bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular Weight Dependence of SiO2 Nanoparticle Agglomeration Behavior in Monodisperse PMMA–SiO2 Hybrid Suspension
Authors: Tadano Tsuyoshi , Zhu Rui , Muroga Yoshio , Hoshi Toru , Sasaki Daisuke , Yano Shoichiro , Sawaguchi Takashi 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
The rapid agglomeration of SiO2 nanoparticles suspended in organic solvents, where the interactions between the PMMA chains and SiO2 are very weak and may be ignored, is, therefore, concluded to be “entanglement agglomeration mechanism” triggered by strong mutual entanglement effects occurring when the polymer chains come into contact, overlap, and mutually intrude each other at higher polymer concentrations, providing the driving force for particle agglomeration.
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas and Signorita Prym (economic remake)
Authors: Свирчевский  , Svirchevskiy Vadim 
Published: February 2014

Problems associated with the civilization development of the modern society
are considered. The author emphasizes economic issues, examines how
economic processes affect differentiation of countries by level of access to
benefits of civilization and by human-caused impact on environment. The
motives of entrepreneurial activity are viewed through the prism of conflict
between interests of an individual and society implying that the state is in
charge of preventing such conflicts.
Enhancing Value in IT Services Offshoring: Real Options Matter
Authors: Chipalkatti Niranjan , Buchanan Bonnie G. , Koch Bruce , Doh Jonathan 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
In a complex global business environment, more organizations are relying on offshoring to provide critical information technology services (ITS). While there can be substantial cost savings for the offshoring firm, the decision to offshore ITS involves a considerable degree of uncertainty and it is essential to understand the issues and hurdles that will be faced by the offshoring operation. Based on a sample of 189 firms from 34 industries (with most coming from the Asia-Pacific region) that have made at least one offshoring decision, we find that larger market capitalized firms are more likely to outsource offshore than smaller firms. Our results also indicate an initial decrease in downside risk with a diminution in the decline, as offshore intensity increases. We also find some evidence of offshoring’s contribution to growth premia. In considering contingencies to adopt in order to manage downside risk, a real-options framework is discussed. Our findings support the view of offshoring as a dynamic process firms use to create value by leveraging growth options and mitigating risk. By considering the real-options possibilities, the investor gets a better picture of the potential losses and gains which should lead to more prudent IT offshoring investment decisions.
Congestion of Academic Journals Under Papers’ Imperfect Selection
Authors: Besancenot Damien , Faria João R. , Huynh Kim V. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
This paper studies how the congestion of its editorial process affects an academic journal. In a publishing game played by researchers and editors, we assume that quality screening by editors depends on their ability to properly process the flow of submissions. When too many papers arrive, this ability declines and editors may reject good papers or accept papers with little contribution to scientific knowledge. In this game, a separating equilibrium always exists in which only good researchers submit their papers to the journal. Each paper is accepted and the quality of the journal reaches its highest level. However, when the researchers’ reward for each publication exceeds a given threshold, two hybrid equilibria are also feasible. In these equilibria, authors of low-quality papers submit their papers to the journal and, as the flow of papers exceeds the editors’ capacity of perfect assessment, the selection process becomes imperfect. This creates an opportunity for authors to submit poor quality papers, a behaviour which contributes to the congestion of the editorial process. The various strategies implemented by the editors to oppose congestion are then discussed.
