bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Étude de la répétabilité de la réponse à un test de lixiviation sur du mâchefer d'UIOM
Authors: Pascual Christophe , Boos Brigitte
Published: June 2015

For this study, a great number of leaching test has been done on the same waste to energy bottom ash. The influence of sampling on the results is very important. Despite many precautions, the whole repetitiveness (sampling, leachting test, analysis), is not enough regarding some chemical parameters, if standard Afnor X-31 210 is strictly applied (4 mm crushing).

Pour cette étude, un grand nombre de tests de lixiviation a été réalisé sur un même mâchefer d'incinération d'ordures ménagères. La qualité de l'échantillonnage est essentielle. Malgré de grandes précautions, la répétabilité de la totalité de l'opération (échantillonnage, test de lixiviation, analyse) n'est pas suffisante vis-à-vis de certains paramètres chimiques quand on applique strictement la norme Afnor X-31 210 (concassage à 4 mm).
Influenza A and Parvovirus B19 Seropositivity Rates in Gabonese Infants
Authors: Gabor Julian J. , Schwarz Norbert G. , Esen Meral , Kremsner Peter G. , Grobusch Martin P.
Published: June 2015

Clinical and epidemiological data from Central Africa on influenza A and parvovirus B19 infections are limited. We analyzed 162 blood samples of infants 3, 9, 15, and 30 months of age for IgG antibodies against both pathogens. Antibody responses were 0, 3.7%, 12.3%, and 20.4% against influenza A; and 1.2%, 2.5%, 3.1%, and 9.3% against parvovirus B19, respectively. Seropositivity rates were 89.5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59–120.1) and 38.2 (95% CI: 18.9–57.6)/1,000 person-years at risk for influenza A and parvovirus B19, respectively. Our data add to the understanding of the epidemiology of both conditions.
Fecal Markers of Environmental Enteropathy are Associated with Animal Exposure and Caregiver Hygiene in Bangladesh
Authors: George Christine Marie , Oldja Lauren , Biswas Shwapon K. , Perin Jamie , Lee Gwenyth O. , Ahmed Shahnawaz , Haque Rashidul , Sack R. Bradley , Parvin Tahmina , Azmi Ishrat J. , Bhuyian Sazzadul Islam , Talukder Kaisar A. , Faruque Abu G.
Published: June 2015

Undernutrition is estimated to be an underlying cause of over half of all deaths in young children globally. There is a growing body of literature suggesting that increased exposure to enteric pathogens is responsible for environmental enteropathy (EE), a disorder associated with impaired growth in children. To determine if household unsanitary environmental conditions were significantly associated with EE and stunting in children, we conducted a cohort of 216 children (≤ 30 months) in rural Bangladesh. Stool was analyzed for four fecal markers of EE: alpha-1-antitrypsin, myeloperoxidase, and neopterin combined to form an EE disease activity score, and calprotectin. We observed a significant association between having an animal corral in a child's sleeping room and elevated EE scores (1.0 point difference, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13, 1.88) and a two times higher odds of stunting (height-for-age z-score < −2) (odds ratio [OR]: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.08, 5.43) after adjusting for potential confounders. In addition, children of caregivers with visibly soiled hands had significantly elevated fecal calprotectin (μg/g) (384.1, 95% CI: 152.37, 615.83). These findings suggest that close contact with animals and caregiver hygiene may be important risk factors for EE in young children. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that unsanitary environmental conditions can lead to EE in susceptible pediatric populations.
Thirty-Seven Human Cases of Sparganosis from Ethiopia and South Sudan Caused by Spirometra Spp.
Authors: Eberhard Mark L. , Thiele Elizabeth A. , Yembo Gole E. , Yibi Makoy S. , Cama Vitaliano A. , Ruiz-Tiben Ernesto
Published: June 2015

Thirty-seven unusual specimens, three from Ethiopia and 34 from South Sudan, were submitted since 2012 for further identification by the Ethiopian Dracunculiasis Eradication Program (EDEP) and the South Sudan Guinea Worm Eradication Program (SSGWEP), respectively. Although the majority of specimens emerged from sores or breaks in the skin, there was concern that they did not represent bona fide cases of Dracunculus medinensis and that they needed detailed examination and identification as provided by the World Health Organization Collaborating Center (WHO CC) at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 37 specimens were identified on microscopic study as larval tapeworms of the spargana type, and DNA sequence analysis of seven confirmed the identification of Spirometra sp. Age of cases ranged between 7 and 70 years (mean 25 years); 21 (57%) patients were male and 16 were female. The presence of spargana in open skin lesions is somewhat atypical, but does confirm the fact that populations living in these remote areas are either ingesting infected copepods in unsafe drinking water or, more likely, eating poorly cooked paratenic hosts harboring the parasite.
Outbreak of Human Brucellosis from Consumption of Raw Goats' Milk in Penang, Malaysia
Authors: Leong Kar Nim , Chow Ting Soo , Wong Peng Shyan , Hamzah Siti Hawa , Ahmad Norazah , Ch'ng Chin Chin
Published: June 2015

