bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Biodentine in the Restoration of Root Caries
Authors: Hayes M. , da Mata C. , Tada S. , Cole M. , McKenna G. , Burke F.M. , Allen P.F.
Published: February 2016

There is no “gold-standard” material for the operative management of root caries. The aim of this study was to determine if the clinical performance of Biodentine would be acceptable for the restoration of root caries in older adults. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted comparing a calcium silicate cement (Biodentine), a high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (Fuji IX GP Extra), and a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Fuji II LC). Of the 334 volunteers assessed for eligibility, 249 were excluded. A total of 303 lesions in 85 participants were randomized, with 151 lesions allocated to receive Biodentine, 77 to Fuji IX GP Extra, and 77 to Fuji II LC. Patients were reviewed by a calibrated dentist who was not involved in restoration placement and who was blinded to material allocation. Restorations were assessed according to a modified US Public Health Service criteria. The cumulative survival percentages after 6 mo and 1 y were 58.6% and 47.2% in the Biodentine group, 89.6% and 83.8% in the Fuji IX GP Extra group, and 89.5% and 84.9% in the Fuji II LC group, respectively. There were statistically significant differences ( χ2 test, P < 0.001) in restoration failure rates between restoration groups. There was no difference between Fuji IX GP Extra and Fuji II LC, but differences ( P < 0.001) were shown between the Fuji II GP Extra group and the Biodentine group and also between the Fuji II LC group and the Biodentine group at both time points. Based on the results of this study, Biodentine cannot be recommended for the operative management of root caries. Fuji IX GP Extra and Fuji II LC displayed similar success rates, and high-viscosity glass ionomer cement and resin-modified glass ionomer cement continue to be the best available option for the restoration of root caries ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01866059).

Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study can assist dental practitioners when selecting a restorative material for the operative management of root caries. This randomized controlled trial compared the 1-y clinical performance of a calcium silicate–based material to that of a high-viscosity glass ionomer cement and a resin-modified glass ionomer cement in the operative management of root caries. The study concluded that high-viscosity glass ionomer cement and resin-modified glass ionomer cement continue to be the best available option to dental practitioners when restoring the root surface.
Clinical impact of clonal and subclonal TP53, SF3B1, BIRC3, NOTCH1, and ATM mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Nadeu Ferran , Delgado Julio , Royo Cristina , Baumann Tycho , Stankovic Tatjana , Pinyol Magda , Jares Pedro , Navarro Alba , Martín-García David , Beà Sílvia , Salaverria Itziar , Oldreive Ceri , Aymerich Marta , Suárez-Cisneros Helena , Rozman Maria , Villamor Neus , Colomer Dolors , López-Guillermo Armando , González Marcos , Alcoceba Miguel , Terol Maria José , Colado Enrique , Puente Xose S. , López-Otín Carlos , Enjuanes Anna , Campo Elías
Published: February 2016

Key Points

Clonal and subclonal mutations of NOTCH1 and TP53, clonal mutations of SF3B1, and ATM mutations in CLL have an impact on clinical outcome. Clonal evolution in longitudinal samples occurs before and after treatment and may have an unfavorable impact on overall survival.
ClinQC: a tool for quality control and cleaning of Sanger and NGS data in clinical research
Authors: Pandey Ram Vinay , Pabinger Stephan , Kriegner Albert , Weinhäusel Andreas
Published: February 2016

Background

Traditional Sanger sequencing has been used as a gold standard method for genetic testing in clinic to perform single gene test, which has been a cumbersome and expensive method to test several genes in heterogeneous disease such as cancer. With the advent of Next Generation Sequencing technologies, which produce data on unprecedented speed in a cost effective manner have overcome the limitation of Sanger sequencing. Therefore, for the efficient and affordable genetic testing, Next Generation Sequencing has been used as a complementary method with Sanger sequencing for disease causing mutation identification and confirmation in clinical research. However, in order to identify the potential disease causing mutations with great sensitivity and specificity it is essential to ensure high quality sequencing data. Therefore, integrated software tools are lacking which can analyze Sanger and NGS data together and eliminate platform specific sequencing errors, low quality reads and support the analysis of several sample/patients data set in a single run.

Results

We have developed ClinQC, a flexible and user-friendly pipeline for format conversion, quality control, trimming and filtering of raw sequencing data generated from Sanger sequencing and three NGS sequencing platforms including Illumina, 454 and Ion Torrent. First, ClinQC convert input read files from their native formats to a common FASTQ format and remove adapters, and PCR primers. Next, it split bar-coded samples, filter duplicates, contamination and low quality sequences and generates a QC report. ClinQC output high quality reads in FASTQ format with Sanger quality encoding, which can be directly used in down-stream analysis. It can analyze hundreds of sample/patients data in a single run and generate unified output files for both Sanger and NGS sequencing data. Our tool is expected to be very useful for quality control and format conversion of Sanger and NGS data to facilitate improved downstream analysis and mutation screening.

