bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ion Distribution in Quaternary‐Ammonium‐Functionalized Aromatic Polymers: Effects on the Ionic Clustering and Conductivity of Anion‐Exchange Membranes
Authors: Weiber E. Annika , Jannasch Patric 
Published: July 2014

AbstractA series of copoly(arylene ether sulfone)s that have precisely two, three, or four quaternary ammonium (QA) groups clustered directly on single phenylene rings along the backbone are studied as anion‐exchange membranes. The copolymers are synthesized by condensation polymerizations that involve either di‐, tri‐, or tetramethylhydroquinone followed by virtually complete benzylic bromination using N‐bromosuccinimide and quaternization with trimethylamine. This synthetic strategy allows excellent control and systematic variation of the local density and distribution of QA groups along the backbone. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering of these copolymers shows extensive ionic clustering, promoted by an increasing density of QA on the single phenylene rings. At an ion‐exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.1 meq g−1, the water uptake decreases with the increasing local density of QA groups. Moreover, at moderate IECs at 20 °C, the Br− conductivity of the densely functionalized copolymers is higher than a corresponding randomly functionalized polymer, despite the significantly higher water uptake of the latter. Thus, the location of multiple cations on single aromatic rings in the polymers facilitates the formation of a distinct percolating hydrophilic phase domain with a high ionic concentration to promote efficient anion transport, despite probable limitations by reduced ion dissociation. These findings imply a viable strategy to improve the performance of alkaline membrane fuel cells.
Effect of the readmission primary diagnosis and time interval in heart failure patients: analysis of English administrative data
Authors: Bottle Alex , Aylin Paul , Bell Derek 
Published: July 2014

AimsTo compare the predictors of unplanned readmission by primary diagnosis and time since discharge in heart failure (HF) patients.Methods and resultsWe used national hospital administrative data for England to analyse unplanned readmission by primary diagnosis (HF and non‐HF) at 7, 30, 90, 182, and 365 days after the index discharge. A total of 84 212 adult patients had their first HF admission between April 2008 and March 2010; 14 104 (16.8%) died during the index admission and were excluded. Of the remaining 70 108, half were readmitted and 28.7% died during 1 year from discharge (overall mortality rate of 40.6%). Patients had an average of three co‐morbidities. Hierarchical logistic regression showed that arrhythmias [odds ratio (OR) = 1.13] and valvular disease (OR = 1.12) had significantly higher odds only for HF readmission; dementia (OR = 1.29), stroke (OR = 1.29), and mental health conditions (OR = 1.25) had higher odds only for non‐HF. Ischaemic heart disease, renal disease, and chronic lung disease predicted both. Same‐day discharge occurred for 6% of patients and was strongly associated with higher readmission for HF at 7 days, less so thereafter, and not for non‐HF after 7 days. Other relationships changed little between 7 and 365 days. Prior outpatient non‐attendance was associated with 5–10% higher odds of any readmission per appointment missed.ConclusionIn HF patients, some predictors of readmission for HF, especially some common co‐morbidities, differ from those for non‐HF. In contrast, the time since discharge made little difference to the results.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Land Restoration Interventions in Dry Lands by Multitemporal Remote Sensing – A Case Study in Ouled DLIM (Marrakech, Morocco)
Authors: Zucca Claudio , Wu Weicheng , Dessena Leonarda , Mulas Maurizio 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAtriplex nummularia has been extensively planted in Northern Africa to combat desertification. However, few studies evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions. This study aimed at assessing the dynamic performance of a number of Atriplex plantations located in the Marrakech province in terms of multitemporal dry biomass production. Three SPOT 5 images (2004, 2008 and 2012) and field biomass measurements were integrated to quantify the dry biomass production dynamics of plantations established from 1996 to 2007. Different plant ages covered the whole plant life cycle curve. Vegetation indices were derived from the images and those of 2012 were coupled to the measured biomass of 2012 to formulate biomass models. An analysis of shrub biomass production was conducted in plantations and in adjacent rangelands, covering varying degree of plant development, and an estimate of the economic benefits generated by the plantations in terms of available fodder biomass was performed. The results show that, on average, the plantation sites produced 2·21 to 3·61 Mg ha−1 of dry biomass more than the surrounding rangelands. The best performing plantations yielded even greater differences, up to more than 7 Mg ha−1. It was observed that the most performing plantations, while contributing to mitigating land degradation, have generated economic value and could compensate the economic cost of the intervention even under drought conditions. However, in several cases the plantation performance was far from sustainability, particularly due to poor management (early and/or over grazing), revealing that management is a critical factor for the success of this restoration practice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Return Migration and the Profiling of Non‐Citizens: Highly Skilled BRIC Migrants in the Mexico–US Borderlands and Arizona's SB 1070
