bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of supportive‐expressive discussion groups on loneliness, hope and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a randomized control trial
Authors: Tabrizi Fatemeh Moghaddam , Radfar Moloud , Taei Zeynab 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPurposeEvaluation of the effect of supportive expressive discussion groups on loneliness, hope and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.MethodsA randomized control trial including breast cancer patients who had completed chemotherapy and randomly allocated into two groups: intervention (n = 41) and control (n = 40). The intervention consisted of twelve weekly 90‐min sessions for groups of six to eight breast cancer survivors. Data were obtained pre‐to ‐post the intervention and at 8‐week follow‐up. The data were analyzed using a repeated‐measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe findings revealed a significant reduction in loneliness scores (F = 69.85, p < 0.001), promotion in total hope (F = 20.8, p < 0.05) and enhancement in quality of life from pre‐ to post‐intervention, and then over the 8‐week follow‐up period in the intervention group, while scores of control participants did not show this pattern during the study. The strongest effects were found for global quality of life (effect size) = 0.59), for future perspectives (effect size = 0.51), emotional functioning (effect size = 0.35) and social functioning (effect size = 0.31).ConclusionThe intervention was effective on loneliness, hope and quality of life in the intervention group. The intervention needs further evaluation in a larger study and with other cancer types. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of a Continuous Care Model on Patients’ Knowledge and Health-Related Quality of Life in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Sahebalzamani Mohammad , Farahani Hojjatollah , Jamarani Mojgan Tabatabaee , Faezi Seyedeh Tahereh , Moradi Kamran , Paragomi Pedram 
Published: June 2016

AbstractPurpose:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of applying the continuous care model (CCM) on the knowledge level and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and their perceptions of family awareness about the disease.Design:The Continuous Care Model (CCM) was implemented for 3 months on 34 SLE patients, in a pretest–posttest quasiexperimental design.Methods:Two sets of questionnaires were designed for knowledge assessment. HRQoL was assessed by SF-36 questionnaires. Analysis was by pairedttest and one-way ANOVA.Findings:The continuous care model significantly improved patients’ knowledge level and their perceptions of their family members’ awareness of their disease. HRQoL status in SLE patients was poorer than the general population in six of eight SF-36 scales (p< .05), except for Bodily Pain and Mental Health. Postintervention scores showed improvement in six SF-36 scales (p< .001), except for Bodily Pain and Social Functioning.Conclusions:Our results underlined the advantages of applying the CCM as a comprehensive method of self-care in SLE.Clinical Relevance:Despite many improvements in SLE care, the patients’ quality of life is still much affected by SLE. Implementation of the CCM could lead to improvement in the knowledge and HRQoL of SLE patients.
Brain early infarct detection using gamma correction extreme‐level eliminating with weighting distribution
Authors: Teh V. , Sim K. S. , Wong E. K. 
Published: June 2016

SUMMARYAccording to the statistic from World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is one of the major causes of death globally. Computed tomography (CT) scan is one of the main medical diagnosis system used for diagnosis of ischemic stroke. CT scan provides brain images in Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) format. The presentation of CT brain images is mainly relied on the window setting (window center and window width), which converts an image from DICOM format into normal grayscale format. Nevertheless, the ordinary window parameter could not deliver a proper contrast on CT brain images for ischemic stroke detection. In this paper, a new proposed method namely gamma correction extreme‐level eliminating with weighting distribution (GCELEWD) is implemented to improve the contrast on CT brain images. GCELEWD is capable of highlighting the hypodense region for diagnosis of ischemic stroke. The performance of this new proposed technique, GCELEWD, is compared with four of the existing contrast enhancement technique such as brightness preserving bi‐histogram equalization (BBHE), dualistic sub‐image histogram equalization (DSIHE), extreme‐level eliminating histogram equalization (ELEHE), and adaptive gamma correction with weighting distribution (AGCWD). GCELEWD shows better visualization for ischemic stroke detection and higher values with image quality assessment (IQA) module. SCANNING 38:842–856, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of mRNA structure in bacterial translational regulation
Authors: Meyer Michelle M. 
