bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
INSTITUTIONAL TRUST AND OPINIONS OF CORRUPTION
Authors: Sööt Mari‐Liis , Rootalu Kadri 
Published: January 2012

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to examine individual factors that influence attitudes towards corruption. The study used data from an original opinion survey conducted in the Estonian public sector. The results demonstrate that trust in institutions, age and nationality are the most important individual factors to influence public officials' awareness of corruption and the extent to which they are ready to condemn corrupt and unethical behaviour. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multi‐responsive polymeric microcontainers for potential biomedical applications: synthesis and functionality evaluation
Authors: Bilalis Panayiotis , Efthimiadou Eleni K. , Chatzipavlidis Alexandros , Boukos Nikos , Kordas George C. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractTemperature and pH responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐methacrylic acid) (P(NIPAAm‐co‐MAA)) microcontainers with encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles in the shell were prepared by a two‐stage distillation precipitation polymerization. PMAA@Fe3O4/P(NIPAAm‐co‐MAA) core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized by the second‐stage polymerization of NIPAAm, MAA and N, N′‐methylenebisacrylamide as crosslinker in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles and PMAA as core. These novel triple‐functional microcontainers were prepared by selective removal of the PMAA core in water. Daunorubicin hydrochloride (DNR) was loaded into the microcontainers and the release profile was studied by UV–visible spectroscopy. The synthesized nanostructures were characterized with transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The magnetic properties were evaluated by vibrating sample magnetometry. The shrink and swelling behavior was studied by dynamic light scattering. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Insights into the molecular mechanism of tolerance to carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides in Pythium aphanidermatum
Authors: Blum Mathias , Gisi Ulrich 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Tolerance to the oomycete‐specific carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides is a poorly understood mechanism in Pythium species. The root‐rot and damping‐off causative agent Pythium aphanidermatum and the CAA fungicide mandipropamid (MPD) were used to investigate the molecular basis of CAA tolerance.RESULTS: Five genes putatively involved in carbohydrate synthesis were identified and characterised: one chitin synthase gene, PaChs, and four cellulose synthase genes PaCesA1 to PaCesA4, of which PaCesA3 encodes the MPD target enzyme. These genes were differentially expressed throughout the life cycle of P. aphanidermatum. Mycelium treated with MPD concentrations slightly affecting mycelial growth did not cause a change in PaCesA3 expression nor a strong upregulation of PaCesA homologues. The high tolerance level of P. aphanidermatum and the lack of PaCesA upregulation imply that MPD tolerance is the result of a specific amino acid configuration in the cellulose synthase 3 (CesA3) target enzyme. Indeed, P. aphanidermatum displays the amino acid L1109 which is also associated with MPD resistance in artificial mutants of Phytophthora species.CONCLUSION: It is concluded that MPD tolerance in P. aphanidermatum is not caused by compensatory mechanisms but most likely by an inherent target‐site configuration in PaCesA3 that hinders MPD binding to the enzyme pocket. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Variation in the sensitivity of Callosobruchus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) acetylcholinesterase to the organophosphate insecticide malaoxon: effect of species, geographical strain and food type
Authors: Gbaye Olajire A , Holloway Graham J , Callaghan Amanda 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Bruchid beetles, Callosobruchus species, are serious pests of economically important grain legumes; their activity in stores is often controlled by the use of synthetic insecticides. Esterases are known to be involved in insecticide resistance in insects. However, there is a dearth of information on esterase activity in the genus Callosobruchus. In this study, the effect of species, geographical strain and food type on the variation in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and its inhibition by malaoxon (malathion metabolite) was investigated using an in vitro spectrophotometric