bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family Law Liability and Restrictions of Family Rights
Authors: Bespalov Yuriy
Published: January 2014

In this article the author examines the family liability definition, signs, grounds and measures. Take place a comparison with the limitation of family rights. Family liability is understand as the personal non-property and (or) property measures of coercion restricting the implementation of the family rights, depriving the family rights, establishing additional encumbrances provided by the family legislation, and applied by the court, or another competent authority to participants of family relations, committed family offence and (or) another action, which is recognized by family law as a ground for liability.
Lobbyism and Corruption
Authors: Kolosova Nina
Published: January 2014

The article is focused on the definition of lobbyism and corruption. The author provides specialty of the Russian lobbyism. The author provides analysis of the Russian Law and recommends a model of Law about lobbyism.
Problems of Regulation of Status and Activity of Commissions on Settlement of Conflict of Interests on Municipal Service
Authors: Andrichyenko Lyudmila , Plyugina Inna
Published: January 2014

Сommissions on compliance with the requirements for official behavior and management of the conflict of interests in order to improve the organization and management mechanism for the prevention and combating of corruption (including at the municipal level) were set up. However, in practice, the problems on significantly reducing the effectiveness of the commissions were identified. The article examines these issues and offers recommendations for overcoming them.
The Doctrine of Proper Judicial Protection in Administrative Law (on the Example of Expulsion of Foreign Nationals)
Authors: Sherstoboev Oleg
Published: January 2014

Proper judicial protection is an aggregate of legal norms, principles, doctrines that allow maximum guarantee for fair treatment of an administrative dispute, in particular, relating to expulsion of foreign nationals. Among basic means that guarantee a proper settlement of a dispute, one can name the right to appeal the act of public administration, the right to independence of a body, considering the case, the right to qualified legal assistance, competition, completeness of supervision. The author of the article reviews standings of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the legislation and practice of the USA, Great Britain, Germany and Russia on the issue of judicial protection of foreign nationals, deported from their territory. As a result of the analysis, the author outlines three models of the provided judicial protection: limited, selective and complete. Each model has its pluses and minuses, but from a theoretical point of view the best variant is a complete model of judicial protection.
Development of the Principle of Good Faith and the Institute of Pre-Contractual Liability in Light of the Reform of French Legislation on Obligations
Authors: Mutay Irina
Published: January 2014

On the materials of project of reforming of law of obligation in France the author researches law positions of French courts and legal scholars on good fair and pre-contractual responsibility, explaines importance of legislative basis of proposals on pre-contractual responsibility and its development by case law, makes conclusions of necessity of taking into account of achievements of foreign legal doctrine during formation of Russian case law.
Specifics of Scientific Activity as a Ground of Differentiation of Legal Regulation of Labor Relations of Scientific Workers
Authors: Bocharnikov Dmitriy
Published: January 2014

The article is dedicated to the detection of the specific features of scientific work which determine the specificity of the legal regulation of the labour relations of scientists and scholars. The author provides a general characteristic of the legal status of the researcher and analyses the exceptions from general rules stipulated by Russian legislation as well as the additional rules for the conclusion, alteration and termination of the labour contract with the said category of workers, their qualifications, working conditions and salaries.
Probability Bounds for Polynomial Functions in Random Variables
Authors: He Simai , Jiang Bo , Li Zhening , Zhang Shuzhong
Published: January 2014

Random sampling is a simple but powerful method in statistics and in the design of randomized algorithms. In a typical application, random sampling can be applied to estimate an extreme value, say maximum, of a function f over a set S ⊆ ℝn. To do so, one may select a simpler (even finite) subset S0 ⊆ S, randomly take some samples over S0 for a number of times, and pick the best sample. The hope is to find a good approximate solution with reasonable chance. This paper sets out to present a number of scenarios for f, S and S0 where certain probability bounds can be established, leading to a quality assurance of the procedure. In our setting, f is a multivariate polynomial function. We prove that if f is a d-th order homogeneous polynomial in n variables and F is its corresponding super-symmetric tensor, and ξi (i = 1, 2, …, n) are i.i.d. Bernoulli random variables taking 1 or −1 with equal probability, then Prob{f(ξ1, ξ2, …, ξn) ≥ τn−d/2 ‖F‖1} ≥ θ, where τ, θ > 0 are two universal constants and ‖·‖1 denotes the summation of the absolute values of all its entries. Several new inequalities concerning probabilities of the above nature are presented in this paper. Moreover, we show that the bounds are tight in most cases. Applications of our results in optimization are discussed as well.
Solitons in gauge theories: Existence and dependence on the charge
Authors: Bonanno Claudio
Published: January 2014

In this paper we review recent results on the existence of non-topological solitons in classical relativistic nonlinear field theories. We follow the Coleman approach, which is based on the existence of two conservation laws, energy and charge. In particular we show that under mild assumptions on the nonlinear term it is possible to prove the existence of solitons for a set of admissible charges. This set has been studied for the nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation, and in this paper we state new results in this direction for the Klein–Gordon–Maxwell system.
All politics is local, but lobbying is federal and local: the validity of LDA data
Authors: Clemens Austin C.
Published: January 2014

