bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in some blood parameters, milk composition and yield of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) during the transition period
Authors: Fiore Enrico , Giambelluca Sonia , Morgante Massimo , Contiero Barbara , Mazzotta Elisa , Vecchio Domenico , Vazzana Irene , Rossi Pasquale , Arfuso Francesca , Piccione Giuseppe , Gianesella Matteo
Published: August 2017

In this study changes in hematochemical parameters, milk composition and yield were investigated in buffaloes during the transition period. A total of 93 buffaloes 113.9 ± 8.03 months old and 535 ± 50 kg average body weight were used. Parity was recorded, blood samples were collected from 80 days pre‐partum until 70 days post‐partum; milk samples were collected from 5 days to 70 days post‐partum. On serum samples, the values of non‐esterified fatty acids, β‐hydroxybutyrate, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma‐glutamyltransferase, urea, total proteins were evaluated. On milk, percentage of fat, protein and lactose, along with the somatic cell count (SCC), milk yield and daily milk production (DMP) were assessed. The peripartum period significantly (P ≤ 0.01) influenced all studied parameters with the exception of glucose. Milk fat percentage showed decreasing trend from 10 until 40 days post‐partum;DMPsignificantly (P ≤ 0.01) increased from 1 day post‐partum until 40 days post‐partum. Milk yield significantly (P ≤ 0.01) decreased in animals over the sixth lactation. Our results confirmed the importance of transit period in buffaloes. Blood parameters and milk composition alterations are crucial to predict the energy balance status of buffaloes in order to improve their management and feed intake during the transition period.
Pathological findings of Japanese Black Cattle living in the restricted area of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, 2013–2016
Authors: Sasaki Jun , Hiratani Kayoko , Sato Itaru , Satoh Hiroshi , Deguchi Yoshitaka , Chida Hiroyuki , Natsuhori Masahiro , Murata Takahisa , Ochiai Kenji , Otani Kumiko , Okada Keiji , Ito Nobuhiko
Published: August 2017

Fifty‐one Japanese black cattle from four farms in the evacuation zone of the Fukushima nuclear accident were examined pathologically during the period, 2013–2016. We found no evidence of a radiation effect on pathological findings in any of these autopsy cases, although nine cases (3.7%) of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) and three cases (1.2%) of goiter were diagnosed. Estimated integrating dose of external exposure in EBL cases ranged from a maximum of 1200 mSv to a minimum of 72 mSv. Clinically, five cases showed wobble, dysstasia or paralysis. Exophthalmos was observed in three cases. Macroscopically, enlarged lymph nodes, multiple irregular masses of intra‐abdominal and intrapelvic adipose tissue, diffuse thickening of the abomasal submucosa with ulceration, and numerous white nodules of myocardium were observed. Histologically, neoplastic lymphoid cells were extensively proliferated and infiltrated in the lesions. Lymphoid tumor cells showed mature or large lymphoblastic appearance. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for BLA‐36, CD20 and CD5, and negative for CD3. Three cases showed diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland with no mass or nodule lesion. Histologically, diffuse proliferation of follicular epithelium was observed with preservation of normal structures. There were no malignant findings such as cellular atypia or invasion to capsule.
A method for estimating radioactive cesium concentrations in cattle blood using urine samples
Authors: Sato Itaru , Yamagishi Ryoma , Sasaki Jun , Satoh Hiroshi , Miura Kiyoshi , Kikuchi Kaoru , Otani Kumiko , Okada Keiji
Published: August 2017

In the region contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear accident, radioactive contamination of live cattle should be checked before slaughter. In this study, we establish a precise method for estimating radioactive cesium concentrations in cattle blood using urine samples. Blood and urine samples were collected from a total of 71 cattle on two farms in the ‘difficult‐to‐return zone’. Urine137Cs, specific gravity, electrical conductivity,pH, sodium, potassium, calcium, and creatinine were measured and various estimation methods for blood137Cs were tested. The average error rate of the estimation was 54.2% without correction. Correcting for urine creatinine, specific gravity, electrical conductivity, or potassium improved the precision of the estimation. Correcting for specific gravity using the following formula gave the most precise estimate (average error rate = 16.9%): [blood137Cs] = [urinary137Cs]/([specific gravity] − 1)/329. Urine samples are faster to measure than blood samples because urine can be obtained in larger quantities and has a higher137Cs concentration than blood. These advantages of urine and the estimation precision demonstrated in our study, indicate that estimation of blood137Cs using urine samples is a practical means of monitoring radioactive contamination in live cattle.
Virtual laboratory—Using a hand movement recognition system to improve the quality of chemical education
Authors: Wolski Robert , Jagodziński Piotr
Published: August 2017

