bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propagação vegetativa de Piper umbellatum L. (Piperaceae) em função de substratos e comprimentos de estacas
Authors: Nunes Gomes Erik , Krinski Diones
Published: March 2017

Piper umbellatum L. (Piperaceae) é um subarbusto perene com atividades anti-inflamatórias, analgésicas, antimicrobianas, antitumorais, antioxidantes e dermoprotetoras. A obtenção da matéria-prima para estes fins é restrita ao extrativismo e às pequenas áreas de cultivo devido ao limitado conhecimento agronômico sobre a espécie. Neste sentido, são necessárias investigações referentes a práticas agronômicas, especialmente técnicas adequadas de propagação. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar diferentes comprimentos de estaca e tipos de substrato na estaquia de P. umbellatum. Para isso, estacas caulinares de 10, 15 e 20 cm de comprimento e diâmetro médio de um centímetro foram preparadas com corte em bisel na base e reto no ápice, sem folhas e contendo ao menos uma gema. Os propágulos foram estaqueados em tubetes com substrato Plantmax® e vermiculita de granulometria fina, e mantidas em casa de vegetação. Após  50 dias da instalação do experimento foi avaliada a porcentagem de estacas enraizadas, mortas, com calos, com brotações, número médio de raízes, comprimento das três maiores raízes, massa fresca de raízes e de brotações. O enraizamento variou de 37,5% a 60,0% e não foi verificado interação entre substratos e comprimento das estacas, exceto para massa fresca de raízes e brotações, para as quais, estacas de maior comprimento apresentaram melhor desempenho. O substrato Plantmax® apresentou menor mortalidade, maior porcentagem de estacas com calo, massa fresca de raízes e número de brotações. Neste sentido são indicadas estacas de 20 cm e utilização de substrato Plantmax® para obtenção de mudas de melhor qualidade.
Relações entre satisfação com a vida, com a família e com as amizades e religiosidade na adolescência
Authors: Silva Doralúcia Gil da , Giordani Jaqueline Portella , Dell'Aglio Débora Dalbosco
Published: March 2017

Este trabalho teve por objetivo discutir relações entre satisfação de vida, satisfação com a família e com as amizades e religiosidade em amostra de adolescentes. Foram aplicadas: uma ficha de dados sociodemográficos, a Escala Multidimensional de Satisfação de Vida e a Escala de Afetos Positivos e Negativos para Adolescentes em 420 estudantes (média de idade=14,91; DP=1,65) de escolas públicas de Porto Alegre. Os resultados indicaram que adolescentes que relataram ter religião apresentaram maior satisfação de vida, bem-estar subjetivo, satisfação com a família e com as amizades, com diferenças significativas. Religiosidade e satisfação com os relacionamentos interpessoais são fatores que podem atuar de forma positiva e incrementar a percepção de satisfação de vida pelo adolescente. Implicações na forma de avaliar o bem-estar subjetivo, assim como a religiosidade, são discutidas.
O valor dos valores: a perspectiva de pais em relação a seus filhos
Authors: Queiroz Siqueira Felipe , Zanatta Calza Tiago , Castellá Sarriera Jorge , De Lucca Freitas Lia Beatriz
Published: March 2017

Este estudo baseou-se na teoria ecológico-cultural. O objetivo foi identificar, em pais de crianças e adolescentes, quais valores eles consideram mais e menos importantes para seus filhos. Vinte e dois participantes responderam a uma escala que avalia a importância de 27 valores. Após, participaram de uma entrevista semiestruturada, elencando os três valores mais importantes e os três menos, bem como justificando suas escolhas. Foram considerados mais importantes: honestidade, justiça e determinação. Os menos importantes foram: ambição, seguir regras dos pais e liderança. Dentre as justificativas dos mais importantes, destacaram-se: respeitar a alteridade, ser um meio para atingir objetivos e englobar outros valores. Nos menos importantes, destacaram-se: acarretar prejuízos, não ser essencial e não ser garantia de sucesso. Discutem-se os resultados à luz da literatura. Ressaltam-se a importância dos valores enquanto assunto interdisciplinar e a necessidade de reflexão sobre quais tipos de valores se deseja desenvolver na sociedade.
Considerações sobre o ofício de dirigir ônibus no Brasil: uma revisão de literatura
Authors: Moraes Thiago Drumond , Santorum Katia , Souza Fátima Valéria Belo de , Ávila Laís Rocha , Vieira Stefane Stolze
Published: March 2017

