bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel SiO2@MgxSiyOz composite with high-efficiency adsorption of Rhodamine B in water
Authors: Pei Yanyan , Wang Man , Liu Qi , Xu Xuefeng , Yuan Liangjie , Zhao Yu
Published: October 2014

A novel core–shell SiO2@MgxSiyOz composite was synthesized, which can be repeatedly used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of RhB.
Polyelectrolyte complex nanofiltration membranes: performance modulation via casting solution pH
Authors: Zhao Qiang , Ji Yan-Li , Wu Jia-Kai , Shao Ling-Ling , An Quan-Fu , Gao Cong-Jie
Published: October 2014

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes were prepared from a solution processable polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) between sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCNa) and poly (2-methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PDMC).
Morphological transition difference of linear and cyclic block copolymer with polymer blending in a selective solvent by combining dissipative particle dynamics and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations based on the ABEEM polarizable force field
Authors: Liu Lin-Lin , Yang Zhong-Zhi , Zhao Dong-Xia , Gong Li-Dong , Liu Cui
Published: October 2014

AAMD based on ABEEM PFF were performed to obtain reliable DPD parameters for morphological transition.
Base-catalysed hydrolysis of PIM-1: amide versus carboxylate formation
Authors: Satilmis Bekir , Budd Peter M.
Published: October 2014

Controlled hydrolysis of PIM-1 yields polymers tailored for the selective adsorption of ionic dyes.
Smart hydrogels exhibiting UCST-type volume changes under physiologically relevant conditions
Authors: Shimada Naohiko , Kidoaki Satoru , Maruyama Atsushi
Published: October 2014

Hydrogels composed of poly(allylurea) copolymers exhibited rapid temperature positive volume changes without hysteresis under physiologically relevant conditions.
Characterization and stability of catanionic vesicles formed by pseudo-tetraalkyl surfactant mixtures
Authors: Pucci Carlotta , Pérez Lourdes , La Mesa Camillo , Pons Ramon
Published: October 2014

Anionic surfactant addition to cationic vesicles produces shrinkage at low ratios, with increase inζ-potential, and growth closer to equimolarity.
Enhancing electrical energy storage using polar polyimides with nitrile groups directly attached to the main chain
Authors: Treufeld Imre , Wang David H. , Kurish Brian A. , Tan Loon-Seng , Zhu Lei
Published: October 2014

Polar polyimides with added CN dipoles exhibit higher discharged energy density than nonpolar polyimides such as Ultem and Kapton.
Structural, elastic, thermal, and electronic responses of small-molecule-loaded metal–organic framework materials
Authors: Canepa Pieremanuele , Tan Kui , Du Yingjie , Lu Hongbing , Chabal Yves J. , Thonhauser Timo
Published: October 2014

We combine infrared spectroscopy, nano-indentation measurements, and ab initio simulations to study the evolution of structural, elastic, thermal, and electronic responses of the metal–organic framework MOF-74-Zn when loaded with H2, CO2, CH4, and H2O.
Systematic electrochemical oxidative doping of P3HT to probe interfacial charge transfer across polymer–fullerene interfaces
Authors: Jenkins Judith L. , Lee Paul A. , Nebesny Kenneth W. , Ratcliff Erin L.
Published: October 2014

Control of charge redistribution across e-P3HT/C60 interfaces is accomplished through the systematic electrochemical oxidation of the thiophene species.
Design and synthesis of functional ionic liquids based on pyrrolidinium cations bearing alkyl nitrile moieties
Authors: Cong Shan , Wang Yun , Yi Qinghua , Zhao Jie , Sun Yinghui , Shen Mingrong , Zou Guifu
Published: October 2014

Functional ionic liquids based on pyrrolidinium cations bearing alkyl nitrile moieties have been designed and applied in ssDSSCs.
Carbon-coated rhombohedral Li3V2(PO4)3 as both cathode and anode materials for lithium-ion batteries: electrochemical performance and lithium storage mechanism
Authors: Jian Zelang , Han Wenze , Liang Yanliang , Lan Yucheng , Fang Zheng , Hu Yong-Sheng , Yao Yan
Published: October 2014

We report the electrochemical performance and storage mechanism of a symmetrical lithium-ion cell made of carbon-coated rhombohedral Li3V2(PO4)3.
ZnTe and ZnTe/C nanocomposite: a new electrode material for high-performance rechargeable Li-ion batteries
Authors: Seo Jeong-Uk , Park Cheol-Min
Published: October 2014

ZnTe and a nanostructured ZnTe/C composite were prepared by a simple solid-state synthetic route, and their potential as electrode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries was investigated.
Self-organizing carbohydrate-oligothiophene-hybrids for eukaryotic membrane-labelling
Authors: Schmid Sylvia , Marion Schneider E. , Brier Eduard , Bäuerle Peter
Published: October 2014

Self-assembling d-(+) and l-(−) mannose-functionalized oligothiophene hybrids were synthesized via Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. The hybrids are taken up into live myeloid cells and offer an ideal platform for imaging of artificial and cellular membranes.
Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 is a redox sensitive enzyme: role of catalytic cysteine residues in regulation of enzymatic activity through changes in oligomeric state
Authors: Dotson P. Patrick , Karakashian Alexander A. , Nikolova-Karakashian Mariana N.
Published: October 2014

Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase-2) is the major sphingomyelinase activated in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines and during oxidative stress. It is a membrane-bound 655 amino acid protein containing 22 cysteine residues. In this study, we expressed recombinant mouse nSMase-2 protein in Escherichia coli, and investigated whether nSMase-2 is a redox sensitive enzyme. Our results demonstrate that nSMase-2 exists as both monomers and multimers that are associated with high and low enzymatic activity respectively. Mutational analysis of nSMase-2 identified within its C-terminal catalytic domain several oxidant-sensitive cysteine residues that were shown to be involved in enzyme oligomerization. Changing Cys617 to Ser for example is a gain-of-function mutation associated with a decreased propensity for oligomerization. Alternatively, nSMase-2 expression in a bacterial strain that lacks endogenous thioredoxin, Rosetta-gami2, results in increased oligomer formation and lower enzyme activity. Phenotypic rescue was accomplished by treating nSMase-2 lysates with recombinant human thioredoxin. This indicates that nSMase-2 may be a novel substrate for thioredoxin. FRET analysis confirmed the presence of nSMase-2 multimers in mammalian HEK cells and their localization to the plasma membrane. In conclusion, our results identify nSMase-2 as a redox-sensitive enzyme, whose basal activity is influenced by thioredoxin-mediated changes in its oligomeric state.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation prevents muscle wasting in critically ill comatose patients
Authors: Dirks Marlou L. , Hansen Dominique , Van Assche Aimé , Dendale Paul , Van Loon Luc J. C.
Published: October 2014

Fully sedated patients, being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), experience substantial skeletal muscle loss. Consequently, survival rate is reduced and full recovery after awakening is compromised. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) represents an effective method to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and alleviate muscle disuse atrophy in healthy subjects. We investigated the efficacy of twice-daily NMES to alleviate muscle loss in six fully sedated ICU patients admitted for acute critical illness [n=3 males, n=3 females; age 63±6 y; APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) disease-severity-score: 29±2]. One leg was subjected to twice-daily NMES of the quadriceps muscle for a period of 7±1 day whereas the other leg acted as a non-stimulated control (CON). Directly before the first and on the morning after the final NMES session, quadriceps muscle biopsies were collected from both legs to assess muscle fibre-type-specific cross-sectional area (CSA). Furthermore, phosphorylation status of the key proteins involved in the regulation of muscle protein synthesis was assessed and mRNA expression of selected genes was measured. In the CON leg, type 1 and type 2 muscle–fibre-CSA decreased by 16±9% and 24±7% respectively (P<0.05). No muscle atrophy was observed in the stimulated leg. NMES increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation by 19±5% when compared with baseline (P<0.05), with no changes in the CON leg. Furthermore, mRNA expression of key genes involved in muscle protein breakdown either declined [forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1); P<0.05] or remained unchanged [muscle atrophy F-box (MAFBx) and muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1)], with no differences between the legs. In conclusion, NMES represents an effective and feasible interventional strategy to prevent skeletal muscle atrophy in critically ill comatose patients.
Consensus of complex network systems and ergodicity of Markov chains
Authors: Han Haitao , Wang Zhiming , Zhou Qing
Published: October 2014

This study studies the consensus of multi‐agent systems on time‐varying network topologies. It is shown that this consensus reaching is equivalent to the corresponding weak ergodicity of the Markov process. A very mild sufficient condition of the consensus reaching that allows the communication among agents to be time‐dependent and directed is obtained by estimating the Dobrushin coefficient of ergodicity. It is also shown that the notion of in‐branching spanning tree plays a central role in the reaching of consensus. Moreover, sufficient conditions for (almost sure) consensus are presented for the case of time‐varying networks.
Fast filtering algorithm for state estimation of lossy networks
Authors: Lin Hong , Xu Zhaowen , Su Hongye , Xu Yong , Wu Zhengguang
Published: October 2014

The authors study the state estimation issue of networked control systems in which observations, control commands and acknowledgement (ACK) signals are randomly dropped. They show that unlike the transmission control protocol‐like or user datagram protocol‐like case, the probability density function of system state turns out to be Gaussian mixture with exponentially increasing terms because of the random losses of ACK signals, which makes the optimal filtering time‐consuming. They develop a sub‐optimal but computationally efficient filtering algorithm, named as fast filtering (FF), and establish a packet‐loss‐rate‐based sufficient condition for the boundedness of the expected estimation error covariance matrices. By a numerical example, the effectiveness of the proposed FF algorithm is illustrated, and the mutual influences of the packet losses of observations, control commands and ACK signals on the estimation performance are analysed.
Delay‐dependent exponential stability for neutral stochastic system with multiple time‐varying delays
Authors: Chen Huabin , Hu Peng , Wang Jinjing
Published: October 2014

In this study, by constructing an appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, one delay‐dependent exponential stability criterion of neutral stochastic system with multiple time‐varying delays is obtained in terms of linear matrix inequalities. The significant contributions of this study are that the fewer matrix variables in obtained results are involved and some less computational burdens are imposed. In particular, the obtained results can greatly reduce the conservatism when the multiple time‐invariant delays case is considered. Finally, three illustrative numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of our proposed results.
Delay‐independent fault detection and accommodation for non‐linear strict‐feedback systems with unknown time‐varying delays
Authors: Yoo Sung Jin
Published: October 2014

