bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ammonothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Li4[Zn(NH2)4](NH2)2
Authors: Richter Theresia M. M. , Alt Nicolas S. A. , Schlücker Eberhard , Niewa Rainer 
Published: March 2015

AbstractSingle crystals of Li4[Zn(NH2)4](NH2)2 were obtained from Li and Zn under ammonothermal conditions (723 K and 1.58 kbar). Li4[Zn(NH2)4](NH2)2 (C2221, a = 5.0005(3) Å, b = 15.5410(8) Å, c = 10.0712(5) Å, Z = 4) represents a new possible intermediate in a conceivable ammonothermal synthesis of the semiconductor Zn3N2. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction results, thermal analysis, Raman and IR spectra of tetralithium tetraamido zincate diamide are provided and discussed. Crystal structure data justify a description as CaF2 superstructure variant. Large distances in the crystal structure as well as the intensity and half‐width of the bands in Raman and IR spectra indicate the absence of significant hydrogen bonds. Upon heating Li4[Zn(NH2)4](NH2)2 decomposes via intermediate formation of LiZnN, LiNH2 and Li2(NH) to finally provide pure Zn.
Major Esophageal Dilation After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding in Symptomatic Patients: Does It Prevent Effective Weight Loss and How Should It be Treated?
Authors: Ulmer Tom Florian , Ambe Peter , Alizai H. P. , Lambertz A. , Rheinwald K. , Plamper A. , Son M. , Tuerler A. , Gärtner D. , Neumann U. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIntroductionEsophageal dilation (ED) has been described as a long‐term complication following laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) with an incidence of 0.5–50 %. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of major ED on weight loss and find methods to diagnose ED and possible treatment strategies based on a classification.Materials and methodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing LAGB between 2004 and 2008 in three community‐based hospitals. ED was classified in four stages of dilation using gastrografin swallow. We report body mass index (BMI), failure rates and reoperations among these patients, with a mean follow‐up period of 6.7 years.ResultsNineteen (18.4 %) of 103 patients who underwent LAGB presented with esophageal dilation. Band deflation failed for all nine patients (8.7 %) with major ED. The mean BMI at LAGB (BMI 1), revision (BMI 2), and 1 year after conversion (BMI 3) were 45.9 ± 3.2, 42.8 ± 4.9 and 30.3 ± 5.5 kg/m2, respectively. No significant difference was found comparing BMI 1 and BMI 2 (p = 0,065, EWL1: 14.2 ± 21.7 kg/m2). In contrast, the weight loss after the revision surgery was significant (p = 0.001, EWL2: 67.1 ± 30 kg/m2). No significant difference was found concerning age, gender, ASA, preoperative (LAGB) weight, and mean interval between LAGB and revision comparing patients with major ED (IV) to patients with milder forms (ED I‐III).ConclusionED is a serious long‐term complication after LAGB and seems to prevent effective weight loss in stage IV. Furthermore, untreated dilation could cause long‐term damage to the esophagus. Therefore, we suggest routine radiographic follow‐up after LAGB even in asymptomatic patients and a treatment based on a classification with an early surgical revision for major ED.
Visceral Fat Content Correlates with Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) Local Recurrence and Survival
Authors: Papoulas Michail , Weiser Roi , Rosen Galia , Gerstenhaber Fabian , Merimsky Ofer , Lubezky Nir , Klausner Joseph M. , Lahat Guy 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundOur aim was to evaluate the association between visceral fat content with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) local recurrence and survival.MethodsOne hundred and one computed tomography imaging studies of primary STS patients who had complete macroscopic resection at our institution between 2002 and 2012 were reviewed, and retroperitoneal and circumferential fat contents were measured. Correlations between imaging findings and clinical data were analyzed.ResultsFifty‐seven STS tumors (56.4 %) were retroperitoneal; of them, 65 % were high grade, median size was 15 cm (range 3–49), and the most common histological subtype was high grade liposarcoma (31.6 %). Median follow‐up length for the entire cohort was 64 months (range 6–95). High visceral fat (VF) content ≥15 versus <15 mm was identified as a risk factor for retroperitoneal STS local recurrence; 65.1 versus 26.7 %, respectively (p = 0.04); VF content did not correlate with distant metastasis. Median overall survival (OS) length of patients with VF ≥15 versus <15 mm was 57 months (range 2–144) versus not reached, respectively (p = 0.007). Multivariable analysis identified VF ≥15 mm as an independent risk factor for decreased OS (HR: 4.2, 95 % CI 1.07–16.67). In contrast, circumferential fat content did not correlate with retroperitoneal STS patient outcomes.ConclusionHigh VF content is an independent adverse prognosticator associated with significantly higher rates of retroperitoneal STS local recurrence and decreased patients survival. Local tumor biology may be affected by the presence of adipose cells. Further clinical and molecular research is needed to establish this premise.
