bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting extreme rainfall events over Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: impact of data assimilation with conventional and satellite observations
Authors: Yesubabu Viswanadhapalli , Srinivas Challa Venkata , Langodan Sabique , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: August 2015

The impact of variational data assimilation for predicting two heavy rainfall events that caused devastating floods in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is studied using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. On 25 November 2009 and 26 January 2011, the city was deluged with more than double the annual rainfall amount, caused by convective storms. We used a high‐resolution, two‐way nested domain WRF model to simulate the two rainfall episodes. Simulations include control runs initialized with National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecasting System (GFS) data and three‐dimensional variational (3D‐Var) data assimilation experiments conducted by assimilating NCEP PREPBUFR and radiance observations. Observations from Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), synoptic charts, radar reflectivity and satellite pictures from the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME), Jeddah are used to assess the forecasting results. To evaluate the impact of the different assimilated observational datasets on the simulation of the major flooding event of 2009, we conducted 3D‐Var experiments assimilating individual sources and a combination of all datasets. Results suggest that while the control run had a tendency to predict the storm earlier than observed, the assimilation of profile observations greatly improved the model's thermodynamic structure and led to better representation of simulated rainfall both in timing and amount. The experiment with assimilation of all available observations compared best with observed rainfall in terms of timing of the storm and rainfall distribution, demonstrating the importance of assimilating different types of observations. Retrospective experiments with and without data assimilation, for three different model lead times (48, 72 and 96 h), were performed to examine the skill of the WRF model to predict the heavy rainfall events. Quantitative rainfall analysis of these simulations suggests that 48 h lead time runs with assimilation of all observational data provide the best statistical scores.
Partial consensus of identical feedforward dynamic systems with input saturations
Authors: Lim Young‐Hun , Ahn Hyo‐Sung
Published: August 2015

This paper studies the partial consensus problem for identical feedforward dynamic systems with input saturations. We construct two consensus protocols using the partial‐state information and full‐state information, respectively. Applying a change of coordinates, feedforward system is transformed into the block diagonal form. Then, by utilizing the bounded real lemma and small gain theorem, we solve the partial consensus problem, and the existence of each protocol is derived. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Doping GeSb2Te4 with Cr3+: Structure and Temperature‐Dependent Physical Properties
Authors: Welzmiller Simon , Schlegel Robert , Pöppl Andreas , Bothmann Georg , Scheidt Ernst‐Wilhelm , Scherer Wolfgang , Oeckler Oliver
Published: August 2015

The tellurides Ge0.94Cr0.04Sb2Te4 and Ge0.88Cr0.08Sb2Te4 were synthesized in sealed silica glass ampoules. Rietveld refinements show that they crystallize in the 21R‐In3Te4 structure type (Rm), similar to undoped GeSb2Te4. The composition and phase purity were confirmed by ICP‐AES as well as by SEM and TEM, including EDX measurements. EPR spectroscopy reveals the valence state +III for the Cr atoms (g = 1.990) in Ge0.88Cr0.08Sb2Te4, which agrees well with the Cr3+ content calculated from the inverse magnetic susceptibility. The material exhibits a ferromagnetic fluctuations with a paramagnetic Curie temperature of 70 K ± 20 K and is a metallic conductor. Compared to GeSb2Te4, the electrical conductivity is increased by a factor of 2.5. As Cr doping further leads to a higher Seebeck coefficient, the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT reaches values of up to 0.3 at 500 °C, i.e. three times the value of undoped material.
Contribution of autophagy to antiviral immunity
Authors: Rey-Jurado Emma , Riedel Claudia A. , González Pablo A. , Bueno Susan M. , Kalergis Alexis M.
Published: August 2015

Although identified in the 1960's, interest in autophagy has significantly increased in the past decade with notable research efforts oriented at understanding as to how this multi‐protein complex operates and is regulated. Autophagy is commonly defined as a “self‐eating” process evolved by eukaryotic cells to recycle senescent organelles and expired proteins, which is significantly increased during cellular stress responses. In addition, autophagy can also play important roles during human diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. Furthermore, novel findings suggest that autophagy contributes to the host defense against microbial infections. In this article, we review the role of macroautophagy in antiviral immune responses and discuss molecular mechanisms evolved by viral pathogens to evade this process. A role for autophagy as an effector mechanism used both, by innate and adaptive immunity is also discussed.
Dealing with Deportability: Deportation Laws and the Political Personhood of Temporary Migrant Workers in Singapore
Authors: BAL Charanpal S.
Published: August 2015

By severely constraining the political personhood of temporary migrant workers, states’ use of deportation laws seeks to curb agitation among these workers. Despite this, various episodes of unrest have been witnessed in both liberal and illiberal regimes across Asia. Drawing on a case study of Bangladeshi migrant construction workers in Singapore, this paper examines the development of migrant labour politics as deportation laws, and their enforcement, construct these workers as “use-and-discard” economic subjects. Data for the paper are drawn from multi-level sources—government, industry, media, and non-governmental organization (NGO) reports; interviews with key actors; and a participant observation stint in a construction firm—collected between 2010 and 2014. The paper argues that, rather than solely constraining, deportability serves as a constituent of certain forms of tactical worker contestations in the workplace. Specifically, under different workplace conditions, deportability can translate into differing forms of worker tactics, ranging from accommodation to confrontation and desertion. The outcomes of these strategies, in turn, have significant repercussions for the ways in which civil society groups and state-actors, respectively, challenge and reconfigure the political personhood of temporary migrant workers.
Housestaff Knowledge Related to Urinary Catheter Use and Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Paras Molly L. , Shenoy Erica S. , Hsu Heather E. , Walensky Rochelle P. , Hooper David C.
Published: August 2015

