bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of life of high-functioning children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing peers: Self- and proxy-reports
Authors: Egilson Snæfrídur T , Ólafsdóttir Linda B , Leósdóttir Thóra , Saemundsen Evald
Published: April 2016

Studies have shown parents to report lower quality of life for their children with autism spectrum disorder than children’s self-report scores and the same applies for data on typically developing children. Our objectives were to: (1) explore how high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder rate their quality of life compared with paired controls without autism spectrum disorder; (2) explore how parents of high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder rate their children’s quality of life compared with parents of paired controls; and (3) compare child self-reports of quality of life with their parent’s proxy-reports for both groups of children. Data were collected with the Icelandic self- and proxy-reported versions of the KIDSCREEN-27. Reports of 96 children with autism spectrum disorder, 211 controls and their parents were included in the analyses. Compared with controls, children with autism spectrum disorder had lower means on all quality of life dimensions. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder evaluated their children’s quality of life lower on all dimensions than did parents of controls. On four out of five dimensions, children with autism spectrum disorder reported better quality of life than did their parents. Despite differences in ratings children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents agreed on the most problematic dimensions, namely, social support and peers and physical well-being. Our results highlight the importance of seeking the viewpoints of both children and their parents.
Liberal tolerance and its hauntings: Moral compasses, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
Authors: Romeyn Esther
Published: April 2016

The pro-Gaza demonstrations that marked the summer of 2014 were trailed by a concern over the intensity of anti-Semitism among European Muslims and accusations of ‘double standards’ with regard to anti-Muslim racism. In the Netherlands, the debate featured a nexus between the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, freedom of speech and the limits of tolerance, which beckons a closer analysis. I argue that it indicates the place of the Holocaust in the European imaginary as one of a haunting, which is marked by a structure of dis/avowal. Prescriptive multicultural tolerance, which builds on Europe’s debt to the Holocaust and represents the culturalized response to racial inequalities, reiterates this structure of dis/avowal. It ensures that its normative framework of identity politics and equivalences, and the Holocaust, Jews and anti-Semitism which occupy a seminal place within it, supplies the dominant (and in the case of anti-Semitism, displaced) terms for the contestation of (disavowed) racialized structures of inequality. The dominance of the framework of identity politics as a channel for minority populations to express a sense of marginalization and disaffection with mainstream politics, however, risks culturalizing both the origins and the solutions to that marginalization. Especially when that sense of marginalization is filtered and expressed through the contestation of the primacy of the Holocaust memory, it enables the state, which embeds Jews retrogressively in the European project, to externalize racialized minorities on the basis of presumed cultural incompatibilities (including anti-Semitism, now externalized from the memory of Europe proper and attributed uniquely to the Other); to erase its historical and contemporary racisms; and to subject minority populations to disciplinary securitization. Moreover, it contributes to the obfuscation of the political, social and economic dynamics through which neo-liberal capitalism effects the hollowing out of the social contract and the resultant fragmentation of society (which the state then can attribute to ‘deficient’ minority cultures and values).
Models of safeguarding in England: Identifying important models and variables influencing the operation of adult safeguarding
Authors: Graham Katherine , Stevens Martin , Norrie Caroline , Manthorpe Jill , Moriarty Jo , Hussein Shereen
Published: April 2016

Greater priority is now being given to improving responses to concerns that adults may be at risk of abuse or neglect in England and internationally. In England, the Care Act 2014 placed ‘adult safeguarding’ on a firmer statutory footing. Although local authorities were given the lead responsibility for adult safeguarding over a decade ago, little is known about how they organised their responses. This article reports one element of a national study in which semi-structured interviews with 23 local authority adult safeguarding managers in 2013–14 were conducted. The interviews sought to understand how local authorities arrange their responses to adult safeguarding concerns.

Findings

Several models of practice were identified. Confirming a central theme reported in the literature, the extent and nature of specialism within safeguarding practice varied. Safeguarding specialists were reported to be based in centralised teams or were located as specialists in locality social work teams. In some areas, the role of specialist safeguarding practitioners was linked to an analysis of risk severity or location of concern. Other areas emphasised the importance of safeguarding work as the core of mainstream social work practice.

Applications

These findings offer a basis for analysis and managerial considerations about the implications of different organisational models of adult safeguarding. These may be relevant to option appraisals and decision-making about future organisational planning.
Archiving an urban exploration – MR NICE GUY, cooking oil drums, sterile blister packs and uncanny bikinis
Authors: Sachs Olsen Cecilie , Hawkins Harriet
Published: April 2016

This article reflects on a performative workshop that was conducted by the artist collective, zURBS. The workshop sent the participants into the city to look for objects and material traces of social practices in order to explore questions relating to the legibility of the urban environment. Harriet observes the workshop from a participant’s perspective, whereas Cecilie discusses it as a facilitator of the workshop.
Institutional complexity and paradox theory: Complementarities of competing demands
Authors: Smith Wendy K. , Tracey Paul
Published: April 2016

