bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical and electrochemical routes to DNA-templated rhodium nanowires
Authors: Mohamed Hasan Daw A. , Watson Scott M. D. , Horrocks Benjamin R. , Houlton Andrew
Published: November 2014

Both electroless and electrochemical routes to the deposition of rhodium at duplex DNA ‘template’ molecules provide <20 nm 1D electrically conductive metal wires.
Morphological control and plasmonic tuning of nanoporous gold disks by surface modifications
Authors: Zeng Jianbo , Zhao Fusheng , Li Ming , Li Chien-Hung , Lee T. Randall , Shih Wei-Chuan
Published: November 2014

We report a surface modification protocol to control nanoporous gold (NPG) disk morphology and tune its plasmonic resonance.
HBCD and PCBs enhance the cell migration and invasion of HepG2 via the PI3 K/Akt pathway
Authors: Yufang Zhong , Cen Chen , Xiu Wang , Panpan Guo , Xinyu Zhang , Zhiqiang Yu , Jing An
Published: November 2014

Exposure to hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been proved to result in diversified toxicity, including cancerogenesis.
Treatment for Lexical Retrieval in Primary Progressive Aphasia
Authors: Rising Kindle
Published: November 2014

In recent years there has been an increase in research describing the behavioral characteristics and underlying pathology of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). One of the earliest and most prominent features of PPA, particularly for the logopenic and semantic variants, is anomia, and this is often the symptom that prompts individuals with PPA to seek treatment. However, speech-language pathologists who encounter individuals with PPA on their clinical caseloads often have questions about how best to manage progressive language decline in these patients. A small body of literature suggests that treatment for anomia in PPA is indeed warranted, and that item-specific improvement can be expected for a majority of individuals receiving treatment. Although generalization and maintenance of treatment gains are variable in the face of progressive decline, there are some emerging themes as to treatment approaches and patient characteristics that may promote more generalized and relatively durable treatment outcomes. Ultimately, treatment that engages residual semantic, phonologic and orthographic skills, using both strategic training and stimulation, may be appropriate for PPA patients with mild-moderate anomia.
Constant pressure and temperature discrete-time Langevin molecular dynamics
Authors: Grønbech-Jensen Niels , Farago Oded
Published: November 2014

We present a new and improved method for simultaneous control of temperature and pressure in molecular dynamics simulations with periodic boundary conditions. The thermostat-barostat equations are built on our previously developed stochastic thermostat, which has been shown to provide correct statistical configurational sampling for any time step that yields stable trajectories. Here, we extend the method and develop a set of discrete-time equations of motion for both particle dynamics and system volume in order to seek pressure control that is insensitive to the choice of the numerical time step. The resulting method is simple, practical, and efficient. The method is demonstrated through direct numerical simulations of two characteristic model systems—a one-dimensional particle chain for which exact statistical results can be obtained and used as benchmarks, and a three-dimensional system of Lennard-Jones interacting particles simulated in both solid and liquid phases. The results, which are compared against the method of Kolb and Dünweg [J. Chem. Phys. 111, 4453 (1999)], show that the new method behaves according to the objective, namely that acquired statistical averages and fluctuations of configurational measures are accurate and robust against the chosen time step applied to the simulation.
Intense high repetition rate Mo Kα x-ray source generated from laser solid interaction for imaging application
Authors: Huang K. , Li M. H. , Yan W. C. , Guo X. , Li D. Z. , Chen Y. P. , Ma Y. , Zhao J. R. , Li Y. F. , Zhang J. , Chen L. M.
Published: November 2014

We report an efficient Mo Kα x-ray source produced by interaction of femtosecond Ti: sapphire laser pulses with a solid Molybdenum target working at 1 kHz repetition rate. The generated Mo Kα x-ray intensity reaches to 4.7 × 1010 photons sr−1 s−1, corresponding to an average power of 0.8 mW into 2π solid angle. The spatial resolution of this x-ray source is measured to be 26 lp/mm. With the high flux and high spatial resolution characteristics, high resolving in-line x-ray radiography was realized on test objects and large size biological samples within merely half a minute. This experiment shows the possibility of laser plasma hard x-ray source as a new low cost and high resolution system for radiography and its ability of ultrafast x-ray pump-probe study of matter.
Structure and dynamics in liquid bismuth and Bin clusters: A density functional study
Authors: Akola J. , Atodiresei N. , Kalikka J. , Larrucea J. , Jones R. O.
Published: November 2014

Density functional/molecular dynamics simulations with more than 500 atoms have been performed on liquid bismuth at 573, 773, 923, and 1023 K and on neutral Bi clusters with up to 14 atoms. There are similar structural patterns (coordination numbers, bond angles, and ring patterns) in the liquid and the clusters, with significant differences from the rhombohedral crystalline form. We study the details of the structure (structure factor, pair, and cavity distribution functions) and dynamical properties (vibration frequencies, diffusion constants, power spectra), and compare with experimental results where available. While the three short covalent bonds typical to pnictogens are characteristic in both liquid and clusters, the number of large voids and the total cavity volume is much larger in the liquid at 1023 K, with larger local concentration variations. The inclusion of spin-orbit coupling results in a lowering of the cohesive energies in Bin clusters of 0.3–0.5 eV/atom.
On immanant functions related to Weyl groups of A
n
Authors: Háková Lenka , Tereszkiewicz Agnieszka
Published: November 2014

