bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oil Price Shocks and the U.S. Stock Market: Do Sign and Size Matter?
Authors: Alsalman Zeina , Herrera Ana Maria
Published: January 2015

We investigate the effect of oil price innovations on the U.S. stock market using a model that nests symmetric and asymmetric responses to positive and negative oil price innovations. We find no evidence of asymmetry for aggregate stock returns, and only very limited evidence for 49 industry-level portfolios. Moreover, these asymmetries do not match up well with conventional views regarding energy-dependent sectors of the economy. Instead, asymmetries are more likely driven by the effect of oil price innovations on expected and/or realized demand. We inquire whether the size of the shock matters in that doubling the size of the shock more (or less) than doubles the size of the response, finding that the effect of a 2.s.d innovation is just about double the magnitude of the impact of a 1.s.d innovation. Furthermore, we find no support for the conjecture that shocks that exceed a threshold have an asymmetric effect on stock returns.
The Impact of Electricity Sector Restructuring on Coal-fired Power Plants in India
Authors: Malik Kabir , Cropper Maureen , Limonov Alexander , Singh Anoop
Published: January 2015

We examine whether the unbundling of generation from transmission and distribution services at state-owned power plants in India improved operating efficiency at these power plants. Between 1995 and 2009, 85 percent of coal-based generation capacity owned by state governments was unbundled from vertically integrated State Electricity Boards into state generating companies. We find that generating units in states that unbundled before the Electricity Act of 2003 experienced reductions in forced outages of about 25% and improvements in availability of about 10%, with the largest results occurring 3-5 years after unbundling. We find no evidence of improvements in thermal efficiency at state-owned power plants due to unbundling.
Renewable Electricity Policy and Market Integration
Authors: Tangers Thomas P.
Published: January 2015

I analyze renewable electricity policy in a multinational electricity market with transmission investment. If national policy makers choose support schemes to maximize domestic welfare, a trade policy motive arises operating independently of any direct benefit of renewable electricity. The model predicts electricity importing (exporting) countries to choose policies which reduce (increase) electricity prices. A narrow pursuit of domestic objectives distorts transmission investment, and thereby market integration, below the efficient level. Distortions cannot be corrected by imposing national renewable targets alone. Instead, subsidies to transmission investment and a harmonization of and reduction in the number of policy instruments can improve welfare.
Ex ante onderzoek in beeld: over aard, aantal en gebruik van ex ante onderzoek bij beleidsvoorbereiding
Authors: Klein Haarhuis Carolien , Smit Monika , Keulemans Shelena
Published: January 2015

Ex ante onderzoek in beeld: over aard, aantal en gebruik van ex ante onderzoek bij beleidsvoorbereiding

De laatste jaren is de beleidsmatige en wetenschappelijke aandacht voor ex ante onderzoek toegenomen. De vraag is of dit ook is terug te zien in het aantal studies naar concrete plannen, en in het gebruik van de uitkomsten van ex ante studies in de beleidsontwikkeling. Om dit na te gaan verrichtten we een metastudie van ex ante onderzoeken over beleid op rijksniveau, verschenen in de periode 2005 tot en met 2011. In deze bijdrage beschrijven we eerst hoe vaak en met welk doel ex ante onderzoek wordt verricht en om wat voor typen studies het gaat. Daarna nemen we het gebruik in het beleidsontwikkelings- en besluitvormingsproces onder de loep door in te zoomen op vijf ex ante onderzoeken. Een eerste conclusie is dat er inmiddels een aanzienlijk aantal ex ante studies is verschenen; een tweede dat in alle vijf casus het onderzoek belangrijke actoren in het beleidsproces bereikt heeft, maar dat de uitkomsten niet altijd doorklinken in het uiteindelijke beleid.
Invoking “The Family” to Legitimize Gender- and Sexuality-Based Public Policies in the United States: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Party Conventions
Authors: Pilecki Andrew , Hammack Phillip L.
Published: January 2015

Women and sexual minorities in the United States continue to experience subordinate status, and the policy gains they have made in areas such as reproductive rights and marriage equality continue to be challenged in political discourse. We conducted a critical discourse analysis of texts from the 2012 Democratic and Republican national conventions in order to examine the extent to which ideological representations of the family were employed to legitimize public policy positions related to gender (e.g., abortion) and sexuality (e.g., same-sex marriage). We analyzed two forms of text (official party platform document, transcripts of speeches) with distinct intended audiences (i.e., party members, general audience). Findings revealed that an ideological representation of the traditional family ideal—featuring a heterosexual couple, their children, and asymmetric gender relations—was present within speeches given by both parties, particularly by the spouses of the presidential candidates (Michelle Obama and Ann Romney). Although this ideological representation was subsequently used within the Republican Party platform to legitimize positions against same-sex marriage and abortion, the Democratic Party platform challenged this representation of the family to instead advocate for policy positions in favor of same-sex marriage and women’s reproductive rights. We discuss this ambivalence within Democratic texts in light of the different audiences that party convention texts seek. Implications for gender- and sexuality-based policies are discussed, as well as the importance of examining political discourse across diverse forms and settings.
North American Paleoindian Eyed Bone Needles: Morphometrics, Sewing, and Site Structure
Authors: Lyman R. Lee
Published: January 2015

