bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dezentrale Automatisierung der Verteilnetze
Authors: Hübner Christian , Diedrich Christian , Jumar Ulrich
Published: May 2014

Der Aufbau aktiver Verteilnetze erfordert ein dezentrales
Automatisierungskonzept, das auf bewährte Technologien und Standards
aus der Industrieautomation zurückgreift und eine flexible
Erweiterbarkeit der Netzautomatisierungsfunktionen erlaubt. Dies kann
durch Kombination der IEC-Normen 61131-3 und 61850 erfüllt werden, die
eine durchgängig standard-basierte Umsetzung der
Verteilnetzautomatisierung ermöglichen.
Gekoppelte Simulation komplexer Energiesysteme mittels MOSAIK und FMI
Authors: Rohjans Sebastian , Widl Edmund , Müller Wolfgang , Schütte Steffen , Lehnhoff Sebastian
Published: May 2014

In diesem Beitrag wird das Thema Simulation für zukünftige
Energiesysteme behandelt. Es wird beschrieben, welche komplexen
Anforderungen an Simulationen gestellt werden und wie diese mit dem
Werkzeug mosaik durch eine Integration des Functional Mock-up
Interface (FMI) adressiert werden. An einem realistischen Szenario
wird gezeigt, wie heterogene Modelle unkompliziert gekoppelt werden
können.
Lobbying and the collective action problem: comparative evidence from enterprise surveys
Authors: Barber Benjamin , Pierskalla Jan , Weschle Simon
Published: May 2014

Industry lobbying is traditionally thought of as a non-excludable good subject to collective action problems that are most easily solved by concentrated industries. However, there is very little empirical support for this hypothesis. In this paper, we address a major shortcoming of existing work on the topic: Its near-exclusive reliance on data from the US. Using comparative firm-level survey data from up to 74 countries, we construct an industry-level indicator of concentration and test its effect on firms’ lobbying activity. Using multilevel Extreme Bounds Analysis and Bayesian Variable Selection techniques to account for model uncertainty, we find no evidence that industry concentration is a predictor of lobbying activity. We discuss the implications of these non-findings for the literature and outline possible avenues for further research.
Lesen, Surfen, Chatten, Sliden
Authors: Büsch Andreas
Published: May 2014

Medienkompetenz ist ein häufig gebrauchter Begriff, dessen inhaltliche Bestimmung jedoch häufig schillernd bleibt und leider oft auf ein rein technisches Verständnis verkürzt wird. Der Versuch einer differenzierten inhaltlichen Bestimmung von sieben Teilkompetenzen ist die Voraussetzung für eine altersdifferenzierte Darstellung der spezifischen Herausforderungen für eine medienbezogene Bildung in den einzelnen Altersstufen. Schließlich ist zu fragen, was für eine Absicherung einer entsprechenden Medienbildung zu tun ist.
Quantity Uncertainty and Demand: The Case of Water Smart Reader Ownership
Authors: Strong Aaron , Goemans Chris
Published: May 2014

There are a number of instances when consumers have imperfect information regarding the quantity they consume. This paper has two objectives: (1) to formally describe how quantity uncertainty is likely to affect consumer behavior and (2) to describe how these changes in behavior are likely to differ depending on how the quantity uncertain good is priced. We develop a theoretical model of consumer behavior under quantity uncertainty which we use to illustrate how different price structures and different locations within price structures matter for how information impacts behavior. We test these hypotheses using a unique panel data set containing information on water consumption habits of more than 88,000 households in the City of Aurora, Colorado. In 2005, Aurora subsidized the purchase of electronic devices for households to monitor water use. These devices provide households with real-time information on their water use. We find that, consistent with the aims of the program, households with the device decreased their water use during periods when they faced a constant marginal price; however, contrary to the aims of the program, their consumption increased during periods when they faced an increasing block rate pricing structure. These results are consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model developed herein.
The Tailored Finite Point Method
Authors: Han Houde , Huang Zhongyi
Published: May 2014

In this paper, a brief review of tailored finite point
methods (TFPM) is given. The TFPM is a new approach to construct the numerical solutions of
partial differential equations. The TFPM has been tailored based on the local properties of the
solution for each given problem.
Especially, the TFPM is very efficient for solutions
which are not smooth enough, e.g., for solutions possessing boundary/interior layers
or solutions being highly oscillated. Recently,
the TFPM has been applied to singular perturbation problems,
the Helmholtz equation with high wave numbers, the first-order wave equation in high frequency cases,
transport equations with interface,
second-order elliptic equations with rough or highly oscillatory coefficients, etc.
Uniqueness of compact tangent flows in Mean Curvature Flow
Authors: Schulze Felix
Published: May 2014

We show, for mean curvature flows in Euclidean space, that if one of
the tangent flows at a given space-time point consists of a closed,
multiplicity-one, smoothly embedded self-similar shrinker,
then it is the unique tangent flow at that point.
That is the limit of the parabolic rescalings does not depend on the
chosen sequence of rescalings. Furthermore, given such a
closed, multiplicity-one, smoothly embedded self-similar shrinker
Σ, we show that any solution of the rescaled flow, which is
sufficiently close to Σ, with Gaussian density ratios greater
or equal to that of Σ, stays for all time close
to Σ and converges to a possibly different self-similarly
shrinking solution

Σ
'

