bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Study Showing Research Has Been Valued over Teaching in Higher Education
Authors: Chen Chi Yuan 
Published: June 2015

Research has been valued and given priority over teaching for a long time in academia. In recent decades, the Taiwanese Ministry of Education has pursued objective and quantitative research criteria and has encouraged higher education institutions to ask teachers to publish papers in SSCI or SCI journals as part of the criteria for promotion and evaluation. This policy strengthens the concept that research has priority over teaching because teachers must devote more time to research than to teaching in order to be promoted and evaluated.The purpose of this study is to explore the influences that cause teachers to value research over teaching. To achieve this purpose, document analysis, the analysis of Taiwan Higher Education database and interviews were adapted as methods. First of all, our researchers collected and analyzed the documents for promotion and evaluation of twelve different universities whose areas of specialty included general studies, education, medicine, vocational studies, and the arts. Then, the study used and analyzed the empirical data of teachers’ working hours every week for different tasks from the Taiwan Higher Education Database which investigated the working conditions of teachers in higher education in 2004. Additionally, twenty professors who have different areas of study and work in different types of universities were interviewed to collect teachers’ opinions of the task priority of research, teaching, and service duties. The results showed that academia in Taiwan exhibits the phenomenon that research is valued over teaching. The reasons are due to the requirements of the reward system. The reward system emphasizes research over teaching and service. Teachers’ research achievements are judged based on publishing articles in different types of journals and the amount of research funding they can obtain. The results also showed that every week teachers spend the most time on teaching, then on research, and finally on service. However, teachers emphasize research as the most important task, then teaching, and finally service. Although the majority of teachers think research is the most important duty, there is still twenty percent of teachers who think it is the least important. Although teaching has been thought of as the second most important duty after research, it is the task that the most teachers give as the first priority as far as time spent and none of the interviewees thought it is the least important. Universities and teachers all try to use their professionalism as capital to gain financial support from the government. This situation forces teachers to try to put more time and energy into research, but they still need to maintain teaching and service work quality. Some teachers focus more time and energy on research and ignore the needs of students. Working time endlessly increases even for teachers who out value on both teaching and research. Some suggestions based on the findings have been proposed for Taiwanese higher institutions.
Evolutes and Involutes of Frontals in the Euclidean Plane
Authors: Fukunaga Tomonori , Takahashi Masatomo 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
We have already defined the evolutes and the involutes of fronts without inflection points. For regular curves or fronts, we can not define the evolutes at inflection points. On the other hand, the involutes can be defined at inflection points. In this case, the involute is not a front but a frontal at inflection points. We define evolutes of frontals under conditions. T he definition is a generalisation of both evolutes of regular curves and of fronts. By using relationship between evolutes and involutes of frontals, we give an existence condition of the evolute with inflection points. We also give properties of evolutes and involutes of frontals.
Duality on Geodesics of Cartan Distributions and Sub-Riemannian Pseudo-Product Structures
Authors: Ishikawa Goo , Kitagawa Yumiko , Yukuno Wataru 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Given a five dimensional space endowed with a Cartan distribution, the abnormal geodesics form another five dimensional space with a cone structure. Then it is shown in (15), that, if the cone structure is regarded as a control system, then the space of abnormal geodesics of the cone structure is naturally identified with the original space. In this paper, we provide an exposition on the duality by abnormal geodesics in a wider framework, namely, in terms of quotients of control systems and sub-Riemannian pseudo-product structures. Also we consider the controllability of cone structures and describe the constrained Hamiltonian equations on normal and abnormal geodesics.
CT-Right Equivalence Of Analytic Functions
Authors: Migus Piotr 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Let ƒ, g : (ℝn, 0) --+ (ℝ, 0) be analytic functions. We will show that if ▽ƒ(0) = 0 and g ƒ∈ (ƒ)r+2 then I and g are Cr-right equivalent, where (ƒ) denote ideal generated by ƒ and r ∈ ℕ.
Finite involution semigroups with infinite irredundant bases of identities
Authors: Lee Edmond W. H. 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
A basis of identities for an algebra is irredundant if each of its proper subsets fails to be a basis for the algebra. The first known examples of finite involution semigroups with infinite irredundant bases are exhibited. These involution semigroups satisfy several counterintuitive properties: their semigroup reducts do not have irredundant bases, they share reducts with some other finitely based involution semigroups, and they are direct products of finitely based involution semigroups.
Antidiarrheal activity of fractions from aqueous extract of Detarium senegalense
Authors: Sanni Fatimah Saka , Hamza Hajja Gana , Onyeyili Patrick Azubuike 
Published: June 2015

