemoglobin E β-thalassemia that makes up approximately half of all patients born each year with severe β-thalassemia.
Statement on smoking cessation in COPD and other pulmonary diseases and in smokers with comorbidities who find it difficult to quit
Authors: Jiménez-Ruiz Carlos A. , Andreas Stefan , Lewis Keir E. , Tonnesen Philip , van Schayck C.P. , Hajek Peter , Tonstad Serena , Dautzenberg Bertrand , Fletcher Monica , Masefield Sarah , Powell Pippa , Hering Thomas , Nardini Stefano , Tonia Thomy , Gratziou Christina
Published: April 2015

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis are common pulmonary diseases that are caused or worsened by tobacco smoking. Growing observational evidence suggests that symptoms and prognosis of these conditions improve upon smoking cessation. Despite increasing numbers of (small) randomised controlled trials suggesting intensive smoking cessation treatments work in people with pulmonary diseases many patients are not given specific advice on the benefits or referred for intensive cessation treatments and, therefore, continue smoking.

This is a qualitative review regarding smoking cessation in patients with COPD and other pulmonary disorders, written by a group of European Respiratory Society experts. We describe the epidemiological links between smoking and pulmonary disorders, the evidence for benefits of stopping smoking, how best to assess tobacco dependence and what interventions currently work best to help pulmonary patients quit. Finally, we describe characteristics and management of any “hardcore” smoker who finds it difficult to quit with standard approaches.
Conductive-bridging random access memory: challenges and opportunity for 3D architecture
Authors: Jana Debanjan , Roy Sourav , Panja Rajeswar , Dutta Mrinmoy , Rahaman Sheikh Ziaur , Mahapatra Rajat , Maikap Siddheswar
Published: April 2015

The performances of conductive-bridging random access memory (CBRAM) have been reviewed for different switching materials such as chalcogenides, oxides, and bilayers in different structures. The structure consists of an inert electrode and one oxidized electrode of copper (Cu) or silver (Ag). The switching mechanism is the formation/dissolution of a metallic filament in the switching materials under external bias. However, the growth dynamics of the metallic filament in different switching materials are still debated. All CBRAM devices are switching under an operation current of 0.1 μA to 1 mA, and an operation voltage of ±2 V is also needed. The device can reach a low current of 5 pA; however, current compliance-dependent reliability is a challenging issue. Although a chalcogenide-based material has opportunity to have better endurance as compared to an oxide-based material, data retention and integration with the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process are also issues. Devices with bilayer switching materials show better resistive switching characteristics as compared to those with a single switching layer, especially a program/erase endurance of >105 cycles with a high speed of few nanoseconds. Multi-level cell operation is possible, but the stability of the high resistance state is also an important reliability concern. These devices show a good data retention of >105 s at >85°C. However, more study is needed to achieve a 10-year guarantee of data retention for non-volatile memory application. The crossbar memory is benefited for high density with low power operation. Some CBRAM devices as a chip have been reported for proto-typical production. This review shows that operation current should be optimized for few microamperes with a maintaining speed of few nanoseconds, which will have challenges and also opportunities for three-dimensional (3D) architecture.
Facile synthesis of composition-tuned ZnO/Zn
x
Cd1-x
Se nanowires for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Luo Qiang , Wu Zhiming , He Jialun , Cao Yiyan , Bhutto Waseem Ahmed , Wang Weiping , Zheng Xuanli , Li Shuping , Lin Shengquan , Kong Lijing , Kang Junyong
Published: April 2015

ZnO/Zn
x
Cd1-x
Se coaxial nanowires (NWs) have been successfully synthesized by combining chemical vapor deposition with a facile alternant physical deposition method. The shell composition x can be precisely tuned in the whole region (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) by adjusting growth time ratio of ZnSe to CdSe. As a result, the effective bandgaps of coaxial nanowires were conveniently modified from 1.85 eV to 2.58 eV, almost covering the entire visible spectrum. It was also found that annealing treatment was in favor of forming the mixed crystal and improving crystal quality. An optimal temperature of 350°C was obtained according to our experimental results. Additionally, time resolved photo-luminescence spectra revealed the longest carrier lifetime in ZnO/CdSe coaxial nanowires. As a result, the ZnO/CdSe nanowire cell acquired the maximal conversion efficiency of 2.01%. This work shall pave a way towards facile synthesis of ternary alloys for photovoltaic applications.
Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin identifies critically ill young children with acute kidney injury following intensive care admission: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Zwiers Alexandra JM , de Wildt Saskia N , van Rosmalen Joost , de Rijke Yolanda B , Buijs Erik AB , Tibboel Dick , Cransberg Karlien
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) are at high risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI). Although serum creatinine (SCr) levels are used in clinical practice, they are insensitive for early diagnosis of AKI. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) are novel AKI biomarkers whose performance in pediatric ICU patients is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to characterize uNGAL and KIM-1 patterns in children following ICU admission and to assess their properties in relation to identifying children at risk for AKI development.

