bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rural nurses: a convenient co‐location strategy for the rural mental health care of young people
Authors: Wilson Rhonda L , Usher Kim
Published: June 2015

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this research was to understand new ways that young rural people with mental health problems could be helped at an early point in their mental health decline.

Background

Rural nurses represent skilled mental health helping capital in their local communities, yet this important mental health helping resource, or helping capital, is both under‐recognised and under‐used in providing early mental health help in rural communities. In recent years international momentum has gathered in support of a paradigm change to reform the delivery of youth mental health services so that they align more closely to the developmental and social needs of young people with mental health problems.

Design

A mixed methods case study design was used to explore the early mental health care needs of young rural people.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted and data were analysed with descriptive techniques. In‐depth interviews were conducted and the transcribed data were analysed using thematic techniques.

Results

The results of this study demonstrate that in general rural people are willing to seek mental health care, and that rural nurses are well suited to provide initial care to young people.

Conclusions

Non‐traditional venues such as community, school and justice settings are ideal places where more convenient first conversations about mental health with young people and their families, and rural nurses should be deployed to these settings.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Rural nurses are able to contribute important initial engagement interventions that enhance the early mental health care for young people when it is needed.
No association between CYP17 ‐34T/C polymorphism and insulin resistance in Thai polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Techatraisak Kitirat , Chayachinda Chenchit , Wongwananuruk Thanyarat , Dangrat Chongdee , Indhavivadhana Suchada , Rattanachaiyanont Manee , Thongnoppakhun Wanna
Published: June 2015

Aim

To investigate the association of CYP 17 ‐34T/C polymorphism with insulin resistance (IR) in Thai polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was performed on 210 Thai women diagnosed with PCOS. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) was used to analyze CYP17 polymorphism at ‐34T/C. Student's t‐test was used to compare the mean of normally distributed variables between A1/A1 and A2/X. Chi‐squared or Fisher's exact tests and OR were used to analyze the association at P < 0.05.

Results

Out of 210 cases, PCR‐RFLP was successful in 199. Mean patient age was 24.4 ± 4.7 years, with body mass index 25.2 ± 6.3 kg/m2. There were 65 and 134 women in the A1/A1 genotype group and A2/X genotype group, respectively. The A2/X genotype group was statistically significantly younger and had a strong trend toward overweight/obesity compared with the A1/A1 genotype group. The prevalence of IR according to different methods varied from 15.4% to 70.8% and was not different between the two groups. On subgroup analysis, in the overweight/obese PCOS group, the A2/X genotype was not associated with any indices of IR.

Conclusion

No significant association between CYP17‐34T/C polymorphism and IR was found in Thai PCOS women, although the A2/X genotype group was statistically significantly younger than the A1/A1 genotype group.
Management of secondary infertility following cesarean section: Report from the Subcommittee of the Reproductive Endocrinology Committee of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Authors: Tsuji Shunichiro , Murakami Takashi , Kimura Fuminori , Tanimura Satoshi , Kudo Masataka , Shozu Makio , Narahara Hisashi , Sugino Norihiro
Published: June 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the current status and management of secondary infertility following cesarean section in Japan.

Material and Methods

A two‐step questionnaire survey was performed in 1092 facilities, including teaching hospitals and artificial reproductive technology clinics, registered with the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In our questionnaires, we obtained data about symptoms, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, and pregnancy outcomes. Treatments were sorted into three groups, namely typical infertility treatment (group A), conservative treatment (group B), and operative treatment (group C).

Results

Of the 1092 facilities, 616 (56%) sent back reply forms to the first questionnaire; 56 (32%) of 176 facilities answered the second questionnaire, and 189 cases were able to be analyzed after completion of the two questionnaires. The commonest symptom was abnormal uterine bleeding during the follicular phase (91 cases; 48% of the 189 eligible cases), and the commonest clinical finding was fluid pooling in the area of cesarean scar dehiscence during the ovulatory phase (142 cases; 75%). The most commonly used diagnostic method was transvaginal ultrasound (153 cases, 81%). The pregnancy rate was 33% in group A, 50% in group B, and 60% in group C. In patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, painful symptoms and fluid pooling at the cesarean scar dehiscence, the pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group C (64%) than in group A (16%; P = 0.0063).

Conclusions

We recommend operative treatment for secondary infertility following cesarean section with painful symptoms and fluid pooling at the site of cesarean scar dehiscence.
“A Lot of Things Passed Me by”: Rural Stroke Survivors’ and Caregivers’ Experience of Receiving Education From Health Care Providers
Authors: Danzl Megan M. , Harrison Anne , Hunter Elizabeth G. , Kuperstein Janice , Sylvia Violet , Maddy Katherine , Campbell Sarah
Published: June 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine rural Appalachian Kentucky stroke survivors’ and caregivers’ experiences of receiving education from health care providers with the long‐term goal of optimizing educational interactions and interventions for an underserved population.

