bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Earthquake response of heavily damaged historical masonry mosques after restoration
Authors: Altunışık Ahmet Can , Genç Ali Fuat
Published: October 2017

Abstract. Restoration works have been accelerated substantially in Turkey in the last decade. Many historical buildings, mosques, minaret, bridges, towers and structures have been restored. With these restorations an important issue arises, namely how restoration work affects the structure. For this reason, we aimed to investigate the restoration effect on the earthquake response of a historical masonry mosque considering the openings on the masonry dome. For this purpose, we used the Hüsrev Pasha Mosque, which is located in the Ortakapı district in the old city of Van, Turkey. The region of Van is in an active seismic zone; therefore, earthquake analyses were performed in this study. Firstly a finite element model of the mosque was constructed considering the restoration drawings and 16 window openings on the dome. Then model was constructed with eight window openings. Structural analyses were performed under dead load and earthquake load, and the mode superposition method was used in analyses. Maximum displacements, maximum–minimum principal stresses and shear stresses are given with contours diagrams. The results are analyzed according to Turkish Earthquake Code (TEC, 2007) and compared between 8 and 16 window openings cases. The results show that reduction of the window openings affected the structural behavior of the mosque positively.
Near-surface thermal stratification during summer at Summit,
Greenland, and its relation to MODIS-derived surface temperatures
Authors: Adolph Alden C. , Albert Mary R. , Hall Dorothy K.
Published: October 2017

Abstract. As rapid warming of the Arctic occurs, it is imperative that climate indicators such as temperature be monitored over large areas to understand and predict the effects of climate changes. Temperatures are traditionally tracked using in situ 2 m air temperatures, but in remote locations where few ground-based measurements exist, such as on the Greenland Ice Sheet, temperatures over large areas are assessed using remote sensing techniques. Because of the presence of surface-based temperature inversions in ice-covered areas, differences between 2 m air temperature and the temperature of the actual snow surface (referred to as skin temperature) can be significant and are particularly relevant when considering validation and application of remote sensing temperature data. We present results from a field campaign extending from 8 June through 18 July 2015, near Summit Station in Greenland to study surface temperature using the following measurements: skin temperature measured by an infrared (IR) sensor, thermochrons, and thermocouples; 2 m air temperature measured by a NOAA meteorological station; and a MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface temperature product. Our data indicate that 2 m air temperature is often significantly higher than snow skin temperature measured in-situ, and this finding may account for apparent biases in previous surface temperature studies of MODIS products that used 2 m air temperature for validation. This inversion is present during summer months when incoming solar radiation and wind speed are both low. As compared to our in-situ IR skin temperature measurements, after additional cloud masking, the MOD/MYD11 Collection 6 surface-temperature standard product has an RMSE of 1.0 °C, spanning a range of temperatures from −35 °C to −5 °C. For our study area and time series, MODIS surface temperature products agree with skin surface temperatures better than previous studies indicated, especially at temperatures below −20 °C where other studies found a significant cold bias. The apparent cold bias present in others’ comparison of 2 m air temperature and MODIS surface temperature is perhaps a result of the near-surface temperature inversion that our data demonstrate. Further investigation of how in-situ IR skin temperatures compare to MODIS surface temperature at lower temperatures (below −35 °C) is warranted to determine if this cold bias does indeed exist.
Neoliberalismo, Economía del Conocimiento y Educación Musical
Authors: Aróstegui Plaza José Luis
Published: October 2017

En este artículo reflexiono sobre la influencia del neoliberalismo y de la economía del conocimiento en la educación en general y en la musical en particular, a fin de tratar el lugar que ocupa y que podría ocupar la música en un currículo entendido como “motor de la economía del conocimiento” actualmente vigente en la mayoría de los países. Para tal fin hago una revisión de la literatura a partir de la cual se tratan diferentes teorías económicas, en particular la del liberalismo, también sobre qué se entiende por economía del conocimiento, y de las consecuencias que tienen ambas para la educación y para la educación musical escolar. Al final se concluye que neoliberalismo y economía del conocimiento son dos ámbitos bien distintos, y que mientras la influencia de la primera explica el actual declive de la asignatura, la segunda ofrece un campo de actuación relevante a la música escolar y en realidad a todas las artes y Humanidades, al tiempo que se ofrecen algunas señales a nivel internacional que parecen señalar una mejoría de la música escolar dentro de un currículo dirigido hacia la economía del conocimiento.
Jewish Humor and Woody Allen's Short Fiction
Authors: Precup Amelia
Published: October 2017

Woody Allen's short fiction has received much less scholarly attention than his films. Scholars who have investigated the humorous qualities of Allen's short stories and casual pieces have noted his penchant for absurdity and non sequitur, his use of the Little Man as a vehicle for humor, and the linguistic dimensions of his joke scripts rather than his Jewish comic sensibilities. Beginning with a brief overview on how Jewish humor has contributed to the comic achievements of American culture and drawing on analyses of the main characteristics of Jewish humor, this article adds to the scholarship by exploring the influence of Jewish humorous traditions on Woody Allen's short fiction.
Función liberadora de la filosofía. Ellacuría, I. (2005). Veinte años de historia en El Salvador (1969-1989)
Authors: Marroquín Parducci Amparo
Published: October 2017