Eyed bone needles have been recovered from Paleoindian sites over the last 70 years. Specimens 13,100–10,000 calendar years old average 1.81 ± .58 mm in diameter, similar to 2500–1000 year-old specimens in the Aleutians which average 1.67 mm in diameter. Use of industrial steel needles and experiments with replicated bone needles indicate the broken eyes and mid-length fractures of Paleoindian bone needles are the result of use. Some specimens said to be Paleoindian eyed bone needles are ≤ 3 mm in diameter and likely represent behaviors distinct from those with diameters ≤ 2.9 mm. Many smalldiameter needles have been recovered from sites that also produced ornaments. Small-diameter Paleoindian needles may have been used to attach decorative items to clothing; decorative items could have served as identity icons as human groups became sedentary and established home ranges a few centuries after colonization. Paleoindian residential sites that have produced multiple specimens of small-diameter needles reveal clustering of needle specimens in limited areas, and Varying degrees of association with hide-preparation and needle manufacture and maintenance tools such as gravers, scrapers, and awls. Paleoindians, like some ethnographically documented people and some industrial-age people, had sewing specific activity loci.
A Comment On “A Reassessment of Red Linear Pictographs in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas”
Authors: Harrison James Burr
Published: January 2015

Boyd, Castañeda, and Koenig (2013) recently published a hypothesis in American Antiquity that Red Linear style rock art predates, or is contemporaneous with, the Pecos River style. While the authors present intriguing examples of over-painting at 41VV83 and 41VV612, their definition of the Red Linear style should be questioned based on its lack of diagnostic characteristics relative to the Pecos River style. The Boyd et al. report is preliminary in its findings and falls short of overturning the existing regional chronology; thus, further stylistic studies of Red Linear art are recommended.
La expresión de las emociones en la Comunicación Virtual: El Ciberhabla
Authors: Gordillo Isabel Cuadrado , Parra Guadalupe Martín-Mora , Antelo Inmaculada Fernández
Published: January 2015

RESUMENLa comunicación mediada por ordenador se ha convertido en una de las principales herramientas de comunicación de la sociedad. La proliferación en Internet de foros y redes sociales, ha modificado  los intereses y usos del tiempo libre, especialmente entre adolescentes y jóvenes. Este tipo de comunicación comparte con la escritura y con la interacción oral, algunas de sus características, sin embargo, sus peculiaridades han dado lugar a la aparición de otras nuevas. Entre estas últimas, destacan los emoticonos. En los últimos tiempos su número y complejidad ha aumentado significativamente, al igual que sus funciones.El presente estudio pretende hacer un análisis extenso del uso y las funciones con las que personas de distintas edades emplean los emoticonos en el contexto de la Comunicación Mediada por Ordenador. Para ello se ha analizado una muestra de mensajes extraídos al azar de seis foros de discusión asincrónica distintos con una metodología interpretativo-descriptiva.
No, sin mi móvil. Diferencias de género y uso de las nuevas tecnologías
Authors: Fernández Carmen Sabater , Alcalde Josu Bingen Fernández
Published: January 2015

Los estereotipos de género han formado y siguen formando parte de la historia de la humanidad, marcando una diferencia de roles, ocupaciones, características físicas y rasgos de personalidad. La evolución social y económica ha influido notablemente en la disminución de las adscripciones por género pero persisten diferencias, más pronunciadas en las características de personalidad que repercuten en las conductas y hábitos cotidianos de ambos géneros. Este artículo analiza las diferencias por género en el uso de la tecnología,  exponiendo las tendencias en la apropiación de los dispositivos tecnológicos en hombres y mujeres, desde la etapa de la adolescencia. Para este fin, se compararán los usos en informática y telefonía móvil por género, en base a la delimitación de rasgos expresivo-comunales en la mujer y rasgos agente- instrumentales en los varones, a partir de una muestra de chicos y chicas de 14 a 20 años escolarizados/as en la Comunidad Autónoma de La Rioja.
Las redes y los movimientos sociales ¿una acción colectiva o marketing viral?
Authors: Benito Jesús Esteban Cárcar
Published: January 2015

Desde los  últimos años  se ha extendido el debate sobre el papel de los movimientos sociales y de las asociaciones en nuestra sociedad (posteriormente también denominadas ONG y organizaciones no lucrativas, ONL), y su relación con las TIC´s. Los “nuevos movimientos” que cuentan con más de veinte años de existencia son ya clásicos en la actualidad, se ven como tradicionales, e incluso, con un marcado carácter institucional y además, hacen frente a los nuevos retos de la comunicación web 2.0.. Para entender la evolución y características de los movimientos sociales, y su papel actual dentro de las nuevas tecnologías,  analizaré primero la estructura del marketing para los movimientos sociales; en segundo lugar, su implementación; finalmente, algunas consideraciones para su campañas
A new challenge for advertising on mobile devices: Social TV
Authors: Quintas-Froufe Natalia , González-Neira Ana
Published: January 2015

