bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reclaiming Singapore's ‘Growth with Equity’ Social Compact
Authors: RAHIM LILY ZUBAIDAH
Published: April 2015

Singapore's long-serving People's Action Party (PAP) government suffered from a major electoral setback in the 2011 general election and subsequent by-elections. The high-growth population policy, underpinned by the influx of migrants and foreign workers, has strongly fuelled the groundswell of public discontent and is commonly perceived to have contributed to widening income disparities, wage stagnation, and cost of living pressures. This article attempts to make sense of the PAP leadership's dogged commitment to the high-growth population policy despite the electoral backlashes and policy criticisms by prominent public intellectuals and others closely connected to the PAP establishment. It considers Singapore's high-growth population policy and widening income disparity within the context of the authoritarian developmental state's shift away from the ‘growth with equity’ social compact. The article also examines the impact of widening income inequality and other policy lapses on the legitimacy of the PAP government as the clamor for a renewed social compact based on ‘growth with equity’ gathers momentum in the repoliticized polity.
Ethnic Politics and Consociationalism in the 2013 Malaysian Election
Authors: SEGAWA NORIYUKI
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the prospects of ethnic politics and consociationalism in Malaysia, in terms of their structures and capabilities. Towards this end, the Barisan Nasional's (BN) policies from 2008 to 2013, the BN's and the Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) 2013 electoral strategies, and the results of the 2013 election will be analysed. As political parties in both the BN and the PR have generally represented ethnic interests and identities, an ethnic-based political structure has been maintained. A consociational political system, which is based on an ethnic-based political structure, has been adopted by both political coalitions. An examination of the 2013 election results indicates that the BN's ethnic politicking as a vote-gathering device has become ineffective. The BN's consociationalism has suffered from a legitimacy deficit, particularly within ethnic minority communities. However, it may be premature to claim that the Malaysian political culture is on the cusp of transcending the BN's paradigm of ethnic politics and consociationalism. The shift from ethnic politics will generate stronger momentum when the PR parties are incorporated into one political party.
Indonesia's Democratic Performance: A Popular Assessment
Authors: MUJANI SAIFUL , LIDDLE R. WILLIAM
Published: April 2015

How democratic is contemporary Indonesia? While analysts differ, Indonesian citizens, when asked in systematic public opinion surveys conducted regularly by the authors since 1999, consistently express strong support for democratic principles and also believe that their country's democratic performance is high. Support for democratic performance is highly correlated with support for government performance, as measured by perceptions of the condition of the national economy and political system. At the same time, higher levels of education and income, in Indonesia as in other countries, have created a considerable number of critical citizens, that is, citizens who value democracy but are critical of its performance. On our evidence for Indonesia, it is members of this group who are the most motivated and best prepared to demand a higher level of democratic performance from their elected officials.
Qualitative and quantitative variation in the mechanisms of salinity tolerance determined by multivariate assessment of diverse rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Rashed , Pritchard Jeremy , Ford-Lloyd Brian V.
Published: April 2015

Climate change-induced events are causing salinization of many rice-growing areas, requiring the identification of new sources of genetic variation for salt tolerance in plant genetic resources since commonly grown cultivars are sensitive to salt. To identify the level of salt tolerance across a wide range of genotypes, we used a multivariate screening method using multiple growth and physiological traits simultaneously. For this purpose, four indica, two japonica and two wild rice genotypes were grown hydroponically under 40 and 80 mM NaCl stresses; fourteen different growth, qualitative and physiological traits, e.g. plant height, biomass, root and shoot elongation rates, and tissue ion accumulation, were recorded. In general, indica varieties performed better than both japonica and wild species. Our approach identified the existence of qualitatively different mechanisms of salt tolerance across the genotypes. For example, Pokkali, a salt-tolerant indica variety, displayed both ‘Na exclusion’ and ‘ion balance’ mechanisms, whereas PSBRc50 and IR58 showed only ‘Na exclusion’, and the Japonica genotypes Banikat and Nipponbare showed only ‘ion balance’. The results demonstrated that the tolerance is dependent on the level of stress and that this varies between genotypes; Nipponbare is moderately tolerant to 40 mM NaCl but not to 80 mM. We also suggest that the use of multivariate analyses can simplify the complex salinity tolerance picture and can effectively reveal the salinity tolerant genotype from a wide range of germplasm. The results reported here identify different physiological mechanism of tolerance across the genotypes and provide a sound basis for future studies examining their underlying molecular mechanisms.
Hubble Turns 25
Authors: Cowen Ron
Published: April 2015

Breathtaking images, ground breaking science, and a demonstration of humankind's ability to work in space have made Hubble a cultural icon for a quarter of a century.
Non-symbiotic Bradyrhizobium ecotypes dominate North American forest soils
Authors: VanInsberghe David , Maas Kendra R , Cardenas Erick , Strachan Cameron R , Hallam Steven J , Mohn William W
Published: April 2015

