bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does the analysis of the enantiomeric composition of clenbuterol in human urine enable the differentiation of illicit clenbuterol administration from food contamination in sports drug testing?
Authors: Thevis Mario , Thomas Andreas , Beuck Simon , Butch Anthony , Dvorak Jiri , Schänzer Wilhelm
Published: January 2013

RATIONALE

Clenbuterol (4‐amino‐α‐[(tert‐butylamino)methyl]‐3,5‐dichlorobenzyl alcohol) is approved for human and veterinary use primarily for the treatment of pulmonary afflictions. Despite the authorized administration in cases of medical indications, the misuse of clenbuterol in animal husbandry as well as elite and amateur sport has frequently been reported, arguably due to growth‐promoting properties. Due to various recent incidences of doping control specimens containing clenbuterol, strategies towards the discrimination of a surreptitious application from unintended intake via animal‐derived edibles or dietary supplements were required.

METHODS

The enantiomeric compositions of clenbuterol in human urine samples derived from administration studies with therapeutic amounts of the β2‐agonist and authentic doping control specimens were determined. Due to the facts that therapeutic clenbuterol consists of a racemic mixture of (+)‐ and (−)‐stereoisomers and that the first mentioned (dextrorotatory) stereoisomer is retained to a greater extent in edible animal tissue, the differentiation of a recent administration of therapeutic (and thus racemic) clenbuterol from food contamination (stereoisomerically depleted clenbuterol) was considered. Employing deuterated clenbuterol as internal standard, the target analytes were extracted from human urine by means of concerted liquid‐liquid and solid‐phase extractions and subjected to chiral liquid chromatography hyphenated to high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization.

RESULTS

Both enantiomers of clenbuterol were baseline separated and relative abundances of corresponding labeled and unlabeled stereoisomers were determined, demonstrating that the therapeutic use of clenbuterol results in racemic mixtures in urine for at least 24 h while adverse analytical findings presumably originating from food contaminations can yield (−)‐clenbuterol‐depleted pairs of analytes.

CONCLUSIONS

The determination of relative abundances of clenbuterol enantiomers can indicate the ingestion of clenbuterol via contaminated food; however, depletion of (−)‐clenbuterol in edible animal tissue is time‐dependent and thus results can still be inconclusive as to the inadvertent ingestion of clenbuterol when clenbuterol administration to animals was conducted until slaughter. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Grain‐stored energy and the propagation of intergranular corrosion in AA2xxx aluminium alloys
Authors: Zhou X. , Luo C. , Ma Y. , Hashimoto T. , Thompson G.E. , Hughes A.E. , Skeldon P.
Published: January 2013

In the present study, intergranular corrosion (IGC) in AA2024 and AA2099 aluminium alloys was investigated. The IGC propagation path was examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Further, electron backscatter diffraction was employed to investigate the relationship between the grain structure and the IGC susceptibility. It was found that IGC could occur at grain boundaries where second phase precipitates were absent. It was also revealed that IGC occurred at the grain boundaries that surround grains of relatively high‐stored energy, and corrosion was not confined within the region immediately adjacent to the grain boundaries but had developed into the grains of relatively high‐stored energy, suggesting that IGC propagated within the grains that have relatively high levels of defects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of Nanotube–Protein Corona Composition in Cell Culture Media
Authors: Shannahan Jonathan H. , Brown Jared M. , Chen Ran , Ke Pu Chun , Lai Xianyin , Mitra Somenath , Witzmann Frank A.
Published: January 2013

In biological environments, nanomaterials associate with proteins forming a protein corona (PC). The PC may alter the nanomaterial's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, thereby influencing toxicity. Using a label‐free mass spectrometry‐based proteomics approach, the composition of the PC is examined for a set of nanotubes (NTs) including unmodified and carboxylated single‐ (SWCNT) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)‐coated MWCNT (MWCNT‐PVP), and nanoclay. NTs are incubated for 1 h in simulated cell culture conditions, then washed, resuspended in PBS, and assessed by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) for their associated PC. To determine those attributes that influence PC formation, the NTs are extensively characterized. NTs had negative zeta potentials in water (SWCNT‐COOH < MWCNT‐COOH < unmodified NTs) while carboxylation increases their hydrodynamic sizes. All NTs are also found to associate a common subset of proteins including albumin, titin, and apolipoproteins. SWCNT‐COOH and MWCNT‐COOH are found to bind the greatest number of proteins (181 and 133 respectively) compared to unmodified NTs (<100), suggesting covalent binding to protein amines. Modified NTs bind a number of unique proteins compared to unmodified NTs, implying hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions are involved in PC formation. PVP‐coating of MWCNT did not influence PC composition, further reinforcing the possibility of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. No relationships are found between PC composition and corresponding isoelectric point, hydropathy, or aliphatic index, implying minimal roles of hydrophobic interaction and pi‐stacking.
“Liver‐first” approach for synchronous colorectal liver metastases: is this a justifiable approach?
Authors: De Rosa A. , Gomez D. , Brooks A. , Cameron I.C.
Published: January 2013

Background

To review the outcomes of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) treated by the “liver‐first” approach.

