bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical, morphological properties and surface energy of the transparent Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) thin film as anode material for secondary type batteries
Authors: Özen Soner , Şenay Volkan , Pat Suat , Korkmaz Şadan
Published: February 2016

LTO thin film was deposited for the first time on a glass microscope slide (MS) by RF magnetron sputtering technology. This method has been suitable for preparation of high-quality thin films. The surface properties of the produced film were determined by atomic force microscope (AFM). The surface of the produced film appeared smooth and homogeneous. LTO coated on MS had compact structure and low roughness. A UV–vis spectrophotometer was used to determine intensity of light passing through the samples. Thus, according to the results obtained the produced film was highly transparent. The refractive index of the LTO thin film was presented in a low MSE value by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and it was about 1.5. The optical band gap (E
g) was determined by the Tauc method. The produced LTO thin film exhibited a wide band gap semiconductor property with a band gap energy of about 2.95 eV. Finally, the surface free energy of the LTO thin film was calculated from the contact angle measurements using the Lewis acid-base, OWRK/Fowkes, Wu and Zisman methods.
First principles many-body calculations of electronic structure and optical properties of SiC nanoribbons
Authors: Alaal Naresh , Loganathan Vaideesh , Medhekar Nikhil , Shukla Alok
Published: February 2016

A first principles many-body approach is employed to calculate the band structure and optical response of nanometer-sized ribbons of SiC. Many-body effects are incorporated using the GW approximation, and excitonic effects are included using the Bethe–Salpeter equation. Both unpassivated and hydrogen-passivated armchair SiC nanoribbons are studied. As a consequence of low dimensionality, large quasiparticle corrections are seen to the Kohn–Sham energy gaps. In both cases quasiparticle band gaps are increased by up to 2 eV, as compared to their Kohn–Sham energy values. Inclusion of electron–hole interactions modifies the absorption spectra significantly, giving rise to strongly bound excitonic peaks in these systems. The results suggest that hydrogen passivated armchair SiC nanoribbons have the potential to be used in optoelectronic devices operating in the UV-Vis region of the spectrum. We also compute the formation energies of these nanoribbons as a function of their widths, and conclude that hydrogen-saturated ribbons will be much more stable as compared to bare ones.
Bayesian soft x-ray tomography and MHD mode analysis on HL-2A
Authors: Li Dong , Liu Yi , Svensson J. , Liu Y.Q. , Song X.M. , Yu L.M. , Mao Rui , Fu B.Z. , Deng Wei , Yuan B.S. , Ji X.Q. , Xu Yuan , Chen Wei , Zhou Yan , Yang Q.W. , Duan X.R. , Liu Yong
Published: February 2016

A Bayesian based tomography method using so-called Gaussian processes (GPs) for the emission model has been applied to the soft x-ray (SXR) diagnostics on HL-2A tokamak. To improve the accuracy of reconstructions, the standard GP is extended to a non-stationary version so that different smoothness between the plasma center and the edge can be taken into account in the algorithm. The uncertainty in the reconstruction arising from measurement errors and incapability can be fully analyzed by the usage of Bayesian probability theory. In this work, the SXR reconstructions by this non-stationary Gaussian processes tomography (NSGPT) method have been compared with the equilibrium magnetic flux surfaces, generally achieving a satisfactory agreement in terms of both shape and position. In addition, singular-value-decomposition (SVD) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques have been applied for the analysis of SXR and magnetic diagnostics, in order to explore the spatial and temporal features of the saturated long-lived magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) instability induced by energetic particles during neutral beam injection (NBI) on HL-2A. The result shows that this ideal internal kink instability has a dominant m/n  =  1/1 mode structure along with a harmonics m/n  =  2/2, which are coupled near the q  =  1 surface with a rotation frequency of 12 kHz.
Experimental analysis and WallDYN simulations of the global nitrogen migration in ASDEX Upgrade L-mode discharges
Authors: Meisl G. , Schmid K. , Oberkofler M. , Krieger K. , Lisgo S.W. , Aho-Mantila L. , Reimold F. , Lunt T.
Published: February 2016