The rapid development of information and communication technologies has enabled the development of interfaces, which allow the recognition of the gestures and movements of the user. These interfaces, due to their affordable prices, are available to a wide range of users. They are called natural user interfaces (NUI). NUI are commonly used in game consoles and electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets. We used the Kinect sensor from Microsoft in our studies to identify the movements and gestures of the user. This interface was used by us in teaching Chemistry in a Middle School and High School by developing a virtual chemical laboratory, which is based on a system of hand movements. We have analyzed the gestures and movements of the virtual chemical laboratory user to determine how they raise the effectiveness in chemical education. The results show how much better students work with a virtual laboratory, when studied by us in chemical areas, that concerned remembering information, understanding information, applying their experience in situations familiar to them from school and in solving chemical problems.
The anatomy of information cascades in the classroom: An observational study
Authors: Vaquero Luis M. , Rodero‐Merino Luis , Cuadrado Félix
Published: August 2017

Online learning platforms offer students the option of sharing content. They have become common tools in many universities over the last 10 years. But there is little information about how content spreads in the classroom, ie, how information cascades appear and evolve and what factors are relevant for the formation of cascades. This work analyses information cascades in the classroom, bringing new insights on student learning: students do not share much content, they prefer to share the content they find themselves as opposed to professor‐given content, they share more data towards the end of the course and they do it in bursts. The paper also reveals different behaviour by high‐performing students: their interactions are distributed more evenly over the term, their behaviour is more stable and they tend to share documents faster than low‐performing students. Documents with high information tend to be less shared. Documents with fewer well‐known entities are also shared fewer times. Paradoxically, high‐performing students exchange more documents with high information, compared to mid‐ and low‐performing students.
Long non‐coding RNAs as an epigenetic regulator in human cancers
Authors: Kondo Yutaka , Shinjo Keiko , Katsushima Keisuke
Published: August 2017

Recent studies have described the important multiple roles of long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) during oncogenic transformation. Because the coding genome accounts for a small amount of total DNA, and many mutations leading to cancer occur in the non‐coding genome, it is plausible that the dysregulation of such non‐coding transcribes might also affect tumor phenotypes. Indeed, to date, lncRNAs have been reported to affect diverse biological processes through the regulation of mRNA stability, RNA splicing, chromatin structure, and miRNA‐mediated gene regulation by acting as miRNA sponges. Furthermore, accumulating studies have described the roles of lncRNAs in tumorigenesis; however, the precise mechanisms of many lncRNAs are still under investigation. Here, we discuss recently reported mechanistic insights into how lncRNAs regulate gene expression and contribute to tumorigenesis through interactions with other regulatory molecules. We especially highlight the role of taurine upregulated gene 1, which was recently reported to have biological functions related to gene regulation, and discuss the future clinical implications of lncRNAs in cancer treatments.
Mogamulizumab for relapsed adult T‐cell leukemia–lymphoma: Updated follow‐up analysis of phase I and II studies
Authors: Ishida Takashi , Utsunomiya Atae , Jo Tatsuro , Yamamoto Kazuhito , Kato Koji , Yoshida Shinichiro , Takemoto Shigeki , Suzushima Hitoshi , Kobayashi Yukio , Imaizumi Yoshitaka , Yoshimura Kenichi , Kawamura Kouichi , Takahashi Takeshi , Tobinai Kensei , Ueda Ryuzo
Published: August 2017

The present study sought to elucidate the prognosis of adult T‐cell leukemia–lymphoma (ATL) patients receiving mogamulizumab, a defucosylated anti‐CCR4 monoclonal antibody. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of ATL patients enrolled in two studies are herein updated, namely NCT00355472 (phase I study of mogamulizumab in relapsed patients with ATL and peripheral T‐cell lymphoma) and NCT00920790 (phase II study for relapsed ATL). Of 13 patients with relapsed aggressive ATL in the phase I study, four (31%) survived >3 years. For 26 relapsed patients with aggressive ATL in the phase II study, median PFS was 5.2 months and 1‐year PFS was 26%, whereas median OS was 14.4 months, and 3‐year OS was 23%. For patients without a rash or who developed a grade 1 rash only, median PFS was 0.8 months, and 1‐year PFS was zero, with a median OS of 6.0 months, and 3‐year OS of 8%. In contrast, for patients who developed a rash ≥grade 2, median PFS was 11.7 months, and 1‐year PFS was 50%, with a median OS of 25.6 months, and 3‐year OS of 36%. Thus, we conclude that mogamulizumab monotherapy may improve PFS and OS in some patients with relapsed aggressive ATL, especially those who develop a skin rash as a moderate immune‐related adverse event. Therefore, further investigation is warranted to validate the present observations and to clarify the mechanisms involved in the activity of mogamulizumab.
Antiglycation and anti‐oxidant efficiency of carnosine in the plasma and liver of aged rats
Authors: Bingül İlknur , Yılmaz Zülbiye , Aydın A. Fatih , Çoban Jale , Doğru‐Abbasoğlu Semra , Uysal Müjdat
Published: August 2017

Aim

Increases in oxidative stress and advanced glycation end‐products (AGE) formation play an important role in the pathogenesis of aging. Carnosine (CAR; β‐alanyl‐L‐histidine) has anti‐oxidant and antiglycating properties. We investigated the effect of CAR supplementation on AGE levels, and protein and lipid oxidation products in the serum and liver tissue in aged rats.

