bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heterophasic copolymers of polypropylene: Development, design principles, and future challenges
Authors: Gahleitner Markus , Tranninger Cornelia , Doshev Petar 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTInitially developed to overcome the limited low‐temperature impact resistance of polypropylene (PP) and allow its application in subzero temperatures, the PP/elastomer blends became a very important and industrially relevant material class. Within the last 40 years, a whole range of PP impact copolymers from multireactor processes have been developed that are capable of covering wide application areas. This review summarizes their developmental history and presents options for the in‐reactor design of these polymers and their modification by compounding with elastomers and fillers or reinforcements after the polymerization. An overview of the application range is also presented together with a glimpse into the future of this material class. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3028–3037, 2013
The Impact of Tumor Necrosis Factor α Inhibitors on Radiographic Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Haroon Nigil , Inman Robert D. , Learch Thomas J. , Weisman Michael H. , Lee MinJae , Rahbar Mohammad H. , Ward Michael M. , Reveille John D. , Gensler Lianne S. 
Published: July 2013

ObjectiveTo study the effect of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors on progressive spinal damage in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MethodsAll AS patients meeting the modified New York criteria who had been monitored prospectively and had at least 2 sets of spinal radiographs a minimum of 1.5 years apart were included in the study (n = 334). The patients received standard therapy, which included nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and TNFα inhibitors. Radiographic severity was assessed by the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS). Patients with a rate of AS progression that was ≥1 mSASSS unit/year were considered progressors. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were done. Propensity score matching and sensitivity analysis were performed. A zero‐inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model was used to analyze the effect of TNFα inhibitors on the change in the mSASSS with varying followup periods. Potential confounders, such as disease activity (as assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein level, HLA–B27 positivity, sex, age at onset, smoking burden (number of pack‐years), and baseline damage, were included in the model.ResultsTNFα inhibitor treatment was associated with a 50% reduction in the odds of progression, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.52 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.30–0.88, P = 0.02). Patients with a delay of >10 years in starting therapy were more likely to experience progression as compared to those who started earlier (OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.09–5.3], P = 0.03). In the ZINB model, the use of TNFα inhibitors significantly reduced disease progression when the gap between radiographs was >3.9 years. The protective effect of TNFα inhibitors was stronger after propensity score matching.ConclusionTreatment with TNFα inhibitors appears to reduce radiographic progression in AS patients, especially with early initiation and with longer duration of followup.
A Convex Method of Robust Controller Design for Markovian Jump Systems with Uncertain Transition Rates
Authors: Guo Yafeng 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper is concerned with exploring a convex controller design method for a class of Markovian jump systems with uncertain transition rates. First, a new stability criterion of such systems is established by applying the slack‐matrix technique. Then, a totally convex method for the state‐feedback controller design is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The proposed design method has the merits of convexity and low conservativeness, while in the previous methods the two merits cannot coexist. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness and merits of the proposed method.
The Influence of Governance Structure and Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility Toward Sustainability Reporting Quality
Authors: Amran Azlan , Lee Shiau Ping , Devi S. Susela 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTIncreased business complexities coupled with enhanced global transformation have propelled corporations to behave as responsible citizens to drive the sustainability agenda. Many corporations incorporate their affirmative commitment to sustainable business practices into their corporate identities and give evidence for this in their sustainability reports. This paper examines the role of the board of directors in sustainability reporting quality (SRQ) in the Asia‐Pacific region. Based on a cross‐sectional study of 113 companies from 12 countries in the region, we find that the SRQ in the region leaves much room for improvement. However, we find that the institutionalization of the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in an organization provides a sound foundation for enhancing SRQ. We find that the value of CSR anchored in the vision and/ or mission statement and strategic alliances fostered with non‐governmental organizations are positively associated with SRQ.This study contributes to strengthening the understanding, promoting discussion on the state of sustainability reporting in the Asia‐Pacific context and laying a solid foundation for more aggressive efforts to enhance SRQ. The study identifies the significant drivers currently associated with SRQ. The weak role of the board of directors in upholding the sustainable development agenda through the reporting process is highlighted. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Enhancing treatment engagement in sexual offenders: A pilot study to explore the utility of the Personal Aspirations and Concerns Inventory for Offenders (PACI‐O)
