bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In situ core‐level and valence‐band photoelectron spectroscopy of reactively sputtered tungsten oxide films
Authors: Bouvard O. , Krammer A. , Schüler A.
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we study tungsten oxides deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering. The total working pressure during deposition was varied in order to obtain different morphology. The effects on the electronic properties and chemical composition were studied by XPS and UPS. It was observed that, for the same argon to oxygen ratio in the gas feed, the decrease in total working pressure implies a decrease of the oxygen content in the film. In the nearly stoichiometric WO3 films, W 4f5/2 and W 4f7/2 form a distinct doublet peak. In sub‐stoichiometric films, the films do not exhibit a well‐resolved doublet and suggest multiple oxidation states of tungsten.The valence‐band spectra of the sub‐stoichiometric samples present an additional feature below the Fermi edge (~0.5 eV). This peak is assigned to W 5d1 because of the presence of W5+. It is consistent with the changes on the core‐level spectra. XPS results, UPS features, and visual aspect are in agreement and suggest that the total working pressure has a strong influence on the oxygen content and therefore on the oxidation state of tungsten in the films. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Workflow temporal verification for monitoring parallel business processes
Authors: Liu Xiao , Wang Dingxian , Yuan Dong , Wang Futian , Yang Yun
Published: January 2016

Workflow temporal verification is conducted to guarantee on‐time completion, which is one of the most important QoS (Quality of Service) dimensions for business processes running in the cloud. However, as today's business systems often need to handle a large number of concurrent customer requests, conventional response‐time based process monitoring strategies conducted in a one‐by‐one fashion cannot be applied efficiently to a large batch of parallel processes because of significant time overhead. Similar situations may also exist in software companies where multiple software projects are carried out at the same time by software developers. To address such a problem, based on a novel runtime throughput consistency model, this paper proposes a QoS‐aware throughput based checkpoint selection strategy, which can dynamically select a small number of checkpoints along the system timeline to facilitate the temporal verification of throughput constraints and achieve the target on‐time completion rate. Experimental results demonstrate that our strategy can achieve the best efficiency and effectiveness compared with the state‐of‐the‐art as and other representative response‐time based checkpoint selection strategies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interpreting DTBZ binding data in rodent: Inherent variability and compensation
Authors: Mejias Miguel , Yu Jing , Mackey Scott , Dinelle Katie , Sossi Vesna , Doudet Doris J.
Published: January 2016

[11C]‐dihydrotetrabenazine (DTBZ) Positron Emission Tomography was used to evaluate the vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 as an index of dopaminergic function in the striatum of adult Sprague‐Dawley rats obtained from two different animal sources (Charles River Laboratories [CR] or UBC's Animal Care Centre [ACC]) and later submitted to two different unilateral lesions of the nigro‐striatal pathway. The results showed a significant difference in the striatal binding potential (BPND) at baseline (before lesioning) between the CR and ACC groups providing evidence that the origin of the animals, possibly due to differences in early environmental factors or breeding conditions associated with different animal vendors plays a role in the development of the adult dopaminergic system. Further, in both animal models, an increase in DTBZ BPND was observed, after unilateral intervention, in the striatum contralateral to the lesion, likely reflecting compensatory effects. Based on these findings, we conclude that in unilateral models, the unlesioned side/hemisphere may not be an appropriate control and that care should be taken to control for the origin of the animals in any given study, especially in longitudinal and replication studies. Synapse, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Synapse 70:147–152, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electrochemical conversion of alcohols for hydrogen production: a short overview
Authors: Coutanceau Christophe , Baranton Stève
Published: January 2016

In the emerging hydrogen economy, one of the major objectives is the production of electricity using fuel cells, particularly proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). In this perspective, high purity hydrogen is needed. Hydrogen is currently mainly produced from fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, and coal) by energy‐consuming and environmentally unfriendly industrial processes that also involve complicated clean up steps for the removal of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Water electrolysis (particularly the proton exchange membrane electrolysis technology, which allows higher efficiency than alkaline technology) appears to be a good candidate for the production of clean hydrogen. The use of renewable primary energy sources, such as wind, solar, tidal, etc., makes this technology greener. However, the low kinetics of water oxidation, which implies high cell voltage (i.e. high energy consumption) even when using noble metal‐based catalysts (Pt, Ru, Ir), makes this technology expensive. Biosourced alcohols can be interesting alternatives as hydrogen carriers in an electrolysis cell; their reversible oxidation potentials are much lower than that of water, ca 0.1 V versus SHE (standard hydrogen electrode) against 1.23 V versus SHE, so that the cell voltages for hydrogen production are lower (and so is the energy consumption). However, the low kinetics of alcohol oxidation in acidic media requires high Pt‐based catalyst loadings at the anode. Direct alcohol alkaline electrolysis cells can be operated with low Pt loading and even non‐noble metals. In the case of glycerol, generation of hydrogen at the cathode can be performed simultaneously with the formation of value‐added products at the anode for a more profit‐making process. WIREs Energy Environ 2016, 5:388–400. doi: 10.1002/wene.193

This article is categorized under:

Bioenergy > Science and Materials

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen > Science and Materials

Energy Efficiency > Science and Materials
Fuzzy frameworks for mining data associations: fuzzy association rules and beyond
Authors: Marín N. , Ruiz M.D. , Sánchez D.
Published: January 2016