$\Sigma ^{\prime }$

. The central point in the argument is a
direct application of the Łojasiewicz–Simon inequality to
Huisken's monotone Gaussian integral for Mean Curvature Flow.
K-theoretic Schubert calculus
for OG(n,2n+1) and jeu de taquin for shifted increasing tableaux
Authors: Clifford Edward , Thomas Hugh , Yong Alexander
Published: May 2014

We present a proof of a Littlewood–Richardson rule for the K-theory of
odd orthogonal Grassmannians OG(n,2n+1), as conjectured by Thomas–Yong (2009). Specifically, we prove that rectification using the jeu de taquin for increasing shifted tableaux
introduced there, is well-defined and gives rise to an
associative product. Recently, Buch–Ravikumar (2012) proved
a Pieri rule for OG(n,2n+1) that
confirms a special
case of the conjecture. Together, these results imply the aforementioned
conjecture.
Une base explicite de symboles modulaires sur les corps de fonctions
Authors: Armana Cécile
Published: May 2014

Les symboles modulaires pour le sous-groupe

Γ
0

⁢

(
𝔫
)

$\Gamma_{0}(\mathfrak{n})$

de

GL
2

⁢

(

𝔽
q

⁢

[
T
]

)

$\mathrm{GL}_{2}(\mathbb{F}_{q}[T])$

, définis par Teitelbaum, possèdent une présentation par un nombre fini de générateurs et relations, dans un formalisme similaire à celui de Manin pour les symboles modulaires classiques. Nous résolvons complètement ces relations et donnons une base explicite de générateurs lorsque

𝔫

$\mathfrak{n}$

est un idéal premier de degré impair. Comme application, nous donnons un énoncé de non-annulation de fonctions L de certaines formes automorphes pour

𝔽
q

⁢

(
T
)

$\mathbb{F}_{q}(T)$

. Le résultat principal est aussi un argument-clé pour un énoncé en direction de la conjecture de borne uniforme pour les modules de Drinfeld de rang 2.

Modular symbols for the subgroup

Γ
0

⁢

(
𝔫
)

$\Gamma_{0}(\mathfrak{n})$

of

GL
2

⁢

(

𝔽
q

⁢

[
T
]

)

$\mathrm{GL}_{2}(\mathbb{F}_{q}[T])$

have been defined by Teitelbaum. They have a presentation given by a finite number of generators and relations, in a formalism similar to Manin’s for classical modular symbols. We completely solve the relations and get an explicit basis of generators when

𝔫

$\mathfrak{n}$

is a prime ideal of odd degree. As an application, we give a non-vanishing statement for L-functions of certain automorphic cusp forms for

𝔽
q

⁢

(
T
)

$\mathbb{F}_{q}(T)$

. The main statement also provides a key step for a result towards the uniform boundedness conjecture for Drinfeld modules of rank 2.
Matrix factorizations and cohomological field theories
Authors: Polishchuk Alexander , Vaintrob Arkady
Published: May 2014

We give a purely algebraic construction of a cohomological field theory associated
with a quasihomogeneous isolated hypersurface singularity W and a subgroup G of the
diagonal group of symmetries of W. This theory can be viewed as an analogue of
the Gromov–Witten theory for an orbifoldized Landau–Ginzburg model for W/G.
The main geometric ingredient for our construction is provided by the moduli of
curves with W-structures introduced by Fan, Jarvis and Ruan.
We construct certain matrix factorizations on the products of these moduli stacks with affine spaces
which play a role similar to that of the virtual fundamental classes in the Gromov–Witten theory.
These matrix factorizations are used to produce functors from the categories of
equivariant matrix factorizations to the derived categories of coherent sheaves on the
Deligne–Mumford moduli stacks of stable curves. The structure maps of our cohomological
field theory are then obtained by passing to the induced maps on Hochschild homology.
We prove that for simple singularities a specialization of our theory gives
the cohomological field theory constructed by Fan, Jarvis and Ruan using analytic tools.
Manin's conjecture for certain biprojective hypersurfaces
Authors: Schindler Damaris
Published: May 2014

Using the circle method, we count integer points on complete intersections in biprojective space in boxes of different side length, provided the number of variables is large enough depending on the degree of the defining equations and certain loci related to the singular locus. Having established these asymptotics we deduce asymptotic formulas for rational points on such varieties with respect to the anticanonical height function. In particular, we establish a conjecture of Manin for certain smooth hypersurfaces in biprojective space of sufficiently large dimension.
Dynamical stability of algebraic Ricci solitons
Authors: Williams Michael Bradford , Wu Haotian
Published: May 2014

We consider dynamical stability for a modified Ricci flow equation whose stationary solutions include Einstein and Ricci soliton metrics. Our focus is on homogeneous metrics on non-compact manifolds. Following the program of Guenther, Isenberg, and Knopf, we define a class of weighted little Hölder spaces with certain interpolation properties that allow the use of maximal regularity theory and the application of a stability theorem of Simonett. With this, we derive two stability theorems, one for a class of Einstein metrics and one for a class of non-Einstein Ricci solitons. Using linear stability results of Jablonski, Petersen, and the first author, we obtain dynamical stability for many specific Einstein and Ricci soliton metrics on simply connected solvable Lie groups.
Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence: the importance of an accurate diagnosis
Authors: Sobreira Inês , Sousa Cátia , Paiva Catarina , Freitas Serafina , Proença Elisa , Carvalho Carmen
Published: May 2014

Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS), which was first described in 2007, is an atypical chronic form of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). It presents as a large intertwin hemoglobin difference, with one twin developing anemia and the other polycythemia, without the traditional “polyhydramnios-oligohydramnios sequence” that is usually seen in TTTS. So far, ideal management of TAPS is not clear. We report here the case of a monochorionic biamniotic gestation, complicated by TAPS, detected at 30 weeks’ gestation that led to an emergent cesarean section. The recipient twin had an uneventful evolution. The donor twin was severely anemic, with a hemoglobin level of 2.5 g/dL that required immediate blood transfusion and intensive care management measures. Clinical evolution was favorable with good outcome in both twins. This case report intends to emphasize the association between hydrops fetalis and severe anemia, as well as the relevance of antenatal Doppler ultrasound investigations and the importance of an accurate management decision.
Non invasive nasal high frequency ventilation in the course of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis
Authors: Del Torre Silvia , Gregorutti Viviana , Cattarossi Luigi
Published: May 2014

High frequency oscillatory ventilation through nasal prongs (nHFOV) has been utilised in an 11-day-old infant suffering from a severe form of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis with severe hypoxia (A-aDO2 374 mm Hg) and deep hypercapnic acidosis (pH 6.97, pCO2 148 mm Hg). Mean airway pressure (Paw) was set at 12 cmH2 O, amplitude (ΔP) at 38 cmH2 O (level set according to the perception of vibration of the chest wall), frequency (FR) at 10 Hz, inspiratory time (Ti) 33%, FiO2 0.95. pCO2 dropped to 90 mm Hg in 6 h and to 60 mm Hg in the following 12 h. FiO2 was progressively tapered to 0.75 in 3 h. The patient was weaned from nHFOV after 65 h. We speculate that nHFOV may be useful in the treatment of bronchiolitis-induced hypercapnia avoiding intubation.
The Development of Semiotics and Linguistics from the Perspective of the Evolution of the Logical Systems of Categories
Authors: Guo Hong
Published: May 2014

Logical systems of categories are the core of philosophy and the starting point of all philosophic theories. The same is true for semiotics and linguistics. The author of this paper attempts to construct the logical systems of categories of the two major schools of modern semiotics and those of several representative linguistic disciplines and describe their development so as to illuminate the philosophical origins of the two schools of semiotics and the philosophical and semiotic origins of those linguistic disciplines and the relationships among them. It is hoped that this study serves as a template for research in the fields of semiotics and linguistics
Compound Signs
Authors: Solomonick Abraham
Published: May 2014

Signs in sign-systems are not fixed and unalterable; they constantly change both in form and in meaning. Still, the degree of change in the signs and the innovations they engender depend on many circumstances. One type of change in signs is the process I call sign-merging. This process produces composite signs, which I call compounds. This article defines what sign-merging is, how it occurs, and in what ways it differs from other changes in signs. Beyond this, it discusses the peculiarities of compounds and how they differ from other types of signs.
A Glance at the Relation between Saussure and Aesthetics
Authors: Chien Jui-Pi
Published: May 2014

This study seeks to articulate some notions concerning “aesthetics” in Saussure for the greater benefit of the study of art history. Throughout the history of elaborating on the congeniality between Saussure and Peirce,“ logic” and “temporality” have been considered as keys to perceiving and interpreting inter-systemic similarities and differences of the arts. Meanwhile, the trope of “negation” has been utilized to align Saussure’s thoughts with those of the forerunners of analytical aesthetics such as Hegel. These two strands of developing semiotics cum semiology as a metalanguage have on the one hand dissolved the superficial distinctions assumed to exist between “symbol” and “sign”, and on the other renewed the trope of “allegory” as traditionally conceived in German Romanticism. By means of these enlightening revisions of semiotic theories, this study sheds light on (1) the revised notion of allegory which Saussure has sketched briefly towards the end of his orangery manuscripts; (2) the semiotic quality of certain conceptual tools which Hegel has developed in theorizing the relation between representation and language. All in all, this study suggests a connection between Hegel and Saussure on the basis of a non-teleological appreciation of the former.
Towards a Semiotics of Brand Equity: On the Interdependency of Meaning Surplus and Surplus Value in a Political Economy of Brands
Authors: Rossolatos George
Published: May 2014

This paper addresses the marketing concept of brand equity from a semiotic perspective, by demonstrating why and how the notions of code/subcode are central in accounting for the multifarious dimensions of brand value. Based on the basic premises that surplus of meaning is reflected in surplus financial value in the concept of brand equity and that brand equity and code are fundamentally interdependent, an attempt is made to lay the conceptual foundations for operationalizing brand equity semiotically in a political economy of brands. The managerial implications in terms of planning for brand equity against the background of the relative novelty of brands as signs and different levels of codedness are discussed through the import of the planning platform of The Generative Matrix of Equity Potential.
Political Analysis as Auto-Communication of Culture
Authors: Ventsel Andreas
Published: May 2014

The present paper sets for itself the modest task of pointing to a problem of metalanguage and object-language in political analysis, from a cultural semiotics point of view. The so-called post-foundationalist view, common in political discourse theories, is primarily characterized by the rejection of essentialist notions of ground for the social, and the inauguration of cultural and discursive characteristics into the wider social scientific paradigm. However, it seems that despite placing communication at the heart of their conceptions of discourse, the communicative character of constructing power relations remains undertheorized in those conceptions. This paper attempts to approach the above problem by way of the concepts of communication and autocommunication (Lotman). The outcomes stemming from the latter are unavoidable, since the result of any possible research (text) itself belongs to culture or a larger discourse and operates as the organizing function of the latter. Hence, research practice and its results always need to be looked at as mutually affecting each other.
Semiotics in Contact
Authors: Góndara Lelia
Published: May 2014