Methods

From June 2010 until January 2014, we conducted a prospective observational cohort study of term-born children ages 1 day to 1 year on mechanical ventilation. Blood and urine samples were obtained every 6 to 12 hours up to 72 hours post-admission. Blood samples were assayed for SCr, and urine samples were assayed for uNGAL and KIM-1. The RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss, end-stage renal disease) classification as 150%, 200% or 300% of median SCr reference values was used to define AKI.

Results

A total of 100 children were included (80 survived). Their median age at admission was 27.7 days (interquartile range (IQR), 1.5 to 85.5). The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 5.8 days (IQR, 3.1 to 11.4). Thirty-five patients had evidence of AKI within the first 48 hours post-admission, of whom 24 (69%) already had AKI when they entered the ICU. uNGAL and KIM-1 concentrations in AKI peaked between 6 to 12 hours and between 12 to 24 hours post-admission, respectively. The maximal area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for uNGAL was 0.815 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.685 to 0.945, P <0.001) at 0 to 6 hours post-admission. The discriminative ability of KIM-1 was moderate, with a largest AUC of 0.737 (95% CI, 0.628 to 0.847; P <0.001) at 12 to 24 hours post-admission. At the optimal cutoff point (126 ng/ml), uNGAL concentration predicted AKI development correctly in 16 (84%) of 19 children, up to 24 hours before a rise in SCr became apparent.

Conclusions

Levels of uNGAL and KIM-1 increase in patients with AKI following ICU admission and peak at 6 to 12 hours and 12 to 24 hours post-admission, respectively. uNGAL seems to be a reliable marker for identifying children who will develop AKI 24 hours later.
Mechanical properties of β-HMX
Authors: Gallagher Hugh G , Miller John C , Sheen David B , Sherwood John N , Vrcelj Ranko M
Published: April 2015

Background

For a full understanding of the mechanical properties of a material, it is essential to understand the defect structures and associated properties and microhardness indentation is a technique that can aid this understanding.

Results

The Vickers hardness on (010), {011} and {110} faces lay in the range of 304–363 MPa. The Knoop Hardnesses on the same faces lay in the range 314–482 MPa. From etching of three indented surfaces, the preferred slip planes have been identified as (001) and (101). For a dislocation glide, the most likely configuration for dislocation movement on the (001) planes is (001) [100] (|b| = 0.65 nm) and for the (101) plane as (101)

$$ \left[10\overline{1}\right] $$

10

1
¯

(|b| = 1.084 nm) although (101) [010] (|b| = 1.105 nm) is possible. Tensile testing showed that at a stress value of 2.3 MPa primary twinning occurred and grew with increasing stress. When the stress was relaxed, the twins decreased in size, but did not disappear. The twinning shear strain was calculated to be 0.353 for the (101) twin plane.

Conclusions

HMX is considered to be brittle, compared to other secondary explosives. Comparing HMX with a range of organic solids, the values for hardness numbers are similar to those of other brittle systems. Under the conditions developed beneath a pyramidal indenter, dislocation slip plays a major part in accommodating the local deformation stresses.
Can severe aortic stenosis be identified by emergency physicians when interpreting a simplified two-view echocardiogram obtained by trained echocardiographers?
Authors: Alzahrani Hasan , Woo Michael Y , Johnson Chris , Pageau Paul , Millington Scott , Thiruganasambandamoorthy Venkatesh
Published: April 2015

Background

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common valve problem that causes significant morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to determine whether an emergency physician (EP) could determine severe AS by reviewing only two B-mode echocardiographic views (parasternal long axis (PSLA) and parasternal short axis (PSSA)) obtained by trained echocardiographers.

Methods

A convenience sample of 60 patients with no AS, mild/moderate AS or severe AS was selected for health record and echocardiogram review. The echocardiograms were performed in an accredited echocardiography laboratory. An EP blinded to the cardiologist’s final report reviewed the PSLA and PSSA views after the cases were randomly sorted. Severe AS was defined as no cusp movement seen by the EP reviewers. A second EP independently reviewed 25% of randomly selected patients for inter-rater reliability. Collected data included patient demographics, EP interpretation and details of each echo view (quality, the number of cusps visualized, presence of calcification) and compared to final cardiology reports. Analyses included descriptive statistics, test characteristics for severe AS and kappa for agreement.

