bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the interaction of activity limitations with context, systems, community and personal factors in accessing public health care services: A presentation of South African case studies
Authors: Mji Gubela , Braathen Stine H. , Vergunst Richard , Scheffler Elsje , Kritzinger Janis , Mannan Hasheem , Schneider Marguerite , Swartz Leslie , Visagie Surona
Published: February 2017

Background: There are many factors that influence access to public health services, such as the context people live in, the existing health services, and personal, cultural and community factors. People with disabilities (activity limitations), through their experience of health services, may offer a particular understanding of the performance of the health services, thus exposing health system limitations more clearly than perhaps any other health service user.Aim: This article explores how activity limitations interact with factors related to context, systems, community and personal factors in accessing public health care services in South Africa.Setting: We present four case studies of people with disabilities from four low-resource diverse contexts in South Africa (rural, semi-rural, farming community and peri-urban) to highlight challenges of access to health services experienced by people with activity limitations in a variety of contexts.Methods: One case study of a person with disabilities was chosen from each study setting to build evidence using an intensive qualitative case study methodology to elucidate individual and household experiences of challenges experienced by people with activity limitations when attempting to access public health services. In-depth interviews were used to collect data, using an interview guide. The analysis was conducted in the form of a thematic analysis using the interview topics as a starting point.Results: First, these four case studies demonstrate that equitable access to health services for people with activity limitations is influenced by a complex interplay of a variety of factors for a single individual in a particular context. Secondly, that while problems with access to public health services are experienced by everyone, people with activity limitations are affected in particular ways making them particularly vulnerable in using public health services.Conclusion: The revitalisation of primary health care and the introduction of national health insurance by the Health Department of South Africa open a window of opportunity for policy makers and policy implementers to revisit and address the areas of access to public health services for people with activity limitations.
Multiple Impulse Therapy in the Assessment of Paraspinal Muscle Tone in Patients with Low Back Pain
Authors: Haładaj Robert , Topol Mirosław
Published: February 2017

Background. Back pain is quite common in contemporary society, whose expectations of an effective analgesic therapy in conservative treatment lead to a necessity of searching for new diagnostic and therapeutic methods in physiotherapy. Out of the numerous physical therapy methods, Multiple Impulse Therapy (MIT) deserves special consideration. This paper aims to present and analyse the outcomes of MIT concerning paraspinal muscle tone and pain intensity in patients with low back pain.
Material and methods. The study enrolled 117 patients (50 women and 67 men; average age of 45.3 yrs) with lumbar conditions confirmed by imaging studies. The participants received five MIT sessions within 14 days. Moreover, both before and after the therapy all the patients underwent bilateral assessment of the paraspinal muscle tone by surface electromyography (sEMG) with the NoraxonMyoTrace 400 system and an interactive head of the PulStarFRAS device. A VAS was used for evaluation of pain severity.
Results. The analysis of significance of differences between scores before and after treatment showed that all the parameters changed significantly (MIT: 11.11 Ibf before and 8.89 Ibf after the therapy; VAS: 6.04 before and 3.38 afterwards; sEMG: 9.29uV before and 7.51uV afterwards).
Conclusions. 1. Multiple Impulse Therapy (MIT) is an effective and non-invasive method of back pain treatment. 2. MIT significantly reduces paraspinal muscle tone, as confirmed by sEMG results, and shows a strong analgesic effect.
Targeted O‐glycoproteomics explored increased sialylation and identified MUC16 as a poor prognosis biomarker in advanced‐stage bladder tumours
Authors: Cotton Sofia , Azevedo Rita , Gaiteiro Cristiana , Ferreira Dylan , Lima Luís , Peixoto Andreia , Fernandes Elisabete , Neves Manuel , Neves Diogo , Amaro Teresina , Cruz Ricardo , Tavares Ana , Rangel Maria , Silva André M. N. , Santos Lúcio Lara , Ferreira José Alexandre
Published: February 2017

Bladder carcinogenesis and tumour progression is accompanied by profound alterations in protein glycosylation on the cell surface, which may be explored for improving disease management. In a search for prognosis biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets we have screened, using immunohistochemistry, a series of bladder tumours with differing clinicopathology for short‐chain O‐glycans commonly found in glycoproteins of human solid tumours. These included the Tn and T antigens and their sialylated counterparts sialyl‐Tn(STn) and sialyl‐T(ST), which are generally associated with poor prognosis. We have also explored the nature of T antigen sialylation, namely the sialyl‐3‐T(S3T) and sialyl‐6‐T(S6T) sialoforms, based on combinations of enzymatic treatments. We observed a predominance of sialoglycans over neutral glycoforms (Tn and T antigens) in bladder tumours. In particular, the STn antigen was associated with high‐grade disease and muscle invasion, in accordance with our previous observations. The S3T and S6T antigens were detected for the first time in bladder tumours, but not in healthy urothelia, highlighting their cancer‐specific nature. These glycans were also overexpressed in advanced lesions, especially in cases showing muscle invasion. Glycoproteomic analyses of advanced bladder tumours based on enzymatic treatments, Vicia villosa lectin‐affinity chromatography enrichment and nanoLC‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis resulted in the identification of several key cancer‐associated glycoproteins (MUC16, CD44, integrins) carrying altered glycosylation. Of particular interest were MUC16 STn+‐glycoforms, characteristic of ovarian cancers, which were found in a subset of advanced‐stage bladder tumours facing the worst prognosis. In summary, significant alterations in the O‐glycome and O‐glycoproteome of bladder tumours hold promise for the development of novel noninvasive diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutics. Furthermore, abnormal MUC16 glycoforms hold potential as surrogate biomarkers of poor prognosis and unique molecular signatures for designing highly specific targeted therapeutics.
Uniform Supersonic Chemical Reactors: 30 Years of Astrochemical History and Future Challenges
Authors: Potapov Alexey , Canosa André , Jiménez Elena , Rowe Bertrand
Published: February 2017

