bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Titania Grafting on Behavior of NiMo HDS Catalysts Supported on Nanostructured Silica Materials
Authors: Mendoza-Nieto A. , Puente-Lee I. , Salcedo-Luna C. , Klimova T. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTIn the present work, a comparison study of the NiMo hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts supported on different nanostructured supports of MCM-41 and SBA-15-types and the same ones modified by TiO2 grafting was undertaken. The aim of this study was to inquire on the effect of the characteristics of the primary silica supports on the activity and selectivity of the NiMo catalysts modified with titania in deep HDS. Supports and catalysts were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, small-angle and powder XRD, TPR, UV-vis DRS, and HRTEM, and tested in the simultaneous HDS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT). It was found that titania grafting on all silica supports resulted in a slight decrease of BET surface area and total pore volume. However, the characteristic p6mm hexagonal pore arrangement of the used nanostructured silica materials was not affected. Powder X-ray diffraction pointed out a good dispersion of Mo and Ni oxide species in all prepared catalysts. TPR characterization of the NiMo catalysts revealed some increase in the metal-support interaction after titania grafting on the silica surface. Further DRS characterization indicated that the best dispersion of Mo oxide species was obtained on the TiSBA-15 support. Titania addition to the silica supports also produced an increase in the dispersion of the sulfided NiMo phase, which was more marked for SBA-15 support than for the MCM-41 (HRTEM). The most active NiMo/Ti-SBA-15 catalyst resulted to be significantly more active (∼40 %) than the conventional NiMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in HDS of 4,6-DMDBT.
Theoretical Study of Alkanedithiolated Gold Clusters
Authors: Cabrera-Trujillo J. M. , Jiménez-Cataño R. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTA reactive molecular dynamics simulation study on the structure, energetics, and chemistry of alkanethiolated gold cluster is presented. Through very recent reactive molecular dynamics force-fields developed by Järvi et al. [1], chemical reactions of alkanedithiolates and star-like shape gold nanoparticles are studied throughout octanedithiolates and stellated cuboctahedral gold clusters models [2] at room temperature. Structure, energetics, reactants, and some products of the reactions are preliminarily analyzed up to 25 ps. In general, preliminary results of this work are in agreement with those reported in the review by Love et al. [3].
Recreation as an ecosystem service in open landscapes in the Mediterranean region in Israel: Public preferences
Authors: Koniak Gili , Sheffer Efrat , Noy-Meir Imanuel 
Published: January 2012

In recent years awareness has increased of the importance of open landscapes (natural and semi-natural) for human use, including provision of life-supporting ecological benefits and services. In addition there has been an increase in awareness and demand for recreational activities in nature: cultural, social, sport, and spiritual activities outside of the urban setting. A partial list of all of the environmental benefits or services could add up to dozens of economical, biological, and social benefits. Social benefits such as recreation are just one component of the spectrum of benefits and services that can be derived from natural systems.In this research we assessed the ecosystem service of recreation in a natural setting in the Mediterranean region in Israel. We focused on two specific benefits: picnics and hikes. We assessed recreationers' preferences using questionnaire-based surveys that were carried out directly at the research site, Ramat Hanadiv Park (RH park), while people were conducting the particular activity (picnic or hike). The research aim was to estimate the preferences of hikers and picnickers for different types of natural vegetation formations. We found that visitors preferred to hike in the open garrigue compared to either the dense scrub or the pine forest, whereas for picnics both the open garrigue and the planted pine forest were preferred over the dense scrub. We tested the attractiveness of each component of the landscape (e.g., trees, flowers, animals, archaeology) for hikers and picnickers. Surveys showed that scenery was highly and unanimously ranked. Flowering plants, birds, native trees, and to some extent gazelles, deer, and butterflies were ranked high, while reptiles, beetles, and cattle received a much lower attractiveness rank. The ranking of archeological sites and pine forest was more variable, and intermediate to the two main groups above. We analyzed these preferences according to different age and population distributions of visitors to the park and found only slight effects of the level of education.The answers from this research can facilitate land managers and decision-makers in providing the ecosystem service of recreation, and to guide management for obtaining the desired vegetation formations for this aim, according to the preferences of hikers and picnickers.
