bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profit Maximization
Authors: Becker Gilbert
Published: January 2015

This article identifies the measurement of profit and the method by which a firm's profit can be maximized. The economic technique of marginal analysis is explained, and its use in selecting the profit maximizing level of output for a firm is demonstrated. The roles of variable costs and fixed costs in the firm's achievement of maximum profit are also explained.
Expected Present Value
Authors: Cameron Lisa
Published: January 2015

When calculating the present value of future cash flows, it is important to consider whether these cash flows are definite or uncertain.
Product Attributes Model
Authors: Jones Kent A.
Published: January 2015

Developed by Kelvin Lancaster, the product attributes model sets out to explain consumer behavior as a process of choosing bundles of product characteristics or attributes inherent in goods and services, rather than simply choosing bundles of goods or services themselves. The basic assumption of the model is that the consumer's choice is based on maximizing utility from the product attributes subject to a budget constraint. The model is particularly useful in analyzing differentiated product markets, in which specific products that are substitutes for each other are distinguished by their embodiment of a specific set of characteristics.
Product Variety
Authors: Axarloglou Kostas
Published: January 2015

Product variety is the number of variants in a family of products with similar characteristics, usually referred to as brands or models of the product. Product varieties can differ from each other in terms either of quality or of other characteristics unrelated to quality.
Competitive Strategy
Authors: Axarloglou Kostas
Published: January 2015

Competitive strategy is a set of company goals and actions to achieve these goals. Through competitive strategy, companies aim to differentiate their offerings from competitors, by offering either better products (differentiation advantage) or offering products, in a lower cost (cost leadership).
Total Variable Cost
Authors: Polutnik Lidija
Published: January 2015

Total variable cost measures the total variable costs of production in the short run. Total variable costs are those costs that vary with the output level produced. Typically, as output increases, so does the need for inputs such as labor, materials, and electricity, so total variable costs are directly related to wages and prices that a firm must pay for inputs. In addition to the per unit input cost, the marginal product of inputs and the technology employed by the company influence the level of total variable cost. If input prices are constant, the curvature of a total variable cost curve is determined by the production function.
Factor Prices
Authors: Way Megan M.
Published: January 2015

Factor prices refer to rent, wages, and interest which firms must pay either directly or indirectly to households for the use of factors of production. Factors of production (also known as inputs or resources) are the land, labor, and capital assets, such as machinery or inventory, which firms use in the creation of outputs. Households supply these factors directly through the land and labor markets, and indirectly through the capital markets. Factor prices are determined by the interaction between firms' demand for inputs and households' supply of them. Factor prices are also affected by the structure of factor markets and government interventions in the markets. They are crucial in determining a firm's cost‐minimizing mix of inputs to production and profit‐maximizing level of outputs.
Advertising
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

An economic analysis of advertising is presented. Theoretical views on advertising and empirical analysys of stuides are discussed.
Arbitrage
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Arbitrage is defined.
Autocorrelation
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Autocorrelation is defined and its implications are discussed.
Budget Constraint
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

The budget constraint is defined for consumers.
Cartels
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Cartels are defined and theoretical aspects of cartels are discussesd.
Cash Flow
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Firm's cash flow is defined.
Coefficient of Variation
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

The coefficient of variation is defined.
Competition
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Competition and its requirements in economics are presented.
Constant Returns To Scale
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Constant returns to scale are defined.
Cross‐Advertising Elasticity
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Cross advertising elasticity is defined.
Cross‐Section Analysis
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Cross‐section analysis is defined.
Economic Profit
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Economic profits are defined as total revenues in a given period minus all costs of production in that period, including the economic costs of tangible and intangible assets and the opportunity cost of those assets employed.
Economies of Scale
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Economies of scale exist when increasing all inputs in production causes output to rise by more than the change in inputs.
Exit
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Firms exit an industry when they cease production, either voluntarily or through forced bankruptcy proceedings.
Income Effect
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

The income effect is identified.
Industry Life Cycle
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Industry life cycles are identified and firm behavior in the different
phases of the life cycle are discussed.
Learning Curve
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

The learning curve is defined.
Make or Buy Decisions
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

A firm's make or buy decisions are considered.
Marginal Cost
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

The marginal cost of production is defined.
Natural Monopoly
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

A natural monopoly is defined and its application to electric power generation is considered.
Opportunity Costs
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Opportunity costs are defined and their application to businesses are considered.
Product Proliferation
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

When firms compete through product differentiation incumbent firms have incentives to offer many brands and crowd the market.
Short Run Cost Curves
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

The short run is defined as that period of time during which at least one input in production is fixed and cannot be changed.
Time‐Series Data
Authors: McAuliffe Robert E.
Published: January 2015

Time‐series data are defined as information gathered for specific variables which are observed over a period of time.
Contracts
Authors: Petty Ross D.
Published: January 2015

Contracts enable the voluntary exchanges that make up business transactions from hiring employees, to forming a business to selling products. This article examines the four elements of contracts: Formation, Interpretation, Remedies, and Enforcement to explain how contracts operations and how courts determine their validity and enforcement.
Net Present Value Criterion
Authors: Hussain Sayed A.
Published: January 2015