No abstracts availableRealidad: Revista de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades No. 118, 2008: 673-676
Kinematics of Shoulder Injuries in Throwing Sports
Authors: Deng Hongqiong , Li Yuan , Xie Hong , Li Shiwei
Published: October 2017

Muscle injury mechanism should be studied to know how to prevent the muscle injuries. The purpose of this article is to construct a protecting model of shoulder injuries based on classical mechanism and kinematics in throwing sports like baseball pitching, badminton smash, volleyball smash, javelin throwing process etc, and then introduce the products design. Firstly, the biomechanics of muscle were analyzed based on Newton's classical mechanics; then a finite element analysis was used to simulate the shoulder muscles protection. Protective parameters were got to make the protective clothes; finally, the protective performance and the comfortableness has been evaluated by ten healthy participants with the mean age, height, body mass were 23.5 years (SD, 1.5), 1.75m (SD, 0.07), 60.5 kg (SD, 9.1), respectively. The throwing test including the baseball pitching, the badminton smash, the process of volleyball smash, and the javelin throwing process. Three protective clothes have been produced and all of them have a protective effect on the muscle while participants were doing the baseball pitching motion, the badminton smashes motion and the volleyball smash. And it has also met the requirement of the human body. But protecting effect each style given was different in different sports motions.
Renewal of an entry to practice baccalaureate nursing curriculum: Adapting to complexity
Authors: Fetherston Catherine Mary , Browne Caroline , Andrus Prue , Batt Sharryn
Published: October 2017

Curriculum re-design in entry to practice nursing degrees requires a rigorous and multifaceted approach to align the needs of students, professional and industry stakeholders, community needs, the faculty’s vision and university and regulator requirements. This paper relates the initial steps in the process taken to achieve this re-design in one Australian university’s Bachelor of Nursing program, and describes our experiences in two parts. The first part outlines the context in which the need for curriculum renewal was triggered and the ensuing processes undertaken in the development of our new course aim, course outcomes and graduate attributes. The second part discusses how undertaking these activities then came to influence the adoption of Complexity Thinking in the design of our conceptual model, which then guided our program structure and overarching learning and teaching approaches. We share these experiences to illustrate the steps we undertook on this journey, to outline and example the program we created, and to continue the scholarly discussions around the design of baccalaureate nursing program structures, especially those that implement pedagogies inspired by the concepts related to Complexity Theory. The choice of complexity thinking as a guiding theory was key in providing the lens through which we were inspired to graduate nurses with the skills to provide care in complex situations and value the learning that comes through uncertainty, reflection, adaptation and emergence.
Outsourcing and Firm Performance: Evidence from the Italian Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Calia Pinuccia , Pacei Silvia
Published: October 2017

This study presents an empirical analysis of the production outsourcing effect on firm productivity and profitability in the Italian manufacturing industry. This study uses firm-level panel data that were developed by the Italian National Statistical Institute. Using different estimation strategies, we develop panel data models and correct for possible endogeneity bias of the outsourcing with respect to the target variables. We find a non-significant effect of outsourcing on profitability and a significant negative effect of outsourcing on productivity.
Book Review: The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins
Authors: Disque Natalie
Published: October 2017

Author John Perkins writes a bold, yet compelling, account of his personal experiences as an economic hit man (EHM), involving manipulating data and foreign government officials, deception, lies, sex, assassinations, and attempted murder. His true story recounted in the book The New Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is an eye-opener for those who are unaware of the underpinnings of the government’s ability to bully other countries into large debt to benefit American multinational corporations and secure our place as the sole superpower.
Evaluation of the Thermo Scientific RapidFinder™ Salmonella Species, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis Multiplex PCR Kit
Authors: Scopes Emma , Screen Jessica , Evans Katharine , Crabtree David , Hughes Annette , Kaupinen Mikko , Flannery Jonathan , Bird Patrick , Benzinger M Joseph , Agin James , Goins David , Chen Yi , Brodsky Michael , Fernandez Maria Cristina
Published: October 2017

The Thermo Scientific RapidFinder™ Salmonella Species, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis Multiplex PCR Kit (candidate method) is a real-time PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of Salmonella spp., and the serovars S. Typhimurium, and S. Enteritidis from poultry, pork, and environmental samples. The method was validated in comparison to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reference methods. Thermo Fisher Scientific (Basingstoke, United Kingdom) tested all matrixes. In addition, two matrixes were analyzed independently by Q Laboratories, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH). Few statistically significant differences were found between the candidate and reference methods when analyzed by probability of detection. When differences were observed, these were in favor of the candidate method. All 200 inclusivity strains and none of the 45 exclusivity strains were detected, which demonstrated that the RapidFinder Salmonella Species, Typhimurium, and Enteritidis Multiplex PCR Kit was able to detect all the major groups of Salmonella, the less common subspecies of S. enterica, and the rarely encountered S. bongori. None of the exclusivity isolates analyzed were detected. Robustness testing demonstrated that the assay gave reliable performance, with specific method deviations outside the recommended parameters. Accelerated stability testing was conducted, validating the assay shelf life.
A weighted extremal function and equilibrium measure
Authors: Bos Len , Levenberg Norman , Ma'u Sione , Piazzon Federico
Published: October 2017

