bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxidation modification of Ru-based catalyst for acetylene hydrochlorination
Authors: Man Baochang , Zhang Haiyang , Zhang Jinli , Li Xing , Xu Na , Dai Hui , Zhu Mingyuan , Dai Bin
Published: May 2017

Oxidation modification enhances the interaction between the oxygenated functional groups and Ru species, strengthens the adsorption of reactants, and augments the amount of active species, enhancing the catalytic performance of the catalysts.
Agitating transformation during vinyl chloride suspension polymerization: aggregation morphology and PVC properties
Authors: Guo Rui , Yu Erlei , Liu Jia , Wei Zhong
Published: May 2017

In this study, the effect of agitation rate on the aggregation morphology of the suspension poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) grains, especially their primary particles, at different conversions was investigated.
In situ strategy to prepare PDPB/SnO2 p–n heterojunction with a high photocatalytic activity
Authors: Wang Yuhang , Deng Yuanxin , Fan Linggang , Zhao Yu , Shen Bin , Wu Di , Zhou Yi , Dong Chencheng , Xing Mingyang , Zhang Jinlong
Published: May 2017

PDPB/SnO2 heterojunction has been successfully synthesized by an in situ growth strategy, which displays a narrowed bandgap, enhanced solar light absorption, excellent charge separation and improved solar-driven photodegradation rate of Rhodamine B.
Selective growth inhibition of cancer cells with doxorubicin-loaded CB[7]-modified iron-oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Benyettou F. , Fahs H. , Elkharrag R. , Bilbeisi R. A. , Asma B. , Rezgui R. , Motte L. , Magzoub M. , Brandel J. , Olsen J.-C. , Piano F. , Gunsalus K. C. , Platas-Iglesias C. , Trabolsi A.
Published: May 2017

Cucurbit[7]uril-modified iron-oxide nanoparticles (CB[7]NPs) were loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) and tested as a drug delivery system.
Concentration-dependent spectroscopic properties and temperature sensing of YNbO4:Er3+ phosphors
Authors: Wang Xin , Li Xiangping , Cheng Lihong , Xu Sai , Sun Jiashi , Zhang Jinsu , Zhang Xizhen , Yang Xiaotian , Chen Baojiu
Published: May 2017

Er3+ concentration had significant influences on temperature sensitivity. The sample with a low concentration of Er3+ had high temperature sensitivity.
Boosting visible light photo-/Fenton-catalytic synergetic activity of BiOIO3 by coupling with Fe2O3
Authors: Zeng Hehua , Liu Xiu , Wei Ting , Li Xueqin , Liu Tianxiang , Min Xuemei , Zhu Qiuhui , Zhao Xiufeng , Li Jianhui
Published: May 2017

BiOIO3 and Fe2O3 can couple in one-step and show visible photocatalytic and heterogeneous Fenton-like synergetic activity for p-nitrophenol degradation.
Stereocontrolled C(sp3)–P bond formation with non-activated alkyl halides and tosylates
Authors: Yang Chu-Ting , Han Jun , Liu Jun , Li Yi , Zhang Fan , Gu Mei , Hu Sheng , Wang Xiaolin
Published: May 2017

The current work provides a general approach for making C–P bonds with stereocontrol from chiral secondary alcohols.
Enhancement of the near-infrared emission of Ce3+–Yb3+ co-doped Y3Al5O12 phosphors by doping Bi3+ ions
Authors: Kumar K. Santhosh , Lou Chaogang , Manohari A. Gowri , Huihui Cao , Pribat Didier
Published: May 2017

Ce3+–Bi3+–Yb3+ tri-doped Y3Al5O12 phosphors are one of most the potential candidates of down-conversion materials for photovoltaic cells.
Corrosion wear characteristics of TC4, 316 stainless steel, and Monel K500 in artificial seawater
Authors: Jun Chen
Published: May 2017

Wear-induced corrosion can accelerate material degradation, and the passive film in the wear track is only partially destroyed.
Perylene dye-functionalized silver nanoparticles serving as pH-dependent metal sensor systems
Authors: Sun Yan , Zuo Tongfei , Guo Fang , Sun Jing , Liu Ziwei , Diao Guowang
Published: May 2017

Lysine-functionalized perylene was used to modify nanoparticles. Due to the benefits from a synergetic effect that originated between the perylene and silver nanoparticles, color-based metal sensor systems were established.
Isolation of functional mitochondria by inertial microfluidics – a new method to sort intracellular organelles from a small scale biological sample
Authors: Tesauro C. , Ferrando B. , Ma X. , Jepsen M. L. , Ivarsen A. K. R. , Frøhlich R. , Stevnsner T. , Knudsen B. R. , Ho Y. P.
Published: May 2017

Isolation of subcellular fractions from a limited amount of clinical sample is imperative for the continuous advancement of biological and clinical research.
Ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide catalyzed by crown ether complexes of sodium and potassium iminophenoxides
Authors: Wu Bing-Bing , Tian Lu-Lu , Wang Zhong-Xia
Published: May 2017

