bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Object-Oriented Approach to Investigate Impacts of Climate Oscillations on Precipitation: A Western United States Case Study
Authors: Sellars Scott Lee , Gao Xiaogang , Sorooshian Soroosh 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
This manuscript introduces a novel computational science approach for studying the impact of climate variability on precipitation. The approach uses an object-oriented connectivity algorithm that segments gridded near-global satellite precipitation data into four-dimensional (4D) objects (longitude, latitude, time, and intensity). These precipitation systems have distinct spatiotemporal properties that are counted, tracked, described, and stored in a searchable database. A case study of western United States precipitation systems is performed, demonstrating the unique properties and capabilities of this object-oriented database. The precipitation dataset used in the case study is the University of California, Irvine, Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN) from 1 March 2000 to 1 January 2011. A search of the database for all western United States precipitation systems during this time period returns 626 precipitation systems as objects. By analyzing these systems as segmented objects, joint interactions of the selected climate phenomena 1) Arctic Oscillation (AO), 2) Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), and 3) El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on precipitation can be shown. They directly show the increased/decreased likelihood of having precipitation systems occurring over the western United States (monthly count) during phases of these climate phenomena. It is found that specific climate phenomena impact the monthly count of the events differently, and that the joint interaction of climate phenomena of the AO–MJO and AO–ENSO is important, especially during certain months of the year. It is also found that these interactions impact the physical features of the precipitation systems themselves.
Operational Wave Guidance at the U.S. National Weather Service during Tropical/Post–Tropical Storm Sandy, October 2012*
Authors: Alves Jose-Henrique G. M. , Stripling Scott , Chawla Arun , Tolman Hendrik , van der Westhuysen Andre 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Waves generated during Hurricane Sandy (October 2012) contributed significantly to life and property losses along the eastern U.S. seaboard. Extreme waves generated by Sandy propagated inland riding high water levels, causing direct destruction of property and infrastructure. High waves also contributed to the observed record-breaking storm surges. Operational wave-model guidance provided by the U.S. National Weather Service, via numerical model predictions made at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), gave decision makers accurate information that helped mitigate the severity of this historical event. The present study provides a comprehensive performance assessment of operational models used by NCEP during Hurricane Sandy, and makes a brief review of reports issued by government agencies, private industry, and universities, indicating the importance of the interplay of waves and surges during the hurricane. Performance of wave models is assessed through validation made relative to western Atlantic NOAA/NDBC buoys that recorded significant wave heights exceeding 6 m (19.7 ft). Bulk validation statistics indicate a high skill of operational wave forecasts up to and beyond the 3-day range. Event-based validation reveals a remarkably high skill of NCEP’s wave ensemble system, with significant added value in its data for longer forecasts beyond the 72-h range. The study concludes with considerations about the extent of severe sea-state footprints during Sandy, the dissemination of real-time wave forecasts, and its impacts to emergency management response, as well as recent upgrades and future developments at NCEP that will improve the skill of its current wave forecasting systems, resulting in more reliable wave forecasts during life-threatening severe storm events in the future.
Effects of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide on gastric emptying, glycaemia and insulinaemia during critical illness: a prospective, double blind, randomised, crossover study
Authors: Kar Palash , Cousins Caroline E , Annink Christopher E , Jones Karen L , Chapman Marianne J , Meier Juris J , Nauck Michael A , Horowitz Michael , Deane Adam M 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Insulin is used to treat hyperglycaemia in critically ill patients but can cause hypoglycaemia, which is associated with poorer outcomes. In health glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is a potent glucose-lowering peptide that does not cause hypoglycaemia. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of exogenous GIP infusion on blood glucose concentrations, glucose absorption, insulinaemia and gastric emptying in critically ill patients without known diabetes.

