bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Free Vibration Analysis for Tapered Cross-Section Steel-Concrete Composite Material Beam
Authors: Xia Jun , Shen Z. , Liu Kun
Published: March 2017

The tapered cross-section beams made of steel-concrete composite material are widely used in engineering constructions and their dynamic behavior is strongly influenced by the type of shear connection jointing the two different materials. The 1D high order finite element model for tapered cross-section steel-concrete composite material beam with interlayer slip was established in this paper. The Numerical results for vibration nature frequencies of the composite beams with two typical boundary conditions were compared with ANSYS using 2D plane stress element. The 1D element is more efficient and economical for the common tapered cross-section steel-concrete composite material beams in engineering.
Powder Characteristics and Cementitious Properties of Steel Slag Used as Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Authors: Li Zai Bo , He Tu Sheng , Zhao Xu Guang , Zhao San Yin
Published: March 2017

Powder characteristics and granule morphology of steel slag cooled by water-quenching and air splashing were observed with SEM and their rest angle, compressed density and mechanical characteristics were measured. The result shows that particle sphericity of air splashing steel slag is lower than that of water-quenching steel slag. A compressive stress has a more effective on the deaggregation of water-quenching steel slag powder. Both of the two steel slag powders are typical Coulomb powder. Compared with the water-quenching steel slag powder, air splashing steel slag powder has a higher internal friction angle and cohesiveness. The cementitious activity of BOFS Powder can only meets the standard of the second grade powder according to the Chinese National Standards.
Investigation of a Microwave Absorbing Material Based on NBR
Authors: Yang Yong Qing
Published: March 2017

The microwave absorbing rubber was prepared by adding the microwave absorber PPy/Ni/NanoG and other additives into NBR rubber. By analysis, the proper contents of N330, DOP and PPy/Ni/NanoG are 60, 10 and 25, respectively. The reflection loss of the rubber is below-10 dB at 8.2~11.4 GHz and the minimum loss value is-14.58 dB at 9.76 GHz.
Experimental Study on the Tool Wear in Milling Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics
Authors: Liu Ju Dong , Yang Xiao Fan , Xu Zhi Long , Li You Sheng , Yan Guo Hong , Huang Li Kun
Published: March 2017

Basing on the milling experiment of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), the wear performance of CVD diamond coated tool with different cutting edge is compared and studied. The result shows that lifetimes of interlaced edge and herringbone edge milling cutters are significantly higher than general edge milling cutter, under the same parameters. The lifetime of interlaced edge milling cutter is about 2 times than herringbone edge milling cutter, and 3.5 times than general edge milling cutter. The wear failure mechanisms of CVD diamond coated tools are abrasive wear and coating peeling, which are caused by micro-cutting of hard carbon fiber and the impact action of mechanical load and thermal stress.
Properties Analysis of RTV/TPOSS and RTV/DPTPOSS Flame-Retardant Composites
Authors: Li Zhi Jie , Nan Zi Jing , Wang Jin Cheng
Published: March 2017

With the development of science and technology, the design and property analysis of flame retardant materials has become a hot topic. Firstly, TPOSS and DPTPOSS materials were synthesized. Then the different content of RTV/TPOSS and RTV/DPTPOSS were carried out in the horizontal combustion experiment, vertical combustion experiment and oxygen index test, and the experimental data of the two materials were compared.The results shows that DPTPOSS modified RTV has better flame-retardant effect.
Research on Crystallinity, Morphology of Cotton Subjected to Enzyme and Crosslinking Treatment
Authors: Pervez Md. Nahid , Shafiq Faizan , Jilani Muhammad Munib , Sarwar Zahid , Cai Ying Jie
Published: March 2017

This paper explores the effect of prior enzymatic treatment on non-formaldehyde crosslinked cotton fiber and crystalline structure of cotton fibers after enzyme, crosslinking and a combination of enzyme and crosslinking treatments were examined by X-ray diffractometer. Results showed that during crosslinking treatment crystallinity index (%) values were increased with reduced crystallinity size and crosslinked of enzyme treated cotton did not change the crystalline nature of cotton (i.e. it was Cellulose I). In addition, by analysing FT-IR and SEM data it is confirmed that uniform presence of crosslinking agents was visible on cotton fibres.
Effect of Calcination Heating Rate on Microstructure and Performances of NSR Catalyst
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Xiang Zhao , Wang Pan , Liu Gui Wu , Shao Hai Cheng , Qiao Guan Jun
Published: March 2017

The Be/Ce/γ-Al2O3 compound catalysts were prepared by sol-gel process using γ-Al2O3, Ba (AC)2 and Ce (NO3)3·6H2O as raw materials, and the effect of calcination heating rate on microstructure and performance of the NOx storage and reduction (NSR) catalyst was investigated. The crystal structure, microstructure, absorption and reduction performances of the NSR catalyst were characterized and analyzed by X-Ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) and H2 temperature program reduction (H2-TPR). The experimental results show that the Ba and Ce elements mainly exist in the forms of BaCO3 and CeO2, respectively, and partial CeO2 is amorphous. The calcination heating rate can play a key role in the grain size and distribution of BaCO3 and CeO2, so that it can affect the surface area, pore volume and pore diameter of the NSR catalyst. Moreover, the reduction temperature of the NSR catalyst decrease first and then increase with the increase of calcination heating rate, and the reduction temperature of as-received NSR catalyst is the lowest as the reduction temperature is 6 °C/min, that is its reduction performance is the optimal.
Postnatal Transitional Weight Loss and Adverse Outcomes in Extremely Premature Neonates
Authors: Verma Rita P. , Shibli Syed , Komaroff Eugene
Published: March 2017