This work presents ASDEX Upgrade experiments, where the nitrogen deposition and re-erosion on divertor manipulator samples and the effect of its transport through the plasma were studied. These results are compared to WallDYN-DIVIMP simulations based on SOLPS plasma backgrounds and employing an improved WallDYN model, which includes the effusion of nitrogen from saturated surfaces. On one hand, this allows the WallDYN code and the new saturation model with a comprehensive data set to be benchmarked, on the other hand the simulations help in the interpretation of the experimental results. Both, experimental results and simulations, show that the N content in the region of the outer strike line reaches its steady-state value within one discharge. The simulations also reproduce the experimentally observed nitrogen content in samples exposed to N2-seeded discharges. With respect to the boron deposition, the nitrogen deposition in a non-seeded discharge and the re-erosion of nitrogen discrepancies to the WallDYN-DIVIMP simulations are observed. Based on SDTrimSP simulations, these are attributed to the missing depth resolution of the WallDYN surface model. A detailed comparison of spectroscopic measurements to WallDYN simulations, based on a novel synthetic spectroscopy diagnostic for WallDYN, shows that the nitrogen fluxes in the plasma are well described by the simulations. From a comparison of several WallDYN-DIVIMP simulations employing customized onion-skin model plasma backgrounds the physical processes controlling the nitrogen concentration in the core plasma and the applicability of onion-skin model plasma backgrounds are discussed. From these simulations the private flux zone with the gas valve, the outer baffle and the high field side main wall are identified as the main sources for the nitrogen content of the core plasma.
Effects of the q profile on toroidal rotation in Alcator C-Mod LHCD plasmas
Authors: Rice J.E. , Gao C. , Mumgaard R. , Parker R.R. , Scott S.D. , Shiraiwa S. , Wallace G.M. , Bonoli P.T. , Delgado-Aparicio L. , Fenzi C. , Granetz R.S. , Greenwald M.J. , Hubbard A.E. , Hughes J.W. , Irby J.H. , Lee J.P. , Marmar E.S. , Reinke M.L. , Wolfe S.M.
Published: February 2016

Changes in the core toroidal rotation profiles following injection of lower hybrid (LH) waves have been documented in Alcator C-Mod plasmas. Shot by shot scans of LH input power have been performed at fixed magnetic field and electron density for several plasma currents. For sawtoothing target plasmas, if the input power is low enough that the central safety factor q
0 remains below 1, the change in the core rotation is in the counter-current direction, consistent in sign, magnitude and LH power scaling with direct momentum input from the LH waves. If the power level is high enough that there are significant changes to the q profile, including the termination of sawtooth oscillations, the change in the toroidal rotation is in the co-current direction, consistent with changes in the momentum flux through its dependence on the current density profile. The direction of the rotation changes depends on whether q
0 is below or above unity, and seemingly not on the magnetic shear, nor the Ohmic confinement regime of the target plasma.
Interferon Lambda 4 Genotype Is Associated With Jaundice and Elevated Aminotransferase Levels During Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Findings From the InC3 Collaborative
Authors: Page Kimberly , Mirzazadeh Ali , Rice Thomas M. , Grebely Jason , Kim Arthur Y. , Cox Andrea L. , Morris Meghan D. , Hellard Margaret , Bruneau Julie , Shoukry Naglaa H. , Dore Gregory J. , Maher Lisa , Lloyd Andrew R. , Lauer Georg , Prins Maria , McGovern Barbara H.
Published: February 2016

Symptomatic acute HCV infection and interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) genotypes are important predictors of spontaneous viral clearance. Using data from a multicohort database (Injecting Cohorts [InC3] Collaborative), we establish an independent association between host IFNL4 genotype and symptoms of acute hepatitis C virus infection. This association potentially explains the higher spontaneous clearance observed in some patients with symptomatic disease.
Effects of an Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine Bolus on the Postoperative Blood Pressure and Pain Subsequent to Craniotomy for Supratentorial Tumors
Authors: Yun Yue , Wang Jian , Tang Ru Rong , Yin Xiu Ru , Zhou Heng , Pei Ling
Published: February 2016

Background:

Control of emergence hypertension and pain is important after craniotomy for monitoring the neurological status. This prospective double-blinded study investigated the hemodynamics after a single bolus of dexmedetomidine (DEX) infusion administered to the patient undergoing craniotomy under general anesthesia, and its effect on emergence hypertension and postsurgical pain.

Methods:

Adult patients scheduled for elective surgery for supratentorial tumors were randomized to receive a 10-minute intraoperative DEX infusion of 0.4 μg/kg (small dose, n=43) or 0.8 μg/kg (medium dose, n=46), or normal saline (vehicle control, n=45), ∼60 minutes before the end of anesthesia.

Results:

A transient increase in the blood pressure associated with DEX was observed; 53.5% and 91.3% of the patients in the small-dose and the medium-dose groups, respectively, required treatment. Emergence mean arterial pressure and heart rates were significantly lower in the DEX groups compared with the control group. Incidence rates of postoperative hypertension in the small-dose (16.3%) and the medium-dose groups (15.2%) were significantly lower relative to that of the control group (35.6%). Patients who received DEX had a lower Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS) score in the neurosurgical ICU than the control group, and postsurgical pain (VNRS≥4) was lower in the medium-dose group (41.3%) than in the control group (71.1%). No shivering was observed in the medium-dose group, which was significantly less than that of the other 2 groups.

Conclusions:

An intraoperative bolus of DEX risks a transient increase in mean arterial pressure, but controls emergence hypertension effectively. Dose-related reductions in postsurgical pain and shivering were observed.
Effect of Lens Care Systems on Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens Hydrophobicity
Authors: Lira Madalena , Silva Rita
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

To analyze changes in wettability of hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses (CLs) when preserved in different lens care systems.

