bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uplink bit combining for multiple base‐stations MIMO with applications to CoMP systems
Authors: Leib Harry , Lin Wenjing
Published: August 2014

This work considers a simple bit level combining technique, aided by robust bit reliability information, for uplink collaborating multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) base‐stations (also known as macrodiversity MIMO), operating over composite Rayleigh‐lognormal fading channels. Bit reliability weights based on a robust modification of the logarithmic likelihood ratio, combined with instantaneous symbol signal‐to‐noise ratio information, are derived for different local MIMO detection schemes. This bit reliability information is used at the fusion center, together with locally detected data, for combining and producing final information bits delivered to the destination. Computer simulation results confirm that such bit level combining techniques, when used with minimum mean squared error ordered successive interference cancelation and also with sphere decoding maximum likelihood local detectors, provide significant performance improvements over non‐collaborative base‐stations systems. Performance gains are maintained even when these schemes suffer from channel estimation errors and also in the presence of space correlation. Low backhaul overhead and performance advantages make these bit level combining techniques attractive for applications in next generation cellular systems employing coordinated multi‐point (CoMP) technology, as well as for other collaborative MIMO communication schemes.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enrichment options for African painted dogs (Lycaon pictus)
Authors: Cloutier Tammy L. , Packard Jane M.
Published: August 2014

Best practices for carnivore enrichment encourage the diversity of species‐typical behaviors, increased activity, and reduced stereotypic behavior; ideally considering the life‐history and behavior of each species. African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), or painted dogs, are social carnivores that have large home ranges and complex pack dynamics (e.g., variation in group size, relatedness, etc.). As there are relatively few studies on painted dog enrichment, the goal of this study was to compile a list of enrichment options used by institutions participating in the species survival plan (SSP). Representatives were asked to describe social groups (n = 45), enclosures (n = 21), enrichment practices (options, delivery frequency, perceived success), and overall best practices. Respondents (61%, n = 23) reported using options for all six enrichment categories recommended by the Canid Taxon Advisory Group: environmental enrichment devices, habitat, sensory, food, behavioral, and social. Perceived success was significantly higher for the food category, followed by the sensory and behavioral categories. All respondents reported delivering enrichment at least multiple times a month, and most reported multiple times per week. Enclosure size did not differ significantly for mixed‐sex groups (n = 28) compared to single‐sex groups (n = 17). We discuss respondents' suggestions for best practices and the need to record data to compare perceived success with actual behavioral effects, controlling for variation in group size and composition. Overall, respondents recommended a flexible approach, since not all painted dogs and groups respond in the same way to the enrichment options. Zoo Biol. 33:475–480, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Outcomes of Repeat Laparoscopic Liver Resection Compared to the Primary Resection
Authors: Shelat V. G. , Serin K. , Samim M. , Besselink M. G. , Al Saati H. , Gioia P. Di , Pearce N. W. , Abu Hilal M.
Published: August 2014

Background

Repeat laparoscopic liver resection (R‐LLR) can be technically challenging. Data on this topic are scarce and many investigators would question its feasibility and outcomes. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, oncological efficiency and outcomes of R‐LLR.

Methods

We reviewed a prospectively collected database of 403 patients undergoing 422 laparoscopic liver resections (LLRs) from August 2003 to August 2013. Data of 19 patients undergoing R‐LLR were analyzed and compared to the primary resection (P‐LLR) in these patients. Demographic and clinical data were studied. A subgroup analysis was done for minor resections.

Results

Twenty R‐LLRs were performed in 19 patients (female 58 %; mean age: 57.5 years; age range: 23–79 years). Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) were the commonest indication for R‐LLR (60 %), followed by neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases (NETLM) (20 %) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (10 %). The majority (90 %) of resections were for malignant disease (18/20). There were three conversions (15 %), and two patients developed complications (10 %). The operative time (p = 0.005) and blood loss (p = 0.03) were both significantly greater in R‐LLR compared to P‐LLR, whereas length of stay (median 4 days; p = 0.30) and complications (p = 0.58) did not differ between the groups. R0 resection rates for P‐LLR and R‐LLR were 95 and 90 %, respectively (p = 0.73).

Conclusions

Repeat LLR is safe, feasible, and can be performed with minimal morbidity. It appears to be technically more challenging than P‐LLR, but without any increase in complications or length of hospital stay.
More green infrastructure is required to maintain ecosystem services under current trends in land-use change in Europe
Authors: Maes Joachim , Barbosa Ana , Baranzelli Claudia , Zulian Grazia , Batista e Silva Filipe , Vandecasteele Ine , Hiederer Roland , Liquete Camino , Paracchini Maria Luisa , Mubareka Sarah , Jacobs-Crisioni Chris , Castillo Carolina Perpiña , Lavalle Carlo
Published: August 2014