Despite published catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention guidelines, inappropriate catheter use is common. We surveyed housestaff about their knowledge of catheter-associated urinary tract infections at a teaching hospital and found most are aware of prevention guidelines; however, their application to clinical scenarios and catheter practices fall short of national goals.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(11):1355–1357
Computing multi-mode shock-induced compressible turbulent mixing at late times
Authors: Oggian T. , Drikakis D. , Youngs D. L. , Williams R. J. R.
Published: August 2015

Both experiments and numerical simulations pertinent to the study of self-similarity in shock-induced turbulent mixing often do not cover sufficiently long times for the mixing layer to become developed in a fully turbulent manner. When the Mach number of the flow is sufficiently low, numerical simulations based on the compressible flow equations tend to become less accurate due to inherent numerical cancellation errors. This paper concerns a numerical study of the late-time behaviour of a single-shocked Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) and the associated compressible turbulent mixing using a new technique that addresses the above limitation. The present approach exploits the fact that the RMI is a compressible flow during the early stages of the simulation and incompressible at late times. Therefore, depending on the compressibility of the flow field, the most suitable model, compressible or incompressible, can be employed. This motivates the development of a hybrid compressible–incompressible solver that removes the low-Mach-number limitations of the compressible solvers, thus allowing numerical simulations of late-time mixing. Simulations have been performed for a multi-mode perturbation at the interface between two fluids of densities corresponding to an Atwood number of 0.5, and results are presented for the development of the instability, mixing parameters and turbulent kinetic energy spectra. The results are discussed in comparison with previous compressible simulations, theory and experiments.
Particle-size and -density segregation in granular free-surface flows
Authors: Gray J. M. N. T. , Ancey C.
Published: August 2015

When a mixture of particles, which differ in both their size and their density, avalanches downslope, the grains can either segregate into layers or remain mixed, dependent on the balance between particle-size and particle-density segregation. In this paper, binary mixture theory is used to generalize models for particle-size segregation to include density differences between the grains. This adds considerable complexity to the theory, since the bulk velocity is compressible and does not uncouple from the evolving concentration fields. For prescribed lateral velocities, a parabolic equation for the segregation is derived which automatically accounts for bulk compressibility. It is similar to theories for particle-size segregation, but has modified segregation and diffusion rates. For zero diffusion, the theory reduces to a quasilinear first-order hyperbolic equation that admits solutions with discontinuous shocks, expansion fans and one-sided semi-shocks. The distance for complete segregation is investigated for different inflow concentrations, particle-size segregation rates and particle-density ratios. There is a significant region of parameter space where the grains do not separate completely, but remain partially mixed at the critical concentration at which size and density segregation are in exact balance. Within this region, a particle may rise or fall dependent on the overall composition. Outside this region of parameter space, either size segregation or density segregation dominates and particles rise or fall dependent on which physical mechanism has the upper hand. Two-dimensional steady-state solutions that include particle diffusion are computed numerically using a standard Galerkin solver. These simulations show that it is possible to define a Péclet number for segregation that accounts for both size and density differences between the grains. When this Péclet number exceeds 10 the simple hyperbolic solutions provide a very useful approximation for the segregation distance and the height of rapid concentration changes in the full diffusive solution. Exact one-dimensional solutions with diffusion are derived for the steady-state far-field concentration.
Microswimmer-induced chaotic mixing
Authors: Jalali Mir Abbas , Khoshnood Atefeh , Alam Mohammad-Reza
Published: August 2015

Efficient mixing, typically characterised by chaotic advection, is hard to achieve in low Reynolds number conditions because of the linear nature of the Stokes equation that governs the motion. Here we show that low Reynolds number swimmers moving in quasi-periodic orbits can result in considerable stretching and folding of fluid elements. We accurately follow packets of tracers within the fluid domain and show that their trajectories become chaotic as the swimmer’s trajectory densely fills its invariant torus. The mixing process is demonstrated in two dimensions using the Quadroar swimmer that autonomously propels and tumbles along quasi-periodic orbits with multi-loop turning trajectories. We demonstrate and discuss that the streamlines of the flow induced by the Quadroar closely resemble the oscillatory flow field of the green algaChlamydomonas reinhardtii. Our findings can thus be utilized to understand the interactions of microorganisms with their environments, and to design autonomous robotic mixers that can sweep and mix an entire volume of complex geometry containers.
Abusive supervision and turnover intentions: The mediating role of perceived organisational support
Authors: Haar Jarrod M. , de Fluiter Alida , Brougham David
Published: August 2015

