bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spray‐deposited carbon‐nanotube counter‐electrodes for dye‐sensitized solar cells
Authors: Siuzdak Katarzyna , Klein Maciej , Sawczak Mirosław , Wróblewski Grzegorz , Słoma Marcin , Jakubowska Małgorzata , Cenian Adam
Published: December 2015

Carbon nanotubes due to their catalytic properties are a promising alternative to platinum counter electrodes (CE) for dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSC). In this study, counter electrodes were made from double‐walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT) ink using the spray printing technique and afterwards they were thermally treated at temperatures ranging from 120 to 300 °C. Morphology and structure was studied using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. DSSCs were constructed from titanium‐dioxide photoanodes and DWCNT counter electrodes cured at various temperatures. The current–voltage characteristics of DSSCs and their impedance spectra recorded under illumination have been studied and compared. The photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell reached a maximum value of 4.59% when the carbon layer was thermally treated at 300 °C and is 16% higher than that registered for devices with a standard platinum counter electrode.
Effect of indium in Al0.65Ga0.35N/Al0.8Ga0.2N MQWs for the development of deep‐UV laser structures in the form of graded‐index separate confinement heterostructure (GRINSCH)
Authors: Sun Haiding , Pecora Emanuele Francesco , Woodward Jeff , Smith David J. , Dal Negro Luca , Moustakas Theodore D.
Published: December 2015

AlGaN‐based graded‐index‐separate‐confinement‐heterostructures (GRINSCHs) with Al0.65Ga0.35N/Al0.8Ga0.2N MQWs in their active region were grown by plasma‐assisted MBE on (0001) 6H‐SiC substrates. The MQWs were grown under excess Ga. Indium flux was used in addition in some of the samples in order to study the role of indium on the growth mode of such MQWs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides evidence that the bottom compositionally graded AlGaN layer in the GRINSCH structure may also be serving as a strain transition buffer layer, by blocking threading defects in the vicinity of the AlN/AlGaN heterointerface. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) indicates that the interfaces in the MQWs grown in the presence of indium are sharper. However, photoluminescence (PL) studies indicate evidence of stimulated emission at relatively low threshold only in the sample grown without indium, which is attributed to deep band structure potential fluctuations in this sample. The presence of indium during growth led to more homogeneous AlGaN MQWs, which require higher excitation flux to produce population inversion.
Ueber die Natur der Farbzentren in Alkalihalogenid‐Kristallen
Authors: de Boer J. H.
Published: December 2015

Die früher anerkannte Auffassung der Farbzentren als neutrale Alkaliatome, die innerhalb des Gitters an inneren Oberflächen adsorbiert sind, gibt u.a. Schwierigkeiten bei der Erklärung der von Mollwo gefundenen Gleichgewichtskonzentrationen (§1). Schottky hat darauf hingewiesen, dass die “Ionenlöcher” und “assoziierten Löcherpaare”, die zur Erklärung der Ionenleitung und Diffusion in Alkalihalogenidkristalle angenommen werden müssen (§ 2), eine Bedeutung haben können für die Anlagerung von Farbzentren (§4). Die nicht besetzten Elektronenniveaus der Valenzelektronen der Alkaliionen, die sich neben diesen Löchern befinden (Fig. 1), liegen niedriger als das erste leere Band des Gitters (Fig. 2), während die höchsten besetzten Niveaus der Chlorionen, die sich neben den Löchern befinden, höher liegen als das höchste besetzte Band des Gitters (§ 3). Bei Lichtabsorption (in dem langwelligen Ausläufer der Absorptionsbande) oder bei Eindiffusion von Elektronen (und Alkaliionen) bilden sich die Farbzentren als neutrale Alkaliatome, die neben sich ein Halogenionenloch haben (§ 4). Sowohl die Einheitlichkeit und Reproduzierbarkeit der Absorptionsbanden der Farbzentren, wie auch die Gleichgewichtskonzentrationen können mit diesem Bild verstanden werden (§ 5). Fremde Gitterstörungen aller Art können auch Anlagestellen für Farbzentren bilden; die Absorptionsbanden werden dann verbreitert oder verschoben, die Gleichgewichtskonzentrationen überschritten (§ 5).
3:5‐dinitro‐4‐methyl‐benzazide as a reagent for the identification of phenols
Authors: Sah Peter P. T.
Published: December 2015

Thirty‐three crystalline urethanes were prepared by the condensation of the new reagent, 3:5‐dinitro‐4‐methyl‐benzazide, in boiling ligroin solution with various phenols. The very high yields of the 3:5‐dinitro‐4‐methylphenyl‐urethanes obtained from the reaction and the excellent properties of these derivatives, indicated that 3:5‐dinitro‐4‐methyl‐benzazide is an excellent micro‐reagent for the identification of phenols.
3,5‐Dinitro‐4‐methylbenzazide as a reagent for the identification of amines
Authors: Sah Peter P. T.
Published: December 2015

