bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic analysis of positive solutions of generalized Emden-Fowler differential equations in the framework of regular variation
Authors: Jaroš Jaroslav , Takaŝi Kusano , Manojlović Jelena 
Published: September 2013

AbstractPositive solutions of the nonlinear second-order differential equation $(p(t)|x'|^{\alpha - 1} x')' + q(t)|x|^{\beta - 1} x = 0,\alpha > \beta > 0,$ are studied under the assumption that p, q are generalized regularly varying functions. An application of the theory of regular variation gives the possibility of obtaining necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of three possible types of intermediate solutions, together with the precise information about asymptotic behavior at infinity of all solutions belonging to each type of solution classes.
A pure geometric approach to stellar structure
Authors: Wanas Mamdouh , Ammar Samah 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe present work represents a step in dealing with stellar structure using a pure geometric approach. Geometric field theory is used to construct a model for a spherically symmetric configuration. In this case, two solutions have been obtained for the field equations. The first represents an interior solution which may be considered as a pure geometric one in the sense that the tensor describing the material distributions is not a phenomenological object, but a part of the geometric structure used. A general equation of state for a perfect fluid, is obtained from, and not imposed on, the model. The second solution gives rise to Schwarzschild exterior field in its isotropic form. The two solutions are matched, at a certain boundary, to evaluate the constants of integration. The interior solution obtained shows that there are different zones characterizing the configuration: a central radiation dominant zone, a probable convection zone as a physical interpretation of the singularity of the model, and a corona like zone. The model may represent a type of main sequence stars. The present work shows that Einstein’s geometerization scheme can be extended to gain more physical information within material distribution, with some advantages.
The influence of pemirolast on autonomic imbalance in rat cystitis model
Authors: Dobrek Łukasz , Baranowska Agnieszka , Thor Piotr 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
Cyclophosphamide (CP) treatment is associated with the risk of haemorrhagic cystitis (HC). Moreover, CP-induced HC is complicated by autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. Pemirolast is thought to be a mast cell stabiliser that inhibits the release of many inflammatory mediators and sensory neuropeptides, and thus, it may be considered a potential chemoprotective HC agent. The aim of the study was to indirectly estimate the effect of pemirolast in experimental HC by measuring ANS activity with the heart rate variability (HRV) method. In CP-treated rats, we found a decreasing trend of overall autonomic activity, together with an imbalance between the main components, and a dominant very low frequency (VLF) power component. Pemirolast treatment did not improve the total HRV power value or the main non-normalized HRV components. Moreover, CP-HC animals treated with pemirolast displayed a different disproportion of normalized spectral components as compared to both control and CP-HC animals without pemirolast treatment, with the balance between normalized low frequency (nLF) and normalized high frequency (nHF) shifted towards nLF. This finding, together with a relatively high VLF tension, indicates that the pemirolast treatment resulted in high sympathetic activity that may contribute to HC exacerbation; thus, this agent seems to be ineffective in CP-induced HC.
In vitro and in vivo characteristics of hepatic oval cells modified with human hepatocyte growth factor
Authors: Li Zhu , Chen Juan , Li Li , Ran Jiang-Hua , Li Xue-Hua , Liu Zhi-Heng , Liu Gui-Jie , Gao Yan-Chao , Zhang Xue-Li , Sun Hiu-Dong 
Published: September 2013

AbstractHepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional growth factor that controls cell scattering. It has been suggested that it regulates the proliferation of hepatic oval cells (HOCs). Using a HOC line that stably expresses the human HGF gene (hHGF), we investigated the in vitro proliferation and differentiation characteristics of hHGF-modified HOCs and explored their potential capacity for intrahepatic transplantation. A modified 2-acetylaminofluorene and partial hepatectomy (2-AAF/PH) model was established to activate the proliferation of oval cells in the rat liver. HOCs were transfected with the pBLAST2-hHGF plasmid and hHGF-carrying HOCs were selected based on blasticidin resistance. The level of hHGF secretion was determined via ELISA. Cell proliferation was determined using the MTT assay. Differentiation was induced by growth factor withdrawal. A two-cuff technique was used for orthotopic liver transplantation, and HOCs or hHGF-modified HOCs were transplanted into the recipients. The levels of biochemical indicators of liver function were measured after transplantation. An HOC line stably expressing hHGF was established. The transfected line showed greater hHGF secretion than normal HOCs. The hHGF gene promoted the proliferation capability of HOCs by reducing the peak time in vitro. The hHGF-modified HOCs differentiated into hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells upon growth factor withdrawal in vitro. In addition, hHGF-modified HOC transplantation significantly prolonged the median survival time (MST) and improved the liver function of recipients compared to HOC transplant recipients and nontransplanted controls. Our results indicate that hHGF-modified HOCs may have valuable properties for therapeutic liver regeneration after orthotopic liver transplantation.
Optimization of building blocks for multi-stage 17–44 dB 6.1–9.6 mW 90-nm K-band front-ends
Authors: Roy Apratim , Harun Rashid A. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractIn this article, five two-stage ∼6-mW and four three-stage ∼9-mW matched amplifier architectures are proposed to establish optimization procedure and quantify relative merits of cascode (CC), common-gate (CG), and commonsource (CS) building blocks for low-voltage low-power multi-stage front-ends. The circuits are simulated with a 90-nm CMOS technology including modeling of layout parasites. Integrated bias trees and passive port matching networks are incorporated in the K-band designs. In the face of process mismatch, variability in noise and gain figures remains <0.39 dB and <7.1 dB from the design values. The five combinations of building blocks in twostage low-power (6.1–6.6 mW) amplifiers achieve linearity (IIP3) in the range of −5.2∼–13.5 dBm, good reverse isolation (better than −26 dB), 2.89–3.82 dB noise penalties, and 17.2–25.5 dB peak forward gain. In case of threestage front-ends built with CS, CC, and CG blocks (power rating 9.2–9.6 mW), forward gain and optimized noise figures are found as >33 dB and <3.26 dB, respectively. They achieve −2.5∼18.3 dBm IIP3, <−39 dB reverse isolation, and <−17 dB minimum IRL. The results are compared with reported simulated findings on CMOS multistage amplifiers to highlight their relative advantages in terms of power requirement and decibel(gain)-per-watt.
Is the present Brackenridgea Nature Reserve large enough to ensure the survival of <i>Brackenridgea zanguebarica</i> Oliv.?
Authors: Tshisikhawe Milingoni P. , Van Rooyen Magaretha W. , Gaugris Jerome Y. 
Published: September 2013

