bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of nanostructured clean surface molybdenum carbides on graphene sheets as efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts
Authors: He Chunyong , Tao Juzhou
Published: April 2015

Small size molybdenum carbides (2.5 nm for MoC and 5.0 nm for Mo2C) with clean surface on graphene were prepared for efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts.
Origins of conductivity improvement in fluoride-enhanced silicon doping of ZnO films
Authors: Rashidi Nazanin , Vai Alex T. , Kuznetsov Vladimir L. , Dilworth Jonathan R. , Edwards Peter P.
Published: April 2015

Fluoride increases silicon doping efficiency in spray-pyrolysed ZnO without itself being a dopant, yielding a highly-conductive, entirely earth-abundant TCO material.
Antibiotic loaded nanocapsules functionalized with aptamer gates for targeted destruction of pathogens
Authors: Kavruk M. , Celikbicak O. , Ozalp V. C. , Borsa B. A. , Hernandez F. J. , Bayramoglu G. , Salih B. , Arica M. Y.
Published: April 2015

Aptamer-gated silica nanoparticles allow in principle administration of antibiotics at a lower dosage as well as the use of stronger therapeutic compounds or combination of drugs in a safer manner.
Predicting accurate absolute binding energies in aqueous solution: thermodynamic considerations for electronic structure methods
Authors: Jensen Jan H.
Published: April 2015

Binding free energies: a holy grail of computational chemistry.
Concentration effects on spontaneous and amplified emission in benzo[c]fluorenes
Authors: Kazlauskas Karolis , Kreiza Gediminas , Radiunas Edvinas , Adomėnas Povilas , Adomėnienė Ona , Karpavičius Karolis , Bucevičius Jonas , Jankauskas Vygintas , Juršėnas Saulius
Published: April 2015

Deep-blue-emitting benzo[c]fluorenes with suppressed concentration quenching of emission enabled to attain the lowest amplified emission threshold in the neat amorphous films under ambient conditions.
The fluxional amine gold(iii) complex as an excellent catalyst and precursor of biologically active acyclic carbenes
Authors: Montanel-Pérez Sara , Herrera Raquel P. , Laguna Antonio , Villacampa M. Dolores , Gimeno M. Concepción
Published: April 2015

A new amine gold(iii) complex [Au(C6F5)2(DPA)]ClO4 with the di-(2-picolyl)amine (DPA) ligand has been synthesised. It serves as an excellent catalyst and as synthon to prepare bidentate acyclic carbenes.
Deoxygenation of biobased molecules by decarboxylation and decarbonylation – a review on the role of heterogeneous, homogeneous and bio-catalysis
Authors: Dawes Gwen J S. , Scott Elinor L. , Le Nôtre Jérôme , Sanders Johan P. M. , Bitter Johannes H.
Published: April 2015

During decarboxylation and decarbonylation of biomass the activity of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts is mainly determined by temperature not by its nature; enzymes display higher activity.
Bioconversion of oxygen-pretreated Kraft lignin to microbial lipid with oleaginous Rhodococcus opacus DSM 1069
Authors: Wei Zhen , Zeng Guangming , Huang Fang , Kosa Matyas , Huang Danlian , Ragauskas Arthur J.
Published: April 2015

Kraft lignin (KL) from black liquor is an abundantly available, inexpensive aromatic resource that is regarded as a low value compound by the pulp and paper industry, necessitating the development of new applications.
Interplay between copper and zinc homeostasis through the transcriptional regulator Zur in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Latorre Mauricio , Low Marcela , Gárate Esteban , Reyes-Jara Angélica , Murray Barbara E , Cambiazo Verónica , González Mauricio
Published: April 2015

By integrating the microarray expression data and a global E. faecalis transcriptional network we identified a sub-network activated by zinc and copper. Our analyses indicated that the transcriptional response of the bacterium to copper and zinc exposure involved the activation of two modules, module I that contains genes implicated in zinc homeostasis, including the Zur transcriptional repressor, and module II containing a set of genes associated with general stress response and basal metabolism. Bacterial exposure to zinc and copper led to the repression of the zinc uptake systems of module I. Upon deletion of Zur, exposure to different zinc and copper conditions induced complementary homeostatic mechanisms (ATPase efflux proteins) to control the intracellular concentrations of zinc. The transcriptional activation of zinc homeostasis genes by zinc and copper reveals a functional interplay between these two metals, in which exposure to copper also impacts on the zinc homeostasis. Finally, we present a new zinc homeostasis model in E. faecalis, positioning this bacterium as one of the most complete systems biology model in metals described to date.
Fabrication of porous organic polymers in the form of powder, soluble in organic solvents and nanoparticles: a unique platform for gas adsorption and efficient chemosensing
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Sujoy , Pallavi Pragyan , Anil Amith G. , Patra Abhijit
Published: April 2015

Tetraphenyl-5,5-dioctylcyclopentadiene based porous organic polymers were fabricated in the form of powder, soluble in organic solvents and nanoparticles and were explored for gas adsorption and chemosensing.
Imparting functional variety to cellulose ethers via olefin cross-metathesis
Authors: Dong Yifan , Edgar Kevin J.
Published: April 2015

Olefin cross-metathesis (CM) was applied to impart functional variety to a series of cellulose ether derivatives.
Label-free C-reactive protein SERS detection with silver nanoparticle aggregates
Authors: Kim Hyunmin , Kim Eunjoo , Choi Eunsook , Baek Chul Su , Song Bokyung , Cho Chang-Hee , Jeong Sang Won
Published: April 2015

