bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accounting-education trends by authors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom
Authors: Bernardi Richard A. , Delande Taylor L. , Zamojcin Kimberly A.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends in accounting-education publications and the influence of journal rankings for authors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors included the publications in ten accounting-education journals for the 20-year period from 1993 to 2012.

Findings

– The data provide insights into the perceptions of accounting-education journals by authors from four countries. The authors found that, while the use of Accounting Education as a publication outlet for accounting authors from Australia and the UK was relatively stable, the use of Accounting Education as a publication outlet increased (decreased) for the accounting authors from New Zealand (Canada). The authors also found that, while coauthoring by the accounting authors from Australia and the UK increased slightly, coauthoring by the accounting authors from Canada and New Zealand increased during the 20-year period.

Research limitations/implications

– The data suggests a tendency by the authors from these four countries to publish their accounting-education research in journals that had been ranked as a top accounting journal.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first paper to consider trends in international accounting-education publications. The data in this research can be used by accounting faculty wishing to assess which journals their colleagues publish in most frequently.
You’re getting sacked in the morning: managerial change in the English Premier League
Authors: Flint Stuart William , Plumley Daniel , Wilson Robert
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight and encourage consideration of the ethical and in some instances legal implications of managerial change in the English Premier League (EPL) which often gets overlooked and sidestepped by clubs.

Design/methodology/approach

– Extant literature relating to managerial change is identified and discussed to provide the foundations of the discussion of whether managerial change in the EPL which is primarily focused on performance outcome, is neglecting ethical and legal issues.

Findings

– The loophole that exists in the Employment Rights Act (1996) allows clubs to instantly dismiss a manager and consequently not see out their notice period as agreed in their contract or the statutory notice period. Whilst legally clubs are at will to act in this manner, the instability of EPL management evident today appears to have taken away the rights of an employee.

Research limitations/implications

– Greater consideration of the current managerial change practices in EPL from an ethical and legal perspective appears warranted. The incomparable rights that a player and a manger have relating to their tenure at a club seem somewhat unfair.

Originality/value

– Presents thought-provoking information relating to managerial change in the EPL which appears to have been overlooked in the literature to date which primarily focuses on the impact of change on performance.
Efficient amplitude encoding least‐squares reverse time migration using cosine basis
Authors: Hu Jiangtao , Wang Huazhong , Fang Zhongyu , Li Tiancai , Zhang Jiannan
Published: March 2016

Least‐squares reverse time migration provides better imaging result than conventional reverse time migration by reducing the migration artefacts, improving the resolution of the image and balancing the amplitudes of the reflectors. However, it is computationally intensive. To reduce its computational cost, we propose an efficient amplitude encoding least‐squares reverse time migration scheme in the time domain. Although the encoding scheme is effective in increasing the computational efficiency, it also introduces the well‐known crosstalk noise in the gradient that degrades the quality of the imaging result. We analyse the cause of the crosstalk noise using an encoding correlation matrix and then develop two numerical schemes to suppress the crosstalk noise during the inversion process. We test the proposed method with synthetic and field data. Numerical examples show that the proposed scheme can provide better imaging result than reverse time migration, and it also generates images comparable with those from common shot least‐squares reverse time migration but with less computational cost.
Receiving Hospital Characteristics Associated With Survival in Patients Transported by Emergency Medical Services After Out‐of‐hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Hunter Benton R. , O'Donnell Daniel P. , Kline Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2016

Objective

To test whether primary emergency medical services (EMS) transport to hospitals with certain characteristics (24/7 percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] availability, trauma center status, large [>24 bed] intensive care unit [ICU]) versus hospitals without those characteristics is associated with improved hospital survival after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods

This is an analysis of a prospectively collected EMS database, which archives patients with OHCA treated by a single large metropolitan EMS system. The database contains Utstein data, EMS transport data, and survival to hospital discharge. EMS providers uniformly apply advanced cardiac life support protocols to OHCA patients in the field. Patients with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) are transported to one of 10 hospitals in the area. If ROSC is not achieved within 30 minutes, efforts are terminated and the patient is not transported. We used multivariate logistic regression to test if receiving hospital characteristics were independently associated with survival among those transported after ROSC. We excluded patients not transported to a hospital and patients with incomplete outcome data.

Results

Between January 2011 and December 2014, a total of 1,188 OHCA patients were resuscitated in the field and transported to an area hospital. After patients with missing data were excluded, 1,024 patients were included in the analysis. The mean (±SD) age was 61.1 (±17.0) years, and 57.7% were male. Of transported patients, 76% were taken to 24/7 PCI centers, 46% were taken to trauma centers, and 37% were taken to hospitals with large ICUs. There was considerable overlap in these hospital characteristics. A multivariate logistic regression model including age, sex, shockable rhythm, EMS time to scene, and dispatch complaint of cardiac arrest found that none of the hospital characteristics were independently associated with increased survival to discharge. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for survival were as follows: PCI center, 1.28 (0.80 to 2.04); trauma center, 1.44 (0.73 to 2.85); and large ICU, 1.39 (0.69 to 2.80).

