bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ab Initio Calculations on the Structural, Mechanical, Electronic, Dynamic, and Optical Properties of Semiconductor Half-Heusler Compound ZrPdSn
Authors: Çiftci Yasemin Ö. , Çoban Cansu 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe structural, mechanical, electronic, dynamic, and optical properties of the ZrPdSn compound crystallising into the MgAgAs structure are investigated by the ab initio calculations based on the density functional theory. The lattice constant, bulk modulus, and first derivative of bulk modulus were obtained by fitting the calculated total energy-atomic volume results to the Murnaghan equation of state. These results were compared to the previous data. The band structure and corresponding density of states (DOS) were also calculated and discussed. The elastic properties were calculated by using the stress-strain method, which shows that the MgAgAs phase of this compound is mechanically stable. The presented phonon dispersion curves and one-phonon DOS confirms that this compound is dynamically stable. In addition, the heat capacity, entropy, and free energy of ZrPdSn were calculated by using the phonon frequencies. Finally, the optical properties, such as dielectric function, reflectivity function, extinction coefficient, refractive index, and energy loss spectrum, were obtained under different pressures.
Multi-Soliton Solutions of the Generalized Sawada–Kotera Equation
Authors: Zuo Da-Wei , Mo Hui-Xia , Zhou Hui-Ping 
Published: February 2016

Abstract
Korteweg–de Vries (KdV)-type equations can describe the nonlinear phenomena in shallow water waves, stratified internal waves, and ion-acoustic waves in plasmas. In this article, the two-dimensional generalization of the Sawada–Kotera equation, one of the KdV-type equations, is discussed by virtue of the Bell polynomials and Hirota method. The results show that there exist multi-soliton solutions for such an equation. Relations between the direction of the soliton propagation and coordinate axes are shown. Elastic interaction with the multi-soliton solutions are analysed.
Characterization of Sediments From the Sewage Disposal Lagoons for Sustainable Development
Authors: Sharma Susmita , Meenu P. S. , Asha Latha R. , Shashank B. S. , Singh D. N. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe incessant growth in urbanization, and the population explosion associated with it, has resulted in an increased discharge in sewage disposal lagoons and has led to their overloading. This results in the improper functioning of these lagoons, which greatly affects the treatment of sludge and wastewater. The influents, which carry along with them a huge load of substance, referred to as socioeconomically generated sediments (SeGSs), substantially reduce the capacity of the lagoons and the retention time of the sewage water and sludge. This situation poses a major challenge to municipal engineers and town planners, and to overcome it, either periodic or once-per-lifetime desiltation of these lagoons is warranted. However, in present-day megacities, there are several concerns associated with the desiltation process, viz., selection of the most economical and efficient technique, the availability of dumping ground(s), and transportation of the SeGSs to these dumping grounds. This is where utilization of SeGSs as a manmade resource could be a good initiative towards sustainable development. However, this endeavor entails a holistic understanding of the SeGSs by conducting detailed investigations to characterize them based on their physical, chemical, morphological, and microbial attributes before postulating a strategy for their sustainable utilization. With this in view, extensive sampling of the SeGSs from sewage disposal lagoons located in the western part of India was conducted followed by their very comprehensive characterization. Details of the methodologies adopted for this exercise were presented in this manuscript, and recommendations were made to utilize SeGSs for sustainable development in the most efficient manner.
An Alternate Test Method for the Void Content of Pervious Concrete
Authors: Torres A. , Hu J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn recent years, pervious concrete has become an emerging material for healthier ground water recharge and superior control of high stormwater runoff. This is facilitated by the high void content of the material. The void content percentage is an important design variable, as it correlates permeability as well as the strength of the material. Therefore, an accurate quantification of the void content is needed. A recently developed ASTM standard (ASTM C1754/C1754M-12) presents a method for determining the density and void content of hardened pervious concrete; however, there are still some issues apparent with this standard. The main issue is that the standard does not consider the absorption of the aggregate or the paste, which could adversely affect the results. Other concerns include the buoyant force due to trapped air when submerging the specimens, the high drying temperature in drying method B, which causes cracking and renders the specimen unusable for other testing, and the lengthy time requirement. This study further articulated these issues and presented two alternative testing techniques, one novel technique (Torres method) and one modified ASTM C1754 test method that can be used to better determine the void content of pervious concrete. The Torres method developed in this study placed the pervious concrete specimen in saturated surface dry (SSD) condition prior to determining the void percentage, such that the absorbed water mass was removed from the calculation. Additionally, a modified ASTM C1754 was developed that also placed the specimens in an SSD condition while still using the water tank used in ASTM C1754. The results from both of the developed methods showed lower void percentages for the specimens tested than with the current ASTM C1754 (drying method A and B) standard. The results indicated that including the absorbed water mass into the calculation ultimately resulted in higher void percentages.
Las aceñas de acequia (islámicas) del sistema hidráulico andalusí de Murcia (Senda de Granada). Antecedentes tecnológicos y propuesta funcional
Authors: García Blánquez Luis A. 
Published: February 2016

