bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPARING COORDINATION STRUCTURES FOR CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN SIX COUNTRIES
Authors: CHRISTENSEN TOM , ANDREAS DANIELSEN OLE , LÆGREID PER , H. RYKKJA LISE
Published: July 2015

The article analyses organizational structures and coordination mechanisms for crisis management in six European countries, focusing on the prevalence of hierarchical and network arrangements, administrative culture and perceptions of coordination quality. Our main research question concerns the importance of collaboration and cooperation in the management of crises. We apply a structural–instrumental and a cultural perspective, and examine data on formal organizational structures as well as survey data from administrative executives. The mapping reveals hybrid coordination arrangements with different national ‘flavours’. The survey data show that the executives accorded significant weight to coordination, but the use of different coordination mechanisms was only loosely linked to their assessments of coordination quality. Our findings support a view of public administration as a largely composite system combining contradictory organizational principles that have evolved through institutional layering. National context and the specific challenges from different types of crises therefore influence crisis management capacity profoundly.
Microbial metagenomics in aquaculture: a potential tool for a deeper insight into the activity
Authors: Martínez‐Porchas Marcel , Vargas‐Albores Francisco
Published: July 2015

The use and study of microbes in aquaculture has become a common practice in the last decade. Metagenomics is a relative recent genomics subdiscipline that has emerged as a promising scientific tool to analyse the complex genomes contained within microbial communities. However, despite the potential of metagenomics, its use is not yet common in some agro‐industrial disciplines such as aquaculture. In this review, we analyse some of the potential uses of metagenomics in aquaculture to highlight the microbial diversity and dynamics of the culture systems. This review addresses some potential uses of metagenomics in the study of microbial diversity, microbial roles in microcosms, antibiotic resistance genes, novel and potential pathogens, microbial communities forming bioflocs, probiotics and other applications.
Enhancing aquaculture development: mapping the tilapia aquaculture value chain in Ghana
Authors: Asiedu Berchie , Failler Pierre , Beyens Yolaine
Published: July 2015

Fish is important in the diet of millions of Ghanaians supplying protein and micronutrients. Ghanaians have developed taste preferences for the consumption of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), thereby booming the tilapia aquaculture industry. This paper looks comprehensively at the value chain of the tilapia aquaculture sector in Ghana to identify particular areas of intervention and development opportunities in achieving food security and nutrition needs, safety, quality and trade benefits. Mixed methods (including stakeholders’ workshop, interviews and document analysis from official sources) were employed in collecting data between January and December 2014. The analysis indicates that farmed tilapia products are currently not exported but locally consumed. In 2012, approximately 28 000 t of tilapia were supplied to the local market. The bulk of the supply came from cage culture (85%) with the remaining coming from ponds and dugouts. About 98% of tilapia coming from aquaculture is supplied directly to the local markets, whilst 2% is family consumed (subsistence). The marketing channel involves farmers selling to wholesalers/retailers and to consumers/restaurants in nearby villages or secondary towns. The processing technology is generally low (mainly sun drying, small size smokers). Currently, due to the growing middle‐class Ghanaians, high domestic demand for fish and high levels of undernutrition among many poor Ghanaians, there is a good and readily available market for all sizes of tilapia produced locally. However, farmed tilapia has the potential for export to the international markets if it is processed as smoked and salted. To achieve this, there is the need to develop a practical guide for aquaculture exporters by the relevant stakeholders, strengthen capacity building of public institutions to deal with the export of aquaculture products and train more aquaculture personnel, and collate proper documentation of aquaculture products.
Grounding, Contingency and Transitivity
Authors: Loss Roberto
Published: July 2015

Grounding contingentism is the doctrine according to which grounds are not guaranteed to necessitate what they ground. In this paper I will argue that the most plausible version of contingentism (which I will label ‘serious contingentism’) is incompatible with the idea that the grounding relation is transitive, unless either ‘priority monism’ or ‘contrastivism’ are assumed.
Clinical impact of early bronchoscopy in mechanically ventilated patients with aspiration pneumonia
Authors: Lee Hyun Woo , Min Jinsoo , Park Jisoo , Lee Yeon Joo , Kim Se Joong , Park Jong Sun , Yoon Ho Il , Lee Jae‐Ho , Lee Choon‐Taek , Cho Young‐Jae
Published: July 2015

Background and objective

A handful of studies have reported that bronchoscopies influence the clinical outcome of mechanically ventilated patients with aspiration pneumonia. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the therapeutic role of early bronchoscopy in patients with aspiration who are mechanically ventilated.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted via medical record review from 2003 through 2013 in a tertiary hospital. All the diagnoses of pneumonia were supported by the probability of aspiration and consolidation of dependent areas confirmed by computed tomography. Patients who underwent bronchoscopy within 24 h after intubation were categorized as the early bronchoscopy group and the others as the late bronchoscopy group. We compared the demographics, clinical parameters and outcomes between the two groups.