The genus Bradyrhizobium has served as a model system for studying host–microbe symbiotic interactions and nitrogen fixation due to its importance in agricultural productivity and global nitrogen cycling. In this study, we identify a bacterial group affiliated with this genus that dominates the microbial communities of coniferous forest soils from six distinct ecozones across North America. Representative isolates from this group were obtained and characterized. Using quantitative population genomics, we show that forest soil populations of Bradyrhizobium represent ecotypes incapable of nodulating legume root hairs or fixing atmospheric nitrogen. Instead, these populations appear to be free living and have a greater potential for metabolizing aromatic carbon sources than their close symbiotic relatives. In addition, we identify fine-scaled differentiation between populations inhabiting neighboring soil layers that illustrate how diversity within Bradyrhizobium is structured by habitat similarity. These findings reconcile incongruent observations about this widely studied and important group of bacteria and highlight the value of ecological context to interpretations of microbial diversity and taxonomy. These results further suggest that the influence of this genus likely extends well beyond facilitating agriculture, especially as forest ecosystems are large and integral components of the biosphere. In addition, this study demonstrates how focusing research on economically important microorganisms can bias our understanding of the natural world.
Forest harvesting reduces the soil metagenomic potential for biomass decomposition
Authors: Cardenas Erick , Kranabetter J M , Hope Graeme , Maas Kendra R , Hallam Steven , Mohn William W
Published: April 2015

Soil is the key resource that must be managed to ensure sustainable forest productivity. Soil microbial communities mediate numerous essential ecosystem functions, and recent studies show that forest harvesting alters soil community composition. From a long-term soil productivity study site in a temperate coniferous forest in British Columbia, 21 forest soil shotgun metagenomes were generated, totaling 187 Gb. A method to analyze unassembled metagenome reads from the complex community was optimized and validated. The subsequent metagenome analysis revealed that, 12 years after forest harvesting, there were 16% and 8% reductions in relative abundances of biomass decomposition genes in the organic and mineral soil layers, respectively. Organic and mineral soil layers differed markedly in genetic potential for biomass degradation, with the organic layer having greater potential and being more strongly affected by harvesting. Gene families were disproportionately affected, and we identified 41 gene families consistently affected by harvesting, including families involved in lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin degradation. The results strongly suggest that harvesting profoundly altered below-ground cycling of carbon and other nutrients at this site, with potentially important consequences for forest regeneration. Thus, it is important to determine whether these changes foreshadow long-term changes in forest productivity or resilience and whether these changes are broadly characteristic of harvested forests.
Mechanisms of splicing-dependent trans-synaptic adhesion by PTPδ–IL1RAPL1/IL-1RAcP for synaptic differentiation
Authors: Yamagata Atsushi , Yoshida Tomoyuki , Sato Yusuke , Goto-Ito Sakurako , Uemura Takeshi , Maeda Asami , Shiroshima Tomoko , Iwasawa-Okamoto Shiho , Mori Hisashi , Mishina Masayoshi , Fukai Shuya
Published: April 2015

Synapse formation is triggered through trans-synaptic interaction between pairs of pre- and postsynaptic adhesion molecules, the specificity of which depends on splice inserts known as ‘splice-insert signaling codes’. Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase δ (PTPδ) can bidirectionally induce pre- and postsynaptic differentiation of neurons by trans-synaptically binding to interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) and IL-1RAcP-like-1 (IL1RAPL1) in a splicing-dependent manner. Here, we report crystal structures of PTPδ in complex with IL1RAPL1 and IL-1RAcP. The first immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain of IL1RAPL1 directly recognizes the first splice insert, which is critical for binding to IL1RAPL1. The second splice insert functions as an adjustable linker that positions the Ig2 and Ig3 domains of PTPδ for simultaneously interacting with the Ig1 domain of IL1RAPL1 or IL-1RAcP. We further identified the IL1RAPL1-specific interaction, which appears coupled to the first-splice-insert-mediated interaction. Our results thus reveal the decoding mechanism of splice-insert signaling codes for synaptic differentiation induced by trans-synaptic adhesion between PTPδ and IL1RAPL1/IL-1RAcP.
Sub-nanometre resolution imaging of polymer–fullerene photovoltaic blends using energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Masters Robert C. , Pearson Andrew J. , Glen Tom S. , Sasam Fabian-Cyril , Li Letian , Dapor Maurizio , Donald Athene M. , Lidzey David G. , Rodenburg Cornelia
Published: April 2015

The resolution capability of the scanning electron microscope has increased immensely in recent years, and is now within the sub-nanometre range, at least for inorganic materials. An equivalent advance has not yet been achieved for imaging the morphologies of nanostructured organic materials, such as organic photovoltaic blends. Here we show that energy-selective secondary electron detection can be used to obtain high-contrast, material-specific images of an organic photovoltaic blend. We also find that we can differentiate mixed phases from pure material phases in our data. The lateral resolution demonstrated is twice that previously reported from secondary electron imaging. Our results suggest that our energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy approach will be able to make major inroads into the understanding of complex, nano-structured organic materials.
Radiolysis as a solution for accelerated ageing studies of electrolytes in Lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Ortiz Daniel , Steinmetz Vincent , Durand Delphine , Legand Solène , Dauvois Vincent , Maître Philippe , Le Caër Sophie
Published: April 2015

