bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Working with super-diversity in Strasbourg pre-schools: Strengthening the role of teaching support staff
Authors: Young Andrea S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn 2009 Strasbourg Council issued a call for tenders for an in-service training course aimed at nursery school assistants working in the city to enable them to better “communicate with non-French speaking children”. A small team of teachers and researchers from the University of Strasbourg responded to this call, firmly believing in the pivotal role played by nursery assistants in children’s language development given their close daily contact with children and their families. In this article we firstly situate Strasbourg pre-schools within the local and national context, referring to French ministerial policy documents and statistics which reflect the extent and nature of super-diversity in the region. Secondly, we describe, analyse and evaluate the content, approach and impact of this innovative course referring to qualitative data collected from course participants. Findings suggest that nursery school assistants, when empowered with knowledge about language and guided in their exploration of approaches which support language development, can help early learners to bridge the gap between home and school. A deeper appreciation of the complexities of plurilingual repertoire and multiple identity construction appear to reinforce confidence to meet the challenges of super-diversity at pre-school and strengthen nursery assistants in their role as caring professionals.
Aggregation of sodium lignosulfonate above a critical temperature
Authors: Qian Yong , Deng Yonghong , Qiu Xueqing , Huang Jinhao , Yang Dongjie 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Single molecules of sodium lignosulfonate (NaLS) were prepared and their aggregation behavior was studied as a function of temperature. The molecular dispersity of the NaLS solutions were confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the aggregation behavior was studied by DLS and static light scattering (SLS), fluorescence spectrometry (FS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was demonstrated that NaLS molecules started to aggregate above a critical temperature and the aggregation behavior was related to their spherical microgel conformation and hydrophobic interaction. During the DLS measurement, when NaLS was dissolved in 1.2 mol·l-1 NaCl aqueous solution and then filtered with 0.45 μm syringe filter, the slow-mode diffusion (smD) corresponded to the polyelectrolyte effect and the original aggregates disappeared and the fast-mode diffusion (fmD) corresponded to the monomolecular NaLS (not yet aggregated) in the solution. When the temperature of the NaLS solution was raised to 38°C, the disappeared smD in DLS analysis appeared again, indicating that NaLS molecules started to form new aggregates. Due to the aggregation at 38°C, molecular weight (M
w) obtained from the SLS had a sharp increase, intensity ratio (I1/I3) of pyrene in FS suddenly decreased, and the adsorption of NaLS on a solid substrate and the corresponding roughness of the surface increased significantly.
SkSP-V Sampling Plan for the Exponentiated Weibull Distribution
Authors: Aslam Muhammad , Rao G. Srinivasa , Khan Nasrullah , Jun Chi-Hyuck 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to design an SkSP-V acceptance sampling plan for assuring percentiles based on a time-truncated life test as the reference plan when the lifetime of a product follows an exponentiated Weibull distribution. Using the non-linear optimization solution, the plan parameters are determined so as to satisfy the producer's and the consumer's risks. Tables are provided for practical use and an example is shown with a real case. Finally, the results are compared with the single sampling plan in terms of the average sample number to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed plan.
Maternal and fetal insulin levels at birth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: data from a randomized controlled study on metformin
Authors: Helseth Ragnhild , Vanky Eszter , Stridsklev Solhild , Vogt Christina , Carlsen Sven M 
Published: March 2014

