bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Aspergillus‐specific PCR as a screening method for invasive aspergillosis in paediatric cancer patients and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell recipients with suspected infections
Authors: Reinwald M. , Konietzka C. A. M. , Kolve H. , Uhlenbrock S. , Ahlke E. , Hummel M. , Spiess B. , Hofmann W.‐K. , Buchheidt D. , Groll A. H.
Published: March 2014

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) remains difficult to diagnose in immunocompromised patients, because diagnostic EORTC/MSG criteria are often not met. As biomarkers might elucidate the pathogen, we analysed the performance of an Aspergillus PCR assay in blood for diagnosis of IA in immunocompromised paediatric patients with suspected infections. Ninety‐five haemato‐oncological paediatric patients were included over a period of 3 years, the underlying diseases consisting of acute leukaemia, solid tumours, non‐malignant immunocompromising disorders and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients. We retrospectively analysed 253 consecutive episodes of suspected infections. Thirty‐eight patients had possible IA, none of the patients fulfilled EORTC/MSG criteria of probable/proven IA. PCR positivity was observed in 97/967 analyses. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of the PCR per episode were 34%, 78%, 31% and 81% using possible IA as endpoint. Taken together, an undirected blood screening by Aspergillus‐specific PCR is of little diagnostic value in a heterogenous paediatric patient cohort. Harnessing PCR for diagnosis of IA should thus be focused on blood analyses of more homogenous high‐risk patients and/or analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage, tissue or cerebrospinal fluid specimens.
The postantifungal effect and phospholipase production of oral Candida albicans from smokers, diabetics, asthmatics, denture wearers and healthy individuals following brief exposure to subtherapeutic concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate
Authors: Ellepola Arjuna N. B. , Joseph Bobby K. , Khan Z. U.
Published: March 2014

Candida albicans is the major aetiological agent of oral candidosis and one of its important virulent factors is the production of extracellular phospholipases, which can be modulated by subtherapeutic concentrations of antifungal agents thus decreasing their pathogenicity. Hence, considering that chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) is a common antimicrobial mouthwash used in dentistry and that its concentration in the mouth reaches subtherapeutic levels during dosage intervals due to the diluent effect of saliva and cleansing effect of the oral musculature, the postantifungal effect (PAFE) and the phospholipase production of oral C. albicans following brief exposure to subtherapeutic concentrations of CG was studied. Fifty C. albicans planktonic oral isolates obtained from smokers, diabetics, asthmatics using steroid inhalers, partial denture wearers and healthy individuals were exposed to three subtherapeutic concentrations of CG (0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%) for 1 h. Isolates unexposed to CG was the control group. Thereafter the antiseptic was removed and the PAFE and phospholipase production was determined by a turbidometric method and a plate assay using an egg yolk agar medium respectively. Mean PAFE (hours) of 50 oral isolates of C. albicans following 1‐h exposure to 0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125% CG was 6.97, 1.85 and 0.62 respectively. The phospholipase production of these isolates was significantly suppressed with a percentage reduction of 21.68, 18.20 and 14.04% following exposure to 0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125% CG respectively. Brief exposure of C. albicans isolates to subtherapeutic concentrations of CG would wield an antifungal effect by suppressing growth and phospholipase production, thereby quelling its pathogenicity.
A longitudinal study of conflict in new parents: The role of attachment
Authors: STEVEN RHOLES W. , KOHN JAMIE L. , SIMPSON JEFFRY A.
Published: March 2014

In this longitudinal study of the transition to parenthood, couples reported on their own conflict resolution tactics and their perceptions of their partners' tactics. Their reports were analyzed in terms of their own and their partners' attachment styles. The results showed that more anxious and more avoidant persons used less effective conflict resolution styles. They showed that both actor and partner attachment styles were related to conflict resolution tactics. They also showed that in some cases less avoidant and less anxious persons showed improvement over time, using fewer ineffective and more effective resolution tactics. More avoidant and more anxious individuals, in contrast, showed little improvement and in some cases even showed decline over time.
Nurses' perceptions of working with immigrant patients and interpreters in Finland
Authors: Eklöf Niina , Hupli Maija , Leino‐Kilpi Helena
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To describe nurses' perceptions of the factors to consider when using interpreters in primary health care nursing with immigrant patients.

Design and sample

This was a qualitative study using inductive content analysis. The participants (n = 8) were public health nurses working in one Finnish primary health care center with experience of the use of interpreters.

Measures

Data were collected using individual interviews and analyzed using inductive content analysis.

Results

The factors to be considered when using interpreters are related to the interpreter, to the nurse, and to the patient. Important criteria for interpreters are their professional knowledge, professional role, and personal character. Careful planning and realization of the appointment is essential for the proper use and cost‐effectiveness. The patients' difficulties to understand the role of the interpreter, protection of patients' privacy, and patients' desires concerning the interpreter are factors to consider.

