bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of using DSM‐5 criteria for diagnosing binge eating disorder in bariatric surgery candidates: Change in prevalence rate, demographic characteristics, and scores on the minnesota multiphasic personality inventory – 2 restructured form (MMPI‐2‐RF)
Authors: Marek Ryan J. , Ben‐Porath Yossef S. , Ashton Kathleen , Heinberg Leslie J.
Published: March 2014

Objective

Binge eating disorder (BED) was recently included in the DSM‐5. The prevalence rate for BED using the DSM‐IV‐TR research criteria tends to be higher in bariatric surgery candidates than the normative population; however, no studies have examined how many more bariatric surgery candidates will meet the new, less conservative criteria of DSM‐5. We explore the current BED prevalence rate change in a sample of bariatric surgery candidates.

Method

Data were obtained for 1,283 bariatric surgery candidates. 84 men and 213 women were diagnosed with current BED using DSM‐IV‐TR research criteria. A semi‐structured interview, the binge eating scale (BES), and a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 Restructured Form (MMPI‐2‐RF) were given to every patient as part of standard procedures mandated by the facility.

Results and Discussion

An additional 3.43% (p < .001) of bariatric surgery candidates met the diagnostic threshold for BED when using DSM‐5 criteria. These individuals were demographical similar and produced similar MMPI‐2‐RF and BES scores when compared with patients who met DSM‐IV‐TR criteria for BED. Thus, the current investigation indicates that individuals meeting BED criteria based on DSM‐5 are similar to those meeting the more conservative diagnostic threshold outlined in DSM‐IV‐TR in a sample of bariatric surgery candidates. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:553–557)
Soil moisture variations affect short‐term plant‐microbial competition for ammonium, glycine, and glutamate
Authors: Månsson Katarina F. , Olsson Magnus O. , Falkengren‐Grerup Ursula , Bengtsson Göran
Published: March 2014

We tested whether the presence of plant roots would impair the uptake of ammonium (), glycine, and glutamate by microorganisms in a deciduous forest soil exposed to constant or variable moisture in a short‐term (24‐h) experiment. The uptake of 15NH4 and dual labeled amino acids by the grass Festuca gigantea L. and soil microorganisms was determined in planted and unplanted soils maintained at 60% WHC (water holding capacity) or subject to drying and rewetting. The experiment used a design by which competition was tested in soils that were primed by plant roots to the same extent in the planted and unplanted treatments. Festuca gigantea had no effect on microbial N uptake in the constant moist soil, but its presence doubled the microbial uptake in the dried and rewetted soil compared with the constant moist. The drying and rewetting reduced by half or more the uptake by F. gigantea, despite more than 60% increase in the soil concentration of . At the same time, the amino acid and ‐ N became equally valued in the plant uptake, suggesting that plants used amino acids to compensate for the lower acquisition. Our results demonstrate the flexibility in plant‐microbial use of different N sources in response to soil moisture fluctuations and emphasize the importance of including transient soil conditions in experiments on resource competition between plants and soil microorganisms. Competition between plants and microorganisms for N is demonstrated by a combination of removal of one of the potential competitors, the plant, and subsequent observations of the uptake of N in the organisms in soils that differ only in the physical presence and absence of the plant during a short assay. Those conditions are necessary to unequivocally test for competition.
Three divergent lineages within an Australian marsupial (Petrogale penicillata) suggest multiple major refugia for mesic taxa in southeast Australia
Authors: Hazlitt Stephanie L. , Goldizen Anne W. , Nicholls James A. , Eldridge Mark D. B.
Published: March 2014

Mesic southeastern Australia represents the continent's ancestral biome and is highly biodiverse, yet its phylogeographic history remains poorly understood. Here, we examine mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and microsatellite diversity in the brush‐tailed rock‐wallaby (Petrogale penicillata; n = 279 from 31 sites), to assess historic evolutionary and biogeographic processes in southeastern Australia. Our results (mtDNA, microsatellites) confirmed three geographically discrete and genetically divergent lineages within brush‐tailed rock‐wallabies, whose divergence appears to date to the mid‐Pleistocene. These three lineages had been hypothesized previously but data were limited. While the Northern and Central lineages were separated by a known biogeographic barrier (Hunter Valley), the boundary between the Central and Southern lineages was not. We propose that during particularly cool glacial cycles, the high peaks of the Great Dividing Range and the narrow adjacent coastal plain resulted in a more significant north–south barrier for mesic taxa in southeastern Australia than has been previously appreciated. Similarly, located phylogeographic breaks in codistributed species highlight the importance of these regions in shaping the distribution of biodiversity in southeastern Australia and suggest the existence of three major refuge areas during the Pleistocene. Substructuring within the northern lineage also suggests the occurrence of multiple local refugia during some glacial cycles. Within the three major lineages, most brush‐tailed rock‐wallaby populations were locally highly structured, indicating limited dispersal by both sexes. The three identified lineages represent evolutionarily significant units and should be managed to maximize the retention of genetic diversity within this threatened species.
Variants in the ATM‐CHEK2‐BRCA1 axis determine genetic predisposition and clinical presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wójcicka Anna , Czetwertyńska Małgorzata , Świerniak Michał , Długosińska Joanna , Maciąg Monika , Czajka Agnieszka , Dymecka Kinga , Kubiak Anna , Kot Adam , Płoski Rafał , de la Chapelle Albert , Jażdżewski Krystian
Published: March 2014

