bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Narrow Band-Gap Cu2Sn(S,Se)3and Fabrication of Film by Non-Vacuum Process
Authors: Nomura Takeshi , Maeda Tsuyoshi , Wada Takahiro
Published: March 2013

We successfully prepared a Cu2Sn(S1-xSex)3(CTSSe) solid solution with 0≤x≤1.0. CTSSe solid solution powders were synthesized by mixing the elemental powders and post-annealing at 600 °C. The crystal structure of Cu2SnS3(CTS) was characterized by Rietveld refinement of the powder X-ray diffraction data and determined to be a monoclinic crystal system. The band gaps of CTSSe solid solution were determined by the diffuse reflectance spectra of the powder samples and the transmittance spectrum of the film fabricated by a non-vacuum thin-film fabrication process called printing and high-pressure sintering (PHS). The band gap (Eg) of CTS is 0.87 eV, which is in good agreement with the recently reported value of monoclinic CTS film. The band gap of the Cu2Sn(S1-xSex)3solid solution linearly decreases from 0.87 eV (x= 0.0) to 0.67 eV (x= 0.6) with increasing Se content. The CTSSe solid solution has potential as a narrow band-gap absorber material for thin-film full spectrum solar cells.
Stereochemical Divergence in the Formation of Organic Carbonates Derived from Internal Epoxides
Authors: Whiteoak Christopher J. , Martin Eddy , Escudero‐Adán Eduardo , Kleij Arjan W.
Published: March 2013

Catalysis of the challenging cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to internal epoxides has been studied using iron(III) amine triphenolate complexes and particular focus has been given to the stereochemical regulation of this process. When pure cis‐ or trans‐2,3‐epoxybutane is used as substrate, the stereochemistry of the product can be controlled yielding selectively cis‐ or trans‐cyclic carbonates for both epoxidic substrates. This stereochemical divergence relates to two accessible catalytic pathways leading to either the cis or trans product via two distinct ring‐closure steps. The involved mechanism and stereocontrol is a function of the catalyst/co‐catalyst loading, and is further influenced by the medium, temperature and catalyst/co‐catalyst structure. Other trans‐internal epoxides could also be successfully converted into the pure trans‐cyclic carbonate products without any loss of stereochemical information.

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A phase I study of ABT‐510 plus bevacizumab in advanced solid tumors
Authors: Uronis Hope E. , Cushman Stephanie M. , Bendell Johanna C. , Blobe Gerard C. , Morse Michael A. , Nixon Andrew B. , Dellinger Andrew , Starr Mark D. , Li Haiyan , Meadows Kellen , Gockerman Jon , Pang Herbert , Hurwitz Herbert I.
Published: March 2013

Targeting multiple regulators of tumor angiogenesis have the potential to improve treatment efficacy. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against vascular endothelial growth factor and ABT‐510 is a synthetic analog of thrombospondin, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor. Dual inhibition may result in additional benefit. We evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the combination of bevacizumab plus ABT‐510 in patients with refractory solid tumors. We also explored the effects of these agents on plasma‐based biomarkers and wound angiogenesis. Thirty‐four evaluable subjects were enrolled and received study drug. Therapy was well tolerated; minimal treatment‐related grade 3/4 toxicity was observed. One patient treated at dose level 1 had a partial response and five other patients treated at the recommended phase II dose had prolonged stable disease for more than 1 year. Biomarker evaluation revealed increased levels of D‐dimer, von Willebrand factor, placental growth factor, and stromal‐derived factor 1 in response to treatment with the combination of bevacizumab and ABT‐510. Data suggest that continued evaluation of combination antiangiogenesis therapies may be clinically useful.
Direct Electrochemistry Based Biosensors and Biofuel Cells Enabled with Nanostructured Materials
Authors: Liu Yang , Du Yan , Li Chang Ming
Published: March 2013

Direct electrochemistry of redox proteins provides exciting platforms for performance improvement of biosensors and power enhancement of biofuel cells. Nanomaterials with tailored structures and unique properties are promising building blocks to promote direct electron transfer (DET) between redox‐active cofactors of proteins and electrodes. This paper reviews the advances of nanostructured materials for DET of redox proteins in recent years, and is divided into applications in biosensors and biofuel cells. Both of them focus on the performance improvement, together with discussion on major challenges and opportunities for future research. The enhancement mechanism for direct electrochemistry is also reviewed for fundamental insights.
Environmental controls of frost cracking revealed through in situ acoustic emission measurements in steep bedrock
Authors: Girard Lucas , Gruber Stephan , Weber Samuel , Beutel Jan
Published: March 2013

Frost cracking, the breakdown of rock by freezing, is one of the most important mechanical weathering processes acting on Earth's surface. Insights on the mechanisms driving frost cracking stem mainly from laboratory and theoretical studies. Transferring insights from such studies to natural conditions, involving jointed bedrock and heterogeneous thermal and hydrological properties, is a major challenge. We address this problem with simultaneous in situ measurements of acoustic emissions, used as proxy of rock damage, and rock temperature/moisture content. The 1 year data set acquired in an Alpine rock wall shows that (1) liquid water content has an important impact on freezing‐induced rock damage, (2) sustained freezing can yield much stronger damage than repeated freeze‐thaw cycling, and (3) that frost cracking occurs over the full range of temperatures measured extending from 0 down to −15°C. These new measurements yield a slightly different picture than previous field studies where ice segregation appears to play an important role.
Effects of Multiple Chemical, Physical, and Biological Stressors on the Incidence and Types of Abnormalities Observed in Bermuda's Cane Toads (Rhinella marina)
Authors: BACON JAMIE P. , FORT CHELSEA E. , TODHUNTER BRIAN , MATHIS MICHAEL , FORT DOUGLAS J.
Published: March 2013

