bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electro-Acupuncture Modulates L1 Adhesion Molecule Expression After Mouse Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Wei Zhe , Wang Yan , Zhao Weijiang , Schachner Melitta
Published: January 2017

Spinal cord injury is a devastating neurological disease in desperate need of a cure. We have previously shown that overexpression of the adhesion molecule L1 contributes to locomotor recovery after injury and were therefore interested in how electro-acupuncture would influence the expression of this molecule. Here, we investigated the effects of electro-acupuncture at “Jiaji” points (EX-B2), newly established by us, in young adult mice to determine whether improved recovery via electro-acupuncture could be due to enhanced L1 expression. Locomotor function, as evaluated by the Basso Mouse Scale score and by catwalk gait parameters, was improved by electro-acupuncture at different time points after injury in parallel with enhanced levels of L1 expression. Interestingly, the levels of the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were also increased, but only in the early phase after injury, being reduced at later stages during recovery. Acupuncture alone showed less pronounced changes in expression of these molecules. We propose that electro-acupuncture improves regeneration in part by promoting the L1 expression and beneficial activation of stem cells, and by differentially modulating the expression of GFAP by promoting regeneration-conductive astrocytic responses at initial stages and reducing regeneration-adversive activation in the secondary stages. Expression of the stem cell marker nestin was upregulated by electro-acupuncture in the acute stage. The combined observations show for the first time in mice the beneficial functions of electro-acupuncture at Jiaji points in the spinal cord injury mouse model and provide novel insights into some molecular mechanisms underlying electro-acupuncture in spinal cord injury.
A Self-Acting Gas Journal Bearing with a Flexibly Supported Foil — Numerical Model of Bearing Dynamics
Authors: Tkacz Eliza , Kozanecki Zbigniew , Kozanecka Dorota , Łagodziński Jakub
Published: January 2017

The work is devoted to an analysis of the journal bearing dynamics, while factors related to motion and friction of nonrotating elements of the sleeve are taken into account. Based on the originally established numerical model devoted to bearing static simulations, the thickness of gas film was determined as well as the pressure distribution in the bearing and its lift capacity. Moreover, the numerical program developed for dynamic simulations led to an analysis of forced vibrations of the system under consideration. It was possible to visualize a journal trajectory for the dynamic harmonic input function. The relationship between the frequency of excitation force and bearing stiffness has been identified numerically and compared with the experimental results. The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis of vibrations was implemented. In the spectrum, only a frequency of the input function was observed, whereas and a lack of subsynchronous frequencies pointed to the stable operation of the bearing. The established numerical model yields the basis for simulations carried out in order to determine correctly dynamic characteristics of an oil-free machine rotating system at the early stage of its design and during its operation.
Exploiting Idle Hardware to Provide Low Overhead Fault Tolerance for VLIW Processors
Authors: Sartor Anderson L. , Lorenzon Arthur F. , Carro Luigi , Kastensmidt Fernanda , Wong Stephan , Beck Antonio C. S.
Published: January 2017

Because of technology scaling, the soft error rate has been increasing in digital circuits, which affects system reliability. Therefore, modern processors, including VLIW architectures, must have means to mitigate such effects to guarantee reliable computing. In this scenario, our work proposes three low overhead fault tolerance approaches based on instruction duplication with zero latency detection, which uses a rollback mechanism to correct soft errors in the pipelanes of a configurable VLIW processor. The first uses idle issue slots within a period of time to execute extra instructions considering distinct application phases. The second works at a finer grain, adaptively exploiting idle functional units at run-time. However, some applications present high instruction-level parallelism (ILP), so the ability to provide fault tolerance is reduced: less functional units will be idle, decreasing the number of potential duplicated instructions. The third approach attacks this issue by dynamically reducing ILP according to a configurable threshold, increasing fault tolerance at the cost of performance. While the first two approaches achieve significant fault coverage with minimal area and power overhead for applications with low ILP, the latter improves fault tolerance with low performance degradation. All approaches are evaluated considering area, performance, power dissipation, and error coverage.
Food Analysis Using Organelle DNA and the Effects of Processing on Assays
Authors: Caldwell Jane M.
Published: January 2017

Extrachromosomal DNA such as organelle DNA are increasingly targeted in molecular detection assays where samples have been degraded by physical or chemical means. Owing to multiple organelles per cell and greater copy numbers than nuclear genes, organelle gene targets provide a more robust signal in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR (qPCR), and other emerging molecular technologies. Because of these advantages, direct analysis of organelle DNA in food matrices is used for detection of contaminants and identification and authentication of food ingredients and allergens. Non-nuclear DNA is also used as an assay normalizer for detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods. This review describes these protocols plus the effects of processing on efficacy, with special emphasis on thermally produced DNA fragmentation. Future research may incorporate molecular techniques beyond detection, used instead as time-temperature indicators in thermal food processing or quality indicators in food fermentation or acidification.
Informatics and Data Analytics to Support Exposome-Based Discovery for Public Health
Authors: Manrai Arjun K. , Cui Yuxia , Bushel Pierre R. , Hall Molly , Karakitsios Spyros , Mattingly Carolyn J. , Ritchie Marylyn , Schmitt Charles , Sarigiannis Denis A. , Thomas Duncan C. , Wishart David , Balshaw David M. , Patel Chirag J.
Published: January 2017