Should the smiling curve frown during an economic downturn to enhance firm performance?
Authors: Luan Chin-jung , Tien Chengli 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis study examines the efficacy of the smiling curve, and clarifies the relationship between downsizing strategies (advertising, marketing, and research and development, respectively) and firm performance specifically in an economic downturn. This study tests hypotheses using 1996–2010 data from the Taiwan Economic Journal on 436 listed Taiwanese companies. The results indicate that the benefits for firms to follow the smiling curve may not occur in the short term and that downsizing strategies may not always be the appropriate strategy to improve firm performance. During an economic downturn, downsizing strategies do not appear to enhance firm performance, that is, the smiling curve should not frown during an economic downturn to enhance firm performance.
Impact of a tannin extract on digestibility, ruminal fermentation and duodenal flow of amino acids in steers fed maize silage and concentrate containing soybean meal or canola meal as protein source
Authors: ÁVILA S. C. , KOZLOSKI G. V. , ORLANDI T. , MEZZOMO M. P. , STEFANELLO S. 
Published: March 2015

SUMMARYFour Holstein steers (297 ± 56 kg of body weight (BW)) fitted with duodenal cannula and rumen catheter, were housed in metabolism cages and used in a 4 × 4 Latin Square trial to evaluate the effect of both protein source andAcacia mearnsiitannin extract on digestibility, ruminal fermentation, rumen microbial protein synthesis, N utilization and on duodenal flow of individual amino acids. The diet was offered at restricted amount of 25 g of dry matter (DM)/kg BW and consisted of maize silage plus concentrate, in a proportion of 0·7:0·3 (DM basis) respectively. Concentrate was formulated with either soybean meal or canola meal as protein source, with or without 50 g/kg ofA. mearnsiitannin extract (i.e. 15 g/kg of total dietary DM). There was no effect of protein source on most variables. The apparent and true organic matter (OM) digestibilities, as well as neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility were negatively affected by tannin extract inclusion without, however, affecting digestible OM intake. The amount of nitrogen (N) excreted in faeces increased whereas the urinary N excretion decreased in tannin extract treatments. No interaction time × treatment was detected for any rumen variable and no treatment effect was observed for rumen fluid pH and reducing sugars concentration. Rumen fluid concentration of ammonia N was lower for the canola meal plus tannin extract treatment. Rumen concentration ofα-amino compounds was not affected by tannin extract but was higher when canola meal was the protein source. The duodenal flow of OM, total N,α-amino N and non-ammonia non-microbial N increased with tannin extract inclusion, whereas the duodenal flow of microbial N was not affected by treatment. For both protein sources, the amount of most individual amino acids flowing to the duodenum increased due to tannin extract addition. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of 15 g/kg DM of tannin extract fromA. mearnsiiimproved the amino acid supply independently of whether the protein source was canola meal or soybean meal, without affecting the amino acid profile, to steers fed maize silage plus concentrate, with a minor but significant impact on OM digestibility.
Injection and induction acceleration of Ar3+ in the KEK Digital Accelerator
Authors: Liu X. , Yoshimoto T. , Takayama K. , Adachi T. , Kadokura E. , Munemoto N. , Takano S. , Kawakubo T. , Okamura K. , Kobayashi H. , Hirose M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractFour microseconds long Ar3+ beam with injection energy of 15 keV/u has been injected into the Digital Accelerator of the High-Energy Accelerator Research Organization. Beam production, transportation, and injection are described as well as machine properties. Results of a free running experiment under static magnetic field and longitudinal confinement and acceleration under a fast ramping magnetic field are presented in detail with a brief discussion on the beam lifetime.
