bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Re-inventing the origins of the boy who wouldn’t grow up: Régis Loisel’s Peter Pan
Authors: Blin-Rolland Armelle 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Régis Loisel’s Peter Pan (Vents d’Ouest, 1990–2004) is a striking re-formulation of the origins of this mythical character due to its stylistic, narrative and thematic darkness. This article uses Loisel’s bande dessinée to examine the potential of comics as an adaptive medium, and the reading process of the comic prequel, two aspects which are productively linked by the concept of the network. I draw on Sanders’ and Groensteen’s uses of the concept in adaptation studies and comics studies respectively, to reflect on both the way that Loisel’s bande dessinée is connected to the network of proliferating Peter Pan narratives, and the way in which the comic functions as a network itself, engaging the reader in a translinear and plurivectoral reading. This article first explores how core elements of the well-known Peter Pan narrative are adapted in Loisel’s comic, both echoing and contrasting with previous versions as Loisel’s bande dessinée engages with and re-formulates the character’s textual and visual multiplicities from the network of Peter Pan narratives. This article then draws on Paul Sutton’s theorization of the ‘dual temporality’ of the prequel to reflect on the reading process of Loisel’s Peter Pan as a comic prequel that productively uses the nature of a comic as a network, and its potential for translinear and plurivectoral reading. Loisel’s Peter Pan engages the reader in an active, retrospective, prospective and anticipatory reading process, in a dynamic of repetition and difference.
Steve Ditko: Violence and Romanticism in the Silver Age
Authors: Kruse Zack 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
The introduction of Steve Ditko and Stan Lee’s Amazing Spider-Man radically changed the face of graphic literature. Spider-Man would go on to be one of the most recognized and beloved characters in western culture, and by mixing the individualist Zeitgeist of the mid-twentieth century with the ideals of Romanticism, co-creator Steve Ditko set a standard that would lead to some of the most significant work in comic book history. Unlike any comics creator who had preceded him, Ditko set a clear path for the psychological growth of his character and developed him over more than 38 issues. Applying a particular view of the Byronic hero, Ditko created a sort of ‘Romantic epic’ that continued in his post-Spider-Man works with the Blue Beetle, the Question and Mr A. Ditko set himself further apart from his contemporaries by developing a complicated view of violence that challenged the Comics Code Authority. The ‘right to kill’ that Steve Ditko invented for superheroes was not intended to bring the anti-hero to comics; rather, Ditko utilized it to demonstrate the moral authority of heroes against villains that, in his view, forfeited their lives. By pairing this new right to kill with psychologically complex protagonists, Ditko’s work reflected the anxieties of 1960s western culture and brought about a paradigm shift in Code era comics. This shift would lead to even more challenging works from creators like Alan Moore and Frank Miller and the eventual abandonment of the Code.
Design, arthrology and transtextuality in Seagle’s and Kristiansen’s It’s a Bird
Authors: Jacobs Dale 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
A theory of multimodality helps to explain how meaning is created by readers of comics at the level of the page and how readers situate themselves in relation to specific comics texts. In this article, I want to build on that theory in order to argue that in reading a comics text making meaning also involves the internal and external linkages that are continually made and unmade for and by readers. That is, it is not only at the level of a particular sequence of panels or page layout that meaning is made by comics creators and readers, but also through the connections that are made between various parts of the comics text itself (arthrology) and between the comics text and external texts (transtextuality). This article seeks to extend theories of multimodality to Thierry Groensteen’s arthrology and Gerard Genette’s transtextuality, concepts that help explain both the internal and external linkages created within comics texts. In doing so, I wish to explore some questions regarding how readers make sense of a complex comics text such as It’s a Bird by Steven Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen. What are the elements with which a reader must engage, at both the level of the page and the level of the text as a whole? How do these elements combine in the reading process? What accounts for the divergence of narrative meanings and textual interpretations between readers? In this article I examine how reading It’s a Bird involves making sense of the multimodal elements of each page, the arthrological connections between panels at both restricted and general levels, and the multiple kinds of transtextual connections between this text and myriad other texts.
Defining units of analysis for the systematic analysis of comics: A discourse-based approach
Authors: Bateman John A. , Wildfeuer Janina 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Although regularly contested and rejected, the idea of a ‘grammar of comics’ continues to be applied to the analysis of comics in many disciplines and frameworks. The motivation for this is the evident regularity and systematicity exhibited by the comics medium as a form of expressive communication. Less commonly realized is that nowadays there are powerful descriptive mechanisms developed in approaches to verbal texts and linguistics that do not require the assumption of ‘grammar’ to explain productive structural regularity. This is important for the future study of comics because the notion of ‘grammar’ is in many respects deeply problematic when applied outside of its home area of natural language. In this article we demonstrate how more recent accounts of dynamic discourse provide a more appropriate set of mechanisms for talking about visual media such as comics. These mechanisms allow us to naturally relate panel, page and multiframe compositions as well as their combinations. By critical discussion of examples addressed in the literature, we show how these constructs also entail treatments of panel transitions that move beyond overly tight linking of panels and panel transitions to time and space and offer a methodologically sound way of identifying units of analysis in comics in general.
