bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring police officer and citizen satisfaction: comparative analysis
Authors: Bouranta Nancy , Siskos Yannis , Tsotsolas Nikos
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The ability of the police to decrease victimization rates, protect human rights and social capital, to generate feelings of safety and to respond to citizens’ calls helps generate positive citizen feelings about the legitimacy of police as a law enforcement institution. Police approaches to reduce crime and violence are based mainly on objective measures, neglecting to assess its performance based on subjective perceptions. The conception that the citizens’ fear of being victims is not always reflective of the actual prevalence of crime highlights the importance of social surveys to assess the public’s perception of police performance. It is also important to assess employee satisfaction, since research indicates that the performance of first-line employees is influenced by their satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to provide the first comparative study of both citizen and police officer satisfaction and evaluates their relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is based on a dyadic survey that measures citizens’ evaluation of police service quality as well as policemen’s job satisfaction. The data were analysed using the multicriteria methodology of multicriteria satisfaction analysis.

Findings

– The results showed that policemen seem to be unsatisfied with their jobs, while citizens are quite satisfied with police performance. Specifically, policemen’s ability to be available for patrol is currently hampered by bureaucracy and other typical obligations. The tangibles criterion, which refers to buildings, offices and surveillance equipment, were characterized as inadequate by both policemen and citizens. It was also observed that police officers are not very satisfied with their amount of work may be the reason why citizens report median satisfaction levels in terms of police responsiveness.

Originality/value

– This survey adds to management literature on job satisfaction and service quality, providing some additional findings regarding the police population. In addition, it combines related constructs supporting the claim that citizens can be satisfied with police services provided that police officers are satisfied with their jobs.
“Just do what you can […] make it work!” Exploring the impact of rapid population growth on police organizations in western North Dakota
Authors: Dahle Thorvald O. , Archbold Carol  A.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom affects police organizations in western North Dakota.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using face-to-face interviews with 101 police personnel working in eight law enforcement agencies, this study explores how rapid population growth affects police organizations (in general), police resources, and the work environment of police organizations located in four counties in western North Dakota. Resource dependency theory and contingency theory provide a theoretical framework for understanding how changes in the communities (external environment) have led to changes within police organizations in this region.

Findings

– Rapid population growth resulting from the oil boom in western North Dakota has required police agencies to make changes in the way that they are structured and function. In addition, the rapid increase in population has also strained police organizations’ resources.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings from this study may only be applicable to police organizations in western North Dakota. Interviews are based on police officers’ perceptions.

Practical implications

– Findings from this study suggest that police organizations in western North Dakota are currently experiencing a bad “fit” with their external environment. In order to get back to a good “fit” additional resources are needed from the state government.

Social implications

– The number of calls for police service have increased dramatically since the oil boom began in 2008 in the Bakken region of western North Dakota. The addition of police officers and needed resources has not kept pace with the rapid population growth. The quality of police service to the public will decline if additional resources are not made available to police organizations.

Originality/value

– This paper features the first and only study of the impact of rapid population growth on police organizations in western North Dakota. This study is both timely and important as the population growth in western North Dakota is predicted to continue for several decades into the future.
Normal moveout velocity for pure‐mode and converted waves in layered orthorhombic medium
Authors: Ravve Igor , Koren Zvi
Published: November 2015

We study the azimuthally dependent hyperbolic moveout approximation for small angles (or offsets) for quasi‐compressional, quasi‐shear, and converted waves in one‐dimensional multi‐layer orthorhombic media. The vertical orthorhombic axis is the same for all layers, but the azimuthal orientation of the horizontal orthorhombic axes at each layer may be different. By starting with the known equation for normal moveout velocity with respect to the surface‐offset azimuth and applying our derived relationship between the surface‐offset azimuth and phase‐velocity azimuth, we obtain the normal moveout velocity versus the phase‐velocity azimuth. As the surface offset/azimuth moveout dependence is required for analysing azimuthally dependent moveout parameters directly from time‐domain rich azimuth gathers, our phase angle/azimuth formulas are required for analysing azimuthally dependent residual moveout along the migrated local‐angle‐domain common image gathers. The angle and azimuth parameters of the local‐angle‐domain gathers represent the opening angle between the incidence and reflection slowness vectors and the azimuth of the phase velocity ψphs at the image points in the specular direction. Our derivation of the effective velocity parameters for a multi‐layer structure is based on the fact that, for a one‐dimensional model assumption, the horizontal slowness and the azimuth of the phase velocity ψphs remain constant along the entire ray (wave) path. We introduce a special set of auxiliary parameters that allow us to establish equivalent effective model parameters in a simple summation manner. We then transform this set of parameters into three widely used effective parameters: fast and slow normal moveout velocities and azimuth of the slow one. For completeness, we show that these three effective normal moveout velocity parameters can be equivalently obtained in both surface‐offset azimuth and phase‐velocity azimuth domains.
Performance of South African children on the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales—Developmental Profile (CSBS DP)
Authors: Chambers Nola , Stronach Sheri T. , Wetherby Amy M.
Published: November 2015

Background

Substantial development in social communication skills occurs in the first two years of life. Growth should be evident in sharing emotion and eye gaze; rate of communication, communicating for a variety of functions; using gestures, sounds and words; understanding language, and using functional and pretend actions with objects in play. A delay in these early social communication skills may be the first sign of a developmental delay in young children in nearly all categories of disabilities—including specific language impairment, autism spectrum disorder, HIV/AIDS, lack of environmental stimulation or institutionalization, and global developmental delays—and early detection of these delays is critical for enrolment in appropriate early intervention services.

