bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy and Hormone Receptor Status Change following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Wu Jia Yi , Chen Wei Guo , Chen Xiao Song , Huang Ou , He Jian Rong , Zhu Li , Li Yafen , Shen Kun Wei , Chow Louis W.C. , Loo Wings T.Y. , Chow Christopher Y.C. , Tsang William
Published: November 2014

Background

This retrospective study investigated the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) in breast cancer patients with hormone receptor (HR) status change from positive to negative after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

From December 2000 to November 2010, 97 eligible patients with a positive-to-negative switch of HR status after NAC were identified. All patients were categorized into 2 groups on the basis of the administration of ET: 57 ET-administered patients and 40 ET-naïve patients. Survival analyses were performed to examine the prognostic value of ET administration as well as other clinical and pathologic variables.

Results

The administration of ET was significantly associated with improved disease-free survival (p=0.018) in patients with a positive-to-negative switch of HR status. The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 77.0% and 55.5%, respectively, in ET-administered patients and ET-naïve patients. The 5-year overall survival rate for ET-administered patients was also higher than that of ET-naïve patients (81.3% vs. 72.7%, p=0.053), albeit this was statistically insignificant.

Conclusions

This study revealed that patients with HR altered from positive to negative after NAC still benefit from ET. The HR status should be evaluated not only in specimens obtained during post-NAC surgery but also in specimens biopsied before NAC.
Genetic diversity of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 polymorphisms in North African populations from Morocco and Tunisia
Authors: Novillo Apolonia , Romero-Lorca Alicia , Gaibar María , Bahri Raoudha , Harich Nourdin , Sánchez-Cuenca David , Esteban Esther , Fernández-Santander Ana
Published: November 2014

The genes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 form part of a cluster of cytochrome P450 genes involved in drug metabolism reactions. The allelic variants of these genes CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A4*3, CYP3A4*17 and CYP3A5*3 have been linked both to the reduced catalytic activity of cytochromes and to prostate cancer risk in whites, though scarce data exist for North African populations. The main objective of this study was to describe CYP3A4*3, CYP3A4*17, CYP3A4*1B and CYP3A5*3 allele frequencies and haplotype variation in Moroccan Berbers and the general Tunisian population. The data obtained for the Tunisian participants were consistent with the European allele frequency ranges described, while Moroccan Berbers showed high frequencies of CYP3A4*17 (1.8%), CYP3A4*3 (8.5%) and the CYP3A4*1B/CYP3A5*3 haplotype (18.4%). This haplotype, linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, was detected at a much higher frequency compared with the present Tunisian population (8.4%) or with reported frequencies for populations such as whites (0.6%) or African Americans (5.3%).
Rank–size distribution and spatio-temporal dynamics of tourist flows to China’s cities
Authors: Guo Yongrui , Zhang Jie , Zhang Honglei
Published: November 2014

This article investigates the rank–size distribution and spatio-temporal dynamics of domestic and inbound tourist flows in Chinese cities using Zipf’s law and the rank clock method. The results show that Zipf’s law captures key characteristics of the rank–size distribution of tourist flows to China’s cities. There are large differences between the inbound and domestic tourist flows not only for the top 100 but also for all cities. Three types of Zipf’s law are found to apply to China’s subregions. At the individual city level, most rank changes of the top 100 inbound and domestic tourist arrival cities appear in the lower part of the rank. The average rank shift distances of the top 100 inbound and domestic tourist arrival cities are 6.122 and 6.006, respectively. The dynamics of the rank–size distribution of domestic tourist flows to the top 100 cities are more stable than those of inbound tourist flows.
Private International Law: An Appropriate Means to Regulate Transnational Employment in the European Union?
Authors: van Hoek Aukje A.H.
Published: November 2014

Private International Law: An Appropriate Means to Regulate Transnational Employment in the European Union?

The regulation of transnational employment in the European Union operates at the crossroads between private international law and internal market rules. The private international law rules are currently laid down in the Rome I Regulation. This regulation is complemented by the Posted Workers Directive, a directive based on the competences of the EU in the field of free movement of services. The current contribution first describes the rules which determine the law applicable to the employment contract under Article 8 Rome I Regulation and the way these rules are interpreted by the CJEU before critically analysing these rules and the reasoning that seems to lie behind the court’s interpretation (section 2). The law applying to the contract is, however, only of limited relevance for the protection of posted workers. This is due inter alia to the mandatory application of certain rules of the country to which the workers are posted, even if a different law governs their contract. This application of host state law is based on Article 9 Rome I Regulation in conjunction with the Posted Workers Directive. Section 3 describes the content of these rules and the – to some extent still undecided – interaction between the Rome I Regulation and the PWD. The conclusion will be that there is an uneasy match between the interests informing private international law and the interests of the internal market, which is not likely to be resolved in the near future.
The Role of Private International Law in Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Van Calster Geert
Published: November 2014

The Role of Private International Law in Corporate Social Responsibility

This contribution firstly reviews developments in the EU and in the United States on corporate social responsibility and conflict of laws. It concludes with reference to some related themes, in particular on the piercing of the corporate veil and with some remarks on compliance strategy, and compliance reality, for corporations.
Nanotechnology-An Overview
Authors: Krishna Sailaja  , A. Saritha Reddy  , V. Sreelola  , P. Swathi  , Ch. Vineela
Published: November 2014