La excavación arqueológica de un sector de la huerta de Murcia cercano a la ciudad, puso al descubierto un conjunto de estructuras hidráulicas andalusíes, junto a varios lotes de arcaduces tudmiríes que fechan los hallazgos entre el siglo X y finales del siglo XI o inicios del XII. El hallazgo de estas estructuras islámicas sobre un contexto arqueológico tardoantiguo, reabrió en Murcia el antiguo debate sobre el posible origen pre-árabe de su sistema de riego, dando lugar a diversas interpretaciones acerca de sus antecedentes clásicos. Sin embargo, la conclusión del estudio de las estructuras, contextos estratigráficos y materiales han refutado aquella tesis, al menos respecto del heredamiento Norte (o de Aljufía), y confirmado nuestras hipótesis iniciales, en tres aspectos fundamentales: primero, la indudable filiación islámica de las estructuras hidráulicas documentadas y, en consecuencia, del sistema de irrigación del heredamiento Norte de Murcia; segundo, la extensión del perímetro de irrigación de esta parte del sistema hidráulico y su datación en el siglo X; y tercero, la primera identificación arqueológica en al-Andalus, de la que hemos denominado aceña de acequia, empleada para extraer agua de una acequia de riego a cielo abierto. Desde el punto de vista tecnológico realizamos una breve revisión de los modelos actuales y andalusíes y de su antecedente clásico la rueda extractora de tracción animal, representada en un monumento funerario de Kôm el-Dikka (Alejandría, Egipto). Finalmente, aunque no es el objeto de este estudio, los resultados arqueológicos relativos a su datación y extensión en el heredamiento Norte, nos permiten de forma indirecta hacer extensivas estas conclusiones al resto del sistema hidráulico murciano y al momento de su fundación, y plantear nuevas hipótesis acerca de su proceso de construcción.
Anticonvulsant and Antioxidant Effects of Methanol Extract of Stems of <i>G. arborea Roxb.</i>
Authors: Acharya Niyati S. , Acharya S. R. , Kumar V. , Barai P. 
Published: February 2016

<p><em>Gmelina arborea </em>Roxb. (Verbenaceae) is greatly valued plant reported in Indian traditional system of medicine for various ailments. In this study, anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of stems (MES) of <em>Gmelina arborea </em>Roxb. was investigated. Protective effects were evaluated in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (60 mg/kg, s.c.) and strychnine (STR) (2 mg/kg, i.p.) induced seizure models in adult albino mice (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) using diazepam as a standard.</p><p>Total phenolics and flavonoids content in MES were determined and antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2- picryl- hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, scavenging of hydrogen peroxide and through reducing power assay. The onset and duration of seizures (tonic-clonic convulsions), mortality rate and number of mice convulsing or not convulsing within the observation period were noted in PTZ and STR induced seizure models<strong>. </strong>MES showed good reductive capability and free radical scavenging effects with IC<sub>50</sub> 47.47 µg/ml for DPPH radical assay and 97.33 µg/ml for hydrogen peroxidescavenging in a dose dependent manner.MES at the dose of 500 mg/kg, exhibited maximum delay in onset of convulsions (8.188 min in PTZ and 11.81 min in STR induced seizures) in both the models with increased latency period.</p><p>The suppression of seizures by MES (500 mg/kg) might be observed due to enhanced gamma amino butyric acid neurotransmission in PTZ induced animals. The constituents of MES might also have glycine inhibitory potential to impart protection in STR induces seizures in our study. Further considerable presence of flavonoids and phenolic have provided good antioxidant activity as a supportive underlying mechanism for anticonvulsant effects. This study justifies the multilevel therapeutic uses of stem bark and heartwood of <em>G. arborea</em> in Indian system of medicine.</p>
La disputa por el mar: El soft power boliviano ante organismos multilaterales
Authors: Correa Vera Loreto , Vera Vega Lidia 
Published: February 2016