Crown ether complexes of sodium and potassium iminophenoxides were demonstrated to catalyze the stereoselective polymerization of rac-lactide.
Synthesis of N-doped graphene-functionalized Zn1.231Ge0.689N1.218O0.782solid solution as a photocatalyst for CO2reduction and oxidation of benzyl alcohol under visible-light irradiation
Authors: Liang Jun , Li Li
Published: May 2017

N-Graphene/ZnGeON hybrids were assembled through electrostatic adsorption of positively-charged Zn2GeO4nanorods with negatively-charged graphene oxide (GO) and calcinated by a high temperaturein situnitridation technique under NH3flow.
On the subtle tuneability of cellulose hydrogels: implications for binding of biomolecules demonstrated for CBM 1
Authors: Johns M. A. , Bernardes A. , De Azevêdo E. Ribeiro , Guimarães F. E. G. , Lowe J. P. , Gale E. M. , Polikarpov I. , Scott J. L. , Sharma R. I.
Published: May 2017

Choice of molecular probe for determining porosity, surface area, or binding in never-dried cellulose hydrogels is critical to discern differences in structure.
A core–shell structured polyplex for efficient and non-toxic gene delivery
Authors: Wang Saisai , Wang Fei , Zhang Qiang , Cheng Yiyun
Published: May 2017

We developed a core–shell polyplex with minimal high generation dendrimer to condense DNA and low-molecular-weight linear polyethylenimine coated on the core. The polyplex represented both high transfection efficacy and low toxicity.
Gold nanoparticle SERS substrates sustainable at extremely high temperatures
Authors: Cortes Vega Fernando D. , Martinez Torres Pablo G. , Pichardo Molina Juan , Gomez Ortiz Nikte M. , Hadjiev Viktor G. , Zarate Medina Juan , Robles Hernandez Francisco C.
Published: May 2017

We report a technology for supporting gold nanoparticles (GNPS) with preserved SERS active substrates capable of sustaining extreme temperatures as high as the melting point of gold.
Structured entropy of primitive: big data‐based stereoscopic image quality assessment
Authors: Liu Zhiguo , Yang Chifu , Rho Seungmin , Liu Shaohui , Jiang Feng
Published: May 2017

The ultimate receiver of image and video is human visual system (HVS). It is an important problem in the domain of image and video processing that how to establish visual information representation model meeting the HVS perception property. In this study, authors give theory analysis and experiment results to prove that l_1 norm‐based entropy of primitive (EoP) is superior to the l_0 norm‐based EoP for the monocular cue in image quality assessment. By developing the concept of mutual information of primitive (MIP) as the binocular cue, an l_1 EoP‐based stereoscopic image quality assessment metric is proposed. With EoP as monocular cue and MIP as binocular cue, the relative entropy between the original stereoscopic image and the distorted one is explored to predict the quality score with support vector regression. To avoid destroying image's structured information, the structured EoP (SEoP) is further explored to measure the stereoscopic image information. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the stereoscopic image quality assessment algorithm with SEoP as monocular cue and MIP as binocular cue outperforms many state‐of‐the‐art ones.
Magneto‐dielectric substrate‐based microstrip antenna for RFID applications
Authors: Zaid Jamal , Farahani Mohammadmahdi , Denidni Tayeb A.
Published: May 2017

A new planar magneto‐dielectric substrate (MDS) is used for miniaturising a rectangular microstrip patch antenna for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. The proposed magneto‐dielectric unit cells are embedded underneath the microstrip patch. Increasing the constitutive parameters of the host substrate decreases the size of the antenna. This use of a MDS as the host substrate allows the antenna size to be reduced by up to 80% compared with a conventional microstrip patch antenna, and the proposed smaller antenna exhibits almost the same performance. The simulated and measured results show a good agreement. The magneto‐dielectric layer is thin enough to be embedded underneath the antenna. The proposed antenna offers a reasonable impedance bandwidth from 847 to 853 MHz. The antenna is therefore suitable for RFID applications.
Image noise reduction based on applying adaptive thresholding onto PDEs methods
Authors: Yahya Ali Abdullah , Tan Jieqing , Su Benyu , Liu Kui , Hadi Ali Naser
Published: May 2017

In this study the authors present a novel image denoising method based on applying adaptive thresholding on partial differential (PDEs) methods. In the proposed method the authors utilise the adaptive thresholding to blend the total variation filter with anisotropic diffusion filter. The adaptive thresholding has a high capacity to adapt and change according to the amount of noise. More specifically, applying a hard thresholding on the higher noise areas, whereas, applying soft thresholding on the lower noise areas. Therefore, the authors can successfully remove the noise effectively and maintain the edges of the image simultaneously. Based on the adaptation and stability of the adaptive thresholding we can achieve; optimal noise reduction and sharp edges as well. Experimental results demonstrate that the new algorithm consistently outperforms other reference methods in terms of noise removal and edges preservation, in addition to 4.7 dB gain higher than those in the other reference algorithms.
The Clinical Relevance of Noncriteria Antiphospholipid Antibodies
Authors: Sanna Giovanni , Bertolaccini Maria
Published: May 2017

While lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), anti-β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) antibodies represent the best available and the most widely used tests in the investigation for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), evidence gathered in recent years indicates that other antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) specificities may also play a role in the syndrome. Several autoantibodies have been shown to be complexed with phospholipids other than cardiolipin, or to some domains of β2GPI, or else directed to other proteins of the coagulation cascade, and these have also been proposed to be of relevance to APS, and their diagnostic value and clinical utility are the focus of current research.
Laboratory Diagnostics of Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Bison Elisa , Denas Gentian , Jose Seena , Zoppellaro Giacomo , Banzato Alessandra , Pengo Vittorio
Published: May 2017

Diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) lies in the recognition of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). As standardization of tests for the detection of aPL is far from being optimal and reference material is not available, inappropriate diagnoses of APS are not unusual. In the last few years, the concept of triple test positivity has emerged as a useful tool to identify patients with APS. Clinical studies on patients and carriers of triple positivity clearly show that these individuals are at high risk of thromboembolic events and pregnancy loss. Moreover, triple positivity arises from a single (probably pathogenic) antibody directed to domain 1 of β2-glycoprotein I, a protein whose function is still unknown. Studies on homogenous group of patients with single or double positivity are scant, and uncertainties arise on their association with clinical events. Promising but undetermined results come also from the determination of antibodies directed to phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex. Interpretation of laboratory profile in APS is challenging, and the collaboration between clinical pathologists and clinicians is highly desirable.
The Genetic Approach: Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Diagnosis of Congenital and Infantile Myopathies/Muscle Dystrophies
Authors: Rost Simone , Kolokotronis Konstantin , Meng Gerhard , Pluta Natalie , Müller-Reible Clemens , Kress Wolfram
Published: May 2017

The practical basis for massive parallel sequencing is described to help clinicians in choosing the most adequate diagnostic approach for childhood myopathies. The key quality feature for massive parallel sequencing is the sequence depth (coverage) as a prerequisite for variant identification and quantification of sequence copy numbers. Our experience with a next-generation sequencing gene panel for the analysis of muscular dystrophies/myopathies with infantile or juvenile onset resulted in the identification of pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations in approximately 41% (of 141 patients), thus leading to a definitive diagnosis. A subset of patients shows an accumulation of “excess” heterozygous variants that may act as modifiers of the phenotype. Massive parallel sequencing has become a reliable and cost-effective method, but it requires exact clinical, bioptic, and/or radiologic information to evaluate the clinical relevance of possibly pathologic variants.
Association of Step Width with Accelerated Sprinting Performance and Ground Reaction Force
Authors: Nagahara Ryu , Mizutani Mirai , Matsuo Akifumi , Kanehisa Hiroaki , Fukunaga Tetsuo
Published: May 2017

This study aimed to describe changes in step width (SW) during accelerated sprinting, and to clarify the relationship of SW with sprinting performance and ground reaction forces. 17 male athletes performed maximal-effort 60 m sprints. The SW and other spatiotemporal variables, as well as ground reaction impulses, over a 52 m distance were calculated. Average values for each 4 steps during acceleration were calculated to examine relationships among variables in different sections. The SW rapidly decreased up to the 13th step and slightly afterward during accelerated sprinting, showing a bilinear phase profile. The ratio of SW to the stature was significantly correlated with running speed based on average values over the 52 m distance and in the 9th–12th step section during accelerated sprinting. The SW ratio positively correlated with medial, lateral and mediolateral impulses in all step sections, except for medial impulse in the 17th–20th step section. These results indicate the importance of wider SW for better sprinting performance, especially in the 9th–12th step section. Moreover, the wider SW was associated with larger medial impulse and smaller lateral impulse, suggesting that a wide SW contributes to the production of greater mediolateral body velocity during accelerated sprinting.
Field synergy characteristics in condensation heat transfer with non-condensable gas over a horizontal tube
Authors: Zhang Junxia , Tong Lige , Wang Li
Published: May 2017

Field synergy characteristics in condensation heat transfer with non-condensable gas (NCG) over a horizontal tube were numerically simulated. Consequently, synergy angles between velocity and pressure or temperature gradient fields, gas film layer thickness, and induced velocity and shear stress on gas–liquid interface were obtained. Results show that synergy angles between velocity and temperature gradient fields are within 73.2°–88.7° and ascend slightly with the increment in mainstream velocity and that the synergy is poor. However, the synergy angle between velocity and pressure gradient fields decreases intensively with the increase in mainstream velocity at θ ≤ 30°, thereby improving the pressure loss. As NCG mass fraction increases, the gas film layer thickness enlarges and the induced velocity and shear stress on gas–liquid interface decreases. The synergy angles between velocity and temperature gradient fields increase, and the synergy angles between velocity and pressure gradient fields change at θ = 70°, decrease at θ < 70°, and rise at θ > 70°. When the horizontal tube circumference angle increases, the synergy angles between velocity and temperature or pressure gradient fields decrease, the synergy between velocity and pressure fields enhances, and the synergy between velocity and temperature fields degrades.
Vibronic exciton theory of singlet fission. II. Two-dimensional spectroscopic detection of the correlated triplet pair state
Authors: Tempelaar Roel , Reichman David R.
Published: May 2017

