bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Setting research priorities to improve the health of children and young people with neurodisability: a British Academy of Childhood Disability-James Lind Alliance Research Priority Setting Partnership
Authors: Morris Christopher , Simkiss Doug , Busk Mary , Morris Maureen , Allard Amanda , Denness Jacob , Janssens Astrid , Stimson Anna , Coghill Joanna , Robinson Kelly , Fenton Mark , Cowan Katherine
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To engage young people, parent carers and clinicians in a systematic process to identify and prioritise research questions regarding ways to improve the health and well-being of children and young people with neurodisability.

Design

British Academy of Childhood Disability (BACD)-James Lind Alliance research priority setting partnership bringing together patients, carers and clinicians as equal stakeholders.

Setting

UK health service and community.

Methods

The BACD Strategic Research Group formed the partnership. A Steering Group was established; charity and professional partner organisations were recruited. Suggestions were gathered in an open survey and from research recommendations for statutory guidance. Items were aggregated to formulate indicative research questions and verified as uncertainties from research evidence. An interim survey was used to rank the questions to shortlist topics. A mixed group of stakeholders discussed the top 25 questions at the final priority setting workshop agreeing a final rank order and the top 10 research priorities.

Participants

Partner organisations were 13 charities and 8 professional societies. 369 people submitted suggestions (40% non-clinicians). 76 people participated in the interim prioritisation (26 parents, 1 young person, 10 charity representatives, 39 clinicians); 22 took part in the final workshop (3 young people, 7 parents, 3 charity representatives, 9 professionals).

Results

The top three research priorities related to (1) establishing the optimal frequency and intensity (dose) for mainstream therapies, (2) means for selecting and encouraging use of communication strategies and (3) ways to improve children's attitudes towards disability. The top 10 included evaluating interventions to promote mobility, self-efficacy, mental health, continence, physical fitness, educational inclusion and reduce impacts of sleep disturbance.

Conclusions

The methodology provided a systematic and transparent process to identify research priorities that included stakeholders that have typically not contributed to setting the research agenda. The top 10 and other topics identified provide a resource for researchers and agencies that fund research
Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women and men: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Frederiksen Yoon , Farver-Vestergaard Ingeborg , Skovgård Ninna Grønhøj , Ingerslev Hans Jakob , Zachariae Robert
Published: January 2015

Objective

To evaluate the evidence on the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for improving pregnancy rates and reducing distress for couples in treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library between 1978 and April 2014.

Study selection

Studies were considered eligible if they evaluated the effect of any psychosocial intervention on clinical pregnancy and/or distress in infertile participants, used a quantitative approach and were published in English.

Data extraction

Study characteristics and results were extracted and the methodological quality was assessed. Effect sizes (ES; Hedges g) were pooled using a random effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q statistic and I2, and publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s method. Possible moderators and mediators were explored with meta-analyses of variances (ANOVAs) and meta-regression.

Results

We identified 39 eligible studies (total N=2746 men and women) assessing the effects of psychological treatment on pregnancy rates and/or adverse psychological outcomes, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, infertility stress and marital function. Statistically significant and robust overall effects of psychosocial intervention were found for both clinical pregnancy (risk ratio=2.01; CI 1.48 to 2.73; p<0.001) and combined psychological outcomes (Hedges g=0.59; CI 0.38 to 0.80; p=0.001). The pooled ES for psychological outcomes were generally larger for women (g: 0.51 to 0.73) than men (0.13 to 0.34), but the difference only reached statistical significance for depressive symptoms (p=0.004). Meta-regression indicated that larger reductions in anxiety were associated with greater improvement in pregnancy rates (Slope 0.19; p=0.004). No clear-cut differences were found between effects of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT; g=0.84), mind–body interventions (0.61) and other intervention types (0.50).

Conclusions

The present meta-analysis suggests that psychosocial interventions for couples in treatment for infertility, in particular CBT, could be efficacious, both in reducing psychological distress and in improving clinical pregnancy rates.
Adoption factors associated with electronic health record among long-term care facilities: a systematic review
Authors: Kruse Clemens Scott , Mileski Michael , Alaytsev Vyachelslav , Carol Elizabeth , Williams Ariana
Published: January 2015

Objectives

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act created incentives for adopting electronic health records (EHRs) for some healthcare organisations, but long-term care (LTC) facilities are excluded from those incentives. There are realisable benefits of EHR adoption in LTC facilities; however, there is limited research about this topic. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to identify EHR adoption factors for LTC facilities that are ineligible for the HITECH Act incentives.

Setting

We conducted systematic searches of Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete via Ebson B. Stephens Company (EBSCO Host), Google Scholar and the university library search engine to collect data about EHR adoption factors in LTC facilities since 2009.

Participants

Search results were filtered by date range, full text, English language and academic journals (n=22).

Interventions

Multiple members of the research team read each article to confirm applicability and study conclusions.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Researchers identified common themes across the literature: specifically facilitators and barriers to adoption of the EHR in LTC.