The complexity of the human exposome—the totality of environmental exposures encountered from birth to death—motivates systematic, high-throughput approaches to discover new environmental determinants of disease. In this review, we describe the state of science in analyzing the human exposome and provide recommendations for the public health community to consider in dealing with analytic challenges of exposome-based biomedical research. We describe extant and novel analytic methods needed to associate the exposome with critical health outcomes and contextualize the data-centered challenges by drawing parallels to other research endeavors such as human genomics research. We discuss efforts for training scientists who can bridge public health, genomics, and biomedicine in informatics and statistics. If an exposome data ecosystem is brought to fruition, it will likely play a role as central as genomic science has had in molding the current and new generations of biomedical researchers, computational scientists, and public health research programs.
Effect of Fluoride Varnish Containing CPP-ACP on Preventing Enamel Erosion
Authors: Bayrak Sule , Tuloglu Nuray , Bicer Huseyin , Sen Tunc Emine
Published: January 2017

This study aimed to investigate the effect of a fluoride varnish with added casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate treatment on the prevention of enamel erosion, and it compared the results with those of other fluoride varnishes. Fifty enamel specimens obtained from bovine incisors were randomly divided into five groups (n=10) based on the type of surface pretreatment used: intact enamel (Group 1); intact enamel+erosive cycles (Group 2); intact enamel+MI varnish+erosive cycles (Group 3); intact enamel+Clinpro White varnish+erosive cycles (Group 4); and intact enamel+Duraphat varnish+erosive cycles (Group 5). The specimens were subjected to erosive cycles for five days. The surface roughness was evaluated using atomic force microscopy. The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests. Group 1 had the smoothest surfaces. After the erosive cycles, the greatest surface roughness values were observed in Group 2, followed by Groups 5, 4, and 3, respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed among all groups (p<0.05). The application of fluoride varnishes had some positive effects on preventing enamel erosion; however, the most effective agent was fluoride varnish with added casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate.
Enhancing NMDA Receptor Function: Recent Progress on Allosteric Modulators
Authors: Yao Lulu , Zhou Qiang
Published: January 2017

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are subtype glutamate receptors that play important roles in excitatory neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Their hypo- or hyperactivation are proposed to contribute to the genesis or progression of various brain diseases, including stroke, schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. Past efforts in targeting NMDARs for therapeutic intervention have largely been on inhibitors of NMDARs. In light of the discovery of NMDAR hypofunction in psychiatric disorders and perhaps Alzheimer’s disease, efforts in boosting NMDAR activity/functions have surged in recent years. In this review, we will focus on enhancing NMDAR functions, especially on the recent progress in the generation of subunit-selective, allosteric positive modulators (PAMs) of NMDARs. We shall also discuss the usefulness of these newly developed NMDAR-PAMs.
Evaluation of ACPs in China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor Using CATE 2.1 Code
Authors: Li Lu , Zhang Jingyu , Guo Qingyang , Zhang Xiaokang , Liu Songlin , Chen Yixue
Published: January 2017

Activated corrosion products (ACPs) are the dominant radiation hazard in water-cooled fusion reactor under normal operation conditions and directly determine the occupational radiation exposure during operation and maintenance. Recently, the preliminary design of China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) has been just completed. Evaluation of ACPs is an important work for the safety of CFETR. In this paper, the ACPs analysis code CATE 2.1 was used to simulate the spatial distribution of ACPs along the blanket cooling loop of CFETR, in which the influence of adopting different pulse handling methods was researched. At last, the dose rate caused by ACPs around the blanket cooling loop was calculated using the point kernel code ARShield. The results showed that the dose rate under normal operation for 1.2 years at contact is 1.02 mSv/h and at 1 m away from pipe is 0.45 mSv/h. And after shutting down the reactor, there will be a rapid decrease of dose rate, because of the rapid decay of short-lived ACPs.
Aspectual Fertility Variation and Its Effect on Gene Diversity of Seeds in Natural Stands of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.)
Authors: Yazici Nilüfer , Bilir Nebi
Published: January 2017

There are many environmental and biological factors on forestry practices as known. Aspect called as slope faces is one of the most important environmental factors in these practices because of its easy application for managers. Fertility variation defined as an individual ability to give progeny and gene diversity estimated based on effective number of parents were investigated as the proportion of numbers of cones counted from individuals in natural stands sampled aspectual of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) for three consecutive years. The averages of cone number were 19.4, 47.2, and 75.5 for the years. It was the highest in flat (23.5) for 2013, in south (92.1) for 2014, and in flat (95.7) for 2015, while it was lowest in south (16.3), in east (18.2), and in north (39.4) for the years, respectively. Significant correlations (p≤0.01) were estimated among years for cone production in polled aspect. Estimated fertility variations changed for the years and stands. It could be generally acceptable level for typical natural stands except of west of 2014. Fertility variations were 1.55, 3.05, and 1.64 in polled stands for the years. Gene diversity was 0.99 for the years in polled stands. North aspect could be taken into consideration in establishment and selection of seed sources and gene conservation areas based on fertility variation and gene diversity.
Depth Estimation Using the Tilt Angle of Gravity Field due to the Semi-Infinite Vertical Cylindrical Source
Authors: Eshaghzadeh Ata
Published: January 2017