Published: June 2016

The characteristics of bacterial messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that influence translation efficiency provide many convenient handles for regulation of gene expression, especially when coupled with the processes of transcription termination and mRNA degradation. An mRNA's structure, especially near the site of initiation, has profound consequences for how readily it is translated. This property allows bacterial gene expression to be altered by changes to mRNA structure induced by temperature, or interactions with a wide variety of cellular components including small molecules, other RNAs (such as sRNAs and tRNAs), and RNA‐binding proteins. This review discusses the links between mRNA structure and translation efficiency, and how mRNA structure is manipulated by conditions and signals within the cell to regulate gene expression. The range of RNA regulators discussed follows a continuum from very complex tertiary structures such as riboswitch aptamers and ribosomal protein‐binding sites to thermosensors and mRNA:sRNA interactions that involve only base‐pairing interactions. Furthermore, the high degrees of diversity observed for both mRNA structures and the mechanisms by which inhibition of translation occur have significant consequences for understanding the evolution of bacterial translational regulation. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1370. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1370This article is categorized under:

RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems
RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution
Translation > Translation Mechanisms
Detonation Properties of High Explosives Containing Ammonia Borane
Authors: Bi Xiaolu , Liu Jiping 
Published: June 2016

AbstractAmmonia borane (AB) is used as a combustion agent to improve the properties of high explosives. The detonation velocity (Dv) and detonation pressure (P) of raw high explosives and of samples containing AB were calculated and compared. The detonation properties, impact sensitivities, thermal sensitivities, and thermal decomposition characteristics of high explosives containing AB were also measured. The results indicated that when the AB content was 20 wt‐%, the optimal detonation velocity and detonation pressure were achieved. Both the detonation velocity and detonation pressure of the high explosives containing AB were clearly increased compared with those of the raw high explosives. Moreover, the detonation velocities of high explosives containing AB were 7078 to 7423 m·s–1 and their density ranged from 1.570 to 1.589 g·cm–3. The detonation pressure ranged from 34.5 to 37 GPa and the average heat of detonation was 6688 J·g–1. Furthermore, the impact and thermal sensitivities were 170 cm and 613 K, respectively, whereas a slight change occurred in the thermal decomposition characteristics. These results suggest that AB can serve as a powerful combustible agent in energetic materials and improve the detonation properties and sensitivities of high explosives.
Novel Haptic Device Using Jamming Principle for Providing Kinaesthetic Feedback in Glove-Based Control Interface
Authors: Zubrycki Igor , Granosik Grzegorz 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis paper presents a new type of wearable haptic device which can augment a sensor glove in various tasks of telemanipulation. We present the details of its two alternative designs jamming tubes or jamming pads, and their control system. These devices use the jamming phenomena to change the stiffness of their elements and block the hand movement when a vacuum is applied. We present results of our experiments to measure static and dynamic changes in stiffness, which can be used to change the perception of grabbing hard or soft objects. The device, at its current state is capable of resisting forces of up to 7 N with 5 mm displacement and can simulate hardness up to the hardness of a rubber. However, time necessary for a complete change of stiffness is high (time constant 0.5 s); therefore, additional cutaneous interface was added in a form of small vibration motors. Finally, we show an application of the haptic interface in our teleoperation system to provide the operator with haptic feedback in a light weight and simple form.
