bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction and Standardization of Knowledge Test to Measure the Knowledge Level of Farmers on Rice Crop Cultivation
Authors: Prasanna P. Laxmi , Gopal P. V. Sathya , Rambabu P. , Srinivasulu K. , Rao V. Sreenivasa
Published: July 2024

A study was designed to develop a standardized test to measure the knowledge of rice farmers. Pertinent items covering every aspect of rice cultivation were collected with the help of subject matter specialists, progressive farmers, and scientists along with related literature. After getting experts opinion, items were subjected to difficulty index, discrimination index, correlation, reliability and validity. Items with 20-80 of difficulty level, items with 0.20-0.80 discrimination index and significant either at 1 percent or 5 percent level point in biserial correlation were selected and admitted to rice to measure knowledge level on rice cultivation. A total of 47 items were included in the final knowledge test to measure the knowledge level of farmers in rice cultivation.
Soil Forces Prediction on Animal Traction Operation in Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana
Authors: Ayambire Christopher Amigangre , Adongo Thomas Apusiga , Appah Samuel
Published: July 2024

The soil and implement interaction during ploughing can be analyzed through the geometry and working depth of the implement and soil parameters such as shear stress, cohesion and soil internal frictional angle. The objective of the study was to predict the forces that react with the implement parts during ploughing in the three (3) sampled areas in Bongo District. Soil samples were taken at a 30 cm depth. Laboratory tests were performed on them on triaxial, grading and Atterberg limits. The results were used to describe the soil and for the force prediction. There were some field tests to determine tractive efforts, speed of travel and ploughing depth. The three (3) soil types considered were sandy loam, loamy sand and course loamy sand. Food and Agriculture Organization classified the three (3) soil types as Lixisols and the local soil series also put all the soil samples as Tranchera. At the time of ploughing, the densities were ranging from 1.28 to 1.44g/cm3 and moisture content of 9.43 to 22.96%. The rake angle measured on the animal plough was 190, and the soil metal frictional angles of the three soil type ranged from 32.355 to 37.1290 with soil cohesion of 0 kPa for course loamy sand, 2.664 kPa for loamy sand and 56.338 kPa for the sandy loam soil. The resultant (P) forces for the three soil samples; loamy sand, sandy loam and course loamy sand were 0.5551 kN, 0.1024 kN and 0.0106 kN respectively.
Response of NPK and Neem Cake on Soil Properties, Growth and Yield of Cluster Bean
Authors: Singh Anshu , Swaroop Narendra , Thomas Tarence , Mistri Taniya , Thomas Ashima
Published: July 2024

At the soil science and agricultural chemistry research farm, an experiment was carried out during the 2023–2024 growing season. Nine treatments were arranged in a randomised block design with three replications for the current investigations. The pre-sowing soil sample used for the analysis of the cluster bean was taken for the study. The soil has a sandy loam texture, and the cluster bean responds considerably to the various treatment combinations. Under treatment T9 -, the highest phosphorus was measured at 30.43 kg ha-1 in 0–15 cm deep and 27.65 kg ha-1 in 15–30 cm depth. and in treatment T1, the lowest phosphorus levels were 18.81 kg ha-1 at 0–15 cm depth and 15.74 kg ha-1 at 15–30 cm depth. Treatment T9 produced the highest potassium levels, 252.9 kg ha-1 in 0–15 cm depth and 186.7 kg ha-1 in 15–30 cm depth, while treatment T1 produced the lowest potassium levels, 199.7 kg ha-1 in 0–15 cm depth and 166.8 kg ha-1 in 15–30 cm depth.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Varieties by Using RAPD Markers
Authors: Katad P. U. , Jadhav A. U. , Surbhaiyya S. D. , Jagtap K. A.
Published: July 2024

Aim: Assessment of genetic diversity in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties by using RAPD markers.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Biotechnology of K. K. Wagh College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Nashik, Maharashtra.
Methodology: Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world and normally human being daily consumed in diet. The five Varities were collected from Mahalaxmi Hi-Tech Nursery Nashik. The present study was conducted at K K Wagh college of Agricultural Biotechnology Nashik. DNA was isolated by using modified CTAB method Five Varities were analyzed through RAPD markers to determine the molecular characterization at individual level.
Results: Six arbitrary oligonucleotide primers used in the RAPD-PCR produced a total 38 different marker bands with an average 8 band per primer. Based on the banding pattern 100% polymorphism observed among the tomato varieties. Size range of amplified DNA bands varied from 0.1-10 kb. A total of 14 unique bands were amplified from the genome of the 5 tomato varieties. The dendrogram clustered the tomato varieties into two major clusters. The clusters were subdivided into small groups including the highly related Keshar and 0225, Anisha and Sai-22 varieties. The other Cluster included an isolated variety of Aryaman as a distinctive one. The RAPD data revealed a high genetic polymorphism that can be used to select diverse parents in breeding programs and maintain genetic variation.
Effect of Nitrogen and Zinc on Yield and Economics of Pearl Millet
Authors: Bharathi Chappali , Singh Karishma , Dawson Joy
Published: July 2024

