bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart Rate and Perceived Experience Differ Markedly for Children in Same- versus Mixed-Gender Soccer Played as Small- and Large-Sided Games
Authors: Póvoas S. , Randers M. B. , Krustrup P. , Larsen M. N. , Pereira R. , Castagna C.
Published: August 2018

This study examines heart rate (HR) and perceived experience during same- versus mixed-gender soccer played as small- (SSG) and large-sided (LSG) games. HR, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and fun scores were determined in 134 pupils (50 girls, 84 boys) randomly assigned to same- and mixed-genders formats playing 2x15-min of SSG (2v2, 4v4) and LSG (12v12) in a random order (~50 m2/player). HR was lower (p≤0.03) for girls when playing together with boys than when playing alone (71±10 versus 77±7%HRmax), while being similar for boys playing mixed- or same-gender games (74±7 versus 77±4%HRmax). Boys perceived less fun when playing together with girls than when playing alone (4.4±2.3 versus 6.3±2.3, p<0.001). Irrespective of gender, higher (p<0.001) HRmean, %time>80%HRmax, and RPE were observed during 2v2 (78±9%HRmax, 43±33%, 5.5±2.5) and 4v4 (76±9%HRmax, 39±32%, 5.5±2.7) than during 12v12 (70±10%HRmax, 23±27%, 3.8±2.9). Cardiovascular strain was lower for girls when playing together with boys than when playing alone in LSG. SSG were more intense than LSG when girls played mixed-gender games and when boys played mixed- and same-gender games. When boys played mixed-gender games, SSG were considered more fun than LSG. Physical education teachers and coaches should consider gender and game format differences when using soccer.
Improving Traffic State Prediction Model for Variable Speed Limit Control by Introducing Stochastic Supply and Demand
Authors: Bie Yuwei , Seraj Mudasser , Zhang Can , Qiu Tony Z.
Published: August 2018

Variable speed limit (VSL) is becoming recognized as an effective way to improve traffic throughput and road safety. In particular, methods based on traffic state prediction exhibit promising potential to prevent future traffic congestion and collisions. However, field observations indicate that the traffic state prediction model results in nonnegligible error that impacts the next step decision making of VSL. Thus, this paper investigates how to eliminate this prediction error within a VSL environment. In this study, the traffic state prediction model is a second-order traffic flow model named METANET, while the VSL control is model predictive control (MPC) based, and the VSL decision is discrete optimized choice. A simplified version of the switching mode stochastic cell transmission model (SCTM) is integrated with the METANET model to eliminate the prediction error. The performance of the proposed method is assessed using field data from a VSL pilot test in Edmonton, Canada, and is compared with the prediction results of the baseline METANET model during the road test. The results show that during the most congested period the proposed SCTM-METANET model significantly improves the prediction accuracy of regular METANET model.
Long-Term Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Does Not Prevent Development of the Metabolic Syndrome in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Matthews V. B. , Hollingshead R. , Koch H. , Croft K. D. , Ward N. C.
Published: August 2018

Background. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important vascular signaling molecule that plays a role in vascular homeostasis. A reduction in NO bioavailability is thought to contribute to endothelial dysfunction, an early risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Dietary nitrate, through the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, may provide an alternate source of NO when the endogenous eNOS system is compromised. In addition to a role in the vascular system, NO may also play a role in the metabolic syndrome including obesity and glucose tolerance. Aim. To investigate the effect of long-term dietary nitrate supplementation on development of the metabolic syndrome in mice fed a high-fat diet. Methods. Following 1 week of acclimatisation, male (6–8 weeks) C57BL6 mice were randomly assigned to the following groups (10/group) for 12 weeks: (i) normal chow + NaCl (1 mmol/kg/day), (ii) normal chow + NaNO3 (1 mmol/kg/day), (iii) high-fat diet + NaCl (1 mmol/kg/day), and (iv) high-fat diet + NaNO3 (1 mmol/kg/day). Body weight and food consumption were monitored weekly. A subset of mice (5/group) underwent running wheel assessment. At the end of the treatment period, all mice underwent fasting glucose tolerance testing. Caecum contents, serum, and tissues (liver, skeletal muscle, white and brown adipose, and kidney) were collected, frozen, and stored at −80°C until analysis. Results. Consumption of the high-fat diet resulted in significantly greater weight gain that was not affected by dietary nitrate. Mice on the high-fat diet also had impaired glucose tolerance that was not affected by dietary nitrate. There was no difference in adipose tissue expression of thermogenic proteins or energy expenditure as assessed by the running wheel activity. Mice on the high-fat diet and those receiving dietary nitrate had reduced caecum concentrations of both butyrate and propionate. Conclusions. Dietary nitrate does not prevent development of the metabolic syndrome in mice fed a high-fat diet. This may be due, in part due, to reductions in the concentration of important short-chain fatty acids.
Holothuria leucospilota Population in Satang Besar Island, Sarawak, Malaysia
Authors: Harith Mohd Nasarudin , Md Desa Muhammad Hasanol Isyraf , Ilias Zaidnuddin
Published: August 2018

