bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of design‐oriented formulations for evaluating the flexural and shear capacities of FRP‐strengthened RC beams
Authors: D'Antino Tomasso , Triantafillou Thanasis C. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractFibre‐reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been employed in the last few decades largely for the strengthening and seismic retrofitting of existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Several studies are available in the literature and different analytical models have been proposed for evaluating the FRP contribution in strengthened RC elements. This paper analyses the accuracy of analytical models widely used for evaluating the flexural and shear contributions provided by the FRP. Some of those models are included in design guidelines. In particular, the analytical models for evaluating the FRP strain at intermediate crack‐induced debonding failure are analysed. The accuracy of each formulation is assessed comparing the analytical provisions with the experimental results collected from two databases, one for bending and one for shear. The results obtained show that most of the analytical flexural models achieve a good level of accuracy and only a few models provide inadequate results. A new formulation proposed for evaluating the FRP shear contribution is shown to be generally conservative, which comes at the expense of accuracy.
Leaf phenological shifts and plant–microbe–soil interactions can determine forest productivity and nutrient cycling under climate change in an ecosystem model
Authors: Miki Takeshi , Doi Hideyuki 
Published: February 2016

AbstractClimate change is expected to affect tree leaf phenology by extending the length of the growing season (LGS), which will affect the productivity and nutrient cycling of forests. Interactions between plants and microbes will mediate the ecosystem processes further through microbe‐mediated plant–soil feedback (PSF). To investigate the possible consequences of interactions between the extension of the growing season (GS) and PSF under various conditions, we developed a simple theoretical model (LGS‐PSF model). The LGS‐PSF model predicts that microbe‐mediated PSF will intensify the negative effects of increasing temperature on the size of soil carbon stock when compared with simulations without the PSF effect. The combined effects of increasing temperature and PSF on the size of soil carbon stock occurs through enhanced activity of individual microbes and increased microbial population size. More importantly, the model also demonstrated that a longer GS mitigates this negative effect on carbon accumulation in soil, not through increased net primary production, but through intensified competition for nutrients between plants and microbes, thus suppressing microbial population growth. Our model suggested that the interactive effects of the LGS and PSF on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in forests should be incorporated into larger scale quantitative models for better forecasting of future forest functions under climate change.
Winter snowfall can have a positive effect on photosynthetic carbon fixation and biomass accumulation of biological soil crusts from the Gurbantunggut Desert, China
Authors: Zhao Ruiming , Hui Rong , Wang Zengru , Liu Lichao , Xie Min , An Lizhe 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWinter snowfall is an important factor in the growth and development of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in temperate desert regions of China. In this study, intact algae, lichen, and moss crusts from the Gurbantunggut Desert were collected and exposed to five experimental treatments—snow removal (0S), snow decrease to half that of ambient conditions (1/2S), ambient snow (S), snow increase to 1.5 times that of ambient conditions (3/2S), and snow increase to twice that of ambient conditions (2S)—to evaluate the effect of snowfall on the ecophysiological parameters of the BSCs during the melt and at the end of the growing period. The results clearly identified differences in physiological and ecological indexes between snowfall manipulation treatments in March, and further found that the values of most of the ecophysiological indexes were influenced by snow removal/reduction treatments, the type of BSC and their interaction effect. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, chlorophyll content, and the rates of photosynthesis and respiration of all three types of crust declined because of decreased soil water content with decreased snow cover, and this effect would likely be even greater under conditions of decreased precipitation. The rates of photosynthesis and respiration of the main types of BSC were changed by variations in the winter snowfall, and confirmed the existence of long‐term snowfall impacts on photosynthetic carbon fixation and biomass accumulation. These results provide a foundation for future studies to assess the potential effects of snowfall on the carbon sequestration of BSCs from arid and semi‐arid regions.