Authors: Sadowski‐Smith Claudia , Li Wei 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBased on interviews conducted between 2011 and 2012, this paper examines how highly skilled migrants from Brazil, Russia, India, and China in Arizona have experienced acculturation to US racial norms and heightened anti‐immigration sentiment since 9/11, which in this state culminated in the passage of Senate Bill 1070. We found that negative experiences with incorporation into US racial hierarchies, immigration enforcement at the Mexico–US border, and profiling as ‘foreigners’ had little impact on their deliberations to return to countries that have become new engines for global growth at a time of US economic decline. Interviewees tended to interpret their experiences as having been mistaken for members of other targeted groups, expected exemption from SB 1070 because of their highly skilled and/or documented status, and lacked knowledge of a now defunct provision in the bill that would have affected immigrants by criminalising failure to carry proper documentation. Instead of immigration experiences or the economic downturn in the US, participants were deterred from return because of perceived deficiencies in their countries of origin, which mitigated the attractiveness of the new economic opportunities there. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contingent Capital: The Case of COERCs
Authors: Pennacchi George , Vermaelen Theo , Wolff Christian C. P. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThis paper introduces and analyzes a new form of contingent convertible: a call option enhanced reverse convertible (COERC). If an issuing bank’s market value of capital breaches a trigger, COERCs convert to many new equity shares that would heavily dilute existing shareholders, except that shareholders have the option to purchase these shares at the bond’s par value. COERCs have low risk: They are almost always fully repaid in cash. Yet, they reduce government bailouts by replenishing a bank’s capital. COERCs’ design also avoids problems with market-value triggers, such as manipulation or panic, while reducing moral hazard and debt overhang.
Basic beliefs and Christian faith
Authors: DAWES GREGORY W. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn rejecting Plantinga's ‘reformed epistemology’, Jeremy Koons has argued that no beliefs are epistemically basic, since even perceptual beliefs arise from observations that are theory-dependent. But even if all observations are theory-dependent, not all theories are alike. Beliefs that are dependent on uncontroversial bodies of theory may be ‘basic’ in the sense that they play a foundational role in the acquisition of knowledge. There is, however, another problem with reformed epistemology. It is that even if Christian beliefs were basic in this sense, they could face evidential challenge, for the epistemic status of a ‘basic’ belief depends, in part, on its probabilistic or explanatory relations to our other beliefs. It follows that Christian faith remains vulnerable to evidential arguments, such as Paul Draper's argument from evil.
Self-assembly of the chaperonin GroEL nanocage induced at submicellar detergent
Authors: Chen Jin , Yagi Hisashi , Furutani Yuji , Nakamura Takashi , Inaguma Asumi , Guo Hao , Kong Yan , Goto Yuji 
Published: July 2014

AbstractProtein nanoassemblies possess unique advantage in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, biocatalysis and vaccine development. Despite recent accomplishment in atomic structure data, the underlying molecular mechanism of protein self-assembly remains elusive, where considerable heterogeneity is often involved. Here we use E. coli chaperonin GroEL, a tetradecameric protein with a molecular weight of 805 kDa, to probe its transformation from cage-like oligomers to protein nanofibers. We show that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a widely-used protein denaturant, at submicellar concentration binds to and causes partial distortion of GroEL apical domain. Subsequently, the GroEL apical domain with altered secondary structural content converts the GroEL oligomers into modular structural units which are observed to self-assemble into cylindrical nanofibers under an agitated incubation in a physiological buffer. Interestingly, through targeted mutagenesis where two cysteine residues are introduced at the entry site of GroEL cage, we found that the formation of GroEL nanoassembly could be modulated depending on the redox condition of incubation. Without the need of chemical engineering, tunable GroEL nanofibers built by controlled-assembly are among the largest nanoscale bioassembly with broad applications.
