bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings equation for hydroacoustic analysis of rotating blades. Part 1. The rotpole
Authors: Ianniello Sandro
Published: May 2016

This paper deals with the use of the Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings equation for hydroacoustic analysis of rotating blades, and the deep difference between the acoustic fields generated by aeronautical and marine devices in air and underwater. This dissimilarity does not depend on either the different fluid or the (although existing) geometric and structural difference of the blade: it is an intrinsic feature of the generating noise mechanisms related to rotating sources and is essentially due to the remarkable diversity of the rotational speed. It will be shown how the usual assumption of believing the flow nonlinear sources to be negligible for blades rotating at low subsonic speed (coming from decades of research strictly limited to aeroacoustics) is totally wrong when applied to hydroacoustics. Such a goal is achieved through a practical approach, by analysing the general behaviour of the surface integral kernels of the solution for a rotating point source (here named rotpole), and by showing its relationship with a general multibladed device. This analysis suggests that the underwater noise prediction from a marine propeller is an inherently nonlinear problem and, contrary to analogous aeronautical configurations, it always requires an accurate estimation of the nonlinear flow sources just by virtue of the very low rotational speed.
Impacts on the Propagation of SH-Waves in a Heterogeneous Viscoelastic Layer Sandwiched between an Anisotropic Porous Layer and an Initially Stressed Isotropic Half Space
Authors: Kundu S. , Alam P. , Gupta S. , Pandit D. Kr.
Published: May 2016

The present study deals with the affected behaviour of SH-wave propagation through a viscoelastic layer sandwiched between an anisotropic porous layer of finite thickness and an isotropic half space. The sandwiched viscoelastic layer is considered as heterogeneous medium of finite thickness and isotropic half-space is considered as initially stressed medium. The method of separation of variables has been applied to obtain the dispersion equation of SH-wave in their respective media. The obtained complex dispersion relation has been separated into real and imaginary parts. Moreover, the dispersion relation has been satisfied with the classical condition of Love waves. The effects of heterogeneity, attenuation constant, dissipation factor of viscoelasticity, initial stress (compressive), thickness ratio of two layers and porosity on the propagation of SH-waves have been shown by number of graphs. Graphs have been plotted for the dimensionless phase and damping velocity on the propagation of SH-waves with respect to the dimensionless real wave number. The results may be useful to explore the nature and peculiarity of SH-wave propagation in the viscoelastic structure.
Photo-induced halide redistribution in organic–inorganic perovskite films
Authors: deQuilettes Dane W. , Zhang Wei , Burlakov Victor M. , Graham Daniel J. , Leijtens Tomas , Osherov Anna , Bulović Vladimir , Snaith Henry J. , Ginger David S. , Stranks Samuel D.
Published: May 2016

Organic–inorganic perovskites such as CH3NH3PbI3 are promising materials for a variety of optoelectronic applications, with certified power conversion efficiencies in solar cells already exceeding 21%. Nevertheless, state-of-the-art films still contain performance-limiting non-radiative recombination sites and exhibit a range of complex dynamic phenomena under illumination that remain poorly understood. Here we use a unique combination of confocal photoluminescence (PL) microscopy and chemical imaging to correlate the local changes in photophysics with composition in CH3NH3PbI3 films under illumination. We demonstrate that the photo-induced ‘brightening’ of the perovskite PL can be attributed to an order-of-magnitude reduction in trap state density. By imaging the same regions with time-of-flight secondary-ion-mass spectrometry, we correlate this photobrightening with a net migration of iodine. Our work provides visual evidence for photo-induced halide migration in triiodide perovskites and reveals the complex interplay between charge carrier populations, electronic traps and mobile halides that collectively impact optoelectronic performance.
Diversity of burial rates in convergent settings decreased as Earth aged
Authors: Nicoli Gautier , Moyen Jean-François , Stevens Gary
Published: May 2016

The evolution and the growth of the continental crust is inextricably linked to the evolution of Earth’s geodynamic processes. The detrital zircon record within the continental crust, as well as the isotopic composition of this crust, indicates that the amount of juvenile felsic material decreased with time and that in geologically recent times, the generation of new crust is balanced by recycling of the crust back into the mantle within subduction zones. However it cannot always have been so; yet the nature of the crust and the processes of crustal reworking in the Precambrian Earth are not well constrained. Here we use both detrital zircon ages and metamorphic pressure-temperature-time (P-T-t) information from metasedimentary units deposited in proposed convergent settings from Archaean, Proterozoic and Phanerozoic terrains to characterize the evolution of minimum estimates of burial rate (km.Ma−1) as a function of the age of the rocks. The demonstrated decrease in burial rate correlates positively with a progressive decrease in the production of juvenile felsic crust in the Archaean and Proterozoic. Burial rates are also more diverse in the Archaean than in modern times. We interpret these features to reflect a progressive decrease in the diversity of tectonic processes from Archaean to present, coupled with the emergence of the uniquely Phanerozoic modern-style collision.
The analysis of the influence of fractal structure of stimuli on fractal dynamics in fixational eye movements and EEG signal
Authors: Namazi Hamidreza , Kulish Vladimir V. , Akrami Amin
Published: May 2016