The interactive effects of contaminants and ultraviolet light (UV)‐exposure on the incidence and types of abnormalities observed were measured in newly metamorphosed cane toads (Rhinella marina) from four Bermuda ponds contaminated with petrochemicals and metals. Abnormalities were compared in toadlets that were field‐collected, reared in predator exclusion cages, reared in laboratory microcosms exposed to control media or corresponding pond media, and reared in laboratory microcosms exposed to UV‐light and control media or media from two ponds. Percent abnormal for field‐collected, cage‐reared, and microcosm‐reared toadlets were equivalent per site and ranged between 14% and 63%. All treatments produced similar limb abnormalities but the percentage of hind versus forelimb defects was statistically greater only in field‐collected toadlets. UV‐exposed control media did not induce abnormalities in larvae exhibiting no maternal effect, and did not alter the types of abnormalities observed in larvae exhibiting a maternal or latent effect. Site media treatments without UV exposure induced significant cephalic and limb abnormalities, proved additive to the observed maternal/latent effect, and produced limb defects predominantly in forelimbs. Concurrent exposure to site media and UV‐light induced similar types of abnormalities but a significantly higher percentage of hind limb abnormalities (68–89%) than exposure to site media alone (7–13%). Our results suggest that the types of abnormalities expressed were principally determined by direct and/or transgenerational contaminant exposure, but that UV‐light exposure caused limb abnormalities to occur primarily in the hind limbs, mirroring field observations. Our field observations also suggest that ectromelia and brachydactyly in some field‐collected specimens may be predator‐induced. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B:218–237, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Obesity and risk of sepsis: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Wang Henry E. , Griffin Russell , Judd Suzanne , Shapiro Nathan I , Safford Monika M.
Published: March 2013

Objective

Sepsis, the syndrome of microbial infection complicated by systemic inflammation, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To determine if obesity increases risk of sepsis events.

Design and Methods

Data from the 30,239 subject population‐based longitudinal cohort study REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) were used. Using measurements at the start of the study, we defined obesity using body mass index (BMI; <18.5 kg/m2 = underweight, 18.5‐24.9 = normal, 25.0‐29.9 = overweight, 30.0‐39.9 = obese, ≥40 = morbidly obese) and waist circumference (WC; [male ≤102 cm or female ≤88 cm] = normal, [male >102 cm or female >88 cm] = obese). Over an 8‐year observation period, we evaluated the association between obesity and subsequent sepsis events, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, chronic medical conditions, statin use, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein.

Results

There were 975 incident sepsis events. Compared to those with a BMI of 18.5‐24.9, sepsis risk was higher only for BMI ≥ 40 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.57, [1.16‐2.14]). Risk of sepsis was associated with increased WC (HR 1.34 [1.14‐1.56]). In a model with both BMI and WC, sepsis risk was associated with increased WC (HR 1.47 [1.20‐1.79]) but not BMI.

Conclusions

Obesity is independently associated with future sepsis events. WC is a better predictor of future sepsis risk than BMI.
Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide: A Review of Their Use for Hyperphosphatemia in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Rennick Amanda , Kalakeche Rabih , Seel Lindsey , Shepler Brian
Published: March 2013

Phosphate binders have traditionally been used to treat hyperphosphatemia, a common complication in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). New evidence suggests that nicotinic acid and its metabolites may effectively decrease phosphorus absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing serum phosphorus concentrations. We conducted a literature search to identify studies of patients with ESRD on dialysis that evaluated the role of niacin and related compounds in decreasing serum phosphorus levels. We searched PubMed using the search terms niacin, nicotinic acid, niacinamide, nicotinamide and hyperphosphatemia. Limits were set to include only those articles published since 2002, conducted in human subjects, and written in the English language. Review articles captured through this process were mined for references to other primary literature that may not have been returned through the initial search. All studies were included if they met the search criteria and were conducted in patients with ESRD who received either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. To identify current, ongoing studies, another search was conducted through clinicaltrials.gov. Among the seven studies that met our exclusion criteria, three used nicotinic acid as the therapeutic intervention and four used nicotinamide. Both nicotinic acid and nicotinamide were effective in significantly reducing serum phosphorus concentrations in patients with ESRD on either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Additional, large‐scale studies that assess the appropriate dose as well as long‐term safety and efficacy are recommended before clinicians can confirm their place in therapy.
Acute Kidney Injury During Vancomycin Therapy in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Totapally Balagangadhar R. , Machado Jacqueline , Lee Helen , Paredes Ana , Raszynski Andre
Published: March 2013

Study Objective

To determine the rate, risk factors, and outcome of vancomycin–associated acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care children's hospital.