Diethyl carbonate and dimethyl carbonate are prototype examples of eco-friendly solvents used in lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, their degradation products affect both the battery performance and its safety. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to understand the reaction mechanisms involved in the ageing processes. Among those, redox processes are likely to play a critical role. Here we show that radiolysis is an ideal tool to generate the electrolytes degradation products. The major gases detected after irradiation (H2, CH4, C2H6, CO and CO2) are identified and quantified. Moreover, the chemical compounds formed in the liquid phase are characterized by different mass spectrometry techniques. Reaction mechanisms are then proposed. The detected products are consistent with those of the cycling of Li-based cells. This demonstrates that radiolysis is a versatile and very helpful tool to better understand the phenomena occurring in lithium-ion batteries.
Exposure age and ice-sheet model constraints on Pliocene East Antarctic ice sheet dynamics
Authors: Yamane Masako , Yokoyama Yusuke , Abe-Ouchi Ayako , Obrochta Stephen , Saito Fuyuki , Moriwaki Kiichi , Matsuzaki Hiroyuki
Published: April 2015

The Late Pliocene epoch is a potential analogue for future climate in a warming world. Here we reconstruct Plio-Pleistocene East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) variability using cosmogenic nuclide exposure ages and model simulations to better understand ice sheet behaviour under such warm conditions. New and previously published exposure ages indicate interior-thickening during the Pliocene. An ice sheet model with mid-Pliocene boundary conditions also results in interior thickening and suggests that both the Wilkes Subglacial and Aurora Basins largely melted, offsetting increased ice volume. Considering contributions from West Antarctica and Greenland, this is consistent with the most recent IPCC AR5 estimate, which indicates that the Pliocene sea level likely did not exceed +20 m on Milankovitch timescales. The inception of colder climate since ∼3 Myr has increased the sea ice cover and inhibited active moisture transport to Antarctica, resulting in reduced ice sheet thickness, at least in coastal areas.
Ddx1 knockout results in transgenerational wild-type lethality in mice
Authors: Hildebrandt Matthew R. , Germain Devon R. , Monckton Elizabeth A. , Brun Miranda , Godbout Roseline
Published: April 2015

DEAD box 1 (DDX1) is a member of the DEAD box family of RNA helicases which are involved in all aspects of RNA metabolism. DDX1 has been implicated in a variety of biological processes, including 3’-end processing of mRNA, DNA repair, microRNA processing, tRNA maturation and mRNA transport. To study the role of DDX1 during development, we have generated mice carrying a constitutive Ddx1 knock-out allele. Ddx1+/− mice have no obvious phenotype and express similar levels of DDX1 as wild-type mice indicating compensation from the intact Ddx1 allele. Heterozygote matings produce no viable Ddx1−/− progeny, with Ddx1−/− embryos dying prior to embryonic day (E) 3.5. Intriguingly, the number of wild-type progeny is significantly decreased in heterozygote crosses, with two different heterozygote populations identified based on parental genotype: (i) normal Ddx1+/− mice which generate the expected number of wild-type progeny and (ii) Ddx1*/− mice (with * signifying a non-genetically altered allele) which generate a significantly reduced number of wild-type mice. The transgenerational inheritance of wild-type lethality observed upon crossing Ddx1*/− mice is independent of parental sex and occurs in cis through a mechanism that is different from other types of previously reported transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.
Magic electron affection in preparation process of silicon nanocrystal
Authors: Huang Wei-Qi , Liu Shi-Rong , Huang Zhong-Mei , Dong Ti-Ger , Wang Gang , Qin Cao-Jian
Published: April 2015

It is very interesting that magic electron affection promotes growth of nanocrystals due to nanoscale characteristics of electronic de Broglie wave which produces resonance to transfer energy to atoms. In our experiment, it was observed that silicon nanocrystals rapidly grow with irradiation of electron beam on amorphous silicon film prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and silicon nanocrystals almost occur in sphere shape on smaller nanocrystals with less irradiation time of electron beam. In the process, it was investigated that condensed structures of silicon nanocrystals are changed with different impurity atoms in silicon film, in which localized states emission was observed. Through electron beam irradiation for 15min on amorphous Si film doped with oxygen impurity atoms by PLD process, enhanced photoluminescence emission peaks are observed in visible light. And electroluminescence emission is manipulated into the optical communication window on the bigger Si-Yb-Er nanocrystals after irradiation of electron beam for 30min.
Metal Halide Solid-State Surface Treatment for High Efficiency PbS and PbSe QD Solar Cells
Authors: Crisp Ryan W. , Kroupa Daniel M. , Marshall Ashley R. , Miller Elisa M. , Zhang Jianbing , Beard Matthew C. , Luther Joseph M.
Published: April 2015

We developed a layer-by-layer method of preparing PbE (E = S or Se) quantum dot (QD) solar cells using metal halide (PbI2, PbCl2, CdI2, or CdCl2) salts dissolved in dimethylformamide to displace oleate surface ligands and form conductive QD solids. The resulting QD solids have a significant reduction in the carbon content compared to films treated with thiols and organic halides. We find that the PbI2 treatment is the most successful in removing alkyl surface ligands and also replaces most surface bound Cl- with I-. The treatment protocol results in PbS QD films exhibiting a deeper work function and band positions than other ligand exchanges reported previously. The method developed here produces solar cells that perform well even at film thicknesses approaching a micron, indicating improved carrier transport in the QD films. We demonstrate QD solar cells based on PbI2 with power conversion efficiencies above 7%.
A mesoporous organosilica grafted Pd catalyst (MOG-Pd) for efficient base free and phosphine free synthesis of tertiary butyl esters via tertiary-butoxycarbonylation of boronic acid derivatives without using carbon monoxide
Authors: Ghosh Kajari , Molla Rostam Ali , Iqubal Md. Asif , Islam S. M.
Published: April 2015