One of the major challenges in vision research is to analyze the effect of visual stimuli on human vision. However, no relationship has been yet discovered between the structure of the visual stimulus and the structure of fixational eye movements. This study reveals the plasticity of human fixational eye movements in relation to the ‘complex’ visual stimulus. We demonstrated that the fractal temporal structure of visual dynamics shifts towards the fractal dynamics of the visual stimulus (image). The results showed that images with higher complexity (higher fractality) cause fixational eye movements with lower fractality. Considering the brain, as the main part of nervous system that is engaged in eye movements, we analyzed the governed Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal during fixation. We have found out that there is a coupling between fractality of image, EEG and fixational eye movements. The capability observed in this research can be further investigated and applied for treatment of different vision disorders.
Enhanced Mechanical Performance of Bio-Inspired Hybrid Structures Utilising Topological Interlocking Geometry
Authors: Djumas Lee , Molotnikov Andrey , Simon George P. , Estrin Yuri
Published: May 2016

Structural composites inspired by nacre have emerged as prime exemplars for guiding materials design of fracture-resistant, rigid hybrid materials. The intricate microstructure of nacre, which combines a hard majority phase with a small fraction of a soft phase, achieves superior mechanical properties compared to its constituents and has generated much interest. However, replicating the hierarchical microstructure of nacre is very challenging, not to mention improving it. In this article, we propose to alter the geometry of the hard building blocks by introducing the concept of topological interlocking. This design principle has previously been shown to provide an inherently brittle material with a remarkable flexural compliance. We now demonstrate that by combining the basic architecture of nacre with topological interlocking of discrete hard building blocks, hybrid materials of a new type can be produced. By adding a soft phase at the interfaces between topologically interlocked blocks in a single-build additive manufacturing process, further improvement of mechanical properties is achieved. The design of these fabricated hybrid structures has been guided by computational work elucidating the effect of various geometries. To our knowledge, this is the first reported study that combines the advantages of nacre-inspired structures with the benefits of topological interlocking.
Graphene quantum dots and Nafion composite as an ultrasensitive electrochemical sensor for the detection of dopamine
Authors: Pang Pengfei , Yan Fuqing , Li Haizhen , Li Haiyan , Zhang Yanli , Wang Hongbin , Wu Zhan , Yang Wenrong
Published: May 2016

A graphene quantum dots-Nafion composite as a novel electrode material was developed for ultrasensitive detection of dopamine with a low detection limit of 0.45 nM and a wide linear range of 5 nM to 100 μM.
Intensified biocatalytic production of enantiomerically pure halophenylalanines from acrylic acids using ammonium carbamate as the ammonia source
Authors: Weise Nicholas J. , Ahmed Syed T. , Parmeggiani Fabio , Siirola Elina , Pushpanath Ahir , Schell Ursula , Turner Nicholas J.
Published: May 2016

An industrial-scale method employing a phenylalanine ammonia lyase enzyme.
Sustainability assessment of succinic acid production technologies from biomass using metabolic engineering
Authors: Morales Merten , Ataman Meriç , Badr Sara , Linster Sven , Kourlimpinis Ioannis , Papadokonstantakis Stavros , Hatzimanikatis Vassily , Hungerbühler Konrad
Published: May 2016

Innovative pathways for bio-succinic acid production from biomass are investigated regarding their environmental impact, economic feasibility and process hazard by including state of the art metabolic engineering in process modelling.
Rhodamine B-based ordered mesoporous organosilicas for the selective detection and adsorption of Al(iii)
Authors: Xu Lijie , Han Shuhua , Hu Yongfeng , Dynes James J. , Zhang Lijuan
Published: May 2016

A novel “Off–On” solid chemosensor for Al3+ was constructed by combining ordered mesoporous silica with a rhodamine B derivative.
Crystal and electronic structures, and optical and magnetic properties of novel rare-earth sulfide borates RE3S3BO3 (RE = Sm, Gd)
Authors: Chi Yang , Guo Sheng-Ping , Kong Hong-Jian , Xue Huai-Guo
Published: May 2016

Systematic study of RE3S3BO3 (RE = Sm, Gd) compounds with a novel structure type is demonstrated.
Na0.5Ce0.5MoO4 as a new light absorption material to efficiently degrade RhB under visible light irradiation
Authors: Yang Liming , Teng Fei , Xu Juan , Yang Yang , Kan Yandong , Gu Wenhao
Published: May 2016

Na0.5Ce0.5MoO4, with a high visible light absorption and a high conductivity, remarkably improves photocatalytic activity of Na0.5Ce0.5MoO4/MoO3 heterojunctions under visible light irradiation.
Fast preparation of MoS2 nanoflowers decorated with platinum nanoparticles for electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Lin Dongmei , Li Yang , Zhang Panpan , Zhang Wensi , Ding Junwei , Li Jingfeng , Wei Gang , Su Zhiqiang
Published: May 2016