Tilt angle filter is an interpretation method that is used to determine the source borders locations from potential fields data. Moreover, the tilt angle is applied for estimation of the anomaly source depth, such as contact-depth method and tilt-depth method. In this paper an application of the tilt angle technique obtained from the first vertical and horizontal gradients of the gravity anomaly from semi-infinite vertical cylindrical source is described. The technique is based on the tilt angle and derivatives ratio. In this approach the depth estimates are proportional to the computed tilt angles and their distances from the cross section center of the anomaly cause on the surface. This new method is termed the tilt-distance-depth (TDD). The method is demonstrated using synthetic gravity data, with and without random noise, and real gravity data from Iran. The results are also compared with the solutions from Euler deconvolution technique and inverse modelling using Modelvision software.
Microscopic Examination of Cold Spray Cermet Sn+In2O3Coatings for Sputtering Target Materials
Authors: Winnicki M. , Baszczuk A. , Rutkowska-Gorczyca M. , Jasiorski M. , Małachowska A. , Posadowski W. , Znamirowski Z. , Ambroziak A.
Published: January 2017

Low-pressure cold spraying is a newly developed technology with high application potential. The aim of this study was to investigate potential application of this technique for producing a new type of transparent conductive oxide films target. Cold spraying technique allows the manufacture of target directly on the backing plate; therefore the proposed sputtering target has a form of Sn+In2O3coating sprayed onto copper substrate. The microstructure and properties of the feedstock powder prepared using three various methods as well as the deposited ones by low-pressure cold spraying coatings were evaluated, compared, and analysed. Produced cermet Sn+In2O3targets were employed in first magnetron sputtering process to deposit preliminary, thin, transparent conducting oxide films onto the glass substrates. The resistivity of obtained preliminary films was measured and allows believing that fabrication of TCO (transparent conducting oxide) films using targets produced by cold spraying is possible in the future, after optimization of the deposition conditions.
Adsorption of Phthalates on Municipal Activated Sludge
Authors: Wang Hongbo , Li Haining , Song Qicheng , Gao Lili , Wang Ning
Published: January 2017

Phthalates (PAEs) are commonly detected in discharge of municipal wastewater treatment plants. This study investigated the removal of six typical PAEs with activated sludge and the results revealed that concentrations of aqueous PAEs decreased rapidly during the beginning 15 min and reached equilibrium within 2 hours due to the adsorption of activated sludge. The process followed first-order kinetic equation, except for dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The factors influencing the adsorption were also evaluated and it was found that higher initial concentrations of PAEs enhanced the removal but affected little the adsorption equilibrium time. The adsorption of PAEs favored lower operating temperature (the optimum temperature was approximately 25°C in this research), which could be an exothermic process. Additionally, lower aqueous pH could also benefit the adsorption.
Improving Localized Multiple Kernel Learning via Radius‐Margin Bound
Authors: Wang Xiaoming , Huang Zengxi , Du Yajun
Published: January 2017

Localized multiple kernel learning (LMKL) is an effective method of multiple kernel learning (MKL). It tries to learn the optimal kernel from a set of predefined basic kernels by directly using the maximum margin principle, which is embodied in support vector machine (SVM). However, LMKL does not consider the radius of minimum enclosing ball (MEB) which actually impacts the error bound of SVM as well as the separating margin. In the paper, we propose an improved version of LMKL, which is named ILMKL. The proposed method explicitly takes into consideration both the margin and the radius and so achieves better performance over its counterpart. Moreover, the proposed method can automatically tune the regularization parameter when learning the optimal kernel. Consequently, it avoids using the time‐consuming cross‐validation process to choose the parameter. Comprehensive experiments are conducted and the results well demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method.
Surgical Management of Traumatic Retinal Detachment with Primary Vitrectomy in Adult Patients
Authors: Nowomiejska Katarzyna , Choragiewicz Tomasz , Borowicz Dorota , Brzozowska Agnieszka , Moneta-Wielgos Joanna , Maciejewski Ryszard , Jünemann Anselm G. , Rejdak Robert
Published: January 2017