Conclusions

ClinQC is a powerful and easy to handle pipeline for quality control and trimming in clinical research. ClinQC is written in Python with multiprocessing capability, run on all major operating systems and is available at https://sourceforge.net/projects/clinqc.
Assessment of central venous catheter colonization using surveillance culture of withdrawn connectors and insertion site skin
Authors: Pérez-Granda María Jesús , Guembe María , Cruces Raquel , Barrio José María , Bouza Emilio
Published: February 2016

Background

Culture of catheter hubs and skin surrounding the catheter entry site has a negative predictive value for catheter tip colonization. However, manipulation of the hub for culture requires the hubs to be swabbed, introducing potential dislodging of biofilm and subsequent migration of microorganisms. Hubs are usually closed with needleless connectors (NCs), which are replaced regularly. Our objective was to evaluate whether culture of flushed withdrawn NCs is an alternative to hub culture when investigating central venous catheter colonization.

Methods

The study population comprised 49 intensive care unit patients whose central venous catheters had been in place for at least 7 days. Cultures of NCs and skin were obtained weekly.

Results

We included 82 catheters with more than 7 days’ indwelling time. The catheter tip colonization rate was 18.3 % (15/82). Analysis of skin and NC cultures revealed a 92.5 % negative predictive value for catheter colonization. Three episodes of catheter-related bloodstream infection (C-RBSI) occurred in patients with colonized catheters.

Conclusion

Surveillance of NC and skin cultures could help to identify patients at risk for C-RBSI.
The use of laser in garment manufacturing: an overview
Authors: Nayak Rajkishore , Padhye Rajiv
Published: February 2016

Laser is being used in apparel industry from nineteenth century for various garment manufacturing applications. There are several advantages of using laser over the conventional processes in cutting, engraving, embossing, denim fading and other applications. In addition, product damage potential is reduced, no/less consumables are needed and no problem of toxic by-product disposal as found in some processes. Today’s laser equipment is a result of continuous research and development of earlier products, which has undergone several changes. The initial laser systems were cumbersome, hard to run and difficult to maintain. However, the modern laser systems are simpler in operation and maintenance. Furthermore, the earlier systems were involved with more safety issues and needed the gasses to be constantly replenished. The garment manufactures around the globe should take the advantage of laser application in the post multi-fibre agreement regime to make their products more competitive. This review focuses on the technology of laser including various classifications. In addition it includes the applications of laser in garment manufacturing, their potential hazards and health related concerns.
SEG Foundation's mission: Fund-raising for SEG programs
Authors: Forrest Mike
Published: February 2016

The SEG Foundation raises funds to support 16 programs, which are managed by the SEG. Many of the programs are for students and early-career geoscientists, but members of all ages benefit from programs such as Honorary and Distinguished Lectures (see sidebar).
Introduction to this special section: Imaging/inversion: Estimating the earth model
Authors: MacKay Scott , Gray Sam
Published: February 2016

Most of our efforts as oil and gas geoscientists are directed toward estimating the earth model. In addition, most of our earth-model estimation involves inversion of one kind or another, even if we don't think explicitly in terms of inversion. When we specialize to seismic, as all seven articles in this special section do, “Imaging/inversion: Estimating the earth model” describes our work. Seismic is a big field, however, and we have not always regarded it as being so unified. After all, what could topics as different as (for example) seismic imaging of structural targets and estimation of reservoir properties possibly have in common? As it turns out, the answer is “plenty,” and our realization of this fact has helped us get better at our jobs; our structural images benefit from knowledge of rock and reservoir properties, and our rock-property estimates improve when we use information from seismic imaging. So the historic concept of a “seismic chain,” whose separate links are acquisition, preprocessing, imaging, inversion, and interpretation, is gradually breaking down as we realize how each step quantitatively influences all the others. In fact, as some of the articles in this section illustrate, the sequential chain is being replaced by a more sophisticated set of feedback loops where the derived information may be used to improve the final result.
Focusing our energy: 22nd Annual 3D Seismic Symposium
Authors: Jensen Steven
Published: February 2016

The 22nd Annual 3D Seismic Symposium, jointly sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) and the Denver Geophysical Society (DGS), returns 3 March 2016 to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, USA. This year, the symposium features an expanded social and exhibitor space, and Mary Sue Purcell and Cambrey Cammon serve as this year's cochairs.
Professional Development
Authors: Fernando John R.
Published: February 2016

You've heard the adage: “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” My first teaching experience with SEG began with an e-mail to Jill Abbott, former SEG professional development advisor, inquiring if I might qualify as a continuing-education (CE) instructor. She encouraged me to send in the necessary information for my proposed course, which I did. I wondered if my aspirations to be an SEG instructor would become a reality, given the fact SEG instructors are industry professionals with far more experience and knowledge than me. Andreas Cordsen, Malcolm Lansley, Satinder Chopra, Kurt Marfurt, John Bancroft, and Mauricio Sacchi are a few such instructors.
Cardiovascular Disease Among Survivors of Adult-Onset Cancer: A Community-Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Armenian Saro H. , Xu Lanfang , Ky Bonnie , Sun Canlan , Farol Leonardo T. , Pal Sumanta Kumar , Douglas Pamela S. , Bhatia Smita , Chao Chun
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure, are well-established late effects of therapy in survivors of childhood and young adult (< 40 years at diagnosis) cancers; less is known regarding CVD in long-term survivors of adult-onset (≥ 40 years) cancer.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study design was used to describe the magnitude of CVD risk in 36,232 ≥ 2-year survivors of adult-onset cancer compared with matched (age, sex, and residential ZIP code) noncancer controls (n = 73,545) within a large integrated managed care organization. Multivariable regression was used to examine the impact of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs; hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia) on long-term CVD risk in cancer survivors.