The Lobbying and Disclosure Act of 1995 requires lobbyists to disclose information about their lobbying activities. The resulting data is used by the websiteOpenSecrets.org(run by the Center for Responsive Politics) to give snapshot pictures of the amount of lobbying groups do. The same data has also been used by scholars to measure the impact of lobbying and to evaluate rent-seeking expenditures by firms. Unfortunately, users of the data are unaware of a reporting option for organizations under the LDA that has consequences for the validity of the data. LDA data does not accurately reflect the amount of money that an organization has spent trying to influence federal law because organizations may choose a reporting requirement under which they must also disclose the amount of money they spent to influence state laws. In this article I analyze the implications of this fact. I begin with a discussion of the problem's scope and then show how it misleads scholars.
Phylogenetic relationships of Dichotomaria (Nemaliales, Rhodophyta) with the proposal of Dichotomaria intermedia (R.C.Y. Chou) comb. nov.
Authors: Wiriyadamrikul Jutarat , Wynne Michael J. , Boo Sung Min
Published: January 2014

Species delineation in the calcified red algal genus Dichotomaria is difficult due to the high degree of morphological similarity observed in these algae; thus, species descriptions are based on a limited set of morphological characters. In this study, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of plastid rbcL and mitochondrial cox1 sequences and detailed morphological observations on 28 specimens of Dichotomaria from the Indo-Pacific, Bermuda, the Galápagos Islands, and the Lesser Antilles. As a consequence, we propose the new combination Dichotomaria intermedia (R.C.Y. Chou) comb. nov. based on Galaxaura intermedia. This species has flattened branches, three to four cortical cell layers, four sterile branches issuing from the hypogynous cell, and a pericarp formed from the basal cell, as in the genus Dichotomaria. In the rbcL tree, D. intermedia formed a group with Dichotomaria tenera from South Africa. Our results confirmed the occurrence of 11 species and one variety: Dichotomaria apiculata, Dichotomaria australis, Dichotomaria diesingiana, Dichotomaria falcata, Dichotomaria hommersandii, Dichotomaria intermedia, Dichotomaria marginata, Dichotomaria obtusata, D. obtusata var. major, Dichotomaria papillata, Dichotomaria spathulata, and D. tenera. Further study is required to address unidentified genetic groups that cannot currently be assigned to known species groups.
Goal-Oriented Error Estimation for the Fractional Step Theta Scheme
Authors: Meidner Dominik , Richter Thomas
Published: January 2014

In this work, we derive a goal-oriented a posteriori error estimator for the error due to
time-discretization of nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations by the fractional step
theta method. This time-stepping scheme is assembled by three steps of the general theta method,
that also unifies simple schemes like forward and backward Euler as well as the Crank–Nicolson
method. Further, by combining three substeps of the theta time-stepping scheme, the fractional
step theta time-stepping scheme is derived. It possesses highly desired stability and numerical
dissipation properties and is second order accurate.
The derived error estimator is based on a Petrov–Galerkin formulation that is up to a numerical
quadrature error equivalent to the theta time-stepping scheme. The error estimator is assembled
as one weighted residual term given by the dual weighted residual method and one additional
residual estimating the Galerkin error between time-stepping scheme and Petrov–Galerkin
formulation.
On the splitting of quasilinear p-forms
Authors: Scully Stephen
Published: January 2014

Using an analogue of Knebusch's generic splitting tower invariant in the theory of non-singular quadratic forms, we study the splitting behaviour of quasilinear (or Fermat-type) forms of degree p over fields of characteristic p > 0. Several new applications of our main results to the theory of quasilinear quadratic forms are provided, including an analogue of a theorem of Vishik relating to the existence of outer excellent connections in the motives of smooth projective quadrics over fields of characteristic different from 2, partial results towards a quasilinear version of Karpenko's theorem on the possible values of the first higher Witt indices of non-singular quadratic forms in characteristic not 2, and a proof of a conjecture of Hoffmann concerning quadratic forms with maximal splitting in the quasilinear case.
Synthesis, X-ray structural characterization, NLO, MEP, NBO and HOMO-LUMO analysis using DFT study of Zn(II)bis(3,4 dimethoxybenzoate)bis(nicotinamide) dihydrate
Authors: Kaya Afşin Ahmet , Demircioğlu Zeynep , Kaya Elif Çelenk , Büyükgüngör Orhan
Published: January 2014

A single crystal of Zn(II)bis(3,4 dimethoxybenzoate)bis(nicotinamide) dihydrate, formulated as C30H38N4O14Zn, (I) has been obtained. According to experimental data, the complex can be characterized in the solid state as mononuclear, with a distorted octahedral stereochemistry. The distorted octahedral stereochemistry adopted by the complex was further confirmed by X-ray structure analysis of the current study, which consists of a six-coordinate Zn atom in a distorted octahedral environment constructed from two N atoms and four O atoms. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C 2/c with a = 27.9248(18) Å, b = 8.5941(4) Å, c = 14.8344(11) Å, α = 90°, β = 108.651(5)°, γ = 90°, Z = 4. The molecular structure and geometry were also optimized using the B3LYP density functional theory method employing the 6-31G (d) basis set. Molecular electrostatic potential, frontier molecular orbital analysis, nonlinear optical properties and natural bond analysis for the title molecule are also described from the computational process.
Multi-step degradation method for β-O-4 linkages in lignins: α-TSA method. Part 1: Reaction of non-phenolic dimeric β-O-4 model compound
Authors: Ando Daisuke , Takano Toshiyuki , Nakatsubo Fumiaki
Published: January 2014