Purpose.To evaluate functional and anatomical results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the retinal detachment (RD) followed by severe eye trauma.Methods.Retrospective analysis of medical records of forty-one consecutive patients treated with 23-gauge PPV due to traumatic RD. Age, gender, timing of PPV, visual acuity, and presence of intraocular foreign body (IOFB) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) were included in the analysis.Results.Mean age of patients was 47 years; the majority of patients were men (88%). Closed globe injury was present in 21 eyes and open globe injury in 20 eyes (IOFB in 13 eyes, penetration injury in 4 eyes, and eye rupture in 3 eyes). Mean follow-up period was 14 months; mean timing of PPV was 67 days. Twenty-seven (66%) eyes had a functional success; 32 eyes (78%) had anatomical success. As a tamponade silicone oil was used in 33 cases and SF6 gas in 8 cases.Conclusions.Severe eye injuries are potentially devastating for vision, but vitreoretinal surgery can improve anatomical and functional outcomes. Among analysed pre- and intra- and postoperative factors, absence of PVR, postoperative retinal attachment, and silicone oil as a tamponade were related to significantly improved visual acuity.
The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Independently Predicts Mortality in Diabetic Foot Ulcers Patients Undergoing Amputations
Authors: Xie Yuanyuan , Zhang Hailing , Ye Tingting , Ge Shengjie , Zhuo Ruyi , Zhu Hong
Published: January 2017

Objective. Patients with diabetic foot ulcers undergoing amputations have poor prognosis. Malnutrition usually occurs in this population and is associated with increased risk of mortality. The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a widely used, simple, and well-established tool to assess nutritional risk. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between GNRI and all-cause mortality in diabetic foot ulcers patients undergoing minor or major amputations.Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study including 271 adult patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to a GNRI cutoff value of 92, and characteristics and mortality were compared between the two groups. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to explore the association between GNRI and mortality.Result. GNRI (p<0.001), age (p<0.001), and eGFR (p=0.002) were independent predictors of mortality. Among a subgroup of 230 patients with minor amputation, increased age (p<0.001), coronary artery disease (p=0.030), and increased GNRI (p<0.001) were major risk factors.Conclusion. GNRI on admission might be a novel clinical predictor for the incidence of death in patients with diabetic foot ulcers who were undergoing amputations.
Immune Responses to Tissue-Restricted Nonmajor Histocompatibility Complex Antigens in Allograft Rejection
Authors: Bharat Ankit , Mohanakumar T.
Published: January 2017

Chronic diseases that result in end-stage organ damage cause inflammation, which can reveal sequestered self-antigens (SAgs) in that organ and trigger autoimmunity. The thymus gland deletes self-reactive T-cells against ubiquitously expressed SAgs, while regulatory mechanisms in the periphery control immune responses to tissue-restricted SAgs. It is now established that T-cells reactive to SAgs present in certain organs (e.g., lungs, pancreas, and intestine) are incompletely eliminated, and the dysregulation of peripheral immuneregulation can generate immune responses to SAgs. Therefore, chronic diseases can activate self-reactive lymphocytes, inducing tissue-restricted autoimmunity. During organ transplantation, donor lymphocytes are tested against recipient serum (i.e., cross-matching) to detect antibodies (Abs) against donor human leukocyte antigens, which has been shown to reduce Ab-mediated hyperacute rejection. However, primary allograft dysfunction and rejection still occur frequently. Because donor lymphocytes do not express tissue-restricted SAgs, preexisting Abs against SAgs are undetectable during conventional cross-matching. Preexisting and de novo immune responses to tissue-restricted SAgs (i.e., autoimmunity) play a major role in rejection. In this review, we discuss the evidence that supports autoimmunity as a contributor to rejection. Testing for preexisting and de novo immune responses to tissue-restricted SAgs and treatment based on immune responses after organ transplantation may improve short- and long-term outcomes after transplantation.
Four Major Factors Contributing to Intrahepatic Stones
Authors: Ran Xi , Yin Baobing , Ma Baojin
Published: January 2017

Intrahepatic stone is prevalent in Asian countries; though the incidence declines in recent years, the number of patients is still in a large quantity. Because of multiple complications, high recurrence rates, serious systemic damage, and a lack of extremely effective procedure for the management, it is more important to find out the etiology and pathogenesis of intrahepatic stones to prevent the disease from happening and developing rather than curing. A number of factors contribute to the development of the disease, such as cholestasis, infection, and anatomic abnormity of bile duct and bile metabolic defect. The four factors and possible pathogenesis will be discussed in detail in the review.
Kindlin-2 Modulates the Survival, Differentiation, and Migration of Induced Pluripotent Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells
Authors: Moslem Mohsen , Eggenschwiler Reto , Wichmann Christian , Buhmann Raymund , Cantz Tobias , Henschler Reinhard
Published: January 2017

Kindlin-2 is a multidomain intracellular protein that can be recruited to β-integrin domains to activate signaling, initiate transcriptional programs, and bind to E-cadherin. To explore its involvement in cell fate decisions in mesenchymal cells, we studied the effects of Kindlin-2 modification (overexpression/knockdown) in induced pluripotent cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (iPSC-MSCs). Kindlin-2 overexpression resulted in increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis of iPSC-MSCs, as well as inhibition of their differentiation towards osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. In contrast, siRNA-mediated Kindlin-2 knockdown induced increased apoptosis and increased differentiation response in iPSC-MSCs. The ability of iPSC-MSCs to adhere to VCAM-1/SDF-1α under shear stress and to migrate in a wound scratch assay was significantly increased after Kindlin-2 overexpression. In contrast, inhibition of mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was generally independent of Kindlin-2 modulation in iPSC-MSCs, except for decreased production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) after Kindlin-2 overexpression in iPS-MSCs. Thus, Kindlin-2 upregulates survival, proliferation, stemness, and migration potential in iPSC-MSCs and may therefore be beneficial in optimizing performance of iPSC-MSC in therapies.
The Immediate Effects of Deep Pressure on Young People with Autism and Severe Intellectual Difficulties: Demonstrating Individual Differences
Authors: Bestbier Lana , Williams Tim I.
Published: January 2017