Results

Results identify facilitators and barriers associated with EHR adoption in LTC facilities. The most common facilitators include access to information and error reduction. The most prevalent barriers include initial costs, user perceptions and implementation problems.

Conclusions

Similarities span the system selection phases and implementation process; of those, cost was the most common mentioned. These commonalities should help leaders in LTC facilities align strategic decisions to EHR adoption. This review may be useful for decision-makers attempting successful EHR adoption, policymakers trying to increase adoption rates without expanding incentives and vendors that produce EHRs.
Diagnostic performance of reproducible chest wall tenderness to rule out acute coronary syndrome in acute chest pain: a prospective diagnostic study
Authors: Gräni Christoph , Senn Oliver , Bischof Manuel , Cippà Pietro E , Hauffe Till , Zimmerli Lukas , Battegay Edouard , Franzen Daniel
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Acute chest pain (ACP) is a leading cause of hospital emergency unit consultation. As there are various underlying conditions, ranging from musculoskeletal disorders to acute coronary syndrome (ACS), thorough clinical diagnostics are warranted. The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether reproducible chest wall tenderness (CWT) on palpation in patients with ACP can help to rule out ACS.

Methods

In this prospective, double-blinded diagnostic study, all consecutive patients assessed in the emergency unit at the University Hospital Zurich because of ACP between July 2012 and December 2013 were included when a member of the study team was present. Reproducible CWT on palpation was the initial step and was recorded before further examinations were initiated. The final diagnosis was adjudicated by a study-independent physician.

Results

121 patients (60.3% male, median age 47 years, IQR 34–66.5 years) were included. The prevalence of ACS was 11.6%. Non-reproducible CWT had a high sensitivity of 92.9% (95% CI 66.1% to 98.8%) for ACS and the presence of reproducible CWT ruled out ACS (p=0.003) with a high negative predictive value (98.1%, 95% CI 89.9% to 99.7%). Conversely non-reproducible CWT ruled in ACS with low specificity (48.6%, 95% CI 38.8% to 58.5%) and low positive predictive value (19.1%, 95% CI 10.6% to 30.5%).

Conclusions

This prospective diagnostic study supports the concept that reproducible CWT helps to rule out ACS in patients with ACP in an early stage of the evaluation process. However, ACS and other diagnoses should be considered in patients with a negative CWT test.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrial.gov:NCT01724996.
Socioeconomic inequalities in cause-specific mortality in 15 European cities
Authors: Marí-Dell'Olmo Marc , Gotsens Mercè , Palència Laia , Burström Bo , Corman Diana , Costa Giuseppe , Deboosere Patrick , Díez Èlia , Domínguez-Berjón Felicitas , Dzúrová Dagmar , Gandarillas Ana , Hoffmann Rasmus , Kovács Katalin , Martikainen Pekka , Demaria Moreno , Pikhart Hynek , Rodríguez-Sanz Maica , Saez Marc , Santana Paula , Schwierz Cornelia , Tarkiainen Lasse , Borrell Carme
Published: January 2015

Background

Socioeconomic inequalities are increasingly recognised as an important public health issue, although their role in the leading causes of mortality in urban areas in Europe has not been fully evaluated. In this study, we used data from the INEQ-CITIES study to analyse inequalities in cause-specific mortality in 15 European cities at the beginning of the 21st century.

Methods

A cross-sectional ecological study was carried out to analyse 9 of the leading specific causes of death in small areas from 15 European cities. Using a hierarchical Bayesian spatial model, we estimated smoothed Standardized Mortality Ratios, relative risks and 95% credible intervals for cause-specific mortality in relation to a socioeconomic deprivation index, separately for men and women.

Results

We detected spatial socioeconomic inequalities for most causes of mortality studied, although these inequalities differed markedly between cities, being more pronounced in Northern and Central-Eastern Europe. In the majority of cities, most of these causes of death were positively associated with deprivation among men, with the exception of prostatic cancer. Among women, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, chronic liver diseases and respiratory diseases were also positively associated with deprivation in most cities. Lung cancer mortality was positively associated with deprivation in Northern European cities and in Kosice, but this association was non-existent or even negative in Southern European cities. Finally, breast cancer risk was inversely associated with deprivation in three Southern European cities.

Conclusions

The results confirm the existence of socioeconomic inequalities in many of the main causes of mortality, and reveal variations in their magnitude between different European cities.
Access to green space, physical activity and mental health: a twin study
Authors: Cohen-Cline Hannah , Turkheimer Eric , Duncan Glen E
Published: January 2015

Background

Increasing global urbanisation has resulted in a greater proportion of the world's population becoming exposed to risk factors unique to urban areas, and understanding these effects on public health is essential. The aim of this study was to examine the association between access to green space and mental health among adult twin pairs.

Methods

We used a multilevel random intercept model of same-sex twin pairs (4338 individuals) from the community-based University of Washington Twin Registry to analyse the association between access to green space, as measured by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index and self-reported depression, stress, and anxiety. The main parameter of interest was the within-pair effect for identical (monozygotic, MZ) twins because it was not subject to confounding by genetic or shared childhood environment factors. Models were adjusted for income, physical activity, neighbourhood deprivation and population density.

