bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extreme Storm Surges and Coastal Flooding: Intangible Flood Losses in Integrated Risk Analysis
Authors: Dassanayake D.R. , Burzel A. , Oumeraci H.
Published: December 2012

German coasts are often affected by extreme storm surges which have already led to major damages along the coastline in the past. The joint research project “XtremRisK” was initiated with the main objective of enhancing the knowledge with respect to the uncertainties of extreme storm surge predictions as well as quantifying exemplarily the flood risk under current conditions and future climate scenarios for two pilot sites in Germany: Sylt Island representative for an open coast and Hamburg for an estuarine urban area. Flood risk is generally determined by the product of the flooding probability and the possible losses associated with the flood event. Flood losses are categorized as tangible and intangible depending on whether or not the losses can be assessed in monetary values. Up to date, intangible loses are not or only partially incorporated in flood risk analysis due to the lack of appropriate evaluation and integration methodologies. This study focuses on developing methodologies for the evaluation of intangible losses due to flooding and for their integration with tangible losses in flood risk analysis
Application of Soft Computing Tools for Wave Prediction at Specific Locations in the Arabian Sea Using Moored Buoy Observations
Authors: Vimala J. , Latha G. , Venkatesan R.
Published: December 2012

The knowledge of design and operational values of significant wave heights is perhaps the single most important input needed in ocean engineering studies. Conventionally such information is obtained using classical statistical analysis and stochastic methods. As the causative variables are innumerable and underlying physics is too complicated, the results obtained from the numerical models may not always be very satisfactory. Soft computing tools like Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Adaptive Network based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) may therefore be useful to predict significant wave heights in some situations. The study is aimed at forecasting of significant wave height values in real time over a period of 24hrs at certain locations in Indian seas using the models of ANN and ANFIS. The data for the work were collected by National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. It was found that the predictions of wave heights can be done by both methods with equal efficiency and satisfaction.
Laboratory Test on Dynamic Material Properties of Annealed Float Glass
Authors: Zhang Xihong , Zou Yang , Hao Hong , Li Xibing , Ma Guowei , Liu Kewei
Published: December 2012

In this study, laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the dynamic material properties of annealed float glass, which is widely used in building applications. The influence of strain rate effect on glass strength and Young's modulus is studied. Quasi-static tests were performed first to determine the glass static strength and Young's modulus; then dynamic compressive tests were carried out at the strain rates from 98/s to 376/s using a modified Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar. Tensile tests were performed in the strain rate range of 35/s to 990/s through splitting tensile test (Brazilian test). Test results reveal that the compressive and tensile strengths of annealed glass are very sensitive to strain rate. Dynamic increment on glass compressive strength is found more significant than its tensile strength, a phenomenon different from other brittle materials such as concrete. The Young's modulus is found relatively insensitive to strain rate in the testing range, and is slightly larger in compressive tests than in tensile tests. Based on the test data compressive and tensile dynamic increment factors (DIF) of annealed glass with respect to strain rate are formulated. The glass fracture process is also investigated in this paper based on the images taken by high-speed camera during the tests. The fracture images and glass fragments are discussed and used to explain the testing results.
Symbolic uses of evaluation in the international aid sector: arguments for critical reflection
Authors: McNulty James
Published: December 2012

Significant progress has been made in recent years to improve the quality of the evaluation of international aid. Increasingly, this includes an interest in improving the way evaluations are used to improve policies and programmes. However, the prevalence of symbolic use – a phenomenon that is often mentioned but rarely studied – reflects an uncomfortable gap that continues to emerge between evaluation practice and rhetoric. Drawing on literature from several contexts, this paper argues that efforts to improve evaluation use in this complex sector must be, post-Busan, more firmly rooted in evidence describing how its principals and agents actually behave.
John Woo’s War: Real (Reel) Dreams, Windtalkers and the Hollywood Machine
Authors: Stokes Lisa Odham
Published: November 2012

The intent of this paper is to explore reasons for the movie’s commercial disappointment in the U.S. As a Hong Kong filmmaker who has made the move to Hollywood and remained working here, Woo presents an interesting case for looking at the intrinsic obstacles encountered by Asian
filmmakers. How did Woo and partner Terence Chang successfully translate Hong Kong style to an American audience? The crucial factors that led to Windtalkers flop, appear to be pans from numerous white film critics and an ugly racism, sometimes blatant, sometimes not so obvious, still alive
and well in the Hollywood machine and white America
A Realization of Harmony: Yin-Yang Theory in Grandma and Her Ghosts
Authors: Snowberger Beth
Published: December 2012

This article examines Wang's film in terms of one aspect of folk belief that fully saturates it, that of yin and yang. The yin-yang symbol on Grandma's ceremonial robe is not only a true-to-life representation of this type of ritual costume; it is also a globally recognized symbol that
serves as a visual cue to this major theme.
Heroism/Terrorism: Empire Building in Contemporary Chinese Films
Authors: Marinelli Maurizio
Published: December 2012

