bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cyclic deformations of polypropylene with a strain‐controlled program
Authors: Drozdov A.D. , Dusunceli N. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractExperimental data are reported on isotactic polypropylene in uniaxial tensile cyclic tests with a strain‐controlled program (oscillations between fixed minimum and maximum strains). The following characteristic features of stress–strain diagrams are observed: (i) logarithmic decay in maximum and minimum stresses with number of cycles (cyclic softening), (ii) more pronounced reduction in minimum stress than in maximum stress (cyclic strengthening), (iii) independence of rates of decrease in maximum and minimum stresses of strain rate, (iv) decrease in hysteresis energy with number of cycles. To rationalize these observations, a constitutive model is derived in cyclic viscoelasticity and viscoplasticity of semicrystalline polymers. Numerical simulation demonstrates that the model correctly describes experimental stress–strain curves and quantitatively predicts evolution of maximum and minimum stresses with number of cycles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Organic photovoltaics: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Gaudiana Russell 
Published: April 2012

AbstractChallenges remain overcome on the road to manufacturing stable, high‐performance organic photovoltaic modules in high volume at low cost. The major challenges are centered on stability to high‐intensity solar radiation, which represents one of the many accelerated aging tests, and module efficiency. Several of the underlying problems for both of these will be discussed in the text, and some will be addressed in the following papers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012
Assessing ventilatory control in infants at high risk of sleep disordered breathing: A study of infants with cleft lip and/or palate
Authors: MacLean Joanna E. , Tan Sara , Fitzgerald Dominic A. , Waters Karen A. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractNeonatal exposure to intermittent hypoxia results in altered ventilatory response to subsequent hypoxia in animal models. The effect of similar exposure in human infants is unknown. Our objective was to determine the impact of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in early infancy on ventilatory response in infants. We recruited consecutive infants with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) to undergo ventilatory response testing using exposure to a hypoxic (15% O2) gas mixture during sleep. This population is at high risk of SDB because of smaller airway caliber and abnormal palatal muscle attachments predisposing them to airway obstruction of ranging severity from birth. Ventilatory responses were compared between infants with a low apnea–hypopnea index (AHI; AHI < 15 events/hr) and a high AHI (AHI ≥ 15 events/hr). Testing was successfully completed in 22 of 23 infants who underwent testing at 4.4 ± 4.8 months. Infants with high AHI had lower weight z‐scores, higher number of oxygen desaturation events during sleep, but similar oxygen saturation (SpO2) nadir compared to infants with low AHI. The pattern of ventilatory response to hypoxia differed between the two groups; infants with high AHI had an earlier ventilatory decline and a blunted maximal ventilatory response to hypoxia. Infants with a high AHI use a different strategy to augment ventilation in response to hypoxia; while infants with a low AHI initially increased respiratory rate, tidal volume was the first parameter to increase in infants with high AHI. These results demonstrate that SDB in infancy is associated with altered ventilatory response to hypoxia. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:265–273. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Population dynamics and breeding patterns of multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis (Smith 1834), in irrigated rice fields in Eastern Tanzania
Authors: Mulungu Loth S , Ngowo Victoria , Mdangi Mashaka , Katakweba Abdul S , Tesha Protas , Mrosso Furaha P , Mchomvu Mary , Sheyo Paul M , Kilonzo Bukhet S 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Multimammate mice are the most important vertebrate pests in Sub‐Saharan Africa and are also reservoirs of many zoonotic diseases, including sylvan plague. This study investigated the population dynamics and breeding patterns of this mouse in irrigated rice cropping systems in eastern Tanzania.RESULTS: The multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis, population varied with habitat and months. Fallow land had a more abundant population than rice fields. The highest population peak was observed during the dry season from July to October. Mastomys natalensis is sexually active throughout the year in the study area, although it reaches the highest level in June and December when rice is at the maturity stage. This suggests that breeding is highly influenced by the presence of a rice crop in both seasons. More juvenile individuals were recorded in August and September, indicating that they were produced in the previous breeding months. The sex ratio of M. natalensis was not skewed to either males or females, indicating that it was at parity.CONCLUSION: Rodent population dynamics during the study periods in all habitats indicated that high birth rates accounted for the rapid population growth and turnover. Regular control and sustainable operations are thus essential if rodent pest populations are to be kept within tolerable limits. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Development of a thin‐film sensor array for analytical monitoring of heavy metals in aqueous solutions
Authors: Spelthahn Heiko , Kirsanov Dmitry , Legin Andrey , Osterrath Thomas , Schubert Jürgen , Zander Willi , Schöning Michael J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn industrial processes there is a variety of heavy metals (e.g., copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead) in use for wires, coatings, paints, alloys, batteries, etc. Since the application of these transition metals for industry is inevitable, it is a vital task to develop proper analytical techniques for their monitoring at low activity levels, especially because most of these elements are acutely toxic for biological organisms. The determination of ions in solution by means of a simple and inexpensive sensor array is, therefore, a promising task. In this work, a sensor array with heavy metal‐sensitive chalcogenide glass membranes for the simultaneous detection of the four ions Ag+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+ in solution is realized. The results of the physical characterization by means of microscopy, profilometry, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as the electrochemical characterization by means of potentiometric measurements are presented. Additionally, the possibility to expand the sensor array by polymeric sensor membranes is discussed.
A fusion protein for regenerative surfaces
Authors: Dassinger Nina , Vornicescu Doru , Merkl Stefan , Kehrel Marcus , Dayyoub Eyas , Bakowsky Udo , Keusgen Michael 
Published: April 2012