The interstellar medium is of great interest to us as the place where stars and planets are born and from where, probably, the molecular precursors of life came to Earth. Astronomical observations, astrochemical modeling, and laboratory astrochemistry should go hand in hand to understand the chemical pathways to the formation of stars, planets, and biological molecules. We review here laboratory experiments devoted to investigations on the reaction dynamics of species of astrochemical interest at the temperatures of the interstellar medium and which were performed by using one of the most popular techniques in the field, CRESU. We discuss new technical developments and scientific ideas for CRESU, which, if realized, will bring us one step closer to understanding of the astrochemical history and the future of our universe.
On the diffusion around a slender drop in a simple shear flow
Authors: Favelukis Moshe
Published: February 2017

Mass transfer around a slender drop in a simple shear and creeping flow, at zero Peclet numbers (Pe = 0), is the subject of this theoretical report. The problem is governed by two dimensionless parameters: the capillary number (Ca >> 1) and the viscosity ratio (λ << 1). The fluid mechanics model of Hinch and Acrivos predicts an S‐shaped drop with pointed ends that is almost parallel with the direction of the flow. Making use of the analogy between electrostatics and diffusion (Pe = 0), both governed by the Laplace equation, together with the work of Szegö on the capacity of a condenser, a simple model is suggested by assuming the drop to be a slender prolate spheroid with rounded ends. The results suggest the following: (a) as the capillary number increases, the drop becomes thinner and longer and its surface area increases, leading to larger mass transfer rates; and (b) for the same capillary number, extensional flow is much more effective than simple shear flow in mass transfer operations.
Retinal ganglion cell topography and spatial resolving power in the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
Authors: Coimbra João Paulo , Manger Paul R.
Published: February 2017

This study sought to determine whether the retinal organization of the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), a large African herbivore with lips specialized for grazing in open savannahs, relates to its foraging ecology and habitat. Using stereology and retinal wholemounts, we estimated a total of 353,000 retinal ganglion cells. Their density distribution reveals an unusual topographic organization of a temporal (2,000 cells/mm2) and a nasal (1,800 cells/mm2) area embedded within a well‐defined horizontal visual streak (800 cells/mm2), which is remarkably similar to the retinal organization in the black rhinoceros. Alpha ganglion cells comprise 3.5% (12,300) of the total population of ganglion cells and show a similar distribution pattern with maximum densities also occurring in the temporal (44 cells/mm2) and nasal (40 cells/mm2) areas. We found higher proportions of alpha cells in the dorsal and ventral retinas. Given their role in the detection of brisk transient stimuli, these higher proportions may facilitate the detection of approaching objects from the front and behind while grazing with the head at 45 °. Using ganglion cell peak density and eye size (29 mm, axial length), we estimated upper limits of spatial resolving power of 7 cycles/deg (temporal area), 6.6 cycles/deg (nasal area), and 4.4 cycles/deg (horizontal streak). The resolution of the temporal area potentially assists with grazing, while the resolution of the streak may be used for panoramic surveillance of the horizon. The nasal area may assist with detection of approaching objects from behind, potentially representing an adaptation compensating for limited neck and head mobility. J. Comp. Neurol., 525:2484–2498, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparative T2 and T1ρ mapping of patellofemoral cartilage under in situ mechanical loading with prospective motion correction
Authors: Lange Thomas , Knowles Benjamin R. , Herbst Michael , Izadpanah Kaywan , Zaitsev Maxim
Published: February 2017

Purpose

To demonstrate improved T2 and T1ρ mapping of patellofemoral cartilage with in situ loading by means of prospective motion correction and to assess load‐induced changes in healthy subjects.

Materials and Methods

Established T2 and T1ρ mapping sequences were augmented with prospective motion correction based on optical tracking. Protocols were optimized for robust imaging of the patellofemoral cartilage at a field strength of 3T. Subjects were positioned in the scanner with knee flexion and in situ loading of the patellofemoral joint was performed with a pneumatic loading device. In a pilot study on a cohort of 10 healthy subjects, load‐induced T2 and T1ρ changes were evaluated through measurements with axial loads of 0/20/40 kg.

