bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing a baseline to measure change in political will and the use of data for decision‐making in maternal and newborn health in six African countries
Authors: Nove Andrea , Hulton Louise , Martin‐Hilber Adriane , Matthews Zoe
Published: July 2014

The Evidence for Action (E4A) program assumes that both resource allocation and quality of care can improve via a strategy that combines evidence and advocacy to stimulate accountability. The present paper explains the methods used to collect baseline monitoring data using two tools developed to inform program design in six focus countries. The first tool is designed to understand the extent to which decision‐makers have access to the data they need, when they need it, and in meaningful formats, and then to use the data to prioritize, plan, and allocate resources. The second tool seeks the views of people working in the area of maternal and newborn health (MNH) about political will, including: quality of care, the political and financial priority accorded to MNH, and the extent to which MNH decision‐makers are accountable to service users. Findings indicate significant potential to improve access to and use of data for decision‐making, particularly at subnational levels. Respondents across all six program countries reported lack of access by ordinary citizens to information on the health and MNH budget, and data on MNH outcomes. In all six countries there was a perceived inequity in the distribution of resources and a perception that politicians do not fully understand the priorities of their constituents.
Evangelical Conversion and the Transformation of the Self in Amazonia and Melanesia: Christianity and the Revival of Anthropological Comparison
Authors: Robbins Joel , Schieffelin Bambi B. , Vilaça Aparecida
Published: July 2014

The last several decades have seen both a renewed anthropological interest in the possibility of cross-cultural comparison and the rapid rise of the anthropology of Christianity. These two trends should be mutually supportive. One of the promises of the anthropology of Christianity from the outset has been that it will allow people to compare how processes of Christianization have unfolded in different parts of the world and to consider how the resulting Christian configurations are similar to and different from one another. But to this point, relatively little detailed comparative empirical work on Christianity has appeared. Our aim here is to contribute to remedying this situation. Drawing on recent theoretical work on comparison, we set comparative work on Christianity on a new footing. Empirically, we examine how processes of Evangelical Christianization have transformed notions of the self in one Amazonian society (Wari') and two unrelated societies in Melanesia (Bosavi and Urapmin). We define the self for comparative purposes as composed of ideas of the mind or inner self, the body, and relations between people. In our three cases, Christianization has radically transformed these ideas, emphasizing the inner self and downplaying the importance of the body and of social relations. While our empirical conclusions are not wholly unexpected, the extent to which the details of our three cases speak comparatively to one another, and the extent to which the broad processes of Christian transformation they involve are similar, are surprising and lay a promising foundation for future comparative work in the anthropology of Christianity.
Productive Intolerance: Godly Nationalism in Indonesia
Authors: Menchik Jeremy
Published: July 2014

Since democratization, Indonesia has played host to a curious form of ethnic conflict: militant vigilante groups attacking a small, socially marginal religious sect called Ahmadiyah. While most scholars attribute the violence to intolerance by radicals on the periphery of society, this article proposes a different reading based on an intertwined reconfiguration of Indonesian nationalism and religion. I suggest that Indonesia contains a common but overlooked example of “godly nationalism,” an imagined community bound by a shared theism and mobilized through the state in cooperation with religious organizations. This model for nationalism is modern, plural, and predicated on the exclusion of religious heterodoxy. Newly collected archival and ethnographic material reveal how the state's and Muslim civil society's long-standing exclusion of Ahmadiyah and other heterodox groups has helped produce the “we-feeling” that helps constitute contemporary Indonesian nationalism. I conclude by intervening in a recent debate about religious freedom to suggest that conflicts over blasphemy reflect Muslim civil society's effort to delineate an incipient model of nationalism and tolerance while avoiding the templates of liberal secularism or theocracy.
Memories of Violence, Cultural Transformations of Cannibals, and Indigenous State-Building in Post-Conflict Mozambique
Authors: Igreja Victor
Published: July 2014