This article will explore the representations of war and empire building in two selected movies. More specifically, I intend to compare and contrast the different interpretations of the final stage of the Warring States period (453-221 BCE), leading to the first unification of the Chinese
Empire under the Qin (221-207 BCE), in the two movies Hero by Zhang Yimou, and The Emperor and the Assassin by Chen Kaige. My principal goal is to examine the foundation myth of Chinese "righteous" Empire in these movies, as well as the ideological connotations concerning this past
that the directors attempt to convey to their contemporary audiences.
Reviews Books
Authors: Reese Carrie , Labuza Peter , West Stephanie , Warne Jude
Published: December 2012

Studies in French Cinema: UK Perspectives 1985–2010, Will Higbee and Sarah Leahy (eds), (2011) Bristol: Intellect, 396pp., ISBN: 9781841503233 (pbk), $35.99

They Live, Jonathan Lethem, (2011) Berkeley: Soft Skull Press, 208 pp., ISBN: 159376278X (pbk), $13.95

Back
to the Future, Andrew Shail and Robin Stoate, (2010) New York: A BFI book published by Palgrave Macmillan, 96pp., ISBN: 9781844572939 (pbk), $15.00

World Film Locations: New York, Scott Jordan Harris, ed., (2011) Bristol: Intellect, 128pp., ISBN: 1841504827 (pbk), $18.00
The violence of history in Marco Bechis’s Argentina
Authors: Tabanelli Roberta
Published: November 2012

This article analyses two feature films, Garage Olimpo (1999) and Figli/Hijos/Children (2001), by Italian film-maker Marco Bechis. The films are conceived as a diptych revolving around the 1976–1983 Argentine dictatorship and its traumatic legacy in the following decades. Through
a close reading of Bechis’s films, this article aims to highlight how the director has forged a form of cinema that is subtly political not only in the subjects represented but also in the (filmic) language that expresses these themes. Scholars who have examined Bechis’s works
have read the two films, and in particular Garage Olimpo, within the context of Argentine cinema. In addition to this Hispano-centric viewpoint, my analysis will consider a wealth of writings and interviews that have been released in Italian. The understanding of Bechis’s point of view
that one gains through this material allows for a deeper, more nuanced interpretation of his films than the exclusively Argento-centric reading.
Critical Role of GFRα1 in the Development and Function of the Main Olfactory System
Authors: Marks Carolyn , Belluscio Leonardo , Ibáñez Carlos F.
Published: November 2012

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor GFRα1 are prominently expressed in the olfactory epithelium (OE) and olfactory bulb (OB), but their importance for olfactory system development is completely unknown. We have investigated the consequences of GFRα1 deficiency for mouse olfactory system development and function. In the OE, GFRα1 was expressed in basal precursors, immature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), but was excluded from mature OSNs. The OE of newbornGfra1knock-out mice was thinner and contained fewer OSNs, but more dividing precursors, suggesting deficient neurogenesis. Immature OSN axon bundles were enlarged and associated OECs increased, indicating impaired migration of OECs and OSN axons. In the OB, GFRα1 was expressed in immature OSN axons and OECs of the nerve layer, as well as mitral and tufted cells, but was excluded from GABAergic interneurons. In newborn knock-outs, the nerve layer was dramatically reduced, exhibiting fewer axons and OECs. Bulbs were smaller and presented fewer and disorganized glomeruli and a significant reduction in mitral cells. Numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase-, calbindin-, and calretinin-expressing interneurons were also reduced in newborn mice lackingGfra1. At birth, the OE and OB ofGdnfknock-out mice displayed comparable phenotypes. Similar deficits were also found in adult heterozygousGfra1+/−mutants, which in addition displayed diminished responses in behavioral tests of olfactory function. We conclude that GFRα1 is critical for the development and function of the main olfactory system, contributing to the development and allocation of all major classes of neurons and glial cells.
PPARγ/RXRα-Induced and CD36-Mediated Microglial Amyloid-β Phagocytosis Results in Cognitive Improvement in Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin 1 Mice
Authors: Yamanaka Mitsugu , Ishikawa Taizo , Griep Angelika , Axt Daisy , Kummer Markus P. , Heneka Michael T.
Published: November 2012

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the extracellular deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangle formation, and a microglial-driven inflammatory response. Chronic inflammatory activation compromises microglial clearance functions. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists suppress inflammatory gene expression, we tested whether activation of PPARγ would also result in improved microglial Aβ phagocytosis. The PPARγ agonist pioglitazone and a novel selective PPARα/γ modulator, DSP-8658, currently in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, enhanced the microglial uptake of Aβ in a PPARγ-dependent manner. This PPARγ-stimulated increase of Aβ phagocytosis was mediated by the upregulation of scavenger receptor CD36 expression. In addition, combined treatment with agonists for the heterodimeric binding partners of PPARγ, the retinoid X receptors (RXRs), showed additive enhancement of the Aβ uptake that was mediated by RXRα activation. Evaluation of DSP-8658 in the amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 mouse model confirmed an increased microglial Aβ phagocytosisin vivo, which subsequently resulted in a reduction of cortical and hippocampal Aβ levels. Furthermore, DSP-8658-treated mice showed improved spatial memory performance. Therefore, stimulation of microglial clearance by simultaneous activation of the PPARγ/RXRα heterodimer may prove beneficial in prevention of AD.
Accumulation of α-Synuclein Triggered by Presynaptic Dysfunction
Authors: Nakata Yasuto , Yasuda Toru , Fukaya Masahiro , Yamamori Saori , Itakura Makoto , Nihira Tomoko , Hayakawa Hideki , Kawanami Aya , Kataoka Masakazu , Nagai Makiko , Sakagami Hiroyuki , Takahashi Masami , Mizuno Yoshikuni , Mochizuki Hideki
Published: November 2012

