bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gaining Reward vs. Avoiding Loss
Authors: Ozturkcan Selcen , Şengün Sercan
Published: August 2015

This chapter enhances the dyadic gain-loss concept by presenting findings of a research project on uncovering whether the efficiency component of gamification could be better attained by balancing a shift from gain to loss, or completely avoiding it altogether. The gamification of any system requires a good selection and balance of game design elements to make the overall experience fun, as well as gaming emotions to keep it intrinsically rewarding. However, if not designed properly, participators of a gamified system that expect the prospect of gaining rewards, may ultimately realize a shift of engagement from gain to avoiding losses any earned status, badge, experience, or popularity often defined within the periphery of the gamified system. Findings reveal changing levels of motivation within different participatory foci, where loss avoidance (punishment scenarios) generates more motivation than the prospect of gaining rewards.
Development of the “Hybrid Interactive Rhetorical Engagement” (H.I.R.E.) Scale
Authors: Kang Yowei
Published: August 2015

Digital game is an essential part of digital creative industries around the world. This chapter aims to develop H.I.R.E. scales that can be used to explain and understand users' responses to digital creative contents. Although multiple methodologies have been used to study gameplayers' experiences and interactions with different genres of digital games that lead to their gamifications, this chapter is based on a rhetorical theoretical tradition by arguing that gameplay interactions are a rhetorical process in which players interact with game designers as well as other players in the same guild through a series of persuasive manipulations. H.I.R.E. scales are developed to explain how gameplayers have different experiences when playing a digital game that contributes to their gamifications. Because digital game is an important branch of contemporary digital creative industry, the development of the H.I.R.E. scales will help researchers and practitioners to study and develop better digital games and other digital creative contents.
Leveling up the Classroom
Authors: Hanus Michael D. , Cruz Carlos
Published: August 2015

Gamification continues to grow in popularity, and has significant application to education and student motivation. Because gamification is a large, encompassing concept it may be best to assess its effects by breaking down its composite features and assessing the positive and negative effects of these features. This chapter takes features including immediate feedback, use of narrative, tailored challenges, and displays of progress, and discusses popular current theories in communication and psychology to discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of each feature, placing a focus on student motivation, comparison, and self-perception. This moves to discuss practical ways to best employ gamification features, and discusses the impact of digital technology on gamification in the classroom and should be useful for researchers interested in the topic and for teachers considering how to best gamify their classrooms.
A Framework for Collaboration among Game Designers and Social Change Makers
Authors: Kearns Marty , Wise Meredith
Published: August 2015

We live in an age of networks: transportation networks, computer networks, economic networks, research networks, energy networks, social networks, the list goes on. Each consists of nodes connected to each other to manage the production and distribution of output to network users. Two large networks that share some particularly interesting overlap are gaming networks and advocacy networks. This chapter encourages an understanding of the potential overlap of these types of networks – both of which involve many millions of users, countless hours of interaction and billions of dollars of investment – and explores the intersection and impact of games designed to matter and gamified advocacy efforts. The chapter concludes with a proposed common planning framework from the field of advocacy network building and explores how gamification may more deeply help drive advocacy and social change, while advocacy work also opens new, valuable and more meaningful interactions and ideas for game designers.
Visualization of Neuro-Fuzzy Networks Training Algorithms
Authors: Plerou Antonia , Vlamou Elena , Papadopoulos Basil
Published: August 2015

The fusion of Artificial Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic Systems allows researchers to model real world problems through the development of intelligent and adaptive systems. Artificial Neural networks are able to adapt and learn by adjusting the interconnections between layers while fuzzy logic inference systems provide a computing framework based on the concept of fuzzy set theory, fuzzy if-then rules, and fuzzy reasoning. The combined use of those adaptive structures is known as “Neuro-Fuzzy” systems. In this chapter, the basic elements of both approaches are analyzed while neuro-fuzzy networks learning algorithms are presented. Here, we combine the use of neuro-fuzzy algorithms with multimedia-based signals for training. Ultimately this process may be employed for automatic identification of patterns introduced in medical applications and more specifically for analysis of content produced by brain imaging processes.
Engineering of Microbes for Heavy Metal Tolerance
Authors: Bhatt Megha D. , Bhatt Deepesh
Published: August 2015

Use of microorganisms and their enzymes to degrade heavy metal contaminants from the environment, is termed as bioremediation. This chapter majorly deals with heavy metals, their toxicity and their ill effects upon the environment. It depicts how microbes can help to combat the side effect of heavy metal toxicity by stimulating their natural defensive mechanism. In spite of their natural defensive system against metal pollution, still there is an urgent need of utilizing advanced molecular tools to further exaggerate their resistance ability for bioremediation. Earlier accumulation of heavy metals was done through overproduction of various metal binding proteins located in the cytoplasm. Recently cell surface engineering of microbes appears an attractive technology for removal or recovery of metal ions from the environment. To expedite the degradation of pollutant, a number of different molecular tools have been established for improving the microbial strains at molecular and genetic level. Microbial engineering thus, seems a promising approach which elucidates the effect of biotechnological processes used for decontaminating the polluted environment and in the future, humans and animals might gain from these organisms in remediating environmental contamination. However, these genetic modifications should be stable and harmless towards the nature as well as for the microbes itself and any genetic alterations must always ensure the actual pros and cons behind it.
Restoration of Environment Through Phytoremediation
Authors: Dadrasnia Arezoo , Emenike Chijioke U , Ismail Salmah binti
Published: August 2015

