bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bracket approach to improve the stability and gas sorption performance of a metal–organic framework via in situ incorporating the size-matching molecular building blocks
Authors: Chen Di-Ming , Tian Jia-Yue , Liu Chun-Sen , Du Miao
Published: May 2016

The robustness and gas sorption performance of a coordination framework can be greatly improved by incorporating size-matching molecular building blocks.
Intracellular delivery of chemical probes using a glutathione-responsive traceless tag
Authors: Aoyama Eriko , Fuchida Hirokazu , Oshikawa Yuji , Uchinomiya Shohei , Ojida Akio
Published: May 2016

A new glutathione (GSH)-responsive traceless tag that facilitates intracellular delivery of small molecule chemical probes has been developed.
Characteristic infrared intensities of carbonyl stretching vibrations
Authors: Richter Wagner E. , Silva Arnaldo F. , Vidal Luciano N. , Bruns Roy E.
Published: May 2016

CCTCP profiles for the CO stretching intensities of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and glyoxal. They differ only in magnitude rather than proportions.
Revealing nanoscale optical properties and morphology in perfluoropentacene films by confocal and tip-enhanced near-field optical microscopy and spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Xiao , Broch Katharina , Schreiber Frank , Meixner Alfred J. , Zhang Dai
Published: May 2016

Combining confocal and high resolution near-field optical microscopy and spectroscopy, we propose a sensitive method for determining the local morphology in organic semiconductor thin films.
Tuning of the electronic and photophysical properties of ladder-type quaterphenyl by selective methylene-bridge fluorination
Authors: Dänekamp Benedikt , Kobin Björn , Bhattacharyya Santanu , Hecht Stefan , Milián-Medina Begoña , Gierschner Johannes
Published: May 2016

The photophysics of fluorinated ladder-type quaterphenyls depend strongly on number and position of fluorine, driven by hyperconjugation and symmetry breaking effects.
Efficiency and stability of spectral sensitization of boron-doped-diamond electrodes through covalent anchoring of a donor–acceptor organic chromophore (P1)
Authors: Krysova Hana , Barton Jan , Petrak Vaclav , Jurok Radek , Kuchar Martin , Cigler Petr , Kavan Ladislav
Published: May 2016

A novel procedure is developed for chemical modification of H-terminated B-doped diamond surfaces with a donor–π-bridge–acceptor molecule (P1).
Search for aromatic anions in the P2E3− (E = N, P, As, Sb, Bi) series
Authors: Nizovtsev Anton S.
Published: May 2016

Nine aromatic five-membered rings were computationally characterized in the P2E3− (E = N, P, As, Sb, Bi) series of anions.
Dielectric characteristics of fast Li ion conducting garnet-type Li5+2xLa3Nb2−xYxO12 (x = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75)
Authors: Narayanan Sumaletha , Baral Ashok Kumar , Thangadurai Venkataraman
Published: May 2016

The dielectric characteristics of Li-stuffed Li5+2xLa3Nb2−xYxO12 garnet-type metal oxides are analyzed in this study using electrochemical AC impedance spectroscopy to understand the Li+ ion conduction mechanism at lower temperatures.
Characterization of La1−xSrxMnO3perovskite catalysts for hydrogen peroxide reduction
Authors: Yunphuttha C. , Porntheeraphat S. , Wongchaisuwat A. , Tangbunsuk S. , Marr D. W. M. , Viravathana P.
Published: May 2016

The crystalline phase and electronic structure of La1−xSrxMnO3catalysts were investigated for H2O2reduction.
A 1,2,3-dithiazolyl-o-naphthoquinone: a neutral radical with isolable cation and anion oxidation states
Authors: Smithson Chad S. , MacDonald Daniel J. , Matt Letvenuk T. , Carello Christian E. , Jennings Michael , Lough Alan J. , Britten James , Decken Andreas , Preuss Kathryn E.
Published: May 2016

A redox active ligand with three isolatable oxidations states is created by combining a thiazyl ring and ano-naphthoquinone.
Construction of a bioreporter by heterogeneously expressing a Vibrio natriegens recA::luxCDABE fusion in Escherichia coli, and genotoxicity assessments of petrochemical-contaminated groundwater in northern China
Authors: Jiang Bo , Huang Wei E. , Li Guanghe
Published: May 2016

Here, we constructed anEscherichia coli recA::luxCDABEbioreporter for genotoxicity assessments.
Multimedia environmental fate and speciation of engineered nanoparticles: a probabilistic modeling approach
Authors: Meesters J. A. J. , Quik J. T. K. , Koelmans A. A. , Hendriks A. J. , van de Meent D.
Published: May 2016

The robustness of novel multimedia fate models in environmental exposure estimation of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) is clarified by evaluating uncertainties in the emission, physicochemical properties and natural variability in environmental systems.
Nanocapillary electrokinetic tracking for monitoring charge fluctuations on a single nanoparticle
Authors: Faez Sanli , Samin Sela , Baasanjav Dashdeleg , Weidlich Stefan , Schmidt Markus , Mosk Allard P.
Published: May 2016