The field experiment was conducted on Pearl millet during kharif season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy. The treatment consisted of three levels of nitrogen (60,80 and 100 kg/ha) and zinc (Soil application 25 kg/ha, Foliar application 0.5% and Soil application 25 kg/ha + Foliar application 0.5%) along with recommended doses of phosphorus and potash and a control (20-40-20 N-P-K/ha). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 10 treatment and replicated thrice. Application of Nitrogen 100 kg/ha + 0.5% Zinc (treatment 8) recorded significantly highest grain yield (1.77 t/ha) and stover yield (5.15 t/ha) of pearl millet crop. Maximum net returns (60,336.17 t/ha), gross returns (96,361.67 t/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.67) are observed in same treatment of pearl millet.
Energy Management Strategy for Wind Solar Storage Microgrid Based on Improved Ant Lion Optimizer
Authors: Liu Rui
Published: July 2024

The energy management of microgrids involves optimizing the capacity configuration, which significantly impacts the economic and stable operation of microgrids. This paper presents a control strategy for microgrid operation that effectively manages distributed power sources and energy storage to optimize capacity configuration. A mathematical optimization model for microgrid energy management is established considering minimum annual cost and optimal scale constraints. The traditional Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO) is improved by using dynamic weight coefficients and chaotic mapping to enhance the diversity of the population and improve the convergence of the algorithm. This can effectively avoid local optimal solutions and premature problems, and improve the convergence speed and search ability of the ALO algorithm. Based on this control strategy and improved ALO algorithm, simulations and tests were conducted using actual data from an independent microgrid, resulting in the optimal solution for the microgrid capacity allocation model. The case study results validate the practicality of the proposed microgrid operation control strategy as well as the superiority of the improved ant colony optimization algorithm.
Energy Audit and Alternative Energy Source for Sustainable Processing of Cassava Products in Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: O. E. Ogundahunsi, , G. E. Akpan, , C. O. Agbaje, , K Oyeniyi, , I. O. Olaoye, , T. F Oyewusi,
Published: July 2024

Recently, the increase in electrical energy tariff in Nigeria coupled with the epileptic electricity supply has led to the rise in production cost and price of cassava products. In this study, an audit of the electrical energy used in three cassava processing industries (Niji farm, ATMANCorp Nigeria, and Psaltry International Limited) in Oyo state, Nigeria was carried out and biofuels as an alternative energy produced from cassava processing waste to enhance the sustainability of cassava processing are presented. The audit investigates the cost of energy consumption in producing different cassava products, ranging from garri, cassava flour, and cassava starch. The computation and analysis of energy use were carried out using the spreadsheet on Microsoft Excel. The results showed that the observed monthly energy consumed with the cost of the energy for Niji farm, ATMAN Corp Nigeria, and Psaltry International Limited were 45002.16 kW/h (NGN1,330,560), 65581.92 kW/h (NGN1,668,535), and 923774.40 kW/h (NGN27,501,120) respectively. The analysis also observed that bioenergy such as bioethanol, biodiesel, biomass, or biogas produced biochemically from cassava processing by-products can be used as a suitable biofuel to run types of machinery in cassava processing. This study proffers a solution to the high cost of energy used in cassava processing industries thereby reducing the production cost resulting in lower prices of cassava products in the market.
MALDI ionization mechanisms: the coupled photophysical and chemical dynamics model correctly predicts ‘temperature’‐selected spectra
Authors: Knochenmuss Richard
Published: September 2013

A number of possible ultraviolet MALDI ionization mechanisms based on different fundamental phenomena have been proposed. Recently, it has been argued, based on ‘temperature’‐selected spectra, that photoionization models should be rejected in favor of thermal ones. Here, one non‐thermal photoionization model, the coupled photophysical and chemical dynamics model, is shown to be fully consistent with the data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
York Mason Procedure to Repair Iatrogenic Rectourinary Fistula: Our Experience
Authors: Falavolti Cristina , Sergi Federico , Shehu Ervin , Buscarini Maurizio
Published: September 2013

Background

Rectourinary fistula (RUF) is an uncommon but devastating condition in men. It usually occurs as a complication of prostatic cancer treatment, whether this is by radiation therapy or surgery. It can also occur in patients with benign pathology of the prostate, inflammatory bowel disease, or Fournier’s gangrene, and following pelvic trauma. RUF represents a challenge for the surgeon because spontaneous closure is a rare event. Several techniques have been described for surgical repair of fistula. The goal of the present study was to demonstrate that the York Mason posterior, transrectal correction of an iatrogenic RUF is a reliable approach that offers good postoperative outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 39 patients who underwent York Mason repair from 1998 to 2012 at the University of Southern California (USC) and Campus Bio‐Medico University of Rome (UCBM). The most frequent common causes of RUF were itemized, and statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations between the fistula’s etiology and surgical outcome. Patients were then divided into two different cohorts: those who had undergone only one previous procedure (group 1) and those who had undergone two or more surgeries (group 2). We performed a statistical analysis between the two groups and calculated the percentage of fistula repair by means of the posterior trans‐sphincteric approach with the York Mason technique in each groups We evaluated the presence of comorbidities (diabetes and infection) and their influence on the surgical outcome. Finally, we reported patient outcomes during follow‐up.