Mobile device advertising is a rapidly growing market due to the penetration of mobile devices in Spanish society. Advertising communication in this digital ecosystem continually poses new challenges. One of these - the subject of this proposal - is the link-up between mobile advertising with social TV. It opens up new possibilities for the development of advertising strategies on mobile devices.The aim of this paper is to describe the challenges faced by the Spanish advertising industry with the recent introduction of Social TV. Spain has one of the most developed Social TV sectors in Europe. It will provide a global overview of this new reality and uncover the new possibilities and main challenges for the development of advertising strategies for mobile devices. To this end we propose an examination of the perception of two of Spain’s major broadcasting empires, Atresmedia and Mediaset España, of this phenomenon.
La formación continua de los periodistas en RTVE: Especificidad tecnológica y puntos de encuentro con los perfiles y competencias profesionales en el Grado de Periodismo
Authors: Sobrino Miguel Angel Ortiz
Published: January 2015

El presente estudio analiza los contenidos de la formación continua que reciben los Informadores de la Corporación Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE) y en qué medida inciden los cambios tecnológicos y organizativos en la formación para actualizar sus competencias profesionales. En ese sentido, se examinan los conocimientos y competencias demandadas como consecuencia de la incorporación de nuevas herramientas tecnológicas para la producción informativa y de las necesidades derivadas de planificación y organización de los recursos empresariales. El análisis se ha realizado a partir de los rasgos del perfil profesional del periodista recogido  en el Libro Blanco de los actuales Títulos de Grado en Comunicación.
Information and Communication in a Networked Infosphere - a Review of Concepts and Application in Social Branding
Authors: Santos Ramos Fernando Manuel , Chaves Mealha Óscar Emanuel , Franco Lélis Catarina
Published: January 2015

Abstract:This paper aims at providing a contribution to the comprehensive review of the impact of information and communication, and their supporting technologies, in the current transformation of human life in the infosphere. The paper also offers an example of the power of new social approaches to the use of information and communication technologies to foster new working models in organizations by presenting the main outcomes of a research project on social branding. A discussion about some trends of the future impact of new information and communication technologies in the infosphere is also included.Resumen:Este artículo tiene como objetivo proporcionar una contribución a la revisión global del impacto de la información y la comunicación, y sus tecnologías de apoyo, en la actual transformación de la vida humana en la infosfera. El artículo también ofrece un ejemplo del poder de los nuevos enfoques sociales sobre el uso de las tecnologías de información y comunicación para fomentar nuevos modelos de trabajo en las organizaciones mediante la presentación de los principales resultados de un proyecto de investigación sobre desarrollo social de marca. Una discusión sobre algunas de las tendencias del futuro impacto de las nuevas tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en la infosfera también se incluye.
La méthodologie de la théorisation enracinée constructiviste pour une perspective nouvelle et nécessaire de l’adaptation des personnes vivant avec la schizophrénie
Authors: Jacques Marie-Claude , St-Cyr Tribble Denise , Bonin Jean-Pierre
Published: January 2015

Cet article propose une réponse aux difficultés reliées à la recherche sur l’adaptation des personnes atteintes de schizophrénie et dont le soutien social est limité ou inexistant. En effet, la recherche actuelle à ce sujet semble plafonner et les résultats générés par les méthodes traditionnelles ont un impact limité sur la pratique. De plus, les approches utilisées ne réussissent pas à saisir le processus d’adaptation dans son ensemble et ne rendent pas justice à la réalité des personnes concernées. Pour répondre à ces difficultés, il sera démontré que la méthodologie de la théorisation enracinée d’orientation constructiviste offre un cadre prometteur pour l’étude de l’adaptation des personnes vivant avec la schizophrénie. De même, les avantages qui pourraient être tirés de l’utilisation de cette méthodologie sont présentés. Pour conclure, les retombées éventuelles d’une telle recherche sont abordées.
La théorisation enracinée dans l’étude de la transition des perceptions de l’état de santé de femmes atteintes d’un cancer du sein
Authors: Hébert Maude , Gallagher Frances , St-Cyr Tribble Denise
Published: January 2015

Être diagnostiquée d’un cancer du sein entraîne un changement important dans l’état de santé d’une personne provoquant un processus interne, soit une transition entre les perceptions de santé et de maladie. Ce processus interne reflète un processus social. La méthodologie de la théorisation enracinée permet de mettre en lumière ce processus. Le but de la présente étude est de proposer une modélisation de la transition des perceptions de l’état de santé de femmes diagnostiquées de ce cancer. Ainsi, 32 femmes, à divers moments dans la trajectoire de la maladie, ont été rencontrées lors d’une entrevue individuelle semi-dirigée. Les résultats illustrent que les perceptions de l’état de santé se modulent tout au long de la trajectoire de la maladie. La santé devient plus précieuse et le cancer surmontable. Les femmes redéfinissent leur état de santé en ne se déclarant pas malades du cancer du sein et en apprenant à vivre avec une épée de Damoclès au-dessus de leur tête.
Illustration de l’analyse selon la méthodologie de la théorisation enracinée (MTE) pour comprendre l’engagement des aidants dans le traitement pharmacologique de la maladie d’Alzheimer (MA) de leur proche
Authors: Éthier Sophie , Garon Suzanne , Boire-Lavigne Anne-Marie
Published: January 2015