We introduce nanoCapillary Electrokinetic Tracking (nanoCET), an optofluidic platform for continuously measuring the electrophoretic mobility of a single colloidal nanoparticle or macromolecule in vitro with millisecond time resolution and high charge sensitivity. This platform is based on using a nanocapillary optical fiber in which liquids may flow inside a channel embedded inside the light-guiding core and nanoparticles are tracked using elastic light scattering. Using this platform we have experimentally measured the electrophoretic mobility of 60 nm gold nanoparticles in an aqueous environment. Further, using numerical simulations, we demonstrate the underlying electrokinetic dynamics inside the nanocapillary and the necessary steps for extending this method to probing single biomolecules, which can be achieved with existing technologies. This achievement will immensely facilitate the daunting challenge of monitoring biochemical or catalytic reactions on a single entity over a wide range of timescales. The unique measurement capabilities of this platform pave the way for a wide range of discoveries in colloid science, analytical biochemistry, and medical diagnostics.
Pressure-dependent rate constants for PAH growth: formation of indene and its conversion to naphthalene
Authors: Mebel Alexander M. , Georgievskii Yuri , Jasper Ahren W. , Klippenstein Stephen J.
Published: May 2016

Unraveling the mechanisms for growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) requires accurate temperature- and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for a great variety of feasible pathways. Even the pathways for the formation of the simplest PAHs, indene and naphthalene, are fairly complex. These pathways provide important prototypes for modeling larger PAH growth. In this work we employ the ab initio RRKM theory-based master equation approach to predict the rate constants involved in the formation of indene and its conversion to naphthalene. The reactions eventually leading to indene involve C9Hx (x = 8–11) potential energy surfaces (PESs) and include C6H5 + C3H4 (allene and propyne), C6H6 + C3H3, benzyl + C2H2, C6H5 + C3H6, C6H6 + C3H5 and C6H5 + C3H5. These predictions allow us to make a number of valuable observations on the role of various mechanisms. For instance, we demonstrate that reactions which can significantly contribute to the formation of indene include phenyl + allene and H-assisted isomerization to indene of its major product, 3-phenylpropyne, benzyl + acetylene, and the reactions of the phenyl radical with propene and the allyl radical, both proceeding via the 3-phenylpropene intermediate. 3-Phenylpropene can be activated to a 1-phenylallyl radical, which in turn rapidly decomposes to indene. Next, indene can be converted to benzofulvene or naphthalene under typical combustion conditions, via its activation by H atom abstraction and methyl substitution on the five-membered ring followed by isomerization and decomposition of the resulting 1-methylindenyl radical, C10H9 → C10H8 + H. Alternatively, the same region of the C10H9 PES can be accessed through the reaction of benzyl with propargyl, C7H7 + C3H3 → C10H10 → C10H9 + H, which therefore can also contribute to the formation of benzofulvene or naphthalene. Benzofulvene easily transforms to naphthalene by H-assisted isomerization. An analysis of the effect of pressure on the reaction outcome and relative product yields is given, and modified Arrhenius fits of the rate constants are reported for the majority of the considered reactions. Ultimately, the implementation of such expressions in detailed kinetic models will help quantify the role of these reactions for PAH growth in various environments.
Catalyst- and solvent-free hydrophosphination and multicomponent hydrothiophosphination of alkenes and alkynes
Authors: Moglie Yanina , González-Soria María José , Martín-García Iris , Radivoy Gabriel , Alonso Francisco
Published: May 2016

The hydrophosphination and hydrothiophosphination of alkenes and alkynes are accomplished in the absence of a solvent and a catalyst in a regio- and stereoselective manner.
Ruthenium stable isotope measurements by double spike MC-ICPMS
Authors: Hopp Timo , Fischer-Gödde Mario , Kleine Thorsten
Published: May 2016

We developed a new technique for precise measurements of ruthenium (Ru) stable isotope compositions by multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS).
Recent advances in fluorescent film sensing from the perspective of both molecular design and film engineering
Authors: Miao Rong , Peng Junxia , Fang Yu
Published: May 2016

Fluorescence is now a dominant technology and is used extensively in many fields owing to its incomparable properties.
Experimental evidence of incomplete fluorescence quenching of pyrene bound to humic substances: implications for Koc measurements
Authors: Shirshin E. A. , Budylin G. S. , Grechischeva N. Yu , Fadeev V. V. , Perminova I. V.
Published: May 2016

Fluorescence quenching (FQ) is extensively used for quantitative assessment of partition coefficients (K
oc) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to natural organic materials–humic substances (HS). The presence of bound PAHs with incompletely quenched fluorescence would lead to underestimation of the K
oc values measured by this technique. The goal of this work was to prove the validity of this assumption using an original experimental setup, which implied FQ measurements upon excitation into two distinct vibronically coupled electronic states. Pyrene was used as a fluorescent probe, and aquatic fulvic acid (SRFA) and leonardite humic acid (CHP) were used as the humic materials with low and high binding affinity for pyrene, respectively. Excitation of pyrene into the forbidden (S0–S1) and allowed (S0–S2) electronic states yielded two pairs of nonidentical FQ curves. This was indicative of incomplete quenching of the bound pyrene, and the divergence of the two FQ curves was much more pronounced for CHP as compared to SRFA. The two component model of fluorescence response formation was proposed to estimate the K
oc values from the data obtained. The resulting pyrene K
oc value for CHP (220 ± 20) g L-1 was a factor 3 higher compared to the K
oc value determined with the use of the Stern–Volmer formalism (68 ± 2) g L-1. At the same time for aquatic FA the difference in FQ curves was almost negligible, which enables the use of the Stern–Volmer formalism for weakly interacting HS and PAHs.
Correction: Cucurbit[7]uril inclusion complexation as a supramolecular strategy for color stabilization of anthocyanin model compounds
Authors: Held Barbara , Tang Hao , Natarajan Palani , Silva Cassio Pacheco Da , Silva Volnir De Oliveira , Bohne Cornelia , Quina Frank H.
Published: May 2016

