bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenetic analysis of the genera medicagoid Trigonella, Medicago and Melilotus (Fabaceae) on seed coat in Iran
Authors: KHANDANI SIMA , ASSADI MOSTAFA , NEJADSATARI TAHER , MEHREGAN IRAJ
Published: March 2016

Khandani S, Assadi M, Nejadsatari T, Mehregan I. 2016. Phenetic analysis of the genera medicagoid Trigonella, MedicagoÂ and Melilotus (Fabaceae) on seed coat in Iran. Biodiversitas 17: 162-171. Seed morphological characters of 11 species belonging to the Medicagoid Trigonella group from Iran were studied and compared with six species of Trigonella L. (non medicagoid), one speciesÂ Medicago L. and Melilotus Mill. (Fabaceae), including general shape, size, color, surface shape and testa ornamentation patterns withÂ Scanning Electron Microscope and Stereomicroscope. Phenetic relationships among the species were studied via important seed morphological data by PCA analysis and UPMGA method. Cluster analysis of seed morphology results showed that some ofÂ medicagoid Trigonella species clustered with non medicagoid species but majority of them joined together which is in agreement ofÂ some references. In conclusion, seed morphological characters show that most Iranian medicagoid Trigonella species are well separatedÂ from the other Trigonella species. Also, some of these characters are important in systematic discriminations of the taxa.
An Effective Speaker Clustering Method using UBM and Ultra-Short Training Utterances
Authors: Hossa Robert , Makowski Ryszard
Published: March 2016

The same speech sounds (phones) produced by different speakers can sometimes exhibit significant differences. Therefore, it is essential to use algorithms compensating these differences in ASR systems. Speaker clustering is an attractive solution to the compensation problem, as it does not require long utterances or high computational effort at the recognition stage. The report proposes a clustering method based solely on adaptation of UBM model weights. This solution has turned out to be effective even when using a very short utterance. The obtained improvement of frame recognition quality measured by means of frame error rate is over 5%.

It is noteworthy that this improvement concerns all vowels, even though the clustering discussed in this report was based only on the phoneme a. This indicates a strong correlation between the articulation of different vowels, which is probably related to the size of the vocal tract.
Hydrophobic forces as a key factor in crystalline biofilm formation on ureteral stents
Authors: Laube Norbert , Desai Chintan , Bernsmann Falk
Published: March 2016

Background:

Current discussions about biofilm formation focus on the solid/liquid interface between a medical device and body fluids. Yet it has been shown that gas bubbles (GB) can stably form on ureteral stents in artificial urine and that their fate depends on the stent’s surface properties. The liquid/gas interface constitutes an adhesion site for precipitating salts as well as hydrophobic organic molecules.

Materials and methods:

The surface wettability of polyurethane stents is varied by coating with amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H). GB and crystalline biofilm formation on the stents are investigated in a novel encrustation device which avoids gravitation- or sample-position-related influences on the results.

Results:

Bigger and more stable GB form on hydrophobic stents than on hydrophilic, coated stents. Appearance and amount of crystalline deposits differ significantly between the surfaces. With decreasing wettability the number of hollow crystalline spheres and the mass of precipitate increase.

Conclusions:

On hydrophobic surfaces, stable GB increase precipitation of salts and become incorporated in the growing encrustation layer
Investigation on Ring/Split-Ring Loaded Bow-Tie Antenna for Compactness and Notched-Band
Authors: Peng Lin , Xie Ji-yang , Jiang Xing , Li Si-min
Published: March 2016

In this paper, a Bow-tie antenna with size reduction, impedance matching and radiation pattern improvement characteristics is designed with an encircling ring. Moreover, further size reduction is achieved by utilizing two symmetric split rings with more frequency tuning flexibility. Research found the ring loaded Bow-tie antenna (RLBA) shows better performance than the referenced Bow-tie antenna (RBA), and the mechanisms of performance improvements are also investigated and found to be the loading ring acts as two symmetric dipoles in the direction of the antenna’s polarization. Then, using two symmetric split rings on the opposite side of the substrate as replacement of the encircling ring will prolong the length of the dipoles, and achieves further size reduction. The antenna is denoted as dual split ring loaded Bow-tie antenna (DSRBA). The low cutoff frequencies of RBA, RLBA and DSRBA with identical antenna size are 2.65 GHz, 2.27 GHz and 2.06 GHz, respectively. Then, the corresponding diameters of the antennas are 0.353
Is there a role for vitamin D in human reproduction?
Authors: Nandi Anindita , Sinha Nandita , Ong Erwyn , Sonmez Halis , Poretsky Leonid
Published: March 2016

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone with canonical roles in calcium metabolism and bone modeling. However, in recent years there has been a growing body of literature presenting associations between vitamin D levels and a variety of disease processes, including metabolic disorders such as diabetes and prediabetes and autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease. This review focuses on the potential role of vitamin D in both male and female reproductive function. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed throughout central and peripheral organs of reproduction. VDR is often co-localized with its metabolizing enzymes, suggesting the importance of tissue specific modulation of active vitamin D levels. Both animal and human studies in males links vitamin D deficiency with hypogonadism and decreased fertility. In females, there is evidence for its role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, leiomyomas, in-vitro fertilization, and pregnancy outcomes. Studies evaluating the effects of replacing vitamin D have shown variable results. There remains some concern that the effects of vitamin D on reproduction are not direct, but rather secondary to the accompanying hypocalcemia or estrogen dysregulation.
Long-Lasting Phosphorescent Properties of Tb3+ Doped ZnO–P2O5–SiO2 Glasses
Authors: Cao Yuxia
Published: March 2016