The early postnatal weight loss (EPWL) is highly variable in the extremely low birth weight infants (birth weight <1000 g, ELBW). It is reported to be unassociated with adverse outcomes within a range of 3- 21% of birth weight. Its wide range might have contributed to this lack of association. The aim of our paper is to study the effects of maximum EPWL, graded as low, medium and large on clinical outcomes in ELBW infants. In a retrospective cohort observational study EPWL was measured as maximum weight loss from birth weight (MWL) in ELBW infants and grouped as low (5-12%) moderate (18.1-12%) and high (18-25%). The clinical course and complications of infants were compared between the groups. Gestational age (GA) was highest and surfactant administration, peak inspiratory pressure requirement, fluid intake, urinary output, oxygen dependent days and the number of oxygen dependent infants at age 28 days were lower in the low MWL compared to the high MWL group. However, all these significant P-values declined after controlling for GA. Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy associated hypertension were not noted in mothers in high MWL group, whereas 38% of mothers in low MWL group suffered from the latter (P=0.05). Maximum postnatal transitional weight loss, assessed in the range of low, moderate and high, is not associated with adverse outcomes independent of gestational age in ELBW infants. Maternal hypertension decreases EPWL in them.
Stroke in a Child with Hemoglobin SC Disease: A Case Report Describing Use of Hydroxyurea after Transfusion Therapy
Authors: Fridlyand Diana , Wilder Caroline , Jerome Clay E. Leila , Gilbert Bruce , Pace Betty S.
Published: March 2017

Children with hemoglobin SC (HbSC) disease suffer a significant incidence of silent cerebral infarcts but stroke is rare. A 2-year-old African American boy with HbSC disease presented with focal neurologic deficits associated with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of cerebral infarction with vascular abnormalities. After the acute episode he was treated with monthly transfusions and subsequently transitioned to hydroxyurea therapy. The benefits of hydroxyurea as a fetal hemoglobin inducer in HbSC disease, to ameliorate clinical symptoms are supported by retrospective studies. This case highlights the rare occurrence of stroke in a child with HbSC disease and the use of hydroxyurea therapy.
Michiel Heyns’s Lost Ground: The white man’s sense of identity and place in a decolonised Africa and a democratic South Africa
Authors: Lenz Renate
Published: March 2017

In Lost Ground, Michiel Heyns portrays the former white settlers’ position and experience in South Africa, Africa and Europe after the overturn of South Africa’s apartheid regime. An analysis of the novel illustrates that the legacy of the colonisation of Africa and apartheid in South Africa still shapes the settler descendants’ perception of self and the other and the formers’ place in South Africa and Africa. After the electoral victory of the African National Congress, contemporary white South African men, as exemplified by the English-speaking male protagonist who features in the novel, tend to dissociate themselves from the country and the African continent as home. Although the original colonisers’ experience of alienation and ambivalence about apartheid has been widely depicted, the significance of this experience in relation to white South African male identity has not been fully explored in a study of Heyns’s Lost Ground, principally as regards the novel’s detective narrative framework and the counterdiscursive technique of intertextual referencing that implies other interpretative possibilities. Lost Ground will be critically analysed in terms of the central character’s experience of space and place, and the influence of these paradigms on Peter Jacobs as he makes strides towards abandoning historical/racial restrictions and locating his identity in people.
Reviewing published information on reading in Botswana secondary schools
Authors: Ketsitlile Lone E. , Commeyras Michelle
Published: March 2017

The main purpose of this review on published information on reading in Botswana schools is to seek ways of providing instruction and assessment that result in children becoming proficient readers. Botswana has made impressive progress in literacy growth since independence. However, a lot still needs to be done if literacy is to become all that it needs to be in the lives of the youth. One conclusion from this review is that there is an urgent need in Botswana to teach reading in ways that meet the needs of all students, especially those from Khoesan-speaking backgrounds. There is also a clear mismatch between policy and practice in the teaching of reading and this greatly disadvantages the students. Two important recommendations emanating from this review are, firstly, the teaching of reading should be linked more explicitly to that of writing; secondly, the Ministry of Education and concerned stakeholders need to encourage a marriage of policy and practice in the teaching of reading in Botswana.
Lessons learnt: Observation of Grade 4 reading comprehension teaching in South African schools across the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006 achievement spectrum
Authors: Zimmerman Lisa
Published: March 2017

