bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bilateral Atypical Femoral Fracture in a Man on Long-Term Bisphosphonate and Glucocorticoid Therapy
Authors: Román Manuel , de Prado Antonio , Rodríguez de Tembleque Federico
Published: April 2015

Case:

We present here, to our knowledge, the first case of a male patient with a sequential bilateral atypical femoral fracture associated with long-term use of bisphosphonates to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Conclusions:

Given the known effectiveness of bisphosphonates, both their use and the potential complication of rare atypical femoral fractures have increased. These fractures are understood to occur when there is an alteration in the bone quality and its resistance to fatigue fracture in a subgroup of patients receiving bisphosphonates or denosumab.
Primary Lymphoma of Bone Complicating Total Knee Arthroplasty: An Unexpected Mode of Prosthesis Failure
Authors: Ibrahim Ishaq , Haughom Bryan D. , Fillingham Yale A. , Brown Nicholas , Gitelis Steven
Published: April 2015

Case:

Primary lymphoma of bone is a rare musculoskeletal malignancy that typically arises in long bones. Few cases of bone lymphoma occurring alongside orthopaedic implants have been reported in the literature. We describe the complex case of a seventy-eight-year-old woman who developed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the proximal part of the tibia five years after a successful total knee arthroplasty.

Conclusion:

Several studies have suggested a link between orthopaedic implants and genomic instability, although true carcinogenesis remains questionable. Lymphoma complicating joint arthroplasty poses a unique problem for orthopaedic physicians due to diagnostic challenges and the unique implications of disease and treatment-related complications.
The Kinematics and Kinetics Analysis of the Lower Extremity in the Landing Phase of a Stop-jump Task
Authors: Yin L , Sun D , Mei Q.C , Gu Y.D , Baker J.S , Feng N
Published: April 2015

Large number of studies showed that landing with great impact forces may be a risk factor for knee injuries. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the different landing loads to lower extremity of both genders and examine the relationships among selected lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during the landing of a stop-jump task. A total of 35 male and 35 female healthy subjects were recruited in this study. Each subject executed five experiment actions. Lower extremity kinematics and kinetics were synchronously acquired. The comparison of lower extremity kinematics for different genders showed significant difference. The knee and hip maximum flexion angle, peak ground reaction force and peak knee extension moment have significantly decreased during the landing of the stop-jump task among the female subjects. The hip flexion angle at the initial foot contact phase showed significant correlation with peak ground reaction force during landing of the stop-jump task (r=-0.927, p<0.001). The knee flexion angle at the initial foot contact phase had significant correlation with peak ground reaction force and vertical ground reaction forces during landing of the stop-jump task (r=-0.908, p<0.001; r=0.812, P=0.002). A large hip and knee flexion angles at the initial foot contact with the ground did not necessarily reduce the impact force during landing, but active hip and knee flexion motions did. The hip and knee flexion motion of landing was an important technical factor that affects anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) loading during the landing of the stop-jump task.
Multi-dimension and Comprehensive Assessment on the Utilizing and Sharing of Regional Large-scale Scientific Equipment
Authors: Li Chen , Yongbo Lv , Chi Chen
Published: April 2015

Based on the data from 30 provincial regions in China, an assessment and empirical analysis was carried out on the utilizing and sharing of the large-scale scientific equipment with a comprehensive assessment model established based on three dimensions, namely, equipment, utilization and sharing. The assessment results were interpreted in light of relevant policies. The results showed that on the whole, the overall development level in the provincial regions in eastern and central China is higher than that in western China. This is mostly because of the large gap among the different provincial regions with respect to the equipped level. But in terms of utilizing and sharing, some of the Western provincial regions, such as Ningxia, perform well, which is worthy of our attention. Policy adjustment targeting at the differentiation, elevation of the capacity of the equipment management personnel, perfection of the sharing and cooperation platform, and the promotion of the establishment of open sharing funds, are all important measures to promote the utilization and sharing of the large -scale scientific equipment and to narrow the gap among different regions.
Research of Amoxicillin Microcapsules Preparation Playing Micro-Jetting Technology
Authors: Sun Huaiyuan , Gu Qingqing , Liao Yuehua , Sun Chenjie
Published: April 2015

With polylactic-co-glycolic acid(PLGA) as shell material of microcapsule, amoxicillin as the model, poly(vinyl alcohol) and twain as surfactant, amoxicillin-PLGA microcapsules were manufactured using digital micro-jetting technology and a glass nozzle of 40μm diameter. The influences of the parameters of micro-jetting system on the mean grain size and size distribution of amoxicillin-PLGA microcapsules were studied with single factor analysis and orthogonal experiment method, namely, PLGA solution concentration, driving voltage, jetting frequency, stirrer speed, etc. The optimal result was obtained; the form representation of microcapsule was analyzed as well. The results show that, under certain conditions of experimental drug prescription, driving voltage was proportional to the particle size; jetting frequency and stirrer speed were inversely proportional. When the PLGA concentration for 3%, driving voltage for 80V, the jetting frequency for 10000Hz and the stirrer speed for 750rpm, the particles were in an ideal state with the mean grain size of 60.246μm, the encapsulation efficiency reached 62.39％ and 2.1％ for drug loading.
Differential subordination and superordination results for certain subclasses of analytic functions by the technique of admissible functions
Authors: Jayasankar R. , Darus Maslina , Sivasubramanian S.
Published: April 2015