Organizational success increasingly depends on leaders’ abilities to address competing demands simultaneously. Scholars have applied both institutional theory and paradox theory to better understand the nature and responses to these competing demands. These two lenses diverge in their understanding and responses to tensions. Institutional theory depicts competing demands emerging from divergent field-level pressures and stresses their contradictory and oppositional nature. Organizational responses vary from making tradeoffs and choosing pressures with which to conform to seeking strategies for engaging both and managing conflict. Paradox theory locates competing demands as inherent with organizational systems, surfaced through environmental conditions, individual sensemaking, or relational dialogue. According to these scholars, paradoxes are contradictory, interdependent, and persist over time, demanding strategies for engaging and accommodating tensions but not resolving them. In this essay, we highlight these distinctions and argue that drawing from both of these lenses will results in rich, generative theorizing to better address key challenges in the world. We identify specific areas where future research can benefit from such integration.
The Importance of Worldviews on Women’s Leadership to HRD
Authors: McLean Gary N. , Beigi Mina
Published: April 2016

The Problem

The challenges faced by women in leadership, to some extent, appear throughout the world, across country-based cultures and religious traditions, even where there has been progress. The eight articles that comprise this issue raise questions related to women in leadership, providing a cross-case opportunity to explore what might yet be needed to empower women in leadership roles in business, politics, non-government organizations, academia, and the family.

The Solution

There are no easy solutions that emerge from our analysis across these eight articles. Worldviews influence women in leadership; from these articles, we understand the influences better and glimpse opportunities for improving the status of women leaders, globally, as well as within specific countries and religious traditions. We also suggest perspectives that might lead to valuable studies that will help/pave the way for developing future women leaders.

The Stakeholders

HR scholars and practitioners, potential and current women leaders, and those working with or accommodating women leaders in multiple contexts are the main stakeholders of this issue. Furthermore, because this is the concluding article to this issue, all the stakeholders listed with each article will be interested in our overall conclusions to this issue.
“They Are Totally Unfiltered”
Authors: Martínez Carolina
Published: April 2016

This article analyzes how producers of advertising construct children as an advertising audience. Previous research has argued that marketers are bound to present children as competent and savvy to legitimize their own practices. Drawing on interviews with Swedish producers of child-directed online advertising, this study shows that marketers are not destined to portray children as competent as the idea of the vulnerable and incompetent child was an important construction among the Swedish producers. The Swedish producers constructed a multifaceted and ambivalent image of children, mixing the idea of the vulnerable and dependent child with the idea of the competent child. This study contributes to the wider understanding of media producers’ constructed audiences, particularly regarding how culture and media regulation shape the notion of the child audience among producers.
Nicotinic acid supplementation in diet favored intramuscular fat deposition and lipid metabolism in finishing steers
Authors: Yang Zhu-Qing , Bao Lin-Bin , Zhao Xiang-Hui , Wang Can-Yu , Zhou Shan , Wen Lu-Hua , Fu Chuan-Bian , Gong Jian-Ming , Qu Ming-Ren
Published: April 2016

Nicotinic acid (NA) acting as the precursor of NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH, participates in many biochemical processes, e.g. lipid metabolism. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary NA on carcass traits, meat quality, blood metabolites, and fat deposition in Chinese crossbred finishing steers. Sixteen steers with the similar body weight and at the age of 24 months were randomly allocated into control group (feeding basal diet) and NA group (feeding basal diet + 1000 mg/kg NA). All experimental cattle were fed a 90% concentrate diet and 10% forage straw in a 120-day feeding experiment. The results showed that supplemental NA in diet increased longissimus area, intramuscular fat content (17.14% vs. 9.03%), marbling score (8.08 vs. 4.30), redness ( a*), and chroma ( C*) values of LD muscle, but reduced carcass fat content (not including imtramuscular fat), pH24 h and moisture content of LD muscle, along with no effect on backfat thickness. Besides, NA supplementation increased serum HDL-C concentration, but decreased the serum levels of LDL-C, triglyceride, non-esterified fatty acid, total cholesterol, and glycated serum protein. In addition, NA supplementation increased G6PDH and ICDH activities of LD muscle. These results suggested that NA supplementation in diet improves the carcass characteristics and beef quality, and regulates the compositions of serum metabolites. Based on the above results, NA should be used as the feed additive in cattle industry.
Economic analysis of insulin initiation by pharmacists in a Canadian setting
Authors: Brown Stephen , Al Hamarneh Yazid N. , Tsuyuki Ross T. , Nehme Kimberley , Sauriol Luc
Published: April 2016

Background:

Conducted in Alberta, the RxING study examined the effect of a community pharmacist prescribing intervention on glycemic control in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using insulin glargine. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of pharmacists’ prescribing of insulin glargine as an early intervention in uncontrolled patients with T2DM vs usual clinical practice.