Conclusions

The use of an interpreter is dependent on multiple factors. The interpreter supports the communication between the nurse and the patient. Interpreter use can increase the amount of work undertaken by nurses and make the relationship between the nurse and the patient more complicated, or even create ethical problems.
State Intervention and Life Satisfaction Reconsidered: The Role of Governance Quality and Resource Misallocation
Authors: Jakubow Alexander
Published: March 2014

To what extent does state intervention in the market condition how individuals subjectively experience the lives that they lead? Prevailing attempts to understand the relationship between state intervention and subjective well‐being have yielded mixed empirical results. However, these differences result from omitted variable biases, not different methodological choices. Drawing on insights from the new social risk and quality of governance literatures, this article contends that the policy orientation and administrative quality of welfare state programs jointly condition the effect of state intervention on life satisfaction. State intervention exerts a strong positive effect on perceived satisfaction with life when the quality of administrative institutions is high and policy interventions focus on insuring individuals against newer, post‐industrial forms of market risk. This main hypothesis is tested and confirmed against an empirical analysis of survey data taken from Wave 5 of the World Values Survey.

Related Articles:

Flavin,Patrick,AlexanderPacek, andBenjaminRadcliff.2011. “.”Politics & Policy39():251‐269.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00290.x/abstract

Dekker,Fabian.2010. “.”Politics & Policy38():765‐788.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00257.x/abstract

Ariely,Gal.2011. “.”Politics & Policy39():997‐1019.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00329.x/abstract

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Film Clips:.2009. “.”http://www.stiglitz‐sen‐fitoussi.fr/en/index.htm

Veenhoven,Ruut.2013. “.”http://www1.eur.nl/fsw/happiness/
Preserving Institutional Power: The Supreme Court and Strategic Decision Making in the Separation of Powers
Authors: Marshall Bryan W. , Curry Brett W. , Pacelle Richard L.
Published: March 2014

We argue that the Supreme Court's long‐term goal of maintaining legitimacy and institutional power reflects an underdeveloped strategic consideration in models of judicial decision making. Our article posits that both institutional‐ and policy‐related incentives exist for the Court to engage in strategic behavior, and that those motivations may be differentially applicable to decision making in constitutional versus statutory cases. Our results offer broad confirmation of the above hypotheses, providing an important supplement to our understanding of how Congress may affect the Supreme Court's role in constructing legal policy.

Related Articles

McKenzie, Mark Jonathan, and Michael A. Unger. 2011. “ .” Politics & Policy 39 (): 813‐834. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00317.x/full

Sharma, Hemant, and John M. Scheb II. 2011. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 1077‐1105. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00325.x/full

Curry, Brett, and Banks Miller. 2008. “.” Politics & Policy 36 (): 1094‐1124. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2008.00151.x/full

Related Media

Film Clips: . 2012. “.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaoLMW5AF4Y

. 2012. “.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCA38zjwNJM
Philosophical Idling and Philosophical Relativity
Authors: Garcia Robert K.
Published: March 2014

Peter Unger has challenged philosophical objectivism, the thesis that traditional philosophical problems have definite objective answers. He argues from semantic relativity for philosophical relativity, the thesis that for certain philosophical problems, there is no objective answer. I clarify, formulate and challenge Unger's argument. According to Unger, philosophical relativism explains philosophical idling, the fact that philosophical debates appear endless, philosophical disagreements seem irresolvable, and very little substantial progress seems made towards satisfactory and definite answers to philosophical problems. I argue, however, that the reality of philosophical idling is doubtful and, ironically, undermined by philosophical relativism. I then raise problems for several steps in Unger's argument for philosophical relativity. I conclude by arguing that philosophical relativism can avoid self‐defeat only by an ad hoc limitation of its scope.
Self‐report questionnaire for measuring presence: development and initial validation
Authors: Kuis Esther E. , Goossensen Anne , van Dijke Jolanda , Baart Andries J.
Published: March 2014

Background

The concept of ‘presence’ appears frequently in the literature and seems to be a highly relevant concept in discussing and evaluating quality of relations in healthcare practices. However, no existing self‐report measure of presence for health professionals was found.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was (i) to develop a self‐report questionnaire for measuring presence and (ii) to conduct initial psychometric testing of the questionnaire.

Method

The process followed two steps. Phase 1 consisted of the development of 64 items that were derived from the ‘theory of presence’ (ToP) as developed by Andries Baart in the Netherlands in 2001. Face and content validity were completed by a panel of experts in ToP. A pilot study to test understandability was done (N = 22). During Phase 2, 48 remaining items of the Presence Questionnaire for Caregivers (PQ‐C) were tested among 723 healthcare professionals. Exploratory principal component analysis was conducted, and reliability coefficients and known‐group validity were assessed.

Results

Principal component analysis showed three new components that were labelled ‘dedicated attitude’, ‘openness in perception’ and ‘reciprocal humaneness’. Thirty‐one items were retained which explain 25.4% of the variance. An initial psychometric assessment of the shortened scale showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82 and a Spearman–Brown coefficient (for equal length) of 0.63. There were significant differences in sum scores between groups based on age, years of experience and familiarity with ToP.