Results

Survivors of multiple myeloma (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.70; P < .01), carcinoma of the lung/bronchus (IRR, 1.58; P < .01), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (IRR, 1.41; P < .01), and breast cancer (IRR, 1.13; P < .01) had significantly higher CVD risk when compared with noncancer controls. Conversely, prostate cancer survivors had a lower CVD risk (IRR, 0.89; P < .01) compared with controls. Cancer survivors with two or more CVRFs had the highest risk of CVD when compared with noncancer controls with less than two CVRFs (IRR, 1.83 to 2.59; P < .01). Eight-year overall survival was significantly worse among cancer survivors who developed CVD (60%) when compared with cancer survivors without CVD (81%; P < .01).

Conclusion

The magnitude of subsequent CVD risk varies according to cancer subtype and by the presence of CVRFs. Overall survival in survivors who develop CVD is poor, emphasizing the need for targeted prevention strategies for individuals at highest risk of developing CVD.
Clueless is a conserved ribonucleoprotein that binds the ribosome at the mitochondrial outer membrane
Authors: Sen Aditya , Cox Rachel T.
Published: February 2016

Mitochondrial function is tied to the nucleus, in that hundreds of proteins encoded by nuclear genes must be imported into mitochondria. While post-translational import is fairly well understood, emerging evidence supports that mitochondrial site-specific import, or co-translational import, also occurs. However, the mechanism and the extent to which it is used are not fully understood. We have previously shown Clueless (Clu), a conserved multi-domain protein, associates with mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, including Translocase of outer membrane 20, and genetically and physically interacts with the PINK1–Parkin pathway. The human ortholog of Clu, Cluh, was shown to bind nuclear-encoded mitochondrially destined mRNAs. Here we identify the conserved tetratricopeptide domain of Clu as predominantly responsible for binding mRNA. In addition, we show Clu interacts with the ribosome at the mitochondrial outer membrane. Taken together, these data support a model whereby Clu binds to and mitochondrially targets mRNAs to facilitate mRNA localization to the outer mitochondrial membrane, potentially for site-specific or co-translational import. This role may link the presence of efficient mitochondrial protein import to mitochondrial quality control through the PINK1–Parkin pathway.
ER stress and basement membrane defects combine to cause glomerular and tubular renal disease resulting from Col4a1 mutations in mice
Authors: Jones Frances E. , Bailey Matthew A. , Murray Lydia S. , Lu Yinhui , McNeilly Sarah , Schlötzer-Schrehardt Ursula , Lennon Rachel , Sado Yoshikazu , Brownstein David G. , Mullins John J. , Kadler Karl E. , Van Agtmael Tom
Published: February 2016

Collagen IV is a major component of basement membranes, and mutations in COL4A1, which encodes collagen IV alpha chain 1, cause a multisystemic disease encompassing cerebrovascular, eye and kidney defects. However, COL4A1 renal disease remains poorly characterized and its pathomolecular mechanisms are unknown. We show that Col4a1 mutations in mice cause hypotension and renal disease, including proteinuria and defects in Bowman's capsule and the glomerular basement membrane, indicating a role for Col4a1 in glomerular filtration. Impaired sodium reabsorption in the loop of Henle and distal nephron despite elevated aldosterone levels indicates that tubular defects contribute to the hypotension, highlighting a novel role for the basement membrane in vascular homeostasis by modulation of the tubular response to aldosterone. Col4a1 mutations also cause diabetes insipidus, whereby the tubular defects lead to polyuria associated with medullary atrophy and a subsequent reduction in the ability to upregulate aquaporin 2 and concentrate urine. Moreover, haematuria, haemorrhage and vascular basement membrane defects confirm an important vascular component. Interestingly, although structural and compositional basement membrane defects occurred in the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, no tubular basement membrane defects were detected. By contrast, medullary atrophy was associated with chronic ER stress, providing evidence for cell-type-dependent molecular mechanisms of Col4a1 mutations. These data show that both basement membrane defects and ER stress contribute to Col4a1 renal disease, which has important implications for the development of treatment strategies for collagenopathies.
Improvement of territorial self-government management system based on computer network simulation impact-technologies
Authors: Чемезов Игорь , Chyemyezov Igor
Published: February 2016