Green infrastructure (GI), a network of nature, semi-natural areas and green space, delivers essential ecosystem services which underpin human well-being and quality of life. Maintaining ecosystem services through the development of GI is therefore increasingly recognized by policies as a strategy to cope with potentially changing conditions in the future. This paper assessed how current trends of land-use change have an impact on the aggregated provision of eight ecosystem services at the regional scale of the European Union, measured by the Total Ecosystem Services Index (TESI8). Moreover, the paper reports how further implementation of GI across Europe can help maintain ecosystem services at baseline levels. Current demographic, economic and agricultural trends, which affect land use, were derived from the so called Reference Scenario. This scenario is established by the European Commission to assess the impact of energy and climate policy up to 2050. Under the Reference Scenario, economic growth, coupled with the total population, stimulates increasing urban and industrial expansion. TESI8 is expected to decrease across Europe between 0 and 5 % by 2020 and between 10 and 15 % by 2050 relative to the base year 2010. Based on regression analysis, we estimated that every additional percent increase of the proportion of artificial land needs to be compensated with an increase of 2.2 % of land that qualifies as green infrastructure in order to maintain ecosystem services at 2010 levels.
VP16 fusion induces the multiple‐knockout phenotype of redundant transcriptional repressors partly by Med25‐independent mechanisms in Arabidopsis
Authors: Fujiwara Sumire , Sakamoto Shingo , Kigoshi Keiko , Suzuki Kaoru , Ohme-Takagi Masaru
Published: August 2014

Biological functions of only some plant transcriptional repressors are known owing to the lack of knockout lines or unclear phenotypes because of redundancy. Here we show that strong viral activation domain VP16 fusion to the transcriptional repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C reversed its function and caused a stronger phenotype than that of the multiple‐knockout line of redundant genes, suggesting the potential of this technique to identify transcription factor function that cannot be detected in a single‐knockout line. Loss‐of‐function of transcriptional coactivator Mediator25 did not affect VP16 activity despite their in vivo interaction, suggesting the existence of other key mechanism(s) in plants.
The beta‐isoform of the BRCA2 and CDKN1A(p21)‐interacting protein (BCCIP) stabilizes nuclear RPL23/uL14
Authors: Wyler Emanuel , Wandrey Franziska , Badertscher Lukas , Montellese Christian , Alper Daniel , Kutay Ulrike
Published: August 2014

BRCA2 and CDKN1A(p21,CIP1)‐interacting protein (BCCIP) is an evolutionary conserved protein implicated in maintenance of genome stability and cell cycle progression. Two isoforms of BCCIP with distinct C‐terminal domains exist in humans. We show that mammalian BCCIPβ, but not BCCIPα, forms a ternary complex with the ribosomal protein RPL23/uL14 and the pre‐60S trans‐acting factor eIF6. Complex formation is dependent on an intact C‐terminal domain of BCCIPβ. Depletion of BCCIPβ reduces the pool of free RPL23, and decreases eIF6 levels in nucleoli. Overexpression of BCCIPβ leads to nucleoplasmic accumulation of extra‐ribosomal RPL23 and stabilizes overexpressed RPL23, suggesting that BCCIPβ functions as nuclear chaperone for RPL23.
FunMod: A Cytoscape Plugin for Identifying Functional Modules in Undirected Protein–Protein Networks
Authors: Natale Massimo , Benso Alfredo , Di Carlo Stefano , Ficarra Elisa
Published: August 2014

The characterization of the interacting behaviors of complex biological systems is a primary objective in protein–protein network analysis and computational biology. In this paper we present FunMod, an innovative Cytoscape version 2.8 plugin that is able to mine undirected protein–protein networks and to infer sub-networks of interacting proteins intimately correlated with relevant biological pathways. This plugin may enable the discovery of new pathways involved in diseases. In order to describe the role of each protein within the relevant biological pathways, FunMod computes and scores three topological features of the identified sub-networks. By integrating the results from biological pathway clustering and topological network analysis, FunMod proved to be useful for the data interpretation and the generation of new hypotheses in two case studies.
Changes in the responsiveness of hypothalamic PK2 and PKR1 gene expression to fasting in developing male rats
Authors: Iwasa Takeshi , Matsuzaki Toshiya , Tungalagsuvd Altankhuu , Munkhzaya Munkhsaikhan , Kawami Takako , Yamasaki Mikio , Murakami Masahiro , Kato Takeshi , Kuwahara Akira , Yasui Toshiyuki , Irahara Minoru
Published: August 2014

Prokineticin (PK2) and its receptors (PKRs) are expressed in several regions of the central nervous system, including the hypothalamus. It has been reported that PK2 inhibits food intake via PKR1 and that the hypothalamic PK2 mRNA levels of adult rodents were reduced by food deprivation. However, some hypothalamic factors do not exhibit sensitivity to undernutrition in the early neonatal period, but subsequently become sensitive to it during the neonatal to pre‐pubertal period. In this study, we investigated the changes in the sensitivity of hypothalamic PK2 and PKR1 mRNA expression to fasting during the developmental period in male rats. Under the fed conditions, the rats' hypothalamic PK2 and/or PKR1 mRNA levels were higher on postnatal day (PND) 10 than on PND20 or PND30. In addition, the hypothalamic PK2 and/or PKR1 mRNA levels of the male rats were higher than those of the females at all examined ages (PND10, 20, and 30). Hypothalamic PK2 mRNA expression was decreased by 24 h fasting at PND10 and 30, but not at PND20. In addition, hypothalamic PKR1 mRNA expression was decreased by 24 h fasting at PND10, but not at PND20 or 30. These results indicate that both PK2 and PKR1 are sensitive to nutritional status in male rats and that this sensitivity has already been established by the early neonatal period. It can be speculated that the PK2 system might compensate for the immaturity of other appetite regulatory factors in the early neonatal period.
Laboratory experiments on counter-propagating collisions of solitary waves. Part 2. Flow field
Authors: Chen Yongshuai , Zhang Eugene , Yeh Harry
Published: August 2014