Methods:

The IMS CORE diabetes Markov model was used to project long-term clinical outcomes, costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions. The efficacy of insulin glargine, in terms of hemoglobin A1c reduction and hypoglycemia rates, was obtained from the RxING study. Health utility and cost data were found in Canadian publications. The base-case analyses examined the economic and clinical effects of having pharmacists initiate insulin therapy in patients with uncontrolled T2DM in comparison to a physician initiate it up to 3 years later.

Results:

Insulin initiation by pharmacists with uncontrolled T2DM patients is cost-effective. Having pharmacists prescribe insulin 1 year earlier than usual clinical practice resulted in an incremental cost savings of $805 (CDN$) and a gain of 0.048 QALYs per patient. Pharmacists prescribing insulin 2 years earlier resulted in an incremental cost savings of $624 (CDN$) per year and a gain of 0.075 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Prescribing 3 years earlier allowed for a minor increase of $26 and a gain of 0.086 QALYs.

Conclusion:

Earlier initiation of insulin by pharmacists, in uncontrolled T2DM patients, resulted in cost savings and delays in the development of diabetes-related complications, leading to an improved quality of life and increased survival rates.
Intravenous tranexamic acid for hyperacute primary intracerebral hemorrhage: Protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Sprigg Nikola , Robson Katie , Bath Philip , Dineen Robert , Roberts Ian , Robinson Tom , Roffe Christine , Werring David , Al-Shahi Salman Rustam , Pocock Stuart , Duley Lelia , England Tim , Whynes David , Ciccone Alfonso , Laska Ann Charlotte , Christensen Hanne , Ozturk Serefnur , Collins Ronan , Bereczki Daniel , Egea-Guerrero Juan Jose , Law Zhe Kang , Czlonkowska Anna , Seiffge David , Beredzie Maia
Published: April 2016

Rationale

Outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage remains poor. Tranexamic acid is easy to administer, readily available, inexpensive, and effective in other hemorrhagic conditions.

Aim

This randomized trial aims to test the hypothesis that intravenous tranexamic acid given within 8 h of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage reduces death or dependency.

Design

Phase III prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Participants within 8 h of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage are randomized to receive either intravenous tranexamic acid 1 g 10 min bolus followed by 1 g 8 h infusion, or placebo.

Sample size estimates

A trial of 2000 participants (300 from start-up phase and 1700 from main phase) will have 90% power to detect an ordinal shift of the modified Rankin Scale with odds ratio 0.79.

Study outcomes

The primary outcome is death or dependency measured by ordinal shift analysis of the 7 level mRS at day 90. Secondary outcomes are neurological impairment at day 7 and disability, quality of life, cognition, and mood at day 90. Safety outcomes are death, serious adverse events, thromboembolic events, and seizures. Cost outcomes are length of stay in hospital, readmission, and institutionalization.

Discussion

This pragmatic trial is assessing efficacy of tranexamic acid after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Recruitment started in 2013; as of 15th January 2016 1355 participants have been enrolled, from 95 centers in seven countries. Recruitment is due to end in 2017. TICH-2 Trial is registered as ISRCTN93732214.
Modernity, Region, and Technoscience: One Small Cheer for Asia as Method
Authors: Fan Fa-ti
Published: April 2016

This article is a historiographical and methodological intervention in the discussion of modernity, coloniality, and global history. It does two things. First, it highlights an important but neglected topic in the existing literature on modernity and globalization, viz. the significant role of science in traditional narratives of modernity. These traditional narratives have been challenged by new approaches in both history of science and history of modernity. The article goes further and provides a critique of these new approaches. It argues that they should take more into account the concepts of scale and region. Second, the article suggests a methodologically oriented and operational definition of region in the context of history of science and modernity. To illustrate this point, it discusses the potential and risks of adopting ‘Asia as method’ as an approach to global history of science and modernity.
Comparative Historical Sociology and the State: Problems of Method
Authors: Bhambra Gurminder K.
Published: April 2016

Historical sociology can be understood both as a specific sub-field of sociology and as providing general conceptual underpinnings of the discipline, to the extent that it provides an understanding of the specificity of the modern state and the perceived emergence of modernity within Europe. The association of modernity with Europe (and with a European history limited to the self-identified boundaries of the continent) is commonplace and pervasive within the social sciences and humanities. What such an understanding fails to take into consideration, however, are the connections between Europe and the rest of the world that constitute the broader context for the emergence of what is understood to be the modern world and its institutions, such as the state and market. In this article, I suggest that integral to this misunderstanding, and its reproduction over time, is the methodology of comparative historical sociology as represented by ideal types. In contrast, I argue for ‘connected sociologies’ as a more appropriate way to understand our shared past and its continuing impact upon the present. I examine these issues in the context of historical sociological understandings of nation-state formation.
Advances in urology 2014–2015
Authors: Cresswell Jo , Laniado Marc , Sinclair Andrew , Smith Daron , Venn Suzie , Williams Simon , Brewster Simon
Published: April 2016

