bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Progressive chromogenic anti-factor Xa assay and its use in the classification of antithrombin deficiencies
Authors: Kovács Bettina , Bereczky Zsuzsanna , Selmeczi Anna , Gindele Réka , Oláh Zsolt , Kerényi Adrienne , Boda Zoltán , Muszbek László 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAntithrombin (AT) is a slow-acting progressive inhibitor of activated clotting factors, particularly thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). However, the presence of heparin or heparan sulfate accelerates its effect by several magnitudes. AT deficiency, a severe thrombophilia, is classified as type I (quantitative) and type II (qualitative) deficiency. In the latter case mutations may influence the reactive site, the heparin binding-site (HBS) and exert pleiotropic effect. Heterozygous type II-HBS deficiency is a less severe thrombophilia than other heterozygous subtypes. However, as opposed to other subtypes, it also exists in homozygous form which represents a very high risk of venous thromboembolism.A modified anti-FXa chromogenic AT assay was developed which determines both the progressive (p) and the heparin cofactor (hc) activities, in parallel. The method was evaluated and reference intervals were established. The usefulness of the assay in detecting type II-HBS AT deficiency was tested on 78 AT deficient patients including 51 type II-HBS heterozygotes and 18 homozygotes.Both p-anti-FXa and hc-anti-FXa assays showed excellent reproducibility and were not influenced by high concentrations of triglyceride, bilirubin and hemoglobin. Reference intervals for p-anti-FXa and hc-anti-FXa AT activities were 84%–117% and 81%–117%, respectively. Type II-HBS deficient patients demonstrated low (heterozygotes) or very low (homozygotes) hc-anti-FXa activity with normal or slightly decreased p-anti-FXa activity. The p/hc ratio clearly distinguished wild type controls, type II-HBS heterozygotes and homozygotes.Concomitant determination of p-anti-FXa and hc-anti-FXa activities provides a reliable, clinically important diagnosis of type II-HBS AT deficiency and distinguishes between homozygotes and heterozygotes.
Serum reference intervals of homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA in the Study of Health in Pomerania
Authors: Atzler Dorothee , Schwedhelm Edzard , Nauck Matthias , Ittermann Till , Böger Rainer H. , Friedrich Nele 
Published: November 2014

AbstractLow circulating homoarginine as well as high levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) have been associated with impaired cardiovascular (CV) outcome and mortality in patients at risk and in the general population. The present study aimed to formulate reference intervals for serum homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA to improve risk stratification between healthy individuals and individuals at risk.We determined age- and sex-specific reference intervals for homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA in a subgroup of 1359 healthy participants (no diabetes mellitus, CV disease, increased blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, chronic kidney disease stadium III or IV, or a body mass index >30) of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) using quantile regression analyses. Homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA serum concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Median age of the investigated cohort was 36 (25th; 75th percentile 28; 47) years, with 62% women. Median serum concentrations of homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA were 2.63 (2.08; 3.32) μmol/L, 0.64 (0.57; 0.73) μmol/L, and 0.43 (0.37; 0.49) μmol/L, respectively. Serum levels of homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA showed material age- and sex-related differences (p<0.05 for all). Overall reference ranges were 1.41–5.00 and 1.20–5.53 μmol/L (2.5th; 97.5th percentile; for men and women, respectively) for homoarginine, 0.41–0.95 and 0.43–0.96 μmol/L for ADMA, and 0.30–0.67 and 0.27–0.63 μmol/L for SDMA.We formulated for the first time homoarginine, ADMA, and SDMA reference intervals in serum. These reference intervals might be useful for individual CV risk stratification.
Social media and the McDonaldization of friendship
Authors: Bakardjieva Maria 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis article employs the concept of McDonaldization introduced by George Ritzer (1993) in his Weberian analysis of the processes of formal rationalization characteristic of late modern consumer society to reflect on the social and cultural implications of the most recent wave of communication technologies – social media. It argues that social media smuggle formal rationality into the elementary forms of social interaction, most clearly illustrated through the way they redefine the notion of friendship. In an attempt to lay the ground for a “multiperspectivist approach” (Kellner, 1999) to this phenomenon, the article enters the Weberian argument into a conversation with other styles of theorizing social media such as Marxism, Critical Theory and sociological phenomenology.
Between Europeanization and De-Europeanization: A Comparative Content Analysis of the Pre-election Presentation of the EU Agenda in the Czech Quality Press
Authors: Urbániková Marína , Volek Jaromír 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe paper explores the process of the Czech journalists setting the EU agenda in the media during the ‘hot phase’ of the Czech national parliament election campaigns in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Unlike most studies that concentrated on the media agenda in the European Parliament election campaigns, we focused on periods that were neither strictly key events nor routine, but that were more intensively covered by the media and simultaneously generated more influential political representation defining national political attitudes towards the EU. Articles that referred to the EU during the ‘hot phase’ were content analyzed. The results suggest that in the Czech press, the EU agenda is less and less visible, and, moreover, that it is increasingly negatively framed and reduced to an economic agenda.
The Cauchy problem for the homogeneous Monge–Ampère equation, III. Lifespan
Authors: Rubinstein Yanir A. , Zelditch Steve 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
We prove several results on the lifespan, regularity, and uniqueness of solutions of the Cauchy
problem for the homogeneous complex and real Monge–Ampère equations (HCMA/HRMA) under various a priori regularity conditions.
We use methods
of characteristics in both the real and complex settings to bound the lifespan
of solutions with prescribed regularity. In the complex domain,
we characterize the