Fifty crystalline 3,5‐dinitro‐4‐methylphenyl‐ureas were prepared by the condensation of 3,5‐dinitro‐4‐methylbenzazide with various types of amines in boiling toluene solution. The yields were in general exceedingly high, such that only 20 to 30 mg of the reagent used was sufficient to produce enough condensation product for a melting point determination and an examination of the crystal‐form.
The condensation of olefines and paraffins by means of sulphuric acid
Authors: Waterman H. I. , Leendertse J. J. , Hesselink R.
Published: December 2015

The interaction of “trimethylethene” and isopentane at 0‐9° C using 98%‐sulphuric acid as a catalyst was studied quantitatively.

When a hydrocarbon mixture containing 3 volumes of isopentane to 1 volume of pentene was used as a raw material for the experiment, the yield of products with a molecular weight higher than the molecular weight of the raw materials was very good, and the products were practically completely saturated. From the specific refraction in connection with the molecular weight of the products it could be deduced that cyclic compounds were completely or almost completely absent from the reaction products; therefore the main type of reaction was a condensation of paraffins and olefines. However, even under the mild reaction conditions described, the sulphuric acid has any important destructive action, the reaction product contained some percents of isobutane. The reactions occur very rapidly, and the catalyst could be used for several experiments without decreasing in activity. When a smaller ratio isopentane: isopentene was used, the reaction products were less saturated, and the yields proved to be much smaller.
Transmissivity as a Primary Metric for LNAPL Recovery—Case Study Comparison of Short‐Term vs. Long‐Term Methods
Authors: Nagaiah Manivannan , Law Dennis R. , Ueland Steven
Published: December 2015

This article presents a case study and comparative analysis of light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) transmissivity estimated using short‐ and long‐term test methods at an active petroleum refinery. LNAPL transmissivity (Tn) is a recognized direct indicator of LNAPL recoverability with increasing acceptance by regulatory agencies. Historical releases at a refinery resulted in widespread LNAPL accumulations across the site and, as such, a focused approach is being implemented to enhance recovery, shorten remedial timeframes, and prioritize areas for recovery. Groundwater pumping systems operate continuously to maintain hydraulic containment of impacts, along with 12 LNAPL recovery systems. Transmissivity has been established as a primary metric and management tool for LNAPL recovery at the refinery. In this case study, estimated transmissivity values from short‐term data (baildown testing) and long‐term data (LNAPL skimming operations) from the same locations are analyzed and compared. Overall results are presented with respect to variations in transmissivities between the short‐ and long‐term tests, significance of data collection and quality, and consideration factors affecting transmissivity including fluid properties, soil types, hydrogeology, saturation levels, tidal effects, migration rates, and receptor risks. Additionally, the application of transmissivity as a metric for monitoring progress toward LNAPL recovery endpoints as part of the LNAPL remediation program development is discussed. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Resilience: A New Consideration for Environmental Remediation in an Era of Climate Change
Authors: O'Connell Shannon , Hou Deyi
Published: December 2015

There has been a growing movement within the environmental industry to develop more sustainable approaches in environmental remediation. These have generally included carbon footprint analysis, life cycle assessment, and best management practices to reduce the overall net environmental, social, and economic impacts of investigation and remediation activities. One of the foundational reasons net environmental impacts are currently evaluated is to identify and, subsequently, reduce contributions to climate change, primarily greenhouse gas emissions. While this trend toward sustainability and reduction in impact to the global environment is both important and admirable, the approach to remediation design and long‐term planning now needs to evolve further to better incorporate climate resilience into sustainable remediation design and implementation: designing remediation solutions that account for the projected impacts of climate change, as well as have the capacity to adapt to changing conditions. As a global population, we are now beyond the point of being able to prevent climate change and instead need to plan for adapting to it. In remediation, the effects of climate change create both risks and opportunities which should be considered during remedial design and long‐term planning. Responsible parties may see the push for—and management of—these considerations through their internal corporate risk management. The authors of this paper propose a simple framework for climate adaptation and resilience evaluations and plan development for remediation projects. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functional assessment and structural basis of antibody binding to human papillomavirus capsid
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Li Shaowei , Modis Yorgo , Li Zhihai , Zhang Jun , Xia Ningshao , Zhao Qinjian
Published: December 2015

