bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
JASAG: a gridification tool for agricultural simulation applications
Authors: Arroqui M. , Alvarez J. Rodriguez , Vazquez H. , Machado C. , Mateos C. , Zunino A. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe Grid Computing paradigm aims to create a ‘virtual’ and powerful single computer with many distributed resources to solve resource intensive problems. The term ‘gridification’ involves the process of transforming a conventional application to run in a Grid environment. In that sense, the more automatic this process is, the easier is for developers with low expertise in parallel and distributed computing to take advantage of these resources. To date, many semiautomatic gridifiers were built to support different gridification approaches and application code structures or anatomies. Furthermore, agricultural simulation applications have a particular common anatomy based on biophysical entities, such as animals, crops, and pastures, which are updated by actions, such as growing animals, growing crops, and growing pastures, along simulation execution. However, this anatomy is not fully supported by any of the existing gridifiers. Thus, this paper presents Agricultural Simulation Applications Gridifier (ASAG), a method for easy gridification of agricultural simulation applications, and its Java implementation, named Java ASAG (JASAG). The main design drivers of JASAG are middleware independence, separation of business logic and Grid behavior, and performance increase. An experimental evaluation showing the feasibility of the gridification method and its implementation is also reported, which resulted in speedups of up to 25 by using a real agricultural simulation application. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Platelet mean volume, distribution width, and count in type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, and metabolic syndrome: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Zaccardi Francesco , Rocca Bianca , Pitocco Dario , Tanese Luigi , Rizzi Alessandro , Ghirlanda Giovanni 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBackgroundPlatelet activation contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the main complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and pre‐diabetic conditions. Mean platelet volume is an easy‐to‐measure platelet parameter that has been associated with CVD. We sought to assess mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, and platelet count in T2DM, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and metabolic syndrome.MethodsWeb‐based literature search (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) of studies published in English through June 2014 was performed to select case–control and cross‐sectional studies that reported data on mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, or platelet count in cases (subjects with T2DM, IFG, IGT, or metabolic syndrome) and noncases. Descriptive and quantitative information was extracted, and within‐study standardized mean difference was estimated from means and standard deviations. Standardized mean differences across studies were synthesized using a random random‐effects model, and subgroup analyses were performed on pre‐specified study‐level characteristics.ResultsThirty‐nine studies were included. Compared with controls, mean platelet volume was significantly higher in T2DM (standardized mean difference, 95% confidence interval: 0.70, 0.50–0.91; N = 24 245), IFG (0.14, 0.02–0.26; N = 17 389) but not in metabolic syndrome (0.15, −0.24 to 0.55; N = 14 990). Platelet distribution width was wider in T2DM (0.93, 0.09–1.76; N = 471). Platelet count resulted higher in IFG (0.18, 0.12–0.24; N = 3960) and metabolic syndrome (0.39, 0.01–0.78; N = 4070). Only two studies included IGT.ConclusionsAvailable data suggest that T2DM subjects tend to have higher mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width values, but nondifferent platelet count as compared with subjects without T2DM. Whether and how these morphometric changes contribute to CVD of T2DM or can be used as CVD biomarker awaits further investigation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanism of Nitric Acid Reduction and Kinetic Modelling
Authors: Sicsic David , Balbaud‐Célérier Fanny , Tribollet Bernard 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn France, the recycling of nuclear waste fuels involves the use of hot concentrated nitric acid. The understanding and prediction of the behaviour of the structural materials (mainly austenitic stainless steels) requires the determination and modelling of the nitric acid reduction process. Nitric acid is indirectly reduced by an autocatalytic mechanism depending on the cathodic overpotential and acid concentration. This mechanism has been widely studied. All the authors agree on its autocatalytic nature, characterized by the predominant role of the reduction products. It is also generally admitted that neither nitric acid nor the nitrate ion is the electroactive species. However, the nature of the electroactive species, the place where the catalytic species regenerates and the thermodynamic and kinetic behaviour of the reaction intermediates remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to clarify some of these uncertainties by performing an electrochemical investigation of the reduction of 4Mnitric acid at 40 °C at an inert electrode (platinum or gold). An inert electrode was chosen as the working electrode in a first step to avoid its oxidation and focus the research on the reduction mechanism. This experimental work enabled us to suggest a coherent sequence of electrochemical and chemical reactions. Kinetic modelling of this sequence was then carried out for a gold rotating disk electrode. A thermodynamic study at 25 °C allowed the composition of the liquid and gaseous phases of nitric acid solutions in the concentration range 0.5–22Mto be evaluated. The kinetics of the reduction of 4Mnitric acid was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at an inert electrode at 40 °C. The coupling of chronoamperometry and FTIR spectroscopy in the gaseous phase led to the identification of the gaseous reduction products as a function of the cathodic overpotential. The results showed that the reduction process is autocatalytic for potentials between 0.6 and 1.15 V/NHE. The electroactive species may be regenerated at the surface of the electrode for lower potentials, otherwise this regeneration process occurs in solution by a homogeneous chemical reaction. When the potential is less than 0.6 V/NHE, the fast reduction of nitrogen oxide may lead to rupture of the autocatalytic cycle.
