bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, optimization, characterization, and potential agricultural application of polymer hydrogel composites based on cotton microfiber
Authors: Laftah Waham , Hashim Shahrir 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe optimum content of cotton microfiber, initiator, cross-linker, and sodium hydroxide were determined using the central composite design method. Polymer hydrogels (PHGs) were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. A comparison between plain PHG and the polymer hydrogel composite (PHGC) in terms of biodegradation, swelling rate, and re-swelling capacity was carried out. The effect of PHGC on the sandy soil holding capacity, urea leaching loss rate (ULLR), and okra plant growth were evaluated. The highest water absorption capacity was obtained at 1.30 mass %, 0.15 mass %, 13.00 mass %, and 13.50 mass % of the initiator, cross-linker, sodium hydroxide, and cotton microfiber, respectively. Cotton microfiber has a prominent effect on the swelling rate, re-swelling capacity, and biodegradability of PHG. Okra plant growth and ULLR were positively affected by PHGC and the best leaching loss rate of 33.3 mass % was observed for the lowest urea loaded sample.
Determination of pK a of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine-N-oxides using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Búcsi Alexander , Karlovská Janka , Chovan Michal , Devínsky Ferdinand , Uhríková Daniela 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe pK a values of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine-N-oxides were determined from the pH dependences of chemical shifts in 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra. The dependences were measured at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration of the amine oxides. Above the critical micelle concentration, the plots of the peak positions vs. pH were either sigmoid (the groups close to the nitrogen) or “peak type” (farther groups). The sigmoidal behaviour was a direct result of the acid-base reaction; on the other hand, the “peak type” behaviour was probably an indirect consequence of the pH variation, mediated with the change in micelle size.
Kinetics and modelling of heptane steam-cracking
Authors: Olahová Natália , Bajus Martin , Hájeková Elena , Šugár Lukáš , Markoš Jozef 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe kinetics and product distribution during the cracking of heptane in the presence of steam were investigated. The experiments were performed in a flow reactor under atmospheric pressure in a temperature range of 680–760°C with a mass ratio of steam to heptane of 3: 1. The overall decomposition of heptane is represented by a first-order reaction with activation energy of 249.1 kJ mol−1 and a frequency factor of 3.13 × 1013 s−1. The reaction products were analysed using gas chromatography, the main product being ethylene. The molecular reaction scheme, which consists of a primary reaction and 24 secondary reactions between primary products, was used for modelling the experimental product yields. The yields of ethylene and hydrogen were in good agreement; however the experimental yields of propylene were higher than the predicted yields.
Association between a biomarker of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and semen quality
Authors: Jurewicz Joanna , Radwan Michał , Sobala Wojciech , Brzeźnicki Sławomir , Ligocka Danuta , Radwan Paweł , Bochenek Michał , Hanke Wojciech 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Population based self-reported acute gastrointestinal infection in slovenia: multiplier study
Authors: Grilc Eva , Sočan Maja 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
Background: The assessment of the incidence of acute gastrintestinal infections (AGI) derived from the notifications underestimates the real burden of AGI. The symptoms of AGI are usually not severe enough for consultation with a physician. The more exact data on the burden of AGI are gained through cross sectional population-based studies. To estimate the burden of AGI in Slovenia, a period prevalence study was conducted.

Methods: A simple random sample consisting of 5000 Slovenian inhabitants was chosen to whom a questionnaire was sent in July 2011. The participants were asked if they experienced AGI in June 2011 according to a symptombased case definition. The participants were asked to fill in the questionnaire on a paper or via a web page created for study purposes.

Results: Out of 5000 participants, 1500 filled out the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 33%. The number of women responding out-numbered men - there were 58% female and 42% male responders. 66 (4.4%) of the responders claimed to have had AGI in June 2011. The incidence rate of acute AGI was therefore 4400 per 100,000 inhabitants. Comparatively, the incidence rate of notified cases in the same month was 78.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. The difference between the incidence of AGI, based on notified cases and incidence, calculated in the first Slovenian cross sectional study, showed that one out of 56 cases of AGI in the community has been notified.