A reusable MOG-Pd catalyst has been synthesized, characterized and it shows high efficiency in tert-butoxycarbonylation under green condition.
Asymmetric synthesis of quaternary α-fluoro-β-keto-amines via detrifluoroacetylative Mannich reactions
Authors: Xie Chen , Dai Yanling , Mei Haibo , Han Jianlin , Soloshonok Vadim A. , Pan Yi
Published: April 2015

Asymmetric detrifluoroacetylative Mannich reactions of N-sulfinyl-imines via C–C bond cleavage were explored, which provide access to C–F quaternary α-fluoro-β-keto-amines.
Modulating the correlation and squeezing of phase-conjugate four-wave mixing via the polarizable dressing states
Authors: Wang Ruimin , Guo Yao , Liu Zheng , Ma Jiaqi , Yin Ming , Wang Xiuxiu , Li Changbiao , Zhang Yanpeng
Published: April 2015

We report the experimental observation of the intensity noise correlation and squeezing between counter propagating Stokes and anti-Stokes signals in Pr3+:Y2SiO5 crystals.
Anion complexation with cyanobenzoyl substituted first and second generation tripodal amide receptors: crystal structure and solution studies
Authors: Hoque Md. Najbul , Gogoi Abhijit , Das Gopal
Published: April 2015

Solid and solution state anion bindingviaa side cleft and pseudocapsular fashion by two cyanophenyl substituted first (L1) and second (L2) generation tripodal amides has been demonstrated along with a selective anion induced conformational change ofL2from openC2vto foldedC3vsymmetry.
Green and blue emitting 3D structured Tb:Ce2(WO4)3and Tb:Ce10W22O81micromaterials
Authors: Kaczmarek Anna M. , Ndagsi Dorine , Van Driessche Isabel , Van Hecke Kristof , Van Deun Rik
Published: April 2015

Various Ce2(WO4)3and Ce10W22O813D microstructures prepared hydrothermally in the absence and presence of a surfactant are reported. The different luminescence properties of the two types of materials, when doped with Tb3+ions were investigated and appropriate energy transfer mechanisms are suggested.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel non-peripherally substituted metallophthalocyanines and their sensing behaviour for a broad range of Lewis bases
Authors: Duruk E. Gülruh , Yenilmez H. Yasemin , Altındal Ahmet , Altuntaş Bayır Zehra
Published: April 2015

The synthesis of novel, symmetrical, tetrasubstituted metallophthalocyanines (cobalt, zinc, and manganese) bearing four 2-(4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)ethoxy units is reported.
A family of dinuclear lanthanide(iii) complexes from the use of a tridentate Schiff base
Authors: Anastasiadis Nikolaos C. , Kalofolias Dimitris A. , Philippidis Aggelos , Tzani Sofia , Raptopoulou Catherine P. , Psycharis Vassilis , Milios Constantinos J. , Escuer Albert , Perlepes Spyros P.
Published: April 2015

Seven new isostructural, dinuclear lanthanide(iii) complexes containing the dianion of N-salicylidene-o-aminophenol have been prepared and characterized.
1,2,4-Triphospholyl anions – versatile building blocks for the formation of 1D, 2D and 3D assemblies
Authors: Heindl Claudia , Peresypkina Eugenia V. , Virovets Alexander V. , Komarov Vladislav Yu. , Scheer Manfred
Published: April 2015

The potential of K[P3C2R2] (R =tBu, Mes) as building blocks in metallo-supramolecular chemistry was investigated and self-assembly processes with Cu(i) halides resulted in the formation of a large variety of unprecedented one-, two- and even three-dimensional aggregates.
Dynamic assembly of polymer nanotube networks via kinesin powered microtubule filaments
Authors: Paxton Walter F. , Bouxsein Nathan F. , Henderson Ian M. , Gomez Andrew , Bachand George D.
Published: April 2015

We describe for the first time how biological nanomotors may be used to actively self-assemble mesoscale networks composed of diblock copolymer nanotubes.
One-step direct synthesis of layered double hydroxide single-layer nanosheets
Authors: Yu Jingfang , Martin Benjamin R. , Clearfield Abraham , Luo Zhiping , Sun Luyi
Published: April 2015

Colloidal layered double hydroxide (LDH) single-layer nanosheets were directly synthesized via a one-step process, instead of the conventional exfoliation approach.
σ-Hole⋯π and lone pair⋯π interactions in benzylic halides
Authors: Montoro Teresa , Tardajos Gloria , Guerrero Andrés , Torres María del Rosario , Salgado Cástor , Fernández Israel , Osío Barcina José
Published: April 2015

