bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women’s entrepreneurship in Russia: impacts from the Soviet system
Authors: Sätre Ann-Mari
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyze how surviving norms from the Soviet time continue to shape women’s entrepreneurship in contemporary Russia.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical data are based on observations and qualitative interviews in two Russian regions in 2002-2014 and also to a part on a survey from one of the regions. The analytical framework is based on Douglass North’s (1990) categorization of four main kinds of institutions which influence the way a society develops: legal rules, organization forms, enforcement and behavioural norms.

Findings

– The analysis shows that it is important to incorporate norms connected to women’s societal roles to the institutional theory. The survival of norms might in fact imply that women’s entrepreneurship tends to conserve the ways the system works, rather than to contributing to changing it. Although the survival of such norms tends to prevent changes, the possibility to start private businesses, on the other hand, opened up new ways for women to fulfill their different societal responsibilities.

Originality/value

– The paper is based on unique empirical data including some 200 interviews and observations from regular field trips to villages and small towns in Russia since the early 2000s.
Introduction article: gender perspectives on enterprising communities
Authors: Ljunggren Elisabet , Sundin Elisabeth
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– This paper introduces the special issue’s six articles with different approaches to investigating gender perspectives on enterprising communities. The papers’ approaches are presented and discussed, and the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how they relate to the two main concepts of gender and enterprising communities.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is conceptual.

Findings

– Through the discussion of the articles, the concept of enterprising communities is found to be fuzzy and to contain a multitude of meanings. This paper elaborates on the community concept and its spatial and “of practice” dimensions.

Originality/value

– First, the paper contributes by suggesting how the enterprising community concept could be delimited. Second, the research article contributes to gender perspectives on enterprising communities. It elaborates on what gendered enterprising communities are and how gender might influence enterprising communities.
Integrating multiple theoretical approaches to explore the resource mobilization process of community ventures
Authors: Vestrum Ingebjørg
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Community ventures are likely to increase the well-being and attractiveness of local communities. Community entrepreneurs mobilize inhabitants to actively involve them in the development of the venture. To push local norms and practices, some entrepreneurs introduce external resources and impulses. Consequently, the resource mobilization process of community ventures is likely to involve a range of actors with different goals and demands. This study aims to play with four theoretical approaches to develop a multi-level, conceptual framework of the resource mobilization process. Moreover, the study discusses the role that gender may have in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual framework is proposed by integrating the resource dependence theory, entrepreneurial orientation, social embeddedness and legitimacy approaches.

Findings

– The author discusses how each of the four theoretical approaches can add new understanding to the resource mobilization process of community ventures. Integrating these approaches may enable the exploration of the role of community entrepreneurs, local communities and external environments in the resource mobilization process. Moreover, they enable the exploration of mechanisms that are likely to facilitate the process. The study also argues for including gender as a component of the framework and emphasizes a lack of knowledge about gender in community entrepreneurship research.

Originality/value

– This study provides a conceptual framework to be used in further, empirical research into the resource mobilization process of community ventures. Moreover, the study suggests several questions for further research about the role of gender in community entrepreneurship processes.
Measuring effective capacity in an emergency department
Authors: Lantz Björn , Rosén Peter
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show how elements from queueing theory can be used to obtain objective measures of effective capacity in the triage function at Skaraborg Hospital in Sweden without direct observation of the function itself.

Design/methodology/approach

– Approximately 30,000 patients arrived to the emergency department at Skaraborg Hospital in Sweden during 2011. The exact time of arrival and the exact time of triage were recorded for each patient on an individual level. Basic queueing theory uses arrival rates and system capacity measures to derive average queueing times. The authors use the theoretical relation between these three measures to derive system capacity measures based on observed arrival rates and observed average queueing times.

Findings

– The effective capacity in the triage process is not a linear function of the number of nurses. However, the management of capacity seems well adapted to the actual demand, even though service levels vary substantially during the day and night.

Originality/value

– This paper uses elements from queueing theory in an innovative way to measure the effective capacity of a service process without direct observation, thereby also avoiding the potential risk of the Hawthorne effect.
Between substance and governance
Authors: Dickinson Helen , Pierre Jon
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Many developed countries have seen significant reforms of their health systems for the last few decades. Despite extensive investment in these changes, health systems still face a range of challenges which reform efforts do not seem to have overcome. The purpose of this paper is to argue that there are two particular reasons, which go beyond the standard explanations of changing demographics and disease profiles.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is a commentary based on the literature.

Findings

– The first explanation relates to the relationship between substantive health care reform and governance reform. These are intertwined processes and the pattern of interaction has distorted both types of reform. Second, reform has multiple meanings and may sometimes be more of an intra-organizational ritual and routine than a coherent plan aiming to bring about particular changes. As such, part of the reason why reform so frequently fails to bring about change is that it was not actually intended to bring about specific changes in the first place. The limited success of reform in recent years, the authors argue, has been a result of the fact that reform has focused too much on the substantive aspects of healthcare, while ignoring the governance aspect of the sector.