Results

When treating twins as individuals and not as members of a twin pair, green space was significantly inversely associated with each mental health outcome. The association with depression remained significant in the within-pair MZ univariate and adjusted models; however, there was no within-pair MZ effect for stress or anxiety among the models adjusted for income and physical activity.

Conclusions

These results suggest that greater access to green space is associated with less depression, but provide less evidence for effects on stress or anxiety. Understanding the mechanisms linking neighbourhood characteristics to mental health has important public health implications. Future studies should combine twin designs and longitudinal data to strengthen causal inference.
Metabolic syndrome components as markers to prognosticate the risk of developing chronic kidney disease: evidence-based study with 6492 individuals
Authors: Zomorrodian Davoud , Khajavi-Rad Abolfazl , Avan Amir , Ebrahimi Mahmoud , Nematy Mohsen , Azarpazhooh Mahmoud Reza , Emamian Marzieh , Sadeghzade Mahsa , Mirhafez Seyed Reza , Mohammadi Maryam , Mousavi Mina , Esmaeili Habibollah , Moohebati Mohsen , Parizadeh Mohammad Reza , Ferns Gordon A , Ghayour-Mobarhan Majid
Published: January 2015

Objective

The global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) appears to be increasing and the impact of this condition on potential comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease is high. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also a potential comorbidity of MetS but the method of screening for this is somewhat controversial. Thus, predictive markers that can predict the risk of developing CKD are warranted for identification of patients with MetS at an increased risk.

Research methods/patients

We investigated the occurrence of CKD in 6492 individuals, either with or without MetS.

Results

Our results showed that the prevalence of CKD was markedly higher in those individuals with MetS, and increased progressively with the number of MetS components and age. Waist circumference, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly (p<0.05) associated with altered levels of urea nitrogen, glomerular filtration rate and creatinine, and were related to the increased risk of CKD (eg, OR 1.293 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.52; p=0.002)). The relative risk of CKD remained statistically significant for uric acid following multivariate analyses and adjusting for MetS-associated factors.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated the association of MetS components with CKD in our population and revealed that susceptibility to CKD was increased with the number of defining features of MetS. These findings prompt prospective studies to determine the impact of preventing and detecting MetS on the risk of developing CKD.
Communication skills training: what the vet schools are doing
Authors: Mossop L. , Gray C. , Blaxter A. , Gardiner A. , MacEachern K. , Watson P. , Whittlestone K. , Robbé I.
Published: January 2015

Increasing emphasis is being placed on communication skills training in UK veterinary curricula, with changes and advances in teaching approaches and the assessment of skills. Here, Liz Mossop and colleagues describe how the different UK schools approach communication skills training and assessment, and consider how this teaching will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the profession and ensure students graduate ‘fit to practise’ in an ever more demanding environment.
Gravity and induced matter on nearly Kähler manifolds
Authors: Naderi F. , Rezaei-Aghdam A. , Darabi F.
Published: January 2015

We show that the conservation of energy–momentum tensor of a gravitational model with Einstein–Hilbert like action on a nearly Kähler manifold with the scalar curvature of a curvature-like tensor, is consistent with the nearly Kähler properties. In this way, the nearly Kähler structure is automatically manifested in the action as a induced matter field. As an example of nearly Kähler manifold, we consider the group manifold of R×II ×S3×S3 on which we identify a nearly Kähler structure and solve the Einstein equations to interpret the model. It is shown that the nearly Kähler structure in this example is capable of alleviating the well known fine tuning problem of the cosmological constant. Moreover, this structure may be considered as a potential candidate for dark energy.
Direct photon production at finite chemical potential from quark–gluon plasma
Authors: Singh S. Somorendro , Kumar Yogesh
Published: January 2015

We extend to calculate the direct photon production from quark–gluon plasma (QGP) considering finite chemical potential. The calculation is done from a system of strongly interacting QGP and the result is found to be increasing function of chemical potential in all the channels of photon production. It also shows enhancement of photon production from photon production without chemical potential and other theoretical calculation of direct photon productions.
Search problems in groups and branching processes
Authors: Morar Pavel , Ushakov Alexander
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we study complexity of randomly generated instances of Dehn search problems in finitely presented groups. We use Crump–Mode–Jagers (CMJ) processes to show that most of the random instances are easy. Our analysis shows that for any choice of a finitely presented platform group in Wagner–Magyarik public key encryption protocol the majority of random keys can be broken by a polynomial time algorithm.
Characterization of quasi-alternating Montesinos links
Authors: Qazaqzeh K. , Chbili N. , Qublan B.
Published: January 2015

Let L be a quasi-alternating link at a crossing c. We construct an infinite family of quasi-alternating links from L by replacing the crossing c by a product of rational tangles, each of which extends c. Consequently, we determine an infinite family of quasi-alternating Montesinos links. This family includes all classes of quasi-alternating Montesinos links that have been detected by Widmer [Quasi-alternating Montesinos links, J. Knot Theory Ramifications18(10) (2009) 1459–1469]. We conjecture that this family contains all non-alternating quasi-alternating Montesinos links.
Non-left-orderable surgeries and generalized Baumslag–Solitar relators
Authors: Ichihara Kazuhiro , Temma Yuki
Published: January 2015