Depending on the relative orientation of the halogen atom and the phenyl ring, the benzylic halides studied show “classical” halogen⋯π bonds as well as intramolecular interactions without σ-hole participation based on n → π* (LP⋯π) interactions.
Efficient adsorption of Europhtal onto activated carbon modified with ligands (1E,2E)-1,2-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazine (M) and (1E,2E)-1,2-bis(pyridin-3-ylmethylene)hydrazine (SCH-4); response surface methodology
Authors: Ghaedi M. , Alam barakat E. , Asfaram A. , Mirtamizdoust B. , Bazrafshan A. A. , Hajati S.
Published: April 2015

Porous activated carbon was modified with (1E,2E)-1,2-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazine (M) and (1E,2E)-1,2-bis(pyridin-3-ylmethylene)hydrazine (SCH-4).
Low cost visible light driven plasmonic Ag–AgBr/BiVO4 system: fabrication and application as an efficient photocatalyst
Authors: Sang Yan , Huang Yan , wang Wu , Fang Zhen , Geng Baoyou
Published: April 2015

BiVO4 supported Ag–AgBr heterostructures were fabricated by a designed three-step method and then used as an efficient visible light driven plasmonic photocatalyst to degrade organic dye.
Synthesis and thermal gelation of hydroxypropyl chitin
Authors: Li Chong , Hou Junxia , Gu Jianjun , Han Qiuyan , Guan Ying , Zhang Yongjun
Published: April 2015

Fully water-soluble and thermal gellable hydroxypropyl chitin was synthesized by the modification of chitin with propylene oxide in aqueous NaOH solution, a green and good solvent to chitin.
Bulk vs. surface flame retardancy of fully bio-based polyamide 10,10
Authors: Battegazzore Daniele , Alongi Jenny , Fontaine Gaelle , Frache Alberto , Bourbigot Serge , Malucelli Giulio
Published: April 2015

PA 10,10 can be flame retarded either by melt-blending the polymer with intumescent formulations or by coating it with UV-curable mixtures.
MCR-ALS as an effective tool for monitoring subsequent phase transitions in pure and doped DPPC liposomes
Authors: Cieślik-Boczula Katarzyna , Czarnik-Matusewicz Bogusława , Perevozkina Margarita , Rospenk Maria
Published: April 2015

MCR-ALS analysis produces concentration profiles of pure phase states present in heated DPPC liposomes.
Synthesis and physical properties of tris(dialkylamino)cyclopropenium bistriflamide ionic liquids
Authors: Walst Kelvin J. , Yunis Ruhamah , Bayley Paul M. , MacFarlane Douglas R. , Ward Callum J. , Wang Ruomeng , Curnow Owen J.
Published: April 2015

An investigation of symmetry (D3h,C3h,C2vandCs) and alkyl chain length (6–60 alkyl carbon atoms) effects on the physical properties of peralkylated triaminocyclopropenium bistriflamide salts.
Effect of sodium chloride on the electrochemistry activity of electrodeposited CdTe films with various morphologies
Authors: Wang Jun , Li Qian , Mu Yannan , Zhou Xiaoming , Yang Lihua , Lv Pin , Su Shi , Niu Jiasheng , Fu Wuyou , Yang Haibin
Published: April 2015

In this paper, a cadmium telluride (CdTe) film is successfully synthesized on Ni foils via a simple electrochemical deposition method.
Tuning colloidal gels by shear
Authors: Koumakis Nick , Moghimi Esmaeel , Besseling Rut , Poon Wilson C. K. , Brady John F. , Petekidis George
Published: April 2015

Using a powerful combination of experiments and simulations we demonstrate how the microstructure and its time evolution are linked with mechanical properties in a frustrated, out-of-equilibrium, particle gel under shear.
Soft nanofluidics governing minority ion exclusion in charged hydrogels
Authors: Braschler Thomas , Wu Songmei , Wildhaber Fabien , Bencherif Sidi A. , Mooney David J.
Published: April 2015

Co-ion partition in negatively charged covalent alginate hydrogels: is it Poisson–Boltzmann, Donnan or Ogston? Experiment and theory confronted, and a reuniting perspective based on hydrogel strand mobility.
Balancing stability and specific energy in Li-rich cathodes for lithium ion batteries: a case study of a novel Li–Mn–Ni–Co oxide
Authors: Li Qi , Li Guangshe , Fu Chaochao , Luo Dong , Fan Jianming , Xie Dongjiu , Li Liping
Published: April 2015

A new stable high-energy cathode material for lithium ion batteries is designed through the modulation of electrochemistry in Li-rich oxides.
Bimodal Programming: A Survey of Current Clinical Practice
Authors: Siburt Hannah W. , Holmes Alice E.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the current clinical practice in approaches to bimodal programming in the United States. To be specific, if clinicians are recommending bimodal stimulation, who programs the hearing aid in the bimodal condition, and what method is used for programming the hearing aid?

Method

An 11-question online survey was created and sent via email to a comprehensive list of cochlear implant programming centers in the United States. The survey was sent to 360 recipients.

Results

Respondents in this study represented a diverse group of clinical settings (response rate: 26%). Results indicate little agreement about who programs the hearing aids, when they are programmed, and how they are programmed in the bimodal condition. Analysis of small versus large implant centers indicated small centers are less likely to add a device to the contralateral ear.