We find an explicit formula for the weighted extremal function of $\mathbb{R}^n\subset \mathbb{C}^n$ with weight $(1+x_1^2+\cdots +x_n^2)^{-1/2}$ as well as its Monge-Ampère measure. As a corollary, we compute the Alexander capacity of $\mathbb{RP}^n$.
E3 ubiquitin ligase Bre1 couples sister chromatid cohesion establishment to DNA replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Zhang Wei , Yeung Clarence Hue Lok , Wu Liwen , Yuen Karen Wing Yee
Published: October 2017

Bre1, a conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, together with its interacting partner Lge1, are responsible for histone H2B monoubiquitination, which regulates transcription, DNA replication, and DNA damage response and repair, ensuring the structural integrity of the genome. Deletion of BRE1 or LGE1 also results in whole chromosome instability. We discovered a novel role for Bre1, Lge1 and H2Bub1 in chromosome segregation and sister chromatid cohesion. Bre1’s function in G1 and S phases contributes to cohesion establishment, but it is not required for cohesion maintenance in G2 phase. Bre1 is dispensable for the loading of cohesin complex to chromatin in G1, but regulates the localization of replication factor Mcm10 and cohesion establishment factors Ctf4, Ctf18 and Eco1 to early replication origins in G1 and S phases, and promotes cohesin subunit Smc3 acetylation for cohesion stabilization. H2Bub1 epigenetically marks the origins, potentially signaling the coupling of DNA replication and cohesion establishment.
CRISPRi is not strand-specific at all loci and redefines the transcriptional landscape
Authors: Howe Françoise S , Russell Andrew , Lamstaes Anna R , El-Sagheer Afaf , Nair Anitha , Brown Tom , Mellor Jane
Published: October 2017

CRISPRi, an adapted CRISPR-Cas9 system, is proposed to act as a strand-specific roadblock to repress transcription in eukaryotic cells using guide RNAs (sgRNAs) to target catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9) and offers an alternative to genetic interventions for studying pervasive antisense transcription. Here, we successfully use click chemistry to construct DNA templates for sgRNA expression and show, rather than acting simply as a roadblock, sgRNA/dCas9 binding creates an environment that is permissive for transcription initiation/termination, thus generating novel sense and antisense transcripts. At HMS2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sgRNA/dCas9 targeting to the non-template strand for antisense transcription results in antisense transcription termination, premature termination of a proportion of sense transcripts and initiation of a novel antisense transcript downstream of the sgRNA/dCas9-binding site. This redefinition of the transcriptional landscape by CRISPRi demonstrates that it is not strand-specific and highlights the controls and locus understanding required to properly interpret results from CRISPRi interventions.
Control of plant cell fate transitions by transcriptional and hormonal signals
Authors: Gaillochet Christophe , Stiehl Thomas , Wenzl Christian , Ripoll Juan-José , Bailey-Steinitz Lindsay J , Li Lanxin , Pfeiffer Anne , Miotk Andrej , Hakenjos Jana P , Forner Joachim , Yanofsky Martin F , Marciniak-Czochra Anna , Lohmann Jan U
Published: October 2017

Plant meristems carry pools of continuously active stem cells, whose activity is controlled by developmental and environmental signals. After stem cell division, daughter cells that exit the stem cell domain acquire transit amplifying cell identity before they are incorporated into organs and differentiate. In this study, we used an integrated approach to elucidate the role of HECATE (HEC) genes in regulating developmental trajectories of shoot stem cells in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our work reveals that HEC function stabilizes cell fate in distinct zones of the shoot meristem thereby controlling the spatio-temporal dynamics of stem cell differentiation. Importantly, this activity is concomitant with the local modulation of cellular responses to cytokinin and auxin, two key phytohormones regulating cell behaviour. Mechanistically, we show that HEC factors transcriptionally control and physically interact with MONOPTEROS (MP), a key regulator of auxin signalling, and modulate the autocatalytic stabilization of auxin signalling output.
Preferential assembly of heteromeric kainate and AMPA receptor amino terminal domains
Authors: Zhao Huaying , Lomash Suvendu , Chittori Sagar , Glasser Carla , Mayer Mark L , Schuck Peter
Published: October 2017

Ion conductivity and the gating characteristics of tetrameric glutamate receptor ion channels are determined by their subunit composition. Competitive homo- and hetero-dimerization of their amino-terminal domains (ATDs) is a key step controlling assembly. Here we measured systematically the thermodynamic stabilities of homodimers and heterodimers of kainate and AMPA receptors using fluorescence-detected sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation. Measured affinities span many orders of magnitude, and complexes show large differences in kinetic stabilities. The association of kainate receptor ATD dimers is generally weaker than the association of AMPA receptor ATD dimers, but both show a general pattern of increased heterodimer stability as compared to the homodimers of their constituents, matching well physiologically observed receptor combinations. The free energy maps of AMPA and kainate receptor ATD dimers provide a framework for the interpretation of observed receptor subtype combinations and possible assembly pathways.
Eco-epidemiological aspects, natural detection and molecular identification of Leishmania spp. in Lutzomyia reburra, Lutzomyia barrettoi majuscula and Lutzomyia trapidoi
Authors: Arrivillaga-Henríquez Jazzmín , Enríquez Sandra , Romero Vanessa , Echeverría Gustavo , Pérez-Barrera Jorge , Poveda Ana , Navarro Juan-Carlos , Warburg Alon , Benítez Washington
Published: October 2017