Synthesis, Characterization and Surface Properties of Amidosulfobetaine Surfactants Bearing Odd‐Number Hydrophobic Tail
Authors: shakil Hussain S. M. , Animashaun Mustapha Alao , Kamal Muhammad Shahzad , Ullah Nisar , Hussein Ibnelwaleed A. , Sultan Abdullah S. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThree amidosulfobetaine surfactants were synthesized namely: 3‐(N‐pentadecanamidopropyl‐N,N‐dimethyl ammonium) propanesulfonate (2a); 3‐(N‐heptadecanamidopropyl‐N,N‐dimethyl ammonium) propanesulfonate (2b), and 3‐(N‐nonadecanamidopropyl‐N,N‐dimethyl ammonium) propanesulfonate (2c). These surfactants were prepared by direct amidation of commercially available fatty acids with 3‐(dimethylamino)‐1‐propylamine and subsequent reaction with 1,3‐propanesultone to obtain quaternary ammonium salts. The synthesized surfactants were characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that the synthesized surfactants have excellent thermal stability with no major thermal degradation below 300 °C. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of the surfactants 2a and 2b were found to be 2.2 × 10−4 and 1.04 × 10−4 mol/L, and the corresponding surface tension (γCMC) values were 33.14 and 34.89 mN m−1, respectively. The surfactants exhibit excellent surface properties, which are comparable with conventional surfactants. The intrinsic viscosity of surfactant (2b) was studied at various temperatures and concentrations of multi‐component brine solution. The plot of natural logarithm of relative viscosity versus surfactant concentration obtained from Higiro et al. model best fit the surfactant behavior. Due to good salt resistance, excellent surface properties and thermal stability, the synthesized surfactant has potential to be used in various oil field applications such as enhanced oil recovery, fracturing, acid diversion, and well stimulation.
The price of luck: paying for the hot hand of others
Authors: Bou Silvia , Brandts Jordi , Cayón Magda , Guillén Pablo 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe report on the results of an experiment with a statistical choice task involving the toss of a fair coin. In our experiment, participants had to decide whether they were willing to pay a price to switch from betting on the future performance of one player to betting on that of another player. The switch was from a player who had been previously less successful in betting on five coin flips to another one who had been more successful in the same task. We conducted a treatment with the Becker–DeGroot–Marschak mechanism and one in which participants were faced with a fixed price. In both cases, participants exhibit a strong bias towards placing their bets on players with a good guessing history in the coin toss task. Participants’ behaviour is compatible with prescriptive luck beliefs, that is, the idea that luck is a somehow deterministic and personal attribute.
Serum Androgen Levels and Sexual Function Before and One Year After Treatment of Uterine Cervical Cancer: A Pilot Study
Authors: Everhov Åsa H. , Flöter Rådestad Angelique , Nyberg Tommy , Smedby Karin E. , Bergmark Karin , Lindén Hirschberg Angelica 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionRadiotherapy or radical hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy (SOE) as treatment for uterine cervical cancer causes estrogen deprivation in premenopausal women. The effects on androgen production have rarely been examined but could be relevant for survivors of cervical cancer because insufficiency has been associated with low sexual function.AimTo investigate the effects of pelvic radiotherapy, hysterectomy with SOE, or surgery without SOE on androgen levels and to explore potential associations with sexual function.MethodsPatients with cervical cancer (N = 60) were prospectively examined through blood sampling and questionnaires before and 1 year after treatments.Main Outcome MeasuresSerum testosterone (measured by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry), sex hormone-binding globulin, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol levels and Female Sexual Function Index scores.ResultsIn women treated with radiotherapy (n = 38), median total and free testosterone levels were significantly decreased at 1-year follow-up compared with baseline in premenopausal women (n = 16; total testosterone −29%, P = .01; free testosterone −22%, P = .007) and postmenopausal women (n = 22; total testosterone −25%, P = .03; free testosterone −29%, P = .03). Androstenedione was decreased in premenopausal women only and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was decreased in postmenopausal women only after radiotherapy. In women treated with hysterectomy and SOE (n = 10), testosterone levels were lower but not significantly lower, and there was no change in those having surgery without SOE (n = 12). Female Sexual Function Index scores lower than 26.5 in sexually active women were reported by 80% 1 year after radiotherapy, by 44% after hysterectomy with SOE, and by 40% after surgery without SOE, with no significant differences compared with baseline values. No direct correlation between androgen levels and Female Sexual Function Index scores were found at 1-year follow-up.ConclusionTotal and free testosterone levels decreased slightly but significantly after pelvic radiotherapy in pre- and postmenopausal women. The clinical importance of this decrease is unclear, but androgen levels were not directly related to sexual function in this pilot setting.