Summary
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different fractions of the aqueous crude extract of Detarium senegalense stem bark on castor oil-induced diarrhea. Castor oilinduced diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced enteropooling methods were used to evaluate the antidiarrheal effects of the fractions. Castor oil was used to induce diarrhea and the effect of all the fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, methanol and residual aqueous) were evaluated at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. The results show that all fractions significantly (p<0.05) decreased the frequency of defecation in rats following the induction of diarrhea with castor oil. Ethyl acetate which produced the highest antidiarrheal activity was further subjected to gastrointestinal motility and castor oil-induced enteropooling tests. In the gastrointestinal motility, two test doses of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) were administered orally to two groups of rats (n=5), while the third group of rats (control), were treated with normal saline, and the fourth group were treated with diphenoxylate, a conventional anti-diarrheal drug. In the castor oil-induced enteropooling experiment, normal saline was used for the control animals, while 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract was administered to groups two and three, respectively and atropine, a standard drug, was administered to rats in group four. The ethyl acetate fraction significantly (p<0.05) decreased the gastro-intestinal motility, as shown by the extent of movement of the charcoal meal in the treated rats. It also significantly inhibited the fluid accumulation within the intestine. These findings suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction possess antidiarrheal effect, which may be due to the presence of some phytochemical constituents (alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins) in the plant, which may either be working alone or in combination with each other. This study has demonstrated that D. senegalense fractions, especially the ethyl acetate fraction, possess antidiarrheal activity thus supporting the use of the plant in the treatment of diarrheal diseases.
Testosterone therapy in men with Crohn’s disease improves the clinical course of the disease: data from long-term observational registry study
Authors: Nasser Mahmoud , Haider Ahmad , Saad Farid , Kurtz Winfried , Doros Gheorghe , Fijak Monika , Vignozzi Linda , Gooren Louis 
Published: June 2015

Abstract

Background: Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory chronic bowel disease characterized by an imbalanced production of pro-inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α) and an increased recruitment of leukocytes to the site of inflammation. Low serum testosterone is associated with an increase in inflammatory factors, while testosterone administration reduces them. There is evidence for an immunomodulatory effect of testosterone on differentiation of regulatory T cells.

Materials and methods: The research was carried out in clinics in Germany and Syria. The study was a cumulative, prospective, registry study with an increasing number of men over time receiving testosterone. While men diagnosed with Crohn’s disease received appropriate treatment for Crohn’s disease, they were tested for testosterone deficiency (cut-off point ≤12.1 nmol/L). In total, 92 men received parenteral testosterone undecanoate 1000 mg/12 weeks for up to 7 years. Fourteen men opted not to receive testosterone and served as a comparison group.

Results: In men receiving testosterone, the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index declined from 239.36±36.96 to 71.67±3.26 at 84 months (p<0.0001 vs. baseline). C-reactive protein levels decreased from 12.89±8.64 to 1.78±1.37 mg/L at 84 months (p<0.0001 vs. baseline). Leukocyte count decreased from 11.93±2.85 to 6.21±1.01×109/L (p<0.0001 at 84 months vs. baseline). No changes were observed in the comparison group. There were no significant side effects of testosterone.