Os efeitos do ofício de dirigir ônibus para a saúde dos condutores desses veículos têm sido investigados em estudos de abrangência nacional. Para contribuir no aprofundamento desse objeto de estudo, realizamos uma revisão de pesquisas nacionais sobre esse ofício, objetivando investigar processos de saúde-doença e subjetivação, delimitando as buscas entre 2000 a 2012, mediante verificação temática. Da análise das publicações configuramos dois eixos de análise: os efeitos desse ofício na saúde dos motoristas de ônibus e as condições e organização desse trabalho. A pesquisa foi realizada sob a abordagem teórica da Ergonomia da Atividade francófona e orientada pela perspectiva da Ergologia. As dimensões físicas da saúde são mais pesquisadas que as psicológicas. Concluímos que, a despeito de se investigar a saúde de trabalhadores, suas condições de trabalho e sua atividade não são suficientemente consideradas: propomos caminhos para novos estudos, sobretudo, referentes à atividade do trabalho, abordando-a, inclusive, em sua positividade.
The Market Potential of a Grape Pomace Microemulsion
Authors: Lambert Daniel , Rod Michel , Dobbin Christine , Hosseinian Farah
Published: March 2017

Canada’s food waste reached $31 billion in 2014. 95% of this waste ended up in landfills across the country, being a severe burden both economically and environmentally. By implementing sustainable agriculture projects, alternative uses can be found for food waste that produce positive income for companies, and alleviate stresses on the environment. Grape pomace, a food waste produced through the process of wine-making, currently ends up in landfills after wine-production. However, this agricultural by-product holds great market potential for the production of chemical microemulsions. These microemulsion systems show great potential in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries. The market potential was calculated by determining the volume of grape seed oil that could be extracted from grape pomace. The current market value of microemulsion surfactants were then obtained and a value was calculated based on the oil yield. Grape pomace microemulsions had the highest market potential as pharmaceutical raw ingredients, followed respectively by food additive and cosmeceutical raw ingredients. The purpose of this paper is to measure the market potential for grape pomace microemulsions in each of these industries and to provoke further investigations into the production of value added products from agricultural waste.
Risk of addiction to Facebook among Medical University students in
Białystok, Poland
Authors: Kułak-Bejda A. , Waszkiewicz N. , Kułak P. , Bejda G.
Published: March 2017

Introduction: Facebook is the most popular socialnetworking
website in the world. It is estimated that
it currently has more than 350 million users
worldwide.
Purpose; To assess the risk of addiction to
Facebook the risk of addiction to Facebook among
students of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the
Medical University of Białystok in Poland.
Materials and methods: This study included 440
student Facebook users. The original survey, the
Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) as well as a
Self-Assessment Test were used (FAT).
Results: Twenty-seven percent of the sample have
had Facebook accounts for one to two years. Fortyfive
percent of the respondents had 91 to 300
Facebook friends. Ninety-four percent of the
respondents reported that they do not think about
Facebook when they are disconnected from it. A
similar number of students reported that it is
possible for people to become addicted to
Facebook. Forty-seven percent of the respondents
were convinced that they would be able to
recognize a Facebook addict. The average number
of points scored on the FAT test was 16.2 ± 21.1
points; the average on the self-assessment was 44.7
± 20.1 points; the average on SWLS scale was 15.3
±5.24 points. Five percent of students demonstrated
features of Facebook addiction as well as low selfesteem
and life satisfaction.
Conclusions: Problematic use of Facebook affected
a small percentage of respondents who had low
self-esteem and self were dissatisfied with their
lives.
Perception of the psychosocial working conditions in a group of nurses
working in hospitals and primary health care
Authors: Kalandyk H. , Penar-Zadarko B. , Krajewska-Kułak E.
Published: March 2017

Introduction: In the nurses group, it is required to
have great psychosocial skills, guaranteeing the high
quality of professional services.
Purpose: To assess the psychosocial working
conditions of nurses, depending on their place of
employment.
Material and methods: The study involved 570
randomly selected nurses. It was based on a
diagnostic survey using a standardised questionnaire
of Psychosocial Working Conditions (PWC).
Results: Correlation factors between the overall and
average level of satisfaction with the work were
quite high – exceed 0.30 and even 0.40. The greater
was the need for change, the lower was the job
satisfaction. High sense of self-control at work,
social support, or wellbeing was linked with better
ratings. Psychophysical requirements were assessed
as the worst, and the least frequent were the
additional requirements resulting from the conflict
nature of the job and overload. Nurses from
voivodeship hospitals rated their work lower in the
category of intellectual demands, and nurses from
the Primary Health Care - in the category of
requirements resulting from the conflict nature of the
job and overload. Behavioural control and the need
for change were different for PHC and the other two
hospitals. Psychological wellbeing in district
hospitals was worse than in the other two types of
medical institutions.
Conclusions: The larger was the sense of work
control, or sense of social support, the higher was the
job satisfaction. The higher the level of requirements
and the need for change, the lower was the
satisfaction of the assessed aspects of work. There
were clear differences in the assessment of the
psychosocial working conditions of nurses from
hospitals and nurses from PHC.
Attitudes Driving Support for PEGIDA – a 2015–16 Two-Wave Panel Study
Authors: Schielicke Anna-Maria , Hoffmann Julia
Published: March 2017