In this work, we recall the definition of matrix immanants, a generalization of the determinant and permanent of a matrix. We use them to generalize families of symmetric and antisymmetric orbit functions related to Weyl groups of the simple Lie algebras An. The new functions and their properties are described, in particular, we give their continuous orthogonality relations. Several examples are shown.
Self-organized ordered silver nanoparticle arrays obtained by solid state dewetting
Authors: Le Bris A. , Maloum F. , Teisseire J. , Sorin F.
Published: November 2014

Spontaneous dewetting of a silver layer on a templated silica substrate is proposed as a promising low-cost process to produce self-organized metallic nanostructures. Periodic gratings with inverted pyramid pattern and periods ranging from 200 to 1000 nm are fabricated by nanoimprint on a sol-gel silica layer. A silver layer is then deposited on the templated substrate by magnetron sputtering and annealed to form an array of well-organized islands by solid-state dewetting. The resulting islands are shown to have reduced diameter and size dispersion compared to arrays obtained in the same conditions on flat substrates. The density of defects in the periodic array is determined as a function of silver layer thickness and is lower than 10% in optimal conditions. Optical transmission spectra of periodic arrays are measured, showing extinction peaks that can be related to plasmon resonance. This resonance can be tuned by adjusting the period and particle diameter.
Planar ultrananocrystalline diamond field emitter in accelerator radio frequency electron injector: Performance metrics
Authors: Baryshev Sergey V. , Antipov Sergey , Shao Jiahang , Jing Chunguang , Pérez Quintero Kenneth J. , Qiu Jiaqi , Liu Wanming , Gai Wei , Kanareykin Alexei D. , Sumant Anirudha V.
Published: November 2014

A case performance study of a planar field emission cathode (FEC) based on nitrogen-incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond, (N)UNCD, was carried out in an RF 1.3 GHz electron gun. The FEC was a 100 nm (N)UNCD film grown on a 20 mm diameter stainless steel disk with a Mo buffer layer. At surface gradients 45–65 MV/m, peak currents of 1–80 mA (equivalent to 0.3–25 mA/cm2) were achieved. Imaging with two YAG screens confirmed emission from the (N)UNCD surface with (1) the beam emittance of 1.5 mm × mrad/mm-rms and (2) longitudinal FWHM and rms widths of non-Gaussian energy spread of 0.7% and 11% at an electron energy of 2 MeV. Current stability was tested over the course of 36 × 103 RF pulses (equivalent to 288 × 106 GHz oscillations).
Vibrational frequency scaling factors for correlation consistent basis sets and the methods CC2 and MP2 and their spin-scaled SCS and SOS variants
Authors: Friese Daniel H. , Törk Lisa , Hättig Christof
Published: November 2014

We present scaling factors for vibrational frequencies calculated within the harmonic approximation and the correlated wave-function methods coupled cluster singles and doubles model (CC2) and Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) with and without a spin-component scaling (SCS or spin-opposite scaling (SOS)). Frequency scaling factors and the remaining deviations from the reference data are evaluated for several non-augmented basis sets of the cc-pVXZ family of generally contracted correlation-consistent basis sets as well as for the segmented contracted TZVPP basis. We find that the SCS and SOS variants of CC2 and MP2 lead to a slightly better accuracy for the scaled vibrational frequencies. The determined frequency scaling factors can also be used for vibrational frequencies calculated for excited states through response theory with CC2 and the algebraic diagrammatic construction through second order and their spin-component scaled variants.
Chemical segregation in metallic glass nanowires
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Qi-Kai , Li Mo
Published: November 2014

Nanowires made of metallic glass have been actively pursued recently due to the superb and unique properties over those of the crystalline materials. The amorphous nanowires are synthesized either at high temperature or via mechanical disruption using focused ion beam. These processes have potential to cause significant changes in structure and chemical concentration, as well as formation of defect or imperfection, but little is known to date about the possibilities and mechanisms. Here, we report chemical segregation to surfaces and its mechanisms in metallic glass nanowires made of binary Cu and Zr elements from molecular dynamics simulation. Strong concentration deviation are found in the nanowires under the conditions similar to these in experiment via focused ion beam processing, hot imprinting, and casting by rapid cooling from liquid state. Our analysis indicates that non-uniform internal stress distribution is a major cause for the chemical segregation, especially at low temperatures. Extension is discussed for this observation to multicomponent metallic glass nanowires as well as the potential applications and side effects of the composition modulation. The finding also points to the possibility of the mechanical-chemical process that may occur in different settings such as fracture, cavitation, and foams where strong internal stress is present in small length scales.
Effect of charge trapping on effective carrier lifetime in compound semiconductors: High resistivity CdZnTe
Authors: Kamieniecki Emil
Published: November 2014

