bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Singing through winter nights: Seasonal and diel occurrence of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) calls in and around the Gully MPA, offshore eastern Canada
Authors: Kowarski Katie , Evers Clair , Moors‐Murphy Hilary , Martin Bruce , Denes Samuel L.
Published: October 2017

Humpback whale use of areas off eastern Canada is poorly understood, a knowledge gap that could impact future conservation efforts. We describe the acoustic occurrence of humpback whales in and around the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA), an eastern Scotian Shelf submarine canyon. Near‐continuous acoustic recordings sampling at 16 kHz were collected from the MPA and nearby slope areas from October 2012 to September 2014 using near‐bottom recorders. In an offshore region where humpbacks were thought to be rare, we observed calls from October to June with a peak in song and nonsong calls in December and January. This suggests that some individuals occur in Canadian waters in winter and the Gully region may be a North Atlantic humpback whale migratory corridor. Calls were predominantly songs indicating potential mating activities. Song and nonsong calls occurred more at sunset and during hours of darkness than during daylight. This study improves our understanding of the seasonal occurrence of humpback whales on the Scotian Slope and, more specifically, their use of an offshore protected area.
Effect of noise dose bin-width on dose-response curves
Authors: Wayant Nicole , Nykaza Edward T.
Published: October 2017

Dose-response curves lie at the heart of most global community noise laws/policies. Yet, there is no standard on how to choose the noise dose bins that underlie the curves which describe the relationship between noise and annoyance. This paper strives to understand whether the binning process affects the modeled relationship by examining common binning and curve-fitting procedures. It was found that the subjective choice of bin-width can considerably affect the resulting dose-response curves. The implications of these findings are discussed and recommendations are given to ameliorate the situation so that future studies and policies can avoid these potential pitfalls.
U-duality in three and four dimensions
Authors: Malek Emanuel
Published: October 2017

Using generalised geometry we study the action of U-duality acting in three and four dimensions on the bosonic fields of 11-dimensional supergravity. We compare the U-duality symmetry with the T-duality symmetry of double field theory and see how the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] U-duality groups reduce to the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] T-duality symmetry groups of the type IIA theory. As examples we dualise M2-branes, both black and extreme. We find that uncharged black M2-branes become charged under U-duality, generalising the Harrison transformation, while extreme M2-branes will become new extreme M2-branes. The resulting tension and charges are quantised appropriately if we use the discrete U-duality group [Formula: see text].
The Genetics of Pain: Implications for Therapeutics
Authors: Sexton Jane E. , Cox James J. , Zhao Jing , Wood John N.
Published: October 2017

Pain is an increasing clinical challenge affecting about half the population, with a substantial number of people suffering daily intense pain. Such suffering can be linked to the dramatic rise in opioid use and associated deaths in the United States. There is a pressing need for new analgesics with limited side effects. Here, we summarize what we know about the genetics of pain and implications for drug development. We make the case that chronic pain is not one but a set of disease states, with peripheral drive a key element in most. We argue that understanding redundancy and plasticity, hallmarks of the nervous system, is critical in developing analgesic drug strategies. We describe the exploitation of monogenic pain syndromes and genetic association studies to define analgesic targets, as well as issues associated with animal models of pain. We appraise present-day screening technologies and describe recent approaches to pain treatment that hold promise.
A comparison of adipose tissue interstitial glucose and venous blood glucose during postprandial resistance exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Heden Timothy D. , Liu Ying , Kanaley Jill A.
Published: October 2017

Resistance exercise during the postprandial period lowers venous glucose concentrations in individuals with type 2 diabetes, but the impact of resistance exercise on interstitial glucose concentrations is not well understood. The objective of this study was to compare subcutaneous adipose tissue interstitial glucose and venous blood glucose concentrations during postprandial resistance exercise in patients with type 2 diabetes. Eleven individuals completed two trials in a random order including a no-exercise (NoEx) and a postprandial resistance exercise trial (M-Ex). During the trials, the individuals consumed a meal and either remained sedentary (NoEx) or performed a session of resistance training beginning 45 min after the meal (M-Ex) while interstitial and venous glucose concentrations were simultaneously measured. Venous glucose during exercise was ~11% lower ( P = 0.05) during M-Ex (8.0 ± 0.5 mmol/l) compared with NoEx (9.0 ± 0.5 mmol/l) whereas interstitial glucose during M-Ex (10.4 ± 0.7 mmol/l) was not different compared with interstitial glucose during NoEx (10.1 ± 0.7 mmol/l). Bland-Altman plots revealed that the difference (bias) between interstitial and venous glucose during exercise was more than twofold greater during M-Ex (2.36 ± 2.07 mmol/l) compared with NoEx (1.11 ± 1.69 mmol/l). The mean (33.8 ± 6.2 mmol/l) and median (34.7 ± 6.3 mmol/l) absolute relative difference during exercise were 73% and 78% greater compared with the mean (19.5 ± 4.1 mmol/l) and median (19.5 ± 4.1 mmol/l) absolute relative difference during NoEx ( P = 0.04). Resistance exercise has unequal effects on glucose concentrations within different bodily compartments as exercise reduced venous glucose concentrations but not adipose tissue interstitial glucose concentrations in the abdominal region in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to compare subcutaneous adipose tissue interstitial glucose concentrations and venous blood glucose concentrations during postprandial resistance exercise in individuals with type 2 diabetes. We find that resistance exercise effectively reduces systemic venous blood glucose concentrations but not subcutaneous adipose tissue interstitial glucose concentrations in the abdominal region. Resistance exercise has differential effects on glucose concentrations depending on its compartmentalization within the body.
Power Device Thermal Fault Tolerant Control of High-Power Three-Level Explosion-Proof Inverter Based on Holographic Equivalent Dual-Mode Modulation
Authors: Xu Shi-Zhou , Wang Chun-jie , Peng Yu-feng
Published: October 2017