This article explores how accusations of cannibalism in post-conflict Mozambique, which were leveled in the context of individually driven and protracted struggles, albeit with cultural spinoffs, have contributed to ongoing and contested forms of social transformation in the country. The accusations were accentuated by the mobilizing effects of memories of violence and interventions of the mass media, which in turn highlighted the enduring struggle over the politics of local recognition and authority and its dynamic and broader links to state-building and legitimacy in Mozambique. This analysis traces the origins of cannibal accusations in culture and politics and, through a discussion of the biographies of concrete social actors and their open and discreet struggles, has wider repercussions for the study of the role of indigenous beliefs about, and fears of, cannibals and witches on state-building in post-conflict countries.
Application of indica–japonica single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for diversity analysis of Oryza AA genome species
Authors: Lee Yoo-Jin , Thomson Michael J. , Chin Joong Hyoun
Published: July 2014

High-throughput genotyping using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) is one tool that can be used to study the genetic relationships between wild rice relatives and cultivated rice. In this study, a set of 96 indica–japonica SNP markers, which can differentiate indica and japonica subspecies of rice, were used to characterize 227 Oryza accessions including 93 AA genome accessions from seven wild Oryza species. A total of 72 markers of the 96 markers were selected for the phylogenetic study and allele polymorphism survey. A subset of SNP markers were present only in Oryza sativa and evolutionarily close species, Oryza nivara and Oryza rufipogon. These markers can be used for distinguishing cultivated rice from the other species and vice versa. Eight clusters were generated through phylogenetic analysis, and Oryza meridionalis and Oryza longistaminata appeared to be the most distantly related species to cultivated rice. In this study, Oryza barthii and Oryza glaberrima accessions were found to exhibit high genetic similarity. Across the wild species, more indica-type alleles were detected for most accessions. In this study, a set of markers selected to be informative across O. sativa accessions were used, but it will be interesting to compare the results of this study with SNP data obtained through next-generation sequencing in the future.
Development of interspecific and intergeneric hybrids among jatropha-related species and verification of the hybrids using EST–SSR markers
Authors: Laosatit Kularb , Tanya Patcharin , Muakrong Narathid , Srinives Peerasak
Published: July 2014

Jatropha curcas (jatropha) is an important non-edible oilseed crop with potential as a raw material for biofuel production. Although J. curcas has 30–35% oil content in its seeds, it has low seed yield ( < 2 ton/ha) and thus cannot become an economically viable crop. However, jatropha has many related species and genera such as J. integerrima, J. multifida, J. podagrica and Ricinus communis that are suitable for interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. The desirable features that can be obtained from these species are high number of inflorescences from J.integerrima, large fruit size from J. multifida, high oil content from J. podagrica and raceme-type inflorescence from R. communis. We were initially successful in producing hybrids between J. curcas and these related species. Hybridity was confirmed using expressed sequence tag (EST)–simple sequence repeat markers developed from the J. curcas EST database.
Molecular marker information from de novo assembled transcriptomes of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties based on next-generation sequencing technology
Authors: Ahn Yul-Kyun , Tripathi Swati , Cho Young-Il , Kim Jeong-Ho , Lee Hye-Eun , Kim Do-Sun , Woo Jong-Gyu
Published: July 2014

Next-generation sequencing technique has been known as a useful tool for de novo transcriptome assembly, functional annotation of genes and identification of molecular markers. This study was carried out to mine molecular markers from de novo assembled transcriptomes of four chilli pepper varieties, the highly pungent ‘Saengryeg 211’ and non-pungent ‘Saengryeg 213’ and variably pigmented ‘Mandarin’ and ‘Blackcluster’. Pyrosequencing of the complementary DNA library resulted in 361,671, 274,269, 279,221, and 316,357 raw reads, which were assembled in 23,607, 19,894, 18,340 and 20,357 contigs, for the four varieties, respectively. Detailed sequence variant analysis identified numerous potential single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) for all the varieties for which the primers were designed. The transcriptome information and SNP/SSR markers generated in this study provide valuable resources for high-density molecular genetic mapping in chilli pepper and Quantitative trait loci analysis related to fruit qualities. These markers for pepper will be highly valuable for marker-assisted breeding and other genetic studies.
Correction of the misclassification of species in the Portuguese collection of Cucurbita pepo L. using DNA markers
Authors: Rodrigues Ricardo , Veiga Iris , Marreiros António , Rocha Filomena , Leitão José
Published: July 2014