Looking for associations in data is one of the data mining tasks that has aroused more interest in the literature. In this area, incorporating concepts of fuzzy set theory is useful in problems where imprecision and/or uncertainty appear. In most of the existing approaches, fuzzy association rules are widely seen as fuzzy rules, which are very different in nature from association rules, so problems like fuzzy inclusion and cardinality have been seldom taken into account explicitly, mostly providing ad hoc solutions for capturing semantics. In contrast, in this study we have taken the more general and natural approach of considering the elements of the association rule mining framework and studying possible and sensible fuzzy extensions, referred here as fuzzy frameworks for mining associations. As fuzzy frameworks are abstract mathematical models, another key contribution of the article is the notion of interpretations as mappings between fuzzy frameworks and specific datasets. This general analysis of the field is completed with a study of various important aspects that arise when proposing quality measures in a fuzzy environment, as well as those related to computational issues. The work also includes a review of the fuzzy framework that arises from fuzzy transactions regarded as fuzzy subsets of items, and shows that many of the approaches on fuzzy association rules that exist in the literature can be placed in the context of a proper interpretation of that framework. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2016, 6:50–69. doi: 10.1002/widm.1176

This article is categorized under:

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Key Design Issues in Data Mining

Technologies > Association Rules
Spiritual Exploration in the Prenatal Genetic Counseling Session
Authors: Sagaser Katelynn G. , Shahrukh Hashmi S. , Carter Rebecca D. , Lemons Jennifer , Mendez‐Figueroa Hector , Nassef Salma , Peery Brent , Singletary Claire N.
Published: January 2016

Religion and spirituality (R/S) are important components of many individuals’ lives, and spirituality is often employed by women coping with pregnancy complications. To characterize how prenatal genetic counselors might address spiritual issues with patients, 283 English and Spanish speaking women receiving prenatal genetic counseling in Houston, Texas were surveyed post‐counseling using both the Brief RCope and questions regarding interest in spiritual exploration. Genetic counselors were concurrently surveyed to identify religious/spiritual language used within sessions and perceived importance of R/S. Genetic counselors were significantly more likely to identify R/S as important to a patient when patients used religious/spiritual language (p< 0.001). Conversely, when no religious/spiritual terms were present, the counselor felt uncertain about the importance of R/S 63 % of the time. However, 67 % of patients reported that they felt comfortable sharing their faith as it relates to their pregnancy, and 93 % reported using positive religious coping. Less than 25 % reported a desire for overt religious actions such as prayer or scripture exploration. Therefore, most patients’ desires for spiritual exploration center in the decision making and coping processes that are in line with the genetic counseling scope of practice. Thus, counselors should feel empowered to incorporate spiritual exploration into their patient conversations.
Generalized Fiducial Inference for Binary Logistic Item Response Models
Authors: Liu Yang , Hannig Jan
Published: January 2016

Generalized fiducial inference (GFI) has been proposed as an alternative to likelihood-based and Bayesian inference in mainstream statistics. Confidence intervals (CIs) can be constructed from a fiducial distribution on the parameter space in a fashion similar to those used with a Bayesian posterior distribution. However, no prior distribution needs to be specified, which renders GFI more suitable when no a priori information about model parameters is available. In the current paper, we apply GFI to a family of binary logistic item response theory models, which includes the two-parameter logistic (2PL), bifactor and exploratory item factor models as special cases. Asymptotic properties of the resulting fiducial distribution are discussed. Random draws from the fiducial distribution can be obtained by the proposed Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithm. We investigate the finite-sample performance of our fiducial percentile CI and two commonly used Wald-type CIs associated with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation via Monte Carlo simulation. The use of GFI in high-dimensional exploratory item factor analysis was illustrated by the analysis of a set of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire data.
Generating quasi-single-cycle THz pulse from frequency-chirped electron bunch train and a tapered undulator
Authors: Ma Zhuoran , Wang Zhe , Fu Feichao , Wang Rui , Xiang Dao
Published: January 2016

We propose a proof-of-principle experiment to test a new scheme to produce a single-cycle radiation pulse in free-electron lasers (FELs). Here, a few

${\it\alpha}$

-BBO crystals will be first used to produce an equally spaced laser pulse train. Then, the laser pulse train illuminates the cathode to produce a frequency-chirped electron bunch train in a photocathode rf gun. Finally, the frequency-chirped electron bunch train passes through a tapered undulator to produce a quasi-single-cycle THz pulse. This experiment should allow comparison and confirmation of predictive models and scaling laws, and the preliminary experimental results will also be discussed.
Psychological distress and frailty transitions over time in community-dwelling older adults
Authors: McHugh J. E. , Dowling M. , Butler A. , Lawlor B. A.
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Physical health and, in particular, frailty may be associated with psychological factors among older adults. We aimed to investigate the relationships between aspects of psychological distress and progression of frailty over time among older adults.

Methods

We used a longitudinal observational study design with 624 participants aged over 60 years (mean age=72.75, s.d.=7.21, 68% female) completing a baseline comprehensive biopsychosocial geriatric assessment, and 447 returning for a follow-up assessment 2 years later. Aspects of psychological distress, physical health, and frailty were analysed for the purposes of this study. We employed a series of logistic regression analyses to determine psychological predictors of changing states of aspects of frailty over time.

