bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The 6666 Problem
Authors: Eggleton Roger , Ostaszewski Krzysztof
Published: June 2016

How many times must a die be thrown to get four consecutive sixes? More generally, and more precisely,

Q1. What is the expected number of times we must throw a die to get n consecutive sixes?

The answer, rather suggestively for the numerologically inclined, turns out to be

A1. The expected number of throws is 6 + 62 + 63 + … + 6n.

In some well-known dice games players throw several dice at the same time: in craps a pair (brace) of dice is thrown, while in yahtzee, yam and balut, up to five dice are thrown at a time. However, Q1 is not the same as
The quartic equation: alignment with an equivalent tetrahedron
Authors: Nickalls R. W. D.
Published: June 2016

The lower polynomials are inextricably linked to the symmetries of polyhedra and Platonic solids [1, 2, 3], and the quartic is no exception; its alter ego is the regular tetrahedron [4]. In this article we present a solution to the problem of aligning the vertices of a tetrahedron with the roots of a particular quartic. After establishing the size of a quartic-equivalent tetrahedron, we derive a triple-angle expression for the alignment rotation, analogous to that for the cubic [5].
What is the most symmetric quadrilateral?
Authors: Beardon A. F.
Published: June 2016

What is the most symmetric quadrilateral you can think of? Most people would say ‘a square’, but having given this (or any other) answer, can you create your own definition of a ‘quadrilateral’, and of ‘most symmetric’, so that you can justify your answer as a rigorous piece of mathematics? This is a challenging investigation because the answer may not be the obvious one.

Often the main difficulty in solving a problem lies in finding appropriate definitions; here we must first consider the questions ‘what is a quadrilateral?’, and ‘what is a symmetry of a quadrilateral?’.
The mathematical modelling of population change
Authors: Berry Stuart , Stubbs John
Published: June 2016

A common problem in modelling population change, whether of humans or animals, is estimating the values of the various parameters in the mathematical functions used to describe the population trajectory. Typically both the population's rate of growth and ultimate maximum size are unknown and so various numerical approximation methods have to be used (see [1, 2 and 3]). In this article a mathematical method of population projection is presented which avoids these difficulties and takes the baseline case that the only data available for computation are the populations from just three censuses. It is a method indicated, but not developed by Keyfitz [4].
A curious misattribution: the early history of ‘Simson's line’
Authors: Quadling Douglas
Published: June 2016

When William Wynne Willson died in the summer of 2010 he left behind an incomplete text covering a number of geometrical topics, including the so-called ‘Simson line’. Geoff Wain, who was completing and editing the text with a view to possible publication, sent me a copy. One chapter, entitled ‘Whose line is it anyway?’ contains the following paragraph.

‘In 1799 the Scottish mathematician William Wallace … published a geometric theorem. Nowadays this result is known as ‘Simson's line’. It is not clear why it should have this name as Robert Simson, another Scottish mathematician, had died aged 80 in 1768, the year in which Wallace was born. Although Simson published a considerable body of mathematical writings … there seems to be no trace of this theorem among them.
Variations on a theme – Euler and the logsine integral
Authors: Lord Nick
Published: June 2016

This article concerns the evaluation of the ‘logsine’ integral

We shall encounter it in several guises. Indeed, standard integration techniques used below readily show that (1) has the same value as the following integrals:

En passant, it is worth noting that forms (6) and (7) are the best behaved for numerical integration.

I first met the logsine integral as a callow youth in that strange hinterland of results that you may not have met at school but were not guaranteed to meet later on either.
How to see a cube moving into its mirror image
Authors: Dalvit Ester , Luminati Domenico
Published: June 2016

In n-dimensional Euclidean space no reflection with respect to a hyperplane can be realised by a rigid motion. But this is possible if we allow rigid motions in (n + 1)-dimensional space. These notes show a way to visualise a rigid motion of a cube in 4-dimensional space that flips the cube ‘as the page of a book’.

The two terms rigid motion and isometry are sometimes used as synonyms. Yet they do refer to different concepts. The first one has a purely kinematic connotation: the swing of a door or the movement of a piece of furniture pushed over the floor are described by rigid motions. On the other hand to ensure that two figures are isometric it is enough that there exists a correspondence between their points that maintains the relative distances.
A mix of community-based conservation and protected forests is needed for the survival of the Endangered pygmy hippopotamusChoeropsis liberiensis
Authors: Hillers Annika , Buchanan Graeme M. , Garteh Jerry C. , Tommy Solomon M. , Fofana Mohamed L. , Lindsell Jeremy A.
Published: June 2016

The contribution of protected areas to biodiversity conservation is well attested but many taxa in many regions remain dependent on the unprotected wider landscape. To develop conservation plans for large mammals such as the Endangered pygmy hippopotamusChoeropsis liberiensisof West Africa's Upper Guinea Forests it is critical to understand the importance of unprotected land. Despite being a conservation priority, little is known about the habitat associations of this species, or its distribution across its range. Through a combination of field surveys, species distribution models and community questionnaires we investigated the use of unprotected areas by the pygmy hippopotamus in the Sierra Leone–Liberia border region. We found signs of the species in 128 of 525 1-km2cells surveyed. Our analysis suggested that the species is reasonably widespread in this region and is associated with major rivers. It occurred close to, but rarely within, large areas of intact forest, and 80.4% of pygmy hippopotamus signs were recorded outside protected areas. The expansion of the protected area network in this area is unrealistic in Sierra Leone and to some extent in Liberia, mainly because of anthropogenic pressure and the overlap of proposed protected areas with mining and logging concessions. Thus pygmy hippopotamus conservation activities in the region need to include programmes on community lands while maintaining a robust network of protected forests. Community-based conservation of the pygmy hippopotamus may prove valuable for other threatened and endemic species that are not confined to protected areas in this region.
London Contemporary Music Festival: 13–15 2015
Authors: Zucker Ben
Published: June 2016

