bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Implementation of Collective Extended Producer Responsibility Legislation
Authors: Gui Luyi , Atasu Atalay , Ergun Özlem , Toktay L. Beril
Published: September 2015

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is a policy tool that holds producers financially responsible for the post-use collection, recycling, and disposal of their products. Many EPR implementations are collective—a large collection and recycling network (CRN) handles multiple producers’ products in order to benefit from scale and scope economies. The total cost is then allocated to producers based on metrics such as their return shares by weight. Such weight-based proportional allocation mechanisms are criticized in practice for not taking into account the heterogeneity in the costs imposed by different producers’ products. The consequence is cost allocations that impose higher costs on certain producer groups than they can achieve independently. This may lead some producers to break away from collective systems, resulting in fragmented systems with higher total cost. Yet cost efficiency is a key legislative and producer concern. To address this concern, this paper develops cost allocation mechanisms that induce participation in collective systems and maximize cost efficiency. The cost allocation mechanisms we propose consist of adjustments to the widely used return share method and include the weighing of return shares based on processing costs and the rewarding of capacity contributions to collective systems. We validate our theoretical results using Washington state EPR implementation data and provide insights into how these mechanisms can be implemented in practice.

This paper was accepted by Serguei Netessine, operations management.
What will this year hold for character education?
Authors: O'Connell Suzanne
Published: September 2015

The government has thrown its backing behind character education, with a national awards and financial grants. Suzanne O'Connell looks at how schools might embrace and prioritise this agenda in the year ahead
Literacy difficulties and the Pupil Premium
Authors: Driver Sarah
Published: September 2015

Whole-school approaches to supporting students with persistent literacy difficulties and spending the Pupil Premium are essential. Sarah Driver explains more and offers practical advice and ideas
Getting from special measures to good…
Authors: O'Connell Suzanne
Published: September 2015

The start of a new school year and the beginning of a new headship is always challenging – certainly if you are charged with pulling your school out of special measures. Suzanne O'Connell speaks to Jonathan Brookes about his experience last year and seeks advice for those facing similar situations
Unit 2. Wound infection: identification and management
Authors: Cook Leanne , Ousey Karen
Published: September 2015

Wound infection delays healing and impairs quality of life. Leanne Cook and Karen Ousey discuss the recognition and treatment of wound infections, which are essential skills for practice nurses
Unit 1. Diagnosis and risk assessment
Authors: MacArthur Clare
Published: September 2015

Clare MacArthur explains the key steps in a diagnosis of diabetes and why early diagnosis is so important
Unit 5. Antidiabetic treatment options
Authors: Aye Myint Myint , Jennings Paul
Published: September 2015

Myint Myint Aye and Paul Jennings discuss the use of antidiabetic drugs in the control of type 2 diabetes, referring to the case of Mr Smith who seeks help from his practice nurse
Digital leaders
Authors: McKeown Sal
Published: September 2015

Digital leader programmes are becoming increasingly popular in schools. Sal McKeown looks at what resources and support are out there and how digital leaders can be introduced
The risks of social networking
Authors: O'Connell Suzanne
Published: September 2015

Social media has brought a new way of communicating into our schools. It has also brought a risk of us sharing too much. Suzanne O'Connell seeks expert advice for school leaders
Single seed Near Infrared Spectroscopy discriminates viable and non-viable seeds of Juniperus polycarpos
Authors: Daneshvar Abolfazl , Tigabu Mulualem , Karimidoost Asaddollah , Oden Per
Published: September 2015

A large quantity of non-viable (empty, insect-attacked and shriveled) seeds of (K. Koch) is often encountered during seed collection, which should be removed from the seed lots to ensure precision sowing in the nursery or out in the field. The aims of this study were to evaluate different modelling approaches and to examine the sensitivity of the change in detection system (Silicon-detector in the shorter InGsAs-detector in the longer NIR regions) for discriminating non-viable seeds from viable seeds by Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR reflectance spectra were collected from single seeds, and discriminant models were developed by Partial Least Squares â Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and Orthogonal Projection to Latent Structures â Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) using the entire or selected NIR regions. Both modelling approaches resulted in 98% and 100% classification accuracy for viable and non-viable seeds in the test set, respectively. However, OPLS-DA models were superb in terms of model parsimony and information quality. Modelling in the shorter and longer wavelength region also resulted in similar classification accuracy, suggesting that prediction of class membership is insensitive to change in the detection system. The origins of spectral differences between non-viable and viable seeds were attributed to differences in seed coat chemical composition, mainly terpenoids that were dominant in non-viable seeds and storage reserves in viable seeds. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that NIR spectroscopy has great potential as seed sorting technology to upgrade seed lot quality that ensures precision sowing.Juniperus polycarpos vis-a-vis
Examination of Turkish extreme athletes' personality traits in terms of gender and some demographic factors
Authors: Ceylan Merve , Altıparmak Ersin , Akçakoyun Fahri
Published: September 2015

 The present study was conducted for the purpose of examining the personality traits of extreme athletes. In line with this purpose a total of 227 extreme athletes, as 86 female and 141 male athletes selected through judgment sampling, that either actively compete or trains to compete in any of the branches of snowboarding, snowkiting, kitesurfing, windsurfing, river kayaking, mountain biking, free diving, paragliding and rafting were included within the sample group of the study. Questionnaire applications were carried out in extreme sports facilities throughout the country.