Environmental restoration is a phenomenon required to keep the ecosystem intact, or enhance the rejuvenation of impaired environmental media; soil, water and air. Various methods of remediation exist, yet restoring the environment to the proximal or original state appear elusive to most methods. Interestingly, phytoremediation which is a biological process does not only restore environment in a greener way, but also can adopt diverse mechanisms such phytoextraction, phytodegradation, rhizodegrdation, phytostabilization and phytovolatization, to achieve the desired outcome. The chapter also unlined the merits and a few demerits of this principle, while the identification of sustainable plants and the mitigation of time constraints were the future directions mentioned for the projection of phytoremediation as the ideal approach for the restoration of the environment.
Microbial Functional Activity in Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil and Water
Authors: Sheikhavandi Tarlan
Published: August 2015

Since the beginning of the industrialization, application of chemical compounds on lands and disposal of contaminants to soil and water systems have caused numerous sorts of alterations in environment, and therefore affected the inhabitant biodiversity. This chapter aims to provide an introduction to bioremediation, an innovative multidisciplinary technology which employs microorganisms in order to reduce, eliminate, contain or transform hazardous contaminants in soil, sediment or water. So far, microorganisms and plants have been utilized to breakdown or transform several contaminants into less toxic forms. Main focus of chapter will be on several bioremediation techniques, employing indigenous microorganisms to decompose biodegradable pollutants in order to stabilize or to transform the contaminants into non-hazardous by-products. Besides, it will elucidate several factors effecting bioremediation process, involving energy source as a dominant necessity of microbial activity. Undoubtedly, bioremediation offers a greener pathway of remediation in comparison with wide varieties of conventional and artificial treatments.
Green Strategy for Production of Antimicrobial Textiles
Authors: Ali Nagia Farag
Published: August 2015

The article deals with the measurement of the antimicrobial activity for some natural dyes against various types of microbes as (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomons aeruginosa), Using nano materials for some metals or its oxides as titanium oxide for treatment of fabrics before dyeing, these materials were fixed on the fiber by chemical bonds to acquire new properties as antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi and also to protect from ultra violet rays. Using a traditional and microwave heating for extraction of dyes and dyeing methods because microwave heating is a more effective method than traditional heating. Other additional features are that, they are cheaper, more economical, eco-friendly, and produce a higher dye uptake as compared to conventional techniques, environmentally friendly pre-treatment by chitosan before dyeing in order to obtain dyed fabric with high quality and more protected against microbes. Application of antimicrobial agents in the development in the textiles as chitosan, qutenary ammonium salt and neem.
Optimization Studies on Biosorption of Ni(ii) and Cd(ii) from Wastewater in a Packed Bed Bioreactor
Authors: Narasimhulu K. , Setty Y. Pydi
Published: August 2015

This chapter refers to the study of the biosorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) in packed bed bioreactor by Pseudomonas putida. The conventional treatment methods of Nickel and Cadmium were elaborated and compared with biosorption. The methods for optimization of process conditions for biosorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) in packed bed bioreactor by Pseudomonas putida were explained. The optimum conditioned were determined to be flow rate of 300 mL/h, initial metal ion concentration of 100 mg/L and bed height of 20 cm with weight of biosorbent of 12 g, and it was found that the Agar immobilized Pseudomonas putida showed maximum percent biosorption and bed saturation occurred at 20 minutes. Optimization results of Ni(II) and Cd(II) by Pseudomonas putida from the Design Expert software were obtained as bed height of 19.93 cm, initial metal ion concentration of 103.85 mg/L, and flow rate of 310.57 mL/h. The percent biosorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) is 87.2% and 88.2% respectively. The predicted optimized parameters are in agreement with the experimental results. Experiments were carried out at established optimum conditions of bed height of 20.77 cm, flow rate of 309.09 mL/h, and initial metal ion concentration of 109.23 mg/L and results of biosorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) were reproduced and they were in agreement with the predicted results. Based the experimental results, it was observed that the Pseudomonas putida was the best choice to remove Nickel and Cadmium ions from wastewater in a continuous column system.
A Strategic Framework for a Secure Cyberspace in Developing Countries with Special Emphasis on the Risk of Cyber Warfare
Authors: Jaquire Victor , von Solms Basie
Published: August 2015

