bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service Quality, Customer (Patient) Satisfaction and Behavioural Intention in Health Care Services: Exploring the Indian Perspective
Authors: Murti Arjun , Deshpande Aashish , Srivastava Namita
Published: June 2013

As the health care sector in India gets more competitive, health care practitioners and academic researchers are increasingly interested in exploring how patients perceive the quality before building up their satisfaction levels and generating behavioural intentions. Hospitals today are increasingly realizing the need to focus on service quality as a measure to improve their competitive position. Customer based determinants and perceptions of service quality, therefore, play an important role when choosing a hospital. In this paper, we examine and measure the quality of services and its outcomes (patient’s satisfaction and behavioural intentions) provided by hospitals. In this regard, a review of literature on measuring service quality, patient satisfaction and behavioural intentions in health care scenario has been considered to investigate the direct influence of service quality on behavioural intentions and the mediating role of customer satisfaction on influencing behavioural intentions. The study focuses only on health care services offered by hospitals. Till today, few studies in the developing nations were conducted to understand the types of relationship that exists between three key constructs—service quality, patient satisfaction and behavioural intentions. Majority of the studies have been done in the developed country context, which cannot be generalized in the Indian context. It has been contended that constructs of service quality that are developed in one culture might not be applicable in another culture. This study analyses the suitability of service quality to improve customer satisfaction and in the process positively impacting behavioural intentions in the health care setting.
Study of Knowledge, Awareness and Practices of Infection Control among ICU Staff of a Multispecialty Tertiary Level Teaching Institute of North India
Authors: Sharma Raman , Jagota Ruchika , Koushal Vipin
Published: June 2013

Hospital infections are one of the important factors that adversely affect the image and economy of hospitals and ICU is a hotspot of infections. A descriptive and observational study was conducted in ICUs of a Multispecialty Hospital to analyze the knowledge, awareness and practices among staff about infection control.The study was based on checklist based on Ventilator Bundles and Central Line Bundles (IHI) and WHO. Whole staff of ICU was taken as sample size.

A significant gap was noticed between actual practices followed and staff know-how. More than 80 per cent of staff was aware of hand hygiene moments and hand washing steps, but less than 25 per cent actually practised it. While 86 per cent of the staff claimed to wear fresh gloves, 57 per cent (239/418 observations) wore in practice. While 68 per cent claimed to follow oral care protocol, only 44 per cent actually did it. Contrary to 67 per cent who responded that they elevate the head of a patient who requires it, 49 per cent did it. And, 57 per cent of the staff followed catheter care practices as per protocol.

Lack of accountability, discipline and focus on curative aspects accounts for poor performance towards infection control practices. So, through open communication, regular trainings and self-accountability, infection control standards and patient safety can be achieved.
The Need for Effective Management in African Health Systems
Authors: Adindu Anthonia
Published: June 2013

Effective health management is critical at every level of African health systems in order to improve services and in turn the current poor health situation in many countries. Specialized professional training equips health-care workers for clinical services, but is limited in preparing them for the management of complex health care systems and organizations. Health management involves technical and social processes for achieving health objectives through effective and efficient use of health resources in view of social, economic, political and cultural realities. Basic functions expected of African health managers include health policy analysis and formulation, health planning, organizing, implementing, leading, coordinating, controlling, monitoring and evaluating services. Health managers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels require additional specialist training in health management to acquire knowledge and skills needed for effective and efficient management of complex health-care organizations. This, in turn, facilitates application of tested theories, systematic approaches and best practices in addressing the health needs of the people.

Objective

This article advocates effective health-care management in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, health goals of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, national health goals and to promote quality in health care, equity and justice. These culminate in improving health of the people and changing the poor health indices. It also outlines, in brief, the basic functions expected of African health managers and concludes by advocating health-management training for strategic, departmental and operational managers at different levels in the health system.

Method

I wrote this article based on literature review, experience working with federal and state ministries of health in Nigeria and anecdotal reports from senior health officials and public health students.
Citizens’ Participation in Urban Governance: Quest for Transparency and Accountability
Authors: Singh Shyam
Published: June 2013

Growing urbanization in India has not only boosted the country’s economy but also presented complex governance challenges that need to be resolved to harness economic opportunities associated with urbanization. One of such challenges is decentralized urban governance where citizens need to have a stake in deciding on how cities should be managed. Experiences implicate that in the view of growing urbanization in the country, the structures of citizen participation provided under the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act are failing in insuring effective citizen participation. The paper, therefore calls for a rethinking in this regard, and discusses experiences of successful citizen participation in urban governance and learning of such experiences.