Pathological examination of dementia with Lewy bodies patients identified the presence of abnormal α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates in the presynaptic terminals. αSyn is involved in the regulation of solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex. Importantly, αSyn-transgenic mouse and postmortem examination of patients with Parkinson's disease have demonstrated the abnormal distribution of SNARE protein in presynaptic terminals. In this study, we investigated the effects of SNARE dysfunction on endogenous αSyn usingSnap25S187A/S187Amutant mice. These mice have homozygous knock-in gene encoding unphosphorylatable S187A-substituted synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). The mice displayed a significant age-dependent change in the distribution of αSyn and its Ser129-phosphorylated form in abnormally hypertrophied glutamatergic nerve terminals in the striatum. Electron-microscopic analysis revealed the abnormally condensed synaptic vesicles with concomitant mislocalization of αSyn protein to the periactive zone in the glutamatergic nerve terminals. However, theSnap25S187A/S187Amutant mouse harbored no abnormalities in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Our present results suggest that SNARE dysfunction is the initial trigger of mislocalization and accumulation of αSyn, and probably is an important pathomechanism of α-synucleinopathies.
Developing Intuition: Neural Correlates of Cognitive-Skill Learning in Caudate Nucleus
Authors: Wan Xiaohong , Takano Daisuke , Asamizuya Takeshi , Suzuki Chisato , Ueno Kenichi , Cheng Kang , Ito Takeshi , Tanaka Keiji
Published: November 2012

The superior capability of cognitive experts largely depends on automatic, quick information processing, which is often referred to as intuition. Intuition develops following extensive long-term training. There are many cognitive models on intuition development, but its neural basis is not known. Here we trained novices for 15 weeks to learn a simple board game and measured their brain activities in early and end phases of the training while they quickly generated the best next-move to a given board pattern. We found that the activation in the head of caudate nucleus developed over the course of training, in parallel to the development of the capability to quickly generate the best next-move, and the magnitude of the caudate activity was correlated with the subject's performance. In contrast, cortical activations, which already appeared in the early phase of training, did not further change. Thus, neural activation in the caudate head, but not those in cortical areas, tracked the development of capability to quickly generate the best next-move, indicating that circuitries including the caudate head may automate cognitive computations.
BMP Receptor 1A Regulates Development of Hypothalamic Circuits Critical for Feeding Behavior
Authors: Peng Chian-Yu , Mukhopadhyay Abhishek , Jarrett Jennifer C. , Yoshikawa Kazuaki , Kessler John A.
Published: November 2012

Hypothalamic neural circuits are known to regulate energy homeostasis and feeding behavior, but how these circuits are established during development is not well understood. Here we report that embryonic neural progenitors that express the transcription factor OLIG1 contribute neurons to the ventral hypothalamus including the arcuate nucleus (ARH), a center that regulates feeding behavior. Ablation of bone morphogenetic protein receptor 1a (BMPR1A) in the OLIG1 lineage resulted in hypophagia, hypoglycemia, and weight loss after the second postnatal week with death by week 4. Differentiation and specification of inhibitory hypothalamic neurons contributing to melanocortin and dopaminergic systems were abnormal in the BMPR1A-deficient ARH. Although the hypophagia promoted expression of the orexigenic neuropeptide agouti related protein (AgRP) in the BMPR1A-deficient ARH, there was a profound decrease of AgRP+axonal terminals in the mutant ARH targets including dorsomedial and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei. Projection of AgRP+neurons to these nuclei is known to be regulated by leptin. Leptin injection in neonatal mice increased bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling in the ventral hypothalamus, and blocking BMP signaling prevented leptin-induced neurite outgrowth in ARH explant cultures. These findings suggest that BMPR1A signaling is critical for postnatal establishment of leptin-responsive orexigenic fibers from ARH to multiple hypothalamic nuclei. More generally these observations indicate that BMPR1A signaling regulates postnatal establishment of OLIG1 lineage-derived ARH neuronal circuits that are critical for leptin-mediated feeding behavior.
Information Processing Architecture of Functionally Defined Clusters in the Macaque Cortex
Authors: Shen Kelly , Bezgin Gleb , Hutchison R. Matthew , Gati Joseph S. , Menon Ravi S. , Everling Stefan , McIntosh Anthony R.
Published: November 2012