At the end of 2014, a right-wing populist movement named PEGIDA emerged in Germany, starting in Dresden. Whereas branches of this movement disappeared within a few months all across the country, the movement in Dresden persists. This article seeks to uncover the attitudes behind this movement. Derived from literature regarding the voting of right-wing populist parties in Europe we built an analytic model considering group-focused enmity, political disenchantment, distrust in media, right-wing attitudes, fears of extremism, foreign domination as well as of economic decline, as conceivable predictors of support for PEGIDA. With a time lag of twelve months, we conducted a two-wave web survey with inhabitants of Dresden within a representative, recruited, online panel. Our results show that the most important factors driving the support for PEGIDA are hostility against foreigners, fears of foreign domination, distrust in the media and right-wing attitudes. However, political disenchantment and fears of economic decline do not play a role in explaining the support for PEGIDA.
Continuous-Infusion Etomidate in a Patient Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: LaRochelle Joseph M. , Desselle Bonnie , Rossi Janet L.
Published: March 2017

We describe a 16-year-old, 65-kg male deployed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for refractory respiratory failure secondary to ingestion of multiple substances. During his ECMO course, standard sedative and analgesic strategies failed and alternative medications were used. The patient received various dosages of fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, clonidine patches, dexmedetomidine, lorazepam, methadone, pentobarbital, olanzapine, and propofol. Despite administration of multiple agents, on day 29 of ECMO the patient experienced elevated blood pressures due to agitation, and continuous infusion etomidate was started. At the time of etomidate initiation, the osmolar gap was 8 mOsm/kg. During etomidate therapy, the blood pressure remained normal, sedative agents were slowly weaned, and the patient required few PRN medications. On day 6 of etomidate, the osmolar gap increased to 127 mOsm/kg and etomidate was discontinued. Continuous-infusion ketamine was started, but the blood pressure was not controlled. Metabolic acidosis is a known side effect of etomidate due to inclusion of propylene glycol as a pharmaceutical solvent in the formulation. Despite high-dose etomidate (20 mcg/kg/min) for approximately 6 days, our patient did not experience metabolic acidosis. Absence of this adverse effect caused us to question the role of the ECMO circuit. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of continuous-infusion etomidate during ECMO. Etomidate infusion could be considered in difficult-to-manage patients after other alternatives have failed.
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Authors:   National Institute of Standards and Technology (US)
Published: March 2017

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) specifies a FIPS-approved cryptographic algorithm that can be used to protect electronic data. The AES algorithm is a symmetric block cipher that can encrypt (encipher) and decrypt (decipher) information. Encryption converts data to an unintelligible form called ciphertext; decrypting the ciphertext converts the data back into its original form, called plaintext. The AES algorithm is capable of using cryptographic keys of 128, 192, and 256 bits to encrypt and decrypt data in blocks of 128 bits.
La précarité des femmes francophones de la région d’Ottawa à travers le prisme de la violence structurelle
Authors: Diotte Sabrina , Flynn Catherine
Published: March 2017

Les inégalités sociales auxquelles font face les populations francophones en Ontario semblent souvent articulées autour de leur condition linguistique minoritaire au sein de la province. Les femmes vivraient de façon plus exacerbée les difficultés liées à cette réalité en raison de la précarité de leurs conditions de vie et de l’accès limité à des services sociaux et de santé dans leur langue (Côté, Lapierre et Levesque, 2015). Cet article propose une analyse intersectionnelle de la précarité des femmes francophones de la région d’Ottawa, à travers le prisme de la violence structurelle. Il montre que leur expérience de la précarité est complexe et est construite autour de plusieurs conditions autres que celle liée à langue. Ces conditions participent également à maintenir ces femmes francophones dans une spirale de précarité.
Uncoupling apical constriction from tissue invagination
Authors: Chung SeYeon , Kim Sangjoon , Andrew Deborah J
Published: March 2017

Apical constriction is a widely utilized cell shape change linked to folding, bending and invagination of polarized epithelia. It remains unclear how apical constriction is regulated spatiotemporally during tissue invagination and how this cellular process contributes to tube formation in different developmental contexts. Using Drosophila salivary gland (SG) invagination as a model, we show that regulation of folded gastrulation expression by the Fork head transcription factor is required for apicomedial accumulation of Rho kinase and non-muscle myosin II, which coordinate apical constriction. We demonstrate that neither loss of spatially coordinated apical constriction nor its complete blockage prevent internalization and tube formation, although such manipulations affect the geometry of invagination. When apical constriction is disrupted, compressing force generated by a tissue-level myosin cable contributes to SG invagination. We demonstrate that fully elongated polarized SGs can form outside the embryo, suggesting that tube formation and elongation are intrinsic properties of the SG.
Novel mechanism of metabolic co-regulation coordinates the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in Pseudomonas protegens
Authors: Yan Qing , Philmus Benjamin , Chang Jeff H , Loper Joyce E
Published: March 2017