The dominant problem limiting the energy resolution of compound semiconductor based radiation detectors is the trapping of charge carriers. The charge trapping affects energy resolution through the carrier lifetime more than through the mobility. Conventionally, the effective carrier lifetime is determined using a 2-step process based on measurement of the mobility-lifetime product (μτ) and determining drift mobility using time-of-flight measurements. This approach requires fabrication of contacts on the sample. A new RF-based pulse rise-time method, which replaces this 2-step process with a single non-contact direct measurement, is discussed. The application of the RF method is illustrated with high-resistivity detector-grade CdZnTe crystals. The carrier lifetime in the measured CdZnTe, depending on the quality of the crystals, was between about 5 μs and 8 μs. These values are in good agreement with the results obtained using conventional 2-step approach. While the effective carrier lifetime determined from the initial portion of the photoresponse transient combines both recombination and trapping in a manner similar to the conventional 2-step approach, both the conventional and the non-contact RF methods offer only indirect evaluation of the effect of charge trapping in the semiconductors used in radiation detectors. Since degradation of detector resolution is associated not with trapping but essentially with detrapping of carriers, and, in particular, detrapping of holes in n-type semiconductors, it is concluded that evaluation of recombination and detrapping during photoresponse decay is better suited for evaluation of compound semiconductors used in radiation detectors. Furthermore, based on previously reported data, it is concluded that photoresponse decay in high resistivity CdZnTe at room temperature is dominated by detrapping of carriers from the states associated with one type of point defect and by recombination of carriers at one type of extended defects. The recombination at the extended defects produces long, logarithmic decay limiting substantially performance of CdZnTe detectors. This decay is associated with the “electrostatic trapping” of excess holes by the Schottky-type depletion space-charge regions formed around the defects.
Electrorheological response measured with pectinated electrodes
Authors: Wang De , Jiao Mingchun , Sun Gang , Wei Shiqiang , Lu Kunquan , Shen Rong
Published: November 2014

Pectinated electrode has been designed to measure the rheological property of electrorheological (ER) fluids. The principle of this measurement is based on the effect that the outside electric field near the edges of parallel electrode can contribute a considerable value of the field. The relations of the yield stress and the gap between pectinated electrode and workpiece, as well as the variations of the yield stress versus the parameters of pectinated electrodes have been obtained. It is found that the yield stress can be much enhanced when the gap is small and decreases with the gap increasing. The mechanism of those phenomena is explained. This knowledge of the ER behavior by using pectinated electrode must be helpful for the design of device in the applications of ER fluid.
Optical properties of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides probed by spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Liu Hsiang-Lin , Shen Chih-Chiang , Su Sheng-Han , Hsu Chang-Lung , Li Ming-Yang , Li Lain-Jong
Published: November 2014

Spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to characterize the complex refractive index of chemical-vapor-deposited monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). The extraordinary large value of the refractive index in the visible frequency range is obtained. The absorption response shows a strong correlation between the magnitude of the exciton binding energy and band gap energy. Together with the observed giant spin-orbit splitting, these findings advance the fundamental understanding of their novel electronic structures and the development of monolayer TMDs-based optoelectronic and spintronic devices.
Validity of the site-averaging approximation for modeling the dissociative chemisorption of H2 on Cu(111) surface: A quantum dynamics study on two potential energy surfaces
Authors: Liu Tianhui , Fu Bina , Zhang Dong H.
Published: November 2014

A new finding of the site-averaging approximation was recently reported on the dissociative chemisorption of the HCl/DCl+Au(111) surface reaction [T. Liu, B. Fu, and D. H. Zhang, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 184705 (2013); T. Liu, B. Fu, and D. H. Zhang, J. Chem. Phys. 140, 144701 (2014)]. Here, in order to investigate the dependence of new site-averaging approximation on the initial vibrational state of H2 as well as the PES for the dissociative chemisorption of H2 on Cu(111) surface at normal incidence, we carried out six-dimensional quantum dynamics calculations using the initial state-selected time-dependent wave packet approach, with H2 initially in its ground vibrational state and the first vibrational excited state. The corresponding four-dimensional site-specific dissociation probabilities are also calculated with H2 fixed at bridge, center, and top sites. These calculations are all performed based on two different potential energy surfaces (PESs). It is found that the site-averaging dissociation probability over 15 fixed sites obtained from four-dimensional quantum dynamics calculations can accurately reproduce the six-dimensional dissociation probability for H2 (v = 0) and (v = 1) on the two PESs.
In-situ study of crystallization kinetics in ternary bulk metallic glass alloys with different glass forming abilities
Authors: Lan Si , Wei Xiaoya , Zhou Jie , Lu Zhaoping , Wu Xuelian , Feygenson Mikhail , Neuefeind Jörg , Wang Xun-Li
Published: November 2014

In-situ transmission electron microcopy and time-resolved neutron diffraction were used to study crystallization kinetics of two ternary bulk metallic glasses during isothermal annealing in the supercooled liquid region. It is found that the crystallization of Zr56Cu36Al8, an average glass former, follows continuous nucleation and growth, while that of Zr46Cu46Al8, a better glass former, is characterized by site-saturated nucleation, followed by slow growth. Possible mechanisms for the observed differences and the relationship to the glass forming ability are discussed.
Schottky contact formation on polar and non-polar AlN
Authors: Reddy Pramod , Bryan Isaac , Bryan Zachary , Tweedie James , Kirste Ronny , Collazo Ramon , Sitar Zlatko
Published: November 2014

