bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential for School-Based Interventions That Target Executive Function to Improve Academic Achievement
Authors: Jacob Robin , Parkinson Julia
Published: March 2015

This article systematically reviews what is known empirically about the association between executive function and student achievement in both reading and math and critically assesses the evidence for a causal association between the two. Using meta-analytic techniques, the review finds that there is a moderate unconditional association between executive function and achievement that does not differ by executive function construct, age, or measurement type but finds no compelling evidence that a causal association between the two exists.
Epidemiology of age related hearing loss
Authors: Rosenhall Ulf
Published: March 2015

Epidemiological studies provide important information about prevalence and incidence values of hearing loss in old age. Such information about age related hearing loss is necessary for the planning of the rehabilitation of elderly people. In this review almost 30 epidemiological research projects are presented. All these projects use audiometric methods, and questionnaires are also often used. Global perspective is emphasised. Some results are presented, although only briefly, because of the enormous amount of information included.
A Nepali Translation of Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) For Assessment of Sleep in Infants and Toddlers: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Dhakal Ajaya Kumar , Shrestha Devendra , Shah Subhash Chandra , Shakya Henish , Shakya Arati , Sadeh Avi
Published: March 2015

Background: Sleep problems are common in children and various questionnaires have been devised to screen these problems. Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) is one of the sleep screening tools which is simple, reliable and valid tool and is being used for screening of sleep problems in infants and toddlers in various countries. Objectives: The objective of this study was to translate English version of Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire to Nepali language using a standard technique so that Nepali version could be used to screen sleep problems in Nepalese infants and toddlers. Methods: This article describes the process of translation of original BISQ questionnaire into Nepali language in a standard method. Four bilingual paediatricians translated English BISQ to Nepali language which was then tested among few parents for understanding, clarity and uniformity of expected response. A draft version was finalized after consensus of translators, two expert paediatricians and original author. This version was then translated back into English by two independent medical professionals and compared with original BISQ for content and meaning. The final version of Nepali translation was approved after consensus agreement. Results: The translated Nepali BISQ was then tested among 15 parents who had a child below three years of age. These parents did not find difficulty in understanding and responses were uniform and as expected from the original questionnaire. Conclusion: The Nepali version of BISQ could be applicable as a screening tool to assess sleep in infants and toddlers in clinical setup as well as research studies.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v3i3.12245Journal of Kathmandu Medical CollegeVol. 3, No. 3, Issue 9, Jul.-Sep., 2014, apge: 102-106
Mitigation of Pedestrian–Vehicle Conflicts at Stop-Controlled T-Intersections
Authors: Gómez Radhameris A. , Samuel Siby , Romoser Matthew R. E. , Knodler Michael A. , Collura John , Fisher Donald L.
Published: March 2015

Because urban areas house 80% of the population and account for almost two-thirds of all pedestrian fatalities, making safe accommodation of pedestrians is a key priority in those locations. Crosswalks at T-intersections are a prime example of an intersection geometry in such areas that is challenging for drivers and pedestrians alike. Previous research has validated the advantages of advance yield markings over other, more common, unsignalized, midblock crosswalk treatments. Such markings could also prove effective at unsignalized T-intersection crosswalks, especially in multiple-threat situations where the driver's view of critical information is obscured by other yielding vehicles. For this study, a simulator was used to compare the effectiveness of advanced yield markings and standard crosswalk markings on drivers’ behaviors at unsignalized T-intersections. Measures of scanning behaviors were gathered with an eye tracker, and measures of stopping or yielding behaviors were gathered from simulator data. Crosswalks in the simulated world were located on the near and the far sides of the side street (from the participant driver's perspective). A vehicle obstructing the driver's view of pedestrians in the crosswalk was placed in either the left travel lane or the right travel lane. There was a main effect of the treatment (advance yield markings were more safe) and the location of the crosswalk (the far side was more safe). There was an interaction between the treatment and the location of the obstruction (advance yield markings had an effect on glances only when the obstructing vehicle was in the left travel lane). The findings from the study have clear implications for practice.
Driver Approach Speed and Its Impact on Driver Yielding to Pedestrian Behavior at Unsignalized Crosswalks
Authors: Bertulis Tomas , Dulaski Daniel M.
Published: March 2015

This study evaluated the effect of motor vehicle speed on yielding rates to pedestrians in marked crosswalks. The experimental design was to measure the 85th percentile speed at nine locations and then to run to 100 tests at each of nine locations to check for motorist yielding at various speeds. The 85th percentile speed was calculated, and the AASHTO guidelines were used to calculate stopping sight distance. Then a cone was placed at the calculated stopping sight distance away from the marked crosswalk, and a pedestrian was asked to step into the street to test yielding behavior in a staged experiment. Data were collected on site and recorded for analysis. Overall, there was an inverse correlation: the higher the motor vehicle speed was, the lower the yield rate was. Of the eight two-lane roadways, the range was from a 75% yield rate for the 20 mph street to a 17% yield rate for the 37 mph street, a significantly lower yield rate. The one street that was four lanes wide had only a 9% yield rate. The results unequivocally showed that speed was the major factor in the changing yield rates. The strong correlation pointed to a likelihood of low yield rates regionally on high-speed roadways, information that may prove useful for agencies looking to develop a pedestrian-friendly environment.
Walking for Purpose and Pleasure
Authors: Schoner Jessica , Cao Xinyu
Published: March 2015

