bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Maximum Principle via Malliavin calculus for combined stochastic control and impulse control of forward‐backward systems
Authors: Wang Yan , Song Aimin , Feng Enmin
Published: February 2015

We consider a combined stochastic control and impulse control problem of forward‐backward systems driven by Lévy processes, where both the system coefficients and the objective performance functional are allowed to be random, non‐Markovian; the information available to the controller is partial information. Applying a Malliavin calculus approach, we derive a maximum principle for this control problem, where the adjoint processes are explicitly represented by the parameters and the states of the system. Finally, we give two examples of applications. © 2015 Chinese Automatic Control Society and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
A Saturating Extension of an Output Feedback Controller for Internally Damped Euler‐Lagrange Systems
Authors: Shojaei Khoshnam , Chatraei Abbas
Published: February 2015

In this research, a novel extension of the passivity‐based output feedback trajectory tracking controller is developed for internally damped Euler‐Lagrange systems with input saturation. Compared with the previous output feedback controllers, this new design of a combined adaptive controller‐observer system will reduce the risk of actuator saturation effectively via generalized saturation functions. Semi‐global uniform ultimate boundedness stability of the tracking errors and state estimation errors is guaranteed by Lyapunov stability analysis. An application of the proposed saturated output feedback controller is the stabilization of a nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot with saturated actuators towards desired trajectories. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed controller in dealing with the actuator saturation.
Towards more behaviours in crowd simulation
Authors: Lemercier Samuel , Auberlet Jean‐Michel
Published: February 2015

While collision avoidance has been the most active topic in pedestrian simulation, the modelling of other kinds of behaviours appears to be essential for better realism. Thus higher cognitive levels of perception and behaviour improve simulation quality. Furthermore, giving an agent the possibility to choose the nature of its interactions with the others can not only improve simulation realism but also bring heterogeneity in the simulated population because each agent individually perceives the situation according to its own characteristics. In this paper, we aim at providing the pedestrian agent the ability to obtain an individual representation of the environment that allows him to adapt its behaviour according to the situation. We base our work on the analysis and interpretation of the environment, which makes the agent decide the behaviour it is going to adopt. We focus on two kinds of behaviours, following and group avoidance behaviours, and on their integration in classical avoidance simulations. We integrate recent works about following behaviour and propose to model interactions directly with groups of people instead of individuals. We aim at providing perception rules totally independent from the collision avoidance model used in the simulation. Because of the improved perception process, we observe emerging speed waves, group behaviours and lane formation in our simulations. Our results demonstrate the interest of modelling such behaviours to obtain more realistic simulations and show that specific patterns and collective behaviours emerge when using several types of behaviours in simulations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
STEC:O111‐HUS complicated by acute encephalopathy in a young girl was successfully treated with a set of hemodiafiltration, steroid pulse, and soluble thrombomodulin under plasma exchange
Authors: Yada Noritaka , Fujioka Masayuki , Bennett Charles L. , Inoki Kazuya , Miki Toyokazu , Watanabe Akihiko , Yoshida Toshiko , Hayakawa Masaki , Matsumoto Masanori , Fujimura Yoshihiro
Published: February 2015

Key Clinical Message

We report a 14‐year‐old girl, who developed shigatoxin‐producing E. coli (STEC)‐HUS complicated by encephalopathy. She was successfully treated with hemodiafiltration, high‐dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and soluble recombinant thrombomodulin under plasma exchange. von Willebrand factor multimers analysis provides potential insights into how the administered therapies might facilitate successful treatment of STEC‐HUS.
Protein S deficiency present in a pregnant woman with dyspnea, abdominal pains, restlessness, agitation and hypofibrinogenemia
Authors: Umazume Takeshi , Morikawa Mamoru , Yamada Takahiro , Akaishi Rina , Koyama Takahiro , Minakami Hisanori
Published: February 2015

Key Clinical Message

Hypofibrinogenemia is rare in pulmonary thromboembolism. A pregnant woman with dyspnea, abdominal pain, restlessness, agitation and protein S deficiency exhibited normal blood oxygenation and high D‐dimer (370 μg/mL) and undetectable fibrinogen levels in the blood. The pathogenesis responsible for present findings may have some features similar to amniotic fluid embolism.
Experimentelle Untersuchung des konvektiven Wärmeübergangs und Druckverlustes in einphasig durchströmten Thermoblechen
Authors: Tran Julian M. , Piper Mark , Kenig Eugeny Y.
Published: February 2015

Thermoblech‐Wärmeübertrager stellen einen neuen und vielversprechenden Wärmeübertrager‐Typ dar. Der innenseitige Wärmeübergang und Druckverlust sind zentrale Aspekte, die bei der Auslegung der Thermobleche berücksichtigt werden müssen. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Bauformen, die bereits detailliert in der Literatur beschrieben wurden, sind die Eigenschaften von Thermoblechen weitgehend unbekannt. Deshalb wurde in dieser Arbeit eine experimentelle Studie zum innenseitigen Wärmeübergang und Druckverlust durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse verbessern das Verständnis für die thermohydraulischen Eigenschaften von Thermoblechen.
Client and Therapist Attachment Styles and Working Alliance
Authors: Bucci Sandra , Seymour‐Hyde Annily , Harris Alison , Berry Katherine
Published: February 2015

