bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of block asymmetry on the crystallization of double crystalline diblock copolymers
Authors: Kundu Chitrita , Dasmahapatra Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2014

Monte Carlo simulation on the crystallization of double crystalline diblock copolymer unravels an intrinsic relationship between block asymmetry and crystallization behaviour. We model crystalline A-B diblock copolymer, wherein the melting temperature of A-block is higher than that of the B-block. We explore the composition dependent crystallization behaviour by varying the relative block length with weak and strong segregation strength between the blocks. In weak segregation limit, we observe that with increasing the composition of B-block, its crystallization temperature increases accompanying with higher crystallinity. In contrast, A-block crystallizes at a relatively low temperature along with the formation of thicker and larger crystallites with the increase in B-block composition. We attribute this non-intuitive crystallization trend to the dilution effect imposed by B-block. When the composition of the B-block is high enough, it acts like a “solvent” during the crystallization of A-block. A-block segments are more mobile and hence less facile to crystallize, resulting depression in crystallization temperature with the formation of thicker crystals. At strong segregation limit, crystallization and morphological development are governed by the confinement effect, rather than block asymmetry. Isothermal crystallization reveals that the crystallization follows a homogeneous nucleation mechanism with the formation of two-dimensional crystals. Two-step, compared to one-step isothermal crystallization leads to the formation of thicker crystals of A-block due to the dilution effect of the B-block.
Phase ordering and its effect on magnetic and structural properties of FeRh ultrathin films
Authors: Yap Q. J. , Qiu J. J. , Luo P. , Ying J. F. , Han G. C. , Laughlin D. E. , Zhu J.-G. , Kanbe T. , Shige T.
Published: July 2014

Applications using FeRh for controllable exchange coupling of two magnetic layers with in-plane and out-of-plane anisotropies require ultrathin (∼10 nm) films with pure antiferromagnetic (AF) FeRh α″ phase at room temperature (RT). However, it is also well known that the antiferromagnetic-ferromagnetic (AF-FM) transition of FeRh is sensitive to composition and deteriorates at low thicknesses. Hence, in this work, we study the composition-dependent phase ordering of co-sputtered FeRh thin films at ultrathin thicknesses of ∼10 nm. As the ultrathin films get richer in Rh, the appearance of α″ phase is typically characterized magnetically by a sudden drop in RT moment, and structurally by a slight decrease in degree of B2 chemical ordering with a sharp decrease in c-axis lattice constant. These observations are consistent with the FeRh phase diagram where FeRh abruptly enters the AF α″ phase once it becomes slightly disordered. Dependences of magnetic transition parameters on composition were also described. Moreover, higher sputtering powers possibly allow the formation of purer α″ phase with less γ-face centered cubic phase impurities. Consequently, a composition optimized 10 nm film shows a relatively low residual moment (13.5 emu/cc), thus suggesting good AF phase formation. In addition, correlation of the magnetic transition parameters with the crystal structural parameters reveal that the maximum rate of AF-FM transition (Rmax,h) and the corresponding total change in magnetization (ΔMh) interestingly shows linear dependence on the c-axis lattice constant, but would depart from this linearity under certain conditions, i.e., when grain sizes were large, crystallinity was improved and Fe content was high.
Compact focusing spectrometer: Visible (1 eV) to hard x-rays (200 keV)
Authors: Baronova E. O. , Stepanenko A. M. , Pereira N. R.
Published: July 2014

A low-cost spectrometer that covers a wide range of photon energies can be useful to teach spectroscopy, and for simple, rapid measurements of the photon spectrum produced by small plasma devices. The spectrometer here achieves its wide range, nominally from 1 eV to 200 keV, with a series of spherically and cylindrically bent gratings or crystals that all have the same shape and the same radius of curvature; they are complemented by matching apertures and diagnostics on the Rowland circle that serves as the circular part of the spectrometer's vacuum vessel. Spectral lines are easily identified with software that finds their positions from the dispersion of each diffractive element and the known energies of the lines.
Integrating atomic layer deposition and ultra-high vacuum physical vapor deposition for in situ fabrication of tunnel junctions
Authors: Elliot Alan J. , Malek Gary A. , Lu Rongtao , Han Siyuan , Yu Haifeng , Zhao Shiping , Wu Judy Z.
Published: July 2014