By investigating appropriate classes of admissible functions, various
Differential subordination and superordination results for analytic functions
in the open unit disk are obtained using Cho-Kwon-Srivastava operator. As a
consequence of these results, Sandwich-type results are also obtained.
Modified Laguerre matrix polynomials
Authors: Kargin Levent , Kurt Veli
Published: April 2015

In this paper, modified Laguerre matrix polynomials which appear as finite
series solutions of second-order matrix differential equation are introduced.
Some formulas related to an explicit expression, a three-term matrix
recurrence relation and a Rodrigues formula are obtained. Several families of
bilinear and bilateral generating matrix functions for modified Laguerre
matrix polynomials are derived. Finally a new generalization of the
Laguerre-type matrix polynomials is introduced.
Signed total k-independence in digraphs
Authors: Volkmann Lutz
Published: April 2015

Let k ? 2 be an integer. A function f:V(D) ? {-1,1} defined on the vertex
set V(D) of a digraph D is a signed total k-independence function if
?x?N-(v)f(x) ? k - 1 for each v ? V(D), where N-(v) consists of all
vertices of D from which arcs go into v. The weight of a signed total
k-independence function f is defined by w(f)=?x?V(D)f(x). The maximum
of weights w(f), taken over all signed total k-independence functions f on
D, is the signed total k-independence number k?st(D) of D. In this work, we
mainly present upper bounds on k?st(D), as for example k?st(D) ? n-2?
?- + 1-k)/2? and k?st(D)? ?+2k-?+-2/?+?+ ? n , where n
is the order, ?- the maximum indegree and ?+ and ?+ are the maximum and
minimum outdegree of the digraph D. Some of our results imply well-known
properties on the signed total 2-independence number of graphs.
A note on the system of linear recurrence equations
Authors: Baltic Vladimir
Published: April 2015

We will find a solution to a system of 2d linear recurrence equations. Each
equation is of the form x2k(n+1)=xk(n) or x2k+1(n + 1)=xk(n)+x2d-1+k(n).
This kind of system is connected with counting restricted permutations.
Convergence theorems of a scheme for I-asymptotically quasi-nonexpansive type mapping in Banach space
Authors: Temir Seyit
Published: April 2015

Let X be a Banach space. Let K be a nonempty subset of X. Let T : K ? K be an
I-asymptotically quasi-nonexpansive type mapping and I : K ? K be an
asymptotically quasi-nonexpansive type mappings in the Banach space. Our aim
is to establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for the convergence
of the Ishikawa iterative sequences with errors of an I-asymptotically
quasi-nonexpansive type mappping in Banach spaces to a common fixed point of
T and I. Also, we study the convergence of the Ishikawa iterative sequences
to common fixed point for nonself I-asymptotically quasinonexpansive type
mapping in Banach spaces. The results presented in this paper extend and
generalize some recent work of Chang and Zhou [1], Wang [19], Yao and Wang
[20] and many others.
Centers of skew polynomial rings
Authors: Arriagada Waldo , Ramírez Hugo
Published: April 2015

We determine the center C(K[x;?]) of the ring of skew polynomials K[x;?],
where K is a field and ? is a non-zero derivation over K. We prove that
C(K[x;?]) = ker ?, if ? is transcendental over K. On the contrary, if ? is
algebraic over K, then C(K[x;?])=(ker ?)[?(x)]. The term ?(x) is the minimal
polynomial of ? over K.
On scaling and regular variation
Authors: Bingham N.H.
Published: April 2015

We survey scaling arguments, both asymptotic (involving regular variation)
and exact (involving self-similarity), in various areas of mathematical
analysis and mathematical physics.
The sum of the unitary divisor function
Authors: Trudgian Tim
Published: April 2015

We establish a new upper bound on the function ?*(n), the sum of all coprime divisors of n. The main result is that ?*(n)? 1.3007n log log n for all n ? 570571.
The induced connections on total spaces of fibred manifolds
Authors: Mikulski Włodzimierz
Published: April 2015

Let Y ? M be a fibred manifold with m-dimensional base and n-dimensional
fibres. If m ? 2 and n ? 3, we classify all linear connections A(?, ?, ?) :
TY ? J1(TY ? Y) in TY ? Y (i.e., classical linear connections on Y) depending
canonically on a system (?, ?, ?) consisting of a general connection ? : Y ?
J1Y in Y ? M, a torsion free classical linear connection ? : TM ? J1(TM ? M)
on M and a linear connection ? : V Y ? J1(VY ? Y ) in the vertical bundle VY
? Y.
On the signless Laplacian spectral radius of unicyclic graphs with fixed matching number
Authors: Zhang Jing-Ming , Huang Ting-Zhu , Guo Ji-Ming
Published: April 2015