The risk of developing papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most frequent form of thyroid malignancy, is elevated up to 8.6‐fold in first‐degree relatives of PTC patients. The familial risk could be explained by high‐penetrance mutations in yet unidentified genes, or polygenic action of low‐penetrance alleles. Since the DNA‐damaging exposure to ionizing radiation is a known risk factor for thyroid cancer, polymorphisms in DNA repair genes are likely to affect this risk. In a search for low‐penetrance susceptibility alleles we employed Sequenom technology to genotype deleterious polymorphisms in ATM, CHEK2, and BRCA1 in 1,781 PTC patients and 2,081 healthy controls. As a result of the study, we identified CHEK2 rs17879961 (OR = 2.2, P = 2.37e‐10) and BRCA1 rs16941 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, P = 0.005) as risk alleles for PTC. The ATM rs1801516 variant modifies the risk associated with the BRCA1 variant by 0.78 (P = 0.02). Both the ATM and BRCA1 variants modify the impact of male gender on clinical variables: T status (P = 0.007), N status (P = 0.05), and stage (P = 0.035). Our findings implicate an important role of variants in the ATM‐ CHEK2‐ BRCA1 axis in modification of the genetic predisposition to PTC and its clinical manifestations. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Correlation between structural and functional connectivity impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Schmidt Ruben , Verstraete Esther , de Reus Marcel A. , Veldink Jan H. , van den Berg Leonard H. , van den Heuvel Martijn P.
Published: March 2014

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive loss of motor function. While the pathogenesis of ALS remains largely unknown, imaging studies of the brain should lead to more insight into structural and functional disease effects on the brain network, which may provide valuable information on the underlying disease process. This study investigates the correlation between changes in structural connectivity (SC) and functional connectivity (FC) of the brain network in ALS. Structural reconstructions of the brain network, derived from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), were obtained from 64 patients and 27 healthy controls. Functional interactions between brain regions were derived from resting‐state fMRI. Our results show that (i) the most structurally affected connections considerably overlap with the most functionally impaired connections, (ii) direct connections of the motor cortex are both structurally and functionally more affected than connections at greater topological distance from the motor cortex, and (iii) there is a strong positive correlation between changes in SC and FC averaged per brain region (r = 0.44, P < 0.0001). Our findings indicate that structural and functional network degeneration in ALS is coupled, suggesting the pathogenic process affects both SC and FC of the brain, with the most prominent effects in SC. Hum Brain Mapp 35:4386–4395, 2014. © 2014 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relations of Behavioural Inhibition with Shyness and Social Competence in Chinese Children: Moderating Effects of Maternal Parenting
Authors: Chen Xinyin , Zhang Guangzhen , Liang Zongbao , Zhao Siman , Way Niobe , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Deng Huihua
Published: March 2014

The purpose of the study was to examine how behavioural inhibition was associated with shyness and social competence and how maternal parenting moderated the associations in urban Chinese children. Participants were 2‐year‐old toddlers (N = 286, 143 boys and 143 girls) and their mothers in P. R. China. Data on behavioural inhibition were collected from laboratory observations. Mothers completed measures of parenting and child shyness and competence. It was found that behavioural inhibition was positively associated with shyness and negatively associated with social competence for children with low maternal support, but not for children with high maternal support, suggesting that maternal support might serve as a protective factor that buffered against the maladaptive development of inhibited children. The results indicate the functional meaning of early childhood inhibition and the role of parenting in today's urban China. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prosocial Peer Treatment and the Psychosocial Outcomes Associated with Anxious‐Withdrawal
Authors: Bowker Julie C.
Published: March 2014