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is a promising technique for growing ultrathin, pristine dielectrics on metal substrates, which is essential to many electronic devices. Tunnel junctions are an excellent example which require a leak-free, ultrathin dielectric tunnel barrier of typical thickness around 1 nm between two metal electrodes. A challenge in the development of ultrathin dielectric tunnel barriers using ALD is controlling the nucleation of dielectrics on metals with minimal formation of native oxides at the metal surface for high-quality interfaces between the tunnel barrier and metal electrodes. This poses a critical need for integrating ALD with ultra-high vacuum (UHV) physical vapor deposition. In order to address these challenges, a viscous-flow ALD chamber was designed and interfaced to an UHV magnetron sputtering chamber via a load lock. A sample transportation system was implemented for in situ sample transfer between the ALD, load lock, and sputtering chambers. Using this integrated ALD-UHV sputtering system, superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) Nb-Al/Al2O2/Nb Josephson tunnel junctions were fabricated with tunnel barriers of thickness varied from sub-nm to ∼1 nm. The suitability of using an Al wetting layer for initiation of the ALD Al2O3 tunnel barrier was investigated with ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and electrical transport measurements. With optimized processing conditions, leak-free SIS tunnel junctions were obtained, demonstrating the viability of this integrated ALD-UHV sputtering system for the fabrication of tunnel junctions and devices comprised of metal-dielectric-metal multilayers.
Residual stress induced crystalline to amorphous phase transformation in Nb2O5 quantum dots
Authors: Dhawan Sahil , Dhawan Tanuj , Vedeshwar Agnikumar G.
Published: July 2014

Nb2O5 quantum dots (QDs) were grown using a simple technique of vacuum thermal evaporation. QDs were found to be crystalline in nature by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) in TEM. Samples with thickness up to 20 nm did not show any significant residual strain. Residual stress effect on band gap of crystalline Nb2O5 was studied for films thicker than 20 nm. Residual strain was determined using SAED of the films with reference to powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Films thicker than 45 nm become amorphous as analyzed by both SAED and XRD. The optical absorption of films in the range 25–60 nm indicates significantly varying optical band gap of films. The varying band gap with film thickness scales linearly very well with the variation of residual stress with film thickness. The residual stress dependence of band gap of crystalline films yields stress free band gap as 3.37 eV with pressure coefficient of band gap (∂Eg/∂P)T = −29.3 meV/GPa. From this study, the crystalline to amorphous transformation in tetragonal form of M-Nb2O5 has been determined to be at about 14 GPa. Both pressure coefficient of band gap and crystalline to amorphous transition for tetragonal M-Nb2O5 have been determined for the first time in the literature.
The global relaxation redistribution method for reduction of combustion kinetics
Authors: Kooshkbaghi Mahdi , Frouzakis Christos E. , Chiavazzo Eliodoro , Boulouchos Konstantinos , Karlin Iliya V.
Published: July 2014

An algorithm based on the Relaxation Redistribution Method (RRM) is proposed for constructing the Slow Invariant Manifold (SIM) of a chosen dimension to cover a large fraction of the admissible composition space that includes the equilibrium and initial states. The manifold boundaries are determined with the help of the Rate Controlled Constrained Equilibrium method, which also provides the initial guess for the SIM. The latter is iteratively refined until convergence and the converged manifold is tabulated. A criterion based on the departure from invariance is proposed to find the region over which the reduced description is valid. The global realization of the RRM algorithm is applied to constant pressure auto-ignition and adiabatic premixed laminar flames of hydrogen-air mixtures.
Determination of char combustion kinetics parameters: Comparison of point detector and imaging-based particle-sizing pyrometry
Authors: Schiemann Martin , Geier Manfred , Shaddix Christopher R. , Vorobiev Nikita , Scherer Viktor
Published: July 2014

In this study, the char burnout characteristics of two German coals (a lignite and a high-volatile bituminous coal) were investigated using two different experimental configurations and optical techniques in two distinct laboratories for measurement of temperature and size of burning particles. The optical diagnostic hardware is quite different in the two systems, but both perform two-color pyrometry and optical sizing measurements on individual particles burning in isolation from each other in high-temperature laminar flows to characterize the char consumption kinetics. The performance of the specialized systems is compared for two different combustion atmospheres (with 6.6 and 12 vol.% O2) and gas temperatures between 1700 and 1800 K. The measured particle temperatures and diameters are converted to char burning rate parameters for several residence times during the course of the particles’ burnout. The results confirm that comparable results are obtained with the two configurations, although higher levels of variability in the measured data were observed in the imaging-based pyrometer setup. Corresponding uncertainties in kinetics parameters were larger, and appear to be more sensitive to systematic measurement errors when lower oxygen contents are used in the experiments. Consequently, burnout experiments in environments with sufficiently high O2 contents may be used to measure reliable char burning kinetics rates. Based on simulation results for the two coals, O2 concentrations in the range 10%–30% are recommended for kinetic rate measurements on 100 μm particles.
Dynamic density field measurements of an explosively driven α → ϵ phase transition in iron
Authors: Hull L. M. , Gray G. T. , Warthen B. J.
Published: July 2014