Authors: Sellen Joselyn Liza , Gobbett Matthew , Campbell Jacqueline 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTBackgroundIt is essential to improve the motivation of incarcerated sexual offenders to engage in programmes that help lower reoffending rates. The Personal Aspirations and Concerns Inventory for Offenders (PACI‐O) is a semi‐structured interview that helps them to identify what they want to achieve or change in their life. It may improve treatment engagement.AimsThe aims of this study were to test use of the PACI‐O as a motivator towards treatment engagement and to test the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of this with sex offenders.MethodsThirty‐seven convicted sex offenders who were due to participate in an Enhanced Thinking Skills programme were randomly assigned to the ‘experimental’ group, who completed the PACI‐O prior to programme entry, or a control group, who completed the programme but not the PACI‐O. All participants completed treatment engagement measures.ResultsSmall positive changes were observed in indicators of treatment motivation and engagement, which were most marked in the small group of offence deniers. The RCT method proved feasible.Conclusions and implications for practice and researchAlthough our sample was small, our preliminary finding indicates that the PACI‐O may provide a cost‐effective method of improving treatment engagement for a hard‐to‐reach group of offenders. Replication with a sample of just over 100 men should offer sufficient power for establishing this technique. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tuning the Lewis Acidity of Boranes in Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry: Implications for the Hydrogenation of Electron‐Poor Alkenes
Authors: Nicasio Juan A. , Steinberg Sebastian , Inés Blanca , Alcarazo Manuel 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAn analysis of the metal‐free reduction of electron deficient olefins by frustrated Lewis pairs indicates that the rate‐determining step might be either the heterolytic cleavage of H2 to form an ‐onium borohydride salt, or the subsequent transfer of the hydride moiety to the substrate following a Michael‐type addition reaction. While the use of strong Lewis acids such as B(C6F5)3 facilitates the first of these processes, hydride transfer to the olefin should be contrarily favoured by the use of weak Lewis acids which, for this very same reason, might be unable to promote the prior H2 split. After systematic testing of several boranes of different Lewis acidity (assessed by using the Childs’ method) and steric demand, an optimal situation that employs tris(2,4,6‐trifluorophenyl)borane was reached. Mixtures of this borane with 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of alkylidene malonates. In fact, this transformation could be achieved under milder conditions than those we reported previously. Moreover, the reaction scope could be expanded to other electron deficient olefins containing esters, sulfones or nitro functionalities as electron‐withdrawing substituents.
Konzeptwechseltexte – eine Textart zur Veränderung von Schülervorstellungen
Authors: Egbers Maria , Marohn Annette 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSchüler kommen nicht als „unbeschriebene Blätter“ in den Chemieunterricht, sondern haben bereits vielfältige Vorstellungen über chemische Sachverhalte. Diese entsprechen häufig nicht den wissenschaftlich anerkannten Konzepten. Im Folgenden soll ein Lernmaterial vorgestellt werden, das als Ziel hat, diese Alternativvorstellungen bewusst aufzugreifen und zu verändern: der Konzeptwechseltext. Das Besondere an diesen Texten ist, dass sie nicht nur die fachlich anerkannten, sondern auch die alternativen Vorstellungen der Schüler thematisieren. Die Lerner werden somit auf fachlich nicht korrekte Konzepte aufmerksam gemacht und es wird ein kognitiver Konflikt generiert, der einen Konzeptwechsel initiieren kann. Durch Erklärungen und Beispiele soll erleichtert werden, das fachlich anerkannte Konzept zu verstehen und sich anzueignen. Die zu vermittelnden Konzepte finden durch die integrierten Fragen und Aufgaben sowie eine Repositionierung am Ende sofortige Anwendung. Der hier vorgestellte Text behandelt das Thema „Lösevorgänge“ und richtet sich an Schüler vom Anfangsunterricht bis hin zur Oberstufe.
Zur besseren Lesbarkeit wird hier und im Folgenden die männliche Form einer Person („Schüler“, „Lerner“ etc.) verwendet. Die Bezeichnungen referieren auf den Status einer Person und seien in generischer Bedeutung gelesen.
Students do not enter chemistry classes as an unknown quantity, but have manifold ideas about chemical issues. These are often incompatible, though, with scientifically accepted conceptions. Further down teaching material shall be presented, which aims at picking up these alternative conceptions consciously and turn them into scientifically accepted ones: a conceptual change text. The special feature of these texts is that they not only name the scientifically accepted conceptions of students but also the alternative ones. Thus, the student’s attention is called to scientifically incorrect conceptions and cognitive conflict is generated, which may initiate a conceptual change. By using examples and explanations the approach towards the scientifically accepted conception is being simplified, so it is easier to understand and to acquire. The conveyed conception is directly applied by integrated questions and assignments. At the end of the text the students are asked for repositioning. The following text covers the subject “the process of dissolving” and is applicable for beginners as well as advanced learners.
Women on Boards: Do They Affect Sustainability Reporting?