Aims

No standardized tests of early social communication skills exist for very young children in South Africa (SA). An existing evaluation tool that has the potential to be culturally fair for children from cultural backgrounds different to the standardization group is the Communication and Symbolic Behaviour Scales—Developmental Profile (CSBS DP). This study aimed to document the performance of a group of English‐speaking SA children ranging in age from 12 to 24 months on the CSBS DP and to compare this performance with the original standardization sample.

Methods & Procedures

Sixty‐seven English‐speaking SA children from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds were assessed on the CSBS DP Behaviour Sample. Group scores were compared with the original standardization sample using inferential statistics.

Outcomes & Results

The results provide preliminary support for the suitability and validity of the face‐to‐face Behaviour Sample as a measure of early social communication skills in this sample of English‐speaking SA children from a range of cultural groups between 12 and 24 months of age.

Conclusions & Implications

While further research in the SA population is needed, these findings are a first step towards validating a culturally appropriate measure for early detection of social communication delays in a sample of SA toddlers.
Effect of calcium phosphate addition to fluoride containing dental varnishes on enamel demineralization
Authors: Shen P , Bagheri R , Walker GD , Yuan Y , Stanton DP , Reynolds C , Reynolds EC
Published: November 2015

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of calcium phosphate and fluoride containing varnishes to inhibit enamel demineralization.

Methods

Six varnishes were selected for analysis: (1) Enamel Pro containing amorphous calcium phosphate; (2) Clinpro White containing functionalized tricalcium phosphate (fTCP); (3) MI Varnish containing casein phosphopeptide‐stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP‐ACP); (4) Duraphat (first no added calcium control); (5) Profluorid (second no added calcium control); and (6) placebo (no added calcium or fluoride control). Human enamel slabs (36) were each cut into half‐slabs and covered with one of the six dental varnishes to create a window. The half‐slabs were then individually immersed in a polyacrylate demineralization buffer pH 4.8 for four days at 37 °C with a change of solution each day. Mineral content was determined using transverse microradiography.

Results

All fluoride‐containing varnishes significantly inhibited enamel demineralization when compared with the placebo varnish. However, out of the calcium phosphate and fluoride containing varnishes only MI Varnish, containing fluoride and CPP‐ACP was superior to the fluoride‐alone varnishes. MI Varnish also released the highest levels of calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions.

Conclusions

MI Varnish containing fluoride and CPP‐ACP was superior to the other varnishes in protecting against enamel demineralization.
Adjuvant use of antibiotics with corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease exacerbations requiring hospitalisation: a retrospective cohort study and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gupta V. , Rodrigues R. , Nguyen D. , Sauk J. , Khalili H. , Yajnik V. , Ananthakrishnan A. N.
Published: November 2015

Background

Patients hospitalised with an exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often receive antibiotics in addition to intravenous steroids. However, their efficacy in this setting is unclear.

Aim

To ascertain if the addition of antibiotics to intravenous steroids modifies short and long‐term clinical outcomes.

Methods

Our study included IBD patients hospitalised between 2009 and 2014 who received intravenous (IV) steroids with or without adjuvant antibiotics. Outcomes of interest included length of stay (LOS), need for medical and surgical rescue therapy during the hospitalisation, and at 90 and 365 days. A meta‐analysis of previously published randomised trials was additionally performed.

Results

A total of 354 patients were included [145 ulcerative colitis (UC); 209 Crohn's disease (CD)]. In CD, combination of IV steroids and antibiotics did not change need for in‐hospital medical rescue therapy, surgery or hospitalisations at 1 year but was associated with greater LOS (6.1 vs. 4.6 days, P = 0.02). In UC, patients receiving antibiotics were less likely to require in‐hospital medical rescue therapy [odds ratio (OR): 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19–0.93] but experienced no statistically significant differences in LOS, in‐hospital surgery, re‐hospitalisations or surgery by 1 year. A meta‐analysis of three relevant randomised trials demonstrated no difference in clinical improvement with antibiotics over placebo (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.50–2.32).

