bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magma production rate along the Ninetyeast Ridge and its relationship to Indian plate motion and Kerguelen hot spot activity
Authors: Sreejith K. M. , Krishna K. S.
Published: January 2015

The Ninetyeast Ridge, a linear trace of the Kerguelen hot spot in the Indian Ocean, was emplaced on a rapidly drifting Indian plate. Magma production rates along the ridge track are computed using gravity‐derived excess crustal thickness data. The production rates change between 2 and 15 m3/s over timescales of 3–16 Myr. Major variations in magma production rates are primarily associated with significant changes in the Indian plate velocity with low‐production phases linked to high plate velocity periods. The lowest magma production rate (2 m3/s) at 62 Ma is associated with the rapid northward drift of Indian plate under the influence of the Reunion mantle plume. The contemporaneous slowing of the African plate coincides with increase in magma production rate along the Walvis Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean. The present study suggests that variations in the Indian plate motion and frequent ridge jumps have a major role in controlling the magma production, particularly on long‐period cycles (~16 Myr). Short‐period variations (~5 Myr) in magma productions may be associated with intrinsic changes in the plume, possibly due to the presence of solitary waves in the plume conduit.
On the VHF radar echoes in the region of midnight aurora: Signs of ground echoes modulated by the ionosphere
Authors: Kozlovsky Alexander , Lester Mark
Published: January 2015

We present all‐sky interferometric meteor radar (MR), VHF (36.9 MHz), observations from Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory and report on the unusual echoes, which were detected at low elevation on the northern horizon, typically during substorms. These echoes have a near‐zero Doppler shift, relatively low power, but with a sharp rise to the power peak, short lifetime (less than 2 s), and nonexponential decay (NED). We suggest that such auroral NED echoes are in fact ground backscatter of the MR waves which have been refracted in the ionosphere, passing through the ionosphere in the substorm region, where pulsating aurora (at a frequency higher than 1.7 Hz) occurs and causes quasiperiodic modulation of the wave propagation conditions, which leads to corresponding modulation of the amplitude of return. The MR treats such oscillating signal as meteor trails.
Static Coulomb stress‐based Southern California earthquake forecasts: A pseudoprospective test
Authors: Strader Anne , Jackson David D.
Published: January 2015

Many studies support the hypothesis that where earthquakes occur, recent changes in resolved Coulomb stress tend to be positive. How about the converse hypothesis, that where resolved Coulomb stress recently increased, earthquakes are more likely to occur? Successful earthquake forecasting by Coulomb stress changes requires the converse. To test this, we calculated stress everywhere in our study area, not just at earthquake locations. We modeled stress accumulation in Southern California since 1812 both from the elastic effect of slip below locked faults and from M ≥ 5 “source” earthquakes up to any given date. To minimize the effect of secondary aftershocks not directly related to the source earthquakes, we measured seismicity using a gridded binary map: each 0.1° × 0.1° cell is “activated” if containing one or more test events (“receiver” earthquakes) of M ≥ 2.8. We then constructed an empirical relationship between resolved Coulomb stress and activation rate within regions with similar stress values, defining probabilities of activated cells during the “test” period, within 11 years of the M7.1 Hector Mine earthquake. We found that Coulomb stress reliably indicates future earthquake locations at the 95% confidence interval. However, smoothed seismicity forecasts outperformed Coulomb forecasts in some areas with large earthquakes due to aftershock clustering. Most earthquakes tend to nucleate in areas with Coulomb stress changes greater than 0.5 MPa or less than −0.5 MPa. Within areas with increased Coulomb stress from older earthquakes, fewer earthquakes occurred than anticipated. After reducing stress uncertainty impact, Coulomb rate‐and‐state forecasts may also improve upon statistical earthquake forecasts.
Monthly gravity field models derived from GRACE Level 1B data using a modified short‐arc approach
Authors: Chen Qiujie , Shen Yunzhong , Zhang Xingfu , Hsu Houze , Chen Wu , Ju Xiaolei , Lou Lizhi
Published: January 2015

In this study, a new time series of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) monthly solutions, complete to degree and order 60 spanning from January 2003 to August 2011, has been derived based on a modified short‐arc approach. Our models entitled Tongji‐GRACE01 are available on the website of International Centre for Global Earth Models (http://icgem.gfz-potsdam.de/ICGEM/). The traditional short‐arc approach, with no more than 1 h arcs, requires the gradient corrections of satellite orbits in order to reduce the impact of orbit errors on the final solution. Here the modified short‐arc approach has been proposed, which has three major differences compared to the traditional one: (1) All the corrections of orbits and range rate measurements are solved together with the geopotential coefficients and the accelerometer biases using a weighted least squares adjustment; (2) the boundary position parameters are not required; and (3) the arc length can be extended to 2 h. The comparisons of geoid degree powers and the mass change signals in the Amazon basin, the Antarctic, and Antarctic Peninsula demonstrate that our model is comparable with the other existing models, i.e., the Centre for Space Research RL05, Jet Propulsion Laboratory RL05, and GeoForschungsZentrum RL05a models. The correlation coefficients of the mass change time series between our model and the other models are better than 0.9 in the Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula. The mass change rates in the Antarctic and Antarctic Peninsula derived from our model are −92.7 ± 38.0 Gt/yr and −23.9 ± 12.4 Gt/yr, respectively, which are very close to those from other three models and with similar spatial patterns of signals.
Multiparameter adjoint tomography of the crust and upper mantle beneath East Asia: 1. Model construction and comparisons
Authors: Chen Min , Niu Fenglin , Liu Qinya , Tromp Jeroen , Zheng Xiufen
Published: January 2015