AbstractImmobilization of biomolecules on solid surfaces is often combined with a partial loss of functionality. Therefore, smooth immobilization procedures are urgently required. Most recently, a Concanavalin A–Streptavidin (Con A–SAv) fusion protein was obtained, which allows the design of functionalized interfaces via self‐assembling. The protein was successfully produced in Escherichia coli and the functionality was tested by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements as well as by the mean of reflectometric interference spectroscopy. A re‐generation of the mannan‐coated surfaces, by washing with buffer containing 10% methyl α‐D‐mannopyranoside, could be demonstrated. This procedure should allow multiple measurements without replacing the chip. Investigation of the functionalized surfaces by atomic force microscopy showed a rather uniform coating with mannan and the fusion protein. In conclusion, the designed Con A–SAv fusion protein can be used as a universal linker between mannan‐coated surfaces and biotinylated biomolecules, e.g. biotinylated antibodies.
A mass‐conserving non‐iteration‐dimensional‐split semi‐Lagrangian advection scheme for limited‐area modelling
Authors: Zhang Yunfei , Juang Hann‐Ming Henry 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA newly developed mass‐conserving semi‐Lagrangian advection scheme for limited area modelling is illustrated, which requires no initial guess and no iteration for determining trajectories and is different from the traditional semi‐Lagrangian scheme. This scheme uses operator splitting to extend one dimension to multi‐dimensions to avoid 2D interpolation or remapping. In addition to the mass conservation, the scheme is relatively simple and is competitively accurate as compared to other semi‐Lagrangian schemes. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Hydrogen–hydrogen interaction in the LaNiInH4/3 hydride
Authors: Orgaz Emilio , Aburto Andrea 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe have investigated the electronic structure of LaNiIn intermetallic compound and the derived LaNiInH4/3 hydride. All‐electron electronic structure computations in the solid state as well as in molecular fragments were carried out. We found evidence of H–H attractive interactions indicating that the violation of Westlake criteria, which establish a minimal H–H distance in intermetallic compounds can be interpreted in a different manner. We computed the energy bands and the total and partial density of states using ab initio full potential‐all electron band structure technique. The analysis of the charge density allow us to characterize a bonding critical point between the close hydrogen atoms in the LaNiInH4/3 hydride. Electronic structure of molecular of fragments computed at different theory levels is consistent with the presence of this critical point. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Non‐Circular Hydraulic Jump on a Moving Surface due to an Impinging Circular Free Surface Jet of Water
Authors: Seraj Mohammad M. , Gadala Mohamed S. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractLiquid jet impingement has many industrial cooling applications such as metal manufacturing and steel cooling on run‐out tables (ROT). The development of the wetting front around the impingement point of a jet is central in jet impingement cooling. In this paper, the effects of moving target surface and jet Reynolds number on wetted zone and on the formation and location of hydraulic jump (HJ) are explored through a series of industrial‐scale experiments of an impinging circular free surface long water jet with high Reynolds number of 11 000–50 000 and industrial jet parameters. The moving test surface impacts the radial evolution of circular wetted zone in all directions and alter the circular HJ at the wetting front into a non‐circular contour that depends on the jet Re number. The limited relations in the literature do not represent these measured shapes and do not appropriately predict radii of HJ in industrial scale. A new correlation for radius of non‐circular HJ has been derived in this study that compared more accurately to the experimental data. Numerical simulations of radial impingement flow on moving surface were performed using a variant of k–ε turbulent model and results are compared to the experimental data. The computational results for the wetting front were found to be close to the experimental data indicating the appropriate performance of the turbulent model.
Isolation and characterization of a novel GH67 α-glucuronidase from a mixed culture
Authors: Lee Charles C , Kibblewhite Rena E , Wagschal Kurt , Li Ruiping , Robertson George H , Orts William J 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Hemicelluloses represent a large reservoir of carbohydrates that can be utilized for renewable products. Hydrolysis of hemicellulose into simple sugars is inhibited by its various chemical substituents. The glucuronic acid substituent is removed by the enzyme α-glucuronidase. A gene (deg75-AG) encoding a putative α-glucuronidase enzyme was isolated from a culture of mixed compost microorganisms. The gene was subcloned into a prokaryotic vector, and the enzyme was overexpressed and biochemically characterized. The DEG75-AG enzyme had optimum activity at 45 °C. Unlike other α-glucuronidases, the DEG75-AG had a more basic pH optimum of 7–8. When birchwood xylan was used as substrate, the addition of DEG75-AG increased hydrolysis twofold relative to xylanase alone.
The impact of gender and size on the pathology of small renal mass
Authors: Hsieh Po‐Fan , Chang Chao‐Hsiang , Huang Chi‐Ping , Chen Chi‐Cheng , Chen Kuo‐Liang , Chang Shin‐San , Yeh Chin‐Chung , Chen Wen‐Chi , Chou Chieh‐Lung , Wu Hsi‐Chin 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWithout surgery, it is hard to predict the histology of small (≦ 4 cm) renal masses (SRMs) based on images. This study attempted to investigate whether clinical parameters were correlated with the pathological presence of SRM carcinomas. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 60 patients with 61 suspicious SRMs on radiological examination who received radical nephrectomy (RN) or partial nephrectomy (PN) between January 2003 and February 2011 in the China Medical University Hospital (CMUH). The correlations between patient age, gender, tumor size, and pathological features were calculated and analyzed. Of the 61 SRMs, there were 51 (83.6%) renal cell carcinoma (RCC), seven (11.5%) angiomyolipoma, two (3.3%) oncocytoma, and one (1.6%) metanephric adenoma. Regarding the histological variants of these cases of RCC, 44 were categorized as the clear cell type, two as the papillary type, and five as the chromophobe type. The incidence of benign tumor was greater in females (p = 0.014) and tumor size 2 cm or less (p = 0.02), compared with males and tumor size more than 2 cm, respectively. Surgical intervention is generally recommended for medically fit patients.
Symmetric monoidal structure on non-commutative motives
Authors: Cisinski Denis-Charles , Tabuada Gonçalo 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn this article we further the study of non-commutative motives, initiated in [12, 43]. Our main result is the construction of a symmetric monoidal structure on the localizing motivator Motlocdgof dg categories. As an application, we obtain : (1) a computation of the spectra of morphisms in Motlocdgin terms of non-connective algebraicK-theory; (2) a fully-faithful embedding of Kontsevich's category KMMkof non-commutative mixed motives into the base category Motlocdg(e) of the localizing motivator; (3) a simple construction of the Chern character maps from non-connective algebraicK-theory to negative and periodic cyclic homology; (4) a precise connection between Toën's secondaryK-theory and the Grothendieck ring of KMMk; (5) a description of the Euler characteristic in KMMkin terms of Hochschild homology.
Pricing and profitability in a life office
Authors: Smart I. C. 
Published: April 2012