The objective of this paper is to provide a strategic framework for a secure cyberspace in developing countries, taking cognisance of the realities and constraints within a developing milieu; and to discuss if the risk of cyber warfare and related techniques against developing countries should be addressed within ‘The Framework'. Cybersecurity policies and related strategies are required for developing countries in order to effectively safeguard against cyber related threats (the same as for developed countries). These policies and strategies for developing countries will differ from those of developed countries due to the unique realities within a developing world. Africa in specific is presently seen as a hotbed for cybercrime, and one of the reasons is that many African countries do not have a proper framework, policies and procedures to properly protect cyberspace. Experience has also shown that a pure adoption by developing countries of the cyber frameworks of developed nations will not always be effective, especially due to the unique requirements and realities within developing worlds, such as limited resources, infrastructure, technologies, skills and experience. It is also necessary when talking about a strategic framework to secure cyberspace, to discuss cyber warfare, its general application and its possible utilisation as part of the strategy to protect national critical information infrastructure. This, as part of a developing country's national security strategy in addition to traditional cybersecurity defence measures. The approach taken for the research program, and discussed in this paper, is based on a comprehensive literature study on several existing cybersecurity policies and strategies from both developed and developing countries. From this the drivers / elements for national cybersecurity policies and strategies were identified. These drivers were than adapted to specifically relate to the requirements of developing countries, and then, utilising the identified and adapted drivers, our strategic framework for developing countries to secure their cyberspace was developed. This document will be very useful for those African countries venturing into defining relevant policies and procedures.
A Complete Security Framework for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Guyeux Christophe , Makhoul Abdallah , Atoui Ibrahim , Tawbi Samar , Bahi Jacques M.
Published: August 2015

Wireless sensor networks are often deployed in public or otherwise untrusted and even hostile environments, which prompt a number of security issues. Although security is a necessity in other types of networks, it is much more so in sensor networks due to the resource-constraint, susceptibility to physical capture, and wireless nature. Till now, most of the security approaches proposed for sensor networks present single solution for particular and single problem. Therefore, to address the special security needs of sensor networks as a whole we introduce a security framework. In their framework, the authors emphasize the following areas: (1) secure communication infrastructure, (2) secure scheduling, and (3) a secure data aggregation algorithm. Due to resource constraints, specific strategies are often necessary to preserve the network's lifetime and its quality of service. For instance, to reduce communication costs, data can be aggregated through the network, or nodes can go to sleep mode periodically (nodes scheduling). These strategies must be proven as secure, but protocols used to guarantee this security must be compatible with the resource preservation requirement. To achieve this goal, secure communications in such networks will be defined, together with the notions of secure scheduling and secure aggregation. The concepts of indistinguability, nonmalleability, and message detection resistance will thus be adapted to communications in wireless sensor networks. Finally, some of these security properties will be evaluated in concrete case studies.
Passive Copy- Move Forgery Detection Using Speed-Up Robust Features, Histogram Oriented Gradients and Scale Invariant Feature Transform
Authors: Pandey Ramesh Chand , Singh Sanjay Kumar , Shukla K K
Published: August 2015

Copy-Move is one of the most common technique for digital image tampering or forgery. Copy-Move in an image might be done to duplicate something or to hide an undesirable region. In some cases where these images are used for important purposes such as evidence in court of law, it is important to verify their authenticity. In this paper the authors propose a novel method to detect single region Copy-Move Forgery Detection (CMFD) using Speed-Up Robust Features (SURF), Histogram Oriented Gradient (HOG), Scale Invariant Features Transform (SIFT), and hybrid features such as SURF-HOG and SIFT-HOG. SIFT and SURF image features are immune to various transformations like rotation, scaling, translation, so SIFT and SURF image features help in detecting Copy-Move regions more accurately in compared to other image features. Further the authors have detected multiple regions COPY-MOVE forgery using SURF and SIFT image features. Experimental results demonstrate commendable performance of proposed methods.
Contributions of dust and biomass-burning to aerosols at a Colorado mountain-top site
Authors: Hallar A. G. , Petersen R. , Andrews E. , Michalsky J. , McCubbin I. B. , Ogren J. A.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Visible Multifilter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) data were collected at Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL), a mountain top facility in northwest Colorado, from 1999–2011 and in 2013. From 2011–2014, in situ measurements of aerosol light scattering were also obtained. Using these datasets together, the seasonal impact of dust and biomass burning is considered for the western United States. Analysis indicates that the median contributions to spring and summer aerosol optical depth (AOD) from dust and biomass-burning aerosols across the dataset are comparable. The mean AOD is slightly greater in the summer, with significantly more frequent and short duration high AOD measurements due to biomass-burning episodes, than in the spring. The Ångström exponent showed a significant increase in the summer for both the in situ and MFRSR data, indicating an increase in combustion aerosols. Spring dust events are less distinguishable in the in situ data than the column measurement, suggesting that a significant amount of dust may be found above the elevation of SPL, 3220 m a.s.l. Twenty-two known case studies of intercontinental dust, regional dust, and biomass burning events were investigated. These events were found to follow a similar pattern, in both aerosol loading and Ångström exponent, as the seasonal mean signal in both the MFRSR and ground-based nephelometer. This dataset highlights the wide scale implications of a warmer, drier climate on visibility in the western United States.
Effects of cultivation and reforestation on suspended sediment concentrations: a case study in a mountainous catchment in China
Authors: Fang N. F. , Chen F. X. , Zhang H. Y. , Wang Y. X. , Shi Z. H.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Understanding how sediment concentrations vary with land use/cover is critical for evaluating the current and future impacts of human activities on river systems. This paper presents suspended sediment concentration (SSC) dynamics and the relationship between SSC and discharge (Q) in the 8973 km2 Du catchment and its sub-catchment (4635 km2). In the Du catchment and its sub-catchment, 4235 and 3980 paired Q-SSC samples, respectively, were collected over 30 years. Under the influence of the "Household Contract Responsibility System" and Grain-for-Green projects in China, three periods were designated, the original period (1980s), cultivation period (1990s), and reforestation period (2000s). The results of a Mann–Kendall test showed that rainfall slightly increased during the study years; however, the annual discharge and sediment load significantly decreased. The annual suspended sediment yield of the Du catchment varied between 4 and 332 kg s−1, and that of the sub-catchment varied between 2 and 135 kg s−1. The SSCs in the catchment and sub-catchment fluctuated between 1 and 22 400 g m−3 and between 1 and 31 800 g m−3, respectively. The mean SSC of the Du catchment was relatively stable during the three periods (±83 g m−3). ANOVA indicated that the SSC did not significantly change under cultivation for low and moderate flows, but was significantly different under high flow during reforestation of the Du catchment. The SSC in the sub-catchment was more variable, and the mean-SSC in the sub-catchment varied from 1058 g m−3 in the 1980s to 1256 g m−3 in the 1990s and 891 g m−3 in the 2000s. Reforestation significantly decreased the SSCs during low and moderate flows, whereas cultivation increased the SSCs during high flow. The sediment rating curves showed a stable relationship between the SSC and Q in the Du catchment during the three periods. However, the SSC-Q of the sub-catchment exhibited scattered relationships during the original and cultivation periods and a more linear relationship during the reforestation period.
Tibial cartilage volume measurement in knee osteoarthritis using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Vanichtantikul Varalee , Hongvilai Sarit , Numkarunarunrote Numphung
Published: August 2015