In the companion paper (Chen & Yeh, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 749, 2014, pp. 577–596), collisions of counter-propagating solitary waves were studied experimentally by analysing the measured water-surface variations. Here we study the flow fields associated with the collisions. With the resolved velocity data obtained in the laboratory, the flow fields are analysed in terms of acceleration, vorticity, and velocity-gradient tensors in addition to the velocity field. The data show that flow acceleration becomes maximum slightly before and after the collision peak, not in accord with the linear theory which predicts the maximum acceleration at the collision peak. Visualized velocity-gradient-tensor fields show that fluid parcels are stretched vertically prior to reaching the state of maximum wave amplitude. After the collision peak, fluid parcels are stretched in the horizontal direction. The boundary-layer evolution based on the vorticity generation and diffusion processes are discussed. It is shown that flow separation occurs at the bed during the collision. The collision creates small dispersive trailing waves. The formation of the trailing waves is captured by observing the transition behaviour of the velocity-gradient-tensor field: the direction of stretching of fluid parcels alternates during the generation of the trailing waves.
On the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability evolving from a deterministic multimode planar interface
Authors: Tritschler V. K. , Olson B. J. , Lele S. K. , Hickel S. , Hu X. Y. , Adams N. A.
Published: August 2014

We investigate the shock-induced turbulent mixing between a light and a heavy gas, where a Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is initiated by a shock wave with Mach number $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\mathit{Ma}= 1.5$. The prescribed initial conditions define a deterministic multimode interface perturbation between the gases, which can be imposed exactly for different simulation codes and resolutions to allow for quantitative comparison. Well-resolved large-eddy simulations are performed using two different and independently developed numerical methods with the objective of assessing turbulence structures, prediction uncertainties and convergence behaviour. The two numerical methods differ fundamentally with respect to the employed subgrid-scale regularisation, each representing state-of-the-art approaches to RMI. Unlike previous studies, the focus of the present investigation is to quantify the uncertainties introduced by the numerical method, as there is strong evidence that subgrid-scale regularisation and truncation errors may have a significant effect on the linear and nonlinear stages of the RMI evolution. Fourier diagnostics reveal that the larger energy-containing scales converge rapidly with increasing mesh resolution and thus are in excellent agreement for the two numerical methods. Spectra of gradient-dependent quantities, such as enstrophy and scalar dissipation rate, show stronger dependences on the small-scale flow field structures as a consequence of truncation error effects, which for one numerical method are dominantly dissipative and for the other dominantly dispersive. Additionally, the study reveals details of various stages of RMI, as the flow transitions from large-scale nonlinear entrainment to fully developed turbulent mixing. The growth rates of the mixing zone widths as obtained by the two numerical methods are ${\sim } t^{7/12}$ before re-shock and ${\sim } (t-t_0)^{2/7}$ long after re-shock. The decay rate of turbulence kinetic energy is consistently ${\sim } (t-t_0)^{-10/7}$ at late times, where the molecular mixing fraction approaches an asymptotic limit $\varTheta \approx 0.85$. The anisotropy measure $\langle a \rangle _{xyz}$ approaches an asymptotic limit of ${\approx }0.04$, implying that no full recovery of isotropy within the mixing zone is obtained, even after re-shock. Spectra of density, turbulence kinetic energy, scalar dissipation rate and enstrophy are presented and show excellent agreement for the resolved scales. The probability density function of the heavy-gas mass fraction and vorticity reveal that the light–heavy gas composition within the mixing zone is accurately predicted, whereas it is more difficult to capture the long-term behaviour of the vorticity.
‘OUT OF HIS ELEMENT’: MR JOHNSON, SIR JOSEPH BANKS AND TATTERSHALL CASTLE
Authors: Munby Julian
Published: August 2014

During research for the Tattershall Castle Conservation Plan for the National Trust, a set of framed drawings of the castle was found in the storeroom of the great tower. Examination of the Curzon correspondence deposited by the National Trust in the Lincolnshire Record Office revealed that these had been commissioned in 1783 by no less a person than Sir Joseph Banks (of nearby Revesby Abbey), President of the Royal Society and Council member of the Society of Antiquaries. With the help of the Sir Joseph Banks Archive Project, and piecing together materials in Aberystwyth, Cambridge, Lincoln, London and New Haven, Connecticut, a story has emerged of antiquarian endeavour in the 1780s when, amidst a frenzy of scientific activity, rampant balloon mania and the care of an ailing turtle, Sir Joseph commissioned the most detailed survey yet undertaken of a medieval monument in the British Isles, entrusting the task to the hitherto unremarked J L Johnson, surveyor and draughtsman, a figure who deserves belated recognition and a place in the history of medieval archaeology for his pioneering efforts.
Constitutional Projects for the Division of Powers in Mexico during Iturbide's Empire, 1821–1823
Authors: ANDREWS CATHERINE
Published: August 2014