Persistent high‐risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is linked to cervical cancer. Two prophylactic virus‐like particle (VLP)‐based vaccines have been marketed globally for nearly a decade. Here, we review the HPV pseudovirion (PsV)‐based assays for the functional assessment of the HPV neutralizing antibodies and the structural basis for these clinically relevant epitopes. The PsV‐based neutralization assay was developed to evaluate the efficacy of neutralization antibodies in sera elicited by vaccination or natural infection or to assess the functional characteristics of monoclonal antibodies. Different antibody binding modes were observed when an antibody was complexed with virions, PsVs or VLPs. The neutralizing epitopes are localized on surface loops of the L1 capsid protein, at various locations on the capsomere. Different neutralization antibodies exert their neutralizing function via different mechanisms. Some antibodies neutralize the virions by inducing conformational changes in the viral capsid, which can result in concealing the binding site for a cellular receptor like 1A1D‐2 against dengue virus, or inducing premature genome release like E18 against enterovirus 71. Higher‐resolution details on the epitope composition of HPV neutralizing antibodies would shed light on the structural basis of the highly efficacious vaccines and aid the design of next generation vaccines. In‐depth understanding of epitope composition would ensure the development of function‐indicating assays for the comparability exercise to support process improvement or process scale up. Elucidation of the structural elements of the type‐specific epitopes would enable rational design of cross‐type neutralization via epitope re‐engineering or epitope grafting in hybrid VLPs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Finite‐time formation tracking control for multiple vehicles: A motion planning approach
Authors: Liu Yongfang , Zhao Yu , Chen Guanrong
Published: December 2015

This paper addresses the finite‐time formation tracking problem for multiple vehicles with dynamics model on SE(3) (the specific Euclidean group of rigid body motions), under the condition that the tracking time is preassigned according to the task requirements. By using Pontryagin's maximum principle on Lie groups, a class of finite‐time optimal tracking control laws are designed for vehicles to track a desired trajectory within a given finite time. Meanwhile, the corresponding cost function is minimized. Furthermore, a tracking‐time lower bound is derived for multi‐vehicle systems with control constraints. Finally, an illustrative example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A hybrid image encryption algorithm using chaos and Conway's game‐of‐life cellular automata
Authors: Murugan Brindha , Nanjappa Gounder Ammasai Gounden , Manohar Sriram
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a new image encryption algorithm employing the combination of chaos and cellular automata is proposed. The proposed algorithm consists of both permutation and diffusion stages. While the permutation process is carried out using logistic map and Conway's game‐of‐life cellular automata, the diffusion process is carried out using Chebyshev map and Lorenz equation. Further, a complex matrix generated from the plain image is used as an additional component in the diffusion process, which enables the encrypted image to exhibit a strong sensitivity to the input image. The proposed algorithm has been tested with various input images, and the performance is compared with other existing algorithms. The performance metrics obtained on the developed algorithm such as high key space, ideal number of pixels change rate and unified average changing intensity values, and very less correlation among the adjacent pixels demonstrate the high effectiveness and security features of the proposed algorithm. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Attribution of extreme weather and climate‐related events
Authors: Stott Peter A. , Christidis Nikolaos , Otto Friederike E. L. , Sun Ying , Vanderlinden Jean‐Paul , van Oldenborgh Geert Jan , Vautard Robert , von Storch Hans , Walton Peter , Yiou Pascal , Zwiers Francis W.
Published: December 2015

Extreme weather and climate‐related events occur in a particular place, by definition, infrequently. It is therefore challenging to detect systematic changes in their occurrence given the relative shortness of observational records. However, there is a clear interest from outside the climate science community in the extent to which recent damaging extreme events can be linked to human‐induced climate change or natural climate variability. Event attribution studies seek to determine to what extent anthropogenic climate change has altered the probability or magnitude of particular events. They have shown clear evidence for human influence having increased the probability of many extremely warm seasonal temperatures and reduced the probability of extremely cold seasonal temperatures in many parts of the world. The evidence for human influence on the probability of extreme precipitation events, droughts, and storms is more mixed. Although the science of event attribution has developed rapidly in recent years, geographical coverage of events remains patchy and based on the interests and capabilities of individual research groups. The development of operational event attribution would allow a more timely and methodical production of attribution assessments than currently obtained on an ad hoc basis. For event attribution assessments to be most useful, remaining scientific uncertainties need to be robustly assessed and the results clearly communicated. This requires the continuing development of methodologies to assess the reliability of event attribution results and further work to understand the potential utility of event attribution for stakeholder groups and decision makers. WIREs Clim Change 2016, 7:23–41. doi: 10.1002/wcc.380

This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Detection and Attribution

Climate Models and Modeling > Knowledge Generation with Models
Guidelines for studying developmental prosopagnosia in adults and children
Authors: Dalrymple Kirsten A. , Palermo Romina
Published: December 2015

Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by severe face identity recognition problems that results from a failure to develop the mechanisms necessary for adequate face processing (Duchaine BC, Nakayama K. Developmental prosopagnosia: a window to content‐specific face processing. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2006, 16:166–173.). It occurs in children and adults with normal visual acuity, and without intellectual impairments or known brain injuries. Given the importance of face recognition in daily life, and the detrimental effects of impaired face recognition, DP is an important area of study. Yet conventions for classifying individuals as DP for research purposes are poorly defined. In this focus paper, we discuss: (1) criteria for an operational definition of DP; 2) tests of face recognition and conventions for classifying individuals as DP; and 3) important considerations regarding common associations and dissociations, and cognitive heterogeneity in DP. We also highlight issues unique to studying DP in children, a relatively new endeavor that is proving to be an important complement to the work with adults. Ultimately, we hope to identify challenges researchers face when studying DP, and offer guidelines for others to consider when embarking on their own research pursuits on the topic. WIREs Cogn Sci 2016, 7:73–87. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1374

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction

Psychology > Development and Aging

Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics
Hydrometrocolpos: A Lower Mesodermal Defects Sequence
Authors: Bodduluri Vijaya Lakshmi , Srinivasan Lata
Published: December 2015

Hydrometrocolpos is a rare congenital disorder, which can present prenatally or after birth. It can be isolated or associated with other abnormalities. The abnormalities associated with hydrometrocolpos can be primary or secondary. Primary abnormalities arise from disruption of embryological processes while secondary abnormalities arise from the pressure effects of the distended vagina and uterus on adjacent organs. An analysis of autopsy findings of four cases of hydrometrocolpos at our center has shown a nonrandom association of certain congenital abnormalities. These abnormalities involve structures arising from the infraumbilical intraembryonic mesoderm. A primary developmental failure or secondary disruption of normally formed tissues results in this condition called lower mesodermal defects sequence. Identification of this condition is important in prognostication and counseling parents.
NF‐κB acts as a multifunctional modulator in bone invasion by oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Jimi Eijiro , Kokabu Shoichiro , Matsubara Takuma , Nakatomi Chihiro , Matsuo Kou , Watanabe Seiji
Published: December 2015

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumor in the oral cavity and the head and neck region. Gingival squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) frequently invade the maxilla or the mandibular bone and are associated with poor prognosis. Recent findings suggest that osteoclasts, rather than OSCC cells, mediate invasion to the bone. Nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) is constitutively activated in OSCCs and is involved in promoting the invasive characteristics of OSCC. NF‐κB activation is also important for receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclastogenesis. NF‐κB inhibitors suppress proliferation and stimulate apoptosis of OSCC cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as inhibit matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production in OSCC. Furthermore, NF‐κB inhibitors have been shown to suppress osteoclastogenesis by reducing RANKL expression in animal models. Thus, inhibition of NF‐κB activity may constitute a promising therapeutic approach to treat bone‐invasive OSCC. In this review, we discuss recent findings, which suggest that bone invasion in OSCC is mediated via NF‐κB signaling and may be successfully prevented by NF‐κB inhibition.
Teach an I-O To Fish: Integrating Data Science Into I-O Graduate Education
Authors: Aiken Juliet R. , Hanges Paul J.
Published: December 2015

Big data is becoming a buzzword in today's corporate language and lay discussions. From individually targeting advertising based on previous consumer behavior or Internet searches to debates by Congress concerning National Security Agency (NSA) access to phone metadata, the era of big data has arrived. Thus, the Guzzo, Fink, King, Tonidandel, and Landis (2015) discussion of the challenges (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent) that big data projects present to industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists is timely. If the hype associated with these techniques is warranted, then our field has a clear imperative to debate the ethics and best practices surrounding use of these techniques. We believe that Guzzo et al. have done our field a service by starting this discussion.
Thinking Big About Big Data
Authors: Wax Amy , Asencio Raquel , Carter Dorothy R.
Published: December 2015

Guzzo, Fink, King, Tonidandel, and Landis (2015) review important issues—privacy, informed consent, and data/data analysis integrity—that are critical logistical considerations in any program of research with human subjects, including studies utilizing big data. Overall, we agree with the cautionary sentiment conveyed throughout the focal article; industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology researchers and practitioners should not assume that big data is a panacea, and many of our established disciplinary approaches for ensuring ethical and accurate research are applicable—or modifiable—in big data contexts. However, we believe that the conversation about big data in I-O psychology is broader than that reviewed by Guzzo et al., and we would like to further elaborate on the focal article. We present this commentary from our perspective as junior scholars entering the field at a critical time—a time when I-O psychology is becoming increasingly intertwined with big data science.
Little Teams, Big Data: Big Data Provides New Opportunities for TeamsTheory
Authors: Carter Dorothy R. , Asencio Raquel , Wax Amy , DeChurch Leslie A. , Contractor Noshir S.
Published: December 2015