Conclusions

After adjusting for patient demographic data, we found no significant independent association between receiving hospital characteristics and survival to discharge among OHCA patients transported after ROSC by a single EMS agency.
Prevalence of Theileria orientalis types in beef cattle herds on the North Coast of New South Wales
Authors: Proctor AKK , Ball M , Freeman P , Jenkins C , Bogema DR
Published: March 2016

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of Theileria orientalis infection for Chitose, Ikeda and Buffeli major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) types at a herd‐ and animal‐level in beef cattle in the North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (NCLHPA) region of New South Wales (NSW).

Methods

A total of 24 beef herds in the NCLHPA region containing more than 100 cattle were randomly selected. Blood samples were collected from five animals per herd and tested using Theileria PCR for Chitose, Buffeli and Ikeda. Samples were only taken from female cattle older than 2 years, born in the NCLHPA region and apparently healthy at the time of testing.

Results

The herd‐level prevalence for all MPSP types (Chitose, Ikeda and Buffeli) was 100%, with a 95% confidence interval of 86.3–99.9%. The mean prevalence at an animal level was 83.3%, 92.5% and 95.0% for Theileria Chitose, Buffeli and Ikeda, respectively. Quantitative PCR testing showed that 81.9% of animals had a low‐level infection, while 17.0% had a moderate level of infection, and only 1.0% had a high level of infection. The majority of animals had a mixed infection of two or three MPSP types and few animals showed single infection.

Conclusion

The results indicate endemicity of T. orientalis, especially the Ikeda type, in the NCLHPA region of Australia.
Tp53/p53 status in keratoacanthomas
Authors: Joshi Sarita , Schjølberg Aasa R. , Ekstrøm Per Olaf , De Angelis Paula M. , Zucknick Manuela , Andersen Solveig Norheim , Clausen Ole Petter F.
Published: March 2016

Background

Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a common keratinocytic skin neoplasm that typically develops rapidly and undergoes complete spontaneous regression. As the pro‐apoptotic p53 protein may be involved in the lifecycle of KA, we studied the p53 status throughout the main stages of KA that include proliferation, maturation and regression in a large series of lesions.

Methods

One‐hundred and twenty‐four KAs were characterized with respect to age of the lesions both clinically and histopathologically, in addition to phenotypic characteristics such as cellular atypia, infiltration, inflammation and fibrosis. Tp53 mutations were detected by capillary electrophoresis, and p53 protein levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Tp53 mutations were detected in 49 cases (39.5%) and were associated with high p53 protein levels (p = 0.007) and histopathologic age of the lesions (p = 0.044). Significant association was also seen between high p53 protein levels and atypia (p = 0.036), whereas the association with infiltration showed borderline significance (p = 0.057). High p53 protein levels were significantly associated with gene mutations in transplanted, but not in non‐transplanted patients.

Conclusion

We show a high frequency of Tp53 mutations in KAs that is associated with increased p53 levels. The results indicate a role for the p53 protein in KA development.
The fludarabine, cytarabine, and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (FLAG) chemotherapy regimen is an alternative to anthracycline‐based therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia for patients with pre‐existing cardiac disease
Authors: Saini Lalit , Brandwein Joseph , Turner Robert , Larratt Loree , Hamilton Marlene , Peters Anthea , Wu Cynthia , Zhu Nancy , Patterson Jeffery M. , Bolster Lauren , Mant Michael , Ritchie Bruce , Liew Elena , Ghosh Sunita , Sandhu Irwindeep
Published: March 2016

We conducted a retrospective study assessing FLAG (fludarabine, cytarabine, and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor) as first‐line treatment in 56 newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients considered ineligible for anthracycline‐based treatment due to advanced age, significant comorbidities, or pre‐existing cardiac disease. The median age was 69 (21–80); 46% received FLAG for pre‐existing cardiac disease and others due to age (32%), non‐cardiac comorbidities (20%), or previous anthracycline exposure (2%). The induction mortality was 16% and, among evaluable patients, 48% achieved a complete remission after the first induction course with an additional patient achieving a remission after a second course for a total complete remission rate of 50%. Four patients proceeded to an allogeneic stem cell transplant including two with pre‐existing cardiac disease. Among non‐transplanted patients, the relapse rate (RR) was 47%. When censored at time of stem cell transplant, the median relapse‐free survival was 14.7 months. The median overall survival was 9.3 months with 1‐ and 2‐yr survivals of 44% and 22%, respectively. There was no difference in clinical outcomes between patients treated with FLAG for cardiac reasons vs. other reasons. In conclusion, FLAG is a useful alternative to anthracycline‐based induction for Acute myeloid leukemia in those with significant comorbidities including pre‐existing cardiac disease.
Limited effect of ozone reductions on the 20‐year photosynthesis trend at Harvard forest
Authors: Yue Xu , Keenan Trevor F. , Munger William , Unger Nadine
Published: March 2016