Correction for ‘Cucurbit[7]uril inclusion complexation as a supramolecular strategy for color stabilization of anthocyanin model compounds’ by Barbara Held, et al., Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2016, DOI: 10.1039/c6pp00060f.
Protection of baicalin against lipopolysaccharide induced liver and kidney injuries based on 1H NMR metabolomic profiling
Authors: Liao Shanting , Li Pei , Wang Junsong , Zhang Qian , Xu Dingqiao , Yang Minghua , Kong Lingyi
Published: May 2016

LPS disturbed the metabolomic profiles in the serum, livers and kidneys of mice, and baicalin ameliorated these disturbances.
Saliency histogram equalisation and its application to image resizing
Authors: Hsin Hsi‐Chin
Published: May 2016

This study presents a novel method for content‐aware image resizing based on the normalised saliency map of an image termed saliency histogram (SH), which provides the probability of a target's presence in the spatial location domain. Motivated by the idea of spreading the histogram of an image on the grey scale known as image histogram equalisation for contrast enhancement, fast SH equalisation (SHE) has been proposed to distribute the content of an image in the resized image domain similarly. Experimental results show that SHE has a tendency to protect salient foreground objects, and it takes only fractions of a second to resize an 1024 × 768 image.
Anti‐bias track‐to‐track association algorithm based on distance detection
Authors: Qi Lin , Dong Kai , Liu Yu , Liu Jun , Jian Tao , He You
Published: May 2016

To address multi‐sensor real‐time track‐to‐track association problem of aircraft platforms in a complex environment, where sensor biases are time‐varied, targets are distributed closely and different sensors report different targets, an anti‐bias track‐to‐track association algorithm based on distance detection is proposed according to the statistical characteristics of Gaussian random vectors. First, a distance vector between homologous tracks is derived and its feature is analysed; second, the rough association based on minimum average and the refined association based on χ2 distribution are illustrated according to the features of distance vectors. Adaptability experiments are established based on three factors including different target densities, random errors, and sensor biases. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the proposed algorithm has significant improvements of association accuracy and complex condition adaptability compared with the classical reference topology feature algorithm.
Berufliche Allergien gegen Trypsin und Chymotrypsin
Authors: van Kampen V. , Brüning T. , Merget R.
Published: May 2016

Trypsin und Chymotrypsin sind proteolytische Verdauungsenzyme, die in Form der inaktiven Vorstufen Trypsinogen und Chymotrypsinogen von der Bauchspeicheldrüse abgesondert werden. Sie finden Anwendung bei der Arzneimittelherstellung und in der Forschung, insbesondere in der Proteinchemie. In der Vergangenheit wurde bereits für verschiedene Enzyme deren atemwegssensibilisierendes Potenzial nach beruflicher Exposition gezeigt. Durch eine größere Zahl von Studien sind auch Fälle von spezifischer Überempfindlichkeit der Atemwege oder der Lunge durch Trypsin und Chymotrypsin gut belegt. Da Symptome, Hauttestergebnisse, der Nachweis spezifischer IgE-Antikörper und die Ergebnisse spezifischer Provokationstests in der Regel gut übereinstimmen, scheint ein immunologischer Wirkmechanismus gesichert. Es liegen zwar einzelne Hinweise auf urtikarielle Sofortreaktionen bei Kontakt mit Trypsin oder Chymotrypsin vor, jedoch keine klinischen Befunde zu kontaktallergischen Reaktionen vom Spättyp.
How and why Organisations Use Social Media: Five Use Types and their Relation to Absorptive Capacity
Authors: Schlagwein Daniel , Hu Monica
Published: May 2016

In this paper, we examine the relation between social media use and the absorptive capacity of organisations. Over the past 10 years, many organisations have systematically adopted social media. Trade press and consulting companies often claim that the systematic use of social media increases the performance of organisations. However, such claims are typically neither empirically grounded nor theoretically examined. In this paper, based on key informant interviews at 20 organisations, we examine these claims empirically and theoretically. Firstly, we examine the ways in which social media are used by organisations. We identify five different social media use types that support different organisational purposes (broadcast, dialogue, collaboration, knowledge management and sociability). Secondly, we analyse how these five social media use types relate to organisations' absorptive capacity. We find that particular social media use types (e.g., dialogue) support organisations' absorptive capacity and, ultimately, their performance although others (e.g., sociability) do not.
Development of a multi-lane X-ray mirror providing variable beam sizes
Authors: Laundy D. , Sawhney K. , Nistea I. , Alcock S. G. , Pape I. , Sutter J. , Alianelli L. , Evans G.
Published: May 2016

