bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inside the System, Outside the Box: Palau’s Pursuit of Climate Justice and Security at the United Nations
Authors: Beck Stuart , Burleson Elizabeth
Published: February 2014

This commentary, which presents an expanded version of the keynote address at the 2012 Conference on ‘Global Climate Change Without the United States’, outlines Palau’s role in attempting to motivate international action on climate change. It explains two initiatives: the passage of a United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution highlighting the security implications of climate change, and the attempt to obtain an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the responsibility of states for climate change. The two avenues are located ‘inside the system’ in that they target well-established organs of the UN system. However, they are ‘outside the box’ because they seek to bypass and ultimately jump-start the international negotiation process that has unfolded under the auspices of the UNFCCC.
Vorinostat in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Siegel D S , Richardson P , Dimopoulos M , Moreau P , Mitsiades C , Weber D , Houp J , Gause C , Vuocolo S , Eid J , Graef T , Anderson K C
Published: February 2014

The addition of vorinostat to lenalidomide/dexamethasone represents a novel combination therapy in multiple myeloma (MM), informed by laboratory studies suggesting synergy. This was a phase I, multicenter, open-label, non-randomized, dose-escalating study in patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory MM. Clinical evaluation, electrocardiogram, laboratory studies and adverse events were obtained and assessed. The maximum-tolerated dose was not reached owing to a non-occurrence of two dose-limiting toxicities per six patients tested at any of the dosing levels. Patients tolerated the highest dose tested (Level 5) and this was considered the maximum administered dose: at 400 mg vorinostat on days 1–7 and 15–21, 25 mg lenalidomide on days 1–21 and 40 mg dexamethasone on days 1, 8, 15 and 22, per 28-day cycle. Drug-related adverse events were reported in 90% of patients serious adverse experiences were reported in 45% of the patients and 22% of all patients had adverse experiences considered, possibly related to study drug by the investigators. A confirmed partial response or better was reported for 14/30 patients (47%) evaluable for efficacy, including 31% of patients previously treated with lenalidomide. Vorinostat in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone proved tolerable with appropriate supportive care, with encouraging activity observed.
Design of surface sites for the selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene on Pd nanoparticles: Cu bimetallic formation and sulfur poisoning
Authors: Cooper A. , Bachiller-Baeza B. , Anderson J. A. , Rodríguez-Ramos I. , Guerrero-Ruiz A.
Published: February 2014

Control of selectivity in the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene is achieved by tuning the graphite-supported Pd catalyst’s properties.
Phase evolution and microwave dielectric properties of xBi2/3MoO4–(1 − x)BiVO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) low temperature firing ceramics
Authors: Zhou Di , Li Wen-Bo , Pang Li-Xia , Guo Jing , Qi Ze-Ming , Shao Tao , Yao Xi , Randall Clive A.
Published: February 2014

High permittivity and Qf value could be obtained near phase boundaries of monoclinic and tetragonal scheelite phases in xBi2/3MoO4–(1 − x)BiVO4 ceramics.
Synthesis, anticancer evaluation and docking study of vadimezan derivatives with carboxyl substitution
Authors: Zhang Shi-Jie , Ding Zhi-Shan , Jiang Fu-Sheng , Ge Qiu-Fu , Guo Dian-Wu , Li Hai-Bo , Hu Wei-Xiao
Published: February 2014

A series of xanthone analogues modified from vadimezan were synthesized and their anticancer activities were evaluated.
7,7,8,8-Tetracyanoquinodimethane-assisted one-step electrochemical exfoliation of graphite and its performance as an electrode material
Authors: Khanra Partha , Lee Chang-No , Kuila Tapas , Kim Nam Hoon , Park Min Jun , Lee Joong Hee
Published: February 2014

Water-dispersible functionalized graphene via one-step electrochemical exfoliation of graphite was prepared using 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) anions as surface modifiers and electrolytes. The specific capacitance value of TCNQ-modified graphene measured with electrolytes (1 M KOH) was 324 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1.
Rational nanostructuring of surfaces for extraordinary icephobicity
Authors: Eberle Patric , Tiwari Manish K. , Maitra Tanmoy , Poulikakos Dimos
Published: February 2014

A rational methodology for designing surfaces with extraordinary resistance to ice formation is employed. The so obtained surfaces show robust ice nucleation temperatures and freezing delays of ∼25 hours at −21 °C.
A novel chitosan–collagen-based hydrogel for use as a dermal filler: initial in vitro and in vivo investigations
Authors: Ma Xiaoxuan , Deng Jianjun , Du Yuzhang , Li Xian , Fan Daidi , Zhu Chenhui , Hui Junfeng , Ma Pei , Xue Wenjiao
Published: February 2014

The biodegradability, histocompatibility and biocompatibility of injectable HCD hydrogels were determined throughin vitroandin vivotests.
Antibody fragment immobilization on planar gold and gold nanoparticle modified quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation sensor surfaces for immunosensor applications
Authors: Makaraviciute A. , Ruzgas T. , Ramanavicius A. , Ramanaviciene A.
Published: February 2014

Comparison of antibody fragment immobilization, and interactions with antigens on planar gold and gold nanoparticle modified quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation sensor surfaces.
Unusual effects of solvent polarity on capacitance for organic electrolytes in a nanoporous electrode
Authors: Jiang De-en , Wu Jianzhong
Published: February 2014