Nanotechnology provides a wide technological platform for varying range of potential applications. Nanotechnology is the design, characterization, synthesis and application of materials, structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size at nanometer scale, 1-100nm. Nanotechnology is being employed in the pharmaceutical field to improve drug solubility, bioavailability and delivery to various sites of action. To overcome the limitations in cellular uptake of highly active molecules, the use of nano carriers is the focus of modern drug delivery. Strategies like Nanosponges for enhancing solubility of poorly water soluble drugs, Nanocantilevers for detection of biomarkers of cancer, Quantum dots for medical imaging, Dendrimers for photodynamic therapy and gene transfection, Solid lipid nanoparticles as cosmeceuticals are employed. Nanodevices like respirocytes and microbivore are used for temporary replacement for natural blood cells in case of emergencies. In this review, therapeutic applications of various nano-structured materials have been discussed.
Improved Serotonergic Tone Contributes to the Mechanism of Action of St John’s Wort in Nicotine Withdrawn Mice
Authors: Shabana Saeed  , Samina Bano
Published: November 2014

Present study aims to investigate the acute effects of St John’s Wort (SJW) on nicotine withdrawal syndrome and serotonergic hypo activity in mice. Adult male Albino mice weighing 20-25g were housed 6 per cage under light and dark conditions at 22±3oC and maintained on lab chow and water ad libitum under standard housing conditions. Nicotine was administered at the concentrations of 3.08mg (1mg of free base) in 100 ml of drinking water for 4 weeks. Nicotine withdrawal was achieved by substituting nicotine containing water with drinking water. Nicotine withdrawn (NW) mice were evaluated for locomotor activity and abstinence signs at 72 h. Whole brain tryptophan (TRP). 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured using high performance liquid chromatography connected to fluorescence detector. St John’s Wort (SJW) (500mg/kg) was given intraperitonially 3 h prior to completion of 72 h of nicotine withdrawal period. Behavioral analysis in SJW administered NW mice showed attenuation in nicotine abstinence signs (shaking, scratching, chewing and facial tremors) and locomotor activity when compared with respective controls. NW mice showed decrease in plasma TRP, brain TRP and 5-HT concentrations while increase in 5-HT turnover and corticosterone concentrations as compared to respective controls. SJW administrated NW mice showed decrease in corticosterone levels and 5-HT turnover while plasma TRP, brain TRP and 5-HT synthesis were increased when compared with similarly treated saline injected group. Our findings warrant SJW’s therapeutic efficacy to alleviate nicotine withdrawal associated depression by virtue of its ability to improve serotonergic activity by increasing brain TRP, 5-HT concentrations and decreased turnover.
Studies on the Nutritional Characteristics of some Commercial Wheat Varieties of Dry Land and Wet Land Grown in Sindh Province
Authors: Aasia Akbar Panhwar  , Saghir Ahmed Sheikh  , Benish Nawaz Mirani  , Mahvish Jabeen Channa  , Samia Khanzada
Published: November 2014

The present research was carried out to investigate the nutritional characteristics of some commercial wheat varieties of dry land and wet land grown in Sindh province during 2011-12 at Institute of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. Four irrigated land (Inqulab, TD-1, Sarsabz and kherman) wheat varieties and four dry land (TK-3, Marvi, PK-85, Sassi) wheat varieties were collected from their respective areas and subjected to chemical analysis.The bio-chemical characteristics of dry land and wet land wheat varieties differed significantly. Chemical analysis indicate that moisture (13.06%), protein (14.83%), dry gluten (9.03%), wet gluten (35.66%), gluten index (73.8%), starch (75.83%) and zeleny (68.66%) contents were recorded higher in wet land wheat varieties than those of dry land wheat varieties with moisture (12.66%), protein (11.9%), dry gluten (8.2%), wet gluten (32.93%), gluten index (64.53%), starch (68.66%) and zeleny (58.33%). This study reveals that availability of water and environmental factors are directly related with the nutritional characteristics of wheat varieties. This study clarify that wet land wheat varieties are better in the context of nutritional qualities.
Gas emission strength and evolution of the molar ratio of BrO/SO2 in the plume of Nyiragongo in comparison to Etna
Authors: Bobrowski N. , von Glasow R. , Giuffrida G. B. , Tedesco D. , Aiuppa A. , Yalire M. , Arellano S. , Johansson M. , Galle B.
Published: November 2014

Airborne and ground‐based differential optical absorption spectroscopy observations have been carried out at the volcano Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of Congo) to measure SO2 and bromine monoxide (BrO) in the plume in March 2004 and June 2007, respectively. Additionally filter pack and multicomponent gas analyzer system (Multi‐GAS) measurements were carried out in June 2007. Our measurements provide valuable information on the chemical composition of the volcanic plume emitted from the lava lake of Nyiragongo. The main interest of this study has been to investigate for the first time the bromine emission flux of Nyiragongo (a rift volcano) and the BrO formation in its volcanic plume. Measurement data and results from a numerical model of the evolution of BrO in Nyiragongo volcanic plume are compared with earlier studies of the volcanic plume of Etna (Italy). Even though the bromine flux from Nyiragongo (2.6 t/d) is slightly greater than that from Etna (1.9 t/d), the BrO/SO2 ratio (maximum 7 × 10−5) is smaller than in the plume of Etna (maximum 2.1 × 10−4). A one‐dimensional photochemical model to investigate halogen chemistry in the volcanic plumes of Etna and Nyiragongo was initialized using data from Multi‐GAS and filter pack measurements. Model runs showed that the differences in the composition of volcanic volatiles led to a smaller fraction of total bromine being present as BrO in the Nyiragongo plume and to a smaller BrO/SO2 ratio.
A study of 732.0 nm dayglow emission at the equator under varying atomic oxygen density conditions for equinox and solstice cases
Authors: Dharwan Maneesha , Thirupathaiah P. , Singh Vir
Published: November 2014