It is necessary for three-level explosion-proof inverters to have high thermal stability and good output characteristics avoiding problems caused by power devices, such as IGBT, so it becomes a hot and difficult research point using only one control algorithm to guarantee both output characteristics and high thermal stability. Firstly, the simplified SVPWM (Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation) algorithm was illustrated based on the NPC (neutral-point-clamped) three-level inverter, and then the quasi-square wave control was brought in and made into a novel holographic equivalent dual-mode modulation algorithm together with the simplified SVPWM. The holographic equivalent model was established to analyze the relative advantages comparing with the two single algorithms. Finally, the dynamic output and steady power device losses were analyzed, based on which the power loss calculation and system simulation were conducted as well. The experiment proved that the high-power three-level explosion-proof inverter has good output characteristics and thermal stability.
Blood‐Based Bioenergetic Profiling Reflects Differences in Brain Bioenergetics and Metabolism
Authors: Tyrrell Daniel J. , Bharadwaj Manish S. , Jorgensen Matthew J. , Register Thomas C. , Shively Carol , Andrews Rachel N. , Neth Bryan , Dirk Keene C. , Mintz Akiva , Craft Suzanne , Molina Anthony J. A.
Published: October 2017

Blood‐based bioenergetic profiling provides a minimally invasive assessment of mitochondrial health shown to be related to key features of aging. Previous studies show that blood cells recapitulate mitochondrial alterations in the central nervous system under pathological conditions, including the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study of nonhuman primates, we focus on mitochondrial function and bioenergetic capacity assessed by the respirometric profiling of monocytes, platelets, and frontal cortex mitochondria. Our data indicate that differences in the maximal respiratory capacity of brain mitochondria are reflected by CD14+ monocyte maximal respiratory capacity and platelet and monocyte bioenergetic health index. A subset of nonhuman primates also underwent [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) imaging to assess brain glucose metabolism. Our results indicate that platelet respiratory capacity positively correlates to measures of glucose metabolism in multiple brain regions. Altogether, the results of this study provide early evidence that blood‐based bioenergetic profiling is related to brain mitochondrial metabolism. While these measures cannot substitute for direct measures of brain metabolism, provided by measures such as FDG‐PET, they may have utility as a metabolic biomarker and screening tool to identify individuals exhibiting systemic bioenergetic decline who may therefore be at risk for the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Ways of Being Strands: Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Using Craft and Mathematics
Authors: Nimkulrat Nithikul , Matthews Janette
Published: October 2017

This article presents a collaborative project between a textile practitioner-researcher (Nimkulrat) and a textile practitioner-mathematician (Matthews). Mathematical investigation of Nimkulrat's craft knots through mathematical knot diagrams by Matthews revealed knot properties which were indiscernible from the work alone. This approach led to a way of visualizing knot designs using more than one color prior to making. The result of this current research phase illuminates the role of mathematics in making the knotting process explicit. It demonstrates the influence of mathematical analysis on craft practice and the significance of cross-disciplinary collaboration on the development of knotted pattern design.
Optimization of Noah and Noah_MP WRF Land Surface Schemes in Snow-Melting Conditions over Complex Terrain
Authors: Tomasi Elena , Giovannini Lorenzo , Zardi Dino , de Franceschi Massimiliano
Published: October 2017

The paper presents the results of high-resolution simulations performed with the WRF Model, coupled with two different land surface schemes, Noah and Noah_MP, with the aim of accurately reproducing winter season meteorological conditions in a typical Alpine valley. Accordingly, model results are compared against data collected during an intensive field campaign performed in the Adige Valley, in the eastern Italian Alps. In particular, the ability of the model in reproducing the time evolution of 2-m temperature and of incoming and outgoing shortwave and longwave radiation is examined. The validation of model results highlights that, in this context, WRF reproduces rather poorly near-surface temperature over snow-covered terrain, with an evident underestimation, during both daytime and nighttime. Furthermore it fails to capture specific atmospheric processes, such as the temporal evolution of the ground-based thermal inversion. The main cause of these errors lies in the miscalculation of the mean gridcell albedo, resulting in an inaccurate estimate of the reflected solar radiation calculated by both Noah and Noah_MP. Therefore, modifications to the initialization, to the land-use classification, and to both land surface models are performed to improve model results, by intervening in the calculation of the albedo, of the snow cover, and of the surface temperature. Qualitative and quantitative analyses show that, after these changes, a significant improvement in the comparability between model results and observations is achieved. In particular, outgoing shortwave radiation is lowered, 2-m temperature maxima increased accordingly, and ground-based thermal inversions are better captured.
Adaptive Kalman Filtering for Postprocessing Ensemble Numerical Weather Predictions
Authors: Pelosi Anna , Medina Hanoi , Van den Bergh Joris , Vannitsem Stéphane , Chirico Giovanni Battista
Published: October 2017

