bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resonante Sensoren für die In‐situ‐Gasanalytik bei hohen Temperaturen
Authors: Richter D. , Fritze H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractEin auf piezoelektrischen Resonatoren beruhendes Sensorprinzip ermöglicht die simultane Bestimmung der elektrischen und mechanischen Eigenschaften von Sensorschichten in einem Temperaturbereich von 500 bis 900 °C. Mit Hilfe verschiedener Elektroden‐ und Sensorschichtlayouts wird eine hohe Gasselektivität erreicht. Als Resonatormaterial kommt Langasit (La3Ga5SiO14) zum Einsatz, der bis zu seinem Schmelzpunkt von 1470 °C zu Volumenschwingungen angeregt werden kann. Die Leistungsfähigkeit der Sensoren wird anhand der Unterscheidung von Wasserstoff und Kohlenmonoxid bei 600 °C gezeigt. Für CeO2‐beschichtete Resonatoren ergeben sich charakteristische Abhängigkeiten des Messsignals von der Konzentration der Gasspezies. Bei simultaner Verwendung von TiO2‐ und CeO2‐beschichteten Resonatoren lässt sich in H2‐haltiger Atmosphäre eine Nachweisempfindlichkeit für CO von 2 % abschätzen.
Structural variation theorems extended to integrated force method for the analysis of skeletal structures
Authors: Kaveh A. , Najimi M. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn this paper, a general formulation of the theorems of structural variation and integrated force method is briefly presented. Application of the structural variation theorems is extended to form a procedure for modified (varied) structures. In the present method, the governing equations of the integrated force method of the main structure are used as structural variation theorem tools to compute forces and displacements of the modified pin‐jointed trusses and rigidly jointed frames. The computational time of the integrated force method, dual integrated force method and the present method is also compared to show the abilities of the present approach. Examples are presented to illustrate the procedure of the present approach compared with the new analysis of a modified structure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ICI reduction scheme for OFDM system with phase noise over time‐varying channels
Authors: Qin Wen , Peng Qicong 
Published: November 2008

AbstractFor mobile orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, time‐varying channels and random phase noise introduced by the oscillator result in severe intercarrier interference (ICI), respectively, and degrade the overall OFDM system performance. However, the existing ICI reduction methods only aim at a single interference source, i.e. either time‐varying channels or phase noise. Therefore, these methods are not suitable for the actual situation. In this paper, we analyze the spectral property of the transfer function composed of time‐varying channels and phase noise, and propose that the transfer function can be approximated by a finite parameter complex exponential basis expansion model (CE‐BEM). Then, a pilot‐aided minimum mean square error estimation is adopted to estimate the CE‐BEM coefficients in order to reconstruct the transfer function and reduce ICI. Finally, our simulation results show how the proposed scheme would improve the system performance in a time‐varying environment with phase noise. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in End‐Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Hergenroeder Georgene W. , Levine Robert L. , Miller Charles C. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractOBJECTIVEThis study aimed to identify risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prophylaxis patterns for end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients admitted through the emergency department (ED).METHODSESRD patients admitted through the ED in an urban teaching hospital were enrolled in this observational cohort. Admissions through the ED were reviewed as part of a VTE prophylaxis utilization analysis. Patients with moderate to high risk for VTE based on a modified risk assessment model were considered in need of prophylaxis. Prophylaxis was defined as medical (heparin/low‐molecular‐weight heparin) or mechanical prophylaxis. Readmissions during the following year were monitored through an electronic database for thrombosis‐related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes.RESULTSThirty patients met enrollment criteria. Twenty of the 30 patients (67%) were at moderate or higher risk for VTE and considered in need of VTE prophylaxis; 6 patients (30%) were actively prophylaxed. High risk was associated with a lower probability of appropriate prophylaxis (p < 0.04). Three patients (10%) had a clotting‐related outcome.CONCLUSIONSThe 30% rate of VTE prophylaxis in the ESRD group is consistent with the general prophylaxis rate. Lower‐risk patients appropriately received no treatment, whereas treatment was omitted in high‐risk ESRD patients. The observed rate of 10% thrombosis‐related diagnoses may underestimate the actual thrombosis rate.