The α-TSA method has been developed for the cleavage of β-O-4 linkages in lignin. It consists of three steps: (1) thioetherification at α-position of β-O-4 substructures, (2) sulfonylation, and (3) mild alkali treatment of the α-sulfone derivative. The method was tested on a nonphenolic dimeric β-O-4 lignin model compound, namely on 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether. It demonstrated that the mild alkali degradation of the α-sulfone derivative proceeds efficiently, i.e., the electron-withdrawing sulfone group at α-position contributes to the cleavage of the β-O-4 linkage in the same mechanism as that in the γ-TTSA method.
Impact of iron(II) and oxygen on degradation of oak – modeling of the Vasa wood
Authors: Norbakhsh Shahin , Bjurhager Ingela , Almkvist Gunnar
Published: January 2014

In the wood of the Swedish 17th century warship Vasa, iron (Fe)-catalyzed chemical degradation has taken place after the salvation in 1961, which is manifested in increased acidity accompanied by cellulose degradation and reduced strength in the oak hull. Model studies on fresh oak impregnated with Fe(II) also led to tensile strength (TS) reduction in the same order of magnitude as observed in the wood of the Vasa. In the present study, further experiments have been performed concerning the Fe-catalyzed wood degradation. Namely, the degree of wood degradation was monitored quantitatively by measurement of the O2 consumption of Fe(II)-impregnated oak, kept in closed vials with different relative humidities (RH), as a function of time. The initial O2 consumption was high and declined with time. After 200 days, the accumulated O2 consumption was 0.3–0.4 mmol g-1 wood. Degradation products with low molecular weight were analyzed. The release of CO2 and oxalic acid (OA) was positively correlated with RH (0.235 and 0.044 mmol g-1, respectively, at RH98% after 200 days). Samples kept for 1500 days at RH54% had accumulated 0.044 mmol OA g-1 wood, which is equal to the average OA content in the interior of Vasa oak (corresponding to 4 mg g-1). Oak samples, from which extractives had been removed prior to Fe(II) impregnation, did not change their O2 consumption or TS reduction compared to the nonextracted samples, indicating that extractives are not essential for cellulose degradation in this context.
Citrate – new functions for an old metabolite
Authors: Iacobazzi Vito , Infantino Vittoria
Published: January 2014

Citrate is an important substrate in cellular energy metabolism. It is produced in the mitochondria and used in the Krebs cycle or released into cytoplasm through a specific mitochondrial carrier, CIC. In the cytosol, citrate and its derivatives, acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate, are used in normal and pathological processes. Beyond the classical role as metabolic regulator, recent studies have highlighted that citrate is involved in inflammation, cancer, insulin secretion, histone acetylation, neurological disorders, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Monitoring changes in the citrate levels could therefore potentially be used as diagnostic tool. This review highlights these new aspects of citrate functions.
Design and Digital Implementation of Constant Frequency Hysteresis Current Controller for Three-Phase Voltage Source Inverter Using TMS320F2812
Authors: Kalyanraj D. , Lenin Prakash S.
Published: January 2014

A constant frequency hysteresis current control technique for a three-phase voltage source inverter (VSI) has been developed for AC drives, power quality and renewable energy applications. This paper presents a digital implementation of a constant frequency hysteresis current control technique for a three-phase VSI feeding an inductive load, using digital signal controller TMS320F2812. The limitations of variable frequency hysteresis control have been discussed and overcoming these limitations by means of digital implementation has been proposed. The complete design procedure of the proposed technique has been presented with an illustrative example. The three-phase VSI feeding an inductive load has also been simulated by using MATLAB and the simulation results have been presented. The hardware results of hysteresis current controlled three-phase VSI feeding an inductive load have been presented. Also the performance analysis of the hysteresis current controller has been presented. Operation of this controller has also been explained with a help of phase plane trajectory of hysteresis controller.
An Improved Power Quality BIBRED Converter-Based VSI-Fed BLDC Motor Drive
Authors: Singh Bhim , Bist Vashist
Published: January 2014

This paper presents an IHQRR (integrated high-quality rectifier regulator) BIBRED (boost integrated buck rectifier energy storage DC-DC) converter-based VSI (voltage source inverter)-fed BLDC (brushless DC) motor drive. The speed control of BLDC motor is achieved by controlling the DC link voltage of the VSI using a single voltage sensor. This allows VSI to operate in fundamental frequency switching mode for electronic commutation of BLDC motor which reduces the switching losses due to high-frequency switching used in conventional approach of PWM (pulse width modulation)-based VSI-fed BLDC motor drive. A BIBRED converter is operated in a dual-DCM (discontinuous conduction mode) thus using a voltage follower approach for PFC (power factor correction) and DC link voltage control. The performance of the proposed drive is evaluated for improved power quality over a wide range of speed control and supply voltage variation for demonstrating the behavior of proposed drive. The power quality indices thus obtained are within the recommended limits by international PQ (power quality) standards such as IEC 61000-3-2.
Adaptive Control of Four-Leg VSC Based DSTATCOM in Distribution System
Authors: Singh Bhim , Arya Sabha Raj
Published: January 2014