method.RESULT: AChE activity varied significantly among species and strains and also among legume type used for rearing them. Generally, irrespective of species, strain or food type, the higher the AChE activity of a population, the higher is its inhibition by malaoxon. C. chinensis had the highest AChE activity of the species studied, and in the presence of malaoxon it had the lowest remaining AChE activity, while C. rhodesianus retained the highest activity.CONCLUSION: A first‐hand knowledge of AChE activity in regional Callosobruchus in line with the prevailing food types should be of utmost importance to grain legume breeders, researchers on plant materials for bruchid control and pesticide manufacturer/applicators for a robust integrated management of these bruchids. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Imaging and identifying defects in nitride semiconductor thin films using a scanning electron microscope
Authors: Naresh‐Kumar G. , Hourahine B. , Vilalta‐Clemente A. , Ruterana P. , Gamarra P. , Lacam C. , Tordjman M. , di Forte‐Poisson M. A. , Parbrook P. J. , Day A. P. , England G. , Trager‐Cowan C. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWe describe the use of electron channelling contrast imaging (ECCI) – in a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) – to reveal and identify defects in nitride semiconductor thin films. In ECCI changes in crystallographic orientation, or changes in lattice constant due to local strain, are revealed by changes in grey scale in an image constructed by monitoring the intensity of backscattered electrons (BSEs) as an electron beam is scanned over a suitably oriented sample. Extremely small orientation changes are detectable, enabling small angle tilt and rotation boundaries and dislocations to be imaged. Images with a resolution of tens of nanometres are obtainable with ECCI. In this paper, we describe the use of ECCI with TEM to determine threading dislocation densities and types in InAlN/GaN heterostructures grown on SiC and sapphire substrates.
Excitonic signatures in the optical response of single‐wall carbon nanotubes
Authors: Voisin Christophe , Berger Sébastien , Berciaud Stéphane , Yan Hugen , Lauret Jean‐Sébastien , Cassabois Guillaume , Roussignol Philippe , Hone James , Heinz Tony F. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe optical properties of single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are dominated by the excitonic character of the transitions even at room temperature. The very peculiar properties of these excitons arise from both the one‐dimensional (1D) nature of carbon nanotubes and from the electronic properties of graphene from which nanotubes are made. We first propose a brief qualitative review of the structure of the excitonic manifold and emphasize the role of dark states. We describe recent experimental investigations of this excitonic structure by means of temperature dependent PL measurements. We investigate the case of upper sub‐bands and show that high‐order optical transitions remain excitonic for large diameter nanotubes. A careful investigation of Rayleigh scattering spectra at the single nanotube level reveals clear exciton–phonon side‐bands and Lorentzian line profiles for all semi‐conducting nanotubes. In contrast, metallic nanotubes show an ambivalent behavior which is related to the reduced excitonic binding energy. magnified image
Schematic of the exciton manifold in single‐wall carbon nanotubes.
Spin fluctuations and 3D itinerant magnetism in NaxCoO2: Slave‐boson mean‐field study
Authors: Tang Huai‐Bao , Li Guang , Sun Jin , Ma Yong‐Qing 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe in‐plane ferromagnetic (FM) fluctuations and three‐dimensional (3D) itinerant magnetism on the 3D triangular lattice of NaxCoO2 are studied based on a single‐band Hubbard model using the Kotliar–Ruckenstein (KR) slave‐boson mean‐field (SBMF) technique. By analyzing the instabilities of the FM and layer‐type antiferromagnetic (AFM) susceptibilities, the in‐plane FM fluctuations in NaxCoO2 with x < 0.63 are identified as the effects of both the strong Coulomb repulsion and the frustration on the Co ion triangular lattice. The saddle‐point solutions suggest that the experimental layer‐type AFM state is favorable for x > 0.75 due to the band top edge van Hove singularity arising from the next‐nearest‐neighbor (NNN) hopping. We also discuss the potential connection between the Curie–Weiss metallic behavior and the crossover from the weak FM phase to the layer‐type AFM phase at 0.63 < x < 0.75. Our results reveal the crucial role of the modified effects of the Coulomb interactions with doping x.