Results

The mean age was 75.3 years (range 18 to 90) with 36.7% females. The cardiologist’s diagnosis was as follows: 38.3% severe AS, 28.3% mild/moderate AS and 33.3% no AS. The PSSA view was poorer in quality compared with the PSLA (33.3% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.02), but the PSSA view was better than PSLA to visualize all three cusps (83.3% vs. 0%, p = 0.001). There was no difference in the presence of calcification between the mild/moderate and severe AS groups (94.1% vs. 100.0%, p = 0.46). The sensitivity and specificity for EP diagnosis of severe AS was 75.0% (95% CI 56.7% to 85.4%) and 92.5% (83.3% to 97.7%). The kappa for severe AS was 0.69 (0.41 to 0.85), and there was no significant difference between observers in the quality of the view, presence of aortic calcification and the number of cusps visible.

Conclusions

PSLA and PSSA views obtained by trained echocardiographers can be interpreted by an EP with appropriate training to identify severe AS with good specificity. Further larger prospective studies are required before widespread use by EPs.
Proteochemometric modelling coupled to in silico target prediction: an integrated approach for the simultaneous prediction of polypharmacology and binding affinity/potency of small molecules
Authors: Paricharak Shardul , Cortés-Ciriano Isidro , IJzerman Adriaan P , Malliavin Thérèse E , Bender Andreas
Published: April 2015

The rampant increase of public bioactivity databases has fostered the development of computational chemogenomics methodologies to evaluate potential ligand-target interactions (polypharmacology) both in a qualitative and quantitative way. Bayesian target prediction algorithms predict the probability of an interaction between a compound and a panel of targets, thus assessing compound polypharmacology qualitatively, whereas structure-activity relationship techniques are able to provide quantitative bioactivity predictions. We propose an integrated drug discovery pipeline combining in silico target prediction and proteochemometric modelling (PCM) for the respective prediction of compound polypharmacology and potency/affinity. The proposed pipeline was evaluated on the retrospective discovery of Plasmodium falciparum DHFR inhibitors. The qualitative in silico target prediction model comprised 553,084 ligand-target associations (a total of 262,174 compounds), covering 3,481 protein targets and used protein domain annotations to extrapolate predictions across species. The prediction of bioactivities for plasmodial DHFR led to a recall value of 79% and a precision of 100%, where the latter high value arises from the structural similarity of plasmodial DHFR inhibitors and T. gondii DHFR inhibitors in the training set. Quantitative PCM models were then trained on a dataset comprising 20 eukaryotic, protozoan and bacterial DHFR sequences, and 1,505 distinct compounds (in total 3,099 data points). The most predictive PCM model exhibited R
2

0

test and RMSEtest values of 0.79 and 0.59 pIC50 units respectively, which was shown to outperform models based exclusively on compound (R
2

0

test/RMSEtest = 0.63/0.78) and target information (R
2

0

test/RMSEtest = 0.09/1.22), as well as inductive transfer knowledge between targets, with respective R
2

0

test and RMSEtest values of 0.76 and 0.63 pIC50 units. Finally, both methods were integrated to predict the protein targets and the potency on plasmodial DHFR for the GSK TCAMS dataset, which comprises 13,533 compounds displaying strong anti-malarial activity. 534 of those compounds were identified as DHFR inhibitors by the target prediction algorithm, while the PCM algorithm identified 25 compounds, and 23 compounds (predicted pIC50 > 7) were identified by both methods. Overall, this integrated approach simultaneously provides target and potency/affinity predictions for small molecules.
Removal of fluoride from polluted waters using active carbon derived from barks of Vitex negundo plant
Authors: Suneetha Mekala , Sundar Bethanabhatla Syama , Ravindhranath Kunta
Published: April 2015

Background

Deleterious effects of fluoride contamination in ground waters on the health of human beings are well known and intensive research on developing de-fluoridation methods is globally pursued. Of the various methodologies, increasing interest is being envisaged in using the adsorption methods based on active carbons derived from plant material. In the present investigation, Nitric acid activated carbon derived from barks of Vitex negundo plant (NVNC) is probed for its de-fluoridation abilities.

