bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expansão da produção da cana-de-açúcar no Mato Grosso do Sul: uma análise do modelo shift-share
Authors: Verão Josiane Araújo , Costa Jaqueline Severino da , Forest Rafael
Published: March 2017

As novas perspectivas para o etanol e o aumento do consumo de açúcar no mundo levaram a uma considerável expansão na produção de cana-de-açúcar. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste artigo é analisar a expansão da produção da cana no estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, entre 1990 e 2011. O método utilizado foi o shift-share. Os resultados mostram que a principal causa da expansão da produção de cana-de-açúcar no estado foi o efeito área. O efeito substituição apresentou valor positivo para a cultura da cana-de-açúcar, confirmando que a cultura ganhou espaço dentro do estado. O efeito produtividade mantevese próximo a zero, não indicando grandes ganhos de produtividade. O efeito localização geográfica apresentou uma tendência decrescente, indicando que não houve mudança na localização das lavouras de cana-de-açúcar.
Palavras-chave: Cana-de-açúcar. Expansão produtiva. Mato Grosso do Sul. Shift-share.
Instituições e enforcement na redução do desmatamento na Amazônia
Authors: Brito dos Santos Daiana , Costa Correia Silva David , Rodrigues Marcos
Published: March 2017

Este artigo tem como objetivo avaliar o papel das instituições (formais e informais) em relação ao desmatamento na Amazônia, no período de 1988 a 2013. Em levantamento estatístico do desmatamento e dos autos de infração na região, foi possível estabelecer uma correlação com a evolução do ambiente legal institucional e verificar a atuação do Estado no cumprimento das leis ambientais (enforcement), avaliando mais especificamente os casos dos estados de Mato Grosso e Pará que são os estados com maior volume de des matamento acumulado ao longo do período. Conclui-se que, embora a legislação e atuação do Estado tenham contribuído para a redução do desmatamento no período, a economia regional continua a se basear em atividades primárias extensivas (agricultura, pecuária e extrativismo vegetal e mineral) e que atividades ilegais continuam a existir, limitando a capacidade do ambiente formal institucional em conter o desmatamento.
Palavras-chave: Instituições. Legislação ambiental. Indústria madeireira. Agronegócio.
Visiting Hours Impact on Indoor to Outdoor Ratio of Fungi Concentration at Golestan University Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran
Authors: Goudarzi Gholamreza , Soleimani Zahra , Sadeghinejad Batool , Alighardashi Mojgan , Latifi Seyed Mahmoud , Moradi Mahsa
Published: March 2017

Prevalence of diseases originated from air pollution such as asthma and allergies, can be attributed to the bioaerosols. Bacteria and fungi are the main sources of hospital infections, which cause most of the diseases and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the ratio of indoor to outdoor fungi concentration, the effect of population and people density on fungi concentration and the relationship between indoor and outdoor environment. In this study, three stations were used: outdoor of the hospital, general indoor and ICU wards of the Ahvaz hospital. These locations were chosen for sampling of the airborne fungi from October to December 2010. The samples were collected in 2 min, flow rate of 28.3 L/min using quick take (SKC Inc., PA, USA), based on the Andersen method.The three dominant culturable fungi genera in sampling stations were Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium. The average of total culturable fungi concentration before visiting time was 365.8 CFU m-3 and increased to 578CFU m-3 after visiting time. The indoor to outdoor ratios (I/O) in ICU and internal for fungi before visit were 0.36 and 0.68, respectively. However, these ratios in ICU and internal station for fungi after visit were 0.78 and 0.99, respectively. Following the visit of the visitors, the concentration of fungi available indoor was conspicuously higher (even in the wards in which no visitors were allowed; e.g. ICU, etc). Hence the amount of indoor fungi was affected by the concentration of outdoor fungi and visitors crowd.
Interaction between Fluid Urban Spaces and Reduction of Vulnerability to Risks and Threats in Urban Crises
Authors: Bolourchi Mostafa , Bolourchi Maryam
Published: March 2017

Tremendous technological developments in contemporary world have transformed all aspects of human life. Through interaction with these developments, living spaces should correspond to science and technology and serve to satisfy basic human needs especially safety and security. Due to their geographical and political situation, many countries have been exposed to a variety of natural or man-made threats, and have suffered heavy human and financial losses. For that reason, urban developments should make use of digital architecture products and create fluidity in order to modify human living spaces in correspondence with prerequisites of passive defense, for vulnerability reduction, and expansion of defensive measures in order to create an environment which holds the potential to overcome crises. The present research investigates the benefits of digital technology in formation of living spaces and the impact of approach to flexible urban spaces on mutual interaction between man and environment, as well as the extent to which these transformations create a sense of security and reduce vulnerabilities in urban crises. Fluidity of environment is in paradigm with active human responses to environment. The need for creating an environment safe from risks and threats is the motive behind the approach to flexibility with the use of technological advent. As a part of environment and by relying on computers and geometrical language, technology generates forms which are manifested in all parts and elements of living spaces, thus creating potential and elastic environments. It seems that by creating flexible spaces with the use of digital products, these environmental changes lead to organization of development plans, reduce vulnerability against natural risks and man-made threats, increase efficiency after said threat is realized, and significantly contain the extent and intensity of damages and losses.
Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Columns under Biaxial Bending
Authors: Zarringol Mohammadreza , Zarringol Mohammadehsan
Published: March 2017