Methods

Young (3 months‐of‐age) and aged (20 months‐of‐age) rats were injected with CAR (250 mg/kg/daily; i.p.; 5 days per week) for 2 months. At the end of this period, AGE, protein carbonyl, advanced oxidized protein products, and malondialdehyde levels were determined in the serum and liver tissue. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species formation and ferric reducing anti‐oxidant power values were measured.

Results

AGE, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and advanced oxidized protein products levels, and reactive oxygen species formation were higher in the serum and liver tissue of aged rats compared with young rats. CAR treatment was observed to significantly decrease AGE, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl and advanced oxidized protein products levels, and reactive oxygen species formation in the serum and liver of aged rats.

Conclusions

These results clearly show that CAR might be useful for decreasing glycoxidant stress in aged rats. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2610–2614.
The validity of the Big Five personality traits for job performance: Meta‐analyses of South African studies
Authors: van Aarde Ninette , Meiring Deon , Wiernik Brenton M.
Published: August 2017

Previous meta‐analyses have established the Big Five personality traits as important predictors of job performance around the globe. This study extends the international generalizability of Big Five criterion‐related validity through systematic review and meta‐analyses of personality–performance research conducted in South Africa. We meta‐analyzed data from 33 studies and 6,782 individuals to estimate validities of Big Five traits for various job performance criteria. Results showed that the Big Five traits have similar validity for job performance criteria as found in other cultural contexts. Conscientiousness was the strongest predictor across performance criteria, while other traits showed validity for specific criteria or subsamples. Results demonstrate the importance of psychometric meta‐analysis for building cumulative knowledge and support applied use of personality assessments in South Africa. Consistency of the results of this study with those of previous meta‐analyses in other national contexts supports the argument that personality–performance relations are a cultural universal.
Topological controls on the dissolution kinetics of glassy aluminosilicates
Authors: Oey Tandré , Kumar Aditya , Pignatelli Isabella , Yu Yingtian , Neithalath Narayanan , Bullard Jeffrey W. , Bauchy Mathieu , Sant Gaurav
Published: August 2017

Fly ash which encompasses a mixture of glassy and crystalline aluminosilicates is an abundant supplementary cementitious material (SCM), valuable for replacing ordinary portland cement (OPC) in the binder fraction in concrete. Because higher OPC replacement levels are desired, it is critically important to better understand and quantify fly ash reactivity. By combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and vertical scanning interferometry (VSI), this study establishes that the reactivity of the glassy fractions in a fly ash with water (i.e., their aqueous dissolution rate) is controlled by the number of constraints placed on atoms within the disordered aluminosilicate network. More precisely, an Arrhenius‐like dependence of dissolution rates on the atomic network topology is observed. Such topological controls on fly ash reactivity are highlighted for a range of U.S. commercial fly ashes spanning CaO‐enriched and SiO2‐enriched compositions. The structure‐property relationships reported herein establish an improved framework to control and estimate fly ash‐cement interactions in concrete.
Dynamic optical coherence tomography of skin blood vessels – proposed terminology and practical guidelines
Authors: Ulrich M. , Themstrup L. , de Carvalho N. , Ciardo S. , Holmes J. , Whitehead R. , Welzel J. , Jemec G.B.E. , Pellacani G.
Published: August 2017

Background

Dynamic optical coherence tomography (D‐OCT) has recently been introduced in dermatology. In contrast to ‘Standard’ OCT imaging, which exclusively relies on the morphological analysis of the tissue, D‐OCT allows the in vivo visualization of blood flow. Preliminary D‐OCT data showed differences in the vascularization of nevus to melanoma transition, suggesting that this technology may help to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions.

Objective

Several factors may influence the quality of D‐OCT imaging. Therefore, standard operating procedures as well as a common terminology are required for better validation and comparison of the images.

Methods

Here, we present practical guidelines for optimal image acquisition and a proposed terminology on vascular patterns observed by D‐OCT.

Results

Dynamic OCT allows the morphologic distinction of different vascular shapes (e.g. dots, blobs, curves, lines), their distribution and organization within skin lesions.

Conclusion

D‐OCT adds functional information on skin microvasculature and the vascular networks within lesions.
Seeking Shelter in Personal Insolvency Law: Recession, Eviction, and Bankruptcy's Social Safety Net
Authors: Spooner Joseph
Published: August 2017

Many legal systems understand consumer insolvency laws as social insurance, providing relief and a ‘fresh start’ to over‐indebted households who fall through gaps in the social safety net. Personal insolvency law in England and Wales in practice functions similarly, but in terms of legal principle and policy is ambivalent – sometimes emphasizing household debt relief, other times creditor wealth maximization. This article assesses, in the context of novel debt problems brought to prominence by recession and austerity, the extent to which the law has embraced personal insolvency's social insurance function. The discussion is framed particularly by the escalating United Kingdom housing crisis and the case of Places for People v. Sharples concerning consumer bankruptcy's (non)protection of debtors from eviction. The analysis illustrates how tensions between conceptual understandings and personal insolvency law's practical operation undermine the law's ability to fulfil its potential to produce positive policy responses to contemporary socio‐economic challenges.
Collective Litigation and the Constitutional Challenges to Decriminalizing Homosexuality in Singapore
Authors: Chua Lynette J.
Published: August 2017

