bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healable, Transparent, Room‐Temperature Electronic Sensors Based on Carbon Nanotube Network‐Coated Polyelectrolyte Multilayers
Authors: Bai Shouli , Sun Chaozheng , Yan Hong , Sun Xiaoming , Zhang Han , Luo Liang , Lei Xiaodong , Wan Pengbo , Chen Xiaodong
Published: September 2015

Transparent and conductive film based electronics have attracted substantial research interest in various wearable and integrated display devices in recent years. The breakdown of transparent electronics prompts the development of transparent electronics integrated with healability. A healable transparent chemical gas sensor device is assembled from layer‐by‐layer‐assembled transparent healable polyelectrolyte multilayer films by developing effective methods to cast transparent carbon nanotube (CNT) networks on healable substrates. The healable CNT network‐containing film with transparency and superior network structures on self‐healing substrate is obtained by the lateral movement of the underlying self‐healing layer to bring the separated areas of the CNT layer back into contact. The as‐prepared healable transparent film is assembled into healable transparent chemical gas sensor device for flexible, healable gas sensing at room temperature, due to the 1D confined network structure, relatively high carrier mobility, and large surface‐to‐volume ratio. The healable transparent chemical gas sensor demonstrates excellent sensing performance, robust healability, reliable flexibility, and good transparency, providing promising opportunities for developing flexible, healable transparent optoelectronic devices with the reduced raw material consumption, decreased maintenance costs, improved lifetime, and robust functional reliability.
Flame‐retardant properties of nanoclay‐filled thermoplastic polyurethane/polypropylene nanocomposites
Authors: Kannan Murugasamy , Thomas Sabu , Joseph Kuruvilla
Published: September 2015

The flame retardancy, mechanical properties of a pure polypropylene (PP)/(thermoplastic polyurethane) (TPU) blend, and PP/TPU blends containing nanoclay as flame retardants, were investigated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, vertical burning test (UL‐94), rate of burning test (ASTM D 635), and their effect on relevant mechanical properties. The LOI value of the neat PP/TPU blend was 18% and those of the halogen‐based bromine‐containing (flame retardant)‐based PP/TPU blend and PP/TPU(5% nanoclay‐filled)/MA‐g‐PP (maleic anhydride‐grafted‐PP) blends were increased by 32% and 28.5% as compared with that of the pure PP/TPU blend, which showed that the above flame retardants and nanoclay could greatly increase the LOI value of the system. However, deterioration of mechanical properties is observed for bromine‐containing (flame retardant)‐based compositions. The introduction of the nanoclay as the flame retardant to the TPU/PP blend system increased the mechanical properties along with flame‐retardant properties. The tensile stress required to make 200% strain in 5% nanoclay added TPU/PP/MA‐g‐PP nanocomposite increased by 120%, and the flexural modulus increased by 80%–90%. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 23:E72–E80, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Petrographic Characterization and Langmuir Volume of Shales from Raniganj Coal Basin, India
Authors: Varma Atul Kumar , Khatun Mousoma , Mendhe Vinod Atmaram , Hazra Bodhisatwa , Singh Bhagwan D. , Dayal Anurodh M.
Published: September 2015

Shale gas is becoming a very important energy resource throughout the world. 10 borehole samples of varying depths from 755-1480m belonging to Barren Measures (upper Permian), Raniganj (upper Permian) and Panchet (lower Triassic) formations of Raniganj coal basin have been selected. Various analyses have been carried out viz. technological, elemental composition, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), rock eval pyrolysis, organic petrography and sorption analyses. Different types of organo-petrographic entities viz. sandy clay, clayey sand, organosandy-clay, humic clay and organic clay were identified. Shaly-microlithotypes were also differentiated. The macerals (organic matter in shales) exhibit normal maturity course. Sorption studies were used for estimating Langmuir volume of shale samples which depicts good correlation with total organic carbon (TOC), organic clay and organo-silty-clay separately. Langmuir volume was also observed to indicate good correlation with shaly-microlithotype which point towards positive role of organic matter and clay association in gas adsorption. Vt60 (volume of vitrinite grains with reflectance greater than 0.60%) indicates that Barren Measures and Raniganj Formation has good hydrocarbon generation potential.
Auswirkungen eines technischen Paradigmenwechsels auf die wasserwirtschaftliche Organisation in strukturschwachen ländlichen Räumen
Authors: Dipl. Geographin Grit Rost , Maier M.Sc. Maier M.Sc. , Böhm M.Sc. Martin , Londong Jörg
Published: September 2015

Structurally weak rural areas in Germany partially are confronted with enormous challenges. It is becoming increasingly difficult to provide these regions with an adequate infrastructure to secure equivalent living conditions. Alternative concepts such as New Sanitation Systems (NASS) can offer an essential contribution. The main idea of NASS is the driving of resources within urban water circular paths. Therefore a separated collection of waste water flows through a technical re-design of infrastructure systems becomes necessary. Winning and utilizing resources offers a new perspective of value adding for urban water management.