Modeling by finite element method provides a ground for better perception of the behavior of reinforce columns and it is also useful in prediction of the behavior of these members without the experimental results. The performance improvement depends upon different parameters including the geometry of columns and configuration of reinforcement layers. In this study, slender reinforced columns are modeled under axial and biaxial bending loading with Carbon fiberreinforced polymer (CFRP) with different slender ratios using Abaqus software. The model is validated by the results of Bilchek et al., experiments. In this design, 30 concrete unstrengthened hoop columns with the diameter 100mm and heights 200,400,600,800,1000mm are made and reinforced with bidirectional CFRP composites. In each slenderness, a control sample (unstrengthened) and 5 reinforced specimens with different fiber configurations (hoop, longitudinal, angel and their combination) are tested under axial loading and biaxial bending to the ultimate failure. The results showed that these composites increased strength and ductility of specimens considerably. The results showed that in unstrengthened specimens, by increasing slenderness from 1 to 10, strength and ductility were reduced as 35, 65%, respectively. The results showed that the modeling using experimental data had good consistency. Based on the shortage of experimental data in slender columns at big scale, by performing similar studies, the existing problems can be eliminated.
The Performance of Diesel Engine Fueled Diesel Oil in Comparison with Heated Pure Vegetable Oils Available in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Anh Tuan
Published: March 2017

Pure vegetable oils have the greatest promise for alternative fuels for internal combustion engines beside the depletion of conventional petroleum resources. Among various possible options, pure vegetable oils present promising of greener air substitutes for fossil fuels. Pure vegetable oils, due to the agricultural origin, liquidity, ready availability, renewability, biodegradability are able to reduce the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere. Also, in Vietnam, pure vegetable oils such as soybean oil (SoO100), coconut oil (CO100) and sunflower oil (SuO100) are available. The paper presents the results of using heated pure vegetable oils for diesel engine D243 with power of 80 hp (58.88) kW. The results of determining the power (Ne), speciﬁc fuel consumption (SFC) and efﬁciency (n) are used to evaluate the performance of engine. The results show that, the engine power (Ne) is 10%-15% lower, the SFC of engine D243 using pure vegetable oils is 3%-5% higher and the η is 2.5%-6.2% lower compared to diesel oil (DO). Among the pure vegetable oils, the best performance results for D243 diesel engine are obtained from heated pure sunﬂower oil up to 135oC.
Long-Term Endogenous Economic Growth and Energy Transitions
Authors: Court Victor , Jouvet Pierre-Andre , Lantz Frédéric
Published: March 2017

This article builds a bridge between the endogenous economic growth theory, the biophysical economics perspective, and the past and future transitions between renewable and nonrenewable energy forms that economies have had to and will have to accomplish. We provide an endogenous economic growth model subject to the physical limits of the real world, meaning that nonrenewable and renewable energy production costs have functional forms that respect physical constraints, and that technological level is precisely defined as the efficiency of primary-to-useful exergy conversion. The model supports the evidence that historical productions of renewable and nonrenewable energy have greatly influenced past economic growth. Indeed, from an initial almost-renewable-only supply regime we reproduce the increasing reliance on nonrenewable energy that has allowed the global economy to leave the state of economic stagnation that had characterized the largest part of its history. We then study the inevitable transition towards complete renewable energy that human will have to deal with in a not-too-far future since nonrenewable energy comes by definition from a finite stock. Through simulation we study in which circumstances this transition could have negative impacts on economic growth (peak followed by degrowth phase). We show that the implementation of a carbon price can partially smooth such unfortunate dynamics, depending on the ways of use of the income generated by the carbon pricing.
Pollinator limitation affects low reproductive success in populations of nectarless orchid in the Biebrza National Park
Authors: Brzosko Emilia , Ostrowiecka Beata , Mirski Paweł , Jermakowicz Edyta , Tałałaj Izabela , Wróblewska Ada
Published: March 2017

The deficiency of pollinators is indicated as the main factor limiting fruit set in orchids. Nectariferous species are more successful in setting fruits than nectarless species. In the present study, we tested whether pollinator limitation lowers reproductive success in populations of Cypripedium calceolus on environmental islands in the Biebrza National Park, NE Poland. Moreover, we analyzed how population size and structure affect pollination success. Our observations and results of experiments document the low level of fruiting in populations of nectarless C. calceolus (9.2% on average) and strong pollen limitation. Generally, we noted a positive relationship between pollination success and all parameters of population size (measured by both occupied area and number of clumps or shoots) and parameters measuring floral display (number of flowers in population, number of flowers in clumps, spatial structure of flowering shoots). We suggest that information about factors influencing the reproductive success of this endangered species may be useful for planning appropriate conservation actions.
Breeding system variability, pollination biology, and reproductive success of rare Polemonium caeruleum L. in NE Poland
Authors: Ostrowiecka Beata , Brzosko Emilia , Jermakowicz Edyta , Wróblewska Ada , Mirski Paweł , Roguz Katarzyna , Ryniewicz Justyna , Zych Marcin , Tałałaj Izabela
Published: March 2017

