bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Policies for Financing the Energy Transition
Authors: Yanosek Kassia
Published: April 2012

Historically, energy transitions have occurred gradually over the span of several decades, marked by incremental improvements in technologies. In recent years, public interest in accelerating the next energy transition has fueled a clean-energy policy agenda intended to underpin the development of a decarbonized energy economy. However, policies to date have encouraged investors to fund renewable energy projects utilizing proven technologies that are not competitive without the help of government subsidies. A true transition of the energy mix requires innovations that can compete with conventional energy over the long term. Investments in innovative technology projects are scarce because of the “commercialization gap,” which affects projects that are too capital-intensive for venture capital yet too risky for private equity, project, or corporate debt financing. Accelerating innovation through the commercialization gap will require governments to allocate public dollars to, and encourage private investment in, these riskier projects. Policy-makers will face a trade-off between prioritizing policies for accelerating the energy transition and accounting for the risks associated with innovation funding in a tight budgetary environment.
Empathizing With a Dissimilar Other
Authors: Kameda Tatsuya , Murata Aiko , Sasaki Choetsu , Higuchi Satomi , Inukai Keigo
Published: April 2012

Can we empathize effectively with someone who has a different sensitivity to physical events from ours? Or, are we susceptible to an egocentric bias in overprojection, which may lead us to under- or overreact in such cases? In this study, participants with normal visual and auditory capacity observed a video clip in which a sighted or blind target was exposed to a strong flash or high-frequency sound, while their physiological arousals during the observation were recorded. On average, participants displayed a differential arousal pattern to the aversive stimuli, according to the target’s ability to perceive them. Degrees of arousal control were also correlated with dispositional differences in empathy. Participants who scored higher on the Empathic Concern subscale of Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index were better at controlling arousals in accordance with the Target × Stimulus interaction. The authors’ findings have important implications for helping disabled people while respecting their inherent dignity and individual autonomy.
An Application of a New Evidence Grading System to Research on the Chronic Care Model
Authors: Gugiu P. Cristian , Westine Carl D. , Coryn Chris L. S. , Hobson Kristin A.
Published: April 2012

Methodological quality undergirds all evidence-based medicine because without strong evidence supporting or refuting the efficacy of an intervention, the movement toward basing medical decisions and practice on scientific evidence is not sustainable. Recently, the consensus that had existed regarding the hierarchy of evidence produced by a study design was challenged on the basis that existing guidelines failed to properly define key terms, weight the merits of certain non-randomized controlled trials, and employ a comprehensive list of study design limitations to render evaluative conclusions, to name a few of the challenges. The present study introduces a new grading system that overcomes, or at the very least greatly diminishes, these challenges. This new method is applied to the literature on the Chronic Care Model and the results are then compared to several of the most popular grading guidelines currently in use. These results revealed substantial differences between the guidelines in accordance with previous research that challenged existing methods. Furthermore, the present study lends support to the proposed grading guideline although further research into its validity and reliability is needed.
Deficits in fine motor skills and their influence on persistence among gifted elementary school pupils
Authors: Stoeger Heidrun , Ziegler Albert
Published: April 2012

This article addresses the causes of underachievement in scholastic education. Whereas many studies have been able to show that motivational deficits provide an explanation for underachievement, little research has yet explored the possible influences of deficits in fine motor skills. The aim of our empirical study was, therefore, to investigate the influence of fine motor skills and how they may affect underachievement. We hypothesized that deficits in fine motor skills could possibly be mediated by persistence. The participants in this investigation were 53 gifted fourth-grade pupils (15 underachievers, 38 achievers) attending primary schools in Germany. In fact, underachievers and achievers could be differentiated on the basis of their fine motor skills and persistence levels. The differences attributed to persistence decreased when fine motor skills were statistically controlled.
Lessons learned from working with high-ability students
Authors: Pfeiffer Steven I.
Published: April 2012

This article discusses three lessons that stand out as particularly poignant in the author’s career working with high-ability students. The author recounts personal and professional experiences that influenced his thinking. The three lessons are that identifying high-ability students is not an easy business, the development of talent requires more than ability, and success requires both head strengths and heart strengths.
One-shot visual appearance learning for mobile manipulation
Authors: Walter Matthew R , Friedman Yuli , Antone Matthew , Teller Seth
Published: April 2012

