bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plutonium 241Pu in tissues and organs of Cervidae from Northern Poland
Authors: Strumińska-Parulska Dagmara I. , Skwarzec Bogdan 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Livers, kidneys and muscles of large herbivorous animals: roe deer, red deer and fallow deer, collected in Northern Poland, were the
subject of the investigation. The concentration of 241Pu ranged widely between 1.31 ± 0.28 and
214.5 ± 25.8 mBq kg
–1 ww and decreased in the order kidney > liver > muscle. The average values of the activity
concentrations of 241Pu were 11.5 ± 1.8 mBq kg
–1 ww in muscles, 14.0 ± 2.25 mBq kg
–1 ww in
liver and 85.5 ± 9.7 mBq kg
–1 ww in kidneys. As statistically checked the sampling location, sex, age and species of
animals did not influence on plutonium concentrations of the analyzed samples. Only the organ type significantly influenced
241Pu content. The values of 241Pu/29+240Pu activity ratio in analyzed samples ranged from 7.12 ± 2.15
to 99.3 ± 16.4 and the results showed the main source of plutonium in analyzed organs could be the Chernobyl accident.
The impact of reconstruction algorithms and time of flight information on PET/CT image quality
Authors: Suljic Alen , Tomse Petra , Jensterle Luka , Skrk Damijan 
Published: August 2015

Abstract

Background. The aim of the study was to explore the influence of various time-of-flight (TOF) and non-TOF reconstruction algorithms on positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) image quality.

Materials and methods. Measurements were performed with a triple line source phantom, consisting of capillaries with internal diameter of ~ 1 mm and standard Jaszczak phantom. Each of the data sets was reconstructed using analytical filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm, iterative ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm (4 iterations, 24 subsets) and iterative True-X algorithm incorporating a specific point spread function (PSF) correction (4 iterations, 21 subsets). Baseline OSEM (2 iterations, 8 subsets) was included for comparison. Procedures were undertaken following the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU-2-2001 protocol.

Results. Measurement of spatial resolution in full width at half maximum (FWHM) was 5.2 mm, 4.5 mm and 2.9 mm for FBP, OSEM and True-X; and 5.1 mm, 4.5 mm and 2.9 mm for FBP+TOF, OSEM+TOF and True-X+TOF respectively. Assessment of reconstructed Jaszczak images at different concentration ratios showed that incorporation of TOF information improves cold contrast, while hot contrast only slightly, however the most prominent improvement could be seen in background variability - noise reduction.

Conclusions. On the basis of the results of investigation we concluded, that incorporation of TOF information in reconstruction algorithm mostly affects reduction of the background variability (levels of noise in the image), while the improvement of spatial resolution due to incorporation of TOF information is negligible. Comparison of traditional and modern reconstruction algorithms showed that analytical FBP yields comparable results in some parameter measurements, such as cold contrast and relative count error. Iterative methods show highest levels of hot contrast, when TOF and PSF corrections were applied simultaneously.
Permanent dynamic transporter-mediated turnover of glutamate across the plasma membrane of presynaptic nerve terminals: arguments in favor and against
Authors: Borisova Tatiana 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMechanisms for maintenance of the extracellular level of glutamate in brain tissue and its regulation still remain almost unclear, and criticism of the current paradigm of glutamate transport and homeostasis has recently appeared. The main premise for this study is the existence of a definite and non-negligible concentration of ambient glutamate between the episodes of exocytotic release in our experiments with rat brain nerve terminals (synaptosomes), despite the existence of a very potent Na+-dependent glutamate uptake. Glutamate transporter reversal is considered as the main mechanisms of glutamate release under special conditions of energy deprivation, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, brain trauma, and stroke, underlying an increase in the ambient glutamate concentration and development of excitotoxicity. In the present study, a new vision on transporter-mediated release of glutamate as one of the main mechanisms involved in the maintenance of definite concentration of ambient glutamate under normal energetical status of nerve terminals is forwarded. It has been suggested that glutamate transporters act effectively in outward direction in a non-pathological manner, and this process is thermodynamically synchronized with uptake and provides effective outward glutamate current, thereby establishing and maintaining permanent and dynamic glutamatein/glutamateout gradient and turnover across the plasma membrane. In this context, non-transporter tonic glutamate release by diffusion, spontaneous exocytosis, cystine-glutamate exchanger, and leakage through anion channels can be considered as a permanently added ‘new’ exogenous substrate using two-substrate kinetic model calculations. Permanent glutamate turnover is of value for tonic activation of post/presynaptic glutamate receptors, long-term potentiation, memory formation, etc. Counterarguments against this mechanism are also considered.
Optical properties and photocatalytic activity of CdS-TiO2/graphite composite
Authors: Rahmawati Fitria , Wulandari Rini , Nofaris Eti ,   Mudjijono
Published: August 2015