This study examined prosocial peer treatment as a potential moderator of the associations between anxious‐withdrawal and depressive symptoms and victimization. The stability of anxious‐withdrawal was also considered in this short‐term longitudinal study of young adolescent boys and girls (N = 264; Mage = 12.08 years). Constructs were assessed with peer nomination and self‐report measures. Regression analyses revealed that being the recipient of prosocial behaviour by the peer group strengthened the stability of anxious‐withdrawal over time and, for boys, the association between anxious‐withdrawal and victimization concurrently and over time. The importance of these findings for research on and intervention for anxious‐withdrawal during early adolescence is discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shyness in Asian American Children and the Relation to Temperament, Parents' Acculturation, and Psychosocial Functioning
Authors: Xu Yiyuan , Krieg Alexander
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine whether anxious shyness and regulated shyness, initially identified in Asian cultures, can be differentiated in Asian American children and to explore how these two forms of shyness were related to children's temperament, parents' acculturation, and children's psychosocial functioning. Participants were 155 fourth and fifth grade children (81 girls, Mage = 10.35 years) who were recruited from an elementary school in Hawai'i. The results of an exploratory factor analysis replicated the two‐factor model of shyness found in previous studies of Asian children. Anxious and regulated shyness were similarly related to temperamental shyness and solitary behaviour but differed in their relations to attention regulation, social preference, anxious behaviour, peer exclusion, and loneliness. In addition, parents' orientation to their Asian natal cultures was positively related to regulated but not anxious shyness. These findings from an Asian‐concentrated context in a Western culture provide preliminary support for the distinction between anxious and regulated shyness in Asian American children. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biocompatible electrospun polymer blends for biomedical applications
Authors: Munj Hrishikesh Ramesh , Nelson M. Tyler , Karandikar Prathamesh Sadanand , Lannutti John Joseph , Tomasko David Lane
Published: March 2014

Blends of natural and synthetic polymers have received considerable attention as biomaterials due to the potential to optimize both mechanical and bioactive properties. Electrospinning of biocompatible polymers is an efficient method producing biomimetic topographies suited to various applications. In the ultimate application, electrospun scaffolds must also incorporate drug/protein delivery for effective cell growth and tissue repair. This study explored the suitability of a ternary Polymethylmethacrylate‐Polycaprolactone‐gelatin blend in the preparation of electrospun scaffolds for biomedical applications. Tuning the blend composition allows control over scaffold mechanical properties and degradation rate. Significant improvements were observed in the mechanical properties of the blend compared with the individual components. In order to study drug delivery potential, triblends were impregnated with the model compound Rhodamine‐B using sub/supercritical CO2infusion under benign conditions. Results show significantly distinct release profiles of the impregnated dye from the triblends. Specific factors such as porosity, degradation rate, stress relaxation, dye‐polymer interactions, play key roles in impregnation and release. Each polymer component of the triblends shows distinct behavior during impregnation and release process. This affects the aforementioned factors and the release profiles of the dye. Careful control over blend composition and infusion conditions creates the flexibility needed to produce biocompatible electrospun scaffolds for a variety of biomedical applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 102B: 1517–1527, 2014.
The inefficient aerobic energetics of Zymomonas mobilis: Identifying the bottleneck
Authors: Rutkis Reinis , Galinina N. , Strazdina I. , Kalnenieks U.
Published: March 2014

To investigate the mechanisms of Zymomonas mobilis uncoupled aerobic metabolism, growth properties of the wild‐type strain Zm6 were compared to those of its respiratory mutants cytB and cydB, and the effects of the ATPase inhibitor DCCD on growth and intracellular ATP concentration were studied. The effects of the ATPase inhibitor DCCD on growth and intracellular ATP concentration strongly indicated that the apparent lack of oxidative phosphorylation in aerobically growing Z. mobilis culture might be caused by the ATP hydrolyzing activity of the H+‐dependent ATPase in all analyzed strains. Aerobic growth yields of the mutants, and their capacity of oxidative ATP synthesis with ethanol were closely similar, not supporting presence of one major, yet energetically inefficient electron transport branch causing the observed poor aerobic growth and lack of oxidative phosphorylation in Z. mobilis. We suggest that rapidly operating Entner–Doudoroff pathway generates too high phosphorylation potential for the weakly coupled respiratory system to shift the H+‐dependent ATPase toward ATP synthesis.
Development and comparison of circulation type classifications using the COST 733 dataset and software
Authors: Philipp Andreas , Beck Christoph , Huth Radan , Jacobeit Jucundus
Published: March 2014

In order to examine correspondence between different methods for circulation type classification, a dataset of classification catalogs for 12 different European regions has been created using a specially developed software package. Twenty‐seven basic automatic classification methods have been applied in several variants to different input datasets describing atmospheric circulation. Together with six manual classifications a total of 33 methods are available for inter‐comparison.

Pattern correlation, frequency time‐series correlation and the adjusted Rand index have been used for comparison. Highly significant correspondence has been detected only for two clustering techniques while the remaining classification methods show surprisingly low similarity. A Monte‐Carlo test with 1000 classifications of randomly defined types even shows that most of the methods are not more similar among each other than any arbitrarily chosen types.

The predominant dissimilarity between the methods is interpreted to be a result of a lack of inherent structures of the input data. Only simulated annealing clustering and self‐organizing maps get nearly identical results because they can optimally fit the partitioning to the outer shape of the data cloud in the phase space. Also methods based on pre‐defined types come to very different results because small changes in the definition of thresholds may lead to large differences in the partitioning.