[Formula: see text]
Industries’ Location as Jeopardy for Sustainable Urban Development in Asia: A Review of the Bangladesh Leather Processing Industry Relocation Plan
Authors: Bhowmik Avit Kumar
Published: June 2013

The article reviews the Bangladesh leather processing industries’ relocation plan by applying the Social Theories of the City and the three environmental economics theories—Willingness to Pay, Pigovian Tax and Hedonic Pricing Method on the data collected by a questionnaire survey among the industries’ owners and from the original project documents. Results prove the strong unwillingness of leather industries’ owners to relocate and pay for relocation, failure at imposing Pigovian tax and the high hedonic prices of the houses including threats to inhabitants’ health in the redeveloped residential area. In addition to high subsidy and compensation, historic growth trends and potential risks of flood and surface water resource pollution of Dhaka defy sustainability issues. Considering three consecutive failures to meet the relocation deadlines, these results claim that redeveloping an environment friendly leather processing zone at the present location will ensure sustainable urban development.

[Formula: see text]
Household Quality of Living in Indian States: Analysis of 2011 Census
Authors: Das Bhaswati , Mistri Avijit
Published: June 2013

Household quality of living (HQL) refers to three broad aspects including housing condition, amenities and assets. The study is an attempt to investigate regional variation of Indian States in terms of HQL based on recently published 2011 Census data. It also investigates the changes of these aspects between two census periods at the national level. The policies launched so far to meet the minimum basic needs and the extent of achievement is also brought in the ambit of discussion. The study reveals that four Southern States namely, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra; one Western State named Gujarat and four Northern States named Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand demonstrate positive HQL in 2011. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and whole Eastern and North-Eastern States demonstrate low HQL wherein eastern India demonstrates very poor HQL. Composite index is constructed with the help of PCA (Principal Component Analysis) based on twenty selective variables categorized under three distinctive indices to calculate HQL.

[Formula: see text]
Pricing Urban Water Supply
Authors: Aggarwal Veena , Maurya Nidhi , Jain Garima
Published: June 2013

Right pricing is a key to water sector reforms as it would send correct signals for its use. However, water is generally viewed as a ‘social good’ rather than an ‘economic good’, and hence pricing of water is also done accordingly. This has led to over-exploitation of water resources which has a negative bearing for sustainability. Already many states are water stressed and a large section of the population does not have access to drinking water. State and city level agencies are severely resource constrained and are providing water service to consumers at prices below cost, further aggravating their financial position. Ultimately this results in lower quality of water supply, insufficient network expansion and lesser emphasis development of water projects. This article attempts to understand the existing methodology (rationale) for pricing of urban water supply in different cities in India. It examines tariff setting practices in water sector in countries which at one time faced similar challenges but which were able to successfully reform their sectors. The paper, then examines regulatory and pricing reforms in the electricity sector in India. This is pertinent as electricity is also an essential service, pricing has been for long a political/populist decision, and inefficiencies have affected quality and availability of electricity to end consumers. Regulatory reforms in the distribution segment in the electricity sector were introduced in the late 1990s and early 2000’s and therefore sufficient time has passed to understand the impact of reforms. Based on the learning from the electricity sector and based on international experience, the article recommends principles of pricing of urban retail water supply in India, including suggesting an appropriate tariff structure. It also makes recommendations on issues such as subsides, unaccounted for water and metering.

[Formula: see text]
Animal-Assisted Intervention in Dementia
Authors: Nordgren Lena , Engström Gabriella
Published: June 2013

There is a need to develop nonpharmacological treatments and methods which can serve as alternatives or complements to medications in dementia care. Previous research indicates that animal-assisted intervention (AAI) can be beneficial. The purpose of the present pilot project was to evaluate effects of AAI on quality of life (QoL) in people with dementia in four Swedish nursing homes. A pretest/posttest research design was used. Twenty people (12 women, 8 men; aged 58 to 88) were included. Nine people completed the intervention which comprised 10 training sessions with a certified therapy dog team. QoL improved in the expected direction after the intervention ( p = .035). Even though the effects of AAI may not be discernible over longer periods of time, there are still immediate effects which can promote better QoL for people living with dementia diseases.
Vibration reduction for vision systems on board unmanned aerial vehicles using a neuro-fuzzy controller
Authors: Marichal G Nicolás , Tomás-Rodríguez María , Hernández Ángela , Castillo-Rivera Salvador , Campoy P
Published: June 2013

In this paper, an intelligent control approach based on neuro-fuzzy systems performance is presented, with the objective of counteracting the vibrations that affect the low-cost vision platform onboard an unmanned aerial system of rotating nature. A scaled dynamical model of a helicopter is used to simulate vibrations on its fuselage. The impact of these vibrations on the low-cost vision system will be assessed and an intelligent control approach will be derived in order to reduce its detrimental influence. Different trials that consider a neuro-fuzzy approach as a fundamental part of an intelligent semi-active control strategy have been carried out. Satisfactory results have been achieved compared to those obtained by means of vibration reduction passive techniques.
Stabilization of gyrostat system with dead-zone nonlinearity in control input
Authors: Aghababa Mohammad Pourmahmood , Aghababa Hasan Pourmahmood
Published: June 2013