The Brackenridgea Nature Reserve is a 110 ha protected area established by the provincial Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism as a way of protecting the population of Brackenridgea zanguebarica, a species classified as critically endangered in South Africa. In the whole of South Africa, the species is found in only one small area around Thengwe–Mafukani in Venda. It is threatened with extirpation due to high demand for its medicinal bark. This study investigated the adequacy of the reserve to conserve the species using a method established in 2001 by Burgman et al. This method involves 12 steps to quantify the risk of the decline or possible extinction of the species and takes current human activities, disturbances and the viability of the population into consideration for setting a conservation target. From the results, it was clear that more area is needed for the current population to survive beyond 50 years. Assuming the status quo, it will require 410 ha to maintain the population, whereas a 50% reduction in human-related activities, such as cultivation, harvesting and livestock grazing, will lower the required potential habitat to 203 ha and a conservation option, which allows for bark harvesting, will require 179 ha. Conservation implications: The results of this study will have conservation implication on management of viable species population within a nature reserve. It will require managers to take into consideration the reserve size in relation to potential habitats for the development of species under their management.
Organorhodium‐Functionalized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica: High Hydrophobicity Promotes Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation in Aqueous Medium
Authors: Liu Rui , Jin Ronghua , Kong Lingyu , Wang Jinyu , Chen Chen , Cheng Tanyu , Liu Guohua 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThree organosilica‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas were prepared by the immobilization of a chiral N‐sulfonylated diamine‐based organorhodium complex within their silicate network. Structural analysis and characterization confirmed their well‐defined single‐site active rhodium centers, whilst electron microscopy revealed their highly ordered hexagonal mesostructures. Among these three different organosilica‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas, the ethylene‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica catalyst exhibited excellent heterogeneous catalytic activity and high enantioselectivity in the aqueous asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones. This superior catalytic performance was attributed to its salient hydrophobicity, whilst its comparable enantioselectivity relative to the homogeneous catalyst was derived from the confined nature of the chiral organorhodium catalytic sites. Furthermore, this ethylene‐bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica could be conveniently recovered and reused at least 12 times without the loss of its catalytic activity. This feature makes this catalyst attractive for practical organic synthesis in an environmentally friendly manner. This study offers a general way of optimizing the bridged organosilica moiety in periodic mesoporous organosilicas, thereby enhancing its catalytic activity in heterogeneous catalysis.
Tuning the Stability of CaCO3 Crystals with Magnesium Ions for the Formation of Aragonite Thin Films on Organic Polymer Templates
Authors: Zhu Fangjie , Nishimura Tatsuya , Sakamoto Takeshi , Tomono Hidekazu , Nada Hiroki , Okumura Yasushi , Kikuchi Hirotsugu , Kato Takashi 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThin‐film growth of aragonite CaCO3 on annealed poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrices is induced by adding Mg2+ into a supersaturated solution of CaCO3. Both the growth rate and surface morphology of the aragonite thin films depend upon the concentration of Mg2+ in the mineralization solution. In the absence of PVA matrices, no thin films are formed, despite the presence of Mg2+. Molecular dynamics simulation of the CaCO3 precursor suggests that the transition of amorphous calcium carbonate to crystals is suppressed in the presence of Mg2+. The role for ionic additives in the crystallization of CaCO3 on organic templates obtained in this study may provide useful information for the development of functional hybrid materials.
Analysis of factors that influence the sensor location problem for freeway corridors
Authors: Li Haijian , Dong Honghui , Jia Limin , Ren Moyu , Li Shi 
Published: September 2013

SummaryThe use of traffic sensors to acquire real‐time traffic information for intelligent transportation systems is becoming increasingly common. It is a challenge to determine where these sensors should be located to maximize the benefit of their use. This paper aims to illuminate the interaction of the sensor location problem (SLP) and its influencing factors, and to reveal the influencing mechanisms between those factors and the optimal sensor numbers. Firstly, we sum up the factors that influence the SLP for freeway corridors in detail and present the mathematical formulation of each factor. Then, given the parameters, which are derived from those influencing factors, the maximum integration value model (MIVM) and simplified MIVM are proposed for addressing the SLP. Finally, a real world case study, in which the simplified MIVM is used, is presented to illustrate how these factors influence the optimal sensor numbers and the maximum integration value, and also leads to the typical influencing patterns of those factors for freeway corridors. The results of the case study also demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and problem solving scheme. What is more, the suggestions for using the findings hereof in practical applications are put forward. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Untersuchungen zum Wärmetransportverhalten oberflächennaher durchströmter Böden
Authors: Arslan Ulvi , Huber Heiko 
Published: September 2013