Ozone (O3) damage to leaves can reduce plant photosynthesis, which suggests that declines in ambient O3concentrations ([O3]) in the United States may have helped increase gross primary production (GPP) in recent decades. Here, we assess the effect of long‐term changes in ambient [O3] using 20 years of observations at Harvard forest. Using artificial neural networks, we found that the effect of the inclusion of [O3] as a predictor was slight, and independent of O3concentrations, which suggests limited high‐frequency O3inhibition ofGPPat this site. Simulations with a terrestrial biosphere model, however, suggest an average long‐term O3inhibition of 10.4% for 1992–2011. A decline of [O3] over the measurement period resulted in moderate predictedGPPtrends of 0.02–0.04 μmol C m−2 s−1 yr−1, which is negligible relative to the total observedGPPtrend of 0.41 μmol C m−2 s−1 yr−1. A similar conclusion is achieved with the widely usedAOT40 metric. Combined, our results suggest that ozone reductions at Harvard forest are unlikely to have had a large impact on the photosynthesis trend over the past 20 years. Such limited effects are mainly related to the slow responses of photosynthesis to changes in [O3]. Furthermore, we estimate that 40% of photosynthesis happens in the shade, where stomatal conductance and thus [O3] deposition is lower than for sunlit leaves. This portion ofGPPremains unaffected by [O3], thus helping to buffer the changes of total photosynthesis due to varied [O3]. Our analyses suggest that current ozone reductions, although significant, cannot substantially alleviate the damages to forest ecosystems.
A protocol to assess the impact of adding nursing support workers to ward staffing
Authors: Duffield Christine , Roche Michael , Twigg Di , Williams Anne , Clarke Sean
Published: March 2016

Aim

To assess the impact of adding nursing support workers to ward staffing.

Background

Nurses' capacity to provide safe care is compromised by increased workloads and nursing shortages. Use of unregulated workers is an alternative to increasing the number of regulated nurses. The impact of adding nursing support workers on patient, nurse and system outcomes has not been systematically evaluated.

Design

A mixed longitudinal and cross‐sectional design using administrative data sets and prospective data from a sample of wards.

Methods

Payroll data will identify wards on which unregulated staff work. To assess the impact on nursing‐sensitive outcomes, retrospective analysis of morbidity and mortality data of all patients admitted to Western Australia hospitals for over 24 hours across 4 years will be undertaken. For the cross‐sectional study, a sample of 20 pairs of matched wards will be selected: 10 with unregulated workers added and 10 where they have not. From this sample the impact on patients will be assessed using the Patient Evaluation of Emotional Care during Hospitalisation survey. The impact on nurses will be assessed by a nurse survey used extensively which includes variables such as job satisfaction and intention to leave. The impact on system outcomes will be explored using work sampling of staff activities and the Practice Environment Scale. Interviews will determine nurses' experience of working with nursing support workers.

Discussion

The study aims to provide evidence about the impact of adding nursing support workers to ward staffing for patients, staff and the work environment.
Relationship between periodontal disease and asthma among overweight/obese adults
Authors: Rivera Roberto , Andriankaja Oelisoa M. , Perez Cynthia M. , Joshipura Kaumudi
Published: March 2016

Aim

To assess the relationship between oral health and asthma.

Methods

Data from 1315 overweight or obese individuals, aged 40–65 years were used. Asthma was self‐reported, whereas periodontitis, bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque index were determined by clinical examinations.

Results

Using logistic regression adjusting for gender, smoking status, age, body mass index, family history of asthma and income level, revealed that the odds ratio (OR) of asthma for a participant with severe periodontitis was 0.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.27, 0.70) that of a participant with none/mild periodontitis. On the other hand, proportion of BOP sites and plaque index were not statistically significant. For a participant with severe periodontitis, the OR of taking asthma medication was 0.20 (95% confidence interval: 0.09, 0.43) that of a participant with none/mild periodontitis. Moreover, proportion of BOP sites was statistically associated with use of asthma medication, whereas plaque index still remained non‐significant.

Conclusion

Participants with severe periodontitis were less likely to have asthma. Stronger evidence of an inverse association was found when using asthma medication as outcome.
Geriatrics Education Team Model Results in Sustained Geriatrics Training in 15 Residency and Fellowship Programs and Scholarship
Authors: Denson Steven , Simpson Deborah , Denson Kathryn , Brown Diane , Manzi Gabriel , Rehm Judith , Wessel Bambi , Duthie Edmund H.
Published: March 2016