Methods

Relevant articles were reviewed from the published literature using the Medline database. The search was performed using the keywords “colorectal cancer”, “liver‐first”, “reverse strategy”, “liver metastases”, “liver resection”, and “hepatectomy”

Results

There have been four retrospective studies that have reported the outcomes of patients with synchronous CRLM following the reverse strategy. The number of patients included ranged from 16 to 27. One study included patients with advanced rectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases only. None of the studies defined resectability for the CRLM. Overall, the morbidity and mortality rates were low. The recurrence rate ranged from 25 to 70 %. One study did not report survival data, and the overall 5 year survival ranged from 31 to 41 %.

Conclusion

The “liver‐first” approach may be beneficial to a selected group of patients with synchronous CRLM. Patient selection is likely to be determined by their response to down‐staging chemotherapy with or without biological agents.
The Multisurface Obstacle Test for Older Adults (MSOT): development and reliability of a novel test for older adults
Authors: Morat Tobias , Kroeger Daniela , Mechling Heinz
Published: January 2013

Locomotion is an essential component of independence and well-being at old age. Performance deficits in the gait of older adults most often become evident on multisurface and varying terrains. Research results substantiate that falls occur in everyday movement situations that are characterized by instability. A test track, the Multisurface Obstacle Test for Older Adults (MSOT), was developed to diagnose individual performance. The 10-m track consists of different obstacles and varying surfaces, which represent everyday movement situations in a compact way. Twenty-nine untrained, healthy older adults (11 men, 18 women) were tested on three different days at 1-week intervals in a test–retest design by the same conductor. Mean age of the participants was 68.8 ± 5.3 years with a mean body mass index of 24.4 ± 2.5 kg/m2. The measured outcome variable was the required time (seconds) on the MSOT. The feasibility for the tested sample of untrained older adults was very good. The MSOT was undertaken safely by the participants, and no falls occurred. The range of the mean for time was between 8.12 ± 1.53 s and 9.00 ± 1.62 s. Regarding intertrial reliability, mean differences (MD) of −3.39 to −5.52 % and coefficients of variation (CV) of 2.72 to 4.19 % between the first and second trials and MD of −0.69 to −0.85 % and CV of 2.57 to 4.54 % over the three test sessions were observed. The correlation coefficients between the sessions were .92–.98. There were significant differences (p < .05) between the first and second trials of each session and between the first and second sessions. The smallest detectable differences (SDD) revealed that a small improvement is enough to detect changes in performance in the MSOT. Selecting tasks from real-life situations of older adults contributes to substantiate practical usability of the MSOT. The measured time on the MSOT showed high relative and absolute reliability in the target group of older adults between 60 and 80 years.
Rheological Behavior of Selected Water‐Nonionic–Anionic Surfactant Quasi‐ternary Systems
Authors: Chruściel Arkadiusz
Published: January 2013

The results of studies on the rheological behavior of ternary mixtures comprising water, linear alkylbenzenesulfonic acid, and a non‐ionic surfactant from a group comprising ethoxylated fatty acid methyl esters are presented in this paper. In the latter group, those examined include ethoxylated rapeseed and coconut fatty acid methyl esters, and ethoxylated lauryl acid methyl ester. The flowing curves, effect of temperature on viscosity, as well as the relationship between viscosity and composition of the examined ternary systems were studied. As a practical objective, the studies were intended to utilize the findings for optimizing unit operations which are applied in the process of technology to make washing powder formulations.
Fatty Acid Composition of Irvingia gabonensis and Treculia africana Seed Lipids and Phospholipids
Authors: Ifeduba Ebenezer A. , Awachie Mabel N. , Sabir Jamal S. M. , Akoh Casimir C.
Published: January 2013

Lipid compositions of two non‐conventional oilseeds (Irvingia gabonensis and Treculia africana) were studied. Total lipids were extracted by the Folch method and phospholipids were isolated by solid phase extraction. Fatty acid compositions of total lipids and phospholipids were determined by gas chromatography. Phospholipid classes and tocopherols were quantified by HPLC. The major fatty acids in I. gabonensis seed total lipids were myristic (41.4–48.9 %) and lauric (39.8–46.8 %) while those in T. africana seed were linoleic (29.1–31.4 %) and oleic (22.9–25.9 %). The principal fatty acid at the sn‐2 position of I. gabonensis seed triacylglycerols was myristic (49.5 %) while that of T. africana was linoleic (50.6 %). Phospholipid content of crude T. africana seed oil was 3.3 % and that of I. gabonensis was 0.1–0.3 %. The composition and distribution of saturated fatty acids in I. gabonensis seed lipids suggest that it may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk factors among the Igbo people in Nigeria that use the seed as food ingredient.
Associations among bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide in high school students
Authors: Bauman Sheri , Toomey Russell B. , Walker Jenny L.
Published: January 2013