Classical density functional theory calculations suggest that there is an optimal dipole moment for the solvent in an organic electrolyte supercapacitor.
Redox-responsive core cross-linked micelles based on cypate and cisplatin prodrugs-conjugated block copolymers for synergistic photothermal–chemotherapy of cancer
Authors: Han Yu , Li Junjie , Zan Minghui , Luo Shizhong , Ge Zhishen , Liu Shiyong
Published: February 2014

A synergistic effect of photothermal and chemotherapy of cancers was demonstrated using redox-responsive core cross-linked micelles fabricated from cypate and cisplatin prodrugs-conjugated block copolymers.
Electrochemically fabricated flower-like graphene as a highly efficient Pt electrocatalyst support for methanol oxidation
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Jiang Fengxing , Yue Ruirui , Du Yukou
Published: February 2014

Flower-like graphene (f-RGO) with a porous structure was firstly fabricated by an electrochemical method, showing high catalytic activity toward methanol oxidation.
Inertia- and deformation-driven migration of a soft particle in confined shear and Poiseuille flow
Authors: Chen Yeng-Long
Published: February 2014

Non-linear soft particle lift caused by inertia- and deformation-driven lateral migration, leading to a migration-free zone in shear flow.
Enriched graphitic N-doped carbon-supported Fe3O4 nanoparticles as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Su Yunhe , Jiang Hongliang , Zhu Yihua , Yang Xiaoling , Shen Jianhua , Zou Wenjian , Chen Jianding , Li Chunzhong
Published: February 2014

Via a solvothermal carbonization process, an enriched graphitic N-doped carbon-supported Fe3O4 nanoparticles composite was prepared which exhibits similar high catalytic activity but superior stability to Pt/C for the oxygen reduction reaction.
Stable ZnO@TiO2 core/shell nanorod arrays with exposed high energy facets for self-cleaning coatings with anti-reflective properties
Authors: Wang Ruosong , Tan Huaqiao , Zhao Zhao , Zhang Guoqiang , Song Laiwen , Dong Wenfei , Sun Zaicheng
Published: February 2014

ZnO@TiO2 nanorod arrays thin film coatings on an FTO substrate were made via a hydrothermal route. The coating exhibits good transparency and hydrophilic properties, exhibiting very good photocatalytic activity and durability.
Engineering superlyophobic surfaces on curable materials based on facile and inexpensive microfabrication
Authors: Yuan Lifang , Wu Tianzhun , Zhang Weiji , Ling Shiquan , Xiang Rong , Gui Xuchun , Zhu Yuan , Tang Zikang
Published: February 2014

A facile and versatile microfabrication approach is proposed for high-performance, low-cost superlyophobic surfaces on curable materials. Polymer replicas are demonstrated with excellent structure fidelity, nonwettability, reproducibility and transparency.
Enhanced conductivity and photoresponse at a rubrene single-crystal–PCBM film interface
Authors: Pinto Rui M. , Maçôas Ermelinda M. S. , Alves Helena
Published: February 2014

A large photoresponse is observed at the interface between a highly ordered rubrene single-crystal and an amorphous fullerene film, with responsivity values 300 times higher than the corresponding bulk-heterojunctions and an isolated single-crystal.
Altered native stability is the dominant basis for susceptibility of α1-antitrypsin mutants to polymerization
Authors: Irving James A. , Haq Imran , Dickens Jennifer A. , Faull Sarah V. , Lomas David A.
Published: February 2014

Serpins are protease inhibitors whose most stable state is achieved upon transition of a central 5-stranded β-sheet to a 6-stranded form. Mutations, low pH, denaturants and elevated temperatures promote this transition, which can result in a growing polymer chain of inactive molecules. Different types of polymer are possible, but, experimentally only heat has been shown to generate polymers in vitro consistent with ex vivo pathological specimens. Many mutations that alter the rate of heat-induced polymerization have been described, but interpretation is problematic because discrimination is lacking between the effect of global changes in native stability and specific effects on structural mechanism. We show that the temperature midpoint (Tm) of thermal denaturation reflects the transition of α1-antitrypsin to the polymerization intermediate, and determine the relationship with fixed-temperature polymerization half-times (t0.5) in the presence of stabilizing additives [TMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide), sucrose and sodium sulfate], point mutations and disulfide bonds. Combined with a retrospective analysis of 31 mutants characterized in the literature, the results of the present study show that global changes to native state stability are the predominant basis for the effects of mutations and osmolytes on heat-induced polymerization, summarized by the equation: ln(t0.5,mutant/t0.5,wild-type)=0.34×ΔTm. It is deviations from this relationship that hold key information about the polymerization process.
Efficiency and fairness aware resource allocations for energy and spectrum in downlink OFDMA systems
Authors: Wang Shengsen , Feng Chunyan , Guo Caili , Wang Guoxiang
Published: February 2014