Results

Of the 154 patients who were included, the early bronchoscopy group (n = 93) showed significantly lower in‐intensive care unit (ICU) mortality and 90‐day mortality (in‐ICU: 4.9% vs 24.6%; 90‐day: 11.8 vs 32.8%) regardless of the initial empirical antibiotics. In addition, their sequential organ failure assessment score on day 7 tended to decrease more rapidly. Among the survivors, patients in the early bronchoscopy group were extubated earlier with a higher success rate, had a shorter length of mechanical ventilation and had a shorter ICU stay. The early bronchoscopy was associated with lower 90‐day mortality in multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 0.412; 95% confidence interval: 0.192–0.883).

Conclusions

Early bronchoscopy could benefit the clinical outcomes of mechanically ventilated patients with aspiration pneumonia.
Drift Estimation in Sparse Sequential Dynamic Imaging, With Application to Nanoscale Fluorescence Microscopy
Authors: Hartmann Alexander , Huckemann Stephan , Dannemann Jörn , Laitenberger Oskar , Geisler Claudia , Egner Alexander , Munk Axel
Published: July 2015

A major challenge in many modern superresolution fluorescence microscopy techniques at the nanoscale lies in the correct alignment of long sequences of sparse but spatially and temporally highly resolved images. This is caused by the temporal drift of the protein structure, e.g. due to temporal thermal inhomogeneity of the object of interest or its supporting area during the observation process. We develop a simple semiparametric model for drift correction in single-marker switching microscopy. Then we propose an M-estimator for the drift and show its asymptotic normality. This is used to correct the final image and it is shown that this purely statistical method is competitive with state of the art calibration techniques which require the incorporation of fiducial markers in the specimen. Moreover, a simple bootstrap algorithm allows us to quantify the precision of the drift estimate and its effect on the final image estimation. We argue that purely statistical drift correction is even more robust than fiducial tracking, rendering the latter superfluous in many applications. The practicability of our method is demonstrated by a simulation study and by a single-marker switching application. This serves as a prototype for many other typical imaging techniques where sparse observations with high temporal resolution are blurred by motion of the object to be reconstructed.
The heritable path of human physical performance: from single polymorphisms to the “next generation”
Authors: Santos C. G. M. , Pimentel‐Coelho P. M. , Budowle B. , de Moura‐Neto R. S. , Dornelas‐Ribeiro M. , Pompeu F. A. M. S. , Silva R.
Published: July 2015

Human physical performance is a complex multifactorial trait. Historically, environmental factors (e.g., diet, training) alone have been unable to explain the basis of all prominent phenotypes for physical performance. Therefore, there has been an interest in the study of the contribution of genetic factors to the development of these phenotypes. Support for a genetic component is found with studies that shown that monozygotic twins were more similar than were dizygotic twins for many physiological traits. The evolution of molecular techniques and the ability to scan the entire human genome enabled association of several genetic polymorphisms with performance. However, some biases related to the selection of cohorts and inadequate definition of the study variables have complicated the already difficult task of studying such a large and polymorphic genome, often resulting in inconsistent results about the influence of candidate genes. This review aims to provide a critical overview of heritable genetic aspects. Novel molecular technologies, such as next‐generation sequencing, are discussed and how they can contribute to improving understanding of the molecular basis for athletic performance. It is important to ensure that the large amount of data that can be generated using these tools will be used effectively by ensuring well‐designed studies.
Incorporating world Englishes into undergraduate ESL education courses
Authors: ATES BURCU , ESLAMI ZOHREH R. , WRIGHT KATHERINE LANDAU
Published: July 2015

English has become the language of global communication and users around the globe are adapting it to meet their needs. It is essential for teachers to keep pace with the changing expectation of its users to be able to prepare students for the realities they encounter in today's globalized world. The purpose of our study was to incorporate world Englishes perspectives into required undergraduate ESL education courses in a teacher education program that prepares PreK‐6 generalist and grades 4–8 content area teachers in the southwestern United States. Qualitative and quantitative research findings revealed that preservice teachers vastly benefited from exposure to world Englishes perspectives. The study has pedagogical implications for teacher education programs.
Insights from ELF and WE in teacher training in Greece and Turkey
Authors: SIFAKIS NICOS C. , BAYYURT YASEMIN
Published: July 2015

The paper describes a framework for the education of ESOL teachers that is inspired by principles grounded in research on English as a lingua franca (ELF) and world Englishes (WE). The essential feature of such a framework is that it involves interested teachers in a critical reorientation of their beliefs toward English language teaching, learning and communication. This transformative framework informs what we call the ‘ELF‐aware’ teacher education component. We then present a framework for a transformative perspective for ELF‐aware and WE‐aware teachers and describe the phases of a teacher education project that attempted to put this framework into practice.
Bilingual creativity in Russia: English‐Russian language play
Authors: RIVLINA ALEXANDRA
Published: July 2015

The paper shows that English in modern Russia, like in many other Expanding Circle countries, is predominantly used in a mix with Russian in the creative (poetic, aesthetic, imaginative, or innovative) function in various domains. In this article, the peculiarities of the creative use of English in the Russian context are highlighted, and the article also discusses the semantic and pragmatic aspects of English‐Russian language play, demonstrating that English can be played on either just for entertainment or for conveying complex ideological meanings, determined by controversial attitudes to Westernization and Englishization in Russian society.
Modelling the development of English in Hong Kong
Authors: EVANS STEPHEN
Published: July 2015