Working in multicultural contexts involves moving in an area of semiotics in contact. When this contact occurs between very dissimilar cultures, it often generates perplexity. And perplexity, as we will later see, can be extremely useful to reflect. In this article, I will refer to perplexities and reflections arisen from the contact areas of Chinese and Western semiotics, focusing on some of the intellectual aspects in philosophical, linguistic and psychoanalytical fields. In fact, Chinese language and culture has left profound traces in Western thought, which can be traced in the ideas of Foucault, Leibniz, Derrida, in the works of Lacan, among others.
On the Semiotics of Tea
Authors: Chávez Herrera Eduardo
Published: May 2014

The aim of this paper is to provide a brief sketch of the cultural phenomenon of tea from the point of view of Cultural Semiotics as developed by Juri M. Lotman and the Tartu- Moscow School of Semiotics. Tea, either as a beverage, tradition, ceremony, fashion product, or a 21st century cultural practice, is a product developed by human communication. Thus, it involves a complex meaningweb and meaning-production. To account for it as such, we must posit that it constitutes several semiotic models that explain and construct the context of tea in our social reality. Thus, we may say that tea is a meaning-generating mechanism, which presupposes it is inside a cultural space called semiosphere
Frequency of CYP450 enzyme gene polymorphisms in the Greek population: review of the literature, original findings and clinical significance
Authors: Ragia Georgia , Giannakopoulou Efstathia , Karaglani Makrina , Karantza Ioanna-Maria , Tavridou Anna , Manolopoulos Vangelis G.
Published: May 2014

The cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme family is involved in the oxidative metabolism of many therapeutic drugs and various endogenous substrates. These enzymes are highly polymorphic. Prevalence of CYP450 enzyme gene polymorphisms vary among different populations and substantial inter- and intra-ethnic variability in frequency of CYP450 enzyme gene polymorphisms has been reported. This paper provides an overview and investigation of CYP450 genotypic and phenotypic reports published in the Greek population.
Toughening poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with propylene carbonate plasticized poly(propylene carbonate)
Authors: Zhou Linyao , Zhao Guiyan , Yin Jinghua , Jiang Wei
Published: May 2014

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) blends containing various amounts of plasticizer propylene carbonate (PC) were prepared, and the toughness of the blends as a function of temperature was studied. It was found that the brittle-ductile transition temperature (TBD) of PHB toughened by PPC decreased from 60°C to 10°C with the increase in PC content. As PC is the plasticizer of PPC, the mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus of plasticized PPC with different PC contents, were also studied. Sequentially, the relationship between TBD and the ratio of the Young’s modulus (E1) of the PHB matrix to that of the plasticized PPC elastomer (E2) was investigated. It was found that the Young’s modulus of plasticized PPC should be considerably lower than that of the PHB matrix in order to obtain ’the tough PHB/plasticized PPC blends at a lower temperature. In contrast, the morphology of the dispersed particles also had an important influence on the toughness. When the plasticizer content was more than 20 wt.%, the PPC particles became more spherical and smaller. The toughness could be considerably improved accordingly.
On rearrangement theorems in Banach spaces
Authors: Chobanyan Sergei , Giorgobiani George , Kvaratskhelia Vakhtang , Levental Shlomo , Tarieladze Vaja
Published: May 2014

It is shown that every infinite-dimensional real Banach space X contains a sequence

(

x
n

)

n
∈
ℕ

$(x_n)_{n\in \mathbb {N}}$

with the following properties:
(a) Some subsequence of

(

∑

k
=
1

n

x
k

)

n
∈
ℕ

$(\sum _{k=1}^nx_k)_{n\in \mathbb {N}}$

converges in X and

sup

n
∈
ℕ

∥

∑

k
=
1

n

x
k

∥

≤
1

$\sup _{n\in \mathbb {N}}\Vert \sum _{k=1}^nx_k\Vert \le 1$

;
(b)

∑

k
=
1

∞

∥

x
k

∥

p

<
∞

$\sum _{k=1}^{\infty }\Vert x_k\Vert ^p<\infty $

for every

p
∈

]
2
,
+
∞
[

$p\in {]2,+\infty [}$

;
(c) for any permutation

π
:
ℕ
→
ℕ

$\pi :\mathbb {N}\rightarrow \mathbb {N}$

and any sequence

(

θ
n

)

n
∈
ℕ

$(\theta _n)_{n\in \mathbb {N}}$

with

θ
n

∈

{
-
1
,
1
}

$\theta _n\in \lbrace -1,1\rbrace $

,

n
=
1
,
2
,
...