Methods:

In this research, four silicone hydrogel CLs (senofilcon A, balafilcon A, comfilcon A, and lotrafilcon B) and one conventional CL (etafilcon A) and appropriate lens care solutions (ReNu MultiPlus, Biotrue, OPTI-FREE PureMoist, and AOSept Plus) were used. Lenses were immersed in each lens care system for 12 hr and then CL hydrophobicity was determined through water contact angle (CA) measurements using the OCA 20 instrument (DataPhysics).

Results:

Mean CA values obtained when CLs were removed from blisters (baseline value) were lower for etafilcon A (49.6°±3.0°) and comfilcon A (48.0°±2.8°) and higher for senofilcon A (78.9°±2.5°), lotrafilcon B (82.6°±1.7°), and balafilcon A (91.5°±0.7°). Depending on CL and lens care combination, it was detected a statistically significant reduction by 70% of the 20 combinations studied and any significant increase in the CA. When compared to baseline values, CA varied between etafilcon A: 2° and 11°, comfilcon A: 1° and 7°, senofilcon A: 2° and 28°, lotrafilcon B: 14° and 31°, and balafilcon A: 18° and 29°. Comfilcon A was the most stable lens material presenting only one significant decrease in CA.

Conclusions:

This study reveals the existence of interactions between CL material and lens solutions that can play an important role in CL surface wettability. The major changes were obtained in lenses with higher baseline CA, which showed significant changes with each of the solutions. These differences can be positive, because in almost all of the combinations, the lenses became more wettable.
Brief Report: HIV Drug Resistance in Adults Failing Early Antiretroviral Treatment: Results From the HIV Prevention Trials Network 052 Trial
Authors: Fogel Jessica M. , Hudelson Sarah E. , Ou San-San , Hart Stephen , Wallis Carole , Morgado Mariza G. , Saravanan Shanmugam , Tripathy Srikanth , Hovind Laura , Piwowar-Manning Estelle , Sabin Devin , McCauley Marybeth , Gamble Theresa , Zhang Xinyi C. , Eron Joseph J. , Gallant Joel E. , Kumwenda Johnstone , Makhema Joseph , Kumarasamy Nagalingeswaran , Chariyalertsak Suwat , Hakim James , Badal-Faesen Sharlaa , Akelo Victor , Hosseinipour Mina C. , Santos Breno R. , Godbole Sheela V. , Pilotto Jose H. , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Panchia Ravindre , Mayer Kenneth H. , Chen Ying Q. , Cohen Myron S. , Eshleman Susan H.
Published: February 2016

Early initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) reduces HIV transmission and has health benefits. HIV drug resistance can limit treatment options and compromise use of ART for HIV prevention. We evaluated drug resistance in 85 participants in the HIV Prevention Trials Network 052 trial who started ART at CD4 counts of 350–550 cells per cubic millimeter and failed ART by May 2011; 8.2% had baseline resistance and 35.3% had resistance at ART failure. High baseline viral load and less education were associated with emergence of resistance at ART failure. Resistance at ART failure was observed in 7 of 8 (87.5%) participants who started ART at lower CD4 cell counts.
Macrocyclic and Other Non–Group 1 Gadolinium Contrast Agents Deposit Low Levels of Gadolinium in Brain and Bone Tissue
Authors: Murata Nozomu , Gonzalez-Cuyar Luis F. , Murata Kiyoko , Fligner Corinne , Dills Russell , Hippe Daniel , Maravilla Kenneth R.
Published: February 2016

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gadolinium (Gd) is deposited in brain and bone tissues in patients receiving only non–Group 1 agents, either macrocyclic or linear protein interacting Gd-based contrast agents, with normal renal function. Group 1 agents are linear agents most associated with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis that the US Federal Drug Administration has defined as contraindicated in patients at risk for this disease.

Materials and Methods

This study was institutional review board approved and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant for retrospective review of records and also had signed autopsy consent authorizing use of decedent's tissue in research studies. Tissue samples were collected from 9 decedents undergoing autopsy who had contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with only single agent exposure to a non–Group 1 Gd-based contrast agent. Decedents with only noncontrast MRI or no MRI served as controls. Multiple brain areas, including globus pallidus and dentate nucleus, as well as bone and skin, were sampled and analyzed for Gd using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Gadolinium levels were compared between groups of decedents using the Mann-Whitney test and between brain and bone tissues of the same cases using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results

Of the 9 decedents, 5 received gadoteridol (ProHance; Bracco Diagnostics, Princeton, NJ), 2 received gadobutrol (Gadovist; Bayer Healthcare, Whippany, NJ), and 1 each had gadobenate (MultiHance; Bracco Diagnostics) and gadoxetate (Eovist; Bayer Healthcare). Gadolinium was found with all agents in all brain areas sampled with highest levels in globus pallidus and dentate. Bone levels measured 23 times higher (median) than brain levels (P = 0.008 for bone vs globus pallidus) and showed a significant correlation (r = 0.81, P = 0.022). In controls, Gd levels in the brain were at or below limits of measurement and were significantly lower compared with study cases (P = 0.005 for globus pallidus).

