bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of bacterial communities in biological soil crusts along a revegetation chronosequence in the Tengger Desert, northwest China
Authors: Liu Lichao , Liu Yubing , Zhang Peng , Song Guang , Hui Rong , Wang Zengru , Wang Jin 
Published: August 2017

Abstract. Knowledge of structure and function of microbial communities in different successional stages of biological soil crusts (BSCs) is still scarce for desert areas. In this study, Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to assess the compositional changes of bacterial communities in different ages of BSCs in the revegetation of Shapotou in the Tengger Desert. The most dominant phyla of bacterial communities shifted with the changed types of BSCs in the successional stages, from Firmicutes in mobile sand and physical crusts to Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in BSCs, and the most dominant genera shifted from Bacillus, Enterococcus and Lactococcus to RB41_norank and JG34-KF-361_norank. Alpha diversity and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated that bacterial richness and abundance reached their highest levels after 15 years of BSC development. Redundancy analysis showed that silt + clay content and total K were the prime determinants of the bacterial communities of BSCs. The results suggested that bacterial communities of BSCs recovered quickly with the improved soil physicochemical properties in the early stages of BSC succession. Changes in the bacterial community structure may be an important indicator in the biogeochemical cycling and nutrient storage in early successional stages of BSCs in desert ecosystems.
Capital Structure Theories and Firm’s Value-Evidence from Bursa Malaysia Construction Sector
Authors: Razak Abdul Hadi Abdul , Nadiah Md Lazim Nur Farah , Iqbal Tahir 
Published: August 2017

This paper examines the relevance of Capital Structure theories to the performance of construction firms listed at Bursa Malaysia. Within the framework of Modigliani-Miller and Trade-Off theories, this paper uses Generalized Method of Moments as an estimation model employing yearly panel data over the observed period from 2010 through 2015. The test results from GMM indicate that earnings per share (EPS), dividend per share (DPS) and debt-equity ratio (D/E) have no significant relationship with firm’s value as represented by market price per share (MPPS). Even though the findings are rather shocking, one must admit there is an absence of Modigliani-Miller and Trade-Off theories in those construction firms at Bursa Malaysia. Obviously, this is an indication that the efficient market hypothesis prevails to a certain level at Bursa Malaysia.
The Impact of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and Organizational Commitment on Market-Orientation of the Banks (Case Study: Parsian Bank Branches in Tehran)
Authors: Khoshnammoghadam Fariba 
Published: August 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and organizational commitment on market-orientation of the banks (case study: branches of Parsian bank in Tehran). The approach of the study was quantitative descriptive-survey, timely cross-sectional and the purpose was practical. The statistical society of the study were branches of the Parsian bank in Tehran, winter 2016, where based on the reason and nature of inquiry, 60 of the employees were selected as the sample size simple randomly. In addition to the standard library research, the main tool were three questionnaire that their reliability was determined 0.84 by Cronbach's alpha test. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistical methods and software SPSS, version 22, was used. The results showed that OCB and also organizational commitment and its components have a significant positive impact on market-orientation of Parsian Bank.
Da (im)possibilidade do ajuizamento da ação direta interventiva para assegurar a autonomia municipal para legislar sobre licenciamento ambiental de impacto local
Authors: Maria Dioclides José , Gomes Magno Federici 
Published: August 2017

O presente estudo busca analisar os contornos constitucionalmente estabelecidos a uma intervenção federal no Estado por violação da autonomia municipal em matéria ambiental. Apresentam-se breves considerações sobre a compreensão de supremacia da Constituição, com digressões necessárias sobre a autonomia municipal erigida a princípio sensível nas Constituições de 1946, 1967, Emenda Constitucional (EC) de 1969 e Constituição da República de 1988 (CR/1988). Adentra-se na análise da competência atribuída ao Estado pela Lei Complementar (LC) no140/2011 para, por intermédio do Conselho Estadual e em instrumento próprio, definir o conceito de impacto local no processo de licenciamento municipal. Para a elaboração desse estudo, foi utilizado o método dedutivo, bem como a pesquisa realizada na doutrina, leis e jurisprudência, tendo como marco a predominância do interesse local. Pode-se concluir que tal disposição viola a repartição constitucional de competência e o princípio sensível da autonomia municipal, bem como a competência privativa para organizar e planejar o seu território, sendo cabível o ajuizamento em face do Estado da Ação Direita de Inconstitucionalidade Interventiva, mediante representação ao Procurador Geral da República, nos termos dos arts. 34, inciso VII, “c”, e 36, inciso III, da CR/1988, regulamentada pela Lei no 12.562/2011, que tramitará perante o Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF).