We present a 3‐D radially anisotropic model of the crust and mantle beneath East Asia down to 900 km depth. Adjoint tomography based on a spectral element method is applied to a phenomenal data set comprising 1.7 million frequency‐dependent traveltime measurements from waveforms of 227 earthquakes recorded by 1869 stations. Compressional wave speeds are independently constrained and simultaneously inverted along with shear wave speeds (VSH and VSV) using the same waveform data set with comparable resolution. After 20 iterations, the new model (named EARA2014) exhibits sharp and detailed wave speed anomalies with improved correlations with surface tectonic units compared to previous models. In the upper 100 km, high wave speed (high‐V) anomalies correlate very well with the Junggar and Tarim Basins, the Ordos Block, and the Yangtze Platform, while strong low wave speed (low‐V) anomalies coincide with the Qiangtang Block, the Songpan Ganzi Fold Belt, the Chuandian Block, the Altay‐Sayan Mountain Range, and the back‐arc basins along the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plate margins. At greater depths, narrow high‐V anomalies correspond to major subduction zones and broad high‐V anomalies to cratonic roots in the upper mantle and fragmented slabs in the mantle transition zone. In particular, EARA2014 reveals a strong high‐V structure beneath Tibet, appearing below 100 km depth and extending to the bottom of the mantle transition zone, and laterally spanning across the Lhasa and Qiangtang Blocks. In this paper we emphasize technical aspects of the model construction and provide a general discussion through comparisons.
Advancements in decadal climate predictability: The role of nonoceanic drivers
Authors: Bellucci A. , Haarsma R. , Bellouin N. , Booth B. , Cagnazzo C. , van den Hurk B. , Keenlyside N. , Koenigk T. , Massonnet F. , Materia S. , Weiss M.
Published: January 2015

We review recent progress in understanding the role of sea ice, land surface, stratosphere, and aerosols in decadal‐scale predictability and discuss the perspectives for improving the predictive capabilities of current Earth system models (ESMs). These constituents have received relatively little attention because their contribution to the slow climatic manifold is controversial in comparison to that of the large heat capacity of the oceans. Furthermore, their initialization as well as their representation in state‐of‐the‐art climate models remains a challenge. Numerous extraoceanic processes that could be active over the decadal range are proposed. Potential predictability associated with the aforementioned, poorly represented, and scarcely observed constituents of the climate system has been primarily inspected through numerical simulations performed under idealized experimental settings. The impact, however, on practical decadal predictions, conducted with realistically initialized full‐fledged climate models, is still largely unexploited. Enhancing initial‐value predictability through an improved model initialization appears to be a viable option for land surface, sea ice, and, marginally, the stratosphere. Similarly, capturing future aerosol emission storylines might lead to an improved representation of both global and regional short‐term climatic changes. In addition to these factors, a key role on the overall predictive ability of ESMs is expected to be played by an accurate representation of processes associated with specific components of the climate system. These act as “signal carriers,” transferring across the climatic phase space the information associated with the initial state and boundary forcings, and dynamically bridging different (otherwise unconnected) subsystems. Through this mechanism, Earth system components trigger low‐frequency variability modes, thus extending the predictability beyond the seasonal scale.
Anomalous solute transport in saturated porous media: Relating transport model parameters to electrical and nuclear magnetic resonance properties
Authors: Swanson Ryan D. , Binley Andrew , Keating Kristina , France Samantha , Osterman Gordon , Day‐Lewis Frederick D. , Singha Kamini
Published: January 2015

The advection‐dispersion equation (ADE) fails to describe commonly observed non‐Fickian solute transport in saturated porous media, necessitating the use of other models such as the dual‐domain mass‐transfer (DDMT) model. DDMT model parameters are commonly calibrated via curve fitting, providing little insight into the relation between effective parameters and physical properties of the medium. There is a clear need for material characterization techniques that can provide insight into the geometry and connectedness of pore spaces related to transport model parameters. Here, we consider proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), direct‐current (DC) resistivity, and complex conductivity (CC) measurements for this purpose, and assess these methods using glass beads as a control and two different samples of the zeolite clinoptilolite, a material that demonstrates non‐Fickian transport due to intragranular porosity. We estimate DDMT parameters via calibration of a transport model to column‐scale solute tracer tests, and compare NMR, DC resistivity, CC results, which reveal that grain size alone does not control transport properties and measured geophysical parameters; rather, volume and arrangement of the pore space play important roles. NMR cannot provide estimates of more‐mobile and less‐mobile pore volumes in the absence of tracer tests because these estimates depend critically on the selection of a material‐dependent and flow‐dependent cutoff time. Increased electrical connectedness from DC resistivity measurements are associated with greater mobile pore space determined from transport model calibration. CC was hypothesized to be related to length scales of mass transfer, but the CC response is unrelated to DDMT.
Toward a true spatial model evaluation in distributed hydrological modeling: Kappa statistics, Fuzzy theory, and EOF‐analysis benchmarked by the human perception and evaluated against a modeling case study
Authors: Koch Julian , Jensen Karsten Høgh , Stisen Simon
Published: January 2015