Within the scope of the study, an 85-item short form of the Five Factor Personality Scale developed by Somer, Korkmaz and Tatar was used as the data collection tool. Data analysis was carried out by means of the SPSS 16.0 software and the percentages frequencies, mean, standard deviation and to find the differences between the sexes "independent t" test were calculated.

Examining the obtained results showed that the male athletes have higher extravertion level from female athletes (p <0.05). This finding obtained in our study suggest that, in an essentially male-dominant society, the higher level of pressure women are subjected to in social, economic, cultural and psychological terms and the difficulties and pressure they experience in the working life are significant factors for women to be more introvert.

 

 

Özet

Bu araştırma, ekstrem sporcuların kişilik özelliklerinin incelemesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda araştırmaya, yargısal örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilmiş, snowboard, snowkite, uçurtma sörfü, rüzgar sörfü, akarsu ve nehir kanosu, dağ bisikleti, serbest dalış, yamaç paraşütü, kaya tırmanışı ve rafting branşlarında yarışmacı olan ya da bir yarışmaya katılmak için hazırlık yapan, 86’sı kadın, 141’i erkek olmak üzere 227 ekstrem sporcu katılmıştır.  Anket uygulamaları, ülke genelinde bulunan ekstrem spor tesislerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir.

 Araştırmada veri toplamak amacıyla Somer, Korkmaz ve Tatar tarafından geliştirilen beş faktör kişilik envanterinin 85 sorudan oluşan kısa forumu kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler SPSS programında kaydedilmiş, frekans, yüzde, aritmetik ortalama, standart sapma değerleri hesaplanmış ve cinsiyetler arası farklılığı bulmak için “independent samples t- test” kullanılarak yorumlanmıştır.

Elde edilen bulgular incelendiğinde, erkek sporcuların erkek sporcuların kadın sporculara oranla daha yüksek dışa dönük özellik gösterdiği görülmektedir (p <0.05). Sonuç olarak; temelde erkek egemen bir toplumda, sosyal, ekonomik, kültürel ve psikolojik anlamda kadının daha çok baskıya maruz kalması, sosyal hayatında üstelendiği roller, iş hayatında karşılaşılan zorluk ve baskıların bir sonucu olarak, daha içe kapanık bir yapıya sahip olmalarında önemli bir etken olduğunu düşündürmektedir.
Molecular Genetic Testing in Pain and Addiction: Facts, Fiction and Clinical Utility
Authors: Blum Kenneth , Hauser Mary , Fratantonio James , Badgaiyan Rajendra D.
Published: September 2015

The Brain Reward Cascade (BRC) is an interaction
of neurotransmitters and their respective genes to control
the amount of dopamine released within the brain.
Any variations within this pathway, whether genetic
or environmental (epigenetic), may result in addictive
behaviors as well as altered pain tolerance. While there
are many studies claiming a genetic association with
addiction and other behavioral infractions, defined
as Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS), not all are
scientifically accurate and in some case just wrong. Albeit
our bias, we discuss herein the facts and fictions behind
molecular genetic testing in RDS (including pain and
addiction) and the significance behind the development
of the Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARSPREDX™), the
first test to accurately predict one’s genetic risk for RDS.
BiLipschitz Decomposition of Lipschitz Maps between Carnot Groups
Authors: Li Sean
Published: September 2015

Let f : G → H be a Lipschitz map between two Carnot groups. We show that if B is a ball of G,
then there exists a subset Z ⊂ B, whose image in H under f has small Hausdorff content, such that B\Z
can be decomposed into a controlled number of pieces, the restriction of f on each of which is quantitatively
biLipschitz. This extends a result of [14], which proved the same result, but with the restriction that G has an
appropriate discretization. We provide an example of a Carnot group not admitting such a discretization.
The Interdependence of Immigration Restrictions and Expropriation Risk
Authors: Calahorrano Lena , an de Meulen Philipp
Published: September 2015

Factor price differences create economic incentives for migration to industrialized countries and for capital flows to developing countries. However, immigration restrictions and capital expropriation risks impede factor flows. Using a political-economy approach that takes into account different generations’ conflicting attitudes toward immigration and expropriation, we explore how these restrictions interact. Then, we run two separate country fixed regressions to explore the interdependence of policies empirically. The results from our theoretical model are borne out by the data: We find a positive relationship between emigration and foreign investors’ perceived security of property rights in developing countries and a negative relationship between the US foreign direct investment (FDI) outflows to developing countries and the share of US green cards granted to natives from the respective countries. Based on our analyses, we conclude that the key to lowering mobility barriers is not simply a quid pro quo.
Biomass of freshwater Cladophora as a raw material for agriculture and the cosmetic industry
Authors: Messyasz Beata , Leska Boguslawa , Fabrowska Joanna , Pikosz Marta , Roj Edward , Cieslak Adam , Schroeder Grzegorz
Published: September 2015

