bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An all-silicon single-photon source by unconventional photon blockade
Authors: Flayac Hugo , Gerace Dario , Savona Vincenzo
Published: June 2015

The lack of suitable quantum emitters in silicon and silicon-based materials has prevented the realization of room temperature, compact, stable and integrated sources of single photons in a scalable on-chip architecture, so far. Current approaches rely on exploiting the enhanced optical nonlinearity of silicon through light confinement or slow-light propagation and are based on parametric processes that typically require substantial input energy and spatial footprint to reach a reasonable output yield. Here we propose an alternative all-silicon device that employs a different paradigm, namely the interplay between quantum interference and the third-order intrinsic nonlinearity in a system of two coupled optical cavities. This unconventional photon blockade allows to produce antibunched radiation at extremely low input powers. We demonstrate a reliable protocol to operate this mechanism under pulsed optical excitation, as required for device applications, thus implementing a true single-photon source. We finally propose a state-of-art implementation in a standard silicon-based photonic crystal integrated circuit that outperforms existing parametric devices either in input power or footprint area.
A spontaneous depressive pattern in adult female rhesus macaques
Authors: Qin Dongdong , Rizak Joshua , Chu Xunxun , Li Zhifei , Yang Shangchuan , Lü Longbao , Yang Lichuan , Yang Qing , Yang Bo , Pan Lei , Yin Yong , Chen Lin , Feng Xiaoli , Hu Xintian
Published: June 2015

Non-human primates offer unique opportunities to study the development of depression rooted in behavioral and physiological abnormalities. This study observed adult female rhesus macaques within social hierarchies and aimed to characterize the physiological and brain abnormalities accompanying depressive-like behavior. The behaviors of 31 female rhesus macaques from 14 different breeding groups were video recorded and the footage was analyzed using the focal animal technique. There were 13 monkeys who never displayed huddling behavior (non-huddlers). The remaining 18 monkeys were divided into two groups according the mean time spent in the huddle posture. Four monkeys were designated as high huddlers, whereas the other 14 monkeys were low huddlers. An inverse relationship was discovered between social rank and depression. High huddlers spent more time engaging in physical contact and in close proximity to other monkeys, as well as less time spontaneously and reactively locomoting, than low huddlers and/or non-huddlers. Cortisol levels measured from the hair were elevated significantly in high huddlers compared with low huddlers and non-huddlers and the measured cortisol levels were specifically higher in high huddlers than subordinate or dominant control monkeys. Regional cerebral blood flow data revealed significant and widespread decreases in high huddlers compared with non-huddlers.
Optomechanically induced transparency in the presence of an external time-harmonic-driving force
Authors: Ma Jinyong , You Cai , Si Liu-Gang , Xiong Hao , Li Jiahua , Yang Xiaoxue , Wu Ying
Published: June 2015

We propose a potentially valuable scheme to measure the properties of an external time-harmonic-driving force with frequency ω via investigating its interaction with the combination of a pump field and a probe field in a generic optomechanical system. We show that the spectra of both the cavity field and output field in the configuration of optomechanically induced transparency are greatly modified by such an external force, leading to many interesting linear and non-linear effects, such as the asymmetric structure of absorption in the frequency domain and the antisymmetry breaking of dispersion near ω = ωm. Furthermore, we find that our scheme can be used to measure the initial phase of the external force. More importantly, this setup may eliminate the negative impact of thermal noise on the measurement of the weak external force in virtue of the process of interference between the probe field and the external force. Finally, we show that our configuration can be employed to improve the measurement resolution of the radiation force produced by a weak ultrasonic wave.
Reply to the ‘Comment on “Charge Transfer to Solvent Dynamics in Iodide Aqueous Solution Studied at Ionization Threshold”’ by A. Lübcke and H.-H. Ritze, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, DOI: 10.1039/C5CP00346F
Authors: Kothe Alexander , Wilke Martin , Moguilevski Alexandre , Engel Nicholas , Winter Bernd , Kiyan Igor Yu. , Aziz Emad F.
Published: June 2015

Following multiphoton excitation above the vacuum threshold, the charge transfer dynamics involves the population of a transient intermediate state, |t〉.
Biodiesel synthesis from oleic acid by nano-catalyst (ZrO2/Al2O3) under high voltage conditions
Authors: Mahdavi Mohmmad , Abedini Ebrahim , Darabi Amir hosein
Published: June 2015

Developing a flexible and highly efficient protocol for the esterification of oleic acid under high voltage conditions using ZrO2/Al2O3 nano-catalyst.
Non-local dynamics governing the self-induced motion of a planar vortex filament
Authors: Van Gorder Robert A.
Published: June 2015