It has become customary that a session is held at the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) annual meeting, wherein the most important advances in the major urological sub-specialities are summarised by British opinion leaders for the benefit of the core of urologists. It gives us pleasure to present in this paper the topics covered at the BAUS meeting in June 2015, in Manchester, UK.
Cultural Objects as Prisms
Authors: Lizardo Omar , Skiles Sara
Published: April 2016

The hypothesis that cultural likes and dislikes are driven by the perceived connections between genres and their audiences is a foundational premise of sociological studies of cultural taste. However, to date the operation of this mechanism has been only indirectly inferred but never directly assessed empirically. To address this gap, the authors leverage unique data on the cultural tastes of a representative sample of Americans containing information on the subjective perceptions of the audience composition for 20 musical genres along 15 social dimensions. The authors find that subjective perceptions of the sociodemographic composition of genre categories modulate negative taste judgments in predictable ways, with markers of low status standing out as universal generators of symbolic exclusion. The authors also find that these effects are mediated by respondents’ own social positions in equally patterned ways, generating both symmetric effects (mutual rejection) along gender, racial, and generational lines and asymmetric effects (unilateral rejection) along lines of class and status.
Genomics, microRNA, epigenetics, and proteomics for future diagnosis, treatment and monitoring response in upper GI cancers
Authors: Brücher Björn L. D. M. , Li Yan , Schnabel Philipp , Daumer Martin , Wallace Timothy J. , Kube Rainer , Zilberstein Bruno , Steele Scott , Voskuil Jan L. A. , Jamall Ijaz S.
Published: April 2016

One major objective for our evolving understanding in the treatment of cancers will be to address how a combination of diagnosis and treatment strategies can be used to integrate patient and tumor variables with an outcome‐oriented approach. Such an approach, in a multimodal therapy setting, could identify those patients (1) who should undergo a defined treatment (personalized therapy) (2) in whom modifications of the multimodal therapy due to observed responses might lead to an improvement of the response and/or prognosis (individualized therapy), (3) who might not benefit from a particular toxic treatment regimen, and (4) who could be identified early on and thereby be spared the morbidity associated with such treatments. These strategies could lead in the direction of precision medicine and there is hope of integrating translational molecular data to improve cancer classifications. In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to understand the key issues in different aspects of biotechnology to anticipate future directions of personalized and individualized diagnosis and multimodal treatment strategies. Providing an overview of translational data in cancers proved to be a challenge as different methods and techniques used to obtain molecular data are used and studies are based on different tumor entities with different tumor biology and prognoses as well as vastly different therapeutic approaches. The pros and cons of the available methodologies and the potential response data in genomics, microRNA, epigenetics and proteomics with a focus on upper gastrointestinal cancers are considered herein to allow for an understanding of where these technologies stand with respect to cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Energy metabolic dysfunction as a carcinogenic factor in cancer cells
Authors: Sun Yongyan , Shi Zhenhua , Lian Huiyong , Cai Peng
Published: April 2016

Cancer, as a leading cause of death, has attracted enormous public attention. Reprogramming of cellular energy metabolism is deemed to be one of the principal hallmarks of cancer. In this article, we reviewed the mutual relationships among environmental pollution factors, energy metabolic dysfunction, and various cancers. We found that most environmental pollution factors could induce cancers mainly by disturbing the energy metabolism. By triggering microenvironment alteration, energy metabolic dysfunction can be treated as a factor in carcinogenesis. Thus, we put forward that energy metabolism might be as a key point for studying carcinogenesis and tumor development to propose new methods for cancer prevention and therapy.
Microscopic study on some Iron Age bronze objects from Western Iran
Authors: Oudbashi Omid , Hasanpour Ata
Published: April 2016

Background

A microscopic study on ancient metals was established to identify chemical composition and microstructure of archaeological tin bronze objects. For this purpose, ten small bronze pieces from Baba Jilan Iron Age site, western Iran, were selected and studied by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) methods.

Results

The results showed that all objects were made of variable tin containing binary copper-tin alloy. It may be related to the application of an uncontrolled procedure to make bronze alloy. In some samples, lead and arsenic are detected as major elements, but they can be considered rather as impurities from the original ores. Different microstructural features such as elongated Cu–S inclusions as well as Pb globules are visible in the bronze matrix. Based on the metallographic examination, the bronze pieces are shaped by cycles of cold-working and annealing.