Working alliance has been shown to be important in influencing the outcome of therapy. Research evidence suggests that characteristics of both clients and therapists impact on the development of the working alliance. Although attachment theory is well researched, there is relatively limited research on the relationship between both therapist and client attachment style and the working alliance; traditionally, research has placed greater emphasis on client characteristics. The current study examines the extent to which both client and therapist self‐reported attachment styles are related to the working alliance. Thirty clients and 42 therapists were recruited from primary care psychology services. Thirty client–therapist dyads were examined. Participants completed self‐report measures of anxiety and depression, attachment style and working alliance at a single time point. Client and therapist attachment security were not independently related to working alliance. However, there was a significant association between therapist insecure attachment and alliance in more symptomatic clients. There was also some evidence that therapists and clients with oppositional attachment styles reported more favourable alliances. The study suggests that the relationship between therapist attachment style and alliance is not straightforward. It is likely that the complexity of clients' presenting problems, coupled with interaction between client–therapist attachment styles, influences the therapeutic alliance.

Key Practitioner Message

Therapist insecure attachment may negatively affect the therapeutic alliance in more symptomatic clients.

It is important to consider the interaction between client and therapist attachment and how these interactions influence the therapeutic alliance.

Therapists should be aware of their own personal attachment style and reflect on how this might manifest during the therapeutic process.
The ecological role of small rainfall events in a desert grassland
Authors: Petrie M. D. , Collins S. L. , Litvak M. E.
Published: February 2015

The frequency, magnitude and intensity of precipitation events are known to influence dryland ecosystems; yet, the majority of these rain events are small (<5 mm), and their role in driving biotic and abiotic processes remains unclear. To explore the effects of small rain events that occur between larger events on ecosystem processes, we experimentally manipulated small rainfall events in a mixed Bouteloua eriopoda and Bouteloua gracilis desert grassland. We experimentally removed all events <3.8 mm from treatment plots during a dry monsoon (2012), and to assess potential legacy effects, we added a similar magnitude of small rainfall events in 3.8‐mm increments to the same treatment plots during a subsequent wet monsoon (2013). No difference in aboveground productivity occurred between ambient and treatment plots when small events were eliminated in 2012. However, soil moisture, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen and extracellular enzyme activity for phosphate mobilization were all lower in treatment relative to ambient plots. In 2013, treatment plots that received supplemental small events had lower aboveground productivity, soil moisture and soil N availability than ambient plots. We hypothesize that legacy effects from the removal of small events in 2012 limited the ability of these plots to respond to higher, supplemented rainfall in 2013. Therefore, a reduction in small precipitation events – which may be caused by changing rainfall properties or increasing rates of evaporation in a warming climate – may intensify some deleterious effects of dry monsoons, and inhibit grassland recovery in subsequent years with higher rainfall. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Real‐Time Label‐Free Monitoring of Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 Biofilm Formation on Electrode During Bacterial Electrogenesis Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy
Authors: Zhang Wenjia , Wu Hongkai , Hsing I‐Ming
Published: February 2015

Formation of biofilm on an electrode surface is usually a prerequisite for efficient electron transfer from electrogenic bacteria onto electrode, and the geometric status of the biofilm governs the generated current. In this study, we propose a real‐time characterization method to track the dynamic formation process of biofilm on electrode using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 was chosen in this work as an electrogenic model species. A plane electrode at the bottom of a electrochemical cell filled with bacteria suspension was biased at +0.04 V vs. Ag/AgCl as the sole electron acceptor under anaerobic environment, while a movable ultramicroelectrode (UME) was employed to track the localized faradaic current generated by a redox mediator, Ru(NH3)6Cl3 above the bottom electrode. The growth rate of biofilm showed some spatial heterogeneity, which might be explained by inhomogeneous mass transfer and non‐uniformity of electrode surface. The application of SECM into bacterial electrogenesis studies offered a simple and label‐free monitoring method to evaluate the bacteria‐electrode coupling status.
Impact of an inpatient geriatric consultative service on outcomes for cognitively impaired patients
Authors: Nazir Arif , Khan Babar , Counsell Steven , Henderson Macey , Gao Sujuan , Boustani Malaz
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Impact of geriatric consultative services (GCS) on hospital readmission and mortality outcomes for cognitively impaired (CI) patients is not known.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate impact of GCS on hospital readmission and mortality among CI inpatients.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis of a prospective trial of a computerized decision support system between July 1, 2006 and May 30, 2008.

SETTING

Study conducted at Eskenazi hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, a 340‐bed, public hospital with over 2300 yearly admissions of patients ages 65 years or older.

PATIENTS

There were 415 inpatients aged 65 years and older with CI enrolled from July 2006 to March 2008.

MEASUREMENTS

Thirty‐day and 1‐year mortality and hospital readmission following the index admission. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between receiving GCS, readmission, or mortality while adjusting for demographics, discharge destination, delirium, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and prior hospitalizations. The propensity score method was used to adjust for the nonrandom assignment of GCS.

RESULTS

Patients receiving GCS were older (79 years old, 8.1 standard deviation [SD] vs 76 years old, 7.8 SD; P < 0.001) with higher incidence of delirium (49% vs 29%; P < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups for hospital readmission (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.19; 95% confidence interval = 0.89‐1.59) and mortality at 12 months of index admission (HR = 0.91; 95% confidence interval = 0.59‐1.40). However, a significant increase in readmissions was observed for the GCS group (HR = 1.75; 95% confidence interval = 1.06‐2.88) at 30 days postdischarge.

