bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host genetic influences on the anthelmintic efficacy of papaya-derived cysteine proteinases in mice
Authors: LUOGA WENCESLAUS , MANSUR FADLUL , STEPEK GILLIAN , LOWE ANN , DUCE IAN R. , BUTTLE DAVID. J. , BEHNKE JERZY M.
Published: March 2015

Eight strains of mice, of contrasting genotypes, infected with Heligmosomoides bakeri were studied to determine whether the anthelmintic efficacy of papaya latex varied between inbred mouse strains and therefore whether there is an underlying genetic influence on the effectiveness of removing the intestinal nematode. Infected mice were treated with 330 nmol of crude papaya latex or with 240 nmol of papaya latex supernatant (PLS). Wide variation of response between different mouse strains was detected. Treatment was most effective in C3H (90·5–99·3% reduction in worm counts) and least effective in CD1 and BALB/c strains (36·0 and 40·5%, respectively). Cimetidine treatment did not improve anthelmintic efficacy of PLS in a poor drug responder mouse strain. Trypsin activity, pH and PLS activity did not differ significantly along the length of the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract between poor (BALB/c) and high (C3H) drug responder mouse strains. Our data indicate that there is a genetic component explaining between-mouse variation in the efficacy of a standard dose of PLS in removing worms, and therefore warrant some caution in developing this therapy for wider scale use in the livestock industry, and even in human medicine.
Surgical approach to a rare case of double-outlet right ventricle and aortopulmonary window
Authors: Tunks Robert D. , Steed R. Dennis , Lodge Andrew J.
Published: March 2015

Although the spectrum of physiology seen in infants and children with double-outlet right ventricle is broad, this anatomy in combination with an aortopulmonary window is extremely rare. We present an interesting case of an infant prenatally diagnosed with this rare CHD. To our knowledge, this is the first report of complete repair in the neonatal period for such a combination of defects.
Extractive summarization of multi-party meetings through discourse segmentation
Authors: BOKAEI MOHAMMAD HADI , SAMETI HOSSEIN , LIU YANG
Published: March 2015

In this article we tackle the problem of multi-party conversation summarization. We investigate the role of discourse segmentation of a conversation on meeting summarization. First, an unsupervised function segmentation algorithm is proposed to segment the transcript into functionally coherent parts, such asMonologuei(which indicates a segment where speakeriis the dominant speaker, e.g., lecturing all the other participants) orDiscussionx1x2, . . .,xn(which indicates a segment where speakersx1toxninvolve in a discussion). Then the salience score for a sentence is computed by leveraging the score of the segment containing the sentence. Performance of our proposed segmentation and summarization algorithms is evaluated using the AMI meeting corpus. We show better summarization performance over other state-of-the-art algorithms according to different metrics.
Vorschulalter
Authors: Petermann Ulrike , Petermann Franz
Published: March 2015

Entwicklungsscreenings tragen in den ersten Lebensjahren dazu bei, dass der Förderbedarf von Vorschulkindern frühzeitig erkannt werden kann. Der Förderung kognitiver und vor allem der Förderung sozial-emotionaler Fertigkeiten kommt dabei eine immer größere Bedeutung zu. Ungeklärt ist die Aussagekraft von Elternurteilen und generell die prognostische Validität von Entwicklungsaussagen, die sich auf die ersten Lebensjahre beziehen.
Sprachentwicklungsstörungen bei monolingualen und mehrsprachig aufwachsenden Kindern
Authors: Rißling Julia-Katharina , Melzer Jessica , Petermann Franz
Published: March 2015

Die Umschriebenen Entwicklungsstörungen des Sprechens und der Sprache gehören zu den häufigsten Entwicklungsstörungen. Jedoch bleiben sie oft unerkannt und nehmen Einfluss auf verschiedene Entwicklungsbereiche. Wächst ein Kind mehrsprachig auf, stellt sich zudem die Frage, welchen Einfluss die Mehrsprachigkeit auf die Ausprägung des Störungsbildes nimmt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurden die sprachlichen Leistungsprofile von monolingual deutschsprachigen und mehrsprachigen Kindern mit Artikulationsstörung, vorwiegend expressiver Problematik und kombiniert expressiv-rezeptiver Problematik analysiert und mit einer unbeeinträchtigten Referenzgruppe verglichen (N=282). Die Ergebnisse zeigen zum einen, dass bei monolingual deutschsprachigen Kindern zwischen vorwiegend expressiver und kombiniert expressiv-rezeptiver Sprachproblematik differenziert werden kann. Zum anderen zeigt sich, dass auch bei mehrsprachigen Kindern eine Einschätzung der Fähigkeiten in der Umgebungssprache Deutsch getroffen werden kann, wobei die Ergebnisse vor dem Hintergrund des Mehrsprachigkeitserwerbs interpretiert werden müssen.
Satellite Imaging Improves Study of Sinking River Deltas
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: March 2015

Researchers know that the Ganges-Brahmaputra river delta is sinking. Now they have an accurate reading on the rate of subsidence.
Could Farmers have Dodged the 2012 Great Plains Drought?
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: March 2015

A decision-making model to turn seasonal climate forecasts into information farmers actually need.
Modeling Waves in the Atmosphere
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: March 2015

How can a complex atmospheric process be simplified for a model?
Polar Warming Makes the Jet Stream Stable, Not Wavy or Blocked
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: March 2015