Background. Deep pressure is widely used by occupational therapists for people with autism spectrum disorders. There is limited research evaluating deep pressure. Objective. To evaluate the immediate effects of deep pressure on young people with autism and severe intellectual disabilities. Methods. Mood and behaviour were rated for 13 pupils with ASD and severe ID before and after deep pressure sessions. Results. Sufficient data was available from 8 participants to be analysed using Tau-U, a nonparametric technique that allows for serial dependence in data. Six showed benefits statistically. Five of these showed benefits across all domains, and one showed benefits on three out of five domains. Relevance to Clinical Practice. Deep pressure appears to be of immediate benefit to this population with autism and severe ID, but the heterogeneity of response suggests that careful monitoring of response should be used and deep pressure discontinued when it is no longer of benefit. Limitations. This is an open label evaluation study using rating scales. Recommendations for Future Research. Future studies of the use of deep pressure should use physiological response measures, in addition to blinded raters for aspects of behaviours such as attitude to learning psychological health not captured physiologically.
Improving Performance in Dense Wireless Spaces by Controlling Bulk Traffic
Authors: Zhanikeev Marat
Published: January 2017

The growing number of wireless devices nowadays often results in congestion of wireless channels. In research, this topic is referred to as networking in dense wireless spaces. The literature on the topic shows that the biggest problem is the high number of concurrent sessions to a wireless access point. The obvious solution is to reduce the number of concurrent sessions. This paper proposes a simple method called Bulk-n-Pick which minimizes the number of prolonged concurrent sessions by separating bulk from sync traffic. Aiming at educational applications, under the proposed design, web applications would distribute the main bulk of content once at the beginning of a class and then rely on small messages for real time sync traffic during the class. For realistic performance analysis, this paper first performs real-life experiments with various counts of wireless devices, bulk sizes, and levels of sync intensity. Based on the experiments, this paper shows that the proposed Bulk-n-Pick method outperforms the traditional design even when only two concurrent bulk sessions are allowed. The experiment shows that up to 10 concurrent bulk sessions are feasible in practice. Based on these results, a method for online performance optimization is proposed and validated in a trace-based emulation.
Axioms for Consensus Functions on then-Cube
Authors: Garcia-Martinez C. , McMorris F. R. , Ortega O. , Powers R. C.
Published: January 2017

Apvalue of a sequenceπ=(x1,x2,…,xk)of elements of a finite metric space(X,d)is an elementxfor which∑i=1kdp(x,xi)is minimum. Thelp–function with domain the set of all finite sequences onXand defined bylp(π)={x:  xis apvalue ofπ}is called thelp–function on(X,d). Thel1andl2functions are the well-studied median and mean functions, respectively. In this note, simple characterizations of thelp–functions on then-cube are given. In addition, the center function (using the minimax criterion) is characterized as well as new results proved for the median and antimedian functions.
The Conjugated Phenylene Polymer-Modified Photoanodes for Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Lee So-Ra , Kim Da-Seul , Choi Seong-Ho
Published: January 2017

Five types of conjugated phenylene polymer-modified photoanodes for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) were prepared by immobilization of CdSe QDs after electrochemical polymerization of functionalized phenyldiazonium salts onto ITO glass electrodes. The successful preparation of the conjugated phenylene polymer-modified photoanodes for QDSSCs was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), FT-IR spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, contact angles, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The open-circuit voltage and fill factor in QDSSCs with the conjugated phenylene polymer with -COOH photoanodes were achieved at 0.52 V and 76.8%, respectively, and the energy conversion efficiency was improved to 2.73% using the conjugated phenylene polymer with -COOH photoanodes.
Comparison of the Optical Amplifiers EDFA and SOA Based on the BER and Q-Factor in C-Band
Authors: Ivaniga Tomáš , Ivaniga Petr
Published: January 2017

Currently it is not possible to create a fully optical communication system without a software tool which simulates an optical communication line in real conditions prior to its construction. The aim of this article is to establish a comparison between the EDFA (erbium doped fibre amplifier) and SOA (semiconductor optical amplifier) optical amplifiers in the WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) system. The system contains a four-channel WDM with speed of 10 Gbps and optical fibre with length of 80 km. Simulations are conducted in the programme environment “OptSim.” The quality of the optical communication system is evaluated by the BER (bit error rate) and Q-factor for individual wavelengths, namely, of 1558 nm and 1562 nm, which are within the C-band.
Can a Risk Factor Based Approach Safely Reduce Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity?
Authors: Friddle K. M. , Yoder B. A. , Hartnett M. E. , Henry E. , DiGeronimo R. J.
Published: January 2017