The long-lasting phosphorescent glass with the composition of ZnO–P2O5–SiO2: Tb3+ was prepared by melt-quenched method. After irradiation by 254 nm light, a visible greenish light can be observed with the naked eyes, in the dark for up to 9 h after removal of the activating light. The luminescent properties of ZnO–P2O5–SiO2: Tb3+ were studied by fluorescence spectra, afterglow spectra and thermoluminescence spectra. The results show that the luminescent properties of the glasses become better with the increase of ZnO contents. The luminescent properties of glasses increase with the increase of Tb3+ contents. When 2% of ZnO is replaced by 2% of RO (RO=CaO, SrO, BaO), the luminescent property of glasses become worse in the order of CaO, SrO, BaO. The higher the contents of RO (RO=CaO, SrO, BaO) are, the worse the luminescent properties of the glasses become.
The orientation of the gastric biopsy specimen for the gastric atrophy assessment is important
Authors: Cotruta Bogdan , Becheanu Gabriel , Iacob Razvan , Gheorghe Cristian
Published: March 2016

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Effect of Coffee Added to a Polyethylene glycol plus Ascorbic acid Solution for Bowel Preparation prior to Colonoscopy
Authors: Jung Sung Won , Moh In Ho , Yoo Hana , Jang Sung Ill , Shin Su Rin , Kim Jin Bae , Park Sang Hoon , Lee Myung Seok
Published: March 2016

Background & Aims: Conventional bowel cleansers for colonoscopy have an unpleasant taste and a large volume of solution must be ingested. Coffee increases bowel motility and has an intense flavor. The addition of coffee to a polyethylene glycol+ascorbic acid solution reduces the volume of the solution to be consumed without reducing efficacy, improves the taste of the solution and enhances patient comfort.

Methods: Outpatients with clinical indication or people who wanted screening for cancer were considered eligible. Control group (PEGAS group) consumed a 1-L solution of polyethylene glycol+ascorbic acid twice. Study group (COF group) consumed 750 mL of coffee+polyethylene glycol+ascorbic acid twice. Bowel cleansing was rated using the Aronchick, Ottawa scale, polyp detection rate and colonoscopic insertion time. Tolerability, acceptability, preference, and adverse events were investigated by questionnaires.

Results: The COF group had non-inferiority in efficacy (non-inferiority margin, -15 %; lower limit of 95 % confidence interval for difference between success rates, – 4.7 % and –8.4 % from both scales, respectively). Polyp detection rates were 0.48 and 0.60, respectively (P=0.067). Colonoscopic insertion times were 323.6±166.8 s and 330.7±243.6 s, respectively (P=0.831). Significant improvement was observed with respect to ease of drinking (P=0.012), taste (P=0.026) and preference (P=0.046) in the COF group. Adverse events occurred in 52.4 % and 60.4 % in the two groups, respectively (P = 0.251).

Conclusion: The addition of coffee to polyethylene glycol+ascorbic acid solution reduces the required volume for bowel preparation without reduced efficacy and enhances patient comfort in coffee-drinkers.

Abbreviations: ASC: ascorbic acid; PEG: polyethylene glycol; AE: adverse event; PP: per protocol; ITT: intention-to-treat; PICO: sodium picosulfate.
Revista de Direitos e Garantias Fundamentais como Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito da Faculdade de Direito de Vitória (FDV)
Authors: Miguel Paula Castello
Published: March 2016

Editorial
Renomear sociologia e direito em tempo de crise e transição de paradigmas
Authors: Anjos Erly Euzébio dos
Published: March 2016

Objetivo é relacionar a problemática sociológica com o campo jurídico, com base em experiências de ensino. Busca ultrapassar resistências com didática que incentive a visão crítica e afinada com temas atuais. Apesar da aproximação, há especificidade jurídica e é preciso considerar a reciprocidade entre os campos para não se rejeite a subjetividade e diversidade existentes, hoje, na sociedade. No contexto de crise e transição de paradigmas, os modelos, perfis almejados e obstáculos na formação de profissionais é analisado, em que se argumenta sobre o papel específico da pesquisa jurídica. A renomeação de Sociologia e Direito é possível por meio da inter-e-transdisciplinaridade, na relação de reciprocidade dialética desta reconstrução teórica, com a prática.
Derecho al honor y la intimidad versus derecho a la información (análisis crítico de la jurisprudencia española reciente)
Authors: Cariñana Mª Ángeles Zurilla
Published: March 2016

El objetivo del presente estudio es ofrecer un análisis crítico de lajurisprudencia recaída en los últimos años en España en torno a laconfrontación entre la protección de los derechos al honor, la intimidady la propia imagen, y la de los derechos a la información y a lalibertad de expresión. En los tiempos que vivimos, la proliferación deprogramas del corazón, prensa rosa, tertulias televisivas, radiofónicas,así como el auge imparable de Internet, (con incontables blogs, foros de opinión, videos publicados por los proprios usuarios, redes sociales...) constituye un caldo de cultivo apropiado para la vulneración de losderechos al honor, la intimidad y la propia imagen. Las demandas endefensa de los mismos son constantes. Como paso previo interesa poner de relieve que el tratamiento desdeel Derecho civil de los derechos reconocidos en el texto constituciona sólo se justifica cuando exista alguna particularidad en el régimen de protección frente a los daños, o cuando exista una regulación determinada respecto del régimen aplicable a la transmisión de losderechos; pues ambas son cuestiones exclusivas del Derecho civil.
Discriminação de gênero e direitos fundamentais: desdobramentos sócio-históricos e avanços legislativos
Authors: Leite Taylisi De Souza Correa , Borges Paulo Cesar Correa , Cordeiro Euller Xavier
Published: March 2016