Planners are increasingly promoting active travel as a strategy to reduce auto dependence and encourage physical activity. That rail transit promotes walking to the extent that passengers typically access stations by walking is evident. However, few studies focus on the carryover effect of light rail and associated built environment features on additional pedestrian travel. This study explored the effects of light rail and the built environment on the frequency of utilitarian walking (shopping trips) and recreational walking (strolling) from 1,303 randomly surveyed residents in five corridors in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Results from two negative binomial regression models showed that after controlling for demographics, travel attitudes, and residential preferences, walking to the store was significantly associated with population density, proximity to commercial land use, and street network interruptions (cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets). Strolling was also associated with street network interruptions. The findings carry important implications for planners to capitalize on built environment improvements around new light rail projects to increase rates of walking.
Understanding Pedestrian and Bicyclist Compliance and Safety Impacts of Walk Modes at Signalized Intersections for a Livable Community
Authors: Mirabella Jacob A. , Zhang Yu
Published: March 2015

With increasing energy costs as well as rampant congestion in major U.S. cities, the popularity of walk and bike mode choices has increased in recent years. NHTSA has estimated that, in 2011, 11.1% of pedestrian fatalities and 18.5% of bicyclist fatalities in the United States occurred in Florida, although the state accounted for just 6.1% of the nation's population. In addition, intersections are hot spots for vehicle–pedestrian conflicts. This finding has been confirmed by FHWA's estimate that in the United States nearly one in five pedestrian fatalities occurs at an intersection. Because signalized and nonsignalized intersections are conflict points for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, traffic control methods to ensure that safety is not compromised are essential. For the examination of the safety effects of walk modes at signalized intersections, four locations in the Tampa Bay area were chosen. Two of the locations operated with rest in walk and pedestrian recall, and the other two operated without rest in walk and pedestrian recall. The study collected a total of 26 h of data in early 2013 at the four study sites, with a yield of 202 pedestrian and bicyclist observations. The behaviors were modeled with a multinomial logit model. The modeling found that the presence of rest in walk and pedestrian recall on minor street pedestrian phases, which operated concurrently with major street vehicle phases, encouraged higher pedestrian and bicyclist compliance rates. The presence or absence of the combination of rest in walk and pedestrian recall was found to be the most influential variable examined.
Pedestrian Safety Initiative in Montgomery County, Maryland
Authors: Dunckel Jeff , Haynes William , Conklin Joana , Sharp Susan , Cohen Alexandra
Published: March 2015

The Pedestrian Safety Initiative in Montgomery County, Maryland, which was introduced in 2007, uses a data-driven approach to coordinate engineering, education, and enforcement to create a more pedestrian-friendly, walkable environment. From the geographic information system and data analysis of countywide pedestrian crashes from 2004 to 2008, 10 areas with a high incidence of pedestrian crashes were identified. Engineering, education, and enforcement programs targeted these 10 high incidence areas (HIAs). Pedestrian road safety audits were conducted at the HIAs to determine the most effective engineering improvements for each area. Traffic and pedestrian calming measures were subsequently implemented at these locations. Demographic analysis grouped the HIAs together to create more effective education campaigns, and community members were involved to reach a wider audience. Enforcement efforts targeted pedestrians and drivers in the HIAs with warnings and citations for those who violated pedestrian laws. Similar methodology has been used to target HIAs near schools as part of the initiative's Safe Routes to School program. This holistic Three E Approach (engineering, education, and enforcement) is continuously being refined to reflect emerging data trends in pedestrian collisions. Between 2009 and 2012, pedestrian collisions in the treated HIAs dropped 43%, pedestrian fatalities countywide dropped 38% from 2008 to 2012, and pedestrian collisions in a subset of the Safe Routes to School areas dropped 79%.
Planning-Level Model for Assessing Pedestrian Safety
Authors: Jermprapai Khajonsak , Srinivasan Sivaramakrishnan
Published: March 2015