Conclusion: the incidence of AGI among the Slovenian population, based on data from our cross sectional study, is as expected higher than the incidence calculated from notification data from the same period.
Factors of collective psychological empowerment of active users in the online health community med.over.net
Authors: Petrovčič Andraž , Petrič Gregor 
Published: December 2013

Izvleček
Namen: V članku raziskujemo v literaturi pogosto spregledano vprašanje kolektivnega psihološkega opolnomočenja uporabnikov spletnih zdravstvenih skupnosti. Izhajajoč iz teorij opolnomočenja s področja psihologije skupnosti, preverjamo, kateri dejavniki, ki obenem odražajo pomembne lastnosti spletnih zdravstvenih skupnosti, so povezani s kolektivnim psihološkim opolnomočenjem njihovih uporabnikov.

Metode: Vlogo štirih dejavnikov kolektivnega opolnomočenja smo analizirali s pomočjo multiple linearne regresije na podatkih, zbranih konec leta 2010 s spletno anketo na neverjetnostnem vzorcu (n = 235) aktivnih sodelujočih na forumih največje slovenske spletne zdravstvene skupnosti Med.over.net, ki je vključeval 8,5% moških, 49,7% vsaj visoko izobraženih in 41,5% poročenih anketirancev, ki so bili v povprečju stari 35,1 leta (SD = 9,1).

Rezultati: Ugotavljamo, da se predstavljeni teoretični model dejavnikov ustrezno prilega podatkom (F = 8,65, df = 8, p < 0,001) in z njim lahko pojasnimo 23,4% variabilnosti občutka kolektivnega opolnomočenja. Občutek pripadnosti spletni skupnosti (β = 0,279, p < 0,001), vključenost v organizacijske aktivnosti skupnosti (0,194, 0,001) in zaznana participacija spletne skupnosti v širšem okolju (0,157, 0,02) vplivajo na kolektivno opolnomočenje uporabnikov spletne zdravstvene skupnosti Med.over.net, medtem ko tega ni mogoče trditi za intenzivnost participacije v forumskih razpravah (0,029, 0,65).

Zaključek: Za povečevanje kolektivne komponente psihološkega opolnomočenja uporabnikov spletnih zdravstvenih skupnosti je treba v prvi vrsti graditi na kakovosti odnosov med člani, vključevanju članov v strateške odločitve o skupnosti in na vključenosti skupnosti v širše družbeno okolje, saj sama participacija uporabnikov v spletnih skupnosti še ne zagotavlja njihovega višjega kolektivnega opolnomočenja.
Managing of the outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning in primary school
Authors: Košnik Irena Grmek , Lah Andreja Krt , Dermota Urška , Frelih Tatjana 
Published: December 2013

Izvleček
Izhodišče: Oktobra 2010 smo imeli na Gorenjskem v eni izmed osnovnih šol z vrtcem izbruh stafilokokne zastrupitve s hrano.

Metode: Izvedli smo retrospektivno kohortno epidemiološko raziskavo in izračunali stopnjo obolevnosti v izbruhu ter relativno tveganje (RT) za vsako živilo. Pri obolelih smo kultivirali blato in izbruhanino. Opravili smo terenski ogled z odvzemom vzorca hrane, brisov delovnih površin na snažnost in brisa rok zaposlenih v kuhinji. V okviru usmerjenega pregleda smo trem zaposlenim v kuhinji odvzeli kužnine za mikrobiološke preiskave. Izolatom bakterije Staphylococcus aureus smo določili enterotoksine s testom aglutinacije SET RPLA (Oxoid). Za primerjavo sorodnosti bakterije S. aureus iz živila in humanih vzorcev smo opravili tipizacijo izolatov s pulzno elektroforezo (PFGE).

Rezultati: Obolelo je 73 oseb od 374 izpostavljenih. Stopnja obolevnosti je bila 19,5-odstotna. Najpogostejši bolezenski znaki so bili: bruhanje (87,7 %), bolečine v trebuhu (75,3 %), driska (64,2 %) in slabost (59,3 %). Največje relativno tveganje (RT) za zastrupitev je bilo povezano z uživanjem mesnega sira (RT= 24,2 (95 % CI 12,1-48,5; p<0,001) in krompirjeve solate (RT= 19,4 (95 % CI 10,7-35,2; p<0,001). S kože rok osebe, zaposlene v kuhinji, iz vzorca hrane in kužnin obolelih otrok smo izolirali bakterijo S. aureus, ki je izločala enterotoksina A; po občutljivosti za antibiotike se ni razlikovala od drugih; z metodo PFGE se je pokazala 96,3-odstotna sorodnost med sevi.