Computational and empirical neuroimaging studies have suggested that the anatomical connections between brain regions primarily constrain their functional interactions. Given that the large-scale organization of functional networks is determined by the temporal relationships between brain regions, the structural limitations may extend to the global characteristics of functional networks. Here, we explored the extent to which the functional network community structure is determined by the underlying anatomical architecture. We directly compared macaque (Macaca fascicularis) functional connectivity (FC) assessed using spontaneous blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) to directed anatomical connectivity derived from macaque axonal tract tracing studies. Consistent with previous reports, FC increased with increasing strength of anatomical connection, and FC was also present between regions that had no direct anatomical connection. We observed moderate similarity between the FC of each region and its anatomical connectivity. Notably, anatomical connectivity patterns, as described by structural motifs, were different within and across functional modules: partitioning of the functional network was supported by dense bidirectional anatomical connections within clusters and unidirectional connections between clusters. Together, our data directly demonstrate that the FC patterns observed in resting-state BOLD-fMRI are dictated by the underlying neuroanatomical architecture. Importantly, we show how this architecture contributes to the global organizational principles of both functional specialization and integration.
DrosophilaVap-33 Is Required for Axonal Localization of Dscam Isoforms
Authors: Yang Zhen , Huh Sung Un , Drennan J. Michelle , Kathuria Hitesh , Martinez Juan S. , Tsuda Hiroshi , Hall Mark C. , Clemens James C.
Published: November 2012

Mutations in VAPB have been identified in a familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and reduced VAPB levels have been found in patients with sporadic ALS. Vap protein family members from different species and cell types have been implicated in a number of cellular functions, but how Vap dysfunction in neurons and/or muscles contributes to motor neuron degeneration and death is poorly understood. UsingDrosophilaas a model organism, we show that Vap physically interacts with and affects the axonal functions of the Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam). Dscam is a cell-surface receptor involved in axon and dendritic patterning and neuron self-recognition and avoidance. Alternative splicing of the Dscam transcript leads to the production of Dscam isoforms that contain one of two possible transmembrane (TM) domain and flanking sequences that either restrict the isoform to dendrites and cell bodies (TM1) or target the isoform to axon processes (TM2). We find that Vap specifically interacts with Dscam isoforms that contain the TM2 cytoplasmic juxtamembrane flanking sequences. Using loss-of-function genetics, we further show that Vap is required for localization of Dscam isoforms containing TM2 to axons and that Vap loss suppresses Dscam gain-of-function axon phenotypes. We propose that Vap function is required in neurons to selectively traffic proteins to axons, and disruption of this function may contribute to the pathology of ALS.
Anxiety-Related Mechanisms of Respiratory Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome
Authors: Ren Jun , Ding Xiuqing , Funk Gregory D. , Greer John J.
Published: November 2012

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder that is associated with mutations in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. RTT patients suffer from mental retardation and behavioral disorders, including heightened anxiety and state-dependent breathing irregularities, such as hyperventilation and apnea. Many symptoms are recapitulated by theMecp2-null male mice (Mecp2−/y). To characterize developmental progression of the respiratory phenotype and explore underlying mechanisms, we examinedMecp2−/yand wild-type (WT) mice from presymptomatic periods to end-stage disease. We monitored breathing patterns of unrestrained mice during wake–sleep states and while altering stress levels using movement restraint or threatening odorant (trimethylthiazoline). Respiratory motor patterns generated byin situworking heart–brainstem preparations (WHBPs) were measured to assess function of brainstem respiratory networks isolated from suprapontine structures. Data revealed two general stages of respiratory dysfunction inMecp2−/ymice. At the early stage, respiratory abnormalities were limited to wakefulness, correlated with markers of stress (increased fecal deposition and blood corticosterone levels), and alleviated by antalarmin (corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 antagonist). Furthermore, the respiratory rhythm generated by WHBPs was similar in WT andMecp2−/ymice. During the later stage, respiratory abnormalities were evident during wakefulness and sleep. Also, WHBPs fromMecp2−/yshowed central apneas. We conclude that, at early disease stages, stress-related modulation from suprapontine structures is a significant factor in theMecp2−/yrespiratory phenotype and that anxiolytics may be effective. At later stages, abnormalities of brainstem respiratory networks are a significant cause of irregular breathing patterns and central apneas.
Spinal and Supraspinal Control of the Direction of Stepping during Locomotion
Authors: Musienko Pavel E. , Zelenin Pavel V. , Lyalka Vladimir F. , Gerasimenko Yury P. , Orlovsky Grigory N. , Deliagina Tatiana G.
Published: November 2012

Most bipeds and quadrupeds, in addition to forward walking, are also capable of backward and sideward walking. The direction of walking is determined by the direction of stepping movements of individual limbs in relation to the front-to-rear body axis. Our goal was to assess the functional organization of the system controlling the direction of stepping. Experiments were performed on decerebrate cats walking on the treadmill with their hindlimbs, whereas the head and trunk were rigidly fixed. Different directions of the treadmill motion relative to the body axis were used (0, ±45, ±90, and 180°). For each direction, we compared locomotion evoked from the brainstem (by stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region, MLR) with locomotion evoked by epidural stimulation of the spinal cord (SC).