A comprehensive model is developed to compute the volume emission rate of O+(2P) 732.0 nm dayglow emission. The modeled volume emission rates are compared with the measurements as provided by Atmosphere Explorer C satellite and Dynamics Explorer 2 spacecraft. It is found that the model explains quite well the measured emission profiles. The present model is used to study the effect of atomic oxygen abundance on the volume emission rate of 732.0 nm dayglow emission at the equator for equinox and solstice. To study the effect of atomic oxygen abundance on 732.0 nm dayglow emission, the atomic oxygen number densities obtained from the NRLMSISE‐00 model are increased (or decreased) in an increment (or decrement) of 20% and are incorporated into the model to compute volume emission rate profiles. The present study shows that the peak emission rate (PER) varies linearly below the reference level of atomic oxygen number density and does not vary linearly above the reference level of atomic oxygen number density. The atomic oxygen number density at reference level corresponds to that value which is obtained from the NRLMSISE‐00 model. It is found that the altitude of peak emission rate moves upward as the F10.7 solar index increases. On average the upward movement of altitude of PER is about 9 km for both the equinox and solstice cases. The upward movement of the altitude of peak emission rate is due to the enhancement in atomic oxygen number density with increase in F10.7 solar index.
Drilling a Small Basaltic Volcano to Reveal Potential Hazards
Authors: Shane Phil
Published: November 2014

Terrestrial basaltic volcanic fields consist of tens to hundreds of single‐eruptive‐episode (monogenetic) volcanoes. These fields are among the most common volcanic features on Earth's surface and can cover areas up to thousands of square kilometers. Although such fields commonly are active for hundreds of thousands of years, individual eruptions are rare (perhaps one every thousand or tens of thousands of years). The eruptions are small and short‐lived and last several days to decades, producing a small cone or crater. Despite the low eruption frequency of each volcano within the field, the spread of human infrastructure into these fields in many parts of the world necessitates a better understanding of future hazards.
Scientists Engage With the Public During Lava Flow Threat
Authors: McCarter Tricia
Published: November 2014

On 27 June, lava from Kīlauea, an active volcano on the island of Hawai`i, began flowing to the northeast, threatening the residents in Pāhoa, a community in the District of Puna, as well as the only highway accessible to this area. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and the Hawai`i County Civil Defense have been monitoring the volcano's lava flow and communicating with affected residents through public meetings since 24 August. Eos recently spoke with Michael Poland, a geophysicist at HVO and a member of the Eos Editorial Advisory Board, to discuss how he and his colleagues communicated this threat to the public.
Strengthening an Interagency Network for Geoscience Data Sets
Authors: Ma Xiaogang , Fox Peter , Mayernik Matthew S.
Published: November 2014

More than 85 invited participants from government, academia, and the private sector attended the GeoData 2014 Workshop. The GeoData in the title of this workshop represents data sets collected and curated by the broad “Geo” community supported by numerous U.S. federal agencies: the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Geological Survey, among others.
Modeling the Evolution of Polar Ice Sheets
Authors: Larour Eric , Schlegel Nicole , Morlighem Mathieu
Published: November 2014

The Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM) team, which is funded primarily by NASA (Cryosphere and Modeling, Analysis and Prediction programs), as well as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, University of California, Irvine, and National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs, organized a workshop in collaboration with the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR) at the University of Bergen in Norway, in June 2014.
Supporting Young Geoscientists at Fall Meeting
Authors: Gadeken Kara
Published: November 2014

Three events for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students will occur at this year's Fall Meeting.
Cultivating salt‐loving microbes on Mars
Authors: Orwig Jessica
Published: November 2014

Some scientists suspect that life on Earth began in cold, salty waters around scorching hydrothermal vents deep beneath the ocean's surface. Others wonder whether similar conditions could exist on Mars. Indeed, they even wonder if liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, presently exists on Mars. The process by which salt absorbs water vapor from the atmosphere to create saline solutions on Earth would take much longer under the harsh, extremely cold, and dry Martian conditions. However, observations do suggest evidence of brine flows near the Martian equator and even the formation of small pools of liquid brines in polar regions.
Forced versus internal variability in Northern Hemisphere climate
Authors: Balcerak Ernie
Published: November 2014

Some commonly used procedures do not correctly isolate the internal variability in the Northern Hemisphere climate system, a recent study argues. Mann et al. sought to separate the variability internal to the Northern Hemisphere temperature system from the external, or forced, variability driven by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and anthropogenic factors such as greenhouse gas emissions.
Using celerity to measure hydrological processes
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: November 2014