This paper proposes a robust adaptive finite-time controller for stabilization of a non-autonomous electromechanical gyrostat system in the presence of model uncertainties and external disturbances. The effect of the dead-zone nonlinearity in the control input is also taken into account. Moreover, all parameters of the system are assumed to be fully unknown in advance. To deal with the system's unknown parameters, some adaptation laws are introduced. Subsequently, based on the finite-time control theory, an adaptive robust controller is proposed to stabilize the non-autonomous gyrostat system in a given finite time. Then, Lyapunov's stability theory is applied to prove the finite-time stability of the designed control scheme. Finally, a numerical simulation is given to demonstrate the efficacy and robustness of the proposed finite-time control approach.
Stochastic seismic response analysis and reliability assessment of passively damped structures
Authors: Peng Yongbo , Mei Zhen , Li Jie
Published: June 2013

Viscous dampers have demonstrated their value for vibration control of civil engineering structures subjected to seismic excitations due to their effective energy dissipation capabilities and excellent durability characteristics. In most existing designs of practical applications on structural control with viscous dampers, just several ground motions with different risk levels are included. Logical treatment on the randomness inherent in the occurrence and propagation of earthquakes has still not received sufficient appeal. In this paper, stochastic seismic response analysis and reliability assessment of passively damped structures are carried out through experimental investigations and numerical simulations. Complete shaking-table tests on a framed structure with viscous dampers are involved, where the base excitation is represented by a physical stochastic ground motion model. For the numerical analysis and reliability assessment, the probability density evolution method and the theory of extreme value distribution are employed. Experimental and numerical investigations indicate that the seismic performance of the controlled structure with viscous dampers is significantly improved compared with that of the uncontrolled structure, and the structural safety is essentially enhanced.
Vertical pseudo-dynamic experimental study on long-span reticulated structures with multi-dimensional earthquake isolation and mitigation devices
Authors: Xu Zhao-Dong , Wang Xu-Dong , Wang Shao-An
Published: June 2013

The multi-dimensional earthquake isolation and mitigation device (MEIMD) for long-span reticulated structures is a newly invented passive vibration control device. In order to explore the vertical earthquake isolation and mitigation ability of the device, vertical pseudo-dynamic tests on a 1:3 scaled long-span reticulated structure with and without devices are carried out. In the tests, dynamic responses of the structure with the devices are compared with those without the devices under different earthquake waves. It can be seen from experimental results that the devices can obviously reduce the displacement, acceleration, and members’ strain responses of a long-span reticulated structure. Moreover, the finite element analyses are also performed to verify the seismic reduction effect of MEIMD. The numerical results fit well with the experimental results and this indicates that the finite element analysis has high simulation precision.
Tribological performance of phosphate ionic liquids as lubricants for steel-on-aluminum contact
Authors: Qiao Dan , Wang Haizhong , Feng Dapeng
Published: June 2013

Anti-corrosion phosphate ionic liquids were synthesized and evaluated as lubricants for the contact of steel/aluminum by using an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester under ambient conditions. Phosphate ionic liquids yield commendable tribological performance and are superior to the conventional ionic liquid lubricant 1-methy-3-hexylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate in terms of friction-reducing performance and anti-wear capacity. Contrastive experiments demonstrate that the simple mixing of two compounds (butylamine and dibutylphosphate) does not yield a mixture lubricant with better tribological properties as compared to the ionic liquid synthesized using these two compounds. The worn surfaces of aluminum discs were analyzed by using JSM-5600LV scanning electron microscope and PHI-5702 multifunctional X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. The friction reducing and anti-wear mechanisms originate from the layered structures of ionic liquids under boundary lubrication conditions and from the tribochemical interactions of ionic liquids with the fresh surface of the substrates.
An investigation into the effect of contact geometry on the rotary bending fretting fatigue life of Al 7075-T6
Authors: Majzoobi GH , Minaii K
Published: June 2013