Grazing incidence mirrors are used on most X-ray synchrotron beamlines to focus, collimate or suppress harmonics. Increasingly beamline users are demanding variable beam shapes and sizes at the sample position. We have now developed a new concept to rapidly vary the beam size and shape of a focused X-ray beam. The surface of an elliptically figured mirror is divided into a number of laterally separated lanes, each of which is given an additional longitudinal height profile calculated to shape the X-ray beam to a top-hat profile in the focal plane. We have now fabricated two prototype mirrors and present the results of metrology tests and measurements made with one of the mirrors focusing the X-rays on a synchrotron beamline. We envisage that such mirrors could be widely applied to rapid beam-size switching on many synchrotron beamlines.
Divalent cation shrinks DNA but inhibits its compaction with trivalent cation
Authors: Tongu Chika , Kenmotsu Takahiro , Yoshikawa Yuko , Zinchenko Anatoly , Chen Ning , Yoshikawa Kenichi
Published: May 2016

Our observation reveals the effects of divalent and trivalent cations on the higher-order structure of giant DNA (T4 DNA 166 kbp) by fluorescence microscopy. It was found that divalent cations, Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), inhibit DNA compaction induced by a trivalent cation, spermidine (SPD(3+)). On the other hand, in the absence of SPD(3+), divalent cations cause the shrinkage of DNA. As the control experiment, we have confirmed the minimum effect of monovalent cation, Na(+) on the DNA higher-order structure. We interpret the competition between 2+ and 3+ cations in terms of the change in the translational entropy of the counterions. For the compaction with SPD(3+), we consider the increase in translational entropy due to the ion-exchange of the intrinsic monovalent cations condensing on a highly charged polyelectrolyte, double-stranded DNA, by the 3+ cations. In contrast, the presence of 2+ cation decreases the gain of entropy contribution by the ion-exchange between monovalent and 3+ ions.
The explicitly correlated same number of optimized parameters (SNOOP-F12) scheme for calculating intermolecular interaction energies
Authors: Rasmussen Troels Hels , Wang Yang Min , Kjærgaard Thomas , Kristensen Kasper
Published: May 2016

We augment the recently introduced same number of optimized parameters (SNOOP) scheme [K. Kristensen et al., J. Chem. Phys. 142, 114116 (2015)] for calculating interaction energies of molecular dimers with an F12 correction and generalize the method to enable the determination of interaction energies of general molecular clusters. The SNOOP, uncorrected (UC), and counterpoise (CP) schemes with/without an F12 correction are compared for the S22 test set of Jurečka et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8, 1985 (2006)]—which consists of 22 molecular dimers of biological importance—and for water and methane molecular clusters. The calculations have been performed using the Resolution of the Identity second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory method. We conclude from the results that the SNOOP scheme generally yields interaction energies closer to the complete basis set limit value than the UC and CP approaches, regardless of whether the F12 correction is applied or not. Specifically, using the SNOOP scheme with an F12 correction yields the computationally most efficient way of achieving accurate results at low basis set levels. These conclusions hold both for molecular dimers and more general molecular clusters.
A compact high-resolution X-ray ion mobility spectrometer
Authors: Reinecke T. , Kirk A. T. , Heptner A. , Niebuhr D. , Böttger S. , Zimmermann S.
Published: May 2016

For the ionization of gaseous samples, most ion mobility spectrometers employ radioactive ionization sources, e.g., containing 63Ni or 3H. Besides legal restrictions, radioactive materials have the disadvantage of a constant radiation with predetermined intensity. In this work, we replaced the 3H source of our previously described high-resolution ion mobility spectrometer with 75 mm drift tube length with a commercially available X-ray source. It is shown that the current configuration maintains the resolving power of R = 100 which was reported for the original setup containing a 3H source. The main advantage of an X-ray source is that the intensity of the radiation can be adjusted by varying its operating parameters, i.e., filament current and acceleration voltage. At the expense of reduced resolving power, the sensitivity of the setup can be increased by increasing the activity of the source. Therefore, the performance of the setup can be adjusted to the specific requirements of any application. To investigate the relation between operating parameters of the X-Ray source and the performance of the ion mobility spectrometer, parametric studies of filament current and acceleration voltage are performed and the influence on resolving power, peak height, and noise is analyzed.
Simultaneous, single-pulse, synchrotron x-ray imaging and diffraction under gas gun loading
Authors: Fan D. , Huang J. W. , Zeng X. L. , Li Y. , E J. C. , Huang J. Y. , Sun T. , Fezzaa K. , Wang Z. , Luo S. N.
Published: May 2016

