bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Sural Nerve Complex in Human Cadavers
Authors: Seema S. R.
Published: December 2013

Aim. The sural nerve complex (SNC) consists of four named components: medial sural cutaneous nerve (MSCN), lateral sural cutaneous nerve (LSCN), peroneal communicating nerve (PCN), and sural nerve (SN). The formation and distribution of the sural nerve vary in different individuals. SN is universally recognized by surgeons as a site for harvesting an autologous nerve graft. The nerve is widely used for electrophysiological studies. Hence the study of sural nerve complex was taken up. Method. SNC was observed by dissecting 100 lower limbs in the department of anatomy at three different medical colleges, over a period of 10 years. Result. Typical SN was observed in 60% of the cases. MSCN was present in all the cases; in 15% of the cases the MSCN followed an intramural course. LSCN was present in 80% of the cases. PCN was present in 70% of the cases and in most of the cases calibre was larger than that of MSCN. Conclusion. The knowledge about the variation in the origin and course of the SN is important in evaluating sensory axonal loss in distal axonal neuropathies and should be borne in mind by clinicians and surgeons.
Effect of Salting Duration on Lipid Oxidation and the Fatty Acid Content of Dry-Cured Lacon
Authors: Garrido Ruben , Lorenzo Jose M. , Franco Inmaculada , Carballo Javier
Published: December 2013

We investigated the effects of salting duration (3, 4 or 5 days) on lipid oxidation and the total fatty acid content of muscular fat and subcutaneous fat during the manufacturing of dry-cured lacon, a traditional meat product made in NW Spain from pork foreleg. Two batches of lacon were processed using each salting duration. In each batch, samples were analysed at seven different times throughout the manufacturing process. In each sample, the moisture and NaCl contents, and the peroxide value of the fat and the total fatty acid contents were determined in both the muscular and the subcutaneous fat.

Increasing the salting duration significantly increased lipid oxidation (as indicated by peroxide values), in both the muscular and the subcutaneous fat and at all sampling times throughout the manufacturing process. At the end of the ripening stage, the average peroxide values were 7.69, 17.79 and 21.72 meq. of O2/kg of subcutaneous fat and 10.78, 24.96 and 26.48 meq. of O2/kg of muscular fat, in the batches salted for 3, 4 and 5 days, respectively.

Salting duration significantly affected the fatty acid content, particularly that of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the linoleic acid within these. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content of lacon pieces salted for 3 days were significantly higher than those of pieces salted for 4 or 5 days, in both the muscular and subcutaneous fat.
Vehicle Manufacturer Technology Adoption and Pricing Strategies under Fuel Economy/Emissions Standards and Feebates
Authors: Liu Changzheng , Greene David L. , Bunch David S.
Published: December 2013

New post-2010 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions standards have significantly increased the stringency of requirements for new light-duty vehicle fuel efficiency. This study investigates the role of technology adoption and pricing strategies in meeting the new standards, and the impact of possible feebate policies. The analysis simulates manufacturer decision making over the period (2011-2020) using a dynamic optimization model of the new vehicle market that maximizes social surplus while meeting the standards. Consumer surplus is determined from consumer demand, which is represented by a nested multinomial logit model, and the model is conservative in its assumptions on available technology. Results indicate that technology adoption will likely play a much larger role than pricing strategies in meeting the new standards (consistent with the intent of the policy). Feebates, when implemented along with the standards, can bring additional fuel economy improvement and emissions reduction, but the impact of feebates diminishes with the increasing stringency of the standards. Results also show that the impact of the policy on consumers could be relatively limited. In the long run the policy requires increasing up-front technology costs to consumers that outweigh the perceived benefit of fuel savings, and there is some loss in total new vehicle sales. However, the net effect is limited, and the full value of fuel savings to society is substantial. Results also show a small decrease in average vehicle footprint size, indicating that efficiency improvements are primarily distributed across all vehicle sizes, consistent with the intent of the policy.
New Media as a Tool of Political Campaigns in the Czech Republic: A Case Study of the 2012 Regional Council and Senate Elections
Authors: Macková Alena , Fialová Marta , Štětka Václav
Published: December 2013

Political communication has been undergoing a profound transformation in recent years following the appearance and rapid spread of new media. The use of new media, such as social networking sites and other internet platforms, is increasingly being exploited by all types of political actors, but particularly by those involved in electoral campaigns. Attempting to explore the presence of these trends in the Czech Republic, this paper focuses on the Senate and Regional Council electoral campaigns that took place in October 2012 in the Czech Republic, with the primary aim of comparing the differences in new media usage between candidates. A comprehensive analysis was based on a dataset obtained by monitoring the use of various types of new media by candidates, namely traditional websites, blogs, and the online social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The results show that younger candidates in regional elections engage in online campaigning more intensely than older candidates. The findings also demonstrate that Senate candidates use new media more extensively than candidates for the Regional Council. The most commonly used new media in both types of elections were traditional websites and the online social networking site Facebook. Regarding the candidates’ political affiliations, the analyses came to the conclusion that the usage of new media was generally similar for all major parties with one exception. The candidates from the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia used new media very sporadically and, moreover, most of them used no new media platforms at all in either type of election campaign.
Fenomén Václav Klaus. Politická biografie
Authors: Brunclík Miloš
Published: December 2013