We show that a knot has a non-left-orderable surgery if the knot group admits a generalized Baumslag–Solitar relator and satisfies certain conditions on a longitude of the knot. As an application, it is shown that certain positively twisted torus knots admit non-left-orderable surgeries.
Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Analysis of Safety-Related Scientific Software
Authors: Li Xiang , Gupta Jatin , Allocco Michael , McCartor Gerry , Smidts Carol
Published: January 2015

Hazard and operability (HAZOP) analysis technique is used to identify and analyze hazards and operational concerns of a system. It provides a structured framework that can be used to perform a step-by-step safety analysis of a system. This paper details how to apply this method to safety-related scientific software. In this paper, we have developed (1) a nomenclature that singles out 30 primary concepts (2) a canonic set of abstractions of software programming constructs as a function of the primary concepts; (3) a process of translation from an existing design representation to the target design representation in the form of finite state machines; (4) HAZOP templates for each canonical form; and (5) an input variable prioritization method. We also developed a computational tool that can be used to perform HAZOP analysis of scientific software. Its results are compared with those obtained during manual HAZOP analysis by calculating the value of Shannon entropy, correctness, and the time required to perform each analysis. Overall, this method helps identify useful information about the impact of variables in the code that can then be utilized to develop robust code for making safety-critical decisions.
Using Statistical Usage Testing in Conjunction with Other Black Box Testing Techniques
Authors: Khatri Sunil Kumar , Kaur Kamaldeep , Datta Rattan K.
Published: January 2015

Cleanroom methodology is a scrupulous incremental software development approach16 for the development of zero defect and high-reliability software using box structure specification, statistical quality control and certification.2 Statistical Usage Testing (SUT) technique is the testing technique defined it Cleanroom software engineering. It based on developing the usage models and then performing statistical tests on the usage models.15 The paper shows the usage of SUT in conjunction with other black box testing techniques. Other types of testing can be performed along with SUT depending on the requirement. Use of other testing techniques can be essential to show specific scenarios of use or to attain full usage model coverage with reduced test cases.17 The paper also presents the effectiveness of applying SUT in conjunction with other black box testing techniques by using various test cases. Other black box testing techniques used include Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP), Boundary Value Analysis (BVA), Cause Effect Graphing (CEG), Use Case Testing (UCT) and Orthogonal Array Testing (OATS).
ANNEALING TIME EFFECT ON NANOSTRUCTURED n-ZnO/p-Si HETEROJUNCTION PHOTODETECTOR PERFORMANCE
Authors: HABUBI NADIR. F. , ISMAIL RAID. A. , HAMOUDI WALID K. , ABID HASSAM. R.
Published: January 2015

In this work, n- ZnO /p- Si heterojunction photodetectors were prepared by drop casting of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on single crystal p-type silicon substrates, followed by (15–60) min; step-annealing at 600∘C. Structural, electrical, and optical properties of the ZnO NPs films deposited on quartz substrates were studied as a function of annealing time. X-ray diffraction studies showed a polycrystalline, hexagonal wurtizte nanostructured ZnO with preferential orientation along the (100) plane. Atomic force microscopy measurements showed an average ZnO grain size within the range of 75.9 nm–99.9 nm with a corresponding root mean square (RMS) surface roughness between 0.51 nm–2.16 nm. Dark and under illumination current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the n- ZnO /p- Si heterojunction photodetectors showed an improving rectification ratio and a decreasing saturation current at longer annealing time with an ideality factor of 3 obtained at 60 min annealing time. Capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics of heterojunctions were investigated in order to estimate the built-in-voltage and junction type. The photodetectors, fabricated at optimum annealing time, exhibited good linearity characteristics. Maximum sensitivity was obtained when ZnO / Si heterojunctions were annealed at 60 min. Two peaks of response, located at 650 nm and 850 nm, were observed with sensitivities of 0.12–0.19 A/W and 0.18–0.39 A/W, respectively. Detectivity of the photodetectors as function of annealing time was estimated.
Vibration of a Simple Beam Subjected to a Moving Sprung Mass with Initial Velocity and Constant Acceleration
Authors: Yin Shih-Hsun
Published: January 2015

In this paper, a semi-analytical solution to the problem of a simply supported beam subjected to a moving sprung mass with initial velocity and constant acceleration or deceleration was presented, which serves as a benchmark for checking the performance of other numerical methods. Herein, a finite element modeling procedure was adopted to tackle the vehicle–bridge interaction, and the responses of the vehicle and bridge were computed by time integration schemes such as the Newmark average acceleration, HHT-[Formula: see text], and Wilson-[Formula: see text] methods. In comparison with the semi-analytical solution, the acceleration response of the beam solved by the Newmark average acceleration method shows spurious high-frequency oscillations caused by the finite element discretization. In contrast, the HHT-[Formula: see text] and Wilson-[Formula: see text] methods can dissipate these oscillations and show more accurate results. Moreover, we found that the dynamic responses of the beam and sprung mass were mainly determined by the initial velocity of the sprung mass, but not by the acceleration or deceleration.
Application of a Weak Form Quadrature Element Method to Nonlinear Free Vibrations of Thin Rectangular Plates
Authors: Liao Minmao , Zhong Hongzhi
Published: January 2015