Polemonium caeruleum (Polemoniaceae) represents a very interesting system of compatibility transition. Studies of its biological and ecological properties in the context of the breeding system of various populations may help to understand the evolutionary mechanism of this process. We investigated some aspects of the breeding system, diversity and foraging behavior of the visitors, and relationship between population properties and fruit set in three populations from NE Poland. We found distinct compatibility systems in two studied populations and showed that if a population is self-compatible (SC), selfing is mediated by insects via geitonogamous pollen transfer. Despite the population properties (compatibility, visitor diversity and activity, population size, density, or floral display), P. caeruleum is not pollen limited and pollinators are highly important as a key factor determining the high reproductive success. Visitor assemblages (including key pollinators, bumblebees, and honey bees) and their foraging behavior on inflorescences vary between the populations, which may influence differences in the breeding system. The self-incompatible population was visited by a more diverse group of insects from Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, and Coeloptera, which may favor effective cross-pollen transfer, whereas the SC population was pollinated mainly by Apis mellifera, which may promote mixed-mating. Studies on a wider range of P. caeruleum populations are needed to determine selective factors responsible for compatibility transition.
Production and antioxidant capacity of tissue cultures from four Amaryllidaceae species
Authors: Resetár Anna , Freytag Csongor , Kalydi Fruzsina , Gonda Sándor , M-Hamvas Márta , Ajtay Kitti , Papp László , Máthé Csaba
Published: March 2017

The aim of this study was (i) to produce tissue cultures capable of efficient plant regeneration from European naturally occurring protected and/or pharmacologically important Amaryllidaceae species and (ii) to test them for antioxidant activities in order to select tissue cultures that scavenge efficiently oxygen radicals. Bulb explants were collected from Galanthus woronowii, two Leucojum species, and Sternbergia lutea. Leucojum species were Hungarian isolates. Mostly α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and benzyladenine (BA) were used as growth regulator combinations for the induction and maintenance of tissue cultures and further antioxidant activity studies. Galanthus woronowii and L. vernum cultures produced shoots or whole plants via micropropagation (callus stage was observed only sporadically and callus tissue did not contribute to regeneration), whereas L. aestivum and S. lutea produced efficiently whole plants or multiple shoots via embryogenic calli. Total phenolic content, % inhibition of ABTS radical (ABTS*) cation, and peroxidase activities on native polyacrylamide gels were studied and showed differences between cultures. No relationship could be detected between polyphenol content / radical scavenging capacities and H2O2 reducing enzyme activities. For G. woronowii, S. lutea, and a culture line of L. vernum, polyphenol content and ABTS* cation scavenging activities were high and for G. woronowii, comparable to organs of the native plants used as explant sources. Bulbs of native plants showed low radical scavenging activities in general. For L. vernum and L. aestivum tissue cultures grown in the presence of NAA as the sole growth regulator, ABTS* cation scavenging showed low values. Enzymatic antioxidant (pyrogallol peroxidase) activities were low for all cultures and organs of native plants. This study shows the species conservation value of these cultures and highlights the high antioxidant capacity of G. woronowii and S. lutea, attributed to the presence of non-enzymatic scavengers.
Environmental hydrochemical and stabile isotope methods used to characterise the relation between karst water and surface water
Authors: Eftimi Romeo , Akiti Tete , Amataj Sokrat , Benishke Ralf , Zojer Hans , Zoto Jovan
Published: March 2017

Karst aquifers are characterized by high heterogeneity of groundwater flow. The classical study methods such as boreholes, pumping tests, and point observations give important data but cannot be extended to the entire aquifer. However the environmental hydrochemical and stabile isotope methods could give important information about large scale aquifer characterization. Some study examples from Albania, shown in this paper, demonstrate the successful application of the isotope methods, which are more powerful if applied in combination with hydrochemical ones, for the identification of the karst water recharge sources. Among the isotope methods the altitude effect seems to be more indicative for the solution of the problem concerned. For characterising the lithology of karst rocks and the physical aspects of karst aquifers (type of groundwater flow) the combined use of some hydrochemical parameters like the water conductivity, total hardness, ionic ratios rCa/ rMg, rSO4/r/mg, CO2 pressure and the indexes of calcite and (Sic) and of dolomite saturation (Sid), result very useful.
Segmental isotopic labeling of a single‐domain globular protein without any refolding step by an asparaginyl endopeptidase
Authors: Mikula Kornelia M. , Tascón Igor , Tommila Jenni J. , Iwaï Hideo
Published: March 2017

Asparaginyl endopeptidases (AEPs) catalyze head‐to‐tail backbone cyclization of naturally occurring cyclic peptides such as cyclotides, and have become an important peptide‐engineering tool for macrocyclization and peptide ligation. Here, we report efficient protein ligation in trans by mimicking efficient backbone cyclization by an AEP without any excess of reactants. We demonstrate a practical application of segmental isotopic labeling for NMR studies of a single‐domain globular protein without any refolding step using the recombinant AEP prepared from Escherichia coli. This simple protein ligation approach using an AEP could be applied for incorporation of various biophysical probes into proteins as well as post‐translational production of full‐length proteins.
The effects of teleconnections on carbon fluxes of global terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Zhu Zaichun , Piao Shilong , Xu Yaoya , Bastos Ana , Ciais Philippe , Peng Shushi
Published: March 2017