The last major advance in catchment hydrology was the discovery that while headwaters respond promptly to changes in water input, much of the resulting river flow is months or years old. The classical way of testing catchment models is to use measurements that reflect celerities—the measure of how fast the storage of water responds to a perturbation—of the response to an input event such as changes in rain or snowfall. However, McDonnell and Beven point out that testing catchment models against both celerity and tracer velocity—the measure of how fast the water particles are moving—can help improve model realism and reduce uncertainties and errors.
Rock magnetic properties and paleomagnetic behavior of Neogene marine sediments from northern Chile
Authors: Tapia Claudio A. , Wilson Gary S.
Published: November 2014

Neogene sediments from La Portada and Bahia Inglesa formations located at Mejillones Peninsula and Caldera Port, northern Chile carry multicomponent magnetizations, which can lead to misidentification of the characteristic paleomagnetic vector and consequently, errors in chronostratigraphic and structural interpretation of the strata. Here we present a complete rock magnetic and paleomagnetic behavior study of Neogene sediments from La Portada and Bahia Inglesa formations. Isothermal remanent magnetization, thermal‐magnetic susceptibility, magnetic hysteresis, and X‐ray diffractometer experiments are combined with paleomagnetic, alternating field, and thermal demagnetization data to determine magnetization history. Remanent magnetizations generally comprises three components: a low blocking temperature (Tb) component, below 150°C, close to the present‐day field in direction, interpreted as a thermoviscous component; an intermediate Tb component, between 150°C and 290°C, overprinted by the low and the high Tb components, considered as the survival of the characteristic detrital magnetization; and a high Tb component, above 290°C, thought to be of diagenetic origin. Detrital magnetite, titanomagnetite, and low titanium maghemite are identified as the main carrier of the magnetic remanence. Rock magnetic results of a minor group of samples at both locations detected the presence of a high‐coercivity mineral, possibly hematite, interpreted to carry the high Tb component and to represent oxidation of minerals in postdepositional processes.
Crustal structure beneath the Rif Cordillera, North Morocco, from the RIFSIS wide‐angle reflection seismic experiment
Authors: Gil Alba , Gallart Josep , Diaz Jordi , Carbonell Ramon , Torne Montserrat , Levander Alan , Harnafi Mimoun
Published: November 2014

The different geodynamic models proposed since the late 1990s to account for the complex evolution of the Gibraltar Arc System lack definite constraints on the crustal structure of the Rif orogen. Here we present the first well‐resolved P‐wave velocity crustal models of the Rif Cordillera and its southern continuation toward the Atlas made using controlled‐source seismic data. Two 300+ km‐long wide‐angle reflection profiles crossed the Rif along NS and EW trends. The profiles recorded simultaneously five land explosions of 1Tn each using ∼850 high frequency seismometers. The crustal structure revealed from 2‐D forward modeling delineates a complex, laterally varying crustal structure below the Rif domains. The most surprising feature, seen on both profiles, is a ∼50 km deep crustal root localized beneath the External Rif. To the east, the crust thins rapidly by 20 km across the Nekkor fault, indicating that the fault is a crustal scale feature. On the NS profile the crust thins more gradually to 40 km thickness beneath Middle Atlas and 42 km beneath the Betics. These new seismic results are in overall agreement with regional trends of Bouguer gravity and are consistent with recent receiver function estimates of crustal thickness. The complex crustal structure of the Rif orogen in the Gibraltar Arc is a consequence of the Miocene collision between the Iberian and African plates. Both the abrupt change in crustal thickness at the Nekkor fault and the unexpectedly deep Rif crustal root can be attributed to interaction of the subducting Alboran slab with the North African passive margin at late Oligocene‐early Miocene times.
Changing tectonic controls on the long‐term carbon cycle from Mesozoic to present
Authors: Mills Benjamin , Daines Stuart J. , Lenton Timothy M.
Published: November 2014

Tectonic drivers of degassing and weathering processes are key long‐term controls on atmospheric CO2. However, there is considerable debate over the changing relative importance of different carbon sources and sinks. Existing geochemical models have tended to rely on indirect methods to derive tectonic drivers, such as inversion of the seawater 87Sr/86Sr curve to estimate uplift or continental basalt area. Here we use improving geologic data to update the representation of tectonic drivers in the COPSE biogeochemical model. The resulting model distinguishes CO2 sinks from terrestrial granite weathering, total basalt weathering, and seafloor alteration. It also distinguishes CO2 sources from subduction zone metamorphism and from igneous intrusions. We reconstruct terrestrial basaltic area from data on the extent of large igneous provinces and use their volume to estimate their contribution to degassing. We adopt a recently published reconstruction of subduction‐related degassing, and relate seafloor weathering to ocean crust creation rate. Revised degassing alone tends to produce unrealistically high CO2, but this is counteracted by the inclusion of seafloor alteration and global basalt weathering, producing a good overall fit to Mesozoic‐Cenozoic proxy CO2 estimates and a good fit to 87Sr/86Sr data. The model predicts that seafloor alteration and terrestrial weathering made similar contributions to CO2 removal through the Triassic and Jurassic, after which terrestrial weathering increased and seafloor weathering declined. We predict that basalts made a greater contribution to silicate weathering than granites through the Mesozoic, before the contribution of basalt weathering declined over the Cenozoic due to decreasing global basaltic area.
The Iceland Basin excursion: Age, duration, and excursion field geometry
Authors: Channell J. E. T.
Published: November 2014