AbstractDurch experimentelle Untersuchungen in einem hierzu entwickelten Wärmeleitungs‐ und Wärmeströmungslaborversuchsstand wurde eine umfangreiche Datenbasis zu grundwasserdurchströmten geothermischen Systemen geschaffen. Mithilfe von experimentellen Felduntersuchungen konnte die Übertragbarkeit der Datenbasis auf geothermische Systeme in‐situ festgestellt werden. Durch ein anhand der experimentellen Daten kalibriertes und validiertes numerisches Modell konnte die geschaffene Datenbasis mit numerischen Untersuchungen über die experimentellen Untersuchungsgrenzen erweitert werden. Anhand der Datenbasis wurden Empfehlungen zur Berechnungsgrundlage für die Auslegung geothermischer Systeme unter Berücksichtigung der Filtergeschwindigkeit des Grundwassers entwickelt. Die Zunahme der effektiven Wärmeleitfähigkeit von Sanden in Abhängigkeit der Filtergeschwindigkeit des Grundwassers wurde ergänzend zu aktuellen Empfehlungen [1] für schwach wasserführende, wasserführende und stark wasserführende Sande erfasst.Investigation of the heat transport mechanisms of shallow soils under groundwater flowAn extensive database of groundwater influenced geothermal systems was developed by experimental investigation with a constructed conduction and convection laboratory device. The transferability of the database to geothermal systems in‐situ was proofed via experimental investigation in geothermal field tests. By the means of a numerical model, which was calibrated and validated with the experimental database, an extension of the experimental investigation range was reached. With help of the database recommendations for the dimensioning of groundwater influenced geothermal systems were given. The increase of the effective thermal conductivity of sands due to groundwater flow was determined for weakly aquiferous, aquiferous and strongly aquiferous sands in addition to [1].
Nachprüfung von Dauerankern nach DIN 4125:1990 und EC 7‐1
Authors: Schäfer René , Spang Christian , Timmermann Vera 
Published: September 2013

AbstractZur Sicherung eines Brückenwiderlagers einer Straßenbrücke über das Aggertal wurden Ende der 1970er‐Jahre 14 Daueranker als Rückverankerung eingebaut. Im Zuge der Bauwerksüberprüfung hat sich gezeigt, dass eine von zwei installierten Kraftmessdosen zur Überprüfung der Ankerkräfte keinen Messwert anzeigte, woraufhin eine Nachprüfung aller Daueranker mittels Abhebeversuch veranlasst wurde. Die Nachprüfung ergab, dass eine Lastumlagerung von den inneren auf die beiden äußeren Anker stattgefunden hat, wodurch für die äußeren Anker die geforderten Sicherheiten der äußeren und inneren Tragfähigkeit unterschritten werden. Die Ergebnisse gaben Anlass, einen Vergleich der Ankernachweise nach alter und neuer Normung durchzuführen. Hierbei zeigte sich, dass aufgrund der differenzierten Berücksichtigung von Teilsicherheiten für ständige und veränderliche Einwirkungen im vorliegenden Fall eine günstigere Nachweisführung nach Teilsicherheitskonzept möglich ist. Der Vergleich der beiden Nachweisformen verdeutlicht jedoch, dass die Nachprüfung von Dauerankern, welche nach dem Globalsicherheitskonzept bemessen wurden, offene Fragen hinsichtlich der Anwendung des Teilsicherheitskonzepts aufwirft.Inspection of grouted anchors according to DIN 4125:1990 and EC 7‐1For a structural support of a counter bearing of a roadway bridge across the Agger‐valley, 14 permanent grouted anchors were installed at the end of the 1970s. In the course of the last bridge inspection it was found, that one of the two installed load cells measuring the anchors forces did not show any data. As a consequence, reloading measurements of the anchors were initialized in order to determine the actual forces of all anchors. The results of the measurement show, that a load transfer from the inner to the outer anchors had taken place leading to lower anchor forces in the inner area and greater anchor forces at the boundary in comparison to the calculated pre‐stressing force. Accordingly, the two outer anchors are close to the ultimate limit state. The results of the reloading measurements are evaluated with reference to the global safety concept according to DIN 4125:1990 and the partial safety concept according to EC 7‐1. It can be shown, that the distinguished approach of the safety factors for the loadings may be advantageous for the design of the anchors. However, the example shows, that questions remain concerning the inspection of permanent grouted anchors, which
Environmental sustainability of advanced biofuels
Authors: Davis Sarah C. , Kucharik Christopher J. , Fazio Simone , Monti Andrea 
Published: September 2013