In this work, we report a qualitative approach for detecting the adsorption of C-reactive protein on phosphocholine-terminated self-assembled monolayers without the use of any labels.
Biomimetic multi-layered hollow chitosan–tripolyphosphate rod with excellent mechanical performance
Authors: Nie Jingyi , Wang Zhengke , Zhang Kai , Hu Qiaoling
Published: April 2015

Design of hollow and multi-layered features in chitosan–tripolyphosphate rod and the resulting excellent mechanical performance.
Microscopic study of the corrosion behaviour of mild steel in ionic liquids for CO2 capture applications
Authors: Molchan I. S. , Thompson G. E. , Skeldon P. , Lindsay R. , Walton J. , Kouvelos E. , Romanos G. Em. , Falaras P. , Kontos A. G. , Arfanis M. , Siranidi E. , Zubeir L. F. , Kroon M. C. , Klöckner J. , Iliev B. , Schubert T. J. S.
Published: April 2015

Exposure of mild steel to ionic liquids (IL) results in two main types of degradation that may be significantly limited by addition of molybdate without affecting the IL's CO2 capture performance.
The siliconyl, boronyl, and iminoboryl ligands as analogues of the well-known carbonyl ligand: predicted reactivity towards dipolar cyclooligomerization in iron/cobalt carbonyl complexes
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Pu Liang , Li Qianshu , King R. Bruce
Published: April 2015

The Fe(CO)4(SiO), Co(CO)4(BO), and Co(CO)4(BNSiMe3), complexes akin to the well-known Fe(CO)5 are predicted by density functional theory to undergo exothermic oligomerization to give the oligomers containing SinOn/BnOn/B2N2 rings with single bonds.
Photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by C/TiO2@MCM-41 nanoparticles under visible light and mild conditions
Authors: Zarrabi Mahshid , Entezari Mohammad H. , Goharshadi Elaheh K.
Published: April 2015

Today, due to the environmental pressures on the sulfur content of gasoline and fuel cell applications, petroleum refineries need a very deep desulfurization process to reach the ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD, 1 ppm).
Review: physico-chemical modification as a versatile strategy for the biocompatibility enhancement of biomaterials
Authors: John A. A. , Subramanian A. P. , Vellayappan M. V. , Balaji A. , Jaganathan S. K. , Mohandas H. , Paramalinggam T. , Supriyanto E. , Yusof M.
Published: April 2015

Physico-chemical modification induced improvement in biocompatibility of materials.
Template synthesis of carbon self-doped g-C3N4 with enhanced visible to near-infrared absorption and photocatalytic performance
Authors: Zhao Zaiwang , Sun Yanjuan , Dong Fan , Zhang Yuxin , Zhao Han
Published: April 2015

Carbon self-doped g-C3N4 with enhanced visible to near-infrared absorption and photocatalytic activity was synthesized by a soft-template method.
First total synthesis of cryptopyranmoscatone A2 from d-ribose
Authors: Maheswara Reddy A. , Sabitha Gowravaram , katukuri Sirisha
Published: April 2015

The first total synthesis of a naturally occurring styryl lactone, cryptopyranmoscatone A2 has been achieved from inexpensive and highly abundant d-ribose.
Effect of azo dye on ammonium oxidation process and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in soil
Authors: Batool Samavia , Khalid Azeem , Jalal Khan Chowdhury Ahmed , Sarfraz Maliha , Balkhair Khaled S. , Ashraf Muhammad Aqeel
Published: April 2015

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) play a key role in the production of nitrate-N (NO3−-N) in terrestrial ecosystems.
Impact of particle surface chemistry on the structure and rheological properties of graphene-based particle/polydimethylsiloxane composites
Authors: Niu Ran , Gong Jiang , Xu Donghua , Tang Tao , Sun Zhao-Yan
Published: April 2015

The inter-particle interaction of graphene-based particles has a key effect on the structure and rheological properties of graphene-based particle/polydimethylsiloxane composites.
All-solid-state quantum dot-sensitized solar cell from plastic crystal electrolyte
Authors: Duan Jialong , Tang Qunwei , He Benlin , Chen Haiyan
Published: April 2015

A plastic crystal based solid-state electrolyte composing of plastic crystal succinonitrile and sodium sulfide (Na2S) is creatively synthesized by a simple blending approach.
Polymeric materials that convert local fleeting signals into global macroscopic responses
Authors: Kim Hyungwoo , Baker Matthew S. , Phillips Scott T.
Published: April 2015

Polymers that support self-propagating reactions are used to create materials that change global wetting properties in response to specific fleeting, local stimuli.
Self-healable, tough and highly stretchable ionic nanocomposite physical hydrogels
Authors: Zhong Ming , Liu Xiao-Ying , Shi Fu-Kuan , Zhang Li-Qin , Wang Xi-Ping , Cheetham Andrew G. , Cui Honggang , Xie Xu-Ming
Published: April 2015

Self-healable, tough and highly stretchable ionic nanocomposite physical hydrogels were fabricated by ionic and hydrogen-bonding crosslinking through in situ polymerization.
Platinum–cobalt nanocrystals synthesized under different atmospheres for high catalytic performance in methanol electro-oxidation
Authors: Qin Yuchen , Zhang Xin , Dai Xiaoping , Sun Hui , Yang Ying , Shi Qingxiao , Gao Daowei , Wang Hai
Published: April 2015