CONCLUSION

One‐year postdischarge outcomes of CI patients who received GCS were not different from patients who did not receive the service. New models of care are needed to improve postdischarge readmission and mortality among hospitalized patients with CI. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;10:275–280. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Safety of gadoxetate disodium: Results from the clinical phase II–III development program and postmarketing surveillance
Authors: Endrikat Jan S. , Dohanish Susan , Balzer Thomas , Breuer Josy A.M.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

To summarize the safety data of gadoxetate disodium, reported in 12 Phase II and III clinical development studies and in the postmarketing surveillance database.

Materials and Methods

Patients with liver lesions received gadoxetate disodium‐enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Adverse events (AEs) were recorded and evaluated with regard to a potential drug relationship. Subgroup analyses were run on patients with special medical history. Worldwide spontaneous AEs and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from postmarketing safety surveillance were analyzed.

Results

A total of 1989 patients were included in the clinical development program. A total of 1581/1989 (79.5%) patients received the finally approved dose of 0.025 mmol/kg body weight. 10.1% of patients reported AEs, 4.1% were classified as related AEs. Nausea and headache were the most frequently reported related AEs, with 1.1% each. Age, history of contrast media allergy, liver cirrhosis, or impaired liver or renal function did not significantly impact the frequency and type of AEs. The postmarketing safety surveillance database encompassed more than 2.2 million patients. Nausea was the most frequent ADR, with a reporting rate of 0.00652%; all other symptoms were below 0.004%.

Conclusion

Gadoxetate disodium for liver MRI has an excellent safety profile. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;42:634–643.
Changes in polyphenol compounds and barley laccase expression during the malting process
Authors: Tomková‐Drábková Lenka , Psota Vratislav , Sachambula Lenka , Leišová‐Svobodová Leona , Mikyška Alexandr , Kučera Ladislav
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Polyphenols and phenolic acid are able to slow down or prevent oxidation processes and are therefore thought to have important effects in malting and brewing. Laccase catalyses the oxidation of a wide variety of substrates, including polyphenols. The aim of this paper was to determine the changes in polyphenol compounds and the relative expression of the HvLac1 gene during malting.

RESULTS

The dominant phenolic acid was ferulic acid. The amount of ferulic acid increased, whereas the amount of vanillic acid decreased during malting. The highest levels of expression of the HvLac1 gene were observed during the third air rest period in varieties with the ‘Haruna Nijo’ (HN) allele, as recommended for the production of beer with the protected geographical indication (PGI) ‘Česke pivo’ (Czech beer), whereas the highest expression was observed in the first day of germination in varieties with the ‘Morex’ (M) allele. However, the profiles of HvLac1 gene expression in varieties with alternative alleles during malting were similar, and the level of polyphenol compounds throughout malting was different.

CONCLUSION

The polyphenol contents in barley increased several‐fold during malting, and the degree of increase differed with variety. The expression of HvLac1 transcript was similar in every barley variety. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
The relationship of perioperative fluid administration to outcomes in colorectal and pancreatic surgery: A review of the literature
Authors: Eng Oliver S. , Melstrom Laleh G. , Carpizo Darren R.
Published: February 2015

Optimal perioperative fluid administration in major gastrointestinal surgery remains a challenging clinical problem. Traditional dogma of a liberal approach to fluid administration in order to counteract potential hypovolemia and decreased end‐organ perfusion can often result in fluid overload, perhaps negatively impacting perioperative outcomes. This hypothesis has been investigated in several types of gastrointestinal surgery. We discuss the current literature on perioperative fluid administration in colorectal and pancreatic surgery and highlight the controversies that still exist. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:472–477. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mucus Barriers to Microparticles and Microbes are Altered in Hirschsprung's Disease
Authors: Yildiz Hasan M. , Carlson Taylor L. , Goldstein Allan M. , Carrier Rebecca L.
Published: February 2015

Mucus forms a protective hydrogel layer over the intestinal epithelium, presenting a selective and robust barrier to the uptake of particulates and microbe invasion. Disease can alter mucus production and composition, thus potentially modifying mucosal barrier properties. Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is a developmental abnormality of the nervous system often complicated by intestinal infection. An investigation of colonic mucus barrier properties in an HD animal model, endothelin receptor B mutant mice, revealed significantly reduced microsphere (passive) and microbe (active) transport rates (7‐fold and 3.6‐fold, respectively, in proximal colonic mucus) relative to wild‐type. Transport differences were evident in both the ganglionic and aganglionic colon segments, in agreement with the risk of HD‐associated enterocolitis after surgery to remove aganglionic colon segments. The development of therapies aimed at altering colonic mucus barrier properties could be explored towards preventing the onset of enterocolitis in HD.
Incorporation of Methionine Analogues Into Bombyx mori Silk Fibroin for Click Modifications
Authors: Teramoto Hidetoshi , Kojima Katsura
Published: February 2015