1.1. Profits are essential to the economic viability and indeed the survival of any enterprise. Life assurance companies are no exception whether they be mutual or proprietary, Unless profit—or as it is often termed, surplus—is available for distribution to shareholders and/or policyholders, the reasonable expectations of shareholders or policyholders will not be met: nor will the office be able to accumulate and maintain adequate contingency funds.1.2. The word profit will be used synonymously with surplus throughout this paper. Profit is defined as the excess during any period of income over outgo, where outgo includes the necessary increase in valuation reserves.
An investigation into the financing of flexible endowment assurances
Authors: Ford P. E. B. , Masters N. B. 
Published: April 2012

1.1. In the past ten years, traditional with-profit endowment assurances have been faced with severe competition from two new products, which offer considerable flexibility to the policyholder combined with certain guarantees not normally available in the traditional endowment policy.The first of these new products, unit-linked assurance, has been analysed in some depth in recent papers submitted to the Institute, Faculty and Tokyo Congress. In particular, papers by Benjamin, Wilkie and Scott have developed stochastic models that have enabled the premiums and valuation reserves for maturity guarantees under these policies to be quantified with a much greater degree of certainty than had previously been the case.
Mortality at the highest ages
Authors: Thatcher A. R. 
Published: April 2012

The pattern of mortality at the highest ages has been considered by many authors, including Redington (1969), Humphrey (1970) and Benjamin (1964, 1982). The questions raised have included the following:(a) Is there a definite upper limit to the span of human life, so that qx reaches unity at a finite age? Or does qx tend gradually to unity as age tends to infinity, as happens under the Gompertz and Makeham laws? Or does qx tend to a constant less than unity, as under the Perks formula or the formula which was used to graduate the English Life Tables No. 11 and 12?(b) Has the fall in mortality rates at lower ages been accompanied by a similar fall at the very highest ages? Has the upper tail of the curve of death (μxlx) shifted?(c) Does the lower mortality of females compared with males extend to the very highest ages, or do the rates eventually tend to converge?
Graduation: some experiments with kernel methods
Authors: Bloomfield D. S. F. , Haberman S. 
Published: April 2012