Corporate Social Performance, Innovation Intensity, and Financial Performance: Evidence from Lending Decisions
Authors: Guiral Andrés 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT
This study examines how loan requests for intensifying corporate social performance (CSP) activities and loan requests for increasing innovation intensity affect loan officers' credit judgments and lending decisions. In addition, the impact of a balanced loan request for both CSP and innovation intensity was examined. An experiment was designed by manipulating the purpose of a loan request from a pharmaceutical company in order to create four alternative lending scenarios: (1) a full loan request for intensifying CSP activities; (2) a full loan request for increasing innovation intensity; (3) a loan request for a balanced investment in both CSP and innovation; and (4) a general purpose loan request (control group). The findings support that CSP investment is interpreted by loan officers as an indicator of superior corporate financial performance. However, no clear positive relationship between innovation intensity and lending decisions was found. These results are consistent with the view that lenders could be reluctant to fund innovation intensity initiatives because there may be a considerable time lag between this investment and its payoff. Contrary to expectations, a balanced loan request for both CSP and innovation was not interpreted by loan officers as the most favorable lending scenario for an innovative firm.
Comments by the Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association on the PCAOB Rulemaking Docket Matter 029: PCAOB Release No. 2011-007, Improving Transparency Through Disclosure of Engagement Partner and Certain Other Participants in Audits
Authors: Jones Keith L. , Aier Jagadison K. , Brandon Duane M. , Carpenter Tina D. , Caster Paul , Lisic Ling Lei , Pevzner Mikhail B. 
Published: January 2012

SUMMARY
In October 2011, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB or Board) issued a release to solicit public comment on amendments to its standards that would improve the transparency of pubic company audits. The objective of the release was to solicit public comments on a proposed standard that would (1) require registered public accounting firms to disclose the name of the engagement partner in the audit report, (2) amend the Board's Annual Report Form to require registered firms to disclose the name of the engagement partner for each audit report already required to be reported on the form, and (3) require disclosure in the audit report of other independent public accounting firms and other persons that took part in the audit. The PCAOB provided for a 91-day exposure period (from October 11, 2011, to January 9, 2012) for interested parties to examine the release and provide comments. The Auditing Standards Committee of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association provided the comments in the letter below to the PCAOB on PCAOB Rulemaking Docket Matter 029: PCAOB Release No. 2011-007, Improving Transparency Through Disclosure of Engagement Partner and Certain Other Participants in Audits.
Data Availability: Information about and access to the release is available at: http://pcaobus.org/Rules/Rulemaking/Docket029/PCAOB_Release_2011-007.pdf
Will the 2010 'Code Pastoral' Help Herders in Central Niger? Land Rights and Land Use Strategies in the Grasslands of Abalak and Dakoro Departments
Authors: Oxby Clare 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Based on a visit to Niger's pastoral zone at the height of the 2010 drought crisis and shortly after the 'Code Pastoral' legislation had been agreed by the interim government, this article compares land use trends in two Tuareg-led administrative communes. The code has been found to be too late and too weak to bring much support to full-time mobile pastoralists, whose livelihoods are increasingly under threat from demographic pressures and the loss of grazing land. Mobility of people and herds persists, not only in relation to herding but also complementary crop farming and the migratory search for paid labour; at the same time sedentarization is also occurring, not only among impoverished herders but even among the administrative elite. Indeed certain herders' leaders are encouraging it as a way of consolidating herders' land rights. This policy, however, entails further loss of grazing land, further squeezing of the only sustainable livelihood in these semi-arid areas, and renders more likely the recurrence of drought-related crisis and the necessity for exceptional mobility and out migration.