Geometrically nonlinear free vibrations of thin rectangular plates are studied using the recently developed weak form quadrature element method (QEM). The nonlinear von Karman plate theory is employed to express the strain-displacement relations. The weak form description of the plate is formulated on the basis of the variational principle. The integrals involved in the variational description are evaluated by an efficient numerical integration scheme, and the partial derivatives at the integration points are approximated by differential quadrature analogs. A system of algebraic equations is eventually derived, and the nonlinear frequencies and mode shapes are extracted from solving the equations. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by a convergence study. The accuracy of the method is illustrated by comparing the computed nonlinear to linear frequency ratios with those available in the literature. The influences of the nonlinearity on higher order frequencies and mode shapes are exhibited as well.
Temperature and Displacement Monitoring to Steel Roof Construction of Shenzhen Bay Stadium
Authors: Teng Jun , Lu Wei , Cui Yan , Zhang Rengui
Published: January 2015

The long-span spatial steel structure takes its complex construction process because of its features, such as large scale, wide range, and long cycle duration. Simultaneously, the structural construction process can not only affect the shaping of long-span spatial structure, but also produce a great effect to structural final force state, which makes the construction monitoring of long-span spatial steel structure necessary. The most important construction parts for Shenzhen Bay Stadium steel roof are unloading process and closure process. Considering the structure complexity in the construction phase, a structural health monitoring system was installed, which began to be built in early 2010 and contained two phases: construction monitoring and operation monitoring. In this paper, the temperatures and displacements monitoring in construction phase are firstly described in detail. The monitoring data of temperature and displacement measured in unloading and closure phases are then analyzed, respectively. According to these monitoring data, the comprehensive understanding for the structural performances in construction phase is shown and discussed, which can provide a reference of construction monitoring for the related projects.
Effective non-vanishing of global sections of multiple adjoint bundles for quasi-polarized n-folds, II
Authors: Fukuma Yoshiaki
Published: January 2015

Let m NEF (n) be the smallest positive integer p such that the dimensions of global sections of multiple adjoint bundles h0(m(KX + L)) are strictly greater than zero for any integer m with m ≥ p and any quasi-polarized n-folds (X, L) for which X is a complex normal Gorenstein projective variety with only rational singularities and KX + L is nef. In this paper, we prove that m NEF (n) ≤ 2n - 4 holds for n ≥ 4.
Expansion of a simplicial complex
Authors: Moradi Somayeh , Khosh-Ahang Fahimeh
Published: January 2015

For a simplicial complex Δ, we introduce a simplicial complex attached to Δ, called the expansion of Δ, which is a natural generalization of the notion of expansion in graph theory. We are interested in knowing how the properties of a simplicial complex and its Stanley–Reisner ring relate to those of its expansions. It is shown that taking expansion preserves vertex decomposable and shellable properties and in some cases Cohen–Macaulayness. Also it is proved that some homological invariants of Stanley–Reisner ring of a simplicial complex relate to those invariants in the Stanley–Reisner ring of its expansions.
Measuring primality in numerical semigroups with embedding dimension three
Authors: Chapman S. T. , García-Sánchez P. A. , Tripp Z. , Viola C.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we find the ω-value of the generators of any numerical semigroup with embedding dimension three. This allows us to determine all possible orderings of the ω-values of the generators. In addition, we relate the ω-value of the numerical semigroup to its catenary degree.
The Ohm–Rush content function
Authors: Epstein Neil , Shapiro Jay
Published: January 2015

The content of a polynomial over a ring R is a well-understood notion. Ohm and Rush generalized this concept of a content map to an arbitrary ring extension of R, although it can behave quite badly. We examine five properties an algebra may have with respect to this function — content algebra, weak content algebra, semicontent algebra (our own definition), Gaussian algebra, and Ohm–Rush algebra. We show that the Gaussian, weak content, and semicontent algebra properties are all transitive. However, transitivity is unknown for the content algebra property. We then compare the Ohm–Rush notion with the more usual notion of content in the power series context. We show that many of the given properties coincide for the power series extension map over a valuation ring of finite dimension, and that they are equivalent to the value group being order-isomorphic to the integers or the reals. Along the way, we give a new characterization of Prüfer domains.
GCD and LCM-like identities for ideals in commutative rings
Authors: Anderson D. D. , Izumi Shuzo , Ohno Yasuo , Ozaki Manabu
Published: January 2015