We describe a vision-based algorithm that enables a robot to robustly detect specific objects in a scene following an initial segmentation hint from a human user. The novelty lies in the ability to ‘reacquire’ objects over extended spatial and temporal excursions within challenging environments based upon a single training example. The primary difficulty lies in achieving an effective reacquisition capability that is robust to the effects of local clutter, lighting variation, and object relocation. We overcome these challenges through an adaptive detection algorithm that automatically generates multiple-view appearance models for each object online. As the robot navigates within the environment and the object is detected from different viewpoints, the one-shot learner opportunistically and automatically incorporates additional observations into each model. In order to overcome the effects of ‘drift’ common to adaptive learners, the algorithm imposes simple requirements on the geometric consistency of candidate observations. Motivating our reacquisition strategy is our work developing a mobile manipulator that interprets and autonomously performs commands conveyed by a human user. The ability to detect specific objects and reconstitute the user’s segmentation hints enables the robot to be situationally aware. This situational awareness enables rich command and control mechanisms and affords natural interaction. We demonstrate one such capability that allows the human to give the robot a ‘guided tour’ of named objects within an outdoor environment and, hours later, to direct the robot to manipulate those objects by name using spoken instructions. We implemented our appearance-based detection strategy on our robotic manipulator as it operated over multiple days in different outdoor environments. We evaluate the algorithm’s performance under challenging conditions that include scene clutter, lighting and viewpoint variation, object ambiguity, and object relocation. The results demonstrate a reacquisition capability that is effective in real-world settings.
Share market reaction to the BP oil spill and the US government moratorium on exploration
Authors: Sabet Seyed Amir Hossein , Cam Marie-Anne , Heaney Richard
Published: April 2012

The shares of BP plc and its subcontractors were rocked when the financial markets discovered the true impact of the Deepwater Horizon explosion as reported in the Wall Street Journal on 22 April 2010. While we track the impact of the disaster on share prices of the key participants, perhaps the most damaging response to the disaster was the introduction of the Gulf oil exploration moratorium on deep water drilling. We find that this adversely affected a range of firms in the oil and gas industry, extending the economic impact of the disaster well beyond BP plc and its subcontractors.
Is continuous disclosure associated with board independence?
Authors: Matolcsy Zoltan , Tyler Jonathan , Wells Peter
Published: April 2012

This study provides evidence on the association between board composition and different types of continuous disclosure. Our sample is based on a sample of 450 firms for the period 2006–2007. Our experimental design uses both ordinary least-squares (OLS) regressions and two-stage least-squares regressions (2SLS), although the Durbin–Wu–Hausman χ2 test indicates that the OLS results alone would be appropriate. We include the 2SLS results in order to be able to compare the results against previous findings. Our key findings are that there is no association between board composition and different types of continuous disclosure. Our results are robust with respect to alternative variable definitions.
Disarming the Threat to Feminist Identification
Authors: Moradi Bonnie , Martin Annelise , Brewster Melanie E.
Published: April 2012

Many individuals endorse feminist values but do not identify as feminist. The present set of studies tests the concept of threat, grounded in G. A. Kelly’s personal construct theory of personality, as a potential factor in feminist nonidentification. Study 1 introduces the theoretically grounded Feminist Threat Index and evaluates its psychometric properties with data from 91 undergraduate students. In this study, feminist threat scores yielded acceptable evidence of convergent and discriminant validity and of test–retest reliability. Study 2 evaluates a theoretically grounded intervention designed to reduce level of feminist threat and increase degree of feminist identification by enabling students to interact with a diverse panel of feminists. In this study, a mixed between–within subjects design was employed to compare pre- and postintervention change in continuous threat and feminist identification scores across intervention ( n = 52) and comparison ( n = 63) groups. As expected, the intervention reduced level of threat and increased degree of feminist identification significantly in the intervention group, whereas these scores remained unchanged in the comparison group. These studies offer researchers, educators, and activists a promising approach for assessing and reducing the threat to feminist identification.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Chronotype
Authors: Kantermann Thomas , Theadom Alice , Roenneberg Till , Cropley Mark
Published: April 2012

Sleep has strong links to the symptomology of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a diffuse musculoskeletal pain disorder. Information about the involvement of the circadian clock is, however, sparse. In this study, 1548 individuals with FMS completed an online survey containing questions on demographics, stimulant consumption, sleep quality, well-being and subjective pain, chronotype (assessed by the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, MCTQ), and FMS impact. Chronotype (expressed as the mid-sleep-point on free days, corrected for sleep deficit on workdays, MSFsc) significantly correlated with stress-ratings, so-called “memory failures in everyday life,” fatigue, FMS impact, and depression but not with anxiety. When chronotypes were categorized into 3 groups (early, intermediate, late), significant group differences were found for sum scores of perceived stress, memory failures in everyday life, fatigue, FMS impact, and depression but not anxiety, with late chronotypes being more affected than early chronotypes. Sleepiness ratings were highest in early chronotypes. Challenges of sleep quality and subjective pain were significantly increased in both early and late chronotypes. The results show that according to their reports, late chronotypes are more affected by fibromyalgia.
Catholic Responses to Poland’s “New Reality,” 1945–1953
Authors: Manetti Christina
Published: April 2012