This article examines collective legal mobilization through the courts, or collective litigation, in a non‐liberal regime. It analyses the emergence and development of collective litigation to challenge the constitutionality of section 377A of the Penal Code, the law that criminalizes same‐sex sexual conduct in Singapore. The analysis focuses on the relational dynamics of collective litigation and legal subjectivities of the social actors involved, highlighting how social positions and strategic interests shaped their interactions and decisions on litigation. While gay rights activists emphasized their movement's collective interests when choosing the appropriate case and lawyers, a movement outsider pursued individual interests on behalf of a client. Due to their divergent social positions and strategic interests, the two teams competed with each other as they initiated two separate constitutional challenges. Tension between the teams led to conflict with constituents of the gay rights movement and influenced their relational dynamics with other parties.
Women's Marriage Behavior Following a Premarital Birth in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Smith‐Greenaway Emily , Clark Shelley
Published: August 2017

This study examines the relationship between premarital childbearing and the timing of women's entry into their first marriage in sub‐Saharan Africa. The study shows that African women who have a premarital birth generally experience later transitions to marriage than do their childless peers. Although the birth of a child precipitates a quicker transition to marriage initially, unmarried mothers, on average, marry at older ages than their childless peers and remain single for between 2 and 14 years. Evidence from a subsample of countries confirms that the time between having a child and first marriage has lengthened slightly in some countries; however, this reflects mainly the overall trend toward later marriage, rather than a further bifurcation of the marital trajectories of mothers versus childless women. The study raises policy concerns about the welfare of Africa's single mothers and their children.
Ameloblastic fibroma and ameloblastic fibrosarcoma: A systematic review
Authors: Chrcanovic Bruno Ramos , Brennan Peter A. , Rahimi Siavash , Gomez Ricardo Santiago
Published: August 2017

Purpose

To integrate the available data published to date on ameloblastic fibromas (AF) and ameloblastic fibrosarcomas (AFS) into a comprehensive analysis of their clinical/radiological features.

Methods

An electronic search was undertaken in July 2017. Eligibility criteria included publications having enough clinical, radiological and histological information to confirm a definite diagnosis.

Results

A total of 244 publications (279 central AF tumours, 10 peripheral AF, 103 AFS) were included. AF and AFS differed significantly with regard to the occurrence of patients’ mean age, bone expansion, cortical bone perforation and lesion size. Recurrence rates were as follows: central AF (19.2%), peripheral AF (12.5%), AFS (all lesions, 35%), primary (de novo) AFS (28.8%) and secondary AFS (occurring after an AF, 50%). Larger lesions and older patients were more often treated by surgical resections for central AF. Segmental resection resulted in the lowest rate of recurrence for most of the lesion types. AFS treated by segmental resection had a 70.5% lower probability to recur (OR 0.295; P = .049) than marginal resection; 21.3% of the AFS patients died due to complications related to the lesion.

Conclusions

Very long follow‐up is recommended for AF lesions, due to the risk of recurrence and malignant change into AFS. Segmental resection is the most recommended therapy for AFS.
Divesting from Climate Change: The Road to Influence
Authors: Richardson Benjamin J.
Published: August 2017

Is fossil fuels divestment likely to achieve its aims? This article evaluates the rationales for divestment in terms of their capacity to give the campaign influence. It focuses on the direct effects of divestment on financial actors because divestment is a specific means of exerting influence outside of conventional political channels. In seeking to end fossil fuel industries in order to halt climate change, the campaign deploys a variety of arguments to win support and wield influence, namely, the legality of divestment and, indeed, the emerging duty to divest; investors’ moral responsibility to avoid complicity in the fossil fuel economy; investors’ moral responsibility to use their leverage against climate polluters; and the power of financial sanctions to create a business case for abandoning fossil fuels. Although in combination they may be effective, each of these asserted rationales has some limitations that may diminish the influence of the divestment movement. Moreover, the movement does not engage sufficiently with the systemic qualities of finance capitalism that must also be reckoned with in order to address broader patterns of environmental unsustainability. Although the divestment movement aspires to ultimately change government policies on climate change, it may achieve greater influence by also seeking better government regulation of the financial economy.
Explaining State Violence in the Guatemalan Civil War: Rebel Threat and Counterinsurgency
Authors: Kubota Yuichi
Published: August 2017

Literature on the Guatemalan Civil War has debated whether or not state violence was triggered by rebel activities. Did the government respond to each insurrection caused by the rebels, or did it blindly target regions where antigovernment antipathy and movements had historically prevailed? Because state violence was extensive during the civil war period, the dynamism of the war could have been the reason for its occurrence. Relying on the threat-response model of state violence, this article argues that human rights violations occurred when the government perceived a rebel threat that would have seriously degraded its capability in future counterinsurgencies. The article employs propensity score matching to address the problem of confounding in empirical analysis, and reveals that rebel attacks, particularly those targeting security apparatus and resulting in human injury, increased the likelihood of state violence in the Guatemalan Civil War.
Actual and Potential Infinity
Authors: Linnebo Øystein , Shapiro Stewart
Published: August 2017

