bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Providing Flaxseed Oil but Not Menhaden Oil Protects against OVX Induced Bone Loss in the Mandible of Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Longo Amanda , Ward Wendy
Published: September 2016

Higher intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are associated with benefits at several skeletal sites in postmenopausal women and in rodent models, but the effect of PUFA-containing oils on tooth-supporting alveolar bone of the mandible has not been studied. Moreover, direct comparison of the effect of flaxseed oil (a source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)) and menhaden oil (a source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) is unknown. One-month old female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were randomized to and fed a diet containing flaxseed oil or menhaden oil from one to six months of age. At three months of age, rats were randomized to receive SHAM or ovariectomy (OVX) surgery (n = 12/diet). The inter-radicular septum below the first molar of the mandible was imaged at 6 months of age (study endpoint) using micro-computed tomography (μCT) at a resolution of 9 μm. As expected, OVX significantly reduced percent bone volume (BV/TV), connectivity density (Conn. D.), trabecular number (Tb. N.), and increased trabecular separation (Tb. Sp.) compared to SHAM rats (p < 0.001). However, post hoc analysis revealed these differences were present in rats fed menhaden oil but not those fed flaxseed oil. These results suggest that providing flaxseed oil, possibly through its high ALA content, provides protection against the OVX-induced alveolar bone loss in rats.
Analytical Investigations on Carrier Phase Recovery in Dispersion-Unmanaged n-PSK Coherent Optical Communication Systems
Authors: Xu Tianhua , Jacobsen Gunnar , Popov Sergei , Li Jie , Liu Tiegen , Zhang Yimo , Bayvel Polina
Published: September 2016

Using coherent optical detection and digital signal processing, laser phase noise and equalization enhanced phase noise can be effectively mitigated using the feed-forward and feed-back carrier phase recovery approaches. In this paper, theoretical analyses of feed-back and feed-forward carrier phase recovery methods have been carried out in the long-haul high-speed n-level phase shift keying (n-PSK) optical fiber communication systems, involving a one-tap normalized least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm, a block-wise average algorithm, and a Viterbi-Viterbi algorithm. The analytical expressions for evaluating the estimated carrier phase and for predicting the bit-error-rate (BER) performance (such as the BER floors) have been presented and discussed in the n-PSK coherent optical transmission systems by considering both the laser phase noise and the equalization enhanced phase noise. The results indicate that the Viterbi-Viterbi carrier phase recovery algorithm outperforms the one-tap normalized LMS and the block-wise average algorithms for small phase noise variance (or effective phase noise variance), while the one-tap normalized LMS algorithm shows a better performance than the other two algorithms for large phase noise variance (or effective phase noise variance). In addition, the one-tap normalized LMS algorithm is more sensitive to the level of modulation formats.
Influence of Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Properties on Bacterial Adhesion Capacity
Authors: Kovačević Davor , Pratnekar Rok , Godič Torkar Karmen , Salopek Jasmina , Dražić Goran , Abram Anže , Bohinc Klemen
Published: September 2016

Bacterial adhesion can be controlled by different material surface properties, such as surface charge, on which we concentrate in our study. We use a silica surface on which poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/sodium poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PAH/PSS) polyelectrolyte multilayers were formed. The corresponding surface roughness and hydrophobicity were determined by atomic force microscopy and tensiometry. The surface charge was examined by the zeta potential measurements of silica particles covered with polyelectrolyte multilayers, whereby ionic strength and polyelectrolyte concentrations significantly influenced the build-up process. For adhesion experiments, we used the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extent of adhered bacteria on the surface was determined by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the extent of adhered bacteria mostly depends on the type of terminating polyelectrolyte layer, since relatively low differences in surface roughness and hydrophobicity were obtained. In the case of polyelectrolyte multilayers terminating with a positively charged layer, bacterial adhesion was more pronounced than in the case when the polyelectrolyte layer was negatively charged.
Open Access in Context: Connecting Authors, Publications and Workflows Using ORCID Identifiers
Authors: Brown Josh , Demeranville Tom , Meadows Alice
Published: September 2016

As scholarly communications became digital, Open Access and, more broadly, open research, emerged among the most exciting possibilities of the academic Web. However, these possibilities have been constrained by phenomena carried over from the print age. Information resources dwell in discrete silos. It is difficult to connect authors and others unambiguously to specific outputs, despite advances in algorithmic matching. Connecting funding information, datasets, and other essential research information to individuals and their work is still done manually at great expense in time and effort. Given that one of the greatest benefits of the modern web is the rich array of links between digital objects and related resources that it enables, this is a significant failure. The ability to connect, discover, and access resources is the underpinning premise of open research, so tools to enable this, themselves open, are vital. The increasing adoption of resolvable, persistent identifiers for people, digital objects, and research information offers a means of providing these missing connections. This article describes some of the ways that identifiers can help to unlock the potential of open research, focusing on the Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID), a person identifier that also serves to link other identifiers.
Testing a Modified PCA-Based Sharpening Approach for Image Fusion
Authors: Jelének Jan , Kopačková Veronika , Koucká Lucie , Mišurec Jan
Published: September 2016