Analysis of Layperson Tourniquet Application Using a Novel Color-Coded Device
Authors: Goolsby Craig , Chen Elizabeth , Branting Andrew , Weissbrod Elizabeth , David Jason , Moore Krista , Olsen Cara 
Published: February 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether a color-coded tourniquet designed for public use increases successful tourniquet application by laypeople.MethodsThis was a randomized study conducted on April 25, 2015. The study occurred during the Maryland Day activity at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. Investigators recruited participants with posters displayed at major crosswalks around a central testing area. A total of 157 volunteers aged 18 years or older and without prior military service or medical training were enrolled. A participant stood in front of a waist-down mannequin with an isolated leg injury while an investigator read aloud a mass causality scenario. The investigator then asked the participant to apply a tourniquet to the mannequin’s leg. All participants received a 4-step illustrated just-in-time (JiT) instruction card designed to facilitate layperson tourniquet application. Test participants received a color-coded tourniquet designed for layperson use with instructions printed on the device. Control participants received a black Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T; Composite Resources, Rock Hill, SC). Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio in blocks of 50. The primary outcome was the proportion of successful tourniquet applications by those who received color-coded tourniquets compared to those who received black tourniquets. Secondary outcomes included validation of previous data analyzing layperson success with tourniquet application, time for successful placement, reasons for failed applications, and participant self-willingness and comfort using tourniquets. We also analyzed demographic data on the study population and inter-rater reliability regarding the assessment of successful tourniquet application.ResultsParticipants supplied with color-coded tourniquets successfully placed the device 51.38% of the time, compared to 44.71% of the time for controls using a black tourniquet (risk ratio: 1.15; 95% confidence interval: 0.83-1.59; P=0.404). Participants’ self-reported willingness to use a tourniquet rose from 40.8% before the study to 80.3% after the study (P<0.05).ConclusionsThe color-coded device did not significantly increase laypeople’s proportion of successful tourniquet applications when compared with a standard black device. However, this study reproduced pilot study data showing that laypeople can successfully apply tourniquets about half the time if provided JiT instructions. Age, sex, race, income, and highest level of education were not found to impact one’s ability to properly apply a tourniquet. Laypeople’s willingness to apply tourniquets doubled to 80% after brief exposure to the device. These results affirm the feasibility of engaging laypeople as immediate lifesavers of trauma victims and justify further efforts to boost rates of proper application. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:274–280)
Antibiotic Utilization and Opportunities for Stewardship Among Hospitalized Patients With Influenza Respiratory Tract Infection
Authors: Ghazi Islam M. , Nicolau David P. , Nailor Michael D. , Aslanzadeh Jaber , Ross Jack W. , Kuti Joseph L. 