Energy has newly become a scarcer resource for the wireless networks, like spectrum. To utilise the limited resources efficiently and fairly in the downlink OFDMA systems, a novel resource allocation problem is investigated to make the balance between energy efficiency (EE) and spectrum efficiency (SE), the tradeoff between fairness and SE/EE. The problem is first formulated as an optimisation problem, which is NP‐hard. Then, the existence of an optimal solution is proved, and an algorithm is designed to obtain the optimal solution. Finally, the numerical results show that the proposed algorithm achieves the SE–EE balance and provides a good tradeoff between fairness and SE/EE.
Isolation enhancement in wideband dual‐polarised suspended plate antenna with modified T‐type probes
Authors: Ciydem M.
Published: February 2014

An isolation enhancement technique for a wideband (1.71–2.17 GHz) and ±45° linear dual‐polarised suspended plate antenna is proposed. Isolation (S12, S21) between channels is improved by making extensions on suspended plates (SPs) 1–2 and inserting a vertical ungrounded vertical wall under SP‐1. The modified T‐type probes in this design provide better coupling and return losses (S11, S22) for wideband operation. Based on the numerical simulations and measurements, it is observed that 8.2 ± 0.5 dBi gain and 66° ± 6° symmetric azimuth and elevation radiation patterns are obtained. Return losses ≤ − 15 dB and isolation ≤ − 30 dB are achieved in the entire band. This antenna is suitable for base stations of mobile wireless communication systems (PCS, DCS and IMTS).
Lumbar Intraforaminal Synovial Cyst in Young Adulthood: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kalevski Svetoslav K. , Haritonov Dimitar Georgiev , Peev Nikolay Angelov
Published: February 2014

Study Design

Case report.

Objective

Lumbar juxtafacet cysts (synovial and ganglion cysts) are a rare cause of low back and radicular leg pain. Most patients with lumbar cysts are in their sixth decade of life and have significant facet joint and disk degeneration. Lumbar synovial cysts (LSCs) are extremely rare in adolescence and young adulthood, and to our knowledge, only two pediatric cases of LSC have been reported in the literature. We aim to prove the existence of LSC in adolescent patients as a real entity that causes low back and radicular complaints and to discuss the possibility of traumatic injury as a pathogenic cause of LSC formation in adolescence. A case of an 18-year old patient with LSC is presented. We report the clinical presentation, management, outcome, and review of the literature, focusing on issues that remain debatable.

Methods

The case is presented together with its clinical course, the diagnostic techniques, the surgical findings, histologic results, and the treatment outcome.

Results

After surgical treatment, the patient's complaints were alleviated and almost no complaints were registered during the next 6 months’ follow-up.

Conclusions

LSCs are extremely rare in adolescence, but they could be considered in the differential diagnosis in adolescent patients with low back pain and radiculopathy. Surgical removal of LSC could be considered as a treatment option to provide immediate and safe symptomatic relief.
CITIUS: An infrared-extreme ultraviolet light source for fundamental and applied ultrafast science
Authors: Grazioli C. , Callegari C. , Ciavardini A. , Coreno M. , Frassetto F. , Gauthier D. , Golob D. , Ivanov R. , Kivimäki A. , Mahieu B. , Bučar B. , Merhar M. , Miotti P. , Poletto L. , Polo E. , Ressel B. , Spezzani C. , De Ninno G.
Published: February 2014

We present the main features of CITIUS, a new light source for ultrafast science, generating tunable, intense, femtosecond pulses in the spectral range from infrared to extreme ultraviolet (XUV). The XUV pulses (about 105-108 photons/pulse in the range 14-80 eV) are produced by laser-induced high-order harmonic generation in gas. This radiation is monochromatized by a time-preserving monochromator, also allowing one to work with high-resolution bandwidth selection. The tunable IR-UV pulses (1012-1015 photons/pulse in the range 0.4-5.6 eV) are generated by an optical parametric amplifier, which is driven by a fraction of the same laser pulse that generates high order harmonics. The IR-UV and XUV pulses follow different optical paths and are eventually recombined on the sample for pump-probe experiments. We also present the results of two pump-probe experiments: with the first one, we fully characterized the temporal duration of harmonic pulses in the time-preserving configuration; with the second one, we demonstrated the possibility of using CITIUS for selective investigation of the ultra-fast dynamics of different elements in a magnetic compound.
A study of spin canting in Li3Fe2(PO4)3 with Mössbauer spectroscopy under 5 T
Authors: Kim Hee Seung , Kim Chul Sung
Published: February 2014

Li3Fe2(PO4)3 has been actively studied as a Lithium ion battery cathode material for the next-generation energy storage application. Here, we have investigated the changes of magnetic coupling between two different magnetic sub-lattices in Li3Fe2(PO4)3 with x-ray diffraction (XRD), superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. The experimental XRD pattern was analyzed using Rietveld refinement, confirming single phase. In order to investigate the magnetic property, the SQUID measurement under applied field of 5 T was performed between 4.2 and 295 K. From the temperature-dependent zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization curves, we observed the magnetization decreasing with increasing temperature up to Tmin = 13 K, at which the magnetization showed a minimum value. With continuing increase in temperature, the magnetization starts increasing with a maximum value at Tmax = 28 K and beyond Tmax, the magnetization decreases with the further increase in temperature. Based on the experimentally measured Mössbauer spectra, we identified that the ratios of first and sixth to second and fifth absorption lines were identical around Tmin, while with increasing temperature the area of second and fifth absorption line rapidly decreased up to Tmax. Our study suggests that the spin canting angle between the applied field and hyperfine field of Li3Fe2(PO4)3 is constant up to Tmin. However, the spin canting angle starts decreasing with increasing temperature, reaching a minimum value at Tmax, and beyond Tmax it is increasing. We expect that around Tmax, the ferrimagnetically coupled spin arrangement is appeared to be collinear along the applied field direction under applied field of 5 T.
Nudged-elastic band used to find reaction coordinates based on the free energy
Authors: Bohner Matthias U. , Zeman Johannes , Smiatek Jens , Arnold Axel , Kästner Johannes
Published: February 2014