Greening of higher education in the Republic of Serbia
Authors: Nikolić Vesna , Ranitović Jelena , Milutinović Slobodan 
Published: January 2015

Nowadays, Serbia is not at a satisfactory level of sustainability due to the well known events that occurred within the past two decades. According to the European Commission, environmental protection is an area in whichSerbiawill have to give its maximum effort to fully meet European standards and the requirements of sustainable development in the future. Poor water quality in some parts of the country, undeveloped systems for waste collection and recycling, illegal dumps, and industrial pollution are some of the environmental problems affecting the Republic of Serbia. These findings encouraged the authors of the paper to focus on the environmental problems as a dimension of education for sustainable development in Serbian higher education.Regulatory frameworks of higher education and education for sustainable development in theRepublicofSerbiaare presented in the first part of the paper. The second part deals with observations on current staff development within professional education centres, where their abilities to work in the field of environmental protection are discussed. In the third part, an analysis of an autonomous and integrative approach to the environmental safety education is done, and the need and importance of greening higher education curriculum, as the new paradigm in the educational system, is emphasized.In this regard, an analysis of present ecological ideas and content in the syllabus of English language, which is one of the most common courses at Serbian faculties, and which is particularly important in response to the challenges of globalization, knowledge flow, international scientific research and mobility, is performed.Finally, as part of the authors’ concluding remarks, improvements related to the period before the reform of higher education and adoption of a national strategy for sustainable development, are presented. Also, their basic weaknesses and difficulties are described. New directions of the education for environmental protection in higher education, as well as the importance of training higher education lecturers in this area, are shown.
Student medical education with the real orthopedic case presented as interactive computer simulation
Authors: Dygut Jacek , Płonka Sylwia 
Published: January 2015

Abstract

Background: This article presents an example application of an e-learning tool for presenting cases with the aim of acquainting medical students with the procedures performed by a court expert in assessing causes and effects of an accident at work.

Methods: The present publication is based on medico-legal expertise dealing with the case of a 51-year-old manual worker of a carpentry company who, due to lack of proper training in handling the machine, severely injured his hand. The main advantage of this publication is the presentation of a series of cause-effect events at every stage of the patient’s treatment that led to minor and major complications and adverse effects. Their starting point was the employer’s evident error, i.e., failure to provide the worker with proper training in handling the machine.

Results and conclusions: The discussed orthopedic case has been implemented in the CASUS base (mainly using the program “Virtual Patients” as tool for case presentation) in the form of a description of a properly carried out diagnostic procedure and equipped with the expert’s opinion and explanation of possible inappropriate decisions.
Simple high-throughput analytical method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol in urine
Authors: Yang Jun-Young , Ahn Hyun-Kyong , Lee Si-Won , Han You-Jung , Oh Young-Jun , Velázquez-Armenta E. Yadira , Nava-Ocampo Alejandro A. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSince the urinary concentration of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a reliable biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke, we developed a relatively simple high-throughput chromatographic method to quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in the general population.The high-throughput analytical method was developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to identify and quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in 10 non-smokers and 15 otherwise healthy smokers.Loss of nitric oxide atAn UPLC-MS/MS analytical method to quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in smokers that does not require sample derivatization is presented herein. The method could be useful in clarifying the toxicities associated with human exposure to cigarette smoking. However, quantification might be adversely affected by co-eluting interfering compounds or selective ion suppression or enhancement as a result of having only one ion transition to monitor NNAL and NNAL-methyl-
Determination of dabigatran in plasma, serum, and urine samples: comparison of six methods
Authors: Du Shanshan , Weiss Christel , Christina Giese , Krämer Sandra , Wehling Martin , Krämer Roland , Harenberg Job 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAssessing the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran may be useful in certain clinical settings. When plasma sampling is not available, serum or urine samples may provide another option for dabigatran determinations.Dabigatran was assessed in patients on treatment under real-life conditions in plasma samples by four clotting time-based assays and in plasma, serum, and urine samples by two chromogenic substrate methods.The concentrations of dabigatran in patients’ plasma samples were not different for the Hemoclot test (106.8±89.4 ng/mL) and the ecarin clotting time (ECT, 109.5±74.5 ng/mL, p=0.58). Activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombinase-induced clotting time showed low correlations with the other assays. Chromogenic assays measured similar concentrations as Hemoclot and ECT. For both chromogenic assays, the concentrations of dabigatran were about 70% lower in serum than in plasma samples (p<0.0001). The intra-class coefficient (ICC, Bland-Altman analysis) was strong comparing ECT, Hemoclot thrombin inhibitor (HTI) assay, and the two chromogenic assays (r=0.889–0.737). The ICC was low for comparisons of the chromogenic assays of serum vs. plasma values (ICC, 0.15 and 0.66). The ICC for the determination of dabigatran in urine samples by the two chromogenic assays (5641.6±4319.7 and 4730.0±3770.2 ng/mL) was 0.737.ECT, HTI, and chromogenic assays can be used to determine dabigatran in plasma samples from patients under real-life conditions. Chromogenic assays require further improvement to reliably measure dabigatran in serum samples. Dabigatran concentrations in urine samples can also be determined quantitatively.