Conclusion

It appeared possible to develop a self‐report questionnaire for measuring presence and establish face and content validity. In initial exploratory factor analysis, the eight theoretical principles of ToP used to develop the questionnaire were not reflected, and three new components appeared. Further research is needed to examine the value of the three new dimensions, and investigation into the construct validity and reliability of the three new components is recommended.
Does blood flow restriction result in skeletal muscle damage? A critical review of available evidence
Authors: Loenneke J. P. , Thiebaud R. S. , Abe T.
Published: March 2014

Blood flow restriction (BFR) alone or in combination with exercise has been shown to result in muscle hypertrophy and strength gain across a variety of populations. Although there are numerous studies in the literature showing beneficial muscular effects following the application of BFR, questions have been raised over whether BFR may lead to or even increase the incidence of muscle damage. The purpose of this review is to examine the proposed mechanisms behind muscle damage and critically review the available BFR literature. The available evidence does not support the hypothesis that BFR in combination with low‐intensity exercise increases the incidence of muscle damage. Instead, the available literature suggests that minimal to no muscle damage is occurring with this type of exercise. This conclusion is drawn from the following observations: (a) no prolonged decrements in muscle function; (b) no prolonged muscle swelling; (c) muscle soreness ratings similar to a submaximal low load control; and (d) no elevation in blood biomarkers of muscle damage.
Injury surveillance in community sport: Can we obtain valid data from sports trainers?
Authors: Ekegren C. L. , Gabbe B. J. , Finch C. F.
Published: March 2014

A lack of available injury data on community sports participants has hampered the development of informed preventive strategies for the broad‐base of sports participation. In community sports settings, sports trainers or first‐aiders are well‐placed to carry out injury surveillance, but few studies have evaluated their ability to do so. The aim of this study was to investigate the reporting rate and completeness of sports trainers' injury records and agreement between sports trainers' and players' reports of injury in community Australian football. Throughout the football season, one sports trainer from each of four clubs recorded players' injuries. To validate these data, we collected self‐reported injury data from players via short message service (SMS). In total, 210 discrete injuries were recorded for 139 players, 21% by sports trainers only, 59% by players via SMS only, and 21% by both. Completeness of injury records ranged from 95% to 100%. Agreement between sports trainers and players ranged from K = 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.27, 0.37) for date of return to football to K = 1.00 for activity when injured. Injury data collected by sports trainers may be of adequate quality for providing an understanding of the profile of injuries. However, data are likely to underestimate injury rates and should be interpreted with caution.
Higher level molecular phylogeny of darkling beetles (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae)
Authors: KERGOAT GAEL J. , SOLDATI LAURENT , CLAMENS ANNE‐LAURE , JOURDAN HERVE , JABBOUR‐ZAHAB ROULA , GENSON GWENAELLE , BOUCHARD PATRICE , CONDAMINE FABIEN L.
Published: March 2014

Insect diversity represents about 60% of the estimated million‐and‐a‐half described eukaryotic species worldwide, yet comprehensive and well‐resolved intra‐ordinal phylogenies are still lacking for the majority of insect groups. This is the case especially for the most species‐rich insect group, the beetles (Coleoptera), a group for which less than 4% of the known species have had theirDNAsequenced. In this study, we reconstruct the first higher level phylogeny based onDNAsequence data for the species‐rich darkling beetles, a family comprising at least 20 000 species. Although amongst all families of beetlesTenebrionidae ranks seventh in terms of species diversity, the lack of knowledge on the phylogeny and systematics of the group is such that its monophyly has been questioned (not to mention those of the subfamilies and tribes contained within it). We investigate the evolutionary history ofTenebrionidae using multiple phylogenetic inference methods (Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and parsimony) to analyse a dataset consisting of eight gene fragments across 404 taxa (including 250 tenebrionid species). Although the resulting phylogenetic framework only encompasses a fraction of the known tenebrionid diversity, it provides important information on their systematics and evolution. Whatever the methods used, our results provide strong support for the monophyly of the family, and highlight the likely paraphyletic or polyphyletic nature of several important tenebrionid subfamilies and tribes, notably the polyphyletic subfamiliesDiaperinae andTenebrioninae that clearly require substantial revision in the future. Some interesting associations in several groups are also revealed by the phylogenetic analyses, such as the pairing ofAphtoraBates withPhrenapatinae. Furthermore this study advances our knowledge of the evolution of the group, providing novel insights into much‐debated theories, such as the apparent relict distribution of the tribeElenophorini.
Continuum in HIV care from entry to ART initiation in rural KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Authors: Plazy Mélanie , Dray‐Spira Rosemary , Orne‐Gliemann Joanna , Dabis François , Newell Marie‐Louise
Published: March 2014

Objective

To quantify time from entry in HIV care until Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and identify factors associated with ART initiation in rural KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa.