The evidence of the huge challenges of literacy development faced by South African learners is primarily gleaned from the results of learners’ external assessments. There is little research which explores, in-depth, the strategies used by teachers to teach reading literacy and reading comprehension specifically. Questions remain about what is going wrong and, most importantly,what can be changed to rectify the poor outcomes of learners. To gain insight into the poor achievement of Grade 4 learners, in South Africa in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006, six case studies were undertaken. Each school case had a different class average achievement profile ranging from low to high on the PIRLS achievement scale.This article presents findings from the observation of Grade 4 reading comprehension lessons in six schools. The comparison of observations of teaching practices aligned to higher achieving schools, against those of lower performing schools, indicates the discrepancies in the quality of teaching reading comprehension across the schools, and reveals potential foci for teacher development. The value of comparative lesson observation for these purposes is highlighted.
Receptive vocabulary and early literacy skills in emergent bilingual Northern Sotho-English children
Authors: Wilsenach Carien
Published: March 2017

This study explored receptive vocabulary size and early literacy skills (namely: letter naming, knowledge of phoneme-grapheme correspondences and early writing) in emergent bilingual Northern Sotho-English children. Two groups of Grade 1 learners were tested in both English and in Northern Sotho. Group 1 (N = 49) received their formal schooling in English, whilst group 2 (N = 50) received their formal schooling in Northern Sotho. Receptive vocabulary was tested using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. Letter knowledge was assessed by asking learners to name letter cards, whilst knowledge of phoneme-grapheme correspondences was tested by asking children to match letter cards with spoken sounds. Early writing was assessed by asking children to write their names. Statistical analyses indicated that both English and Northern Sotho receptive vocabulary knowledge had a significant effect on early literacy skills, whilst no main effect was found for the language of instruction. Group 1 performed significantly better than Group 2 in English receptive vocabulary, in knowledge of phonemegrapheme correspondences and in early writing, but no group differences were found for Northern Sotho receptive vocabulary or for letter knowledge. English receptive vocabulary significantly predicted the outcome of all of the early literacy skills, whilst Northern Sotho receptive vocabulary significantly predicted phoneme-grapheme correspondences and early writing.
Broken promises – A novel’s impact on shaping youth identity
Authors: Lundgren Berit , Khau Mathabo
Published: March 2017

In many emerging economies worldwide, and in South Africa in particular, sizeable investments have been made in education with the hope of increasing literacy rates and hence producing a workforce that will fit into the job market. Thus it is important to understand the context and literacy materials within South African classrooms and their impact. This article looks at the novel Broken promises by Roz Haden, which is read in many South African classrooms. From a post-structural feminist theory and functional language theory, we analyse how the portrayal of characters and storyline can have an impact on young readers’ identity construction in relation to the novel’s predominant discourses. The findings show that men are still portrayed as dominant in their own right within society whereas women are defined in relation to men. Unchallenged, this portrayal can continue to perpetuate gendered stereotypes, which would affect young people’s functionality in society. We therefore argue that while novels are good for improving literacy among young people, the messages they contain should be deconstructed and challenged so that young people can make informed decisions regarding their gender identities.
Tibial periosteal ganglion cyst: The ganglion in disguise
Authors: Reghunath Anjuna , Mittal Mahesh K , Khanna Geetika , Anil V
Published: March 2017

Soft tissue ganglions are commonly encountered cystic lesions around the wrist presumed to arise from myxomatous degeneration of periarticular connective tissue. Lesions with similar pathology in subchondral location close to joints, and often simulating a geode, is the less common entity called intraosseous ganglion. Rarer still is a lesion produced by mucoid degeneration and cyst formation of the periostium of long bones, rightly called the periosteal ganglion. They are mostly found in the lower extremities at the region of pes anserinus, typically limited to the periosteum and outer cortex without any intramedullary component. We report the case of a 62 year-old male who presented with a tender swelling on the mid shaft of the left tibia, which radiologically suggested a juxtacortical lesion extending to the soft tissue or a soft tissue neoplasm eroding the bony cortex of tibia. It was later diagnosed definitively as a periosteal ganglion in an atypical location, on further radiologic work-up and histopathological correlation.
Castleman's disease: A rare indication for endovascular therapy for hemoptysis
Authors: Husainy Mohammad A , Sayyed Farhina , McPherson Simon J
Published: March 2017

Castleman's disease (CD) is a rare lympho-proliferative disorder due to faulty immune regulation resulting in proliferation of lymphatic tissue. The vascular supply to these lesions have been reported to arise from the bronchial, internal mammary and the intercostal arteries. We report a case of hemoptysis secondary to intrathoracic CD with vascular supply arising from the left inferior phrenic artery which was successfully embolised with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particles.
Evaluation of MR perfusion abnormalities in organophosphorus poisoning and its correlation with SPECT
Authors: Bhanu K Uday , Khandelwal Niranjan , Vyas Sameer , Singh Paramjeet , Prabhakar Anuj , Mittal B R , Bhalla Ashish
Published: March 2017