Caring for the growing elderly population will require specialty and subspecialty physicians who have not completed geriatric medicine fellowship training to participate actively in patient care. To meet this workforce demand, a sustainable approach to integrating geriatrics into specialty and subspecialty graduate medical education training is needed. This article describes the use of a geriatrics education team (GET) model to develop, implement, and sustain specialty‐specific geriatrics curricula using a systematic process of team formation and needs assessment through evaluation, with a unique focus on developing curricular interventions that are meaningful to each specialty and satisfy training, scholarship, and regulatory requirements. The GET model and associated results from 15 specialty residency and fellowship training programs over a 4‐year period include 93% curriculum sustainability after initial implementation, more than half of the programs introducing additional geriatrics education, and more than 80% of specialty GETs fulfilling their scholarship requirements through their curriculum dissemination. Win–wins and barriers encountered in using the GET model, along with the model's efficacy in curriculum development, sustainability, and dissemination, are summarized.
Health claims using the term ‘sustained energy’ are trending but glycaemic response data are being used to support: is this misleading without context?
Authors: Marinangeli C. P. F. , Harding S. V.
Published: March 2016

One of the most recent food trends is the quest for products that provide ‘sustained energy’; a term that is garnering considerable attention within the marketplace. Often, ‘sustained energy’ health claims are based on a food's post‐prandial glycaemic response. However, are generalised health claims regarding ‘sustained energy’ valid when only supported by glycaemic response data? Without context, the short answer is: probably not. Health claims that link sustained energy to a glycaemic response, or any other attribute of a food or diet, require context to ensure that the public correctly interprets and experiences the claimed effect and is not misled in their quest for healthy foods that impose the desired physiological benefit.
Preserving Theoretical Divergence in Management Research: Why the Explanatory Potential of Qualitative Research Should Be Harnessed Rather than Suppressed
Authors: Cornelissen Joep P.
Published: March 2016

Despite the evident rise in the number of qualitative studies that are published in leading journals, I argue that the rich tradition and hallmark of qualitative research is under pressure. In recent years qualitative papers are increasingly being fashioned in the image of quantitative research, so much so that papers adopt ‘factor‐analytic’ styles of theorizing that have typically been the preserve of quantitative methods. This is a worrying trend as it leads to certain types of explanations dominating our field and at the expense of other viable forms of explanation. It also narrows the remit of qualitative research in general by channelling the theoretical contribution of qualitative studies in the direction of factor‐analytic propositional or variance models. In this article, I discuss the differences between the distinct types of theoretical explanations that are associated with quantitative and qualitative methods, survey the trend towards a quantitative ‘restyling’ of qualitative research, and elaborate its negative implications for our body of knowledge and for the state of management and organization theory.
Sweden's LSS and Social Integration: An Exploration of the Relationship between Personal Assistant Type, Activities, and Participation for Children with PIMD
Authors: Boren Taylor , Granlund Mats , Wilder Jenny , Axelsson Anna Karin
Published: March 2016

The Swedish personal assistance system, facilitated through Swedish legislation (known as the LSS), allows children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) to receive subsidized personal assistance. This assistance may be either a hired professional from outside the family or a parent paid as a personal assistant. The type of personal assistant can impact activity selection. As noted by bio‐ecological systems theory, participation in “systems” beyond the household is important for a child's cognitive and social development, including the development of children with disabilities. The authors explored whether children's personal assistant type (i.e., external or parental) is related to their presence in socially integrative activities (SIAs) versus non‐socially integrative activities (NSIAs). The relationship between children's activity engagement and their personal assistant type was examined via a descriptive, comparative study based on a questionnaire. Sixty families answered, providing quantitative data about personal assistance type across 56 common family activities. Children's external assistants showed a greater presence in SIAs than children's parental assistants, who showed a greater presence in NSIAs. The level of activity engagement between personal assistant type, however, had a less direct relationship. In accordance with bio‐ecological systems theory, activity selection can influence the child's cognitive and social development. Ultimately, this study suggests that external assistants partake in more SIAs than parental assistants, likely as a function of providing respite for families. This respite stems from the LSS's implicit role for external personal assistants to also serve as relief for parents. In turn, by facilitating exposure to broader systems, these external assistants can play a critical role in children's social and cognitive development.
GPS Devices for Elopement of People With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities: A Review of the Published Literature
Authors: Hayward Brent , Ransley Fiona , Memery Rhiannon
Published: March 2016

Elopement, sometimes referred to as absconding, is defined as leaving an area without supervision or carer permission. Global positioning systems (GPS) have been proposed as an intervention for elopement to provide the geographical position of a person who has eloped so that he/she can be located. The authors reviewed the evidence for the use of GPS as an intervention for elopement in people with autism and other developmental disabilities. They found few studies that explored the practicalities of GPS device use among carers of persons with developmental disabilities (most studies have been with carers of people with dementia) and even less research that focused on the testing of the functionality of GPS devices to locate cognitively‐impaired persons. They conclude that this forces the existing empirical research to be sidelined in favor of non‐evidence‐based situational management strategies, of which the use of GPS devices is potentially a viable one. They also note that the results have important implications for policy and practice as there is little evidence to support the widespread recommendation that GPS devices are an effective intervention to prevent risk associated with elopement.
Solanum knappiae sp. nov. (Solanaceae) from the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil
Authors: Sampaio Valéria Silva , de Fátima Agra Maria
Published: March 2016