Methods

Adults ≥16 years entering the decentralised Hlabisa ART programme between 2007 and 2011 were followed until June 2013. Median survival times to ART initiation from date of programme entry and from date of ART eligibility were estimated with Kaplan–Meier methods. Associated factors were evaluated in Cox regressions, censoring for deaths.

Results

Of 37 749 adults (71.6% female), 17 638 (46.7%) initiated ART. Nearly half (46.9%) met the CD4 criteria for treatment eligibility at programme entry. Among the 20 039 individuals not yet ART‐eligible at entry, only 62.5% were retained in care with at least one further CD4 measurement, of whom 6688 subsequently became ART‐eligible. Overall, 65.5% of the 24 398 ART‐eligible individuals initiated ART over the study period. ART initiation was more likely in women (P < 0.001), in individuals ≥ 25 years old (P < 0.001) and in patients with low CD4 count (P < 0.001). Patients who became eligible during follow up were significantly more likely to initiate ART than those eligible at programme entry (72.6% vs. 62.9%, Adjusted Hazard Ratio = 1.46; 95% Confidence Interval [1.41–1.51]), adjusting for sex, age, year and CD4 count at eligibility.

Conclusions

In this rural programme, continuation of care remains challenging, especially in men and younger adults. ART initiation is more likely in those engaged prior eligibility than in those entering HIV care only late in their HIV disease.
Offshoring, the Nature of Tasks, and Occupational Stability: Empirical Evidence for Germany
Authors: Baumgarten Daniel
Published: March 2014

Using a large administrative data set of individual employment histories for Germany, this paper studies the relationship between offshoring and the individual risk of leaving the occupation. Moreover, a rich data set on tasks performed in occupations is used to better characterise the sources of worker vulnerability. Both material and service
offshoring are, on average, not associated with an increase in occupational outflow rates. However, this association depends on the nature of tasks performed in the occupation. Higher intensities of interactive and, in particular, non‐routine tasks are associated with a larger decrease (or a smaller increase) in the occupational hazard rate.
Trade Credits and Bank Credits in International Trade: Substitutes or Complements?
Authors: Engemann Martina , Eck Katharina , Schnitzer Monika
Published: March 2014

Trade credits are an important financing tool for internationally active firms. This is surprising, as trade credits are generally more expensive than bank credits and thus a costly substitute for bank financing. In this paper, we investigate the relation between trade credits and bank credits for exporting firms. We develop a theoretical model and show that trade credits convey a quality signal which reduces the risk of the transaction and may thus facilitate obtaining additional bank credits. Hence, exporters who are not able to obtain bank credits in the first place use trade credits and bank credits complementarily. Using panel data on large German manufacturing firms, we provide supportive evidence for our theoretical predictions. In general, trade credits and bank credits are substitutes. For financially constrained exporters, the overall substitution effect is attenuated which is consistent with a positive signalling effect.
Hunting For Tularaemia – A Review of Cases in North Carolina
Authors: Rimawi R. H. , Shah K. B. , Chowdhary R. A. , Cook P. P.
Published: March 2014

Human infections with Francisella tularensis can be acquired via numerous routes, including ingestion, inhalation, arthropod bite or direct contact with infected animals. Since 1991, there have been 25 reported cases of tularaemia in North Carolina, most of which were associated with rabbit hunting or cat bites. We present two adults cases of pulmonary and oropharyngeal tularaemia and review the reported cases since 1991–2013. We also present the fifth case of pulmonary empyema. While cavitary pneumonias are primarily treated with drainage, we illustrate a case of cavitary pneumonia associated with tularaemia successfully treated with oral ciprofloxacin after drainage. Tularaemia should be considered in patients with a perplexing radiographic image, animal exposure and lack of response to conventional empiric broad‐spectrum antibiotics. Even in serious cases of pneumonic tularaemia, fluoroquinolones may provide a suitable alternative to aminoglycosides.
Discussion of “On the Role of Nonlinearities in Vibratory Energy Harvesting: A Critical Review and Discussion” (Daqaq, M., Masana, R., Erturk, A., and Quinn, D. D., 2014, ASME Appl. Mech. Rev., 66(4), p. 040801)
Authors: Mann B. P.
Published: March 2014

The authors have written a nice review on the purposeful use of nonlinearity in vibratory energy harvesting. The current limitations of batteries and advancements in low-power electronic devices are identified as two motivating factors for energy harvesting research. The underlying idea is that vibratory harvesters could replace batteries as a power source or even could enable new technologies. The authors identify the primary limitations associated with linear vibratory harvesters and describe several attempts, along with some of their pitfalls, to overcome these limitations. The article then provides a critical review of recent research focused on the use of nonlinearity to improve the performance of vibratory harvesters.
Brachytherapy structural shielding calculations using Monte Carlo generated, monoenergetic data
Authors: Zourari K. , Peppa V. , Ballester Facundo , Siebert Frank‐André , Papagiannis P.
Published: March 2014

Purpose:

To provide a method for calculating the transmission of any broad photon beam with a known energy spectrum in the range of 20–1090 keV, through concrete and lead, based on the superposition of corresponding monoenergetic data obtained from Monte Carlo simulation.