It seems impossible at first to review multiple nights of the London Contemporary Music Festival all at once – over the course of a week the cavernous Ambika P3 gallery hosted a sensory overload of music that, while not always new, was certainly contemporary in the atypical thematic presentations, bringing together provocative works in provocative ways. Running from 11 to 17 December, the three middle nights of LCMF all dealt with the monumental: large, long works that opened up audience perceptions by virtue of extended contemplation. The concerts on Sunday and Tuesday lasted over three hours; they weren't easy, but they prompted salient experiences.
TUBER, RHIZOME, TENDRIL AND CORM: ON THE MUSIC OF MARTIN ARNOLD
Authors: Höstman Anna K.
Published: June 2016

Martin Arnold is an experimental composer currently residing in Toronto, Canada. His unique approach to composition originates in the close relationship that he developed with Czech-Canadian composer Rudolf Komorous while Arnold was a doctoral student at the University of Victoria. Martin Arnold's desire to create music both familiar and unfamiliar, known and unknown, generates paradoxical listening experiences that reside on the edges of things. In this article, the author explores a number of these edges and meeting places, especially as they occur within the composer's very singular string quartet, Contact; Vault.
Powder diffraction data of the AlCeCo2Ni2 quaternary compound
Authors: Liang Liuqing , Jia Chenzhong , Li Degui , Zeng Lingmin , Mo RanCheng
Published: June 2016

A new quaternary compound AlCeCo2Ni2 was synthesized and studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction technique. The powder pattern of AlCeCo2Ni2 was indexed and refined, giving a hexagonal structure, space group P6/mmm (No. 191) with the CaCu5 structure type. a = 4.9242(2) Å, c = 4.0524(1) Å, V = 85.1 Å3, Z = 1, ρx = 7.85 g cm−3, F30 = 130.2(0.010, 30), and RIR = 0.71(2).
LONG-RUN RISK AND MONEY MARKET RATES: AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT
Authors: d'Addona Stefano
Published: June 2016

Using postwar U.S. data, I study the implied interest rates in a simple long-run risk (LRR) model. Empirical estimates show that, as in standard consumption-based models with power utility preferences, the movements of the implied risk-free rate are entirely determined by the variations of expected consumption growth. This leads to a negative relationship between LRR Euler equation rates and money market rates. Nevertheless, when the low-frequency movements of consumption growth are accounted for, the long-run component of consumption growth is a key element to partially capture the countercyclical variations of the money market rates.
A NOTE ON FOREIGN AID, HUMAN CAPITAL, AND WELFARE
Authors: Bouakez Hafedh , Gouba Fabienne E.
Published: June 2016

Should foreign aid be tied or untied? We study this question in the context of a dynamic growth model in which agents can accumulate human capital through education. We compare the growth and welfare implications of three polar scenarios in which foreign aid is either (i) completely untied, (ii) tied to public investment in infrastructure, or (iii) tied to public spending on education. Our results indicate that tying aid to education is more beneficial from a long-run welfare perspective than the two alternative scenarios. We also compute the optimal allocation of foreign aid and find that the largest fraction of aid flows ought to be tied to public spending on education. Finally, we study the transitional dynamics of the recipient economy following an aid inflow and find that aid programs that are tied (entirely or partially) to public spending on education generally entail some welfare losses in the short run.
COIN ASSAYING AND COMMODITY MONEY
Authors: Bignon Vincent , Dutu Richard
Published: June 2016

We build a model of search and matching in which agents trade using coins that are imperfectly recognizable, but have access to a coin inspection technology—known as coin assaying—that reveals the intrinsic content of coins for a fee. We consider two sources of imperfect information: counterfeit coins and clipping. With counterfeits, coin assaying reduces the extent of inefficiencies associated with imperfect recognizability of coins (namely lower traded quantities and lower trading frequencies). Yet coin assaying does not necessarily increase welfare, because it unmasks counterfeits that then trade at a discount, reducing total output. With clipping, we show that agents clip for two reasons: in the hope of passing an inferior coin for a superior one, and to reduce the purchasing power of coins that are too valuable. Although coin assaying could remove the first type of clipping, it had no effect on the second.
Discounting pension liabilities: funding versus value
Authors: BROWN JEFFREY R. , PENNACCHI GEORGE G.
Published: June 2016

We argue that the appropriate discount rate for pension liabilities depends on the objective. In particular, if the objective is to measure pension under- or overfunding, a default-free discount rate should always be used, even if the liabilities are themselves not default-free. If, instead, the objective is to determine the market value of pension benefits, then it is appropriate that discount rates incorporate default risk. We also discuss the choice of a default-free discount rate. Finally, we show how cost-of-living adjustments that are common in public pensions can be accounted for and valued in this framework.
Ludwig von Mises's approach to capital as a bridge between Austrian and institutional economics
Authors: BRAUN EDUARD , LEWIN PETER , CACHANOSKY NICOLÁS
Published: June 2016

