bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A model for the continuous quality improvement of the Sing With Us choir leaders
Authors: Morris Jessica Ruth , Dow Rosie 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Sing With Us is a network of fifteen research-led community choirs run weekly by the cancer charity Tenovus Cancer Care, as a form of support for people affected by cancer in Wales. This article discusses a model created by Tenovus Cancer Care to train and develop their team of eight community Choir Leaders (CLs). It explores the theoretical frameworks and methodology through which a system of continuous quality improvement has been developed for them, and looks specifically at the initial results of a first team assessment. This article will explore the idea that by professionalizing and valuing the roles of the CLs and the work they do, this will create a positive impact in the service that is provided. It will suggest that by implementing a process to ensure a quality leadership in a community choir setting, choristers will be more likely to have a richer experience on which they place high value and will be engaged for longer.
‘We’re all on the path ourselves’: The ‘reflective practitioner’ in participatory arts with older people
Authors: Wakeling Kate 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This article explores the role of the ‘reflective practitioner’ in participatory arts projects with older people, as articulated by creative practitioners themselves. Research into participatory arts activity with older people, which focuses on the process rather than the outcome of such activity remains sparse, as does scholarship that engages closely with artist-practitioners themselves as a rich source of knowledge and insight in this field. Supported by theory concerning the development and utility of reflective praxis, the article foregrounds the perspectives of a range of experienced artist-practitioners, as obtained through interviews and the findings of a ‘reflective learning group’ practitioner CPD programme. Research found that the creative practitioners consulted had developed a range of diverse reflective practices in order to engage and nurture the older participants they worked with, including: highly flexible and dialogic approaches; seeking ‘kinaesthetic empathy’ with participants; applying a form of ‘micro-responsiveness’ to participants; and fostering strong reflective practices among participants themselves. These findings hold important implications as to how we understand the processes by which practitioners enhance participant experience in the participatory arts, how creative practitioners are best supported in their work, and for the design, management and evaluation of participatory arts projects.
‘It’s really scared of disability’: Disabled comedians’ perspectives of the British television comedy industry
Authors: Lockyer Sharon 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
For over twenty years British television broadcasters, regulators and critics have been, and continue to be, united in their desire to increase the number of disabled staff working across the television industry and to improve the representation of disabled people in television programmes. However, little research focuses on the lived experiences of disabled television writers and performers working within the television industry. Via thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with disabled comedy writers and performers, this article specifically focuses on the everyday working experiences of disabled comedy professionals in the contemporary television comedy industry. Two main interconnected themes are highlighted and explored: (1) institutional dynamics of the television comedy industry; and (2) limits of current portrayals of disability in television comedy. These themes reveal the disabling institutional norms experienced by disabled comedy professionals and their critical perceptions of the representations of disability in recent television comedy programmes, including I’m Spazticus (2012–2013) and The Last Leg (2012–).
Supersize vs. Superskinny: (Re)framing the freak show in contemporary popular culture
Authors: Leadley Allison 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
While the freak show once dominated western stages and was, as scholar Robert Bogdan notes, one of the most popular forms of entertainment for nearly a century, the increasing concern surrounding the political, ethical and moral implications of gazing openly upon abnormal bodies cemented the eventual decline of its popularity in the early- to mid-twentieth century. However, as scholars have noted, the eventual decline of the freak show did not necessarily signal the end to the public’s fascination with looking at anomalous or extraordinary bodies. Instead, this fascination was reconfigured within contemporary culture to sites such as reality television, tabloid publications and medical documentaries. Within this article, I focus on the popular Channel 4 reality documentary series: Supersize vs. Superskinny (2008– 2014). The programme, which spans seven series, follows two pairs of participants with disparate body sizes and ‘extreme’ diets as they swap their usual meals with one another for one full week in an attempt to challenge their current relationship to food and diet. Like the freak show – a complex performance practice that extends beyond the sideshow or carnival stages to include modes of looking at bodies that included medical theatres and lectures, ethnographic displays, and museums – Supersize vs. Superskinny is a hybrid of spectacle, entertainment and medical clinic, and thus, has emerged as a prime case study of these aforementioned contemporary socially sanctioned sites of gazing upon Othered bodies. In this article, I intend to conduct a close reading of two episodes from within the series as a means of not only exploring the aesthetic and narrative similarities between the programme and the historic freak show, but to explore how the programme, in its framing and presentation of exceptional bodies, implicitly reinforces the moral, political and cultural superiority of the so-called ‘normate’.
Disability and television: Notes from the field
Authors: Barton Sarah 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Drawing on extensive experience working in film and television production, this article reflects on the practical and cultural problems encountered by programmemakers working with participants with disabilities. This article aims to give advice to other programme-makers, and does so within practical contexts such as budgetary constraints and ‘typical’ working practices. In doing so, the intention here is to support wider diversity on-screen, and to enable television to better work with, and represent, people with disabilities.
Nonlinear analysis of pupillary dynamics
Authors: Onorati Francesco , Mainardi Luca Tommaso , Sirca Fabiola , Russo Vincenzo , Barbieri Riccardo 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPupil size reflects autonomic response to different environmental and behavioral stimuli, and its dynamics have been linked to other autonomic correlates such as cardiac and respiratory rhythms. The aim of this study is to assess the nonlinear characteristics of pupil size of 25 normal subjects who participated in a psychophysiological experimental protocol with four experimental conditions, namely “baseline”, “anger”, “joy”, and “sadness”. Nonlinear measures, such as sample entropy, correlation dimension, and largest Lyapunov exponent, were computed on reconstructed signals of spontaneous fluctuations of pupil dilation. Nonparametric statistical tests were performed on surrogate data to verify that the nonlinear measures are an intrinsic characteristic of the signals. We then developed and applied a piecewise linear regression model to detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). Two joinpoints and three scaling intervals were identified: slopeα0, at slow time scales, represents a persistent nonstationary long-range correlation, whereasα1andα2, at middle and fast time scales, respectively, represent long-range power-law correlations, similarly to DFA applied to heart rate variability signals. Of the computed complexity measures,α0showed statistically significant differences among experimental conditions (p<0.001). Our results suggest that (a) pupil size at constant light condition is characterized by nonlinear dynamics, (b) three well-defined and distinct long-memory processes exist at different time scales, and (c) autonomic stimulation is partially reflected in nonlinear dynamics.