Transition paths characterize chemical reaction mechanisms. In this paper, we present a new method to find mean reaction paths based on the free energy. A nudged elastic band (NEB) is optimized using gradients and Hessians of the free energy, which are obtained from umbrella integration. The transition state can be refined by a Newton–Raphson search starting from the highest point of the NEB path. All optimizations are done using Cartesian coordinates. Independent molecular dynamics (MD) runs are performed at each image used to discretize the path. This makes the method intrinsically parallel. In contrast to other free energy methods, the algorithm does not become more expensive when including more degrees of freedom in the active space. The method is applied to the alanine-dipeptide as a test case and compared to pathways that have been derived from metadynamics and forward flux sampling.
The FADE mass-stat: A technique for inserting or deleting particles in molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Borg Matthew K. , Lockerby Duncan A. , Reese Jason M.
Published: February 2014

The emergence of new applications of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation calls for the development of mass-statting procedures that insert or delete particles on-the-fly. In this paper we present a new mass-stat which we term FADE, because it gradually “fades-in” (inserts) or “fades-out” (deletes) molecules over a short relaxation period within a MD simulation. FADE applies a time-weighted relaxation to the intermolecular pair forces between the inserting/deleting molecule and any neighbouring molecules. The weighting function we propose in this paper is a piece-wise polynomial that can be described entirely by two parameters: the relaxation time scale and the order of the polynomial. FADE inherently conserves overall system momentum independent of the form of the weighting function. We demonstrate various simulations of insertions of atomic argon, polyatomic TIP4P water, polymer strands, and C60 Buckminsterfullerene molecules. We propose FADE parameters and a maximum density variation per insertion-instance that restricts spurious potential energy changes entering the system within desired tolerances. We also demonstrate in this paper that FADE compares very well to an existing insertion algorithm called USHER, in terms of accuracy, insertion rate (in dense fluids), and computational efficiency. The USHER algorithm is applicable to monatomic and water molecules only, but we demonstrate that FADE can be generally applied to various forms and sizes of molecules, such as polymeric molecules of long aspect ratio, and spherical carbon fullerenes with hollow interiors.
Origins of the two simultaneous mechanisms causing glass transition temperature reductions in high molecular weight freestanding polymer films
Authors: Prevosto Daniele , Capaccioli Simone , Ngai K. L.
Published: February 2014

From ellipsometry measurements, Pye and Roth [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 235701 (2011)] presented evidence of the presence of two glass transitions originating from two distinctly different and simultaneous mechanisms to reduce the glass transition temperature within freestanding polystyrene films with thickness less than 70 nm. The upper transition temperature $T_g^u ( h )$Tgu(h) is higher than the lower transition temperature $T_g^l ( h )$Tgl(h) in the ultrathin films. After comparing their data with the findings of others, using the same or different techniques, they concluded that new theoretical interpretation is needed to explain the two transitions and the different dependences of $T_g^u ( h )$Tgu(h) and $T_g^l ( h )$Tgl(h) on film thickness and molecular weight. We address the problem based on advance in delineating the different viscoelastic mechanisms in the glass-rubber transition zone of polymers. Theoretical considerations as well as experiments have shown in time-scales immediately following the segmental α-relaxation are the sub-Rouse modes with longer length scale but shorter than that of the Rouse modes. The existence of the sub-Rouse modes in various polymers including polystyrene has been repeatedly confirmed by experiments. We show that the sub-Rouse modes can account for the upper transition and the properties observed. The segmental α-relaxation is responsible for the lower transition. This is supported by the fact that the segmental α-relaxation in ultrathin freestanding PS films had been observed by dielectric relaxation measurements and photon correlation spectroscopy. Utilizing the temperature dependence of the segmental relaxation times from these experiments, the glass transition temperature $T_g^\alpha$Tgα associated with the segmental relaxation in the ultrathin film is determined. It turns out that $T_g^\alpha$Tgα is nearly the same as $T_g^l ( h )$Tgl(h) of the lower transition, and hence definitely segmental α-relaxation is the mechanism for the lower transition. Since it is unlikely that the segmental α-relaxation can give rise to two very different transitions simultaneously, a new mechanism for the upper transition is needed, and the sub-Rouse modes provide the mechanism.
Large eddy simulation study of the kinetic energy entrainment by energetic turbulent flow structures in large wind farms
Authors: VerHulst Claire , Meneveau Charles
Published: February 2014