While the Hasimoto planar vortex filament is one of the few exact solutions to the local induction approximation (LIA) approximating the self-induced motion of a vortex filament, it is natural to wonder whether such a vortex filament solution would exist for the non-local Biot-Savart dynamics exactly governing the filament motion, and if so, whether the non-local effects would drastically modify the solution properties. Both helical vortex filaments and vortex rings are known to exist under both the LIA and non-local Biot-Savart dynamics; however, the planar filament is a bit more complicated. In the present paper, we demonstrate that a planar vortex filament solution does exist for the non-local Biot-Savart formulation, provided that a specific non-linear integral equation (governing the spatial structure of such a filament) has a non-trivial solution. By using the Poincaré–Lindstedt method, we are able to obtain an accurate analytical approximation to the solution of this integral equation under physically reasonable assumptions. To obtain these solutions, we approximate local effects near the singularity of the integral equation using the LIA and non-local effects using the Biot-Savart formulation. Mathematically, the results constitute an analytical solution to an interesting nonlinear singular integro-differential equation in space and time variables. Physically, these results show that planar vortex filaments exist and maintain their forms under the non-local Biot-Savart formulation, as one would hope. Due to the regularization approach utilized, we are able to compare the structure of the planar filaments obtained under both LIA and Biot-Savart formulations in a rather straightforward manner, in order to determine the role of the non-locality on the structure of the planar filament.
The Unprincipled Randomization Principle in Economics and Medicine
Authors: Ziliak Stephen T. , Teather-Posadas Edward R.
Published: June 2015

Over the past decade, randomized field experiments have gained prominence in the toolbox of economics and policy making. Yet randomization enthusiasts have paid little attention to the ethical issues, economic costs, and theoretical difficulties caused by the so-called randomization principle. Randomized trials give placebos or no treatment at all to vulnerable individuals and withhold best treatments from the control group. Randomization has been proved to be less precise and less efficient than “Student’s” balanced alternatives—particularly when effect sizes and confounding from unobserved systematic effects are large. From medicine to economics, randomized trials are rarely if ever repeated. Using new evidence from a 25-question survey of randomization, statistical significance, and validity applied to articles using randomization techniques, the authors conclude that the most reliable ethical character of economics, Adam Smith’s “impartial spectator,” would not approve of randomized trials as practiced in economics and medicine.
Plant Virus Metagenomics: Advances in Virus Discovery
Authors: Roossinck Marilyn J. , Martin Darren P. , Roumagnac Philippe
Published: June 2015

In recent years plant viruses have been detected from many environments, including domestic and wild plants and interfaces between these systems—aquatic sources, feces of various animals, and insects. A variety of methods have been employed to study plant virus biodiversity, including enrichment for virus-like particles or virus-specific RNA or DNA, or the extraction of total nucleic acids, followed by next-generation deep sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. All of the methods have some shortcomings, but taken together these studies reveal our surprising lack of knowledge about plant viruses and point to the need for more comprehensive studies. In addition, many new viruses have been discovered, with most virus infections in wild plants appearing asymptomatic, suggesting that virus disease may be a byproduct of domestication. For plant pathologists these studies are providing useful tools to detect viruses, and perhaps to predict future problems that could threaten cultivated plants.
Social synchronization of circadian rhythmicity in female mice depends on the number of cohabiting animals
Authors: Paul Matthew J. , Indic Premananda , Schwartz William J.
Published: June 2015

Communal animals often engage in group activities that require temporal synchrony among its members, including synchrony on the circadian timescale. The principles and conditions that foster such collective synchronization are not understood, but existing literature hints that the number of interacting individuals may be a critical factor. We tested this by recording individual circadian body temperature rhythms of female house mice housed singly, in twos (pairs), or in groups of five (quintets) in constant darkness; determining the daily phases of the circadian peak for each animal; and then calculating the cycle-to-cycle phase relationship between cohabiting animals over time. Significant temporal coherence was observed in quintets: the proportion of quintets (4/7), but not pairs (2/8), that became synchronized was greater than could be achieved by the complete simulated reassortment of all individuals. We speculate that the social coupling of individual circadian clocks of group members may be adaptive under certain conditions, and we propose that optimal group sizes in nature may depend not only on species-specific energetics, spatial behaviour and natural history but also on the mathematics of synchronizing assemblies of weakly coupled animal oscillators.
Hiding the squid: patterns in artificial cephalopod skin
Authors: Fishman Aaron , Rossiter Jonathan , Homer Martin
Published: June 2015