This study presents a time‐delay‐independent fault detection and adaptive accommodation control scheme for strict‐feedback systems with unknown multiple time‐delayed non‐linear faults. The magnitude and occurrence time of the multiple faults with unknown time‐varying delays are unknown. First, a detection threshold is derived to design a time‐delay‐independent fault detection scheme for the time‐delay systems and the fault detectability is analysed. Second, an adaptive approximation design for a time‐delay‐independent fault accommodation control is addressed. The adaptation technique is applied to learn weights of function approximators and thus the multiple faults can be compensated after the detection of the first fault. It is shown that all signals of the closed‐loop system are semi‐globally uniformly ultimately bounded and the tracking error converges to an adjustable neighbourhood of the origin.
Matrix GPBiCG algorithms for solving the general coupled matrix equations
Authors: Hajarian Masoud
Published: October 2014

Linear matrix equations have important applications in control and system theory. In the study, we apply Kronecker product and vectorisation operator to extend the generalised product bi‐conjugate gradient (GPBiCG) algorithms for solving the general coupled matrix equations ∑l j =1 (A) i, 1, j X1 Bi, 1,j +Ai, 2,j X2 Bi,2,j +…+Ai,l,j Xi,l,j) = Di for i = 1,2,…,l (including the (coupled) Sylvester, the second‐order Sylvester and coupled Markovian jump Lyapunov matrix equations). We propose four effective matrix algorithms for finding solutions of the matrix equations. Numerical examples and comparison with other well‐known algorithms demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed matrix algorithms.
Second‐order steganographic method based on adaptive reference matrix
Authors: Yin Zhao‐Xia , Chang Chin‐Chen , Xu Qin , Luo Bin
Published: October 2014

A second‐order steganographic method (SOS) based on pixel pair matching and modification direction exploiting (MDE) is proposed in this study. In SOS, each cover pixel pair is used to conceal two secret digits in a B‐ary notational system. Therefore the maximum embedding rate (ER) is up to log2B bit per pixel (bpp). It is different from the previous MDE‐based methods in which only one secret digit in base B can be embedded into each cover pixel pair and the maximum ER is ½log2B bpp. The experimental results demonstrate the improvements to the proposed method in terms of capacity, efficiency and detection rate compared to recent MDE‐based methods. Take B = 3 as an example. The ER is 1.585 bpp and the corresponding average peak‐signal‐to‐noise‐rate is 49.89 dB, demonstrating the best image quality with the same embedding rate compared to recent MDE‐based methods.
Broadband sample holder for microwave spectroscopy of superconducting qubits
Authors: Averkin A. S. , Karpov A. , Shulga K. , Glushkov E. , Abramov N. , Huebner U. , Il'ichev E. , Ustinov A. V.
Published: October 2014

We present a practical design and implementation of a broadband sample holder suitable for microwave experiments with superconducting integrated circuits at millikelvin temperatures. Proposed design can be easily integrated in standard dilution cryostats, has flat pass band response in a frequency range from 0 to 32 GHz, allowing the RF testing of the samples with substrate size up to 4 × 4 mm2. The parasitic higher modes interference in the holder structure is analyzed and prevented via design considerations. The developed setup can be used for characterization of superconducting parametric amplifiers, bolometers, and qubits. We tested the designed sample holder by characterizing of a superconducting flux qubit at 20 mK temperature.
Ion acoustic solitary waves and double layers in a plasma with two temperature electrons featuring Tsallis distribution
Authors: Shalini  , Saini N. S.
Published: October 2014

The propagation properties of large amplitude ion acoustic solitary waves (IASWs) are studied in a plasma containing cold fluid ions and multi-temperature electrons (cool and hot electrons) with nonextensive distribution. Employing Sagdeev pseudopotential method, an energy balance equation has been derived and from the expression for Sagdeev potential function, ion acoustic solitary waves and double layers are investigated numerically. The Mach number (lower and upper limits) for the existence of solitary structures is determined. Positive as well as negative polarity solitary structures are observed. Further, conditions for the existence of ion acoustic double layers (IADLs) are also determined numerically in the form of the critical values of qc, f and the Mach number (M). It is observed that the nonextensivity of electrons (via qc,h), concentration of electrons (via f) and temperature ratio of cold to hot electrons (via β) significantly influence the characteristics of ion acoustic solitary waves as well as double layers.
Effective diffusion coefficient in 2D periodic channels
Authors: Kalinay Pavol
Published: October 2014

Calculation of the effective diffusion coefficient D(x), depending on the longitudinal coordinate x in 2D channels with periodically corrugated walls, is revisited. Instead of scaling the transverse lengths and applying the standard homogenization techniques, we propose an algorithm based on formulation of the problem in the complex plane. A simple model is solved to explain the behavior of D(x) in the channels with short periods L, observed by Brownian simulations of Dagdug et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 133, 034707 (2010)].
Magnetic mirror cavities as terahertz radiation sources and a means of quantifying radiation friction
Authors: Holkundkar Amol R. , Harvey Chris
Published: October 2014

