bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Earnings Management and Measurement Error
Authors: Hofmann Christian
Published: March 2014

In this paper I consider the impact of a noisy indicator regarding a manager’s manipulative behavior on optimal effort incentives and the extent of earnings management. The analysis in this paper extends a two-task, single performance measure LEN model by including a binary random variable. I show that contracting on the noisy indicator variable is not always useful. More specifically, the principal uses the indicator variable to prevent earnings management only under conditions where manipulative behavior is not excessive. Thus, under conditions of excessive earnings management, accounting adjustments that yield a more congruent overall performance measure can be more effective than an appraisal of the existence of earnings management to mitigate the earnings management problem.
A Cooperative and Adaptive Variable Neighborhood Search for the Multi Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows
Authors: Polacek Michael , Benkner Siegfried , Doerner Karl F. , Hartl Richard F.
Published: March 2014

In this paper we propose two cooperation schemes to compose new parallel variants of the Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS). On the one hand, a coarse-grained cooperation scheme is introduced which is well suited for being enhanced with a solution warehouse to store and manage the so far best found solutions and a self-adapting mechanism for the most important search parameters. This makes an a priori parameter tuning obsolete. On the other hand, a fine-grained scheme was designed to reproduce the successful properties of the sequential VNS. In combination with the use of parallel exploration threads all of the best solutions and 11 out of 20 new best solutions for the Multi Depot Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows were found.
A Clinical Pathway for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty—A Pilot Study
Authors: Goon Amanda K. , Dines David M. , Craig Edward V. , Gordon Michael A. , Goytizolo Enrique A. , Lin Yi , Lin Emily , YaDeau Jacques T.
Published: March 2014

Background

Appropriate pain management after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) facilitates rehabilitation and may improve clinical outcomes.

Questions/purposes

This prospective, observational study evaluated a multimodal analgesia clinical pathway for TSA.

Methods

Ten TSA patients received an interscalene nerve block (25 cm3 0.375% ropivacaine) with intraoperative general anesthesia. Postoperative analgesia included regularly scheduled non-opioid analgesics (meloxicam, acetaminophen, and pregabalin) and opioids on demand (oral oxycodone and intravenous patient-controlled hydromorphone). Patients were evaluated twice daily to assess pain, anterior deltoid strength, handgrip strength, and sensory function.

Results

The nerve block lasted an average of 18 h. Patients had minimal pain after surgery; 0 (median score on a 0–10 scale) in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) but increased on postoperative day (POD) 1 to 2.3 (0.0, 3.8; median (25%, 75%)) at rest and 3.8 (2.1, 6.1) with movement. Half of the patients activated the patient-controlled analgesia four or fewer times in the first 24 h after surgery. Operative anterior deltoid strength was 0 in the PACU but returned to 68% by POD 1. Operative hand strength was 0 (median) in the PACU, but the third quartile (75%) had normalized strength 49% of preoperative value.

Conclusions

Patients did well with this multimodal analgesic protocol. Pain scores were low, half of the patients used little or no intravenous opiate, and some patients had good handgrip strength. Future research can focus on increasing duration of analgesia from the nerve block, minimizing motor block, lowering pain scores, and avoiding intravenous opioids.
El marketing al servicio de las organizaciones del tercer sector
Authors: Toca Torres Claudia Eugenia
Published: March 2014

El objetivo del presente artículo es revisar el verdadero significado del marketing al servicio de las organizacionescuya finalidad es neta y exclusivamente social. El artículo toma distancia del mercadeo social —tanampliamente investigado— y evita en todo momento una adopción discrecional de herramientas y procesosdel marketing comercial; busca en consecuencia, consolidar un enfoque acorde con la naturaleza, actividadesy público de las organizaciones sociales. A partir del análisis de literatura especializada de las cienciassociales y políticas, como institucionalismo, política social, bienes públicos, pobreza y vulnerabilidad,se deduce un lenguaje pertinente para esta tipología mercadológica, y se trasciende a su respectivo contrastecon la realidad social colombiana. Estas claridades permiten, finalmente, proponer el contenido deun curso sobre asuntos sociales y de marketing.
Efecto del burnout y la sobrecarga en la calidad de vida en el trabajo
Authors: Patlán Pérez Juana
Published: March 2014

El síndrome de burnout se presenta con frecuencia en trabajadores que tienen contacto con usuarios oclientes. El artículo tiene como objetivo determinar el efecto del burnout y la sobrecarga en la calidad devida en el trabajo en personal de un instituto de salud en México. La metodología de investigación fue expost facto y descriptiva con una muestra estratificada de 673 trabajadores. Se utilizaron 4 escalas para medirsobrecarga de trabajo, burnout y 2 factores de calidad de vida en el trabajo: conflicto trabajo-familia ysatisfacción laboral. Los resultados indican un efecto positivo y significativo de la sobrecarga en el burnouty el conflicto trabajo-familia, y un efecto negativo de la sobrecarga en la satisfacción laboral. Además, elburnout está asociado de forma positiva al conflicto trabajo-familia y negativa a la satisfacción laboral.
Retos de gestión intercultural en las actividades de internacionalización de microempresas de Medellín
Authors: Bustamante Zapata Luis Fernando , Aguilar Barrientos Sara Cristina
Published: March 2014