Cet article vise à expliciter la démarche d’analyse utilisée dans le cadre de la méthodologie de la théorisation enracinée (MTE) pour rendre compte du rôle des aidants dans le traitement pharmacologique de leur proche atteint d’Alzheimer. Après une brève présentation de la problématique et du paradigme épistémologique et méthodologique à la base de l’étude, sont présentés en détail les étapes du codage et le processus de construction de la théorisation ayant mené à l’élaboration du modèle théorique de l’engagement des aidants dans le traitement de leur proche. Cette description implique de s’attarder aussi bien à la procédure d’échantillonnage théorique qu’à la construction des schémas et des mémos qui ont servi au processus d’analyse. Enfin, une vision du travail analytique, lequel émerge de l’interaction entre le chercheur et les données pour produire du sens à partir des significations que les aidants confèrent à leur expérience, conclut cet article.
Experimentally guided models reveal replication principles that shape the mutation distribution of RNA viruses
Authors: Schulte Michael B , Draghi Jeremy A , Plotkin Joshua B , Andino Raul
Published: January 2015

Life history theory posits that the sequence and timing of events in an organism's lifespan are fine-tuned by evolution to maximize the production of viable offspring. In a virus, a life history strategy is largely manifested in its replication mode. Here, we develop a stochastic mathematical model to infer the replication mode shaping the structure and mutation distribution of a poliovirus population in an intact single infected cell. We measure production of RNA and poliovirus particles through the infection cycle, and use these data to infer the parameters of our model. We find that on average the viral progeny produced from each cell are approximately five generations removed from the infecting virus. Multiple generations within a single cell infection provide opportunities for significant accumulation of mutations per viral genome and for intracellular selection.
The nonlinear evolution of kinetic Alfvén wave with the ion acoustic wave and turbulent spectrum in the magnetopause region
Authors: Rinawa M. L. , Sharma R. P. , Modi K. V. , Yadav N.
Published: January 2015

The mutual nonlinear interplay of kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) and ion acoustic wave, for the high‐β plasma (i.e., me/mi ≪ β ≪ 1, where β is thermal to magnetic pressure ratio) in the magnetopause, has been considered in the present study. A set of dimensionless nonlinear Schrödinger equations has been derived taking into account the finite frequency as well as ion temperature corrections. The dynamical equation of the ion acoustic wave (propagating at an angle with respect to the background magnetic field) in the presence of ponderomotive nonlinearity due to KAW is also derived. Numerical simulation has been carried out to study the effect of nonlinear interaction between these waves which results in the formation of localized structures and turbulent spectrum, applicable to the high‐β plasmas like magnetopause regions. Results reveal that due to the nonlinear interplay between these waves, natures of the formation of localized structures are complex and intense in nature in quasi steady state. From the results, we have found that spectral index follows the scaling at large scale and spectral index follows at small scale. We also found the steepening in the turbulent spectrum. Steepening in the turbulence spectrum has been reported by the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms spacecraft across the magnetopause, and results are found to be consistent with spacecraft observation.
P and S wave tomography and anisotropy in Northwest Pacific and East Asia: Constraints on stagnant slab and intraplate volcanism
Authors: Wei Wei , Zhao Dapeng , Xu Jiandong , Wei Feixiang , Liu Guoming
Published: January 2015

We determined three‐dimensional P and S wave velocities and P wave azimuthal anisotropic tomography of the Northwest Pacific subduction zones by inverting 1,225,086 P wave and 335,117 S wave arrival times from 13,413 earthquakes. Our results show some differences between P and S wave images for the stagnant Pacific slab in the mantle transition zone (MTZ) beneath Northeast China. The stagnant slab looks thicker in the P wave image than that in the S wave image, which may reflects the effects of both hydration and lower temperature in the MTZ, though differences in the resolution of P and S wave tomography may also have some effects. The Changbai intraplate volcanism is caused by hot and wet upwelling in the big mantle wedge above the stagnant Pacific slab. Our P wave anisotropy tomography shows that the fast velocity direction (FVD) in the subducting Philippine Sea plate beneath the Ryukyu arc is NE‐SW (trench parallel), which is consistent with the spreading direction of the West Philippine Basin during its initial opening stage, suggesting that it may reflect the fossil anisotropy. A striking variation of the FVD with depth is revealed in the subducting Pacific slab beneath the Northeast Japan arc, which may be caused by slab dehydration that changed elastic properties of the slab with depth. The FVD in the mantle wedge beneath the Northeast Japan and Ryukyu arcs is trench normal, which reflects subduction‐induced convection. Beneath the Kuril and Izu‐Bonin arcs where oblique subduction occurs, the FVD in the mantle wedge is nearly normal to the moving direction of the downgoing Pacific plate, suggesting that the oblique subduction together with the complex slab morphology have disturbed the mantle flow.
Cloud‐induced uncertainties in AIRS and ECMWF temperature and specific humidity
Authors: Wong Sun , Fetzer Eric J. , Schreier Mathias , Manipon Gerald , Fishbein Evan F. , Kahn Brian H. , Yue Qing , Irion Fredrick W.
Published: January 2015