Methods

An interprofessional research team, representing nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology, conducted a qualitative descriptive study involving semistructured interviews with 13 stroke survivors and 12 caregivers. Qualitative content analysis included predetermined and emerging coding. This article presents an in‐depth analysis of a subset of data from the coding scheme of a larger study that examined the overall experience of stroke for participants.

Findings

Findings are presented within a developing model of patient and caregiver education constructs including providers and receivers of education and the content, timing, and delivery of information.

Conclusions

Understanding the experience of receiving education for survivors and caregivers will help practitioners provide the right education, to the right people, at the right time, and in the right way to better support underserved groups. Improving patient and caregiver education is paramount to supporting health behavior change to optimize life poststroke and prevent future strokes. Our results suggest the need for improved access to educational providers, proactive identification of informational needs by providers, greater inclusion of caregivers in education, enhanced communication with information provision, and education from multiple providers using multiple delivery methods at multiple time points.
Response to treatment following recently acquired hepatitis C virus infection in a multicentre collaborative cohort
Authors: Doyle J. S. , Deterding K. , Grebely J. , Wedemeyer H. , Sacks‐Davis R. , Spelman T. , Matthews G. , Rice T. M. , Morris M. D. , McGovern B. H. , Kim A. Y. , Bruneau J. , Lloyd A. R. , Page K. , Manns M. P. , Hellard M. E. , Dore G. J. ,   the InC Study Group
Published: June 2015

Pegylated interferon therapy is highly effective in recently acquired HCV. The optimal timing of treatment, regimen and influence of host factors remains unclear. We aimed to measure sustained virological response (SVR) during recent HCV infection and identify predictors of response. Data were from five prospective cohorts of high‐risk individuals in Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States. Individuals with acute or early chronic HCV who commenced pegylated interferon therapy were included. The main outcome was SVR, and predictors were assessed using logistic regression. Among 516 with documented recent HCV infection, 237 were treated (pegylated interferon n = 161; pegylated interferon/ribavirin n = 76) (30% female, median age 35 years, 56% ever injected drugs, median duration of infection 6.2 months). Sixteen per cent (n = 38) were HIV/HCV co‐infected. SVR among those with HCV mono‐infection was 64% by intention to treat; SVR was 68% among HCV/HIV co‐infection. Independent predictors of SVR in HCV mono‐infection were duration of HCV infection (the odds of SVR declined by 8% per month of infection, aOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.85–0.99, P = 0.033), IFNL4 genotype (adjusted OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.13–4.56, P = 0.021), baseline HCV RNA <400 000 IU/mL (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03–4.12, P = 0.041) and age ≥40 years (vs <30: aOR 2.92, 95% CI 1.31–6.49, P = 0.009), with no difference by drug regimen, HCV genotype, symptomatic infection or gender. The effect of infection duration on odds of SVR was greater among genotype‐1 infection. Interferon‐based HCV treatment is highly effective in recent HCV infection. Duration of infection, IFNL4 genotype and baseline HCV RNA levels can predict virological response and may inform clinical decision‐making.
Increased risk of preterm birth in women with autoimmune hepatitis – a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Stokkeland Knut , Ludvigsson Jonas F. , Hultcrantz Rolf , Ekbom Anders , Höijer Jonas , Bottai Matteo , Stephansson Olof
Published: June 2015

Background & Aims

The aim of our study was to investigate the risks of pregnancy and childbirth complications in women with autoimmune hepatitis compared to the population controls.

Methods

In a nationwide cohort study of all pregnancies between 2006 and 2011 we investigated the risks of adverse pregnancy outcome in 171 births in women with diagnosed autoimmune hepatitis using the data from the Swedish Medical Birth and Patient Registries. Births to women without autoimmune hepatitis served as population controls (n = 576 642). Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using Poisson regression models adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Women with AIH had an increased risk of gestational diabetes (RR = 4.35, 95% CI 2.21–8.57), of preterm birth (RR = 3.21, 95% CI 1.97–4.92) and of low‐birth‐weight child (RR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.51–4.19). We found no statistically significant association between autoimmune hepatitis and pre‐eclampsia, caesarean section, low 5‐min Apgar score, small for gestational age birth, congenital malformation and neonatal mortality.

Conclusions

Autoimmune hepatitis is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. High quality prenatal and antenatal care is important for women with autoimmune hepatitis and their infants.
Recruitment of nurses from India and their experiences of an Overseas Nurses Program
Authors: Stubbs Fiona
Published: June 2015

Background

Overseas recruitment has been vital to the contribution of staff growth in the National Health Service (NHS). In 2011, high nursing vacancy rates within critical care required that overseas nurses were recruited. The recruited nurses were placed in an Overseas Nurses Program (ONP), a course designed to assist overseas nurses in adapting to the NHS.

Aim

To describe the experiences of nurses recruited from India who participated in an ONP.

Design

A qualitative, research approach was chosen to gather descriptions of the lived experiences of nurses from India transitioning to London, to work in critical care settings.