Turbo Codes with Modified Code Matched Interleaver for Coded-Cooperation in Half-Duplex Wireless Relay Networks
Authors: Ejaz Saqib , Yang Feng-Fan 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe parallel encoding and decoding structure of turbo codes makes them natural candidate for coded-cooperative scenarios. In this paper, we focus on one of the key components of turbo codes i.e., interleaver, and analyze its effect on the performance of coded-cooperative communication. The impact of an interleaver on the overall performance of cooperative systems depends on the type of an interleaver and its location in the cooperative encoding scheme. We consider code matched interleaver (CMI) as an optimum choice and present its role in a coded-cooperation scenario. The search and convergence of CMI for long interleaver sizes is an issue; therefore, a modification in the search conditions is included without any compromise on the performance of CMI. We also present analytical method to determine maximum S-constraint length for a CMI design. Further, we analyze the performance of two different encoding schemes of turbo codes, i.e., distributed turbo code (DTC) and distributed multiple turbo code (DMTC) after inclusion of CMI. Monte Carlo simulations show that CMI increases the diversity gain relative to other conventional interleavers such as uniform random interleaver. The channel is assumed to be Rayleigh fading among all communication nodes.
On almost ω1-weak p
ω·2+n
-projective abelian p-groups
Authors: Danchev Peter V. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
We define the classes of almost weak p
ω·2+n
-projective
and almost ω1-weak p
ω·2+n
-projective p-primary
abelian groups and establish some of their crucial properties. Important generalizations and
extensions of classical results are also obtained in this new framework.
Exercise, bodyweight perception and related weight loss behavior among adolescents in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Babwah Terence 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Aim: This study attempted to evaluate the real and perceived body weight, exercise habits and weight-altering dietary supplement use by adolescents attending schools in Trinidad and Tobago.
Methods: A de novo questionnaire was administered prospectively to 15–19-year-old to determine their exercise habits, their perceived body weights, and their use of any weight gain or weight loss supplements. A subset of students had their actual height and weights recorded and BMI calculated.
Results: Five hundred and eighty-three students did the questionnaire (88% response rate), and 363 students had BMI calculated. Some 14.9% (54/363) of the students were overweight, and 15.4% (56/363) were obese, and more than 75% of the obese students had attempted weight loss in the past. These measures included exercise in the majority of the students and use of dietary supplements in the minority. Only 6% of the obese students exercised five or more times per week. About 28% of the students misclassified their body weights, and perception of body weight influenced weight loss behaviors more than actual body weights.
Conclusion: Almost one third of the students were overweight or obese. Overweight students were motivated to lose weight, and these students need to have some structured health promotion program, which educates them on correct exercise habits, safe measures to lose weight, and which informs them of their actual body weight.
Prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among adolescents in secondary schools in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria
Authors: Okagua Joyce , Opara Peace , Alex-Hart Balafama A. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackground:Cigarette smoking remains a major preventable public health problem associated with premature deaths worldwide. Adolescence is a unique developmental stage between childhood and adulthood. Smoking is a lifestyle habit acquired during adolescence and into adulthood, with its associated morbidity and mortality. It is therefore important to determine the factors associated with cigarette smoking in these adolescents in order to institute preventive measures and health policies to protect these adolescents early.Objective:This study aims to determine the prevalence of smoking, factors associated with smoking, and knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking in these adolescents.Methods:A cross-sectional study of 1120 adolescents aged 10–19 years selected from 10 secondary schools in Port Harcourt was conducted using a multistage sampling technique. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) core questionnaire was used to collect data from the subjects. A smoker was defined as one who had ever smoked a cigarette or who had one or two puffs, while a current smoker was defined as one who had taken a puff or smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days preceding the day of the questionnaire’s completion.Results:Eighty subjects (7.1%) were smokers. This was significantly (p=<0.001) higher in males (9.7%) than in females (4%). Thirty seven (3.3%) subjects were current smokers. The mean age at which smoking was initiated was 12.47±3.0 years. Twenty six (32.5%) of the smokers reported that they were initiated into cigarette smoking by their friends, 36 (45%) just wanted to experiment, 7 (8.8%) were influenced by media advertisements while 5 (6.3%) were due to parental exposure. Parental history of smoking and poor knowledge of cancer of the lungs as a harmful effect of smoking, was significantly (p=<0.05) associated with cigarette smoking.Conclusion:The prevalence of smoking in adolescents in Port Harcourt is high and is associated with parental smoking and poor knowledge of cancer of the lungs as a harmful effect. We recommend that adolescent health education with an emphasis on the harmful effects of smoking be included in the curriculum of all secondary schools.