The uncertainties of the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Level 2 version 6 specific humidity (q) and temperature (T) retrievals are quantified as functions of cloud types by comparison against Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive radiosonde measurements. The cloud types contained in an AIRS/Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit footprint are identified by collocated Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer retrieved cloud optical depth (COD) and cloud top pressure. We also report results of similar validation of q and T from European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) forecasts (EC) and retrievals from the AIRS Neural Network (NNW), which are used as the initial state for AIRS V6 physical retrievals. Differences caused by the variation in the measurement locations and times are estimated using EC, and all the comparisons of data sets against radiosonde measurements are corrected by these estimated differences. We report in detail the validation results for AIRS GOOD quality control, which is used for the AIRS Level 3 climate products. AIRS GOOD quality q reduces the dry biases inherited from the NNW in the middle troposphere under thin clouds but enhances dry biases in thick clouds throughout the troposphere (reaching −30% at 850 hPa near deep convective clouds), likely because the information contained in AIRS retrievals is obtained in cloud‐cleared areas or above clouds within the field of regard. EC has small moist biases (~5–10%), which are within the uncertainty of radiosonde measurements, in thin and high clouds. Temperature biases of all data are within ±1 K at altitudes above the 700 hPa level but increase with decreasing altitude. Cloud‐cleared retrievals lead to large AIRS cold biases (reaching about −2 K) in the lower troposphere for large COD, enhancing the cold biases inherited from the NNW. Consequently, AIRS GOOD quality T root‐mean‐squared errors (RMSEs) are slightly smaller than the NNW errors in thin clouds (1.5–2.5 K) but slightly larger than the NNW errors for thick COD (reaching 3.5 K near the surface). The AIRS BEST quality control retains retrievals with uncertainties closer to those of the NNW. The AIRS error estimates reported in the L2 product tend to underestimate the precision (RMSE) implied by comparisons to the radiosonde measurements and do not reflect the observed cloud dependency of uncertainties.
Representation of microphysical processes in cloud‐resolving models: Spectral (bin) microphysics versus bulk parameterization
Authors: Khain A. P. , Beheng K. D. , Heymsfield A. , Korolev A. , Krichak S. O. , Levin Z. , Pinsky M. , Phillips V. , Prabhakaran T. , Teller A. , van den Heever S. C. , Yano J.‐I.
Published: January 2015

Most atmospheric motions of different spatial scales and precipitation are closely related to phase transitions in clouds. The continuously increasing resolution of large‐scale and mesoscale atmospheric models makes it feasible to treat the evolution of individual clouds. The explicit treatment of clouds requires the simulation of cloud microphysics. Two main approaches describing cloud microphysical properties and processes have been developed in the past four and a half decades: bulk microphysics parameterization and spectral (bin) microphysics (SBM). The development and utilization of both represent an important step forward in cloud modeling. This study presents a detailed survey of the physical basis and the applications of both bulk microphysics parameterization and SBM. The results obtained from simulations of a wide range of atmospheric phenomena, from tropical cyclones through Arctic clouds using these two approaches are compared. Advantages and disadvantages, as well as lines of future development for these methods are discussed.
Catalytic Tandem Markovnikov Hydroamination–Alkynylation and Markovnikov Hydroamination–Hydrovinylation
Authors: Palchak Zachary L. , Lussier Daniel J. , Pierce Conor J. , Yoo Hoseong , Larsen Catharine H.
Published: January 2015

A tandem hydroamination–alkynylation was developed as a unique mode of accessing tetrasubstituted propargylic amines. The first equivalent of an alkyne acts as the electrophile in a Markovnikov hydroamination. The resultant ketimine intermediate is attacked by the second equivalent of alkyne in its nucleophilic copper acetylide form. Studies on the role of each component indicate that the overall reaction is first‐order in copper, amine, and alkyne. In addition, a tandem hydroamination–hydrovinylation provides for an unprecedented one‐step synthesis of a 1‐amino‐1,3‐butadiene from phenylacetylene and morpholine.

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Distributed lyapunov‐based model predictive control with neighbor‐to‐neighbor communication
Authors: Liu Su , Liu Jinfeng
Published: January 2015

This work considers distributed predictive control of large‐scale nonlinear systems with neighbor‐to‐neighbor communication. It fulfills the gap between the existing centralized Lyapunov‐based model predictive control (LMPC) and the cooperative distributed LMPC and provides a balanced solution in terms of implementation complexity and achievable performance. This work focuses on a class of nonlinear systems with subsystems interacting with each other via their states. For each subsystem, an LMPC is designed based on the subsystem model and the LMPC only communicates with its neighbors. At a sampling time, a subsystem LMPC optimizes its future control input trajectory assuming that the states of its upstream neighbors remain the same as (or close to) their predicted state trajectories obtained at the previous sampling time. Both noniterative and iterative implementation algorithms are considered. The performance of the proposed designs is illustrated via a chemical process example. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 60: 4124–4133, 2014
Over the sands and far away: Interpreting an Iberian mitochondrial lineage with ancient Western African origins
Authors: Pardiñas Antonio F. , Martínez José Luis , Roca Agustín , García‐Vazquez Eva , López Belén
Published: January 2015

Objectives

There is an ongoing effort to characterize the genetic links between Africa and Europe, mostly using lineages and haplotypes that are specific to one continent but had an ancient origin in the other. Mitochondrial DNA has been proven to be a very useful tool for this purpose since a high number of putatively European‐specific variants of the African L* lineages have been defined over the years. Due to their geographic locations, Spain and Portugal seem to be ideal places for searching for these lineages.