Crash prediction models are useful tools for identifying locations that have a higher risk of crashes and for prioritizing projects. The focus of this study was on developing macroscopic or planning-level models for pedestrian safety. Although such efforts have been undertaken, they have generally focused on specific cities or counties with census tracts as the unit of the analysis. This study analyzed a larger study area (the state of Florida) at a finer spatial resolution (census block groups instead of tracts). Four models were developed to determine the crash frequency for each census block group. The models were for total crashes, severe and fatal crashes, fatal crashes, and nighttime crashes. The estimated models captured the effects of several socioeconomic, transportation, land use, and contextual variables. The results generally reaffirmed past findings about the relationship between crashes and socioeconomic, transportation, and land use characteristics. However, the models in this study captured relationships at the level of census block groups, whereas most past studies reported relationships at the level of census tracts. In addition, the models developed in this study included the effect of certain variables at multiple spatial scales and yielded interesting results. In particular, the variables at multiple scales clearly indicated locations with larger volumes of conflicting vehicular and pedestrian movements to be of higher risk for pedestrian crashes.
Red Light Running Behavior of Electric Bicycles at Signalized Intersections in China
Authors: Guo Yanyong , Liu Pan , Bai Lu , Xu Chengcheng , Chen Jun
Published: March 2015

A comparative analysis was conducted on the red light running behavior of the riders of scooter-style electric bicycles (e-scooters), bicycle-style electric bicycles (e-bikes), and bicycles as they crossed signalized intersections. The crossing behaviors of 5,646 riders (1,568 e-bikes, 2,612 e-scooters, and 1,466 bicycles) were observed. The average red light running rates for e-bikes, e-scooters, and bicycles at the selected sites were 24.9%, 25.0%, and 18.3%, respectively. The rates for e-bikes and e-scooters were significantly higher than those for bicycles. The difference in the rates between e-bikes and e-scooters was not statistically significant. A binary logit model was developed to evaluate how various factors affected the red light running rates of two-wheeled vehicles at signalized intersections. Results of a comparison of traffic conflicts caused by various red light running two-wheeled vehicles indicated that bicycles were slightly more likely to be involved in traffic conflicts than e-bikes or e-scooters as they crossed intersections during a red pedestrian phase. Also, e-bikes were less likely than e-scooters and bicycles to be involved in traffic conflicts in the middle stage of a red pedestrian phase. Both e-scooters and e-bikes had higher crossing speeds than bicycles. Although e-scooters traveled at speeds significantly higher than e-bikes did when crossing intersections during green phases, the difference in crossing speeds between red light running e-bikes and red light running e-scooters was not statistically significant.
Dispersion Effect in Left-Turning Bicycle Traffic and Its Influence on Capacity of Left-Turning Vehicles at Signalized Intersections
Authors: Chen Jingxu , Wang Wei , Li Zhibin , Jiang Hang , Chen Xuewu , Zhu Senlai
Published: March 2015

Bicycle traffic passing through intersections exhibits a dispersion effect that can influence the movements of nearby vehicles. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the dispersion effect in left-turning bicycle traffic at signalized intersections and to evaluate the effect's influence on the capacity of left-turning vehicles. Characteristics of the dispersion effect were investigated in 20 h of video data collected in Nanjing, China. A Poisson model was estimated to evaluate the factors contributing to platoon width of left-turning bicycle traffic. The impacts of platoon width on the capacity and delay of left-turning vehicles also were evaluated. Results showed that several factors, including the number of left-turning electric bicycles (e-bicycles) and conventional bicycles arriving during the red light period and the directional factor, significantly affected the platoon width of left-turning bicycle traffic. Sensitivity analysis results indicated that the platoon was widest when the number of left-turning e-bicycles divided by the number of total left-turning bicycles arriving per cycle was about 60%. An adjustment factor that accounted for the impacts of left-turning bicycles on the capacity of left-turning vehicles was proposed. Increasing the platoon width of left-turning bicycles from three to eight reduced the left-turning vehicle capacity about 19% and increased the capacity of all left-turning traffic around 25%.
Day-of-Year Scaling Factors and Design Considerations for Nonmotorized Traffic Monitoring Programs
Authors: Hankey Steve , Lindsey Greg , Marshall Julian
Published: March 2015

General procedures, including the estimation of annual average daily traffic (AADT) from short-duration counts, have not been established for nonmotorized traffic monitoring programs. Continuous counts of nonmotorized traffic were collected at six locations on the off-street trail network in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2011. A new approach for estimating AADT values from short-duration counts, the use of day-of-year factors, is demonstrated. Analyses of variability in count data can be used to design a monitoring program that uses both continuous and short-duration counts of nonmotorized traffic. Five core conclusions may be useful for developing nonmotorized monitoring programs: ( a) day-of-year scaling factors have smaller error than does the standard (day-of-week and month-of-year) method of AADT estimation, especially from short-duration counts (<1 week); ( b) extrapolation error decreases with short-duration-count length, with only marginal gains in accuracy for counts longer than 1 week; ( c) errors in estimating AADT values are lowest when short-duration counts are taken in summer (or spring, summer, and fall) months (April through October); ( d) the impact of sampling on consecutive (successive) versus nonconsecutive (separate) days on AADT estimation is minimal but may reduce labor requirements; and ( e) the design of a traffic monitoring program depends on the acceptable error, equipment availability, and monitoring period duration. Trade-offs in short-duration-count lengths and estimate accuracy will depend on resource constraints. Analysts can use day-of-year factors to improve the accuracy of AADT estimation. Analyses of variability in traffic counts can strengthen the design of monitoring programs.
Identifying the Leaders
Authors: Therrien Suzanne , Brauer Michael , Fuller Dan , Gauvin Lise , Teschke Kay , Winters Meghan
Published: March 2015