The paper addresses the organizational problems regarding the background and deficits of conventional sewage systems. Especially in the context of important changes, such as demographic development and climate change, new framework requirements for planning need to be taken into account. Therefore it is investigated which constraints and challenges influence the implementation of new technical and organizational solutions for sanitation systems.
Experimental test of host specificity in a behaviour-modifying trematode
Authors: HERNANDEZ R. N. , FREDENSBORG B. L.
Published: September 2015

Host behavioural modification by parasites is a common and well-documented phenomenon. However, knowledge on the complexity and specificity of the underlying mechanisms is limited, and host specificity among manipulating parasites has rarely been experimentally verified. We tested the hypothesis that the ability to infect and manipulate host behaviour is restricted to phylogenetically closely related hosts. Our model system consisted of the brain-encysting trematodeEuhaplorchissp. A and six potential fish intermediate hosts from the Order Cyprinodontiformes. Five co-occurring cyprinids were examined for naturally acquired brain infections. Then we selected three species representing three levels of taxonomic relatedness to a known host to experimentally evaluate their susceptibility to infection, and the effect of infection status on behaviours presumably linked to increased trophic transmission. We found natural brain infections ofEuhaplorchissp. A metacercariae in three cyprinids in the shallow sublittoral zone. Of the three experimentally exposed species,Fundulus grandisandPoecilia latipinnaacquired infections and displayed an elevated number of conspicuous behaviours in comparison with uninfected controls.Euhaplorchissp. A was able to infect and manipulate fish belonging to two different families, suggesting that ecological similarity rather than genetic relatedness determines host range in this species.
THESAURUS LITANIARUM: THE SYMBOLISM AND PRACTICE OF MUSICAL LITANIES IN COUNTER-REFORMATION GERMANY
Authors: Fisher Alexander J.
Published: September 2015

A venerable form of petitionary prayer, the litany emerged as a key aural expression of Counter-Reformation Catholicism around the turn of the seventeenth century, particularly in the confessionally contested borderlands of the Holy Roman Empire. Its explicit projection of the dogma of sanctoral intercession, rejected soundly by Protestant theologians, helped to make the litany a flashpoint for religious controversy. Especially in the duchy of Bavaria, the northern bastion of the Counter-Reformation, the litany flourished in a wide variety of monophonic and polyphonic forms that reflected its fluid position on a spectrum between oral and written traditions. This essay explores the usage and significance of the litany in Counter-Reformation Germany, focusing especially upon the Thesaurus litaniarum (Treasury of Litanies, 1596) by Georg Victorinus, music director of the Munich Jesuits. Intimately connected with currents of Catholic reform in German-speaking lands, this great anthology illustrates the varied and creative ways in which composers responded to the litany’s distinctive ebb and flow of titles and petitions to holy intercessors.
Exercise and β-blocker therapy recommendations for inherited arrhythmogenic conditions
Authors: Christian Susan , Somerville Martin , Taylor Sherry , Atallah Joseph
Published: September 2015

Background

Management of individuals with long QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy may involve exercise restriction and/or β-blocker therapy.

Objective

This study assessed the practices of a group of paediatric electrophysiologists regarding the management of genotype-positive/phenotype-positive and genotype-positive/phenotype-negative individuals with these conditions.

Method

An online survey was circulated to members of the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society in May, 2014. The survey included questions addressing the respondents’ approach regarding exercise recommendations and prescription of β-blocker therapy.

Results

A total of 45 cardiologists completed the survey. The majority of respondents restricted symptomatic patients from competitive sports; however, only approximately half restricted phenotype-negative mutation carriers from this level of activity. Recommendations were less consistent regarding other types of activities. A trend was identified regarding physician physical activity and exercise recommendations for phenotype-negative mutation carriers. Less-active physicians were more likely to restrict exercise. β-blocker therapy was discussed by the majority of respondents for symptomatic patients and a significant number of asymptomatic patients.

Conclusion

Exercise restriction for patients with long QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy varies based on several factors including phenotype, type of exercise, guidelines referred to, and physicians’ own level of activity.
Individualisierte Behandlungsstrategien bei depressiven Störungen
Authors: Fehler Silvius , Landgrebe Michael
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Depressive Erkrankungen gehören zu den häufigsten Erkrankungen weltweit und verursachen aufgrund ihrer Schwere und Dauer beträchtliches Leid für die betroffenen Patienten und bedeutende gesundheitsökonomische Kosten. Zwar stehen mittlerweile eine Vielzahl therapeutischer Methoden zur Verfügung, nichtsdestotrotz erweist sich die Behandlung im Einzelfall im klinischen Alltag häufig als sehr schwierig. Bei einer Behandlung mit Antidepressiva lassen sich selten Response- und Remissionsraten von mehr als 60–70 % erreichen. D. h. mehr als ein Drittel der behandelten Patienten spricht nicht auf die Therapie an bei hoher interindividueller Schwankung. Hinzukommt die Verträglichkeit, die in vielen Fällen beispielweise aufgrund einer Psychopharmaka-induzierten Gewichtszunahme oder sexuellen Dysfunktion limitierend sein kann. Zwar haben alle Antidepressiva in randomisierten-kontrollierten Studien ihre Wirksamkeit nachweisen können. Jedoch entspricht das Patientengut einer klinischen Studie selten dem klinischen Alltag und der Wirksamkeitsnachweis erfolgt über Gruppenvergleiche. Vor diesem Hintergrund kann ein individuelles Vorgehen, dass die Bedürfnisse des einzelnen Patienten berücksichtigt die Akzeptanz, Verträglichkeit und damit auch die Wirksamkeit der antidepressiven Therapie verbessern. Mit zunehmender Erforschung von individuellen Prädiktoren für eine Response auf ein bestimmtes Verfahren kann dieses Vorgehen weiter verbessert werden.
Gefährdung einer personalen Psychiatrie durch die Ökonomie
Authors: Maio Giovanni
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Durch die zunehmende Ökonomisierung der modernen Medizin wenden sich die modernen Krankenhäuser von ihrer ursprünglichen sozialen Orientierung ab und verwandeln sich zunehmend in Dienstleistungsunternehmen, in denen die Momente der Sorge und der menschlichen Zuwendung zum rein idealistischen Beiwerk herabgestuft werden. Die Sorge um den Kranken wird zunehmend als Dienstleistung verstanden und der Patient in weiten Bereichen der modernen Medizin zum Kunden umdefiniert. Diese Veränderungen sind nicht nur das Produkt äußerer Vorgaben, sondern zugleich auch Ausdruck eines bestimmten Selbstverständnisses des modernen Menschen. Gleichzeitig wirken sich diese Veränderungen auf die Identitätsbildung der Heilberufe aus, und dies ganz besonders in der Psychiatrie. Die zunehmende Ausrichtung der Psychiatrie an ökonomischen Denkmustern birgt die Gefahr, dass die Psychiatrie sich allein an dem Kriterium der Profitabilität orientiert und hierbei ihre ureigene Identität als Institution der mitmenschlichen Hilfe für in Not geratene Menschen zunehmend aufgibt. Daher erscheint es notwendig, betriebswirtschaftliches Denken als Ermöglichungsbedingung für Medizin anzusehen und nicht als Ersatz für eine Fürsorgerationalität, die die Grundlage der Medizin ausmacht und ohne die man nicht mehr von Medizin sprechen könnte.
In silico prediction and screening of modular crystal structures via a high-throughput genomic approach
Authors: Li Yi , Li Xu , Liu Jiancong , Duan Fangzheng , Yu Jihong
Published: September 2015