Originality/value

– As a result, governance has often been obstructed by interest groups inside the system, resulting in paralysis. The authors conclude by arguing that substantive reform of public organizations without an accompanying reassessment of the governance of these organizations are more likely to fail, compared to more comprehensive reform efforts.
Risk governance and performance: a developing country perspective
Authors: Nahar Shamsun , Jubb Christine , Azim Mohammad I
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between risk governance and bank performance in a country where disclosure of risk information is virtually voluntary.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using 210 bank-year observations comprising hand-collected data for the period 2006-2012, the study uses regression analysis to test whether a significant relationship exists between risk governance and banks’ accounting- and market-based performance.

Findings

– This paper investigates risk governance in terms of risk disclosure, number of risk committees and existence of a risk management unit, controlling for other corporate governance variables. Accounting-based performance is measured by return on equity and return on assets; market-based performance is measured by Tobin’s q and buy-and-hold returns. The results show that there is a significant relationship between risk governance and bank performance measures used in this study.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper complements the governance literature by incorporating agency and neo-institutional theory to provide robust evidence that risk monitoring and management are associated with bank performance, which has become extremely important following the global financial crisis (2007-2008).

Practical implications

– Empirical evidence in this paper suggests that risk governance characteristics can be used as channels to improve bank performance. In addition, stakeholders may find these results useful in selecting their preferred bank.

Originality/value

– The uniqueness of this paper lies in its country setting. Most studies on governance and performance involve developed countries. This paper’s contribution is to examine the association of risk governance characteristics for both accounting-based and market-based performance in a developing economy setting, with virtually voluntary compliance mechanisms in place.
Landslide deposits as stratigraphical markers for a sequence‐based glacial stratigraphy: a case study of a Younger Dryas system in the Eastern Alps
Authors: Bichler Mathias G. , Reindl Martin , Reitner Jürgen M. , Drescher‐Schneider Ruth , Wirsig Christian , Christl Marcus , Hajdas Irka , Ivy‐Ochs Susan
Published: March 2016

Detailed 10Be and 14C dating and supporting pollen analysis of Alpine Lateglacial glacial and landslide deposits in the Hohen Tauern Mountains (Austria) constrain a sequence‐based stratigraphy comprising a major landslide (13.0±1.1 ka) overlain by till and termino‐lateral moraines of an advancing (12.6±1.0 ka) and retreating (11.3±0.8 ka) glacier in turn overlain by a minor landslide (10.8±1.1 ka). These results define glacier activity during the Younger Dryas age Egesen stadial bracketed by landslide activities during the Bølling‐Allerød interstadial and the Preboreal. In contrast to recent studies on Holocene glaciation in the Alps, no traces of any Holocene glacier advance bigger than during the Little Ice Age are documented. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the advantages of using an allostratigraphical approach based on unconformity‐bounded sedimentary units as a tool for glacial stratigraphy in formerly glaciated mountain regions, rather than a stratigraphy based on either isolated morphological features or lithostratigraphical characteristics.
Sweet's syndrome: a retrospective study of 90 cases from a tertiary care center
Authors: Amouri Meriem , Masmoudi Abdelrahmen , Ammar Morsi , Boudaya Sonia , Khabir Abdelmajid , Boudawara Tahia , Turki Hamida
Published: March 2016

Background

Sweet's syndrome (SS) is a neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by the abrupt onset of cutaneous, systemic and histopathological alterations in response to different stimuli.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the epidemioclinical, histological, and therapeutic features and outcomes of SS.

Methods

A retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with SS over a 20‐year period (1993–2012) was conducted. Data were analyzed using a level of significance of 5%.

Results

Ninety patients (mean age: 46.5 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The ratio of women to men was 5. Significant associations emerged between dermohypodermic nodes and location on the lower limbs (P = 0.042), and vesiculobullous lesions and location on the legs (P = 0.030), dorsum of the hand (P = 0.015), and forearms (P = 0.003), and paraneoplastic forms (P = 0.012). The upper extremities were involved in the majority of patients (83.3%). Correlations were found between edema of the superficial dermis and vesiculobullous lesions and between leukocytoclastic vasculitis and atypical targetoid lesions. Sweet's syndrome was associated with cytomegalovirus infection (n = 1), inflammatory bowel disease (n = 4), neoplasm (n = 6), and pregnancy (n = 3). First‐line treatment consisted of colchicine.