Brain tumor classification and segmentation using sparse coding and dictionary learning
Authors: Salman Al-Shaikhli Saif Dawood , Yang Michael Ying , Rosenhahn Bodo 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis paper presents a novel fully automatic framework for multi-class brain tumor classification and segmentation using a sparse coding and dictionary learning method. The proposed framework consists of two steps: classification and segmentation. The classification of the brain tumors is based on brain topology and texture. The segmentation is based on voxel values of the image data. Using K-SVD, two types of dictionaries are learned from the training data and their associated ground truth segmentation: feature dictionary and voxel-wise coupled dictionaries. The feature dictionary consists of global image features (topological and texture features). The coupled dictionaries consist of coupled information: gray scale voxel values of the training image data and their associated label voxel values of the ground truth segmentation of the training data. For quantitative evaluation, the proposed framework is evaluated using different metrics. The segmentation results of the brain tumor segmentation (MICCAI-BraTS-2013) database are evaluated using five different metric scores, which are computed using the online evaluation tool provided by the BraTS-2013 challenge organizers. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach achieves an accurate brain tumor classification and segmentation and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods.
Phase Type Viewpoint Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radios
Authors: Amini Mohammadreza , Mirzavandi Asra 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSpectrum sensing is one of the main functionalities of cognitive radios to find transmission opportunities without interfering primary users’ transmission. The more accurate and efficient the spectrum sensing is, the higher the throughput of secondary and primary networks is achieved. This paper presents adaptive spectrum sensing method based on phase type modelling that is computationally efficient for secondary users to conclude about the channel state (idle or busy) under collision constraint. The parameters of phase type model can be adjusted based on the desired operating point of the receiver sensor in its ROC curve. The presented approach can run a simple trade off between sensing time and the two error probabilities of the receiver sensor i.e. False alarm and Miss-detection, the trade off that cannot be easily achieved in other sensing method.
Structure, function, evolution, and application of bacterial Pnu-type vitamin transporters
Authors: Jaehme Michael , Slotboom Dirk Jan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMany bacteria can take up vitamins from the environment via specific transport machineries. Uptake is essential for organisms that lack complete vitamin biosynthesis pathways, but even in the presence of biosynthesis routes uptake is likely preferred, because it is energetically less costly. Pnu transporters represent a class of membrane transporters for a diverse set of B-type vitamins. They were identified 30 years ago and catalyze transport by the mechanism of facilitated diffusion, without direct coupling to ATP hydrolysis or transport of coupling ions. Instead, directionality is achieved by metabolic trapping, in which the vitamin substrate is converted into a derivative that cannot be transported, for instance by phosphorylation. The recent crystal structure of the nicotinamide riboside transporter PnuC has provided the first insights in substrate recognition and selectivity. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge about the function, structure, and evolution of Pnu transporters. Additionally, we will highlight their role for potential biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.
Humorous communication, verbal aggressiveness, and father–son relational satisfaction
Authors: Neuendorf Kimberly A. , Rudd Jill E. , Palisin Paul , Pask Elizabeth B. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study examines the role of humor orientation and reported humorous communication behaviors during father–son conflict in predicting relational satisfaction. In addition, the main effect and interaction effect (with humor orientation) of verbal aggressiveness on relational satisfaction is investigated. A survey of adult father–son pairs pinpoints an interesting network of findings linking general humor orientations, verbal aggressiveness, reported use of humorous messages during conflict, and relational satisfaction within the father–son relationship. Key findings include: Sons’ relational satisfaction is predicted by lower fathers’ verbal aggressiveness for those with fathers who report a very high humor orientation. On the other hand, fathers’ relational satisfaction is predicted by lower levels of sons’ humor orientation, and not by verbal aggressiveness. Further, sons’ relational satisfaction is negatively related to the reported use of
Multi-Objective Optimization of the Pasteurization Process of Pumpkin Cubes Packaged in Glass Jars
Authors: Lespinard Alejandro R. , Arballo Javier R. , Taus Francisco J. , Mascheroni Rodolfo H. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The influence of particle size (PZ) and processing temperature (PT) on quality attributes and processing time of pumpkin cubes packaged in glass jars were evaluated during their pasteurization. Second-order polynomial models were developed for the following responses: texture retention (TR), total colour change (TCC) and heating time (HT), using multiple linear regression for a range of operating conditions (20–30 mm and 85–100°C for PZ and PT, respectively). A combination of the polynomial models with the methodology of desirability function was used for optimization of the pumpkin pasteurization process. The obtained optimal conditions were 20 mm and 100°C for PZ and PT, respectively; in order to obtain TR of 82.21%, TCC of 7.54 and HT of 44.97 min. However, these optimal conditions change to 100°C and 21 mm and the responses obtained are TR of 73.60%, TCC of 7.52 and HT of 39.66 min, when the processing time is prioritized.
An Efficient Biological Treatment on Dairy Wastewater by Lactobacillus
plantarum: Mathematical Modeling and Process Parameters Optimization
Authors: Golalikhani Mahshid , Razavi Seyed Hadi 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The ability of Lactobacillus
plantarum for biological treatment of dairy wastewater was investigated using a response surface method. The effects of three culture condition parameters of temperature (24.93–40.07°C), pH (4.3–6.7), and agitation rate (99.5–200.5 rpm) on the removal efficiency of sugar, total protein content (TPC), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater were studied. For each response parameter, a second-order polynomial model versus independent variables (p < 0.0001) was determined and statistically obtained with high coefficient of determination values (R
2 > 0.95). Numerical optimization defined the optimum treatment conditions for achieving the highest removal efficiency was temperature of 28°C, pH of 5.03, and agitation rate of 147.51 rpm. Under the optimum condition, the removal efficiency values for sugar, TPC, and COD were predicted to be 72.18%, 54.51%, and 78.99%, respectively.
Effects of long-term administration of aspartame on biochemical indices, lipid profile and redox status of cellular system of male rats
Authors: Adaramoye Oluwatosin A. , Akanni Olubukola O. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract

Background: Aspartame (N-L-α-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester) (ASP) is a synthetic sweetener used in foods and its safety remains controversial. The study was designed to investigate the effects of long-term administration of aspartame on redox status, lipid profile and biochemical indices in tissues of male Wistar rats.

Methods: Rats were assigned into four groups and given distilled water (control), aspartame at doses of 15 mg/kg (ASP 1), 35 mg/kg (ASP 2) and 70 mg/kg (ASP 3) daily by oral gavage for consecutive 9 weeks.

Results: Administration of ASP 2 and ASP 3 significantly increased the weight of liver and brain, and relative weight of liver of rats. Lipid peroxidation products significantly increased in the kidney, liver and brain of rats at all doses of ASP with concomitant depletion of antioxidant parameters, viz. glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione. Furthermore, ASP 2 and ASP 3 significantly increased the levels of gamma glutamyl transferase by 70% and 85%; alanine aminotransferase by 66% and 117%; aspartate aminotransferase by 21% and 48%; urea by 72% and 58% and conjugated bilirubin by 63% and 64%, respectively. Also, ASP 2 and ASP 3 significantly increased the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the rats. Histological findings showed that ASP 2 and ASP 3 caused cyto-architectural changes such as degeneration, monocytes infiltration and necrotic lesions in brain, kidney and liver of rats.

Conclusions: Aspartame may induce redox and lipid imbalance in rats via mechanism that involves oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione-dependent system.
Amelioration of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress indices in diabetic Wistar rats using methanol leaf extract of Bridelia micrantha (Hochst) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: Nwaehujor Chinaka O. , Udegbunam Rita I. , Ode Julius O. , Asuzu Onyeka V. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract

Background: Ethnopharmacological practitioners in Nigeria have used aqueous and ethanol extracts of Bridelia micrantha leaves to manage conditions associated with inflammation, and these include diabetes, chest pain, edema, arthritis and joint pains. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of methanol leaf extract of B. micrantha on chronic inflammation and oxidative stress which accompany diabetic conditions, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Albino Wistar rats.