The interfaces of m- and c-plane AlN with metals of different work functions and electro-negativities were characterized and the Schottky barrier heights were measured. The Schottky barrier height was determined by measuring the valence band maximum (VBM) with respect to the Fermi level at the surface (interface) before (after) metallization. VBM determination included accurate modeling and curve fitting of density of states at the valence band edge with the XPS data. The experimental behavior of the barrier heights could not be explained by the Schottky-Mott model and was modeled using InterFace-Induced Gap States (IFIGS). A slope parameter (SX) was used to incorporate the density of surface states and is a measure of Fermi level pinning. The experimental barriers followed theoretical predictions with a barrier height at the surface Fermi level (Charge neutrality level (CNL)) of ∼2.1 eV (∼2.7 eV) on m-plane (c-plane) and SX ∼ 0.36 eV/Miedema unit. Slope parameter much lower than 0.86 implied a surface/interface states dominated behavior with significant Fermi level pinning and the measured barrier heights were close to the CNL. Titanium and zirconium provided the lowest barriers (1.6 eV) with gold providing the highest (2.3 eV) among the metals analyzed on m-plane. It was consistently found that barrier heights decreased from metal polar to non-polar surfaces, in general, due to an increasing CNL. The data indicated that charged IFIGS compensate spontaneous polarization charge. These barrier height and slope parameter measurements provided essential information for designing Schottky diodes and other contact-based devices on AlN.
Development of a three-dimensional cell culture system based on microfluidics for nuclear magnetic resonance and optical monitoring
Authors: Esteve Vicent , Berganzo Javier , Monge Rosa , Martínez-Bisbal M. Carmen , Villa Rosa , Celda Bernardo , Fernandez Luis
Published: November 2014

A new microfluidic cell culture device compatible with real-time nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is presented here. The intended application is the long-term monitoring of 3D cell cultures by several techniques. The system has been designed to fit inside commercially available NMR equipment to obtain maximum readout resolution when working with small samples. Moreover, the microfluidic device integrates a fibre-optic-based sensor to monitor parameters such as oxygen, pH, or temperature during NMR monitoring, and it also allows the use of optical microscopy techniques such as confocal fluorescence microscopy. This manuscript reports the initial trials culturing neurospheres inside the microchamber of this device and the preliminary images and spatially localised spectra obtained by NMR. The images show the presence of a necrotic area in the interior of the neurospheres, as is frequently observed in histological preparations; this phenomenon appears whenever the distance between the cells and fresh nutrients impairs the diffusion of oxygen. Moreover, the spectra acquired in a volume of 8 nl inside the neurosphere show an accumulation of lactate and lipids, which are indicative of anoxic conditions. Additionally, a basis for general temperature control and monitoring and a graphical control software have been developed and are also described. The complete platform will allow biomedical assays of therapeutic agents to be performed in the early phases of therapeutic development. Thus, small quantities of drugs or advanced nanodevices may be studied long-term under simulated living conditions that mimic the flow and distribution of nutrients.
Ordered horizontal Sb2Te3 nanowires induced by femtosecond lasers
Authors: Li Yuwei , Stoica Vladimir A. , Sun Kai , Liu Wei , Endicott Lynn , Walrath Jenna C. , Chang Alex S. , Lin Yen-Hsiang , Pipe Kevin P. , Goldman Rachel S. , Uher Ctirad , Clarke Roy
Published: November 2014

Nanowires are of intense interest on account of their ability to confine electronic and phononic excitations in narrow channels, leading to unique vibronic and optoelectronic properties. Most systems reported to date exhibit nanowire axes perpendicular to the substrate surface, while for many applications (e.g., photodetectors and sensors), a parallel orientation may be advantageous. Here, we report the formation of in-plane Sb2Te3 nanowires using femtosecond laser irradiation. High-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging and element mapping reveal that an interesting laser-driven anion exchange mechanism is responsible for the nanowire formation. This development points the way to the scalable production of a distinct class of nanowire materials with in-plane geometry.
Blue and green electroluminescence from CdSe nanocrystal quantum-dot-quantum-wells
Authors: Lu Y. F. , Cao X. A.
Published: November 2014

CdS/CdSe/ZnS quantum dot quantum well (QDQW) nanocrystals were synthesized using the successive ion layer adsorption and reaction technique, and their optical properties were tuned by bandgap and strain engineering. 3-monolayer (ML) CdSe QWs emitted blue photoluminescence at 467 nm with a spectral full-width-at-half-maximum of ∼30 nm. With a 3 ML ZnS cladding layer, which also acts as a passivating and strain-compensating layer, the QDQWs acquired a ∼35% quantum yield of the QW emission. Blue and green electroluminescence (EL) was obtained from QDQW light-emitting devices with 3–4.5 ML CdSe QWs. It was found that as the peak blueshifted, the overall EL was increasingly dominated by defect state emission due to poor hole injection into the QDQWs. The weak EL was also attributed to strong field-induced charge separation resulting from the unique QDQW geometry, weakening the oscillator strength of optical transitions.
Inhibition of brain tumor cell proliferation by alternating electric fields
Authors: Jeong Hyesun , Sung Jiwon , Oh Seung-ick , Jeong Seonghoon , Koh Eui Kwan , Hong Sunghoi , Yoon Myonggeun
Published: November 2014

This study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which electric fields affect cell function, and to determine the optimal conditions for electric field inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Low-intensity (<2 V/cm) and intermediate-frequency (100–300 kHz) alternating electric fields were applied to glioblastoma cell lines. These electric fields inhibited cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and abnormal mitosis due to the malformation of microtubules. These effects were significantly dependent on the intensity and frequency of applied electric fields.
Impact of field-induced quantum confinement on the onset of tunneling field-effect transistors: Experimental verification
Authors: Smets Quentin , Verhulst Anne S. , Martens Koen , Lin Han Chung , Kazzi Salim El , Verreck Devin , Simoen Eddy , Collaert Nadine , Thean Aaron , Raskin Jean-Pierre , Heyns Marc M.
Published: November 2014

The Tunneling Field-Effect Transistor (TFET) is a promising device for future low-power logic. Its performance is often predicted using semiclassical simulations, but there is usually a large discrepancy with experimental results. An important reason is that Field-Induced Quantum Confinement (FIQC) is neglected. Quantum mechanical simulations show FIQC delays the onset of Band-To-Band Tunneling (BTBT) with hundreds of millivolts in the promising line-TFET configuration. In this letter, we provide experimental verification of this delayed onset. We accomplish this by developing a method where line-TFET are modeled using highly doped MOS capacitors (MOS-CAP). Using capacitance-voltage measurements, we demonstrate AC inversion by BTBT, which was so far unobserved in MOS-CAP. Good agreement is shown between the experimentally obtained BTBT onset and quantum mechanical predictions, proving the need to include FIQC in all TFET simulations. Finally, we show that highly doped MOS-CAP is promising for characterization of traps deep into the conduction band.
Study of the oxygen vacancies changes in SnO2 polycrystalline thick films using impedance and photoemission spectroscopies
Authors: Schipani F. , Ponce M. A. , Joanni E. , Williams F. J. , Aldao C. M.
Published: November 2014

Changes in the concentration of oxygen vacancies within the grains of polycrystalline SnO2, due to different atmosphere exposures, were detected using impedance and photoemission spectroscopies. From measured capacitance values, variations of the potential barrier widths could be determined. It is shown that under the presence of an oxygen rich atmosphere, at relatively low temperature, the width of intergranular potential barriers increase to the point that grains become completely depleted of carriers. With subsequent exposure to vacuum, capacitance adopts a higher value, indicative of intergranular barriers and quasi-neutral regions at the center of the grains. X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy measurements showed that SnO2 samples treated in oxidizing or reducing environments have similar barrier heights and different work functions. Results are especially relevant in the study of mechanisms responsible for metal oxide gas sensing.
Evolution of Collective Action in a Ski Resort Facing Declining Domestic Demand and Inbound Opportunity: Hakuba's Dynamic Downsizing
Authors: Patchell Jerry
Published: November 2014

In Japan's ski boom of 1960–80 Hakuba's subsistence farmers collectively transformed adjacent mountain slopes into ski areas and built new incomes by individually offering accommodation. Since the domestic market went bust, they have reorganized collective and individual efforts to create a destination resort attractive to inbound tourists. A differentiated common pool resources approach, using concepts from evolutionary economy geography, is utilized to evaluate their success in this endeavor. This structure evolved path dependencies that inhibit coordination of ski areas, generate some divisions in resort governance, and preclude integration of mountain and town activities. The structure does, however, enable reformulation of social capital and a competitive selection of firms that enables dynamic downsizing of the resort.
Handling Tensions in the ‘Everyday Landscape’: Moving beyond the Development—Conservation Conflict?
Authors: Hofstad Hege
Published: November 2014

This paper brings new insight on practices that enable planning processes concerning urban green landscapes (everyday landscapes) to move beyond the somewhat deadlocked conflict between conservation and development. The empirical basis is four planning processes in Norway and Sweden illuminating the following research questions: How is the tension between densification and conservation in everyday landscapes handled in concrete planning processes? Is it possible to identify practices that create opportunity for viable compromises between development and conservation interests? The analysis identifies the core position of expert knowledge in creating a basis for compromise in political processes. Furthermore, green structure as a coherent and basic entity in planning is emerging as a decisive force in local discourse held by the civil society, public authorities, and developers alike. I argue that these elements contribute to create viable compromises on the future development of everyday landscapes, thus functioning as building bricks in creating more agonistic planning practices.
Sediment resuspension, salinity and temperature affect the plankton community of a shallow coastal lake
Authors: Zehrer Reglindis F. , Burns Carolyn W. , Flöder Sabine
Published: November 2014

Climate change is predicted to cause an increasing frequency of storm tides, rising sea levels and water temperatures, and altered precipitation and run-off. Such changes are likely to influence turbidity, salinity and temperature regimes of coastal aquatic ecosystems. To determine possible effects on plankton communities of these ecosystems, we combined feeding experiments with a monitoring study of tidally influenced, polymictic Lake Waihola (New Zealand). The feeding experiments were carried out using dominant Daphnia carinata, and important taxa of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF) and ciliates. The field study encompassed the entire planktonic food web. Moderate levels of turbidity and salinity affected clearance and ingestion rates of D. carinata, HNF and oligotrich ciliates in our feeding experiments. Redundancy analysis identified sediment resuspension, salinity and temperature as important factors affecting the plankton communities in Lake Waihola. A wide variety of biota was affected by sediment resuspension and temperature. Fewer species responded to salinity, most likely due to unusually low salinities throughout the monitoring period. If global warming results in altered turbidity, salinity or temperature regimes in coastal aquatic ecosystems changes might be expected in the structure of their plankton communities, with potential consequences throughout the food web.
Examining the influence of working memory on updating mental models
Authors: Valadao Derick F. , Anderson Britt , Danckert James
Published: November 2014

The ability to accurately build and update mental representations of our environment depends on our ability to integrate information over a variety of time scales and detect changes in the regularity of events. As such, the cognitive mechanisms that support model building and updating are likely to interact with those involved in working memory (WM). To examine this, we performed three experiments that manipulated WM demands concurrently with the need to attend to regularities in other stimulus properties (i.e., location and shape). That is, participants completed a prediction task while simultaneously performing an n-back WM task with either no load or a moderate load. The distribution of target locations (Experiment 1) or shapes (Experiments 2 and 3) included some level of probabilistic regularity, which, unbeknown to participants, changed abruptly within each block. Moderate WM load hampered the ability to benefit from target regularities and to adapt to changes in those regularities (i.e., the prediction task). This was most pronounced when both prediction and WM requirements shared the same target feature. Our results show that representational updating depends on free WM resources in a domain-specific fashion.
Opioid Abuse and Dependence during Pregnancy
Authors: Maeda Ayumi , Bateman Brian T. , Clancy Caitlin R. , Creanga Andreea A. , Leffert Lisa R.
Published: November 2014

Background:

The authors investigated nationwide trends in opioid abuse or dependence during pregnancy and assessed the impact on maternal and obstetrical outcomes in the United States.

Methods:

Hospitalizations for delivery were extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2011. Temporal trends were assessed and logistic regression was used to examine the associations between maternal opioid abuse or dependence and obstetrical outcomes adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results:

The prevalence of opioid abuse or dependence during pregnancy increased from 0.17% (1998) to 0.39% (2011) for an increase of 127%. Deliveries associated with maternal opioid abuse or dependence compared with those without opioid abuse or dependence were associated with an increased odds of maternal death during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.6; 95% CI, 1.8 to 12.1, crude incidence 0.03 vs. 0.006%), cardiac arrest (aOR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.4 to 9.1; 0.04 vs. 0.01%), intrauterine growth restriction (aOR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.4 to 2.9; 6.8 vs. 2.1%), placental abruption (aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 2.1 to 2.6; 3.8 vs. 1.1%), length of stay more than 7 days (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 2.0 to 2.5; 3.0 vs. 1.2%), preterm labor (aOR, 2.1; 95% CI, 2.0 to 2.3; 17.3 vs. 7.4%), oligohydramnios (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.6 to 1.9; 4.5 vs. 2.8%), transfusion (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5 to 1.9; 2.0 vs. 1.0%), stillbirth (aOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.3 to 1.8; 1.2 vs. 0.6%), premature rupture of membranes (aOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.3 to 1.6; 5.7 vs. 3.8%), and cesarean delivery (aOR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3; 36.3 vs. 33.1%).

Conclusions:

Opioid abuse or dependence during pregnancy is associated with considerable obstetrical morbidity and mortality, and its prevalence is dramatically increasing in the United States. Identifying preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions in pregnant women who abuse drugs are important priorities for clinicians and scientists.
Poison frogs rely on experience to find the way home in the rainforest
Authors: Pašukonis Andrius , Warrington Ian , Ringler Max , Hödl Walter
Published: November 2014

Among vertebrates, comparable spatial learning abilities have been found in birds, mammals, turtles and fishes, but virtually nothing is known about such abilities in amphibians. Overall, amphibians are the most sedentary vertebrates, but poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) routinely shuttle tadpoles from terrestrial territories to dispersed aquatic deposition sites. We hypothesize that dendrobatid frogs rely on learning for flexible navigation. We tested the role of experience with the local cues for poison frog way-finding by (i) experimentally displacing territorial males ofAllobates femoralisover several hundred metres, (ii) using a harmonic direction finder with miniature transponders to track these small frogs, and (iii) using a natural river barrier to separate the translocated frogs from any familiar landmarks. We found that homeward orientation was disrupted by the translocation to the unfamiliar area but frogs translocated over similar distances in their local area showed significant homeward orientation and returned to their territories via a direct path. We suggest that poison frogs rely on spatial learning for way-finding in their local area.
Universality in ant behaviour
Authors: Christensen Kim , Papavassiliou Dario , de Figueiredo Alexandre , Franks Nigel R. , Sendova-Franks Ana B.
Published: November 2014

Prediction for social systems is a major challenge. Universality at the social level has inspired a unified theory for urban living but individual variation makes predicting relationships within societies difficult. Here, we show that in ant societies individual average speed is higher when event duration is longer. Expressed as a single scaling function, this relationship is universal because for any event duration an ant, on average, moves at the corresponding average speed except for a short acceleration and deceleration at the beginning and end. This establishes cause and effect within a social system and may inform engineering and control of artificial ones.
Coupled elasticity–diffusion model for the effects of cytoskeleton deformation on cellular uptake of cylindrical nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Jizeng , Li Long
Published: November 2014

Molecular dynamic simulations and experiments have recently demonstrated how cylindrical nanoparticles (CNPs) with large aspect ratios penetrate animal cells and inevitably deform cytoskeletons. Thus, a coupled elasticity–diffusion model was adopted to elucidate this interesting biological phenomenon by considering the effects of elastic deformations of cytoskeleton and membrane, ligand–receptor binding and receptor diffusion. The mechanism by which the binding energy drives the CNPs with different orientations to enter host cells was explored. This mechanism involved overcoming the resistance caused by cytoskeleton and membrane deformations and the change in configurational entropy of the ligand–receptor bonds and free receptors. Results showed that deformation of the cytoskeleton significantly influenced the engulfing process by effectively slowing down and even hindering the entry of the CNPs. Additionally, the engulfing depth was determined quantitatively. CNPs preferred or tended to vertically attack target cells until they were stuck in the cytoskeleton as implied by the speed of vertically oriented CNPs that showed much faster initial engulfing speeds than horizontally oriented CNPs. These results elucidated the most recent molecular dynamics simulations and experimental observations on the cellular uptake of carbon nanotubes and phagocytosis of filamentous
Escherichia coli
bacteria. The most efficient engulfment showed the stiffness-dependent optimal radius of the CNPs. Cytoskeleton stiffness exhibited more significant influence on the optimal sizes of the vertical uptake than the horizontal uptake.
Automated detection of coherent Lagrangian vortices in two-dimensional unsteady flows
Authors: Karrasch Daniel , Huhn Florian , Haller George
Published: November 2014

Coherent boundaries of Lagrangian vortices in fluid flows have recently been identified as closed orbits of line fields associated with the Cauchy–Green strain tensor. Here, we develop a fully automated procedure for the detection of such closed orbits in large-scale velocity datasets. We illustrate the power of our method on ocean surface velocities derived from satellite altimetry.
Chain paradoxes
Authors: Virga Epifanio G.
Published: November 2014

For nearly two centuries, the dynamics of chains have offered examples of paradoxical theoretical predictions. Here, we propose a theory for the dissipative dynamics of one-dimensional continua with singularities which provides a unified treatment for chain problems that have suffered from paradoxical solutions. These problems are duly solved within the present theory and their paradoxes removed—we hope.
Secondary Schottky–Klein prime functions associated with multiply connected planar domains
Authors: Vasconcelos Giovani L. , Marshall Jonathan S. , Crowdy Darren G.
Published: November 2014

In recent years, a general mathematical framework for solving applied problems in multiply connected domains has been developed based on use of the Schottky–Klein (S–K) prime function of an underlying compact Riemann surface known as the Schottky double of the domain. In this paper, we describe additional function-theoretic objects that are naturally associated with planar multiply connected domains and which we refer to as secondary S–K prime functions. The basic idea develops, and extends, an observation of Burnside dating back to 1892. Applications of the new functions to represent conformal slit maps of mixed type that have been a topic of recent interest in the literature are given. Other possible applications are also surveyed.
An experimental demonstration that early-life competitive disadvantage accelerates telomere loss
Authors: Nettle Daniel , Monaghan Pat , Gillespie Robert , Brilot Ben , Bedford Thomas , Bateson Melissa
Published: November 2014

Adverse experiences in early life can exert powerful delayed effects on adult survival and health. Telomere attrition is a potentially important mechanism in such effects. One source of early-life adversity is the stress caused by competitive disadvantage. Although previous avian experiments suggest that competitive disadvantage may accelerate telomere attrition, they do not clearly isolate the effects of competitive disadvantage from other sources of variation. Here, we present data from an experiment in European starlings (
Sturnus vulgaris
) that used cross-fostering to expose siblings to divergent early experience. Birds were assigned either to competitive advantage (being larger than their brood competitors) or competitive disadvantage (being smaller than their brood competitors) between days 3 and 12 post-hatching. Disadvantage did not affect weight gain, but it increased telomere attrition, leading to shorter telomere length in disadvantaged birds by day 12. There were no effects of disadvantage on oxidative damage as measured by plasma lipid peroxidation. We thus found strong evidence that early-life competitive disadvantage can accelerate telomere loss. This could lead to faster age-related deterioration and poorer health in later life.
Lysobacter terrae sp. nov. isolated from Aglaia odorata rhizosphere soil
Authors: Ngo Hien T. T. , Won KyungHwa , Du Juan , Son Heung-Min , Park YongJin , Kook MooChang , Kim Ki-Young , Jin Feng-Xie , Yi Tae-Hoo
Published: November 2014

A Gram-stain negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain THG-A13T, was isolated from Aglaia odorata rhizosphere soil in Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-A13T had close similarity with