Metabolic co-regulation between biosynthetic pathways for secondary metabolites is common in microbes and can play an important role in microbial interactions. Here, we describe a novel mechanism of metabolic co-regulation in which an intermediate in one pathway is converted into signals that activate a second pathway. Our study focused on the co-regulation of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) and pyoluteorin, two antimicrobial metabolites produced by the soil bacterium Pseudomonas protegens. We show that an intermediate in DAPG biosynthesis, phloroglucinol, is transformed by a halogenase encoded in the pyoluteorin gene cluster into mono- and di-chlorinated phloroglucinols. The chlorinated phloroglucinols function as intra- and inter-cellular signals that induce the expression of pyoluteorin biosynthetic genes, pyoluteorin production, and pyoluteorin-mediated inhibition of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora. This metabolic co-regulation provides a strategy for P. protegens to optimize the deployment of secondary metabolites with distinct roles in cooperative and competitive microbial interactions.
Computational testing for automated preprocessing: a Matlab toolbox to enable large scale electroencephalography data processing
Authors: Cowley Benjamin U. , Korpela Jussi , Torniainen Jari
Published: March 2017

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a rich source of information regarding brain function. However, the preprocessing of EEG data can be quite complicated, due to several factors. For example, the distinction between true neural sources and noise is indeterminate; EEG data can also be very large. The various factors create a large number of subjective decisions with consequent risk of compound error. Existing tools present the experimenter with a large choice of analysis methods. Yet it remains a challenge for the researcher to integrate methods for batch-processing of the average large datasets, and compare methods to choose an optimal approach across the many possible parameter configurations. Additionally, many tools still require a high degree of manual decision making for, e.g. the classification of artefacts in channels, epochs or segments. This introduces extra subjectivity, is slow and is not reproducible. Batching and well-designed automation can help to regularise EEG preprocessing, and thus reduce human effort, subjectivity and consequent error. We present the computational testing for automated preprocessing (CTAP) toolbox, to facilitate: (i) batch-processing that is easy for experts and novices alike; (ii) testing and manual comparison of preprocessing methods. CTAP extends the existing data structure and functions from the well-known EEGLAB toolbox, based on Matlab and produces extensive quality control outputs. CTAP is available under MIT licence fromhttps://github.com/bwrc/ctap.
A comparison between the geoeffectiveness of north‐south and south‐north magnetic clouds and an associated prediction
Authors: Wu Chin‐Chun , Lepping Ronald P. , Berdichevsky Daniel Benjamin , Liou Kan
Published: March 2017

Using 1995–2015 Wind in situ solar wind plasma and magnetic field data, 217 magnetic clouds (MCs) were identified. The following pertinent results were found: (i) 120 MCs were N‐S type (northward → southward, magnetic field, B rotated from northward to southward), and 97 MCs are S‐N type. (ii) S‐N MCS‐N dominated N‐S MCN‐S in the periods of 1995–1999, 2001–2002, and 2014–2015. In contrast, N‐S MCN‐S dominated S‐N MCS‐N in the periods of 2000 and 2003–2013. (iii) The averages of storm intensity () were −69, −57, and −84 nT for “all 217 MCs,” “120 N‐S MCs,” and “97 S‐N MCs” types, respectively. (iv) Confirmed with observations, MC type depends on the phase of the magnetic solar cycle. Hence, on average, the S‐N types trigger more severe storms (i.e., Dstmin < −100 nT). Also, from 1995 to 2009, the percentage of N‐S types of MCs keeps increasing and the percentage of S‐N types decreasing. The percentage of S‐N MCs starts increasing in the interval of 2010–2015. Therefore, we expect to see a predominance of the S‐N types of MC for the coming few years. This means on average that more severe geomagnetic storms are expected in the near future. This is an interesting solar wind feature and is going to be stressed in its application to “space weather predictions.”
Fatigue and Fracture of Ship Structures
Authors: Fricke Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

Fatigue and fracture are important design criteria for ships to ensure a sufficiently high safety level. Ship structures are prone to fatigue because of high cyclic loading caused primarily by waves, but also because of changing cargo distributions and excited vibrations. After describing these types of loading, the chapter outlines the factors affecting fatigue strength in addition to stress ranges, which are material type, mean and residual stress, fabrication factors like quality and weld imperfections, and finally the size and plate thickness effect. Subsequently, fatigue strength assessment methods mainly applied to ship structures are dealt with, i.e. the S‐N approaches such as nominal, structural hot‐spot, and notch stress approaches in conjunction with Palmgren‐Miner rule. The approaches are illustrated by an application example of a tanker in detail. The second part covers unstable fracture. After describing the types of fracture and possible countermeasures, fracture assessment methods are briefly outlined, explaining different crack driving parameters and the so‐called failure assessment diagram (FAD) as an example for assessing the safety against unstable fracture.
The Human Element in Shipping
Authors: Barnett Michael L. , Pekcan Claire H.
Published: March 2017