Results

In the present series, the RUF was iatrogenic in every case. The onset of the fistula followed prostate cancer treatment, most commonly after laparoscopic procedures. The success rate of fistula repair was found to be independent of the fistula’s etiology. Diabetes and infections did not influence the surgical outcome. Overall, more than 50 % of patients treated with the York Mason posterior, transanal, transrectal approach remained free of fistula during follow‐up. Almost 90 % of those who were previously operated only once remained free of fistula.

Conclusions

The posterior trans‐sphincteric approach of the York Mason technique is effective in treating RUF.
Effect of Delayed Autologous Breast Reconstruction on Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival
Authors: Lindford Andrew J. , Siponen Elina T. , Jahkola Tiina A. , Leidenius Marjut H. K.
Published: September 2013

Background

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the impact of delayed autologous breast reconstruction on disease relapse in breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy.

Material and methods

The study was based on 503 consecutive patients younger than 70 years of age who underwent mastectomy between January 2000 and December 2003. Overall, 391 (78 %) received mastectomy alone and 112 (22 %) underwent a delayed breast reconstruction. The median time from mastectomy to delayed breast reconstruction was 34 months. The median duration of follow‐up was 102 months.

Results

There were no locoregional recurrences (LRR) in patients who underwent delayed reconstruction (0.0 %); 21 LRR developed in patients treated with mastectomy only (5.4 %), P = 0.011. Distant metastases occurred less frequently in the reconstruction group (12.5 %) than in the patients who underwent mastectomy alone (21.5 %); P = 0.0343. The 8‐year breast cancer specific survival in the reconstruction group was 98.2 and 85.7 % for the mastectomy only group, P = 0.000.

Conclusions

Delayed autologous breast reconstruction does not appear to adversely influence disease progression when compared to patients treated with mastectomy only.
Genetic Screening Services Provided in Turkey
Authors: Erdem Yurdagül , Tekşen Fulya
Published: September 2013

In Turkey, the rate of consanguineous marriage is quite high (22–24 %) and as a result, the incidence of autosomal recessive diseases and congenital anomalies is also very high and gives rise to a serious public health problem. In the last three decades, great effort has been made to avoid increases in the prevalence of these hereditary diseases. For this purpose, population‐based premarital, prenatal, neonatal and adult genetic screening programs are performed in various centers such as Community Health Centers, Early Diagnosis of Cancer and Education Centers (KETEM), Prenatal and Neonatal Departments of Universities and State Hospitals and Thalessemia Screening Centers. Such centers are staffed by health professionals including physicians, family physicians, nurses, midwives, biologists and medical geneticists. Genetic counseling is also provided to patients attending these centers after screening tests are performed. Since there are no specialized training programs for genetic counselors, genetic counseling is generally provided by doctors or medical geneticists. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the genetic screening services provided in Turkey, the prevalence of genetic diseases and the design of intensive educational programs for health professionals.
Increased Lipid Synthesis and Decreased β‐Oxidation in the Liver of SHR/NDmcr‐cp (cp/cp) Rats, an Animal Model of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Tanaka Shizuyo , Yamazaki Tohru , Asano Satoshi , Mitsumoto Atsushi , Kobayashi Daisuke , Kudo Naomi , Kawashima Yoichi
Published: September 2013

SHR/NDmcr‐cp (cp/cp) rats (SHR/NDcp) are an animal model of metabolic syndrome. A previous study of ours revealed drastic increases in the mass of palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n‐9), palmitoleic (16:1n‐7), cis‐vaccenic (18:1n‐7) and 5,8,11‐eicosatrienoic acids in the liver of SHR/NDcp. However, detailed information on the class of lipid accumulated and the mechanism responsible for the overproduction of the accumulated lipid in the liver was not obtained. This study aimed to characterize the class of lipid accumulated and to explore the mechanism underlying the lipid accumulation in the liver of SHR/NDcp, in comparison with SHR/NDmcr‐cp (+/+) (lean hypertensive littermates of SHR/NDcp) and Wistar Kyoto rats. In the liver of SHR/NDcp, de novo synthesis of fatty acids (16:0, 18:1n‐9 and 16:1n‐7) and triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis were up‐regulated and fatty acid β‐oxidation was down‐regulated. These perturbations of lipid metabolism caused fat accumulation in hepatocytes and accumulation of TAG, which were enriched with 16:0, 18:1n‐9 and 16:1n‐7, in the liver of SHR/NDcp. On the other hand, no changes were found in hepatic contents of diacylglycerol and unesterified fatty acid (FFA); among FFA, there were no differences in the hepatic concentrations of unesterified 16:0 and stearic acid between SHR/NDcp and two other groups of rats. Moreover, little change was brought about in the expression of genes responsive to endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver of SHR/NDcp. These results may reinforce the pathophysiological role of stearoyl‐CoA desaturase 1 and fatty acid elongase 6 in the liver of SHR/NDcp.
Shock‐induced failure of a Riata lead with normal electrical lead parameters and a normal fluoroscopic appearance: A case report
Authors: Hirata Naoki , Mitamura Hideo , Nakagawa Susumu , Ashida Kenki , Yamasaki Yu , Yasuhara Yoko , Higuchi Satoshi , Endo Ayaka , Hasegawa Tasuku , Takahashi Toshiyuki
Published: September 2013

