bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing speed of pinning synchronizability: low-degree nodes with high feedback gains
Authors: Zhou Ming-Yang , Zhuo Zhao , Liao Hao , Fu Zhong-Qian , Cai Shi-Min
Published: December 2015

Controlling complex networks is of paramount importance in science and engineering. Despite recent efforts to improve controllability and synchronous strength, little attention has been paid to the speed of pinning synchronizability (rate of convergence in pinning control) and the corresponding pinning node selection. To address this issue, we propose a hypothesis to restrict the control cost, then build a linear matrix inequality related to the speed of pinning controllability. By solving the inequality, we obtain both the speed of pinning controllability and optimal control strength (feedback gains in pinning control) for all nodes. Interestingly, some low-degree nodes are able to achieve large feedback gains, which suggests that they have high influence on controlling system. In addition, when choosing nodes with high feedback gains as pinning nodes, the controlling speed of real systems is remarkably enhanced compared to that of traditional large-degree and large-betweenness selections. Thus, the proposed approach provides a novel way to investigate the speed of pinning controllability and can evoke other effective heuristic pinning node selections for large-scale systems.
Activation of CO and CO2 on homonuclear boron bonds of fullerene-like BN cages: first principles study
Authors: Sinthika S. , Kumar E. Mathan , Surya V. J. , Kawazoe Y. , Park Noejung , Iyakutti K. , Thapa Ranjit
Published: December 2015

Using density functional theory we investigate the electronic and atomic structure of fullerene-like boron nitride cage structures. The pentagonal ring leads to the formation of homonuclear bonds. The homonuclear bonds are also found in other BN structures having pentagon line defect. The calculated thermodynamics and vibrational spectra indicated that, among various stable configurations of BN-60 cages, the higher number of homonuclear N-N bonds and lower B:N ratio can result in the more stable structure. The homonuclear bonds bestow the system with salient catalytic properties that can be tuned by modifying the B atom bonding environment. We show that homonuclear B-B (B2) bonds can anchor both oxygen and CO molecules making the cage to be potential candidates as catalyst for CO oxidation via Langmuir–Hinshelwood (LH) mechanism. Moreover, the B-B-B (B3) bonds are reactive enough to capture, activate and hydrogenate CO2 molecules to formic acid. The observed trend in reactivity, viz B3 > B2 > B1 is explained in terms of the position of the boron defect state relative to the Fermi level.
Controllable Phase Separation by Boc-Modified Lipophilic Acid as a Multifunctional Extractant
Authors: Tao Kai , Adler-Abramovich Lihi , Gazit Ehud
Published: December 2015

While phase separation of immiscible liquid-liquid systems has become increasingly significant in diverse areas, the irreversible nature limits their further application in controllable extraction-concentration or capture-release fields. There is a need for the development of simple, efficient and reversible methods for numerous research and industrial extraction and separation applications. We envisioned Boc-modified lipophilic acids as a simple model for such use based on the studies of the multi-phase transitions of Boc-modified supramolecular polymeric systems. Here, we demonstrate that in the presence of Boc-7-aminoheptanoic acid (Boc-7), phase separation occurs in mixtures of miscible organic solvent and water. The separation behavior was confirmed by differential colorimetric development in aqueous and organic phases using methyl orange staining assays. Component substitution experiments verified that the phase separation results from the subtle balance between the aggregation and the solvation forces of Boc-7 and is reversible by adjusting the solution pH. Owing to the intrinsic hydrophobic properties of the organic phase and the hydrogen bonding-forming ability of the carboxyl group of Boc-7, the phase separation system captures and releases Sudan Red, fluorescein and streptavidin in a controllable manner. Consequently, a reversible and simple phase separation system can be designed as a multifunctional extractant.
Mast Cells Participate in Corneal Development in Mice
Authors: Liu Jun , Fu Ting , Song Fang , Xue Yunxia , Xia Chaoyong , Liu Peng , Wang Hanqing , Zhong Jiajun , Li Quanrong , Chen Jiansu , Li Yangqiu , Cai Dongqing , Li Zhijie
Published: December 2015

The development of the cornea, a highly specialized transparent tissue located at the anterior of the eye, is coordinated by a variety of molecules and cells. Here, we report that mast cells (MCs), recently found to be involved in morphogenesis, played a potentially important role in corneal development in mice. We show that two different waves of MC migration occurred during corneal development. In the first wave, MCs migrated to the corneal stroma and became distributed throughout the cornea. This wave occurred by embryonic day 12.5, with MCs disappearing from the cornea at the time of eyelid opening. In the second wave, MCs migrated to the corneal limbus and became distributed around limbal blood vessels. The number of MCs in this region gradually increased after birth and peaked at the time of eyelid opening in mice, remaining stable after postnatal day 21. We also show that integrin α4β7 and CXCR2 were important for the migration of MC precursors to the corneal limbus and that c-Kit-dependent MCs appeared to be involved in the formation of limbal blood vessels and corneal nerve fibers. These data clearly revealed that MCs participate in the development of the murine cornea.
Charge filling factors in clean and disordered arrays of tunnel junctions
Authors: Walker Kelly A. , Vogt Nicolas , Cole Jared H.
Published: December 2015