Aim: Acute organophosphate (OP) pesticide poisoning causes substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many imaging modalities, such as computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain, have been used for quantitative assessment of the acute brain insult caused by acute OP poisoning. Perfusion defects on SPECT in acutely poisoned patients with OPs have been described, however, MR perfusion abnormalities have not been described in the literature. MR perfusion Imaging has the advantage of having higher spatial resolution, no radiation, and better availability. Materials and Methods:In this prospective study, 20 patients who ingested OP compounds were included. All the patients underwent brain SPECT on a dual head SPECT gamma camera and MRI brain on a 1.5T MR system. Neurocognitive tests were performed for all patients.Results: SPECT showed perfusion defects in 7 patients and total number of perfusion defects were 29. On MR perfusion, based on the cut-off values of normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV) ratios and normalized cerebral blood flow (nCBF) ratios, the total number of patients showing perfusion defects were 6 and 8; and the total number of perfusion defects were 29 and 45, respectively. There was significant difference of the nCBV ratios and nCBF ratios between the control group (n = 20) and positive patients group (n = 6 and n = 8, respectively) (P > 0.05). All the defects seen on SPECT were well appreciated on nCBF maps (MRI perfusion) suggestive of 100% correlation. Conclusion: MR perfusion imaging can be used as an effective modality for evaluation in acute OP poisoning.
Liver metastasis of lung cancer detected with similar uptake pattern on bone scintigraphy and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography: What's the pathophysiologic mechanism?
Authors: Üstün Funda , Aksoy Salim , Serim Burcu , Altun Gülay
Published: March 2017

Bone scintigraphy with 99mTc diphosphonates may exhibit extraosseous lesions in addition to metastatic lesions. Multiple factors can affect extraosseous 99mTc methylene diphosphonate (MDP) uptake. Similar uptake pattern of 99mTc MDP and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F FDG) in hepatic metastasis was not already notified. In our case, initial tumor necrosis and subsequent intracellular calcification resulted in similar 99mTc MDP and 18F FDG accumulation in the metastatic area.
False negative 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in primary b-cell lymphoma of the bone
Authors: Pelletier-Galarneau Matthieu , Martineau Patrick , Lambert Raymond , Turpin Sophie
Published: March 2017

We present a case of a 15-year-old male with primary bone lymphoma who was initially referred for suspicion of chronic osteomyelitis of the mandible. A bone scan and gallium scan demonstrated congruent uptake in the mandible, suggestive of chronic osteomyelitis. A biopsy subsequently showed B-cell lymphoma of the bone with low Ki-67. A fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scan performed before therapy for staging revealed no increased uptake in the mandible. This case shows an atypical presentation of a rare disorder and is presented to emphasize the importance of baseline FDG-PET.
Can 18F-Fluoroestradiol positron emission tomography become a new imaging standard in the estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patient: A prospective comparative study with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography?
Authors: Gupta Manoj , Datta Anupama , Choudhury Partha , Dsouza Maria , Batra Ullas , Mishra Anil
Published: March 2017

Correct staging is the most crucial for the treatment outcome in cancer management. Molecular imaging with 18F-fluoroestradiol (FES) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) targets estrogen receptor (ER) and may have a higher incremental value in diagnosis by aiding specificity. We enrolled 12 female breast cancer patients prospectively and did 18F-FES PET-CT and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT within 1 week interval time. Lesion detection sensitivity was compared for a total number of lesions and for nonhepatic lesions only by McNemar test. 18F-FES PET-CT was taken as reference in case of indeterminate lesions. The incremental value reported by identifying 18F-FES exclusive lesions and by characterization of 18F-FDG indeterminate lesions. Spearman rank test was used to correlate ER expression and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax). Two ER-negative patients with no 18F-FES uptake were excluded. Ten ER-positive patients with 154 disease lesions were finally analyzed. 18F-FDG picked-up 142 lesions (sensitivity 92.21%), whereas 18F-FES picked-up 116 lesions (sensitivity 75.32%) and this difference was statistically significant. For nonhepatic lesions (n = 136) detectability, 18F-FDG picked-up 124 (sensitivity 91.18%), whereas 18F-FES picked-up 116 (sensitivity 85.29%) lesions and this difference was not statistically significant. Beside 12 exclusive lesions, 18F-FES characterized 41 (27.5%) 18F-FDG indeterminate lesions. Overall 18F-FES impacted 20% patient management. The positive trend was also seen with 18F-FES SUVmax with ER expression and negative with 18F-FDG SUVmax. We conclude, 18F-FDG has overall better sensitivity than 18F-FES PET-CT, however for nonhepatic metastasis difference was not significant. 18F-FES PET-CT better-characterized lesions and impacted 20% patient management. Therefore, 18F-FES PET-CT should be used with 18F-FDG PET-CT in strongly ER expressing patients for better specificity.
Ultrastructure of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands: Does it explain various patterns of 99mTc-sestamibi uptake
Authors: Elgazzar Abdelhamid , Anim Jehoran , Dannoon Shorouk , Farghaly Medhat
Published: March 2017

The aim of this study was to correlate the uptake of 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI) with ultra-structural features of parathyroid adenomas. Twenty patients with proven primary hyperparathyroidism were evaluated prospectively. Preoperative double-phase 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy was performed in all patients and the degree of tracer uptake by the parathyroid lesions was assessed visually and semi-quantitatively. The excised glands were examined histologically and ultrastructurally, and their features were correlated with the degree of the radiotracer uptake. At surgery, 21 parathyroid adenomas were removed (double adenoma in one patient and a solitary adenoma in each of the remaining 19 patients). 99mTc-MIBI scan detected 18 of the 21 adenomas. There was positive correlation between the degree of 99mTc-MIBI uptake and the mitochondrial contents of the parathyroid adenoma cells. Four adenomas with intense uptake had high content of mitochondria in the cells. The three false-negative scans had low-to-moderate mitochondrial content. 99mTc-MIBI uptake is related to the mitochondrial content of the parathyroid adenoma cells.
Incidental detection of synchronous medullary thyroid carcinoma with bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma on iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, leading to diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A
Authors: Fakhri Asif , Rodrigue Paul , Aladin Mustafa , Hussain Aun
Published: March 2017