We determine the graph with the largest signless Laplacian spectral radius
among all unicyclic graphs with fixed matching number.
A note on multivariate polynomial division and Gröbner bases
Authors: Lipkovski Aleksandar , Zeada Samira
Published: April 2015

We first present purely combinatorial proofs of two facts: the well-known
fact that a monomial ordering must be a well ordering, and the fact (obtained
earlier by Buchberger, but not widely known) that the division procedure in
the ring of multivariate polynomials over a field terminates even if the
division term is not the leading term, but is freely chosen. The latter is
then used to introduce a previously unnoted, seemingly weaker, criterion for
an ideal basis to be Grobner, and to suggest a new heuristic approach to
Grobner basis computations.
The index of product systems of Hilbert modules: Two equivalent definitions
Authors: Vujosevic Biljana
Published: April 2015

We prove that a conditionally completely positive definite kernel, as the
generator of completely positive definite (CPD) semigroup associated with a
continuous set of units for a product system over a C*-algebra B, allows a
construction of a Hilbert B?B module. That construction is used to define
the index of the initial product system. It is proved that such definition is equivalent to the one previously given by Keckic and Vujosevic [On the
index of product systems of Hilbert modules, Filomat, to appear,
ArXiv:1111.1935v1 [math.OA] 8 Nov 2011]. Also, it is pointed out that the
new definition of the index corresponds to the one given earlier by Arveson
(in the case B = C).
Wave fronts via Fourier series coefficients
Authors: Maksimovic Snjezana , Pilipovic Stevan , Sokoloski Petar , Vindas Jasson
Published: April 2015

Motivated by the product of periodic distributions, we give a new description
of the wave front and the Sobolev-type wave front of a distribution f ?
D?(Rd) in terms of Fourier series coefficients.
2014 Presidential Address: Stop Diabetes—It Is Up to Us
Authors: Seaquist Elizabeth R.
Published: April 2015

This address was delivered by Elizabeth R. Seaquist, MD, President, Medicine & Science, of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) at the Association’s 74th Scientific Sessions in San Francisco, CA, on 15 June 2014. Dr. Seaquist is a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she holds the Pennock Family Chair in Diabetes Research. She has been an ADA volunteer since 1987 and has served on several national committees and chaired the Association’s workgroup on Hypoglycemia in Diabetes. At the local level, she served a 2-year term as cochair of the ADA EXPO in Minneapolis. Dr. Seaquist is a clinical investigator interested in the complications of diabetes. Her research focuses on the effect of diabetes on brain metabolism structure and function. She directs the University of Minnesota site for the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) and Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study(GRADE) trials and has an active clinical practice. She was the 2009 recipient of the ADA’s Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award. Dr. Seaquist holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, and a doctorate in medicine from the University of Minnesota. She is board certified in internal medicine and endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. The ADA and Diabetes Care thank Dr. Seaquist for her outstanding leadership and service to the Association.
Characterization of the absorptance of laser irradiated steel sheets
Authors: Cook Felipe , Jacobsen Vicente , Celentano Diego , Ramos-Grez Jorge
Published: April 2015

This work presents an experimental-numerical methodology aimed at deriving the absorptance of both a low output power CO2 laser beam and a Yb fiber laser beam applied to an AISI 304 stainless steel cold-rolled sheet under two different conditions of the sample surface: without and with a spray graphite coating. The absorptance values were obtained by minimizing the error between temperature evolution measurements at various locations of the irradiated sheet and the corresponding finite element predictions. The values obtained for the CO2 laser were a = 0.20 for the stainless steel and a = 0.41 for the graphite coating. For the Yb fiber laser, the values were a = 0.40 for the stainless steel and a = 0.64 for the graphite coating. Degradation of the graphite layer was observed when the resistance temperature of the graphite coating was exceeded.
The effect of anodizing conditions on the corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy
Authors: Łępicka Magdalena , Grądzka-Dahlke Małgorzata , Sobolewski Andrzej
Published: April 2015

To improve the biocompatibility and operational safety of titanium implants made of Ti6Al4V alloy, anodizing is applied. The anodizing process allows adjustment of the highly biocompatible oxide level on the metallic surface. However, little attention is paid to the influence of the layer thickness on the considered material corrosion resistance. Electrochemical polarization and open circuit potential tests as well as scanning electron microscope, laser confocal microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray studies were performed on as-received samples. Taking all experimental investigations into account, the following conclusions can be formulated: 1. Anodizing of Ti6Al4V alloy results in improvement of its corrosive characteristics. 2. In general, the higher the anodizing voltage is, the worse the anticorrosive properties exhibited by the material. 3. Despite the observed corrosion characteristics, the titanium oxide films obtained by means of the anodizing technique can be severely corroded in 0.9 wt.-% NaCl aqueous solution.
Frequency analysis of volumetric porosity in aluminum castings at high and low cooling rates
Authors: Al Mufadi Fahad A. , Irfan Mohammad A.
Published: April 2015