Method

A descriptive qualitative approach was taken using in‐depth, semi‐structured and audio‐taped interviews. They were conducted over a 69‐day period (30 November 2012 to 6 February 2013) with 16 nurses from India. The nurses were questioned about challenges, experiences and differences; they were also asked to make suggestions for other nurses undertaking an ONP in the future. Interviews were transcribed verbatim into a formal written style with NVivo10.

Results

Eleven females and five males aged 25–33 years who had completed up to four years of university training participated in this study. The themes extracted were autonomy and responsibility, language, culture (food and climate), loneliness and work challenges (ONP and essay writing). Participants identified that they would have benefited if pre‐allocated mentors from non‐English speaking countries who had previously been through the transition process were available to assist them with their personal and professional integration into a new country.

Conclusion

Autonomy disparity, language barriers and cultural differences need to be recognised and acknowledged by multi‐disciplinary teams, by allowing sufficient time and additional support for non‐English nurses undergoing ONPs.

Relevance to clinical practice

Overseas nurses would benefit from being mentored by another nurse from a similar culture, with a non‐English background. It may be feasible for overseas nurses to receive training in cultural competencies to improve disparities.
Biomarkers for precision medicine in airways disease
Authors: Rooney Claire , Sethi Tariq
Published: June 2015

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex clinical entity. In contrast to previously limited diagnostic definitions, it is now apparent that COPD is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease process, overlapping with other airways diseases like chronic asthma. As such, symptomatic response to current standard treatment practices is variable. New clinical guidelines have been altered to reflect this, with the inclusion of symptoms and risk factors in diagnostic and management algorithms. However, as our understanding of COPD pathophysiology deepens, many novel physiological, cellular, proteomic, and genetic markers have been identified. Several have been observed to be independently predictive of distinct clinical disease patterns, which at present are not illustrated by conventional measurements of lung impairment. The potential use of these predictive biomarkers to stratify this diverse patient population could transform the care we offer. We should aim for precision medicine to optimize diagnosis and treatment choices and to monitor and improve clinical outcomes in this disease.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials of the impact of sleep duration on adiposity and components of energy balance
Authors: Capers P. L. , Fobian A. D. , Kaiser K. A. , Borah R. , Allison D. B.
Published: June 2015

Recent epidemiological and ecological trends in humans indicate a possible causal relationship between sleep duration and energy balance. We aimed to find experimental evidence that has tested this relationship between sleep duration and measures of body composition, food intake or biomarkers related to food intake. We conducted a systematic literature review using six databases throughout 7 August 2014. We sought reports of randomized controlled trials where sleep duration was manipulated and measured outcomes were body weight or other body composition metrics, food intake, and/or biomarkers related to eating. We found 18 unique studies meeting all criteria: eight studies with an outcome of body weight (4 – increased sleep, 4 – reduced sleep); four studies on food intake; four studies of sleep restriction on total energy expenditure and three of respiratory quotient; and four studies on leptin and/or ghrelin. Few controlled experimental studies have addressed the question of the effect of sleep on body weight/composition and eating. The available experimental literature suggests that sleep restriction increases food intake and total energy expenditure with inconsistent effects on integrated energy balance as operationalized by weight change. Future controlled trials that examine the impact of increased sleep on body weight/energy balance factors are warranted.
A survey of UK practice patterns in the delivery of intravitreal injections
Authors: Samia‐Aly Emma , Cassels‐Brown Andrew , Morris Daniel S. , Stancliffe Rachel , Somner John E. A.
Published: June 2015

Purpose

To assess UK practice patterns related to the prescription of antibiotics before, during and after intravitreal injections, the location where injections are carried out and the qualifications of those administering the injections.

Methods

Every ophthalmology unit featured in the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK) training directory was contacted. A healthcare professional involved in giving intravitreal injections at each institution completed a questionnaire regarding local practice patterns.

Results

A response rate of 85% (115/136) was achieved. Seventy four percent of hospitals (85/115) gave take home antibiotics post intravitreal injection. Twenty three percent (26/115) of hospitals employed non‐medical healthcare professionals to administer injections and 83% (96/115) administered intravitreal injections in a dedicated clean room as opposed to an operating theatre.

Conclusion

Practice patterns for intravitreal injection vary considerably. Guidelines alone do not appear to be effective in reducing practices which are considered wasteful and other approaches need to be developed.
The Effect of Right Ventricular Apical and Nonapical Pacing on the Short‐ and Long‐Term Changes in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Randomized‐Controlled Trials
Authors: HUSSAIN MOHAMMAD AKHTAR , FURUYA‐KANAMORI LUIS , KAYE GERALD , CLARK JUSTIN , DOI SUHAIL A.R.
Published: June 2015

Background

The right ventricular apex (RVA) is the traditional lead site for chronic pacing but in some patients may cause impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic function over time. Comparisons with right ventricular nonapical (RVNA) pacing sites have generated inconsistent results and recent meta‐analyses have demonstrated unclear benefit due to heterogeneity across studies.