Forecasts from numerical weather prediction models suffer from systematic and nonsystematic errors, which originate from various sources such as subgrid-scale variability affecting large scales. Statistical postprocessing techniques can partly remove such errors. Adaptive MOS techniques based on Kalman filters (here called AMOS), are used to sequentially postprocess the forecasts, by continuously updating the correction parameters as new ground observations become available. These techniques, originally proposed for deterministic forecasts, are valuable when long training datasets do not exist. Here, a new adaptive postprocessing technique for ensemble predictions (called AEMOS) is introduced. The proposed method implements a Kalman filtering approach that fully exploits the information content of the ensemble for updating the parameters of the postprocessing equation. A verification study for the region of Campania in southern Italy is performed. Two years (2014–15) of daily meteorological observations of 10-m wind speed and 2-m temperature from 18 ground-based automatic weather stations are used, comparing them with the corresponding COSMO-LEPS ensemble forecasts. It is shown that the proposed adaptive method outperforms the AMOS method, while it shows comparable results to the member-by-member batch postprocessing approach.
Teaching provision for old age psychiatry in medical schools in the UK and Ireland: a survey
Authors: Bennett Sophia , Ilderton Poppy , O'Brien John T. , Taylor John-Paul , Teodorczuk Andrew
Published: October 2017

Aims and method

This work builds on a survey first done in 1999 to understand how old age psychiatry teaching is embedded in undergraduate medical schools in the UK and Ireland and the influence of academic old age psychiatrists on teaching processes. We invited deans of 31 medical schools in the UK and Ireland in 2015 to complete an online survey to reassess the situation 16 years later.

Results

Response rate was 74%. As found in the original survey, there was variation across medical schools in how old age psychiatry is taught. Half of schools stated there was not enough space in the curriculum dedicated to old age psychiatry, and not all medical school curricula offered a clinical attachment. Medical schools that involved academic old age psychiatrists in teaching (59%) showed a greater diversity of teaching methods.

Clinical implications

There is a need to recognise the importance of old age psychiatry teaching, with the consensus of opinion continuing to be that more curriculum space needs to be given to old age psychiatry. To achieve this we advocate increasing the number of old age psychiatrists with teaching roles, as relying on academics to teach and lead on curriculum development is challenging given their greater research pressures.
When Online Reviews Meet Sales Volume Information: Is More or Accurate Information Always Better?
Authors: Liu Yang , Feng Juan , Liao Xiuwu
Published: October 2017

This paper studies how two types of market-generated information, namely, online reviews and past sales volume information, jointly affect consumer purchase decisions as well as firms’ pricing strategies. We build a two-period duopoly model in a market with herding consumers who have different preferences and are unsure of the quality difference between products. In addition, a firm’s sales volume is uncertain because of the existence of “irregular” consumers. We find that the impacts of online reviews and sales volume information on firms’ profits are mutually enhancing. The impact of such market-generated information depends on both product characteristics (the level of consumers’ misfit for the nonpreferred product) and how consumers a priori perceive the quality difference between the products. Contrary to the conventional wisdom that more/accurate information is beneficial to high-quality firms, as well as consumers, we find that such information can be detrimental to firms, as firms adjust prices to induce, or react to, favorable market-generated information. Accordingly, consumers may not benefit from such market-generated information if the gain from less uncertainty cannot offset the loss from higher product prices. Such findings offer guidelines for firms to design better pricing strategies, as well as information policies, such as whether or not to promote more informative reviews.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2017.0715 .
Is it a revolution or a coup? Scandinavian media representations of the ousting of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy
Authors: Abdelmoez Joel W.
Published: October 2017

In the summer of 2013, millions of Egyptians returned to Tahrir square in Cairo to demand the resignation of the country’s first democratically elected president. This article examines the two key terms mainly used to describe the ousting of President Mohamed Morsy, ‘coup’ and ‘revolution’, and how these terms can be understood as arguments for two different interpretations of the event. Particular focus is given to the press corps of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which reveals a discrepancy between the interpretation of Scandinavian online press and the Egyptian majority, meaning that the Scandinavian press corps is telling a story that is not recognized by those it is about. While many media producers speak of a severe polarization, it is found that the divide is actually small in number, but grows over time, raising questions about journalistic practice and media ethics. It is concluded that Scandinavian reporting on the Middle East needs to be seriously evaluated and reformed in order to improve its credibility.
Language use in Le Monde’s print and online ‘news at a glance’: A potential shift in news media role
Authors: Le Elisabeth
Published: October 2017