Bombyx mori silk fibroin incorporating three methionine (Met) analogues—homopropargylglycine (Hpg), azidohomoalanine (Aha), and homoallylglycine (Hag)—can be produced simply by adding them to the diet of B. mori larvae. The Met analogues are recognized by methionyl‐tRNA synthetase, bound to tRNAMet, and used for the translation of adenine‐uracil‐guanine (AUG) codons competitively with Met. In the presence of the standard amount of Met in the diet, incorporation of these analogues remains low. Lowering the amount of Met in the diet drastically improves incorporation efficiencies. Alkyne and azide groups in Hpg and Aha incorporated into silk fibroin can be selectively modified with Cu‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition reactions (click chemistry). Since Met residues exist only at the N‐terminal domain of the fibroin heavy chain and in the fibroin light chain, good access to the reactive sites is expected and domain‐selective modifications are possible without perturbing other major domains, including repetitive domains.
The dynamics of the 3D NLS with the convolution term
Authors: Lu Jing , Xia Suxia
Published: February 2015

We consider the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSH) with the convolution combined term

urn:x-wiley:mma:media:mma3284:mma3284-math-0003
(CNLSH) in the energy space
. We firstly use a variational approach to give a dichotomy of scattering and blow up for the radial solution with the energy below the threshold, which is given by the ground state W for the energy‐critical NLS: iut+Δu=−|u|4u. The basic strategy is the concentration‐compactness arguments from Kenig and Merle. We overcome the main difficulties coming from the lack of scaling invariance and the non‐local property of the convolution term. Our result shows that the focusing,
‐critical term −|u|4u plays the decisive role of the threshold of the scattering solution of (CNLSH) in the energy space. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
AFN‐1252 is a potent inhibitor of enoyl‐ACPreductase fromBurkholderia pseudomallei—Crystal structure, mode of action, and biological activity
Authors: Narasimha Rao Krishnamurthy , Lakshminarasimhan Anirudha , Joseph Sarah , Lekshmi Swathi U. , Lau Ming‐Seong , Takhi Mohammed , Sreenivas Kandepu , Nathan Sheila , Yusof Rohana , Abd. Rahman Noorsaadah , Ramachandra Murali , Antony Thomas , Subramanya Hosahalli
Published: February 2015

Melioidosis is a tropical bacterial infection caused byBurkholderia pseudomallei(B. pseudomallei; Bpm), a Gram‐negative bacterium. Current therapeutic options are largely limited to trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole and β‐lactam drugs, and the treatment duration is about 4 months. Moreover, resistance has been reported to these drugs. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop new antibiotics for Melioidosis. Inhibition of enoyl‐ACP reducatase (FabI), a key enzyme in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway has shown significant promise for antibacterial drug development. FabI has been identified as the major enoyl‐ACP reductase present inB. pseudomallei. In this study, we evaluated AFN‐1252, aStaphylococcus aureusFabI inhibitor currently in clinical development, for its potential to bind to BpmFabI enzyme and inhibitB. pseudomalleibacterial growth. AFN‐1252 stabilized BpmFabI and inhibited the enzyme activity with an IC50of 9.6 nM. It showed good antibacterial activity againstB. pseudomalleiR15 strain, isolated from a melioidosis patient (MIC of 2.35 mg/L). X‐ray structure of BpmFabI with AFN‐1252 was determined at a resolution of 2.3 Å. Complex of BpmFabI with AFN‐1252 formed a symmetrical tetrameric structure with one molecule of AFN‐1252 bound to each monomeric subunit. The kinetic and thermal melting studies supported the finding that AFN‐1252 can bind to BpmFabI independent of cofactor. The structural and mechanistic insights from these studies might help the rational design and development of new FabI inhibitors.
Characterizing the binding interactions between P‐glycoprotein and eight known cardiovascular transport substrates
Authors: Jagodinsky Justin C. , Akgun Ugur
Published: February 2015

The multidrug efflux pump P‐glycoprotein (Pgp) is upregulated in cardiomyocytes following chronic ischemia from infarction and hypoxia caused by sleep apnea. This report summarizes the molecular dynamic studies performed on eight cardiovascular drugs to determine their corresponding binding sites on mouse Pgp. Selected Pgp transport ligands include: Amiodarone, Bepridil, Diltiazem, Dipyridamole, Nicardipine, Nifedipine, Propranolol, and Quinidine. Extensive molecular dynamic equilibration simulations were performed to determine drug docking interactions. Distinct binding sites were not observed, but rather a binding belt was seen with multiple residues playing a role in each studied drug's stable docking. Three key drug–protein interactions were identified: hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic packing, and the formation of a “cage” of aromatic residues around the drug. After drug stabilization, water molecules were observed to leak into the binding belt and condense around the drug. Water influx into the binding domain of Pgp may play a role in catalytic transition and drug expulsion. The cytoplasmic recruitment theory was also tested, and the drugs were observed to interact with conserved loops of residues with a strong affinity. A free energy change of astronomical value is required to recruit the drug from the cytoplasm to the binding belt within the transmembrane domain of Pgp.
Neonicotinoid‐induced resurgence of rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guénee)
Authors: Chintalapati Padmavathi , Katti Gururaj , Puskur Raghuveer Rao , Nagella Venkata Krishnaiah
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Among the neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam have been frequently used in planthopper endemic areas. Wherever leaffolder incidence occurs along with planthoppers in rice fields, use of neonicotinoids has resulted in increase in leaffolder population. The present study was carried out to verify and confirm the resurgence, as well as to identify factors contributing to resurgence.