This article begins with the definitions of the “human element” in shipping and illustrates the wide range of complex concepts covered by this simple phrase. A table is produced as a suggested taxonomy of the main items covered by the term, and the article proceeds to give brief descriptions of these areas under the two main categories of safety and human resource, and deals with the safety topics of: accident causation and human error; and maritime ergonomics and safety culture. Human resource topics cover: health, well‐being, and working conditions; human resource management practices; and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Underwater Noise from Large Commercial Ships—International Collaboration for Noise Reduction
Authors: Southall Brandon L. , Scholik‐Schlomer Amy R. , Hatch Leila , Bergmann Trisha , Jasny Michael , Metcalf Kathy , Weilgart Lindy , Wright Andrew J.
Published: March 2017

Ambient noise in broad areas of the ocean has increased significantly over the past half‐century from the introduction of tens of thousands of commercial ships continuously transiting the sea. Ship‐radiated noise is predominately low frequency (<1000 Hz) other than close to vessels, and aggregate noise can dominate low‐frequency bands, even well outside shipping lanes. Such sounds add to an already noisy background and can affect marine animals in various ways. This includes reducing the areas over which they can communicate, particularly for species that rely on low‐frequency sounds like baleen whales, seals, and fishes. An international community of researchers, environmental groups, government agencies, and sectors of the shipping industry has recognized shipping noise as an important marine conservation issue, as have various international bodies, notably the United Nation's International Maritime Organization (IMO). Reducing potential impacts from aggregate vessel noise is challenging given the nature and magnitude of the issue and the historical lack of regulation. However, substantial recent progress has been made by proactive collaborations among environmentalists, regulators, scientists, and industry, leading to progress in the IMO in the development of guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping. This article discusses low‐frequency noise incidentally radiated from ships and its potential effects on marine life, with an emphasis on marine mammals. We also trace the formation and evolution of efforts to address environmental and economic costs and benefits of ship‐quieting efforts. The authors represent a range of governmental, scientific, industry, and conservation organizations centrally engaged in the IMO effort.
Risers Introduction
Authors: Miller Charles A.
Published: March 2017

This article covers an introduction to the riser systems used by the oil and gas industry for the exploration, development, and production of hydrocarbons located below the earth's oceans and seas. These offshore riser systems are conduits (or collection of conduits) used for the safe transportation of material (primarily fluids and gases) between the seafloor and the host platform.

Riser systems have been used since early days of the offshore industry. Early riser systems were used from fixed platforms and mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) in shallow water. When the offshore industry moved into deeper water, the use of riser systems connected to floating platforms was needed. Riser systems are currently being designed for use in water depths beyond 10,000 ft.

Included in this article are brief descriptions of common riser types and configurations, summaries of the basic functional requirements of the common riser types, an overview of key design issues, and a brief look at key riser design challenges facing the offshore oil and gas industry.
Intentional Versus Incidental Learning
Authors: Boers Frank
Published: March 2017

This entry first assesses the chances of incidental acquisition of L2 grammar features and evaluates the need for interventions that stimulate intentional learning. This is followed by a review of some influential proposals for such interventions. It is argued that each of the proposed interventions has advantages but also limitations. A fair degree of eclecticism in one's pedagogical approach to L2 grammar therefore looks justified.
Portfolios
Authors: Curtis Andy
Published: March 2017

Although portfolios have been categorized as an alternative form of assessment in language education, over the years they have become more mainstream in a growing number of countries and contexts. Portfolios have been used as an alternative to large‐scale, standardized language testing: the latter focuses rather on the products of the learning process, whereas portfolios are designed to show the process as well as the product. Therefore portfolios are used to present a more detailed picture of what language learners know and can do, and how they developed that knowledge and those skills. One of the most significant technological developments has been the use of electronic portfolios, known as e‐portfolios, which enable the creation of multimedia and online portfolios with the help of Internet‐based tools and applications. However, many of the fundamental aspects of portfolios remain largely the same.
4D VMAT planning and verification technique for dynamic tracking using a direct aperture deformation (DAD) method
Authors: Zhang Yongqian , Yang Yong , Fu Weihua , Li Xiang , Li Tianfang , Heron Dwight E. , Huq M. Saiful.
Published: March 2017

We developed a four‐dimensional volumetric modulated arc therapy (4D VMAT) planning technique for moving targets using a direct aperture deformation (DAD) method and investigated its feasibility for clinical use. A 3D VMAT plan was generated on a reference phase of a 4D CT dataset. The plan was composed of a set of control points including the beam angle, MLC apertures and weights. To generate the 4D VMAT plan, these control points were assigned to the closest respiratory phases using the temporal information of the gantry angle and respiratory curve. Then, a DAD algorithm was used to deform the beam apertures at each control point to the corresponding phase to compensate for the tumor motion and shape changes. Plans for a phantom and five lung cases were included in this study to evaluate the proposed technique. Dosimetric comparisons were performed between 4D and 3D VMAT plans. Plan verification was implemented by delivering the 4D VMAT plans on a moving QUASAR™ phantom driven with patient‐specific respiratory curves. The phantom study showed that the 4D VMAT plan generated with the DAD method was comparable to the ideal 3D VMAT plan. DVH comparisons indicated that the planning target volume (PTV) coverages and minimum doses were nearly invariant, and no significant difference in lung dosimetry was observed. Patient studies revealed that the GTV coverage was nearly the same; although the PTV coverage dropped from 98.8% to 94.7%, and the mean dose decreased from 64.3 to 63.8 Gy on average. For the verification measurements, the average gamma index pass rate was 98.6% and 96.5% for phantom 3D and 4D VMAT plans with 3%/3 mm criteria. For patient plans, the average gamma pass rate was 96.5% (range 94.5–98.5%) and 95.2% (range 94.1–96.1%) for 3D and 4D VMAT plans. The proposed 4D VMAT planning technique using the DAD method is feasible to incorporate the intra‐fraction organ motion and shape change into a 4D VMAT planning. It has great potential to provide high plan quality and delivery efficiency for moving targets.
Evaluation of a surface imaging system's isocenter calibration methods
Authors: Paxton Adam B. , Manger Ryan P. , Pawlicki Todd , Kim Gwe‐Ya
Published: March 2017

