bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Krasnosel’skii-type theorem for an enlarged class of orthogonal polytopes
Authors: Breen Marilyn 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Let 𝓒 be a finite family of distinct boxes in ℝ
d
, let S = ⋃ {C : C in 𝓒} and let G be the intersection graph of 𝓒. For each block of G, assume that the corresponding members of 𝓒 have a staircase convex union. Then S with the rectilinear metric is a median space. Moreover, if every two points of S see a common point via staircase paths in S, then S is staircase starshaped.
Procopius’s Old English
Authors: Carlson David 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBy the middle of the sixth century, in Byzantine perspective, Britain had so long since ceased to be part of the empire of the Romans as to have become a kind of never-land, some part of the known world, but also the sort of place of which it was possible to credit the fabulous. Information was scarce. Nevertheless, the chief source for the sixth-century east-Roman regime in Constantinople, Procopius (c. 500 -565 CE), met a group of Anglo-Saxons c. 540, who were contemporaries of Beowulf’s king Hygelac; and Procopius may have learned from hoi Angiloi something about the Old English poetry, at a particularly important point in its formation, before the beginning of the conversion of the English to Christianity in 597 CE. Procopius’s English informants told him a tale (of the vengeful Anglo-Saxon bride of a Frisian basileos named Radigis) of a type consonant with later examples of Old English poetry; also, with an historical basis that coincides with the historical milieu to which the earliest Old English heroic poetry also refers, including Beowulf.
The Accuracy of Economic Measurement in the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: French Eric , Jones John Bailey , McCauley Jeremy 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
We assess the quality of the HRS’s measures of out-of-pocket medical spending and health insurance premia, both in the “core interviews” and in the “exit interview” data. We provide detailed evidence on the quality of the HRS insurance premia data, and we compare the HRS exit data to exit data in the MCBS. We document how changes in survey questions, including the introduction of “unfolding brackets,” affect the HRS measures. We document what we believe are errors in the HRS imputations and provide some suggestions for improving the accuracy of some imputed variables. Overall, we find the HRS data to be of high quality. However, we believe that many interesting variables in the HRS are under-utilized because users must perform imputations themselves.
“Urban geosites” as an alternative geotourism destination - evidence from Belgrade
Authors: Petrović Marko D. , Lukić Dobrila M. , Radovanović Milan , Vujko Aleksandra , Gajić Tamara , Vuković Darko 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe research aimed at testing the combination of GAM/M-GAM models (Geosite Assessment Model/Modified Geosite Assessment Model) on selected geoheritage sites (geosites) of great scientific significance and geotourism potential. Testing was done on eight sites in the City of Belgrade (Serbian capital), an area which has significant potential for geotourism development in typical urban conditions. For this purpose, an assessment scale was used to highlight differences and similarities between main and additional values of the observed geosites. The modification of the original GAM model is based on the inclusion of visitors’ opinions regarding the importance of indicators in the assessment process. The assessment was done by using both GAM/M-GAM and its results were analyzed and compared afterwards. The analysis has successfully identified locations and features of geosites that require action for maintaining or increasing their overall value and function. Moreover, the principal aim of the paper was to analyze the relevance of each sub-indicator for the assessment process by introducing the importance factor in the modified model. The authors were able to point out those values of principal importance for geosite visitors, as well as to attach a different relevance to sub-indicators, which can influence the position of the geosites in the GAM/M-GAM matrices.
Cocos nucifera water improves metabolic functions in offspring of high fat diet fed Wistar rats
Authors: Kunle-Alabi Olufadekemi T. , Akindele Opeyemi O. , Raji Yinusa 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Background:
Maternal high fat diet has been implicated in the aetiology of metabolic diseases in their offspring. The hypolipidaemic actions of Cocos nucifera water improve metabolic indices of dams consuming a high fat diet during gestation. This study investigated the effects of C. nucifera water on metabolism of offspring of dams exposed to high fat diet during gestation.

