bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Religious Giving, Non-religious Giving, and After-life Consumption
Authors: Chang Wen-Chun 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Religious giving has been argued to be different compared to non-religious giving, because it influences after-life consumption while contributions to non-religious organizations are irrelevant to after-life consumption. The study herein examines this theoretical argument by investigating the relationships between age and religious and non-religious giving using the data of the Survey of Social Development Trends from Taiwan. From categorized contributions, this study estimates the effects of age, income, and price of giving on religious, charitable, academic, medical, and political contributions, as well as on the probability of providing volunteer work and the frequency of religious participation. The findings suggest that the positive relationships between age and the level of giving are stronger for religious and charitable giving while the positive effects of age on academic and medical giving are much weaker, and there is no significant relationship between age and political giving. That is, religious giving and charitable giving are closely related to after-life consumption, but the effects of age on academic giving and medical giving are considerably different. Moreover, older people are more likely to provide volunteer work and attend more religious activities than younger individuals. Contributions to religious and charitable groups are positively related to contributions to academic, medical, and political organizations.
Numb family proteins: novel players in cardiac morphogenesis and cardiac progenitor cell differentiation
Authors: Wu Mingfu , Li Jingjing 
Published: April 2015

AbstractVertebrate heart formation is a spatiotemporally regulated morphogenic process that initiates with bilaterally symmetric cardiac primordial cells migrating toward the midline to form a linear heart tube. The heart tube then elongates and undergoes a series of looping morphogenesis, followed by expansions of regions that are destined to become primitive heart chambers. During the cardiac morphogenesis, cells derived from the first heart field contribute to the primary heart tube, and cells from the secondary heart field, cardiac neural crest, and pro-epicardial organ are added to the heart tube in a precise spatiotemporal manner. The coordinated addition of these cells and the accompanying endocardial cushion morphogenesis yield the atrial, ventricular, and valvular septa, resulting in the formation of a four-chambered heart. Perturbation of progenitor cells’ deployment and differentiation leads to a spectrum of congenital heart diseases. Two of the genes that were recently discovered to be involved in cardiac morphogenesis are Numb and Numblike. Numb, an intracellular adaptor protein, distinguishes sibling cell fates by its asymmetric distribution between the two daughter cells and its ability to inhibit Notch signaling. Numb regulates cardiac progenitor cell differentiation in Drosophila and controls heart tube laterality in Zebrafish. In mice, Numb and Numblike, the Numb family proteins (NFPs), function redundantly and have been shown to be essential for epicardial development, cardiac progenitor cell differentiation, outflow tract alignment, atrioventricular septum morphogenesis, myocardial trabeculation, and compaction. In this review, we will summarize the functions of NFPs in cardiac development and discuss potential mechanisms of NFPs in the regulation of cardiac development.
Influence of storage conditions and extraction methods on the quantity and quality of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA): the SPIDIA-DNAplas External Quality Assessment experience
Authors: Malentacchi Francesca , Pizzamiglio Sara , Verderio Paolo , Pazzagli Mario , Orlando Claudio , Ciniselli Chiara Maura , Günther Kalle , Gelmini Stefania 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCirculating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) has been confirmed as a useful biomarker in cancer and pre-natal clinical practice. One of the main critical points in using ccfDNA is a lack of standardisation for sample processing methods, storage conditions, procedures for extraction, and quantification that can affect ccfDNA quality and quantity. We report the results obtained from the SPIDIA-DNAplas, one of the EU SPIDIA (Standardisation and improvement of generic pre-analytical tools and procedures for in vitro diagnostics) subprojects based on the implementation of an External Quality Assessment scheme for the evaluation of the influence of the pre-analytical phase on ccfDNA. This is the first reported quality control scheme targeting ccfDNA for pre-analytical phase studies.Fifty-six laboratories throughout Europe were recruited. The participating laboratories received the same plasma sample and extracted ccfDNA by using their own procedures, at defined plasma storage conditions, and sent the isolated ccfDNA to the SPIDIA facility for analyses. Laboratory performance was evaluated by using specific quality parameters such as ccfDNA integrity (by multiplex PCR) and yield (by qPCR).The analysis of the ccfDNA extracted by the laboratories showed that most of them (53 of 56) were able to recover ccfDNA but only 12.5% recovered non-fragmented ccfDNA. Extraction methods specifically designed for ccfDNA preserved the integrity profile.The evidence-based results of the SPIDIA-DNAplas EQA have been proposed as a basis for the development of a Technical Specification by the European Committee for standardisation (CEN).