Results

With prospective motion correction and additional lipid saturation, motion artifacts in patellofemoral cartilage magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with in situ loading could be notably decreased, as demonstrated for T2 mapping. The acquired relaxation maps suggested a T2/T1ρ decrease in superficial cartilage and a T2/T1ρ increase in deep cartilage under loading. However, in the quantitative group evaluation of the lateral patellar facet, only T1ρ in superficial cartilage was significantly changed by loading (P ≤ 0.05), while no significant T2 differences for the three loading conditions were observed (P ≥ 0.3).

Conclusion

Prospective motion correction enables T2 and T1ρ mapping of patellofemoral cartilage with in situ loading and a comparison of the two contrasts in terms of their response to mechanical loading. T1ρ is a more sensitive marker for load‐induced patellar cartilage changes than T2.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 1

J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:452–460
The Role of Cocatalysts on Bismuth Vanadate in the Abatement of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Related Compounds under Visible Light
Authors: Xu Fei , Lv Xincong , Kong Dexin , Teoh Wey Yang
Published: February 2017

Visible light photocatalysis is one of the technology pillars contributing to the future energy sustainability based on solar. Here, the the mechanistic roles of cocatalysts deposited on bismuth vanadate (BiVO4, bandgap 2.45 eV) in the photocatalytic degradation of endocrine disrupting chemicals and related compounds is reported. Because of its low conduction band edge potential, the photocatalytic activity of BiVO4 is limited by its ability to catalyze an otherwise efficient one‐electron reduction of O2 (to form superoxide radical anion). As such, the deposition of cocatalysts is necessary to promote the alternative multielectron reduction of O2 in the following order: Pt > Pd > Ag. The general enhancement in activity is traced to the coupled effects of Schottky barrier‐type charge separation (a function of the metal cocatalyst work function) and the catalytic surface electron transfer. Although the Pt and Pd deposits are more efficient in the former, the Ag is more active in cocatalyzing the surface charge transfer process. The optimum 2% Pt/BiVO4 shows high efficiencies in the visible light degradation of bisphenol A, thiodiphenol, and 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol; moderate efficiencies toward bisphenol S, 4‐chlorophenol and 2,4‐dichlorophenol; and ineffective toward diphenyl sulfoxide and triclosan. The trend is related to the adsorption capacity of the substrates on the photocatalyst.
Quasiequilibrium crystal shape and kinetic Wulff plot for GaN grown by trihalide vapor phase epitaxy using GaCl3
Authors: Iso Kenji , Matsuda Karen , Takekawa Nao , Murakami Hisashi , Koukitu Akinori
Published: February 2017

We demonstrated the selective‐area growth (SAG) of the nonpolar m‐plane and the polar −c‐plane substrates to determine the quasiequilibrium crystal shape (quasi‐ECS) by trihalide vapor phase epitaxy (THVPE). The results were compared with those by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The polar N‐face and the nonpolar m‐planes were consistently stable with the semipolar planes emerging only at high temperature for the quasi‐ECS grown by THVPE. The clear facets of the polar Ga‐face (0001) and Ga‐face sense semipolar planes such as did not appear. The kinetic Wulff plots for THVPE were constructed using the growth velocities for each emerging facet of the SAG.

Bird's‐eye view SEM images of the selective‐area GaN crystals grown on the m‐plane and –c‐plane for THVPE.
Constructions of p‐variable 1‐resilient rotation symmetric functions over GF(p)
Authors: Du Jiao , Li Chao , Fu Shaojing , Pang Shanqi
Published: February 2017

Rotation symmetric Boolean functions have been extensively studied in the recent years because of their applications in cryptography. In this study, a novel method to construct p‐variable 1‐resilient rotation symmetric functions over GF(p) is proposed based on a Latin square with maximum cycle structure, which is not required to solve any equation system. And a lower bound on the number of p‐variable 1‐resilient rotation symmetric functions is given. At last, an equivalent characterization of p‐variable 1‐resilient rotation symmetric functions over GF(p) is demonstrated, as a direct corollary, the number of p‐variable 1‐resilient rotation symmetric functions is represented by all the solutions of the equation system. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Anatomy of targeted attacks with smart malware
Authors: Bahtiyar Şerif
Published: February 2017

The expansive connectivity of information systems has set the stage for pervasive malware to leverage multiple attack vectors and propagation methods. In doing so, this malware has taken on the complexity and richness of the very society it endeavors to control. Defending against it is therefore exceptionally difficult because defense systems have no autonomy in perceiving threats of complex malware and reacting against it. In this paper, smart malware model is defined as emerging complex malware that may be used by defense systems to perceive complex malware and reacting to its attacks. A targeted attack is also presented to show the difficulty of defending systems against smart malware. It is also compared with conventional malware to analyze malware types. Moreover, a numerical study about smart malware is presented to evaluate the proposed model in a more precise manner. The comparison and the numerical study show that our model can be used to perceive smart malware autonomously by automated tools. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lysine Acetylation and Deacetylation in Brain Development and Neuropathies
Authors: Tapias Alicia , Wang Zhao-Qi
Published: February 2017