Lire et écrire avec Jean-Pierre Richard
Authors: Mathieu Jean-Claude 
Published: January 2012

Résumé Présentation de ce numéro en hommage à Jean-Pierre Richard. On rappelle l’extrême importance de cette œuvre critique, pénétrante, vaste, allant des classiques des xix e et xx e siècles aux romanciers contemporains, qui a restitué à la lecture des œuvres la « chair du monde », l’assise sensorielle, d’où part un projet d’être, un désir de se découvrir et de se construire par l’écriture. La parole a été laissée à des romanciers contemporains, qu’il avait d’abord lus : portrait en miroir de leur lecteur.
Portrait d’un policier de la brigade anti-criminalité dans une « cité ghetto » française
Authors: Boucher Manuel 
Published: January 2012

Face à l’intensité des violences lors des émeutes urbaines de l’automne 2005, pour prévenir et réprimer d’éventuels nouveaux désordres, l’État a décidé de renforcer la présence des forces de l’ordre en capacité de se confronter à la « jeunesse turbulente » des quartiers populaires. Des interactions frictionnelles, des rapports paroxystiques et complexes vont alors se développer entre des jeunes « figures de désordres » et des acteurs institués et émergents d’encadrement des classes populaires, en particulier des policiers chargés de pacifier les cités périphériques ghettoïsées. Dans ce contexte, à partir d’une enquête ethnographique dans une cité ségréguée, cet article dresse le portrait sociologique d’un policier de la brigade anti-criminalité (BAC) de nuit. À partir de la description de son travail quotidien, de ses épreuves et de ses modes d’action, de sa relation à la violence, notamment des émeutes urbaines ainsi que des rapports d’hostilité qu’il entretient avec une partie de la population, ce texte montre que l’expérience sociale des policiers en confrontation avec des « jeunes turbulents » est ambivalente puisqu’ils sont à la fois « traqueurs » et « victimes ».
The Importance of Adjuvant Formulation in the Development of a Tuberculosis Vaccine
Authors: Baldwin Susan L. , Bertholet Sylvie , Reese Valerie A. , Ching Lance K. , Reed Steven G. , Coler Rhea N. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
An effective protein-based vaccine for tuberculosis will require a safe and effective adjuvant. There are few adjuvants in approved human vaccines, including alum and the oil-in-water–based emulsions MF59 (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics), AS03 and AS04 (GlaxoSmithKline Biologics), AF03 (Sanofi), and liposomes (Crucell). When used with pure, defined proteins, both alum and emulsion adjuvants are effective at inducing primarily humoral responses. One of the newest adjuvants in approved products is AS04, which combines monophosphoryl lipid A, a TLR-4 agonist, with alum. In this study, we compared two adjuvants: a stable oil-in-water emulsion (SE) and a stable oil-in-water emulsion incorporating glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant, a synthetic TLR-4 agonist (GLA-SE), each together with a recombinant protein, ID93. Both the emulsion SE and GLA-SE adjuvants induce potent cellular responses in combination with ID93 in mice. ID93/SE induced Th2-biased immune responses, whereas ID93/GLA-SE induced multifunctional CD4+ Th1 cell responses (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2). The ID93/GLA-SE vaccine candidate induced significant protection in mice and guinea pigs, whereas no protection was observed with ID93/SE, as assessed by reductions in bacterial burden, survival, and pathology. These results highlight the importance of properly formulating subunit vaccines with effective adjuvants for use against tuberculosis.