It may be useful to begin with some introductory comments on the nature of graduation and its uses with particular reference to the distinction between graduation by parametric methods, as described in traditional actuarial textbooks, and graduation by non-parametric methods.Some of the comments have appeared in the early sections of Copas and Haberman's paper which first described the kernel method of non-parametric graduation.Graduation may be regarded as the principles by which a set of data is adjusted in order to provide a basis suitable for inferences to be drawn and further practical calculations to be made. In actuarial terminology, graduation usually refers to a set of decremental rates, and one of the principal actuarial examples of its use is the construction of a life table from a set of age-specific, observed death rates.
The determination of life office appraisal values
Authors: Burrows R.P. , Whitehead G.H. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to examine and document a scientific approach to establishing an estimate of the economic value or range of possible economic values of a life assurance enterprise.This is essentially a practical paper which provides a ‘practitioner's guide’ to performing an actuarial appraisal of a life assurance company rather than providing a rigorous theoretical derivation of the methods. There is, however, a philosophical issue, that of an appropriate risk rate of return, which cannot be completely side-stepped in a paper on appraisal values. This issue is briefly covered in Section 3. It should be noted, however, that an entire paper could be devoted to this subject.The paper finishes on a potentially controversial note, that of UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (UK GAAP) for life assurance companies, suggesting that the appraisal value techniques outlined in this paper could play a major part in formulating UK GAAP.
Matching and portfolio selection: Part 2
Authors: Wise A. J. 
Published: April 2012

8.1 This paper is concerned with the selection of investment portfolios to meet specified criteria which involve the liabilities of a long term investing institution such as a pension fund or a life office. In Part 1 (5) I showed a certain relationship between, on the one hand, portfolios selected according to a criterion of pure matching to the liabilities and, on the other hand, portfolios selected according to a more general criterion of ‘efficiency’. This connection points to a particular actuarial approach to the selection of portfolios, which is now further examined in Part 2.8.2 Writing Part 2 separately presents an opportunity to re-state the main ideas. The next few paragraphs recapitulate the basic points with a view to reducing, within the subsequent discussion, the amount of cross-reference to Part 1, and to the three preceding papers on which the study is based.
On the risk adjusted discount rate for determining life office appraisal values
Authors: Sherris M. 
Published: April 2012

1.1 A number of papers have been written in recent years that discuss the valuation of the business of a life office, examples of these are Burrows and Whitehead (1987) and Bunch (1986). These papers recognize the need to use a risk adjusted discount rate in the calculations. Burrows and Whitehead devote a section of their paper to the determination of such a rate. In their abstract they state that “…an entire paper could be devoted to this subject”. This latter point is supported by the existence already of a number of papers in the finance literature on the very topic of determining risk adjusted discount rates e.g. Robichek and Myers (1966), Fama (1977).1.2 This paper outlines some results of the theory of determining risk adjusted discount rates and the valuation of risky cash flows as developed in the finance literature, and discusses the application of this theory to the determination of life office appraisal values. Some comments are made on Section 3 of the Burrows and Whitehead paper.
Reflections on a takeover of a United Kingdom insurer: a case study
Authors: Salmon I. L. , Fine A. E. M. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe actuary's expertise in the field of life insurance lies mainly in the application of mathematical and statistical techniques to the wide range of issues associated with life insurance business. In particular, the actuary has developed very sophisticated tools for modelling and forecasting and to help in establishing equity between policyholders. In recent years, owners of such businesses, be they policyholders or shareholders, have been coming to depend increasingly upon the actuary's skills to establish value for their overall business. On an ongoing basis, these requirements relate to such things as the need for more complete balance sheet presentation in the case of a proprietary company. Additionally, and inevitably, the actuary is drawn into the world of financial dealing in respect of takeovers and mergers where he is becoming exposed to the commercial risks inherent in being an ‘expert’. The stakes are increasing and in the larger cases hundreds and even thousands of millions of pounds are involved. In this world, the actuary can expect to be subject to a range of pressures from clients, media, takeover rules and so on, all of which are well removed from the actuary's traditional comfort zone. As the stakes increase, so does the threat of litigation.The authors have recently been involved, one as principal and one as actuarial adviser, in the largest hostile takeover in the life insurance industry in the U.K. and, in the process, many issues of significance to the individual and the profession as a whole were exposed. This paper is intended to address this very important area and to flag some areas which could prove to be of increasing concern to the individual and to point to some where the Institute may wish to become involved.