During the years 1945–1953, the Kraków weekly Tygodnik Powszechny, approved by both Church and state, occupied a unique position. Its apolitical stance, inspired to a large extent by the Catholic philosophy of personalism, meant that within certain limits it enjoyed remarkable freedom. This article considers Tygodnik’s place in the early postwar Polish landscape, including its avowedly apolitical approach (dubbed “minimalism”) as it compared with that of other Catholic groups, how it dealt with increasing communist pressure, and what it managed to achieve before its closure. Among Tygodnik’s primary concerns were the defence of Polish society and culture against the war’s lingering psychological aftereffects, for example by encouraging discussions of what now would be called society’s “post-traumatic shock,” and reconciliation with the Germans. The newspaper also sought to defend Polish culture against communisation, in part by providing a forum for unconventional writers (who were at least nominally Catholic), resisting socialist realism and publishing information on nonsocialist-realist art and music, and addressing the changes being implemented by the communists in terms of secularisation. With mounting pressure, however, Tygodnik found it increasingly difficult to make acceptable compromises, until finally in 1953 its editorial board deemed it impossible to continue its coexistence with the communist regime. As a result, it was closed by authorities until a change in the political climate enabled Tygodnik to renew publication in 1956.
The Next Generation: Young Women on Feminism
Authors: Winston Roisin , Carletide Zoe , McLeod Naomi , Mustafa Bahar
Published: April 2012

The reflections that follow are written by Roisin Winston, Zoe Carletide, Naomi McLeod and Bahar Mustafa. These four young women outline their experience of feminism and in so doing suggest ways in which the Next Generation are thinking about ‘feminism’ and its relevance to their modern day lives. Topics discussed include sexuality, cultural differences, sex education, rape, and how the face of feminism is changing or needs to change. Thoughts range from a belief that the word ‘feminism’ has too many negative connotations and thus it seems the term, and therefore the movement, is restricted by the glass ceiling which it aims to fight. Another view is that ‘Feminism,’ like any movement, will remain as relevant as it always has been until no person of any gender is coerced or compelled to act, think, feel or endure anything which has reductive gender inequality at its core.
Dreams and Visions – Fulfilment and Re-thinking
Authors: Isherwood Lisa
Published: April 2012

Lisa Isherwood, one of the founding editors of Feminist Theology journal reflects on the development of Feminist Theology over the past 20 years and looks to its future. Avenues for the future include development of the area of Atonement Theologies and working to get it disseminated to seminaries and various clerical training institutions. Feminism in Europe, particularly Central or Eastern Europe, also has a place in the next 20 years of Feminist Theology and the journal.
Promises and Threats: iN2015 Masterplan to Pervasive Computing in Singapore
Authors: Hua* Margaret Tan Ai
Published: April 2012

This paper unpacks the discourse of Singapore’s latest ten-year Masterplan called ‘Intelligent Nation 2015’ (iN2015), where pervasive computing plays a prominent role. This paper situates Singapore and the iN2015 Masterplan as an instance of ‘mutated capitalism’. It demonstrates how the operations of the market are not simply prioritized but rather become instruments of social control, leading to particular technological embodiments—ones that entail active consumption of information technologies and telecommunication, which in turn feedback and fuel the neo-liberal technological economy. It argues that the Masterplan’s promise of freedom, control, empowerment and inclusion are presupposed on pervasive computing’s inherent capacity for digitalization, surveillance, control and interaction. Hence, this paper critiques the iN2015 architecture in terms of ‘reversibility’—how and to what extent the positive effects of the iN2015 Masterplan and pervasive computing are exactly due to the negative effects of the technology and the grounding gestures that make this paradox invisible.
Geopolitics and Biopolitics in India’s High Natural Background Radiation Zone
Authors: Abraham* Itty
Published: April 2012

This article explores the tensions between the statist project of securing national bodies—geopolitics—and the governmental project of securing populations—biopolitics. It is based on historical, public health, and ethnographic evidence from a coastal region of India with high background radiation, due to large deposits of thorium in beach sands. Thorium is a critical resource in the Indian state’s long-term programme of energy independence; long-term exposure to radiation is also what comes to define this community as a biomedically-induced population. This article shows that once thorium becomes identified as a state resource, the social meaning of place decays and the ability to imagine local futures becomes increasingly strained. The article concludes that the imperative of establishing a secure future for the nation–state requires that the future of this community be rendered in terms of sacrifice, an increasingly unstable trope of Indian nation-building.
The World After 9/11
Authors: Gupta Dipak K.
Published: April 2012

A decade has passed since the attacks of 9/11. The heightened curiosity about terrorism has seen an avalanche of books and articles in recent years. In this article, after tracing the evolution of research in the area of social conflict, in general, and terrorism, in particular, I attempt to understand if the collected wisdom has altered the views of those who make public policies in the US. However, in a rapidly changing world, some of the old theories of mass mobilisation are becoming obsolete with equal speed. At a time when ideas can spread across the world in the speed of light through the Internet, we may have to have a different methodology for understanding how political movements are formed and how the government can mitigate the risks of politically motivated violence.
Engaging Post-LTTE Sri Lanka
Authors: Mayilvaganan M.
Published: April 2012