Conclusion

The microstructure of Baba Jilan bronze objects is similar to other Iron Age bronze artefacts from different regions of Iran. In fact, process of bronze production in the Iron Age of Iran was to produce bronze alloy with different amounts of tin and without any third alloying element, using copper sulphidic or a mixture of copper sulphidic and oxidic ores to smelting copper, and applying working and heat treatment to shape and manufacture thin sheet objects.
Electromagnetic induction noise in a towed electromagnetic streamer
Authors: Djanni Axel Tcheheumeni , Ziolkowski Anton , Wright David
Published: April 2016

We have examined the idea that a towed neutrally buoyant electromagnetic (EM) streamer suffers from noise induced according to Faraday’s law of induction. A simple analysis of a horizontal streamer in a constant uniform magnetic field determined that there was no induction noise. We have developed an experiment to measure the induced noise in a prototype EM streamer suspended in the Edinburgh FloWave tank, and we subjected it to water flow along its length and to waves propagating in the same direction, at 45° and 90° to the streamer direction. The noise level was found to increase with increasing flow velocity. The motion of the prototype EM streamer in response to parallel constant current flow and wave motion was found to generate significant noise. The main finding is that wave motion was the major source of noise and was much larger than the noise of a static cable. The noise level can probably be reduced by towing the cable deeper and increasing the cable tension.
Estimating rock-vector magnetization from coincident measurements of magnetic field and gravity gradient tensor
Authors: Pedersen Laust B. , Bastani Mehrdad
Published: April 2016

Poisson’s theorem relating components of the magnetic field to components of the gradient of the gravity vector assuming a common source has been cast into a general form. A given magnetization distribution in the terrain or in the underlying crust is propagated into the corresponding magnetic field through the gravity gradient tensor. Conversely, measured magnetic field anomalies and measured gravity gradient tensor anomalies can be used to estimate the unknown magnetization vectors without knowledge of the geometry of the sources. We have tested the method on recently acquired data over a greenstone belt in Northern Sweden. The topographic relief was sufficiently variable to dominate the measured gravity gradient tensor. In practice, we have concentrated on areas where the norm of the gravity gradient tensor reached a maximum so that there was a better chance of identifying isolated sources with well-defined density and magnetization. We have surrounded the selected points by a small window and used all the data lying within that window to estimate the magnetization vectors. We have compared the estimated amplitudes and directions of magnetization with those measured from selected rock samples in the area and found a relatively modest agreement. We have interpreted this as a result of two effects: (1) Measured magnetizations are generally lower than those estimated by this method, and we believe that this is related to the fact that the collection of samples in the field is biased because of a small number of outcrops in most parts of the area. (2) This analysis is biased toward high-amplitude magnetic anomalies; i.e., the estimation procedure works best for high-amplitude magnetic anomalies, in which case, the influence of neighboring anomalies is reduced. The estimated magnetization directions show a strong dominance of remanent magnetization over induced magnetization in agreement with laboratory measurements on rock samples from the area.
Automatic data extrapolation to zero offset along local slope
Authors: Silva Michelângelo G. , Porsani Milton J. , Ursin Bjorn
Published: April 2016

Velocity-independent seismic data processing requires information about the local slope in the data. From estimates of local time and space derivatives of the data, a total least-squares algorithm gives an estimate of the local slope at each data point. Total least squares minimizes the orthogonal distance from the data points (the local time and space derivatives) to the fitted straight line defining the local slope. This gives a more consistent estimate of the local slope than standard least squares because it takes into account uncertainty in the temporal and spatial derivatives. The total least-squares slope estimate is the same as the one obtained from using the structure tensor with a rectangular window function. The estimate of the local slope field is used to extrapolate all traces in a seismic gather to the smallest recorded offset without using velocity information. Extrapolation to zero offset is done using a hyperbolic traveltime function in which slope information replaces the knowledge of the normal moveout (NMO) velocity. The new data processing method requires no velocity analysis and there is little stretch effect. All major reflections and diffractions that are present at zero offset will be reproduced in the output zero-offset section. Therefore, if multiple reflections are undesired in the output, they should be removed before data extrapolation to zero offset. The automatic method is sensitive to noise, so for poor signal-to-noise ratios, standard NMO velocities for primary reflections can be used to compute the slope field. Synthetic and field data examples indicate that compared with standard seismic data processing (velocity analysis, mute, NMO correction, and stack), our method provides an improved zero-offset section in complex data areas.
Stochastic inversion by matching to large numbers of pseudo-wells
Authors: Connolly Patrick A. , Hughes Matthew J.
Published: April 2016

We have developed a 1D stochastic algorithm for estimating reservoir properties, based on matching large numbers of pseudo-wells to seismic angle stacks. The pseudo-wells are part deterministic and part stochastic 1D stratigraphic profiles with consistent elastic and reservoir properties. Pseudo-wells are sampled from a prior distribution defined by the geological interpretation, a rock physics model and a model for the vertical statistics that provides close control of the lithofacies proportions. A new set of pseudo-wells, typically [Formula: see text] tied to the local stratigraphy, is constructed for each seismic trace. Synthetics, derived from the pseudo-wells using extended elastic impedance, are matched to either one or two seismic angle stacks, and the best matches are selected and averaged to provide a joint estimate of reservoir properties and impedances and the associated uncertainties. The algorithm has been tested on a number of data sets and validated by blind well ties. The algorithm is 1D with no additional constraints on spatial correlation beyond that provided by the seismic data. This restricts the maximum frequency to that of the seismic; however, it makes the algorithm highly parallelizable, allowing for large data sets to be inverted in a few hours given adequate computing resources. We envisage that this inversion algorithm could form the first part of a two-step process with the output used to constrain subsequent geostatistical modeling.
A comparative study of the anisotropic dynamic and static elastic moduli of unconventional reservoir shales: Implication for geomechanical investigations
Authors: Meléndez-Martínez Jaime , Schmitt Douglas R.
Published: April 2016