An idealized climate model suggests polar warming stabilizes the jet stream and reduces atmospheric blocking at midlatitudes.
Elizabeth Kolbert Receives 2014 Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—Features
Authors:   AGU
Published: March 2015

Journalist and author Elizabeth Kolbert received the 2014 Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—Features at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 17 December 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. The Sullivan Award is for work published with a deadline of more than 1 week.
Andrew Grant Receives 2014 David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—News
Authors:   AGU
Published: March 2015

Andrew Grant, physics reporter for Science News, received the 2014 David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—News at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 17 December 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. The Perlman Award is for work published under deadline pressure of 1 week or less.
Exploring How Water Flow Affects Bed Forms in Different Environments
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: March 2015

In a flat sand bed, water creates undulating features.
Successful Focus Group Relaunch at Fall Meeting
Authors: Landau Elizabeth
Published: March 2015

The Societal Impacts and Policy Sciences (SIPS) Focus Group kicked off new activity with a lively event at AGU Fall Meeting, with much more action to come.
Rapid Gas Hydrate Forms Pockmarks in Nigeria's Seafloor
Authors: Orwig Jessica
Published: March 2015

The seafloor in deep water regions off the coast of Nigeria is speckled with pockmarks that scientists suggest were mainly made by the rapid formation of gas hydrate.
Wave Ripples Spaced by Flow Downstream of Ripple Peaks
Authors: Rosen Julia
Published: March 2015

The well-known ratio between sand ripple spacing and wave-driven flow oscillations may be dictated by flow dynamics downstream of ripple crests.
Tracking Down a Subduction Zone Earthquake
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: March 2015

Researchers use computer simulations to find the date and earthquake source of an ancient tsunami that deposited sediment in a Hawaii sinkhole.
“Knobby Terrain” a Sign of Mars's Explosive Past
Authors: Betz Eric
Published: March 2015

Newly identified knobby terrain related to ancient volcanoes on Mars hint that pyroclastic ash and rock flowed down slopes early in the red planet's history.
Seismic Stress Modeling Puts Istanbul in the Crosshairs
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: March 2015

Twenty years of ground motion observations show that seismic strain is accumulating south of Istanbul.
Found: The Submarine Source of an 1891 Eruption Near Sicily
Authors: Orwig Jessica
Published: March 2015

Analysis of a volcano may help explain why some eruptions produce volcanic balloons–hollow chunks of lava that encase a gas-filled cavity.
Task Force Recommends Ways to Improve AGU Fellows Program
Authors: Williams Billy M.
Published: March 2015

The program review was prompted by demographic changes in the AGU membership and the growth of interdisciplinary sciences.
Blood Glutamate Grabbing Does Not Reduce the Hematoma in an Intracerebral Hemorrhage Model but it is a Safe Excitotoxic Treatment Modality
Authors: da Silva-Candal Andrés , Vieites-Prado Alba , Gutiérrez-Fernández María , Rey Ramón I , Argibay Bárbara , Mirelman David , Sobrino Tomás , Rodríguez-Frutos Berta , Castillo José , Campos Francisco
Published: March 2015

Recent studies have shown that blood glutamate grabbing is an effective strategy to reduce the excitotoxic effect of extracellular glutamate released during ischemic brain injury. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of two of the most efficient blood glutamate grabbers (oxaloacetate and recombinant glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1: rGOT1) in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Intracerebral hemorrhage was produced by injecting collagenase into the basal ganglia. Three treatment groups were developed: a control group treated with saline, a group treated with oxaloacetate, and a final group treated with human rGOT1. Treatments were given 1 hour after hemorrhage. Hematoma volume (analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)), neurologic deficit, and blood glutamate and GOT levels were quantified over a period of 14 days after surgery. The results observed showed that the treatments used induced a significant reduction of blood glutamate levels; however, they did not reduce the hematoma, nor did they improve the neurologic deficit. In the present experimental study, we have shown that this novel therapeutic strategy is not effective in case of ICH pathology. More importantly, these findings suggest that blood glutamate grabbers are a safe treatment modality that can be given in cases of suspected ischemic stroke without previous neuroimaging.
Dynamic formation of single-atom catalytic active sites on ceria-supported gold nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Yang-Gang , Mei Donghai , Glezakou Vassiliki-Alexandra , Li Jun , Rousseau Roger
Published: March 2015

Catalysis by gold supported on reducible oxides has been extensively studied, yet issues such as the nature of the catalytic site and the role of the reducible support remain fiercely debated topics. Here we present ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of an unprecedented dynamic single-atom catalytic mechanism for the oxidation of carbon monoxide by ceria-supported gold clusters. The reported dynamic single-atom catalytic mechanism results from the ability of the gold cation to strongly couple with the redox properties of the ceria in a synergistic manner, thereby lowering the energy of redox reactions. The gold cation can break away from the gold nanoparticle to catalyse carbon monoxide oxidation, adjacent to the metal/oxide interface and subsequently reintegrate back into the nanoparticle after the reaction is completed. Our study highlights the importance of the dynamic creation of active sites under reaction conditions and their essential role in catalysis.
Insight into Bio-metal Interface Formation in vacuo: Interplay of S-layer Protein with Copper and Iron
Authors: Makarova Anna A. , Grachova Elena V. , Neudachina Vera S. , Yashina Lada V. , Blüher Anja , Molodtsov Serguei L. , Mertig Michael , Ehrlich Hermann , Adamchuk Vera K. , Laubschat Clemens , Vyalikh Denis V.
Published: March 2015