Methods
A total of 20 ventilated patients (Median age 61 (range: 22 to 79) years, APACHE II 21.5 (17 to 26), BMI 28 (21 to 40) kg/m2) without known diabetes were studied on two consecutive days in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, cross-over fashion. Intravenous GIP (4 pmol/kg/min) or placebo (0.9% saline) was infused between T = −60 to 300 minutes. At T0, 100 ml of liquid nutrient (2 kcal/ml) containing 3-O-Methylglucose (3-OMG), 100 mcg of Octanoic acid and 20 MBq Tc-99 m Calcium Phytate, was administered via a nasogastric tube. Blood glucose and serum 3-OMG (an index of glucose absorption) concentrations were measured. Gastric emptying, insulin and glucagon levels and plasma GIP concentrations were also measured.

Results
While administration of GIP increased plasma GIP concentrations three- to four-fold (T = −60 23.9 (16.5 to 36.7) versus T = 0 84.2 (65.3 to 111.1); P <0.001) and plasma glucagon (iAUC300 4217 (1891 to 7715) versus 1232 (293 to 4545) pg/ml.300 minutes; P = 0.04), there were no effects on postprandial blood glucose (AUC300 2843 (2568 to 3338) versus 2819 (2550 to 3497) mmol/L.300 minutes; P = 0.86), gastric emptying (AUC300 15611 (10993 to 18062) versus 15660 (9694 to 22618) %.300 minutes; P = 0.61), glucose absorption (AUC300 50.6 (22.3 to 74.2) versus 64.3 (9.9 to 96.3) mmol/L.300 minutes; P = 0.62) or plasma insulin (AUC300 3945 (2280 to 6731) versus 3479 (2316 to 6081) mU/L.300 minutes; P = 0.76).

Conclusions
In contrast to its profound insulinotropic effect in health, the administration of GIP at pharmacological doses does not appear to affect glycaemia, gastric emptying, glucose absorption or insulinaemia in the critically ill patient.

Trial registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000488808. Registered 3 May 2012.
Discovery of Coding Genetic Variants Influencing Diabetes-Related Serum Biomarkers and Their Impact on Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ahluwalia Tarunveer Singh , Allin Kristine Højgaard , Sandholt Camilla Helene , Sparsø Thomas Hempel , Jørgensen Marit Eika , Rowe Michael , Christensen Cramer , Brandslund Ivan , Lauritzen Torsten , Linneberg Allan , Husemoen Lise Lotte , Jørgensen Torben , Hansen Torben , Grarup Niels , Pedersen Oluf 
Published: January 2015

Context:
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence is spiraling globally, and knowledge of its pathophysiological signatures is crucial for a better understanding and treatment of the disease.

Objective:
We aimed to discover underlying coding genetic variants influencing fasting serum levels of nine biomarkers associated with T2D: adiponectin, C-reactive protein, ferritin, heat shock 70-kDa protein 1B, IGF binding protein 1 and IGF binding protein 2, IL-18, IL-2 receptor-α, and leptin.

Design and Participants:
A population-based sample of 6215 adult Danes was genotyped for 16 340 coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms and were tested for association with each biomarker. Identified loci were tested for association with T2D through a large-scale meta-analysis involving up to 17 024 T2D cases and up to 64 186 controls.

Results:
We discovered 11 associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and five distinct biomarkers at a study-wide P &lt; 3.4 × 10−7. Nine associations were novel: IL18: BIRC6, RAD17, MARVELD2; ferritin: F5; IGF binding protein 1: SERPING1, KLKB, GCKR, CELSR2, and heat shock 70-kDa protein 1B: CFH. Three of the identified loci (CELSR2, HNF1A, and GCKR) were significantly associated with T2D, of which the association with the CELSR2 locus has not been shown previously.

