bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interest Rate Dynamics in Kenya: Commercial Banks' Rates and the 91‐Day Treasury Bill Rate
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Gil‐Alana Luis A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper analyses the implicit dynamics underlying the interest rate structure in Kenya. For this purpose, we use data on four interest rates of commercial banks (deposits, savings, lending and overdraft) together with the 91‐day Treasury Bill rate, for the period July 1991 to August 2010, and apply various techniques based on long‐range dependence and, in particular, on fractional integration. The results indicate that all series examined are nonstationary with orders of integration equal to or higher than 1 when using parametric techniques and slightly smaller than 1 when using semiparametric methods. The analysis of various spreads suggests that lending–savings and deposits–savings are also nonstationaryI(1) variables; however, the spreadsvis‐à‐visthe Treasury Bill rate may be mean reverting if the errors are autocorrelated. The high level of dependence observed in some of these series could be the result of an incorrect interest rate policy, implying the desirability of a policy aimed at reducing interest rate volatility. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variability and relationships between Pb, Cu, and Zn concentrations in soil solutions and forest floor leachates at heavily polluted sites
Authors: Kabala Cezary , Karczewska Anna , Medynska‐Juraszek Agnieszka 
Published: June 2014

AbstractSeasonal variability of Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in litter leachates and soil solutions was examined in an afforested zone surrounding a copper smelter in SW Poland. Litter leachates (with zero‐tension lysimeters) and soil solutions (with MacroRhizon suction‐cup samplers, installed at a depth of 25–30 cm) were collected monthly at three sites differing in contamination levels in the years 2009 and 2010 (total Cu: 2380, 439, and 200 mg kg–1, respectively). Concentrations of Cu in the litter leachate were correlated with dissolved organic C (DOC), whereas Zn and Pb were mainly related to leachate pH. Metal concentrations in the soil solution were weakly influenced by their total content in soils and the monthly fluctuations reached 300, 600, and 700% for Cu, Pb, and Zn, respectively. Metal concentrations in soil solutions (Cu 110–460 μg L–1; Zn 20–1190 μg L–1; Pb 0.5–36 μg L–1) were correlated with their contents in the litter leachates. Chemical speciation, using Visual Minteq 3.0, proved organically‐complexed forms even though the correlations between metal concentrations and soil solution pH and DOC were statistically insignificant. The flux of organically‐complexed metals from contaminated forest floors is believed to be a direct and crucial factor affecting the actual heavy metal concentrations and their forms in the soil solutions of the upper mineral soil horizons.
Development of crayfish bio‐based plastic materials processed by small‐scale injection moulding
Authors: Felix Manuel , Romero Alberto , Cordobes Felipe , Guerrero Antonio 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDProtein has been investigated as a source for biodegradable polymeric materials. This work evaluates the development of plastic materials based on crayfish and glycerol blends, processed by injection moulding, as a fully biodegradable alternative to conventional polymer‐based plastics. The effect of different additives, namely sodium sulfite or bisulfite as reducing agents, urea as denaturing agent and l‐cysteine as cross‐linking agent, is also analysed.RESULTSThe incorporation of any additive always yields an increase in energy efficiency at the mixing stage, but its effect on the mechanical properties of the bioplastics is not so clear, and even dampened. The additive developing a greater effect is l‐cysteine, showing higher Young's modulus values and exhibiting a remnant thermosetting potential. Thus, processing at higher temperature yields a remarkable increase in extensibility.CONCLUSIONThis work illustrates the feasibility of crayfish‐based green biodegradable plastics, thereby contributing to the search for potential value‐added applications for this by‐product. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Company level localization and public affairs officers' educational background in Switzerland
Authors: Schilliger Laura Kristina , Seele Peter 
Published: June 2014