The mechanisms of interaction between inorganic matter and biomolecules, as well as properties of resulting hybrids, are receiving growing interest due to the rapidly developing field of bionanotechnology. The majority of potential applications for metal-biohybrid structures require stability of these systems under vacuum conditions, where their chemistry is elusive and may differ dramatically from the interaction between biomolecules and metal ions in vivo. Here we report for the first time a photoemission and X-ray absorption study of the formation of a hybrid metal-protein system, tracing step-by-step the chemical interactions between the protein and metals (Cu and Fe) in vacuo. Our experiments reveal stabilization of the enol form of peptide bonds as the result of protein-metal interactions for both metals. The resulting complex with copper appears to be rather stable. In contrast, the system with iron decomposes to form inorganic species like oxide, carbide, nitride and cyanide.
Halloysite Nanotubes Capturing Isotope Selective Atmospheric CO2
Authors: Jana Subhra , Das Sankar , Ghosh Chiranjit , Maity Abhijit , Pradhan Manik
Published: March 2015

With the aim to capture and subsequent selective trapping of CO2, a nanocomposite has been developed through selective modification of the outer surface of the halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with an organosilane to make the nanocomposite a novel solid-phase adsorbent to adsorb CO2 from the atmosphere at standard ambient temperature and pressure. The preferential adsorption of three major abundant isotopes of CO2 (12C16O2, 13C16O2 and 12C16O18O) from the ambient air by amine functionalized HNTs has been explored using an optical cavity-enhanced integrated cavity output spectroscopy. CO2 adsorption/desorption cycling measurements demonstrate that the adsorbent can be regenerated at relatively low temperature and thus, recycled repeatedly to capture atmospheric CO2. The amine grafted halloysite shows excellent stability even in oxidative environments and has high efficacy of CO2 capture, introducing a new route to the adsorption of isotope selective atmospheric CO2.
Tuning Locality of Pair Coherence in Graphene-based Andreev Interferometers
Authors: Kim Minsoo , Jeong Dongchan , Lee Gil-Ho , Shin Yun-Sok , Lee Hyun-Woo , Lee Hu-Jong
Published: March 2015

We report on gate-tuned locality of superconductivity-induced phase-coherent magnetoconductance oscillations in a graphene-based Andreev interferometer, consisting of a T-shaped graphene bar in contact with a superconducting Al loop. The conductance oscillations arose from the flux change through the superconducting Al loop, with gate-dependent Fraunhofer-type modulation of the envelope. We confirm a transitional change in the character of the pair coherence, between local and nonlocal, in the same device as the effective length-to-width ratio of the device was modulated by tuning the pair-coherence length ξT in the graphene layer.
Macromolecularly crowded in vitro microenvironments accelerate the production of extracellular matrix-rich supramolecular assemblies
Authors: Kumar Pramod , Satyam Abhigyan , Fan Xingliang , Collin Estelle , Rochev Yury , Rodriguez Brian J. , Gorelov Alexander , Dillon Simon , Joshi Lokesh , Raghunath Michael , Pandit Abhay , Zeugolis Dimitrios I.
Published: March 2015

Therapeutic strategies based on the principles of tissue engineering by self-assembly put forward the notion that functional regeneration can be achieved by utilising the inherent capacity of cells to create highly sophisticated supramolecular assemblies. However, in dilute ex vivo microenvironments, prolonged culture time is required to develop an extracellular matrix-rich implantable device. Herein, we assessed the influence of macromolecular crowding, a biophysical phenomenon that regulates intra- and extra-cellular activities in multicellular organisms, in human corneal fibroblast culture. In the presence of macromolecules, abundant extracellular matrix deposition was evidenced as fast as 48 h in culture, even at low serum concentration. Temperature responsive copolymers allowed the detachment of dense and cohesive supramolecularly assembled living substitutes within 6 days in culture. Morphological, histological, gene and protein analysis assays demonstrated maintenance of tissue-specific function. Macromolecular crowding opens new avenues for a more rational design in engineering of clinically relevant tissue modules in vitro.
Identification of the optic recess region as a morphogenetic entity in the zebrafish forebrain
Authors: Affaticati Pierre , Yamamoto Kei , Rizzi Barbara , Bureau Charlotte , Peyriéras Nadine , Pasqualini Catherine , Demarque Michaël , Vernier Philippe
Published: March 2015

Regionalization is a critical, highly conserved step in the development of the vertebrate brain. Discrepancies exist in how regionalization of the anterior vertebrate forebrain is conceived since the “preoptic area” is proposed to be a part of the telencephalon in tetrapods but not in teleost fish. To gain insight into this complex morphogenesis, formation of the anterior forebrain was analyzed in 3D over time in zebrafish embryos, combining visualization of proliferation and differentiation markers, with that of developmental genes. We found that the region containing the preoptic area behaves as a coherent morphogenetic entity, organized around the optic recess and located between telencephalon and hypothalamus. This optic recess region (ORR) makes clear borders with its neighbor areas and expresses a specific set of genes (dlx2a, sim1a and otpb). We thus propose that the anterior forebrain (secondary prosencephalon) in teleosts contains three morphogenetic entities (telencephalon, ORR and hypothalamus), instead of two (telencephalon and hypothalamus). The ORR in teleosts could correspond to “telencephalic stalk area” and “alar hypothalamus” in tetrapods, resolving current inconsistencies in the comparison of basal forebrain among vertebrates.
Modeling Post-death Transmission of Ebola: Challenges for Inference and Opportunities for Control
Authors: Weitz Joshua S. , Dushoff Jonathan
Published: March 2015