The notion of potential infinity dominated in mathematical thinking about infinity from Aristotle until Cantor. The coherence and philosophical importance of the notion are defended. Particular attention is paid to the question of whether potential infinity is compatible with classical logic or requires a weaker logic, perhaps intuitionistic.
Impossibility Results for Rational Belief
Authors: Schurz Gerhard
Published: August 2017

There are two ways of representing rational belief: qualitatively as yes‐or‐no belief, and quantitatively as degrees of belief. Standard rationality conditions are: (i) consistency and logical closure, for qualitative belief, (ii) satisfaction of the probability axioms, for quantitative belief, and (iii) a relationship between qualitative and quantitative beliefs in accordance with the Lockean thesis. In this paper, it is shown that these conditions are inconsistent with each of three further rationality conditions: fallibilism, open‐mindedness, and invariance under independent conceptual expansions. Restrictions of the Lockean thesis that have been suggested in the literature cannot remove the inconsistency. In the outlook we discuss two alternative ways of dealing with this problem: restricting conjunctive closure or going for a dual system account.
Success of preventive approach to mandibular osteoradionecrosis in an adolescent: case report.
Authors: Franco T. , Cezini M.D.C. , Metropolo L. , Ferreira D.C. , Tannure P.N.
Published: August 2017

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is defined as the presence of ulceration or necrosis of the mucosa with exposure of necrotic bone that does not heal within a 2‐month period after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck tumours. The mandible presents a higher risk of developing ORN than the maxilla and extraction of teeth is also considered a risk factor for the development of ORN. The aim of this article was to present a clinical case where a protocol was used to prevent the development of ORN after the extraction of lower molars in an adolescent who had undergone surgical removal and radiotherapy for a mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the left parotid gland. The results showed that the protocol used was efficient in the prevention of osteoradionecrosis in this adolescent. One year after the extractions, no clinical or radiographic signs of any pathological alteration were observed in the region; the patient remains under periodical clinical and radiographic follow‐up.
Realistic Relations? How the Evolving Bilateral Relationship is Understood in China and Australia
Authors: Beeson Mark , Zeng Jinghan
Published: August 2017

China's remarkable economic development has had profound domestic and international effects. Among the most important of these is China's growing impact on the region of which it is an increasingly important and influential part. For countries such as Australia, which has rapidly become deeply economically integrated with – even dependent on – China, this presents a major and much‐discussed challenge as it tries to balance economic and strategic priorities. Australia provides an important and revealing illustration of how China's elites view key states in its region, which have assumed a growing economic and even strategic importance. This paper aims to develop a more comprehensive overview of the way the strategic, economic and political dimensions of the Sino–Australia relationship are understood in both countries. It also highlights the importance of realist thinking in both Australia and China.
Bring the State Back In: Conflict and Cooperation Among States in Cybersecurity
Authors: Cho Yoonyoung , Chung Jongpil
Published: August 2017

This article analyzes the limitation of cooperation and the expansion of conflict between states in cyberspace. Like traditional security spaces around the world, global cyberspace is also an anarchy system with no absolute authority or institutional status. In such a situation, based on cyber sovereignty and cyber power, the state tries to create an institution applicable to domestic and international cyberspace to make a cyber system favorable to the state itself. Since, unlike traditional power, cyber power has both material and non‐material elements, a state cannot know the level of another state's cyber power. For this reason, conflicts among states in the cyber domain are intensifying. The most active states competing for the upper hand in cyberspace are the United States and China. They lead to different levels of recognition and strategies concerning the cyber domain. While the competition between the United States and China invites conflict, it also triggers temporary cooperation among states. The UN's cybersecurity activities are also fragmented by various inter‐government institutions and management organizations. However, the differences in strategy between the United States and China affect other states. Ultimately, although the direction of discussions on cybersecurity has been set based on the Group of Government Experts activities in the UN and the need for inter‐state cooperation has been acknowledged, such cooperation would be only temporary because states consider domestic policy and strategy to be more important than international or regional cooperative organizations.
What's Left in egalitarianism? Marxism and the limitations of liberal theories of equality
Authors: Sypnowich Christine
Published: August 2017

Contemporary Marxism may seem to have been eclipsed by the dominance of Left‐liberalism in egalitarian thought. Since Rawls, the liberal tradition has made a robust contribution to the argument for distributive justice, whilst Marxist orthodoxy regarding the “withering away” of the state has seemed unhelpful in comparison. However, most Left liberals are wedded to several claims that constrain the ambition and depth of the egalitarian project, claims which can be shown to be wanting in light of the socialist commitment to distribution on the basis of need, as well as the Marxist critique of alienation. This paper explores the potential of Marxism to address some of the limitations of contemporary liberal egalitarianism.
Frontal asymmetry as a mediator and moderator of emotion: An updated review
Authors: Reznik Samantha J. , Allen John J. B.
Published: August 2017