Kopeček, L. 2012. Fenomén Václav Klaus. Politická biografie. Brno: Barrister & Principal. 320 pages.
Party Transformations in European Democracies
Authors: Dvořák Petr
Published: December 2013

Krouwel, A. 2012. Party Transformations in European Democracies. Albany: SUNY Press, 436 pages.
Experimental Political Science: Principles and Practices
Authors: Zagrapan Jozef
Published: December 2013

Kittel, B.; Luhan, W. J.; Morton, R. B. 2012. Experimental Political Science: Principles and Practices. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillian, 280 pages.
Dynamiques de mobilité étudiante Sud-Nord : une approche par les pôles internationaux de formation de l’« élite » scientifique mexicaine
Authors: Gérard Étienne , Cornu Jean-François
Published: December 2013

Cet article aborde la question des dynamiques de mobilité étudiante Sud-Nord en s’appuyant sur les trajectoires de formation de l’élite scientifique mexicaine du Système national des chercheurs (SNI), des années 1970 à 2000. Il explore les pôles étrangers de formation vers lesquels se sont dirigés les actuels chercheurs de ce système, les variations disciplinaires et temporelles de ces pôles, ainsi que les transformations caractéristiques de leur hiérarchie dans l’espace international de la formation. Il montre ainsi que la circulation des étudiants est très largement conditionnée par le degré d’attraction et de spécialisation des différents pôles internationaux de formation. L’analyse se concentre enfin sur l’hypothèse que les dynamiques de mobilité étudiantes sont le produit conjoint de la division internationale du marché de la formation, de réseaux scientifiques et de « chaînes de savoirs » entre communautés scientifiques et institutions de formation mexicaines et étrangères et enfin d’un processus de légitimation, au Mexique et à l’étranger, des savoirs et pôles de formation.
Migrations internationales étudiantes ghanéennes et sénégalaises : caractéristiques et déterminants
Authors: Kabbanji Lama , Levatino Antonina , Ametepe Fofo
Published: December 2013

Dans cet article, nous nous intéressons aux migrations internationales étudiantes ghanéennes et sénégalaises. L’utilisation de données d’enquêtes quantitatives sociodémographiques rétrospectives, collectées dans le cadre du projet Migrations entre l’Afrique et l’Europe (MAFE), nous permet de comparer les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et les profils scolaires, professionnels et migratoires des étudiants du supérieur, nationaux et internationaux. Les typologies des parcours nous indiquent que les étudiants du supérieur ne constituent pas un groupe homogène et que les étudiants internationaux sont composés de deux groupes aux parcours distincts. L’analyse biographique en temps discret permet de montrer que les individus qui accèdent à l’éducation supérieure, au Ghana comme au Sénégal, sont fortement sélectionnés selon le genre et le niveau d’éducation du père. Si les déterminants de l’accès à l’éducation supérieure à l’étranger sont différents pour les Ghanéens et les Sénégalais, ils ont en commun d’être liés à certaines caractéristiques socioculturelles et familiales des individus.
Comportement du dirigeant et décision de divulgation volontaire d’informations : cas du marché tunisien
Authors: Diouani Boutheina , Khlif Wafa
Published: December 2013

En mettant en avant la centralité du dirigeant, surtout dans les pays émergents, cet article propose de mobiliser la théorie du comportement planifié pour comprendre la décision de divulgation volontaire. L’enquête a croisé les facteurs psychosociaux et l’intention de communication de 70,9 % des dirigeants des entreprises cotées sur la bourse de Tunis. Les résultats montrent que l’offre volontaire d’informations dépend des libres choix du dirigeant et de son attitude; que la variable sociale n’a pas d’influence sur son intention de communiquer et enfin que sa perception du contrôle peut, selon la nature de l’information à communiquer, influencer sa décision.
Valeurs confucéennes en Chine mesurées par les valeurs personnelles et domaines motivationnels de Schwartz
Authors: Schaaper Johannes , Jiao Zhen
Published: December 2013

Cette recherche identifie les valeurs culturelles confucéennes chinoises par le biais des 45 valeurs personnelles du Schwartz Value Survey. L'enquête empirique se fonde sur six entretiens qualitatifs et une administration de 1674 questionnaires en Chine. Les 45 valeurs personnelles chinoises se positionnent correctement selon la structure théorique de Schwartz. Les valeurs dominantes en Chine sont de nature confucéenne et collectiviste. Puis, les femmes sont davantage confucéennes que les hommes. Enfin, la jeune génération adhère de plus en plus aux valeurs occidentales et individualistes. Au niveau des implications managériales, nous donnons des recommandations en marketing et GRH en Chine.
Apprendre malgré l’échec : le cas d’une inéligibilité à la labellisation « pôle de compétitivité »
Authors: Charreire Petit Sandra , Cusin Julien , Loubaresse Elodie
Published: December 2013