Classical and Neural Network–Based Approach of Model Predictive Control for Binary Continuous Distillation Column
Authors: Singh Amit Kumar , Tyagi Barjeev , Kumar Vishal 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
The objective of present research work is to develop a neural network–based model predictive control scheme (NN-MPC) for distillation column. To fulfill this objective, an existing laboratory setup of continuous binary-type distillation column (BDC) is used. An equation-based model that uses the fundamental physical and chemical laws along with valid normal assumptions is validated for this experimental setup. Model predictive control (MPC) is one of the main process control techniques explored in the recent past for various chemical engineering applications; therefore, the conventional MPC scheme and the proposed NN-MPC scheme are applied on the equation-based model to control the methanol composition. In NN-MPC scheme, a three-layer feedforward neural network model has been developed and is used to predict the methanol composition over a prediction horizon using the MPC algorithm for searching the optimal control moves. The training data is acquired by the simulation of the equation-based model under the variation of manipulated variables in the defined range. Two cases have been considered, one is for set point tracking and another is for feed flow disturbance rejection. The performance of the control schemes is compared on the basis of performance parameters namely overshoot and settling time. NN-MPC and MPC schemes are also compared with conventional PID controller. The results show the improvement in settling time with NN-MPC scheme as compared to MPC and conventional PID controller for both the cases.
Leptin, a mediator of cardiac damage associated with obesity
Authors: Martínez-Martínez E. , Jurado-López R. , Cervantes-Escalera P. , Cachofeiro V. , Miana M. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Obesity and excess of adipose tissue are associated with the development of cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. At the cardiac level, various morphological adaptations in cardiac structure and function occur in obese individuals. Different mechanisms linking obesity to these modifications have been postulated. Adipose tissue and epicardial fat releases a large number of cytokines and bioactive mediators such as leptin. Leptin circulates in proportion to body fat mass, thus serving as a satiety signal and informing central metabolic control centers as to the status of peripheral energy stores. It participates in numerous other functions both peripherally and centrally, as indicated by the wide distribution of leptin and the different isoforms of its receptor in different tissues including the heart. This hormone has distinct effects on the reproductive, cardiovascular, and immune systems; however, its role in the heart could mediate wide physiological effects observed in obese individuals. Oxidative stress is associated with obesity and may be considered to be a unifying mechanism in the development of obesity-related comorbidities. It has been reported that obesity may induce systemic oxidative stress; in turn, oxidative stress is associated with an irregular production of adipokines. We herein review the current knowledge of cardiac effects of leptin and the possible mechanisms that are involved, including oxidative stress that plays a major role in the development of cardiovascular damage.
Sleep disturbances, body fat distribution, food intake and/or energy expenditure: pathophysiological aspects
Authors: St-Onge Marie-Pierre , Shechter Ari 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Data from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have illustrated a relationship between short sleep duration (SSD) and weight gain. Individuals with SSD are heavier and gain more weight over time than normal-duration sleepers. This sleep-obesity relationship may have consequences for obesity treatments, as it appears that short sleepers have reduced ability to lose weight. Laboratory-based clinical studies found that experimental sleep restriction affects energy expenditure and intake, possibly providing a mechanistic explanation for the weight gain observed in chronic short sleepers. Specifically, compared to normal sleep duration, sleep restriction increases food intake beyond the energetic costs of increased time spent awake. Reasons for this increased energy intake after sleep restriction are unclear but may include disrupted appetite-regulating hormones, altered brain mechanisms involved in the hedonic aspects of appetite, and/or changes in sleep quality and architecture. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder at the intersection of sleep and obesity, and the characteristics of the disorder illustrate many of the effects of sleep disturbances on body weight and vice versa. Specifically, while obesity is among the main risk factors for OSA, the disorder itself and its associated disturbances in sleep quality and architecture seem to alter energy balance parameters and may induce further weight gain. Several intervention trials have shown that weight loss is associated with reduced OSA severity. Thus, weight loss may improve sleep, and these improvements may promote further weight loss. Future studies should establish whether increasing sleep duration/improving sleep quality can induce weight loss.