Shrubs enhance resilience of a semi‐arid ecosystem by engineering and regrowth
Authors: Segoli Moran , Ungar Eugene David , Shachak Moshe 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSemi‐arid ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin show a high degree of resilience, despite thousands of years of human disturbance. It has been suggested that this resilience is facilitated by a landscape structure that consists of woody vegetation and intershrub patches of crusted soil. We hypothesized that the woody vegetation patches have two main properties that increase the resilience of the ecosystem. The first property is the capability to accumulate water, and we hypothesized that this continues to function after anthropogenic disturbances to the shrubs. This was field‐tested with a rainfall simulator by comparing the amounts of runoff and soil erosion generated by crusted intershrub patches, intact shrub patches, and disturbed shrub patches. The second property is the ability of the woody vegetation to recover after disturbances. This was tested by measuring the recovery rate of the woody vegetation, during 2 consecutive years after canopy removal. Intact and disturbed shrub patches generated similar amounts of runoff and soil erosion to one another, and much lower than crusted intershrub patches, and both kinds of shrub patches had deeper water infiltration. These results suggest that the accumulation of water under the shrub is due to surface and sub‐surface soil properties, and not canopy properties. After anthropogenic removal of the woody vegetation canopy, most of the individuals regrew. These combined results suggest that the ecosystem can remain resilient to certain anthropogenic disturbances by virtue of ecosystem engineering and fast recovery by woody vegetation patches that act to conserve resources and to impede their leakage from the ecosystem. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quasi‐static and pseudo‐dynamic testing of unbonded post‐tensioned rocking bridge piers with external replaceable dissipaters
Authors: Marriott Dion , Pampanin Stefano , Palermo Alessandro 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIt has been well documented that following a major earthquake a substantial percentage of economic loss results from downtime of essential lifelines in and out of major urban centres. This has thus led to an improvement of both performance‐based seismic design philosophies and to the development of cost‐effective seismic structural systems capable of guaranteeing a high level of protection, low structural damage and reduced downtime after a design‐level seismic event. An example of such technology is the development of unbonded post‐tensioned techniques in combination with rocking–dissipating connections.In this contribution, further advances in the development of high‐performance seismic‐resistant bridge piers are achieved through the experimental validation of unbonded post‐tensioned bridge piers with external, fully replaceable, mild steel hysteretic dissipaters.The experimental response of three 1 : 3 scale unbonded, post‐tensioned cantilever bridge piers, subjected to quasi‐static and pseudo‐dynamic loading protocols, are presented and compared with an equivalently reinforced monolithic benchmark. Minimal physical damage is observed for the post‐tensioned systems, which exhibit very stable energy dissipation and re‐centring properties. Furthermore, the external dissipaters can be easily replaced if severely damaged under a major (higher than expected) earthquake event. Thus, negligible residual deformations, limited repair costs and downtime can be achieved for critical lifeline components. Satisfactory analytical–experimental comparisons are also presented as a further confirmation of the reliability of the design procedure and of the modelling techniques. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In‐plane strength of unreinforced masonry piers
Authors: Calderini Chiara , Cattari Serena , Lagomarsino Sergio 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe definition of adequate simplified models to assess the in‐plane load‐bearing capacity of masonry piers, in terms of both strength and displacement, plays a fundamental role in the seismic verification of masonry buildings. In this paper, a critical review of the most widespread strength criteria present in the literature and codes to interpret the failure modes of piers (rocking, crushing, bed joint sliding or diagonal cracking) are proposed. Models are usually based on an approximate evaluation of the stress state produced by the external forces in a few points/sections and on its assessment with reference to a limit strength domain. The aim of the review is to assess their reliability by discussing the hypotheses, which they are based on (assumed stress states; choice of reference points/sections on which to assess the pier strength; characteristics of the limit strength domain) and to verify the conditions for their proper use in practice, in terms of both stress fields (depending on the geometry of the pier, boundary conditions and applied loads) and types of masonry (i.e. regular brick masonry vs rubble stone masonry). In order to achieve these objectives, parametric nonlinear finite element analyses are performed and different experimental data available in the literature are analysed and compared. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of the mycotoxin fumonisin B1 on cell death in human kidney cells and human lung fibroblasts in primary culture