With increasing recognition of the potential and accrued benefits for mobility, health, and the environment, public bikeshare programs are growing in popularity globally. Any city planning to launch a program will be keenly interested in understanding who may use it to enable strategic marketing that will facilitate quick uptake and adoption. The diffusion of innovation theory was applied to data from a population-based telephone survey to characterize who would be most likely to use a new public bikeshare program. A telephone survey of 901 residents of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, was conducted before the launch of Vancouver's public bikeshare program. Results showed that a majority [ n = 614/901, 69.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 66.3%, 72.7%] of respondents thought that a public bikeshare program was a good idea; however, only one-quarter ( n = 217/901, 24.2%; 95% CI = 21.1%, 27.3%) said that they would be likely or very likely to use the program. Logistic regression identified characteristics associated with higher and lower likelihood of use, which were used to create an adoption curve that defines population segments anticipated to be the leaders in adopting the program. The theory was used to develop implementation recommendations to maximize program uptake, including ensuring that the program would have tangible advantages over driving and transit, would be affordable and easy to try, would integrate with transit and carshare opportunities, and would appeal to social trends such as environmental responsibility. These results can assist planning and promotion in cities set to launch public bikeshare programs.
Incorporating Weather
Authors: Nosal Thomas , Miranda-Moreno Luis F. , Krstulic Zlatko
Published: March 2015

“Annual average daily bicyclists traffic” (AADBT) is a term commonly used in various cycling-related research and practical applications. The AADBT value is usually estimated by averaging the daily cyclist totals recorded with a long-term automatic counter or by using such a counter to extrapolate short-term counts. The latter method, often referred to as the expansion factor method, produces estimates with considerable error. In an effort to mitigate this error, two AADBT estimation methods were proposed: one that uses a cycling weather model to adjust short-term counts and one that is based on individual daily totals from long-term counts (as opposed to annual averages by day or by month). These methods were compared with two traditional expansion factor methods. The weather and disaggregate methods outperformed the traditional methods, which produced an average absolute relative error of roughly 11% when based on 1 day of short-term data.
Disaggregate-Level Assessment of Changes to Michigan's Motorcycle Helmet Use Law
Authors: Barrette Timothy P. , Kirsch Trevor J. , Savolainen Peter T. , Russo Brendan J. , Gates Timothy J.
Published: March 2015

On April 13, 2012, Michigan instituted reforms to its long-standing universal helmet law (UHL) and thus became the 28th state with a partial helmet law, which requires helmet use by only a subset of the riding population. Given continuing increases in motorcycle fatalities, helmet use remains a divisive policy issue facing state governments. The existing research literature includes several before-and-after studies that evaluate the effects of changes in motorcycle helmet laws on metrics such as helmet use and statewide motorcycle fatalities. However, a comprehensive assessment of the effects of helmet use laws on the full range of crash injury outcomes is lacking. Important evidence was added to inform the continuing debate about the efficacy of UHLs. A detailed, disaggregate-level study was conducted to assess the degree of injury severity sustained by motorcyclists involved in crashes before and after Michigan's transition from a UHL to a partial helmet law. By controlling for various rider, roadway, traffic, and weather characteristics, results of the study demonstrate that helmets reduced the probability of fatalities by more than 50%. Injuries tended to be less severe in crashes that involved deer, occurred at lower speeds, or occurred in inclement weather but more severe in high-speed collisions or when drugs and alcohol were involved. The riders who tended to be more susceptible to severe injury were female, younger (age 21 to 30 years), or older (age 51 to 70 years).
The Hosoya Entropy of a Graph
Authors: Mowshowitz Abbe , Dehmer Matthias
Published: March 2015

This paper demonstrates properties of Hosoya entropy, a quantitative measure of graph complexity based on a decomposition of the vertices linked to partial Hosoya polynomials. Connections between the information content of a graph and Hosoya entropy are established, and the special case of Hosoya entropy of trees is investigated.
Fully Bayesian Experimental Design for Pharmacokinetic Studies
Authors: Ryan Elizabeth , Drovandi Christopher , Pettitt Anthony
Published: March 2015

Utility functions in Bayesian experimental design are usually based on the posterior distribution. When the posterior is found by simulation, it must be sampled from for each future dataset drawn from the prior predictive distribution. Many thousands of posterior distributions are often required. A popular technique in the Bayesian experimental design literature, which rapidly obtains samples from the posterior, is importance sampling, using the prior as the importance distribution. However, importance sampling from the prior will tend to break down if there is a reasonable number of experimental observations. In this paper, we explore the use of Laplace approximations in the design setting to overcome this drawback. Furthermore, we consider using the Laplace approximation to form the importance distribution to obtain a more efficient importance distribution than the prior. The methodology is motivated by a pharmacokinetic study, which investigates the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on the pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in sheep. The design problem is to find 10 near optimal plasma sampling times that produce precise estimates of pharmacokinetic model parameters/measures of interest. We consider several different utility functions of interest in these studies, which involve the posterior distribution of parameter functions.
Anticarcinogenic Properties of Medium Chain Fatty Acids on Human Colorectal, Skin and Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro
Authors: Narayanan Amoolya , Baskaran Sangeetha , Amalaradjou Mary , Venkitanarayanan Kumar
Published: March 2015