We obtained the complete set of dynamic elastic stiffnesses for a suite of “shales” representative of unconventional reservoirs from simultaneously measured P- and S-wave speeds on single prisms specially machined from cores. Static linear compressibilities were concurrently obtained using strain gauges attached to the prism. Regardless of being from static or dynamic measurements, the pressure sensitivity varies strongly with the direction of measurement. Furthermore, the static and dynamic linear compressibilities measured parallel to the bedding are nearly the same whereas those perpendicular to the bedding can differ by as much as 100%. Compliant cracklike porosity, seen in scanning electron microscope images, controls the elastic properties measured perpendicular to the rock’s bedding plane and results in highly nonlinear pressure sensitivity. In contrast, those properties measured parallel to the bedding are nearly insensitive to stress. This anisotropy to the pressure dependency of the strains and moduli further complicates the study of the overall anisotropy of such rocks. This horizontal stress insensitivity has implications for the use of advanced sonic logging techniques for stress direction indication. Finally, we tested the validity of the practice of estimating the fracture pressure gradient (i.e., horizontal stress) using our observed elastic engineering moduli and found that ignoring anisotropy would lead to underestimates of the minimum stress by as much as 90%. Although one could ostensibly obtain better values or the minimum stress if the rock anisotropy is included, we would hope that these results will instead discourage this method of estimating horizontal stress in favor of more reliable techniques.
A periodically varying code for improving deblending of simultaneous sources in marine acquisition
Authors: Zu Shaohuan , Zhou Hui , Chen Yangkang , Qu Shan , Zou Xiaofeng , Chen Haolin , Liu Renwu
Published: April 2016

We have designed a periodically varying code that can avoid the problem of the local coherency and make the interference distribute uniformly in a given range; hence, it was better at suppressing incoherent interference (blending noise) and preserving coherent useful signals compared with a random dithering code. We have also devised a new form of the iterative method to remove interference generated from the simultaneous source acquisition. In each iteration, we have estimated the interference using the blending operator following the proposed formula and then subtracted the interference from the pseudodeblended data. To further eliminate the incoherent interference and constrain the inversion, the data were then transformed to an auxiliary sparse domain for applying a thresholding operator. During the iterations, the threshold was decreased from the largest value to zero following an exponential function. The exponentially decreasing threshold aimed to gradually pass the deblended data to a more acceptable model subspace. Two numerically blended synthetic data sets and one numerically blended practical field data set from an ocean bottom cable were used to demonstrate the usefulness of our proposed method and the better performance of the periodically varying code over the traditional random dithering code.
On Fermat’s principle and Snell’s law in lossy anisotropic media
Authors: Carcione José M. , Ursin Bjorn
Published: April 2016

Fermat’s principle of least action is one of the methods used to trace rays in inhomogeneous media. Its form is the same in anisotropic elastic and anelastic media, with the difference that the velocity depends on frequency in the latter case. Moreover, the ray, envelope, and energy velocities replace the group velocity because this concept has no physical meaning in anelastic media. We have first considered a lossy (anelastic) anisotropic medium and established the equivalence between Fermat’s principle and Snell’s law in homogeneous media. Then, we found that the different ray velocities defined in the literature were the same for stationary rays in homogeneous media, with phase and inhomogeneity angles satisfying the principle and the law. We considered an example of a transversely isotropic medium with a vertical symmetry axis and wavelike and diffusionlike properties. In the first case, the differences were negligible, which was the case of real rocks having a quality factor greater than five. Strictly, ray tracing should be based on the so-called stationary complex slowness vector to obtain correct results, although the use of homogeneous viscoelastic waves (zero inhomogeneity angle) is acceptable as an approximation for earth materials. However, from a rigorous point of view, the three velocities introduced in the literature to define the rays present discrepancies in heterogeneous media, although the differences are too small to be measured in earth materials. The findings are also valid for electromagnetic waves by virtue of the acoustic-electromagnetic analogy.
Chronic Hyperinsulinemia Increases Myoblast Proliferation in Fetal Sheep Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Brown Laura D. , Wesolowski Stephanie R. , Kailey Jenai , Bourque Stephanie , Wilson Averi , Andrews Sasha E. , Hay William W. , Rozance Paul J.
Published: April 2016