India’s role in Sri Lanka assumes more significance now than before, with the end of war and devolution of power sharing in limbo. While the LTTE is wiped out militarily and isolated internationally, the existing militarisation in Jaffna with war crime charges at UN and awaiting political solution in limbo, Sri Lanka demands India’s attention. The call for India’s greater engagement with Sri Lanka had resurfaced domestically with a demand from Tamil Nadu parties urging India to play a more proactive role pertaining to rebuilding and sustaining peace in post-war Sri Lanka, and in ending assault on Indian fisherman at Palk Strait. On other hand, the fostering of ties between Sri Lanka and Pakistan and China push for more primed hands-on role from the point of view of India’s long-term strategic interest. There is, therefore, a need to have a re-look of India’s policy options towards Sri Lanka in light of recent developments.
Disaster Management System in Bangladesh
Authors: Sabur A.K.M. Abdus
Published: April 2012

Bangladesh and its people have been one of the worst victims of natural disasters from time immemorial. Conversely, facing and learning to live with natural disasters are equally an ancient preoccupation of Bangladeshi people. Disaster management in independent Bangladesh has undergone a complex process of development. While it received its impetus from concrete challenges faced at home, it also received inputs from developments, institutions and policies outside Bangladesh. In the process, Bangladesh has developed a workable system of disaster management that includes a set of mechanisms and processes, as well as a whole range of ways and means for the management of disasters. The article probes into the disaster management system in Bangladesh. In doing so, it begins with an overview of disasters in Bangladesh that helps explain the context of disaster management. The article studies the disaster management system in Bangladesh with a focus on concepts and theories, legal framework and institutional structure. On the basis of the above, an attempt is made to project an outlook for the future. Disaster and disaster management transcend and intersect national boundaries and geographical regions. Therefore, prevailing system of disaster management in Bangladesh could be of considerable importance to others involved in the same venture elsewhere in the world.
India and China
Authors: Bhat T.P.
Published: April 2012

India and China share many similarities. In the initial years, both adopted inward-looking import substitution policies with little consideration to foreign trade. During that period, China’s foreign trade policy was more regimented than that of India’s. As a result, both suffered on account of inefficiency in production and technological backwardness. China’s ‘open door’ policy came into force in 1978, and India adopted liberalisation policies much later in 1991. China’s economy grew much faster with an emphasis on export growth and attracting foreign direct investment. India, too, followed this approach in a calibrated manner. Domestic economic reform in China was carried out with a view to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Entry of China into WTO unfolded trade liberalisation on an unprecedented scale. China’s foreign market access enhanced its export growth to a phenomenal level. Now it has become the number one exporter, surpassing the US. India’s exports also grew, but not as fast as China’s. Trade instrument deployed by both the countries varies in nature and substance. China’s export competitive power is well established in the global market, while India is yet to get to that level.
Cultural Practices and End-of-Life Decision Making in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Taiwan
Authors: Peng Niang-Huei , Liu Hsin-Li , Chen Chao-Huei , Bachman Jean
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this research was to describe conditions of decision making for dying infants and cultural effects on the process of infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit. A retrospective chart review was used in this research. Fifty charts were reviewed; the major cause of death for the research subjects was complications of prematurity (52%). Eighty-two percent of the charts documented a do not resuscitate order, and 16% of parents allowed discontinuation of ventilator support when they realized the futility of continued care. In 30 nursing records, parents and their dying infants were offered a quiet place in which to grieve. In 10 cases, nurses accompanied these parents and allowed them to express their emotions. Research findings showed great outward expression of religion at the time of death. Various cultural issues affected both the grieving process of the families and the dying process of their infants.
Cultural Self-Efficacy of Canadian Nursing Students Caring for Aboriginal Patients with Diabetes
Authors: Quine Allisson , Hadjistavropoulos Heather D. , Alberts Nicole M.
Published: April 2012

Cultural self-efficacy refers to how capable one feels functioning in culturally diverse situations. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of cultural self-efficacy among nursing students, specifically in relation to individuals of Aboriginal ancestry. The authors examined the extent to which intercultural anxiety, intercultural communication, and experience with persons of Aboriginal ancestry predicted two aspects of cultural self-efficacy, namely, knowledge and skills. In this correlational study, non-Aboriginal Canadian nursing students ( N = 59) completed a survey assessing these variables. Overall, cultural self-efficacy was rated as moderate by nursing students. Regression analyses indicated that greater intercultural communication skills and experience with persons of Aboriginal ancestry were significant unique predictors of higher cultural knowledge self-efficacy. Greater intercultural communication and lower intercultural anxiety significantly predicted higher cultural skills self-efficacy. The results provide direction to nursing programs interested in facilitating higher levels of cultural self-efficacy among nursing students.
Truth and Objectivity Regained
Authors: Baillie James , Meckler Mark R.
Published: April 2012

There is no greater threat to the relevance of organizational and administrative research, or to effective management, than erosion of confidence in truth and objectivity. The authors warn management and organization researchers against becoming institutionalized into an exaggerated perspective of self-doubt by giving too much credence to discussions of subjectivity and the underdetermination of theory by evidence. The concepts of trustworthiness, integrity, honesty, reliability, competency, fairness, or bias all rest on the concepts of truth and objectivity. The authors urge managers to seek the truth and base decisions on evidence and good theory. In responding to a cluster of recent promising articles on the topic, the authors carefully explicate the notions of truth and objectivity, show how these are attached to the notion of trust, and detail their place in social science and the art of management. The authors demonstrate that it is a mistake to think that one can abandon the notions of truth and objectivity and continue to use normative vocabulary as before.
Perceived Social Acceptance and Peer Status Differentially Predict Adjustment in Youth With and Without ADHD
Authors: McQuade Julia D. , Vaughn Aaron J. , Hoza Betsy , Murray-Close Dianna , Molina Brooke S. G. , Arnold L. Eugene , Hechtman Lily
Published: April 2012