Embryonic development is critical for the final functionality and maintenance of the adult brain. Brain development is tightly regulated by intracellular and extracellular signaling. Lysine acetylation and deacetylation are posttranslational modifications that are able to link extracellular signals to intracellular responses. A wealth of evidence indicates that lysine acetylation and deacetylation are critical for brain development and functionality. Indeed, mutations of the enzymes and cofactors responsible for these processes are often associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Lysine acetylation and deacetylation are involved in all levels of brain development, starting from neuroprogenitor survival and proliferation, cell fate decisions, neuronal maturation, migration, and synaptogenesis, as well as differentiation and maturation of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, to the establishment of neuronal circuits. Hence, fluctuations in the balance between lysine acetylation and deacetylation contribute to the final shape and performance of the brain. In this review, we summarize the current basic knowledge on the specific roles of lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) and lysine deacetylase (KDAC) complexes in brain development and the different neurodevelopmental disorders that are associated with dysfunctional lysine (de)acetylation machineries.
Characterization of Leaf Transcriptome in Banksia Hookeriana
Authors: Lim Sim Lin , D’Agui Haylee M. , Enright Neal J. , He Tianhua
Published: February 2017

Banksia is a significant element in vegetation of southwestern Australia, a biodiversity hotspot with global significance. In particular, Banksia hookeriana represents a species with significant economic and ecological importance in the region. For better conservation and management, we reported an overview of transcriptome of B. hookeriana using RNA-seq and de novo assembly. We have generated a total of 202.7 million reads (18.91 billion of nucleotides) from four leaf samples in four plants of B. hookeriana, and assembled 59,063 unigenes (average size = 1098 bp) through de novotranscriptome assembly. Among them, 39,686 unigenes were annotated against the Swiss-Prot, Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), and NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein databases. We showed that there was approximately one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) per 5.6–7.1 kb in the transcriptome, and the ratio of transitional to transversional polymorphisms was approximately 1.82. We compared unigenes of B. hookeriana to those of Arabidopsis thaliana and Nelumbo nucifera through sequence homology, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation, and KEGG pathway analyses. The comparative analysis revealed that unigenes of B. hookeriana were closely related to those of N. nucifera. B. hookeriana, N. nucifera, and A. thaliana shared similar GO annotations but different distributions in KEGG pathways, indicating that B. hookeriana has adapted to dry-Mediterranean type shrublands via regulating expression of specific genes. In total 1927 potential simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were discovered, which could be used in the genotype and genetic diversity studies of the Banksia genus. Our results provide valuable sequence resource for further study in Banksia.
Minimal abdominal incisions
Authors: Magi João Carlos , Santos Bruna Fernandes dos , Boarini Lucas Rodrigues , Oliveira Pietro Dadalto de , Formiga Galdino José Sitonio
Published: February 2017

Minimally invasive procedures aim to resolve the disease with minimal trauma to the body, resulting in a rapid return to activities and in reductions of infection, complications, costs and pain. Minimally incised laparotomy, sometimes referred to as minilaparotomy, is an example of such minimally invasive procedures. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of laparotomy with minimal incision based on the literature and exemplifying with a case. The case in question describes reconstruction of the intestinal transit with the use of this incision. Male, young, HIV-positive patient in a late postoperative of ileotiflectomy, terminal ileostomy and closing of the ascending colon by an acute perforating abdomen, due to ileocolonic tuberculosis. The barium enema showed a proximal stump of the right colon near the ileostomy. The access to the cavity was made through the orifice resulting from the release of the stoma, with a lateral-lateral ileo-colonic anastomosis with a 25 mm circular stapler and manual closure of the ileal stump. These surgeries require their own tactics, such as rigor in the lysis of adhesions, tissue traction, and hemostasis, in addition to requiring surgeon dexterity – but without the need for investments in technology; moreover, the learning curve is reported as being lower than that for videolaparoscopy. Laparotomy with minimal incision should be considered as a valid and viable option in the treatment of surgical conditions.
THE INFLUENCE OF ON- AND OFF-FARM SURFACE WATER INVESTMENT ON GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION FROM AN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
Authors: KOVACS KENT , DURAND-MORAT ALVARO
Published: February 2017

The use of surface water to replace groundwater for irrigation is often viewed as an effective approach for reducing groundwater overdraft on an agricultural landscape. However, the availability of surface water does not necessarily lead to groundwater conservation in practice. The expected increase in the aquifer volume in the presence of surface water does not occur unless the off-farm water price is low enough to generate a significant shift away from groundwater. There is a change in the crop pattern toward more irrigation-intensive crops, and the net effect can be a rise in groundwater extraction.
Disease burden and the role of pharmacogenomics in African populations
Authors: Mpye K. L. , Matimba A. , Dzobo K. , Chirikure S. , Wonkam A. , Dandara C.
Published: February 2017

Background.

The burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa poses a challenge in achieving quality healthcare. Although therapeutic drugs have generally improved health, their efficacy differs from individual to individual. Variability in treatment response is mainly because of genetic variants that affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs.

Method.

The intersection of disease burden and therapeutic intervention is reviewed, and the status of pharmacogenomics knowledge in African populations is explored.

Results.

The most commonly studied variants with pharmacogenomics relevance are discussed, especially in genes coding for enzymes that affect the response to drugs used for HIV, malaria, sickle cell disease and cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusions.

The genetically diverse African population is likely to benefit from a pharmacogenomics-based healthcare approach, especially with respect to reduction of drug side effects, and separation of responders and non-responders leading to optimized drug choices and doses for each patient.
Deleting digits
Authors: Baoulina Ioulia N. , Kreh Martin , Steuding Jörn
Published: February 2017

We consider here the positive integers with respect to their unique decimal expansions, where each n ∈ ℕ is given by for some non-negative integer k and digit sequence αkαk-1 … α0. With slight abuse of notation, we also use n to denote αkαk-1 … α0. For such sequences of digits (as well as for the numbers represented by the corresponding expansions) we write x ⊲ y if x is a subsequence of y, which means that either x = y or x can be obtained from y by deleting some digits of y. For example, 514 ⊲ 352148. The main problem is as follows: Given a set S ⊂ ℕ, find the smallest possible set M ⊂ S such that for all s ∈ S there exists m ∈ M with m ⊲ s.
AMS14C and Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Aerosols from Mexico City
Authors: Solís C , Gómez V , Ortíz E , Chávez E , Miranda J , Aragón J , Martínez M A , Castro T , Peralta O
Published: February 2017

Air pollution in Mexico City, which has more than 22 million inhabitants, continues to be one of the main environmental issues. Aerosol samples (PM10) collected in Mexico City and the city of Cuernavaca (a clean reference site) have been characterized using different techniques. This multifaceted approach addresses the source apportionment of the carbonaceous matter in PM10, as well as the airborne elements and ions. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon analysis of total carbon, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and ion chromatography were performed on aerosols collected at three sites in Mexico City and one site in Cuernavaca, during 2 months of the cold-dry season (November–December) in 2012. New results obtained for Mexico City are compared with previous reports. Average levels of PM10were higher in Mexico City sites (43.3–60.8 μg/m3) than in Cuernavaca (32.2 μg/m3). According to the material balance, PM10collected in Mexico City had a lower contribution of crustal material (31.2–36.8%) than Cuernavaca (46.9%). Average contributions of particulate carbonaceous matter to PM10were similar in both cities, but much higher contributions of mineral salts, trace elements, and ions were observed in Mexico City in comparison to Cuernavaca. Total organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) contents were higher in aerosols from Mexico City than those from Cuernavaca. The temporal variation results showed that within all locations studied the OC concentration was high compared to the EC. Results from a theoretical calculation of fossil carbon (FC) and biogenic carbon (BC) concentrations showed that FC and BC levels depend on the site: at Mexico City sites, FC was equal or higher than BC. At Cuernavaca, BC was always higher than FC.
A New Status Quo? The Psychological Impact of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Authors: Rowell Arden , van Zeben Josephine
Published: February 2017

This brief opinion piece draws upon behavioural and cognitive research to argue that the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping global temperature change below 2 degrees Celsius sets a psychologically powerful baseline against which future policy failures can be measured. When international law successfully triggers perception of a baseline, it can lead decision makers to perceive deviations from that baseline as “losses.” This implicates loss aversion, which provides an additional motivation to achieve international norms. The psychological impacts of this new status quo may end up being more powerful and more durable than either the unusual structure of the document or the domestic implementation questions that have already attracted so much scholarly debate.
Towards a Law of the Mammoth? Climate Engineering in Contemporary EU Environmental Law
Authors: Somsen Han
Published: February 2017

In an article that made waves when it was first published in 1996, judge Easterbrook scorned the idea that the technological reality of cyberspace justified talk about or a need for ‘Cyber Law’. Just as there is no need for a ‘Law of the Horse’ merely because horses give rise to legal claims, he argued, conventional legal principles and reasoning are sufficiently accommodating to absorb new legal challenges that arise in the wake of cyberspace. We may likewise doubt the need for a ‘Law of the Mammoth’, even though technologies emerge that harbour the prospect of bringing back the woolly mammoth from extinction, reversing climate change, and creating new life forms. Cyber Law is now firmly established, of course, and Easterbrook also appears to have lost the academic debate from the likes of Lawrence Lessig. That fact notwithstanding, the onus to show that the time has come for a Law of the Mammoth clearly is on those staking the claim.
Food intended for Sportspeople: The EU's Regulatory Framework after 20 July 2016
Authors: Carreño Ignacio , Dolle Tobias
Published: February 2017

