bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RDGBα, a PI-PA transfer protein regulates G-protein coupled PtdIns(4,5)P2 signalling during Drosophila phototransduction
Authors: Yadav Shweta , Garner Kathryn , Georgiev Plamen , Li Michelle , Gomez-Espinosa Evelyn , Panda Aniruddha , Mathre Swarna , Okkenhaug Hanneke , Cockcroft Shamshad , Raghu Padinjat
Published: July 2015

Many membrane receptors activate phospholipase C (PLC) during signalling, triggering changes in the levels of several plasma membrane (PM) lipids including PtdIns, PtdOH and PtdIns(4,5)P2. It is widely believed that exchange of lipids between the PM and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is required to restore lipid homeostasis during PLC signalling, yet the mechanism remains unresolved. RDGB is a multi-domain protein with a PITP domain (RDGB-PITPd). We find that in vitro, RDGB-PITPd binds and transfers both PtdOH and PtdIns. In Drosophila photoreceptors that experience high rates of PLC activity, RDGB function is essential for phototransduction. We show that binding of PtdIns to RDGB-PITPd is essential for normal phototransduction; yet this property is insufficient to explain in vivo function since another Drosophila PITP (vib) that also binds PtdIns cannot rescue the phenotypes of RDGB deletion. In RDGB mutants, PtdIns(4,5)P2 resynthesis at the PM following PLC activation is delayed and PtdOH levels elevate. Thus RDGB couples the turnover of both PtdIns and PtdOH, key lipid intermediates during G-protein coupled PtdIns(4,5)P2 turnover.
Case Report: A case report of unstable Hangman fracture in a eighty year old male
Authors: Munakomi Sunil , Bhattarai Binod
Published: July 2015

Herein we discuss a rare variant of hangman’s fracture in an eighty year old male presenting without any neurological deficits. We performed X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine to confirm the diagnosis. The patient was placed on a cervical traction which showed good reduction. We performed posterior occipitocervical fusion with bone graft fusion followed by early mobilization. A postoperative scan showed good reduction and purchase of the screws. This case highlights the importance of choosing the correct therapeutic attitude for the management of the geriatric population especially in those who do not have any significant co-morbid conditions.
Management concepts of mobile road-builder machinery
Authors: Parshin Dmitry Yakovlevich , Shevchuk Denis Gennadyevich
Published: July 2015

The work objective is to define the properties of the mobile road-building machinery (MRBM) traffic flows for the control effectiveness improvement. The results of the system analysis of the MRBM control tasks are presented. Their solution concept is presented; the traffic control problem formalization for the mobile road-building machines under the ever-changing conditions of movement is performed. For the first time, system and structural status assessment criteria for MRBM are formulated; the control concepts of the mobile objects groups are analyzed; recommendations for selecting the type of control are given. Mathematical models of the traffic flows establishing the dependence of the motion speed on the traffic density, and a mathematical model of the traffic route optimization for the mobile road-building machinery are presented. Strategies of the adaptive and intelligent control of the mobile objects groups of different numbers, as well as the results of the regression analysis of the mobility objects motion model are presented.
Modified micromechanical gyroscope
Authors: Miroshnichenko Igor Pavlovich , Pogorelov Vadim Alexeyevich , Sizov Valery Pavlovich
Published: July 2015

The work objective is the development and validation of a new type micromechanical gyroscope which allows maintaining the transformation of angular rotation velocities of the supporting base into electrical signals simultaneously about two rotation axes. A new micromechanical gyroscope that both preserves positive qualities of the known Russian and foreign analogues, and differs in its enhancement due to converting the angular rotation velocities of the supporting base into electrical signals simultaneously about two rotation axes, is proposed and described. The presented technical solution is protected by the Russian Federation patent for invention in 2015. The proposed gyroscope can be applied in the navigation systems, reference systems, control systems of various mobile objects in the aviation, rocket and space technology, robotics, instrumentation, tool engineering, transport, etc.
Theoretical studies of hydromechanical drive of mobile technological machine member
Authors: Rybak Alexander Timofeyevich , Temirkanov Alan Ruslanovich , Peshkov Vladislav Maximovich , Shamaylov Evgeny Sergeyevich
Published: July 2015

The work objective is to study a mathematical model of the synchronous hydromechanical brush actuator of the airdrome sweeper driven by two hydraulic motors based on the throttle flow divider of non-spool-type with plunger setters. The main task is to determine the effect of various design and operational data of a synchronous hydraulic drive of a mobile technological machine on its functional efficiency. A method of the theoretical research of an actuator mathematical model is used. The simulation of the brush synchronous hydro-drive system is based on the theory of the modified volume stiffness of the hydraulic system that allows simplify modeling and make a rapid analysis of the drive performance under study, considerably shortening the timeline of the study. The research results prove that the throttle flow divider of non-spool-type with the plunger regulating element allows providing the required properties of the synchronized system. The design parameters of the flow divider having an essential impact on the synchronous hydraulic system operation are recognized, and ways of its improvement are specified. The research results can be used in design and improvement of the synchronous hydromechanical drives of mobile technological machines.
Management of pain following craniotomy
Authors: Puntis Michael , Garner Anne
Published: July 2015