Methods

The activated carbon is characterized adopting various physicochemical methods and surface morphological studies are carried out using FT-IR and SEM-EDX techniques. The effect of various parameters such as pH, sorbent dosage, agitation time, initial concentration of fluoride, temperature, particle size and presence of foreign ions on the extraction of the fluoride is studied adopting Batch methods.The adsorption process is analyzed with Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms and kinetics of adsorption is studied using pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order, Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion, Bangham’s pore diffusion and Elovich equations. The methodology developed is applied to real ground water samples.

Results

De-fluoridation is maximum at the pH: 7.0, adsorbent dosage: 4.0g/lit; equilibrium time: 50 min, Particle size: 45μ and temperature: 30 ± 1°C. The correlation coefficient values for the adsorption isotherms: Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich are 0.929, 0.998, 0.980 and 0.946 respectively and for kinetic models: pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion, Bangham’s pore diffusion and Elovich equations are 0.989, 0.994, 0.874, 0.902 and 0.912 respectively. The Temkin heat of sorption, B, and the Dubinin-Radushkevich mean free energy, E, for the activated carbon adsorbent are 0.196 J/mol and 7.07 kJ/mol respectively.

Conclusions

Nitric acid activated carbon derived from barks of Vitex negundo (NVNC) plant is found to be an effective adsorbent for the de-fluoridation of waters. The adsorption process is satisfactorily fitted with Langmuir adsorption isotherm with good correlation coefficient value and it indicates monolayer adsorption. The adsorption kinetics is found to follow pseudo-second-order kinetics. The Dubinin-Radushkevich mean free energy and Temkin heat of sorption confirm the physisorption nature as these are lower than 20kJ/mol. The procedure developed is remarkably successful in de-fluoridation of real ground water samples.
Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility of buccal bone measurements at dental implants with cone beam computed tomography in the esthetic region
Authors: Slagter Kirsten W , Raghoebar Gerry M , Vissink Arjan , Meijer Henny J A
Published: April 2015

Background

Sufficient buccal bone is important for optimal esthetic results of implant treatment in the anterior region. It can be measured with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), but background scattering and problems with standardization of the measurements are encountered. The aim was to develop a method for reliable, reproducible measurements on CBCTs.

Methods

Using a new method, buccal bone thickness was measured on ten CBCTs at six positions along the implant axis. Inter- and intraobserver reproducibility was assessed by repeated measurements by two examiners.

Results

Mean buccal bone thickness measured by observers 1 and 2 was 2.42 mm (sd: 0.50) and 2.41 mm (sd: 0.47), respectively. Interobserver intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.96 (95% CI 0.93 to 0.98). The mean buccal bone thickness of the first measurement and the second measurement of observer 1 was 2.42 mm (sd: 0.50) and 2.53 mm (sd: 0.49), respectively, with an intraobserver intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.96). The mean buccal bone thickness of the first measurement and the second measurement of observer 2 was 2.41 mm (sd: 0.47) and 2.52 mm (sd: 0.47), respectively, with an intraobserver intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.96 (95% CI 0.93 to 0.97).

Conclusions

Applying the methods used in this study, CBCTs are suitable for reliable and reproducible measurements of buccal bone thickness at implants.
An Essential Role for Parathyroid Hormone in Gill Formation and Differentiation of Ion-Transporting Cells in Developing Zebrafish
Authors: Kwong Raymond W. M. , Perry Steve F.
Published: April 2015

In vertebrates, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is important for skeletogenesis and Ca2+ homeostasis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which PTH regulates skeleton formation and Ca2+ balance during early development. Using larval zebrafish as an in vivo model system, we determined that PTH1 regulates the differentiation of epithelial cells and the development of craniofacial cartilage. We demonstrated that translational gene knockdown of PTH1 decreased Ca2+ uptake at 4 days after fertilization. We also observed that PTH1-deficient fish exhibited reduced numbers of epithelial Ca2+ channel (ecac)-expressing cells, Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells, and H+-ATPase-rich cells. Additionally, the density of epidermal stem cells was decreased substantially in the fish experiencing PTH1 knockdown. Knockdown of PTH1 caused a shortening of the jaw and impeded the development of branchial arches. Results from in situ hybridization suggested that the expression of collagen 2a1a (marker for proliferating chondrocytes) was substantially reduced in the cartilage that forms the jaw and branchial aches. Disorganization of chondrocytes in craniofacial cartilage also was observed in PTH1-deficient fish. The results of real-time PCR demonstrated that PTH1 morphants failed to express the transcription factor glial cell missing 2 (gcm2). Coinjection of PTH1 morpholino with gcm2 capped RNA rescued the phenotypes observed in the PTH1 morphants, suggesting that the defects in PTH1-deficient fish were caused, at least in part, by the suppression of gcm2. Taken together, the results of the present study reveal critical roles for PTH1 in promoting the differentiation of epidermal stem cells into mature ionocytes and cartilage formation during development.
Generation and Characterization of Transgenic Mice Expressing Mouse Ins1 Promoter for Pancreatic β-Cell-Specific Gene Overexpression and Knockout
Authors: Cheng Yulong , Su Yutong , Shan Aijing , Jiang Xiuli , Ma Qinyun , Wang Weiqing , Ning Guang , Cao Yanan
Published: April 2015