Conclusions: Normalizing serum testosterone in hypogonadal men with Crohn’s disease had a positive effect on the clinical course, also evidenced by biochemical parameters. Testosterone administration appeared safe.
Acute ischaemic stroke secondary to a mobile thrombus in the common carotid artery - case report
Authors: Bajkó Zoltán , Maier Smaranda , Rusu Silvia , Moțățăianu Anca 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
A mobile thrombus in the carotid arteries is a very rare ultrasonographic finding and is usually diagnosed after a neurological emergency, such as a transient ischemic attack or cerebral infarction. We present the case of a 54-year-old man with vascular risk factors (a heavy smoker, untreated hypertension) who was admitted to the emergency unit with right sided hemiparesis and aphasia. A cerebral CT scan showed a left middle cerebral artery territory infarction. The duplex ultrasound examination revealed mild atherosclerotic changes in the right common and internal carotid arteries, right-sided complete subclavian steal phenomenon and a complicated hypoechoic atherosclerotic plaque in the left common carotid artery with a large mobile thrombus. Due to the high embolization risk, the patient was hospitalised and prescribed Aspirin together with low molecular weight Heparin. We recorded an improvement in the patient’s neurological status and the control duplex scan revealed disappearance of the thrombus. The presence of floating thrombus in a patient with clinical and imagistic evidence of stroke is a major therapheutic challenge for the neurologist. The treatment strategies are not standardized and must be individualized, however in our case parenteral anticoagulation proved to be successful.
Significance of current velocity gradients for distribution patterns of charophytes versus mosses and vascular plant communities in a lowland stream
Authors: Jakubas Emilia , Gąbka Maciej 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
The study focused on the relationships between charophytes and the surrounding species composition and environmental factors in a lowland stream (Flinta stream, Western Poland). A total of 32 vegetation plots (4 m × 4 m) and 13 environmental variables were tested. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to describe the relationships between the species composition and the selected variables. Dominance curves of aquatic plants, response curves (GAMs model) of charophytes and other macrophytes to the velocity gradient (the most important environmental factor, the Monte Carlo test) were prepared. In this study, 2 species of charophytes were recorded: Chara vulgaris and Chara globularis and 5 other co-occurring macroscopic algae, 2 mosses and 10 vascular plants. In the studied stream, charophytes occupied the separate niche. Chara vulgaris stands with moss vegetation were found in stream sections with the highest velocity of the water current (0.29 m s-1 mean), and the Chara globularis (with dominant Potamogeton species), preferred sections with the smallest water current velocity (0.19 m s-1 mean).
Charophytes seem to respond to ecological gradients differently from mosses and vascular plants. These differences are related to current velocity, pH, conductivity and organic matter in bottom sediments, and to the niche differentiation associated with them.
The effect of irradiance on the xanthophyll composition of Skeletonema marinoi (Bacillariophycae), Teleaulax sp., Rhodomonas sp. (Cryptophyceae), and Heterocapsa triquetra (Dinophyceae)
Authors: Łotocka Maria 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
The aim of the research was to determine the effect of irradiance on the content of carotenoids in the natural algae community occurring in the Baltic Sea: diatom Skeletonema marinoi, cryptophytes Teleaulax sp., Rhodomonas sp., and dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra.
In the natural population of Skeletonema marinoi, the highest fucoxanthin content was observed in the morning and afternoon, unlike with diatoxanthin+diadinoxanthin, where a mean of 0.008 pg cell-1 was found at dawn and at dusk, whereas maximum values were observed at noon (mean 0.017 pg cell-1). Similar tendencies related to diurnal variations in the content of xanthophylls involved in the xanthophyll cycle occurred also in dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra.
In cryptophytes Teleaulax sp. and Rhodomonas sp., no carotenoids of the xanthophyll cycle were detected. The content of alloxanthin showed diurnal variation from 0.048 pg cell-1 to 0.085 pg cell-1 and was not clearly correlated with the irradiance.
Diversity, spatiotemporal distribution, abundance, species composition and habitat preferences of Ostracoda in Akbük and Akdeniz coastal mesosaline lagoons (Muğla, the South Aegean Region, Turkey)
Authors: Altınsaçlı Selçuk , Perçin-Paçal Ferda , Altınsaçlı Songül 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Akdeniz and Akbuk lagoons are part of a shallow coastal ecosystem of great aesthetic and ecological importance, located in Muğla Province in the southern Aegean region of Turkey. In the present study, four expeditions to collect ostracods from these lagoons were conducted in May, July, October, and November of 2008. Benthic samples were obtained monthly and several environmental factors were recorded simultaneously in situ. The ecological preferences of the ostracods were monitored, and qualitative and quantitative samples were collected from three sites in Akdeniz lagoon and two sites in Akbuk lagoon. Three ostracod taxa (Cyprideis torosa, Loxoconcha elliptica and Cytherois fischeri) were identified from the Akdeniz lagoon sampling sites and one species (Cyprideis torosa) from the Akbuk lagoon sampling sites. We present and analyze the dominance and distribution of ostracod assemblages and their relationships to environmental factors: temperature, dissolved oxygen, percentage oxygen saturation, pH, redox potential, salinity, and electrical conductivity) using classification and ordination techniques. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) is used to characterize the relationship between ostracods and the environmental variables. Approximately 82% of the correlation between the community composition and environmental variables was explained by the first axis of the CCA ordination for the Akdeniz lagoon. The study revealed that the distribution and population density of ostracod species depends on the physicochemical properties of the environment. The reason for this is that Cyprideis torosa and Loxoconcha elliptica are euryhaline species.
Development of toxin-producing cyanobacteria during the water level manipulation in a shallow heavily modified lake
Authors: Solis Michał , Pawlik-Skowrońska Barbara , Kalinowska Renata 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
The development of cyanobacteria and microcystin variation was studied during two years in response to periodical water-level regulation in modified Lake Tomaszne. Before the water entrance from a canal, the biomass of toxigenic cyanobacteria was 0.001-0.33 mg dm-3, the microcystin concentration was below 1 μg dm-3, and three variants of microcystins were detected. After the water entrance from the canal, the biomass of cyanobacteria increased to 1.3-7.1 mg dm-3 with the dominants Aphanizomenon gracile and Dolichospermum planctonicum. After the water discharge from the lake, Planktothrix agardhii reached the highest biomass (2.3-6.6 mg dm-3). During the mass development of toxigenic cyanobacteria, the total microcystin concentrations were mostly higher than 5 μg dm-3 and the number of MC variants increased. Both Pl. agardhii and D. planktonicum accounted for microcystin production. The higher NH4-N concentrations supplied with water from the canal supported the biomass increase of Nostocales, whereas Pl. agardhii mass development was due to the low light intensity and high TP concentrations. Our study revealed that the use of nutrient-rich waters for the water management in the hydromorphologically modified lake supported the persistent development of cyanobacteria species leading to increased amounts of MC and a higher number of their structural variants.
The influence of the ecohydrological rehabilitation in the cascade of Arturówek reservoirs in Łódź (Central Poland) on the cyanobacterial and algae blooming
Authors: Szulc Bogusław , Jurczak Tomasz , Szulc Katarzyna , Kaczkowski Zbigniew 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
The objective of the studies included a complex of three reservoirs (upper, middle and lower Arturówek) which play an important recreational role for the residents of the Łódź city and the surrounding areas. The reservoirs were constructed on the Bzura River and are located in the area of the Łódź Hills Landscape Park. The river, the ecological status of which was defined as moderate, has a great influence on the quality of water in the Arturówek reservoirs. A total of 36 planktonic samples were collected in 2011-2013 during spring, summer and autumn seasons. During the studies, the selected physical and chemical parameters were measured. In addition to taxonomic analysis of Cyanobacteria and algae, the analyses of abundance and biomass of phytoplankton and the concentration of microcystins in water were conducted. In 2013, ecohydrological rehabilitation of the Arturówek reservoirs was carried out. Investment works included: removal of the bottom sediments to reduce internal loads, construction of buffer vegetation zones (ecotones) and sedimentation-biofiltration systems to reduce the amounts of pollutants flowing into reservoirs with rainwater. Significant changes in the structure of phytoplankton were observed in 2013. Every year, the disappearance of Cyanobacterial blooms was observed in favor of an increasing contribution of algae.
Protective effect of porcine placenta in a menopausal ovariectomized mouse
Authors: Han Na-Ra , Park Chan-Lee , Kim Na-Rae , Kim Hee-Yun , Yoou Myoung-Schook , Nam Sun-Young , Moon Phil-Dong , Jeong Hyun-Ja , Kim Hyung-Min 
Published: June 2015