The effect of contact geometry on the rotary bending fretting fatigue of Al 7075-T6 has been investigated. Two types of contact geometries, conforming and non-conforming, have been considered in the investigation. Three different characteristic lengths have been used for each type of contact. In the conforming type, three different contact areas and in the non-conforming type three different fillet radii has been considered in this work. The results show that bending fretting fatigue reduces the life of the material by about 90% in some cases. The reduction varies with the contact type and characteristic length. In the conforming type of contact, fretting fatigue life increases with the increase of characteristic length for low bending stresses but at higher bending stresses the fatigue life converges to the same cycles, regardless of the characteristic length. In the non-conforming type, fretting fatigue life reaches a minimum at the fillet radius of 1.5 mm. Since, contact pressure, shear stress, and slip amplitude have great effects on fretting fatigue life, the distribution of these parameters have been determined using Abaqus software for each contact type. The numerical simulations are quite consistent with the experimental results. The numerical results could reasonably explain the manner of variations observed in S–N curves for different contact geometries considered in this work.
A naturalistic study of stereotype threat in young female chess players
Authors: Rothgerber Hank , Wolsiefer Katie
Published: June 2013

The present research sought to determine whether young female chess players would demonstrate stereotype threat susceptibility in a naturalistic environment. Data from 12 scholastic chess tournaments indicated that females performed worse than expected when playing against a male opponent, achieving 83% of the expected success based on their own and their opponent’s prerating. These effects were strongest for the youngest players in lower elementary school but also present for those in upper elementary. Stereotype threat susceptibility was most pronounced in contexts that could be considered challenging: when playing a strong or moderate opponent and when playing someone in a higher or the same grade. As evidence of disengagement, those most vulnerable to stereotype threat were less likely to continue playing in future chess tournaments. These results were not found in a matched comparison male group suggesting the outcomes were unique to stereotype threat and not universal to young chess players.
An exploratory approach to a Twitter-based community centered on a political goal in South Korea: Who organized it, what they shared, and how they acted
Authors: Choi Sujin , Park Han Woo
Published: June 2013

This study provides an empirical account of how an online community has employed social media to mobilize people for a political goal. The case explored is a Twitter-based community in South Korea that calls for the elimination of a conservative national daily newspaper and whose activism is contextualized in the political history of Korea. Based on the mixed-method approach, the research results suggest that the role of the group organizer as an information provider and coordinator contributed to the sustainability of the group, and that group members formed a collective identity through the framing process of discourse. In addition, massive “retweeting” and “culture jamming” tactics were found to be strategically employed to enhance group solidarity, to broaden the base of support, and to crystallize involvement into political acts with other offline actions. Rather than decaying to an echo chamber or “slacktivism”, the online community seemed to demonstrate a new form of collective activism through the mediation of technology in everyday life.
What aggregators do: Towards a networked concept of journalistic expertise in the digital age
Authors: Anderson CW
Published: June 2013

This article analyzes expertise in the digital age through an ethnography of an increasingly valorized form of newswork – ‘serious, old fashioned reporting’ – and its purported occupational opposite, news aggregation. The article begins with a content analysis of the 4 March 2010 Federal Communications Commission workshop in which journalists tried to draw a sharp boundary between reporting and aggregation. In the second section the article explores the actual hybridized practices of journalistic aggregation. The empirical investigation serves as a scaffolding on which to build a theory of digital expertise that sees the nature and struggle over that expertise as networked properties. Expertise, according to the argument advanced in the final section, is neither a fixed property that can be ‘claimed’, nor is it simply the inevitable outcome of a clear occupational struggle over a particular jurisdiction. Specifically, the networks examined here coalesce around different conceptions of ‘what counts’ as a valid form of journalistic evidence under conditions of digitization.
Urban planning in generalized non-Euclidean space
Authors: Cao Kang , Zhang Yan
Published: June 2013

The concepts of space and time have dramatically changed with the development of modern sciences, such as geometry, physics, and astronomy. This radical shift also changes every aspect of our perspectives, including those on urban space and urban planning. With a brief introduction to the evolution of geometry, this article discusses the development of the way we think about and evaluate urban space. Such development is divided into two phases: homogeneous urban space and generalized non-Euclidean urban space, each with corresponding patterns of urban planning. Some key issues in the non-Euclidean pattern of planning are then explored intensively, such as varied measurements of urban land, geodesics in the city, and urban planning in spacetime. While emphasizing the way of thinking in urban planning process, this article provides some proposals that differ from those related to absolute space.
Informal strategies of power in the local planning system
Authors: Fox-Rogers Linda , Murphy Enda
Published: June 2013

Existing studies that question the role of planning as a state institution, whose interests it serves together with those disputing the merits of collaborative planning are all essentially concerned with the broader issue of power in society. Although there have been various attempts to highlight the distorting effects of power, the research emphasis to date has been focused on the operation of power within the formal structures that constitute the planning system. As a result, relatively little attention has been attributed to the informal strategies or tactics that can be utilised by powerful actors to further their own interests. This article seeks to address this gap by identifying the informal strategies used by the holders of power to bypass the formal structures of the planning system and highlight how these procedures are to a large extent systematic and (almost) institutionalised in a shadow planning system. The methodology consists of a series of semi-structured qualitative interviews with 20 urban planners working across four planning authorities within the Greater Dublin Area, Ireland. Empirical findings are offered that highlight the importance of economic power in the emergence of what essentially constitutes a shadow planning system. More broadly, the findings suggest that much more cognisance of the structural relations that govern how power is distributed in society is required and that ‘light touch’ approaches that focus exclusively on participation and deliberation need to be replaced with more radical solutions that look towards the redistribution of economic power between stakeholders.
From Child Welfare to Juvenile Justice
Authors: Goodkind Sara , Shook Jeffrey J. , Kim Kevin H. , Pohlig Ryan T. , Herring David J.
Published: June 2013