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVEHospitalized influenza patients are often treated with antibiotics empirically while awaiting final diagnosis. The goal of this study was to describe the inappropriate continuation of antibiotics for influenza respiratory tract infections (RTIs).DESIGNWe retrospectively studied adults admitted to our institution over 2 respiratory flu seasons with positive influenza RTIs. Inappropriate antibiotic duration (IAD) was defined as antibiotic use for >24 hours after a positive influenza test in patients presenting with <72 hours of RTI symptoms and with no other indications of bacterial infection.RESULTSDuring the study period, 322 patients included in this study were admitted for influenza RTI. Respiratory cultures were ordered for 50 of these patients (15.5%) and 71 patients (22%) had a positive chest x-ray, but antibiotics were prescribed to 211 patients (65.5%) on admission. Antibiotics were inappropriately continued in 73 patients (34.5%). Patients receiving IAD had a longer length of stay (LOS) (median, 6 days; range, 4–9 days) compared with those whose antibiotics were discontinued appropriately (median, 5 days; range, 3–8 days) and those who were not treated with antibiotics (median, 4 days; range, 3–6 days;P<.001). However, mortality was similar among these 3 groups: 3 patients (4.1%) from the IAD cohort died; 6 patients (4.3%) from the group with an appropriate antibiotic duration died; and 2 patients [1.8%] from the group given no antibiotics died (P=.510). The 30-day readmission rates were similar as well: 9 patients (12.3%) from the IAD group were readmitted within 30 days; 21 patients (15.2%) from the group with appropriate antibiotic duration were readmitted; and 11 patients (9.9%) from the group given no antibiotics were readmitted (P=.455). Total hospital costs were greater in patients treated with IAD ($10,645; range, $6,485–$18,035) compared with the group treated with appropriate antibiotic duration ($7,479; range, $4,866–$12,922) and the group given no antibiotics $5,961 (range, $4,711–$9,575). Thus, the hospital experienced a median loss in net hospital revenue of $2,076 per IAD patient compared with a patient for which antibiotic duration was appropriate.CONCLUSIONThe majority of patients with influenza RTI received antibiotics on admission, and 34.5% were inappropriately continued on antibiotics without evidence of bacterial infection, which led to increased LOS, loss of net revenue, and no improvement in outcome. Thus, stewardship initiatives aimed at this population are warranted.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2016;37:583–589
Optimal mixing of buoyant jets and plumes in stratified fluids: theory and experiments
Authors: Camassa R. , Lin Z. , McLaughlin R. M. , Mertens K. , Tzou C. , Walsh J. , White B. 
Published: February 2016

The influence of ambient fluid stratification on buoyant miscible jets and plumes is studied theoretically and experimentally. Given a fixed set of jet/plume parameters, and an ambient fluid stratification sandwiched between top and bottom homogeneous densities, a theoretical criterion is identified to show how step-like density profiles constitute the most effective mixers within a broad class of stable density transitions. This is assessed both analytically and experimentally, respectively by establishing rigorous a priori estimates on generalized Morton–Taylor–Turner (MTT) models (Morton et al., Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A, vol. 234, 1956, pp. 1–23; Fischer et al., Mixing in Inland and Coastal Waters. Academic, 1979), and by studying a critical phenomenon determined by the distance between the jet/plume release height with respect to the depth of the ambient density transition. For fluid released sufficiently close to the background density transition, the buoyant jet fluid escapes and rises indefinitely. For fluid released at locations lower than a critical depth, the buoyant fluid stops rising and is trapped indefinitely. A mathematical formulation providing rigorous estimates on MTT models is developed along with nonlinear jump conditions and an exact critical-depth formula that is in good quantitative agreement with the experiments. Our mathematical analysis provides rigorous justification for the critical trapping/escaping criteria, first presented in Caulfield & Woods (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 360, 1998, pp. 229–248), within a class of algebraic density decay rates. Further, the step-like background stratification is shown to be the most efficient mixing profile amongst a broad family of stably stratified profiles sharing the same density transition within a fixed distance. Finally, the analysis uncovers surprising differences between the Gaussian and top-hat profile closures concerning initial mixing of the jet and ambient fluid.
Complete self-preservation on the axis of a turbulent round jet
Authors: Djenidi L. , Antonia R. A. , Lefeuvre N. , Lemay J. 