We provide a unique set of observations of the behavior of the α→ϵ phase transition under a complex axially symmetric loading path created by sweeping a detonation wave along the end surface of a cylindrical sample. The primary data sets are the measured mass density distributions acquired at 5 independent times during the sweep of the detonation along the surface. Shocked regions and boundaries are measured, as well as regions and boundaries of elevated density (presumed to be the ϵ−phase iron). The formation and dynamics of these regions were captured and are available for comparisons to material descriptions. We also applied 16 Photon Doppler Velocimetry probes to capture the free surface velocity along a discrete set of radially distributed points in order to compare and correlate the density measurements with previous shock wave studies. The velocimetry data are in nearly exact agreement with previous shock wave studies of the α→ϵ phase transition, the density distributions, while generally in agreement with expectations evolved from the shock wave studies, show that the epsilon phase is generated in regions of high shear stress but at hydrostatic stresses below the typically quoted 13 GPa value. The density field measurements are particularly useful for observing the effects of the forward and reverse transformation kinetics, as well as the reverse transformation hysteresis.
Plasma actuator electron density measurement using microwave perturbation method
Authors: Mirhosseini Farid , Colpitts Bruce
Published: July 2014

A cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge plasma under five different pressures is generated in an evacuated glass tube. This plasma volume is located at the center of a rectangular copper waveguide cavity, where the electric field is maximum for the first mode and the magnetic field is very close to zero. The microwave perturbation method is used to measure electron density and plasma frequency for these five pressures. Simulations by a commercial microwave simulator are comparable to the experimental results.
Self-repairing characteristics in the solid-state Al2O3 film capacitors
Authors: Hu Baofu , Yao Manwen , Xiao Ruihua , Chen Jianwen , Yao Xi
Published: July 2014

The effect of the top electrode material on electrical characteristics of Al2O3 thin film capacitors has been investigated. Compared to devices with Pt top electrodes, devices using Al as the top electrode material exhibit a significantly reduced leakage current and a much higher breakdown strength. These electrical characteristics are linked to the anodic oxidation reaction, which makes the capacitors have the capability of self-repairing the defects in a high electric field.
Particle behavior simulation in thermophoresis phenomena by direct simulation Monte Carlo method
Authors: Wada Takao
Published: July 2014

A particle motion considering thermophoretic force is simulated by using direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Thermophoresis phenomena, which occur for a particle size of 1 μm, are treated in this paper. The problem of thermophoresis simulation is computation time which is proportional to the collision frequency. Note that the time step interval becomes much small for the simulation considering the motion of large size particle. Thermophoretic forces calculated by DSMC method were reported, but the particle motion was not computed because of the small time step interval. In this paper, the molecule-particle collision model, which computes the collision between a particle and multi molecules in a collision event, is considered. The momentum transfer to the particle is computed with a collision weight factor, where the collision weight factor means the number of molecules colliding with a particle in a collision event. The large time step interval is adopted by considering the collision weight factor. Furthermore, the large time step interval is about million times longer than the conventional time step interval of the DSMC method when a particle size is 1 μm. Therefore, the computation time becomes about one-millionth. We simulate the graphite particle motion considering thermophoretic force by DSMC-Neutrals (Particle-PLUS neutral module) with above the collision weight factor, where DSMC-Neutrals is commercial software adopting DSMC method. The size and the shape of the particle are 1 μm and a sphere, respectively. The particle-particle collision is ignored. We compute the thermophoretic forces in Ar and H2 gases of a pressure range from 0.1 to 100 mTorr. The results agree well with Gallis' analytical results. Note that Gallis' analytical result for continuum limit is the same as Waldmann's result.
An instrument design concept to minimize creep ringing during step-stress experiments with viscoelastic materials
Authors: Chan Hubert K. , Mohraz Ali
Published: July 2014

A common observation in step-stress rheological measurements on viscoelastic materials is the prevalence of early stage strain oscillations, which result from a coupling between the measuring system's inertia and the sample's elasticity. This phenomenon, conventionally known as creep ringing, is generally undesirable because it can mask the material's inherent microstructural response to an external stress. In this work, we show how this undesirable effect can be dramatically suppressed in a custom-built shear cell designed for rheo-optical experiments. Using a combined theoretical/experimental approach, we demonstrate that the suppression of creep ringing is due to a low moment of inertia for the measuring system and a unique design concept, in which the torque source is coupled to the sample through a viscous transfer fluid.
A prototype silicon double quantum dot with dispersive microwave readout
Authors: Schmidt A. R. , Henry E. , Lo C. C. , Wang Y.-T. , Li H. , Greenman L. , Namaan O. , Schenkel T. , Whaley K. B. , Bokor J. , Yablonovitch E. , Siddiqi I.
Published: July 2014

We present a unique design and fabrication process for a lateral, gate-confined double quantum dot in an accumulation mode metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structure coupled to an integrated microwave resonator. All electrostatic gates for the double quantum dot are contained in a single metal layer, and use of the MOS structure allows for control of the location of the two-dimensional electron gas via the location of the accumulation gates. Numerical simulations of the electrostatic confinement potential are performed along with an estimate of the coupling of the double quantum dot to the microwave resonator. Prototype devices are fabricated and characterized by transport measurements of electron confinement and reflectometry measurements of the microwave resonator.
Near- and far-field measurements of phase-ramped frequency selective surfaces at infrared wavelengths
Authors: Tucker Eric , D'Archangel Jeffrey , Raschke Markus B. , Boreman Glenn
Published: July 2014