Conclusions

Although a growing number of cochlear implant recipients choose to wear a hearing aid on the contralateral ear, there is inconsistency in the current clinical approach to bimodal programming. These survey results provide evidence of large variability in the current bimodal programming practices and indicate a need for more structured clinical recommendations and programming approaches.
Phonological Priming With Nonwords in Children With and Without Specific Language Impairment
Authors: Brooks Patricia J. , Seiger-Gardner Liat , Obeid Rita , MacWhinney Brian
Published: April 2015

Purpose

The cross-modal picture–word interference task is used to examine contextual effects on spoken-word production. Previous work has documented lexical–phonological interference in children with specific language impairment (SLI) when a related distractor (e.g.,
bell
) occurs prior to a picture to be named (e.g., a bed). In the current study, the authors examined whether interference also arises with nonwords as distractors.

Method

In Study 1, children with SLI (
N
= 20; ages 7;1 [years;months] to 11;0) and age-matched controls named pictures accompanied by (a) phonologically related nonwords, (b) unrelated nonwords, or (c) the word
go
(baseline). Stimulus asynchrony (SA) varied across blocks with distractors occurring prior to (−300 ms, −100 ms) or after (+100 ms, +300 ms) the pictures. In Study 2, a cross-sectional sample of children (
N
= 48, 5;3 to 10;9) and adults (
N
= 16) performed the same task.

Results

Child and adult control participants showed phonological priming (not interference) at early and late SAs, whereas children with SLI showed priming only at late SAs. Effect sizes correlated with language skills (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals–Fourth Edition scores; Semel, Wiig, & Secord, 2003). In the cross-sectional sample, anticipatory priming at SA −300 varied with age, with larger effects in older children.

Conclusions

Children with SLI utilize phonological information when it is available just in time for word production but fail to anticipate upcoming stimuli. Poor anticipatory processing may adversely affect language fluency in children with SLI.
Grammatical Planning Units During Real-Time Sentence Production in Speakers With Agrammatic Aphasia and Healthy Speakers
Authors: Lee Jiyeon , Yoshida Masaya , Thompson Cynthia K.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

Grammatical encoding (GE) is impaired in agrammatic aphasia; however, the nature of such deficits remains unclear. We examined grammatical planning units during real-time sentence production in speakers with agrammatic aphasia and control speakers, testing two competing models of GE. We queried whether speakers with agrammatic aphasia produce sentences word by word without advanced planning or whether hierarchical syntactic structure (i.e., verb argument structure; VAS) is encoded as part of the advanced planning unit.

Method

Experiment 1 examined production of sentences with a predefined structure (i.e., “The A and the B are above the C”) using eye tracking. Experiment 2 tested production of transitive and unaccusative sentences without a predefined sentence structure in a verb-priming study.

Results

In Experiment 1, both speakers with agrammatic aphasia and young and age-matched control speakers used word-by-word strategies, selecting the first lemma (noun A) only prior to speech onset. However, in Experiment 2, unlike controls, speakers with agrammatic aphasia preplanned transitive and unaccusative sentences, encoding VAS before speech onset.

Conclusions

Speakers with agrammatic aphasia show incremental, word-by-word production for structurally simple sentences, requiring retrieval of multiple noun lemmas. However, when sentences involve functional (thematic to grammatical) structure building, advanced planning strategies (i.e., VAS encoding) are used. This early use of hierarchical syntactic information may provide a scaffold for impaired GE in agrammatism.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170327
Procedures for Obtaining and Analyzing Writing Samples of School-Age Children and Adolescents
Authors: Price Johanna R. , Jackson Sandra C.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

Many students' writing skills are below grade-level expectations, and students with oral language difficulties are at particular risk for writing difficulties. Speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') expertise in language applies to both the oral and written modalities, yet evidence suggests that SLPs' confidence regarding writing assessment is low. Writing samples are a clinically useful, criterion-referenced assessment technique that is relevant to helping students satisfy writing-related requirements of the Common Core State Standards (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010a). This article provides recommendations for obtaining and analyzing students' writing samples.

Method

In this tutorial, the authors provide a comprehensive literature review of methods regarding (a) collection of writing samples from narrative, expository (informational/explanatory), and persuasive (argument) genres; (b) variables of writing performance that are useful to assess; and (c) manual and computer-aided techniques for analyzing writing samples. The authors relate their findings to expectations for writing skills expressed in the Common Core State Standards (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010a).

Conclusion

SLPs can readily implement many techniques for obtaining and analyzing writing samples. The information in this article provides SLPs with recommendations for the use of writing samples and may help increase SLPs' confidence regarding written language assessment.
Practical Resources for Provision of Services to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Users of AAC
Authors: Dukhovny Elena , Kelly E. Betsy
Published: April 2015

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, over 20% of Americans speak a language other than English in the home, with Spanish, Chinese, and French being the languages most commonly spoken, aside from English. However, few augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems offer multilingual support for individuals with limited functional speech. There has been much discussion in the AAC community about best practices in AAC system design and intervention strategies, but limited resources exist to help us provide robust, flexible systems for users who speak languages other than English. We must provide services that take into consideration the unique needs of culturally and linguistically diverse users of AAC and help them reach their full communication potential. This article outlines basic guidelines for best practices in AAC design and selection, and presents practical applications of these best practices to multilingual/multicultural clients.
Voltage-mode direct-current magnetoelectric sensor based on piezoelectric–magnetostrictive heterostructure
Authors: Zhang Long , Or Siu Wing , Leung Chung Ming
Published: April 2015