Adaptive immunity to murine skin commensals
Authors: Shen Wei , Li Wenqing , Hixon Julie A. , Bouladoux Nicolas , Belkaid Yasmine , Dzutzev Amiran , Durum Scott K. 
Published: July 2014

SignificanceBarrier function of the skin in blocking microbial invasion has been attributed to the structural integrity of the epithelium, augmented by innate immune mechanisms. T cells and antigen-presenting cells have long been observed in the skin, but what is their role? Here we report, for the first time, that commensal skin bacteria are recognized by major populations of T cells in skin-draining lymph nodes of mice. We report a previously unrecognized role for T cells in preventing breach of the skin epithelial barrier by certain species of commensal bacteria, especially mycobacteria, and we examine the mechanism. Patients deficient in T cells frequently show infectious cutaneous manifestations and mycobacterial susceptibility, reflecting features of our study in mice.
Genetic evidence that
Celsr3
and
Celsr2
, together with
Fzd3
, regulate forebrain wiring in a
Vangl
-independent manner
Authors: Qu Yibo , Huang Yuhua , Feng Jia , Alvarez-Bolado Gonzalo , Grove Elizabeth A. , Yang Yingzi , Tissir Fadel , Zhou Libing , Goffinet Andre M. 
Published: July 2014

Significance
Connections are crucial to brain function and a variety of molecular systems direct axonal growth during development and regeneration. An important system involves Celsr2, Celsr3, and Fzd3, membrane proteins that also regulate epithelial planar cell polarity (PCP). Here, we show genetically that Celsr2 and Celsr3 guide axons redundantly, in collaboration with Fzd3 in the same cell populations. However, unlike in epithelial PCP, their action is Vangl1 and Vangl2 independent. Furthermore, expression of Celsr2-3 and Fzd3 in thalamocortical axons and cortical cells is required for the fine mapping of cortical areas. Our findings that Celsr2, Celsr3, and Fzd3 regulate axonal guidance using mechanisms different than epithelial PCP have implications for brain wiring during normal development and regeneration.
Your Health, an intervention at senior vocational schools to promote adolescents’ health and health behaviors
Authors: Bannink Rienke , Broeren Suzanne , Heydelberg Jurriën , van ’t Klooster Els , van Baar Cathelijn , Raat Hein 
Published: July 2014

Abstract
This study evaluates the appreciation, application and effects of an intervention (Your Health), in which adolescents received a consultation with the school nurse. A cluster randomized controlled trial with an intervention and control group (care-as-usual) was conducted among first-grade senior vocational students. Adolescents (n = 418) completed a questionnaire at baseline and 6-month follow-up assessing health and health behaviors. School absenteeism was monitored via the school registration system. After the consultation, adolescents and nurses evaluated the consultation by questionnaire. Adolescents appreciated being invited for the consultation and gave the consultation a positive mean rating of 8.78 on a 10-point scale. Adolescents rated the other nine items on the appreciation of the consultation also high. In 36.8% of the adolescents, nurses suspected problems. Most often these adolescents were given tailored advice (59.3%) or they were referred to another professional (40.7%). No statistically significant effects of the intervention were found on the health and health behaviors of adolescents. This study supports the use of Your Health as a promising intervention to reach senior vocational students. Future research is needed to evaluate long-term effects and the effects and appreciation of the subsequent help that is offered.
Trial registration: www.trialregister.nl, NTR3545.