Introducción. La provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador, es un área endémica de leishmaniasis cutánea, en donde se han determinado como vectores los flebotomíneos antropofílicos con infección natural por Leishmania spp. Sin embargo, no se ha evaluado el papel en la transmisión de las especies zoofílicas.Objetivo. Evaluar la infección natural por Leishmania en dos especies de flebotomíneos zoofílicos, Lutzomyia reburra y Lu. barrettoi majuscula, y en una antropofílica, Lu. trapidoi, así como la endofagia y la sinantropía de estas especies en el noroccidente de Pichincha.Materiales y métodos. Los flebotomíneos se recolectaron en trampas de luz CDC colocadas en diferentes hábitats y altitudes en sitios que son focos de leishmaniasis cutánea. La infección con Leishmania spp. se detectó en el ADN genómico de hembras de las especies de flebotomíneos de interés. Se amplificó el gen espaciador interno de la transcripción del ARN ribosómico, unidad I (ITS1), y los genes de las topoiso-merasas mitocondrial II (mtTOPOII) y nuclear II (TopoII). Se determinaron los porcentajes de positividad para Leishmania a escala espaciotemporal, la proporción de endofagia y el índice de sinantropía.Resultados. Se determinó la presencia de infección natural por Le. amazonensis en Lu. reburra (9,5 %) y Lu. b. majuscula (23,8 %); en Lu. trapidoi se detectaron Le. amazonensis, Le. brazilienis y Le. naiffi-lainsoni. Los flebotomíneos eran asinantrópicos y con baja endofagia.Conclusión. Se registró por primera vez la presencia de infección natural en Lu. reburra y Lu. barrettoi majuscula por Le. amazonensis, y se demostró la importancia de los flebotomíneos zoofílicos en el mantenimiento del ciclo de transmisión de Leishmania spp. en focos endémicos.
Two Sources of Nonisotropic Radiation From Underground Explosions in Granite
Authors: Vorobiev O. Yu.
Published: October 2017

Significant tangential ground motion observed during underground explosions makes it difficult to distinguish them from natural earthquakes. Such motion can be generated by the source geometry and emplacement conditions, by the heterogeneous nature of the rock mass (mechanical properties may vary in space due to the presence of cracks, joints, faults, and various geologic layers) and also by the nonuniform in situ stress state. The last mechanism is increasingly important with depth when the difference in main principal stresses becomes significant. This paper is focused on the role of material strength of the rock mass in generation of nonradial motion during explosions in prestressed media. Numerical modeling of underground chemical explosions in granite at various depths has been conducted to compare two possible mechanisms of shear wave generation. The first, caused by rock mass anisotropy, is important at shallow depth. The second is related to elastic‐plastic relaxation around the cavity created by the explosion. Tangential motions for these two mechanisms have different signatures.
Separation of O/X Polarization Modes on Oblique Ionospheric Soundings
Authors: Harris T. J. , Cervera M. A. , Pederick L. H. , Quinn A. D.
Published: October 2017

The oblique‐incidence sounder (OIS) is a well‐established instrument for determining the state of the ionosphere, with several advantages over vertical‐incidence sounders (VIS). However, the processing and interpretation of OIS ionograms is more complicated than that of VIS ionograms. Due to the Earth's magnetic field, the ionosphere is birefringent at radio frequencies and a VIS or OIS will typically see two distinct ionospheric returns, known as the O and X modes. The separation of these two modes on a VIS, using a polarimetric receive antenna, is a well‐established technique. However, this process is more complicated on an OIS due to a variable separation in the phase difference between the two modes, as measured between the two arms of a polarimetric antenna. Using a polarimetric antenna that can be rotated and tilted, we show that this variation in phase separation within an ionogram is caused by the variation in incidence angle, with some configurations leading to greater variation in phase separation. We then develop an algorithm for separating O and X modes in oblique ionograms that can account for the variation in phase separation, and we demonstrate successful separation even in relatively difficult cases. The variation in phase separation can also be exploited to estimate the incident elevation, a technique which may be useful for other applications of HF radio.
Stabilized Dye–Pigment Formulations with Platy and Tubular Nanoclays
Authors: Micó‐Vicent Bàrbara , Martínez‐Verdú Francisco M. , Novikov Andrei , Stavitskaya Anna , Vinokurov Vladimir , Rozhina Elvira , Fakhrullin Rawil , Yendluri Raghuvara , Lvov Yuri
Published: October 2017

Alumosilicate materials of different morphologies, such as platy and tubule nanoclays, may serve as an efficient, protective encasing for colored organic substances and nanoparticles. The adsorption of dyes onto the nanoclays increases their stability against thermal, oxidative, and acid–base‐induced decomposition. Natural organic dyes form stable composites with clays, thus allowing for “green” technology in production of industrial nanopigments. In the presence of high‐surface‐area alumosilicate materials, semiconductor nanoparticles known as quantum dots are stabilized against agglomeration during their colloid synthesis, resulting in safe colors. The highly dispersed nanoclays such as tubule halloysite can be employed as biocompatible carriers of quantum dots for the dual labeling of living human cells—both for dark‐field and fluorescence imaging. Therefore, complexation of dyes with nanoclays allows for new, stable, and inexpensive color formulations.
In Situ Carbon Homogeneous Doping on Ultrathin Bismuth Molybdate: A Dual‐Purpose Strategy for Efficient Molecular Oxygen Activation
Authors: Wang Shengyao , Ding Xing , Zhang Xuehao , Pang Hong , Hai Xiao , Zhan Guangming , Zhou Wei , Song Hui , Zhang Lizhi , Chen Hao , Ye Jinhua
Published: October 2017

