bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Larval and adult nutrition effects on reproductive traits in the red flour beetle
Authors: Plesnar‐Bielak A. , Woch K. R. , Małszycki M. A. , Alkhawlany A. T. H. , Hołysz A. , Assis Correia J. F. , Turk N. , Ugrin M. , Kramarz P. , Prokop Z. M.
Published: February 2017

Variation in individual condition is probably one of the most critical factors affecting the high levels of diversity in animal fitness components, commonly observed in natural populations. Differential access to nutritional resources, in turn, is among the most important determinants of condition. However, our understanding of how resource access at different stages of life cycle shapes animal traits is still far from comprehensive. Here, we analyzed how larval and adult diet affects key reproductive components of males (mating activity) and females (fecundity) in red flour beetles Tribolium castaneum. Furthermore, we used path analysis to investigate whether the effects of nutritional conditions are mediated by body mass. In males, we found that juvenile, but not adult diet affected mating performance, with males developing on rich diet as larvae achieving higher mating success. In females, on the other hand, these effects interacted: malnutrition at larval stage led to fecundity decline, which was partially alleviated if dietary conditions were improved at the adult stage. Interestingly, the effects of diet on reproductive traits were mostly independent of body mass. These results suggest that larval nutrition may influence reproduction via effects on composition, rather than size, of the adult body.
Erroneous Magnet Positioning Leads to Failure of Inhibition of Inappropriate Shock during Fast Conducting Atrial Fibrillation Episodes
Authors: RÖMERS HANS , VAN DIJK VINCENT , BALT JIPPE
Published: February 2017

We present the case of a 75‐year‐old patient with a single‐chamber St. Jude Medical internal cardioverter defibrillator (ICD; St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) for primary prevention, who was admitted with 39 inappropriate ICD shocks because of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular frequention, despite magnet placement. Review of the device manual and literature revealed that apart from different responses to magnet placement programmed for the various manufacturers, the type of magnet and the positioning can be of specific interest. In the case presented, the donut‐shaped magnet should have been placed off‐center instead of directly over the device.
A systematic review of adolescents’ sense of coherence and health
Authors: Länsimies Helena , Pietilä Anna‐Maija , Hietasola‐Husu Soili , Kangasniemi Mari
Published: February 2017

The aim of this systematic review was to describe the association between adolescent sense of coherence (SOC) and health and identify the future direction for research in this area. Systematic searches were conducted (2007–2014) in the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane electronic databases and carried out manual searches in three scientific journals. A total of 827 original papers were found and 23 were selected. Based on the results, adolescents’ sense of coherence (SOC) was related to health in terms of the adolescents’ quality of life, health behaviour, mental health and family relationships by using 31 different health‐related instruments. In conclusion, the use of the SOC approach for adolescents can provide a useful view of their health during this transition phase to adulthood. Due to the large variation in the additional instruments used, combining and comparing the results proved challenging. More comparative and longitudinal research is needed to increase understanding of adolescents’ health in relation to SOC and develop services that support both elements.
The Political Economy of Hydropower in the Communist Space: Iron Gates Revisited
Authors: Creţan Remus , Vesalon Lucian
Published: February 2017

This paper proposes a critical discussion of the political economy of hydropower construction in the communist space. We use political economy, economic history and political ecology literature in order to reveal the economic and political relations in which hydropower is embedded in socialist states. The case analysed is the Iron Gates, a joint Romanian‐Yugoslav project which raises specific questions about the techno‐political framework of the new ‘hydraulic landscape’ and its place in socialist economies and societies. The case reveals important transformations in the political and economic relations within the Soviet bloc and provides a description of the complex institutional setting used in the construction of the hydropower system. In parallel, the paper explores the contribution of political power in the construction of the Iron Gates and especially its use in connection with the ideological production of the new communist regime.
ER‐to‐Golgi blockade of nascent desmosomal cadherins in SERCA2‐inhibited keratinocytes: Implications for Darier's disease
Authors: Li Ning , Park Moonhee , Xiao Shengxiang , Liu Zhi , Diaz Luis A.
Published: February 2017

Darier's disease (DD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited skin disorder caused by mutations in sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase 2 (SERCA2), a Ca2+ pump that transports Ca2+ from the cytosol to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Loss of desmosomes and keratinocyte cohesion is a characteristic feature of DD. Desmosomal cadherins (DC) are Ca2+‐dependent transmembrane adhesion proteins of desmosomes, which are mislocalized in the lesional but not perilesional skin of DD. We show here that inhibition of SERCA2 by 2 distinct inhibitors results in accumulation of DC precursors in keratinocytes, indicating ER‐to‐Golgi transport of nascent DC is blocked. Partial loss of SERCA2 by siRNA has no such effect, implicating that haploinsufficiency is not sufficient to affect nascent DC maturation. However, a synergistic effect is revealed between SERCA2 siRNA and an ineffective dose of SERCA2 inhibitor, and between an agonist of the ER Ca2+ release channel and SERCA2 inhibitor. These results suggest that reduction of ER Ca2+ below a critical level causes ER retention of nascent DC. Moreover, colocalization of DC with ER calnexin is detected in SERCA2‐inhibited keratinocytes and DD epidermis. Collectively, our data demonstrate that loss of SERCA2 impairs ER‐to‐Golgi transport of nascent DC, which may contribute to DD pathogenesis.
Acute phase proteins response in cats naturally infected with Hepatozoon felis and Babesia vogeli
Authors: Vilhena Hugo , Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Cerón José J , Vieira Lisete , Pastor Josep , Silvestre‐Ferreira Ana C
Published: February 2017

Background

The measurement of acute phase proteins (APP) is being increasingly used in human and veterinary medicine in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment monitoring, and in general health screening. However, information about the APP response in cats infected with agents of vector‐borne diseases is lacking.