Methods:
Four groups of pregnant Wistar rat dams (n=6) were treated orally from Gestation Day (GD) 1 to GD 21 as follows: standard rodent feed+10 mL/kg distilled water (Control), standard rodent feed+10 mL/kg C. nucifera water, high fat feed+10 mL/kg distilled water (high fat diet), and high fat feed+10 mL/kg C. nucifera water (high fat diet+C. nucifera water). The feeds were given ad libitum and all dams received standard rodent feed after parturition. Fasting blood glucose was measured in offspring before being euthanized on Postnatal Day (PND) 120. Serum insulin, leptin, lipid profile and liver enzymes were measured.

Results:
Serum total cholesterol (TC), insulin, alanine transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly increased (p<0.05) in high fat diet offspring compared with controls. Similar changes were not observed in high fat diet+C. nucifera water offspring.

Conclusions:
Results suggest that the adverse effects of maternal high fat diet on offspring’s metabolism can be ameliorated by C. nucifera water.
Determinants of home range size and spatial overlap of Gracilinanus agilis (Mammalia: Didelphidae) in central-western Brazil
Authors: Shibuya Patrícia Sayuri , Melo Geruza Leal , Cáceres Nilton Carlos 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe use of space in mammals may vary according to sexual dimorphism, mating system and territorial behavior in order to ensure optimization of the reproductive success of each sex and the interactions with other species. In the present study, the determinants of home range (HR) size of males and females ofGracilinanus agilis(Burmeister 1854) were evaluated in a savanna remnant in central-western Brazil. We used live traps and capture-mark-recapture to estimate HR size. Using the method of minimum convex polygon, we estimated the HR of 24 individuals. The species showed sexual dimorphism, with males showing larger body size. The HR estimated was 0.38±0.41 ha and the highest estimated HR was for a male, with 2.08 ha. Females’ HR sizes varied according to body mass, food availability and number of captures. The more important predictor for males was the number of females found within their HRs. The overlapping areas between pairs of males were larger than those between pairs of females, suggesting that females have territorial behavior as they had mostly exclusive HRs. Considering that food availability was an important predictor for female HR size, we hypothesize that the territorial behavior in females is related to food resource.
Clinical efficacy of alprostadil combined with α-lipoic acid in the treatment of elderly patients with diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Hong Yan , Peng Jianyun , Cai Xiaoping , Zhang Xiaoru , Liao Yifei , Lan Lejian 
Published: October 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the effect and toxicity of alprostadil combined with thioctic acid injection in the treatment of patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).MethodsSixty two patients with DN were included in this study and randomly divided into control group (n=32) and experiment group (n=30). Patients in the control group were given alprostadil 20ug+NS 100ml ivgtt, qd and patients in the experiment group were given alprostadil 20ug+NS 100ml ivgtt combined with thioctic acid injection of 0.45g+100ml ivgtt, qd for 14 days. After treatment, the renal function and serum level of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were compared between the two groups.ResultsAfter two weeks of treatment, the serum level of CysC and UAER significant decreased for both control and experiment group with statistical difference of p<0.05. After treatment, the serum level of CysC were 1.40 ±0.46 mg/L and 1.02±0.33 for control and experiment group respectively (p<0.05). The post-treatment UAER in experiment group was significantly lower than those of control group with statistical difference (81.02±0.33 vs112.45±20.32, p<0.05) ug/min. The serum level of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased after treatment for both control and experiment group (p<0.05). And the post-treatment serum CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α in experiment group were significantly lower than those of control group with statistical difference (p<0.05). No significant side effects were found for the two groupsin the course of treatment.ConclusionAlprostadil combined with α-lipoic acid may improve renal function in patients with diabetic nephropathy by decreasing the levels of serum inflammatory factors.