Pain following craniotomy is common, however, achieving effective analgesia can be difficult. The assessment of pain postoperatively can be a challenge in patients who are obtunded (not fully alert) and the severity of pain has historically been underestimated. There are also concerns about side-effects from drugs, particularly with opioids, which may lead to reluctance to administer effective doses. Paracetamol is generally safe and, if given intravenously, provides rapid analgesia, although there are risks associated with overdose and care must be taken to ensure that the safe daily limit is not exceeded. Opioids are effective but side effects of pupillary constriction and respiratory depression may be problematic in the neurosurgical patient. The total use of systemic analgesia can be minimised with the use of regional techniques, such as local anaesthetic nerve blocks. A multimodal technique, using different agents, is most likely to be effective.
An evaluation of a palliative care outreach programme for children with Burkitt lymphoma in rural Cameroon
Authors: Tamannai Mona , Kaah Joel , Mbah Glenn , Ndimba Joseph , D'Souza Catherine , Wharin Paul , Hesseling Peter B
Published: July 2015

Background:

Palliative care (PC) is the most appropriate treatment for patients with life-limiting, incurable diseases, but it is a relatively new concept in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A lack of curative treatment options for some conditions creates a great need for PC, but such services are rarely provided in SSA. More research into PC in SSA is urgently needed to create an evidence base to confirm the importance of appropriate PC services.

Objectives:

To gain a better understanding of the needs of patients and their families visited by a children's PC nurse in Cameroon and to identify aspects of the service that can be improved.

Methodology:

A qualitative study design with semi-structured interviews was used. Tape-recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed.

Results:

Twelve interviews were conducted with patients, carers and nurses. Financial aid, general disease improvement and prayers were the directly expressed needs of service recipients. Specialist training in children's PC was the main need expressed by the nurses. Open communication about clinical status and treatment failure, more detailed counselling, more distraction for patients and respite for carers were identified as underlying needs.

Conclusion:

It is possible to provide an effective children's PC service that meets the most urgent needs of recipients in a rural setting in SSA. Recommendations include improved counselling, specialist education for staff, expansion of local support networks and more frequent home visits. More studies are needed to help define the need for PC in children with life-limiting diseases.
Research roundup
Authors: Costello John
Published: July 2015

Synopses of a selection of recently published research articles of relevance to palliative care.
From Finance to Marketing: The Impact of Financial Leverage on Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Malshe Ashwin , Agarwal Manoj K.
Published: July 2015

The authors examine how a firm's financial leverage affects marketing outcomes and consequent firm value. They find that leverage has a dual effect: it reduces customer satisfaction and moderates the relationship between satisfaction and firm value. The burden of making regular interest payments to debt holders pressures managers to generate adequate cash flows. The authors theorize that this may lead marketers to adopt short-term actions such as cutting advertising and research-and-development spending, which can hurt customer satisfaction by lowering perceived quality and perceived value. Furthermore, higher leverage reduces financial flexibility by constraining marketers from exploiting growth opportunities resulting from higher customer satisfaction. The authors empirically show that leverage leads to lower customer satisfaction, with advertising intensity mediating this effect. The negative impact of leverage on satisfaction is more pronounced for service firms and firms in competitive markets. Finally, leverage negatively moderates the customer satisfaction–firm value link. Increases in customer satisfaction are value enhancing at modest levels of leverage, but at very high levels of leverage, increases in satisfaction are value reducing.
Exploring the Differences between Conscious and Unconscious Goal Pursuit
Authors: Laran Juliano , Janiszewski Chris , Salerno Anthony
Published: July 2015

People can be aware (conscious) or unaware (unconscious) of an active goal when making a choice. Being aware of a goal enables people to use conscious strategies to identify attributes that are relevant to goal pursuit and to assess the efficacy of the attributes of each choice alternative. For most people, this process encourages the choice of the most goal-consistent alternative. For some people, this process encourages the consideration of trade-offs, activates a competing goal, and encourages the choice of a goal-inconsistent alternative. With unconscious goal pursuit, people cannot devote resources to assessing the efficacy of the attributes of each alternative; therefore, they match the accessible goal to the attributes of the available alternatives. As a result, the unconscious selects an alternative with attributes that are consistent with the goal and not necessarily the alternative that is most efficacious for the goal. The authors investigate these processes by manipulating the conscious system's ability to assess the efficacy of product attributes and the unconscious system's ability to match the accessible goal to product attributes.
Defense peptides: recent developments
Authors: Cytryńska Małgorzata , Zdybicka-Barabas Agnieszka
Published: July 2015