Cell-free DNA for diagnosing myocardial infarction: not ready for prime time
Authors: Lippi Giuseppe , Sanchis-Gomar Fabian , Cervellin Gianfranco 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA modest amount of cell-free DNA is constantly present in human blood, originating from programmed cell death, apoptosis and rupture of blood cells or pathogens. Acute or chronic cell injury contributes to enhance the pool of circulating nucleic acids, so that their assessment may be regarded as an appealing perspective for diagnosing myocardial ischemia. We performed a search in Medline, Web of Science and Scopus to identify clinical studies that investigated the concentration of cell-free DNA in patients with myocardial ischemia. Overall, eight case-control studies could be detected and reviewed. Although the concentration of cell-free DNA was found to be higher in the diseased than in the healthy population, the scenario was inconclusive due to the fact that the overall number of subjects studied was modest, the populations were unclearly defined, cases and controls were not adequately matched, the methodology for measuring the reference cardiac biomarkers was inadequately described, and the diagnostic performance of cell-free DNA was not benchmarked against highly sensitive troponin immunoassays. Several biological and technical hurdles were also identified in cell-free DNA testing, including the lack of specificity and unsuitable kinetics for early diagnosis of myocardial ischemia, the long turnaround time and low throughput, the need for specialized instrumentation and dedicated personnel, the lack of standardization or harmonization of analytical techniques, the incremental costs and the high vulnerability to preanalytical variables. Hence it seems reasonable to conclude that the analysis of cell-free DNA is not ready for prime time in diagnostics of myocardial ischemia.
Estimating Electrical Conductivities of CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 Using Ion-Oxygen Parameter
Authors: Wang Yaxian , Wang Lijun , Chou Kuo-chih 
Published: April 2015

AbstractElectrical conductivity of molten slags is one of the most important physicochemical properties and it also has a close relationship to the structure of slag. This article focused on the basic slag system CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2and made estimations for electrical conductivity. Ion-oxygen parameter was selected to describe the relationship between electrical conductivity with compositions. Moreover, the interaction between composition and temperature was embodied in the final model formula. It was shown that increasing CaO and MgO contents enhanced the ability for electric conduction. Moreover, with a higher temperature, the change of electrical conductivity with ion-oxygen parameter was more remarkable. This model gives reasonable prediction of the electrical conductivity for the slags studied with the mean deviation of 14.3%. Thus, this model would provide a feasible tool for industry to predict and optimize the electrical conductivity of slag system.
Photo-oxidation of Tributyltin, Dibutyltin and Monobutyltin in Water and Marine Sediments
Authors: Brosillon S. , Bancon-Montigny C. , Mendret J. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
This study reports on the first assessment of the treatment of sediment contaminated by organotin compounds using homogenous and heterogeneous photocatalysis. Photo-Fenton and photocatalysis of low level (µg/L) organotins in water were carried out. A quasi-complete degradation of tributyltin (TBT) in water (99.8%) was reached after 30 and 7 min for photocatalytic and photo-Fenton treatment, respectively. For the first time decontamination of highly polluted marine sediments by photo-oxidation proves that the use of UV and the production of hydroxyl radicals are an efficient way to treat organotins adsorbed onto marine sediment despite the complexity of the matrix.
Feasibility of Micropollutants Treatment by Coupling Nanofiltration and Electrochemical Oxidation: Case of Hospital Wastewater
Authors: Lan Yandi , Coetsier Clemence , Causserand Christel , Serrano Karine Groenen 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn spite of good performances of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process, permeate from it can still contain refractory pollutants that have to be removed before water reuse or discharge. The present study is an attempt to combine the advantages of two well-known technologies, which are nanofiltration (NF) and electrochemical oxidation (EO) to treat MBR effluent from hospital wastewater. The concept is based on a preconcentration of micropollutants with a reduction of the wastewater volume by NF and treatment of the NF retentate by oxidation. During filtration process the rejection of ciprofloxacin, as a target molecule, reached beyond 97%. Then the NF retentate was treated by EO using a boron-doped diamond anode (BDD). Galvanostatic electrolyses showed that this anode is efficient to mineralize not only ciprofloxacin but also all the micropollutants and organics contained in MBR effluent. The results demonstrated that rapid mineralization occurred: the removal of total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reached 97% and 100%, respectively, in our conditions in 300 min maximum. The speciﬁc energy consumption for the total removal of COD was calculated to be 50 kW h kg˗1COD.
Quadrennial Homeland Security Reviews: What Value for Whom?