In this study, we address the question of how kinetic energy is entrained into large wind turbine arrays and, in particular, how large-scale flow structures contribute to such entrainment. Previous research has shown this entrainment to be an important limiting factor in the performance of very large arrays where the flow becomes fully developed and there is a balance between the forcing of the atmospheric boundary layer and the resistance of the wind turbines. Given the high Reynolds numbers and domain sizes on the order of kilometers, we rely on wall-modeled large eddy simulation (LES) to simulate turbulent flow within the wind farm. Three-dimensional proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis is then used to identify the most energetic flow structures present in the LES data. We quantify the contribution of each POD mode to the kinetic energy entrainment and its dependence on the layout of the wind turbine array. The primary large-scale structures are found to be streamwise, counter-rotating vortices located above the height of the wind turbines. While the flow is periodic, the geometry is not invariant to all horizontal translations due to the presence of the wind turbines and thus POD modes need not be Fourier modes. Differences of the obtained modes with Fourier modes are documented. Some of the modes are responsible for a large fraction of the kinetic energy flux to the wind turbine region. Surprisingly, more flow structures (POD modes) are needed to capture at least 40% of the turbulent kinetic energy, for which the POD analysis is optimal, than are needed to capture at least 40% of the kinetic energy flux to the turbines. For comparison, we consider the cases of aligned and staggered wind turbine arrays in a neutral atmospheric boundary layer as well as a reference case without wind turbines. While the general characteristics of the flow structures are robust, the net kinetic energy entrainment to the turbines depends on the presence and relative arrangement of the wind turbines in the domain.
Linear stability of the Moore-Saffman model for a trailing wingtip vortex
Authors: Feys Jan , Maslowe Sherwin A.
Published: February 2014

This paper presents an investigation of the stability of a trailing vortex using mean flow profiles given by an approximate solution of the Navier-Stokes equations. The axial and tangential velocity profiles obtained from this solution, deduced by Moore and Saffman [“Axial flow in laminar trailing vortices,” Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 333, 491–508 (1973)], agree well with experiments involving wings at slight angles of attack. In particular, the Moore-Saffman profiles better describe the jet-like and wake-like axial flows near the center of the vortex than does the much-studied Batchelor vortex. We determine solutions numerically for these profiles and find that they are well suited to describe the flow at short and intermediate distances behind the wingtip. Growth rates for unstable perturbations are presented for different values of n, the wingtip loading parameter. These growth rates are shown to be somewhat larger than those obtained for the Batchelor vortex, and instability persists for larger values of the swirl. The largest amplification rates were found to occur near n = 0.5, the value corresponding to elliptic loading. This is within the range 0.44 < n < 1.0, where the core axial flow is wake-like. For n < 0.44, the flow in the vortex core is jet-like and the growth rates of unstable perturbations become progressively smaller, with all modes damped for n ≈ 0.25.
Origin of enhanced magnetization in rare earth doped multiferroic bismuth ferrite
Authors: Nayek C. , Tamilselvan A. , Thirmal Ch. , Murugavel P. , Balakumar S.
Published: February 2014

We report structural and magnetic properties of rare earth doped Bi0.95R0.05 FeO3 (R = Y, Ho, and Er) submicron particles. Rare earth doping enhances the magnetization and the magnetization shows an increasing trend with decreasing dopant ionic radii. In contrast to the x-ray diffraction pattern, we have seen a strong evidence for the presence of rare earth iron garnets R3Fe5O12 in magnetization measured as a function of temperature, in selected area electron diffraction, and in Raman measurements. Our results emphasised the role of secondary phases in the magnetic property of rare earth doped BiFeO3 compounds along with the structural distortion favoring spin canting by increase in Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya exchange energy.
Aluminum-oxide-based inversion layer solar cells on n-type crystalline silicon: Fundamental properties and efficiency potential
Authors: Werner Florian , Larionova Yevgeniya , Zielke Dimitri , Ohrdes Tobias , Schmidt Jan
Published: February 2014

We introduce a rear-emitter inversion layer (IL) solar cell on n-type crystalline silicon (n-Si). The hole IL is induced by the high density of negative fixed charges in an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) surface passivation layer. For the formation of contacts to the inversion layer, we employ a single-step p+ laser doping process, using aluminum from the Al2O3 layer as dopant source. Lateral hole transport through the IL underneath the n-Si/Al2O3 interface is analyzed by electrical measurements. The IL hole mobility is shown to be only marginally reduced by scattering at the high density of fixed charges at the n-Si/Al2O3 interface, resulting in an inversion layer sheet resistance of 15–18 kΩ/sq (in the dark). The effective sheet resistance of the IL is shown to decrease to below 4 kΩ/sq under solar cell operating conditions. Based on two-dimensional device simulations, we show that the proposed type of n-type silicon IL solar cell has a very high efficiency potential exceeding 26% including contact recombination losses.
Background-free piezoresponse force microscopy for quantitative measurements
Authors: Wang Wenbo , Geng Yanan , Wu Weida
Published: February 2014

We report an effective method to remove the system-inherent background [Jungk et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 253511 (2007)] that is present in nominal piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) setup. Control experiments performed in both ambient and ultrahigh vacuum environments indicate that the system-inherent background probably originates from the interactions between the modulation voltage and surface absorptions. By minimizing such interactions, background-free PFM results were obtained on glass, α-quartz, hexagonal ErMnO3, and periodically poled LiNbO3. The removal of background signal allows quantitative measurements of local intrinsic piezoelectric response with high sensitivity (≲0.1 pm/V).
Ultra low noise YBa2Cu3O7−δ nano superconducting quantum interference devices implementing nanowires
Authors: Arpaia R. , Arzeo M. , Nawaz S. , Charpentier S. , Lombardi F. , Bauch T.
Published: February 2014