This article examines the division of powers established in a number of constitutional projects presented during the First Mexican Empire (1821–3). The essay rejects the idea, present in much recent historiography, that constitutional debate in Mexico was exclusively shaped by the experience of Spanish government. Instead it argues that the empire's politicians drew on a wide range of theories, ideas and examples from other constitutional systems.
Parametric decay of parallel and oblique Alfvén waves in the expanding solar wind
Authors: Del Zanna L. , Matteini L. , Landi S. , Verdini A. , Velli M.
Published: August 2014

The long-term evolution of large-amplitude Alfvén waves propagating in the solar wind is investigated by performing two-dimensional MHD simulations within the expanding box model. The linear and nonlinear phases of the parametric decay instability are studied for both circularly polarized waves in parallel propagation and for arc-polarized waves in oblique propagation. The non-monochromatic case is also considered. In the oblique case, the direct excitation of daughter modes transverse to the local background field is found for the first time in an expanding environment, and this transverse cascade seems to be favored for monochromatic mother waves. The expansion effect reduces the instability growth rate, and it can even suppress its onset for the lowest frequency modes considered here, possibly explaining the persistence of these outgoing waves in the solar wind.
Commentary on “Moving toward a neuroplasticity view of bilingualism”: The early years
Authors: Genesee Fred
Published: August 2014

Baum and Titone's Keynote Article is a welcome addition to the ongoing and flourishing study of the neurocognitive effects of bilingualism. By focusing their review on executive control in bilinguals from the perspectives of both aging and neuroplasticity in general they have broadened our thinking in useful ways. Because my own research has focused on the early stages of aging and bilingualism in preschool and school-age children, I have chosen to comment on their review with reference to these kinds of learners. I will also focus on the language acquisition part of this discussion because at the heart of the issue is how and to what extent acquisition of more than one language affects cognitive development. My comments reinforce what I believe are important observations in their review and simultaneously seek to extend their call to expand our frames of reference in research on bilinguals even further.
Neuroplasticity, neuroimaging, and bilingualism: Commentary on Baum and Titone
Authors: Klein Denise , Watkins Kate E.
Published: August 2014

In this comprehensive review by Baum and Titone, the authors promote the notion that bilingualism should be thought of as an agent of neuroplastic change over the life span. Their proposal offers a context within which to view early enrichment, one element of which is the early learning of two languages. The review points out the complexities of studying bilingualism and highlights empirical gaps in research that are critical to our understanding of how experience with language, especially exposure to two languages, might affect the neurocognitive system. The framework brings together disparate sets of studies in the literature across multiple methods, models, and disparate repertoires of descriptive terms.
What bilinguals do with language that changes their minds and their brains
Authors: Kroll Judith F. , Fricke Melinda
Published: August 2014

In the last two decades, there has been an upsurge of research on bilingualism recognizing that bilinguals may be more representative language users than their monolingual peers (e.g., Kroll, Dussias, Bogulski, & Valdes Kroff, 2012). The excitement about bilinguals is related not only to their neglected status in the past literature but also to a set of twin discoveries that have catapulted research on bilingualism into central view in psycholinguistics, cognitive and developmental neuroscience, and gerontology. One of these discoveries is that both languages are active when bilinguals read, listen to speech, and plan speech in either of their two languages (for a review, see Kroll et al., 2012). The other discovery is that bilingualism appears to confer a set of consequences to domain general cognition and to the neural structures that support it (e.g., Bialystok, Craik, Green, & Gollan, 2009). Those consequences are observed across the lifespan and are particularly evident when cognitive resources are challenged because of the normal or pathological trajectory of aging (e.g., Gold, Kim, Johnson, Kriscio, & Smith, 2013). The focus of the new research is on how these two discoveries might be related. The parallel activity of the two languages and the interactions across them require that the bilingual develops skill in language selection to enable fluent performance. The hypothesis that has guided the recent flurry of research is that bilingual minds and brains change as a consequence of having to regulate the two languages. In their Keynote Article, Baum and Titone provide a comprehensive and current summary of the existing evidence on this hypothesis.
The future of bilingualism research: Insufferably optimistic and replete with new questions
Authors: TITONE DEBRA , BAUM SHARI
Published: August 2014

The scientific process applied to any domain is a thing of power and beauty. It enables its practitioners to systematically and rigorously pursue questions of importance, in a manner that is, by necessity, adaptive and tenacious. As was his way with most matters of relevance to psychology, the words of William James (The Principles of Psychology, 1890) are illustrative here:

Romeo wants Juliet as the filings want the magnet; and if no obstacles intervene he moves towards her by as straight a line as they. But Romeo and Juliet, if a wall be built between them, do not remain idiotically pressing their faces against its opposite sides like the magnet and the filings with the card. Romeo soon finds a circuitous way, by scaling the wall or otherwise, of touching Juliet's lips directly. With the filings the path is fixed; whether it reaches the end depends on accidents. With the lover it is the end which is fixed, the path may be modified indefinitely. (p. 7)
Parental scaffolding as a bootstrapping mechanism for learning grasp affordances and imitation skills
Authors: Ugur Emre , Nagai Yukie , Celikkanat Hande , Oztop Erhan
Published: August 2014