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar retos de gestión intercultural en las actividades de internacionalizaciónde microempresas de Medellín, Colombia. Para tales efectos, se recogió información de 5 microempresas delsector servicios por medio de cuestionarios electrónicos, los cuales fueron posteriormente estudiados usandouna metamatriz parcialmente ordenada siguiendo el método analítico-sintético. El trabajo se diferencia deotros que se enfocan en habilidades empresariales para la supervivencia, porque se centra en explorar competenciasavanzadas relacionadas con el crecimiento y la rentabilidad, esto es: gestión intercultural en la gerenciainternacional. Se postulan 11 retos que describen las capacidades que la microempresa de servicios deMedellín debe construir para que sus actividades de internacionalización sean más efectivas.
La conformación del currículo en Administración: un estudio desde el isomorfismo institucional
Authors: Marín Idárraga Diego Armando
Published: March 2014

La educación en Administración debe garantizar el balance entre la teoría y la práctica; no obstante, existenmuchos desacuerdos acerca de lo que es relevante y pertinente en la formación de administradores, con perspectivasinvestigativas que rivalizan entre el rigor y lo instrumental. Mediante una metodología explicativa,este artículo analiza cómo se conforma el currículo de los programas de Administración en Bogotá, en el marcodel isomorfismo institucional. Los resultados indican que las influencias normativas, correspondientes a lasexpectativas profesionales, y las miméticas, referidas a la comparación con otros programas, explican la configuracióncurricular de la educación en Administración. Asimismo, los resultados muestran que el currículo delos programas evaluados se halla desbalanceado en cuanto a los pesos relativos de las asignaturas que componenel conocimiento teórico, el conocimiento práctico y la formación en valores.
Genetic interaction of PICALM and APOE is associated with brain atrophy and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Morgen Katrin , Ramirez Alfredo , Frölich Lutz , Tost Heike , Plichta Michael M. , Kölsch Heike , Rakebrandt Fabian , Rienhoff Otto , Jessen Frank , Peters Oliver , Jahn Holger , Luckhaus Christian , Hüll Michael , Gertz Hermann‐Josef , Schröder Johannes , Hampel Harald , Teipel Stefan J. , Pantel Johannes , Heuser Isabella , Wiltfang Jens , Rüther Eckart , Kornhuber Johannes , Maier Wolfgang , Meyer‐Lindenberg Andreas
Published: March 2014

Background

Evidence has emerged indicating that the ε4 allele of APOE and PICALM interact in conferring risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The biologic basis of this interaction is unclear, but it is likely to have phenotypic relevance and contribute to the structural and clinical heterogeneity of AD.

Methods

The aim of this study was to investigate interaction effects of the APOE ε4 allele and the alleles at the single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs3851179 located in the PICALM locus. We analyzed brain volumes and cognitive phenotypes of 165 patients with early AD dementia.

Results

There was a synergistic adverse effect of homozygosity for the PICALM risk allele G in rs3851179 and APOE ε4 on volume in prefrontal and performance on the Trail Making Test A, which is sensitive to processing speed and working memory function.

Conclusions

The data suggest a neural mechanism for APOE–PICALM interactions in patients with manifest AD and indicate that the PICALM genotype modulates both brain atrophy and cognitive performance in APOE ε4 carriers.
Adverse events and dropouts in Alzheimer's disease studies: What can we learn?
Authors: Henley David B. , Sundell Karen L. , Sethuraman Gopalan , Schneider Lon S.
Published: March 2014

Background

Interpreting Alzheimer's disease (AD) clinical trial (CT) outcomes is complicated by treatment dropouts and adverse events (AEs). In elderly participants, AE rates, dropouts, and deaths are important considerations as they may undermine the validity of clinical trials. Published discontinuation and safety data are limited.

Methods

Safety data from 1054 placebo‐treated participants in IDENTITY and IDENTITY‐2, 76‐week, Phase 3 AD studies conducted in 31 countries, were pooled, annualized, and summarized overall, by country and age group.

Results

Median age was 74.2 (interquartile range 67.9–79.5) years; 57.4% were female; and median observation time was 63.2 (interquartile range 41.6–77.4) weeks when study drug dosing was halted. Overall annualized rates for discontinuations, discontinuations due to AEs, serious adverse events (SAEs), and deaths were 21.6% (range 19.6%–24.0%), 8.2% (range 8.1%–8.3%), 12.0%, and 1.7%, respectively. AE and discontinuation rates varied by country and age groups. Fall, pneumonia, and atrial fibrillation AEs were more frequent in the oldest age group.

Conclusions

These annualized placebo safety data provide insight into the course of enrolled patients with mild‐to‐moderate AD, and are useful in planning longer term trials and in monitoring safety.
Gene–environment interaction in autoimmune disease
Authors: Ellis Justine A , Kemp Andrew S , Ponsonby Anne-Louise
Published: March 2014

Autoimmune disease manifests in numerous forms, but as a disease group is relatively common in the population. It is complex in aetiology, with genetic and environmental determinants. The involvement of gene variants in autoimmune disease is well established, and evidence for significant involvement of the environment in various disease forms is growing. These factors may act independently, or they may interact, with the effect of one factor influenced by the presence of another. Identifying combinations of genetic and environmental factors that interact in autoimmune disease has the capacity to more fully explain disease risk profile, and to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to disease pathogenesis. In turn, such knowledge is likely to contribute significantly to the development of personalised medicine, and targeted preventative approaches. In this review, we consider the current evidence for gene–environment (G–E) interaction in autoimmune disease. Large-scale G–E interaction research efforts, while well-justified, face significant practical and methodological challenges. However, it is clear from the evidence that has already been generated that knowledge on how genes and environment interact at a biological level will be crucial in fully understanding the processes that manifest as autoimmunity.
Empire, Mission, Ecumenism, and Human Rights: “Religious Liberty” in Egypt, 1919–1956
Authors: Stuart John
Published: March 2014