Results

With individual components of frailty, neuroticism and age predicted negative transitions of exhaustion and grip strength, respectively, whereas age alone was a predictor of transitions in overall frailty scores based on four components.

Conclusion

We conclude that neuroticism and age may impact upon physical frailty and its progression over time in an ageing population. These findings may reflect the tendency for those with high levels of neuroticism to endorse negative symptoms, or alternatively, neuroticism may result in exhaustion via worry in an older population. Further research is required to further elucidate this relationship.
Instabilities in oblique shock wave/laminar boundary-layer interactions
Authors: Guiho F. , Alizard F. , Robinet J.-Ch.
Published: January 2016

The interaction of an oblique shock wave and a laminar boundary layer developing over a flat plate is investigated by means of numerical simulation and global linear-stability analysis. Under the selected flow conditions (free-stream Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers and shock-wave angles), the incoming boundary layer undergoes separation due to the adverse pressure gradient. For a wide range of flow parameters, the oblique shock wave/boundary-layer interaction (OSWBLI) is seen to be globally stable. We show that the onset of two-dimensional large-scale structures is generated by selective noise amplification that is described for each frequency, in a linear framework, by wave-packet trains composed of several global modes. A detailed analysis of both the eigenspectrum and eigenfunctions gives some insight into the relationship between spatial scales (shape and localization) and frequencies. In particular, OSWBLI exhibits a universal behaviour. The lowest frequencies correspond to structures mainly located near the separated shock that emit radiation in the form of Mach waves and are scaled by the interaction length. The medium frequencies are associated with structures mainly localized in the shear layer and are scaled by the displacement thickness at the impact. The linear process by which OSWBLI selects frequencies is analysed by means of the global resolvent. It shows that unsteadiness are mainly associated with instabilities arising from the shear layer. For the lower frequency range, there is no particular selectivity in a linear framework. Two-dimensional numerical simulations show that the linear behaviour is modified for moderate forcing amplitudes by nonlinear mechanisms leading to a significant amplification of low frequencies. Finally, based on the present results, we draw some hypotheses concerning the onset of unsteadiness observed in shock wave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions.
Revision of the first therocephalian,TheriognathusOwen (Therapsida: Whaitsiidae), and implications for cranial ontogeny and allometry in nonmammaliaform eutheriodonts
Authors: Huttenlocker Adam K. , Abdala Fernando
Published: January 2016

Historically, the whaitsiid therocephalianTheriognathusOwen was one of the earliest described nonmammalian therapsids, its morphology helping to link phylogenetically the Paleozoic synapsids of North America and southern Africa to their mammalian successors. However, decades of taxonomic over-splitting and superficial descriptions obscured the morphologic diversity of the genus, hindering its utility as a study system for the evolution of synapsid cranial function as well as its biostratigraphic significance in the Late Permian of southern Africa. Here, we revise the status and provenance of all the known specimens ofTheriognathusfrom South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. We present both qualitative and quantitative support for the presence of a single morphospecies as proposed by some authors. Proportional differences in skulls that were previously ascribed to different morphotypes (‘Aneugomphius,’ ‘Notosollasia,’ ‘Moschorhynchus,’ and ‘Whaitsia’) are largely size-related and allometric trends are considered here in the context of jaw function and prey prehension. Our results suggest that the single species,Theriognathus microps, represented one of the most abundant Late Permian therocephalians in southern Africa and is consequently a potentially useful biostratigraphic marker for the upperCistecephalus-lowerDicynodonAssemblage Zone transition (i.e., late Wuchiapingian). The wide range of preserved sizes in conjunction with recent paleohistological evidence supports that individuals spent much of their lives in an actively-growing, subadult phase. LaterDicynodonAssemblage Zone records (e.g., upper Balfour Formation) are unconfirmed as the genus was likely replaced by other theriodont predators (e.g.,Moschorhinus) leading up to the Permo-Triassic boundary in the Karoo Basin of South Africa.
Three men to a room – a completely different trireme
Authors: Tilley Alec
Published: January 2016

Olympias and all other trireme reconstructions have been based on a misinterpretation of the Greek terminology, according to the author, a dedicated student of ancient ship design and former naval officer.
The early development of metallurgy in the British Isles
Authors: Budd P. , Gale D. , Pollard A. M. , Thomas R. G. , Williams P. A.
Published: January 2016

Studies of prehistoric extractive and fabrication techniques suggest that the traditional view, that the earliest copper metallurgy in the British Isles was based on the exploitation of primary minerals deriving from the southwest of Ireland, is fallacious. Elaborate mineral selection and process control is not needed to produce copper of the composition reported for the Early Bronze Age, and so ore deposits in Britain were probably being exploited from a very early period.
Direct evidence for human use of plants 28,000 years ago: starch residues on stone artefacts from the northern Solomon Islands
Authors: Loy Thomas H. , Spriggs Matthew , Wickler Stephen
Published: January 2016

The excavation of Kilu Cave and the discovery of a Pleistocene prehistory for the Solomon Islands have already been reported in ANTIQUITY by Wickler & Spriggs (62: 703–6). Residue analysis of stone artefacts from the site now provides the earliest direct evidence for the prehistoric use of root vegetables, in the form of starch grains and crystalline raphides identifiable to genus. The direct microscopic identification of starch grains opens new avenues for the study of the plant component of human diets in the distant past.
Radiocarbon dates and absolute chronology of the central European Early Bronze Age
Authors: Forenbaher Stašo
Published: January 2016