This work discusses an experimental performance of a four-leg Distribution Static Compensator (DSTATCOM) using an adaptive filter based approach. It is used for estimation of reference supply currents through extracting the fundamental active power components of three-phase distorted load currents. This control algorithm is implemented on an assembled DSTATCOM for harmonics elimination, neutral current compensation and load balancing, under nonlinear loads. Experimental results are discussed, and it is noticed that DSTATCOM is effective solution to perform satisfactory performance under load dynamics.
Flux Behavior and Quality of Effluent from a Poultry Processing Plant Treated by Membrane Bioreactor
Authors: Nelson Heather M. , Singh Rakesh K. , Avula Ramesh Y. , Toledo Romeo T.
Published: January 2014

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) provided with spiral wound modules of polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration membranes was used to treat the wastewater obtained from primary and secondary processing operations of a poultry plant. The membrane bioreactor consisted of 3 tanks; an aerobic bioreactor, anoxic settling tank, and a third tank from which a permeate was drawn across ultrafiltration membranes for final discharge to a municipal sewer or for reuse in the processing of raw product. The Cleaning and backflush schedules were conducted to determine the best regimen for maximum permeate flux and for their effect on retention times in each of the biological treatment tanks. Continuous operation of MBR for 24 h period with no backflushing resulted in flux decay that led to a substantial change in retention times. The best operating cycle was found to be 1 h filtration followed by 120 s backflush or 20 min filtration followed by 20 s backflush. Significant reduction in particle size, COD and BOD (>90%) and reduction of microbial load by 4 – log levels in MBR effluent made it fit for reuse.
Effect of Drying Pre-treatments on the Yield and Bioactive Content of Oil Extracted from Gac Aril
Authors: Kha Tuyen Chan , Nguyen Minh H. , Roach Paul D. , Stathopoulos Costas E.
Published: January 2014

Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng) aril contains high levels of bioactive compounds including β-carotene, lycopene and fatty acids. Therefore, it is important to find an extraction method of Gac oil resulting in the highest content of bioactive compounds. The effects of microwave and air-drying pre-treatments of Gac aril prior to hydraulic pressing and Soxhlet extraction on the oil yield, nutrients and chemical properties of the oil were compared. Results showed that the highest oil yield could be obtained when the aril was microwave-dried before Soxhlet extraction. This finding was explained by microstructural changes of the dried arils. Microwave-drying prior to pressing resulted in the highest content of β-carotene (174 mg/100 mL) and lycopene (511 mg/100 mL) in the oil extract. Oleic acid (48%) and linoleic acid (18%) were found to be the dominant fatty acids in the oil extracts. Gac oil with the lowest acid (0.69 mg KOH/g) and peroxide values (1.80 meq O2/kg) was extracted when microwave-drying was applied prior to pressing. It can be concluded that the microwave drying pre-treatment before pressing was better than the air-drying pre-treatment for extracting Gac oil of high quality.
Spray Drying of Karkade (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) Calyces and Evaluation of the Product
Authors: Sulieman Abdel Moneim
Published: January 2014

Karkade calyces’ samples (variety Rahad) collected from different local sites were spray dried, and the powder samples were analyzed physically, chemically and microbiologically. The particle size of the various karkade powder samples ranged from 11.8 to 14.1 μm, while the flowability (angle of repose) ranged from 41° to 43° 20′. The reconstitution properties slightly varied when the various karkade samples were compared. The ranges of wettability, sinkability and dispersibility were 320–370 s, 800–850 s and 0.04–0.05 OD, respectively. The bulk density ranged from 0.57 to 0.65 g/ml, and the yield of karkade powder of the various samples ranged between 31.4 and 34.3%. The spray-dried samples from different sites were comparable in most of the chemical components, and they contained relatively good amount of macro- and micronutrients and high nutritive value. Virtually, all the spray-dried karkade powder samples were devoid of coliform, staphylococci and Salmonella cells.
Differences between external and internal fetal heart rate monitoring during the second stage of labor: a prospective observational study
Authors: Nunes Inês , Ayres-de-Campos Diogo , Costa-Santos Cristina , Bernardes João
Published: January 2014

Objective: To compare fetal heart rate (FHR) signals acquired simultaneously by an external ultrasound probe and a scalp electrode during the second stage of labor.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study in a labor ward of a tertiary care university hospital. The population was women in labor with uneventful singleton pregnancies at term. Simultaneous external and internal FHR monitoring was performed in 67 consecutively recruited women during the second stage of labor. Cases were subsequently excluded if the trace length was under 40 min, cesarean birth occurred, or the interval between trace-end and birth exceeded 5 min, leaving a total of 33 traces for analysis. The last 40–60 min of these traces were analyzed by a computer system (Omniview-SisPorto® 3.5; Speculum®, Lisbon, Portugal) to quantify cardiotocographic parameters. Paired sample t-test and Bland-Altman limits of agreement (LoA) were used for statistical analysis, setting significance at 0.05. The main outcome measures were signal loss, FHR baseline, periodic events, and percentage of periodic events coinciding with contractions.