Desde su primer gobierno el presidente Evo Morales ha asumido la refundación del estado como una prioridad. El presente artículo analiza el soft power en la política exterior boliviana y la introducción de la lógica ciudadano-céntrica en los discursos referentes al tema marítimo del presidente Evo Morales y del canciller David Choquehuanca ante diversos foros internacionales, contexto en el que la integración se configura como soporte de la reivindicación marítima boliviana. Este estudio toma algunos elementos de la teoría del realismo periférico acuñada por el politólogo argentino Carlos Escudé para tratar el tema marítimo que divide a Bolivia y Chile, marco conceptual que, al tratarse de la perspectiva centro-periferia de Prebisch y CEPAL, permite un análisis con enfoque regional.
A Meta-Analysis Of Empirical Materiality Studies
Authors: Vance David E. 
Published: February 2016

<p>This paper builds on the work of Messier, Martinov-Bennie and Eilifsen (2005) A Review and Integration of Empirical Research on Materiality: Two Decades Later. That paper is an excellent qualitative summary of empirical materiality studies. However, it makes no attempt at quantitative integration. </p><p>This paper uses meta-analysis to quantitatively integrate the findings of 42 studies reporting 14,033 materiality decisions by 6,762 individuals. Materiality is broadly defined as an amount that would make a user change his or her mind about a company. Since this definition is subjective, it is no surprise that individual materiality decisions are widely dispersed. What might be surprising is that the mean threshold of materiality over 14,033 decisions was 8.52% percent of net income. The factors which contribute to variability include the interest group making the materiality decision, the accounting issue in play, study method, and the amount of detail provided to the decider.</p><p> The contributions of this study are to synthesize prior research quantitatively, to describe the application of meta-analytical techniques to accounting research, and raise questions for further research which might reduce the uncertainty in applying the concept of materiality in the future.</p>
CULTURE-BASED CHARACTER EDUCATION IN MODERNITY ERA
Authors: Murtako Muhammad 
Published: February 2016

<p class="no0020spacing"><span class="no0020spacingchar"><em><span lang="EN-US">Education cannot be separated from culture.</span></em></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span class="no0020spacingchar"><em><span lang="EN-US">It is a product of human culture and becomes part of the culture.</span></em></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span class="no0020spacingchar"><em><span lang="EN-US">It also seeks to transform the cultural values in order to achieve both individual and community progress.</span></em></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span class="no0020spacingchar"><em><span lang="EN-US">The implementation of culture-based character education highlights the importance of exemplary elements.</span></em></span></p>
Soil Colloid Release Affected by Dissolved Organic Matter and Redox Conditions
Authors: Yan Jing , Lazouskaya Volha , Jin Yan 
Published: February 2016