Defense peptides are small amphipathic molecules that exhibit antimicrobial, antitumor, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. This review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of antimicrobial activity of cationic and anionic defense peptides, indicating peptide-based as well as microbial cell-based factors affecting this activity. The peptide-based factors include charge, hydrophibicity, and amphipathicity, whereas the pathogen-based factors are membrane lipid composition, presence of sterols, membrane fluidity, cell wall components, and secreted factors such as extracellular proteinases. Since defense peptides have been considered very promising molecules that could replace conventional antibiotics in the era of drug-resistant pathogens, the issue of microbial resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is addressed. Furthermore, selected approaches employed for optimization and de novo design of effective AMPs based on the properties recognized as important for the function of natural defense peptides are presented.
Comparison of Brazed Residual Stress and Thermal Deformation between X-Type and Pyramidal Lattice Truss Sandwich Structure: Neutron Diffraction Measurement and Simulation Study
Authors: Jiang Wenchun , Wei Zhiquan , Luo Yun , Zhang Weiya , Woo Wanchuck
Published: July 2015

This paper uses finite element method and neutron diffraction measurement to study the residual stress in lattice truss sandwich structure. A comparison of residual stress and thermal deformation between X-type and pyramidal lattice truss sandwich structure has been carried out. The residual stresses are concentrated in the middle joint and then decreases gradually to both the ends. The residual stresses in the X-type lattice truss sandwich structure are smaller than those in pyramidal structure. The maximum longitudinal and transverse stresses of pyramidal structure are 220 and 202 MPa, respectively, but they decrease to 190 and 145 MPa for X-type lattice truss sandwich structure, respectively. The thermal deformation for lattice truss sandwich panel structure is of wave shape. The X-type has a better resistance to thermal deformation than pyramidal lattice truss sandwich structure. The maximum wave deformation of pyramidal structure (0.02 mm) is about twice as that of X-type (0.01 mm) at the same brazing condition.
Parameter Optimization of Ball End Milling Process on Inconel 718 Using RSM and TLBO Algorithm
Authors: Bhopale Nandkumar N. , Nikam Nilesh , Pawade Raju S.
Published: July 2015

This paper presents the application of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) coupled with Teaching Learning Based Optimization Technique (TLBO) for optimizing surface integrity of thin cantilever type Inconel 718 workpiece in ball end milling. The machining and tool related parameters like spindle speed, milling feed, axial depth of cut and tool path orientation are optimized with considerations of multiple response like deflection, surface roughness, and micro hardness of plate. Mathematical relationship between process parameters and deflection, surface roughness and microhardness are found out by using response surface methodology. It is observed that after optimizing the process that at the spindle speed of 2,000 rpm, feed 0.05 mm/tooth/rev, plate thickness of 5.5 mm and 15° workpiece inclination with horizontal tool path gives favorable surface integrity.
Copolymer of natural fibre reinforced polyester urethane: effect on physico-chemical properties through modification to interfacial adhesion
Authors: Jandikova Gabriela , Kucharczyk Pavel , Miskolczi Norbert , Pavelkova Alena , Kovalcik Adriana , Sedlarik Vladimir
Published: July 2015

This work is dedicated to polyester urethane (PEU)-based biocomposites, with special focus placed on techniques for compatibilisation to heighten interfacial adhesion between the PEU matrix and flax fibres. Tests were conducted on the effects of modification so as to increase interfacial adhesion between the flax fibres and the polyester matrix. These tests involved a commercial silane-based compatibilising additive, two experimentally synthesised agents, oleic acid (OA) and di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP). Furthermore, the flax fibres underwent acid or alkali treatment. The biocomposites were characterised by gel permeation chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties were investigated through tensile testing. Biocomposites with a commercial silane-based additive and synthesised agent, based on maleic-anhydride, were assessed as the best solution. Nevertheless, all modifications, excluding alkali treatment of fibres, significantly increased the performance of the material.
Surface complexation modeling of neptunium(V) sorption to lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH)
Authors: Yang Chunli , Powell Brian A. , Zhang Shengdong , Rao Linfeng
Published: July 2015

Lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH), an important iron-bearing mineral found to exist with a relatively high abundance in the soils of the
Chinese nuclear test sites, has rarely been studied for its sorption of transuranic elements from the nuclear wastes. This work
develops a quantitative surface complexation model describing the sorption and speciation of Np(V) on synthetic lepidocrocite
(γ-FeOOH). Batch sorption experiments on γ-FeOOH were performed under a range of conditions (25 ℃,
0.1 M NaClO4, pH = 4 – 11, 5 μM Np(V), and atmospheric conditions). The Diffuse Layer Model (DLM) was
applied to describe the surface-complexation reaction. The data were best-fitted with a single surface-complexation reaction,
(≡XOH + NpO2
+ = XONpO2
0 + H+) that occurred at the lepidocrocite/water interface to form an inner-sphere Np(V)
complex with lepidocrocite. The results are complemented by the Np L
III-edge EXAFS data that show that Np(V) was
absorbed on γ-FeOOH as monomeric neptunyl ions, with no observations of multinuclear surface complexes or surface
precipitates. A prominent peak at ∼3 Å in the EXAFS Fourier Transform spectra can be attributed to
a Np-Fe scattering path, consistent with the formation of an inner sphere Np(V)-lepidocrocite surface complex. Formation of aqueous
NpO2(CO3)
x