Através dos contornos históricos e sociológicos do gênero, torna-se possível compreender a evolução de garantias jurídicas positivadas como produtos de intensas lutas feministas, inseridas na dinâmica dos conflitos sociais que marcaram a modernidade recente. Preconizando-se que apenas uma concepção pós-estruturalista de gênero como pauta do feminismo é que pode garantir uma real emancipação subjetiva da mulher na atualidade, intenta-se demonstrar que as garantias legais e sua evolução passam por um substrato teórico acerca das concepções sobre gênero. A partir de uma análise da evolução dos direitos das mulheres no Brasil, este trabalho pretende lançar luzes para a edificação de uma nova visão acerca dos direitos da mulher como direitos fundamentais.
Participação popular: limites e perspectivas nas audiências públicas ambientais sob a ótica da racionalidade ambiental.
Authors: Pegado Erika Araújo da Cunha , Barbosa Erivaldo Moreira
Published: March 2016

O artigo discute o alcance da participação popular nas audiências públicas ambientais, a partir do olhar da racionalidade ambiental que se funda numa nova ética complexa, manifestada em princípios de uma vida democrática voltada para um desenvolvimento sustentável. Apresenta uma análise a respeito da participação popular dos atores sociais legitimados no processo de licenciamento ambiental que requerem audiências públicas Concluiu-se que, a despeito arcabouço jurídico brasileiro garantir a participação popular nas audiências públicas, o pleno exercício desse direito esbarra em falhas na implantação do instituto e requer um aprimoramento da cidadania por parte do governo e da população.
A participação cidadã no processo de construção de políticas de segurança pública: uma análise sobre o Projeto de Lei de instituição do Sistema Único de Segurança Pública / Public security policies: an analysis on the draft law that institutes Unifyed...
Authors: Chai Cássius Guimarães , Almeida Igor Martins Coelho
Published: March 2016

A proposta desse trabalho é analisar o Projeto de Lei nº 3734/2012, que institui o Sistema Único de Segurança Pública – SUSP (entre outras providências), e de que forma o referido projeto se encontra pautado sobre a nova ordem constitucional brasileira, direcionada para a participação democrática dos cidadãos e cidadãs no processo de construção de políticas públicas. Antes de detalhar o Projeto de Lei nº 3734, traçam-se linhas norteadoras sobre a ressignificação da democracia e da cidadania, desde as suas concepções tradicionais, até a mais moderna. Em seguida, uma apresentação do (recente) processo de construção democrática de políticas públicas na área de segurança pública, que culminaram com a formação do Conselho Nacional de Segurança Pública - CONASP e da 1ª Conferência Nacional de Segurança Pública – CONSEG.
Niepełnosprawność osób starszych jako czynnik determinujący korzystanie z usług pomocy społecznej
Authors: Burzyńska Monika , Maniecka-Bryła Irena
Published: March 2016

Naturalną konsekwencją wielu chorób przewlekłych jest pojawiająca się z czasem niepełnosprawność. Celem niniejszej pracy była ocena częstości niepełnosprawności osób starszych korzystających z pomocy społecznej.Badanie przeprowadzono w okresie od września 2011 roku do lutego 2012 roku wśród starszych (65 lat i więcej) podopiecznych Miejskiego Ośrodka Pomocy Społecznej Łódź-Polesie. Narzędziem badania był kwestionariusz wywiadu zawierający m.in. pytania dotyczące sytuacji zdrowotnej osób badanych, w tym niepełnosprawności, jej przyczyn i pytania dotyczące trudności w wykonywaniu wybranych czynności dnia codziennego. W analizie statystycznej danych zastosowano wskaźniki struktury i miary położenia dla cech mierzalnych. Oceny zależności pomiędzy zmiennymi dokonano za pomocą testu niezależności χ2.Podopiecznymi Miejskiego Ośrodka Pomocy Społecznej (MOPS) częściej były kobiety (77,9%). Badani najczęściej byli owdowiali (43,7% mężczyzn, 73,9% badanych kobiet). Najczęstszą przyczyną wystąpienia z wnioskiem o pomoc była choroba przewlekła (73,4%). 42,9% wniosków umotywowanych było niepełnosprawnością badanych. 240 osób (51,5 % badanych) miało orzeczony stopień niepełnosprawności. W związku z niepełnosprawnością 191 osób badanych (41,0% ogółu; 79,6% badanych z orzeczoną niepełnosprawnością) wymagało stałej opieki. Najczęściej opiekę nad osobami niepełnosprawnymi sprawowała opiekunka społeczna.Postępująca z wiekiem niesprawność fizyczna osób starszych stwarza częstą konieczność korzystania z pomocy instytucji opiekuńczych i leczniczych, co stwarza potrzebę wdrażania w systemie opieki zdrowotnej i społecznej działań zmierzających do poprawy funkcjonowania osób starszych w domu, jak również w instytucjach opieki długoterminowej zajmujących się opieką nad takimi pacjentami.
WSPÓŁCZESNE TENDENCJE W PROJEKTOWANIU ODDZIAŁU GERIATRYCZNEGO - KOMPONENTY PRZESTRZENI PRZYJAZNE STARSZEMU PACJENTOWI
Authors: Szewczenko Anna Maria
Published: March 2016