AlignRT is a surface imaging system that has been utilized for localizing and tracking patient position during radiotherapy. AlignRT has two calibration procedures that can set the system's isocenter called “Monthly Calibration” (MC) and “Isocentre Calibration” (IC). The MC utilizes a calibration plate. In addition to the calibration plate, the IC utilizes a cubic phantom that is imaged with the linac treatment beam to aid in aligning the AlignRT and treatment‐beam isocenters. This work evaluated the effects of misaligning the calibration plate during the calibration process. The plate was intentionally shifted away from isocenter ±3.0 mm in the longitudinal and lateral directions and ±1.0 mm in the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions. A mock stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment was used to evaluate the effects of the miscalibrations. An anthropomorphic head phantom was placed in an SRS treatment position and monitored with the AlignRT system. The AlignRT‐indicated offsets were recorded at 270°, 315°, 0°, 45°, and 90° couch angles for each intentional misalignment of the calibration plate during the MC. The IC was also performed after each miscalibration, and the measurements were repeated and compared to the previous results. With intentional longitudinal and lateral shifts of ±3.0 mm and ±1.0 mm of the calibration plate, the average indicated offsets at couch rotations of ±90° were 4.3 mm and 1.6 mm, respectively. This was in agreement with the theoretical offset of √2*(shift‐of‐the‐calibration plate). Since vertical shifts were along the rotation axis of the couch, these shifts had little effect on the offsets with changing couch angle. When the IC was applied, the indicated offsets were all within 0.5 mm for all couch angles for each of the miscalibrations. These offsets were in agreement with the known magnitude of couch walkout. The IC method effectively removes the potential miscalibration artifacts of the MC method due to misalignments of the calibration plate.
A Nanoselenium Sponge for Instantaneous Mercury Removal to Undetectable Levels
Authors: Ahmed Snober , Brockgreitens John , Xu Ke , Abbas Abdennour
Published: March 2017

Selective removal of aqueous mercury to levels below 10 ng L−1 or part per trillion remains an elusive goal for public health and environmental agencies. Here, it is shown that a low‐cost nanocomposite sponge prepared by growing selenium (Se) nanomaterials on the surface and throughout the bulk of a polyurethane sponge exhibits a record breaking‐mercury ion (Hg2+) removal rate, regardless of the pH. The exposure of aqueous solutions containing 10 mg L−1–12 ng L−1 Hg2+ to the sponge for a few seconds results in clean water with undetectable mercury levels (detection limit: 0.2 ng L−1). Such performance is far below the acceptable limits in drinking water (2 µg L−1), industrial effluents (0.2 µg L−1), and the most stringent surface water quality standards (1.3 ng L−1). The sponge shows a unique preference for Hg, does not retain water nutrients, and can significantly reduce the concentration of other heavy metal pollutants. Furthermore, the sponge shows no cytotoxic effect on human cells while exhibiting strong antimicrobial properties. The high affinity of Hg for Se results in irreversible sequestration and detoxification of mercury by the sponge, confirming the suitability for landfill disposal.
Nickel–Cobalt Diselenide 3D Mesoporous Nanosheet Networks Supported on Ni Foam: An All‐pH Highly Efficient Integrated Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Liu Bin , Zhao Yu‐Fei , Peng Hui‐Qing , Zhang Zhen‐Yu , Sit Chun‐Kit , Yuen Muk‐Fung , Zhang Tie‐Rui , Lee Chun‐Sing , Zhang Wen‐Jun
Published: March 2017