We report the largest outbreak of brucellosis in Penang, Malaysia. Brucellosis is not endemic in this region. The index case was a 45-year-old goat farm owner presented with 3 weeks of fever, headache, severe lethargy, poor appetite, and excessive sweating. He claimed to have consumed unpasteurized goat's milk that he had also sold to the public. Tests were negative for tropical diseases (i.e., dengue fever, malaria, leptospirosis and scrub typhus) and blood culture showed no growth. Based on epidemiological clues, Brucella serology was ordered and returned positive. Over a period of 1 year, 79 patients who had consumed milk bought from the same farm were diagnosed with brucellosis. Two of these patients were workers on the farm. Four laboratory staff had also contracted the disease presumably through handling of the blood samples. The mean duration from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 53 days with a maximum duration of 210 days. A combination treatment of rifampin and doxycycline for 6 weeks was the first line of treatment in 90.5% of patients. One-third of the patients had sequelae after recovering and 21% had a relapse. We highlight the importance of Brucellosis as a differential diagnosis when a patient has unexplained chronic fever.
Does Juncus effusus enhance methane emissions from grazed pastures on peat?
Authors: Henneberg A. , Elsgaard L. , Sorrell B. K. , Brix H. , Petersen S. O.
Published: June 2015

Abstract. Methane (CH4) emissions from drained organic soils are generally low, but internal gas transport in aerenchymatous plants may result in local emission hotspots. In a paired-sample field study at three different sites we measured fluxes of CH4 with static chambers from adjacent sampling quadrats with and without Juncus effusus during four field campaigns. At all three sites, CH4 was observed in the soil at all sampling depths (5–100 cm), and in most cases both above and below the groundwater table. During spring, local maxima suggested methanogenesis took place above the water table at all three sites. We found significant CH4 emissions at all three sites, but emission controls were clearly different. Across the three sites, average emission rates (±1 SE) for sampling quadrats with and without J. effusus were 1.47 ± 0.28 and 1.37 ± 0.33 mg CH4 m-2 h-1 respectively, with no overall effect of J. effusus on CH4 emissions, but a significant effect at one of the three sites. At this site, local CH4 maxima were closer to the soil surface than at the other sites, and the upper soil layers were dryer. This could have affected both root CH4 accessibility and CH4 oxidation respectively, and together with limited gas diffusivity in the soil column, cause elevated CH4 emissions from J. effusus. We conclude that aerenchymatous plants has the potential to act as point sources of CH4 from drained peatlands, but more studies on the specific conditions under which there is an effect, are needed before the results can be used in modelling of CH4 emissions.
Herstelgericht reclasseren: De contextuele benadering als kader voor herstelgericht werken
Authors: Openneer Ewout
Published: June 2015

The contextual approach to therapy as a framework for restorative practices within probation work

Restorative Justice could have a more extensive implementation within criminal justice if there was more restorative practice within probation work. This may also lead to more restorative mediation. This article is based on practice-based research on what is known about restorative practices within probation and how contextual therapy, developed by the Hungarian-American psychiatrist Ivan Böszörményi-Nagy, can contribute to this. The main conclusion is that contextual therapy can offer a currently non-existent framework that is needed to be able to work with restorative practices within probation. This article describes how contextual approaches can be useful for probation officers.
The Enduring Power of Corduroy Bear
Authors: Goldberg Francie
Published: June 2015

Corduroy, Don Freeman’s beloved bear in green overalls, showed up at my doorstep one winter Monday morning. I was definitely not expecting him but was intrigued to see him.
La tourbière relocalisée de l’île Notre-Dame : un exemple de mesure de compensation en avance sur son époque
Authors: Pellerin Stéphanie , Arricastres Vincent , Long-Raymond Lauriane , Lavoie Martin
Published: June 2015

La tourbière de l’île Notre-Dame a été créée il y a 35 ans dans le cadre des « Floralies Internationales de Montréal – 1980 » à partir de blocs de tourbe de surface prélevés dans une tourbière de la région de la baie James vouée à l’ennoiement. Nous avons étudié les changements survenus dans la composition floristique de cette tourbière sous les angles spécifique (les espèces) et fonctionnel (traits fonctionnels). Entre 1979 et 2014, une baisse de 48 % de la richesse globale a été observée, ainsi qu’une augmentation importante de la représentation des espèces exotiques, généralistes et méridionales. Seules 5 des 56 espèces trouvées originalement sont encore présentes aujourd’hui sur la tourbière. Des changements importants ont aussi été notés entre les traits fonctionnels de la flore de 1979 et ceux de la flore de 2014. Ainsi, les besoins moyens en acidité, en humidité et en matière organique dans le substrat ainsi qu’en lumière ont significativement diminué. En revanche, les besoins moyens en nutriments dans le sol ont significativement augmenté. Ces changements indiquent que le site évolue vers un environnement plus sec et plus riche, de moins en moins caractéristique d’une tourbière. En conclusion, nous présentons quelques suggestions pour accroître la réussite des projets de création de milieux humides.
Évolution du statut nutritif des sapinières à la Forêt Montmorency entre 1967 et 2011
Authors: Ouimet Rock , Moore Jean-David , Duchesne Louis
Published: June 2015