Methods and Results

A systematic search for randomized controlled trials that compared LV ejection fraction (LVEF) outcomes between RVNA and RVA pacing was performed up to October 2014. Twenty‐four studies (n = 1,628 patients) met the inclusion criteria. To avoid between study heterogeneity two homogenous groups were created; group 1 where studies reported a difference (in favor of RVNA pacing) and group 2 where studies reported no difference between pacing sites. For group 1, weighted mean difference between RVNA and RVA pacing in terms of LVEF at follow‐up was 5.40% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.94–6.87), related in part to group one's RVA arm demonstrating a significant reduction (mean loss –3.31%; 95% CI: –6.19 to –0.43) in LVEF between study baseline and end of follow‐up. Neither of these finding were seen in group 2. Weighted regression modeling demonstrated that inclusion of poor baseline LVEF (<40%) in combination with greater than 12 months follow‐up was three times more common in group 1 compared to group 2 (weighted relative risk 2.82; 95% CI: 1.03–7.72; P = 0.043).

Conclusions

In patients requiring chronic right ventricular pacing where there is inclusion of impaired baseline LVEF (<40%), RVA pacing is associated with deterioration in LV function relative to RVNA pacing.
Fundamentality without Foundations
Authors: Raven Michael J.
Published: June 2015

A commonly held view is that a central aim of metaphysics is to give a fundamental account of reality which refers only to the fundamental entities. But a puzzle arises. It is at least a working hypothesis for those pursuing the aim that, first, there must be fundamental entities. But, second, it also seems possible that the world has no foundation, with each entity depending on others. These two claims are inconsistent with the widely held third claim that the fundamental just is the foundational. It is tempting to resolve the puzzle by rejecting the first or second claim, perhaps because it is obscure how the third claim might plausibly be challenged. But I develop a new analysis of fundamentality which challenges the third claim by allowing for an entity to be fundamental without being foundational. The analysis, roughly, is that an entity is fundamental (or ineliminable, as I call it) just in case not all facts about it are grounded in facts about other entities. The possibility of fundamentality without foundations not only provides for a novel resolution to the puzzle, but has applications to some live debates: for example, it undermines Jonathan Schaffer's modal argument for priority monism.
Facial skin physiology recovery kinetics during 180 min post‐washing with a cleanser
Authors: Eo J. , Seo Y. K. , Baek J. H. , Choi A. R. , Shin M. K. , Koh J. S.
Published: June 2015

Background/Purpose

Facial cleansing is important to clean and exfoliate the skin while maintaining optimal physiologic function. However, there is insufficient data on the very early stage of skin change after applying soap or cleansing foam. We investigated the recovery kinetics of facial skin physiology during 180 min after exposure to the cleanser.

Methods

For the study, 22 Korean female subjects with normal and dry to oily skin type were recruited in this study. Study subjects were required to have face washing done within the 12 hours prior to visiting the research center, with only toner, lotion, or cream applied. The next day, the subjects visited the research center without face washing. We evaluated the skin hydration (Corneometer® CM 825), sebum (Sebumeter® SM 815), transepidermal water loss (Tewameter® TM 300), and pH (Skin‐pH‐Meter® PH 905) to define recovery kinetics of facial skin physiology during 180 min exposure post‐cleansing.

Results

Skin hydration, sebum, and TEWL were significantly decreased at 20 min after washing, as compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). And skin hydration returned at 40 min, and skin sebum and TEWL returned at 120 min after washing. However, skin pH did not show significant differences at all times points.

Conclusions

This study indicated that each of the skin parameters was restored at defined time points post‐cleansing. Our result could be a useful reference to set the resting time in the estimation of skin bioengineering parameters.
Microtubule C‐Terminal Tails Can Change Characteristics of Motor Force Production
Authors: Shojania Feizabadi Mitra , Janakaloti Narayanareddy Babu Reddy , Vadpey Omid , Jun Yonggun , Chapman Dail , Rosenfeld Steven , Gross Steven P.
Published: June 2015

Control of intracellular transport is poorly understood, and functional ramifications of tubulin isoform differences between cell types are mostly unexplored. Motors' force production and detachment kinetics are critical for their group function, but how microtubule (MT) details affect these properties – if at all – is unknown. We investigated these questions using both a vesicular transport human kinesin, kinesin‐1, and also a mitotic kinesin likely optimized for group function, kinesin‐5, moving along either bovine brain or MCF7(breast cancer) MTs. We found that kinesin‐1 functioned similarly on the two sets of MTs – in particular, its mean force production was approximately the same, though due to its previously reported decreased processivity, the mean duration of kinesin‐1 force production was slightly decreased on MCF7 MTs. In contrast, kinesin‐5's function changed dramatically on MCF7 MTs: its average detachment force was reduced and its force–velocity curve was different. In spite of the reduced detachment force, the force–velocity alteration surprisingly improved high‐load group function for kinesin‐5 on the cancer‐cell MTs, potentially contributing to functions such as spindle‐mediated chromosome separation. Significant differences were previously reported for C‐terminal tubulin tails in MCF7 versus bovine brain tubulin. Consistent with this difference being functionally important, elimination of the tails made transport along the two sets of MTs similar.
Sulfamethoxazole‐induced thrombocytopenia masquerading as posttransfusion purpura: a case report
Authors: Nixon Christian P. , Cheves Tracey A. , Sweeney Joseph D.
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND

Drug‐induced immune thrombocytopenia (DITP) is a rare clinical disorder characterized by accelerated platelet (PLT) clearance in the presence of drug‐dependent antibodies. Distinguishing DITP from other immune‐mediated disorders such as posttransfusion purpura (PTP) and autoimmune thrombocytopenia can represent a clinical challenge.