Image data sharpening is a challenging field of remote sensing science, which has become more relevant as high spatial-resolution satellites and superspectral sensors have emerged. Although the spectral property is crucial for mineral mapping, spatial resolution is also important as it allows targeted minerals/rocks to be identified/interpreted in a spatial context. Therefore, improving the spatial context, while keeping the spectral property provided by the superspectral sensor, would bring great benefits for geological/mineralogical mapping especially in arid environments. In this paper, a new concept was tested using superspectral data (ASTER) and high spatial-resolution panchromatic data (WorldView-2) for image fusion. A modified Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-based sharpening method, which implements a histogram matching workflow that takes into account the real distribution of values, was employed to test whether the substitution of Principal Components (PC1–PC4) can bring a fused image which is spectrally more accurate. The new approach was compared to those most widely used—PCA sharpening and Gram–Schmidt sharpening (GS), both available in ENVI software (Version 5.2 and lower) as well as to the standard approach—sharpening Landsat 8 multispectral bands (MUL) using its own panchromatic (PAN) band. The visual assessment and the spectral quality indicators proved that the spectral performance of the proposed sharpening approach employing PC1 and PC2 improve the performance of the PCA algorithm, moreover, comparable or better results are achieved compared to the GS method. It was shown that, when using the PC1, the visible-near infrared (VNIR) part of the spectrum was preserved better, however, if the PC2 was used, the short-wave infrared (SWIR) part was preserved better. Furthermore, this approach improved the output spectral quality when fusing image data from different sensors (e.g., ASTER and WorldView-2) while keeping the proper albedo scaling when substituting the second PC.
Automated Ortho-Rectification of UAV-Based Hyperspectral Data over an Agricultural Field Using Frame RGB Imagery
Authors: Habib Ayman , Han Youkyung , Xiong Weifeng , He Fangning , Zhang Zhou , Crawford Melba
Published: September 2016

Low-cost Unmanned Airborne Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with consumer-grade imaging systems have emerged as a potential remote sensing platform that could satisfy the needs of a wide range of civilian applications. Among these applications, UAV-based agricultural mapping and monitoring have attracted significant attention from both the research and professional communities. The interest in UAV-based remote sensing for agricultural management is motivated by the need to maximize crop yield. Remote sensing-based crop yield prediction and estimation are primarily based on imaging systems with different spectral coverage and resolution (e.g., RGB and hyperspectral imaging systems). Due to the data volume, RGB imaging is based on frame cameras, while hyperspectral sensors are primarily push-broom scanners. To cope with the limited endurance and payload constraints of low-cost UAVs, the agricultural research and professional communities have to rely on consumer-grade and light-weight sensors. However, the geometric fidelity of derived information from push-broom hyperspectral scanners is quite sensitive to the available position and orientation established through a direct geo-referencing unit onboard the imaging platform (i.e., an integrated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS). This paper presents an automated framework for the integration of frame RGB images, push-broom hyperspectral scanner data and consumer-grade GNSS/INS navigation data for accurate geometric rectification of the hyperspectral scenes. The approach relies on utilizing the navigation data, together with a modified Speeded-Up Robust Feature (SURF) detector and descriptor, for automating the identification of conjugate features in the RGB and hyperspectral imagery. The SURF modification takes into consideration the available direct geo-referencing information to improve the reliability of the matching procedure in the presence of repetitive texture within a mechanized agricultural field. Identified features are then used to improve the geometric fidelity of the previously ortho-rectified hyperspectral data. Experimental results from two real datasets show that the geometric rectification of the hyperspectral data was improved by almost one order of magnitude.
Spatial Preference Heterogeneity for Integrated River Basin Management: The Case of the Shiyang River Basin, China
Authors: Aregay Fanus , Yao Liuyang , Zhao Minjuan
Published: September 2016

Integrated river basin management (IRBM) programs have been launched in most parts of China to ease escalating environmental degradation. Meanwhile, little is known about the benefits from and the support for these programs. This paper presents a case study of the preference heterogeneity for IRBM in the Shiyang River Basin, China, as measured by the Willingness to Pay (WTP), for a set of major restoration attributes. A discrete choice analysis of relevant restoration attributes was conducted. The results based on a sample of 1012 households in the whole basin show that, on average, there is significant support for integrated ecological restoration as indicated by significant WTP for all ecological attributes. However, residential location induced preference heterogeneities are prevalent. Generally, compared to upper-basin residents, middle sub-basin residents have lower mean WTP while lower sub-basin residents express higher mean WTP. The disparity in utility is partially explained by the difference in ecological and socio-economic status of the residents. In conclusion, estimating welfare benefit of IRBM projects based on sample responses from a specific sub-section of the basin only may either understate or overstate the welfare estimate.
Can Organic Farming Reduce Vulnerabilities and Enhance the Resilience of the European Food System? A Critical Assessment Using System Dynamics Structural Thinking Tools
Authors: Brzezina Natalia , Kopainsky Birgit , Mathijs Erik
Published: September 2016