At least one third of youth involved with juvenile justice experienced child maltreatment. Child welfare samples thus provide a means to examine how child welfare services moderate the relationship between maltreatment and delinquency, producing information essential for tailoring services to disrupt this link. This article contributes to understandings of which youth are likely to become involved with juvenile justice by examining its relationships with child welfare experiences and mental health and substance abuse service receipt, with particular attention to racial and gender differences. In multivariate analyses of a birth cohort of child welfare-involved youth, mental health services are associated with juvenile justice, and substance abuse services are predictive for White boys and out-of-home placement for girls. For youth experiencing out-of-home placement, mental health services are associated with increased likelihood of juvenile justice and substance abuse services with decreased likelihood, while congregate care predicts juvenile justice for girls and White youth.
Youth Psychopathic Traits and Their Impact on Long-Term Criminal Offending Trajectories
Authors: Dyck Heather L. , Campbell Mary Ann , Schmidt Fred , Wershler Julie L.
Published: June 2013

The current study examined long-term offending patterns in relation to youth psychopathic traits. Criminal records of 126 adolescent offenders (80 male; 46 female) were analyzed for criminal activity between the ages of 12 and 23. Total scores on the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version were positively correlated with a higher number of overall offending incidents. After classifying youths into low ( n = 62), moderate ( n = 26), and high ( n = 38) psychopathic trait groups, results indicated that the moderate- and high-trait groups had consistently higher mean rates of criminal events (i.e., violent, nonviolent, drug related, and technical violations) throughout the follow-up period than the low-trait group. Contrary to what has been argued in previous psychopathy literature, a decrease in offending over time was observed in all three psychopathic trait groups. These results suggest that youths with psychopathic traits tend to display a higher level of criminal activity during adolescence, but are similar to lower psychopathic groups in also showing at least an initial decline in this behavior as they approach early adulthood.
The Development, Endorsement and Adoption of a National Standard for Principals in Australia
Authors: Dinham Stephen , Collarbone Patricia , Evans Margery , Mackay Anthony
Published: June 2013

Principals play key roles in creating the conditions in which teachers can teach effectively and students can learn. Principals are increasingly being held accountable both for teacher quality and for student learning and development so that young people can become ‘successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens’. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) was established by the Australian Government in 2010 to provide national leadership for the Commonwealth, state and territory governments in promoting excellence in the profession of teaching and school leadership. Reporting to all state and territory ministers responsible for education, AITSL is charged with driving transformational change and creating new levels of teacher professionalism. In its first year the Institute developed a new National Professional Standard for Principals.1 This article outlines the origins and development of this standard. Development was a collaborative process including key stakeholders from across Australia with international expert input. Following national piloting of the standard, refinements to the standard were made and mechanisms to support the use of the standard have been put in place.
Convergence of Corporate and Public Governance
Authors: Hirigoyen Gérard , Laouer Radhoine
Published: June 2013

By analyzing the differences between the corporate and public governance, theoretical and empirical research seems to indicate that the two domains of governance are far too different to share any common aspect. However, in this particular research, it has been argued that public governance is an application of corporate governance. Thus, the research question entails the description and analysis of this possible convergence of the two. Extensive research from literature on corporate governance has been undertaken to establish a relationship between the boards process and the roles that acts as a framework to bridge the gap separating corporate governance from public governance. Corporate governance, at a global level, exists in the for-profit as well as nonprofit organizations. Thus, the definition of this concept needs to be viewed from “an innovative” eye, considering the relationship between the process of the board and roles as characteristic of the public organization and private ones. As the private as well as public organizations are an application of corporate governance, the difference between the two gets narrowed. For the purpose of this research, the case of the French hospitals’ board has been taken into consideration. The members of the public board have been considered for the board process to perform their roles.
From Peasants to ‘Project Beneficiaries’: The Case of the Brazilian Amazon PPG7 Demonstration Projects
Authors: Barbanti Olympio
Published: June 2013