We simulate one-dimensional arrays of tunnel junctions using the kinetic Monte Carlo method to study charge filling behaviour in the large charging energy limit. By applying a small fixed voltage bias and varying the offset voltage, we investigate this behaviour in clean and disordered arrays (both weak and strong disorder effects). The offset voltage dependent modulation of the current is highly sensitive to background charge disorder and exhibits substantial variation depending on the strength of the disorder. We show that while small fractional charge filling factors are likely to be washed out in experimental devices due to strong background charge disorder, larger factors may be observable.
Mapping divided households and residency changes: the effect of couple separation on sexual behavior and risk of HIV infection
Authors: Palk Laurence , Blower Sally
Published: December 2015

Using census data we identify geographic patterns in residency changes in Lesotho over a decade. Using kriging to spatially interpolate data from 8,510 households we identify regions where households have members temporarily living away from home (divided households). Further, using a multivariate analysis and data from 2,026 couples we determine whether a partners’ absence increases the likelihood of having extramarital partners and/or risk of HIV infection. Approximately 40% of individuals moved between 2001 and 2011; mainly to and within, urbanized regions. Many households are divided: ~40% have members elsewhere in Lesotho, ~30% in South Africa (SA). Geographic patterns are apparent; they differ based on where the household member is living. Many couples were temporarily separated: ~50% of wives, ~20% of husbands. Separation was not a risk factor for HIV. Only men were more likely to have extramarital partners if their spouse was away: ~1.5 times if in Lesotho, ~3 times if in SA. The high degree of geographic mixing necessitates synchronizing interventions within Lesotho and with SA, to successfully reduce transmission. It will be challenging to reduce concurrency in men with wives away from home. Our results are generalizable to other sub-Saharan countries where residency changes are common.
A simple and fast method to study the hydrodynamic size difference of protein disulfide isomerase in oxidized and reduced form using gold nanoparticles and dynamic light scattering
Authors: Zheng Tianyu , Cherubin Patrick , Cilenti Lucia , Teter Ken , Huo Qun
Published: December 2015

Determine the hydrodynamic size of proteins using gold nanoparticle probes combined with dynamic light scattering measurement.
An optimization of the LC-MS/MS workflow for deep proteome profiling on an Orbitrap Fusion
Authors: Nie Litong , Zhu Mingrui , Sun Shengnan , Zhai Linhui , Wu Zhixiang , Qian Lili , Tan Minjia
Published: December 2015

The development of high-resolution mass spectrometers (MS) has greatly advanced the system-wide proteomic profiling and protein post-translational modification (PTM) studies.
Real-time monitoring of contractile properties of H9C2 cardiomyoblasts by using a quartz crystal microbalance
Authors: Zhou Tiean , Zhou Zhen , Zhou Shuyue , Huang Fushen
Published: December 2015

A QCM was used for the study of the contractility of H9C2 cells and assessment of the inotropic drug–cell interactions based on changes in the cells' viscoelasticity and cell adhesion strength.
Probing initial polymer precursor solution used in poly(dimethylsiloxane) membrane preparation by HPLC-APCI-MS and ESI-MS
Authors: Das Arun Kumar , Singh Puyam S.
Published: December 2015

The compositional aspect of the initial precursor solution in terms of molecular mass is very important as it affects the final PDMS membrane structure.
Mesocrystalline coordination polymer as a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Meng Qi , Zhang Wei , Hu Ming , Jiang Ji-Sen
Published: December 2015

Prussian blue (PB) mesocrystals with Na as the alkaline metal were synthesized and used for as cathodes in Na-ion batteries. The mesocrystalline structure endowed PB with very different phase change behavior and electrochemical performance in contrast to PB single-crystals in cyclic voltammograms and galvanostatic discharge/charge voltage profiles of PB/Na half-cells.
Connecting defects and amorphization in UiO-66 and MIL-140 metal–organic frameworks: a combined experimental and computational study
Authors: Bennett Thomas D. , Todorova Tanya K. , Baxter Emma F. , Reid David G. , Gervais Christel , Bueken Bart , Van de Voorde B. , De Vos Dirk , Keen David A. , Mellot-Draznieks Caroline
Published: December 2015

Ball-milling amorphization of UiO-66, MIL-140B and MIL-140C was observed to proceed by metal–ligand bond breaking, and linked to the generation of successive defects.
Preparation of a novel nanocomposite NaLuF4:Gd,Yb,Tm@SiO2@Ag@TiO2 with high photocatalytic activity driven by simulated solar light
Authors: Yin Dongguang , Zhang Lu , Cao Xianzhang , Chen Zhiwen , Tang Jingxiu , Liu Yumin , Zhang Tingting , Wu Minghong
Published: December 2015

A novel nanocomposite photocatalyst NaLuF4:Gd,Yb,Tm@SiO2@Ag@TiO2 was developed for the first time.
Glutinous rice amylopectin can adjust the plasma gut-regulated peptide levels in rhubarb-induced spleen deficiency rats
Authors: Zhang Huijuan , Wang Jing , Liu Yingli , Sun Baoguo
Published: December 2015

The pharmacological effects of glutinous rice (GR) and GR amylopectin (GRA) on the gastrointestine were investigated in rhubarb-induced spleen deficiency rats by determining the levels of gastrointestinal hormones such as the peptides serum gastrin, amylase motilin, and somatostatin.
Pro198Leu polymorphism affects the selenium status and GPx activity in response to Brazil nut intake
Authors: Cardoso Bárbara R. , Busse Alexandre L. , Hare Dominic J. , Cominetti Cristiane , Horst Maria A. , McColl Gawain , Magaldi Regina M. , Jacob-Filho Wilson , Cozzolino Silvia M. F.
Published: December 2015