Combined inhibitory effects of low temperature and N-acetyl-l-cysteine on the postovulatory aging of mouse oocytes
Authors: Li Qian , Cui Long-Bo 
Published: March 2015

SummaryThe postovulatory aging of oocytes eventually affects the development of oocytes and embryos. Oxidative stress is known to accelerate the onset of apoptosis in oocytes and influence their capacity for fertilisation. This study aimed to reveal the roles of temperature and the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine in preventing the aging of postovulatory mouse oocytes. First, newly ovulated mouse oocytes were cultured at various temperature and time combinations in HCZB medium with varying concentrations of N-acetyl-l-cysteine to assess signs of aging and developmental potential. When cultured in HCZB with 300 μM N-acetyl-l-cysteine at different temperature and incubation time combinations (namely 25°C for 12 h, 15°C for 24 h and 5°C for 12 h), the increase in the susceptibility of oocytes to activating stimuli was efficiently prevented, and the developmental potential was maintained following Sr2+ activation or in vitro fertilisation. After incubation at either 15°C for 36 h or 5°C for 24 h, oocytes that had decreased blastocyst rates displayed unrecoverable abnormal cortical granule distribution together with decreased BCL2 levels, total glutathione concentrations and glutathione/glutathione disulphide (GSH/GSSG) ratios. In conclusion, postovulatory oocyte aging could be effectively inhibited by appropriate N-acetyl-l-cysteine addition at low temperatures. In addition, a simple method for the temporary culture of mature oocytes was established.
A Tool for Local Thickness Determination and Grain Boundary Characterization by CTEM and HRTEM Techniques
Authors: Kiss Ákos K. , Rauch Edgar F. , Pécz Béla , Szívós János , Lábár János L. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractA new approach for measurement of local thickness and characterization of grain boundaries is presented. The method is embodied in a software tool that helps to find and set sample orientations useful for high-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) examination of grain boundaries in polycrystalline thin films. The novelty is thesimultaneoustreatment of the two neighboring grains and orienting both grains and the boundary planesimultaneously. The same metric matrix-based formalism is used for all crystal systems. Input into the software tool includes orientation data for the grains in question, which is determined automatically for a large number of grains by the commercial ASTAR program. Grain boundaries suitable for HRTEM examination are automatically identified by our software tool. Individual boundaries are selected manually for detailed HRTEM examination from the automatically identified set. Goniometer settings needed to observe the selected boundary in HRTEM are advised by the software. Operation is demonstrated on examples from cubic and hexagonal crystal systems.
Maintaining everyday life in a family with a dying parent: Teenagers' experiences of adapting to responsibility
Authors: Melcher Ulrica , Sandell Rolf , Henriksson Anette 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjective:Teenagers are living through a turbulent period in their development, when they are breaking away from the family to form their own identities, and so they are particularly vulnerable to the stressful situation of having a parent affected by a progessive and incurable illness. The current study sought to gain more knowledge about the ways that teenagers themselves describe living in a family with a seriously ill and dying parent. More specifically, the aims were to describe how teenagers are emotionally affected by everyday life in a family with a dying parent and to determine how they attempt to adapt to this situation.Method:The study employed a descriptive and interpretive design using qualitative content analysis. A total of 10 teenagers (aged 14–19 years, 7 boys and 3 girls) participated through repeated, individual, informal interviews that were carried out as free-ranging conversations.Results:While contending with their own vulnerable developmental period of life, the teenagers were greatly affected by their parent's illness and took on great responsibility for supporting their parents and siblings, and for maintaining family life. Lacking sufficient information and support left them rather unprepared, having to guess and to interpret the vague signs of failing health on their own, with feelings of uncertainty and loneliness as a consequence.Significance of Results:Support from healthcare professionals should be designed to help and encourage parents to have open communications about their illness with their teenaged children. Our results add further support to the literature, reinforcing the need for an approach that uses a systemic perspective and considers the family to be the appropriate unit of care and offers a suitable support system.