MoS2 nanoflowers decorated with Pt nanoparticles show enhanced performances for electrochemical H2O2 sensing.
Enhanced visible light photocatalytic performances of self-assembled hierarchically structured BiVO4/Bi2WO6 heterojunction composites with different morphologies
Authors: Chen Long , Meng Dawei , Wu Xiuling , Wang Anqi , Wang Junxia , Yu Meihua , Liang Yujun
Published: May 2016

A possible mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic activity over self-assembled hierarchical BiVO4/Bi2WO6 composites was proposed according to calculated energy band positions.
COPD and stroke: are systemic inflammation and oxidative stress the missing links?
Authors: Austin Victoria , Crack Peter J. , Bozinovski Steven , Miller Alyson A. , Vlahos Ross
Published: May 2016

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow limitation and loss of lung function, and is currently the third largest cause of death in the world. It is now well established that cardiovascular-related comorbidities such as stroke contribute to morbidity and mortality in COPD. The mechanisms linking COPD and stroke remain to be fully defined but are likely to be interconnected. The association between COPD and stroke may be largely dependent on shared risk factors such as aging and smoking, or the association of COPD with traditional stroke risk factors. In addition, we propose that COPD-related systemic inflammation and oxidative stress may play important roles by promoting cerebral vascular dysfunction and platelet hyperactivity. In this review, we briefly discuss the pathogenesis of COPD, acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and cardiovascular comorbidities associated with COPD, in particular stroke. We also highlight and discuss the potential mechanisms underpinning the link between COPD and stroke, with a particular focus on the roles of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.
A nonlinear HP-type complementary resistive switch
Authors: Radtke Paul K. , Schimansky-Geier Lutz
Published: May 2016

Resistive Switching (RS) is the change in resistance of a dielectric under the influence of an external current or electric field. This change is non-volatile, and the basis of both the memristor and resistive random access memory. In the latter, high integration densities favor the anti-serial combination of two RS-elements to a single cell, termed the complementary resistive switch (CRS). Motivated by the irregular shape of the filament protruding into the device, we suggest a nonlinearity in the resistance-interpolation function, characterized by a single parameter p. Thereby the original HP-memristor is expanded upon. We numerically simulate and analytically solve this model. Further, the nonlinearity allows for its application to the CRS.
Elevated variant density around SV breakpoints in germline lineage lends support to error-prone replication hypothesis
Authors: Dhokarh Dhananjay , Abyzov Alexej
Published: May 2016

Copy number variants (CNVs) are a class of structural variants that may involve complex genomic rearrangements (CGRs) and are hypothesized to have additional mutations around their breakpoints. Understanding the mechanisms underlying CNV formation is fundamental for understanding the repair and mutation mechanisms in cells, thereby shedding light on evolution, genomic disorders, cancer, and complex human traits. In this study, we used data from the 1000 Genomes Project to analyze hundreds of loci harboring heterozygous germline deletions in the subjects NA12878 and NA19240. By utilizing synthetic long-read data (longer than 2 kbp) in combination with high coverage short-read data and, in parallel, by comparing with parental genomes, we interrogated the phasing of these deletions with the flanking tens of thousands of heterozygous SNPs and indels. We found that the density of SNPs/indels flanking the breakpoints of deletions (in-phase variants) is approximately twice as high as the corresponding density for the variants on the haplotype without deletion (out-of-phase variants). This fold change was even larger for the subset of deletions with signatures of replication-based mechanism of formation. The allele frequency (AF) spectrum for deletions is enriched for rare events; and the AF spectrum for in-phase SNPs is shifted toward this deletion spectrum, thus offering evidence consistent with the concomitance of the in-phase SNPs/indels with the deletion events. These findings therefore lend support to the hypothesis that the mutational mechanisms underlying CNV formation are error prone. Our results could also be relevant for resolving mutation-rate discrepancies in human and to explain kataegis.
(1S,3R,8R,11S)-2,2,11-Tribromo-10-bromomethyl-3,7,7-trimethyltricyclo[6.4.0.01,3]dodec-9-ene
Authors: Bimoussa Abdoullah , Auhmani Aziz , Ait Itto My Youssef , Daran Jean-Claude , Auhmani Abdelwahed
Published: May 2016

The title compound, C16H22Br4, was synthesized in two steps from β-himachalene, which was isolated from essential oil of the Atlas cedar (cedrus atlantica). It is built up from three fused rings, a seven-membered heptane ring, a six-membered cyclohexyl ring bearing both a bromine and a bromomethyl substituent, and a three-membered propane ring bearing two Br atoms. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along [001]. The absolute configuration was deduced from the chemical pathway and confirmed by resonant scattering [Flack parameter = 0.012 (10)].
N′-[(1E)-4-Bromobenzylidene]-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazide
Authors: Karrouchi Khalid , Ramli Youssef , Taoufik Jamal , Radi Smaail , Ansar Mhammed , Mague Joel T.
Published: May 2016