Background

Cartilage degeneration is considered as the initial defect in osteoarthritis. Measurement of cartilage volume is important to monitor disease progression and therapeutic response.

Objectives

To measure tibial cartilage volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to evaluate the accuracy and interobserver reliability of tibial cartilage volume measurement using MRI.

Methods

The outline boundaries of the medial and lateral tibial cartilage were drawn manually on 1 mm slices using a track-ball to calculate the volume of each slice. Total calculated MRI-derived tibial cartilage volume was determined by summation of the slice volumes. The calculated tibial cartilage volume was compared to the actual tibial cartilage volume.

Results

There was a strong correlation between the calculated and actual tibial cartilage volumes determined by a radiologist and a researcher (98% and 89% agreement in medial tibial cartilage, 99% and 97% agreement in lateral tibial cartilage, respectively). High observer reliability was identified (92% agreement in medial tibial cartilage and 97% agreement in lateral tibial cartilage).

Conclusion

Tibial cartilage volume measurement using MRI can be easily performed by well-trained personnel such as radiologists or residents, and can be used to estimate tibial cartilage volume preoperatively in total knee arthroplasty, and to monitor disease progression and response to therapy.
Clinical Genetic Testing in Epilepsy
Authors: Mefford Heather C.
Published: August 2015

New technologies for mutation detection in the human genome have greatly increased our understanding of epilepsy genetics. Application of genomic technologies in the clinical setting allows for more efficient genetic diagnosis in some patients; therefore, it is important to understand the types of tests available and the types of mutations that can be detected. Making a genetic diagnosis improves overall patient care by enhancing prognosis and recurrence risk counseling and informing treatment decisions.
Autism and Epilepsy: Exploring the Relationship Using Experimental Models
Authors: Stafstrom Carl E. , Benke Tim A.
Published: August 2015

The common co-occurrence of autism and epilepsy suggests that certain neurobiological mechanisms are shared between these disorders. In particular, the profusion of novel genetic mutations being discovered in autism and epilepsy points to abnormalities in synapse formation and function that alter the balance between neuronal excitation and inhibition. Animal models can be informative in sorting out the medical and behavioral complexities in autism and epilepsy and the relationship between them. As mechanistic information accrues, it is anticipated that mutation- and pathway-specific targeted treatments can be developed.
Švenčionių aukštumos paviršių sudarančių glacialinių nuogulų karbonatingumo tyrimas
Authors: Rudnickaitė Eugenija , Slauto Leonid , Guobytė Rimantė
Published: August 2015