Patients

We reviewed the charts of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit during a 2‐year period who were treated with vancomycin. Courses of vancomycin interrupted by 3 days or more were counted separately. Patients were excluded if they received vancomycin treatment for fewer than 3 days, had preexisting renal failure, or had incomplete serum creatinine (Scr) data.

Measurements and Main Results

Demographic and laboratory data; vancomycin dose, duration, and concentrations; and concurrent use of nephrotoxic drugs were recorded. Acute kidney injury was defined as a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate of 50% or more from the beginning of vancomycin therapy. Descriptive statistics, step‐wise logistic regression, and repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyze the data. A total of 284 patients were included, for a total of 391 courses of vancomycin (272 children and 119 infants). The mean duration of vancomycin therapy was 6.9 ± 4.5 days. Forty nine (17.2%) patients developed AKI during 61 (15.6%) courses. Elevated Scr concentrations returned to baseline after stopping vancomycin in 53 (87%) courses. Mortality was higher in children who developed AKI (p<0.001; Fisher's exact test). Administration of nephrotoxic drugs (odds ratio 2.23, Confidence Interval 1.27–3.93) and presence of high blood urea nitrogen (BUN):Scr ratio before vancomycin therapy (p<0.05) were associated with AKI. The BUN and Scr concentrations significantly increased during vancomycin therapy and decreased after vancomycin was discontinued (p<0.05).

Conclusions

In critically ill children, the development of reversible AKI during vancomycin therapy is associated with administration of nephrotoxic drugs and an elevated BUN: Scr ratio.
Evaluation of Surgical Care in El Salvador Using the WHO Surgical Vital Statistics
Authors: Molina George , Funk Luke M. , Rodriguez Virginia , Lipsitz Stuart R. , Gawande Atul
Published: March 2013

Objective

Vital statistics to assess surgical care worldwide have been published by the World Health Organization. These data have not been reported for any Latin American country. We sought to measure these metrics as a starting point for understanding how to improve the safety of surgery in El Salvador.

Methods

We designed an institutional survey that was sent to 21 hospitals and used national administrative data sources to estimate the number of surgeons, anesthesia professionals, operating rooms, and annual surgical volume for El Salvador. We reviewed surgical and death logs for 12 Ministry of Health hospitals to calculate day‐of‐surgery and postoperative in‐hospital mortality ratios for a 6‐month period (October 2009–March 2010).

Findings

We estimate there to be 1,222 surgeons [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1,137–1,307], 539 anesthesia providers, 168 operating rooms (95 % CI 136–199), and 172,972 operations (95 % CI 171,961–173,983) annually in El Salvador. There were on average 1,197 annual cases per operating room and 436 annual cases per surgeon in the 21 hospitals we studied. The day‐of‐surgery mortality ratio was 0.42 % (95 % CI 0.35–0.5), whereas the postoperative in‐hospital mortality ratio was 1.58 % (95 % CI 1.44–1.72). The postoperative in‐hospital mortality ratio was higher for hospitals with a greater number of hospital beds (p = 0.01) and operating rooms (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Despite the challenges that El Salvador faces to provide surgical care, national collection of surgical vital statistics is feasible. Collection of additional process and outcome measures may be insightful for improving the surgical safety in El Salvador and elsewhere.
Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Presenting with Distant Metastases: A Population Analysis Over Two Decades
Authors: Goffredo Paolo , Sosa Julie A. , Roman Sanziana A.
Published: March 2013

Background

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with distant metastases at presentation is uncommon; the prognosis of patients with this condition is more favorable than for other cancers. Demographic, clinical, and pathologic characteristics are described at a population level; factors associated with long‐term disease‐specific survival are identified.

Methods

Patients were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1988 and 2009. They were divided into two groups: patients with distant metastases (met‐DTC) and patients without distant metastases (DTC) at presentation. Data analyses were performed with chi square tests, ANOVA, Kaplan–Meier analysis, and binary logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

A total of 1,291 patients with met‐DTC at diagnosis and 58,518 with DTC were included. The met‐DTC rate was 2.2 %; compared to DTC, met‐DTC patients were more often male (22.7 vs 41.3 %, respectively; p < 0.001) and older (mean 48.8 vs 62.7 years; p < 0.001). Patients with met‐DTC were more likely not to have had surgery (23.3 vs 2.0 %; p < 0.001) or to have received radiation therapy (RAI) (66.8 vs 46.5 %; p < 0.001). Met‐DTC tumors were larger (mean 41.0 vs 20.5 mm; p < 0.001). Independent factors associated with distant metastases were male gender, older age, single status, black and “other” races, follicular and Hurthle cell histology, larger tumors, and positive regional lymph nodes. Disease‐specific survival was lower for met‐DTC; this has not improved over the past two decades (p = 0.494). Independent factors associated with mortality included patient age ≥45 years, single status, follicular and Hurthle cell histologies, tumor size >4 cm, and not receiving surgery and/or RAI.