Effect of Public Deliberation on Attitudes toward Return of Secondary Results in Genomic Sequencing
Authors: Gornick Michele C. , Scherer Aaron M. , Sutton Erica J. , Ryan Kerry A. , Exe Nicole L. , Li Ming , Uhlmann Wendy R. , Kim Scott Y.H. , Roberts J. Scott , De Vries Raymond G. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe increased use of genomic sequencing in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics makes imperative the development of guidelines and policies about how to handle secondary findings. For reasons both practical and ethical, the creation of these guidelines must take into consideration the informed opinions of the lay public. As part of a larger Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research (CSER) consortium project, we organized a deliberative democracy (DD) session that engaged 66 participants in dialogue about the benefits and risks associated with the return of secondary findings from clinical genomic sequencing. Participants were educated about the scientific and ethical aspects of the disclosure of secondary findings by experts in medical genetics and bioethics, and then engaged in facilitated discussion of policy options for the disclosure of three types of secondary findings: 1) medically actionable results; 2) adult onset disorders found in children; and 3) carrier status. Participants’ opinions were collected via surveys administered one month before, immediately following, and one month after the DD session. Post DD session, participants were significantly more willing to support policies that do not allow access to secondary findings related to adult onset conditions in children (Χ2 (2, N = 62) = 13.300, p = 0.001) or carrier status (Χ2 (2, N = 60) = 11.375, p = 0.003). After one month, the level of support for the policy denying access to secondary findings regarding adult‐onset conditions remained significantly higher than the pre‐DD level, although less than immediately post‐DD (Χ2 (1, N = 60) = 2.465, p = 0.041). Our findings suggest that education and deliberation enhance public appreciation of the scientific and ethical complexities of genome sequencing.
Study of the Effects of LAS and Zein Concentrations on Protein Solubilization
Authors: Cohen Leon , Sanchez Elsa , Martin Mariluz , Soto Fernando , Trujillo Francisco 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe effects of both linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and zein protein concentrations on protein solubilization were investigated to better understand the influence of increasing concentration of the surfactant on protein denaturation and skin irritation. Different methods have been used for the determination of the amount of protein dissolved. A wide range of LAS concentrations and zein amounts were used. The results confirm that protein solubilization increases with LAS concentration increase and demonstrate that a minimum LAS/Zein ratio exists for all the zein to be dissolved.
An analytical study on bistability of Fabry-Perot semiconductor optical amplifiers
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Shuqiang , Yang Huajun 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Optical bistabilities have been considered to be useful for sensor applications. As a typical nonlinear device, Fabry-Perot semiconductor optical amplifiers (FPSOAs) exhibit bistability under certain conditions. In this paper, the bistable characteristics in FPSOAs are investigated theoretically. Based on Adams’s relationship between the incident optical intensity I
in and the z-independent average intracavity intensity I
av, an analytical expression of the bistable loop width in SOAs is derived. Numerical simulations confirm the accuracy of the analytical result.
International evidence on Islamic equity fund characteristics and performance persistence
Authors: Makni Rania , Benouda Olfa , Delhoumi Ezzedine 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis research examines the presence of performance persistence and the impact of fund‐specific characteristics on Islamic equity fund (IEF) performance. We conduct an empirical study based on an extensive Database of 301 IEFs and for the period 1999–2013. Our results reveal that fund age, family size and management fees have a significant positive impact on IEF performance. On the other hand, other characteristics such as flows, minimum investment size, higher liquidity, and load fees have negative effect on fund performance, whereas fund size has no significant impact on IEF performance. Our study reveals that Islamic equity funds exhibit negative performance persistence. The paper provides relevant practical implications for managers, analysts and investors. To our knowledge, this empirical study is the first to investigate the intrinsic determinants of Islamic equity fund performance, with sufficient statistical power that is based on an effective sample size with international diversity.
The Mediation Committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat: A Special Institution of German Constitutional Law
Authors: Koggel Claus 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe Mediation Committee of the Bundestag and Bundesrat – is it “one of the most felicitous innovations in our constitutional activities”, “the most positive institution in the entire Basic Law” or, as some critics assert “a substitute and superordinate parliament” or indeed the “mysterious darkroom of the legislative process”? This article seeks to provide answers to these questions. It is however clear that the Mediation Committee has become an important instrument for attaining political compromises in Germany's legislative procedure. The Committee's purpose is to find a balance between the differing opinions of the Bundestag and Bundesrat concerning the content of legislation, and, through political mediation and mutual concessions, to find solutions that are acceptable to both sides. Thanks to this approach, the Mediation Committee has helped save countless important pieces of legislation from failure since it was established over 65 years ago, thus making a vital contribution to ensure the legislative process works efficiently. The lecture will address the Mediation Committee's status and role within the German legislative process. It will explain the composition of this body as well as its most important procedural principles also against the backdrop of current case law from the Federal Constitutional Court. Finally, the lecture will consider how particular constellations of political power impact on the Mediation Committee's work.