In a world of growing complexity and uncertainty, food systems must be resilient, i.e., able to deliver sustainable and equitable food and nutrition security in the face of multiple shocks and stresses. The resilience of the European food system that relies mostly on conventional agriculture is a matter of genuine concern and a new approach is called for. Does then organic farming have the potential to reduce vulnerabilities and improve the resilience of the European food system to shocks and stresses? In this paper, we use system dynamics structural thinking tools to identify the vulnerabilities of the conventional food system that result from both its internal structure as well as its exposure to external disturbances. Further, we evaluate whether organic farming can reduce the vulnerabilities. We argue here that organic farming has some potential to bring resilience to the European food system, but it has to be carefully designed and implemented to overcome the contradictions between the dominant socio-economic organization of food production and the ability to enact all organic farming’s principles—health, ecology, fairness and care—on a broader scale.
Nitrogen and Sediment Capture of a Floating Treatment Wetland on an Urban Stormwater Retention Pond—The Case of the Rain Project
Authors: McAndrew Brendan , Ahn Changwoo , Spooner Joanna
Published: September 2016

Nitrogen is widely recognized as a chronic urban stormwater pollutant. In the United States, wet retention ponds have become widely used to treat urban runoff for quantity and quality. While wet ponds typically function well for the removal of sediments, nitrogen removal, performance can be inconsistent due to poor design and/or lack of maintenance. Retrofitting ponds to improve their nitrogen capture performance, however, is often expensive. By hydroponically growing macrophytes on wet ponds, floating treatment wetlands (FTW) may provide a cheap, sustainable means of improving nitrogen removal efficiency of aging stormwater ponds. Few studies have been performed on the effectiveness real-world stormwater systems, however. In this study, we investigated the nitrogen and sediment capture performance of a 50 m2 floating treatment wetland deployed for 137 days on a stormwater wet pond located within an urban university campus near Washington, D.C. A total of 2684 g of biomass was produced, 3100 g of sediment captured, and 191 g of nitrogen removed from the pond. Although biomass production was relatively low (53 g/m2), we found that nitrogen uptake by the plants (0.009 g/m2/day) was comparable to contemporary FTW studies.
Development of an Innovative in Vitro Potency Assay for Anti-Botulinum Antitoxins
Authors: Rosen Osnat , Ozeri Eyal , Barnea Ada , David Alon , Zichel Ran
Published: September 2016

Botulinum neurotoxins are bacterial proteins that cause botulism, a life-threatening disease. Therapy relies mostly on post-intoxication antibody treatment. The only accepted method to measure the potency of, and to approve, antitoxin preparations is the mouse lethality neutralization bioassay. However, this assay is time-consuming, labor-intensive, costly, and raises ethical issues related to the large numbers of laboratory animals needed. Until now, all efforts to develop an alternative in vitro assay have not provided a valid replacement to the mouse potency assay. In the present study, we report the development of an innovative in vitro assay for determining botulinum antitoxin potency, using botulinum type B as a model. The concept of the assay is to mimic two fundamental steps in botulinum intoxication: receptor binding and catalytic activity. By simulating these steps in vitro we were able to accurately determine the potency of antitoxin preparations. The reproducibility of the assay was high with a CV < 13%. Most importantly, the antitoxin potency measured by the in vitro assay highly correlated with that measured by the standard in vivo mouse assay (r = 0.9842, p < 0.0001). Thus, this new in vitro assay has the potential to be considered, after validation, as a replacement to the mouse assay for quantitating neutralizing antibody concentrations in pharmaceutical botulinum antitoxin preparations. Future adoption of this in vitro assay would minimize the use of laboratory animals, speed up the time, and reduce the cost of botulinum antitoxin approval.
Protective Effects of Sporoderm-Broken Spores of Ganderma lucidum on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity and Immune Function of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Low Level of Aflatoxin B1
Authors: Liu Tao , Ma Qiugang , Zhao Lihong , Jia Ru , Zhang Jianyun , Ji Cheng , Wang Xinyue
Published: September 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the toxic effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and evaluate the effects of sporoderm-broken spores of Ganoderma lucidum (SSGL) in relieving aflatoxicosis in broilers. A total of 300 one-day-old male Arbor Acre broiler chickens were randomly divided into four dietary treatments; the treatment diets were: Control (a basal diet containing normal peanut meal); AFB1 (the basal diet containing AFB1-contaminated peanut meal); SSGL (basal diet with 200 mg/kg of SSGL); AFB1+SSGL (supplementation of 200 mg/kg of SSGL in AFB1 diet). The contents of AFB1 in AFB1 and AFB1+SSGL diets were 25.0 μg/kg in the starter period and 22.5 μg/kg in the finisher period. The results showed that diet contaminated with a low level of AFB1 significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the average daily feed intake and average daily gain during the entire experiment and reduced (p < 0.05) serum contents of total protein IgA and IgG. Furthermore, a dietary low level of AFB1 not only increased (p < 0.05) levels of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation, but also decreased (p < 0.05) total antioxidant capability, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and hydroxyl radical scavenger activity in the liver and spleen of broilers. Moreover, the addition of SSGL to AFB1-contaminated diet counteracted these negative effects, indicating that SSGL has a protective effect against aflatoxicosis.
Integrated Mosquito Management in Experimental Constructed Wetlands: Efficacy of Small-Stature Macrophytes and Fluctuating Hydroperiod
Authors: Walton William , Duguma Dagne , Tao Min , Popko David , Nygren Scott
Published: September 2016