Informing water harvesting technology contract design using choice experiments
Authors: Tarfasa Solomon , Brouwer Roy , Sheremet Oleg , Bouma Jetske 
Published: August 2017

AbstractIntroducing water harvesting technology is expected to be more effective and last longer if farm households are involved in their design. The main objective of this study is to inform policymakers in Ethiopia about the most important terms and conditions to incentivize farmers to enter into a contractual agreement to invest in water harvesting on their land. In order to test the influence of the way the specific contractual terms and conditions are communicated to farm households, many of whom are illiterate, a split sample approach is applied with and without visual aids for technical, institutional, and economic contract characteristics. Both samples generate significantly different results, highlighting the importance of how information is conveyed to farm households. This pattern is confirmed when examining the self‐reported importance attached to the various contract characteristics. Equality Constrained Latent Class models show that contract characteristics for which visual aids were developed are considered more attentively, emphasizing the importance of adequate communication tools in a developing country context where literacy rates are limited to increase water technology innovation uptake and reduce farm household vulnerability to droughts.
Underlying causes of Eurasian midcontinental aridity in simulations of mid‐Holocene climate
Authors: Bartlein Patrick J. , Harrison Sandy P. , Izumi Kenji 
Published: August 2017

AbstractClimate model simulations uniformly show drier and warmer summers in the Eurasian midcontinent during the mid‐Holocene, which is not consistent with paleoenvironmental observations. The simulated climate results from a reduction in the zonal temperature gradient, which weakens westerly flow and reduces moisture flux and precipitation in the midcontinent. As a result, sensible heating is favored over evaporation and latent heating, resulting in substantial surface‐driven atmospheric warming. Thus, the discrepancy with the paleoenvironmental evidence arises initially from a problem in the simulated circulation and is exacerbated by feedback from the land surface. This region is also drier and warmer than indicated by observations in the preindustrial control simulations, and this bias arises in the same way: zonal flow and hence moisture flux into the midcontinent are too weak, and feedback from the land surface results in surface‐driven warming. These analyses suggest the need to improve those aspects of climate models that affect the strength of westerly circulation.
Improving the simulation of convective dust storms in regional‐to‐global models
Authors: Foroutan Hosein , Pleim Jonathan E. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractConvective dust storms have significant impacts on atmospheric conditions and air quality and are a major source of dust uplift in summertime. However, regional‐to‐global models generally do not accurately simulate these storms, a limitation that can be attributed to (1) using a single mean value for wind speed per grid box, i.e., not accounting for subgrid wind variability and (2) using convective parametrizations that poorly simulate cold pool outflows. This study aims to improve the simulation of convective dust storms by tackling these two issues. Specifically, we incorporate a probability distribution function for surface wind in each grid box to account for subgrid wind variability due to dry and moist convection. Furthermore, we use lightning assimilation to increase the accuracy of the convective parameterization and simulated cold pool outflows. This updated model framework is used to simulate a massive convective dust storm that hit Phoenix, AZ, on 6 July 2011. The results show that lightning assimilation provides a more realistic simulation of precipitation features, including timing and location, and the resulting cold pool outflows that generated the dust storm. When those results are combined with a dust model that accounts for subgrid wind variability, the prediction of dust uplift and concentrations are considerably improved compared to the default model results. This modeling framework could potentially improve the simulation of convective dust storms in global models, regional climate simulations, and retrospective air quality studies.