Results: A higher signal loss was observed with external monitoring [10% vs. 4%; P<0.001, LoA=(–6, 18)]. No differences were found in mean FHR baseline [129 bpm vs. 130 bpm, P=0.245, LoA=(–15, 12)], but more accelerations [12 vs. 8, P<0.001, LoA=(–5, 13)] and less decelerations [8 vs. 10, P<0.001, LoA=(–8, 4)] were detected with external monitoring. With this method there were also more accelerations (66% vs. 55%, P=0.036) and less decelerations (68% vs. 81%, P=0.017) coinciding with contractions.

Conclusions: External FHR monitoring during the second stage of labor results in higher signal loss, increased number of accelerations, and decreased number of decelerations when compared with internal monitoring.
Reference range for amniotic fluid index measurements in a Brazilian population
Authors: Júnior Edward Araujo , Martins Wellington P. , Pares David Baptista Silva , Pires Claudio Rodrigues , Filho Sebastião Marques Zanforlin
Published: January 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the reference range for amniotic fluid index (AFI) measurements in a large sample of the Brazilian population.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study on 3837 normal singleton pregnancies between 18+0 and 38+6 weeks of pregnancy. The AFI was measured from the largest vertical pockets of amniotic fluid in the four quadrants of the uterine cavity. To assess the correlation between AFI and gestational age (GA), polynomial equations were calculated, with adjustments using the determination coefficient (R
2).

Results: The mean maternal age and gestational age were 27.01±6.57 years and 30.43±5.29 weeks, respectively. The mean AFI ranged from 12.2±2.6 cm at 18 weeks to 11.6±6.0 cm at 38 weeks of pregnancy. The correlation between AFI and GA was best represented by a linear equation: AFI=17.78–0.153*GA (R
2=0.027).

Conclusion: We established the reference range for the AFI in a large sample of the Brazilian population. This reference range can be used to monitor deviations in the volume of amniotic fluid in fetuses at high risk for intrauterine growth disturbances.
The influence of transport layers on the photodegradation stability of polymer solar cell structures
Authors: Možíšková Petra , Heinrichová Patricie , Šedina Martin , Vala Martin , David Jan , Weiter Martin
Published: January 2014

A light exposure degradation study of electrically active polymers – high-glass-transition-temperature poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) (Tg-PPV); poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT); and poly(2-methoxy-5-(3′-7′- dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MDMO-PPV) – in pure form and blends with [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was conducted to assess the influence of the employed transport layers on the materials’ photodegradation stability. Devices were prepared on quartz glass and silicon (Si) substrates with a transport layer prepared from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) or titanium dioxide (TiO2). Photodegradation processes in ambient air demonstrated that the polymers were thermally stable in the dark; thus, the material deteriorations not only were caused by thermal stress, but also from light-induced processes. Degradation processes of pure polymers may be considered as fast – in the order of hours – but retardable by blending of polymers with PCBM. The deposition of polymer blends on an additional layer of PEDOT:PSS or TiO2 revealed that the polymer blends studied in this work (except for P3HT) presented higher stability against polymer chain scission when deposited onto the TiO2 layer. Kinetic analysis undertaken during this work revealed that the photodegradation processes were followed by two degradation steps. Degradation kinetics were evaluated according to a Perrin-like model for absorption assessments and according to simple exponential for emission measurements.
Gegenbauer random fields
Authors: Espejo Rosa M. , Leonenko Nikolai N. , Ruiz-Medina María D.
Published: January 2014

This paper introduces spatial long-range dependence time
series models, based on the consideration of fractional difference
operators associated with Gegenbauer polynomials. Their structural
properties are analyzed. The spatial autoregressive Gegenbauer case
is also studied, including the case of k factors with multiple
singularities. An extension to the Hilbert-valued context is
finally formulated leading to the introduction of a new class of
spatial functional time series models.
Reanalysis of CO2-silicalite-1 structure as monoclinic twinning
Authors: Fujiyama Shinjiro , Kamiya Natsumi , Nishi Koji , Yokomori Yoshinobu
Published: January 2014

Structural analysis of CO2-silicalite-1 crystals using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method reveals that the crystal system is twinned monoclinic. The structure of silicalite-1 (MFI-type zeolites) loaded with CO2 has previously been solved in orthorhombic system [1], but the R value is still large. Since CO2 molecules are too small to maintain the orthorhombic structure, it is considered that the CO2-silicalite-1 crystals should be in the relaxed monoclinic twin phase. The diffraction data in the previous report is recalculated in P21
/n as the monoclinic twinning.
High-Intensity Training and Salivary Immunoglobulin A Responses in Professional Top-Level Soccer Players: Effect of Training Intensity
Authors: Owen Adam L. , Wong Del P. , Dunlop Gordon , Groussard Carole , Kebsi Wiem , Dellal Alexandre , Morgans Ryland , Zouhal Hassane
Published: January 2014