Methods:

MCNP5 was used to calculate broad photon beam transmission data through varying thickness of lead and concrete, for monoenergetic point sources of energy in the range pertinent to brachytherapy (20–1090 keV, in 10 keV intervals). The three parameter empirical model introduced by Archer et al. [“Diagnostic x‐ray shielding design based on an empirical model of photon attenuation,” Health Phys. 44, – (1983)] was used to describe the transmission curve for each of the 216 energy‐material combinations. These three parameters, and hence the transmission curve, for any polyenergetic spectrum can then be obtained by superposition along the lines of Kharrati et al. [“Monte Carlo simulation of x‐ray buildup factors of lead and its applications in shielding of diagnostic x‐ray facilities,” Med. Phys. 34, 1398–1404 (2007)]. A simple program, incorporating a graphical user interface, was developed to facilitate the superposition of monoenergetic data, the graphical and tabular display of broad photon beam transmission curves, and the calculation of material thickness required for a given transmission from these curves.

Results:

Polyenergetic broad photon beam transmission curves of this work, calculated from the superposition of monoenergetic data, are compared to corresponding results in the literature. A good agreement is observed with results in the literature obtained from Monte Carlo simulations for the photon spectra emitted from bare point sources of various radionuclides. Differences are observed with corresponding results in the literature for x‐ray spectra at various tube potentials, mainly due to the different broad beam conditions or x‐ray spectra assumed.

Conclusions:

The data of this work allow for the accurate calculation of structural shielding thickness, taking into account the spectral variation with shield thickness, and broad beam conditions, in a realistic geometry. The simplicity of calculations also obviates the need for the use of crude transmission data estimates such as the half and tenth value layer indices. Although this study was primarily designed for brachytherapy, results might also be useful for radiology and nuclear medicine facility design, provided broad beam conditions apply.
Mitosis Inhibits DNA Double-Strand Break Repair to Guard Against Telomere Fusions
Authors: Orthwein Alexandre , Fradet-Turcotte Amélie , Noordermeer Sylvie M. , Canny Marella D. , Brun Catherine M. , Strecker Jonathan , Escribano-Diaz Cristina , Durocher Daniel
Published: March 2014

Shutting Down Repair to Protect

Cells repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by halting the cell cycle and activating the machinery involved in mending the breaks. However, during mitosis neither the DNA damage checkpoint nor DSB repair occur, apparently leaving the cell extremely vulnerable to DSBs.

Orthwein
et al.

(p.
189
, published online 20 March) found that the DSB response was blocked by the phosphorylation of two crucial repair factors, RNF8 and PB531, preventing their recruitment to the site of damage. Restoring DSB repair during mitosis caused end-to-end chromosome fusions, which are catastrophic for chromosome segregation and normal cell division, explaining why the repair machinery is shut down during cell division.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii PKAB07 Clinical Strain from India Belonging to Sequence Type 195
Authors: Saranathan Rajagopalan , Tomar Archana , Sudhakar Pagal , Arunkumar K. P. , Prashanth K.
Published: March 2014

Acinetobacter baumannii
has emerged as one of the most common nosocomial pathogens and is considered to be a significant threat to public health worldwide. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant clinical strain of
A. baumannii
PKAB07 isolated from a wound infection in India during 2011 to 2012.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Naphthalene Degrader
Herbaspirillum
sp. Strain RV1423
Authors: Jauregui Ruy , Rodelas Belén , Geffers Robert , Boon Nico , Pieper Dietmar H. , Vilchez-Vargas Ramiro
Published: March 2014

Herbaspirillum
sp. strain RV1423 was isolated from a site contaminated with alkanes and aromatic compounds and harbors the complete pathway for naphthalene degradation. The new features found in RV1423 increase considerably the versatility and the catabolic potential of a genus of bacteria previously considered mainly to be diazotrophic endophytes to plants.
Developing a strategic research framework for Sport and Exercise Medicine
Authors: Holtzhausen Louis J , van Zyl Gert J , Nel Marietjie M
Published: March 2014

Background/aim

Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is a young, fast growing discipline. The need to broaden its evidence base has been established. The aim of the study was to compile a research-based strategic framework for the development of a sustainable research programme in SEM at a South African university.

Methods

A literature review, internal document analysis, semistructured interviews with role players within the university and a Delphi process utilising a panel of international and national experts in research and SEM, were applied. Results were analysed and categorised regarding foundational aspects and operational components to create a sustainable research programme in SEM.

Results

The foundational level of the framework consists of points of departure, premises and resources. Points of departure regarding SEM, the university, management, research and sustainability were identified. The premises for the research programme are relevance, currency, flexibility, implementability and a scientific base. Internal, institutional and external resources required by the programme were identified. The operational level was developed according to the W.K. Kellogg programme logic model. It consists of academic and management inputs; a central hub of activities which drives the programme; desired financial, human and academic outputs, and long-term qualitative and quantitative outcomes. The third level represents a sustainable research programme which is constantly monitored and reviewed.