Objective: This study extends previous research and examined if the longitudinal relation between self-perceived social acceptance and changes in adjustment was moderated by peer status and ADHD diagnosis. Method: A sample of children with ADHD and a normative comparison group (age 8-13 years) were assessed at baseline and one-year follow-up. Self-perceived social acceptance, peer status, and three areas of adjustment (depression symptoms, aggression/conduct problems, and social skills) were measured. Results: Moderation was found when predicting depression symptoms and aggression/conduct problems. Specifically, in children with ADHD only, higher perceived social acceptance protected against increases in depression symptoms for those with lower peer preference, but predicted greater aggression/conduct problems for those with higher peer preference. There was not evidence of significant moderation for predicting social skills; instead non-ADHD status, greater peer preference, and greater self-perceived social acceptance were each predictive of greater social skills. Conclusion: Results highlight the complex association between positive social self-perceptions and adjustment for children with ADHD and caution against a universal assumption that high self-perceptions are adaptive.
Subchronic Hepatotoxicity Evaluation of 1,2,4-Tribromobenzene in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Dodd Darol E. , Pluta Linda J. , Sochaski Mark A. , Funk Kathleen A. , Thomas Russell S.
Published: April 2012

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1,2,4-tribromobenzene (TBB) by gavage for 5 days, 2, 4, and 13 weeks at 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, or 75 mg/kg per d. There were no TBB exposure-related clinical signs of toxicity or changes in body weight. Liver weight increases were dose and exposure time related and statistically significant at ≥10 mg/kg per d. Incidence and severity of centrilobular cytoplasmic alteration and hepatocyte hypertrophy were dose and time related. The 75 mg/kg per d group had minimally increased mitoses within hepatocytes (5 days only). Hepatocyte vacuolation was observed (13 weeks) and was considered TBB exposure related at ≥25 mg/kg per d. Concentrations of blood TBB increased linearly with dose and at 13 weeks, ranged from 0.5 to 17 µg/mL (2.5-75 mg/kg per d). In conclusion, rats administered TBB doses of 10-75 mg/kg per d for 13 weeks had mild liver effects. A no observed adverse effect level of 5 mg/kg per d was selected based on the statistically significant incidence of hepatocyte hypertrophy at doses ≥10 mg/kg per d.
The Effect of Menstrual Cycle on Nasal Resonance Characteristics in Females
Authors: Kumar Suman , Basu Shriya , Sinha Anisha , Chatterjee Indranil
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze resonance characteristics (nasality and nasalance values) during the menstrual cycle. Previous studies indicate changes in voice quality and nasal mucosa due to temporary falling estrogen levels in human females during their menstrual cycle. The present study compared the nasality and “nasalance scores” obtained on 15 healthy participants. The first assessment was done during the first 3 days of the menses and a second assessment was done during postmenstrual ovulation phases using Nasometer II software, and a perceptual nasal resonance assessment was done using Buffalo III Voice Profile. The results revealed significant increases in the nasalance values during the menstruation phase. The findings indicate that hormonal and other related changes occurring during menstruation leads to a significant change in the resonance characteristics of voice.
Modelling the three-dimensional vibration of composite archery arrows under free–free boundary conditions
Authors: Rieckmann Marianne , Park James L , Codrington John , Cazzolato Ben
Published: April 2012

Archery performance has been shown to be dependent on the resonance frequencies and operational deflection shape of the arrows. This vibrational behaviour is influenced by the design and material of the arrow and the presence of damage in the arrow structure. In recent years arrow design has progressed to use lightweight and stiff composite materials. This paper investigates the vibration of composite archery arrows through a finite difference model based on Euler–Bernoulli theory, and a three-dimensional finite element modal analysis. Results from the numerical simulations are compared to experimental measurements using a Polytec scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (PSV-400). The experiments use an acoustically coupled vibration actuator to excite the composite arrow with free–free boundary conditions. Evaluation of the vibrational behaviour shows good agreement between the theoretical models and the experiments.
Shaping Aspirations, Awareness, Academics, and Action
Authors: Matthews Paul H. , Mellom Paula J.
Published: April 2012