Conclusions

Overall, met‐DTC is uncommon. Given the lack of survival improvement observed over the last two decades, novel treatments should be pursued aggressively for this subset of patients.
Enhanced production of l-phenylalanine in Corynebacterium glutamicum due to the introduction of Escherichia coli wild-type gene aroH
Authors: Zhang Chuanzhi , Zhang Junli , Kang Zhen , Du Guocheng , Yu Xiaobin , Wang Tianwen , Chen Jian
Published: March 2013

Metabolic engineering is a powerful tool which has been widely used for producing valuable products. For improving l-phenylalanine (l-Phe) accumulation in Corynebacterium glutamicum, we have investigated the target genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways. The genes involved in the biosynthesis of l-Phe were found to be strictly regulated genes by feedback inhibition. As a result, overexpression of the native wild-type genes aroF, aroG or pheA resulted in a slight increase of l-Phe. In contrast, overexpression of aroFwt or pheAfbr from E. coli significantly increased l-Phe production. Co-overexpression of aroFwt and pheAfbr improved the titer of l-Phe to 4.46 ± 0.06 g l−1. To further analyze the target enzymes in the aromatic amino acid synthesis pathway between C. glutamicum and E. coli, the wild-type gene aroH from E. coli was overexpressed and evaluated in C. glutamicum. As predicted, upregulation of the wild-type gene aroH resulted in a remarkable increase of l-Phe production. Co-overexpression of the mutated pheAfbr and the wild-type gene aroH resulted in the production of l-Phe up to 4.64 ± 0.09 g l−1. Based on these results we conclude that the wild-type gene aroH from E. coli is an appropriate target gene for pathway engineering in C. glutamicum for the production of aromatic amino acids.
Retail Brand Extensions: Unpacking the Link between Brand Extension Attitude and Change in Parent Brand Equity
Authors: Dwivedi Abhishek , Merrilees Bill
Published: March 2013

The brand extension literature outlines a pivotal role of consumers’ brand extension attitudes in explaining change in parent brand equity. However, there remains little understanding of how such feedback effects actually materialize on parent brand equity. The present study proposes and examines change in relationship equity as a mediator of the effect of brand extension attitude on change in parent brand equity, thereby explicating a process of conversion of brand extension attitudes into reciprocal brand equity evaluations. A store-based retailing context adds an interesting dimension to the study. A conceptual model is developed around the focal mediated effects. Key hypotheses are supported and the research model achieves acceptable predictive validity in estimating change in brand equity. Importantly, change in relationship equity fully mediates the effect of extension attitude on change in brand equity. Overall, a novel perspective is offered to the literature. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
The Effect of Culture and Salespersons’ Retail Service Quality on Impulse Buying
Authors: Pornpitakpan Chanthika , Han Jie Hui
Published: March 2013

This study investigates the effect of culture and salespersons’ retail service quality on impulse buying and provides evidence that service quality moderates the effect of culture on impulse buying. The experiment uses a 2 (culture of participants: Singaporean versus American) by 2 (retail service quality: poor versus good) between-subjects factorial design with 102 Singaporean and 88 American working adults recruited from companies in Singapore. It finds that for both cultures, good service leads to higher impulse buying than does poor service. The significant interaction between culture and service quality on impulse buying indicates that when service is good, Singaporeans show higher impulse buying than do Americans. In contrast, when service is poor, Singaporeans reveal lower impulse buying than do Americans. The implication is that multinational companies should invest in creating and assuring good service quality when they do business in collectivist cultures but might give relatively higher weight to other kinds of competitive advantages when they do business in individualist cultures.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Quantitative Proteomic Profiling of Human Pancreatic and Hepatic Stellate Cell Lines
Authors: Paulo Joao A. , Kadiyala Vivek , Banks Peter A. , Conwell Darwin L. , Steen Hanno
Published: March 2013

The functions of the liver and the pancreas differ; however, chronic inflammation in both organs is associated with fibrosis. Evidence suggests that fibrosis in both organs is partially regulated by organ-specific stellate cells. We explore the proteome of human hepatic stellate cells (hHSC) and human pancreatic stellate cells (hPaSC) using mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics to investigate pathophysiologic mechanisms. Proteins were isolated from whole cell lysates of immortalized hHSC and hPaSC. These proteins were tryptically digested, labeled with tandem mass tags (TMT), fractionated by OFFGEL, and subjected to MS. Proteins significantly different in abundance (P  < 0.05) were classified via gene ontology (GO) analysis. We identified 1223 proteins and among them, 1222 proteins were quantifiable. Statistical analysis determined that 177 proteins were of higher abundance in hHSC, while 157 were of higher abundance in hPaSC. GO classification revealed that proteins of relatively higher abundance in hHSC were associated with protein production, while those of relatively higher abundance in hPaSC were involved in cell structure. Future studies using the methodologies established herein, but with further upstream fractionation and/or use of enhanced MS instrumentation will allow greater proteome coverage, achieving a comprehensive proteomic analysis of hHSC and hPaSC.
Early predictors of narcotics‐dependent patients in the emergency department
Authors: Lee Wei‐Che , Lin Hsing‐Lin , Kuo Liang‐Chi , Chen Chao‐Wen , Cheng Yuan‐Chia , Lin Tsung‐Ying , Soo Kwan‐Ming , Chan Hon‐Man
Published: March 2013

