bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal Cracking of Heavy Oil/Mineral Matrix Systems
Authors: Monin J-C. , Audibert A. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACT
At temperatures and pressures encountered during thermal recovery, chemical reactions involving the oil, possibly the water and the mineral matrix, may lead to significant changes in the composition of the phases.
This work focuses on the thermal alteration of four crude oils with different geochemical compositions. The tests were performed in an autoclave at 350°C during 200 h. The oil was in the presence of water and a mineral matrix representative of reservoir rocks.
The formation of significant amounts of insoluble organic material was observed in all the tests.
Gaseous hydrocarbons (mainly methane) are formed by pyrolysis. CO2 evolution depends on oil and matrix compositions; moreover, water is found to be involved as a reactant in the formation of oxygen-containing components.
For the crude oils investigated, the oil phase is significantly enriched in lighter hydrocarbons (mainly in the saturates). However, the aromatic content is less affected by the thermal treatment. On the other hand, the asphaltenes and to a less extent the resins are the main precursors of the insoluble material.
These results provide a new insight on the mechanisms of the cracking reactions involved in thermal recovery processes.
Effect of carbon on the solubility of nitrogen in slag
Authors: Allertz Carl , Li Fan , White Jesse F. , Sichen Du 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
The effect of carbon on nitrogen solubility in slag was investigated for the ternary CaO–MgO–SiO2 and the quaternary Al2O3–CaO–MgO–SiO2 slag systems at 1873 K under controlled oxygen and nitrogen potentials. Gas–slag equilibration experiments were conducted using molybdenum and graphite crucibles. In the absence of carbon, the nitrogen solubility was very low. The presence of carbon greatly increased the nitrogen solubility in slag. The total nitrogen content was found to increase with SiO2 and MgO concentration for the carbon saturated slags. Low levels of cyanide were found by wet chemistry with considerable uncertainty. The results analyzed by different methods ruled out cyanide formation being the main reason for the large increase in nitrogen solubility in the presence of pure carbon.
Synthesis and Properties of Nitrogen Heterocycle-Functionalized Core-Shell Hyperbranched Polyester
Authors: Karpagam S. , Guhanathan S. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Core-shell hyperbranched polyesters (HBPE) of third generation prepared from 2,2′-bis (hydroxymethyl) propionic acid (Bis-MPA) as an ABx monomer and N-heterocyclic (indole, piperidine and piperazine) phosphoryl dichloride as a core molecule by melt condensation process. These polymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 31P NMR, elemental analysis, and MALDI spectroscopy. The thermal behavior of the polymers has been investigated by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). There is no weight loss observed until 250 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. DSC showed that the glass transition temperatures was about −14 and −30 °C for the prepared core-shell HBPE. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and loss factor for these polyesters were also studied with respect to change of frequency (50 Hz to 5 MHz).
Processability, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Rigid PVC/Kaolin Coated with Liquid Macromolecular Modifier Composites
Authors: Liu H. , Wang J. , Wen S. , Gong C. L. , Zheng G. W. , Xiong C. X. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of kaolin coated with liquid macromolecular modifier (LKL) particles on the processability, thermal and mechanical properties of PVC materials, rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/kaolin and PVC/kaolin coated with liquid macromolecular modifier (PVC/LKL) composites were both fabricated by melt mixing. The processability, dynamic mechanical behavior, mechanical properties and micro-structure of PVC/kaolin and PVC/LKL composites were studied by using torque rheometer, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), universal mechanical testing machine and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the LKL particles improved the processability of PVC materials, while restrained the degradation of PVC materials during melt mixing due to the plasticization, toughening effect and compatibilization of the liquid macromolecular modifier (LMM). Moreover, the LMM could promote LKL particles uniformly dispersed in PVC matrix, and enhance the interface adhesion between LKL particles and PVC matrix. The notched impact strength and Tg of the PVC/LKL composites achieved 4.0 kJ/m2 and 95.2 °C, which enhanced 29% and 6 °C with respect to neat PVC materials, respectively.