Objectives

The purpose of the study was to investigate the concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and paraoxonase‐1 (PON1) in cats naturally infected with Hepatozoon felis and Babesia vogeli.

Methods

Serum concentrations of SAA, Hp, and PON1 were determined in 19 cats naturally infected with H felis and in 11 cats naturally infected with B vogeli, and compared to concentrations in 10 healthy control cats.

Results

Serum Hp concentrations were significantly increased, and PON1 concentrations significantly decreased in symptomatic and asymptomatic cats infected with H felis and B vogeli when compared with healthy noninfected cats. In the H felis‐infected population, concentrations of SAA and Hp were significantly increased in symptomatic cats when compared with asymptomatic animals.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated differences in APP concentrations in cats infected with H felis and B vogeli. Therefore, Hp and PON1 concentrations could be helpful in discriminating healthy cats from cats with asymptomatic or symptomatic infection by these agents.
Enhancement of Free Vortex Filament Method for Aerodynamic Loads on Rotor Blades
Authors: Abedi Hamidreza , Davidson Lars , Voutsinas Spyros
Published: February 2017

The aerodynamics of a wind turbine is governed by the flow around the rotor, where the prediction of air loads on rotor blades in different operational conditions and its relation to rotor structural dynamics is one of the most important challenges in wind turbine rotor blade design. Because of the unsteady flow field around wind turbine blades, prediction of aerodynamic loads with high level of accuracy is difficult and increases the uncertainty of load calculations. An in-house vortex lattice free wake (VLFW) code, based on the inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational flow (potential flow), was developed to study the aerodynamic loads. Since it is based on the potential flow, it cannot be used to predict viscous phenomena such as drag and boundary layer separation. Therefore, it must be coupled to tabulated airfoil data to take the viscosity effects into account. Additionally, a dynamic approach must be introduced to modify the aerodynamic coefficients for unsteady operating conditions. This approach, which is called dynamic stall, adjusts the lift, the drag, and the moment coefficients for each blade element on the basis of the two-dimensional (2D) static airfoil data together with the correction for separated flow. Two different turbines, NREL and MEXICO, are used in the simulations. Predicted normal and tangential forces using the VLFW method are compared with the blade element momentum (BEM) method, the GENUVP code, and the MEXICO wind tunnel measurements. The results show that coupling to the 2D static airfoil data improves the load and power predictions while employing the dynamic stall model to take the time-varying operating conditions into consideration is crucial.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Four
Corynebacterium
CDC Group F-1 Strains Isolated from Urine
Authors: Bernier Anne-Marie , Peters Geoffrey A. , Bernard Kathryn
Published: February 2017

Three draft and one complete genome sequence from strains isolated from urine and consistent with
Corynebacterium
CDC group F-1 were assembled and studied. Genome sizes ranged between 2.3 and 2.44 Mb, with G+C content between 60.4% and 60.7%.
Draft Genome Sequence of Campylobacter jejuni 11168H
Authors: Macdonald Sarah E. , Gundogdu Ozan , Dorrell Nick , Wren Brendan W. , Blake Damer , Stabler Richard
Published: February 2017

Campylobacter jejuni
is the most prevalent cause of food-borne gastroenteritis in the developed world. The reference and original sequenced strain
C. jejuni
NCTC11168 has low levels of motility compared to clinical isolates. Here, we describe the draft genome of the laboratory derived hypermotile variant named 11168H.
A Flipped Voltage Follower Second-Order Bandpass Filter
Authors: Thanapitak Surachoke , Pawarangkoon Prajuab , Sawigun Chutham
Published: February 2017

This paper presents a compact second-order bandpass filter developed by combining the well-known flipped voltage follower circuit as a transconductance network with two capacitors. Operated in the subthreshold region, the filter’s center frequency can be adjusted linearly by varying the bias current. Post-layout simulation using a 0.35-[Formula: see text]m CMOS process confirms the suitability of the proposed filter in low-voltage, low-power environment.
Spatio-Temporal parsing in spatial hypermedia
Authors: Schedel Thomas
Published: February 2017

Since 2011 Thomas Schedel has been working as a research assistant at the Institute of Information Systems (iisys) at Hof University. In 2016 he successfully finished the Ph.D. program "Computer Science and Engineering" (CSE) at Aalborg University in Denmark.