Structure and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ultralow‐Temperature Cofirable BaV2O6 Ceramics
Authors: Neelakantan Unnimaya Avanoor , Kalathil Suresh Elattuvalappil , Ratheesh Ravendran 
Published: November 2014

AbstractA new ultralow‐temperature‐sinterable BaV2O6 ceramic was prepared through a conventional solid‐state ceramic method. Thermogravimetric and differential‐scanning‐calorimetry analyses were performed to confirm the phase formation of BaV2O6. Phase purity and crystal structure of the ceramic material were studied by using X‐ray diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopic studies. BaV2O6 crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell, and the calculated lattice parameters are a = 8.532 Å, b = 12.583 Å, and c = 7.554 Å. BaV2O6 ceramic was well sintered at 550 °C for 1 h and exhibited a dense microstructure with excellent microwave properties, for example, a dielectric constant of 11.2, a Qxf value of 42790 GHz, and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency of 28.2 ppm/°C. The BaV2O6 ceramic exhibits a linear coefficient of thermal expansion of 10 ppm/°C in the range 30–350 °C. The BaV2O6 ceramic shows good chemical compatibility with Al electrodes, which makes it as a suitable candidate material for ULTCC technology.
[IrCp*(NCMe)2(PPh2Me)][PF6]2 as Catalyst for the Meyer–Schuster Rearrangement of Arylpropargylic Alcohols under Mild Conditions
Authors: Talavera María , Bravo Jorge , Gonsalvi Luca , Peruzzini Maurizio , Zuccaccia Cristiano , Bolaño Sandra 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe novel iridium complex [IrCp*(NCMe)2(PPh2Me)][PF6]2 (I) efficiently catalyzed the Meyer–Schuster rearrangement of selected arylpropargylic alcohols into α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes under mild conditions and without the need of a co‐catalyst. A mechanism involving a (hydroxy)alkenylcarbene intermediate is proposed.
Superstable Palladium(0) Complex as an Air‐ and Thermostable Catalyst for Suzuki Coupling Reactions
Authors: Jakab Alexandra , Dalicsek Zoltán , Holczbauer Tamás , Hamza Andrea , Pápai Imre , Finta Zoltán , Timári Géza , Soós Tibor 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAn unprecedentedly thermo‐ and air‐stable Pd0 complex from readily available electron‐poor trifluoromethylated phosphine was serendipitously discovered. As detailed and comparative DFT calculations indicate, the stability of the complex is associated with unusually strong ligand–ligand noncovalent interactions. The unique stability and the presence of hydrophobic structural elements of the complex offer several practical advantages, which were exploited in catalytic Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions.
Attention allocation to ambiguous health/somatic threat cues
Authors: Schrooten M.G.S. , Vancleef L. , Vlaeyen J.W.S. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBackgroundAn influential idea is that attentional bias to information related to pain or pain‐related negative affect underlies persistent pain problems. Such information is however often ambiguous. If ambiguous input is perceived as pain or threat related, attention to this stimulus would be enhanced compared with stimuli with no (dominant) pain‐/threat‐related meaning. Attentional bias to ambiguous stimuli related to somatic/health threat was expected to be more pronounced with higher levels of pain catastrophizing.MethodsUniversity students performed a spatial cueing task including four types of word cues that were combinations of word content (somatic/health threat vs. non‐threat), and word ambiguity (unambiguous vs. ambiguous), each presented for 500 or 750 ms. Attentional bias to somatic/health threat is reflected in larger cue validity effects for somatic/heath threat words than for non‐threat words.ResultsIn the 500‐ms condition, cue validity effects were larger for threat than for non‐threat words in participants reporting low catastrophizing, but did not depend on word content in participants reporting higher catastrophizing. In the 750‐ms condition, cue validity effects did not depend on pain catastrophizing or word content. Cue validity effects did not significantly differ between unambiguous words and ambiguous homographs.ConclusionsLow catastrophizers demonstrated attentional bias to threat content. Participants reporting higher catastrophizing showed overall enhanced attentional orienting. There was no evidence for differences in (biased) attention to unambiguous and ambiguous words. Further research is needed to determine attentional bias for ambiguous pain‐/threat‐related stimuli in the context of consistent attentional bias for unambiguous pain‐/threat‐related stimuli.