Tendencies and problems of development of system of management of territorial self-government are analyzed; the principles and forms of modeling of network computer impact-technologies are developed. Use of the developed principles and forms of modeling of network computer impaсt-technologies in system of management of territorial self-government will allow to gain social and economic effects. As social effect strengthening of neighbor’s communications, confidence-building to each other, improvement of quality of the human capital will act. Economic effect will be concluded in the commercial income of the professionals rendering sports, educational and household services to the population that will cause increases of a standard of living in territories.
Description of the school environment related to physical education classes, recess, extracurricular activities and physical spaces in the city of Pelotas, RS, Brazil
Authors: Knuth Alan , Silva Inácio , Hallal Pedro
Published: February 2016

The aim of the present study was to describe the school environment of public and private primary schools from the city of Pelotas, RS, Southern Brazil, according to the availability of Physical Education (PE) classes, breaks, extracurricular activities and physical spaces. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including both public and private schools. In each school, the principal or a PE teacher was interviewed to assess PE classes, recess and extracurricular activities, while a checklist was carried out to evaluate the quality and availability of physical spaces.  A total of 71.9% of the 99 schools had PE classes for grades 1 to 4. Extracurricular projects were available in 59.6% of the schools and 71.2% offered free activities to students. The most common activities are dancing and “futsal”. There was a gym in 10.1% of schools (40.0% of private and 4.8% of public schools). Higher availability and quality of outdoor courts, indoor rooms, multimedia rooms and green areas were more consistently found among private schools than public schools. Our findings indicated a low coverage of PE classes in grades 1 to 4, and insufficient availability and quality of physical structures in the public schools, compared to private ones. Many environmental features should be used in order to improve students’ health and well-being.
A Stimulation and rehabilitation program: Oficina da Lembrança
Authors: Krug Rodrigo , Ono Lariane , Quialheiro Anna , D’Orsi Eleonora , Ramos Luiz , Xavier André
Published: February 2016

This study aimed to present the method of the multi-center program of cognitive stimulation and rehabilitation known as  “Oficina da Lembrança” (Memory Workshop), held at the University of Southern Santa Catarina, Federal University of Santa Catarina and Federal University of São Paulo. This project has assisted about 450 people aged 50 or older with memory complaints. Each session consists of one to three meetings/week (approximately 20 meetings/semester), with groups of 10 to 20 participants to carry out activities on computers, physical activity and individual oral reports of the experiences they had at the meetings (approximately 90 minutes). In the first and final six-monthly meeting, socio-demographic, health and behavioral variables, cognitive performance, functional disability and presence of depressive symptoms are collected. The project was implemented in 2006 and it is expected to continue. Programs like this are extremely important in society because they can provide benefits to the population, especially in terms of helping cognitive improvement, thus promoting health and socialization.
Quantifying mercury isotope dynamics in captive Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)
Authors: Kwon Sae Yun , Blum Joel D. , Madigan Daniel J. , Block Barbara A. , Popp Brian N.
Published: February 2016

Analyses of mercury (Hg) isotope ratios in fish tissues are used increasingly to infer sources and biogeochemical processes of Hg in natural aquatic ecosystems. Controlled experiments that can couple internal Hg isotope behavior with traditional isotope tracers (δ13C, δ15N) can improve the applicability of Hg isotopes as natural ecological tracers. In this study, we investigated changes in Hg isotope ratios (δ202Hg, Δ199Hg) during bioaccumulation of natural diets in the pelagic Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis; PBFT). Juvenile PBFT were fed a mixture of natural prey and a dietary supplement (60% Loligo opalescens, 31% Sardinops sagax, 9% gel supplement) in captivity for 2914 days, and white muscle tissues were analyzed for Hg isotope ratios and compared to time in captivity and internal turnover of δ13C and δ15N. PBFT muscle tissues equilibrated to Hg isotope ratios of the dietary mixture within ∼700 days, after which we observed a cessation in further shifts in Δ199Hg, and small but significant negative δ202Hg shifts from the dietary mixture. The internal behavior of Δ199Hg is consistent with previous fish studies, which showed an absence of Δ199Hg fractionation during Hg bioaccumulation. The negative δ202Hg shifts can be attributed to either preferential excretion of Hg with higher δ202Hg values or individual variability in captive PBFT feeding preferences and/or consumption rates. The overall internal behavior of Hg isotopes is similar to that described for δ13C and δ15N, though observed Hg turnover was slower compared to carbon and nitrogen. This improved understanding of internal dynamics of Hg isotopes in relation to δ13C and δ15N enhances the applicability of Hg isotope ratios in fish tissues for tracing Hg sources in natural ecosystems.
Tracheostomies for the non-expert 1: indications and techniques
Authors: Donohue CI , Lalabekyan B , Burdett E
Published: February 2016

Recent reports have emphasized shortcomings in routine and emergency care leading to adverse outcomes in patients with tracheostomies. This two-part article provides a guide to the principles of care for staff looking after adult patients with tracheostomies in the hospital. The first part looks at indications and techniques.
Iatrogenic greenhouse gases: the role of anaesthetic agents
Authors: Uzoigwe Chika E , Franco Luis C Sanchez , Forrest Michael D
Published: February 2016