ContextMetformin is suggested to reduce pregnancy complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Metformin crosses the placenta and therapeutic concentrations are measured in the fetal circulation. Whether metformin treatment in pregnant PCOS women affects maternal and fetal insulin concentrations at birth is not clarified.ObjectivesTo investigate the possible effect of metformin on insulin concentrations in umbilical cord blood and the possible association between maternal and fetal insulin concentrations.DesignPost-hoc analysis of a subgroup of PCOS women participating in a double-blind randomized controlled trial.SettingUniversity hospital setting.ParticipantsWomen with PCOS (n=118), aged 19–39 years.Main outcome measuresMaternal and umbilical cord insulin concentrations immediately after birth.ResultsAt delivery women randomized to metformin had lower insulin concentrations than those randomized to placebo (259±209 vs 361±261 pmol/l; P=0.020). No difference was found in insulin concentrations in umbilical venous (P=0.95) and arterial (P=0.39) blood between the metformin and placebo groups. The arteriovenous difference was also equal between the groups (P=0.38). Insulin concentrations were higher in the umbilical vein than in the umbilical artery independent of randomization (70±51 vs 45±48 pmol/l; P<0.0005).ConclusionsIn PCOS, metformin treatment during pregnancy resulted in lower maternal insulin concentrations at delivery. Metformin treatment did not affect fetal insulin concentrations. Higher insulin concentrations in the umbilical vein indicate that the placenta somehow secretes insulin to the fetus. The possibility of placental insulin secretion to the fetus deserves further investigations.
Increased Risk of Subsequent Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using the U.K. General Practice Research Database
Authors: Liang Huifang , Vallarino Carlos , Joseph Guiandre , Manne Sudhakar , Perez Alfonso , Zhang Shumin 
Published: March 2014

OBJECTIVE
To compare the risk of subsequent myocardial infarction (MI) between patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a retrospective cohort study.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Patients with their first MI recorded in the U.K. General Practice Research Database in 1997–2008 were classified as T2DM, diagnosed before or within 28 days after the date of the first recorded MI (i.e., the index date), or non-T2DM. Patients diagnosed within 28 days after the index date were assumed to have developed T2DM at baseline (i.e., before the index date). The primary outcome was the first subsequent MI. The secondary outcomes were all-cause death and a composite of all-cause death or subsequent MI. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) for all outcomes.

RESULTS
A total of 7,411 T2DM (median age 72 years; men 63.4%) and 48,726 non-T2DM patients (median age 69 years; men 65.3%) were included. The crude incidences (per 1,000 patient-years) in T2DM vs. non-T2DM were 32.8 vs. 22.8 for subsequent MI, 83.7 vs. 52.1 for all-cause death, and 106.5 vs. 69.9 for the composite end point. The adjusted HRs for subsequent MI, all-cause death, and their combination were 1.41 (95% CI 1.27–1.56), 1.50 (1.41–1.60), and 1.42 (1.34–1.50), respectively, in women and 1.23 (1.14–1.34), 1.40 (1.33–1.47), and 1.33 (1.27–1.39) in men.

CONCLUSIONS
Compared with non-T2DM, T2DM was associated with an increased risk for subsequent MI, all-cause death, and their composite end point. The risk tends to be higher in women than in men.
Increased Skeletal Muscle Capillarization After Aerobic Exercise Training and Weight Loss Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Adults With IGT
Authors: Prior Steven J. , Blumenthal Jacob B. , Katzel Leslie I. , Goldberg Andrew P. , Ryan Alice S. 
Published: March 2014

OBJECTIVE
Transcapillary transport of insulin is one determinant of glucose uptake by skeletal muscle; thus, a reduction in capillary density (CD) may worsen insulin sensitivity. Skeletal muscle CD is lower in older adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) compared with those with normal glucose tolerance and may be modifiable through aerobic exercise training and weight loss (AEX+WL). We tested the hypothesis that 6-month AEX+WL would increase CD to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in older adults with IGT.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Sixteen sedentary, overweight-obese (BMI 27–35 kg/m2), older (63 ± 2 years) men and women with IGT underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps to measure insulin sensitivity, oral glucose tolerance tests, exercise and body composition testing, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies to determine CD before and after 6-month AEX+WL.