Menopause is a significant physiological phase that occurs as women's ovaries stop producing ovum and the production of estrogen declines. Human placenta and some amino acids are known to improve menopausal symptoms. In this study, we investigated that porcine placenta extract (PPE) and arginine (Arg), a main amino acid of PPE, would have estrogenic activities in ovariectomized (OVX) mice as a menopause mouse model, human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) cells, and human osteoblast cell line (MG-63) cells. PPE or Arg significantly inhibited the body weight and increased the vagina weight compared to the OVX mice. PPE or Arg ameliorated the vaginal atrophy in the OVX mice. The levels of 17β-estradiol and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly increased by PPE or Arg in the serum of OVX mice. Trabecular bone parameters such as bone mineral density and porosity were also improved by PPE or Arg in the OVX mice. In the MCF-7 and MG-63 cells, PPE or Arg significantly increased the cell proliferation, estrogen receptor β mRNA expression, and estrogen-response elements luciferase activity. Finally, PPE or Arg increased the activations of ALP and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in the MG-63 cells. These results indicate that PPE or Arg would have estrogenic and osteoblastic activity. Therefore, PPE or Arg may be useful as new pharmacological tools for treating menopausal symptoms including osteoporosis.Free Korean abstract: A Korean translation of this abstract is freely available at http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/150/3/173/suppl/DC1.
Cross-cultural adaptation of the English version of the Senior Fitness Test to Spanish
Authors: Ochoa González Marlene Edith 
Published: June 2015