Zaključki: Opisana raziskava je vzorčen primer dela in ukrepanja področnega epidemiologa in mikrobiologa ob pojavu izbruha. V izbruhu smo dokazali epidemiološko povezane izolate in opredelili pomen posameznih preiskav.
Geomorphological Development of the Memphite Floodplain Over the Past 6,000 Years
Authors: Bunbury Judith 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
The Memphite ruin mounds around the modern town of Mit Rahina in northern Egypt form a part of a region around which the capital of Egypt mi grated through time. Some of these migrations were the responses to landscape changes and the area is one that is subject to a number of types of landscape change. The delta and river systems as well as the deserts that surround Memphis changed profoundly as global temperatures rose at theend of the last ice age. This paper summarises the main landscape processes that affected the area and pro poses a model for river migration and delta-head change in the Memphite floodplain.
Saqqara: Some Remarks on Flora from Funerary Context
Authors: Radomska Małgorzata 
Published: December 2013

Abstract
An extensive Ptolemaic cemetery west of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara (Egypt), excavated since 1987 by a Polish mission headed by Karol Myśliwiec, has inspired the present study. Over 500 burials have been found so far in strata overlying the Old Kingdom necropolis. The aim of the paper is to present the plant remains discovered in burial contexts in 1987-2012 in the so-called Upper Necropolis. It emphasizes the results of their archaeobotanical analyses. The effects of research on plant remains from the Lower Necropolis are presented here to be used as a 2000 years older comparative material.
Books as Capital Assets
Authors: Soloveichik Rachel 
Published: December 2013

In 2007, authors and publishers released book manuscripts with a value of $9.1 billion. These books will continue to be sold for decades. Because of this long working life, the international guidelines for national accounts recommend that countries classify production of books and other entertainment, literary, and artistic originals as an investment activity and then depreciate those books over time. However, the Bureau of Economic Analysis did not capitalize this category of intangible assets until the July 2013 benchmark revision. In order to change the national accounts, this paper collects data on production of book manuscripts from 1900 to 2010. The paper then calculates how GDP statistics change when book manuscripts are classified as capital assets. The main empirical results are as follows: 1) Book manuscripts have a useful lifespan of at least fifty years with an annual depreciation rate of 12 per cent per year; 2) Nominal book investment has hovered around 0.06 per cent of nominal GDP from the 1930s until 2010. Therefore, nominal GDP growth does not change much when book production is classified as an investment activity; 3) After 1970, book investment prices rose faster than overall GDP prices. Accordingly, average inflation rises slightly when book production is classified as investment. Before 1970, book investment prices roughly track overall GDP prices.
Energieholzpotenziale im Schweizer Wald
Authors: Thees Oliver , Kaufmann Edgar , Lemm Renato , Bürgi Anton 
Published: December 2013

Energy wood potential of the Swiss forest
In this article the wood energy potential of the Swiss forest is estimated on the basis of the third Swiss forest inventory (elicitations from 2004 till 2006). The estimation is based on four scenarios of usage intensity and on two wood market situations. Furthermore, the wood energy potentials are analysed by production regions, forest ownership, strength classes, tree compartments, harvesting methods and costs. The minimum technical potential in Switzerland is 3.1 million m3 of solid wood and brushwood per year (usage scenario: “as before”, not very energy-wood-friendly market), the maximum is 7.3 million m3 per year (usage scenario: “75% more usage”, which is associated with a significant reduction in stocks; very energy-wood-friendly market). As a rough benchmark we can assume a technical potential of 4 million m3 of solid wood and brushwood, which can be used on average without any reduction in stocks. Actually about 60% of it is currently harvested. The article shows that while additional energy wood potentials can be tapped, the energy wood can only make a small contribution to the total Swiss energy production, which is moreover relatively expensive to implement. Therefore an efficient and value-added use of the resource is especially important.
Detectable thyroglobulin with negative imaging in differentiated thyroid cancer patients
Authors: Treglia G. , Ceriani L. , Verburg F. , Giovanella L. 
Published: December 2013