Near- and far-field measurements of phase-ramped loop and patch structures are presented and compared to simulations. The far-field deflection measurements show that the phase-ramped structures can deflect a beam away from specular reflection, consistent with simulations. Scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy of the elements comprising the phase ramped structures reveals part of the underlying near-field phase contribution that dictates the far-field deflection, which correlates with the far-field phase behavior that was expected. These measurements provide insight into the resonances, coupling, and spatial phase variation among phase-ramped frequency selective surface (FSS) elements, which are important for the performance of FSS reflectarrays.
Dispersion engineering of high-Q silicon microresonators via thermal oxidation
Authors: Jiang Wei C. , Zhang Jidong , Usechak Nicholas G. , Lin Qiang
Published: July 2014

We propose and demonstrate a convenient and sensitive technique for precise engineering of group-velocity dispersion in high-Q silicon microresonators. By accurately controlling the surface-oxidation thickness of silicon microdisk resonators, we are able to precisely manage the zero-dispersion wavelength, while simultaneously further improving the high optical quality of our devices, with the optical Q close to a million. The demonstrated dispersion management allows us to achieve parametric generation with precisely engineerable emission wavelengths, which shows great potential for application in integrated silicon nonlinear and quantum photonics.
Spin-glass behavior and anomalous magnetoresistance in ferromagnetic Ge1-xFexTe epilayer
Authors: Liu Jindong , Cheng Xiaomin , Tong Fei , Miao Xiangshui
Published: July 2014

We report that the Ge1-xFexTe thin film exhibits spin-glass behavior when the Fe concentration increases to 0.08. A large bifurcation between the zero-field cooling and field cooling temperature-dependent magnetization was observed. The hysteresis loops after zero-field cooling and field cooling show an exchange bias effect. A time-dependent thermoremanent magnetization follows power-law decay, which confirms the existence of spin glass. The anomalous magnetotranport properties present a further evidence for spin-glass behavior and give a freezing temperature Tg ∼ 5 K in the Ge0.92Fe0.08Te thin film.
A finite element study of balloon expandable stent for plaque and arterial wall vulnerability assessment
Authors: Karimi Alireza , Navidbakhsh Mahdi , Razaghi Reza
Published: July 2014

The stresses induced within plaque tissues and arterial layers during stent expansion inside an atherosclerotic artery can be exceeded from the yield stresses of those tissues and, consequently, lead to plaque or arterial layer rupture. The distribution and magnitude of the stresses in each component involved in stenting might be clearly different for different plaque types and different arterial layers. In this study, a nonlinear finite element simulation was employed to investigate the effect of plaque composition (calcified, cellular, and hypocellular) on the stresses induced in the arterial layers (intima, media, and adventitia) during implantation of a balloon expandable coronary stent into a stenosed artery. The atherosclerotic artery was assumed to consist of a plaque and normal/healthy arterial tissues on its outer side. The results indicated a significant influence of plaque types on the maximum stresses induced within the plaque wall and arterial layers during stenting but not when computing maximum stress on the stent. The stress on the stiffest calcified plaque wall was in the fracture level (2.38 MPa), whereas cellular and hypocellular plaques remain stable owing to less stress on their walls. Regardless of plaque types, the highest von Mises stresses were observed on the stiffest intima layer, whereas the lowest stresses were seen to be located in less stiff media layer. The computed stresses on the intima layer were found to be high enough to initiate a rupture in this stiff layer. These findings suggest a higher risk of arterial vascular injury for the intima layer, while a lower risk of arterial injury for the media and adventitia layers.
Electric field control of microwave characteristics in composition-graded FeCoTa film grown onto [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.68-[PbTiO3]0.32(011) crystal
Authors: Phuoc Nguyen N. , Ong C. K.
Published: July 2014

The magnetic and microwave properties of a heterostructure composing of a composition-graded FeCoTa film and a [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3]0.68-[PbTiO3]0.32(011) substrate were investigated with respect to a varied applied electric field. For the as-deposited sample in the initial unpoled state, the resonance frequency is 7.2 GHz and it is suddenly increased to 8.4 GHz when the applied electric field reaches 2 kV/cm. Then upon the changing of the electric field from 6 kV/cm to −6 kV/cm, the resonance frequency is varied in the range from 8.4 GHz to 9.2 GHz. The resonance frequency can only be reset back to the lower level with the value of 7.6 GHz through the depolarization process. The results are interpreted in terms of the change in ferroelectric domain structures leading to the variation of the stress-induced magnetic anisotropy, which is experimentally verified by the magnetic and microwave behaviors after depolarization.
Tracing ultrafast dynamics of strong fields at plasma-vacuum interfaces with longitudinal proton probing
Authors: Abicht F. , Braenzel J. , Priebe G. , Koschitzki Ch. , Andreev A. A. , Nickles P. V. , Sandner W. , Schnürer M.
Published: July 2014