We develop a mini gas gun system for simultaneous, single-pulse, x-ray diffraction and imaging under high strain-rate loading at the beamline 32-ID of the Advanced Photon Source. In order to increase the reciprocal space covered by a small-area detector, a conventional target chamber is split into two chambers: a narrowed measurement chamber and a relief chamber. The gas gun impact is synchronized with synchrotron x-ray pulses and high-speed cameras. Depending on a camera’s capability, multiframe imaging and diffraction can be achieved. The proof-of-principle experiments are performed on single-crystal sapphire. The diffraction spots and images during impact are analyzed to quantify lattice deformation and fracture; fracture is dominated by splitting cracks followed by wing cracks, and diffraction peaks are broadened likely due to mosaic spread. Our results demonstrate the potential of such multiscale measurements for studying high strain-rate phenomena at dynamic extremes.
Sub-5 nm, globally aligned graphene nanoribbons on Ge(001)
Authors: Kiraly Brian , Mannix Andrew J. , Jacobberger Robert M. , Fisher Brandon L. , Arnold Michael S. , Hersam Mark C. , Guisinger Nathan P.
Published: May 2016

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) hold great promise for future electronics because of their edge and width dependent electronic bandgaps and exceptional transport properties. While significant progress toward GNR devices has been made, the field has been limited by difficulties achieving narrow widths, global alignment, and atomically pristine GNR edges on technologically relevant substrates. A recent advance has challenged these limits by using Ge(001) substrates to direct the bottom-up growth of GNRs with nearly pristine armchair edges and widths near ∼10 nm via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition. In this work, the growth of GNRs on Ge(001) is extended to ultra-high vacuum conditions, resulting in the realization of GNRs with widths narrower than 5 nm. Armchair graphene nanoribbons oriented along Ge 〈110〉 surface directions are achieved with excellent width control and relatively large bandgaps. The bandgap magnitude and electronic uniformity of these sub-5 nm GNRs are well-suited for emerging nanoelectronic applications.
Atomic layer deposition of HfO2 on graphene through controlled ion beam treatment
Authors: Kim Ki Seok , Oh Il-Kwon , Jung Hanearl , Kim Hyungjun , Yeom Geun Young , Kim Kyong Nam
Published: May 2016

The polymer residue generated during the graphene transfer process to the substrate tends to cause problems (e.g., a decrease in electron mobility, unwanted doping, and non-uniform deposition of the dielectric material). In this study, by using a controllable low-energy Ar+ ion beam, we cleaned the polymer residue without damaging the graphene network. HfO2 grown by atomic layer deposition on graphene cleaned using an Ar+ ion beam showed a dense uniform structure, whereas that grown on the transferred graphene (before Ar+ ion cleaning) showed a non-uniform structure. A graphene–HfO2–metal capacitor fabricated by growing 20-nm thick HfO2 on graphene exhibited a very low leakage current (<10−11 A/cm2) for Ar+ ion-cleaned graphene, whereas a similar capacitor grown using the transferred graphene showed high leakage current.
In-situ characterization of highly reversible phase transformation by synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction
Authors: Chen Xian , Tamura Nobumichi , MacDowell Alastair , James Richard D.
Published: May 2016

The alloy Cu25Au30Zn45 undergoes a huge first-order phase transformation (6% strain) and shows a high reversibility under thermal cycling and an unusual martensitc microstructure in sharp contrast to its nearby compositions. This alloy was discovered by systematically tuning the composition so that its lattice parameters satisfy the cofactor conditions (i.e., the kinematic conditions of compatibility between phases). It was conjectured that satisfaction of these conditions is responsible for the enhanced reversibility as well as the observed unusual fluid-like microstructure during transformation, but so far, there has been no direct evidence confirming that these observed microstructures are those predicted by the cofactor conditions. To verify this hypothesis, we use synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction to measure the orientations and structural parameters of variants and phases near the austenite/martensite interface. The areas consisting of both austenite and multi-variants of martensite are scanned by microLaue diffraction. The cofactor conditions have been examined from the kinematic relation of lattice vectors across the interface. The continuity condition of the interface is precisely verified from the correspondent lattice vectors between two phases.
Nanopatterning of swinging substrates by ion-beam sputtering
Authors: Yoon Sun Mi , Kim J.-S.
Published: May 2016

Graphite substrates are azimuthally swung during ion-beam sputtering (IBS) at a polar angle θ = 78° from the surface normal. The swinging of the substrate not only causes quasi-two-dimensional mass transport but also makes various sputter effects from the different incident angles to work together. Through variation of the swing angle, both the transport and sputtering effects synergistically produce a series of salient patterns, such as asymmetric wall-like structures, which can grow to several tens of nanometers and exhibit a re-entrant orientational change with the increased swing angle. Thus, the present work demonstrates that dynamic variables such as the swing angle, which have been little utilized, offer an additional parameter space that can be exploited to diversify the sputtered patterns, thereby expanding the applicability of an IBS as well as the comprehension of the IBS nano patterning mechanism.
Extraction of carrier lifetime in Ge waveguides using pump probe spectroscopy
Authors: Srinivasan S. A. , Pantouvaki M. , Verheyen P. , Lepage G. , Absil P. , Van Campenhout J. , Van Thourhout D.
Published: May 2016

Carrier lifetimes in Ge-on-Si waveguides are deduced using time-resolved infrared transmission pump-probe spectroscopy. Dynamics of pump-induced excess carriers generated in waveguides with varying Ge thickness and width is probed using a CW laser. The lifetimes of these excess carriers strongly depend on the thickness and width of the waveguide due to defect assisted surface recombination. Interface recombination velocities of 0.975 × 104 cm/s and 1.45 × 104 cm/s were extracted for the Ge/Si and the Ge/SiO2 interfaces, respectively.
Continuous control of spin polarization using a magnetic field
Authors: Gifford J. A. , Zhao G. J. , Li B. C. , Tracy Brian D. , Zhang J. , Kim D. R. , Smith David J. , Chen T. Y.
Published: May 2016

The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) of a point contact between a Co/Cu multilayer and a superconductor tip varies for different bias voltage. Direct measurement of spin polarization by Andreev reflection spectroscopy reveals that the GMR change is due to a change in spin polarization. This work demonstrates that the GMR structure can be utilized as a spin source and that the spin polarization can be continuously controlled by using an external magnetic field.
Boost up the electrical performance of InGaZnO thin film transistors by inserting an ultrathin InGaZnO:H layer
Authors: Abliz Ablat , Wang Jingli , Xu Lei , Wan Da , Liao Lei , Ye Cong , Liu Chuansheng , Jiang Changzhong , Chen Huipeng , Guo Tailiang
Published: May 2016

This study examined the electrical performance of bilayer channel InGaZnO:H/InGaZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs). The field-effect mobility and bias stress stability of the InGaZnO device were improved by inserting the hydrogenated InGaZnO ultrathin layer compared to the pure InGaZnO single channel layer device. As a consequence, a high field-effect mobility of 55.3 cm2/V s, a high on/off current ratio of 108, a threshold voltage of 0.7 V, and a small sub-threshold swing of 0.18 V/decade have been achieved. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low-frequency noise analysis suggest that these desirable properties should be attributed to the ultrathin InGaZnO:H layer, which could provide suitable carrier concentration and reduce the average trap density near the channel and insulator layer interface. Meanwhile, the channel conductance of the bilayer device is controlled by thick InGaZnO layer through formation barrier energy for electron transport at the interface of InGaZnO:H and InGaZnO layer. These improved electrical properties have represented a great step towards the achievement of transparent, high performances, and low-cost metal oxide TFTs.
Structure, dynamics and stability of a Mediterranean river food web
Authors: Peralta-Maraver I. , López-Rodríguez M. J. , Tierno de Figueroa J. M.
Published: May 2016

We present the results of a study of the food web of a Mediterranean river in the four seasons of the year. A high-resolution taxonomic description has been produced to characterise the different community components. We have also determined the trophic relationships among organisms by analysing their gut contents. From the network topology, we extracted several descriptors of structural complexity of the comunity in terms of number of nodes and links. We found a positive relationship between connectance and diversity (both biological and functional). Moreover, we developed and applied a quantitative approach to estimate the link strength, which showed that not all links constituting the network are equally important. In the present paper, we show that the strength of the food-web links vary over time, but there is a natural tendency to keep a small set of strong links throughout the year. However, the existence of two consecutive strong links is not common, meaning that trophic cascades are not promoted.
Unfalsifiability of security claims
Authors: Herley Cormac
Published: May 2016

Significance

Much in computer security involves recommending defensive measures: telling people how they should choose and maintain passwords, manage their computers, and so on. We show that claims that any measure is necessary for security are empirically unfalsifiable. That is, no possible observation contradicts a claim of the form “if you don’t do X you are not secure.” This means that self-correction operates only in one direction. If we are wrong about a measure being sufficient, a successful attack will demonstrate that fact, but if we are wrong about necessity, no possible observation reveals the error. The fact that claims of necessity are easy to make, but impossible to refute, makes waste inevitable and cumulative.
Active dendrites regulate the impact of gliotransmission on rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons
Authors: Ashhad Sufyan , Narayanan Rishikesh
Published: May 2016

Significance

Glial cells in the brain actively communicate with neurons through release of transmitter molecules that result in neuronal voltage deflections, thereby playing vital roles in neuronal information processing. Although a significant proportion of information processing in neurons is performed in their dendritic arborization, the impact of gliotransmission on neuronal dendrites has not been mapped. Here, we show that gliotransmission, acting through differentially localized slow receptors, results in strikingly large voltage deflections in neuronal dendrites, with the strength and spread of these deflections critically regulated by dendritic ion channels. Our results add a significantly complex dimension to neuron–glia interactions by demonstrating that neuronal dendrites and their voltage-gated channels play active roles in regulating the impact of such interactions.
Social networks and environmental outcomes
Authors: Barnes Michele L. , Lynham John , Kalberg Kolter , Leung PingSun
Published: May 2016

Significance

Understanding how social dynamics drive outcomes in environmental systems is critical to advancing global sustainability. We link comprehensive data on fishers’ information-sharing networks and observed fishing behaviors to demonstrate that social networks are tied to actions that can directly impact ecological health. Specifically, we find evidence that the propensity for individuals to share information primarily with others most similar to themselves creates segregated networks that impede the diffusion of sustainable behaviors—behaviors that could have mitigated the incidental catch of over 46,000 sharks in a single commercial fishery between 2008 and 2012. Our results suggest having a better understanding of social structures and bolstering effective communication across segregated networks has the potential to contribute toward more sustainable environmental outcomes.
Auxin-dependent compositional change in Mediator in ARF7- and ARF19-mediated transcription
Authors: Ito Jun , Fukaki Hidehiro , Onoda Makoto , Li Lin , Li Chuanyou , Tasaka Masao , Furutani Masahiko
Published: May 2016

Significance

Mediator complex relays the information from transcription factors to RNA polymerase II. Our results show that Mediator transmits auxin-dependent transcription through its compositional change in lateral root formation. The AUXIN/INDOLE 3-ACETIC ACID 14 (IAA14) transcriptional repressor inhibits the transcriptional activity of its binding partners AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 7 (ARF7) and ARF19 by interacting with the dissociable CDK8 kinase module (CKM) of Mediator, a putative blocker of RNA polymerase II recruitment. Auxin-induced degradation of IAA14 dissociates the CKM component but not other Mediator subunits from ARF7 binding to the upstream region of its target gene. We suggest that this compositional change in Mediator enables a quick switch of information transmission from ARFs to target gene expression in response to auxin.
Brain aerobic glycolysis and motor adaptation learning
Authors: Shannon Benjamin J. , Vaishnavi Sanjeev Neil , Vlassenko Andrei G. , Shimony Joshua S. , Rutlin Jerrel , Raichle Marcus E.
Published: May 2016

Significance

A substantial fraction of glucose used by the brain does not enter the oxidative phosphorylation pathway despite the presence of adequate oxygen, a phenomenon known as aerobic glycolysis. Among its several functions, aerobic glycolysis makes substantial contributions to biosynthesis, thus becoming a marker of synaptic plasticity. Combining PET and MRI brain-imaging techniques, we characterized the role of aerobic glycolysis in plasticity during the performance of a motor adaptation learning task. Our findings support a link between aerobic glycolysis and learning as well as providing unexpected evidence of a potential role of microglia in long-term depression and synaptic pruning.
The influence of shoe drop on the kinematics and kinetics of children tennis players
Authors: Herbaut Alexis , Chavet Pascale , Roux Maxime , Guéguen Nils , Gillet Christophe , Barbier Franck , Simoneau‐Buessinger Emilie
Published: May 2016

This study investigated the immediate effects of reducing the shoe drop (i.e. the difference between the heel and the forefoot height) on the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremities of children tennis players performing a tennis‐specific movement. Thirteen children tennis players performed a series of simulated open stance forehands wearing 3 pairs of shoes differing only in the drop: 0 (D0), 6 (D6) and the control condition of 12 mm (D12). Two embedded forceplates and a motion capture system were used to analyse the ground reaction forces and ankle and knee joint angles and moments of the leading lower limb. In D6 compared with D12, the peak impact force was reduced by 24% (p = .004) and the ankle was less dorsiflexed at foot strike (p = .037). In D0 compared with D12, the peak impact force was reduced by 17% (p = .049), the ankle was less dorsiflexed at foot strike (p = .045) and the knee was more flexed at foot strike (p = .007). In addition, 4 out of 13 participants (31%) presented a forefoot strike pattern for some of the trials in D0. No difference was observed across shoe conditions for the peak knee extensor moment (p = .658) or the peak ankle plantarflexor moment (p = .071). The results provide preliminary data supporting the hypothesis that for children tennis players, using a 6‐mm lower shoe drop might reduce heel impact forces and thus limit potentially impact‐related injuries.
Pragmatism, Mandarin and political culture in Singapore: recent reprises of an ideology
Authors: Tupas Ruanni
Published: May 2016

Mandarin in Singapore has recently undergone the process of linguistic commodification, thus generating fundamental cracks in the ideological premises of the country’s much-touted bilingual policy: the pragmatic function is now ascribed to both English and Mandarin, and no longer exclusively to English only. This article argues that the complications wrought by the commodification of Mandarin on the bilingual policy have been shaped almost single-handedly by the ideology of pragmatism. Thus, the article seeks to answer this question: What does the commodification of Mandarin tell us about Singapore and Singaporeans’ recent (re)articulations and (re)enactments of the ideology of pragmatism? It transcends issues of language and permeates the very core of Singaporean political culture. It is not a simple case of commodifying a language; it is more a case of reinscribing government in the political culture of the country.
Division of labor in the growth cone by DSCR1
Authors: Catlett Timothy S. , Gomez Timothy M.
Published: May 2016

Local protein synthesis directs growth cone turning of nascent axons, but mechanisms governing this process within compact, largely autonomous microenvironments remain poorly understood. In this issue, Wang et al. (2016. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201510107) demonstrate that the calcineurin regulator Down syndrome critical region 1 protein modulates both basal neurite outgrowth and growth cone turning.
Dynamic changes in Id3 and E-protein activity orchestrate germinal center and plasma cell development
Authors: Gloury Renee , Zotos Dimitra , Zuidscherwoude Malou , Masson Frederick , Liao Yang , Hasbold Jhaguaral , Corcoran Lynn M. , Hodgkin Phil D. , Belz Gabrielle T. , Shi Wei , Nutt Stephen L. , Tarlinton David M. , Kallies Axel
Published: May 2016