In his thesis - supervised by Henrik Legind Larsen (Aalborg University) and Claus Atzenbeck (Institute of Information Systems, Hof University) - he claims that considering temporal aspects in addition to spatial and visual properties in spatial parser design will lead to significant increase in parsing accuracy, detection of richer structures and thus higher parser performance. For the purpose of providing evidence, parsers for recognizing spatial, visual and temporal object relations have been implemented and tested in a series of user surveys. It turned out, that in none of the test cases pure spatial or visual parser could outperform the spatio-temporal parser. Instead, the spatio-temporal parser was able to compensate limitations of conventional parsers. Furthermore, differences in parsing accuracy were successfully tested for statistical significance. The results indicate a non-trivial effect that is recognizable by humans. We have shown that the addition of a temporal parser shifts machine detected structures significantly closer to what knowledge workers intend to express.

Due to its significant contributions to the research area of spatial hypermedia the thesis has been awarded with the Informatikpreis 2016 (given by the German Fachbereichstag Informatik, FBTI).
Wikipedia: a complex social machine by Ramine Tinati and Markus Luczak-Roesch with Martin Vesely as coordinator
Authors: Tinati Ramine , Luczak-Roesch Markus
Published: February 2017

Wikipedia represents a successful peer-produced knowledge-resource constructed via the endeav- ours of millions of volunteers. We examine the activity of Wikipedia by analysing WikiProjects, an community-driven feature which allows communities of Wikipedians to coordinate their efforts in order to improve or produce Wikipedia articles. We harvested the content of over 600 active Wikipedia projects, which comprised of over 100 million edits and 15 million Talk entries, associ- ated with over 1:5 million Wikipedia articles and Talk pages produced by 14 million unique users. Our analysis reveals findings related to the overall positive activity and growth of Wikipedia, as well as the connected community of Wikipedians within and between specific WikiProjects. We argue that the complexity of Wikipedia requires metrics which re ect the many aspects of the Wikipedia social machine, and by doing so, will offer insights into it's state of health.
Upcoming SIGWEB supported conferences
Authors: Samuel Hamman
Published: February 2017

The Special Interest Group on Hypertext and the Web, SIGWEB was created in 1989 to support the community participating in the annual ACM Hypertext Conference. Now in its third decade, SIGWEB has grown considerably and now sponsors seven annual conferences of different size and covering a wide range of topics. SIGWEB supports several specialized conferences, short courses, and workshops, as well as the Annual Hypertext Conference. SIGWEB sponsored conferences focus on timely topics in applied and computational hypertext and Web disciplines and provide a place for members and the entire applied Hypermedia and Web community to exchange ideas and to meet with and expand their network of colleagues. In this article, we provide a brief overview of SIGWEB sponsored conferences, in addition to events that are in cooperation with SEGWEB. overview of SIGWEB sponsored conferences, in addition to events that are in cooperation with SIGWEB.
Exertional dyspnea associated with chest wall strapping is reduced when external dead space substitutes for part of the exercise stimulus to ventilation
Authors: Garske Luke A. , Lal Ravin , Stewart Ian B. , Morris Norman R. , Cross Troy J. , Adams Lewis
Published: February 2017

Chest wall strapping has been used to assess mechanisms of dyspnea with restrictive lung disease. This study examined the hypothesis that dyspnea with restriction depends principally on the degree of reflex ventilatory stimulation. We compared dyspnea at the same (iso)ventilation when added dead space provided a component of the ventilatory stimulus during exercise. Eleven healthy men undertook a randomized controlled crossover trial that compared four constant work exercise conditions: 1) control (CTRL): unrestricted breathing at 90% gas exchange threshold (GET); 2) CTRL+dead space (DS): unrestricted breathing with 0.6-l dead space, at isoventilation to CTRL due to reduced exercise intensity; 3) CWS: chest wall strapping at 90% GET; and 4) CWS+DS: chest strapping with 0.6-l dead space, at isoventilation to CWS with reduced exercise intensity. Chest strapping reduced forced vital capacity by 30.4 ± 2.2% (mean ± SE). Dyspnea at isoventilation was unchanged with CTRL+DS compared with CTRL (1.93 ± 0.49 and 2.17 ± 0.43, 0–10 numeric rating scale, respectively; P = 0.244). Dyspnea was lower with CWS+DS compared with CWS (3.40 ± 0.52 and 4.51 ± 0.53, respectively; P = 0.003). Perceived leg fatigue was reduced with CTRL+DS compared with CTRL (2.36 ± 0.48 and 2.86 ± 0.59, respectively; P = 0.049) and lower with CWS+DS compared with CWS (1.86 ± 0.30 and 4.00 ± 0.79, respectively; P = 0.006). With unrestricted breathing, dead space did not change dyspnea at isoventilation, suggesting that dyspnea does not depend on the mode of reflex ventilatory stimulation in healthy individuals. With chest strapping, dead space presented a less potent stimulus to dyspnea, raising the possibility that leg muscle work contributes to dyspnea perception independent of the ventilatory stimulus.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Chest wall strapping was applied to healthy humans to simulate restrictive lung disease. With chest wall strapping, dyspnea was reduced when dead space substituted for part of a constant exercise stimulus to ventilation. Dyspnea associated with chest wall strapping depended on the contribution of leg muscle work to ventilatory stimulation. Chest wall strapping might not be a clinically relevant model to determine whether an alternative reflex ventilatory stimulus mimics the intensity of exertional dyspnea.
Measurement of the maximum oxygen uptake V̇o2max: V̇o2peak is no longer acceptable
Authors: Poole David C. , Jones Andrew M.
Published: February 2017