Parental scaffolding is an important mechanism that speeds up infant sensorimotor development. Infants pay stronger attention to the features of the objects highlighted by parents, and their manipulation skills develop earlier than they would in isolation due to caregivers' support. Parents are known to make modifications in infant-directed actions, which are often called “motionese”7. The features that might be associated with motionese are amplification, repetition and simplification in caregivers' movements, which are often accompanied by increased social signalling. In this paper, we extend our previously developed affordances learning framework to enable our hand-arm robot equipped with a range camera to benefit from parental scaffolding and motionese. We first present our results on how parental scaffolding can be used to guide the robot learning and to modify its crude action execution to speed up the learning of complex skills. For this purpose, an interactive human caregiver-infant scenario was realized with our robotic setup. This setup allowed the caregiver's modification of the ongoing reach and grasp movement of the robot via physical interaction. This enabled the caregiver to make the robot grasp the target object, which in turn could be used by the robot to learn the grasping skill. In addition to this, we also show how parental scaffolding can be used in speeding up imitation learning. We present the details of our work that takes the robot beyond simple goal-level imitation, making it a better imitator with the help of motionese.
PATIENT PERSPECTIVE IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS IN FINLAND
Authors: Kleme Jenni , Pohjanoksa-Mäntylä Marika , Airaksinen Marja , Enlund Hannes , Kastarinen Helena , Peura Piia , Hämeen-Anttila Katri
Published: August 2014

Objectives: The need to consider the patient perspective in health technology assessments (HTA) has been widely recognized. In July 2012, the Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) published a national recommendation for integrating the patient perspective into the HTAs of pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study is to describe the development of the recommendation for integrating the patient perspective into the HTA process of pharmaceuticals in Finland.

Methods: The development of the recommendation was based on a review of international recommendations and experiences of patient and public involvement in HTA. The draft recommendation was tested in two focus group discussions (n = 7 patients) and three individual interviews among diabetes patients (type 1 or 2) using long-acting insulin treatment. The recommendation was open for public consultation in April 2012 and revised according to the comments received.

Results: Patients will be involved in multiple stages of Fimea's HTA process. The recommendation includes step-by-step instructions on how to assess the patient perspective. The main focus is on qualitative interviews, which will be conducted at the beginning of the assessments to gain information, particularly on patient preferences and values, including positive and negative outcomes important to patients and ethical and social aspects of the medicine's use.

Conclusions: The recommendation will act as a tool to integrate patients’ experiences, needs and preferences into Fimea's HTAs of pharmaceuticals.
THE INTEGRATED MEAN SQUARED ERROR OF SERIES REGRESSION AND A ROSENTHAL HILBERT-SPACE INEQUALITY
Authors: Hansen Bruce E.
Published: August 2014

This paper develops uniform approximations for the integrated mean squared error (IMSE) of nonparametric series regression estimators, including both least-squares and averaging least-squares estimators. To develop these approximations, we also generalize an important probability inequality of Rosenthal (1970,Israel Journal of Mathematics8, 273–303; 1972,Sixth Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability, vol. 2, pp. 149–167. University of California Press) to the case of Hilbert-space valued random variables.
Chromatic induction from surrounding stimuli under perceptual suppression
Authors: HORIUCHI KOJI , KURIKI ICHIRO , TOKUNAGA RUMI , MATSUMIYA KAZUMICHI , SHIOIRI SATOSHI
Published: August 2014

The appearance of colors can be affected by their spatiotemporal context. The shift in color appearance according to the surrounding colors is called color induction or chromatic induction; in particular, the shift in opponent color of the surround is called chromatic contrast. To investigate whether chromatic induction occurs even when the chromatic surround is imperceptible, we measured chromatic induction during interocular suppression. A multicolor or uniform color field was presented as the surround stimulus, and a colored continuous flash suppression (CFS) stimulus was presented to the dominant eye of each subject. The subjects were asked to report the appearance of the test field only when the stationary surround stimulus is invisible by interocular suppression with CFS. The resulting shifts in color appearance due to chromatic induction were significant even under the conditions of interocular suppression for all surround stimuli. The magnitude of chromatic induction differed with the surround conditions, and this difference was preserved regardless of the viewing conditions. The chromatic induction effect was reduced by CFS, in proportion to the magnitude of chromatic induction under natural (i.e., no-CFS) viewing conditions. According to an analysis with linear model fitting, we revealed the presence of at least two kinds of subprocesses for chromatic induction that reside at higher and lower levels than the site of interocular suppression. One mechanism yields different degrees of chromatic induction based on the complexity of the surround, which is unaffected by interocular suppression, while the other mechanism changes its output with interocular suppression acting as a gain control. Our results imply that the total chromatic induction effect is achieved via a linear summation of outputs from mechanisms that reside at different levels of visual processing.
Molecular characterisation of haemoparasites in forest birds from Robinson Crusoe Island: Is the Austral Thrush a potential threat to endemic birds?
Authors: MARTÍNEZ JAVIER , VÁSQUEZ RODRIGO A. , VENEGAS CRISTOBAL , MERINO SANTIAGO
Published: August 2014