On 20 July 2016, a new legal framework comes into effect for the so-called “food for specific groups”, established by Regulation (EU) No. 609/2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control (hereinafter, FSG Regulation). The FSG Regulation repeals Directive 2009/39/EC on foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses (hereinafter, the PARNUTS Directive). Food intended for sportspeople placed on the market will be affected by the repeal of the PARNUTS Directive as such food has not been included in the FSG Regulation's scope and will have to comply with general EU food law from 20 July 2016. This has a major impact on compositional requirements, product names and claims made on such food. Inter alia, the possibility to make so-called “suitability statements” on food intended for sportspeople, which currently does give manufacturers some margin to make statements that some consider as something similar to claims, is likely to be controversial without the PARNUTS Directive.
Evidence of Formation of Superdense Nonmagnetic Cobalt
Authors: Banu Nasrin , Singh Surendra , Satpati B. , Roy A. , Basu S. , Chakraborty P. , Movva Hema C. P. , Lauter V. , Dev B. N.
Published: February 2017

Because of the presence of 3d transition metals in the Earth’s core, magnetism of these materials in their dense phases has been a topic of great interest. Theory predicts a dense face-centred-cubic phase of cobalt, which would be nonmagnetic. However, this dense nonmagnetic cobalt has not yet been observed. Recent investigations in thin film polycrystalline materials have shown the formation of compressive stress, which can increase the density of materials. We have discovered the existence of ultrathin superdense nonmagnetic cobalt layers in a polycrystalline cobalt thin film. The densities of these layers are about 1.2–1.4 times the normal density of Co. This has been revealed by X-ray reflectometry experiments, and corroborated by polarized neutron reflectometry (PNR) experiments. Transmission electron microscopy provides further evidence. The magnetic depth profile, obtained by PNR, shows that the superdense Co layers near the top of the film and at the film-substrate interface are nonmagnetic. The major part of the Co film has the usual density and magnetic moment. These results indicate the possibility of existence of nonmagnetic Co in the earth’s core under high pressure.
Self-assemble nanoparticles based on polypeptides containing C-terminal luminescent Pt-cysteine complex
Authors: Vlakh E. G. , Grachova E. V. , Zhukovsky D. D. , Hubina A. V. , Mikhailova A. S. , Shakirova J. R. , Sharoyko V. V. , Tunik S. P. , Tennikova T. B.
Published: February 2017

The growing attention to the luminescent nanocarriers is strongly stimulated by their potential application as drug delivery systems and by the necessity to monitor their distribution in cells and tissues. In this communication we report on the synthesis of amphiphilic polypeptides bearing C-terminal phosphorescent label together with preparation of nanoparticles using the polypeptides obtained. The approach suggested is based on a unique and highly technological process where the new phosphorescent Pt-cysteine complex serves as initiator of the ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydrides to obtain the polypeptides bearing intact the platinum chromophore covalently bound to the polymer chain. It was established that the luminescent label retains unchanged its emission characteristics not only in the polypeptides but also in more complicated nanoaggregates such as the polymer derived amphiphilic block-copolymers and self-assembled nanoparticles. The phosphorescent nanoparticles display no cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity in the tested range of concentrations and easily internalize into living cells that makes possible in vivo cell visualization, including prospective application in time resolved imaging and drug delivery monitoring.
Fingolimod alters the transcriptome profile of circulating CD4+ cells in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Friess Jörg , Hecker Michael , Roch Luisa , Koczan Dirk , Fitzner Brit , Angerer Ines Charlotte , Schröder Ina , Flechtner Kristin , Thiesen Hans-Jürgen , Winkelmann Alexander , Zettl Uwe Klaus
Published: February 2017

Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system. T cells are known to contribute to this immune-mediated condition. Fingolimod modulates sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, thereby preventing the egress of lymphocytes, especially CCR7-expressing CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, from lymphoid tissues. Using Affymetrix Human Transcriptome Arrays (HTA 2.0), we performed a transcriptome profiling analysis of CD4+ cells obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with highly active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The samples were drawn before the first administration of fingolimod as well as 24 hours and 3 months after the start of therapy. Three months after treatment initiation, 890 genes were found to be differentially expressed with fold-change >2.0 and t-test p-value < 0.001, among them several microRNA precursors. A subset of 272 genes were expressed at lower levels, including CCR7 as expected, while 618 genes showed an increase in expression, e.g., CCR2, CX3CR1, CD39, CD58 as well as LYN, PAK1 and TLR2. To conclude, we studied the gene expression of CD4+ cells to evaluate the effects of fingolimod treatment, and we identified 890 genes to be altered in expression after continuous drug administration. T helper cells circulating in the blood during fingolimod therapy present a distinct gene expression signature.
Bell-Plessett effect on harmonic evolution of spherical Rayleigh-Taylor instability in weakly nonlinear scheme for arbitrary Atwood numbers
Authors: Liu Wanhai , Yu Changping , Jiang Hongbin , Li Xinliang
Published: February 2017