Cet article étudie, dans le contexte français de la politique des pôles de compétitivité (logique de cluster), la tentative avortée de création d’un pôle sur le vin à Bordeaux. L’échec est ici analysé comme un inhibiteur versus un déclencheur de l’apprentissage. Peu de travaux abordent ce point dans le champ des clusters industriels, où l’accent est davantage mis sur les succès, tant en théorie qu’en pratique. En dépassant la vision binaire de l’échec, nous proposons une troisième voie, celle d’une dynamique qui se crée malgré l’échec, sans remise en cause des contours du projet. Ceci nous permet de mettre en évidence les conditions d’occurrence d’un tel apprentissage.
Capital sociétal et gouvernance d'entreprise. Le cas d'entreprise de l'Économie Sociale et Solidaire
Authors: Persais Eric
Published: December 2013

Alors que les entreprises classiques peinent à répondre aux attentes sociétales, celles de l’Economie Sociale et Solidaire (ESS) sont naturellement disposées à les satisfaire. Néanmoins, ce dernier modèle a un coût et les entreprises de l’ESS souffrent d’un déficit de moyens pour financer ce qui, au final, fait leur spécificité. Elles se structurent donc en réseau pour apporter collectivement, cette plus-value sociétale. Compte tenu de son importance dans le contexte actuel, les dispositifs de gouvernance de ces entreprises sont directement mis à contribution pour favoriser l’émergence de réseaux collectifs au sein de l’ESS. L’objectif est de construire des partenariats inter-entreprises qui seront, à terme, générateurs d’un capital sociétal pour les organisations du Tiers secteur. C’est en substance ce que tente de montrer l’auteur dans cette recherche qualitative réalisée auprès de trois mutuelles d’assurances françaises.
Foreign market-related knowledge absorption and the international financial performance of SMEs
Authors: Mogos Descotes Raluca , Walliser Björn
Published: December 2013

This study uses the absorptive capacity framework of Zahra and George (2002) to explain how exporting SMEs can achieve higher international financial performance. Based on the survey of 107 SMEs from the steel industry, results show that the impact of export knowledge processing on international financial performance is indirect, depending on the organizational process devoted to export knowledge absorption. The acquisition and assimilation of export knowledge have a direct influence on the export responsiveness capacity of SMEs, which ultimately allows them to derive higher turnover rates and profits from foreign market operations.
Le « management au féminin » : Entre stéréotypes et ambigüités
Authors: Pigeyre Frédérique , Vernazobres Philippe
Published: December 2013

Cet article questionne de manière critique les discours sur le management au féminin. Pour saisir les représentations des professionnels, une analyse de trois ouvrages sur le sujet et d’entretiens semi-directifs de managers d’un grand cabinet de conseil en management sont confrontés à la littérature académique. Leurs discours sont struturés en deux axes : la naturalisation des différences hommes/femmes et l’affirmation de l’avènement d’un nouveau type de management plus féminin. Ces discours constituent une opportunité de promotion de la diversité et de pratiques managériales renouvelées, mais risquent également de renforcer les clivages hommes/femmes, au détriment de celles-ci.
“Estrangeirismo” and flexibility: intercultural learning in Brazilian MNCs
Authors: Bartel-Radic Anne
Published: December 2013

How do Multinational Companies (MNC) learn to adapt to foreign markets and cultural differences ? We examine seven qualitative case studies of Brazilian MNCs which show that international experience and intercultural interaction, supported by geocentric international human resource strategies, are key factors in the organizational development of intercultural competence. Brazil appears to be a particularly interesting case, as certain characteristics of Brazilian culture, such as “estrangeirismo” and flexibility, seem to foster the development of intercultural competence.
As opiniões de professores sobre a aprendizagem cooperativa
Authors: Martins de Pinho Eduardo , Ferreira Carlos Alberto , Pinto Lopes José
Published: December 2013

A aprendizagem cooperativa é um método em que os alunos trabalham em pequenos grupos heterogêneos, com papéis previamente definidos, trocando informações e partilhando materiais, estando cada aluno consciente de que só terá sucesso se todos os elementos do grupo também tiverem. Esse método, apesar de ainda ser pouco utilizado em Portugal, aos poucos vem ganhando força. Nesse sentido, realizou-se uma investigação para compreender as opiniões sobre a aprendizagem cooperativa de professores que a utilizavam no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Para isso, utilizou-se uma metodologia de investigação qualitativa, por meio da realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas aplicadas a sete professoras do ensino básico e secundário português. Por meio dela, verificou-se que, para as professoras entrevistadas, a aprendizagem cooperativa é um método que tem como principais vantagens o aumento do rendimento acadêmico e da autoestima dos alunos e a melhoria das suas competências sociais. Por outro lado, identificaram-se algumas dificuldades na sua implementação em sala de aula, nomeadamente no nível dos alunos, do tempo disponível, dos recursos e da extensão dos programas.
The Best Location for Speed Bump Installation Using Experimental Design Methodology
Authors: Khademi Alireza , Ghorbani Renani Nafiseh , Mofarrahi Maryam , Rangraz Jeddi Alireza , Mohd Yusof Noordin
Published: December 2013