Analysis of a Single Screw Extruder with a Grooved Plasticating Barrel – Part I: The Melting Model
Authors: Alfaro J. A. Avila , Grünschloß E. , Epple S. , Bonten C. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Single screw extruders with barrier screws, grooved feed zones and grooved melting zones were introduced to the European plastics industry in 1999. These extruders have an improved melting and conveying capacity among other advantages, such as a lower melt temperature, less wear, less torque and less energy consumption. The aim of this paper is to present a mathematical model for predicting the melting rate in this type of extrusion system. Based on the classical melting mechanism observed in conventional extruders, it was possible to study the effect of the geometry of the grooved barrel on the melting rate of a polymer. It was shown that the grooves on the barrel notably increase the melting rate, when compared to conventional single screw extruders. A good agreement between theory and experimental data was found.
Langzeitforschung auf Sturmflächen zeigt Potenzial und Grenzen der Naturverjüngung
Authors: Brang Peter , Hilfiker Sandra , Wasem Ulrich , Schwyzer Andreas , Wohlgemuth Thomas 
Published: April 2015

Long-term research on storm areas demonstrates the potential and the limits of natural regeneration
After windthrow, questions arise about the appropriate silvicultural management. Answers can be derived from long-term studies on 19 storm-damaged areas caused by Vivian (1990) and Lothar (1999), which encompass cleared, cleared and planted as well as uncleared subareas. Forest succession on these areas was studied using repeated regeneration inventories. Ten resp. 20 years after the storms, the resulting young forests were 3–12 m tall and had a stem density of 500 to 31,400 per ha. Many tree species grow in the storm areas, with climax species like European beech (in the lowlands) and Norway spruce (in high-altitude forests) being most frequent. Advance regeneration has only a small share of the young stands, since seedlings were scarce in the pre-storm stands. Regeneration is slightly more dense on cleared than on uncleared storm areas. The yearly increase in seedling density ranged from 25 to 4,000 trees per ha, with low values occurring mainly if dense vegetation of tall forbs, bramble or bracken covered the ground. The increase in density has fallen since the storms, and in thickets with high stem numbers, the regeneration density has even started to decrease. Pionieer trees as well as sycamore maple and ash grow fastest, and climax species like Norway spruce and silver fir slowest. For spruce, planting results in an advance of 1.0 to 2.4 m after 20 years in high montane storm areas; moreover, gaps, which are widespread in storm areas even 10 or 20 years after the storm event, can be avoided. On areas with total damage, cluster planting should be considered, in particular in protection forests and in cases with scarce advance regeneration, missing seed trees and dense ground vegetation.
The Distal Upstream Promoter in Ly49 Genes, Pro1, Is Active in Mature NK Cells and T Cells, Does Not Require TATA Boxes, and Displays Enhancer Activity
Authors: Gays Frances , Taha Sally , Brooks Colin G. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Missing self recognition of MHC class I molecules is mediated in murine species primarily through the stochastic expression of CD94/NKG2 and Ly49 receptors on NK cells. Previous studies have suggested that the stochastic expression of Ly49 receptors is achieved through the use of an alternate upstream promoter, designated Pro1, that is active only in immature NK cells and operates via the mutually exclusive binding of transcription initiation complexes to closely opposed forward and reverse TATA boxes, with forward transcription being transiently required to activate the downstream promoters, Pro2/Pro3, that are subsequently responsible for transcription in mature NK cells. In this study, we report that Pro1 transcripts are not restricted to immature NK cells but are also found in mature NK cells and T cells, and that Pro1 fragments display strong promoter activity in mature NK cell and T cell lines as well as in immature NK cells. However, the strength of promoter activity in vitro does not correlate well with Ly49 expression in vivo and forward promoter activity is generally weak or undetectable, suggesting that components outside of Pro1 are required for efficient forward transcription. Indeed, conserved sequences immediately upstream and downstream of the core Pro1 region were found to inhibit or enhance promoter activity. Most surprisingly, promoter activity does not require either the forward or reverse TATA boxes, but is instead dependent on residues in the largely invariant central region of Pro1. Importantly, Pro1 displays strong enhancer activity, suggesting that this may be its principal function in vivo.