AbstractTiO2film was applied to graphite substrate through chemical bath deposition (CBD) method with TiCl4as precursor. CdS was deposited on TiO2/graphite (TiO2/G) by CBD with precursors of CdSO4. A UV-Vis diffuse reflectance (UV-Vis DR) analysis was used to analyze the optical properties and band gap energy. Meanwhile, photocatalytic activity was determined from the quantum yield (QY) value of isopropanol degradation. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows that the TiO2film contains rutile and anatase phases. UV-Vis DR spectrum shows the photoactivity in the visible light area and provides lower band gap value due to CdS deposition. TiO2/G provide energy gap at 3.0 eV, which indicates that rutile phase is dominant. Meanwhile, CdS-TiO2/G shows multiple energy gaps representing CdS at 2.4 eV, rutile at 3.0 eV, and anatase at 3.2 eV. The QY values of CdS-TiO2/G are 7.98×10-3and 8.62×10-4at 450 and 380 nm of radiation light, respectively. These values are higher than the QY of TiO2/G and TiO2-P25/graphite (TiO2-P25/G), which are 1.19×10-4and 5.0×10-4, respectively. The photocatalytic reaction follows the first-order reaction. CdS deposition allows the rate constant to increase from 2×10-3to 13×10-3under UV radiation.
Study of the Standard k-ε Model for Tip Leakage Flow in an Axial Compressor Rotor
Authors: Gao Yanfei , Liu Yangwei , Zhong Luyang , Hou Jiexuan , Lu Lipeng 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe standard k-ε model (SKE) and the Reynolds stress model (RSM) are employed to predict the tip leakage flow (TLF) in a low-speed large-scale axial compressor rotor. Then, a new research method is adopted to “freeze” the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate of the flow field derived from the RSM, and obtain the turbulent viscosity using the Boussinesq hypothesis. The Reynolds stresses and mean flow field computed on the basis of the frozen viscosity are compared with the results of the SKE and the RSM. The flow field in the tip region based on the frozen viscosity is more similar to the results of the RSM than those of the SKE, although certain differences can be observed. This finding indicates that the non-equilibrium turbulence transport nature plays an important role in predicting the TLF, as well as the turbulence anisotropy.
Doubling Your Payoff: Winning Pain Relief Engages Endogenous Pain Inhibition
Authors: Becker Susanne , Gandhi Wiebke , Kwan Saskia , Ahmed Alysha-Karima , Schweinhardt Petra 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWhen in pain, pain relief is much sought after, particularly for individuals with chronic pain. In analogy to augmentation of the hedonic experience (“liking”) of a reward by the motivation to obtain a reward (“wanting”), the seeking of pain relief in a motivated state might increase the experience of pain relief when obtained. We tested this hypothesis in a psychophysical experiment in healthy human subjects, by assessing potential pain-inhibitory effects of pain relief “won” in a wheel of fortune game compared with pain relief without winning, exploiting the fact that the mere chance of winning induces a motivated state. The results show pain-inhibitory effects of pain relief obtained by winning in behaviorally assessed pain perception and ratings of pain intensity. Further, the higher participants scored on the personality trait novelty seeking, the more pain inhibition was induced. These results provide evidence that pain relief, when obtained in a motivated state, engages endogenous pain-inhibitory systems beyond the pain reduction that underlies the relief in the first place. Consequently, such pain relief might be used to improve behavioral pain therapy, inducing a positive, perhaps self-amplifying feedback loop of reduced pain and improved functionality.
Selective Effects of PDE10A Inhibitors on Striatopallidal Neurons Require Phosphatase Inhibition by DARPP-32
Authors: Polito Marina , Guiot Elvire , Gangarossa Giuseppe , Longueville Sophie , Doulazmi Mohamed , Valjent Emmanuel , Hervé Denis , Girault Jean-Antoine , Paupardin-Tritsch Danièle , Castro Liliana R. V. , Vincent Pierre 
Published: August 2015