Multiple epidemiological models have been proposed to predict the spread of Ebola in West Africa. These models include consideration of counter-measures meant to slow and, eventually, stop the spread of the disease. Here, we examine one component of Ebola dynamics that is of ongoing concern – the transmission of Ebola from the dead to the living. We do so by applying the toolkit of mathematical epidemiology to analyze the consequences of post-death transmission. We show that underlying disease parameters cannot be inferred with confidence from early-stage incidence data (that is, they are not “identifiable”) because different parameter combinations can produce virtually the same epidemic trajectory. Despite this identifiability problem, we find robustly that inferences that don't account for post-death transmission tend to underestimate the basic reproductive number – thus, given the observed rate of epidemic growth, larger amounts of post-death transmission imply larger reproductive numbers. From a control perspective, we explain how improvements in reducing post-death transmission of Ebola may reduce the overall epidemic spread and scope substantially. Increased attention to the proportion of post-death transmission has the potential to aid both in projecting the course of the epidemic and in evaluating a portfolio of control strategies.
Indirect protein quantification of drug-transforming enzymes using peptide group-specific immunoaffinity enrichment and mass spectrometry
Authors: Weiß Frederik , Schnabel Anke , Planatscher Hannes , van den Berg Bart H. J. , Serschnitzki Bettina , Nuessler Andreas K. , Thasler Wolfgang E. , Weiss Thomas S. , Reuss Matthias , Stoll Dieter , Templin Markus F. , Joos Thomas O. , Marcus Katrin , Poetz Oliver
Published: March 2015

Immunoaffinity enrichment of proteotypic peptides, coupled with selected reaction monitoring, enables indirect protein quantification. However the lack of suitable antibodies limits its widespread application. We developed a method in which multi-specific antibodies are used to enrich groups of peptides, thus facilitating multiplexed quantitative protein assays. We tested this strategy in a pharmacokinetic experiment by targeting a group of homologous drug transforming proteins in human hepatocytes. Our results indicate the generic applicability of this method to any biological system.
Pressure-induced zigzag phosphorus chain and superconductivity in boron monophosphide
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Qin Jiaqian , Liu Hanyu , Zhang Shiliang , Ma Mingzhen , Luo Wei , Liu Riping , Ahuja Rajeev
Published: March 2015

We report on the prediction of the zinc-blende structure BP into a novel C2/m phase from 113 to 208 GPa which possesses zigzag phosphorus chain structure, followed by another P42/mnm structure above 208 GPa above using the particle-swarm search method. Strong electron-phonon coupling λ in compressed BP is found, in particular for C2/m phase with the zigzag phosphorus chain, which has the highest λ (0.56–0.61) value among them, leading to its high superconducting critical temperature Tc (9.4 K–11.5 K), which is comparable with the 4.5 K to 13 K value of black phosphorus phase I (orthorhombic, Cmca). This is the first system in the boron phosphides which shows superconductivity from the present theoretical calculations. Our results show that pressure-induced zigzag phosphorus chain in BP exhibit higher superconducting temperature TC, opening a new route to search and design new superconductor materials with zigzag phosphorus chains.
X-ray phase contrast tomography by tracking near field speckle
Authors: Wang Hongchang , Berujon Sebastien , Herzen Julia , Atwood Robert , Laundy David , Hipp Alexander , Sawhney Kawal
Published: March 2015

X-ray imaging techniques that capture variations in the x-ray phase can yield higher contrast images with lower x-ray dose than is possible with conventional absorption radiography. However, the extraction of phase information is often more difficult than the extraction of absorption information and requires a more sophisticated experimental arrangement. We here report a method for three-dimensional (3D) X-ray phase contrast computed tomography (CT) which gives quantitative volumetric information on the real part of the refractive index. The method is based on the recently developed X-ray speckle tracking technique in which the displacement of near field speckle is tracked using a digital image correlation algorithm. In addition to differential phase contrast projection images, the method allows the dark-field images to be simultaneously extracted. After reconstruction, compared to conventional absorption CT images, the 3D phase CT images show greatly enhanced contrast. This new imaging method has advantages compared to other X-ray imaging methods in simplicity of experimental arrangement, speed of measurement and relative insensitivity to beam movements. These features make the technique an attractive candidate for material imaging such as in-vivo imaging of biological systems containing soft tissue.
A perspective on underlying crystal growth mechanisms in biomineralization: solution mediated growth versus nanosphere particle accretion
Authors: Gal Assaf , Weiner Steve , Addadi Lia
Published: March 2015

A working hypothesis for the understanding of amorphous-to-crystalline transformations in biogenic skeletal materials formed through transient amorphous precursor phases.
Cu(ii)-specific metallogel formation by an amido-anthraquinone-pyridyloxalamide ligand in DMSO–water
Authors: Cametti Massimo , Cetina Mario , Džolić Zoran
Published: March 2015