Artykuł prezentuje najbardziej istotne zagadnienia w projektowaniu przestrzeni oddziału geriatrycznego pozwalające na wspieranie funkcjonalnej aktywności starszych pacjentów. Współczesną tendencją w kształtowaniu architektury obiektów opieki zdrowotnej jest odchodzenie od instytucjonalizacji szpitalnictwa oraz przyjęcie potrzeb pacjenta jako podstawowych wytycznych do projektowania (patient-centred design). Stan badań w zakresie środowiska fizycznego szpitali daje podstawę do zwiększenia roli rozwiązań architektonicznych korzystnie wpływających na stan psychofizyczny pacjenta w procesie leczenia.
WYKLUCZENIE CYFROWE POKOLENIA 50+ W WOJEWÓDZTWIE ŁÓDZKIM
Authors: Wiktorowicz Justyna
Published: March 2016

Pojęcie wykluczenia cyfrowego odnosi się do różnic pomiędzy osobami, które mają regularny dostęp do technologii cyfrowych i informacyjnych i potrafią efektywnie z niego skorzystać, a tymi, którzy tego dostępu nie posiadają. Rozwój infrastruktury teleinformatycznej, jakiego doświadczamy w ostatnich latach, sprawia, że również w województwie łódzkim mniejsze jest wykluczenie cyfrowe I stopnia (brak możliwości korzystania z odpowiedniego sprzętu i oprogramowania), problemem pozostaje jednak wykluczenie II stopnia, mające swoje podłoże w barierach psychologicznych. Dotyczy to w szczególności osób starszych, których umiejętności informatyczne są niskie, a motywacja do ich rozwoju często słaba. W artykule dokonano ilościowej oceny skali wykluczenia cyfrowego mieszkańców województwa łódzkiego w wieku 50 i więcej lat. Wykorzystano w tym celu wyniki ogólnopolskich badań – Diagnozy Społecznej i „Diagnozy obecnej sytuacji kobiet i mężczyzn 50+ na rynku pracy w Polsce”, na podstawie których skonstruowano i poddano weryfikacji i wielowymiarowej analizie wskaźnik syntetyczny wszechstronności wykorzystania Internetu. Dodatkowo, ocenie poddano aktywności podejmowane w zakresie przeciwdziałania wykluczeniu cyfrowemu w województwie łódzkim.
Disneys Virtual Queues: A Strategic Opportunity To Co-Brand Services?
Authors: Cope III Robert F. , Cope Rachelle F. , Davis Harold E.
Published: March 2016

Almost all service experiences require customers to wait in a queue at some point during the service encounter. Although waiting is a natural part of many services, for most customers, waiting is an annoyance. One of the most recent and innovative ways of making the wait invisible is through the application of virtual queues. Disney is a leader in this queuing advancement which allows customers to participate in other activities while they wait for an appointed time at their desired activity. In the past, queuing systems were modeled and studied as a means to minimize the negative aspects of service waits. However, in today’s service environment, technology has provided businesses with the ability to create captured audiences through virtual queues. In fact, a powerful opportunity now exists for service firms to strategically co-brand products. In our work, we first explore queuing in the services industry. We then investigate Disney’s queuing advancement – FASTPASSTM. Strategies for co-branding services are discussed as opportunities to increase sales volumes and profit margins.
Quantifying and correcting for scat removal in noninvasive carnivore scat surveys
Authors: Lonsinger Robert C. , Gese Eric M. , Knight Robert N. , Johnson Timothy R. , Waits Lisette P.
Published: March 2016

Scat surveys are commonly used to monitor wildlife populations. For carnivores, surveys are typically conducted along roads and trails. Scats available for detection may not reflect scats deposited and variation in disappearance may bias results. Previous research has investigated natural decay and deterioration, but scats deposited along roads or trails are likely influenced to a greater degree by anthropogenic disturbance in some systems. We used experimental plots to evaluate variation in scat removal for two model carnivores, coyote Canis latrans and kit fox Vulpes macrotis, along roads in the Great Basin Desert, USA. Using parametric survival regression, we predicted scat survival and developed persistence‐rate correction factors, which were applied to results from relative abundance scat surveys conducted along 15 transects. Kit fox scats disappeared more rapidly than coyote scats, with 3.3% and 10.6%, respectively, persisting through 42 days. At 14 days, 90.8‐41.7% of scats had been removed across road types. Survival models indicated species, road type, scat position and daily traffic were important predictors of scat persistence. Applying persistence‐rate correction factors to scat survey results altered the inferred relative abundances. Across seasons, mean corrected:uncorrected relative abundance ratios ranged from 1.0–91.2 for coyotes and 1.3–139.3 for kit foxes, with higher mean ratios being influenced by high corrected relative abundances on roads with high traffic volumes. Understanding scat removal rates and patterns can improve inferences from surveys. Persistence‐rate correction factors can be used to reduce bias in indices of abundance, but caution should be used when removal rates are high. Knowledge of spatial variation in persistence can elucidate concerns of false‐positives and false‐negatives in occupancy and capture—recapture studies. Considering the disparity in scat removal between species and among road types and positions, we recommend practitioners quantify and consider variation in removal when interpreting scat survey results.
Facet tropism: possible role in the pathology of lumbar disc herniation in adolescents
Authors: Wang Honggang , Zhou Yue
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The role of facet tropism (FT) in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is ambiguous. The present study aimed to investigate the association between FT and LDH in adolescents.