The Iceland Basin geomagnetic excursion coincided with the marine isotope stage (MIS) 6/7 boundary. The age and duration of the excursion, at seven North Atlantic sites with sufficient isotope data, are estimated by matching marine isotope stage (MIS) 7a–7c to a calibrated template. Two criteria for defining the excursion, virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) latitudes <0° and <40°N, yield excursion durations of 1–4 and 2–5 kyr, respectively. The midpoints of the excursion are in the 189–192 ka range, with a mean of ∼190.2 ka. Although component magnetization directions are generally well defined, rapid changes in field direction during a time of low field intensity are not adequately recorded. During the excursion, VGPs transit southward over Africa and the South Atlantic, reach high southern latitudes at the culmination of the excursion, with partial recovery in relative paleointensity (RPI), and then track northward through the western Pacific. The high southern latitude VGPs, and the recovery in RPI, imply that the Earth's main axial dipole reversed polarity during the excursion, if only for ∼1 kyr; implying that excursions can be manifested globally and are important in millennial‐scale stratigraphy. VGP clustering in the South Atlantic and NW Pacific roughly coincide with maxima in the vertical‐downward component of the modern nondipole (ND) field determined at the Earth's surface, which implies that the ND field became dominant as the geocentric dipole field weakened during the excursion, and also that the ND field configuration is long‐lived on multimillennial timescales.
FORCulator: A micromagnetic tool for simulating first‐order reversal curve diagrams
Authors: Harrison Richard J. , Lascu Ioan
Published: November 2014

We describe a method for simulating first‐order reversal curve (FORC) diagrams of interacting single‐domain particles. Magnetostatic interactions are calculated in real space, allowing simulations to be performed for particle ensembles with arbitrary geometry. For weakly interacting uniaxial particles, the equilibrium magnetization at each field step is obtained by direct solution of the Stoner‐Wohlfarth model, assuming a quasi‐static distribution of interaction fields. For all other cases, the equilibrium magnetization is calculated using an approximate iterated solution to the Landau‐Lifshitz‐Gilbert equation. Multithreading is employed to allow multiple curves to be computed simultaneously, enabling FORC diagrams to be simulated in reasonable time using a standard desktop computer. Statistical averaging and post processing lead to simulated FORC diagrams that are comparable to their experimental counterparts. The method is applied to several geometries of relevance to rock and environmental magnetism, including densely packed random clusters and partially collapsed chains. The method forms the basis of FORCulator, a freely available software tool with graphical user interface that will enable FORC simulations to become a routine part of rock magnetic studies.
On the earthquake predictability of fault interaction models
Authors: Marzocchi W. , Melini D.
Published: November 2014

Space‐time clustering is the most striking departure of large earthquakes occurrence process from randomness. These clusters are usually described ex‐post by a physics‐based model in which earthquakes are triggered by Coulomb stress changes induced by other surrounding earthquakes. Notwithstanding the popularity of this kind of modeling, its ex‐ante skill in terms of earthquake predictability gain is still unknown. Here we show that even in synthetic systems that are rooted on the physics of fault interaction using the Coulomb stress changes, such a kind of modeling often does not increase significantly earthquake predictability. Earthquake predictability of a fault may increase only when the Coulomb stress change induced by a nearby earthquake is much larger than the stress changes caused by earthquakes on other faults and by the intrinsic variability of the earthquake occurrence process.
The current system associated with the boundary of plasma bubbles
Authors: Sun Wei‐Jie , Fu Suiyan , Pu Zuyin , Parks George K. , Slavin James A. , Yao Zhonghua , Zong Qiu‐Gang , Shi Quanqi , Zhao Duo , Cui Yanbo
Published: November 2014

The current system associated with the boundary of plasma bubbles in the Earth's magnetotail has been studied by employing Cluster multipoint observations. We have investigated the currents in both the dipolarization front (DF, leading edge of the plasma bubble) and the trailing edge of the plasma bubble. The distribution of currents at the edge indicates that there is a current circuit in the boundary of a plasma bubble. The field‐aligned currents in the trailing edge of the plasma bubble are flowing toward the ionosphere (downward) on the dawnside and away from the ionosphere (upward) on the duskside, in the same sense as region‐1 current. Together with previous studies of the current distributions in the DF and magnetic dip region, we have obtained a more complete picture of the current system surrounding the boundary of plasma bubble. This current system is very similar to the substorm current wedge predicted by MHD simulation models but with much smaller scale.
Solar cycle variations of trapped proton flux in the inner radiation belt
Authors: Qin Murong , Zhang Xianguo , Ni Binbin , Song Hongqiang , Zou Hong , Sun Yueqiang
Published: November 2014