Solar‐driven activation of molecular oxygen, which harnesses light to produce reactive oxygen species for the removal of pollutants, is the most green and low‐cost approach for environmental remediation. The energy coupling between photons, excitons, and oxygen is the crucial step in this reaction and still remains a challenge. In this study, a dual‐purpose strategy for enhanced molecular oxygen activation is established by in situ carbon homogeneous doping on ultrathin Bi2MoO6 nanosheets for the first time. The C‐doped ultrathin 2D material exhibits an enlarged bandgap straddling the electrochemical potential of O2 /•O2− and H2O /•OH, without any attenuation of light absorption. An internal electric field and shortened carrier‐transportation distance are also found in the longitude orientation of the nanosheets ([001] axis), leading to a higher density of effective photogenerated carriers localized on the exposed {001} surface. As applied for the nitric oxide removal, the reactive rate over the ultrathin C‐doped Bi2MoO6 nanosheets is 4.3 times higher than that over the bulk counterparts as a result of the increasing reactive oxygen species. This new proof‐of‐concept strategy not only realizes the band structure engineering and charge transportation regulation but also paves a new way to construct highly efficient photocatalytic materials.
Antiadhesion Organogel Materials: From Liquid to Solid
Authors: Lv Jianyong , Yao Xi , Zheng Yongmei , Wang Jianjun , Jiang Lei
Published: October 2017

Various organogel materials with either a liquid or solid surface layer have recently been designed and prepared. These surface materials can substantially reduce the adhesion of foreign deposits such as water, blood, paint, ice, and so on; therefore, they exhibit great potential for the easy removal of foreign deposits. Here, a brief discussion about the mechanism of organogel materials in reducing adhesion is given; then, examples of liquid organogels for fighting against varieties of complex fluidic deposits are presented, and efforts in preventing the depletion of liquid are discussed. Finally, applications of antiadhesion organogels with multifunctionality, and the strategy of replacing liquids with solids are presented.
Large‐Scale, Long‐Range‐Ordered Patterning of Nanocrystals via Capillary‐Bridge Manipulation
Authors: Feng Jiangang , Song Qian , Zhang Bo , Wu Yuchen , Wang Tie , Jiang Lei
Published: October 2017

Deterministic assembly of nanoparticles with programmable patterns is a core opportunity for property‐by‐design fabrication and large‐scale integration of functional materials and devices. The wet‐chemical‐synthesized colloidal nanocrystals are compatible with solution assembly techniques, thus possessing advantages of high efficiency, low cost, and large scale. However, conventional solution process suffers from tradeoffs between spatial precision and long‐range order of nanocrystal assembly arising from the uncontrollable dewetting dynamics and fluid flow. Here, a capillary‐bridge manipulation method is demonstrated for directing the dewetting of nanocrystal inks and deterministically patterning long‐range‐ordered superlattice structures. This is achieved by employing micropillars with programmable size, arrangement, and shape, which permits deterministic manipulation of geometry, position, and dewetting dynamics of capillary bridges. Various superlattice structures, including one‐dimensional (1D), circle, square, pentagon, hexagon, pentagram, cross arrays, are fabricated. Compared to the glassy thin films, long‐range‐ordered superlattice arrays exhibit improved ferroelectric polarization. Coassembly of nanocrystal superlattice and organic functional molecule is further demonstrated. Through introducing azobenzene into superlattice arrays, a switchable ferroelectric polarization is realized, which is triggered by order–disorder transition of nanocrystal stacking in reversible isomerization process of azobenzene. This method offers a platform for patterning nanocrystal superlattices and fabricating microdevices with functionalities for multiferroics, electronics, and photonics.
Photovoltaic–Pyroelectric Coupled Effect Induced Electricity for Self‐Powered Photodetector System
Authors: Ma Nan , Zhang Kewei , Yang Ya
Published: October 2017

Ferroelectric materials have demonstrated novel photovoltaic effect to scavenge solar energy. However, most of the ferroelectric materials with wide bandgaps (2.7–4 eV) suffer from low power conversion efficiency of less than 0.5% due to absorbing only 8–20% of solar spectrum. Instead of harvesting solar energy, these ferroelectric materials can be well suited for photodetector applications, especially for sensing near‐UV irradiations. Here, a ferroelectric BaTiO3 film‐based photodetector is demonstrated that can be operated without using any external power source and a fast sensing of 405 nm light illumination is enabled. As compared with photovoltaic effect, both the responsivity and the specific detectivity of the photodetector can be dramatically enhanced by larger than 260% due to the light‐induced photovoltaic–pyroelectric coupled effect. A self‐powered photodetector array system can be utilized to achieve spatially resolved light intensity detection by recording the output voltage signals as a mapping figure.
Evolutionary Metal Oxide Clusters for Novel Applications: Toward High‐Density Data Storage in Nonvolatile Memories
Authors: Chen Xiaoli , Zhou Ye , Roy Vellaisamy A. L. , Han Su‐Ting
Published: October 2017