AbstractEconomic and policy incentives for biofuel development differ in the USA and the EU, but indicators of environmental sustainability that have emerged from recent scientific literature transcend political boundaries. We classified these indicators according to six dimensions of environmental sustainability that have been previously identified, providing a description of each, and relating them to proposed international standards for advanced biofuels. Advanced biofuel development can be a step toward environmentally sustainable energy if optimal standards for feedstock selection, management, production, and fuel conversion are explicitly targeted. Tools for assessing environmental sustainability exist, but have not yet been put to task in a standardized way for advanced biofuels. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Feeling the Numbers: On the Interplay Between Risk, Affect, and Numeracy
Authors: Petrova Dafina G. , van der Pligt Joop , Garcia‐Retamero Rocio 
Published: September 2013

ABSTRACTPeople overweigh small and underweigh large risks, resulting in probability weighting functions with an inverted S‐shape. This bias is stronger for affect‐rich outcomes: For two outcomes of the same monetary value, people are less sensitive to probability variation for affect‐rich than for affect‐poor outcomes (e.g., winning a $100 voucher toward a romantic dinner versus an electricity bill). In the current research, we investigated the interactive influence of affect and cognitive skills on probability weighting. Participants decided about buying insurance against the loss of an object, given various probabilities of loss. The description of the object was neutral, affect‐rich, or affect‐rich followed by an affective reappraisal task. The reappraisal task consisted of thinking about effective coping strategies and possible positive consequences of the loss. We also investigated the effect of numeracy on probability weighting. In particular, we investigated whether people have different affective responses to risks depending on their numerical abilities. Participants showed more overweighting of small probabilities for an affect‐rich than for a neutral outcome. This effect was mediated by fear. When participants were given the opportunity to reappraise the loss of the affect‐rich object, the effect disappeared. After reappraisal, participants' decisions were influenced by both fear and hope and were more in line with expectations based on normative models. The latter applied in particular to participants who had higher numeracy; they showed more emotional sensitivity to risks and assigned weights closer to linearity. Implications for the role of emotions and numeracy in risk communication are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling travel impedance to medical care for children with birth defects using Geographic Information Systems
Authors: Delmelle Eric M. , Cassell Cynthia H. , Dony Coline , Radcliff Elizabeth , Tanner Jean Paul , Siffel Csaba , Kirby Russell S. 
Published: September 2013

BACKGROUNDChildren with birth defects may face significant geographic barriers accessing medical care and specialized services. Using a Geographic Information Systems–based approach, one‐way travel time and distance to access medical care for children born with spina bifida was estimated.METHODSUsing 2007 road information from the Florida Department of Transportation, we built a topological network of Florida roads. Live‐born Florida infants with spina bifida during 1998 to 2007 were identified by the Florida Birth Defects Registry and linked to hospital discharge records. Maternal residence at delivery and hospitalization locations were identified during the first year of life.RESULTSOf 668 infants with spina bifida, 8.1% (n = 54) could not be linked to inpatient data, resulting in 614 infants. Of those 614 infants, 99.7% (n = 612) of the maternal residential addresses at delivery were successfully geocoded. Infants with spina bifida living in rural areas in Florida experienced travel times almost twice as high compared with those living in urban areas. When aggregated at county levels, one‐way network travel times exhibited statistically significant spatial autocorrelation, indicating that families living in some clusters of counties experienced substantially greater travel times compared with families living in other areas of Florida.CONCLUSIONThis analysis demonstrates the usefulness of linking birth defects registry and hospital discharge data to examine geographic differences in access to medical care. Geographic Information Systems methods are important in evaluating accessibility and geographic barriers to care and could be used among children with special health care needs, including children with birth defects.Birth Defects Research (Part A) 97:673–684, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.