Conclusions

To the best of the present authors' knowledge, this is the largest series of SS to be reported. Clinical presentations are similar to those described in the literature. Colchicine was efficient and facilitates the reduced use of corticosteroids. The association between SS and neoplasms should be considered in the context of vesiculobullous lesions.
Managing for Political Corporate Social Responsibility: New Challenges and Directions for PCSR 2.0
Authors: Scherer Andreas Georg , Rasche Andreas , Palazzo Guido , Spicer André
Published: March 2016

This article takes stock of the discourse on ‘political CSR’ (PCSR), reconsiders some of its assumptions, and suggests new directions for what we call ‘PCSR 2.0’. We start with a definition of PCSR, focusing on firms’ contribution to public goods. We then discuss historical antecedents to the debate and outline the original economic and political context. The following section explores emerging changes in the institutional context relevant to PCSR and reconsiders some of the assumptions underlying Habermas’ thesis of the postnational constellation. This highlights some neglected issues in previous works on PCSR, including the influence of nationalism and fundamentalism, the role of various types of business organisations, the return of government regulation, the complexity of institutional contexts, the efficiency of private governance, the financialization and digitalization of the economy, and the relevance of managerial sensemaking. Finally, we discuss the contributions to this special issue and relate them to the newly emerging research agenda.
Comparative Study of Acceptance and Adaptation to New Complete Dentures, Using Two Construction Protocols
Authors: Kamalakidis Savvas N. , Anastassiadou Vassiliki , Sofou Afrodite , Pissiotis Argirios L.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To validate patients’ acceptance and adaptation to new complete dentures, fabricated using two construction protocols. Evaluation was achieved by means of two psychometric questionnaires and registration of total number of sore spots.

Materials and Methods

Twenty complete denture wearers, who sought replacement dentures because of complaints (material degradation or unsatisfactory repaired fracture) associated with them, were selected according to specific inclusion criteria. The denture construction protocols were randomly assigned to the study participants. Ten participants received complete dentures using a duplication construction protocol with a bilateral balanced occlusal (BBO) scheme (duplicate complete denture group); ten participants received complete dentures using a traditional construction protocol with BBO (traditional complete denture group). All study participants completed the Complete Denture Satisfaction and the Oral Health Impact Profile‐20 (OHIP‐20) questionnaires before they received the new complete dentures (pretreatment) and at 3 and 6 months post‐treatment. At the initial adaptation/adjustment visits, the location and number of sore spots were identified. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate differences between groups and within each group pre‐ and post‐treatment.

Results

Denture satisfaction and oral health related quality of life scores were independent of the complete denture construction protocol. Within the traditional complete denture group there was a statistically significant increase in denture satisfaction and equivalent decrease (improvement) in OHIP‐20 scores between pre‐ and post‐treatment (both at 3‐month and 6‐month visits). This finding was consistent for OHIP‐20 scores within the duplicate complete denture group, but not for denture satisfaction, which was not statistically significant. The total number of recorded sore spots was approximately double for the traditional complete denture group compared to the duplicate complete denture group.

Conclusions

According to the results of the study, patients’ overall acceptance of their newly constructed complete dentures improved significantly for both groups (traditional and duplication construction protocols). Study participants adapted dissimilarly to their newly constructed complete dentures regarding comfort, as assessed by the total number of sore spots, although the recorded mean number of initial adaptation/adjustment visits was equal.
Role of the vagus nerve in the development and treatment of diet‐induced obesity
Authors: de Lartigue Guillaume
Published: March 2016

This review highlights evidence for a role of the vagus nerve in the development of obesity and how targeting the vagus nerve with neuromodulation or pharmacology can be used as a therapeutic treatment of obesity. The vagus nerve innervating the gut plays an important role in controlling metabolism. It communicates peripheral information about the volume and type of nutrients between the gut and the brain. Depending on the nutritional status, vagal afferent neurons express two different neurochemical phenotypes that can inhibit or stimulate food intake. Chronic ingestion of calorie‐rich diets reduces sensitivity of vagal afferent neurons to peripheral signals and their constitutive expression of orexigenic receptors and neuropeptides. This disruption of vagal afferent signalling is sufficient to drive hyperphagia and obesity. Furthermore neuromodulation of the vagus nerve can be used in the treatment of obesity. Although the mechanisms are poorly understood, vagal nerve stimulation prevents weight gain in response to a high‐fat diet. In small clinical studies, in patients with depression or epilepsy, vagal nerve stimulation has been demonstrated to promote weight loss. Vagal blockade, which inhibits the vagus nerve, results in significant weight loss. Vagal blockade is proposed to inhibit aberrant orexigenic signals arising in obesity as a putative mechanism of vagal blockade‐induced weight loss. Approaches and molecular targets to develop future pharmacotherapy targeted to the vagus nerve for the treatment of obesity are proposed. In conclusion there is strong evidence that the vagus nerve is involved in the development of obesity and it is proving to be an attractive target for the treatment of obesity.