Ludwig von Mises seems to be something of an outlier within the Austrian school when it comes to capital – though his position is clearly foreshadowed in a neglected article by Carl Menger (1888). In this paper, we examine Mises's view on capital and suggest that it constitutes a bridge between Austrian and institutional economics. As an outflow of Mises's approach, an incipient financial approach may be discerned, an approach to capital that integrates concepts from financial theory into a broader view of capital that contains both institutional and Austrian elements.
PROFESSIONALISM AND THE POETIC PERSONA IN ARCHAIC GREECE
Authors: Stewart Edmund
Published: June 2016

Greek poets of the archaic period, though often characterised as amateur aristocrats, could also seek to present themselves as professionals – regular practitioners of a specialist skill (τέχνη). In this capacity, the poet is understood to work primarily for the benefit of the community (either his own or, more commonly, those through which he travels). In return for these services, he expects to receive both a special status and material rewards (though financial gain is not presented as his main motivation). The poet's professional status thus forms one part of his identity and is a source of respect in the ancient city.
Erratum: Elastic spheres can walk on water
Authors: Belden Jesse , Hurd Randy C. , Jandron Michael A. , Bower Allan F. , Truscott Tadd T.
Published: June 2016

Nature Communications 7 Article number:10551 (2016); Published 4 February 2016; Updated 10 June 2016 This Article contains an error in Fig. 5 that was introduced during the production process. The coloured background is scaled incorrectly relative to the axes and foreground figure elements. The correct version of Fig.
Brillouin scattering self-cancellation
Authors: Florez O. , Jarschel P. F. , Espinel Y. A. V. , Cordeiro C. M. B. , Mayer Alegre T. P. , Wiederhecker G. S. , Dainese P.
Published: June 2016

The interaction between light and acoustic phonons is strongly modified in sub-wavelength confinement, and has led to the demonstration and control of Brillouin scattering in photonic structures such as nano-scale optical waveguides and cavities. Besides the small optical mode volume, two physical mechanisms come into play simultaneously: a volume effect caused by the strain-induced refractive index perturbation (known as photo-elasticity), and a surface effect caused by the shift of the optical boundaries due to mechanical vibrations. As a result, proper material and structure engineering allows one to control each contribution individually. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the perfect cancellation of Brillouin scattering arising from Rayleigh acoustic waves by engineering a silica nanowire with exactly opposing photo-elastic and moving-boundary effects. This demonstration provides clear experimental evidence that the interplay between the two mechanisms is a promising tool to precisely control the photon–phonon interaction, enhancing or suppressing it.
Cholesterol and ORP1L-mediated ER contact sites control autophagosome transport and fusion with the endocytic pathway
Authors: Wijdeven Ruud H. , Janssen Hans , Nahidiazar Leila , Janssen Lennert , Jalink Kees , Berlin Ilana , Neefjes Jacques
Published: June 2016

Autophagy is the main homeostatic pathway guiding cytosolic materials for degradation by the lysosome. Maturation of autophagosomes requires their transport towards the perinuclear region of the cell, with key factors underlying both processes still poorly understood. Here we show that transport and positioning of late autophagosomes depends on cholesterol by way of the cholesterol-sensing Rab7 effector ORP1L. ORP1L localizes to late autophagosomes and—under low-cholesterol conditions—contacts the ER protein VAP-A, forming ER-autophagosome contact sites, which prevent minus-end transport by the Rab7–RILP–dynein complex. ORP1L-mediated contact sites also inhibit localization of PLEKHM1 to Rab7. PLEKHM1, together with RILP, then recruits the homotypic fusion and vacuole protein-sorting (HOPS) complex for fusion of autophagosomes with late endosomes and lysosomes. Thus, ORP1L, via its liganding by lipids and the formation of contacts between autophagic vacuoles and the ER, governs the last steps in autophagy that lead to the lysosomal degradation of cytosolic material.
Multiple unpinned Dirac points in group-Va single-layers with phosphorene structure
Authors: Lu Yunhao , Zhou Di , Chang Guoqing , Guan Shan , Chen Weiguang , Jiang Yinzhu , Jiang Jianzhong , Wang Xue-sen , Yang Shengyuan A , Feng Yuan Ping , Kawazoe Yoshiyuki , Lin Hsin
Published: June 2016

Emergent Dirac fermion states underlie many intriguing properties of graphene, and the search for them constitutes one strong motivation to explore two-dimensional (2D) allotropes of other elements. Phosphorene, the ultrathin layers of black phosphorous, has been a subject of intense investigations recently, and it was found that other group-Va elements could also form 2D layers with similar puckered lattice structure. Here, by a close examination of their electronic band structure evolution, we discover two types of Dirac fermion states emerging in the low-energy spectrum. One pair of (type-I) Dirac points is sitting on high-symmetry lines, while two pairs of (type-II) Dirac points are located at generic k-points, with different anisotropic dispersions determined by the reduced symmetries at their locations. Such fully-unpinned (type-II) 2D Dirac points are discovered for the first time. In the absence of spin-orbit coupling (SOC), we find that each Dirac node is protected by the sublattice symmetry from gap opening, which is in turn ensured by any one of three point group symmetries. The SOC generally gaps the Dirac nodes, and for the type-I case, this drives the system into a quantum spin Hall insulator phase. We suggest possible ways to realise the unpinned Dirac points in strained phosphorene.
The complete genome of a baculovirus isolated from an insect of medical interest: Lonomia obliqua (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)
Authors: Aragão-Silva C. W. , Andrade M. S. , Ardisson-Araújo D. M. P. , Fernandes J. E. A. , Morgado F. S. , Báo S. N. , Moraes R. H. P. , Wolff J. L. C. , Melo F. L. , Ribeiro B. M.
Published: June 2016