METHODS

This study included 65 adolescents with LDH with 1- or 2-level LDH, or both. Facet angles were measured with MRI. FT was defined as asymmetry of 10° between the left and right side. The same levels of 30 healthy persons who had no lumbar lesions were used as controls. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test.

RESULTS

FT was identified in 16 of 39 patients with LDH in L4–5 and in 3 of 30 controls (p = 0.006, OR 6.261, 95% CI 1.619–24.217). It was also identified in 12 of 27 patients with LDH in L5–S1 and in 4 of 30 controls (p = 0.017, OR 5.200, 95% CI 1.420–19.039). One patient had LDH in both L4–5 and L5–S1.

CONCLUSIONS

FT is associated with LDH in both L4–5 and L5–S1 levels in adolescents.
Social renewal through the rural: Agricultural cooperatives in South Korea as a form of critiquing capitalism
Authors: Park Albert L.
Published: March 2016

Although modernist discourse has emphasised industry and the urban over agriculture and the rural, this article proposes that this view of the rural as traditional and conservative is inaccurate; rather, the rural can serve as a powerful tool for critiquing capitalism. Contemporary agricultural and food movements, such as agricultural cooperatives in South Korea, are in the process of imagining alternative systems of working and living. Because they push for economic equality, intimate social exchanges, a harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment and a spatial equality between the city and country, these movements show how the rural has become a resource for reimagining new paths of fruitful social development and a symbol of hope for both urban and rural inhabitants.
Separation and purification of low-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfates and their anti-oxidant properties
Authors: Wang Jinpeng , Zhang Lian , Jin Zhengyu
Published: March 2016

Low-molecular-weight chondroitin sulfate was obtained by degradation of chondroitin sulfate using hyaluronidase. Then, separated with sephadex G25, DEAE-52, and finally purified with AKATA superpeptide separation system and fluorescence-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. The main compo-nents detected by high performance gel-filtration chromatography were disaccharide, tetrasaccharide, hexasaccharide with molecular weight of 521, 1024 and 1527 Da, respectively. The anti-oxidant activity of these three oligosaccharides in vitro showed that the reducing power (maximum value at 10 mg/mL) and superoxide anion radical scavenging abilities were increased (maximum value at 4 mg/mL) with an increased in their concentration. There were no significant differences of the anti-oxidant properties between those three oligosaccharides.
Understanding Inequalities of Maternal Smoking—Bridging the Gap with Adapted Intervention Strategies
Authors: Boucher Julie , Konkle Anne
Published: March 2016

Women who are generally part of socially disadvantaged and economically marginalized groups are especially susceptible to smoking during pregnancy but smoking rates are underreported in both research and interventions. While there is evidence to support the short-term efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use in pregnancy, long-term abstinence rates are modest. Current health strategies and interventions designed to diminish smoking in pregnancy have adopted a simplified approach to maternal smoking—one that suggests that they have a similar degree of choice to non-pregnant smokers regarding the avoidance of risk factors, and overlooks individual predictors of non-adherence. As a result, interventions have been ineffective among this high-risk group. For this reason, this paper addresses the multiple and interacting determinants that must be considered when developing and implementing effective strategies that lead to successful smoking cessation: socioeconomic status (SES), nicotine dependence, social support, culture, mental health, and health services. Based on our review of the literature, we conclude that tailoring cessation programs for pregnant smokers may ultimately optimize NRT efficacy and reduce the prevalence of maternal smoking.
Sports Facilities, Shopping Centers or Homes: What Locations are Important for Adults’ Physical Activity? A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jansen Marijke , Ettema Dick , Pierik Frank , Dijst Martin
Published: March 2016

Physical activity (PA) is influenced by the built environment. However, little is known about the types of built environment where adults spend their time, and at what levels of PA they engage in those environments. Understanding the effect of the built environment on PA requires insight into PA behavior at different types of locations (e.g., home, work, shopping centers, and sports facilities). Therefore, this study describes where adults aged 45–65 years were active with moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA), and examines associations of socio-demographic factors and neighborhood with MVPA at these locations. Participants’ (N = 308) PA was measured for seven days using accelerometers and GPS-devices. Adults spent most minutes of MVPA at home and work. Highest MVPA-ratios of total time spent at a location were achieved in sports facilities and during transport. Neighborhood characteristics and socio-demographic factors such as work status, health status and household structure, had significant effects on MVPA at various locations and on total MVPA. Understanding PA behavior at various locations may provide insights that allow professionals in different domains (e.g., health, landscaping, urban planning) to develop strategies to stimulate PA.
The Functions of Metallothionein and ZIP and ZnT Transporters: An Overview and Perspective
Authors: Kimura Tomoki , Kambe Taiho
Published: March 2016