Chemical Equilibrium Model and Prediction for Coal Hydrogasification
Authors: Yan Linbo , He Boshu , Ma Lele , Pei Xiaohui , Wang Chaojun 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Researches on coal hydrogasification (CHG) which is the core component of the zero emission coal (ZEC) system are rarely reported and the characteristics of CHG have not been well understood. A chemical equilibrium model (CEM) for coal hydrogasification is proposed in this work to study the effects of different reaction conditions on the CHG characteristics. The results from the model are then validated against literature available experimental data and the model is proved reliable. After the validation, sensitivity analysis on the CHG process is done and meaningful results are obtained. Increasing the reaction pressure (p) and H2/coal mass ratio (R) or decreasing the reaction temperature (T) can enhance the hydrogasification reactions. The carbon conversion rate begins to decrease at 800 K and 1,250 K for operation pressures of 0.1 MPa and 7 MPa, respectively. Remarkable effects on the gasification characteristics are found when p is lower than 1 MPa. At 7 MPa and 1,000 K, carbon is entirely converted when R is 0.25 and the maximum CH4 mole fraction is reached. In the case that T is variable, carbon will be all converted at 7 MPa when R is about 0.5. Carbon will never be all converted at 0.1 MPa no matter how high R is. Mole fraction of CH4 will decrease with R both at the pressures of 7 MPa and 0.1 MPa.
Online horizontal partitioning of heterogeneous data
Authors: Herrmann Kai , Voigt Hannes , Lehner Wolfgang 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
In an increasing number of use cases, databases face the challenge of
managing heterogeneous data. Heterogeneous data is characterized by
a quickly evolving variety of entities without a common set of
attributes. These entities do not show enough regularity to be
captured in a traditional database schema. A common solution is to
centralize the diverse entities in a universal table. Usually, this
leads to a very sparse table. Although today's techniques allow
efficient storage of sparse universal tables, query efficiency is
still a problem. Queries that address only a subset of attributes
have to read the whole universal table including many irrelevant
entities. A solution is to use a partitioning of the table, which
allows pruning partitions of irrelevant entities before they are
touched. Creating and maintaining such a partitioning manually is
very laborious or even infeasible, due to the enormous
complexity. Thus an autonomous solution is desirable.
In this article, we define the Online Partitioning Problem for
heterogeneous data. We sketch how an optimal solution for this
problem can be determined based on hypergraph partitioning. Although
it leads to the optimal partitioning, the hypergraph approach is
inappropriate for an implementation in a database system. We present
Cinderella, an autonomous online algorithm for horizontal partitioning
of heterogeneous entities in universal tables. Cinderella is designed
to keep its overhead low by operating online; it incrementally assigns
entities to partition while they are touched anyway during
modifications. This enables a reasonable physical database design at
runtime instead of static modeling.
Autonomic physical database design – from indexing to multidimensional clustering
Authors: Baumann Stephan , Sattler Kai-Uwe 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Database design is a well-studied and well-understood problem in developing database applications.
However, modern application requirements in terms of query response time, query throughput, database sizes, database maintenance and database interactivity capabilities on the one hand, and the manifold features of modern DBMS for physical schema design such as numerous different index structures, materialized views, partitioning, and clustering schemes on the other hand make high demands on the database design process.
With this growing number of impact factors on physical database design automatic solutions have been developed and are provided in most systems, while research in this area still continues.
In this paper, we give a survey on the state of the art in autonomic physical design. Starting with the classic index tuning problem and possible solutions, we describe further design problems such as choosing materializations of aggregations for OLAP and multidimensional clustering schemes. Finally, we point out to most recent challenges resulting from a shift in requirements and give a direction on how to tackle these.
Calibration of an infrared 3d scanner
Authors: Dunker Thomas , Luther Sebastian 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
The AiMESS Services GmbH has developed a new infrared fringe projection
system, which allows 3D
measurements on specular surfaces and many
materials, which are transparent
for the visible spectrum of light.
This article presents a model and a calibration method for this system and
explains why existing models for fringe projection systems did not
fit.