In the title compound, C17H13BrN4O, the dihedral angles between the pyrazole ring and the pedant phenyl and bromobenzene rings are 21.61 (11) and 28.09 (11)°, respectively. In the crystal, N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into [010] chains, which are reinforced by C—H...O interactions.
Authenticity
Authors: Kim Hyojin , Bonn Mark A.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Based on the theoretical debates involving authenticity and consumer behavior intentions, this exploratory research study aims to identify whether the authentic experiences of tourists visiting wineries affect their behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was created to address authenticity issues within the context of the on-site winery experience and how they ultimately affected behavioral intentions according to selected demographic characteristics. Adapting Wang’s categorization of authenticity as being composed of three dimensions, a total of 13 questions were developed and used to obtain consumer data. To determine whether these three dimensions related to authenticity affected visitors’ behavioral intentions within the context of the winery experience, a standard multiple regression procedure was used at a levels = 0.05 and 0.01.

Findings

The findings show that authentic characteristics play a substantial role in the behavioral intentions of winery tourists. Interestingly, there were no significant relationships between a visitor’s willingness to recommend wineries and the on-site winery experience, presentation of wine bottle labeling and impressions about the overall winery experience.

Research limitations implications

Because this was an exploratory study, repeated applications of this experiment must be conducted in many other global destinations where winery visits occur, to establish generalizable research findings. Future applications of this research study should consider introducing new variables to further measure authenticity related to on-site winery visits, not only to build upon these study findings but also to assist the wine industry marketing professionals in acquiring a better understanding of the relationship between authenticity, as related to on-site winery visits, and the behavioral intentions of winery visitors.

Practical implications

This study’s findings will help to better understand the behavioral intentions of winery visitors based upon the perceived authenticity levels of on-site winery experiences. The results provide strategic and developmental directions for wine industry professionals, winery owners, wine producers and wine destination marketing organizations to more accurately promote winery visits, products and destinations.

Originality/value

Although authenticity and wine tourism have both received much attention as research topics, no research, to date, has addressed the importance of perceived authenticity, as applied to the on-site winery visit, within the overall wine tourism experience and its effect upon visitor intentions. This study endeavored to quantify the attributes of authenticity that are specific to winery tourism and consumer behavior issues.
The relationship between workplace spirituality and hospitality supervisors’ work attitudes
Authors: Gatling Anthony , Kim Jungsun (Sunny) , Milliman John
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which workplace spirituality (WPS) is related to hospitality supervisors’ organizational commitment (OC) and intention to quit (ITQ), examined through the lens of self-determination theory (SDT).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on survey data collected from 190 supervisors employed by a large US hospitality organization, the relationships were examined using confirmatory factor analysis, second-order factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that three dimensions of WPS (i.e. meaning and purpose in their work, sense of community and alignment with organizational values) are positively related to OC and negatively related to ITQ. Moreover, these supervisors’ OC fully mediates the negative relationship of WPS to ITQ.

Research limitations/implications

This study tests the validity and reliability of three WPS dimensions in the hospitality environment. It also provides a theoretical perspective through SDT for explaining how WPS impacts employee work attitudes, which can be used to guide future studies.

Practical implications

Hospitality organizations can benefit from the insights of this research into how WPS can increase the commitment and retention of supervisors, who in turn positively impact front-line workers and customer service quality delivery.

Originality/value

This study provides additional implications for SDT and offers new insights into the emerging field of WPS scholarship. While other studies have tested relationships related to involving these WPS variables, a scarcity of research has been offered in hospitality or with a theory-based explanation of these relationships.
Pretrade and risk-based clearing
Authors: Balson William E. , Rausser Gordon
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Risk-based clearing has been proposed by Rausser et al. (2010) for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. This paper aims to illustrate the application of risk-based margins to a case study of the mortgage-backed securities derivative portfolio of the American International Group (AIG) during the period 2005-2008. There exists sufficient publicly available information to examine AIG’s derivative portfolio and how that portfolio would depend on conjectural changes in margin requirements imposed on its OTC derivative positions. Generally, such data on OTC derivative portfolio positions are unavailable in the public domain, and thus, the AIG data provide a unique opportunity for an objective evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses modern financial methodology to evaluate risk-based margining and collateralization for the major OTC derivative portfolio of the AIG.

Findings

This analysis reveals that a risk-based margin procedure would have led to earlier margin calls of greater magnitude initially than the collateral calls actually faced by AIG Financial Products (AIGFP). The total margin ultimately required by the risk-based procedure, however, is similar in magnitude to the collateral calls faced by AIGFP by August 2008. It is likely that a risk-based clearing procedure applied to AIG’s OTC contracts would have led to the AIG undertaking significant hedging and liquidation of their OTC positions well before the losses built up to the point they had, perhaps avoiding the federal government’s orchestrated restructuring that occurred in September 2008.