The hydrological modeling community is aware that the validation of distributed hydrological models has to move beyond aggregated performance measures, like hydrograph assessment by means of Nash‐Suitcliffe efficiency toward a true spatial model validation. Remote sensing facilitates continuous data and can be measured on a similar spatial scale as the predictive scale of the hydrological model thereby it can serve as suitable data for the spatial validation. The human perception is often described as a very reliable and well‐trained source for pattern comparison, which this study wants to exploit. A web‐based survey that is interpreted based on approximately 200 replies reflects the consensus of the human perception on map comparisons of a reference map and 12 synthetic perturbations. The resulting similarity ranking can be used as a reference to benchmark various spatial performance metrics. This study promotes Fuzzy theory as a suitable approach because it considers uncertainties related to both location and value in the simulated map. Additionally, an EOF‐analysis (Empirical Orthogonal Function) is conducted to decompose the map comparison into its similarities and dissimilarities. A modeling case study serves to further examine the metrics capability to assess the goodness of fit between simulated and observed land surface temperature maps. The EOF‐analysis unambiguously identifies a systematic depth to groundwater table‐related model deficiency. Kappa statistic extended by Fuzziness is a suitable and commonly applied measure for map comparison. However, its apparent bias sensitivity limits it's capability as a diagnostic tool to detect the distinct deficiency.
A Facile In Situ Approach to Polypyrrole Functionalization Through Bioinspired Catechols
Authors: Zhang Wei , Pan Zihe , Yang Fut K. , Zhao Boxin
Published: January 2015

A template‐free benign approach to modify polypyrrole (PPy) with bioinspired catechol derivatives dopamine (DA), 1,2‐dihydroxybenzene or catechol (CA), and l‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) is reported. It is found that PPy functionalized with these catechol derivatives (DA, CA, and DOPA) exhibited fibrous structure, smaller particle size, good water dispersibility, and enhanced film adhesion. Surprisingly, it is found that adding a small amount of catechols can also improve PPy's electrical conductivity. This rapid, one‐step, in situ, template‐free method provided an alternative strategy to the facile production of PPy fibers. Among these three catechols, functionalized PPy and DA‐PPy exhibits the smallest particle size and best performance in both adhesion and electrical conductivity. In contrast, the control phenylethlamine (PA) modification had almost negligible influence on the PPy properties, which provides strong evidence that instead of amine functional group or coexistence of both catechol and amine moieties, catechol itself is responsible for the successful functionalization of PPy and overall performance improvement. Furthermore, catechol‐PPy nanofibers are blended into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solution and casted to form thin films; as‐synthesized conductive films are found able to bond strongly onto the surface and may find broad applications in manufacturing biosensors and electronic devices.
Polypyrrole Asymmetric Bilayer Artificial Muscle: Driven Reactions, Cooperative Actuation, and Osmotic Effects
Authors: Fuchiwaki Masaki , Martinez Jose G. , Otero Toribio F.
Published: January 2015

The coulo‐dynamic (angle/consumed charge) characterization of an asymmetric polypyrrole (PPy) bending bilayer (PPy1/PPy2) muscle is performed in aqueous solutions by cyclic voltammetry with parallel video recording of a reversible angular displacement of 200°. The characterization of each of the two PPy1/tape, PPy2/tape muscles, describing 30° and 50° per voltammetric cycle, corroborates the driven muscle reactions and ionic exchanges. The asymmetric bilayer efficiency, as described degrees per reaction unit, is seven and four times that of the PPy/tape muscles. A cooperative electro‐chemo‐mechanical actuation of each of the individual layers occurs in the asymmetric bilayer. Each of the three muscles is a Faradaic polymeric motor: described angles are linear functions of the consumed charge with small hysteresis loops. Each loop is related to dynamic water osmotic balance following the reaction driven film swelling or its fast electro‐osmotic expulsion around the reduction induced conformational closing and film compaction.
Mean drop size correlations and population balance models for liquid—liquid dispersion
Authors: Zainal Abidin Mohd Izzudin Izzat , Abdul Raman Abdul Aziz , Mohamad Nor Mohamad Iskandr
Published: January 2015

Reliable models are required for accurate estimation of drop sizes which govern the interfacial area and rate of mass transfer in a system where various correlations and models have been improved for better accuracy and wider application breath. In this article, relevant semiempirical equations and population balance equation (PBE) models are reviewed. Semiempirical correlations are highly system dependent and limited to prediction of steady‐state drop size while PBE models could estimate transient drop size with considerations of inhomogeineity and flow spatial variation during drop size evolution. With appropriate model parameters determination, different PBE models can be used to reproduce experimental data for a similar system. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1129–1145, 2015
Richter's transformation to diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: A retrospective study reporting clinical data, outcome, and the benefit of adding rituximab to chemotherapy, from the Israeli CLLStudy Group
Authors: Tadmor Tamar , Shvidel Lev , Bairey Osnat , Goldschmidt Neta , Ruchlemer Rosa , Fineman Riva , Rahimi‐Levene Naomi , Herishanu Yair , Yuklea Mona , Arad Ariela , Aviv Ariel , Polliack Aaron ,   On behalf of the Israeli CLL Study Group
Published: January 2015