From 1992 to 2012, the Brazilian government, together with international development agencies representing the G7, implemented the Pilot Programme to Conserve the Brazilian Rainforests (PPG7). This intended to promote sustainable development in the Amazon forest area, with a key component being community-based agro-ecological and agroforestry production for the market. These projects, called ‘demonstration projects’, have provided financial credit to peasant-based organizations with some history of political and trade-union activity. However, by making a very selective use of approaches to rural development and overlooking the economic component of development in the agrarian sector, these projects seem to have resulted in a number of negative impacts for peasants and small-scale rural producers that remain overlooked in PPG7 official evaluations.
World Systems, Cores, and Peripheries in Prehistoric Europe
Authors: Harding Anthony
Published: June 2013

The paper reviews the rise and utility of World Systems Theory in archaeology, with particular reference to Europe and the Bronze Age. After a consideration of its origins in the 1970s and 1980s, the main aspects of the theory are discussed. The evidence that shows that the Bronze Age world was highly interconnected is presented, and the implications of a World Systems view of the period considered. In an attempt to work towards a new narrative of the European Bronze Age, a brief discussion of network methods is introduced, since these offer an alternative, ‘bottom-up’, approach to the period which, it is argued, is more appropriate to the data than the World Systems approach.
Oppida, Agglomerations, and Suburbia: the Bibracte Environs and New Perspectives on Late Iron Age Urbanism in Central-Eastern France
Authors: Moore Tom , Braun Arno , Creighton John , Cripps Laura , Haupt Peter , Klenner Ines , Nouvel Pierre , Ponroy Côme , Schönfelder Martin
Published: June 2013

This paper explores the nature and chronology of La Tène and early Roman unenclosed agglomerations in central-eastern France. It has been prompted by the discovery of a c. 115 ha La Tène D2b/Augustan (c. 50 BC to AD 15) site close to Bibracte in the Morvan, located around the source of the River Yonne. This complex provides a new perspective on the chronology and role of Late La Tène and early Roman unenclosed settlements, adding further complexity to the story of the development of Late La Tène oppida. It indicates that these ‘agglomerations’ followed remarkably varied chronological trajectories, raising important issues concerning the nature of landscape and social change at the end of the Iron Age.
Overview of radionuclide migration experiments in the HADES Underground Research Facility at Mol (Belgium)
Authors: Aertsens M. , Maes N. , Van Ravestyn L. , Brassinnes S.
Published: June 2013

In situmigration experiments using different radiotracers have been performed in the HADES Underground Research Facility (URF), built at a depth of 225 m in the Boom Clay formation below the SCK–CEN nuclear site at Mol (Belgium). Small-scale experiments, mimicking laboratory experiments, were carried out with strongly retarded tracers (strontium, caesium, europium, americium and technetium). Contrary to europium, americium and technetium which are subjected to colloid mediated transport, the transport of strontium and caesium can be described by the classic diffusion retardation formalism. For these last two tracers, the transport parameters derived from thein situexperiments can be compared with the laboratory-derived values. For both tracers, the apparent diffusion coefficients measured in thein situexperiments agree well with the laboratory-derived values.

In the large-scale experiments (of the order of metres) performed in the URF, non-retarded or slightly retarded tracers (HTO, iodide and H14CO3–) were used. The migration behaviour of these tracers was predicted based on models applied in performance assessment calculations (classic diffusion retardation) using migration parameter values measured in laboratory experiments. These blind predictions of large-scale experiments agree well in general with the experimental measurements. Fitting the experimentalin situdata leads to apparent diffusion coefficients close to those determined by the laboratory experiments. The iodide and H14CO3–data were fitted with a simple analytical expression, and the HTO data were additionally fitted numerically with COMSOL multiphysics, leading to about the same optimal values.
Development of a reactive transport code MC-CEMENT ver. 2 and its verification using 15-year in situ concrete/clay interactions at the Tournemire URL
Authors: Yamaguchi T. , Kataoka M. , Sawaguchi T. , Mukai M. , Hoshino S. , Tanaka T. , Marsal F. , Pellegrini D.
Published: June 2013

Highly alkaline environments induced by cement-based materials are likely to cause the physical and/or chemical properties of the bentonite buffer materials in radioactive waste repositories to deteriorate. Assessing long-term alteration of concrete/clay systems requires physicochemical models and a number of input parameters. In order to provide reliability in the assessment of the long-term performance of bentonite buffers under disposal conditions, it is necessary to develop and verify reactive transport codes for concrete/clay systems. In this study, a PHREEQC-based, reactive transport analysis code (MC-CEMENT ver. 2) was developed and was verified by comparing results of the calculations with in situ observations of the mineralogical evolution at the concrete/argillite interface. The calculation reproduced the observations such as the mineralogical changes in the argillite limited to within 1 cm in thickness from the interface, formation of CaCO3 and CSH, dissolution of quartz, decrease of porosity in the argillite and an increase in the concrete. These agreements indicate a possibility that models based on lab-scale (∼1 year) experiments can be applied to longer time scales although confidence in the models is necessary for much longer timescales. The fact that the calculations did not reproduce the dissolution of clays and the formation of gypsum indicates that there is still room for improvement in our model.
Dissolution experiments of Na- and Ca-montmorillonite in groundwater simulants under anaerobic conditions
Authors: Myllykylä E. , Tanhua-Tyrkkö M. , Bouchet A. , Tiljander M.
Published: June 2013