Originality/value

There has been no published risk-based evaluations of a major OTC portfolio of derivatives for any company, let alone the AIG.
Crisis facilitates policy change, not liberalization
Authors: Stocker Marshall L.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Crisis events are windows of opportunity during which a country’s leaders may implement economic policy adjustments which change that country’s level of economic freedom and affect the local capital market. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between annual changes in an economic freedom index, six types of crises and equity market returns.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses fixed-effects regressions on annual panel data for 69 countries during the period 2000-2010.

Findings

Banking, domestic debt and inflation crises decrease economic freedom, and an external debt crisis weakly relates to increases in economic freedom. Only banking crises relate to a change in economic freedom in the following year, suggesting that crisis-driven changes in economic freedom happen quickly. Gains in economic freedom are more likely to occur during periods of positive local and global equity returns. Preceding and contemporaneous to increases in economic freedom, a country’s equity market outperforms a global equity index, offering observers a leading indicator for economic policy change.

Originality/value

The author finds that crises coincide with decreases in economic freedom, while gains in economic freedom happen during periods of positive capital market sentiment. The absence of a relationship between one-year lagged crisis events and changes in economic freedom suggests prior research relating gains in economic freedom to a crisis occurring 5 or 10 years earlier is a relationship which is more complex, non-linear and specific to the selected data period or spurious. Furthermore, relative equity market returns are related to changes in economic freedom, suggesting that equity markets identify which countries have increased economic freedom, long before popular economic freedom indexes are published.
The trend of integrated reporting practice in South Africa: ceremonial or substantive?
Authors: Ahmed Haji Abdifatah , Anifowose Mutalib
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the trend of integrated reporting (IR) practice following the introduction of an “apply or explain” IR requirement in South Africa. In particular, the authors examine whether the IR practice is ceremonial or substantive in the context of a soft regulatory environment.

Design/methodology/approach

By way of content analyses, the authors examine the extent and quality of IR practice using an IR checklist developed based on normative understanding of existing IR guidelines. The evidence is drawn from 246 integrated reports of large South African companies over a three-year period (2011-2013), following the introduction of IR requirement in South Africa.

Findings

The results show a significant increase in the extent and quality of IR practice. The findings also reveal significant improvements in individual IR categories such as connectivity of information, materiality determination process and reliability and completeness of the integrated reports. However, despite the increasing trend and evidence of both symbolic and substantive IR practice, the authors conclude that the current IR practice is largely ceremonial in nature, produced to acquire organisational legitimacy.

Practical implications

For academics, the authors argue that there is a need to move away from the “what” and “why” aspects of the IR agenda to “how” IR should work inside organisations. In particular, academics should engage with firms through interventionist research to help firms implement integrated thinking and substantive reporting practices. For organisations, the findings draw attention to specific aspects of IR that require improvement. For policymakers, the study provides evidence based on the developmental stage of IR practice and draws attention to certain areas that need clarification. In particular, the International Integrated Reporting Council and Integrated Reporting Committee of South Africa should provide detailed guidelines on connectivity of information, material issues and disclosure of multiple capitals and their trade-offs. Finally, for educators, in line with the ACCA’s embedment of IR in its accounting courses, there is a need to incorporate IR in the curriculum; in particular, the authors argue that the best way to advance IR is in a “ubiquitous” spread in accounting and management courses.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical account of IR practice over time in the context of a regulatory IR environment. The construction of an IR checklist developed based on normative understanding of local and international IR guidelines is another novel approach of this study.
Paracelsus Revisited: The Dose Concept in a Complex World
Authors: Grandjean Philippe
Published: May 2016

At the time that Paracelsus coined his famous dictum, ‘What is there that is not poison? All things are poison and nothing is without poison. Solely the dose determines that a thing is not a poison’, embryonic toxicology was a fairly focused discipline that mainly dealt with occupational poisonings and side effects of pharmaceuticals, such as mercury. While Paracelsus paved the way for the modern threshold concept and the no‐adverse effect level, modern‐day toxicology is now tussling with highly complex issues, such as developmental exposures, genetic predisposition and other sources of hypersusceptibility, multiple causes of underestimated toxicity, and the continuous presence of uncertainty, even in regard to otherwise well‐studied mercury compounds. Further, the wealth of industrial chemicals now challenges the ‘untested‐chemical assumption’, that the lack of documentation means that toxic potentials can be ignored. Unfortunately, in its ambition to provide solid evidence, toxicology has been pushed into almost endless replications, as evidenced by the thousands of toxicology publications every year that focus on toxic metals, including mercury, while less well‐known hazards are ignored. From a public health viewpoint, toxicology needs to provide better guidance on decision‐making under ever‐present uncertainty. In this role, we need to learn from the stalwart Paracelsus the insistence on relying on facts rather than authority alone to protect against chemical hazards.
A Random Effect Model for Reconstruction of Spatial Chromatin Structure
Authors: Park Jincheol , Lin Shili
Published: May 2016