Trapped proton population in the inner radiation belt is highly dense, posing a potential danger to astronauts and man‐made space assets traversing through this region. While being significantly stable within timescales up to hundreds of days, inner zone proton fluxes can exhibit considerable solar cycle variations, which has not been investigated comprehensively yet. To analyze the long‐term variation of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), we adopt the proton flux data measured by NOAA 15 from 1999 through 2009 and perform statistical analyses on the basis of reasonable Gaussian fits. We report that the variation of the peak proton flux in the SAA is anticorrelated with that of F10.7 during a solar cycle. There also exists a phase lag of 685 days between the solar F10.7 flux and the proton flux. Similar features are seen for changes of the SAA distribution area, which in addition shows a rapid decrease during the solar maximum and a slow increase during the solar minimum. We also find that the region where the proton flux peaks drifts westward year by year with larger drift rates during the solar minimum. The peak region shifts southward during the solar maximum but in the opposite direction during the solar minimum with higher shift speed. Enhancements in solar wind dynamic pressure can favor the north‐south drift of the SAA.
Compositional diapirism as the origin of the low‐albedo terrain and vaporization at midlatitude on Ceres
Authors: Shoji D. , Kurita K.
Published: November 2014

Recent observations of Ceres, made using the Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared on board the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory, have shown that water vapor is emanated from the low‐albedo midlatitude regions. Based on the supposition that some dark spots on Europa may be caused by diapirism, we explored whether Ceres' environment also can induce compositional diapirism, and whether an upwelling diapir could explain the origin and distribution of the dark spots and vaporization of Ceres. If the density of the rock that constitutes Ceres is around 2700 kg m−3, the undifferentiated crust is stable over geological time periods at less than 180 K. At a surface temperature of 170 K, a diapir can reach the surface if the crust is a few tens of kilometers thick. Alternatively, if the surface temperature is 150 K, a large contrast in viscosity would prevent diapirs from reaching the surface. The relatively moderate surface temperature in the midlatitude regions of Ceres may be the reason for the formation of dark terrains occurring only in such areas. Our finite difference calculations do not show that diapirism melts the surface ice because the temperature gradient changes very little. However, if the observed vapor emission is caused by the sublimation of fresh ice, compositional diapirism could be the mechanism that transports the fresh ice to the surface. In addition to other mechanisms such as cryovolcanism, diapirism is a valid hypothesis for explaining the dark terrain and vapor emissions of Ceres.
π–π Stacking Induced Enhanced Molecular Solubilization, Singlet Oxygen Production, and Retention of a Photosensitizer Loaded in Thermosensitive Polymeric Micelles
Authors: Shi Yang , Elkhabaz Ahmed , Yousef Yengej Fjodor A. , van den Dikkenberg Joep , Hennink Wim E. , van Nostrum Cornelus F.
Published: November 2014

Cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) by photosensitizers (PS)‐loaded polymeric micelles (PM) is hampered by the tendency of PS to aggregate in PM and/or by premature release of PS in the blood circulation. In the present study, aromatic thermosensitive PM, characterized by π–π stacking interaction, are used to encapsulate an axially solketal‐substituted silicon phthalocyanine (Si(sol)2Pc) with enhanced loading capacity, smaller size, and significantly improved retention of Si(sol)2Pc compared with systems based on thermosensitive PM lacking aromatic groups. Interestingly, Si(sol)2Pc is much less prone to aggregation in the aromatic PM, i.e., the amount of Si(sol)2Pc that could be encapsulated without aggregation is 330 times higher in the aromatic PM than in the nonaromatic PM. Furthermore, Si(sol)2Pc in the aromatic PM in a molecularly dissolved (non‐aggregated) form displays three times more efficient singlet oxygen production than Si(sol)2Pc aggregated in the non‐aromatic PM. As a result, the photocytotoxicity of Si(sol)2Pc‐loaded aromatic PM to B16F10 cells is increased, compared with that of the non‐aromatic PM, while no significant cytotoxicity is observed in the dark. Fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis shows cell uptake of Si(sol)2Pc loaded in the aromatic PM, and the Si(sol)2Pc is taken up by the cells together with the micelles. The efficient singlet oxygen production of Si(sol)2Pc dissolved in the aromatic PM makes it an interesting formulation for cancer PDT.
Fast Supercapacitors Based on Graphene‐Bridged V2O3/VOx Core–Shell Nanostructure Electrodes with a Power Density of 1 MW kg−1
Authors: Pan Xuan , Ren Guofeng , Hoque Md Nadim Ferdous , Bayne Stephen , Zhu Kai , Fan Zhaoyang
Published: November 2014

Transition metal oxides (TMOs), with their very large pseudocapacitance effect, hold promise for next generation high‐energy‐density electrochemical supercapacitors (ECs). However, the typical high resistivity of TMOs restricts the reported ECs to work at a low charge–discharge (C–D) rate of 0.1–1 V s−1. Here, a novel vanadium oxides core/shell nanostructure‐based electrode to overcome the resistivity challenge of TMOs for rapid pseudocapacitive EC design is reported. Quasi‐metallic V2O3 nanocores are dispersed on graphene sheets for electrical connection of the whole structure, while a naturally formed amorphous VO2 and V2O5 (called as VOx here) thin shell around V2O3 nanocore acts as the active pseudocapacitive material. With such a graphene‐bridged V2O3/VOx core–shell composite as electrode material, ECs with a C–D rate as high as 50 V s−1 is demonstrated. This high rate was attributed to the largely enhanced conductivity of this unique structure and a possibly facile redox mechanism. Such an EC can provide 1000 kW kg−1 power density at an energy density of 10 Wh kg−1. At the critical 45° phase angle, these ECs have a measured frequency of 114 Hz. All these indicate the graphene‐bridged V2O3/VOx core–shell structure is promising for fast EC development.
When the final catalyst activity profile depends only on the total amount of admitted substance: Theoretical proof
Authors: Constales Denis , Yablonsky Gregory S. , Phanawadee Phungphai , Pongboutr Nattapong , Limtrakul Jumras , Marin Guy B.
Published: November 2014