Selenoproteins play important roles in antioxidant mechanisms, but it is hypothesised that single polymorphism nucleotides (SNPs) may affect their function.
A study of the conformational changes of β-lactoglobulin in the vicinity of critical point of binary mixed solvents
Authors: Umapathi R. , Venkatesu P.
Published: December 2015

Most of the protein is entangled in the upper IB rich phase.
Triglycerol-based hyperbranched polyesters with an amphiphilic branched shell as novel biodegradable drug delivery systems
Authors: Stefani Stefano , Kurniasih Indah N. , Sharma Sunil K. , Böttcher Christoph , Servin Paul , Haag Rainer
Published: December 2015

A set of biodegradable nanocarriers characterized by a hyperbranched polyester core and an amphiphilic branched shell was developed and employed to efficiently solubilize hydrophobic drugs in aqueous media.
Mechanochromic Cu(i) boron imidazolate frameworks with low-dimensional structures and reducing function
Authors: Zhang De-Xiang , Zhang Hai-Xia , Wen Tian , Li Dong-Sheng , Zhang Jian
Published: December 2015

Two low dimensional multifunctional Cu(i) boron imidazolate frameworks displayed unique luminescence mechanochromism, and BIF-40 can load AuPd bimetal nanoparticles directly for further catalysis.
Exploring potential cooperative effects in dicopper(i)-di-mesoionic carbene complexes: applications in click catalysis
Authors: Hohloch Stephan , Suntrup Lisa , Sarkar Biprajit
Published: December 2015

Dicopper(i) dimesoionic carbene complexes are active catalysts for the azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction and are more active than their mononuclear counterparts.
Synthesis and photophysical properties of multi-Ru2+ terpyridine complexes: from di-nuclear linear to star-shaped hexa-nuclear architectures
Authors: Yuan Jie , Jiang Zhilong , Liu Die , Li Yiming , Wang Pingshan
Published: December 2015

Polyterpyridinyl multi-nuclear Ru2+ complex was synthesized through a heterocomplexation method. Introducing the tailed aliphatic chain greatly enhanced the solubility of multi-ionic paired complexes, which illustrated the photophysical and electrochemical structural differentiations.
Catalyst for the degradation of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine and its by-product N-nitrosodimethylamine in propellant wastewater
Authors: Liang Meiling , Li Weijie , Qi Qi , Zeng Pingchuan , Zhou Yucheng , Zheng Yingping , Wu Min , Ni Henmei
Published: December 2015

A three-component metal catalyst was prepared and used in the process of catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) for the degradation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) in propellant wastewater with H2O2.
Nanoflower-like CoS-decorated 3D porous carbon skeleton derived from rose for a high performance nonenzymatic glucose sensor
Authors: Qu Pingping , Gong Zheni , Cheng Haoyan , Xiong Wei , Wu Xu , Pei Pei , Zhao Ruofei , Zeng Yan , Zhu Zhihong
Published: December 2015

A nanoflower-like CoS-decorated 3D porous carbon skeleton from rose has been synthesised and firstly applied in the detection of glucose.
Microfluidic electrochemical growth of vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes for SERS optofluidic devices
Authors: Lamberti Andrea , Virga Alessandro , Giorgis Fabrizio
Published: December 2015

The growth of a TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) array into a microfluidic electrochemical reactor is here demonstrated.
Highly modified spontaneous emission in NaY(MoO4)2:Yb3+/Er3+ inverse opal photonic crystals
Authors: Cui Shaobo , Xu Wen , Zhu Yongsheng , Chen Xu , Zhou Donglei , Yin Ze , Song Hongwei , Han Wei
Published: December 2015

NaY(MoO4)2:Yb3+/Er3+ inverse opal photonic crystals were fabricated and the UCL efficiency of Er3+ was improved due to the periodic macroporous structure.
Growth of thermally stable crystalline C60 films on flat-lying copper phthalocyanine
Authors: McAfee Terry , Apperson Aubrey , Ade Harald , Dougherty Daniel B.
Published: December 2015

We observe thermally stable growth of fcc(111) films of fullerene-C60 on top of crystalline, flat-lying, CuPc film structures on graphite using combined grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy.
Heteroepitaxial hematite photoanodes as a model system for solar water splitting
Authors: Grave Daniel A. , Dotan Hen , Levy Yossi , Piekner Yifat , Scherrer Barbara , Malviya Kirtiman Deo , Rothschild Avner
Published: December 2015

Heteroepitaxial hematite thin film photoanodes were fabricated, characterized, and shown to be a model system for fundamental studies into solar water splitting.
Monodispersed hollow aluminosilica microsphere@hierarchical γ-AlOOH deposited with or without Fe(OH)3 nanoparticles for efficient adsorption of organic pollutants
Authors: Zhang Yongxing , Ye Yingjie , Zhou Xiangbo , Liu Zhongliang , Zhu Guangping , Li Dechuan , Li Xuanhua
Published: December 2015

Efficient adsorbents for pollutant removal can be designed by depositing nanoparticles on mesoporous supports with abundant surface groups and a large surface area.
A solution-processed n-doped fullerene cathode interfacial layer for efficient and stable large-area perovskite solar cells
Authors: Chang Chih-Yu , Huang Wen-Kuan , Chang Yu-Chia , Lee Kuan-Ting , Chen Chin-Ti
Published: December 2015

A facile and effective approach to enhance the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells is proposed by using a solution-processed cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-doped [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) film as a cathode interfacial layer.
Microfluidic synthesis of QD-encoded PEGDA microspheres for suspension assay
Authors: Liu Huan , Qian Xiang , Wu Zhenjie , Yang Rui , Sun Shuqing , Ma Hui
Published: December 2015

A simple microfluidic device is designed to generate monodispersed QD-encoded PEGDA microbeads. PEGDA/PDA composite microspheres are prepared to easily couple protein on their surface. A sandwich immunoassay of rabbit IgG is performed to indicate that PDA on the bead surface facilitates efficient attachment of biomacromolecules.
Effect of laser illumination on the morphology and optical property of few-layer MoS2 nanosheet in NMP and PMMA
Authors: Long Hui , Tao Lili , Tang Chun Yin , Tam Hwa Yaw , Wen Qiao , Tsang Yuen Hong
Published: December 2015

The morphology and optical limiting properties of MoS2 in NMP show significant changes under laser illumination, however its stability can be preserved by incorporating into PMMA matrix.
High‐speed operation of optical exclusive OR circuit based on balanced detection and intensity modulation
Authors: Takiguchi Koichi
Published: December 2015

We report the evaluated results of an optical exclusive OR (XOR) circuit for high‐speed binary signals, which operates based on balanced detection and intensity modulation. This circuit partly adopts simple electronics in order to achieve simple configuration and operation. Two input optical binary signals into a balanced photo detector produce an electrical signal for directly driving a modulator. The modulator modulates the lightwave from a laser diode and generates optical XOR output of the two input optical signals. After briefly explaining its configuration and operating principle, We demonstrate some experimental results to show its potential. We show its successful operation at 40 Gbit/s binary signals including bit error rate measurement.
Staged Correction of Severe Thoracic Kyphosis in Patients with Multilevel Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Authors: Behrbalk Eyal , Uri Ofir , Folman Yoram , Rickert Marcus , Kaiser Radek , Boszczyk Bronek Maximilian
Published: December 2015

Study Design

Technical report.

Objective

Multilevel osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures may lead to considerable thoracic deformity and sagittal imbalance, which may necessitate surgical intervention. Correction of advanced thoracic kyphosis in patients with severe osteoporosis remains challenging, with a high rate of failure. This study describes a surgical technique of staged vertebral augmentation with osteotomies for the treatment of advanced thoracic kyphosis in patients with osteoporotic multilevel vertebral compression fractures.

Methods

Five patients (average age 62 ± 6 years) with multilevel osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and severe symptomatic thoracic kyphosis underwent staged vertebral augmentation and surgical correction of their sagittal deformity. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were assessed retrospectively at a mean postoperative follow-up of 34 months.

Results

Patients’ self-reported back pain decreased from 7.2 ± 0.8 to 3.0 ± 0.7 (0 to 10 numerical scale; p < 0.001). Patients’ back-related disability decreased from 60 ± 10% to 29 ± 10% (0 to 100% Oswestry Disability Index; p < 0.001). Thoracic kyphosis was corrected from 89 ± 5 degrees to 40 ± 4 degrees ( p < 0.001), and the sagittal vertical axis was corrected from 112 ± 83 mm to 38 ± 23 mm ( p = 0.058). One patient had cement leakage without subsequent neurologic deficit. Decreased blood pressure was observed in another patient during the cement injection. No correction loss, hardware failure, or neurologic deficiency was seen in the other patients.

Conclusion

The surgical technique described here, despite its complexity, may offer a safe and effective method for the treatment of advanced thoracic kyphosis in patients with osteoporotic multilevel vertebral compression fractures.
Novel phase of carbon, ferromagnetism, and conversion into diamond
Authors: Narayan Jagdish , Bhaumik Anagh
Published: December 2015

We report the discovery of a new phase of carbon (referred to as Q-carbon) and address fundamental issues related to direct conversion of carbon into diamond at ambient temperatures and pressures in air without any need for catalyst and presence of hydrogen. The Q-carbon is formed as result of quenching from super undercooled state by using high-power nanosecond laser pulses. We discuss the equilibrium phase diagram (P vs. T) of carbon and show that by rapid quenching kinetics can shift thermodynamic graphite/diamond/liquid carbon triple point from 5000 K/12 GPa to super undercooled carbon at atmospheric pressure in air. It is shown that nanosecond laser heating of diamond-like amorphous carbon on sapphire, glass, and polymer substrates can be confined to melt carbon in a super undercooled state. By quenching the carbon from the super undercooled state, we have created a new state of carbon (Q-carbon) from which nanodiamond, microdiamond, microneedles, and single-crystal thin films are formed depending upon the nucleation and growth times allowed for diamond formation. The Q-carbon quenched from liquid is a new state of solid carbon with a higher mass density than amorphous carbon and a mixture of mostly fourfold sp3 (75%–85%) with the rest being threefold sp2 bonded carbon (with distinct entropy). It is expected to have new and improved mechanical hardness, electrical conductivity, chemical, and physical properties, including room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) and enhanced field emission. Here we present interesting results on RTFM, enhanced electrical conductivity and surface potential of Q-carbon to emphasize its unique properties. The Q-carbon exhibits robust bulk ferromagnetism with estimated Curie temperature of about 500 K and saturation magnetization value of 20 emu g−1. From the Q-carbon, diamond phase is nucleated and a variety of micro- and nanostructures and large-area single-crystal diamond sheets are grown by allowing growth times as needed. Subsequent laser pulses can be used to grow nanodiamond into microdiamond and nucleate other nanostructures of diamond on the top of existing microdiamond and create novel nanostructured materials. The microstructural details provide insights into the mechanism of formation of nanodiamond, microdiamond, nanoneedles, microneedles, and single-crystal thin films. This process allows carbon-to-diamond conversion and formation of useful nanostructures and microstructures at ambient temperatures in air at atmospheric pressure on practical and heat-sensitive substrates in a controlled way without need for any catalysts and hydrogen to stabilize sp3 bonding for diamond formation.
Preparation of BiOBr by solvothermal routes with different solvents and their photocatalytic activity
Authors: Xing Hongmei , Ma Hongchao , Fu Yinghuan , Zhang Xinxin , Dong Xiaoli , Zhang Xiufang
Published: December 2015

In this paper, a series of BiOBr photocatalysts have been synthesized by solventhermal method using different solvents (water, ethanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol), and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that the solvent plays a key role to tune the morphology, crystal growth, and surface nature of BiOBr. The photodegradation rate of reactive brilliant blue (KN-R) over BiOBr photocatalysts prepared by water, ethanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol as solvents are 52.5%, 65.0%, 54.6%, 66.1%, and 90.9%, respectively, under sunlight irradiation for 120 min. The flower-like hierarchical BiOBr prepared by glycerol as solvent exhibited better photocatalytic activity for the degradation of reactive brilliant blue (KN-R) under sunlight irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic activity of BiOBr prepared by glycerol as solvent can be attributed to its high exposed active face, little crystal size, and abundant oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, recycled photodegradation experiments indicated the catalyst did not exhibit any significant loss of photocatalytic activity after five recycles, which confirmed the photocatalyst is essentially stable.
Effects of growth temperature on the properties of InGaN channel heterostructures grown by pulsed metal organic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Zhang Yachao , Zhou Xiaowei , Xu Shengrui , Wang Zhizhe , Chen Zhibin , Zhang Jinfeng , Zhang Jincheng , Hao Yue
Published: December 2015

Pulsed metal organic chemical vapor deposition (P-MOCVD) is introduced into the growth of high quality InGaN channel heterostructures. The effects of InGaN channel growth temperature on the structural and transport properties of the heterostructures are investigated in detail. High resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra indicate that the quality of InGaN channel strongly depends on the growth temperature. Meanwhile, the atomic force microscopy (AFM) results show that the interface morphology between the InGaN channel and the barrier layer also relies on the growth temperature. Since the variation of material properties of InGaN channel has a significant influence on the electrical properties of InAlN/InGaN heterostructures, the optimal transport properties can be achieved by adjusting the growth temperature. A very high two dimension electron gas (2DEG) density of 1.92 × 1013 cm−2 and Hall electron mobility of 1025 cm2/(V⋅s) at room temperature are obtained at the optimal growth temperature around 740 °C. The excellent transport properties in our work indicate that the heterostructure with InGaN channel is a promising candidate for the microwave power devices, and the results in this paper will be instructive for further study of the InGaN channel heterostructures.
Study on the effect of hydrogen addition to dimethyl ether homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion engine
Authors: Hu Erjiang , Chen Yizhen , Cheng Yu , Meng Xin , Yu Huibin , Huang Zuohua
Published: December 2015

The auto-ignition characteristics of dimethyl ether (DME)/H2/Air blends (hydrogen blending ratio ranging from 0% to 70%) in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion engine are investigated by calculation method using zero-dimension single-zone model. All the simulated mixtures demonstrated a two-stage heat release phenomenon at different crank angles. The results show that the hydrogen addition can retard the auto-ignition timing of DME in HCCI combustion engine. The ignition timing at low temperature is retarded slightly with the hydrogen addition, and the ignition timing at high temperature is delayed significantly due to the increased negative temperature coefficient duration. Chemical kinetic analysis reveals that the competition of OH radicals between hydrogen and DME could be the reason why the low temperature reactions of DME are mitigated. H2O2 molecules decompose at about 1000 K and initiate the high temperature reactions of the mixtures.
Estimating human papillomavirus vaccination coverage among young women in Victoria and reasons for non-vaccination
Authors: Brotherton Julia M. L. , Piers Leonard S. , Vaughan Loretta
Published: November 2015

Background
Adult Australian women aged 18 to 26 years were offered human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in a mass catch up campaign between 2007 and 2009. Not all doses administered were notified to Australia’s HPV vaccine register and not all young women commenced or completed the vaccine course. Methods: We surveyed vaccine age-eligible women as part of the Victorian Population Health Survey 2011–2012, a population based telephone survey, to ascertain self-reported vaccine uptake and reasons for non-vaccination or non-completion of vaccination among young women resident in the state of Victoria, Australia. Results: Among 956 women surveyed, 62.3 per cent (57.8–66.6%) had been vaccinated against HPV and coverage with three doses was estimated at 53.7 per cent (49.1–58.2%). These estimates are higher than register-based estimates for the same cohort, which were 57.8 per cent and 37.2 per cent respectively. A lack of awareness about needing three doses and simply forgetting, rather than fear or experience of side effects, were the most common reasons for failure to complete all three doses. Among women who were not vaccinated, the most frequent reasons were not knowing the vaccine was available, perceiving they were too old to benefit, or not being resident in Australia at the time. Conclusions: It is likely that at least half of Victoria’s young women were vaccinated during the catch-up program. This high level of coverage is likely to explain the marked reductions in HPV infection, genital warts and cervical disease already observed in young women in Victoria.
The role of magnetic islands in modifying long range temporal correlations of density fluctuations and local heat transport
Authors: van Milligen B.Ph. , Estrada T. , García L. , López Bruna D. , Carreras B.A. , Xu Y. , Ochando M. , Hidalgo C. , Reynolds-Barredo J.M. , López Fraguas A.
Published: December 2015

This work explores the relation between magnetic islands, long range temporal correlations and heat transport. A low order rational surface (

) was purposely scanned outward through an electron cyclotron resonance heated (ECRH) plasma in the TJ-II stellarator. Density turbulence and the poloidal flow velocity were characterized using a two channel Doppler reflectometer. Simultaneously, the ECRH power was modulated to characterize heat transport, using measurements from a 12 channel electron cyclotron emission diagnostic. A systematic variation of the poloidal velocity was found to be associated with the

rational surface. Near the rational surface, the Hurst exponent, quantifying the nature of long-range correlations, was reduced below 0.5 (indicating subdiffusion), while at radii smaller than that of the rational surface, it was found to be significantly enhanced (superdiffusion). In the latter region, heat transport was enhanced as well, thus establishing a link between density fluctuations and anomalous heat transport. The observed variation of the Hurst exponent was consistent with a magnetohydrodynamic turbulence simulation.
Strong forms of self-duality for Hopf monoids in species
Authors: Marberg Eric
Published: December 2015

A vector species is a functor from the category of finite sets with bijections to vector spaces (over a fixed field); informally, one can view this as a sequence of

S
n

S_n

-modules, one for each natural number

n
n

. A Hopf monoid (in the category of vector species) consists of a vector species with unit, counit, product, and coproduct morphisms satisfying several compatibility conditions, analogous to a graded Hopf algebra.

A vector species has a basis if and only if it is given by a sequence of

S
n

S_n

-modules which are permutation representations. We say that a Hopf monoid is freely self-dual if it is connected and finite-dimensional, and if it has a basis in which the structure constants of its product and coproduct coincide. Such Hopf monoids are self-dual in the usual sense, and we show that they are furthermore both commutative and cocommutative.

We prove more specific classification theorems for freely self-dual Hopf monoids whose products (respectively, coproducts) are linearized in the sense that they preserve the basis; we call such Hopf monoids strongly self-dual (respectively, linearly self-dual). In particular, we show that every strongly self-dual Hopf monoid has a basis isomorphic to some species of block-labeled set partitions, on which the product acts as the disjoint union. In turn, every linearly self-dual Hopf monoid has a basis isomorphic to the species of maps to a fixed set, on which the coproduct acts as restriction. It follows that every linearly self-dual Hopf monoid is strongly self-dual.

Our final results concern connected Hopf monoids which are finite- dimensional, commutative, and cocommutative. We prove that such a Hopf monoid has a basis in which its product and coproduct are both linearized if and only if it is strongly self-dual with respect to a basis equipped with a certain partial order, generalizing the refinement partial order on set partitions.
Geodesic rays and Kähler–Ricci trajectories on Fano manifolds
Authors: Darvas Tamás , He Weiyong
Published: December 2015

Suppose

(
X
,
J
,
ω
)

(X,J,\omega )

is a Fano manifold and

t
→

r
t

t \to r_t

is a diverging Kähler-Ricci trajectory. We construct a bounded geodesic ray

t
→

u
t

t \to u_t

weakly asymptotic to

t
→

r
t

t \to r_t

, along which Ding’s

F

\mathcal F

–functional decreases, partially confirming a folklore conjecture. In the absence of non-trivial holomorphic vector fields this proves the equivalence between geodesic stability of the

F

\mathcal F

–functional and existence of Kähler-Einstein metrics. We also explore applications of our construction to Tian’s

α
\alpha

–invariant.
Does the Minimum Lot Size Program Affect Farmland Values? Empirical Evidence Using Administrative Data and Regression Discontinuity Design in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Hung-Hao , Lin Tzu-Chin
Published: November 2015

This study empirically assesses the causal effect of the minimum lot size program on farmland values in Taiwan. A unique dataset of 4,032 parcels of farmland drawn from administrative foreclosure auction profiles between 2000 and 2008 and regression discontinuity design were applied to cope with the endogeneity issue of land use regulations. The results of the parametric and nonparametric estimations indicate that the minimum lot size program significantly increases farmland value by approximately 18% and 15%, respectively. Moreover, the program effect is more pronounced for farmland located in urban/suburban areas. In the absence of a tax effect and externality resulting from non‐agricultural activities, the significant program effect on farmland values is likely to result from the effect of the program on farmland's option value for future development.
Admix’em: a flexible framework for forward-time simulations of hybrid populations with selection and mate choice
Authors: Cui Rongfeng , Schumer Molly , Rosenthal Gil G.
Published: November 2015

Summary: We introduce a new forward-time simulator, Admix’em, that allows for rapid and realistic simulations of admixed populations with selection. Complex selection can be achieved through user-defined fitness and mating-preference probability functions. Users can specify realistic genomic landscapes and model neutral SNPs in addition to sites under selection. Admix’em is designed to simulate selection in admixed populations but can also be used as a general population simulator. Usage and examples are in the supplement.

Availability and Implementation: C ++ and OpenMP, supports 64-bit Linux/Unix-like platforms. https://github.com/melop/admixem.

Contact:  rcui@age.mpg.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
LedPred: an R/bioconductor package to predict regulatory sequences using support vector machines
Authors: Seyres Denis , Darbo Elodie , Perrin Laurent , Herrmann Carl , González Aitor
Published: December 2015

Summary: Supervised classification based on support vector machines (SVMs) has successfully been used for the prediction of cis-regulatory modules (CRMs). However, no integrated tool using such heterogeneous data as position-specific scoring matrices, ChIP-seq data or conservation scores is currently available. Here, we present LedPred, a flexible SVM workflow that predicts new regulatory sequences based on the annotation of known CRMs, which are associated to a large variety of feature types. LedPred is provided as an R/Bioconductor package connected to an online server to avoid installation of non-R software. Due to the heterogeneous CRM feature integration, LedPred excels at the prediction of regulatory sequences in Drosophila and mouse datasets compared with similar SVM-based software.

Availability and implementation: LedPred is available on GitHub: https://github.com/aitgon/LedPred and Bioconductor: http://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/LedPred.html under the MIT license.

Contact:  aitor.gonzalez@univ-amu.fr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Assessing the Unseen Bacterial Diversity in Microbial Communities
Authors: Caro-Quintero Alejandro , Ochman Howard
Published: November 2015

For both historical and technical reasons, 16S ribosomal RNA has been the most common molecular marker used to analyze the contents of microbial communities. However, its slow rate of evolution hinders the resolution of closely related bacteria—individual 16S-phylotypes, particularly when clustered at 97% sequence identity, conceal vast amounts of species- and strain-level variation. Protein-coding genes, which evolve more quickly, are useful for differentiating among more recently diverged lineages, but their application is complicated by difficulties in designing low-redundancy primers that amplify homologous regions from distantly related taxa. Given the now-common practice of multiplexing hundreds of samples, adopting new genes usually entails the synthesis of large sets of barcoded primers. To circumvent problems associated with use of protein-coding genes to survey microbial communities, we develop an approach—termed phyloTAGs —that offers an automatic solution for primer design and can be easily adapted to target different taxonomic groups and/or different protein-coding regions. We applied this method to analyze diversity within the gorilla gut microbiome and recovered hundreds of strains that went undetected after deep-sequencing of 16S rDNA amplicons. PhyloTAGs provides a powerful way to recover the fine-level diversity within microbial communities and to study stability and dynamics of bacterial populations.
Dietary Opportunities and Constraints on Islands
Authors: Allen Melinda S.
Published: December 2015

This chapter considers the advantages of islands as analytical units and the benefits of multi-proxy approaches to diet reconstructions. An overview of some common historical trends in Pacific Island diets is provided, followed by more detailed examination of two southern Cook Island sequences (Mangaia and Aitutaki Islands) in Polynesia, localities which were settled by closely related peoples but offered different dietary opportunities given their contrastive geographies. Archaeofaunal, archaeobotanical, and stable isotope records are used to explore dietary variability on these two islands over an approximately 750-year period. The analysis emphasizes the relationships between different dietary components (terrestrial foraging, marine exploitation, and evolving agroeconomies) and the dynamic feedback relationships that can shape dietary change.
Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation strategies using one-handed chest compression technique for children suffering a cardiac arrest
Authors: Jung Gun Hee , Oh Je Hyeok , Kim Chan Woong , Kim Sung Eun , Lee Dong Hoon
Published: December 2015

Objective

We evaluated the decrease in chest compression depth during 30 : 2 compression-to-ventilation ratio one-handed chest compression (OHCC) in an out-of-hospital pediatric arrest setting, and whether switching hands every other cycle could maintain compression depth.

Methods

A 5-year-old child-sized manikin was used, and 50 medical students participated in the present study. First, the participants performed 5 min OHCC with a 30 : 2 compression-to-ventilation ratio on the floor (baseline test). Second, the compression technique was changed from the OHCC to the two-handed chest compression when they became subjectively fatigued (test 1). Third, the compression hand was alternated every other cycle (test 2). Average compression depth (ACD) data were recorded using an accelerometer device.

Results

ACD changed significantly during the baseline test (0–1 min: 44.5±5.3 mm, 1–2 min: 43.7±6.1 mm, 2–3 min: 43.4±6.5 mm, 3–4 min: 43.2±6.5 mm, and 4–5 min: 42.3±6.5 mm, P=0.012). However, no significant differences were observed during test 1 or test 2. The baseline ACD value for the 4–5-min interval [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.5–44.2 mm] was significantly lower than those in test 1 (95% CI, 43.0–45.9 mm, P=0.004) and test 2 (95% CI, 42.4–45.9 mm, P=0.004). No differences in the ACDs at any interval were observed between test 1 and test 2.

Conclusion

Compression depth decreased significantly after 4 min during 30 : 2 ratio OHCC. However, it was maintained by changing from the OHCC to the two-handed chest compression or by alternating compression hands every other cycle.
Histopathology of Placenta Creta: Chorionic Villi Intrusion into Myometrial Vascular Spaces and Extravillous Trophoblast Proliferation are Frequent and Specific Findings With Implications for Diagnosis and Pathogenesis
Authors: Parra-Herran Carlos , Djordjevic Bojana
Published: December 2015

Placenta creta is characterized by invasion of placental villi into the myometrium in the setting of a dysfunctional or absent decidua. Histopathologic diagnosis of placenta creta is important, particularly in cases of hysterectomy because of unanticipated intractable postpartum hemorrhage. Previous studies have documented a higher amount and depth of myometrial infiltration by the implantation site intermediate trophoblast compared with controls. In addition, we have anecdotally observed chorionic villi in myometrial vascular spaces in specimens with placenta creta. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and specificity of these features. Sixty-one postpartum hysterectomies, 44 with placenta creta and 17 without were reviewed. Villous intrusion into vascular spaces was recorded. Using immunohistochemistry for GATA3, the amount of intermediate trophoblast (number of positive cells in five 40× fields) and depth of trophoblast myometrial infiltration were assessed. Mean gestational ages of the creta group (34.4 yr; range, 20–43 yr) and control group (35 yr; range, 25–51 yr) were comparable. Presence of chorionic villi in myometrial vascular spaces was frequent in placenta creta: 31/44 versus 1/17 controls (70.4% vs. 5.8%, P<0.0001). This finding was more common in the percreta (87.5%) and increta (84%) than in the accreta (27.2%, P=0.0008). Mean depth of trophoblast myometrial invasion was greater in cretas (47.9%) than in controls (14.5%, P=0.004). Likewise, mean distance of deepest trophoblast to serosa was shorter in the cretas (7.3 mm) than in controls (23.8 mm, P<0.0001). These differences were, however, attributable to placentas increta and percreta. When only accretas and controls were compared, the myometrial depth of trophoblast was similar. The mean intermediate trophoblast cell count in the placental bed was greater in cretas (664) than in controls (288, P<0.0001). Such difference was seen in all creta cases despite the type (accreta 639, increta 676, percreta 661). A trophoblast count of ≥100 cells/high-power field was seen in 75.8% of cretas and 11.1% of controls (P=0.0009). For the first time, we document the finding of chorionic villi intrusion into myometrial vascular spaces, which is highly specific of placenta creta. In addition, assessment of the amount of intermediate trophoblast using GATA3 immunohistochemistry can assist in the diagnosis. We hypothesize that placental invasion in placenta creta is due, at least partially, to transformation of low-resistance myometrial vessels leading to subsequent protrusion of villi into their lumens, in the context of absent decidua.
Mesoscopic oscillations in a single-gene circuit without delay
Authors: Guisoni N. , Monteoliva D. , Diambra L.
Published: December 2015

It is well known that single-gene circuits with negative feedback loop can lead to oscillatory gene expression when they operate with time delay. In order to generate these oscillations many processes can contribute to properly timing such delay. Here we show that the time delay coming from the transitions between internal states of thecis-regulatory system (CRS) can drive sustained oscillations in an auto-repressive single-gene circuit operating in a small volume like a cell. We found that the cooperative binding of repressor molecules is not mandatory for a oscillatory behavior if there are enough binding sites in the CRS. These oscillations depend on an adequate balance between the CRS kinetic, and the synthesis/degradation rates of repressor molecules. This finding suggest that the multi-site CRS architecture plays a key role for oscillatory behavior of gene expression.

PACS numbers: 82.40.Bj,87.10.Mn,87.16.-b,87.16.Yc,87.18.Tt,87.18.Vf
Inferring past effective population size from distributions of coalescent-times
Authors: Gattepaille Lucie , Jakobsson Mattias
Published: December 2015

Inferring and understanding changes in effective population size over time is a major challenge for population genetics. Here we investigate some theoretical properties of random mating populations with varying size over time. In particular, we present an exact method to compute the population size as a function of time using the distributions of coalescent-times of samples of any size. This result reduces the problem of population size inference to a problem of estimating coalescent-time distributions. Using tree inference algorithms and genetic data, we can investigate the effects of a range of conditions associated with real data, for instance finite number of loci, sample size, mutation rate and presence of cryptic recombination. We show that our method requires at least a modest number of loci (10,000 or more) and that increasing the sample size from 2 to 10 greatly improves the inference whereas further increase in sample size only results in a modest improvement, even under as scenario of exponential growth. We also show that small amounts of recombination can lead to biased population size reconstruction when unaccounted for. The approach can handle large sample sizes and the computations are fast. We apply our method on human genomes from 4 populations and reconstruct population size profiles that are coherent with previous knowledge, including the Out-of-Africa bottleneck. Additionally, a potential difference in population size between African and non-African populations as early as 400 thousand years ago is uncovered.
iCOBRA: open, reproducible, standardized and live method benchmarking
Authors: Soneson Charlotte , Robinson Mark D.
Published: December 2015

We present iCOBRA, a flexible general-purpose web-based application and accompanying R package to evaluate, compare and visualize the performance of methods for estimation or classification when ground truth is available. iCOBRA is interactive, can be run locally or remotely and generates customizable, publication-ready graphics. To facilitate open, reproducible and standardized method comparisons, expanding as new innovations are made, we encourage the community to provide benchmark results in a standard format.