Lonomia obliqua (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is a species of medical importance due to the severity of reactions caused by accidental contact with the caterpillar bristles. Several natural pathogens have been identified in L. obliqua, and among them the baculovirus Lonomia obliqua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LoobMNPV). The complete genome of LoobMNPV was sequenced and shown to have 120,022 bp long with 134 putative open reading frames (ORFs). Phylogenetic analysis of the LoobMNPV genome showed that it belongs to Alphabaculovirus group I (lepidopteran-infective NPV). A total of 12 unique ORFs were identified with no homologs in other sequenced baculovirus genomes. One of these, the predicted protein encoded by loob035, showed significant identity to an eukaryotic transcription terminator factor (TTF2) from the Lepidoptera Danaus plexippus, suggesting an independent acquisition through horizontal gene transfer. Homologs of cathepsin and chitinase genes, which are involved in host integument liquefaction and viral spread, were not found in this genome. As L. obliqua presents a gregarious behavior during the larvae stage the impact of this deletion might be neglectable.
Correction: Corrigendum: Corneal Power, Anterior Segment Length and Lens Power in 14-year-old Chinese Children: the Anyang Childhood Eye Study
Authors: Li Shi-Ming , Iribarren Rafael , Kang Meng-Tian , Li He , Li Si-Yuan , Liu Luo-Ru , Sun Yun-Yun , Meng Bo , Zhan Si-Yan , Rozema Jos J. , Wang Ningli
Published: June 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 20243; published online: 01 February 2016; updated: 10 June 2016. In the original version of this Article, there were errors in Affiliation 1 which was incorrectly listed as ‘Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Correction: Corrigendum: Characterization of a temperature-responsive two component regulatory system from the Antarctic archaeon, Methanococcoides burtonii
Authors: Najnin T. , Siddiqui K. S. , Taha  , Elkaid N. , Kornfeld G. , Curmi P. M. G. , Cavicchioli R.
Published: June 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 24278; published online: 07 April 2016; updated: 10 June 2016. This Article contains an error in Figure S3; where the labels ‘0 °C’ and ‘25 °C’ are inverted. The correct Figure S3 appears below as Figure 1.
Correction: Corrigendum: ALPK1 phosphorylates myosin IIA modulating TNF-α trafficking in gout flares
Authors: Lee Chi-Pin , Chiang Shang-Lun , Ko Albert Min-Shan , Liu Yu-Fan , Ma Che , Lu Chi-Yu , Huang Chung-Ming , Chang Jan-Gowth , Kuo Tzer-Min , Chen Chia-Lin , Tsai Eing-Mei , Ko Ying-Chin
Published: June 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 25740; published online: 12 May 2016; updated: 10 June 2016. In this Article, Chia-Lin Chen is incorrectly affiliated with ‘Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine Sciences and Technology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan’. The correct affiliation is listed below:
Correction: Corrigendum: Excitation of dark multipolar plasmonic resonances at terahertz frequencies
Authors: Chen Lin , Wei YuMing , Zang XiaoFei , Zhu YiMing , Zhuang SongLin
Published: June 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 22027; published online: 23 February 2016; updated: 10 June 2016 In the original version of this Article, an additional affiliation for Lin Chen and YiMing Zhu was omitted. The correct affiliation is listed below: Cooperative Innovation Center of Terahertz Science, Chengdu 611731, China.
Fourier ptychographic reconstruction using Poisson maximum likelihood and truncated Wirtinger gradient
Authors: Bian Liheng , Suo Jinli , Chung Jaebum , Ou Xiaoze , Yang Changhuei , Chen Feng , Dai Qionghai
Published: June 2016

Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) is a novel computational coherent imaging technique for high space-bandwidth product imaging. Mathematically, Fourier ptychographic (FP) reconstruction can be implemented as a phase retrieval optimization process, in which we only obtain low resolution intensity images corresponding to the sub-bands of the sample’s high resolution (HR) spatial spectrum and aim to retrieve the complex HR spectrum. In real setups, the measurements always suffer from various degenerations such as Gaussian noise, Poisson noise, speckle noise and pupil location error, which would largely degrade the reconstruction. To efficiently address these degenerations, we propose a novel FP reconstruction method under a gradient descent optimization framework in this paper. The technique utilizes Poisson maximum likelihood for better signal modeling and truncated Wirtinger gradient for effective error removal. Results on both simulated data and real data captured using our laser-illuminated FPM setup show that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art algorithms. Also, we have released our source code for non-commercial use.
Mycobacterium leprae-induced Insulin-like Growth Factor I attenuates antimicrobial mechanisms, promoting bacterial survival in macrophages
Authors: Batista-Silva L. R. , Rodrigues Luciana Silva , Vivarini Aislan de Carvalho , Costa Fabrício da Mota Ramalho , Mattos Katherine Antunes de , Costa Maria Renata Sales Nogueira , Rosa Patricia Sammarco , Toledo-Pinto T. G. , Dias André Alves , Moura Danielle Fonseca , Sarno Euzenir Nunes , Lopes Ulisses Gazos , Pessolani Maria Cristina Vidal
Published: June 2016