Inspired by Schneider's (2007) innovative Dynamic Model, this paper traces the rise of English‐knowing bilingualism in Hong Kong by analysing the authorship of 1,379 letters published in the city's leading English‐language newspapers since the early 1840s. The evidence points to three main phases in the evolution of this community: 1840s–1910s, 1920s–1970s, 1980s–present. In the first phase, the bilingual segment of the Chinese community was apparently microscopic or, in the words of a colonial official, ‘infinitesimal’. The second and third phases may be characterised as periods of spreading minority and majority bilingualism respectively.
Structure and gating of CLC channels and exchangers
Authors: Accardi Alessio
Published: July 2015

Since their serendipitous discovery the CLC family of Cl− transporting proteins has been a never ending source of surprises. From their double‐barrelled architecture to their complex structure and divergence as channels and transporters, the CLCs never cease to amaze biophysicists, biochemists and physiologists alike. These unusual functional properties allow the CLCs to fill diverse physiological niches, regulating processes that range from muscle contraction to acidification of intracellular organelles, nutrient accumulation and survival of bacteria to environmental stresses. Over the last 15 years, the availability of atomic‐level information on the structure of the CLCs, coupled to the discovery that the family is divided into passive channels and secondary active transporters, has revolutionized our understanding of their function. These breakthroughs led to the identification of the key structural elements regulating gating, transport, selectivity and regulation by ligands. Unexpectedly, many lines of evidence indicate that the CLC exchangers function according to a non‐conventional transport mechanism that defies the fundamental tenets of the alternating‐access paradigm for exchange transport, paving the way for future unexpected insights into the principles underlying active transport and channel gating.
Motivations for Underreporting Suspected Concussion in College Athletics
Authors: Davies Susan C. , Bird Brenna M.
Published: July 2015

Student-athletes often fail to report concussion signs and symptoms, thereby putting themselves at risk for delayed recovery and permanent impairment. The present study examined motivations for underreporting concussion symptoms among college athletes enrolled at an NCAA Division I university. One hundred and ninety-three student-athletes in high-risk sports completed a multiple-choice survey related to self-reporting of suspected concussion symptoms and reporting of teammates’ symptoms. Results indicated that 45% of participants did not report their own suspected concussions during the present season and 50% did not report suspected concussions in teammates. Responses revealed that the primary reason for underreporting a suspected concussion was the belief that the blow to the head was not serious enough. Suggestions are provided for athletes, athletic staff, and coaches to improve players’ awareness of the signs, symptoms, and consequences of concussions, as well as how to report suspected concussions appropriately.
Mindfulness Training for Coaches: A Mixed-Method Exploratory Study
Authors: Longshore Kathryn , Sachs Michael
Published: July 2015

Mindfulness-based research in sport has focused on athletes, while coaches remain unexplored. Research consistently shows that coaches experience high stress, which can lead to burnout, reduced performance, and emotional mismanagement. The present study developed and explored Mindfulness Training for Coaches (MTC), which is aimed at increasing mindfulness and emotional stability while reducing anxiety. Participants were 20 Division I coaches. The mixed-method design included trait and state measures of anxiety, mindfulness, and emotion, along with qualitative semistructured interviews. Trained coaches reported significantly less anxiety and greater emotional stability from pre- to posttraining. The state measures showed trained coaches were lower in anxiety and adverse emotions at each time point. Interviews showed six distinct positive impacts on coaches: anxiety and stress; emotions; mindfulness; coaching; athletes; and personal life. MTC is a promising intervention for coaches to reduce stress, improve well-being, and enhance coach-athlete interactions.
Pyoverdine and Proteases Affect the Response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Gallium in Human Serum
Authors: Bonchi Carlo , Frangipani Emanuela , Imperi Francesco , Visca Paolo
Published: July 2015

Gallium is an iron mimetic which has recently been repurposed as an antibacterial agent due to its capability to disrupt bacterial iron metabolism. In this study, the antibacterial activity of gallium nitrate [Ga(NO
3
)
3
] was investigated in complement-free human serum (HS) on 55
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
clinical isolates from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients. The susceptibility of
P. aeruginosa
to Ga(NO
3
)
3
in HS was dependent on the bacterial ability to acquire iron from serum binding proteins (i.e., transferrin). The extent of serum protein degradation correlated well with
P. aeruginosa
growth in HS, while pyoverdine production did not. However, pyoverdine-deficient
P. aeruginosa
strains were unable to grow in HS and overcome iron restriction, albeit capable of releasing proteases. Predigestion of HS with proteinase K promoted the growth of all strains, irrespective of their ability to produce proteases and/or pyoverdine. The MICs of Ga(NO
3
)
3
were higher in HS than in an iron-poor Casamino Acids medium, where proteolysis does not affect iron availability. Coherently, strains displaying high proteolytic activity were less susceptible to Ga(NO
3
)
3
in HS. Our data support a model in which both pyoverdine and proteases affect the response of
P. aeruginosa
to Ga(NO
3
)
3
in HS. The relatively high Ga(NO
3
)
3
concentration required to inhibit the growth of highly proteolytic
P. aeruginosa
isolates in HS poses a limitation to the potential of Ga(NO
3
)
3
in the treatment of
P. aeruginosa
bloodstream infections.
Optical coherence tomography imaging of the optic nerve head pre optic and post optic nerve sheath fenestration
Authors: Chowdhury Haziq Raees , Rajak Saul , Heath Dominic , Brittain Paul
Published: July 2015