Statistical analysis of data from dilution assays with censored correlated counts
Authors: Quiroz Jorge , Wilson Jeffrey R. , Roychoudhury Satrajit 
Published: January 2012

AbstractFrequently, count data obtained from dilution assays are subject to an upper detection limit, and as such, data obtained from these assays are usually censored. Also, counts from the same subject at different dilution levels are correlated. Ignoring the censoring and the correlation may provide unreliable and misleading results. Therefore, any meaningful data modeling requires that the censoring and the correlation be simultaneously addressed. Such comprehensive approaches of modeling censoring and correlation are not widely used in the analysis of dilution assays data. Traditionally, these data are analyzed using a general linear model on a logarithmic‐transformed average count per subject. However, this traditional approach ignores the between‐subject variability and risks, providing inconsistent results and unreliable conclusions. In this paper, we propose the use of a censored negative binomial model with normal random effects to analyze such data. This model addresses, in addition to the censoring and the correlation, any overdispersion that may be present in count data. The model is shown to be widely accessible through the use of several modern statistical software. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identification of isobaric amino‐sulfonamides without prior separation
Authors: Barry Samantha J. , Wolff Jean‐Claude 
Published: January 2012

RATIONALEDirect analysis mass spectrometry (DAMS) techniques offer increased speed of analysis without the need for sample preparation or prior separation. A feature of these techniques is that all ionisable species will typically be analysed at the same time which makes the ability to distinguish between isobaric compounds increasingly important.METHODSInvestigations have been carried out to distinguish isomeric compounds by mass spectrometry only, without the use of any separation technique, in order to further understand the capabilities of DAMS techniques. The work focused on commercially available isomeric amino‐sulfonamides, i.e. sulfalene, sulfameter, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfadoxine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfisomidine, sulfamethazine, sulfamerazine, sulfaperine, sulfadiazine and sulfapyrazine.RESULTSAll the isomeric compounds investigated could be distinguished from each other based on their tandem mass (MS/MS) spectrum or failing that, based on their MS3 spectrum. Common fragmentation patterns/pathways were observed for groups of the sulfonamides and a rationale for the fragmentations observed is proposed. For the sulfonamides which contain a methoxy group on the pyrimidinyl, pyridazynil, or pyrazinyl ring, the fragmentation‐directing feature is the positioning of the methoxy group in the ortho position of the ring with respect to the sulfonamide bond. The presence of an ortho substituent precludes the formation of the product ion resulting from the loss of aniline.CONCLUSIONSThis work has demonstrated the usefulness of MSn fragmentation data in identifying and distinguishing isobaric structural isomers without the need for separation by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), allowing the identification of compounds by DAMS techniques. This work has also highlighted patterns in the product ion data which has led to a postulation of how the protonation preference of a molecule can affect the product ions observed and how the presence of ortho substituents can affect this initial protonation preference. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermodynamic Calculation and Experimental Investigation of Second Phase Particles in Low Carbon Nb Microalloyed Steels
Authors: Luo Yanzhao , Zhang Jiongming , Xiao Chao 
Published: January 2012

AbstractMany experimental methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to study the precipitates of low carbon steel with niobium addition, the austenite/carbonitride equilibrium in FeNbCN system was performed in this paper. The equilibrium volume fraction, chemical driving force of carbonitride precipitation fraction of each element in austenite, and carbonitride at different temperature were calculated. The results show that the equilibrium mole fraction of carbonitride increases, mole fraction of each element dissolved in austenite are basically precipitated fully at low temperature, the chemical driving force is 2.072 × 103 J · mol−1 at 1050°C. It is found that Nb(CN) precipitated on grain boundaries by using TEM. The volume fraction of Nb(CN) precipitates increased with the temperature decrease, which is in good agreement with the value calculated by the model.
Radio‐sensitivity of some starches treated with accelerated electron beam
Authors: Nemtanu Monica R. , Brasoveanu Mirela 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe paper presents the investigation of the sensitivity and degradation rate of corn, wheat, rice, and potato starches exposed to accelerated electron beam taking into consideration the paste apparent viscosity and MW distribution. The functional radiosensitivity of starch defined by analyzing the apparent viscosity behavior of its aqueous paste as a function of absorbed dose had the following order: potato>wheat>corn>rice. In a similar manner, the structural radiosensitivity of starch based on the degradation rate of the MW fractions was considered. Two slight different orders were found as (1) potato>wheat>corn>rice taking into account the number molecular fraction and (2) wheat>corn>potato>rice considering the weight molecular fraction, assigned to the different structural organization of the investigated starches.