Reviews the Net Present Value (NPV) criterion for valuating cash flows over time. Discusses the NPV and internal rate of return criteria for evaluating investment decisions generating cash flows over time.
C
oase Theorem
Authors: Medema Steven G.
Published: January 2015

The Coase theorem evolved from Ronald Coase's classic 1960 article, “The Problem of Social Cost,” and is one of the most controversial propositions in modern economics, with an impact stretching across economics, law, and sundry other fields. This entry presents a brief overview of the theorem and also discusses its relationship to the transaction‐cost‐based theory of the firm, first elucidated in Coase's 1937 article, “The nature of the firm.”
Adverse Selection
Authors: Gai Yunwei
Published: January 2015

Adverse selection is a result of asymmetric information between sellers and buyers. It is a common problem in many markets such as insurance, credit markets, and employment. Adverse selection often results in low‐quality products driving high‐quality products out of markets.
Direct Inkjet Printing of Dielectric Ceramic/Polymer Composite Thick Films
Authors: Mikolajek Morten , Friederich Andreas , Kohler Christian , Rosen Melanie , Rathjen Andreas , Krüger Klaus , Binder Joachim R.
Published: January 2015

This article describes the preparation of composite thick films via inkjet printing in one process step. A novel ceramic/polymer ink is developed, suitable for the fabrication of homogeneous dielectric composite thick films. Therefore, a barium strontium titanate (BST) dispersion is prepared and combined with a highly loaded polymer solution afterwards. Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 is synthesized by a sol‐gel method and dispersed in butyl diglycol using a stirred media mill. A poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solution is prepared in butanone and mixed with the BST dispersion to obtain an ink with a 50:50 volume ratio of BST and PMMA. The ink characteristics and printability are investigated, in particular the drying behavior of the ink at different temperatures and the morphology of the composite thick films.

The drying behavior of low viscosity particle suspensions is often influenced by the coffee stain effect. However, for the developed composite ink no coffee stain effect is observed and homogeneous composite thick films are achieved. Afterwards, all‐inkjet‐printed capacitors are fabricated, using the developed composite ink. Finally, the relative permittivity εr and loss tangent tan δ of the composite thick films are determined.
Stretchable Conductive Composites Based on Metal Wools for Use as Electrical Vias in Soft Devices
Authors: Lessing Joshua , Morin Stephen A. , Keplinger Christoph , Tayi Alok S. , Whitesides George M.
Published: January 2015

Soft devices can be bent, stretched, and compressed reversibly, but conventional wires are rigid. This work describes stretchable composites that are easily fabricated with simple tools and commodity materials, and that can provide a strategy for electrical wiring that meets certain needs of soft devices. These composites are made by combining metal wool and elastomeric polymers. Embedding fine (average fiber width ≈25 μm) steel wool (or other metal wools) in a silicone polymer creates an electrically conductive path through the nonconductive elastomer. This composite is flexible, stretchable, compressible, inexpensive, and simple to incorporate into the bodies of soft devices. It is also electrically anisotropic, and shows maximum conductivity along the majority axis of the fibers, but maximum extension perpendicular to this axis. The utility of this composite for creating an electrically conductive path through an elastomer was demonstrated in several devices, including: a soft, solderless breadboard, a soft touch sensor, and a soft strain gauge.
Regulated Breathing Effect of Silicon Negative Electrode for Dramatically Enhanced Performance of Li‐Ion Battery
Authors: Xiao Xingcheng , Zhou Weidong , Kim Youngnam , Ryu Ill , Gu Meng , Wang Chongmin , Liu Gao , Liu Zhongyi , Gao Huajian
Published: January 2015

Si is an attractive negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries due to its high specific capacity (≈3600 mAh g–1). However, the huge volume swelling and shrinking during cycling, which mimics a breathing effect at the material/electrode/cell level, leads to several coupled issues including fracture of Si particles, unstable solid electrolyte interphase, and low Coulombic efficiency. In this work, the regulation of the breathing effect is reported by using Si–C yolk–shell nanocomposite which has been well‐developed by other researchers. The focus is on understanding how the nanoscaled materials design impacts the mechanical and electrochemical response at electrode level. For the first time, it is possible to observe one order of magnitude of reduction on breathing effect at the electrode level during cycling: the electrode thickness variation reduced down to 10%, comparing with 100% in the electrode with Si nanoparticles as active materials. The Si–C yolk–shell nanocomposite electrode exhibits excellent capacity retention and high cycle efficiency. In situ transmission electron microscopy and finite element simulations consistently reveals that the dramatically enhanced performance is associated with the regulated breathing of the Si in the new composite, therefore the suppression of the overall electrode expansion.
Molecular Mechanism of Specific Recognition of Cubic Pt Nanocrystals by Peptides and of the Concentration‐Dependent Formation from Seed Crystals
Authors: Ramezani‐Dakhel Hadi , Ruan Lingyan , Huang Yu , Heinz Hendrik
Published: January 2015