If regions of localized strong fields at plasma-vacuum interfaces are probed longitudinally with laser accelerated proton beams their velocity distribution changes sensitively and very fast. Its measured variations provide indirectly a higher temporal resolution as deduced from deflection geometries which rely on the explicit temporal resolution of the proton beam at the position of the object to probe. With help of reasonable models and comparative measurements changes of proton velocity can trace the field dynamics even at femtosecond time scale. In longitudinal probing, the very low longitudinal emittance together with a broad band kinetic energy distribution of laser accelerated protons is the essential prerequisite of the method. With a combination of energy and one-dimensional spatial resolution, we resolve fast field changes down to 100 fs. The used pump probe setup extends previous schemes and allows discriminating simultaneously between electric and magnetic fields in their temporal evolution.
Infrared thermal imaging as a method to study thermogenesis in the neonatal lamb
Authors: McCoard S. A. , Henderson H. V. , Knol F. W. , Dowling S. K. , Webster J. R.
Published: July 2014

The combination of heat generation and reducing heat loss from the skin surface is important for maintaining core body temperature in a neonate. Thermogenesis studies traditionally focus on measurement of core body temperature but not the contribution of radiated heat loss at the skin surface. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of using thermal imaging to measure radiated heat loss in newborn lambs. Continuous thermal images of newborn lambs were captured for 30 min each during the baseline (11−18°C), cold-exposure (0°C) and recovery (11−18°C) periods by using an infrared camera. Core body temperature measured by rectal thermometer was also recorded at the end of each period. In all, 7 of the 10 lambs evaluated had reduced rectal temperatures (0.4−1°C) between the baseline and recovery periods, while three maintained body temperature despite cold exposure. During the baseline period, infrared heat loss was relatively stable, followed by a rapid decrease of 5°C within 5 min of cold exposure. Heat loss continued to decrease linearly in the cold-exposure period by a further 10°C, but increased rapidly to baseline levels during the recovery period. A temperature change of between 20°C and 35°C was observed during the study, which was likely to be due to changes in vasoconstriction in the skin to conserve heat. The present study has highlighted the sensitivity of infrared thermal imaging to estimate heat loss from the skin in the newborn lamb and shown that rapid changes in heat loss occur in response to cold exposure.
Challenges in ration formulation in pasture-based milk production systems
Authors: Jacobs J. L.
Published: July 2014

The profitability of temperate dairy systems in southern Australia and New Zealand is underpinned by the efficient use of the home-grown feed-base and purchased supplements. While there are well established principles on which to devise nutritionally balanced rations for ruminants, it is evident that in grazing systems the variable supply of nutrients from forage often results in suboptimal performance compared with predicted responses. This review discusses the key factors likely to directly affect responses to supplementation in grazing systems, namely pasture supply, nutritive characteristics and intake, feeding systems, substitution, associative effects and nutrient synchrony. Intake is the primary driver for metabolisable energy (ME) and nutrient supply and uncertainties on the actual ME and nutrients supplied by pasture will remain due to variability within and between pasture types and within paddocks. It is suggested that improvements in ration formulation will require a better understanding of the kinetics of intake and digestion within the rumen and of nutrients supplied to the tissues from grazed pasture with and without supplements. Research which clearly elucidates which mechanism or mechanisms determine substitution rates with concentrate and forage supplements would be valuable. Such knowledge could also be used to develop feeding strategies that result in a reduction in the degree of substitution and, in turn, lead to higher DM and ME intake compared with existing feeding practices. This in turn would lead to a better understanding of associative effects and nutrient synchrony with benefits in better design of rations and feed-use efficiency.
Cervical screening uptake and abnormalities among women attending sexual health clinics for HIV care
Authors: Tilley Donna M. , O'Connor Catherine C. , Adusumilli Sunil , Smith Maggie , Marin-Zapata Clara , Ooi Catriona , Templeton David J.
Published: July 2014

The aim of this study was to describe cervical screening uptake and assess correlates of screen-detected abnormalities in women attending sexual health services for HIV care. Of 156 women, 115 had documentation of a Pap test at least once in 3 years and 9.6% had an annual Pap test performed. Pap abnormalities were associated with younger age, being born in Sub-Saharan Africa, more recent arrival in Australia, lower CD4 count, detectable viral load, shorter time on antiretroviral therapy and more recent HIV diagnosis. Women accessing sexual health services for HIV care, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, appear to be substantially under-screened and efforts to optimise screening are needed.
Adaptor protein DOK3 promotes plasma cell differentiation by regulating the expression of programmed cell death 1 ligands
Authors: Ou Xijun , Xu Shengli , Li Yan-Feng , Lam Kong-Peng
Published: July 2014

Significance

Plasma cells (PCs) are terminally differentiated B cells that secret large amounts of antibodies to protect the host from infectious pathogens. Our study describes an important role for the adaptor protein Downstream-of-Kinase (DOK) 3 in promoting the differentiation of PCs by regulating the expression of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) ligands PDL1 and PDL2. Moreover, we discover an unexpected role of calcium signalling in inhibiting the expressions of PD-1 ligands, and this inhibition is attenuated by DOK3. Knowing the signalling pathways that govern PC differentiation is critical for the optimal design of vaccines and adjuvants.
Hungary's “anti-capitalist” far-right: Jobbik and the Hungarian Guard
Authors: Varga Mihai
Published: July 2014