While preparing a taxonomic survey of the species of Solanum in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil, a new species, here described as Solanum knappiae Agra & Sampaio, was recognized based on its distinctive morphology. It is a member of Solanum sect. Geminata and is most similar to S. bahianum, from which it differs by its geographic distribution and by having glabrous young stems and leaves, smaller corollas and stamens, cuspidate calyx lobes, and pedicels with a constriction at the distal end that becomes swollen in the fruit. The new species is described and illustrated here, and comments on its distribution and conservation status are included.
The Blood Donor Anxiety Scale: a six‐item state anxiety measure based on the Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory
Authors: Chell Kathleen , Waller Daniel , Masser Barbara
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND

Research demonstrates that anxiety elevates the risk of blood donors experiencing adverse events, which in turn deters the performance of repeat blood donations. Identifying donors suffering from heightened state anxiety is important to assess the impact of evidence‐based interventions. This study analyzed the appropriateness of a shortened version of the state subscale of the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in a blood donation context.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

STAI‐State questionnaire data were collected from two separate samples of Australian blood donors (n = 919 and n = 824 after cleaning). Responses to demographic, donation history, and adverse reaction questions were also obtained. Identification of items and analysis was performed systematically to assess and compare internal reliability and content, construct, convergent, and criterion validity of three potential short‐form state anxiety scales.

RESULTS

Of the three short‐form scales tested, STAI‐State six‐item scale demonstrated the best metric properties with the least number of items across both sample groups. Cronbach's alpha was acceptable (α = 0.844 and α = 0.820), correlated positively with the original measure (r = 0.927 and r = 0.931) and criterion‐related variables, and maintained the two‐dimension factorial structure of the original measure.

CONCLUSION

The six‐item short version of the STAI‐State subscale presented the most reliable and valid scale for use with blood donors. A validated donor anxiety tool provides a standardized assessment and record of donor anxiety to gauge the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to enhance the donation experience.
Voltage Response of Primary Resonance of Electrostatically Actuated MEMS Clamped Circular Plate Resonators
Authors: Caruntu Dumitru I. , Oyervides Reynaldo
Published: March 2016

This paper investigates the voltage–amplitude response of soft alternating current (AC) electrostatically actuated micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) clamped circular plates for sensing applications. The case of soft AC voltage of frequency near half natural frequency of the plate is considered. Soft AC produces small to very small amplitudes away from resonance zones. Nearness to half natural frequency results in primary resonance of the system, which is investigated using the method of multiple scales (MMS) and numerical simulations using reduced order model (ROM) of seven terms (modes of vibration). The system is assumed to be weakly nonlinear. Pull-in instability of the voltage–amplitude response and the effects of detuning frequency and damping on the response are reported.
Nonlinear acoustic pulse propagation in dispersive sediments using fractional loss operators
Authors: Maestas Joseph T. , Collis Jon M.
Published: March 2016

The nonlinear progressive wave equation (NPE) is a time-domain formulation of the Euler fluid equations designed to model low-angle wave propagation using a wave-following computational domain. The wave-following frame of reference permits the simulation of long-range propagation and is useful in modeling blast wave effects in the ocean waveguide. Existing models do not take into account frequency-dependent sediment attenuation, a feature necessary for accurately describing sound propagation over, into, and out of the ocean sediment. Sediment attenuation is addressed in this work by applying lossy operators to the governing equation that are based on a fractional Laplacian. These operators accurately describe frequency-dependent attenuation and dispersion in typical ocean sediments. However, dispersion within the sediment is found to be a secondary process to absorption and effectively negligible for ranges of interest. The resulting fractional NPE is benchmarked against a Fourier-transformed parabolic equation solution for a linear case, and against the analytical Mendousse solution to Burgers' equation for the nonlinear case. The fractional NPE is then used to investigate the effects of attenuation on shock wave propagation.
Scientists flip-flop: Vitamin C suppresses immunity
Authors: Bhakta Nirav R.
Published: March 2016

The TET family of vitamin C–dependent enzymes stabilizes Foxp3 expression in regulatory T cells by demethylating conserved noncoding DNA.
Catch some T’s
Authors: Lucey Brendan P.
Published: March 2016

Insomnia is associated with shorter telomere length in individuals 70 years old or older compared with individuals less than 70 years old.
Recurrent vomiting in a woman due to miscarriage: think out of the box
Authors: Khalid Salleha , Mohd Aris Muhammad Shamsir
Published: March 2016