Metal nanocrystals enable new functionality in sensors, biomarkers, and catalysts while mechanisms of shape‐control in synthesis remain incompletely understood. This study explains mechanisms of biomolecule recognition and ligand‐directed growth of cubic platinum nanocrystals in atomic detail using molecular dynamics simulation (MD), synthesis, and characterization. Peptide T7 is shown to selectively recognize {100} bounded nanocubes through preferential adsorption near the edges as opposed to facet centers. Spatial preferences in peptide binding are related to differences in the binding of water molecules and conformational matching of polarizable atoms in the peptide to {100} epitaxial sites. Changes in peptide concentration also have profound impact on attraction versus repulsion on a given surface. As an example, the selective synthesis of cubes in the presence of peptide T7 demonstrates that only intermediate T7 concentration leads to high yield. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) shows concentration‐dependent changes in crystal shape, yield, and size. Large‐scale MD simulations explain associated differences in facet coverage and in adsorption energies of T7 peptides on cuboctahedral seed crystals, supporting a growth mechanism of adatom deposition. A similar analysis using a different peptide S7 is presented as well. Emerging computational opportunities to predict ligand binding to metal nanocrystals and rationalize growth preferences are summarized.
Injectable Colloidal Gold for Use in Intrafractional 2D Image‐Guided Radiation Therapy
Authors: Jølck Rasmus I. , Rydhög Jonas S. , Christensen Anders N. , Hansen Anders E. , Bruun Linda M. , Schaarup‐Jensen Henrik , von Wenck Asger Stevner , Børresen Betina , Kristensen Annemarie T. , Clausen Mads H. , Kjær Andreas , Conradsen Knut , Larsen Rasmus , af Rosenschöld Per Munck , Andresen Thomas L.
Published: January 2015

In the western world, approximately 50% of all cancer patients receive radiotherapy alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy. Image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) has in recent years been introduced to enhance precision of the delivery of radiation dose to tumor tissue. Fiducial markers are often inserted inside the tumor to improve IGRT precision and to enable monitoring of the tumor position during radiation therapy. In the present article, a liquid fiducial tissue marker is presented, which can be injected into tumor tissue using thin and flexible needles. The liquid fiducial has high radio‐opacity, which allows for marker‐based image guidance in 2D and 3D X‐ray imaging during radiation therapy. This is achieved by surface‐engineering gold nanoparticles to be highly compatible with a carbohydrate‐based gelation matrix. The new fiducial marker is investigated in mice where they are highly biocompatible and stable after implantation. To investigate the clinical potential, a study is conducted in a canine cancer patient with spontaneous developed solid tumor in which the marker is successfully injected and used to align and image‐guide radiation treatment of the canine patient. It is concluded that the new fiducial marker has highly interesting properties that warrant investigations in cancer patients.
Development of a Cellularly Degradable PEG Hydrogel to Promote Articular Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Deposition
Authors: Sridhar Balaji V. , Brock John L. , Silver Jason S. , Leight Jennifer L. , Randolph Mark A. , Anseth Kristi S.
Published: January 2015

Healing articular cartilage remains a significant clinical challenge because of its limited self‐healing capacity. While delivery of autologous chondrocytes to cartilage defects has received growing interest, combining cell‐based therapies with scaffolds that capture aspects of native tissue and promote cell‐mediated remodeling could improve outcomes. Currently, scaffold‐based therapies with encapsulated chondrocytes permit matrix production; however, resorption of the scaffold does not match the rate of production by cells leading to generally low extracellular matrix outputs. Here, a poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) norbornene hydrogel is functionalized with thiolated transforming growth factor (TGF‐β1) and cross‐linked by an MMP‐degradable peptide. Chondrocytes are co‐encapsulated with a smaller population of mesenchymal stem cells, with the goal of stimulating matrix production and increasing bulk mechanical properties of the scaffold. The co‐encapsulated cells cleave the MMP‐degradable target sequence more readily than either cell population alone. Relative to non‐degradable gels, cellularly degraded materials show significantly increased glycosaminoglycan and collagen deposition over just 14 d of culture, while maintaining high levels of viability and producing a more widely‐distributed matrix. These results indicate the potential of an enzymatically degradable, peptide‐functionalized PEG hydrogel to locally influence and promote cartilage matrix production over a short period. Scaffolds that permit cell‐mediated remodeling may be useful in designing treatment options for cartilage tissue engineering applications.
Angular Photothermal Depletion of Randomly Oriented Gold Nanorods for Polarization‐Controlled Multilayered Optical Storage
Authors: Taylor Adam B. , Chon James W. M.
Published: January 2015

Increasing the number of layers used in optical data storage media is a promising technique to address increasing capacity demands. However, heavy optical losses are experienced by light on transit through multilayered optical recording media, requiring prohibitively high readout powers for deep layers. Here, gold nanorods are used as the optical data storage medium, and the polarization response of their surface plasmon resonance is exploited to control the optical extinction imposed by the nanorods. A polarization response is imposed onto the initially randomly oriented nanorod films by photothermal depletion technique. The influence of increasing the depletion fluence on the polarization response of nanorod films is investigated. This technique is extended into multilayer films, imposing alignment through 12‐layer nanorod films. Successful optical patterning is carried out on each of the layers following depletion, with a 20× decrease observed in the readout power required to resolve a pattern from layer 12. The proposed angular depletion method will be highly beneficial in reducing optical losses multilayered optical storage applications, enabling storage capacities to be efficiently increased, as well as applications using a continuous medium with high concentrations of plasmonic nanoparticles, where optical losses are significant.
Growth of Ultrathin ZnCo2O4 Nanosheets on Reduced Graphene Oxide with Enhanced Lithium Storage Properties
Authors: Gao Guoxin , Wu Hao Bin , Dong Bitao , Ding Shujiang , Lou Xiong Wen (David)
Published: January 2015