RESULTS

In imidacloprid‐ and thiamethoxam‐applied plots, a 17.5–217.5% increase in leaffolder population over the untreated control was observed. Neonicotinoids showed moderate toxicity to eggs with <50% hatching, and less toxicity to first instars with >60% survival, while 37–60% of larvae reached adult stage. The larval duration was also reduced. Fecundity was stimulated, with a 6.2–37.21% increase over the untreated control. A significant positive correlation was observed between larval population and total soluble sugars in thiamethoxam treatment (r = 0.9984, P ≤ 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Stimulated fecundity on neonicotinoid‐sprayed plants, coupled with reduced larval duration and low egg toxicity, could be the major factors contributing to the upsurge of leaffolder. This study aids in cautioning farmers to be more vigilant while using imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, particularly in rice fields where leaffolder exists alongside planthoppers. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Interference of allelopathic wheat with different weeds
Authors: Zhang Song‐Zhu , Li Yong‐Hua , Kong Chui‐Hua , Xu Xiao‐Hua
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND

Interference of allelopathic wheat with weeds involves a broad spectrum of species either independently or synergistically with competitive factors. This study examined the interference of allelopathic wheat with 38 weeds in relation to the production of allelochemical 2,4‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐one (DIMBOA) in wheat with and without root–root interactions.

RESULTS

There were substantial differences in weed biomass and DIMBOA concentration in wheat–weed coexisting systems. Among 38 weeds, nine weeds were inhibited significantly by allelopathic wheat but the other 29 weeds were not. DIMBOA levels in wheat varied greatly with weed species. There was no significant relationship between DIMBOA levels and weed suppression effects. Root segregation led to great changes in weed inhibition and DIMBOA level. Compared with root contact, the inhibition of eight weeds was lowered significantly, while significantly increased inhibition occurred in 11 weeds with an increased DIMBOA concentration under root segregation. Furthermore, the production of DIMBOA in wheat was induced by the root exudates from weeds.

CONCLUSION

Interference of allelopathic wheat with weeds not only is determined by the specificity of the weeds but also depends on root–root interactions. In particular, allelopathic wheat may detect certain weeds through the root exudates and respond by increasing the allelochemical, resulting in weed identity recognition. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Suppression of current collapse in AlGaN/GaN MISHFET with carbon‐ doped GaN/undoped GaN multi‐layered buffer structure
Authors: Kang Hee‐Sung , Won Chul‐Ho , Kim Young‐Jo , Kim Dong‐Seok , Yoon Young Jun , Kang In Man , Lee Yong Soo , Lee Jung‐Hee
Published: February 2015

We present a new semi‐insulating carbon‐doped GaN/undoped GaN multi‐layered buffer structure for AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field effect transistors, which drastically suppresses current collapse in GaN MISHFET with improving the on‐current performance of the device but without degrading the breakdown characteristic. It is believed that spatial compensation between the multi‐layered GaN layers not only makes the multi‐layered buffer layer very highly resistive, but also prevents the electrons from the 2DEG channel from being captured into deep traps in the buffer layer, which maintains high‐high breakdown characteristic and leads to great suppression of current collapse in AlGaN/GaN‐based transistors, respectively.
Stability and Oxidizing Effect of Membraneless Electrolyzed Water
Authors: Xin Christopher M. , Zhao Yang , Yao Linxing , Wang Wendy , Wang Tong
Published: February 2015

Membraneless electrolyzed water (MLEW) is generated by electrolysis of dilute salt water solution without a membrane separating cathodic and anodic water. The stability of MLEW under different storage temperatures and pHs, as well as its lipid oxidizing effects have not been extensively studied. In this study, three storage temperatures and two pH conditions were used to study the stability of the water. MLEW's lipid degradation potential was investigated using two methods by measuring the degree of oxidation of lipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids. Lipid oxidation in an emulsion model free of other interferences was conducted with MLEW containing 30, 50 and 100 mg L−1 free chlorine (FC), and lipid oxidation in a salmon fish fillet was conducted by washing the fillet pieces with MLEW containing 100 mg L−1 FC. We found that the MLEW was relatively stable in capped containers under both acidic and neutral pH during the 21‐day period. Although there was significant lipid oxidation in the emulsion system, and the extent of oxidation was FC concentration dependent, we did not observe significantly more lipid oxidation in fish treated with MLEW compared to the control (stored under 4 °C for 10 days). Therefore, we conclude that MLEW may be used as a disinfectant in commercial operations without causing significant lipid oxidation and rancidity generation in foods.
Understanding Land Grabs in Africa: Insights from Marxist and Georgist Political Economics
Authors: Obeng-Odoom Franklin
Published: February 2015

Research on current land grabs in Africa has proliferated. Yet, little work has been done explicitly reflecting on competing frameworks for analysing the phenomenon. This paper engages two contrasting approaches, namely Marxian and Georgist, assesses their relevance, and teases out insights for recent land grab research in Africa. It warns against any attempts at combining the ‘best’ elements in each approach, but demonstrates how these different perspectives can help re-theorise ongoing research on land grabs, especially in Africa.
Near-wall nanovelocimetry based on total internal reflection fluorescence with continuous tracking
Authors: Li Zhenzhen , D’eramo Loïc , Lee Choongyeop , Monti Fabrice , Yonger Marc , Tabeling Patrick , Chollet Benjamin , Bresson Bruno , Tran Yvette
Published: February 2015