Conclusions

The addition of antibiotics to intravenous steroids for treatment of IBD exacerbations was associated with a reduced need for in‐hospital medical rescue therapy in ulcerative colitis without significant long‐term benefit, and did not affect short‐ or long‐term outcomes in Crohn's disease.
Timing by rhythms: Daily clocks and developmental rulers
Authors: Webb Alexis B. , Oates Andrew C.
Published: November 2015

Biological rhythms are widespread, allowing organisms to temporally organize their behavior and metabolism in advantageous ways. Such proper timing of molecular and cellular events is critical to their development and health. This is best understood in the case of the circadian clock that orchestrates the daily sleep/wake cycle of organisms. Temporal rhythms can also be used for spatial organization, if information from an oscillating system can be recorded within the tissue in a manner that leaves a permanent periodic pattern. One example of this is the “segmentation clock” used by the vertebrate embryo to rhythmically and sequentially subdivide its elongating body axis. The segmentation clock moves with the elongation of the embryo, such that its period sets the segment length as the tissue grows outward. Although the study of this system is still relatively young compared to the circadian clock, outlines of molecular, cellular, and tissue‐level regulatory mechanisms of timing have emerged. The question remains, however, is it truly a clock? Here we seek to introduce the segmentation clock to a wider audience of chronobiologists, focusing on the role and control of timing in the system. We compare and contrast the segmentation clock with the circadian clock, and propose that the segmentation clock is actually an oscillatory ruler, with a primary function to measure embryonic space.
“Away Days” in multicenter randomized controlled trials: a questionnaire survey of their use and a case study on the effect of one Away Day on patient recruitment
Authors: Jefferson Laura , Cook Liz , Keding Ada , Brealey Stephen , Handoll Helen , Rangan Amar
Published: November 2015

Objective

“Away Days” (trial promotion and training events for trial site personnel) are a well‐established method used by trialists to encourage engagement of research sites in the recruitment of patients to multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We explored the use of Away Days in multicenter RCTs and analyzed the effect on patient recruitment in a case study.

Methods

Members of the United Kingdom Trial Managers’ Network were surveyed in June 2013 to investigate their experiences in the design and conduct of Away Days in RCTs. We used data from a multicenter pragmatic surgical trial to explore the effects of an Away Day on the screening and recruitment of patients.

Results

A total of 94 people responded to the survey. The majority (78%), who confirmed had organized an Away Day previously, found them to be useful. This is despite their costs. There was no evidence, however, from the analysis of data from a surgical trial that attendance at an Away Day increased the number of patients screened or recruited at participating sites.

Conclusions

Although those responsible for managing RCTs in the UK tend to believe that trial Away Days are beneficial, evidence from a multicenter surgical trial shows no improvement on a key indicator of trial success. This points to the need to carefully consider the aims, design, and conduct of Away Days. Further more rigorous research nested within RCTs would be valuable to evaluate the design and conduct of Away Days.
Nectar feeding increases exploratory behaviour in the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh)
Authors: Varennes Y.‐D. , Gonzalez Chang M. , Boyer S. , Wratten S. D.
Published: November 2015

Feeding on floral nectar has multiple positive effects on parasitic wasps, including increased longevity and fecundity, and in addition, nectar feeding can also alter parasitoid behaviour. To advance understanding of the effects of nectar feeding on Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) [Hymenoptera: Braconidae], the activities of 1‐day‐old female D. rapae with or without a prior buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) nectar meal were quantified. Nectar increased searching time of D. rapae by a factor of 40 compared with individuals provided with water only and reduced the time spent stationary. The number of attacks to aphids by nectar‐fed parasitoids was not significantly (P = 0.06) higher than that of unfed D. rapae, suggesting that the conditions of the experiment facilitated host finding by ‘quiet’ parasitoids. Nevertheless, nectar feeding modified the behaviour of D. rapae in a way that parasitoids were more explorative and less inactive. This represents one additional mechanism through which nectar feeding impacts parasitoid biology and suggests that a synergy between increased host searching, increased longevity and increased fecundity should lead to an enhancement of biocontrol when D. rapae females have access to nectar in the field.
Variations in physiological and biochemical traits of oak seedlings grown under drought and ozone stress
Authors: Cotrozzi Lorenzo , Remorini Damiano , Pellegrini Elisa , Landi Marco , Massai Rossano , Nali Cristina , Guidi Lucia , Lorenzini Giacomo
Published: November 2015

Despite the huge biodiversity characterizing the Mediterranean environment, environmental constraints, such as high sunlight and high temperatures alongside with dry periods, make plant survival hard. In addition, high irradiance leads to increasing ozone (O3) concentrations in ambient air. In this era of global warming, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms that allow native species to tolerate these environmental constraints and how such mechanisms interact. Three Mediterranean oak species (Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens and Quercus cerris) with different features (drought tolerant, evergreen or deciduous species) were selected to assess their biometrical, physiological and biochemical responses under drought and/or O3 stress (80–100 nl l−1 of O3 for 5 h day−1 for 77 consecutive days). Leaf visible injury appeared only under drought stress (alone or combined with O3) in all three species. Drought × O3 induced strong reductions in leaf dry weight in Q. pubescens and Q. cerris (−70 and −75%, respectively). Alterations in physiological (i.e. decrease in maximum carboxylation rate) and biochemical parameters (i.e. increase in proline content and build‐up of malondialdehyde by‐products) occurred in all the three species, although drought represented the major determinant. Quercus ilex and Q. pubescens, which co‐occur in dry environments, were more tolerant to drought and drought × O3. Quercus ilex was the species in which oxidative stress occurred only when drought was applied with O3. High plasticity at a biochemical level (i.e. proline
content) and evergreen habitus are likely on the basis of the higher tolerance of Q. ilex.
S‐R compatibility effects on motor potentials associated with hand and foot movements
Authors: Miller Jeff
Published: November 2015