Straipsnyje pateikiami pietinėje Švenčionių aukštumos dalyje ir Dysnos lygu­moje kompleksinėms aukštumos paviršių sudarančioms glacialinėms nuoguloms ištirti Lietuvos geologijos tarnybos 2014  m. penkiose orografiškai ir geomorfologiškai skirtingose paviršiaus vietose išgręžtų sekliųjų (25–28 m gylio) kartografinių gręžinių kerno moreninių nuogulų karbonatingumo tyrimai. Šiame tyrime taikyta karbonatingumo nustatymo metodika skiriasi nuo kitų karbonatingumo tyrimui taikomų metodų tuo, kad galima nustatyti ne tik bendrą karbonatų kiekį, bet ir atskirų karbonatų klasės mineralų kiekius. Mes nustatėme mineralų kalcito ir dolomito kiekius. Dolomito kiekis nuogulose yra svarbus rodiklis įvairaus amžiaus morenoms atskirti. Jis priklauso nuo to, iš kur slinko ledynas ir kokias uolienas ardė. Pagal dolomito ir kalcito kiekį galima atskirti paskutiniojo ledynmečio glacialines nuogulas nuo senesnių, Medininkų ir Žemaitijos apledėjimų. Paskutiniojo apledėjimo glacialinėse nuogulose ankstesnių tyrimų metu daugeliu atvejų nustatytas mažesnis dolomito ir kalcito santykis nei Medininkų ar Žemaitijos moreninėse nuogulose (Rudnickaitė, 1983; 2013). Pagal dolomito ir kalcito santykį, taikant statistinius metodus, patikrintas moreninių nuogulų sluoksnių homogeniškumas tiek atskirų gręžinių vertikaliuose pjūviuose, tiek skirtinguose gręžiniuose. Kadangi mėginių, paimtų iš lygina­mųjų skirs­tinių  –  moreninių nuogulų sluoksnių, skaičius yra skirtingas, korektiškam statistiniam įvertinimui geriausiai tinka Van der Varden (Waerden) kri­te­rijus (Rudnickaitė, 2008; 2013). Rezultatas gaunamas naudojant SAS pro­gramą (Levulienė, 2009).
Does Money for Grocery Expenditure Sway Italian Consumers’ Motivational Values in Predicting Attitude towards Eco-Sustainable Food Products?
Authors: Vassallo Marco , Saba Anna
Published: August 2015

This study attempts to explain how the motivational domains of Schwartz’s theory of basic human values influence Italian consumers’ attitude towards buying eco-sustainable food products and the extent to which the average monthly amount of money available in households for grocery expenditure may modify this influence. A conceptual model of attitude with the high-order dimensions of the Schwartz’s taxonomy of human values and past experience as predictors has been hypothesized and performed on a representative sample (i.e., on regional basis and age categories) of Italian food consumers (n = 2760). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as the methodology. Italian consumers’ households with an average monthly amount of less than 400 Euros for grocery expenditures showed universal values and self-enhancement motivations in supporting their positive attitude towards eco-sustainable food products, but with a significant reduction of their openness to change and conservation in disfavor of these products. Consumers with more than 400 Euros showed attenuated universal and conservation values, but with less openness to change and self-enhancement motives. In conclusion, it has seemed that in Italy, where no legal requirements about sustainability have been established yet, being an ethical and universal food consumer still strongly depends on how much money one is able to spend rather than on how ethical or universal one wants to be. Keywords: Attitude towards Behavior, Eco-sustainable Foods, High-order Factors, Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values, Structural Equation Modeling To cite this document: Marco Vassallo and Anna Saba, "Does Money for Grocery Expenditure Sway Italian Consumers’ Motivational Values in Predicting Attitude towards Eco-Sustainable Food Products?", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.11, No.1, pp.3-24, 2015. Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/cmr.13840
Customer-Based Brand Equity: The Evidence from China
Authors: Lin Alex Y.-S. , Huang Yu-Ting , Lin Meng-Kai
Published: August 2015

Branding is one of the most dominant trends in the global hotel industry. This research aims to focus on customer-based brand equity, and examines whether brand equity influences customers’ repurchase intention in the hotel industry in Zhuhai, China. A sample of 193 valid responses was received through face-to-face surveys of customers who had experienced staying in high-star hotels. The results of the survey were analysed using a linear regression model, and the preliminary results indicate that there was a positive and meaningful relationship between brand equity and repurchase intention. Furthermore, this research contributes both applied and theoretical outcomes with empirical evidence. The paper also outlines the limitations and directions for future research.

Keywords: Brand Equity, Repurchase Intention, Hotel, Zhuhai

To cite this document: Alex Y.-S. Lin, Yu-Ting Huang, and Meng-Kai Lin, "Customer-Based Brand Equity: The Evidence from China
", Contemporary Management Research, Vol.11, No.1, pp.75-94, 2015.

Permanent link to this document:
http://dx.doi.org/10.7903/cmr.14153
Subpacket structures in EMIC rising tone emissions observed by the THEMIS probes
Authors: Nakamura Satoko , Omura Yoshiharu , Shoji Masafumi , Nosé Masahito , Summers Danny , Angelopoulos Vassilis
Published: August 2015