AbstractType 10A phosphodiesterase (PDE10A) is highly expressed in the striatum, in striatonigral and striatopallidal medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs), which express D1and D2dopamine receptors, respectively. PDE10A inhibitors have pharmacological and behavioral effects suggesting an antipsychotic profile, but the cellular bases of these effects are unclear. We analyzed the effects of PDE10A inhibitionin vivoby immunohistochemistry, and imaged cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), and cGMP signals with biosensors in mouse brain slices. PDE10A inhibition in mouse striatal slices produced a steady-state increase in intracellular cAMP concentration in D1and D2MSNs, demonstrating that PDE10A regulates basal cAMP levels. Surprisingly, the PKA-dependent AKAR3 phosphorylation signal was strong in D2MSNs, whereas D1MSNs remained unresponsive. This effect was also observed in adult micein vivosince PDE10A inhibition increased phospho-histone H3 immunoreactivity selectively in D2MSNs in the dorsomedial striatum. The PKA-dependent effects in D2MSNs were prevented in brain slices andin vivoby mutation of the PKA-regulated phosphorylation site of 32 kDa dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32), which is required for protein phosphatase-1 inhibition. These data highlight differences in the integration of the cAMP signal in D1and D2MSNs, resulting from stronger inhibition of protein phosphatase-1 by DARPP-32 in D2MSNs than in D1MSNs. This study shows that PDE10A inhibitors share with antipsychotic medications the property of activating preferentially PKA-dependent signaling in D2MSNs.
Maternal hypothyroxinaemia in early pregnancy and school performance in 5-year-old offspring
Authors: Noten Anna M E , Loomans Eva M , Vrijkotte Tanja G M , van de Ven Peter M , van Trotsenburg A S Paul , Rotteveel Joost , van Eijsden Manon , Finken Martijn J J 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveOvert hypothyroidism in pregnant women is associated with a lower intelligence quotient in their children. More recently, subtle decreases in maternal thyroid function have also been associated with neurodevelopmental impairment in offspring. We tested the effect of hypothyroxinaemia during early pregnancy on school performance.DesignThis was a longitudinal study that included the data of 1196 mother-child pairs from the Amsterdam Born Children and Their Development study.MethodsMaternal serum free thyroxine (T4) and TSH were obtained at a median gestational age of 12.9 (interquartile range: 11.9–14.3) weeks. School performance was assessed at age 5 years and based on scores obtained in arithmetic and language tests from the national monitoring and evaluation system. Poor school performance was defined as a test result <25th percentile and subnormal school performance as a result <50th percentile of the norm population. To estimate the impact of possible non-response bias, we conducted inverse-probability weighted analyses.ResultsMaternal hypothyroxinaemia (i.e., a maternal free T4 in the lowest 10% of distribution) was associated with a 1.61 (95% CI: 1.05–2.47) -fold increased odds of subnormal arithmetic performance after adjustment for confounders (P=0.03). However, the odds ratio dropped to 1.48 (95% CI: 0.94–2.32) after inverse-probability weighting (P=0.09). No such relations were found with TSH.ConclusionsMaternal hypothyroxinaemia at the end of the first trimester was associated with reduced performance in an arithmetic test, but not in a language test, in 5-year-old offspring. However, our results should be interpreted carefully because of possible non-response bias.
TEM and EELS Study on TaOx-based Nanoscale Resistive Switching Devices
Authors: Norris Kate J. , Yang J. Joshua , Kobayashi Nobuhiko P. 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTResistive switching, a reversible change in electrical resistance of a dielectric layer through the application of a voltage bias, has propelled a field of research to form improved non-volatile memory device. Tantalum oxide has been investigated as the dielectric component of resistive switching devices as a leading candidate for a few years. Presented here is a structural and chemical investigation of TaOx devices with 55nm in diameter in the virgin, forming on, and switched off (reset) states for comparison using cross sectional TEM techniques including HRTEM, and EELS to gain further understanding of this material system. The nanodevices imaged in this study were switched below 100µA. Unique features found in this study are in agreement with previous hypotheses made by various researchers based on X-ray fluorescence microscopy of micron-scale devices, indicating a variation in oxygen concentration around the switching area.
Education Psychologist Priorities in Inclusive Education Context
Authors: Petrulytė Ala 
Published: August 2015

One of the most important European Union strategies is development and growth with a help of education, because investment in education is justified economically. Psychologists who work within an education system play an important role. In this article we describe the priorities of psychologists in education. Important priorities of a school psychologist today are: inclusive education conditions and mental health and well-being of a child. Inclusive education is a form of education, when using the curriculum, with different teaching methods and assistance, created optimal learning environment for children needs and skills. Inclusive education improves psychological well-being of a child.
We present the findings of child’s psychological well-being strengthening, and psychological support in an inclusive education environment: to provide tools of improvement of mental health and learning environment; to monitor the learning conditions and factors, and predict their impact on a child’s psychological well-being; to develop a portfolio of intervention tools on an individual and institutional level of education; to perform evaluative research that evaluates an efficiency of various positive intervention. There is also important cooperation between psychologists, teachers and others specialists.
New Generation of Students Information Abilities: Metacognitive and Cognitive Thinking Dimension
Authors: Pečiuliauskienė Palmira , Dagys Džeraldas 
Published: August 2015