Richter's syndrome (RS) is the rare development of an aggressive lymphoid malignancy in a patient with pre‐existing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Data on RS is sparse and mostly derived from case reports or small series of patients and only a few larger cohorts have been published. The purpose of this large retrospective study was to summarize our national experience with RS in CLL, examine possible risk factors, and analyze relevant demographic, laboratory and clinical parameters, including results of therapy and outcome. We first evaluated data obtained from 119 patients with RS diagnosed during 1971–2010 from 12 medical centers in Israel. The final cohort summarized consisted of 81 patients with RS who developed only diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after exclusion all cases with insufficient data and those who were not DLBCL. Median overall survival from time of diagnosis of RS was 8 months; after applying the Richter score, patients could be stratified into three prognostic groups, while all other clinical and laboratory parameters evaluated had no prognostic significance. Prior therapy for CLL had no impact on RS survival (P = 0.8) and patients with therapy “naïve” RS and those who had already received chemotherapy prior to developing RS, had the same survival. The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy for RS improved 2 years overall survival from 19% in the chemotherapy alone arm to 42% (P value of 0.001). Although prognosis of patients with RS remains dismal, this retrospective observation provides support for the use of chemo‐immunotherapy in DLBCL‐RS. Am. J. Hematol. 89:E218–E222, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Blast transformation in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia: Risk factors, genetic features, survival, and treatment outcome
Authors: Patnaik Mrinal M. , Wassie Emnet A. , Lasho Terra L. , Hanson Curtis A. , Ketterling Rhett , Tefferi Ayalew
Published: January 2015

Among 274 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and followed for a median of 17.1 months, blast transformation (BT) occurred in 36 (13%). On multivariable analysis, risk factors for BT were presence of circulating blasts (HR 5.7; 95% CI 2.8–11.9) and female gender (HR 2.6; 95% CI 1.3–5.1); the results remained unchanged when analysis was restricted to CMML‐1. ASXL1/SRSF2/SF3B1/U2AF1/SETBP1 mutational frequencies were not significantly different between time of CMML diagnosis and BT. Median survival post‐BT was 4.7 months (5‐year survival 6%) and better with allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) (14.3 months vs. 4.3 months for chemotherapy vs. 0.9 months for supportive care; P = 0.03). Neither karyotype nor mutational status was independently associated with risk of BT or post‐BT survival. We conclude that female patients with CMML and those with circulating blasts are at a higher risk of BT. Post‐BT survival is dismal and our observations suggest consideration of allogeneic SCT prior to BT.Am. J. Hematol. 90:411–416, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Highly Enantioselective Adsorption of Small Prochiral Molecules on a Chiral Intermetallic Compound
Authors: Prinz Jan , Gröning Oliver , Brune Harald , Widmer Roland
Published: January 2015

Intrinsically chiral surfaces of intermetallic compounds are shown to be novel materials for enantioselective processes. Their advantage is the significantly higher thermal and chemical stability, and therefore their extended application range for catalyzed chiral reactions compared to surfaces templated with chiral molecular modifiers or auxiliaries. On the Pd1‐terminated PdGa(111) surface, room‐temperature adsorption of a small prochiral molecule (9‐ethynylphenanthrene) leads to exceptionally high enantiomeric excess ratios of up to 98 %. Our findings highlight the great potential of intrinsically chiral intermetallic compounds for the development of novel, enantioselective catalysts that can be operated at high temperatures and potentially also in harsh chemical environments.
Development of functionalized doped carbon nanotube/polysulfone nanofiltration membranes for fouling control
Authors: Yokwana Kholiswa , Gumbi Nozipho , Adams Feyisayo , Mhlanga Sabelo , Nxumalo Edward , Mamba Bheki
Published: January 2015

This work describes the fabrication of nitrogen doped and phosphorus doped carbon nanotube (fP‐CNT and fN‐CNT)/polysulfone blend membranes via a phase inversion method. The structural morphology, hydrophilicity, rejection, and permeability properties of the blend membranes were found to be dependent on the amount and type of functionalized CNTs (fCNTs) incorporated (i.e., fN‐CNTs, fP‐CNTs). The results showed that PSf membranes modified with P‐ or N‐doped CNTs have significantly improved hydrophilicity, thermal stability, water uptake, and surface charge compared to membranes modified with pristine fCNTs. Scanning electron microscopy studies demonstrated that the addition of the doped CNTs resulted in the formation of ‘finger‐like’ structures subsequently leading to increased membrane porosities and pore sizes. Thus, doped CNTs imparted on the transport mechanism of the parent membranes resulting in enhanced flow rates and better selectivity. This increase could be due to a combination of steric limitations from the carboxylic functional groups present in their surfaces leading to electrostatic repulsions between functional groups present in the membranes and the humic acid molecules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41835.
Thermal conductivity and thermal properties of POSS/polytriazole organic–inorganic hybrid material
Authors: Xue Shukai , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: January 2015

To decrease the thermal conductivity of polytriazole‐based fiber reinforced composites, an organic–inorganic POSS/polytriazole hybrid resin was obtained. The influences of various proportions of POSS on thermal conductivity and the thermal properties of hybrid materials were emphatically investigated. The results show that POSS incorporation resulted in not only decreased thermal conductivity but also increased Tg and thermal decomposition temperature. The enhancement was ascribed to the nanoscale effect of POSS structure and the fact that the POSS framework has a high heat resistance property. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41967.
Enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of nylon‐6 composite by using carbon fiber/graphene multiscale structure as additive
Authors: Zang Chong‐Guang , Zhu Xiang‐Dong , Jiao Qing‐Jie
Published: January 2015