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of unknown aetiology, and causes elevated intracranial pressures. This is often associated with papilloedema with subsequent degrees of optic atrophy if the intracranial pressures are not controlled in a timely manner. Optical coherence tomography imaging is widely recognised for its use in the monitoring of optic nerves in glaucoma, and this report is the first to describe its use to monitor the optic nerve head pre optic and post optic nerve sheath fenestration.
Gastritis as a manifestation of primary CMV infection in an immunocompetent host
Authors: Crespo Pedro , Dias Nuno , Marques Nuno , Saraiva da Cunha José
Published: July 2015

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease spectrum is very wide, with symptomatic infections being rare in immunocompetent hosts. We present the case of a 31-year-old immunocompetent man diagnosed with CMV gastritis in the context of primary infection. The most important laboratory abnormalities leading to diagnosis were: elevation of liver enzymes (3–4× the upper limit of normal), thrombocytopenia (133 G/L), lymphocytosis (55%–4.2 G/L) with activated lymphocytes, CMV IgM positive (negative IgG), CMV viral load of 5700 copies/mL (real-time PCR); autoimmunity study showed antiparietal cell antibodies; abdominal ultrasonography detected homogenous splenomegaly (14.6×13.4 cm) and endoscopy unveiled superficial erosions of the gastric antrum that were biopsied. Anatomopathology and immunohistochemistry of the samples identified cytomegalic inclusions in endothelial cells. Cellular and humoral immunity deficits were excluded. As the patient developed severe asthaenia, adynamia and epigastric pain, he was administered gancyclovir 5 mg/kg intravenously twice daily for 7 days, with resolution of symptoms and gastric lesions confirmed by re-evaluation through endoscopy.
BRCA 1/2 gene mutation and gastrointestinal stromal tumours: a potential association
Authors: Waisbren Julie , Uthe Regina , Siziopikou Kalliopi , Kaklamani Virginia
Published: July 2015

Mutations of theBRCA1/2genes have been described in association with a number of malignancies including cancers of the breast, ovary, prostate and stomach, but have never been described in relation to gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). We describe a patient with aBRCA28642del3insC mutation who developed prostate cancer, breast cancer and GIST. GIST has been shown to be associated with a number of malignancies, including some of the commonBRCA1/2-related cancers, but it has never been associated withBRCA1/2gene mutations. This report highlights the potential association betweenBRCA1/2mutations and GIST, and aims to raise awareness for further genetic screening in GIST patients.
Femoral–facial syndrome in an infant of a diabetic mother
Authors: Ahmed Saleem , Alsaedi Saad Abdullah , Al-Wassia Heidi , Al-Aama Jumana Yousef
Published: July 2015

Femoral–facial syndrome (FFS) is a very rare multiple congenital anomaly syndrome. The authors describe a case of FFS in a 2-day-old infant of a diabetic mother. The phenotypic features include bilateral symmetrical femoral involvement with completely aplastic right-sided femur, severely hypoplastic left femur and unusual facial dysmorphic features without other skeleton/spinal and genitourinary anomalies. Cases of FFS need to be carefully evaluated because of the similarity between FFS and caudal dysgenesis, a condition frequently related to maternal diabetes and with other syndromes characterised by femoral hypoplasia and associated anomalies, which can pose a diagnostic challenge.
An intracardial mass in a young Syrian refugee
Authors: Ingimarsdóttir Inga Jóna , Wikström Gerhard
Published: July 2015

A 35-year-old previously healthy man presented with orogenital ulcerations, high fever, weight loss and leg thrombosis. Antibiotics were ineffective. His symptoms persisted and 3 years later he suffered from exertional dyspnoea. Inflammatory markers were elevated and all cultures were negative. CT of the thorax showed bilateral pulmonary embolism and a mass attached to the septum of the right ventricle, as well as an occluded vena cava inferior. Histology of the cardiac mass revealed a thrombus. The pulmonary embolisation progressed despite treatment with full-dose dalteparin. After being diagnosed with Behçet's disease, a multisystemic large-vessel vasculitis, and treated with high-dose prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, his ulcerations and his symptoms of dyspnoea disappeared.
Double jeopardy: two major complications of a myocardial infarction in one patient
Authors: Selder Jasper , Riezebos Robert
Published: July 2015