Cephalopods employ their chromomorphic skins for rapid and versatile active camouflage and signalling effects. This is achieved using dense networks of pigmented, muscle-drivenchromatophorecells which are neurally stimulated to actuate and affect local skin colouring. This allows cephalopods to adopt numerous dynamic and complex skin patterns, most commonly used to blend into the environment or to communicate with other animals. Our ultimate goal is to create an artificial skin that can mimic such pattern generation techniques, and that could produce a host of novel and compliant devices such as cloaking suits and dynamic illuminated clothing. This paper presents the design, mathematical modelling and analysis of a dynamic biomimetic pattern generation system using bioinspired artificial chromatophores. The artificial skin is made from electroactivedielectric elastomer: a soft, planar-actuating smart material that we show can be effective at mimicking the actuation of biological chromatophores. The proposed system achieves dynamic pattern generation by imposing simple local rules into the artificial chromatophore cells so that they can sense their surroundings in order to manipulate their actuation. By modelling sets of artificial chromatophores in linear arrays of cells, we explore the capability of the system to generate a variety of dynamic pattern types. We show that it is possible to mimic patterning seen in cephalopods, such as the passing cloud display, and other complex dynamic patterning.
A boundary-integral representation for biphasic mixture theory, with application to the post-capillary glycocalyx
Authors: Sumets P. P. , Cater J. E. , Long D. S. , Clarke R. J.
Published: June 2015

We describe a new boundary-integral representation for biphasic mixture theory, which allows us to efficiently solve certain elastohydrodynamic–mobility problems using boundary element methods. We apply this formulation to model the motion of a rigid particle through a microtube which has non-uniform wall shape, is filled with a viscous Newtonian fluid, and is lined with a thin poroelastic layer. This is relevant to scenarios such as the transport of small rigid cells (such as neutrophils) through microvessels that are lined with an endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL). In this context, we examine the impact of geometry upon some recently reported phenomena, including the creation of viscous eddies, fluid flux into the EGL, as well as the role of the EGL in transmitting mechanical signals to the underlying endothelial cells.
Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen
Authors: Roznik Elizabeth A. , Sapsford Sarah J. , Pike David A. , Schwarzkopf Lin , Alford Ross A.
Published: June 2015

To minimize the negative effects of an infection on fitness, hosts can respond adaptively by altering their reproductive effort or by adjusting their timing of reproduction. We studied effects of the pathogenic fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
on the probability of calling in a stream-breeding rainforest frog (
Litoria rheocola
). In uninfected frogs, calling probability was relatively constant across seasons and body conditions, but in infected frogs, calling probability differed among seasons (lowest in winter, highest in summer) and was strongly and positively related to body condition. Infected frogs in poor condition were up to 40% less likely to call than uninfected frogs, whereas infected frogs in good condition were up to 30% more likely to call than uninfected frogs. Our results suggest that frogs employed a pre-existing, plastic, life-history strategy in response to infection, which may have complex evolutionary implications. If infected males in good condition reproduce at rates equal to or greater than those of uninfected males, selection on factors affecting disease susceptibility may be minimal. However, because reproductive effort in infected males is positively related to body condition, there may be selection on mechanisms that limit the negative effects of infections on hosts.
Statistical Colocalization of Genetic Risk Variants for Related Autoimmune Diseases in the Context of Common Controls
Authors: Fortune Mary D , Guo Hui , Burren Oliver , Schofield Ellen , Walker Neil M , Ban Maria , Sawcer Stephen J , Bowes John , Worthington Jane , Barton Anne , Eyre Steve , Todd John A , Wallace Chris
Published: June 2015

Identifying whether potential causal variants for related diseases are shared can increase understanding of the shared etiology between diseases. Colocalization methods are designed to disentangle shared and distinct causal variants in regions where two diseases show association, but existing methods are limited by assuming independent datasets. We extended existing methods to allow for the shared control design common in GWAS and applied them to four autoimmune diseases: type 1 diabetes (T1D); rheumatoid arthritis; celiac disease (CEL) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Ninety regions associated with at least one disease. In 22 regions (24%), we identify association to precisely one of our four diseases and can find no published association of any other disease to the same region; some of these may reflect effects mediated by the target of immune attack. Thirty-three regions (37%) were associated with two or more, but in 14 of these there was evidence that causal variants differed between diseases. By leveraging information across datasets, we identified novel disease associations to 12 regions previously associated with one or more of the other three autoimmune disorders. For instance, we link the CEL-associatedFASLGregion to T1D and identify a single SNP, rs78037977, as a likely causal variant. We also highlight several particularly complex association patterns, including theCD28-CTLA4-ICOSregion, in which it appears that three distinct causal variants associate with three diseases in three different patterns. Our results underscore the complexity in genetic variation underlying related but distinct autoimmune diseases and help to approach its dissection.
Retail shopper marketing: the future of promotional flyers
Authors: Ziliani Cristina , Ieva Marco
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the recent evolution of store flyers to illustrate how a tool of traditional marketing can be applied to generate insight on customer “couch-to-cart” behaviour thus supporting an innovating shopper marketing approach. The authors support this position by elaborating on three themes: first, the recent evolution of flyers, driven by incorporation of customer insight derived from loyalty data and by new features enabled by flyer digitalization; second, the evolution of the flyer planning and management process, related to opportunities and challenges in the retailer organisational structure; and third, the rise of online flyer aggregators.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used field interviews. The authors included the perspectives of different subjects involved in planning and delivering flyer-based promotions. Secondary data were also collected regarding flyer activities of a sample of 67 retail groups across 15 countries and four industries.