Colorectal cancer, breast cancer and skin cancer are commonly-reported cancer types in the U.S. Although radiation and chemotherapy are routinely used to treat cancer, they produce side effects in patients. Additionally, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs has been noticed in cancers. Thus, there is a need for effective and safe bioprophylactics and biotherapeutics in cancer therapy. The medicinal value of goat milk has been recognized for centuries and is primarily attributed to three fatty acids, namely capric, caprylic and caproic acids. This research investigates the anticancer property of these fatty acids on human colorectal, skin and mammary gland cancer cells. The cancer cells were treated with various concentrations of fatty acids for 48 h, and cell viability was monitored by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay. Additionally, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to elucidate the potential anti-cancer mechanisms of the three fatty acids under investigation. Capric, caprylic and caproic acids reduced cancer cell viability by 70% to 90% (p < 0.05) compared to controls. RT-qPCR data indicated that these natural molecules produced anticancer effects by down-regulating cell cycle regulatory genes and up-regulating genes involved in apoptosis. Future research will validate the anticancer effect of these fatty acids in an appropriate in vivo model.
Identification and Pharmacokinetics of Multiple Potential Bioactive Constituents after Oral Administration of Radix Astragali on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression in Balb/c Mice
Authors: Liu Menghua , Li Panlin , Zeng Xuan , Wu Huanxian , Su Weiwei , He Jingyu
Published: March 2015

Radix Astragali (RA) is one of the commonly-used traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) with an immunomodulatory effect confirmed in the clinic. In order to better understand the material basis for the therapeutic effects, this study was to investigate the absorbed components and their pharmacokinetic profile after oral administration of RA on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Balb/c mice. As a result, 51 compounds in RA extract and 31 prototype compounds with nine metabolites were detected in mice plasma by the ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC)-DAD-Q-TOF-MS/MS method. The pharmacokinetic parameters of five main constituents, including calycosin-7-O-glucoside, ononin, calycosin, formononetin and astragaloside IV, were obtained using HPLC-MS/MS. These results offered useful information for research on the pharmacological mechanism of RA and for its further development.
The Infection Efficiency and Replication Ability of Circularized HBV DNA Optimized the Linear HBV DNA in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Li Xiaosong , Zhu Junke , Lai Guoqi , Yan Lei , Hu Jieli , Chen Juan , Tang Ni , Huang Ailong
Published: March 2015

Studies on molecular mechanisms of the persist infection of hepatitis B virus have been hampered by a lack of a robust animal model. We successfully established a simple, versatile, and reproducible HBV persist infection model in vitro and in vivo with the circularized HBV DNA. The cells and mice were transfected or injected with circularized HBV DNA and pAAV/HBV1.2, respectively. At the indicated time, the cells, supernatants, serum samples, and liver tissues were collected for virological and serological detection. Both in vitro and in vivo, the circularized HBV DNA and pAAV/HBV1.2 could replicate and transcribe efficiently, but the infection effect of the former was superior to the latter (p < 0.05). The injection of circularized HBV genome DNA into the mice robustly supported HBV infection and approximately 80% of HBV infected mice established persistent infection for at least 10 weeks. This study demonstrated that the infection efficiency and replication ability of the circularized structure of HBV DNA overmatched that of the expression plasmid containing the linear structure of HBV DNA in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, this research results could provide useful tools and methodology for further study of pathogenic mechanisms and potential antiviral treatments of human chronic HBV infection in vitro and in vivo.
A Critical Review of Dental Implant Materials with an Emphasis on Titanium versus Zirconia
Authors: Osman Reham , Swain Michael
Published: March 2015

The goal of the current publication is to provide a comprehensive literature review on the topic of dental implant materials. The following paper focuses on conventional titanium implants and more recently introduced and increasingly popular zirconia implants. Major subtopics include the material science and the clinical considerations involving both implant materials and the influence of their physical properties on the treatment outcome. Titanium remains the gold standard for the fabrication of oral implants, even though sensitivity does occur, though its clinical relevance is not yet clear. Zirconia implants may prove to be promising in the future; however, further in vitro and well-designed in vivo clinical studies are needed before such a recommendation can be made. Special considerations and technical experience are needed when dealing with zirconia implants to minimize the incidence of mechanical failure.
Development and Evaluation of a Home Enteral Nutrition Team
Authors: Dinenage Sarah , Gower Morwenna , Van Wyk Joanna , Blamey Anne , Ashbolt Karen , Sutcliffe Michelle , Green Sue
Published: March 2015