A 62-year-old woman with no cardiac history was admitted to the hospital with an ambulant inferoposterolateral myocardial infarction. She experienced two major complications, namely, a free-wall rupture of the infarcted area, on which a bovine pericardial patch was glued surgically, and, a few days later, a posteromedial papillary muscle rupture, for which a mitral valve replacement was performed. She survived both complications and is now rehabilitating at home.
‘Care for Stroke’, a web-based, smartphone-enabled educational intervention for management of physical disabilities following stroke: feasibility in the Indian context
Authors: Sureshkumar K , Murthy G V S , Munuswamy Suresh , Goenka Shifalika , Kuper Hannah
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Stroke rehabilitation is a process targeted towards restoration or maintenance of the physical, mental, intellectual and social abilities of an individual affected by stroke. Unlike high-income countries, the resources for stroke rehabilitation are very limited in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Provision of cost-effective, post-stroke multidisciplinary rehabilitation services for the stroke survivors therefore becomes crucial to address the unmet needs and growing magnitude of disability experienced by the stroke survivors in LMICs. In order to meet the growing need for post-stroke rehabilitation services in India, we developed a web-based Smartphone-enabled educational intervention for management of physical disabilities following a stroke.

Methods

On the basis of the findings from the rehabilitation needs assessment study, guidance from the expert group and available evidence from systematic reviews, the framework of the intervention content was designed. Web-based application designing and development by Professional application developers were subsequently undertaken.

Results

The application is called ‘Care for Stroke’. It is a web-based educational intervention for management of physical disabilities following a stroke. This intervention is developed for use by the Stroke survivors who have any kind of rehabilitation needs to independently participate in his/her family and social roles.

Discussion

‘Care for stroke’ is an innovative intervention which could be tested not just for its feasibility and acceptability but also for its clinical and cost-effectiveness through rigorously designed, randomised clinical trials. It is very important to test this intervention in LMICs where the rehabilitation and information needs of the stroke survivors seem to be substantial and largely unmet.
Wind on lakes brings predator and prey together in the pelagic zone
Authors: de Kerckhove Derrick Tupper , Blukacz-Richards Edyta Agnes , Shuter Brian John , Cruz-Font Liset , Abrams Peter Arnold
Published: July 2015

Wind blowing over the pelagic zones of stratified lakes creates recirculating water currents. In Lake Opeongo, we observed the effects of these currents on four different trophic levels using a variety of methods (acoustic Doppler current profiler, optical plankton counter, hydroacoustics, telemetry, and netting programs). During windy events, (1) water currents were stronger than the known swimming speeds of small zooplankton (355 to 399 μm) but not larger species or fish, (2) large zooplankton (>542 μm) and schooling planktivores congregated at the thermocline at the downwind end of the basin, and (3) large piscivores directed their foraging towards areas exposed to wind, where they appeared to acquire the same meal as under calm weather conditions but with less effort. We propose that (i) the horizontal physical homogeneity of pelagic zones, (ii) the slow swimming ability of zooplankton relative to the speed of wind-induced water currents, and (iii) the likely growth benefits to predators of foraging on patches of prey lead to the downwind aggregation of pelagic organisms. We discuss this conceptual framework with examples from both lake and ocean ecosystems to suggest that this phenonenon occurs across a large range of spatial scales in aquatic ecosystems.
Scaling from single-point sap velocity measurements to stand transpiration in a multispecies deciduous forest: uncertainty sources, stand structure effect, and future scenarios
Authors: Hernandez-Santana Virginia , Hernandez-Hernandez Adan , Vadeboncoeur Matthew A. , Asbjornsen Heidi
Published: July 2015

A major challenge in studies estimating stand water use in mixed-species forests is how to effectively scale data from individual trees to the stand. This is the case for forest ecosystems in the northeastern USA where differences in water use among species and across different size classes have not been extensively studied, despite their relevance for a wide range of ecosystem services. Our objectives were to assess the importance of different sources of variability on transpiration upscaling and explore the potential impacts of future shifts in species composition on the forest water budget. We measured sap velocity in five tree species (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., Acer rubrum L., Acer saccharum Marsh., Betula alleghaniensis Britton, and Betula papyrifera Marsh.) in a mature stand and a young stand in New Hampshire, USA. Our results showed that the greatest potential source of error was radial variability and that tree size was more important than species in determining sap velocity. Total sapwood area was demonstrated to exert a strong controlling influence on transpiration, varying depending on tree size and species. We conclude that the effect of potential species shifts on transpiration will depend on the sap velocity, determined not only by radial variation and tree size, but also by the sapwood area distribution in the stand.
The similarity of attractive and repulsive forces on a lattice
Authors: Mirahmadi Marjan-S. , Fatollahi Amir H. , Khorrami Mohammad
Published: July 2015

On a lattice, as the momentum space is compact, the kinetic energy is bounded not only from below but also from above. It is shown that this somehow removes the distinction between repulsive and attractive forces. In particular, it is seen that a region with attractive force would appear forbidden for states with energies higher than a certain value, while repulsive forces could develop bound-states. An explicit transformation is introduced which transforms the spectrum of a system corresponding to a repulsive force, to that of a similar system corresponding to an attractive force. Explicit numerical examples are presented for discrete energies of bound-states of a particle experiencing repulsive force by a piecewise constant potential. Finally, the parameters of a specific one-dimensional (1D) translationally invariant system on continuum are tuned so that the energy of the system resembles the kinetic energy of a system on a 1D lattice. In particular, the parameters are tuned so that while the width of the first energy band and its position are kept finite, the gap between the first energy band and the next energy band goes to infinity, so that effectively only the first energy band is relevant.
Non-Gaussian error distribution of 7Li abundance measurements
Authors: Crandall Sara , Houston Stephen , Ratra Bharat
Published: July 2015