It is more than forty years now since the first radiocarbon dates began the reconciliation of conventional and absolute chronologies for later prehistory. This pioneering radiocarbon chronology for the Bronze Age sequence in Central Europe brings that process nearer to a close, by filling the last major gap in the radiocarcbon chronology of the European continent.
To separate a centaur: on the relationship of archaeology and history in Soviet tradition
Authors: Klejn Leo S.
Published: January 2016

The relationship between archaeology and history is not just an abstract theoretical question: it is one which determines the practical organization of archaeological activity and the publication of its results. It is a general problem of archaeology in Europe, where the subject has had to differentiate itself from the historical study of a long series of literate cultures; and it is especially acute in the former Soviet bloc, where a Marxist orthodoxy of historical science formerly prevailed. Leo Klejn is Russaian archaeology's most distinguished theoretician. Here he discusses in his own words both the academic sociology of the historical sciences and the role which he sees for archaeology within them.
Accelerator radiocarbon dating of plant-fibre binders in rock paintings from northeastern Australia
Authors: Watchman Alan , Cole Noelene
Published: January 2016

During the late Holocene, Aboriginal rock painters in north Queensland selected and combined various natural inorganic and organic materials in paint recipes – possibly to increase the longevity of their paintings. The organic materials make direct radiocarbon dating possible.
A pattern of evolution for the Neolithic funerary structures of the west of France
Authors: Boujot Christine , Cassen Serge
Published: January 2016

The astonishing architectural density and diversity of megalithic monuments along the coastline of the bay of Quiberon and in the gulf of Morbihan have permitted French and foreign archaeologists to establish continually improved classifications. The paper, based on the Morbihan Neolithic data, presents a coherent and dynamic evolutionary sequence of funerary structures from between 5000 and 3000 BC.
Linear hollows in the Jazira, Upper Mesopotamia
Authors: Wilkinson T. J.
Published: January 2016

O.G.S. Crawford, founder of ANTIQUITY, flew in the 1920s over an English landscape where the grooves and lines cut into unploughed downlands showed the courses of roads and tracks since earliest times. Similar patterns of crop- and soil-marks in the rain-fed agricultural zone of the Middle East, when studied in the same spirit, also reveal the local and the long-distance routes of a proven great age.
Making stone vessels in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt
Authors: Stocks Denys A.
Published: January 2016

How were the fine stone jars and vessels of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia made? An experimental test of materials and techniques explores the methods of early drilling.
Looting the antiquities of Mali: the story continues at Gao
Authors: Insoll Timothy
Published: January 2016

A further report on what is being snatched away of the antiquities of Mali. The usual story the world over is of export to cash-rich western collectors, and this is something different, the archaeological site as quarry of recycled materials that are treated by another scale of values.
The Celts in the north Pontic area: a reassessment
Authors: Treister Michail Ju.
Published: January 2016

The recent great exhibition in Venice of Celtic art and artefacts showed once again the intriguing attraction of the Celtic traditions, so influential in our view of old Europe, both western and central. But what about the Celts in the east, and specifically in the region to the north and west of the Black Sea? And what is the relation between that artefactual evidence, Celtic artefacts in the west, and the evidence from the documents?
Among the new books from Poland
Authors: Barford Paul
Published: January 2016

The end of Cold War Europe has led to a welcome surge of communication between archaeologists. Yet Antiquity is all too aware that only a tiny fraction of the books published from the former Soviet bloc ever reach our desk. As a journal committed to improving and extending international dialogue between archaeologists, we list and flag what we can, but especially with foreign language publications we are clearly presenting only the tip of the iceberg. Paul Barford has accordingly been invited to present a one-off survey of recent archaeological literature from Poland, to be followed in our March 1994 issue by a review article covering Polish books on the Roman period.
Ancient DNA and the archaeologist
Authors: Brown Terence A. , Brown Keri A.
Published: January 2016

Out of molecular biology – the revolution of past decades in biological science – there now begins to come molecular archaeology, the study of DNA in ancient plants, animals and people to address questions of history as well as biology. Here is set out what molecular archaeology is about, how it works and what it has begun to do.
Blood residue analysis of 90,000-year-old stone tools from Tabun Cave, Israel
Authors: Loy T. H. , Hardy B. L.
Published: January 2016

On ten stone tools from Tabun Cave, Israel, excavated from a layer dated to 90,000 years old, the presence of organic tool-use residues has been detected. Among them are red blood cells, collagen, resin and hair fragments identified by microscopy and biochemical analyses.
Repton and the Vikings
Authors: Biddle Martin , Kjølbye-Biddle Birthe
Published: January 2016

In 873 the Viking Great Army took winter quarters at the Anglo-Saxon monastery of Repton in the heart of Mercia. Excavations 1974–88 found their D-shaped earthwork on the river bank, incorporated in the stone church. Burials of Viking type were made at the east end of the church, and an existing building was cut down and converted into the chamber of a burial mound containing at least 249 individuals. Here is a first account of the evidence for the Vikings at Repton in and after the campaigning season of 873-4.
A radiocarbon-based chronology for the Maros Group of southeast Hungary
Authors: O'Shea John
Published: January 2016