Let A1,…,An(n ≥ 2) be ideals of a commutative ring R. Let G(k) (resp., L(k)) denote the product of all the sums (resp., intersections) of k of the ideals. Then we have [Formula: see text] In the case R is an arithmetical ring we have equality. In the case R is a Prüfer ring, the equality holds if at least n - 1 of the ideals A1,…,An are regular. In these two cases we also have [Formula: see text] Related equalities are given for Prüfer v-multiplication domains and formulas relating GCD's and LCM's in a GCD domain generalizing gcd (a1, a2) lcm (a1, a2) = a1a2 are given.
A conception of zero-divisor graph for categories of modules
Authors: Amini Afshin , Amini Babak , Momtahan Ehsan
Published: January 2015

We introduce and study zero-divisor graphs in categories of left modules over a ring R, i.e. R- MOD . The vertices of Γ(R- MOD ) consist of all nonzero morphisms in R- MOD which are not isomorphisms. Two vertices f and g are adjacent if f ◦ g = 0 or g ◦ f = 0. We observe that these graphs are connected and their diameter is equal or less than four. We prove that Γ(R- MOD ) = 3 if and only if R is a right and left perfect ring and R/J(R) is simple artinian. We also characterize all vertices with complements and that when a kernel or a co-kernel can be a complement for a morphism. Some discussions will be made on radius of these graphs, their clique and chromatic numbers.
On locating numbers and codes of zero divisor graphs associated with commutative rings
Authors: Raja Rameez , Pirzada S. , Redmond Shane
Published: January 2015

Let R be a commutative ring with identity and let G(V, E) be a graph. The locating number of the graph G(V, E) denoted by loc (G) is the cardinality of the minimal locating set W ⊆ V(G). To get the loc (G), we assign locating codes to the vertices V(G)∖W of G in such a way that every two vertices get different codes. In this paper, we consider the ratio of loc (G) to |V(G)| and show that there is a finite connected graph G with loc (G)/|V(G)| = m/n, where m < n are positive integers. We examine two equivalence relations on the vertices of Γ(R) and the relationship between locating sets and the cut vertices of Γ(R). Further, we obtain bounds for the locating number in zero-divisor graphs of a commutative ring and discuss the relation between locating number, domination number, clique number and chromatic number of Γ(R). We also investigate the locating number in Γ(R) when R is a finite product of rings.
Finite groups with metacyclic QTI-subgroups
Authors: Shen Zhencai , Chen Yingyi , Walls Gary L. , Li Shirong
Published: January 2015

Let G be a finite group. A subgroup A of G is called a TI-subgroup of G if A ∩ Ax = 1 or A for all x ∈ G. A subgroup H of G is called a QTI-subgroup if CG(x) ⊆ NG(H) for every 1 ≠ x ∈ H, and a group G is called an MCTI-group if all its metacyclic subgroups are QTI-subgroups. In this paper, we show that every nilpotent MCTI-group is either a Dedekind group or a p-group and we completely classify all the MCTI-p-groups. We show that all MCTI-groups are solvable and that every nonnilpotent MCTI-group must be a Frobenius group having abelian kernel and cyclic complement.
Sequentially generalized Cohen–Macaulayness of bigraded modules
Authors: Noormohammadi Hassan , Rahimi Ahad
Published: January 2015

Let S = K[x1,…,xm, y1,…,yn] be the standard bigraded polynomial ring over a field K, and M a finitely generated bigraded S-module. In this paper we study the generalized Cohen–Macaulayness and sequentially generalized Cohen–Macaulayness of M with respect to Q = (y1,…,yn). We prove that if I ⊆ S be a monomial ideal with cd (Q, S/I) ≤ 2, then S/I is sequentially generalized Cohen–Macaulay with respect to Q.
On ideals preserving generalized local cohomology modules
Authors: Nakamura Tsutomu
Published: January 2015

Let R be a commutative Noetherian ring, 𝔞 an ideal of R and M, N two finitely generated R-modules. Let t be a positive integer or ∞. We denote by Ωt the set of ideals 𝔠 such that [Formula: see text] for all i < t. First, we show that there exists the ideal 𝔟t which is the largest in Ωt and [Formula: see text]. Next, we prove that if 𝔡 is an ideal such that 𝔞 ⊆ 𝔡 ⊆ 𝔟t, then [Formula: see text] for all i < t.
Polyaniline/SnO2 Nanocomposite Sensor for NO2 Gas Sensing at Low Operating Temperature
Authors: Sharma A. , Tomar M. , Gupta V. , Badola A. , Goswami N.
Published: January 2015

In this paper gas sensing properties of 0.5–3% polyaniline (PAni) doped SnO 2 thin films sensors prepared by chemical route have been studied towards the trace level detection of NO 2 gas. The structural, optical and surface morphological properties of the PAni doped SnO 2 thin films were investigated by performing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy measurements. A good correlation has been identified between the microstructural and gas sensing properties of these prepared sensors. Out of these films, 1% PAni doped SnO 2 sensor showed high sensitivity towards NO 2 gas along with a sensitivity of 3.01 × 102 at 40°C for 10 ppm of gas. On exposure to NO 2 gas, resistance of all sensors increased to a large extent, even greater than three orders of magnitude. These changes in resistance upon removal of NO 2 gas are found to be reversible in nature and the prepared composite film sensors showed good sensitivity with relatively faster response/recovery speeds.
Factor Neural Network Theory and Its Applications
Authors: Wang Ye , Najjar Lotfollah
Published: January 2015