It is not unusual that narcotics‐dependent patients fulfill their medical requirements in the emergency department (ED). The behavior of these patients varies, and their manifestations and predictors are still not fully studied. We performed this retrospective study by prospectively collecting data on patients with suspected drug dependence who were undiagnosed at first and then treated for some kind of reported pain at the ED. Patients who were confirmed to have narcotics dependence were compared with control patients in a ratio of 1:3 matching for age, gender, disease, and clinical diagnoses. From January 2006 to October 2009, 26 of 223 patients treated for pain were found to be drug dependent (12 males and 14 females). The average dose of narcotics used was higher than the control group [3.23 ± 1.14 vs. 1.12 ± 0.36, p < 0.001, confidence interval (CI): 1.648–2.583]. Numbers of patients making unscheduled returns to the ED within 24 hours were significant [24/26 vs. 8/78, p ≤ 0.001, odds ratio (OR) 105.00, 95% CI 20.834–529.175]. In addition, patients showing aggressive attitudes were significant (17/26 vs. 2/78, p < 0.001, OR 71.78, 95% CI 14.206–362.663). In the case group, six of them told the physician that they were allergic to medicines other than the particular one they wanted, and three of the six presented injuries that were reported to be in the same (or repeated) place for unscheduled returns, which were not found in the control group. In this study, some behaviors were commonly observed in the at‐risk group. These patients were prone to manifest some types of symptoms and behaviors, such as uncontrolled pain with three doses of analgesics, aggressive attitude, returning to the ED within 24 hours with the complaint of the same severe pain, repeating the same injury, claiming allergy to other analgesics, and asking for certain analgesics. All these behaviors should alert the physician to suspect a drug‐seeking problem.
Survival and behavioural responses of the predatory ladybird beetle,Eriopis connexapopulations susceptible and resistant to a pyrethroid insecticide
Authors: Spíndola A.F. , Silva-Torres C.S.A. , Rodrigues A.R.S. , Torres J.B.
Published: March 2013

The ladybird beetle,Eriopis connexa(Germar) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is one of the commonest predators of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the cotton agroecosystem and in many other row and fruit crops in Brazil, and has been introduced into other countries such as the USA for purposes of aphid control. In addition, the boll weevil,Anthonomus grandisBoheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the most serious cotton pest where it occurs, including Brazil. Controlling boll weevils and other pests such as cotton defoliators still tends to involve the intense application of insecticides to secure cotton production. The pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is commonly used, but this compound is not effective against aphids; hence, a desirable strategy would be to maintainE. connexapopulations in cotton fields where LCT is applied. Using populations ofE. connexaresistant (Res) and susceptible (Sus) to LCT, we compared behavioural responses on treated cotton plants and under confinement on partially and fully treated surfaces, and assessed the insects' survival on treated plants compared with that of the boll weevil. TheE. connexaresistant population caged on treated plants with 15 and 75 g a.i. ha−1exhibited ≫82% survival for both insecticide concentrations compared with ≪3% and ≪17% survival for susceptibleE. connexapopulations and boll weevils, respectively. The response ofE. connexaRes and Sus populations when released, either on the soil or on the plant canopy, indicated avoidance towards treated plants, as measured by elapsed time to assess the plant. When compared with susceptible individuals, resistant ones took longer time to suffer insecticide knockdown, had a higher recovery rate after suffering knockdown, and spent more time in the plant canopy. Based on behavioural parameters evaluated in treated arenas, no ladybird beetles exhibited repellency. However, irritability was evident, with the susceptible population exhibiting greater irritability compared with the resistant population and a subgroup comprising resistant individuals that had recovered from knockdown. The outcomes for theE. connexaRes population indicate a promising strategy for its maintenance when using the insecticide LCT in integrated pest management schemes to control boll weevil or other non-target pest of ladybird beetles in cotton fields.
Towards a sustainable future for Nunavik
Authors: Rodon Thierry , Schott Stephan
Published: March 2013

The predominantly Inuit Arctic region of Nunavik in the Province of Québec, Canada, currently needs to address major challenges and opportunities. The region needs to develop more employment and wealth creation opportunities without sacrificing the vital land-based subsistence sector that provides food security, sustains cultural identity and provides social and economic stability. A decision about a new direction needs to be taken soon as major mining projects are developing at a rapid pace. In this paper we first assess existing socioeconomic and living conditions data to evaluate the state of social well-being in the region. In addition we report and analyse information from an economic forum in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik in April 2010. The purpose of the forum was to provide an opportunity for regional and local stakeholders to obtain information on specific economic opportunities for Nunavik and to discuss their merit for the communities. Based on our data evaluation and the outcomes at the forum we identify a possible sustainable development feedback envisioning process and discuss possible sustainable development directions for Nunavik.
A Chip Scale Atomic Clock Driven Receiver for Multi-Constellation GNSS
Authors: Ucar Alper , Adane Yacine , Bardak Burak , Paparo Carlo , Berry Reuben , Kale Izzet
Published: March 2013