Pt–Co nanocrystals shapes were controlled during synthesis, producing cubes, dendrites and spheres by varying the atmosphere and pressure.
Self-healable, super tough graphene oxide–poly(acrylic acid) nanocomposite hydrogels facilitated by dual cross-linking effects through dynamic ionic interactions
Authors: Zhong Ming , Liu Yi-Tao , Xie Xu-Ming
Published: April 2015

Self-healable, super tough nanocomposite hydrogels facilitated by dual cross-linking effects through dynamic ionic interactions.
Immobilization of nattokinase-loaded red blood cells on the surface of superhydrophobic polypropylene targeting fibrinolytic performance
Authors: Li Chunming , Ye Wei , Jin Jing , Xu Xiaodong , Liu Jingchuan , Yin Jinghua
Published: April 2015

A superhydrophobic polypropylene (PP) platform with fibrinolytic ability was fabricated by capturing and releasing nattokinase (NK)-encapsulating red blood cells (RBCs).
Improvements in the bending performance and bias stability of flexible InGaZnO thin film transistors and optimum barrier structures for plastic poly(ethylene naphthalate) substrates
Authors: Park Min-Ji , Yun Da-Jeong , Ryu Min-Ki , Yang Jong-Heon , Pi Jae-Eun , Kwon Oh-Sang , Kim Gi Heon , Hwang Chi-Sun , Bak Jun-Yong , Yoon Sung-Min
Published: April 2015

Bending characteristics of flexible oxide thin-film transistors could be enhanced by optimizing the barrier layers on the polyethylene naphthalate substrate.
Highly sensitive explosive sensing by “aggregation induced phosphorescence” active cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes
Authors: Alam Parvej , Kaur Gurpreet , Kachwal Vishal , Gupta Asish , Roy Choudhury Angshuman , Laskar Inamur Rahaman
Published: April 2015

Two phosphorescent complexes [Ir(o-CHOppy)(PPh3)2(H)Cl] (1) and [Ir(ppy)(PPh3)2(H)Cl] (2) exhibiting ‘aggregation induced phosphorescent emission (AIPE)’ properties have been found to be very sensitive to the detection of picric acid (PA).
Exocyclic DNA adducts in sheep with skeletal fluorosis resident in the proximity of the Portoscuso-Portovesme industrial estate on Sardinia Island, Italy
Authors: Peluso Marco E. M. , Munnia Armelle , Giese Roger W. , Catelan Dolores , Rocca Stefano , Farigu Serafina , Leoni Antonio , Bruzzone Marco , Ceppi Marcello , Biggeri Annibale
Published: April 2015

The mechanisms by which fluoride produces its toxic effects are still not clear.
Intrinsically disordered cytoplasmic domains of two cytokine receptors mediate conserved interactions with membranes
Authors: Haxholm Gitte W. , Nikolajsen Louise F. , Olsen Johan G. , Fredsted Jacob , Larsen Flemming H. , Goffin Vincent , Pedersen Stine F. , Brooks Andrew J. , Waters Michael J. , Kragelund Birthe B.
Published: April 2015

Class 1 cytokine receptors regulate essential biological processes through complex intracellular signalling networks. However, the structural platform for understanding their functions is currently incomplete as structure–function studies of the intracellular domains (ICDs) are critically lacking. The present study provides the first comprehensive structural characterization of any cytokine receptor ICD and demonstrates that the human prolactin (PRL) receptor (PRLR) and growth hormone receptor (GHR) ICDs are intrinsically disordered throughout their entire lengths. We show that they interact specifically with hallmark lipids of the inner plasma membrane leaflet through conserved motifs resembling immuno receptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs). However, contrary to the observations made for ITAMs, lipid association of the PRLR and GHR ICDs was shown to be unaccompanied by changes in transient secondary structure and independent of tyrosine phosphorylation. The results of the present study provide a new structural platform for studying class 1 cytokine receptors and may implicate the membrane as an active component regulating intracellular signalling.
Probing thecis-arrangement of prototype tight junction proteins claudin-1 and claudin-3
Authors: Milatz Susanne , Piontek Jörg , Schulzke Jörg-Dieter , Blasig Ingolf E. , Fromm Michael , Günzel Dorothee
Published: April 2015

Claudins form a large family of TJ (tight junction) proteins featuring four transmembrane segments (TM1–TM4), two extracellular loops, one intracellular loop and intracellular N- and C-termini. They form continuous and branched TJ strands by homo- or heterophilic interaction within the same membrane (cis-interaction) and with claudins of the opposing lateral cell membrane (trans-interaction). In order to clarify the molecular organization of TJ strand formation, we investigated the cis-interaction of two abundant prototypic claudins. Human claudin-1 and claudin-3, fused to ECFP or EYFP at the N- or C-terminus, were expressed in the TJ-free cell line HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293. Using FRET analysis, the proximity of claudin N- and C-termini integrated in homopolymeric strands composed of claudin-3 or of heteropolymeric strands composed of claudin-1 and claudin-3 were determined. The main results are that (i) within homo- and heteropolymers, the average distance between the cytoplasmic ends of the TM1s of cis-interacting claudin molecules is shorter than the average distance between their TM4s, and (ii) TM1 segments of neighbouring claudins are oriented towards each other as the cytoplasmic end of TM1 is in close proximity to more other TM1 segments than TM4 is to other TM4 segments. The results indicate at least two different cis-interaction interfaces within claudin-3 homopolymers as well as within claudin-1/claudin-3 heteropolymers. The data provide novel insight into the molecular TJ architecture consistent with a model with an antiparallel double-row cis-arrangement of classic claudin protomers within strands.
Cognitive Decline and Hearing Health Care for Older Adults
Authors: Pichora-Fuller M. Kathleen
Published: April 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to consider the implications of age-related cognitive decline for hearing health care.