As corporate public affairs officers have only rarely been researched in Switzerland, this study contributes a situation analysis of Swiss public affairs officers, their work processes, and biographical background to further fill this empirical gap.First, the existing public affairs research regarding Switzerland is reviewed, and research questions are derived. The research was conducted by sending out a survey to the members of the Swiss Association for Public Affairs, followed by personal in‐depth interviews with 11 public affairs officers. The findings show that respondents work in organizations that employ 1 to 82,100 people are all Swiss nationals, and their departments are mostly called ‘public affairs’. The responsibility of public affairs is predominantly for senior or top management level, and the majority of public affairs officers report to the director of their department. The respondents are highly educated. Moreover, the paper asks whether public affairs is conducted in a strategic way by taking Fleisher's 10 elements as a conceptual basis. Results show that strategic involvement of their activities is rather low. Recommendations are discussed in order to increase the strategic involvement and advance professionalization of public affairs in Switzerland with specific regard for the political system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
sdf1 Expression Reveals a Source of Perivascular-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Zebrafish
Authors: Lund Troy C. , Patrinostro Xiaobai , Kramer Ashley C. , Stadem Paul , Higgins Lee Ann , Markowski Todd W. , Wroblewski Matt S. , Lidke Diane S. , Tolar Jakub , Blazar Bruce R. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have their origin as perivascular cells (PVCs) in vivo, but precisely identifying them has been a challenge, as they have no single definitive marker and are rare. We have developed a fluorescent transgenic vertebrate model in which PVC can be visualized in vivo based upon sdf1 expression in the zebrafish. Prospective isolation and culture of sdf1DsRed PVC demonstrated properties consistent with MSC including prototypical cell surface marker expression; mesodermal differentiation into adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic lineages; and the ability to support hematopoietic cells. Global proteomic studies performed by two-dimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry revealed a high degree of similarity to human MSC (hMSC) and discovery of novel markers (CD99, CD151, and MYOF) that were previously unknown to be expressed by hMSC. Dynamic in vivo imaging during fin regeneration showed that PVC may arise from undifferentiated mesenchyme providing evidence of a PVC-MSC relationship. This is the first model, established in zebrafish, in which MSC can be visualized in vivo and will allow us to better understand their function in a native environment. Stem Cells 2014;32:2767–2779
Postoperative Analgesia with Saphenous Block Appears Equivalent to Femoral Nerve Block in ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Chisholm Mary F. , Bang Heejung , Maalouf Daniel B. , Marcello Dorothy , Lotano Marco A. , Marx Robert G. , Liguori Gregory A. , Zayas Victor M. , Gordon Michael A. , Jacobs Jason , YaDeau Jacques T. 
Published: June 2014

Background Adequate pain control following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) often requires regional nerve block. The femoral nerve block (FNB) has been traditionally employed. Ultrasound application to regional nerve blocks allows for the use of alternatives such as the saphenous nerve block following ACL reconstruction. Questions/Purposes This study evaluated postoperative analgesia provided by the subsartorial saphenous nerve block (SSNB) compared to that provided by the traditional FNB for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon (bone–tendon–bone (BTB)) autografts. Methods A randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial was conducted using 80 ASA I–III patients, ages 16–65, undergoing ACL reconstruction with BTB. The individuals assessing all outcome measures were blinded to the treatment group. Postoperatively, all patients received cryotherapy and parenteral hydromorphone to achieve numeric rating scale pain scores less than 4. At discharge, patients were given prescriptions for oral opioid analgesics and a scheduled NSAID. Patients were instructed to complete pain diaries and record oral opioid utilization. Patients were contacted on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 2 to ascertain the level of patient satisfaction with the analgesic regimen. Results No differences between the two groups were found. Patient demographics and postoperative pain scores at rest were not different. In addition, there was no difference in opioid use, as measured in daily oral morphine equivalents between groups. A small but statistically significant report of higher patient satisfaction with the FNB was found on POD 1 but not on POD 2. Conclusion These data support our hypothesis that the SSNB provides similar and adequate postoperative analgesia when compared to the FNB, following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft.