The technologies for pancreatic β-cell-specific gene overexpression or knockout are fundamental for investigations of functional genes in vivo. Here we generated the Ins1-Cre-Dsred and Ins1-rtTA mouse models, which expressed the Cre recombinase or reverse tetracycline regulatable transactivator (rtTA) without hGH minigene under the control of mouse Ins1 promoter. Our data showed that the Cre-mediated recombination and rtTA-mediated activation could be efficiently detected at embryonic day 13.5 when these models were crossed with the reporter mice (ROSAmT/mG or tetO-HIST1H2BJ/GFP). The Cre and rtTA expression was restricted to β-cells without leakage in the brain and other tissues. Moreover, both the transgenic lines showed normal glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. These results suggested that the Ins1-Cre-Dsred and Ins1-rtTA mice could be used to knock out or overexpress target genes in embryos and adults to facilitate β-cell researches. (Endocrinology 156: 2724–2731, 2015)
China’s Debate on the Middle East and North Africa: A Critical Review
Authors: Fardella Enrico
Published: April 2015

This essay offers an overview of the Chinese posture and debate toward the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. The author presents China’s outlook toward the region as a laboratory for an innovative course in Beijing’s future foreign policy. The analysis is divided into three parts: a critical introduction that assesses the role of WANA within the spectrum of Chinese hierarchical vision of the international system, a detailed assessment of the factors that are transforming WANA into one of the most crucial sectors of Beijing’s foreign policy, and a detailed overview of the internal debate on China’s evolving role in the region.
The Multiple Contexts of Protest: Reflections on the Reception of the MIT Visualizing Cultures Project and the Anti-Right Japanese Demonstration in Shanghai
Authors: Farrer James
Published: April 2015

The MIT Visualizing Cultures controversy is linked to a series of anti-Japanese street protests in China during the previous year. As a comparative analysis of these two very different types of protests, this article produces a reading of protest through a series of linked contexts of reception, or interconnected interpretive communities. To elaborate this idea, this article focuses on one of these events, the anti-Japanese protest of April 2005, and in conclusion, compares the reception of this event to the reactions to Visualizing Cultures website. Both events followed a familiar twentieth-century pattern of Chinese youth reacting against perceived insults to China in the realm of international affairs, accusing the Chinese state of weakness in the face of foreign insults. Like the MIT webpage controversy, however, the Shanghai protest unfolded in the borderless context of global media coverage, and also in the particular local and transnational contexts of Shanghai, a rising global city with a large resident foreign population, including the largest Japanese population in any city in the world outside Japan. The interpretations of the protest thus developed across a series of interlinked contexts of reception in Shanghai, in Japan, and further afield. In particular, the article discusses reactions in the Japanese community in Shanghai, and subsequent reactions of Japanese public intellectuals writing about the protest from Japan. Finally, as the events of protest become embedded in opposing nationalist narratives, the article asks how they can be brought back into the classroom, and how the social space of the classroom can serve as an alternative interpretive community for the exploration of both historical memory and the meanings of protest.
Extremes of Homogeneous Gaussian Random Fields
Authors: Dębicki Krzysztof , Hashorva Enkelejd , Soja-Kukieła Natalia
Published: April 2015

Let {X(s, t): s, t ≥ 0} be a centred homogeneous Gaussian field with almost surely continuous sample paths and correlation function r(s, t) = cov(X(s, t), X(0, 0)) such that r(s, t) = 1 - |s|α1 - |t|α2 + o(|s|α1 + |t|α2), s, t → 0, with α1, α2 ∈ (0, 2], and r(s, t) < 1 for (s, t) ≠ (0, 0). In this contribution we derive an asymptotic expansion (as u → ∞) of P(sup(sn1(u),tn2(u)) ∈[0,x]∙[0,y]X(s, t) ≤ u), where n1(u)n2(u) =
u2/α1+2/α2Ψ(u), which holds uniformly for (x, y) ∈ [A, B]2 with A, B two positive constants and Ψ the survival function of an N(0, 1) random variable. We apply our findings to the analysis of extremes of homogeneous Gaussian fields over more complex parameter sets and a ball of random radius. Additionally, we determine the extremal index of the discretised random field determined by X(s, t).
Logarithmic Asymptotics for Multidimensional Extremes Under Nonlinear Scalings
Authors: Kosiński K. M. , Mandjes M.
Published: April 2015