An 81‐year‐old man was scheduled for an elective implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) generator exchange because of battery depletion. The Atlas™+ DR ICD (St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA) had been implanted in February 2007 for primary prevention. The ICD lead (Riata 1570, St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA) had been positioned via the left cephalic vein at the right ventricular apex. Prior to the ICD generator exchange, which took place 70 months after the initial implantation, all routine device interrogations revealed normal electrical lead parameters, and cine‐fluoroscopy of the lead showed normal appearance without any apparent fracture. We attempted to conduct high‐voltage shock testing, as there was concern about the possibility of silent lead malfunction. Following delivery of the first high‐voltage shock, the device declared “possibility of output circuit damage.” Subsequent shocks could not be delivered. Nonetheless, other lead parameters remained stable, and high‐voltage lead impedance was <20 Ω. The following day, the failed generator was replaced with a new ICD generator and connected with a new ICD lead. We then tested the new device by inducing ventricular fibrillation, which was defibrillated successfully. Although electric screening in asymptomatic patients with the Riata ICD lead remains controversial, it should be remembered that there are patients with or without detected cable externalization in whom only high‐voltage shock testing can disclose lead malfunction. Issues with Riata leads have not yet been elucidated in full detail.
A curious alliance: Sinus nodal dysfunction precipitating atrioventricular block
Authors: Yerram Sreekanth , Ramasamy Chandramohan , Balachander, MD, DM Jayaraman , Selvaraj, MD, DNB Raja J.
Published: September 2013

An elderly woman presented with recurrent syncope. Sinus bradycardia and sinoatrial block were seen on the electrocardiogram; however, PR interval prolongation after sinus pauses suggested atrioventricular conduction system disease. The occurrence of complete atrioventricular block after a pause during the electrophysiological study confirmed a diagnosis of paroxysmal atrioventricular block precipitated by sinus pauses secondary to sinus nodal disease.
ON THE INTEGRAL HODGE AND TATE CONJECTURES OVER A NUMBER FIELD
Authors: TOTARO BURT
Published: September 2013

Hassett and Tschinkel gave counterexamples to the integral Hodge conjecture among 3-folds over a number field. We work out their method in detail, showing that essentially all known counterexamples to the integral Hodge conjecture over the complex numbers can be made to work over a number field.
HOLZ Rings in EBSD Patterns of the UFeB4 Compound: Association with a Random Distribution of Planar Defects
Authors: Dias Marta , Carvalho Patrícia Almeida , dos Santos Isabel Cordeiro , Tougait Olivier , Havela Ladislav , Gonçalves António Pereira
Published: September 2013

The UFeB4 phase present in different alloys of the B–Fe–U system was studied by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy complemented with energy-dispersive spectroscopy and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The PXRD data showed that the ternary compound crystallized adopting essentially the YCrB4-type structure. However, microstructural observations revealed that under high undercooling conditions the UFeB4 phase exhibits a random distribution of defects parallel to, which are consistently associated with intense higher-order Laue zone rings in EBSD patterns. Indexation of the EBSD patterns showed that the defective structure is compatible with an intergrowth of YCrB4- and ThMoB4-type layers according to the (010)YCrB4//(110)ThMoB4 and [001]YCrB4//[001]ThMoB4 orientation relation previously reported for an analogous compound. Magnetic studies indicated that the annealed UFeB4 compound has a paramagnetic behavior in the 2–300 K temperature range.
He Who Pays the Piper: Shifting Scottish Legal Landscapes
Authors: Guite Candace
Published: September 2013

If Scotland votes ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ how will its relationship change with the remainder of the UK? A ‘yes’ vote will have huge financial, political and legal implications. This article, written by Candace Guite, considers the current role of the UK Supreme Court in Scotland, the recent conflict (to which the title alludes) and it reflects on Scotland's potential international status. The UK Government has argued that it would be regarded as the continuator state and an independent Scotland would be a successor state, and so, in the event of a ‘yes’ vote Scotland would have to re-apply for entry to the European Union and the United Nations. However, there are arguments to support the alternative option, that Scotland could be regarded as a co-equal successor state with England, and thus would retain EU and UN membership.
Northern Ireland Legal Material Since Devolution: a Practical Guide
Authors: Lorrimer Alison
Published: September 2013

Alison Lorrimer, who works at the Departmental Solicitor's Office Library in Belfast, reflects on how the sources of legal information have been affected by the changing political landscape in Northern Ireland.
An Emerging Welsh Legal Identity: a Brief Overview of the Information Landscape
Authors: Stevenson Lillian
Published: September 2013

“Wales, it has to be said, has come a very long way in a short time.” was the opening line by Sir David Lloyd Jones in his speech on, “The Law Commission and Law Reform in a Devolved Wales” to the Wales Governance Centre Annual Lecture in Aberystwyth in March 2013.1 This brief overview by Lillian Stevenson attempts to discuss this statement using selected documents published after the 2011 referendum in which the people of Wales voted in favour of extending the law making powers of the National Assembly.
The Changing Public Service Landscape
Authors: Westcott Sue
Published: September 2013