The growth of ultrathin ZnCo2O4 nanosheets on reduced graphene oxide (denoted as rGO/ZnCo2O4) via a facile low‐temperature solution method combined with a subsequent annealing treatment is reported. With the assistance of citrate, interconnected ZnCo2O4 nanosheets can assemble into hierarchically porous overlays on both sides of rGO sheets. Such a hybrid nanostructure would effectively faciliate the charge transport and accommodate volume variation upon prolonged charge/discharge cycling for reversible lithium storage. As a result, the rGO/ZnCo2O4 nanocomposite manifests a very stable high reversible capacity of around 960 mAh g−1 over 100 cycles at a low current density of 90 mA g−1 and excellent rate capability.
Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2015 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management
Authors: Tefferi Ayalew , Barbui Tiziano
Published: January 2015

Disease overview:Polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are myeloproliferative neoplasms, respectively characterized by erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis. Other disease features include leukocytosis, splenomegaly, thrombosis, bleeding, microcirculatory symptoms, pruritus, and risk of leukemic or fibrotic transformation.Diagnosis:PV is defined by aJAK2mutation, whose absence, combined with normal or increased serum erythropoietin level, makes the diagnosis unlikely. Differential diagnosis in ET includes reactive thrombocytosis, chronic myeloid leukemia, and prefibrotic myelofibrosis. Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), calreticulin (CALR), or myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL) mutations occur in approximately 55%, 25%, and 3% of ET patients, respectively. The same molecular markers are also present in prefibrotic myelofibrosis, which needs to be morphologically distinguished from ET.Survival and leukemic/fibrotic transformation:Median survivals are ∼14 years for PV and 20 years for ET; the corresponding values for younger patients are 24 and 33 years. Life‐expectancy in ET is inferior to the control population.JAK2/CALRmutational status does not affect survival in ET. Risk factors for survival in ET and PV include advanced age, leukocytosis, and thrombosis. Leukemic transformation rates at 20 years are estimated at <10% for PV and 5% for ET; fibrotic transformation rates are slightly higher.Thrombosis risk stratification:Current risk stratification in PV and ET is designed to estimate the likelihood of recurrent thrombosis: high‐risk is defined by the presence of age >60 years or presence of thrombosis history; low‐risk is defined by the absence of both of these two risk factors. Recent data considerJAK2V617F and cardiovascular risk factors as additional risk factors. Presence of extreme thrombocytosis might be associated with acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS) and, therefore, risk of bleeding.Risk‐adapted therapy:The main goal of therapy in PV and ET is to prevent thrombohemorrhagic complications. In low risk patients, this is accomplished by the use of low‐dose aspirin and phlebotomy (hematocrit target <45%) in PV. In high risk (for thrombosis) patients, treatment with hydroxyurea is additionally recommended. Treatment with busulfan or interferon‐α is usually effective in hydroxyurea failures and the additional value of JAK inhibitor therapy in such cases is limited. Screening for AvWS is recommended before administrating aspirin, in the presence of extreme thrombocytosis. Am. J. Hematol. 90:163–173, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Occupational exposures and risk of stomach and esophageal cancers: Update of a cohort of female textile workers in Shanghai, China
Authors: Gallagher Lisa G. , Li Wenjin , Ray Roberta M. , Romano Megan E. , Wernli Karen J. , Gao Dao L. , Thomas David B. , Checkoway Harvey
Published: January 2015

Background

Associations between stomach and esophageal cancer and exposures to dusts, metals, chemicals, and endotoxin in the workplace are not very well understood, particularly in women.

Methods

We followed 267,400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China for cancer incidence from 1989 to 2006. Stomach (n = 1374) and esophageal (n = 190) cancer cases were identified and a comparison subcohort (n = 3187) was randomly selected. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used, adjusting for age and smoking.

Results

Increasing stomach cancer risk was observed with increasing duration of synthetic fiber dust exposure (p = 0.03), although the magnitude of effect was small (20 + years: HR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4). Trends with endotoxin exposure were modestly inversed for esophageal cancer and increased for stomach cancer, but with little deviation from a null association.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that long durations of synthetic fiber dust exposure can increase stomach cancer risk in women, but provide limited support for associations with other textile industry exposures. Am. J. Ind. Med. 58:267–275, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Estimates of the live births, natural losses, and elective terminations with Down syndrome in the United States
Authors: de Graaf Gert , Buckley Frank , Skotko Brian G.
Published: January 2015