A suite of radiocarbon dates for a regional group of the earlier Bronze Age in Hungary provides a valuable underpinning to the absolute chronology of a key region and period.
Making an honest man of Oxford: good news for Mali
Authors: Inskeep R. R.
Published: January 2016

Readers may know, from editorial comments and notes in ANTIQUITY, and from newspaper letters and articles early in 1991, the deep concern felt over the destruction of archaeological sites in West Africa, particularly in Mali, to satisfy the demands of art dealers for terracotta figurines (see ANTIQUITY 65: 904-5). Oxford University has re-considered its attitude.
The archaeology of the Spanish Colonial experience in South America
Authors: Schaedel Richard P.
Published: January 2016

Reluctant as one is to admit it, the 12,000 years of North America’s past prior to Columbus are still regarded as irrelevant to mainstream American history. BRIANF AGAN( 1990: 33)

Introduction

Brian Fagan’s declaration about the ‘clash of cultures’ applies to contemporary Mesoamericans and South Americans as it does to North Americans. We have passed beyond the age of the ‘Black Legend’, perhaps not entirely, but enough to regard the ‘Columbian exchange’ (Crosby 1973) as a massive confrontation of peoples, the emotional reverberations of which have not entirely disappeared, but whose effects a few of us can measure with scientific objectivity.
Filling in the spaces in Irish prehistory
Authors: Woodman P. C.
Published: January 2016

In this paper the Professor of Archaeology at University College Cork has undertaken a radical re-evaluation of the traditional paradigms of Irish prehistory, which were formed in the 1940s. He makes full use of the results of recent pipeline excavations and radiocarbon dates to show that early settlement in Ireland need not always be associated with monument or artefact types belonging to narrow chronological horizons.
The deconstruction of intentionality in archaeology
Authors: Davis Whitney
Published: January 2016

All (or almost all) archaeology seeks to know the things that were by the evidence of the things that are, as battered and fragmented by centuries of collapse, decay, wear and breaking. And from the things that were, all (or almost all) archaeology seeks to know the people who were, to grasp the human meanings that were held in those things. The unthinking assumptions, common to old and new programmes for good archaeology, that go with this common framework are explored.
The Snettisham, Norfolk, hoards of Iron Age torques: sacred or profane?
Authors: Fitzpatrick A. P.
Published: January 2016

The remarkable find of Iron Age gold torques from Snettisham (see ANTIQUITY 65: 447–65) was interpreted by the excavator, Ian Stead, as representing a treasury, ‘assigned to the earth for safe-keeping’, rather than a votive deposit. This article argues that these are not mutually exclusive categories, since no clear distinction was made in Iron Age Europe between sacred and profane.
Conjoin sets and stratigraphic integrity in a sandstone shelter: Kenniff Cave (Queensland, Australia)
Authors: Richardson Norma
Published: January 2016

It is a common assumption that archaeological deposits with well-defined bands of ‘undisturbed’ sediments possess absolute stratigraphic integrity and hence that discrete cultural events are sealed within them. This cautionary tale, based on the excavation of a sandstone shelter site in Queensland, shows that this precise stratigraphic and chronological resolution can no longer be taken for granted. Conjoin sets (stone flakes struck from the same core) demonstrate substantial vertical artefact migration between layers, with consequent implications for interpretation.
The Fenland Project
Authors: Hall David
Published: January 2016

The archaeological survey of the Fenlands around the Wash in eastern England was completed in 1989. This note summarizes the results in terms of knowledge and conservation needs that emerged from the subsequent Fenland Evaluation Project.
Current research at Flag Fen, Peterborough
Authors: Pryor Francis
Published: January 2016

The papers in this Special Section present the latest results of research into the waterlogged later prehistoric site at Flag Fen, Peterborough. The landscape is almost flat and very low-lying, and the archaeological site consists of two main elements: a man-made timber platform and a kilometre-long alignment of posts, interpreted here as a defensive palisade. The site also has an important ritual component that continued into the Iron Age. Dendrochronology and other evidence indicates that the platform and posts were used for some 400 years, between about 1350 and 950 BC. This was a period of increasing wetness in the region.
Levels of infection with the lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis in terrestrial snails from Thailand, with Cryptozona siamensis as a new intermediate host
Authors: Vitta A. , Polsut W. , Fukruksa C. , Yimthin T. , Thanwisai A. , Dekumyoy P.
Published: January 2016

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is primarily considered an emerging infectious agent of eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis with a worldwide distribution. Rodents and snails are important invasive hosts for transmission and expansion of A. cantonensis. The objective of this study was to investigate infection levels of A. cantonensis in snails, the most important natural intermediate host. Our study location was Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, Kamphaeng Phet Province, and was undertaken between October and December 2012. A total of 2228 freshwater and terrestrial snails were collected, comprising 1119 Filopaludina spp., 409 Pomacea caniculata, 275 Achatina fulica and 425 Cryptozona siamensis. Angiostrongylus larvae were isolated by artificial digestion methods following Baermann's techniques. A low prevalence and intensity of A. cantonensis were observed in A. fulica, while higher numbers were found in C. siamensis. None of the Filopaludina spp. and Pomacea caniculata were infected with A. cantonensis. Molecular characterization was performed by analysing the 264 bp of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Three COI sequences of Angiostrongylus were identical to A. cantonensis with 91–99% identity. Cryptozona siamensis has not previously been recorded as an intermediate host for A. cantonensis in Thailand. The infection of A. cantonensis identified in the natural intermediate hosts is new and important information to assist in the prevention and control of human angiostrongyliasis.
The role of geminates in infants' early word production and word-form recognition
Authors: VIHMAN MARILYN , MAJORANO MARINELLA
Published: January 2016