Over the past 25 years, industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists have made great strides forward in the area of teams research. They have developed and tested meso-level theories that explain and predict the behavior of individuals in teams and teams operating within and across organizations. The continued contributions of I-O psychologists to theory and research on teams require us to address the challenges—several of which were well described in the focal article (Guzzo, Fink, King, Tonidandel, & Landis, 2015)—and embrace the opportunities that are being ushered in by big and broad data streams (Hendler, 2013). We suggest that a principal unique value add of the I-O psychologist to the basic scientific endeavor of understanding small teams comes in the form oftheory—theories that explain why, when, how, and to what end individuals form relationships needed for teams to function in unison toward the accomplishment of collective goals. Some have argued that the big data revolution means “the end of theory,” suggesting petabyte data render theoretical models obsolete (Anderson, 2008). On the contrary, we submit that big-data enabled social science holds the promise of rapid progress in social science theory, particularly in the area of teams.
A Deeper Dive Into the Relationship Between Personality, Culture, and Mindfulness
Authors: Dreison Kimberly C. , Salyers Michelle P. , Sliter Michael T.
Published: December 2015

The focal article by Hyland, Lee, and Mills (2015) ends with several important questions and suggestions for future research. Although the review opens new avenues of investigation for industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists, the treatment of two questions may leave readers with the impression that research in these areas is nonexistent. Specifically, the authors posed the following inquiries: (a) Is mindfulness good for everyone (across personality and culture), and (b) is it appropriate to introduce mindfulness into the workplace? As a result, our commentary delves deeper into the current literature to investigate these questions, examining who is best served by mindfulness interventions (i.e., the relationship between personality traits and outcomes) and how cultural factors can facilitate success—or failure—of mindfulness programs. Following this examination, we address the question of whether mindfulness is a suitable workplace intervention and caution against a one-size-fits-all approach that may fail to target specific organizational and employee needs. In so doing, this commentary furthers the goal of the focal article, in which the authors expressed a hope for the I-O community to develop “a more comprehensive understanding of what we know—and what we still need to learn—about mindfulness at work” (Hyland et al., 2015, p. 578).
The Quiet Ego: Assuaging Organizational Concerns About Mindfulness
Authors: Huffman Ann Hergatt , Irving Louis H. , Wayment Heidi A.
Published: December 2015

Hyland, Lee, and Mills (2015) provide ample evidence regarding the value of mindfulness to individuals and the industrial–organizational community as a whole. However, as they noted, mindfulness programs and practices have not yet found widespread implementation among businesses and other organizations. Hyland et al. suggest two primary reasons for this. First, the move toward a nonjudgmental, presently aware, and accepting mind is a tall order for most individuals in our Western society who are heavily conditioned to be relatively self-interested, judgmental, and future oriented. Second, typical mindfulness programs (e.g., mindfulness based stress reduction; MBSR) may be too costly and time consuming for organizations.
Beneficence and non-maleficence: confidentiality and carers in psychiatry
Authors: Casey P.
Published: December 2015

The editorial considers how psychiatrists can deal with concerns relating to confidentiality that are prominent in patients and their carers. Confidentiality is paramount but there are situations when it can be breached. Some of these relate to emergency situations, others apply in less compelling circumstances. The ethical principles relating to confidentiality will be discussed. An assessment of capacity is central to the person’s ability to consent/refuse information gathering or disclosure. Even when capacity is present, there are strategies that psychiatrists can use to respect patient autonomy while meeting the needs of carers. The possibility of training in negotiating these should be considered, as should advance directives.
A two-dimensional depth-averaged -rheology for dense granular avalanches
Authors: Baker J. L. , Barker T. , Gray J. M. N. T.
Published: December 2015

Steady uniform granular chute flows are common in industry and provide an important test case for new theoretical models. This paper introduces depth-integrated viscous terms into the momentum-balance equations by extending the recent depth-averaged ${\it\mu}(I)$-rheology for dense granular flows to two spatial dimensions, using the principle of material frame indifference or objectivity. Scaling the cross-slope coordinate on the width of the channel and the velocity on the one-dimensional steady uniform solution, we show that the steady two-dimensional downslope velocity profile is independent of scale. The only controlling parameters are the channel aspect ratio, the slope inclination angle and the frictional properties of the chute and the sidewalls. Solutions are constructed for both no-slip conditions and for a constant Coulomb friction at the walls. For narrow chutes, a pronounced parabolic-like depth-averaged downstream velocity profile develops. However, for very wide channels, the flow is almost uniform with narrow boundary layers close to the sidewalls. Both of these cases are in direct contrast to conventional inviscid avalanche models, which do not develop a cross-slope profile. Steady-state numerical solutions to the full three-dimensional ${\it\mu}(I)$-rheology are computed using the finite element method. It is shown that these solutions are also independent of scale. For sufficiently shallow channels, the depth-averaged velocity profile computed from the full solution is in excellent agreement with the results of the depth-averaged theory. The full downstream velocity can be reconstructed from the depth-averaged theory by assuming a Bagnold-like velocity profile with depth. For wide chutes, this is very close to the results of the full three-dimensional calculation. For experimental validation, a laser profilometer and balance are used to determine the relationship between the total mass flux in the chute and the flow thickness for a range of slope angles and channel widths, and particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to record the corresponding surface velocity profiles. The measured values are in good quantitative agreement with reconstructed solutions to the new depth-averaged theory.
Rings Characterized via a Class of Left Exact Preradicals
Authors: Er Noyan
Published: December 2015