It is concluded that because of the missing inner structure of the data there is no clear statistical reason to prefer any of the examined methods. For practice in synoptic climatology this means that finding a suited classification for a certain purpose may require a broad comparison of methods. The software package cost733class for development, comparison and evaluation of classifications which was developed and used in this study is available at http://cost733.geo.uni‐augsburg.de to facilitate this task.
Analyses of trends in air temperature in the United Kingdom using gridded data series from 1910 to 2011
Authors: Prior M. John , Perry Matthew C.
Published: March 2014

Gridded temperature datasets covering the UK at 5 km × 5 km resolution have been analysed for temporal and spatial patterns of change and variability. Decadal‐scale variability is visualized by smoothing the data series using a kernel smoother. Trends have been analysed by comparing averages for a baseline period with averages for a recent period, as well as using linear regression. Spatial patterns of change have been mapped by calculating trends for each grid point.

Monthly gridded datasets of daily maximum, minimum and mean air temperatures are available from 1910 to date. These show statistically significant increases for all parts of the UK, with the rate of change increasing from the north and west to the south and east. Seasonally, the least significant changes have occurred in the winter, with significant increases for most districts for all of the other seasons.

Derived indices based on daily temperature are available from 1961 onwards. There have been significant decreases in heating degree days and increases in growing degree days for all districts, while changes in cooling degree days are less significant as the values are low and inter‐annual variability dominates. There have been significant decreases in frost days, especially in spring and autumn, and this is linked to significant increases in growing season length, especially for Scotland.
Observed changes in dry day frequency and prolonged dry episodes in Northeast China
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Liu Binhui , Henderson Mark , Xu Ming , Zhou Daowei
Published: March 2014

Daily precipitation data from 34 weather stations in Northeast China from 1960 to 2008 are used to examine trends in the occurrence of dry days and prolonged dry episodes. Trends in the mean length and frequency of prolonged dry episodes, as well as the number of dry days within prolonged dry episodes (DDPDE), are computed regionally and for individual stations at the threshold levels of 1 and 2 mm day−1. Regionally, the number of dry days is increasing in the summer half‐year and decreasing in the winter half‐year. DDPDE is significantly increasing in the summer half‐year; the increased frequency of dry spells has the greatest effect. The mean length of prolonged dry episodes in the winter half‐year has decreased significantly. Our results indicate that neither the frequency nor the mean length of prolonged dry episodes, alone, can adequately describe the short‐term dry conditions of an area. Multiple characteristics of dry spells, including frequency, length, and the number of DDPDE should be considered. DDPDE is a function of both the frequency and length of dry episodes, but may be more influenced by one or the other characteristics of dry spells, depending on the season or region.
Evaluation of a starch‐based double layer scaffold for bone regeneration in a rat model
Authors: Requicha Joao F. , Moura Tiago , Leonor Isabel B. , Martins Teresa , Muñoz Fernando , Reis Rui L. , Gomes Manuela E. , Viegas Carlos A.
Published: March 2014

Damages in the maxillofacial bones are frequent in humans following trauma, metabolic diseases, neoplasia, or inflammatory processes. Many of the available treatments to regenerate bone are often ineffective. The goal of this work was to assess the in vivo behavior of an innovative double‐layered scaffold based on a blend of starch and polycaprolactone (SPCL) that comprises a membrane obtained by solvent casting, which aims to act as a guided tissue regeneration membrane, and a wet‐spun fiber mesh (in some cases functionalized with osteoconductive silanol groups) targeting bone regeneration. The behavior of the double layer scaffold, functionalized with silanol groups (SPCL‐Si) or without (SPCL), was assessed in a mandibular rodent model and compared to a commercial collagen membrane (positive control) and to empty defects (negative control). After 8 weeks of implantation, the micro‐computed tomography and the histomorphometric analysis revealed that the SPCL‐Si scaffolds induced significantly higher new bone formation compared to the collagen membrane and to the empty defects, although they had a similar performance when compared to the SPCL scaffolds. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:904–909, 2014.
Cell Behavior on Surface Modified Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
Authors: Stanton Morgan M. , Rankenberg Johanna M. , Park Byung‐Wook , McGimpsey W. Grant , Malcuit Christopher , Lambert Christopher R.
Published: March 2014