1–2x
complexes prevents Np(V) sorption at higher pH values but it is unclear if ternary
lepidocrocite-Np-carbonate complexes may also form. These data indicate that there are subtle differences in Np(V) interactions with
hematite, goethite, and lepidocrocite which is likely a manifestation of the differences in surface reactivity of the three minerals.
Excited State Dynamics of Selected All-trans C40 Xanthophyll Carotenoids
Authors: Ehlers Florian , Scholz Mirko , Lenzer Thomas , Oum Kawon
Published: July 2015

We investigated the excited state dynamics of selected
all-trans C40 xanthophyll carotenoids by ultrafast
pump-supercontinuum probe (PSCP) spectroscopy in the spectral range
350–770 nm upon photoexcitation by a femtosecond laser
(ca. 80 fs pulse length) near 500 nm in
acetone. The following carotenoids were selected considering
a systematic variation of the number and position of carbonyl
(CO) and hydroxyl (OH) functional groups on the
β-ionone rings and the change of the effective conjugation
length of the polyene system: β-cryptoxanthin (1),
echinenone (2), 3-hydroxyechinenone (3), 3′-hydroxyechinenone (4), canthaxanthin (5), adonirubin (6) and
astaxanthin (7). The carotenoids featuring an increasing conjugation
length, for example, (1), (3) and (6), showed a systematically shorter
S1 lifetime of 8.7, 6.2 and 4.7 ps,
respectively. Carotenoids with OH groups adjacent to
a CO group showed slightly broader steady-state and transient
absorption bands, but the influence on the S1 lifetime was
minor compared to the case of CO substitution. Moreover, in all
cases we observed clearly visible “S* signals”, namely
a longer-lived characteristic S0 → S2 red-edge
absorption and a negative signal in the S0 → S2
bleach region. This spectral signature is assigned to highly
vibrationally excited molecules in the ground electronic state
S0
* which are generated by internal conversion from
S1. The S0
* species cool with a time constant of
9.2–9.6 ps in the case of the keto-substituted
carotenoids (2)–(7), whereas we obtain a larger value of
13.2 ps for (1) which does not have a keto group. Our
findings are supported by results from a global kinetic analysis
procedure.
E-books
Authors: Wilson Tom
Published: July 2015

This paper reports on a study of publishers’ attitudes towards e-books in the context of the global situation of e-book publishing. Comparative data are drawn from a replication of a survey carried out in Sweden, in Lithuania and in Croatia. The great contrast between the rise of the e-book in English speaking countries (and those with significant English speaking readers) is shown and contrasted with that in ‘small language markets’. This three country survey reveals a number of similar responses from publishers on several key issues, i.e., self-publishing, the future role of bookshops, and relationships with public libraries. The results also reveal that publishers have certain ambivalence on these issues. The overall conclusion is that there is a marked difference in the growth of e-book publishing in small language markets compared with the English language market.
Book selling and e-books in Sweden
Authors: Maceviciute Elena , Wallin Birgitta , Nilsson Kersti
Published: July 2015

This paper addresses the issue of the understanding of the book-selling situation as Swedish booksellers see it. It pursues the answers to the following questions:1. What are the perceptions of Swedish booksellers of the impact of e-books on their business?2. What drivers are important for Swedish booksellers for adopting and developing e-book sales through their own sales channels?3. What do they perceive as barriers to e-book selling through their own channels?The authors have employed the analysis of the secondary statistical data and a survey of Swedish booksellers to answer their questions.The results of the investigation have shown that the Swedish booksellers do not feel their bookshops, or business in general, are threatened by e-books. The opinions on e-books do not differ between the few selling e-books and others who do not offer this product. The reasons for selling e-books are well-functioning routines and personal interest in the product. The reasons for not selling the books are the lack of demand and technical resources as well as contractual agreements with e-book publishers or vendors. So, technical resources for e-book sales, routines, and contracts with publishers are the main premises for this activity.The biggest barriers to e-book sales are: a) the price as one can see not only in the answers of the booksellers, but also in the drop of sales obviously related to the rise of prices during 2014; b) lack of demand from customers who do not enquire about e-books in bookshops. This leads to the belief that e-books will be sold mostly online either directly from publishers and authors or through online booksellers. However, an equal number of booksellers believe that physical bookshops will be selling printed books and e-books in the future. The future of e-books seems to be quite secure and non-threatening to printed books from the point of view of booksellers. The growth of e-book sales is quite slow and the respondents believe that it will increase at a moderate rate.
Is self-publishing a salvation for authors? The case of Lithuanian printed bestseller in the digital environment
Authors: Gudinavičius Arūnas
Published: July 2015