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Conocimiento de las TIC aplicadas a las personas con discapacidades. Construcción de un instrumento de diagnóstico
Authors: Cabero-Almenara Julio , Fernández-Batanero José María , Córdoba-Pérez Margarita
Published: March 2016

El artículo de investigación presenta el proceso de construcción y validación de un instrumento de diagnóstico elaborado con el objetivo de conocer el nivel de formación y conocimiento, de los alumnos que cursan el grado de magisterio en España, con respecto a la aplicación de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación para personas con discapacidades. Para la validación de contenido, se utilizó la técnica del “juicio de experto”, para aplicando aplicar un proceso de selección de expertos no muy usual en nuestra investigación educativa, el denominado “coeficiente de competencia experta” o “coeficiente K”.
Herramientas de comunicación y presentación de contenidos en pregrados virtuales colombianos
Authors: Otero de Suárez María Patricia , Pineda-Báez Clelia , Rees Geraint Paul
Published: March 2016

Este artículo de investigación expone los resultados de un estudio mixto que examinó las experiencias y percepciones de un grupo de profesores, coordinadores y estudiantes de programas de pregrado en modalidad virtual en Colombia acerca del empleo de herramientas para la comunicación, la presentación y la apropiación de contenidos. A pesar de algunos logros, los hallazgos evidencian la necesidad de enfatizar la interacción con carácter dialógico y la colaboración en los espacios diseñados para la comunicación. Así mismo, la representación de información requiere apelar a formas distintas al texto escrito que motiven a los estudiantes a interactuar con los materiales y estimulen su comprensión de contenidos.
Nuevas dinámicas de la regionalización universitaria en América Latina
Authors: Rama Claudio , Cevallos Marcelo
Published: March 2016

La desigualdad regional en el acceso, el egreso, la equidad y la calidad es  una de las características históricas de la educación superior en América Latina asociada al carácter inicial de elite  del servicio universitario y las formas que asume la desigualdad estructural de la región. Sin embargo, tal realidad está cambiando por medio de una masificación que reduce las desigualdades regionales universitarias con diversidad de modalidades. El presente artículo es una reflexión derivada de una investigación comparativa regional más amplia sobre los cambios en los procesos de regionalización, y que muestra la mayor propensión hacia formas de descentralización (nuevas instituciones y diversidad de mecanismos) frente a las formas tradicionales  de desconcentración (sedes, subsedes o filiales) que caracterizaron la regionalización de la educación superior en el continente. Ella devela una diversidad de mecanismos de oferta regional de servicios de educación superior, fundamentalmente públicos pero también privados, que son al tiempo los que han sostenido en los últimos años la expansión de la matrícula y el aumento de la cobertura.
Secondary Concentrators to Achieve High Flux Radiation With Metal Halide Solar Simulators
Authors: Dong Xue , Nathan Graham J. , Sun Zhiwei , Ashman Peter J. , Gu Dahe
Published: March 2016

This paper presents assessments of the sensitivity of the performance of high flux solar simulators to the key variables of conical secondary concentrators for metal halide lamps, which offer complementary benefits compared with xenon arc lamps. The assessment is performed for both a single-lamp configuration and a seven-lamp array, each lamp close-coupled with its own elliptical reflector, and then aligned with a common conical secondary concentrator. The simulation of heat flux from both the single- and the seven-lamp systems was performed with the Monte Carlo ray-tracing code, which was validated with the experimental results from the single-lamp system. The calculated heat flux at the focal plane agrees with the measured peak flux to within 5% and to within 13% of the measured half width. Calculated results also show that the addition of the secondary concentrator to the single-lamp system can increase the peak flux by 294% and the average flux by up to 93% within a target of 100 mm in diameter, with a corresponding reduction in total power by 15%. The conical secondary concentrator is less effective for a seven-lamp system, increasing the peak and average fluxes by 87.3% and 100%, respectively, within 100 mm diameter focal plane, with a corresponding reduction in total power by 48%. The model was then used to assess the sensitivity of the geometry of the secondary concentrators for both the single- and seven-lamp systems. The results show that the average heat flux is sensitive to the surface reflectance of the secondary concentrator, with the average flux decreasing almost linearly with the surface reflectance. The presence of the secondary cone greatly reduces the sensitivity of the concentrated heat flux to misalignment of the tilting angle of the elliptical reflector relative to the arc.
Numerical Simulation of Nanofluid-Cooling Enhancement of Three Fins Mounted in a Horizontal Channel
Authors: Khentoul Moussa , Bessaïh Rachid
Published: March 2016

This article presents a numerical study of two-dimensional laminar mixed convection in a horizontal channel. The upper horizontal wall of the channel is insulated. The governing equations were solved by using the finite volume method based on the simpler algorithm. Comparisons with previous results were performed and found to be in excellent agreement. The results were presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms, local and average Nusselt numbers for the Richardson number (0 ≤ Ri ≤ 10), Reynolds number (5 ≤ Re ≤ 100), solid volume fraction of nanoparticles (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.10), and the type of nanofluids (Cu, Ag, Al2O3, and TiO2). The results show that the previous parameters have considerable effects on the flow and thermal fields. It was found that the heat transfer increases with increasing of Ra, Re, and ϕ.
Investigation of the Squeeze Film Dynamics Underneath a Microstructure With Large Oscillation Amplitudes and Inertia Effects
Authors: Diab Nadim A. , Lakkis Issam A.
Published: March 2016