The goal of this work is to make progress in the domain of near-wall velocimetry. The technique we use is based on the tracking of nanoparticles in an evanescent field, close to a wall, a technique called TIRF (total internal reflection fluorescence)-based velocimetry. The particles are filmed continuously, with no time gap between two frames, so that no information on their trajectories is lost. A number of biases affect the measurements: Brownian motion, heterogeneities induced by the walls, statistical biases, photobleaching, polydispersivity and limited depth of field. Their impacts are quantified by carrying out Langevin stochastic simulations, in a way similar to Guasto & Breuer (Exp. Fluids, vol. 47, 2009, pp. 1059–1066). By using parameters calibrated separately or known, we obtain satisfactory agreement between experiments and simulations, concerning the intensity density distributions, velocity fluctuation distributions and the slopes of the linear velocity profiles. Slip lengths measurements, taken as benchmarks for analysing the performances of the technique, are carried out by extrapolating the corrected velocity profiles down to the origin along with determining the wall position with an unprecedented accuracy. For hydrophilic surfaces, we obtain $1\pm 5~\text{nm}$ for the slip length in sucrose solutions and $9\pm 10~\text{nm}$ in water, and for hydrophobic surfaces, $32\pm 5~\text{nm}$ for sucrose solutions and $55\pm 9~\text{nm}$ for water. The errors (based on 95 % confidence intervals) are significantly smaller than the state of the art, but more importantly, the method demonstrates for the first time a capacity to measure slippage with a satisfactory accuracy, while providing a local information on the flow structure with a nanometric spatial precision and velocity errors of a few per cent. Our study confirms the discrepancy already pointed out in the literature between numerical and experimental slip length estimates. With the progress conveyed by the present work, TIRF-based technique with continuous tracking can be considered as a quantitative method for investigating flow properties close to walls, providing both global and local information on the flow.
Clinical effectiveness of cognitive therapyv.interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lemmens L. H. J. M. , Arntz A. , Peeters F. , Hollon S. D. , Roefs A. , Huibers M. J. H.
Published: February 2015

Background

Although both cognitive therapy (CT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) have been shown to be effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), it is not clear yet whether one therapy outperforms the other with regard to severity and course of the disorder. This study examined the clinical effectiveness of CTv.IPT in a large sample of depressed patients seeking treatment in a Dutch outpatient mental health clinic. We tested whether one of the treatments was superior to the other at post-treatment and at 5 months follow-up. Furthermore, we tested whether active treatment was superior to no treatment. We also assessed whether initial depression severity moderated the effect of time and condition and tested for therapist differences.

Method

Depressed adults (n = 182) were randomized to either CT (n = 76), IPT (n = 75) or a 2-month waiting list control (WLC) condition (n = 31). Main outcome was depression severity, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory – II (BDI-II), assessed at baseline, 2, 3, and 7 months (treatment phase) and monthly up to 5 months follow-up (8–12 months).

Results

No differential effects between CT and IPT were found. Both treatments exceeded response in the WLC condition, and led to considerable improvement in depression severity that was sustained up to 1 year. Baseline depression severity did not moderate the effect of time and condition.

Conclusions

Within our power and time ranges, CT and IPT appeared not to differ in the treatment of depression in the acute phase and beyond.
A differential susceptibility analysis reveals the “who and how” about adolescents' responses to preventive interventions: Tests of first- and second-generation Gene × Intervention hypotheses
Authors: Brody Gene H. , Yu Tianyi , Beach Steven R. H.
Published: February 2015

This study was designed to investigate a genetic moderation effect of dopamine receptor 4 gene (DRD4) alleles that have seven or more repeats (long alleles) on an intervention to deter drug use among rural African American adolescents in high-risk families. Adolescents (N= 291,Mage = 17) were assigned randomly to the Adults in the Making (AIM) program or to a control condition and were followed for 27.5 months. Adolescents provided data on drug use and vulnerability cognitions three times after pretest. Pretest assessments of caregiver depressive symptoms, disruption in the home, and support toward the adolescent were used to construct a family risk index. Adolescents living in high-risk families who carried at least oneDRD4long allele and were assigned to the control condition evinced greater escalations in drug use than did (a) adolescents who lived in high-risk families, carried theDRD4long allele, and were assigned to AIM, or (b) adolescents assigned to either condition who carried noDRD4long alleles. AIM-induced reductions in vulnerability cognitions were responsible for the Family Risk × AIM ×DRD4status drug use prevention effects. These findings support differential susceptibility predictions and imply that prevention effects on genetically susceptible individuals may be underestimated.
Spatial synchrony of a threatened shorebird: Regional roles of climate, dispersal and management
Authors: EBERHART-PHILLIPS LUKE J. , HUDGENS BRIAN R. , COLWELL MARK A.
Published: February 2015