Speed bumps, as traffic calming devices, have been extensively used to reduce traffic speed on local streets. This study represents a unique application of experimental design methodology where the effects of some controllable factors in determining the best location for installing speed bumps before stop points (e.g. entry gates, road junctions) were investigated. Through Classical Design of Experiments (DOE), the optimum location of the speed bump was obtained based on the graphical plots of the significant effects. The speed at the stop point was treated as the response and minimum speed is desirable. Design-Expert® software was used to evaluate and analyze the results obtained. The suggested mathematical model effectively explains the performance indicators within the ranges of the factors. The car speed is the most significant factor that affects the distance-time in comparison with other factors, which provides secondary contributions.
The Case Study of Implementing the Delivery Optimization System at a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Distributer
Authors: Galić Ante , Carić Tonči , Fosin Juraj
Published: December 2013

Using new optimization methods and information-communications technology has become the key issue in the competition among the distributers of fast-moving consumer goods. Introducing a delivery optimization system instead of manual routing enables significant cost savings. The prerequisites for optimization are stable information system and efficient company management. The rich vehicle routing problem model is discussed and the effects of implementing the delivery optimization system are presented. For four years of continuous utilisation, the system has helped the distributer to reduce the overall distribution costs. It also made possible to close down several depots and handle more customer requests without investing in the vehicle fleet. The developed optimization system enabled the distributer to adapt to the new distribution schedule and react to first indicators of recession very fast.
Application and Autonomy: The Reach and Span of Contemporary Art Didactics
Authors: Christensen-Scheel Boel
Published: December 2013

Aesthetics, as both a variety of practices and a field of research, has now begun a journey toward society and more applied thinking – that is, how can art, art thinking, and different forms of sensuousness interact with or interfere in societal contexts. In this special issue of InFormation we explore the frame of a possible contemporary art didactics, where knowledge production and dispersion in and through art and aesthetics are promoted. Here the qualities of responding to societal needs and challenges are negotiated with the particular qualities of art. The field of didactics is often tied to specific teaching methods, but can also be seen as a more general theory of learning. With the term ‘contemporary art didactics’, we want to propose a relational field of communication and interaction based on aesthetic activity and competence. In addition, we seek to emphasize the contemporary quality and engagement of this activity and competence. In this first article by the editor of the issue, some of the related discussions on application, autonomy and criticality are presented alongside a proposition to formulate certain specific art based qualities.
Negotiating the Image of the City: A Discussion of Skilled Perception and the Role of Artists in the Redevelopment of Bjørvika
Authors: Myrvold Charlotte Blanche
Published: December 2013

In the master plan of the redevelopment of the former industrial harbor Bjørvika, funding for art is stipulated along with access to the site during the construction phase. This article looks at an intervention, from 2005, of the artist Marianne Heier, in relation to the strategic use of imagery in place branding and the use of images to structure change. The epistemological dimension of images will be argued to have ontological implications on how we perceive the world and consequently act upon it. This article suggests the need for a critical approach to mediated images in the context of urban development. By discussing the relationships between Lorraine Daston’s use of the notion of ‘skilled perception’ and Jaques Rancière’s concept of the ‘distribution of the sensible’, I attempt to draw attention to how our perception is skilled and thus affects what we hold in common. Ultimately, the formation of public spaces is the subject of the article and by pointing to the role that images play, as the way we see the city is shaped, this paper shapes the need for images that unveil otherwise unrepresented potentials and interests. The notion of skilled perception is presented as a tool for investigating how mediated images in Bjørvika form the basis of perceptual habits, and are suggested to be of use in grasping the “politics” of artistic interventions within the larger constructed image of Bjørvika.
Recalling Memories Through Reminiscence Theatre
Authors: Gjærum Rikke Gürgens
Published: December 2013

The purpose of this article is to study how a reminiscence theatre production develops dramaturgically, and to discuss what impact it has on the participants who take part in the project “The aged as a resource”. The theatre performance Number Our Days is visually and verbally presented and interpreted in this article. The reader also gets an opportunity to look at film extracts from the performance in electronic form. The theoretical framing is based on a performative mindset, Ryum’s dramaturgic model, Ranciere’s view on the emancipated spectator, Turner and Behrndt’s devising theatre universe, Saldana’s ethnodrama method and Ricoeur’s perspective of the capable and relational human being who builds their own narrative identity through communication.
Forming Life: Aesthetic Awareness in Mental Health Care
Authors: Berg Arild , Christensen-Scheel Boel , Ingeberg Mette Holme
Published: December 2013