Historians identify many connections between human rights and religion, including the influence of religious organizations on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Protestant ecumenical movement and American Protestantism played important roles in this regard. Historical analysis has so far taken insufficient account of another contemporaneous phenomenon important in terms both of religion and of rights—the British Empire. Its authorities typically offered a “fair field” to Christian missionaries irrespective of their nationality or denomination. They might also offer protection to religious minorities. In Egypt the situation was complicated. An Islamic country and a vital part of Britain's “informal” empire in the Middle East, Egypt was also an important area of missionary activity. To Egyptian government and British imperial representatives alike missionaries asserted their right and that of Christian converts to “religious liberty.” Focusing in part on Anglican mission in Egypt, this article examines the complex interplay of empire and Anglo-American ecumenism in missionary assertion of religious freedom. It also shows how imperialism and debates about “religious liberty” in Egypt and the Middle East influenced both “universal” and Egyptian national ideas about freedom of religion up to 1956.
Primary effusion lymphoma in an elderly patient effectively treated by lenalidomide: case report and review of literature
Authors: Antar A , El Hajj H , Jabbour M , Khalifeh I , EL-Merhi F , Mahfouz R , Bazarbachi A
Published: March 2014

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a rare aggressive subset of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. It is caused by Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus type 8 (KSHV/HHV8). It occurs mainly, but not exclusively, in HIV-positive patients. PEL predominantly develops in serous cavities and occasionally in extracavitary regions. PEL carries a very poor prognosis with a median survival time of <6 months. Indeed, currently used treatment modalities such as CHOP chemotherapy are far from achieving complete and sustainable remission. Therefore, there is no clear standard of care established in the treatment of PEL patients, stressing the need for novel-targeted approaches. Here, we have attempted a comprehensive assessment of the treatment of PEL, discussed avant-garde therapies and updated the state of preclinical research with promising clinical applications in the field. These include inhibitors of viral replication, modulators of cell signaling and inflammation, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and histone deacetylase inhibitors, and recently the combination of arsenic trioxide and interferon-alpha. Some of these targeted therapies have not yet reached clinical studies, although others were used in a few individual case reports with low numbers of patients. We also describe the first case of a 77-year-old, HIV-negative, HHV8-positive patient diagnosed with PEL limited to the pleural and peritoneal cavities. He received lenalidomide 25 mg/day for 21 days every 28 days. Treatment was well tolerated with no side effects. He rapidly improved after 1 month of treatment and progressively achieved complete remission persistent after 18 months of therapy. We believe that this review will bridge an important gap between classical chemotherapy and modern approaches of targeted therapy. Finally, our findings warrant further evaluation of lenalidomide in future prospective clinical studies.
The actin homologue MreB organizes the bacterial cell membrane
Authors: Strahl Henrik , Bürmann Frank , Hamoen Leendert W.
Published: March 2014

The eukaryotic cortical actin cytoskeleton creates specific lipid domains, including lipid rafts, which determine the distribution of many membrane proteins. Here we show that the bacterial actin homologue MreB displays a comparable activity. MreB forms membrane-associated filaments that coordinate bacterial cell wall synthesis. We noticed that the MreB cytoskeleton influences fluorescent staining of the cytoplasmic membrane. Detailed analyses combining an array of mutants, using specific lipid staining techniques and spectroscopic methods, revealed that MreB filaments create specific membrane regions with increased fluidity (RIFs). Interference with these fluid lipid domains (RIFs) perturbs overall lipid homeostasis and affects membrane protein localization. The influence of MreB on membrane organization and fluidity may explain why the active movement of MreB stimulates membrane protein diffusion. These novel MreB activities add additional complexity to bacterial cell membrane organization and have implications for many membrane-associated processes.
Peptoid helicity modulation: precise control of peptoid secondary structures via position-specific placement of chiral monomers
Authors: Shin Hye-Min , Kang Chang-Muk , Yoon Myung-Han , Seo Jiwon
Published: March 2014

The effect of position-specific placement of structure-inducing monomer(s) on the peptoid secondary structure was investigated.
Inhibition of quorum sensing and biofilm formation in Vibrio harveyi by 4-fluoro-DPD; a novel potent inhibitor of AI-2 signalling
Authors: Kadirvel Manikandan , Fanimarvasti Fariba , Forbes Sarah , McBain Andrew , Gardiner John M. , Brown Gavin D. , Freeman Sally
Published: March 2014

(±)4-Fluoro-DPD completely inhibited bioluminescence and bacterial growth of Vibrio harveyi BB170 strain by disruption of quorum sensing cascade.
High-nuclearity silver(i) cluster-based coordination polymers assembled with multidentate oligo-α-heteroarylsulfanyl ligands
Authors: Wang Han , Wan Chong-Qing , Mak Thomas C. W.
Published: March 2014