The Evolution of Phenotypic Switching in Subdivided Populations
Authors: Carja Oana , Liberman Uri , Feldman Marcus W 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Stochastic switching is an example of phenotypic bet hedging, where offspring can express a phenotype different from that of their parents. Phenotypic switching is well documented in viruses, yeast, and bacteria and has been extensively studied when the selection pressures vary through time. However, there has been little work on the evolution of phenotypic switching under both spatially and temporally fluctuating selection pressures. Here we use a population genetic model to explore the interaction of temporal and spatial variation in determining the evolutionary dynamics of phenotypic switching. We find that the stable switching rate is mainly determined by the rate of environmental change and the migration rate. This stable rate is also a decreasing function of the recombination rate, although this is a weaker effect than those of either the period of environmental change or the migration rate. This study highlights the interplay of spatial and temporal environmental variability, offering new insights into how migration can influence the evolution of phenotypic switching rates, mutation rates, or other sources of phenotypic variation.
Absorption enhancement in photonic crystal thin films by pseudo disordered perturbations
Authors: Peretti Romain , Gomard Guillaume , Lalouat Loïc , Seassal Christian , Drouard Emmanuel 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThe effects resulting from the introduction of a controlled perturbation in a single pattern membrane on its absorption are first studied and then analyzed on the basis of band folding considerations. The interest of this approach for photovoltaic applications is finally demonstrated by overcoming the integrated absorption of an optimized single pattern membrane through the introduction of a proper pseudo disordered perturbation.
Nanoantioxidant Materials for Theranostics: Near-Infrared Plasmon Enhanced Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer
Authors: Deligiannakis Yiannis , Sotiriou Georgios A , Pratsinis Sotiris E 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTHydrogen atom H (≡ proton + electron) transfer (HAT), is the most common reaction that involves the transfer of two elementary particles, a proton and an electron. Antioxidant, proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions involve also the transfer of two elementary particles, a proton and an electron. These constitute the fundamental step in a wide range of processes, chemical energy technologies, which rely on e–/H+ transfer from combustion and aerobic oxidations, to enzymatic catalysis and the destructive effects of reactive oxygen species in vivo. Here we describe a novel phenomenon, plasmonically-enhanced PCET, using nanothin silica-coated plasmonic Ag nanoparticles, functionalized with gallic acid, a natural antioxidant molecule, that is able to perform PCET. These nanoparticles can transfer rapidly electrons and protons to stable radicals. The kinetics and yield of these PCET reactions can be enhanced by plasmonic resonance modes excited by low-power, near-Infrared (785nm) laser irradiation. The demonstration that these plasmonic nanoparticles can enhance the HAT rates for both electrons and protons expands the traditional view of interfacial PCET. The occurrence of interfacial plasmon-enhancement of PCET brings together so far unrelated domains of nanoplasmonics, electron/proton translocation with significant impact on a variety of applications and most notably in theranostics.
Characterization of mechanical, optical and structural properties of bismuth oxide thin films as a write-once medium for blue laser recording
Authors: Martyniuk M. , Baldwin D. , Jeffery R. , Silva K.K.M.B.D. , Woodward R.C. , Cliff J. , Krishnan R.N. , Dell J.M. , Faraone L 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTWe report on the preparation and characterization of crystalline bismuth oxide thin films via Biased Target Ion Beam Deposition method. A focused blue laser (405nm) is used to write an array of dots in the bismuth oxide thin film and demonstrate clear and circular recording marks in form of “bubbles” or “little volcanos” (FWHM ∼500nm). Results indicate excellent static recording characteristics, writing sensitivity and contrast. The recording mechanism is investigated and is believed to be related to laser-induced morphology change.
Shedding light on spectrophotometry: The SpecUP educational spectrophotometer
Authors: Forbes Patricia B.C. , Nöthling Johan A. 
