bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Very‐low‐profile dual‐wideband loop antenna for LTE tablet computer
Authors: Wong Kin‐Lu , Chen Meng‐Ting
Published: November 2014

A very‐low‐profile (8 mm in height), small‐size (8 × 3 × 40 mm3), and dual‐wideband loop antenna suitable for applications in the LTE tablet device such as a tablet computer is presented. Dual‐wideband operation of the proposed loop antenna is achieved using a wideband feed structure formed by a coupling feed, a high‐pass matching circuit, and a tuning inductor. The coupling feed leads to successful excitation of a quarter‐wavelength loop mode in the desired lower band. The high‐pass matching circuit causes an additional resonance occurred near the excited quarter‐wavelength loop mode to widen the low‐band bandwidth to cover the 698–960 MHz band. The tuning inductor can adjust the frequency ratio of the first two higher‐order loop modes to form a wide higher band to cover the 1710–2690 MHz band. Dual‐wideband operation of the proposed loop antenna for the LTE operation is hence obtained. Details of the proposed loop antenna are addressed. Working principle of the antenna, especially the function of the wideband feed structure thereof, is described. Experimental results of the fabricated prototype are also presented. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:141–146, 2015
Slot meander spurline bandstop filter using integrated passive device technology
Authors: Shrestha Bhanu , Kim Nam‐Young
Published: November 2014

A slot meander spurline bandstop filter (BSF) is designed, fabricated, and characterized on a semi‐insulating‐GaAs substrate with a thickness of 625 µm and a dielectric constant of 12.85 using integrated passive device technology. The BSF is resonated at 5.44 GHz for wireless local area network applications. The purposed bandstop is built with slot meander spurlines and symmetrically folded T‐type slot lines that provide excellent S‐parameter responses. The measured insertion loss (S21) and return loss (S11) are −28.7 and 0.7 dB, respectively, with a 3‐dB fractional bandwidth of 11%. The experimental results nearly have a good agreement with the simulation results. The overall dimension of the proposed BSF is (1966 × 4984) µm2. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:168–172, 2015
Impact analysis on distance variation between patch antenna and metamaterial
Authors: Katiyar Pankaj , Liza Wan Mahadi Wan Nor
Published: November 2014

Metamaterials are artificially engineered material having negative permittivity and permeability. Due to their negative constitutive parameters, metamaterials are capable of focusing incident electromagnetic energy called as beam focusing property. We have made use of beam focusing property of metamaterial to enhance antenna far‐field gain. We have also conducted experimental study by varying the distance between patch antenna and metamaterial array to determine optimum distance. The distance is varied in seven steps of 35 mm. The far‐field gain of antenna is increased by 4 dB when metamaterial is placed at 95 mm. The beamwidth of antenna reduces when loaded with metamaterial indicating beam sharpening. At 155 mm from patch antenna, the beamwidth reduces to 33.95° and starts increasing as metamaterial is moved further away. The resonance frequency and bandwidth of antenna follows alternate increase and decrease pattern as the distance of metamaterial is increased, however, the impact is negligible. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:178–183, 2015
Compact wide‐stopband planar diplexer based on rectangular dual spiral resonator
Authors: Bukuru Denis , Song Kaijun , Xue
Published: November 2014

A Compact wide‐stopband planar diplexer based on rectangular dual spiral resonator (RDSR) is proposed. The proposed diplexer is composed of three parts: (1) two RDSR bandpass filters (BPFs) with right bend open‐circuited stubs coupling feed structure, (2) open‐circuited stub to reduce the second harmonic in upper stopband, and (3) T‐junction configuration to combine two BPFs circuits for one planar diplexer. Based on the structure, the fabricated wide‐stopband planar diplexer prototype with compact dimension is achieved to operate at the WLAN frequencies (i.e., 3.65/5.2 GHz). Both the simulated and measured results indicate that satisfactory impedance matching and high isolation between two channels are achieved. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:174–178, 2015
X‐band 100 W solid‐state power amplifier using a 0.25 μM GaN HEMT technology
Authors: Kang Dong Min , Lim Jong Won , Ahn Ho Kyun , Kim Sung Il , Kim Hae Cheon , Yoon Hyung Sup , Kwon Yong Hwan , Nam Eun Soo
Published: November 2014

This article describes the successful development and the performance of X‐band 100 W pulsed SSPA using a 25 W GaN‐on‐SiC high electron mobility transistor (HEMT). The GaN HEMT with a gate length of 0.25 µm and a total gate width of 8 mm were fabricated. The GaN HEMT provide a linear gain of 8 dB with 25 W output power operated at 30 V drain voltage in continuous wave (CW)‐operation with a power added efficiency of 43% at X‐band. It also shows a maximum output power density of 3 W/mm. The X‐band pulsed SSPA exhibited an output power of 100 W (50 dBm) with a power gain of 53 dB in a frequency range of 9.2–9.5 GHz. This 25 W GaN HEMT and X‐band 100 W pulsed SSPA are suitable for the radar systems and related applications in X‐band. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:212–216, 2015
An alternative method to extract the parasitic capacitances of GaN FETs
Authors: Loo‐Yau J. R. , Tapia‐Sánchez I. , Moreno P.
Published: November 2014

This work presents a method to determine the parasitic capacitances of GaN FETs, especially the Cpd. The proposed method is based on an idea used for GaAs FET that assumes that Cpd is directly proportional to Cds by a factor of 0.25. The contribution of this work lies in the adaptation of this technique to be suitable for GaN FETs by proposing a methodology to accurately compute the proportionality factor. The proposed procedure is based on the ratio of Im(Y11+Y12) to Im(Y22+Y12), which is related to the asymmetry of the depletion region of the GaN FET under pinched‐off Cold‐FET condition. To validate the proposed method, several GaN FETs were modeled using the extracted capacitances and the simulations results have a high correlation with experimental data. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:223–225, 2015
A conductive shielded compact antenna hat for inverted‐F antennas
Authors: Kim Sung‐Wan , Park Dong‐Chul
Published: November 2014

We propose a conductive shielded compact antenna hat, which can be utilized as a low loss passive RF repeater or coupler, to perform the RF compatibility testing of the aircraft, rocket, and launch vehicle using inverted‐F type antennas. Although the onboard antenna is very closely enclosed by the proposed antenna hat without RF absorbers, the resonance of the antenna itself is hardly affected compared to the free space radiation. The antenna hat which is fabricated for the S‐band inverted‐F antenna with the size of 74 × 13 × 16 mm3 has the small enclosure of 88 × 35 × 44 mm3, the return loss of 25.6 dB, the insertion loss of 0.3 dB, and the leakage loss of 52.5 dB at 2.25 GHz. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:220–223, 2015
Bandwidth enhancement metamaterial antenna based on transmission line approach
Authors: Bala B. D. , Rahim M. K. A. , Murad N. A.
Published: November 2014

A composite right‐/left‐handed transmission line metamaterial antenna with enhanced bandwidth and efficiency is proposed. The antenna combines zeroth‐order resonant (ZOR) and positive‐order resonant (POR) modes for the bandwidth enhancement. An asymmetrical coplanar waveguide technique is used to feed the antenna and also to achieve certain degree of compactness. The overall size of the antenna is 0.32λ0 × 0.38λ0 × 0.012λ0 (40 × 48 × 1.52 mm) at 2.4 GHz. Simulation results show that a bandwidth enhancement of 41% is obtained with the radiation efficiencies of 95 and 97% for the ZOR and POR modes, respectively. The measured impedance bandwidth shows that the antenna has potential applications for WLAN (2.39–2.45 GHz) and WiMAX (2.5–2.69 GHz) operations. The simulated and measured antenna performances in terms of return loss and the radiation patterns are presented and compared. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:252–256, 2015
3D localization method for near‐field sources with virtual arrays in the ISM band
Authors: Mora‐Cuevas Jonathan , de Haro‐Ariet Leandro
Published: November 2014

The problem of 3D near‐field source localization using virtual arrays is addressed. The proposed method is based on a spherical wave steering vector whose performance of 2D direction‐of‐arrival and range estimation is evaluated via MUSIC‐based algorithm. Experimental results in comparison with simulation ones are presented to validate its efficacy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:238–242, 2015
Fabrication of gelatin/chitosan nanofibrous scaffold: process optimization and empirical modeling
Authors: Pezeshki‐Modaress Mohamad , Zandi Mojgan , Mirzadeh Hamid
Published: November 2014

Electrospinning is a very useful technique for producing polymeric nanofibers by applying electrostatic forces. This study reports on the modeling and optimization of the electrospinning process of gelatin/chitosan, using response surface methodology. The individual and the interaction effects of the gelatin/chitosan blend ratio (50/50, 60/40 and 70/30), applied voltage (20, 25 and 30kV) and feeding rate (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6mLh−1) on the mean fiber diameter and standard deviation of the fiber diameter were investigated on optimization section, using scanning electron microscopy. To fabricate the nanofibrous gelatin/chitosan blend, trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane was selected as the solvent system. The model obtained for the mean fiber diameter has a quadratic relationship with applied voltage and feeding rate. The interaction between applied voltage and flow rate were found significant but the interactions of blend ratio and flow rate and also blend ratio and applied voltage were negligible. A quadratic relationship was obtained for applied voltage and flow rate with standard deviation of the fiber diameter and there was no interaction between the parameters in the model. The optimum condition for electrospinning of gelatin/chitosan was also introduced using the model obtained in this study. Scanning electron micrographs of human dermal fibroblast cells on the nanofibrous structures show good attachment and proliferation on the fabricated scaffold surface. Electrospun gelatin/chitosan nanofibrous mats have great potential for use as a scaffold for skin tissue engineering. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Contribution of phosphoproteomics in understanding SRC signaling in normal and tumor cells
Authors: Sirvent Audrey , Urbach Serge , Roche Serge
Published: November 2014

The membrane‐anchored, non‐receptor tyrosine kinase (non‐RTK) SRC is a critical regulator of signal transduction induced by a large variety of cell‐surface receptors, including RTKs that bind to growth factors to control cell growth and migration. When deregulated, SRC shows strong oncogenic activity, probably because of its capacity to promote RTK‐mediated downstream signaling even in the absence of extracellular stimuli. Accordingly, SRC is frequently deregulated in human cancer and is thought to play important roles during tumorigenesis. However, our knowledge on the molecular mechanism by which SRC controls signaling is incomplete due to the limited number of key substrates identified so far. Here, we review how phosphoproteomic methods have changed our understanding of the mechanisms underlying SRC signaling in normal and tumor cells and discuss how these novel findings can be used to improve therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting SRC signaling in human cancer.
Innovation Portfolio Management as a Subset of Dynamic Capabilities: Measurement and Impact on Innovative Performance
Authors: Sicotte Hélène , Drouin Nathalie , Delerue Hélène
Published: November 2014

Innovation portfolio management has been touted as a new dynamic capability following the evolution of team- and project-based organizational forms. In this article, we conceptualize innovative dynamic capabilities as a multidimensional construct that comprises distinct but related aspects in managing innovation. We test our model, which links this capability to innovative performance by using survey data from a sample of 923 firms. We find empirical support for our conceptualization and its impact on firm innovative performance.
Making Innovation Happen in a Megaproject: London's Crossrail Suburban Railway System
Authors: Davies Andrew , MacAulay Samuel , DeBarro Tim , Thurston Mark
Published: November 2014

Isolated pockets of innovation can be found in projects–-such as the novel solution used to redesign the Velodrome roof during the London 2012 Olympics–-but there have been few, if any, systematic efforts to manage innovation in a megaproject. This paper presents the initial findings of an ongoing three-year (2012–2014) action research project between Crossrail and researchers at Imperial College London and University College London. Action research is well suited to a setting where an intervention is required to diagnose and solve an organizational problem and produce scientific findings (Miles & Huberman, 1994; Van de Ven, 2007). Undertaken in collaboration with practitioners, the aim of action research is to transform the research setting through a process of critical inquiry and action. Our engagement with Crossrail aimed to formulate and implement an innovation strategy to improve the performance and outcomes of the project. We identified four stages–-or windows of opportunity–-to intervene to generate, discover, and implement innovation in a megaproject: (1) the bridging window during the front-end when ideas, learning, and practices from other projects and industries can be used to create an innovative project process, organization, and governance structure; (2) the engaging window, when tendering and contractual processes can be used by the client to encourage contractors and suppliers to develop novel ideas and innovative solutions; (3) the leveraging window, when all the parties involved–-clients, delivery partners, and suppliers–-are mobilized to develop novel ideas, new technologies, and organizational practices to improve performance; and (4) the exchanging window at the back-end, when ideas and resources for innovation can be (re) combined with those of other projects in the wider innovation ecosystem to improve performance. The first two stages had largely occurred when we became involved in the Crossrail project in 2012. Our intervention addressed the final two stages, when we assisted in the development and implementation of an innovation strategy. Core to this strategy was a coordinated mobilization of the innovative capabilities across the project supply chain. Though, to be successful, this approach had to be open enough to span organizational boundaries beyond the supply chain, reaching into the broader ecosystem. The four windows provide a valuable new heuristic for organizing innovation in megaprojects, pointing to areas where project managers can craft targeted innovation interventions and compare their efforts with those of others.
Sequence–function relationships in folding upon binding
Authors: Eginton Christopher , Naganathan Saranga , Beckett Dorothy
Published: November 2014

Folding coupled to binding is ubiquitous in biology. Nevertheless, the relationship of sequence to function for protein segments that undergo coupled binding and folding remains to be determined. Specifically, it is not known if the well‐established rules that govern protein folding and stability are relevant to ligand‐linked folding transitions. Upon small ligand biotinoyl‐5′‐AMP (bio‐5′‐AMP) binding the Escherichia coli protein BirA undergoes a disorder‐to‐order transition that results in formation of a network of packed hydrophobic side chains. Ligand binding is also allosterically coupled to protein association, with bio‐5′‐AMP binding enhancing the dimerization free energy by −4.0 kcal/mol. Previous studies indicated that single alanine replacements in a three residue hydrophobic cluster that contributes to the larger network disrupt cluster formation, ligand binding, and allosteric activation of protein association. In this work, combined equilibrium and kinetic measurements of BirA variants with alanine substitutions in the entire hydrophobic network reveal large functional perturbations resulting from any single substitution and highly non‐additive effects of multiple substitutions. These substitutions also disrupt ligand‐linked folding. The combined results suggest that, analogous to protein folding, functional disorder‐to‐order linked to binding requires optimal packing of the relevant hydrophobic side chains that contribute to the transition. The potential for many combinations of residues to satisfy this requirement implies that, although functionally important, segments of homologous proteins that undergo folding linked to binding can exhibit sequence divergence.
Growth and characterization of AlxGa1−xN lateral polarity structures
Authors: Hoffmann Marc Patrick , Kirste Ronny , Mita Seiji , Guo Wei , Tweedie James , Bobea Milena , Bryan Isaac , Bryan Zachary , Gerhold Michael , Collazo Ramon , Sitar Zlatko
Published: November 2014

AlGaN lateral polarity structures (LPS) with varying Al composition, have been fabricated by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition on LPS templates containing µm size domains. III‐metal and N‐polar AlGaN domains have been grown on LT‐AlN and c‐sapphire domains, respectively. LPS characterization by SEM and AFM reveals two major effects when the Al composition has been varied: (a) A high Al content leads to columnar growth within N‐polar domains and (b) a height difference between the polar domains can be observed for low Al compositions towards III‐polarity. The surface quality of the III‐polar domains is not effected by the Al composition. The surface roughness of N‐polar domains decreases for lower Al compositions. The high periodicity of the polar domains and the high quality of the boundary between domains suggest a high potential of AlGaN LPS to be used as lateral wave guides for quasi phase matching.
Comparing the costs and detectability of bobcat using scat‐detecting dog and remote camera surveys in central Wisconsin
Authors: Clare John D. J. , Anderson Eric M. , MACfarland David M. , Sloss Brian L.
Published: November 2014

Determining cost‐effective field methods for detecting carnivores is critical for effective survey and monitoring studies. As the bobcat (Lynx rufus) undergoes range expansion in the northern and eastern United States, field methods may be useful for informing revisions in population management. We paired 2 scat detection‐dog teams and 16 remote cameras at 4 survey sites within central Wisconsin, during summer 2011, and compared detection totals, detection probabilities, and costs between methods. Laboratory expenditures are an additional cost for scat collection, and we modeled the probability that a collected scat was genetically confirmed as bobcat as a function of dog, handler, site, and the strength of the dog's behavior. We estimated that detection‐dog surveys required only 2 days to achieve a 90% probability of detecting a bobcat in a 4‐km2 area, while a single camera station would require 7–8 weeks. But a month of detection‐dog surveys cost 33% more than a 4‐month camera survey, with projected cost differences increasing annually. There were dog‐specific differences in collection rate, and the probability that a collected scat was genetically confirmed as bobcat was best predicted by the individual dog associated with collection and the survey area, rather than the handler or the dog's observed response. We recommend cameras as a generally more cost‐efficient bobcat survey method, and we advise against relying on the strength of an individual dog's response as a means of screening samples for genetic analysis. However, the most appropriate survey method is likely to be goal‐dependent, and we recommend that detection‐dog contractors both advertise and match the strengths and weaknesses of specific dogs with the needs of clientele. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Firm's resilience to supply chain disruptions: Scale development and empirical examination
Authors: Ambulkar Saurabh , Blackhurst Jennifer , Grawe Scott
Published: November 2014

This paper expands our understanding of factors that contribute to development of firm resilience to supply chain disruptions. In doing so, we operationalize firm resilience to understand how supply chain disruption orientated firms can develop resilience to supply chain disruptions. We find that supply chain disruption orientation alone is not enough for a firm to develop resilience. Supply chain disruption oriented firms require the ability to reconfigure resources or have a risk management resource infrastructure to develop resilience. The way in which supply chain disruption oriented firms develop resilience through resource reconfiguration or risk management infrastructure depends on the context of the disruption as high impact or low impact. In a high impact disruption context, resource reconfiguration fully mediates the relationship between supply chain disruption orientation and firm resilience. In a low impact disruption context, supply chain disruption orientation and risk management infrastructure have a synergistic effect on developing firm resilience.
Deglacial and Holocene Archaeal Lipid-Inferred Paleohydrology and Paleotemperature History of Lake Qinghai, Northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Wang Huanye , Dong Hailiang , Zhang Chuanlun L. , Jiang Hongchen , Liu Zhonghui , Zhao Meixun , Liu Weiguo
Published: November 2014

We investigate the distribution of archaeal lipids in a 5.8-m-long sedimentary core recovered from Lake Qinghai to extract regional hydroclimate and temperature signals since the last deglaciation for this important region. The paleohydrology was reconstructed from the relative abundance of thaumarchaeol (%thaum) and the archaeol and caldarchaeol ecometric (ACE) index. The %thaum-inferred lake-level record was extended to deglaciation, showing three periods (11.9–13.0, 14.1–14.7 and 15.1–17.2 cal ka BP) with relatively higher lake levels than those during the early Holocene. The ACE record demonstrates three periods (10.6–11.2, 13.2–13.4 and 17.4–17.6 cal ka BP) of elevated salinity when the lake was shallow. Filtered TEX86 record based on archaeal lipid distributions corresponded to relatively higher lake levels, implying that a certain lake size is required for using the TEX86 paleothermometer. At 1–4 cal ka BP, the reconstructed temperature fluctuated significantly and correlated negatively with inferred lake level, indicating that lake temperature and hydrological change might be coupled during this period. We attribute this co-variance to the importance of summer temperature in controlling evaporation for this arid/semi-arid region. Moreover, our results indicate that archaeal lipids have potential in reconstructing paleoclimate patterns from lacustrine sedimentary cores, but the data should be interpreted with care.
Mid size cliques are more common in real world networks than triangles
Authors: SLATER NOA , ITZCHACK ROYI , LOUZOUN YORAM
Published: November 2014

Real world networks typically have large clustering coefficients. The clustering coefficient can be interpreted to be the result of a triangle closing mechanism. We have here enumerated cliques and maximal cliques in multiple networks to show that real world networks have a high number of large cliques. While triangles are more frequent than expected, large cliques are much more over-expressed, and the largest difference between real world networks and their random counterpart occurs in many networks at clique sizes of 5–7, and not at a size of 3. This does not result from the existence of few very large cliques, since a similar feature is observed when studying only maximal cliques (cliques that are not contained in other larger cliques). Moreover, when the large cliques are removed, triangles are often under-expressed.

In all networks studied but one, all node members of large cliques produce a single connected component, which represent the central “core” of the network. The observed clique distribution can be explained by multiple models, mainly hidden variables model, such as the gravitation model, or the collapse of bipartite networks. These models can explain other properties of these networks, including the sub-graph distribution and the distance distribution of the networks. This suggests that node connectivity in real world networks may be determined by the similarity between the contents of the networks' nodes. This is in contrast with models of network formation that incorporate only the properties of the network, and not the internal properties of the nodes.
Grape seed procyanidin B2 ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibits apoptosis via the AMP-activated protein kinase–silent mating type information regulation 2 homologue 1–PPARγ co-activator-1α axis in rat mesangial cells under high-dose glucosamine
Authors: Bao Lei , Cai Xiaxia , Zhang Zhaofeng , Li Yong
Published: November 2014

Grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2), an antioxidative and anti-inflammatory polyphenol in grape seed, has been found to have protective effects on diabetic nephropathy. Based on its favourable biological activities, in the present study, we aimed to investigate whether GSPB2 could inhibit apoptosis in rat mesangial cells treated with glucosamine (GlcN) under high-dose conditions. The results showed that the administration of GSPB2 (10 μg/ml) significantly increased the viability of mesangial cells treated with GlcN at a dose of 15 mm. We found that GSPB2 inhibited apoptosis in mesangial cells using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphates (dUTP) nick-end labelling staining and flow cytometry technique (P< 0·05 for both). GSPB2 treatment also suppressed oxidative stress by elevating the activity of glutathione peroxidase (P< 0·05) and superoxide dismutase (P< 0·01), as well as prevented cellular damage. GSPB2 enhanced the mRNA expression of nuclear respiratory factor 1, mitochondrial transcription factor A and mitochondrial DNA copy number in mesangial cells as determined by real-time PCR (P< 0·05 for each). Finally, GSPB2 treatment activated the protein expression of PPARγ co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), silent mating type information regulation 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in mesangial cells. These findings suggest that GSPB2 markedly ameliorates mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibits apoptosis in rat mesangial cells treated with high-dose GlcN. This protective effect could be, at least in part, due to the activation of the AMPK–SIRT1–PGC-1α axis.
Surgical management of airway stenosis by radiofrequency coblation
Authors: Chan C L , Frauenfelder C A , Foreman A , Athanasiadis T , Ooi E , Carney A S
Published: November 2014

Background:

Acquired airway stenosis can be challenging to manage endoscopically because of difficult field visualisation, instrument limitations and the risk of laser fire. At our institution, radiofrequency coblation has been successfully used for the resection of subglottic and tracheal stenosis in adults. This paper presents our experience with this technique.

Method:

A retrospective case note analysis of all cases of airway stenosis in adults from 2007 to 2012 was performed.

Results:

Ten adult patients underwent coblation resection for airway stenosis. All lesions were classified as McCaffrey stage I (i.e. less than 1 cm long). Causes of stenosis included: idiopathic stenosis (40 per cent), previous tracheostomy (30 per cent) and endotracheal intubation (20 per cent). Six patients (60 per cent) required a single procedure and 4 (40 per cent) required multiple interventions. All patients reported significant improvement in their symptoms following treatment. All patients were alive at the time of writing and none have required open resection.

Conclusion:

Radiofrequency coblation is an attractive alternative technique for the treatment of idiopathic or acquired airway stenosis in adults.
Seamen and the Nigerianization of Shipping in the Postcolonial Era
Authors: Schler Lynn
Published: November 2014

This article examines the impact that indigenization policies had on labor and on the cultures of work in postcolonial Nigeria. Scholars have studied indigenization in the context of nationalist politics, statecraft, and development in postcolonial Africa. However, we have little knowledge of how working classes experienced and interpreted indigenization schemes. Focusing on the indigenization of shipping, this article discusses both how Nigerian seamen anticipated the establishment of the Nigerian National Shipping Line and the actual impact of Nigerianization on their working lives. By taking a close look at changes in shipboard hierarchies, labor relations, and the culture of work on NNSL vessels, we can gain a deeper understanding of how broader political processes associated with decolonization and postindependence shaped working-class lives in postcolonial Nigeria.
Aarhus Town Hall and the ‘other’ environmental tradition
Authors: Hawkes Dean
Published: November 2014

The first chapter of Nikolaus Pevsner's The Englishness of English Art is entitled ‘The Geography of Art’. In this he presents a reflection on the validity of geography as a means of interpreting art and architecture and in it he proposes that, ‘there is a whole string of facts from art and literature [that are] tentatively derived from climate’. The instrumental connection of architecture and climate is widely accepted in the literature of socalled ‘architectural science’. But the influence of geography and the specific conditions of climate may be shown to have a more fundamental influence on architecture than simple pragmatism.
Low-Voltage TEM/STEM for Atomic Resolution Imaging and Spectroscopy
Authors: Suenaga K. , Sasaki T. , Sawada H.
Published: November 2014

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.
Improving farming practices reduces the carbon footprint of spring wheat production
Authors: Gan Yantai , Liang Chang , Chai Qiang , Lemke Reynald L. , Campbell Con A. , Zentner Robert P.
Published: November 2014

Wheat is one of the world’s most favoured food sources, reaching millions of people on a daily basis. However, its production has climatic consequences. Fuel, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides used in wheat production emit greenhouse gases that can contribute negatively to climate change. It is unknown whether adopting alternative farming practices will increase crop yield while reducing carbon emissions. Here we quantify the carbon footprint of alternative wheat production systems suited to semiarid environments. We find that integrating improved farming practices (that is, fertilizing crops based on soil tests, reducing summerfallow frequencies and rotating cereals with grain legumes) lowers wheat carbon footprint effectively, averaging −256 kg CO2 eq ha−1 per year. For each kg of wheat grain produced, a net 0.027–0.377 kg CO2 eq is sequestered into the soil. With the suite of improved farming practices, wheat takes up more CO2 from the atmosphere than is actually emitted during its production.
Dynamic multidrug recognition by multidrug transcriptional repressor LmrR
Authors: Takeuchi Koh , Tokunaga Yuji , Imai Misaki , Takahashi Hideo , Shimada Ichio
Published: November 2014

LmrR is a multidrug transcriptional repressor that controls the expression of a major multidrug transporter, LmrCD, in Lactococcus lactis. However, the molecular mechanism by which LmrR binds to structurally unrelated compounds and is released from the promoter region remains largely unknown. Here, we structurally and dynamically characterized LmrR in the apo, compound-bound and promoter-bound states. The compound-binding site of LmrR exhibits ps–μs dynamics in the apo state and compound ligation shifts the preexisting conformational equilibrium to varying extents to achieve multidrug recognition. Meanwhile, the compound binding induces redistribution of ps–ns dynamics to the allosteric sites, which entropically favors the high-affinity recognition. Furthermore, the reciprocal compound/promoter binding by LmrR is achieved by the incompatible conformational ensembles between the compound- and promoter-bound states. Collectively, the data show how LmrR can dynamically exert its functions through promiscuous multi-target interactions, in a manner that cannot be understood by a static structural view.
2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-benzothiazole suppresses tumor progression and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells by inducing ubiquitin ligase CHIP
Authors: Hiyoshi Hiromi , Goto Natsuka , Tsuchiya Mai , Iida Keisuke , Nakajima Yuka , Hirata Naoya , Kanda Yasunari , Nagasawa Kazuo , Yanagisawa Junn
Published: November 2014

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women and has poor survival and high recurrence rates for aggressive metastatic disease. Notably, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive cancer and there is no preferred agent for TNBC therapy. In this study, we show that a novel agent, 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-benzothiazole (YL-109), has ability to inhibit breast cancer cell growth and invasiveness in vitro and in vivo. In addition, YL-109 repressed the sphere-forming ability and the expression of stem cell markers in MDA-MB-231 mammosphere cultures. YL-109 increased the expression of carboxyl terminus of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP), which suppresses tumorigenic and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells by inhibiting the oncogenic pathway. YL-109 induced CHIP transcription because of the recruitment of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) to upstream of CHIP gene in MDA-MB-231 cells. Consistently, the antitumor effects of YL-109 were depressed by CHIP or AhR knockdown in MDA-MB-231 cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that a novel agent YL-109 inhibits cell growth and metastatic potential by inducing CHIP expression through AhR signaling and reduces cancer stem cell properties in MDA-MB-231 cells. It suggests that YL-109 is a potential candidate for breast cancer therapy.
Synthesis and characterization of Mg–Al-layered double hydroxides intercalated with cubane-1,4-dicarboxylate anions
Authors: Rezvani Zolfaghar , Arjomandi Rad Farzad , Khodam Fatemeh
Published: November 2014

In the present work, Mg2Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) intercalated with cubane-1,4-dicarboxylate anions was prepared from the reaction of solutions of Mg(ii) and Al(iii) nitrate salts with an alkaline solution of cubane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid by using the coprecipitation method.
DNA-interacting and biological properties of copper(ii) complexes from amidino-O-methylurea
Authors: Meenongwa Atittaya , Brissos Rosa F. , Soikum Chaiyaporn , Chaveerach Prapansak , Gamez Patrick , Trongpanich Yanee , Chaveerach Unchulee
Published: November 2014

Two copper(ii) complexes from the water-soluble amidino-O-methylureas exhibit interesting activities which are of paramount importance for biological applications.
Green polymer chemistry: synthesis of symmetric and asymmetric telechelic ethylene glycol oligomers
Authors: Castano Marcela , Seo Kwang Su , Guo Kai , Becker Matthew L. , Wesdemiotis Chrys , Puskas Judit E.
Published: November 2014

Kinetic investigation of the enzyme-catalyzed polycondensation of divinyl adipate and TEG led to the optimization of end group structures (vinyl V and OH O).
An RNA aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor for sensitive detection of malachite green
Authors: Wang Hongzhi , Wang Yu , Liu Su , Yu Jinghua , Xu Wei , Guo Yuna , Huang Jiadong
Published: November 2014

A RNA aptamer-based electrochemical biosensing strategy has been developed for sensitive and selective detection of malachite green.
Polymer aggregation control in polymer–fullerene bulk heterojunctions adapted from solution
Authors: Kästner Christian , Egbe Daniel A. M. , Hoppe Harald
Published: November 2014

In a semi-quantitative approach, we unified the inter-chain and intra-chain polymer order into a single parameter of combined structural order PCSO. Relating all photovoltaic parameters to the PCSO, we find convincing evidence, that polymer aggregation supports charge extraction, reduces photocurrent generation and slightly reduces photovoltage.
Hybrid material based on a coordination-complex-modified polyoxometalate nanorod (CC/POMNR) and PPy: a new visible light activated and highly efficient photocatalyst
Authors: Xu Xinxin , Gao Xin , Lu Tingting , Liu Xiaoxia , Wang Xiuli
Published: November 2014

A hybrid material based on a coordination-complex-modified polyoxometalate nanorod (CC/POMNR) and PPy was fabricated successfully and displayed excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.
High-performance, high-temperature piezoelectric BiB3O6crystals
Authors: Yu Fapeng , Lu Qingming , Zhang Shujun , Wang Hewei , Cheng Xiufeng , Zhao Xian
Published: November 2014

BiB3O6crystals possess large piezoelectric coefficients and high-temperature stability of their piezoelectric properties, which is promising for piezoelectric sensor applications.
R2NC: robust inter‐session network coding in lossy wireless networks
Authors: Hai Long , Wang Hongyu , Liu Yong , Wang Jie , Tang Zhenzhou
Published: November 2014

The robustness of inter‐session network coding is still an open issue in lossy wireless networks. The traditional XOR based network coding cannot work well if the overhearing is unperfect. Especially, the coding node cannot know the overheard information in time. In this paper, we consider a robust network coding method, namely R2NC which uses random linear network coding to encode packets together in the inter‐session level, to resist the unperfect overhearing problem. With this method, coding node can always know the solvability of coded packets without the knowledge of overheard information. We analyse the performance of R2NC method with both lossy links of output and overhearing in the classic X‐topology model, and give a necessary condition for the existence of coding gain. Finally, we design an optimal coding algorithm and a relay selection algorithm for R2NC to achieve its maximal transmission efficiency. Through ns‐2 simulations, we demonstrate that R2NC plays a good performance in terms of throughput, delay and overhead, and is robust against losses on output and overhearing links.
Energy‐efficient idle listening scheme using 1 bit sampling in 60 GHz wireless local area network
Authors: Gao Bo , Xiao Zhenyu , Su Li , Jin Depeng , Zeng Lieguang
Published: November 2014

Owing to the requirement of power‐hungry ultra‐high‐speed analogue‐to‐digital converters (ADCs), 60 GHz wireless local area network systems face the challenge of high energy consumption in idle listening (IL). To cope with this problem, a 1 bit‐sampling IL (1BS‐IL) scheme is proposed in this paper. This scheme includes a mixed 1/M‐bit‐sampling receiver, and a corresponding packet detection algorithm termed 1BS generalised likelihood ratio test (1BS‐GLRT). The receiver enables packet detection in IL with a 1 bit ADC, which considerably lowers down the energy consumption; besides, the 1BS‐GLRT algorithm guarantees promising performance on packet detection. Once detecting the arrival of a packet, the receiver switches to an original multi‐bit sampling precision, that is, M‐bit, ADC to demodulate the packet, which maintains the demodulation performance. Comparisons show that 1BS‐IL not only significantly reduces energy consumption, but also achieves competitive detection performance.
The role of particle shape in active depletion
Authors: Harder J. , Mallory S. A. , Tung C. , Valeriani C. , Cacciuto A.
Published: November 2014

Using numerical simulations, we study how a solution of small active disks, acting as depletants, induces effective interactions on large passive colloids. Specifically, we analyze how the range, strength, and sign of these interactions are crucially dependent on the shape of the colloids. Our findings indicate that while colloidal rods experience a long-ranged predominantly attractive interaction, colloidal disks feel a repulsive force that is short-ranged in nature and grows in strength with the size ratio between the colloids and active depletants. For colloidal rods, simple scaling arguments are proposed to characterize the strength of these induced interactions.
Theoretical study of the relativistic molecular rotational g-tensor
Authors: Aucar I. Agustín , Gomez Sergio S. , Giribet Claudia G. , Ruiz de Azúa Martín C.
Published: November 2014

An original formulation of the relativistic molecular rotational g-tensor valid for heavy atom containing compounds is presented. In such formulation, the relevant terms of a molecular Hamiltonian for non-relativistic nuclei and relativistic electrons in the laboratory system are considered. Terms linear and bilinear in the nuclear rotation angular momentum and an external uniform magnetic field are considered within first and second order (relativistic) perturbation theory to obtain the rotational g-tensor. Relativistic effects are further analyzed by carrying out the linear response within the elimination of the small component expansion. Quantitative results for model systems HX (X=F, Cl, Br, I), XF (X=Cl, Br, I), and YH+ (Y=Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn) are obtained both at the RPA and density functional theory levels of approximation. Relativistic effects are shown to be small for this molecular property. The relation between the rotational g-tensor and susceptibility tensor which is valid in the non-relativistic theory does not hold within the relativistic framework, and differences between both molecular parameters are analyzed for the model systems under study. It is found that the non-relativistic relation remains valid within 2% even for the heavy HI, IF, and XeH+ systems. Only for the sixth-row Rn atom a significant deviation of this relation is found.
Local Hamiltonians for quantitative Green's function embedding methods
Authors: Rusakov Alexander A. , Phillips Jordan J. , Zgid Dominika
Published: November 2014

Embedding calculations that find approximate solutions to the Schrödinger equation for large molecules and realistic solids are performed commonly in a three step procedure involving (i) construction of a model system with effective interactions approximating the low energy physics of the initial realistic system, (ii) mapping the model system onto an impurity Hamiltonian, and (iii) solving the impurity problem. We have developed a novel procedure for parametrizing the impurity Hamiltonian that avoids the mathematically uncontrolled step of constructing the low energy model system. Instead, the impurity Hamiltonian is immediately parametrized to recover the self-energy of the realistic system in the limit of high frequencies or short time. The effective interactions parametrizing the fictitious impurity Hamiltonian are local to the embedded regions, and include all the non-local interactions present in the original realistic Hamiltonian in an implicit way. We show that this impurity Hamiltonian can lead to excellent total energies and self-energies that approximate the quantities of the initial realistic system very well. Moreover, we show that as long as the effective impurity Hamiltonian parametrization is designed to recover the self-energy of the initial realistic system for high frequencies, we can expect a good total energy and self-energy. Finally, we propose two practical ways of evaluating effective integrals for parametrizing impurity models.
Pressure and temperature phase diagram of Gd2Ti2O7 under irradiation
Authors: Catillon G. , Chartier A.
Published: November 2014

The pressure and temperature phase diagram of Gd2Ti2O7 under irradiation are calculated by means of molecular dynamics calculations. The critical temperature for amorphization obeys a linear law with pressure. Gd2Ti2O7 under irradiation transits towards the fluorite above this temperature and amorphizes below. The configuration of the Ti interstitial reveals to be the key of the amorphizability of Gd2Ti2O7. Its stability depends upon disorder and pressure. Low pressure promotes the stabilization of Ti linked-polyhedra that drive the system to the amorphous state under irradiation. Conversely, high pressure activates its destabilization to interstitials that recombine with vacancies, driving the system to the fluorite structure under irradiation.
A simple and rapid method for high-resolution visualization of single-ion tracks
Authors: Omichi Masaaki , Choi Wookjin , Sakamaki Daisuke , Tsukuda Satoshi , Sugimoto Masaki , Seki Shu
Published: November 2014

Prompt determination of spatial points of single-ion tracks plays a key role in high-energy particle induced-cancer therapy and gene/plant mutations. In this study, a simple method for the high-resolution visualization of single-ion tracks without etching was developed through the use of polyacrylic acid (PAA)-N, N’-methylene bisacrylamide (MBAAm) blend films. One of the steps of the proposed method includes exposure of the irradiated films to water vapor for several minutes. Water vapor was found to promote the cross-linking reaction of PAA and MBAAm to form a bulky cross-linked structure; the ion-track scars were detectable at a nanometer scale by atomic force microscopy. This study demonstrated that each scar is easily distinguishable, and the amount of generated radicals of the ion tracks can be estimated by measuring the height of the scars, even in highly dense ion tracks. This method is suitable for the visualization of the penumbra region in a single-ion track with a high spatial resolution of 50 nm, which is sufficiently small to confirm that a single ion hits a cell nucleus with a size ranging between 5 and 20 μm.
Photoluminescence studies of individual and few GaSb/GaAs quantum rings
Authors: Young M. P. , Woodhead C. S. , Roberts J. , Noori Y. J. , Noble M. T. , Krier A. , Smakman E. P. , Koenraad P. M. , Hayne M. , Young R. J.
Published: November 2014

We present optical studies of individual and few GaSb quantum rings embedded in a GaAs matrix. Contrary to expectation for type-II confinement, we measure rich spectra containing sharp lines. These lines originate from excitonic recombination and are observed to have resolution-limited full-width at half maximum of 200 μeV. The detail provided by these measurements allows the characteristic type-II blueshift, observed with increasing excitation power, to be studied at the level of individual nanostructures. These findings are in agreement with hole-charging being the origin of the observed blueshift.