There has been much speculation in the past years about self-publishing. Some argue that publishing houses do not have a future as publishing service providers. Others claim that it is very easy to publish a book as an e-book. There are many success stories of self-publishers. More and more authors are wondering if they actually need a publisher and a retailer knowing they always take the biggest cut of the pie. The paper looks at the case of a Lithuanian author bestseller (in print). This book has also received the Lithuanian Book of the Year Award in the Fiction category. The author had the book published in Lithuanian by a traditional publishing house. It was quite successful so he decided to self-publish a digital version in English. The steps taken by the author to publish his e-book on Amazon are described and analyzed. Finally, the paper presents the results of selling and promoting his e-book on Amazon platform and provides some insights into facing the market without professional help.
Self-publishing of Lithuanian cultural periodicals in Soviet and contemporary times
Authors: Urbanaviciute Asta
Published: July 2015

The aim of this article is to analyse self-publishing trends of Lithuanian cultural periodicals focusing on the historical and contemporary contexts. The article provides an overview of the reasons for historical cultural periodical self-published texts, known as samizdats, to appear, as well as their publishing and circulation trends in Lithuania. It also analyses what contemporary cultural self-publishing is: whether it is a completely independent, logical consequence of the digital age, which emerged under favourable circumstances, or if it can be characterized as having something in common with the past experiences. The most active years of the periodical underground press publishing in Soviet Lithuanian self-publishing development were between 1975 and 1981. Self-published texts ideologically diverged into three main directions: religious, civic, and cultural-artistic. A total of 22 publications were being published for a longer or shorter period of time. While analysing contemporary cultural self-publishing topics, the report focuses only on online cultural texts, irrespective of the printed ones. Survey method was used to find out how much and in what aspect modern Internet users perceive historical periodical self-publishing, and how and in what aspect they value modern cultural self-published texts. The results show that 18-35-year-old respondents have not acquired the skills necessary to analyse samizdat publishing. They associate the word self-publishing with digital texts only, which due to favourable conditions spread easily through social networks and blogs. In the era of advancing computer technologies and the Internet, every person who has the time and desire may become a developer, an author, or at least a disseminator of information: this tradition is becoming more and more topical and quite frequently – an almost self-evident phenomenon.
Transport Properties of Topological Insulator Bi0.83Sb0.17 Nanowires
Authors: Konopko L.A. , Nikolaeva A.A. , Huber T.E. , Ansermet J.P.
Published: July 2015

We have investigated the transport properties of topological insulator based on single-crystal Bi0.83Sb0.17 nanowires. The single-crystal nanowire samples in the diameter range 200 nm – 1.1 μm were prepared by the high frequency liquid phase casting in a glass capillary using an improved Ulitovsky technique; they were cylindrical single-crystals with (1011) orientation along the wire axis. In this orientation, the wire axis makes an angle of 19.5o with the bisector axis C1 in the bisector-trigonal plane. Bi0.83Sb0.17 is a narrow gap semiconductor with energy gap at L point of Brillouin zone ΔE= 21 meV. In accordance with the measurements of the temperature dependence of the resistivity of the samples resistance increases with decreasing temperature, but at low temperatures decrease in the resistance is observed. This effect, decrease in the resistance, is a clear manifestation of the interesting properties of topological insulators - the presence on its surface of a highly conducting zone. The Arrhenius plot of resistance R in samples with diameter d=1.1 µm and d=200 nm indicates a thermal activation behavior with an activation gap ΔE= 21 and 35 meV, respectively, which proves the presence of the quantum size effect in these samples. We found that in the range of diameter 1100 nm - 200 nm when the diameter decreases the energy gap is growing as 1/d. We have investigated magnetoresistance of Bi0.83Sb0.17 nanowires at various magnetic field orientations. From the temperature dependences of Shubnikov de Haas oscillation amplitude for different orientation of magnetic field we have calculated the cyclotron mass mc and Dingle temperature TD for longitudinal and transverse (B||C3 and B||C2) directions of magnetic fields, which equal 1.96*10-2m0, 9.8 K, 8.5*10-3m0 , 9.4 K and 1.5*10-1m0 , 2.8 K respectively. The observed effects are discussed.
European Metrology Project for III-V Materials Based High Efficiency Multi-Junction Solar Cells
Authors: Cuenat Alexandre , Selezneva Ekaterina
Published: July 2015

Since July 2014, thirteen European metrology organizations are collaborating to address some of the main metrological challenges faced by the developments of high-efficiency III-V multi-junction solar cells (MJSC). III-V MJSC structures are made of a high number of layers, which makes a pure experimental optimization difficult and expensive; this also limits the uncertainty of cell calibration due to the complexity of their spectral response. The project is structured in three distinct parts:

1)

improved accuracy in materials and transport characterization for existing MJSC;

2)

improved accuracy and repeatability in traceable efficiency characterization for MJSC cells with three or more junctions and finally,

3)

metrology for advance concept such as coupling with thermoelectric, dilute nitride, quantum dots or growth on Silicon.