Owen, AL, Wong, DP, Dunlop, G, Groussard, C, Kebsi, W, Dellal, A, Morgans, R, and Zouhal, H. High-intensity training and salivary immunoglobulin A responses in professional top-level soccer players: Effect of training intensity. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2460–2469, 2016—This study aimed (a) to test the hypothesis that salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) would vary with training intensity sessions (low-intensity [LI] vs. high-intensity sessions [HI]) during a traditional training program divided into 4 training periods and (b) to identify key variables (e.g., GPS data, rating of perceived exertion [RPE], and training duration), which could affect s-IgA. Saliva samples of 10 elite professional soccer players were collected (a) before the investigation started to establish the baseline level and (b) before and after each 4 training sessions (LI vs. HI). Training intensity was monitored as internal (through heart rate responses and RPE) and external (through GPS) loads. High-intensity sessions were associated with higher external load (GPS) and with higher RPE. Baseline and pretraining s-IgA did not differ between the 4 training sessions both for HI and LI. Post-training s-IgA were not different (in absolute value and in percentage of change) between HI and LI sessions at the first 3 periods. However, at the fourth period, s-IgA concentration for HI session was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05) than the LI session. The percentage change between s-IgA post-training and s-IgA baseline concentrations differ significantly (p ≤ 0.05) between HI and LI training sessions. Significant correlations between s-IgA and training intensity were also noted. High-intensity soccer training sessions might cause a significant decrease in s-IgA values during the postexercise window as compared with LI sessions. This study encourages coaches to monitor s-IgA in routine, particularly during HI training periods, to take precautions to avoid upper respiratory tract infection in highly trained soccer players.
Fluorescence Quenching Kinetics of Py Excimer in PS Films
Authors: Jang Hyun-Sook , Lei Yu , Nieh Mu-Ping
Published: January 2014

Excimer fluorescence of two-component thin films made of pyrene (Py) and polystyrene (PS) can be quenched by the vapor of nitro-aromatic and nitro-ester explosives with a high selectivity and sensitivity. Normally, an electrospun film can be quenched in minutes by the vapor of the explosives. In order to understand the origin of the mechanism, we have investigated the fluorescence quenching rate of the binary thin films as functions of the molecular weights (MW) of the polystyrene (from 2,500 to 900,000 g/mol) and film thicknesses (110nm and 610 nm) in presence of the vapor of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT, a type of nitro-explosives). The diffusion coefficients of 2, 4-DNT in the solid films are found nearly independent of MW but have strong dependence on the film thicknesses.
Using EIS/PEDRA to Describe Barrier Oxide Films on Irradiated Zirconium Alloys
Authors: Maguire Michael A.
Published: January 2014

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and the Parallel Electrical Dielectric Response Analysis (PEDRA) application were used to describe the inner barrier oxide films on irradiated zirconium alloys. This is achieved with minimal surface preparation and without disturbing the outer porous oxide. These two distinguishable inner and outer oxide layers result from a growth-fracture oxidation mechanism. Key to success of the EIS technique in describing the barrier oxide layer are: 1) the model and procedure used to fit EIS spectra, 2) the validation of the fit, and 3) converting circuit parameters (R, C and n) into physical attributes of the barrier oxide.

The barrier oxide is defined as the inner-dense layer adjacent to the metal-oxide interface. The integrity of barrier oxide is thought to effect both oxidation (i.e. access of water to the interface), and hydrogen pickup (i.e. failure hydrogen to escape away from the interface). Using EIS and the PEDRA application, the barrier oxide is described in terms of multiple independent dielectric responses to yield a unique 'micro-macro' picture of the barrier oxide that can be used to explain observed H pickup behavior.
Comparison of closure approximations for continuous dislocation dynamics
Authors: Monavari Mehran , Zaiser Michael , Sandfeld Stefan
Published: January 2014

We discuss methods to describe the evolution of dislocation systems in terms of a limited number of continuous field variables while correctly representing the kinematics of systems of flexible and connected lines. We show that a satisfactory continuum representation may be obtained in terms of only four variables. We discuss the consequences of different approximations needed to formulate a closed set of equations for these variables and propose a benchmark problem to assess the performance of the resulting models. We demonstrate that best results are obtained by using the maximum entropy formalism to arrive at an optimal estimate for the dislocation orientation distribution based on its lowest-order angular moments.
“Three-Unit” Muscle Reconstruction in Secondary Cleft Lip Repair
Authors: Fan Qi , Li Yu , Danning Zheng , Zhang Bo , Chen Siqi , Wang Jian
Published: January 2014

Background

Secondary deformities are common in people born with unilateral cleft lip and palate. In recent years, more and more attempts and efforts have been directed toward muscle reconstruction. The authors present a new method of orbicularis oris repair in correction of secondary cleft lip deformities.