This article by Sue Westcott discusses some of the changes in government policy since the election of the Coalition Government and the implications of local decision making for public services. These changes in turn will change the type of sources that will be relevant to legal information work relating to public policy.
European exceptionalism?
Authors: NOLTE GEORG , PHILIPP AUST HELMUT
Published: September 2013

The paper discusses recent propositions that, after a period of ‘American exceptionalism’, forms of ‘European exceptionalism’ are now emerging. The paper first asks what makes a political entity ‘exceptionalist’. For this purpose inspiration is sought in the defining features of ‘American exceptionalism’. The paper then discusses whether ‘Europe’ displays comparable features in the fields of international legal policy and domestic rights culture. It also asks whether there are other aspects of European governance which could make it plausible to speak of a European exceptionalism. The paper concludes that it is misleading to use the term ‘European exceptionalism’ because the underlying phenomena are not comparable with what is usually understood as ‘American exceptionalism’.
On the constitutional question in global governance: Global administrative law and the conflicts-law approach in comparison
Authors: KUO MING-SUNG
Published: September 2013

The question of constitutionalization cuts through the heart of theoretical debate on the fragmentation of global governance. This paper aims to contribute to this debate through a comparison of global administrative law (GAL) and the conflicts-law approach. While the conflicts-law approach espouses the move towards global constitutionalism, GAL disavows constitutional ambition. I make a twofold argument. First, the differing diagnoses these two approaches make of global governance lead to their distinct proposed solutions. GAL identifies the lack of accountability as the underlying concern of global governance and responds to fragmented global governance through balancing-centred legal management. The conflicts-law approach instead attributes the challenges facing global governance to the ill-designed democratic institutions in nation states and turns to ‘democratic juridification’ as the solution. Second, GAL and the conflicts-law approach reflect two distinct images of constitutionalism. GAL’s ‘constitutional deficit’ suggests its implicit embrace of a version of constitutionalism rooted in the tradition of populist democracy. The conflicts-law approach situates transnational democracy in the conflicts-law process in which inter-regime conflicts are resolved, suggesting a prototype of constitutionalized global governance underpinned by an epistemic understanding of democracy.
Protein synthesis rate is the predominant regulator of protein expression during differentiation
Authors: Kristensen Anders R , Gsponer Joerg , Foster Leonard J
Published: September 2013

External perturbations, by forcing cells to adapt to a new environment, often elicit large‐scale changes in gene expression resulting in an altered proteome that improves the cell's fitness in the new conditions. Steady‐state levels of a proteome depend on transcription, the levels of transcripts, translation and protein degradation but system‐level contribution that each of these processes make to the final protein expression change has yet to be explored. We therefore applied a systems biology approach to characterize the regulation of protein expression during cellular differentiation using quantitative proteomics. As a general rule, it seems that protein expression during cellular differentiation is largely controlled by changes in the relative synthesis rate, whereas the relative degradation rate of the majority of proteins stays constant. In these data, we also observe that the proteins in defined sub‐structures of larger protein complexes tend to have highly correlated synthesis and degradation rates but that this does not necessarily extend to the holo‐complex. Finally, we provide strong evidence that the generally poor correlation observed between transcript and protein levels can fully be explained once the protein synthesis and degradation rates are taken into account.
Atomic Scale Verification of Oxide-Ion Vacancy Distribution near a Single Grain Boundary in YSZ
Authors: An Jihwan , Park Joong Sun , Koh Ai Leen , Lee Hark B. , Jung Hee Joon , Schoonman Joop , Sinclair Robert , Gür Turgut M. , Prinz Fritz B.
Published: September 2013

This study presents atomic scale characterization of grain boundary defect structure in a functional oxide with implications for a wide range of electrochemical and electronic behavior. Indeed, grain boundary engineering can alter transport and kinetic properties by several orders of magnitude. Here we report experimental observation and determination of oxide-ion vacancy concentration near the Σ13 (510)/[001] symmetric tilt grain-boundary of YSZ bicrystal using aberration-corrected TEM operated under negative spherical aberration coefficient imaging condition. We show significant oxygen deficiency due to segregation of oxide-ion vacancies near the grain-boundary core with half-width < 0.6 nm. Electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements with scanning TEM indicated increased oxide-ion vacancy concentration at the grain boundary core. Oxide-ion density distribution near a grain boundary simulated by molecular dynamics corroborated well with experimental results. Such column-by-column quantification of defect concentration in functional materials can provide new insights that may lead to engineered grain boundaries designed for specific functionalities.
Catechol‐O‐Methyl‐Transferase Inhibitors: Present Problems and Relevance of the New Ones
Authors: Nuno Palma P. , Kiss László E. , Soares‐da‐Silva Patrício
Published: September 2013