Conclusion:
The identified loci influence processes related to insulin signaling, cell communication, immune function, apoptosis, DNA repair, and oxidative stress, all of which could provide a rationale for novel diabetes therapeutic strategies.
Soluble Chemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Assembly with High-molecular-weight Poly(ethylene glycol) through Noncovalent Interaction
Authors: Son Young Ji , Park Young Ho , Park Sung Young , In Insik 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Noncovalent interactions between chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and aliphatic polymers were examined by the formation of soluble rGO/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) assembly, where PEG has the simplest structure among various water-soluble aliphatic polymers. Only high-molecular-weight PEG was successful for the formulation of soluble rGO/PEG assembly and therefore, van der Waals interaction (or σ–π interaction) between π-rich rGO and σ-rich PEG was proposed. The thermal property of the resulting rGO/PEG composite (or assembly) was changed dramatically compared to that of the pristine PEG, depending on the amount of rGO in the composite.
Facile and Practical Synthesis of Platinum(II) Porphyrins under Mild Conditions
Authors: Yamashita Ken-ichi , Katsumata Natsuki , Tomita Shohei , Fuwa Miki , Fujimaki Keisuke , Yoda Takuya , Hirano Daisuke , Sugiura Ken-ichi 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
A facile and mild method for the preparation of platinum(II) porphyrin complexes is reported. A simple treatment of free-base porphyrins with 1.5 equiv of [PtCl2(PhCN)2] in the presence of sodium propionate in refluxing chlorobenzene (bp: 131 °C) affords the corresponding Pt(II) complexes in good yields within a few hours. Furthermore, the work-up processes for our methods are less complex than those for the reported ones because chlorobenzene can be easily removed by simple evaporation.
Nitrogen Fixation in an Aqueous Solution by a Novel Flow Plasma System
Authors: Mizukoshi Yoshiteru , Katagiri Ryusuke , Horibe Hiroshi , Hatanaka Shin-ichi , Asano Masahiro , Nishimura Yoshimi 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
We developed a novel flow plasma system which could continuously treat water. Atmospheric nitrogen molecules entering the plasma were decomposed into the constituent atoms. Successive formations, first nitrite, then nitrate ions, could be explained by a thermodynamic model and reactions with in situ formed H2O2.
Low-polydispersity Hyperbranched Polyphenylene Sulfide as a Protectant for Palladium Nanocomposites
Authors: Meng Yuzhu , Zhang Chongyang , Xu Lan , Kuang Jinzhi , Bi Ruilin 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
A low-polydispersity (Mw/Mn = 1.009) hyperbranched poly(phenylene sulfide) (HPPS) is successfully synthesized by modified polycondensation of an AB2 monomer with a core molecule, and served as the skeleton for synthesis and stabilization of Pd nanoparticle. The effect of different PdCl2:HPPS mass ratios on the formation and stabilization of Pd nanoparticles is discussed. The resulting Pd nanoparticles with small average particle size (2.0 nm) have a narrow distribution (σ = 0.4 nm) and exhibit outstanding thermostability. These results clearly demonstrate HPPS (with uniform molecular weight) as a promising stabilizer for the synthesis of Pd nanoparticles.
Religiousness and perceived social support as predictive factors for mental health outcomes.
Authors: Krok Dariusz 
Published: January 2015

Aim of the studyThe study is to investigate predictive values of the religious meaning system, the centrality of religiosity and perceived social support for mental health outcomes. Although there is some evidence about associations of religiousness and social support with mental health, insufficient data exists to explain which dimensions of religiousness and social support are related to mental health outcomes.Subject or material and methodsParticipants were 206 people (108 women and 98 men) randomly recruited in southern parts of Poland. Their ages ranged from 18 to 78 years, with a mean age of 38.6 years (SD = 16.44). All participants filled in the four questionnaires: The Religious Meaning System Questionnaire, The Centrality of Religiosity Scale, The Berlin Social Support Scales, and The General Health Questionnaire-28.ResultsThe religious meaning system and the centrality of religiosity showed negative links with the dimension of mental health called somatic symptoms. Actually received support was associated with better mental health, whereas need for support and protective buffering support were predictors of negative mental health outcomes.DiscussionThe findings support the hypotheses that religiousness and social support are predictive factors for mental health outcomes, though their effects are rather moderate or weak. Both religion and social support can influence mental health by imbuing life with a sense of meaning and significance, and offering fellowship in times of stress and suffering.ConclusionsBoth religiousness and social support are associated with mental health outcomes, but the character of these associations depends on particular dimensions.
Psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ)
Authors: Walęcka-Matyja Katarzyna 
Published: January 2015