In this study, the genetic variability among 130 accessions of the Portuguese germplasm collection of Cucurbita pepo L. maintained at the Banco Português de Germoplasma Vegetal was assessed using AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) techniques for the identification of a genetically diverse core group of accessions for field phenotypic analysis. The surprisingly completely different molecular patterns exhibited by multiple accessions was later confirmed in the distribution of the putative C. pepo plants into two clusters drastically separated at a very low level of genetic similarity (DICE coefficient = 0.37). Additional analyses with RAPD and ISSR (inter single sequence repeat) markers and the introduction of standard genotypes of C. maxima L. and C. moschata L. into the analyses allowed the identification of multiple accessions of the last species wrongly included in the C. pepo collection. This study is a good example of the usefulness of DNA markers in the establishment and management of plant germplasm collections.
Genetic diversity assessment of the almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) traditional germplasm of Algarve, Portugal, using molecular markers
Authors: Cabrita Luis , Apostolova Elena , Neves Alcinda , Marreiros António , Leitão José
Published: July 2014

In this study, 123 almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) trees identified among traditional orchards in the Algarve region and 53 trees of the local field collection managed by the regional office of the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture (DRAALG) were assessed using isozyme, inter-single sequence repeat and simple sequence repeat or microsatellite techniques for the evaluation of genetic diversity and genetic relatedness and identification of new accessions for the field collection. The isozyme analysis allowed the distribution of the 176 plants into 13 different classes of enzyme similarity, while the use of DNA markers increased the distribution of the analysed trees among 140 discriminating DNA patterns. Multiple cases of homonymy and synonymy were identified in the local germplasm. Some traditional varieties, such as Lourencinha, appeared to be relatively homogeneous, while other local denominations, e.g. Galamba, included diverse genotypes. Of the 13 commercial varieties analysed in this study, 11 assembled in one major cluster clearly differentiated from the majority of the local genotypes. These results reinforced the perception that the Algarve traditional germplasm constitutes an important repository of genetic diversity, eventually carrying alleles of high agricultural interest such as the recently identified Phomopsis resistance in the traditional variety Barrinho Grado.
Validation of QTLs associated with spikelets per panicle and grain weight in rice
Authors: Yeo Sang-Min , Yun Yeo-Tae , Kim Dong-Min , Chung Chong-Tae , Ahn Sang-Nag
Published: July 2014

In this study, a near-isogenic line (BC4F10) CR572 developed by introgressing a chromosomal segment fromOryza rufipogon(accession no. 105491) into theOryza sativasubsp.japonicacv. Hwaseong was found to exhibit a significant increase in the number of spikelets per panicle (SPP) and grain weight compared with the recurrent parent Hwaseong. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis in F2generation derived from the cross between CR572 and Hwaseong revealed that two QTLs,qSPP1andqTGW1, were linked to a simple sequence repeat marker, RM283, on chromosome 1. The additive effect of theO. rufipogonallele atqSPP1was 13 SPP, and 21.6% of the phenotypic variance was explained by the segregation of RM283. TheqTGW1QTL explained 19.1% of the phenotypic variance for grain weight. Substitution mapping was carried out with five F3lines derived from F2plants having informative recombination breakpoints within the target region. Substitution mapping indicated the linkage ofqSPP1andqTGW1. The grain yield of CR572 was 18.2 and 15.8% higher than that of Hwaseong at two locations, respectively, mainly due to the increase in 1000-grain weight and SPP. These results are very useful for QTL cluster transfer by molecular marker-assisted selection in rice breeding programmes and for QTL gene cloning by map-based cloning.
The legal framework applicable to insecurity and violence affecting the delivery of health care in armed conflicts and other emergencies
Authors: Breitegger Alexander
Published: July 2014

Ensuring respect for, and protection of, the wounded and sick and delivery of health care to them were at the origin of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as the development of international humanitarian law (IHL). In today's armed conflicts and other emergencies, the problem is not the lack of existing international rules but the implementation of relevant IHL and international human rights law (IHRL) which form a complementary framework governing this issue. Against the backdrop of the different manifestations of violence observed by the ICRC in the field and expert consultations held in the framework of the Health Care in Danger Project, this article identifies commonalities between the two legal regimes, including with respect to obligations to provide and facilitate impartial health care; prohibitions of attacks against wounded and sick and health-care providers; prohibitions to arbitrarily obstruct access to health care; prohibitions to harass health-care personnel, in violation of medical ethics; or positive obligations to ensure essential medical supplies and health-care infrastructure and protect health-care providers against violent interferences by others. The article concludes by indicating certain areas where implementation of existing IHL and IHRL is needed, including in domestic normative frameworks, military doctrine and practice, as well as training of health-care personnel on these international legal frameworks and medical ethics.
Reactive Oxygen Species Initiate a Metabolic Collapse in Hippocampal Slices: Potential Trigger of Cortical Spreading Depression
Authors: Malkov Anton , lvanov Anton I , Popova Irina , Mukhtarov Marat , Gubkina Olena , Waseem Tatsiana , Bregestovski Piotr , Zilberter Yuri
Published: July 2014

Excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) underlies oxidative damage. We find that in hippocampal slices, decreased activity of glucose-based antioxidant system induces a massive, abrupt, and detrimental change in cellular functions. We call this phenomenon metabolic collapse (MC). This collapse manifested in long-lasting silencing of synaptic transmission, abnormal oxidation of NAD(P)H and FADH2 associated with immense oxygen consumption, and massive neuronal depolarization. MC occurred without any preceding deficiency in neuronal energy supply or disturbances of ionic homeostasis and spread throughout the hippocampus. It was associated with a preceding accumulation of ROS and was largely prevented by application of an efficient antioxidant Tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl). The consequences of MC resemble cortical spreading depression (CSD), a wave of neuronal depolarization that occurs in migraine, brain trauma, and stroke, the cellular initiation mechanisms of which are poorly understood. We suggest that ROS accumulation might also be the primary trigger of CSD. Indeed, we found that Tempol strongly reduced occurrence of CSD in vivo, suggesting that ROS accumulation may be a key mechanism of CSD initiation.
Regulatory Pathways Affecting Vascular Stabilization via VE-Cadherin Dynamics: Insights from Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)
Authors: Eisa-Beygi Shahram , Macdonald R Loch , Wen Xiao-Yan
Published: July 2014

The endothelial-specific transmembrane glycoprotein, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, is required for the organization of a stable vascular endothelium. A number of cerebrovascular disorders are associated with mutations in genes that otherwise regulate vascular integrity through VE-cadherin dynamics. Hence, identification and characterization of regulatory pathways contributing to endothelial cell-cell adhesion is of clinical relevance, particularly in the treatment of aneurysms and cerebral cavernous malformations. The zebrafish ( Danio rerio) have recently emerged as a powerful paradigm for studies geared toward elucidating the etiology of cerebrovascular disorders, principally in uncovering the genetic and mechanistic basis controlling endothelial adhesive barrier function.
Pharmacometabolomics Reveals That Serotonin Is Implicated in Aspirin Response Variability
Authors: Ellero‐Simatos S , Lewis JP , Georgiades A , Yerges‐Armstrong LM , Beitelshees AL , Horenstein RB , Dane A , Harms AC , Ramaker R , Vreeken RJ , Perry CG , Zhu H , Sànchez CL , Kuhn C , Ortel TL , Shuldiner AR , Hankemeier T , Kaddurah‐Daouk R
Published: July 2014

While aspirin is generally effective for prevention of cardiovascular disease, considerable variation in drug response exists, resulting in some individuals displaying high on‐treatment platelet reactivity. We used pharmacometabolomics to define pathways implicated in variation of response to treatment. We profiled serum samples from healthy subjects pre‐ and postaspirin (14 days, 81 mg/day) using mass spectrometry. We established a strong signature of aspirin exposure independent of response (15/34 metabolites changed). In our discovery (N = 80) and replication (N = 125) cohorts, higher serotonin levels pre‐ and postaspirin correlated with high, postaspirin, collagen‐induced platelet aggregation. In a third cohort, platelets from subjects with the highest levels of serotonin preaspirin retained higher reactivity after incubation with aspirin than platelets from subjects with the lowest serotonin levels preaspirin (72 ± 8 vs. 61 ± 11%, P = 0.02, N = 20). Finally, ex vivo, serotonin strongly increased platelet reactivity after platelet incubation with aspirin (+20%, P = 4.9 × 10−4, N = 12). These results suggest that serotonin is implicated in aspirin response variability.

CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol. (2014) 3, e125; doi:10.1038/psp.2014.22; published online 16 July 2014
Multivariate classification of pulp NIR spectra for end-product properties using discrete wavelet transform with orthogonal signal correction
Authors: Tavassoli N. , Tsai W. , Bicho P. , Grant E. R.
Published: July 2014

Natural material variations uncorrelated with physical properties of fibre networks hinder the development of robust calibration models by which to predict paper properties from on-line near-infrared (NIR) spectra of production pulps.
Quantum study of boron nitride nanotubes functionalized with anticancer molecules
Authors: Duverger Eric , Gharbi Tijani , Delabrousse Eric , Picaud Fabien
Published: July 2014

The encapsulation of anti-cancer drug, which should protect it during its transport, is energetically favored inside small boron nitride nanotubes.
Preparation of visible light-driven g-C3N4@ZnO hybrid photocatalyst via mechanochemistry
Authors: Zhou Jianwei , Zhang Mo , Zhu Yongfa
Published: July 2014

The multilayer hybrid structure of g-C3N4@ZnO materials with remarkable visible light photocatalytic activity was formed by ball milling.
The cation diffusion facilitator protein EmfA of Rhizobium etli belongs to a novel subfamily of Mn2+/Fe2+ transporters conserved in α-proteobacteria
Authors: Cubillas Ciro , Vinuesa Pablo , Luisa Tabche Maria , Dávalos Araceli , Vázquez Alejandra , Hernández-Lucas Ismael , Romero David , García-de los Santos Alejandro
Published: July 2014

Phylogenetic and functional analysis of a novel Mn2+/Fe2+-CDF transporter.
A general catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira reactions of aryl and heteroaryl chlorides in water
Authors: Peng Hui , Chen Ya-Qin , Mao Shu-Lan , Pi Yun-Xiao , Chen You , Lian Ze-Yu , Meng Tong , Liu Sheng-Hua , Yu Guang-Ao
Published: July 2014

An air-stable sulfonated indenyl phosphine/Pd-catalyst system was used in Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira coupling reactions in water.
Synthesis of multi-hollow clay-armored latexes by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization of styrene mediated by poly(ethylene oxide)-based macroRAFT/Laponite complexes
Authors: Rodrigues Guimarães Thiago , de Camargo Chaparro Thaissa , D'Agosto Franck , Lansalot Muriel , Martins Dos Santos Amilton , Bourgeat-Lami Elodie
Published: July 2014

We report the RAFT-mediated synthesis of Laponite-armored latexes by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization.
Supramolecular polymerization of supramonomers: a way for fabricating supramolecular polymers
Authors: Song Qiao , Li Fei , Tan Xinxin , Yang Liulin , Wang Zhiqiang , Zhang Xi
Published: July 2014

This communication describes a new method of fabricating supramolecular polymers through supramolecular polymerization of supramonomers.
The decomposition of methanol on Au–Pt bimetallic clusters supported by a thin film of Al2O3/NiAl(100)
Authors: Li Y.-D. , Liao T.-W. , Wang C. X. , Chao C.-S. , Hung T.-C. , Ho C. Y. , Luo M.-F. , Lai Yu-Ling , Hsu Yao-Jane
Published: July 2014

The alloying of Pt with Au did not alter the dehydrogenation of methanol on the Pt sites but affected the scission of the C–O bond of methanol.
Quantitative determination of methylene blue in environmental samples by solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: a green approach
Authors: Khan Mohammad Rizwan , Khan Moonis Ali , Alothman Zeid Abdullah , Alsohaimi Ibrahim Hotan , Naushad Mu , Al-Shaalan Nora H.
Published: July 2014

Industrial effluents with dyes may have appreciably high chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids, posing adverse effects to both humans and aquatic life; therefore, quantitative monitoring of these effluents is essential.
SERS-based immunoassay of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide for early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chon Hyangah , Lee Sangyeop , Wang Rui , Bang So-Young , Lee Hye-Soon , Bae Sang-Cheol , Lee Hyoban , Kim Bongsoo , Choo Jaebum
Published: July 2014

We report a highly sensitive detection method for anti-CCP autoantibodies using a SERS-based magnetic immunosensor. The proposed immunoassay technique is expected to be a new clinical tool for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Selective G-quadruplex stabilizers: Schiff-base metal complexes with anticancer activity
Authors: Terenzi Alessio , Bonsignore Riccardo , Spinello Angelo , Gentile Carla , Martorana Annamaria , Ducani Cosimo , Högberg Björn , Almerico Anna Maria , Lauria Antonino , Barone Giampaolo
Published: July 2014

Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations provided a mechanism for G-quadruplex binding of three transition metal complexes.
Modulating structure and properties in organic chromophores: influence of azulene as a building block
Authors: Murai Masahito , Ku Sung-Yu , Treat Neil D. , Robb Maxwell J. , Chabinyc Michael L. , Hawker Craig J.
Published: July 2014

The properties of isomeric azulene derivatives, substituted through the 5-membered ring, were examined using a combination of experimentation and theoretical calculations for a series of well-defined electroactive oligomers.
Ultrafast structural dynamics in Rydberg excited N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine: conformation dependent electron lone pair interaction and charge delocalization
Authors: Cheng Xinxin , Zhang Yao , Deb Sanghamitra , Minitti Michael P. , Gao Yan , Jónsson Hannes , Weber Peter M.
Published: July 2014

Time-resolved Rydberg fingerprint spectroscopy and quantum calculations reveal the structure dependent electron lone pair interaction and charge delocalization in real time.
Temperature-responsive hydrogel with ultra-large solar modulation and high luminous transmission for “smart window” applications
Authors: Zhou Yang , Cai Yufeng , Hu Xiao , Long Yi
Published: July 2014

Thermally responsive hydrogel with a transition temperature of ~32 °C was for the first time studied as a novel candidate in thermochromic application. Unprecedented solar modulating ability (ΔTsol) of 25.5% and high average luminance transmittance (Tlum) of 70.7% were achieved.
A general mechanism for controlling thin film structures in all-conjugated block copolymer:fullerene blends
Authors: Dattani Rajeev , Bannock James H. , Fei Zhuping , MacKenzie Roderick C. I. , Guilbert Anne A. Y. , Vezie Michelle S. , Nelson Jenny , de Mello John C. , Heeney Martin , Cabral João T. , Nedoma Alisyn J.
Published: July 2014

Nanostructures in an all-conjugated semicrystalline-block-amorphous copolymer can be tuned using the fraction of fullerene added and judicious thermal processing.
pH-sensitive short worm-like micelles targeting tumors based on the extracellular pH
Authors: Lee Jung Ok , Oh Kyung Taek , Kim Dongin , Lee Eun Seong
Published: July 2014

We developed novel photosensitizing drug-carrying worm-like micelles using a pH-sensitive AB2 miktoarm block copolymer consisting of one methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) block (A) and two 3-diethylaminopropylated poly(l-lysine) [poly(Lys-DEAP)] blocks (B2).
A “Light-up” 1D supramolecular nanoprobe for silver ions based on assembly of pyrene-labeled peptide amphiphiles: cell-imaging and antimicrobial activity
Authors: Kim Inhye , Jeong Heon-Ho , Kim Yong-Jae , Lee Na-Eun , Huh Kang-moo , Lee Chang-Soo , Kim Geon Hee , Lee Eunji
Published: July 2014

The histidine-coated fibrils response to Ag+with fluorescence enhancement was developed through a rational design based on the aqueous self-assembly of peptides for potential use as cell-imaging and antimicrobial agents.
Ferroelectricity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) homopolymer Langmuir–Blodgett nanofilms
Authors: Zhu Huie , Yamamoto Shunsuke , Matsui Jun , Miyashita Tokuji , Mitsuishi Masaya
Published: July 2014

As-deposited PVDF LB nanofilms with a complete β phase show a remarkable remanent polarization and long fatigue endurance greater than 105cycles.
Luminescent lanthanide barcodes based on postsynthetic modified nanoscale metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Lu Ye , Yan Bing
Published: July 2014

A new method for producing luminescent barcodes based on nanoscale MOFs (MOF-253) and postsynthetic method (PSM) is reported. The synthesized barcoded material is successfully applied in marking a functional ionic liquid and preparing a luminescent thin film.
The N-terminal portion of autoinhibitory element modulates human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase activity through coordinated controls of phosphorylation at Thr495 and Ser1177
Authors: Wu Pei-Rung , Chen Bo-Rui , Hsieh Chi-Chun , Lin Wei-Chung , Wu Kenneth K. , Hwu Yeukuang , Chen Pei-Feng
Published: July 2014