Large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns (i.e., teleconnections) influence global climate variability patterns and can be studied to provide a simple framework for relating the complex response of ecosystems to climate. This study analyzes the effects of 15 major teleconnections on terrestrial ecosystem carbon fluxes during 1951–2012 using an ensemble of nine dynamic global vegetation models. We map the global pattern of the dominant teleconnections and find that these teleconnections significantly affect gross primary productivity variations over more than 82.1% of the global vegetated area, through mediating the global temperature and regional precipitation and cloud cover. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation are strongly correlated with global, hemispherical, and continental carbon fluxes and climatic variables, while the Northern Hemisphere teleconnections have only regional influences. Further research regarding the interactions among the teleconnections and the nonstationarity of the relationship between teleconnections and carbon fluxes is needed.
Disturbance impacts on land surface temperature and gross primary productivity in the western United States
Authors: Cooper L. Annie , Ballantyne Ashley P. , Holden Zachary A. , Landguth Erin L.
Published: March 2017

Forest disturbances influence forest structure, composition, and function and may impact climate through changes in net radiation or through shifts in carbon exchange. Climate impacts vary depending on environmental variables and disturbance characteristics, yet few studies have investigated disturbance impacts over large, environmentally heterogeneous, regions. We used satellite data to objectively determine the impacts of fire, bark beetles, defoliators, and “unidentified disturbances” (UDs) on land surface temperature (LST) and gross primary productivity (GPP) across the western United States (U.S.). We investigated immediate disturbance impacts, the drivers of those impacts, and long‐term postdisturbance LST and GPP recovery patterns. All disturbance types caused LST increases (°C; fire: 3.45 ± 3.02, bark beetles: 0.76 ± 3.04, defoliators: 0.49 ± 3.12, and UD: 0.76 ± 3.03). Fire and insects resulted in GPP declines (%; fire: −25.05 ± 21.67, bark beetles: −2.84 ± 21.06, defoliators: −0.23 ± 15.40), while UDs resulted in slightly enhanced GPP (1.89 ± 24.20%). Disturbance responses also varied between ecoregions. Severity and interannual changes in air temperature were the primary drivers of short‐term disturbance responses, and severity also had a strong impact on long‐term recovery patterns. These results suggest a potential climate feedback due to disturbance‐induced biophysical changes that may strengthen as disturbance regimes shift due to climate change.
A reconstructed South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation time series since 1870
Authors: Lopez Hosmay , Goni Gustavo , Dong Shenfu
Published: March 2017

This study reconstructs a century‐long South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (SAMOC) index. The reconstruction is possible due to its covariability with sea surface temperature (SST). A singular value decomposition (SVD) method is applied to the correlation matrix of SST and SAMOC. The SVD is performed on the trained period (1993 to present) for which Expendable Bathythermographs and satellite altimetry observations are available. The joint modes obtained are used in the reconstruction of a monthly SAMOC time series from 1870 to present. The reconstructed index is highly correlated to the observational based SAMOC time series during the trained period and provides a long historical estimate. It is shown that the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) is the leading mode of SAMOC‐SST covariability, explaining ~85% with the Atlantic Niño accounting for less than 10%. The reconstruction shows that SAMOC has recently shifted to an anomalous positive period, consistent with a recent positive shift of the IPO.
Arbitrage‐Free Scenario Generation in Financial Optimization
Authors: Hanke Michael , Weissensteiner Alex
Published: March 2017

Absence of arbitrage is an essential requirement for asset return scenarios used as the basis for financial optimization. We describe two approaches that can be used to arrive at arbitrage‐free scenarios, together with theoretical results on their feasibility or existence in the form of restrictions on the sample size.
B
ayesian Count Models
Authors: Hilbe Joseph M.
Published: March 2017

Bayesian count models are aligned with frequentist‐based count models; that is, they are based on the same underlying distributions as are standard count models estimated using maximum likelihood and quadrature. The key difference in Bayesian models, however, is that the parameters to be estimated are assumed to be randomly distributed, whereas the data are fixed. In addition, each parameter in the model is mixed with a “prior” distribution defining information related to the parameter but which is external to the data upon which the model likelihood is based. The product of the (log)likelihood and prior distributions define the posterior parameters in the model. Basic Bayesian count models include Poisson, negative binomial, generalized Poisson, zero‐inflated and hurdle models, related hierarchical models, and a variety of other mixture count models. Code is provided using R, JAGS, Python/Stan, INLA, and Stata for a Bayesian Poisson model on synthetic data. JAGS, SAS, and Stata code are provided for a Bayesian negative binomial model; JAGS and Stata code are displayed for a Bayesian zero‐inflated negative binomial model.
Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition of Polymer Films at High Process Temperature for the Fabrication of Organic/Inorganic Multilayer Thin Film Encapsulation
Authors: Kim Bong Jun , Seong Hyejeong , Shim Hyunjeong , Lee Young Il , Im Sung Gap
Published: March 2017