This study on the CuCl2-induced and water-mediated metallogel formation by a pyridine containing anthraquinone-based ligand in DMSO provides significant insights on the relationship between the coordination geometry and metallo-gelation aptitude for a series of variably substituted pyridyloxalamide ligands.
Graphene oxide reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol): nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Shuai Cijun , Feng Pei , Gao Chengde , Shuai Xiong , Xiao Tao , Peng Shuping
Published: March 2015

In this study, graphene oxide is incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) for the purpose of improving the mechanical properties. Nanocomposite scaffolds with an interconnected porous structure are fabricated by selective laser sintering.
Isoquinoline-based Werner clathrates with xylene isomers: aromatic interactions vs. molecular flexibility
Authors: Wicht Merrill M. , Báthori Nikoletta B. , Nassimbeni Luigi R.
Published: March 2015

The crystal structure, packing, kinetics and selectivity experiments of the xylene clathrates formed with the Werner complex, bis(isothiocyanato)tetrakis(isoquinoline)nickel(ii), are presented.
Molecular and electronic structures of donor-functionalized dysprosium pentadienyl complexes
Authors: Day Benjamin M. , Chilton Nicholas F. , Layfield Richard A.
Published: March 2015

The molecular structures of two dysprosium complexes of donor-functionalized pentadienyl ligands are described. Electronic structure calculations reveal that the W-shaped pentadienyl ligand strongly influences the orientation of the main magnetic axis of the ground Kramers doublets in both complexes.
The current graphene safety landscape – a literature mining exercise
Authors: Bussy Cyrill , Jasim Dhifaf , Lozano Neus , Terry Daniel , Kostarelos Kostas
Published: March 2015

This article illustrates our current knowledge in the safety of graphene-based materials as extracted from the studies that have used preclinical animal models.
Antifungal nanofibers made by controlled release of sea animal derived peptide
Authors: Viana Juliane F. C. , Carrijo Jéssica , Freitas Camila G. , Paul Arghya , Alcaraz Jarib , Lacorte Cristiano C. , Migliolo Ludovico , Andrade César A. , Falcão Rosana , Santos Nuno C. , Gonçalves Sónia , Otero-González Anselmo J. , Khademhosseini Ali , Dias Simoni C. , Franco Octávio L.
Published: March 2015

Candida albicansis a common human-pathogenic fungal species with the ability to cause several diseases including surface infections.
TiO2immobilized zein microspheres: a biocompatible adsorbent for effective dye decolourisation
Authors: Babitha S. , Korrapati Purna Sai
Published: March 2015

Biocompatible zein–TiO2microspheres for tannery effluent management.
A sensitive and efficient trifluoroacetyl-based aromatic fluorescent probe for organic amine vapour detection
Authors: Yao Junjun , Fu Yanyan , Xu Wei , Fan Tianchi , He Qingguo , Zhu Defeng , Cao Huimin , Cheng Jiangong
Published: March 2015

Highly reversible, sensitive and efficient trifluoroacetyl-substituted fluorescent probes were designed for discriminating multiple trace organic amine vapours.
Synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic activity of the guanidinium cation directed nickel(ii)-containing open Wells–Dawson 19-tungstodiarsenate(iii) [{Ni(H2O)4}2{Na(H2O)}As2W19O67(H2O)]9−
Authors: Saini Mukesh Kumar , Gupta Rakesh , Singh Surendra , Hussain Firasat
Published: March 2015

Guanidinium directed open Wells–Dawson type [{Ni(H2O)4}2{Na(H2O)}As2W19O67(H2O)]9− polyanion 1 has been synthesized on reacting nickel chloride and trilacunary Na9[B-α-AsW9O33] in aqueous solution (pH ∼ 5.8), in presence of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid.
Fabrication of hydroxyapatite/chitosan porous materials for Pb(ii) removal from aqueous solution
Authors: Lei Yong , Guan Jun-Jie , Chen Wei , Ke Qin-Fei , Zhang Chang-Qing , Guo Ya-Ping
Published: March 2015

Hydroxyapatite/chitosan porous materials are fabricated by a freeze-drying method for Pb(ii) removal from aqueous solution.
Single graphene nanoplatelets: capacitance, potential of zero charge and diffusion coefficient
Authors: Poon Jeffrey , Batchelor-McAuley Christopher , Tschulik Kristina , Compton Richard G.
Published: March 2015

A nano-impact chronoamperometric experiment is presented here as a powerful technique for simultaneously probing important physical properties of graphene nanomaterials.
On-surface assembly of low-dimensional Pb-coordinated metal–organic structures
Authors: Lyu Guoqing , Zhang Ran , Zhang Xin , Nian Liu Pei , Lin Nian
Published: March 2015

Porphyrin-based one-dimensional chains, ladders, and two-dimensional networks incorporating the p-block element Pb are assembled on a Au(111) surface.
Shape controllable synthesis and multicolour fluorescence of lanthanide doped Vernier yttrium oxyfluoride
Authors: Li Ruiqing , Liu Yali , Zhang Nannan , Li Linlin , Liu Lu , Liang Yimai , Gan Shucai
Published: March 2015