The organisation of services to support the increasing number of people receiving enteral tube feeding (ETF) at home varies across regions. There is evidence that multi-disciplinary primary care teams focussed on home enteral nutrition (HEN) can provide cost-effective care. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a HEN Team in one UK city. A HEN Team comprising dietetians, nurses and a speech and language therapist was developed with the aim of delivering a quality service for people with gastrostomy tubes living at home. Team objectives were set and an underpinning framework of organisation developed including a care pathway and a schedule of training. Impact on patient outcomes was assessed in a pre-post test evaluation design. Patients and carers reported improved support in managing their ETF. Cost savings were realised through: (1) prevention of hospital admission and related transport for ETF related issues; (2) effective management and reduction of waste of feed and thickener; (3) balloon gastrostomy tube replacement by the HEN Team in the patient’s home, and optimisation of nutritional status. This service evaluation demonstrated that the establishment of a dedicated multi-professional HEN Team focussed on achievement of key objectives improved patient experience and, although calculation of cost savings were estimates, provided evidence of cost-effectiveness.
Distributed Efficient Similarity Search Mechanism in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ahmed Khandakar , Gregory Mark
Published: March 2015

The Wireless Sensor Network similarity search problem has received considerable research attention due to sensor hardware imprecision and environmental parameter variations. Most of the state-of-the-art distributed data centric storage (DCS) schemes lack optimization for similarity queries of events. In this paper, a DCS scheme with metric based similarity searching (DCSMSS) is proposed. DCSMSS takes motivation from vector distance index, called iDistance, in order to transform the issue of similarity searching into the problem of an interval search in one dimension. In addition, a sector based distance routing algorithm is used to efficiently route messages. Extensive simulation results reveal that DCSMSS is highly efficient and significantly outperforms previous approaches in processing similarity search queries.
Addressing the Impact of Environmental Xenobiotics in Coal-Fired Flue Gas
Authors: Bulucea Cornelia , Rosen Marc , Mastorakis Nikos , Bulucea Carmen , Brindusa Corina , Jeles Andreea
Published: March 2015

Dangerous and unstable situations can result from the presence of environmental xenobiotics since their harmful effects on humans and ecosystems are often unpredictable, and building awareness of the environmental risk should be a main concern of humankind. The environmental xenobiotics in the flue gas from a fossil fuel-fired electrical generating station, such as particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2), are analyzed in this study, since these xenobiotics are persistent pollutants. Mathematical models of the environmental pollutant vector, estimating the emission factors specific to fossil fuel combustion, are applied to the operation of thermal units in the Turceni electrical generating station, each of which produces a net electrical power of 330 MW. For each stack gas component in the pollutant vector, emission factors and pollutant concentrations are determined. A pattern is also examined depicting the mathematically modelled processes of resonant absorption of an environmental xenobiotic harmonic oscillation by an organism modulated as an absorbing oscillator structure. The xenobiotic concentration degree is represented through a spatial concentration vector, which allows further modelling and simulation of the oscillating regime of environmental xenobiotic absorption.
Teaching-Learning Activity Modeling Based on Data Analysis
Authors: Kim Kyungrog , Choi Yoo-Joo , Kim Mihui , Lee Jung-Won , Park Doo-Soon , Moon Nammee
Published: March 2015

Numerous studies are currently being carried out on personalized services based on data analysis to find and provide valuable information about information overload. Furthermore, the number of studies on data analysis of teaching-learning activities for personalized services in the field of teaching-learning is increasing, too. This paper proposes a learning style recency-frequency-durability (LS-RFD) model for quantified analysis on the level of activities of learners, to provide the elements of teaching-learning activities according to the learning style of the learner among various parameters for personalized service. This is to measure preferences as to teaching-learning activity according to recency, frequency and durability of such activities. Based on the results, user characteristics can be classified into groups for teaching-learning activity by categorizing the level of preference and activity of the learner.
Analysis of Pineapple Mealybug Wilt Associated Virus -1 and -2 for Potential RNA Silencing Suppressors and Pathogenicity Factors
Authors: Dey Kishore , Borth Wayne , Melzer Michael , Wang Ming-Li , Hu John
Published: March 2015