The paper analyses the basic school students (8th grade students) information literacy according to the theoretical SCONUL which encompass seven literacy components (seven pillars): 1) Determining the goals and the need for information (manages to determine the need for information); 2) projecting process of searching information (manages to assess current knowledge and identify gaps); 3) planning (manages to construct strategies for determining sources of information); 4) collecting and storing of the information (manages to identify sources and access the needed information); 5) assessing the information (manages to review, compare and assess the information); 6) managing the information (manages to deal with the information in professional and ethical manner); 7) presentation of the information (manages to apply gained knowledge: present results of researches, summarise new and old information, develop and spread new knowledge).
It is identified that the information literacy of new generation is expressed by the ability to determine the goals and the need for information, the ability to project the process of information search, the ability to collect and store the information, the ability to deal with the information in professional and ethical manner when achieving the intended objectives. The levels of these skills are not the same quantitatively. The ability of determining the goals and the need for information is mostly expressed whereas the ability of collecting and storing of the information is weakest.
Blocked-data ANOVA shows that the various information abilities under SCONUL evaluation model differ significantly (p = 0.000 for α = 0.05). The ability of determining the goals and the need for information and the ability of projecting process of searching information are based on metacognitive thinking skills whereas the ability of collecting and storing of the information and the ability to deal with the information in professional and ethical manner are based on cognitive thinking skills. The metacognitive abilities of new generation based on the information are better expressed than cognitive ones.
The statistical significance of the difference has been confirmed by blocked-data ANOVA.
Application of Thematic Text Tasks and Active Teaching Methods that Enable 12th Grade Students to Prepare for Writing a Reasoning Essay in Lithuanian Lessons
Authors: Stepukonienė Inga 
Published: August 2015

Students consider writing a reasoning essay as one of the most complex tasks. To perform such a task successfully one is required to have not only good knowledge of the Lithuanian literature and erudition but also creativity, one’s ability to think analytically, argumentative capacity as well as one’s mastery of the native language. Therefore, writing a reasoning essay requires not only critical thinking and an ability to express own opinion but also other important – literary and linguistic – competencies.
Providing learners (12th graders) with focused thematic text comprehension tasks as well as using active methods of teaching literature to them are a theoretical prerequisite to improve their skills in writing a reasoning essay, to deepen their subject knowledge and to develop their creative skills as well as teamwork, communication, abilities and public speaking competencies. Therefore, the object of the current research is the development of working activity by applying thematic tasks of text comprehension and active methods of teaching literature in order to enable learners to prepare for writing a reasoning essay in Lithuanian lessons. The research was carried out in one of the Year 12 classes at the X gymnasium. 22 students participated in the research, ten boys and twelve girls. These were good students, active and had good relationship among each other. The qualitative measure of the chosen educational activity was the written assignments of the students. The evaluation of the essays according to their contents, expression and language usage is the fundamental criterion proving the suitability of the method. The students were also offered to evaluate the acquired abilities themselves by writing a half-structured learning process and result reflection.
Having carried out the empirical research showed that applying focused thematic text comprehension tasks and active methods of teaching literature in literature classes helped the learners to prepare better for writing a reasoning essay. The presentation of thematic text comprehension tasks has improved the learners’ competencies in subject matter and comprehension, argumentation, statement grounding and paragraph writing according to the set criteria. The active methods have created an opportunity for learners to improve the knowledge of literary theory and history as well as text analysis and interpretation. The methods have also deepened the learners’ skills and abilities in information selection and systematization and public speaking. Individual and group work has enabled the students to uncover the “great discoveries” themselves. The students have become more independent, more creative, more motivated, developed broader literary understanding and could therefore describe in more precise detail the studied literary and cultural phenomena and processes and that has allowed them to achieve better results in creative writing.
Crisis de incorporación en América Latina: límites de la modernización conservadora
Authors: Filgueira Fernando , Reygadas Luis , Luna Juan Pablo , Alegre Pablo 
Published: August 2015

Este texto analiza la crisis de incorporación que se produjo en América Latina al finalizar el siglo xx, como consecuencia de la combinación de cambios en el modelo de desarrollo, durabilidad de las democracias electorales, persistencia de las desigualdades e incremento de expectativas relacionadas con la movilidad educativa y la difusión de nuevos patronesde consumo. Este tipo de crisis ocurren cuando la necesidad de interacción cooperativa en los mercados y en la política, así como la presión social en términos de demandas económicas, políticas y sociales no están siendo atendidas por los patrones institucionales de incorporación y regulación. Argumentaremos que se trata de un cambio de época, caracterizado como un proceso de modernización conservadora, cuyas tensiones y limitaciones ayudan a explicar el giro hacia la izquierda en la primera década del siglo XXI. AbstractThis article explores the incorporation crisis that occurred in Latin America at the end of the twentieth century as a result of: changes in the economic model, the durability of electoral democracies and of inequalities; increasing expectations related to educational mobility, and the dissemination of new patterns of consumption. It is argued that this type of crisis can be best understood as an epochal change of “conservative modernization”. It is also argued that this change is at the basis of the shift to the Left in present day Latin America.