Authors: Fernandez‐Feijoo Belen , Romero Silvia , Ruiz‐Blanco Silvia 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTSustainable reports are the basic tool used to reflect and communicate stakeholder dialogue. Therefore, sustainability reporting has become a key element for strategic management. Companies' strategies are defined and developed by their boards of directors. This study explores the relationship between sustainability reporting and the existence of at least three women on the board of directors. Our results show that in countries with a higher proportion of boards of directors with at least three women, the levels of CSR reporting are higher. We also find that countries with higher gender equality have more companies with boards of directors with at least three women. We control for other variables that affect differences among countries and differences in CSR reporting as found in previous studies: cultural differences, law enforcement, GDP, industry and regulation. Our paper contributes to the literature by studying the relationship between board gender composition and CSR reporting. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Heterogenous QoS‐guaranteed load balancing in 3GPP LTE multicell fractional frequency reuse network
Authors: Li Zhihang , Wang Hao , Pan Zhiwen , Liu Nan , You Xiaohu 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTThe performance of 3GPP long term evolution (LTE) network can be significantly influenced by unbalanced user distribution. In heavily loaded cells, users cannot obtain satisfied services because of shortage of resources, whereas in lightly loaded cells, there are plenty of unoccupied resources. Load balancing (LB) is proposed to deal with this problem, through which the load distribution among nearby cells can be greatly balanced. However, because of the usage of full frequency reuse in LTE, the cell‐edge throughput is severely deteriorated by strong intercell interference. Meanwhile, LTE network usually serves users with heterogenous quality‐of‐service (QoS) requirements, which requires LB to be aware of it. Furthermore, call admission control (CAC) is indispensable in the process of LB, and it depends heavily on the long‐term average performance of the scheduling scheme. Thus, design of an efficient LB algorithm with the consideration of intercell interference, QoS, CAC and scheduling together becomes an important issue. To deal with the previous problem, a multi‐objective optimisation problem is formulated in this paper. Its complexity is analysed, and a practical algorithm, which includes hybrid scheduling, QoS‐guaranteed CAC, QoS‐aware intracell and intercell LB, is proposed. Extensive simulations are conducted. Results show that the proposed algorithm can approximate the optimal solution efficiently, thus leading to significantly better performance, that is, a lower new call blocking rate for users with QoS requirement, a larger total utility and a higher cell‐edge throughput for users without QoS requirement, although the cost is a bit degradation of the total throughput. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental study on ignition and combustion characteristics of typical oils
Authors: Chen Xiao , Lu Shouxiang , Li Changhai , Zhang Jiaqing , Liew Kim Meow 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTThe impact of radiant heat flux on ignition and combustion behavior of typical oils (diesel, lubricating oil, and aviation kerosene) was conducted in a cone calorimeter. A circular steel pan with a diameter of 10 cm was used to contain diesel, lubricating oil, and aviation kerosene without water sublayer. Using the standard oxygen consumption method, we obtained ignition time, heat release rate, mass loss rate, extinction coefficient, CO, and CO2 yield, and average specific extinction area was calculated from the extinction coefficient. Janssens' method was adopted in this study to deal with ignition time and radiant heat flux under a 0.55 power rule. Results show that the fitting through Janssens' method is good for ignition time of diesel, lubricating oil, and aviation kerosene and radiant heat flux. Moreover, heat release rate, mass loss rate, and CO/CO2 ratio appear to positively correlate with radiant heat flux, whereas average specific extinction area varies in a certain range. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fire at high latitudes: Data‐model comparisons and their consequences
Authors: Kantzas Euripides , Lomas Mark , Quegan Shaun 
Published: June 2013

AbstractFire is an endemic process at high latitudes, connected to a range of other land surface properties, such as land cover, biomass, and permafrost, and intimately linked to the carbon balance of the high‐latitude land surface. Much of our current understanding of these links and their climate consequences is through land surface models, so it is important to ensure that for their credibility, these models should be consistent with available data. Over the vast panboreal region, a key source of information on fire is satellite data. Comparisons between satellite‐based burned area data from the Global Fire Emissions Database and three dynamic vegetation models (LPJ‐WM, CLM4CN, and SDGVM) indicate that all models fail to represent the observed spatial and temporal properties of the fire regime. Although the three dynamic vegetation models give comparable values of the boreal net biome production (NBP), fire emissions are found to differ by a factor 4 between the models, because of widely different estimates of burned area and because of different parameterizations of the fuel load and combustion process. Including a more realistic representation of the fire regime in the models shows that for northern high latitudes, (i) severe fire years do not coincide with source years or vice versa, (ii) the interannual variability of fire emissions does not significantly affect the interannual variability of NBP, and (iii) overall biomass values alter only slightly, but the spatial distribution of biomass exhibits changes. We also demonstrate that it is crucial to alter the current representations of fire occurrence and severity in land surface models if the links between permafrost and fire are to be captured, in particular, the dynamics of permafrost properties, such as active layer depth. This is especially important if models are to be used to predict the effects of a changing climate, because of the consequences of permafrost changes for greenhouse gas emissions, hydrology, and land cover.