Two four‐choice reaction time (RT) experiments used the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) and the limb selection potential (LSP) to assess the effects of spatial S‐R compatibility on motor processes. Individual stimuli were presented at one corner of a square centered at fixation, and each response was made with the left or right hand or foot. In Experiment 1, the correct response was determined by stimulus location, whereas in Experiment 2 it was determined by stimulus identity. Horizontal and vertical compatibility affected both RT and response accuracy, but the LRP and LSP results suggested that compatibility had little or no direct effect on the duration of motor processes. In addition, the results suggest that the relatively new LSP measure is a useful index of motor activation processes. Its insensitivity to horizontal stimulus artifacts makes it especially useful for studying the effects of horizontal spatial compatibility.
Government Response to the Discovery of a Rabies Virus Reservoir Species on a Previously Designated Rabies‐Free Island, Taiwan, 1999–2014
Authors: Chang S.‐S. , Tsai H.‐J. , Chang F.‐Y. , Lee T.‐S. , Huang K.‐C. , Fang K.‐Y. , Wallace R. M. , Inoue S. , Fei C.‐Y.
Published: November 2015

Taiwan had been considered rabies free since 1961. In 2013, Taiwan confirmed the detection of rabies virus in wild Taiwan ferret‐badgers. Up to December 2014, there have been 423 rabies‐confirmed ferret‐badgers and three cases of spillover infection into non‐reservoir hosts. Genetic analysis indicates that TFBV is distinct from all other known rabies virus variants. To date, ferret‐badger rabies is known to occur only in China and Taiwan. The temporal dynamics of rabid ferret‐badgers in Taiwan suggests that the epizootic appears to have subsided to enzootic levels as of December 2014. According to the current epidemiologic data, there is only one TFBV strain in Taiwan. TFBV is still sequestered to the mountainous regions. Humans are at risk mainly through exposure to the virus from infected domestic meso‐carnivores, mainly dogs and cats. Dogs and cats should be vaccinated to establish an immunological barrier to stop the spread of the disease from mountainous regions to domestic meso‐carnivores.
Quantifying STM-tip induced directed hopping of Sb2 dimers on Si(001): A kinetic Monte Carlo study
Authors: Albao Marvin A. , Cristobal Anna Patricia S. , Albia Jason R.
Published: November 2015

In this study, kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice gas model were performed to investigate the experimentally observed enhanced directed diffusion of Sb2 ad-dimers on Si(001) during asymmetric scanning—one that uses invasive and noninvasive scanning tunneling microscope (STM) settings for leftward and rightward scanning, respectively. The authors model the invasive scanning by postulating an attractive interaction between the STM tip and the adsorbates. This is done by lowering (raising) the activation barrier by an adjustable energy difference ΔE for hopping of Sb2 dimers toward (away from) the STM tip site. Effectively, ΔE is a measure of the severity of the STM tip's impact on surface kinetics. Additionally, they explore the effect of varying ΔE on the activation barrier for hopping of Sb2 dimers orthogonal to the Si dimer rows by setting its value to 0.1–0.4 eV. Experimentally determined to be 1.2 eV, the authors found that for very small ΔE (ΔE < 0.1 eV) the activation barrier could be underestimated by no more than 0.03 eV, and as much as 0.13 eV for large ΔE (ΔE = 0.4 eV). Next, they ask if this model could induce asymmetry in the hopping frequency under asymmetric scanning, that is, STM runs in the invasive mode when moving from right to left, and noninvasive mode in the opposite direction. The authors found that indeed there is a net movement of Sb2 dimers from right to left, or along the direction of the invasive scan. Moreover, they found that this directed motion becomes slightly more pronounced as the scanning speed decreases. These twin observations were explained by noting the asymmetry in the occupation probability of the sites immediately to the left and right of the STM tip—the site trailing the tip, or the site to its right, is more likely to be occupied compared than the one leading it. In this sense, according to their model, the STM tip gently drags the adsorbates it comes in contact with but falls short of precise, active manipulation even for large ΔE (ΔE = 0.4 eV).
Graded silicon nitride films: Optics and passivation
Authors: Thomson Andrew , Wan Yimao , Lal Niraj , Elliman Robert G.
Published: November 2015

The authors describe a method for graded thin-film deposition requiring a single step that exploits the noninstantaneous replacement of reactant gases. They deposit the graded silicon-nitride films by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Channeling Rutherford backscattering measurements of the graded films find the N:Si ratio increases sixfold from the c-Si surface to air interfaces. The refractive index at the crystalline silicon/film interface was 2.96 reducing monotonically to 1.95 at the surface. The graded films achieve improved optics and surface passivation for silicon solar cells with measured surface recombination velocity of 3.9 cm/s.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Phenanthrene Degrader,
Burkholderia
sp. HB-1 (NBRC 110738)
Authors: Ohtsubo Yoshiyuki , Moriya Azusa , Kato Hiromi , Ogawa Natsumi , Nagata Yuji , Tsuda Masataka
Published: November 2015