The contribution of health-care activity to climate change is not negligible and is increasing. Anaesthetic greenhouse gases, in particular the fluranes, have a much more potent global warming capacity, volume for volume, than carbon dioxide, but their emissions remain completely unregulated.
Anaesthesia for laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Oti Chima , Mahendran Mythili , Sabir Nadeem
Published: February 2016

Laparoscopic surgery has become increasingly common with reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery. Clinicians managing patients undergoing abdominal laparoscopic surgery should appreciate the physiological changes which mainly arise from patient positioning and the effects of pneumoperitoneum.
Assessment of frailty in the inpatient setting
Authors: Illsley A , Clegg A
Published: February 2016

Frailty is a common condition which results in increased risk of adverse outcomes following hospital admission. This review looks at how to identify, assess and manage frail patients in the inpatient setting.
A prospective review of appetite loss and recovery time in primary joint replacement patients
Authors: Prodger S , McAuliffe M , Bopf D , Kingston D
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Appetite loss is commonly reported by patients following major surgery, including total joint arthroplasty (TJA). A number of studies have examined related problems, particularly in relation to physiological responses to surgery. However, no published paper has looked specifically at the duration of appetite loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients.

Methods

A simple, established appetite screening tool was administered preoperatively and at 2-week intervals postoperatively in 50 TJA patients until appetite levels returned to preoperative levels. The results were examined for various descriptive parameters and compared using the chi-squared test.

Results

Thirty-three patients underwent TKA and 17 THA. There were 27 female and 23 male patients. No patients were lost to follow-up. The median time for return of appetite in both male and female patients was 4 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: male, 2–4; female, 4–6). The median time for return of appetite was 4 weeks both in TKA patients (IQR 4–6) and in those undergoing THA (IQR 4–4). The time to return of appetite was not significantly associated with either the gender of the patients (p=0.13) or the type of joint replacement (p=0.49).

Conclusions

The study provides a clear time frame for return of appetite in uncomplicated primary joint replacements. This is a commonly noted patient problem that has not previously been specifically reviewed.
Morphological Characteristics of the Stomach of the Swamp Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Nurliani Anni , Budipitojo Teguh , Kusindarta Dwi Liiek
Published: February 2016

The ability of swamp buffaloes for adaptation to swampland was suggested to be supported by their digestive system efficiency including absorption one. This research was done to obtain scientific explanation about digestive efficiency of swamp buffalo by investigating swamp buffalo stomach morphologically. Six stomachs were obtained at slaughterhouse from 2.5-3 years old healthy male swamp buffaloes. Every part of the stomach includes nonglanduler stomach (forestomach: rumen, reticulum, and omasum) and glanduler stomach (abomasum) was taken for measuring length, width, and weight organs. Then all of samples from each part of stomach were prepared for morphological observation. The data were analyzed descriptively. Stomach of swamp buffalo had morphological peculiarities, such as: mucosa surface of rumen, reticulum, and omasum has black color, and there is variation of ruminal papillae of swamp buffalo, including branching. Special characteristics of swamp buffalo stomach is estimated as supporting morphological factors for increasing digestive efficiency to survive in swampland.
Preparation of Fe-intercalated Graphite Based on Coal Tailings, Dimensional Structure
Authors: Gustian Irfan , Angasa Eka , Agustini Dwi , Maryanti Evi , Fitriani Dyiah
Published: February 2016

Intercalated graphite from coal tailings have been modified through the intercalation of iron. Coal tailings which is a byproduct of the destruction process and flakes washing results from mining coal. Intercalation of iron goal is to improve the physical properties of graphite and modifying sizes of crystal lattice structure with thermal method. Modification process begins with the carbonization of coal tailings at 500ºC and activated with phosphoric acid. Activation process has done by pyrolysis at 700ºC. The results of pyrolysis was soaked in mineral oil for 24 hours, then pyrolysis again with variations in temperature 800°C and 900ºC for 1 hour and subsequent intercalation iron at 1% and 2%. Material before activated, after activated, and the results of pyrolysis still indicates order nano: 29, 25 and 36 nm respectively. X-ray diffraction characterization results indicate that change in the structure, the sizes crystal lattice structure of the material The greater the concentration of iron was added, the resulting peak at 2θ = 33 and 35 also will be more sharply. The results of SEM showed different morphologies from each treatment.
Water Purification and Disinfection by using Solar Energy: Towards Green Energy Challenge
Authors: Khan Md Z.H. , Al-Mamun Md R. , Majumder Suvash C. , Kamruzzaman Md
Published: February 2016

The aim of this work was to design a solar water treatment plant for household purpose. Water purification is the process of eradicating detrimental chemicals, biological poisons, suspended solids and gases from contaminated water. In this work we have reported an investigation of compact filter which is cost effective for developing countries and ease of maintenance. We have arranged a solar water disinfection system that improves the microbiological quality of drinking water at household level. We get 14 L pure water and 16 ml water vapour within 240 min by using filtration method. From our work we get hot water up to 49°C. The efficiency of the system at sunny days and cloudy days are 18.23% and 18.13% respectively. This simple solar hybrid system helps to remove turbidity as well as chemical and pathogenic contaminants from water sources in the most affordable, and expedient manner possibly.
Chauchesko caught at the centre of Cock Fight
Authors: Shand Ryan
Published: February 2016