Method

Recent research and current thinking about age-related declines in cognition and the links between auditory and cognitive aging are reviewed briefly. Implications of this research for improving prevention, assessment, and intervention in audiologic practice and for enhancing interprofessional teamwork are highlighted.

Conclusions

Given the important connection between auditory and cognitive aging and given the high prevalence of both hearing and cognitive impairments in the oldest older adults, health care services could be improved by taking into account how both the ear and the brain change over the life span. By incorporating cognitive factors into audiologic prevention, assessment, and intervention, hearing health care can contribute to better hearing and communication as well as to healthy aging.
Big other: Surveillance Capitalism and the Prospects of an Information Civilization
Authors: Zuboff Shoshana
Published: April 2015

This article describes an emergent logic of accumulation in the networked sphere, ‘surveillance capitalism,’ and considers its implications for ‘information civilization.’ The institutionalizing practices and operational assumptions of Google Inc. are the primary lens for this analysis as they are rendered in two recent articles authored by Google Chief Economist Hal Varian. Varian asserts four uses that follow from computer-mediated transactions: data extraction and analysis,’ ‘new contractual forms due to better monitoring,’ ‘personalization and customization, ’ and continuous experiments. ’ An examination of the nature and consequences of these uses sheds light on the implicit logic of surveillance capitalism and the global architecture of computer mediation upon which it depends. This architecture produces a distributed and largely uncontested new expression of power that I christen: Big Other. ’ It is constituted by unexpected and often illegible mechanisms of extraction, commodification, and control that effectively exile persons from their own behavior while producing new markets of behavioral prediction and modification. Surveillance capitalism challenges democratic norms and departs in key ways from the centuries-long evolution of market capitalism.
Generalizing the Connes Moscovici Hopf algebra to contain all rooted trees
Authors: Agarwala Susama , Delaney Colleen
Published: April 2015

This paper defines a generalization of the Connes-Moscovici Hopf algebra, H(1), that contains the entire Hopf algebra of rooted trees. A relationship between the former, a much studied object in non-commutative geometry, and the latter, a much studied object in perturbative quantum field theory, has been established by Connes and Kreimer. The results of this paper open the door to study the cohomology of the Hopf algebra of rooted trees.
Modular high-voltage bias generator powered by dual-looped self-adaptive wireless power transmission
Authors: Xie Kai , Huang An-Feng , Li Xiao-Ping , Guo Shi-Zhong , Zhang Han-Lu
Published: April 2015

We proposed a modular high-voltage (HV) bias generator powered by a novel transmitter-sharing inductive coupled wireless power transmission technology, aimed to extend the generator’s flexibility and configurability. To solve the problems caused through an uncertain number of modules, a dual-looped self-adaptive control method is proposed that is capable of tracking resonance frequency while maintaining a relatively stable induction voltage for each HV module. The method combines a phase-locked loop and a current feedback loop, which ensures an accurate resonance state and a relatively constant boost ratio for each module, simplifying the architecture of the boost stage and improving the total efficiency. The prototype was built and tested. The input voltage drop of each module is less than 14% if the module number varies from 3 to 10; resonance tracking is completed within 60 ms. The efficiency of the coupling structure reaches up to 95%, whereas the total efficiency approaches 73% for a rated output. Furthermore, this technology can be used in various multi-load wireless power supply applications.
Thermal reactive ion etching technique involving use of self-heated cathode
Authors: Yamada S. , Minami Y. , Sohgawa M. , Abe T.
Published: April 2015

In this work, the thermal reactive ion etching (TRIE) technique for etching hard-to-etch materials is presented. The TRIE technique employs a self-heated cathode and a thermally insulated aluminum plate is placed on the cathode of a regular reactive ion etching (RIE) system. By optimizing the beam size to support the sample stage, the temperature of the stage can be increased to a desired temperature without a cathode heater. The technique was used to etch a bulk titanium plate. An etch rate of 0.6 μm/min and an etch selectivity to nickel of 100 were achieved with SF6 plasma. The proposed technique makes a regular RIE system a more powerful etcher without the use of chlorine gas, a cathode heater, and an inductively coupled plasma source.
Grain size dependent phase stabilities and presence of a monoclinic (Pm) phase in the morphotropic phase boundary region of (1−x)Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 piezoceramics
Authors: Upadhyay Ashutosh , Singh Akhilesh Kumar
Published: April 2015

Results of the room temperature structural studies on (1−x)Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3-xPbTiO3 ceramics using Rietveld analysis of the powder x-ray diffraction data in the composition range 0.28 ≤ x ≤ 0.45 are presented. The morphotropic phase boundary region exhibits coexistence of monoclinic (space group Pm) and tetragonal (space group P4 mm) phases in the composition range 0.33 ≤ x ≤ 0.40. The structure is nearly single phase monoclinic (space group Pm) in the composition range 0.28 ≤ x ≤ 0.32. The structure for the compositions with x ≥ 0.45 is found to be predominantly tetragonal with space group P4 mm. Rietveld refinement of the structure rules out the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases in the morphotropic phase boundary region reported by earlier authors. The Rietveld structure analysis for the sample x = .35 calcined at various temperatures reveals that phase fraction of the coexisting phases in the morphotropic phase boundary region varies with grain size. The structural parameters of the two coexisting phases also change slightly with changing grain size.
Collisionless “thermalization” in the sheath of an argon discharge
Authors: Coulette David , Manfredi Giovanni
Published: April 2015