For the fabrication of thin film encapsulation (TFE), sequential deposition of organic and inorganic layers is inevitable. A single‐chamber system of initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) is reported previously. Here, the substrate temperature (Ts) of the iCVD is aligned with that of ALD to facilitate the transition of the deposition mode by removing delays caused by repeated heating/cooling of the substrate. While increasing the Ts of iCVD from 40 to 90 °C, the process pressure is optimized so that the properties of the organic film are unchanged from that deposited with 40 °C. The Ts alignment significantly reduced the time delay during transition of the deposition mode, and the fabrication of the TFE is expedited.
Interface Doping for Ohmic Organic Semiconductor Contacts Using Self‐Aligned Polyelectrolyte Counterion Monolayer
Authors: Seah Wei‐Ling , Tang Cindy G. , Png Rui‐Qi , Keerthi Venu , Zhao Chao , Guo Han , Yang Jin‐Guo , Zhou Mi , Ho Peter K. H. , Chua Lay‐Lay
Published: March 2017

Contact resistance limits the performance of organic field‐effect transistors, especially those based on high‐mobility semiconductors. Despite intensive research, the nature of this phenomenon is not well understood and mitigation strategies are largely limited to complex schemes often involving co‐evaporated doped interlayers. Here, this study shows that solution self‐assembly of a polyelectrolyte monolayer on a metal electrode can induce carrier doping at the contact of an organic semiconductor overlayer, which can be augmented by dopant ion‐exchange in the monolayer, to provide ohmic contacts for both p‐ and n‐type organic field‐effect transistors. The resultant 2D‐doped profile at the semiconductor interface is furthermore self‐aligned to the contact and stabilized against counterion migration. This study shows that Coulomb potential disordering by the polyelectrolyte shifts the semiconductor density‐of‐states into the gap to promote extrinsic doping and cascade carrier injection. Contact resistivities of the order of 0.1–1 Ω cm2 or less have been attained. This will likely also provide a platform for ohmic injection into other advanced semiconductors, including 2D and other nanomaterials.
The Role of Titanium Surface Nanostructuring on Preosteoblast Morphology, Adhesion, and Migration
Authors: Zhukova Yulia , Hiepen Christian , Knaus Petra , Osterland Marc , Prohaska Steffen , Dunlop John W. C. , Fratzl Peter , Skorb Ekaterina V.
Published: March 2017

Surface structuring of titanium‐based implants is known to modulate the behavior of adherent cells, but the influence of different nanotopographies is poorly understood. The aim is to investigate preosteoblast proliferation, adhesion, morphology, and migration on surfaces with similar surface chemistry but distinct nanotopographical features. Sonochemical treatment and anodic oxidation are employed to fabricate disordered, mesoporous titania (TMS) and ordered titania nanotubular (TNT) topographies on titanium, respectively. Morphological evaluation reveals that cells are polygonal and well‐spread on TMS, but display an elongated, fibroblast‐like morphology on TNT surfaces, while they are much flatter on glass. Both nanostructured surfaces impair cell adhesion, but TMS is more favorable for cell growth due to its support of cell attachment and spreading in contrast to TNT. A quantitative wound healing assay in combination with live‐cell imaging reveals that cell migration on TMS surfaces has a more collective character than on other surfaces, probably due to a closer proximity between neighboring migrating cells on TMS. The results indicate distinctly different cell adhesion and migration on ordered and disordered titania nanotopographies, providing important information that can be used in optimizing titanium‐based scaffold design to foster bone tissue growth and repair while allowing for the encapsulation of drugs into porous titania layer.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Crystalline MoS2 Thin Films: New Molybdenum Precursor for Low‐Temperature Film Growth
Authors: Mattinen Miika , Hatanpää Timo , Sarnet Tiina , Mizohata Kenichiro , Meinander Kristoffer , King Peter J. , Khriachtchev Leonid , Räisänen Jyrki , Ritala Mikko , Leskelä Markku
Published: March 2017

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a semiconducting 2D material, which has evoked wide interest due to its unique properties. However, the lack of controlled and scalable methods for the production of MoS2 films at low temperatures remains a major hindrance on its way to applications. In this work, atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to deposit crystalline MoS2 thin films at a relatively low temperature of 300 °C. A new molybdenum precursor, Mo(thd)3 (thd = 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylheptane‐3,5‐dionato), is synthesized, characterized, and used for film deposition with H2S as the sulfur precursor. Self‐limiting growth with a low growth rate of ≈0.025 Å cycle−1, straightforward thickness control, and large‐area uniformity are demonstrated. Film crystallinity is found to be relatively good considering the low deposition temperature, but the films have significant surface roughness. Additionally, chemical composition as well as optical and wetting properties are evaluated. MoS2 films are deposited on a variety of substrates, which reveal notable differences in growth rate, surface morphology, and crystallinity. The growth of crystalline MoS2 films at comparably low temperatures by ALD contributes toward the use of MoS2 for applications with a limited thermal budget.
Research Progress towards Understanding the Unique Interfaces between Concentrated Electrolytes and Electrodes for Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Zheng Jianming , Lochala Joshua A. , Kwok Alexander , Deng Zhiqun Daniel , Xiao Jie
Published: March 2017