High-throughput computational methods capable of predicting, evaluating and identifying promising synthetic candidates with desired properties are highly appealing to today’s scientists. Despite some successes, in silico design of crystalline materials with complex three-dimensionally extended structures remains challenging. Here we demonstrate the application of a new genomic approach to ABC-6 zeolites, a family of industrially important catalysts whose structures are built from the stacking of modular six-ring layers. The sequences of layer stacking, which we deem the genes of this family, determine the structures and the properties of ABC-6 zeolites. By enumerating these gene-like stacking sequences, we have identified 1,127 most realizable new ABC-6 structures out of 78 groups of 84,292 theoretical ones, and experimentally realized 2 of them. Our genomic approach can extract crucial structural information directly from these gene-like stacking sequences, enabling high-throughput identification of synthetic targets with desired properties among a large number of candidate structures.
G-Force PD: a global initiative in coordinating stem cell-based dopamine treatments for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Barker Roger A , Studer Lorenz , Cattaneo Elena , Takahashi Jun ,   G-Force PD consortium
Published: September 2015

Translating new cell-based therapies to the clinic for patients with neurodegenerative disorders is complex. It involves pre-clinical testing of the cellular product and discussions with several regulatory agencies, as well as ethical debates. In an attempt to support efforts around the world, we set up a global consortium that brings together the major funded teams working on developing a stem cell-derived neural transplantation therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD). This consortium, G-Force PD, involves teams from Europe, USA, and Japan, and has already met on two occasions to discuss common problems, solutions, and the roadmap to the clinic. In this short review, we lay out the brief history and rationale for this initiative and discuss some of the issues that arose in our most recent meeting (May 2015) as we consider undertaking first-in-human clinical trials with stem cell-derived neurons for PD.
QIAD assay for quantitating a compound’s efficacy in elimination of toxic Aβ oligomers
Authors: Brener Oleksandr , Dunkelmann Tina , Gremer Lothar , van Groen Thomas , Mirecka Ewa A. , Kadish Inga , Willuweit Antje , Kutzsche Janine , Jürgens Dagmar , Rudolph Stephan , Tusche Markus , Bongen Patrick , Pietruszka Jörg , Oesterhelt Filipp , Langen Karl-Josef , Demuth Hans-Ulrich , Janssen Arnold , Hoyer Wolfgang , Funke Susanne A. , Nagel-Steger Luitgard , Willbold Dieter
Published: September 2015

Strong evidence exists for a central role of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) oligomers in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. We have developed a fast, reliable and robust in vitro assay, termed QIAD, to quantify the effect of any compound on the Aβ aggregate size distribution. Applying QIAD, we studied the effect of homotaurine, scyllo-inositol, EGCG, the benzofuran derivative KMS88009, ZAβ3W, the D-enantiomeric peptide D3 and its tandem version D3D3 on Aβ aggregation. The predictive power of the assay for in vivo efficacy is demonstrated by comparing the oligomer elimination efficiency of D3 and D3D3 with their treatment effects in animal models of Alzheimer´s disease.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance in Cu-Intercalated BiTeI by Compensation Weakening Induced Mobility Improvement
Authors: Wu Lihua , Yang Jiong , Chi Miaofang , Wang Shanyu , Wei Ping , Zhang Wenqing , Chen Lidong , Yang Jihui
Published: September 2015