Methods

From April 2009 to April 2013, a total of 28 patients underwent this procedure in the authors' department and had a follow-up with a minimum length of 1 year. Muscle reconstruction was divided into three units that deal with the nasal floor, white lip, and red lip. Common anatomical pathologies including a deviated columella, blunted alar-facial groove, lack of philtral column, “free border” deficiency, and unapparent vermilion tubercle can be corrected in a single operation.

Results

The average follow-up period was 14.6 months (range, 12 to 24 months). Contractubex gel (Merz Pharma, Frankfurt, Germany) was used to treat prominent or reddish scars in 16 patients. No major complications occurred. All the patients were satisfied with their nasolabial appearance.

Conclusions

“Three-unit” muscle repair was found to be effective and practical in secondary repair. Improved aesthetic and functional results can be achieved with this comprehensive procedure.
Conservation markets for wildlife management with case studies from whaling
Authors: Gerber Leah R. , Costello Christopher , Gaines Steven D
Published: January 2014

Although market‐based incentives have helped resolve many environmental challenges, conservation markets still play a relatively minor role in wildlife management. Establishing property rights for environmental goods and allowing trade between resource extractors and resource conservationists may offer a path forward in conserving charismatic species like whales, wolves, turtles, and sharks. In this paper, we provide a conceptual model for implementing a conservation market for wildlife and evaluate how such a market could be applied to three case studies for whales (minke [Balaenoptera acutorostrata], bowhead [Balaena mysticetus], and gray [Eschrictius robustus]). We show that, if designed and operated properly, such a market could ensure persistence of imperiled populations, while simultaneously improving the welfare of resource harvesters.
Will a catch share for whales improve social welfare?
Authors: Smith Martin D. , Asche Frank , Bennear Lori S. , Havice Elizabeth , Read Andrew J. , Squires Dale
Published: January 2014

We critique a proposal to use catch shares to manage transboundary wildlife resources with potentially high non‐extractive values, and we focus on the case of whales. Because whales are impure public goods, a policy that fails to capture all nonmarket benefits (due to free riding) could lead to a suboptimal outcome. Even if free riding were overcome, whale shares would face four implementation challenges. First, a whale share could legitimize the international trade in whale meat and expand the whale meat market. Second, a legal whale trade creates monitoring and enforcement challenges similar to those of organizations that manage highly migratory species such as tuna. Third, a whale share could create a new political economy of management that changes incentives and increases costs for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to achieve the current level of conservation. Fourth, a whale share program creates new logistical challenges for quota definition and allocation regardless of whether the market for whale products expands or contracts. Each of these issues, if left unaddressed, could result in lower overall welfare for society than under the status quo.
Landscape‐scale variation in plant community composition of an African savanna from airborne species mapping
Authors: Baldeck C. A. , Colgan M. S. , Féret J.-B. , Levick S. R. , Martin R. E. , Asner G. P.
Published: January 2014

Information on landscape‐scale patterns in species distributions and community types is vital for ecological science and effective conservation assessment and planning. However, detailed maps of plant community structure at landscape scales seldom exist due to the inability of field‐based inventories to map a sufficient number of individuals over large areas. The Carnegie Airborne Observatory (CAO) collected hyperspectral and lidar data over Kruger National Park, South Africa, and these data were used to remotely identify >500 000 tree and shrub crowns over a 144‐km2 landscape using stacked support vector machines. Maps of community compositional variation were produced by ordination and clustering, and the importance of hillslope‐scale topo‐edaphic variation in shaping community structure was evaluated with redundancy analysis. This remote species identification approach revealed spatially complex patterns in woody plant communities throughout the landscape that could not be directly observed using field‐based methods alone. We estimated that topo‐edaphic variables representing catenal sequences explained 21% of species compositional variation, while we also uncovered important community patterns that were unrelated to catenas, indicating a large role for other soil‐related factors in shaping the savanna community. Our results demonstrate the ability of airborne species identification techniques to map biodiversity for the evaluation of ecological controls on community composition over large landscapes.
Predation pressure by avian predators suggests summer limitation of small‐mammal populations in the Canadian Arctic
Authors: Therrien J.-F. , Gauthier G. , Korpimäki E. , Bêty J.
Published: January 2014

Predation has been suggested to be especially important in simple food webs and less productive ecosystems such as the arctic tundra, but very few data are available to evaluate this hypothesis. We examined the hypothesis that avian predators could drive the population dynamics of two cyclic lemming species in the Canadian Arctic. A dense and diverse suite of predatory birds, including the Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus), the Rough‐legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus), and the Long‐tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus), inhabits the arctic tundra and prey on collared (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) and brown (Lemmus trimucronatus) lemmings during the snow‐free period. We evaluated the predation pressure exerted by these predators by combining their numerical (variation in breeding and fledgling numbers) and functional (variation in diet and daily consumption rates) responses to variations in lemming densities over the 2004–2010 period. Breeding density and number of fledglings produced by the three main avian predators increased sharply without delay in response to increasing lemming densities. The proportion of collared lemmings in the diet of those predators was high at low lemming density (both species) but decreased as lemming density increased. However, we found little evidence that their daily consumption rates vary in relation to changes in lemming density. Total consumption rate by avian predators initially increased more rapidly for collared lemming but eventually leveled off at a much higher value for brown lemmings, the most abundant species at our site. The combined daily predation rate of avian predators exceeded the maximum daily potential growth rates of both lemming species except at the highest recorded densities for brown lemmings. We thus show, for the first time, that predation pressure exerted without delay by avian predators can limit populations of coexisting lemming species during the snow‐free period, and thus, that predation could play a role in the cyclic dynamic of these species in the tundra.
Changes in ant community composition caused by 20 years of experimental warming vs. 13 years of natural climate shift
Authors: Menke Sean B. , Harte John , Dunn Robert R.
Published: January 2014