Mycobacterium leprae (ML), the etiologic agent of leprosy, can subvert macrophage antimicrobial activity by mechanisms that remain only partially understood. In the present study, the participation of hormone insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in this phenomenum was investigated. Macrophages from the dermal lesions of the disseminated multibacillary lepromatous form (LL) of leprosy expressed higher levels of IGF-I than those from the self-limited paucibacillary tuberculoid form (BT). Higher levels of IGF-I secretion by ML-infected macrophages were confirmed in ex vivo and in vitro studies. Of note, the dampening of IGF-I signaling reverted the capacity of ML-infected human and murine macrophages to produce antimicrobial molecules and promoted bacterial killing. Moreover, IGF-I was shown to inhibit the JAK/STAT1-dependent signaling pathways triggered by both mycobacteria and IFN-γ most probably through its capacity to induce the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3). Finally, these in vitro findings were corroborated by in vivo observations in which higher SOCS3 expression and lower phosphorylation of STAT1 levels were found in LL versus BT dermal lesions. Altogether, our data strongly suggest that IGF-I contributes to the maintenance of a functional program in infected macrophages that suits ML persistence in the host, reinforcing a key role for IGF-I in leprosy pathogenesis.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis of human and Drosophila extracellular vesicles
Authors: Lefebvre Fabio Alexis , Benoit Bouvrette Louis Philip , Perras Lilyanne , Blanchet-Cohen Alexis , Garnier Delphine , Rak Janusz , Lécuyer Éric
Published: June 2016

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed nanoparticles containing specific repertoires of genetic material. In mammals, EVs can mediate the horizontal transfer of various cargos and signaling molecules, notably miRNA and mRNA species. Whether this form of intercellular communication prevails in other metazoans remains unclear. Here, we report the first parallel comparative morphologic and transcriptomic characterization of EVs from Drosophila and human cellular models. Electronic microscopy revealed that human and Drosophila cells release similar EVs with diameters ranging from 30 to 200 nm, which contain complex populations of transcripts. RNA-seq identified abundant ribosomal RNAs, related pseudogenes and retrotransposons in human and Drosophila EVs. Vault RNAs and Y RNAs abounded in human samples, whereas small nucleolar RNAs involved in pseudouridylation were most prevalent in Drosophila EVs. Numerous mRNAs were identified, largely consisting of exonic sequences displaying full-length read coverage and enriched for translation and electronic transport chain functions. By analogy with human systems, these sizeable similarities suggest that EVs could potentially enable RNA-mediated intercellular communication in Drosophila.
Transcriptomic analysis of submergence-tolerant and sensitive Brachypodium distachyon ecotypes reveals oxidative stress as a major tolerance factor
Authors: Rivera-Contreras Irma Karla , Zamora-Hernández Teresa , Huerta-Heredia Ariana Arlene , Capataz-Tafur Jacqueline , Barrera-Figueroa Blanca Estela , Juntawong Piyada , Peña-Castro Julián Mario
Published: June 2016

When excessive amounts of water accumulate around roots and aerial parts of plants, submergence stress occurs. To find the integrated mechanisms of tolerance, we used ecotypes of the monocot model plantBrachypodium distachyonto screen for genetic material with contrasting submergence tolerance. For this purpose, we used a set of previously studied drought sensitive/tolerant ecotypes and the knowledge that drought tolerance is positively associated with submergence stress. We decided to contrast aerial tissue transcriptomes of the ecotype Bd21 14-day-old plants as sensitive and ecotype Bd2-3 as tolerant after 2 days of stress under a long-day photoperiod. Gene ontology and the grouping of transcripts indicated that tolerant Bd2-3 differentially down-regulatedNITRATE REDUCTASEandALTERNATIVE OXIDASEunder stress and constitutively up-regulatedHAEMOGLOBIN, when compared with the sensitive ecotype, Bd21. These results suggested the removal of nitric oxide, a gaseous phytohormone and concomitant reactive oxygen species as a relevant tolerance determinant. Other mechanisms more active in tolerant Bd2-3 were the pathogen response, glyoxylate and tricarboxylic acid cycle integration and acetate metabolism. This data set could be employed to design further studies on the basic science of plant tolerance to submergence stress and its biotechnological application in the development of submergence-tolerant crops.
Comparison of Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy and Isothermal Micro-calorimetry for Non-invasive Detection of Microbial Growth in Media Fills
Authors: Brueckner David , Roesti David , Zuber Ulrich Georg , Schmidt Rainer , Kraehenbuehl Stefan , Bonkat Gernot , Braissant Olivier
Published: June 2016

Two methods were investigated for non-invasive microbial growth-detection in intact glass vials as possible techniques for automated inspection of media-filled units. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) was used to determine microbially induced changes in O2 and CO2 concentrations within the vial headspaces. Isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) allowed the detection of metabolic heat production. Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus salivarius were chosen as test organisms. Parameters as robustness, sensitivity, comparability and time to detection (TtD) were evaluated to assess method adequacy. Both methods robustly detected growth of the tested microorganisms within less than 76 hours using an initial inoculum of <10CFU. TDLA"Equation missing" turned out to be less sensitive than TDLA"Equation missing" and IMC, as some false negative results were observed. Compared to the visual media-fill examination of spiked samples, the investigated techniques were slightly slower regarding TtD. Although IMC showed shorter TtD than TDLAS the latter is proposed for automating the media-fill inspection, as larger throughput can be achieved. For routine use either TDLA"Equation missing" or a combination of TDLA"Equation missing" and TDLA"Equation missing" should be considered. IMC may be helpful for replacing the sterility assessment of commercial drug products before release.
The recovery trajectory of adolescent social defeat stress-induced behavioral, 1H-MRS metabolites and myelin changes in Balb/c mice
Authors: Zhang Handi , Yan Gen , Xu Haiyun , Fang Zeman , Zhang Jinling , Zhang Jie , Wu Renhua , Kong Jiming , Huang Qingjun
Published: June 2016