Significance

It is shown, based on pulse‐response experiments, that under special conditions the activity profile of a prepared catalytic system depends only on the total amount of admitted substance. This property, previously found computationally, is here established mathematically for porous and nonporous catalysts in different pulse reactors. This result can be used as a theoretical guidance for the design of systems or materials with an optimal activity profile, in particular a catalyst bed or a catalyst particle. Consequently, it can be used for understanding and developing the different diffusion‐reaction processes, e.g., wet impregnation, deactivation of active materials, and so forth. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 31–34, 2015
Comparative analysis of autistic traits and behavioral disorders in Prader–Willi syndrome and Asperger disorder
Authors: Song Dae Kwang , Sawada Masayuki , Yokota Shingo , Kuroda Kenji , Uenishi Hiroyuki , Kanazawa Tetsufumi , Ogata Hiroyuki , Ihara Hiroshi , Nagai Toshiro , Shimoda Kazutaka
Published: November 2014

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neuro‐genetic disorder caused by the absence/loss of expression of one or more paternally expressed genes on chromosome 15 (q11–13). In this study, a comparative analysis of intelligence level and autistic traits was conducted between children with PWS (n = 30; 18 males, 12 females; age = 10.6 ± 2.8 years) and those with Asperger disorder (AD; n = 31; 24 males, 7 females; age = 10.5 ± 3.1 years). The children were compared by age group: lower elementary school age (6–8 years), upper elementary school age (9–12 years), and middle school age (13–15 years). As results, the intelligence levels of children with PWS were significantly lower than those with AD across all age groups. Autistic traits, assessed using the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Society Japan Rating Scale (PARS), revealed that among elementary school age children, those with PWS had less prominent autistic traits than those with AD, however, among middle school age children, those with PWS and AD showed similar prominence. An analysis of the PARS subscale scores by age group showed that while the profiles of autistic traits for children with PWS differed from those of children with AD at elementary school age, the profiles showed no significant differences between the groups at middle school age. The findings suggest that autistic traits in PWS become gradually more prominent with increasing of age and that these autistic traits differ in their fundamental nature from those observed in AD. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bor als überaus starkes Reduktionsmittel: Synthese eines Bor‐ zentrierten Radikalanionen‐Radikalkationen‐Paares
Authors: Bissinger Philipp , Braunschweig Holger , Damme Alexander , Hörl Christian , Krummenacher Ivo , Kupfer Thomas
Published: November 2014

Trotz der grundlegenden Bedeutung von Radikalanionen‐Radikalkationen‐Paaren in Ein‐Elektronen‐Transfer‐Reaktionen (SET) sind derartige Spezies noch immer sehr selten und meistens nur von kurzlebiger Natur. Die elektronenreiche B‐B‐Doppelbindung, welche Diborene zu ungewöhnlich starken neutralen Reduktionsmitteln macht, inspirierte uns dazu, ein Bor‐zentriertes Radikalanionen‐Radikalkationen‐Paar durch SET von einem Diboren auf ein Borol zu realisieren. Da sich die Reduktionspotentiale aller bisher bekannten Diborene (E1/2=−1.05/−1.55 V) für die Reduktion von MesBC4Ph4 (E1/2=−1.69 V) jedoch als nicht ausreichend erwiesen, wurde zuerst ein geeignetes Diboren entwickelt. Mit einem Reduktionspotential von E1/2=−1.95 V zählt IiPr⋅ (iPr)BB(iPr)⋅IiPr zu den stärksten bislang bekannten neutralen Reduktionsmitteln überhaupt. Dessen SET‐Reaktion mit MesBC4Ph4 verläuft hochselektiv unter Bildung eines Radikalanionen‐Radikalkationen‐Paares.
Elucidating membrane surface properties for preventing fouling of bioreactor membranes by surfactin
Authors: Behary Nemeshwaree , Lecouturier Didier , Perwuelz Anne , Dhulster Pascal
Published: November 2014

The large scale production of bacterial surfactin‐an anionic lipopeptide is restricted by its high cost of production. Surface sorption of surfactin causes membrane fouling, decreasing air permeation, or filtration efficiency of membranes used in bioreactors. The aim of this study was to elucidate surface properties leading to reduction or even the prevention of surfactin sorption on fibrous membranes. Surface modification of fibrous polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwoven membranes using cationic and/or anionic biopolymers, or an antiadhesive fluorinated polymer, with or without a prior air plasma treatment, resulted in membranes with varying surface properties. Membranes with superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic behavior with varying surface charges (positive, nul, and negative) were produced. Water contact angle (WCA), capillary uptake, as well as Zeta potential of each modified membrane, were quantified. Sorption tests using surfactin, were carried during 5, 24, and 48 h, at pH 7. The amphiphilic anionic lipopeptide sorbed on positively charged membranes as well as on negatively charged hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or superhydrophobic membranes. PET membrane functionalized with alternate deposition of chitosan and alginate presented surface properties (zeta potential of −20 mV and WCA = 80°), which was effective in rejecting 100% of the anionic surfactin both at an initial stage and at a late stage (after 48 h). Discussion is proposed to explain possible interactions between the anionic lipopeptide and the functionalized nonwovens. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41622.
A conductive foam: Based on novel poly(styrene‐b‐butadiene‐co‐styrene‐b‐styrene) tri‐block copolymer filled by carbon black
Authors: Zhang Jihai , Zhou Tao , Zhao Jing , Yuan Canyao , Xia Liping , Sun Ningfeng , Zhang Weidong , Zhang Aimin
Published: November 2014