This article discusses the political success of the far-right Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik). Jobbik is usually depicted as owing its success to anti-Roma and anti-establishment sentiment, mobilized with the help of a paramilitary organization, the Hungarian Guard. With the examples of the party programs, the speeches of Jobbik leaders during marches of the Hungarian Guard, and the press releases of the party between 2008 and 2010, this article shows how Jobbik not only attempts to mobilize anti-Roma sentiment, but also tries to present itself as a party taking considerable interest in the economic issues of poverty and inequality triggered by capitalism. It also suggests that the party's success might in fact also be due to this focus on the economy, as well as due to increasing efforts on behalf of the party leadership to differentiate their positions from those of the main center-right party, Fidesz. This could explain how even though authorities banned the Hungarian Guard in July 2009, Jobbik nevertheless doubled its number of voters in the parliamentary elections of April 2010 (and achieved a further increase in absolute vote numbers in 2014) as compared to its electoral outcome in the European Parliament elections of June 2009.
Solvent-tolerance of fungi located on an interface between an agar plate and an organic solvent
Authors: Oda Shinobu , Sugitani Ayaka , Ohashi Shinichi
Published: July 2014

While 6 by 20 of type culture fungi could grow on an interface between organic solvent (log P, 4.12) and agar plate, 13 by 20 of strains could form a large colony after the removal of more toxic solvent, such as styrene (log P, 2.95) and tert-butyl acetate (log P, 1.76) because of viability of spores on the interface.
Detection of flavor compounds in longissimus muscle from four hybrid pig breeds of Sus scrofa, Bamei pig, and Large White
Authors: Chen Guoshun , Sui Yanan , Chen Sheng
Published: July 2014

To detect the flavor quality and flavor compounds in raw longissimus muscle from four typical pig breeds: Sus scrofa × Bamei pig named F1 (group A), F1 × F1 (group B), F1 × Bamei pig (group C), and F1 × Large White (group D). The chemical compositions of longissimus muscles from four breeds were examined using headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography mass spectrometry method. Distinct differences for the same flavor compounds of longissimus muscles between different breeds were analyzed. Totally 64 flavor compounds shared in four groups, and 10 flavor compounds with significant difference among four groups (p < 0.05), including allyl butyrate, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, 2,2-dimethyl-3-methyl oxirane, 2-pentylfuran, dodecane, 2,4-decadienal, vinylsilane, 3-methyl-1-butanol, (1-methyldecyl)-benzene, and dipropyl phthalate. Totally, 23–41 flavor compounds did not commonly exist in four groups, such as only as dibutyl isophthalate in group A; 6,10-dimethyl-5-9-undecadien-2 one, bis (2-trimethylsilyl) ethyl ester-malonic acid, heptadecane, 2,4,6-trimethyl pyridine, and diisooctyl adipate in group C alone; and 1,3-dimethylcyclopentanol, 2-octanone, and trimethylsilane in group D alone. While, no specific flavor compounds were identified in group B. All these flavor compounds covered 12 types of hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, hydroxybenzenes, acids, ketones, esters, sulfides, furans, alkenes, and pyrrole. Besides, we analyzed 14 flavor compounds with different flavors combining with previous studies. The flavor compounds in longissimus muscles might be closely related to the breeds, and the hybrid of S. scrofa × Bamei pig had the most flavor compounds in raw longissimus muscle.
Gene cloning and biochemical characterization of eryngase, a serine aminopeptidase of Pleurotus eryngii belonging to the family S9 peptidases
Authors: Arima Jiro , Tokai Shota , Chiba Masanori , Ichiyanagi Tsuyoshi , Yabuta Yukinori , Mori Nobuhiro , Aimi Tadanori
Published: July 2014

Pleurotus eryngii serine aminopeptidase that has peptide bond formation activity, redesignated as eryngase, was cloned and expressed. Eryngase has a family S9 peptidase unit in the C-terminal region having a catalytic triad of Ser, Asp, and His. In the phylogenetic relations among the subfamilies of family S9 peptidase (S9A, prolyl oligopeptidase; S9B, dipeptidyl peptidase; S9C, acylaminoacyl peptidase; S9D, glutamyl endopeptidase), eryngase existed alone in the neighbor of S9C subfamily. Mutation of the active site Ser524 of the eryngase with Ala eliminated its catalytic activity. In contrast, S524C mutant maintained low catalytic activity. Investigation of aminolysis activity using l-Phe-NH2 as a substrate showed that S524C mutant exhibited no hydrolysis reaction but synthesized a small amount of l-Phe-l-Phe-NH2 by the catalysis of aminolysis. In contrast, wild-type eryngase hydrolyzed the product of aminolysis l-Phe-l-Phe-NH2. Results show that the S524C mutant preferentially catalyzed aminolysis when on an l-Phe-NH2 substrate.
Knockdown of the NHR-8 nuclear receptor enhanced sensitivity to the lipid-reducing activity of alkaloids in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Chow Yit-Lai , Kawasaki Yuriko , Sato Fumihiko
Published: July 2014