Three dimensional porosity analysis was conducted using computed tomography for Al-Si alloy castings. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the porosities of the castings at high and low cooling rates. It was observed that the cooling rates strongly affect the formation of pores for both small and large pores. The incidence of small pores measuring 0.00003 mm3 to 0.0004 mm3 can be up to six times higher in castings formed at low cooling rates. For large pores measuring 300 μm to 360 μm, it was observed that lower cooling rates give rise to larger pores, which are known to be detrimental to castings as potential failure initiation sites.
Estimation of the mechanical properties of nanocomposites based on the properties prediction of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT)
Authors: Hedia Hassan S. , Aldousari Saad M. , Abdellatif Ahmed K. , Abdelhaffez Gamal S.
Published: April 2015

A finite element model has been developed based on molecular mechanics to predict the mechanical properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). In addition, the mechanical properties of nanocomposite were investigated analytically and experimentally. This work consists of three parts; the first part is prediction of Young's modulus of single wall carbon nanotubes by molecular mechanics based finite element modeling. The second part describes the experimental work. The third part deals with the validation of the analytical part and the experimental work. The mechanical properties of SWCNT were obtained from FE. The mechanical properties of neat epoxy were experimentally determined. Both of them were used to estimate the mechanical properties of SWCNT/epoxy nanocomposite analytically. A comparison between the analytical and experimental results of SWCNT/epoxy nanocomposite has been done. The modeling and analysis of (SWCNT) were carried out using FEM by MATLAB and ANSYS software. However, in the experimental work the epoxy resin was modified by adding SWCNT with different ratio, i. e. 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 wt.-%, respectively. The materials were characterized in tension to obtain the mechanical properties of SWCNT/epoxy nanocomposite experimentally. The results from the FE model were compared with the results in the literature and good agreement was achieved. The FE approach is a valuable tool for studying the mechanical behavior of carbon nanotubes. The results show that a nanotube weight percent of 0.3 wt.-% of SWCNT improves all mechanical properties such as tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and toughness. The weight percent greater than 0.5 wt.-% SWCNT should be avoided. To predict the mechanical properties of the composite materials analytically, it is worth considering the conventional rule of mixtures using the reasonable nanotube volume fractions and exact value of the efficiency parameter.
Effects of Y2O3 and Al2O3 sintering additives on the hot pressing behavior of AlN ceramics
Authors: Lee Sungkyu , Jung Hang Chul , Cho Sung-Su , Hong Hyun Seon
Published: April 2015

AlN plates were fabricated by hot pressing AlN-Y2O3 and AlN-Y2O3-Al2O3 powder mixtures at 1700–1900 °C using yttria and alumina (Al2O3 particle sizes of 3 and 10 μm) powders as sintering additives. The physical and mechanical properties of the hot-pressed AlN ceramics were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The density, thermal conductivity, transverse rupture strength, and grain size were measured. The thermal conductivity of the hot–pressed AlN ceramics ranged between 83–92.7 W × (m × K)−1 and decreased with the addition of Al2O3, whereas the mechanical properties improved with the addition of Al2O3, which is known to have a beneficial effect of grain size refinement. The measured density values of 3.31 to 3.34 g × cm−3 were slightly higher than the theoretical density of 3.26 g × cm−3. This result was attributed to the use of a carbon mold under N2 atmosphere, which effectively removed oxygen atoms from the yttrium-aluminate phase that is expected to form at 1100 °C.
Effect of the powder particle size on the wear behavior of boronized AISI 304 stainless steel
Authors: Günen Ali , Küçük Yılmaz , Er Yusuf , Çay V. Veli , Öge Mecit , Gök M. Sabri
Published: April 2015

In this study, the AISI 304 steel specimens were boronized with nanoboron of the size of 10–50 nm and commercial Ekabor 3 powders (<1400 μm) at 950 °C to 1000 °C for 2 h and 4 h. Boronized steel specimens were characterized via SEM, microhardness and XRD analyses. Abrasive wear behavior of the specimens, boronized at different temperatures and treatment durations, were examined. The fixed ball micro-abrasion tests were carried out using the abrasive slurry, prepared with different SiC powder particle sizes on the boronized specimens at different rotational speeds. The specimens boronized with nanoboron powders exhibited a higher hardness and abrasive wear resistance than the samples boronized with the Ekabor 3 powders.
Effect of plasma nitriding time on surface properties of hard chromium electroplated AISI 1010 steel
Authors: Kocabaş Mustafa , Danışman Murat , Cansever Nurhan , Ülker Şükrü
Published: April 2015

Properties of steel can be enhanced by surface treatments such as coating. In some cases, further treatments such as nitriding can also be used in order to get even better results. In order to investigate the properties of nitride layer on hard Cr coated AISI 1010 steel, substrates were electroplated to form hard Cr coatings. Then hard Cr coatings were plasma nitrided at 700 °C for 3 h, 5 h and 7 h and nitride phases on the coatings were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The layer thickness and surface properties of nitride films were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The hardness and adhesion properties of Cr-N phases were examined using nano indentation and Daimler-Benz Rockwell C adhesion tests. The highest measured hardness was 24.1 GPa and all the three samples exhibited poor adhesion.
A Facile Synthesis of Hollow Palladium/Copper Alloy Nanocubes Supported on N-Doped Graphene for Ethanol Electrooxidation Catalyst
Authors: Bai Zhengyu , Huang Rumeng , Niu Lu , Zhang Qing , Yang Lin , Zhang Jiujun
Published: April 2015