Using cross-disciplinary perspectives from artistic research, aesthetic theory, and mental health care, this article discusses qualities in sensuous surroundings in mental health facilities. Although the background for the article is in the increased awareness in aesthetic research concerning sensuous surroundings and their connection to health and well-being, this aesthetic research is only reflected to a small extent in research on mental health care surroundings. A further development of these perspectives is suggested in this article by introducing the concept of life forms from the art theorist Nicolas Bourriaud and the concepts of presentation and perception in theatrical communication from theatre researcher Willmar Sauter. These theories are discussed and exemplified on the basis of data from two mental health care wards: one from a psychogeriatric ward and the other from a polyclinic for eating disorders. Some essential qualities identified in the examples were that aesthetic environment and activity could be seen as formative to the “inner landscape”, and that different forms of sensuous activation and interaction could help patients escape communicative isolation. It is further demonstrated how participatory strategies can challenge artistic practice and that art can contribute to a health promoting and communicative space in mental health care. In the discussion section, it is argued that an activating, and possibly empowering, environment can be created through an increased awareness of the aesthetic strategies used in health care institutions. The study seeks to contribute to knowledge transfer in artistic practice and healthcare practice, as a part of a cross-disciplinary art didactic discourse, which intends to address specific societal challenges.
Future Arctic climate changes: Adaptation and mitigation time scales
Authors: Overland James E. , Wang Muyin , Walsh John E. , Stroeve Julienne C.
Published: December 2013

The climate in the Arctic is changing faster than in midlatitudes. This is shown by increased temperatures, loss of summer sea ice, earlier snow melt, impacts on ecosystems, and increased economic access. Arctic sea ice volume has decreased by 75% since the 1980s. Long‐lasting global anthropogenic forcing from carbon dioxide has increased over the previous decades and is anticipated to increase over the next decades. Temperature increases in response to greenhouse gases are amplified in the Arctic through feedback processes associated with shifts in albedo, ocean and land heat storage, and near‐surface longwave radiation fluxes. Thus, for the next few decades out to 2040, continuing environmental changes in the Arctic are very likely, and the appropriate response is to plan for adaptation to these changes. For example, it is very likely that the Arctic Ocean will become seasonally nearly sea ice free before 2050 and possibly within a decade or two, which in turn will further increase Arctic temperatures, economic access, and ecological shifts. Mitigation becomes an important option to reduce potential Arctic impacts in the second half of the 21st century. Using the most recent set of climate model projections (CMIP5), multimodel mean temperature projections show an Arctic‐wide end of century increase of +13°C in late fall and +5°C in late spring for a business‐as‐usual emission scenario (RCP8.5) in contrast to +7°C in late fall and +3°C in late spring if civilization follows a mitigation scenario (RCP4.5). Such temperature increases demonstrate the heightened sensitivity of the Arctic to greenhouse gas forcing.
Is learning about climate change like having a colonoscopy?
Authors: Somerville Richard C. J.
Published: December 2013

Key Points

Many people avoid having valuable medical tests from fear of the results

People resist learning about climate change, fearing unpleasant consequences

Research suggests addressing these concerns early, aids in communication
Which Anthropocene is it to be? Beyond geology to a moral and public discourse
Authors: Ellis Michael A. , Trachtenberg Zev
Published: December 2013

Key Points

The Anthropocene goes beyond geology and needs a moral and public discourse

Anthropocene science needs a genuine and real synthesis

Anthropocene science requires strategically designed research
Dust charging in the Enceladus torus
Authors: Yaroshenko V. V. , Lühr H. , Miloch W. J.
Published: December 2013

Employing the parameter space, consistent with available Cassini data, dust charging is studied in the near‐Enceladus plasma with special focus on the region close to the moon's plume. The emphasis is on the role of dust size distribution and grain density, the electron temperature, fraction of the hot electrons, and multi‐ion composition including the effect of newborn, nonthermalized ions. The sensitivity of the grain potential to variations in the ambient plasma parameters and in the radiative conditions is examined. It is shown that a significant reduction of the electrical potential and the charging time in the dust‐loaded regions occurs. This can explain the predominance of nanograins with small negative charges ~e in the plume as detected by the Cassini plasma spectrometer during close encounters with Enceladus. The theoretical findings can be of importance for reliable interpretations of the Cassini Langmuir probe measurements.
Future ocean acidification in the Canada Basin and surrounding Arctic Ocean from CMIP5 earth system models
Authors: Steiner N. S. , Christian J. R. , Six K. D. , Yamamoto A. , Yamamoto‐Kawai M.
Published: December 2013

Six Earth system models that include an interactive carbon cycle and have contributed results to the 5th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) are evaluated with respect to Arctic Ocean acidification. Projections under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 8.5 and 4.5 consistently show reductions in the bidecadal mean surface pH from about 8.1 in 1986–2005 to 7.7/7.9 by 2066–2085 in the Canada Basin, closely linked to reductions in the calcium carbonate saturation state ΩA,C from about 1.4 (2.0) to 0.7 (1.0) for aragonite (calcite) for RCP8.5. The large but opposite effects of dilution and biological drawdown of DIC and dilution of alkalinity lead to a small seasonal amplitude change in Ω, as well as intermodel differences in the timing and sign of the summer minimum. The Canada Basin shows a characteristic layering in Ω: affected by ice melt and inflowing Pacific water, shallow undersaturated layers form at the surface and subsurface, creating a shallow saturation horizon which expands from the surface downward. This is in addition to the globally observed deep saturation horizon which is continuously expanding upward with increasing CO2 uptake. The Eurasian Basin becomes undersaturated much later than the rest of the Arctic. These CMIP5 model results strengthen earlier findings, although large intermodel differences remain: Below 200 m ΩA varies by up to 1.0 in the Canada Basin and the deep saturation horizon varies from 2000 to 4000 m among the models. Differences of projected acidification changes are primarily related to sea ice retreat and responses of wind mixing and stratification.
Time‐dependent rotational stability of dynamic planets with elastic lithospheres
Authors: Chan N.‐H. , Mitrovica J. X. , Daradich A. , Creveling J. R. , Matsuyama I. , Stanley S.
Published: December 2013