We propose a radiation source based on a magnetic mirror cavity. Relativistic electrons are simulated entering the cavity and their trajectories and resulting emission spectra are calculated. The uniformity of the particle orbits is found to result in a frequency comb in terahertz range, the precise energies of which are tunable by varying the electron's γ-factor. For very high energy particles, radiation friction causes the spectral harmonics to broaden and we suggest this as a possible way to verify competing classical equations of motion.
Filamentation of magnetosonic wave and generation of magnetic turbulence in laser plasma interaction
Authors: Modi K. V. , Tiwary Prem Pyari , Singh Ram Kishor , Satsangi V. R. , Sharma R. P.
Published: October 2014

This paper presents a theoretical model for the magnetic turbulence in laser plasma interaction due to the nonlinear coupling of magnetosonic wave with ion acoustic wave in overdense plasma. For this study, dynamical equations of magnetosonic waves and the ion acoustic waves have been developed in the presence of ponderomotive force due to the pump magnetosonic wave. Slowly converging and diverging behavior has been studied semi-analytically, this results in the formation of filaments of the magnetosonic wave. Numerical simulation has also been carried out to study nonlinear stage. From the results, it has been found that the localized structures become quite complex in nature. Further, power spectrum has been studied. Results show that the spectral index follows (∼k−2.0) scaling at smaller scale. Relevance of the present investigation has been shown with the experimental observation.
Numerical study on the influence of electron cyclotron current drive on tearing mode
Authors: Chen Long , Liu Jinyuan , Duan Ping , Mao Aohua , Sun Jizhong
Published: October 2014

Controlling tearing modes by localized current drive is explored by using numerical simulation with a set of compressible magnetohydrodynamics equations. By examining the effects of different characteristics of driven current, such as density distribution, duration time, and deposition location, it is found that a driven current with larger magnitude and more focused deposition region shows a better suppression effect on the tearing modes. Meanwhile destabilizing effects are also observed when a driven current over a certain magnitude is applied continuously. In comparison with those on the X-point of the magnetic island, the results are better when the current deposition is targeted on the O-point. In addition, the timing control of the current deposition will be also addressed.
Low-threshold stimulated emission at 249 nm and 256 nm from AlGaN-based multiple-quantum-well lasers grown on sapphire substrates
Authors: Li Xiao-Hang , Detchprohm Theeradetch , Kao Tsung-Ting , Satter Md. Mahbub , Shen Shyh-Chiang , Douglas Yoder P. , Dupuis Russell D. , Wang Shuo , Wei Yong O. , Xie Hongen , Fischer Alec M. , Ponce Fernando A. , Wernicke Tim , Reich Christoph , Martens Martin , Kneissl Michael
Published: October 2014

Optically pumped deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lasing with low threshold was demonstrated from AlGaN-based multiple-quantum-well (MQW) heterostructures grown on sapphire substrates. The epitaxial layers were grown pseudomorphically by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on (0001) sapphire substrates. Stimulated emission was observed at wavelengths of 256 nm and 249 nm with thresholds of 61 kW/cm2 and 95 kW/cm2 at room temperature, respectively. The thresholds are comparable to the reported state-of-the-art AlGaN-based MQW DUV lasers grown on bulk AlN substrates emitting at 266 nm. These low thresholds are attributed to the optimization of active region and waveguide layer as well as the use of high-quality AlN/sapphire templates. The stimulated emission above threshold was dominated by transverse-electric polarization. This work demonstrates the potential candidacy of sapphire substrates for DUV diode lasers.
Carrier dynamics of rubrene single-crystals revealed by transient broadband terahertz spectroscopy
Authors: Yada H. , Uchida R. , Sekine H. , Terashige T. , Tao S. , Matsui Y. , Kida N. , Fratini S. , Ciuchi S. , Okada Y. , Uemura T. , Takeya J. , Okamoto H.
Published: October 2014

Carrier dynamics of an organic molecular semiconductor, rubrene, was investigated by optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy from 1 to 15 THz. At 294 K, a Drude-like response due to photogenerated hole carriers is observed below 8 THz. The real part σ1(ω) of the optical conductivity is suppressed below 2 THz, indicating the presence of a localization effect. Such a spectral feature was reproduced by a Drude-Anderson model including the effect of dynamical disorder due to intermolecular vibrations. At 50 K, the spectral weight of σ1(ω) due to photocarriers shifts to lower frequency below 4 THz and the suppression of σ1(ω) is hardly observed, which we associate with a reduction of thermal molecular motions. The overall photocarrier generation and recombination dynamics is also discussed.
Enhancing interfacial conductivity and spatial charge confinement of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures via strain engineering
Authors: Nazir Safdar , Behtash Maziar , Yang Kesong
Published: October 2014