Core Ideas
We quantified and characterized soil colloid release as influenced by redox conditions and DOM.
The interplay of colloids, OM, and redox conditions impacts colloid and soil OM release.
This interplay also affects colloid stabilization or aggregation due to OM–colloid association.
Colloids play an important role in C retention and release in redox‐dynamic environments.
Mobilization of soil colloids has attracted much research attention because of colloids' potential to facilitate transport of strongly sorbing constituents (e.g., contaminants, pesticides, and nutrients). In redox‐dynamic soils or sediments, colloid mobility is largely controlled by Fe3+ dissolution, shifts in pH and ionic strength, and interactions with organic matter (OM). We investigated the complex interplay of colloid release, OM content, and redox conditions via batch experiments to quantify and characterize soil colloid release after the addition of dissolved OM (DOM). Under aerobic conditions, the concentration of released colloids increased from ∼1000 to ∼3000 mg L−1 as the DOM concentration increased from 0 to 20 mg C L−1, respectively. The initial concentrations of released colloids were higher under anaerobic conditions, but they decreased by ∼80 to 90% as incubation continued. In addition, unlike in the aerobic samples, the effects of the added DOM on colloid release in the anaerobic samples were minimal. Iron dissolution under anaerobic conditions coincided with the initial high level of colloid release as well as the release of indigenous DOM (DOMin), which may have led to subsequent colloid aggregation due to bridging. These results demonstrate that (i) DOM stabilized the colloids released under aerobic conditions but had minimal effects on colloids released under anaerobic conditions and (ii) high concentrations of DOMin released under anaerobic conditions decreased subsequent colloid release due to DOMin–colloid association. The findings have implications for colloid release and colloid‐associated nutrient and contaminant mobilization and transport in redox‐dynamic environments such as wetlands.
Teaching Students About Audit Reports: An Interactive Approach
Authors: Fay Rebecca G. , Stein Sarah E. 
Published: February 2016

SUMMARY
This instructional case provides an interactive approach to teach students about various components of the audit report as well as different types of reports. The materials in this case provide instructors with a diverse set of publicly available audit reports that can be used to illustrate several reporting issues in an undergraduate or graduate class. After gaining an appreciation for the existing structure of audit reports, students are asked to apply critical-thinking skills to determine whether the information communicated in these reports is informative to various interest groups. To facilitate classroom discussion on the topic, the case incorporates information from recent regulatory proposals that would significantly change existing audit report disclosures.
Audited Financial Reporting and Voluntary Disclosure of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reports
Authors: Chen Long , Srinidhi Bin , Tsang Albert , Yu Wei 
Published: February 2016

ABSTRACT
Prior studies show that corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting is informative to investors but lacks credibility. This study examines whether a commitment to audits of financial outcomes, proxied by audit fees, is associated with greater CSR reporting credibility. We find that audit fees are positively associated with the likelihood of standalone CSR report issuance, and this positive association becomes stronger when managers perceive a greater need for credibility, i.e., when CSR reports are longer or issued with external assurance, when firms have strong CSR concerns, and when reports are issued sporadically. Corroborating our results, we find that CSR reports issued by firms committing to high audit fees accelerate the incorporation of future earnings information into current stock price. Taken together, our findings suggest that a commitment to higher financial reporting quality has the potential to bring positive externality to firms' nonfinancial disclosures and ultimately affects the issuance of CSR reports.
Independent Replication of Published Germline Polymorphisms Associated with Urinary Bladder Cancer Prognosis and Treatment Response
Authors: Grotenhuis Anne J. , Dudek Aleksandra M. , Verhaegh Gerald W. , Aben Katja K. , Witjes J. Alfred , Kiemeney Lambertus A. , Vermeulen Sita H. 
Published: February 2016