This paper presents the design and implementation of a Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) driven dual-channel Digitally Configurable Receiver (DCR) for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The receiver is intended to be used for research applications such as; multipath mitigation, scintillation assessment, advanced satellite clock and spatial frame transformation modelling, Precise Point Positioning (PPP) as well as rapid development and assessment of novel circuits and systems for GNSS receivers. A novel sub-Nyquist sampling (subsampling) receiver architecture incorporating dual-band microstrip RF filters is employed in order to minimize the complexity of the multi-frequency Radio Frequency (RF) front-end. Moreover, the digital receiver incorporates a novel and complexity-reduced Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) core for signal acquisition as well as COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer (CORDIC) cores for the code/carrier discriminators in order to minimize the resource allocation on the FPGA. The receiver also provides easy access to enable adjustment of its internal parameters such as; RF gain, position update rate, tracking channel correlator spacing and code/carrier loop noise bandwidth. Correlator outputs, code/carrier error, Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (C/N0), navigation and RINEX data are provided to the end-user in real-time. This paper collectively highlights and reports on the implementation, test and validation of the novel techniques, elements and approaches in both the RF and digital part of the DCR that comprise the multi-constellation receiver.
Regional dialect leveling in Najdi Arabic: The case of the deaffrication of [k] in the Qaṣīmī dialect
Authors: al-Rojaie Yousef
Published: March 2013

This study investigates the effect of linguistic and social factors (age, gender, and level of education) on the patterns of variation in the affrication of [] for [k] in the stem and suffix in the informal speech of 72 speakers of Qaṣīmī, a local dialect of Najdi Arabic, spoken in the Qaṣīm province in central Saudi Arabia. Findings indicate that affrication is significantly favored in the phonological context of front vowels, particularly the high front ones. Whereas suffix-based affrication is categorically used as [-], stem affrication is strongly correlated with the age, educational level, and gender of the speaker. In particular, older uneducated speakers from both sexes tend to maintain the use of the local variant [], whereas younger and middle-aged educated speakers, particularly women, increasingly shift toward the use of the supralocal variant [k]. The present findings are suggestive of patterns of variation that are typical in regional-dialect leveling, wherein the supralocal variant(s) associated with the major city dialect is (are) diffusing outward, at the expense of traditional and socially marked variant(s), by speakers of smaller towns' dialects. The substantial socioeconomic changes that Saudi Arabia has undergone in the last half century are suggested to have triggered and accelerated the linguistic shift.
Variation in English auxiliary realization: A new take on contraction
Authors: MacKenzie Laurel
Published: March 2013

English auxiliary contraction has received much attention in the linguistic literature, but our knowledge of this variable has remained limited due to the absence of a thorough corpus study. This paper examines contraction of six auxiliaries in two corpora, considering three distinct phonological shapes in which they occur and the implications for an analysis of the grammatical processes that underlie the surface alternation in form. I argue that the data best support a two-stage analysis of contraction, one under which variation in the morphology is followed by phonetic and phonological processes. Moreover, I show that this particular analysis explains a number of patterns in the data that would otherwise be accidental. In this way, I underscore the importance of approaching the study of variable phenomena with both quantitative data and formal analysis.
Remodeling the age variable: Number concord in Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Naro Anthony Julius , Scherre Maria Marta Pereira
Published: March 2013

We analyze change in variable subject/verb and noun phrase concord in Rio de Janeiro Portuguese using trend samples from 1980 and 1999/2000. Plural marked forms exhibit increased frequency in this period, reversing earlier trends toward loss or stability in a development typical of flows and counterflows in the community. The directionality of most structural and social dimensions does not change, but age patterns shift. Our aim is to investigate how groups of speakers evolve over time. Comparison of same-age groups at different moments does not yield insight and is not conducive to apprehending patterns of evolution because speakers move from one age group to another. We set up age cohorts so as to sample virtually the same universes. Examining age cohorts, we see increased frequency of number concord, although the original pattern of relative usage is preserved. Speakers are on the move, but constrained by social patterns in which they are situated. The pattern is broken precisely by those who were not in it, the unborn in the 1980s, who reverse direction dramatically toward increased usage of concord.
Individual effects in variation analysis: Model, software, and research design
Authors: Paolillo John C.
Published: March 2013

Individual-level variation is a recurrent issue in variationist sociolinguistics. One current approach recommends addressing this via mixed-effects modeling. This paper shows that a closely related model with fixed effects for individual speakers can be directly estimated using Goldvarb. The consequences of employing different approaches to speaker variation are explored by using different model selection criteria. We conclude by discussing the relation of the statistical model to the assumptions of the research design, pointing out that nonrandom selection of speakers potentially violates the assumptions of models with random effects for speaker, and suggesting that a model with fixed effects for speakers may be a better alternative in these cases.
MODELLING THE EFFECT OF VACCINATION ON THE MENINGOCOCCAL B EPIDEMIC IN NEW ZEALAND
Authors: SIMPSON J. L. , ROBERTS M. G.
Published: March 2013

A nation-wide vaccination campaign began in New Zealand in 2004 with the aim of stopping the epidemic of meningococcal B disease. Approximately 80% of those under 20 years of age when the campaign was launched were vaccinated with three doses of a tailor-made vaccine. We propose a framework for a mathematical model based on the susceptible–carrier–infectious–removed (SCIR) structure. We show how the model could be used to calculate the predicted yearly incidence of infection in the absence of vaccination, and compare this to the effect that vaccination had on the course of the epidemic. Our model shows that vaccination led to a considerable decrease in the incidence of infection compared to what would have been seen otherwise. We then use our model to explore the potential effect of alternative vaccination schemes, and show that the one that was implemented was the best of all the possibilities we consider.
Feeding a population with smaller scale and alternate system production: An examination of farm requirements with a multi-species pasture system to feed 10 million people
Authors: Meeh Daimon C. , Rowntree Jason E. , Hamm Michael W.
Published: March 2013