For over 35 years, research has examined frontal alpha EEG asymmetry, discussed in terms of relative left frontal activity (rLFA) in the present review, as a concurrent and prospective marker of affective processing and psychopathology. Because rLFA may index (a) neural correlates of frontal asymmetry, or (b) psychological constructs to which frontal asymmetry relates, rLFA can advance our understanding of both neural and psychological models of emotion and psychopathology. In order to improve such understanding, the specific role of rLFA in extending or challenging existing theory must be clear to researchers and readers alike. In particular, in 2004, Coan and Allen argued that examination of rLFA as a mediator or moderator may improve our theoretical understanding of rLFA. Despite being a commonly cited paper in the field, most rLFA research today still fails to acknowledge the statistical role of rLFA in the research. The aim of the present paper is to (a) convince the reader of the importance of distinguishing rLFA as a predictor, outcome, mediator, or moderator in order to conduct theory‐driven research, and (b) highlight some of the major advances in rLFA literature since the review by Coan and Allen (2004) in the framework of mediators and moderators. We selected a broad range of search terms to capture relevant rLFA research and included only those studies utilizing established methods for rLFA measurement.
Intertrial RT variability affects level of target‐related interference in cued task switching
Authors: Provost Alexander , Jamadar Sharna , Heathcote Andrew , Brown Scott D. , Karayanidis Frini
Published: August 2017

In cued task switching, performance relies on proactive and reactive control processes. Proactive control is evident in the reduction in switch cost under conditions that promote advance preparation. However, the residual switch cost that remains under conditions of optimal proactive control indicates that, on switch trials, the target continues to elicit interference that is resolved using reactive control. We examined whether posttarget interference varies as a function of trial‐by‐trial variability in preparation. We investigated target congruence effects on behavior and target‐locked ERPs extracted across the response time (RT) distribution, using orthogonal polynomial trend analysis (OPTA). Early N2, late N2, and P3b amplitudes were differentially modulated across the RT distribution. There was a large congruence effect on late N2 and P3b, which increased with RT for P3b amplitude, but did not vary with trial type. This suggests that target properties impact switch and repeat trials equally and do not contribute to residual switch cost. P3b amplitude was larger, and latency later, for switch than repeat trials, and this difference became larger with increasing RT, consistent with sustained carryover effects on highly prepared switch trials. These results suggest that slower, less prepared responses are associated with greater target‐related interference during target identification and processing, as well as slower, more difficult decision processes. They also suggest that neither general nor switch‐specific preparation can ameliorate the effects of target‐driven interference. These findings highlight the theoretical advances achieved by integrating RT distribution analyses with ERP and OPTA to examine trial‐by‐trial variability in performance and brain function.
Does variable rate irrigation decrease nutrient leaching losses from grazed dairy farming?
Authors: McDowell R. W.
Published: August 2017

The irrigation of grazed dairy pastures can be highly profitable, but can lead to the enhanced leaching of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and impairment of freshwater quality. A six‐year study was conducted to determine whether the use of variable rate irrigation (VRI), compared to uniform rate irrigation (URI), could decrease N and P leaching losses from a 143‐ha area under intensively grazed dairy cattle that had been partly hydrologically isolated by the installation of artificial drainage pipes. Median concentrations in drainage of NH4‐N, NO3‐N and total N were enriched after passing through the irrigated area under both URI and VRI. However, median concentrations of N species and filterable reactive P and total P in drainage downstream of the irrigated area were much less under three years of VRI than under three years of URI. After accounting for potential differences in flow, annual load estimates of N and P species at the downstream site under VRI were about 80–85% less than that lost under URI. Wider adoption of VRI technology could therefore decrease farm leaching losses and nutrient concentrations in receiving waterbodies compared to areas with widespread URI or flood irrigation.
Hypercapnia‐induced active expiration increases in sleep and enhances ventilation in unanaesthetized rats
Authors: Leirão Isabela P. , Silva Carlos A. , Gargaglioni Luciane H. , da Silva Glauber S. F.
Published: August 2017

Key points

Expiratory muscles (abdominal and thoracic) can be recruited when respiratory drive increases under conditions of increased respiratory demand such as hypercapnia.

Studying hypercapnia‐induced active expiration in unanaesthetized rats importantly contributes to the understanding of how the control system is integrated in vivo in freely moving animals.

In unanaesthetized rats, hypercapnia‐induced active expiration was not always recruited either in wakefulness or in sleep, suggesting that additional factors influence the recruitment of active expiration.

The pattern of abdominal muscle recruitment varied in a state‐dependent manner with active expiration being more predominant in the sleep state than in quiet wakefulness.

Pulmonary ventilation was enhanced in periods with active expiration compared to periods without it.