We reported an approach for synthesizing monodispersed V-YOF nanorods and investigated the energy transfer process from Tb3+ to Eu3+.
Practical high curvature path planning algorithm in joint space
Authors: Delgado Raimarius , Choi Byoung Wook
Published: March 2015

A practical high curvature path planning algorithm that considers the velocity limit of a mobile robot in joint space is proposed. The existence of obstacles that constrict the smooth movement of mobile robots is inevitable. To avoid incoming collision, the robot is redirected to a new path with respect to the dimensions of the obstacle and a safety factor. The redirected path consists of geometric constraints such as high curvatures on its turning points which cause difficulty in controlling the mobile robot. Thus, a central velocity generation method that considers both velocity limits through a convolution operator and high curvatures at turning points is suggested. The central velocity is able to be within the configured velocity limit, otherwise actual velocity commands in joint space could result. Therefore, interpolation to obtain uniform sampling and velocity downscaling is performed to generate a feasible joint space trajectory. The result shows short travelling time compared with previous methods while satisfying velocity limits in the joint space.
Model selection for mixture model via integrated nested Laplace approximation
Authors: Yoon Ji Won
Published: March 2015

To cluster or partition data/signal, expectation‐and‐maximisation or variational approximation with a mixture model (MM), which is a parametric probability density function represented as a weighted sum of K̂ densities, is often used. However, model selection to find the underlying K̂ is one of the key concerns in MM clustering, since the desired clusters can be obtained only when K̂ is known. A new model selection algorithm to explore K̂ in a Bayesian framework is proposed. The proposed algorithm builds the density of the model order which information criterion such as AIC and BIC or other heuristic algorithms basically fail to reconstruct. In addition, this algorithm reconstructs the density quickly as compared with the time‐consuming Monte Carlo simulation using integrated nested Laplace approximation.
Finding hidden attractors in improved memristor‐based Chua''s circuit
Authors: Chen Mo , Yu Jingjing , Bao Bo‐Cheng
Published: March 2015

An improved memristive Chua's circuit is proposed, from which some hidden attractors are found. This memristive circuit has three determined equilibrium points, including a zero saddle point and two non‐zero saddle‐foci. The two non‐zero saddle‐foci are stable for the specified circuit element parameters, leading to the generation of hidden attractors and coexisting hidden attractors. Additionally, the observed hidden attractors are not sensitive to the initial conditions, which can easily be captured in a physical circuit by adjusting the circuit element parameters to the desired values.
0.0045 mm2 15.8 µW three‐stage amplifier driving 10×‐wide (0.15–1.5 nF) capacitive loads with >50° phase margin
Authors: Yan Zushu , Mak Pui‐In , Law Man‐Kay , Martins Rui Paulo
Published: March 2015

A three‐stage amplifier employing embedded capacitor‐multiplier compensation (ECMC) and active parallel compensation (APC) to enhance the area efficiency when driving nF‐range capacitive loads (CL) is presented. Unlike the conventional current‐buffer Miller compensation, ECMC applied to the dominant compensation path saves substantial power and area, while securing a large gain–bandwidth product. The created left‐half‐plane zero also benefits the phase margin (PM). For the APC, unlike the traditional passive parallel compensation, this work benefits from the Miller effect to avoid the area‐consuming resistor, and reduces the entailed capacitances without lowering the parasitic pole position. A multi‐path Gm‐boosting second stage enhances the effective transconductance and DC gain. With 0.0045 mm2 of area and 15.8 µW of power, the 0.18 µm CMOS three‐stage amplifier measures 1.13 MHz unity‐gain frequency, 0.41 V/µs average slew rate and 56.2° PM at 1 nF CL. Stable responses with >50° PM are attained for a 10 × range of CL from 0.15 to 1.5 nF. The achieved figure‐of‐merit accounting for both die area and power compares favourably with the state of the art.
Gate dielectric constant engineering for suppression of ambipolar conduction in CNTFETs
Authors: Ossaimee M. , Gamal S. , Shaker A.
Published: March 2015

MOSFET‐like CNTFETs suffer from band‐to‐band tunnelling, which in turn causes ambipolar conduction. A new structure based on the gate dielectric constant engineering is proposed. It is observed that the dielectric constant (k) plays an important role in modifying the energy band diagram. Therefore, by selecting suitable values of k over the source, channel and drain regions the tunnelling path at the source–channel interface could be eliminated. Consequently, the ambipolar conduction is suppressed.
Non‐invasive piezoelectric detection of heartbeat rate and blood pressure
Authors: Al Taradeh N. , Bastaki N. , Saadat I. , Al Ahmad M.
Published: March 2015

A non‐invasive piezoelectric‐based sheet sensor is utilised for the deliberate measurement of heartbeat rate and blood pressure. It may consist of a single sheet to capture various temporal signals or it can be formed as an array of small piezoelectric sensors to capture the temporal and spatial cardiac signals over the chest to give an added spatial granularity on top of the localised temporal signal. The mechanical activity of the heart will cause the piezoelectric sheet to deform, and thus produce a voltage signal. To count the heartbeat rate, a mechanical model has been developed using the corresponding electric waveform; a compression ratio is defined due to the delay as a result of the physical coupling mechanism. Validation of the obtained results has been performed using conventional techniques and apparatus. The quantitative assessment shows low errors when compared with other conventional meters.
Ion acoustic and dust acoustic waves at finite size of plasma particles
Authors: Andreev Pavel A. , Kuz'menkov L. S.
Published: March 2015