The electrolyte is an indispensable component in all electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices with batteries being a prime example. While most research efforts have been pursued on the materials side, the progress for the electrolyte is slow due to the decomposition of salts and solvents at low potentials, not to mention their complicated interactions with the electrode materials. The general properties of bulk electrolytes such as ionic conductivity, viscosity, and stability all affect the cell performance. However, for a specific electrochemical cell in which the cathode, anode, and electrolyte are optimized, it is the interface between the solid electrode and the liquid electrolyte, generally referred to as the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), that dictates the rate of ion flow in the system. The commonly used electrolyte is within the range of 1–1.2 m based on the prior optimization experience, leaving the high concentration region insufficiently recognized. Recently, electrolytes with increased concentration (>1.0 m) have received intensive attention due to quite a few interesting discoveries in cells containing concentrated electrolytes. The formation mechanism and the nature of the SEI layers derived from concentrated electrolytes could be fundamentally distinct from those of the traditional SEI and thus enable unusual functions that cannot be realized using regular electrolytes. In this article, we provide an overview on the recent progress of high concentration electrolytes in different battery chemistries. The experimentally observed phenomena and their underlying fundamental mechanisms are discussed. New insights and perspectives are proposed to inspire more revolutionary solutions to address the interfacial challenges.
Density‐matrix renormalization group study of many‐body localization in floquet eigenstates
Authors: Zhang Carolyn , Pollmann Frank , Sondhi S. L. , Moessner Roderich
Published: March 2017

We generalize the recently introduced Density‐Matrix Renormalization Group (DMRG‐X) [Khemani et al, PRL 2016] algorithm to obtain Floquet eigenstates of one‐dimensional, periodically driven many‐body localized systems. This generalization is made possible by the fact that the time‐evolution operator for a period can be efficiently represented using a matrix‐product operator. We first benchmark the method by comparing to exact diagonalization for small systems. We then obtain Floquet eigenstates for larger systems and show unambiguously that the characteristic area‐law scaling remains robust.

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Toward Stable Superbenzoquinone Diradicaloids
Authors: Li Guangwu , Phan Hoa , Herng Tun Seng , Gopalakrishna Tullimilli Y. , Liu Chunchen , Zeng Wangdong , Ding Jun , Wu Jishan
Published: March 2017

Superbenzoquinone (SBQ) is a quinone derived from a classic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (so‐called “superbenzene”), and is a challenging synthetic target. Herein we report the successful synthesis and characterization of its derivatives. We reveal that the high reactivity of SBQ is due to its intrinsic open‐shell diradical character. Thus, two kinetically blocked SBQs, SBQ‐Me and SBQ‐Ph, were prepared by different synthetic strategies. 4‐tert‐Butylphenyl‐substituted SBQ‐Ph demonstrated good stability and could be isolated in crystalline form. Both compounds have an open‐shell singlet ground state and show thermally populated paramagnetic activity. Our studies provide effective strategies toward stable quinone‐based diradicaloids.
Chelation versus Non‐Chelation Control in the Stereoselective Alkenyl sp2 C−H Bond Functionalization Reaction
Authors: Liang Qiu‐Ju , Yang Chao , Meng Fei‐Fan , Jiang Bing , Xu Yun‐He , Loh Teck‐Peng
Published: March 2017

A hydroxy group chelation‐assisted stereospecific oxidative cross‐coupling reaction between alkenes was developed under mild reaction conditions. In the presence of palladium catalyst, the alkenes tethered with hydroxy functionality can couple efficiently with electron‐deficient alkenes to form the corresponding multi‐substituted olefin products. The hydroxy group on the substrate could play dual roles in reaction, acting as the directing group for alkenyl C−H bond activation and controlling the stereoselectivity of the products.
Three‐Axis Global Magnetic Attitude Control of Earth‐Pointing Satellites in Circular Orbit
Authors: Giri Dipak , Mukherjee Bijoy , T N Bidul , Sinha Manoranjan
Published: March 2017

This paper addresses the controllability and global stability issues of a magnetically actuated satellite in the geomagnetic field. The variation of the geomagnetic field along the orbit, which is time varying in nature, makes the dynamics of the satellite time varying also. Sufficient conditions for controllability of such a time varying magnetic attitude control system are given. As a major contribution, it is proven that the three‐axis controllability of the spacecraft actuated by the magnetic actuators is possible and it does not depend on the initial angular velocity of the spacecraft. Global controllability is a precursor to global stability. Therefore, exponential stability for an arbitrarily high initial angular velocity and an arbitrary initial orientation is proven next for a proportional‐derivative control law using averaging theory. It is also proven that even an iso‐inertial satellite can be stabilized using the time invariant feedback control, which was hitherto not possible, even using time variant conventional control. Simulation results are presented under different initial orientations and angular velocities of the satellite in the presence of favorable and unfavorable gravity gradient torques to validate the proposed control method.
Evaluation of Culture Time and Media in an In Vitro Testis Organ Culture System
Authors: Nakamura Noriko , Merry Gwenn E. , Inselman Amy L. , Sloper Daniel T. , Del Valle Pedro L. , Sato Takuya , Ogawa Takehiko , Hansen Deborah K.
Published: March 2017

Background

The complexity of spermatogenesis makes development of appropriate in vitro testis models challenging. A novel in vitro mouse testis culture system has been reported but not yet evaluated as an alternative model for male reproductive toxicity testing. We assessed the effects of media composition on sperm differentiation and testis morphology of cultured mouse testis fragments.