We performed kinetic Vlasov simulations of the plasma-wall transition for a low-pressure argon discharge without external magnetic fields, using the same plasma parameters as in the experiments of Claire et al. [Phys. Plasmas 13, 062103 (2006)]. Experimentally, it was found that the ion velocity distribution function is highly asymmetric in the presheath, but, surprisingly, becomes again close to Maxwellian inside the sheath. Here, we show that this “thermalization” can be explained by purely collisionless effects that are akin to the velocity bunching phenomenon observed in charged particles beams. Such collisionless thermalization is also observed in the presheath region close to the sheath entrance, although it is much weaker there and in practice probably swamped by collisional processes (standard or enhanced by instabilities).
Atomic-scale electrochemistry on the surface of a manganite by scanning tunneling microscopy
Authors: Vasudevan Rama K. , Tselev Alexander , Gianfrancesco Anthony G. , Baddorf Arthur P. , Kalinin Sergei V.
Published: April 2015

The doped manganese oxides (manganites) have been widely studied for their colossal magnetoresistive effects, for potential applications in oxide spintronics, electroforming in resistive switching devices, and are materials of choice as cathodes in modern solid oxide fuel cells. However, little experimental knowledge of the dynamics of the surfaces of perovskite manganites at the atomic scale exists. Here, through in-situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we demonstrate atomic resolution on samples of La0.625Ca0.375MnO3 grown on (001) SrTiO3 by pulsed laser deposition. Furthermore, by applying triangular DC waveforms of increasing amplitude to the STM tip, and measuring the tunneling current, we demonstrate the ability to both perform and monitor surface electrochemical processes at the atomic level, including formation of oxygen vacancies and removal and deposition of individual atomic units or clusters. Our work paves the way for better understanding of surface oxygen reactions in these systems.
Effect of magnetic field annealing methods on soft magnetic properties for nanocrystalline (Fe0.5Co0.5)73.5Si13.5B9Nb3Cu1 alloy
Authors: Liu Ming , Wang Zhi , Xu Yan-chao , Yue Ming
Published: April 2015

The effect of magnetic field annealing methods on soft magnetic properties for nanocrystalline (Fe0.5Co0.5)73.5Si13.5B9Nb3Cu1 alloy was investigated. In contrast to nonmagnetic field annealing, the magnetic field annealing can obviously reduce saturation magnetostriction λs and increase effective magnetic anisotropy 〈K〉. Furthermore, the initial permeability μi of experimental samples can be enhanced significantly after magnetic field annealing. Different magnetic field annealing methods produced varying degrees of impact on the μi of samples, which is ascribed to the difference of obtained λs and 〈K〉. In three magnetic field annealing methods, the magnetic field nanocrystallization can manifest more effective magnetic field effect compared with other two magnetic field annealing methods and achieve more superior magnetic softness, the reason of which was also analyzed.
Transformed Fourier and Fick equations for the control of heat and mass diffusion
Authors: Guenneau S. , Petiteau D. , Zerrad M. , Amra C. , Puvirajesinghe T.
Published: April 2015

We review recent advances in the control of diffusion processes in thermodynamics and life sciences through geometric transforms in the Fourier and Fick equations, which govern heat and mass diffusion, respectively. We propose to further encompass transport properties in the transformed equations, whereby the temperature is governed by a three-dimensional, time-dependent, anisotropic heterogeneous convection-diffusion equation, which is a parabolic partial differential equation combining the diffusion equation and the advection equation. We perform two dimensional finite element computations for cloaks, concentrators and rotators of a complex shape in the transient regime. We precise that in contrast to invisibility cloaks for waves, the temperature (or mass concentration) inside a diffusion cloak crucially depends upon time, its distance from the source, and the diffusivity of the invisibility region. However, heat (or mass) diffusion outside cloaks, concentrators and rotators is unaffected by their presence, whatever their shape or position. Finally, we propose simplified designs of layered cylindrical and spherical diffusion cloaks that might foster experimental efforts in thermal and biochemical metamaterials.
Quadrupole second harmonic generation and sum-frequency generation in ZnO quantum dots
Authors: Maikhuri Deepti , Purohit S. P. , Mathur K. C.
Published: April 2015

The second harmonic generation (SHG) and the sum frequency generation (SFG) processes are investigated in the conduction band states of the singly charged ZnO quantum dot (QD) embedded in the HfO2, and the AlN matrices. With two optical fields of frequency ωp and ωq incident on the dot, we study the variation with frequency of the second order nonlinear polarization resulting in SHG and SFG, through the electric dipole and the electric quadrupole interactions of the pump fields with the electron in the dot. We obtain enhanced value of the second order nonlinear susceptibility in the dot compared to the bulk. The effective mass approximation with the finite confining barrier is used for obtaining the energy and wavefunctions of the quantized confined states of the electron in the conduction band of the dot. Our results show that both the SHG and SFG processes depend on the dot size, the surrounding matrix and the polarization states of the pump beams.
Extended vegetation histories from ultramafic karst depressions
Authors: Hope Geoffrey
Published: April 2015