The Juan Fernández FirecrownSephanoides fernandensisand Juan Fernández Tit-TyrantAnairetes fernandezianusare two endemic forest birds inhabiting Robinson Crusoe Island and are classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ and ‘Near Threatened’ respectively by IUCN. Previous research concluded that the two main factors involved in the decline of these birds were habitat degradation and the introduction of predator / competitor species. However, the potential role of parasitic diseases has not yet been explored. In order to explore hypothetical host-switching phenomena, we genetically identified the haemoparasites present in four bird species, the two endemic species mentioned above and two recent colonisers, Green-Backed FirecrownSephanoides sephaniodesand Austral ThrushTurdus falcklandii. We failed to find infections by different blood parasites (Plasmodium,Haemoproteus,Leucocytozoon,Trypanosoma,BabesiaandIsospora) in the endangered Juan Fernández Firecrown. However, the Juan Fernández Tit-Tyrant was infected with some parasites shared with the Austral Thrush. The latter species may function as a key-host species on the island as it showed both the higher hemoparaasitic diversity and prevalence. The role of Green-Backed Firecrowns is apparently of lower importance because only one individual was found parasitized. The Austral Thrush could be responsible of the introduction of some parasites also isolated from the Juan Fernández Tit-Tyrant and represent a potential threat to the endemic firecrown due to its role as a reservoir. The spread of Austral Thrushes could increase the contact between species, increasing the probability of a switching event.
Searching for Earth-mass planets around α Centauri: precise radial velocities from contaminated spectra
Authors: Bergmann Christoph , Endl Michael , Hearnshaw John B. , Wittenmyer Robert A. , Wright Duncan J.
Published: August 2014

This work is part of an ongoing project which aims to detect terrestrial planets in our neighbouring star system α Centauri using the Doppler method. Owing to the small angular separation between the two components of the α Cen AB binary system, the observations will to some extent be contaminated with light coming from the other star. We are accurately determining the amount of contamination for every observation by measuring the relative strengths of the H-α and NaD lines. Furthermore, we have developed a modified version of a well-established Doppler code that is modelling the observations using two stellar templates simultaneously. With this method we can significantly reduce the scatter of the radial velocity (RV) measurements due to spectral cross-contamination and hence increase our chances of detecting the tiny signature caused by potential Earth-mass planets. After correcting for the contamination we achieve RV precision of ~2.5 m s−1 for a given night of observations. We have also applied this new Doppler code to four southern double-lined spectroscopic binary systems (HR159, HR913, HR7578 and HD181958) and have successfully recovered radial velocities for both components simultaneously.
Enantioselective Multicatalysed Tandem Reactions
Authors: Pellissier Helene
Published: August 2014

Chiral molecules are needed for the production of many pharmaceuticals and materials, and catalytic asymmetric synthesis provides a method for the preparation of such chiral products. Tandem reactions enable a more efficient, economical and selective one pot approach for complex molecule synthesis which could not be achieved through single specific catalytic systems. This book provides an overview of recent developments in the area. The first part of the book covers asymmetric tandem reactions catalysed by multiple catalysts from the same discipline (organocatalysts, two metal and multienzyme-catalysed reactions). The second part looks at tandem reactions catalysed by multiple catalysts from different disciplines including reactions catalysed by a combination of metals and organocatalysts, reactions catalysed by a combination of metals and enzymes, and finally reactions catalysed by a combination of organocatalysts and enzymes. The book is ideal for researchers and professionals in academic and industrial laboratories interested in catalysis, biocatalysis and organic synthesis of chiral compounds.
Hydrogel-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Biological Detection
Authors: EL-Sharif Hazim F. , Stevenson Derek , Warriner Keith , Reddy Subrayal M.
Published: August 2014

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have become an important tool in the preparation of artificial and robust recognition materials that are capable of mimicking natural systems. MIPs have been regarded as 'antibody mimics' and have shown clear advantages over real antibodies for sensor technology. Currently, on-site diagnostic (OSD) and point-of-care (POC) biosensor development are heavily dominated by antibody-dependent immuno-sensors such as the lateral flow immuno-assay. Although antibodies exhibit a high degree of selectivity, any biological recognition element is inherently unstable with limited shelf-life, even when stored under optimum conditions. OSD and POC tests are essential for disease screening and treatment monitoring as part of emergency management. Introduced or naturally occurring pathogens can cause significant disruptions, raise panic in the population, and result in significant economic losses. Cheaper, smaller, and smarter devices for early detection of disease or environmental hazards ultimately lead to rapid containment and corrective action. To this end, there has been extensive research on detection platforms based on genetic or immune techniques. MIPs have proven to produce selective biological extractions that rival immunoaffinity-based separations, but without the tediously lengthy time-consuming process. MIPs could provide an alternative to antibodies, and ultimately lead to cheaper, smaller, and smarter biosensors.
Application of Pattern Recognition Techniques in the Development of Electronic Tongues
Authors: Salles Maiara O. , Paixão Thiago R. L. C.
Published: August 2014