This study examined associations among depression, suicidal behaviors, and bullying and victimization experiences in 1491 high school students using data from the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results demonstrated that depression mediated the association between bullying/victimization and suicide attempts, but differently for males and females. Specifically, depression mediated the link between traditional victimization and suicide attempts similarly across gender, whereas depression mediated the link between cyber victimization and suicide attempts only for females. Similarly, depression mediated the link between traditional bullying and suicide attempts for females only. Depression did not mediate the link between cyberbullying and suicide attempts for either gender. Implications of the findings are discussed, including the importance of greater detection of depression among students involved in bullying, and the need for a suicide prevention and intervention component in anti‐bullying programs. Findings suggest that bullying prevention efforts be extended from middle school students to include high school students.
Dynamics of homeomorphisms of the torus homotopic to Dehn twists
Authors: ADDAS-ZANATA SALVADOR , TAL FÁBIO A. , GARCIA BRÁULIO A.
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we consider torus homeomorphisms $f$ homotopic to Dehn twists. We prove that if the vertical rotation set of $f$ is reduced to zero, then there exists a compact connected essential ‘horizontal’ set $K$, invariant under $f$. In other words, if we consider the lift $\hat {f}$ of $f$ to the cylinder, which has zero vertical rotation number, then all points have uniformly bounded motion under iterates of $\hat {f}$. Also, we give a simple explicit condition which, when satisfied, implies that the vertical rotation set contains an interval and thus also implies positive topological entropy. As a corollary of the above results, we prove a version of Boyland’s conjecture to this setting: if $f$ is area preserving and has a lift $\hat {f}$ to the cylinder with zero Lebesgue measure vertical rotation number, then either the orbits of all points are uniformly bounded under $\hat {f}$, or there are points in the cylinder with positive vertical velocity and others with negative vertical velocity.
Some properties of positive entropy maps
Authors: ARBIETO A. , MORALES C. A.
Published: January 2013

We prove that the stable classes for continuous maps on compact metric spaces have measure zero with respect to any ergodic invariant measure with positive entropy. Then, every continuous map with positive topological entropy on a compact metric space has uncountably many stable classes. We also prove that every continuous map with positive topological entropy of a compact metric space cannot be Lyapunov stable on its recurrent set. For homeomorphisms on compact metric spaces we prove that the sets of heteroclinic points, and sinks in the canonical coordinates case, have zero measure with respect to any ergodic invariant measure with positive entropy. These results generalize those of Fedorenko and Smital [Maps of the interval Ljapunov stable on the set of nonwandering points. Acta Math. Univ. Comenian. (N.S.)60 (1) (1991), 11–14], Huang and Ye [Devaney’s chaos or 2-scattering implies Li–Yorke’s chaos. Topology Appl.117 (3) (2002), 259–272], Reddy [The existence of expansive homeomorphisms on manifolds. Duke Math. J.32 (1965), 627–632], Reddy and Robertson [Sources, sinks and saddles for expansive homeomorphisms with canonical coordinates. Rocky Mountain J. Math.17 (4) (1987), 673–681], Sindelarova [A counterexample to a statement concerning Lyapunov stability. Acta Math. Univ. Comenian. 70 (2001), 265–268], and Zhou [Some equivalent conditions for self-mappings of a circle. Chinese Ann. Math. Ser. A12(suppl.) (1991), 22–27].
Relationship of lycopene intake and consumption of tomato products to incident CVD
Authors: Jacques Paul F. , Lyass Asya , Massaro Joseph M. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , D'Agostino Sr Ralph B.
Published: January 2013

Evidence for cardioprotective effects of lycopene is inconsistent. Studies of circulating lycopene generally report inverse associations with CVD risk, but studies based on lycopene intake do not. The failure of dietary studies to support the findings based on biomarkers may be due in part to misclassification of lycopene intakes. To address this potential misclassification, we used repeated measures of intake obtained over 10 years to characterise the relationship between lycopene intake and the incidence of CVD (n314), CHD (n171) and stroke (n99) in the Framingham Offspring Study. Hazard ratios (HR) for incident outcomes were derived from Cox proportional hazards regression models using logarithmically transformed lycopene intake adjusted for CVD risk factors and correlates of lycopene intake. HR were interpreted as the increased risk for a 2·7-fold difference in lycopene intake, a difference approximately equal to its interquartile range. Using an average of three intake measures with a 9-year follow-up, lycopene intake was inversely associated with CVD incidence (HR 0·83, 95 % CI 0·70, 0·98). Using an average of two intake measures and 11 years of follow-up, lycopene intake was inversely associated with CHD incidence (HR 0·74, 95 % CI 0·58, 0·94). Lycopene intake was unrelated to stroke incidence. The present study of lycopene intake and CVD provides supporting evidence for an inverse association between lycopene and CVD risk; however, additional research is needed to determine whether lycopene or other components of tomatoes, the major dietary source of lycopene, are responsible for the observed association.
Fruits and vegetables: measuring intake and encouraging increased consumption
Authors: Woodside Jayne V. , Young Ian S. , McKinley Michelle C.
Published: January 2013