The phenanthrene-degrading
Burkholderia
sp. HB-1 was isolated from a phenanthrene-enrichment culture seeded with a pristine farm soil sample. We report the complete genome sequence of HB-1, which has been deposited to the stock culture (NBRC 110738) at Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), Tokyo, Japan. The genome of strain HB-1 comprises two circular chromosomes of 4.1 Mb and 3.1 Mb. The finishing was facilitated by the computational tools GenoFinisher, AceFileViewer, and ShortReadManager.
Usage of unpublished paediatric data
Authors: Saint-Raymond Agnès , Pelle Benjamin , Zaccaria Cosimo , Sennwitz Matthias , Branch Sarah
Published: November 2015

The European Paediatric Regulation (EC No 1901/2006) has three main objectives: increasing the number of appropriate medicines for children, increasing information on these medicines and stimulating high-quality ethical research with children. To contribute to the information, pharmaceutical companies were required under article 45 of the Regulation to submit existing paediatric studies to regulatory authorities for review and update of the product information. Nearly, 19 000 study reports have been identified for a thousand active substances. The data are being assessed by member states' competent authorities in collaboration with European Medicines Agency (EMA). After 7 years, 262 active substances have been assessed, all of the 62 centrally approved and nearly 200 nationally approved medicines. The review so far has led to 16 new paediatric indications, of importance in addressing previously unmet needs, in particular, in younger age groups. The information is being made publicly available in an EMA database accessible directly or through the public face of the European Clinical Trials Register. This will increase awareness of existing data that are useful to researchers and other healthcare professionals, and contribute to avoiding unnecessary duplication of paediatric trials.
State Complexity of Boundary of Prefix-Free Regular Languages
Authors: Eom Hae-Sung , Han Yo-Sub
Published: November 2015

Recently, researchers studied the state complexity of boundary — [Formula: see text] — of regular languages L motivated from the famous Kuratowski’s 14-theorem. Prefix codes — a set of languages — play an important role in several applications. We consider prefix-free regular languages and investigate the state complexity of two operations, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for prefix-free regular languages. Based on the unique structural properties of a prefix-free minimal DFA, we compute the precise state complexity of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We then present the tight bound over a quaternary alphabet for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Our results are smaller than the composition of the state complexity function for individual operations of prefix-free regular languages.
Constraints on parton distributions and the strong coupling from LHC jet data
Authors: Rojo Juan
Published: November 2015

Jet production at hadron colliders provides powerful constraints on the parton distribution functions (PDFs) of the proton, in particular on the gluon PDF. Jet production can also be used to extract the QCD coupling [Formula: see text] and to test its running with the momentum transfer up to the TeV region. In this review, I summarize the information on PDFs and the strong coupling that has been provided by Run I LHC jet data. First of all, I discuss why jet production is directly sensitive to the gluon and quark PDFs at large-x, and then review the state-of-the-art perturbative calculations for jet production at hadron colliders and the corresponding fast calculations required for PDF fitting. Then I present the results of various recent studies on the impact on PDFs, in particular the gluon, that have been performed using as input jet measurements from ATLAS and CMS. I also review the available determinations of the strong coupling constant based on ATLAS and CMS jet data, with emphasis on the fact that LHC jet data provides, for the first time, a direct test of the [Formula: see text] running at the TeV scale. I conclude with a brief outlook on possible future developments.
Some Generalizations of Quasi-Projective Modules
Authors: Kalebog̃az Berke , Keskin-Tütüncü Derya , Smith Patrick F.
Published: November 2015

In this paper, the concepts of SGQ-projective, quasi-epi [Formula: see text]-projective and quasi-epi [Formula: see text]-projective modules are introduced and some properties of these modules are investigated. Hopfian and co-Hopfian modules are investigated via quasi(-epi) [Formula: see text]-projective and quasi(-epi) [Formula: see text]-projective modules.
The Total Character of a Finite Group
Authors: Humphries Stephen , Kennedy Chelsea , Rode Emma
Published: November 2015

The total character τ(G) of a finite group G is the sum of the irreducible characters of G. We present conditions under which τ(G) can be written as a polynomial with integer coefficients in an irreducible character of G. Such a group we call a total character group. We show that the dicyclic group of order 4n is a total character group if and only if n ≡ 2, 3 mod 4. The polynomial used is a sum of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind. We also show that Sn (n ≥ 4) is not a total character group.
On Armendariz Rings of Inverse Skew Laurent Series Type
Authors: Habibi Mohammad
Published: November 2015