Higher plants use RNA silencing to defend against viral infections. As a counter defense, plant viruses have evolved proteins that suppress RNA silencing. Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP), an important disease of pineapple, has been associated with at least three distinct viruses, Pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus -1, -2, and -3 (PMWaV-1, -2, and -3). Selected open reading frames (ORFs) of PMWaV-1 and PMWaV-2 were screened for their local and systemic suppressor activities in Agrobacterium-mediated transient assays using green fluorescent protein (GFP) in Nicotiana benthamiana. Results indicate that PMWaV-2 utilizes a multiple-component RNA silencing suppression mechanism. Two proteins, p20 and CP, target both local and systemic silencing in N. benthamiana, while the p22 and CPd proteins target only systemic silencing. In the related virus PMWaV-1, we found that only one of the encoded proteins, p61, had only systemic suppressor activity. Of all the proteins tested from both viruses, only the PMWaV-2 p20 protein suppressed local silencing induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), but only when low levels of inducing dsRNA were used. None of the proteins analyzed could interfere with the short distance spread of silencing. We examined the mechanism of systemic suppression activity by investigating the effect of PMWaV-2-encoded p20 and CP proteins on secondary siRNAs. Our results suggest that the PMWaV-2 p20 and CP proteins block the systemic silencing signal by repressing production of secondary siRNAs. We also demonstrate that the PMWaV-2 p20 and p22 proteins enhanced the pathogenicity of Potato virus X in N. benthamiana.
Les falaises de la côte atlantique marocaine de Safi à Bedouzza (Cap Cantin). (The cliffs of the at/antic moroccan coast between Safi and Bedouzza.)
Authors: Weisrock André
Published: March 2015

Résumé - Le secteur côtier atlantique du Maroc entre Safi et Bedouzza est caractérisé par la présence de falaises vives élevées, inhabituelles pour ce littoral très régularisé. Elles sont développées dans la couverture mésozoïque de la Meseta côtière, à alternances de marnes et de calcaires, ce qui détermine des profils variés, en partie seulement verticaux. Les mécanismes classiques d'évolution des falaises vives par écroulements et glissements sont actifs actuellement et dangereux, mais ils n'ont que des effets ponctuels. De multiples héritages (conservation en certains endroits d'une partie de l'oulja et de la falaise morte associée, chaos de blocs cyclopéens formant barrière vers l'Océan) montrent que le recul de la côte n'est pas considérable à l'échelle du Quaternaire récent.
Influence of gold, silver and gold–silver alloy nanoparticles on germ cell function and embryo development
Authors: Taylor Ulrike , Tiedemann Daniela , Rehbock Christoph , Kues Wilfried A , Barcikowski Stephan , Rath Detlef
Published: March 2015

The use of engineered nanoparticles has risen exponentially over the last decade. Applications are manifold and include utilisation in industrial goods as well as medical and consumer products. Gold and silver nanoparticles play an important role in the current increase of nanoparticle usage. However, our understanding concerning possible side effects of this increased exposure to particles, which are frequently in the same size regime as medium sized biomolecules and accessorily possess highly active surfaces, is still incomplete. That particularly applies to reproductive aspects, were defects can be passed onto following generations. This review gives a brief overview of the most recent findings concerning reprotoxicological effects. The here presented data elucidate how composition, size and surface modification of nanoparticles influence viablility and functionality of reproduction relevant cells derived from various animal models. While in vitro cultured embryos displayed no toxic effects after the microinjection of gold and silver nanoparticles, sperm fertility parameters deteriorated after co-incubation with ligand free gold nanoparticles. However, the effect could be alleviated by bio-coating the nanoparticles, which even applies to silver and silver-rich alloy nanoparticles. The most sensitive test system appeared to be in vitro oocyte maturation showing a dose-dependent response towards protein (BSA) coated gold–silver alloy and silver nanoparticles leading up to complete arrest of maturation. Recent biodistribution studies confirmed that nanoparticles gain access to the ovaries and also penetrate the blood–testis and placental barrier. Thus, the design of nanoparticles with increased biosafety is highly relevant for biomedical applications.
In situ observation of biotite (001) surface dissolution at pH 1 and 9.5 by advanced optical microscopy
Authors: Cappelli Chiara , Lamarca-Irisarri Daniel , Camas Jordi , Huertas F Javier , Van Driessche Alexander E S
Published: March 2015

Laser confocal differential interference contrast microscopy (LCM-DIM) allows for the study of the reactivity of surface minerals with slow dissolution rates (e.g., phyllosilicates). With this technique, it is possible to carry out in situ inspection of the reacting surface in a broad range of pH, ionic strength and temperature providing useful information to help unravel the dissolution mechanisms of phyllosilicates. In this work, LCM-DIM was used to study the mechanisms controlling the biotite (001) surface dissolution at pH 1 (11 and 25 °C) and pH 9.5 (50 °C). Step edges are the preferential sites of dissolution and lead to step retreat, regardless of the solution pH. At pH 1, layer swelling and peeling takes place, whereas at pH 9.5 fibrous structures (streaks) form at the step edges. Confocal Raman spectroscopy characterization of the reacted surface could not confirm if the formation of a secondary phase was responsible for the presence of these structures.
Checklist of Fabaceae Lindley in Balaghat Ranges of Maharashtra, India
Authors: Gore Ramchandra , Gaikwad Sayajirao
Published: March 2015