Lysobacter niabensis

GH34-4T (98.5 %),

Lysobacter oryzae

YC6269T (97.9 %) and

Lysobacter yangpyeongensis

GH19-3T (97.3 %). Chemotaxonomic data revealed that strain THG-A13T possesses ubiquinone-8 (Q8) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol) and diphosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content was 66.3 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain THG-A13T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours were below 18.0 %. These data corroborated the affiliation of strain THG-A13T to the genus

Lysobacter

. These data suggest that the isolate represents a novel species for which the name Lysobacter terrae sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-A13T as the type strain ( = KACC 17646T = JCM 19613T).
Aminobacterium thunnarium sp. nov., a mesophilic, amino acid-degrading bacterium isolated from an anaerobic sludge digester, pertaining to the phylum Synergistetes
Authors: Hamdi Olfa , Ben Hania Wajdi , Postec Anne , Bouallagui Hassib , Hamdi Moktar , Bonin Patricia , Ollivier Bernard , Fardeau Marie-Laure
Published: November 2014

A new Gram-staining-positive, non-sporulating, mesophilic, amino acid-degrading anaerobic bacterium, designated strain OTA 102T, was isolated from an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor treating wastewater from cooking tuna. The cells were curved rods (0.6–2.5×0.5 µm) and occurred singly or in pairs. The strain was motile by means of one lateral flagellum. Strain OTA 102T grew at temperatures between 30 and 45 °C (optimum 40 °C), between pH 6.0 and 8.4 (optimum pH 7.2) and NaCl concentrations between 1 and 5 % (optimum 2 %, w/v). Strain OTA 102T required yeast extract for growth. Serine, threonine, glycine, cysteine, citrate, fumarate, α-ketoglutarate and pyruvate were fermented. When co-cultured with

Methanobacterium formicicum

as the hydrogen scavenger, strain OTA 102T oxidized alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, aspartate, tyrosine, methionine, histidine and asparagine. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain OTA 102T was 41.7 mol%. The main fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain OTA 102T was related to

Aminobacterium colombiense

and

Aminobacterium mobile

(95.5 and 95.2 % similarity, respectively), of the phylum

Synergistetes

. On the basis of phylogenetic, genetic and physiological characteristics, strain OTA 102T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus

Aminobacterium

, Aminobacterium thunnarium sp. nov. The type strain is OTA 102T ( = DSM 27500T = JCM 19320T).
REDUCED DORMANCY5Encodes a Protein Phosphatase 2C That Is Required for Seed Dormancy inArabidopsis
Authors: Xiang Yong , Nakabayashi Kazumi , Ding Jia , He Fei , Bentsink Leónie , Soppe Wim J.J.
Published: November 2014

Seed dormancy determines germination timing and contributes to crop production and the adaptation of natural populations to their environment. Our knowledge about its regulation is limited. In a mutagenesis screen of a highly dormant Arabidopsis thaliana line, the reduced dormancy5 (rdo5) mutant was isolated based on its strongly reduced seed dormancy. Cloning of RDO5 showed that it encodes a PP2C phosphatase. Several PP2C phosphatases belonging to clade A are involved in abscisic acid signaling and control seed dormancy. However, RDO5 does not cluster with clade A phosphatases, and abscisic acid levels and sensitivity are unaltered in the rdo5 mutant. RDO5 transcript could only be detected in seeds and was most abundant in dry seeds. RDO5 was found in cells throughout the embryo and is located in the nucleus. A transcriptome analysis revealed that several genes belonging to the conserved PUF family of RNA binding proteins, in particular Arabidopsis PUMILIO9 (APUM9) and APUM11, showed strongly enhanced transcript levels in rdo5 during seed imbibition. Further transgenic analyses indicated that APUM9 reduces seed dormancy. Interestingly, reduction of APUM transcripts by RNA interference complemented the reduced dormancy phenotype of rdo5, indicating that RDO5 functions by suppressing APUM transcript levels.
Contorted leadership in Chinese hierarchically oriented context
Authors: Zhang Lin , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this research is to explore the behavioral model of Chinese organizational leaders acquiring resources for the development of their organizations under the influence of hierarchically oriented social governance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper compares the differences between Western and Chinese contexts and conducts a grounded multi-case study to explore leadership behavioral model in the Chinese context.

Findings

– First, the Chinese social governance structure is hierarchically oriented, whereas the Western social governance structure is market oriented. Second, this unique inconformity found in the Chinese organizational leaders as contorted leadership, which refers to the inconsistency between leaders’ cognition and their behavior when acquiring resources for the development of their organizations, is defined. Third, the conflict between leaders’ cognition and behaviors is caused by the social governance mechanism within which leaders are embedded.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors have just made a first step to understand contorted leadership in the Chinese context, further researches should pay more attention to exploring the origins, functions and impacts of leaders’ contorted behaviors.

Originality/value

– First, leadership is linked with social governance by emphasizing on the core role of social governance in allocating the resources which organizational leaders scramble for. Second, a new kind of leadership –contorted leadership – in the Chinese context that emphasizes on the contradiction between leaders’ cognition and behavior, which deepens the understanding of leadership contextualization, is identified.