Because of current fabrication limitations, miniaturizing nonvolatile memory devices for managing the explosive increase in big data is challenging. Molecular memories constitute a promising candidate for next‐generation memories because their properties can be readily modulated through chemical synthesis. Moreover, these memories can be fabricated through mild solution processing, which can be easily scaled up. Among the various materials, polyoxometalate (POM) molecules have attracted considerable attention for use as novel data‐storage nodes for nonvolatile memories. Here, an overview of recent advances in the development of POMs for nonvolatile memories is presented. The general background knowledge of the structure and property diversity of POMs is also summarized. Finally, the challenges and perspectives in the application of POMs in memories are discussed.
Design of a New Small‐Molecule Electron Acceptor Enables Efficient Polymer Solar Cells with High Fill Factor
Authors: Li Sunsun , Ye Long , Zhao Wenchao , Liu Xiaoyu , Zhu Jie , Ade Harald , Hou Jianhui
Published: October 2017

Improving the fill factor (FF) is known as a challenging issue in organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, a strategy of extending the conjugated area of end‐group is proposed for the molecular design of acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A)‐type small molecule acceptor (SMA), and an indaceno[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene‐based SMA, namely IDTN, by end‐capping with the naphthyl fused 2‐(3‐oxocyclopentylidene)malononitrile is synthesized. Benefiting from the π‐conjugation extension by fusing two phenyls, IDTN shows stronger molecular aggregation, more ordered packing structure, thus over one order of magnitude higher electron mobility relative to its counterpart. By utilizing the fluorinated polymer (PBDB‐TF) as the electron donor, the corresponding device exhibits a high efficiency of 12.2% with a record‐high FF of 0.78, which is approaching the theoretical limit of OSCs. Compared with the reference molecule, such a high FF in the IDTN system can be mainly attributed to the more ordered π–π packing of acceptor aggregates, higher domain purity and symmetric carrier transport in the blend. Hence, enlarging the conjugated area of the terminal‐group in these A–D–A‐type SMAs is a promising approach not only for enhancing the electron mobility, but also for improving the blend morphology, and both of them are conducive to the fill‐factor breakthrough.
Highly Efficient and Stable Water‐Oxidation Electrocatalysis with a Very Low Overpotential using FeNiP Substitutional‐Solid‐Solution Nanoplate Arrays
Authors: Qian Manman , Cui Shengsheng , Jiang Daochuan , Zhang Lei , Du Pingwu
Published: October 2017

The development of efficient water‐oxidation electrocatalysts based on inexpensive and earth‐abundant materials is significant to enable water splitting as a future renewable energy source. Herein, the synthesis of novel FeNiP solid‐solution nanoplate (FeNiP‐NP) arrays and their use as an active catalyst for high‐performance water‐oxidation catalysis are reported. The as‐prepared FeNiP‐NP catalyst on a 3D nickel foam substrate exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with a very low overpotential of only 180 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and an onset overpotential of 120 mV in 1.0 m KOH for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The slope of the Tafel plot is as low as 76.0 mV dec−1. Furthermore, the long‐term electrochemical stability of the FeNiP‐NP electrode is investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) at 1.10–1.55 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), demonstrating very stable performance with negligible loss in activity after 1000 CV cycles. This present FeNiP‐NP solid solution is thought to represent the best OER catalytic activity among the non‐noble metal catalysts reported so far.
High‐Efficiency All‐Dielectric Metalenses for Mid‐Infrared Imaging
Authors: Zuo Haijie , Choi Duk‐Yong , Gai Xin , Ma Pan , Xu Lei , Neshev Dragomir N. , Zhang Baoping , Luther‐Davies Barry
Published: October 2017

Metasurfaces‐based flat optics, which can make use of existing foundry planar technology for high‐throughput production, allows the arbitrary control of the wavefront and polarization of light within subwavelength thick structures. So far, however, flat optics for the mid‐infrared (MIR) has received far less attention than devices operating at visible or near‐infrared wavelengths. Here, polarization‐insensitive, highly efficient, all‐dielectric metalenses operating in the MIR around 4 µm are demonstrated. The metalens is designed using rigorous coupled‐wave analysis and is based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon (α‐Si:H) nanopillars supported by an MgF2 substrate. The metalenses produce close to a diffraction‐limited focal spot and can resolve structures on the wavelength scale where the focusing efficiency reaches 78% at a magnification of 120×. The imaging qualities are comparable with commercial bulk‐molded chalcogenide aspheric lenses. These results provide novel solutions for existing MIR technology and nurture new functionalities with the population of miniaturized and planarized optoelectrical devices.
Photocatalytic Oxidative Bromination of Electron‐Rich Arenes and Heteroarenes by Anthraquinone
Authors: Petzold Daniel , König Burkhard
Published: October 2017

The estimated excited oxidation potential of sodium anthraquinone‐2‐sulfonate (SAS) increases from 1.8 V to about 2.3 V vs SCE by protonation with Brønsted acids. This increased photooxidation power of protonated anthraquinone was used for the regio‐selective oxidative bromination of electron rich (hetero)arenes and drugs in good yield. The mild reaction conditions are compatible with many functional groups, such as double and triple bonds, ketones, amides and amines, hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acids and carbamates. Mechanistic investigations indicate the photooxidation of the arene followed by nucleophilic bromide addition as the likely pathway.