Designing complex tissue culture systems requires cell alignment and directed extracellular matrix (ECM) and gene expression. Here, a micro‐rough, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface, that also integrates a micro‐pattern of 50 µm wide lines of fibronectin (FN) separated by 60 µm wide lines of bovine serum albumin (BSA), is developed. Human fibroblasts cultured on the rough, patterned substrate have aligned growth and a significant change in morphology when compared to cells on a flat, patterned surface. The rough PDMS topography significantly decreases cell area and induces the upregulation of several ECM related genes by two‐fold when compared to cells cultured on flat PDMS. This study describes a simple surface engineering procedure for creating surface architecture for scaffolds to design and control the cell‐surface interface.
Effect of AC on corrosion behavior of X80 pipeline steel in high pH solution
Authors: Zhu M. , Du C.‐W. , Li X.‐G. , Liu Z.‐Y. , Wu X.‐G.
Published: March 2014

Corrosion behavior of X80 pipeline steel under the application of various waveforms AC was investigated in concentrated carbonate/bicarbonate solution by electrochemical measurements, immersion tests, and slow strain rate tensile tests. Under the application of AC current of various waveforms, the corrosion potential shifts negatively and the passivity of the steel degrades severely. Superimposed AC current causes an increase of corrosion rate, and the corrosion rate of the steel under square wave is the highest, next the triangular wave, the least sine wave. The steel mainly experiences localized corrosion under various waveforms AC, in particular with the square wave AC current, the pitting occurs more apparently. AC superimposition enhances the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of the steel in carbonate/bicarbonate solution, especially at square wave. At a short term effect of AC interference, the fracture mode is intergranular, and the SCC behavior of steel in high pH solution is affected by the anodic dissolution for steel with or without AC application.
Language impairment in cerebellar ataxia
Authors: van Gaalen Judith , de Swart Bert J.M. , Oostveen Judith , Knuijt Simone , van de Warrenburg Bart P.C. , Kremer Berry (H.) P.H
Published: March 2014

Background

Several studies have suggested that language impairment can be observed in patients with cerebellar pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate language performance in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6).

Methods

We assessed speech and language in 29 SCA6 patients with standardized linquistic tests and correlated this with the severity of ataxia, as quantified by the Scale of Assessment and Rating of Ataxia.

Results

Individual patients show mild‐to‐moderate linguistic impairment. Linguistic abnormalities were most distinct on the writing and comprehension subtests. A strong correlation between severity of ataxia and linguistic performance was consistently found.

Conclusions

This study confirms the occurrence of linguistic impairments in patients with cerebellar degenerative diseases, such as SCA6. The relation between linguistic abnormalities and severity of ataxia provides further evidence for a role of the cerebellum in linguistic processing. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A review of aspects affecting performance and modeling of short‐natural‐fiber‐reinforced polymers under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions
Authors: Fotouh Ahmed , Wolodko John D. , Lipsett Michael G.
Published: March 2014

The use of short natural fibers as reinforcing fibers was hampered by uncertainties associated with the performance of these developed short‐fiber‐reinforced composites. Much of this uncertainty comes from an unclear understanding of different aspects controlling the properties and the behavior of natural fibers and their developed composites. This study provides a benchmark review that highlights several factors affecting the performance of short‐natural‐fiber‐reinforced polymers (SNFRPs). Additionally, the study also reviews the researches related to the short term (monotonic) and the long‐term (cyclic) behaviors as well as the potential monotonic and life prediction models and techniques suited for SNFRPs. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:397–409, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Electroactive two‐way shape memory polymer laminates
Authors: Chen Shaojun , Yang Shixin , Li Ziyu , Xu Shiwei , Yuan Hongming , Chen Shiguo , Ge Zhaochuan
Published: March 2014

Two‐way shape changing polymers are attractive in recent years. In this short communication, carbon black (CB)/shape memory polyurethane (SMPU)‐elastic polyurethane (EPU) laminated composite is prepared and electro‐active two‐way shape changing behavior is reported for the first time. First, the CB/SMPU composite demonstrates good electro‐active shape recovery due to good electricity conduction. When the CB/SMPU composite film is elongated and form polymer laminates by combining with EPU substrate, the resulted CB/SMPU‐EPU polymer laminate shows electro‐active two‐way shape changing behavior, e.g., bending by applying electric current, and reverse bending upon cooling without electric current. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:439–444, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Dispersion and resistivity optimization of conductive carbon black in environment‐friendly conductive coating based on acrylic resin
Authors: Hu Kai , Liu Shuzhen , Lei Jingxin , Zhou Changlin
Published: March 2014

A designated chemical structure, determined through the analysis of elements and groups on the surface of conductive carbon black (CB), alcohol‐soluble acrylic resin used for dispersion of conductive CB was successfully prepared based on the principles of similar structure complex well. The content of acrylic acid, glass transition temperature (Tg), molecular weight (Mw), self‐crosslinking degree, and N‐hydroxymethyl acrylamide content were investigated to optimize the electrical conductivity and dispersion effect of conductive CB in coating. The composites of acrylic resin and conductive CB were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface chemical structure on CB, scanning electron microscopy for morphology of conductive coating, Fourier transform infrared for groups in acrylic resin, and digital multimeter techniques for surface resistivity of conductive coating. The optimum surface resistivity of the acquired conductive coating could reach 600 ohm/sq, showing an excellent conductive property. Moreover, the conductive coating still maintained a lower resistivity after salt spray and weather resistance test. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:467–474, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Comparison of the performance of reduced graphene oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotubes based sulfonated polysulfone membranes for electrolysis application
Authors: Seetharaman Swaminathan , Raghu Subash Chandrabose , Velan Manickam , Ramya Krishnan , Mahabadi Kambiz Ansari
Published: March 2014