We present results on ultra low noise YBa2Cu3O7–δ (YBCO) nano Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices (nanoSQUIDs). To realize such devices, we implemented high quality YBCO nanowires, working as weak links between two electrodes. We observe critical current modulation as a function of an externally applied magnetic field in the full temperature range below the transition temperature TC. The white flux noise below 1μΦ0/Hz at T=8 K makes our nanoSQUIDs very attractive for the detection of small spin systems.
Sodium-doped Mo back contacts for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells on Ti foils: Growth, morphology, and sodium diffusion
Authors: Roger Charles , Altamura Giovanni , Emieux Fabrice , Sicardy Olivier , Roux Frédéric , Fillon Raphaël , Faucherand Pascal , Karst Nicolas , Fournier Hélène , Grenet Louis , Ducroquet Frédérique , Brioude Arnaud , Perraud Simon
Published: February 2014

Sodium addition is necessary to reach high efficiencies with Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells on metallic substrates. This can be achieved using DC-sputtered multilayer Mo back contacts including a sodium-doped layer (Mo:Na). In this study, 450 nm-thick Mo:Na layers were sputter-deposited on Ti foils using a working pressure ranging from 3.4 mTorr to 30 mTorr, and capped with 100 nm-thick, dense, pure Mo layers. The deposition pressure of the Mo:Na layers strongly affected their electrical resistance, optical reflectance, morphology, and crystal quality. The top Mo layer allowed controlling the electrical and optical properties of the back contact, but its own morphology was affected by the structure of the underlying Mo:Na layer. The Na concentration in the CIGS layer varied as a function of the deposition pressure of the Mo:Na layer, inducing changes in the absorber grain size and Ga distribution, as well as in the carrier density. Absolute conversion efficiency improvements over 3% were obtained using the sodium-doped back contacts on Ti foils, leading to a performance which was equivalent to the soda-lime glass reference.
Effect of different freezing velocities on the quality and fertilising ability of cryopreserved rabbit spermatozoa
Authors: Mocé E. , Blanch E. , Talaván A. , Viudes de Castro M. P.
Published: February 2014

The freezing step of the cryopreservation protocol negatively influences the quality and fertilising ability of rabbit spermatozoa. This study determines the effect of different rates of freezing on the quality and fertilising ability of rabbit spermatozoa cryopreserved with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (1.75 M) and sucrose (0.05 M). Ejaculates from meat rabbit line males (n = 12) were pooled and each pool (n = 7) was split into four aliquots. One group of straws (control, C) was frozen in static liquid nitrogen vapour (5 cm above the liquid nitrogen, 10 min) and the other groups were frozen at different freezing rates (°C min–1) from –6°C to –100°C using a programmable freezer: slow (–15°C min–1, S), medium (–40°C min–1, M) or fast (–60°C min–1, F). After thawing (50°C, 12 s), the quality was highest (P < 0.05) in C and M samples and lowest in S and F samples. F samples presented the lowest litter sizes (P ≤ 0.05) and fertility whilst M samples exhibited the highest values. In conclusion, the freezing rate affects both the quality and the fertilising ability of frozen–thawed rabbit spermatozoa, with both slow (–15°C min–1) and fast (–60°C min–1) freezing rates being detrimental for the quality and fertilising ability.
Toward a new vaccine for pertussis
Authors: Robbins John B. , Schneerson Rachel , Kubler-Kielb Joanna , Keith Jerry M. , Trollfors Birger , Vinogradov Evgeny , Shiloach Joseph
Published: February 2014

To overcome the limitations of the current pertussis vaccines, those of limited duration of action and failure to induce direct killing of
Bordetella pertussis
, a synthetic scheme was devised for preparing a conjugate vaccine composed of the
Bordetella bronchiseptica
core oligosaccharide with one terminal trisaccharide to aminooxylated BSA via their terminal ketodeoxyoctanate residues. Conjugate-induced antibodies, by a fraction of an estimated human dose injected into young outbred mice as a saline solution, were bactericidal against
B. pertussis
, and their titers correlated with their ELISA values. The carrier protein is planned to be genetically altered pertussis toxoid. Such conjugates are easy to prepare, stable, and should add both to the level and duration of immunity induced by current vaccine-induced pertussis antibodies and reduce the circulation of
B. pertussis
.
Homology-directed repair of DNA nicks via pathways distinct from canonical double-strand break repair
Authors: Davis Luther , Maizels Nancy
Published: February 2014

Significance

Nicks are a very common form of DNA damage, but their threat to genomic integrity has been neglected because it is assumed that all nicks are repaired by simple religation. Here we challenge that assumption. We identify a robust pathway for homology-directed repair (HDR) that is active at DNA nicks. This alternative HDR pathway is stimulated upon down-regulation of key factors in canonical HDR at double-strand breaks. Alternative HDR at targeted nicks has immediate practical applications to genome engineering. Alternative HDR can promote repair of a nicked target by a nicked donor and may thereby contribute to loss of heterozygosity, a common form of genomic instability in tumors.
Visual acquisition of Swedish in deaf children
Authors: Schönström Krister
Published: February 2014