Long‐term recovery from hippocampal‐related behavioral and biochemical abnormalities induced by noise exposure during brain development. Evaluation of auditory pathway integrity
Authors: Uran S.L. , Gómez‐Casati M.E. , Guelman L.R. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractSound is an important part of man's contact with the environment and has served as critical means for survival throughout his evolution. As a result of exposure to noise, physiological functions such as those involving structures of the auditory and non‐auditory systems might be damaged.We have previously reported that noise‐exposed developing rats elicited hippocampal‐related histological, biochemical and behavioral changes. However, no data about the time lapse of these changes were reported. Moreover, measurements of auditory pathway function were not performed in exposed animals. Therefore, with the present work, we aim to test the onset and the persistence of the different extra‐auditory abnormalities observed in noise‐exposed rats and to evaluate auditory pathway integrity.Male Wistar rats of 15 days were exposed to moderate noise levels (95–97 dB SPL, 2 h a day) during one day (acute noise exposure, ANE) or during 15 days (sub‐acute noise exposure, SANE). Hippocampal biochemical determinations as well as short (ST) and long term (LT) behavioral assessments were performed. In addition, histological and functional evaluations of the auditory pathway were carried out in exposed animals.Our results show that hippocampal‐related behavioral and biochemical changes (impairments in habituation, recognition and associative memories as well as distortion of anxiety‐related behavior, decreases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and increases in antioxidant enzymes activities) induced by noise exposure were almost completely restored by PND 90. In addition, auditory evaluation shows that increased cochlear thresholds observed in exposed rats were re‐established at PND 90, although with a remarkable supra‐threshold amplitude reduction.These data suggest that noise‐induced hippocampal and auditory‐related alterations are mostly transient and that the effects of noise on the hippocampus might be, at least in part, mediated by the damage on the auditory pathway. However, we cannot exclude that a different mechanism might be responsible for the observed hippocampal‐related changes.
Right atrial tachycardia with 2:1 intra‐atrial conduction
Authors: Kofune Masayoshi , Watanabe Ichiro , Okumura Yasuo 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn a case of atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the inferolateral right atrium, cycle length (CL) alternans was observed. Conduction at the longer CL was to the high right atrium (HRA), His bundle electrogram region (HBE), and coronary sinus (CS). Conduction at the shorter CL was to the HRA, with that to the HBE and CS blocked.
Reconsidering Vertical Integration: An Examination of National Political Parties and Their Counterparts in Ontario
Authors: Pruysers Scott 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper reconsiders whether federal and provincial parties are as independent and separate as the literature would suggest. Examining five different types of party personnel (party members, activists, riding presidents, candidates and legislators) this paper explores how federal parties and their counterparts in Ontario have responded to multi-level governance. Rather than embracing “two political worlds,” party personnel have responded to the federal nature of Canadian politics by engaging with parties at multiple levels. Additionally, the paper examines two competing explanations of party integration and seeks to uncover whether differences organizational design or ideological consistency best explain divergent levels of party integration. The experience of the Conservatives demonstrates that vertical integration is not a result of a party's organizational design alone and that a coherent ideology can help to offset a truncated organizational structure.
The Quality of Democratic Accountability: A Comparative View of Latin America
Authors: Barreda Mikel 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper presents a comparative analysis of the quality of democratic accountability mechanisms in Latin America. It begins by reviewing the concept of democratic accountability quality and its operationalization by means of factor analysis. As a result, three quality indicators are identified corresponding to the types of accountability that prevail in the literature: horizontal, electoral and social. The study reveals considerable differences among the Latin American democracies. Set out below is an exploratory analysis of the factors explaining these differences. The analysis yields three main conclusions. First, it confirms the usefulness of the model. Second, the quality of each type of accountability is explained by specific factors: no one factor explains all three cases. Third, a different logic behind social accountability mechanisms is detected as compared with the other two types of accountability mechanisms.
La controverse sur les tribunaux d'arbitrage religieux ontariens: un non-dit identitaire?