Coordination polymers containing sulfate-templated high-nuclearity silver(i) clusters have been synthesized from the reaction of Ag2SO4 with conformationally variable oligo-α-heteroarylsulfanyl ligands.
Glucosinolates from pak choi and broccoli induce enzymes and inhibit inflammation and colon cancer differently
Authors: Lippmann Doris , Lehmann Carsten , Florian Simone , Barknowitz Gitte , Haack Michael , Mewis Inga , Wiesner Melanie , Schreiner Monika , Glatt Hansruedi , Brigelius-Flohé Regina , Kipp Anna P.
Published: March 2014

Feeding a glucosinolate-enriched pak choi diet reduced colitis and tumor numbers. No effects were observed by a glucosinolate-enriched broccoli diet.
The role of Rho GTPase in cell stiffness and cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Sharma Shivani , Santiskulvong Chintda , Rao Jianyu , Gimzewski James K. , Dorigo Oliver
Published: March 2014

Measurements of cell stiffness, IC50 and cellular actin stress fiber organization reveal a direct role of Rho mediated actin remodeling mechanism in cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer cells.
Pyridinium linkers and mixed anions in cationic metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Lin Jian-Bin , Shimizu George K. H.
Published: March 2014

Mixing anions in a cationic metal–organic framework with pyridinium linkers significantly enhances CO2 selectivity and uptake capacity.
Intramolecular cyclization–decyclization of new sterically hindered diiminophenol. Synthesis and coordination abilities
Authors: Abakumov Gleb A. , Druzhkov Nikolay O. , Egorova Elena N. , Kocherova Tatiana N. , Shavyrin Andrey S. , Cherkasov Anton V.
Published: March 2014

The novel benzoxazole I undergoes a fast intramolecular decyclization and demonstrates either a neutral or anionic coordination type in cadmium complexes.
Self-defending anti-vandalism surfaces based on mechanically triggered mixing of reactants in polymer foils
Authors: Halter Jonas G. , Cohrs Nicholas H. , Hild Nora , Paunescu Daniela , Grass Robert N. , Stark Wendelin J.
Published: March 2014

Inspired by the Bombardier beetle a self-defending foil was developed, which strikes back upon a mechanical stimulus by emitting corrosive, hot foam.
Proteome reactivity profiling for the discrimination of pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Lee Jun-Seok , Yoo Young-Hwa , Kang Jihye , Han Won Seok , Lee Jin Kak , Yoon Chang No
Published: March 2014

Diverse proteome reactivity profiles were obtained using small-molecule electrophiles. Here, we report the first proteome reactivity signature-based discrimination of 11 bacteria. Perfect differentiation of 11 bacteria can be achieved using 2 benzyl-halide probes.
Synthesis of biodiesel from soybean oil using zinc layered hydroxide salts as heterogeneous catalysts
Authors: Reinoso D. M. , Damiani D. E. , Tonetto G. M.
Published: March 2014

In this work, the transesterification of soybean oil with methanol using layered heterogeneous catalysts to produce biodiesel was studied.
Two Cu-complex directed aluminoborates: from 2D layers to 3D frameworks
Authors: Cheng Lin , Zhao Jun-Wei , Yang Guo-Yu
Published: March 2014

Two novel aluminoborates (1 and 2) containing Cu complexes have been prepared under solvothermal conditions. Both are built from AlO4 groups and [B5O10−n(OH)n] (n = 0 and 2) clusters. 1 features a 2D aluminoborate layer with 16-member rings, whereas 2 is a 3D framework stacked by different building layers, showing the first Cu-complex directed aluminoborate.
Fully biodegradable antibacterial hydrogels via thiol–ene “click” chemistry
Authors: Du Hong , Zha Guangyu , Gao Lilong , Wang Huan , Li Xiaodong , Shen Zhiquan , Zhu Weipu
Published: March 2014

Novel biodegradable antimicrobial hydrogels, which are promising for use as biomaterials, were prepared facilely via a thiol–ene “click” reaction under human physiological conditions using multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives as precursors.
Is methanol really a bad solvent for poly(n-butyl methacrylate)? Low dispersity and high molecular weight polymers of n-butyl methacrylate synthesised via ATRP in anhydrous methanol
Authors: Dwyer A. B. , Chambon P. , Town A. , He T. , Owen A. , Rannard S. P.
Published: March 2014

Anhydrous methanol, a traditional precipitant for poly(n-butyl methacrylate), has been shown to be an excellent synthesis solvent using ATRP, generating high molecular weights and low dispersities (up to 76 000 g mol−1and as low as 1.02).
Luminescent iminophosphorane gold, palladium and platinum complexes as potential anticancer agents
Authors: Frik Malgorzata , Jiménez Josefina , Vasilevski Vadim , Carreira Monica , de Almeida Andreia , Gascón Elena , Benoit Farrah , Sanaú Mercedes , Casini Angela , Contel María
Published: March 2014

Luminescent d8metals iminophosphorane complexes as potent cytotoxic agents on ovarian cancer cell lines which do not interact with DNA.
Direct synthesis of arylboronic pinacol esters from arylamines
Authors: Qiu Di , Zhang Yan , Wang Jianbo
Published: March 2014

A Sandmeyer-type transformation of converting aromatic amines into the corresponding arylboronic pinacol esters has been developed.
Recent advances in C–H fluorination
Authors: Lin Aijun , Huehls C. Bryan , Yang Jiong
Published: March 2014