Smart Bioinspired Nanochannels and their Applications in Energy‐Conversion Systems
Authors: Li Ruirui , Fan Xia , Liu Zhaoyue , Zhai Jin 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSmart bioinspired nanochannels exhibiting ion‐transport properties similar to biological ion channels have attracted extensive attention. Like ion channels in nature, smart bioinspired nanochannels can respond to various stimuli, which lays a solid foundation for mass transport and energy conversion. Fundamental research into smart bioinspired nanochannels not only furthers understanding of life processes in living bodies, but also inspires researchers to construct smart nanodevices to meet the increasing demand for the use of renewable resources. Here, a brief summary of recent research progress regarding the design and preparation of smart bioinspired nanochannels is presented. Moreover, representative applications of smart bioinspired nanochannels in energy‐conversion systems are also summarized. Finally, an outlook for future challenges in this field is given.
Freeze Casting for Assembling Bioinspired Structural Materials
Authors: Cheng Qunfeng , Huang Chuanjin , Tomsia Antoni P. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractNature is very successful in designing strong and tough, lightweight materials. Examples include seashells, bone, teeth, fish scales, wood, bamboo, silk, and many others. A distinctive feature of all these materials is that their properties are far superior to those of their constituent phases. Many of these natural materials are lamellar or layered in nature. With its “brick and mortar” structure, nacre is an example of a layered material that exhibits extraordinary physical properties. Finding inspiration in living organisms to create bioinspired materials is the subject of intensive research. Several processing techniques have been proposed to design materials mimicking natural materials, such as layer‐by‐layer deposition, self‐assembly, electrophoretic deposition, hydrogel casting, doctor blading, and many others. Freeze casting, also known as ice‐templating, is a technique that has received considerable attention in recent years to produce bioinspired bulk materials. Here, recent advances in the freeze‐casting technique are reviewed for fabricating lamellar scaffolds by assembling different dimensional building blocks, including nanoparticles, polymer chains, nanofibers, and nanosheets. These lamellar scaffolds are often infiltrated by a second phase, typically a soft polymer matrix, a hard ceramic matrix, or a metal matrix. The unique architecture of the resultant bioinspired structural materials displays excellent mechanical properties. The challenges of the current research in using the freeze‐casting technique to create materials large enough to be useful are also discussed, and the technique's promise for fabricating high‐performance nacre‐inspired structural materials in the future is reviewed.
Fifty years of child height and weight in Japan and South Korea: Contrasting secular trend patterns analyzed by SITAR
Authors: Cole T. J. , Mori H. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractObjectives Japanese and South Koreans have traditionally been shorter than Europeans, but have recently become appreciably taller. The aim was to quantify the secular trend patterns in height and weight growth in the two countries over 50 years using the SITAR growth curve model.Methods Data on mean height and weight by sex in 1‐year age groups from 1 to 20 years were obtained by decade in South Korea (1965–2005) and Japan (1950–2010). The data were analyzed using SITAR (SuperImposition by Translation And Rotation), which estimates a mean curve and three adjustments–size, timing and intensity–reflecting how the individual surveys differ from the mean. A sensitivity analysis compared results for the Japanese data based on cohort as well as period.Results Growth patterns in the two countries changed dramatically over the study period, affecting not only height and weight but also developmental age, in that the growth period advanced in timing and shrank in duration. SITAR fitted the data well. The trends were larger in South Korea than Japan, and puberty timing in Japan stabilized by 1970. Most of the height increment seen in adults had already accrued by age 1.5 years, whereas the adult weight increment accrued throughout childhood.Conclusions The secular height trend in these countries represents increased growth in the long bones during infancy, so it can be viewed as the inverse of stunting. There are striking country differences in growth pattern, but they are not easily explained by differences in national income, diet or lifestyle.