Conclusions

The strategic framework provides guidelines for the development and sustainable management of an SEM research programme. It will make a substantial contribution to the research, further development, and ultimately the status of SEM in South Africa.
An educational approach to improve outcomes in acute kidney injury (AKI): report of a quality improvement project
Authors: Xu Gang , Baines Richard , Westacott Rachel , Selby Nick , Carr Susan
Published: March 2014

Objective

To assess the impact of a quality improvement project that used a multifaceted educational intervention on how to improve clinician's knowledge, confidence and awareness of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Setting

2 large acute teaching hospitals in England, serving a combined population of over 1.5 million people.

Participants

All secondary care clinicians working in the clinical areas were targeted, with a specific focus on clinicians working in acute admission areas.

Interventions

A multifaceted educational intervention consisting of traditional didactic lectures, case-based teaching in small groups and an interactive web-based learning resource.

Outcome measures

We assessed clinicians’ knowledge of AKI and their self-reported clinical behaviour using an interactive questionnaire before and after the educational intervention. Secondary outcome measures included clinical audit of patient notes before and after the intervention.

Results

26% of clinicians reported that they were aware of local AKI guidelines in the preintervention questionnaire compared to 64% in the follow-up questionnaire (χ²=60.2, p<0.001). There was an improvement in the number of clinicians reporting satisfactory practice when diagnosing AKI, 50% vs 68% (χ²=12.1, p<0.001) and investigating patients with AKI, 48% vs 64% (χ²=9.5, p=0.002). Clinical audit makers showed a trend towards better clinical practice.

Conclusions

This quality improvement project utilising a multifaceted educational intervention improved awareness of AKI as demonstrated by changes in the clinician's self-reported management of patients with AKI. Elements of the project have been sustained beyond the project period, and demonstrate the power of quality improvement projects to help initiate changes in practice. Our findings are limited by confounding factors and highlight the need to carry out formal randomised studies to determine the impact of educational initiatives in the clinical setting.
Associations between objectively assessed and self-reported sedentary time with mental health in adults: an analysis of data from the Health Survey for England
Authors: Hamer Mark , Coombs Ngaire , Stamatakis Emmanuel
Published: March 2014

Objective

There is increasing interest in the association between sedentary behaviour and mental health, although most studies have relied solely on self-reported measures, thus making results prone to various biases. The aim was to compare associations between objectively assessed and self-reported sedentary time with mental health in adults.

Setting

Community dwelling population sample drawn from the 2008 Health Survey for England.

Participants

11 658 (self-report analysis) and 1947 (objective data) men and women.

Primary outcome

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire was administered to assess psychological distress. Sedentary and physical activity (exposure) was objectively measured using accelerometers (Actigraph GT1M) worn around the waist during waking hours for seven consecutive days.

Results

The highest tertile of objective sedentary time was associated with higher risk of psychological distress (multivariate adjusted OR=1.74, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.83), as was the highest tertile of self-reported total sitting time (OR=1.34, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.56). Self-reported, but not objective, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was associated with lower risk of psychological distress. Only objective light-intensity activity was associated with lower risk of psychological distress.

Conclusions

Sedentary time is associated with adverse mental health.
Influence of the optical and recombination losses on the efficiency of CdS/CdTe solar cell at ultrathin absorber layer
Authors: Mohamed H. A.
Published: March 2014

The effect of low thickness of CdTe on optical, front, and back recombination losses and hence on the efficiency of a CdS/CdTe solar cell is studied theoretically in this work. It is found that the optical losses are about 23%–24% and depend weakly on CdTe thickness. The recombination losses are about 28% at dCdTe = 0.45 μm and decrease to 23% at dCdTe = 1.1 μm because the recombination losses have significant effects at thinner layers. The recorded efficiency is in the 9.5%–10.5% range corresponding to the thickness of CdTe of 0.45–1.1 μm and it is considered in good agreement with experimental results. The electron diffusion length is in the range of 1.6–15.8 μm and corresponds to 10−9–10−7 s of the electron lifetime is sufficient to make the current density reaches its maximum value (16.3 mA/cm2) at dCdTe = 1.1 μm with efficiency of 10.5%.When the CdTe thickness is assumed to be 5 μm, which is often used in the fabrication of CdTe-based solar cells, the calculated current density is about 20 mA/cm2 and the corresponding efficiency is 13%. The present results lead to the shrinking of the gap between the theoretical and practical results and contribute to improving the efficiency of CdS/CdTe cells in the future.
Demographic effects of artificial nighttime lighting on animal populations
Authors: Gaston Kevin J. , Bennie Jonathan
Published: March 2014