We explored the possibility of enhancing interfacial conductivity and spatial charge confinement of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) heterostructure (HS) via strain engineering using first-principles electronic structure calculations. We found that applying a tensile strain on the STO substrate along the ab-plane can significantly enhance the interfacial conductivity, magnetic moments, and the spatial charge confinement of the HS system. In contrast, a compressive strain can dilute the interfacial charge carrier density, make the mobile charges transfer to deep STO substrate, and weaken the spatial charge confinement along the c-axis. Hence, we propose that applying a tensile strain can be an effective way to enhance the interfacial conductivity and magnetism of STO-based HS systems.
Switchable photovoltaic effect in bilayer graphene/BiFeO3/Pt heterostructures
Authors: Katiyar Rajesh K. , Misra Pankaj , Mendoza Frank , Morell Gerardo , Katiyar Ram S.
Published: October 2014

We report the switchable photovoltaic effects in graphene/BiFeO3/Pt heterostructures. Pure phase polycrystalline BiFeO3 films were deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by pulse laser deposition. A bilayer graphene was transferred onto the BiFeO3 film which serves as transparent conducting electrodes. The heterostructures showed switchable photovoltaic effect depending on ferroelectric polarization directions indicating depolarization field induced separation of photo-generated carriers. The open circuit voltage (VOC) and short circuit current density (JSC) were measured to be ∼110 mV, ∼92 μA/cm2 in positive polarity and similar values were obtained when the polarity was reversed. The JSC and VOC also showed rapid response (<100 ms) as a function of light exposure time.
Review Article: The weak interactive characteristic of resonance cells and broadband effect of metamaterials
Authors: Zhao Xiaopeng , Song Kun
Published: October 2014

Metamaterials are artificial media designed to control electromagnetic wave propagation. Due to resonance, most present-day metamaterials inevitably suffer from narrow bandwidth, extremely limiting their practical applications. On the basis of tailored properties, a metamaterial within which each distinct unit cell resonates at its inherent frequency and has almost no coupling effect with the other ones, termed as weak interaction system, can be formulated. The total response of a weak interaction system can be treated as an overlap of the single resonance spectrum of each type of different unit cells. This intriguing feature therefore makes it possible to accomplish multiband or broadband metamaterials in a simple way. By introducing defects into metamaterials to form a weak interaction system, multiband and broadband electromagnetic metamaterials have first been experimentally demonstrated by our group. The similar concept can also be readily extended to acoustic and seismic metamaterials.
Housing migrants in Chinese cities: current status and policy design
Authors: Huang Youqin , Tao Ran
Published: October 2014

China is experiencing an unprecedented urban revolution, with massive rural-to-urban migration. Owing to the discriminatory hukou system, millions of migrants are excluded from accessing subsidized housing and suffer severe housing poverty. How to provide decent and affordable housing to migrants is an unprecedented challenge in China. In this paper we aim to scrutinize the current migrant housing provision system and migrants' housing conditions, and provide policy recommendations for a theoretically informed and empirically grounded migrant housing provision system. On the basis of both a conceptual analysis of migrant housing provision during rapid urbanization and an empirical study of migrant housing provision in China, we argue for a government-led multiagent migrant housing provision system with the government, employers, and the formal and informal housing markets together providing a diverse stock of migrant housing. Related reforms in the land system and public finance system are recommended to ensure the sustainability of the migrant housing provision system.
The use of DNA barcode evidence for inferring species of Chlorophthalmus (Aulopiformes, Chlorophthalmidae) in the Indo-West Pacific
Authors: Gomon Martin F. , Ward Robert D. , Chapple Stephanie , Hale Joshua M.
Published: October 2014

Recent studies have revealed evidence that the identities and distributions of several Indo-West Pacific species of Chlorophthalmus, as redefined by Sato and Nakabo (2002a), are inaccurately understood and reported in the literature. The current confusion is mostly attributable to the meristic conservatism of the genus and the individually variable nature of the morphology in those species. An analysis of the DNA barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences was employed to independently group specimens into natural species assemblages, providing evidence for verifying or correcting species concepts and identities. A re-examination of the morphology of vouchers in the resultant 12 groupings identified features corroborating the distinctiveness of 10 of the 12 groups at the species level. Each of the other two groups comprised two presumed species on the basis of morphological evidence that do not appear to be separable by cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequences. Two undescribed species of Chloropthalmus are now known to inhabit slope waters of Australia, and a further two undescribed species were identified elsewhere.
Multivariate biophysical markers predictive of mesenchymal stromal cell multipotency
Authors: Lee Wong Cheng , Shi Hui , Poon Zhiyong , Nyan Lin Myint , Kaushik Tanwi , Shivashankar G. V. , Chan Jerry K. Y. , Lim Chwee Teck , Han Jongyoon , Van Vliet Krystyn J.
Published: October 2014

Significance

We identify a set of unique biophysical markers of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell populations. Multivariate biophysical analysis of cells from 10 adult and fetal bone marrow donors shows that distinct subpopulations exist within supposed mesenchymal stem cell populations that are otherwise indistinguishable by accepted stem cell marker surface antigens. We find that although no single biophysical parameter is wholly predictive of stem cell multipotency, three of these together—cell diameter, cell mechanical stiffness, and nuclear membrane fluctuations—distinguish multipotent stem cell from osteochondral progenitor subpopulations. Together, these results (along with the corresponding statistical correlations) show that a minimal set of biophysical markers can be used to identify, isolate, and predict the function of stem and progenitor cells within mixed cell populations.
Importance of the DNA “bond” in programmable nanoparticle crystallization
Authors: Macfarlane Robert J. , Thaner Ryan V. , Brown Keith A. , Zhang Jian , Lee Byeongdu , Nguyen SonBinh T. , Mirkin Chad A.
Published: October 2014