The present and future live birth prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) is of practical importance for planning services and prioritizing research to support people living with the condition. Live birth prevalence is influenced by changes in prenatal screening technologies and policies. To predict the future impact of these changes, a model for estimating the live births of people with DS is required. In this study, we combine diverse and robust datasets with validated estimation techniques to describe the non‐selective and live birth prevalence of DS in the United States from 1900–2010. Additionally, for the period 1974–2010, we estimate the impact of DS‐related elective pregnancy terminations (following a prenatal diagnosis of DS) on the live births with DS. The live birth prevalence for DS in the most recent years (2006–2010) was estimated at 12.6 per 10,000 (95% CI 12.4–12.8), with around 5,300 births annually. During this period, an estimated 3,100 DS‐related elective pregnancy terminations were performed in the U.S. annually. As of 2007, the estimated rates at which live births with DS were reduced as a consequence of DS‐related elective pregnancy terminations were 30% (95% CI: 27.3–31.9) for the U.S. as a whole. Our results and our model provide data on the impact of elective pregnancy terminations on live births with DS and may provide a baseline from which future trends for live births with DS can be estimated. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis, Photophysics, and Electronic Structures of Benzene‐Linked Bispyrimidine Compounds
Authors: Song Guangliang , Liu Rui , He Guangke , Yuan Shidong , Zhu Hongjun
Published: January 2015

Seven multi‐dipole and multibranched benzene‐linked bispyrimidine derivatives containing a two‐layer binary tree structure with different electron donor and acceptor groups were designed, synthesized, and characterized. The influences of substituents and solvents on the optical properties of the compounds were investigated. The UV/vis absorption (λabsmax: 311–371 nm), PL emission (λemmax: 386–527 nm), stokes shift (2864–6414 cm−1), and fluorescence quantum yield (Φf: 0.01∼0.16) of the compounds in CH3CN solution are influenced by the electron‐donor or accept substituents. The absorption and emission spectra of the compound with the highest Φf in various solvents indicate that the solvent has little influence on absorption spectrum but does influence the emission spectrum. Transient absorption spectra exhibiting strong positive absorption bands in the near‐IR wavelength means that these compounds could potentially be used as optical limiting materials, which is further confirmed by the quantum chemical calculations.
Increased coupling of caveolin‐1 and estrogen receptor α contributes to the fragile X syndrome
Authors: Yang Qi , Yang Le , Zhang Kun , Guo Yan‐Yan , Liu Shui‐Bing , Wu Yu‐Mei , Li Xiao‐Qiang , Song Qian , Zhuo Min , Zhao Ming‐Gao
Published: January 2015

Objective

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a form of inherited mental retardation in humans that results from expansion of a CGG repeat in the FMR1 gene. Interaction between estrogen receptor (ER) and lipid raft caveolae is critical for the estrogen signaling. Here, we tested the hypothesis that impaired ER–caveolae coupling contributes to the mental retardation of FXS.

Methods

Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse was used as the model of FXS. Multiple techniques were performed including primary neuronal culture, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference, Western blot, electrophysiological recording, RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and behavioral tests.

Results

In this study, we report that GluA1 surface expression and phosphorylation induced by 17β‐estradiol (E2) were impaired in the Fmr1 KO neurons. The E2‐mediated facilitation of long‐term potentiation and fear memory was impaired in the anterior cingulate cortex of Fmr1 KO mice. The increased coupling of caveolin‐1 (CAV1) and the membrane estrogen receptor ERα under basal conditions contributed to the impairment of ER signaling in Fmr1 KO neurons. FMRP (fragile X mental retardation protein) interacted with CAV1 mRNA, and knockdown of CAV1 with shRNA rescued the synaptic GluA1 delivery, plasticity, and memory in Fmr1 KO mice.

Interpretation

This is the first demonstration that the coupling between ERα and lipid raft CAV1 is critical for membrane ER signaling in synaptic plasticity. Therefore, increased coupling of CAV1 and ERα may elucidate a critical abnormal mechanism of FXS. Ann Neurol 2015;77:618–636
Photoswitching Kinetics and Phase‐Sensitive Detection Add Discriminative Dimensions for Selective Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Querard Jérôme , Markus Tal‐Zvi , Plamont Marie‐Aude , Gauron Carole , Wang Pengcheng , Espagne Agathe , Volovitch Michel , Vriz Sophie , Croquette Vincent , Gautier Arnaud , Le Saux Thomas , Jullien Ludovic
Published: January 2015

Non‐invasive separation‐free protocols are attractive for analyzing complex mixtures. To increase selectivity, an analysis under kinetic control, through exploitation of the photochemical reactivity of labeling contrast agents, is described. The simple protocol is applied in optical fluorescence microscopy, where autofluorescence, light scattering, as well as spectral crowding presents limitations. Introduced herein is OPIOM (out‐of‐phase imaging after optical modulation), which exploits the rich kinetic signature of a photoswitching fluorescent probe to increase selectively and quantitatively its contrast. Filtering the specific contribution of the probe only requires phase‐sensitive detection upon matching the photoswitching dynamics of the probe and the intensity and frequency of a modulated monochromatic light excitation. After in vitro validation, we applied OPIOM for selective imaging in mammalian cells and zebrafish, thus opening attractive perspectives for multiplexed observations in biological samples.
Enhancement of rheological and mechanical properties of bitumen using styrene acrylonitrile copolymer
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Mojtaba , Farsi Mohammad , Azizi Mahdi
Published: January 2015