CASE REPORT

A 68‐year‐old male with no prior transfusion history presented to the emergency department (ED) with dyspnea, epistaxis, and severe thrombocytopenia (<10 × 109/L) 12 days after discharge from a hospital admission for a coronary artery bypass graft. Evaluation of the degree of thrombocytopenia and the temporal association between the peri‐ and postoperative receipt of multiple transfusions and the acute decrease in PLT count indicated PTP as a possible cause of the severe thrombocytopenia. Treatment with 1 g/kg intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was initiated and followed by a rapid 48‐hour increase in the PLT count. PLT antibodies lacking serologic specificity were subsequently identified in a sample collected upon presentation. Two weeks later he again presented to the ED with epistaxis and severe thrombocytopenia (<10 × 109/L). Clinical history now revealed that the patient had been treated with trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole by his primary care physician after his first hospitalization for a “cellulitic‐appearing” leg and again before his final presentation for surgical site erythema and edema. IVIG was administered again with a rapid return of PLT count to baseline. Sulfamethoxazole‐dependent PLT antibodies were subsequently identified in the original patient sample.

CONCLUSION

This case report documents a case of IVIG‐responsive DITP initially misdiagnosed as PTP, highlighting the clinical overlap of these immunologic‐mediated phenomena.
Allelopathy and the active metabolites of the endophytic fungus, Alternaria J46, from Platycladus orientalis
Authors: Hao Shuang‐Hong , Wei Yan , Wang Jing , Zhou Yuan‐Ming
Published: June 2015

The endophytic fungus, Alternaria J46, was isolated from the stem of the medicinal plant, Platycladus orientalis. A suspension of Alternaria J46 mycelial segments and the culture filtrates of the fungi exhibited marked seed germination inhibition against the monocot wheat, large crabgrass, bromegrass, rice and barnyardgrass and weak inhibition against the dicot redroot pigweed and morning glory, but it was safe for use on soybean, rape, cucumber, tomato, lettuce and radish crops. It is possible to use J46 culture filtrates in order to prevent monocot weeds in dicot cropland. Three active metabolites were isolated from an extract of the fungus cultures and elucidated as 3‐acetyl‐5‐sec‐butyltetramic acid (1, tenuazonic acid), 3‐acetyl‐5‐iso‐butyltetramic acid (2, vivotoxin II) and cyclo‐(L‐leucyl‐L‐proline) (3). Among these three compounds, compounds 1 and 2 showed significant phytotoxic effects on the seed germination of large crabgrass, while compound 3 exhibited weak activity, and all were safe for lettuce at 100 μg mL−1. Accordingly, compounds 1 and 2 were the main active metabolites that were responsible for endophytic fungus Alternaria J46's strong seed germination inhibition against monocotyledons.
Weed species composition of maize fields in Germany is influenced by site and crop sequence
Authors: de Mol F , von Redwitz C , Gerowitt B
Published: June 2015

During the last decade, maize has become the crop with the second largest acreage in Germany. Therefore, agricultural advisors and the plant protection sector are interested in an overview of the weed species composition in maize fields, their determining factors and trends. From 2001 to 2009, a weed survey was conducted in 1460 maize fields throughout Germany. Data on crop management and soil characteristics were collected via farmer questionnaires. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis were used to analyse patterns in weed species composition. The late spring and summer germinating species Chenopodium spp., Echinochloa crus‐galli and Solanum nigrum occurred with high densities and frequencies, but their occurrence was determined by different factors. Other frequent weed species were those that typically accompany autumn‐sown crops. The variation in species composition was significantly related to environmental factors (9.1% explained variance), particularly geographical latitude and precipitation, and management factors (4.7% explained variance), particularly crop sequence. The relative importance of these factors seems universal, when compared with surveys in other crops and regions. The factor ‘year’ was of minor importance (0.9% explained variance). Over the 9‐year period, no changes in weed species composition could be determined. The results suggest that despite the limited impact of crop management on weed species composition, farmers can use crop sequence to suppress individual species. The survey furthermore sets a baseline against which future changes can be measured in a landscape of rapidly changing agricultural land use.
A Thermal Interface Crack Problem for Dissimilar Functionally Graded Isotropic Materials
Authors: Clements David L.
Published: June 2015