The maximum rate of O2 uptake (i.e., V̇o2max), as measured during large muscle mass exercise such as cycling or running, is widely considered to be the gold standard measurement of integrated cardiopulmonary-muscle oxidative function. The development of rapid-response gas analyzers, enabling measurement of breath-by-breath pulmonary gas exchange, has facilitated replacement of the discontinuous progressive maximal exercise test (that produced an unambiguous V̇o2-work rate plateau definitive for V̇o2max) with the rapidly incremented or ramp testing protocol. Although this is more suitable for clinical and experimental investigations and enables measurement of the gas exchange threshold, exercise efficiency, and V̇o2 kinetics, a V̇o2-work rate plateau is not an obligatory outcome. This shortcoming has led to investigators resorting to so-called secondary criteria such as respiratory exchange ratio, maximal heart rate, and/or maximal blood lactate concentration, the acceptable values of which may be selected arbitrarily and result in grossly inaccurate V̇o2max estimation. Whereas this may not be an overriding concern in young, healthy subjects with experience of performing exercise to volitional exhaustion, exercise test naïve subjects, patient populations, and less motivated subjects may stop exercising before their V̇o2max is reached. When V̇o2max is a or the criterion outcome of the investigation, this represents a major experimental design issue. This CORP presents the rationale for incorporation of a second, constant work rate test performed at ~110% of the work rate achieved on the initial ramp test to resolve the classic V̇o2-work rate plateau that is the unambiguous validation of V̇o2max. The broad utility of this procedure has been established for children, adults of varying fitness, obese individuals, and patient populations.
A Short Review on the Valorisation of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash in the Manufacture of Stabilized/Sintered Earth Blocks and Tiles
Authors: James Jijo , Pandian P. Kasinatha
Published: February 2017

Valorisation of solid wastes in the manufacture of soil based building materials is one of the several technically feasible and cost-effective solutions for waste management. Sugarcane bagasse ash is one such solid waste generated in huge quantities in India, a leading sugar producer. This paper aims at reviewing the valorisation of sugarcane bagasse ash in the manufacture of stabilized as well as sintered earth blocks. Sugarcane bagasse ash is a silica rich material that can play the role of an effective pozzolan leading to enhanced pozzolanic reactions resulting in better performing building materials. The reviewed literature reveals that it has been utilized in the manufacture of blocks as well as tiles in the form of an auxiliary additive as well as a primary stabilizer. However, its utilization in stabilized blocks has been more common compared to sintered blocks due to higher energy consumption in the latter. To summarize, sugarcane bagasse ash not only has improved performance in most of the cases but also has reduced the cost of the material, leading to the conclusion that its valorisation in manufacture of blocks and tiles is a genuine and highly productive solution for waste management as well as cost economy.
Strategies to Overcome Bypass Mechanisms Mediating Clinical Resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition in Lung Cancer
Authors: Husain Hatim , Scur Michael , Murtuza Ayesha , Bui Nam , Woodward Brian , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: February 2017

The vast majority of patients with metastatic lung cancers who initially benefit from EGFR-targeted therapies eventually develop resistance. An increasing understanding of the number and complexity of resistance mechanisms highlights the challenge of treating tumors resistant to EGFR inhibitors. Resistance mechanisms include new, second-site mutations within EGFR (e.g., T790M and C797S), upregulation of MET kinase, upregulation of insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR), HER2 amplification, increased expression of AXL, BIM modulation, NF-κB activation, histologic switch to small-cell cancer, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, PDL1 expression with subsequent immune tolerance, and release of cytokines such as TGFβ and IL6. Herein, we review the growing body of knowledge regarding EGFR bypass pathways, and the development of new drugs and combination treatment strategies to overcome resistance. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(2); 265–72. ©2017 AACR.
Less Than Ideal Cardiovascular Health Is Associated With Shorter Leukocyte Telomere Length: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999–2002
Authors: Gebreab Samson Y. , Manna Zerai G. , Khan Rumana J. , Riestra Pia , Xu Ruihua , Davis Sharon K.
Published: February 2017

Background

The associations between individual cardiovascular disease risk factors and leukocyte telomere length (
LTL
) have been inconclusive. We investigated the association between
LTL
and overall cardiovascular health (
CVH
) as defined by the American Heart Association and whether the association is modified by sex and race/ethnicity.

Methods and Results

We included 5194 adults (aged ≥20) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2002.
CVH
was defined as a composite score of the 7 metrics (smoking, physical activity, diet, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose) and categorized as “poor,” “intermediate,” and “ideal.”
LTL
was assayed from whole blood using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method relative to standard reference
DNA
. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between
CVH
and log‐transformed
LTL
. We found strong graded association between
CVH
and
LTL
in the overall sample, with evidence of dose‐response relationship (
P
for trend=0.013). Individuals with poor and intermediate
CVH
had significantly shorter
LTL
than individuals with ideal
CVH
(−3.4% [95%
CI
=−6.0%, −0.8%] and −2.4% [−4.4%, −0.3%], respectively), after adjustment for demographic variables, socioeconomic status, and C‐reactive protein. The association was stronger in women (−6.6% [−10.2%, −2.9%] for poor vs ideal
CVH
) and non‐Hispanic whites (−4.3% [−7.1%, −1.4%] for poor vs ideal
CVH
).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that less‐than‐ideal
CVH
is associated with shorter
LTL
, but this association varies by sex and race/ethnicity. Future longitudinal research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie the association between
CVH
and
LTL
.
Cyanidium from caves: a reinstatement of Cyanidium chilense Schwabe (Cyanidiophytina, Rhodophyta)
Authors: CINIGLIA CLAUDIA , PINTO GABRIELE , POLLIO ANTONINO
Published: February 2017