Findings

– Critical aspects of flyers as retail marketing tools emerged. The authors found that there are changes taking place in flyer-based promotion caused by “fertilisation” by loyalty data and digital that have not been captured by research so far. Retailers are experimenting with flyer aggregators. These infomediaries generate new insight on various aspects of the shopping cycle. Retailers can use these metrics to improve flyer strategy and negotiation with suppliers. The authors shed light on obstacles that prevent exploitation of shopper marketing benefits and value. Among the managerial challenges the authors found retailer organisation and management and functional integration.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper points to four areas for future research: promotion innovation, electronic intermediaries, marketing organisation and competition. Research questions are suggested.

Practical implications

– This study contributes to retail management by identifying best practices that support promotional campaign development in a shopper marketing perspective. The authors provide suggestions around the incorporation of loyalty data in the flyer planning process and the creation of inter-functional teams.

Originality/value

– Academic research has long addressed flyer-based promotion, but has not linked it to innovation or shopper marketing. Little or no attention has been paid to the flyer management process and its organisational dimensions, nor to digital flyers.
The influence of sales force technology use on outcome performance
Authors: Román Sergio , Rodríguez Rocío
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine whether and how sales technology (ST) use helps salespeople perform better through the modification of their customer-qualification skills and customer-oriented selling behaviors. Also, the moderating role of salespeople’s technology self-efficacy is analyzed. Technological advancements have become an integral part of the personal selling process, yet the relationship between salesperson’s technology use and salesperson performance remains primarily unsubstantiated.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data are collected from a diverse sample of 265 salespeople across different industries. Hypotheses are tested with structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The results indicate that a salesperson’s customer-qualification skills and customer-oriented selling fully mediate the effect of technology use on outcome performance. In addition, salespeople high in technology self-efficacy seem to get the most out of their technology use. More specifically, the influence of technology use on customer-qualification skills and customer-oriented selling is stronger for salespeople with high rather than low self-efficacy. Interestingly, technology use only increases performance for salespeople with high self-efficacy.

Originality/value

– Prior evidence on the consequences of ST on performance is not conclusive. The study adds value to both managers and scholars providing new insights of the link between technology use and performance and its underlying mediating and moderating processes. Without an understanding of the ST-performance relationship, sales managers may increase ST costs but decrease potential returns.
Life on heels and making deals
Authors: Bodolica Virginia , Spraggon Martin
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss issues related to entrepreneurial undertakings of women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the purpose of contributing to the development of context-dependent knowledge of entrepreneurship. Focussing on the life narratives of two expatriate female business-owners who created a common enterprise, the case permits to uncover and critically assess the different stages of the entrepreneurial process in a unique cultural setting.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employed a narrative case study approach to allow for a rich contextual information to emerge from the detailed accounts of individual lives and entrepreneurial experiences of case protagonists. Data were gathered from multiple sources (e.g. interviews, e-mail exchanges, web sites) and subsequently analyzed and coded into prevalent themes by two researchers and one assistant independently, permitting to achieve both data and investigator triangulation.

Findings

– This case elucidates the entrepreneurial journey of two female expatriates who launched their individual businesses and joined efforts in the establishment of Heels and Deals (H & D), a network that helps UAE-based women-entrepreneurs reach their professional aspirations within a patriarchal society. The cofounders are now at a cross-roads where they have to make a choice between running their own businesses to secure their sustainability and focussing on H & D to lead its international expansion. The narratives of the case protagonists allow contrasting the discovery and creation views of entrepreneurship and examining the role of leadership skills and personality characteristics in entrepreneurial success.

Originality/value

– Despite an increasing number of businesswomen in the UAE, little is known about the way they approach the complex entrepreneurial process and deal with challenges and opportunities faced on the road. The case bridges this gap by offering the possibility to reflect on how expatriate female entrepreneurs in a Middle-Eastern context balance multiple trade-offs to succeed in their business-related endeavors.
Facilities management: tracing its development trajectory
Authors: Meng Xianhai
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide facilities management (FM) practitioners and researchers with a better understanding of the FM industry sector by analyzing the trend of its development.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interview is adopted in this research as the main methodology. In total, 30 FM professionals in the UK were interviewed to explore the past, present and future of FM. The analysis of interview results helps to identify the key areas in which FM has changed, is changing and will change. It also helps to explain the implications of FM development in each key area.

Findings

– FM evolves and matures continuously. It is important for FM organizations and practitioners to recognize the dynamic nature of this industry sector, based on which they can develop appropriate strategies to adapt to changing circumstances. This is probably the only way for them to keep pace with the times.