This paper presents direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) numerical investigation of the dynamic behavior of a gas film in a microbeam. The microbeam undergoes large amplitude harmonic motion between its equilibrium position and the fixed substrate underneath. Unlike previous work in literature, the beam undergoes large displacements throughout the film gap thickness and the behavior of the gas film along with its impact on the moving microstructure (force exerted by gas on the beam's front and back faces) is discussed. Since the gas film thickness is of the order of few microns (i.e., 0.01 < Kn < 1), the rarefied gas exists in the noncontinuum regime and, as such, the DSMC method is used to simulate the fluid behavior. The impact of the squeeze film on the beam is investigated over a range of frequencies and velocity amplitudes, corresponding to ranges of dimensionless flow parameters such as the Reynolds, Strouhal, and Mach numbers on the gas film behavior. Moreover, the behavior of compressibility pressure waves as a function of these dimensionless groups is discussed for different simulation case studies.
Transient Effects in Evaporating Sessile Drops: With and Without Heating
Authors: Bin Liu , Bennacer Rachid , Sefiane Khellil , Steinchen Annie
Published: March 2016

The evaporation phenomenon of sessile drops has been recently subject to an extensive interest by industry and researchers. This is stimulated by new developments in exploiting this basic process for more industrial technologies and biological applications. The underlying mechanisms to this apparently simple, yet elusive phenomenon as well as its complete description are still far from being achieved. Many theoretical models describe the phenomenon by neglecting some important physical aspects of the problem. Transient thermal effects can indeed be very crucial, nonetheless very often neglected. In a recent work, a new approach was adopted to model the physical process taking into account the thermal resistance of the substrate. This was, however, limited to the investigation of cases where steady-state assumption is adopted. In such pseudo steady-state, a controlling nondimensional SB number was identified. The evaporation of sessile drops deposited on a substrate is found to exhibit various regimes. These latter are related to the wetting and spreading behavior of the drop, depending on whether the drop is pinned with a decreasing contact angle, with a receding contact line and constant angle or a mixed behavior. Most modeling attempts have considered vapor diffusion in the gas phase as the limiting mechanism for evaporation. However, the heat and mass transfer in the solid, liquid, and gas phases describe the problem and predict droplets evaporation. It is worth noting that most theoretical and numerical models proposed so far assume the quasi steady-state hypothesis and neglect transient effects. It is essential to acknowledge that not only the three phases (gas, solid, and liquid) take part in mass and energy transport but also the interfaces between these phases are equally important. The liquid–vapor interface, for instance is the surface through which phase change takes place. This interface is subjected to evaporative cooling effects, depending on the physical dimensions, properties as well as experimental conditions. In the present paper, we propose to extend this approach to account for transient effects. The results of this investigation demonstrate that in some cases transient effects can extend beyond the lifetime of the drop, making the entire process transitory. These effects are quantified and the implications for modeling wetting drops are discussed.
Measurement of Thermal and Electrical Properties of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes–Water Nanofluid
Authors: Al-Sharafi Abdullah , Sahin Ahmet Z. , Yilbas Bekir S.
Published: March 2016

The use of high conductive nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), enhances the thermal and electrical conductivities of the carrier fluid. Depending upon the volumetric concentration of particles and their distribution in the carrier fluid, multifold enhancement of thermal and electrical properties is possible. Therefore, in the present study, thermal and electrical properties of CNT–water mixture are assessed at microscopic level. Special distribution of the CNT in water is obtained experimentally at microscale for different durations of the heating situation. Thermal and electrical properties are predicted numerically incorporating the particle distributions obtained from the experiment. The mass based analysis is also introduced to determine the thermal properties of the mixture. The findings are compared for those obtained from the simulations based on experimentally obtained micro-images. Algebraic equations are introduced to formulate the data obtained from the simulations for temperature dependent properties. It is demonstrated that the mass based estimation of thermal properties are significantly different than those obtained from the experimental based simulations because of the nonuniform particles distribution and their localized conductivity in the carrier fluid.
Filtering Algorithm for Real Eigenvalue Bounds of Interval and Fuzzy Generalized Eigenvalue Problems
Authors: Mahato Nisha Rani , Chakraverty S.
Published: March 2016

This paper deals with an interval and fuzzy generalized eigenvalue problem involving uncertain parameters. Based on a sufficient regularity condition for intervals, an interval filtering eigenvalue procedure for generalized eigenvalue problems with interval parameters is proposed, which iteratively eliminates the parts that do not contain an eigenvalue and thus reduces the initial eigenvalue bound to a precise bound. The same iterative procedure has been proposed for generalized fuzzy eigenvalue problems. In general, the solution of dynamic problems of structures using the finite element method (FEM) leads to a generalized eigenvalue problem. Based on the proposed procedures, various structural examples with an interval and fuzzy parameter such as triangular fuzzy number (TFN) are investigated to show the efficiency of the algorithms stated. Finally, fuzzy filtered eigenvalue bounds are depicted by fuzzy plots using the α-cut.
Uncertainty Analysis of Melting and Resolidification of Gold Film Irradiated by Nano- to Femtosecond Lasers Using Stochastic Method
Authors: Afrin Nazia , Zhang Yuwen , Chen J. K.
Published: March 2016