The nomenclatural history of the genus Cyanidium (Tilden) Geitler is long and complex, due to uncertainties regarding its taxonomic position. In the course of the last two centuries, Cyanidium has been assigned to Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, and finally to Rhodophyta (Ott & Sechback 1994, Albertano et al. 2000). On the basis of morphological, ultrastructural and reproductive characters, Merola et al. (1981) instituted two new genera, Galdieria and Cyanidioschyzon, strictly related to Cyanidium, and assigned all three genera to the new class Cyanidiophyceae. Later, in the treatment proposed by Ott & Sechback (1994), all species belonging to Galdieria or Cyanidioschyzon were transferred to Cyanidium.  In the most recent taxonomic proposal by Yoon et al. (2014), the tripartite generic architecture has been confirmed, even though a different taxonomic hierarchy was applied at the higher ranks.
Concept of Auditor Activity Development in Russia
Authors: Лосева  , Loseva N.
Published: February 2017

The article discusses the concept of the need for further development of audit activities in Russia, the main directions and problems of auditing activities, identify trends and quantitative parameters of development.
Sorption Analysis of 137Cs On Karawang’s Clay Samples
Authors: Setiawan Budi , Prihastuti Suci , Moersidik Setyo S.
Published: February 2017

The objective of this work is to characterize the specific of distribution coefficient (Kd) values of 137Cs onto Karawang’s clay for radioactive waste disposal facility purpose. Sorption phenomena was affected by contact time, ionic strength and loaded concentration of CsCl.  Experiments were done in a batch method, with initial concentration was 10-8 M CsCl in the experiments of contact time and ionic strength effects. In the CsCl loading experiment, the concentration was varied from 10-8 to 10-4 M CsCl and 137Cs radioactive solution was used as a tracer. The solid-liquid ratio is 10-2 g/mL.  The results shown that obtained Kd values were 21,714 and 4035 mL/g after contacted for 8 days for Sample-1 and 2, respectively. The presence of K+ and Na+ ions in solution had reduced the Kd value Cs-137 where the effect of K+ is greater than Na+ on decreased the value of Kd.  The increasing of CsCl concentrations in solution had reduced the value of Kd.  In both samples of clay were closely fit to Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model.  The results are very useful as the input of the safety assessment activity of site candidate for radioactive waste disposal facility in the future.
Pertumbuhan Chlorella sp. pada beberapa konsentrasi limbah batubara (The growth rate of the Chlorella sp. at different concentrations of coal waste water)
Authors: Selvika Zerli , Kusuma Aradea Bujana , Herliany N. Ervina , Negara Bertoka F.S.P
Published: February 2017

Chlorella sp. is a single-celled microalga that mostly grows in marine waters. Chlorella sp. can grow in heavy polluted waters and therefore it has potency as a bioremediation agent. This study aimed was to analyze the effect of coal on the growth of Chlorella sp. in plant isolation media and the quality of water in plant isolation media for Chlorella sp. The complete randomized design with 4 treatments of coal concentration was used in this study. Four concentration concentrations were tested namely, 0 ppt, 1 ppt, 3 ppt and 5 ppt. The results revealed that coal with different concentrations gave no significant effect on the growth of Chlorella sp. (p 0.05). The density among the concentrations of 0 ppt, 1 ppt, 3 ppt and 5 ppt were not significantly different. In addition, the coal concentration gave no significant effect on temperature, salinity and potential hydrogen (pH) (p0.05). The Chlorella sp. can grow in the polluted water by coal, and therefore this alga can be used as potential organisms for bioremediation of coal waste.Chlorella sp. merupakan mikroalga bersel satu yang banyak tumbuh di perairan laut. Chlorella sp. dapat tumbuh di perairan yang tercemar berat sehingga berpotensi sebagai bioremediator. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh konsentrasi batubara terhadap pertumbuhan Chlorella sp. dan kualitas air pada media kultur Chlorella sp. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode eksperimen skala laboratorium. Rancangan percobaan yang digunakan adalah rancangan acak lengkap dengan 4 perlakuan konsentrasi batubara 0 ppt, 1 ppt, 3 ppt dan 5 ppt. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa batubara dengan konsentrasi yang berbeda tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap laju pertumbuhan Chlorella sp (P0,05). Kepadatan antara konsentrasi 0 ppt, 1 ppt, 3 ppt dan 5 ppt tidak terlalu jauh berbeda. Konsentrasi batubara juga tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap parameter suhu, salinitas dan derajat keasaman (pH) (p0,05). Chlorella sp. dapat tumbuh pada lingkungan yang tercemar oleh batubara, sehingga dapat dipakai sebagai organisme yang berpotensi untuk bioremediasi batubara.
Considering postmodern cultural disconnects and cultural paradigms in Chinese dance creation through the lens of ArtsCross/Danscross
Authors: Rui Xu
Published: February 2017