Work‐related mortality in the US fishing industry during 2000‐2014: New findings based on improved workforce exposure estimates
Authors: Lucas Devin L. , Case Samantha L. 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundCommercial fishing is a global industry that has been frequently classified as high‐risk. The use of detailed surveillance data is critical in identifying hazards.MethodsThe purpose of this study was to provide updated statistics for the entire US fishing industry during 2010‐2014, generate fleet‐specific fatality rates using a revised calculation of full‐time equivalent estimates, and examine changes in the patterns of fatalities and in risk over a 15‐year period (2000‐2014).ResultsDuring 2010‐2014, 188 commercial fishing fatalities occurred in the United States. Vessel disasters and falls overboard remain leading contributors to commercial fishing deaths. The Atlantic scallop fleet stands out for achieving substantial declines in the risk of fatalities over the 15‐year study period. However, fatality rates ranged from 21 to 147 deaths per 100 000 FTEs, many times higher than the rate for all US workers.ConclusionsAlthough the number of fatalities among commercial fishermen in the United States has generally declined since 2000, commercial fishing continues to have one of the highest occupational fatality rates in the United States. The sustainable seafood movement could assist in improving the health and safety of fishing industry workers if worker well‐being was integrated into the definition of sustainable seafood.
Development of the Endoscopic Endonasal Sinus and Skull Base Surgery Questionnaire
Authors: ten Dam Ellen , Feijen Robert A. , van den Berge Minke J.C. , Hoving Eelco W. , Kuijlen Jos M. , van der Laan Bernard F.A.M. , Vermeulen Karin M. , Krabbe Paul F.M. , Korsten‐Meijer Astrid G.W. 
Published: August 2017

BackgroundThe patients’ perspective of health outcomes has become important input for assessing treatment effects. However, existing endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) instruments are not fully aligned with the concept of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). A prospective cohort study was therefore conducted to develop a suitable quality‐of‐life tool to assess nasal morbidity after EES: the Endoscopic Endonasal Sinus and Skull Base Surgery Questionnaire (EES‐Q).MethodsThe study included 300 patients: 207 with sinus pathology and 93 with anterior skull base pathology. The EES‐Q was administered prior to surgery and postoperatively (2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year). Psychometric instrument properties were tested and relevant health domains were formulated. Seventy‐two items were generated by the conventional psychometric approach. An exploratory factor analysis was used to test construct validity. The optimal number of factors to retain was determined by using the eigenvalues‐greater‐than‐1 rule and scree plot. Orthogonal varimax rotation was used to enhance interpretability. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach α.ResultsThe factor analysis yielded a 3‐factor solution, representing physical, psychological, and social functioning. The final version of the instrument consisted of 30 items with a high internal consistency (>0.80) for all 3 HRQoL domains.ConclusionsThe EES‐Q is a comprehensive, multidimensional, disease‐specific instrument. A distinguishing characteristic is that, apart from the physical and psychological domains, the EES‐Q also encompasses a social domain. Understanding different HRQoL aspects in patients undergoing EES may help caregivers restore, improve, or preserve the patient's health through individualized care, which depends on identifying their specific needs.
A Self‐Assembled Oligopeptide as a Versatile NMR Alignment Medium for the Measurement of Residual Dipolar Couplings in Methanol
Authors: Lei Xinxiang , Qiu Feng , Sun Han , Bai Liwen , Wang Wen‐Xuan , Xiang Wensheng , Xiao Hongping 
Published: August 2017

AbstractResidual dipolar coupling (RDC) is a powerful structural parameter for the determination of the constitution, conformation, and configuration of organic molecules. Herein, we report the first liquid crystal‐based orienting medium that is compatible with MeOH, thus enabling RDC acquisitions of a wide range of intermediate to polar organic molecules. The liquid crystals were produced from self‐assembled oligopeptide nanotubes (AAKLVFF), which are stable at very low concentrations. The presented alignment medium is highly homogeneous, and the size of RDCs can be scaled with the concentration of the peptide. To assess the accuracy of the RDC measurement by employing this new medium, seven bioactive natural products from different classes were chosen and analyzed. The straightforward preparation of the anisotropic alignment sample will offer a versatile and robust protocol for the routine RDC measurement of natural products.