Published: February 2016

Self-preservation (SP) solutions on the axis of a turbulent round jet are derived for the transport equation of the second-order structure function of the turbulent kinetic energy ($k$), which may be interpreted as a scale-by-scale (s.b.s.) energy budget. The analysis shows that the mean turbulent energy dissipation rate, $\overline{{\it\epsilon}}$, evolves like $x^{-4}$ ($x$ is the streamwise direction). It is important to stress that this derivation does not use the constancy of the non-dimensional dissipation rate parameter $C_{{\it\epsilon}}=\overline{{\it\epsilon}}u^{\prime 3}/L_{u}$ ($L_{u}$ and $u^{\prime }$ are the integral length scale and root mean square of the longitudinal velocity fluctuation respectively). We show, in fact, that the constancy of $C_{{\it\epsilon}}$ is simply a consequence of complete SP (i.e. SP at all scales of motion). The significance of the analysis relates to the fact that the SP requirements for the mean velocity and mean turbulent kinetic energy (i.e. $U\sim x^{-1}$ and $k\sim x^{-2}$ respectively) are derived without invoking the transport equations for $U$ and $k$. Experimental hot-wire data along the axis of a turbulent round jet show that, after a transient downstream distance which increases with Reynolds number, the turbulence statistics comply with complete SP. For example, the measured $\overline{{\it\epsilon}}$ agrees well with the SP prediction, i.e. $\overline{{\it\epsilon}}\sim x^{-4}$, while the Taylor microscale Reynolds number $Re_{{\it\lambda}}$ remains constant. The analytical expression for the prefactor $A_{{\it\epsilon}}$ for $\overline{{\it\epsilon}}\sim (x-x_{o})^{-4}$ (where $x_{o}$ is a virtual origin), first developed by Thiesset et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 748, 2014, R2) and rederived here solely from the SP analysis of the s.b.s. energy budget, is validated and provides a relatively simple and accurate method for estimating $\overline{{\it\epsilon}}$ along the axis of a turbulent round jet.
Comment on “Invalidation of the Intracavity Opto-galvanic Method for Radiocarbon Detection” by Cantwell G Carson, Martin Stute, Yinghuang Ji, Roseline Polle, Arthur Reboul, and Klaus S Lackner
Authors: Murnick Daniel E 
Published: February 2016

AbstractCarson et al. (2016) have measured the optogalvanic response of an intracavity cell discharge containing carbon dioxide enriched in radiocarbon in a 14CO2 laser, and compared same to an unenriched sample. The measurement was carried out by modulating the laser wavelength while slowly tuning through the laser gain profile. The results of the measurements are claimed to “invalidate the optogalvanic method for radiocarbon detection.” A broadband linear absorption model is presented in support of this hypothesis. In fact, the experimental design was such as to minimize any possibility for 14C detection, and the model presented is not relevant to their experiment. Crucial control measurements were not carried out and the model used did not differentiate between broadband absorption spectroscopy and intracavity optogalvanic spectroscopy (ICOGS) with a narrow-band single-mode CO2 laser.
Biomineral structure and crystallographic arrangement of cerioid and phaceloid growth in corals belonging to the Syringoporicae (Tabulata, Devonian–Carboniferous): a genetic reflection
Authors: CORONADO ISMAEL , RODRÍGUEZ SERGIO 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAn extensive study of the microstructure, nanostructrure and crystallographic properties of six taxa belonging to four different genera of Devonian and Carboniferous Syringoporicae showing dense phaceloid (Pleurosiphonella), pseudocerioid (Neomultithecopora) and cerioid growth patterns (RoemeriaandRoemeripora) has been done in order to disclose the similarities and differences in the growth processes at the biomineral scale and understand the growth processes that provide organisms with an evolutionary advantage to colonize different habitats. All the skeletons have similarities regarding the biocrystallization process, showing that the Syringoporicae skeletons are a product of matrix-mediated biocrystallization. Micro- and nanotextural features are common in all of the skeletons studied, showing that they were composed of hierarchical structures. All studied taxa possess a complex nanostructure composed of co-oriented rounded nanocrystals with different sizes and morphologies, depending on the taxon. The identified microstructures include granules, lamellae, fibres and hyaline elements. The crystallographic techniques demonstrate that all of them except the hyaline elements are biogenic in origin. Granules could be aborted fibres during the growth of two corallites in contact. On the other hand, the study of the biomineral properties suggests that the skeleton structure is a reflection of the genetic code. The median lamina was formed by the joint crystallization of both polyps at the same time. The variation in the internal structural organization (phaceloid, pseudocerioid or cerioid) was conditioned by the environment (stressful situations or feeding strategies); on the contrary, the final structure is controlled by genetics and their crystallographic properties are characteristic for each internal structural organization.