Early Albian (Early Cretaceous) douvilleiceratid ammonites from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Futakami Masao , Haggart James W. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe early Albian to mid-Albian cosmopolitan genusDouvilleicerasis represented in the Haida Gwaii archipelago of western British Columbia by five species,D.mammillatum(Schlotheim),D.offarcinatum(White),D.scabrosumCasey,D.spiniferum(Whiteaves), andD. aff.spiniferum(Whiteaves). Specimens of one of these taxa,D.spiniferum, are particularly abundant on Haida Gwaii and the species is discussed with respect to its morphological variability and ontogenetic development. The important morphological features for taxonomic criteria of the genusDouvilleicerasare the mode of tuberculation, the pattern of ribbing, and the proportions of the shell in the middle growth stage.
The earliest reef-building anthaspidellid spongeRankenella zhangxianensisn. sp. from the Zhangxia Formation (Cambrian Series 3), Shandong Province, China
Authors: Lee Jeong-Hyun , Woo Jusun , Lee Dong-Jin 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis study reports the earliest known reef-building anthaspidellid sponge,Rankenella zhangxianensisn. sp., from the Cambrian Series 3 (late Stage 5–early Guzhangian) deposit of the Zhangxia Formation, Shandong Province, China.Rankenella zhangxianensismostly occurs withinEpiphyton-Rankenella-Cambroctoconusreefs, with minor occurrence from inter-reef grainstone. The species has anthaspidellid-type regular ladderlike spicule networks consisting of dendroclones and trabs, and is characterized by trabs parallel/subparallel to the gastral surface that diverge and meet the dermal surface, which is typical of the genus. Compared toR.morsandR.hamdii, reported from the late Cambrian Series 2–late Cambrian Series 3 of Australia and the late Cambrian Series 3–early Furongian of Iran, respectively,R.zhangxianensisis characterized by a relatively thicker wall, high angle (~90°) between dermal surfaces and intersecting trabs, and minor occurrence of differentiated canals. On the other hand,R.zhangxianensismainly shows obconical shape, which is far less diverse than the other two species showing conicocylindrical, digitate, explanate, or bowl shapes. These Cambrian Series 3 reefs from China are the ancestors of the Furongian anthaspidellid-microbial reefs and the Early Ordovician anthaspidellid-microbial reefs that flourished worldwide. They represent the resurgence of reef-building metazoans after the extinction of archaeocyaths at the end of Cambrian Series 2.
Systematics and paleobiogeographic significance of the Upper Ordovician pterygometopine trilobiteAchatellaDelo, 1935
Authors: Swisher Robert E. , Westrop Stephen R. , Amati Lisa 
Published: June 2016

AbstractStudy of type and new material of the pterygometopineAchatellaDelo, 1935 demonstrates the presence of four species in Upper Ordovician (Katian) strata of Laurentian North America,A.achates(Billings, 1860) from the northeastern United States and the St. Lawrence lowlands of Canada,A.carleyi(Meek, 1872) from the Cincinnati region, Ohio and Kentucky,A.katharina(Bradley, 1930), from Missouri and Oklahoma, andA.clivosaLespérance and Weissenberger, 1998 from the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec. Perhaps as many as five additional species are present in Sandbian–Katian strata of the Laurentian terranes of Scotland and Northern Ireland, although only three of these are known well enough to code for phylogenetic analysis. The oldest pterygometopines, including species ofAchatella, are known from Middle Ordovician strata of Baltica. Phylogenetic analysis supports a single migration event from Baltica from Laurentia, followed by a modest diversification in the latter region.