Methods

Testes from postnatal day 5 B6:CBA‐Tg(Acrv1‐EGFP)2727Redd/J male mice were cultured in knockout serum replacement (KSR) or Albumax I (Albumax) medium. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression was examined on days 35, 42, 45, and 49 of culture. Histology and flow cytometry were performed for testis morphology and spermatid differentiation.

Results

EGFP signals were first observed in round spermatids on day 22 of culture (corresponding to postnatal day 27) and were observed until the end of culture, indicating testis‐specific protein expression. A‐kinase anchor protein 4 expression, a marker of elongated spermatid (step 15–16) occurred earlier in explants cultured in KSR than Albumax medium (typically day 35 and after day 42 of culture, respectively). The percentage of seminiferous tubules with elongated spermatid was higher in Albumax than KSR medium from days 45 to 49 of culture.

Conclusion

Albumax medium may facilitate or support better morphology and spermatid production than KSR medium. Further studies need to improve spermatid production and refinement of this in vitro testis culture system that may be useful as a supplement to current male reproductive toxicity testing or an alternative model in cases where in vivo testing may be unfeasible. Birth Defects Research 109:465–474, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Parents' and children's understanding of their own and others' national identity: The importance of including the family in the national group
Authors: Muldoon Orla T. , O'Donnell Aisling T. , Minescu Anca
Published: March 2017

We investigate the role of parents and family in driving children's understanding of their own national identity and their attitudes to other national groups in an increasingly diverse nation. Given the ethical and practical difficulties of sourcing children and their parents, we conducted our study with families visiting the National Museum of Ireland where displays about the Irish state's history facilitated the study of banal issues of Irishness and nationality. Our study included 34 families: 76 children and 46 parents. Parents completed self‐report measures of national identity continuity, national identity strength, and their family's Irishness. Children completed self‐report measures on their family's Irishness, their exploration of national identity, and attitudes to other national groups. National identity continuity and strength drove parents' sense of their family's Irishness. Amongst children, perceiving one's family as Irish, together with higher reported exploration of national identity, impacted on children's attitudes to other national groups. Children with the strongest sense of Irish national identity were most interested in identity exploration and other national practises. We add to the literature findings on the interconnection between parent and child identity and the role of the family in driving interest in national identity and other national groups.
Osteoclast differentiation gene expression profiling reveals chemokine CCL4 mediates RANKL‐induced osteoclast migration and invasion via PI3K pathway
Authors: Xuan Wenhua , Feng Xiaoke , Qian Chen , Peng Liuying , Shi Yumeng , Xu Lingxiao , Wang Fang , Tan Wenfeng
Published: March 2017

The migration of osteoclasts (OCs) from circulation and bone marrow into bone surface plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of some bone resorptive diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. To date, how the migration of OCs remains unclear. We investigated gene expression profiling in osteoclastic differentiation of bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMMs) into OCs by microarray analysis. We identified 387 genes overexpressed in osteoclastic differentiation of BMMs. Among them, chemokine CCL4 showed a robust up‐regulation signal. High expression of CCL4 was validated in primary BMMs and OC precursor cell line RAW264.7 during differentiation into OCs. The CCL4 neutralization decreased RANKL‐induced OC precursor cell migration and invasion in Matrigel‐coated transwell membranes assay and in vitro wound healing assay. However, CCL4 inhibition did not affect OCs differentiation and differentiation associated gene expression. The CCL4 inhibition promoted the PI3K phosphorylation at 45 to 60 minutes after RANKL stimulation in RAW264.7. This study indicated that chemokine CCL4 is an important regulator for OCs migration via PI3K pathway, providing a novel therapy target for bone resorptive diseases.
Selective Manipulation of Discrete Mannosidase Activities in the Endoplasmic Reticulum by Using Reciprocally Selective Inhibitors
Authors: Kuribara Taiki , Hirano Makoto , Speciale Gaetano , Williams Spencer J. , Ito Yukishige , Totani Kiichiro
Published: March 2017

Within the endoplasmic reticulum, immature glycoproteins are sorted into secretion and degradation pathways through the sequential trimming of mannose residues from Man9GlcNAc2 to Man5GlcNAc2 by the combined actions of assorted α‐1,2‐mannosidases. It has been speculated that specific glycoforms encode signals for secretion and degradation. However, it is unclear whether the specific signal glycoforms are produced by random mannosidase action or are produced regioselectively in a sequenced manner by specific α‐1,2‐mannosidases. Here, we report the identification of a set of selective mannosidase inhibitors and development of conditions for their use that enable production of distinct pools of Man8GlcNAc2 isomers from a structurally defined synthetic Man9GlcNAc2 substrate in an endoplasmic reticulum fraction. Glycan processing analysis with these inhibitors provides the first biochemical evidence for selective production of the signal glycoforms contributing to traffic control in glycoprotein quality control.
Controlling Heat Release from a Close‐Packed Bisazobenzene–Reduced‐Graphene‐Oxide Assembly Film for High‐Energy Solid‐State Photothermal Fuels
Authors: Zhao Xiaoze , Feng Yiyu , Qin Chengqun , Yang Weixiang , Si Qianyu , Feng Wei
Published: March 2017

Invited for this month's cover is the group of Wei Feng at Tianjin University. The image shows that photo‐thermal fuels (PTFs) using a bisazobenzene–graphene assembly can be developed for utilizing solar thermal energy in the space. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201601551.
Characteristics of the pre‐diabetic period in children with high risk of type 1 diabetes recruited from the general Swedish population—The ABIS study
Authors: Åkerman Linda , Ludvigsson Johnny , Swartling Ulrica , Casas Rosaura
Published: March 2017

Background

There is a need for increased understanding of the pre‐diabetic period in individuals with high risk of type 1 diabetes from the general population.