In order to improve the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of nylon‐6 (PA6) composites, a highly effective multiscale structure filler comprising poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)‐modified graphene and negatively surface‐charged carbon fiber was synthesized in this study. For this, the graphene used a top‐down method for synthesis by exfoliating graphite oxide (GO) through focused solar radiation on it and then modified its surface by using a polyelectrolyte. The carbon fiber (CF) surface was functionalized by an acid oxidation method. The multiscale structure was manufactured via the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged solar graphene (SG) and oppositely charged CF by homogeneous mixing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the fracture surface of the PA6 composites exhibited that the carbon fiber/graphene multiscale structure possessed better dispersion and compatibility than those of individual CF and SG did. Thus, the impact strength, bending properties, and electrical conductivity of the PA6 composites were enhanced. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2015,132, 41968.
Aging of polyamide 11. Part 1: Evaluating degradation by thermal, mechanical, and viscometric analysis
Authors: Mazan Tobiasz , Berggren Randi , Jørgensen Jens Kjær , Echtermeyer Andreas
Published: January 2015

Hydrolytic degradation at elevated temperatures is a key reason for failure in offshore flexible risers. In this article, the aging of polyamide 11 in deoxygenated water at 90°C and 120°C was studied. Tensile and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis tests were performed to measure changes in mechanical properties. Viscometry, gravimetric measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to link these properties with morphological changes. General trends are increased stiffness, tensile strength, and glass transition temperature as well as decreased glassy state damping efficiency with increased aging times. Changes can be initially ascribed to plasticizer depletion and then to interplay between molecular weight decrease and crystallinity increase. Viscosity at hydrolysis equilibrium indicates that brittle failure typically involves oxidation or UV exposure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41971.
Rapid Payne effect test—A novel method for study of strain‐softening behavior of rubbers filled with various carbon blacks
Authors: Kadlcak Jakub , Kuritka Ivo , Tunnicliffe Lewis B. , Cermak Roman
Published: January 2015

In the presented article, the strain‐softening process in rubber compounds filled with carbon black is investigated. First people to observe this process were Fletcher and Gent in 1954. Later, Payne did an extensive investigation of the process thus the test is generally known as Payne effect test. Based on the measured data, so‐called Payne softening can be calculated. The Payne softening is broadly considered as the measure of the strain‐softening. In order to investigate strain‐softening behavior of a filled rubber compound several strain amplitudes are imposed during a Payne effect test. In this article, a two‐point (rapid) version of the test containing only two strain amplitudes is introduced and verified statistically. This test has shown that for the investigation of the filler network disintegration in filled rubbers primarily the large deformations are important, notwithstanding the strain history of a sample. Moreover, the softening characteristic is observed in 30% of the time of the original test. The new method is exemplified for a study of three different rubbers filled with various carbon blacks. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41976.
A comparative analysis of chick culturing methods on skeletogenesis
Authors: Jourdeuil Karyn A. , Hammer Christine L. , Franz‐Odendaal Tamara A.
Published: January 2015

Chick embryos are desirable models for the study of developmental biology. Despite this, there are very few studies that examine the effect of different culturing methods on skeletogenesis, specifically, intramembranous and endochondral bones. This study presents a detailed description of these effects by comparing two different culturing methods: windowed (in the shell) eggs and ex‐ovo or shell‐less culturing to normal development. Using whole mount bone staining, we determined that there is no significant difference in the length of the ossified region of intramembranous and endochondral bones in control versus window cultured embryos. However, these bones are significantly underossified in shell‐less embryos. Shell‐less embryos also exhibit abnormalities in endochondral bones. Intramembranous bones, interestingly, are morphologically normal in shell‐less embryos. This study provides the first detailed description of ossification in window (in‐ovo) and shell‐less (ex‐ovo) cultured embryos compared with controls (in‐ovo). Patterning of the skeleton is unaffected regardless of culturing method. We conclude that studies involving endochondral bones should not utilise shell‐less culturing methods. This data has been lacking in the literature and will serve as an important resource for those using cultured chick embryos in the study of skeletogenesis. Anat Rec, 298:810–819, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reviewing the latest results from the Pierre Auger Observatory
Authors: Dobrigkeit C. , the Pierre Auger Collaboration
Published: January 2015

The Pierre Auger Observatory was built to help unveil the properties of ultra‐high energy cosmic rays with energies from 1017 to 1020 eV. In this paper we review the latest results obtained from data of the Pierre Auger Observatory in almost ten years of continuous operation and summarize what has been learned about the energy spectrum, mass composition, and arrival directions of cosmic rays in that energy range. We also discuss some implications of these results for the full characterization of ultra‐high energy cosmic rays and for assembling a consistent description of their origin, propagation, and composition. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
FAIR – Cosmic matter in the laboratory
Authors: Stoecker H. , Sturm C.
Published: January 2015