A high intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) is associated with reduced risk of chronic disease, although the evidence base is mostly observational. Blood biomarkers offer an objective indicator of FV intake, potentially improving estimates of intakes based on traditional methods. A valid biomarker of overall FV intake would be able to confirm population intakes, more precisely evaluate the association between intakes and health outcomes and confirm compliance in FV interventions. Several substances have been proposed as biomarkers of FV intake: vitamin C, the carotenoids and polyphenols. Certain biomarkers are strong predictors of single FV; however, the proposed single biomarkers of FV consumption are only modestly predictive of overall FV consumption. This is likely to be due to the complexity of the FV food group. While accurately measuring FV intake is important in nutrition research, another critical question is: how best can an increase in FV intake be achieved? Increased FV intake has been achieved in efficacy studies using intensive dietary advice. Alternative, less intensive methods for encouraging FV consumption need to be developed and tested for population level intervention. Systematic reviews suggest peer support to be an effective strategy to promote dietary change. This review will describe the evidence for a link between increased FV intake and good health, outline possible novel biomarkers of FV consumption, present the most recently available data on population intake of FV and examine the usefulness of different approaches to encourage increased consumption of FV.
Ageing and the prevalence and treatment of mental health problems
Authors: Jokela M. , Batty G. D. , Kivimäki M.
Published: January 2013

Background

Ageing is an important factor in the development of mental health problems and their treatment. We assessed age trajectories of common mental disorders (CMDs) and psychotherapy utilization from adolescence to old age, and examined whether these trajectories were modified by time period or birth cohort effects.

Method

British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) with an 18-year follow-up between 1991 and 2009 (n = 30 224 participants, aged 15–100 years, with an average 7.3 person-observations per person). CMDs were assessed with the 12-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Psychotherapy treatment utilization during the past year was self-reported by the participants. The modifying influences of time period and cohort effects were assessed in a cohort-sequential longitudinal setting.

Results

Following a moderate decrease after age 50, the prevalence of GHQ caseness increased steeply from age 75. This increase was more marked in the 2000s (GHQ prevalence increasing from 24% to 43%) than in the 1990s (from 22% to 34%). Psychotherapy utilization decreased after age 55, with no time period or cohort effects modifying the age trajectory. These ageing patterns were replicated in within-individual longitudinal analysis.

Conclusions

Old age is associated with higher risk of CMDs, and this association has become more marked during the past two decades. Ageing is also associated with an increasing discrepancy between prevalence of mental disorders and provision of treatment, as indicated by lower use of psychotherapy in older individuals.
Supersession or Subsession? Exodus Typology, the Christian Eucharist and the Jewish Passover Meal
Authors: Boulton Matthew Myer
Published: January 2013

Contemporary Christian construals of the Eucharist, both in doctrine and in practice, generally tend to subordinate, de-emphasise or omit theological reference to the Jewish Passover meal. And yet the key New Testament texts in which the Eucharist's institution is variously narrated – the very texts and institution allegedly ‘remembered’ in eucharistic rites – are virtually unintelligible apart from Passover. Thus, at the heart of Christian doctrine and practical life sits a particular theological problem: namely, precisely how to relate the distinctively Jewish character of the Eucharist's origins as narrated in the New Testament to the distinctively Christian character of eucharistic doctrine and liturgy. Drawing on two Jewish thinkers, Michael Fishbane and Yair Zakovitch, in this article I offer one model for understanding the Eucharist–Passover relationship in particular, and the Christian–Jewish relationship generally, as fundamentally typological, performative and ‘subsessionist’. That is, I propose a subsessionist (as opposed to supersessionist) typological understanding of the Eucharist as a Christian rendition of Passover, at once distinct from its Jewish counterparts today and utterly dependent on the ancient Israelite festival for its intelligibility and force. From Fishbane, I draw the idea that throughout the Hebrew Bible, the exodus narrative provides a crucial interpretative key applicable to both prior and anticipated redemptions. From Zakovitch, I draw the idea that the ubiquity of exodus typology in Hebrew scripture may function to create an impression of periodic repetition in salvation history, in effect reassuring Israel that future deliverance will conform to the essential patterns of the prestigious past. The typology at play here, then, so far from being a triumphalist ‘prophecy-fulfilment’ arrangement in which the ‘old’ is valuable only insofar as it serves as a signpost pointing to the ‘new’, is rather a ‘paradigm-rendition’ typology in which the new performance is clarified and authenticated precisely insofar as it corresponds to the old, exalted original. At stake here, I contend, is not only a more fruitful framework for conceiving the relationship between Eucharist and Passover (or indeed between Christianity and Judaism), but also a crucial theological strategy for resisting what amounts to ade factoMarcionism in contemporary Christian communities.
‘Dignified’: An Exegetical Soteriology of Divine Honour
Authors: Borges Jason
Published: January 2013