We report a case of a 29-year-old female with the family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) presenting with hematuria and tachycardia, who was found to have bilateral adrenal masses on abdominal computed tomography and biochemical testing compatible with pheochromocytoma. Iodine-123 (I-123) metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy for preoperative planning prior to planned adrenalectomy revealed incidental synchronous unifocal MTC, along with expected bilateral adrenal pheochromocytomas. Pathology confirmed these findings, and subsequent genetic testing confirmed a rearranged during transfection proto-oncogene mutation on exon 11, confirming the clinical diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN 2A). The unexpected incidental finding of synchronous MTC highlights the importance of considering MEN in the differential diagnosis when encountered with newly diagnosed pheochromocytoma and highlights the utility of I-123 MIBG scintigraphy in diagnostic workup of newly diagnosed pheochromocytoma.
Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography of the foot and ankle
Authors: Upadhyay Bhavin , Mo Jonathan , Beadsmoore Clare , Marshall Tom , Toms Andoni , Buscombe John
Published: March 2017

The complex anatomy and function of the foot and ankle can make it difficult to determine the cause of symptoms in patients with foot and ankle pathology. Following initial clinical and radiographic assessment, additional imaging with magnetic resonance imaging may be required, which is often seen as the modality of choice. Although sensitive to pathological changes in bone metabolism and vascularity, technetium-99m (Tc-99m) bone scintigraphy often lacks the specificity and resolution required to evaluate the structures of the foot and ankle. Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) combines this sensitivity with the superior anatomical detail of CT, enabling better localization of pathological uptake and evaluation of associated structural changes. As a result, SPECT/CT has been growing in popularity for the assessment of patients with foot and ankle pathology where it can provide additional information that may change the initial diagnosis and subsequent management plan. Studies have reported modification of the surgical approach and site of intra-articular local anesthetic injections following SPECT/CT with good results. Interpretation of SPECT/CT studies requires an understanding of the pathological changes that result in increased tracer accumulation in addition to the CT changes that may be seen. This review aims to highlight the advantages of SPECT/CT, potential applications and explain the imaging appearances of common pathologies that may be observed.
Normality Versus Paracompactness in Locally Compact Spaces
Authors: Dow Alan , Tall Franklin D.
Published: March 2017

This note provides a correct proof of the result claimed by the second author that locally compact normal spaces are collectionwise Hausdorff in certain models obtained by forcing with a coherent Souslin tree. A novel feature of the proof is the use of saturation of the non-stationary ideal on ω1, as well as of a strong form of Chang's Conjecture. Together with other improvements, this enables the consistent characterization of locally compact hereditarily paracompact spaces as those locally compact, hereditarily normal spaces that do not include a copy of ω1.
Impact of Local Grid Refinements of Spherical Centroidal Voronoi Tessellations for Global Atmospheric Models
Authors: Liu Yudi , Yang Taojin
Published: March 2017

In order to study the local refinement issue of the horizontal resolution for a global model with Spherical Centroidal Voronoi Tessellations (SCVTs), the SCVTs are set to 10242 cells and 40962 cells respectively using the density function. The ratio between the grid resolutions in the high and low resolution regions (hereafter RHL) is set to 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 for 10242 cells and 40962 cells, and the width of the grid transition zone (for simplicity, WTZ) is set to 18° and 9° to investigate their impacts on the model simulation. The ideal test cases, i.e. the cosine bell and global steady-state nonlinear zonal geostrophic flow, are carried out with the above settings. Simulation results showthat the larger the RHL is, the larger the resulting error is. It is obvious that the 1:4 ratio gives rise to much larger errors than the 1:2 or 1:3 ratio; the errors resulting from the WTZ is much smaller than that from the RHL. No significant wave distortion or reflected waves are found when the fluctuation passes through the refinement region, and the error is significantly small in the refinement region. Therefore,when designing a local refinement scheme in the global model with SCVT, the RHL should be less than 1:4, i.e., the error is acceptable when the RHL is 1:2 or 1:3.
Designing Several Types of Oscillation-Less and High-Resolution Hybrid Schemes on Block-Structured Grids
Authors: Jiang Zhenhua , Yan Chao , Yu Jian , Lin Boxi
Published: March 2017