This paper presents constructive methods of factor neural network (FNN) and their applications to the study of intelligent computation. Liu Zengliang is the first to apply this theory it to intelligent computation, it allows describing numerically and simulating such intelligence problems as knowledge representation, fuzzy reasoning and intelligent learning. It provides a unified description framework for logical and visual (intelligent) thinking. This theory makes significant progress in exhibiting the intelligence science theorem, the academic view and the research approach of FNN. It motivates the development of intelligence science and other related fields. It also helps the development of the nation's economy.
Stresses drive a cancer's initiation, progression and metastasis: Critical comments on the book "Cancer Bioinformatics"
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhang Chi , Su Jing , Zhang Dongsheng , Cao Sha
Published: January 2015

"Cancer Bioinformatics" is a new book published in 2014 by Springer. This 14-chapter book offers a quite unique and potentially controversial view about what drives a cancer to initiate, progress, metastasize and develop in an accelerated manner in metastatic sites. The book treats cancer as an evolutionary process of a diseased tissue (rather than cells) in an increasingly more challenging microenvironment; and discusses the various stresses encountered by a neoplastic tissue and their roles in (driving) cancer initiation, progression, metastasis and post-metastatic development. Most of the discussions are made based on discoveries through mining cancer tissue omic data. In contrast to the on-going theories that cancers are the result of genomic mutations, the book clearly downplays the roles of genomic mutations, particularly oncogenic mutations, in cancer formation and progression. Throughout the book, the authors made special efforts in conveying their overarching view that cancer is a pathway to cell survival under certain stresses, and cell proliferation is either the result or a side-effect of survival processes when evolving to overcome the stresses. While the book is presented in an informatics style, it is actually a book of cancer biology focused on how information can be derived from cancer omic data to address a variety of basic cancer biology questions. Compared to other cancer biology books, this book is clearly less detail-oriented but more holistic and spans the entire range of cancer evolution.
Accurate laser skin perforation technique aimed at promoting bleeding and reducing pain
Authors: Chang Han-Chao , Lin Yu-Hsuan , Huang Kuo-Cheng
Published: January 2015

Laser skin perforation is an effective and promising technique for use in blood collection. In this study, the relation between the perforation profile of skin and laser irradiation at various energies is discussed. Increasing laser energy does not uniformly expand the size and depth of a hole because the shallow depth of field (DOF) of the focused light primarily concentrates energy on the skin surface. In practice, the hole gradually transforms from a semielliptical shape to an upside-down avocado shape as the laser energy increases. This phenomenon can increase the amount of bleeding and reduce pain. The findings support the feasibility of developing an accurate laser skin perforation method.
A 3D spheroid system to evaluate inhibitors of the ABCG2 transporter in drug uptake and penetration
Authors: Curran Sean , Achilli Toni-Marie , Leary Elizabeth , Wilks Benjamin T. , Vantangoli Marguerite M. , Boekelheide Kim , Morgan Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2015

None of the ABCG2 inhibitors are effective clinically against multidrug resistant tumors overexpressing ABCG2. New in vitro models are needed to characterize inhibitors and discover new ones. We report a 3D spheroid model and image-based method to quantify ABCG2 action. Nonadhesive micro-molds were used to self-assemble spheroids overexpressing ABCG2; these spheroids were then incubated with the transporter substrate Hoechst 33342. Time-lapse fluorescent microscopy was used to determine the transporter-dependent efflux of Hoechst 33342 and dose response of three inhibitors (Ko143, Iressa, Elacridar). This 3D microtissue model was also used to determine the time to maximal effect as well as duration of effect after inhibitor removal. All acted within one hour and Elacridar had a surprisingly long duration of effect, active 5 hours after removal. This model can be used with multiple cell types, provides new insight into the pharmacokinetics of inhibitors, and can be adapted to high throughput analyses.
Modulating electrolytic tissue ablation with reversible electroporation pulses
Authors: Phillips Mary , Raju Narayan , Rubinsky Liel , Rubinsky Boris
Published: January 2015

Electrolytic ablation is a minimally invasive tissue ablation technique that operates by delivering low magnitude direct current to the target region over long periods of time, generating electrolytic products that destroy cells. Our study seeks to examine the hypothesis that permeabilizing the cell membrane with reversible electroporation will reduce the electrolytic dose required for tissue ablation, by exposing the interior of the cell to the electrolytic products. The hypothesis is examined by evaluating the extent of tissue damage when electrolytic and reversible electroporation sequences are delivered separately and in combination, it in vivo, to rat liver tissue. The study shows that combining reversible electroporation with electrolysis produces a substantial increase in the extent of tissue ablation compared to that achieved by electrolysis alone.
The Kolmården serpentine marble in Sweden: a stone found both in castles and people's homes
Authors: Wikström Anders , Pereira Dolores
Published: January 2015