We report subpacket structures found in electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) rising tone emissions observed by the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) probes. We investigate three typical cases in detail. The first case shows a continuous single rising tone with four obvious subpackets, and the second case is characterized by a patchy emission with multiple subpackets triggered in a broadband frequency. The third case looks like a smooth rising tone without any obvious subpacket in the fast Fourier transform spectrum, while its amplitude contains small peaks with increasing frequencies. The degree of polarization of each subpacket is generally higher than 0.8 with a left‐handed polarization, and the wave direction of the subpackets is typically field aligned. We show that the time evolution of the observed frequency and amplitude can be reproduced consistently by nonlinear growth theory. We also compare the observed time span of each subpacket structure with the theoretical trapping time for second‐order cyclotron resonance. They are consistent, indicating that an individual subpacket is generated through a nonlinear wave growth process which excites an element in accordance with the theoretically predicted optimum amplitude.
Influence of cratonic lithosphere on the formation and evolution of flat slabs: Insights from 3‐D time‐dependent modeling
Authors: Taramón Jorge M. , Rodríguez‐González Juan , Negredo Ana M. , Billen Magali I.
Published: August 2015

Several mechanisms have been suggested for the formation of flat slabs including buoyant features on the subducting plate, trenchward motion and thermal or cratonic structure of the overriding plate. Analysis of episodes of flat subduction indicate that not all flat slabs can be attributed to only one of these mechanisms and it is likely that multiple mechanisms work together to create the necessary conditions for flat slab subduction. In this study we examine the role of localized regions of cratonic lithosphere in the overriding plate in the formation and evolution of flat slabs. We explicitly build on previous models, by using time‐dependent simulations with three‐dimensional variation in overriding plate structure. We find that there are two modes of flat subduction: permanent underplating occurs when the slab is more buoyant (shorter or younger), while transient flattening occurs when there is more negative buoyancy (longer or older slabs). Our models show how regions of the slab adjacent to the subcratonic flat portion continue to pull the slab into the mantle leading to highly contorted slab shapes with apparent slab gaps beneath the craton. These results show how the interpretation of seismic images of subduction zones can be complicated by the occurrence of either permanent or transient flattening of the slab, and how the signature of a recent flat slab episode may persist as the slab resumes normal subduction. Our models suggest that permanent underplating of slabs may preferentially occur below thick and cold lithosphere providing a built‐in mechanism for regeneration of cratons.
Filling the Gaps between Graphene Oxide: A General Strategy toward Nanolayered Oxides
Authors: Saito Yoshitaka , Luo Xi , Zhao Chunsong , Pan Wei , Chen Chengmeng , Gong Jianghong , Matsumoto Hidetoshi , Yao Jie , Wu Hui
Published: August 2015

Despite extraordinary developments in the research of 2D inorganic nanomaterials, a scalable and generalized synthetic method toward 2D oxide materials that lack layered lattice structures is still challenging. Herein, an easy and versatile solution‐based route to synthesize oxides with layered nanostructures by combining sol–gel method with graphene oxide (GO) paper templates is reported. GO can stack together to form a paper‐like membrane, the gap between two GO layers provides ideal 2D space to template the growth of oxide nanolayers. By this simple strategy, the gaps are filled successfully with polycrystalline TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3, and amorphous SiO2 nanolayers with thickness of 1–5 nm. Single or multilayers of the oxide‐based ceramic/glass nanolayers for applications in electronics, catalysts, energy storage, and gas separation can be expected; as an example, it is shown that layered Fe2O3 electrodes exhibit high performance for lithium‐ion battery due to enhanced electrical connections between the 2D nanolayers.
Flow‐Synthesis of Nucleosides Catalyzed by an Immobilized Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase from Aeromonas hydrophila: Integrated Systems of Reaction Control and Product Purification
Authors: Calleri Enrica , Cattaneo Giulia , Rabuffetti Marco , Serra Immacolata , Bavaro Teodora , Massolini Gabriella , Speranza Giovanna , Ubiali Daniela
Published: August 2015

A purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Aeromonas hydrophyla (AhPNP) was covalently immobilized in a pre‐packed stainless steel column containing aminopropylsilica particles via Schiff base chemistry upon glutaraldehyde activation. The resulting AhPNP‐IMER (Immobilized Enzyme Reactor, immobilization yield ≈50%) was coupled on‐line through a 6‐way switching valve to an HPLC apparatus containing an analytical or a semi‐preparative chromatographic column. The synthesis of five 6‐modified purine ribonucleosides was carried out by continuously pumping the reaction mixture through the AhPNP‐IMER until the highest conversion was reached, and then directing the reaction mixture to chromatographic separation. The conditions of the AhPNP‐catalyzed transglycosylations (2:1 ratio sugar donor:base acceptor; 10 mM phosphate buffer; pH 7.5; temperature 37 °C, flow rate 0.5 mL min−1) were optimized by a fractional factorial experimental design. Coupling the bioconversion step with the product purification in such an integrated platform resulted in a fast and efficient synthetic process (yield=52–89%; <10 mg) where sample handling was minimized. To date, AhPNP‐IMER has retained completely its activity upon 50 reactions in 10 months.