It was found that SC stimulation evoked well coordinated stepping movements at different treadmill directions. The direction of steps was opposite to the treadmill motion, suggesting that this direction was determined by sensory input from the limb during stance. Thus, SC stimulation activates limb controllers, which are able to generate stepping movements in different directions. By contrast, MLR stimulation evoked well coordinated stepping movements only if the treadmill was moving in the front-to-rear direction. One can conclude that supraspinal commands (caused by MLR stimulation) select one of the numerous forms of operation of the spinal limb controllers, namely, the forward walking. The MLR can thus be considered as a command center for forward locomotion, which is the main form of progression in bipeds and quadrupeds.
Rethinking Appropriation of the Indigenous
Authors: Waldron David , Newton Janice
Published: November 2012

The aim of this paper is to set out the effects of romanticism on attitudes of the New Age movement to Indigenous Aboriginal Australian culture and people. Past scholarship has clearly expounded insensitive and exploitative New Age appropriation of Indigenous culture and emphasized inequalities in the power to represent one's own group. Essentialist, romantic stereotypes detract from deep understanding of Indigenous Australians, and negotiated solutions are not really possible when the parties involved are in grossly unequal circumstances. Scholarship acknowledges diversity within Indigenous groups and the New Age movement as well as convergences and reciprocal cultural borrowing, often within romantic epistemologies. A simple dichotomy of cultural theft by New Age practitioners from Indigenous Australians is inadequate to explain the complexities of the interaction.
Changes in Metabolic Syndrome in American and Korean Youth, 1997–2008
Authors: Lim Soo , Jang Hak Chul , Park Kyong Soo , Cho Sung Il , Lee Man-Gyoon , Joung Hyojee , Mozumdar Arupendra , Liguori Gary
Published: December 2012

BACKGROUND:

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) in children and adolescence is increasing worldwide; however, its pattern may be different between Asians and Americans. We compare the prevalence and patterns of MetSyn between American and Korean children and adolescents between roughly 1998 and 2007.

METHODS:

Data from the American and Korean versions of the NHANES (NHANES and KNHANES) were used for this study. The main outcome is prevalence and pattern of MetSyn among participants separately in each country. In each survey, stratified multistage probability sampling designs and weighting adjustments were conducted to represent the entire population. The revised National Cholesterol Education Program criteria were used to define MetSyn.

RESULTS:

Totals of 934, 1781, and 1690 Americans aged 12 to 19 participated in NHANES 1988–1994, NHANES 1999–2002, and NHANES 2003–2006, respectively; and 1225, 976, 705, and 456 Koreans aged 12 to 19 have participated in KNHANES 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2007. The age-adjusted prevalence of MetSyn in American NHANES decreased from 7.3% to 6.7% and 6.5%, whereas in Korean NHANES there was an increase from 4.0% to 5.9%, 6.6%, and 7.8% in each country’s respective study. Increases in dyslipidemia and abdominal obesity contributed to the increased prevalence in Korea, whereas in the United States, decreases in low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia and high blood pressure contributed to a decreased prevalence.

CONCLUSIONS:

Considering different phenotype changes, different approaches should be conducted at the national level to reduce the burden and consequences of MetSyn between Korea and the United States.
Nanostructured Zinc Oxide Piezoelectric Energy Generators Based on Semiconductor P-N Junctions
Authors: Briscoe Joe , Stewart Mark , Vopson Melvin , Cain Markys , Weaver Paul M. , Dunn Steve
Published: November 2012

ZnO nanorods grown on plastic substrates by chemical methods are combined with both inorganic and organic p-type materials to make flexible p-n junction devices. When bent the devices generate both voltage and current peaks, which is attributed to the piezoelectric effect in the ZnO nanorods. The best device produces a maximum possible power density of 100 nWcm‑2. When vibrated at a constant frequency the voltage output by the devices scales linearly with vibration amplitude. Also, when illuminated the output of the devices drops. These effects are consistent with a piezoelectric source of the voltage.
Hydrogen Generation for 500 hours by Photoelectrolysis of Water using GaN
Authors: Ohara W. , Uchida D. , Hayashi T. , Deura M. , Ohkawa K.
Published: November 2012

We confirmed that GaN photocatalyst with NiO cocatalyst (GaN-NiO) continuously produced hydrogen from water for 500 hours without any extra bias. The GaN-NiO photocatalyst was hardly etched and 184-mL hydrogen gas was produced from the electric charge of 1612 coulombs, the Faradic efficiency of which was 89.2%. The conversion efficiency from incident light energy to hydrogen chemical energy was 0.98% in average for 500 h. The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) was 50% at 300 nm and 35% at 350 nm after the experiment, which was much higher than those of other semiconductor-based photocatalysts.
Raman spectra of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots bioconjugated to ovarian cancer antibodies
Authors: Quintos Vazquez A.L. , Torchynska T. V. , Shcherbyna L.
Published: November 2012

This paper presents the analysis of Raman scattering spectra of CdSe/ZnS QDs covered by the amine-derivatized polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer with and without bioconjugation to bio-molecules: mouse ovarian cancer (OC 125) antibodies (mab). Commercial CdSe/ZnS QDs used in the study are characterized by the color emission with the maximum at 525 nm (2.36 eV) at 300K. Samples of CdSe/ZnS QDs (bio-conjugated and non -conjugated) in the form of an 5 mm-size spot were dried on a polished surface of crystalline Si substrate to ensure a low level of light scattering background.