Methods: The dried leaves were extracted by percolation in 80% methanol:water for 72 h after which the mixture was filtered using Whatman No. 1 (11 μm) filter papers. Acute toxicity studies were done using Wistar rats and given orally up to a dose of 2,000 mg/kg. The animals were monitored for 48 h. The experimental design involved five (5) groups of six (6) albino Wistar diabetic rats each. Groups A, B and C rats received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg B. micrantha respectively while groups D (negative control) and E (positive control) rats received 10 mL/kg normal saline and 200 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) respectively by gastric gavage for 7 days. Two sterilized cotton pellets (10 mg each) were implanted subcutaneously into both sides of the dorsal area of each diabetic rat in all the groups. Post cotton pellet implantation, rats in three groups (A, B and C) were treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg B. micrantha extract, while those in two groups (D and E) were treated with acetyl salicylic acid (ASA 200 mg/kg) and normal saline (10 mL/kg) respectively by gastric gavage for 7 days. Serum obtained from the animals on Day 8 of the cotton pellet test were used for malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) assays.

Results: The administration of the leaf extract up to a dose of 2,000 mg/kg to rats produced absolutely no death or observable signs of toxicity in 48 h. The cotton pellet granuloma weights in 200 mg/kg (44.88±1.2 mg), 400 mg/kg (42.10±1.2 mg) B. micrantha extract treated groups and ASA at 200 mg/kg (43.25±1.8 mg) were significantly lower compared to weight of granuloma (85.50±3.2 mg) obtained in the group treated with normal saline. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the 200 mg/kg (3.32±0.72 nmol/mL) and 400 mg/kg (1.88±1.27 nmol/mL) B. micrantha extract treated groups were significantly (p<0.05) lower compared to MDA level (6.88±0.79 nmol/mL) in the serum of normal saline treated group. Treatment of diabetic rats with the B. micrantha extract also caused significant (p<0.05) elevation in serum catalase, SOD and GSH levels.

Conclusions: The study showed that B. micrantha methanol leaf extract significantly inhibited some chronic inflammation and oxidative stress parameters in diabetes mellitus.
Crimes Against the Carrying out of Justice in the Context of the Current Criminal Law
Authors: Sabau Georgeta Valeria , Cioia Pantilimon 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The passing of the new codes was justified by the legislator by taking into account both the comparative law in the field, as well as the social and economic realities, the evolution of the doctrine and jurisprudence, the need for readjusting the punitive treatment within the normal limits, the simplification of the incriminatory texts and the need to avoid the overlapping of various criminal provisions.
The current paper aims to analyze the offenses against the justice process, which have come to know new nuances in the current penal configuration, being distinctively specified in Title IV of the Penal Code‟s Special Part; the syntagm “Crimes hindering justice” has been replaced with “Crimes against the carrying out of justice”, since these crimes have not always effectively prevented justice from being carried out; sometimes they only posed a threat to the justice process. The changes regarding these offenses were justified by the legislator by invoking the need to ensure the legality, impartiality, independence and unwavering nature when carrying out the justice process, new incriminations being brought up and other criminal acts being rethought, which were already criminalized by the previous legislation.
Influence of Thin-Wall Structure on Stress Distribution of Curvic Couplings
Authors: Yuan Shuxia , Zhang Youyun , Zhu Yongsheng 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of transition structure between curvic teeth and disk on stress distribution of curvic couplings, and provide data to help improving the design of curvic couplings. In this work, the three-dimensional finite element method was used, and Augmented Lagrange Algorithm was adopted to the contact algorithm during the analysis. According to the results of this paper, designing thin-wall structure reasonably can avoid detaching of contact interface at external diameter during preload process; reduce stress fluctuation of curvic teeth caused by circumferential bolts structure; and balance stress difference of each contact pair caused by different disk quality under the action of the centrifugal force.
Investigation on Influence of Speed on Rolling Resistance of Belt Conveyor Based on Viscoelastic Properties
Authors: Lu Yan , Lin Fu-Yan , Wang Yu-Chao 
Published: August 2015

AbstractSince indentation rolling resistance accounts for the major part of total resistance of belt conveyor, it is important to compute it using a proper method, during the design and application study of the belt conveyor. Firstly, an approximate formula for computing the indentation rolling resistance is offered. In this formula, a one-dimensional Winkler foundation and a three-parameter viscoelastic Maxwell solid model of the belt backing material are used to determine the resistance to motion of a conveyor belt over idlers. The velocity of belt is an important operating parameter in the working conditions of the belt conveyor. What’s more, a set of experimental apparatus, which can measure the value of indentation rolling resistance is designed. Author obtains a series of measured data under the different belt speeds with the help of experimental apparatus. Finally, a computation example, that is provided for a typical rubber compound backing material, shows the comparison between the measured and the theoretical results, which offers the influence of speed on the rolling resistance.