Artificial lighting, especially but not exclusively through street lights, has transformed the nighttime environment in much of the world. Impacts have been identified across multiple levels of biological organization and process. The influences, however, on population dynamics, particularly through the combined effects on the key demographic rates (immigration, births, deaths, emigration) that determine where individual species occur and in what numbers, have not previously been well characterized. The majority of attention explicitly on demographic parameters to date has been placed on the attraction of organisms to lights, and thus effectively local immigration, the large numbers of individuals that can be involved, and then to some extent the mortality that can often result. Some of the most important influences of nighttime lighting, however, are likely more subtle and less immediately apparent to the human observer. Particularly significant are effects of nighttime lighting on demography that act through (i) circadian clocks and photoperiodism and thence on birth rates; (ii) time partitioning and thence on death rates; and (iii) immigration/emigration through constraining the movements of individuals amongst habitat networks, especially as a consequence of continuously lit linear features such as roads and footpaths. Good model organisms are required to enable the relative consequences of such effects to be effectively determined, and a wider consideration of the effects of artificial light at night is needed in demographic studies across a range of species.
Validation of an efficient two-dimensional model for dense suspensions of red blood cells
Authors: Mountrakis Lampros , Lorenz Eric , Hoekstra Alfons G.
Published: March 2014

Many rheological properties of blood, along with transport properties of blood cells can be captured by means of modeling blood through its main constituents, red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma. In the current work, we present a fully resolved two-dimensional model for blood suspension flow, employing a discrete element model (DEM) for RBCs and coupling it to a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) fluid solver using the immersed boundary method (IBM). We identify an efficient computationally reduced mesoscopic representation of cells and flow, still able to recover essential physics and physiological phenomena. Our model is found to agree quantitatively with experimental findings. The Fåhræus–Lindqvist effect and shear thinning is recovered, while the thickness of the cell-free layer (CFL) matches the observations. In addition, we investigate the tank-treading frequency of a single RBC in shear flow along with the transition from tumbling to tank-treading, also matching experimental data.
Limitation of degree information for analyzing the interaction evolution in online social networks
Authors: Shang Ke-Ke , Yan Wei-Sheng , Xu Xiao-Ke
Published: March 2014

Previously many studies on online social networks simply analyze the static topology in which the friend relationship once established, then the links and nodes will not disappear, but this kind of static topology may not accurately reflect temporal interactions on online social services. In this study, we define four types of users and interactions in the interaction (dynamic) network. We found that active, disappeared, new and super nodes (users) have obviously different strength distribution properties and this result also can be revealed by the degree characteristics of the unweighted interaction and friendship (static) networks. However, the active, disappeared, new and super links (interactions) only can be reflected by the strength distribution in the weighted interaction network. This result indicates the limitation of the static topology data on analyzing social network evolutions. In addition, our study uncovers the approximately stable statistics for the dynamic social network in which there are a large variation for users and interaction intensity. Our findings not only verify the correctness of our definitions, but also helped to study the customer churn and evaluate the commercial value of valuable customers in online social networks.
Accuracy and grid convergence of wall shear stress measured by lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Kang Xiuying , Dun Zhiya
Published: March 2014

Based on a two-dimensional Poiseuille and Wormersley flow, accuracy and grid convergence of velocity, shear stress and wall shear stress (WSS) measurements were investigated using the single-relaxation-time (SRT) and multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann models under various open and wall boundary conditions. The results showed that grid convergence of shear stress and WSS are not consistent with that of velocity when flow channels are not aligned to the grids, and strongly rely on the used wall boundary conditions. And the MRT model is slightly superior to the SRT when simulating the complicated border flow. Moreover the WSS should be approximately calculated on the fluid nodes closest to walls under the curved boundary (CB) condition but not for the bounce-back (BB) boundary scheme. As applications, distributions of WSS in a wavy-walled channel and distensible carotid artery were simulated which would much more depend on local roughness of vessel intima than channel diameters.
Supernovae at the cosmic dawn
Authors: Chen Ke-Jung
Published: March 2014

Modern cosmological simulations predict that the first generation of stars formed with a mass scale around 100 M⊙about 300–400 million years after the Big Bang. When the first stars reached the end of their lives, many of them might have died as energetic supernovae (SNe) that could have significantly affected the early Universe via injecting large amounts of energy and metals into the primordial intergalactic medium. In this paper, we review the current models of the first SNe by discussing on the relevant background physics, computational methods and the latest results.
A density functional approach toward structural features and properties of C20…N2X2 (X = H, F, Cl, Br, Me) molecules
Authors: Ghiasi Reza , Fashami Morteza Zaman , Hakimioun Amir Hossein
Published: March 2014

In this work, the interaction of C 20 with N 2 X 2 ( X = H , F , Cl , Br , Me ) molecules has been explored using the B3LYP, M062x methods and 6-311G(d,p) and 6-311+G(d,p) basis sets. The interaction energies (IEs) obtained with standard method were corrected by basis set superposition error (BSSE) during the geometry optimization for all molecules at the same levels of theory. It was found C 20… N 2 H 2 interaction is stronger than the interaction of other N 2 X 2 ( X = F , Cl , Br , Me ) with C 20. Highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO and LUMO, respectively) levels are illustrated by density of states spectra (DOS). The nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICSs) confirm that C 20… N 2 X 2 molecules exhibit aromatic characteristics. Geometries obtained from DFT calculations were used to perform NBO analysis. Also, 14 N NQR parameters of the C 20… N 2 X 2 molecules are predicted.
EXISTENCE THEORY FOR THE KINETIC-FLUID COUPLING WHEN SMALL DROPLETS ARE TREATED AS PART OF THE FLUID
Authors: BENJELLOUN SAAD , DESVILLETTES LAURENT , MOUSSA AYMAN
Published: March 2014