Abusive supervision has a significant impact on employee turnover intentions. An underexplored factor in this area is the influence of support: we test perceived organisational support as a mediator. The present study utilised data from three distinct populations within New Zealand: (1) ethnically diverse blue-collar workers, (2) Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) employees, and (3) Chinese employees working within New Zealand. Structural equation modelling from the combined sample of 432 respondents (in total) showed that the indirect-effects model fit the data best, where abusive supervision was positively related to turnover intentions and negatively towards perceived organisational support; while support was negatively related to turnover intentions. Our findings bear out the notion that organisational support mediates the influence of abusive supervision on turnover intentions, highlighting the effect of organisational influence within this area. By exploring these relationships on three distinct populations, this study improves the generalisability of the related theories.
Testing a Mixture of Rank Preference Models on Judges' Scores in Paris and Princeton
Authors: Bodington Jeffrey C.
Published: August 2015

Rank preference and mixture models have been employed to evaluate the ranks assigned by consumers in taste tests of beans, cheese, crackers, salad dressings, soft drinks, sushi, animal feed, and wine. In many wine tastings, including the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris and the 2012 Judgment of Princeton, judges assign scores rather than ranks, and those scores often include ties. This article advances the application of ranking and mixture models to wine-tasting results by modifying the established use of a Plackett-Luce rank preference model to accommodate scores and ties. The modified model is tested and then employed to evaluate the Paris and Princeton wine-tasting results. Test results show that the mixture model is an accurate predictor of observed rank densities. Results for Paris and Princeton show that the group preference orders implied by the mixture model are highly correlated with the orders implied by widely employed rank-sum methods. However, the mixture model satisfies choice axioms that rank-sum methods do not, it yields an estimate of the proportion of scores that appear to be assigned randomly, and it also yields a preference order based on nonrandom preferences that tasters appear to hold in common. (JEL Classifications: A10, C00, C10, C12, D12)
Lutein intake at the age of 1 year and cardiometabolic health at the age of 6 years: the Generation R Study
Authors: Leermakers Elisabeth T. M. , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica C. , Hofman Albert , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Franco Oscar H.
Published: August 2015

Lutein is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties. Previous studies in adults suggest a beneficial role of lutein on cardiometabolic health. However, it is unknown whether this relation also exists in children; therefore, we aimed to assess the relation between lutein intake at 13 months of age and cardiometabolic outcomes at the age of 6 years. We included 2044 Dutch children participating in a population-based prospective cohort study. Diet was measured at 13 months of age with an FFQ. Lutein intake was standardised for energy and β-carotene intake. Blood pressure, anthropometrics, serum lipids and insulin were measured at the age of 6 years. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed to measure total and regional fat and lean mass. A continuous cardiometabolic risk factor score was created, including the components body fat percentage, blood pressure, insulin, HDL-cholesterol and TAG. Age- and sex-specific standard deviation scores were created for all outcomes. Multivariable linear regression was performed, including socio-demographic and lifestyle variables. Median (energy-standardised) lutein intake was 1317 mcg/d (95 % range 87, 6069 mcg/d). There were no consistent associations between lutein intake at 13 months and anthropometrics and body composition measures at 6 years of age. In addition, lutein intake was not associated with a continuous cardiometabolic risk factor score, nor was it associated with any of the individual components of the cardiometabolic risk factor score. Results from this large population-based prospective cohort study do not support the hypothesis that lutein intake early in life has a beneficial role for later cardiometabolic health.
Establishment of the biochemical and endocrine blood profiles in the Majorera and Palmera dairy goat breeds: the effect of feed restriction
Authors: Lérias Joana R , Peña Raquel , Hernández-Castellano Lorenzo E , Capote Juan , Castro Noemí , Argüello Anastasio , Araújo Susana S , Saco Yolanda , Bassols Anna , Almeida André M
Published: August 2015

Feed restriction, and seasonal weight loss (SWL), are major setbacks for animal production in the tropics and the Mediterranean. They may be solved through the use of autochthonous breeds particularly well adapted to SWL. It is therefore of major importance to determine markers of tolerance to feed restriction of putative use in animal selection. Two indigenous breeds from the Canary Islands, Palmera and Majorera, are commonly used by dairy goat farmers and, interestingly, have different phenotype characteristics albeit with a common ancestry. Indeed, Majorera is well adapted to feed restriction whereas the Palmera is susceptible to feed restriction. In addition, regardless of their importance in dairy production, there are only a limited number of reports relating to these breeds and, to the best of our knowledge, there is no description of their blood metabolite standard values under control conditions or as affected by feed restriction. In this study we analysed the blood metabolite profiles in Majorera and Palmera goats aiming to establish the differential responses to feed restriction between the two breeds and to characterise their metabolite standard values under control conditions. We observed significant differences in creatinine, urea, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), cholesterol, IGF-1 and T3 due to underfeeding. Furthermore, a PCA analysis, revealed that animals submitted to undernutrition could be distinguished from the control groups, with the formation of three separate clusters (Palmera individuals after 22 d of subnutrition (PE22); Majorera individuals after 22 d of subnutrition (ME22) and animals assigned to control conditions (MC0, MC22, PC0 and PC22)), highlighting different responses of the two breeds to undernutrition.
Heated birthing pools as a source of Legionnaires' disease
Authors: COLLINS S. L. , AFSHAR B. , WALKER J. T. , AIRD H. , NAIK F. , PARRY-FORD F. , PHIN N. , HARRISON T. G. , CHALKER V. J. , SORRELL S. , CRESSWELL T.
Published: August 2015