An idea of designing oscillation-less and high-resolution hybrid schemes is proposed and several types of hybrid schemes based on this idea are presented on block-structured grids. The general framework, for designing various types of hybrid schemes, is established using a Multi-dimensional Optimal Order Detection (MOOD) method proposed by Clain, Diot and Loubère [1]. The methodology utilizes low dissipation or dispersion but less robust schemes to update the solution and then implements robust and high resolution schemes to deal with problematic situations. A wide range of computational methods including central scheme, MUSCL scheme, linear upwind scheme and Weighted Essentially Non Oscillatory (WENO) scheme have been applied in the current hybrid schemes framework. Detailed numerical studies on classical test cases for the Euler system are performed, addressing the issues of the resolution and non-oscillatory property around the discontinuities.
Molecular Epidemiology of Malaria in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire. XXXI. Kelch 13 Propeller Sequences in Plasmodium falciparum Isolates before and after Implementation of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy
Authors: Djaman Joseph Allico , Olefongo Dagnogo , Ako Aristide Berenger , Roman Jocelyne , Ngane Vincent Foumane , Basco Leonardo K. , Tahar Rachida
Published: March 2017

Artemisinin-resistant malaria has not been reported from Africa, but resistance can possibly spread from Asia or arise independently in Africa. The emergence of artemisinin resistance in Africa can be monitored by molecular assay of Kelch 13 (K13) propeller sequences. A total of 251 archived DNA samples of Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected in 2002, 2003, and 2006 in Yaounde, Cameroon, and 47 samples collected in 2006 and 2013 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, were analyzed for K13-propeller sequence polymorphism. Only one isolate carried a mutant K13-propeller allele (E602D). None of the isolates carried the key mutant alleles (Y493H, R539T, I543T, and C580Y) associated with artemisinin resistance in Cambodia. The presence of the mutant allele was not correlated with in vitro response to dihydroartemisinin determined by the classical hypoxanthine incorporation assay. There was no evidence of K13 mutations associated with artemisinin resistance before and soon after the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapies in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire.
Poklic mediatorja kot strokovnega nosilca postopka mediacije
Authors: Šoštar Jernej
Published: March 2017

Sodišču pridružena mediacija se kot alternativna metoda reševanja sporov vse bolj uveljavlja kot področje dela z lastnim teoretičnim in praktičnim znanjem, lastnimi načeli in osnovnimi pravili. Mediacija je vzpostavila lastno znanje, ki temelji na študijah, razvrstitvi primerov in analizi rezultatov. V prispevku bomo preverili, ali lahko glede na razvoj mediacije v Sloveniji govorimo o poklicu mediatorja in ga opredelimo kot strokovnega nosilca postopka mediacije. Najprej bomo sodišču pridruženo mediacijo in mediatorje, ki mediirajo v sodišču pridruženi mediaciji, teoretsko opredeliti ter s pomočjo intervjujev s strokovnjaki za mediacijo in mediatorji v nadaljevanju preverili, kakšno je njihovo mnenje o mediatorjih in sodišču pridruženi mediaciji. Proučili bomo tudi pravno podlago sodišču pridružene mediacije tako v Sloveniji kot Evropski uniji. Glede na ugotovitve bomo sklenili, da je pravna ureditev sodišču pridružene mediacije v Sloveniji dobra in da lahko o mediatorjih sodišču pridružene mediacije govorimo kot o strokovnih nosilcih mediacijskega postopka.
Boštjan Bajec, Eva Boštjančič, Sara Tement ČLOVEK, DELO IN ORGANIZACIJA: Pregled psiholoških področij in perspektiv Ljubljana, Znanstvena založba Filozofske fakultete, 2016
Authors: Boštjančič Eva
Published: March 2017

Knjiga je pomembna za različne akterje (študente, strokovnjake, ki gradijo kariero na tem področju, zaposlene v kadrovskih oddelkih, izobraževalce) in bi jo potrebovali že pred 20 leti, a do danes ni bilo prave možnosti, da bi se lotili sistematičnega pregleda področij, ki jih pokriva psihologija dela in organizacije.
Konec varčevanja? Javno financiranje izobraževanja odraslih
Authors: Kump Sonja
Published: March 2017

V začetku februarja je vlada sprejela Letni program izobraževanja odraslih v Republiki Sloveniji za leto 2017 (LPIO), ki je instrument, prek katerega vlada uresničuje Resolucijo o nacionalnem programu izobraževanja odraslih v Republiki Sloveniji za obdobje 2013– 2020 (ReNPIO 13-20, 2014). S tem so potrjeni izobraževalni programi, ki se financirajo iz javnih sredstev, obseg in vrsta dejavnosti, potrebnih za njegovo uresničevanje, obseg sredstev, ki se zagotovijo v državnem proračunu, in ministrstva, pristojna za izvedbo programa. Na prvi pogled bi morda lahko sklepali, da država postopoma odpravlja varčevanje na področju izobraževanja odraslih in da se izobraževanju odraslih pri nas obetajo svetlejši časi. Optimizem bi lahko temeljil na dejstvu, da se je skupni znesek sredstev (71.791,340,70 evra) povečal za skoraj 13 odstotkov v primerjavi s preteklim letom in za 50 odstotkov, če znesek primerjamo s sredstvi v letu 2013, v času strogega varčevanja.
Življenjski slog starejših v domovih za starejše
Authors: Macuh Bojan
Published: March 2017