A gene may be controlled by distal enhancers and repressors, not merely by regulatory elements in its promoter. Spatial organization of chromosomes is the mechanism that brings genes and their distal regulatory elements into close proximity. Recent molecular techniques, coupled with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology, enable genome-wide detection of physical contacts between distant genomic loci. In particular, Hi-C is an NGS-aided assay for the study of genome-wide spatial interactions. The availability of such data makes it possible to reconstruct the underlying three-dimensional (3D) spatial chromatin structure. In this article, we present the Poisson Random effect Architecture Model (PRAM) for such an inference. The main feature of PRAM that separates it from previous methods is that it addresses the issue of over-dispersion and takes correlations among contact counts into consideration, thereby achieving greater consistency with observed data. PRAM was applied to Hi-C data to illustrate its performance and to compare the predicted distances with those measured by a Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) validation experiment. Further, PRAM was compared to other methods in the literature based on both real and simulated data.
Land use, fallow period and the recovery of a Caatinga forest
Authors: Sobrinho Mellissa S. , Tabarelli Marcelo , Machado Isabel C. , Sfair Júlia C. , Bruna Emilio M. , Lopes Ariadna V.
Published: May 2016

Caatinga vegetation continues to be converted into mosaics of secondary forest stands, but the affect of this process on biodiversity has not yet been examined. We used 35 regenerating and old‐growth stands of Caatinga to examine the recovery of plant assemblages subsequent to slash‐and‐burn agriculture and cattle ranching/pasture in northeastern Brazil. Plant assemblages were contrasted in terms of community structure (stem density/basal area/species richness/diversity), functional (leaf habit/reproductive traits) and taxonomic composition. Soil attributes were also examined to infer potential drivers for cross‐habitat differences. As expected, plant assemblages clearly differed across a large set of community‐level attributes, including all trait categories relative to leaf habit and reproduction (pollination syndrome/floral color, size, type). Overall, old‐growth forest stands supported distinct and more diverse assemblages at the plot and habitat level;e.g., long‐lived tree species were almost exclusively found in old‐growth forest stands. For most attributes, plant assemblages subsequent to pasture exhibited intermediate values between those exhibited by old‐growth forest and those of agriculture‐related stands. Surprisingly, soils exhibited similar fertility‐related scores across habitats. Our results indicate that: (1) sprouting/resprouting represents an important mechanism of forest regeneration; (2) assemblage‐level attributes suggest recovery at distinct rates; (3) forest regeneration implies community‐level changes in both vegetative and reproductive functional attributes, including directional changes; (4) Caatinga is not able to completely recover in a period of 15‐yr following land abandonment; and (5) historical land use affects recovery rates and successional pathways/taxonomic trajectories. Seasonally dry tropical forests may intrinsically cover a wide range of patterns relative to successional model, recovery rates and successional pathways.
Status epilepticus in scrub typhus
Authors: Kalita Jayantee , Mani Vinita E. , Bhoi Sanjeev K. , Misra Usha K.
Published: May 2016

Scrub typhus is an emerging infection, and there is little information about status epilepticus (SE) in scrub typhus. We report the clinical spectrum and outcome of SE in scrub typhus. In a 3‐year prospective hospital‐based observational study, all scrub typhus patients with SE were included. Scrub typhus was diagnosed by immunochromatography assay. SE was defined if convulsions lasted longer than 5 min. The patients' demographic, clinical, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electroencephalography (EEG) findings were noted. Response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and outcome at 1 month and 1 year were recorded. Between 2012 and 2014, there were 66 patients with scrub typhus admitted with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, 10 (15.2%) of whom had SE (generalized convulsions in 5, secondary generalized in one). The median age of the patients was 34 (range 18–71) years and seven were female. The duration of SE ranged between 10 min and 48 h. SE responded to one AED in five patients, two AEDs in three patients, and more than two AEDs in two patients. Cranial MRI findings were normal. All patients recovered completely with doxycycline by 1 month and AED was withdrawn by 8 months in all. Although 15% patients with scrub typhus may have SE, they have good outcome.
Off‐target effects of engineered nucleases
Authors: Yee Jiing‐Kuan
Published: May 2016

Recent advances in gene editing with engineered nucleases have transformed our ability to manipulate the genome from diverse organisms for applications ranging from biomedical research to disease treatment. A major complication with these engineered nucleases is the binding of the nuclease to unintended genomic sites that share sequence homology with the on‐target site. Cleavage of these off‐target sites followed by DNA repair using normal cellular DNA repair mechanisms can cause gene mutation or gross chromosome rearrangement. Identification of nuclease‐generated off‐target sites is a daunting task due to the size and complexity of the mammalian genome. Five unbiased, genome‐wide strategies have been developed to detect the off‐target cleavage. Some of these strategies reach the sensitivity near the detection limit of directed deep sequencing and have sufficient precision and resolution to objectively assessing the off‐target effect of any engineered nuclease. Significant progress has also been made recently to boost the nuclease targeting specificity by protein engineering to modify the structure of the nuclease and alter the interaction with its genomic target. In several studied cases, the off‐target effect generated by the modified nuclease is completely eliminated. These modified nucleases significantly improve the overall fidelity of gene editing. These developments will enable gene editing tools to be applied more broadly and safely in basic research and disease treatment.
Exploring the Effects of a Short‐Term Spanish Immersion Program in a Postsecondary Setting
Authors: Miano Alice A. , Bernhardt Elizabeth B. , Brates Vivian
Published: May 2016