Objective.Current American retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening guidelines is imprecise for infants ≥ 30 weeks with birth weights between 1500 and 2000 g. Our objective was to evaluate a risk factor based approach for screening premature infants at low risk for severe ROP.Study Design.We performed a 13-year review from Intermountain Health Care (IHC) data. All neonates born at ≤32 weeks were reviewed to determine ROP screening and/or development of severe ROP. Severe ROP was defined by stage ≥ 3 or need for laser therapy. Regression analysis was used to identify significant risk factors for severe ROP.Results.We identified 4607 neonates ≤ 32 weeks gestation. Following exclusion for death, with no retinal exam or incomplete data, 2791 (61%) were included in the study. Overall, severe ROP occurred in 260 (9.3%), but only 11/1601 ≥ 29 weeks (0.7%). All infants with severe ROP ≥ 29 weeks had at least 2 identified ROP risk factors. Implementation of this risk based screening strategy to the IHC population over the timeline of this study would have eliminated screening in 21% (343/1601) of the screened population.Conclusions.Limiting ROP screening for infants ≥ 29 and ≤ 32 weeks to only those with clinical risk factors could significantly reduce screening exams while identifying all infants with severe ROP.
Evaluation of Drying and Storage Conditions on Nutritional and Sensory Properties of Dried Galega Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. Acephala)
Authors: Araújo Ana C. , Oliveira Sara M. , Ramos Inês N. , Brandão Teresa R. S. , Monteiro Maria J. , Silva Cristina L. M.
Published: January 2017

This work evaluated the effect of the air-drying temperature and vacuum packaging on quality and nutritional compounds of dehydrated galega kale, previously steam blanched, during 5 months of storage. When compared with the vacuum packaged kale, the packaging without vacuum yielded improved nutritional features, in general. This approach combined with a drying temperature of 40°C resulted in retention percentages of 62, 38, 92, and 48% for vitamin C, total phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity, and chlorophylls, respectively. The acceptance of the dried product by the consumer was assessed through a focus group. The participants classified the product as a practical and convenient alternative to cook healthier dishes. The appearance of dried galega kale was described as being fragile and being with nice smell, natural colour, and flavour similar to the fresh product. In conclusion, the herein presented product was addressed as an innovation with multiple possible applications in several recipes.
A new measure of the non-inflationary rate of capacity utilisation for the brazilian economy
Authors: Bezerra Itaiguara De Oliveira , Malgarini Marco
Published: January 2017

O objetivo do trabalho é obter uma taxa não inflacionária de utilização da capacidade (NIRCU) à economia brasileira, utilizando microdados decorrentes da pesquisa IBRE / FGV, do setor da Indústria de Transformação. Foi condicionado a NIRCU tem relação com as mudanças de preços esperados informados pelas empresas; Além disso, também foi condicionado a informação sobre o número de turnos trabalhados, também fornecido ao nível da empresa, considerada como uma possível proxy de desinvestimento. A NIRCU apresentou bom desempenho como um indicador de pressão inflacionária no modelo de Curva de Phillips padrão; os resultados mostram que, mesmo durante a crise, a NIRCU encontra-se abaixo do nível atual de capacidade, sinalizando a persistência de tensões inflacionárias brasileiras
Pobreza infantil no Brasil: aplicação da metodologia Alkire-Foster de mensuração de pobreza multidimensional
Authors: Mosaner Marcelo Sette
Published: January 2017

O presente estudo propõe exercício de medição inédita da incidência e intensidade da pobreza infantil no Brasil a partir dos dados da PNDS 2006, utilizando a metodologia elaborada por Alkire & Foster (2009, 2011) para mensuração de pobreza multidimensional e sua especificação para pobreza infantil proposta por Alkire & Roche (2012). Conclui-se que, apesar da dificuldade de obtenção de dados primários e da arbitrariedade intrínseca à escolha de dimensões em medidas multidimensionais, os benefícios da metodologia adotada superam essas adversidades em função de sua formulação robusta e intuitiva. Medidas de incidência e intensidade da pobreza são apresentadas para os estratos rural e urbano das cinco macrorregiões do Brasil, esboçando os diferentes perfis de pobreza no Sudeste urbano e Nordeste rural
Towards a New Interpretation of Quran 4:34
Authors: Ghafournia Nafiseh
Published: January 2017

For almost fourteen centuries, Muslim men and women believed, or have been led to believe, that beating wives is a permitted act in Islam and the Quran has been used to support this physical violence against women. Permissible violence against women has mainly been justified on the basis of the Quranic verse 4:34. Since its revelation, there has been a long time challenge to explore the real meaning of the verse. The translations and interpretations of this verse have caused much consternation among scholars, including this author. However, important attempts have recently been made to define or interpret the verse. In this study, two different strands of interpretation are explored: patriarchal and egalitarian. While there are many interpretations of the verse, this study focuses only on the works of some of the most renowned scholars and theologians. A critical analysis of different approaches to the interpretation of this verse shows that the contradictions and complexities related to the verse are not inherent in the Quran itself but are rooted in the intentional or unintentional neglect and misuse of the text by authoritative Muslim scholars. This study argues for a more progressive approach to interpreting the verse which is compatible with a holistic comprehension of the text and teaching of Islam.
New records of eriophyoid mites from Iran (Acari: Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea) and a description of a new Brevulacus Manson species
Authors: SOIKA GRAŻYNA , GOL ALI , HONARMAND ARASH , WOZIŃSKA ANNA , SADEGHI HUSSEIN
Published: January 2017