Significance

The well-defined base-pairing interactions of DNA allow it to behave as a programmable bond on a nanoparticle scaffold and, when designed properly, these systems are able to form crystals through a process that closely mirrors the formation of atomic crystals. However, DNA-directed nanoparticle crystallization also offers a level of programmability that is not achievable in atomic systems as it enables precise and independent control over many components in a given system. This work focuses on understanding the nature of this DNA “bond,” how various parameters affect this bond, and the overall effects as seen through the crystallization behavior of the nanoparticles in an aggregate.
Assessing Distribution of Migratory Fishes and Connectivity following Complete and Partial Dam Removals in a North Carolina River
Authors: Raabe Joshua K. , Hightower Joseph E.
Published: October 2014

Abstract

Fish, especially migratory species, are assumed to benefit from dam removals that restore connectivity and access to upstream habitat, but few studies have evaluated this assumption. Therefore, we assessed the movement of migratory fishes in the springs of 2008 through 2010 and surveyed available habitat in the Little River, North Carolina, a tributary to the Neuse River, after three complete dam removals and one partial (notched) dam removal. We tagged migratory fishes with PIT tags at a resistance-board weir located at a dam removal site (river kilometer [rkm] 3.7) and followed their movements with an array of PIT antennas. The river-wide distribution of fish following removals varied by species. For example, 24–31% of anadromous American Shad Alosa sapidissima, 45–49% of resident Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum, and 4–11% of nonnative Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris passed the dam removal site at rkm 56 in 2009 and 2010. No preremoval data were available for comparison, but reach connectivity appeared to increase as tagged individuals passed former dam sites and certain individuals moved extensively both upstream and downstream. However, 17–28% did not pass the partially removed dam at rkm 7.9, while 20–39% of those that passed remained downstream for more than a day before migrating upstream. Gizzard Shad required the deepest water to pass this notched structure, followed by American Shad then Flathead Catfish. Fish that passed the notched dam accessed more complex habitat (e.g., available substrate size-classes) in the middle and upper reaches. The results provide strong support for efforts to restore currently inaccessible habitat through complete removal of derelict dams.

Received August 23, 2013; accepted June 18, 2014
Factors Influencing Successful Eradication of Nonnative Brook Trout from Four Small Rocky Mountain Streams Using Electrofishing
Authors: Shepard Bradley B. , Nelson Lee M. , Taper Mark L. , Zale Alexander V.
Published: October 2014

We successfully eradicated nonnative Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis by electrofishing from 2.4- to 3.0-km treatment reaches of four Rocky Mountain streams in Montana to conserve sympatric populations of native Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi. At least 6, and as many as 14, removal treatments of two to four electrofishing passes per treatment were required to successfully eradicate Brook Trout from these treatment reaches. We increased success by modifying our treatment efforts during this study from single annual treatments to several treatments a year to take advantage of autumn spawning and winter aggregating behavior. Eradication by electrofishing cost US$3,500 to $5,500 per kilometer where no riparian vegetation or woody debris clearing was necessary, increasing to $8,000 to $9,000 per kilometer where clearing was needed. Treatment costs without stream clearing were similar to costs of eradication using piscicides. Eradication by electrofishing may be preferable where native fish occur in sympatry with nonnative fish in smaller streams (base flow wetted widths <3.0 m) because native fish can be salvaged during removal efforts and because electrofishing may be more acceptable to the public than use of piscicides.

Received December 16,2013; accepted June 9,2014
Dynamics of an Introduced and Unexploited Lake Whitefish Population in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
Authors: Hosack Michael A. , Hansen Michael J. , Horner Ned J.
Published: October 2014

Abstract

To evaluate biological potential of a commercial fishery for an unexploited Lake Whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis population in Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho, we estimated population parameters related to production and yield. The length frequency based on trap-netting in autumn 2005 was normal with a mean of 448 mm TL, whereas the length frequency based on gillnetting in spring 2006 was bimodal with a mean of 390 mm TL. Sex composition was skewed toward females (0.66) during autumn trap-netting. Shape parameters β of weight–length models for females (β = 3.38) and males (β = 3.45) were similar to those of other unexploited populations. Instantaneous growth rates K for females (K = 0.144 per year) and males (K = 0.153 per year) were among the lowest for unexploited populations across the species’ range. Age at 50% maturity (females: 6.5 years; males: 6.0 years) and length at 50% maturity (females: 390 mm TL; males: 378 mm TL) were high for unexploited populations. The natural mortality rate M (0.149 per year, ages 11–36) was among the lowest observed for unexploited populations. Adult population density was lower than that of other populations based on total surface area (mean = 1.35 fish/ha; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–1.78 fish/ha) but was average based on lake area shallower than 70 m (4.07 fish/ha; 95% CI = 3.35–5.35 fish/ha). Population density of juveniles and adults averaged 84 fish/ha (95% CI = 52–143 fish/ha) over the entire surface area and 278 fish/ha (95% CI = 173–474 fish/ha) over depths shallower than 70 m. The difference between the low M of the unexploited population in Lake Pend Oreille (M = 0.149 per year; annual mortality rate A = 14%) and the high sustainable total mortality Z of exploited stocks in the Laurentian Great Lakes (Z = 1.204; A = 70%) suggests a large scope for sustainable fishing mortality F (1.055 per year; exploitation rate u = 61%) that is equivalent to a sustainable Lake Whitefish harvest of 55,000 individuals (50,000–60,000 individuals) and 49,000 kg (45,000–54,000 kg) from Lake Pend Oreille.