Levodopa, in association with a DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor (e.g., carbidopa or benserazide) has for many years been the undisputed gold standard drug for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, given its rapid disposition and elimination in the periphery, it was hypothesized that significant enhancements in levodopa bioavailability and clinical efficacy could be achieved through co‐adjuvant therapy with a catechol‐O‐methyl‐transferase (COMT) inhibitor. Early attempts, dating back to the late 1950s, to discover COMT inhibitors were generally hampered by their lack of in vivo efficacy, target selectivity or by considerable toxicity. It was not until the late 1990s that entacapone and tolcapone, representatives of a new class of potent COMT inhibitors (nitrocatechol derivatives), made their way to clinical practice for the treatment of PD. Even though these drugs have since contributed to an increase in the usefulness of levodopa therapy, each of them presents known limitations, namely concerning their clinical efficacy and safety. The unmet medical need for more efficacious and safer COMT inhibitors has motivated intense research in this field over the last decade. Opicapone is the first, third‐generation COMT inhibitor among the nitrocatechol derivatives under clinical development, and demonstrates superior pharmacodynamic and safety profiles in humans, over previous drugs. In this chapter, we review the major advances in this field, summarize the relevant non‐clinical and clinical human pharmacology and discuss new insights into the mechanism of action of opicapone.
5‐HT1A Receptors as a Therapeutic Target for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Shimizu Saki , Ohno Yukihiro
Published: September 2013

The serotonergic system plays a crucial role in regulating psychoemotional, sensorimotor and cognitive functions in the central nervous system. Among the serotonergic (5‐HT) receptor subtypes, 5‐HT1A receptors are implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of anxiety and depression. In addition, recent research into 5‐HT1A receptors has revealed new therapeutic roles in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Specifically, 5‐HT1A receptors modulate extrapyramidal motor disorders, L‐DOPA‐induced dyskinesia and cognitive impairment. Thus, full or partial 5‐HT1A agonists improve core Parkinsonian symptoms associated with dopaminergic deficits, dyskinesia induced by chronic L‐DOPA treatment and mood disturbances (anxiety and depression). In addition, partial 5‐HT1A agonists or antagonists are expected to be effective against cognitive impairment in patients with PD. These findings encourage the discovery of new 5‐HT1A receptor ligands, which may improve limitations in efficacy and/or adverse reactions in the current therapy of PD.
Role of P2X7 Receptor Signaling in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Takenouchi Takato , Sekiyama KaZunari , Fujita Masayo , Sugama Shuei , Iwamaru Yoshifumi , Kitani Hiroshi , Hashimoto Makoto
Published: September 2013

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and prion disease are characterized by protein aggregation and gliosis, including astrocytes and microglia. Currently, there is no treatment for prevention of disease progression. It has been well characterized that neuroinflammation caused by aberrant activation of glial cells may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and thus modulation of neuroinflammatory reactions may be a possible therapeutic strategy. In this context, we focus here on the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), a cation‐selective ion channel gated by extracellular adenosine triphosphate, as a drug target for the modulation of neuroinflammation in PD. P2X7R is highly expressed in microglia in the central nervous system and has a pivotal role in the maturation and release of the powerful pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). Importantly, increased expression of IL‐1β correlates with the progression of PD, and up‐regulation of P2X7R expression is also observed in animal models of PD. Furthermore, evidence is accumulating to indicate that P2X7R may be involved in a variety of cellular events that lead to both neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. Thus, drugs that modulate P2X7R activity may provide a new strategy for treatment of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Retracted Article: Aqueous synthesis of human serum albumin-stabilized fluorescent Au/Ag core/shell nanocrystals for highly sensitive and selective sensing of copper(ii)
Authors: Gui Rijun , Jin Hui
Published: September 2013

Using human serum albumin as a reductive plus stabilizing agent, fluorescent Au/Ag core/shell nanocrystals were prepared at pH 9.0 and 37 °C, and further developed as a highly sensitive and selective sensor of Cu2+.
Radical Pd(iii)/Pd(i) reductive elimination in palladium sequences
Authors: Maestri Giovanni , Malacria Max , Derat Etienne
Published: September 2013

C–C bond forming reductive elimination previously thought to occur in Pd(iv) has lower barriers in radical Pd(iii) complexes.
Implementation of the CCSD-PCM linear response function for frequency dependent properties in solution: Application to polarizability and specific rotation
Authors: Caricato Marco
Published: September 2013

This work reports the first implementation of the frequency dependent linear response (LR) function for the coupled cluster singles and doubles method (CCSD) combined with the polarizable continuum model of solvation for the calculation of frequency dependent properties in solution. In particular, values of static and dynamic polarizability as well as specific rotation are presented for various test molecules. Model calculations of polarizability show that a common approximation used in the definition of the LR function with solvation models recovers over 70% of the full response while maintaining a computational cost comparable to gas phase LR-CCSD. Calculations of specific rotation for three compounds for which gas phase methods predict the wrong sign of the rotation show that accounting for the electronic response of the solvent may be essential to assign the correct absolute configuration of chiral molecules.
Ion selection of charge-modified large nanopores in a graphene sheet
Authors: Zhao Shijun , Xue Jianming , Kang Wei
Published: September 2013