A sample-based stochastic model is presented to investigate the effects of uncertainties of various input parameters, including laser fluence, laser pulse duration, thermal conductivity constants for electron, and electron–lattice coupling factor, on solid–liquid phase change of gold film under nano- to femtosecond laser irradiation. Rapid melting and resolidification of a free-standing gold film subject to nano- to femtosecond laser are simulated using a two-temperature model incorporated with the interfacial tracking method. The interfacial velocity and temperature are obtained by solving the energy equation in terms of volumetric enthalpy for control volume (CV). The convergence of variance (COV) is used to characterize the variability of the input parameters, and the interquartile range (IQR) is used to calculate the uncertainty of the output parameters. The IQR analysis shows that the laser fluence and the electron–lattice coupling factor have the strongest influences on the interfacial location, velocity, and temperatures.
Normally-off matrix layout p-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN power HEMT with a through-substrate via process
Authors: Chiu Hsien-Chin , Peng Li-Yi , Yang Chih-Wei , Wang Hsiang-Chun , Mai Kai-Di , Kao Hsuan-Ling , Tung Chien-Kai , Chang Tsung-Cheng , Hon Schang-jing , Lin Jia-Ching , Chang Kuo-Jen , Cheng Yi-Cheng
Published: March 2016

Normally-off p-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) on Si substrate with matrix heat redistribution layer (RDL) and through substrate via (TSV) technologies was investigated. Compared to traditional power cell design, the modified matrix heat RDL provides a circular arc layout together with an extra drain pad to reduce rectangular layout induced leakage current and the device total current density was also enhanced. In addition, TSV process beneath the GaN power HEMT active region spreads the heat efficiently and the lattice mismatch induced traps in transition/buffer layer were also removed. Based on the measured results analysis of dynamic RON to DC RON (RDC), the removal of lossy substrate in TSV is also beneficial for improving device switching behavior. Therefore, a high switching speed normally-off GaN power HEMTs together with a superior thermal management was proposed in this study.
How Antarctica got its ice
Authors: Lear Caroline H. , Lunt Dan J.
Published: March 2016

A complex set of interactions caused the rapid growth of the Antarctic ice sheet 34 million years ago

[Also see Report by

Galeotti
et al.

]
Genome Sequencing of
Serinicoccus chungangensis
Strain CD08_5 Isolated from Duodenal Mucosa of a Celiac Disease Patient
Authors: Chander Atul Munish , Kaur Gurwinder , Nair Ramesan Girish , Dhawan Devinder Kumar , Kochhar Rakesh , Mayilraj Shanmugam , Bhadada Sanjay Kumar
Published: March 2016

For the first time, we report here the 3.5-Mb genome of
Serinicoccus chungangensis
strain CD08_5, isolated from duodenal mucosa from a celiac disease (CD) patient. The specific annotations obtained revealed genes associated with virulence, disease, and defense, which predict its probable role in the pathogenesis of CD.
Draft Genome Sequences of Strains Representing Each of the
Elizabethkingia
Genomospecies Previously Determined by DNA-DNA Hybridization
Authors: Nicholson Ainsley C. , Humrighouse Ben W. , Graziano James C. , Emery Brian , McQuiston John R.
Published: March 2016

Draft genome sequences of
Elizabethkingia meningoseptica
and representatives of each of its four historically described genomospecies were sequenced here. Preliminary analysis suggests that
Elizabethkingia miricola
belongs to genomospecies 2, and both
Elizabethkingia anophelis
and
Elizabethkingia endophytica
are most similar to genomospecies 1.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Rheinheimera
sp. F8, a Biofilm-Forming Strain Which Produces Large Amounts of Extracellular DNA
Authors: Schuster Anna-Kathrin , Szewzyk Ulrich
Published: March 2016

Rheinheimera
sp. strain F8 is a biofilm-forming gammaproteobacterium that has been found to produce large amounts of filamentous extracellular DNA. Here, we announce the
de novo
assembly of its genome. It is estimated to be 4,464,511 bp in length, with 3,970 protein-coding sequences and 92 RNA-coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequences of
Rhodosporidium toruloides
Strains ATCC 10788 and ATCC 10657 with Compatible Mating Types
Authors: Hu Jie , Ji Lianghui
Published: March 2016

Rhodosporidium toruloides
ATCC 10788 (haploid, A1 mating type) and ATCC 10657 (haploid, A2 mating type) were derived from the same diploid parent strain
Rhodotorula glutinis
ATCC 90781 and are important strains for metabolic engineering. Draft genome sequences of both strains are reported here. The current assembly of strain ATCC 10788 comprises 61 scaffolds with a total size of 20.75 Mbp and a GC content of 62.01%, while that of strain ATCC 10657 comprises 137 scaffolds with a total size of 21.49 Mbp and a GC content of 61.81%. Genome annotation predicts 7,730 and 7,800 protein encoding genes for strain ATCC 10788 and strain ATCC 10657, respectively.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Lactobacillus plantarum
CRL1506, an Immunomodulatory Strain Isolated from Goat Milk
Authors: Saavedra Lucila , Hebert Elvira María , Albarracin Leonardo , Salva Susana , Alvarez Susana , Kitazawa Haruki , Villena Julio
Published: March 2016