Based on the harmonic analysis [Liu et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 112112 (2015)], the analytical investigation on the harmonic evolution in Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) at a spherical interface has been extended to the general case of arbitrary Atwood numbers by using the method of the formal perturbation up to the third order in a small parameter. Our results show that the radius of the initial interface [i.e., Bell-Plessett (BP) effect] dramatically influences the harmonic evolution for arbitrary Atwood numbers. When the initial radius approaches infinity compared against the initial perturbation wavelength, the amplitudes of the first four harmonics will recover those in planar RTI. The BP effect makes the amplitudes of the zeroth, second, and third harmonics increase faster for a larger Atwood number than smaller one. The BP effect reduces the third-order negative feedback to the fundamental mode for a smaller Atwood number, and strengthens it for a larger one. Hence, the BP effect helps the fundamental mode grow faster for a smaller Atwood number.
Alfvénic localized structures in partially ionized plasmas
Authors: Borhanian Jafar , Rezaei Arash
Published: February 2017

The existence and dynamics of Alfvénic localized structures are investigated in partially ionized plasmas. We have employed the Hall magnetohydrodynamics model for partially ionized plasmas and shown that the evolution of a weakly nonlinear and weakly dispersive Alfvén wave is governed by a derivative nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) type equation. In the Hall effect domination limit, this equation reduces to a standard DNLS equation that possesses localized solutions in the form of solitons and rogue waves. The dependence of the profile of these structures on the Hall parameter is addressed. When the ohmic and ambipolar effects are small but finite in comparison to the Hall effect, the evolution equation takes the form of a perturbed DNLS equation. In this limit, the dynamics of envelope soliton solution is examined by means of the soliton perturbation method, the moment method, to be precise.
The consumer perspective in functional foods research - a categorization scheme regarding consumer and market determinants of functional food acceptance.
Authors: Bornkessel S.
Published: February 2017

Functional foods are still of increasing interest among the scientific community. Based on the extensive literature about functional foods, four main research areas can be identified: functional food innovation (1); the scientific background of the health benefits of functional foods (2); the regulation of functional foods (3); and consumer acceptance of functional foods (4). These research areas are not detached from each other, and each presents a consumer perspective. Although multifaceted studies focus on consumer acceptance of functional foods, literature regarding a structured framework of the determinants of functional food acceptance is limited. The aim of this review is to provide the reader with an overview of the recent literature on consumer attitudes towards functional foods and with an extensive structured framework of the determinants of functional food acceptance and their intertwined relationships. The scientific literature discusses a plethora of determinants of consumer acceptance of functional foods. These determinants can be categorized into consumer and market attributes, which show interwoven relationships with each other. On the one hand, consumer attributes are widely discussed in the literature, while on the other hand structured analyses of the market perspective are inadequately represented. Additionally, the ongoing development of new scientific findings regarding health benefits of different functional ingredients leads to a large amount of new functional food products in the market. Consequently, the research area of functional foods and in particular consumer acceptance of functional food innovation will remain an important research field in the coming years.
Innovation and Productivity Growth: T.W. Schultz Lecture
Authors: Jorgenson Dale W.
Published: February 2017

“The puzzle confronting economists has been that the rate of growth of output that was being observed has been much larger than the rate of increase in the principal resources that were being measured. It is now clear that this puzzle is of our own making because we have been using measures of capital and labor which had been refined and narrowed in ways that excluded many of the improvements that have been made in the quality of these resources.” Theodore W. Schultz (1962).
The origin of dispersion in DLA metallicities
Authors: Dvorkin Irina , Silk Joseph , Vangioni Elisabeth , Petitjean Patrick , Olive Keith A.
Published: February 2017

Recent chemical abundance measurements of damped Ly α absorbers (DLAs) revealed an intrinsic scatter in their metallicity of ∼0.5 dex out to z ∼ 5. In order to explore the origin of this scatter, we build a semi-analytic model which traces the chemical evolution of the interstellar matter in small regions of the Universe with different mean density, from over- to underdense regions. We show that the different histories of structure formation in these regions, namely halo abundance, mass and stellar content, are reflected in the chemical properties of the protogalaxies, and in particular of DLAs. We calculate mean metallicity–redshift relations and show that the metallicity dispersion arising from this environmental effect amounts to ∼0.25 dex and is an important contributor to the observed overall intrinsic scatter.
EFFECT OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS ON DOGS EXPOSED TWO ANDONE-HALF YEARS PREVIOUSLY TO BLASTOMYCES DERMATITIDIS
Authors: SMITH COY D. , FURCOLOW MICHAEL L. , HULKER PAUL
Published: February 2017