Conclusion

Gadolinium deposition in normal brain and bone tissue occurs with macrocyclic and linear protein interacting agents in patients with normal renal function. Deposition of Gd in cortical bone occurs at much higher levels compared with brain tissue and shows a notable correlation between the two. Thus, the bone may serve as a surrogate to estimate brain deposition if brain Gd were to become a useful clinical or research marker.
n
-Nucleotide circular codes in graph theory
Authors: Fimmel Elena , Michel Christian J. , Strüngmann Lutz
Published: February 2016

The circular code theory proposes that genes are constituted of two trinucleotide codes: the classical genetic code with 61 trinucleotides for coding the 20 amino acids (except the three stop codons {
TAA
,
TAG
,
TGA
}) and a circular code based on 20 trinucleotides for retrieving, maintaining and synchronizing the reading frame. It relies on two main results: the identification of a maximal
C
3
self-complementary trinucleotide circular code
X
in genes of bacteria, eukaryotes, plasmids and viruses (Michel 2015
J. Theor. Biol.
380, 156–177. (
doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.04.009
); Arquès & Michel 1996
J. Theor. Biol.
182, 45–58. (
doi:10.1006/jtbi.1996.0142
)) and the finding of
X
circular code motifs in tRNAs and rRNAs, in particular in the ribosome decoding centre (Michel 2012
Comput. Biol. Chem.
37, 24–37. (
doi:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2011.10.002
); El Soufi & Michel 2014
Comput. Biol. Chem.
52, 9–17. (
doi:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2014.08.001
)). The univerally conserved nucleotides A1492 and A1493 and the conserved nucleotide G530 are included in
X
circular code motifs. Recently, dinucleotide circular codes were also investigated (Michel & Pirillo 2013
ISRN Biomath.
2013, 538631. (
doi:10.1155/2013/538631
); Fimmel
et al.
2015
J. Theor. Biol.
386, 159–165. (
doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.08.034
)). As the genetic motifs of different lengths are ubiquitous in genes and genomes, we introduce a new approach based on graph theory to study in full generality
n
-nucleotide circular codes
X
, i.e. of length 2 (dinucleotide), 3 (trinucleotide), 4 (tetranucleotide), etc. Indeed, we prove that an
n
-nucleotide code
X
is circular if and only if the corresponding graph

is acyclic. Moreover, the maximal length of a path in

corresponds to the window of nucleotides in a sequence for detecting the correct reading frame. Finally, the graph theory of tournaments is applied to the study of dinucleotide circular codes. It has full equivalence between the combinatorics theory (Michel & Pirillo 2013
ISRN Biomath.
2013, 538631. (
doi:10.1155/2013/538631
)) and the group theory (Fimmel
et al.
2015
J. Theor. Biol.
386, 159–165. (
doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.08.034
)) of dinucleotide circular codes while its mathematical approach is simpler.
What is information?
Authors: Barbieri Marcello
Published: February 2016

Molecular biology is based on two great discoveries: the first is that genes carry hereditary information in the form of linear sequences of nucleotides; the second is that in protein synthesis a sequence of nucleotides is translated into a sequence of amino acids, a process that amounts to a transfer of information from genes to proteins. These discoveries have shown that theinformationof genes and proteins is the specific linear order of their sequences. This is a clear definition of information and there is no doubt that it reflects an experimental reality. What is not clear, however, is theontologicalstatus of information, and the result is that today we have two conflicting paradigms in biology. One is the ‘chemical paradigm’, the idea that ‘life is chemistry’, or, more precisely, that ‘life is an extremely complex form of chemistry’. The other is the ‘information paradigm’, the view that chemistry is not enough, that ‘life is chemistry plus information’. This implies that there is an ontological difference between information and chemistry, a difference which is often expressed by saying that information-based processes like heredity and natural selection simply do not exist in the world of chemistry. Against this conclusion, the supporters of the chemical paradigm have argued that the concept of information is only a linguistic metaphor, a word that summarizes the result of countless underlying chemical reactions. The supporters of the information paradigm insist that information is a real and fundamental component of the living world, but have not been able toprovethis point. As a result, the chemical view has not been abandoned and the two paradigms both coexist today. Here, it is shown that a solution to the ontological problem of information does exist. It comes from the idea thatlife isartefact-making, that genes and proteins are molecular artefacts manufactured by molecular machines and that artefacts necessarily require sequences and coding rules in addition to the quantities of physics and chemistry. More precisely, it is shown that the production of artefacts requires new observables that are referred to asnominableentities because they can be described only bynamingtheir components in their natural order. From an ontological point of view, in conclusion, information is a nominable entity, a fundamental but not-computable observable.
Yury Borisovich Rumer and his ‘biological papers’ on the genetic code
Authors: Fimmel Elena , Strüngmann Lutz
Published: February 2016

Yury Borisovich Rumer was one of the most important theoretical physicists of the former Soviet Union in the early 1930s. However, he also wrote a few ‘biological papers’ on the standard genetic code after he read Crick's and Nirenberg's pioneering papers on the topic. Rumer's articles on the ‘Systematization of Codons in the Genetic Code’ (Rumer 1966
Doklady Akademii nauk SSSR
167, 1393–1394); Rumer 1968
Doklady Akademii nauk SSSR
183, 225–226; Rumer 1969
Doklady Akademii nauk SSSR
187, 937–938, where he suggested the idea of partitioning codons depending on their redundancy—the first mention of
symmetry
in the genetic code—were published in Russian only. Due to their importance and their frequent citation, we here present translations of these articles into English in order to make them accessible to a broader community.
DNA as information
Authors: Wills Peter R.
Published: February 2016

This article reviews contributions to this theme issue covering the topic ‘DNA as information’ in relation to the structure of DNA, the measure of its information content, the role and meaning of information in biology and the origin of genetic coding as a transition from uninformed to meaningful computational processes in physical systems.
Estimation of Voxelwise Effective Connectivities: Applications to High Connectivity Sub-Regions within Hippocampal and within Corticostriatal Networks
Authors: Sanchez-Romero Ruben , Ramsey Joseph D. , Liang Jackson C. , Jarbo Kevin , Glymour Clark
Published: February 2016

Standard BOLD connectivity analyses depend on aggregating the signals of individual voxel within regions of interest (ROIs). In certain cases, this aggregation implies a loss of valuable functional and anatomical information about sub-regions of voxels that drive the ROI level connectivity. We describe a data-driven statistical search method that identifies the voxels that are chiefly responsible for exchanging signals between regions of interest that are known to be effectively connected. We apply the method to high-resolution resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from medial temporal lobe regions of interest of a single healthy individual measured repeated times over a year and a half. The method successfully recovered densely connected voxels within larger ROIs of entorhinal cortex and hippocampus subfields consistent with the well-known medial temporal lobe structural connectivity. To assess the performance of our method in more common scanning protocols we apply it to resting state fMRI data of corticostriatal regions of interest for 50 healthy individuals. The method recovered densely connected voxels within the caudate nucleus and the putamen in good qualitative agreement with structural connectivity measurements. We describe related methods for estimation of effective connections at the voxel level that merit investigation.
Are reading and face processing related? An investigation of reading in developmental prosopagnosia
Authors: Starrfelt Randi , Klargaard Solja K. , Petersen Anders , Gerlach Christian
Published: February 2016

Recent hypotheses suggest that learning to read influences the cognitive and cerebral organization of other perceptual skills, including face processing. Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is a disorder of face recognition in the absence of acquired brain injury, and in the context of normal intelligence and general cognitive development. To shed light on the potential relationship between reading and face processing in this group (and in general), we investigated reading performance in 10 participants with DP and 20 matched controls. We find that the group of DPs perform strikingly similar to the control group on four sensitive reading tests measuring visual recognition and naming of single letters and words, word length effects, and text reading speed and comprehension. Thus, there is a clear dissociation between impaired face processing and preserved reading in this group, a finding that challenges the recently proposed hypothesis that reading acquisition and face processing abilities are intrinsically linked. Developmental prosopagnosics can learn to read as fluently as normal subjects, while they are seemingly unable to learn efficient strategies for recognizing faces.
Annular beam high-intensity X-ray diffraction based on an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary
Authors: Li Fangzuo , Liu Zhiguo , Sun Tianxi
Published: February 2016

This short communication presents a study of the use of an annular X-ray beam produced by an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary (ESBC) to perform focal construct geometry (FCG) high-intensity angular-dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXRD) in transmission mode. The ESBC optic effectively focused a large focal spot X-ray source into a smaller focal spot and produced a narrowed X-ray ring in the far-field pattern when combined with a beam stop. A CCD imaging detector was linearly translated along the principal axis of the ESBC-FCG and obtained the corresponding sequential images of diffraction concentric circular caustics and convergence points, which were formed by the constructive interference of a continuous set of Debye cones arising from the annular interrogation volume. Pixels from the central region of an approximately 0.6 mm2 area were interrogated on each sequential image; as a result, a one-dimensional diffractogram of an aluminium oxide sample was revealed. The presented ESBC-FCG ADXRD technique shows potential for increasing the diffracted intensity and streamlining the operation of crystallographic analysis.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional analysis of the Fe3+ distribution profile on Al sites in a chrysoberyl crystal, BeAl2O4:Fe3+
Authors: Kanchiang Kanokwan , Bootchanont Atipong , Witthayarat Janyaporn , Pramchu Sittichain , Thanasuthipitak Panjawan , Yimnirun Rattikorn
Published: February 2016

Chrysoberyl is one of the most interesting minerals for laser applications, widely used for medical purposes, as it exhibits higher laser performance than other materials. Although its utilization has been vastly expanded, the location of transition metal impurities, especially the iron that is responsible for chrysoberyl's special optical properties, is not completely understood. The full understanding and control of these optical properties necessitates knowledge of the precise location of the transition metals inside the structure. Therefore, synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), a local structural probe sensitive to the different local geometries, was employed in this work to determine the site occupation of the Fe3+ cation in the chrysoberyl structure. An Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) simulation was performed in combination with density functional theory calculations of Fe3+ cations located at different locations in the chrysoberyl structure. The simulated spectra were then qualitatively compared with the measured XANES features. The comparison indicates that Fe3+ is substituted on the two different Al2+ octahedral sites with the proportion 60% on the inversion site and 40% on the reflection site. The accurate site distribution of Fe3+ obtained from this work provides useful information on the doping process for improving the efficiency of chrysoberyl as a solid-state laser material.
Optimized spatial overlap in optical pump–X-ray probe experiments with high repetition rate using laser-induced surface distortions
Authors: Reinhardt Matthias , Koc Azize , Leitenberger Wolfram , Gaal Peter , Bargheer Matias
Published: February 2016

Ultrafast X-ray diffraction experiments require careful adjustment of the spatial overlap between the optical excitation and the X-ray probe pulse. This is especially challenging at high laser repetition rates. Sample distortions caused by the large heat load on the sample and the relatively low optical energy per pulse lead to only tiny signal changes. In consequence, this results in small footprints of the optical excitation on the sample, which turns the adjustment of the overlap difficult. Here a method for reliable overlap adjustment based on reciprocal space mapping of a laser excited thin film is presented.
Crystal and molecular structure ofmeso-2,6-dibromoheptanedioic acid (meso-2,6-dibromopimelic acid)
Authors: Dirda Nathaniel D. A. , Zavalij Peter Y. , Kao Joseph P. Y.
Published: February 2016

The molecular structure of the title compound, C7H10Br2O4, confirms themeso(2R,6S) configuration. In the crystal, molecules are linked by pairs of O—H...O=C hydrogen bonds between their terminal carboxyl groups in anR22(8) motif, forming extended chains that propagate parallel to thecaxis. Adjacent chains are linked by C=O...Br halogen bonds.
6H-Dipyrido[1,2-a:2′,1′-d][1,3,5]triazin-5-ium bromide monohydrate
Authors: Jiang Xian-Wu , Zhang Heng-Qiang , Sun Zhuo-Dong , Shan Yong-Kui
Published: February 2016

In the cation of the title compound, C11H10N3+·Br−·H2O, the central 1,3,5-triazinium ring has a flattened boat conformation and the outer heterocyclic rings are nearly planar [maximum deviations = 0.010 (4) and 0.009 (4) Å] and twisted with respect to each other with a dihedral angle of 22.87 (19)°. In the crystal, classical O—H...Br hydrogen bonds and weak C—H...Br and C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the cations, bromide anions and water molecules of crystallization into a three-dimensional supramolecular network.
4-Iodo-1H-indole-2,3-dione
Authors: Golen James A. , Manke David R.
Published: February 2016

The title compound, C8H4INO2, is an almost planar molecule having an r.m.s. deviation of 0.03 Å for all non-H atoms. In the crystal, molecules dimerize through pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds. These inversion dimers are linked through pairs of weak I...O interactions [3.184 (4) Å] to form zigzag chains along [010]. The chains are linked in thec-axis direction by parallel-slipped π–π interactions [intercentroid distance = 3.623 (3) Å, interplanar distance = 3.423 (2) Å and slippage = 1.667 (5) Å], forming corrugated sheets parallel to (011).
Internationalisation of Central and Eastern European small firms
Authors: Stoian M. Cristina , Rialp Alex , Rialp Josep , Jarvis Robin
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the internationalisation of small firms from a Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) country with an emerging market economy, while accounting for the constantly changing institutional framework as well as resource (un)availability which may influence their involvement in foreign market operations. In doing so, it supports the applicability of the revised Uppsala internationalisation process model (2009), which highlights the key role of networks for international activity.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is based on a qualitative approach leading to multiple case studies. The main source of data is semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted within six small firms.

Findings

– The revisited Uppsala model proves to be generally valid for the small firms analysed in this study. Networks play a crucial role for knowledge creation and exchange, and frequently represent the most reliable resource at firms’ disposal. Trust is an indispensable ingredient that shapes network relationships. Institutional changes acted as push factors for small firms’ internationalisation.

Research limitations/implications

– Policy-makers and entrepreneurs should direct their efforts at encouraging international network building and the formation of partnerships. Specific policy-driven actions should facilitate the connection between (international) entrepreneurs and potential foreign business partners.

Originality/value

– This study brings insights to the revised Uppsala model, particularly considering the continuous and relatively rapid changes within the institutional environment that interact with the experiential learning curve and resource accumulation and subsequent commitment to foreign markets. Furthermore, it is one of the few studies that address the internationalisation of small firms from a CEE economy.
Entrepreneurship mission and content in Finnish policy programmes
Authors: Heinonen Jarna , Hytti Ulla
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the roles and mission assigned to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs in Finnish entrepreneurship policy, and how they are reflected in policy actions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A discourse analysis of policy missions and content was conducted based on selected policy documents related to the government entrepreneurship programmes run in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Findings

– The analysis identifies a clear evolution in the policies over the years, but no radical changes; indicating that policies develop incrementally by adding to previous schemes. In addition, the analysis reveals the changes in focus, measures and key actors involved in the policies. In general, the documents emphasise the need to create more jobs of better quality, to stimulate economic growth and recently also to foster a more sustainable society. There is a limited role for entrepreneurship in introducing innovation and change to society.