Singlet fission, the molecular process through which photons are effectively converted into pairs of lower energy triplet excitons, holds promise as a means of boosting photovoltaic device efficiencies. In the preceding article of this series, we formulated a vibronic theory of singlet fission, inspired by previous experimental and theoretical studies suggesting that vibronic coupling plays an important role in fission dynamics. Here, we extend our model in order to simulate two-dimensional electronic spectra, through which the theory is further validated based on a comparison to recent measurements on pentacene crystals. Moreover, by means of such spectral simulations, we provide new insights into the nature of the correlated triplet pair state, the first product intermediate in the fission process. In particular, we address a controversy in the literature regarding the identification, energies, and transition dipole moments of its optical transitions towards higher-lying triplet states.
Drop formation in a magnetic fluid coating a horizontal cylinder carrying an axial electric current
Authors: Weidner D. E.
Published: May 2017

We consider the effect of a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in the axial direction, in a cylindrical conducting medium on the evolution of a thin magnetic liquid film coating the outside of the cylinder. We first derive the new governing equations when a body force, due to the interaction of the magnetic dipoles in the liquid with the magnetic field due to the current in the cylinder, is included with surface tension and gravitational forces. The equations are discretized and solved numerically using an alternating direction implicit algorithm. Simulations demonstrate that the transition from a uniform coating to the formation of undulations to a final configuration of distinct drops follows a similar evolution for a wide range of cylinder radii and magnetic field strengths. Magnetic forces generally oppose the effects of gravity, and consequently the drainage toward the bottom of the cylinder is slowed, the characteristic time for drop formation is delayed, and the final coating is not confined to the cylinder bottom, but can wrap around the entire circumference of cylinder for sufficiently large magnetic fields. The range of dimensionless parameters considered are limited by the physicochemical properties of an ester ferrofluid, the maximum current density and radius of the conducting cylinder, and the susceptibility χ, where there is a linear relationship between H and M. Thus the results are applicable to actual physical situations.
Theoretical development of elliptic cross-sectional hyperboloidal harmonics and their application to electrostatics
Authors: Sten J. C.-E. , Fragoyiannis G. , Vafeas P. , Koivisto P. K. , Dassios G.
Published: May 2017

The analytic computation of electric and magnetic fields near corners and edges is important in many applications related to science and engineering. However, such complicated situations are hard to deal with, since they accumulate charges and consequently they mathematically represent singularities. In order to model this singular behavior, we introduce a novel method, which is related to the geometry and the analysis of the ellipsoidal coordinate system. Indeed, adopting the benefits of the corresponding coordinate surfaces, we use a general non-circular double cone, being the asymptote of a two-sided hyperboloid of two sheets with elliptic cross section, which matches almost perfectly the particular physics and captures the corresponding essential features in a fully three-dimensional fashion. To this end, our analytical technique employs the ellipsoidal geometry and adapts the ellipsoidal functions (solutions of the well-known Lamé equation) so as to construct a new set of the so-called elliptic cross-sectional hyperboloidal harmonics, supplemented by the appropriate orthogonality rules on every constant coordinate surface. By first recollecting the key results of the coordinate system and the related potential functions, including the indispensable orthogonality results, we demonstrate our method to the solution of two boundary value problems in electrostatics. Both refer to a non-penetrable two-hyperboloid of elliptic cross section and its double-cone limit, the first one being charged and the second one scattering off a plane wave. Closed form expressions are derived for the related fields, while the already known formulae from the literature are readily recovered, all cases being followed by the appropriate numerical implementation.
Laser-driven magnetized liner inertial fusion on OMEGA
Authors: Barnak D. H. , Davies J. R. , Betti R. , Bonino M. J. , Campbell E. M. , Glebov V. Yu. , Harding D. R. , Knauer J. P. , Regan S. P. , Sefkow A. B. , Harvey-Thompson A. J. , Peterson K. J. , Sinars D. B. , Slutz S. A. , Weis M. R. , Chang P.-Y.
Published: May 2017

Magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) combines the compression of fusion fuel, a hallmark of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), with strongly magnetized plasmas that suppress electron heat losses, a hallmark of magnetic fusion. It can reduce the traditional velocity, pressure, and convergence ratio requirements of ICF. The magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) concept being studied at the Z Pulsed-Power Facility is a key target concept in the U.S. ICF Program. Laser-driven MagLIF is being developed on OMEGA to test the scaling of MagLIF over a range of absorbed energy of the order of 1 kJ on OMEGA to 500 kJ on Z. It is also valuable as a platform for studying the key physics of MIF. An energy-scaled point design has been developed for OMEGA that is roughly 10 × smaller in linear dimensions than Z MagLIF targets. A 0.6-mm-outer-diameter plastic cylinder filled with 2.4 mg/cm3 of D2 is placed in a ∼10-T axial magnetic field, generated by a Magneto-inertial fusion electrical discharge system, the cylinder is compressed by 40 OMEGA beams, and the gas fill is preheated by a single OMEGA beam propagating along the axis. Preheating to >100 eV and axially uniform compression over 0.7 mm have been demonstrated, separately, in a series of preparatory experiments that meet our initial expectations. The preliminary results from the first integrated experiments combining magnetization, compression, and preheat demonstrating a roughly 2 x increase in the neutron yield will be reported here for the first time.
Determination of the complex refractive index and optical bandgap of CH3NH3PbI3 thin films
Authors: Guerra J. A. , Tejada A. , Korte L. , Kegelmann L. , Töfflinger J. A. , Albrecht S. , Rech B. , Weingärtner R.
Published: May 2017

We report the complex refractive index of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite thin films obtained by means of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and transmittance/reflectance spectrophotometry in the wavelength range of 190 nm to 2500 nm. The film thickness and roughness layer thickness are determined by minimizing a global unbiased estimator in the region where the spectrophotometry and ellipsometry spectra overlap. We then determine the optical bandgap and Urbach energy from the absorption coefficient, by means of a fundamental absorption model based on band fluctuations in direct semiconductors. This model merges both the Urbach tail and the absorption edge regions in a single equation. In this way, we increase the fitting region and extend the conventional (αℏω)2-plot method to obtain accurate bandgap values.
Depoling and fatigue behavior of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 single crystal at megahertz frequencies under bipolar electric field
Authors: Chen Zhaojiang , Li Shiyang , Zhang Yang , Cao Wenwu
Published: May 2017

Bipolar electric field induced degradation in [001]c poled Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-0.29PbTiO3 (PMN-0.29PT) single crystals was investigated at megahertz frequencies. The electromechanical coupling factor kt, dielectric constant εr, dielectric loss D, and piezoelectric constant d33 were measured as a function of amplitude, frequency, and number of cycles of the applied electric field. Our results showed that samples degrade rapidly when the field amplitude is larger than a critical value due to the onset of domain switching. We define this critical value as the effective coercive field Ec at high frequencies, which increases drastically with frequency. We also demonstrate an effective counter-depoling method by using a dc bias, which could help the design of high field driven devices based on PMN-PT single crystals and operated at megahertz frequencies.
Identifying phase transition behavior in Bi1/2Na1/2TiO3-BaTiO3 single crystals by piezoresponse force microscopy
Authors: Lee Hyun-Young , Wang Ke , Yao Fang-Zhou , Sun Wei , Zhou Zhen , Zhang Mao-Hua , Li Xiaobing , Luo Haosu , Lee Jae-Shin , Li Jing-Feng
Published: May 2017

Using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) and Raman spectroscopy, we studied the local temperature-dependent piezoelectric properties and phase structures of 0.95(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-0.05BaTiO3 (BNT-BT) single crystals. Local-area PFM revealed non-ergodic relaxor behavior around 160 °C. Switching spectroscopy-PFM (SS-PFM) results also supported the transition around 160 °C, with a gradual decrease in hysteresis width and nucleation bias. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy provided structural evidence of a phase transition in the same temperature region. These results are consistent with other theories of phase transitions in BNT-BT-based materials and verify the existence of a phase transition from a non-ergodic relaxor to ergodic relaxor of BNT-5.0%BT near 160 °C.
Nanomechanical and wettability properties of Bi2Te3 thin films: Effects of post-annealing
Authors: Jian Sheng-Rui , Le Phuoc Huu , Luo Chih-Wei , Juang Jenh-Yih
Published: May 2017

In this study, Bi2Te3 thin films were deposited on SiO2/Si(100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at 250 °C. The films were then annealed in-situ in the deposition chamber at various annealing temperatures (Ta) ranging from 200 to 300 °C. The microstructural, morphological, and nanomechanical properties of the Bi2Te3 thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and nanoindentation techniques, respectively. The XRD results indicated that all the Bi2Te3 thin films have high crystalline quality with predominant (0015) texture. Nano-indentation measurements performed with a Berkovich nanoindenter operating under the continuous contact stiffness measurement mode revealed that both the hardness and Young's modulus of the Bi2Te3 films decreased with increasing Ta. In addition, the water contact angle measurements were carried out to delineate the effects of annealing on the changes in the surface energy and wettability of the films.
Stacking order dynamics in the quasi-two-dimensional dichalcogenide 1T-TaS2 probed with MeV ultrafast electron diffraction
Authors: Le Guyader L. , Chase T. , Reid A. H. , Li R. K. , Svetin D. , Shen X. , Vecchione T. , Wang X. J. , Mihailovic D. , Dürr H. A.
Published: May 2017

Transitions between different charge density wave (CDW) states in quasi-two-dimensional materials may be accompanied also by changes in the inter-layer stacking of the CDW. Using MeV ultrafast electron diffraction, the out-of-plane stacking order dynamics in the quasi-two-dimensional dichalcogenide 1T-TaS2 is investigated for the first time. From the intensity of the CDW satellites aligned around the commensurate l = 1/6 characteristic stacking order, it is found out that this phase disappears with a 0.3 ps time constant. Simultaneously, in the same experiment, the emergence of the incommensurate phase, with a slightly slower 2.0 ps time constant, is determined from the intensity of the CDW satellites aligned around the incommensurate l = 1/3 characteristic stacking order. These results might be of relevance in understanding the metallic character of the laser-induced metastable “hidden” state recently discovered in this compound.
Detection of charge density wave phase transitions at 1T-TaS2/GaAs interfaces
Authors: Zhu Xiaochen , Li Ang J. , Stewart G. R. , Hebard Arthur F.
Published: May 2017

The transition metal dichalcogenide 1T-TaS2 is well known to harbor a rich variety of charge density wave (CDW) distortions which are correlated with underlying lattice atom modulations. The long range CDW phases extend throughout the whole crystal and terminate with charge displacements at the crystal boundaries. Here, we report on the transport properties and capacitance characteristics of the interface between freshly exfoliated flakes of 1T-TaS2 in intimate van der Waals contact with n-type GaAs substrates. The extracted barrier parameters (ideality, barrier height, and built-in potential) experience pronounced changes across the Mott-CDW transition in the 1T-TaS2. The CDW-induced changes in barrier properties are well described by a bond polarization model which upon decreasing temperature gives rise to an increased potential drop across the interfacial region due to the localization of carriers and a decreased dielectric constant.
Coexistence of domain relaxation with ferroelectric phase transitions in BaTiO3
Authors: Yadav Poonam , Sharma Shivani , Lalla N. P.
Published: May 2017

Low-frequency dielectric relaxation in BaTiO3 (BTO) ceramics has been studied under the applied and dc-field cooled conditions in the frequency domain spanning from 5 mHz to 20 kHz in the temperature range of 85 K to 430 K. We observe the coexistence of broad as well as sharp maxima in the dielectric loss (tanδ) across each of the three phase transitions. The broad tanδ maxima were found to shift to higher temperatures at higher frequencies following Arrhenius behaviour with activation energies ranging from 0.18 eV to 0.23 eV. Each of the tan δ maxima slowly merged and finally vanished above the corresponding phase transitions. Both the permittivity and the tanδ loss were found to suppress and shift towards lower frequencies as a function of applied dc-field and dc-field cooled conditions. This has been attributed to the relaxation of the mesoscopic ferroelectric sub-domains/domain boundaries forming and rearranging differently across each phase transition in BTO. We also observe low-frequency relaxation above the Curie temperature. Arrhenius analysis owes its origin to the space-charge relaxation across the barrier layer formed between the electrode and the sample. The broad relaxation maxima in the tetragonal regime appear to be due to sub-domain polar-regions, which might appear due to the atomic-level mismatch of the accommodation strain appearing during tet-cubic martensitic phase transition. These regions further reform across the successive tet-ortho and ortho-rhombo phase transitions giving rise to corresponding relaxation maxima.
On the induction of injury in tomato under continuous light: circadian asynchrony as the main triggering factor
Authors: Velez-Ramirez Aaron I. , Dünner-Planella Gabriela , Vreugdenhil Dick , Millenaar Frank F. , van Ieperen Wim
Published: May 2017

Unlike other species, when tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are deprived of at least 8 h of darkness per day, they develop a potentially lethal injury. In an effort to understand why continuous light (CL) is injurious to tomato, we tested five factors, which potentially could be responsible for triggering the injury in CL-grown tomato: (i) differences in the light spectral distribution between sunlight and artificial light, (ii) continuous light signalling, (iii) continuous supply of light for photosynthesis, (iv) continuous photo-oxidative pressure and (v) circadian asynchrony – a mismatch between the internal circadian clock frequency and the external light/dark cycles. Our results strongly suggest that continuous-light-induced injury does not result from the unnatural spectral distribution of artificial light nor from the continuity of light per se. Instead, circadian asynchrony seems to be the main factor inducing the CL-induced injury, but the mechanism is not by the earlier hypothesised circadian pattern in sensitivity for photoinhibition. Here, however, we show for the first time diurnal fluctuations in sensitivity to photoinhibition during normal photoperiods. Similarly, we also report for the first time diurnal and circadian rhythms in the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and the parameter F0.
Regional health workforce planning through action research: lessons for commissioning health services from a case study in Far North Queensland
Authors: Panzera Annette June , Murray Richard , Stewart Ruth , Mills Jane , Beaton Neil , Larkins Sarah
Published: May 2017

Creating a stable and sustainable health workforce in regional, rural and remote Australia has long been a challenge to health workforce planners, policy makers and researchers alike. Traditional health workforce planning is often reactive and assumes continuation of current patterns of healthcare utilisation. This demonstration project in Far North Queensland exemplifies how participatory regional health workforce planning processes can accurately model current and projected local workforce requirements. The recent establishment of Primary Health Networks (PHNs) with the intent to commission health services tailored to individual healthcare needs underlines the relevance of such an approach. This study used action research methodology informed by World Health Organization (WHO) systems thinking. Four cyclical stages of health workforce planning were followed: needs assessment; health service model redesign; skills-set assessment and workforce redesign; and development of a workforce and training plan. This study demonstrated that needs-based loco-regional health workforce planning can be achieved successfully through participatory processes with stakeholders. Stronger health systems and workforce training solutions were delivered by facilitating linkages and planning processes based on community need involving healthcare professionals across all disciplines and sectors. By focusing upon extending competencies and skills sets, local health professionals form a stable and sustainable local workforce. Concrete examples of initiatives generated from this process include developing a chronic disease inter-professional teaching clinic in a rural town and renal dialysis being delivered locally to an Aboriginal community. The growing trend of policy makers decentralising health funding, planning and accountability and rising health system costs increase the future utility of this approach. This type of planning can also assist the new PHNs to commission health services that meet the needs of the population and contribute to service and system improvement and innovation.
Retrospective study of hepatitis C outcomes and treatment in HIV co-infected persons from the Australian HIV Observational Database
Authors: Puhr Rainer , Wright Stephen T. , Hoy Jennifer F. , Templeton David J. , Durier Nicolas , Matthews Gail V. , Russell Darren , Law Matthew G.
Published: May 2017

Background: The widespread availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) is expected to drastically improve the treatment uptake and cure rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV). In this paper, rates of and factors associated with HCV treatment uptake and cure in the HIV co-infected population in Australia were assessed before access to DAAs. Methods: The medical records of patients in the Australian HIV Observational Database who were reported to be HCV antibody positive from 1999 to 2014 were reviewed for HCV treatment data. Patients with detectable HCV RNA were included in this analysis. Logistic regression models were applied to identify factors associated with treatment uptake and HCV sustained virological response (SVR) 24 weeks’ post treatment. Results: The median follow-up time of those with chronic HCV/HIV co-infection was 103 months (interquartile range 51–166 months). Of 179 HCV viraemic patients, 79 (44.1%) began treatment. In the adjusted model, a higher METAVIR score was the only significant factor associated with treatment uptake (odds ratio (OR) 8.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.00–39.3, P = 0.004). SVR was achieved in 37 (50%) of 74 treated patients. HCV genotypes 2/3 compared with 1/4 remained the only significant factor for SVR in an adjusted multivariable setting (OR 5.44, 95% CI 1.53–19.4, P = 0.009). Conclusions: HCV treatment uptake and SVR have been relatively low in the era of interferon-containing regimens, in Australian HIV/HCV coinfected patients. With new and better tolerated DAAs, treatment of HCV is likely to become more accessible, and identification and treatment of HCV in co-infected patients should become a priority.
Estimating organic carbon content of soil in Papua New Guinea using infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Orr Ryan , McBeath Anna V. , Dieleman Wouter I. J. , Bird Michael I. , Nelson Paul N.
Published: May 2017

Quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) content is important for sustainable agricultural management and accurate carbon accounting. Infrared (IR) absorbance can be used to estimate SOC content, but the relationship differs between regions due to matrix effects. We developed an IR-based model specific for SOC in Papua New Guinean soils. A total of 437 samples from 0.0–0.3m depth were analysed for SOC using Dumas combustion. IR absorption spectra were collected from the same samples, and a predictive regression model was developed using the 6000–1030cm–1 spectral range. Using a validation set, predicted SOC values resulting from the IR-based model compared well with values from Dumas combustion (R2=0.905; ratio of performance-to-deviation=5.64). Constraining wavelengths to positively correlated regions of the spectra was also explored and showed improved model performance (R2=0.932). Overall, IR analysis provides a robust method for estimating SOC content for a range of Papua New Guinean soils.
Brain connectivity dynamics during social interaction reflect social network structure
Authors: Schmälzle Ralf , Brook O’Donnell Matthew , Garcia Javier O. , Cascio Christopher N. , Bayer Joseph , Bassett Danielle S. , Vettel Jean M. , Falk Emily B.
Published: May 2017

Significance

We examine brain dynamics during a common social experience—social exclusion—to determine whether cohesive networks in the brain support navigation of the social world and contribute to the shape of friendship networks. Specifically, exclusion is associated with increased cohesion within brain networks that support understanding what other people think and feel. Furthermore, using social network analysis, we find that variability in brain dynamics is associated with the shape of participants’ friendship networks. Bringing together findings related to brain network dynamics and social network dynamics illuminates ways that psychological processes may shape and be shaped by social environments.
Molecular codes for cell type specification in Brn3 retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Sajgo Szilard , Ghinia Miruna Georgiana , Brooks Matthew , Kretschmer Friedrich , Chuang Katherine , Hiriyanna Suja , Wu Zhijian , Popescu Octavian , Badea Tudor Constantin
Published: May 2017

Significance

We report here transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing (RNASeq) of genetically labeled and affinity-purified mouse retinal ganglion cell (RGC) populations. Using a previously established conditional knock-in reporter strategy, we label RGCs from which specific transcription factors have been removed and determine the consequences on transcriptional programs at different stages critical to RGC development. We find that Brn3b and Brn3a control only small subsets of Brn3–RGC–specific transcripts. We identify extensive combinatorial sets of RGC transcription factors and cell surface molecules and show that several RGC-specific genes can induce neurite-like processes cell autonomously in a heterologous system.
Predicting judged fluency of consecutive interpreting from acoustic measures
Authors: Yu Wenting , van Heuven Vincent J.
Published: May 2017