This report describes a draft genome sequence of
Lactobacillus plantarum
CRL1506, a probiotic strain with immunomodulatory properties isolated from goat milk. The reads generated by a whole-genome shotgun (WGS) strategy on an Illumina MiSeq sequencer were assembled into contigs with a total size of 3,228,096 bp. The draft genome sequence of
L. plantarum
CRL1506 will be useful for further studies of specific genetic features of this strain and for understanding the mechanisms of its immunobiotic properties.
Draft Genome Sequence of White Spot Syndrome Virus Isolated from Cultured
Litopenaeus vannamei
in Mexico
Authors: Rodriguez-Anaya Libia Zulema , Gonzalez-Galaviz Jose Reyes , Casillas-Hernandez Ramón , Lares-Villa Fernando , Estrada Karel , Ibarra-Gamez Jose Cuauhtemoc , Sanchez-Flores Alejandro
Published: March 2016

The first genome sequence of a Mexican white spot syndrome virus is presented here. White spot syndrome is a shrimp pandemic virus that has devastated production in Mexico for more than 10 years. The availability of this genome will greatly aid epidemiological studies worldwide, contributing to the molecular diagnostic and disease prevention in shrimp farming.
Minimally invasive esophagectomy in a patient with end-stage renal disease
Authors: Zaza Mouayyad , Gaur Puja , Chan Edward Y , Kim Min P
Published: March 2016

Renal failure has been identified as a major predictor of surgical complications and esophagectomy carries high morbidity for patients. We discuss the preoperative and postoperative considerations for performing a minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for a benign long-segment stricture in a patient with end-stage renal failure.
Determinants of postnatal depression in Sudanese women at 3 months postpartum: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Khalifa Dina Sami , Glavin Kari , Bjertness Espen , Lien Lars
Published: March 2016

Objectives

Maternal mental health is a neglected issue in Sudanese healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with postnatal depression (PND) at 3 months postpartum in a sample of Sudanese women in Khartoum state.

Setting

Recruitment was from two major public antenatal care (ANC) clinics in two maternity teaching hospitals in Khartoum state. The study participants were recruited during their pregnancy and were followed up and screened for PND at 3 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Participants

A sample of 300 pregnant Sudanese women in their second or third trimester was included in the study. The inclusion criteria were Sudanese nationality, pregnancy in the second or third trimester and satisfactory contact information.

Outcome measures

PND was assessed using the EPDS at a cut-off score of ≥12. Maternal and sociodemographic factors of interest were illustrated in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to identify which variables to adjust for in multivariate analyses and to show their type of effect on PND. A forward logistic regression model was built to assess the factors that are independently associated with PND.

Results

History of violence increased the odds of PND sevenfold, OR=7.4 (95% CI 1.9 to 27.6). Older age of mothers decreased the odds of PND by almost 20%, OR=0.82 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.92). Exclusive breast feeding and regular prenatal vitamins during pregnancy are associated with an 80% decrease in odds of PND, OR=0.2 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.70) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.5), respectively.

Conclusions

Factors associated with PND in this study are comparable to factors from other developing countries, although findings should be judged with caution owing to the high number of women who refused recruitment into the study.
Study protocol for a single-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial of Tianjiu effects in patients with intradialytic hypotension
Authors: Tsai Ming-Yen , Su Yu-Jen , Ng Hwee-Yeong , Chen Shih-Yu , Huang Yu-Chuen , Wu Chien-Hsing , Chen Yung-Hsiang
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is the most frequent complication of haemodialysis (HD) and may contribute to cardiovascular events and high mortality. The aetiology of IDH is multifactorial; therefore, it remains a challenging problem in the management of patients with HD. Since the application of Tianjiu at specific points can influence haemodynamics, we hypothesise that Tianjiu therapy at the traditionally used meridian points will reduce the severity of hypotension in patients who undergo HD.

Methods/analysis

In this clinical trial, eligible patients with IDH will be divided randomly and equally into a Tianjiu group and a control group for 4 weeks. In the Tianjiu group, the patients will have Tianjiu applied at three points (conception vessel 4, and bilateral kidney 1) during each HD session. In the control group, patients will have clay patches applied in the same way as those in the Tianjiu treatment group. Both groups will be followed up for 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure will be the percentage of target ultrafiltration achieved, defined as the actual ultrafiltration volume divided by the target ultrafiltration volume. Secondary outcome measures, including frequency of IDH episodes and number of nursing interventions during HD sessions, predialysis and postdialysis blood pressure (BP), patient's participative assessment of the degree of fatigue after dialysis (scale from 0, not at all, to 10, extremely), and recovery time from fatigue after dialysis will be recorded at the 0th and 4th weeks.

Ethics/dissemination

This trial has undergone ethical scrutiny and been approved by the ethics review board of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Permission number: 102-4749A3 and 104-3156C). The pre-results of this trial will help to determine whether Tianjiu is an effective and safe treatment for IDH, and, if so, whether it is a therapeutic effect rather than a placebo effect.