Authors: Kahan Jerome 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe second edition of the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) was issued in June of this year. A Congressional mandate requires each QHSR to examine the nation’s homeland security strategy and explain how this can lower risks from terrorism, natural hazards, and other challenges. The intended audience is not only Congress and the department of homeland security (DHS), but also the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) – stakeholders comprising federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), private sector partners, as well as communities, families, and individuals. The first QHSR institutionalized homeland security fundamentals and presented a set of missions and goals, but questions have been raised about the strategic benefits of the document and its value to all homeland security stakeholders. Will the second QHSR effectively build upon the first and function as a strategy that ensures homeland security programs will align with mission priorities? What improvements can be made in DHS’s efficiency and effectiveness as expressed in both documents? Will the QHSRs serve the entire HSE, particularly those below the federal level? What are future expectations for this series of documents? This article analyzes the QHSRs, with the objective of and illuminating these and other questions of interest to the homeland security community.
Performance Analysis of WDM-PON System Based on Optimized Remotely Pumped Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) Parameter
Authors: Ahmed N. , Fadhil Hilal A. , Aljunid S. A. , Sharafat Ali Md. , Rahman Matiur 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn this paper, the performance of wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (WDM-PON) system using the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) is optimized and evaluated. The optimization is analyzed by finding the EDFA length range at which the output power produced are the highest and the pump power range at which the gain flatness produced are within the effective range (0.3 dB). After the optimization process, the optimized EDFA system produces the gain of 26.6±0.292 dB, noise figure of 3.82 dB and output power of 7 dBm and the system is then implemented into WDM system. The performance of WDM system is compared against the system without EDFA in terms of bit error rate (BER). Results obtained prove that the proposed system with the EDFA consistently performs better than the conventional system.
Electrical Spreading Code-Based OFDM Optical Access Networks for Budget Enhancement and Reduced System Bandwidth Requirement
Authors: Kumar Pravindra , Srivastava Anand 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPassive optical networks based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM-PON) give better performance in high-speed optical access networks. For further improvement in performance, a new architecture of OFDM-PON based on spreading code in electrical domain is proposed and analytically analyzed in this paper. This approach is referred as hybrid multi-carrier code division multiple access-passive optical network (MC-CDMA-PON). Analytical results show that at bit error rate (BER) of 10
IMKS and IMMS: two methods for the production of plastic parts featuring metallic areas
Authors: Hopmann Christian , Bobzin Kirsten , Schoeldgen Roman , Oete Mehmet , Wunderle Johannes , Linke Thomas F. , Ochotta Philipp 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The integration and combination of known technologies to one-step-processes is a promising way to implement enhancements to existing processes and products, as well as to new product developments. This approach is followed by two integrative process technologies that were developed by the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at the RWTH Aachen University and the Surface Engineering Institute (IOT) at the RWTH Aachen University as part of the Cluster of Excellence “Integrative Production Technologies for High-Wage Countries”. In these processes, pure metals or metal alloys are joined to the injection moulded part, which potentially results in particular advantages referring to the electrical properties of the product. The integrated metal/plastic injection moulding (IMKS) represents the combination of injection moulding and metal die casting. The in-mould metal spraying (IMMS) combines the injection moulding with the thermal spraying of metal. In the following, the level of development of both methods is presented and future potentials are shown.
Preparation and microstructure of machinable Al2O3/mica composite by ball milling and hot-press sintering
Authors: Tian Qingbo , Kong Deyu , Zhai Tongguang 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
A machinable α-Al2O3/mica composite was prepared by hot-press sintering. In this experiment, a mica-contained glass ceramic in the MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-F glassy system was employed and the base glass powders were obtained by traditional melting-quenched method. Then, α-Al2O3 milling swarf was introduced by medium α-alumina milling ball to the glass powders. The test results indicate that the composites consist of mica crystal and mullite crystal, which are precipitated in the base glass. The α-Al2O3 shows an irregular polygon, which is inlayed in the base material. With the decrease of size of the base glass powders, the boundaries of composites among the sintered powders gradually vanish. The mica crystals in the composite also show an interlocking characteristic, which is a prerequisite of mica-contained glass ceramics with good machinability. Under different pressures, the tendency of preferred orientation is decreased with the reduction in grain size of glass powders, and the microstructure is proved to be consistent, significantly decreasing the composite’s hardness. Therefore, the machinability of the composite is improved.
Investigations on the Aerodynamic Characteristics and Blade Excitations of the Radial Turbine with Pulsating Inlet Flow
Authors: Liu Yixiong , Yang Ce , Yang Dengfeng , Zhang Rui 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe aerodynamic performance, detailed unsteady flow and time-based excitations acting on blade surfaces of a radial flow turbine have been investigated with pulsation flow condition. The results show that the turbine instantaneous performance under pulsation flow condition deviates from the quasi-steady value significantly and forms obvious hysteretic loops around the quasi-steady conditions. The detailed analysis of unsteady flow shows that the characteristic of pulsation flow field in radial turbine is highly influenced by the pulsation inlet condition. The blade torque, power and loading fluctuate with the inlet pulsation wave in a pulse period. For the blade excitations, the maximum and the minimum blade excitations conform to the wave crest and wave trough of the inlet pulsation, respectively, in time-based scale. And toward blade chord direction, the maximum loading distributes along the blade leading edge until 20% chord position and decreases from the leading to trailing edge.