A dc magnetoelectric sensor operating in ac voltage driving mode is developed based on a piezoelectric–magnetostrictive heterostructure having four thickness-polarized Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 piezoelectric plates bonded symmetrically on a length-magnetized Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe1.92 magnetostrictive plate to give an electrically parallel input and an electrically series output. The dc magnetic field sensing in the sensor is evaluated theoretically and experimentally and is found to originate from a unique ac voltage-driven, dc magnetic field-tuned resonance dc magnetoelectric effect in the heterostructure. An interestingly high, linear, and negative ac voltage-controlled dc magnetic field sensitivity of −1.3 mV/Oe/V is obtained in a broad range of dc magnetic field of 0–400 Oe by referencing an ac voltage of ≤5 V peak amplitude and 116 kHz frequency at the input of the heterostructure.
Synthesis of Cu2O from CuO thin films: Optical and electrical properties
Authors: Murali Dhanya S. , Kumar Shailendra , Choudhary R. J. , Wadikar Avinash D. , Jain Mahaveer K. , Subrahmanyam A.
Published: April 2015

Hole conducting, optically transparent Cu2O thin films on glass substrates have been synthesized by vacuum annealing (5×10−6 mbar at 700 K for 1 hour) of magnetron sputtered (at 300 K) CuO thin films. The Cu2O thin films are p-type and show enhanced properties: grain size (54.7 nm), optical transmission 72% (at 600 nm) and Hall mobility 51 cm2/Vs. The bulk and surface Valence band spectra of Cu2O and CuO thin films are studied by temperature dependent Hall effect and Ultra violet photo electron Spectroscopy (UPS). CuO thin films show a significant band bending downwards (due to higher hole concentration) than Cu2O thin films.
Co-digestion of spent mushroom substrate and corn stover for methane production via solid-state anaerobic digestion
Authors: Zhu Jiying , Han Menglong , Zhang Guokang , Yang Liangcheng
Published: April 2015

Performance of batch solid-state anaerobic co-digestion of spent mushroom substrates (SMS) and corn stover (CS) was investigated. Digestion with SMS alone (SMS/CS = 100:0) resulted in excessive volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation and low methane yields during the start-up phase. Co-digestion of SMS and CS significantly enhanced digesting performance. Compared to the digesters with 100% SMS, the start-up phase of the digesters with SMS/CS = 75:25 was shortened from 11 days to 4 days, and the methane yield increased by 40%. It was also observed that the peak of daily biogas yields showed up earlier in the co-digestion reactors than in the digesters with SMS alone. A similar phenomenon happened to the methane content curves. The VFAs and pH were shown to be important driving factors for determining the population of methanogenic communities (methanosaeta and methanobacteriaceae), which were obtained by using the Fluorescent in situ Hybridization method. The changes of the methanogenic communities, in return, affected the methane production in digesters. This study showed that co-digesting SMS with CS is a feasible method to handle mushroom wastes and produce bioenergy.
Responses to phosphorus among wheat genotypes
Authors: McDonald Glenn , Bovill William , Taylor Julian , Wheeler Robert
Published: April 2015

Phosphorus (P) recovery and P-use efficiency (PUE) by wheat are low, and genetic improvement in PUE is a potential means of improving the effectiveness of P in farming systems. We examined variation in response to P in wheat to identify genotypes that showed consistent responsiveness to P fertiliser in the field and which may be the target of future studies, and examined differences in P uptake and partitioning. The response to P was studied among a diverse set of bread wheat germplasm at three sites in South Australia between 2009 and 2012. Up to 53 varieties and breeding lines were grown at two rates of P, 0 kg/ha and 30 kg/ha. Grain yield at 0 kg P/ha and response to P varied independently among genotypes. There were large effects of site and season on the response to P, but some genotypes showed consistently low and others high response to P. Analysis of a subset of lines revealed large responses in vegetative growth to P but the response diminished as crops matured, and variation in early vegetative growth was unrelated to the responses in biomass at maturity or grain yield. Genotypic variation in grain yield was more strongly related to variation in P utilisation efficiency than to variation in P uptake among wheat genotypes, which was associated with differences in P harvest index (PHI). Although breeding has improved yield, there has been no significant genetic gain in total P uptake; rather, improvements in PUE have been associated with an increase in P utilisation efficiency and PHI.
Ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure in the urban environment.
Authors: Basnou C. , Pino J. , Terradas J.
Published: April 2015

Interest in ecosystems services and green infrastructures is a result of conceptual developments in urban ecology and other environmental sciences. The impact of the urban settlements on nature and its consequences on human well-being at multi-scale levels demands for technical and social responses, whose application has been revealed to be highly dependent on the physical and socio-economic context. We review here problems and efforts to create a solid conceptual framework and efficient tools to analyse and manage urban social-ecosystems in order to increase the benefits that green infrastructure gives to the entire society, giving resilience to these systems. Difficulties become even greater as a result of weak institutional structures, limited capacity and poor governance strategies.
Factors influencing litter size in pigs.
Authors: Luković Z. , Škorput D.
Published: April 2015