12.3: Development of Electro‐Osmotic Color E‐paper
Authors: Hoehla Steffen , Henzen Alex , Fruehauf Norbert 
Published: July 2013

AbstractElectronic paper devices based on electrophoretic layers are now predominantly limited to greyscale reproduction of (semi)static information. This has been acceptable in the past, but the near future will require color, with ever more and better colors. The final goal is a color image that challenges the performance of a color photograph. This paper describes the results of a first prototype electro‐osmotic color display capable of achieving this, opening the route to bright, full color displays compatible with existing LCD infrastructure.
An in vitro atomic force microscopic study of commercially available dental luting materials
Authors: Djordje Antonijevic , Denis Brajkovic , Nenadovic Milos , Petar Milovanovic , Marija Djuric , Zlatko Rakocevic 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the surface roughness parameters of four different types of dental luting agents used for cementation of implant restorations. Method and materials: Five specimens (8 mm high and 1 mm thick) of each cement were made using metal ring steelless molds. Atomic Force Microscope was employed to analyze different surface texture parameters of the materials. Bearing ratio analysis was used to calculate the potential microgap size between the cement and implant material and to calculate the depth of the valleys on the cement surface, while power spectral density (PSD) measurements were performed to measure the percentage of the surface prone to bacterial adhesion. Results: Glass ionomer cement showed significantly lower value of average surface roughness then the other groups of the materials (P < 0.05) which was in line with the results of Bearing ratio analysis. On the other side, PSD analysis showed that zinc phosphate cement experience the lowest percentage of the surface which promote bacterial colonization. Conclusion: Glas ionomer cements present the surface roughness parameters that are less favorable for bacterial adhesion than that of zinc phosphate, resin‐modified glass ionomer and resin cements. Microsc. Res. Tech. 76:924–930, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Statistical study of large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances generated by the solar terminator over China
Authors: Song Qian , Ding Feng , Wan Weixing , Ning Baiqi , Liu Libo , Zhao Biqiang , Li Qiang , Zhang Rui 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper presents a statistical result of large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) associated with moving solar terminator in China during 12 months from February 2011 to January 2012. The LSTIDs are identified by the two‐dimensional total electron content (TEC) perturbation maps, which are built based on the observations of GPS network data from China. The GPS observations are combined with the observations from an ionosonde chain established by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. A total of 135 LSTID events are identified at dawn, while there is indiscernible LSTID at dusk. Meanwhile, these LSTIDs are captured by the ionosonde chain which shows that there are perturbations in the virtual heights during the passage of LSTIDs at the height between 200 and 700 km. The occurrence rate of LSTIDs shows a maximum in winter and a minimum in summer. The LSTIDs propagate across China with phase front widths larger than 1500 km. The propagation direction of LSTIDs is northwestward in winter, southwestward in summer, and quasi‐westward in equinoxes, respectively. The average period, horizontal phase velocity, and horizontal wavelength of LSTIDs are 79 ± 12 min, 288 ± 43 m/s, and 1503 ± 205 km, respectively. The relative TEC perturbations of the LSTIDs attenuate as the LSTIDs travel across China.
Are deep‐ocean‐generated surface‐wave microseisms observed on land?
Authors: Bromirski Peter D. , Stephen Ralph A. , Gerstoft Peter 
Published: June 2013

AbstractRecent studies attribute land double‐frequency (DF) microseism observations to deep water generation. Here we show that near‐coastal generation is generally the dominant source region. This determination is based on observations at land and ocean seismic stations, buoys, gravity‐wave hindcasts, and on beamforming results from continental seismic arrays. Interactions between opposing ocean wave components generate a pressure excitation pulse at twice the ocean wave frequency that excites pseudo‐Rayleigh (pRg) wave DF microseisms. pRg generated in shallow coastal waters have most of their energy in the solid Earth (“elastic” pRg) and are observed by land‐based and seafloor seismometers as DF microseisms. pRg generated in the deep ocean have most of their energy in the ocean (“acoustic” pRg) and are continuously observed on the ocean bottom, but acoustic pRg does not efficiently transition onto continents. High‐amplitude DF signals over the [0.2, 0.3] Hz band observed on the deep seafloor are uncorrelated with continental observations and are not clearly detectable at individual continental stations or by land seismic‐array beamforming. Below 0.2 Hz, modeling and some observations suggest that some deep water‐generated elastic pRg energy can reach continental stations, providing that losses from scattering and transition across the continental‐shelf boundary to the shore are not substantial. However, most observations indicate that generally little deep‐ocean‐generated DF microseism energy reaches continental stations. Effectively, DF land observations are dominated by near‐coastal wave activity.