Methods

Five members of a minor branch of haplogroup L3f were found in recent DNA samplings in the region of Asturias (Northern Spain), which is known for its historical isolation. The frequency of L3f in this population (≈1%) is unexpectedly high in comparison with other related lineages in Europe. Complete mitochondrial DNA sequencing of these L3f lineages, as well phylogenetic and phylogeographic comparative analyses have been performed.

Results

The L3f variant found in Asturias seems to constitute an Iberian‐specific haplogroup, distantly related to lineages in Northern Africa and with a deep ancestry in Western Africa. Coalescent algorithms estimate the minimum arrival time as 8,000 years ago, and a possible route through the Gibraltar Strait.

Conclusions

Results are concordant with a previously proposed Neolithic connection between Southern Europe and Western Africa, which might be key to the proper understanding of the ancient links between these two continents. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:777–783, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Incorporation of Calix[6]Arene Macrocycles and (Pseudo)Rotaxanes in Bilayer Membranes: Towards Controllable Artificial Liposomal Channels
Authors: Zappacosta Romina , Fontana Antonella , Credi Alberto , Arduini Arturo , Secchi Andrea
Published: January 2015

The growing interest in the study of membrane‐active ion (in particular, anion) transporters motivates the investigation of the mechanisms that underlie the transport process. The interest of the scientific community in this area is largely due to the great importance of transmembrane ion‐transport phenomena in many diseases. In this paper we investigated the role of calix[6]arene‐based pseudorotaxanes and rotaxanes on transmembrane transport of ions across the bilayer of liposomes composed of 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (POPC; diameter 100 nm). We evaluated the effect of these interlocked systems on the properties of the bilayer and on membrane permeability towards chloride ions and 5(6)‐carboxyfluorescein. These findings may pave the way for the construction of new generations of pharmacological systems regulating the transport of chloride ions.
Topical colloidal silver as an anti‐biofilm agent in a Staphylococcus aureus chronic rhinosinusitis sheep model
Authors: Rajiv Sukanya , Drilling Amanda , Bassiouni Ahmed , James Craig , Vreugde Sarah , Wormald Peter‐John
Published: January 2015

Background

Treatment of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a challenge with increasing antibiotic resistance, leading to re‐emergence of topical therapies. The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficacy of topical colloidal silver solution for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in a sheep model.

Methods

In the safety study, normal saline (control) and 30‐ppm colloidal silver solution (test) was used to flush the frontal sinuses for 14 days in 8 sheep (4 sheep each). In the efficacy study, following frontal sinus infection with Staphylococcus aureus, sheep were treated with either control saline or topical silver solution of varying concentrations (30 ppm/20 ppm/10 ppm/5 ppm) for 5 days, with 4 sheep in each group. Blood silver level, full blood counts, and biochemical parameters were analyzed in both safety and efficacy studies. Sinus tissue was harvested for histological examination and ciliary structure analysis in safety and for biofilm biomass quantification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique and COMSTAT 2 software in the efficacy study. Results were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.

Results

Sheep treated with silver showed a significant decrease in biofilm biomass (0.004, 0.004, 0.004, and 0.007, in the 4 silver‐treated groups, respectively) compared to saline control (0.175), p < 0.001. Although average blood silver levels were higher in the treated groups compared to controls (p < 0.05), blood counts and biochemical parameters were normal. Histology and ciliary structure analysis did not show any difference between control and treatment groups.

Conclusion

Topical colloidal silver solution has effective antibiofilm activity in Staphylococcus aureus CRS in a sheep model and appears safe.
Gram‐negative bacterial carriage in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis is not associated with more severe inflammation
Authors: Tabet Paul , Endam Leandra Mfuna , Boisvert Pierre , Boulet Louis‐Philippe , Desrosiers Martin
Published: January 2015

Background

We have previously demonstrated that persistent symptoms following functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with Gram‐negative bacterial carriage. Mechanisms for this remain unknown. We wished to determine whether Gram‐negative carriage in patients with CRS with nasal polyposis is associated with a more severe inflammatory phenomenon.

Methods

Three hundred and thirty‐seven patients with CRS with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) previously phenotyped for genetic association studies with questionnaire, serum biomarkers, and endoscopically‐obtained swab cultures were studied. These were separated according to the presence (wGN) or absence (sGN) of Gram‐negative bacterial carriage; demographic parameters and available serum biomarkers (complete blood count [CBC], total immunoglobulin E [IgE]) were then compared. Subgroup analysis for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (GNwPa) and non‐Pseudomonas Gram‐negative bacteria (GNsPs) was performed in order to explore potentially differential roles of these bacteria.

Results

Gram‐negative bacterial carriage was not associated with a difference in demographic parameters or serum biomarkers. However, P. aeruginosa carriage was associated with a higher self‐reported incidence of asthma (GNwPa 79%, sGN 57%; p = 0.048). Interestingly, serum IgE was increased in the non‐Pseudomonas Gram‐negative population (GNsPs: 338 IU/mL, sGN: 195 IU/mL; p = 0.026).