$n=1,2,\ldots $

,
the series

∑

k
=
1

∞

θ
k

x

π
(
k
)

$\sum _{k=1}^{\infty }\theta _k x_{\pi (k)}$

diverges in X.
This result implies, in particular, that the rearrangement theorem and the Dvoretzky–Hanani theorem fail drastically for infinite-dimensional Banach spaces.
The use of diethylene glycol in the synthesis of 2,2′-bibenzimidazole from o-phenylenediamine and oxalic acid
Authors: Mądrzak-Litwa Iwona , Borowiak-Resterna Aleksandra
Published: May 2014

One- and two-step syntheses of 2,2′-bibenzimidazole were compared. Diethylene glycol was used as solvent that provides good solubility of the substrates. The limitation of the one-step preparation is the formation of the by-product, fluoflavine. The two-step synthesis proceeds with the separation of the intermediate product, 1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, and the final product is only 2,2′-bibenzimidazole. The total yield of the two-step synthesis is above 85%.
Destructive and non-destructive evaluation of seven hardwoods and analysis of data correlation
Authors: Ponneth Dhanya , Vasu Anoop Elaveettil , Easwaran Jayasree Chandramana , Mohandass Aadarsh , Chauhan Shakti S.
Published: May 2014

Wood physical and mechanical properties in seven tropical hardwood species viz., Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth., Artocarpus hirsutus Lamk., Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk., Swietenia
macrophylla King, Xylia dolabriformis Benth., Hevea braziliensis (H.B.K.) M. A.), and Tectona grandis L.f. have been studied by means of destructive and non-destructive techniques (NDT). Mechanical strength properties and specific gravity were evaluated by conventional methods. NDT was carried out by a Pilodyn and Treesonic Microsecond Timer (TMT) to measure a steel pin penetration depth into wood and dynamic MOE, respectively. In focus was the question, whether NDT data are suitable predictors for physical and mechanical properties of the indicated hardwood species. Dynamic MOE obtained by TMT correlated strongly positive with all the strength properties studied, except shearing stress. TMT data also correlated very well to static bending MOE and MOR. A linear relationship was found between Pilodyn steel pin penetration depth and oven dry specific gravity in all the species. Both Pilodyn and TMT proved to be useful predictors of timber properties, and these instruments have a high potential for timber grading.
On-line monitoring of hygroscopicity and dimensional changes of wood during thermal modification by means of neutron imaging methods
Authors: Sonderegger Walter , Mannes David , Kaestner Anders , Hovind Jan , Lehmann Eberhard
Published: May 2014

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] have been thermally modified in a combined air-steam atmosphere between 70°C and 150°C and pressures up to 4 bar, and the changes of dimensions and moisture contents (MC) of the samples were studied in-situ by means of neutron imaging (NI). This non-invasive testing method offers unique opportunities. NI is highly sensitive for hydrogen and thus well suited for monitoring the MC changes, although some metals (e.g., Al), indispensable for sample environments under high temperature and pressure, are practically transparent to neutrons. The results show that the modification induced changes of MC and dimensions both in radial and tangential direction can well be determined by NI. Dimensional changes from water saturation to oven-dry state, the sorption isotherms, and the differential swelling were observed. Additionally, the sorption behaviour at 20°C was investigated after thermal modification and colour measurements were carried out before and after the thermal treatment.
In-plane shear strength of paper measured by asymmetric four-point bending test
Authors: Yoshihara Hiroshi , Yoshinobu Masahiro
Published: May 2014

The in-plane shear strengths (IPSS) of copy paper, filter paper, and sack paper were obtained from an asymmetric four-point bending (AFPB) test. Rectangular tabs of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) were bonded to the paper specimen. The length of the clearance between the tabs was varied, and the influence of the clearance on the IPSS value was investigated. The IPSS obtained from the AFPB test was compared with that obtained from a 35° off-axis tension (OAT) test, which was proposed in a previous study. The IPSS values obtained from the AFPB tests on the copy paper and sack paper were significantly lower than those obtained from the 35° OAT tests because of the localised buckling caused by the negative principal stress. In contrast, the IPSS values obtained from the AFPB and OAT tests on the filter paper were in agreement when the clearance length was >5 mm because the buckling effect was excluded.
Der Bismarck-Mythos in den Reden und Schriften Hitlers. Vergangenheitsbilder und Zukunftsversprechen in der Auseinandersetzung von NSDAP und DNVP bis 1933
Authors: Nübel Christoph
Published: May 2014

Die Forschung ging bislang davon aus, dass Bismarck ein bedeutender Bestandteil von Hitlers Propaganda war. Dieser Beitrag kommt hingegen zu dem Ergebnis, dass Bismarck in den Äußerungen Hitlers nur eine untergeordnete Rolle gespielt hat. Das hatte zwei Gründe. Zum einen waren die dominierenden Bismarck-Mythen und Hitlers Ideologie zu großen Teilen inkongruent. Zum anderen versuchte Hitler den Nationalsozialismus als eine neue und dynamische politische „Bewegung“ erscheinen zu lassen und sich damit von den anderen Gruppierungen der Rechten, vor allem der DNVP, abzusetzen. Für die DNVP waren die Vergangenheit und Bismarck lange Zeit ein Leitbild. Dagegen war Hitler bemüht, vor allem die Zukunft zur wichtigsten Kategorie seiner Propaganda zu machen.
Prehypertension and associated factors among university students in the Philippines
Authors: Pengpid Supa , Peltzer Karl , Ferrer Alice Joan G.
Published: May 2014

Background: Prehypertension is a new category of blood pressure, and is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated factors in young adults in the Philippines.

Methods: Undergraduate university students from all areas of study in the University of the Philippines-Visayas were invited to participate. Prehypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mm Hg. Blood pressure, anthropometric, health behavior, and psychosocial stress variables were measured.

Results: A total of 754 university students were included in the analysis (mean age, 18.3±1.4 years, 74.3% women). Prehypertension prevalence was 13.9% (36.1% in men, 6.8% in women), and hypertension prevalence was 2.4% (6.6% in men, 1.1% in women). The condition of prehypertension was associated with body mass index obesity (OR: 5.14, CI: 2.70 to 9.79), male gender (OR: 9.41, CI: 5.41 to 16.36), living off campus on their own (OR: 3.18, CI: 1.35 to 7.48), living with parents or guardians (OR: 2.83, CI: 1.20 to 6.60), and 19 years of age (OR: 2.81, CI: 1.55 to 5.11).

Conclusion: One out of every 7 young adults presented with prehypertension. This condition is associated with established risk factors.
Predictive factors and psychosocial effects of Internet addictive behaviors in Cypriot adolescents
Authors: Critselis Elena , Janikian Mari , Paleomilitou Noni , Oikonomou Despoina , Kassinopoulos Marios , Kormas George , Tsitsika Artemis
Published: May 2014

Background: Internet addictive behaviors are associated with a plethora of psychosocial adversities. The study objectives were to assess the determinants and psychosocial correlates associated with Internet addictive behaviors among adolescents.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied among a random sample (n=805) of Cypriot adolescents (mean age: 14.7 years). Self-completed questionnaires, including Internet use characteristics, Young Internet Addiction Test, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, were utilized.

Results: Among the study population, the prevalence rates of borderline addictive Internet use (BIU) and addictive Internet use (AIU) were 18.4% and 2%, respectively. Adolescents with BIU had an increased likelihood of concomitantly presenting with abnormal peer relations (AOR: 5.28; 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.37–23.38), conduct problems (AOR: 4.77; 95% CI: 2.82–8.08), hyperactivity (AOR: 5.58; 95% CI: 2.58–12.10) and emotional symptoms (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.53–5.32). Adolescent AIU was significantly associated with abnormal conduct (AOR: 22.31; 95% CI: 6.90–72.19), peer problems (AOR: 7.14; 95% CI: 1.36–37.50), emotional symptoms (AOR: 19.06; 95% 6.06–60.61), and hyperactivity (AOR: 9.49, 95% CI: 1.87–48.19). The determinants of BIU and AIU included accessing the Internet for the purposes of retrieving sexual information (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.17–3.23) and participating in games with monetary awards (AOR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.15–3.14).

Conclusions: Both BIU and AIU were adversely associated with notable behavioral and social maladjustment among adolescents.
Optimal Removal of Experimental Points to Determine Apparent Thermal Diffusivity of Canned Products
Authors: da Silva Wilton P. , Silva Cleide M. D. P. S. , Lins Marcos A. A. , da Costa Waldemir S.
Published: May 2014

To describe the transient heat conduction from or to a product, its thermo-physical properties must be known. If the boundary condition of the heat conduction equation is of the first kind, the process is governed by the thermal diffusivity α. Normally this property is determined by fit of the analytical solution with only the first term of the series to an experimental dataset of the temperature versus time, in which the temperature is measured in a known position. In this case, the value obtained for α contains errors due to the consideration of only one term and the inclusion of the first experimental points in the fit. This article presents an algorithm based on optimal removal of experimental points to minimize errors in the determination of α. The algorithm was validated and applied to heating of Agar gel. The precision and accuracy of the obtained result were, respectively, 0.38 and 0.6%.
Simulation of Neural Network Based Adaptive Compensator Control Scheme for Multiple Mobile Manipulators with Uncertainties
Authors: Singh H. P.
Published: May 2014

This paper proposes an adaptive neural network based control scheme for coordinated multiple mobile manipulators in the presence of model uncertainties and external disturbances. A key feature of this scheme is that the prior information of the possible upper bound of the uncertainty is not required. A feedforward neural network (FFNN) is employed to learn this upper bound. The proposed controller not only achieves uniformly ultimate boundedness (UUB) for trajectory tracking error of the object but also keeps the internal force error under a bound. Simulation studies are carried out for coordinated two wheels driven mobile manipulators.
Neuroprotective effect of N-acetyl cysteine against streptozotocin-induced memory dysfunction and oxidative damage in rats
Authors: Prakash Atish , Kalra Jaspreet Kaur , Kumar Anil
Published: May 2014

Background: Growing evidences indicate that endogenous oxidants and antioxidant defense interact in a vicious cycle, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction. In this study, we examined the effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) against the intracerebroventricular infusion of streptozotocin (ICV STZ)-induced cognitive impairment and mitochondrial oxidative damage in rats.

Methods: Male adult Wistar rats were injected with STZ (3 mg/kg) bilaterally through ICV. NAC (50 and 100 mg/kg) was administered for 3 weeks post-surgery. The rats were sacrificed on the 21st day following the last behavioral test, and cytoplasmic fractions of the hippocampus and cortex were prepared for the quantification of acetylcholinesterase, oxidative stress parameter, mitochondrial enzymes, inflammatory mediators and caspase-3 activity.

Results: ICV STZ resulted in poor retention of memory in Morris water maze. It also increased the mito-oxidative damage and tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 and caspase-3 levels in the hippocampus and cortex compared to sham animals. NAC significantly improved memory retention and attenuated oxidative damage parameters, inflammatory markers in STZ-treated rats.