Mixed-method evaluation of two iterations of month-long summer enrichment programs for English-learning secondary students investigated impacts on participants’ beliefs about school and academic achievement, and on actual course choices, test outcomes, and graduation rates. Students ( N = 85) from one ethnically diverse, high-poverty high school in a large school district in Georgia took part in science and academic English-themed summer enrichment programs in 2006 and 2008. Questionnaires, interviews, and transcript analysis demonstrated that after taking part, students aspired to attend college, were aware of the steps necessary, and took steps such as tracking themselves into more advanced courses. Participants also were able to create and sustain peer support groups in their school, fostering a culture of academic achievement. Findings suggest that even such short-term programs can positively influence students’ attitudes, aspirations, and actual behaviors supporting academic achievement, graduation, and postsecondary education, lending promise to goals of ameliorating the academic achievement gap.
Potency, selectivity and prolonged binding of saxagliptin to DPP4: maintenance of DPP4 inhibition by saxagliptin in vitro and ex vivo when compared to a rapidly-dissociating DPP4 inhibitor
Authors: Wang Aiying , Dorso Charles , Kopcho Lisa , Locke Gregory , Langish Robert , Harstad Eric , Shipkova Petia , Marcinkeviciene Jovita , Hamann Lawrence , Kirby Mark S
Published: April 2012

Background

Dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors have clinical benefit in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by increasing levels of glucose-lowering incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide -1 (GLP-1), a peptide with a short half life that is secreted for approximately 1 hour following a meal. Since drugs with prolonged binding to their target have been shown to maximize pharmacodynamic effects while minimizing drug levels, we developed a time-dependent inhibitor that has a half-life for dissociation from DPP4 close to the duration of the first phase of GLP-1 release.

Results

Saxagliptin and its active metabolite (5-hydroxysaxagliptin) are potent inhibitors of human DPP4 with prolonged dissociation from its active site (Ki = 1.3 nM and 2.6 nM, t1/2 = 50 and 23 minutes respectively at 37°C). In comparison, both vildagliptin (3.5 minutes) and sitagliptin ( < 2 minutes) rapidly dissociated from DPP4 at 37°C. Saxagliptin and 5-hydroxysaxagliptin are selective for inhibition of DPP4 versus other DPP family members and a large panel of other proteases, and have similar potency and efficacy across multiple species.

Inhibition of plasma DPP activity is used as a biomarker in animal models and clinical trials. However, most DPP4 inhibitors are competitive with substrate and rapidly dissociate from DPP4; therefore, the type of substrate, volume of addition and final concentration of substrate in these assays can change measured inhibition. We show that unlike a rapidly dissociating DPP4 inhibitor, inhibition of plasma DPP activity by saxagliptin and 5-hydroxysaxagliptin in an ex vivo assay was not dependent on substrate concentration when substrate was added rapidly because saxagliptin and 5-hydroxysaxagliptin dissociate slowly from DPP4, once bound. We also show that substrate concentration was important for rapidly dissociating DPP4 inhibitors.

Conclusions

Saxagliptin and its active metabolite are potent, selective inhibitors of DPP4, with prolonged dissociation from its active site. They also demonstrate prolonged inhibition of plasma DPP4 ex vivo in animal models, which implies that saxagliptin and 5-hydroxysaxagliptin would continue to inhibit DPP4 during rapid increases in substrates in vivo.
Heightened expression of MICA enhances the cytotoxicity of NK cells or CD8+T cells to human corneal epithelium in vitro
Authors: Hong Jiaxu , Qiu Ting , Qian Tingting , Li Gang , Yu Xiaobo , Chen Junyi , Le Qihua , Sun Xinghuai , Xu Jianjiang
Published: April 2012

Background

Major-histocompatibility-complex class I-related chain A (MICA) antigens are the ligands of NKG2D, which is an activating or coactivating receptor expressed on human NK cells and CD8+T cells. We sought to determine whether MICA expression in human corneal epithelium (HCE) could affect the cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells or CD8+T cells.

Methods

Cell cultures of HCE were harvested from human donor eyes. Flow cytometric analysis and ELISA was performed to determine the levels of MICA expression on HCE. Then, HCE was transfected with a lentivirus vector expressing MICA and GFP. Flow cytometric analysis, RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA were performed to check the levels of MICA expression. For cytotoxicity testing, allogeneic NK cells and CD8+T cells were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy volunteers by magnetic cell sorting. The cytolytic activity of NK cells and CD8+T cells was assessed against MICA-transfected HCE (NK cells: E:T ratio = 3:1; CD8+T cells: E:T ratio = 10:1) using the nonradioactive cytotoxicity detection kit lactate deshydrogenase.

Results

Surface expression of MICA on corneal epithelium was identified at a low level. A cell line of stable human MICA-transfected corneal epithelium was successfully established. Heightened expression of MICA on HCE was found to promote the cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells or CD8+T cells, which could be blocked by an anti-MICA antibody.