We construct the error distribution of [Formula: see text] abundance measurements for 66 observations (with error bars) used by Spite et al. (2012) that give [Formula: see text] (median and [Formula: see text] symmetrized error). This error distribution is somewhat non-Gaussian, with larger probability in the tails than is predicted by a Gaussian distribution. The 95.4% confidence limits are [Formula: see text] in terms of the quoted errors. We fit the data to four commonly used distributions: Gaussian, Cauchy, Student’s t and double exponential with the center of the distribution found with both weighted mean and median statistics. It is reasonably well described by a widened [Formula: see text] Student’s t distribution. Assuming Gaussianity, the observed A(Li) is [Formula: see text] away from that expected from standard Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) given the Planck observations. Accounting for the non-Gaussianity of the observed A(Li) error distribution reduces the discrepancy to [Formula: see text], which is still significant.
A Distributed Infrastructure for Earth-Science Big Data Retrieval
Authors: Liakos Panagiotis , Koltsida Panagiota , Kakaletris George , Baumann Peter , Ioannidis Yannis , Delis Alex
Published: July 2015

Earth-Science data are composite, multi-dimensional and of significant size, and as such, continue to pose a number of ongoing problems regarding their management. With new and diverse information sources emerging as well as rates of generated data continuously increasing, a persistent challenge becomes more pressing: To make the information existing in multiple heterogeneous resources readily available. The widespread use of the XML data-exchange format has enabled the rapid accumulation of semi-structured metadata for Earth-Science data. In this paper, we exploit this popular use of XML and present the means for querying metadata emanating from multiple sources in a succinct and effective way. Thereby, we release the user from the very tedious and time consuming task of examining individual XML descriptions one by one. Our approach, termed Meta-Array Data Search (MAD Search), brings together diverse data sources while enhancing the user-friendliness of the underlying information sources. We gather metadata using different standards and construct an amalgamated service with the help of tools that discover and harvest such metadata; this service facilitates the end-user by offering easy and timely access to all metadata. The main contribution of our work is a novel query language termed xWCPS, that builds on top of two widely-adopted standards: XQuery and the Web Coverage Processing Service (WCPS). xWCPS furnishes a rich set of features regarding the way scientific data can be queried with. Our proposed unified language allows for requesting metadata while also giving processing directives. Consequently, the xWCPS-enabled MAD Search helps in both retrieval and processing of large data sets hosted in an heterogeneous infrastructure. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through diverse use-cases that provide insights into the syntactic power and overall expressiveness of xWCPS. We evaluate MAD Search in a distributed environment that comprises five high-volume array-databases whose sizes range between 20 and 100 GB and so, we ascertain the applicability and potential of our proposal.
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND GROWTH OF FEMALE-OWNED VENTURES: A SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA PERSPECTIVE
Authors: DAWA SAMUEL , NAMATOVU REBECCA
Published: July 2015

We examine the influence of the dimensions of social networks on the growth aspirations of female entrepreneurs. Using multi stage stratified random sampling, 540 women were surveyed in the five geographic regions of Uganda. Drawing on social network theory, point bi-serial correlation and logistic regression analysis were carried out to test our hypotheses. Although we find a relationship between belonging to a social network and growth, we also find that the relationship between the other indicators of social networks, including social support, discussion of business ideas, equality of network members and growth, are not statistically significant. We propose this may be because the challenges that face female entrepreneurs in this context negate the influence of social networks on growth. On the other hand, we posit that the metrics used to measure entrepreneurship related constructs are biased not only against women but even the developing country context.
SOCIAL NETWORKS, COGNITION AND RISK RECOGNITION IN NEW VENTURES: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: YANG JUNPING , ZHANG JING
Published: July 2015

Although risk has always been at the center of entrepreneurship, research on risk recognition in new ventures is limited. Applying cognitive information-processing theory, we develop a theoretical framework that explores the interactive influences of entrepreneurs' social networks and their cognitive characteristics on the outcomes of risk recognition. We test the framework on a sample of 226 Chinese entrepreneurs. The results show that network size, tie strength and structural holes enhance risk recognition outcomes and that cognition (i.e. risk propensity and illusion of control) generally reduces such effects, except in the case of illusion of control, which has no effect on structural holes.
Greenly Synthesized Gold–Alginate Nanocomposites Catalyst for Reducing Decoloration of Azo-Dyes
Authors: Li Yun , Li Gang , Li Wei , Yang Feng , Liu Huihong
Published: July 2015