Adaptive joint maximum‐likelihood detection and minimum‐mean‐square error with successive interference canceler over spatially correlated multiple‐input multiple‐output channels
Authors: Fan Lisheng , Zhang Yangyang , Jiang Yongquan , Fukawa Kazuhiko , Suzuki Hiroshi , Wong Kai‐Kit 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTWe develop an efficient hard detector for multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) channels, which adaptively combines maximum‐likelihood detection (MLD) and minimum‐mean‐square error with a successive interference canceler together. Unlike the conventional joint combination scheme, which may suffer from considerable degradation in bit‐error‐rate (BER) performance over correlated channels and where only one data stream is detected by MLD, our proposed scheme adaptively controls the number of data streams to be detected by MLD based on an analytical characterization of reliability for the detection. Simulation results illustrate that near‐optimal BER performance can be obtained at much lower computational complexity by the proposed method as compared with existing techniques, regardless of the spatial correlation of the MIMO channels. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance of joint transmit and receive antenna selection in dual hop amplify‐and‐forward relay network over Nakagami‐m fading channels
Authors: Yılmaz Ahmet , Kucur Oğuz 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTIn this paper, performance of joint transmit and receive antenna selection in each hop of dual hop amplify‐and‐forward relay network is analyzed over flat and asymmetric Nakagami‐m fading channels. In the network, source, relay, and destination are equipped with multiple antennas. By considering relay location, we derive exact closed‐form cumulative distribution function, moment generating function, moments of end‐to‐end signal‐to‐noise ratio and closed form symbol error probability expressions for fixed and channel state information‐based relay gains. We also derive the asymptotical outage probability and symbol error probability expressions to obtain diversity order and array gain of the network. Analytical results are validated by the Monte Carlo simulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Density‐functional tight binding—an approximate density‐functional theory method
Authors: Seifert Gotthard , Joswig Jan‐Ole 
Published: January 2012

AbstractIn this paper, we review the foundations of the density‐functional tight‐binding (DFTB) method. The method is based on the density‐functional theory as formulated by Hohenberg and Kohn. It introduces several approximations: First, densities and potentials are written as superpositions of atomic densities and potentials. Second, many‐center terms are summarized together with nuclear repulsion energy terms in a way that they can be written as a sum of pairwise repulsive terms. For small distances, the nuclear repulsion dominates, whereas for large distances, these terms vanish. The Kohn–Sham orbitals are expanded in a set of localized atom‐centered functions. They are represented in a minimal basis of optimized atomic orbitals, which are obtained for spherical symmetric spin‐unpolarized neutral atoms self‐consistently. The whole Hamilton and overlap matrices contain one‐ and two‐center contributions only. Therefore, they can be calculated and tabulated in advance as functions of the distance between atomic pairs. In addition, we discuss a self‐consistent charge extension, the treatment of weak interactions, and a linear response scheme in connection with the DFTB method. Finally, some practical aspects are presented. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Semiempirical Electronic Structure Methods
Clinicopathological significance of growth factors and their receptors as potential therapeutic targets for biliary tract carcinoma
Authors: Ojima Hidenori 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBiliary tract carcinoma (BTC) has a poor prognosis. However, no standard chemotherapy regimens have been established for inoperable cases or cases of recurrence after surgical resection. Recent molecular biological analysis has shown that epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, c‐Met and transforming growth factor‐beta could be potential targets for therapy of BTC. It is considered that these molecules are involved in the carcinogenesis, invasion, and progression of BTC. Furthermore, immunohistochemical overexpression of these targets is associated with several clinicopathological factors. This article reviews the clinicopathological significance of these growth factors and their receptors.