Solutional landforms (karst) can form on old surfaces on ultramafic rocks in the tropics because of the solubility of some magnesium-rich minerals under warmth and high CO2. The radiocarbon dating of organic pond deposits in several tropical ultramafic karst hollows demonstrates that very slow sediment accumulation has occurred, relative to other tropical shallow lakes. Some sites have gaps in their records, whereas others appear continuous. Sections of organic lake muds from the Indonesian sites Wanda and Hordorli provide sequences of ages from modern back to >35 000 years ago at depths of 3–4 m. In New Caledonia, no Holocene record has been obtained, and dates of 17 000–30 000 years ago are found near the top of deep organic layers that, in some cases, are buried by inorganic muds derived from an erosion event. These ages, pollen analyses and the increasingly compressed organic sediments with depth mean that deeper levels should be well beyond radiocarbon dating limits. Only at one New Caledonian lake were deeper sediments beyond detectable 14C measurement. Other sites returned finite dates at all levels tested, suggesting that some mechanism is moving small amounts of younger organics down profile. The slow sediment-accumulation rates provide an explanation why high concentrations of pollen relative to tropical peats and limnic sediments derived from high nutrition substrates are preserved in the sediments. This makes them attractive targets for studying the palaeoecology and forest stability of the surrounding vegetation. The sites are sensitive to disturbance because the poor nutrition impedes successional recovery after disturbances such as fire and landslips.
TlI and TlIII presence in suspended particulate matter: speciation analysis of thallium in wastewater
Authors: Ospina-Alvarez Natalia , Burakiewicz Pawel , Sadowska Monika , Krasnodebska-Ostrega Beata
Published: April 2015

Environmental context Thallium occurs in the environment in two oxidation states, with TlIII being 1000-fold more toxic than TlI. We present a fractionation and speciation study of thallium in suspended particulate matter from highly polluted wastewater samples, and elucidate the dominant forms of thallium. Abstract Thallium (Tl) is a toxic element, whose toxicity is affected by its redox state. Compared with TlIII, TlI is thermodynamically more stable and less reactive; therefore in aquatic environments, dissolved thallium is mostly present as TlI. However, TlIII could be 1000 times more toxic than TlI. A combination of a fractionation and a speciation study carried out in highly polluted wastewater samples from a mining area in southern Poland in order to characterise chemical speciation of Tl in physically defined fractions is presented here. Total, particulate and dissolved thallium was determined. A leaching experiment based on forming TlIII complexed with diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid – a TlIII–DTPA complex – was performed in filters containing suspended particulate matter after single (0.45µm) and sequential filtration (15 + 0.45µm) of wastewater samples. This is the first speciation study of Tl carried out in suspended particulate matter. The results obtained indicate that the dominant form of Tl in suspended particulate matter is TlI, but TlIII could be found in suspended particulate matter fractions larger than 0.45µm.
Crosstalk among nitric oxide, calcium and reactive oxygen species during triterpenoid biosynthesis in Betula platyphylla
Authors: Zeng Fansuo , Liu Kun , Li Sida , Zhan Yaguang
Published: April 2015

We analysed NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ crosstalk during triterpenoid biosynthesis in white birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) cells. Cells were pretreated with diphenyleneiodonium, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) or catalase (CAT), or a Ca2+ channel blocker or chelator before sodium nitroprusside treatment. Changes in triterpenoid, malondialdehyde and proline levels, cell viability, and CAT, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase activity were recorded. Furthermore, enzyme gene expression levels related to triterpene biosynthesis, endogenous signalling and antioxidase activity, and cell apoptosis and death rates were measured. Sodium nitroprusside elevated ROS and Ca2+ levels. Oleanolic acid levels in cells pretreated with diphenyleneiodonium and CAT reduced significantly, but it increased with DDTC pretreatment. ROS inhibition downregulated BpDXR, BpCALM and BpNIA expression. Oleanolic acid, BpMnSOD expression, and CAT, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase activities reduced when the Ca2+ signalling pathway was blocked. The apoptosis rates of cells pretreated with DDTC and CAT decreased significantly; cell death rates also reduced in groups Ca2+ pretreated with channel blocker and chelator . Thus ROS and Ca2+ participate in triterpenoid biosynthesis, cell apoptosis and death induced by exogenous NO application. Further, NO causes oxidative stress and restricts the level of intracellular ROS through the Ca2+ signalling pathway.
Unhealthy product sponsorship of Australian national and state sports organisations
Authors: Macniven Rona , Kelly Bridget , King Lesley
Published: April 2015

Issue addressed

Marketing of products harmful to the health of children has been found to be prolific, and occurs across multiple media platforms and in several settings, including organised sport, thus potentially undermining the health benefits inherent in sports participation. Through website audits, this study investigated the nature and extent of unhealthy food, beverage, alcohol and gambling sponsorship across peak Australian sporting organisations.

Methods

A structured survey tool identified and assessed sponsoring companies and products displayed on the websites of the 53 national and state/territory sport governing bodies in Australia receiving government funding. Identified products were categorised as healthy or unhealthy, based on criteria developed by health experts.

Results

There was a total of 413 websites operated by the 53 sports, with 1975 company or product sponsors identified. Overall, 39 sports had at least one unhealthy sponsor, and 10% of all sponsors were rated as unhealthy. Cricket had the highest percent of unhealthy sponsors (27%) and the highest number of unhealthy food and beverage sponsors (n = 19). Rugby Union (n = 16) and Australian Football (n = 4) had the highest numbers of alcohol and gambling sponsors respectively.

Conclusions

Sponsorship of Australian sport governing bodies by companies promoting unhealthy food and beverage, alcohol and gambling products is prevalent at the state/territory and national level.
Key beliefs of hospital nurses’ hand‐hygiene behaviour: protecting your peers and needing effective reminders
Authors: White Katherine M. , Jimmieson Nerina L. , Graves Nicholas , Barnett Adrian , Cockshaw Wendell , Gee Phillip , Page Katie , Campbell Megan , Martin Elizabeth , Brain David , Paterson David
Published: April 2015

Issues addressed

Hand hygiene in hospitals is vital to limit the spread of infections. This study aimed to identify key beliefs underlying hospital nurses' hand‐hygiene decisions to consolidate strategies that encourage compliance.