The Multistep Tunneling Analogue of Conductivity Mismatch in Organic Spin Valves
Authors: Tran T. Lan Anh , Le T. Quyen , Sanderink Johnny G. M. , van der Wiel Wilfred G. , de Jong Michel P. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractCarbon‐based, molecular semiconductors offer several attractive attributes for spintronics, such as exceptionally weak spin‐orbit coupling and compatibility with bottom‐up nanofabrication. In spite of the promising properties of organic spin valves, however, the physical mechanisms governing spin‐polarized conduction remain poorly understood. An experimental study of C60‐based spin valves is presented and their behavior is modeled with spin‐polarized tunneling via multiple intermediate states with a Gaussian energy distribution. It is shown that, analogous to conductivity mismatch in the diffusive regime, the magnetoresistance decreases with the number of intermediate tunnel steps, regardless of the value of the spin lifetime. This mechanism has been largely overlooked in previous studies of organic spin valves. In addition, using measurements of the temperature and bias dependence of the magnetoresistance, inhomogeneous magnetostatic fields resulting from interfacial roughness are identified as a source for spin relaxation and dephasing. These findings constitute a comprehensive understanding of the processes underlying spin‐polarized transport in these structures and shed new light on previous studies of organic spin valves.
New oral anticoagulants: A view from the laboratory
Authors: Weitz Jeffrey I. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe new oral anticoagulants are rapidly replacing warfarin for several indications. In contrast to warfarin, which lowers the functional levels of all of the vitamin K‐dependent clotting factors, the new agents target either factor Xa or thrombin. With targeted inhibition of coagulation, the new oral anticoagulants have pharmacological, biochemical, and clinical features distinct from those of warfarin. Focusing on laboratory perspectives, this article compares and contrasts the pharmacological and biochemical properties of thenew oral anticoagulants with those of warfarin and uses this information to speculate on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the clinical features that differentiate the new agents from warfarin. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical, histopathologic, and genetic features of pediatric primary myelofibrosis—An entity different from adults
Authors: DeLario Melissa R. , Sheehan Andrea M. , Ataya Ramona , Bertuch Alison A. , Vega Carlos , Webb C. Renee , Lopez‐Terrada Dolores , Venkateswaran Lakshmi 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPrimary myelofibrosis is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by cytopenias, leukoerythroblastosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, hepatosplenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis. Primary myelofibrosis is a rare disorder in adults; children are even less commonly affected by this entity, with the largest pediatric case series reporting on three patients. Most literature suggests spontaneous resolution of myelofibrosis without long term complications in the majority of affected children. We describe the clinical, pathologic, and molecular characteristics and outcomes of nineteen children with primary myelofibrosis treated in our center from 1984 to 2011. Most patients had cytopenia significant enough to require supportive therapy. No child developed malignant transformation and only five of the 19 children (26%) had spontaneous resolution of disease. Sequence analyses for JAK2V617F and MPLW515L mutations were performed on bone marrow samples from 17 and six patients, respectively, and the results were negative. In conclusion, analysis of this large series of pediatric patients with primary myelofibrosis demonstrates distinct clinical, hematologic, bone marrow, and molecular features from adult patients.Am. J. Hematol. 87:461–464, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Enhancing Protein Backbone Binding—A Fruitful Concept for Combating Drug‐Resistant HIV
Authors: Ghosh Arun K. , Anderson David D. , Weber Irene T. , Mitsuya Hiroaki 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe evolution of drug resistance is one of the most fundamental problems in medicine. In HIV/AIDS, the rapid emergence of drug‐resistant HIV‐1 variants is a major obstacle to current treatments. HIV‐1 protease inhibitors are essential components of present antiretroviral therapies. However, with these protease inhibitors, resistance occurs through viral mutations that alter inhibitor binding, resulting in a loss of efficacy. This loss of potency has raised serious questions with regard to effective long‐term antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS. In this context, our research has focused on designing inhibitors that form extensive hydrogen‐bonding interactions with the enzyme’s backbone in the active site. In doing so, we limit the protease’s ability to acquire drug resistance as the geometry of the catalytic site must be conserved to maintain functionality. In this Review, we examine the underlying principles of enzyme structure that support our backbone‐binding concept as an effective means to combat drug resistance and highlight their application in our recent work on antiviral HIV‐1 protease inhibitors.