Current agricultural and food systems literature suggests multiple opportunities for improving systemic sustainability. Especially in the popular press, many authors have conceptualized a return to smaller scale diversified production as a strategy to feed America sustainably. This study explores this notion for components of our meat supply using approaches reported in one of the most popular of these books, Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, as a touchstone. We examine the land footprint and number of farms required to produce beef, chicken and eggs for the state of Michigan (a population just under 10,000,000) using similar production strategies to those outlined in Pollan's book. To feed Michigan's population at a scale of production demonstrated on the highlighted farm in Pollan's book, and an average level of Midwest intake for beef, chicken and eggs would require approximately 3600 farms and 6.5 million acres of farmland to produce 100% of the beef, 100% of the eggs and about 50% of the broiler chickens for this population. The strategy is discussed in reference to existing farms and acreage in Michigan and put in the context of sustainability within our food supply.
Validierung einer deutschsprachigen Version des Career Futures Inventory (CFI)
Authors: Spurk Daniel , Volmer Judith
Published: March 2013

Das Career Futures Inventory (CFI; Rottingaus, Day & Borgen, 2005 ) erfasst die drei laufbahnbezogenen Zukunftsfaktoren career adaptability (Berufliche Anpassungsfähigkeit), career optimism (Beruflicher Optimismus) und knowledge of job market (Arbeitsmarktwissen). Die Ziele dieser Studie waren (a) eine deutschsprachige Version des CFIs zu konstruieren und (b) an zwei Stichproben mit Erwerbstätigen mittels (c) unterschiedlicher Indikatoren des Berufserfolgs und anhand von Persönlichkeitseigenschaften zu validieren. Es konnte in beiden Stichproben (N1= 153; N2= 110) die 3-faktorielle Struktur des CFIs nachgewiesen werden. Zudem konnten Annahmen zur konvergenten und diskriminanten Validität in beiden Stichproben bestätigt werden, da die CFI-Faktoren in erwarteter Richtung mit Berufserfolg (z. B. Beförderungen, Karrierezufriedenheit) bzw. Persönlichkeitseigenschaften (d. h. Big Five) korrelierten bzw. nicht korrelierten. Eine Analyse der inkrementellen Validität zeigte, dass Arbeitsmarktwissen zusätzliche Varianz beim Gehalt über Kontrollvariablen und Persönlichkeit hinaus erklärte. Hinsichtlich Karrierezufriedenheit war dies für beruflichen Optimismus der Fall. Diese Validierungsstudie ermöglicht den Einsatz des CFIs im deutschsprachigen Raum.
Leadership Judgement Indicator (LJI) von
Authors: Schölmerich Franziska , Schermuly Carsten C.
Published: March 2013

Der Leadership Judgement Indicator (LJI) von Neubauer, Bergner und Felfe (2012) ist ein deutschsprachiges Verfahren zur Erfassung von Führungsstilpräferenzen und der Entscheidungsqualität in Führungssituationen. Es richtet sich an Erwachsene mit Führungserfahrung oder -ambitionen und ist zum Einsatz in den Bereichen Personalentwicklung, Personalberatung, Training und Coaching, Beurteilung von Führungskräften sowie der Führungskräfteforschung geeignet.
Global sampling of the photochemical reaction paths of bromoform by ultrafast deep-UV through near-IR transient absorption and ab initio multiconfigurational calculations
Authors: Pal S. K. , Mereshchenko A. S. , Butaeva E. V. , El-Khoury P. Z. , Tarnovsky A. N.
Published: March 2013

Ultrafast deep-ultraviolet through near infrared (210–950 nm) transient absorption spectroscopy complemented by ab initio multiconfigurational calculations offers a global description of the photochemical reaction pathways of bromoform following 255-nm excitation in methylcyclohexane and acetonitrile solutions. Photoexcitation of CHBr3 leads to the ground-state iso-CHBr3 product in a large quantum yield (∼35%), formed through two different mechanisms: concerted excited-state isomerization and cage-induced isomerization through the recombination of the nascent radical pair. These two processes take place on different time scales of tens of femtoseconds and several picoseconds, respectively. The novel ultrafast direct isomerization pathway proposed herein is consistent with the occurrence of a conical intersection between the first excited singlet state of CHBr3 and the ground electronic state of iso-CHBr3. Complete active space self-consistent field calculations characterize this singularity in the vicinity of a second order saddle point on the ground state which connects the two isomer forms. For cage-induced isomerization, both the formation of the nascent radical pair and its subsequent collapse into ground-state iso-CHBr3 are directly monitored through the deep-ultraviolet absorption signatures of the radical species. In both mechanisms, the optically active (i.e., those with largest Franck-Condon factors) C−Br−Br bending and Br−Br stretching modes of ground-state iso-CHBr3 have the largest projection on the reaction coordinate, enabling us to trace the structural changes accompanying vibrational relaxation of the non-equilibrated isomers through transient absorption dynamics. The iso-CHBr3 photoproduct is stable in methylcyclohexane, but undergoes either facile thermal isomerization to the parent CHBr3 structure through a cyclic transition state stabilized by the polar acetonitrile medium (∼300-ps lifetime), and hydrolysis in the presence of water.
Analytical energy gradient used in variational Born-Oppenheimer calculations with all-electron explicitly correlated Gaussian functions for molecules containing one π electron
Authors: Tung Wei-Cheng , Pavanello Michele , Sharkey Keeper L. , Kirnosov Nikita , Adamowicz Ludwik
Published: March 2013