NO production catalysed by eNOS (endothelial nitric-oxide synthase) plays an important role in the cardiovascular system. A variety of agonists activate eNOS through the Ser1177 phosphorylation concomitant with Thr495 dephosphorylation, resulting in increased ·NO production with a basal level of calcium. To date, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We have previously demonstrated that perturbation of the AIE (autoinhibitory element) in the FMN-binding subdomain can also lead to eNOS activation with a basal level of calcium, implying that the AIE might regulate eNOS activation through modulating phosphorylation at Thr495 and Ser1177. Here we generated stable clones in HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney 293) cells with a series of deletion mutants in both the AIE (Δ594–604, Δ605–612 and Δ626–634) and the C-terminal tail (Δ14; deletion of 1164–1177). The expression of Δ594–604 and Δ605–612 mutants in non-stimulated HEK-293 cells substantially increased nitrate/nitrite release into the culture medium; the other two mutants, Δ626–634 and Δ1164–1177, displayed no significant difference when compared with WTeNOS (wild-type eNOS). Intriguingly, mutant Δ594–604 showed close correlation between Ser1177 phosphorylation and Thr495 dephosphorylation, and NO production. Our results have indicated that N-terminal portion of AIE (residues 594–604) regulates eNOS activity through coordinated phosphorylation on Ser1177 and Thr495.
Relationships Between Vocalization Forms and Functions in Infancy: Preliminary Implications for Early Communicative Assessment and Intervention
Authors: Iyer Suneeti Nathani , Ertmer David J.
Published: July 2014

Purpose

This preliminary study explored relationships between form and function in prelinguistic vocalizations to increase our understanding of early communicative development and to provide potential clinical implications for early communicative assessment and intervention.

Method

Twenty typically developing infants—5 infants in each of 4 age groups, from 3 to 20 months of age—were included. Vocalizations from these infants had previously been categorized for their form (Nathani, Ertmer, & Stark, 2006) and function (Stark, Bernstein, & Demorest, 1993) characteristics. In the present study, cross-classification tabulations between form and function were conducted to examine relationships between vocalization types and their apparent uses.

Results

As anticipated, earlier developing forms were mostly associated with earlier developing functions, and later developing forms were mostly associated with later developing functions. However, there were some exceptions such that some forms were associated with a variety of functions, and vice versa.

Conclusions

The results suggest that some forms are more tightly coupled to function than others in the prelinguistic and early linguistic period. Preliminary implications for developmental theory, future research, and clinical applications are discussed. Larger, longitudinal studies with typical and atypical populations and stricter methodological controls are needed to validate these findings.
Integrated traffic management: benefit analysis of three layered approach
Authors: Tenekeci Goktug , Hansen Neil , Wainaina Simon , Mohammad Adil
Published: July 2014

This paper introduces a three layered approach built on robust microsimulation modelling to evaluate the benefits of integrated traffic management (ITM), when combining a MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) signal with Ramp metering (RM) and access management. The modelling uses additional controller parameters to simulate the coordination of two or more MOVA signal control systems over a relatively simple linkage, by providing an off‐set. A case study has been chosen in a motorway environment by using actual data in Birmingham (UK) in response to development pressures. The results were audited through the Highways Agency procedures, were accepted and permission was granted. Signal technologies and advanced microsimulation modelling techniques have been used to manage access at the motorway interface to the local road network. Visual vehicle activated programming in VISSIM (VISVAP) programming techniques have been used to emulate the MOVA traffic signals, RM and the access management. The results show a significant operational benefit. The model predicted that the throughput of the mainline would increase by 9% and the overall average delay per vehicle would reduce by 37%, with the average speeds predicted to increase by 38% following the implementation of the ITM Strategy. A significant reduction in the total stopped time delay of 40.7% is also achieved thereby reducing the flow breakdowns.
Model‐predictive direct power control of doubly‐fed induction generators under unbalanced grid voltage conditions in wind energy applications
Authors: Hu Jiefeng , Zhu Jianguo , Dorrell David G.
Published: July 2014