Highlighted in this article are recent advances in C(sp2)–H and C(sp3)–H fluorination reactions.
One-flask synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles from nitriles and hydrazonoyl chlorides via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition
Authors: Wang Li-Ya , Tsai Henry J. , Lin Hui-Yi , Kaneko Kimiyoshi , Cheng Fen-Ying , Shih Hsin-Siao , Wong Fung Fuh , Huang Jiann-Jyh
Published: March 2014

One-flask synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles from nitriles and hydrazonoyl chlorides via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition.
C2-symmetric N,N′-bis(terpenyl)ethylenediamines—synthesis and application in the enantioselective nitroaldol reaction
Authors: Malhotra Sanjay V. , Brown Herbert C.
Published: March 2014

Terpene based novel chiral C2-symmetric diamines are synthesized and their utility in enantioselective C–C bond formation has been demonstrated.
Environmentally friendly separation of dysprosium and neodymium by fractional precipitation of coordination polymers
Authors: Tasaki-Handa Yuiko , Abe Yukie , Ooi Kenta , Narita Hirokazu , Tanaka Mikiya , Wakisaka Akihiro
Published: March 2014

Dy is exclusively precipitated as a coordination polymer from a Nd–Dy mixture.
High-temperature humidity sensors based on WO3–SnO2 composite hollow nanospheres
Authors: Li Han , Liu Bin , Cai Daoping , Wang Yanrong , Liu Yuan , Mei Lin , Wang Lingling , Wang Dandan , Li Qiuhong , Wang Taihong
Published: March 2014

We have fabricated a humidity sensor based on WO3–SnO2 composite hollow nanospheres and demonstrated its excellent properties at high temperatures.
PEG–poly(amino acid)s-encapsulated tanshinone IIA as potential therapeutics for the treatment of hepatoma
Authors: Wang Yan , Costanza Frankie , Wu Haifan , Song Daqian , Cai Jianfeng , Li Qi
Published: March 2014

PEG–poly(amino acid)s are used as a novel drug carrier for the treatment of hepatoma.
Creating SERS hot spots on ultralong single-crystal β-AgVO3 microribbons
Authors: Jang Seung-Ho , Yoon Jun Hee , Huh Young-Duk , Yoon Sangwoon
Published: March 2014

Millimeter-long and micrometer-wide single-crystal β-AgVO3 microribbons are synthesized and transformed into highly SERS-active one-dimensional materials.
Miniature antennas embedded in electronic devices with micro‐SD card form factor for telemedicine applications
Authors: Hamouda H. , Le Thuc P. , Staraj R. , Kossiavas G.
Published: March 2014

Two different types of inverted‐F antennas which can be integrated into a micro‐SD (μSD) card are presented. The antennas operate in the new band from 2.4835 to 2.5 GHz dedicated to medical applications. The volume available for the antenna in the μSD card is only 11 × 3 × 1 mm3. Performance in terms of bandwidth, the radiation efficiency and the gain of the two structures is compared and discussed. The μSD card is intended to fit multiple devices with different ground plane dimensions. As an example, the influence of the μSD card position on a standard printed circuit board of 100 × 40 mm² is also studied.
Numerical study of water and heat transfer in unsaturated clay-loam soil
Authors: Lamrous Nacer , Makhlouf Said , Belkaid Nora
Published: March 2014

This present study is the numerical estimation of the temperature distribution and the water content distribution underground soil under the Mediterranean climate type. We use as input data of ambient temperature, air humidity and solar radiation, average values during 10 years estimated from data supplied by the local meteorological station (Tizi-Ouzou, Northern Algeria, 36°47′59″, North latitude and 4°1′59″, East longitude). A theoretical model, based on heat and water transfer equations, was established for an unsaturated soil submitted to the climatic conditions of this site. The mathematical model established in mono dimensional type, for a semi infinite transfer model, is based on Whitaker theory of heat and mass transfers in unsaturated porous medium (Withaker 1977, 1980) with the hypothesis that air pressure into soil porosity is equal to atmospheric pressure. The equations were discretized according to the finite volume method, which is more adapted for this type of problem, and were solved by the Newton-Raphson iterative method in the environment of Matlab software. The simulations have been done for two typical days (January 15 and May 15). Curves of temperature and water content evolutions in term of depth and time were obtained.
Magneto-optical imaging using magnetophotonic crystals
Authors: Hashimoto R. , Takagi H. , Yonezawa T. , Sakaguchi K. , Inoue M.
Published: March 2014

The magneto-optical (MO) imaging is one of the methods for visualizing the magnetization distribution corresponding to the leakage magnetic fields. In general, the MO imaging requires high-spatial resolution and high-contrast imaging. The spatial resolution of the MO imaging depends on the magnetic domain size. In this study, we used the polycrystalline garnet films with a domain size of about 50 nm for the high-resolution imaging. We also demonstrated MO imaging using the magnetophotonic crystal (MPC) with polycrystalline garnet films in order to improve the MO image contrast. The MO images of a carbon steel surface can be observed by means of the MPC. As a result, the high-spatial resolution and high-contrast MO image was obtained by MPC.
Mapping coexistence lines via free-energy extrapolation: Application to order-disorder phase transitions of hard-core mixtures
Authors: Escobedo Fernando A.
Published: March 2014