The impact of small-stature alkali bulrush (Bolboschoenus maritimus) and two hydroperiod treatments (early season raised water level or ambient water level) on mosquito production and water quality was studied in replicate 0.09 ha free water surface (FWS) treatment wetlands. Following reconfiguration of a 1-ha constructed wetland into a system with six replicate wetlands, bulrush was planted on 0.5-m centers in three 5-m wide bands in each wetland in summer, 2012. Open water and the low density of emergent vegetation effectively limited mosquito production from the bands of B. maritimus in each wetland during summer and autumn of year one. After the autumnal senescence of the bulrush culms, water levels were raised in half of the wetlands during winter and early spring to enhance sinking of dead bulrush biomass to reduce harborage for mosquitoes. Macrophyte coverage continued to increase in both hydroperiod treatments during year two, but non-bulrush species proliferated and eventually overgrew B. maritimus. Immature mosquito abundance in dipper samples from wetlands in the raised water level treatment was greater than from wetlands in the constant water level treatment. During spring of year two, adult mosquito production was associated with volunteer vegetation in the center of the test cells and averaged 6–18 mosquitoes m−2·day−1, approximately twice that of the other treatment. Hydrological regime did not significantly affect water quality performance (removal of nitrogen, phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand) in the wetlands. Alkali bulrush can persist in shallow water (depth < 0.2 m), but did not persist in deeper zones (mean depth > 0.4 m) of the wetlands and after comparatively large stature grasses and cattails colonized the wetlands. Raised planting beds interspersed with zones of deeper water are recommended to facilitate persistence of alkali bulrush and to limit proliferation of superior competitors.
Evaluation of Dicentrarchus labrax Meats and the Vegetable Quality of Beta vulgaris var. cicla Farmed in Freshwater and Saltwater Aquaponic Systems
Authors: Nozzi Valentina , Parisi Giuliana , Di Crescenzo Davide , Giordano Mario , Carnevali Oliana
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this study is to exploit the euryhaline nature of commercially attractive species for their cultivation in freshwater aquaponic systems. This approach may increase the profitability of aquaponic production in coastal countries where the consumption of marine fish is traditional and of commercial relevance. For this purpose, juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were reared in an aquaponic freshwater (AFW) system and an aquaponic saltwater (ASW) system (salinity 20 ppt), in combination with chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) seedlings, a salt tolerant plant. At the end of the trial, nitrate and phosphate concentration in water significantly increased in the ASW system, suggesting that the ability of B. vulgaris to absorb these substances was limited by salinity. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry revealed that the concentration of some oligoelements such as Fe remained lower with respect to the concentration in the freshwater hydroponic solution, in both AFW and ASW. FTIR-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on plants showed that growth at high salinity affected their lipid content. In the case of fish, freshwater had no effects on mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acid profiles, although saturated fatty acids were significantly decreased in D. labrax reared in AFW. Our results demonstrates that it is possible to increase aquaponic profitability by farming D. labrax juveniles in an aquaponic freshwater system together with Beta vulgaris, obtaining good quality products.
MODERN DESIGNS: HISTORY AND MEMORY IN LE CORBUSIER’S CHANDIGARH
Authors: Ghosh Nabaparna
Published: September 2016

Located at the foothills of the Sivalik Mountains, Chandigarh was the dream city of independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1952, Nehru commissioned the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier to design Chandigarh. Scholars often locate in Corbusier’s plans an urban modernity that required a break with the past. Moving away from such scholarship, this article will argue that Chandigarh marked a climactic moment in Le Corbusier’s career when he tried to weave together modern architecture with tradition, and through it, human beings with nature. A careful study of the cosmic iconography of Chandigarh clearly reveals that nature for Le Corbusier was more than a vast expanse of greenery: it was organized in symbolic ways, as a cosmic form emblematic of Hindu mythologies. I will argue that in addition to local conditions – economic and cultural – that impacted the actual execution of Le Corbusier’s plans, cosmic iconography shaped a modernism profoundly reliant on Hindu traditions. This iconography also inspired a new generation of Indian architects like Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi (1927 – present). Doshi played a key role in authoring the postcolonial architectural discourse in India. Following Le Corbusier, he advocated an architectural modernism anchored in sacred Hindu traditions.
ALLUSIONS TO MUGHAL URBAN FORMS IN THE MONUMENTALITY OF CHANDIGARH’S CAPITOL COMPLEX
Authors: Jahnkassim Puteri Shireen , Nawawi Norwina Mohd
Published: September 2016