An algorithm for variational calculations of molecules with one π electron performed with all-electron explicitly correlated Gaussian (ECG) functions with floating centers is derived and implemented. The algorithm includes the analytic gradient of the Born-Oppenheimer electronic energy determined with respect to the ECG exponential parameters and the coordinates of the Gaussian centers. The availability of the gradient greatly accelerates the variational energy minimization. The algorithm is tested in calculations of four electronic excited states, c3Πu, C1Πu, i3Πg, and I1Πg, of the hydrogen molecule at a single internuclear distance specific to each state. With the use of the analytical energy gradient, the present calculations yield new, lowest-to-date, variational energy upper bounds for all four states.
Direct evaluation of the saddle splay modulus of a liquid-liquid interface using the classical mean field lattice model
Authors: Leermakers F. A. M.
Published: March 2013

We study the curvature dependence of the liquid-liquid (liquid-gas) interface using the well-known mean field lattice model to estimate its rigidity parameters. The Gaussian or saddle-splay modulus is found by evaluating the curvature energy of an interface onto which a saddle shape is imposed as this occurs in an Im3m cubic phase. The resulting values are consistent with those found by the classical indirect route, wherein the Gaussian bending modulus results from combining the curvature dependences of the interfacial tension in cylindrical and spherical geometries.
Classical eddy current losses in soft magnetic composites
Authors: Appino C. , de la Barrière O. , Fiorillo F. , LoBue M. , Mazaleyrat F. , Ragusa C.
Published: March 2013

This paper deals with the problem of loss evaluation in Soft Magnetic Composites (SMCs), focusing on the classical loss component. It is known that eddy currents can flow in these granular materials at two different scales, that of the single particle (microscopic eddy currents) and that of the specimen cross-section (macroscopic eddy currents), the latter ensuing from imperfect insulation between particles. It is often argued that this macroscopic loss component can be calculated considering an equivalent homogeneous material of same bulk resistivity. This assumption has not found so far clear and general experimental validation. In this paper, we discuss energy loss experiments in two different SMC materials, obtained using different binder types, and we verify that a classical macroscopic loss component, the sole size-dependent term, can be separately identified. It is also put in evidence that, depending on the material, the measured sample resistivity and the equivalent resistivity entering the calculation of the macroscopic eddy currents may not be the same. A corrective coefficient is, therefore, introduced and experimentally identified. This coefficient appears to depend on the material type only. An efficient way to calculate the macroscopic classical loss in these materials is thus provided.
Characteristics of high-purity Cu thin films deposited on polyimide by radio-frequency Ar/H2 atmospheric-pressure plasma jet
Authors: Zhao P. , Zheng W. , Meng Y. D. , Nagatsu M.
Published: March 2013

With a view to fabricating future flexible electronic devices, an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet driven by 13.56 MHz radio-frequency power is developed for depositing Cu thin films on polyimide, where a Cu wire inserted inside the quartz tube was used as the evaporation source. A polyimide substrate is placed on a water-cooled copper heat sink to prevent it from being thermally damaged. With the aim of preventing oxidation of the deposited Cu film, we investigated the effect of adding H2 to Ar plasma on film characteristics. Theoretical fitting of the OH emission line in OES spectrum revealed that adding H2 gas significantly increased the rotational temperature roughly from 800 to 1500 K. The LMM Auger spectroscopy analysis revealed that higher-purity Cu films were synthesized on polyimide by adding hydrogen gas. A possible explanation for the enhancement in the Cu film deposition rate and improvement of purity of Cu films by H2 gas addition is that atomic hydrogen produced by the plasma plays important roles in heating the gas to promote the evaporation of Cu atoms from the Cu wire and removing oxygen from copper oxide components via reduction reaction.
Resonant distortion of electronic density of states and enhancement of thermoelectric properties of β-Zn4Sb3 by Pr doping
Authors: Wang Q. Q. , Qin X. Y. , Li D. , Sun R. R. , Zou T. H. , Wang N. N.
Published: March 2013

The thermoelectric properties of Pr-doped compounds β-(Zn1−xPrx)4Sb3 (x = 0, 0.001, 0.002, 0.003) were investigated at the temperatures from 300 K to 615 K. The results indicate that Pr doping causes the resonant distortion of density of states of β-Zn4Sb3, as manifested by almost 2-fold increase of the density of state effective mass md* of β-Zn4Sb3, which results in ∼50 μV/K increase of the thermopower for the doped samples with x = 0.002 and 0.003. The thermal conductivity decreases substantially upon Pr doping. As a result, the figure of merit, ZT, of β-(Zn0.008Pr0.002)4Sb3 is ∼23% larger than that of the un-doped one and reaches 0.65 at 615 K, suggesting that Pr doping is an effective approach to raise ZT of β-Zn4Sb3.