Infants learning languages with long consonants, or geminates, have been found to ‘overselect’ and ‘overproduce’ these consonants in early words and also to commonly omit the word-initial consonant. A production study with thirty Italian children recorded at 1;3 and 1;9 strongly confirmed both of these tendencies. To test the hypothesis that it is the salience of the medial geminate that detracts attention from the initial consonant we conducted three experiments with 11-month-old Italian infants. We first established baseline word-form recognition for untrained familiar trochaic disyllables and then tested for word-form recognition, separately for words with geminates and singletons, after changing the initial consonant to create nonwords from both familiar and rare forms. Familiar words with geminates were recognized despite the change, words with singletons were not. The findings indicate that a feature occurring later in the word affects initial consonant production and perception, which supports the whole-word phonology model.
Les aidantes professionnelles à domicile dans l’accompagnement de personnes âgées atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer ou présentant des conduites d’alcoolisation : évaluation qualitative et réflexions cliniques
Authors: Moscato Alba , Soulas Thierry , Varescon Isabelle
Published: January 2016

In France, few studies have investigated the experience of home caregivers with elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or alcoholic behavior. The aim of this study was to describe caregivers' understanding of these disorders to identify their difficulties and satisfactions in relation to their role. Seventeen social care workers were interviewed and the content was analysed using a general inductive approach. Regarding misuse or abuse of alcohol, they expressed a feeling of helplessness, and put forth their experience and skills to communicate with the receiver of care. Concerning Alzheimer’s disease, they expressed worries regarding its progression They identified themselves with the elder’s anxiety, which induced fears regarding their own old age. All of them were satisfied by the care they provided and by the possibility of acquiring experience. Results could be of use in supporting clinical preventive actions for professional home caregivers dealing with these two disorders that can occur in the course of the ageing process.
A geometry-based stochastic approach to emulate V2V communications’ main propagation channel metrics
Authors: Narrainen Jessen , Besnier Philippe , Gatsinzi Ibambe Martine
Published: January 2016

In order to evaluate a communication system, we need to model the propagation channel of the relevant environments pertaining to that communication. In this paper, we propose a Geometry-Based Stochastic Channel Modeling approach to build up propagation channel simulations to assess the performance of vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communications. Our methodology allows the simulation of dynamic scenarios, with an electromagnetic simulator, to emulate typical propagation environments (rural, highway and urban-like propagation channels). Simple metallic plates are used to represent scatterers in the simulated geometric configurations. The common characteristics defining a propagation channel such as delay spread, angle of arrival distribution, and the delay-Doppler spectrum are obtained through adjustment of the number and location of those simple metallic plates.
Analysis and design of compact wide bandpass filter with ultra-wide stopband using multi-stub loaded resonator
Authors: Lu Di , Tang Xiao-Hong
Published: January 2016

A compact microstrip multi-stub loaded bandpass filter (BPF) with ultra-wide stopband is introduced and investigated. Lumped-equivalent circuit (LEC) method is adopted to analyze the characteristics of the in-band response based upon the low frequency LEC and even-odd mode analytical method. Besides, equivalent transmission line circuit method with even-odd mode analytical method are adopted to discuss the mechanism of the out-band rejection based upon the transmission poles and the transmission zeros analysis of the even-/odd-mode equivalent circuits. Accordingly, the design and the optimization procedures of this type of filters are summarized. To experimentally validate the proposed method, the filter is fabricated and measured. The measured results illustrate this BPF centered at f0 = 2.8 GHz, with −3 dB fractional bandwidth of 109.3%, the insert loss (IL) of less than 1 dB from 1.4 to 4 GHz, and the rejection level of 20 dB from 5.1 to 33.5 GHz(1.82f0 to 11.96f0).
Arctic Tides Drive Water Mixing and Sea Ice Loss
Authors: Strelich Lily
Published: January 2016

Researchers model ice-ocean interaction to study how tides can influence Arctic Ocean circulation and sea ice volume.
Transition-metal free reactions of boronic acids: cascade addition – ring-opening of furans towards functionalized γ-ketoaldehydes
Authors: Roscales S. , Csákÿ A. G.
Published: January 2016

We describe the first ring-opening of furfuryl alcohols with boronic acids to afford functionalized γ-ketoaldehydes.
Mitigated phase transition during first cycle of a Li-rich layered cathode studied by in operando synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction
Authors: Song Bohang , Day Sarah J. , Sui Tan , Lu Li , Tang Chiu C. , Korsunsky Alexander M.
Published: January 2016

In operando synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction study of pristine and Cr-doped Li-rich battery cathodes during the first charge cycle shows the benefit of Cr-doping in stabilizing the local structure by suppressing the activation of Li2MnO3 domains.
Adsorption and reaction of H2S on Cu(110) studied using scanning tunneling microscopy
Authors: Shiotari Akitoshi , Okuyama Hiroshi , Hatta Shinichiro , Aruga Tetsuya , Hamada Ikutaro
Published: January 2016

Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), the adsorption and reaction of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and its fragments (SH and S) on Cu(110) are investigated at 5 K.
Fe/γ-Al2O3and Fe–K/γ-Al2O3as reverse water-gas shift catalysts
Authors: Loiland Jason A. , Wulfers Matthew J. , Marinkovic Nebojsa S. , Lobo Raul F.
Published: January 2016

Fe–K/Al2O3is shown to be an effective RWGS catalyst with high CO selectivity.
Novel iminopyridine derivatives: ligands for preparation of Fe(ii) and Cu(ii) dinuclear complexes
Authors: Martínez-Ferraté Oriol , López-Valbuena Josep M. , Belmonte Marta Martínez , White Andrew J. P. , Benet-Buchholz Jordi , Britovsek George J. P. , Claver Carmen , van Leeuwen Piet W. N. M.
Published: January 2016

A series of imino- and amino-pyridine ligands based on dihydrobenzofurobenzofuran (BFBF) and methanodibenzodioxocine (DBDOC) backbones have been synthesized.
Framework for the assessment of interaction between CO2geological storage and other sedimentary basin resources
Authors: Michael K. , Whittaker S. , Varma S. , Bekele E. , Langhi L. , Hodgkinson J. , Harris B.
Published: January 2016

Managing the interaction between carbon dioxide storage and other basin resources should focus on preventing potential conflicts and enhancing synergies.
Optimization of enzymatic production of anti-diabetic peptides from black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) proteins, their characterization and biological potential
Authors: Mojica Luis , de Mejía Elvira González
Published: January 2016

Black bean protein fractions present high potential to inhibit important molecular markers related to type-2 diabetes.
Self-assembly of endohedral metallofullerenes: a decisive role of cooling gas and metal–carbon bonding
Authors: Deng Qingming , Heine Thomas , Irle Stephan , Popov Alexey A.
Published: January 2016

Molecular dynamics simulations of the endohedral metallofullerene formation reveal a crucial role of the cooling gas (He) and the strength of metal–carbon bonding in the formation mechanism.
Preparation of spherical agglomerates from potash alum
Authors: Kardos Andrea F. , Tóth Judit , Trif László , Gyenis János , Feczkó Tivadar
Published: January 2016

Spherical crystallization proved to be feasible for the preparation of spherical salt hydrate particles as core material for microencapsulation.
Multi-mode photocatalytic degradation and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of honeycomb-like three-dimensionally ordered macroporous composite Ag/ZrO2
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Li Li , Wang Shuang , Huang Tingting , Hao Yuting , Qi Yunying
Published: January 2016

Honeycomb-like 3DOM Ag/ZrO2was prepared by using PS as template and combined with one-step method of vacuum impregnation, which had both good photocatalytic degradation under multi-modes and ability on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
The thermoelectric performance of anisotropic SnSe doped with Na
Authors: Leng Hua-Qian , Zhou Min , Zhao Jie , Han Ye-Mao , Li Lai-Feng
Published: January 2016

Lead-free polycrystalline SnSe is a promising thermoelectric compound consisting of earth-abundant elements.
A BiOCl/bipolar membrane as a separator for regenerating NaOH in water-splitting cells
Authors: Liu Xian , Song Xiuli , Jian Xuan , Yang Huimin , Mao Xiaoming , Liang Zhenhai
Published: January 2016

NaOH regeneration from spent caustic using a BiOCl/BPM configuration.
Getting faster: low temperature copper-mediated SARA ATRP of methacrylates, acrylates, styrene and vinyl chloride in polar media using sulfolane/water mixtures
Authors: Mendes Joana P. , Mendonça Patrícia V. , Maximiano Pedro , Abreu Carlos M. R. , Guliashvili Tamaz , Serra Arménio C. , Coelho Jorge F. J.
Published: January 2016

Supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SARA ATRP) of acrylates, methacrylates, styrene and vinyl chloride was successfully performed in sulfolane/water mixtures using ppm amounts of soluble copper.
Photoluminescent Eu-containing polyoxometalate/gemini surfactant hybrid nanoparticles for biological applications
Authors: Gong Yanjun , Bai Fengqiao , Yu Zhidan , Bi Yanhui , Xu Wenwen , Yu Li
Published: January 2016

In water, Eu-containing polyoxometalate/gemini surfactant hybrid spheres with long emission timescale (3.758 ms) and high fluorescence quantum yield (25.17%) behaviors were synthesized.
A MOF-derived nickel based N-doped mesoporous carbon catalyst with high catalytic activity for the reduction of nitroarenes
Authors: Zuo Wei , Yu Guiqin , Dong Zhengping
Published: January 2016

A Ni/m-CN nanocatalyst was prepared in a facile manner by the carbonization of Ni-MOFs, and showed excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of nitroarenes under mild conditions.
A depropargylation-triggered spontaneous cyclization based fluorescent “turn-on” chemodosimeter for the detection of palladium ions and its application in live-cell imaging
Authors: Chen Yu , Zhang Minmin , Han Yifeng , Wei Jie
Published: January 2016