The human tongue, by virtue of the biological receptors present on it, is capable of recognizing five basic tastes: sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, sour, and umami. Likewise, an electronic tongue is a device with synthetic receptors that can distinguish different samples into patterns as a result of the different responses or information extracted from each sample. To perform pattern recognition using an electronic tongue, mathematical tools are required. Hence, chemometric analysis, particularly principal component analysis (PCA), is used for this purpose. PCA is used to represent all data obtained from an electronic tongue using a smaller number of new variables than those in the original data, and representing this new information in 2D or 3D plots. This chapter describes the concept of an electronic tongue, the manner in which PCA is employed to mimic the pattern recognition that occurs in the brain when using the human tongue as a biological receptor, and some applications of such electronic devices for beverage analysis.
Tuning cation–anion interactions in ionic liquids by changing the conformational flexibility of the cation
Authors: Blundell R. K. , Licence P.
Published: August 2014

XPS experiments reveal that anion–cation based interactions may be enhanced by the introduction of conformational restriction into substituent chains of quaternary ammonium cations.
Synthesis of three-dimensional AlN–Si3N4 branched heterostructures and their photoluminescence properties
Authors: Cai J. , Zhang Y. L. , Li Y. , Du L. Y. , Lyu Z. Y. , Wu Q. , Wang X. Z. , Hu Z.
Published: August 2014

Three-dimensional AlN–Si3N4 branched heterostructures are synthesized via extended vapor–liquid–solid and vapor–solid growth of one-dimensional Si3N4 nanostructures and AlN nanocones successively.
Concentration dependence of the up- and down-conversion emission colours of Er3+-doped Y2O3: a time-resolved spectroscopy analysis
Authors: Lu Haizhou , Gillin William P. , Hernández Ignacio
Published: August 2014

Er3+ energy transfer mechanisms and their influence on the dynamics and emission colours are considered for upconversion and downconversion regimes.
Effect of arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides on membrane pore formation and life-times: a molecular simulation study
Authors: Sun Delin , Forsman Jan , Lund Mikael , Woodward Clifford E.
Published: August 2014

Molecular simulations show that arginine-rich peptides can stabilize transient membrane pores induced by lipid flip-flop.
Nucleic acid ion structures in the gas phase
Authors: Abi-Ghanem Josephine , Gabelica Valérie
Published: August 2014

Investigating DNA and RNA structures in the gas phase by mass spectrometry and associated techniques: theoretical and experimental perspectives.
Line defects and induced doping effects in graphene, hexagonal boron nitride and hybrid BNC
Authors: Ansari Narjes , Nazari Fariba , Illas Francesc
Published: August 2014

Effects on the atomic structure and electronic properties of two-dimensional graphene (G) and h-BN sheets related to the coexistence of dopants and defects are investigated by using density functional theory based methods.
Nanoscale control of graphene electrodes
Authors: Lau C. S. , Mol J. A. , Warner J. H. , Briggs G. A. D.
Published: August 2014

A combined method of lithography and feedback-controlled electroburning used to fabricate nanoscale graphene electrodes.
Continuous flow synthesis of Rh and Pd nanoparticles onto ion-exchange borate monoliths: application to selective catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds under flow conditions
Authors: Liguori Francesca , Barbaro Pierluigi
Published: August 2014

Rh and Pd NPs, generated within an unconventional borate monolith, performed highly in continuous flow hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds.
Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane modified layered double hydroxides greatly facilitate polyoxometalate intercalation
Authors: Chen Yang , Yan Dongpeng , Song Yu-Fei
Published: August 2014

The Na3[PW12O40] intercalated tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris)-modified LDH is prepared for the first time without the necessity of degassing CO2, resulting in the formation of a new intercalated assembly of Tris-LDH-PW12 under mild conditions.
Study of picosecond processes of an intercalated dipyridophenazine Cr(iii) complex bound to defined sequence DNAs using transient absorption and time-resolved infrared methods
Authors: Devereux Stephen J. , Keane Páraic M. , Vasudevan Suni , Sazanovich Igor V. , Towrie Michael , Cao Qian , Sun Xue-Zhong , George Michael W. , Cardin Christine J. , Kane-Maguire Noel A. P. , Kelly John M. , Quinn Susan J.
Published: August 2014

Excited-state quenching of DNA intercalated [Cr(phen)2(dppz)]3+ by guanine proceeds by rapid forward and back electron transfer of <3 ps.
Walnut polyphenol metabolites, urolithins A and B, inhibit the expression of the prostate-specific antigen and the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Sánchez-González Claudia , Ciudad Carlos J. , Noé Véronique , Izquierdo-Pulido Maria
Published: August 2014

Urolithins attenuate the function of the AR by repressing its expression, causing a down-regulation of PSA levels and inducing apoptosis. Our results suggest that a diet rich in ellagitannins could contribute to the prevention of prostate cancer.
Binding studies of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine with human serum albumin
Authors: Yeggoni Daniel Pushparaju , Subramanyam Rajagopal
Published: August 2014

l-Dopa has been used to increase dopamine concentrations in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and dopamine-responsive dystonia.
A 20-gene signature in predicting the chemoresistance of breast cancer to taxane-based chemotherapy
Authors: He Dong-Xu , Xia Yu-Dong , Gu Xiao-Ting , Jin Jian , Ma Xin
Published: August 2014

In this study, we aimed to find a signature that can detect chemoresistance to taxane-based therapies in breast cancer.
The first synthesis of the antiangiogenic homoisoflavanone, cremastranone
Authors: Lee Bit , Basavarajappa Halesha D. , Sulaiman Rania S. , Fei Xiang , Seo Seung-Yong , Corson Timothy W.
Published: August 2014