RESULTS
Insulin sensitivity (M) and 120-min postprandial glucose (G120) correlated with CD at baseline (r = 0.58 and r = −0.60, respectively, P &lt; 0.05). AEX+WL increased maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) 18% (P = 0.02) and reduced weight and fat mass 8% (P &lt; 0.02). CD increased 15% (264 ± 11 vs. 304 ± 14 capillaries/mm2, P = 0.01), M increased 21% (42.4 ± 4.0 vs. 51.4 ± 4.3 µmol/kg FFM/min, P &lt; 0.05), and G120 decreased 16% (9.35 ± 0.5 vs. 7.85 ± 0.5 mmol/L, P = 0.008) after AEX+WL. Regression analyses showed that the AEX+WL-induced increase in CD independently predicted the increase in M (r = 0.74, P &lt; 0.01) as well as the decrease in G120 (r = −0.55, P &lt; 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
Six-month AEX+WL increases skeletal muscle CD in older adults with IGT. This represents one mechanism by which AEX+WL improves insulin sensitivity in older adults with IGT.
Positive solutions for some competitive elliptic systems
Authors: Alsaedi Ramzi , Mâagli Habib , Zeddini Noureddine 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Using some potential theory tools and the Schauder fixed point theorem, we prove the existence of positive bounded continuous solutions with a precise global behavior for the semilinear elliptic system Δu = p(x)u
α
ν
r in domains D of ℝn, n ≥ 3, with compact boundary (bounded or unbounded) subject to some Dirichlet conditions, where α ≥ 1, β ≥ 1, r ≥ 0, s ≥ 0 and the potentials p, q are nonnegative and belong to the Kato class K(D).
Existence and stability of anti-periodic solutions for impulsive fuzzy Cohen-Grossberge neural networks on time scales
Authors: Zhang Qianhong , Yang Lihui , Liu Jingzhong 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
By applying the method of coincidence degree and constructing suitable Lyapunov functional, some sufficient conditions are established for the existence and global exponential stability of anti-periodic solutions for a kind of impulsive fuzzy Cohen-Grossberg neural networks on time scales. Moreover an example is given to illustrate our results.
Fixed point theorems for block operator matrix and an application to a structured problem under boundary conditions of Rotenberg’s model type
Authors: Amar Afif , Jeribi Aref , Krichen Bilel 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
In this manuscript, we introduce and study the existence of solutions for a coupled system of differential equations under abstract boundary conditions of Rotenberg’s model type, this last arises in growing cell populations. The entries of block operator matrix associated to this system are nonlinear and act on the Banach space X
p:= L
p([0, 1] × [a, b]; dµ dv), where 0 ≤ a < b < ∞; 1 < p < ∞.
On the stability of some functional equations in Menger φ-normed spaces
Authors: Miheţ Dorel , Saadati Reza 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Recently, the authors [MIHEŢ, D.—SAADATI, R.—VAEZPOUR, S. M.: The stability of an additive functional equation in Menger probabilistic φ-normed spaces, Math. Slovaca 61 (2011), 817–826] considered the stability of an additive functional in Menger φ-normed spaces. In this paper, we establish some stability results concerning the cubic, quadratic and quartic functional equations in complete Menger φ-normed spaces via fixed point theory.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes in super‐elderly patients (>85 years) with heart failure: single center observational study in Japan
Authors: Fujii Noriyuki , Naito Kazuyuki , Nakahara Norifumi , Nakano Atsushi , Takagi Satoru 
Published: March 2014

AimThe number of elderly patients with heart failure is increasing in Japan owing to the increase in the aging population. In the field of emergency medicine, the treatment and management of elderly patients with heart failure are key issues. We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients.MethodsWe enrolled 72 consecutive patients (age, 76.5 ± 12.5 years) with heart failure who were admitted to our hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2010. The characteristics and outcomes of super‐elderly patients aged >85 years (n = 21) were compared with those of patients aged ≤85 years (n = 51).ResultsThe overall prevalence of chronic atrial fibrillation was high (43.1%). Underlying diseases, left ventricular function, renal function, in‐hospital mortality, hospital stay period, and major complications were similar between the two groups. The super‐elderly group had a significantly higher mortality rate and lower event‐free survival rate after discharge (log–rank test, P = 0.0018 and P = 0.0032, respectively).The incidence of readmission for heart failure recurrence was 55.0% in the super‐elderly group and 25.0% in the younger group.ConclusionThere were no significant differences in the background characteristics and in‐hospital treatment between super‐elderly heart failure patients and younger patients. High mortality and cardiovascular event rates after discharge were observed in the super‐elderly group.
Yokukansan improves distress of medical staff, and cognitive function and motivation in patients with destructive and aggressive behaviors after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Kan'o Tomomichi , Han Jing‐Yan , Nakahara Kuniaki , Konno Shingo , Shibata Mayuko , Kitahara Takao , Soma Kazui 
Published: March 2014