The low weighted carrier mobility has long been considered to be the key challenge for improvement of thermoelectric (TE) performance in BiTeI. The Rashba-effect-induced two-dimensional density of states in this bulk semiconductor is beneficial for thermopower enhancement, which makes it a prospective compound for TE applications. In this report, we show that intercalation of minor Cu-dopants can substantially alter the equilibria of defect reactions, selectively mediate the donor-acceptor compensation and tune the defect concentration in the carrier conductive network. Consequently, the potential fluctuations responsible for electron scattering are reduced and the carrier mobility in BiTeI can be enhanced by a factor of two to three between 10 K and 300 K. The carrier concentration can also be optimized by tuning the Te/I composition ratio, leading to higher thermopower in this Rashba system. Cu-intercalation in BiTeI gives rise to higher power factor, slightly lower lattice thermal conductivity and consequently improved figure of merit. Compared with pristine BiTe0.98I1.02, the TE performance in Cu0.05BiTeI reveals a 150% and 20% enhancement at 300 and 520 K, respectively. These results demonstrate that defect equilibria mediated by selective doping in complex TE and energy materials could be an effective approach to carrier mobility and performance optimization.
What’s Wrong with the Murals at the Mogao Grottoes: A Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging Method
Authors: Sun Meijun , Zhang Dong , Wang Zheng , Ren Jinchang , Chai Bolong , Sun Jizhou
Published: September 2015

Although a significant amount of work has been performed to preserve the ancient murals in the Mogao Grottoes by Dunhuang Cultural Research, non-contact methods need to be developed to effectively evaluate the degree of flaking of the murals. In this study, we propose to evaluate the flaking by automatically analyzing hyperspectral images that were scanned at the site. Murals with various degrees of flaking were scanned in the 126th cave using a near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral camera with a spectral range of approximately 900 to 1700 nm. The regions of interest (ROIs) of the murals were manually labeled and grouped into four levels: normal, slight, moderate and severe. The average spectral data from each ROI and its group label were used to train our classification model. To predict the degree of flaking, we adopted four algorithms: deep belief networks (DBNs), partial least squares regression (PLSR), principal component analysis with a support vector machine (PCA + SVM) and principal component analysis with an artificial neural network (PCA + ANN). The experimental results show the effectiveness of our method. In particular, better results are obtained using DBNs when the training data contain a significant amount of striping noise.
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil microbial biomass and community structure in two reforested tropical forests
Authors: Liu Lei , Gundersen Per , Zhang Wei , Zhang Tao , Chen Hao , Mo Jiangming
Published: September 2015

Elevated nitrogen (N) deposition may aggravate phosphorus (P) deficiency in forests in the warm humid regions of China. To our knowledge, the interactive effects of long-term N deposition and P availability on soil microorganisms in tropical replanted forests remain unclear. We conducted an N and P manipulation experiment with four treatments: control, N addition (15 g N m−2·yr−1), P addition (15 g P m−2·yr−1) and N and P addition (15 + 15 g N and P m−2·yr−1, respectively) in disturbed (planted pine forest with recent harvests of understory vegetation and litter) and rehabilitated (planted with pine, but mixed with broadleaf returning by natural succession) forests in southern China. Nitrogen addition did not significantly affect soil microbial biomass, but significantly decreased the abundance of gram-negative bacteria PLFAs in both forest types. Microbial biomass increased significantly after P addition in the disturbed forest but not in the rehabilitated forest. No interactions between N and P additions on soil microorganisms were observed in either forest type. Our results suggest that microbial growth in replanted forests of southern China may be limited by P rather than by N and this P limitation may be greater in disturbed forests.
Hybrid Electrodes by In-Situ Integration of Graphene and Carbon-Nanotubes in Polypyrrole for Supercapacitors
Authors: Aphale Ashish , Maisuria Krushangi , Mahapatra Manoj K. , Santiago Angela , Singh Prabhakar , Patra Prabir
Published: September 2015

Supercapacitors also known as electrochemical capacitors, that store energy via either Faradaic or non-Faradaic processes, have recently grown popularity mainly because they complement and can even replace, conventional energy storage systems in variety of applications. Supercapacitor performance can be improved significantly by developing new nanocomposite electrodes which utilizes both the energy storage processes simultaneously. Here we report, fabrication of the freestanding hybrid electrodes, by incorporating graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNT) in pyrrole monomer via its in-situ polymerization. At the scan rate of 5 mV s−1, the specific capacitance of the polypyrrole-CNT-graphene (PCG) electrode film was 453 F g−1 with ultrahigh energy and power density of 62.96 W h kg−1 and 566.66 W kg−1 respectively, as shown in the Ragone plot. A nanofibrous membrane was electrospun and effectively used as a separator in the supercapacitor. Four supercapacitors were assembled in series to demonstrate the device performance by lighting a 2.2 V LED.
Electrochemically monitoring the antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms
Authors: Webster Thaddaeus A. , Sismaet Hunter J. , Chan I-ping J. , Goluch Edgar D.
Published: September 2015

We demonstrate a simple microfluidic system for screening antibiotic efficacy and determining minimum inhibitory concentrations forP. aeruginosabiofilms.
Monodispersity of magnetic immuno-nanoprobes enhances the detection sensitivity of low abundance biomarkers in one drop of serum
Authors: Capangpangan Rey Y. , dela Rosa Mira Anne C. , Obena Rofeamor P. , Chou Yu-Jen , Tzou Der-Lii , Shih Shao-Ju , Chiang Ming-Hsi , Lin Chun-Cheng , Chen Yu-Ju
Published: September 2015

A streamlined protocol for biocompatible monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles for sensitive detection of low abundance protein biomarkers.
A novel fluorescent reagent for recognition of triplex DNA with high specificity and selectivity
Authors: Chen Zongbao , Zhang Huimi , Ma Xiaoming , Lin Zhenyu , Zhang Lan , Chen Guonan
Published: September 2015