A 25-year-old gravida 2 para 1 with 12-week amenorrhoea presented a second time for recurrent vomiting in pregnancy. She was diagnosed to have a missed miscarriage following absent fetal heart seen in an early scan. She opted for conservative management. However, on the third presentation, her vomiting continued. Repeated transvaginal ultrasound scan showed a fetus with a crown rump length of 19 mm, which is equivalent to 8 weeks and 4 days, with absence of fetal heart pulsation. Thyroid function tests and β human chorionic gonadotropin were then requested. Results showed that the patient's serum β human chorionic gonadotropin level was markedly raised to 147 000. A molar pregnancy was suspected. Her thyroid function tests came back normal. Suction curettage was performed and histopathology confirmed a partial molar pregnancy. On follow-up, the β human chorionic gonadotropin level was normal by 7 weeks after the curettage.
Atypical case of ecthyma gangrenosum mimicking a breast cancer recurrence
Authors: Seront Emmanuel , Kidd François , Metz Tanguy , Van Ruyssevelt Patrick
Published: March 2016

A 68-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with skin lesions and sternal pain. Clinical examination revealed ulcerative lesions on mastectomy scar and CT scan showed contiguous sternal osteolysis. The main hypothesis was a breast cancer recurrence; however, cutaneous and bone biopsies did not reveal any cancer cells. Skin tissue culture detectedPseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting ecthyma gangrenosum despite the absence of bacteraemia in our patient and despite her immunocompetence. Surgical treatment was performed, followed by a long course of antibiotherapy.
Root exudation of low-molecular-mass-organic acids by six tree species alters the dynamics of calcium and magnesium in soil
Authors: Ohta Tamihisa , Hiura Tsutom
Published: March 2016

Soils in plantations of Cryptomeria japonica in Japan have ∼threefold more exchangeable Ca compared with soils in other types of forest vegetation even in a Ca-poor environment. To explain mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we determined the effect of root exudation rate of low-molecular-mass organic acids (LMMOAs) on exchangeable cations in soil. We conducted a pot experiment using C. japonica and five dominant tree species in Japan, and measured the root exudation rates of LMMOAs and exchangeable nutrient concentrations in the soils. To estimate whether the root exudation rate of LMMOAs is elevated in response to Ca deficiency, we created variation in Ca availability by adding different amounts of crushed oyster shells. The root exudation rates of LMMOAs were two to five times higher for C. japonica than for other tree species, but did not differ significantly among the different quantities of oyster shell. Exchangeable Ca and Mg were significantly higher in the soils with C. japonica and significantly correlated with the root exudation rate of LMMOAs (R2 > 0.24) at high and moderate quantities of oyster shell. Therefore, variation among species, in terms of root exudation of organic acids, might be one important factor affecting the cation dynamics in soil.
Soil quality attributes, soil resilience, and legacy effects following topsoil removal and one-time amendments
Authors: Larney Francis J. , Li Lingling , Janzen H. Henry , Angers Denis A. , Olson Barry M.
Published: March 2016

Inter-relationships among soil erosion, soil quality, soil resilience, and legacy effects of organic amendments have not been adequately quantified. Topsoil was mechanically removed (cuts) to simulate erosion in semiarid southern Alberta in 1990. Three cuts (0, 10, and 20 cm) superimposed with three one-time (1990 only) amendment treatments (check, N + P fertilizer, and manure) were chosen for this study. In the absence of amendments, light fraction C (CLF) and mineralizable C (Cmin) recovered sufficiently by 2004 to render the cut effect nonsignificant. Organic C (Corg) responded more slowly with the 10-cm cut recovering to the 0-cm cut concentration by 2004, and the 20-cm cut (13.9 g kg−1) remaining significantly lower than the 0-cm cut concentration (16.3 g kg−1) through to 2012. Nitrogen fractions behaved similarly. Among cuts and years (2004 and 2012), C fraction values were 19–27% greater on the manure versus check treatment (17.5 vs. 14.7 g kg−1for Corg, 1.38 vs. 1.09 g kg−1for CLF, and 650 vs. 531 mg kg−1for Cmin) demonstrating a strong legacy effect of manure. Water-stable aggregation exhibited a 22-yr legacy effect of manure. Our findings help quantify soil resilience following major disturbance and legacy effects of one-time manure application under semiarid conditions.
Impact of rhizobial inoculum and inorganic fertilizers on nutrients (NPK) availability and uptake in wheat crop
Authors: Adnan Muhammad , Shah Zahir , Arif Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Jamal , Mian Ishaq Ahmad , Sharif Muhammad , Alam Mukhtar , Basir Abdul , Ullah Hidayat , Inayat-ur-Rahman  , Saleem Nouman
Published: March 2016

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of rhizobial inoculums and inorganic fertilizers on NP availability, soil microbial activity, wheat NPK concentration and uptake. These experiments were consisted of two factors, four inoculums (no, lentil, peas, and chickpeas) and two NPK doses (120:90:60 and 96:72:48 kg ha−1). Inoculums significantly increased plant total NPK concentration by 39, 57, and 37%, and their uptake by 66, 86, and 56%, respectively. Peas inoculum was most efficient in wheat NPK concentration and uptake. The interactive effect of inoculums and NPK demonstrated that peas and lentil inoculums with 20% less NPK had statistically better role than full NPK without inoculation. AB-DTPA extractible P and mineral N were progressively increased with incubation periods and exhibited significant differences between inoculated and uninoculated treatments during all incubation intervals for NP except at day 7 for N. Peas inoculum showed maximum mean net NP availability of 131.5 and 3.48 mg kg−1over 56 d of incubation, respectively. Significantly higher cumulative CO2of 1429 mg kg−1with a net increase of 866 mg kg−1was recorded for pea’s inoculums during 12 d of incubation interval. It is concluded that peas rhizobium could be used as a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria for wheat and other cereal crops.
Using Fractal and Local Binary Pattern Features for Classification of ECOG Motor Imagery Tasks Obtained from the Right Brain Hemisphere
Authors: Xu Fangzhou , Zhou Weidong , Zhen Yilin , Yuan Qi , Wu Qi
Published: March 2016