Impact of fat and selected profiles of fatty acids contained in the colostrum and milk of sows of native breeds on piglet rearing
Authors: Skrzypczak Ewa , Waśkiewicz Agnieszka , Beszterda Monika , Goliński Piotr , Szulc Karolina , Buczyński Janusz T. , Babicz Marek 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the level of fat and selected fatty acids found in the milk of sows on the rearing of native breed piglets. Simultaneously, in order to improve the accuracy of the performed analyses, atomic absorption spectrometry was employed in the applied analytic methodology. The experimental animal material comprised 60 sows of the indigenous White Złotnicka breed. Colostrum and milk were collected on the first and 14th days of lactation. In all, 240 samples were collected. The following parameters were determined in the course of the experiment: number and weight of piglets, body weight gains as well as deaths of piglets. A total of 1270 born piglets was subjected to investigations. The performed experiments demonstrated that, with the progress of the lactation period, the content of fat and saturated fatty acids (SFA) turned out to be statistically significant and showed a growing tendency. Fat increased by about 2% and palmitic acid (C16:0) increased most, that is by 5%. Linolic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) acids revealed decreasing trends. Irrespective of the day of lactation, the level of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) determined in sows' colostrum and milk was higher in comparison with that of SFA, and the UFA to SFA ratio ranged from 1.84% to 1.33%. Proportions of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids were determined at the level of about 1.6:1.0 in the colostrum and 1.3:10 in milk. The highest daily body weight gains were recorded in the case of piglets derived from sows with the highest fat level – 294 g, while in the case of stearic acid (C18:0), the smaller its concentration in the colostrum and milk of the experimental sows, the better body weight gains of piglets – 262 g. At the same time, stearic acid (C18:0) was found to exert a statistically significant effect on piglet mortality at the level of P ≤ 0.05. Its highest concentration caused the highest proportion of deaths among piglets ‐ 16.23%. The performed analysis of correlations that occurred between fat, fatty acids and traits associated with piglet rearing confirmed that linolic acid (C18:2; n‐6) was highly significantly correlated with piglets' body weights (r = 0.456**) and was negatively correlated with piglets' deaths (r = −0.312). On the other hand, fat revealed correlation with body weight gains of piglets (r = 0.333*_ and a negative correlation with deaths of piglets (r = −0344*). Recapitulating, the results of the performed experiments revealed that differences in the levels of fat and fatty acids found in sows' colostrum and milk influenced results of piglet rearing. Together with the increase in the content of fat and UFA in sows' colostrum and milk, piglets were characterized by the best body weight, growth rate, as well as by small mortality.
Kierkegaard's Phenomenology of Spirit
Authors: Carlsson Ulrika 
Published: July 2014

AbstractKierkegaard's preoccupation with a separation between the ‘inner’ and the ‘outer’ runs through his work and is widely thought to belong to his rejection of Hegel's idealist monism. Focusing on The Concept of Irony and Either/Or, I argue that although Kierkegaard believes in various metaphysical distinctions between inside and outside (the inwardness of faith and the outwardness of ethics and language; the inwardness of emotion and the outwardness of behavior), he nonetheless understands the task of the philosopher as that of making outside and inside converge in a representation. Drawing on Hegel's philosophy of art, I show that Kierkegaard's project in both of these books is the aesthetic project of revealing the inner essence of something in its outward appearance. Kierkegaard's portrait of Socrates in The Concept of Irony is a phenomenology of the spirit of irony. My interpretation adds a new dimension to our understanding of Kierkegaard's aesthetics and his relation to Hegel; it presents him as a follower of Plato, whom he is usually thought to have dismissed; and it uncovers a deep connection between Kierkegaard's first two books, which are never read in conjunction.