Raman scattering spectra of non-conjugated QDs can be presented as a superposition of Raman lines: 212.2, 222.5, 308.3, 440.3, 521.0, 618.0, 667.8 943.5, 986.7, cm-1related to the CdSe core and silicon substrate. The Raman lines 1003.9, 1317.8, 1452.9, 1656.8, 2870.4, 2931.8 and 3059.9 cm-1deal with the vibration of COH, CH and OH groups of polymer, which covered QDs, were detected additionally. It is revealed that the QD bio-conjugation to the OC 125 antibodies is accompanied with the changes in the intensity of all types of Raman lines: related to the CdSe core, silicon substrate and polymer groups. The explanation of bioconjugation effects has been proposed and discussed.
The Nanoporous Metallisation of Insulating Substrates through Photocatalytically Initiated Electroless Deposition (PIED)
Authors: Bromley Michael A. , Boxall Colin
Published: November 2012

We report the novel use of semiconductor photocatalysis for the deposition of metal onto insulating surfaces and the in-process formation of nano-structured porosity within this metal. In the process of Photocatalytically Initiated Electroless Deposition (PIED) we have developed a controllable, spatially selective and versatile metallisation technique with several advantages over traditional, non-photocatalytic techniques such as enhanced controllability and purity of the deposit as well as reduced operational costs and environmental impact. With the addition of a self-assembled, hexagonally close-packed microparticle template to the substrate prior to metal deposition, PIED can be used to fabricate thin metal films with highly ordered porosity on the nano-scale. Nanoporous metallisation in this way is able to produce substrates with potentially wide applications such as membrane and separation technology, energy storage and sensors – especially surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS).
Evaluation of colloidal CdSe quantum dots with metal chalcogenide ligands for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Zhang Yiqiang , Acharya R. , Cao X. A.
Published: November 2012

Exchanging the original organic ligands of colloidal CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with metal chalcogenide SnS4 ligands resulted in absorption peak redshifts and complete photoluminescence quenching in QD solids. The ITO/QDs/Al structure with SnS4-capped QDs showed much higher electrical conductivity and reduced space-charge limited current. These results are indicative of carrier delocalization as well as enhanced inter-QD electronic coupling caused by the inorganic ligands. The SnS4-capped QDs were able to retain strong excitonic absorption. The photocurrent spectral response of the all-inorganic QD film resembled its absorption spectra, and was three orders of magnitude stronger than that of QDs with organic ligands. It was found that mild annealing at ∼ 200 oC transformed the SnS4-capped QD film into to a more conductive assembly, degrading its absorption and photocurrent generation. These findings suggest that colloidal QDs with metal chalcogenide ligands are better suited for solar energy conversion and photodetection than use in light-emitting devices as luminophores.
Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Coated with pH-Responsive Polymers and Evaluation of the Cellular Uptake
Authors: Ito Takeo , Kusaka Eriko , Isobe Yu , Nishimoto Sei-ichi
Published: November 2012

Gold nanorods (AuNRs) show surface plasmon absorption bands in the near-infrared region. This characteristic property has stimulated utilization of gold nanorods as novel nanoprobes for noninvasive bioimaging, such as photoacoustic tomography. Herein, we discuss the synthesis of a series of gold nanorods coated with pH-responsive polymers to investigate the effect of the surface structure and zeta potential of nanoparticles on cellular uptake via a surface charge-mediated endocytic pathway. The surface of the gold nanorods was modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG@AuNR) and tertiary amine derivatives, specifically, diethylaminoethyl ester (1@AuNRs), its amide analog (2@AuNRs), and dimethylaminoethyl ester (3@AuNRs). It was found that the pH-sensitivity of1@AuNRs was relatively high and the surface was positively charged at lower pH. In contrast, the tertiary amino group of1@AuNRs was deprotonated to form an electrostatically neutral surface at higher pH. The pH-responsive gold nanorods were incubated with A549 cells (human lung cancer cells) to quantify the amount of cellular uptake using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results indicate that1@AuNRs can be taken up efficiently in the cells, and thereafter, slowly flow out of the cells. Interestingly, only small amounts of the amide analog (2@AuNRs) were taken into the cells, suggesting minor structural changes may affect the interaction between the cell surface and AuNRs. This study highlights a potential application of pH-sensitive nanorods as a probe for bioimaging the acidic environment of tumors.
Demonstration of biocompatibility of single walled carbon nanotubes with blood leukocytes
Authors: Medepalli Krishnakiran , Alphenaar Bruce , Raj Ashok , Sethu Palaniappan
Published: November 2012

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) possess unique structural and functional properties. Their ability to be functionalized with different biomolecules makes them excellent candidates for biomedical applications like targeted drug delivery and cancer diagnostics. However, prior to use in therapeutic applications, biocompatibility of SWNTs needs to be thoroughly investigated. Blood is a living tissue and contains cells which can potentially interact with SWNTs during the drug delivery process. The interaction of leukocytes in blood with the SWNTs can provide information regarding the immune response of the host to the nanotubes. Here, we evaluated the acute immune response of leukocytes in blood to SWNTs via (a) direct interaction, due to the presence of SWNTs in circulation and (b) indirect interaction, due to the presentation of SWNTs to leukocytes via antigen presenting cells. These SWNTs were non-covalently functionalized with single stranded DNA (ss-DNA) that acts as a surfactant for suspending SWNTs in aqueous solutions and also serves as a backbone for attaching and transporting different biomolecules. Isolation of cells from blood was done using density gradient centrifugation. Early activation markers were used to study the activation of different leukocyte subpopulations and any activation results in changes of these markers. Flow cytometry was done to analyze the different subpopulations. Results of our study demonstrated that ss-DNA functionalized SWNTs do not elicit an immune response from leukocytes in blood via direct or indirect interaction. This intensive study demonstrates the biocompatibility of single walled carbon nanotubes and paves the way for their safe use in drug delivery and cancer therapeutics without cytotoxicity.
A Multiscale Approach to Assess the Effect of Multilevel Structuring on the Properties of Hierarchical Lattice Materials
Authors: Vigliotti Andrea , Pasini Damiano
Published: November 2012

Natural materials have often a defined multilevel hierarchy which governs their macroscopic mechanical properties. Cork, sponge and bone are only a few examples. These materials are generally heterogeneous and can exhibit a cellular pattern, i.e. a partition of a solid with voids, at multiple levels of the structural hierarchy. It is well known that the arrangement of the voids plays a major role in the overall performance of the material. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the nesting of cellular patterns at different levels confers remarkable mechanical properties to the structure.

This paper presents a multiscale approach to the analysis of a hierarchical structure which exhibits nested levels of lattice, i.e. regular periodic patterns of voids occur at different length scales. A number of three-dimensional topologies as well as the effect of lattice geometry parameters have been investigated. The results of the analysis are plotted onto material property charts. The visualization of the properties helps gain insight into the contribution that each hierarchical layer imparts to the overall properties of a component hierarchically structured with lattice materials.
THE THIRD GENERATION OF THE DIRAC CONE AS A PROOF OF STACKED 2D ELECTRON SYSTEMS IN IRON PNICTIDES
Authors: Kusakabe Koichi
Published: November 2012

The nodal SDW order parameter on a cylindrical Fermi surface is thought to create the Dirac cone in the metallic ground state of iron pnictides and iron chalcogenides. Confirming appearance of the Dirac cone in DFT-GGA solutions of FeSe, we discuss origin of the bulk SDW order parameter in the stacked two-dimensional electronic system. In a layered system with vanishingly small inter-layer single-particle hopping processes, the exchange channels derived for the inter-plane magnetic interaction is the super-exchange counterpart of the two-particle Coulomb scattering for the pair-hopping channel in the layered superconductivity. The fluctuation reference method of the multi-reference density functional theory concludes existence of the inter-layer super-exchange interaction by the Coulomb off-diagonal elements among orbitals in the semi-metallic band structure. Thus a proof of 2D nature of the third generation Dirac cone in iron pnictides induced by SDW also promotes understanding of the high-temperature superconductivity.
Structure and Mechanical Performance of Teleost Fish Scales
Authors: Zhu Deju , Szewciw Lawrence , Vernerey Franck , Barthelat Francois
Published: November 2012

In this work, we have studied the structure and mechanics of fish scales from striped bass (Morone saxatilis). This scale is about 200-300 μm thick and consists of a hard outer bony layer supported by a softer cross-ply of collagen fibrils. Puncture tests with a sharp needle indicated that a single fish scale provides a high resistance to penetration which is superior to polystyrene and polycarbonate, two engineering polymers that are typically used for light transparent packaging or protective equipment. Under puncture, the scale undergoes a sequence of two distinct failure events: First, the outer bony layer cracks following a well defined cross-like pattern which generates four “flaps” of bony material. The deflection of the flaps by the needle is resisted by the collagen layer, which in biaxial tension acts as a retaining membrane. Remarkably this second stage of the penetration process is highly stable, so that an additional 50% puncture force is required to eventually penetrate the collagen layer. The combination of a hard layer that can fail in a controlled fashion with a soft and extensible backing layer is the key to the resistance to penetration of individual scales.
Standards & Regulations in the United States: What Went Wrong?
Authors: Ewing Rodney C.
Published: November 2012

In this paper, I discuss the basis for the following recommendations for the development of standards and regulations for the long-term disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste in a geologic repository:

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The standard and supporting regulations for the licensing of a geologic repository should begeneric- applicable to all potential sites. These standards and regulations should be finalized prior to the site-selection process.

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Site-selection should be based on a set of common-sense criteria [1]. If during site characterization process it is discovered that the site does not meet the technical criteria, the site should be abandoned. These criteria should not only consider the characteristics of the site, but should also include careful consideration of the degree to which a site can be analyzed. Unnecessary complexity may jeopardize the confidence in the analysis of a suitable site.

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The standard must acknowledge and adapt its structure and standard-of-proof to the fact that there are two time-scales of interest: thehuman time-scalethat extends to some thousands of years and thegeologic time-scalethat extends to many hundreds of thousands of years. Reasonable and robust containment at both time scales is possible, but the type of analysis and standard-of-proof will be different for each.