Democracy and media are concepts that go hand in hand. While numerous debates pinpoint to the continuous need to reinforce democracy, financial difficulties keep plaguing western media. In their strategies for news presentations, print and online newspapers may reflect public spheres linked to various types of democracy; this may have an impact on their ability to attract readers. This article explores the print and online ‘news at a glance’ of the French quality daily, Le Monde (LM), through a frame and heteroglossia analysis. This analysis of language use reveals how the introduction of a new technological support has been accompanied by a change towards a more ‘open’ and less authority-prone conception of media function in society, a change that contributes to a shift from an active monitorial to a facilitative news media role.
All about Yves: Saint Laurent and the Warhol effect
Authors: Rees-Roberts Nick
Published: October 2017

The illustrious careers of Yves Saint Laurent and Andy Warhol intersect in revealing ways: Warhol started out as a graphic artist working in fashion advertising, celebrated for his illustrations and department store windows, but longed to be recognized as a famous artist; Saint Laurent, who so admired literature, painting and opera, felt his talent was squandered on the business of fashion and coveted the prestige of the fine arts. But while the YSL brand invested heavily in the artistic persona of the couturier as rooted in a form of decadent nostalgia, Warhol’s persona simply represented the present like no other personality of the period, casting his critical gaze over the workings of mass-media culture, actively shaping his own legend as the recorder of surfaces. With the rise in the 1960s of Saint Laurent’s popular ready-to-wear line and subsequent global licencing agreements, Pop art overlapped with consumer fashion, sharing similar preoccupations such as serial repetition and mass diffusion. This article investigates the impact of Warhol’s wide-ranging enquiry into media representation on the career, image and persona of one of France’s most illustrious and glamorous designers of the later twentieth century. It does this by drawing on a number of contemporary film dramatizations and documentary portraits of Saint Laurent’s life including the recent biopics Yves Saint Laurent (Lespert, 2014) and Saint Laurent (Bonello, 2014), both of which read the subject through the lens of celebrity culture.
Reviews
Authors: Devereux Eoin , Dale Pete
Published: October 2017

ENCHANTING DAVID BOWIE: SPACE, TIME, BODY, MEMORY, TOIJA CINQUE AND SEAN REDMOND (EDS) (2015) 1st ed., Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic, 368 pp., ISBN: 9781628923056, p/bk, 23.99 Stg

NEW WAVE: IMAGE IS EVERYTHING, MATTHEW KING ADKINS (2015) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 157 pp., ISBN: 9781137363541, h/bk, $100; ISBN: 9781349473045, p/bk, $95
O Uso de Fitoterápicos na Redução e no Tratamento de Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica
Authors: Meira Elisangela , Kloster Edirléia De Fatima , Kosak Josieli Maria , Kolitski Mayara Francini , Cutilaki Vinicius Bastos , Mazur Caryna Eurich
Published: October 2017

Buscou-se analisar o efeito de alguns fitoterápicos na prevenção e tratamento de doenças cardiovasculares, em especial na hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Foi realizado uma revisão de literatura na biblioteca virtual LILACS, Scielo, Google Acadêmico, e Pubmed, referentes aos anos de 1990 a 2016. Foram encontrados e descritos 5 fitoterápicos. A fitoterapia é muito utilizada, porém muito sem fundos científicos, desta forma mais estudos são necessários para comprovação da eficiência dos mesmos.
O texto de teatro como um Gênero Plural
Authors: Damasceno Erasmo Carlos Gonçalves , Oliveira Nederjane Delmondes Coelho de
Published: October 2017

O principal objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a funcionalidade dos sinais gráficos de pontuação no gênero peça de teatro nas turmas de 7º ano, visando minimizar as dificuldades apresentadas pelos alunos na fluência da leitura. O universo de pesquisa foi a Escola Pública Eduardo de Sousa Carvalho, em Araripina – PE. A amostra foi composta de 60 sujeitos, sendo eles: 02 (duas) turmas do ensino fundamental II. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, aplicou-se a técnica da intervenção pedagógica no sentido de comparar a funcionalidade da metodologia empregada, uma vez que numa determinada turma será feita a intervenção no tocante a atividades de leitura, produção e exposição de peças teatrais, sobre os quais se enfatizará os usos dos sinais gráficos de pontuação de maneira lúdica. Em contrapartida numa segunda turma também do sétimo ano, será abordado os sinais de pontuação, porém sem a devida intervenção, a fim de se obter dados comparativos entre duas realidades distintas. Constatou-se que os rendimentos obtidos mediante observação contínua do professor/investigador foram satisfatórios. Ou seja, os alunos sujeitos da amostra melhoraram significativamente o seu nível de proficiência em leitura.
From the Editor in Chief
Authors: Doğanay Ahmet
Published: October 2017

Dear producers and consumers of knowledge,

I would like to share the happiness of being with you again with 7th Volume 4th Issue of Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction (PEGEGOG). I hope you could find time to have a rest after your busy schedule. Initially, I want to thank you for the increasing interest for our journal.