Conclusion

MICA molecules may contribute to cytotoxic responses mediated by activated immune effector cells in corneal epithelium immunity.
Adaptive matching pursuit with constrained total least squares
Authors: Huang Tianyao , Liu Yimin , Meng Huadong , Wang Xiqin
Published: April 2012

Compressive sensing (CS) can effectively recover a signal when it is sparse in some discrete atoms. However, in some applications, signals are sparse in a continuous parameter space, e.g., frequency space, rather than discrete atoms. Usually, we divide the continuous parameter into finite discrete grid points and build a dictionary from these grid points. However, the actual targets may not exactly lie on the grid points no matter how densely the parameter is grided, which introduces mismatch between the predefined dictionary and the actual one. In this article, a novel method, namely adaptive matching pursuit with constrained total least squares (AMP-CTLS), is proposed to find actual atoms even if they are not included in the initial dictionary. In AMP-CTLS, the grid and the dictionary are adaptively updated to better agree with measurements. The convergence of the algorithm is discussed, and numerical experiments demonstrate the advantages of AMP-CTLS.
A novel fluorescent assay for sucrose transporters
Authors: Gora Peter J , Reinders Anke , Ward John M
Published: April 2012

Background

We have developed a novel assay based on the ability of type I sucrose uptake transporters (SUTs) to transport the fluorescent coumarin β-glucoside, esculin. Budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is routinely used for the heterologous expression of SUTs and does not take up esculin.

Results

When type I sucrose transporters StSUT1 from potato or AtSUC2 from Arabidopsis were expressed in yeast, the cells were able to take up esculin and became brightly fluorescent. We tested a variety of incubation times, esculin concentrations, and buffer pH values and found that for these transporters, a 1 hr incubation at 0.1 to 1 mM esculin at pH 4.0 produced fluorescent cells that were easily distinguished from vector controls. Esculin uptake was assayed by several methods including fluorescence microscopy, spectrofluorometry and fluorescence-activiated cell sorting (FACS). Expression of the type II sucrose transporter OsSUT1 from rice did not result in increased esculin uptake under any conditions tested. Results were reproduced successfully in two distinct yeast strains, SEY6210 (an invertase mutant) and BY4742.

Conclusions

The esculin uptake assay is rapid and sensitive and should be generally useful for preliminary tests of sucrose transporter function by heterologous expression in yeast. This assay is also suitable for selection of yeast showing esculin uptake activity using FACS.
Synthesis of Hyperbranched Azo-polymer-grafted Graphene Oxide Hybrid
Authors: Wang Yang , Wei Renbo , He Yaning , Wang Xiaogong
Published: April 2012

Hyperbranched azo-polymer-grafted graphene oxide (GO) hybrid was synthesized. Epoxy-based precursor polymer was first covalently attached to GO through an ester linkage. Then the hyperbranched azo-polymer-grafted graphene oxide hybrid can be obtained by azo-coupling reaction between the epoxy-based precursor-polymer-functionalized GO and hyperbranched diazonium salts under extremely mild conditions.
Electrochemical Impedance Analysis on Degradation of Commercially Available Lithium Ion Battery during Charge–Discharge Cycling
Authors: Mukoyama Daikichi , Momma Toshiyuki , Nara Hiroki , Osaka Tetsuya
Published: April 2012

The degradation of the commercial Li ion battery was analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, where our previous proposed equivalent circuit was applied. The degradation with the cycling was clearly explained by the main parameters of capacitive and resistive components, i.e., it responded until 300 cycles to the decrease in capacitive component, while after 300 to 550 cycles to the increase in resistive component.
Continuous Fabrication of Novel Polyimide Nanoparticles Confining Highly Dispersed Gold Nanoparticles by a Multistep Microfluidic Reaction System and Their Catalytic Application
Authors: Ishizaka Takayuki , Ishigaki Atsushi , Chatterjee Maya , Suzuki Akira , Suzuki Toshishige M , Kawanami Hajime
Published: April 2012

Novel polyimide nanoparticles confining maximum 12.5 wt % of highly dispersed Au nanoparticles (size: 5.6 nm) were continuously fabricated by using a multistep microfluidic reaction system; the particles show good activity for the hydrogenation in scCO2 with excellent yields and selectivity without leaching and agglomeration of Au nanoparticles.
Supramolecular Chirality Measurement of an Optically Anomalous Single Crystal
Authors: Harada Takunori , Asano Natsuyo , Tajima Nobuo , Moriyama Hiroshi
Published: April 2012

The compound 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHA) forms chiral crystals composed of several distinct homogeneous regions giving triclinic symmetry in an apparently tetragonal unit cell. True chirality measurement of an optically anomalous DHA crystal was achieved for the first time using a universal chiroptical spectrophotometer in the UV–vis wavelength range.
Acute kidney injury in dengue fever using Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria: incidence and risk factors
Authors: Mehra Nikita , Patel Amish , Abraham Georgi , Reddy Yogesh N V , Reddy Yuvaram N V
Published: April 2012