Authors: May Paul 
Published: June 2014

RésuméLe présent article s'intéresse à la controverse survenue en 2002–2005 à l'occasion de la mise en place des tribunaux d'arbitrage religieux en Ontario. Il contribue aux travaux existants sur la question en mobilisant de nouvelles sources empiriques. Une attention particulière est accordée au discours des acteurs sociaux opposés à la mise en place de tribunaux d'arbitrage. Nous verrons que la plupart des opposants à l'arbitrage ne conçoivent pas le débat en termes d'opposition entre la religion et les principes féministes, mais centrent l'essentiel de leur argumentation sur le danger que constituerait, selon eux, un islam perçu comme oppressif et étranger. La controverse sur l'arbitrage religieux devient l'occasion de revendiquer une « identité canadienne » occidentale, à la fois laïque et judéo-chrétienne. De ce point de vue, on peut rapprocher l'épisode ontarien des controverses européennes relatives à l'islam qui ont émergé au cours de la dernière décennie, comme l'affaire des caricatures de Mahomet au Danemark, la polémique sur les minarets en Suisse, ou l'interdiction du voile intégral en Belgique.
The Military Response to Criminal Violent Extremist Groups: Aligning Use of Force Presumptions with Threat Reality
Authors: Corn Geoffrey S , Kaleemullah Tanweer 
Published: June 2014

In 1949, the inclusion of Common Article 3 to the four Geneva Conventions represented a significant advance in the regulation of armed hostilities. That article extended international humanitarian law to the realm of non-international armed conflicts. At that time, these conflicts were considered synonymous with intrastate conflicts such as civil wars. While the scope of applicability of Common Article 3 to internal threats and disturbances has witnessed what is arguably a significant evolution since that time, it is unclear whether and when this baseline humanitarian obligation – and the broader customary laws and customs of war applicable to non-international armed conflicts once this article is triggered – are applicable when a state confronts organised criminal gangs who possess a capability to engage in violence and wreak havoc that rivals, if not exceeds, that of traditional insurgent threats.Much of this uncertainty derives from the fact that the response to criminal disturbances appears to have been specifically excluded from situations triggering Common Article 3 when it was adopted in 1949. However, it is unlikely that the drafters of the Conventions at that time anticipated the nature of organised criminal gangs and the destabilising effect these groups have today in many areas of the world. The nature of this threat has resulted in the increasingly common utilisation of regular military forces to restore government control in areas in which they operate. This results in the use of force and the exercise of incapacitation powers that far exceed normal law enforcement response authority. It is therefore the thesis of this article that when the nature of these threats exceeds the normal law enforcement response authority and compels the state to resort to regular military force to restore order, international humanitarian law, or the law of armed conflict, provides the only viable legal regulatory framework for such operations. However, it is also the view of the authors that the risk of excess of authority inherent in this legal framework necessitates a carefully tailored package of rules of engagement to mitigate the risk that the effort to restore order will result in the unjustified deprivation of life, liberty and property.
Effects of correcting for microbial contamination and the use of sodium sulphite in neutral detergent fibre analyses on the ruminal fibre degradability of several feeds
Authors: GUEVARA-GONZÁLEZ J. A. , MOUHBI R. , ARROYO J. M. , ALVIR M. R. , GONZÁLEZ J. 