Chauchesko is caught at the centre of a conflict that he attempts to defuse. This article demonstrates that he is often visually positioned between the two main characters (Shots 14, 16, 27, 29, 31, 50, 62, 88) as the situation escalates. His character provides an outsider’s perspective, and importantly an accompanying reflective tone, to this short narrative.
Checkpoint identities: The battle of masculinities
Authors: Anishchenkova Valerie
Published: February 2016

The entirety of Cock Fight takes place at a checkpoint – a physical and symbolic space where, by definition, identities are ‘checked’ and thereby established and articulated. The article argues that this cinematic location invites four distinct constructions of masculinity, while commenting on gender discourses in the pre-second intifada Israeli society.
Blocking space: Metaphorical spatial constraints in the cinematography and mise-en-scène of Cock Fight
Authors: Schupp Janina
Published: February 2016

Roadblocks represent great spatial restrictions for the West Bank population. This article explores how the film Cock Fight employs the cinematic tools of cinematography and mise-en-scène in the framing of characters and objects to metaphorically reflect and question the effect of these imposed constraints on human relations and spatial mobility.
Productive failure in a machine-centric universe
Authors: Hesselberth Pepita
Published: February 2016

Drawing on the writings of Borgmann, Virilio and Lazzarato, this article comments on the prevalence of failure in Draft: the failure to communicate, the failure of technology, of perception, and arguably of war. Productive failure, I set out to demonstrate, is the key component of the film’s cultural critique.
Re(en)gendering masculinity: Female authorial voice in Draft
Authors: Ozery Yaara
Published: February 2016

Exploring the relationship between text and authorship, this article will attempt to trace the voice of a female film-maker in a film that deals with masculinity. The director’s voice resonates between the two main (male) characters’ fragile masculinity and is reflected by the image of the missing mother.
The ideological ashtray: Draft’s political allegory of disillusionment
Authors: Utin Pablo
Published: February 2016

Made after the collapse of the Oslo peace process, Draft expresses the sense of failure and disorientation of left-wing Israeli ideologies and their replacement with more nationalistic right-wing views. Through the analysis of mise-en-scène and the film’s use of narrow point of view (PoV), the article will depict Draft’s political allegory of disillusion.
A quadratic model of consciousness
Authors: Wood John
Published: February 2016

This article describes methods and ideas that emerged from a continuing enquiry into ‘metadesign’ that led us to think about the role of ‘consciousness’ in teams, communities and the biosphere. In the West the notion of ‘consciousness’ has been shaped by humanism, industrialization and some strident forms of individualism. These have encouraged us to see it in strongly anthropocentric and solipsistic terms. The global economic system also reflects this individualistic ideology, given that ‘growth’, is driven by personal avarice on a collective scale. On the other hand, capitalism encourages enterprises to scale-up when they become successful. Both tendencies reduce the consciousness of organizations and communities. The article illustrates this idea by describing a ‘quadratic’ model of team consciousness that was developed to enhance practical developments that support personal, interpersonal, transpersonal and environmentally situated modes of awareness.
The spaces of narrative consciousness: Or, what is your event?
Authors: Alsobrook Law
Published: February 2016

Cyberspace, a term popularized in the 1984 novel Neuromancer, was used by William Gibson to describe the ‘consensual hallucination’ and interstitial online world that lies between the reality of our world and that of the surreal terrain of dreamscapes. While many attempts have been made to describe this intangible, yet seemingly perceptible space, the digital domain as a metaphor mirrors in many ways our own inadequate understanding of consciousness. Conversely, the physicist Michio Kaku explains that our reality is bounded by hyperspace – a multi-dimensioned space beyond our quotidian 3D existence that runs parallel, or tangential, to us along with the phenomenon of time. Indeed, if space and time (here considered as space–time) are a consolidated whole in the physical sense, perhaps our consciousness, as a structure manifest within this continuum may itself be thought of as a sensorial projection of this amalgam that attempts to observe and make sense, or meaning, of this condition. In truth, what if our need and delight in storytelling is driven by the evolution of our biology, as well as our impulse to locate our place in the universe? This article will attempt to examine and delimit the narrative confines of space–time as an appeal to, and an endeavour at, uncovering the alterity of storytelling as a function of consciousness. It will visit the realms of the holograph, quantum mechanics, virtual and augmented realities, as well as other scientific and philosophical tracts as a means to investigate and explore the physiology of space and our imperative desire to share stories.
On the distinction between distinction and division
Authors: Straeubig Michael
Published: February 2016

In this article I discuss the use of distinctions as a method for reasoning. First I trace the role of distinctions in three different theories: the formal calculus of George Spencer Brown, the constructivist biology of Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela, and Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social systems. In the second part, play is used as an example to illustrate the concept. In particular, I contrast walking through a series of distinctions with traditional ways of argumentation based on definitions. Finally, I hint at the role of distinctions in a metaphysical sense.
Analysis of noise as a way of understanding emotion and making an installation: Reflection on phenomenological, parametric, inner and outer worlds meeting and becoming audible
Authors: Lopreiato Paola
Published: February 2016