Aim of the studyPolish studies have not been focused on the method enabling a reliable and valid measure of the psychological attributes of sibling relationships in the period of adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation of the Adult Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (ASRQ).Subject or material and methodsThe study included 406 students of different majors of the University of Łódź and the Łódź University of Technology. In the surveyed group, 58.9% were women (n=239) and 41.1% men (n=167). The participants of the survey were adult, aged from 18 to 35 years (M=23.7,SD=3,891).ResultsThe three main ASRQ factors (Warmth, Conflict, Rivalry) showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α .87-.97). Correlations between the individual scales creating the main factors demonstrate similar patterns to the results obtained by the authors of the original version of the ASRQ. The results of the conducted exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses confirm the factorial structure of the original version of the ASRQ.DiscussionThe presented results indicate that the ASRQ in the Polish adaptation is a reliable and valid multidimensional measure of relationships between siblings in early adulthood.ConclusionsThe Polish version of the ASRQ could be used as an appropriate measure assessing relations between siblings in adulthood in Poland.
Hedge Funds and Stock Market Efficiency
Authors: Kokkonen Joni , Suominen Matti 
Published: January 2015

We measure misvaluation using the discounted residual income model. As shown in the literature, this measure of stocks' misvaluation significantly explains their future cross-sectional returns. We measure the market-level misvaluation (market inefficiency) by the misvaluation spread: the difference in the misvaluation of the most overvalued and undervalued shares. We show that the misvaluation spread is a strong predictor of a misvaluation-based long–short portfolio’s returns, reinforcing the hypothesis that it proxies for the level of mispricing in the stock market. Using data on hedge fund returns, hedge fund industry assets under management, flows, and individual hedge fund holdings, we present evidence that hedge funds' trading reduces market-level misvaluation. Our results are robust across different time periods and are not driven by market liquidity. Moreover, we find that mutual funds do not have the price-correcting effect that hedge funds have. This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Effects of silver nanoparticles on human health
Authors: Korani Mitra , Ghazizadeh Elham , Korani Shahla , Hami Zahra , Mohammadi-Bardbori Afshin 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThere has been a great deal of attention and research devoted on nanoparticels (NPs) over the last 10 years. From current knowledge in the field of nanotoxicology, it has become evident that the most NPs, if not all are more toxic than bulk materials. The rapid progress and developing has been leading to concerns about the potential risk associated with the use and application of NPs on human health and the environment. Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are one of the most available and commercially distributed nanomaterials around the world. In order to understand how human health can be affected by SNPs, quantification and detection of SNPs in biological systems have to be conducted in different models. It seems that respiratory and gastrointestinal systems as well as the skin are the major routes of SNPs penetration into the body. Research on SNPs toxicity is mostly conducted in vitro, and the available human and animal data are relatively limited. This review attempts to focus on the characterization and quantification of the potential harmful effects of SNPs on human health.
Finite Element Model to Predict the Bioconversion Rate of Glucose to Fructose using Escherichia coli K12 for Sugar Production from Date
Authors: Trigui Maher , Gabsi Karim , Zneti Walid , Barrington Suzelle , Helal Ahmed Noureddine 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
In this study, Bioconversion process of glucose to fructose from date syrup using Escherichia coli K12 is modeled using a commercial computational fluids dynamics (CFD) code fluent FLUENT 6.3.23 [8] which we implemented a user-defined functions (UDF) to simulate the interrelationships at play between various phases. A two phases CFD model was developed using an Eulerian – Eulerian approach to calculate the fructose volume fraction produced during time. The bioconversion process was studied as function of three initial concentration of glucose (0.14, 0.242 and 0.463gL–1), three induction time (60, 120 and 180 mn) and three inoculum volume (100, 120 and 150mL). The numerical results are compared with experimental data for bioconversion rate and show good agreement (R2= 0.894). The optimal condition of diffusion was obtained by applying an initial concentration of glucose less than 0.2gL–1 and induction time great than 100 minutes.
A Hybrid Heuristic Algorithm for the Intelligent Transportation Scheduling Problem of the BRT System