Four species of eriophyoid mites are recorded from Iran, of which three represent new records and the other is a new species. These species are: Brevulacus salicinus n. sp. (Diptilomiopidae), found on Salix sp. (Salicaceae); Aceria wallichianae Keifer, 1975 from Ulmus minor (Ulmaceae); Aceria granulata Carmona, 1972 from Verbascum spp. (Scrophulariaceae) and Tegnacus unicornutus Pye, 2012 from Carpinus betulus (Betulaceae). Each of these species are illustrated and provided with data regarding their distribution and host plants.
Neolinoptes gen. n., a replacement name for the net-winged beetle genus Linoptes Gorham, 1884 and a new species of Lycomorphon from Guyana (Coleoptera: Lycidae)
Authors: NASCIMENTO ELYNTON ALVES DO , BOCAKOVA MILADA
Published: January 2017

Neolinoptes gen. n. is erected to replace Linoptes Gorham, 1884, preoccupied by Linoptes Menge, 1854 (Arachnida: Araneae). Consequently, Neolinoptes imbrex (Gorham, 1884) comb. n., N. amazonicus (Pic, 1923) comb. n., N. atronotatus (Pic, 1922) comb. n., N. atripennis (Pic, 1932) comb. n. are proposed. Calocladon rubidum Gorham, 1884 is transferred to Neolinoptes. Lycomorphon iwokrama sp. n. is proposed as new to science and the genus is recorded from Guyana for the first time. Additionally, Falsocaenia irregularis var. germaini Pic, 1931 is elevated to species rank and past confusion on F. irregularis discussed. New data on geographical distribution of Falsocaenia paranana (Pic, 1922) are presented.
Retrofitting Diagnostic Classification Models to Responses From IRT-Based Assessment Forms
Authors: Liu Ren , Huggins-Manley Anne Corinne , Bulut Okan
Published: January 2017

Developing a diagnostic tool within the diagnostic measurement framework is the optimal approach to obtain multidimensional and classification-based feedback on examinees. However, end users may seek to obtain diagnostic feedback from existing item responses to assessments that have been designed under either the classical test theory or item response theory frameworks. Retrofitting diagnostic classification models to existing assessments designed under other psychometric frameworks could be a plausible approach to obtain more actionable scores or understand more about the constructs themselves. This study (a) discusses the possibility and problems of retrofitting, (b) proposes a step-by-step retrofitting framework, and (c) explores the information one can gain from retrofitting through an empirical application example. While retrofitting may not always be an ideal approach to diagnostic measurement, this article aims to invite discussions through presenting the possibility, challenges, process, and product of retrofitting.
International staff exchange: Evaluation of a collaborative learning partnership
Authors: Naleppa Matthias J , Waldbillig Amy A
Published: January 2017

This article presents the evaluation of a staff exchange program between a US and a German non-profit social service agency. The program’s 12-year history, challenges, and successes are presented. Focus group and in-depth interview findings include the following: (1) support from leadership and staff impacts sustainability, (2) development of collaboration principles is key for continued partnership, (3) financial input seems small when compared to outcomes, (4) traveling abroad and hosting fosters positive learning experiences, (5) agencies learned to better position themselves and increased their retention, and (6) themes among staff include observing, reflecting, and learning from each other. Suggestions for replication are made.
A new method of international education: Using a consulting model to build social work skills in Chile
Authors: Marchant Alissa Anne , Germak Katherine , Berzin Stephanie
Published: January 2017

International experiences in social work education have become more common in the last few decades. The literature has shown these experiences to improve students’ cultural competency, intercultural communication, and work habits. The literature focuses on diffused learning experiences, where students visit and hear from local agencies. This article offers a consulting model as an alternative experiential learning method. Master’s level students at the Boston College School of Social Work report improved cultural competence and also the development of hard skills, such as collaboration, that will transfer to future social work employment.
Seditious Crimes and Rebellious Conspiracies: Anti-communism and US Empire in the Philippines
Authors: Woods Colleen
Published: January 2017

This article details how US colonial policymakers and Filipino political elites, intent on fostering a non-revolutionary Philippine nationalism in the late 1920s and 1930s, produced an anti-communist politics aimed at eliminating or delegitimizing radical anti-imperialism. Communist-inspired, anti-imperial activists placed US imperialism in the Philippines within the framework of western imperialism in Asia, thereby challenging the anti-imperial ideology of the US empire. Americans and elite Filipinos met this challenge by repressing radical, anti-imperialist visions of Philippine independence through inter-colonial surveillance and cooperation, increased policing, mass imprisonment, and the outlawing of communist politics in the Philippines.
Dynamic Leadership Succession: Strengthening Urban Principal Succession Planning
Authors: Peters-Hawkins April L. , Reed Latish C. , Kingsberry Francemise
Published: January 2017