Trial registration number

NCT02210377; Pre-results.
Does family-centred neonatal discharge planning reduce healthcare usage? A before and after study in South West England
Authors: Ingram Jenny C , Powell Jane E , Blair Peter S , Pontin David , Redshaw Maggie , Manns Sarah , Beasant Lucy , Burden Heather , Johnson Debbie , Rose Claire , Fleming Peter J
Published: March 2016

Objective

To implement parent-oriented discharge planning (Train-to-Home) for preterm infants in neonatal care.

Design

Before and after study, investigating the effects of the intervention during two 11-month periods before and after implementation.

Setting

Four local neonatal units (LNUs) in South West England.

Participants

Infants without major anomalies born at 27–33 weeks’ gestation admitted to participating units, and their parents.

Train-to-Home intervention

A family-centred discharge package to increase parents’ involvement and understanding of their baby's needs, comprising a train graphic and supporting care pathways to facilitate parents’ understanding of their baby's progress and physiological maturation, combined with improved estimation of the likely discharge date.

Main outcome measures

Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) scores, infant length of stay (LOS) and healthcare utilisation for 8 weeks following discharge.

Results

Parents reported that the Train-to-Home improved understanding of their baby's progress and their preparedness for discharge. Despite a lack of change in PMP S-E scores with the intervention, the number of post-discharge visits to emergency departments (EDs) fell from 31 to 20 (p<0.05), with a significant reduction in associated healthcare costs (£3400 to £2200; p<0.05) after discharge. In both study phases, over 50% of infants went home more than 3 weeks before their estimated date of delivery (EDD), though no reduction in LOS occurred.

Conclusions

Despite the lack of measurable effect on the parental self-efficacy scores, the reduction in ED attendances and associated costs supports the potential value of this approach.
Preference for nearshore and estuarine habitats in anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) from the Canadian high Arctic (Victoria Island, Nunavut) revealed by acoustic telemetry
Authors: Moore Jean-Sébastien , Harris Les N. , Kessel Steven T. , Bernatchez Louis , Tallman Ross F. , Fisk Aaron T.
Published: March 2016

We used an array of fixed acoustic receivers (N = 42) to track the summer marine movements of 121 anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) equipped with acoustic transmitters at three locations in the Cambridge Bay region, where commercial and subsistence fisheries target the species. The timing of transitions between salt and fresh water was influenced by the putative river of origin of tagged individuals, but not by their size or sex. Females, however, were more likely to remain proximate to rivers where they were tagged throughout the summer. A majority of fish migrated west from their rivers of origin, primarily moving between estuarine environments. Individuals occupied estuaries for several days between bouts of marine movement, and these periods of residency coincided with spring tides in some estuaries. We also recorded increased numbers of detections on receivers located less than 1.5 km from the coast, indicating a preference for nearshore habitats. Finally, we report evidence of extensive stock mixing throughout the summer, including at known fishing locations and periods, a finding with implications for fisheries management.
Influence of dams on population persistence in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Lawrence Elizabeth R. , Kuparinen Anna , Hutchings Jeffrey A.
Published: March 2016

Barriers to migration can negatively affect population persistence. To explore how dams can influence the viability of a diadromous fish, we developed an empirically based stochastic model to estimate per-capita population growth rate (r) and probability of population decline (Pr(r < 0)). Our simulations incorporated life-history parameters common for many populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L., 1758), particularly in the southern part of the species range. Additionally, we explored the influence of individuals that reproduce more than once, i.e., “kelts”, on r and Pr(r < 0). For the life-history scenarios examined here, dams are forecast to negatively affect persistence, even at the comparatively high per-dam smolt survival rate of 90%. As the number of dams increases from one to four, the probability of negative population growth increases four-fold from 10% to 47%. Kelt survival rate, number of dams, and smolt dam-passage survival were all found to be significant factors in predicting population persistence. The present study suggests two primary conclusions: (1) dams are likely to have a negative influence on Atlantic salmon and (2) kelts can have considerable and positive influence on population viability. Our work provides compelling support for the hypothesis that mortality attributable to dam facilities can adversely affect survival, persistence, and recovery of depleted migratory fish populations.
For a light stop, less is more when gluinos mediate
Authors: Nachman Benjamin
Published: March 2016

Compressed mass spectra are generally more difficult to identify than spectra with large splittings. In particular, gluino pair production with four high energy top or bottom quarks leaves a striking signature in a detector. However, if any of the mass splittings are compressed, the power of traditional techniques may deteriorate. Searches for direct stop/sbottom pair production can be recast as searches for gluinos in order to extend the sensitivitity. As a demonstration, we show that for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], limits on the stop mass at 8 TeV can be extended by least 300 GeV for a 1.1 TeV gluino using a [Formula: see text] search. At 13 TeV, the effective cross-section for the gluino mediated process is twice the direct stop pair production cross-section, suggesting that direct stop searches could be sensitive to discover new physics earlier than expected.