This study was undertaken to determine mineral content, amino acid and fatty acid composition of the freshwater macroalga – Cladophora glomerata. The studies were based on the content comparison in algal biomass collected from a lake and cultured in a laboratory. To determine the ability of copper cumulating by macroalgae, Cladophora was cultured in the medium supplemented with Cu ions. This study indicated that the relative abundance of metals in filaments decreased in the following order: Ca > K > Mg > Na > Fe > Cu > Zn > Pb > As > Ni > Cd > Mn > Cr > Co. Total protein content ranged from 14.45% in Cladophora from a lake to 26.55% in Cladophora from a laboratory. The main amino acids analyzed were aspartic and glutamic acid. The fatty acid content in the dry matter of the extract varied depending on the extraction method used: ethylene alcohol (19.0%), acetone (34.5%) or supercritical fluid extraction (62.5%). Freshwater C. glomerata due to the macrominerals, trace elements, amino and fatty acids composition in the extracts can be a valuable resource for nutritional and cosmetic applications.
Intention to deceive, bald-faced lies, and deceptive implicature: Insights into Lying at the semantics-pragmatics interface
Authors: Dynel Marta
Published: September 2015

This paper gives a critical overview of Jörg
The (ab)use of taboo lexis in audiovisual translation: Raising awareness of pragmatic variation in English-Spanish
Authors: Valdeón Roberto A.
Published: September 2015

This paper proposes the use of translation as an exercise capable of raising students’ awareness of pragmatic differences between English and Spanish, with particular emphasis on taboo words, rarely studied in a formal environment. This difficult area of the L2 has been brought to the fore after the publication of two corpus-driven grammars (
On weak communication
Authors: Gil José María
Published: September 2015

Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson suggest that much of linguistic communication is weak because the hearer usually must take a great responsibility in the interpretation of the speaker’s utterance. Sometimes, the (very) “weak implicatures” supplied by the hearer are very different from (and even incompatible with) the speaker’s intention. Relevance Theory helps us to understand crucial aspects of weak communication. However, I aim at showing that pragmatic theory should reconsider the importance of intention in order to explain that, often, the hearer interprets certain meanings that are independent from (or even incompatible with) the speaker’s intention. Some types of inferences proposed by Mira Ariel, as well as unintended puns studied by Sydney Lamb and other stratificational linguists, help us to begin to show that it may be necessary to go beyond the concept of intention if we want to understand why and how human communication is weak.
The Impact of Vehicle Maneuvers on the Attitude Estimation of GNSS / INS for Mobile Mapping
Authors: Li You , Niu Xiaoji , Cheng Yahao , Shi Chuang , El-Sheimy Naser
Published: September 2015

Integrated Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) are the core of georeferencing Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) data. Divergence of attitude errors is a dominant issue when an INS has to work as a stand-alone system for extended periods. This issue can be mitigated by taking specific vehicle maneuvers to make attitude errors observable. Since MMS applications are time consuming and costly, it is preferable to design the trajectory and motion of the mapping vehicles in advance, to guarantee the accuracy of the attitude estimation and minimize the cost. This article investigates the estimation accuracy of attitude under different vehicle maneuvers theoretically through the observability analysis method. Both theoretical anal­ysis and tests show that the attitude estimation is significantly related with the type of vehicle maneuvers and motion parameters such as velocity, acceleration, and angular velocity. The motion with varying angular velocities is the most efficient motion to enhance the estimation of all attitude angles; the motion with varying accelerations can improve the yaw and pitch but has no effect on enhancing the roll. The uniform circular motion can improve the roll and pitch but has slight or no impact on enhancing the yaw (depending on the forward accelerometer error, the forward velocity, and the vertical angular velocity); the linear motion with a constant acceleration can improve the yaw (depending on the cross-track accelerometer error and the forward acceleration) and weakly improve the pitch but cannot improve the roll. The physical interpretations of these properties are also provided. The “S”-shaped motion with varying angular velocities is suggested for efficient attitude estimation; however, the circle, or “8”-shaped motion with uniform angular velocity, is not efficient for MMS applications.
On Modelling Register Coverage Errors
Authors: Zhang Li-Chun
Published: September 2015

Register data that originate from administrative or other secondary sources are increasingly being used to generate statistical outputs directly. The coverage of the input datasets is an important issue in this respect. Traditionally capture-recapture models have been used to deal with multiple list enumerations subjected to undercoverage errors. The aim of this article is to scope possible approaches to modelling capture-recapture data with additional overcoverage error. Attention is primarily given to model interpretations and conditions under which a model may provide a plausible basis for estimation and uncertainty evaluation. The setting with two list enumerations is examined in depth as it is the most common in practice. Models that can be extended to include more than two lists are identified. An additional independent coverage survey with only undercoverage error is always needed for estimation. Potential application to census coverage-error adjustment is discussed.
Coverage Evaluation on Probabilistically Linked Data
Authors: Di Consiglio Loredana , Tuoto Tiziana
Published: September 2015