For two modules M and N, iM(N) stands for the largest submodule of N relative to which M is injective. For any module M, iM: Mod-R → Mod-R thus defines a left exact preradical, and iM(M) is quasi-injective. Classes of ring including strongly prime, semi-Artinian rings and those with no middle class are characterized using this functor: a ring R is semi-simple or right strongly prime if and only if for any right R-module M, iM(R) = R or 0, extending a result of Rubin; R is a right QI-ring if and only if R has the ascending chain condition (a.c.c.) on essential right ideals and iM is a radical for each M ∈ Mod-R (the a.c.c. is not redundant), extending a partial answer of Dauns and Zhou to a long-standing open problem. Also discussed are rings close to those with no middle class.
Bounding the Diameter of the Brauer Graph of a Block of a Solvable Group
Authors: Cossey James P. , Lewis Mark L.
Published: December 2015

We define several graphs related to the p-blocks of a solvable group. We bound the diameter of these graphs when the defect group associated with the block is either abelian or normal and when the group has odd order. We give examples to show that these bounds are met.
Giant basal cell carcinoma of the face: surgical management and challenges for reconstruction
Authors: Maimaiti A , Mijiti A , Yarbag A , Moming A
Published: December 2015

Background:

Giant basal cell carcinoma, in which the tumour measures 5 cm or greater in diameter, is a very rare skin malignancy that accounts for less than 1 per cent of all basal cell tumours. Very few studies have reported on the incidence, resection and reconstruction of this lesion worldwide.

Methods:

In total, 17 patients with giant basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck region underwent surgical excision and reconstruction at our hospital. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed and analysed.

Results:

The lesion was usually in the forehead, eyelid, lips or nasal-cheek region. The greatest diameter ranged from 5 to 11 cm, with 5–6 cm being the most common size at the time of presentation. All patients had their tumour resected and reconstructed in a single-stage procedure, mostly with a local advancement flap, and with no post-operative flap failure.

Conclusion:

Giant basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck can be successfully treated with a local flap in a single-stage approach.
Healthcare provider contact for children with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing: a population survey
Authors: Gudnadottir G , Ehnhage A , Bende M , Andersson M , Cervin A , Cardell L O , Hellgren J
Published: December 2015

Background:

Symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in children, such as frequent snoring, apnoea and choking, may lead to health problems if untreated. The caregiver's level of awareness of these symptoms has been poorly studied. This study aimed to study healthcare provider contact related to sleep-disordered breathing symptoms in a population of children aged 0–11 years.

Methods:

A total of 1320 children were randomly selected from a national database that included all children living in Sweden. Caregivers answered a questionnaire about sleep-disordered breathing symptoms during the last month and healthcare provider contact related to these symptoms.

Results:

A total of 754 answers were received. The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing symptoms was 4.8 per cent. Of this subgroup, 69 per cent had not been in contact with a healthcare provider regarding their symptoms.

Conclusion:

This study shows that sleep-disordered breathing in children is underestimated and that there is a need to increase caregiver and healthcare provider awareness of sleep-disordered breathing in children.
Geopolitics, social forces, and the international: Revisiting the ‘Eastern Question’
Authors: Tansel Cemal Burak
Published: December 2015

This article contributes to current debates in materialist geopolitics and contemporary IR theorising by restating the centrality of social forces for conceptualising geopolitics. It does so by offering a detailed conceptual reading of the corpus of the ‘Eastern Question’, which is composed of a series of political analyses written by Marx and Engels in the period of 1853–6. This archive presents unique analytical and conceptual insights beyond the immediate temporal scope of the issue. I unpack this argument in three movements. The article (i) offers an overview of the debates on materialist geopolitics; (ii) contextualises the historical setting of the ‘Eastern Question’ and critically evaluates the great powers’ commitment to the Europeanstatus quo; and (iii) constructs an original engagement with a largely overlooked corpus to reveal the ways in which Marx and Engels demonstrated the interwoven relationship between domestic class interests, the state, and the international system. I maintain that revisiting the ‘Eastern Question’ corpus (i) bolsters the existing materialist frameworks by underscoring the role of class as an analytical category; (ii) challenges an important historical pillar of the balance of power argument; and (iii) empirically strengthens the burgeoning scholarship in international historical sociology.
Prehospital Spinal Immobilization: Effect of Effort on Kinematics of Voluntary Head-neck Motion Assessed using Accelerometry
Authors: Pryce Rob , McDonald Neil
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Standards for immobilizing potentially spine-injured patients in the prehospital environment are evolving. Current guidelines call for more research into treatment practices. Available research into spinal immobilization (SI) reveals a number of limitations.