The formative influence of the Mughal gardens on the urban spaces of the Capitol Complex, Chandigarh is discussed as part of Le Corbusier’s vision in realising new urban symbols to represent an independent India. Corbusier had not only “regionalised” Modernist elements of architectural design but had “modernised” past urban forms by artfully rejecting the traditional gridded patterns and urban traditions such as the Mughal gardens, and transforming them into a dynamic restructuring and interplay of urban forms and spaces. To disassociate the new capital from its Colonial past and to create a new sense of spatial drama symbolising the nation’s hopes for the future, Fatehpur Sikri’s renowned orthogonal and gridded urban plazas with its interconnected courtyards and cloisters, became part of Corbusier’s arsenal of precedents, and these were abstracted and reworked into a new orchestration of urban spaces; and integrated with Modernised concrete architectural forms. The garden archetype and recurring traditional Mughal devices such as the “chattri” and the trabeated terraces allusions were simplified and synthesised with overlapping “spaces-between-buildings” such as bodies of water, platforms and a series of roofscapes. The influence of the Mughal gardens is again seen in a subsequent project in later years by Corbusier i.e. the unbuilt proposal for the Venice Hospital, whose layout and planning carry similar overtones of overlapping courtyards but fused into a series of outdoor-indoor spaces due to the need to be cognizant of, and sensitive to, the historical fabric and tissue of an existing city.
ARCHITECTURAL PATRIMONY IN THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE VOISIN PLAN
Authors: Velasquez Victor
Published: September 2016

The “Plan Voisin” for Paris dated 1925, is one of the most notorious urban projects by Le Corbusier. In it he implements his first real model of the modern city: “The city of Three Million Inhabitants”, drawn for the Autumn Exhibit on 1922. Both projects have a close and direct relation. While one proposes a theoretical model, the other develops how to implement it in the center of Paris. Therefore, both projects can be understood as the same approach but in two different moments. In Le Corbusier’s books, the graphical representation of the projects reflect this, although the documents tend to contradict it. In his “Œuvre complète”, for example, the number of images differs for each case. While the project “The city of three million Inhabitants” is represented by a generous amount of drawings and plans (around 20 images), the “Plan Voisin” adds up to a maximum of five specific images. In the book “Urbanisme” the proportion is of images is similar. This This is a cause of scarce comprehension of the plan for Paris. The article focuses on the graphical documentation in “Plan Voisin”, its difference with the theoretical model and an analysis of its implementation. Principally, the article studies the relation between the new buildings with with those that remains, revealing Le Corbusier’s criteria towards architectural heritage and the importance he gives to some urban complexes in Paris.
FROM ROME TO NEW YORK BACKGROUND TO THE URBAN PROPOSALS OF LE CORBUSIER
Authors: Daza Ricardo
Published: September 2016

The paper argues that urban proposals of Le Corbusier arise from the study of the history of architecture. Through a comparison of his journey impressions with his urban projects, this paper demonstrates that the ideas and perceptions that determined Le Corbusier proposals were extracted and interpreted from the study that the young architect carried out of the settlements and cities of Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean in his well-known Voyage d’Orient.
EXTENDED MHD TURBULENCE AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO THE SOLAR WIND
Authors: Abdelhamid Hamdi M. , Lingam Manasvi , Mahajan Swadesh M.
Published: September 2016

Extended MHD is a one-fluid model that incorporates two-fluid effects such as electron inertia and the Hall drift. This model is used to construct fully nonlinear Alfvénic wave solutions, and thereby derive the kinetic and magnetic spectra by resorting to a Kolmogorov-like hypothesis based on the constant cascading rates of the energy and generalized helicities of this model. The magnetic and kinetic spectra are derived in the ideal

, Hall

, and electron inertia

regimes; k is the wavenumber and

is the skin depth of species “s.” In the Hall regime, it is shown that the emergent results are fully consistent with previous numerical and analytical studies, especially in the context of the solar wind. The focus is primarily on the electron inertia regime, where magnetic energy spectra with power-law indexes of

and

are always recovered. The latter, in particular, is quite close to recent observational evidence from the solar wind with a potential slope of approximately −4 in this regime. It is thus plausible that these spectra may constitute a part of the (extended) inertial range, as opposed to the standard “dissipation” range paradigm.
EVIDENCE OF SPREADING LAYER EMISSION IN A THERMONUCLEAR SUPERBURST
Authors: Koljonen K. I. I. , Kajava J. J. E. , Kuulkers E.
Published: September 2016