Conclusions: The results of the present study strongly indicate the effectiveness of NAC in preventing cognitive impairment as well as mito-oxidative stress and may be considered as a potential agent in the management of cognitive-related disorders.
Semiparametric Estimation of the Impacts of Longitudinal Interventions on Adolescent Obesity using Targeted Maximum-Likelihood: Accessible Estimation with the ltmle Package
Authors: Decker Anna L. , Hubbard Alan , Crespi Catherine M. , Seto Edmund Y.W. , Wang May C.
Published: May 2014

While child and adolescent obesity is a serious public health concern, few studies have utilized parameters based on the causal inference literature to examine the potential impacts of early intervention. The purpose of this analysis was to estimate the causal effects of early interventions to improve physical activity and diet during adolescence on body mass index (BMI), a measure of adiposity, using improved techniques. The most widespread statistical method in studies of child and adolescent obesity is multivariable regression, with the parameter of interest being the coefficient on the variable of interest. This approach does not appropriately adjust for time-dependent confounding, and the modeling assumptions may not always be met. An alternative parameter to estimate is one motivated by the causal inference literature, which can be interpreted as the mean change in the outcome under interventions to set the exposure of interest. The underlying data-generating distribution, upon which the estimator is based, can be estimated via a parametric or semi-parametric approach. Using data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, a 10-year prospective cohort study of adolescent girls, we estimated the longitudinal impact of physical activity and diet interventions on 10-year BMI z-scores via a parameter motivated by the causal inference literature, using both parametric and semi-parametric estimation approaches. The parameters of interest were estimated with a recently released R package, ltmle, for estimating means based upon general longitudinal treatment regimes. We found that early, sustained intervention on total calories had a greater impact than a physical activity intervention or non-sustained interventions. Multivariable linear regression yielded inflated effect estimates compared to estimates based on targeted maximum-likelihood estimation and data-adaptive super learning. Our analysis demonstrates that sophisticated, optimal semiparametric estimation of longitudinal treatment-specific means via ltmle provides an incredibly powerful, yet easy-to-use tool, removing impediments for putting theory into practice.
Reducing Bias Amplification in the Presence of Unmeasured Confounding through Out-of-Sample Estimation Strategies for the Disease Risk Score
Authors: Wyss Richard , Lunt Mark , Brookhart M. Alan , Glynn Robert J. , Stürmer Til
Published: May 2014

The prognostic score, or disease risk score (DRS), is a summary score that is used to control for confounding in non-experimental studies. While the DRS has been shown to effectively control for measured confounders, unmeasured confounding continues to be a fundamental obstacle in non-experimental research. Both theory and simulations have shown that in the presence of unmeasured confounding, controlling for variables that affect treatment (both instrumental variables and measured confounders) amplifies the bias caused by unmeasured confounders. In this paper, we use causal diagrams and path analysis to review and illustrate the process of bias amplification. We show that traditional estimation strategies for the DRS do not avoid bias amplification when controlling for predictors of treatment. We then discuss estimation strategies for the DRS that can potentially reduce bias amplification that is caused by controlling both instrumental variables and measured confounders. We show that under certain assumptions, estimating the DRS in populations outside the defined study cohort where treatment has not been introduced, or in outside populations with reduced treatment prevalence, can control for the confounding effects of measured confounders while at the same time reduce bias amplification.
Effect of Persea americana (avocado) fruit extract on the level of expression of adiponectin and PPAR-γ in rats subjected to experimental hyperlipidemia and obesity
Authors: Padmanabhan Monika , Arumugam Geetha
Published: May 2014

Background: Persea americana, commonly known as avocado, is traditionally consumed fruit which possesses body fat lowering capacity. Adiponectin plays an important role in regulating obesity. In this study, the effect of hydro-alcoholic fruit extract of P. americana (HAEPA) on the level of blood lipids, glutathione, lipid peroxidation products, adiponectin and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-γ expressions was investigated in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: groups 1 and 2 were fed normal rat chow (5% fat) and groups 3 and 4 were fed HFD (23% fat) for a period of 14 weeks. In addition, groups 2 and 4 rats were administered orally with 100 mg/kg body weight of HAEPA from third week. After 14 weeks, rats were sacrificed, and serum/plasma levels of total cholesterol, phospholipids, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and adiponectin were determined. The mRNA expression of adiponectin, PPAR-γ and protein expression of PPAR-γ were also evaluated.

Results: The body mass index (BMI), total fat pad mass and adiposity index were significantly decreased in HAEPA co-administered rats than in HFD-fed rats. The levels of LDL and lipid peroxides were significantly higher in HFD group than in HFD+HAEPA group. Levels of reduced glutathione, adiponectin, mRNA expression of adiponectin, PPAR-γ and protein expression of PPAR-γ were found to be increased in HFD+HAEPA group than in HFD group. The hypolipidemic effect of HAEPA is also evidenced by the histological observations in liver, heart and adipose tissue.