Adolescent exposure to social stress precipitates emotion-related disorders and affects the development and function of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, this adversity-induced behavioral and neurological changes remain not fully explored. Adolescent Balb/c mice were subjected to intermittent social defeat stress during postnatal days 28 to 42. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) measurements, behavioral tests and immunohistochemistry were performed one day or 3 weeks after the last stress episode. Defeated mice exhibited hypoactivity and social avoidance with the latter lasting into the early adulthood, while the anxiety level was unchanged. Social defeat experience lead to temporary decreases in the levels of total creatines (Cr + pCr) and Glx (Glu + Gln), but a delayed increase of N- acetylaspartate (NAA) levels. These alternations were accompanied with a persistent reduction of myelin basic protein expression although the number of mature oligodendrocyte did not change. These findings provide evidence that adolescent adverse social experience permanently impairs the emotion-related behavioral performance and induces biochemical and molecular changes in the brain which at least lasts into early adulthood, thus enhancing our understanding of the neurobiology of social defeat stress. Our finding also implicates that NAA signals on MRS may reflect myelin status.
Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of isocytosine
Authors: Szabla Rafał , Góra Robert W. , Šponer Jiří
Published: June 2016

Nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the ultrafast photodeactivation mechanisms of alternative nucleobase isocytosine.
Isoindigo-based polymer photovoltaics: modifying polymer molecular structures to control the nanostructural packing motif
Authors: Kim Yu Jin , Lee Yun-Ji , Kim Yun-Hi , Park Chan Eon
Published: June 2016

A series of isoindigo-based polymers within the framework of a 3D crystalline motif were systematically investigated.
Isoprene synthesis from formaldehyde and isobutene over Keggin-type heteropolyacids supported on silica
Authors: Sushkevich V. L. , Ordomsky V. V. , Ivanova I. I.
Published: June 2016

Gas phase Prins condensation of isobutene with formaldehyde has been studied over different Keggin-type heteropolyacids supported on amorphous silica.
A ruthenium racemisation catalyst for the synthesis of primary amines from secondary amines
Authors: Pingen Dennis , Altıntaş Çiğdem , Rudolf Schaller Max , Vogt Dieter
Published: June 2016

Highly selective splitting of secondary amines to primary amines with ammonia was achieved with pentaphenyl–Cp complexes of Ru, previously reported as racemization catalysts for alcohols and amines.
Facile synthesis and properties of dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]arsoles
Authors: Kato Takuji , Imoto Hiroaki , Tanaka Susumu , Ishidoshiro Makoto , Naka Kensuke
Published: June 2016

The dithienoarsole skeleton can be safely and easily constructed, by a method superior to conventional synthetic routes. The obtained dithienoarsoles, including a main-chain type polymer, show luminescence not only in solution but also in the solid state.
A novel solid-state NMR method for the investigation of trivalent lanthanide sorption on amorphous silica at low surface loadings
Authors: Mason H. E. , Begg J. D. , Maxwell R. S. , Kersting A. B. , Zavarin M.
Published: June 2016

A novel solid-state NMR spectroscopic method is presented that measures metal interactions at low surface loadings and may be applied to better understand solubility-limited systems.
Impact of CeO2nanoparticles on the functions of freshwater ecosystems: a microcosm study
Authors: Bour Agathe , Mouchet Florence , Cadarsi Stéphanie , Silvestre Jérôme , Chauvet Eric , Bonzom Jean-Marc , Pagnout Christophe , Clivot Hugues , Gauthier Laury , Pinelli Eric
Published: June 2016

By affecting decomposer organisms, CeO2NPs may affect leaf litter decomposition and impact the functioning of freshwater ecosystems.
Gas-permeable hydrophobic membranes enable transport of CO2 and NH3 to improve performance of bioelectrochemical systems
Authors: Sleutels Tom H. J. A. , Hoogland Biense J. , Kuntke Philipp , ter Heijne Annemiek , Buisman Cees J. N. , Hamelers Hubertus V. M.
Published: June 2016

Application of a hydrophobic membrane between anolyte and catholyte reduces the internal resistance of bioelectrochemical systems.
Visible light-induced monofluoromethylenation of heteroarenes with ethyl bromofluoroacetate
Authors: Yu Wei , Xu Xiu-Hua , Qing Feng-Ling
Published: June 2016

A mild approach for the direct introduction of an ethoxycarbonylmonofluoromethyl group into heteroarenesviavisible light photocatalysis has been developed.
Effects of spark plasma sintering conditions on the anisotropic thermoelectric properties of bismuth antimony telluride
Authors: Han L. , Spangsdorf S. H. , Nong N. V. , Hung L. T. , Zhang Y. B. , Pham H. N. , Chen Y. Z. , Roch A. , Stepien L. , Pryds N.
Published: June 2016

Bismuth antimony telluride Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 samples were prepared under various conditions using spark plasma sintering and the effects on the anisotropic thermoelectric properties and microstructure evolutions were systematically investigated.
Temperature-controlled synthesis, thermodynamics and field emission properties of β-SiC/SiO2 coaxial heterojunction emitters
Authors: Zhang Meng , Li Zhenjiang , Zhao Jian , Yu Hongyuan , Meng Alan , Li Qingdang
Published: June 2016