When a neutron star (NS) accretes matter from a companion star in a low-mass X-ray binary, the accreted gas settles onto the stellar surface through a boundary/spreading layer. On rare occasions the accumulated gas undergoes a powerful thermonuclear superburst powered by carbon burning deep below the NS atmosphere. In this paper, we apply the non-negative matrix factorization spectral decomposition technique to show that the spectral variations during a superburst from 4U 1636–536 can be explained by two distinct components: (1) the superburst emission characterized by a variable temperature blackbody radiation component and (2) a quasi-Planckian component with a constant, ∼2.5 keV, temperature varying by a factor of ∼15 in flux. The spectrum of the quasi-Planckian component is identical in shape and characteristics to the frequency-resolved spectra observed in the accretion/persistent spectrum of NS low-mass X-ray binaries and agrees well with the predictions of the spreading layer model by Inogamov & Sunyaev. Our results provide yet more observational evidence that superbursts—and possibly also normal X-ray bursts—induce changes in the disc–star boundary.
THE MAGNETIC FURNACE: INTENSE CORE DYNAMOS IN B STARS
Authors: Augustson Kyle C. , Brun Allan Sacha , Toomre Juri
Published: September 2016

The dynamo action achieved in the convective cores of main-sequence massive stars is explored here through three-dimensional (3D) global simulations of convective core dynamos operating within a young

B-type star, using the anelastic spherical harmonic code. These simulations capture the inner 65% of this star by radius, encompassing the convective nuclear-burning core (about 23% by radius) and a portion of the overlying radiative envelope. Eight rotation rates are considered, ranging from 0.05% to 16% of the surface breakup velocity, thereby capturing both convection that barely senses the effects of rotation and other situations in which the Coriolis forces are prominent. The vigorous dynamo action realized within all of these turbulent convective cores builds magnetic fields with peak strengths exceeding a megagauss, with the overall magnetic energy (ME) in the faster rotators reaching super-equipartition levels compared to the convective kinetic energy (KE). The core convection typically involves turbulent columnar velocity structures roughly aligned with the rotation axis, with magnetic fields threading through these rolls and possessing complex linkages throughout the core. The very strong fields are able to coexist with the flows without quenching them through Lorentz forces. The velocity and magnetic fields achieve such a state by being nearly co-aligned, and with peak magnetic islands being somewhat displaced from the fastest flows as the intricate evolution proceeds. As the rotation rate is increased, the primary force balance shifts from nonlinear advection balancing Lorentz forces to a magnetostrophic balance between Coriolis and Lorentz forces.
NEON AND
158 μm EMISSION LINE PROFILES IN DUSTY STARBURSTS AND ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
Authors: Samsonyan Anahit , Weedman Daniel , Lebouteiller Vianney , Barry Donald , Sargsyan Lusine
Published: September 2016

A sample of 379 extragalactic sources is presented that has mid-infrared, high-resolution spectroscopy from the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) and also spectroscopy of the [C ii] 158 μm  line from the Herschel Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS). The emission line profiles of [Ne ii] 12.81 μm, [Ne iii] 15.55 μm, and [C ii] 158 μm  are presented, and intrinsic line widths are determined (full width half maximum of Gaussian profiles after instrumental correction). All line profiles, together with overlays comparing the positions of PACS and IRS observations, are made available in the Cornell Atlas of Spitzer IRS Sources. Sources are classified from active galactic nucleus (AGN) to starburst based on equivalent widths of the 6.2 μm  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon feature. It is found that intrinsic line widths do not change among classifications for [C ii], with median widths of 207 km s−1 for AGNs, 248 km s−1 for composites, and 233 km s−1 for starbursts. The [Ne ii] line widths also do not change with classification, but [Ne iii] lines are progressively broader from starburst to AGN. A few objects with unusually broad lines or unusual redshift differences in any feature are identified.
THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY CO MAPPING SURVEY OF GALACTIC MOLECULAR CLOUDS. V. THE SH2-235 CLOUD IN CO J = 2 − 1, 13CO J = 2 − 1, AND CO J = 3 − 2
Authors: Bieging John H. , Patel Saahil , Peters William L. , Toth L. Viktor , Marton Gábor , Zahorecz Sarolta
Published: September 2016

We present the results of a program to map the Sh2-235 molecular cloud complex in the CO and 13CO J = 2 − 1 transitions using the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope. The map resolution is 38″ (FWHM), with an rms noise of 0.12 K brightness temperature, for a velocity resolution of 0.34 km s−1. With the same telescope, we also mapped the CO J = 3 − 2 line at a frequency of 345 GHz, using a 64 beam focal plane array of heterodyne mixers, achieving a typical rms noise of 0.5 K brightness temperature with a velocity resolution of 0.23 km s−1. The three spectral line data cubes are available for download. Much of the cloud appears to be slightly sub-thermally excited in the J = 3 level, except for in the vicinity of the warmest and highest column density areas, which are currently forming stars. Using the CO and 13CO J = 2 − 1 lines, we employ an LTE model to derive the gas column density over the entire mapped region. Examining a 125 pc2 region centered on the most active star formation in the vicinity of Sh2-235, we find that the young stellar object surface density scales as approximately the 1.6-power of the gas column density. The area distribution function of the gas is a steeply declining exponential function of gas column density. Comparison of the morphology of ionized and molecular gas suggests that the cloud is being substantially disrupted by expansion of the H ii regions, which may be triggering current star formation.
MAGNETAR-LIKE X-RAY BURSTS FROM A ROTATION-POWERED PULSAR, PSR J1119–6127
Authors: Göğüş Ersin , Lin Lin , Kaneko Yuki , Kouveliotou Chryssa , Watts Anna L. , Chakraborty Manoneeta , Alpar M. Ali , Huppenkothen Daniela , Roberts Oliver J. , Younes George , van der Horst Alexander J.
Published: September 2016