The problem of determining the steady-state temperature and flux fields in a material containing a plane crack along the bonded interface of two dissimilar functionally graded isotropic materials is considered. The materials exhibit quadratic variation in the coefficients of heat conduction. At large distances from the crack, a uniform heat flux is prescribed. The crack is modeled as an insulated cut. Numerical values for the temperature and flux are obtained for some particular materials. The results demonstrate how the variation in the functional gradation of the thermal parameters in the bonded materials affects the temperature discontinuity across the crack faces and the heat flux flow around the crack tips.
Effect of Acoustic Excitation on R134a/Al2O3 Nanolubricant Mixture Boiling on a Reentrant Cavity Surface
Authors: Kedzierski M. A. , Fick S. E.
Published: June 2015

This paper quantifies the influence of acoustic excitation of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the pool-boiling performance of R134a/polyolester mixtures on a commercial (Turbo-BII-HP) boiling surface. A nanolubricant with 10 nm diameter Al2O3 nanoparticles at a 5.1% volume fraction in the base polyolester lubricant was mixed with R134a at a 1% mass fraction. The study showed that high-frequency ultrasound at 1 MHz can improve R134a/nanolubricant boiling on a reentrant cavity surface by as much as 44%. This maximum enhancement occurred for an applied power level to the fluid of approximately 6 W and a heat flux of approximately 6.9 kW/m2. Applied power levels larger and smaller than 6 W resulted in smaller boiling heat transfer enhancements. In total, five different applied power levels were studied: 0 W, 4 W, 6 W, 8 W, and 12 W. The largest and smallest enhancement averaged over the tested heat flux range were approximately 12% and 2% for the applied power levels of 6 W and 4 W, respectively. In situ insonation at 1 MHz resulted in an improved dispersion of the nanolubricant on the test surface. An existing pool-boiling model for refrigerant/nanolubricant mixtures was modified to include the effect of acoustic excitation. For heat fluxes greater than 25 kW m−2, the model was within 4.5% of the measured heat flux ratios for mixtures, and the average agreement between measurements and predictions was approximately 1% for all power levels.
Thermal Resistance in a Rectangular Flux Channel With Nonuniform Heat Convection in the Sink Plane
Authors: Razavi M. , Muzychka Y. S. , Kocabiyik S.
Published: June 2015

In this paper, thermal resistance of a 2D flux channel with nonuniform convection coefficient in the heat sink plane is studied using the method of separation of variables and the least squares technique. For this purpose, a two-dimensional flux channel with discretely specified heat flux is assumed. The heat transfer coefficient at the sink boundary is defined symmetrically using a hyperellipse function which can model a wide variety of different distributions of heat transfer coefficient from uniform cooling to the most intense cooling in the central region. The boundary condition along the edges is defined with convective cooling. As a special case, the heat transfer coefficient along the edges can be made negligible to simulate a flux channel with adiabatic edges. To obtain the temperature profile and the thermal resistance, the Laplace equation is solved by the method of separation of variables considering the applied boundary conditions. The temperature along the flux channel is presented in the form of a series solution. Due to the complexity of the sink plane boundary condition, there is a need to calculate the Fourier coefficients using the least squares method. Finally, the dimensionless thermal resistance for a number of different systems is presented. Results are validated using the data obtained from the finite element method (FEM). It is shown that the thick flux channels with variable heat transfer coefficient can be simplified to a flux channel with the same uniform heat transfer coefficient.
A radiation quality correction factor kQ for well‐type ionization chambers for the measurement of the reference air kerma rate of 60Co HDR brachytherapy sources
Authors: Schüller Andreas , Meier Markus , Selbach Hans‐Joachim , Ankerhold Ulrike
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a chamber‐type‐specific radiation quality correction factor kQ can be determined in order to measure the reference air kerma rate of 60Co high‐dose‐rate (HDR) brachytherapy sources with acceptable uncertainty by means of a well‐type ionization chamber calibrated for 192Ir HDR sources.

Methods:

The calibration coefficients of 35 well‐type ionization chambers of two different chamber types for radiation fields of 60Co and 192Ir HDR brachytherapy sources were determined experimentally. A radiation quality correction factor kQ was determined as the ratio of the calibration coefficients for 60Co and 192Ir. The dependence on chamber‐to‐chamber variations, source‐to‐source variations, and source strength was investigated.

Results:

For the PTW Tx33004 (Nucletron source dosimetry system (SDS)) well‐type chamber, the type‐specific radiation quality correction factor kQ is 1.19. Note that this value is valid for chambers with the serial number, SN ≥ 315 (Nucletron SDS SN ≥ 548) onward only. For the Standard Imaging HDR 1000 Plus well‐type chambers, the type‐specific correction factor kQ is 1.05. Both kQ values are independent of the source strengths in the complete clinically relevant range. The relative expanded uncertainty (k = 2) of kQ is = 2.1% for both chamber types.