Originality/value

– Both backward looking and forward looking are crucial to the development of an industry sector. However, existing studies on FM development are conducted through either review or outlook. On the other hand, most of these studies focus on one particular management area or one particular industry sector. Based on 30 expert interviews, this research attempts to bridge the knowledge gap and analyze the trend of FM development in a systematic way. A better understanding of the trend provides a possibility and a guide for FM organizations and practitioners to pursue best practice.
Microbial diversity and community structure along a lake elevation gradient inYosemiteNationalPark,California,USA
Authors: Hayden Curtis J. , Beman J. Michael
Published: June 2015

Microbial communities are key components of lake ecosystems and play central roles in lake biogeochemical cycles. Freshwater lakes, in turn, have a disproportionate influence on global carbon and nitrogen cycling, while also acting as ‘sentinels’ of environmental change. Determining what factors regulate microbial community dynamics and their relationship to lake biogeochemistry is therefore essential to understanding global change feedbacks. We usedIlluminasequencing of >2 million 16SrRNAgenes to examine microbial community structure and diversity in relation to spatial, temporal and biogeochemical variation, within and across lakes located along a 871 m elevation gradient inYosemiteNationalPark,California,USA. We captured a rich microbial community that included many rare operational taxonomic units (OTUs), but was dominated by a few bacterial classes andOTUs frequently detected in other freshwater ecosystems. Neither richness, evenness nor overall diversity was directly related to elevation. However, redundancy analysis showed that changes in microbial community structure were significantly related to elevation. Along with sampling period and dissolved nutrient concentrations, 29% of the variation in community structure could be explained by measured variables – in congruence with studies in other lakes using different techniques. We also found a distance–decay relationship in microbial community structure across lakes, suggesting that both local environmental factors and dispersal play a role in structuring communities.
The key roles of complement and tissue factor inEscherichia coli-induced coagulation in human whole blood
Authors: Landsem A , Fure H , Christiansen D , Nielsen E W , Østerud B , Mollnes T E , Brekke O L
Published: June 2015

The complement system and the Toll-like (TLR) co-receptor CD14 play important roles in innate immunity and sepsis. Tissue factor (TF) is a key initiating component in intravascular coagulation in sepsis, and long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) enhances the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced transcription of TF. The aim of this study was to study the mechanism by which complement and CD14 affects LPS- and Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced coagulation in human blood. Fresh whole blood was anti-coagulated with lepirudin, and incubated with ultra-purified LPS (100 ng/ml) or with E. coli (1 × 107/ml). Inhibitors and controls included the C3 blocking peptide compstatin, an anti-CD14 F(ab′)2 antibody and a control F(ab′)2. TF mRNA was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and monocyte TF surface expression by flow cytometry. TF functional activity in plasma microparticles was measured using an amidolytic assay. Prothrombin fragment F 1+2 (PTF1.2) and PTX3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of TF was examined using an anti-TF blocking antibody. E. coli increased plasma PTF1.2 and PTX3 levels markedly. This increase was reduced by 84–>99% with compstatin, 55–97% with anti-CD14 and > 99% with combined inhibition (P < 0·05 for all). The combined inhibition was significantly (P < 0·05) more efficient than compstatin and anti-CD14 alone. The LPS- and E. coli–induced TF mRNA levels, monocyte TF surface expression and TF functional activity were reduced by > 99% (P < 0·05) with combined C3 and CD14 inhibition. LPS- and E. coli–induced PTF1.2 was reduced by 76–81% (P < 0·05) with anti-TF antibody. LPS and E. coli activated the coagulation system by a complement- and CD14-dependent up-regulation of TF, leading subsequently to prothrombin activation.
Characterizing phase‐related differences in behaviour of Schistocerca gregaria with spatial distribution analysis
Authors: Cisse Sory , Ghaout Saïd , Mazih Ahmed , Jourdan‐Pineau Hélène , Maeno Koutaro Ould , Piou Cyril
Published: June 2015

The behaviour of locusts has been studied extensively using two approaches: (1) analysing a single individual's response to a group stimulus or (2) using group conditions to look at aggregation patterns. The second approach has, in contrast with the first one, not been improved in terms of statistical analyses since the 1960s. In the present study, we propose a spatial statistics approach of point‐pattern analysis to improve the group‐based assessment of behavioural phase characterization. This diagnostic tool was developed and tested in the laboratory with comparative analysis of solitarious (isolation‐reared) and gregarious (crowd‐reared) desert locusts, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). The spatial distribution patterns of 10 either solitarious or gregarious third‐instar hoppers were characterized with nearest neighbour distance measurements in a circular arena. The temporal sequence of spatial disposition of locusts was recorded with a digital camera taking photographs at regular intervals. The approach of point‐pattern analysis focused on the spatial distribution of observed events and allowed us to make inferences about the underlying process that generated them. The results confirmed that our diagnostic tool could identify that crowd‐reared hoppers tended to aggregate more to conspecifics than isolation‐reared ones. We could also verify that isolation‐reared hoppers were less active than crowd‐reared ones, but this was only true at the beginning of the experiments. The spatial statistics approach proposed in the present study could help with observations of phase‐related differences in the behaviour of locusts.
Teenage Childbearing and Educational Attainment in South Africa
Authors: Timæus Ian M. , Moultrie Tom A.
Published: June 2015