Authors: Schwerdt G. , Königs M. , Holzinger H. , Humpf H. U. , Gekle M. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractFumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium verticillioides. The toxic effects of fumonisin B1 (FB1) at the cellular level consist of a mixture of both necrosis and apoptosis. We studied the effect of FB1 in human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) and human kidney epithelial cells (RPTEC) in primary culture. Apoptotic and necrotic cell death, collagen and fibronectin secretion were determined mainly after 14 days' exposure. The protein content of NHLF and RPTEC cells was slightly increased after 14 days' exposure to low FB1 concentrations (0.1 or 1 µm). Caspase‐3 activity tended to increase in NHLF and to decrease in RPTEC cells with higher FB1 concentrations after 14 days' exposure. LDH release was slightly decreased in both cell types after 14 days. Collagen I and III secretion was enhanced in NHLF cells. Collagen III was decreased in RPTEC. Collagen IV was not changed in both cell types. Fibronectin secretion was uninfluenced in RPTEC and interim increased in NHLF. Furthermore LC‐MS/MS studies did not give any hints for a metabolism of FB1. Therefore, the main risk of prolonged FB1 exposure seems to be altered collagen secretion pattern. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using regional wind fields to improve general circulation model forecasts of July–September Sahel rainfall
Authors: Ndiaye Ousmane , Goddard Lisa , Ward M. Neil 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThis study develops and applies a model output statistics (MOS) approach for correcting poor general circulation model (GCM) seasonal rainfall predictions over the Sahel region of West Africa. It illustrates a methodology for approaching the MOS prediction of regional rainfall, drawing on knowledge of the regional circulation system.The ECHAM4.5 GCM has very little skill in predicting July–September Sahel rainfall. However, the GCM is much more capable of reproducing the regional wind circulation at 925 hPa, especially over the tropical Atlantic. This is capitalized upon using a MOS approach that applies empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) of the model's regional (tropical Atlantic and West Africa) 925 hPa wind as predictors in a regression with observed Sahel rainfall as the predictand. Over 1968–2002, the MOS system requires only the first wind EOF and improves the correlation skill of July–September Sahel rainfall from 0.07 (raw GCM) to 0.57. The MOS system is applied to GCM experiments using persisted sea‐surface temperature (SST) anomalies from the months of June, May and April respectively, to estimate the potential of the system to make forecasts with lead times between 0 and 2 months ahead of the July–September season. Almost identical skill is achieved from the June SST, but May and April SSTs show a substantial decline in skill. This is mainly associated with a tendency in tropical Pacific SST anomalies from May to June, highlighting development of El Niño (La Niña) in Sahel dry (wet) years, though statistically significant tendencies are also found in the tropical Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The MOS approach is robust in simulation experiments over the 1950–2002 period, when one additional EOF in the MOS system is found to best capture the tropical Atlantic influence. For increasing forecast lead time, targeted prediction of SST from April to June is motivated by these findings. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Conversion of cropland into grassland: Implications for soil organic‐carbon stocks in two soils with different texture
Authors: Don Axel , Scholten Thomas , Schulze Ernst‐Detlef 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSoil organic‐carbon (SOC) stocks are expected to increase after conversion of cropland into grassland. Two adjacent cropland and grassland sites—one with a Vertisol with 23 y after conversion and one with an Arenosol 29 y after conversion—were sampled down to 60 cm depth. Concentrations of SOC and total nitrogen (Ntot) were measured before and after density fractionation in two light fractions and a mineral‐associated fraction with C adsorbed on mineral surfaces. For the soil profiles, SOC stocks and radiocarbon (14C) concentrations of mineral associated C were determined.Carbon stocks and mineral‐associated SOC concentrations were increased in the upper 10 cm of the grassland soil compared to the cropland. This corresponded to the root‐biomass distribution, with 59% and 86% of the total root biomass at 0–5 cm soil depth of the grasslands. However, at the Arenosol site, at 10–20 cm depth, C in the mineral‐associated fraction was lost 29 y after the conversion into grassland. Over all, SOC stocks were not significantly different between grassland and cropland at both sites when the whole profile was taken into account. At the Arenosol site, the impact of land‐use conversion on SOC accumulation was limited by low total clay surface area available for C stabilization. Subsoil C (30–50 cm) at cropland of the Vertisol site comprised 32% of the total SOC stocks with high 14C concentrations below the plowing horizon. We concluded that fresh C was effectively translocated into the subsoil. Thus, subsoil C has to be taken into account when land‐use change effects on SOC are assessed.