A fluorescent reagent (DMT) was screened for recognizing triplex DNA with a specific and selective characteristic, which was embedded into the triplex DNA structure.
Chlorine speciation analysis in blood by ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Schwan A. M. , Martin R. , Goessler W.
Published: September 2015

The present work describes the development of a robust method for the determination of traces of the anionic chlorine species chlorite and chlorate in blood matrices (estimated detection limits ∼0.5–1.0 mg Cl L−1) by ion chromatography coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Dynamic DNA architectures: spontaneous DNA strand exchange and self-sorting driven by perylene bisimide interactions
Authors: Weiser Martin , Wagenknecht Hans-Achim
Published: September 2015

Three differently bay-substituted perylene bisimides together with the conventional unsubstituted chromophore were synthetically incorporated as homodimers in DNA double strands and undergo spontaneous strand exchange if mixed together.
Excellent optical and interfacial performance of a PEDOT-b-PEG block copolymer counter electrode for polymer electrolyte-based solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Kim Tea-Yon , Wei Wei , Cho Woohyung , Lee Sungjin , Won Jongok , Kang Yong Soo
Published: September 2015

PEDOT-b-PEG block copolymer doped with perchlorate on FTO shows excellent performance as a counter electrode in polymer electrolyte-based solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.
Graphene-oxide-supported ultrathin Au nanowires: efficient electrocatalysts for borohydride oxidation
Authors: Leelavathi Annamalai , Ahmad Rafia , Singh Abhishek K. , Madras Giridhar , Ravishankar N.
Published: September 2015

We report stable ultrathin Au nanowires supported on reduced graphene oxide with outstanding electrocatalytic activity for borohydride oxidation.
Can enantiomer ligands produce structurally distinct homochiral MOFs?
Authors: Dubey Mrigendra , Kumar Ashish , Dhavale Vishal M. , Kurungot Sreekumar , Pandey Daya Shankar
Published: September 2015

Here, we report the synthesis, characterization and proton conductance study of two structurally distinct homochiral MOFs [Cu1.5(H2Ll-leu)(Ac)H2O]n·3H2O (1) and [Cu1.5(H2Ld-leu)H2O]n·10H2O (2) obtained from the l/d-leucine derived enantiomer ligands and Cu(Ac)2·H2O in 1 : 1 ratio under analogous reaction conditions.
Superhalogens beget superhalogens: a case study of (BO2)n oligomers
Authors: Kandalam Anil K. , Kiran Boggavarapu , Jena P. , Pietsch S. , Ganteför G.
Published: September 2015

Superhalogens can do what halogens do, plus something more!
Surface texture and physicochemical characterization of mesoporous carbon – wrapped Pd–Fe catalysts for low-temperature CO catalytic oxidation
Authors: Han Weiliang , Zhang Guodong , Zhao Kun , Lu Gongxuan , Tang Zhicheng
Published: September 2015

In this paper, mesoporous carbon wrapped Pd–Fe nanocomposite catalysts were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and showed excellent catalytic activity, after optimizing the experimental conditions.
Structural phase transitions and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped Ca(2−x)BaxLaNbO6 phosphors
Authors: Zhu Jicheng , Xia Zhiguo , Zhang Yuanyuan , Molokeev Maxim S. , Liu Quanlin
Published: September 2015

Crystal structure evolution and luminescence properties of Eu3+ doped Ca(2−x)BaxLaNbO6 phosphors have been discussed depending on the Ca/Ba substitutions.
Spatiotemporal characteristics of organic contaminant concentrations and ecological risk assessment in the Songhua River, China
Authors: Wang Ce , Cyterski Mike , Feng Yujie , Gao Peng , Sun Qingfang
Published: September 2015

To control source pollution and improve water quality, an understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics of organic contaminant concentrations in affected receiving waters is necessary.
A terbium rich orthoborate LiSrTb2(BO3)3 and its analogues
Authors: Chen Pengyun , Xia Mingjun , Li R. K.
Published: September 2015

A terbium rich orthoborate, LiSrTb2(BO3)3, shows paramagnetic behavior, and up to 21 isomorphic analogues have been prepared.
Synthesis, photophysics and electrochemical properties of 1,1′-(2,2′-bithiophene-5,5′-diyl)bis(cycloalkeno[c]pyridine) as a result of the Diels–Alder reaction of 3-(2-thienyl)-1,2,4-triazine
Authors: Branowska Danuta , Wysocki Waldemar , Olender Ewa , Ławecka Justyna , Chaciak Bartosz , Ledwon Przemyslaw , Lapkowski Mieczyslaw , Karczmarzyk Zbigniew
Published: September 2015

Fused pyridine 2,2′-bithiophenes were prepared via [4+2] cycloaddition based on 3-(2-thienyl)-1,2,4-triazine, which was obtained by the Stille coupling reaction.
The functional dissection of the plasma corona of SiO2-NPs spots histidine rich glycoprotein as a major player able to hamper nanoparticle capture by macrophages
Authors: Fedeli Chiara , Segat Daniela , Tavano Regina , Bubacco Luigi , De Franceschi Giorgia , de Laureto Patrizia Polverino , Lubian Elisa , Selvestrel Francesco , Mancin Fabrizio , Papini Emanuele
Published: September 2015

One protein, histidine rich glycoprotein, prevails in the corona of SiO2-NPs in excess human plasma and interferes with macrophage capture.
Pursuing shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) for concomitant detection of breast lesions and microcalcifications
Authors: Zheng Chao , Shao Wanting , Paidi Santosh Kumar , Han Bing , Fu Tong , Wu Di , Bi Lirong , Xu Weiqing , Fan Zhimin , Barman Ishan
Published: September 2015

Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy provides a powerful method for molecular examination of breast pathology enabling early detection of cancer foci.
Arginine analogues incorporating carboxylate bioisosteric functions are micromolar inhibitors of human recombinant DDAH-1
Authors: Tommasi Sara , Zanato Chiara , Lewis Benjamin C. , Nair Pramod C. , Dall'Angelo Sergio , Zanda Matteo , Mangoni Arduino A.
Published: September 2015

Arginine analogues incorporating carboxylate bioisosteric functional groups exhibit low micromolar inhibitory potential against human dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), a key enzyme in the nitric oxide pathway.
The β-phosphorus hyperfine coupling constant in nitroxide: part 3: titration of water by electron paramagnetic resonance
Authors: Audran Gérard , Bosco Lionel , Brémond Paul , Butscher Teddy , Franconi Jean-Michel , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Mellet Philippe , Parzy Elodie , Santelli Maurice , Thiaudière Eric
Published: September 2015

Titration of a few percent of water in an organic solvent is possible due to a large difference in aP.
Exopolysaccharide from psychrotrophic Arctic glacier soil bacterium Flavobacterium sp. ASB 3-3 and its potential applications
Authors: Sathiyanarayanan Ganesan , Yi Da-Hye , Bhatia Shashi Kant , Kim Jung-Ho , Seo Hyung Min , Kim Yun-Gon , Park Sung-Hee , Jeong Daham , Jung Seunho , Jung Ji-Young , Lee Yoo Kyung , Yang Yung-Hun
Published: September 2015

Exopolysaccharide from psychrotrophic Arctic glacier soil bacteriumFlavobacteriumsp. ASB 3-3.
Zinc phthalocyanine sensitizer having double carboxylic acid anchoring groups for dye-sensitized solar cells with cobalt(ii/iii)-based redox electrolyte
Authors: Kimura Mutsumi , Tohata Yuki , Ikeuchi Takuro , Mori Shogo
Published: September 2015

Double anchored ZnPc sensitizer PcS25 exhibited higher conversion efficiency in dye-sensitized solar cells with cobalt(ii/iii)-based redox electrolyte than single-anchored ZnPc sensitizers.
Equilibrium cluster fluids: pair interactions via inverse design
Authors: Jadrich R. B. , Bollinger J. A. , Lindquist B. A. , Truskett T. M.
Published: September 2015

Inverse methods of statistical mechanics are becoming productive tools in the design of materials with specific microstructures or properties.
Aqueous foams stabilized by temperature-sensitive hairy polymer particles
Authors: Nakayama S. , Yusa S. , Nakamura Y. , Fujii S.
Published: September 2015

Polystyrene particles carrying poly[2–(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] hairs acted as temperature-sensitive particulate stabilizers for aqueous foams.
Proton conducting H5BW12O40 electrolyte for solid supercapacitors
Authors: Gao Han , Virya Alvin , Lian Keryn
Published: September 2015

H5BW12O40 (BWA), a heteropolyacid with B3+ as the central heteroatom, was developed as an electrolyte for solid supercapacitors.
Ar plasma treated ZnON transistor for future thin film electronics
Authors: Lee Eunha , Kim Taeho , Benayad Anass , Kim HeeGoo , Jeon Sanghun , Park Gyeong-Su
Published: September 2015

To achieve high-mobility and high-reliability oxide thin film transistors (TFTs), ZnON has been investigated following an anion control strategy based on the substitution of oxygen with nitrogen in ZnO. However, as nitrogen possesses, compared to oxygen, a low reactivity with Zn, the chemical composition of ZnON changes easily, causing in turn a degradation of both the performance and the stability. Here, we have solved the issues of long-time stability and composition non-uniformity while maintaining a high channel mobility by adopting the argon plasma process, which can delay the reaction of oxygen with Zn–O–N; as a result, owing to the formation of very fine nano-crystalline structure in stable glassy phase without changes in the chemical composition, the material properties and stability under e-radiation have significantly improved. In particular, the channel mobility of the ZnON TFTs extracted from the pulsed I−V method was measured to be 138 cm2/V s.
Dependence of dislocation creation on tensile orientation in face-centered-cubic ductile metals under high strain rate loading
Authors: Pang Wei-Wei , Zhang Guang-Cai , Zhao Xian-Geng , Zhang Ping
Published: September 2015

We investigate through molecular dynamic simulations the dependence of dislocation creation on tensile orientation in face-centered-cubic ductile metals under high strain rate loading. It is found that while dislocations generally originate from the double-layer defect clusters consisting of flatted octahedral structures (FOSs), the formation mechanism and the types of FOSs, as well as the types of nucleated dislocations, depend on the applied loading directions. For the loading along the [1¯10], [1¯1¯2], and [111] crystal directions, it is shown that a pair of the nearest-neighboring atoms move away to form the elongated FOS. However, for the loading along the [100] crystal direction, a pair of the next-nearest-neighboring atoms move close to form the compressed FOS. According to the uniform deformation amount of the spacing vector for a pair of neighboring atoms and the stress component along the Burgers vector on the stacking fault plane, we analytically predict the activated types of FOSs and dislocations for different loading directions, which turn to be remarkably consistent with our numerical simulations.
Two-dimensional profile measurement of plasma parameters in radio frequency-driven argon atmospheric pressure plasma jet
Authors: Seo B. H. , Kim D. W. , Kim J. H. , You S. J.
Published: September 2015