In this work, a variant of the Gibbs-Duhem integration (GDI) method is proposed to trace phase coexistence lines that combines some of the advantages of the original GDI methods such as robustness in handling large system sizes, with the ability of histogram-based methods (but without using histograms) to estimate free-energies and hence avoid the need of on-the-fly corrector schemes. This is done by fitting to an appropriate polynomial function not the coexistence curve itself (as in GDI schemes) but the underlying free-energy function of each phase. The availability of a free-energy model allows the post-processing of the simulated data to obtain improved estimates of the coexistence line. The proposed method is used to elucidate the phase behavior for two non-trivial hard-core mixtures: a binary blend of spheres and cubes and a system of size-polydisperse cubes. The relative size of the spheres and cubes in the first mixture is chosen such that the resulting eutectic pressure-composition phase diagram is nearly symmetric in that the maximum solubility of cubes in the sphere-rich solid (∼20%) is comparable to the maximum solubility of spheres in the cube-rich solid. In the polydisperse cube system, the solid-liquid coexistence line is mapped out for an imposed Gaussian activity distribution, which produces near-Gaussian particle-size distributions in each phase. A terminal polydispersity of 11.3% is found, beyond which the cubic solid phase would not be stable, and near which significant size fractionation between the solid and isotropic phases is predicted.
Three dimensional microbubble dynamics near a wall subject to high intensity ultrasound
Authors: Wang Q. X. , Manmi K.
Published: March 2014

Dynamics of cavitation microbubbles due to high intensity ultrasound are associated with important applications in biomedical ultrasound, ultrasonic cleaning, and sonochemistry. Previous numerical studies on this phenomenon were for an axisymmetric configuration. In this paper, a computational model is developed to simulate the three dimensional dynamics of acoustic bubbles by using the boundary integral method. A bubble collapses much more violently subjected to high intensity ultrasound than when under normal constant ambient pressure. A few techniques are thus implemented to address the associated numerical challenge. In particular, a high quality mesh of the bubble surface is maintained by implementing a new hybrid approach of the Lagrangian method and elastic mesh technique. It avoids the numerical instabilities which occur at a sharp jet surface as well as generates a fine mesh needed at the jet surface. The model is validated against the Rayleigh-Plesset equation and an axisymmetric model. We then explore microbubble dynamics near a wall subjected to high intensity ultrasound propagating parallel to the wall, where the Bjerknes forces due to the ultrasound and the wall are perpendicular to each other. The bubble system absorbs the energy from the ultrasound and transforms the uniform momentum of the ultrasound parallel to the wall to the highly concentrated momentum of a high-speed liquid jet pointing to the wall. The liquid jet forms towards the end of the collapse phase with a significantly higher speed than without the presence of ultrasound. The jet direction depends mainly on the dimensionless standoff distance γ = s/Rmax of the bubble from the wall, where s is the distance between the wall and the bubble centre at inception and Rmax is the maximum bubble radius. The jet is approximately directed to the wall when γ is 1.5 or smaller and rotates to the direction of the ultrasound as γ increases. When γ is about 10 or larger, the wall effect is negligible and the jet is along the acoustic wave direction. When the amplitude of the ultrasound increases, the jet direction does not change significantly but its width and velocity increase obviously.
Non-self-adjoint hamiltonians defined by Riesz bases
Authors: Bagarello F. , Inoue A. , Trapani C.
Published: March 2014

We discuss some features of non-self-adjoint Hamiltonians with real discrete simple spectrum under the assumption that the eigenvectors form a Riesz basis of Hilbert space. Among other things, we give conditions under which these Hamiltonians can be factorized in terms of generalized lowering and raising operators.
Oscillators in a (2+1)-dimensional noncommutative space
Authors: Vega F.
Published: March 2014

We study the Harmonic and Dirac Oscillator problem extended to a three-dimensional noncommutative space where the noncommutativity is induced by the shift of the dynamical variables with generators of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$SL(2,\mathbb {R})$\end{document}SL(2,R) in a unitary irreducible representation considered in Falomir et al. [Phys. Rev. D 86, 105035 (2012)]. This redefinition is interpreted in the framework of the Levi's decomposition of the deformed algebra satisfied by the noncommutative variables. The Hilbert space gets the structure of a direct product with the representation space as a factor, where there exist operators which realize the algebra of Lorentz transformations. The spectrum of these models are considered in perturbation theory, both for small and large noncommutativity parameters, finding no constraints between coordinates and momenta noncommutativity parameters. Since the representation space of the unitary irreducible representations \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$SL(2,\mathbb {R})$\end{document}SL(2,R) can be realized in terms of spaces of square-integrable functions, we conclude that these models are equivalent to quantum mechanical models of particles living in a space with an additional compact dimension.
Size effect and stability of polarized fluid phases
Authors: Levesque D. , Weis J.-J.
Published: March 2014

The existence of a ferroelectric fluid phase for systems of 1000–2000 dipolar hard or soft spheres is well established by numerical simulations. Theoretical approaches proposed to determine the stability of such a phase are either in qualitative agreement with the simulation results or disagree with them. Experimental results for systems of molecules or particles with large electric or magnetic dipole moments are also inconclusive. As a contribution to the question of existence and stability of a fluid ferroelectric phase this simulation work considers system sizes of the order of 10 000 particles, thus an order of magnitude larger than those used in previous studies. It shows that although ferroelectricity is not affected by an increase of system size, different spatial arrangements of the dipolar hard spheres in such a phase are possible whose free energies seem to differ only marginally.
Characterization of the fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) standard Rhodamine 6G and calibration of its diffusion coefficient in aqueous solutions
Authors: Majer G. , Melchior J. P.
Published: March 2014