This article probes the extent to which postsecondary Spanish learners can substantively increase their knowledge of Spanish over a two‐week period within a context of language and content instruction for four hours per day. The article considers the relationship of an immersion experience to upper‐level literature and culture classes. Insights into integrating service learning as a key part of the Spanish learning experience are also provided. Oral and writing data were collected in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 to demonstrate that participants showed significant improvement in their Spanish language abilities within the two weeks of the intensive experience. The enhancement of participants' Spanish language proficiency did not, however, bridge to upper‐level Spanish literature and culture courses, or necessarily to an interest in study abroad. Using service learning as a motivating factor in student participation had a positive affective impact.
A surfactant‐based wound dressing can reduce bacterial biofilms in a porcine skin explant model
Authors: Yang Qingping , Larose Christelle , Della Porta Alessandra C , Schultz Gregory S , Gibson Daniel J
Published: May 2016

Bacterial biofilms have been found in many, if not all, chronic wounds. Their excessive extracellular matrix secretion and the metabolic changes that they undergo render them highly tolerant of many antibiotic and antimicrobial treatments. Physical removal and/or disruption are a common approach to treating wounds suspected of having bacterial biofilms. While many of these techniques use mechanical energy as the primary means of removal, we have begun to investigate if surfactants could facilitate the removal of bacterial biofilms, or if they might sensitise the biofilms to antimicrobial interventions. We tested a new surfactant‐based wound gel on an ex vivo porcine skin explant model infected with a functionally tolerant 3‐day biofilm. The wounds were dressed with a surfactant‐based gel directly on the wound or with moistened gauze. The wounds were then wiped daily with moistened gauze, and the gel or gauze was re‐applied. Each day, an explant from each group was harvested and tested for total viable bacteria counts and viable biofilm‐protected bacteria counts. The results show that daily wiping with moistened gauze led to an initial decrease of bacteria, but by day 3, the biofilm had been fully re‐established to the same level prior to the beginning of treatment. For the surfactant‐based treatment, there was no detectable functional biofilm after the first treatment. The gauze control, which was also subjected to daily wiping, still contained functional biofilms, indicating that this result was not due to wiping alone. The total bacteria in the surfactant‐treated explants steadily decreased through day 3, when there were no detectable bacteria, while the wiping‐only control bacteria counts remained steady. The use of a moist gauze to wipe the visually apparent slime off of a wound appears to be insufficient to reduce biofilm over a 3‐day period. Daily application of the surfactant gel dressing and wiping reduced the biofilm to undetectable levels within 3 days in a skin explant model. A 3‐day regimen of dressing the wound model with a surfactant gel followed by gentle removal of the gel by wiping with a moistened gauze appears to be a simple and adequate approach to removing a bacterial biofilm infection in an ex vivo model. Additional clinical evidence is needed to determine if this promising approach can perform the same in clinically infected chronic wounds.
Neoarchean tectonothermal imprints in the Rengali Province, eastern India and their implication on the growth of Singhbhum Craton: evidence from zircon U–Pb SHRIMP data
Authors: Bose S. , Das K. , Kimura K. , Hidaka H. , Dasgupta A. , Ghosh G. , Mukhopadhyay J.
Published: May 2016

A detailed zircon U–Pb (SHRIMP) geochronological study of the amphibolite to granulite‐grade rocks of the Rengali Province of eastern India records the growth history of the southern margin of the Singhbhum Craton. Pelitic and mafic granulites from the gneissic belt exhibit contrasting styles of metamorphism. Zircon of the pelitic granulites from the eastern segment yields c. 3528–3064 Ma detrital ages. Charnockitic gneiss from the eastern segment has protolith age of 3058 ± 15 Ma while that from the central segment has protolith age of 2861 ± 30 Ma. The latter rock records high‐grade metamorphism at 2818 ± 15 Ma. Hornblende gneiss from the central sector has a protolith age of 2828 ± 9 Ma. Deformed leucogranite in the central and undeformed granitoid in the eastern segment were emplaced at 2807 ± 13 and 2809 ± 13 Ma respectively. The protolith of felsic gneiss from the central sector was emplaced at 2776 ± 24 Ma. Most of the zircon samples contain overgrowths of c. 2500 Ma, inferred to be the age of reworking of the gneissic belt. Our data suggest that the Rengali Province evolved as an orogenic belt in the Neoarchean time (c. 2800–2500 Ma) during southward growth of the Singhbhum Craton. These tectonothermal imprints at the margin of the Singhbhum Craton are possibly related to its inclusion within the supercontinent Ur.
Evaluation of anti‐acne property of purified bee venom serum in humans
Authors: Han Sang Mi , Pak Sok Cheon , Nicholls Young Mee , Macfarlane Nicola
Published: May 2016

Objective

Acne vulgaris is a chronic dermatologic disease with four factors involved in the development of lesions. Treatments need to address as many of these underlying factors as possible in order to reduce acne lesions. As such, purified bee venom (PBV™) serum is an attractive therapeutic option for acne, but little data exist on the efficacy of this treatment strategy.