AN ERROR TAXONOMY SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS OF HAEMODIALYSIS INCIDENTS
Authors: Gu Xiuzhu , Itoh Kenji , Suzuki Satoshi 
Published: July 2014

SUMMARYObjectivesThis paper describes the development of a haemodialysis error taxonomy system for analysing incidents and predicting the safety status of a dialysis organisation.MethodsThe error taxonomy system was developed by adapting an error taxonomy system which assumed no specific specialty to haemodialysis situations. Its application was conducted with 1,909 incident reports collected from two dialysis facilities in Japan.ResultsOver 70% of haemodialysis incidents were reported as problems or complications related to dialyser, circuit, medication and setting of dialysis condition. Approximately 70% of errors took place immediately before and after the four hours of haemodialysis therapy. Error types most frequently made in the dialysis unit were omission and qualitative errors. Failures or complications classified to staff human factors, communication, task and organisational factors were found in most dialysis incidents. Device/equipment/materials, medicine and clinical documents were most likely to be involved in errors. Haemodialysis nurses were involved in more incidents related to medicine and documents, whereas dialysis technologists made more errors with device/equipment/materials.ConclusionsThis error taxonomy system is able to investigate incidents and adverse events occurring in the dialysis setting but is also able to estimate safety‐related status of an organisation, such as reporting culture.
Effect of sorghum grain supplementation on glucose metabolism in cattle and sheep fed temperate pasture
Authors: Aguerre M. , Carriquiry M. , Astessiano A. L. , Cajarville C. , Repetto J. L. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryThe aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of sorghum grain supplementation on plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon concentrations, and hepatic mRNA concentrations of insulin receptor (INSR), pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1) mRNA and their association with nutrient intake, digestion and rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) in cattle and sheep fed a fresh temperate pasture. Twelve Hereford × Aberdeen Angus heifers and 12 Corriedale × Milchschaf wethers in positive energy balance were assigned within each species to one of two treatments (n = 6 per treatment within specie): non‐supplemented or supplemented with sorghum grain at 15 g/kg of their body weight (BW). Supplemented cattle had greater plasma glucose concentrations, decreased plasma glucagon concentrations and tended to have greater plasma insulin and insulin‐to‐glucagon ratio than non‐supplemented ones. Hepatic expression of INSR and PC mRNA did not differ between treatments but PCK1 mRNA was less in supplemented than non‐supplemented cattle. Supplemented sheep tended to have greater plasma glucagon concentrations than non‐supplemented ones. Plasma glucose, insulin, insulin‐to‐glucagon ratio, and hepatic expression of INSR and PC mRNA did not differ between treatments, but PCK1 mRNA was less in supplemented than non‐supplemented sheep. The inclusion of sorghum grain in the diet decreased PCK1 mRNA but did not affect PC mRNA in both species; these effects were associated with changes in glucose and endocrine profiles in cattle but not in sheep. Results would suggest that sorghum grain supplementation of animals in positive energy balance (cattle and sheep) fed a fresh temperate pasture would modify hepatic metabolism to prioritize the use of propionate as a gluconeogenic precursor.
Enhanced the Accuracy of Specification of Maximum Permitted Emission Levels for TV White Space Devices
Authors: Elshafie Hashim , Fisal N. , Abbas M. , Hassan W. , Mohamad H. , Ramli N. 
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we present a proposed geo-location database calculations which needs to perform in order to obtain high accuracy of maximum permitted emission levels for TV white space devices (WSDs) operating in the digital terrestrial television (DTT) frequencies. The study is mainly aimed at to analuze the impact of channel power condition in band ( ) and power out band ( ) for WSD for DTT reception in hilly environment under different altitudes. The proposed methodology for the calculation of such emission levels considers the effect of environment and hight of DTT reception. Both theoretical study and mathematical investigations are conducted in order to model and characterize such complex communication medium for WSDs. The propagated maximum permitted emission levels varies from one place to another due to time varying channel condition as a result of obstacles and distance between the transmitter and receiver. The study achieved according to the methodologies, results and recommendations addressed by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunication administration CEPT. The comparison between proposed model and traditional one has been done by CEPT. The result shows that the proposed model with various altitudes in the hilly terrain environment obtain more accurate maximum permitted emission levels for WSDs, Which increase by 25.609 dBm and 25.61 dBm for and respectively at 100 altitude accordingly.