PEGEGOG has been indexed in SCOPUS since July 17, 2017. I'm pleased to inform you in this issue that the journal's h-index rose to 11. However, our aim is always to have much higher scores. Therefore, we invite you to share studies comprehensive, built on strong theoretical basis, innovative and bringing a vision on various fields of educational sciences increasing the number of readers.

There has been 48 articles sent for publication to our journal. This is good news for our journal and country. On the other hand, I have to indicate that there were critical problems in terms of format within these articles as stated in the previous issue. First of all, unfortunately we had to reject some articles as in many of them there were texts very similar to ones in different articles. At first step, we scan all articles in i-Thenticate program to determine the exact quotations from other resources. After this scan, we reject the articles detected to have exact quotations at a high rate without initiating peer-review process. Apart from that, we also send back the articles not written in an academic format not to disturb our reviewers unnecessarily.

One of the problems with the articles submitted to our journal and we had to reject was about data analysis. The data is the raw information collected from related resources through research aims. These should be analyzed in parallel with these aims. It is necessary to analyze them using statistics for quantitative data and methods such as content analysis or descriptive analysis for qualitative data. Analysis provides the data being transformed into findings and make sense. Especially, in some of document analysis and some qualitative studies, it is seen that data are presented as findings. In some others, data are presented being only described. It is essential that the studies are formed in an article format obeying the rules by the journal and presented for publication afterwards.

As always, we present the six articles got through peer-review process and given DOI number to you dear producers and consumers of knowledge. I wish these studies conducted in various fields of educational sciences will be useful and contribute to theoretical knowledge within the field. Hope to meet within the next issue.

Sincerely yours,
Perancangan Jaringan Sensor Nirkabel (JSN) untuk Memantau Suhu dan Kelembaban Menggunakan nRF24L01+
Authors: Af'idah Dwi Intan , Rochim Adian Fatchur , Widianto Eko Didik
Published: October 2017

The environmental condition in a large areas often requires the monitoring. For example, in the case of greenhouse were used to cultivation experiments, fertilization experiments, plant resistance experiments, tissue culture experiments, experimental planting of crops in the off-season, and it needs equipment to monitor and control the environmental conditions to suit the characteristics required environment. The extent of land that is must be monitored, making it needs distribute the monitor at some point so that monitoring of environmental conditions can cover the entire desired area. This is the basis for the design of wireless sensor network for monitoring temperature and humidity using the communication module nRF24L01 +. The system consists of hardware for measuring the temperature and humidity at some point in a certain area. The system is divided into several sections that is referred to as nodes. Node in the system is divided into two functions, namely the sensor node and the concentrator node.. There are two the sensor nodes which will serve to data of temperature and humidity in separate areas and transmit data to the concentrator node. The communication between nodes is done using a module nRF24L01+. The design of communication protocol designed to connect between nodes concentrator with a sensor node capable of running properly. This makes the system capable of monitoring temperature and humidity through a web page, so it can be known conditions of temperature and humidity at some point at the maximum range of 93 meters.
Pharmacological activities of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol: antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-leishmanial studies
Authors: Sharma U. K. , Sharma A. K. , Gupta A. , Kumar R. , Pandey A. , Pandey A. K.
Published: October 2017

The present study reports the antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-leishmanial activities of cinnamaldehyde and eugenol. Both the compounds are naturally present in cinnamon and bay leaf. Eugenol is abundantly present in clove. The antioxidant potential was measured in terms of reducing power (FRAP assay), nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging ability and anti-lipid peroxidative activities. MTT assay was used to evaluate the effect of test compounds on cell viability of prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) as well as for the assessment of in vitro growth inhibition of promastigotes as a measure of anti-leishmanial activity.  Eugenol exhibited considerable NO radical scavenging (63%) and reducing abilities (FRAP value 127í—104 µM/mM) while cinnamaldehyde showed comparatively better protective efficacy against lipid peroxidation in rat brain and kidney homogenates (up to 40%). Cinnamaldehyde also displayed substantial cytotoxic activity (75%) against PC-3 cell line. Both the compounds exhibited moderate anti-leishmanial activity and IC50 values for eugenol and cinnamaldehyde were found to be 0.681 g/ml and 1.426g/ml, respectively. The study revealed that both the test compounds have noticeable antioxidant and cytotoxic activities.
Synthesis, characterization of nano-sized anatase TiO2 and its adsorption behaviour for environmental contaminant
Authors: Gupta K. , Pandey A. , Singh R. P.
Published: October 2017

TiO2 is one of the most studied material due to its unique properties like chemical stability, non toxicity and cost effectiveness.  Nano-sized TiO2   has been prepared by sol –gel method using titanium butoxide as precursor. X- ray diffraction analysis was used to characterize the phase and crystal size of the synthesized TiO2 particles. It was found that sizes of the particles ranged from 6 to 12 nanometre. FT-IR spectrum was also recorded for the TiO2  particles to detect the remaining organic residue .Heavy metals like Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni etc are considered major environmental contaminant in water due to their non biodegradable nature and adverse health effect in living beings. In this work the adsorption behavior of heavy metals towards nano-sized TiO2 was investigated.
Prevalence of COMT Val158Met polymorphism in Eastern UP population
Authors: Kumar P. , Yadav U. , Rai V.
Published: October 2017