Methods

Informed by a theory of planned behaviour belief framework, nurses from 50 Australian hospitals (n = 797) responded to how likely behavioural beliefs (advantages and disadvantages), normative beliefs (important referents) and control beliefs (barriers) impacted on their hand‐hygiene decisions following the introduction of a national ‘5 moments for hand hygiene’ initiative. Two weeks after completing the survey, they reported their hand‐hygiene adherence. Stepwise regression analyses identified key beliefs that determined nurses' hand‐hygiene behaviour.

Results

Reducing the chance of infection for co‐workers influenced nurses' hygiene behaviour, with lack of time and forgetfulness identified as barriers.

Conclusions

Future efforts to improve hand hygiene should highlight the potential impact on colleagues and consider strategies to combat time constraints, as well as implementing workplace reminders to prompt greater hand‐hygiene compliance.
Glassfish switch feeding from thalassinid larvae to crab zoeae after tidal inundation of saltmarsh
Authors: McPhee Jack J. , Freewater Peter , Gladstone William , Platell Margaret E. , Schreider Maria J.
Published: April 2015

Saltmarsh-dwelling grapsid crabs release free-swimming larvae (i.e. zoeae) into ebbing tides during spring-tide cycles that inundate saltmarshes, where initial inundation is a cue for larval release on subsequent inundations. In a saltmarsh environment, crab zoeae are the main food for fish (including the glassfish, Ambassis jacksoniensis), which ‘fast’ at other times. This saltmarsh-feeding model was tested by obtaining glassfish from near saltmarshes in a reasonably unmodified tributary of a large temperate estuary on flood and ebb tides during the night in two spring-tide events in austral autumn of 2009. Glassfish fed only on ebbing tides, with stomachs being similarly full on both spring-tide events. Thalassinid larvae (including Trypaea australiensis) dominated the dietary volumes, especially on the night before saltmarsh inundation, presumably being released during inundation of intertidal mud and sand habitats. Although glassfish progressively ‘switched’ to feeding on greater volumes of crab zoeae (presumably released after inundation of a saltmarsh) over both spring-tide cycles, such zoeal contributions never exceeded those of thalassinid larvae. The above differences highlight that, although ebb tides trigger feeding by glassfish, this ambassid focuses on different prey in a reasonably unmodified environment. The ability of glassfish to switch prey, and thus accommodate environmental differences, helps explain their high abundance in estuaries of this region.
Molecular determinants of the interactions between proteins and ssDNA
Authors: Mishra Garima , Levy Yaakov
Published: April 2015

Significance

The association between proteins and DNA, which is essential for many biological functions, very often produces high-affinity complexes, in which the protein retains the ability to move along the DNA. These features are common to the binding of proteins either to dsDNA or ssDNA. Although protein–dsDNA interactions have been well-explored, research in the field of protein–ssDNA complexes is still in its infancy, particularly on the theoretical and computational fronts. The major factors that complicate the prediction of protein–ssDNA compared with protein–dsDNA complexes are the much greater flexibility of ssDNA compared with dsDNA and the larger heterogeneity of their interfaces. Here, we begin to fill this gap by developing a minimalist computational model to predict the protein–ssDNA binding mode.
Weak multiplier bialgebras
Authors: Böhm Gabriella , Gómez-Torrecillas José , López-Centella Esperanza
Published: April 2015

A non-unital generalization of weak bialgebra is proposed with a multiplier-valued comultiplication. Certain canonical subalgebras of the multiplier algebra (named the ‘base algebras’) are shown to carry coseparable co-Frobenius coalgebra structures. Appropriate modules over a nice enough weak multiplier bialgebra are shown to constitute a monoidal category via the (co)module tensor product over the base (co)algebra. The relation to Van Daele and Wang’s (regular and arbitrary) weak multiplier Hopf algebra is discussed.
Dermis-Fat Graft in Children as Primary and Secondary Orbital Implant
Authors: Quaranta-Leoni Francesco M. , Sposato Sabrina , Raglione Pietro , Mastromarino Angelo
Published: April 2015

Purpose:

To report the experience with the use of dermis-fat graft in the pediatric population and to evaluate the outcome of this procedure as a primary or secondary orbital implant.

Methods:

Case series. Analysis of the clinical charts of 22 patients. Age at the time of surgery ranged from 2.1 to 13 years. Three patients affected were submitted to evisceration with primary dermis-fat graft. Six patients had explantation of exposed implants and a replacement with a dermis-fat graft. Three patients had a dermis-fat graft to repair contracted sockets. Ten patients were affected by congenital anophthalmia: 4 patients had a primary dermis-fat graft, 6 patients had a removal of a socket expander, or an orbital spherical expander, or pellet expanders and a replacement with a dermis-fat graft. This study adheres to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results:

The patients’ follow up ranged between 2.5 and 8 years. Only 1 child who had a primary dermis-fat graft experienced excessive growth of the implant, managed by surgical debulking. In the end, all the patients showed satisfactory orbital volume along with adequate fornices.