AimYokukansan (a Japanese Kampo medicine) has been reported to be safe and useful in treating behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of yokukansan on destructive and aggressive behaviors in patients after traumatic brain injury.MethodsFrom April 2008 to July 2010, 189 patients who suffered traumatic brain injury were admitted to our tertiary emergency center. Of these, patients with destructive and aggressive behaviors were treated with neuroleptics. Seven patients (five men and two women) who could not be controlled by neuroleptics were given yokukansan (2.5 g powder) three times a day before meals. Main underlying conditions included brain contusion in three patients, acute subdural hematoma in two, and acute epidural hematoma in two. The following assessments were carried out at baseline and 1 and 2 weeks after initiation of treatment: the Glasgow Coma Scale for the assessment of disturbed consciousness after traumatic brain injury; Neuropsychiatric Inventory for the distress of medical staff; Mini‐Mental State Examination for cognitive function; Barthel Index for activities of daily living; Vitality Index for motivation; presence of adverse effects and drug interactions.ResultsAfter treatment with yokukansan, patients showed significant improvements in Glasgow Coma Scale (P = 0.001), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (P = 0.016), Mini‐Mental State Examination (P = 0.029), Barthel Index (P = 0.043), and Vitality Index (P = 0.013). No adverse effects or drug interactions between yokukansan and Western medicines were observed.ConclusionYokukansan improved the Glasgow Coma Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Mini‐Mental State Examination, Barthel Index, and Vitality Index without any adverse effects or drug interactions with Western medicines in patients with destructive and aggressive behaviors after traumatic brain injury.
Cyclization of Gold Acetylides: Synthesis of Vinyl Sulfonates via Gold Vinylidene Complexes
Authors: Bucher Janina , Wurm Thomas , Nalivela Kumara Swamy , Rudolph Matthias , Rominger Frank , Hashmi A. Stephen K. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractDifferently substituted terminal alkynes that bear sulfonate leaving groups at an appropriate distance were converted in the presence of a propynyl gold(I) precatalyst. After initial formation of a gold acetylide, a cyclization takes place at the β‐carbon atom of this species. Mechanistic studies support a mechanism that is related to that of dual gold‐catalyzed reactions, but for the new substrates, only one gold atom is needed for substrate activation. After formation of a gold vinylidene complex, which forms a tight contact ion pair with the sulfonate leaving group, recombination of the two parts delivers vinyl sulfonates, which are valuable targets that can serve as precursors for cross‐coupling reactions, for example.
Assembly of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Metallo‐Rectangles with a Guanosine‐Substituted Terpyridine and Study of Their Interactions with Quadruplex DNA
Authors: Ghosh Sushobhan , Mendoza Oscar , Cubo Leticia , Rosu Frédéric , Gabelica Valérie , White Andrew J. P. , Vilar Ramon 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTwo novel [2+2] metallo‐assemblies based on a guanosine‐substituted terpyridine ligand (1) coordinated to palladium(II) (2 a) and platinum(II) (2 b) are reported. These supramolecular assemblies have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry and elemental analyses. The palladium(II) complex (2 a) has also been characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies confirming that the system is a [2+2] metallo‐rectangle in the solid state. The stabilities of these [2+2] assemblies in solution have been confirmed by DOSY studies as well as by variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy. The ability of these dinuclear complexes to interact with quadruplex and duplex DNA was investigated by fluorescent intercalator displacement (FID) assays, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) melting studies, and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS). These studies have shown that both these assemblies interact selectively with quadruplex DNA (human telomeric DNA and the G‐rich promoter region of c‐myc oncogene) over duplex DNA, and are able to induce dimerization of parallel G‐quadruplex structures.
Colour words and their uses
Authors: Hutchings John B. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPopular usage of colour words as parts of speech obey certain rules according to whether they are population dependent and whether use demands a degree of colour vision. The word green refers to that colour most of us see, recognize and categorize as being of the colour called green. But, colours and colour words are to do with emotion as well as perception. What can we learn from the greatest writers, artists and musical composers; how do they, for example, regard green? From them we learn that we perceive colours with our ears as well as our eyes and, in an emotional sense, a colour word means or is associated with just what the writer intends. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 111–113, 2015
Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxypyrrole) and Metal‐Free Organic Dyes
Authors: Zhang Jinbao , Häggman Leif , Jouini Mohamed , Jarboui Adel , Boschloo Gerrit , Vlachopoulos Nick , Hagfeldt Anders 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPoly(3,4‐ethylenedioxypyrrole) (PEDOP), combined with metal‐free organic sensitizers, is efficiently used for the first time as the hole‐transporting material in solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells. Devices employing PEDOP as the hole conductor and D35 or D21 L6 as the sensitizer show a ten‐times‐higher energy‐conversion efficiency (of 4.5 % and 3.3 %, respectively) compared to Ru‐Z907‐based devices. This is due to the efficient suppression of electron recombination.
Hydrogenolysis of Cellulose over Cu‐Based Catalysts—Analysis of the Reaction Network
Authors: Tajvidi Kameh , Hausoul Peter J. C. , Palkovits Regina 
Published: March 2014