The Capture-recapture method is a well-known solution for evaluating the unknown size of a population. Administrative data represent sources of independent counts of a population and can be jointly exploited for applying the capture-recapture method. Of course, administrative sources are affected by over- or undercoverage when considered separately. The standard Petersen approach is based on strong assumptions, including perfect record linkage between lists. In reality, record linkage results can be affected by errors. A simple method for achieving linkage error-unbiased population total estimates is proposed in Ding and Fienberg (1994). In this article, an extension of the Ding and Fienberg model by relaxing their conditions is proposed. The procedures are illustrated for estimating the total number of road casualties, on the basis of a probabilistic record linkage between two administrative data sources. Moreover, a simulation study is developed, providing evidence that the adjusted estimator always performs better than the Petersen estimator.
Diabetes insipidus in children
Authors: Jain Vandana , Ravindranath Aathira
Published: September 2015

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is one of the common disorders affecting sodium and water homeostasis, and results when ADH is either inadequately produced, or unable to negotiate its actions on the renal collecting tubules through aquaporins. The diagnostic algorithm starts with exclusion of other causes of polyuria and establishing low urine osmolality in the presence of high serum osmolality. In this paper, we have reviewed the diagnosis, etiology and management of DI in children, with special emphasis on recent advances in the field.
Physical activity does not attenuate the relationship between daily cortisol and metabolic syndrome in obese youth
Authors: Guseman Emily Hill , Pfeiffer Karin A. , Carlson Joseph J. , Stansbury Kathy , Eisenmann Joey C.
Published: September 2015

: We examined the associations among daily cortisol, physical activity (MVPA) and continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS) in obese youth.

: Fifty adolescents (mean age 14.8±1.9 years) were recruited from medical clinics. Daily MVPA (min/day) was assessed by accelerometry. Saliva was sampled at prescribed times: immediately upon waking; 30 min after waking; and 3, 6 and 9 h after waking. Fasting lipids, glucose, waist circumference and blood pressure were used to calculate a continuous metabolic syndrome score (cMetS). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine associations among variables.

: The mean cMetS score was 4.16±4.30 and did not differ by clinic or sex. No significant relationship was found between cortisol area under the curve (cAUC) and cMetS, nor did the interaction of MVPA with cAUC significantly predict cMetS.

: Physical activity, cortisol, and metabolic risk were not associated in this sample of obese adolescents. Future research should examine the role of insulin sensitivity in these relationships.
The effect of tamoxifen on pubertal bone development in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia
Authors: Akgül Sinem , Derman Orhan , Kanbur Nuray
Published: September 2015

During puberty, estrogen has a biphasic effect on epiphyses; at low levels, it leads to an increase in height and bone mass, whereas at high levels, it leads to closure of the epiphysis. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been used in the treatment of pubertal gynecomastia. Although it has not been approved for this indication, studies have shown it to be both successful and safe. In males, the peak of pubertal bone development occurs during Tanner stage 3–4, which is also when pubertal gynecomastia reaches its highest prevalence. Thus tamoxifen treatment could potentially effect pubertal bone development. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of tamoxifen on bone mineral density (BMD) and skeletal maturation when used for pubertal gynecomastia. We evaluated 20 boys with pubertal gynecomastia receiving tamoxifen for at least 4 months. BMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Z-score and absolute BMD (g/cm
Leptin and neuropeptide Y levels in newborns
Authors: Kaya Avni , Orbak Zerrin , Polat İsmail , Polat Harun , Gümüşdere Musa
Published: September 2015

Several studies have investigated leptin and neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in children, but the information for newborns in the literature is limited. The purpose of this study was to determine leptin and NPY levels in 14- to 28-day-old newborns.

This prospective study was performed in Atatürk University Medical Faculty Research Hospital Neonatal Clinic, Erzurum, Turkey between July and December, 2014. Sixty-two 14- to 28-day-old neonates, 26 female and 36 male, were included. Age, height, and body weight of the patients were recorded. Feeding status was also recorded. The newborns were divided into two groups – those receiving breastfeeding only and those receiving breastfeeding and formula. Plasma leptin levels were measured using enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay (EASIA).

The mean leptin level in 14- to 28-day-old female neonates was 4.25±3.08 ng/mL, and the mean NPY level was 24.79±9.87 ng/mL. The mean leptin level in 14- to 28-day male neonates was 3.49±2.52 ng/mL, and the mean NPY level was 25.80±9.58 ng/mL. No significant difference was determined between leptin (p=0.228) or NPY (p=0.144) in terms of feeding status. No significant difference was also observed between the sex in terms of leptin or NPY levels (leptin p=0.775 and NPY p=0.687).