Correlated climate patterns, dispersal, and similar management practices may synchronise dynamics of populations in close proximity, which tends to reduce metapopulation persistence. However, synchronising and desynchronising mechanisms can act at multiple spatial scales, which means that for wide-ranging species, patterns of spatial synchrony and their causes might vary across the species’ range. We examined the relationships of spatial autocorrelation in winter climate, dispersal distance and predator management to the spatio-temporal dynamics of the Western Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus nivosus, a threatened shorebird that breeds along the Pacific coast of the United States. We investigated how signals and drivers of plover population growth dynamics vary among populations occupying northern, central, and southern regions of the species’ U.S. range. Across the metapopulation and specifically the core of the species’ range in the south, we found that plover populations within 132 km of each other exhibited detectable levels of synchrony, which fell within published estimates of dispersal distance. Furthermore, similar predator management among sites increased the degree to which nearby populations were synchronised. There was, however, no evidence of spatial synchrony in populations of the northern and central regions. Regional differences in synchrony were associated with different population drivers and structure; prolonged cold periods had the strongest influence on the growth of northern populations while predator management had the strongest influence on southern populations. Northern populations were also smaller than the south, which likely reduced our ability to detect spatial synchrony because of increased demographic stochasticity. Neither climatic nor management variables had a detectable influence on central populations. Although the primary objective of threatened and endangered species management is to increase populations to viable levels, we recommend that conservation biologists and land managers acknowledge region-specific processes when considering the long-term persistence of wide-ranging species and coordinate inter-agency efforts to manage neighbouring populations effectively.
The Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri prefers mature mesic forest with dense canopy
Authors: PARASHURAM DEVATHI , OPPEL STEFFEN , FENTON CALVIN , JAMES GLENFORD , DALEY JAMES , GRAY GERARD , COLLAR NIGEL J. , DOLMAN PAUL M.
Published: February 2015

Habitat loss, the primary driver for loss of biodiversity worldwide, is of special concern for species that have a small area of occurrence, such as those restricted to islands. The Forest Thrush Turdus lherminieri is a ‘Vulnerable’ (VU) species endemic to four islands in the Caribbean, and its population has declined dramatically over the past 15 years. Because this decline is poorly understood, we studied its habitat associations on Montserrat. We conducted three repeat point count surveys and measured forest structure and habitat at each of 88 randomly placed locations in the largest forest area remaining on the island. We related Forest Thrush abundance to habitat using binomial mixture models that account for imperfect detection. Detection probability was a function of survey time, survey date, location of the survey point, and wind. Local habitat structure had the greatest influence on Forest Thrush abundance, with birds being more abundant at mid-elevations under closed canopies. We conclude that the Forest Thrush prefers mature mesic and wet forests on Montserrat. Assuming similar habitat selection in the rest of its range, the species’s long-term future depends on good protection of these natural forests on all four islands where it occurs.
An amplified fluorescence detection of T4 polynucleotide kinase activity based on coupled exonuclease III reaction and a graphene oxide platform
Authors: Sun Ni-Na , Kong Rong-Mei , Qu Fengli , Zhang Xiaobing , Zhang Shufang , You Jinmao
Published: February 2015

A novel amplified fluorescence graphene oxide (GO) sensing system for sensitive detection of T4 polynucleotide kinase (PNK) activity and inhibition was developed based on the exonuclease III (ExoIII) reaction.
Comparison of transmission and transflectance mode FTIR imaging of biological tissue
Authors: Pilling Michael J. , Bassan Paul , Gardner Peter
Published: February 2015

FTIR imaging from samples using translation rather than transmission mode leads to increased variance in the spectra. Whether this matters for spectral pathology is still a matter of debate.
Metal-enhanced fluorescence and FRET on nanohole arrays excited at angled incidence
Authors: Poirier-Richard H.-P. , Couture M. , Brule T. , Masson J.-F.
Published: February 2015

The influence of experimental parameters on the performance of plasmonic sensors is of great importance in analytical sciences.
Cheese lipid profile using direct imprinting in glass surface mass spectrometry
Authors: Damário Natália , de Oliveira Diogo N. , Ferreira Mônica S. , Delafiori Jeany , Catharino Rodrigo R.
Published: February 2015

Direct sample imprinting in a porous glass plate allows fast mass spectrometric profiling of lipids.
The use of XRPD for the investigation of historic pigments and painting materials in works by Henryk Siemiradzki
Authors: Rafalska-Łasocha A. , Grzesiak-Nowak M. , Sarkowicz D. , Łasocha W.
Published: February 2015

XRPD was applied to resolve many confusing results obtained by XRF, SEM/EDX, or other techniques in the investigations of Siemiradzki's works from the National Museum in Krakow (Poland).
Targeted doxorubicin delivery to hepatocarcinoma cells by lactobionic acid-modified laponite nanodisks
Authors: Chen Guangxiang , Li Du , Li Jingchao , Cao Xueyan , Wang Jianhua , Shi Xiangyang , Guo Rui
Published: February 2015

Lactobionic acid-modified laponite can deliver doxorubicin specifically to hepatocarcinoma cells overexpressing the asialoglycoprotein receptor and display a significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
Fabrication of PEI grafted Fe3O4/SiO2/P(GMA-co-EGDMA) nanoparticle anchored palladium nanocatalyst and its application in Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions
Authors: Li Wei , Jia Xiangkun , Zhang Baoliang , Tian Lei , Li Xiangjie , Zhang Hepeng , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: February 2015