In June 2014 Public Health England confirmed a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) in a neonate following birth at home in a hired birthing pool incorporating a heater and a recirculation pump which had been filled in advance of labour. The case triggered a public health investigation and a microbiological survey of an additional ten heated birthing pools hired or recently hired to the general public across England. The birthing pool used by the parent of the confirmed case was identified as the source of the neonate's infection following detection ofLegionella pneumophilaST48 in both patient and environmental samples.Legionellaspecies were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction but not culture in a further three pools together with other opportunistic pathogens identified by culture and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI–ToF) mass spectrometry. A Patient Safety Alert from NHS England and Public Health England was issued stating that heated birthing pools filled in advance of labour should not be used for home births. This recommendation remains in place. This investigation in conjunction with other recent reports has highlighted a lack of awareness regarding the microbiological safety of heated birthing pools and their potential to be a source of LD and other opportunistic infections. Furthermore, the investigation raised important considerations with regards to microbiological sampling and testing in such incidents. Public health authorities and clinicians should consider LD in the differential diagnosis of severe respiratory infection in neonates within 14 days of a water birth.
PENETRATION OF SPHERICAL GOLD NANOPARTICLE INTO A LIPID BILAYER
Authors: BAOWAN D.
Published: August 2015

Safety issues for the use of products containing nanoparticles need to be considered, since these nanoparticles may break through human skin to damage cells. In this paper, applied mathematical techniques are used to model the penetration of a spherical gold nanoparticle into an assumed circular hole in a lipid bilayer. The 6–12 Lennard-Jones potential is employed, and the total molecular interaction energy is obtained using the continuous approximation. Nanoparticles of three different radii, namely, 10, 15 and 20 Å, are studied, which are initiated at rest, confined to the axis of the hole. A similar behaviour for these three cases is observed. The critical hole radii at which these nanoparticles enter the bilayer are 12.65, 17.62 and 22.60 Å, respectively. Further, once the hole radii become larger than 20.79, 23.14 and 27.02 Å, respectively, the gold nanoparticles tend to remain at the mid-plane of the bilayer, and do not pass through the bilayer.
Theory across time: the privileging of time-less theory in international relations
Authors: McIntosh Christopher
Published: August 2015

How does the understanding of time and temporality in international relations (IR) shape the study of international politics? IR is centrally concerned with the study of issues such as armed conflict, but wars are events – a series of occurrences that only come into being through their relationship across time. The concept of time at work in the understanding of this event thus plays an inextricable role in the scholarship produced. IR shares an understanding of time that pervades (traditional) social science and is based on the Western notion of clock-time. This conception of time encourages a spatiotemporal model of the past that epistemologically privileges temporal understandings that value generalizable, time-invariant theory and discount temporal fluidity and context. These temporal commitments operate at a deep level, informing and shaping theory construction in important ways and de-emphasizing alternative approaches that may more accurately reflect the contingency of international events, discontinuities in political practice, and the radical shifts in international structures, which are often most in need of scholarly analysis. This article concludes that by treating temporality as a stand-alone issue, IR can better model and predict international political practices.
Femtosecond laser ablation-based mass spectrometry: An ideal tool for stoichiometric analysis of thin films
Authors: LaHaye Nicole L. , Kurian Jose , Diwakar Prasoon K. , Alff Lambert , Harilal Sivanandan S.
Published: August 2015

An accurate and routinely available method for stoichiometric analysis of thin films is a desideratum of modern materials science where a material’s properties depend sensitively on elemental composition. We thoroughly investigated femtosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (fs-LA-ICP-MS) as an analytical technique for determination of the stoichiometry of thin films down to the nanometer scale. The use of femtosecond laser ablation allows for precise removal of material with high spatial and depth resolution that can be coupled to an ICP-MS to obtain elemental and isotopic information. We used molecular beam epitaxy-grown thin films of LaPd(x)Sb2 and T′-La2CuO4 to demonstrate the capacity of fs-LA-ICP-MS for stoichiometric analysis and the spatial and depth resolution of the technique. Here we demonstrate that the stoichiometric information of thin films with a thickness of ~10 nm or lower can be determined. Furthermore, our results indicate that fs-LA-ICP-MS provides precise information on the thin film-substrate interface and is able to detect the interdiffusion of cations.
Somersault of Paramecium in extremely confined environments
Authors: Jana Saikat , Eddins Aja , Spoon Corrie , Jung Sunghwan
Published: August 2015