Insulin is an important fetal growth factor. However, chronic experimental hyperinsulinemia in the fetus fails to accelerate linear and lean mass growth beyond normal rates. Mechanisms preventing accelerated lean mass accretion during hyperinsulinemia are unknown. To address potential mechanisms, late-gestation fetal sheep were infused with iv insulin and glucose to produce euglycemic hyperinsulinemia (INS) or saline for 7–9 days. Fetal substrate uptake and protein metabolic rates were measured. INS fetuses had 1.5-fold higher insulin concentrations (P < .0001) and equivalent glucose concentrations. INS fetuses had 20% more Pax7+ nuclei in the biceps femoris, which indicates the potential for hyperinsulinemia to increase the number of myoblasts within late-gestation fetal skeletal muscle. Additionally, the percentage of Pax7+ myoblasts that expressed Ki-67 was 1.3-fold higher and expression of myogenic regulatory factors was 50% lower in INS fetuses (MYF5 and MYOG [myogenin], P < .005), which indicates a shift toward myoblast proliferation over differentiation. There were no differences for fetal body, organ, or muscle weights, although INS placentas weighed 28% less (P < .05). Protein synthesis and accretion rates did not change in INS fetuses, nor did fiber muscle size. Essential amino acid concentrations were lower in the INS group (P < .05) except for tryptophan. Umbilical blood flow, net total amino acids, and O2 uptakes rates did not differ between groups. Arterial O2 content was 33% lower (P < .005) and norepinephrine was 100% higher in the INS fetuses (P < .01), all of which are factors that may counteract fetal protein accretion during hyperinsulinemia despite an increase in myoblast proliferation.
Testosterone Attenuates Age-Related Fall in Aerobic Function in Mobility Limited Older Men With Low Testosterone
Authors: Storer Thomas W. , Bhasin Shalender , Travison Thomas G. , Pencina Karol , Miciek Renee , McKinnon Jennifer , Basaria Shehzad
Published: April 2016

Context:

Testosterone increases skeletal muscle mass and strength, but the effects of testosterone on aerobic performance in mobility-limited older men have not been evaluated.

Objective:

To determine the effects of testosterone supplementation on aerobic performance, assessed as peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) and gas exchange lactate threshold (V̇O2θ), during symptom-limited incremental cycle ergometer exercise.

Design:

Subgroup analysis of the Testosterone in Older Men with Mobility Limitations Trial.

Setting:

Exercise physiology laboratory in an academic medical center.

Participants:

Sixty-four mobility-limited men 65 years or older with low total (100–350 ng/dL) or free (<50 pg/dL) testosterone.

Interventions:

Participants were randomized to receive 100-mg testosterone gel or placebo gel daily for 6 months.

Main Outcome Measures:

V̇O2peak and V̇O2θ from a symptom-limited cycle exercise test.

Results:

Mean (SD) baseline V̇O2peak was 20.5 (4.3) and 19.9 (4.7) mL/kg/min for testosterone and placebo, respectively. V̇O2peak increased by 0.83 (2.4) mL/kg/min in testosterone but decreased by −0.89 (2.5) mL/kg/min in placebo (P = .035); between group difference in change in V̇O2peak was significant (P = .006). This 6-month reduction in placebo was greater than the expected −0.4-mL/kg/min/y rate of decline in the general population. V̇O2θ did not change significantly in testosterone but decreased by 1.1 (1.8) mL/kg/min in placebo, P = .011 for between-group comparisons. Hemoglobin increased by 1.0 ± 3.5 and 0.1 ± 0.8 g/dL in testosterone and placebo groups, respectively.

Conclusion:

Testosterone supplementation in mobility-limited older men increased hemoglobin and attenuated the age-related declines in V̇O2peak and V̇O2θ. Long-term intervention studies are needed to determine the durability of this effect.
2- and 6-O-sulfated proteoglycans have distinct and complementary roles in cranial axon guidance and motor neuron migration
Authors: Tillo Miguel , Charoy Camille , Schwarz Quenten , Maden Charlotte H. , Davidson Kathryn , Fantin Alessandro , Ruhrberg Christiana
Published: April 2016

The correct migration and axon extension of neurons in the developing nervous system is essential for the appropriate wiring and function of neural networks. Here, we report that O-sulfotransferases, a class of enzymes that modify heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), are essential to regulate neuronal migration and axon development. We show that the 6-O-sulfotransferases HS6ST1 and HS6ST2 are essential for cranial axon patterning, whilst the 2-O-sulfotransferase HS2ST is important to regulate the migration of facial branchiomotor (FBM) neurons in the hindbrain. We have also investigated how HS2ST interacts with other signals in the hindbrain and show that FGF signalling regulates FBM neuron migration in an HS2ST-dependent manner.
Experimental and Numerical Correlation of Impact of Spherical Projectile for Damage Analysis of Aero Engine Component
Authors: Majila Anuradha Nayak , Jain Rajeev , Fernando D. Chandru , Ramachandra S.
Published: April 2016

Studies the impact response of flat Titanium alloy plate against spherical projectile for damage analysis of aero engine components using experimental and finite element techniques. Compressed gas gun has been used to impart speed to spherical projectile at various impact velocities for damage studies. Crater dimensions (diameter and depth) obtained due to impact have been compared with finite element results using commercially available explicit finite element method code LS-DYNA. Strain hardening, high strain rate and thermal softening effect along with damage parameters have been considered using modified Johnson-Cook material model of LS-DYNA. Metallographic analysis has been performed on the indented specimen. This analysis is useful to study failure analysis of gas turbine engine components subjected to domestic object damage of gas turbine engine. 