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Supramolecular hydrogel of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan: A dual cross‐link design
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Li Tingting , Liu Yuan , Shang Fang , Chen Bing , Hu Yunxia , Wang Sui , Guo Zhiyong
Published: October 2017

Supramolecular hydrogels are increasingly fascinating soft polymeric materials formed by noncovalent interactions. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan and graphite oxide (GO), good biocompatibility, and nontoxicity, are green materials with potential applications in biomaterials. Herein, a dual cross‐link supramolecular hydrogel of PVA/chitosan in the presence of GO was prepared. Without addition of any organic cross‐linker, the dual‐network PVA/chitosan hydrogel was obtained, namely GO nanosheets as 2D cross‐linker and H‐bonding between PVA chains. For one thing, GO nanosheets induce the physical network formation through electrostatic interaction between positively charged PVA, chitosan, and negatively charged GO. For another, PVA chains can be connected by H‐bonding through freezing/thawing measurements, resulting in the formation of another physical network. To investigate the performance of the PVA/chitosan/GO hydrogel, infrared spectrum, swelling test, thermal analysis, rheological study, and self‐healing tests were conducted. The result showed that PVA/chitosan hydrogel in the presence of GO is not only self‐healable, but also pH‐responsive and temperature‐dependent.
Universalization of the operative strategy by systematic mesogastric excision for stomach cancer with that for total mesorectal excision and complete mesocolic excision colorectal counterparts
Authors: Shinohara Hisashi , Kurahashi Yasunori , Haruta Shusuke , Ishida Yoshinori , Sasako Mitsuru
Published: October 2017

Gastrointestinal cancer surgery aims at en bloc removal of the primary tumor with its lymphatic drainage by excising organ‐specific mesentery as an “intact package”. This concept was advocated in colorectal cancer surgery as total mesorectal excision (TME) or complete mesocolic excision (CME) procedures, but is not directly applicable to stomach cancer as a result of the morphological complexities of the gastric mesentery. In this review, we discuss the unique anatomical features of the mesogastrium by introducing its embryology, disclose its similarity to the mesosigmoid, and then propose a theoretical concept to mesentery‐based D2 gastrectomy, namely systematic mesogastric excision, which can universalize the operative strategy of stomach cancer with that of TME and CME colorectal counterparts.
Molecular‐based diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and its progressive stage
Authors: Barbour Christopher , Kosa Peter , Komori Mika , Tanigawa Makoto , Masvekar Ruturaj , Wu Tianxia , Johnson Kory , Douvaras Panagiotis , Fossati Valentina , Herbst Ronald , Wang Yue , Tan Keith , Greenwood Mark , Bielekova Bibiana
Published: October 2017

Objective

Biomarkers aid diagnosis, allow inexpensive screening of therapies, and guide selection of patient‐specific therapeutic regimens in most internal medicine disciplines. In contrast, neurology lacks validated measurements of the physiological status, or dysfunction(s) of cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Accordingly, patients with chronic neurological diseases are often treated with a single disease‐modifying therapy without understanding patient‐specific drivers of disability. Therefore, using multiple sclerosis (MS) as an example of a complex polygenic neurological disease, we sought to determine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are intraindividually stable, cell type‐, disease‐ and/or process‐specific, and responsive to therapeutic intervention.

Methods

We used statistical learning in a modeling cohort (n = 225) to develop diagnostic classifiers from DNA‐aptamer–based measurements of 1,128 CSF proteins. An independent validation cohort (n = 85) assessed the reliability of derived classifiers. The biological interpretation resulted from in vitro modeling of primary or stem cell–derived human CNS cells and cell lines.

Results

The classifier that differentiates MS from CNS diseases that mimic MS clinically, pathophysiologically, and on imaging achieved a validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.98, whereas the classifier that differentiates relapsing–remitting from progressive MS achieved a validated AUROC of 0.91. No classifiers could differentiate primary progressive from secondary progressive MS better than random guessing. Treatment‐induced changes in biomarkers greatly exceeded intraindividual and technical variabilities of the assay.

Interpretation

CNS biological processes reflected by CSF biomarkers are robust, stable, disease specific, or even disease stage specific. This opens opportunities for broad utilization of CSF biomarkers in drug development and precision medicine for CNS disorders. Ann Neurol 2017;82:795–812
Generation of Circular Optical Vortex Array
Authors: Ma Haixiang , Li Xinzhong , Tai Yuping , Li Hehe , Wang Jingge , Tang Miaomiao , Tang Jie , Wang Yishan , Nie Zhaogang
Published: October 2017