Each part of the project is briefly introduced and we present NPL initial results in developing accurate and spatially resolved metrology to determine traceable and complete III -V material data sets.
ZnO thin films applied as pH sensor in EGFET devices
Authors: C. Fernandes Jessica , Mulato Marcelo
Published: July 2015

Zinc oxide thin films prepared by sol-gel and doped with different aluminum percentages were deposited by spray-pyrolysis deposition techniques on FTO and ITO substrates. The films were applied as the sensitive layer of pH-sensors EGFET devices. ZnO:Al films on FTO substrates shows a decrease in sensor quality with the dopant percentage increase. The opposite occurs when the substrate was ITO. The best quality film to be used as pH-sensor on FTO substrates was the ZnO:Al (3%) with 29 mV/pH sensitivity value and linear adjust of 0.99. For ITO substrates the best quality was achieved for ZnO:Al (10%), with sensitivity about 30 mV/pH and 0.99 linear adjust.
ZnO Nanowire Based Photoconductor with High Photoconductive Gain
Authors: Mallampati Bhargav , Nair S. V. , Ruda H. E. , Philipose U.
Published: July 2015

A high gain ZnO nanowire (NW) based photodetector was fabricated, which was sensitive to photoexcitation at or below 370 nm corresponding to the band-edge of ZnO. At an incident wavelength of 370 nm and a bias field of 5 kV/cm, the maximum responsivity was over 105 A/W corresponding to an extremely high photoconductive gain of the order of 106. Through this work we provide experimental evidence of the role of surface and defects in carrier dynamics, resulting in enhanced photoresponse. Using intensity and temperature dependence of the rise and decay rates of photocurrent, we present a detailed analysis that provides an estimate of the activation energies of carrier trapping mechanisms.
Size-dependence hydrophobicity in nanocrystalline talc produced by high-intensity planetary ball milling
Authors: Caban-Nevarez Rebeca , Perales Perez Oscar J
Published: July 2015

Micron-size talc samples were ground using a high-intensity planetary ball mill at different milling times as an attempt to reduce particle size and study the effect on the corresponding hydrophobicity. XRD and SEM results confirmed the decrease in the particle size. FTIR spectroscopy analyses revealed the talc characteristic bands centered on 669 cm-1 for the O-H bonds and 1018 cm-1 for the Si-O bonds, as well as a degradation in the talc structure for prolonged milling times. BET results indicate an increase of specific surface area, which also confirms particle size reduction, reaching a maximum at 1 h, after which the particles agglomerate. Contact angle measurements show a decrease in the hydrophobicity of talc after milling. Although talc retains its hydrophobicity after short milling periods, prolonged grinding causes the mineral to have a more hydrophilic character.
Predicting flow rate and sediment in bifurcated river branches
Authors: Du Qian , Tang Hongwu , Yuan Saiyu , Xiao Yang
Published: July 2015

A model has been created for calculating the balanced diversion ratios of flow rate and sediment in the branches of a bifurcated river. The model is based on the extremity law of energy dissipation rate, and involves solving the simultaneous equations of flow and sediment motion for uniform flow in an open channel. The model has been verified by measured data obtained from the Meizizhou and Baguazhou branches of the Yangtze River in China. The parameters that influence the diversion ratios, such as river width, channel roughness and the total inflow, have been analysed. It was found that balanced diversion ratios are more sensitive to river width and roughness than to total inflow. Measures to regulate the Baguazhou branch have been compared further and analysed. The conclusions of this study can provide a theoretical basis for future regulation of the Baguazhou river branch.
In the elephant's seed shadow: the prospects of domestic bovids as replacement dispersers of three tropical Asian trees
Authors: Sekar Nitin , Lee Chia-Lo , Sukumar Raman
Published: July 2015

As populations of the world's largest animal species decline, it is unclear how ecosystems will react to their local extirpation. Due to the unique ecological characteristics of megaherbivores such as elephants, seed dispersal is one ecosystem process that may be affected as populations of large animals are decimated. In typically disturbed South Asian ecosystems, domestic bovids (cattle,Bos primigenius, and buffalo,Bubalus bubalis) may often be the species most available to replace Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) as endozoochorous dispersers of large‐fruited mammal‐dispersed species. We use feeding trials, germination trials, and movement data from the tropical moist forests of Buxa Tiger Reserve (India) to examine whether domestic bovids are viable replacements for elephants in the dispersal of three large‐fruited species:Dillenia indica,Artocarpus chaplasha, andCareya arborea. We find that (1) once consumed, seeds are between 2.5 (C. arborea) and 26.5 (D. indica) times more likely to pass undigested into elephant dung than domestic bovid dung; and (2) seeds from elephant dung germinated as well as or better than seeds taken from bovid dung for all plant species, withD. indicaseeds from elephant dung 1.5 times more likely to germinate. Furthermore, since wild elephants have less constrained movements than even free‐roaming domestic bovids, we calculate that maximum dispersal by elephants is between 9.5 and 11.2 times farther than that of domestic bovids, with about 20% of elephant‐dispersed seeds being moved farther than the maximum distance seeds are moved by bovids. Our findings suggest that, while bovids are able to disperse substantial numbers of seeds over moderate distances for two of the three study species, domestic bovids will be unable to routinely emulate the reliable, long‐distance dispersal of seeds executed by elephants in this tropical moist forest. Thus while domestic bovids can attenuate the effects of losing elephants as dispersers, they may not be able to prevent the decline of various mammal‐dispersed fruiting species in the face of overhunting, habitat fragmentation, and climate change.
FishMed: traits, phylogeny, current and projected species distribution of Mediterranean fishes, and environmental data
Authors: Albouy Camille , Lasram Frida Ben Rais , Velez Laure , Guilhaumon François , Meynard Christine N. , Boyer Séverine , Benestan Laura , Mouquet Nicolas , Douzery Emmanuel , Aznar Roland , Troussellier Marc , Somot Samuel , Leprieur Fabien , Le Loc'h François , Mouillot David
Published: July 2015