In this paper, a catalyst of hollow PdCu alloy nanocubes supported on nitrogen-doped graphene support (H-PdCu/ppy-NG) is successfully synthesized using a simple one-pot template-free method. Two other catalyst materials such as solid PdCu alloy particles supported on this same nitrogen-doped graphene support (PdCu/ppy-NG) and hollow PdCu alloy nanocubes supported on the reduced graphene oxide support (H-PdCu/RGO) are also prepared using the similar synthesis conditions for comparison. It is found that, among these three catalyst materials, H-PdCu/ppy-NG gives the highest electrochemical active area and both the most uniformity and dispersibility of H-PdCu particles. Electrochemical tests show that the H-PdCu/ppy-NG catalyst can give the best electrocatalytic activity and stability towards the ethanol electrooxidation when compared to other two catalysts. Therefore, H-PdCu/ppy-NG should be a promising catalyst candidate for anodic ethanol oxidation in direct ethanol fuel cells.
Source Localization by Entropic Inference and Backward Renormalization Group Priors
Authors: Caticha Nestor
Published: April 2015

A systematic method of transferring information from coarser to finer resolution based on renormalization group (RG) transformations is introduced. It permits building informative priors in finer scales from posteriors in coarser scales since, under some conditions, RG transformations in the space of hyperparameters can be inverted. These priors are updated using renormalized data into posteriors by Maximum Entropy. The resulting inference method, backward RG (BRG) priors, is tested by doing simulations of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. Its results are compared with a Bayesian approach working in the finest available resolution. Using BRG priors sources can be partially identified even when signal to noise ratio levels are up to ~ -25dB improving vastly on the single step Bayesian approach. For low levels of noise the BRG prior is not an improvement over the single scale Bayesian method. Analysis of the histograms of hyperparameters can show how to distinguish if the method is failing, due to very high levels of noise, or if the identification of the sources is, at least partially possible.
Concentration of Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Aluminum, Arsenic and Manganese in Umbilical Cord Blood of Jamaican Newborns
Authors: Rahbar Mohammad , Samms-Vaughan Maureen , Dickerson Aisha , Hessabi Manouchehr , Bressler Jan , Desai Charlene , Shakespeare-Pellington Sydonnie , Reece Jody-Ann , Morgan Renee , Loveland Katherine , Grove Megan , Boerwinkle Eric
Published: April 2015

The objective of this study was to characterize the concentrations of lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminum, and manganese in umbilical cord blood of Jamaican newborns and to explore the possible association between concentrations of these elements and certain birth outcomes. Based on data from 100 pregnant mothers and their 100 newborns who were enrolled from Jamaica in 2011, the arithmetic mean (standard deviation) concentrations of cord blood lead, mercury, aluminum, and manganese were 0.8 (1.3 μg/dL), 4.4 (2.4 μg/L), 10.9 (9.2 μg/L), and 43.7 (17.7 μg/L), respectively. In univariable General Linear Models, the geometric mean cord blood aluminum concentration was higher for children whose mothers had completed their education up to high school compared to those whose mothers had any education beyond high school (12.2 μg/L vs. 6.4 μg/L; p < 0.01). After controlling for maternal education level and socio-economic status (through ownership of a family car), the cord blood lead concentration was significantly associated with head circumference (adjusted p < 0.01). Our results not only provide levels of arsenic and the aforementioned metals in cord blood that could serve as a reference for the Jamaican population, but also replicate previously reported significant associations between cord blood lead concentrations and head circumference at birth in other populations.
Novel Tertiary Amino Containing Blinding Composite Membranes via Raft Polymerization and Their Preliminary CO2 Permeation Performance
Authors: Zhu Lifang , Zhou Mali , Yang Shanshan , Shen Jiangnan
Published: April 2015