Mechanical properties and crystallization behavior of toughened polyamide‐6/carbon nanotube composites
Authors: Augustine J. M. , Maiti S. N. , Gupta A. K. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThis article presents a study on nanocomposite prepared by incorporation of single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) into the blend of polyamide‐6 (PA‐6) and ethylene–propylene–diene elastomer grafted with maleic anhydride (EPDM‐g‐MA), with varying SWNT content from 1 to 3% with the fixed composition of the matrix (PA‐6: EPDM‐g‐MA being 65 : 35). Tensile properties of the rubber toughened PA‐6 (i.e., PA‐6/EPDM‐g‐MA blend) increased on incorporation of the nanofiller SWNT. Crystallization behavior studied through the analysis of the DSC crystallization exotherm showed distinct changes with varying content of the nanofiller. The SWNT nanofiller showed initially an enhancement of nucleation rate, which was overlapped with slowing down of crystallization growth rate, which results in smaller crystallinity and decreased crystal size. This slowing down of crystalline growth with increasing SWNT content is attributed to the presence of SWNT in the form of network like dispersion as seen by the scanning electron microscopic measurement. The decrease of crystallinity with increasing SWNT content is also shown by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The changes in XRD pattern indicate a variation in the relative proportion of α and γ crystalline forms of PA‐6 due to the presence of SWNT nanofiller. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Curing and characterization of oxazolidone‐isocyanurate‐ether networks
Authors: Flores Marjorie , Fernández‐Francos Xavier , Morancho Josep M. , Serra Àngels , Ramis Xavier 
Published: January 2012

AbstractOxazolidone‐isocyanurate‐ether networks were prepared by copolymerization of mixtures of DGEBA and toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI) in presence of benzyldimethylamine (BDMA) as catalyst. Changes during curing and final properties of the cured materials were investigated by using DSC, FTIR/ATR, TMA, DMTA, TGA, and densitometry. The influence of the molar ratio of isocyanate to epoxide groups on the properties and curing were studied. The kinetics of curing was analyzed by means of an integral isoconversional nonisothermal procedure. The fractions of oxazolidone, isocyanurate, and ether groups present in the final network were evaluated and were found to be dependent on the initial isocyanate/epoxy ratio and curing conditions. By increasing the initial proportion of isocyanate the glass transition temperature, the thermal stability, the shrinkage, and the amount of isocyanurate rings increase, whereas the fraction of ether linkages and oxazolidones decreases. It was observed that the gelation is controlled by the formation of isocyanurate rings at the beginning of the curing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Molecular weight effect on theta‐gel formation in poly(vinyl alcohol)–poly(ethylene glycol) mixtures
Authors: Bodugoz‐Senturk Hatice , Oral Ebru , Choi Jeeyoung , Macias Celia , Muratoglu Orhun K. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractInjectable hydrogel formulations that undergo in situ gelation at body temperature are promising for minimally invasive tissue repair. This work focuses on the investigation of injectable poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) mixtures. The injectable PVA–PEG aqueous solutions form a hydrogel as temperature is reduced to near body temperature, while filling a defect in the injection site. Gamma sterilization of these solutions compromises injectability presumably due to crosslinking of PVA. We hypothesized that by modifying the PEG molecular weight and its concentration, injectability of radiation sterilized PVA–PEG hydrogels can be optimized without compromising the mechanical properties of the resulting gel. The use of a bimodal mixture of higher and lower molecular weight PEG (600 and 200 g/mol) resulted in lower PVA/PEG solution viscosity, better injectability, and higher gel mechanical strength. The PVA/bimodal‐PEG had a lower viscosity at 2733 ± 149 cP versus a viscosity of 5560 ± 278 cP for PVA/unimodal‐PEG (400 g/mol). The gel formed with the bimodal PEG mixture had higher creep resistance (61% total creep strain under 0.5 MPa) than that formed with unimodal PEG (84%). These hydrogel formulations are promising candidates for minimally invasive tissue repair. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012