Social scientists in disparate fields are now employing the construct of honour to ameliorate various social problems, such as immorality, failed states, international discord, poverty and mental illness. Moreover, historians of global religion cite Christianity's shift towards cultures shaped by the values of honour and shame. Despite this growing prominence of honour in social theories and the emergence of Christianity in honour–shame cultures, the notion of honour remains absent from theological discourse. In light of these global realities, we explore how God's active transformation of humanity from shame to honour can interpret both salvation-history and Christian theology. To this end I first explore the nature of humanity's problem of shame before God, using anthropological and biblical insights. Throughout the Old Testament, God's covenant initiatives with Abram, Moses and David, along with the common socio-literary pattern of God exalting a servant from unjust shame, reveals the dignified status God intends for humanity. God's programme to restore people from shame to honour climaxes in Jesus, who embodies honour in the incarnation, mediates dignity to the marginalised by healings and public fellowship, elaborates God's new code of honour which reinterprets social stigmas, and procures an exalted status for all peoples by atoning for shame and resurrecting to exaltation. Romans and 1 Peter are interpreted in their socio-historic contexts as apostolic instruments which expound the social implications of God's honour code. To unify the fractured Romans for the upcoming Spanish mission, Paul confronts social imperialism by replacing false honour claims with God's status now available by faith through grace in Christ. Meanwhile, 1 Peter assures maligned Christians of their exalted status and outlines honourable social relations. Then, in closing, we examine a soteriology of honour diachronically and systematically. In particular, how: biblical metaphors symbolise believers’ status transposition, group incorporation is key to New Testament soteriology, Eastern Orthodoxy's doctrine oftheosisarticulates the infusion of divine status, and other theological categories could be interpreted through honour-shame social values. These reflections towards an exegetical soteriology of divine honour are offered as an initial theological platform for addressing social issues where honour values prevail.
Efficient large-scale configuration via integer linear programming
Authors: Feinerer Ingo
Published: January 2013

Configuration of large-scale applications in an engineering context requires a modeling environment that allows the design engineer to draft the configuration problem in a natural way and efficient methods that can process the modeled setting and scale with the number of components. Existing configuration methods in artificial intelligence typically perform quite well in certain subareas but are hard to use for general-purpose modeling without mathematical or logics background (the so-called knowledge acquisition bottleneck) and/or have scalability issues. As a remedy to this important issue both in theory and in practical applications, we use a standard modeling environment like the Unified Modeling Language that has been proposed by the configuration community as a suitable object-oriented formalism for configuration problems. We provide a translation of key concepts of class diagrams to inequalities and identify relevant configuration aspects and show how they are treated as an integer linear program. Solving an integer linear program can be done efficiently, and integer linear programming scales well to large configurations consisting of several thousands components and interactions. We conduct an empirical study in the context of package management for operating systems and for the Linux kernel configuration. We evaluate our methodology by a benchmark and obtain convincing results in support for using integer linear programming for configuration applications of realistic size and complexity.
Improving the link between computer-assisted design and configuration tools for the design of mechanical products
Authors: Raffaeli Roberto , Mengoni Maura , Germani Michele
Published: January 2013

The competitive market forces companies to offer tailored products to meet specific customer needs. To avoid wasting time, design efforts generally address the configuration of existing solutions, without producing substantial design modifications. Configuration tools are used to achieve customized products starting from a common platform. Many approaches have been successfully proposed in literature to configure products. However, in the mechanical field they need further investigation in order to be efficiently linked to computer-aided design technologies. Research is focused on tools and methods to automatically produce geometrical models and improve the flexibility of the continuous product updating process. In this context, this paper aims to combine product configuration approaches with design automation techniques in order to support design activities of products to fulfill specific requirements. The approach is based on entities called configurable virtual prototypes. Three different domains are managed and connected via configurable virtual prototypes: product specifications, geometrical data, and product knowledge. In particular, geometry recognition rules are used to identify the parameterization of parts and the assembly mating constraints. The approach is exemplified through an industrial case study where a tool has been developed on the basis of the described method. Advantages of the system are shown in terms of achieved product configuration efficiency.
First Special Meeting of the States Parties to the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects
Authors: Shyllon Folarin
Published: January 2013

Fourteen years after the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention came into force, the first special meeting as envisaged under Article 20 of the Convention was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 19 June 2012. Article 20 provides that “The President of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) may at regular intervals, or at any time at the request of five Contracting states, convene a special committee in order to review the practical operation of this Convention.” Appropriately, the first special committee meeting took place at UNESCO's head office, preceding by a day the second meeting of States Parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership Cultural Property, which convened in Paris on 20–21 June 2012. The UNIDROIT Convention was initiated at the request of UNESCO to fill the gap in the 1970 Convention relating to the private law aspects of the return and restitution of stolen or illegally exported cultural property.
The determinants of investment returns in the fire insurance industry: the case of Sweden, 1903–1939
Authors: Andersson Lars Fredrik , Lindmark Magnus , Adams Mike , Upreti Vineet
Published: January 2013