ArtsCross/Danscross created a visual juxtaposition of dance forms on a shared stage. The project not only reflected the cultural disconnects between Chinese and western dance creation, but also brought to light the hybridization of cultural states which were present within the project. Since we lack an awareness of the roots of western society and culture, the understanding of western modern dance that we have developed remains relatively general and one-sided. While we have sought wholeheartedly to apply modern dance choreography approaches to the creation of Chinese dance, we have not paid attention to, or sought to understand the emergence and spread of western postmodern artistic values, and this is the primary source of the cultural disconnects that were witnessed within the ArtsCross/Danscross project. In recent Chinese history, a hybridized cultural paradigm has evolved, characterized by imitation of the external/foreign and feelings of conflict towards the internal/self. In China’s dance field, the concepts of ‘modern’, ‘contemporary’, and ‘postmodern’ overlap and are difficult to distinguish. In reality, both ‘modern dance’ and ‘contemporary dance’ contain Chinese and western cultural elements, and constitute modern-contemporary ‘cultural hybrids’ of Chinese dance. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish a cultural attitude that witnesses cultural disconnects without misgivings, and which confidently faces up to the present. Postmodernism implies a questioning of, and a resistance towards the uniform ordering and standardization of the world. To some degree, it also represents a reformation of global diversity. Moreover, it creates a space for the development and survival of Chinese dance against the context of this process of reformation of diversity.
Putting Minzu into perspective: Dance and its relation to the concept of ‘Nation’
Authors: Ya-Ping Chen
Published: February 2017

The term ‘minzu’ was raised and discussed on several occasions in relation to its meaning in the Chinese language and how it could or could not be translated into English to sufficiently convey the complexity of its connotations. Chinese scholar Jiang Dong presented a paper tracing the term’s usage among the dance practitioners and academics in China since the 1950s. This article is a response to Jiang’s paper from a Taiwanese perspective. It looks at the Minzu Wudao Movement in post-1949 Taiwan historically, tracing its ideological heritage to the nation salvation movements in the early twentieth-century China and contextualizing its body-reformation concept within the nationalist indoctrination policy of the Kuomintang government. In addition to examining the representation of ‘minzu’ (nation) in the Minzu Wudao Movement, the article also discusses the shifting content of minzu qinggan (national sentiment) in the 1970s and the disappearance of the term ‘minzu’ in social media and cultural discourses in today’s Taiwan. It is still widely used in China, however, and a number of choreographers in the ArtsCross/Danscross project, as noted in the Introduction, were specialists in minzu dance and worked from a minzu dance vocabulary.
Math anxiety in the science classroom
Authors: Carter Carolyn , Erna Yackel
Published: February 2017

This article discusses mathematics anxiety in a science classroom and offers suggestions and insights for best-practice teaching and learning.
Penyisihan Limbah Organik Air Lindi TPA Jatibarang Menggunakan Koagulasi-Flokulasi Kimia
Authors: Rezagama Arya , Hadiwidodo Mochtar , Purwono Purwono , Ramadhani Nurul Fajri , Yustika Mia
Published: February 2017

Air lindi yang meresap ke dalam tanah yang berpotensi bercampur dengan air tanah sehingga menimbulkan pencemaran tanah, air tanah dan air permukaan. Komposisi limbah lindi dari berbagai TPA berbeda-beda bergantung pada musim, jenis limbah, umur TPA. Proses dalam TPA menghasilkan molekul organik recalcitrant yang ditunjukkan dengan rendahnya rasio BOD/COD dan tingginya nilai NH3-N. Belum optimalnya pengolahan air lindi di Jatibarang membutuhkan pretreatment sebagai bentuk upaya alternatif dalam proses pengolahan air lindi sebelum masuk ke dalam proses aerated lagun. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa pengaruh koagulan kimia pada penyisihan bahan organik air lindi TPA Jatibarang. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan April- Agustus 2016. Karaktersitik air lindi TPA Jatibarang termasuk dalam kategori "moderately stable" dan lindi muda. Penyisihan bahan organik dengan menggunakan kuagulan kimia FeCl3 dan Al2SO4 menunjukkan nilai yang cukup signifikan untuk parameter COD, BOD, TSS. Penggunaan dosis optimal terjadi pada 16 g/L FeCl3 serta 16 g/L Al2SO4 dapat menurunkan nilai COD sebesar 51% dan 65%, BOD sebesar 50% dan 56%, dan TSS sebesar 24% dan 21%. Perubahan nilai pH akibat penambahan koagulan berpengaruh positif terhadap tingkat penyisihan, namun memberikan dampak negatif yaitu buih yang cukup banyak. Penurunan beban organik menguntungkan bagi sistem pengolahan lindi eksisting TPA Jatibarang. [Title: Removal of Lindi Water Organic Waste of TPA Jatibarang using Chemical Coagulation- Floculation] Leachate grounding into the soil that potentially could mix with the groundwater caused contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water. The composition of waste landfill leachate from the various location is depending on the season, the type of waste, and landfill age. Process in the TPA produces recalcitrant organic molecules as indicated by the low ratio of BOD/COD and NH3-N high value. The ineffective treatment of leachate at Jatibarang require a pretreatment as a form of alternative effort in the processing of leachate prior to entry into the aerated lagoon process. This study aims to analyze the influence of chemical coagulants on grounding organic material Jatibarang landfill leachate. The study was conducted in April-August 2016. Jatibarang landfill leachate characteristics were categorized as "moderately stable" and young leachate. Allowance for organic materials using chemical coagulants of FeCl3 and Al2SO4 showed significant values for the parameters of COD, BOD, and TSS. The use of optimal dose occurs at 16 g/L FeCl3 and 16 g/L Al2SO4 which can reduce the COD value by 51% and 65%, BOD by 50% and 56%, and TSS at 24% and 21%. PH value changes due to the addition of coagulant positive effect on the level of the allowance, but a negative effect that is quite a lot of froth. The decline in organic load favorable for existing landfill leachate treatment systems Jatibarang.
Long-Term Air Pollution Responses to Transportation Policies in the Tehran Metropolitan Area
Authors: Hosseinlou Mansour Hadji , Kabiri Shahab
Published: February 2017