This article is centred on the idea that from the analysis and interpretation of data from the crowd noise (at historical and engaging events) it is possible to define the manifestation of extroversion of people’s perceptions and emotions. What I seek to reveal in my artistic research is not the conjugation of perceptions and emotions for individual participants but rather the collective feeling, the energy that connects and refines the involvement of individuals and creates from it a new and indivisible whole: a collective perception and sentiment that in the multilayering of noise finds its full manifestation. Crowd noise, therefore, represents the synthesis of this unique collective emotion, a psychological and physical synergic experience channelling its force, energy and form into a distinctive event that is noise itself. What I am investigating is the sum, neutralization, enrichment and suppression of the constitutive elements of the emotion experienced by participants in an event, and noise ‘as a register of the intensity of relationships’ between them. Showing and describing an event, its sensations and atmosphere, or the perceptions and emotions of a moment, is impossible. The questions, how emotions emerge, how mental and physical perceptions are stimulated by our senses or how consciousness develops, are unanswerable; what is possible to show as an artist is what happens in the middle, what lies between the lines, within the fabric of events, and what one grasps and realizes from the exploration of what is in the involuntary traces the experience itself leaves behind.
Inside the snow globe: Pragmatisms, belief and the ambiguous objectivity of the imaginary
Authors: Whittaker Emma
Published: February 2016

Relations between perceiving and knowing are well-worn problems that become visceral encounters with doubt and ambiguity in ‘mixed-reality’ environments. Locative narrative situates participants within stories where existent places function as the setting. Experiential confusion, between what is talked of as real and as imagined, is an often-reported phenomenon. Classical pragmatisms, and more broadly the writings of William James, understand the functioning of the body to be for the production of action, from which flows a naturalistic epistemology. for James, a thought’s reference to an object occurs in the medium of an ‘experienceable environment’ and is a condition of it being known; what something is known-as is how it functions in a particular context and the consequences that follow. Contemporary pragmatists express varying positions on the function of representation in perception at different levels of cognitive awareness, and the extent to which intentionality is derivative of linguistic norms. In the locative narrative iOS application The Lost Index No.1 – Landscape with Figures strategies of directing participant attention, movement, cognitive tasks and propositional content are used to guide the interpretation of events. The complex environment that is created plays with the multi-stability of perception and the ‘multi-stability meaning’ between terms, resulting in ambiguity and an enhanced flexibility of interpretation.
From Birdsong to Songbird: An adventure in collaborative creativity
Authors: Matthias John
Published: February 2016

This year I made an album with Jay Auborn. One of the tracks features a piano, a violin, a bass synthesizer, some vocals and the sound of me hitting two sticks rhythmically on the side of the piano. It is based on a previous piece of music which I wrote with Andrew Prior called Birdsong and is called Songbird. How did this happen? It started with the playing of a piano riff, a piano riff that was being played because we had just performed Birdsong at a performance in London with pianist, Dunstan Belcher. This piano riff was also being played because Jay had just been listening to Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and I overlaid some violin because I was thinking about Warren Ellis and Alice Coltrane and the Mixolydian mode and In a Silent Way by Miles Davis. But I was probably thinking about Miles Davis because Jay and I were just doing impressions to each other of Miles Davis, imagining we were him writing his autobiography ....

Have you ever read his autobiography?

Jesus.

I played some bass because I had a conversation in the week previously about how I was frightened of bass. So bass was added. In a riff. A bit like Miles Davis, but I was thinking about ‘Atoms for Peace’ and not being scared of bass ...
The colonized mind: Place making and the right to the city
Authors: Quinteros Alejandro
Published: February 2016

This article is an exploration of the social phenomenon of the coloniality of being and universal desires. It examines how coloniality became ingrained in a new form of global consciousness of capitalist aesthetics of consumption, and how from the convergence of globalized electronic capitalism, pervasive global advertisement and consumerism, universal desires were created for a colonized global audience. Many questions arise on agency, citizenship, territoriality and rights of these global audiences. In this global landscape, place making and the right to the city have to be questioned from a new global perspective of coloniality, race and gender, not from the usual perspective of subaltern groups, but from within the centre of Euro-American Eurocentric society.
Puedo hacer de una plumada cuantos duques quiera pero ni un solo Rubens. Un artista diplomático al servicio de la Casa de Austria
Authors: Revilla Canora Javier
Published: February 2016