Cette étude avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’évolution du statut nutritif des sapinières de la Forêt Montmorency en se basant sur des analyses foliaires faites en 1967, 1988 et en 2011. La composition minérale des aiguilles du sapin baumier (Abies balsamea) a grandement fluctué au cours de ces 45 ans. Entre 1967 et 2011, nous avons observé une baisse de 5,7 % des teneurs en azote dans le feuillage, de 13,5 % des teneurs en potassium (aiguilles âgées de 1 an) et de 18 % des teneurs en magnésium (aiguilles âgées de 2 et de 3 ans). En 1988, les teneurs étaient en général beaucoup plus faibles que celles observées lors des 2 autres campagnes d’échantillonnage. Cette baisse peut s’expliquer en partie par le choix des peuplements visités, la hausse des précipitations acides depuis le début des années 1970, les épidémies d’insectes ravageurs et les extrêmes climatiques. Les teneurs en potassium du feuillage âgé de 1 an demeurent plus faibles que celles rapportées ailleurs dans la littérature pour le sapin baumier. La baisse des teneurs en potassium et en magnésium de 1967 à 2011 laisse croire à une perte de fertilité des sols dans cette région au cours des 45 dernières années.
Enhancing the Acyltransferase Activity of Candida antarctica Lipase A by Rational Design
Authors: Müller Janett , Sowa Miriam A. , Fredrich Birte , Brundiek Henrike , Bornscheuer Uwe T.
Published: June 2015

A few lipases, such as Candida antarctica lipase A (CAL‐A), are known to possess acyltransferase activity. This enables the enzyme to synthesize fatty acid esters from natural oils and alcohols even in the presence of bulk water. Unfortunately, fatty acids are still formed in these reactions as undesired side‐products. To reduce the amount of fatty acids, several CAL‐A variants were rationally designed based on its crystal structure. These variants were expressed in Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris, purified, and their acyltransferase/hydrolase activities were investigated by various biocatalytic approaches. Among the investigated variants, mutant Asp122Leu showed a significant decrease in the hydrolytic activity, thus reducing the side‐product yield during acylation. As desired, this variant retained wild‐type process‐relevant features like pH profile and thermostability.
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Low Rank Canadian Boundary Dam Coal over ZSM‐5 and LTL Zeolites
Authors: Motazedi Kavan , Karami Davood , Mahinpey Nader
Published: June 2015

The catalytic pyrolysis of low‐rank coal (boundary dam lignite coal) for production of valuable chemical compounds, such as aromatics, over zeolites has been investigated with promising results. In this study, primarily zeolites ZSM‐5 (zeolite socony mobil‐5) and LTL (Linde type L) were successfully synthesized by a direct hydrothermal method without using any templates, known as structure directing agents (SDAs). Various analysis methods were employed to characterize the parent and modified zeolites before catalyzing the pyrolysis of coal. The H‐form of zeolite LTL showed the best performance for phenol, methane, and hydrogen formations in slow pyrolysis of coal at a temperature range of 400–600 °C and heating rate of 5° C/min. The effect of zeolite LTL potassium content on changing the coal decomposition path is suggested to enhance the production of these compounds along with cracking activity of the acid sites of the zeolites.
A Figment of Their Imagination
Authors: Padgett Elizabeth R. , Curwood Jen Scott
Published: June 2015

Drawing on sociocultural perspectives, this case study investigated ways that youths write, read, and critique poetry in an online affinity space. Specifically, it used a thematic analysis of interviews, a linguistic analysis of online feedback mechanisms, and poetic analysis to gain insight into how four teens engaged with poetry on the Figment website. Findings indicate that the adolescents adopted the identity of poets, followed role models for creative inspiration, and participated in the peer review process. In addition, there was a difference between conceptualization and the reality of the constructive feedback. This study broadens scholarly understanding about adolescent online poetic literacy, with the potential to inform teaching praxis.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Coal Mine Land Reclaimed with Stabilized Manure
Authors: Dutta Tanushree , Dell Curtis J. , Stehouwer Richard C.
Published: June 2015

Mine‐soil treatment using stabilized manure rapidly sequesters large quantities of organic carbon and nutrients. However, the nutrient‐rich soil conditions may become highly conducive for production and emission of N2O. We examined this possibility in a Pennsylvania coal mine restored using poultry manure stabilized in two forms: composted (Comp) or mixed with paper mill sludge (Man + PMS) at C/N ratios of 14, 21, and 28 and compared those with the emissions from conventionally treated soil. The mine soil was extremely well drained with 59% coarse fragments. Soil–atmosphere exchange of N2O and CO2was determined using a sampling campaign of ten measurements between 16 June and 14 September 2009 (90 days) and 13 measurements between 28 June and 9 November 2010 (134 days) using static vented chambers at ambient and increased moisture (water added) content. Potential denitrification was determined in a laboratory incubation experiment. While non‐amended mine soil did not have a measurable potential for denitrifying activity, the manure‐based amendments introduced the potential. Soil water filled pore space was less than 60% on most sampling days in both ambient and water‐added plots. Daily N2O‐N emissions ranged between 40 and 70 g N ha−1with cumulative emissions of 2–4 kg N ha−1from non‐amended, lime and fertilizer (L + F) and Comp, and 3–10 kg N ha−1from Man + PMS treatments. The maximum emission obtained from Man + PMS represented <1% loss of applied N. Although stabilized manure‐treated soil exhibits the potential for N2O production, the emission is limited when soils are excessively well drained and reducing conditions rarely develop. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of free flaps for salvage of the exposed total ankle arthroplasty
Authors: Hallock Geoffrey G.
Published: June 2015