This article examines the Swedish L2 development of deaf children by testing the validity of Processability Theory on deaf learners of Swedish as an L2. The study is cross-sectional and includes written data from 38 pupils (grades 5 and 10) from a school for deaf and hearing-impaired pupils in Sweden. The primary language used by the pupils is Swedish Sign Language with Swedish being considered their L2. The Swedish data have been analyzed through the lens of Processability Theory (PT). The results show that the grammatical development of deaf learners is similar to hearing learners of Swedish as an L2. The results therefore suggest that PT is applicable even for deaf learners of L2 Swedish.
Evaluating the Performance of Two Salmon Management Strategies using Run Reconstruction
Authors: Carney Justin M. , Adkison Milo D.
Published: February 2014

Commercial salmon fisheries in Alaska are managed to obtain escapement goals within a fixed range while attempting to maximize sustained yield. Two management strategies currently being used are emergency order authority and a fixed fishing schedule. We analyzed and compared the historical performance of these two management strategies for Bristol Bay, Alaska, fisheries targeting Egegik River and Togiak River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. To accomplish this, we reconstructed the daily runs to each river through the use of catch, effort, and tower count data. Our results showed that management by emergency order openings resulted in (1) the catch of a higher percentage of returning fish, (2) less yearly variation in escapement, and (3) escapements that were always above the minimum escapement goal. A fixed fishing schedule resulted in less yearly variation in catch and a harvest rate that was spread more evenly throughout the run; the more even harvest rate likely provides better protection of substocks and the sex ratio. Emergency order authority gives a manager greater control over the fishery but requires more informative data. A fixed fishing schedule provides a more predictable catch but carries a higher risk of overharvest. Each of the two management strategies was successful and was suited to the circumstances of its fishery.

Received December 7, 2012; accepted September 13, 2013

Published online February 10, 2014
Evaluation of Statistical River Temperature Forecast Models for Fisheries Management
Authors: Hague Merran J. , Patterson David A.
Published: February 2014

Warming rivers and an improved knowledge of thermal impacts on fish are fueling a need for simple tools to generate water temperature forecasts that aid in decision making for the management of aquatic resources. Although there is strong evidence for temperature-dependent mortality in freshwater fish populations, the application of water temperature models for in-season fisheries management is still limited due to a lack of appropriate temperature thresholds and due to uncertainty in forecasts. We evaluated the ability of statistical models based on seasonal trends, air temperature, and discharge to produce daily forecasts of water temperature in the Fraser River, British Columbia, including explicit quantification of uncertainty in predictor variables. For all models evaluated (with and without air temperature and/or discharge predictor variables), the top model choice varied as a function of environmental conditions, uncertainty in the air temperature forecasts used to predict water temperature, and the selection of quantitative performance criteria (i.e., defining the “best” model based on the smallest mean raw error or based on the ability to accurately forecast extreme water temperatures). Water temperature forecasts averaged across 10 d produced by simple models that were fitted only to historical seasonal water temperature trends were as accurate as forecasts generated from uncertain air temperature predictions. Models fitted to air temperature were critical for forecasting high temperature thresholds; even the use of uncertain air temperature forecasts predicted high water temperatures with greater accuracy than models that lacked an air temperature covariate. In contrast, models that were fitted to discharge variables lowered the rate of false-negative and false-positive errors associated with estimating below-average temperatures. On the basis of our findings, we suggest that fisheries managers should quantify the effect of uncertainties in model predictor variables when assessing water temperature models and should evaluate model performance in the context of system-specific conditions and management objectives.

Received May 15, 2013; accepted September 13, 2013

Published online January 31, 2014
Habitat Selection and Movement of Adult Humpback Chub in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, during an Experimental Steady Flow Release
Authors: Gerig Brandon , Dodrill Michael J. , Pine William E.
Published: February 2014

Effective conservation and restoration programs for many native riverine fish communities are highly dependent on regulated river operations developed by water managers. Successfully implementing river flows to meet human needs and minimize ecosystem impacts requires understanding the linkages between hydrology, physical habitat, and fish ecology. In the Colorado River within Grand Canyon, Arizona, altered river conditions following the construction of Glen Canyon Dam have contributed to the decline of Humpback Chub Gila cypha. In 2010, a management experiment was implemented to contrast the modified low fluctuating flow policy with an experimental steady flow release. We assessed habitat selection and movement of 30 adult Humpback Chub implanted with acoustic telemetry tags during 2 months of fluctuating flow followed by 2 months of steady flow. We found that telemetered Humpback Chub used eddies extensively while avoiding runs and were associated with intermediate depths and larger substrates. During both flow treatments, Humpback Chub exhibited small daily movements of about 100 m/d. No effect of the flow experiment was observed on Humpback Chub habitat selection or movement. However, nearshore habitat use by Humpback Chub increased with turbidity fluxes caused by tributary floods. Overall our results suggest that adult Humpback Chub habitat selection and movement may not be impacted by the current hydropower operations, but habitat use and spatial distribution are influenced by changes in turbidity which has changed greatly in the Colorado River since the completion of Glen Canyon Dam.