The effects of simulant groundwater composition, pH and temperature on the dissolution and alteration of Na- and Ca-montmorillonite have been studied. Prior to the experiments, Wyoming type Na-montmorillonite, Swy-2, was purified to decrease the amount of accessory minerals. For Ca-montmorillonite experiments, the interlayer cation Na+ of purified Swy-2 was exchanged with Ca2+. The batch experiments were conducted with the purified montmorillonites in simulated fresh and saline waters at 25°C and 60°C under anaerobic conditions in an Ar atmosphere. The concentrations of Si, Al, Fe and Mg were analysed from ultra-filtered solution samples with High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) as a function of dissolution time. The pH evolution was also measured. The solid smectite phases were analysed with X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). XRD analyses indicated that the nature of the smectite mineral did not change over 140 days. However, the experimental conditions, more or less, modified the structure (e.g. the layer stacking of montmorilllonite; the partial dissolution of the smectite), which cannot be detected by XRD but was evidenced by chemical data, and can be considered as a possible contributor to the stacking faults of the montmorillonite. The log rates (mol g–1 s–1), based on the dissolved amount of Si, varied between –10.64 and –12.13 depending on the experimental conditions.
Experimental investigations of piping phenomena in bentonite-based buffer materials for an HLW repository
Authors: Suzuki K. , Asano H. , Yahagi R. , Kobayashi I. , Sellin P. , Svemar C. , Holmqvist M.
Published: June 2013

During the installation of the buffer in a deposition hole of an HLW repository, it is necessary to control water flow from the fractured rock into the deposition hole. Water flow with inflow rate greater than 0.001 l/min may cause piping and erosion of the buffer, and may trigger mass redistribution of the buffer, sedimentation and material separation of bentonite materials. This paper describes the condition of parameters which cause piping and erosion; revised conditions which keep advection, inflow rate, buffer component, gap between buffer materials, gap between outside wall and buffer block, and type of water. The results from the experiment show the condition of the self-sealing function of bentonite materials, formation of piping, allowable limit of inflow rate in the case of an Na type bentonite block of 70 wt.% Kunigel V1 and 30 wt.% silica sand, or a pellet of 100 wt.% Kunigel V1. Piping and erosion continue until the engineered barrier (EB) is filled with water, and then the hydraulic gradient becomes small. Piping may lead to erosion and redistribution of material which needs to be taken into account in the long-term performance assessment.
Diffusion of Cs, Np, Am and Co in compacted sand-bentonite mixtures: evidence for surface diffusion of Cs cations
Authors: Sawaguchi T. , Yamaguchi T. , Iida Y. , Tanaka T. , Kitagawa I.
Published: June 2013

We studied the diffusive transport of Cs, Np, Am and Co in compacted sandbentonite mixtures by using the through-diffusion method. The experiments for Cs were performed under various aqueous compositions. Effective diffusivity (De) values of 4.7×10–10 to 5.9×10–9 m2 s–1 were obtained with a somewhat large variation. Apparent diffusivity (Da) values, on the other hand, showed less variation, ranging from 2.0×10–12 to 6.2×10–12 m2 s–1. The results indicated that diffusive flux was proportional to the concentration gradient on the basis of the amount of Cs in the unit volume of the compacted sand-bentonite mixtures rather than the Cs concentration gradient in pore water. Because the former concentration gradient in the mixtures was nearly equal to that of adsorbed Cs, the diffusion of Cs in the mixtures was probably dominated by the concentration gradient of the Cs adsorbed on the mixtures. In addition, the effective/apparent diffusivity of 237Np(IV) and apparent diffusivity of 241Am(III) and 60Co(II) in the mixtures were determined in 0.3/0.03 mol l–1 (NH4)2CO3/Na2S2O4 solution.
microRNA expression profiling identifies molecular signatures associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Authors: Liu Cuiling , Iqbal Javeed , Teruya-Feldstein Julie , Shen Yulei , Dabrowska Magdalena Julia , Dybkaer Karen , Lim Megan S. , Piva Roberto , Barreca Antonella , Pellegrino Elisa , Spaccarotella Elisa , Lachel Cynthia M. , Kucuk Can , Jiang Chun-Sun , Hu Xiaozhou , Bhagavathi Sharathkumar , Greiner Timothy C. , Weisenburger Dennis D. , Aoun Patricia , Perkins Sherrie L. , McKeithan Timothy W. , Inghirami Giorgio , Chan Wing C.
Published: June 2013