C
3

${C^{3}}$

lifespan of the HCMA in terms of analytic
continuation of Hamiltonian mechanics and intersection of complex time
characteristics.
We use a conservation law type argument to prove uniqueness
of solutions of the Cauchy problem for the HCMA.
We then prove that the Cauchy problem is ill-posed in

C
3

${C^{3}}$

, in the sense
that there exists a dense set of

C
3

${C^{3}}$

Cauchy data for which there exists
no

C
3

${C^{3}}$

solution even for a short time.
In the real domain we show that the HRMA is equivalent
to a Hamilton–Jacobi equation, and use the equivalence to prove that
any differentiable weak solution is smooth,
so that the differentiable lifespan equals the convex lifespan determined
in our previous articles. We further show that the only obstruction
to

C
1

${C^{1}}$

solvability is the invertibility of the associated Moser maps.
Thus, a smooth solution of the Cauchy problem for HRMA exists for a positive but generally finite time and cannot be continued even as a weak

C
1

${C^{1}}$

solution afterwards. Finally, we introduce the notion of a “leafwise subsolution” for the HCMA that
generalizes that of a solution, and many of our aforementioned results are proved
for this more general object.
Controlled ring-opening polymerization of 1,2,6-tricyclic orthoesters of mannose toward size–controlled α-d-mannopyranan
Authors: Yongyat Chanokpon , Ruchirawat Somsak , Boonyarattanakalin Siwarutt 
Published: November 2014