Expiration is passive at rest but becomes active through recruitment of abdominal muscles under increased respiratory drive. Hypercapnia‐induced active expiration has not been well explored in unanaesthetized rats. We hypothesized that (i) CO2‐evoked active expiration is recruited in a state‐dependent manner, i.e. differently in sleep or wakefulness, and (ii) recruitment of active expiration enhances ventilation, hence having an important functional role in meeting metabolic demand. To test these hypotheses, Wistar rats (280–330 g) were implanted with electrodes for EEG and electromyography EMG of the neck, diaphragm (DIA) and abdominal (ABD) muscles. Active expiratory events were considered as rhythmic ABDEMG activity interposed to DIAEMG. Animals were exposed to room air followed by hypercapnia (7% CO2) with EEG, EMG and ventilation () recorded throughout the experimental protocol. No active expiration was observed during room air exposure. During hypercapnia, CO2‐evoked active expiration was predominantly recruited during non‐rapid eye movement sleep. Its increased occurrence during sleep was evidenced by the decreased DIA‐to‐ADB ratio (1:1 ratio means that each DIA event is followed by an ABD event, indicating a high occurrence of ABD activity). Moreover, was also enhanced (P < 0.05) in periods with active expiration. had a positive correlation (P < 0.05) with the peak amplitude of ABDEMG activity. The data demonstrate strongly that hypercapnia‐induced active expiration increases during sleep and provides an important functional role to support in conditions of increased respiratory demand.
Experimental Study on Combined Cooling Method for Porous Struts in Supersonic Flow
Authors: Huang Gan , Zhu Yinhai , Liao Zhiyuan , Lu Taojie , Jiang Pei-Xue , Huang Zheng
Published: August 2017

A combined transpiration and opposing jet cooling method was experimentally investigated for protecting porous struts with microslits in the leading edge. Schlieren images showed that this cooling method significantly affects the stability of the flow field and the profile of the detached shock wave. Three different states of flow fields were observed when increasing the coolant injection pressure of a strut having a 0.20 mm wide microslit. The detached bow shock was pushed away by the opposing jet; it then became unstable and even disappeared when the coolant injection pressure was increased. Combined transpiration and opposing jet cooling could effectively cool the entire strut, especially the leading edge. The leading edge cooling efficiency increased from 3.5% for the leading edge without a slit to 52.8% for the leading edge with a 0.20 mm wide slit when the coolant injection pressure was 0.55 MPa. Moreover, combined transpiration and opposing jet cooling with nonuniform injection distribution made the strut temperature distribution more uniform and caused the maximum temperature to decrease compared to standard transpiration cooling.
A Model of Packaging Folds in Thin Metal-Polymer Laminates
Authors: Secheli Gabriel , Viquerat Andrew , Aglietti Guglielmo S.
Published: August 2017

Thin metal-polymer laminates make excellent materials for use in inflatable space structures. By inflating a stowed envelope using pressurized gas and by increasing the internal pressure slightly beyond the yield point of the metal films, the shell rigidizes in the deployed shape. Structures constructed with such materials retain the deployed geometry once the inflation gas has either leaked away, or it has been intentionally vented. For flight, these structures must be initially folded and stowed. This paper presents a numerical method for predicting the force required to achieve a given fold radius in a three-ply metal-polymer-metal laminate and to obtain the resultant springback. A coupon of the laminate is modeled as a cantilever subject to an increasing tip force. Fully elastic, elastic–plastic, relaxation, and springback stages are included in the model. The results show good agreement when compared with experimental data at large curvatures.
Efficient Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Transient Laminar Flow Modeling: Pressure Wave Propagation and Velocity Profile Changes
Authors: Martins Nuno M. C. , Brunone Bruno , Meniconi Silvia , Ramos Helena M. , Covas Dídia I. C.
Published: August 2017

In this paper, the analysis of fast laminar transients in pressurized pipes is developed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, combined with the Zielke model and laboratory data. The systematic verification of the performance of the CFD model executed in the first part of the paper allows defining the most efficient set of the discretization parameters capable of capturing the main features of the examined transient. In this framework, the crucial role of radial discretization is pointed out. In the second part of the paper, the refined and efficient CFD model is used to examine some aspects of interest for understanding the dynamics of transients. Specifically, the uniformity of the instantaneous pressure distributions along the pipe radius, which validates the results of the most popular quasi-two-dimensional (2D) models, has been revealed. Moreover, it has been shown that the strongest link between the wall shear stress and the axial component of the velocity occurs in the region close to the pipe wall as well as that the time-shift between the wall shear stress and the local instantaneous flow acceleration increases significantly as time elapses.
A Unified Energy Feature of Vortex Rings for Identifying the Pinch-Off Mechanism
Authors: Xiang Yang , Liu Hong , Qin Suyang
Published: August 2017