We consider in this paper a spray constituted of an incompressible viscous gas and of small droplets which can breakup. This spray is modeled by the coupling (through a drag force term) of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equation and of the Vlasov–Boltzmann equation, together with a fragmentation kernel. We first show at the formal level that if the droplets are very small after the breakup, then the solutions of this system converge towards the solution of a simplified system in which the small droplets produced by the breakup are treated as part of the fluid. Then, existence of global weak solutions for this last system is shown to hold, thanks to the use of the DiPerna–Lions theory for singular transport equations, and a compactness lemma specifically tailored for our study.
DECAY PROPERTY FOR THE TIMOSHENKO SYSTEM WITH FOURIER'S TYPE HEAT CONDUCTION
Authors: MORI NAOFUMI , KAWASHIMA SHUICHI
Published: March 2014

We study the Timoshenko system with Fourier's type heat conduction in the one-dimensional (whole) space. We observe that the dissipative structure of the system is of the regularity-loss type, which is somewhat different from that of the dissipative Timoshenko system studied earlier by Ide–Haramoto–Kawashima. Moreover, we establish optimal L2decay estimates for general solutions. The proof is based on detailed pointwise estimates of solutions in the Fourier space. Also, we introuce here a refinement of the energy method employed by Ide–Haramoto–Kawashima for the dissipative Timoshenko system, which leads us to an improvement on their energy method.
ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER SYSTEMS WITH LINEAR COUPLING
Authors: ANTONELLI PAOLO , WEISHÄUPL RADA MARIA
Published: March 2014

A system of two coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations is investigated. In addition, a linear coupling which models an external driven field described by the Rabi frequency is considered. Asymptotics for large Rabi frequency are carried out and the convergence in the appropriate Strichartz space is proven. As a consequence, the global existence for the limiting system yields us a criterion for the long time behavior of the original system.
ENHANCING TRUST OR REDUCING PERCEIVED RISK, WHAT MATTERS MORE WHEN LAUNCHING A NEW PRODUCT?
Authors: NIENABER ANN-MARIE , SCHEWE GERHARD
Published: March 2014

Using a collection of data among 490 participants from different companies in the field of medical engineering market, we contribute to the role of contact intensity by a business partner when launching new products by introducing trust as a mediator to the concept of perceived risk reduction to enhance the relationship commitment. The findings show that the common concept of risk reduction to enhance the relationship commitment is overrated. In detail, the results show first, that the influence of trust on the relationship commitment is decisive instead of reducing perceived risk by the customer. The contact intensity is only important to enhance trust which influences the relationship commitment in a positive way. Hence, managers should concentrate on the development of trust and not on the reduction of perceived risk of the customer. Second, our findings demonstrate that the attitude whether the customer is averse of affine towards innovations has no influence on the relationship between contact intensity and relationship commitment. This is obviously the opposite of the findings of most researchers in literature who usually state customers need different contacts of the seller to purchase a new product depending on their attitude towards innovations.
AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS OF CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS AND INTELLIGENT SCORING
Authors: SHAHI AMIR MOHAMMAD , ISSAC BIJU , MODAPOTHALA JASHUA RAJESH
Published: March 2014

As more and more corporations and business entities have been publishing corporate sustainability reports, the current manual process of analyzing the reports is becoming obsolete and tedious. Development of an intelligent software tool to perform the report analysis task would be an ideal solution to this long standing problem. In this paper we argue that, given sufficient quality training using a custom corpus, corporate sustainability reports can be analyzed in mass numbers using a supervised learning based text mining software. We also discuss our methodologies of improving the accuracy of our classifier as well as the feature selector in order to gain better performance and more stability. Additionally, the achieved results of executing the developed software on one hundred reports are discussed in order to prove our claims.
EVOLUTION OF PLASMOID-CHAIN IN POYNTING-DOMINATED PLASMA
Authors: TAKAMOTO MAKOTO
Published: March 2014

We present our recent results of the evolution of the plasmoid-chain in a Poynting dominated plasma. We model the relativistic current sheet with cold background plasma using the relativistic resistive magnetohydrodynamic approximation, and solve its temporal evolution numerically. Numerical results show that the initially induced plasmoid triggers a secondary tearing instability. We find the plasmoid-chain greatly enhances the reconnection rate, which becomes independent of the Lundquist number, when this exceeds a critical value. Since magnetic reconnection is expected to play an important role in various high energy astrophysical phenomena, our results can be used for explaining the physical mechanism of them.