V razvitih družbah se prebivalstvo vse bolj stara, kar bo eden (naj)večjih ekonomskih in socialnih izzivov v prihodnosti. V Sloveniji naj bi bilo po predvidevanjih do leta 2060 30 odstotkov prebivalstva starejšega od 65 let, zato se utemeljeno postavlja vprašanje, kakšen je življenjski slog starejših in kako lahko v teh letih nanj še vplivamo. Nekateri starejši se iz različnih vzrokov odločijo, da bodo starost preživeli v domu za starejše. V prispevku so predstavljeni rezultati raziskave o življenjskem slogu starejših v domovih za starejše. Izvedli smo jo na vzorcu 390 starejših v domovih za starejše v Pomurju v obdobju februar– maj 2015. Uporabljeni sta bili deskriptivna analiza in kavzalno neeksperimentalna metoda empiričnega pedagoškega raziskovanja. Iz rezultatov raziskave izhaja, da na življenjski slog v domovih za starejše bistveno vplivajo socialno-ekonomski položaj, spol, status, starost in leta prebivanja v domu.
Ideologija starostizma kot operativna kategorija kapitalizma: primer pokojninske blagajne
Authors: Burcar Lilijana
Published: March 2017

Ideologija starostizma je bila na Zahodu institucionalno zakoreninjena v osemdesetih letih prejšnjega stoletja kot sestavni del neoliberalnega napada na kapitalistični tip socialne države, ki je v svojem izhodišču že tako minimalna ali pa delna. Pojav in vzpon ideologije starostizma v našem prostoru je sovpaden s ponovno nastavitvijo kapitalističnega reda in razgradnjo še zadnjih ostankov socialističnega sistema države blaginje ter posledično njeno popolno privatizacijo na prehodu v 21. stoletje. Fleksibilizacija dela in znižanje prispevne stopnje za delodajalce v zgodnjih devetdesetih sta poglavitna dejavnika, ki sta v 20 letih osiromašila pokojninsko blagajno. Članek izpostavlja, da zastraševanje javnosti s staranjem prebivalstva deluje kot ideološko orodje, s katerim se odvrača pogled od strukturnih dejavnikov, ki pomenijo pravo nevarnost za obstoj javne pokojninske blagajne. Poudarja, da ideologije starostizma ne gre reduktivno zvajati na individualne predsodke, ampak jo je treba razumeti sistemsko, tj. znotraj družbenoekonomskega sistema, ki jo poraja in institucionalizira.
Choosing an adequate design and analysis in cross-cultural personality research
Authors: He Jia , Vijver Fons J. R. van de
Published: March 2017

The flourishing of cross-cultural personality research requires a keen eye for rigorous methodology in such research. With decades of experience in cross-cultural research methods, we have come to appreciate that methodological aspects of such studies are critical for obtaining valid findings. Ill-designed or -conducted studies may produce results that are difficult to interpret. A careful design and analysis can help to deal with various methodological problems in cross-cultural personality studies. Drawing on the extensive knowledge that has been accumulated in cross-cultural and personality research in the past decades, we describe a framework of bias and equivalence that enables the choice of adequate research methods and the avoidance of pitfalls that endanger valid conclusions in cross-cultural personality research. Specifically, we focus on sampling issues, test adaptations, and the combination of emic and etic approaches in this short review article. We encourage researchers to use the tools and experience that are available to considerably enlarge our insights in cross-cultural differences and similarities in personality research.
Aggression in late childhood and in early adolescence in Slovenia: two-wave cohort study
Authors: Kozina Ana
Published: March 2017

Background

The present study investigated age differences in trait aggression in the period of late childhood and early adolescence that are important for assessment of the aggression levels that are not in line with expected developmental trends and are in need of intervention. Additionally the authors present the time trends from measurement of aggression and its subtypes at two time points.

Participants and procedure

The authors focus on specific subtypes of aggression relevant for the Slovenian context and for the development period. We used the LA aggression scale (general trait aggression and four factors: physical aggression, verbal aggression, internal aggression and aggression towards authority) as a measure of aggression in two age groups, 10-year-olds (n = 4,351) and 14-year-olds (n = 4,043), at two time points (in 2007 and in 2011).

Results

The results show significant cross-sectional differences in the level of aggression. Older participants exhibit higher levels of general aggression as well as all four aggression types (also in a cohort design). The findings are aligned with contemporary research on personality development stressing greater stability after the period of adolescence. The time-related trends show a significant decrease in physical aggression and an increase in internal aggression from 2007 to 2011 in both observed age groups.

Conclusions

The implications of the findings are discussed, and in line with the results early intervention is supported.
Assessment of anti-CarP antibodies, disease activity and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients on conventional and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Authors: Kumar Sudhir , Pangtey Ghanshyam , Gupta Rachna , Rehan Harmeet Singh , Gupta Lalit Kumar
Published: March 2017

Objective: Good biomarkers are important to guide decisions in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients harbor antibodies directed against carbamylated proteins which may predict joint damage. This study investigated whether antibodies against carbamylated proteins (anti-CarP) may serve as surrogate prognostic markers.

Material and methods:  Fifty-three patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis according to ACR 1987 criteria were included. Blood samples were analyzed for CarP antibody levels using the ELISA method. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the WHO SF-36 questionnaire, and disease activity was assessed using the DAS28 calculator. Newly diagnosed patients were assessed at the first visit and at 12 weeks of treatment, while a single assessment was made for patients already on maintenance therapy.