Received February 1, 2013; accepted August 28, 2013

Published online January 17, 2014
Genetic Pedigree Reconstruction Detects Bias in Largemouth Bass Nest Sampling Procedures
Authors: Hessenauer Jan-Michael , Bremigan Mary Tate , Scribner Kim T.
Published: February 2014

Fish recruitment can be influenced by the direct effects of and interactions among biological, environmental, and anthropogenic factors. However, interpretation of data that quantify associations between recruitment during early ontogenetic stages and potential underlying causal factors at whole-population scales can be confounded by the uncertainties associated with data collection. For nest-building species, biases may result from observational methods used to locate nests and determine nest-specific offspring survival. Such biases may hinder efforts to associate estimates of individual reproductive success or failure with recruitment variation at the population level. During spring 2010, Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides nests in a 24-ha Michigan lake were surveyed using established observational methods, and genetic data and pedigree reconstruction were used to assess the reliability of those methods. We georeferenced observed nests, visually assessed whether eggs from nests survived to the swim-up fry stage, and collected offspring from each observed nest for multilocus genotyping to characterize nest-specific pedigrees. In late summer, we captured age-0 Largemouth Bass for genotyping and used pedigree reconstruction to determine their nests of origin. Comparisons of genetic pedigree and observational data revealed that genetic methods offered a novel, powerful way of evaluating nest observation procedures. We estimated that 50% of the nests that contributed age-0 recruits were not observed by field crews; 40% of observed nests that produced late-summer age-0 Largemouth Bass (as determined based on genetic data) were not observed to produce swim-up fry during the nesting period (i.e., were misclassified as having failed). Our analyses suggest that nesting observations underestimate nest abundance and incorrectly classify some nests as having failed to produce swim-up fry, thus potentially creating a biased representation of nest-specific contributions to recruitment.

Received March 26, 2013; accepted October 17, 2013

Published online February 10, 2014
Growth and Smolting in Lower-Mode Atlantic Salmon Stocked into the Penobscot River, Maine
Authors: Zydlewski Joseph , O'Malley Andrew , Cox Oliver , Ruksznis Peter , Trial Joan G.
Published: February 2014

Restoration of Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar in Maine has relied on hatchery-produced fry and smolts for critical stocking strategies. Stocking fry minimizes domestication selection, but these fish have poor survival. Conversely, stocked smolts have little freshwater experience but provide higher adult returns. Lower-mode (LM) fish, those not growing fast enough to ensure smolting by the time of stocking, are a by-product of the smolt program and are an intermediate hatchery product. From 2002 to 2009, between 70,000 and 170,000 marked LM Atlantic Salmon were stocked into the Pleasant River (a tributary in the Penobscot River drainage, Maine) in late September to early October. These fish were recaptured as actively migrating smolts (screw trapping), as nonmigrants (electrofishing), and as returning adults to the Penobscot River (Veazie Dam trap). Fork length (FL) was measured and a scale sample was taken to retrospectively estimate FL at winter annulus one (FW1) using the intercept-corrected direct proportion model. The LM fish were observed to migrate as age-1, age-2, and infrequently as age-3 smolts. Those migrating as age-1 smolts had a distinctly larger estimated FL at FW1 (>112 mm) than those that remained in the river for at least one additional year. At the time of migration, age-2 and age-3 smolts were substantially larger than age-1 smolts. Returning adult Atlantic Salmon of LM origin had estimated FLs at FW1 that corresponded to smolt age (greater FL for age 1 than age 2). The LM product produces both age-1 and age-2 smolts that have greater freshwater experience than hatchery smolts and may have growth and fitness advantages. The data from this study will allow managers to better assess the probability of smolting age and manipulate hatchery growth rates to produce a targeted-size LM product.

Received June 11, 2013; accepted November 11, 2013

Published online February 10, 2014
Gender regimes and gender equality measures in Central Eastern European Countries post-accession: the case of Hungary and Poland
Authors: Velluti Samantha
Published: February 2014

The paper is set to examine the state of gender equality in Central Eastern European Countries (CEECs) since accession to the European Union (EU) following the two enlargements in 2004 and 2007, which saw 10 CEECs join the EU. In this context, the paper addresses some implications of transformation, which challenge gender regimes across CEECs. The paper looks at the nature of the policies adopted to ensure gender equality in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) and, in particular, using Hungary's and Poland's family policies as a case study, it evaluates whether EU gender equality measures have had an impact on gender equality and justice in CEE and, more generally, whether they have led to new gender equality paradigms.
Gender mainstreaming as a global policy paradigm: barriers to gender justice in health
Authors: Payne Sarah
Published: February 2014

This paper explores gender mainstreaming in the context of health policy and health variations between women and men. Despite the adoption of gender mainstreaming at international, regional and national scales since the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995, gender inequalities in health persist. The paper argues that the translation of gender mainstreaming as a global policy paradigm across and between policy scales has significance for health policies aiming to address gender. The paper suggests that while gender mainstreaming originated to address women's needs, the paradigm is founded on goals that do not translate in health policy; that the representation of the problem of gender in this global paradigm is problematic in a health context; and that the role of global networks in policy translation as part of this paradigm has led to the replacement of transformative ideals with technocratic solutions which shift the focus away from gender relations of power.