Two energetic hard X-ray bursts from the rotation-powered pulsar PSR J1119−6127 recently triggered the Fermi and Swift space observatories. We have performed in-depth spectral and temporal analyses of these two events. Our extensive searches in both observatories’ data for lower luminosity bursts uncovered 10 additional events from the source. We report here on the timing and energetics of the 12 bursts from PSR J1119−6127 during its burst active phase on 2016 July 26 and 28. We also found a spectral softer X-ray flux enhancement in a post-burst episode, which shows evidence of cooling. Here we discuss the implications of these results on the nature of this unusual high-field radio pulsar, which firmly place it within the typical magnetar population.
Navigating Medicare Part D Websites: Are the Part D Plans in Compliance?
Authors: Cooke Catherine E. , Kaiser Michael J. , Sheppard Monique A. , Brandt Nicole J.
Published: September 2016

Today, more than one half of older adults use the internet to obtain health-related information, and there is growing interest from governmental agencies in providing information online. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides guidance to Part D prescription drug plan sponsors about information to include on their websites. The current article examines compliance with the 2014 CMS guidance for Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program information on Part D plan sponsors' websites. There were 59.5% of plan sponsors that had a dedicated MTM program webpage, accessible within two clicks from the plan sponsor's home page and provided basic information, eligibility for MTM services, and access to a blank copy of a personalized medication list document. Although improvements in the provision of information about plan sponsors' MTM programs can be made, future work should evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the online MTM program information provided to Medicare beneficiaries. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 42
(10), 9–14.]
A Partnership Approach to Genetic and Genomic Graduate Nursing Curriculum: Report of a New Course's Impact on Student Confidence
Authors: Williams Tamara , Dale Rosemary
Published: September 2016

Background:

Genetics and genomics have historically not been included in nursing curricula but are increasingly important in health care delivery. A course was developed through a collaboration between nursing and pathology faculty, combining nursing practice and genomics content expertise.

Method:

Graduate nursing students enrolled in the course self-reported confidence in the 38 American Nurses Association essential genetic and genomic competencies prior to, immediately after, and 9 months after completing the course.

Results:

Before the course, students reported low confidence across all competencies. Students indicated a significant improvement in confidence in all competencies with an average 2-point improvement on a 5-point Likert scale, both immediately and 9 months after course completion.

Conclusion:

A course rooted in basic science directly linked to nursing application can prepare nurses to develop a sustained confidence in core competencies. Cross-disciplinary collaborations with faculty who have expertise in genomics may be an effective strategy for nursing programs. [
J Nurs Educ
. 2016;55(10):574–578.]
Developing PhD Nurse Scientists: Do Bachelor of Science in Nursing Honors Programs Help?
Authors: Neuberger Geri B.
Published: September 2016

Background:

The critical need for more nurses with research doctoral degrees to replace vacancies among retiring nursing faculty and nurse administrators is identified. The
Future of Nursing
report recommends that the number of nurses with PhD degrees double by 2020.

Method:

Encouraging nursing students to begin doctoral education early in their careers is essential to meeting this goal now and in the future. One method to promote early enrollment into doctoral education is participation in a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) honors program. We describe the recruitment and application process, mentor selection, scholarly activities, and publication of final manuscripts for one such program.

Results:

The success of one BSN honors program in enabling graduation with university honors and encouraging enrollment and graduation with doctoral degrees is described.

Conclusions:

The development of more BSN Honors programs and enhancement of activities of current programs are recommended. [
J Nurs Educ
. 2016;55(10):579–582.]
Longitudinal Changes in Refractive Error in a Pediatric Referral Population in Korea
Authors: Kim Young Shin , Lee Seung-Yup , Park Song-hee
Published: September 2016

Purpose:

To investigate changes in the spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error and astigmatism in a pediatric referral population in Korea with longitudinal follow-up and to evaluate the effect of risk factors on changes in refractive error.

Methods:

This was a retrospective case series. In total, 221 patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital when aged 3 to 9 years and who underwent at least 10 years of follow-up were enrolled. The patients were divided into groups in terms of the initial extent of SE refractive error, the initial extent of astigmatism, sex, and ocular alignment. Changes in SE and astigmatism were compared among the groups.

Results:

The patients were followed up for a mean of 11.19 ± 1.81 years. An overall negative shift in SE refractive error and increasing tendency in astigmatism during the follow-up period were noted. The negative shift in SE refractive error in the myopia group was significantly greater than those in the emmetropia and hyperopia groups. The change in astigmatism in the myopia group was significantly greater than that in the hyperopia group. The change in astigmatism in the low astigmatism group was significantly greater than those in the moderate and high astigmatism groups. Sex did not influence the changes in SE refractive error or astigmatism.