Novel 3D Ni1−xCoxSe2 mesoporous nanosheet networks with tunable stoichiometry are successfully synthesized on Ni foam (Ni1−xCoxSe2 MNSN/NF with x ranging from 0 to 0.35). The collective effects of special morphological design and electronic structure engineering enable the integrated electrocatalyst to have very high activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and excellent stability in a wide pH range. Ni0.89Co0.11Se2 MNSN/NF is revealed to exhibit an overpotential (η10) of 85 mV at −10 mA cm−2 in alkaline medium (pH 14) and η10 of 52 mV in acidic solution (pH 0), which are the best among all selenide‐based electrocatalysts reported thus far. In particular, it is shown for the first time that the catalyst can work efficiently in neutral solution (pH 7) with a record η10 of 82 mV for all noble metal‐free electrocatalysts ever reported. Based on theoretical calculations, it is further verified that the advanced all‐pH HER activity of Ni0.89Co0.11Se2 is originated from the enhanced adsorption of both H+ and H2O induced by the substitutional doping of cobalt at an optimal level. It is believed that the present work provides a valuable route for the design and synthesis of inexpensive and efficient all‐pH HER electrocatalysts.
Deciding Where to Turn: A Qualitative Investigation of College Students’ Helpseeking Decisions After Sexual Assault
Authors: DeLoveh Heidi L. M. , Cattaneo Lauren Bennett
Published: March 2017

Sexual assault is a widespread problem on college campuses that has been the subject of substantial attention in recent years (Ali, 2011; Krebs, Lindquist, Berzofsky, Shook‐Sa, & Peterson, 2016). Resources designed to address the problem exist, but there is evidence that they are underutilized by survivors (Campbell, 2008). The current study used grounded theory to explore how sexual assault survivors make decisions about helpseeking. In‐depth interviews were conducted with 14 college sexual assault survivors to develop a theoretical model for their decision‐making process. The resulting model, Deciding Where to Turn, suggests that survivors engage in three key decision points: determining if there is a problem related to the sexual assault (Do I Need Help), considering options (What Can I Do), and weighing the consequences of these options (What Will I Do). This process results in one of four behavioral choices: cope on one's own, seek support from friends/family, seek support from formal resources, or covert helpseeking, where needs are met without disclosure. Deciding Where to Turn contributes to the literature by providing a framework for understanding helpseeking decisions after sexual assault, highlighting the need to match reactions to survivor perceptions. The concept of covert helpseeking in particular adds to the way researchers and practitioners think about helpseeking. Research and practice implications are discussed.
“It Happens to Girls All the Time”: Examining Sexual Assault Survivors’ Reasons for Not Using Campus Supports
Authors: Holland Kathryn J. , Cortina Lilia M.
Published: March 2017

Sexual assault is a prevalent problem in higher education, and despite the increasing availability of formal supports on college campuses, few sexual assault survivors use them. Experiencing sexual assault can have devastating consequences on survivors’ psychological and educational wellbeing, which may intensify if survivors do not receive adequate care. Drawing from existing theoretical frameworks and empirical research, this study used a mixed methodological approach to examine why survivors did not use three key campus supports—the Title IX Office, the sexual assault center, and housing staff—and if these reasons differed across the three supports. Using data from 284 women who experienced sexual assault in college, our qualitative findings identified four overarching themes, including logistical issues (e.g., lacking time and knowledge), feelings, beliefs, and responses that made it seem unacceptable to use campus supports, judgments about the appropriateness of the support, and alternative methods of coping. Quantitative findings revealed that survivors’ reasons for not seeking help differed across supports. Collectively, our findings suggest that community norms and institutional policies can make it challenging for survivors to use campus supports. We propose several suggestions for institutional change (e.g., taking a stronger stance against “less serious” forms of sexual assault, reducing a quasi‐criminal justice approach to investigation and adjudication, limiting mandated reporting).
Trouble in transit: Organizational barriers to workers’ health
Authors: Bowles Nicole P. , McEwen Bruce S. , Boutin‐Foster Carla
Published: March 2017

Background

Valuable insights on the health and behavior of transit workers can be obtained from qualitative research that considers the social environment, which affects job performance and determines levels of perceived stress.

Methods

Using a grounded theory approach, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with American transit workers (n = 32). Recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a constant comparative method.

Results

Participants described categories related to entrenched organizational practices, particularly managements’ leadership style, which created an atmosphere of distrust. High demanding work schedules, as a result of technological advances, were discussed in relation to diminished breaks, fatigue, and unhealthy diets. Transit workers also attributed increased work demands and irregular working hours to compromised time with family and friends.

Conclusions

The described barriers to positive health behaviors and social support underscore the need for interventions that ensure adequate breaks and recovery between shifts and increase safety for transit passengers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:350–367, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mast cell disorders in Ehlers–Danlos syndrome
Authors: Seneviratne Suranjith L. , Maitland Anne , Afrin Lawrence
Published: March 2017