A green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using aqueous solution of sodium alginate (SA) has been demonstrated in this work. The SA plays the roles of both reducing and stabilizing agent. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of UV-Vis spectrum around 532[Formula: see text]nm confirmed the formation of AuNPs. The characterization through high resolution-transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) infer the as-synthesized AuNPs which were spherical in shape with a face cubic crystal (FCC) structure. The results obtained from zeta potential and dynamic light scattering (DLS) suggest the good stability and narrow size distribution of the AuNPs. The size-controlled AuNPs were obtained through adjusting the reaction parameters such as the concentration of SA, pH of the reaction mixture, temperature and the time of incubation. The as-synthesized AuNPs–SA conjugates were employed to prepare AuNPs–SA beads easily based on SA high affinity toward divalent metal ions. The resulting AuNPs–SA beads function as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in reducing decoloration of azo-dye model compounds, acidic orange 7 (AO7) and reactive orange 5 (RO5), in the presence of sodium borohydride. The reaction rate constants, estimated based on the reduction reactions followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, suggest the high catalytic activity and stability of the AuNPs–SA beads.
Learning without Concentration
Authors: Mendelson Shahar
Published: July 2015

We obtain sharp bounds on the estimation error of the Empirical Risk Minimization procedure, performed in a convex class and with respect to the squared loss, without assuming that class members and the target are bounded functions or have rapidly decaying tails.

Rather than resorting to a concentration-based argument, the method used here relies on a “small-ball” assumption and thus holds for classes consisting of heavy-tailed functions and for heavy-tailed targets.

The resulting estimates scale correctly with the “noise level” of the problem, and when applied to the classical, bounded scenario, always improve the known bounds.
Will E-Learning Kill the University
Authors: Carr-Chellman Alison
Published: July 2015

With many predicting the end of higher education, will e-learning be the final blow that kills the university?
Study of Reduced Graphene Oxide Preparation by Hummers’ Method and Related Characterization
Authors: Cao Ning , Zhang Yuan
Published: July 2015

As a novel two‐dimensional carbon material, graphene has fine potential applications in the fields of electron transfer agent and supercapacitor material for its excellent electronic and optical property. However, the challenge is to synthesize graphene in a bulk quantity. In this paper, graphite oxide was prepared from natural flake graphite by Hummers’ method through liquid oxidization, and the reduced graphene oxide was obtained by chemical reduction of graphene oxide using NH3·H2O aqueous solution and hydrazine hydrate. The raw material graphite, graphite oxide, and reduced graphene oxide were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance‐infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐IR), and field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated that the distance spacing of graphite oxide was longer than that of graphite and the crystal structure of graphite was changed. The flake graphite was oxidized to graphite oxide and lots of oxygen‐containing groups were found in the graphite oxide. In the morphologies of samples, fold structure was found on both the surface and the edge of reduced graphene oxide.
A Cluster-Based Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Network Using Eigenvalue Detection Technique with Superposition Approach
Authors: Miah Md. Sipon , Yu Heejung , Godder Tapan Kumar , Rahman Md. Mahbubur
Published: July 2015

Cognitive radio (CR) networks have been active area of research because of its ability to opportunistically share the spectrum. A cluster-based cooperative spectrum sensing (CCSS) has a tremendous impact on sensing reliability compared with cooperative spectrum sensing. The energy detection (ED) technique requires perfect knowledge of noise power. An eigenvalue-based spectrum sensing has mitigated the noise uncertainty problem. Sensing and reporting time slots are rigidly separated in the conventional ED and eigenvalue-based detection (EVD) schemes. In CCSS, more reporting time slots are required as the number of CR users (CRUs) increases. If the reporting time slots of other CRUs as sensing time slots with a superposition allocation, the more reliable channel sensing can be achieved. In this paper, we propose CCSS using EVD technique with a superposition approach scheme where the reporting time slot is properly utilized to sense the primary user's (PU's) signal more accurately by rescheduling the reporting time slot for CRUs and cluster heads (CHs). Simulation result shows that the proposed EVD scheme has better detection probability than the conventional CCSS using both ED and EVD techniques.
Three-Phase Methodology Incorporating Scatter Search for Integrated Production, Inventory, and Distribution Routing Problem
Authors: Moin Noor Hasnah , Yuliana Titi
Published: July 2015

This paper proposes the use of scatter search metaheuristic to solve an integrated production, inventory, and distribution routing problem. The problem is based on a single production plant that produces a single product that is delivered toNgeographically dispersed customers by a set of homogenous fleet of vehicles. The objective is to construct a production plan and delivery schedule to minimize the total costs and ensuring each customer’s demand is met over the planning horizon. We assumed that excess production can be stored at the plant or at customer’s sites within some limits, but stockouts due to backordering or backlogging are not allowed. Further testing on a set of benchmark problems to assess the effectiveness of our method is also carried out. We compare our results to the existing metaheuristic algorithms proposed in the literature.
A New Adaptive Square-Root Unscented Kalman Filter for Nonlinear Systems with Additive Noise
Authors: Zhou Yong , Zhang Chao , Zhang Yufeng , Zhang Juzhong
Published: July 2015