Received February 24, 2014; accepted June 25, 2014
Assessment of Paddlefish Reintroduction into Allegheny Reservoir
Authors: Budnik Richard R. , Clancy Mike , Miner Jeffrey G. , Brown William D.
Published: October 2014

Gillnetting and radiotelemetry were used to evaluate the reintroduction of Paddlefish Polyodon spathula into Allegheny Reservoir, New York–Pennsylvania. Gillnetting produced 86 total captures over 6,943 h of effort in the spring and early summer of 2008–2011. Forty-four of these individuals received implanted radio transmitters and were tracked from May 2008 to August 2011. Paddlefish showed a strong preference for reservoir sections where depths ranged from 6 to 18 m; only one individual was located in water greater than 18 m in depth. One sexually mature Paddlefish was identified, but telemetry data showed no evidence of reproduction, with only one individual making use of available riverine habitat that was predicted to be ideal for spawning. Paddlefish were susceptible to passage through Kinzua Dam: 46% of radio-tracked individuals left the reservoir during the study period. Continued efforts to evaluate Paddlefish reintroduction in Allegheny Reservoir should now focus on (1) assessing natural reproduction and (2) determining movement and survival through Kinzua Dam.

Received November 4, 2013; accepted June 26, 2014
Operationalizing the highly skilled diasporic transnational family: China and India’s transnational governance strategies
Authors: Lum Kathryn
Published: October 2014

Mass elite or ‘knowledge’ migration from developing countries has led to debate about brain drain and how to convert this loss of human talent into brain gains, or at least into brain circulation. Discussion of migration and diaspora, therefore, is intimately linked to migration as potential leverage for development. In the absence of being able to prevent people from living, countries with increasing levels of outgoing migrants are actively encouraging their talent diaspora to return, as well as to contribute to the ‘motherland’ from afar. This paper will discuss how two of the countries with the largest migrant output in the world – India and China – view and harness the talent potential of their global diasporas. Adopting a historical approach, the paper will first trace the evolution of diaspora policies and infrastructure in each country, showing how historically the level of diaspora engagement varied according to both domestic and international political contexts. China, for example, has gone from considering migration to be an imperial crime, to considering all ethnic Chinese as an integral part of the Chinese nation. It will then compare and contrast the actual policies of diaspora engagement adopted by India and China, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each country’s policies. While China has promoted the return of its scientific and entrepreneurial elite, India has made it progressively easier to travel and invest in India for people of Indian origin. Despite different policy focuses, India and China are united in using a discourse of ethnic pride – what can be termed ‘emotional citizenship’ in encouraging its ethnic diasporas to cultivate an emotional bond to the country of their ancestors. The diaspora policies of India and China reveal that, in an attempt to attract investment and stem brain gain, developing countries, while stopping short of introducing full dual nationality for geopolitical reasons, are seeking to create new forms of flexible citizenship that enable them to reap an ‘ethnic dividend’ from their global ethnic diasporas.
Rapid Communication: How to train your Bayesian: A problem-representation transfer rather than a format-representation shift explains training effects
Authors: Sirota Miroslav , Kostovičová Lenka , Vallée-Tourangeau Frédéric
Published: October 2014

People improve their Bayesian reasoning most when they are trained to represent single-event probabilities as natural frequencies; nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of this representational training remains unclear. Several authors suggested that people learn to shift the initial format to natural frequencies, and improve their reasoning because natural frequencies align with an evolutionary designed frequency-coding mechanism—the format-representation shift hypothesis. Alternatively, people may acquire a generic problem representation in terms of nested sets that is then transferred to similar problems—the problem-representation transfer hypothesis. To disentangle the effect of the format shift from problem representation transfer, we devised two types of training with problems featuring a nonfrequency format and a concealed nested-sets structure. Participants learnt the adequate problem representation in both training manipulations, but in only one did they learn, in addition, to shift the format to frequencies. Substantial evidence (BF01 = 5, where BF = Bayes factor) indicates that both types of training improved reasoning in an immediate and a one-week follow-up posttest to the same extent. Such findings support the problem-representation transfer hypothesis because learning an adequate nested-sets problem representation accounts for the performance improvement, whereas the frequency format per se confers no additional benefit. We discuss the implications of these findings for two dominant accounts of statistical reasoning.
Exploring the breadth of the top-down representations that control attentional disengagement
Authors: Wright Timothy J. , Boot Walter R. , Jones John L.
Published: October 2014