Facile synthesis of poly (N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) star polymers on the basis of the prepolymer chains, PDMAEMA as the macro chain transfer agent and divinyl benzene (DVB) as the cross-linking reagent by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was described. The RAFT polymerizations of DMAEMA at 70 °C using four RAFT agents with different R and Z group were investigated. The RAFT agents used in these polymerizations were dibenzyl trithiocarbonate (DBTTC), s-1-dodecyl-s'-(α,α'-dimethyl-α-acetic acid) trithiocarbonate (MTTCD), s,s'-bis (2-hydroxyethyl-2'-dimethylacrylate) trithiocarbonate (BDATC) and s-(2-cyanoprop-2-yl)-s-dodecyltrithiocarbonate (CPTCD). The results indicated that the structure of the end-group of RAFT agents had signiﬁcant effects on the ability to control polymerization. Compared with the above-mentioned RAFT agents, CPTCD provides better control over the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The polydispersity index (PDI) was determined to be within the scope of 1.26 to 1.36. The yields, molecular weight, and distribution of the star polymers can be tuned by changing the molar ratio of DVB/PDMAEMA-CPTCD. The chemical composition and structure of the linear and star polymers were characterized by GPC, FTIR, 1H NMR, XRD analysis. For the pure Chitosan membrane, a great improvement was observed for both CO2 permeation rate and ideal selectivity of the blending composite membrane upon increasing the content of SPDMAEMA-8. At a feed gas pressure of 37.5 cmHg and 30 °C, the blinding composite membrane (Cs: SPDMAEMA-8 = 4:4) has a CO2 permeation rate of 8.54 × 10−4 cm3 (STP) cm−2∙s−1∙cm∙Hg−1 and a N2 permeation rate of 6.76 × 10−5 cm3 (STP) cm−2∙s−1∙cm∙Hg−1, and an ideal CO2/N2 selectivity of 35.2.
A Polymer Visualization System with Accurate Heating and Cooling Control and High-Speed Imaging
Authors: Wong Anson , Guo Yanting , Park Chul , Zhou Nan
Published: April 2015

A visualization system to observe crystal and bubble formation in polymers under high temperature and pressure has been developed. Using this system, polymer can be subjected to a programmable thermal treatment to simulate the process in high pressure differential scanning calorimetry (HPDSC). With a high-temperature/high-pressure view-cell unit, this system enables in situ observation of crystal formation in semi-crystalline polymers to complement thermal analyses with HPDSC. The high-speed recording capability of the camera not only allows detailed recording of crystal formation, it also enables in situ capture of plastic foaming processes with a high temporal resolution. To demonstrate the system’s capability, crystal formation and foaming processes of polypropylene/carbon dioxide systems were examined. It was observed that crystals nucleated and grew into spherulites, and they grew at faster rates as temperature decreased. This observation agrees with the crystallinity measurement obtained with the HPDSC. Cell nucleation first occurred at crystals’ boundaries due to CO2 exclusion from crystal growth fronts. Subsequently, cells were nucleated around the existing ones due to tensile stresses generated in the constrained amorphous regions between networks of crystals.
Cellular Anti-Melanogenic Effects of a Euryale ferox Seed Extract Ethyl Acetate Fraction via the Lysosomal Degradation Machinery
Authors: Baek Seung-Hwa , Nam In-Jeong , Kwak Hyeong , Kim Ki-Chan , Lee Sang-Han
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Euryale ferox seed extracts (Efse-EA) on melanogenesis in immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, melan-a. Efse-EA showed strong dose-dependent mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Treatment of melan-a cells with 30 μg/mL Efse-EA produced strong inhibition of cellular tyrosinase and melanin synthesis. Efse-EA significantly reduced the levels of melanogenesis-related proteins, such as tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related proteins 1 and 2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor. Because Efse-EA treatment reduced tyrosinase protein levels without changing its mRNA expression, we investigated whether this decrease was related to proteasomal or lysosomal degradation of tyrosinase. We found that chloroquine, a lysosomal proteolysis inhibitor, almost completely abolished both the down-regulation of tyrosinase and the inhibition of melanin synthesis induced by Efse-EA. These results suggested that Efse-EA may contribute to the inhibition of melanogenesis by altering lysosomal degradation of tyrosinase, and that this extract may provide a new cosmetic skin-whitening agent.
Epigenetics—Potential for Programming Fish for Aquaculture?
Authors: Moghadam Hooman , Mørkøre Turid , Robinson Nick
Published: April 2015

Epigenetic marks affecting the expression of genes are triggered by environmental stimuli, can persist throughout life or across multiple generations and can affect an individuals phenotype. In recent years there has been a revival of interest about the possible role of epigenetics in affecting complex or quantitative traits. This growing interest is partly driven by the increasing affordability of ultra-high throughput sequencing methods for studying the epigenome. In this review we focus on some of the possible applications of epigenetic knowledge to the improvement of aquaculture. DNA methylation, in which a methyl group is added to the C5 carbon residue of a cytosine by DNA methyltransferase, has been the most widely studied epigenetic mechanism to date, and methods used to obtain and analyse genome-wide DNA methylation data are outlined. The influence of epigenetic processes on the estimation of breeding values and accuracy of genomic selection for genetic improvement of aquatic species is explored. The possibility of tightly controlling nutritional stimuli found to affect epigenetic processes in order to tailor the development of fish for aquaculture is also discussed. Complex experiments will be required in order to gain a better understanding of the role of epigenetics in affecting quantitative traits in fish.
Up-to-Date Applications of Microarrays and Their Way to Commercialization
Authors: Schumacher Sarah , Muekusch Sandra , Seitz Harald
Published: April 2015