A novel depropargylation-triggered spontaneous cyclization reaction based fluorescent turn-on chemodosimeter for the detection of palladium ions has been rationally designed and developed.
Facile synthesis of flower-shaped Au/GdVO4:Eu core/shell nanoparticles by using citrate as stabilizer and complexing agent
Authors: Chen Ming , Wang Jia-Hong , Luo Zhi-Jun , Cheng Zi-Qiang , Zhang Ya-Fang , Yu Xue-Feng , Zhou Li , Wang Qu-Quan
Published: January 2016

The synthesis of metal/rare-earth core/shell hetero-nanostructures through directly coating rare-earth compound onto the surface of Au nanocrystals.
An electrochemical sensor for determination of tryptophan in the presence of DA based on poly(l-methionine)/graphene modified electrode
Authors: Wang Yingzi , Ouyang Xiaoqian , Ding Yaping , Liu Bingdi , Xu Duo , Liao Lanfeng
Published: January 2016

Electrocatalytic oxidation of l-Trp at poly(l-methionine)/graphene composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (PLME/GR/GCE) were investigated by differential pulse voltammetry.
Eco-friendly polysorbate aqueous solvents for efficient dissolution of lignin
Authors: Xu Airong , Li Wenjing , Zhang Yibo , Xu Hang
Published: January 2016

Herein green, low energy consuming and inexpensive solvents (polysorbate/H2O (Tween-80/H2O)) were developed, which could be readily prepared, instantaneously dissolve lignin without any heating, and hardly disrupt the structure of lignin.
Hetero aromatic donors as effective terminal groups for DPP based organic solar cells
Authors: Reddy Marri Anil , Kumar CH. Pavan , Ashok Akudari , Sharma Abhishek , Sharma G. D. , Chandrasekharam Malapaka
Published: January 2016

Phenoxazine and carbazole end-capped donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) based small moleculesCSDPP5–CSDPP8have been synthesized. The device withCSDPP6:PC71BM as active layer exhibited a PCE of 4.69%.
Selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol over egg-shell type Ir–ReOx catalysts
Authors: Luo Wenting , Lyu Yuan , Gong Leifeng , Du Hong , Wang Tao , Ding Yunjie
Published: January 2016

The egg-shell catalysts could promote the conversion of glycerol while maintaining an acceptable pressure gradient.
Highly dispersed Ag nanoparticles embedded in alumina nanobelts as excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates
Authors: Dou Zhifeng , Cui Chao , Feng Yuhong , Chen Yong , Wang Guizhen
Published: January 2016

The Ag/Al2O3 composite nanobelts with nearly monodispersed Ag nanoparticles embedded in alumina nanobelts show excellent SERS performances for the R6G probe molecule.
An integrated system for field analysis of Cd(ii) and Pb(ii) via preconcentration using nano-TiO2/cellulose paper composite and subsequent detection with a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer
Authors: Lin Xiaofeng , Li Shun-Xing , Zheng Feng-Ying
Published: January 2016

An integrative field analytical system was developed for the determination of Pb(ii) and Cd(ii).
Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 2,5-dimethylthiophene/furan based N-acetyl pyrazolines as selective topoisomerase II inhibitors
Authors: Darpan Darpan , Joshi Gaurav , Amrutkar Suyog M. , Baviskar Ashish T. , Kler Harveen , Singh Sandeep , Banerjee Uttam C. , Kumar Raj
Published: January 2016

Based on reported pharmacophores as topoisomerase inhibitors, 2,5-dimethylthiophene/furan basedN-acetyl pyrazolines were designed and envisaged as topoisomerase inhibitors.
Anionic hexadeca-carboxylate tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine: synthesis and in vitro photodynamic studies of a water-soluble, non-aggregating photosensitizer
Authors: Machacek Miloslav , Kollár Jan , Miletin Miroslav , Kučera Radim , Kubát Pavel , Simunek Tomas , Novakova Veronika , Zimcik Petr
Published: January 2016

Photodynamic activity of hexadeca-carboxylate tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine is largely influenced by intracellular pH and its interaction with serum proteins.
Properties and unique morphological evolution of dynamically vulcanized bromo-isobutylene-isoprene rubber/polypropylene thermoplastic elastomer
Authors: Yao Pengjun , Wu Hanguang , Ning Nanying , Zhang Liqun , Tian Hongchi , Wu Youping , Hu Guohua , Chan Tung W. , Tian Ming
Published: January 2016

We studied the microstructure, morphological evolution and the corresponding mechanism, and the properties of BIIR/PP TPV.
Application of a CO2-stripping system for calcium removal to upgrade organic matter removal and sludge granulation in a leachate-fed EGSB bioreactor
Authors: Lu Xueqin , Chen Shanping , Luo Jinghuan , Qian Guangren , Liu Jianyong , Zhen Guangyin , Li Yu-You
Published: January 2016

The application of a CO2-stripping system for calcium removal to upgrade organic matter removal and sludge granulation in a leachate-fed EGSB bioreactor was evaluated.
Phenothiazine-functionalized push–pull Zn porphyrin photosensitizers for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Qian Xing , Lu Lin , Zhu Yi-Zhou , Gao Huan-Huan , Zheng Jian-Yu
Published: January 2016

A series of zinc porphyrin dyes (JY24–27) featured phenothiazine moieties have been synthesized and applied as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells.