bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Process Evaluation of a Community Intervention to Reduce Youth Drinking
Authors: Schelleman-Offermans Karen , Knibbe Ronald A. , Derickx Mieke , Mheen Dike Van de
Published: October 2013

Aims: To provide a qualitative report of the process of development and implementation of a Dutch community intervention in which retail and social alcohol supply for adolescents was restricted. Insight will be provided into how relevant stakeholders evaluated their role in the process. Methods: Qualitative methods were used to analyze the documents about the action plan, project meeting minutes, data from local media and semi-structured interviews with the most important stakeholders. Interviews were analyzed using Nvivo 9. Results: Stakeholders generally evaluated the development and implementation of the community intervention as reasonably successful. Cooperation between local and external stakeholders was highly appreciated. Failure to implement planned measures was mostly attributed to lack of support from the local authorities and a lack of time. Also, the lack of regular internal communication and media advocacy for enforcement activities was criticized. Conclusions: In order for a community intervention to be successful, a clear intervention focus complemented by high political support and leadership at the local level is needed. Also, formative process evaluation protocols should be incorporated. External stakeholders appeared to be rather crucial in both developing and implementing the intervention.
Innate immunity in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis
Authors: O’Reilly Steven
Published: October 2013

The innate immune system is a critical part of the response to pathogens and overall immunity. Compared with the adaptive immune response, these innate responses are not antigen-specific and recognize patterns in bacteria, viruses and fungi. Chief among these are TLRs (Toll-like receptors). TLRs are PRRs (pattern recognition receptors) that are germ-line-encoded and are also able to recognize endogenous molecules that are released upon cell damage or stress and have been demonstrated to have a key role in numerous autoimmune diseases, including RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and SSc (systemic sclerosis). SSc is an autoimmune disorder in which vascular injury occurs and there is a chronic low-grade inflammation followed by excessive ECM (extracellular matrix) deposition and ultimately fibrosis. The fibrosis ultimately leads to organ dysfunction and death. The preceding vascular damage and activation of the innate immune system leads to mobilization of the innate lymphoid cells and the up-regulation of multiple genes and pro-fibrotic cytokines. These locally released cytokines activate resident fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts. The aim of the present review is to explore the role of the innate immune system in SSc and TLRs and how these interact with stromal cells to produce fibrosis. Targeting the innate immune system or specific components of the TLR signalling cascade may be a novel therapeutic option in what is an incurable disease.
Single reference mobile localisation in multipath environment
Authors: Chen S.W. , Seow C.K. , Tan S.Y.
Published: October 2013

A wireless localisation scheme which requires just one reference device to estimate the mobile location is presented. The proposed scheme utilises the joint time‐of‐arrival and angle‐of‐arrival estimation of the line‐of‐sight path measured at both mobile and reference devices to construct areas of possible mobile devices (APMDs). The intersection of these APMDs will give an estimation of an MD location. Simulations in light and heavy multipath environments show that the performance of the proposed single reference localisation scheme dramatically improved the location accuracy as compared with the conventional localisation techniques that use four reference devices.
FBG sensor for strain measurement with enhanced sensitivity by using degenerated FWM in highly nonlinear fibre
Authors: Du Jiangbing , He Zuyuan
Published: October 2013

A method for enhancing the sensitivity of a fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor by all‐optical signal processing is demonstrated. Degenerated four‐wave mixing (FWM) has been used to perform frequency chirp magnification, which can be used for magnifying the wavelength drift of the FBG sensor. Ultra‐highly sensitive measurement of the static strain has been experimentally demonstrated with strain sensitivity of 5.40 pm/μɛ. The sensitivity has been enhanced by a factor of five.
Non‐attention region first initialisation of k‐means clustering for saliency detection
Authors: Chen Jiazhong , Cao Hua , Ju Zengwei , Qin Leihua , Su Shuguang
Published: October 2013

According to the nature of saliency map generation with colour contrast, a non‐attention region first initialisation (NARFI) k‐means clustering for saliency detection is proposed. The NAR is obtained by multiwavelet reconstruction based on the cutoff low‐frequency. The initial seeds of the k‐means are chosen from the NAR. This way, the NAR is clustered in a fine manner, whereas the attention region is clustered in a coarse manner. As a result, the saliency values of the attention region with the NARFI k‐means clustering are more conspicuous than those with the k‐means++ clustering.
Switching function analysis of half‐ and full‐bridge modular multi‐level converters for HVDC applications
Authors: Deore Sawata R. , Darji Pranav B. , Kulkarni Anil M.
Published: October 2013

This study presents a theoretical analysis of half‐ and full‐bridge modular multi‐level converters for HVDC transmission applications. The constraints and the degrees of freedom in the choice of switching functions, and the harmonic content of the sum and difference of arm voltages and currents, are highlighted by the analysis. The authors prove that under balanced switching conditions, dc and even harmonic components are absent from the difference variables and odd harmonics are absent from the sum variables, whereas the pole voltages are free from harmonics. Using an energy function approach, it is shown that the sorting strategy for module voltage balancing is stable and practically independent of the dynamics of the rest of the system. The module voltages settle down to a band around the average value because of the finite switching frequency, for which an upper bound is provided.
Robust transmission system expansion considering planning uncertainties
Authors: Alizadeh Behnam , Dehghan Shahab , Amjady Nima , Jadid Shahram , Kazemi Ahad
Published: October 2013

This study presents a novel approach for transmission expansion planning (TEP) addressing the inherent uncertainties associated with the estimated investment costs of candidate transmission lines and the forecasted electricity demands during long‐term planning horizon. The proposed TEP approach employs a renovated mixed integer linear programming formulation holding the optimality and low computation burden of linear modelling techniques. The above mentioned uncertainties are encountered through robust optimisation methodology enabling the system's planner to assess different levels of uncertainty and conservation throughout planning horizon. The proposed robust TEP procedure is successfully applied to Garver 6‐bus, IEEE 30‐bus and IEEE 118‐bus test systems. Simulation results demonstrate that the uncertainty level of investment costs and electricity demands escalates the total expansion costs based on the scale of power system.
Maximum undergrounding degree of HV subtransmission networks as dictated by unscheduled power flows
Authors: Lauria Stefano , Palone Francesco
Published: October 2013

Meshed HV subtransmission networks are subject to undesirable parallel (unscheduled) active power flows from the EHV system. The phenomenon is worsened by conversion of HV overhead lines to underground cables (UGCs), which increases parallel flows through the HV network because of the attendant reduction in HV line reactance; the effect increase with network extension and are compounded by UGC charging power. The study deals with the assessment of the maximum undergrounding degree for a given subtransmission network. An analytical formulation of maximum HV line extension length as a function of EHV power flow and undergrounding degree is given; optimum UGC shunt compensation requirements are evaluated. Application to a typical 150 kV–50 Hz network is presented, showing a very good agreement with power flow simulation. In particular, the case study evidences that complete undergrounding of the HV network is possible if line length is under 50 km; the proposed shunt compensation effectively raises this limit to 70 km.
Individual‐phase decoupled P–Q control of three‐phase voltage source converter
Authors: Fazeli Seyed Mahdi , Wooi Ping Hew , Abd Rahim Nasrudin Bin , Ooi Boon Teck
Published: October 2013

Individual‐phase control has six control degrees of freedom: P‐ and Q‐control for each phase. The six control degrees are applied to a distribution static compensator (D‐STATCOM): (i) to support the AC voltages against voltage droop arising from weak transmission lines; (ii) to balance the active and reactive powers at the sending‐end although the three‐phase load is unbalanced; and (iii) to balance the voltages across the unbalanced load. A second contribution is a method to suppress DC voltage imbalance of D‐STATCOM capacitors caused by zero sequence transients. Proof of concept is by simulations. The simulation tool used is EMTDC‐PSAD.
Two‐stage adjustable robust optimisation for unit commitment under uncertainty
Authors: Xiong Peng , Jirutitijaroen Panida
Published: October 2013

A new adjustable robust optimisation formulation to solve unit commitment (UC) problems under uncertainty is proposed. Unlike the stochastic programming or chance‐constrained approaches, the robust formulation does not require information on the exact probability distributions. This method protects power systems against all possible scenarios within a deterministic uncertainty set. The degree of conservatism can be conveniently controlled by the parameters of the uncertainty set. The formulation is divided into two stages, where here‐and‐now UC decisions are determined in the first stage, and the second stage makes wait‐and‐see dispatch decisions. The second‐stage problems are reformulated into the equivalent form, so that a practical cutting‐plane algorithm can be used to solve the proposed two‐stage problems in an iterative manner. Numerical studies show that the robust formulation offers more consistent performance than the stochastic method when the underlying distribution of demand or generating unit reliability varies.
Segmentation of sows in farrowing pens
Authors: Tu Gang Jun , Karstoft Henrik , Pedersen Lene Juul , Jørgensen Erik
Published: October 2013

The correct segmentation of a foreground object in video recordings is an important task for many surveillance systems. The development of an effective and practical algorithm to segment sows in grayscale video recordings captured under commercial production conditions is described. The segmentation algorithm combines a modified adaptive Gaussian mixture model for background subtraction with the boundaries of foreground objects, which is obtained by using dyadic wavelet transform. This algorithm can accurately extract the shapes of a sow under complex environments, such as dynamic background and illumination changes as well as motionless foreground objects. About 97% of the segmented binary images in the validation data sets can be used to track sow behaviours, such as position, orientation and movement. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is able to provide a basis to detect and classify the sow behaviours in farrowing pens.
Optical logic circuits using double controlled logic gate
Authors: Chattopadhyay Tanay
Published: October 2013

Conventional irreversible computer is power dissipative. Data loss is the major problem in such computation, but it can be minimised with a special circuit design. In this study optical ‘double controlled logic’ (DCL) circuit is proposed, which can minimise the circuit complexity and power cost. The mathematical model of the DCL circuit is given in this study, which also has good cascadability and compactness. Some complex logic circuits (16‐Boolean logic unit, grey‐to‐binary‐to‐grey code conversion and cross‐bar network architecture) using controlled logic unit have also been proposed in this study. The circuits also have reversible property. The performance of the proposed circuits from the viewpoint of optical cost, optical delay and switching energy is also discussed in this study.
Adaptive high‐bandwidth digitally controlled buck converter with improved line and load transient response
Authors: Lee Albert T.L. , Sin Johnny K.O. , Chan Philip C.H.
Published: October 2013

Digitally controlled switching converter suffers from bandwidth limitation because of the additional phase delay in the digital feedback control loop. To overcome the bandwidth limitation without using a high sampling rate, this study presents an adaptive third‐order digital controller for regulating a voltage‐mode buck converter with a modest 2× oversampling ratio. The phase lag because of the analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC) conversion time delay is virtually compensated by providing an early estimation of the error voltage for the next sampling time instant, enabling a higher unity‐gain bandwidth without compromising stability. An additional pair of low‐frequency pole and zero in the third‐order controller increases the low‐frequency gain, resulting in faster settling time and smaller output voltage deviation during line transient. Both simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed adaptive third‐order controller reduces the settling time by 50% in response to a 1 V line transient and 30% in response to a 600 mA load transient, compared to the baseline static second‐order controller. The fastest settling time is measured to be about 11.70 μs, surpassing the transient performance of conventional digital controllers and approaching that of the state‐of‐the‐art analogue‐based controllers.
Steel‐based bionic actuators for flapping microair‐vehicles
Authors: Yang Lung‐Jieh , Jan Dung‐Lin , Lin Wei‐Chung
Published: October 2013

Presented is an animation of the sporangial motion for making bionic tail actuators of flapping microair‐vehicles regarding energy saving. A SUS‐304 steel foil 40 μm thick is used as the working substrate. The actuation area of the 40–50 comb‐shaped cantilevers is designed to have maximum actuating angle change around the order of several degrees. An Nd‐YAG laser cutting is performed to machine the surface tension‐driven actuator. Surface modification including parylene coating and oxygen plasma treatment are added to enlarge the actuation stroke angle by up to 10°–12° for practical usage in flight control.
Enhanced sensitivity with extended linearity in MEMS piezoresistive pressure sensor
Authors: Rajavelu Muthapillai , Sivakumar Dhakshnamoorthy , Rathnam Joseph Daniel , Sumangala Koilmani
Published: October 2013

Focused research efforts on enhancing the sensitivity of piezoresistive MEMS pressure sensors have been made in the past. Most of these techniques applied to enhance sensitivity have depended on manipulating the geometries of the diaphragm, selection of the diaphragm material and improving the piezoresistive properties. Piezoresistors change their resistance linearly proportional to the bending stresses induced in the diaphragm on application of the pressure. Therefore the successful design of a high sensitivity piezoresistive pressure sensor totally depends on the efficiency with which the induced stresses are harvested in the transduction process. Introduced is an innovative way to harvest the maximum stresses. The dual Wheatstone bridge implemented with eight piezoresistors effectively converts the XX and YY plane stresses into electrical voltage to double the sensitivity. The simulation experiment results show that the sensitivity of the 91.72 µV/V/kPa with ensured linearity over 0–14 kPa using a 5 µm‐thick diaphragm with a single bridge can now be achieved by employing a 7 µm‐thick diaphragm with double Wheatstone bridges but with excellent linearity extended over 0–54 kPa. Almost the same trend is seen between the 3 and the 5 µm‐thick diaphragms. Thus, this technique paves the way for achieving large voltage sensitivity bundled with a high level of linearity over a wide pressure range by using thick diaphragms.
Fabrication of length‐controlled polymer nanopillars using poly(dimethylsiloxane) filled anodised aluminium oxide templates
Authors: Wang Min , Ye Xiongying , Feng Jinyang
Published: October 2013

Fabrication of nanopillars via anodised aluminium oxide (AAO) serving as a template is cost‐effective and widely used. However, control over the length of nanopillars by this method remains a challenge. Presented is a two‐step wetting method to fabricate polymer nanopillars of controlled length using a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) filled AAO template. Firstly, by filling uncured PDMS into the nanopores of AAO and then dissolving partially, the depth of the nanopores is adjusted and increases with the dissolving time. Subsequently, the second wetting step by polymeric liquid with the PDMS filled AAO template yields length‐controlled nanopillars. Nanopillars of different lengths and different polymers are fabricated using this method via both melt capillary infiltration and solution wetting. It is also demonstrated that the PDMS filled AAO templates in the presented method are reusable. This method is simple, cost‐effective and may facilitate applications of polymer nanopillars of controlled length.
Half-quantum vortices
Authors: Mineev V. P.
Published: October 2013

Unlike to superfluid 4He the superfluid 3He-A support the existence of vortices with half-quantum of circulation as well as single quantum vortices. The singular single quanta vortices as well as nonsingular vortices with 2 quanta of circulation have been revealed in rotating 3He-A. However, the half-quantum vortices in open geometry always possess an extra energy due to spin-orbit coupling leading to formation of domain wall at distances larger than dipole length ∼10−3 cm from the vortex axis. Fortunately the same magnetic dipole-dipole interaction does not prevent the existence of half-quantum vortices in the polar phase of superfluid 3He recently discovered in peculiar porous media “nematically ordered” aerogel. Here we discuss this exotic possibility. The discoveries of half-quantum vortices in triplet pairing superconductor Sr2RuO4 as well in the exciton–polariton condensates are the other parts of the story about half-quantum vortices also described in the paper.
The polaron state of surface electrons on helium covering a structured substrate
Authors: Smorodin A. V. , Nikolaenko V. A. , Sokolov S. S.
Published: October 2013

In the temperature range 1.5–2.7 K the conductivity of surface electrons over a liquid helium film that covers a structured silicon substrate containing a regular system of micropores is investigated experimentally. It is found that in the range T ≥ 2.5 K the conductivity drops sharply, which can be explained by the formation of the autolocalized polaron state of an electron over the helium film. The hypothesis that the polaron state of a surface electron appears in a dense helium vapor was examined by calculating the free energy of the polaron with a minimum showing up when the temperature rises up to a certain critical value, and the dependence of the pressing field is in a qualitative agreement with experimental data on the temperature of the sharp drop in the conductivity. The calculation predicts a dependence of the critical temperature on parameters of the potential acting in a plane of the helium surface and associated with distortion of the helium surface due to the structure of the substrate, which favors the appearance of the localized charge over the helium film.
The stereodynamics of the Penning ionization of water by metastable neon atoms
Authors: Brunetti Brunetto Giovanni , Candori Pietro , Falcinelli Stefano , Pirani Fernando , Vecchiocattivi Franco
Published: October 2013

The stereodynamics of the Penning ionization of water molecules by collision with metastable neon atoms, occurring in the thermal energy range, is of great relevance for the understanding of fundamental aspects of the physical chemistry of water. This process has been studied by analyzing the energy spectrum of the emitted electrons previously obtained in our laboratory in a crossed beam experiment [B. G. Brunetti, P. Candori, D. Cappelletti, S. Falcinelli, F. Pirani, D. Stranges, and F. Vecchiocattivi, Chem. Phys. Lett. 539–540, 19 (2012)]. For the spectrum analysis, a novel semiclassical method is proposed, that assumes ionization events as mostly occurring in the vicinities of the collision turning points. The potential energy driving the system in the relevant configurations of the entrance and exit channels, used in the spectrum simulation, has been formulated by the use of a semiempirical method. The analysis puts clearly in evidence how different approaches of the metastable atom to the water molecule lead to ions in different electronic states. In particular, it provides the angular acceptance cones where the selectivity of the process leading to the specific formation of each one of the two energetically possible ionic product states of H2O+ emerges. It is shown how the ground state ion is formed when neon metastable atoms approach water mainly perpendicularly to the molecular plane, while the first excited electronic state is formed when the approach occurs preferentially along the C2v axis, on the oxygen side. An explanation is proposed for the observed vibrational excitation of the product ions.
A multi-sample changer coupled to an electron cyclotron resonance source for accelerator mass spectrometry experiments
Authors: Vondrasek R. , Palchan T. , Pardo R. , Peters C. , Power M. , Scott R.
Published: October 2013

A new multi-sample changer has been constructed allowing rapid changes between samples. The sample changer has 20 positions and is capable of moving between samples in 1 min. The sample changer is part of a project using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility to measure neutron capture rates on a wide range of actinides in a reactor environment. This project will require the measurement of a large number of samples previously irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. The AMS technique at ATLAS is based on production of highly charged positive ions in an electron cyclotron resonance ion source followed by acceleration in the ATLAS linac. The sample material is introduced into the plasma via laser ablation chosen to limit the dependency of material feed rates upon the source material composition as well as minimize cross-talk between samples.
Verification of particle simulation of radio frequency waves in fusion plasmas
Authors: Kuley Animesh , Wang Z. X. , Lin Z. , Wessel F.
Published: October 2013

Radio frequency (RF) waves can provide heating, current and flow drive, as well as instability control for steady state operations of fusion experiments. A particle simulation model has been developed in this work to provide a first-principles tool for studying the RF nonlinear interactions with plasmas. In this model, ions are considered as fully kinetic particles using the Vlasov equation and electrons are treated as guiding centers using the drift kinetic equation. This model has been implemented in a global gyrokinetic toroidal code using real electron-to-ion mass ratio. To verify the model, linear simulations of ion plasma oscillation, ion Bernstein wave, and lower hybrid wave are carried out in cylindrical geometry and found to agree well with analytic predictions.
Ultra-broadband electromagnetically induced transparency using tunable self-asymmetric planar metamaterials
Authors: Han Song , Yang Helin , Guo Linyan
Published: October 2013

We numerically and experimentally demonstrate a tunable electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like spectral response in a self-asymmetric planar metamaterial in microwave region. This EIT-like physical mechanism is characterized by magnetic dipole coupling induced transparency, which is different from classical properties of EIT-like phenomenon. Our proposed system can be better explained by making an analogy to three-level Λ-type system. Further study also revealed that an ultra-broadband transparency window with the maximum bandwidth up to 7.8 GHz, extending from 6.1 GHz to 13.9 GHz, could be realized by simply adjusting the depth of the structure.
High mobility organic thin-film transistors based on p-p heterojunction buffer layer
Authors: Qian Xianrui , Wang Tong , Yan Donghang
Published: October 2013

The p-p heterojunction of 5, 6, 11, 12-tetraphenylnaphthacene/vanadyl phthalocyanine, which has been used as the buffer layer, is demonstrated. The highest field-effect mobility is 5.1 cm2/Vs, which is one of the highest reported for polycrystalline rubrene thin film transistors. Current versus voltage characteristics of heterojunction diodes are utilized to investigate the charge injection mechanism, revealing the factors that bring about the improvement of carrier injection and the reduction of contact resistance. These results suggest that our approach is very promising to fabricate high performance organic thin-film transistors for practical applications in organic electronics.
Three-axis Hall transducer based on semiconductor microtubes
Authors: Vorob'ev Alexander , Chesnitskiy Anton , Toropov Alexander , Prinz Victor
Published: October 2013

A three-axis Hall transducer based on GaAs/AlGaAs/InGaAs microtubes has been fabricated. The possibility of simultaneous measurement of all the three magnetic field components with such a transducer was demonstrated. It was also shown possible to pack the free-standing parts of the transducer with polydimethylsiloxane for protection of those parts from mechanical actions.
Femtosecond broadband fluorescence spectroscopy by down- and up-conversion in β-barium borate crystals
Authors: Sajadi M. , Quick M. , Ernsting N. P.
Published: October 2013

Broadband transient fluorescence spectroscopy is performed by difference- and sum-frequency generation in β-barium borate crystals at a fixed geometry. Phase matching is spectrally broadened by using (i) 1340 nm gate pulses, (ii) a fluorescence angle of ∼4° extended at the crystal, and (iii) angular dispersion of the fluorescence in a calcite prism. The latter provides 1° angular separation between the two spectral wings of the fluorescence. By combining down- and up-conversion processes, a 26 000 cm−1 wide multiplex window is realized with ∼100 fs time resolution.
An analytical model for calculating thermal properties of two-dimensional nanomaterials
Authors: Liu Te-Huan , Pao Chun-Wei , Chang Chien-Cheng
Published: October 2013

Most previous analytical theories for microscale heat transfer are limited to low temperatures (≤100 K). We present simple yet general analytical formulae which reveal the essential features of the thermal properties of two-dimensional nanomaterials in a wide range of temperatures by full coverage of guided wave and bulk wave modes. In particular, we are able to handle the intermediate ballistic-diffusive regime. As an illustration, the formulae are applied on graphene to obtain its specific heat, thermal conductance, and thermal conductivity. The predictions are remarkably consistent with existing theories and experiments.
A coupled hydro-structural design optimization for hydrokinetic turbines
Authors: Kolekar Nitin , Banerjee Arindam
Published: October 2013

An optimization methodology for a stall regulated, fixed pitch, horizontal axis hydrokinetic turbine is presented using a combination of a coupled hydro-structural analysis and Genetic Algorithm (GA) based optimization method. Design and analysis is presented for two different designs: a constant chord, zero twist blade, and a variable chord, twisted blade. A hybrid approach is presented combining Blade Element Momentum (BEM), GA, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) techniques. The preliminary analysis is performed using BEM method to find the hydrodynamic performance and flap-wise bending stresses in turbine blades. The BEM analysis used for the current study incorporates effect of wake rotation, hub loss and tip loss factors, and effect of Reynolds number on hydrodynamic data. A multi-objective optimization is then performed to maximize performance and structural strength of turbine. The results of optimization for a constant chord, zero twist blade design are validated with detailed three dimensional CFD and finite element analysis. The fluid domain is coupled with the structural domain through one way coupling and fluid-structure interaction analysis is carried out to find the effect of blade geometry and operating conditions on the stresses developed in the blades. The hydrodynamic performance of a constant chord turbine was found to be limited by the high stresses developed in turbine blades. Hence, in an effort to reduce the stresses in turbine blades, a variable chord, twisted blade design was developed; and a multi-objective optimization is presented for the variable chord twisted blade turbine for hydro-structural performance improvement. The final-optimized variable chord, twisted blade design was found to improve the power coefficient by 17% and resulted in lower overall stresses.
Determination of the biaxial stress in strained silicon nano-stripes through polarized oblique incidence Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Ndong G. , Picardi G. , Licitra C. , Rouchon D. , Eymery J. , Ossikovski R.
Published: October 2013

We report on the experimental determination of the biaxial stress characteristic of the strain state present in strained silicon nano-stripes on insulator structures. Conventional confocal backscattering Raman spectroscopy being insensitive to the tensorial nature of strain, a methodology based on the use of polarized oblique incidence backscattering Raman spectroscopy is employed. The stress component values thus obtained are compared with those provided by grazing incidence x-ray diffraction as a reference technique. By combining the oblique backscattering configuration with polarization control of the incident and scattered beams, an efficient method for the accurate measurement of biaxial stress in patterned silicon structures results.
Nanopatterning of diarylethene films via selective dissolution of one photoisomer
Authors: Cantu Precious , Andrew Trisha L. , Menon Rajesh
Published: October 2013

The ability to pattern nanometric features on various substrates with high throughput, accuracy, and uniformity is the key driving force enabling novel applications in nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, nano-electro-mechanical systems, and nanofluidics. Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions (POST) is an optical nanopatterning technique that circumvents the far-field diffraction limit by exploiting the linear switching properties of thermally stable photochromic molecules. Previously, POST was enabled by an electrochemical oxidation “locking step.” In this letter, we report an electrode-free “locking step” that exploits the difference in solubility between the two isomeric states of a photochromic molecule in a polar solvent. The reported method obviates the need for a conducting underlayer and also reduces the number of required steps. Using this method, we demonstrated isolated lines of width ∼λ/4 and spacing between features as small as ∼λ/2.5 for an exposure wavelength of λ.
Viscoelasticity of stepped interfaces
Authors: Skirlo S. A. , Demkowicz M. J.
Published: October 2013

Using molecular dynamics modeling, we show that interfaces in sputter deposited Cu-Nb superlattices exhibit time-dependent elasticity, i.e., viscoelasticity, under shear loading. In the high temperature and small strain rate limit, the interfacial shear modulus approaches a value proportional to the density of steps in the interface. It may therefore be possible to tailor the low-frequency shear moduli of interfaces by controlling their step densities.
Capillary electrophoresis facilitates determination of metal complex stoichiometry by Job’s method of continuous variation
Authors: Boland Nathan E. , Stone Alan T.
Published: October 2013

Environmental context
Knowledge of metal-chelating agent speciation is integral to our ability to predict and interpret the behaviour of synthetic chelating agents in the environment. Capillary electrophoresis can be used to separate metal–ligand complexes with similar spectroscopic characteristics but different stoichiometries, thereby providing insight into metal–ligand speciation that is not possible by any other technique. Here, we demonstrate the utility of capillary electrophoresis for the determination of metal–ligand stoichiometries and evaluate its limitations.

Abstract
Job’s method of continuous variation is a traditional method used to determine the stoichiometry of metal–ligand complexes. The method is often applied to whole-sample absorbance measurements but its utility is limited when two or more complexes are present at significant concentrations and have similar absorption spectra. Here we employ capillary electrophoresis (CE), which separates complexes on the basis of charge and hydrodynamic radii, to extend the capabilities of Job’s method. Solutions containing nickel(II) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) yield three CE peaks. Job’s method plot maxima, based on areas for each of the three CE peaks, coincide with nickel(II)-to-DTPA ratios of 1 : 1 and 1 : 2, which correspond to two complexes previously identified using whole-sample measurements, plus a ratio of 3 : 2, which corresponds to a previously unreported complex. We demonstrate how CE peak areas and electromigration times can be used to determine complex stoichiometries and formation constants. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Job’s Method coupled with CE and implications for speciation determination in environmentally relevant systems.
Recovery of fertility from adult ovarian tissue transplanted into week-old Japanese quail chicks
Authors: Liu Jianan , Cheng Kimberly M. , Silversides Frederick G.
Published: October 2013

Fertility of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from immature chickens and Japanese quail has been recovered by transplantation. This is of special importance for non-mammalian vertebrates in which cryopreservation and in vitro maturation of oocytes are challenging because their oogenesis is characterised by vitellogenesis. This study tested whether fertility of adult quail ovarian tissue could be recovered by transplantation. Ovaries were isolated from mature Japanese quail hens, trimmed, cut into 3- to 4-mm2 pieces and transplanted into ovariectomised, week-old chicks. Recipients were administered an immunosuppressant for two weeks. Ten of 12 recipients survived until sexual maturity and seven laid eggs, but all stopped laying by 17 weeks of age. The age at first egg of recipients laying eggs (75.7 ± 4.2 days) was greater than that of untreated hens (51.8 ± 1.7 days) and egg production of recipients during the laying period (21.7 ± 5.7) was less than that of untreated hens (60.8 ± 3.5). Recipients were paired with males from the WB line for test mating. Only two hens laid eggs during the test period but both produced 100% donor-derived offspring. This research demonstrated that the reproductive potential of ovarian tissue from adult quail hens can be restored by transplantation.
Screening and management of cardiovascular disease in Australian adults with HIV infection
Authors: Chan Derek , Gracey David , Bailey Michael , Richards Deborah , Dalton Brad
Published: October 2013

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in HIV infection. With no specific Australian guidelines for the screening and management of CVD in HIV-infected patients, best clinical practice is based on data from the general population. We evaluated adherence to these recommendations by primary care physicians who treat HIV-infected patients. Methods: Primary care physicians with a special interest in HIV infection were asked to complete details for at least 10 consecutive patient encounters using structured online forms. This included management practices pertaining to blood pressure (BP), blood glucose, electrocardiogram, lipid profile and CVD risk calculations. We assessed overall adherence to screening and follow-up recommendations as suggested by national and international guidelines. Results: Between May 2009 and March 2010, 43 physicians from 25 centres completed reporting for 530 HIV-infected patients, of whom 93% were male, 25% were aged 41–50 years and 83% were treated with antiretrovirals. Risk factors for CVD were common and included smoking (38%), hyperlipidaemia (16%) and hypertension (28%). In men aged >40 years and women aged >50 years without evidence of ischaemic heart disease, only 14% received a CVD risk assessment. Lipid and BP assessments were performed in 87% and 88% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: This Australian audit provides unique information on the characteristics and management of HIV and CVD in clinical practice. We have found a high burden of risk for CVD in HIV-infected Australians, but current screening and management practices in these patients fall short of contemporary guidelines.
Effects of a health care provider intervention in reduction of sexual risk and related outcomes in economically marginal communities in Mumbai, India
Authors: Saggurti Niranjan , Schensul Stephen L. , Nastasi Bonnie Kaul , Singh Rajendra , Burleson Joseph A. , Verma Ravi K.
Published: October 2013

Background The present study assessed the effectiveness of a brief narrative intervention implemented by trained biomedical and Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy (AYUSH) providers from three low-income communities in Mumbai, India. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design compared attitudinal and behavioural changes among a cohort of 554 patients presenting gupt rog (‘secret sexual illnesses’) to biomedical and AYUSH providers who were trained in the narrative intervention model (NIM; referred to as ‘narrative prevention counseling’ in the intervention manual) with those providing standard care (untrained in NIM). Data were analysed using multivariate and longitudinal statistical models. Results: Patients who received treatment for gupt rog from trained providers reported receiving a significantly higher number of services than those receiving services from untrained providers (mean 8.9 vs 7.6 services, respectively; P < 0.001). In addition, a higher number of patients seeing the trained providers no longer had gupt rog problems than those seeing untrained providers (42% vs 25%, respectively; P < 0.001). Patient-reported sex with a partner who was not the wife decreased significantly from baseline to follow-up for the entire sample but was significantly greater among patients receiving treatment from trained AYUSH providers (from 27% at baseline to 2% at follow up) compared with untrained providers (from 18% at baseline to 5% at follow up; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results support the effectiveness of brief narrative intervention in primary care settings for reducing sexual risk and associated vulnerabilities among married men.
Single-molecule superresolution imaging allows quantitative analysis of RAF multimer formation and signaling
Authors: Nan Xiaolin , Collisson Eric A. , Lewis Sophia , Huang Jing , Tamgüney Tanja M. , Liphardt Jan T. , McCormick Frank , Gray Joe W. , Chu Steven
Published: October 2013

Significance

This paper describes a quantitative imaging approach based on photoactivated localization microscopy for precise protein localization and stoichiometric analysis inside an intact cell. With this approach, we directly resolved individual protein monomers, dimers, and multimers in fixed mammalian cells. We used this technique to study the dimerization and multimerization of the protein kinase RAF, a putative mechanism for mutantRat sarcoma(RAS)-mediated RAF activation as well as for the paradoxical activation of RAF/MAPK in RAF WT cells and tumors upon treatment with RAF kinase inhibitors. We presented direct evidence that RAF indeed forms dimers and occasionally higher-order multimers under various activating conditions. These observations provide critical insight into the biological regulation of RAF signaling and oncogenesis.
Confounding roles for type I interferons during bacterial and viral pathogenesis
Authors: Carrero Javier Antonio
Published: October 2013

Although type I interferons (IFN-I) were initially defined as potent antiviral agents, they can also cause decreased host resistance to some bacterial and viral infections. The many antiviral functions of the IFN-I include direct suppression of viral replication and activation of the immune response against viruses. In addition to their antiviral effects, IFN-I are also protective against several extracellular bacterial infections, in part, by promoting the induction of TNF-α and nitric oxide. In contrast, there is a negative effect of IFN-I on host resistance during chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and acute infections with intracellular bacteria. In the case of LCMV, chronic IFN-I signaling induces adaptive immune system suppression. Blockade of IFN-I signaling removes the suppression and allows CD4 T-cell- and IFN-γ-mediated resolution of the infection. During acute intracellular bacterial infection, IFN-I suppress innate immunity by at least two defined mechanisms. During Francisella infection, IFN-I prevent IL-17 upregulation on γδ T cells and neutrophil recruitment. Following Listeria infection, IFN-I promote the cell death of macrophages and lymphocytes, which leads to innate immune suppression. These divergent findings for the role of IFN-I on pathogen control emphasize the complexity of the interferons system and force more mechanistic evaluation of its role in pathogenesis. This review evaluates IFN-I during infection with an emphasis on work carried out IFN-I-receptor-deficient mice.
A Phase I, Dose-escalation Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Emulsified Isoflurane in Healthy Human Volunteers
Authors: Huang Han , Li Rui , Liu Jin , Zhang Wensheng , Liao Tianzhi , Yi Xiaoqian
Published: October 2013

Background

This first-in-human volunteer phase I clinical trial aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and anesthesia efficacy of emulsified isoflurane (EI), an intravenously injectable formulation of isoflurane.

Methods

Seventy-eight healthy volunteers were recruited in this open-label, single-bolus, dose-escalation, phase I trial and were allocated into 16 cohorts. Each volunteer received a single bolus injection of EI. The dose started with 0.3 mg/kg (for isoflurane) and was planned to end with 64.6 mg/kg. Postdose vital signs, physical examination, laboratory tests, chest radiograph, 12-lead electrocardiogram, and development of any adverse event were closely monitored as safety measurements. Effectiveness in producing sedation/anesthesia was assessed by Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation and Bispectral Index.

Results

The dose escalation ended as planned. The most common adverse events associated with EI were injection pain (77 of 78, 98.7%) and transient tachycardia (22 of 78, 25.6%). Only at high doses (≥38.3 mg/kg) did EI cause transient hypotension (5 of 78, 6.4%) or apnea (11 of 78, 14.1%), but all the affected volunteers recovered uneventfully. Fast onset of unconsciousness (typically 40 s after injection) was developed in all volunteers receiving doses of 22.6 mg/kg or greater. Waking-up time and depression in Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation correlated well with EI dose. None of the postdose tests revealed any abnormal result.

Conclusions

EI is safe for intravenous injection in human volunteers in the dose range of 0.3 to 64.6 mg/kg. At doses of 22.6 mg/kg or higher, EI produced rapid onset of unconsciousness in all volunteers followed by fast, predictable, and complete recovery.
Coevolutionary diversification creates nested-modular structure in phage–bacteria interaction networks
Authors: Beckett Stephen J. , Williams Hywel T. P.
Published: October 2013

Phage and their bacterial hosts are the most diverse and abundant biological entities in the oceans, where their interactions have a major impact on marine ecology and ecosystem function. The structure of interaction networks for natural phage–bacteria communities offers insight into their coevolutionary origin. At small phylogenetic scales, observed communities typically show a nested structure, in which both hosts and phages can be ranked by their range of resistance and infectivity, respectively. A qualitatively different multi-scale structure is seen at larger phylogenetic scales; a natural assemblage sampled from the Atlantic Ocean displays large-scale modularity and local nestedness within each module. Here, we show that such ‘nested-modular’ interaction networks can be produced by a simple model of host–phage coevolution in which infection depends on genetic matching. Negative frequency-dependent selection causes diversification of hosts (to escape phages) and phages (to track their evolving hosts). This creates a diverse community of bacteria and phage, maintained by kill-the-winner ecological dynamics. When the resulting communities are visualized as bipartite networks of who infects whom, they show the nested-modular structure characteristic of the Atlantic sample. The statistical significance and strength of this observation varies depending on whether the interaction networks take into account the density of the interacting strains, with implications for interpretation of interaction networks constructed by different methods. Our results suggest that the apparently complex community structures associated with marine bacteria and phage may arise from relatively simple coevolutionary origins.