Mutations that Separate the Functions of the Proofreading Subunit of the Escherichia coli Replicase
Authors: Whatley Zakiya , Kreuzer Kenneth N 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The dnaQ gene of Escherichia coli encodes the ε subunit of DNA polymerase III, which provides the 3′ → 5′ exonuclease proofreading activity of the replicative polymerase. Prior studies have shown that loss of ε leads to high mutation frequency, partially constitutive SOS, and poor growth. In addition, a previous study from our laboratory identified dnaQ knockout mutants in a screen for mutants specifically defective in the SOS response after quinolone (nalidixic acid) treatment. To explain these results, we propose a model whereby, in addition to proofreading, ε plays a distinct role in replisome disassembly and/or processing of stalled replication forks. To explore this model, we generated a pentapeptide insertion mutant library of the dnaQ gene, along with site-directed mutants, and screened for separation of function mutants. We report the identification of separation of function mutants from this screen, showing that proofreading function can be uncoupled from SOS phenotypes (partially constitutive SOS and the nalidixic acid SOS defect). Surprisingly, the two SOS phenotypes also appear to be separable from each other. These findings support the hypothesis that ε has additional roles aside from proofreading. Identification of these mutants, especially those with normal proofreading but SOS phenotype(s), also facilitates the study of the role of ε in SOS processes without the confounding results of high mutator activity associated with dnaQ knockout mutants.
Wellbore Stability Analysis Made Easy and Practical
Authors: Santarelli F. J. , Zaho S. , Burrafato G. , Zausa F. , Giacca D. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Recent years have seen many scientific and technical progress in the field of wellbore stability understanding. The main causes of instabilities have been identified, models developed and practical remedies proposed and often tried successfully in the field. Yet despite this scientific effort, drilling extra costs associated with wellbore instabilities remain very high. This in turn demonstrates that until now, scientific and technical progress have somehow failed to reach their final technico-economical objectives.
This paper shows that the main reason for such a state of affairs is the complexity of wellbore stability analysis which cannot be performed for every single well on a worldwide basis. Having identified this, Agip undertook a vast effort of field data back analysis in order to identify from historical records the best way to optimize its drilling planning, practice and post-evaluation procedures. The paper presents part of this effort and in particular the back analysis of four clusters drilled in Southern Italy -i.e. 38 wells in total. It then draws conclusions in terms of procedure optimization. Finally, it presents how the approach is used during the appraisal phase of a field in order to speed up the learning curve and hence significantly cut the development drilling costs.
Newly Applied BHA Elements Contribute Towards Mainstreaming of Coiled tubing Drilling Applications
Authors: Gleitman D. D. , Hardin J. R. , Hightower C. M. , Gantt L. L. , Smith B. E. , Upchurch E. R. , Smith M. B. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Coiled tubing drilling (CTD) is coming into the mainstream in a number of locations and applications, and the availability of improved BHA elements is a significant contributor in this regard. This paper describes BHA elements including a hydraulic orientcr and MWD system recently employed by ARCO in CTD operations, examines their capabilities, and provides a series of examples in which these tools were successfully employed.
The BHA elements formerly utilized in coiled tubing drilling have often not performed as well or as reliably as the industry has become accustomed to in conventional drilling operations.1 Principle concerns here include the overall ROP, attainment of timely survey and steering data, and directional control of the BHA. The BHA elements utilized in the recent operations represent an improvement in these critical functions.
The BHA orienter is a newly engineered, simple, hydraulically actuated device. Its performance attributes affecting overall ROP and directional control of the BHA are examined, including its speed of actuation, and its ability to change the BHA orientation while in a medium radius curve. The MWD system really represents a new application of an existing reliable system, with attributes that are especially important in the CTD environment. Modifications related to downsizing are examined, as well as relevant performance attributes including: steering data update rate; real time gamma log quality; mud pulse detection capability on coil in a range of drilling fluids; and reliability. The BHA is also looked at from an overall system perspective, including its integration with the coiled tubing and other equipment associated with the CTD operation.
As of this writing, ARCO Alaska, Inc. and THUMS Long Beach Co. (a wholly owned subsidiary of ARCO) have completed 16 CTD reentry sidetrack jobs utilizing these BHA elements in Alaska and Long Beach, California. Overall performance and reliability from these jobs are summarized. Additionally, specific cases are examined in greater detail, with these BHA elements contributing towards successful CTD window milling, medium radius curves, and laterals.