Water desalination becomes an increasingly important approach for clean water supply to meet the rapidly growing demand of population boost, industrialization, and urbanization. The main challenge in current desalination technologies lies in the reduction of energy consumption and economic costs. Here, we propose to use charged nanopores drilled in a graphene sheet as ion exchange membranes to promote the efficiency and capacity of desalination systems. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the selective ion transport behavior of electric-field-driven KCl electrolyte solution through charge modified graphene nanopores. Our results reveal that the presence of negative charges at the edge of graphene nanopore can remarkably impede the passage of Cl− while enhance the transport of K+, which is an indication of ion selectivity for electrolytes. We further demonstrate that this selectivity is dependent on the pore size and total charge number assigned at the nanopore edge. By adjusting the nanopore diameter and electric charge on the graphene nanopore, a nearly complete rejection of Cl− can be realized. The electrical resistance of nanoporous graphene, which is a key parameter to evaluate the performance of ion exchange membranes, is found two orders of magnitude lower than commercially used membranes. Our results thus suggest that graphene nanopores are promising candidates to be used in electrodialysis technology for water desalinations with a high permselectivity.
Rethinking first-principles electron transport theories with projection operators: The problems caused by partitioning the basis set
Authors: Reuter Matthew G. , Harrison Robert J.
Published: September 2013

We revisit the derivation of electron transport theories with a focus on the projection operators chosen to partition the system. The prevailing choice of assigning each computational basis function to a region causes two problems. First, this choice generally results in oblique projection operators, which are non-Hermitian and violate implicit assumptions in the derivation. Second, these operators are defined with the physically insignificant basis set and, as such, preclude a well-defined basis set limit. We thus advocate for the selection of physically motivated, orthogonal projection operators (which are Hermitian) and present an operator-based derivation of electron transport theories. Unlike the conventional, matrix-based approaches, this derivation requires no knowledge of the computational basis set. In this process, we also find that common transport formalisms for nonorthogonal basis sets improperly decouple the exterior regions, leading to a short circuit through the system. We finally discuss the implications of these results for first-principles calculations of electron transport.
Effect of annealing on microstructure evolution in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB heterostructures by positron annihilation
Authors: Zhao Chong-Jun , Lu Xiang-An , Zhao Zhi-Duo , Li Ming-Hua , Zhang Peng , Wang Bao-Yi , Cao Xing-Zhong , Zhang Jing-Yan , Yu Guang-Hua
Published: September 2013

As one of the most powerful tools for investigation of defects of materials, positron annihilation spectroscopy was employed to explore the thermal effects on the film microstructure evolution in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB heterostructures. It is found that high annealing temperature can drive vacancy defects agglomeration and ordering acceleration in the MgO barrier. Meanwhile, another important type of defects, vacancy clusters, which are formed via the agglomeration of vacancy defects in the MgO barrier after annealing, still exists inside the MgO barrier. All these behaviors in the MgO barrier could potentially impact the overall performance in MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions.
Chromatographic characterization of triacylglycerides and fatty acid methyl esters in microalgae oils for biodiesel production
Authors: Soares A. T. , Silva B. F. , Fialho L. L. , Pequeno M. A. G. , Vieira A. A. H. , Souza A. G. , Antoniosi Filho N. R.
Published: September 2013

The fatty acid methyl ester and triacylglyceride content of the oils of seven microalgae species were analyzed by gas chromatography in order to predict the influence of fatty acid content on the physicochemical properties of biodiesel. Among the seven species examined, Chlorella minutissima and Arthrospira platensis showed biodiesel production potential, while fatty acids from Chlorella vulgaris, Cyclotella sp., Cylindrotheca closterium, Entomoneis alata, and A. platensis have great economic values, with application in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The oxidative stability of the biodiesel produced from C. minutissima will be high, but there will be problems with cold filter plugging point temperatures. These can be solved by mixing C. minutissima biodiesel with a biodiesel like that from Ankistrodesmus gracilis that is rich in di- or tri-unsaturated fatty acids. Triacylglyceride analysis made it possible to tell if a microalgae oil is composed mainly of triacylglycerides or of some other class of lipids.
Note: A novel rotary actuator driven by only one piezoelectric actuator
Authors: Huang Hu , Fu Lu , Zhao Hongwei , Shi Chengli , Ren Luquan , Li Jianping , Qu Han
Published: September 2013

This paper presents a novel piezo-driven rotary actuator based on the parasitic motion principle. Output performances of the rotary actuator were tested and discussed. Experiment results indicate that using only one piezoelectric actuator and simple sawtooth wave control, the rotary actuator reaches the rotation velocity of about 20 097 μrad/s when the driving voltage is 100 V and the driving frequency is 90 Hz. The actuator can rotate stably with the minimum resolution of 0.7 μrad. This paper verifies feasibility of the parasitic motion principle for applications of rotary actuators, providing new design ideas for precision piezoelectric rotary actuators.
Note: Vignetting calibration and temperature correction for casting billets
Authors: Xie Zhi , Zhang Yuzhong , Hu Zhenwei , Bai Haicheng
Published: September 2013

A method for calibration of vignetting coefficient is proposed in this paper to solve the distortion of temperature measurement using a CCD-based pyrometer. On this basis, a hybrid temperature measurement system, which comprises of an array CCD camera with high resolution and a single spot colorimetric thermometer, is introduced to eliminate the influences of surface striped iron oxide scale, dust, and emissivity on temperature measurement for casting billets. Currently, the system has been successfully applied and verified in some continuous casting production lines. The vignetting estimation error of 0.052 and the maximum temperature measurement fluctuation of 5 °C were achieved in these measurements.
Note: A self-calibrating electrometer for atmospheric charge measurements from a balloon platform
Authors: Nicoll K. A.
Published: September 2013