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an abundant S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-)-dependent methyltransferase that methylates catechol compounds, including catecholamines and catecholestrogens.COMT  gene located at chromosome 22q11.2 contains a functional polymorphism at codon 158(Val158Met), which has been related to psychiatric diseases and different types of cancer. COMT might affect tHcy levels because as a by-product it converts SAM to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), which is reversibly converted to homocysteine. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of COMT Val158Met polymorphism in scheduled caste (SC) population of Jaunpur district. Total 100 healthy unrelated subjects belonging to SC, between the age group of 18 to70 years were randomly selected for the present study. 3 ml blood samples were collected from each subject. The inclusion criteria of subjects for present study are that they should be domicile of Uttar Pradesh, and healthy without any individual/ family history of genetic or metabolic disorders. COMT Val158Met polymorphism analysis was done by PCR-RFLP method. The Val/Val genotype was found in 48 subjects, Val/Met in 40 subjects and Met/Met genotype in 12 subjects. Genotype frequencies of Val/Val, Val/Met and Met/Met were 0.48, 0.40 and 0.12 respectively. The allele frequency of Val allele was found to be 0.68 and Met allele frequency was 0.32.
Efficacy and Stability studies of microbial folate fortified fruit juices prepared using probiotic microorganism
Authors: Deep S. , Ojha S. , Kundu S.
Published: October 2017

Folate, natural form of water soluble vitamin folic acid, is significant for humans as involved in most important metabolic reactions i.e. nucleotide synthesis and amino acid inter conversions. Thus its deficiency causes neural tube defects in newborns and cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Humans cannot synthesize folate de novo so consumption through diet is essential. Natural food sources, supplements and fortified food products are the choices available to complete the Daily recommended intake. However microbial fortification using probiotics recently gained wide attention due to dual advantage of natural food matrix with enhanced folate content along with the probiotics benefits. Current study was focused on the microbial fortification of fruit juices and their efficacy and stability studies. Freshly filtered orange and tomato juice was prepared and inoculated with Streptococcus thermophilus NCIM 2904. Incubation was done at 40°C and samples were collected at different time interval. Folate extraction was done using human plasma and content was measured by microbiological assay using Lactobacillus casei NCIM No. 2364. Efficacy and stability studies were carried out to ensure the quality of juices to be consumed in terms of folate content, viable cell count and pH after 4 weeks of storage at low temperature. Positive results were observed as folate content was quite stable whereas viable cell count was also found to be significant till some time without adding any preservatives. The results indicated that fortified fruit juices could be used as probiotic beverages with enhanced folate content.
Addictive Disorders in Women: The Impact of Maternal Substance Use on the Fetus and Newborn
Authors: Oji-Mmuo Christiana N. , Corr Tammy E. , Doheny Kim K.
Published: October 2017

Addictive disorders are rising to epidemic proportions throughout the United States and globally, placing significant social and economic burdens on industrialized societies. It is well-known that a high percentage of drug-dependent individuals are women of childbearing age. Maternal substance use and abuse exposes the fetus to drugs of dependence during critical periods of development, resulting in short- and long-term neurodevelopmental effects in infancy and childhood. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a term that was initially used to describe the withdrawal symptoms observed in infants who were exposed to opioids in utero. As we have learned more about the various effects of in utero drug exposure and the subsequent consequences, NAS has become a term that more broadly describes the signs and symptoms of withdrawal resulting from any dependence-inducing substance consumed by a pregnant woman. The aim of this review is to discuss the perinatal outcome of pregnancy associated with maternal drug use. In the United States and other developed nations, the incidence of NAS continues to rise, paralleling the evolution of the opioid epidemic. Chronic in utero exposures to licit and illicit drugs of dependence have fetal, neonatal, and early childhood consequences and are addressed in this review.
PNN-based Rockburst Prediction Model and Its Applications
Authors: Zhou Yu , Wang Tingling
Published: October 2017

Rock burst is one of main engineering geological problems significantly threatening the safety of construction. Prediction of rock burst is always an important issue concerning the safety of workers and equipment in tunnels. In this paper, a novel PNN-based rock burst prediction model is proposed to determine whether rock burst will happen in the underground rock projects and how much the intensity of rock burst is. The probabilistic neural network (PNN) is developed based on Bayesian criteria of multivariate pattern classification. Because PNN has the advantages of low training complexity, high stability, quick convergence, and simple construction, it can be well applied in the prediction of rock burst. Some main control factors, such as rocks’ maximum tangential stress, rocks’ uniaxial compressive strength, rocks’ uniaxial tensile strength, and elastic energy index of rock are chosen as the characteristic vector of PNN. PNN model is obtained through training data sets of rock burst samples which come from underground rock project in domestic and abroad. Other samples are tested with the model. The testing results agree with the practical records. At the same time, two real-world applications are used to verify the proposed method. The results of prediction are same as the results of existing methods, just same as what happened in the scene, which verifies the effectiveness and applicability of our proposed work.
An Annual Urology Tutorial For Junior Doctors; Results Of A Multi-Centre Study
Authors: Javed Saqib , Yow Lina , Lyttle Margaret , Turo Rafal , Siraj Mamoon , Knight Ross , Srinivasan Vaikuntam , Mukherjee Rono , Ansari Asif
Published: October 2017