AbstractLipomannan (LM), one of the major components of glycans found on the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, plays a critical role in interacting with host cells and moderating immune response. The backbone of LM is composed of α(1–6) mannopyranan, consisting of approximately 10–15 repeating mannose residues. Rapid synthesis of α(1–6) mannopyranan has been accomplished by ring-opening polymerization using 3,4-O-benzyl-β-d-mannopyranose 1,2,6-orthobenzoate (1) as a starting monomer. Here, we report the progress on attempts to control the size of α(1–6) mannopyranan polymer products. It is possible to prepare α-d-mannopyranan polymer products in different sizes by varying the monomer concentration.
Beyond biofuels: economic opportunities, recent advances and challenges in property modeling for vegetable oils
Authors: dos Santos Moisés Teles , Gerbaud Vincent , Le Roux Galo A.C. 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Despite the greater attention given to biofuels application in the literature, there are many economic and environmental drivers to use vegetables oils (VOs) as a renewable feedstock for other applications. These drivers are discussed in the present work and the technological challenges imposed by this shift towards new VOs uses are also discussed. They are mainly associated to the reaction routes issues, the performance regarding end-user properties, experimental procedures and property prediction models. The need for more holistic approaches (life cycle analysis) is briefly discussed and the potential benefits arising from new computer-aided tools are highlighted as well.
Greener route to 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexane 1,2-epoxide synthesis using batch and continuous reactors
Authors: Mohammed Misbahu L. , Mbeleck Rene , Patel Dipesh , Sherrington David C. , Saha Basudeb 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Polystyrene 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (Ps.AMP) supported molybdenum (Mo)(VI) complex (Ps.AMP.Mo) was prepared, characterized and assessed as a catalyst for batch and continuous epoxidation of 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene (4-VCH) using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. The effect of various parameters such as reaction temperature, feed molar ratio (FMR) of 4-VCH to TBHP and catalyst loading on the conversion of TBHP to 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexane 1,2-epoxide (4-VCH 1,2-epoxide) was studied to optimize reaction conditions in a batch reactor. The long-term stability of Ps.AMP.Mo was evaluated by recycling a sample of the catalyst several times in batch experiments. A detailed evaluation of Mo leaching from the polymer supported catalyst was investigated by isolating any residue from reaction supernatant solutions and then using these residues as potential catalysts in epoxidation reactions. The efficiency of Ps.AMP.Mo catalyst for continuous epoxidation studies was assessed using a FlowSyn continuous flow reactor by studying the effect of reaction temperature, feed flow rate and FMR of 4-VCH to TBHP on the conversion of TBHP and the yield of 4-VCH 1,2-epoxide. The experimental results confirmed very high selectivity and efficiency of Ps.AMP.Mo catalyst for batch and continuous epoxidation.
Adsorption of organic chemicals on graphene coated biochars and its environmental implications
Authors: Ghaffar Abdul , Younis Muhammad Naeem 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Biochar is a stabilized carbon-rich product, and has drawn scientists’ interest because of its specific properties and potential use in many environmental areas. It is emphasized that innovative technologies comprised of engineered nanoparticles in conventional biochar systems could ameliorate the functions of biochar to some extent, such as carbon sequestration, soil fertility and wastewater treatment. As a result, it enables an enhanced sorption of both inorganic and organic pollutants to their surfaces, reducing environmental fate and mobility. In this study, biochar and graphene-coated biochars were prepared by dip-coating of biomass by slow pyrolysis. Batch sorption experiments were performed on the resultant biochars to evaluate sorption ability. The graphene covering on biochar surface changes to increase the surface properties of the biochars, exhibiting the greatest surface area, pore volume and carbon content. Graphene-coated biochars had the ultimate sorption ability compared to their corresponding chars. The sorption data indicated that electrostatic attraction, π-π interaction between graphene sheets on the char surface and aromatic domain, was the controlling mechanism for the sorption of organic chemicals onto the chars. Graphene-coated biochars can thus be used as a stable, cheap sorbent, biomaterial for the removal of organic pollutants from aqueous media.
“Lunch Keeps People Apart”: The Role of English for Social Interaction in a Multilingual Academic Workplace
Authors: Negretti Raffaella , Garcia-Yeste Miguel 
Published: November 2014

AbstractResearch on the role of language in multilingual workplaces, where English is often adopted as a lingua franca (ELF), shows that language practices influence socialization and interpersonal communication, frequently creating issues such as asymmetrical sharing of information, language clusters, or thin communication. Similarly to other organizations, academic workplaces are undergoing a process of internationalization. However, academia as a workplace has been largely ignored, particularly in terms of language practices in social situations. We address this gap by investigating multilingualism in an academic workplace; departing from the concepts of language clustering and thin communication, we focus on how language practices affect social interaction and the establishment of rapport. We report the experiences of five academics with various backgrounds and status in a science university department in Sweden. In-depth interviews and grand/mini tour elicitation techniques reveal how language practices – English and other languages – are experienced from different points of view. We identify lunch as the primary activity associated with social interaction and exchange of information: people and places connected with this activity seem to determine language practices. In the final section we discuss the presence of language clustering and thin communication in this academic workplace.
Placing Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche in the Crosshairs
Authors: Holub Robert C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn the postwar era Elisabeth Forster-Nietzsche has been held responsible for the reputation her brother acquired during the Third Reich as a prophet of National Socialism. In scholarly writing and popular accounts Forster-Nietzsche’s manipulation of her brother’s writings and letters, as well as her philologically unsound editorial practices, has led most observers to the hasty assumption that she intervened in his texts in order to fashion the image of Nietzsche as a German nationalist and anti-Semite. Recently Christian Niemeyer has renewed these attacks on Nietzsche’s sister, fearing that contemporary scholarship has forgotten the violations of her brother’s legacy. His philological accounts are flawed, however, and his arguments are contrived and unpersuasive. In fact, if we look closely at the evidence and Forster- Nietzsche’s editorial practices, we find that she consistently included letters and passages that demonstrated Nietzsche’s intense opposition to the anti-Semitism of his era and to conservative Wilhelmine politics. In Niemeyer’s article Forster-Nietzsche is once again unfairly blamed for Nietzsche’s favorable reception as a proto-Nazi.
Die Nietzsche-Rezeption in Korea. Ihre Bedeutung in der Geistesgeschichte Koreas
Authors: Kim Jyunghyun 
Published: November 2014