Authors: Ning Zheng , Tao Chen , Fei Lin , Haitao Xu 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis work proposes a hybrid heuristic algorithm to solve the bus rapid transit (BRT) intelligent scheduling problem, which is a combination of the genetic algorithm, simulated annealing algorithm, and fitness scaling method. The simulated annealing algorithm can increase the local search ability of the genetic algorithm, so as to accelerate its convergence speed. Fitness scaling can reduce the differences between individuals in the early stage of the algorithm, to prevent the genetic algorithm from falling into a local optimum through increasing the diversity of the population. It can also increase the selection probability of outstanding individuals, and speed up the convergence at the late stage of the algorithm, by increasing the differences between individuals. Using real operational data of BRT Line 1 in a city of Zhejiang province, the new scheduling scheme can be obtained through algorithm simulation. The passengers’ total waiting time in a single way will be reduced by 40 h on average under the same operating cost compared with the original schedule scheme in a day.
Efficiency at optimal work from finite source and sink: A probabilistic perspective
Authors: Johal Ramandeep S. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
We revisit the classic thermodynamic problem of maximum work extraction from
arbitrary-sized source of heat and sink, modelled as
perfect gases. For a given initial state of the process,
we assume ignorance of the final temperatures.
We quantify the prior information about the process and assign a prior distribution
to the unknown temperature(s).
This requires that we also take into account the temperature values
which are not regarded in standard analysis.
In the present formulation, however, such values appear to be consistent
with the given prior information and hence are included here in the inference.
We derive estimates of the efficiency
at optimal work from the expected values of the final temperatures,
and show that these match with the exact expressions in the limit when
any one of the systems is very large compared to the other.
For other relative sizes of the source and the sink,
a weighted mean is defined over
the estimates from two valid inference procedures, that generalizes
the procedure suggested earlier in
[J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 46 (2013), 365002].
The mean estimate for efficiency obtained in this way agrees with the results of the optimal performance quite accurately.
On stress relaxation timescales for dense binary particulate systems
Authors: Mao Shaolin 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
We study contact stress relaxation timescales,
especially the temporal correlation involved in dense binary particulate systems, which offers
insight into the intriguing relationship between the contact stresses and
the contact time of particle interactions under non-equilibrium state. The
contact time (also referred to as contact age) of a pair of particles is
defined by the duration between current time and the instant when the
contact was formed. The interspecies inter-particles contact stresses are
derived from Liouville's theorem. We apply particle dynamics methods
(e.g. molecular dynamics, discrete element method) to simulate 3D dense binary
particulate systems with periodic boundary conditions. External perturbation
is exerted on the system to balance the dissipation of energy due to the
viscoelastic collisions. The contact stresses, Reynolds stresses, and the
probability density function of the contact time of particles are
predicted at different volume fraction of particles. The obtained
stress-strain rate data are used to examine the constitutive relation of
macroscopic materials. The study targets the impact of the short-term and
the long-term contact/collision on the contact stress relaxation. The
simulation results reveal distinct effects of the short-term and the
long-term contact/collision on the contact stresses, which have been treated
by only an averaged expression of particle interactions in discrete element
methods before.
Performance Analysis of Multihop Free Space Optical Communication System with Pointing Errors
Authors: Sharma Manish , Chadha D. , Chandra Vinod 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we have derived closed form expressions for the outage probability and average capacity of multihop free space optical communication system, employing either decode and forward relaying or amplify and forward relaying. The atmospheric channel is characterized by an aggregate channel model, which includes atmospheric attenuation, atmospheric turbulence and pointing errors. Gamma-Gamma channel model is used to model the turbulence of the atmosphere, and pointing error effects are considered by jitter standard deviation parameter. The results obtained from the analytical expressions are verified by Monte Carlo simulation. The performance of the multihop free space optical communication system improves with hop count for both relaying techniques, for same link length. The pointing error deteriorates the performance of the system under consideration, and the performance of a decode and forward relaying is better than the amplify and forward relaying, in terms of both average capacity and outage probability.