AbstractA series of polyols, carbohydrates, and cellulose were tested in the aqueous, CuO/ZnO/Al2O3‐catalyzed hydrogenolysis reaction at 245 °C and 50 bar H2. The compositions of liquid‐phase products were analyzed; based on these results a unified reaction mechanism is proposed that accounts for the observed product distribution. Elementary transformations such as dehydration, dehydrogenation/hydrogenation, Lobry de Bruyn–van Ekenstein isomerization and retro‐aldol cleavage were identified as most important for controlling the selectivity of simple polyols and carbohydrates. For cellulose the product distribution is considerably different than for glucose or sorbitol, indicating a change in the reaction pathway. Therefore, next to the traditional hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond, an additional depolymerization mechanism involving only the reducing ends of cellulose oligomers is proposed to account for this observation.
In Situ Studies of Solvothermal Synthesis of Energy Materials
Authors: Jensen Kirsten M. Ø. , Tyrsted Christoffer , Bremholm Martin , Iversen Bo B. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSolvothermal and hydrothermal synthesis, that is, synthesis taking place in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure, is a powerful technique for the production of advanced energy materials as it is versatile, cheap, and environmentally friendly. However, the fundamental reaction mechanisms dictating particle formation and growth under solvothermal conditions are not well understood. In order to produce tailor‐made materials with specific properties for advanced energy technologies, it is essential to obtain an improved understanding of these processes and, in this context, in situ studies are an important tool as they provide real time information on the reactions taking place. Here, we present a review of the use of powder diffraction and total scattering methods for in situ studies of synthesis taking place under solvothermal and hydrothermal conditions. The experimental setups used for in situ X‐ray and neutron studies are presented, and methods of data analysis are described. Special attention is given to the methods used to extract structural information from the data, for example, Rietveld refinement, whole powder pattern modelling and pair distribution function analysis. Examples of in situ studies are presented to illustrate the types of chemical insight that can be obtained.
Behavior of Y‐Based High‐Critical‐Temperature Superconductors in Modulated Rotating Magnetic Fields
Authors: Horii Shigeru , Yamaki Momoko , Haruta Masakazu , Shimoyama Jun‐Ichi 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYWe report changes in the degree of triaxial orientation as functions of the applied magnetic field and rotation rate for Y2Ba4Cu7Oy powder samples oriented in epoxy resin under modulated rotating magnetic fields (MRFs). Although the degrees of orientation were reduced as a result of a decrease in both the applied field and rotation rate, the mechanisms of the reduction of the degrees of orientation were found to be different. Optimization of the MRF conditions or quantification of triaxial magnetic anisotropy in a target substance is required for the production of triaxially oriented ceramics based on a colloidal process.