On Complete Control and Synchronization of Zhang Chaotic System with Uncertain Parameters using Adaptive Control Method
Authors: Tirandaz Hamed 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Chaos control and synchronization of chaotic systems is seemingly a challenging problem and has got a lot of attention in recent years due to its numerous applications in science and industry. This paper concentrates on the control and synchronization problem of the three-dimensional (3D) Zhang chaotic system. At first, an adaptive control law and a parameter estimation law are achieved for controlling the behavior of the Zhang chaotic system. Then, non-identical synchronization of Zhang chaotic system is provided with considering the Lü chaotic system as the follower system. The synchronization problem and parameters identification are achieved by introducing an adaptive control law and a parameters estimation law. Stability analysis of the proposed method is proved by the Lyapanov stability theorem. In addition, the convergence of the estimated parameters to their truly unknown values are evaluated. Finally, some numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate and to validate the effectiveness of the suggested method.
Merchant Acceptance of Payment Cards: “Must Take” or “Wanna Take”?
Authors: Bounie David , François Abel , Van Hove Leo 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn recent years, regulators in various parts of the world have capped interchange fees on debit and credit cards. The justification for the caps rests to a large extent on the argument that these cards have, for certain merchants, become must-take cards rather than “wanna-take cards.” That is, there are merchants who accept payment cards not because they bring net convenience benefits but out of fear of losing profitable business to card-accepting competitors. This paper presents an original approach that allows to quantify, for the first time, the relative importance of the two motivations. We find, for the case of France in 2008, that the must-take phenomenon effectively exists, but that it applies to only 5.8–19.8 percent of the card-accepting merchants and to a mere 3.9–13.5 percent of all retailers.
Radical scavenging potency of 2-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl 3-(methyl/amino)benzoate: synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
Authors: Then Li Yee , Kumar C.S. Chidan , Kwong Huey Chong , Mah Siau Hui , Loh Wan-Sin , Quah Ching Kheng , Win Yip-Foo , Chandraju Siddegowda 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Two novel 2-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl 3-(methyl/amino)benzoates 2(a–b), were synthesized under mild conditions and characterized by spectroscopic analysis. The three-dimensional (3D) crystal structures of these compounds were further determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction technique and revealed that both compounds tend to twist away with respect to their attached carbonyl groups at the C(=O)–C–O–C(=O) connecting bridge, exhibiting a nearly perpendicular conformation with torsion angle in a range of 75–94°. In both compounds, each of the benzofuran and substituted phenyl rings are individually planar while almost perpendicular to each other. Their molecular conformation are comparable with related structures from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Furthermore, the intermolecular interactions in these crystal structures were quantified and analyzed using Hirshfeld surfaces computational method. The quantitative data on the percentage contributions of overall interactions on the molecules 2a and 2b (A & B) is calculated by the 2-D fingerprint plots from the HS analysis. These structures were evaluated for their antioxidant properties by diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferrous ion chelating (FIC) and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assays (H2O2). Noteworthy, compound 2b with an amino substituent attached to the phenyl ring exhibited an IC50 value of 45.37 μg/mL in H2O2 scavenging assay, which showed better scavenging effect than the standard drug, ascorbic acid (IC50=81.02 μg/mL).