There were no differences in terms of feeding status and sex in leptin and NPY levels in the neonatal period.
Simultaneous occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis, thyroid storm, and multiple cerebral infarctions due to Moyamoya disease
Authors: Noh Byoungho H. , Cho Sang-Won , Ahn Sung Yeon
Published: September 2015

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the precipitating factors that can evoke a thyroid storm. Thyroid storm may cause cerebral ischemia in Moyamoya disease, which can coexist in patients with Graves’ disease. A 16-year-old girl complaining of dizziness and palpitations visited the emergency department and was diagnosed with DKA combined with hyperthyroidism. A thyroid storm occurred 6 h after the start of DKA management. Her Burch and Wartofsky score was 65 points. Right hemiplegia developed during the thyroid storm, and brain magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion-weighted images revealed multiple acute infarcts in both hemispheres. MR angiography showed stenosis of both distal internal carotid arteries and both M1 portions of the middle cerebral arteries, consistent with Moyamoya disease. After acute management for the thyroid storm with methimazole, Lugol solution and hydrocortisone, the patient’s neurological symptoms completely resolved within 1 month, and free T4 level normalized within 2 months. Thyroid storm may trigger cerebral ischemia in Moyamoya disease and lead to rapid progression of cerebrovascular occlusive disease. As a simultaneous occurrence of DKA, thyroid storm and cerebrovascular accident in Moyamoya disease highly elevates morbidity and mortality, prompt recognition and management are critical to save the patient’s life.
Developing Information and Library Theory for a Conflicted Paradigm World
Authors: Crowley Bill
Published: September 2015

This essay examines theory development for local, national, and international information and library programs facing service issues involving the religious beliefs of users. Applying both culturally pragmatic and secular standpoints, the author identifies a relative lack of attention paid to such issues in the English language literatures of North American and European library and information studies (LIS). In contrast, secular theorists throughout the social sciences, as well as other fields and disciplines, are increasingly engaging with the impact of denominational and personal religious phenomena on nations and their cultures. To address this deficit in LIS theory, the essay asserts the value of information, knowledge, and library scholars drawing on understandings of the deep structures of cultures and multiple modernities, specifically including religious modernities. Further, the essay offers suggestions for secular academics and other investigators in developing the research and theory appropriate for advising LIS practitioners who are providing services which take into account the religious beliefs of the users.
Mesoporous alumina as a biomaterial for biomedical applications
Authors: Xifre-Perez Elisabet , Ferre-Borull Josep , Pallares Josep , Marsal Lluis F.
Published: September 2015

Porous anodic alumina (PAA) is a biomaterial based on a cost-effective electrochemical anodization of pure aluminum with unique geometrical properties, i.e., self-ordering hexagonal pore distribution, tunable pore diameters and interpore distances, and uniformity of the pores in the vertical direction (nanochannels). These remarkable properties have found important applications in several fields such as energy storage, optics, photonics, magnetism, catalysis and, in particular, in the biomedicine field. In this work, we review the current state of research and key issues on cell culture and implants, drug delivery systems with complex release profiles and specific action, and high efficiency and sensitivity biosensors with different biosensing mechanisms, all of them based on PAA. The biocompatibility, morphology of the surface, nanoestructural engineering in-depth, surface functionalization and coatings are discussed and analyzed in detail.
Demographics-based differences in the relationship between perceived CSR and customer loyalty in the dairy products market
Authors: Moisescu Ovidiu-Ioan
Published: September 2015

The purpose of the current paper is to investigate the demographics-based differences in the relationship between customers’ perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and their loyalty towards brands/companies in the dairy products market, considering the socio-cultural and economic particularities of one of the largest countries of Central-Eastern Europe. For this purpose, a survey was implemented among a sample of 1461 dairy products consumers from the urban area of Romania, investigating perceived CSR and customer loyalty by using 28, and, respectively, 6 Likert-type items. Results show that customers’ loyalty towards dairy brands/companies is positively and significantly influenced by how customers perceive companies’ responsibility towards their customers, in all investigated demographic segments. However, there are other facets of perceived CSR (community development, the environment, economic success, sponsorship, public authorities) in which case the relationship with customer loyalty is only significant in certain demographics-based market segments
Photocurrent response of phloxin B-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide photogalvanic cell device
Authors: Genwa K. R. , Shraddha
Published: September 2015

Photocurrent and photovoltage generation using phloxin B dye in aqueous and micellar medium at different concentrations have been studied in a photogalvanic cell. The photopotential and photocurrent generated were 1135.0 mV and 260.0 μA, respectively. The observed solar energy conversion efficiency with CTAB surfactant was 0.64 % and maximum power of the cell was 66.72 mW. The output of the cell was sensitive to various parameters, like dye concentration, reductant concentration, pH, light intensity, electrode area and diffusion length. Current-potential characteristics studied by I-V curve of the cell and the mechanism of cell photovoltage generation have been presented in the paper.
Integrated plasmonic double bowtie / ring grating structure for enhanced electric field confinement
Authors: Rahbany N. , Geng W. , Blaize S. , Salas-Montiel R. , Bachelot R. , Couteau C.
Published: September 2015