The relationship between teenage childbearing and school attainment is investigated using nationally representative longitudinal data drawn from South Africa's National Income Dynamics Study. The analysis focuses on the outcomes by 2010 of a panel of 673 young women who were aged 15–18 and childless in 2008. Controlling for other factors, girls who went on to give birth had twice the odds of dropping out of school by 2010 and nearly five times the odds of failing to matriculate. Few girls from households in the highest‐income quintile gave birth. Girls who attended schools in higher‐income areas and were behind at school were much more likely to give birth than those who were in the appropriate grade for their age or were in no‐fee schools. New mothers were much more likely to have re‐enrolled in school by 2010 if they were rural residents, they belonged to relatively well‐off households, or their own mother had attended secondary school. These findings suggest that, in South Africa, interventions that address poor school attainment would also reduce teenage childbearing.
A Kantian Take on the Supererogatory
Authors: Baron Marcia
Published: June 2015

This article presents a Kantian alternative to the mainstream approach in ethics concerning the phenomena that are widely thought to require a category of the supererogatory. My view is that the phenomena do not require this category of (Kantian style) imperfect duties. Elsewhere I have written on Kant on this topic; here I shift my focus away from interpretive issues and consider the pros and cons of the Kantian approach. What background assumptions would lean one to favour the Kantian approach and what sorts would lean one to favour the mainstream approach? I also consider the possibility that in institutional contexts, there is a need for the category of the supererogatory. Here, it seems, we do need to know what we really have to do and what is beyond the call of duty; in this context, however, duty is not the Kantian moral notion, but rather is pegged to particular roles, or to the needs of the institution or group or club of which one is a member. But even here, I argue, the notion of the supererogatory is not crucial.
Optimization of Hemicellulose Coating as Applied to Apricot Drying and Comparison with Chitosan Coating and Sulfite Treatment
Authors: Ubeyitogullari Ali , Cekmecelioglu Deniz
Published: June 2015

Drying of hemicellulose‐coated apricots was compared to sulfuring and chitosan coating. Air velocity, temperature and hemicellulose concentration were optimized using the Box–Behnken response surface methodology against total color change (ΔE*), yellowness (Δb*) and final moisture content. Drying kinetics were evaluated by Newton, Page and Logarithmic models. Diffusion coefficient, activation energy and rehydration rate were calculated. The optimal drying conditions were found as 1 m/s of air velocity, 80C of air temperature and 3% (w/v) hemicellulose coating, which gave values of 15.2, −8.3 and 26% for ΔE*, Δb* and final moisture, respectively. The hemicellulose‐coated apricots indicated better color values than the uncoated and chitosan‐coated samples, while sulfuring still attained the best color values. Drying kinetics were best described by the Logarithmic model at 60 and 70C and Page model at 80C for 2% hemicellulose coating. Effective diffusion coefficients ranged from 2.499 to 5.742 × 10−9 and the activation energy was calculated as 33.78 kJ/mol. The hemicellulose‐coated apricots had slightly higher rehydration rate than the uncoated and sulfured samples. In conclusion, hemicellulose coating showed a promise for use in fruit drying.

Practical Applications

Treatment of fruits with sulfur compounds (sulfur dioxide gas, sulfite solutions, etc.) prior to drying is a common practice to minimize loss in the quality of the dried fruit. In fact, use of these chemicals in foods is limited and the allowed concentration varies with countries worldwide in the range of 300–2,000 mg/kg. Because sulfur compounds can cause health problems, use of natural, renewable and abundant preservatives will be a viable alternative. In this respect, hemicellulose extracted from agricultural and food wastes can provide a low‐cost preservative and can be utilized to preserve fruits during drying. The results of this study will also provide a basis to utilize hemicellulose in various fruits other than apricots during drying and meanwhile will help reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds in foods.
A mitigation strategy for reducing flood risk to highways in arid regions: a case study of the El‐Quseir–Qena highway in Egypt
Authors: Monsef H. Abd‐El
Published: June 2015

During the past 20 years, there has been a rapid increase in tourism development along the Red Sea coast of Egypt. In the resort of Hurghada, for example, the number of hotel rooms increased from a few hundred in 1989 to 35 000 in 2004, and the entire Egyptian Red Sea coastline has experienced growth. Accordingly, car and lorry traffic between the major cities of Upper Egypt and the Red Sea coast along the El‐Quseir–Qena highway has increased tremendously. The road provides access to tourist destinations and is an essential commuting route for workers. The El‐Quseir–Qena highway is subject to flash flooding, and several serious traffic accidents have occurred during flash floods. Therefore, this study performed an assessment of run‐off water and sediment yield for different parts of the El‐Ambagi basin using the Hydrologic Modeling System and the Kinematic Runoff and Erosion Model. In addition, the study aimed to determine the impacts of run‐off water and sediment yields on the El‐Quseir–Qena highway. The study proposed possible mitigation strategies for reducing flood risk and utilising the run‐off water to recharge the basin's alluvial, fractured‐carbonate, and fractured‐basement aquifers.
Low vitamin D is associated with hypertension in paediatric obesity
Authors: Kao Kung‐Ting , Abidi Nobia , Ranasinha Sanjeeva , Brown Justin , Rodda Christine , McCallum Zoe , Zacharin Margaret , Simm Peter J , Magnussen Costan G , Sabin Matthew A
Published: June 2015