Two superstructures of Ce3Rh4Ge4
Authors: Voßwinkel Daniel , Hoffmann Rolf-Dieter , Svitlyk Volodymyr , Hermes Wilfried , Greiwe Magnus , Niehaus Oliver , Chevalier Bernard , Matar Samir F. , Alam Adel F. Al , Nakhl Michel , Ouaini Naïm , Pöttgen Rainer 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Two different samples of Ce3Rh4Ge4 were synthesized from different starting compositions by melting of the elements in an arc-melting furnace followed by annealing sequences in a sealed tantalum ampoule in a muffle furnace. The structures of two different stacking variants were refined on the basis of temperature dependent single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data. At high temperature Ce3Rh4Ge4 adopts the U3Ni4Si4 type structure with strongly enhanced anisotropic displacement parameters for the Rh1 atoms. For the two different crystals, additional reflections start to appear at different temperatures. The first crystal showed additional reflections already at room temperature (stacking variant I) and the second one showed additional reflections emerging below 270 K (stacking variant II). Stacking variant I could be described with the (3+1)D superspace group I2/m(α0γ)00; α=1/2a*, γ=1/2c*; (Z=2), 1252 F
2 values, 48 variables, wR=0.0306 for the main and wR=0.0527 for 440 1st order satellite reflections, similar to Pr3Rh4Ge4. For stacking variant II the (3+1)D superspace group is Immm(α00)00s; α=1/2a*; (Z=2). The structure could be refined with 1261 F
2 values, 53 variables and residuals of wR=0.0331 for the main reflections and wR=0.1755 (R1obs=0.0788) for the 1st order satellite reflections, [a=406.2(1), b=423.7(1) and c=2497.1(1) pm]. The commensurate description could be transformed to a three-dimensional (3D) supercell with space group Pnma and Z=4: a=812.5(1), b=423.7(1), c=2497.1(2) pm, 1261 F
2 values, 69 variables and wR=0.0525. The relation of the U3Ni4Si4 type structure, the (3+1)D modulated and the 3D supercells are discussed on the basis of group-subgroup schemes. Ab initio electronic structure calculations are in line with the diffraction experiments, revealing the lowest total energy for the Pnma phase.
Heart Rate Variability and Training Load Among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 College Football Players Throughout Spring Camp
Authors: Flatt Andrew A. , Esco Michael R. , Allen Jeff R. , Robinson James B. , Earley Ryan L. , Fedewa Michael V. , Bragg Amy , Keith Clay M. , Wingo Jonathan E. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Flatt, AA, Esco, MR, Allen, JR, Robinson, JB, Earley, RL, Fedewa, MV, Bragg, A, Keith, CM, and Wingo, JE. Heart rate variability and training load among National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 college football players throughout spring camp. J Strength Cond Res 32(11): 3127–3134, 2018—The purpose of this study was to determine whether recovery of cardiac-autonomic activity to baseline occurs between consecutive-day training sessions among positional groups of a collegiate football team during Spring camp. A secondary aim was to evaluate relationships between chronic (i.e., 4-week) heart rate variability (HRV) and training load parameters. Baseline HRV (lnRMSSD_BL) was compared with HRV after ∼20 hours of recovery before next-day training (lnRMSSDpost20) among positional groups composed of SKILL (n = 11), MID-SKILL (n = 9), and LINEMEN (n = 5) with a linear mixed model and effect sizes (ES). Pearson and partial correlations were used to quantify relationships between chronic mean and coefficient of variation (CV) of lnRMSSD (lnRMSSD_chronic and lnRMSSDcv, respectively) with the mean and CV of PlayerLoad (PL_chronic and PL_cv, respectively). A position × time interaction was observed for lnRMSSD (p = 0.01). lnRMSSD_BL was higher than lnRMSSDpost20 for LINEMEN (p < 0.01; ES = large), whereas differences for SKILL and MID-SKILL were not statistically different (p > 0.05). Players with greater body mass experienced larger reductions in lnRMSSD (r = −0.62, p < 0.01). Longitudinally, lnRMSSDcv was significantly related to body mass (r = 0.48) and PL_chronic (r = −0.60). After adjusting for body mass, lnRMSSDcv and PL_chronic remained significantly related (r = −0.43). The ∼20-hour recovery time between training sessions on consecutive days may not be adequate for restoration of cardiac-parasympathetic activity to baseline among LINEMEN. Players with a lower chronic training load throughout camp experienced greater fluctuation in lnRMSSD (i.e., lnRMSSDcv) and vice versa. Thus, a capacity for greater chronic workloads may be protective against perturbations in cardiac-autonomic homeostasis among American college football players.