Conclusions:

The calibration coefficient of a well‐type chamber for radiation fields of 60Co HDR brachytherapy sources can be calculated from a given calibration coefficient for 192Ir radiation by using a chamber‐type‐specific radiation quality correction factor kQ. However, the uncertainty of a 60Co calibration coefficient calculated via kQ is at least twice as large as that for a direct calibration with a 60Co source.
Morphological, anatomical, and ultrastructural changes inVaccinium corymbosumfruits during ontogeny
Authors: Konarska Agata
Published: June 2015

Given their attractive appearance and flavour, as well as high antioxidant content, Vaccinium corymbosum L. fruits are greatly appreciated by consumers. These quality traits are primarily dependent on pomological characteristics of the cultivar. Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’ is one of the most popular and valuable cultivars of highbush blueberry; however, its fruits become soft shortly after harvesting. Changes in the fruit structure and in the content of phenolic compounds and, in particular, emergence of some traits related to fruit firmness and shelf life, were analysed in the surface layers of ‘Bluecrop’ fruits from the stage of flowering through the fruit set stage to harvest maturity using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The study involved investigations of qualitative and quantitative changes in the development and microstructure of epicuticular wax, cuticle, epidermis, hypodermis, and stone cells, and analysis of the presence of tannins and anthocyanins. Moreover, it was found that the development of many traits associated with fruit firmness and shelf life started in the initial period of ontogeny. These results can be useful for the researchers developing new cultivars in detection of early manifestations of developmental features of specific quality traits and in comparative analyses of blueberry cultivars differing in fruit firmness and shelf life.
Synthesis of perovskite-based nanocomposites for deNOx catalytic activity
Authors: Tran Minh-Nguyet T. , Quach Hoang-Yen T. , Nguyen Quy V. , Nguyen Thanh-Dinh , On Do-Trong
Published: June 2015

Three different types of perovskite-based nanocomposites were synthesized by calcination of the same gel mixtures (molar ratio for La:Sr:Co 0.4:0.6:1.0) under different reaction conditions (unconventional method: calcination at 1000 °C and 800 °C under vacuum; and conventional method: calcination in air at 1000 °C). The obtained products were studied by multianalytic techniques including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). NOx reduction using propene (C3H6) as a reductant in the presence of oxygen was studied using temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR). The analyzed results showed that multiphase products were found by the unconventional method (in the absence of oxygen), whereas the conventional method (in the presence of oxygen) yielded single-phase perovskites. The multiphase nanocomposite products prepared under vacuum at 1000 °C exhibited higher catalytic activity and higher N2 yield compared with the samples obtained under vacuum at lower temperature (800 °C) and the single-phase perovskites.
Controlling factors and genesis of hydrocarbons with complex phase state in the Upper Ordovician of the Tazhong Area, Tarim Basin, China
Authors: Chen Junqing , Pang Xiongqi , Jiang Zhenxue
Published: June 2015

Seven hydrocarbon reservoirs have been discovered to date in the Upper Ordovician of the Tazhong Area, a region in which hydrocarbon phase distribution is complex. In the present study, the genesis and controlling factors of the hydrocarbons with complex phase in the Tazhong Area were investigated on the basis of the geological and geochemical conditions required for the formation and distribution of hydrocarbon reservoirs, integrated with the source rock geochemistry, natural gas and oil properties, and oil and gas reservoir fluid tests PVT (i.e., pressure, volume, and temperature tests). The results indicate that hydrocarbon reservoir types in the Upper Ordovician of the Tazhong Area transition from unsaturated to saturated condensate-gas reservoirs from west to east and from condensate-gas reservoirs to unsaturated-oil reservoirs from north to south. The crude oil in the region originated primarily from the mixing of Lower–Middle Cambrian and Middle–Upper Ordovician source rocks, while the natural gas was sourced primarily from the cracking gas of Lower–Middle Cambrian crude oil. This hydrocarbon-phase distribution was controlled primarily by temperature and pressure and has been affected by multiple periods of hydrocarbon accumulation and alteration. The high-quality Lower–Middle Cambrian reservoir–cap assemblage may be an important target for future exploration of natural gas in the Tazhong Area.
Movement patterns and dispersal potential of Pecos bluntnose shiner (Notropis simus pecosensis) revealed using otolith microchemistry
Authors: Chase Nathan M. , Caldwell Colleen A. , Carleton Scott A. , Gould William R. , Hobbs James A.
Published: June 2015

Natal origin and dispersal potential of the federally threatened Pecos bluntnose shiner (Notropis simus pecosensis) were successfully characterized using otolith microchemistry and swimming performance trials. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr:86Sr) of otoliths within the resident plains killifish (Fundulus zebrinus) were successfully used as a surrogate for strontium isotope ratios in water and revealed three isotopically distinct reaches throughout 297 km of the Pecos River, New Mexico, USA. Two different life history movement patterns were revealed in Pecos bluntnose shiner. Eggs and fry were either retained in upper river reaches or passively dispersed downriver followed by upriver movement during the first year of life, with some fish achieving a minimum movement of 56 km. Swimming ability of Pecos bluntnose shiner confirmed upper critical swimming speeds (Ucrit) as high as 43.8 cm·s−1 and 20.6 body lengths·s−1 in 30 days posthatch fish. Strong swimming ability early in life supports our observations of upriver movement using otolith microchemistry and confirms movement patterns that were previously unknown for the species. Understanding patterns of dispersal of this and other small-bodied fishes using otolith microchemistry may help redirect conservation and management efforts for Great Plains fishes.
Microsatellite survey reveals possible link between triploidy and mortality of quaking aspen in Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Authors: Dixon Groves B. , DeWald Laura E.
Published: June 2015