The aim of this study was to assess incidence and risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with dengue fever (DF). A total of 223 patients (males, 130; females, 93; mean age, 26.2 ± 18.2 years) from a tertiary care centre in southern India were retrospectively analysed. Acute renal failure (ARF) developed in 24 (10.8%) patients. Based on the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria, the results revealed that: 12 (5.4%) had mild AKI; seven (3.1%) had moderate AKI; and five (2.2%) had severe AKI. A further 54 (24%) were diagnosed with dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF); 11 (5%) were co-infected with leptospirosis; thrombocytopenia was present in 157 (70%); and 64 (29%) were hypotensive. Patients were divided into either group A (with AKI) or group B (without AKI), and group A was divided into mild (A1), moderate (A2) and severe (A3) subgroups. We recorded: a higher total white count (A = 9824; B = 6706; P = 0.01); serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT; A = 450; B = 144; P = 0.001); alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (A = 207; B = 42; P = 0.001); lower albumin (A = 2.65; B = 3.09; P < 0.001); and serum bicarbonate (A = 20.57; B = 23.21; P = 0.009). Hypotension ( P = 0.01), coexisting viral hepatitis ( P < 0.001), sepsis ( P < 0.001), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS; P < 0.001) and the need for inotropes ( P < 0.001) were associated with DF. Total white count ( P = 0.038), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on discharge ( P = 0.034), specific gravity of urine ( P = 0.006), ALP ( P = 0.013), SGPT ( P = 0.042), MODS ( P = 0.05) and use of platelet fresh frozen plasma (FFP; P = 0.007) were significantly different between mild, moderate and severe AKI subgroups. Twenty-two (9%) died. AKI is associated with an increased mortality in DF ( P = 0.005).
Analysis of Thermal Environmental Effects on Precast, Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders: Temperature Differentials and Thermal Deformations
Authors: Lee Jong-Han , Kalkan Ilker
Published: April 2012

AASHTO specifications provide vertical thermal gradients for the thermal design of precast, prestressed concrete bridge girders. However, the thermal behavior of the girders pertains to not only vertical thermal movement but also lateral thermal movement. Thus, a one-year experimental and analytical study was conducted on a prestressed concrete BT-1600 girder segment to investigate both the vertical and lateral thermal gradients with variations in environmental conditions. The vertical thermal gradients were compared using current AASHTO recommendations. In addition, this study evaluated the lateral thermal gradients, which are not provided in the specifications, to propose a second-order curve. To determine the magnitudes of the thermal gradients in different environmental conditions, this study has developed equations that calculate the maximum vertical and lateral temperature differentials from daily climatic information. Results of the study showed that the predicted temperature differentials provided good agreement with the measured values. Finally, thermal deformations induced by the vertical and lateral thermal gradients were evaluated using an analytical method derived from one-dimensional beam theory.
Evaluation of Displacement-Based, Force-Based and Plastic Hinge Elements for Structural Non-Linear Static Analysis
Authors: Li Shuang , Zhai Chang-Hai , Xie Li-Li
Published: April 2012

This paper evaluates accuracies and applicabilities of frame elements constructed by displacement-based (DB), force-based (FB) and plastic hinge (PH) methods for structural non-linear static analysis. The theoretical bases of the three frame elements are compared and the global response (nodal level) and local response (sectional level) of the three frame elements are evaluated. The results lead to the conclusions that more DB elements than FB elements need to be employed to obtain accurate post-yielding global responses in the cases of sections undergoing hardening or zero post stiffness. Both DB and FB elements fail to provide consistent and rational evaluation of the post-yielding global responses in the case of sections undergoing softening. The post-yielding global responses presented by the PH element are strongly influenced by the preset hinge length. The three frame elements present consistent local response results but different maximum responses in most cases. The preferred numbers of integration points to be used in DB and FB elements are also advised from the points of view of both consistency and stability.
Prediction of Near-And Far-Field Noise Generated by Contra-Rotating Open Rotors
Authors: Deconinck Thomas , Capron Alexandre , Hirsch Charles , Ghorbaniasl Ghader
Published: April 2012

An innovative aeroacoustic prediction method for Contra-Rotating Open Rotors (CROR) based on the nonlinear harmonic method (NLH) for the CFD computations and on the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equations for the far-field acoustic propagation is described. This method is tested on a generic 8 × 8 puller CROR at typical take-off conditions. The outstanding efficiency of the prediction method in terms of CPU cost is demonstrated in this study. An analysis of the aerodynamic interactions between the two rotors as well as of the aeroacoustic field radiated in the far-field is presented, allowing for an improved understanding of noise generation mechanisms.
Acoustic Measurements of a Contra-Rotating Open Rotor in an Open Jet Wind-Tunnel
Authors: Funke Stefan , Kim Larisa , Siller Henri
Published: April 2012

Acoustic measurements of a scaled model of a contra-rotating open rotor engine were performed in an open wind tunnel facility. The motivation for the work presented here was to analyse the possibilities for quantitative acoustic measurements in an environment that was not designed for acoustic measurements and where reverberations, shear layer refraction and turbulence distort the sound field. Extensive acoustic measurements were performed using a linear microphone array with 104 microphones on the floor of the hall. Room acoustics effects were investigated with a reference sound source and the sound field of the rotors was measured for different configurations. The results show that reflections from the ceiling and side walls interfere with the direct sound field and influence the measured directivity due to strong local variations of the sound pressure level from one microphone position to the next. General trends and differences between the configurations can be shown from spatially averaged frequency spectra.