Owing to the limiting effect of energy, vortex rings cannot grow indefinitely and thus pinch off. In this paper, experiments on the vortex rings generated using a piston-cylinder apparatus are conducted so as to investigate the pinch-off mechanisms and identify the limiting effect of energy. Both theoretical and experimental results show that the generated vortex rings share a unified energy feature, regardless of whether they are pinched-off or not. Moreover, the unified energy feature is quantitatively described by a dimensionless energy number γ, defined as γ=(E/I2Γωmax) and exhibiting a critical value γring = 0.14 ± 0.01 for the generated vortex rings. This unified energy feature reflects the limiting effect of energy and specifies the target of vortex ring formation. Furthermore, based on the tendency of γ during vortex ring formation, criteria for determining the two timescales, i.e., pinch-off time and separation time, which correspond to the onset and end of pinch-off process, respectively, are suggested.
Optimal Locations of Piezoelectric Patch on Wideband Random Point-Driven Beam for Energy Harvesting
Authors: Luan Xiaole , Wang Yong , Jin Xiaoling , Huang Zhilong
Published: August 2017

Inspired by the phenomenon of localized response intensification in wideband random vibration, a novel procedure is proposed to determine the optimal locations of piezoelectric patch attaching on wideband random point-driven beam for vibration energy harvesting application. The optimization objective is to maximize the mean output voltage, and the optimal locations lie on the vicinities of the excited point and its symmetric point. The optimal locations keep invariable regardless of typical symmetric boundary conditions (such as the clamped, simply supported, free, and torsional spring supports), the lower and upper cutoff frequencies of the band-limited white noise, and the external damping provided that the excited point is not too close to boundaries and the bandwidth of excitation covers enough modes of primary structure. The robustness of optimal locations is illustrated from an electromechanical coupling model and is qualitatively verified through experimental testing on a random-excited aluminum beam with piezoelectric patches attached on its surface.
Mechanism of Fast Time-Varying Vibration for Rotor–Stator Contact System: With Application to Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Yang Laihao , Chen Xuefeng , Wang Shibin
Published: August 2017

Fast time-varying (FTV) phenomena, such as significant speed changes, FTV stiffness, and vibration signals with fast-oscillated instantaneous frequency (IF), carry critical fault information of high-speed rotating machines. However, the mechanism of FTV phenomenon remains unclear, and conventional methods cannot characterize the FTV features. In this study, the FTV vibration mechanism for rotor–stator contact systems is first revealed, and then, a novel fast-modulation-based rub-impact detection method (FRiDM) is significantly developed to extract the FTV features and thus promote the effectiveness of rub-impact diagnosis. The FTV vibration mechanism indicates that the fast-oscillated modulation of the vibration signal is the physical property, and the fast oscillation of IF is the mathematical nature. By theoretical and experimental study, it is demonstrated that the FTV features of the rotor–stator contact system are periodic for the periodic motion but aperiodic for the quasi-periodic and chaotic motions. Finally, the validity of the proposed FTV vibration mechanism and FRiDM is verified by the application to the rub-impact diagnosis of a bearing life testing rig and a dual-rotor turbine engine. The study results provide a potential way to nonlinear behavior identification and fault localization of sophisticated rotor systems.
New Methodology for Optimal Placement of Piezoelectric Sensor/Actuator Pairs for Active Vibration Control of Flexible Structures
Authors: Daraji Ali H. , Hale Jack M. , Ye Jianqiao
Published: August 2017

This paper describes a computationally efficient method to determine optimal locations of sensor/actuator (s/a) pairs for active vibration reduction of a flexible structure. Previous studies have tackled this problem using heuristic optimization techniques achieved with numerous combinations of s/a locations and converging on a suboptimal or optimal solution after multithousands of generations. This is computationally expensive and directly proportional to the number of sensors, actuators, possible locations on structures, and the number of modes required to be suppressed (control variables). The current work takes a simplified approach of modeling a structure with sensors at all locations, subjecting it to external excitation force or structure base excitation in various modes of interest and noting the locations of n sensors giving the largest average percentage sensor effectiveness. The percentage sensor effectiveness is measured by dividing all sensor output voltage over the maximum for each mode using time and frequency domain analysis. The methodology was implemented for dynamically symmetric and asymmetric structures under external force and structure base excitations to find the optimal distribution based on time and frequency responses analysis. It was found that the optimized sensor locations agreed well with the published results for a cantilever plate, while with very much reduced computational effort and higher effectiveness. Furthermore, it was found that collocated s/a pairs placed in these locations offered very effective active vibration reduction for the structure considered.
Sound-Induced Motion of a Nanoscale Fiber
Authors: Miles R. N. , Zhou J.
Published: August 2017

An analysis is presented of the motion of a thin fiber, supported on each end, due to a sound wave that propagates in the direction perpendicular to its long axis. Predicted and measured results indicate that when fibers or hairs having a diameter measurably less than 1 μm are subjected to air-borne acoustic excitation, their motion can be a very reasonable approximation to that of the acoustic particle motion at frequencies spanning the audible range. For much of the audible range of frequencies resonant behavior due to reflections from the supports tends to be heavily damped so that the details of the boundary conditions do not play a significant role in determining the overall system response. Thin fibers are thus constrained to simply move with the surrounding medium. These results suggest that if the diameter or radius is chosen to be sufficiently small, incorporating a suitable transduction scheme to convert its mechanical motion into an electronic signal could lead to a sound sensor that very closely depicts the acoustic particle motion over a wide range of frequencies.