In the southwestern United States, populations of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) are experiencing widespread mortality. Although environmental factors contributing to mortality have been well characterized, less is known about how genotype and particularly ploidy level affect susceptibility. We used five microsatellite markers to infer the ploidy level of 212 aspen stems in Kaibab National Forest, Arizona. Many multilocus genotypes showed three alleles at one or more loci, suggestive of frequent triploidy among our samples. Sites populated with putative triploids had higher mortality. In addition, heterozygosity was positively associated with mortality and crown dieback. Our results suggest that triploidy is a predisposing factor for aspen mortality in Kaibab National Forest.
Bi-invariant metrics and quasi-morphisms on groups of Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms of surfaces
Authors: Brandenbursky Michael
Published: June 2015

Let Σg be a closed orientable surface of genus g and let Diff 0(Σg, area ) be the identity component of the group of area-preserving diffeomorphisms of Σg. In this paper, we present the extension of Gambaudo–Ghys construction to the case of a closed hyperbolic surface Σg, i.e. we show that every nontrivial homogeneous quasi-morphism on the braid group on n strings of Σg defines a nontrivial homogeneous quasi-morphism on the group Diff 0(Σg, area ). As a consequence we give another proof of the fact that the space of homogeneous quasi-morphisms on Diff 0(Σg, area ) is infinite-dimensional. Let Ham (Σg) be the group of Hamiltonian diffeomorphisms of Σg. As an application of the above construction we construct two injective homomorphisms Zm → Ham (Σg), which are bi-Lipschitz with respect to the word metric on Zm and the autonomous and fragmentation metrics on Ham (Σg). In addition, we construct a new infinite family of Calabi quasi-morphisms on Ham (Σg).
Crossed extensions of the corepresentation category of finite supergroup algebras
Authors: Mejía Castaño Adriana , Mombelli Martín
Published: June 2015

We present explicit examples of finite tensor categories that are C2-graded extensions of the corepresentation category of certain finite-dimensional non-semisimple Hopf algebras.
A generalization of the graph theory prime-number theorem of a finite graph
Authors: Hasegawa Takehiro , Saito Seiken
Published: June 2015

In the first half, we present a generalization of the graph theory prime-number theorem due to Audrey Terras et al. In the last half, we study relations between several densities of a subset consisting of primes in a graph, and by using the first result, we compute a distribution of a subset. This is an answer for the "research problem" in the page 197 of Terras' textbook "Zeta Functions of Graphs."
Cosmological evolution of fundamental constants: From theory to experiment
Authors: Calmet Xavier , Keller Matthias
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we discuss a possible cosmological time evolution of fundamental constants from the theoretical and experimental point of views. On the theoretical side, we explain that such a cosmological time evolution is actually something very natural which can be described by mechanisms similar to those used to explain cosmic inflation. We then discuss implications for grand unified theories, showing that the unification condition of the gauge coupling could evolve with cosmological time. Measurements of the electron-to-proton mass ratio can test grand unified theories using low energy data. Following the theoretical discussion, we review the current status of precision measurements of fundamental constants and their potential cosmological time dependence.
Cosmic expansion and structure formation in running vacuum cosmologies
Authors: Basilakos Spyros
Published: June 2015

We investigate the dynamics of the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) flat cosmological models in which the vacuum energy varies with redshift. A particularly well-motivated model of this type is the so-called quantum field vacuum, in which both kind of terms [Formula: see text] and constant appear in the effective dark energy (DE) density affecting the evolution of the main cosmological functions at the background and perturbation levels. Specifically, it turns out that the functional form of the quantum vacuum endows the vacuum energy of a mild dynamical evolution which could be observed nowadays and appears as dynamical DE. Interestingly, the low-energy behavior is very close to the usual Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model, but it is by no means identical. Finally, within the framework of the quantum field vacuum we generalize the large scale structure properties, namely growth of matter perturbations, cluster number counts and spherical collapse model.
Poisson-generalized geometry and R-flux
Authors: Asakawa Tsuguhiko , Muraki Hisayoshi , Sasa Shuhei , Watamura Satoshi
Published: June 2015

We study a new kind of Courant algebroid on Poisson manifolds, which is a variant of the generalized tangent bundle in the sense that the roles of tangent and the cotangent bundle are exchanged. Its symmetry is a semidirect product of [Formula: see text]-diffeomorphisms and [Formula: see text]-transformations. It is a starting point of an alternative version of the generalized geometry based on the cotangent bundle, such as Dirac structures and generalized Riemannian structures. In particular, [Formula: see text]-fluxes are formulated as a twisting of this Courant algebroid by a local [Formula: see text]-transformations, in the same way as [Formula: see text]-fluxes are the twist of the generalized tangent bundle. It is a three-vector classified by Poisson three-cohomology and it appears in a twisted bracket and in an exact sequence.