Holothuria leucospilota or locally known as “Patola” is currently considered the most abundant sea cucumber species in Malaysia. This coral reef-dwelling species is not in danger of extinction in comparison to commercial sea cucumbers such as “gamat.” However, overfishing activities in addition to lack of fishing regulations in Malaysia could put this species at risk of extinction in the future. It is important to conduct research on the sea cucumber community in Sarawak because the data can be used as reliable information for future research. Therefore, this study is carried out to quantify and estimate the Holothuria leucospilota population from an intertidal area of Satang Besar Island, Sarawak, Malaysia. Ten stations surrounding the island were selected as the location for this study. A total number of 203 individuals of Holothuria leucospilota were recorded and estimation of the population that inhabits the island’s intertidal area was 609 individuals. RELATE test showed relationships between species population and water parameters, namely, temperature, salinity, and pH. Results from this study are important as a baseline data that might contribute to the sustainable management of Sarawak, Malaysia’s sea cucumber in the future. Future work suggestions include addition of subtidal samples and other factors, namely, seawater nutrients and feeding environment, that should be done to better understand the population.
The Sub-Supersolution Method and Extremal Solutions of Quasilinear Elliptic Equations in Orlicz-Sobolev Spaces
Authors: Dong Ge , Fang Xiaochun
Published: August 2018

We prove the existence of extremal solutions of the following quasilinear elliptic problem -∑i=1N∂/∂xiai(x,u(x),Du(x))+g(x,u(x),Du(x))=0 under Dirichlet boundary condition in Orlicz-Sobolev spaces W01LM(Ω) and give the enclosure of solutions. The differential part is driven by a Leray-Lions operator in Orlicz-Sobolev spaces, while the nonlinear term g:Ω×R×RN→R is a Carathéodory function satisfying a growth condition. Our approach relies on the method of linear functional analysis theory and the sub-supersolution method.
Porous Crumb Structure of Leavened Baked Products
Authors: Rathnayake H. A. , Navaratne S. B. , Navaratne C. M.
Published: August 2018

Quality evaluation of the porous crumb structure of leavened baked goods, especially bread, has become a vast study area of which various research studies have been carried out up to date. Here is a brief review focusing on those studies with six main parts including porous crumb structure development, crumb cellular structure analysis, application of fractal dimension for evaluating crumb cellular structure, mechanical and sensorial properties of crumb structure, changes of porous crumb structure with staling, and modifications to obtain a well-developed porous crumb structure and retard staling. Development of the porous crumb structure mainly depends on dough ingredients and processing conditions. Hence, certain modifications for those factors (incorporating food hydrocolloids, emulsifiers, improvers, etc.) have been conducted by cereal sciences for obtaining well-developed porous crumb structure and retard staling. Several image analysis methods are available for analyzing microstructural features of porous crumb structure, which can directly affect the mechanical and sensorial properties of the final product. A product with a well-developed porous crumb structure may contain the property of higher gas retention capacity which results in a product with increased volume and reduced crumb hardness with appealing sensorial properties.
Scene Understanding Based on High-Order Potentials and Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Zhao Xiaoli , Wang Guozhong , Zhang Jiaqi , Zhang Xiang
Published: August 2018

Scene understanding is to predict a class label at each pixel of an image. In this study, we propose a semantic segmentation framework based on classic generative adversarial nets (GAN) to train a fully convolutional semantic segmentation model along with an adversarial network. To improve the consistency of the segmented image, the high-order potentials, instead of unary or pairwise potentials, are adopted. We realize the high-order potentials by substituting adversarial network for CRF model, which can continuously improve the consistency and details of the segmented semantic image until it cannot discriminate the segmented result from the ground truth. A number of experiments are conducted on PASCAL VOC 2012 and Cityscapes datasets, and the quantitative and qualitative assessments have shown the effectiveness of our proposed approach.
Prevalence, Infectivity, and Associated Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women in Yirgalem Hospital, Ethiopia: Implication of Screening to Control Mother-to-Child Transmission
Authors: Amsalu Anteneh , Ferede Getachew , Eshetie Setegn , Tadewos Agete , Assegu Demissie
Published: August 2018

Background. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive mother has up to 90% likelihood of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) to newborns in the absence of any prophylaxis or antiviral therapy utilization. However, routine antenatal screening and intervention strategies are not yet practiced in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence, infectivity, and associated risk factors of HBV among pregnant women. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to August 2016 in Yirgalem Hospital. A total of 475 pregnant women were recruited, and data on sociodemography and potential risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. In addition, blood samples were tested for HBsAg, and HBsAg positive samples were retested for HBeAg using commercially available strip test. The status of HIV was collected from the records. Results. The seroprevalence of HBsAg was 34 (7.2%), of whom 13 (38.8%) were positive for HBeAg. The prevalence of HIV infection was 10.1% (48/475). Ten out of 34 HBV positive cases (29.4%) were coinfected with HIV. The overall HBV/HIV coinfection rate was 2.1% (10/475). Women with history of multiple sexual partners and being HIV positive were significantly associated with HBsAg positivity. Among the study participants, 35.4% were aware of MTCT of HBV and only 12 (2.5%) have taken HBV vaccine. Conclusions. High prevalence of HBsAg and HBeAg as well as low awareness and practices of HBV prevention methods suggests that perinatal transmission of HBV might be the prevailing mode of HBV transmission in the study area. Thus, screening of all pregnant women, particularly those who had history of multiple sexual partners and HIV coinfection, and provision of health education about HBV prevention methods are inevitable.
Personalized Recommendations Based on Sentimental Interest Community Detection
Authors: Zheng Jianxing , Wang Yanjie
Published: August 2018