The Kolmården serpentine marble is a well known Svecofennian marble from Sweden, and here it is proposed as a possible ‘Global Heritage Stone Resource’. This marble matches the newly proposed designation ideally, since for many years it has been used in the construction of major historical buildings, as well as famous buildings of national and international importance. The Kolmården marble continues to be quarried today.
Fracture systems of the Northern Volcanic Rift Zone, Iceland: an onshore part of the Mid-Atlantic plate boundary
Authors: Hjartardóttir Á. R. , Einarsson P. , Magnúsdóttir S. , Björnsdóttir Þ. , Brandsdóttir B.
Published: January 2015

Few divergent plate boundaries are subaerial. Active rifts in Iceland provide valuable surface information on divergent spreading processes, rifting and faulting. The 200 km long and 50 km wide Northern Volcanic Rift Zone (NVZ) is composed of 7 volcanic systems, each consisting of a central volcano with a transecting fissure swarm. Fractures and postglacial eruptive fissures in the NVZ were analysed using aerial photographs and satellite images to study their characteristics and behaviour. While non-eruptive fractures characterize the distal (
c.
40–100 km) parts of the fissure swarms, eruptive fissures are most common at distances less than
c.
20–30 km from the central volcano. Fractures within the fissure swarms are generally subparallel, with a N–NNE strike. Irregular orientations are associated with calderas within the central volcanoes Askja and Krafla, and at the junction of the NVZ and the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, where high fracture densities also occur. WNW-orientated fractures at the southern end of the Krafla Fissure Swarm, and the northern end of the Kverkfjöll Fissure Swarm, exhibit surface expressions of a transform zone. The fissure swarms within the rift zone are mostly seismically and geodetically inactive, becoming highly active during rifting events that occur at time intervals of tens to a few hundred years.
Selectivity of pharmacological tools: implications for use in cell physiology. A Review in the Theme: Cell Signaling: Proteins, Pathways and Mechanisms
Authors: Michel Martin C. , Seifert Roland
Published: January 2015

Pharmacological inhibitors are frequently used to identify the receptors, receptor subtypes, and associated signaling pathways involved in physiological cell responses. Based on the effects of such inhibitors conclusions are drawn about the involvement of their assumed target or lack thereof. While such inhibitors can be useful tools for a better physiological understanding, their uncritical use can lead to incorrect conclusions. This article reviews the concept of inhibitor selectivity and its implication for cell physiology. Specifically, we discuss the implications of using inhibitor vs. activator approaches, issues of direct vs. indirect pathway modulation, implications of inverse agonism and biased signaling, and those of orthosteric vs. allosteric, competitive vs. noncompetitive, and reversible vs. irreversible inhibition. Additional problems can result from inconsistent estimates of inhibitor potency and differences in potency between cell-free systems and intact cells. These concepts are illustrated by several examples of inhibitors displaying affinity for related but distinct targets or even unrelated targets. Of note, many of the issues being addressed are also applicable to genetic inhibition strategies. The main practical conclusion following from these concepts is that investigators should be critical in the choice of inhibitor, its concentrations, and its mode of application. When this advice is adhered to, small-molecule pharmacological inhibitors can be important experimental tools in the hand of physiologists.
Hydrogen sulfide decreases β-adrenergic agonist-stimulated lung liquid clearance by inhibiting ENaC-mediated transepithelial sodium absorption
Authors: Agné Alisa M. , Baldin Jan-Peter , Benjamin Audra R. , Orogo-Wenn Maria C. , Wichmann Lukas , Olson Kenneth R. , Walters Dafydd V. , Althaus Mike
Published: January 2015

In pulmonary epithelia, β-adrenergic agonists regulate the membrane abundance of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and, thereby, control the rate of transepithelial electrolyte absorption. This is a crucial regulatory mechanism for lung liquid clearance at birth and thereafter. This study investigated the influence of the gaseous signaling molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on β-adrenergic agonist-regulated pulmonary sodium and liquid absorption. Application of the H2S-liberating molecule Na2S (50 μM) to the alveolar compartment of rat lungs in situ decreased baseline liquid absorption and abrogated the stimulation of liquid absorption by the β-adrenergic agonist terbutaline. There was no additional effect of Na2S over that of the ENaC inhibitor amiloride. In electrophysiological Ussing chamber experiments with native lung epithelia ( Xenopus laevis), Na2S inhibited the stimulation of amiloride-sensitive current by terbutaline. β-adrenergic agonists generally increase ENaC abundance by cAMP formation and activation of PKA. Activation of this pathway by forskolin and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine increased amiloride-sensitive currents in H441 pulmonary epithelial cells. This effect was inhibited by Na2S in a dose-dependent manner (5–50 μM). Na2S had no effect on cellular ATP concentration, cAMP formation, and activation of PKA. By contrast, Na2S prevented the cAMP-induced increase in ENaC activity in the apical membrane of H441 cells. H441 cells expressed the H2S-generating enzymes cystathionine-β-synthase, cystathionine-γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, and they produced H2S amounts within the employed concentration range. These data demonstrate that H2S prevents the stimulation of ENaC by cAMP/PKA and, thereby, inhibits the proabsorptive effect of β-adrenergic agonists on lung liquid clearance.