En el turbulento periodo de la Guerra de los Treinta Años la diplomacia fue un elemento clave. El estudio de las Relaciones Internacionales siempre ha estado vinculado a grandes nombres pertenecientes a la élite social e intelectual. Algunos motivos por los cuales eran designados para tan importantes misiones eran su formación y su desenvoltura en un ambiente hostil como era la Corte de un Príncipe. El presente estudio está centrado en un personaje, Pedro Pablo Rubens, que si bien no es el prototipo de embajador, desarrolló un papel crucial en el escenario político europeo. La historiografía no ha pasado por alto esta faceta de Pedro Pablo Rubens aunque ciertamente lo ha hecho de una forma somera. No pretendemos aquí analizar profundamente la figura del pintor diplomático sino realizar un esbozo desde un punto de vista más actual, empleando fuentes de archivo, impresas y bibliografía complementaria que nos ayuden no sólo a exponer el desarrollo de los acontecimientos sino a investigar las circunstancias en las que realizó su labor, los motivos que le llevaron a ello y el papel que en todo ello jugó su personalidad.
La construcción de una institución comercial: el consulado de las naciones flamenca y alemana en la Sevilla moderna
Authors: Díaz Blanco José Manuel
Published: February 2016

Este trabajo intenta estudiar la historia del consulado de las naciones flamenca y alemana en la Sevilla moderna, especialmente su proceso de construcción. Este objetivo es posible gracias al uso de diversas fuentes documentales, sobre los protocolos notariales del Archivo Histórico Provincial de Sevilla. Así, podemos ver cómo nació a comienzos del siglo XVII, creció durante el reinado de Felipe IV y alcanzó su momento álgido en tiempos de Carlos II; siempre luchando por los privilegios sociales y económicos que eran tan apreciados en la sociedad europea de la Edad Moderna.
Vulnerabilidad y periferia en las Indias: Cumaná y su pobreza endémica entre los siglos XVII y XVIII
Authors: Altez Rogelio , Rodríguez Alarcón María N.
Published: February 2016

Luego de los desastrosos primeros intentos fundacionales de Cumaná, se levantó una ciudad de vecinos empobrecidos y deficitarios, cuya condición no pudo transformarse durante todo el orden colonial. Las calamidades padecidas a través de su existencia se corresponden con sus condiciones de vulnerabilidad, históricamente producidas por la ausencia de riquezas minerales y por su situación de periferia dentro de las Indias. Este trabajo se aproxima a esas circunstancias, explorando casos y problemas que dan cuenta de una pobreza endémica en la ciudad y en toda la región, jamás resuelta en aquel proceso histórico.
Using the analytic hierarchy process to prioritize alternative medicine: selecting the most suitable medicine for patients with diabetes
Authors: A. Balubaid Mohammed , A. Basheikh Mohammed
Published: February 2016

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is emerging as a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia and this disease affects the Middle East in general. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was performed to select the most appropriate oral hypoglycemic agent for use as a monotherapy among newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes. Eight important criteria resulted from the hierarchy structure: side effects, chronic disease, background scientific evidence, age, weight, cost, education level, and gender. The involvement of these different factors reveals that treating diabetes is a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. Thus, AHP was used because it is one of the most common MCDM tools. This project developed a mathematical decision-making model that prioritizes the available medications for patients with diabetes in terms of the aforementioned criteria. Oral type 2 diabetes medications (metformin, pioglitazone, sitagliptin, and glimepiride) were ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively; their weights were 48.42%, 24.47%, 13.61% and 13.50%, respectively. Thus, metformin is recommended because it has the highest weight. Side effects were the most important factor affecting drug selection. The AHP provides an overall ranking to aid with final decisions. Unquestionably, the results of this project, or at least the proposed methodology, facilitate the decision-making process, which is important because it assists the decision maker in determining which oral drug to choose for newly diagnosed patients with diabetes.
Estimates for Eigenvalues of Poly-Harmonic Operators
Authors: Wei Guoxin , Zeng Lingzhong
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we study the eigenvalues of the poly-Laplacian with arbitrary order on a bounded domain in an n-dimensional Euclidean space and we obtain a lower bound which generalizes the results due to Cheng and Wei [5] and gives an improvement of the results due to Cheng, Qi and Wei [3].
Numerical Simulation of Salt Water Passing Mechanism Through Nanoporous Single-Layer Graphene Membrane
Authors: Chogani A. , Moosavi A. , Rahiminejad M.
Published: February 2016

In recent years carbon nanotubes and other carbon nanostructures such as graphene sheets have attracted a lot of attention due to their unique mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. These structures can be used in desalination of sea water, removal of hazardous substances from water tanks, gases separation, and so on. The nanoporous single layer graphene membranes are very efficient for desalinating water due to their very low thickness. In this method, water-flow thorough the membrane and salt rejection strongly depend on the applied pressure and size of nanopores that are created in graphene membrane. In this study, the mechanism of passing water and salt ions through nanoporous single-layer graphene membrane are simulated using classical molecular dynamics. We examined the effects of applied pressure and size of nanopores on desalination performance of NPG membrane. Unlike previous researches, we considered the flexibility of the membrane. The results show that by increasing the applied pressure and diameter of the nanopores, water-flow through membrane increases, meanwhile salt rejection decreases.
Monic polylinear shift registers and their periods
Authors: Mikhailov D.A.
Published: February 2016

In the article, a concept of a k-linear shift register (k-LSR) over a module