In this research, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer as a novel additive is used to modify rheological, mechanical and thermal properties of the base bitumen 70 penetration grade. Styrene acrylonitrile copolymer combines the rigidity of polystyrene with the hardness and thermal resistance of polyacrylonitrile to enhance viscoelastic property of the bitumen. To investigate the performance of the proposed mixture, shear complex module, phase angle, penetration, softening point, and reversibility of prepared samples are measured at different additive content and compared with the base bitumen. The results show that softening point of the base and modified samples are 49–86°C, respectively. The rheological properties of the base bitumen and modified samples are measured by a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The phase angle as elasticity measure decreases from 55° to 35° in the modified bitumen compared to the base bitumen. Generally, the experimental results showed that styrene acrylonitrile copolymer makes bitumen to be more stable at high temperatures and more flexible at low temperatures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41875.
Reaction of carbon fiber sizing and its influence on the interphase region of composites
Authors: Wu Qing , Li Min , Gu Yizhuo , Wang Shaokai , Wang Xingxing , Zhang Zuoguang
Published: January 2015

What might happen with the interphase region of composite if the sizing agent cannot afford the attack of processing temperature and firstly reacted before its combination with the resin, is rarely reported. On the basis of this, herein, effects of sizing reaction on the interphase region of composite were investigated, as well as on the carbon fiber surface properties. It showed that the interfacial shear strength of carbon fiber/epoxy composite was improved after the sizing reaction. The interphase modulus was also increased with a thinner gradient distance. Further analysis indicated that the fiber surface roughness increased, the fiber wettability with the resin lowered, and the chemical reactions between sizing agent and resin reduced after 200°C/2 h treatment on carbon fiber. These results explained the change of the interphase region, which are meaningful for sizing optimization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41917.
Preparation of heat resisting poly(methyl methacrylate)/graphite composite microspheres used as ultra‐lightweight proppants
Authors: Chen Tao , Wang Yixia , Yan Chunjie , Wang Hongquan , Xu Yangcheng , Ma Rui
Published: January 2015

Ultra‐lightweight heat resisting poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/graphite microspheres were successfully prepared via in situ suspension polymerization. The Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray powder diffraction results confirmed the successful preparation of the composite microspheres. Field emission scanning electron microscope analysis illustrated that the graphite particles were dispersed in microspheres and the PMMA/graphite composite microspheres had good sphericity and roundness. Furthermore, density analysis indicated that the apparent density of composites microspheres was about 1.055–1.135g/cm3 which was suitable for the transmission with water carrying. The results from thermodynamic test revealed that the thermal stability of the composite was significantly improved with increasing graphite content, which could be used as ultra‐lightweight proppant in deep underground. In addition, the crushing rate decreased to 0.5% with graphite ratio of 3.0% at the pressure of 69 MPa. Therefore, PMMA/Graphite composite microspheres exhibit a promising application in petroleum or gas exploitation as water carrying fracturing proppants. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41924.
A Triphenyl Amine‐Based Solvatofluorochromic Dye for the Selective and Ratiometric Sensing of OCl− in Human Blood Cells
Authors: Goswami Shyamaprosad , Aich Krishnendu , Das Sangita , Pakhira Bholanath , Ghoshal Kakali , Quah Ching Kheng , Bhattacharyya Maitree , Fun Hoong‐Kun , Sarkar Sabyasachi
Published: January 2015

A new visible‐light‐excitable fluorescence ratiometric probe for OCl− has been developed based on a triphenylamine‐diamiomaleonitrile (TAM) moiety. The structure of the dye was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. It behaves as a highly selective and sensitive probe for OCl− over other analytes with a fast response time (∼100 s). OCl− reacts with the probe leading to the formation of the corresponding aldehyde in a mixed‐aqueous system. The detection limit of the probe is in the 10−8 M range. The probe (TAM) also exhibits solvatofluorochromism. Changing the solvent from non‐polar to polar, the emission band of TAM largely red‐shifted. Moreover, the probe shows an excellent performance in real‐life application in detecting OCl− in human blood cells. The experimentally observed changes in the structure and electronic properties of the probe after reaction with OCl− were studied by DFT and TDDFT computational calculations.
Reduced Responsiveness to Social Provocation in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Schneider Isabella , Regenbogen Christina , Kohn Nils , Zepf Florian D. , Bubenzer‐Busch Sarah , Schneider Frank , Gur Ruben C. , Habel Ute
Published: January 2015