Cambrian microfossils from the Tethyan Himalaya
Authors: Gilbert Ian R. , Hughes Nigel C. , Myrow Paul M. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractCambrian biostratigraphy of the Indian subcontinent is best documented from the Parahio Formation of the Tethyan Himalaya. Recently established trilobite biostratigraphy shows that the formation encompasses the latest part of unnamed Stage 4 and much of unnamed Stage 5. A variety of small shelly fossils have been recovered via acid digestion of carbonate beds and include tetract and pentact hexactinellid sponge spicules, chancelloriid spicules belonging toChancelloriasp. and a new species,Archiasterella dhiraji, shells of an helcionelloid comparable toIgorella maidipingensis, a meraspid ptychopariid trilobite, the tubularCupithecasp., a poorly preserved hyolith, and an assortment of spinose microfossils of uncertain affinity. These newly recovered microfossils are consistent with the trilobite-based lower and middle Cambrian age determination and do not support a late Cambrian age for the top of the Parahio Formation advocated in some recent literature. The microfossils reported herein significantly expand the known diversity of such fossils from Cambrian strata in the Himalayan region, and allow for comparison of this fauna with others from Gondwanaland and elsewhere. Integration with trilobite data indicate that the stratigraphic ranges of many small shelly fossils described in this study are greater than previously recognized.
A new anthracothere (Artiodactyla) from the early Oligocene, Fayum, Egypt, and the mystery of African ‘Rhagatherium’ solved
Authors: Sileem Afifi H. , Sallam Hesham M. , Hewaidy Abdel Galil A. , Miller Ellen R. , Gunnell Gregg F. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractRecent work on new anthracothere (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) specimens from the Jebel Qatrani Formation, early Oligocene, Fayum, Egypt, has revealed the presence of a new genus.Nabotheriumnew genus is described on the basis of a partial skull, several mandibular and maxillary specimens, and isolated teeth. The new genus exhibits a distinctive combination of features not seen in other Paleogene anthracotheres. The most noticeable characteristics of the new genus include the presence of large and well-developed upper and lower canines, caniniform third incisors, the presence of only a short diastema between the canine and first premolar, and broad, bunodont cheek teeth. This is in contrast to other contemporary anthracotheres, including other forms from the Fayum, which show a spatulate third incisor, a reduced canine, a much longer canine-premolar diastema, and more narrow, bunoselenodont cheek teeth. The presence of a relatively short rostrum with closely packed incisors, low-crowned and simple premolars, and low-crowned, bunodont molars indicates that members of the new genus would have been more efficient at crushing foods than slicing vegetation, and suggests a more varied herbivorous and frugivorous diet than was favored by other, more bunoselenodont Fayum anthracotheres.
Lower Silurian conodonts from the Shine Jinst region, southwestern Mongolia
Authors: Danielsen Erika M. , Over D. Jeffrey 
Published: June 2016

AbstractLower Silurian conodonts were recovered from carbonate beds in the upper Zalaa and lower Sharchuluut formations at Yamaan Us in the Shine Jinst region, Gobi-Altai Zone, of southwestern Mongolia. Conodonts are described from the Zalaa Formation for the first time; key taxa recovered includeDistomodus kentuckyensisBranson and Branson, 1947,Ozarkodina hassi(Pollock, Rexroad, and Nicoll, 1970), Pranognathus siluricus(Pollock, Rexroad, and Nicoll, 1970), andPseudolonchodina expansa(Armstrong, 1990). These species constrain the onset of the Silurian carbonate platform, upper Zalaa to lower Sharchuluut formations, to thePranognathus tenuisZone, middle Aeronian. The presence of a cosmopolitan conodont fauna places these strata from the Gobi-Altai Zone in a basin-shelf marine setting with connection and circulation to the open ocean during the Llandovery.
Finite Groups and Lie Rings with an Automorphism of Order 2n
Authors: Khukhro E. I. , Makarenko N. Yu. , Shumyatsky P. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractSuppose that a finite groupGadmits an automorphismof order 2nsuch that the fixed-point subgroupof the involutionis nilpotent of classc. Letm=) be the number of fixed points of. It is proved thatGhas a characteristic soluble subgroup of derived length bounded in terms ofn,cwhose index is bounded in terms ofm,n,c. A similar result is also proved for Lie rings.