True polar wander (TPW), a reorientation of the rotation axis relative to the solid body, is driven by mass redistribution on the surface or within the planet and is stabilized by two aspects of the planet's viscoelastic response: the delayed viscous readjustment of the rotational bulge and the elastic stresses in the lithosphere. The latter, following Willemann (1984), is known as remnant bulge stabilization. In the absence of a remnant bulge, the rotation of a terrestrial planet is said to be inherently unstable. Theoretical treatments have been developed to treat the final (equilibrium) state in this case and the time‐dependent TPW toward this state, including nonlinear approaches that assume slow changes in the inertia tensor. Moreover, remnant bulge stabilization has been incorporated into both equilibrium and linearized, time‐dependent treatments of rotational stability. We extend the work of Ricard et al. (1993) to derive a nonlinear, time‐dependent theory of TPW that incorporates stabilization by both the remnant bulge and viscous readjustment of the rotational bulge. We illustrate the theory using idealized surface loading scenarios applied to models of both Earth and Mars. We demonstrate that the inclusion of remnant bulge stabilization reduces both the amplitude and timescale of TPW relative to calculations in which this stabilization is omitted. Furthermore, given current estimates of mantle viscosity for both planets, our calculations indicate that departures from the equilibrium orientation of the rotation axis in response to forcings with timescale of 1 Myr or greater are significant for Earth but negligible for Mars.
Dislocation Evolution in Nanograins during Successive Stress Relaxation
Authors: Wang Guoyong , Lian Jianshe
Published: December 2013

Whether low strain hardening is an intrinsic behavior of nc metals is still an open question. To make clear this issue, in this paper repeated stress relaxation experiments were performed on a nanocrystalline and coarse‐grained copper, respectively. The mobile dislocation density during plastic strain, which directly determines the performance of strain hardening, was deduced from this experiment. The mobile dislocation density of nanocrystalline copper decreased much slower than coarse‐grained copper. The high mobility of the dislocation in nanocrystalline copper indicate the dislocation seldom interact with each other and generate sessile barrier, and render the nanocrystalline copper a more diminutive strain‐hardening capacity than coarse‐grained copper.
Tethered Lipid Bilayer Gates: Toward Extended Retention of Hydrophilic Cargo in Porous Nanocarriers
Authors: Zhang Jixi , Desai Diti , Rosenholm Jessica M.
Published: December 2013

A high‐performance molecular gating system for efficient capping and delivery of hydrophilic cargo is reported. It integrates a mesoporous silica nanoparticle core and a lipid bilayer (LB) shell by covalent tethering via a hyperbranched polyethylenimine (PEI) cushion. When using calcein as a general model for hydrophilic drug molecules, a high payload is loaded into the porous structure due to greatly enhanced concentration of amino groups on the pore walls. Surprisingly, LB non‐disruptively resides on the porous surface in this system, despite the strong positive charge from PEI, originating from the covalent tethering of the inner leaflet, as well as preferential spanning over the pore openings facilitated by the stretching of PEI chains on the particle surface. An unprecedented high retention of negatively charged hydrophilic guest molecules after up to 1 week is consequently achieved, even in the presence of a membrane disrupting agent. Furthermore, a PEI‐induced charge conversion at neutral pH is conferred to the particles using a zwitterionic PC lipid as the outer leaflet of LB. Interestingly, the corresponding nanocarriers are able to promote cargo escape from endosomes. Subsequent delivery of the loaded hydrophilic cargo to the cytoplasm is observed despite the tight retention under extracellular conditions.
Seeing Hydrogen in Colors: Low‐Cost and Highly Sensitive Eye Readable Hydrogen Detectors
Authors: Ngene Peter , Radeva Tsveta , Slaman Martin , Westerwaal Ruud J. , Schreuders Herman , Dam Bernard
Published: December 2013

There is a great interest in the development of reliable and low‐cost hydrogen sensors for applications in the hydrogen economy, industrial processes, space application, detection of environmental pollution, and biomedical applications. Here, a new type of optical detector that indicates the presence of hydrogen in concentration range 5 ppm to 0.1 vol% H2 merely by a reversible and tunable color change is reported. The device takes advantage of the reversible change in optical properties of a Pd‐capped Y thin film upon exposure to H2, while the color is tuned using the interference of light reflected between the Y and Pd layers. In this way, an eye‐readable optical sensor that circumvents the need for electronics and external digital readouts is created. Using surface modifications, the performance of the H2 detector in humid and oxygen rich environment is greatly improved. Therefore, the device has the potential to be used for chemical and also biochemical/biomedical H2 sensing applications such as breathe hydrogen tests.
Biosynthesis of Zinc Substituted Magnetite Nanoparticles with Enhanced Magnetic Properties
Authors: Byrne James M. , Coker Victoria S. , Cespedes Eva , Wincott Paul L. , Vaughan David J. , Pattrick Richard A. D. , van der Laan Gerrit , Arenholz Elke , Tuna Floriana , Bencsik Martin , Lloyd Jonathan R. , Telling Neil D.
Published: December 2013