A series of nanocomposites containing reduced graphene oxide (GO) versus multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as filler contents anchored with sulfonated polysulfone (SPSF) polymer matrix have been successfully prepared by sol–gel technique with up to 0.5 wt%. The influence of reduced GO compared to MWCNTs to enhance conductivity of nanocomposite SPSF membranes for higher efficient water electrolysis applications has been studied. The nanocomposite membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, optical microscopy, electrical conductivity, and tensile testing. The membrane porous structure, porosity, and pores uniformity plus the uniformity of dispersion of mixture are investigated. The conductivity of the composite membranes for water electrolysis applications has been characterized using localized probes across the surface. The results show SPSF–GO nanocomposite membranes offer higher conductivity and improved performance than those of SPSF–MCNT. A uniform constant and high current density of 1.39 A/cm2 has been achieved in SPSF–GO membrane at 60°C. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:475–481, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Synthesis, characterization, and properties of polystyrene/SiO2 hybrid materials via sol–gel process
Authors: Zhu Shi‐Yang , Zhang Xian‐Ming , Chen Wen‐Xing , Feng Lian‐Fang
Published: March 2014

Isocyanate‐functionalized polystyrene (P(St‐co‐TMI)) was successfully synthesized by solution free radical polymerization, which was then used to react with (3‐aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) to prepare a precursor of polystyrene/inorganic composites (PS/SiO2). To obtain PS/SiO2 composites with chemical bond, the precursor was mixed with triethoxysilane (TEOS) under the sol–gel reaction condition. The chemical bond between the PS and SiO2 particles made the crosslink network more stable and avoided aggregation compared with the physical connection and barely mechanical mixing. The Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) results indicate that the isocyanate group (NCO) was completely reacted with APTES. The field‐emission scanning electron microscopy results show that the morphology of composites and the distribution of the particles, which exhibit good compatibility between organic and inorganic phases, and the inorganic particles show good spatial uniformity. The differential scanning calorimetry shows that the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the PS/SiO2 composites was shifted to high temperature when the amount of APTES increased. The thermal degradation temperature of the PS/SiO2 composites increases with the increasing of APTES content. Master curves at 200°C are constructed for the storage and loss modulus as well as complex viscosity. POLYM. COMPOS. 36:482–488, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Tidal‐breathing measurement of exhaled breath temperature (EBT) in schoolchildren
Authors: Barreto M. , Piacentini G. , Chiossi L. , Ruggeri F. , Caiazzo I. , Campisano M. , Martella S. , Villa M.P.
Published: March 2014

Background

Non‐invasive assessment of airway inflammation is particularly useful in children. The exhaled breath temperature (EBT) may reflect inflammatory vasodilation and serve to assess respiratory symptoms and therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICs).

Aims

To compare EBT with other non‐invasive measurements in unselected schoolchildren in relation to respiratory symptoms and IC‐therapy, as well as to assess reproducibility, and potentially influencing factors.

Methods

In 298 Italian schoolchildren, we assessed tidal‐EBT, FENO, spirometry, skin‐prick tests, questionnaires on chronic respiratory symptoms, and medication. Subjects were divided as follows: reported wheeze, respiratory symptoms other than wheeze, and without symptoms.

Results

Subjects with reported wheeze (n = 30) more frequently presented atopy, respiratory symptoms, higher FENO, lower lung function than subjects with symptoms other than wheeze (n = 141) and those without symptoms (n = 127), but had a similar EBT. IC‐treated children (5 wheeze, 9 respiratory symptoms other than wheeze, 4 without chronic symptoms) had lower median (interquartile range) EBT levels than IC‐untreated children (n = 280) [EBT: 31.7 (30.1–32.5) vs. 32.6 (31.4–33.4), P = 0.027]. Duplicate EBT measurements were highly reproducible (ICC = 0.94). In a multiple linear‐regression model, EBT was explained by age, weight, duration of EBT measurement, FENO, and ambient temperature (r = 0.63, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Tidal‐EBT measurements are easy to perform, reproducible, though symptom misclassification may affect the results obtained regarding the effect of IC therapy. Factors influencing EBT should be addressed in further epidemiological studies. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:1196–1204. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Room temperature ferroelectric properties and leakage current characterics of Bi2FeMnO6/SrTiO3 bilayered thin films by chemical solution deposition
Authors: Shen L. M. , Tang X. G. , Liu Q. X. , Jiang Y. P. , Wang Y. G. , Li W. P.
Published: March 2014