Aim

The aim of this paper was to investigate the relationship between circulating 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and cardio‐metabolic risk factors in a large cohort of obese youth attending tertiary paediatric obesity services.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cross‐sectional study. Data were retrospectively collected from all new consultations of children and adolescents attending obesity outpatient clinics between 2008 and 2011 at the two major paediatric hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Information collected included demographics, anthropometry, blood pressure, pubertal staging, body composition and fasting serum levels of 25(OH)D, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride, high‐density lipoprotein, liver function, calcium and phosphate.

Results

25(OH)D data were available in 229 patients (age 3–18 years; 116 men; mean (standard deviation) body mass index ( BMI) Z‐score 2.5 (0.5) ). One hundred four (45%) participants were 25(OH)D deficient (<50 nmol/L). Lower serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with higher BMI Z‐score (P‐trend = 0.001), total fat mass (P‐trend = 0.009), systolic (P‐trend = 0.03) and diastolic blood pressures(P‐trend = 0.009). In multivariable‐adjusted regression analysis, 25(OH)D was significantly lower in those with elevated blood pressure after adjustment for BMI(P‐trend = 0.004) or total fat mass (P‐trend = 0.01).

Conclusion

Overweight and obese youth attending specialist obesity services have a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. In this population, lower levels of vitamin D were seen in those with greater adiposity, and independent of this, in those who had higher blood pressure.
Evaluation of a Computer‐aided Lung Auscultation System for Diagnosis of Bovine Respiratory Disease in Feedlot Cattle
Authors: Mang A.V. , Buczinski S. , Booker C.W. , Timsit E.
Published: June 2015

Background

A computer‐aided lung auscultation (CALA) system was recently developed to diagnose bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in feedlot cattle.

Objectives

To determine, in a case–control study, the level of agreement between CALA and veterinary lung auscultation and to evaluate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of CALA to diagnose BRD in feedlot cattle.

Animals

A total of 561 Angus cross‐steers (initial body weight = 246 ± 45 kg) were observed during the first 50 day after entry to a feedlot.

Methods

Case–control study. Steers with visual signs of BRD identified by pen checkers were examined by a veterinarian, including lung auscultation using a conventional stethoscope and CALA that produced a lung score from 1 (normal) to 5 (chronic). For each steer examined for BRD, 1 apparently healthy steer was selected as control and similarly examined. Agreement between CALA and veterinary auscultation was assessed by kappa statistic. CALA's Se and Sp were estimated using Bayesian latent class analysis.

Results

Of the 561 steers, 35 were identified with visual signs of BRD and 35 were selected as controls. Comparison of veterinary auscultation and CALA (using a CALA score ≥2 as a cut off) revealed a substantial agreement (kappa = 0.77). Using latent class analysis, CALA had a relatively high Se (92.9%; 95% credible interval [CI] = 0.71–0.99) and Sp (89.6%; 95% CI = 0.64–0.99) for diagnosing BRD compared with pen checking.

Conclusions

CALA had good diagnostic accuracy (albeit with a relatively wide CI). Its use in feedlots could increase the proportion of cattle accurately diagnosed with BRD.
Impatiens lizipingensis, a new name for the recently described I. shimianensis
Authors: Luo Qiang , Wang Tong‐Jun , Zhao Li‐Hua
Published: June 2015

Impatiens lizipingensis Q. Luo is proposed to replace I. shimianensis Q. Luo (non Ge Chen Zhang & L. B. Zhang).
Ground zero: not asthma at all
Authors: de Benedictis Fernando Maria , de Benedictis Diletta , Mirabile Lorenzo , Pozzi Marco , Guerrieri Arcangela , Di Pillo Sabrina
Published: June 2015

Upper airway obstruction is commonly misdiagnosed as asthma. We report on four children with recurrent respiratory symptoms who had been erroneously diagnosed as having asthma and who received anti‐asthma medication for several years. The evaluation of spirometry tracing was neglected in all cases. Subglottic stenosis, tracheomalacia secondary to tracheo‐esophageal fistula, double aortic arch, and vocal cord dysfunction were suspected by direct inspection of the flow–volume curves and eventually diagnosed. The value of clinical history and careful evaluation of spirometry tracing in children with persistent respiratory symptoms is critically discussed.
Movement of translocated turtles according to translocation method and habitat structure
Authors: Attum Omar , Cutshall Christian D.
Published: June 2015