We consider the influence of the finite size of ions on the properties of classic plasmas. We focus our attention at the ion acoustic waves for electron-ion plasmas. We also consider the dusty plasmas where we account the finite size of ions and particles of dust and consider the dispersion of dust acoustic waves. The finite size of particles is a classical effect as well as the Coulomb interaction. The finite size of particles considerably contributes to the properties of the dense plasmas in the small wavelength limit. Low temperature dense plasmas, revealing the quantum effects, are also affected by the finite size of plasma particles. Consequently, it is important to consider the finite size of ions in the quantum plasmas as well.
Spatial analysis of limiting resources on an island: diet and shelter use reveal sites of conservation importance for the Rottnest Island quokka
Authors: Poole Holly L. , Mukaromah Laily , Kobryn Halina T. , Fleming Patricia A.
Published: March 2015

Context For conservation of any species, we need baseline data that will guide conservation planning strategies. Identifying plant resources used by animal species for food and shelter is the first important step towards fauna conservation. The second step is to determine the extent and distribution of these resources and thus identify prime habitat or habitat that could be improved through suitable management actions. This information provides the necessary spatial targeting required to make the most of few resources and a shortage of time. Aims Applying this model approach, we identified plant species used as food or shelter resources by the conservationally significant quokka (Setonix brachyurus) across Rottnest Island, Western Australia in the aftermath of the hottest and driest summer on record. Methods Dietary analysis was carried out using microhistological examination of plant cuticle remains from faecal samples for 67 locations across the island. Plants acting as diurnal rest shelters (n = 73 sites) were identified through observation of individuals flushed during surveys. Identifying key resources requires both a comprehensive analysis of the current use, as well as knowledge of availability of resources to determine selectivity. We therefore compared food plants or rest sites with a comprehensive survey of floristic diversity and abundance for 210 stratified-randomly located sites across the island. Key results We identified eight plant species that quokkas fed on preferentially and identified four plant species that were the principal shelter sites. We then used hyperspectral remote sensing data to map the distribution of these plant species to quantify their distribution and identify key habitat areas. Conclusions Understanding resource limitation over the most physiologically challenging time of the year provides important information for quokka conservation. Quokkas prefer Malvaceae species as food plants, and use dense, abundant shrubs for shelter. Implications Quokkas appear to have shifted their use of food plants since a previous study (50 years ago), likely reflecting modification of island vegetation due to anthropogenic influences, fire and herbivory over time. In the face of changing climate, this information will serve as an important guide towards conservation management actions on the island (e.g. future planning of revegetation and habitat protection/enhancement).
The Association between Stimulant, Opioid, and Multiple Drug use on Behavioral Health Care Utilization in a Safety-Net Health System
Authors: Calcaterra Susan L. , Keniston Angela , Blum Joshua , Crume Tessa , Binswanger Ingrid A.
Published: March 2015

Background

Prior studies show an association between drug use and health care utilization. The relationship between specific drug type and emergent/urgent, inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health care utilization has not been examined. We aimed to determine if multiple drug use was associated with increased utilization of behavioral health care.

Methods

To assess health care utilization, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who accessed health care at a safety-net medical center and affiliated clinics. Using electronic health records, we categorized patients who used stimulants, opioids, or multiple drugs based on urine toxicology screening tests and/or International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9). Remaining patients were categorized as patients without identified drug use. Health care utilization by drug use group and visit type was determined using a negative binomial regression model. Associations were reported as incidence rate ratios. Utilization was described by rates of health care–related visits for inpatient, emergent/urgent, outpatient, and behavioral health care among patients who used drugs, categorized by drug types, compared with patients without identified drug use.

Results

Of 95,198 index visits, 4.6% ( n = 4340) were by patients who used drugs. Opioid and multiple drug users had significantly higher rates of behavioral health care visits than patients without identified drug use (opioid incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 7.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8–13.8; multiple drug use IRR = 5.6, 95% CI: 3.3–9.7). Patients who used stimulants were less likely to use behavioral health services (IRR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9–2.0) when compared with opioid and multiple drug users, but were more likely to use inpatient (IRR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4–1.8) and emergent/urgent care (IRR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3–1.5) services as compared with patients without identified drug use.

Conclusions

Integrated medical and mental health care and drug treatment may reduce utilization of costly health care services and improve patient outcomes. How to capture and deliver primary care and behavioral health care to patients who use stimulants needs further investigation.
Broadband measurement of coating thermal noise in rigid Fabry–Pérot cavities
Authors: Chalermsongsak Tara , Seifert Frank , Hall Evan D , Arai Koji , Gustafson Eric K , Adhikari Rana X
Published: March 2015

We report on the relative length fluctuation of two fixed-spacer Fabry–Pérot cavities with mirrors fabricated from silica/tantala dielectric coatings on fused silica substrates. By locking a laser to each cavity and reading out the beat note

of the transmitted beams, we find that, for frequencies from 10 Hz to 1 kHz, the power spectral density of beat note fluctuation is