Observational aspects of AGN jets at high energy
Authors: Kataoka Jun 
Published: March 2015

AbstractFor the last two decades, significant and dramatic progress has been made in understanding astrophysical jet sources, particularly in the X-ray and gamma-ray energy bands. For example, the Chandra X-ray observatory reveals a number of AGN jets extending from kpc to Mpc scales. More recently, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescopes launched in 2008 started monitoring the gamma-ray sky with excellent sensitivity of about ten times greater than that of EGRET onboard CGRO, and has detected more than 2,000 sources (mostly AGNs) as of 2014. Moreover, Fermi-LAT has discovered gamma-ray emissions not only from blazars but from a dozen radio galaxies not previously known to emit gamma-rays. Closer to home, the Fermi-bubbles were discovered to extend 50 degrees above and below the Galactic center. These large scale diffuse gamma-ray structures are similar in structure to AGN lobes such as those seen in Cen A and provide evidence for past activity in our Galactic center. In this review, I will first summarize recent highlights of large scale jets in radio galaxies, specifically resolved by the Chandra X-ray observatory. Next I will move on to the gamma-ray sky to present some highlights from Fermi-LAT observations of “misaligned” blazars, namely radio galaxies. I will discuss a unification scheme connecting blazars and misaligned radio galaxies. In the last part, I will also briefly comment on recent multiband observations of the Fermi-bubble and possible impacts on the AGN jet physics in the near future.
The connection between the 15 GHz radio and gamma-ray emission in blazars
Authors: Max-Moerbeck W. , Richards J. L. , Hovatta T. , Pavlidou V. , Pearson T. J. , Readhead A. C. S. , King O. G. , Reeves R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractSince mid-2007 we have carried out a dedicated long-term monitoring programme at 15 GHz using the Owens Valley Radio Observatory 40 meter telescope (OVRO 40m). One of the main goals of this programme is to study the relation between the radio and gamma-ray emission in blazars and to use it as a tool to locate the site of high energy emission. Using this large sample of objects we are able to characterize the radio variability, and study the significance of correlations between the radio and gamma-ray bands. We find that the radio variability of many sources can be described using a simple power law power spectral density, and that when taking into account the red-noise characteristics of the light curves, cases with significant correlation are rare. We note that while significant correlations are found in few individual objects, radio variations are most often delayed with respect to the gamma-ray variations. This suggests that the gamma-ray emission originates upstream of the radio emission. Because strong flares in most known gamma-ray-loud blazars are infrequent, longer light curves are required to settle the issue of the strength of radio-gamma cross-correlations and establish confidently possible delays between the two. For this reason continuous multiwavelength monitoring over a longer time period is essential for statistical tests of jet emission models.
The jet of the quasar 4C+21.35 from parsec to kiloparces scales and its role in high energy photon production
Authors: Jorstad Svetlana G. , Marscher Alan P. , Morozova Daria A. , Bala Vishal , Agudo Ivan , Gómez José L. , Lähteenmäki Anne , Larionov Valeri M. , Smith Paul S. , Tornikoski Merja 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe present an analysis of the parsec-scale jet structure of the quasar 4C+21.35 with a resolution of 0.1 milliarcseconds based on 63 epochs of Very Long Baseline Array observations at 43 GHz from 2007 June to 2014 May along with the Fermi LAT γ-ray light curve and multi-frequency optical photometric and polarimetric data. We find that the innermost jet of the quasar consists of a very compact core of size ~0.03 mas, as well as feature A1 located 0.16 ± 0.03 mas from the core. The distance of A1 remains fairly stable, but its position angle with respect to the core changes from -10 to +10 deg. We detect 4 superluminal knots in the inner jet with apparent speeds ranging from 10c to 20c. The first two components appeared in the jet during the high γ-ray state of the quasar from mid-2010 to early 2011, while the fourth knot appears to be connected with the γ-ray active state in late 2013 - early 2014. The first knot can be associated with the dramatic VHE flare in 2010 June and possesses an extreme Doppler factor ~60. We find that maxima in the γ-ray light curve coincide with epochs of interaction between the moving knots and the core and feature A1. This suggests that the core and A1 are recollimation shocks where γ-ray flares occur. The Chandra 0.5-6 keV image reveals the existence of X-ray emission in the kiloparsec scale jet of the quasar that can be explained via inverse Compton scattering off the cosmic microwave background by relativistic electrons if no deceleration occurs between the parsec- and kiloparsec-scale jets.