Communities have become a popular platform of mining interests for recommender systems. The semantics of topics reflect users’ implicit interests. Sentiments on topics imply users’ sentimental tendency. People with common sentiments can form resonant communities of interest. In this paper, a resonant sentimental interest community-based recommendation model is proposed to improve the accuracy performance of recommender systems. First, we learn the weighted semantics vector and sentiment vector to model semantic and sentimental user profiles. Then, by combining semantic and sentimental factors, resonance relationship is computed to evaluate the resonance relationship of users. Finally, based on resonance relationships, resonant community is detected to discover a resonance group to make personalized recommendations. Experimental results show that the proposed model is more effective in finding semantics-related sentimental interests than traditional methods.
Isolation and Molecular Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria Using 16s rRNA Genes from FermentedTeff(Eragrostis tef(Zucc.)) Dough
Authors: Tilahun Belay , Tesfaye Anteneh , Muleta Diriba , Bahiru Andualem , Terefework Zewdu , Wessel Gary
Published: August 2018

Injera is soft fermented baked product, which is commonly prepared from teff (Eragrostis tef(Zucc.)) flour and believed to be consumed on daily basis by two-thirds of Ethiopians.As it is a product of naturally fermented dough, the course of fermentation is done by consortia of microorganisms. The study was aimed at isolating and identifying some dominant bacteria from fermentingteff (Eragrostis tef)dough. A total of 97 dough samples were collected from households, microenterprises, and hotels with different fermentation stage from Addis Ababa. The bacterial isolates obtained from the fermentingteffdough samples were selected on the basis of their acid production potentials. A total of 24 purified bacterial isolates were found to be Gram-positive (they are coccus and rod under microscope) and were good acid producers. Genomic DNA of bacterial isolates were extracted using Invisorb® Spin DNA Extraction kit. 16S rRNA of bacterial isolates were amplified using the bacteria universal primers (rD1 and fD1). The amplified product was sequenced at Genewiz, USA. Sequence analysis and comparison with the resources at the database were conducted to identify the isolated microbes into species and strain levels. The bacterial isolates were identified asLactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus avium,andEnterococcus faecium. All identified lactic acid bacteria were able to produce acid at 12 h time of incubation. This study has confirmed the presence of different bacterial species in the fermentingteffdough and also supports the involvement of various groups of bacterial species in the course of the fermentation.
Enhanced Photoluminescence in Gold Nanoparticles Doped Homogeneous Planar Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Chang Chi-Huang , Lin Rong-Ji , Tien Chuen-Lin , Yeh Shang-Min
Published: August 2018

This study reported the photoluminescence (PL) of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) doped planar nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) and observed around 64% enhancement in PL intensity with suitable doping amounts of GNPs in liquid crystals 5CB. The enhancement in PL intensity has been attributed to the increased surface area from GNPs, which results in increased emissions due to the increased scattering of excitation. The subsequent decay of PL intensity with doping more amounts of GNPs in liquid crystals 5CB was due to the aggregation of the GNPs, which resulted in decayed emissions due to the decay of the scattering of excitation. The concentration and the size of GNPs, as well as the orientation of the LCs’ director, with respect to the excitation, which depend on the intensity of the PL, were also investigated.
The Protective Effect of the Total Flavonoids of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Flowers on Transient Cerebral Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury Is due to Activation of the Nrf2‐ARE Pathway
Authors: Luo Yang , Cui Hong-Xin , Jia An , Jia Shan-Shan , Yuan Ke
Published: August 2018

Abelmoschus esculentus L. has favorable nutritional/medicinal features. We found the content of total flavonoids in flower extract to be the highest (788.56 mg/g) of all the different parts of A. esculentus; according to high‐performance liquid chromatography, the quercetin‐3‐O‐[β‐D‐glu‐(1 → 6)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside content was 122.13 mg/g. Protective effects of an extract of the total flavonoids of A. esculentus flowers (AFF) on transient cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury (TCI‐RI) were investigated. Compared with the model group, mice treated with AFF (300 mg/kg) for 7 days showed significantly reduced neurologic deficits, infarct area, and histologic changes in brain tissue, accompanied by increased contents of superoxide dismutase, whereas contents of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde decreased. AFF upregulated the expression of Nrf2, HO‐1, and NQO1. These data suggest that AFF protects against TCI‐RI by scavenging free radicals and activating the Nrf2‐ARE pathway.
Protective Effect of Melatonin against Oxidative Stress‐Induced Apoptosis and Enhanced Autophagy in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells
Authors: Chang Chih-Chao , Huang Tien-Yi , Chen Hsin-Yuan , Huang Tsui-Chin , Lin Li-Chun , Chang Yen-Jui , Hsia Shih-Min
Published: August 2018