We investigate various swimming modes of Paramecium in geometric confinements and a non-swimming self-bending behavior like a somersault, which is quite different from the previously reported behaviors. We observe that Paramecia execute directional sinusoidal trajectories in thick fluid films, whereas Paramecia meander around a localized region and execute frequent turns due to collisions with adjacent walls in thin fluid films. When Paramecia are further constrained in rectangular channels narrower than the length of the cell body, a fraction of meandering Paramecia buckle their body by pushing on the channel walls. The bucking (self-bending) of the cell body allows the Paramecium to reorient its anterior end and explore a completely new direction in extremely confined spaces. Using force deflection method, we quantify the Young’s modulus of the cell and estimate the swimming and bending powers exerted by Paramecium. The analysis shows that Paramecia can utilize a fraction of its swimming power to execute the self-bending maneuver within the confined channel and no extra power may be required for this new kind of self-bending behavior. This investigation sheds light on how micro-organisms can use the flexibility of the body to actively navigate within confined spaces.
Investigation of Human Cancers for Retrovirus by Low-Stringency Target Enrichment and High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Vinner Lasse , Mourier Tobias , Friis-Nielsen Jens , Gniadecki Robert , Dybkaer Karen , Rosenberg Jacob , Langhoff Jill Levin , Cruz David Flores Santa , Fonager Jannik , Izarzugaza Jose M. G. , Gupta Ramneek , Sicheritz-Ponten Thomas , Brunak Søren , Willerslev Eske , Nielsen Lars Peter , Hansen Anders Johannes
Published: August 2015

Although nearly one fifth of all human cancers have an infectious aetiology, the causes for the majority of cancers remain unexplained. Despite the enormous data output from high-throughput shotgun sequencing, viral DNA in a clinical sample typically constitutes a proportion of host DNA that is too small to be detected. Sequence variation among virus genomes complicates application of sequence-specific and highly sensitive, PCR methods. Therefore, we aimed to develop and characterize a method that permits sensitive detection of sequences despite considerable variation. We demonstrate that our low-stringency in-solution hybridization method enables detection of <100 viral copies. Furthermore, distantly related proviral sequences may be enriched by orders of magnitude, enabling discovery of hitherto unknown viral sequences by high-throughput sequencing. The sensitivity was sufficient to detect retroviral sequences in clinical samples. We used this method to conduct an investigation for novel retrovirus in samples from three cancer types. In accordance with recent studies our investigation revealed no retroviral infections in human B-cell lymphoma cells, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or colorectal cancer biopsies. Nonetheless, our generally applicable method makes sensitive detection possible and permits sequencing of distantly related sequences from complex material.
Long- and Short-Range Electrostatic Fields in GFP Mutants: Implications for Spectral Tuning
Authors: Drobizhev M. , Callis P. R. , Nifosì R. , Wicks G. , Stoltzfus C. , Barnett L. , Hughes T. E. , Sullivan P. , Rebane A.
Published: August 2015

The majority of protein functions are governed by their internal local electrostatics. Quantitative information about these interactions can shed light on how proteins work and allow for improving/altering their performance. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its mutation variants provide unique optical windows for interrogation of internal electric fields, thanks to the intrinsic fluorophore group formed inside them. Here we use an all-optical method, based on the independent measurements of transition frequency and one- and two-photon absorption cross sections in a number of GFP mutants to evaluate these internal electric fields. Two physical models based on the quadratic Stark effect, either with or without taking into account structural (bond-length) changes of the chromophore in varying field, allow us to separately evaluate the long-range and the total effective (short- and long-range) fields. Both types of the field quantitatively agree with the results of independent molecular dynamic simulations, justifying our method of measurement.
Extreme variation in patterns of tandem repeats in mitochondrial control region of yellow-browed tits (Sylviparus modestus, Paridae)
Authors: Wang Xiaoyang , Liu Nian , Zhang Hongli , Yang Xiao-Jun , Huang Yuan , Lei Fumin
Published: August 2015

To investigate the evolutionary pattern and origins of tandem repeats in the mitochondrial control region of the yellow-browed tit (Sylviparus modestus), the control region and another four mitochondrial loci from fifteen individuals were analyzed. A 117-bp tandem repeat unit that repeated once, twice or three times in different individuals was found and a rarely reported arrangement for this tandem repeats region that a 5′ imperfect copy at its downstream and a 3′ imperfect copy at its upstream was observed. The haplotype network, phylogenetic trees and ancestral state reconstruction of the combined dataset of five loci suggested multiple origins of the same repeat number. The turnover model via slipped-strand mispairing was introduced to interpret the results, because mispairing occurred so frequently that multiple origins of certain repeat number were observed. Insertion via recombination should be a better explanation for the origin of this tandem repeat unit, considering characteristics of the combined sequence of the 3′ and 5′ imperfect copy, including identification of its homolog in other passerines and its predicted secondary structure.
Assessing the genetic diversity of Cu resistance in mine tailings through high-throughput recovery of full-length copA genes
Authors: Li Xiaofang , Zhu Yong-Guan , Shaban Babak , Bruxner Timothy J. C. , Bond Philip L. , Huang Longbin
Published: August 2015