This review addresses up-to-date applications of Protein Microarrays. Protein Microarrays play a significant role in basic research as well as in clinical applications and are applicable in a lot of fields, e.g., DNA, proteins and small molecules. Additionally they are on the way to enter clinics in routine diagnostics. Protein Microarrays can be powerful tools to improve healthcare. An overview of basic characteristics to mediate essential knowledge of this technique is given. To reach this goal, some challenges still have to be addressed. A few applications of Protein Microarrays in a medical context are shown. Finally, an outlook, where the potential of Protein Microarrays is depicted and speculations how the future of Protein Microarrays will look like are made.
Cymbopogon Species; Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry and the Pharmacological Importance
Authors: Avoseh Opeyemi , Oyedeji Opeoluwa , Rungqu Pamela , Nkeh-Chungag Benedicta , Oyedeji Adebola
Published: April 2015

Cymbopogon genus is a member of the family of Gramineae which are herbs known worldwide for their high essential oil content. They are widely distributed across all continents where they are used for various purposes. The commercial and medicinal uses of the various species of Cymbopogon are well documented. Ethnopharmacology evidence shows that they possess a wide array of properties that justifies their use for pest control, in cosmetics and as anti-inflammation agents. These plants may also hold promise as potent anti-tumor and chemopreventive drugs. The chemo-types from this genus have been used as biomarkers for their identification and classification. Pharmacological applications of Cymbopogon citratus are well exploited, though studies show that other species may also useful pharmaceutically. Hence this literature review intends to discuss these species and explore their potential economic importance.
Angular Displacement and Velocity Sensors Based on Coplanar Waveguides (CPWs) Loaded with S-Shaped Split Ring Resonators (S-SRR)
Authors: Naqui Jordi , Coromina Jan , Karami-Horestani Ali , Fumeaux Christophe , Martín Ferran
Published: April 2015

In this paper, angular displacement and angular velocity sensors based on coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission lines and S-shaped split ring resonators (S-SRRs) are presented. The sensor consists of two parts, namely a CPW and an S-SRR, both lying on parallel planes. By this means, line-to-resonator magnetic coupling arises, the coupling level being dependent on the line-to-resonator relative angular orientation. The line-to-resonator coupling level is the key parameter responsible for modulating the amplitude of the frequency response seen between the CPW ports in the vicinity of the S-SRR fundamental resonance frequency. Specifically, an amplitude notch that can be visualized in the transmission coefficient is changed by the coupling strength, and it is characterized as the sensing variable. Thus, the relative angular orientation between the two parts is measured, when the S-SRR is attached to a rotating object. It follows that the rotation angle and speed can be inferred either by measuring the frequency response of the S-SRR-loaded line, or the response amplitude at a fixed frequency in the vicinity of resonance. It is in addition shown that the angular velocity can be accurately determined from the time-domain response of a carrier time-harmonic signal tuned at the S-SRR resonance frequency. The main advantage of the proposed device is its small size directly related to the small electrical size of the S-SRR, which allows for the design of compact angular displacement and velocity sensors at low frequencies. Despite the small size of the fabricated proof-of-concept prototype (electrically small structures do not usually reject signals efficiently), it exhibits good linearity (on a logarithmic scale), sensitivity and dynamic range.
What is the Value of Event Management Education? The Views of Six Industry Practitioners
Authors: Kashef Tariq El
Published: April 2015

The field of event management has expanded rapidly in recent years. The growth of the industry has lead to an increase in demand for professionals and in turn a massive increase in the opportunities for education and training. A multitude of institutions across the UK now offer hundreds
of event-related courses to aspiring practitioners including postgraduate diplomas, degrees, and master's degrees. What is the awareness of the scope, range, and nature of these courses? How useful are they in gaining entry level employment? What are their strengths and what are their shortcomings?
In order to answer these questions in depth, a cross-sectional study collected data through semistructured interviews with a largely purposeful sample of six industry practitioners. The findings indicate a general lack of awareness for the scope, range, and nature of event management education
among the sample. In addition, the research implied that holding an event management qualification was unlikely to secure job interviews and that recruiters for the events industry place little value on candidates having industry qualifications. However, courses can help secure employment
through the contacts and work placements they provide students. This research also found that the greatest strength an event management graduate was perceived to have was an overall knowledge of the industry and that practitioners felt that courses should strive to be more vocational in nature.
Finally, the study indicated overwhelmingly that when recruiting, employers placed the greatest emphasis on experience and that the single most important step an individual with no experience could take to increase their chances of employment was to gain experience through volunteering and
work placements.
The Role of Mobile Applications in the Consumer Experience at Music Festivals
Authors: Luxford Amy , Dickinson Janet E.
Published: April 2015

The ubiquitous capability of smartphones and their rapid uptake among music festival attendees indicates the potential for mobile applications as a tool within this environment. As a result, many organizers are choosing to develop festival-specific apps designed to enhance the user
experience. Based on a review of festival apps and focus groups with festival attendees, this article analyzes the role of mobile apps in relation to festival consumer experiential needs. Analysis indicates a need for more consumer-focused app interfaces that pay close attention to the event
anticipation experience, scheduling capabilities before and during the festival, and personalization options to enhance “presence.” At a practical level, mobile charging facilities are vital at festivals to enable app use.
Organization Costs for a Fifa World Cup and Their Significance During a Bid
Authors: Preuss Holger , Schnitzer Martin
Published: April 2015