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the retinal macula and results in loss of vision, and AMD is the primary cause of blindness and severe visual impairment among elderly people worldwide. AMD is characterized by the accumulation of drusen in the Bruch’s membrane and dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptors. The pathogenesis of AMD remains unclear, and no effective treatment exists. Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a critical role in RPE cell degeneration and AMD. Melatonin is an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals, and it has anti‐inflammatory, antitumor, and antiangiogenic effects. This study investigated the antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and autophagic effects of melatonin on oxidative damage to RPE cells. We used hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to stimulate reactive oxygen species production to cause cell apoptosis in ARPE‐19 cell lines. Our findings revealed that treatment with melatonin significantly inhibited H2O2‐induced RPE cell damage, decreased the apoptotic rate, increased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased the autophagy effect. Furthermore, melatonin reduced the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio and the expression levels of the apoptosis‐associated proteins cytochrome c and caspase 7. Additionally, melatonin upregulated the expression of the autophagy‐related proteins LC3‐II and Beclin‐1 and downregulated the expression of p62. Thus, melatonin’s effects on autophagy and apoptosis can protect against H2O2‐induced oxidative damage in human RPE cells. Melatonin may have multiple protective effects on human RPE cells against H2O2‐induced oxidative damage.
Retrospective Analyses of Potential Risk Factors for Posterior Capsule Opacification after Cataract Surgery
Authors: Wu Shuang , Tong Nianting , Pan Lin , Jiang Xiaohui , Li Yanan , Guo MeiLing , Li Hehuan
Published: August 2018

Purpose. To evaluate the potential risk factors of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery. Methods. Data on PCO patients diagnosed from September 2015 to May 2017 were obtained from the Department of Ophthalmology at Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China. The factors associated with PCO were assessed using Pearson's χ2 test for univariate analyses and logistic regression for multivariate analyses. Results. Eyes (652) from 550 patients were enrolled in this study. All patients were diagnosed with PCO/non-PCO and had <3 years of follow-up after surgery. The numbers of PCO and non-PCO were 108 eyes and 544 eyes, respectively. Statistically significant associations with PCO were found for age at the time of surgery (χ2 = 78.504; p<0.001), diabetes (χ2 = 4.829; p=0.028), immune diseases (χ2 = 4.234; p=0.004), high myopia (χ2 = 5.753; p=0.016), lens nucleus hardness (χ2 = 11.046; p=0.026), surgery type (χ2 = 11.354; p=0.001), a history of vitrectomy (χ2 = 4.212; p=0.004), ocular inflammation (χ2 = 6.01; p=0.009), and the intraocular lens (IOL) type (χ2 = 8.696; p=0.003). Multivariable data analyses using logistic regression analyses of the variables showed that age at the time of surgery <60 years, diabetes, lens nucleus hardness of III–V, extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), postvitrectomy, and hydrophilic IOLs were significant independent risk factors associated with PCO. Conclusions. Age <60 years, diabetes, lens nucleus hardness of III–V, ECCE, postvitrectomy, and a hydrophilic IOL were significantly associated with the formation of PCO. Estimation of the incidence of and risk factors for PCO should help in patients counseling and in the design of treatment protocols to reduce or prevent its development.
DS‐Harmonizer: A Harmonization Service on Spatiotemporal Data Stream in Edge Computing Environment
Authors: Ding Weilong , Zhao Zhuofeng
Published: August 2018

Abundant sensors in various types are widely used in modern cities to comprehend the current situations in real time. The raw data in open conditions is always in low quality and is hard to employ directly due to its imperfect or missing records. Traditional data preprocessing methods focus on the offline historical data and remain a dilemma between the efficiency and the overhead. In this paper, a data harmonization service DS-Harmonizer is proposed on spatiotemporal data stream in the edge computing environment. Through the online cleaning and complementing steps of the hierarchical service instances, the records’ validity and continuity can be guaranteed in an efficient way. On the simulated data in a practical project, the service shows high performance, low latency, and acceptable precision in extensive conditions.
Fixed Point Theorems in Complete Cone Metric Spaces over Banach Algebras
Authors: Cho Seong-Hoon
Published: August 2018

The notion of C-class functions in Banach algebras is introduced. By using such concept, a new fixed point theorem is established. An example to illustrate main theorem is given. Finally, applications of our main result to cyclic mappings and weak contraction type mappings are given.
Antiviral Activity against Avian Leucosis Virus Subgroup J of Degraded Polysaccharides from Ulva pertusa
Authors: Sun Yuhao , Chen Xiaolin , Song Lin , Liu Song , Yu Huahua , Wang Xueqin , Qin Yukun , Li Pengcheng
Published: August 2018

Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroup J (ALV-J), a retrovirus of avian, has caused enormous economics losses to poultry industry around the world. Polysaccharides from marine algae are featured diversity bioactivities. To find the potential effect to prevent ALV-J spread, in this study, polysaccharides from Ulva pertusa (UPPs) and four low molecular weight (Mw) U. pertusa polysaccharides (LUPPs) were prepared and their functions on ALV-J were investigated. Firstly, LUPPs were obtained by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidative degradation. The effects of degradation conditions on Mw of the UPP were also investigated. Results showed that the H2O2 oxidative degradation method could degrade UPP effectively, and the degradation was positively related to H2O2 concentration and temperature and negatively to pH. The chemical characteristics of UPP and LUPPs were also determined. Afterwards, the anti-ALV-J activity of the polysaccharides were carried out in vitro. Results showed that UPP and LUPPs could inhibit ALV-J and LUPP-3 and Mw of 4.3 kDa exerted the strongest suppression. The action phase assay showed that LUPP-3 could bind with the viral particles and prevented ALV-J adsorption onto the host cells. And the ALV-J relative gene and gp85 protein expression were significantly suppressed after being administration with LUPP-3. Therefore, the low Mw polysaccharides from U. pertusa have great potential as an anti-ALV-J drug alternative.
Autohydrogenotrophic Denitrification Using the Membrane Biofilm Reactor for Removing Nitrate from High Sulfate Concentration of Water
Authors: Zhang Yanhao , Zhang Haohan , Zhang Zhibin , Wang Yuchen , Marhaba Taha , Li Jixiang , Sun Cuizhen , Zhang Wen
Published: August 2018

This study investigated the performance of an autohydrogenotrophic membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) to remove nitrate from water with high sulfate concentrations. The results of simulated running showed that TN removal could be over than 98.8% with the maximum denitrification rate of 134.6 g N/m3 d under the conditions of the influent sulfate concentrations of 300 mg SO42−/l. The distribution ratio of H2 electron donor for nitrate and sulfate was 70.0 : 26.9 at the high influent loading ratio of sulfate/nitrate of 853.3 g SO42−/m3 d : 140.5 g N/m3 d, which indicated that denitrification bacteria (DB) were normally dominated to complete H2 electron with sulfate bacteria (SRB). The results of molecular microbiology analysis showed that the dominated DB were Rhodocyclus and Hydrogenophaga, and the dominated SRB was Desulfohalobium, under the high influent sulfate concentrations.
Legalisation of Euthanasia in Finland: Via a Citizens’ Initiative?
Authors: Nieminen Liisa
Published: August 2018

This article combines two legal and ethical questions: a) the new Finnish method of citizens’ democratic participation (the citizens’ initiative), and b) the complex and controversial question of euthanasia. Both are currently pertinent questions in Finland. The citizens’ initiative institution is a success, especially for liberal people and human rights organisations in promoting issues which coalition governments are not ready to submit to the Parliament of Finland. The euthanasia question meets these requirements and the citizens’ initiative on euthanasia (KAA 2/2017) in principle has a good chance of succeeding in the Parliament, but the result is unpredictable. Many members of the Parliament have not yet decided their attitude to euthanasia, which is a more complicated issue than, say, same-sex marriage.
On the Dynamics and Water Mass Transformation of a Boundary Current Connecting Alpha and Beta Oceans
Authors: Lambert Erwin , Eldevik Tor , Spall Michael A.
Published: August 2018

A subpolar marginal sea, like the Nordic seas, is a transition zone between the temperature-stratified subtropics (the alpha ocean) and the salinity-stratified polar regions (the beta ocean). An inflow of Atlantic Water circulates these seas as a boundary current that is cooled and freshened downstream, eventually to outflow as Deep and Polar Water. Stratification in the boundary region is dominated by a thermocline over the continental slope and a halocline over the continental shelves, separating Atlantic Water from Deep and Polar Water, respectively. A conceptual model is introduced for the circulation and water mass transformation in a subpolar marginal sea to explore the potential interaction between the alpha and beta oceans. Freshwater input into the shelf regions has a slight strengthening effect on the Atlantic inflow, but more prominently impacts the water mass composition of the outflow. This impact of freshwater, characterized by enhancing Polar Water outflow and suppressing Deep Water outflow, is strongly determined by the source location of freshwater. Concretely, perturbations in upstream freshwater sources, like the Baltic freshwater outflow into the Nordic seas, have an order of magnitude larger potential to impact water mass transports than perturbations in downstream sources like the Arctic freshwater outflow. These boundary current dynamics are directly related to the qualitative stratification in transition zones and illustrate the interaction between the alpha and beta oceans.
Anti-disturbance control based on nonlinear disturbance observer for a class of stochastic systems
Authors: Dong Lewei , Wei Xinjiang , Zhang Huifeng
Published: August 2018