The homoisoflavanone cremastranone is synthesized for the first time and shown to block human retinal endothelial cell angiogenesis in vitro.
Ionic liquid template assisted synthesis of porous nano-silica nails
Authors: Verma Yogendra Lal , Singh Rajendra Kumar , Oh Il-Kwon , Chandra Suresh
Published: August 2014

Our planned strategy to obtain porous materials was to synthesize porous silica at a fast gelation rate which can be attained by using non-hydrolytic sol–gel route with high ionic liquid (IL)-loading.
Hybrid lanthanide complexes based on a novel β-diketone functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and their nanocomposites with PMMA via in situ polymerization
Authors: Li Liguo , Feng Shengyu , Liu Hongzhi
Published: August 2014

β-diketone-functionalized POSS dendrimer acted as a ligand to coordinate with lanthanide ions (Eu3+ and Tb3+) to form hybrid luminescent materials.
Intense emissions from photoproteins interacting with titanate nanosheets
Authors: Kamada Kai
Published: August 2014

Bioluminescence of Ca2+-binding photoprotein (aequorin, AEQ) is largely enhanced by the co-presence of titanate nanosheets that peptize AEQ agglomerates via a weak electrostatic interaction.
Copper nanoparticle-catalyzed borylation of alkyl bromides with an organodiboron compound
Authors: Kim Ju Hyun , Chung Young Keun
Published: August 2014

Borylation of primary and secondary alkyl bromides with bis(pinacolato)diboron was carried out in the presence of commercially available copper nanoparticles as catalysts.
Combining RAFT precipitation polymerization and surface-initiated RAFT polymerization: an efficient approach to prepare hairy particles—supported proline
Authors: Li Xinjuan , Chen Maoqin , Yang Beilei , Zhang Suli , Jia Xianbin , Hu Zhiguo
Published: August 2014

In this paper, a simple and efficient approach for obtaining hairy particles supported proline system is described.
Power-output reduction of graphene oxide and a MnO2-free Zn/GO primary cell
Authors: Chen Wufeng , Feng Xiayu , Chen Junhao , Yan Lifeng
Published: August 2014

The reduction of graphene oxide by Zn can also result in power-output for a Zn/GO primary cell.
Rapid determination of technetium-99 by automatic solid phase extraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Wu Hsin-Chieh , Su Te-Yen , Tsai Tsuey-Lin , Jong Shiang-Bin , Yang Ming-Hui , Tyan Yu-Chang
Published: August 2014

Technetium-99 (99Tc) is a key nuclide, produced by the fission of uranium-235 (235U) and plutonium-239 (239Pu), through a cascade decay process, and is one kind of target element in environmental analysis due to its long half-life (t1/2 = 2.1 × 105 years).
Controlled assembly of Bi2S3 architectures as Schottky diode, supercapacitor electrodes and highly efficient photocatalysts
Authors: Ma Lisha , Zhao Qinqin , Zhang Qiang , Ding Meng , Huang Jinzhao , Liu Xiaojing , Liu Yang , Wu Xiang , Xu Xijin
Published: August 2014

Bi2S3 microflowers were controllably fabricated, and their improved electrochemical and photocatalytic properties were observed.
Maintenance of cooperative overlays in multi‐overlay networks
Authors: Chung Wu‐Chun , Hsu Chin‐Jung , Lai Kuan‐Chou , Li Kuan‐Ching , Chung Yeh‐Ching
Published: August 2014

In overlay‐based applications, multiple overlay networks are deployed to fulfill different service requirements. A multi‐overlay environment may exist in which a number of nodes simultaneously participate in the networks. When there are multiple overlay‐based applications running over a set of nodes, some of the nodes take extra effort to maintain multi‐overlay networks. Therefore, maintaining these co‐existing overlays incurs redundant maintenance overhead. This research presents a cooperative strategy for exploiting a master–slave model to handle the common overlay‐maintenance. The purpose is to eliminate the redundant maintenance overhead. To evaluate system performance, this study not only analyses various combinations of multiple overlays but also considers the effectiveness of the master selection approach. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed cooperative strategy significantly decreases the redundant overlay‐maintenance overhead. In some cases, the overall reduction ratio of maintaining multiple overlays is as high as 60%.
Adaptive boundary control for a class of inhomogeneous Timoshenko beam equations with constraints
Authors: He Wei , Zhang Shuang , Ge Shuzhi Sam , Liu Chang
Published: August 2014

In this study, integral‐Barrier Lyapunov function (IBLF)‐based boundary controls are proposed for a class of inhomogeneous Timoshenko beam equations with boundary output constraints. An IBLF which depends explicitly on time, is employed to prevent the constraint violation. The adaption laws are designed to compensate for the system uncertainties. By using the proposed adaptive IBLF‐based boundary control, the vibration of the Timoshenko beam system is suppressed greatly, without any discretisation or simplification of the dynamics in the time and space. The proposed adaptive IBLF‐based boundary controls also guarantee that boundary outputs always remain in the constrained space, subject to significantly relaxed feasibility conditions. In the end, numerical simulations are displayed to illustrate the performance of the proposed control.