Bi2FeMnO6/SrTiO3 (BFMO/STO) bilayered thin films were grown on LaNiO3 (LNO) buffered Si(100) substrate by chemical solution deposition. The structure and surface morphology of the bilayered thin films have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The Au/BFMO/STO/LNO thin‐film capacitor showed well‐saturated hysteresis loop at an applied field of 330 kV cm−1 with remnant polarization (2Pr) and coercive electric field (2Ec) values of 1.3 μC cm−2 and 80 kV cm−1, respectively. The films show leakage current density in the order of 10−5 A cm−2 in the whole electric field region. The leakage current depended on the voltage polarity. The Au/BFMO/STO interface forms an Ohmic contact with Au electrode biased negatively. At low electric field, the BFMO/STO/LNO interface forms an Ohmic contact with LNO electrode biased negatively. A further increase of applied electric field, the conduction shows a space‐charge‐limited‐current behavior.
A new and improved confidence interval for the Mantel–Haenszel risk difference
Authors: Klingenberg Bernhard
Published: March 2014

Writing the variance of the Mantel–Haenszel estimator under the null of homogeneity and inverting the corresponding test, we arrive at an improved confidence interval for the common risk difference in stratified 2 × 2 tables. This interval outperforms a variety of other intervals currently recommended in the literature and implemented in software. We also discuss a score‐type confidence interval that allows to incorporate strata/study weights. Both of these intervals work very well under many scenarios common in stratified trials or in a meta‐analysis, including situations with a mixture of both small and large strata sample sizes, unbalanced treatment allocation, or rare events. The new interval has the advantage that it is available in closed form with a simple formula. In addition, it applies to matched pairs data. We illustrate the methodology with various stratified clinical trials and a meta‐analysis. R code to reproduce all analysis is provided in the Appendix. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementation and performance evaluation of a scheduling algorithm for divisible load parallel applications in a cloud computing environment
Authors: Ismail Leila , Khan Latifur
Published: March 2014

Cloud computing is an emerging technology in which information technology resources are virtualized to users in a set of computing resources on a pay‐per‐use basis. It is seen as an effective infrastructure for high performance applications. Divisible load applications occur in many scientific and engineering applications. However, dividing an application and deploying it in a cloud computing environment face challenges to obtain an optimal performance due to the overheads introduced by the cloud virtualization and the supporting cloud middleware. Therefore, we provide results of series of extensive experiments in scheduling divisible load application in a Cloud environment to decrease the overall application execution time considering the cloud networking and computing capacities presented to the application's user. We experiment with real applications within the Amazon cloud computing environment. Our extensive experiments analyze the reasons of the discrepancies between a theoretical model and the reality and propose adequate solutions. These discrepancies are due to three factors: the network behavior, the application behavior and the cloud computing virtualization. Our results show that applying the algorithm result in a maximum ratio of 1.41 of the measured normalized makespan versus the ideal makespan for application in which the communication to computation ratio is big. They show that the algorithm is effective for those applications in a heterogeneous setting reaching a ratio of 1.28 for large data sets. For application following the ensemble clustering model in which the computation to communication ratio is big and variable, we obtained a maximum ratio of 4.7 for large data set and a ratio of 2.11 for small data set. Applying the algorithm also results in an important speedup. These results are revealing for the type of applications we consider under experiments. The experiments also reveal the impact of the choice of the platforms provided by Amazon on the performance of the applications under study. Considering the emergence of cloud computing for high performance applications, the results in this paper can be widely adopted by cloud computing developers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An actuator sector method for efficient transient wind turbine simulation
Authors: Storey R. C. , Norris S. E. , Cater J. E.
Published: March 2014

This paper investigates a new method for transient simulation of flow through a wind turbine using an actuator technique. The aim, in the context of wind turbine wake simulation, is to develop an alternative to the widely used actuator disc model with an increased resolution and range of applications, for the same or less computational expense. In this new model, the actuator sector method, forces applied to the fluid are distributed azimuthally to maintain a continuous flow solution for increased time‐step intervals compared with the actuator line method. Actuator sector results are presented in comparison with actuator disc and actuator line models initially for a non‐dimensionalized turbine in laminar onset flow. Subsequent results are presented for a turbine operating in a turbulent atmospheric boundary layer. Results show significant increases in flow fidelity compared with actuator disc model results; this includes the resolution of diametric variation in rotor loading caused by horizontal or vertical wind shear and the helical vortex system shed from the turbine blade tips. Significant reductions in computational processing time were achieved with wake velocities and turbulence statistics comparable with actuator line model results. The actuator sector method offers an improved alternative to applications employing conventional actuator disc models, with little or no additional computational cost. This technique in conjunction with a Cartesian mesh‐based parallel flow solver leads to efficient simulation of turbines in atmospheric boundary layer flows. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysts’ Forecast Accuracy in Germany: The Effect of Different Accounting Principles and Changes of Accounting Principles
Authors: Ernstberger Jürgen , Krotter Simon , Stadler Christian
Published: March 2014