Use of high‐conductivity sample solution with sweeping‐micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for trace‐level quantification of paliperidone in human plasma
Authors: Liu Hsiang‐Yin , Hwang Tzung‐Jeng , Tsai I‐Lin , Kuo Ching‐Hua 
Published: November 2014

Paliperidone is a new antipsychotic drug with a relatively low therapeutic concentration of 20–60 ng/mL. We established an accurate and sensitive CE method for the determination of paliperidone concentrations in human plasma in this study. To minimize matrix effect caused by quantification errors, paliperidone was extracted from human plasma using Oasis HLB SPE cartridges with three‐step washing procedure. To achieve sensitive quantification of paliperidone in human plasma, a high‐conductivity sample solution with sweeping‐MEKC method was applied for analysis. The separation is performed in a BGE composed of 75 mM phosphoric acid, 100 mM SDS, 12% acetonitrile, and 15% tetrahydrofuran. Sample solution consisted of 10% methanol in 250 mM phosphoric acid and the conductivity ratio between sample matrix and BGE was 2.0 (γ, sample/BGE). The results showed it able to detect paliperidone in plasma samples at concentration as low as 10 ng/mL (S/N = 3) with a linear range between 20 and 200 ng/mL. Compared to the conventional MEKC method, the sensitivity enhancement factor of the developed sweeping‐MEKC method was 100. Intra‐ and interday precision of peak area ratios were less than 6.03%; the method accuracy was between 93.4 and 97.9%. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of plasma samples of patients undergoing paliperidone treatment.
SHM‐integrated bridge reliability estimation using multivariate stochastic processes
Authors: Ozer Ekin , Feng Maria Q. , Soyoz Serdar 
Published: November 2014

SummaryDetermination of response characteristics using probabilistic approaches is essential to deal with high level of load and resistance uncertainties in civil engineering structures. Multi‐span bridges present a significant problem regarding the varying nature of seismic loads on different bridge piers. With an emphasis on comparison of multi‐support excitation with the conventional uniform excitation, this paper aims at providing a framework to evaluate probabilistic seismic response and estimate reliability of bridges under multi‐support excitations simulated by multivariate stochastic processes. Moreover, the framework integrates the experimental data of a multi‐support seismic shaking table test of a multi‐span bridge structure as well as structural health monitoring (SHM) findings based on vibration measurements. The results demonstrate the importance of the multivariate stochastic processes, therefore, multi‐support excitation, on estimating seismic behavior of multi‐span bridges. Furthermore, this study proves the significance of structural parameter updating with respect to the evaluation of structural reliability. It is observed that the difference between the SHM‐integrated and the conventional reliability estimation results vary according to the change in bedrock conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Overall stability analysis of oversized steel‐framed buildings in a fire
Authors: Zhang Guowei , Zhu Guoqing , Yuan Guanglin , Li Qing 
Published: November 2014

SummaryOur present paper summarizes the shortcomings in the current fire‐resistant design of oversized steel structures and proposes a method for overall stability analysis of steel structures in the event of fire. The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) software platform–based large‐eddy simulation technology can accurately reflect the environment in a fire scenario and correctly predict the spatial–temporal change in the smoke temperature field within an oversized space. Adopting the FDS software and finite element structural analysis (ANSYS) coupling can fundamentally overcome the natural defect of adopting the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard curve (or other indoor homogeneous temperature increase curves) that substitutes a point for the overview of a field. They reflect the structural additional internal force and internal force redistribution incurred by the gradient temperature difference of the spatial–temporal changing nonhomogeneous temperature field and both theoretically and technically realize the analysis of structural heat transfer and mechanical properties in a natural fire. Furthermore, a modified model to predict the steel temperature curve in localized fire is also proposed. The localized fire in large spaces can be treated as a point fire source to evaluate the flame thermal radiation to steel members in the modified model. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of high temperature on the residual mechanical performance of concrete made with recycled ceramic coarse aggregates
Authors: Martins David J. , Correia João R. , de Brito Jorge 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThis paper presents an experimental study on the residual mechanical properties of concrete with recycled ceramic coarse aggregate (RCCA) after exposure to elevated temperatures. Four concrete mixes were produced: a control concrete and three concrete mixes with replacement ratios of 20, 50 and 100% of natural aggregate (NA) by RCCA. The specimens were subjected to temperatures of 200, 400 and 600°C, for a period of 60 min. After cooling down to room temperature, the following concrete properties were evaluated: (i) compressive strength; (ii) splitting tensile strength; (iii) modulus of elasticity; (iv) ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV); and (v) water absorption by immersion. At ambient temperature, as expected, the replacement of NA by RCCA resulted in a performance reduction of concrete. After exposure to elevated temperature, in general, the results obtained indicated an improvement of the residual relative mechanical properties of the mixes with RCCA, particularly after exposure to 400 and 600°C. However, exposure to the highest temperature (600°C) tended to cause spalling in concrete mixes containing RCCA. Significant linear correlations were observed between the residual compressive strength of all concrete mixes and both the UPV and the water absorption by immersion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Artificial viscosity: back to the basics
Authors: Mattsson Ann E. , Rider W. J. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryIn this paper, we take a different perspective on the derivation of artificial viscosity. Heretofore, the development of artificial viscosity has been based on the paper published in Journal of Applied Physics in 1950 authored by John von Neumann and Robert Richtmyer [1]. Earlier, in 1948, Richtmyer published a report at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory documenting the original concept [2]. This report was the true origin of shock capturing methods and contains several key ideas that are conceptually different than the 1950 journal article. Unfortunately, this report (LA‐671) was classified until 1993. This has resulted in two issues: the misattribution of the invention of artificial viscosity as primarily being the work of von Neumann and the loss of the structurally different ideas in the original report. We seek to right the record of history here and use the ideas contained in Richtmyer's report to good effect in deriving a new shock viscosity. The focus of previous development has been the Hugoniot curve describing the locus of states connected by a single shock wave. Here we follow a path more focused upon the Rayleigh line, which is strongly guided by Richtmyer's line of development of the original artificial viscosity formulation. We provide an implementation of the method resulting from this perspective and computational results for simple shock problems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Factorial Study to Investigate the Purging Effect on the Performance of a Dead‐End Anode PEM Fuel Cell Stack
Authors: Sasmito A. P. , Ali M. I. , Shamim T. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis paper presents an experimental investigation of the effect of hydrogen purging time period and duration on the performance of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack with a dead‐end anode. The objective is to develop a better understanding of the interactions between the purging parameters and the cathode air‐stoichiometry. It employs a full factorial approach for three factors (purging period, purging duration and air‐stoichiometry) with two levels and three replications. The study is performed on a 300 cm2, 24‐cell PEM fuel cell stack with the rated power of 1.5 kW. The stack was operated with water cooling, fully humidified air and dry hydrogen at the ambient pressure. The results showed that the stack performance is significantly influenced by the interactions of the purging parameters and the cathode air‐stoichiometry. The least square model was utilized to determine the optimum values of these parameters with regard to the stack performance and hydrogen utilization. For the present stack, the optimum values of parameters were: purging period of 3 min, purging duration of 4 s and the cathode air‐stoichiometry of 200%.
Decay in Mechanical Properties of Catalyst Coated Membranes Subjected to Combined Chemical and Mechanical Membrane Degradation
Authors: Sadeghi Alavijeh A. , Goulet M.‐A. , Khorasany R. M. H. , Ghataurah J. , Lim C. , Lauritzen M. , Kjeang E. , Wang G. G. , Rajapakse R. K. N. D. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe mechanical stability of catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) is an important factor for the overall durability and lifetime of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. In this article, the evolution of the mechanical properties of degraded CCMs is comprehensively assessed. A combined chemical and mechanical accelerated stress test (AST) was applied to simulate field operation and rapidly generate partially degraded CCM samples for tensile and expansion experiments under both room and fuel cell conditions. The tensile results indicated significant reductions in ultimate tensile strength, toughness, and fracture strain as a function of AST cycles, accompanied by a mild increase in elastic modulus. The increased brittleness and reduced fracture toughness of the CCM, caused primarily by chemical membrane degradation, is expected to play an important role in the ultimate failure of the fuel cell. The expansion tests revealed a linear decay in hygrothermal expansion, similar in magnitude to the loss of mechanical strength. The decline in CCM sensitivity to environmental changes leads to non‐uniform swelling and contraction that may exacerbate local degradation. Interestingly, the hygrothermal expansion in the late stages of degradation coincided with the fracture strain, which correlates to in situ development of fractures in chemically weakened membranes.
Foreign Central Bank Activities in US Futures Markets
Authors: Fishe Raymond P. H. , Robe Michel A. , Smith Aaron D. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractWe analyze the daily positions of 31 foreign Central Banks in US interest rate futures markets between 2003 and 2011 for targeted hedging or informed profit‐making decisions. Central Bank positions before the financial crisis of 2007–2009 are consistent with hedging some underlying balance sheet exposure. During and after the crisis, the pattern suggests an attempt to enhance returns. In particular, Central Banks held and profited from directional positions in 5‐ and 10‐year T‐Note futures in a manner indicative of a non‐hedging strategy. We also examine whether Central Bank position changes are synchronized in the sense that they tend to occur simultaneously. We identify differences before and after the onset of the financial crisis: Euro‐linked Central Banks become more synchronized, whereas non‐European Central Banks show no significant change during the crisis. We document that Central Bank positions generally account for a small fraction of the overall size of the futures markets, so it is unlikely that these institutions' goal is to influence US interest rates. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 36:3–29, 2016