Transportation networks respond differently to applied policies. The Tehran Metropolitan Area has one of the most complex networks with complex users, which has experienced many of these policies change within the past decades. In this study, some of these policies and their effect on air pollution is investigated. The goal is to pinpoint the variables which have the most effect on various transportation models and investigate how new policies should be focused. In order to do so, long-term variations of air pollution monitoring stations were analyzed. Results show that the most significant parameter that may affect air pollution is users' behavior due to the lack of a public transportation network and its level of comfort. The results of this study will be useful in developing new policies and evaluating their long-term consequences in appropriate models.
Beam-Column In-Plane Resistance Based on the Concept of Equivalent Geometric Imperfections
Authors: Giżejowski M.A. , Szczerba R.B. , Gajewski M.D. , Stachura Z.
Published: February 2017

Assessment of the flexural buckling resistance of bisymmetrical I-section beam-columns using FEM is widely discussed in the paper with regard to their imperfect model. The concept of equivalent geometric imperfections is applied in compliance with the so-called Eurocode’s general method. Various imperfection profiles are considered. The global effect of imperfections on the real compression members behaviour is illustrated by the comparison of imperfect beam-columns resistance and the resistance of their perfect counterparts. Numerous FEM simulations with regard to the stability behaviour of laterally and torsionally restrained steel structural elements of hot-rolled wide flange HEB section subjected to both compression and bending about the major or minor principal axes were performed. Geometrically and materially nonlinear analyses, GMNA for perfect structural elements and GMNIA for imperfect ones, preceded by LBA for the initial curvature evaluation of imperfect member configuration prior to loading were carried out. Numerical modelling and simulations were conducted with use of ABAQUS/Standard program. FEM results are compared with those obtained using the Eurocode’s interaction criteria of Method 1 and 2. Concluding remarks with regard to a necessity of equivalent imperfection profiles inclusion in modelling of the in-plane resistance of compression members are presented.
Differential mineralization of human dental pulp stem cells on diverse polymers
Authors: Apel Christian , Buttler Patricia , Salber Jochen , Dhanasingh Anandhan , Neuss Sabine
Published: February 2017

In tissue engineering, biomaterials are used as scaffolds for spatial distribution of specific cell types. Biomaterials can potentially influence cell proliferation and extracellular matrix formation, both in positive and negative ways. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare mineralized matrix production of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSC), cultured on 17 different well-characterized polymers. Osteogenic differentiation of DPSC was induced for 21 days on biomaterials using dexamethasone, L-ascorbic-acid-2-phosphate, and sodium β-glycerophosphate. Success of differentiation was analyzed by quantitative RealTime PCR, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and visualization of calcium accumulations by alizarin red staining with subsequent quantification by colorimetric method. All of the tested biomaterials of an established biomaterial bank enabled a mineralized matrix formation of the DPSC after osteoinductive stimulation. Mineralization on poly(tetrafluoro ethylene) (PTFE), poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS), Texin, LT706, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL), polyesteramide type-C (PEA-C), hyaluronic acid, and fibrin was significantly enhanced (p<0.05) compared to standard tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) as control. In particular, PEA-C, hyaluronic acid, and fibrin promoted superior mineralization values. These results were confirmed by ALP activity on the same materials. Different biomaterials differentially influence the differentiation and mineralized matrix formation of human DPSC. Based on the present results, promising biomaterial candidates for bone-related tissue engineering applications in combination with DPSC can be selected.
The effect of alfacalcidiol and metformin on metabolic disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Figurová Jana , Dravecká Ingrid , Petríková Jana , Javorský Martin , Lazúrová Ivica
Published: February 2017

Background:

The aim of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) was to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation in obese, insulin-resistant (IR) and vitamin D-deficient polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women on metabolic abnormalities in comparison to the effect of metformin or combined metformin plus vitamin D therapy.

Material and methods:

Thirty-nine PCOS women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomized into three groups and treated with alfacalcidiol, combined alfacalcidiol and metformin therapy and metformin for 6 months. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, total body fat and fat distribution were measured before and after 6 months of treatment. Plasma fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and lipid profiles were measured at the same time.