Evaluating Drinking Water Treatment Waste as a Low-Cost Cement Replacement Possessing Internal Curing Properties
Authors: Nowasell Qiwei C. , Kevern John T. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
With increasing attention to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the cement and construction industry have been exploring every opportunity to reduce embodied energy and carbon footprint. Concrete currently incorporates many recycled industrial byproducts such as fly ash and blast furnace slag, which helps reduce the quantity of landfilled materials while reducing CO2. The large volume of drinking water treatment waste (DWTW) generated by all metropolitan cities has motivated many to investigate possible beneficial utilization. Despite the high purity of DWTW, high moisture content and the associated high energy required to dry the material into a readily usable form have prevented beneficial usage from moving forward in any significant capacity. This research evaluates the use of landfilled material in the as-received, moist condition as a cement replacement powder with internal curing properties. The results show that for a high cementitious mix, where internal curing would be recommended to achieve maximum hydration, up to 10 % replacement with DWTW provides equivalent strength and heat of hydration without negatively impacting setting time.
Piloted Quality Control Techniques Using the Plastic Mold Compaction Device for Cement Stabilized Materials
Authors: Sullivan W. Griffin , Howard Isaac L. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Some highway agencies make heavy use of cement-stabilized materials (i.e., soil-cement) for subbase and base pavement layers. Recently, several soil-cement studies have been funded by highway agencies. Through one of these studies, the plastic mold compaction device (PM Device) was developed, which is designed to compact 2:1 height/diameter specimens inside plastic molds. The most novel aspect of the PM Device is the potential to interface mechanistic-empirical pavement design, laboratory mixture design, and construction quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) activities. To date, the PM Device has been evaluated with respect to design activities, but little work has been performed to evaluate the PM Device’s effectiveness as a tool during construction. This paper focuses on three pilot projects in which the PM Device was evaluated as a potential QC/QA tool. The PM Device demonstrated merit as a QC/QA tool for A-2-4 classified materials, but the current PM Device does have particle size limitations. The PM Device produced consistent specimen densities with a predetermined compactive effort, provided an indication of cement content of field-mixed material via unconfined compressive strength testing, and correlated favorably with field cores in a limited assessment. The investigations presented need to be supplemented by additional projects to develop a framework for the PM Device to be implemented into an agency QC/QA program.
Effect of Atrazine Contamination on Compressibility and Permeability Characteristics of Clay
Authors: Keramatikerman Mahdi , Chegenizadeh Amin , Pu Hefu 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Atrazine (ATZ) is one of the most heavily used herbicides in the world, particularly in the United States and Australia. This study evaluated the compressibility and permeability characteristics of two Western Australia natural clays contaminated with varying ATZ contents. A series of one-dimensional consolidation tests using fixed-ring oedometer device were conducted, and the final hydraulic conductivity was calculated at the end of each loading stage. At the first stage, the strain–time graphs at 1,280 kPa effective overburden pressure (σ′n) were evaluated, and the results indicated that the specimens with a greater ATZ content have higher values of final vertical strain (ϵv). Then, the compression index (Cc) values were computed from the void ratio–effective overburden pressure curves (e−σ′n), and the results showed that the compression index (Cc) increased as the ATZ content of the tested clays increased. At the next stage, the coefficient of consolidation (cv) was calculated using the Casagrande method and the Taylor method. The results showed that the computed coefficient of consolidation (cv) using the Taylor method was slightly greater than those calculated using the Casagrande method in both tested clays. Also, the hydraulic conductivity (k) values of the tested clays increased as the contamination content increased (i.e., 3.1 × 10-7 ≤ k ≤ 129 × 10-7 cm/s and 4.49 × 10-9 ≤ k ≤ 95.3 × 10-9 cm/s). This behavior, which was attributed to promotion of the agglomeration and aggregation between clay particles, promoted formation of the tiny voids in the soil. Finally, the secondary compression ratio (Rα) and secondary compression index (Cα) were computed, and the results showed that the specimens containing higher ATZ content had greater values of Rα and Cα.