Dispersal away from the release site is among the main obstacles that reduce translocation success. Scientists should therefore test a variety of translocation methods to reduce dispersal when moving wildlife between sites. The objective of this research was to examine how translocation method (hard‐ vs. soft‐release) and habitat structure (continuous vs. patchy) affect movement of translocated turtles. A hard‐release consists of releasing individuals to their new environment without any prior acclimation, whereas a soft‐release forces animals to spend time at the release site prior to release. Our results suggest that the most effective translocation technique depends upon habitat structure. A soft‐release was effective in minimizing post‐release dispersal of translocated turtles in a continuous lotic habitat as there was no difference in the movement of soft‐released and resident turtles. However, hard‐released turtles undergo extensive movement when translocated to a continuous lotic habitat as hard‐released turtles had greater movement than resident turtles. When the release site consists of a patchy wetland complex, a hard‐release translocation may be effective as there was no difference in the movement between resident and hard‐released turtles. Our study suggests that both the habitat structure of the release site and translocation method play a role in the movement patterns of translocated wildlife. Semi‐aquatic turtles or species with poor vagility may make better candidates for hard‐release translocations in patchy habitats because these species may be less likely or unable to disperse long distances as result of their behavior, physiology, or the structure of the release site.
From “Compatriots” to “Aliens”: The Changing Coverage of Migration on Russian Television
Authors: TOLZ VERA , HARDING SUE‐ANN
Published: June 2015

This article analyzes an anti‐immigration campaign evident in 2012 and 2013 on the two main Russian state‐aligned television channels, Channel 1 and Rossiia. This campaign marked a significant departure from the earlier coverage of migration‐related issues by these broadcasters and, surprisingly, contradicted the federal government's position on migration and on “the national question”, which was authorised by Vladimir Putin during his presidential election campaign. Most significantly, in contrast to earlier approaches to covering migration, during the campaign, Islam was identified in news reports as the main marker of the migrant identity and a threat to Russian and European cultures and societies. The article explores what facilitated this shift in reporting and what this campaign tells us about the relationship between the Kremlin, state‐aligned broadcasters and the public, as well as about the fluctuations in the official narratives of Russian nationhood, during Putin's third presidential term. The article argues that several factors converged to trigger this campaign, including the radicalisation of a tendency to unite Russian society around the government through the dissemination of frightening images of external and internal “enemies”; the authorities' greater attentiveness to public concerns; and the perceived need to mainstream and co‐opt Russian ethnonationalism. We further demonstrate that the anti‐immigration campaign was part and parcel of the construction of a new ideologically charged narrative about Russia as Europe's last bastion of traditional, conservative values. The article concludes that public intellectuals and television personalities, rather than the Kremlin, were the main agents in the construction of this narrative. It, therefore, appears that, in the first eighteen months of Putin's third presidency, contrary to what one would expect, a greater responsibility than before for the ideological directions of the regime was ceded to prominent media figures.
Foreign Affairs, Domestic Attention: Explaining American Media Coverage of the European Financial Crisis*
Authors: Johnson Tyler , Rossbach David
Published: June 2015

Objective

We explain how economic and political predictors shaped levels of American media coverage of the European financial crisis between 2008 and 2012.

Methods

We link exchange rates, unemployment rates, inflation, trade, protests, votes of no confidence, elections, and U.S. presidential remarks with financial crisis stories produced by The New York Times, the Associated Press, and television newscasts. Error‐correction modeling is utilized to determine whether relationships exist contemporaneously and across future months.

Results

We find evidence across multiple models that changes in the exchange rate and elections shaped levels of media coverage. We find some evidence that votes of no confidence, protests, change in unemployment, and presidential remarks matter as well.

Conclusion

A combination of economic change, specific political events, and broader newsworthiness norms journalists utilize in determining which stories are worthy of attention drove American coverage of the European financial crisis.
IMAGING DIAGNOSIS — UNILATERAL TRIGEMINAL NEURITIS MIMICKING PERIPHERAL NERVE SHEATH TUMOR IN A HORSE
Authors: Beltran Elsa , Grundon Rachael , Stewart Jennifer , Biggi Marianna , Holloway Andrew , Freeman Courtenay
Published: June 2015

A 16‐year old Warmblood gelding presented with a nonhealing corneal ulcer and absent corneal sensation in the left eye. A lesion affecting the maxillary and ophthalmic branches of the left trigeminal nerve was suspected. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging identified marked thickening of the ophthalmic and maxillary branches of the left trigeminal nerve. The nerve was iso‐ to hypointense on T1‐weighted and T2‐weighted images with heterogeneous enhancement. A peripheral nerve sheath tumor was suspected, however granulomatous neuritis was histopathologically confirmed. These inflammatory changes can result in severe nerve enlargement and should be considered with MR findings suggestive of peripheral nerve sheath tumor.