Characterizing the genetic diversity of microbial copper (Cu) resistance at the community level remains challenging, mainly due to the polymorphism of the core functional genecopA. In this study, a local BLASTN method using acopAdatabase built in this study was developed to recover full-length putativecopAsequences from an assembled tailings metagenome; these sequences were then screened for potentially functioning CopA using conserved metal-binding motifs, inferred by evolutionary trace analysis of CopA sequences from known Cu resistant microorganisms. In total, 99 putativecopAsequences were recovered from the tailings metagenome, out of which 70 were found with high potential to be functioning in Cu resistance. Phylogenetic analysis of selectedcopAsequences detected in the tailings metagenome showed that topology of thecopAphylogeny is largely congruent with that of the 16S-based phylogeny of the tailings microbial community obtained in our previous study, indicating that the development ofcopAdiversity in the tailings might be mainly through vertical descent with few lateral gene transfer events. The method established here can be used to explorecopA(and potentially other metal resistance genes) diversity in any metagenome and has the potential to exhaust the full-length gene sequences for downstream analyses.
Discerning the differential molecular pathology of proliferative middle ear lesions using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Pandey Rishikesh , Paidi Santosh Kumar , Kang Jeon Woong , Spegazzini Nicolas , Dasari Ramachandra Rao , Valdez Tulio Alberto , Barman Ishan
Published: August 2015

Despite its widespread prevalence, middle ear pathology, especially the development of proliferative lesions, remains largely unexplored and poorly understood. Diagnostic evaluation is still predicated upon a high index of clinical suspicion on otoscopic examination of gross morphologic features. We report the first technique that has the potential to non-invasively identify two key lesions, namely cholesteatoma and myringosclerosis, by providing real-time information of differentially expressed molecules. In addition to revealing signatures consistent with the known pathobiology of these lesions, our observations provide the first evidence of the presence of carbonate- and silicate-substitutions in the calcium phosphate plaques found in myringosclerosis. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of Raman spectroscopy to not only provide new understanding of the etiology of these conditions by defining objective molecular markers but also aid in margin assessment to improve surgical outcome.
High resolution ion mobility-mass spectrometry for separation and identification of isomeric lipids
Authors: Groessl M. , Graf S. , Knochenmuss R.
Published: August 2015

Separation and identification of isomeric species is a major challenge in lipidomics. Herein, we demonstrate that lipid isomers that differ only in position of the acyl chain, position of the double bond or double bond geometry can be distinguished using drift-tube ion mobility-mass spectrometry, even in complex biological samples.
Toward selective, sensitive, and discriminative detection of Hg2+ and Cd2+via pH-modulated surface chemistry of glutathione-capped gold nanoclusters
Authors: Huang Pengcheng , Li Sha , Gao Nan , Wu Fangying
Published: August 2015

Heavy metal pollution can exert severe effects on the environment and human health.
N-Doped nanodots/np+-Si photocathodes for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation
Authors: Chen Deliang , Dai Song , Su Xiaodong , Xin Yu , Zou Shuai , Wang Xusheng , Kang Zhenhui , Shen Mingrong
Published: August 2015

N2-plasma treated carbon nanodots are demonstrated to be an effective catalyst for solar-driven H2 production on np+-Si photocathodes.
Phase evolution and electrical properties of Co–Sb alloys fabricated from Co/Sb bilayers by thermal annealing and ion beam mixing
Authors: Bala Manju , pannu Compesh , Gupta Srashti , Tripathi Tripurari S. , Tripathi Surya K. , Asokan K. , Avasthi Devesh K.
Published: August 2015

Thermoelectric power enhancement of ion beam synthesized Co–Sb alloy thin films.
Catalytic upgrading of α-angelica lactone to levulinic acid esters under mild conditions over heterogeneous catalysts
Authors: Al-Shaal Mohammad G. , Ciptonugroho Wirawan , Holzhäuser Fabian J. , Mensah Joel B. , Hausoul Peter J. C. , Palkovits Regina
Published: August 2015

α-Angelica lactone was identified as a better candidate than levulinic acid for the heterogeneously catalysed preparation of levulinic acid esters.
Predicting the performance of oxidation catalysts using descriptor models
Authors: Madaan Neetika , Shiju N. Raveendran , Rothenberg Gadi
Published: August 2015

Mix & match: we show that combining simple heuristic models with experimental validation is an effective method for optimising supported mixed oxide catalysts.
Titanate nanotube-promoted chemical fixation of carbon dioxide to cyclic carbonate: a combined experimental and computational study
Authors: Chen Aibing , Zhao Tiancong , Gao Hui , Chen Limin , Chen Jinzhu , Yu Yifeng
Published: August 2015

Titanate nanotubes are efficiently used as air- and water-tolerant, and recyclable Lewis acid catalysts for CO2fixation to cyclic carbonate.
Redox induced colour changes between red-violet and blue in hetero-metal complexes of the type [CoII(4′-ferrocenyl-2,2′;6′2′′-terpyridine)2]X2 (X = counter anion)
Authors: Takami Kohei , Ohtani Ryo , Nakamura Masaaki , Kurogi Takayuki , Sugimoto Manabu , Lindoy Leonard F. , Hayami Shinya
Published: August 2015

Cobalt complexes incorporating ferrocene–terpyridine ligands show a reversible color change in response to redox reactions involving the cobalt centers.
Template-based synthesis of metallic Pd nanotubes by electroless deposition and their use as catalysts in the 4-nitrophenol model reaction
Authors: Felix Eva-Maria , Antoni Markus , Pause Isabelle , Schaefer Sandra , Kunz Ulrike , Weidler Natascha , Muench Falk , Ensinger Wolfgang
Published: August 2015