We employ a panel data research design to examine the determinants of investment returns in the Swedish property fire insurance industry from 1903 to 1939 – a period of great economic and political uncertainty. Contrary to expectations, we find that mutual fire insurers generated systematically higher investment returns than stock fire insurers. Investment returns are inversely related to leverage but positively related to liquidity, showing that firms adopting a more precautionary investment strategy attain higher returns.
A NOTE ON THE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION OF
Authors: DESHOUILLERS JEAN-MARC , HASSANI MEHDI
Published: January 2013

We study the differentiability of the limiting distribution function associated to the normalized Euler function defined on the shifted primes.
Erstvalidierung der deutschen Version des „Inventory of Complicated Grief” (ICG-D)
Authors: Lumbeck Gudrun , Brandstätter Monika , Geissner Edgar
Published: January 2013

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Die Aufnahme der komplizierten Trauer (KT) in Diagnosesysteme wird derzeit diskutiert, es gibt jedoch kaum deutsche Erhebungsinstrumente. Fragestellung: Eines der meistverwendeten Testverfahren, das Inventory of complicated grief (ICG), wurde in deutscher Übersetzung (ICG-D) validiert. Methode: 117 psychosomatische Patienten mit KT bearbeiteten den ICG-D, das Beck Depressionsinventar und die Symptomcheckliste 90-R. Ergebnisse: Das ICG-D zeigte bei einer einfaktoriellen Struktur, guter interner Konsistenz und Retest-Reliabilität sowie Itemschwierigkeiten im mittleren bis sehr hohen Bereich gute Kennwerte. Erste Belege für die Konstruktvalidität werden berichtet. Schlussfolgerungen: Mit dem deutschen ICG-D liegt ein Instrument vor, mit dem KT reliabel und valide erfasst werden kann. Nachfolgende Untersuchungen sollten weitere Stichproben mit Trauerproblematik beinhalten und die Diagnostik der KT im klinischen Interview mit dem ICG-D vergleichen.
Innovative Intraoperative Titanium Mesh Preparation for Safer Implantation
Authors: Nallathamby Vigneswaran , Lee Hanjing , Lim Jane , Ong Wei Chen , Lim Thiam Chye
Published: January 2013

Titanium meshes have been extensively used in craniomaxillofacial surgery. The benefits of these titanium implants include being inert, stable, and radiopaque and having good drainage properties. The titanium mesh is cut to shape and bent before implantation, which may give rise to the cut edges being jagged and sharp. This can lead to soft tissue being caught or lacerated by these sharp ends. A change in technique to cut and shape the implant may reduce this problem. The implant should be cut right at the end of the bars flush with the remaining parts of the implant. We present a new and simple method for smoothing these troublesome edges. We use the diathermy scratch pad or tip cleaner, a tool used frequently in every major surgery. This scratch pad can be used as a rasp to smoothen the edges of the titanium mesh once it is cut into shape.
Innovation through Collaborative Partnerships: Creating the MSN News for iPad App at VanceInfo Technologies
Authors: Abbott Pamela , Zheng Yingqin , Du Rong
Published: January 2013

This teaching case focuses on a collaborative project between a major software and services outsourcing company in China (VanceInfo Technologies) and one of its major Western clients (Microsoft Inc.). VanceInfo and Microsoft had been engaged in a long-term client/vendor relationship since 1997 and the project had been the result of this long-term partnership arrangement. The project was deemed quite successful and innovative; hence it provided an opportunity to determine how collaborative innovation could work between two remote and culturally different supply chain partners and how the lessons from this project could be used to inform SSO providers of ways in which they could move up the value chain to more client-focused value added services. The case looks in-depth at the actual working practices that enabled the distributed Microsoft/VanceInfo team to produce a market-led innovative product. Agile methods were highly integral to the functioning of those work practices and are quite carefully scrutinised from the point of view of how they were adapted for use in a distributed, cross-cultural environment. Users of the case study will be asked to formulate answers to several questions geared towards providing general guidelines that SSO providers can follow to achieve similar successful outcomes.
Benchmark theoretical study of the electric polarizabilities of naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene
Authors: Huzak M. , Deleuze M. S.
Published: January 2013

By applying the principles of a focal point analysis to finite field calculations, the static electric dipole polarizabilities of naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene have been estimated up to the level of coupled cluster theory including single, double, and perturbative triple excitations in the limit of an asymptotically complete basis set. Thermal corrections to polarizabilities have been empirically estimated according to Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamical simulations at 298 K employing density functional theory. Confrontation with the latest experimental values for isotropic polarizabilities ultimately indicates relative accuracies of the order of 1.2% (for naphthalene) to 3.5% (for anthracene), provided diffuse functions are incorporated in the focal point analysis.
Multicanonical molecular dynamics by variable-temperature thermostats and variable-pressure barostats
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Deem Michael W.
Published: January 2013

Sampling from flat energy or density distributions has proven useful in equilibrating complex systems with large energy barriers. Several thermostats and barostats are presented to sample these flat distributions by molecular dynamics. These methods use a variable temperature or pressure that is updated on the fly in the thermodynamic controller. These methods are illustrated on a Lennard-Jones system and a structure-based model of proteins.
Position matters: High resolution spectroscopy of 6-methoxyindole
Authors: Brand Christian , Oeltermann Olivia , Wilke Martin , Schmitt Michael
Published: January 2013