 
Design, Testing, and Realisation of a Medium Size Aerostat Envelope
Authors: Kumar A. , Sati S.C. , Ghosh A.K.
Published: April 2016

The design, testing and realisation aspects during the development of a medium size aerostat envelope in the present work. The payload capacity of this aerostat is 300 kg at 1 km above mean sea level. The aerostat envelope is the aerodynamically shaped fabric enclosure part of the aerostat which generally uses helium for lifting useful payloads to a specified height. The envelope volume estimation technique is discussed which provides the basis for sizing. The design, material selection, testing and realisation aspects of this aerostat envelope are also discussed. The empirical formulas and finite element analysis are used to estimate the aerodynamic, structural and other design related parameters of the aerostat. Equilibrium studies are then explained for balancing forces and moments in static conditions. The tether profile estimation technique is discussed to estimate blow by distance and tether length. A comparison of estimated and measured performance parameters during trials has also been discussed.
Objective Evaluation Method for Chlorine Detector Tubes
Authors: Rozsypal Tomas , Kobliha Zbynek
Published: April 2016

A tristimulus colourimetric method for the evaluation of detection response of chlorine detector tubes has been developed. The method is based on the suction of chlorine through the respective tube, followed by objective evaluation of the colouration change by means of a reflectance spectrophotometer. This eliminates errors in evaluation and allows identification of further positive attributes of detector tubes (e.g. response time, limit of detection). The method is suitable for tubes produced by various manufacturers. Oritest, Dräger and Gastec tubes were selected and measured. The response time of tubes lasted up to 30 s. The limit of detection was lowered up to four times. Reflectance curves of tubes before and after colouration change were recorded. The method also created the possibility of quantitative measurement by non-quantitative detector tubes.
Outlier Detection Method on UCI Repository Dataset by Entropy Based Rough K-means
Authors: P. Ashok , Nawaz G.M Kadhar
Published: April 2016

Rough set theory is used to handle uncertainty and incomplete information by applying two sets, lower and upper approximation. In this paper, the clustering process is improved by adapting the preliminary centroid selection method on rough K-means (RKM) algorithm. The entropy based rough K-means (ERKM) method is developed by adapting entropy based preliminary centroids selection on RKM and executed and also validated by cluster validity indexes. An example shows that the ERKM performs effectively by selection of entropy based preliminary centroid. In addition, Outlier detection is an important task in data mining and very much different from the rest of the objects in the cluster. Entropy based rough outlier factor (EROF) method is used to detect outlier effectively for yeast dataset. An example shows that EROF detects outlier effectively on protein localisation sites and ERKM clustering algorithm performed effectively. Further, experimental readings show that the ERKM and EROF method outperformed the other methods.

 
Platonism and Planetary Motion: Reason, Balance and Order in Proclus’ Commentary on Republic 617a4–b4
Authors: Pass David Blair
Published: April 2016

This paper focuses primarily on an examination of the discussion about planetary motion found in the portion of Proclus’ commentary on Plato’s Republic that deals with the myth of Er, commenting on Republic 617a4-b4. The passage is important because it provides evidence indicating that the Platonist Proclus argued for rejecting the hypothesis that planetary motion should be understood as some combination of circular movements. Some discussion of the Hypotyposis and the commentary on the Timaeus provides the background for the analysis of the passage in the Republic commentary. I propose that the portion of the commentary on the Republic that deals with the myth of Er is the latest of these three works and therefore develops more fully the ideas found in the Timaeus commentary and the Hypotyposis. The seriousness of Proclus’ long discussion of this short passage of Plato’s myth provides a new perspective for considering the ancient importance of Platonic myth in providing a role for interpretation and a framework for allowing the development of more complex scientific thought as part of the interpretative project. The paper particularly focuses on several key methodological statements which indicate a productive relationship between philosophy and the exact sciences and show serious attention to the problems of understanding the natural world by means of modeling as well as commitment to the importance of subjecting the fundamental premises of any system for understanding the natural world to continual rational examination. The paper also presents evidence indicating that Proclus made a new proposal for understanding planetary motion. This new proposal included the suggestion that mixed lines such as ellipses would provide a better solution than combinations of circles, and the paper argues that Proclus connects this new proposal to the idea that the heavenly bodies display in their movement some of the same causes of straight movement as earthly bodies. The goal of the paper is to provide a case study indicating how later Platonists understood Platonic theory in a way that included the importance of both textual authority and scientific progress and encouraged continual re-evaluation of leading scientific theories.