Recent studies attribute top-down control as the primary determinant of the speed with which attention can be disengaged from an object, and disengagement has received increased interest as a means to distinguish between top-down and bottom-up accounts of attention capture. We present the results of three experiments exploring the breadth of the representations that delay attentional disengagement based on top-down goals. Experiments 1 and 2 examined whether objects similar to an observers' search target, but differing in luminance and hue, delayed the reallocation of attention in a search paradigm designed to isolate disengagement time. Experiment 3 explored whether the representations that delay disengagement are based on absolute similarity with the search target, or are tuned based on target/nontarget relationships. These three studies confirmed the role of top-down goals in automatically contributing to dwell times and revealed that the representations that underlie disengagement effects are broad (automatically delaying disengagement for items similar, but not identical to, the search target). In some cases, attention sets appeared to be graded in nature, but in others target–distractor relationships influenced the degree to which an irrelevant item held attention. Implications for theories of attention capture and potential functional significance of these automatic effects are discussed.
Sectarianism in Iraq – a critique by Ali Al-Wardi
Authors: al-Zurfi Fouad Jabir Kadhem
Published: October 2014

The Arab world today is encountering a destructive resurgence of sectarianism, which, up to a few years ago, had been confined to books and rhetorical debates. In the first half of the 20th century, Iraqi sociologist Ali Al-Wardi pioneered the critique of sectarianism in the Arab world. Unlike others, he approached the issue from a specific and unique perspective. His observations of Iraqi history were made from a sociological standpoint that aimed at revealing the impact of sectarianism on Iraqi politics. Al-Wardi’s writings were carried out to two phases: the first extends from the early 1950s to the early 1960s; and the second covers the period between the publication of his two books, Study on the Nature of Iraqi Society (the year of publication is unknown) and Social Briefs from the Modern History of Iraq (1971). The first phase focused on Islam’s heritage and a number of social phenomena; the second focused exclusively on the study of Iraqi society. A number of factors influenced Al-Wardi’s personality and thinking, a fact especially evident in the kind of methodology he used, which was new when addressing the sectarian issue. Based on Al-Wardi’s research, this paper traces the historical factors and process that affected the historical development of the divisions separating two main sects of Islam – Shi’a and Sunni – resulting in a duel between them, which led to the configuration of Iraqi society along sectarian lines. It elaborates on the methodology used by Al-Wardi in his studies of Iraqi society, as well as his attitude with regard to sectarianism in modern Iraq. It also explores the intellectual and political influences that helped shape his thinking in this domain and its legacy on sociological thought in the Arab world.
Flood disaster management policy: an analysis of the United States Community Ratings System
Authors: Sadiq Abdul-Akeem , Noonan Douglas S.
Published: October 2014

In 1990 the US Federal Emergency Management Agency created the Community Ratings System (CRS) to engage local governments to enhance community flood resilience. The CRS encourages community flood risk management activities by discounting flood insurance premiums commensurate with the level of flood management measures implemented. Using a national sample of communities, this study empirically identifies factors motivating both communities' decision to participate and intensity of participation in the CRS. The results indicate that local capacity, flood risk factors, socio-economic characteristics, and political economy factors are significant predictors of CRS participation. Further, factors predicting participation in the CRS differ from factors predicting CRS scores.
Providing choice? A comparison of UK and Ireland's family support in a time of austerity
Authors: Campbell-Barr Verity , Coakley Anne
Published: October 2014

Providing support to families has long been a feature of social policy systems globally. Recent years have increasingly seen family support shift to recognise the growing trend and policy ambition of maternal employment, particularly in a European context. UK and Ireland represent two examples of countries that have sought to respond to changing labour market and work–life balance dynamics through promoting a choice agenda for working mothers. Whilst both countries are characterised as neo-liberal economies they have promoted the choice agenda via different welfare benefit packages. The recent economic crisis has seen both countries cutting the level of support provided for families, raising questions about the extent that mothers are still being provided with choice in how to combine work and family life. Whilst the cuts look to refocus welfare provision on vulnerable children and their families, they also reflect the push towards individualised responsibility for managing new social risks.
Rap1-dependent pathways coordinate cytokinesis inDictyostelium
Authors: Plak Katarzyna , Keizer-Gunnink Ineke , van Haastert Peter J. M. , Kortholt Arjan
Published: October 2014

Cytokinesis is the final step of mitosis when a mother cell is separated into two daughter cells. Major cytoskeletal changes are essential for cytokinesis; it is, however, not well understood how the microtubules and actomyosin cytoskeleton are exactly regulated in time and space. In this paper, we show that during the early stages of cytokinesis, in rounded-up Dictyostelium discoideum cells, the small G-protein Rap1 is activated uniformly at the cell cortex. When cells begin to elongate, active Rap1 becomes restricted from the furrow region, where the myosin contractile ring is subsequently formed. In the final stages of cytokinesis, active Rap1 is only present at the cell poles. Mutant cells with decreased Rap1 activation at the poles showed strongly decreased growth rates. Hyperactivation of Rap1 results in severe growth delays and defective spindle formation in adherent cells and cell death in suspension. Furthermore, Rap mutants show aberrant regulation of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, resulting in extended furrow ingression times and asymmetrical cell division. We propose that Rap1 drives cytokinesis progression by coordinating the three major cytoskeletal components: microtubules, actin, and myosin II. Importantly, mutated forms of Rap also affect cytokinesis in other organisms, suggesting a conserved role for Rap in cell division.