To explore cosmic matter in the laboratory – this fascinating research prospect becomes available in 2018 at the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research, FAIR. The new facility is being constructed within the next five years adjacent to the existing accelerator complex of the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research at Darmstadt/Germany, expanding the research goals and technical possibilities substantially. This includes new insights into the dynamics of supernovae depending on the properties of short‐lived neutron‐rich nuclei which will be investigated with intense rare isotope beams. New insights will be provided into the interior of stars by exploring dense plasmas with intense heavy‐ion beams combined with a high‐performance laser – or into neutron star cores by probing the highest baryon densities in relativistic nucleusnucleus collisions at unprecedented collision rates. To the latter, the properties of hadrons play an important part which will be systematically studied by high precision hadron spectroscopy with antiproton beams at unmatched intensities. The worldwide unique accelerator and experimental facilities of FAIR will open the way for a broad spectrum of unprecedented fore‐front research supplying a large variety of experiments in hadron, nuclear, atomic and plasma physics as well as biomedical and material science which will be briefly described in this article. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Solutions of Einstein's field equation modified for the cosmological constant
Authors: Zubairi O. , Weber F.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we derive the stellar structure equations (modified Tolman‐Oppenheimer‐Volkoff equations) which account for a finite value of the cosmological constant Λ for spherically symmetric mass distributions. The equations are then used to study the role that Λ may have on these mass distributions. The form of this modified TOV equation has been suggested in the literature by a few authors already, however, with disagreeing results and conclusions. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Mini‐review on mini‐black holes from the mini‐Big Bang
Authors: Bleicher M. , Nicolini P.
Published: January 2015

We review the basic ideas about man‐made quantum mechanical black holes. We start by an overview of the proposed attempts to circumvent the hierarchy problem. We study the phenomenological implications of a strong gravity regime at the terascale and we focus on the issue of microscopic black holes. We provide the experimental bounds on relevant quantities as they emerge from major ongoing experiments. The experimental results exclude the production of black holes in collisions up to 8 TeV. We provide some possible explanations of such negative results in view of forthcoming investigations. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
CP violation in dual dark matter
Authors: Hadjimichef D. , Vasconcellos C. A. Z.
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we study the consequences of extending dual symmetry (DuSy) to include a generic Cµ vector field as a dual partner of the photon Aµ. A new combined field, the complex Z′µ, is obtained from Cµ and Aµ. The promotion of dual symmetry to a local symmetry for Z′µ implies the inclusion of an extra complex vector field Wµ with a complex gauge transformation. A dual dark matter (DM) Lagrangian LDDM is obtained from the general DuSy invariant Lagrangian LDuSy. Our tentative conjecture is to interpret W±µ as the actual weak interaction charged gauge boson W μ ±, which leads us to speculate about a possible extra CP violation scenarios for future calculations. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The broken electroweak symmetry in a magnetic field
Authors: Pérez Rojas H. , Rodríguez Querts E.
Published: January 2015

We study the influence of a strong magnetic field on the behavior of the symmetry of an electrically neutral electroweak plasma. We analyze the case of a strong field compared with the W boson rest energy, and very low temperature. It is shown that the charged vector bosons play the most important role, leading to a modification of the symmetry breaking parameter. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Geometry of pseudo‐complex General Relativity
Authors: Schäfer M. , Hess P.O. , Greiner W.
Published: January 2015

A first approach towards a geometric formulation of pseudo‐complex General Relativity is presented. We review the mathematics of pseudo‐complex numbers and functions and show how several concepts from real differential geometry can be generalized to the pseudo‐complex case. It is shown that the main feature of such a pseudo‐complex geometry is a product structure, which allows a separate treatment of all mathematical objects in two different sectors, respectively. In order to obtain a new theory, one needs new principles to connect both sectors and to define a real physical space‐time embedded into the pseudo‐complex manifold. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Imatinib use immediately before stem cell transplantation in children with Philadelphia chromosome‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Results from Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group (JPLSG) Study Ph+ALL04
Authors: Manabe Atsushi , Kawasaki Hirohide , Shimada Hiroyuki , Kato Itaru , Kodama Yuichi , Sato Atsushi , Matsumoto Kimikazu , Kato Keisuke , Yabe Hiromasa , Kudo Kazuko , Kato Motohiro , Saito Tomohiro , Saito Akiko M. , Tsurusawa Masahito , Horibe Keizo
Published: January 2015

Incorporation of imatinib into chemotherapeutic regimens has improved the prognosis of children with Philadelphia chromosome‐positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL). We investigated a role of imatinib immediately before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Children with Ph+ALL were enrolled on JPLSG Ph+ALL 04 Study within 1 week of initiation of treatment for ALL. Treatment regimen consisted of Induction phase, Consolidation phase, Reinduction phase, 2 weeks of imatinib monotherapy phase, and HSCT phase (Etoposide+CY+TBI conditioning). Minimal residual disease (MRD), the amount of BCR–ABL transcripts, was measured with the real‐time PCR method. The study was registered in UMIN‐CTR: UMIN ID C000000290. Forty‐two patients were registered and 36 patients (86%) achieved complete remission (CR). Eight of 17 patients (47%) who had detectable MRD at the beginning of imatinib monotherapy phase showed disappearance or decrease in MRD after imatinib treatment. Consequently, 26 patients received HSCT in the first CR and all the patients had engraftment and no patients died because of complications of HSCT. The 4‐year event‐free survival rates and overall survival rates among all the 42 patients were 54.1 ± 7.8% and 78.1 ± 6.5%, respectively. Four of six patients who did achieve CR and three of six who relapsed before HSCT were salvaged with imatinib‐containing chemotherapy and subsequently treated with HSCT. The survival rate was excellent in this study although all patients received HSCT. A longer use of imatinib concurrently with chemotherapy should eliminate HSCT in a subset of patients with a rapid clearance of the disease.
Periprocedural use of tirofiban in elective percutaneous coronary intervention for long coronary lesions in stable patients with overlapping drug‐eluting stents—thePETITIONstudy: A prospective, randomized, multicenter study
Authors: Zhang Qi , Long Wang Xiao , Lei Liao Min , Hu Jian , Kun Yang Zhen , Hua Ding Feng , Sheng Zhang Jian , Du Run , Qi Zhu Tian , Feng Shen Wei , Yan Zhang Rui
Published: January 2015