SummaryIn the absence of autoantibodies against thyroglobulin (Tg), Tg measurement nowadays is the cornerstone of clinical management of differentiated thyroid cancer patients. DTC patients presenting with a positive Tg measurement without an anatomical correlate on anatomic imaging provide a management challenge to the attending physician.Based on the literature we will provide an overview of the most important steps to undertake in such patients and their potential clinical consequences.
What Do Normative Approaches to Argumentation Stand to Gain from Rhetorical Insights?
Authors: Zenker Frank 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTThis article appropriates Thomas Conley's (1990) four classical positions on the nature and function of rhetoric, and assesses their relevance vis-à-vis three contemporary normative approaches to argumentation: the epistemological approach, pragma-dialectical theory, and informal logic. In each case, the room for the integration of rhetorical insights into argument evaluation is found to be restricted by dialectical and logico-epistemic norms endorsed in these approaches. Moreover, when rhetorical insights could fit the so restricted room, then the reliability and the specificity of such insights remain inversely related, with methodologically well-hardened knowledge of what persuades remaining too general. The trade-off between reliability and specificity of suasory knowledge, or so is our thesis, undermines the claim that rhetorical insights can presently inform the evaluation of natural language arguments in these three normative approaches.
Rhetorical Argumentation and the Nature of Audience:
Authors: Tindale Christopher W. 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACT
Theories of argumentation that give serious attention to rhetorical features, such as those of Aristotle and Chaïm Perelman, assign an important role to the audience when considering how argumentation should be constructed and evaluated. But neither of these theorists provides ways of thinking about audience that is adequate to the range of questions raised by this central concept. In this article, I explore one of these questions—that of audience identity—and consider the degree to which this issue has been recognized by the theorists in question and how we might move from their conceptions of it to a better understanding of the importance of identity in argumentation and how it should be treated.
Handling Optimization under Uncertainty Problem Using Robust Counterpart Methodology
Authors: Chaerani Diah , Roos Cornelis 
Published: December 2013

In this paper we discuss the robust counterpart (RC) methodology to handle the optimization under uncertainty problem as proposed by Ben-Tal and Nemirovskii. This optimization methodology incorporates the uncertain data in U a so-called uncertainty set and replaces the uncertain problem by its so-called robust counterpart. We apply the RC approach to uncertain Conic Optimization (CO) problems, with special attention to robust linear optimization (RLO) problem and include a discussion on parametric uncertainty for that case. Some new supported examples are presented to give a clear description of the used of RC methodology theorem.
Conservation easements and mining: The case of Chile
Authors: Root‐Bernstein M. , Montecinos Carvajal Y. , Ladle R. , Jepson P. , Jaksic F. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPrivate protected areas (PPAs) are important designations with the potential to complement and improve public protected area (PA) networks in many countries. PPAs come in many forms and offer a wide variety of incentives, rights, responsibilities, and protections. One popular model, now being considered for adoption in Chile, is the conservation easement. In this article, we examine how well conservation easements would perform as PPA designations in countries such as Chile that have strong mining industries. Mining, and other concessions, in PAs is emerging as an important point of contention between conservation and development. PPA designations should be carefully designed to offer protections that conform to standards that will complement PA networks, that are perpetual, and that require a publically accountable and transparent process to overturn or modify.
Breaking the oceanic lithosphere of a subducting slab: The 2013 Khash, Iran earthquake
Authors: Barnhart William D. , Hayes Gavin P. , Samsonov Sergey V. , Fielding Eric J. , Seidman Lily E. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractLarge intermediate‐depth, intraslab normal‐faulting earthquakes are a common, dangerous, but poorly understood phenomenon in subduction zones owing to a paucity of near‐field geophysical observations. Seismological and high‐quality geodetic observations of the 2013 Mw7.7 Khash, Iran earthquake reveal that at least half of the oceanic lithosphere, including the mantle and entire crust, ruptured in a single earthquake, confirming with unprecedented resolution that large earthquakes can nucleate in and rupture through the oceanic mantle. A rupture width of at least 55 km is required to explain both Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar observations and teleseismic waveforms, with the majority of slip occurring in the oceanic mantle. Combining our well‐constrained earthquake slip distributions with the causative fault orientation and geometry of the local subduction zone, we hypothesize that the Khash earthquake likely occurred as the combined result of slab‐bending forces and dehydration of hydrous minerals along a preexisting fault formed prior to subduction.
Ontogeny of sexual size dimorphism and environmental quality in Guatemalan children
Authors: Nikitovic Dejana , Bogin Barry 
Published: December 2013