Conclusions: The results indicate that HAEPA exhibits hypolipidemic activity probably by increasing the mRNA expression of adiponectin and PPAR-γ, which reduce the risk of hyperlipidemia and obesity.
Deautoconvolution: A new decomposition approach versus TIGRA and local regularization
Authors: Bürger Steven , Flemming Jens
Published: May 2014

Solving an autoconvolution equation is a nonlinear ill-posed inverse problem.
Besides standard methods for general nonlinear problems several customized methods
for deautoconvolution are available. Recently, a new decomposition approach for
solving ill-posed quadratic equations, e.g. autoconvolutions, has been proposed.
In this article we compare the new approach to the TIGRA method of Ramlau and to the
local regularization method of Dai and Lamm. Numerical tests show that the new method
yields better approximations to the unknown true solution than existing methods in
comparable computation time.
Interacting functionally graded quantum wires/quantum dots with arbitrary shapes and general anisotropy within a distinct piezoelectric matrix
Authors: Shodja Hossein M. , Rashidinejad Ehsan
Published: May 2014

An accurate determination of the two- and three-dimensional electro-elastic fields of periodically as well as arbitrarily distributed interacting quantum wires (QWRs) and interacting quantum dots (QDs) of arbitrary shapes within a piezoelectric matrix is of particular interest. Both the QWR/QD and the barrier may be made of materials with distinct general rectilinear anisotropy in elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric constants. The lattice mismatch between the QWR/QD and the barrier is accounted by prescribing an initial misfit strain field within the QWR/QD. Previous analytical treatments have neglected the distinction between the electro-mechanical properties of the QWR/QD and those of the barrier. This simplifying assumption is circumvented in the present work by using a novel electro-mechanical equivalent inclusion method in Fourier space (FEMEIM). Moreover, the theory can readily treat cases where the QWRs/QDs are multiphase or functionally graded (FG). It was proven that for two-dimensional problems of either a periodic or an arbitrary distribution of FG QWRs in a transversely isotropic piezoelectric barrier, the elastic and electric fields are electrically and elastically impotent, respectively, and no electric field would be induced in the medium provided that the rotational symmetry and polarization axes coincide. Some numerical examples of more frequent shapes and different distributions of indium nitride QDs/QWRs within transversely isotropic aluminum nitride barrier are solved.
Strength and modulus of carbon nanotubes under a tensile load
Authors: Alnefaie Khaled A.
Published: May 2014

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition and then embedded in epoxy polymer at several weight ratios, 0, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 wt%, for tensile testing and Young’s modulus determination using an Instron machine. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the epoxy resin were increased with the addition of CNTs to a certain extent, and then decreased with the increase in the weight fraction of CNTs. The best properties occurred at 1.5 wt% of CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal the dispersion status of CNTs in the nanocomposites.
On the non-idealness of cyclotomic families of pairing-friendly elliptic curves
Authors: Sha Min
Published: May 2014

Let

k
=

2
m

p
n

$k=2^mp^n$

for an odd prime p and integers m ≥ 0 and n ≥ 0. We obtain lower bounds for the ρ-values of cyclotomic families of pairing-friendly elliptic curves with embedding degree k and

r

(
x
)

=

Φ
k

(
x
)

$r(x)=\Phi _k(x)$

. Our bounds imply that none of the families are ideal.
Research of QoS on Upward Dynamic Bandwidth Burst Service in GEPON by Numerical Analysis
Authors: Li Li , Li Hong-An , Zhang Tian-Peng
Published: May 2014

Performances of QoS in Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network (GEPON) upward service is the most critical factor for practical application. This article proposes a novel of dual-clocking algorithm basing on studying in the existing dynamic bandwidth. The improved algorithm both guarantees EF high priority service and supports burst BE data traffic, in the meanwhile conspicuously enhances GEPON network efficiency. The article has confirmed the lgorithm feasibility and the improved properties through the simulation.
Growth hormone treatment in a patient with Hurler-Scheie syndrome
Authors: Rogers Douglas G. , Nasomyont Nat
Published: May 2014

A female patient with known Hurler-Scheie syndrome, who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation, presented with growth retardation and delayed puberty. She started growth hormone (GH) treatment at age 12.33 years, resulting in significantly improved linear growth and predicted adult height. We describe details of her clinical course and literature review of growth pattern as well as GH use in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis I.
Identifying high-risk subgroups for alcohol consumption among younger and older pregnant women
Authors: Kitsantas Panagiota , Gaffney Kathleen F. , Wu Huichuan
Published: May 2014

Aims: Recent studies indicate that older women are more likely to consume alcohol during pregnancy, but subgroups at highest risk within the context of maternal age have not been identified. This study identifies subgroups at risk for alcohol use during pregnancy among three age categories using classification and regression trees (CART) analysis.

Methods: Using the 2002–2009 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) dataset (311,428 records of U.S. women), logistic regression and classification trees were constructed separately for age groups, ≤24, 25–29, and ≥30 years.

Results: Overall, 6.5% of women reported drinking alcohol during the last trimester of pregnancy. Alcohol consumption by age group was: 3.7% for ≤24, 5.7% for 25–29, and 10.1% for ≥30 years of age. Women ≤24 years were at greater risk of consuming alcohol if they also smoked (5.8%). Among nonsmokers, higher levels of education and being Hispanic were associated with a 35% increase in alcohol use. Distinct high-risk subgroups emerged for the 25–29-year-old group. Specifically, 12.8% of non-obese women who reported having experienced abuse during pregnancy also reported drinking alcohol in the last trimester. About 16% of women ≥30 years with at least 16 years of education, White or Hispanic with normal or underweight BMI, drank alcohol during their last trimester.

Conclusions: Given limited health care resources for prevention and treatment, the early identification of high-risk groups for prenatal alcohol use is critical. This study provides evidence that risk factors contributing to alcohol consumption during pregnancy may differ by maternal age.