Around 3000 proteins are thought to bind zinc in vivo, which corresponds to ~10% of the human proteome. Zinc plays a pivotal role as a structural, catalytic, and signaling component that functions in numerous physiological processes. It is more widely used as a structural element in proteins than any other transition metal ion, is a catalytic component of many enzymes, and acts as a cellular signaling mediator. Thus, it is expected that zinc metabolism and homeostasis have sophisticated regulation, and elucidating the underlying molecular basis of this is essential to understanding zinc functions in cellular physiology and pathogenesis. In recent decades, an increasing amount of evidence has uncovered critical roles of a number of proteins in zinc metabolism and homeostasis through influxing, chelating, sequestrating, coordinating, releasing, and effluxing zinc. Metallothioneins (MT) and Zrt- and Irt-like proteins (ZIP) and Zn transporters (ZnT) are the proteins primarily involved in these processes, and their malfunction has been implicated in a number of inherited diseases such as acrodermatitis enteropathica. The present review updates our current understanding of the biological functions of MTs and ZIP and ZnT transporters from several new perspectives.
Lamellae Evolution of Stereocomplex-Type Poly(Lactic Acid)/Organically-Modified Layered Zinc Phenylphosphonate Nanocomposites Induced by Isothermal Crystallization
Authors: Chen Yi-An , Chen Erh-Chiang , Wu Tzong-Ming
Published: March 2016

Stereocomplex-type poly(lactic acid) (SC-PLA)/oleylamine-modified layered zinc phenylphosphonate (SC-PLA/m-PPZn) nanocomposites are successfully fabricated using a solution mixing process. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis reveals that the structural arrangement of the oleylamine-modified PPZn exhibits a large interlayer spacing of 30.3 Å. In addition, we investigate the temperature effect on the real-time structural arrangement of PPZn and m-PPZn. The results indicated that the lattice expansion of m-PPZn with increasing temperature leads to an increase in the interlayer spacing from 30.3 to 37.1 Å as the temperature increases from 30 to 150 °C. The interlayer spacing decreases slightly as the temperature further increases to 210 °C. This behavior might be attributed to interlayer oleylamine elimination, which results in hydrogen bonding destruction between the hydroxide sheets and water molecules. As the temperature reaches 240 °C, the in situ WAXD patterns show the coexistence of m-PPZn and PPZn. However, the layered structures of m-PPZn at 300 °C are almost the same as those of PPZn, after the complete degradation temperature of oleylamine. The morphology of the SC-PLA/m-PPZn nanocomposites characterized using WAXD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrates that most partial delamination layered materials are randomly dispersed in the SC-PLA matrix. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that higher crystal layer thickness and lower surface free energy is achieved in 0.25 wt% SC-PLA/m-PPZn nanocomposites. These results indicate that the introduction of 0.25 wt% m-PPZn into SC-PLA reduces the surface free energy, thereby increasing the polymer chain mobility.
Preparation of a Microspherical Silver-Reduced Graphene Oxide-Bismuth Vanadate Composite and Evaluation of Its Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Du Mao , Xiong Shimin , Wu Tianhui , Zhao Deqiang , Zhang Qian , Fan Zihong , Zeng Yao , Ji Fangying , He Qiang , Xu Xuan
Published: March 2016

A novel Ag-reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) (AgGB) ternary composite was successfully synthesized via a one-step method. The prepared composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and ultraviolet-visible diffuse-reflection spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS). The results showed that bulk monoclinic needle-like BiVO4 and Ag nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 40 nm formed microspheres (diameter, 5–8 μm) with a uniform size distribution that could be loaded on rGO sheets to facilitate the transport of electrons photogenerated in BiVO4, thereby reducing the rate of recombination of photogenerated charge carriers in the coupled AgGB composite system. Ag nanoparticles were dispersed on the surface of the rGO sheets, which exhibited a localized surface plasmon resonance phenomenon and enhanced visible light absorption. The removal efficiency of rhodamine B dye by AgGB (80.2%) was much higher than that of pure BiVO4 (51.6%) and rGO-BiVO4 (58.3%) under visible light irradiation. Recycle experiments showed that the AgGB composite still presented significant photocatalytic activity after five successive cycles. Finally, we propose a possible pathway and mechanism for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye using the composite photocatalyst under visible light irradiation.
Finite Element Analysis of Aluminum Honeycombs Subjected to Dynamic Indentation and Compression Loads
Authors: Ashab A.S.M. , Ruan Dong , Lu Guoxing , Bhuiyan Arafat
Published: March 2016

The mechanical behavior of aluminum hexagonal honeycombs subjected to out-of-plane dynamic indentation and compression loads has been investigated numerically using ANSYS/LS-DYNA in this paper. The finite element (FE) models have been verified by previous experimental results in terms of deformation pattern, stress-strain curve, and energy dissipation. The verified FE models have then been used in comprehensive numerical analysis of different aluminum honeycombs. Plateau stress, σpl, and dissipated energy (EI for indentation and EC for compression) have been calculated at different strain rates ranging from 102 to 104 s−1. The effects of strain rate and t/l ratio on the plateau stress, dissipated energy, and tearing energy have been discussed. An empirical formula is proposed to describe the relationship between the tearing energy per unit fracture area, relative density, and strain rate for honeycombs. Moreover, it has been found that a generic formula can be used to describe the relationship between tearing energy per unit fracture area and relative density for both aluminum honeycombs and foams.
Nanostructured Thin Films Obtained from Fischer Aminocarbene Complexes
Authors: Lazo-Jiménez Rosa , Ortega-Alfaro M. , López-Cortés José , Alvarez-Toledano Cecilio , Chávez-Carvayar José , Ignés-Mullol Jordi , González-Torres Maykel , Carreón-Castro Pilar
Published: March 2016