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Because there are two time-scales and because the types of “proof” for each are very different, the total system analysis of performance, reduced to a single numerical estimate of risk at some very distant time, should be abandoned. The standard should not require scientists and engineers to complete an analysis that is at its best opaque and at its worst not believable.
Transparency and Public Participation in Radioactive Waste Management
Authors: Zakrzewska-Trznadel Grazyna , Andersson Kjell
Published: November 2012

Selection of appropriate sites for disposal of radioactive waste, especially high level waste and spent nuclear fuel, is a controversial task, not only from technological but also from societal point of view. A key part of the nuclear facility development is public consultation before the siting, construction and operation of the new repository. All decisions on these issues should be made in clear and transparent manner. The involvement of the local community from the very beginning of planning process may avoid faults and misunderstandings resulting in social objections and organized protests in future. To enhance the public participation in decision-making process several approaches of communication with the society were elaborated in the countries with well-developed nuclear power industry. Special models for communicating with stakeholders to build the acceptance and confidence concerning the radioactive waste management may be also helpful for Poland – the country entering the nuclear energy pathway. An effort to adapt the RISCOM Process developed in Sweden and also implemented in Czech Republic, to Polish conditions will be made in the scope of the EC-FP 7 IPPA project.
Corrosion behavior of spent nuclear fuel in high pH solutions – Effect of hydrogen
Authors: Loida A. , Gens R. , Bube C. , Lemmens K. , Cachoir C. , Mennecart T. , Kienzler B.
Published: November 2012

In accordance with the Belgian “supercontainer design”, spent nuclear fuel (SNF) will be encapsulated in carbon steel canisters, surrounded by a concrete overpack for disposal in poorly-indurated clay. After re-saturation of the barriers by porewater, interactions with the concrete will result in solutions rich in NaOH, KOH and Ca(OH)2. Corrosion studies of SNF in ECW-type solution (Evolved Cement Water) and YCWCa-type solution (Young Cement Water with Ca) were performed under externally applied H2 overpressures over 426 days. Directly after H2 application, Tc concentrations decreased from >10-8 M to concentrations below detection limit. Based on the fractional release of selected fission products, low matrix dissolution rates of ~10-8/day were found in both experiments. U concentrations decreased finally to 1.5•10-9 M (YCWCa) and to 2.1•10-10 M (ECW), respectively. Am, Np and Pu concentrations were found throughout the experiments below their detection limits indicating an effective retention process.
Making a scene
Authors: Tenold Stig
Published: November 2012

Music scenes have frequently been closely related to geographical locations: Merseybeat and Liverpool; Motown, techno and Detroit; and grunge and Seattle. In Norway, the term ‘the Bergen wave’ characterizes periods where specific artists from Bergen have been particularly prominent. The term emerged in the beginning of the 1990s, but resurfaced—linked to a new generation of artists—around ten years later. This article investigates to what extent a specific phenomenon within music, such as the Bergen wave, is evident through chart and critical success. The data shows that while the second Bergen wave was characterized by both high sales and critical acclaim, the first wave was primarily a media phenomenon, with critical acclaim but limited commercial success.
Post-colonial consciousness, knowledge production, and identity inscription within Filipino American hip hop music
Authors: Harrison Anthony
Published: December 2012

Over the past decade a distinctly Filipino American rap music movement has emerged on the West Coast of the United States. At its core, the political thrust of this music is founded on a critique of US Empire that considers its historical and contemporary implications for people of colour and the working class. Through examining (1) the social location of Filipino youth within contemporary American urban landscapes, (2) the extent to which their marginalized position has involved dimensions of historical racialization, (3) the ability of young Filipino Americans to gain a foothold in hip hop’s other expressive forms, and (4) the current rise of Filipino Studies as an academic field, this essay explores how an emergent post-colonial consciousness contributes to Filipino American claims to hip hop authenticity and serves a vehicle through which to utilize rap as a medium for extending a grassroots knowledge-building tradition.
Fotopedologia, espectroscopia e sistema de informação geográfica na caracterização de solos desenvolvidos do Grupo Barreiras no Amapá
Authors: Demattê José Alexandre Melo , Vasques Gustavo de Mattos , Corrêa Edvânia Aparecida , Arruda Gustavo Pais de
Published: November 2012

O presente trabalho utilizou ferramentas de sensoriamento remoto e sistema de informação geográfica, aliadas às informações espectrais do solo e quantitativas e qualitativas do relevo, para a caracterização e discriminação das classes de solos desenvolvidos do Grupo Barreiras na região do município de Porto Grande, Amapá. Após o mapeamento semidetalhado de solos, realizou-se a caracterização pontual das amostras dos perfis por meio de espectroscopia de visível e infravermelho (400-2500 nm), e a análise espacial das redes de drenagem e relevo a partir de fotos aéreas e imagens de radar. As informações quantitativas do relevo foram mais eficientes na caracterização e discriminação dos solos estudados do que as qualitativas, enquanto as informações espectrais permitiram caracterizar os solos em nível pontual. Métodos espaciais utilizando redes de drenagem e relevo e métodos espectrais utilizando amostras pontuais complementam-se na caracterização e discriminação de solos na paisagem.