The magnetic moments of magnetite nanoparticles are dramatically enhanced through the addition of zinc in a microbiologically driven synthesis procedure. The particles are produced through the reduction of Fe(III)‐compounds containing Zn(II) by the iron reducing bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens. Results indicate a significant increase in the saturation magnetization by over 50% compared to magnetite at both room and low temperatures for relatively minor quantities of zinc substitution. A maximum saturation magnetization of nearly 100 emu g−1 of sample is measured at room temperature. Analysis of the cation site ordering reveals a complex dependence on the Zn content, with the combined effect of Zn substitution of Fe3+ ions on tetrahedral sites, together with Fe2+ cation oxidation, leading to the observed magnetization enhancement for low Zn doping levels. The improved magnetic properties give superior performance in MRI applications with an MRI contrast enhancement among the largest values reported, being more than 5 times larger than a commercial contrast agent (Feridex) measured under identical conditions. The synthesis technique applied here involves an environmentally benign route and offers the potential to tune the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles, with increased overall magnetization desirable for many different commercial applications.
Recent Advances in Polymer Solar Cells: Realization of High Device Performance by Incorporating Water/Alcohol‐Soluble Conjugated Polymers as Electrode Buffer Layer
Authors: He Zhicai , Wu Hongbin , Cao Yong
Published: December 2013

This Progress Report highlights recent advances in polymer solar cells with special attention focused on the recent rapid‐growing progress in methods that use a thin layer of alcohol/water‐soluble conjugated polymers as key component to obtain optimized device performance, but also discusses novel materials and device architectures made by major prestigious institutions in this field.

We anticipate that due to drastic improvements in efficiency and easy utilization, this method opens up new opportunities for PSCs from various material systems to improve towards 10% efficiency, and many novel device structures will emerge as suitable architectures for developing the ideal roll‐to‐roll type processing of polymer‐based solar cells.
Physician screening and recommendations on secondhand smoke in chronic rhinosinusitis patients
Authors: Nieman Carrie L. , Navas‐Acien Ana , Lin Sandra Y. , Reh Douglas D.
Published: December 2013

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent and costly disease that adversely impacts quality of life. As with other chronic diseases, individual and environmental factors impact the disease process. Smoking and secondhand tobacco (SHS) exposures are important risk factors for CRS. However, little is known about the role that physicians play in educating sinusitis patients about this preventable risk. The objective of this study was to characterize physician participation in SHS exposure screening and education.

Methods

The study was a community‐based, case‐control study of non‐current smokers in Washington County, MD. One hundred cases with CRS were matched with 100 controls for age, sex, and former smoking status. We interviewed participants using a validated questionnaire that included questions on physician inquiry and recommendations pertaining to smoking and SHS exposure.

Results

Over 80% of participants with CRS recalled their physician inquiring about their current smoking status, whereas only 27% recalled being asked by their physician about SHS exposure and only 23% reported that their physician recommended avoiding SHS. In contrast, more asthma participants recalled that their physicians inquired about SHS exposure (39.6%, although the difference was borderline significant p = 0.12) and recommended reducing SHS exposure (45.8%, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Despite the increasing support for SHS exposure as a risk factor for CRS, relatively few physicians inquire about SHS and provide recommendations on SHS avoidance. Brief physician inquiry increases success of smoking cessation. Including SHS exposure in the medical history represents an opportunity for otolaryngologists to advise their patients about avoiding SHS and potentially alter disease outcomes.
Synthesis of the Pluramycins 1: Two Designed Anthrones as Enabling Platforms for Flexible Bis‐C‐Glycosylation
Authors: Kitamura Kei , Ando Yoshio , Matsumoto Takashi , Suzuki Keisuke
Published: December 2013

Two effective tricyclic platforms are reported for the installation of the two constituent sugars, L‐vancosamine and D‐angolosamine, in a regio‐ and stereoselective manner for the synthesis of the pluramycin class of bis‐C‐glycoside antitumor antibiotics. Two complementary protocols are now available that differ in the order in which the two sugar moieties are installed. Sc(OTf)3 was effective as the Lewis acid.
Smart cyclone alerts over the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Ghosh S. , Vidyasagaran Vivek , Sandeep Subramanian
Published: December 2013