The approach of combining the well-established electroless plating method for the fabrication of nanostructures with Green Chemistry offers a new route to the formation of high aspect ratio palladium nanotubes.
Model selection during sample-standard-bracketing using reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo
Authors: Fox Matthew , Ickert Ryan B.
Published: August 2015

We present a technique to tackle ambiguity in model select for instrument calibration by sample-standard bracketing.
Geo-material microfluidics at reservoir conditions for subsurface energy resource applications
Authors: Porter Mark L. , Jiménez-Martínez Joaquín , Martinez Ricardo , McCulloch Quinn , Carey J. William , Viswanathan Hari S.
Published: August 2015

We developed novel fabrication methods for geo-material micromodels (e.g., shale, cement). Our unique microfluidic system represents a significant step towards assessing actual flow in real rock at reservoir conditions for subsurface energy resource applications.
McCLEC, a robust and stable enzymatic based microreactor platform
Authors: Conejero-Muriel Mayte , Rodríguez-Ruiz Isaac , Martínez-Rodríguez Sergio , Llobera Andreu , Gavira José A.
Published: August 2015

We present a microfluidic chip, McCLEC, for crystallization, cross-linking and enzymatic reactions. We demonstrate its high stability, robustness and reusability, envisaging its promising use in biotechnological applications.
A novel dual-functional fluorescent chemosensor for the selective detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and Hg2+
Authors: Liu MeiMei , Li Gang , Cheng ZhuHong
Published: August 2015

A dual-functional fluorescent chemosensor for selectively detecting 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and Hg2+ was developed by immobilizing the rhodamine derivative onto Tb-BTC via gold.
Construction and electronic properties of carbon nanotube hybrids with conjugated cubic silsesquioxane
Authors: Xu Kai , Lin Weihong , Wu Jiancheng , Peng Jun , Xing Yuxiu , Gao Shuxi , Ren Yuanyuan , Chen Mingcai
Published: August 2015

Hierarchical zero-dimensional cubic silsesquioxane/one-dimensional SWNT hybrids provided excellent charge transfer and synergistic effects compared to both SWNTs and OASQ.
6-Arylcoumarins: versatile scaffolds for fluorescent sensors
Authors: Shiraishi Takuya , Kagechika Hiroyuki , Hirano Tomoya
Published: August 2015

6-Arylcoumarins are available as versatile scaffolds for various types of fluorescent sensors like those for cation and viscosity.
An unusual CC⋯CO interaction in (Z)-3-[(4-halogenphenyl)amino]-2-cyanoprop-2-enoates
Authors: Zhang Zhenfeng , Ma Nana , Xuan Xiaopeng
Published: August 2015

An unusual CC⋯CO interaction has been discovered in (Z)-3-[(4-halogenphenyl)amino]-2-cyanoprop-2-enoates and rationalized by the density functional theory calculations.
Global minimization of gold clusters by combining neural network potentials and the basin-hopping method
Authors: Ouyang Runhai , Xie Yu , Jiang De-en
Published: August 2015

Neural network potentials coupled with the basin-hopping method yielded a new and highly symmetric putative global minimum for the Au58 cluster.
Metal-free aerobic one-pot synthesis of substituted/annulated quinolines from alcohols via indirect Friedländer annulation
Authors: Anand Namrata , Koley Suvajit , Ramulu B. Janaki , Singh Maya Shankar
Published: August 2015

Metal-free one-pot aerobic synthesis of highly functionalized/annulated quinolines is devised in excellent yields from viable alcohols via indirect Friedländer annulation.
Importance of polarization assisted/resonance assisted hydrogen bonding interactions and unconventional interactions in crystal formations of five new complexes bearing chelidamic acid through a proton transfer mechanism
Authors: Mirzaei Masoud , Eshtiagh-Hosseini Hossein , Shamsipur Mojtaba , Saeedi Mahdi , Ardalani Mehdi , Bauzá Antonio , Mague Joel T. , Frontera Antonio , Habibi Morteza
Published: August 2015

Five new coordination compounds derived from chelidamic acid and amines have been synthesized and X-ray characterized. The noncovalent interactions that govern the crystal packing have been rationalized by means of DFT calculations.
Selective removal of transition metal ions from aqueous solution by metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Zhang Yutian , Zhao Xudong , Huang Hongliang , Li Zhengjie , Liu Dahuan , Zhong Chongli
Published: August 2015

Carboxyl groups in adjacent ligands in UiO-66(Zr)–2COOH exhibit specific capture performance for Cu2+, resulting in high separation selectivity for Cu2+/Ni2+.
Effect of dielectric constant on estimation of properties of ionic liquids: an analysis of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide
Authors: Olmo Lourdes del , Lage-Estebanez Isabel , López Rafael , García de la Vega José M.
Published: August 2015

Influence of dielectric constant values in estimation of thermodynamical properties (vapor pressure, vaporization enthalpy, density and viscosity) of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids with COSMO-RS.
A structural study on ethylenediamine- and poly(amidoamine)-functionalized graphene oxide: simultaneous reduction, functionalization, and formation of 3D structure
Authors: Samadaei Fatemeh , Salami-Kalajahi Mehdi , Roghani-Mamaqani Hossein , Banaei Masoud
Published: August 2015