Methods

In this prospective, noncomparative study, 30 subjects having mild‐to‐moderate acne vulgaris were enrolled and treated with PBV™ serum twice daily for a period of 6 weeks. Clinical evaluation of lesions by expert visual grading and image analysis were made at weeks 0 (baseline), 3, and 6.

Results

The average visual acne grade of all volunteers significantly improved with the PBV™ serum treatment at weeks 3 (P < 0.05) and 6 (P < 0.001) when compared with the baseline grade at week 0. In addition, there was a mean percent improvement of 8.6% and 52.3% in acne grade observed after 3 and 6 weeks of PBV™ serum use, with 20% and 77% of the subjects showing improvement, respectively, when compared with baseline. Moreover, the subjects showed improvement in open comedones, closed comedones, papules, pustules, and nodules after 3 and 6 weeks of PBV™ serum use.

Conclusion

Six weeks of treatment with PBV™ serum was found to be effective in the treatment of mild‐to‐moderate acne vulgaris, with no incidence of serious side effects or irritation.
Who Borrows from the Lender of Last Resort?
Authors: DRECHSLER ITAMAR , DRECHSEL THOMAS , MARQUES‐IBANEZ DAVID , SCHNABL PHILIPP
Published: May 2016

We analyze lender of last resort (LOLR) lending during the European sovereign debt crisis. Using a novel data set on all central bank lending and collateral, we show that weakly capitalized banks took out more LOLR loans and used riskier collateral than strongly capitalized banks. We also find that weakly capitalized banks used LOLR loans to buy risky assets such as distressed sovereign debt. This resulted in a reallocation of risky assets from strongly to weakly capitalized banks. Our findings cannot be explained by classical LOLR theory. Rather, they point to risk taking by banks, both independently and with the encouragement of governments, and highlight the benefit of unifying LOLR lending and bank supervision.
Experiences of Discrimination in an Emerging Latina/o Community
Authors: Macia Laura
Published: May 2016

In this article I explore how members of an emerging community of Latina/o immigrants in Pittsburgh, a small but rapidly growing population, understand and respond to discrimination. Both documented and undocumented Latina/o immigrants reported experiencing discrimination and facing challenges in addressing these experiences. However, personal context has an impact on specific grievance processes. I specifically explore three main topics: (1) the difficulty expressed by many Latina/o immigrants in using the name–blame–claim continuum for discriminatory acts; (2) how discriminatory incidents tend to reinforce the intrinsic inequality at the root of discrimination; and (3) how acts of discrimination and the responses to them actively shape the Latina/o identity within their own community and by their American‐born counterparts.
Prevalence of Cerebral Palsy among 8‐Year‐Old Children in 2010 and Preliminary Evidence of Trends in Its Relationship to Low Birthweight
Authors: Durkin Maureen S. , Benedict Ruth E. , Christensen Deborah , Dubois Lindsay A. , Fitzgerald Robert T. , Kirby Russell S. , Maenner Matthew J. , Van Naarden Braun Kim , Wingate Martha S. , Yeargin‐Allsopp Marshalyn
Published: May 2016

Background

The public health objective for cerebral palsy (CP) in the United States is to reduce the percentage of children with CP who were born low birthweight (LBW, <2500 g) by 10% between 2006 and 2020. This study reports the prevalence of CP in a constant surveillance area for the years 2006, 2008, and 2010 and describes initial progress towards the CP public health objective.

Methods

Data on children with CP at age 8 years were ascertained by the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, a population‐based surveillance system that monitored CP in four areas of the United States.

Results

CP prevalence in 2010 was 2.9 per 1000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6, 3.2], down from 3.5 (95% CI 3.2, 3.9) in the same surveillance area in 2006. Among CP cases with no documented postneonatal aetiology, 49.1% (95% CI 42.9, 55.2) were born LBW in 2010 compared with 54.3% (95% CI 48.4, 60.1) in 2006. In 2010, 28.1% (95% CI 22.9, 30.4) were born very low birthweight (VLBW, <1500 g) compared with 35.4% (95% CI 30.0, 41.2) in 2006. The relative risks for associations between CP and both LBW and VLBW also declined, though not significantly, during the study period.

Conclusions

Declines in the associations between CP and LBW categories may have contributed to declines during the study period in both the prevalence of CP and the percentage of children with CP who were born LBW or VLBW. Ongoing monitoring of these trends is warranted.