bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finance, Austerity and Commonfare
Authors: Fumagalli Andrea , Lucarelli Stefano
Published: October 2015

The links between the crisis of subprime mortgages and the so-called crisis of European sovereign debt are sometimes concealed, so as to create a veritable sense of shared guilt meant to sanction the legitimacy of the austerity policies that have been imposed by virtuous Northern European countries on the undeserving countries of Southern Europe. We will analyse three main aspects of the current crisis: (1) we will interpret the austerity policies that today characterize the eurozone as the result of financialization; (2) we will define the state of permanent crisis as an instrument of governance characterized by specific economic policies; (3) we will show how all this unfolds at a stage of capitalist development wherein a new constituent process begins to take shape in a fragmented but nonetheless significant manner, and how this process is reclaimed by the very subjectivities upon which the accumulation of cognitive and relational skills depends in order to reproduce itself: the Welfare of the Common.
Introduction to Eurocrisis, Neoliberalism and the Common
Authors: Terranova Tiziana
Published: October 2015

This introduction frames the articles collected in the special section as the outcome of a process of ‘self-education’ taking place in the Italian free university network UniNomade 2.0 between 2010 and 2013. The open seminars and conferences organized by UniNomade 2.0 took as their object of inquiry the concept of the Common, while the articles selected focus in particular on the sovereign debt crisis of the European Union (Eurocrisis) following the global financial crisis of 2008. The introduction thus summarizes the overall approach of contemporary ‘post-operaist’ authors such as Toni Negri, Christian Marazzi, Maurizio Lazzarato, Andrea Fumagalli and Stefano Lucarelli, and Carlo Vercellone to the new role of financial capital, the transformation of money, the material constitution of Europe, the role played by the relationship between debtors and creditors, and the possibilities opened by the concept of Commonfare for struggles against austerity.
On the Constitution and Financial Capital
Authors: Negri Toni
Published: October 2015

Antonio Negri’s article explores the relationship between the juridical categories of ‘public’ and ‘private’ and the political concept of the common through the theme of the ‘material constitution’ defining actual relations of power which defy the crystallization of ‘formal constitutions’. The financial convention shaping the material constitution of contemporary capitalism refers to the rise of what Foucault called biopower, where value is no longer the expression of a mere quantity of commodities but of a set of activities and services, which are immediately cooperative. In this context, any form of measure cannot but be political and hence it must be established through new forms of economic governance. The social relation of capital becomes immediately political once money displaces labour as rule, norm and measure of value. As a result, processes of political subjectivation within the Eurocrisis combine de-stituent and con-stituent movements: requests for insolvencies, social occupations, commoning and mutualization are the means through which social struggles formulate the multitudes’ demands for ‘equality as a condition of freedom’.
Money and Financial Capital
Authors: Marazzi Christian
Published: October 2015

The current post-workerist analyses of the crisis of financial capitalism are rooted in the declaration of inconvertibility of the Dollar in 1971 and the consequent collapse of the Bretton Woods monetary system. The experience of ‘Primo Maggio’, the magazine on militant history directed by Sergio Bologna, was determinant in developing a consistent explanation of the relationship between ‘money as capital’ and working class struggles. The transition from Fordism to Post-fordism, which begun in those years, coincides on the one hand with the crisis of the labour value theory and, on the other, with the emergence of the financialization of capital. The advent of the debt economy, which led to the present crisis, reflects the destruction of the wage relationship and the de-substantialization of money. Beyond any objective measure of value, what is necessary is something that points to the subjectivity of struggles and to the forms of life that give them substance.
Spreading the truth: How truth commissions address human rights abuses in the world society
Authors: Nauenberg Saskia
Published: October 2015

This research examines why truth commissions have proliferated worldwide and become a standard component of the transitional justice repertoire, in spite of a lack of evidence that the institution is viable or beneficial in diverse contexts. Drawing on world society theory, the article argues that rationalized myths about the value of truth telling have driven the diffusion of truth commissions. Data from 34 founding charters reveal that a commission’s objectives do not necessarily correspond with the precipitating conflict or political transition, but are highly shaped by three external channels of influence: the United Nations, international consultants, and regional proximity. By identifying distinct actors that have developed and promoted different rationalized myths, the article refines world society theory’s tendency to present routine uninhabited diffusion of a single institutional model. Instead, truth commissions provide evidence of the uneven spread of a multifarious global institution.
Surveillance footage and space segregation in Mexico City
Authors: Arteaga Botello Nelson
Published: October 2015