The two-dimensional profiles of the electron density, electron temperature, neutral translational temperature, and molecular rotational temperature are investigated in an argon atmospheric pressure plasma jet, which is driven by the radio frequency of 13.56 MHz by means of the laser scattering methods of Thomson, Rayleigh, and Raman. All measured parameters have maximum values at the center of the discharge and decrease toward the plasma edge. The results for the electron temperature profile are contrary to the results for the microwave-driven plasma. From our experimental results, the profiles of the plasma parameters arise from the radial contraction of plasmas and the time averaged profile of the electric field, which is obtained by a microwave simulation performed under identical conditions to the plasma jet. In the case of the neutral temperature, a higher translational temperature than the rotational temperature is measured, and its discrepancy is tentatively explained in terms of the low ion-neutral charge exchange rate and the additional degrees of freedom of the molecules. The description of our experimental results and the underlying physics are addressed in detail.
Kinetic modeling of divertor heat load fluxes in the Alcator C-Mod and DIII-D tokamaks
Authors: Pankin A. Y. , Rafiq T. , Kritz A. H. , Park G. Y. , Chang C. S. , Brunner D. , Groebner R. J. , Hughes J. W. , LaBombard B. , Terry J. L. , Ku S.
Published: September 2015

The guiding-center kinetic neoclassical transport code, XGC0 [Chang et al., Phys. Plasmas 11, 2649 (2004)], is used to compute the heat fluxes and the heat-load width in the outer divertor plates of Alcator C-Mod and DIII-D tokamaks. The dependence of the width of heat-load fluxes on neoclassical effects, neutral collisions, and anomalous transport is investigated using the XGC0 code. The XGC0 code includes realistic X-point geometry, a neutral source model, the effects of collisions, and a diffusion model for anomalous transport. It is observed that the width of the XGC0 neoclassical heat-load is approximately inversely proportional to the total plasma current Ip. The scaling of the width of the divertor heat-load with plasma current is examined for an Alcator C-Mod discharge and four DIII-D discharges. The scaling of the divertor heat-load width with plasma current is found to be weaker in the Alcator C-Mod discharge compared to scaling found in the DIII-D discharges. The effect of neutral collisions on the 1/Ip scaling of heat-load width is shown not to be significant. Although inclusion of poloidally uniform anomalous transport results in a deviation from the 1/Ip scaling, the inclusion of the anomalous transport that is driven by ballooning-type instabilities results in recovering the neoclassical 1/Ip scaling. The Bohm or gyro-Bohm scalings of anomalous transport do not strongly affect the dependence of the heat-load width on plasma current. The inclusion of anomalous transport, in general, results in widening the width of neoclassical divertor heat-load and enhances the neoclassical heat-load fluxes on the divertor plates. Understanding heat transport in the tokamak scrape-off layer plasmas is important for strengthening the basis for predicting divertor conditions in ITER.
First-principles study of the stability of free-standing germanene in oxygen atmosphere
Authors: Liu G. , Liu S. B. , Xu B. , Ouyang C. Y. , Song H. Y.
Published: September 2015

The O2 dissociation and O atoms adsorption on free-standing germanene are studied by using first-principles calculations in this paper. Compared with the extremely active silicene in oxygen atmosphere, germanene is found to be less active due to an energy barrier for dissociation of about 0.57 eV. Moreover, the dissociated oxygen atom follows two opposite migration pathways on the germanene surface, which is quite different from the case of silicene. Furthermore, the migration and desorption of O atoms at room temperature are relatively difficult due to the strong Ge-O bonding, resulting in the formation of germanium oxides. Our results reveal the interplay between germanene and O2 and suggest the enhanced stability of germanene in oxygen atmosphere compared with silicene.
Multi-fluid systems—Multi-Beltrami relaxed states and their implications
Authors: Mahajan Swadesh M. , Lingam Manasvi
Published: September 2015

We consider the non-dissipative multi-fluid equations, and demonstrate how multi-Beltrami equilibria emerge as natural relaxed states of the model, representing an evolution towards the minimum energy. General properties of these states are studied, and a wide class of solutions is obtained. We specialize to the cases of double and triple Beltrami states and highlight their connections with the appropriate physical invariants, viz., the generalized helicities and the energy. In particular, we demonstrate that different field configurations can give rise to distinct or identical values of the invariants, depending on the nature of the roots of the multi-Beltrami equation. Moreover, we also highlight equivalences between (outwardly) unconnected models allowing us to treat them in a unified manner. Some observations regarding the nature of the solutions for certain special cases of these models are presented. Potential applications for astrophysical plasmas are also highlighted.
Modulation of ion-acoustic waves in a nonextensive plasma with two-temperature electrons
Authors: Shalini  , Saini N. S. , Misra A. P.
Published: September 2015

We study the amplitude modulation of ion-acoustic wave (IAW) packets in an unmagnetized electron-ion plasma with two-temperature (cool and hot) electrons in the context of the Tsallis' nonextensive statistics. Using the multiple-scale technique, a nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation is derived, which governs the dynamics of modulated wave packets. It is shown that in nonextensive plasmas, the IAW envelope is always stable for long-wavelength modes (k→0) and unstable for short-wavelengths with k≳1. However, the envelope can be unstable at an intermediate scale of perturbations with 0<k<1. Thus, the modulated IAW packets can propagate in the form of bright envelope solitons or rogons (at small- and medium scale perturbations) as well as dark envelope solitons (at large scale). The stable and unstable regions are obtained for different values of temperature and density ratios, as well as the nonextensive parameters qc and qh for cool and hot electrons. It is found that the more (less) the population of superthermal cool (hot) electrons, the smaller is the growth rate of instability with cutoffs at smaller wave numbers of modulation.
Nonlinear shearing modes approach to the diocotron instability of a planar electron strip
Authors: Mikhailenko V. V. , Mikhailenko V. S. , Jo Younghyun , Lee Hae June
Published: September 2015