Charged aerosol particles and water droplets are abundant throughout the lower atmosphere, and may influence interactions between small cloud droplets. This note describes a small, disposable sensor for the measurement of charge in non-thunderstorm cloud, which is an improvement of an earlier sensor [K. A. Nicoll and R. G. Harrison, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 014501 (2009)]. The sensor utilizes a self-calibrating current measurement method. It is designed for use on a free balloon platform alongside a standard meteorological radiosonde, measuring currents from 2 fA to 15 pA and is stable to within 5 fA over a temperature range of 5 °C to −60 °C. During a balloon flight with the charge sensor through a stratocumulus cloud, charge layers up to 40 pC m−3 were detected on the cloud edges.
Unambiguous position and orientation tracking using a rotating magnet
Authors: Schultze Volkmar , Andrä Wilfried , Peiselt Katja , Gleichmann Nils , Meyer Hans-Georg
Published: September 2013

We present a measurement system for magnetic position and orientation tracking. It uses a rotating magnet as transmitter and a three-axis magnetic field sensor to measure the magnetic field ellipse produced by the magnet. A theory is given for the calculation of the magnet's position and orientation from the ellipse's semi-axis components. Detection range and accuracy of the tracking method and their dependence on magnetic moment, noise levels of the environment, and the sensor type are shown. Using a fluxgate sensor, which is the best choice for a typical urban environment, a NdFeB magnet with a volume of about 180 cm3 can be detected with 1% error up to 17 m distance. With the use of two moderately distant identical sensors and an adequate evaluation of the tracking components' evolution, the right one out of four possible solutions as delivered by the tracking algorithm can be reliably chosen, independent of the tracking course. This way, a unique solution of the three-dimensional inverse problem can be achieved.
Communication: In search of four-atom chiral metal clusters
Authors: Zhang Xinxing , Visser Bradley , Tschurl Martin , Collins Evan , Wang Yi , Wang Qian , Li Yawei , Sun Qiang , Jena Puru , Gantefoer Gerd , Boesl Ulrich , Heiz Ulrich , Bowen Kit
Published: September 2013

A combined study utilizing anion photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory was conducted to search for four-atom, chiral, metal, and mostly metal clusters. The clusters considered were AuCoMnBi−/0, AlAuMnO−/0, AgMnOAl−/0, and AuAlPtAg−/0, where the superscripts, −/0, refer to anionic and neutral cluster species, respectively. Based on the agreement of experimentally and theoretically determined values of both electron affinities and vertical detachment energies, the calculated cluster geometries were validated and examined for chirality. Among both anionic and neutral clusters, five structures were identified as being chiral.
Range use and pasture consumption in free-range poultry production
Authors: Singh M. , Cowieson A. J.
Published: September 2013

The recent increase in free-range meat and egg production and consumption has led to extensive investigation in this area and has revealed that the level of animal performance achieved in such systems is low compared with that achieved in conventional production systems. In Australia, this difference has been attributed either to the absence of in-feed antibiotics or to range access, which may result in exposure to detrimental climatic conditions, predators, disease, welfare challenges and nutrient dilution. Moreover, although poultry in free-range systems have ready access to outside runs, not all birds utilise them optimally. Pasture consumption results in dilution of energy and protein intake and may cause impaction and dietary electrolyte imbalance. This paper provides an overview of these issues to provide a conceptual framework for further study in this area.
A positive feedback loop links circadian clock factor CLOCK-BMAL1 to the basic transcriptional machinery
Authors: Lande-Diner Laura , Boyault Cyril , Kim Jin Young , Weitz Charles J.
Published: September 2013

Significance

Circadian clocks are endogenous molecular oscillators that drive daily rhythms of physiology and behavior. The mammalian clock, intrinsic to most cells and tissues, is built on a conserved negative feedback loop in which a heterodimeric transcription factor, circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK)-brain, muscle Arnt-like 1 (BMAL1), drives the transcription of its specific inhibitor proteins. This study shows that CLOCK-BMAL1 is associated with a clock-driven, rhythmically expressed coactivator protein, TRAP150 (thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein-150), that promotes the binding of CLOCK-BMAL1 to DNA and links it to the basic transcriptional machinery. The activity and oscillation of TRAP150 define a positive feedback loop within the core clock and provide a potential mechanism for the precise timing of circadian transcription cycles.
Microbial battery for efficient energy recovery
Authors: Xie Xing , Ye Meng , Hsu Po-Chun , Liu Nian , Criddle Craig S. , Cui Yi
Published: September 2013

Significance

This work introduces a microbial battery for recovery of energy from reservoirs of organic matter, such as wastewater. Microorganisms at an anode oxidize dissolved organic substances, releasing electrons to an external circuit, where power can be extracted. The electrons then enter a solid-state electrode that remains solid as electrons accumulate within it. The solid-state electrode is periodically removed from the battery, oxidized, and reinstalled for sustained power production. Molecular oxygen is not introduced into the battery, and ion-exchange membranes are avoided, enabling high efficiencies of energy recovery.