This study discusses police use of surveillance footage to solve crimes in urban locations and in marginalized neighborhoods, and in particular explores how surveillance cameras and the quality of video they produce result in differential displays of crime. Videos of young people being kidnapped in downtown Mexico City reveal that surveillance systems in marginalized areas are of consistently poor definition and clarity, which contrasts sharply with the clear and distinct images produced by video surveillance in financial, commercial, and upscale residential districts. Social inequality is revealed between the high-quality surveillance systems in the middle- and high-income protective bubbles that exclude the ‘dangerous classes’ and the low-quality and poorly functioning surveillance systems that are operational in low-income and ‘dangerous’ areas. The article shows how surveillance cameras function not only as mechanisms to prevent and solve crimes but also as instruments of the government that seek to ensure and manage order in urban areas.
Coupling of injection molding process to mechanical properties of short fiber composites: A through process modeling approach
Authors: Zaidani Mouna , Omar Mohammad A , Kumar S
Published: October 2015

Fiber-reinforced plastics are a cost efficient solution for many structural applications as they offer sufficient stiffness and a large freedom of shapes provided by injection molding. These materials are increasingly being used for making structural components, which are subjected to complex and repeated mechanical loads. Therefore, the need for a method to predict the mechanical behavior of such materials is important. In this work, a through process modeling methodology suitable for coupling the microstructure and the macroscopic response of composites considering plastic injection molding process for different injection modes is presented. The key tasks discussed in this work are (1) simulation of the whole manufacturing process in order to obtain the fiber orientation distribution at each point of the part; (2) estimation of local effective properties using the orientation tensor obtained by performing a two-step homogenization and (3) prediction of the mechanical response as a function of a local anisotropy using a mean-field homogenization technique which is based on assumed relationships between average values of strain and stress fields in each phase. The scheme suggested allows to analyze the influence of processing conditions on elastic properties of composites. By changing these conditions, for example, the injection mode (central or linear), the cavity thickness, the fiber volume fraction, the microstructure and hence the local elastic properties of the material can be tailored. Thus, for desired structural response of composites, the optimum filling parameters can be chosen even at the stage of design.
Effects of seawater exposure on mode II fatigue delamination growth of a woven E-glass/bismaleimide composite
Authors: Yian Zhao , Keey Seah Leong , Boay Chai Gin
Published: October 2015

The effects of seawater exposure on Mode II fatigue delamination growth of a woven E-glass Bismaleimide composite are investigated by end-notched flexure tests in this study. Dynamic mechanical analysis shows a strong plasticization effect of seawater immersion on the matrix material. Static tests of specimens after 2500 h of immersion in 50℃ seawater reveal that the critical strain energy release rate ([Formula: see text] is increased by 15.4%. This is mainly due to seawater effects of plasticization of the matrix, extension of the damage zone and enhancement of the ductility of the material. In fatigue tests, a practical formulation based on the Paris law is proposed to model the stable delamination growth rate for both dry and wet specimens. At a given normalized strain energy release rate, the delamination growth was found to be slower in wet specimens than in dry specimens. The examination on fracture surfaces by scanning electron micrographs also reveals evidence of the plasticization effect of seawater which improves the [Formula: see text] of wet specimens.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Patient Health Questionnaire–4 in Hispanic Americans
Authors: Mills Sarah D. , Fox Rina S. , Pan Tonya M. , Malcarne Vanessa L. , Roesch Scott C. , Sadler Georgia Robins
Published: October 2015

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire–4 (PHQ-4), a screener of psychological distress, in English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans. Hispanic American adults ( N = 436) completed the PHQ-4, which yields two subscales (Anxiety and Depression) that can be summed to create a total score. Multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate structural validity. The two-factor structure was the best fit to the data for both English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans, and items loaded equivalently across groups, demonstrating measurement invariance. Internal consistency reliability was good as measured by coefficient alpha. Construct validity was evidenced by significant expected relationships with perceived stress. These findings provide support for the reliability and validity of the PHQ-4 as a brief measure of psychological distress for English- or Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans.
Intermittent administration of human parathyroid hormone (1–34) increases fixation of strontium-doped hydroxyapatite coating titanium implants via electrochemical deposition in ovariectomized rat femur
Authors: Tao Zhou-Shan , Zhou Wan-Shu , Qiang Zhou , Tu Kai-kai , Huang Zheng-Liang , Xu Hong-Ming , Sun Tao , Lv Yang-Xun , Cui Wei , Yang Lei
Published: October 2015

Previous studies have demonstrated the effect of human parathyroid hormone (1–34) (PTH) or strontium-doped hydroxyapatite coating (Sr-HA) on osteoporotic bone implantation. However, reports about effects of PTH plus Sr-HA on bone osseointegration of titanium implants in a state of osteoporosis were limited. This study was designed to investigate the effects of intermittent administration of human parathyroid hormone (1–34) on strontium-doped hydroxyapatite coating (Sr-HA) implant fixation in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Twelve weeks after bilateral ovariectomy, all animals were randomly divided into four groups including control group, Sr group, PTH group and PTH+Sr group. Forty OVX rats accepted implant insertion in the distal femurs, control group, and PTH group with HA implants and the Sr group and PTH+Sr group with Sr-HA implants. Animals from PTH group and PTH+Sr group then randomly received PTH (60 µg/kg, 3 times a week) until death at 12 weeks. After 12-week healing period, implants from group PTH+Sr revealed improved osseointegration compared with other treatment groups, which is manifested by the exceeding increase of bone area ratio and bone-to-implant contact, the trabecular microarchitecture and the maximal push-out force displayed by tests like histomorphometry, micro-CT, and biomechanics evaluation. These results demonstrated that PTH+ Sr-HA coatings could enhance implant osseointegration in OVX rats, and suggested the feasibility of using this method to improve implant fixation in osteoporotic bone.
Prevalence and determinants of HIV in tuberculosis patients in Wuxi City, Jiangsu province, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chen Judi , Cao Weining , Chen Renfang , Ren Yong , Li Tao
Published: October 2015

At least one-third of the 34 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide are infected with latent tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the rate of HIV infection in TB patients and its determinants in Wuxi City, China. TB patients attending health institutions (12 selected sites) for TB diagnosis and treatment were enrolled in this study. TB diagnosis, treatment and HIV testing were done according to the national guidelines. Blood samples were collected for anonymous HIV testing. Among the TB patients, the HIV prevalence was 13.66% (1493/10,926). Multivariate analysis showed that gender, age, education, marital status, per capita monthly income, patient residence, family size, distance from a health institution, knowledge of HIV–TB co-infection, and knowledge of HIV may be risk factors for HIV–TB co-infection (all: odds ratio > 1, p < 0.05). The prevalence of TB in those with HIV was higher among the study participants. Improving public awareness of HIV–TB co-infection, regularly screening and improving follow-up can reduce the occurrence of HIV–TB co-infection.
Invisible victims? Where are male victims of conflict-related sexual violence in international law and policy?
Authors: Gorris Ellen Anna Philo
Published: October 2015

In this article the author argues that men and boys have been historically and structurally rendered an invisible group of victims in international human rights and policy responses towards conflict-related sexual violence stemming from the United Nations. The apparent female-focused approach of instruments on sexual violence is criticized followed by a discussion – through analysis and interviews with legal scholars and champions for the recognition of male survivors’ experiences – of the first ‘emergence’ of male victims in these instruments and key actors involved in this process. The existing serious dichotomy between visible and invisible victims is prominently based on their ‘gender identity’ and leads to structural discrimination of male victims of rape or other forms of sexual violence. To overcome this situation and develop more inclusive instruments, a reconceptualization is needed of the meaning and use of words like ‘gender’ and ‘gender-based violence’. Additionally, a more intersectional approach to sexual violence should be adopted, understanding that victims have a multitude of identities such as ethnicity or religious affiliation that make them particularly vulnerable to suffering.
Evaluation of illness severity scoring systems and risk prediction in vascular intensive care admissions
Authors: Dover M , Tawfick Wael , Hynes Niamh , Sultan Sherif
Published: October 2015

Introduction

This study examines the predictive value of intensive care unit (ICU) scoring systems in a vascular ICU population.

Methods

From April 2005 to September 2011, we examined 363 consecutive ICU admissions. Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), APACHE IV, Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score (MODS), organ dysfunctions and/or infection (ODIN), mortality prediction model (MPM) and physiologic and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) were calculated. The Glasgow Aneurysm Score (GAS) was calculated for patients with aneurysm-related admissions.

Results

Overall mortality for complex vascular intervention was 11.6%. At admission, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) was 0.884 for SAPS II, 0.894 for APACHE II, 0.895 for APACHE IV, 0.902 for MODS, 0.891 for ODIN and 0.903 for MPM. At 24 h, model discrimination was best for POSSUM (AUC = 0.906) and MPM (AUC = 0.912).

Conclusion

The good discrimination of these scoring systems indicates their value as an adjunct to clinical assessment but should not be used on an individual basis as a clinical decision-making tool.
How Time Works in The Simpsons
Authors: Davis Amy M. , Gilboy Jemma , Zborowski James
Published: October 2015

This article uses two groups of case-study episodes to explore the complexities and perplexities that arise from the long-running use of a ‘floating timeline’ within The Simpsons. First, the conflicting representations of the youths of Homer and Marge in two ‘flashback’ episodes (‘The Way We Was’ and ‘That 90’s [ sic] Show’) are examined. The logical quandaries presented by departing from a floating timeline and introducing fixed (but multiple and contradictory) historical reference points in individual episodes are outlined, and it is suggested that it may be better to accept the fictional paradoxes created rather than to try to resolve them. Second, the episodes featuring ‘Sideshow Bob’ are surveyed, and Bob is offered as being granted the unusual capacity (within The Simpsons’ fictional universe) to experience the passage of time and accumulate and retain an eventful history. This is contrasted with the temporal experiences of the Simpsons themselves, for whom there is eventfulness without progression. The article concludes by suggesting that The Simpsons’ status as an animated programme allows it to exhibit in a particularly pure and sustained form some of the relationship to time, history and the everyday of situation comedy and television more broadly.
Animation as Intertextual Cinema: Nezha Naohai (Nezha Conquers the Dragon King)
Authors: Macdonald Sean
Published: October 2015

This article is an intertextual reading of Nezha naohai (Nezha Conquers the Dragon King), the second cel-animated feature produced at the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the major animation film studio in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from the 1950s until the 1980s. Released in 1979, the story of Nezha Conquers is an adaptation from three chapters of a popular Ming Dynasty 16th-century novel about a rebellious boy-god. The year Nezha Conquers the Dragon King is released, 1979, is a turning point for the hero in PRC cinema. Visual design for Nezha Conquers the Dragon King seems to be a combination of Osamu Tezuka’s Astroboy and Chinese Communist sports propaganda. Chief director and screenwriter Wang Shuchen considered the film to be a return to fantastic subject matter after the Cultural Revolution. Nezha Conquers the Dragon King signaled a return to mythological themes in PRC film and ends with an elliptical, open-ended finale, suggesting the propensity for future social and cultural contradictions.
Girl Cartoons Second Wave: Transforming the Genre
Authors: Perea Katia
Published: October 2015

The US girl cartoon genre began in the 1980s with the Federal Communication Commission’s deregulation of television, allowing the programming of toy-based cartoons. The toy industry’s gender binary of girl toys vs boy toys was translated into the definitive split of girl cartoons and boy cartoons. This first wave of girl cartoons defined the gender normative parameters that would identifiably label a cartoon program as a girl cartoon: rainbow unicorns and star sparkles in friendship communities with motivational girl leaders that displayed confidence, determination and savvy while processing emotions and solving conflicts through communication. These characters were young girls, not teenagers or young adults with developed bodies. It is rarely addressed that these cartoon characters presented an empowered girl media product in popular culture a decade before the nomenclature ‘Girl Power’, and did so sans sexualization. In this article, the author discusses the second wave of girl cartoons that came about with US television’s cartoon renaissance in the 1990s. This research explores the ways that lead girl characters were newly portrayed and how they evolved from the girl cartoon representations in the first wave era. Along with the representation of empowered girl characters, this research identified a feminine triptych. In character settings with more than one girl lead, the feminine portrayals were represented in the triptych of the beauty, the brains and the brawns. This research also revealed a persistent glitch to the empowerment of girl cartoon protagonists in the form of secondary characters, identified as mean girls and misogyny boys or no-homo boys. Another shortcoming is identified as boobs and boyfriends, to demonstrate the compulsion to give characters above the age of 12 sexualized bodies and heteronormative relationships. Several cartoon episodes of The Powerpuff Girls, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Dora the Explorer, Ni Hao- Kai Lan, Franny’s Feet, Lilo and Stitch: The Series, Maya & Miguel, Word Girl and Mighty B! are textually analyzed to document both verbal and visual gender cues.
Identification of Main Factors Explaining Glucose Dynamics During and Immediately After Moderate Exercise in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Ben Brahim Najib , Place Jerome , Renard Eric , Breton Marc D.
Published: October 2015

Background:

Physical activity is recommended for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, without proper management, it can lead to higher risk for hypoglycemia and impaired glycemic control. In this work, we identify the main factors explaining the blood glucose dynamics during exercise in T1D. We then propose a prediction model to quantify the glycemic drop induced by a mild to moderate physical activity.

Methods:

A meta-data analysis was conducted over 59 T1D patients from 4 different studies in the United States and France (37 men and 22 women; 47 adults; weight, 71.4 ± 10.6 kg; age, 42 ± 10 years; 12 adolescents: weight, 60.7 ± 12.5 kg; age, 14.0 ± 1.4 years). All participants had physical activity between 3 and 5 pm at a mild to moderate intensity for approximately 30 to 45 min. A multiple linear regression analysis was applied to the data to identify the main parameters explaining the glucose dynamics during such physical activity.

Results:

The blood glucose at the beginning of exercise ([Formula: see text]), the ratio of insulin on board over total daily insulin ([Formula: see text]) and the age as a categorical variable (1 for adult, 0 for adolescents) were significant factors involved in glucose evolution at exercise (all P < .05). The multiple linear regression model has an R-squared of .6.

Conclusions:

The main factors explaining glucose dynamics in the presence of mild-to-moderate exercise in T1D have been identified. The clinical parameters are formally quantified using real data collected during clinical trials. The multiple linear regression model used to predict blood glucose during exercise can be applied in closed-loop control algorithms developed for artificial pancreas.
Physical Activity Capture Technology With Potential for Incorporation Into Closed-Loop Control for Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Dadlani Vikash , Levine James A. , McCrady-Spitzer Shelly K. , Dassau Eyal , Kudva Yogish C.
Published: October 2015

Physical activity is an important determinant of glucose variability in type 1 diabetes (T1D). It has been incorporated as a nonglucose input into closed-loop control (CLC) protocols for T1D during the last 4 years mainly by 3 research groups in single center based controlled clinical trials involving a maximum of 18 subjects in any 1 study. Although physical activity data capture may have clinical benefit in patients with T1D by impacting cardiovascular fitness and optimal body weight achievement and maintenance, limited number of such studies have been conducted to date. Clinical trial registries provide information about a single small sample size 2 center prospective study incorporating physical activity data input to modulate closed-loop control in T1D that are seeking to build on prior studies. We expect an increase in such studies especially since the NIH has expanded support of this type of research with additional grants starting in the second half of 2015. Studies (1) involving patients with other disorders that have lasted 12 weeks or longer and tracked physical activity and (2) including both aerobic and resistance activity may offer insights about the user experience and device optimization even as single input CLC heads into real-world clinical trials over the next few years and nonglucose input is introduced as the next advance.
The Glucose Measurement Industry and Hemoglobin A1c
Authors: Cembrowski George
Published: October 2015

The MyStar Extra self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) system provides moving estimates of the patient’s hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). There is a treasure trove of highly accurate glucose data available from highly accurate SMBG, CGM and FGM along with highly accurate HPLC HbA1c. If Nathan’s criteria are used to select subjects whose glucoses can be correlated to the HbA1c, then algorithms can be developed for robustly transforming glucose into HbA1c. These algorithms can then be implemented in any SMBG or with the CGM and FGM software. This calculated HbA1c would even be accurate with Nathan’s excluded population thus reducing the use of fructosamine and glycated protein. Finally, the developer of these new algorithms is advised to use a specific approach for testing her algorithm.
Evolutionary history of phosphatidylinositol- 3-kinases: ancestral origin in eukaryotes and complex duplication patterns
Authors: Philippon Héloïse , Brochier-Armanet Céline , Perrière Guy
Published: October 2015

Background

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of eukaryotic enzymes modifying phosphoinositides in phosphatidylinositols-3-phosphate. Located upstream of the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway, PI3Ks activate secondary messengers of extracellular signals. They are involved in many critical cellular processes such as cell survival, angiogenesis and autophagy. PI3K family is divided into three classes, including 14 human homologs. While class II enzymes are composed of a single catalytic subunit, class I and III also contain regulatory subunits. Here we present an in-depth phylogenetic analysis of all PI3K proteins.

Results

We confirmed that PI3K catalytic subunits form a monophyletic group, whereas regulatory subunits form three distinct groups. The phylogeny of the catalytic subunits indicates that they underwent two major duplications during their evolutionary history: the most ancient arose in the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) and led to the emergence of class III and class I/II, while the second – that led to the separation between class I and II – occurred later, in the ancestor of Unikonta (i.e., the clade grouping Amoebozoa, Fungi, and Metazoa). These two major events were followed by many lineage specific duplications in particular in vertebrates, but also in various protist lineages. Major loss events were also detected in Vidiriplantae and Fungi. For the regulatory subunits, we identified homologs of class III in all eukaryotic groups indicating that, for this class, both the catalytic and the regulatory subunits were presents in LECA. In contrast, homologs of the regulatory class I have a more recent origin.

Conclusions

The phylogenetic analysis of the PI3K shed a new light on the evolutionary history of these enzymes. We found that LECA already contained a PI3K class III composed of a catalytic and a regulatory subunit. Absence of class II regulatory subunits and the recent origin of class I regulatory subunits is puzzling given that the class I/II catalytic subunit was present in LECA and has been conserved in most present-day eukaryotic lineages. We also found surprising major loss and duplication events in various eukaryotic lineages. Given the functional specificity of PI3K proteins, this suggests dynamic adaptation during the diversification of eukaryotes.
Rcorrector: efficient and accurate error correction for Illumina RNA-seq reads
Authors: Song Li , Florea Liliana
Published: October 2015

Background

Next-generation sequencing of cellular RNA (RNA-seq) is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of transcriptomic analysis. However, sequencing errors in the already short RNA-seq reads complicate bioinformatics analyses, in particular alignment and assembly. Error correction methods have been highly effective for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) reads, but are unsuitable for RNA-seq reads, owing to the variation in gene expression levels and alternative splicing.

Findings

We developed a k-mer based method, Rcorrector, to correct random sequencing errors in Illumina RNA-seq reads. Rcorrector uses a De Bruijn graph to compactly represent all trusted k-mers in the input reads. Unlike WGS read correctors, which use a global threshold to determine trusted k-mers, Rcorrector computes a local threshold at every position in a read.

Conclusions

Rcorrector has an accuracy higher than or comparable to existing methods, including the only other method (SEECER) designed for RNA-seq reads, and is more time and memory efficient. With a 5 GB memory footprint for 100 million reads, it can be run on virtually any desktop or server. The software is available free of charge under the GNU General Public License from https://github.com/mourisl/Rcorrector/.
Face and content validity of a virtual-reality simulator for myringotomy with tube placement
Authors: Huang Caiwen , Cheng Horace , Bureau Yves , Agrawal Sumit K. , Ladak Hanif M.
Published: October 2015

Background

Myringotomy with tube insertion can be challenging for junior Otolaryngology residents as it is one of the first microscopic procedures they encounter. The Western myringotomy simulator was developed to allow trainees to practice microscope positioning, myringotomy, and tube placement. This virtual-reality simulator is viewed in stereoscopic 3D, and a haptic device is used to manipulate the digital ear model and surgical tools.

Objective

To assess the face and content validity of the Western myringotomy simulator.

Methods

The myringotomy simulator was integrated with new modules to allow speculum placement, manipulation of an operative microscope, and insertion of the ventilation tube through a deformable tympanic membrane. A questionnaire was developed in consultation with instructing surgeons. Fourteen face validity questions focused on the anatomy of the ear, simulation of the operative microscope, appearance and movement of the surgical instruments, deformation and cutting of the eardrum, and myringotomy tube insertion. Six content validity questions focused on training potential on surgical tasks such as speculum placement, microscope positioning, tool navigation, ear anatomy, myringotomy creation and tube insertion. A total of 12 participants from the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery were recruited for the study. Prior to completing the questionnaire, participants were oriented to the simulator and given unlimited time to practice until they were comfortable with all of its aspects.

Results

Responses to 12 of the 14 questions on face validity were predominantly positive. One issue of concern was with contact modeling related to tube insertion into the eardrum, and the second was with the movement of the blade and forceps. The former could be resolved by using a higher resolution digital model for the eardrum to improve contact localization. The latter could be resolved by using a higher fidelity haptic device. With regard to content validity, 64 % of the responses were positive, 21 % were neutral, and 15 % were negative.

Conclusions

The Western myringotomy simulator appears to have sufficient face and content validity. Further development with automated metrics and skills transference testing is planned.
Steric Effects on the Cyclability of Benzoquinone-type Organic Cathode Active Materials for Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Yokoji Takato , Kameyama Yuki , Sakaida Shun , Maruyama Norihiko , Satoh Masaharu , Matsubara Hiroshi
Published: October 2015

Benzoquinone derivatives, which undergo reversible two-electron redox reactions, should afford high capacity as positive electrode materials for rechargeable batteries. Although some benzoquinones have been reported as cathode active materials, their low cycle-life performance is a drawback. We prepared benzoquinones bearing alkyl groups with various degrees of bulkiness to investigate the relationship between the steric effects of the substituents on the benzoquinone skeleton and the battery performance. The introduction of bulky substituents, especially a tert-butyl group, on the skeleton significantly improved the cyclability.
Preparation of a PtPb/TiO2/Cup-stacked Carbon Nanotube Composite for Enhancement of the Electrocatalytic Reaction of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Ando Fuma , Gunji Takao , Fujima Hikaru , Takeda Tsuyoshi , Tanabe Toyokazu , Kaneko Shingo , Matsumoto Futoshi
Published: October 2015

PtPb ordered intermetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on titanium oxide (TiO2)/cup-stacked carbon nanotubes (CSCNT) to improve the activity of the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The use of CSCNTs as a support material resulted in high loading of PtPb NPs/TiO2. The PtPb NPs/TiO2/CSCNTs were prepared by the step-by-step preparation method, viz. first annealing under an inert atmosphere with Ti-alkoxide to obtain TiO2, then Pt NP photodeposition, and finally microwave synthesis to prepare ordered intermetallic PtPb NPs on TiO2 via reaction of Pb2+ with Pt/TiO2. The new particles enhanced ORR electrocatalytic activity.
Urinary catheter securement: what are the options?
Authors: Wilson Mary
Published: October 2015

Long-term and permanent urinary catheterisation are common, but they can cause pain, tissue damage and even disfigurement. Mary Wilson questions whether catheter securement could be the answer
Compassionate care: the student nurse perspective
Authors: Curtis Katherine
Published: October 2015

Many student nurses gain practice experience in residential care placements. They enter these environments with a strong desire to provide compassionate care—and yet find the experience emotionally challenging. Why? Katherine Curtis investigates
Effective SEN differentiation
Authors: Sobel Daniel
Published: October 2015

Inclusion expert Daniel Sobel discusses approaches teachers can use to achieve differentiation for SEN pupils and to maximise its impact
Missing data treatment method on cluster analysis
Authors: Koko Elsiddig Elsadig Mohamed , Mohamed Amin Ibrahim Adam
Published: October 2015

The missing data in household health survey was challenged for the researcher because of incomplete analysis. The statistical tool cluster analysis methodology implemented in the collected data of Sudan's household health survey in 2006.Current research specifically focuses on the data analysis as the objective is to deal with the missing values in cluster analysis. Two-Step Cluster Analysis is applied in which each participant is classified into one of the identified pattern and the optimal number of classes is determined using SPSS Statistics/IBM. However, the risk of over-fitting of the data must be considered because cluster analysis is a multivariable statistical technique. Any observation with missing data is excluded in the Cluster Analysis because like multi-variable statistical techniques. Therefore, before performing the cluster analysis, missing values will be imputed using multiple imputations (SPSS Statistics/IBM). The clustering results will be displayed in tables. The descriptive statistics and cluster frequencies will be produced for the final cluster model, while the information criterion table will display results for a range of cluster solutions.
Sonication of seeds increase germination performance of sesame under low temperature stress
Authors: SHEKARI Fariborz , MUSTAFAVI Seyyed-Hamid , ABBASI Amin
Published: October 2015

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of ultrasound (US) exposure time on germination behavior of sesame seeds. All tests were carried out at 20 kHz in a water bath ultrasonic device varying two factors, treatment duration (10, 20 and 30 min) and germination temperature (15, 20 and 25 ºC). Parallel tests were run in which seeds were soaked in water without sonication in order to eliminate the effect of water from US test results. US treatments enhanced seeds water uptake. At mild exposure time it improved sesame seed germination performance and seedling growth at suboptimal temperatures as indicated by higher germination percentage and germination rate. US applying for 20 min had relatively high superoxide dismutase activity; however, had not significant differences with control and US duration for 10 min. The catalase activity was strongly increased by applying the US for a 10 and 20 min. Among the treatments, application of US vibration for 10 and 20 min reduced both of malondialdehyde and H2O2 contents, however high US duration (30 min) increased both of the traits. In general, ultrasonic priming technique can be useful for early planting the sesame seeds, and lead to higher yields.
Allelopathic effect of medicinal plant Cannabis sativa L. on Lactuca sativa L. seed germination
Authors: MAHMOODZADEH Homa , GHASEMI Mohsen , ZANGANEH Hasan
Published: October 2015

In order to examine allelopathic effect of Cannabis sativa L. on germination capability and seedling growth of Lactuca sativa L., a study was performed in laboratory conditions. Treatments were set up in randomised block design in four replications for each of four concentration ranges of 25, 50, 75 and 100 % of aqueous extract made of shoot parts and 4 identical extract concentrations made of root of cannabis. Control variant was lettuce seed treated by distilled water. During the studies shoot and seminal root length of lettuce seedlings were measured after treatments with different concentrations of extracts made of root and shoot parts of cannabis, and the obtained values were compared with the control. The obtained results suggest that the extract from the shoot parts of cannabis in high concentrations of 75 and 100 % had inhibiting effect to the germination indices while the extract from the root had no statistically significant effect on germination of lettuce seeds. Extract made of root part of cannabis showed also stimulatory effect to shoot and seminal root length of lettuce seedlings in extract concentrations of 50, 75 and 100 %.
Insecticidal activity of three plants extracts against Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) and their phytochemical screening
Authors: NIA Billal , FRAH Naama , AZOUI Imane
Published: October 2015

To reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and their negative effects on the environment, leaves extracts of Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh and Rosmarinus officinalis L. were obtained with petroleum ether, ethanol and distilled water as solvents. These extracts were evaluated under laboratory conditions for their insecticidal effect against 3 to 4 days-old Myzus persicae individuals (Homoptera: Aphididae) at 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 %. We made observations after 24 hours. Etheric extract of all plants was effective and caused mortalities (100 %, 53 % and 60 % respectively) at the highest concentration. However, ethanolic and aqueous extracts did not show any significant insecticidal effect. The phytochemical screening showed the richness of etheric extract in terpenes. The results obtained suggest that we can make bioinsecticides based on leaves etheric extracts from these plants for use in integrated pest management.
Effect of pre-chilling and environmental factors on breaking seed dormancy and germination of three foxtail species
Authors: AMINI Vajihe , ZAEFARIAN Faezeh , REZVANI Mohammad
Published: October 2015

The effect of wet and dry pre-chilling duration, pH, osmotic stress, salt stress and planting depth on seed germination and seedling emergence of three foxtail species (Setaria glauca, S. verticillata and S. viridis) was investigated in a series of laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Both wet and dry pre-chilling for 45 days promoted seed germination of S. glauca compared with the control. Pre-chilling was not significantly effective in seed dormancy breaking of S. viridis and S. verticillata. The maximum germination of foxtails (S. verticillata, S. viridis) was obtained when seeds were treated with pH 7 buffer solution. Increasing of osmotic and salt stress decreased seed germination of foxtails. Setaria verticillata seed germination was more tolerant than those of S. glauca and S. viridis to high water stress condition. Setaria glauca and S. verticillata seed germination were more tolerant to high salinity stress than S. viridis. Seedling emergence decreased with increasing the burial depth and no germination observed at 8 cm soil depth.
Study of risk factors for atopic sensitization, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in animal laboratory workers
Authors: Simoneti Christian Silva , Freitas Amanda Souza , Barbosa Michelle Christiane Rodrigues , Ferraz Erica , de Menezes Marcelo Bezerra , Bagatin Ericson , Arruda Luisa Karla , Vianna Elcio Oliveira
Published: October 2015

Study of risk factors for atopic sensitization, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in animal laboratory workers: Christian Silva Simoneti, et al. Department of Medicine, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Objective

The aim of this estudy was to investigate the influence of allergen exposure levels and other risk factors for allergic sensitization, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in workers exposed to laboratory animals.

Methods

This was a crosssectional study performed at two universities, 123 workplaces with 737 subjects. Dust samples were collected from laboratories and animal facilities housing rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, or hamsters and analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure allergen concentrations. We also sampled workplaces without animals. Asthma was defined by both symptoms and BHR to mannitol. The concentrations of allergens were tested for association with a skin prick test, respiratory symptoms, spirometry data, and BHR. This multivariate analysis was performed by using Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) for the exposed group.

Results

Our sample comprised students and workers, with 336 subjects in the nonexposed group and 401 subjects in the exposed group. Sixty‐nine subjects (17%) had positive results in the skin prick test for animal allergens in the exposed group; in the nonexposed group, 10 subjects had positive results (3%) (p<0.001). Exposure to laboratory animals over 2.8 years was associated with atopic sensitization (RR=1.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.09−3.15; p=0.02). Allergen concentration was not associated with sensitization, asthma, or BHR.

Conclusion

Exposure to laboratory animals was associated with atopic sensitization. However, we did not find a cutoff allergen concentration that increased the risk for sensitization. Duration of exposure seems to be more relevant to sensitization than concentration of allergens in dust.
The determinants of presenteeism: a comprehensive investigation of stress‐related factors at work, health, and individual factors among the aging workforce
Authors: Yang Tianan , Zhu Mingjing , Xie Xiyao
Published: October 2015

The determinants of presenteeism: a comprehensive investigation of stress‐related factors at work, health, and individual factors among the aging workforce: Tianan Yang, et al. Department of Organization and Human Resource Management, School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, P.R. China

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of presenteeism, taking health and individual factors into account.

Methods

A quantitative analysis applying structural equation modelling analysis was conducted on the basis of secondary data from the Health and Retirement Survey (2008 wave), which measured presenteeism and its determinants.

Results

Stressrelated factors at work (β=−0.35, p<0.001), individual factors (β =−0.27, p<0.001), and health (β =0.24, p<0.001) were significantly related to presenteeism. Individual factors were found to be directly correlated with stress‐related factors at work (β=0.22, p<0.001). Significant indirect effects between stress‐related factors at work and presenteeism (Sobel z=−6.61; p<0.001) and between individual factors and presenteeism (Sobel z=−4.42; p<0.001), which were mediated by health, were also found. Overall, the final model accounted for 37% (R2=0.37) of the variance in presenteeism.

Conclusions

Our study indicates some important and practical guidelines for employers to avoid the burdens of stress‐related presenteeism among their employees. These findings could help select target factors in the design and implementation of effective presenteeism interventions in the aging working population.
Divalent Cations in Spray Water Influence 2,4-D Efficacy on Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major)
Authors: Patton Aaron J. , Weisenberger Daniel V. , Johnson William G.
Published: October 2015

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a common ingredient in POST broadleaf herbicides labeled for use in turf, pastures, rangeland, and grain crops. The herbicide 2,4-D is a weak acid, and when dissociated can bind to cations present in hard-water spray solutions and/or fertilizer solutions. Experiments were conducted with 2,4-D dimethylamine to evaluate the effect of cation solutions on herbicide efficacy on the perennial broadleaf weeds dandelion and broadleaf plantain. The objectives of this research were to (1) determine if 2,4-D efficacy is influenced by the divalent cations, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) in spray solution; and (2) determine if adding the adjuvant ammonium sulfate (AMS) to the spray solution can overcome antagonism. Broadleaf plantain and dandelion control was reduced and plant size and mass increased when 2,4-D was applied in a Ca solution in comparison to deionized water. However, 2,4-D antagonism was overcome when AMS was added as an adjuvant to the spray solution. Magnesium caused 2,4-D antagonism on both weed species in one run of the experiment similar to Ca solution and AMS was successful at overcoming antagonism when added to the tank mixture. Some 2,4-D antagonism from Mn was noticed even when AMS was in the tank mix, but Zn fertilizer solutions did not antagonize 2,4-D activity on either weed species. Although divalent cations can antagonize 2,4-D dimethylamine and reduce perennial broadleaf weed control, adding AMS can overcome this antagonism when Ca and Mg are the primary cations in spray solution. Applicators should avoid using Mn fertilizers when applying 2,4-D dimethylamine because AMS did not successfully overcome antagonism.
Regime-Switching Models for Estimating Inflation Uncertainty
Authors: Nalewaik Jeremy J.
Published: October 2015

This paper constructs regime-switching models for estimating the probability of inflation returning to its relatively high levels of variability and persistence in the 1970s and 1980s. Forecasts and probabilities of extreme events from the models are evaluated against comparable estimates from other statistical models, from surveys, and from financial markets. The paper then uses the models to construct prediction intervals around Federal Reserve Board staff forecasts of PCE price inflation, combining the recent non-parametric forecast error distribution with parametric information from the model. The outer tails of the prediction intervals depend importantly on the probability inflation is in its high-variance, high-persistence regime.