Precise diffusion measurements of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) dissolved in D2O at concentrations between 50 and 200 μM were carried out in the temperature range from 280 to 320 K using pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR). The obtained diffusion coefficients can be used as a calibration reference in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Besides measuring the diffusivity of Rh6G, the diffusion coefficient of the solvent in the same system could be determined in parallel by PFG-NMR as the resonances of water and Rh6G are well separated in the 1H NMR spectrum. To analyze the differences due to the isotope effect of the solvent (D2O vs. H2O), the correlation time τD of Rh6G was measured by FCS in both D2O and H2O. The obtained isotopic correction factor, τD(D2O)/τD(H2O) = 1.24, reflects the isotope effect of the solvent´s self-diffusion coefficients as determined previously by PFG-NMR.
O(3PJ) formation and desorption by 157-nm photoirradiation of amorphous solid water
Authors: DeSimone Alice J. , Orlando Thomas M.
Published: March 2014

Photodissociation of amorphous solid water (ASW) deposited on a thinly oxidized copper substrate at 82 K was studied by measuring O(3PJ=2,1,0) photoproducts detected with resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. For each spin-orbit state, the oxygen atom time-of-flight spectrum was measured as a function of H2O exposure, which is related to ice thickness, and 157-nm irradiation time. Four Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions with translational temperatures of 10 000 K, 1800 K, 400 K, and 82 K were found to fit the data. The most likely formation mechanisms are molecular elimination following ionization of water and ion-electron recombination, secondary recombination of hydroxyl radicals, and photodissociation of adsorbed hydroxyl radicals. Evidence for O-atom diffusion through bulk ASW was found for H2O exposures of at least 5 Langmuir (1 L = 10−6 Torr s). The cross sections for O(3P2) depletion were 1.3 × 10−19 and 6.5 × 10−20 cm2 for 1 and 5 L, respectively.
How important is self-consistency for the dDsC density dependent dispersion correction?
Authors: Brémond Éric , Golubev Nikolay , Steinmann Stephan N. , Corminboeuf Clémence
Published: March 2014

The treatment of dispersion interactions is ubiquitous but computationally demanding for seamless ab initio approaches. A highly popular and simple remedy consists in correcting for the missing interactions a posteriori by adding an attractive energy term summed over all atom pairs to standard density functional approximations. These corrections were originally based on atom pairwise parameters and, hence, had a strong touch of empiricism. To overcome such limitations, we recently proposed a robust system-dependent dispersion correction, dDsC, that is computed from the electron density and that provides a balanced description of both weak inter- and intramolecular interactions. From the theoretical point of view and for the sake of increasing reliability, we here verify if the self-consistent implementation of dDsC impacts ground-state properties such as interaction energies, electron density, dipole moments, geometries, and harmonic frequencies. In addition, we investigate the suitability of the a posteriori scheme for molecular dynamics simulations, for which the analysis of the energy conservation constitutes a challenging tests. Our study demonstrates that the post-SCF approach in an excellent approximation.
Remnants from fast liquid withdrawal
Authors: Vincent L. , Duchemin L. , Villermaux E.
Published: March 2014

We study the breakup of an axisymmetric low viscosity liquid volume (ethanol and water), held by surface tension on supporting rods, when subject to a vigorous axial stretching. One of the rods is promptly set into a fast axial motion, either with constant acceleration, or constant velocity, and we aim at describing the remnant mass m adhering to it. A thin ligament is withdrawn from the initial liquid volume, which eventually breaks up at time tb. We find that the breakup time and entrained mass are related by \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$t_b\sim \sqrt{m/\sigma }$\end{document}tb∼m/σ, where σ is the liquid surface tension. For a constant acceleration γ, and although the overall process is driven by surface tension, tb is found to be independent of σ, while m is inversely proportional to γ. We measure and derive the corresponding scaling laws in the case of constant velocity too.
Cerium reduction at the interface between ceria and yttria-stabilised zirconia and implications for interfacial oxygen non-stoichiometry
Authors: Song Kepeng , Schmid Herbert , Srot Vesna , Gilardi Elisa , Gregori Giuliano , Du Kui , Maier Joachim , van Aken Peter A.
Published: March 2014

Epitaxial CeO2 films with different thickness were grown on Y2O3 stabilised Zirconia substrates. Reduction of cerium ions at the interface between CeO2 films and yttria stabilised zirconia substrates is demonstrated using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy. It is revealed that most of the Ce ions were reduced from Ce4+ to Ce3+ at the interface region with a decay of several nanometers. Several possibilities of charge compensations are discussed. Irrespective of the details, such local non-stoichiometries are crucial not only for understanding charge transport in such hetero-structures but also for understanding ceria catalytic properties.
Influence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction on the spin-torque diode effect
Authors: Tomasello R. , Carpentieri M. , Finocchio G.
Published: March 2014

This paper predicts the effect of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and spin Hall effect in the spin-torque diode response of a Magnetic Tunnel Junction built over a Tantalum strip. Our results indicate that, for a microwave current large enough, the DMI can change qualitatively the resonant response by splitting the ferromagnetic resonance peak. We also find out that the two modes have a non-uniform spatial distribution.
Free-standing optofluidic waveguides formed on patterned superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Jonáš Alexandr , Yalizay Berna , Akturk Selcuk , Kiraz Alper
Published: March 2014