In engineering, there exist lots of nonlinear disturbance dynamics, which can be described by nonlinear exogenous systems. The current stochastic linear disturbance observer is conservative and is not applicable for nonlinear disturbance dynamics. This paper studies a class of stochastic systems with multiple disturbances, including white noise and disturbances modelled by a nonlinear exogenous system. To estimate the disturbance with nonlinear dynamics, a stochastic nonlinear disturbance observer is proposed. Based on the observer, a nonlinear disturbance observer-based disturbance attenuation control (NDOBDAC) scheme is constructed such that the composite closed-loop system is asymptotically mean-square bounded. According to the simulation example, the state responses of the system diverge in the absence of control, but it tends to be [Formula: see text] under NDOBDAC, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed scheme. In addition, the anti-disturbance control accuracy of NDOBDAC approximately improves [Formula: see text] times compared with [Formula: see text] control and active disturbance rejection control (ADRC). The simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Further Delineation of Ribose-5-phosphate Isomerase Deficiency: Report of a Third Case
Authors: Brooks Susan Sklower , Anderson Sharon , Bhise Vikram , Botti Christina
Published: August 2018

Ribose-5-phosphate isomerase deficiency, a disorder of the pentose phosphate shunt, was described in 1999. There are 2 previously reported cases of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase deficiency. Here, we describe the clinical course, diagnostic odyssey, and molecular findings in the third case of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase deficiency to further delineate the syndrome. Whole-exome sequencing demonstrated 2 mutations in the ribose-5-phosphate isomerase gene, RPIA, in a child with neonatal onset leukoencephalopathy and psychomotor delays. Urine polyols were elevated confirming deficiency of ribose-5-phosphate isomerase (RPI, EC. 5.3.1.6) and pathogenicity of the variants. Measurement of urine polyols should be considered in cases of early-onset white-matter disease.
Poetry and Ethnography: Tracing Family Resemblances
Authors: Haripriya Soibam
Published: August 2018

The present research intends to examine the possible use of poetry in social anthropology, especially in the context of the writing of ethnography in sites of violence. More precisely, it problematises the binary of fact and fiction that have been kept apart through disciplinary frameworks of literature and social sciences. The act of writing the experience of the field is an act of representation whereby the voices of the informants capture the experience that constitutes the fact of the social world. However, the task of writing also involves the exercise of representation that involves creating the field for others to partake. It is in this context that the act of fabrication needs to be engaged with.
Investigation, using density function theory, of coverage of the kaolinite (001) surface during hydrogen adsorption
Authors: Zhao Jian , Gao Wei , Tao Zhi-Gang , Guo Hong-Yun , He Man-Chao
Published: August 2018

Kaolinite can be used for many applications, including the underground storage of gases. Density functional theory was employed to investigate the adsorption of hydrogen molecules on the kaolinite (001) surface. The coverage dependence of the adsorption sites and energetics was studied systematically for a wide range of coverage, Θ (from 1/16 to 1 monolayer). The three-fold hollow site is the most stable, followed by the bridge, top-z and top sites. The adsorption energy of H2 decreased with increasing coverage, thus indicating the lower stability of surface adsorption due to the repulsion of neighbouring H2 molecules. The coverage has obvious effects on hydrogen adsorption. Other properties of the H2/kaolinite (001) system, including the lattice relaxation and changes of electronic density of states, were also studied and are discussed in detail.
Looking Further When Symptoms Are Disproportionate to Physical Findings
Authors: SHRIER IAN , MORRISON DAVID R. , HAWKES ROGER
Published: August 2018

A 36-yr-old man presents with left ulnar-side wrist pain during an ice hockey game that prevented him from playing hockey or golf. There was no acute mechanism of injury. The usual clinical examination revealed only minimal tenderness and minimal pain with resisted wrist extension. Careful attention to precipitating factors led to testing resisted wrist extension with the forearm fully supinated, which reliably reproduced the intensity of the patient’s symptoms, and a diagnosis of extensor carpi ulnaris tendinopathy. A literature review suggested three additional special tests (two were positive) and management. However, a standard of care has yet been established because neither the tests nor the management has been properly validated through research, thus leaving the management of this condition as an art.
Effects of iron nano-particle’s on expression of tetracycline resistance encoding genes in Staphylococcus aureus by Real Time-PCR
Authors: ARAB H. , SHOJAEE SADI B. , AMINI K.
Published: August 2018

Increasing bacterial resistance towards traditional/conventional antibiotics is a major global health concern worldwide. Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe nanoparticles, with average size of 20 nm) have considerable potential as antimicrobial agents in food safety applications due to their structure, surface properties, and stability. The aim of this work was to investigate the antibacterial effects and mechanism of action of iron nanoparticles against the expression of the tetA gene in Tetracycline Resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains by real time PCR. In the cross-sectional study, a total of 60 S. aureus were collected. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed on the muller hinton agar according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Then all strains were evaluated for tetA, tetB, tetC and tetD genes by multiplex-PCR method. In-vitro activity of iron oxide nanoparticles was evaluated against all resistant strains by microbroth dilution method. Therefore, the expression of tetA gene was measured in treated with iron oxide nanoparticles and untreated resistant S. aureus strain by Real time PCR. Our results indicated 25 (41.66%) strains resistant to Tetracycline. The prevalence of tetA, tetB, tetC and tetD genes were 5 (8.33%), 2 (2.33%), 20 (33.33%) and 10 (10.67%), respectively. The expression of tetA genes in resistant S. aureus strains treated with Iron oxide nanoparticles was lower than the untreated isolates. Iron oxide nanoparticles have strong antibacterial activity against resistant to Tetracycline S. aureus strains. In addition to, these nanoparticles reduce the expression of antibiotic resistance gene.
Regional Acceleratory Phenomenon after Orthodontic Force Exertion in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: TSOLAKIS A. I. , KHALDI L. , BITSANIS I. , DONTAS I. A.
Published: August 2018