The present paper provides an enumeration of leguminous taxa of Balaghat Ranges of Maharashtra along with their habits, phenological deta and voucher specimen numbers. During the present work, a total of 123 species, 4 subspecies and 17 varieties of Fabaceae have been recorded for Balaghat Ranges of Maharashtra, of which 119 taxa are occurring in wild while 25 are under cultivation. The members of Fabaceae are dominant in herbaceous vegetation of the Balaghat Ranges. There are more species in genera like Crotalaria (23 taxa), Indigofera (16 taxa), Alysicarpus (14 taxa), Vigna (11 taxa) and Desmodium (8 taxa). Twelve taxa are endemic to India of which Indigofera deccanensis falls into Critically Endangered IUCN Red data category. The legumes of Balaghat Ranges have many actual and potential uses such as food, fodder and sources of edible oil, natural dyes, industrial lubricants, timber and medicines. About 19 leguminous taxa are wild relatives of food and fodder crops have resistance to pests and diseases, and abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, can be used for crop improvement.
Review of Anasillomos Londt, 1983 with the description of a new species (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae)
Authors: Dikow Torsten
Published: March 2015

The southern African assassin-fly genus Anasillomos Londt, 1983 is reviewed. A new species, Anasillomos juergeni sp. n., is described from the Namib desert and represents the second species in the genus. Descriptions/re-descriptions, photographs, and identification keys are provided to aid in the identification. Distribution, occurrence in biodiversity hotspots sensu Conservation International, and seasonal incidence are discussed.
Les discours intérieurs associés aux comportements de soumission, de rébellion et de subterfuge
Authors: Auzoult Laurent
Published: March 2015

Nous examinons les relations pouvant exister entre les discours internes et les comportements de sujets impliqués dans une étude sur la soumission à l’autorité. Les sujets recopient, en groupe, un annuaire, en étant invités à noter sur une feuille de papier toutes les pensées qui leur viennent à l’esprit. Sur la base de ce comportement, on distingue les sujets soumis, les rebelles et les sujets adoptant un subterfuge (soumission apparente, associée à un sabotage ou une tricherie). L’analyse des discours, à partir du logiciel Tropes , révèle que le discours des sujets soumis est opératoire, centré sur l’activité. La désobéissance se construit, soit sur une opposition directe (activité réduite) par un processus d’identification symbolique au groupe des pairs, soit sur un registre individuel (déligitimation des pairs) par une opposition latente (sabotage, tricherie).
La dissonance cognitive : conséquence de la soumission induite ou effet de l'attente de l'expérimentateur ?
Authors: Balez Ralph , Sanquirgo Nathalie
Published: March 2015

Cette recherche intéresse l’effet de l’attente de l’expérimentateur situé dans le champ de la dissonance cognitive, et plus précisément l’effet de la déclaration de liberté dans le paradigme dit de la tâche fastidieuse. L’étude montre que l’effet de rationalisation cognitive classiquement observé peut être le fruit d’une confirmation de l’hypothèse du chercheur. On induit, dans deux groupes d’expérimentateurs, deux types d’attentes théoriques contrastées. Selon la condition d’induction, les expérimentateurs sont exposées à l’hypothèse classique présentée comme controversée ou non. Les résultats indiquent que l’hypothèse classique est uniquement confirmée dans la modalité non controversée. Les résultats sont abordés à l’aune des questions méthodologiques et épistémologiques soulevées par l’effet des attentes du chercheur dans le champ de la dissonance cognitive. L’intérêt de la métaexpérimentation est discuté.
Puisque ton navire n'est pas fait de planches…
Authors: Bertrand Romain
Published: March 2015

Au début de l’époque moderne, au xvi e   siècle, des relations commerciales, diplomatiques et militaires intermittentes s’établissent entre l’Europe et le monde insulindien (l’Asie du Sud-Est insulaire). Les premiers voyages des Portugais, des Hollandais et des Britanniques aux Indes Orientales sont l’une des occasions privilégiées de la mise au point – et à l’épreuve – de techniques spécifiques de navigation hauturière, qui toutes visent à jauger et prévenir le péril du naufrage. Mais cette élaboration technique se double d’une préoccupation d’ordre spirituel : il s’agit d’éviter le décès sans sacrement ni sépulture. Quantité de rituels de supplique ont ainsi pour finalité de conjurer le danger de la « malemort » en mer. Ces précautions rituelles s’observent aussi bien côté malais et javanais que côté hollandais et britannique.
Attention aux loups !
Authors: Doré Antoine
Published: March 2015

Partant d’une enquête sur la gestion des loups en France, cet article s’attache à comprendre empiriquement quelles sont les conditions de la mesure de la menace lorsque le rapport à l’animal est ambivalent. Il montre que la mise en œuvre d’opérations ponctuelles de prélèvement létal de loups – dispositif central de la prise en charge publique des conflits relatifs à cette espèce en France – suppose et engendre l’articulation de deux modes d’existence de ces animaux. D’un côté, des « loups menaçants mangeurs de bétail » sont appréhendés, via une métrologie locale et circonstanciée, orientée vers le traitement et la prise en charge de « cas » ; de l’autre, des « loups menacés » sont saisis via une métrologie dynamique, généralisée, envisagée à l’échelle nationale et orientée vers la gestion d’une « population ».