In this article, a conductive foam based on a novel styrene‐based thermoplastic elastomer called poly(styrene‐b‐butadiene‐co‐styrene‐b‐styrene) tri‐block copolymer S(BS)S was prepared and introduced. S(BS)S was particularly designed for chemical foaming with uniform fine cells, which overcame the shortcomings of traditional poly(styrene‐b‐butadiene‐b‐styrene) tri‐block copolymer (SBS). The preparation of conductive foams filled by the carbon black was studied. After the detail investigation of cross‐linking and foaming behaviors using moving die rheometer, the optimal foaming temperature was determined at 180°C with a complex accelerator for foaming agent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images shown that the cell bubbles of conductive foam were around 30–50 µm. The conductivity of foams was tested using a megger and a semiconductor performance tester. SEM images also indicated that the conductivity of foams was mainly affected by the distribution of carbon black in the cell walls. The formation of the network of the carbon black aggregates had a contribution to perfect conductive paths. It also found that the conductivity of foams declined obviously with the foaming agent content increasing. The more foaming agent led to a sharp increasing of the number of cells (from 2.93 × 106 to 6.20 × 107 cells/cm3) and a rapid thinning of the cell walls (from 45.3 to 1.4 µm), resulting in an effective conductive path of the carbon black no forming. The conductive soft foams with the density of 0.48–0.09 g/cm3 and the volume resistivity of 3.1 × 103−2.5 × 105 Ω cm can be easily prepared in this study. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41644.
Improving the properties of reclaimed waste tire rubber by blending with poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) and electron beam irradiation
Authors: Ramarad Suganti , Ratnam Chantara Thevy , Khalid Mohammad , Chuah A. Luqman
Published: November 2014

Scrap rubber reclamation is one of the most desirable approaches to solve the disposal problem of used tires. However, reclaimed tire rubber (RTR) has not gained enough attention due to its poor properties. In this work, the effects of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA) addition and electron beam (EB) irradiation on the properties of RTR were studied. The RTR/EVA blends containing 100–0 wt % of RTR were prepared in the internal mixer followed by EB irradiation with doses ranging from 50 to 200 kGy. The RTR/EVA blends were subjected to mechanical, gel content, thermal, and morphological analysis. It was found that the addition of EVA to RTR improved the mechanical properties of RTR. However, results revealed that RTR undergoes irradiation‐induced crosslinking in a relatively lesser extent as compared to EVA. This observation is associated with the stabilization and radical scavenging effects of additives, which are present in the RTR matrix. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41649.
The Stochastic Robust Model Predictive Control of Shimmy Vibration in Aircraft Landing Gears
Authors: Hajiloo A. , Xie W. F.
Published: November 2014

This paper considers robust model predictive control (RMPC) methods for a linear parameter varying (LPV) system that has both probabilistic uncertain and time‐varying parameters. The parameters are considered to be measured online. In this regard, the aircraft landing gear system is considered as an LPV system whose parameters variation can affect both stability and performance. By transforming this system into a convex combination of linear time‐invariant vertices form with the tensor‐product (TP) model transformation method, the landing gear system is represented as a polytopic linear parameter‐varying system. A computationally efficient RMPC control signal law is calculated online by carrying out the convex optimization involving linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) in MPC which leads to finding the solutions that can guarantee the closed‐loop robust stability and performance. The proposed controller can effectively suppress the shimmy vibration of the landing gear with variable taxiing velocity and wheel caster length, also with the probabilistic uncertain torsional spring stiffness.
Optimal Control for Pennes' Bioheat Equation
Authors: Malek Alaeddin , Abbasi Ghasem
Published: November 2014

The problem of Pennes' bioheat boundary control through a skin with its inner medium kept at a constant steady‐state temperature where the outer surface subjected to conductive condition is solved by different methods. Analytical and mild solutions of Pennes' boundary control problem yield a discrete optimization problem for temperature profile at the specific depth point as well as temperature profile at all points of the skin in the final time. The pointwise optimal control problem has been solved by discretized form of the unconstrained optimization problem using analytical solution for Pennes' boundary control problem. The analytical solution has been used to solve the optimal control problems via an unconstrained/constrained optimization in Methods I and II. In Method III first, Pennes' boundary control problem is solved using mild solution by strongly continuous semigroup theory. Then, nonlinear optimization problem with linear constraints is proposed to calculate the corresponding piecewise optimal control function. All methods, have been applied to a homogeneous tissue. Mathematical simulation is done to show the optimal controls for the related states when minimum effort is used.