Let R be a ring equipped with an automorphism α and an α-derivation δ. We study Armendariz rings of inverse (α,δ)-skew Laurent series type ((α,δ)-𝙸𝙻𝙰 rings) as a generalization of the standard Armendariz condition from polynomials to inverse skew Laurent series. We resolve the structure of (α,δ)-𝙸𝙻𝙰 rings and obtain various necessary or sufficient conditions for a ring to be (α,δ)-𝙸𝙻𝙰, unifying and generalizing a number of known Armendariz-like conditions. Also, we study relations between the set of annihilators in R and the set of annihilators in the inverse skew Laurent series ring R((x-1;α,δ)). For an α-compatible (α,δ)-𝙸𝙻𝙰 ring R, we prove that several properties transfer between R and R((x-1;α,δ)). Moreover, the radical of R((x-1;α,δ)) is determined in an α-compatible (α,δ)-𝙸𝙻𝙰 ring R.
The Monoidal Category of Yetter-Drinfeld Modules over a Weak Braided Hopf Algebra
Authors: Alonso Álvarez J.N. , Fernández Vilaboa J.M. , González Rodríguez R. , Soneira Calvo C.
Published: November 2015

In this paper we introduce the notion of weak operators and the theory of Yetter-Drinfeld modules over a weak braided Hopf algebra with invertible antipode in a strict monoidal category. We prove that the class of such objects constitutes a non-strict monoidal category. It is also shown that this category is not trivial, that is to say, it admits objects generated by the adjoint action (coaction) associated to the weak braided Hopf algebra.
Projective S-Posets and Hom Functor
Authors: Irannezhad Setareh , Madanshekaf Ali
Published: November 2015

We prove for a unitary S-poset P that the functor hom (P,-) is exact if and only if P is isomorphic to eS for some idempotent e in S. We note that this result differs from the well-known result of exactness of the functor hom (P,-) in the category of modules.
Deposition of Nd-Doped Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on Cenosphere by Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Zhang Hui , Shi Yuanyuan , Xu Jun , Sun Runjun
Published: November 2015

A layer of flake-like Fe2O3 particles doped with rare earth Nd[Formula: see text] ions is homogeneously coated on the surface of cenosphere by using ferric nitrate as the iron source, tartaric acid as the precipitating agent, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as the dispersing agent and neodymium nitrate as the dopant via a facile hydrothermal route. The as-prepared cenosphere is characterized by various analytical techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The performances of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye are also investigated under ultraviolet and visible light irradiations. The experimental results indicate that the doping concentration of Nd[Formula: see text] ions is optimized as 0.4% with respect to Fe[Formula: see text] ions, and the rare earth Nd[Formula: see text] ions are highly dispersed onto Fe2O3 particle surface. After being doped with Nd[Formula: see text] ions, the photoactivity of the 0.4% Nd-doped Fe2O3 coated cenosphere is distinctly improved. The magnetic properties are also enhanced to a large extent.
The People’s Liberation Army in the South China Sea Dispute: Institutional Role and War Preparation
Authors: YOU Ji
Published: November 2015

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) plays a central role in China’s overall South China Sea (SCS) affairs in general and in its front-line command and control in particular. This centrality is rooted in the fact that SCS affairs were historically exclusive military affairs and militarisation of territorial disputes has been intensified in recent years. SCS affairs are thus viewed more as a national security challenge than one of diplomacy, legality and even sovereignty. The PLA’s responsibility is thus more crucial in Beijing’s maritime right-maintenance.
Numerical Modeling and Thermal Analysis of an Adsorption Refrigeration System
Authors: Sur Anirban , Das Randip K.
Published: November 2015

The aim of this paper is to develop a complete, precise and simple numerical model based on the thermophysical properties of an adsorptive cooling system (using activated carbon–methanol pair), analyze and discuss the heat and mass transfer processes and identify the parameters which influence the system performance. In the design of adsorption refrigeration system, the characteristics of both adsorbate–adsorbent pairs and system operating conditions are very important. So in this model, different thermophysical properties of working pair such as, specific heat, density, isosteric heat of adsorption and desorption, and different temperatures of the system are considered. A simulation code, written in FORTRAN, is carried out. The performance of the system is assessed in terms of refrigeration effect and coefficient of performance (COP).
Magnetization Reversal in a Double-Walled Infinite Nanotube
Authors: Lee Jih-Sheng , Klik Ivo , Chang Ching-Ray
Published: November 2015

The nucleation fields of magnetization reversal is calculated here for an infinite, hollow nanotube formed by two ferromagnetic walls. The two tubes can reverse either by curling or by rotation in unison, and have thus four separate reversal modes. The properties of the reversal fields are summarized by means of a series of phase diagrams which display the dependence of the reversal mode on the inner and outer radius of the nanotube. Under certain conditions a large range of nucleation fields my be achieved by a small variation of the nanotube radius.
China’s Urbanization and Carbon Emissions Peak
Authors: CHEN Ying , LIU Liyong , ZHANG Ying
Published: November 2015