This article was migrated. The article was not marked as recommended. IntroductionUrology accounts for a significant proportion of acute surgical admissions. The current undergraduate and postgraduate teaching curriculum does not place a large emphasis on urology teaching or placement which is concerning. With the use of questionnaires, our multi-centre study aims to observe junior doctor's perceived confidence level in management of urological condition after the inclusion of a urology interactive tutorial in the postgraduate program.MethodsFoundation and core trainee across four district general and teaching hospitals in the UK were invited to attend a urology tutorial. Prior to the tutorial, all participants were given a questionnaire to explore their previous urology teaching exposure and their confidence level in managing urological conditions. An interactive tutorial was conducted which covered emergency urological presentations and some ward based problems. A post-tutorial questionnaire was given with the intention to observe any improvement in confidence level.ResultsA total of 68 junior doctors participated. Only 4% (n=3) had received adequate urology teaching previously. Only 1 person felt confident to competently manage all urological problems while 34% (n=23) felt capable to manage most urological presentations. All participating junior doctors were keen on extra urology teaching, with 97% (n=66) wanted the teaching to focus on emergency urology conditions. 62% (n=42) felt this will help to improve patient care and aid their future training jobs. Positive feedbacks were received after the teaching, with 93% (n=63) finding it very useful and 97% (n=66) reported an increased in confidence level. DiscussionThis multi-centre study provided supporting evidence that junior doctors do not feel adequately prepared to manage urological conditions in the acute setting. We observed that junior doctor's confidence level in managing such presentations can be improved with an inclusion of a teaching supplementation. We propose the inclusion of urology teaching in the foundation program teaching curricula.
New method to design large-scale high-recirculation airlift reactors
Authors: Sanders David A
Published: October 2017

High-recirculation airlift reactors (HRARs) are efficient for treating waste water. They use air to push a mixture around a reactor and to provide oxygen (O2) for biological microorganisms. Design methods have been limited in functionality and accuracy and have needed significant expert input and interpretation. This paper describes the creation of new structured methods that are faster and more efficient. Models and calculations are described. Improvements are made by analysing and improving the steady-state models of fluid dynamics within an HRAR. The models also deliver information about reactor design, in particular which parameters to modify to reach a steady-state result. Two-phase flow of water and air is modelled for an airlift bioreactor and applied to HRARs. Tests show that varying superficial gas velocity or simultaneously varying down comer and riser diameters can create a steady-state solution. The research investigated an HRAR and the associated Imperial Chemical Industries design program, created a new design program to replace it and then improved it using simple models of steady-state fluid dynamics. Mathematical models are used to forecast steady-state situations in the HRAR for specific gas or liquid flow rates and for various constructions. Experimental relationships forecast mass transfers between gas and liquid phases, and they predict flow.
Comparative sorption and desorption of benzo[α]pyrene and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene by biochar in the presence of dissolved organic matter
Authors: Cao L. , Kuang S. , Zhang J. , Wang H. , Wan J.
Published: October 2017

Sorption and desorption of benzo[α]pyrene (BaP) and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene (TrCB) on biochar prepared from maple wood shavings heated at 500°C were studied in the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM), including citric acid, l-phenylalanine (L-PH), and peptone. Compared to TrCB, BaP exhibited more nonlinear and stronger sorption on biochar. Nonlinearity of the sorption isotherms increased in the presence of DOM. The presence of citric acid enhanced the sorption capacity and desorption hysteresis of BaP and TrCB on biochar mainly due to the strong sorption of citric acid on the biochar surface. Moreover, there were positive relations between the concentration dependent sorption capacity coefficient (Kd) values of BaP and TrCB and the citric acid concentration (P < 0.01). In contrast, peptone reduced the sorption capacity and increased the sorption reversibility because of the partition of BaP and TrCB in the peptone solution. L-PH at 50–200 mg/l also leads to a decrease in the sorption capacity and irreversibility attributed to solubilization, although the sorbed L-PH on the biochar surface can slightly increase the BaP and TrCB sorption. At the same concentration, peptone leads to a higher decrease in the BaP and TrCB sorption than L-PH. Also, negative correlations were found between the Kd values of BaP and TrCB, and the L-PH and peptone concentration (P < 0.05). Our results may help understand the different impacts of DOM on the transport and fate of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic environments polluted with biochars.
Mosaico poético: la novela gráfica y la memoria de la Guerra Civil Española
Authors: Martin Ivan Rodrigues
Published: October 2017