Caenorhabditis elegans is a versatile, whole-organism model for bioactivity screening. However, this worm has extensive defensive mechanisms against xenobiotics which limit its use for screening of pharmacologically active compounds. In this study, we report that knockdown of nhr-8, a gene involved in the xenobiotic response, increased the worm’s sensitivity to the lipid-reducing effects of some isoquinoline alkaloids, especially berberine. On the other hand, crude extract of rhizome and cultured cells showed enhanced biological activity compared to the pure alkaloids in wild type worm, but this enhanced activity was not detected in nhr-8 RNAi worm, suggesting that some components in cell extracts might interfere with the defense response in this worm. The possibility of using C. elegans as a model for screening bioactive chemicals is discussed.
High Prevalence of Reduced Chlorhexidine Susceptibility in Organisms Causing Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections
Authors: Suwantarat Nuntra , Carroll Karen C. , Tekle Tsigereda , Ross Tracy , Maragakis Lisa L. , Cosgrove Sara E. , Milstone Aaron M.
Published: July 2014

In units that bathe patients daily with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), organisms causing central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) were more likely to have reduced CHG susceptibility than organisms causing CLABSIs in units that do not bathe patients daily with CHG (86% vs 64%; P = .028). Surveillance is needed to detect reduced CHG susceptibility with widespread CHG use.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(9):1183-1186
A lysine deacetylase Hos3 is targeted to the bud neck and involved in the spindle position checkpoint
Authors: Wang Mengqiao , Collins Ruth N.
Published: July 2014

An increasing number of cellular activities can be regulated by reversible lysine acetylation. Targeting the enzymes responsible for such posttranslational modifications is instrumental in defining their substrates and functions in vivo. Here we show that a Saccharomyces cerevisiae lysine deacetylase, Hos3, is asymmetrically targeted to the daughter side of the bud neck and to the daughter spindle pole body (SPB). The morphogenesis checkpoint member Hsl7 recruits Hos3 to the neck region. Cells with a defect in spindle orientation trigger Hos3 to load onto both SPBs. When associated symmetrically with both SPBs, Hos3 functions as a spindle position checkpoint (SPOC) component to inhibit mitotic exit. Neck localization of Hos3 is essential for its symmetric association with SPBs in cells with misaligned spindles. Our data suggest that Hos3 facilitates cross-talk between the morphogenesis checkpoint and the SPOC as a component of the intricate monitoring of spindle orientation after mitotic entry and before commitment to mitotic exit.
Mad2, Bub3, and Mps1 regulate chromosome segregation and mitotic synchrony in Giardia intestinalis, a binucleate protist lacking an anaphase-promoting complex
Authors: Vicente Juan-Jesus , Cande W. Zacheus
Published: July 2014

The binucleate pathogen Giardia intestinalis is a highly divergent eukaryote with a semiopen mitosis, lacking an anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) and many of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC) proteins. However, Giardia has some MCC components (Bub3, Mad2, and Mps1) and proteins from the cohesin system (Smc1 and Smc3). Mad2 localizes to the cytoplasm, but Bub3 and Mps1 are either located on chromosomes or in the cytoplasm, depending on the cell cycle stage. Depletion of Bub3, Mad2, or Mps1 resulted in a lowered mitotic index, errors in chromosome segregation (including lagging chromosomes), and abnormalities in spindle morphology. During interphase, MCC knockdown cells have an abnormal number of nuclei, either one nucleus usually on the left-hand side of the cell or two nuclei with one mislocalized. These results suggest that the minimal set of MCC proteins in Giardia play a major role in regulating many aspects of mitosis, including chromosome segregation, coordination of mitosis between the two nuclei, and subsequent nuclear positioning. The critical importance of MCC proteins in an organism that lacks their canonical target, the APC/C, suggests a broader role for these proteins and hints at new pathways to be discovered.
Embracing Diversity: An Introduction to Contributions That Were Offered at
the From Theatre to Screen Conference
Authors: Parsons Elinor
Published: July 2014

The article introduces five essays contained in the journal that were written in response to the ‘From Theatre to Screen—and Back Again!’ conference held in February 2014 at De Montfort University, Leicester. The essays are situated in the context of the wider interests raised by the conference. By considering the content and approach taken by each contributor, the connections and points of difference between the essays are revealed. Three papers focus upon screen versions of stage productions and the case studies chosen are located across the United Kingdom, America and Australia. The other two papers grant proportionally greater space to adaptations on stage in American and European contexts.
Work productivity and neuropsychological function in persons with skull base tumors
Authors: Nugent Bethany D. , Weimer Jason , Choi Chienwen J. , Bradley Cathy J. , Bender Catherine M. , Ryan Christopher M. , Gardner Paul , Sherwood Paula R.
Published: July 2014

Background

Skull base tumors comprise many common benign brain tumors. Treatment has advanced, allowing many survivors to return to work. However, literature is limited about the neuropsychological status of these patients prior to treatment. Literature pertaining to the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and occupational ability prior to surgical intervention is even more limited. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the impact of neuropsychological function on work productivity in persons with skull base tumors prior to resection.