Research limitations/implications

– Besides analysing entrepreneurship policy there is a need to develop a better understanding of policy entrepreneurship, that is, the promotion of significant policy change. In addition, research evidence needs to be better incorporated into the formulation of policies.

Practical implications

– Policymakers should be critical of policy development in order to create truly entrepreneurial policies. In order to promote entrepreneurship, more emphasis should be placed on developing incentives and measures supporting the identification and discovery of entrepreneurial opportunities, not merely on facilitating exploitation.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to entrepreneurship policy discussions by offering fresh insights into where entrepreneurship literature, policies and actions, and social reality intersect. The paper’s main contribution is to clearly show what is being promoted by the entrepreneurship policies and how, and the pitfalls of the current approaches compared to the understanding of entrepreneurship as a phenomenon.
Visual Twitter Analytics (Vista)
Authors: Hoeber Orland , Hoeber Larena , El Meseery Maha , Odoh Kenneth , Gopi Radhika
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Due to the size and velocity at which user generated content is created on social media services such as Twitter, analysts are often limited by the need to pre-determine the specific topics and themes they wish to follow. Visual analytics software may be used to support the interactive discovery of emergent themes. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Tweets collected from the live Twitter stream matching a user’s query are stored in a database, and classified based on their sentiment. The temporally changing sentiment is visualized, along with sparklines showing the distribution of the top terms, hashtags, user mentions, and authors in each of the positive, neutral, and negative classes. Interactive tools are provided to support sub-querying and the examination of emergent themes.

Findings

– A case study of using Vista to analyze sport fan engagement within a mega-sport event (2013 Le Tour de France) is provided. The authors illustrate how emergent themes can be identified and isolated from the large collection of data, without the need to identify these a priori.

Originality/value

– Vista provides mechanisms that support the interactive exploration among Twitter data. By combining automatic data processing and machine learning methods with interactive visualization software, researchers are relieved of tedious data processing tasks, and can focus on the analysis of high-level features of the data. In particular, patterns of Twitter use can be identified, emergent themes can be isolated, and purposeful samples of the data can be selected by the researcher for further analysis.
Discovering shilling groups in a real e-commerce platform
Authors: Wang Youquan , Wu Zhiang , Bu Zhan , Cao Jie , Yang Dun
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– With the popularity of e-commerce, shilling attack is becoming more rampant in online shopping websites. Shilling attackers publish mendacious ratings as well as reviews for promoting or suppressing target products. The purpose of this paper is to investigate group shilling, a new typed shilling attack, behavior in a real e-commerce platform (e.g. Amazon.cn).

Design/methodology/approach

– Several behavioral features are proposed for modeling the shilling group, and thus an unsupervised ranking method based on principal component analysis (PCA) is presented for identifying shilling groups from real users on Amazon.cn.

Findings

– As indicated by the behavior analysis, the proposed method has successfully identified a number of shilling groups on Amazon. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of the proposed features and accuracy of the proposed unsupervised method are carefully validated.

Originality/value

– This paper presents a set of solutions for discovering shilling groups when the ground truth labels are hard to be obtained in real environment, including candidate groups generation, behavioral features definition and unsupervised detection.
Employment outcomes and patterns of real estate graduates: is gender a matter?
Authors: Poon Joanna , Brownlow Michael
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether gender has an impact on real estate and built environment graduates’ employment outcomes, employment patterns and other important employment related issues, such as pay, role, contract type and employment opportunity in different states of a country.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data used in this paper has been collected from the Australian Graduate Survey (AGS). Data from the years 2010-2012 was combined into a single data set. Dimensionality reduction was used to prepare the data set for the courses listed in AGS data, in order to develop the simplified classifications for real estate and built environment courses which are used to conduct further analysis in this paper. Dimensionality reduction was also used to prepare data set for the further analysis of the employment outcomes and patterns for real estate graduates. Descriptive and statistical analysis methods were used to identify the impact of gender on the employment outcomes, employment patterns and other important employment related issues, such as pay, role, contract type and location of job, for real estate graduates in Australia. This paper also benchmarks the employment result of real estate graduates to built environment graduates.

Findings

– Recent male built environment graduates in Australia are more likely to gain full-time employment than females. The dominant role for recent female built environment graduates in Australia is a secretarial or administrative role while for the male it is a professional or technical role. Male real estate and built environment graduates are more likely to have a higher level of salary. Gender also has an impact on the contract type. Male built environment graduates are more likely to be employed on a permanent contract. On the other hand, gender has no impact on gaining employment in different states, such as New South Wales and Queensland, in Australia. The finding of this paper reinforces the view of previous literature, which is that male graduates have a more favourable employment outcomes and on better employment terms. The finding also shows that graduate employment outcomes for real estate and built environment graduates in Australia are similar to that in other countries, such as the UK, where equivalent studies have been published.