Conclusion

CRSwNP patients colonized with Gram‐negative bacteria have a similar pattern of inflammation as assessed by serum biomarkers to those colonized with Gram‐positive ones. Gram‐negative bacteria may contribute to development of a T helper 2 (Th2) phenotype via other mechanisms, possibly via Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)‐mediated interleukin 33 (IL‐33) production. Differences in phenotype associated with Pseudomonas species carriage suggest a different behavior than other Gram‐negative bacteria, supporting their importance as disease modifiers in CRSwNP.
Non‐Centrosymmetric Homochiral Supramolecular Polymers of Tetrahedral Subphthalocyanine Molecules
Authors: Guilleme Julia , Mayoral María J. , Calbo Joaquín , Aragó Juan , Viruela Pedro M. , Ortí Enrique , Torres Tomás , González‐Rodríguez David
Published: January 2015

A combination of spectroscopy (UV/Vis absorption, emission, and circular dichroism), microscopy (AFM and TEM), and computational studies reveal the formation of non‐centrosymmetric homochiral columnar subphthalocyanine assemblies. These assemblies form through a cooperative supramolecular polymerization process driven by hydrogen‐bonding between amide groups, π–π stacking, and dipolar interactions between axial BF bonds.
Robuste chemische Speicherung von digitalen Informationen auf DNA in Silicat unter Verwendung fehlerkorrigierender Codes
Authors: Grass Robert N. , Heckel Reinhard , Puddu Michela , Paunescu Daniela , Stark Wendelin J.
Published: January 2015

Auf Papier gedruckte oder auf Mikrofilm projizierte Information kann mehr als 500 Jahre überdauern. Die Speicherung von digitaler Information über Zeiträume über 50 Jahre stellt hingegen eine große Herausforderung dar. Hier zeigen wir, dass digitale Information auf DNA gespeichert werden kann und auch nach wesentlich längeren Zeiträumen wieder fehlerfrei auslesbar ist. Um eine Wiederherstellung der gespeicherten Information zu gewährleisten, wurde DNA in eine anorganische Matrix eingeschlossen. Zusätzlich dazu wurden fehlerkorrigierende Codes verwendet, um während der Lagerung entstehende Fehler zu beheben. Hierfür codierten wir 83 Kilobytes an Information in 4991 DNA‐Segmente, die jeweils 158 Nukleotide lang waren und in einer SiO2‐Matrix eingeschlossen wurden. Beschleunigte Alterungsprozesse wurden simuliert, um die Zerfallskinetik der DNA zu untersuchen. Es zeigte sich, dass die Daten in DNA unter verschiedensten Bedingungen Jahrhunderte lang archiviert werden können. Die ursprüngliche Information konnte selbst nach einwöchiger Lagerung bei 70 °C noch fehlerfrei wiederhergestellt werden. Dies ist thermisch äquivalent zu einer Lagerung in Zentraleuropa über einem Zeitraum von ca. 2000 Jahren.
Polyether–maleimide‐based crosslinked self‐healing polyurethane with Diels–Alder bonds
Authors: Zhong Yiting , Wang Xinling , Zheng Zhen , Du Pengfei
Published: January 2015

The Diels–Alder (DA) reaction is particularly desirable for the preparation of heat‐stimuli self‐healing polymeric materials because of its thermal reversibility, high yield, and minimal side reactions. Some attempts were conducted to synthesize polyether–maleimide‐based crosslinked self‐healing polyurethane with DA bonds (C‐PEMIPU–DA) through the reactions of the prepolymer (polymeric MDI/PBA‐1000) functionalized by furfuryl amine and polyether–maleimide without benzene in this study. The structures of intermediates and C‐PEMIPU–DA were first confirmed by 1H‐NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Next, the thermal reversibility and the self‐healing performance of C‐PEMIPU–DA were studied by 1H‐NMR, polarizing optical microscopy, tensile testing, and a sol–gel process. The results show that C‐PEMIPU–DA exhibited interesting properties of thermal reversibility and self‐healing. The polymers could be applied to self‐healing materials or recyclable materials in the fields of the repair of composite structures and aging parts because of their thermosetting properties at room temperature and thermoplasticity at higher temperatures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41944.
Hydrogen gas barrier property of polyelectrolyte/GO layer‐by‐layer films
Authors: Zhao Lili , Sun Haixiang , Kim Namhoon , Lee Joonghee , Kong Ying , Li Peng
Published: January 2015

Different types of ultrathin multilayer composite membranes adsorbed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates are fabricated by the layer‐by‐layer (LBL) self‐assembly technique. The hydrogen gas barrier performances of these membranes are measured using a pressure permeation instrument. Polyethylenimines/graphene oxide (PEI/GO) are chosen as the optimal system; the multilayer film reduces the hydrogen transmission rate of the uncoated PET film from 1357 to 24 cm3/(m2 24 h 0.1 MPa). The membrane assembly process for the PEI/GO system is analyzed with UV–Visible spectroscopy, and the flat morphology of the ultrathin film is observed by scanning electron and atomic force microscopies. Moreover, in order to fully characterize the PEI/GO multilayer film system, we investigate the effects of multiple variables on the hydrogen resistance performance. These include the molecular weight of PEI, concentrations of PEI and GO, number of bilayers, soaking time, and drying methods. The film thickness is found to increase linearly during the LBL assembly process. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41973.
The effect of an anhydride curing agent, an accelerant, and non‐ionic surfactants on the electrical resistivity of graphene/epoxy composites
Authors: Chiang Tzu Hsuan , Liu Chun‐Yu , Lin Ya‐Chun
Published: January 2015