Diradikaloid oder zwitterionischer Charakter: die ungesättigte Verbindung [Si4{N(SiMe3)Dipp}4] mit gefaltetem Si4‐Strukturmotiv
Authors: Keuter Jan , Schwedtmann Kevin , Hepp Alexander , Bergander Klaus , Janka Oliver , Doerenkamp Carsten , Eckert Hellmut , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Lips Felicitas 
Published: August 2017

AbstractReduktion des Tribromoamidosilans {N(SiMe3)Dipp}SiBr3 mit Kaliumgraphit oder Magnesium führte zur Bildung eines Bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilatetraamids [Si4{N(SiMe3)Dipp}4] (1). Das Si4‐Motiv in 1 weist keine tetraedrische Struktur auf und hat zwei dreifach‐ und zwei vierfach‐koordinierte Siliciumatome. Die dreifach‐koordinierten Siliciumatome sind positiv und negativ polarisiert, was durch Messungen der magnetischen Suszeptibilität, EPR‐Messungen, DFT‐Rechnungen, 29Si‐CP‐MAS‐NMR‐ und multinukleare NMR‐Spektroskopie in Lösung herausgefunden wurde. Untersuchungen der Reaktivität von 1 mit Radikalfängern waren nicht erfolgreich und bestätigen somit die partiellen Polarisierungen der Verbindung. 1 reagiert mit Schwefel zu einer neuartigen Si‐S‐Käfigverbindung [Si4S3{N(SiMe3)Dipp}4] (2), die von Amidosubstituenten stabilisiert wird.
Diradicaloid or Zwitterionic Character: The Non‐Tetrahedral Unsaturated Compound [Si4{N(SiMe3)Dipp}4] with a Butterfly‐type Si4 Substructure
Authors: Keuter Jan , Schwedtmann Kevin , Hepp Alexander , Bergander Klaus , Janka Oliver , Doerenkamp Carsten , Eckert Hellmut , Mück‐Lichtenfeld Christian , Lips Felicitas 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe reduction of the tribromoamidosilane {N(SiMe3)Dipp}SiBr3 (Dipp=2,6‐iPr2C6H3) with potassium graphite or magnesium resulted in the formation of [Si4{N(SiMe3)Dipp}4] (1), a bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilatetraamide. The Si4 motif in 1 does not adopt a tetrahedral substructure and exhibits two three‐coordinate and two four‐coordinate silicon atoms. The electronic situation on the three‐coordinate silicon atoms is rationalized with positive and negative polarization based on EPR analysis, magnetization measurements, and DFT calculations as well as 29Si CP MAS NMR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution. Reactivity studies with 1 and radical scavengers confirmed the partial charge separation. Compound 1 reacts with sulfur to give a novel type of silicon sulfur cage compound substituted with an amido ligand, [Si4S3{N(SiMe3)Dipp}4] (2).
Trichalcogenasumanene ortho‐Quinones: Synthesis, Properties, and Transformation into Various Heteropolycycles
Authors: Sun Yantao , Li Xuexiang , Sun Chunlin , Shen Hongguang , Hou Xueqing , Lin Dongxu , Zhang Hao‐Li , Di Chong‐an , Zhu Daoben , Shao Xiangfeng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe regioselective transformation of heterobuckybowl trichalcogenasumanenes 1 a,b at peripheral butoxy groups afforded trichalcogenasumanene ortho‐quinones 2 a,b. Compounds 2 a,b are distinct from 1 a,b in terms of their molecular geometry and electronic state; that is, they have a shallower bowl depth and show absorbance in the NIR region. The reaction of 2 a,b with diamines resulted in a variety of heteropolycycles, including molecular spoon 3 a–6 a, planar π‐systems 3 b–6 b, and highly twisted [7‐6‐6]‐fused systems 7 a,b. These new heteropolycycles had different optical/electrical properties: 4 a,b showed hole mobility of approximately 0.002 cm2 V−1 s−1, 6 a displayed red emission in both solution and the solid state, and 7 a,b formed tight stacks of the curved π‐surface.