Total ankle arthroplasty in the right circumstances cannot only relieve discomfort; but, unlike an ankle arthrodesis, can restore enhanced ambulatory capabilities. Subsequent wound healing issues have the potential to ultimately lead to implant removal, a disaster that can be avoided by as early intervention as possible that will provide sustainable wound closure. Over the past 5 years, 5 patients have presented in a delayed fashion with wound breakdown following total ankle arthroplasty that required a free flap for successful prosthesis salvage. The mean wound size was 78.0 cm2 (range 14–200 cm2). Two gracilis and 2 latissimus dorsi muscle free flaps were chosen as a malleable means not just to cover but to fill these usually large 3‐dimensional wounds. A single radial forearm perforator free flap was selected in one case for a superficial wound that required a long vascular pedicle to reach outside the zone of injury. The postoperative course for all was uneventful, with a minimum follow‐up of 4 months. Function preservation following total ankle arthroplasty wound breakdown even after an untimely delay in referral can still be maintained using microsurgical tissue transfers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 37:34–37, 2017.
Epistemologies in practice: Making scientific practices meaningful for students
Authors: Berland Leema K. , Schwarz Christina V. , Krist Christina , Kenyon Lisa , Lo Abraham S. , Reiser Brian J.
Published: June 2015

Recent research and policy documents call for engaging students and teachers in scientific practices such that the goal of science education shifts from students knowing scientific and epistemic ideas, to students developing and using these understandings as tools to make sense of the world. This perspective pushes students to move beyond the rote performance of scientific actions or processes and engage instead in purposeful knowledge construction work. This raises parallel questions about how to go beyond characterizing student performance of scientific process to understand their engagement in scientific practices as a goal‐directed activity. To that end, this article offers a framework—the Epistemologies in Practice (EIP) framework—for characterizing how students can engage meaningfully in scientific practices. This framework emphasizes two aspects of student engagement in scientific practices: (1) the students' epistemic goals for their knowledge construction work and (2) their epistemic understandings of how to engage in that work. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 53:1082–1112, 2016
Efficient device‐to‐device discovery and access procedure for 5G cellular network
Authors: Lin Zhijian , Du Liang , Gao Zhibin , Huang Lianfen , Du Xiaojiang
Published: June 2015

A large number of new data‐consuming applications are emerging, and many of them involve mobile users. In the next generation of wireless communication systems, device‐to‐device (D2D) communication is introduced as a new paradigm to offload the increasing traffic to the user equipment. Before the traffic transmission, D2D discovery and access procedure is the first important step which needs to be completed. In this paper, our goal is to design a device discovery and access scheme for the fifth generation cellular networks. We first present two types of device discovery and access procedures. Then we provide performance analysis based on the Markov process model. In addition, we present numerical simulation on the Vienna Matlab platform. The simulation results demonstrate the viability of the proposed scheme. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUL: ARISTOTLE ON LACK OF DELIBERATIVE AUTHORITY
Authors: Nielsen Karen Margrethe
Published: June 2015

My aim in this paper is to examine Aristotle's puzzling and contentious claim inPolitics1.13 that the deliberative faculty in women is ‘without authority’ (ἄκυρον):

The freeman rules over the slave after another manner from that in which the male rules over the female, or the man over the child; although the parts of the soul are present in all of them, they are present in different ways. For the slave lacks the deliberative faculty (τὸ βουλευτικόν) altogether; the woman has it, but it is without authority (ἄκυρον), and the child has it, but it is immature (ἀτελές).

(Pol. 1.13, 1160a10-15)
On p-adic analytic continuation with applications to generating elements
Authors: Alexandru Victor , Vâjâitu Marian , Zaharescu Alexandru
Published: June 2015

Given a prime number p and the Galois orbit O(T) of an integral transcendental element T of , the topological completion of the algebraic closure of the field of p-adic numbers, we study the p-adic analytic continuation around O(T) of functions defined by limits of sequences of restricted power series with p-adic integer coefficients. We also investigate applications to generating elements for or for some classes of closed subfields of .
The Homotopy Type of a Poincaré Duality Complex After Looping
Authors: Beben Piotr , Wu Jie
Published: June 2015

We answer a weaker version of the classification problem for the homotopy types of (n — 2)-connected closed orientable (2n — 1)-manifolds. Let n ≥ 6 be an even integer and let X be an (n — 2)-connected finite orientable Poincaré (2n — 1)-complex such that Hn-1 (X;ℚ) = 0 and Hn-1 (X;ℤ2) = 0. Then its loop space homotopy type is uniquely determined by the action of higher Bockstein operations on Hn-1 (X; ℤp) for each odd prime p. A stronger result is obtained when localized at odd primes.
Diagonals of Separately Absolutely Continuous Mappings Coincide with the Sums of Absolutely Convergent Series of Continuous Functions
Authors: Karlova Olena , Mykhaylyuk Volodymyr , Sobchuk Oleksandr
Published: June 2015