Observation of 33 dogs exposed to Blastomyces dermatitidis over a 2 ½ year period is reported. During the first 1 ½ years six dogs died and 23 (77%)developed skin lesions. Clinical evidence of disease in all the animals then subsided and remained so through another year of observation. Nine animals were sacrificed after 120 weeks and several tissues were cultured from each one. The remaining 18 were given immunosuppressants—azathioprine, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide—for eight weeks prior to autopsy. About one-half of the dogs were found to be infected with Histoplasma capsulatum and all were negative for B. dermatitidis by culture. The dogs were thought to have been inadvertently exposed to H. capsulatum during the first eight weeks ofobservation from a nearby soil plot before being moved to a more remote shelter. Skin testing with histoplasmin and blastomycin and complement-fixation(CF) tests, performed at various intervals after exposure to B. dermatitidis, appeared to reflect the course of disease with the number of reactors to the H. capsulatum antigens remaining relatively high while the number of reactors to B. dermatitidis antigens fell with the passage of time. The blastomycin skin test results in these dogs, however, persisted far longer than positive Blastomyces CF results. These data suggest that most dogs exposed to B. dermatitidis exhibit clinical symptoms of disease after about 12 weeks, persisting for about one year. The majority of animals recover spontaneously and completely. With H. capsulatum, however, the infection can be subclinical for at least a two-year period.
MATCHING EVIDENCE ABOUT CLUSTERED HEALTH EVENTS WITH TORT LAW REQUIREMENTS
Authors: BLACK BERT
Published: February 2017

This paper addresses the use of epidemiologlc evidence when a cluster becomes the focus of dispute in court it is often difficult to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that an exposure for which a defendant is responsible caused the disease or diseases at issue. Thus, in a number of cases plaintiffs have resorted to nontradttional science, such as clinical ecology, or to questionable extrapolations from animal test data. Other plaintiffs have sought to avoid the traditional causation requirement by making claims based on risk or fear of future disease. Courts have begun to exclude evidence of dubious scientific validity, and they are beginning to grapple with fear and risk claims. These are heartening developments because justice requires that legal decisions be in accord with scientific reality.
222Rn Emission Flux and Soil-Atmosphere Interface: Comparative Analysis of Different Measurement Techniques
Authors: Labed V. , Witschger O. , Robe M.C. , Sanchez B.
Published: February 2017

Radon emission flux at the ground-atmosphere interface is one of the measurements commonly made for environmental purposes and on prospective mining sites. There are a number of ways of making such measurements. Generally an 'accumulation' technique is used. This method consists in determining the radon activity at a given time, inside a container placed on the ground with one side open, facing downward. The radon activity is determined by sampling the air inside the confinement system with a scintillation flask. The purpose of this work was to simplify this method by using other radon activity measurement techniques. The flux measurements made by the usual method, used as reference (spot sampling), were compared with those made using a silicon detector (continuous measurement) and with a solid trace detector (integrated measurement). For the latter two methods, a correction factor is applied to obtain the real value of the 222Rn emission flux yielded by the reference method.
Data-Driven Extraction of a Nested Structure of Human Cognition
Authors: Bolt Taylor , Nomi Jason S. , Thomas Yeo B. T. , Uddin Lucina Q.
Published: February 2017

Decades of cognitive neuroscience research have revealed two basic facts regarding task-driven brain activation patterns. First,distinctpatterns of activation occur in response to different task demands. Second, a superordinate, dichotomous pattern of activation/de-activation, is commonly observed across a variety of task demands. We explore the possibility that a hierarchical model incorporates these two observed brain activation phenomena into a unifying framework. We apply a latent variable approach, exploratory bi-factor analysis, to a large set of brain activation patterns to determine the potential existence of a nested structure of factors that underlies a variety of commonly observed activation patterns. We find that a general factor, associated with a superordinate brain activation/de-activation pattern, explained the majority of the variance (52.37%). The bi-factor analysis also revealed several sub-factors that explained an additional 31.02% of variance in brain activation patterns, associated with different manifestations of the superordinate brain activation/de-activation pattern, each emphasizing different contexts in which the task demands occurred. Importantly, this nested factor structure provided better overall fit to the data compared with a non-nested factor structure model. These results point to domain-general psychological process, representing a ‘focused awareness’ process or ‘attentional episode’ that is variously manifested according to the sensory modality of the stimulus and degree of cognitive processing. This novel model provides the basis for constructing a biologically-informed, data-driven taxonomy of psychological processes.
Corporations and development
Authors: Nwoke Uchechukwu
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the nature and role of contemporary CSR in the current neoliberal age. It offers an insight into the tension that exists between the ideologies of “neoliberal” shareholder value and that of “effective” CSR, and argues that both ideologies are fundamentally antithetical. It aims to identify and analyse the inter-connected but distinguishable barriers (ideological, practical and political) that militate against the realization of effective CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

The method applied is a critical evaluation of concepts and a thorough review of existing literature on neoliberalism, shareholder value and contemporary CSR. It uses existing literature to highlight the inability of contemporary CSR to transform into an effective mechanism for development.

Findings

The paper emphasizes the failure of contemporary CSR to equate to a successful mechanism for development. It concludes that the existence and operations of these barriers militate against the realization of an effective CSR regime capable of leading to development.

Practical implications

Given the current dominance of the “maximizing shareholder value” model of corporate governance internationally, it appears unreasonable to pin too much hope on contemporary CSR as a mechanism for development, especially in emerging economies. Neither the culture of corporations nor the pressures to which they are currently subjected encourage socially responsible behaviour.

Originality/value

The paper extends the body of knowledge in the area of contemporary CSR, by identifying and analysing the inter-connected but distinguishable barriers that render the CSR practices of corporations ineffective.