The nonlinear evolution of the diocotron instability of a planar electron strip is investigated analytically by means of the nonlinear shearing mode for the solution of the initial and boundary value problems. The method is based on the sheared spatial coordinates which account for the motion of electron flow in the electrostatic field of the unstable diocotron modes in addition to the unperturbed sheared motion of the electron flow on the transformed shear coordinates. The time evolutions are studied by the solution of the initial and boundary value problems. The obtained solutions for the perturbed electrostatic potential include two nonlinear effects—the effect of the distortion of the boundaries of the planar electron strip and the effect of the coupling of the sheared nonmodal diocotron modes. It was proved by a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation that the developed theory is valid as long as the distortion of the boundaries of the basic shear flow does not change the frequency and growth rate of the linear diocotron instability in the transformed coordinates.
Study of magnetic fields and current in the Z pinch at stagnation
Authors: Ivanov V. V. , Anderson A. A. , Papp D. , Astanovitskiy A. L. , Nalajala V. , Dmitriev O.
Published: September 2015

The structure of magnetic fields in wire-array Z pinches at stagnation was studied using a Faraday rotation diagnostic at the wavelength of 266 nm. The electron plasma density and the Faraday rotation angle in plasma were calculated from images of the three-channel polarimeter. The magnetic field was reconstructed with Abel transform, and the current was estimated using a simple model. Several shots with wire-array Z pinches at 0.5–1.5 MA were analyzed. The strength of the magnetic field measured in plasma of the stagnated pinch was in the range of 1–2 MG. The magnetic field and current profile in plasma near the neck on the pinch were reconstructed, and the size of the current-carrying plasma was estimated. It was found that current flowed in the large-size trailing plasma near the dense neck. Measurements of the magnetic field near the bulge on the pinch also showed current in trailing plasma. A distribution of current in the large-size trailing plasma can prevent the formation of multi-MG fields in the Z pinch.
On the influence of initial geometry on the evolution of fluid filaments
Authors: Mahady K. , Afkhami S. , Kondic L.
Published: September 2015

In this work, the influence of the initial geometry on the evolution of a fluid filament deposited on a substrate is studied, with a particular focus on the thin fluid strips of nano-scale thickness. Based on the analogy to the classical Rayleigh–Plateau (R–P) instability of a free-standing fluid jet, an estimate of the minimal distance between the final states (sessile droplets) can be obtained. However, this numerical study shows that while the prediction based on the R–P instability mechanism is highly accurate for an initial perturbation of a sinusoidal shape, it does not hold for a rectangular waveform perturbation. The numerical results are obtained by directly solving fully three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations, based on a Volume of Fluid interface tracking method. The results show that (i) rectangular-wave perturbations can lead to the formation of patterns characterized by spatial scales that are much smaller than what is expected based on the R–P instability mechanism; (ii) the nonlinear stages of the evolution and end states are not simply related, with a given end state resulting from possibly very different types of evolution; and (iii) a variety of end state shapes may result from a simple initial geometry, including one- and two-dimensional arrays of droplets, a filament with side droplets, and a one-dimensional array of droplets with side filaments. Some features of the numerical results are related to the recent experimental study by Roberts et al. [“Directed assembly of one- and two-dimensional nanoparticle arrays from pulsed laser induced dewetting of square waveforms,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 5, 4450 (2013)].
Toward ab initio molecular dynamics modeling for sum-frequency generation spectra; an efficient algorithm based on surface-specific velocity-velocity correlation function
Authors: Ohto Tatsuhiko , Usui Kota , Hasegawa Taisuke , Bonn Mischa , Nagata Yuki
Published: September 2015

Interfacial water structures have been studied intensively by probing the O–H stretch mode of water molecules using sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. This surface-specific technique is finding increasingly widespread use, and accordingly, computational approaches to calculate SFG spectra using molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories of interfacial water molecules have been developed and employed to correlate specific spectral signatures with distinct interfacial water structures. Such simulations typically require relatively long (several nanoseconds) MD trajectories to allow reliable calculation of the SFG response functions through the dipole moment-polarizability time correlation function. These long trajectories limit the use of computationally expensive MD techniques such as ab initio MD and centroid MD simulations. Here, we present an efficient algorithm determining the SFG response from the surface-specific velocity-velocity correlation function (ssVVCF). This ssVVCF formalism allows us to calculate SFG spectra using a MD trajectory of only ∼100 ps, resulting in the substantial reduction of the computational costs, by almost an order of magnitude. We demonstrate that the O–H stretch SFG spectra at the water-air interface calculated by using the ssVVCF formalism well reproduce those calculated by using the dipole moment-polarizability time correlation function. Furthermore, we applied this ssVVCF technique for computing the SFG spectra from the ab initio MD trajectories with various density functionals. We report that the SFG responses computed from both ab initio MD simulations and MD simulations with an ab initio based force field model do not show a positive feature in its imaginary component at 3100 cm−1.