Background: Many studies investigated the prognostic or predictive relevance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in biologically plausible genes in urinary bladder cancer (UBC) patients. Most published SNP associations have never been replicated in independent patient series. Objective: To independently replicate all previously reported associations between germline SNPs and disease prognosis or treatment response in UBC. Methods: A Pubmed search was performed to identify studies published by July 1, 2014 reporting on germline SNP associations with UBC prognosis or treatment response. For the replication series, consisting of 1,284 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and 275 muscle-invasive or metastatic bladder cancer (MIBC) patients recruited through the Netherlands Cancer Registry, detailed clinical data were retrieved from medical charts. Patients were genotyped using a genome-wide SNP array. SNP association with recurrence-free, progression-free, and overall survival (OS) within specific patient and treatment strata was tested using Cox regression analyses. Results: For only six of the 114 evaluated SNPs, the association with either UBC prognosis or treatment response was replicated at the p <  0.05 level: rs1799793 ( ERCC2) and rs187238 ( IL18) for BCG recurrence; rs6678136 ( RGS4) and rs11585883 ( RGS5) for NMIBC progression; rs12035879 ( RGS5) and rs2075786 ( TERT) for MIBC OS. Conclusions: Non-replicated genetic associations in the literature require cautious interpretation. This single replication does not provide definitive proof of association for the six SNPs, and non-replication of other SNPs may result from population-specific effects or the retrospective patient enrollment.
Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection may be Limited on the Contralateral Side in Strictly Unilateral Bladder Cancer without Compromising Oncological Radicality
Authors: Kiss Bernhard , Paerli Michael , Schöndorf Daniel , Burkhard Fiona C. , Thalmann George N. , Roth Beat 
Published: February 2016

Background: Results of a dynamic multimodality mapping study showed no lymphatic drainage of the lateral bladder wall to the contralateral internal iliac region. Objectives: To validate whether pathoanatomical mapping in bladder cancer (BC) patients can confirm these results. Methods: Between 01/2000 and 07/2013, 825 BC patients preoperatively staged ≥pT1 and without clinical signs of metastases (cN0 cM0) underwent extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND) and radical cystectomy at our department. Of these patients, 23% (193/825) were lymph node (LN) positive in the pathological specimen; 26% (51/193) of this subgroup had strictly unilateral BC. Pathoanatomical mapping was used to retrospectively validate the distribution of LN involvement in these 51 patients. Results: A median of 35 LNs were removed per patient (range: 13–80 LNs), with a median of 2 positive LNs (range: 1–14 LNs). 27% (14/51) of patients presented with LN metastases on the contralateral side. No positive LNs were found in the contralateral internal iliac region or the contralateral fossa of Marcille. 10% (5/51) of patients had LN metastases only on the contralateral side without evidence of metastases on the tumor-bearing side. Conclusions: Our findings corroborate the data of a dynamic mapping study showing bilateral lymphatic drainage in almost one third of patients with strictly unilateral BC, but no lymphatic drainage from the lateral bladder wall to the contralateral internal iliac region. If prospective studies confirm these results, the contralateral internal iliac region may be omitted during ePLND in patients with strictly unilateral BC.
Hypoxia Marker GLUT-1 (Glucose Transporter 1) is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Survival in Bladder Cancer Patients Treated with Radical Cystectomy
Authors: Boström P.J. , Thoms J. , Sykes J. , Ahmed O. , Evans A. , van Rhijn B.W. G. , Mirtti T. , Stakhovskyi O. , Laato M. , Margel D. , Pintilie M. , Kuk C. , Milosevic M. , Zlotta A.R. , Bristow R.G. 
Published: February 2016

Background: Tumour hypoxia, which is frequent in many cancer types, is associated with treatment resistance and poor prognosis. The role of hypoxia in surgically treated bladder cancer (BC) is not well described. We studied the role of hypoxia in two independent series of urothelial bladder cancers treated with radical cystectomy. Methods: 279 patients from the University Hospital Network (UHN), Toronto, Canada, and Turku University, Finland were studied. Hypoxia biomarkers (HIF1-α, CAIX, GLUT-1) and proliferation marker Ki-67 were analyzed with immunohistochemistry using defined tissue microarrays. Kaplan-Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to investigate prognostic role of the factors. Results: In univariate analyses, strong GLUT-1 positivity and a high Ki-67 index were associated with poor survival. In multivariate model containing clinical prognostic variables, GLUT-1 was an independent prognostic factor associated with worse disease-specific survival (HR 2.9, 95% CI 0.7–12.6, Wald p = 0.15 in the Toronto cohort and HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.3–7.5, Wald p = 0.0085 in the Turku cohort). Conclusion: GLUT-1 is frequently upregulated and is an independent prognostic factor in surgically treated bladder cancer. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of hypoxia-based and targeted therapies in hypoxic bladder tumours.