ZusammenfassungDie Nietzsche-Rezeption in Korea, die im Jahre 1920 ihren Anfang nahm, blickt heute auf eine etwa 94-jährige Geschichte zurück. Die Nietzsche-Rezeption in Korea vollzog sich in drei deutlich voneinander verschiedenen Phasen: (1) die Phase der Einführung (1920er bis Ende der 40er Jahre), der Auseinandersetzung mit der sozialphilosophischen Dimension seines Denkens und den zunehmend konfrontativen Auseinandersetzungen zwischen der Machtphilosophie des Faschismus und der Kulturphilosophie des Übermenschen auf der einen und dem produktiven neohumanistischen Diskurs in der Literaturkritik sowie der Geburt der ‚Lebensschule in der Poesie‘ auf der anderen Seite; (2) die Phase der Verbreitung (1950er bis späte 70er Jahre), in welche die zweimaligen Übersetzungsversuche von Nietzsches Werk und der Auftritt des Vulgärnietzscheanismus fallen; (3) die Phase der systematischen Forschung (frühe 1980er Jahre bis heute), in welcher der erneute Versuch einer Übersetzung von Nietzsches Gesamtwerk nach Maßgabe der Edition Nietzsches Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe (KGW) unternommen und zugleich die Mannigfaltigkeit und die Reife der Nietzsche-Forschung Koreas sichtbar wurde
What nanotech inventors need to know about trade secrets and the prior user rights defense
Authors: Pham Chinh H. , Garsson Ross Spencer 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe America Invents Act (AIA) presents new challenges and strategy considerations for nanotechnology inventors and companies that seek to protect their intellectual property in the United States. Among the many notable changes, the AIA expands the “prior user rights” defense to infringement and broadens the classes of patents that are eligible for the new limited prior user rights defense. While this defense is limited in some instances, such as against universities, it could be invaluable in others, such as when a competitor independently discovers and patents the trade secret. In the world of nanotechnology, where inventions and products are increasingly complex, this protection can prove to be vitally important.
Topography, mechanical and tribological
properties of nanocomposite carbon-palladium
films
Authors: Rymarczyk Joanna , Kolodziejczyk Lukasz , Czerwosz Elzbieta 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
In this work, the differences in nanomechanical
properties, topography and morphology of carbonpalladium
(C-Pd) films were studied. These films were prepared
with a Physical Vapour Deposition method on various
substrates with different technological parameters.
We show that duration of the PVD process is a crucial factor
affecting the palladium content in these films. The differences
in thickness of films depend on the distance between
source boats and substrates. The nanomechanical
properties of C-Pd films were studied with nanoindentation.
Their topography and morphology was ascertained
with Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy.
It was found that the mechanical properties of
C-Pd films depend on the content of palladium and on
the morphology and topography of these films. The various
types of carbon-palladium films containing palladium
nanograins incorporated in a carbon matrix that were, investigated
in this paper, seem to be promising materials for
numerous applications.
Activation energy of copper-induced thermal degradation of chitosan acetate functional groups
Authors: Mucha Maria , Ksiazek Sylwia , Kaczmarek Halina 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Thin films of chitosan acetate (CSA)-copper (II) [Cu (II)] complex were prepared by mixing Cu (II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticles in acetic acid solution of chitosan and the casting method. The changes in chemical structure of modified chitosan were confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to monitor thermal degradation processes occurring in chitosan and its composites with Cu. The changes in concentration of chitosan functional groups were observed. On a base of the kinetic constants of group thermal degradation at various temperatures, the activation energies for various groups were calculated. It was found that the presence of Cu (II) ions accelerates the thermal degradation of chitosan acetate. The higher the Cu (II) content was in the CSA matrix, the lower was the activation energy.
Existence, uniqueness and anisotropic-decay-caused Lifshitz tails of the integrated density of surface states for random surface models
Authors: Shen Zhongwei 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The current paper is devoted to the study of existence, uniqueness and Lifshitz tails of the integrated density of surface states (IDSS) for Schrödinger operators with alloy type random surface potentials. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the IDSS for negative energies, which is defined as the thermodynamic limit of the normalized eigenvalue counting functions of localized operators on strips with sections being special cuboids. Under the additional assumption that the single-site impurity potential decays anisotropically, we also prove that the IDSS for negative energies exhibits Lifshitz tails near the bottom of the almost sure spectrum in the following three regimes: the quantum regime, the quantum-classical/classical-quantum regime and the classical regime. We point out that the quantum-classical/classical-quantum regime is new for random surface models.
MRI Helps Depict Clinically Undetectable Risk Factors in Advanced Stage Retinoblastomas
Authors: Galluzzi Paolo , Hadjistilianou Theodora , Cerase Alfonso , Toti Paolo , Leonini Sara , Bracco Sandra , De Francesco Sonia , Galimberti Daniela , Balducci Donatella , Piu Pietro , Monti Lucia , Bellini Matteo , Caini Mauro , Rossi Alessandro 
Published: November 2014