Deficits in emotion processing and social interaction are prominent symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD has also been associated with aggressive tendencies towards self and others. The prevalence of aggressive behavior in this disorder, its etiology and its impact on social life are still unclear. This study investigated behavioral and physiological effects of social provocation in patients with ASD and healthy controls. We used a modified Taylor Aggression Paradigm in 24 high‐functioning patients with ASD and 24 healthy controls. Participants were instructed to play against a fictitious human opponent. Money withdrawals toward the participant represented provocation and money deduction by the participant denoted aggressive behavior. Throughout the measurement, electrodermal activity (EDA) was recorded. Healthy controls showed higher aggressive responses to high provocation compared to low provocation, which demonstrated the effectiveness of the used procedure in eliciting aggression. Patients' responses were not influenced by the level of social provocation, although in both groups aggression was higher after lost compared to won trials. Physiologically, controls showed fewer but higher EDA amplitudes when responding aggressively, whereas patients displayed the opposite pattern of more but lower EDA amplitudes. The modified Taylor Aggression Paradigm successfully elicited aggression and revealed different behavioral and neurophysiological responses in patients and healthy controls. Patients' aggressive behavior as well as their physiological responses were less modulated by level of provocation compared to controls. Therapeutic attempts for patients might concentrate on improving empathic abilities and the understanding of social situations, including provocation and aggressive behavior. Autism Res 2015, 8: 297–306. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reduced growth of soybean seedlings after exposure to weak microwave radiation from GSM 900 mobile phone and base station
Authors: Halgamuge Malka N. , Yak See Kye , Eberhardt Jacob L.
Published: January 2015

The aim of this work was to study possible effects of environmental radiation pollution on plants. The association between cellular telephone (short duration, higher amplitude) and base station (long duration, very low amplitude) radiation exposure and the growth rate of soybean (Glycine max) seedlings was investigated. Soybean seedlings, pre‐grown for 4 days, were exposed in a gigahertz transverse electromagnetic cell for 2 h to global system for mobile communication (GSM) mobile phone pulsed radiation or continuous wave (CW) radiation at 900 MHz with amplitudes of 5.7 and 41 V m−1, and outgrowth was studied one week after exposure. The exposure to higher amplitude (41 V m−1) GSM radiation resulted in diminished outgrowth of the epicotyl. The exposure to lower amplitude (5.7 V m−1) GSM radiation did not influence outgrowth of epicotyl, hypocotyls, or roots. The exposure to higher amplitude CW radiation resulted in reduced outgrowth of the roots whereas lower CW exposure resulted in a reduced outgrowth of the hypocotyl. Soybean seedlings were also exposed for 5 days to an extremely low level of radiation (GSM 900 MHz, 0.56 V m−1) and outgrowth was studied 2 days later. Growth of epicotyl and hypocotyl was found to be reduced, whereas the outgrowth of roots was stimulated. Our findings indicate that the observed effects were significantly dependent on field strength as well as amplitude modulation of the applied field. Bioelectromagnetics. 36:87–95, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Das Prüf‐, Überwachungs‐ und Zertifizierungssystem bei Verstärkungen mit Textilbeton
Authors: Sauerborn Tom , Hampel Torsten
Published: January 2015

Die Anforderungen an eine Baumaßnahme sind je nach Bauwerk unterschiedlich und im Allgemeinen hochindividuell. Dennoch ist das Ziel von Baumaßnahmen in jedem Falle identisch: ein bedingungsgemäßes Ergebnis, d. h. ein Ergebnis, welches den Anforderungen entspricht. Um diese Bedingungsmäßigkeit sicherzustellen, impliziert jede Baumaßnahme ein auf das Bauverfahren und die Bauprodukte abgestimmtes Überwachungssystem. Dies gilt für den Neubau ebenso wie für Verstärkungsmaßnahmen. Der hier vorgestellte Beitrag zielt darauf ab, die grundsätzliche Systematik der Prüf‐, Überwachungs‐ und Zertifizierungsanforderungen bei Verstärkungsmaßnahmen mit textilbewehrtem Beton zusammenzufassen. Ausgehend von den baurechtlichen Grundlagen, durch welche sich die Qualitätsüberwachung gesetzlich ableitet, wird auf die Teilbereiche – Übereinstimmung der Bauprodukte, Eignung des ausführenden Unternehmens und Überwachung der Bauausführung – eingegangen. Zusätzlich zu den Bestimmungen der allgemeinen bauaufsichtlichen Zulassung, welche dem Verfahren zugrunde liegt, nimmt der Beitrag Bezug auf die wichtigsten Richtlinien und Normen im Zusammenhang mit der Eigen‐ und Fremdüberwachung für die Verstärkung mit Textilbeton.

The system of testing, monitoring and certification with regard to reinforcing with textile reinforced concrete

The explicit requirements in regard to construction work are highly individual as they differ depending on the structure. Nevertheless, the aim of construction works is always an occurrence that satisfies the requirements of the specifications. To secure a proper output, every construction work, whether new‐built or reinforced, implies a level of control adjusted to the construction procedures and products. The aim of this paper is to summarize the general system of testing, monitoring and certification with regard to reinforcing work with textile reinforced concrete. Besides the building regulations, which are the legal bases of quality control, the paper details the certification of conformity of the building products, the qualification of the building company and the supervision of construction work. In addition to the specifications of the national technical approval, this summary takes account of important regulations and codes in connection with self‐ and external monitoring.
Carbonfasern, der Werkstoff des 21. Jahrhunderts
Authors: Kirsten Martin , Freudenberg Christiane , Cherif Chokri
Published: January 2015