This article describes a first application of mobile telephony alerts for an extreme weather event ‐ the progression and landfall of cyclone Phailin. The international media picked up on the cyclone Phailin story (11th–12th October 2013) ‐ 800 000 people were evacuated within 48 h. Here we describe a novel scheme using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulations and mobile phone alerts for cyclone warnings. Cellphones have a deep penetration even in rural pockets of India and it is anticipated that the results of this commentary will inspire disaster mitigation efforts over many parts of the developing world.
Purification and characterization of arylacetonitrile‐specific nitrilase of Alcaligenes sp. MTCC 10675
Authors: Bhatia S. K. , Mehta P. K. , Bhatia R. K. , Bhalla T. C.
Published: December 2013

Arylacetonitrile‐hydrolyzing nitrilase (E.C. 3.5.5.5) of Alcaligenes sp. MTCC 10675 has been purified by up to 46‐fold to homogeneity and 32% yield using ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephacryl S‐300 gel permeation, and anion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 520 ± 60 kDa. The subunit has a molecular weight of 60 ± 14 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). The optimum pH and temperature of the purified enzyme were 6.5 and 50 °C, respectively. The purified arylacetonitrilase has a half‐life of 3 H 20 Min at its optimum temperature. The value for Vmax, Km, kcat, and ki of enzyme for mandelonitrile as a substrate was 50 ± 05 µmol/Min/mg, 13 ± 02 mM, 26 ± 03 Sec−, and 32.4 ± 03 mM, respectively. Alcaligenes sp. MTCC 10675 arylacetonitrilase amino acid sequence has variations from other reported arylacetonitrilase, namely, A11G, N21H, D149N, S170T, P171R, S179A, Q180N, and S191A, and it has a high thermal stability and catalytic rate as compared with the already purified arylacetonitrilase.
A spatially explicit techno‐economic assessment of green biorefinery concepts
Authors: Höltinger Stefan , Schmidt Johannes , Schönhart Martin , Schmid Erwin
Published: December 2013

Biorefineries are seen as a key component for the transition toward a resource‐efficient, low‐carbon bio‐economy. The green biorefinery (GBR) concept is promoted in several countries to create business and employment opportunities in rural areas. It aims at providing alternative utilization pathways for surplus grassland areas by producing bioenergy, biomaterials, livestock feed, and organic acids. We have developed a spatially explicit, mixed integer programming model that maximizes total producer surpluses of GBR supply chains subject to resource endowments by selecting optimal plant locations and sizes. The model is applied to assess the economic viability of three GBR concepts compared to biogas plants. Impacts of uncertain model input parameters on model outputs are analyzed by Monte‐Carlo simulations and regression analysis. The model results reveal that green biorefineries could utilize significantly more biomass than biogas plants, leading to higher regional feedstock prices. Furthermore, the Monte‐Carlo simulation results demonstrate that the economic viability of green biorefineries mainly depends on the selected process layout and the prices of the main products. Under favorable market conditions GBRs are economically viable even without policy support measures with average profits between Ä15 and Ä115 t–1 feedstock input. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Animal models of brain maldevelopment induced by cycad plant genotoxins
Authors: Kisby Glen E. , Moore Holly , Spencer Peter S.
Published: December 2013

Cycads are long‐lived tropical and subtropical plants that contain azoxyglycosides (e.g., cycasin, macrozamin) and neurotoxic amino acids (notably β‐N‐methylamino‐l‐alanine l‐BMAA), toxins that have been implicated in the etiology of a disappearing neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and parkinsonism‐dementia complex that has been present in high incidence among three genetically distinct populations in the western Pacific. The neuropathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism‐dementia complex includes features suggestive of brain maldevelopment, an experimentally proven property of cycasin attributable to the genotoxic action of its aglycone methylazoxymethanol (MAM). This property of MAM has been exploited by neurobiologists as a tool to study perturbations of brain development. Depending on the neurodevelopmental stage, MAM can induce features in laboratory animals that model certain characteristics of epilepsy, schizophrenia, or ataxia. Studies in DNA repair‐deficient mice show that MAM perturbs brain development through a DNA damage‐mediated mechanism. The brain DNA lesions produced by systemic MAM appear to modulate the expression of genes that regulate neurodevelopment and contribute to neurodegeneration. Epigenetic changes (histone lysine methylation) have also been detected in the underdeveloped brain after MAM administration. The DNA damage and epigenetic changes produced by MAM and, perhaps by chemically related substances (e.g., nitrosamines, nitrosoureas, hydrazines), might be an important mechanism by which early‐life exposure to genotoxicants can induce long‐term brain dysfunction. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 99:247–255, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Empirical comparison study of approximate methods for structure selection in binary graphical models
Authors: Viallon Vivian , Banerjee Onureena , Jougla Eric , Rey Grégoire , Coste Joel
Published: December 2013

Looking for associations among multiple variables is a topical issue in statistics due to the increasing amount of data encountered in biology, medicine, and many other domains involving statistical applications. Graphical models have recently gained popularity for this purpose in the statistical literature. In the binary case, however, exact inference is generally very slow or even intractable because of the form of the so‐called log‐partition function. In this paper, we review various approximate methods for structure selection in binary graphical models that have recently been proposed in the literature and compare them through an extensive simulation study. We also propose a modification of one existing method, that is shown to achieve good performance and to be generally very fast. We conclude with an application in which we search for associations among causes of death recorded on French death certificates.