The synthesis of four amphiphilic organometallic complexes with the general formula RC = M(CO)5NH(CH2)15CH3, where R is a ferrocenyl 2(a-b) or a phenyl 4(a-b) group as a donor moiety and a Fischer carbene of chromium (0) or tungsten (0) as an acceptor group, are reported. These four push-pull systems formed Langmuir (L) monolayers at the air-water interface, which were characterized by isotherms of surface pressure versus molecular area and compression/expansion cycles (hysteresis curves); Brewster angle microscopic images were also obtained. By using the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) method, molecular monolayers were transferred onto glass substrates forming Z-type multilayers. LB films were characterized through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Results indicated that films obtained from 2b complex [(Ferrocenyl)(hexadecylamine)methylidene] pentacarbonyl tungsten (0) are the most stable and homogeneous; due to their properties, these materials may be incorporated into organic electronic devices.
Capillary Self-Alignment of Microchips on Soft Substrates
Authors: Chang Bo , Zhou Quan , Wu Zhigang , Liu Zhenhua , Ras Robin , Hjort Klas
Published: March 2016

Soft micro devices and stretchable electronics have attracted great interest for their potential applications in sensory skins and wearable bio-integrated devices. One of the most important steps in building printed circuits is the alignment of assembled micro objects. Previously, the capillary self-alignment of microchips driven by surface tension effects has been shown to be able to achieve high-throughput and high-precision in the integration of micro parts on rigid hydrophilic/superhydrophobic patterned surfaces. In this paper, the self-alignment of microchips on a patterned soft and stretchable substrate, which consists of hydrophilic pads surrounded by a superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) background, is demonstrated for the first time. A simple process has been developed for making superhydrophobic soft surface by replicating nanostructures of black silicon onto a PDMS surface. Different kinds of PDMS have been investigated, and the parameters for fabricating superhydrophobic PDMS have been optimized. A self-alignment strategy has been proposed that can result in reliable self-alignment on a soft PDMS substrate. Our results show that capillary self-alignment has great potential for building soft printed circuits.
Can Continental Shelf River Plumes in the Northern and Southern Gulf of Mexico Promote Ecological Resilience in a Time of Climate Change?
Authors: Kemp G. , Day John , Yáñez-Arancibia Alejandro , Peyronnin Natalie
Published: March 2016

Deltas and estuaries built by the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River (MAR) in the United States and the Usumacinta/Grijalva River (UGR) in Mexico account for 80 percent of all Gulf of Mexico (GoM) coastal wetlands outside of Cuba. They rank first and second in freshwater discharge to the GoM and owe their natural resilience to a modular geomorphology that spreads risk across the coast-scape while providing ecosystem connectivity through shelf plumes that connect estuaries. Both river systems generate large plumes that strongly influence fisheries production over large areas of the northern and southern GoM continental shelves. Recent watershed process simulations (DLEM, MAPSS) driven by CMIP3 General Circulation Model (GCM) output indicate that the two systems face diverging futures, with the mean annual discharge of the MAR predicted to increase 11 to 63 percent, and that of the UGR to decline as much as 80 percent in the 21st century. MAR delta subsidence rates are the highest in North America, making it particularly susceptible to channel training interventions that have curtailed a natural propensity to shift course and deliver sediment to new areas, or to refurbish zones of high wetland loss. Undoing these restrictions in a controlled way has become the focus of a multi-billion-dollar effort to restore the MAR delta internally, while releasing fine-grained sediments trapped behind dams in the Great Plains has become an external goal. The UGR is, from an internal vulnerability standpoint, most threatened by land use changes that interfere with a deltaic architecture that is naturally resilient to sea level rise. This recognition has led to successful efforts in Mexico to protect still intact coastal systems against further anthropogenic impacts, as evidenced by establishment of the Centla Wetland Biosphere Preserve and the Terminos Lagoon Protected Area. The greatest threat to the UGR system, however, is an external one that will be imposed by the severe drying predicted for the entire Mesoamerican “climate change hot-spot”, a change that will necessitate much greater international involvement to protect threatened communities and lifeways as well as rare habitats and species.
Hemolysin coregulated protein 1 as a molecular gluing unit for the assembly of nanoparticle hybrid structures
Authors: Pham Tuan Anh , Schreiber Andreas , Sturm (née Rosseeva) Elena V , Schiller Stefan , Cölfen Helmut
Published: March 2016