Conclusions:

The dermis-fat graft as a primary implant may be useful in children with severe scleromalacia or following ocular trauma. It is a suitable option in children affected by congenital anophthalmia as it helps continued socket expansion. It can also be considered in the pediatric population to address the volume deficit following explantation of exposed implants and in contracted sockets.
An Electronic Health Record–based Algorithm to Ascertain the Date of Second Breast Cancer Events
Authors: Chubak Jessica , Onega Tracy , Zhu Weiwei , Buist Diana S. M. , Hubbard Rebecca A.
Published: April 2015

Objectives:

Studies of cancer recurrences and second primary tumors require information on outcome dates. Little is known about how well electronic health record–based algorithms can identify dates or how errors in dates can bias analyses.

Research Design:

We assessed rule-based and model-fitting approaches to assign event dates using a previously published electronic health record-based algorithm for second breast cancer events (SBCE). We conducted a simulation study to assess bias due to date assignment errors in time-to-event analyses.

Subjects:

From a cohort of 3152 early-stage breast cancer patients, 358 women accurately identified as having had an SBCE served as the basis for this analysis.

Measures:

Percent of predicted SBCE dates identified within ±60 days of the true date was the primary measure of accuracy. In the simulation study, bias in hazard ratios (HRs) was estimated by averaging the difference between HRs based on algorithm-assigned dates and the true HR across 1000 simulations each with simulated N=4000.

Results:

The most accurate date algorithm had a median difference between the true and predicted dates of 0 days with 82% of predicted dates falling within 60 days of the true date. Bias resulted when algorithm sensitivity and specificity varied by exposure status, but was minimal when date assignment errors were of the magnitude observed for our date assignment method.

Conclusions:

SBCE date can be relatively accurately assigned based on a previous algorithm. While acceptable in many scenarios, algorithm-assigned dates are not appropriate to use when operating characteristics are likely to vary by the study exposure.
The peroxisomal protein import machinery displays a preference for monomeric substrates
Authors: Freitas Marta O. , Francisco Tânia , Rodrigues Tony A. , Lismont Celien , Domingues Pedro , Pinto Manuel P. , Grou Cláudia P. , Fransen Marc , Azevedo Jorge E.
Published: April 2015

Peroxisomal matrix proteins are synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes and transported by the shuttling receptor PEX5 to the peroxisomal membrane docking/translocation machinery, where they are translocated into the organelle matrix. Under certain experimental conditions this protein import machinery has the remarkable capacity to accept already oligomerized proteins, a property that has heavily influenced current models on the mechanism of peroxisomal protein import. However, whether or not oligomeric proteins are really the best and most frequent clients of this machinery remain unclear. In this work, we present three lines of evidence suggesting that the peroxisomal import machinery displays a preference for monomeric proteins. First, in agreement with previous findings on catalase, we show that PEX5 binds newly synthesized (monomeric) acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and urate oxidase (UOX), potently inhibiting their oligomerization. Second,in vitroimport experiments suggest that monomeric ACOX1 and UOX are better peroxisomal import substrates than the corresponding oligomeric forms. Finally, we provide data strongly suggesting that although ACOX1 lacking a peroxisomal targeting signal can be imported into peroxisomes when co-expressed with ACOX1 containing its targeting signal, this import pathway is inefficient.
Third-order thermo-mechanical properties for packs of Platonic solids using statistical micromechanics
Authors: Gillman A. , Amadio G. , Matouš K. , Jackson T. L.
Published: April 2015

Obtaining an accurate higher order statistical description of heterogeneous materials and using this information to predict effective material behaviour with high fidelity has remained an outstanding problem for many years. In a recent letter, Gillman & Matouš (2014
Phys. Lett. A
378, 3070–3073. ()) accurately evaluated the three-point microstructural parameter that arises in third-order theories and predicted with high accuracy the effective thermal conductivity of highly packed material systems. Expanding this work here, we predict for the first time effective thermo-mechanical properties of granular Platonic solid packs using third-order statistical micromechanics. Systems of impenetrable and penetrable spheres are considered to verify adaptive methods for computing
n
-point probability functions directly from three-dimensional microstructures, and excellent agreement is shown with simulation. Moreover, a significant shape effect is discovered for the effective thermal conductivity of highly packed composites, whereas a moderate shape effect is exhibited for the elastic constants.
Hannaella phyllophila sp. nov., a basidiomycetous yeast species associated with plants in Thailand and Taiwan
Authors: Surussawadee Janjira , Jindamorakot Sasitorn , Nakase Takashi , Lee Ching-Fu , Limtong Savitree
Published: April 2015

Five strains representing one novel anamorphic yeast species were isolated from plant leaves collected in Thailand (strains DMKU-SP186T, ST-111 and ST-201) and Taiwan (strains FN20L02 and SM13L16). On the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, they were assigned to a single novel species of the genus Hannaella. The sequences of the D1/D2 regions of the LSU rRNA genes of four of the strains (DMKU-SP186T, ST-111, FN20L02 and SM13L16) were identical, while differing from strain ST-201 by 2 substitutions and 2 gaps. The nucleotide sequence of the ITS regions of the five strains differed from each other by between 0 and 3 nucleotide substitutions. The novel species was most closely related to Hannaella luteola, but showed 1.0–1.3 % nucleotide substitutions (between 6 substitutions out of 568–606 nt and 8 substitutions, and 2 gaps out of 597 nt) in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene and 1.4–2.0 % nucleotide substitutions (6–9 substitutions out of 435 nt) in the ITS region. Ballistospores were produced by three of the strains on cornmeal agar at 15 and 20 °C after 4 weeks, while H. luteola did not produce ballistospores. The name Hannaella phyllophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DMKU-SP186T ( = BCC 69500T = NBRC 110428T = CBS 13921T).