Seit langer Zeit dominiert der Werkstoff Stahl als Bewehrungsmaterial den Betonbau, da er vielzählige Vorteile bietet. Jedoch resultieren aus seiner unzureichenden Korrosionsbeständigkeit und der damit verbundenen Notwendigkeit einer ausreichend großen Betonüberdeckung auch einige Nachteile. Diese lassen sich mit textilen Hochleistungsmaterialien vermeiden, wobei insbesondere Carbon sich als Bewehrungsmaterial eignet. Mit der Entwicklung von Carbonfasern und deren Einsatz als textile Verstärkungsmaterialien haben sich völlig neue Wege bei der Herstellung von Faserkunststoffverbunden insbesondere für tragende Bauteile eröffnet. Aufgrund der herausragenden Eigenschaften und des damit verbundenen enormen Leichtbaupotenzials sowie der gezielt einstellbaren mechanischen, thermischen und elektrischen Eigenschaften halten Carbonfasern Einzug in viele Industriezweige, wie den Fahrzeug‐ und Maschinenbau, die Luft‐ und Raumfahrttechnik, die Energieerzeugung (Windkraft) und das Bauwesen im Bereich der Textilbetontechnologie. Das Ausgangsmaterial für Carbonfasern besteht zum überwiegenden Teil aus dem erdölbasierten Polyacrylnitril, welches bereits in Faserform mehrere thermische Behandlungen durchläuft, um die Eigenschaften der Carbonfasern auszubilden und gezielt einzustellen.

Carbon Fibers, material of the 21st century – Textile basis for filigree, high bearing concrete building elements

Steel as reinforcing material has dominated the civil engineering for a long time. However, some disadvantages occur by its insufficient corrosion resistance and the associated need for an adequate concrete cover. Those can be avoided using textile high performance materials, where carbon shows a high potential being promoted as concrete reinforcement material of the future. The development of carbon fibers opens a new field producing reinforced fiber composites. The outstanding properties and the resulting huge light weight construction potential as well as its defined tunable mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, carbon fibers find their way into a lot of industrial branches, namely like automotive‐ and mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, energy production (wind energy) and building industry, especially textile reinforced concrete. The material for carbon fibers mainly bases on polyacrylonitrile made of mineral oil, which already in form of fibers passes through several thermal treatments to form and to design the properties of the carbon fibers.
Freie Formen mit Textilbeton
Authors: Scheerer Silke , Michler Harald
Published: January 2015

Textilbeton ist ideal, um Leichtbau mit Beton zu betreiben, da bereits mit sehr dünnen Schichten eine hohe Tragfähigkeit erreicht werden kann. Aufgrund der Leichtigkeit und der Flexibilität seiner Bewehrung ist Textilbeton vor allem prädestiniert dafür, freie Formen zu realisieren. In Verbindung mit innovativen Herstellungsmethoden besteht zudem die Möglichkeit, eine neue Formensprache im Betonbau zu etablieren. Dass dieses Potenzial nicht nur Ingenieure und Architekten interessant ist, sondern auch für Künstler und Designer, wird im zweiten Teil des Beitrags gezeigt.

Free forms with TRC

Textile reinforced concrete is ideal to build lightweight concrete structures, because a high load capacity can already be reached with very thin layers. The textile reinforcement is lightweight and flexible. Therefore, TRC is especially predestined to realize free forms. In combination with innovative production methods, we also have the option to develop a new distinctive design idiom in concrete construction. In the paper we also show, that this enormous potential is not only interesting for engineers and architects, but also for artists and designers.
Biegetragverhalten von textilbetonverstärkten Platten
Authors: Beckmann Birgit , Frenzel Michael , Lorenz Enrico , Schladitz Frank , Rempel Sergej
Published: January 2015

In diesem Beitrag werden Plattenversuche zur Bestimmung der Biegetragfähigkeit von textilbetonverstärkten Stahlbetonplatten vorgestellt. Hierzu wurden Stahlbetonplattenstreifen mit Stützweiten von 3 bis 7 m mit einer nachträglich aufgebrachten Textilbetonschicht verstärkt und im Vier‐Punkt‐Biegeversuch bis zum Bruch belastet. Ihre Tragfähigkeiten werden mit denen der unverstärkten Referenzplatten verglichen. Durch Variation der Anzahl an textilen Bewehrungslagen wird gezeigt, in welchem Maß die Biegetragfähigkeit von Stahlbetonplatten durch den Einsatz des Carbontextils erhöht werden kann, und die Verstärkungswirkung von Textilbeton nachgewiesen. Die experimentell ermittelten Tragfähigkeiten werden mit den vorab rechnerisch ermittelten verglichen. Durch die gute Übereinstimmung der Werte wird das Bemessungskonzept für Textilbetonverstärkungen bestätigt und nachgewiesen.

Flexural behaviour of textile reinforced concrete slabs

Flexuaral load experiments on RC slabs with additional textile strengthening are presented in this work. RC slabs of 3 to 7 m in length are subsequently strengthened with a layer of textile reinforced concrete (TRC) and loaded until rupture in four‐point‐flexural‐tests. Their load bearing capacities are compared to the reference slabs without textile strengthening reinforcement. Varying the number of textile reinforcement layers, it is shown to what extent the flexural load bearing capacity of RC slabs can be increased by means of the carbon textile reinforcement. The strengthening effect of TRC is proved. The experimental results are compared to the ones calculated afore. The good agreement of the experimental and calculated results validates the design concept of TRC strengthening.