The FishMed database provides traits, phylogeny, current and projected species distribution of Mediterranean fishes, and associated sea surface temperature (SST) from the regional oceanic model NEMOMED8. Data for the current geographical distributions of 635 Mediterranean fish species were compiled from a published expert knowledge atlas of fishes of the northern Atlantic and the Mediterranean (FNAM) edited between 1984 and 1986 and from an updated exotic fish species list. Two future sets of projected species distributions were obtained for the middle and end of the 21st century by using an ensemble forecasting approach for 288 coastal Mediterranean fish species based on SST according to the IPPC/SRES A2 scenario implemented with the Mediterranean climatic model NEMOMED8. The functional part of the database encompasses 12 biological and ecological traits (maximal and common lengths, vertical distribution, habitat, migration type, mode of reproduction, sex shift, semelparity, diet type (larvae and adults), social behavior, species origin, and depth) for the 635 fish species. To build the phylogeny we inferred the timing and geographic origins of Mediterranean teleost species diversity using nucleotide sequences collected from GenBank including 62% of Mediterranean teleost species plus nine outgroups. Maximum likelihood Bayesian phylogenetic and dating analyses were calibrated using 20 fossil species. An additional 124 fish species were grafted onto the chronogram according to their taxonomic affinity to obtain a phylogenetic tree including 498 species. Finally we also present the associated SST data for the observed period (1961–1980) and for the middle (2040–2059) and the end of the 21st century (2080–2099) obtained from NEMOMED8 according to the IPCC A2 scenario. The FishMed database might be of interest in the context of global anthropogenic changes as coastal Mediterranean ecosystems are currently recognized as one of the most impacted ecosystems on earth.
Increasing elevation of fire in the Sierra Nevada and implications for forest change
Authors: Schwartz Mark W. , Butt Nathalie , Dolanc Christopher R. , Holguin Andrew , Moritz Max A. , North Malcolm P. , Safford Hugh D. , Stephenson Nathan L. , Thorne James H. , van Mantgem Phillip J.
Published: July 2015

Fire in high‐elevation forest ecosystems can have severe impacts on forest structure, function and biodiversity. Using a 105‐year data set, we found increasing elevation extent of fires in the Sierra Nevada, and pose five hypotheses to explain this pattern. Beyond the recognized pattern of increasing fire frequency in the Sierra Nevada since the late 20th century, we find that the upper elevation extent of those fires has also been increasing. Factors such as fire season climate and fuel build up are recognized potential drivers of changes in fire regimes. Patterns of warming climate and increasing stand density are consistent with both the direction and magnitude of increasing elevation of wildfire. Reduction in high elevation wildfire suppression and increasing ignition frequencies may also contribute to the observed pattern. Historical biases in fire reporting are recognized, but not likely to explain the observed patterns. The four plausible mechanistic hypotheses (changes in fire management, climate, fuels, ignitions) are not mutually exclusive, and likely have synergistic interactions that may explain the observed changes. Irrespective of mechanism, the observed pattern of increasing occurrence of fire in these subalpine forests may have significant impacts on their resilience to changing climatic conditions.
It’s All About Hormones!
Authors: Budin Wendy C.
Published: July 2015

In this column, the editor of The Journal of Perinatal Education introduces the Hormonal Physiology of Childbearing: Evidence and Implications for Women, Babies, and Maternity Care published by the National Partnership for Women & Families and reprinted with their permission. The editor also describes the contents of this issue, which offer a broad range of resources, research, and inspiration for childbirth educators in their efforts to promote, support, and protect natural, safe, and healthy birth.
Early Fracture of a Vitamin-E-Infused, Highly Cross-Linked Polyethylene Liner After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Bates Michael D. , Mauerhan David R.
Published: July 2015

Case:

A vitamin-E-infused, highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HXLPE) acetabular liner fractured without trauma less than twelve months after its implantation in a seventy-one-year-old woman.