. By careful budgeting of noise sources contributing to the beat note, we find that our measurement is consistent with the fluctuation in this band being dominated by the Brownian noise of the mirror coatings. Fitting for the coating loss angle ϕ
c, we find it equal to 4 × 10−4. We then use a Bayesian analysis to combine our measurement with previous observations, and thereby extract estimates for the individual loss angles of the silica and tantala constituents of these coatings. With minor upgrades, the testbed described in this article can be used in the future to measure the length noise of cavities formed with novel mirror coating materials and geometries.
Estimating the proportion of true null hypotheses when the statistics are discrete
Authors: Dialsingh Isaac , Austin Stefanie R. , Altman Naomi S.
Published: March 2015

Motivation: In high-dimensional testing problems π0, the proportion of null hypotheses that are true is an important parameter. For discrete test statistics, the P values come from a discrete distribution with finite support and the null distribution may depend on an ancillary statistic such as a table margin that varies among the test statistics. Methods for estimating π0 developed for continuous test statistics, which depend on a uniform or identical null distribution of P values, may not perform well when applied to discrete testing problems.

Results: This article introduces a number of π0 estimators, the regression and ‘T’ methods that perform well with discrete test statistics and also assesses how well methods developed for or adapted from continuous tests perform with discrete tests. We demonstrate the usefulness of these estimators in the analysis of high-throughput biological RNA-seq and single-nucleotide polymorphism data.

Availability and implementation: implemented in R

Contact:  nsa1@psu.edu or naomi@psu.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Protecting Research, Preserving Trust
Authors: Johnston Josephine , Scheinerman Naomi
Published: March 2015

This chapter reviews the two main concerns about financial relationships with industry: that they could conflict with research-related obligations leading to biased or flawed research and an incomplete research record, and that they could undermine trust in biomedical research, researchers, and research institutions. We show that these concerns are valid, and that they persist in the U.S., despite a gradual tightening over the past decade of rules and regulations regarding financial conflicts of interest in biomedical research. The threat that financial interests can pose to research integrity should be of special interest to psychiatry for two reasons: they are prevalent in this field, and they pose heightened risks due to the nature of psychiatry itself. Finally, we recommend that psychiatry—and individual research psychiatrists—take more seriously the threat posed by financial relationships with industry, and work together to develop additional strategies for avoiding and managing financial conflicts of interest.
Values-Based Involuntary Seclusion and Treatment
Authors: Fulford K.W.M. , Dewey Sarah , King Malcolm
Published: March 2015

This chapter gives a reflective account of a values-based model of involuntary psychiatric seclusion and treatment (henceforth “involuntary treatment”) adopted in the training materials produced by the UK government to support implementation of its Mental Health Act 2007 and associated Code of Practice. Values-based involuntary treatment supports balanced decision-making on individual cases within a framework of shared Guiding Principles. A critical factor in developing the model was partnership between stakeholders representing the plurality of value perspectives embodied in the Guiding Principles. Values pluralism however has not been widely reflected in practice. Possible reasons for this include a fault-line in values-based practice. This has been focused on individual decision-making whereas the decisive influences on involuntary treatment have turned out to be social and political. Broadening the philosophical resources of values-based practice to include those of political philosophy may contribute to the development of more effective approaches to values-based involuntary treatment.
Despair
Authors: Watson Nicholas
Published: March 2015

The terrain of the Christian psyche and the theological structure within which Christians directed their lives towards salvation were both reconfigured during the Reformation. William Langland’s Piers Plowman offers an account of despair as a phenomenon associated with the deathbed. In the late medieval period, despair was also seen as a spiritual problem affecting religious specialists engaged in contemplative living, rather than ordinary people on their deathbeds. This article explores despair as it was understood in the late medieval period and as a key concern of Protestant theology and narrative after Reformation. It considers two sets of works written in England: a series of narrative treatments of despair related to the death of the apostate Francesco Spiera in 1548 and a set of “remedy” texts that include the Augustinian Friar William Flete’s De remediis contra temptaciones from the 1350s. It also examines the doctrine of “double election” proposed by John Calvin during the 1540s based on a tradition of thinking about divine omnipotence.
‘Literature’
Authors: Teskey Gordon
Published: March 2015

The long Tudor Century (1485-1603) saw the rise of a concept of literature which endures today. Printing and Protestantism had two transformative effects on the social existence of stories: 1. the isolation of individual stories as ‘works’ shaped by artists instead of authorities; 2. the dematerialization of stories as imaginative productions, abstracting them from the medium of the ‘bok’ and according them a transcendent status. Chaucer’s dream poems, Shakespeare’s “Venus and Adonis,” and Spenser’s Faerie Queene are cited. Two works on either side of the change are read closely: Robert Henryson’s Testament of Cresseid (late 15th c) and Thomas Lodge’s Scillae’s Metamorphosis (1589).
London Books and London Readers
Authors: Boffey Julia
Published: March 2015

This article examines the city of London—its history, topography, governance, people—as a most fruitful subject of books in the late medieval period. It considers a poem that praises London’s “renown, riches and royalte” as an example of metropolitan textual production and transmission during the period. It also explores some of the contexts in which manuscript and print were brought together, or conversely kept apart, in the decades which immediately followed the introduction of printing to England by William Caxton in c.1476. In addition, it looks at London readers as a significant audience for texts of wider national significance, the interpenetration of different forms of book production in London at the start of the sixteenth century, and three manuscripts: the two separate volumes of the New cronycles plus the Guildhall manuscript of the Great Chronicle.