This experimental study of consecutive interpreting investigates whether: (1) there is any correlation between assessments of its fluency and accuracy; (2) judged fluency can be predicted from computer-based measurements like articulation rate. Ten raters judged six criteria of accuracy and fluency in two consecutive interpretations of the same recorded source speech, from Chinese A into English B, by 12 trainee interpreters (seven undergraduates, five MA students). The recorded interpretations were examined with the speech analysis tool PRAAT. From a computerized count of the pauses thus detected, together with disfluencies identified by raters, 12 acoustic measures of fluency were calculated. The advanced students were more fluent than the beginners; both groups were less fluent in the initial interpretation. Statistical analysis shows: (1) a strong positive correlation between judged accuracy and judged fluency; (2) strong correlations between judged fluency and objective fluency variables; (3) the usefulness of effective speech rate (number of syllables, excluding disfluencies, divided by total duration of speech production and pauses) as a predictor of judged fluency. Other important determinants of judged fluency were the number of filled pauses, articulation rate, and mean length of pause. Potential for developing automatic fluency assessment in consecutive interpreting is discussed, as are possible training implications.
Populist discourses in the Hungarian public sphere
Authors: Barát Erzsébet
Published: May 2017

ExtendingLaclau’s (2005)claim to the importance of ‘populism’ for a democratic politics, I argue that the ‘we’, when issued from a left-wing position around ‘empty signifiers’, must be informed by an inclusionary logic. In my critical study of the Hungarian Government’s right-wing populist discourses, I show that their billboard campaign in 2016 against the European Union’s migrant quota articulates the ‘we are not like them’ exclusionary distinction of ‘against and over’. Through Judith Butler’s category of vulnerability and Mary Matsuda’s relative distinction between immediate and indirect targets of exclusion, I explore the inclusionary logic of the campaign by the Two-Tailed Dog Party. I demonstrate that a non-identitarian collective subject "from below" in their alternative left-wing populism is made possible by the power of irony that may sidestep the mobilising force of fear that should legitimise the Government’s agenda.
Los recursos polifónicos como elementos lingüístico-persuasivos en la publicidad de la novela negra
Authors: Escribano Hernández Asunción
Published: May 2017

En este artículo vamos a mostrar cómo la argumentación lingüística de carácter polifónico contribuye a reflejar la identidad y la imagen social de la novela negra, a través de los enunciados publicitarios editoriales que la promocionan, constituyéndose, así, como un recurso lingüístico persuasivo de gran eficacia. Hemos estudiado los distintos modos de polifonía textual para comprobar cómo la polifonía es en este ámbito un mecanismo argumentativo muy poderoso con el que se consigue incentivar la compra, al tiempo que reflejar las características y peculiaridades de este género literario.
Role of pre-formed martensite on transformation of austempered ductile iron
Authors: Liu Cheng , Yang Chen , Yuan Limin , Northwood Derek O.
Published: May 2017

A commercial ductile iron is treated by a novel austempering process to obtain a good combination of strength and ductility. The samples are austenitised at 890°C for 10 min, then quenched into patented quenching liquid, and austempered in an electric furnace at 220°C for 5, 10, 30, 60, 240 and 600 min, respectively, finally air cooled. The bending test and the tensile test are conducted and microstructural features are analysed on the austempered ductile iron. The optimum mechanical property is achieved at 220°C for 240 min. Main reason for high strength and ductility is the formation of a fine structure consisting of multiple phases of pre-formed martensite and lath bainitic ferrite with film retained austenite.
Age and Method of Release Affect Migratory Performance of Hatchery Steelhead
Authors: Tatara Christopher P. , Cooper Matt R. , Gale William , Kennedy Benjamen M. , Pasley Chris R. , Berejikian Barry A.
Published: May 2017

Hatchery programs that are designed to aid recovery of natural populations of anadromous salmonids, including steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss, require locally derived, natural-origin broodstock. In such programs, achieving smoltification size thresholds may require extending hatchery rearing beyond age 1. We compared out-migration survival and travel rates of 142,990 PIT-tagged steelhead smolts released at age 1 (S1 rearing strategy) or age 2 (S2 rearing strategy) over five release years at Winthrop National Fish Hatchery (WNFH, Okanogan County, Washington). An S2 rearing cycle produced larger smolts with more uniform size distributions, resulting in higher survival during the first portion of their out-migration than for S1 smolts in three of the five release years. The S2 smolts migrated more rapidly to the ocean than S1 smolts in all years except 2011 and arrived in the Columbia River estuary 5.4 d earlier on average than the S1 smolts. The S1 steelhead that did not leave during the volitional release were subsequently forced from the hatchery to measure their survival. Nonvolitional S1 migrants were smaller and had survival rates that were 2.3–66.3 times lower than those of S1 steelhead that left WNFH on their own. The same was true for S2 steelhead, but the magnitude of the survival difference between volitional migrants and fish forced from the raceways was less variable and ranged from 2.5- to 4.6-fold. We conclude that S2 rearing can be a successful strategy for producing smolts from local natural-origin broodstock, with out-migration survival and travel times that are equivalent to or better than those of S1 smolts produced from nonlocal broodstock.

Received July 25, 2016; accepted March 31, 2017 Published online May 31, 2017