Published: June 2014

SUMMARYSodium sulphite is used in an optional way to remove insoluble proteins from neutral detergent fibre (NDF) residue. To determine whether the recovery of both NDF and insoluble nitrogen (N) in NDF solution (NDIN) are altered by its use, both parameters were measured in a set of 12 feeds, including cereal grains: maize (MG), rye (RG) and wheat (WG); cereal co-products: maize gluten feed (MGF), distilled dried grains from barley (DDGB) and wheat (DDGW) and wheat bran (WB); protein concentrates: rapeseed meal (RSM) and expeller palm kernel (EPK); dehydrated sugar beet pulp (DBP) and oat (OH) and ryegrass (RGH) hays. Associated effects on thein situeffective degradability (ED) of both NDF and NDIN were also studied in DDGW, WB, RSM, EPK, DBP, OH and RGH. Also, ED of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and its N (ADIN) were studied in hays. Errors due to microbial contamination in the rumen on the ED of NDF, ADF, NDIN and ADIN were also established in these last seven samples using15N infusion methods. Three rumen and duodenum cannulated wethers were used in the study. The sulphite use in NDF solution led to reductions (DDGB, DDGW, RSM and OH) and increases (RG, WG, WB and DBP) of the NDIN proportion, as well as the contribution of crude protein to NDF. These variations were associated with irregular effects on NDF residues and on ED of both NDIN and NDF. As a consequence, sulphite use does not assure the reduction of the insoluble protein contamination and it may even increase it. This methodology may also alter the degradability estimates of NDIN or NDF. Mean ruminal microbial contamination in NDF was 7·0, 10·8, 13·3, 5·4, 12·0, 35·3 and 20·0 g/kg in WB, DDGW, RSM, EPK, DBP, OH and RGH, respectively. The associated contents of microbial N in NDIN were: 59·3, 29·9, 26·2, 19·8, 37·3, 441 and 150 g/kg, respectively. Microbial contamination in ADF and ADIN (g/kg) was 3·6 and 94·5 in OH and 1·7 and 41·2 in RGH. Not correcting this contamination led to consistent undervaluations of ED of NDIN and NDF in all tested feeds, although errors only reached significance for NDIN in hays and DBP. Microbial-corrected ED of NDIN was 0·685, 0·826, 0·481, 0·389, 0·166, 0·718 and 0·425 in WB, DDGW, RSM, EPK, DBP, OH and RGH, respectively, whereas values for ADIN were 0·504 (OH) and 0·469 (RGH).
Particle-in-cell simulation of two stream instability in the non-extensive statistics
Authors: Ghorbanalilu Mohammad , Abdollahzadeh Elahe , Rahbari S.H. Ebrahimnazhad 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWe have performed extensive one dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to explore generation of electrostatic waves driven by two-stream instability (TSI) that arises due to the interaction between two symmetric counterstreaming electron beams. The electron beams are considered to be cold, collisionless and magnetic-field-free in the presence of neutralizing background of static ions. Here, electrons are described by the non-extensive q-distributions of the Tsallis statistics. Results shows that the electron holes structures are different for various q values such that: (i) for q > 1 cavitation of electron holes are more visible and the excited waves were more strong (ii) for q < 1 the degree of cavitation decreases and for q = 0.5 the holes are not distinguishable. Furthermore, time development of the velocity root-mean-square (VRMS) of electrons for different q-values demonstrate that the maximum energy conversion is increased upon increasing the non-extensivity parameter q up to the values q > 1. The normalized total energy history for a arbitrary entropic index q = 1.5, approves the energy conserving in our PIC simulation.
Generation and radiation of ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses with high stability and effective potential
Authors: Efremov A.M. , Koshelev V.I. , Kovalchuk B.M. , Plisko V.V. , Sukhushin K.N. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAn ultra-wideband radiation source based on the excitation of a 64-element array of combined antennas by a generator of bipolar voltage pulses with the length of 1 ns, amplitude of 200 kV and pulse repetition rate of 100 Hz has been designed and studied. The peak power of the voltage pulse was 3.2 GW. The effective potential of the ultra-wideband source radiation reached 4.3 MV.
Plasma plume behavior of laser ablated cerium oxide: Effect of oxygen partial pressure
Authors: Panda Arun Kumar , Singh Akash , Mishra Maneesha , Thirumurugesan R. , Kuppusami P. , Mohandas E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThis paper describes the spatial and temporal investigation of laser ablated plasma plume of cerium oxide target using Langmuir probe. Cerium oxide target was ablated using a KrF (λ ~ 248 nm) gas laser. Experimental studies confirmed that oxygen partial pressure of 2 × 10−2mbar is sufficient enough to get good quality films of cerium oxide. At this pressure, plume was diagnosed for their spatial and temporal behavior. Spatial distribution was investigated at a distance of 15 mm, 30 mm, and up to a maximum distance of 45 mm from the target, whereas temporal behavior has been recorded in the range of 0 to 50 µS with an interval of 0.5 µS. The average electron densities are found to be maximum at 30 mm from the target position and the plasma current of the laser ablated ceria is found to be maximum at 22 µS.