We prove that, for an interval X ⊆ ℝ and a normed space Z, diagonals of separately absolutely continuous mappings f : X2 → Z are exactly mappings g : X → Z, which are the sums of absolutely convergent series of continuous functions.
Host demographic predicts ectoparasite dynamics for a colonial host during pre-hibernation mating
Authors: WEBBER QUINN M. R. , CZENZE ZENON J. , WILLIS CRAIG K. R.
Published: June 2015

Parasite dynamics can be mediated by host behaviours such as sociality, and seasonal changes in aggregation may influence risk of parasite exposure. We used little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) captured during the autumn mating/swarming period to test the hypothesis that seasonal and demographic-based variation in sociality affect ectoparasitism. We predicted that ectoparasitism would: (1) be higher for adult females and young of the year (YOY) than adult males because of female coloniality; (2) increase for adult males throughout swarming because of increasing contact with females; (3) decrease for adult females and YOY throughout swarming because of reduced coloniality and transmission of individual ectoparasites to males; (4) be similar for male and female YOY because vertical transmission from adult females should be similar. Ectoparasitism was lowest for adult males and increased for males during swarming, but some effects of demographic were unexpected. Contrary to our prediction, ectoparasitism increased for adult females throughout swarming and YOY males also hosted fewer ectoparasites compared with adult and YOY females. Interestingly, females in the best body condition had the highest parasite loads. Our results suggest that host energetic constraints associated with future reproduction affect pre-hibernation parasite dynamics in bats.
Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Bone Turnover in Older Women
Authors: Dong Hongli , Hutchins-Wiese Heather , Kleppinger Alison , Annis Kristen , Liva Enrico , Lammi-Keefe Carol , Durham Holiday , Feinn Richard , Kenny Anne M.
Published: June 2015

Animal and human studies indicate that omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can influence bone health. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the effects of n-3 long chain (LC) PUFA supplementation (N-3 LCPUFA) on red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid levels and bone turnover markers in older postmenopausal women. One hundred and twenty-six postmenopausal women (mean age 75 ± 7 years) were treated with n-3 LCPUFA (1.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]/docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]/day, n = 85) or placebo (olive oil, n = 41) for 6 months. All women received 315 mg calcium citrate and 1000 IU cholecalciferol. RBC DHA (weight %) increased in the n-3 LCPUFA group, compared to no change in the placebo group (P < 0.001). The ratio of DHA+EPA:arachidonic acid (AA) increased by 42 % in the n-3 LCPUFA group and by 5 % in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin decreased in the n-3 LCPUFA group (P < 0.05) with no between-group difference. Short-term n-3 LCPUFA supplementation increased RBC concentrations of DHA and n-3:n-6 ratios. Bone turnover decreased with n-3 LCPUF, but not statistically compared to placebo. The results point to the need for investigations with greater dosages of n-3 LCPUFA for a longer duration to understand the contribution to bone metabolism in postmenopausal women.
Highly active oxygen reduction non-platinum group metal electrocatalyst without direct metal–nitrogen coordination
Authors: Strickland Kara , Miner Elise , Jia Qingying , Tylus Urszula , Ramaswamy Nagappan , Liang Wentao , Sougrati Moulay-Tahar , Jaouen Frédéric , Mukerjee Sanjeev
Published: June 2015

Replacement of noble metals in catalysts for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction with transition metals mostly create active sites based on a composite of nitrogen-coordinated transition metal in close concert with non-nitrogen-coordinated carbon-embedded metal atom clusters. Here we report a non-platinum group metal electrocatalyst with an active site devoid of any direct nitrogen coordination to iron that outperforms the benchmark platinum-based catalyst in alkaline media and is comparable to its best contemporaries in acidic media. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy in conjunction with ex situ microscopy clearly shows nitrided carbon fibres with embedded iron particles that are not directly involved in the oxygen reduction pathway. Instead, the reaction occurs primarily on the carbon–nitrogen structure in the outer skin of the nitrided carbon fibres. Implications include the potential of creating greater active site density and the potential elimination of any Fenton-type process involving exposed iron ions culminating in peroxide initiated free-radical formation.
Universal chiral-triggered magnetization switching in confined nanodots
Authors: Martinez Eduardo , Torres Luis , Perez Noel , Hernandez Maria Auxiliadora , Raposo Victor , Moretti Simone
Published: June 2015