We report on a novel optical vortex array named circular optical vortex array, which is generated by the superposition of two concentric perfect optical vortices. The circular optical vortex array has a constant topological charge of +1 or −1, the number and sign of which are determined by the topological charges of the two perfect optical vortices. Moreover, the radius of the circular optical vortex array is easily adjusted by using the cone angle of an axicon. Furthermore, the circular optical vortex array and multiple circular optical vortex array can be rotated by changing the initial phase difference of the perfect optical vortices on demand. This work demonstrates a complex structured optical field, which is of significance for applications such as optical tweezers, micro‐particle manipulation, and optical imaging.
Self‐Assembly of Chiral Gold Clusters into Crystalline Nanocubes of Exceptional Optical Activity
Authors: Shi Lin , Zhu Lingyun , Guo Jun , Zhang Lijuan , Shi Yanan , Zhang Yin , Hou Ke , Zheng Yonglong , Zhu Yanfei , Lv Jiawei , Liu Shaoqin , Tang Zhiyong
Published: October 2017

Self‐assembly of inorganic nanoparticles into ordered structures is of interest in both science and technology because it is expected to generate new properties through collective behavior; however, such nanoparticle assemblies with characteristics distinct from those of individual building blocks are rare. Herein we use atomically precise Au clusters to make ordered assemblies with emerging optical activity. Chiral Au clusters with strong circular dichroism (CD) but free of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) are synthesized and organized into uniform body‐centered cubic (BCC) packing nanocubes. Once the ordered structure is formed, the CD intensity is significantly enhanced and a remarkable CPL response appears. Both experiment and theory calculation disclose that the CPL originates from restricted intramolecular rotation and the ordered stacking of the chiral stabilizers, which are fastened in the crystalline lattices.
Foaming of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) and poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate‐co‐carbon monoxide) and their blends with carbon dioxide
Authors: Sarver Joseph A. , Sumey Jenna L. , Williams Michael L. , Bishop John P. , Dean David M. , Kiran Erdogan
Published: October 2017

Poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA‐25) and poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate‐co‐carbon monoxide) (EVACO‐2410) and their blends with EVACO:EVA ratios of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, and 20:80 were foamed using CO2. These foams are of interest for applications ranging from footwear to medical devices. Foaming experiments were carried out using 1 mm thick melt‐extruded films in CO2 at a range of pressures (100, 200, and 300 bar) and temperatures (30, 40, 50, and 60 °C). Foamability of the polymers was explored both under isothermal and gradient temperature conditions. Foams of EVACO‐2410 displayed high initial expansions followed by postfoaming relaxation and shrinkage while foams generated from EVA‐25 showed more dimensional stability. Blending EVACO‐2410 with EVA‐25 was explored as an approach to reduce postfoaming relaxation and shrinkage. The surfaces of the foamed samples displayed blistering that was linked to CO2 bubble entrapment and coalescence at the surface. Scanning electron micrographs of the foams generated from blends displayed distinct morphologies reflecting whether the sections were representing the machine‐ or cross‐machine direction of extruded films. In going from EVACO‐2410 to EVA‐25, the cell densities ranged from about 106 to 1010 cells/cm3. Foams with low bulk densities of about 0.11 g/cm3 could be generated. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45841.
An Enhanced Coupling Nonlinear Tracking Controller for Underactuated 3D Overhead Crane Systems
Authors: Zhang Menghua , Ma Xin , Rong Xuewen , Song Rui , Tian Xincheng , Li Yibin
Published: October 2017

An enhanced coupling nonlinear tracking control method for an underactuated 3D overhead crane systems is set forth in the present paper. The proposed tracking controller guarantees a smooth start for the trolley and solves the problem of the payload swing angle amplitude increasing as the transferring distance gets longer for the regulation control methods. Different from existing tracking control methods, the presented control approach has an improved transient performance. More specifically, by taking the operation experience, mathematical analysis of the overhead crane system, physical constraints, and operational efficiency into consideration, we first select two desired trajectories for the trolley. Then, a new storage function is constructed by the introduction of two new composite signals, which increases the coupling behaviour between the trolley movement and payload swing. Next, a novel tracking control strategy is designed according to the derivation form of the aforementioned storage function. Lyapunov techniques and Barbalat's Lemma are used to demonstrate the stability of the closed‐loop system without any approximation manipulations to the original nonlinear dynamics. Finally, some simulation and experiments are used to demonstrate the superior transient performance and strong robustness with respect to different cable lengths, payload masses, destinations, and external disturbances of the enhanced coupling nonlinear tracking control scheme.
Estimating scale economies and the optimal size of school districts: A flexible form approach
Authors: Schiltz Fritz , De Witte Kristof
Published: October 2017

This paper investigates estimation methods to model the relationship between school district size, costs per student and the organisation of school districts. We show that the assumptions on the functional form strongly affect the estimated scale economies and offer two possible solutions to allow for more flexibility in the estimation method. First, we introduce a model by adding higher‐degree district size polynomials, allowing for multiple optima. Second, we develop a Fourier cost function, innovative in the literature on scale economies in education. We then compare both models to classical approaches in the literature. We illustrate how a minor change in the estimation method can alter policy conclusions significantly using Flemish school district data. In doing so, we find sizeable potential cost savings from the consolidation of school districts, especially at the lower tail of the district–size distribution. The organisational transition from small to large school districts is characterised by an interval between two optima. Beyond an apparent slowdown in cost savings in medium‐sized school districts, cost savings from school district consolidation increase again, up to the optimal size of around 6,500 students. Beyond this optimum, school districts incur diseconomies of scale. The commonly used quadratic form (‘U’‐shaped cost function) overestimates scale economies, and fails to identify the interval between both optima.