The application of orthodontic forces may be one of the factors that produce a regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP) in mandibular and maxillary bones. The effect of exerted forces on bone tissue ahead of their point of application has not been extensively studied. Moreover, limited information exists regarding this phenomenon on osteoporotic bone. The study aim was to examine the role of orthodontic forces on the expression of RAP in normal and osteoporotic mature rats. Thirty-six eight-month-old skeletally mature female Wistar rats, half of which had been previously ovariectomized (OVX) at the age of 6 months, were subjected to orthodontic movement of the upper right first molar. An orthodontic force of 60 gr* was generated through a closed coil spring for 14 days. The maxillae were then removed and the area ahead of the first molar was examined histologically. On the side of orthodontic force application, distortion of bone structure and woven bone formation were observed in non-OVX rats, whereas in the OVX rats, extensive remodeling was apparent. In conclusion, the application of orthodontic forces on both normal and osteoporotic mature rats in the present study created a RAP ahead of the loaded teeth demonstrated histologically, indicating increased bone resorption and formation in the OVX rats.
Learning Global Leadership via Liberation Projects: An Interdisciplinary Application
Authors: Nguyen Shelbee
Published: August 2018

Global leadership programs framed within singular cultural contexts do not promote authentic leadership. Unilateral methods may exclude individual multicultural experiences or identities, and further, encourage a one-size fits all approach to leadership. An interdisciplinary global leadership course aims to promote authentic unlearning and inclusive leadership education via learning for liberation projects which address a global social justice issue. Student groups direct their own journey and inspire unlearning by interacting with others who are culturally and ideologically different. The project is supplemented by research, frequent reflexivity and intercultural dialogue in order to transform students into authentic and empowered culturally relevant leaders.
Making Space for Wellbeing: Using Guided Meditation in Leadership Education
Authors: Gifford Gregory T. , McKeage Robert L. , Biberman Jerry
Published: August 2018

Leaders often find themselves encumbered by many challenges. Because of these hurdles, leaders may lose sight of their holistic wellbeing. Wellbeing is a combination of the quality and cumulative effects of work, life, health, relationships, and community. Leaders with higher levels of wellbeing are likely to be more effective, productive, and foster quality relationships with followers. This practice paper details a guided meditation methodology that creates a safe space for leaders to remove mental distractions, reflect on their current state of wellbeing, and develop increased levels of self-awareness. Results to date indicate learners have responded positively to the guided meditation process and have sustained the practice of introspection. Recommendations and implications are discussed.
Namaste: How Yoga Can Inform Leadership Education
Authors: Olsen Dr. Paul E.
Published: August 2018

My study and practice of yoga have impacted my understanding of leadership and changed how I teach it. After providing an overview of the history of yoga, this paper discusses how yoga has informed and influenced my teaching of leadership. The concepts of knowing oneself, Kula, being present, and ethics are central to both yoga and leadership education. The paper also describes the health benefits of practicing yoga for leaders
The Doctoral Student Leadership Institute: Learning to Lead for the Future
Authors: Terry Helen , Liller Karen D.
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this article is to describe the Doctoral Student Leadership Institute, an initiative developed to hone the leadership skills of doctoral students from a wide range of disciplines. The components of the Institute and preliminary assessment measures with findings are discussed. We particularly were pleased with the outcomes of the Fellows through examination of their leadership assessments (especially the portfolios), the evaluation of the leadership course, and their success with the community service project. We hope this article will inspire other institutions to be forward-thinking in how they can best meet the leadership needs of their current and future graduate students.
The Role of Civic Engagement in Undergraduate Leadership Courses
Authors: Johnson Matthew , Woodard Justin
Published: August 2018

Undergraduate leadership courses are becoming increasingly important venues to promote civic engagement. Despite their prominence, the nature of civic engagement in leadership courses has not been examined systematically. This study examined 77 introductory undergraduate leadership courses and the role of civic engagement in these courses. Results indicate that civic engagement components are not widely utilized, and when they are part of the curricula, their implementation and design vary. Recommendations for improving undergraduate leadership curricula are offered.
The effects of an introductory leadership course on socially responsible leadership, examined by age and gender
Authors: Buschlen Eric , Johnson Matthew
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of age and gender on student leadership capacity during a 16-week, for-credit academic leadership course at a regional mid-western university. The course promoted the tenets of the Social Change Model of Leadership (SCM) through theoretical and application-based projects. Participants completed the Socially Responsible Leadership Scale (SRLS) as a pre/post test. The findings suggest age does not mediate students’ capacities for socially responsible leadership, but gender does for the SCM domains of collaboration and citizenship.
Factors Effecting Undergraduate Leadership Behaviors
Authors: Gallagher Margie Lee , Marshall Jeffrey C. , Pories Mary Lisa , Daughety Morgan
Published: August 2018