This paper assesses the influence of an adoption of IAS/IFRS or US GAAP on the financial analysts’ forecast accuracy in a homogenous institutional framework. Our findings suggest that the forecast accuracy is higher for estimates based on IFRS or US GAAP data than for forecasts based on German GAAP data. Moreover, in the year of switching from German GAAP to US GAAP the forecast accuracy is lower than in other years. The paper contributes to prior research by providing evidence about the usefulness of international accounting data and about the adoption effects of a change to such accounting principles.
The Monotonicity Puzzle: An Experimental Investigation of Incentive Structures
Authors: Brosig Jeannette , Lukas Christian , Riechmann Thomas
Published: March 2014

Non-monotone incentive structures, which — according to theory — are able to induce optimal behavior, are often regarded as empirically less relevant for labor relationships. We compare the performance of a theoretically optimal non-monotone contract with a monotone one under controlled laboratory conditions. Implementing some features relevant to real-world employment relationships, our paper demonstrates that, in fact, the frequency of income-maximizing decisions made by agents is higher under the monotone contract. Although this observed behavior does not change the superiority of the non-monotone contract for principals, they do not choose this contract type in a significant way. This is what we call the monotonicity puzzle. Detailed investigations of decisions provide a clue for solving the puzzle and a possible explanation for the popularity of monotone contracts.
Knowledge Exchange in Intra-Organizational Innovation Communities: The Role of Cognitive and Affective States
Authors: Bansemir Bastian , Neyer Anne-Katrin , Möslein Kathrin M.
Published: March 2014

Many aspects in the area of designing platforms for intra-organizational innovation communities are not well understood. In this article, we examine the impact of technologically induced psychological factors on knowledge exchange in such communities. Using two experimental pretest-posttest experiments, we find that the implementation of (i) technologically induced self-efficacy (expressed by a ‘hurray’ message) and (ii) technologically induced positive affect (expressed by playing some 30 seconds of rock-’n’-roll music) in the design of the platform results in an influential increase of knowledge exchange. Importantly, the studies suggest that the integration of technologically induced self-efficacy leads to a higher extent of knowledge exchange than technologically induced positive affect. The implications of these results for future research and practice as well as for the design of a platform for such communities are discussed.
How the Entrepreneurial Top Management Team Setup Influences Firm Performance and the Ability to Raise Capital: A Literature Review
Authors: Maschke Konstantin , zu Knyphausen-Aufseβ Dodo
Published: March 2014

This paper reviews research findings on entrepreneurial top management teams within the last 20 years. It concentrates on team-based management factors and their influence on a new venture’s growth and ability to raise capital. This paper integrates recent findings and provides an overview of the current state of research. Moreover, it contributes to the overall topic by proposing five clusters of major team-specific influences, derives determinants of success and failure, and reveals recommendations for further research.
MAS Integration and Controllership Effectiveness: Evidence of a Preparer-User Perception Gap
Authors: Weißenberger Barbara E. , Angelkort Hendrik , Holthoff Gero
Published: March 2014

Recent evidence suggests that managers establish a positive link between management accounting system (MAS) integration and controllership effectiveness, which is fully mediated by the perceived consistency of financial language. Our paper extends this research by analyzing whether controllers have similar perceptions on MAS design. Testing a series of multi-group structural equation models, we find evidence for a preparer-user perception gap with respect to the mediating impact of a consistent financial language. Our results contribute to the still-ongoing controversial debate on MAS integration by indicating that the effectiveness of MAS design cannot be evaluated solely from an instrumental perspective independent from users’ perceptions.
Generalizability and Applicability of Model-Based Business Process Compliance-Checking Approaches — A State-of-the-Art Analysis and Research Roadmap
Authors: Becker Jörg , Delfmann Patrick , Eggert Mathias , Schwittay Sebastian
Published: March 2014

With a steady increase of regulatory requirements for business processes, automation support of compliance management is a field garnering increasing attention in Information Systems research. Several approaches have been developed to support compliance checking of process models. One major challenge for such approaches is their ability to handle different modeling techniques and compliance rules in order to enable widespread adoption and application. Applying a structured literature search strategy, we reflect and discuss compliance-checking approaches in order to provide an insight into their generalizability and evaluation. The results imply that current approaches mainly focus on special modeling techniques and/or a restricted set of types of compliance rules. Most approaches abstain from real-world evaluation which raises the question of their practical applicability. Referring to the search results, we propose a roadmap for further research in model-based business process compliance checking.