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Liquid‐liquid phase split in ionic liquid + toluene mixtures induced by CO2
Authors: Canales Roberto I. , Brennecke Joan F.
Published: August 2015

High pressure carbon dioxide was dissolved in ionic liquid + toluene mixtures to obtain the conditions of pressure and composition where a liquid‐liquid phase split occurs at constant temperature. Ionic liquids (ILs) with four different cations paired with the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Tf2N]−) anion were selected: 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium ([hmim]+), 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylpyridinium ([hmpy]+), triethyloctylphosphonium ([P2228]+), and tetradecyltrihexylphosphonium ([P66614]+). The solubility of CO2 was measured in the liquid mixtures at temperatures between 298 and 333 K and at pressures up to 8 MPa, or until the second liquid phase appeared, for initial liquid phase compositions of 0.30, 0.50, and 0.70 mole fraction of IL. Ternary isotherms were compared with the binary solubility of CO2 in each IL and pure toluene. The lowest pressure for separating toluene in a second liquid phase was achieved by decreasing the temperature of the system, increasing the amount of toluene in the initial liquid mixture and using [hmim][Tf2N]. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2968–2976, 2015
Thermodynamics of flat thin liquid films
Authors: Myint Philip C. , Firoozabadi Abbas
Published: August 2015

The two main themes of this study aim to resolve conflicting results in the literature regarding the thermodynamics of flat (uniform thickness) thin liquid films. One of the themes concerns the augmented Young equation, which is a condition for mechanical equilibrium. Two different expressions for the augmented Young equation have appeared in the literature. It is shown that under certain assumptions, the two expressions can be made equivalent. The second main theme addresses thermodynamic functions describing systems with non‐pressure‐volume (non‐PV) work. In thin liquid films, the non‐PVwork is the film tension work. Two different expressions that relate the film's Gibbs energy to its internal energy have appeared in the literature. This ambiguity is resolved by showing that only one of the Gibbs energies can be used to determine the equilibrium state via energy minimization. The analysis can be readily generalized to systems with other types of non‐PVwork. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical EngineersAIChE J, 61: 3104–3115, 2015
Self‐Assembled Fluorodendrimers Combine the Features of Lipid and Polymeric Vectors in Gene Delivery
Authors: Wang Hui , Wang Yitong , Wang Yu , Hu Jingjing , Li Tianfu , Liu Hongmei , Zhang Qiang , Cheng Yiyun
Published: August 2015

An ideal vector in gene therapy should exhibit high serum stability, excellent biocompatibility, a desired transfection efficacy and permeability into targeted tissues. Here, we describe a class of low‐molecular‐weight fluorodendrimers for efficient gene delivery. These materials self‐assemble into uniform nanospheres and allow for efficient transfection at low charge ratios and very low DNA doses with minimal cytotoxicity. Our results demonstrate that these vectors combine the features of synthetic gene vectors such as liposomes and cationic polymers and present promising potential for clinical gene therapy.
Preparation and characterization of waterborne polyurethane containing PET waste/PPG as soft segment
Authors: Fang Changqing , Lei Wanqing , Zhou Xing , Yu Qian , Cheng Youliang
Published: August 2015

Soft drinks poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles were depolymerized by glycolysis using a 1 : 3 molar ratio of PET repeating unit to glycols like neopentyl glycol (NPG) and dipropylene glycol (DPG). Further, a series of waterborne polyurethanes (WPUs) was synthesized using pure polypropylene glycol (PPG), and glycolyzed oligoesters/PPG blends in different molar ratios as soft segment. Thermal property of WPU was tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, viscosity and particle size of WPU were also investigated. The results show that introduction of a certain amount of glycolyzed oligoester to soft segment makes the degree of hard‐soft domain microphase separation smaller, and can also improve thermal stability of WPU. Furthermore, WPUs synthesised from glycolyzed oligoesters and PPG blends possess larger particle size, better particle size distribution, relative lower and more stable viscosity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42757.
Are changing diver characteristics important for coral reef conservation?
Authors: Augustine Skye , Dearden Philip , Rollins Rick
Published: August 2015

Scuba (self ‐ contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving can act as an incentive ‐ based conservation mechanism and protect reefs by funding conservation and replacing more consumptive uses. However, diving must be sustainable.

One challenge to sustainability is changing reef conditions and diving clientele over time. This paper examines these changes with respect to diving on the Andaman coast of Thailand using a Wildlife Tourism Model.

In 2012 a questionnaire was administered to 591 scuba divers and compared with 506 questionnaires collected in 2000. Findings include:

the 2012 industry has a higher proportion of low and medium specialization visitors that have lower expectations and lower overall satisfaction, yet remain willing to return;

the average per capita economic contribution of divers to the local economy and to dive companies declined by more than 30% by 2012;

Andaman coast diving continued to grow in 2012, dominated by mass ‐ market tourism that had diversified into several niches;

the results verify the use of the Wildlife Tourism Model as a tool to understand industry sustainability, and suggest further development of the model to capture the extension into specific, niche markets.

Changes to diver characteristics in 2012 restrict the ability of diving to fund conservation, provide alternative livelihoods, support environmental choices by operators, and control dive pressure exerted on reefs.

Results suggest the operationalization of Limits of Acceptable Change by both managers and dive operators to grow the conservation value of diving.

The results of this study suggest that the Wildlife Tourism Model can be used to inform management choices in emerging dive destinations. For instance, creating spatial zones that target the tourist composition most appropriate to meet the conservation goals of each reef system.

Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improving proverb search and retrieval with a generic multidimensional ontology
Authors: Zhitomirsky‐Geffet Maayan , Prebor Gila , Bloch Orna
Published: August 2015

The goal of this research is to develop a generic ontological model for proverbs that unifies potential classification criteria and various characteristics of proverbs to enable their effective retrieval and large‐scale analysis. Because proverbs can be described and indexed by multiple characteristics and criteria, we built a multidimensional ontology suitable for proverb classification. To evaluate the effectiveness of the constructed ontology for improving search and retrieval of proverbs, a large‐scale user experiment was arranged with 70 users who were asked to search a proverb repository using ontology‐based and free‐text search interfaces. The comparative analysis of the results shows that the use of this ontology helped to substantially improve the search recall, precision, user satisfaction, and efficiency and to minimize user effort during the search process. A practical contribution of this work is an automated web‐based proverb search and retrieval system which incorporates the proposed ontological scheme and an initial corpus of ontology‐based annotated proverbs.
Dissecting the cannabinergic control of behavior: The where matters
Authors: Busquets‐Garcia Arnau , Desprez Tifany , Metna‐Laurent Mathilde , Bellocchio Luigi , Marsicano Giovanni , Soria‐Gomez Edgar
Published: August 2015

The endocannabinoid system is the target of the main psychoactive component of the plant Cannabis sativa, the Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This system is composed by the cannabinoid receptors, the endogenous ligands, and the enzymes involved in their metabolic processes, which works both centrally and peripherally to regulate a plethora of physiological functions. This review aims at explaining how the site‐specific actions of the endocannabinoid system impact on memory and feeding behavior through the cannabinoid receptors 1 (CB1R). Centrally, CB1R is widely distributed in many brain regions, different cell types (e.g. neuronal or glial cells) and intracellular compartments (e.g. mitochondria). Interestingly, cellular and molecular effects are differentially mediated by CB1R according to their cell‐type localization (e.g. glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons). Thus, understanding the cellular and subcellular function of CB1R will provide new insights and aid the design of new compounds in cannabinoid‐based medicine.

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Study on the interaction between pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside and bovine serum albumin using spectroscopic, transmission electron microscopy and molecular modeling techniques
Authors: Li Shu , Tang Lin , Bi Hongna
Published: August 2015

The aim of this study is to evaluate the binding behavior between pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside (P3G) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) using multi‐spectroscopic, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and molecular docking methods under physiological conditions. Fluorescence spectroscopy and time‐resolved fluorescence showed that the fluorescence of BSA could be quenched remarkably by P3G via a static quenching mechanism, and there is a single class of binding site on BSA. In addition, the thermodynamic functions ΔH and ΔS were –21.69 kJ/mol and 24.46 J/mol/K, indicating that an electrostatic interaction was a main acting force. The distance between BSA and P3G was 2.74 nm according to Förster's theory, illustrating that energy transfer occurred. In addition, the secondary structure of BSA changed with a decrease in the α‐helix content from 66.2% to 64.0% as seen using synchronous fluorescence, UV/vis, circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, whereas TEM images showed that P3G led to BSA aggregation and fibrillation. Furthermore, site marker competitive experiments and molecular docking indicated that P3G could bind with subdomain IIA of BSA. The calculated results of the equilibrium fraction showed that the concentration of free P3G in plasma was high enough to be stored and transported from the circulatory system to its target sites to provide therapeutic effects. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlation for kLa Prediction of Airlift Loop Reactors Including the Gas Phase Residence Time Effect
Authors: Mießner Ulrich , Kück Ulf D. , Dujardin Viviane , Heithoff Susanne , Räbiger Norbert
Published: August 2015

Experimental mass transfer data and literature data of airlift loop reactors are analyzed concerning the effect of the gas phase residence time on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa. It becomes evident that a neglect of the oxygen depletion can be regarded as a diminishment of the mass transfer driving force. The latter is found to be an important cause of the mass transfer dependency on the actual apparatus height of airlift loop reactors. Therefore, a new correlation is presented that describes the volumetric mass transfer coefficients of airlift loop reactors by including the effect of gas phase transient component concentration depletion.
Reforming of Methane in a Multistage Microstructured Reactor
Authors: Pennemann Helmut , Bellinghausen Rainer , Westermann Thomas , Mleczko Leslaw
Published: August 2015

The concept of a multistage microstructured (MM) reactor was tested in the bench‐scale rig for combined steam and CO2 reforming of methane (RM). In this reactor type, the RM reaction is carried out in a series of adiabatic catalytic reaction steps with heat supply through fin‐plate heat exchangers placed between the stages. The RM reaction was performed over a rhodium‐based catalyst in the form of pellets. The experimental results were described with a reaction engineering model that can be used as the basis for model‐supported scale‐up. This paper describes an intermediate step in the development of the integrated reactor for thermal integration of oxidative coupling of methane and RM. Conversion and yield near thermodynamic equilibrium were achieved. Experiments confirmed the advantages of the MM reactor over wall‐coated microreactors.