The structures of syn and anti 6-methoxyindole have been determined in the electronic ground and excited states using rotationally resolved electronic spectroscopy and high level ab initio calculations. Second order coupled cluster theory predicts the lowest excited singlet states to be heavily mixed and the transition dipole moments to depend strongly on the geometries. From the analysis of the rovibronic spectra of seven isotopomers, the absolute orientation of the transition dipole moment within the principle axis frame was determined to be Lb-like for both conformers.
Group properties and invariant solutions of a sixth-order thin film equation in viscous fluid
Authors: Huang Ding-jiang , Yang Qin-min , Zhou Shuigeng
Published: January 2013

Using group theoretical methods, we analyze the generalization of a one-dimensional sixth-order thin film equation which arises in considering the motion of a thin film of viscous fluid driven by an overlying elastic plate. The most general Lie group classification of point symmetries, its Lie algebra, and the equivalence group are obtained. Similarity reduction are performed and invariant solutions are constructed. It is found that some similarity solutions are of great physical interest such as sink and source solutions, travelling-wave solutions, waiting-time solutions, and blow-up solutions.
Application of vortex identification schemes to direct numerical simulation data of a transitional boundary layer
Authors: Pierce Brian , Moin Parviz , Sayadi Taraneh
Published: January 2013

We have demonstrated how various vortex identification and visualization criteria perform using direct numerical simulation data from a transitional and turbulent boundary layer by Sayadi, Hamman, and Moin [“Direct numerical simulation of complete transition to turbulence via h-type and k-type secondary instabilities,” Technical Report, Stanford University, CTR Annual Research Briefs, 2011]. The presence of well-known Λ vortices in the transitional region provides a well defined and yet realistic benchmark for evaluation of various criteria. We investigate the impact of changing the threshold used for iso-surface plotting.
Solvent effect on phase transition of lyotropic rigid-chain liquid crystal polymer studied by dissipative particle dynamics
Authors: Zhao Tongyang , Wang Xiaogong
Published: January 2013

Effect of solvent quality on phase transition of lyotropic rigid-chain liquid crystal polymer is studied by dissipative particle dynamics simulation. A rod composed of fused DPD particles is used to represent the solvated rigid polymer. The effect of solvent quality is investigated by adjusting the repulsion parameter between the rods and solvent particles. The simulation shows that the solvent quality has significant influences on the phase transition behavior of the system and the influences are also closely related with the concentrations before the solvent becomes extremely poor. The influences of the solvent quality are attributed to the interplay between the immiscibility-induced phase separation and nematic-isotropic phase transition, which can be described by the binodal lines and nematic-isotropic transition lines in the phase diagrams. If a system is located in the one phase region, it will undergo a typical nematic to isotropic phase transition as the temperature increases. If a system is located in the biphasic region, there are two different types of nematic-isotropic phase transitions depending on whether the transition temperature from the biphasic region to isotropic phase region is lower or higher than the nematic-isotropic transition temperature of the concentrated phase. The first type corresponds to the transition from the biphasic region to the isotropic one phase region and the second type is attributed to the nematic-isotropic phase transition that occurs in the concentrated phase.
A direct Vlasov code to study the non-stationary current collection by a cylindrical Langmuir probe
Authors: Sánchez-Arriaga G.
Published: January 2013

The time-dependent current collection by a cylindrical Langmuir probe, whose bias is suddenly changed from zero to a positive or negative finite value, is studied with a novel direct Vlasov code. The numerical algorithm is based on finite-difference formulas to approximate spatial and velocity derivatives and the time integration is carried out with an explicit Runge-Kutta method, or in the case of probe radius small compared with the Debye length, by using the unconditionally stable backward Euler scheme. Both electrons and ions are treated kinetically by the code, which implements initial and boundary conditions that are consistent with the presence of the probe. Within the considered parameter range, the plasma sheath around the probe exhibited an overshoot and it later recovered a steady state. Phase space diagrams of the particle trajectories revealed the presence of a trapped population of particles. The dependence of this population as a function of the probe radius is presented as well as a comparison with the stationary theory. The performance of the code and a comparison with previously used particle-in-cell algorithms are discussed.
Study on gas phase collisional deactivation of O2(a1Δg) by alkanes and alkenes
Authors: Wang Junhui , Leng Jing , Yang Heping , Sha Guohe , Zhang Cunhao
Published: January 2013

Systematic measurements were made on the deactivation rate constants (kΔ) of O2(a1Δ) by homologous series of gaseous n-alkanes and 1-alkenes by using our recently developed quasi-static method. The results indicate that the kΔ values for alkanes are in direct proportion to the number of C–H bonds (NCH) in the molecules, while those for alkenes are not, but being still linear with NCH, which is in good agreement with Schmidt's E-V energy transfer model. The direct proportion and linearity relationship, respectively, for alkanes and alkenes were well explained in terms of the type and number of their C–H stretching vibrational modes, together with their corresponding vibrational constants. The physical mechanism for the linearity and additivity in Schmidt's model was also discussed in detail. In addition, the kΔ values for alkanes were found to be evidently smaller than those for alkenes with the same number of carbon atoms (n) for n < 4, while the situation is quite the contrary for n > 4, which was also rationalized in terms of E-V energy transfer mechanism, together with their respective C–H stretching vibrational modes.
Charge transport properties in electrically aged organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Huber R. , Witt F. , Borchert H. , von Hauff E. , Heun S. , Buchholz H. , Parisi J.
Published: January 2013

Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are a rapidly developing technology with high innovation potential for displays, lighting, and further applications. Critical issues for current research remain the extension of lifetimes and, related to this aim, a deeper understanding of degradation processes in OLEDs. In the present work, we used the charge-based deep level transient spectroscopy technique to investigate changes in the charge transport in OLEDs induced by electrical aging. Both trap states capturing electrons and holes, respectively, were detected. Temperature-dependent measurements enabled estimating the depth of the trap states for electrons. Comparison of spectra of electrically aged and undriven devices revealed that aging seemed to increase the density of traps but did not lead to the occurrence of new types of trap states. Furthermore, experiments with different voltage pulses to fill the charge carrier trap states allowed conclusions on age-induced changes of the injection barrier for holes.
Experimental demonstration of direct terahertz detection at room-temperature in AlGaN/GaN asymmetric nanochannels
Authors: Sangaré Paul , Ducournau Guillaume , Grimbert Bertrand , Brandli Virginie , Faucher Marc , Gaquière Christophe , Íñiguez-de-la-Torre Ana , Íñiguez-de-la-Torre Ignacio , Millithaler J. F. , Mateos Javier , González Tomas
Published: January 2013

The potentialities of AlGaN/GaN nanodevices as THz detectors are analyzed. Nanochannels with broken symmetry (so called self switching diodes) have been fabricated for the first time in this material system using both recess-etching and ion implantation technologies. The responsivities of both types of devices have been measured and explained using Monte Carlo simulations and non linear analysis. Sensitivities up to 100 V/W are obtained at 0.3 THz with a 280 pW/Hz1/2 noise equivalent power.
An experimental acoustic cloak for generating virtual images
Authors: Hu Wenlin , Fan Yuxian , Ji Peifeng , Yang Jun
Published: January 2013

A two-dimensional acoustic cloak is realized to generate virtual image in air. The cloak is designed to make the backscattering characteristics of a quadrangular prism the same as that of a plate based on transformation acoustics. The required anisotropic parameters of the cloak shell are obtained by acoustic metamaterial made of perforated plates, which are easy to fabricate and unitize. The measurements of the backward and near-backward scattering fields confirm the validity of the proposed cloak. Experimental results show the possibility to hide the shape of an object by changing the reflection properties by using transformation acoustics.
Exploring the mechanisms of DNA hybridization on a surface
Authors: Schmitt Terry J. , Rogers J. Brandon , Knotts Thomas A.
Published: January 2013

DNA microarrays are a potentially disruptive technology in the medical field, but their use in such settings is limited by poor reliability. Microarrays work on the principle of hybridization and can only be as reliable as this process is robust, yet little is known at the molecular level about how the surface affects the hybridization process. This work uses advanced molecular simulation techniques and an experimentally parameterized coarse-grain model to determine the mechanism by which hybridization occurs on surfaces. The results show that hybridization proceeds through a mechanism where the untethered (target) strand often flips orientation. For evenly lengthed strands, the surface stabilizes hybridization (compared to the bulk system) by reducing the barriers involved in the flipping event. For unevenly lengthed strands, the surface destabilizes hybridization compared to the bulk, but the degree of destabilization is dependent on the location of the matching sequence. Taken as a whole, the results offer an unprecedented view into the hybridization process on surfaces and provide some insights as to the poor reproducibility exhibited by microarrays.
Design and validation of the ball-pen probe for measurements in a low-temperature magnetized plasma
Authors: Bousselin G. , Cavalier J. , Pautex J. F. , Heuraux S. , Lemoine N. , Bonhomme G.
Published: January 2013

Ball-pen probes have been used in fusion devices for direct measurements of the plasma potential. Their application in low-temperature magnetized plasma devices is still subject to studies. In this context, a ball-pen probe has been recently implemented on the linear plasma device Mirabelle. Produced by a thermionic discharge, the plasma is characterized by a low electron temperature and a low density. Plasma confinement is provided by an axial magnetic field that goes up to 100 mT. The principle of the ball-pen probe is to adjust the saturation current ratio to 1 by reducing the electron current contribution. In that case, the floating potential of the probe is close to the plasma potential. A thorough study of the ball-pen probe operation is performed for different designs of the probe over a large set of plasma conditions. Comparisons between ball-pen, Langmuir, and emissive probes are conducted in the same plasma conditions. The ball-pen probe is successfully measuring the plasma potential in these specific plasma conditions only if an adapted electronics and an adapted probe size to the plasma characteristic lengths (λD, ρce) are used.