This study investigated different contents of an anhydride curing agent, an accelerant, and non‐ionic surfactants on the electrical resistivity of cured graphene/epoxy composites. The anhydride curing agent was hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA), the accelerant was 2‐ethyl‐4‐methyl‐1H‐imidazole‐1‐propanenitrile (EMIP), and the non‐ionic surfactants were Triton X surfactants with different numbers of polyethylene oxide (PEO) groups (m) that influence the electrical resistivity of cured graphene/epoxy composites. During the curing process, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the effects of the extent of the crosslinking for different contents of the curing agent and how different enthalpy (ΔH) on the electrical resistivity of the cured graphene/epoxy composites was then generated. The cured graphene/epoxy composite—which consisted of a 1 : 0.85 weight ratio of epoxy resin and anhydride, a 0.5 wt % accelerant, and a 13 wt % graphene powder—had a low electrical resistivity of 11.68 Ω·cm and a thermal conductivity of 1.7 W/m·K. In addition, the cured composites contained a 1.0 wt % polyethylene glycol p‐isooctylphenyl ether (X‐100) surfactant, which effectively decreased their electrical resistivity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41975
miR‐129‐1‐3p Promote BGC‐823 Cell Proliferation by Targeting PDCD2
Authors: Du Yantao , Wang Danping , Luo Lin , Guo Junming
Published: January 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the class of small noncoding RNAs, and play an important role in the regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. In this study, we explored the effect of miR‐129‐1‐3p on the growth and cell cycle of human gastric cancer cell line BGC‐823. The miR‐129‐1‐3p mimics or inhibitors were transfected into the BGC‐823 cell line, and the cell cycle and cell growth was measured by flow cytometry and real‐time cell analyzer, respectively. The possible targets of miR‐129‐1‐3p were analyzed by quantitative real time‐PCR (QRT‐PCR), Western blotting and Luciferase reporter assay. The results showed that miR‐129‐1‐3p could promote the growth and cell cycle of BGC‐823 cells. Although protein expression of programmed cell death 2 (PDCD2) was not changed with miR‐129‐1‐3p, QRT‐PCR showed that expression of PDCD2 mRNA was negatively related to the miR‐129‐1‐3p. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that PDCD2 is one of the targets of miR‐129‐1‐3p. Our results indicated that miR‐129‐1‐3p might promote proliferation of BGC‐823 cells by targeting PDCD2. Anat Rec, 297:2273–2279, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topic‐level opinion influence model (TOIM): An investigation using tencent microblogging
Authors: Li Daifeng , Tang Jie , Ding Ying , Shuai Xin , Chambers Tamy , Sun Guozheng , Luo Zhipeng , Zhang Jingwei
Published: January 2015

Text mining has been widely used in multiple types of user‐generated data to infer user opinion, but its application to microblogging is difficult because text messages are short and noisy, providing limited information about user opinion. Given that microblogging users communicate with each other to form a social network, we hypothesize that user opinion is influenced by its neighbors in the network. In this paper, we infer user opinion on a topic by combining two factors: the user's historical opinion about relevant topics and opinion influence from his/her neighbors. We thus build a topic‐level opinion influence model (TOIM) by integrating both topic factor and opinion influence factor into a unified probabilistic model. We evaluate our model in one of the largest microblogging sites in China, Tencent Weibo, and the experiments show that TOIM outperforms baseline methods in opinion inference accuracy. Moreover, incorporating indirect influence further improves inference recall and f1‐measure. Finally, we demonstrate some useful applications of TOIM in analyzing users' behaviors in Tencent Weibo.
Empirical evaluation of metadata for video games and interactive media
Authors: Lee Jin Ha , Clarke Rachel Ivy , Perti Andrew
Published: January 2015

Despite increasing interest in and acknowledgment of the significance of video games, current descriptive practices are not sufficiently robust to support searching, browsing, and other access behaviors from diverse user groups. To address this issue, the Game Metadata Research Group at the University of Washington Information School, in collaboration with the Seattle Interactive Media Museum, worked to create a standardized metadata schema. This metadata schema was empirically evaluated using multiple approaches—collaborative review, schema testing, semi‐structured user interview, and a large‐scale survey. Reviewing and testing the schema revealed issues and challenges in sourcing the metadata for particular elements, determining the level of granularity for data description, and describing digitally distributed games. The findings from user studies suggest that users value various subject and visual metadata, information about how games are related to each other, and data regarding game expansions/alterations such as additional content and networked features. The metadata schema was extensively revised based on the evaluation results, and we present the new element definitions from the revised schema in this article. This work will serve as a platform and catalyst for advances in the design and use of video game metadata.
Data journals: A survey
Authors: Candela Leonardo , Castelli Donatella , Manghi Paolo , Tani Alice
Published: January 2015

Data occupy a key role in our information society. However, although the amount of published data continues to grow and terms such as data deluge and big data today characterize numerous (research) initiatives, much work is still needed in the direction of publishing data in order to make them effectively discoverable, available, and reusable by others. Several barriers hinder data publishing, from lack of attribution and rewards, vague citation practices, and quality issues to a rather general lack of a data‐sharing culture. Lately, data journals have overcome some of these barriers. In this study of more than 100 currently existing data journals, we describe the approaches they promote for data set description, availability, citation, quality, and open access. We close by identifying ways to expand and strengthen the data journals approach as a means to promote data set access and exploitation.