Las novelas gráficas que se vienen publicando en España en los últimos años, cuya temática se relaciona a la Guerra Civil Española y a los años del franquismo, parecen abarcar en su composición narrativa un rol de elementos que flexibilizan tanto el lenguaje literario como el lenguaje de los cómics. En este texto analizamos de que modo la asociación entre el dibujo gráfico y la palabra escrita que se viene incrementando con la inserción de diversos otros elementos les da a las narrativas una estructura de mosaico, cuyos fragmentos, en su conjunto, metaforizan las piezas que componen las memorias individuales y colectivas de un conflicto cuyas consecuencias no se atuvieron al territorio español, ni al tiempo histórico de la Guerra Civil.
Las “demostraciones” de Nosotros a Blasco Ibáñez y Valle-Inclán: estrategias de sociabilidad
Authors: Giaccio Laura
Published: October 2017

En torno al Centenario de la Revolución de Mayo (1910), Vicente Blasco Ibáñez y Ramón del Valle-Inclán visitaron Argentina. Durante sus estadías en Buenos Aires, los escritores fueron agasajados por el grupo de la revista Nosotros, el cual les brindó banquetes en su honor. En el marco de los estudios de sociabilidad y de los intercambios intelectuales transatlánticos, el presente artículo examina los eventos brindados a Valle-Inclán y Blasco Ibáñez, teniendo en cuenta sus funciones de cohesión y visibilización. También se detiene en sus rituales específicos, en un momento de la historia cultural argentina en el cual emergieron y se consolidaron diferentes prácticas de sociabilidad literaria donde primó el contacto directo entre pares.
Assessment of activity limitation and participation restriction of PLHAs with reference to the international classification of functioning, disability and health
Authors: Gaiki Varun Vijay , Khardekar Manasi
Published: October 2017

Background: There are limited studies from India on use of ICF in finding out the Disability experienced by PLHIV. We undertook this study to understand the level of disability experienced by the PLHIV attending tertiary healthcare setting. This study mainly focuses on the self-care domain of ICF classification.Methods: Cross sectional, hospital based, conducted with permission from institutional ethics committee. Predesigned standardised ICF questionnaire, with only self care part of it was administered and participants assessed for activity limitation and participation restriction domains of self care.Results: Inactivity limitation block, with regards to washing oneself, caring for body parts and dressing none reported any problem. In regulating menstruation 15 (6.67%) had moderate, 15 (6.67%) had severe and 3 (1.33%) had complete problem while 67 (29.67%) had no problem. In participation restriction, it was observed that participants had difficulties in regulating defecation 47 (20.8%) moderate, 33 (14.66%) severe, 9 (4%) mild whereas 6 (2.67%) complete problem. Overall prevalence was 42.67%. in block of participation restriction, on performance qualifier, overall 149 (66.67%) had problem in eating, 77 (34.22%) had moderate, 36 (16%) severe, 34 (15.1%) had mild and 3 (1.33%) had complete problem. In drinking overall 29.78% participants experienced problems, out of which 31 (13.7%) had moderate, 23 (10.22%) mild 12 (5.33%) and 1 (0.44%) had complete problem.Conclusions: Significant amount of activity limitation in self care observed with reference to toileting, eating drinking. Hence, this parameters to be stressed on in planning National program on AIDS.
Inmigración, integración y diversidad: Un análisis crítico a partir del tratamiento de la mutilación genital femenina en la Unión Europea
Authors: Ropero Carrasco Julia
Published: October 2017

La mutilación genital femenina representa una grave violación de derechos humanos, tal y como recoge el Derecho Internacional más actual. Esta circunstancia y la extensión de la práctica a nivel mundial exigen la intervención del Derecho penal y la toma en consideración de la aplicación del principio de universalidad en su persecución. Sin embargo, la aplicación del Derecho penal en los países de destino a los migrantes, padres de las menores mutiladas, genera un conjunto de dilemas que han de ser abordados no sólo desde una perspectiva humanitaria, sino en aras de una mayor legitimidad en la intervención. En esta búsqueda es preciso reflexionar sobre la falta de un consenso en el ámbito de la Unión Europea sobre estándares referidos a la violencia de género, de la que la MGF es una modalidad, la condición de refugiado y la efectividad del principio de universalidad.

Publicación en línea: 01 octubre 2017
La contribución de la Unión Europea al desarrollo del régimen internacional en materia de cambio climático: el paquete europeo sobre clima y energía en el contexto de la acción internacional
Authors: Giles Carnero Rosa
Published: October 2017

La Unión Europea ha desplegado una estrategia de liderazgo en el régimen internacional en materia de cambio climático, basada en la credibilidad que le otorgaba el desarrollo de su política climática interna. La posición negociadora internacional se mostraba paralela al desarrollo de políticas europeas transversales que perseguían ambiciosos objetivos climáticos, al tiempo que se estructuraba una economía hipocarbónica que pretendía no perder competitividad. En este contexto, el paquete europeo sobre cambio climático y energía ha supuesto la principal contribución de la Unión Europea al desarrollo del régimen internacional sobre cambio climático, de forma que dotaba de contenido a los compromisos europeos diseñados en el segundo periodo de cumplimiento del Protocolo de Kioto, y en el Acuerdo de París; y servía de modelo para el diseño de políticas nacionales con significativos objetivos de mitigación del cambio climático.

Recibido: 30 noviembre 2016
Aceptado: 29 abril 2017
Publicación en línea: 01 octubre 2017