Predicting the effects of climate change on community composition is hampered by the lack of integration between long term data sets tracking the effects of natural climate change and the results of experimental climate manipulations. Here we compare the effects of change in climate through time to experimental warming on the composition of high elevation ant communities at the Rocky Mountain Biological Station in Gothic Colorado. We take advantage of a 20‐year continuously running warming experiment which has increased soil temperature by 1.5°C and advanced snowmelt by 10 days and compare the effects of this experimental warming to natural changes in climate over the past 13 years across three sites spread along a 420‐m elevation gradient representing a roughly 1°C difference in average annual soil temperature and average advanced snowmelt of 2 weeks. We compared ant community data collected at all four sites in 1997 to collections made at the same sites in 2010. From 1997 to 2010 there was a community wide shift in ant composition along the natural climate gradient with ant communities shifting to higher elevations. Ant communities in the experimental warming site also changed, but they shifted orthogonally to those along the gradient. Interestingly, after 20 years of experimental warming, there is little discernible effect on ant communities in experimentally warmed plots compared to control plots. This discrepancy between the climate manipulation and elevation gradient is probably an effect of the spatial scale of the experimental warming. Ants respond to experimental warming in complex ways due to the physical location of their nests and their foraging area. This is a concern for warming experiments, but one that is hard to address for species that cover even modest areas in their foraging.
The ability of fungus Mucor racemosus Fresenius to degrade high concentration of detergent
Authors: Jakovljevic Violeta , Milicevic Jasmina , Stojanovic Jelica , Vrvic Miroslav
Published: January 2014

The ability of fungus Mucor racemosus Fresenius to decompose high
concentration of commercial detergent (MERIX, Henkel, Serbia) was
investigated in this study. Fungus was cultivated in liquid growth medium by
Czapek with addition of detergent at concentration 0.5% during 16 days. The
biochemical changes of pH, redox potential, amount of free and total
organic acids, and activity of alkaline phosphatase were evaluated by
analysis of fermentation broth. Simultaneously, biodegradation percentage
of anionic surfactant of tested detergent was confirmed by MBAS assay. At
the same time, the influence of detergent on fungal growth and total dry
weight biomass was determined. Detergent at concentration 0.5% influenced
on decreasing of pH value and increasing of redox potential as well as
increasing of free and total organic acids. Enzyme activity of alkaline
phosphatase was reduced by detergent at concentration 0.5%. The fungus was
decomposed about 62% of anionic surfactant during 16 day. Due to fungus was
produced higher dry weight biomass (53%) in relation to control.
Have CPAs Captured State Accountancy Boards?
Authors: Colbert Gary J. , Murray Dennis F.
Published: January 2014

All states in the U.S. regulate the practice of public accounting. An important part of the regulatory apparatus is the state accountancy board (SAB). SABs implement the laws that govern public accounting. State societies of CPAs (SSCPAs), in contrast, are advocacy mechanisms that can potentially be used by members of the profession to achieve their regulatory objectives. Economic theory raises the possibility that regulatory bodies such as SABs might be captured by the profession that they regulate. We examine the composition of SABs and find that the majority of members are CPAs. A survey of CPA SAB members reveals that nearly one-third of the respondents are past leaders of their SSCPAs. We further find that the percentage of board members who are CPAs and the percentage of our respondents who are past leaders of their SSCPAs are positively associated with the rapidity with which states adopt two important accountancy laws (interstate mobility and the 150-hour education requirement) that can be viewed as being in the best interest of the profession. These findings support the hypothesis of regulatory capture and suggest that states may benefit from reconsidering the qualifications of SAB members.
Competitive Strategy and Voluntary Environmental Disclosure: Evidence from the Chemical Industry
Authors: Ling Qianhua , Mowen Maryanne M.
Published: January 2014

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between corporate competitive strategy and environmental disclosure in the voluntary channel. Two major competitive strategies, investment in brand image and investment in research and development (R&D), are examined. Using a sample of companies in the chemical industry, we find that both strategies are associated with higher levels of environmental disclosure than chemical companies not emphasizing either of the two strategies. Additionally, companies emphasizing investment in brand image tend to disclose more when their actual environmental performance is low; conversely, companies emphasizing investment in R&D tend to disclose more when their environmental performance is good. When trying to interpret environmental disclosures, stakeholders should be aware of a company's strategy and adjust their assessment of environmental performance accordingly.

Data Availability: Data are available from sources identified in the text.