Decomposition of wheat straw differing in nitrogen content in soils under conventional and organic farming management
Authors: Scheller Edwin , Rainer Georg Joergensen † 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAn incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the interactions of two straw qualities differing in N content and two soils differently accustomed to straw additions. One soil under conventional farming management (CFM) regularly received straw, the other soil under organic farming management (OFM) only farmyard manure. The soils of the two sites were similar in texture, pH, cation‐exchange capacity, and glucosamine content. The soil from the OFM site had higher contents of organic C, total N, muramic acid, microbial biomass C and N (Cmic and Nmic), but a lower ergosterol content and lower ratios ergosterol to Cmic and fungal C to bacterial C. The straw from the CFM had threefold higher contents of total N, twofold higher contents of ergosterol and glucosamine, a 50% higher content of muramic acid, and a 30% higher fungal C–to–bacterial C ratio. The straw amendments led to significant net increases in Cmic, Nmic, and ergosterol. Microbial biomass C showed on average a 50% higher net increase in the organic than in the CFM soil. In contrast, the net increases in Nmic and ergosterol differed only slightly between the two soils after straw amendment. The CO2 evolution from the CFM soil always exceeded that from the OFM, by 50% or 200 µg (g soil)–1 in the nonamended control soil and by 55% or additional 600 µg (g soil)–1 in the two straw treatments. In both soils, 180 µg g–1 less was evolved as CO2‐C from the OFM straw. The metabolic quotient qCO2 was nearly twice as high in the control and in the straw treatments of the CFM soil compared with that of the OFM. In contrast, the difference in qCO2 was insignificant between the two straw qualities. Differences in the fungal‐community structure may explain to a large extent the difference in the microbial use of straw in the two soils under different managements.
Microbial activity and community structure in degraded soils on the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Hamer Ute , Makeschin Franz , An Shaoshan , Zheng Fenli 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSoil erosion is the main process leading to soil degradation on the Loess Plateau of China. The effects of soil‐erosion intensity (sheet, rill, and gully erosion) and different land use (140 y–old secondary forest site, 16 y–old bare site, 6 y–old succession site, and 43 y–old arable site) on gross and net N mineralization, soil organic‐carbon (SOC) turnover, the size and structure of the soil microbial community (phospholipid fatty acid analysis) were assessed. Erosion intensity in the bare plot increased from top slope (sheet erosion) to down slope (gully erosion). The more severe the soil erosion the stronger was the decline of SOC, total N, and microbial biomass (MB). The MBC/SOC ratio decreased whereas the metabolic quotient (qCO2) increased. Differences in nutrient turnover in the different erosion zones of the bare plot were not significant. The microbial community changed towards less Gram negative bacteria and relative more fungi in the gully‐erosion zone. In forest soils, qCO2 and the MBC/SOC ratio demonstrate a higher substrate‐use efficiency of the microbial biomass than in bare soils. Gross N mineralization and gross NH$ _4^+ $ consumption clearly indicated a higher microbial activity in forest than in bare soils. Arable land use shifted the soil microbial community towards a higher relative abundance of fungi and a lower one of actinomycetes. During 6 y of natural succession on former bare plots, soil nutrient content and turnover as well as microbial biomass and structure developed towards forest conditions.