Metallic nanoparticles and nanoantennas have been extensively studied due to their capability to increase electromagnetic field confinement which is essential in numerous applications ranging from optoelectronics to telecommunication and sensing devices. We show that a double bowtie nanoantenna has a higher electric field confinement in its gap compared to a single bowtie nanoantenna, which is expected to give better fluorescence enhancement of a single emitter placed in the gap. We show that the electric field intensity can be further increased by placing the double bowtie inside a ring grating structure where the excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) is achieved. We perform FDTD simulations to characterise the double bowtie nanoantenna and study the effect of its dimensions on the electric field enhancement in the gap. Our proposed integrated structure with gratings is shown to increase the electric field by a factor of 77 due to a double cavity effect. Next steps would be to study the fluorescence enhancement of emitters placed inside our double bowtie / ring grating nanocavity to see if the strong coupling regime can be attained.
Liquefaction Potential and Dynamic Properties of Sand-Tyre Chip (STCh) Mixtures
Authors: Mashiri M. S. , Vinod J. S. , Sheikh M. Neaz
Published: September 2015

This paper presented the results of the investigations on the liquefaction potential and the dynamic properties of sand-tyre chip (STCh) mixtures. A series of strain controlled consolidated undrained cyclic triaxial tests were carried out on specimens of sand mixed with varying proportions of tyre chips (TCh). The specimens of STCh mixture were prepared at a constant initial relative density and tested at an effective confining pressure of 69 kPa. The results show that TCh significantly reduces the liquefaction potential of sand with the addition of gravimetric proportion of TCh between 20 and 40 % to sand. The maximum shear modulus (Gmax) of the STCh mixture was determined by bender element tests for different gravimetric proportions of TCh and effective confining pressures. The initial shear modulus has been found to be influenced by the proportion of TCh and confining pressure. The shear modulus degradation and damping ratio curves were developed for dynamic analysis of sand-scrap tyre mixtures. The increase of scrap tyre in sand-scrap tyre mixtures reduced the shear modulus degradation and increased the damping ratio.
Reduction of Higher-Order Linear Time-Invariant SISO Continuous Systems to Its Lower-Order Model Employing an Improved Water Swirl Algorithm
Authors: Yuvaraju M. , Devarajan N.
Published: September 2015

This paper proposes a new version of the water swirl algorithm (WSA), namely, improved water swirl algorithm for lower-order model formulation of single-input–single-output (SISO) continuous systems. The WSA is a swarm-based optimization technique that mimics the way by which water finds a drain in a sink. It observes the flowing and searching behavior of water for drains and proposes suitable strength update equations to locate the optimum solution iteratively from the initial randomly generated search space. The strength of a water particle is governed by three components, namely, inertia, a cognitive component, and a social component. In the proposed improved WSA, the cognitive component of a water particle is split into a good-experience component and worst-experience component. Because of the inclusion of the worst-experience component, the particle can bypass the previously visited worst position and try to occupy the best position. A weighted average method is proposed in this paper to reduce the higher-order model formulation to lower-order form. The result shows good performance of the improved WSA in solving SISO continuous system problems, as compared to other existing techniques. The proposed method is illustrated through numerical examples from the literature.
Forward and Inverse Analysis of Concrete Fracture Using the Disk-Shaped Compact Tension Test
Authors: Amirkhanian A. N. , Spring D. W. , Roesler J. R. , Paulino G. H.
Published: September 2015

A new concrete fracture geometry is presented, which can quantify multiple fracture properties from a single specimen test. The disk-shaped compact tension (DCT) geometry allows specimens to be fabricated from laboratory cylinders or field cores. The DCT fracture test characterizes the concrete's critical stress intensity factor, KIC, critical crack-tip opening displacement, CTODc, and initial fracture energy, Gf, as well as the specimen-dependent total fracture energy, GF. The DCT-based fracture properties have the same experimental variation as the single-edge notched beam test. The experimentally derived fracture parameters were implemented into a cohesive zone model, which enabled estimation of concrete tensile strength from field-extracted cores.
Fracture-Toughness Evaluation of Solution Heat-Treated Zr-2.5Nb Alloys as per ASTM and ISO Standards
Authors: Khandelwal H. K. , Singh R. N. , Chakravartty J. K.
Published: September 2015

In the present work, fracture-toughness parameters of Zr-2.5Nb alloy were evaluated as per ASTM E1820 and ISO 12135 standards at 25°C and 300°C. To investigate the influence of the material's microstructure on deviation in fracture-toughness values, Zr-2.5Nb alloy plates were individually water quenched from three soaking temperatures; 850°C, 870°C, and 890°C with 15- and 30-min soaking durations. Under these six conditions, fracture resistance, J-R curves derived from these standards exhibited marginal deviations. However, slope of valid J-R curve region (dJ/da) obtained by two methods had appreciable differences, especially at 300°C.
Mechanical Characteristics of Lightweight Mortars on Small-Scale Samples
Authors: Silva A. , Soares A. , Flores-Colen I. , de Brito J.
Published: September 2015