Methods

Neuropsychological function and work productivity were assessed in adults newly diagnosed with skull base tumors (n = 45) prior to surgical intervention. Univariate analyses identified potential predictors of work limitations; variables with P < .10 were analyzed using multivariate regression analyses controlled for age, sex, tumor type, and education.

Results

Poorer mental attention and flexibility (MF) and higher depressive symptoms (DS) were significantly associated with poor time management at work (MF: β = -0.59, P = .01; DS: β = 3.42, P < .01; R2 = 0.54). Difficulty meeting physical work demands was significantly associated with poorer visuospatial ability (VA) and higher depressive symptoms (VA: β = −3.30, P = .05; DS: β = 2.29, P < .01; R2 = 0.29). Lower learning and memory scores (LM) and higher depressive symptoms were significantly associated with difficulty meeting mental-interpersonal work demands (LM: β = −3.39, P = .04; DS: β = 3.25, P < .01; R2 = 0.47) and overall health-related loss of work productivity (LM: β = −0.72, P = .05; DS: β = 0.659, P < .001; R2 = 0.43).

Conclusion

Domains of neuropsychological function that predicted work productivity were identified. Future research should examine neuropsychological function, depressive symptoms, and work productivity across the care trajectory from diagnosis through long-term survivorship.
Fatal Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis Due to Balamuthia mandrillaris in New Mexico: A Case Report
Authors: Pindyck Talia N. , Dvorscak Lauren E. , Hart Blaine L. , Palestine Michael D. , Gallant Joel E. , Allen Sarah E. , SantaCruz Karen S.
Published: July 2014

Balamuthia mandrillaris is a free-living amoeba that can cause granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE). We report a case in an individual with a history of alcohol abuse, cocaine use, and ditch water exposure. This is the first reported case of GAE due to B mandrillaris in New Mexico.
Modeling First Break Milling of Debranned Wheat Using the Double Normalized Kumaraswamy Breakage Function
Authors: Galindez‐Najera Silvia Patricia , Campbell Grant M.
Published: July 2014

Debranning of wheat affects flour quality, initially by altering the breakage of wheat kernels during first break. The double normalized Kumaraswamy breakage function was applied to model the effect of debranning on wheat breakage during first break milling, in which type 1 breakage describes a relatively narrow distribution of midsized particles, whereas type 2 breakage describes a wide size range of predominantly small particles extending to very large particles. Mallacca (hard) and Consort (soft) wheats were debranned and milled at three roll gaps under sharp‐to‐sharp and dull‐to‐dull dispositions. Type 1 breakage increased at longer debranning times, whereas type 2 breakage decreased, for both wheat varieties under both dispositions. Sharp‐to‐sharp milling tended to produce more type 1 breakage than dull‐to‐dull. A mechanism of wheat breakage is proposed to explain the coproduction of very large and small particles via type 2 breakage and, hence, the effect of debranning. The proposed mechanism is that small particles of endosperm arise from scraping of large flat particles of wheat bran under the differential action of the rolls, such that removal of the bran reduces the production of the large bran particles and thus reduces the opportunity for the scraping mechanism that produces the very small particles.
Measurement and Comparison of Glass Transition and Sticky Point Temperatures of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) with Varying Condensed Distillers Solubles (CDS) and Drying Temperature Levels
Authors: Bhadra Rumela , Rosentrater Kurt A. , Muthukumarappan K.
Published: July 2014

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is the main coproduct of the U.S. fuel ethanol industry and has significantly impacted the livestock feed markets in recent years. Particle agglomeration and subsequent flowability problems during storage and transport are often a hindrance, a nuisance, and expensive. This paper aims at characterizing the glass transition (Tg) and sticky point (Ts) temperatures of DDGS samples prepared with varying condensed distillers solubles (CDS) levels (10, 15, and 20%, wb), drying temperatures (100, 200, and 300°C), and moisture contents (0, 10, and 20%, db), and it discusses implications on DDGS flowability behavior. Distillers wet grains were combined with specified levels of CDS and dried in a convection‐style laboratory oven to produce DDGS. Subsequently, predetermined amounts of water were added to the DDGS to achieve desired moisture content levels. To determine Tg (°C), a differential scanning calorimeter was used, whereas Ts (°C) was determined through a novel technique with a rheometer. Results indicated high correlations between observed Ts and observed Tg (R2 = 0.87) data for DDGS samples. Also, the empirical model for predicted Tg = f (drying temperature, CDS level, and moisture content) based on the Gordon–Taylor model showed favorable R2 (0.74). Stickiness of DDGS increased with an increase in moisture content, indicating flow problems resulting from moisture. It was found that drying temperatures and CDS levels each had significant effects on Tg and Ts as well.