Graphene oxide was simultaneously modified and reduced with ethylenediamine. Then, it was subjected to a grafting process with a PAMAM dendritic structure.
Smooth CH3NH3PbI3from controlled solid–gas reaction for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Mao Jian , Zhang Hong , He Hexiang , Lu Haifei , Xie Fengxian , Zhang Di , Wong Kam Sing , Choy Wallace C. H.
Published: August 2015

Schematic graphic of solid–gas reaction to form perovskite.
Response of zeta potential to different types of local membrane fouling in dead-end membrane filtration with yeast suspension
Authors: Jia Hui , Zhang Hongmei , Wang Jie , Zhang Hongwei , Zhang Xinbo
Published: August 2015

The zeta potentials that responded to different types of local membrane fouling with yeast suspension were investigated by monitoring both local flux and local zeta potential, and the effect of fiber length on local fouling behavior was also studied.
Piperazinylpyrimidine modified MCM-41 for the ecofriendly synthesis of benzothiazoles by the simple cleavage of disulfide in the presence of molecular O2
Authors: Ray Suman , Das Paramita , Banerjee Biplab , Bhaumik Asim , Mukhopadhyay Chhanda
Published: August 2015

Synthesis of benzothiazoles by metal free cleavage of disulfide bond.
Continuous detection of trace level concentration of oil droplets in water using microfluidic AC electroosmosis (ACEO)
Authors: Das D. , Yan Z. , Menon N. V. , Kang Y. , Chan V. , Yang C.
Published: August 2015

A novel design for high throughput detection of oil micro-droplets in water which is important to environmental oil spill monitoring agencies.
Catalytic arylsulfonyl radical-triggered 1,5-enyne-bicyclizations and hydrosulfonylation of α,β-conjugates
Authors: Chen Zhen-Zhen , Liu Shuai , Hao Wen-Juan , Xu Ge , Wu Shuo , Miao Jiao-Na , Jiang Bo , Wang Shu-Liang , Tu Shu-Jiang , Li Guigen
Published: August 2015

Catalytic bicyclization of 1,5-enynes anchored by α,β-conjugates with arylsulfonyl radicals was established using TBAI and Cu(OAc)2as co-catalysts.
Flexible fiber/wire-shaped solar cells in progress: properties, materials, and designs
Authors: Peng Ming , Zou Dechun
Published: August 2015

Development of various fiber/wire-shaped solar cells, conventional materials, device properties, innovative designs, and integrated power systems is reviewed.
Electrochemical growth of octahedral Fe3O4 with high activity and stability toward the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Zhang Xiaofeng , Wang Xiaoying , Le Lijuan , Ma Ai , Lin Shen
Published: August 2015

Octahedral Fe3O4 crystals were examined as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction for the first time.
Solution-deposited pure selenide CIGSe solar cells from elemental Cu, In, Ga, and Se
Authors: Zhao Dandan , Tian Qingwen , Zhou Zhengji , Wang Gang , Meng Yuena , Kou Dongxing , Zhou Wenhui , Pan Daocheng , Wu Sixin
Published: August 2015

A novel, robust and low-toxicity solution route to deposit CIGSe thin films for solar cell applications is proposed. The solvent of 1,2-ethanedithiol and 1,2-ethylenediamine is employed for the first time to simultaneously dissolve elemental Cu, In, Ga, and Se. With this solution-processed CIGSe thin film solar cell, an efficiency of 9.5% was achieved.
Surface modification of uniaxial cyclic strain cell culture platform with temperature-responsive polymer for cell sheet detachment
Authors: Lee E. L. , Bendre H. H. , Kalmykov A. , Wong J. Y.
Published: August 2015

Because current cell sheet-based blood vessels lack biomimetic structure and require excessively long culture times that may compromise smooth muscle cell phenotype, we modified a cell culture platform with thermoresponsive copolymers to allow intact cell sheet detachment after uniaxial conditioning.
A facile, green synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon nanoparticles from oatmeal for cell imaging
Authors: Yu Caiyan , Xuan Tongtong , Chen Yiwei , Zhao Zhenjie , Sun Zhuo , Li Huili
Published: August 2015

Highly luminescent CNPs with a PLQY of 37.40% were first synthesized via a simple hydrothermal treatment of green oatmeal for bio-imaging.
Spectral management in upconverting sesquioxide through matrix doping
Authors: Xu Dekang , Lin Hao , Li Anming , Yang Shenghong , Zhang Yueli
Published: August 2015

Simultaneous upconversion luminescence intensity and color tuning in Gd2O3:Yb/Er through matrix doping with GdOF.
Secure DNA data compression using algebraic curves
Authors: Soto I. , Jiron I. , Valencia A. , Carrasco R.
Published: August 2015

A system that achieves compression using artificial DNA packaging with the support of two algebraic curves is presented, whereby the Hermitian channel code algorithm introduces gain and safety. Additionally, performance results are presented with a gain of 7 dB against uncoded quadrature phase shift keying and 1 dB against McEliece, for a bit error rate of 10−3. The results of the security levels compared with the McEliece system are also presented.