IL-33 Receptor ST2 Amplifies the Expansion of NK Cells and Enhances Host Defense during Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection
Authors: Nabekura Tsukasa , Girard Jean-Philippe , Lanier Lewis L. 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
NK cells provide important host defense against viruses and can differentiate into self-renewing memory NK cells after infection, alloantigen stimulation, and cytokine stimulation. In this study, we investigated the role of the IL-33 receptor ST2 in the differentiation of NK cells during mouse CMV (MCMV) infection. Although ST2-deficient (Il1rl1−/−) Ly49H+ NK cells develop normally and differentiate into memory cells after MCMV infection, naive and memory Il1rl1−/− Ly49H+ NK cells exhibited profound defects in MCMV-specific expansion, resulting in impaired protection against MCMV challenge. Additionally, IL-33 enhanced m157 Ag-specific proliferation of Ly49H+ NK cells in vitro. Thus, an IL-33/ST2 signaling axis in NK cells contributes to host defense against MCMV.
Educational background of nurses and their perceptions of the quality and safety of patient care
Authors: Swart Reece P. , Pretorius Ronel , Klopper Hester 
Published: April 2015

Background: International health systems research confirms the critical role that nurses play in ensuring the delivery of high quality patient care and subsequent patient safety. It is therefore important that the education of nurses should prepare them for the provision of safe care of a high quality. The South African healthcare system is made up of public and private hospitals that employ various categories of nurses. The perceptions of the various categories of nurses with reference to quality of care and patient safety are unknown in South Africa (SA).Objective: To determine the relationship between the educational background of nurses and their perceptions of quality of care and patient safety in private surgical units in SA.Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used. A questionnaire was used for data collection, after which hierarchical linear modelling was utilised to determine the relationships amongst the variables.Results: Both the registered- and enrolled nurses seemed satisfied with the quality of care and patient safety in the units were they work. Enrolled nurses (ENs) indicated that current efforts to prevent errors are adequate, whilst the registered nurses (RNs) obtained high scores in reporting incidents in surgical wards.Conclusion: From the results it was evident that perceptions of RNs and ENs related to the quality of care and patient safety differed. There seemed to be a statistically-significant difference between RNs and ENs perceptions of the prevention of errors in the unit, losing patient information between shifts and patient incidents related to medication errors, pressure ulcers and falls with injury.
Crouzeix-Raviart MsFEM with Bubble Functions for Diffusion and Advection-Diffusion in Perforated Media
Authors: Degond Pierre , Lozinski Alexei , Muljadi Bagus Putra , Narski Jacek 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe adaptation of Crouzeix-Raviart finite element in the context of multi-scale finite element method (MsFEM) is studied and implemented on diffusion and advection-diffusion problems in perforated media. It is known that the approximation of boundary condition on coarse element edges when computing the multiscale basis functions critically influences the eventual accuracy of any MsFEM approaches. The weakly enforced continuity of Crouzeix-Raviart function space across element edges leads to a natural boundary condition for the multiscale basis functions which relaxes the sensitivity of our method to complex patterns of perforations. Another ingredient to our method is the application of bubble functions which is shown to be instrumental in maintaining high accuracy amid dense perforations. Additionally, the application of penalization method makes it possible to avoid complex unstructured domain and allows extensive use of simpler Cartesian meshes.
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Droplet Formation in Non-Newtonian Fluids
Authors: Shi Y. , Tang G. H. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractNewtonian and non-Newtonian dispersed phase droplet formation in non-Newtonian continuous phase in T-junction and cross junction microchannels are investigated by the immiscible lattice BGK model. The effects of the non-Newtonian fluid power-law exponent, viscosity and interfacial tension on the generation of the droplet are studied. The final droplet size, droplet generation frequency, and detachment point of the droplet change with the power-law exponent. The results reveal that it is necessary to take into account the non-Newtonian rheology instead of simple Newtonian fluid assumption in numerical simulations. The present analysis also demonstrates that the lattice Boltzmann method is of potential to investigate the non-Newtonian droplet generation in multiphase flow.