Occasionally, in laboratory conditions, it can be advantageous to use small-scale specimens, e.g., when the amount of available material is limited or expensive or when there are space limitations. The characteristics of any tested material such as concrete or mortar are affected by the specimens’ size; therefore it is important to consider this effect when estimating the properties of these materials. Despite the extensive studies about the effect of the specimens’ size in concrete, there is a shortage of information about this matter in mortars. This study presented the effects of specimens’ size on the mechanical properties of cement-based lightweight mortars. These included the compressive strength and flexural strength, bulk density, dynamic Young’s modulus, and ultrasonic pulse velocity. For this purpose, statistical analyses were conducted in order to correlate test values from standard samples and small-scale samples and to analyze the feasibility of estimating the mechanical strength from non-destructive tests on small-scale samples. In order to facilitate the production of small-scale specimens, an alternative mixing method was also tested. The results obtained show correlation factors around 0.9, which was found suitable to estimate the mechanical characteristics by using small-scale samples instead of standard specimens. The correlations obtained from the relationships between the results of mechanical strength and non-destructive tests were also evaluated.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Friction Effect in Limiting Dome Height Test
Authors: Sener Bora , Kayali E. Sabri
Published: September 2015

In this study, the effect of friction in limiting dome height test was investigated numerically and experimentally. Ultra-low-carbon galvanized steel sheets were used as a test material. The thickness of the material was 1.2 mm. Limiting dome height tests were carried out by using three different lubricants, and the test was modeled with the finite-element method. Simulations were done using various friction coefficients to show the effect of friction on the limiting dome height test. It has been observed that necking/fracture area is decreasing and necking/fracture location moves toward the pole side of the material with the decline of the friction coefficient. Similar results were also obtained in the experiments.
Reflective Crack Propagation and Control in Asphalt Pavement Widening
Authors: Zhang Junhui , Dai Liangliang , Zheng Jianlong , Wu Houxuan
Published: September 2015

To investigate the reflective crack-propagation behavior and provide control techniques for asphalt pavements widening, the finite-element models were built to simulate the widened asphalt pavement with a latent joint. The developed finite-element model considered the influence factors, including the loading modes (i.e., the symmetrical and unsymmetrical loading modes), the thickness and modulus of the asphalt concrete surface, the modulus of the new and existing stabilized bases, and the sheet stiffness of the reinforced geosynthetic. The finite-element simulation results show that increasing the thickness or reducing the modulus of the asphalt concrete surface effectively delays the propagation speed of the reflective cracks. The cracking potential reaches the minimum when the new and existing bases have a uniform modulus. Additionally, geosynthetic reinforcement across the joints significantly reduces the stress concentration around the crack tip and slows down the propagation of the reflective cracks. These benefits become greater when increasing the sheet stiffness of the geosynthetic. Finally, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the influence of the types of the asphalt overlay and the geosynthetic reinforcement on the reflective crack-propagation behavior. The experimental results indicate that the geosynthetic-reinforced structure with a lower modulus of the asphalt concrete surface significantly increases the fatigue life of widened pavements, and the polypropylene geotextile performs better than the glass-fiber grid in terms of the extension of the fatigue life.
Nuclear Gln3 Import Is Regulated by Nitrogen Catabolite Repression Whereas Export Is Specifically Regulated by Glutamine
Authors: Rai Rajendra , Tate Jennifer J , Shanmuganatham Karthik , Howe Martha M , Nelson David , Cooper Terrance G
Published: September 2015

Gln3, a transcription activator mediating nitrogen-responsive gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is sequestered in the cytoplasm, thereby minimizing nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription when cells are grown in nitrogen-rich environments. In the face of adverse nitrogen supplies, Gln3 relocates to the nucleus and activates transcription of the NCR-sensitive regulon whose products transport and degrade a variety of poorly used nitrogen sources, thus expanding the cell’s nitrogen-acquisition capability. Rapamycin also elicits nuclear Gln3 localization, implicating Target-of-rapamycin Complex 1 (TorC1) in nitrogen-responsive Gln3 regulation. However, we long ago established that TorC1 was not the sole regulatory system through which nitrogen-responsive regulation is achieved. Here we demonstrate two different ways in which intracellular Gln3 localization is regulated. Nuclear Gln3 entry is regulated by the cell’s overall nitrogen supply, i.e., by NCR, as long accepted. However, once within the nucleus, Gln3 can follow one of two courses depending on the glutamine levels themselves or a metabolite directly related to glutamine. When glutamine levels are high, e.g., glutamine or ammonia as the sole nitrogen source or addition of glutamine analogues, Gln3 can exit from the nucleus without binding to DNA. In contrast, when glutamine levels are lowered, e.g., adding additional nitrogen sources to glutamine-grown cells or providing repressive nonglutamine nitrogen sources, Gln3 export does not occur in the absence of DNA binding. We also demonstrate that Gln3 residues 64–73 are required for nuclear Gln3 export.
A New Player in the Spermiogenesis Pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: LaMunyon Craig W , Nasri Ubaydah , Sullivan Nicholas G , Shaw Misa A , Prajapati Gaurav , Christensen Matthew , Elmatari Daniel , Clark Jessica N
Published: September 2015