Results:

There was a significant decrease in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, total body fat and serum glucose levels in the metformin group (p<0.05), whereas PCOS women treated with alfacalcidiol did not significantly change their anthropometric and metabolic parameters. A significant decrease in waist circumference (p<0.05) in the group treated with metformin and alfacalcidiol was detected without other significant metabolic changes (all p>0.05). There were no significant changes in metabolic parameters (p>0.05) after vitamin D therapy except for a slight but non-significant trend towards higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (p=0.087).

Conclusion:

We conclude that vitamin D supplementation has no significant effect on anthropometric and metabolic parameters in PCOS women. Metformin has been still the most effective modality for the treatment of metabolic changes in PCOS.
Effect of Changing Table Tennis Ball Material from Celluloid to Plastic on the Post-Collision Ball Trajectory
Authors: Inaba Yuki , Tamaki Sho , Ikebukuro Haruhiko , Yamada Koshi , Ozaki Hiroki , Yoshida Kazuto
Published: February 2017

The official material used in table tennis balls was changed from celluloid to plastic, a material free of celluloid, in 2014. The purpose of this study was to understand the differences and similarities in the two types of ball materials by comparing their behavior upon collision with a table. The behavior of the balls before and after collision with a table, at various initial speeds ranging from 15 to 115 km/h, was captured using high-speed cameras. Velocities and spin rates before collision and velocities after collision were computed to calculate the coefficients of restitution and friction. Based on the computed variables, the post-collision trajectories of both balls were calculated by integrating the equation of motion of the ball for simulated service, smash and drive conditions with respect to time. The coefficients of restitution were higher for the plastic balls than the celluloid ones when the initial vertical velocities were higher. The coefficients of friction were higher for plastic balls when the initial horizontal contact point velocities were slower. Because of the differences in the material characteristics, the plastic ball trajectories of services with backspin and drives with great topspin were expected to be different from those of celluloid balls. Since the extent of differences between the two ball types varied depending on the initial conditions, testing at various initial conditions was suggested for comparing and understanding the characteristics of the balls.
Extraction of Knowledge from the Topographic Attentive Mapping Network and its Application in Skill Analysis of Table Tennis
Authors: Hayashi Isao , Fujii Masanori , Maeda Toshiyuki , Leveille Jasmin , Tasaka Tokio
Published: February 2017

The Topographic Attentive Mapping (TAM) network is a biologically-inspired classifier that bears similarities to the human visual system. In case of wrong classification during training, an attentional top-down signal modulates synaptic weights in intermediate layers to reduce the difference between the desired output and the classifier’s output. When used in a TAM network, the proposed pruning algorithm improves classification accuracy and allows extracting knowledge as represented by the network structure. In this paper, sport technique evaluation of motion analysis modelled by the TAM network was discussed. The trajectory pattern of forehand strokes of table tennis players was analyzed with nine sensor markers attached to the right upper arm of players. With the TAM network, input attributes and technique rules were extracted in order to classify the skill level of players of table tennis from the sensor data. In addition, differences between the elite player, middle level player and beginner were clarified; furthermore, we discussed how to improve skills specific to table tennis from the view of data analysis.
Thermal influences in the star-pre-distributor of a spiral mandrel die
Authors: Hopmann Christian , Yesildag Nafi , Schön Malte
Published: February 2017

The main criterion in the design of extrusion dies is to ensure a uniform velocity distribution of the plastics melt at the die outlet. In the case of spiral mandrel dies, the flow balance can be influenced negatively by thermal effects which are especially dominant in the pre-distributor. In previous works, it was shown that thermal inhomogeneity in a 2n-pre-distributor leads to an uneven melt distribution at the end of the pre-distributor. In the present study, the temperature influence on the melt distribution in a star-pre-distributor is investigated for three different polyethylenes with the help of flow simulations in Polyflow (Ansys). The simulation model depicts the whole pre-distributor and takes both the shear heating in the melt and the heat conduction in the pre-distributor into account. The simulative analysis shows that the dissipative shear heating leads to an uneven throughput distribution in the star-pre-distributor. In order to compensate this effect, in the next step of the simulations, heating cartridges are applied to the pre-distributor. In this way a significant homogenization of the pre-distribution can be achieved.
Mathematics, anxiety, and the brain
Authors: Moustafa Ahmed A. , Tindle Richard , Ansari Zaheda , Doyle Margery J. , Hewedi Doaa H. , Eissa Abeer
Published: February 2017

Given that achievement in learning mathematics at school correlates with work and social achievements, it is important to understand the cognitive processes underlying abilities to learn mathematics efficiently as well as reasons underlying the occurrence of mathematics anxiety (i.e. feelings of tension and fear upon facing mathematical problems or numbers) among certain individuals. Over the last two decades, many studies have shown that learning mathematical and numerical concepts relies on many cognitive processes, including working memory, spatial skills, and linguistic abilities. In this review, we discuss the relationship between mathematical learning and cognitive processes as well as the neural substrates underlying successful mathematical learning and problem solving. More importantly, we also discuss the relationship between these cognitive processes, mathematics anxiety, and mathematics learning disabilities (dyscalculia). Our review shows that mathematical cognition relies on a complex brain network, and dysfunction to different segments of this network leads to varying manifestations of mathematical learning disabilities.