Timeliness and Accuracy of Reporting Preliminary Blood Culture Results: A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes Study of 65 Institutions
Authors: Schifman Ron B. , Meier Frederick A. , Souers Rhona J. 
Published: April 2015

ContextThe speed and accuracy of preliminary blood culture reports impacts patient management and outcomes.ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy and timeliness of preliminary blood culture results among multiple laboratories.DesignQ-Probes participants collected turnaround time (TAT) data on preliminary Gram stains, compared accuracy of up to 100 preliminary to final culture Gram stain results, and described blood culture laboratory practices.ResultsSixty-four laboratories and 5031 blood cultures were evaluated. All participants used continuously monitoring blood culture systems. Median TAT from initial growth detection to notification of results was 45 minutes, with the longest component being preparation of Gram stains (median time = 25 minutes). Participants (N = 40) reporting a continuous schedule for processing blood cultures had significantly lower overall TAT (medianm= 37 minutes) compared with 15 participants with intermittent processing schedules (medianm= 124 minutes),mPm= .003. Time to complete Gram stain processing was lower (median time = 21 minutes) for 39 participants using continuous processing schedule compared with 14 others (median timem= 67 minutes),mPm= .03. Goals for total TAT were used by 27 of 56 participants (48.2%). Having goals did not significantly affect TAT. A total of 4962 of 5021 Gram stain results (98.8%) agreed with final culture results. The highest discrepancy rates occurred among gram-positive bacilli (20 of 335; 6.0%) and mixed cultures (22 of 106; 20.8%).ConclusionsThis study provides benchmarks for assessing blood culture quality performance. Timeliness and accuracy of preliminary blood culture reports were excellent. However, nearly one-third of laboratories did not process blood cultures continuously. This significantly prolonged reporting results, which could affect patient outcomes.
La cuestión del conocimiento: de la mente religiosa y meditativa en Krishnamurti a la mente científica en Bohm
Authors: García Armengol Juan 
Published: April 2015

Para Krishnamurti y Bohm era esencial investigar profundamente en la raíz del conflicto existente en el ser humano. El conocimiento de uno mismo es esencial, pero mediante una forma diferente de aprender, cuestionando la adecuación del conocimiento acumulado y del pensamiento, que son un impedimento para la creatividad, para entender lo nuevo. La inteligencia o el estado de creatividad de la mente adviene únicamente cuando el yo, que es originado por el conocimiento acumulado y la actividad del pensamiento, ha cesado. La mente religiosa y la meditación para Krishnamurti son esenciales en la vida para descubrir el proceso total de la existencia, porque esta comprensión profunda, que es un movimiento del amor, es la verdadera meditación. La mente científica de Bohm entiende la realidad y la conciencia como un todo coherente, un <<orden implicado>> en un proceso interminable de movimiento y despliegue.
La función de seguridad en la legalidad constitucional
Authors: Pace Alessandro 
Published: April 2015

RESUMENEl presente artículo reflexiona acerca de las nuevas dimensiones en el planteamiento de la seguridad pública por el terrorismo y el extremismo. Desde esta perspectiva, el autor critica en primer término la tendencia a utilizar de modo impropio y confuso el término “derecho a la seguridad” por cuanto la seguridad es el contenido de una función del Estado que no se resuelve en un derecho individual; en segundo lugar, el autor confirma su tesis, ya sostenida hace más de cincuenta años, según la cual, de un lado seguridad pública y orden público son las dos caras de la misma moneda y, de otro lado, el concepto de orden público asume un significado diverso según el contexto político-institucional: “orden material” en los ordenamientos democráticos, el cual puede quedar lesionado sólo por comportamientos violentos o por hechos naturales (terremotos, inundaciones, etc.); “orden ideal” en los ordenamientos autoritarios en los que el orden público puede quedar dañado asimismo por comportamientos pacíficos como una manifestación pública del pensamiento; y finalmente aborda la extensión de los límites impuestos a la función de seguridad en la legalidad constitucional.ABSTRACTThe essay underlines that, even in the light of the current global challenges set out by terrorism and extremism, public safety is not a per se individual right but only the aim of a public function of the State. In this sense, the author holds that public order has a different meaning if taken into account in a democratic government or in a totalitarian one: in the first one, public order depicts a situation of “material” peace (the absence of disorder caused by human or natural events); in the latter, public order depicts the absence of “ideal” disorder caused even by pacific behaviours. He finally focuses on the extent of the limits to the public function of the State in this specific field both in general and in relation to the single constitutional rights.