Leadership behaviors of undergraduates (n=1103) were examined using the Student Leadership Practice Inventory (SLPI). The practice of leadership behaviors increased significantly from freshman to juniors and from juniors to seniors. However, each class was significantly less likely to practice the Challenge the Process behavior and significantly more likely to practice the Enable Others to Act behavior. Experience with different types of leadership roles were related to higher SLPI practice scores. Age, race, transfer status and taking a freshman experience seminar did not influence SLPI scores or the number of different types of leadership roles. Unexpectedly, women had significantly higher SLPI scores than men at each class level.
A Look at What Influences the Leadership of Agricultural and Extension Education Department Heads
Authors: Ingerson Kati , Bruce Jackie , Jayaratne Jay , Kistler Mark
Published: August 2018

Through the study of leadership, the concept of leadership effectiveness and its importance has emerged. Effective leadership contributes to successful organizations (Amagoh, 2009; Leithwood, Jantzi, & Steinbach, 1999). According to Gordon & Yukl (2004), because of constantly changing environments, it is important to continue research in the leadership and leadership effectiveness fields, especially when it comes to leadership in academia. Using Seiler and Pfister’s (2009) Dynamic Five-Factor Model of Leadership as the theoretical frame, a qualitative study of leadership effectiveness influencers of Agricultural and Extension Education department heads was completed. The research looked at both internal and external influential factors.
The Leader as Chief Strategist
Authors: Marx Thomas G.
Published: August 2018

Modern academic links between leadership and strategy were forged in the early 1960s with the heightened application of strategy to business planning. These links were soon dissolved by the strategy consultants who came to dominate the field of business strategy in the mid-1960s. The consultants dismissed the role of leadership in strategic planning in favor of objective analyses of the external environment that eliminated any need for leadership skills, judgment, values, or intuition. Failures to implement strategy in the 1980s led to limited roles for leaders in implementing strategies they had no role in creating, but the gulf between leadership and strategy has steadily widened.

This paper traces the consequences of this widening gulf for teaching leadership and strategy in the classroom. It explores how an integrated approach to teaching leadership and strategy would better prepare today’s students for the challenges they will face as future business leaders.
Forces for Positive Change: Preparing Leaders for the 21st Century in an Undergraduate Honors Program
Authors: Polk Denise M.
Published: August 2018

Leadership education is offered in myriad ways at many institutions of higher education (Borgese, Deutsch, & Winkler, 2004). This article highlights the West Chester University Honors College (WCUHC), a highly selective, four-year program for undergraduate students. The WCUHC instituted a liberal education, interdisciplinary approach to leadership development that emphasizes the application of leadership through scholarship and service. WCUHC envisions that leadership involves a shared responsibility for creating a better world in which to live and work which manifests in a passion to engage others in bringing about purposeful change. One major challenge was designing a program that meets WCUHC goals while still working within the constraints of the larger state university system (14 schools total). The following article outlines a program that meets all of these important goals: leadership development using liberal education while working within larger institutional goals, an interdisciplinary perspective to leadership development, and the meaningful application of leadership skills in the classroom and in the community through scholarship and service.
Leadership: The Teacher's Imperative
Authors: Stein Les
Published: August 2018

There has been a great deal of discussion in recent years focusing on the need for teachers to have leadership responsibilities and to participate in the decision-making processes within their respective schools. Unfortunately, these discussions are often filled with suggestions and recommendations that completely miss the point about teacher leadership. Leadership for teachers has little to do with titles and responsibilities, yet it has everything to do with their performance in the classroom. A true teacher leader is one who can create a classroom environment that fosters high achievement among the students. Teachers that can influence and gain the respect of their students are in essence bona fide leaders.
Leadership That Settled the Frontier
Authors: Boyd Barry L.
Published: August 2018

This idea brief explores the leadership lessons displayed by the characters of Louis L’Amour’s western novels. Western fiction can be a powerful tool to engage students and demonstrate many leadership theories and models. This brief examines how L’Amour’s characters can be used to illustrate Kouzes and Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders. The author will demonstrate how western literature, specifically L’Amour’s novels, can be a tool to help students see leadership in a new light.
Key Events in Student Leaders’ Lives and Lessons Learned from Them
Authors: Sessa Valerie I. , Morgan Brett V. , Selin Kalenderli , Hammond Fanny E.
Published: August 2018

This descriptive study used an interview protocol developed by the Center for Creative Leadership with 50 college student leaders to determine what key developmental events young college leaders experience and the leadership lessons learned from these events. Students discussed 180 events and 734 lessons learned from them. Most events defined by students were challenging assignments, although events dealing with other people, coursework, and formal leadership programs were also mentioned. Top lessons included communication, self-identity, leadership identity, and developing leadership task and management skills. While many lessons could be learned in a variety of different ways, a number of challenging assignments stood out as important for learning certain lessons. Findings suggest that faculty and administrators involved with student leaders can help the students take a proactive approach to developing themselves as leaders by targeting important events and important lessons to learn.