The feature extraction and classification of brain signal is very significant in brain–computer interface (BCI). In this study, we describe an algorithm for motor imagery (MI) classification of electrocorticogram (ECoG)-based BCI. The proposed approach employs multi-resolution fractal measures and local binary pattern (LBP) operators to form a combined feature for characterizing an ECoG epoch recording from the right hemisphere of the brain. A classifier is trained by using the gradient boosting in conjunction with ordinary least squares (OLS) method. The fractal intercept, lacunarity and LBP features are extracted to classify imagined movements of either the left small finger or the tongue. Experimental results on dataset I of BCI competition III demonstrate the superior performance of our method. The cross-validation accuracy and accuracy is 90.6% and 95%, respectively. Furthermore, the low computational burden of this method makes it a promising candidate for real-time BCI systems.
A Structural Parametrization of the Brain Using Hidden Markov Models-Based Paths in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Martinez-Murcia Francisco J. , Górriz Juan M. , Ramírez Javier , Ortiz Andres
Published: March 2016

The usage of biomedical imaging in the diagnosis of dementia is increasingly widespread. A number of works explore the possibilities of computational techniques and algorithms in what is called computed aided diagnosis. Our work presents an automatic parametrization of the brain structure by means of a path generation algorithm based on hidden Markov models (HMMs). The path is traced using information of intensity and spatial orientation in each node, adapting to the structure of the brain. Each path is itself a useful way to characterize the distribution of the tissue inside the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) image by, for example, extracting the intensity levels at each node or generating statistical information of the tissue distribution. Additionally, a further processing consisting of a modification of the grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) can be used to characterize the textural changes that occur throughout the path, yielding more meaningful values that could be associated to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as well as providing a significant feature reduction. This methodology achieves moderate performance, up to 80.3% of accuracy using a single path in differential diagnosis involving Alzheimer-affected subjects versus controls belonging to the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI).
Rotational tunneling of methyl groups and the electronic heat capacity of EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2 under magnetic fields
Authors: Yamashita Satoshi , Yoshizumi Masayuki , Akutsu Hiroki , Nakazawa Yasuhiro
Published: March 2016

In order to discuss the stability of the gapless features in the spin liquid state against magnetic fields, we report results and analyses of low-temperature heat capacity measurements of EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2 under magnetic fields. The large upturn of [Formula: see text] at 0 T observed previously in EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2 can be attributed to the rotational tunneling of the methyl groups in the counter cations and this upturn is suppressed by applying magnetic fields. The phenomenological resemblance of the feature under magnetic field was confirmed by comparative discussion of heat capacity measurement of metal complex of [Cu(acac)(OCH[Formula: see text]]2 having similar methyl groups. The gapless character evidenced by the finite electronic heat capacity coefficient, [Formula: see text] was found to be retained upon applying 17 T in EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2, which means that spin liquid ground state is stable against high magnetic fields. The finite [Formula: see text] in the spin liquid compounds is considered to be related to a kind of density of states in spin excitations rather than those determined by disorders such as spin glasses.
Factoring an elementary 2-group into normalized full-rank subsets with equal sizes
Authors: Szabó Sándor
Published: March 2016

By a long standing conjecture of Rédei if an elementary [Formula: see text]-group of rank [Formula: see text] is a direct product of two of its normalized subsets, then at least one of the factors is contained in a subgroup of order [Formula: see text]. Motivated by Rédei’s conjecture we decompose an elementary [Formula: see text]-group into a direct product of more than two factors such that each factor spans the whole group.
A Three-Dimensional Model of Line-Contact Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication for Heterogeneous Materials with Inclusions
Authors: Zhou Kun , Dong Qingbing
Published: March 2016

This paper develops a three-dimensional (3D) model for a heterogeneous half-space with inclusions distributed periodically beneath its surface subject to elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) line-contact applied by a cylindrical loading body. The model takes into account the interactions between the loading body, the fluid lubricant and the heterogeneous half-space. In the absence of subsurface inclusions, the surface contact pressure distribution, the half-space surface deformation and the lubricant film thickness profile are obtained through solving a unified Reynolds equation system. The inclusions are homogenized according to Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method (EIM) with unknown eigenstrains to be determined. The disturbed half-space surface deformations induced by the subsurface inclusions or eigenstrains are iteratively introduced into the lubricant film thickness until the surface deformation finally converges. Both time-independent smooth surface contact and time-dependent rough surface contact are considered for the lubricated contact problem.
Particle Simulation for Predicting Effective Properties of Short Fiber Reinforced Composites
Authors: Skoptsov Kirill A. , Sheshenin Sergey V. , Galatenko Vladimir V. , Malakho Artem P. , Shornikova Olga N. , Avdeev Victor V. , Sadovnichy Victor A.
Published: March 2016