Published: February 2014

Students often regard laboratory instruments as ‘black boxes’ which generate results, without understanding
their principles of operation. This lack of understanding is a concern because the correct interpretation of
analytical results and the limitations thereof is invariably based on an understanding of the mechanism
of measurement. Moreover, a number of tertiary institutions in Africa have very limited resources and
access to laboratory equipment, including that related to the field of photonics, which prevents students
from acquiring hands-on practical experience. We address both of these challenges by describing how
students can assemble a novel, low-cost spectrophotometer, called the SpecUP, which can then be
used in a range of experiments. The same kind of information can be generated as that obtained with
costly commercial spectrophotometers (albeit of a lower quality). With the SpecUP, students also have
the opportunity to vary instrumental parameters and to observe the effects these changes have on their
experimental results, allowing for enquiry-based learning of spectroscopic principles. The results obtained
for some chemistry-related spectrophotometric experiments are described for each of the two operational
modes of the SpecUP, although the instrument can be applied in fields ranging from physics to biochemistry.
Incidence of Bladder Cancer in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Metformin or Sulfonylureas
Authors: Mamtani Ronac , Pfanzelter Nick , Haynes Kevin , Finkelman Brian S. , Wang Xingmei , Keefe Stephen M. , Haas Naomi B. , Vaughn David J. , Lewis James D. 
Published: February 2014

OBJECTIVE
Previous studies evaluating the effect of metformin on cancer risk have been impacted by time-related biases. To avoid these biases, we examined the incidence of bladder cancer in new users of metformin and sulfonylureas (SUs).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
This cohort study included 87,600 patients with type 2 diabetes in The Health Improvement Network database. Use of metformin or an SU was treated as a time-dependent variable. Cox regression–generated hazard ratios (HRs) compared metformin use with SU use, adjusted for age, sex, smoking, obesity, and HbA1c level.

RESULTS
We identified 196 incident bladder cancers in the metformin cohort and 66 cancers in the SU cohort. Use of metformin was not associated with decreased bladder cancer risk (HR 0.81 [95% CI 0.60–1.09]). This association did not differ by sex (P for interaction = 0.20). We observed no association with duration of metformin relative to SU use (3 to &lt;4 years of use: 0.57 [0.25–1.34]; 4 to &lt;5 years of use: 0.93 [0.30–2.85; ≥5 years of use: 1.18 [0.44–3.19]; P for trend = 0.26).

CONCLUSIONS
Use of metformin is not associated with a decreased incidence of bladder cancer. Similar methods should be used to study other cancers that have previously been identified as potentially preventable with metformin.
Outcomes of Peritoneal Dialysis Patients and Switching to Hemodialysis: A Competing Risks Analysis
Authors: Pajek Jernej , Hutchison Alastair J. , Bhutani Shiv , Brenchley Paul E.C. , Hurst Helen , Perme Maja Pohar , Summers Angela M. , Vardhan Anand 
Published: February 2014

Background We performed a review of a large incident peritoneal dialysis cohort to establish the impact of current practice and that of switching to hemodialysis. Methods Patients starting peritoneal dialysis between 2004 and 2010 were included and clinical data at start of dialysis recorded. Competing risk analysis and Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying covariate (technique failure) were used. Results Of 286 patients (median age 57 years) followed for a median of 24.2 months, 76 were transplanted and 102 died. Outcome probabilities at 3 and 5 years respectively were 0.69 and 0.53 for patient survival (or transplantation) and 0.33 and 0.42 for technique failure. Peritonitis caused technique failure in 42%, but ultrafiltration failure accounted only for 6.3%. Davies comorbidity grade, creatinine and obesity (but not residual renal function or age) predicted technique failure. Due to peritonitis deaths, technique failure was an independent predictor of death hazard. When successful switch to hemodialysis (surviving more than 60 days after technique failure) and its timing were analyzed, no adverse impact on survival in adjusted analysis was found. However, hemodialysis via central venous line was associated with an elevated death hazard as compared to staying on peritoneal dialysis, or hemodialysis through a fistula (adjusted analysis hazard ratio 1.97 (1.02 – 3.80)). Conclusions Once the patients survive the first 60 days after technique failure, the switch to hemodialysis does not adversely affect patient outcomes. The nature of vascular access has a significant impact on outcome after peritoneal dialysis failure.