Problem

There are currently few techniques for measuring head and neck motion that address identified limitations and can be adapted to clinically relevant scenarios. This study investigates one possible method.

Methods

Study participants were fitted with miniaturized accelerometers to record head motion. Participants were exposed to three levels of restraint: none, cervical-collar only, and full immobilization. In each condition, participants were instructed to move in single planes, with multiple iterations at each of four levels of effort. Participants were also instructed to move continuously in multiple planes, with iterations at each of three levels of simulated patient movement. Peak and average displacement and acceleration were calculated for each immobilization condition and level of effort. Comparisons were made with video-based measurement. Participant characteristics also were tracked.

Results

Acceleration and displacement of the head increased with effort and decreased with more restraint. In some conditions, participants generated measurable acceleration with minimal displacement. Continuous, multi-dimensional motions produced greater displacement and acceleration than single-plane motions under similar conditions.

Conclusion

Study results suggest a number of findings: acceleration complements displacement as a measure of motion in potentially spine-injured patients; participant effort has an effect on outcome measures; and continuous, multi-dimensional motion can produce results that differ from single-plane motions. Miniaturized accelerometers are a promising technology for future research to investigate these findings in realistic, clinically relevant scenarios.

PryceR, McDonaldN. Prehospital spinal immobilization: effect of effort on kinematics of voluntary head-neck motion assessed using accelerometry. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(1):36–42.
The effectiveness of communication-skills training interventions in end-of-life noncancer care in acute hospital-based services: A systematic review
Authors: Lord Laura , Clark-Carter David , Grove Amy
Published: December 2015

Objective:

A systematic review was conducted in order to explore the effectiveness of communication-skills training interventions in end-of-life care with noncancer acute-based healthcare staff.

Method:

Articles were included if they (1) focused on communication-skills training in end-of-life/palliative care for noncancer acute-based staff and (2) reported an outcome related to behavior change with regard to communication. Sixteen online databases were searched, which resulted in 4,038 potential articles. Screening of titles left 393 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Abstracts (n = 346) and full-text articles (n = 47) were reviewed, leaving 10 papers that met the criteria for our review. All articles explored the effect of communication-skills training on aspects of staff behavior; one study measured the effect on self-efficacy, another explored the impact on knowledge and competence, and another measured comfort levels in discussing the end of life with patients/families. Seven studies measured a number of outcomes, including confidence, attitude, preparedness, stress, and communication skills.

Results:

Few studies have focused on end-of-life communication-skills training in noncancer acute-based services. Those that do have report positive effects on staff behavior with regard to communication about the end of life with patients and families. The studies varied in terms of the population studied and the health services involved, and they scored only moderately or weakly on quality. It is a challenge to draw a definite conclusion about the effectiveness of training interventions in end-of-life communication because of this. However, the findings from our review demonstrate the potential effectiveness of a range of training interventions with healthcare professionals on confidence, attitude, self-efficacy, and communication skills.

Significance of results:

Further research is needed to fully explore the effectiveness of existing training interventions in this population, and evidence using objective measures is particularly needed. Ideally, randomized controlled trials or studies using control groups and longer follow-ups are needed to test the effectiveness of interventions.
Effect of localization on the stability of mutualistic ecological networks
Authors: Suweis Samir , Grilli Jacopo , Banavar Jayanth R. , Allesina Stefano , Maritan Amos
Published: December 2015

The relationships between the core–periphery architecture of the species interaction network and the mechanisms ensuring the stability in mutualistic ecological communities are still unclear. In particular, most studies have focused their attention on asymptotic resilience or persistence, neglecting how perturbations propagate through the system. Here we develop a theoretical framework to evaluate the relationship between the architecture of the interaction networks and the impact of perturbations by studying localization, a measure describing the ability of the perturbation to propagate through the network. We show that mutualistic ecological communities are localized, and localization reduces perturbation propagation and attenuates its impact on species abundance. Localization depends on the topology of the interaction networks, and it positively correlates with the variance of the weighted degree distribution, a signature of the network topological heterogeneity. Our results provide a different perspective on the interplay between the architecture of interaction networks in mutualistic communities and their stability.
ATP hydrolysis assists phosphate release and promotes reaction ordering in F1-ATPase
Authors: Li Chun-Biu , Ueno Hiroshi , Watanabe Rikiya , Noji Hiroyuki , Komatsuzaki Tamiki
Published: December 2015