ABSTRACTObjectivesHuman growth data from Guatemalan school children were analyzed to test the hypothesis that the degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in height is reduced for people living under more adverse environmental quality.MethodsThe sample consists of 2,560 girls and 3,262 boys, 6–16.99 years of age, from the two major Guatemalan ethnic groups, Maya of very low socioeconomic status (SES) and Ladino of high, middle, and low SES. SES was estimated by questionnaire and ethnographic observation. All data are from the Longitudinal Study of Child Development of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. Significance of SSD was tested within each whole year age category (e.g., 6.0–6.9 years) by SES for Ladinos and Maya. Ethnic groups were then compared for each age category to determine whether the SSD values were significantly different between groups.ResultsStatistically significant height SSD was found for 10 of the 11 age categories for the high SES Ladinos, 8 of the 11 age categories for middle SES Ladinos, 3 of the 11 low SES Ladino age categories, and 0 of the 11 very low SES Maya age categories. For all SES and ethnic groups SSD tended to decrease between 6 and 11 years of age and then increase after age 12 years.ConclusionsA poor quality environment for growth and development, as estimated by SES, was found to reduce or eliminate statistically significant SSD. Patterns of biological maturation before and after puberty also seem to contribute to age changes in SSD. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:117–123, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A case of Robin sequence, microgastria, radiohumeral synostosis, femoral deficiency, and other unusual findings: A newly recognized syndrome?
Authors: Roberts Jessica , Torres‐Martinez Wilfredo , Farrow Emily , Stevens Abby , Delk Paula , White Kenneth E. , Weaver David D. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn this report, we describe an 8‐year‐old male with Robin sequence, bilateral radiohumeral synostosis, microgastria, cryptorchidism, dislocated hips, proximal femoral deficiency, and an autism spectrum disorder. This combination of findings has not been previously reported. Features of particular interest are the radiohumeral synostosis and microgastria, both of which are rare defects, and to our knowledge, have not been reported to occur together. We propose that the patient has a newly recognized syndrome consisting of the aforementioned features, the etiology of which is unknown. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Small mosaic deletion encompassing the snoRNAs and SNURF‐SNRPN results in an atypical Prader–Willi syndrome phenotype
Authors: Anderlid Britt‐Marie , Lundin Johanna , Malmgren Helena , Lehtihet Mikael , Nordgren Ann 
Published: December 2013

AbstractGenetic analyses were performed in a male patient with suspected Prader–Willi syndrome who presented with hypogonadism, excessive eating, central obesity, small hands and feet and cognition within the low normal range. However, he had no neonatal hypotonia or feeding problems during infancy. Chromosome analysis showed a normal male karyotype. Further analysis with array‐CGH identified a mosaic 847 kb deletion in 15q11‐q13, including SNURF‐SNRPN, the snoRNA gene clusters SNORD116 (HBII‐85), SNORD115, (HBII‐52), SNORD109 A and B (HBII‐438A and B), SNORD64 (HBII‐13), and NPAP1 (C15ORF2). MLPA confirmed the deletion and the results were compatible with a paternal origin. Metaphase‐FISH verified the mosaicism with the deletion present in 58% of leukocytes analyzed. Three smaller deletions in this region have previously been reported in patients with Prader–Willi syndrome phenotype. All three deletions included SNORD116, but only two encompassed parts of SNURF‐SNRPN, implicating SNORD116 as the major contributor to the Prader–Willi phenotype. Our case adds further information about genotype–phenotype correlation and supports the hypothesis that SNORD116 plays a major role in the pathogenesis of Prader‐Willi syndrome. Furthermore, it examplifies diagnostic difficulties in atypical cases and illustrates the need for additional testing methods when Prader‐Willi syndrome is suspected. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.