We present a method for evaluating elastic properties of a composite material produced by molding a resin filled with short elastic fibers. A flow of the filled resin is simulated numerically using a mesh-free method. After that, assuming that spatial distribution and orientation of fibers are not significantly changed during polymerization, effective elastic moduli of the composite material are evaluated. The developed micro-mechanical mathematical modelling of effective moduli is aimed to molding process optimization which results in product quality improvement.
Analysis of a stochastic model for algal bloom with nutrient recycling
Authors: Ji Xuehui , Yuan Sanling , Zhu Huaiping
Published: March 2016

In this paper, the dynamics of a stochastic model for algal bloom with nutrient recycling is investigated. The model incorporates a white noise term in the growth equation of algae population to describe the effects of random fluctuations in the environment, and a nutrient recycling term in the nutrient equation to account for the conversion of detritus into nutrient. The existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution of the model is first proved. Then we study the long-time behavior of the model. Conditions for the extinction and persistence in the mean of the algae population are established. By using the theory of integral Markov semigroups, we show that the model has an invariant and asymptotically stable density. Numerical simulations illustrate our theoretical results.
Model-based optimization of adaptive external counterpulsation therapy
Authors: Weyer Sören , Weber Hannes , Kleeberg Christian , Leonhardt Steffen , Teichmann Daniel
Published: March 2016

External counterpulsation therapy (ECP) is a non-invasive method to assist the circulatory system. The main principle of ECP is to initiate a diastolic pulse wave in the arterial system by squeezing the inner leg vessels. Superficial and low veins are compressed due to muscle contractions, which are triggered by functional electrical stimulation (FES). In this work, a new trigger method for the stimulation is proposed. Blood flow is determined by measuring the pulsatile change of conductivity in the observed segment by impedance plethysmography. The proposed “adaptive stimulation” allows the automatic adjustment of the start and duration of the stimulation to improve transport of venous blood. For this purpose, a mathematical circulation model was developed for optimization of the adaptive functional electrical stimulation. The model takes into account the effects of gravity, muscle pump with or without FES, and venous regurgitation. The model was shown to have a behavior similar to that of clinical measurements. The simulation showed a flow enhancement of up to 14% and, furthermore, that the start of the stimulation is less important than the duration of each stimulation phase. Therefore, an adaptation of the heart rate seems necessary, as the expulsion and refill times must remain relatively constant for an optimal pumping result. For a practical approach, it is reasonable to adapt the duration of stimulation to 56% of the cardiac cycle in order to reach a maximum flow.
Thyroid hormone receptor-β1 signaling is critically involved in regulating secondary ossification via promoting transcription of the Ihh gene in the epiphysis
Authors: Xing Weirong , Aghajanian Patrick , Goodluck Helen , Kesavan Chandrasekhar , Cheng Shaohong , Pourteymoor Sheila , Watt Heather , Alarcon Catrina , Mohan Subburaman
Published: March 2016

Thyroid hormone (TH) action is mediated through two nuclear TH receptors, THRα and THRβ. Although the role of THRα is well established in bone, less is known about the relevance of THRβ-mediated signaling in bone development. On ther basis of our recent finding that TH signaling is essential for initiation and formation of secondary ossification center, we evaluated the role of THRs in mediating TH effects on epiphysial bone formation. Two-day treatment of TH-deficient Tshr −/− mice with TH increased THRβ1 mRNA level 3.4-fold at day 7 but had no effect on THRα1 mRNA level at the proximal tibia epiphysis. Treatment of serum-free cultures of tibias from 3-day-old mice with T3 increased THRβ1 expression 2.1- and 13-fold, respectively, at 24 and 72 h. Ten-day treatment of Tshr −/− newborns ( days 5–14) with THRβ1 agonist GC1 at 0.2 or 2.0 μg/day increased BV/TV at day 21 by 225 and 263%, respectively, compared with vehicle treatment. Two-day treatment with GC1 (0.2 μg/day) increased expression levels of Indian hedgehog ( Ihh) 100-fold, osterix 15-fold, and osteocalcin 59-fold compared with vehicle at day 7 in the proximal tibia epiphysis. Gel mobility shift assay demonstrated that a putative TH response element in the distal promoter of mouse Ihh gene interacted with THRβ1. GC1 treatment (1 nM) increased Ihh distal promoter activity 20-fold after 48 h in chondroctyes. Our data suggest a novel role for THRβ1 in secondary ossification at the epiphysis that involves transcriptional upregulation of Ihh gene.