Methods

High‐risk children (n = 21) positive for multiple islet autoantibodies were identified by autoantibody screening within the All Babies in Southeast Sweden study. The children and their parents were enrolled in a 2‐year prospective follow‐up study aiming to characterize the pre‐diabetic period. Blood samples were collected every 6 months for measurement of C‐peptide, HbA1c, fasting glucose, and autoantibodies. Human leukocyte antigen‐genotype was determined, and oral glucose tolerance test was performed every 12 months.

Results

Despite positivity for multiple autoantibodies, 9 out of 21 individuals had low‐risk human leukocyte antigen‐genotypes. Children who progressed to manifest diabetes (progressors, n = 12) had higher levels of IA2A and ZnT8A than children who did not (non‐progressors, n = 9). Impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose was observed to the same extent in progressors and non‐progressors, but HbA1c increased over time in progressors in spite of increased C‐peptide.

Conclusions

Autoantibodies to IA2 and ZnT8 may be useful discriminators for disease progression in at‐risk children from the general population. Dysglycemia was observed long before diagnosis, and difficulties in maintaining glucose homeostasis despite increased C‐peptide indicate that insulin resistance might be an important accelerator of disease in risk individuals.
α5β1 integrin mediates pulmonary epithelial cyst formation
Authors: Legan Susan K. , Lee Daniel D. , Schwarz Margaret A.
Published: March 2017

Background: Formation of the epithelial cyst involves the establishment of apical–basolateral polarity through a series of cellular interactions that are in part mediated by the extracellular matrix (ECM). We report that in a three‐dimensional multi‐cellular self‐assembly model of lung development, α5 integrin regulates epithelial cyst formation through organization of soluble fibronectin matrix into insoluble fibrils through a process called fibrillogenesis. Results: Dissociated murine embryonic lung cells self‐assemble into three‐dimensional pulmonary bodies that are dependent on α5β1 integrin mediated fibrillogenesis for cell–cell mediated self‐assembly: compaction and epithelial cyst formation. Knockdown of α5 integrin resulted in a significant increase in another mediator of fibrillogenesis, αV integrin. Compensatory increased expression of another mediator of fibrillogenesis, αV integrin, was not sufficient to normalize epithelial cyst formation. Loss of α5 integrin‐mediated fibrillogenesis perturbed the ability of clustered epithelial cells to establish clear polarity, loss of epithelial cell pyramidal shape, and disrupted apical F‐actin–rich deposition. Lack of rich central epithelial localization of F‐actin cytoskeleton and Podocalyxin suggests that loss of α5 integrin‐mediated fibrillogenesis interferes with the normal cytoskeleton organization that facilitates epithelial cysts polarization. Conclusions: We conclude that lung epithelial cyst formation in development is mediated in part by α5β1 integrin dependent fibrillogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 246:475–484, 2016. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Computational Study on the Stability of Oxaphosphirane Rings towards Closed‐Shell Valence Isomerization
Authors: Espinosa Ferao Arturo , Streubel Rainer
Published: March 2017

The stability of both unligated oxaphosphiranes 1 and their P‐M(CO)5 complexes 2 (M = Cr, W) has been explored with respect to their closed‐shell isomers, formed from either heterolytic C–O or P–C ring bond cleavage. C–O bond cleavage of 1 leads to valence isomers 3 featuring trigonal‐planar hybridization at P, whereas pyramidalized isomers 3′ are obtained for push–pull systems featuring electron‐donating substituents at C and electron‐withdrawing groups at P. Complexes 2 undergo C–O ring cleavage, affording side‐on complexes 4, except for the unstable C,C‐diamino‐substituted complex 2d, which yielded the end‐on complex 4′d. Most of the C–O bond‐cleavage processes are exergonic, but have moderately high energy barriers; C,C‐difluoro‐substituted oxaphosphiranes were identified as thermodynamically stable. C–P bond‐cleavage pathways afford zwitterionic species 6 or 7 as a result of pericyclic 4π‐electron conrotatory processes and are always disfavoured, compared with C–O bond cleavages. The cases of 1n,u,v and 2e are noteworthy, as attempted C–P bond cleavage led to ring fragmentation to give carbonic acid difluoride and phosphinidene derivatives.
SeO2‐Mediated One‐Pot Synthesis of 3‐Cyanofurans from 3‐Oxo‐3‐arylpropanenitriles and Substituted Acetaldehydes
Authors: Zhou Jie , Zhu Xinhai , Huang Manna , Wan Yiqian
Published: March 2017

An SeO2‐mediated one‐pot method was established for the synthesis of 3‐cyanofurans from 3‐oxo‐3‐arylpropanenitriles and substituted acetaldehydes. The generality of the reaction was explored, and a plausible mechanism is proposed.