Silicon effects on nodule growth, dry‐matter production, and mineral nutrition of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)
Authors: Mali Manju , Aery and Naresh C. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractSilicon (Si) is not considered as an essential element for plant growth and development but application of Si improved plant growth. In this study, the effect of various concentrations of Si as sodium metasilicate (0, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 µg g–1) on nodule growth and mineral nutrition of Rhizobium sp. U 15–inoculated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) plants grown in pots was studied. Lower additions of Si (50–100 µg g–1) significantly increased nodule growth (nodule number, nodule fresh weight and dry weight), relative yield of root and shoot, nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium concentrations. Plant Si concentrations increased with an increase in soil‐applied Si. Nodule growth negatively correlated with higher applied concentrations of Si (200–800 µg g–1). The results indicate that Si at low concentrations is beneficial for nodule growth.
A Zinc(II)/Poly(γ‐glutamic acid) Complex as an Oral Therapeutic for the Treatment of Type‐2 Diabetic KKAy Mice
Authors: Karmaker Subarna , Saha Tapan K. , Yoshikawa Yutaka , Sakurai Hiromu 
Published: November 2008

AbstractIn developing new insulin‐mimetic zinc(II) complexes with various ligands including a biodegradable polymer, we prepared and characterized a Zn(γ‐pga) complex in solution as well as in solid, and investigated its in vitro insulin‐mimetic activity and in vivo antidiabetic effect in type‐2 diabetic KKAy mice. The in vitro insulin‐mimetic activity of the Zn(γ‐pga) complex was considerable better than that of ZnSO4. The Zn(γ‐pga) complex normalized the hyperglycemia in KKAy mice within 21 d when administrated orally at doses of 10–20 mg (0.15–0.31 mmol) Zn per kg body mass for 30 d. In addition, the impaired glucose tolerance, elevated HbA1c levels and metabolic syndromes were significantly improved in Zn(γ‐pga)‐treated KKAy mice relative to those administrated with saline and ZnSO4.magnified image
Scattering Study of the Structure of Polystyrene Sulfonate Comb Polyelectrolytes in Solution
Authors: Papagiannopoulos Aristeidis , Fernyhough Christine M. , Waigh Thomas A. , Radulescu Aurel 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe structures of a range of PSS combs in aqueous solutions were characterized using SLS, DLS, SANS and SAXS. Combined SLS and SANS data indicated that the comb polyelectrolytes adopted extended cylindrical structures in dilute solutions. The degree of extension of the side‐chains was analyzed by fitting the data with a novel cylindrical form factor using a variable number density of monomers. The results were in agreement with hydrodynamic radii from DLS measurements. Addition of salt to the samples caused a contraction of the cylindrical morphology, but the chains continued to adopt relatively extended conformations. In semi‐dilute solutions a universal behaviour, independent of the comb topology, was found for the screening length in SAXS measurements.magnified image
To donate or not to donate? Product characteristics and framing effects of cause‐related marketing on consumer purchase behavior
Authors: Chang Chun‐Tuan 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe present study examines potential influences associated with donation framing, product price, product type, and donation magnitude on cause‐related marketing (CRM) campaigns, where money is donated to a charity each time a consumer makes a pur‐chase. In addition to the main effects of the aforementioned factors, experimental results indicate that beneficial effects of product type (i.e., frivolous products bundled with a cause are more effective than practical ones) occur when donation information is framed in absolute dollar terms. The effects of donation framing are found insignificant when the donation magnitude is high. Influences of donation magnitude on CRM effectiveness are limited in high‐priced items. When the donation magnitude is constant, a donation amount framed in absolute dollar value is more effective than that in percentage terms for low‐priced products, and the opposite is true for high‐priced items. In practice, marketers thus stand to gain not only by matching the donation magnitude in their advertised products with the right price but also by an appropriate “framing” of the offered bundles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.