LetW= {Wn:n∈N} be a sequence of random vectors inRd,d≥ 1. In this paper we consider the logarithmic asymptotics of the extremes ofW, that is, for any vectorq> 0 inRd, we find that logP(there existsn∈N:Wnuq) asu→ ∞. We follow the approach of the restricted large deviation principle introduced in Duffy (2003). That is, we assume that, for everyq≥0, and some scalings {an}, {vn}, (1 /vn)logP(Wn/an≥uq) has a, continuous inq, limitJW(q). We allow the scalings {an} and {vn} to be regularly varying with a positive index. This approach is general enough to incorporate sequencesW, such that the probability law ofWn/ansatisfies the large deviation principle with continuous, not necessarily convex, rate functions. The equations for these asymptotics are in agreement with the literature.
Asymptotic Properties of Protected Nodes in Random Recursive Trees
Authors: Mahmoud Hosam M. , Ward Mark D.
Published: April 2015

We investigate protected nodes in random recursive trees. The exact mean of the number of such nodes is obtained by recurrence, and a linear asymptotic equivalent follows. A nonlinear recurrence for the variance shows that the variance grows linearly, too. It follows that the number of protected nodes in a random recursive tree, upon proper scaling, converges in probability to a constant.
The roles of visual parallax and edge attraction in the foraging behaviour of the butterfly Papilio xuthus
Authors: Stewart Finlay J. , Kinoshita Michiyo , Arikawa Kentaro
Published: April 2015

Several examples of insects using visual motion to measure distance have been documented, from locusts peering to gauge the proximity of prey, to honeybees performing visual odometry en route between the hive and a flower patch. However, whether the use of parallax information is confined to specialised behaviours like these, or represents a more general purpose sensory capability, is an open question. We investigate this issue in the foraging swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus, which we train to associate a target presented on a monitor with a food reward. We then track the animal's flight in real-time, allowing us to manipulate the size and/or position of the target in a closed-loop manner to create the illusion that it is situated either above or below the monitor surface. Butterflies are less attracted to (i.e. slower to approach) targets that appear, based on motion parallax, to be more distant. Furthermore, we find that the number of abortive descent manoeuvres performed prior to the first successful target approach varies according to the depth of the virtual target, with expansion and parallax cues having effects of opposing polarity. However, we find no evidence that Papilio modulate the kinematic parameters of their descents according to the apparent distance of the target. Thus, we argue that motion parallax is used to identify a proximal target object, but that the subsequent process of approaching it is based on stabilising its edge in the 2D space of the retina, without estimating its distance.
Directional sound sensitivity in utricular afferents in the toadfish, Opsanus tau
Authors: Maruska Karen P. , Mensinger Allen F.
Published: April 2015

The inner ear of fishes contains three paired otolithic endorgans, the saccule, lagena, and utricle, which function as biological accelerometers. The saccule is the largest otolithin most fishes and much of our current understanding on auditory function in this diverse group of vertebrates is derived from anatomical and neurophysiological studies on this endorgan. In contrast, less is known about how the utricle contributes to auditory functions. Chronically implanted electrodes were used, along with neural telemetry or tethers to record primary afferent responses from the utricular nerve in free-ranging and naturally behaving oyster toadfish Opsanus tau Linnaeus. The hypothesis was that the utricle plays a role in detecting underwater sounds, including conspecific vocalizations, and exhibits directional sensitivity. Utricular afferents responded best to low frequency (80-200 Hz) pure tones and to playbacks of conspecific boatwhistles and grunts (80 to 180 Hz fundamental frequency), with the majority of the units (∼75%) displaying a clear, directional response, which may allow the utricle to contribute to sound detection and localization during social interactions. Responses were well within the sound intensity levels of toadfish vocalization (approximately 140 SPL dBrms re: 1µPa with fibers sensitive to thresholds of approximately 120 SPL dBrms re: 1µPa). Neurons were also stimulated by self-generated body movements such as opercular movements and swimming. This study is the first to investigate underwater sound-evoked response properties of primary afferents from the utricle of an unrestrained/unanesthetized free-swimming teleost fish. These data provide experimental evidence that the utricle has an auditory function, and can contribute to directional hearing to facilitate sound localization.
Complex Diagnostics of Students’ Body State
Authors: Воробьев  , Vorobev A. , Корженевский  , Korzhenevskiy A. , Колокатова  , Kolokatova Larisa
Published: April 2015