β-SiC/SiO2 coaxial heterogeneous emitters composed of a SiC nanowire core and a uniform amorphous SiO2 coating have been fabricated via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique.
Reaction mechanism of thermally-induced electric conduction of poly(vinyl alcohol)–silver nitrate hybrid films
Authors: Gan Yong , Bai Shibing , Hu Shouliang , Zhao Xiang , Li Yuefang
Published: June 2016

The combination of metal nanoparticles and polymers endows their hybrid composites with a number of unique features and opens a new way to fabricate novel functional materials.
Effects of alkali and ammonium ions in the detection of poly(ethyleneglycol) by alpha-hemolysin nanopore sensor
Authors: Machado Dijanah C. , Júnior Janilson J. S. , Melo Maria C. A. , Silva Annielle M. B. , Fontes Adriana , Rodrigues Claudio G.
Published: June 2016

Cations influence the sensitivity of the sensor formed by alpha-hemolysin nanopore.
Micelle-provided microenvironment facilitating the formation of single-handed helical polymer-based nanoparticles
Authors: Zhao Biao , Deng Jianping
Published: June 2016

Micelles provide microenvironment effects for asymmetric polymerization: an unprecedented methodology for controlling the preferential helicity of synthetic helical polymers.
Self-healing of thermally-induced, biocompatible and biodegradable protein hydrogel
Authors: Chen Jun , Ma Xiaoyu , Dong Qiuchen , Song Donghui , Hargrove Derek , Vora Sahil R. , Ma Anson W. K. , Lu Xiuling , Lei Yu
Published: June 2016

Almost 100% self-healing extent recovery performance was observed in thermal-induced bovine serum albumin hydrogel with external heating. Good biocompatibility and biodegradability of this materials were also demonstrated.
One-pot synthesis of functionalized benzo[c]coumarins and their precursors via the reaction of 2-(polyfluoroalkyl)chromones with 4-alkyl-3-cyanocoumarins
Authors: Sosnovskikh Vyacheslav Ya. , Korotaev Vladislav Yu. , Kutyashev Igor B. , Barkov Alexey Yu. , Safrygin Alexander V.
Published: June 2016

2-(Polyfluoroalkyl)chromones react with 4-alkyl-3-cyanocoumarins in dichloromethane in the presence of triethylamine to give a wide variety of functionalized benzo[c]coumarin derivatives in good yields.
Insights into degradation of metallic lithium electrodes protected by a bilayer solid electrolyte based on aluminium substituted lithium lanthanum titanate in lithium-air batteries
Authors: Le Hang T. T. , Ngo Duc Tung , Ho Van-Chuong , Cao Guozhong , Park Choong-Nyeon , Park Chan-Jin
Published: June 2016

Long-term operation of rechargeable Li–O2batteries can be attainable using a lithium electrode protected by an A-LLTO/LiPON bilayer solid electrolyte.
Antimonene: a monolayer material for ultraviolet optical nanodevices
Authors: Singh Deobrat , Gupta Sanjeev K. , Sonvane Yogesh , Lukačević Igor
Published: June 2016

Antimonene: a 2D graphene-like material made of antimony atoms.
Control of diverse subcellular processes by a single multi-functional lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]
Authors: Kolay Sourav , Basu Urbashi , Raghu Padinjat
Published: June 2016

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] is a multi-functional lipid that regulates several essential subcellular processes in eukaryotic cells. In addition to its well-established function as a substrate for receptor-activated signalling at the plasma membrane (PM), it is now recognized that distinct PI(4,5)P2 pools are present at other organelle membranes. However, a long-standing question that remains unresolved is the mechanism by which a single lipid species, with an invariant functional head group, delivers numerous functions without loss of fidelity. In the present review, we summarize studies that have examined the molecular processes that shape the repertoire of PI(4,5)P2 pools in diverse eukaryotes. Collectively, these studies indicate a conserved role for lipid kinase isoforms in generating functionally distinct pools of PI(4,5)P2 in diverse metazoan species. The sophistication underlying the regulation of multiple functions by PI(4,5)P2 is also shaped by mechanisms that regulate its availability to enzymes involved in its metabolism as well as molecular processes that control its diffusion at nanoscales in the PM. Collectively, these mechanisms ensure the specificity of PI(4,5)P2 mediated signalling at eukaryotic membranes.
Reviews of leeson model of oscillator phase noise
Authors: Huang Xianhe , Hu Jianguo , Bai Qingsong , Tang Yuanlin
Published: June 2016

Through theoretical deduction, two new explanations of Leeson model are presented: the corner frequency of high Q oscillators in the phase noise curve should be the frequency at the intersection of the f 0 curve segment after adding 3 dB and the f −1 curve segment; f0/2QL of low Q oscillators in the phase noise curve should also be the frequency at the intersection of the f 0 curve segment after adding 3 dB and the f −2 curve segment. Moreover, these two new explanations were verified by the experimental data of a reported 80 MHz high Q quartz crystal oscillator and a reported low Q lithium tantalate (LiTaO3) oscillator, respectively. The results could help researchers and engineers properly estimate the key parameters of oscillator phase noise.
Analysis of low complexity uplink/downlink full‐duplex wireless access with spatially random nodes
Authors: Mohammadi Mohammadali
Published: June 2016