Background and purpose

Patients are at risk of developing periprocedural myonecrosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated whether the use of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor tirofiban could reduce periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing elective PCI with overlapping stent implantation for long lesions.

Methods

A total of 748 stable angina patients with long lesions (≥ 40 mm in length) treated with overlapping stent implantation were randomly assigned to receive tirofiban (tirofiban group;n = 373) or conventional therapy (control group;n = 375). Intravenous tirofiban was initiated before PCI and maintained for 12 hr after the procedure. The primary endpoint was PMI, defined as an elevation in CK‐MB > 3 times the upper limit of normal 12 hr after the index procedure. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, and recurrent MI (re‐MI), at one‐year of clinical follow‐up. The safety end‐points included Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) major bleeding and stent thrombosis.

Results

Despite comparable angiographic and procedural characteristics, in the intention‐to‐treatment analysis, the primary endpoint was significantly reduced in the tirofiban group (4.0% vs. 11.5%,P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the adjunctive use of tirofiban was the only negative predictor of PMI (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28–0.81,P < 0.01). At one‐year of clinical follow‐up, the overall occurrence of MACE was significantly lower in the tirofiban group (13.4% vs. 22.7%,P = 0.001). The rate of TIMI major bleeding and stent thrombosis did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Conclusion

Our results show that the adjunctive use of tirofiban reduces the occurrence of PMI and MACE at one year in stable coronary artery disease patients undergoing elective PCI for long lesions with overlapping stent implantation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Second‐Generation Fluorescent Quadracyclic Adenine Analogues: Environment‐Responsive Probes with Enhanced Brightness
Authors: Dumat Blaise , Bood Mattias , Wranne Moa S. , Lawson Christopher P. , Larsen Anders Foller , Preus Søren , Streling Jens , Gradén Henrik , Wellner Eric , Grøtli Morten , Wilhelmsson L. Marcus
Published: January 2015

Fluorescent base analogues comprise a group of increasingly important molecules for the investigation of nucleic acid structure, dynamics, and interactions with other molecules. Herein, we report on the quantum chemical calculation aided design, synthesis, and characterization of four new putative quadracyclic adenine analogues. The compounds were efficiently synthesized from a common intermediate through a two‐step pathway with the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling as the key step. Two of the compounds, qAN1 and qAN4, display brightnesses (εΦF) of 1700 and 2300, respectively, in water and behave as wavelength‐ratiometric pH probes under acidic conditions. The other two, qAN2 and qAN3, display lower brightnesses but exhibit polarity‐sensitive dual‐band emissions that could prove useful to investigate DNA structural changes induced by DNA–protein or –drug interactions. The four qANs are very promising microenvironment‐sensitive fluorescent adenine analogues that display considerable brightness for such compounds.
Lowering the Reduction Potential of a Boron Compound by Means of the Substituent Effect of the Boryl Group: One‐Electron Reduction of an Unsymmetrical Diborane(4)
Authors: Asakawa Hiroki , Lee Ka‐Ho , Furukawa Ko , Lin Zhenyang , Yamashita Makoto
Published: January 2015

We have clarified and observed the high electron affinity of pinBBMes2 (1; Mes=mesityl, pin=pinacolato). By using electrochemistry, it was shown that 1 has a higher electron affinity than those of B2pin2 and Mes3B. One‐electron reduction of 1 gave the corresponding radical anion. The ESR spectroscopy and DFT calculation revealed the unsymmetrical distribution of electron density over the BB bond. UV/Vis spectroscopy showed that the SOMO‐related absorption supports the deep purple color of the radical anion. DFT studies on the torsion angle dependency of the LUMO levels and relative energies revealed the reason why 1 has high electron affinity as a result of the substituent effect of the Bpin group.
ChemInform Abstract: Quantum Spin Hall Effect in Two‐Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides
Authors: Qian Xiaofeng , Liu Junwei , Fu Liang , Li Ju
Published: January 2015

first‐principles calculations
ChemInform Abstract: Zero Thermal Expansion and Ferromagnetism in Cubic Sc1‐xMxF3 (M: Ga, Fe) over a Wide Temperature Range.
Authors: Hu Lei , Chen Jun , Fan Longlong , Ren Yang , Rong Yangchun , Pan Zhao , Deng Jinxia , Yu Ranbo , Xing Xianran
Published: January 2015