Students’ body state diagnostics is an integral part of educational process. Health status deviations reduce human organism’s spare capacity. Tests for determination of students’ physical and functional fitness have been developed. The condition of human organism’s functional systems has been defined for the purpose of effective strategy development for students’ physical training in higher education institution.
Main Tendencies of Innovative Advertizing Technologies Development in Real Estate Sphere
Authors: Пономарев  , Ponomarev Vladimir
Published: April 2015

In this paper are considered such innovative methods for

real estate advertizing as non-conventional types of outdoor advertizing

("ambient media") and advertizing on devoted to real estate

special Internet portals. Two categories of real estate market’s

participating organizations forming the offer are considered – construction

and investment companies, and real estate agencies.

Distinctions between them in advertizing budget volume and,

therefore, in a choice of concrete forms of advertizing when planning

the advertizing campaigns are specified. A conclusion about

the increasing role of innovative methods for advertizing as less

expensive in comparison with the main traditional methods is drawn.

A review of largest Internet portals related to real estate, with indication

of main features for each of them is provided. Examples

of non-conventional forms for outdoor advertizing in the domestic

real estate market are pointed out. The main tendencies related to

the attitude of real estate market participants to innovative methods

of advertizing are revealed and these tendencies’ possible reasons

are specified.
The physiological value of different vibrations and rhythms (literature review)
Authors: Паньшина  , Panshina M. , Беляева  , Belyaeva Elena , Хадарцева  , Khadartseva K. , Митюшкина  , Mityushkina O.
Published: April 2015

The review highlights the issues of functioning of self-oscillating systems in the human body, the importance of resonance in the life, the conformity physiological parameters to the principles of fractals, the Golden section and Fibonacci dependencies. The authors described natural and forced vibrations. Conjugation biosphere Schumann resonance with the functioning of organs and body systems, in particular, the normalization of melatonin-serotonin balance is demonstrated in this work. The authors have identified the value of the vibra-tions and rhythms in physiological processes of locomotor and cardiovascular systems. The parameters of life were evaluated from the viewpoint of the theory of chaos and self-organization of complex systems.
Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and correction of dorsopathies
Authors: Агасаров  , Agasarov L. , Кузьмина  , Kuzmina I. , Чигарев  , Chigarev A. , Марьяновский  , Maryanovskiy A.
Published: April 2015

The World Health Organization declared the problems of dorsopathies (vertebrogenic syndromes) as priorities for the next five-year period. The key questions of etiology and pathogenesis of dorsopathies for the last period has been revised, which affects the principles of treatment and rehabilitation of this category of patients. This article highlights the main clinical and pathogenetic characteristics of the process. A diagnostic algorithm, mechanisms of action and therapeutic possibilities of the main methods of correction are considered. Also the article considers the principles of medical treatment and physical stimulation, with the confirmation of the fea-sibility of an integrated approach that provides effective relief of manifestations of dorsopathies. In this case, taking into account authors’ original research, attention is paid to theoretical and practical aspects of acupuncture, prescribed in the treatment of patients with dorsopathies. The authors described an effective technology pharmacopuncture, an action of which is caused by the summation of the effects of reflex irritation, actions of the drug. Based on the results of many years of personal research, the authors note that pharmacopuncture involves the use of various drugs, but just the complex homeopathic remedies provide a clear therapeutic result.
Service Quality Variability and Termination Behavior
Authors: Sriram S. , Chintagunta Pradeep K. , Manchanda Puneet
Published: April 2015

We investigate the roles of the level and variability in quality in driving customer retention for a new service. We present model-free evidence that whereas high average quality helps in retaining customers, high variability leads to higher termination rates. Apart from these main effects, we use model-free evidence to document the presence of (a) an interaction effect between average service quality and its variability on termination rates, (b) customer learning about service quality over time, and (c) a slower rate of learning among households that experience high variability. We postulate a mechanism involving risk aversion and learning, which can induce this interaction effect, and test this against several alternative explanations. We show that it is important to consider variability in quality while inferring the impact of improvements to average quality—ignoring the interaction effect between average quality and variability leads to an 18%–64% (5%–31%) overestimation (underestimation) of quality improvement elasticities among high-variability (low-variability) households. Given that responsiveness to quality decreases with variability, it is better for the firm to focus quality improvement efforts on customers experiencing low variability; increasing average quality by 1% lowers termination by 1.1% for low-variability households, but only by 0.41% for high-variability households.