Originality/value

– This is pioneering research that investigates the impact of gender on employment outcomes, employment patterns and other employment related issues for real estate graduates and built environment graduates in Australia.
Skeletal muscle regeneration in cancer cachexia
Authors: Bossola Maurizio , Marzetti Emanuele , Rosa Fausto , Pacelli Fabio
Published: February 2016

Muscle wasting is the most important phenotypic and clinical feature of cancer cachexia, and the principal cause of impaired physical function, fatigue, and respiratory complications. Muscle loss has been attributed to a variable combination of reduced nutritional intake and an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic processes. It has been suggested that defective skeletal muscle regeneration may also contribute to muscle wasting in cancer patients. However, there is little in vitro or in vivo data available, in either animals or in humans, regarding skeletal muscle regeneration in cancer wasting. The aim of the present review is to define the role of skeletal muscle regeneration in the muscle wasting of cancer patients and to determine possible therapeutic implications.
The sociology of childbirth: an autobiographical journey through four decades of research
Authors: Oakley Ann
Published: February 2016

The sociology of childbirth emerged in the 1970s largely as a result of influences from outside sociology. These included feminism, maternity care activism, the increasing medicalisation of childbirth, and evidence‐based health care. This paper uses the author's own sociological ‘career’ to map a journey through four decades of childbirth research. It demonstrates the importance of social networks and interdisciplinary work, particularly across the medical‐social science divide and including cross‐cultural perspectives, argues that the study of reproduction has facilitated methodological development within the social sciences, and suggests that childbirth remains on the periphery of mainstream sociological concerns.
Relationship Between Self‐Injurious Behaviors and Levels of Aggression in Children and Adolescents Who Were Subject to Medicolegal Examination,
Authors: Ozsoy Sait , Kara Koray , Teke Hacer Y. , Turker Turker , Congologlu Mehmet A. , Sezigen Sermet , Renklidag Tulay , Karapirli Mustafa , Javan Gulnaz T.
Published: February 2016

Aggression, which is defined as a behavior causing harm or pain, is a behavioral pattern typically expected in children and adolescents who are involved in criminal activities. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between aggression and self‐injurious behavior (SIB) in children and adolescents. The study was performed in 295 cases which were sent for medicolegal examination. The mean age of the subjects was 14.27 ± 1.05 years (age range 10–18 years). The aggression levels of the subjects were determined using the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), which is an updated form of the Buss‐Durkee Hostility Inventory. The mean total AQ score of the subjects with and without SIB was 78.04 ± 21.0 and 62.75 ± 18.05, respectively (p < 0.01). There were significant statistical differences between the two groups with respect to their subscale scores (p < 0.01). It was concluded that the levels of aggression increased in children and adolescents who were involved in criminal activities when the SIBs increased.
Forensic Analysis of Cigarette Ash—Brand Determination Through Trace‐metal Analysis
Authors: Groth Anja C. , Barnes James H. , Lewis Cris , Murray Cynthia K. , Albahadily Fakhrildeen , Jourdan Thomas H.
Published: February 2016

The information inherent in cigarette ash in the form of trace‐metal concentrations may be of use in a forensic context as it can indicate the brand from which the ash originated. This knowledge might help place suspects at crime scenes or determine how many people may have been present. To develop and test statistical models capable of classifying ash samples according to brand, commercial cigarettes procured in the U.S. and overseas were “smoked” using a peristaltic pump, mimicking the range of human smoking habits. Ash samples were digested in a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid applying microwave digestion and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis of the elemental data showed intrinsic differences between brands. Partial least squares‐discriminant analysis demonstrated that brand classification yields good sensitivity and specificity for a number of models tested. Varying smoking parameters did not impact the classification of ash samples.
A Wormian Bone, Mimicking an Entry Gunshot Wound of the Skull, in an Anthropological Specimen
Authors: Machado Marcos Paulo Salles , Simões Márcia Pereira , Gamba Thiago de Oliveira , Flores Isadora Luana , Haiter Neto Francisco , Durão Carlos Henrique , Daruge Júnior Eduardo , Cunha Eugénia
Published: February 2016

Wormian bones (WB) are irregular small cranial ossicles found along suture lines and fontanels. In Brazil, gunshot wounds to the skull are quite common in young individuals. Nevertheless, as far as we know, this is the first report of a WB giving an erroneous aspect of gunshot entrance due to its displacement position. The present manuscript describes the case of a Brazilian young man who died due to ballistic trauma, where a gaping bony defect on the right side of the skull was thought to be the exit wound of an injury related to the destruction found on the left side, highly suggestive of firearm injury. Thus, this case study has brought to light similarities between a traumatic lesion and an orifice of a WB, with emphasis on differential diagnosis during routine anthropological examinations.