We report on the preparation and characterization of free-standing optofluidic waveguides created on solid superhydrophobic (SH) substrates with patterned wetting properties. In order to locally modify the liquid-solid contact angle, we employed selective laser ablation of SH layers deposited on magnesium-fluoride substrates with low refractive index. Upon ablation, surfaces with hydrophilic channels surrounded by SH areas were obtained. Subsequently, we created liquid optical waveguides based on total internal reflection using ethylene glycol, a polar liquid with high refractive index spreading spontaneously along the hydrophilic surface channels. We evaluated the light guiding performance and losses of these optofluidic waveguides.
Dual-kind Q-switching of erbium fiber laser
Authors: Barmenkov Yuri O. , Kir'yanov Alexander V. , Cruz Jose L. , Andres Miguel V.
Published: March 2014

Two different regimes of Q-switching in the same implementation of an actively Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser are demonstrated. Depending on the active fiber length and repetition rate of an intracavity Q-cell (acousto-optic modulator), the laser operates either in the regime of common, rather long and low-power, pulses composed of several sub-pulses or in the one of very short and powerful stimulated Brillouin scattering-induced pulses. The basic physical reason of the laser system to oscillate in one of these two regimes is the existence or absence of CW narrow-line “bad-cavity” lasing in the intervals when the Q-cell is blocked.
Angular distribution of field-effect mobility in oriented poly[5,5′-bis(3-dodecyl-2-thienyl)-2,2′-bithiophene] fabricated by roll-transfer printing
Authors: Kushida Takashi , Nagase Takashi , Naito Hiroyoshi
Published: March 2014

The angular dependence of the optical and charge-carrier transport properties of oriented poly[5,5′-bis(3-dodecyl-2-thienyl)-2,2′-bithiophene] (PQT) thin films prepared through the roll-transfer printing method is studied. The anisotropy of the charge-carrier transport is quite different from that of the optical absorption in the sense that the maximum field-effect mobility is observed at an angle of 30° with respect to the direction of the oriented PQT backbone. The results indicate that the charge-carrier transport along the oriented PQT backbone is less efficient; such information is valuable for the development of high-mobility polymeric field-effect transistors.
Study on performance of chemical heat storage system for direct steam generation
Authors: Kito Tsuyoshi , Osaka Yugo , Kuwata Kazuki , Kobayashi Noriyuki , Huang Hongyu , He Zhaohong
Published: March 2014

A heat storage system that is used to generate steam directly by exploiting the dissolution phenomenon between CaBr2 and water was studied. The performance of the system in terms of the coefficient of performance (COP) or volumetric heat capacity (VHC) yielded maximal values for the amount of water supplied. The COP was 0.072 to 0.115 for steam pressures of 20–50 kPa at x = 7.5. VHC values recorded were 177.2 to 250.1 kJ/l for steam pressures of 20–50 kPa at x = 7.5. This calculation was validated by comparing the calculated value with the experimental result. The pressure settled at the equilibrium state for a very short duration at the heat release step, proving that the dissolution phenomenon involved a high mass transfer rate and was able to transform the heat of dissolution into enthalpy of steam. The amount of steam generated in the experiment conformed very well to the calculations, thus validating the calculation method.
A SIRN View on Design Thinking—An Urban Design Perspective
Authors: Portugali Juval , Stolk Egbert
Published: March 2014

In this paper we bring together two notions: SIRN (synergetic interrepresentation network) that was originally developed as a complexity theory approach to cognition, cognitive mapping, and urban dynamics; and DT (design thinking) which is a field of research that studies the general process of design as it is implemented in domains such as engineering, architecture, urban design, crafts, and art. In the paper we suggest how a SIRN view can contribute to DT, and specifically to urban design—dealing with large-scale collective artifacts. We conclude by presenting a research agenda that illustrates and exemplifies SIRN's potential to participate in the discourse on some central DT issues.
Entrepreneurial Academics and Regional Innovation Systems: The Case of Spin-Offs from London's Universities
Authors: Smith Helen Lawton , Chapman Dave , Wood Peter , Barnes Timothy , Romeo Saverio
Published: March 2014

In this paper we explore the spin-off process from London's universities using a regional innovation systems (RIS) framework. We examine the pattern of spin-offs in the context of changes in institutional support systems, both within the universities and in the London region. The majority of the university-related spin-offs are small and medium-sized enterprises concentrated in biomedical sectors, as elsewhere. However, over a third have left London. We explore these patterns, the implications for understanding the role of universities in RIS, and consequent policy implications.
Climate Change, Securitisation of Nature, and Resilient Urbanism
Authors: Davoudi Simin
Published: March 2014

Climate change is a powerful reminder of the interdependencies of the human–nature relationship and the fallacy of the modernist assumption about our ability to tame nature for our exploitation with little or no consequences. However, it is argued that such reflexivity is being subverted by the dominant discourses of climate change which portray: nature as risk, our relation to it in terms of security, and the quest for urban resilience as emergency planning. By construing nature as a threat to rather than an asset for cities, they signify a departure from sustainability discourses. They represent a hark back to a premodern conception of human–nature relations that was centred on what nature does to us rather than what we do to nature. Seeing nature as risk ushers in deep concerns with security. The ‘risk society’ becomes entwined with the security society. This paper examines the political implications of this discursive shift and argues that, as securitisation becomes the hegemonic discourse of our time, the postpolitics of hope, which underpinned sustainability, is giving way to the postpolitics of fear which underlies climate change.