Conclusion:

The remelting process utilized in the production of many commercially available HXLPE acetabular liners causes an immediate reduction in the fracture toughness of the material; however, it provides the benefit of oxidative stability, which prevents the loss of beneficial mechanical properties over time. Vitamin-E-infused HXLPE avoids the immediate decrease in fracture toughness by avoiding the remelting process. The case of our patient demonstrates that this material still can experience catastrophic failure despite acceptable component positioning.
Genome‐Wide Association Mapping of Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxin Accumulation Resistance in Maize
Authors: Warburton Marilyn L. , Tang Juliet D. , Windham Gary L. , Hawkins Leigh K. , Murray Seth C. , Xu Wenwei , Boykin Debbie , Perkins Andy , Williams W. Paul
Published: July 2015

Contamination of maize (Zea mays L.) with aflatoxin, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus Link, has severe health and economic consequences. Efforts to reduce aflatoxin accumulation in maize have focused on identifying and selecting germplasm with natural host resistance factors, and several maize lines with significantly reduced aflatoxin accumulation have been identified. Past linkage mapping studies have identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) that consistently reduce aflatoxin levels in maize. In addition, an association mapping panel of 300 maize inbred lines was previously created specifically for the dissection of aflatoxin accumulation resistance. Here we report the results of a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) using this panel of testcrossed maize hybrids. Each of the inbred parents of the testcrossed hybrids was genotyped by sequencing to generate 261,184 robust single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and the entire panel was phenotyped for aflatoxin accumulation following inoculation with A. flavus in multilocation, replicated field trials. Results uncovered 107 SNPs associated with aflatoxin accumulation in one or more environments in the association panel at a probability level between 9.78 × 10−6 and 2.87 × 10−10. Eight SNP trait associations were found with a false discovery rate (FDR) of less than 10% (p < 3.83 × 10−7). These SNPs occur within the sequence of three uncharacterized genes. Variants in 25 other genomic regions showing high association values over more than one environment are also presented. These genomic regions are undergoing validation studies and will be of use to dissect the resistance to aflatoxin accumulation and improve this trait.
Iatrogenic Damage to the Periodontium Caused by Radiation and Radiotherapy
Authors: Kassim Najeeb , Sirajuddin Syed , Biswas Shriparna , Rafiuddin Syed , Apine Ashwini
Published: July 2015

The radio-sensitivity of a tissue or organ is measured by its response to irradiation. Loss of moderate numbers of cells does not affect the function of most organs. However, with loss of large numbers of cells, all affected organisms display a clinical result. The severity of this change depends on the dosage and thus the extent of cell loss. Moderate doses to a localized area may lead to repairable damage. Comparable doses to a whole organism may result in death from damage to the most sensitive systems in the body.
Iatrogenic Damage to the Periodontium Caused by Fixed Prosthodontic Treatment Procedures
Authors: Harish PV , Joseph Sonila Anne , Sirajuddin Syed , Gundapaneni Veenadharini , Chungkham Sachidananda , . Ambica
Published: July 2015

Missing teeth should be replaced as soon as possible to maintain arch integrity and thereby avoid both morphologic and functional derangements in the occlusion. Otherwise, changes occur that upset the masticatory system, such as extrusion of the teeth opposing the edentulous areas along with their alveolar housing, their supporting tissues and ultimately the maxillary sinus. Concurrently with extrusion, shifting of the interproximal contacts and migration of the adjacent teeth occur, thereby impairing function and causing disharmony. Good oral health cannot be achieved when changes in tooth position alter the coronal contour and occlusion interfering with mutual support, which encourages food impaction and retention, further leading to osseous defects.
Improving Composite Resin Performance Through Decreasing its Viscosity by Different Methods
Authors: Baroudi Kusai , Mahmoud Said
Published: July 2015

The aim of this work was to present the different current methods of decreasing viscosity of resin composite materials such as (using flowable composites, lowering the viscosity of the monomer mixture, heating composites and applying sonic vibration) and furnish dentists with a basis that can provide criteria for choosing one or another to suit their therapeutic requirements. The four discussed methods proved that lowering composite viscosity improves its handling and facilitates its application to cavities with complicated forms, decreasing time for procedure and improving marginal adaptation. Other properties improved by decreasing composite resin viscosity were controversial between the four methods and affected by other factors such as composite brand and light cure unit.
Specified Domain in Nu-Mu Interaction Diagram for Logical Judgment in Numerical Analysis on Compression Reinforced Concrete Members
Authors: Jia Yingjie , Chang Peng , Sun Jing
Published: July 2015

A series of specified domains in Nu-Mu interaction diagram are proposed to determine optimal reinforcement
schemes for rectangular RC column sections subjected to uniaxial eccentric load. These domains divide the area covered
by interaction diagram into four regions of safety zone, compression-controlled zone, balanced failure zone and tensioncontrolled
zone, which can help engineer to understand all possibilities of section failure under varied reinforcement
scheme when they carried out a section design for columns with numerical analysis. With the physical information included
in the diagram, the domains help to establish logical judgment between practical reinforcement schemes specified
by the Chinese code (GB50010-2010) and corresponding load combination (Nu, Mu) in interaction diagram, and also provide
physical interpretation on any calculated result of steel consumption.