Tailoring optical complex fields with nano-metallic surfaces
Authors: Rui Guanghao , Zhan Qiwen 
Published: January 2015

AbstractRecently there is an increasing interest in complex optical fields with spatially
inhomogeneous state of polarizations and optical singularities. Novel effects
and phenomena have been predicted and observed for light beams with these
unconventional states. Nanostructured metallic thin film offers unique
opportunities to generate, manipulate and detect these novel fields. Strong
interactions between nano-metallic surfaces and complex optical fields enable
the development of highly compact and versatile functional devices and systems.
In this review, we first briefly summarize the recent developments in complex
optical fields. Various nano-metallic surface designs that can produce and
manipulate complex optical fields with tailored characteristics in the optical
far field will be presented. Nano-metallic surfaces are also proven to be very
effective for receiving and detection of complex optical fields in the near
field. Advances made in this nascent field may enable the design of novel
photonic devices and systems for a variety of applications such as quantum
optical information processing and integrated photonic circuits.
The effect of the preparation process on the swelling behavior of silk fibroin-polyurethane composite hydrogels using a full factorial experimental design
Authors: Cai Ling , Han Feilong , Hu Jingen , Xu Gewen , Huang Yiping , Lin Xiangjin 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) was synthesized by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol (PPG) as the soft segments, isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as the hard segment and dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) and diethylene glycol (DEG) as chain extenders. Silk fibroin (SF)-PU composite hydrogels were prepared by SF and PUP through chemical crosslinking and physical crosslinking interactions. A full factorial experimental design with four factors and four levels was applied to optimize the craft of preparing SF-PU composite hydrogels. The molecular weight of PEG, IPDI/(PEG+PPG) (molar ratio), PEG/(PEG+PPG) (molar ratio) and SF/(SF+PU) (mass ratio) were the factors. The swelling behavior of hydrogels was tested in deionized water at 30°C. The results showed that the equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) was the largest by tuning the molecular weight of PEG to 4000, IPDI/(PEG+PPG)(molar ratio) to 3, PEG/(PEG+PPG) (molar ratio) to 40% and SF/(SF+PU) (mass ratio) to 2%. Fickian diffusion played a dominant role in the initial stage of swelling. For the whole process, the results fitted well into the Schott second-order kinetic equation.
Muscle Cell Fate Choice Requires the T-Box Transcription Factor Midline in Drosophila
Authors: Kumar Ram P , Dobi Krista C , Baylies Mary K , Abmayr Susan M 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Drosophila Midline (Mid) is an ortholog of vertebrate Tbx20, which plays roles in the developing heart, migrating cranial motor neurons, and endothelial cells. Mid functions in cell-fate specification and differentiation of tissues that include the ectoderm, cardioblasts, neuroblasts, and egg chambers; however, a role in the somatic musculature has not been described. We identified mid in genetic and molecular screens for factors contributing to somatic muscle morphogenesis. Mid is expressed in founder cells (FCs) for several muscle fibers, and functions cooperatively with the T-box protein H15 in lateral oblique muscle 1 and the segment border muscle. Mid is particularly important for the specification and development of the lateral transverse (LT) muscles LT3 and LT4, which arise by asymmetric division of a single muscle progenitor. Mid is expressed in this progenitor and its two sibling FCs, but is maintained only in the LT4 FC. Both muscles were frequently missing in mid mutant embryos, and LT4-associated expression of the transcription factor Krüppel (Kr) was lost. When present, LT4 adopted an LT3-like morphology. Coordinately, mid misexpression caused LT3 to adopt an LT4-like morphology and was associated with ectopic Kr expression. From these data, we concluded that mid functions first in the progenitor to direct development of LT3 and LT4, and later in the FCs to influence whichever of these differentiation profiles is selected. Mid is the first T-box factor shown to influence LT3 and LT4 muscle identity and, along with the T-box protein Optomotor-blind-related-gene 1 (Org-1), is representative of a new class of transcription factors in muscle specification.