The core dominance parameter for gamma-ray loud blazars
Authors: Pei Z. Y. , Fan J. H. , Liu Y. , Xie H. J. , Gao Y. , Lin C. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIn this work, we compiled 604 blazars with available core-dominance parameter, out of which 149 blazars are known to have γ-ray emissions. We compared the logR between the 149 Fermi-detected blazars (FDB) and the rest non-Fermi-detected blazars (non-FDB), and found that the average values are < logR > = 1.12 ± 0.88 for FDBs and < logR > = 0.05 ± 0.94 for non-FDBs. A K-S test shows that the probability for the distributions of FDB and non-FDB to come from the same parent distribution is P = 2.38 × 10−7. We also investigated the correlation between the core-dominance parameters and the γ-ray emission variability index (VI) for 125 FDBs (45 BLs and 79 FSRQs), and found that there is a tendency for VI to increase with the core-dominance parameter for 79 FSRQs, but there is no such tendency for 46 BLs.
Magnetization of AGN jets as imposed by leptonic models of luminous blazars
Authors: Janiak Mateusz , Sikora Marek , Moderski Rafal 
Published: March 2015

AbstractRecent measurements of frequency-dependent shift of radio-core locations indicate that the ratio of the magnetic to kinetic energy flux (the σ parameter) is of the order of unity. These results are consistent with predictions of magnetically-arrested-disk (MAD) models of a jet formation, but contradict the predictions of leptonic models of γ-ray production in luminous blazars. We demonstrate this discrepancy by computing the γ-ray-to-synchrotron luminosity ratio (the q parameter) as a function of a distance from the black hole for different values of σ and using both spherical and planar models for broad-line region and dusty torus. We find that it is impossible to reproduce observed q ≫ 1 for jets with σ ≥ 1. This may indicate that blazar radiation is produced in reconnection layers or in spines of magnetically stratified jets.
Multi-wavelength polarimetry and variability study of the M87 jet
Authors: Avachat Sayali S. , Perlman Eric S. , Sparks William B , Cara Mihai , Owen Frazer N. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe present a high resolution polarimetry and variability study of the M87 jet using VLA and HST data taken during 2002 to 2008. Both data-sets have an angular resolution as high as 0.06”, which is 2-3 times better than previous observations. New morphological details are revealed in both the optical and radio, which can help to reveal the energetic and magnetic field structure of the jet. By comparing the data with previously published HST and VLA observations, we show that the jet's morphology in total and polarized light is changing significantly on timescales of ~1 decade. We compare the evolution of the inner jet (particularly the nucleus and knot HST-1), when our observations overlap with the multi-wavelength monitoring campaigns conducted with HST and Chandra. We use these data to comment on particle acceleration and main emission processes.
Time-variable linear polarization as a probe of the physical conditions in the compact jets of blazars
Authors: Marscher Alan P. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractA single measurement of linear polarization of a nonthermal source provides direct information about the mean direction and level of ordering of the magnetic field. Monitoring of the polarization in blazars, combined with millimeter-wave VLBI imaging in both total and polarized intensity, has the potential to determine the geometry of the magnetic field. This is a key probe of the physical processes in the relativistic jet, such as ordered field components, turbulence, magnetic reconnections, magnetic collimation and acceleration of the jet flow, particle acceleration, and radiative processes that produce extremely luminous, highly variable nonthermal emission. Well-sampled monitoring observations of multi-waveband flux and radio-optical polarization of blazars show a variety of behavior. In some cases, the observed polarization patterns appear systematic, while in others randomness dominates. Explanations involve helical magnetic fields, turbulence, and perhaps particle acceleration that depends on the angle between the magnetic field and shock fronts that might be present. Simulations from the author's TEMZ model, with turbulent plasma crossing a standing conical shock in the jet, show that a mixture of turbulent and toroidal magnetic field can produce the level of polarization variability that is observed, even when the two field components are roughly equal.