Well known for their role in allergic disorders, mast cells (MCs) play a key role in homeostatic mechanisms and surveillance, recognizing and responding to different pathogens, and tissue injury, with an array of chemical mediators. After being recruited to connective tissues, resident MCs progenitors undergo further differentiation, under the influence of signals from surrounding microenvironment. It is the differential tissue homing and local maturation factors which result in a diverse population of resident MC phenotypes. An abundance of MC reside in connective tissue that borders with the external world (the skin as well as gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital tracts). Situated near nerve fibers, lymphatics, and blood vessels, as well as coupled with their ability to secrete potent mediators, MCs can modulate the function of local and distant structures (e.g., other immune cell populations, fibroblasts, angiogenesis), and MC dysregulation has been implicated in immediate and delayed hypersensitivity syndromes, neuropathies, and connective tissue disorders (CTDs). This report reviews basic biology of mast cells and mast cell activation as well as recent research efforts, which implicate a role of MC dysregulation beyond atopic disorders and in a cluster of Ehlers–Danlos Syndromes, non‐IGE mediated hypersensitivity disorders, and dysautonomia. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PLA–PEG‐grafted hollow magnetic silica microspheres as the carrier of iodinated contrast media
Authors: Zhao Min , Liu Jiangtao , Lei Zhongli
Published: March 2017

In this work, hollow magnetic silica microspheres (HMS) were synthesized by the template method, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA)‐grafted hollow magnetic microspheres HMS@PLA–PEG were successfully prepared through ring‐opening polymerization method. Ioversol was loaded into HMS@PLA–PEG by physical coating, and the drug loading content was up to 39.4%. It also exhibited a slower and steady release than HMS and the cumulative release was up to 55.1% at physiological pH, which implied the PLA–PEG could prolong the circulation time. Meanwhile, to improve the efficiency of contrast, we have developed composite microspheres encapsulating superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) as magnetic target for increasing the local concentration of the contrast media and expecting to put magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) technology together to apply in medical applications. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assay in vitro was also investigated. The results revealed the ioversol‐loaded HMS@PLA–PEG exhibited low toxicity at a higher concentration, even it is up to 400 μg/mL. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44914.
Functionalized graphene‐reinforced rubber composite: Mechanical and tribological behavior study
Authors: Wu Yanping , Chen Lei , Qin Songlv , Li Jinlong , Zhou Huidi , Chen Jianmin
Published: March 2017

A functionalized graphene, fluorinated graphene nanosheets (FGS), and SiO2 nanoparticles as reinforcing fillers were employed to improve the mechanical properties of the solution styrene butadiene and butadiene rubber composites (SSBR‐BR). The results showed that the mechanical properties of SSBR‐BR composite filled with FGS were substantially improved than those of the unfilled and equivalent filler loaded graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) filled SSBR‐BR composites. It can be ascribed to the fact that the hydrophobic surface of FGS can be endowed the good dispersion in rubber matrix and stronger interfacial interaction between rubber and fillers. The tribological properties of these composites are also investigated. The results reveal that incorporation of GO, rGO, and FGS in SSBR‐BR composites can decrease antiwear properties because the existence of layered graphene promotes to tear and peel off. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44970.
Rheological and mechanical properties of blends of LDPE with high contents of UHMWPE wastes
Authors: González Jeanette , Rosales Carmen , González Marco , León Natalia , Escalona Roberto , Rojas Héctor
Published: March 2017

The mixing of UHMWPE wastes with other polymers aims to reduce the environmental impact of waste materials. The dynamic rheological behavior of the blends, tensile and abrasion properties, Shore D hardness and impact resistance, and morphology are important in characterizing polymer blends. In this work, we have sought to obtain blends containing different proportions of UHMWPE wastes and LDPE with properties suitable for the manufacture of useful products. The blends exhibit an increase in complex viscosities, storage modulus, and Young's modulus with increasing content of UHMWPE wastes and a decrease in both the maximal elongation and Charpy impact resistance. Summarizing, the addition of up to 60 wt % of industrial fragments of UHMWPE is possible using conventional methods of processing to prepare blends with values of tensile strength, abrasion, and Shore D hardness similar to those of LDPE. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44996.
Neuroplasticity of Supraspinal Structures Associated with Pathological Pain
Authors: Boadas‐Vaello Pere , Homs Judit , Reina Francisco , Carrera Ana , Verdú Enrique
Published: March 2017

Peripheral nerve and spinal cord injuries, along with other painful syndromes such as fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapeutic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and/or irritable bowel syndrome, cause several neuroplasticity changes in the nervous system along its entire axis affecting the different neuronal nuclei. This paper reviews these changes, focusing on the supraspinal structures that are involved in the modulation and processing of pain, including the periaqueductal gray matter, red nucleus, locus coeruleus, rostral ventromedial medulla, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, habenula, primary, and secondary somatosensory cortex, motor cortex, mammillary bodies, hippocampus, septum, amygdala, cingulated, and prefrontal cortex. Hyperexcitability caused by the modification of postsynaptic receptor expression, central sensitization, and potentiation of presynaptic delivery of neurotransmitters, as well as the reduction of inhibitory inputs, changes in dendritic spine, neural circuit remodeling, alteration of gray matter, and upregulation of proinflammatory mediators (e.g., cytokines) by reactivation of astrocytes and microglial cells are the main functional, structural, and molecular neuroplasticity changes observed in the above supraspinal structures, associated with pathological pain. Studying these changes in greater depth may lead to the implementation and improvement of new therapeutic strategies against pathological pain. Anat Rec, 300:1481–1501, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.