With the increase of urban population around the world, the massive construction of urban infrastructure and residential housing is hard to avoid. Urbanization has become a major factor that influences carbon emissions instead of a secondary factor due to more and more energy consumption and carbon emissions caused by the economic activities related to urbanization. China is in a stage of rapid development of urbanization, and urban construction has a huge potential demand for steel and iron, cement, and other high energy-consuming products, and thus the development of urbanization in the future will bring great challenge to the realization of China’s carbon emissions peak. Through the exploration and the analysis of the mechanism of urbanization’s impact on carbon emissions and the experience of urbanization development in developed countries, this paper summarizes the general evolving rules of carbon emissions peak along with the development of urbanization, defines the present stage of our country and briefly analyzes the arrival of China’s carbon emissions peak in the future. During the process of China’s new-type urbanization development in the future, we should make a scientific planning integrated with low-carbon concept from the demographic, social, economic, spatial structure, technical, and other dimensions, in order to reduce the impact of urbanization development on carbon emissions and realize the carbon emissions peak of China early.
An Assertional Proof of the Stability and Correctness of Natural Mergesort
Authors: Leino K. Rustan M. , Lucio Paqui
Published: November 2015

We present a mechanically verified implementation of the sorting algorithm
Natural Mergesort
that consists of a few methods specified by their contracts of pre/post conditions. Methods are annotated with assertions that allow the automatic verification of the contract satisfaction. This program-proof is made using the state-of-the-art verifier
Dafny
. We verify not only the standard sortedness property, but also that the algorithm performs a stable sort. Throughout the article, we provide and explain the complete text of the program-proof.
An Unusual Career: Considering Political/Legal Orders and Unofficial Parallel Realities
Authors: Moore Sally Falk
Published: November 2015

Sally Moore was initially a lawyer and later became an anthropologist. In this article she reflects on three major projects in her professional history: preparations for the second set of Nuremberg Trials, a dissertation on law in Inca Peru, and fieldwork in a time of postcolonial socialism on Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. All three situations presented strong official versions of law and its supposedly controlling effect on the social order. Contact showed that in each instance there were important unofficial counter-ideas and activities imbedded in the events of the time. The conclusion from this is that in approaching the study of any legal order, one must presume that there is concurrently a considerable, active unofficial reality and that it has its own effects and momentum and should be addressed.
Bienvenida
Authors: Abarzua Eduardo
Published: November 2015

Gestión y Tendencias (GESTEN) será el medio difusión del Departamento de Gestión y Negocios de la FEN, poniendo al servicio de la sociedad nuestra reflexión y propuestas en materia gestión.Queremos que GESTEN sea una aporte pertinente a los desafíos que enfrentan nuestras organizaciones, iluminando la reflexión y la toma de decisiones en la materia. Así, en cada número pondremos a disposición del lector opiniones de actualidad, estudios, reseñas de libros y otras maneras de compartir el resultado de nuestro trabajo.Queremos contribuir a dar claves para interpretar tendencias mayores en gestión, superando las modas o las prescripciones, con artículos breves que presenten información fundada y de frontera en temas relevantes vinculados a la gestión de empresas.Hemos optado por un medio digital y de fácil acceso desde cualquier lugar; queremos que nuestra producción sea conocida sin limitación alguna.Aspiramos a que GESTEN sea el instrumento que articule una comunidad de conocimiento y opinión que integre a nuestros investigadores, profesores y estudiantes.
Effect of Simvastatin on 5-HT and 5-HTT in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Authors: Jiang Xue , Yuan LinDong , Li Peng , Wang Jia , Wang Pengyu , Zhang Lihai , Sun Bojian , Sun Wuzhuang
Published: November 2015

Background/Aims: To investigaterole of serotonin (5-HT) and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in a rat model of cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and the effect of statins on regulating 5HT and 5-HTT. Methods: A rat model of COPD comorbid with PAH was established by cigarette smoke exposure with or without simvastatin administration. The smoking and the simvastatin plus smoking groups were exposed to cigarette smoke daily, and the latter received simvastatin at 5mg/kg, once a day. After 16 weeks of cigarette smoke exposure, body weight and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) were measured, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed, and lung tissues and blood samples were collected to determine cardiopulmonary pathology, physiological indices, blood levelof 5-HT and expression of 5-HTT in the lung. Results: In addition to alveolar structural damage (COPD-like injury), chronic cigarette smoke exposure lead to pulmonary artery remodeling and PAH as evidenced by significant elevation of mPAP, RVHI, WT%and WA%. Cigarette smoke exposure resulted in significant reduction in animal body weight, and simvastatin significantly prevented smoke-induced weight loss. The number of inflammatory cells in BALF was dramatically increased in smoke exposed rats, and simvastatin dampened the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages. In addition, circulating 5-HTand expression of 5-HTT in the lung were significantly increased in the smoked rats compared to control rats, and it was significantly reduced by simvastatin. Alteration of BALF inflammatory cells, 5-HT and 5-HTT was significantly correlated with changes of mPAP, RVHI, WT% and WA%. Conclusions: Cigarette smoke exposure could result in not only COPD, but also PAH, which may attribute to the alteration of blood 5-HT and lung tissue 5-HTT. Simvastatin could significantly inhibited 5-HT and 5-HTT expression, and by which mechanism, it may protect animals from development of PAH.
Coadministration of Atorvastatin and Amiodarone Increases the Risk of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats
Authors: Nasri Hamid-Reza , Joukar Siyavash , Kheradmand Hamid , Poursalehi Hamid-Reza , Dabiri Shahriar
Published: November 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin administration on amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The control group (CTL) received distilled water (0.3 ml intratracheally on days 0 and 2 and 0.5 ml orally from day 0 for 3 weeks). The atorvastatin group (AT), in addition to intratracheal distilled water, received 1 mg/kg of atorvastatin orally from day 0 for 3 weeks. The amiodarone group (AMI) received 2 intratracheal instillations of amiodarone (6.25 mg/kg in 0.3 ml of water) on days 0 and 2 and 0.5 ml of distilled water (like the CTL). The amiodarone plus atorvastatin group (AMI + AT) received both these drugs (same doses and methods as for the AMI and AT). After 28 days, the rate of lung fibrosis was estimated according to pathological criteria of lung sections and measurements of hydroxyproline in pieces of left lung tissue. Results: The lung hydroxyproline content was higher in the treated groups (CTL: 0.35 ± 0.017, AT: 0.38 ± 0.012, AMI: 0.375 ± 0.018 and AMI + AT: 0.38 ± 0.012 unit/mg protein), but did not reach significance when compared with the CTL (p = 0.56). Amiodarone administration significantly increased the score of pulmonary fibrosis (0.5) in comparison with the AT (0.125) and CTL (0) (p < 0.5). The combination of amiodarone and atorvastatin exacerbated the pulmonary fibrosis (1.5; p < 0.01) compared to the AMI (0.5; p < 0.001), AT (0.125) and CTL (0). Conclusion: In this study, the concomitant administration of amiodarone and atorvastatin increased pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
DEFINIÇÃO DE PROPRIEDADES E CARACTERÍSTICAS DE COMPONENTES BIM COMUNS A PARTIR DO ENERGYPLUS
Authors: Ferreira Sérgio Leal
Published: November 2015

A Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas tem empreendido um esforço desde 2009 para normalizar elementos necessários para um bom desenvolvimento do Building Information Modeling (BIM) no Brasil. Dentre esses esforços, um grupo de trabalho foi criado mais recentemente com a finalidade de orientar a indústria para criar componentes BIM que contenham propriedades e dados necessários a uma modelagem eficiente. Dessa forma, esses componentes estarão preparados para o uso em análises específicas. Uma das análises previstas é a de Eficiência Energética das Edificações. O Diretório de Ferramentas de Simulações Computacionais do Departamento de Energia dos Estados Unidos fornece atualmente informações sobre 417 programas para a avaliação energética computacional de edificações e o EnergyPlus se apresenta como a melhor alternativa. Este trabalho apresenta o resultado do estudo dos dados do EnergyPlus no que se refere aos componentes mais comuns na arquitetura, como portas e janelas, e demonstra o caminho que é necessário percorrer dentro do Dicionário de Dados de Entrada para encontrar todos os dados vinculados aos objetos utilizados no arquivo de entrada de dados. Como resultado, se apresenta o método de extração das informações e se discute a ampliação da sua aplicação para os diversos tipos de componentes presentes em um modelo BIM.
Two new species of Stenosoma (Isopoda, Idoteidae) from the Sea of Marmara
Authors: Levent Artüz M. , Kubanç Cüneyt
Published: November 2015

Two new species of isopod crustaceans belonging to the genusStenosomaLeach, 1814 (Valvifera, Idoteidae) are described, illustrated, and compared with the other known species of the genus. The new species can be distinguished both from each other and from all their congeners by having a maxilliped with two coupling hooks; length of the appendix masculina on pleopod II; and an antennal flagellum with 12 articles inStenosoma aasenisp. nov.; and by having a pair of distinctive lateral spinous tubercles on pereonites I-II; and a pereon with a part of a mid-dorsal carina on the posterior half of each of the pereonites inStenosoma inonueisp. nov.; the two new species also differ in the morphology of mouthparts, pleotelson, and pereopods. Both new species were collected from seagrass meadows, colonized predominantly byZostera(Zostera)marinaLinnaeus, 1753 andPosidonia oceanica(Linnaeus) Delile, 1813, in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey. An up-to-date morphological identification key to species level for to genusStenosomais also provided.
Zooplankton of the highland bogs of Putana, a desert wetland of the high puna, northern Chile
Authors: Muñoz-Pedreros Andrés , De los Ríos-Escalante Patricio , Möller Patricia
Published: November 2015

The Atacama “puna” (high-altitude plateau) is situated among the high peaks of the Andes at over 4000 m a.s.l. This ecosystem covers parts of north-eastern Chile, north-western Argentina, south-eastern Peru, and mid-western Bolivia. The puna brings together several types of wetlands, such as salt-flats, lakes, rivers, high marshes, and highland bogs. Highland bogs are peatlands associated with endorheic basins. The object of this study was to analyse the specific composition and structure of the zooplankton of the bogs of the Putana River, on the Altiplano of northern Chile. In 2012, zooplankton samples were taken for qualitative and quantitative analysis at nine stations of the bog. Nine taxa of zooplanktonic crustaceans were recorded. The species richness is higher than records in other high Andean wetland at a similar altitude, although the species found have been reported for other high Andean wetlands and Andean lakes in Chile and from neighbouring countries.