En torno a la crisis del Derecho
Authors: Pamparacuatro Martín Javier 
Published: April 2015

Resumen:El presente artículo se propone revisar el problema clásico de la decadencia de la ley. Lleva a cabo un examen de la crisis en el ámbito del derecho a lo largo de una serie de notas fenomenológicas que son, en definitiva, algunos de los distintos modos de deterioro de la ley en el plano formal y material. Asimismo, el trabajo contempla aquellos aspectos de la cuestión que se hallan relacionados con la noción concomitante de anomia.Abstract:The present paper aims to re-examine the classic issue of the decline of law. The article looks into the crisis in the domain of law through the study of a series of phenomenological features which turn out to be some of the various ways law deteriorates both materially and formally. It also reflects upon those aspects of the problem connected with the concomitant notion of anomie.
Protección de refugiados y otras personas vulnerables en la Carta Social Europea
Authors: Jimena Quesada Luis 
Published: April 2015

Resumen:El presente artículo sostiene la necesidad prestar atención a instrumentos jurídicos europeos infrautilizados, en particular la Carta Social Europea y el Comité Europeo de Derechos Sociales, con objeto de mejorar las garantías de los derechos de los refugiados y otras personas vulnerables necesitadas de protección. Desde este punto de vista, el autor postula que una potencial justiciabilidad, sin real efectividad, carece de sentido. De modo similar, el discurso sobre la indivisibilidad de los derechos humanos queda vacío si no se toma en consideración la indivisibilidad de sus garantías. En este sentido, el trabajo ilustra el estadio actual de los refugiados y otras personas vulnerables en el ámbito de la Carta Social Europea suministrando ejemplos de impacto práctico de decisiones adoptadas por el Comité Europeo de Derechos Sociales a través de los recientes desarrollos de su innovadora actividad (procedimientos de urgencia, amicus curiae, medidas inmediatas) y su jurisprudencia en el marco del mecanismo judicial de reclamaciones colectivas. Finalmente, se someten a análisis crítico los principales desafíos para la Carta Social Europea en relación con la interpretación y aplicación de los estándares jurídicos de protección a favor de los refugiados y otras personas vulnerables defendiendo la idea de reforzar las sinergias positivas entre los niveles constitucional e internacional de garantía.Abstract:The article argues the need to focus on underexploited European legal instruments, in particular the European Social Charter (ESC) and the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), in order to better guarantee the rights of refugees and other vulnerable persons in need of protection. From this point of view, the author suggests that potential justiciability, without real effectiveness, is meaningless. Similarly, the discourse on indivisibility of human rights is empty without taking into account the indivisibility of their guarantees. In this sense, the essay illustrates the current status of refugees and other vulnerable people under the ESC providing examples of the practical impact of the decisions adopted by the ECSR through recent developments of its innovative activity (urgent procedures, third-party interventions, immediate measures) and its case law in the framework of the judicial collective complaint mechanism. Finally, the main challenges for the ESC in relation to interpretation and enforcement of legal standards in favour of refugees and other vulnerable persons are submitted to critical scrutiny under the idea of strengthening positive synergies between constitutional and international levels of guarantee.