The Kalman filter (KF), extended KF, and unscented KF all lack a self-adaptive capacity to deal with system noise. This paper describes a new adaptive filtering approach for nonlinear systems with additive noise. Based on the square-root unscented KF (SRUKF), traditional Maybeck’s estimator is modified and extended to nonlinear systems. The square root of the process noise covariance matrixQor that of the measurement noise covariance matrixRis estimated straightforwardly. Because positive semidefiniteness ofQorRis guaranteed, several shortcomings of traditional Maybeck’s algorithm are overcome. Thus, the stability and accuracy of the filter are greatly improved. In addition, based on three different nonlinear systems, a new adaptive filtering technique is described in detail. Specifically, simulation results are presented, where the new filter was applied to a highly nonlinear model (i.e., the univariate nonstationary growth model (UNGM)). The UNGM is compared with the standard SRUKF to demonstrate its superior filtering performance. The adaptive SRUKF (ASRUKF) algorithm can complete direct recursion and calculate the square roots of the variance matrixes of the system state and noise, which ensures the symmetry and nonnegative definiteness of the matrixes and greatly improves the accuracy, stability, and self-adaptability of the filter.
Pegylated Interferon‐α Modulates Liver Concentrations of Activin‐A and Its Related Proteins in Normal Wistar Rat
Authors: Refaat Bassem , El-Shemi Adel Galal , Ashshi Ahmed Mohamed , Mahamid Elaf Wael , Al-Qadi Noha Mohammed
Published: July 2015

Aims. To measure the expression of activin βA‐subunit, activin IIA and IIB receptors, Smad4, Smad7, and follistatin in the liver and the liver and serum concentrations of mature activin‐A and follistatin in normal rat following treatment with pegylated interferon‐α (Peg‐INF‐α) and ribavirin (RBV). Materials and Methods. 40 male Wistar rats were divided equally into 4 groups: “control,” “Peg‐only” receiving 4 injections of Peg‐INF‐α (6 µg/rat/week), “RBV‐only” receiving ribavirin (4 mg/rat/day) orally, and “Peg & RBV” group receiving both drugs. The expression of candidate molecules in liver was measured by immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR. The concentrations of mature proteins in serum and liver homogenate samples were measured using ELISA. Results. Peg‐INF‐α  ± RBV altered the expression of all candidate molecules in the liver at the gene and protein levels (P < 0.05) and decreased activin‐A and increased follistatin in serum and liver homogenates compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). There were also significant correlations between serum and liver activin‐A and follistatin. Conclusion. Peg‐INF‐α modulates the hepatic production of activin‐A and follistatin, which can be detected in serum. Further studies are needed to explore the role of Peg‐INF‐α on the production of activins and follistatin by the liver and immune cells.
A Dual Biomechanical Failure: Exeter Stem and Pubic Rami Insufficiency Fracture, following Hybrid Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Samra Inderpaul , Paliobeis Christos
Published: July 2015

Introduction. Incidence of Exeter stem fracture is extremely uncommon. Pubic rami insufficiency fractures following arthroplasty are also rare. To our knowledge no cases of spontaneous stem failure with previous insufficiency fractures have yet been reported.Case Presentation. This report describes a case of spontaneous fracture through a cemented Exeter stem in a 66-year-old patient who had previously undergone a hybrid total hip replacement and was found to have bifocal pubic rami insufficiency fractures. The patient presented 18-year postprimary surgery with spontaneous fracture of the middle third of the cemented femoral stem and adjacent proximal femur.Conclusion. This report demonstrates a unique case of Exeter stem fracture with previous pelvic insufficiency fractures. The case adds to the rare occurrences of Exeter stem failure in the literature and highlights the risk of potential insufficiency fractures in patients undergoing total hip replacement.
Locally Advanced, Unresectable Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder
Authors: Weatherall Timothy J. , Fenton Moon , Munene Gitonga , Dickson Paxton V. , Deneve Jeremiah L.
Published: July 2015

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder is a rare malignancy of the gallbladder, accounting for less than 5% of gallbladder pathology. Initial presentation is often similar to adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. SCC tends to be more locally aggressive, however, and possesses a worse prognosis than adenocarcinoma. We report a case of locally advanced SCC of the gallbladder.
Stability Analysis of a Breathing Cracked Rotor with Imposed Mass Eccentricity
Authors: Peng Huichun , He Qing , Zhen Yaxin
Published: July 2015

The investigation of the effects of mass eccentricity on stability of a gravity dominated cracked Jeffcott rotor would generally provide practical applicability to crack detection and instability control of the heavy loading turbo-machinery system. Based upon the numerical Floquet method, the stability and bifurcations of the periodic time-dependent rotor with a transverse breathing crack are studied with respect to the varied mass eccentricity at different rotation speed, and the stability diagrams in the parameter plane are obtained which the previous studies have not covered. The numerical response of the cracked rotor system is also analyzed by the frequency spectrum to present the vibration characters while the rotation speed approaches the critical ratio. The detailed numerical eigenvalues of the transition matrix are applied to analyze the types of the bifurcations of the cracked rotor system. Three types of bifurcations are found and responses of the cracked rotor system at these bifurcations are presented for the visualized comparisons.