Precise timing of sperm activation ensures the greatest likelihood of fertilization. Precision in Caenorhabditis elegans sperm activation is ensured by external signaling, which induces the spherical spermatid to reorganize and extend a pseudopod for motility. Spermatid activation, also called spermiogenesis, is prevented from occurring prematurely by the activity of SPE-6 and perhaps other proteins, termed “the brake model.” Here, we identify the spe-47 gene from the hc198 mutation that causes premature spermiogenesis. The mutation was isolated in a suppressor screen of spe-27(it132ts), which normally renders worms sterile, due to defective transduction of the activation signal. In a spe-27(+) background, spe-47(hc198) causes a temperature-sensitive reduction of fertility, and in addition to premature spermiogenesis, many mutant sperm fail to activate altogether. The hc198 mutation is semidominant, inducing a more severe loss of fertility than do null alleles generated by CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology. The hc198 mutation affects an major sperm protein (MSP) domain, altering a conserved amino acid residue in a β-strand that mediates MSP–MSP dimerization. Both N- and C-terminal SPE-47 reporters associate with the forming fibrous body (FB)-membranous organelle, a specialized sperm organelle that packages MSP and other components during spermatogenesis. Once the FB is fully formed, the SPE-47 reporters dissociate and disappear. SPE-47 reporter localization is not altered by either the hc198 mutation or a C-terminal truncation deleting the MSP domain. The disappearance of SPE-47 reporters prior to the formation of spermatids requires a reevaluation of the brake model for prevention of premature spermatid activation.
Development and validity of a work functioning impairment scale based on the Rasch model among Japanese workers
Authors: Fujino Yoshihisa , Uehara Masamichi , Izumi Hiroyuki , Nagata Tomohisa , Muramatsu Keiji , Kubo Tatsuhiko , Oyama Ichiro , Matsuda Shinya
Published: September 2015

Development and validity of a work functioning impairment scale based on the Rasch model among Japanese workers: Yoshihisa Fujino, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan

Objective

The purpose of this study was to develop a new work functioning impairment scale (WFun) and examine its validity.

Methods

The WFun was developed based on the Rasch model, which consists of seven items. We conducted a pilot study (n=1,000) using an Internet investigation and a field study (n=1,294) in a manufacturing industry, and we additionally collected data from six workplaces from other industries. This series of studies was examined with a Rasch model analyses including item fit statistics as well as hypothesis testing. Convergent validity was used to examined the association of the WFun with the Stanford Presenteeism Scale, SF‐8, Work Ability Index, and several types of job disruptions. We also examined differential test functioning.

Results

All the items showed adequate fit (infit mean‐square statistics <1.5). The item reliability was 0.98, and the item separation index was 6.37. The person reliability was 0.86, and the person separation index was 2.32. All tests for convergent validity showed significant differences. All p values derived from ANOVA were highly significant (p<0.001). No differential test function was observed between groups by age, sex, or job type or between various samples from different workplaces. The intraclass correlation of the estimated Rasch measurements from these groups was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.976−0.992).

Conclusions

The WFun was confirmed to show good fit to a Rasch model and construct validity. Given that its good fit indicates specific objectivity, this tool will be useful in assessing the ability of individuals to function at work and in evaluating group levels for benchmarking.
Kolonzyste bei einer Katze mit rezidivierender Konstipation und abdominaler Dolenz
Authors: Tambella A. M. , Laus F. , Spaterna A. , Ludewig E. , Rossi G. , Cerquetella M.
Published: September 2015

Eine 5-jährige, weiblich-kastrierte Europäisch-Kurzhaar-Katze wurde mit abdominalen Schmerzen und fehlendem Kotabsatz vorgestellt. Die Röntgenaufnahmen zeigten eine Kolonkonstipation. In der Ultraschalluntersuchung konnte eine ovale zystische Struktur in unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft des Kolons dargestellt werden. Die Struktur wies eine aus drei Schichten bestehende Wand auf. Der Inhalt präsentierte sich inhomogen hypoechogen. Über eine Laparotomie wurde die Struktur vollständig entfernt. Dazu musste ein Teil des Kolons reseziert werden. Die Adaptation erfolgte mit einer End-zu-End-Anastomose. Histopathologisch wurden in verschiedenen Lokalisationen der Zystenwand Metaplasien der Schleimhaut nachgewiesen. Eine sichere Einordnung der Zyste als intestinale Duplikationszyste, die im vorliegenden Fall als sehr wahrscheinlich anzusehen ist, als Rudiment des Meckel-Divertikels, als Vitellingang-Zyste oder als zystisches Kolondivertikel war jedoch nicht möglich. Nach dem operativen Eingriff normalisierte sich der Kotabsatz.