Spin orbit interactions are rapidly emerging as the key for enabling efficient current-controlled spintronic devices. Much work has focused on the role of spin-orbit coupling at heavy metal/ferromagnet interfaces in generating current-induced spin-orbit torques. However, the strong influence of the spin-orbit-derived Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) on spin textures in these materials is now becoming apparent. Recent reports suggest DMI-stabilized homochiral domain walls (DWs) can be driven with high efficiency by spin torque from the spin Hall effect. However, the influence of the DMI on the current-induced magnetization switching has not been explored nor is yet well-understood, due in part to the difficulty of disentangling spin torques and spin textures in nano-sized confined samples. Here we study the magnetization reversal of perpendicular magnetized ultrathin dots and show that the switching mechanism is strongly influenced by the DMI, which promotes a universal chiral non-uniform reversal, even for small samples at the nanoscale. We show that ultrafast current-induced and field-induced magnetization switching consists on local magnetization reversal with domain wall nucleation followed by its propagation along the sample. These findings, not seen in conventional materials, provide essential insights for understanding and exploiting chiral magnetism for emerging spintronics applications.
Unique Urchin-like Ca2Ge7O16 Hierarchical Hollow Microspheres as Anode Material for the Lithium Ion Battery
Authors: Li Dan , Feng Chuanqi , Liu Hua Kun , Guo Zaiping
Published: June 2015

Germanium is an outstanding anode material in terms of electrochemical performance, especially rate capability, but its developments are hindered by its high price because it is rare in the crust of earth and its huge volume variation during the lithium insertion and extraction. Introducing other cheaper elements into the germanium-based material is an efficient way to dilute the high price, but normally sacrifice its electrochemical performance. By the combination of nanostructure design and cheap element (calcium) introduction, urchin-like Ca2Ge7O16 hierarchical hollow microspheres have been successfully developed in order to reduce the price and maintain the good electrochemical properties of germanium-based material. The electrochemical test results in different electrolytes show that ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate/diethyl carbonate (3/4/3 by volume) with 5 wt% fluoroethylene carbonate additive is the most suitable solvent for the electrolyte. From the electrochemical evaluation, the as-synthesized Ca2Ge7O16 hollow microspheres exhibit high reversible specific capacity of up to 804.6 mA h g−1 at a current density of 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles and remarkable rate capability of 341.3 mA h g−1 at a current density of 4 A g−1. The growth mechanism is proposed based on our experimental results on the growth process.
Controllable synthesis of CuS decorated TiO2 nanofibers for enhanced photocatalysis
Authors: Hou Guohui , Cheng Zhiqiang , Kang Lijuan , Xu Xiaojuan , Zhang Fanli , Yang Hongjia
Published: June 2015

CuS decorated TiO2 nanofibers were successfully prepared by the combination of electrospinning and hydrothermal processes.
Dual mode signaling responses of a rhodamine based probe and its immobilization onto a silica gel surface for specific mercury ion detection
Authors: Pal Ajoy , Bag Bamaprasad
Published: June 2015

The amino-ethyl-rhodamine-B based probe2appended with a 3-aminomethyl-(2-amino-1-pyridyl) group retained its Hg(ii)-specific chromogenic and fluorogenic signaling responses in an aqueous medium even upon immobilization onto a silica gel surface for selective detection and extraction of Hg(ii) ions.
Core–shell clusters of human haemoglobin A and human serum albumin: artificial O2-carriers having various O2-affinities
Authors: Kimura Takuya , Shinohara Ryuichi , Böttcher Christoph , Komatsu Teruyuki
Published: June 2015

Core–shell clusters composed of human haemoglobin A and human serum albumin having various O2-affinities have been synthesized as potential O2-carriers designed as red blood cell substitutes.
Translation invariant pure state on B=⊗j∈ZMd(j)(C) and its split property
Authors: Mohari Anilesh
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we prove that a real lattice symmetric reflection positive translation-invariant pure state of B=⊗j∈ZMd(j)(C) admits split property, if and only if its two-point spatial correlation functions decay exponentially. We use amalgamated representation of Cuntz algebras to represent two-point spatial correlation functions on an augmented Hilbert space. The underling symmetries and reflection positive property of the pure state make it possible to investigate its split and decaying two-point correlation functions properties as spectral properties of a contractive self-adjoint operator on the augmented Hilbert space. Haag duality property of the pure state is crucially used in the analysis.
Ferroelectricity in undoped hafnium oxide
Authors: Polakowski Patrick , Müller Johannes
Published: June 2015

We report the observation of ferroelectric characteristics in undoped hafnium oxide thin films in a thickness range of 4–20 nm. The undoped films were fabricated using atomic layer deposition (ALD) and embedded into titanium nitride based metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors for electrical evaluation. Structural as well as electrical evidence for the appearance of a ferroelectric phase in pure hafnium oxide was collected with respect to film thickness and thermal budget applied during titanium nitride electrode formation. Using grazing incidence X-Ray diffraction (GIXRD) analysis, we observed an enhanced suppression of the monoclinic phase fraction in favor of an orthorhombic, potentially, ferroelectric phase with decreasing thickness/grain size and for a titanium nitride electrode formation below crystallization temperature. The electrical presence of ferroelectricity was confirmed using polarization measurements. A remanent polarization Pr of up to 10 μC cm−2 as well as a read/write endurance of 1.6 × 105 cycles was measured for the pure oxide. The experimental results reported here strongly support the intrinsic nature of the ferroelectric phase in hafnium oxide and expand its applicability beyond the doped systems.
CCL2-induced chemokine cascade promotes breast cancer metastasis by enhancing retention of metastasis-associated macrophages
Authors: Kitamura Takanori , Qian Bin-Zhi , Soong Daniel , Cassetta Luca , Noy Roy , Sugano Gaël , Kato Yu , Li Jiufeng , Pollard Jeffrey W.
Published: June 2015

Pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer cells is promoted by a distinct population of macrophages, metastasis-associated macrophages (MAMs), which originate from inflammatory monocytes (IMs) recruited by the CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). We demonstrate here that, through activation of the CCL2 receptor CCR2, the recruited MAMs secrete another chemokine ligand CCL3. Genetic deletion of CCL3 or its receptor CCR1 in macrophages reduces the number of lung metastasis foci, as well as the number of MAMs accumulated in tumor-challenged lung in mice. Adoptive transfer of WT IMs increases the reduced number of lung metastasis foci in Ccl3 deficient mice. Mechanistically, Ccr1 deficiency prevents MAM retention in the lung by reducing MAM–cancer cell interactions. These findings collectively indicate that the CCL2-triggered chemokine cascade in macrophages promotes metastatic seeding of breast cancer cells thereby amplifying the pathology already extant in the system. These data suggest that inhibition of CCR1, the distal part of this signaling relay, may have a therapeutic impact in metastatic disease with lower toxicity than blocking upstream targets.
Coercion, Power, and Control in Interdependent Relationships
Authors: Howe George W. , Mlynarski Laura
Published: June 2015

Children must learn to navigate the complex world of social interdependence. This chapter discusses the central characteristics of interdependent interaction, reviewing recent research from social psychology. It then explores the repertoire of skill necessary for successful navigation of interdependence, and how rigid coercive aggression might impede success. It combines a dynamic systems framework with developmental and family research on social interaction in dyads and larger groups. In this view, elements of emotion, thought, and action assemble at each moment during real-time interaction, conditioning and being conditioned by the ongoing flow of that interaction. These elements come to form coordinated ensembles at the individual, dyad, and group level, and over time self-stabilize into coherent styles, including coercive aggression and prosocial orientations. The chapter then focuses on how these styles develop, and concludes with discussion of directions for future research and intervention.
Species differences in tumour responses to cancer chemotherapy
Authors: Lawrence Jessica , Cameron David , Argyle David
Published: June 2015

Despite advances in chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted drug development, cancer remains a disease of high morbidity and mortality. The treatment of human cancer patients with chemotherapy has become commonplace and accepted over the past 100 years. In recent years, and with a similar incidence of cancer to people, the use of cancer chemotherapy drugs in veterinary patients such as the dog has also become accepted clinical practice. The poor predictability of tumour responses to cancer chemotherapy drugs in rodent models means that the standard drug development pathway is costly, both in terms of money and time, leading to many drugs failing in Phase I and II clinical trials. This has led to the suggestion that naturally occurring cancers in pet dogs may offer an alternative model system to inform rational drug development in human oncology. In this review, we will explore the species variation in tumour responses to conventional chemotherapy and highlight our understanding of the differences in pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics between humans and dogs. Finally, we explore the potential hurdles that need to be overcome to gain the greatest value from comparative oncology studies.
School culture and leadership of professional learning communities
Authors: Carpenter Daniel
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore supportive and shared leadership structures at schools as a function of school culture policies and procedures.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative study was conducted at three secondary schools in the Midwestern USA. Administrators and teachers were interviewed, professional learning communities observed and artifacts collected to explore school culture policies, procedures and leadership in the implementation of professional learning community practice.

Findings

– This study concludes that school leaders must provide supportive and shared leadership structures for teachers in order to ensure a positive school culture and effective professional learning communities that impact school improvement. Leaders in schools must work directly with teachers to create policies and procedures that provide teachers the leadership structure to directly impact school improvement through professional learning community collaborative efforts.

Originality/value

– This study builds on the school culture and professional learning communities literature by exploring existent policies and practices in schools as unique cases. Much of the literature calls for specific case studies to identify issues in the implementation of effective practice. This study is important to the community as specific cases that may inform educational leaders on mechanisms that may be leveraged to ensure successful implementation of policies and procedures outline in school culture and professional learning community literature.
Location of banks and their credit ratings
Authors: van Loon Eric , de Haan Jakob
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine whether credit ratings of banks are related to their location, i.e. inside or outside the Euro Area.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors estimate a multilevel ordered probit model for banks’ credit ratings in 2011 and control for bank-specific factors. They use the overall ratings and the external support ratings provided by Fitch as the dependent variable.

Findings

– Banks located in Euro Area member countries, on average, receive a higher credit rating from Fitch than banks located outside the Euro Area. Evidence for a “too-big-to-fail” and a “too-big-to-rescue” effect was also found.

Research limitations/implications

– The monetary union effect on banks’ credit ratings may be affected by the period under investigation. The ratings refer to August 2011, when the European sovereign debt crisis was at its height. This implies that, if anything, the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) effect is underestimated.

Practical implications

– Large banks in the Euro Area receive higher credit ratings, so they have a competitive advantage over small banks located outside the Euro Area.