The Dynamic Leadership Succession model is used to analyze a leadership succession case in an urban school district. The qualitative findings show that the district did not forecast school leadership needs well; however, the principal sought to develop and mentor teacher leaders as her assistant principals. Second, sustaining efforts within the district were, at times, haphazard, as demonstrated by the two study participants as they were inducted into their respective roles of principal and assistant principal. Finally, the district failed to deliberately plan for leadership transitions.
Making Up the “Drug-Abusing Immigrant”
Authors: Nordgren Johan
Published: January 2017

In social work, drug treatment, and government contexts in Sweden, numerous attempts have been made to construct a new kind of client and patient: the “drug-abusing immigrant.” I trace these developments from the 1960s to 2011 through an analysis of publications about “drug abuse among immigrants.” The empirical material consists of a broad range of publications produced on this topic in social work, drug treatment, and government contexts both nationally and in local municipal settings. I use Hacking’s analytical approach to “making up people” as a way of analyzing how knowledge production resulted in certain descriptions of the kind of client/patient categorized as a “drug-abusing immigrant.” Four themes were central to discussions of this kind: the introduction of new drugs and ways of using them by immigrants, the intermingling of ethnic drug use patterns, the need to target Iranians in relation to opiate use, and descriptions of drug-using immigrants as vulnerable. Drug use among immigrants was a phenomenon mainly discussed at local levels of social work and drug treatment and did not develop into a national political problem. It seems that a perceived rapid increase in immigration in Sweden during the mid-1980s acted as a catalyst for the focus on “drug abuse among immigrants.” The “drug-abusing immigrant” category should be seen as an administrative category and the process of making it up as ultimately a “failed” one. The category was not adopted by those so categorized and subsequently declined in use during the 2000s. A recent focus on drug use among “unaccompanied minors” might be seen as a new attempt to make up certain immigrants as a specific kind of “drug abuser.”
Disobedience of Immoral Orders from Authorities: An Issue Construction Perspective
Authors: Parmar Bidhan Lalit
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine how disobedience to immoral orders from an authority emerges in organizations. Using organizational discourse analysis to analyze the verbal communication of the original participants in Stanley Milgram’s obedience to authority experiments, I show how participants constructed the same experimental situation differently by analyzing their communication. Disobedient participants were more likely to display two different communication patterns: assessing consequences or self-referential objections. In contrast, obedient participants were more likely to seek guidance on the experimental procedure and interrupt the learner’s protests. Overall, I present a process model of how disobedience emerges in situations. This study’s findings also expand our understanding of moral imagination, moral decision making, and employee voice in organizations primarily by demonstrating how people can exercise agency in equivocal situations by constructing the situations they face.
Randomized Trials of Nurse-Delivered Interventions in Weight Management Research: A Systematic Review
Authors: Petit Francis Lucine , Spaulding Erin , Turkson-Ocran Ruth-Alma , Allen Jerilyn
Published: January 2017

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether nurse-delivered weight management interventions improve weight outcomes across the life span. We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO electronic databases. We graded the trials using an adapted Jadad approach for methodological quality. The search identified a total of 1,159 citations; 23 articles from 20 studies were eligible for this review. Sixty-five percent of the studies reported significant findings related to body mass index (BMI) or weight reduction. Studies that were particularly successful at helping participants reduce weight and/or BMI involved nurses engaged in health promotion activities, operating within multidisciplinary teams and/or providing consultations, physical activity education, and coaching over the phone. Of the studies that involved long-term follow-up assessments, three out of nine studies showed a significant loss in weight or BMI between the intervention and control groups at follow-up times ranging from 12 months to 2 years.
The interplay of individual differences and context of learning in behavioral and neurocognitive second language development
Authors: Faretta-Stutenberg Mandy , Morgan-Short Kara
Published: January 2017

In order to understand variability in second language (L2) acquisition, this study addressed how individual differences in cognitive abilities may contribute to development for learners in different contexts. Specifically, we report the results of two short-term longitudinal studies aimed at examining the role of cognitive abilities in accounting for changes in L2 behavioral performance and neurocognitive processing for learners in ‘at-home’ and ‘study-abroad’ settings. Learners completed cognitive assessments of declarative, procedural, and working memory abilities. Linguistic assessments aimed at determining behavioral sensitivity and online processing of L2 Spanish syntax were administered before and after a semester of study in either a traditional university classroom context (Experiment 1) or a study-abroad context (Experiment 2). At-home learners evidenced behavioral gains, with no detected predictive role for individual differences in cognitive abilities. Study-abroad learners evidenced behavioral gains and processing changes that were partially accounted for by procedural learning ability and working memory. Taken together, these results provide preliminary insight into how individual differences in cognitive abilities may contribute to behavioral and neural processing changes over time among learners in different natural contexts.