The authors consider a cellular wireless system where multiple antenna full‐duplex base stations (BSs) communicate with single antenna half‐duplex spatially random users to support simultaneous uplink/downlink transmissions. Leveraging recent applications of stochastic geometry to analyse cellular systems, this study proposes to study the antenna selection problem for full‐duplex BSs. In particular, they investigate max–max antenna selection (MM‐AS) and loopback‐interference antenna selection (LI‐AS) schemes to select a single transmit and receive antenna at BSs. They develop new outage probability expressions for both downlink and uplink transmissions of the proposed antenna selection schemes to investigate network throughput. The authors’ analysis shows interesting performance comparisons of the proposed antenna selection schemes for different system parameters. The LI‐AS scheme outperforms the MM‐AS scheme at uplink, whereas the opposite trend is observed at downlink direction. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the LI‐AS scheme can ensure a balance between maximising the network throughput and maintaining an acceptable uplink/downlink transmission fairness level.
Time domain analysis of field effect transistors using unconditionally stable finite difference method
Authors: Afrooz Kambiz
Published: June 2016

In this study, an unconditionally stable finite difference time domain algorithm for time domain analysis of the active multiconductor transmission lines is presented. The results of the proposed algorithm are compared with the results of the conventional algorithm. While the results of the proposed algorithm have a very good accuracy, the CPU time of the proposed algorithm is less than (about 90%) that of the conventional one. The amplification matrixes of the proposed and conventional algorithms are extracted and numerical stability of them are investigated. The spectral radius of the presented algorithm is smaller than one for any temporal step sizes and the proposed algorithm is unconditionally stable.
Dewatering of fibre suspensions by pressure filtration
Authors: Hewitt Duncan R. , Paterson Daniel T. , Balmforth Neil J. , Martinez D. Mark
Published: June 2016

A theoretical and experimental study of dewatering of fibre suspensions by uniaxial compression is presented. Solutions of a one-dimensional model are discussed and asymptotic limits of fast and slow compression are explored. Particular focus is given to relatively rapid compression and to the corresponding development of spatial variations in the solidity and velocity profiles of the suspension. The results of complementary laboratory experiments are presented for nylon or cellulose fibres suspended in viscous fluid. The constitutive relationships for each suspension were measured independently. Measurements of the load for different fixed compression speeds, together with some direct measurements of the velocity profiles using particle tracking velocimetry, are compared with model predictions. The comparison is reasonable for nylon, but poor for cellulose fibres. An extension to the model, which allows for a strain-rate-dependent component in the network stress, is proposed, and is found to give a dramatic improvement in the model predictions for cellulose fibre suspensions. The reason for this improvement is attributed to the microstructure of cellulose fibres, which, unlike nylon fibres, are themselves porous.
Experimental observation of electron bounce resonance through electron energy distribution measurement in a finite size inductively coupled plasma
Authors: Gu Seuli , Kang Hyun-Ju , Kwon Deuk-Chul , Kim Yu-Sin , Chang Yoon-Min , Chung Chin-Wook
Published: June 2016

The electron bounce resonance was experimentally investigated in a low pressure planar inductively coupled plasma. The electron energy probability functions (EEPFs) were measured at different chamber heights and the energy diffusion coefficients were calculated by the kinetic model. It is found that the EEPFs begin to flatten at the first electron bounce resonance condition, and the plateau shifts to a higher electron energy as the chamber height increases. The plateau which indicates strong electron heating corresponds not only to the electron bounce resonance condition but also to the peaks of the first component of the energy diffusion coefficients. As a result, the plateau formation in the EEPFs is mainly due to the electron bounce resonance in a finite inductive discharge.
The relaxation matrix for symmetric tops with inversion symmetry. II. Line mixing effects in the ν1 band of NH3
Authors: Boulet C. , Ma Q.
Published: June 2016

Line mixing effects have been calculated in the ν1 parallel band of self-broadened NH3. The theoretical approach is an extension of a semi-classical model to symmetric-top molecules with inversion symmetry developed in the companion paper [Q. Ma and C. Boulet, J. Chem. Phys. 144, 224303 (2016)]. This model takes into account line coupling effects and hence enables the calculation of the entire relaxation matrix. A detailed analysis of the various coupling mechanisms is carried out for Q and R inversion doublets. The model has been applied to the calculation of the shape of the Q branch and of some R manifolds for which an obvious signature of line mixing effects has been experimentally demonstrated. Comparisons with measurements show that the present formalism leads to an accurate prediction of the available experimental line shapes. Discrepancies between the experimental and theoretical sets of first order mixing parameters are discussed as well as some extensions of both theory and experiment.
Optimization of an exchange-correlation density functional for water
Authors: Fritz Michelle , Fernández-Serra Marivi , Soler José M.
Published: June 2016

We describe a method, that we call data projection onto parameter space (DPPS), to optimize an energy functional of the electron density, so that it reproduces a dataset of experimental magnitudes. Our scheme, based on Bayes theorem, constrains the optimized functional not to depart unphysically from existing ab initio functionals. The resulting functional maximizes the probability of being the “correct” parameterization of a given functional form, in the sense of Bayes theory. The application of DPPS to water sheds new light on why density functional theory has performed rather poorly for liquid water, on what improvements are needed, and on the intrinsic limitations of the generalized gradient approximation to electron exchange and correlation. Finally, we present tests of our water-optimized functional, that we call vdW-DF-w, showing that it performs very well for a variety of condensed water systems.