<p>Background. The physical condition of the elderly is related<br />to health and functional independence. One specific and<br />scientifically valid instrument measuring this parameter is the<br />Senior Fitness Test, of which the original version is in English.</p><p>Objective. To identify the face validity of the test for use<br />in Spanish language based on the cultural adaptation of the<br />English version.</p><p><br />Materials and methods. Descriptive study, for which crosscultural adaptation to Spanish was performed. This involved translation, evaluation of conceptual equivalence by three bilingual experts, synthesis of observations, calculation of values for the index of agreement and applicability.</p><p><br />Results. The overall agreement rate is 0.9485. No disagreements arose between the judges for any of the items, and intelligibility is of 85.2%, according to subjects of different ages and levels of schooling.</p><p><br />Conclusions. A version of the Senior Fitness Test adapted to<br />Spanish was obtained. The test is backed up by face validity<br />and comprehensibility, and conserves semantic, idiomatic, and<br />conceptual equivalence to the original version.</p><p> </p>
Photocatalytic Phenol Degradation by Immobilized Nano ZnO:
Authors: Malayeri H. Zamankhan , Ayati B. , Ganjidoust H. 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACT: Phenol is a toxic and refractory water pollutant that cannot be completely degraded through common wastewater treatment methods. In this study, the aqueous oxidation of phenol over ZnO was investigated as a potential method for abatement of this pollutant. Concrete was used as the immobilized surface, and activation energy was provided with 8W UV‐A lamps. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) test results also confirmed an appropriate cover of ZnO on the concrete surface. The effects of operating parameters such as initial phenol concentration, light intensity, dosage of ZnO particles, and pH were studied. The photocatalytic system afforded the highest degradation efficiency at C0= 50 mg L−1, ZnO=80 gr m−2, pH=11, light intensity= 32 W, and more than 90% of the initial phenol was degraded after five hours. The type of secondary products was also determined by GC‐Mass test. The results showed that this method is successful in reducing the toxicity.