Social implications

– The present evidence suggests that small European countries with an extensive banking sector will be better off if they are member of the European EMU.

Originality/value

– The relationship between location of banks and their credit ratings has hardly been researched before. The present evidence is directly related to a debate in the literature on this issue.
Potential natural vegetation and environment: a critique of Kusbach, Shaw & Long
Authors: Roberts David W.
Published: June 2015

Aims

Recent work by Kusbach, Shaw & Long (2015, Applied Vegetation Science 18: 158–168) critiqued a system of potential natural vegetation classification widely employed on coniferous forests of the Rocky Mountains in the US, arguing that the lack of fit by a statistical model of vegetation type to environment suggests that these potential natural vegetation types may not represent basic ecological units of land. The aims of this paper are to (1) critically examine the model of environmental variability employed in their analysis, (2) evaluate the appropriateness of the statistical methods used in their analyses, and (3) demonstrate that despite the limitations in their approach the models actually worked well and refute the conclusions reached by Kusbach, Shaw & Long.

Location

Interior western USA including Utah, SE Idaho, W Wyoming and Colorado, N Arizona, NW New Mexico and E Nevada.

Methods

I examined the methods and results presented in Kusbach, Shaw & Long with respect to (1) the suitability of the model of environmental biophysics, (2) the appropriateness of the statistical methods employed, (3) the significance of the results obtained, and (4) the logical validity of the interpretations presented by the authors. I estimated the statistical significance of their predictive model results using a cumulative binomial probability based on the number of sample plots/type and the observed number of correct predictions obtained in their analyses. I estimated the probability of obtaining within‐type dispersions in PCA using a Monte Carlo randomization technique.

Results

The models of environmental biophysics employed in Kusbach, Shaw & Long are poorly developed and inadequate in representing the primary ecological factors structuring the distribution of vegetation in the study region. The statistical model employed assumes that potential natural vegetation types are simply categorical, when in fact they are instances of a multidimensional ordinal variable. The failure to weight errors resulting from the model presents a vastly exaggerated error distribution. However, despite the shortcomings in the model of environmental biophysics and the inappropriate statistical tests, their results are in fact highly significant and argue for conclusions diametrically opposed to those presented by the authors.
Multidrug‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in lung transplant patients in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit
Authors: Biderman P. , Bugaevsky Y. , Ben‐Zvi H. , Bishara J. , Goldberg E.
Published: June 2015

Background

Multidrug‐resistant (MDR) gram‐negative bacteria are a growing threat to solid organ transplantation (SOT) patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to examine the mortality rates of gram‐negative MDR bacterial infection in SOT patients compared with patient population undergoing other cardiothoracic surgeries and hospitalized under similar ICU conditions.

Methods

A retrospective study from a single medical center, including patients with MDRAcinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, hospitalized in the cardiothoracic ICU. Data were collected from computerized databases, and data were verified using the hospitalization files. Microbiological data were provided by the microbiology laboratory.

Results

During the study period, 205 SOT patients and 5031 other patients were hospitalized in the cardiothoracic ICU. Active infection with gram‐negative MDR bacteria was identified in 147 patients, of which 37 underwent SOT (18% of total transplant recipients) and 110 underwent another cardiothoracic surgery (2% of total patients who are not transplant recipients). Mortality rates were high among both groups of patients, with no significant difference between them.

Conclusions

Infection with resistant bacteria is more prevalent among patients following SOT compared with patients following other cardiothoracic surgeries. Mortality is high in all patients regardless of the immunocompromised condition.
A Feminist Approach to Climate Change Governance: Everyday and Intimate Politics
Authors: Bee Beth A. , Rice Jennifer , Trauger Amy
Published: June 2015

Neoliberal climate governance, which focuses on shifting responsibility for mitigating climate change onto individuals through their consumption of techno‐scientific solutions, ignores and obscures the experience of differently situated subjects. This paper examines the consequences of both framing climate change as a problem of science and inducing individual behavior changes as a key point of climate policy. We build on climate governance literature and emerging feminist theorizing about climate change to understand how differently situated bodies become positioned as sites of capital accumulation in climate governance. We use the feminist lens of the “everyday”, which directs attention to embodiment, difference, and inequality. These insights provide points of leverage for feminist scholars of climate science and policy to use to resist and contest the production of neoliberal climate subjects. We argue that a focus on the “everyday” reveals the mundane decision making in climate governance that affect individuals in varying, embodied ways and which allows for climate governance to proceed as an ongoing process of capitalist accumulation.
Insider/Outsider Issues for Development Researchers from the Global South
Authors: Giwa Aisha
Published: June 2015

The insider/outsider dichotomy has been debated extensively, arguing for a more nuanced way of thinking about positionality. In this review article, membership roles of those with insider status will be expanded upon to include the ethical and methodological challenges and dilemmas faced by development researchers from the global South. This article argues for more critical thinking about difference or ‘sub‐identities’ that grant the insider status. The discussion highlights experiences of researchers from the global South engaging with difference, shifting identities and expectations. This article concludes with some reflections on the limits of positionality and a need for more situated reflexivity.