Mucopolysaccharidosis: Cardiologic features and effects of enzyme‐replacement therapy in 24 children with MPS I, II and VI
Authors: Brands Marion M. M. G. , Frohn‐Mulder Ingrid M. , Hagemans Marloes L. C. , Hop Wim C. J. , Oussoren Esmee , Helbing Wim A. , van der Ploeg Ans T. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWe determined the cardiologic features of children with MPS I, II and VI, and evaluated the effect of enzyme‐replacement therapy (ERT) on cardiac disease. Twenty‐four children aged 1‐18 years with MPS I, II or VI were prospectively evaluated with echocardiogram and electrocardiogram from the start of enzyme‐replacement therapy up to 6 years of treatment. At start of therapy, 66% had abnormal cardiac geometric features. Left‐ventricular mass index (LVMI) was increased in half of the patients, due mainly to concentric hypertrophy in MPS I and II and to eccentric hypertrophy in MPS VI. Regurgitation was most severe in a subgroup of young MPS VI patients (<5 years) at the mitral valve. At baseline, all patients had abnormal valves. The ECG showed no clear rhythm or conduction abnormalities; neither, in most patients, did it reflect the hypertrophy. After ERT, the LVMI Z‐score normalized in 70% of the patients who had a Z‐score > 2. LVMI Z‐scores decreased significantly in patients with MPS I and MPS II (p = 0.04 and p = 0.032). Despite ERT, valve regurgitation increased in 60% of the patients. We conclude that all our MPS patients have cardiac abnormalities. The most severe cardiac disease was observed in a subgroup of young MPS VI patients. While ERT had an effect on LVMI and IVSd, it apparently had little or none on valve regurgitation.
Triacylglycerols Oxidation in Oils and Fats Monitored by Easy Ambient Sonic‐Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Simas R. C. , Barrera‐Arellano D. , Eberlin M. N. , Catharino R. R. , Souza V. , Alberici R. M. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractOxidation is the major cause of fat and oil deterioration which produces rancid and unpleasant flavors that drastically reduces their quality and nutritional value. The primary oxidation products are triacylglycerols (TAG) containing unsaturated fatty acyl hydroperoxides formed by a chain process occurring through free radical intermediates. The Rancimat method is currently the gold standard for measuring the oxidative stability of oils and fats. In this report, easy ambient sonic‐spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI‐MS) is demonstrated to function as a direct (no pre‐separation or sample preparation steps), fast and accurate method to monitor oils and fats oxidation, providing detailed overviews of the most immediate TAG hydroperoxide products. The EASI‐MS results were compared to those obtained via the classical Rancimat test.
Ethanol Production from Soybean Fiber, a Co‐product of Aqueous Oil Extraction, Using a Soaking in Aqueous Ammonia Pretreatment
Authors: Karki Bishnu , Maurer Devin , Box Shannon , Kim Tae Hyun , Jung Stephanie 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe effectiveness of soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA) as a pretreatment method for the conversion of soybean fiber to ethanol via simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was investigated. Insoluble fiber is a co‐product from oil and protein extraction using two‐stage, countercurrent, enzyme‐assisted, aqueous extraction processing of full‐fat soybean flakes (FFSF) and extruded FFSF. The fiber fractions were soaked in 15 wt% aqueous ammonia at 1:10 solid‐to‐liquid ratio. The effects of operating variables, including treatment times (6, 12, and 24 h), treatment temperatures (60 and 80 °C), and cellulase loadings (15 and 60 FPU/g‐glucan) on the degree of enzymatic hydrolysis were determined. The best SAA conditions were 80 °C for 12 h followed by an enzyme loading of 15 FPU/g‐glucan, which produced a 152‐mg/g glucose yield after 48 h of hydrolysis. This was 8.7 times the amount produced from the same fiber not pretreated with SAA. The glucose yield increased to 381 mg/g when fiber obtained from extruded FFSF was submitted to SAA. SAA (80 °C, 12 h) on extruded fiber subjected to SSF increased ethanol yield from 0.06 g of ethanol/g [40% of theoretical yield] (for non SAA pretreated fiber) to 0.25 g of ethanol/g [92% of theoretical yield]. The combination of extrusion and SAA was an efficient means for converting the fiber‐rich soybean fraction into ethanol.