There is a lack of scholarly research into long-term local organizing committee (LOC) budget forecasts in the bidding stages of a FIFA World Cup. As FIFA increasingly takes control of LOC revenues and contributes to the LOC's costs, the bid committees are adopting a strategy to distort
their budgets. On the one hand, this situation encourages committees to underestimate their budgets to give FIFA the impression that greater profits can be achieved, prospectively leading to a better bidding position. On the other hand, an underestimated budget means that potential shortcomings
need to be covered by taxpayers' money. For this reason, our research aim is twofold. First, we will shed light on the size of an LOC budget by conducting a benchmarking analysis that demonstrates the complexity of the LOC budget and illustrates the many different ways in which previous hosts
have compiled their budgets. Expert interviews verify that the size of the LOC budget plays a strategic role in the bidding process. Secondly, we will discuss the political constraints on forecasting an LOC budget based on games theory and agency theory. The article explains the ex-ante and
ex-post opportunism of the LOCs in terms of their budget prognosis and how FIFA reacts to these behavioral patterns.
Exploring Physical Activity Intention as a Response to the Vancouver Olympics: an Application and Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Potwarka Luke R.
Published: April 2015

The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used to understand motivational factors behind individuals' intention to become more active in response to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Gender, geographic proximity to the event, past behavior, and descriptive norm were explored as extensions
of the TPB model. Just over 400 (n=405) students attending undergraduate classes in two universities at opposite ends of Canada completed a questionnaire prior to the start of the Games. Results from the hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that 50.7% of the variance
in respondents' intention scores was explained by the variables in the proposed extended TPB model. Specifically, attitude toward the behavior, past behavior, and descriptive norms (i.e., people's perceptions about the degree to which other people were going to become more active as a result
of the Olympic Winter Games) emerged as significant predictors of intention to become more active in response to the event. Implications for the design of interventions aimed at enhancing participation legacies of Olympic Games are discussed.
Review of Established Methods in Event Research
Authors: Crowther Phil , Bostock James , Perry John
Published: April 2015

In reviewing 165 of the most prominent event articles, this article provides a timely evaluation of prevalent research methods that have shaped event research in the past 16 years. We adopt critical case sampling and citation analysis approaches to identify 21 journals and the 165 articles.
We subsequently analyzed the content of each article to reveal the method(s) used and classified these by journal and by year. To facilitate discussion about the findings, the article initially appraises the character of the event phenomenon and the implications of this for methods selection.
This discussion portrays a largely social and contingent character to events that presents specific requirements to researchers seeking to interrogate it. The discussion pinpoints key considerations that should shape event researchers' decisions about their selection of methods. The findings
reveal a preponderance of survey-based approaches and also very limited adoption of multiple methods. The findings also indicate a less prominent, but growing, application of subjectivist-oriented approaches, such as interviews, indicating a progressive trend that is discussed as being more
favorable to the character of the subject matter. Ultimately we provide six precepts that emerge from this study, to signpost key considerations for event researchers as our discipline moves beyond the early stages of its development toward a more mature phase.
Sustainable Leadership in Event Management
Authors: Pernecky Tomas
Published: April 2015

Fifteen years ago the study of events as a specific field of inquiry did not exist. Today, students' interest in taking up courses in event management is met with rapid growth of programs catering to this specialized body of knowledge. These developments are parallel to the increasing
number of events being held around the world. Events are now seen as important phenomena, with cities and nations recognizing the social, economic, and cultural potential of major, hallmark, and mega-events. Not only are these seen as a vital part of tourism's export economy, events can also
provide people with meaningful social and cultural encounters, eventuate in lasting memories, and give hosting destinations a competitive advantage. The growth of events, however, comes with concerns of sustainable practices and leadership. While the first has been addressed by a number of
events scholars, sustainable leadership remains largely unchartered territory in the domain of Event Studies. This article addresses some of the key issues and developments in the events sector, and outlines the more problematic areas concerning leadership and sustainability by drawing on
the Rhineland/Honeybee leadership model.
Reimagining the Geography of the Favelas: Pacification, Tourism, and Transformation in Complexo Do Alemão, Rio de Janeiro
Authors: LeBaron Emily
Published: April 2015

This article examines the recent intersection of two forces, at times complementary and at times competing: pacification and favela tourism in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio's favelas have long been considered archetypal neighborhoods of poverty and crime. The city's new “pacification” project involves military and police occupation of targeted communities, to control drug cartel-related violence. Complexo do Alemão is a large cluster of 15 favelas in Rio's North Zone with a particularly violent history, officially “pacified” since 2010. Together, tourism and pacification are transforming Alemão at a rapid pace, both materially and discursively. This article involves a comprehensive look at the budding favela tourism industry in Complexo do Alemão, and incorporates results from 2013 field research there, including interviews with residents and guides. Favela tourism in Alemão has seen mixed success, and many companies are struggling; still, it brings unique benefits to the local population, such as protection, accountability, and a means of reclaiming occupied space. In addition, favela tourism is an integral tool to tackling the stigmatization of favela residents as talentless criminals, part of a larger trend that is reshaping the meaning of “favela” in the geographical imagination.