F1-ATPase (F1) is a rotary motor protein that can efficiently convert chemical energy to mechanical work of rotation via fine coordination of its conformational motions and reaction sequences. Compared with reactant binding and product release, the ATP hydrolysis has relatively little contributions to the torque and chemical energy generation. To scrutinize possible roles of ATP hydrolysis, we investigate the detailed statistics of the catalytic dwells from high-speed single wild-type F1 observations. Here we report a small rotation during the catalytic dwell triggered by the ATP hydrolysis that is indiscernible in previous studies. Moreover, we find in freely rotating F1 that ATP hydrolysis is followed by the release of inorganic phosphate with low synthesis rates. Finally, we propose functional roles of the ATP hydrolysis as a key to kinetically unlock the subsequent phosphate release and promote the correct reaction ordering.
Fish oil intake induces UCP1 upregulation in brown and white adipose tissue via the sympathetic nervous system
Authors: Kim Minji , Goto Tsuyoshi , Yu Rina , Uchida Kunitoshi , Tominaga Makoto , Kano Yuriko , Takahashi Nobuyuki , Kawada Teruo
Published: December 2015

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a central role in regulating energy homeostasis and may provide novel strategies for the treatment of human obesity. BAT-mediated thermogenesis is regulated by mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in classical brown and ectopic beige adipocytes and is controlled by sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Previous work indicated that fish oil intake reduces fat accumulation and induces UCP1 expression in BAT; however, the detailed mechanism of this effect remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of fish oil on energy expenditure and the SNS. Fish oil intake increased oxygen consumption and rectal temperature, with concomitant upregulation of UCP1 and the β3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR), two markers of beige adipocytes, in the interscapular BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (WAT). Additionally, fish oil intake increased the elimination of urinary catecholamines and the noradrenaline (NA) turnover rate in interscapular BAT and inguinal WAT. Furthermore, the effects of fish oil on SNS-mediated energy expenditure were abolished in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) knockout mice. In conclusion, fish oil intake can induce UCP1 expression in classical brown and beige adipocytes via the SNS, thereby attenuating fat accumulation and ameliorating lipid metabolism.
Substrate-Mediated Laser Ablation under Ambient Conditions for Spatially-Resolved Tissue Proteomics
Authors: Fatou Benoit , Wisztorski Maxence , Focsa Cristian , Salzet Michel , Ziskind Michael , Fournier Isabelle
Published: December 2015

Numerous applications of ambient Mass Spectrometry (MS) have been demonstrated over the past decade. They promoted the emergence of various micro-sampling techniques such as Laser Ablation/Droplet Capture (LADC). LADC consists in the ablation of analytes from a surface and their subsequent capture in a solvent droplet which can then be analyzed by MS. LADC is thus generally performed in the UV or IR range, using a wavelength at which analytes or the matrix absorb. In this work, we explore the potential of visible range LADC (532 nm) as a micro-sampling technology for large-scale proteomics analyses. We demonstrate that biomolecule analyses using 532 nm LADC are possible, despite the low absorbance of biomolecules at this wavelength. This is due to the preponderance of an indirect substrate-mediated ablation mechanism at low laser energy which contrasts with the conventional direct ablation driven by sample absorption. Using our custom LADC system and taking advantage of this substrate-mediated ablation mechanism, we were able to perform large-scale proteomic analyses of micro-sampled tissue sections and demonstrated the possible identification of proteins with relevant biological functions. Consequently, the 532 nm LADC technique offers a new tool for biological and clinical applications.
The pan-class I phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase inhibitor NVP-BKM120 demonstrates anti-leukemic activity in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Allegretti Matteo , Ricciardi Maria Rosaria , Licchetta Roberto , Mirabilii Simone , Orecchioni Stefania , Reggiani Francesca , Talarico Giovanna , Foà Roberto , Bertolini Francesco , Amadori Sergio , Torrisi Maria Rosaria , Tafuri Agostino
Published: December 2015

Aberrant activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is a common feature of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients contributing to chemoresistance, disease progression and unfavourable outcome. Therefore, inhibition of this pathway may represent a potential therapeutic approach in AML. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pre-clinical activity of NVP-BKM120 (BKM120), a selective pan-class I PI3K inhibitor, on AML cell lines and primary samples. Our results demonstrate that BKM120 abrogates the activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling, promoting cell growth arrest and significant apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in AML cells but not in the normal counterpart. BKM120-induced cytotoxicity is associated with a profound modulation of metabolic behaviour in both cell lines and primary samples. In addition, BKM120 synergizes with the glycolitic inhibitor dichloroacetate enhancing apoptosis induction at lower doses. Finally, in vivo administration of BKM120 to a xenotransplant mouse model of AML significantly inhibited leukemia progression and improved the overall survival of treated mice. Taken together, our findings indicate that BKM120, alone or in combination with other drugs, has a significant anti-leukemic activity supporting its clinical development as a novel therapeutic agent in AML.