Results: Out of 53 patients, 22 had titers of anti-CarP above the cut-off range and considered as positive for anti-CarP antibodies. Anti-CarP antibody serum level was significantly higher in patients with deformity of joints and with erosions in comparison to those without any destructive changes (p < 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between anti-CarP and DAS 28 (p > 0.05). Also there was a weak negative correlation in all domains of quality of life with anti-CarP antibody titers (p > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between titers of anti-CarP antibodies and presence or absence of rheumatoid factor.

Conclusions: Serum levels of anti-CarP antibodies in RA patients with joint erosions/deformities were much higher than in those without any joint damage. Anti-CarP antibodies may have good prognostic value in RA patients with erosions. Disease activity and QoL of RA patients improved during treatment, but no correlation was found between DAS 28/QoL and anti-CarP antibody serum levels.
Nailfold digital capillaroscopic findings in patients with diffuse and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
Authors: Shenavandeh Saeedeh , Haghighi Mahyar Yousefipour , Nazarinia Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2017

Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic disease with microvascular damage. Nailfold capillaroscopy is a non-invasive method used for evaluating capillaries in SSc. Its findings could be related to the internal organ involvement and SSc course. In this study, we aimed to determine the association of the capillaroscopic patterns of nailfold capillaries with the disease subtypes of SSc, disease duration, and clinical manifestations.

Material and methods:  Seventy patients with SSc (15 cases with diffuse cutaneous SSc [DcSSc] and 55 patients with limited SSc [LcSSc]) were studied. The patients were classified into early and intermediate/late DcSSc and LcSSc regarding their disease duration. The capillaroscopy findings were classified into normal, ‘early’, ‘active’ and ‘late’ scleroderma patterns, and ‘non-specific’ changes. The association of the nailfold capillaroscopy changes and their components with clinical manifestations was also studied.

Results:  We studied 15 DcSSc and 55 LcSSc patients. No association was found between the patterns of capillaroscopic changes and these subtypes. There were 8 early DcSSc, 7 intermediate/late DcSSc, 34 early LcSSc, and 21 intermediate/late LcSSc patients. In patients with LcSSc, the ‘early’ scleroderma pattern of capillaroscopy was associated with early disease based on duration. We found a direct association between some capillary components and some clinical findings. Also, some capillaroscopic components had an inverse association with some clinical manifestations.

Conclusions: We found no association between the patterns of capillaroscopy and SSc subtypes; early scleroderma pattern of capillaroscopy was significantly associated with early LcSSc, compatible with the slower course of the disease in LcSSc. Subtle changes, capillary elongation, and capillary tortuosity had an inverse association with clinical manifestations and might be considered as good prognostic factors.
Remote sensing and modelling analysis of the extreme dust storm hitting the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean in September 2015
Authors: Solomos Stavros , Ansmann Albert , Mamouri Rodanthi-Elisavet , Binietoglou Ioannis , Patlakas Platon , Marinou Eleni , Amiridis Vassilis
Published: March 2017

Abstract. The extreme dust storm that affected the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean in September 2015 resulted in record-breaking dust loads over Cyprus with aerosol optical depth exceeding 5.0 at 550 nm. We analyse this event using profiles from the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), geostationary observations from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), and high-resolution simulations from the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). The analysis of modelling and remote sensing data reveals the main mechanisms that resulted in the generation and persistence of the dust cloud over the Middle East and Cyprus. A combination of meteorological and surface processes is found, including (a) the development of a thermal low in the area of Syria that results in unstable atmospheric conditions and dust mobilization in this area, (b) the convective activity over northern Iraq that triggers the formation of westward-moving haboobs that merge with the previously elevated dust layer, and (c) the changes in land use due to war in the areas of northern Iraq and Syria that enhance dust erodibility.
Sub-seasonal Variability in the Boundary Layer Sources for Transport into
the Tropopause Layer in the Asian Monsoon Region
Authors: Chen Bin , Vogel Bärbel , Xu Xiangde , Yang Shuai
Published: March 2017

Abstract. The Asian summer monsoon (ASM) is associated with an upper-level anticyclone and acts as a well-recognized conduit for troposphere-to-stratosphere transport. The Lagrangian dispersion and transport model FLEXPART forced by ERA-Interim data from 2001–2013 was used to perform climatological modeling of the summer season (May–July). This study examines the properties of the air mass transport from the atmospheric boundary layer (BL) to the tropopause layer (TL), with particular focus on the sub-seasonal variability in the tracer-independent BL sources and the potential controlling mechanisms. The results show that, climatologically, the three most impactful BL source regions are northern India, the Tibetan Plateau, and the southern slope of the Himalayas. These regions are consistent with the locations of sources identified in previous studies. However, upon closer inspection, the different source regions to the BL-to-TL air mass transport are not constant in location or shape and are strongly affected by sub-seasonal variability. The contributions from the Tibetan Plateau are most significant in early May but decrease slightly in mid-May to mid-June. In contrast, the contributions from India and the southern slope of the Himalayas increase dramatically, with peak values occurring in mid-July. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis provides further evidence that the BL sources in the ASM region vary across a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. The sub-seasonal behavior of these BL sources is closely related to the strength of persistent deep convection activity over the northern Bay of Bengal and its neighboring areas.