This study compared high-resolution MRI with histology in advanced stage retinoblastomas in which ophthalmoscopy and ultrasonography did not give an exhaustive depiction of the tumour and/or its extension. MRI of orbits and head in 28 retinoblastoma patients (28 eyes) treated with primary enucleation were evaluated. Iris neoangiogenesis, infiltrations of optic nerve, choroid, anterior segment and sclera suspected at MR and histology were compared. Abnormal anterior segment enhancement (AASE) was also correlated with histologically proven infiltrations. Brain images were also evaluated. Significant values were obtained for: prelaminar optic nerve (ON) sensitivity (0.88), positive predictive value (PPV) (0.75) and negative predictive value (NPV) (0.71); post-laminar ON sensitivity (0.50), specificity (0.83), PPV (0.50) and NPV (0.83); overall choroid sensitivity (0.82), and massive choroid NPV (0.69); scleral specificity (1), and NPV (1). AASE correlated with iris neoangiogenesis in 14 out of 19 eyes, and showed significant values for: overall ON PPV (0.65), prelaminar ON sensitivity (0.65), and PPV (0.61), post-laminar ON NPV (0.64); overall choroid sensitivity (0.77), PPV (0.59) and NPV (0.73); scleral NPV (0.83); anterior segment sensitivity (1), and NPV (1). Odds ratios (OR) and accuracy were significant in scleral and prelaminar optic nerve infiltration. Brain examination was unremarkable in all cases. High-resolution MRI may add important findings to clinical evaluation of advanced stage retinoblastomas.
Glucagonoma-induced acute heart failure
Authors: Zhang Kun , Lehner Lukas J , Praeger Damaris , Baumann Gert , Knebel Fabian , Quinkler Marcus , Roepke Torsten K 
Published: November 2014

Summary
Neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) represent a broad spectrum of tumours, of which the serotonin-producing carcinoid is the most common and has been shown to cause right ventricular heart failure. However, an association between heart failure and NETs other than carcinoid has not been established so far. In this case report, we describe a 51-year-old patient with a glucagon-producing NET of the pancreas who developed acute heart failure and even cardiogenic shock despite therapy. Heart failure eventually regressed after initialising i.v. treatment with the somatostatin analogue octreotide. Chromogranin A as a tumour marker was shown to be significantly elevated, and it decreased with clinical improvement of the patient. The effects of long-time stimulation of glucagon on the myocardium have not been studied yet; however, sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium leak can be discussed as a possible mechanism for glucagon-induced heart failure.

Learning points

Glucagonoma can be a cause for heart failure.

i.v. infusion of octreotide can be successfully used to treat glucagonoma-induced acute heart failure.

We suggest that cardiac function should be monitored in all NET patients.