Hybrid nanoparticle (NP) structures containing organic building units such as polymers, peptides, DNA and proteins have great potential in biosensor and electronic applications. The nearly free modification of the polymer chain, the variation of the protein and DNA sequence and the implementation of functional moieties provide a great platform to create inorganic structures of different morphology, resulting in different optical and magnetic properties. Nevertheless, the design and modification of a protein structure with functional groups or sequences for the assembly of biohybrid materials is not trivial. This is mainly due to the sensitivity of its secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure to the changes in the interaction (e.g., hydrophobic, hydrophilic, electrostatic, chemical groups) between the protein subunits and the inorganic material. Here, we use hemolysin coregulated protein 1 (Hcp1) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a building and gluing unit for the formation of biohybrid structures by implementing cysteine anchoring points at defined positions on the protein rim (Hcp1_cys3). We successfully apply the Hcp1_cys3 gluing unit for the assembly of often linear, hybrid structures of plasmonic gold (Au NP), magnetite (Fe3O4 NP), and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe2O4 NP). Furthermore, the assembly of Au NPs into linear structures using Hcp1_cys3 is investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy, TEM and cryo-TEM. One key parameter for the formation of Au NP assembly is the specific ionic strength in the mixture. The resulting network-like structure of Au NPs is characterized by Raman spectroscopy, showing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) by a factor of 8·104 and a stable secondary structure of the Hcp1_cys3 unit. In order to prove the catalytic performance of the gold hybrid structures, they are used as a catalyst in the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol showing similar catalytic activity as the pure Au NPs. To further extend the functionality of the Hcp1_cys3 gluing unit, Fe3O4 and CoFe2O4 NPs are aligned in a magnetic field and connected by utilization of cysteine-modified Hcp1. After lyophilization, a fiber-like material of micrometer scale length can be observed. The Fe3O4 Hcp1_cys3 fibers show superparamagnetic behavior with a decreasing blocking temperature and an increasing remanent magnetization leading to a higher squareness value of the hysteresis curve. Thus the Hcp1_cys3 unit is shown to be very versatile in the formation of new biohybrid materials with enhanced magnetic, catalytic and optical properties.
SYNTHESIS OF THE S-ONLY 122,123,124TE ISOTOPES AND THE SELECTIVE DEPLETION OF 123TE BY ELECTRON CAPTURE PROCESS IN MASSIVE STARS
Authors: Takahashi K. , Blaum K. , Novikov Yu.
Published: March 2016

We investigate the production ratios of the naturally occurring s-only nuclides

Te by solving a nuclear network in the mass number

region under some conditions representing those in the helium–hydrogen inter-shell in low-mass AGB stars as well as those in the helium burning and the carbon burning phases in massive stars. We show that the electron-capture process on 123Te (the natural half-life

years) could proceed decisively fast during the late evolutionary phases of massive stars. We thus re-iterate and re-enforce the decades-old notion that detailed analysis of the relative

Te abundances in due consideration of the selective 123Te depletion in massive stars would set a stringent constraint on the s-process modelings. We stress that the relative abundance ratios of

Te in the solar system become quite difficult to decipher if the s-process in massive stars contributes significantly to the synthesis of nuclides in this intermediate A region.
Impacts of Several Factors in Tourism Industry
Authors: Premkanna P.
Published: March 2016

Generally all firms can operate only in the environment of the economy. The changes in corporate performance are closely related to expansion and contraction of the business cycle. The economic climate might have a greater impact on profits than the firm's performance within its industry. The corporate performance in the hotel industry may also rely on economic conditions. Thus, the significance of a firm is closely tied to the state of the economy (or economic climate).
Дифференциальные формы на квазиоднородных неполных пересечениях
Authors: Aleksandrov Aleksandr Grigor'evich
Published: March 2016

В статье обсуждается несколько простых методов вычисления рядов Пуанкаре модулей дифференциальных форм, заданных на квазиоднородных неполных пересечениях разных типов. Среди них - кривые, ассоциированные с полугруппой, и букеты таких кривых, аффинные конусы над рациональными или эллиптическими кривыми, нормальные детерминантные и торические многообразия, включая некоторые типы факторособенностей, а также конусы над вложением Веронезе проективных пространств или над вложением Сегре произведений проективных пространств, жесткие особенности, вееры и др. Во многих случаях точные формулы можно получить, не прибегая к анализу сложных резольвент и не используя компьютерные системы алгебраических вычислений. Полученные результаты позволяют вычислять основные инварианты особенностей в явном виде с помощью элементарных операций над рациональными функциями.
Об усиленном законе взаимности Суслина и его приложениях к вопросам равносоставленности гиперболических многогранников
Authors: Rudenko Daniil G
Published: March 2016

Мы доказываем усиленный закон взаимности Суслина, предположенный Гончаровым, и его приложения к теории равносоставленности гиперболических многогранников. Доказательство основано на изучении групп, которые, в соответствии с гипотезами Гончарова, должны совпадать с мотивными когомологиями поля с рациональными коэффициентами. Нашим главным результатом является теорема о гомотопической инвариантности для этих групп.
De epidemiologie van kinderdoding in Nederland, 2009-2014
Authors: Liem Marieke , Haarhuis Stephanie
Published: March 2016

The epidemiology of child homicide in the Netherlands, 2009-2014

Child homicide is a phenomenon that not infrequently leads to shock and societal unrest. However, the precise nature and scope of child homicide in the Netherlands remains unknown. This article attempts to fill the gap in our current knowledge by reporting descriptive research on child homicide in the Netherlands in the period 2009-2014. Further, this article aims to assess if media attention regarding child homicide brings about a so-called copycat-effect. By means of descriptive statistics, case, victim and perpetrator characteristics of 74 cases of filicide are assessed.
Developing Mathematics Identity
Authors: Allen Kasi , Schnell Kemble
Published: March 2016

Strategies are offered to help teachers support the emergence of their students' math identities.