The generation of high-affinity antibodies requires germinal center (GC) development and differentiation of long-lived plasma cells in a multilayered process that is tightly controlled by the activity of multiple transcription factors. Here, we reveal a new layer of complexity by demonstrating that dynamic changes in Id3 and E-protein activity govern both GC and plasma cell differentiation. We show that down-regulation of Id3 in B cells is essential for releasing E2A and E2-2, which in a redundant manner are required for antigen-induced B cell differentiation. We demonstrate that this pathway controls the expression of multiple key factors, including Blimp1, Xbp1, and CXCR4, and is therefore critical for establishing the transcriptional network that controls GC B cell and plasma cell differentiation.
Stability of drift-cyclotron loss-cone waves in H-mode plasmas
Authors: Farmer W.A. , Morales G.J.
Published: May 2016

The drift-cyclotron loss-cone mode was first studied in mirror machines. In such devices, particles with small pitch angles are not confined, creating a hole in the velocity distribution function that is a source of free energy and leads to micro-instabilities in the cyclotron-range of frequencies. In the edge region of tokamak devices operating under H-mode conditions, ion loss also occurs. In this case, gradient drift carries ions moving opposite to the plasma current preferentially into the divertor, creating a one-sided loss cone. A simple analysis shows that for the quiescent H-mode plasmas in DIII-D the critical gradient for instability is exceeded within 2 cm of the separatrix, and the maximum growth rate at the separatrix is 3  ×  107 s−1.
Effectiveness of Risperidone Augmentation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Hegde Aditya , Kalyani Bangalore G. , Arumugham Shyam Sundar , Narayanaswamy Janardhanan C. , Math Suresh Bada , Reddy Y.C. Janardhan
Published: May 2016

Risperidone is the most widely used augmenting agent in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, a recent controlled study found risperidone to be no different from placebo, raising doubts about its effectiveness. In this context, we sought to examine the real-world effectiveness of risperidone from the large database of an OCD clinic in India. A total of 1314 consecutive patients who registered at the OCD clinic between 2004 and 2014 were evaluated with structured interviews and scales. Patients with OCD initiated on risperidone augmentation without concurrent cognitive behavior therapy and who were on stable and adequate doses of serotonin reuptake inhibitors for at least 12 preceding weeks were included for analysis. The primary outcome measure was all-cause discontinuation. Logistic regression was performed to identify the factors predicting improvement with risperidone augmentation. A total of 92 patients were eligible for analysis. Risperidone continued to be used in 23 patients (25%) at the time of last follow-up, and the remaining discontinued either because of ineffectiveness or intolerability. The fall in the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores was significantly greater in patients who continued to take risperidone when compared with those who did not (41.6% vs 3.7%, t = 6.95, P < 0.001). A total of 22 patients (24%) were noted to have at least a 25% reduction on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores. On regression analysis, no predictors of improvement with risperidone augmentation could be identified. The study demonstrated, in a real-world setting, that risperidone may be a useful augmenting agent in a proportion of patients with partial/poor response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Influences of Socioeconomic Status on Costs of Asthma Under Universal Health Coverage
Authors: Chen Wenjia , Lynd Larry D. , FitzGerald J. Mark , Sadatsafavi Mohsen
Published: May 2016

Background:

Despite Canada’s provision of universal health coverage, socioeconomic barriers to good-quality health care remain. Asthma provides an appropriate case study given its high prevalence, availability of effective controller therapies, and known variations in care.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to examine the extent of differences in the economic burden of asthma and indicators of guideline-based care across socioeconomic status (SES) gradients.

Research Design:

A total of 29,283 adults with moderate to severe asthma were identified from British Columbia’s administrative health data for the year 1997–2013 and were matched to adults without asthma on the basis of sex and age. Direct medical costs (in 2013 Canadian dollars, $) included all-cause inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy costs. SES was measured at individual (receiving social assistance) and aggregate (median neighborhood household income) levels. We assessed the impact of SES on excess direct costs of asthma (the difference in all-cause direct medical costs between an asthma patient and the matched individual), and on use of asthma controller versus reliever medications. Associations were evaluated using generalized linear models.

Results:

Asthmatics receiving social assistance incurred $706 (95% confidence interval, $302–$1014) higher annual excess costs than the rest of the sample. Annual excess costs were $120 ($18–$168) higher in low-SES versus high-SES neighborhoods. Low SES, at both individual and aggregate levels, was consistently associated with lower expenses on controller medications and higher expenses on reliever medications, indicators of suboptimal asthma care and control.

Conclusion:

Even under universal health care, individuals in lower SES groups did not receive guideline-based asthma care, potentially explaining their higher costs.
Do Patient-Centered Medical Home Access and Care Coordination Measures Reflect the Contribution of All Team Members? A Systematic Review
Authors: Annis Ann M. , Harris Marcelline , Robinson Claire H. , Krein Sarah L.
Published: May 2016

Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) evaluations have primarily focused on primary care providers and not on the primary care team. This systematic literature review examined the extent to which access and care coordination measures in PCMH reflect the involvement of associate care providers (ACPs), which include registered and licensed practical nurses, nursing and medical assistants, clerks, pharmacists, social workers, and dietitians. Among 42 studies, few measures specified ACP roles or linked ACP care to outcomes. Increasing attention on team-based care emphasizes a vital need to reframe measures within a team context.