Improvement of litter size in pigs through selection was considered a difficult task in the past. Low heritability, negative correlation between direct additive genetic and maternal effect, limited size of the nucleus population, expression only in females, and relatively late age of measurements, were the main reasons for slow improvement. Many genetic and environmental factors, as well as complex interactions between them, influence litter size in pigs. The present work describes and reviews the most important effects influencing litter size: (1) genetic effects, such as the effect of genotype, direct additive, maternal and sire effect; (2) environmental effects such as common litter and permanent effect; and (3) other main factors recorded by commercial producers. Further improvements in selection of litter size depend on new selection criteria related to overall efficiency of pig production. Use of quantitative genetics based on a multiple trait evaluation system together with genomic selection will provide further improvement in litter size.
Variation in Juvenile Steelhead Density in Relation to Instream Habitat and Watershed Characteristics
Authors: Myrvold Knut Marius , Kennedy Brian P.
Published: April 2015

Physical habitat characteristics can affect the abundance and distribution of organisms, and are frequently used to predict the standing crop of stream fish for purposes of understanding their ecology and better direct management. However, the spatial scale of the investigation and the resolution of the data can affect the outcome of such analyses. In this study we coupled watershed‐level characteristics with instream habitat variables to model the density of two age‐classes of juvenile steelheadOncorhynchus mykissin a watershed in the Clearwater River basin, Idaho. Density varied considerably across time and space. Variance partitioning showed that 41–50% of the variances in density were due to unexplained differences between sampling occasions (residual variance), and the rest resulted from variation at the site and site‐and‐year levels, depending on the age‐class. Instream habitat variables better explained the variation in density than did models that included watershed‐level characteristics. The density of subyearling steelhead was best explained by stream discharge, with a negative relationship. The density of yearling steelhead was best explained by a negative relationship with average weekly temperature; however, this relationship was statistically indistinguishable from zero. Finally, total density (subyearlings and yearlings combined) was best explained by discharge and average daily temperature. We believe that our approach is useful for identifying the physical factors associated with the density of stream salmonids, but we stress that findings from correlative studies should be interpreted in concert with detailed knowledge about life history variation in the study system.
Foliated stochastic calculus: Harmonic measures
Authors: Catuogno Pedro , Ledesma Diego , Ruffino Paulo
Published: April 2015

In this article we present an intrinsic construction of foliated Brownian motion (FoBM) via stochastic calculus adapted to a foliated Riemannian manifold

(
M
,

F

)

(M, \mathcal {F})

. The stochastic approach together with this proposed foliated vector calculus provide a natural method to work with (L. Garnett’s) harmonic measures in

M
M

. New results include, beside an explicit stochastic equation for the FoBM, a decomposition of the Laplacian of

M
M

in terms of the foliated and the basic Laplacians, a characterization of totally invariant measures and a differential equation for the density of harmonic measures.
Providing palliative care in economically disadvantaged countries
Authors: Rajagopal M.R. , George Reena
Published: April 2015

A public health approach is the most sustainable way to provide palliative care for the majority of the world’s people who live in economically disadvantaged nations. With only 7% of the world’s medical morphine currently being used in these countries, much remains to be done to implement the World Health Organization’s recommendations on policy, drug availability and education. International expertise is crucial for planting palliative care. Local efforts have to propagate it by creating feasible and acceptable models. Partnerships should advocate for palliative care to become an integral part of the national health-care system. For those who are considering starting small projects with very limited resources, this chapter provides practical guidance on strategy, needs assessment, training, and implementation at the grassroots. The Wisconsin Pain and Policy Studies Group and the Palliative Care Toolkit are also presented as resources for advocacy, drug availability, and education. The chapter concludes by discussing ways to prevent burnout and routinization in the face of overwhelming need.
Defining a ‘good’ death
Authors: Steinhauser Karen E. , Tulsky James A.
Published: April 2015

Although any outcome of an advanced illness can be predicted, in palliative care settings the word ‘prognosis’ usually means the estimated time to death. Prognosis is an important but challenging set of clinical skills for palliative medicine clinicians to master. It is important because patients and families want to know what to expect, it influences clinical decision-making, and it may determine eligibility for services. It is challenging because of the inherent uncertainty of making predictions and because dying is not an easy topic to discuss. Advances in statistical computing have allowed the development of mathematical models and predictive tools that are now more accurate than clinical estimates. A large section of this chapter is devoted to presenting and evaluating several of these models, although prognostic uncertainty remains a significant issue even with them, and survival estimates should never drive clinical decision-making alone.
Ethnic and cultural aspects of palliative care
Authors: Crawley LaVera , Koffman Jonathan
Published: April 2015

This chapter attempts to identify ‘differences that make a difference’ when individuals and groups negotiate institutions and practices for palliative and end-of-life care. Two influences on the practice of palliative care-immigration and health disparities-are examined. The World Health Organization definition of palliative care specifies two goals: improving quality of life of patients and families and preventing and relieving suffering. It identifies three ‘colour blind’ strategies for meeting those goals: early identification, impeccable assessment, and (appropriate) treatment. Lastly, the definition addresses four domains of care: (1) problems related to pain, (2) physical conditions, (3) the psychosocial, (4) and the spiritual. This chapter specifically addresses these goals, strategies, and domains in relation to delivering quality palliative care in cross- or multicultural settings.