This paper was accepted by Gérard Cachon, marketing.
Perspective—The Flaring of Intellectual Outliers: An Organizational Interpretation of the Generation of Novelty in the RAND Corporation
Authors: Augier Mie , March James G. , Marshall Andrew W.
Published: April 2015

Much of intellectual history is punctuated by the flaring of intellectual outliers, small groups of thinkers who briefly, but decisively, influence the development of ideas, technologies, policies, or worldviews. To understand the flaring of intellectual outliers, we use archival and interview data from the RAND Corporation after the Second World War. We focus on five factors important to the RAND experience: (1) a belief in fundamental research as a source of practical ideas, (2) a culture of optimistic urgency, (3) the solicitation of renegade ambition, (4) the recruitment of intellectual cronies, and (5) the facilitation of the combinatorics of variety. To understand the subsequent decline of intellectual outliers at RAND, we note that success yields a sense of competence, endurance in a competitive world, and the opportunity and inclination to grow. Self-confidence, endurance, and growth produce numerous positive consequences for an organization; but for the most part, they undermine variety. Outliers and the conditions that produce them are not favored by their environments. Engineering solutions to this problem involve extending time and space horizons, providing false information about the likelihoods of positive returns from exploration, buffering exploratory activities from the pressures of efficiency, and protecting exploration from analysis by connecting it to dictates of identities.
Touching, Encounter & Group Psychotherapy: Personal Memories of an Old Therapist
Authors: Naar Ray
Published: April 2015

“Exploring the Use of Touch in the Psychotherapeutic Setting: A Phenomenological Review.” (2009). The author presents a number of personal perspectives derived from 43 years of practice. It includes empirical findings regarding patients' attitudes toward touching, as well as practical guidelines regarding physical contact in psychotherapy. The paper concludes with a long vignette illustrating the nature of the psychotherapeutic encounter.
Impromptu Man: J. L. Moreno and the Origins of Psychodrama, Encounter Culture, and the Social Network. By Jonathan D. Moreno. Bellevue Literary Press, 2014.
Authors: Blatner Adam
Published: April 2015

Impromptu Man: J. L. Moreno and the Origins of Psychodrama, Encounter Culture, and the Social Network. By Jonathan D. Moreno. Bellevue Literary Press, 2014.
Integrating J. L. Moreno's Heritage
Authors: Marineau Rene
Published: April 2015

This article focuses on Moreno's contributions to the fields of individual and group psychotherapy through the development of psychodrama and sociodrama. The author stresses the importance of integrating all social and neurological sciences within Moreno's theories and methods. He sees the future of Moreno's heritage in a creative and systematic use of all the tools developed in line with the understanding of individuals and societies. The 21st century could see the Morenean philosophy enhanced by a common effort of every field and science toward the well-being of every subgroup within the greater Society and entire Cosmos.
Sociodrama for Our Time. By Rosalie Minkin. Self-published, 2013.
Authors: Silverman Michael
Published: April 2015

Sociodrama for Our Time. By Rosalie Minkin. Self-published, 2013.
Clinical judgment and decision-making in wound assessment and management: is experience enough?
Authors: Logan Gemma
Published: April 2015

The assessment and management of wounds forms a large proportion of community nurses' workload, often requiring judgment and decision-making in complex, challenging and uncertain circumstances. The processes through which nurses form judgments and make decisions within this context are reviewed in this article against existing theories on these subjects. There is variability in wound assessment and management practice which may be attributed to uncertainties within the context, a lack of knowledge in appropriate treatment choices and the inability to correctly value the importance of the clinical information presented. Nurses may be required to draw on intuition to guide their judgments and decision-making by association with experience and expertise. In addition, a step-by-step analytical approach underpinned by an evidence base may be required to ensure accuracy in practice. Developing an understanding of the different theories of judgment and decision-making may facilitate nurses' abilities to reflect on their own decision tasks, thereby enhancing the care provided.
Wound care in the older person: an overview
Authors: Jones Menna Lloyd
Published: April 2015

As we get older, we are much more likely to experience age-related skin changes, which can put the skin at risk. Menna Lloyd Jones describes selected types of skin damage and advises the best management options available to those caring for an older person
Reducing the risk of falls in care homes
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: April 2015

The care home can present many potentially hazardous settings, from poorly lit rooms, to cluttered stairwells and corridors. In this article, Adrian Ashurst highlights the impact falls have on older people and recommends ways of stopping them from happening