The compounds ScF3, (Sc0.95Ga0.05)F3, (Sc0.9Ga0.05Fe0.05)F3, (Sc0.85Ga0.05Fe0.1)F3, and (Sc0.8Ga0.05Fe0.15)F3 are prepared by solid state reaction of Sc2O3, Fe2O3, Ga2O3, and NH4F (Pt crucible, 600 °C, 5h).
ChemInform Abstract: Hydrothermal Synthesis of Hollow Ca2Ge7O16 Microspheres as High‐Capacity Anodes for Li‐Ion Batteries with Long Cycling Life.
Authors: Lv Ting , Li Xiu , Ma Jianmin
Published: January 2015

Urchin‐like Ca2Ge7O16 spheres are hydrothermally synthesized from aqueous mixtures of GeO2, CaCl2, and N‐methyl urea (autoclave, 240 °C, 12 h), and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and electrochemical measurements.
ChemInform Abstract: Simultaneous Removal of Nitrite and Ammonia as Dinitrogen in Aqueous Suspensions of a Titanium(IV) Oxide Photocatalyst under Reagent‐Free and Metal‐Free Conditions at Room Temperature.
Authors: Kominami Hiroshi , Kitsui Ken , Ishiyama Yuki , Hashimoto Keiji
Published: January 2015

Photocatalytic reduction of nitrite in an aqueous suspension of TiO2 in the presence of ammonia results in the formation of N2 under irradiation of UV light at room temperature.
ChemInform Abstract: New RMnO3+δ (R: Y, Ho; δ ≈ 0.35) Phases with Modulated Structure.
Authors: Parkkima Outi , Malo Sylvie , Hervieu Maryvonne , Rautama Eeva‐Leena , Karppinen Maarit
Published: January 2015

A series of hexagonal LnMnO3 compounds (Ln: Y, Ho—Lu) are prepared by sol‐gel synthesis using citric acid, Ln2O3, and Mn(NO3)2 in diluted HNO3 (300 °C, 12 h).
ChemInform Abstract: The First Calcium‐Catalyzed Nazarov Cyclization.
Authors: Davies Jacob , Leonori Daniele
Published: January 2015

The first calcium‐catalyzed Nazarov cyclization is described.
ChemInform Abstract: Ring‐Opening and ‐Expansion of 2,2′‐Biaziridine: Access to Diverse Enantiopure Linear and Bicyclic Vicinal Diamines.
Authors: Bailey Stephen J. , Wales Steven M. , Willis Anthony C. , Keller Paul A.
Published: January 2015

Starting with the ring opening of enantiopure biaziridine (I) or its enantiomer (XV) with a range of nucleophiles functionalized vicinal diamines are produced, which are used in different cyclization steps to yield a variety of symmetric bicyclic diamines.
ChemInform Abstract: Ruthenium Complexes of Tetradentate Bipyridine Ligands: Highly Efficient Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Carboxylic Esters and Lactones.
Authors: Li Wei , Xie Jian‐Hua , Yuan Ming‐Lei , Zhou Qi‐Lin
Published: January 2015

A new type of readily available, air‐stable Ru‐complex is described.
ChemInform Abstract: Facile Regio‐ and Stereoselective Metal‐Free Synthesis of All‐Carbon Tetrasubstituted Alkenes Bearing a C(sp3)—F Unit via Dehydroxyfluorination of Morita—Baylis—Hillman (MBH) Adducts.
Authors: Takizawa Shinobu , Arteaga Fernando Arteaga , Kishi Kenta , Hirata Shuichi , Sasai Hiroaki
Published: January 2015

Starting from easily accessible Baylis—Hillman adducts the synthesis of alkenes having four different C‐substituents including a challenging ‐CH2F is presented.
ChemInform Abstract: Activation of Alcohols with Carbon Dioxide: Intermolecular Allylation of Weakly Acidic Pronucleophiles.
Authors: Lang Simon B. , Locascio Theresa M. , Tunge Jon A.
Published: January 2015

An efficient method is developed for the direct coupling of allyl alcohols with nitriles, aldehydes, and nitroalkanes.
ChemInform Abstract: Photocatalytic Decarboxylative Reduction of Carboxylic Acids and Its Application in Asymmetric Synthesis.
Authors: Cassani Carlo , Bergonzini Giulia , Wallentin Carl‐Johan
Published: January 2015

The decarboxylative reduction of α‐amino acids and α‐hydroxy acids is achieved in the presence of the (mesityl)methylacridinium photoredox catalyst in combination with bis(4‐chlorophenyl) disulfide.
ChemInform Abstract: Benzoic Acid‐Catalyzed Transamidation Reactions of Carboxamides, Phthalimide, Ureas and Thioamide with Amines.
Authors: Wu Ji‐Wei , Wu Ya‐Dong , Dai Jian‐Jun , Xu Hua‐Jian
Published: January 2015

The method works best for the transamidation of primary amides.
ChemInform Abstract: Enaminones via Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Coupling of Thioamides and α‐Diazocarbonyl Compounds.
Authors: Hussaini Syed R. , et al. et al.
Published: January 2015

The use of Ru(II) catalysts, which are less expensive than the established Rh2(OAc)4, for the synthesis of enaminones via coupling of α‐diazocarbonyl compounds with thioamides is described.
ChemInform Abstract: The First Allylation of Esters by an Allylsilane: One‐Pot Domino Synthesis of Triallylmethane Derivatives.
Authors: Bandi Chenna Kesava Reddy , Belostotskii Anatoly , Hassner Alfred
Published: January 2015

The 2,6‐dimethoxyphenyl ester group usually gives the best results in the title reaction.