Conclusions:

A pediatric referral population in Korea showed a negative shift in SE refractive error and increasing tendency in astigmatism during childhood. Changes in refractive error may be influenced by the initial degree of SE refractive error and astigmatism.

[
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
. 2017;54(1):43–51.]
Two Cases of Retinoblastoma Invading the Optic Nerve Sheath
Authors: Raffa Lina , Carret Anne-Sophie , Hamel Patrick , Superstein Rosanne , Ellezam Benjamin
Published: September 2016

The authors report two cases of retinoblastoma with extension along the optic nerve sheath with negative surgical margins, a pattern not considered in current classifications but suggesting a high risk of metastasis. Both patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy alone and remain free of extraocular disease 15 and 22 months later.

[
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus
. 2016;53:e51–e53.]
Los coniopterígidos de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares (Insecta: Neuropterida, Neuroptera: Coniopterygidae)
Authors: Monserrat Víctor J.
Published: September 2016

Se revisan las especies de coniopterígidos presentes en la fauna de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares donde, hasta la fecha, están representadas por 39 especies pertenecientes a 8 géneros. Partiendo de los datos generales conocidos, damos una diagnosis de la familia y citamos algunos elementos sobre su historial paleontológico y su distribución, y algunos datos sobre su morfología, su biología, sus estadios juveniles y comportamiento, y se comenta una breve introducción sobre el historial en el conocimiento de la familia, y en particular en la Península Ibérica y Baleares. Se propone revalidar a Coniopteryx (Holoconiopteryx) tullgreni Tjeder, 1930 sp. reval. como especie válida, se describe Helicoconis bachi n. sp. como nueva especie, y se mantiene, se discute y se argumenta nuestro criterio sobre la validez de Coniopteryx parthenia (Nav.s & Marcet, 1910) (sensu Meinander, 1972a) frente a Coniopteryx hoelzeli (sensu Günter, 1993). Se incluye una lista de las especies pertenecientes a la fauna de la Península Ibérica y Baleares, una clave de identificación de los imagos de las subfamilias, géneros y especies citadas, y una clave de sus larvas conocidas a nivel genérico. De cada una de estas especies se recopilan y se anotan todas las referencias bibliográficas existentes relativas a las especies de la zona estudiada, tanto con la denominación actualmente aceptada, como de sus sinonimias y/o cualquier otra combinación nomenclatural bajo las cuales hayan sido citadas. También de cada una de las especies se anotan los datos conocidos y los ahora aportados (1.800 nuevos ejemplares de 32 especies) sobre su distribución general, aspectos de su morfología externa y/o genital, as. como de su variabilidad, estadios juveniles, biolog.a, fenolog.a y distribuci.n altitudinal y geogr.fica en la Península y archipi.lago balear, en base a un total de 12.215 ejemplares estudiados.
Childhood disability population-based surveillance: Assessment of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition and Washington Group on Disability Statistics/UNICEF module on child functioning in a rural setting in South Africa
Authors: Visser Marieta , Nel Mariette , Bronkhorst Caretha , Brown Lara , Ezendam Zaskia , Mackenzie Kira , Van der Merwe Deidré , Venter Marné
Published: September 2016

Background: Epidemiological information on childhood disability provides the basis for a country to plan, implement and manage the provision of health, educational and social services for these vulnerable children. There is, however, currently no population-based surveillance instrument that is compatible with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), internationally comparable, methodologically sound and comprehensively researched, to identify children under 5 years of age who are living with disability in South Africa and internationally. We conducted a descriptive pilot study to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of translated versions of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition (ASQ-III) and the Washington Group on Disability Statistics/UNICEF module on child functioning (WG/UNICEF module) as parent-reported measures. The aim of our study was to identify early childhood disabilities in children aged 24–48 months in a rural area of South Africa, to determine the appropriateness of these instruments for population-based surveillance in similar contexts internationally.Methods: This study was conducted in the Xhariep District of the Free State Province in central South Africa, with 50 carers whose children were registered on the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) database as recipients of a grant for one of the following: Care Dependency, Child Support or Foster Care. The researchers, assisted by community healthcare workers and SASSA staff members, conducted structured interviews using forward–backward translated versions of the ASQ-III and the WG/UNICEF module.Results: Both measurement instruments had a clinically meaningful sensitivity of 60.0%, high specificity of 95.6% for the ASQ-III and 84.4% for the WG/UNICEF module, and the two instruments agreed moderately (Kappa = 0.6).Conclusion: Since the WG/UNICEF module is quicker to administer, easier to understand and based on the ICF, it can be considered as an appropriate parent-reported measure for large-scale, population-based as well as smaller, community-specific contexts. It is, however, recommended that future research and development continues with the WG/UNICEF module to enhance its conceptual equivalence for larger-scale, population-based studies in South Africa and internationally.