Key Points

Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma has a unique miRNA signature. The miR-17∼92 is an important downstream effector of ALK oncogenic pathway.
β-Catenin activation synergizes with Pten loss and Myc overexpression in Notch-independent T-ALL
Authors: Kaveri Deepika , Kastner Philippe , Dembélé Doulaye , Nerlov Claus , Chan Susan , Kirstetter Peggy
Published: June 2013

Key Points

Wnt activation, Pten loss, and Myc translocation synergize to define a novel subset of murine Notch-independent T-ALL.
Downregulation of the activating NKp30 ligand B7-H6 by HDAC inhibitors impairs tumor cell recognition by NK cells
Authors: Fiegler Nathalie , Textor Sonja , Arnold Annette , Rölle Alexander , Oehme Ina , Breuhahn Kai , Moldenhauer Gerhard , Witzens-Harig Mathias , Cerwenka Adelheid
Published: June 2013

Key Points

HDAC inhibitors downregulate expression of the activating NKp30 ligand B7-H6, reducing NKp30-dependent tumor cell recognition by NK cells. Our results have implications for the design of potential cancer treatments combining immunotherapy with HDAC inhibitors.
Dietary α-linolenic acid increases the platelet count in ApoE−/− mice by reducing clearance
Authors: Stivala Simona , Reiner Martin F. , Lohmann Christine , Lüscher Thomas F. , Matter Christian M. , Beer Juerg H.
Published: June 2013

Key Points

Dietary ALA decreases platelet clearance in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. ALA reduces platelet activation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha–converting enzyme-dependent GPIb cleavage.
Mobilization of lipids and fortification of cell wall and cuticle are important in host defense against Hessian fly
Authors: Khajuria Chitvan , Wang Haiyan , Liu Xuming , Wheeler Shanda , Reese John C , El Bouhssini Mustapha , Whitworth R Jeff , Chen Ming-Shun
Published: June 2013

Background

Wheat – Hessian fly interaction follows a typical gene-for-gene model. Hessian fly larvae die in wheat plants carrying an effective resistance gene, or thrive in susceptible plants that carry no effective resistance gene.

Results

Gene sets affected by Hessian fly attack in resistant plants were found to be very different from those in susceptible plants. Differential expression of gene sets was associated with differential accumulation of intermediates in defense pathways. Our results indicated that resources were rapidly mobilized in resistant plants for defense, including extensive membrane remodeling and release of lipids, sugar catabolism, and amino acid transport and degradation. These resources were likely rapidly converted into defense molecules such as oxylipins; toxic proteins including cysteine proteases, inhibitors of digestive enzymes, and lectins; phenolics; and cell wall components. However, toxicity alone does not cause immediate lethality to Hessian fly larvae. Toxic defenses might slow down Hessian fly development and therefore give plants more time for other types of defense to become effective.

Conclusion

Our gene expression and metabolic profiling results suggested that remodeling and fortification of cell wall and cuticle by increased deposition of phenolics and enhanced cross-linking were likely to be crucial for insect mortality by depriving Hessian fly larvae of nutrients from host cells. The identification of a large number of genes that were differentially expressed at different time points during compatible and incompatible interactions also provided a foundation for further research on the molecular pathways that lead to wheat resistance and susceptibility to Hessian fly infestation.
A compendium of molecules involved in vector-pathogen interactions pertaining to malaria
Authors: Sreenivasamurthy Sreelakshmi K , Dey Gourav , Ramu Manjula , Kumar Manish , Gupta Manoj K , Mohanty Ajeet K , Harsha HC , Sharma Pushkar , Kumar Nirbhay , Pandey Akhilesh , Kumar Ashwani , Prasad TS Keshava
Published: June 2013

Malaria is a vector-borne disease causing extensive morbidity, debility and mortality. Development of resistance to drugs among parasites and to conventional insecticides among vector-mosquitoes necessitates innovative measures to combat this disease. Identification of molecules involved in the maintenance of complex developmental cycles of the parasites within the vector and the host can provide attractive targets to intervene in the disease transmission. In the last decade, several efforts have been made in identifying such molecules involved in mosquito-parasite interactions and, subsequently, validating their role in the development of parasites within the vector. In this study, a list of mosquito proteins, which facilitate or inhibit the development of malaria parasites in the midgut, haemolymph and salivary glands of mosquitoes, is compiled. A total of 94 molecules have been reported and validated for their role in the development of malaria parasites inside the vector. This compendium of molecules will serve as a centralized resource to biomedical researchers investigating vector-pathogen interactions and malaria transmission.