A novel Fe3O4/SiO2/P(GMA-co-EGDMA)–Pd(0) catalyst and its highly effective activity for Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions.
Straw-sheaf-like terbium-based coordination polymer architectures: microwave-assisted synthesis and their application as selective luminescent probes for heavy metal ions
Authors: Shi Mengmeng , Zeng Chenghui , Wang Lei , Nie Zhiwen , Zhao Yongxia , Zhong Shengliang
Published: February 2015

Terbium-based coordination polymer architectures were successfully synthesized via a microwave heating approach and they showed highly sensitive and selective luminescence quenching to Pb2+ in aqueous solution.
A synthetic approach towards micron-sized smectic liquid crystal capsules via the diffusion controlled swelling method
Authors: Tu Yingfeng , Gu Yan , Van Horn Ryan M. , Mitrokhin Maxim , Harris Frank W. , Cheng Stephen Z. D.
Published: February 2015

Micron-sized smectic liquid crystal encapsulated poly(methyl methacrylate) capsules were synthesized via emulsion polymerization using a diffusion-controlled swelling method.
Nanorod to quantum dot conversion in ZnO dispersions with co-surfactants
Authors: Jacob Niya Mary , Thomas Tiju
Published: February 2015

A chemically-induced nanorod to QD transition is achieved using co-surfactants. This is different from the physical instability driven transitions reported so far in nanowires and polymers. We propose a suitable mechanism for the observed phenomenon.
Research progress on methane production from natural gas hydrates
Authors: Xu Chun-Gang , Li Xiao-Sen
Published: February 2015

A review of the research on methane production from gas hydrates, including the research on the characteristics of gas hydrate reservoirs, production methods, numerical simulations and field production tests.
Four-component α-bromo-β-phosphoalkoxylation of aromatic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds
Authors: Sohail Muhammad , Zhang Yixin , Liu Wujun , Chen Qin , Wang Lei , Zhao Zongbao K.
Published: February 2015

Novel α-bromo-β-phosphoalkoxylated carbonyl compounds were produced in moderate to excellent yieldsviahighly selective four-component reaction involving NBS, a cyclic ether, an organic phosphate and an aromatic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.
Enhanced vacuum sensing performance of multiwalled carbon nanotubes: role of defects and carboxyl functionalization
Authors: Rajavel K. , Dinesh M. , Saranya R. , Kumar R. T. Rajendra
Published: February 2015

The presence of surface active carboxylic sites and the nature of the (ordered and defective) stacking of graphite layers in the nanotubes determined the vacuum sensing characteristics.
Physicochemical performance of FeCO3 films influenced by anions
Authors: Ren Chengqiang , Wang Wanguo , Jin Xing , Liu Li , Shi Taihe
Published: February 2015

The corrosion film plays an important role in the further electrochemical processes of steel in CO2 corrosion.
Tuning the color of thermally activated delayed fluorescent properties for spiro-acridine derivatives by structural modification of the acceptor fragment: a DFT study
Authors: Lu Jing , Zheng Yiying , Zhang Jingping
Published: February 2015

The broad range color tuning of spiro-acridine TADF materials has been demonstrated and elucidated via structural modification of the acceptor fragment.
Electrospun core–shell silicon/carbon fibers with an internal honeycomb-like conductive carbon framework as an anode for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Qin Xianying , Wu Junxiong , He Yan-Bing , Du Hongda , Li Baohua , Kang Feiyu
Published: February 2015

Core–shell silicon/carbon (Si/C) fibers with an internal honeycomb-like carbon framework are prepared based on the coaxial electrospinning technique.
Magnetic material grafted cross-linked imidazolium based polyionic liquids: an efficient acid catalyst for the synthesis of promising liquid fuel 5-ethoxymethylfurfural from carbohydrates
Authors: Yin Shanshan , Sun Jie , Liu Bing , Zhang Zehui
Published: February 2015

A magnetic material grafted with polyionic liquid showed high catalytic activity for the synthesis of the promising liquid fuel 5-ethoxymethylfurfural from carbohydrates.
Quasi-1D hyperbranched WO3 nanostructures for low-voltage photoelectrochemical water splitting
Authors: Balandeh Mehrdad , Mezzetti Alessandro , Tacca Alessandra , Leonardi Silvia , Marra Gianluigi , Divitini Giorgio , Ducati Caterina , Meda Laura , Di Fonzo Fabio
Published: February 2015

Arrays of hyperbranched mesostructures self-assembled from the gas phase display a decreased overpotential for the water oxidation reaction.
Rapid, one-pot procedure to synthesise103Pd:Pd@Au nanoparticles en route for radiosensitisation and radiotherapeutic applications
Authors: Djoumessi D. , Laprise-Pelletier M. , Chevallier P. , Lagueux J. , Côté M. F. , Fortin M.-A.
Published: February 2015

Radioactive gold–palladium nanoparticles for radiotherapy.
Chemically directed self-assembly of perpendicularly aligned cylinders by a liquid crystalline block copolymer
Authors: Yamashita N. , Watanabe S. , Nagai K. , Komura M. , Iyoda T. , Aida K. , Tada Y. , Yoshida H.
Published: February 2015

Chemical epitaxy with a density multiplication process was applied to the perpendicularly oriented hexagonal cylinder nanostructure of liquid crystalline block copolymer (PEO-b-PMA(Az)) thin film through thermally induced microphase separation by using a newly designed PMA(Az)24 brush.