Unbalanced grid voltage conditions in wind farms degrade the performance of the wind turbines and inject severely distorted current into the power system. This study proposes a new model‐predictive direct power control strategy for a doubly‐fed induction generator (DFIG) under unbalanced grid voltage conditions. An optimised cost function is derived in order to select an appropriate voltage vector. This directly regulates the instantaneous active and reactive powers in the stationary stator reference frame without the requirement for coordinate transformation, proportional–integral regulators, switching table or pulse‐width modulation modulators. After that, the behaviour of the DFIGs under unbalanced grid voltage is investigated. A power compensation scheme is developed, which does not require the extraction of the negative stator current sequence. This can achieve several different control objectives; that is, obtaining sinusoidal and symmetrical stator currents, and the cancellation of electromagnetic torque oscillations. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is validated experimentally on a 20 kW laboratory DFIG prototype.
Advanced study of hydrogen storage by substitutional doping of Mn and Ti in Mg2Ni phase
Authors: Elkedim Omar , Huang Liwu , Bassir David
Published: July 2014

The substitutional doping of Mn and Ti in Mg2Ni phase has been investigated by first principles density functional theory calculations. The calculation of enthalpy of formation shows that among the four different lattice sites of Mg(6f), Mg(6i), Ni(3b) and Ni(3d) in Mg2Ni unit cell, the most preferable site of substitution of Mn in Mg2Ni lattice has been confirmed to be Mg(6i) lattice site. The most preferable site of Ti substitution in Mg2Ni lattice is Mg(6i) position and the stability of Ti-doped Mg2Ni decreases with the increase of substitution quantity of Ti for Mg.
Thermal transport in shock wave–compressed solids using pulsed laser heating
Authors: La Lone B. M. , Capelle G. , Stevens G. D. , Turley W. D. , Veeser L. R.
Published: July 2014

A pulsed laser heating method was developed for determining thermal transport properties of solids under shock-wave compression. While the solid is compressed, a laser deposits a known amount of heat onto the sample surface, which is held in the shocked state by a transparent window. The heat from the laser briefly elevates the surface temperature and then diffuses into the interior via one-dimensional heat conduction. The thermal effusivity is determined from the time history of the resulting surface temperature pulse, which is recorded with optical pyrometry. Thermal effusivity is the square root of the product of thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity and is the key thermal transport parameter for relating the surface temperature to the interior temperature of the sample in a dynamic compression experiment. Therefore, this method provides information that is needed to determine the thermodynamic state of the interior of a compressed metal sample from a temperature measurement at the surface. The laser heat method was successfully demonstrated on tin that was shock compressed with explosives to a stress and temperature of ∼25 GPa and ∼1300 K. In this state, tin was observed to have a thermal effusivity of close to twice its ambient value. The implications on determining the interior shock wave temperature of tin are discussed.
Magnetic and optical properties of electrospun hollow nanofibers of SnO2 doped with Ce-ion
Authors: Mohanapriya P. , Pradeepkumar R. , Victor Jaya N. , Natarajan T. S.
Published: July 2014

Cerium doped SnO2 hollow nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning. High resolution scanning electron microscope (HRSEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed hollow nanofibers with diameters around ∼200 nm. The optimized substitution of Ce ion into SnO2 lattices happened above 6 mol. % doping as confirmed by Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Optical band gap was decreased by the doping confirming the direct energy transfer between f-electrons of rare earth ion and the SnO2 conduction or valence band. The compound also exhibited room temperature ferromagnetism with the saturation magnetization of 19 × 10−5 emu/g at 6 mol. %. This study demonstrates the Ce doped SnO2 hollow nanofibers for applications in magneto-optoelectronic devices.
Shock wave compression of hexagonal-close-packed metal single crystals: Time-dependent, anisotropic elastic-plastic response of beryllium
Authors: Winey J. M. , Gupta Y. M.
Published: July 2014

Understanding and modeling the response of hcp metals to high stress impulsive loading is challenging because the lower crystal symmetry, compared to cubic metals, results in a significantly more complex material response. To gain insight into the inelastic deformation of hcp metals subjected to high dynamic stresses, shock wave compression of single crystals provides a useful approach because different inelastic deformation mechanisms can be examined selectively by shock compression along different crystal orientations. As a representative example, we report, here, on wave propagation simulations for beryllium (Be) single crystals shocked along the c-axis, a-axis, and several low-symmetry directions to peak stresses reaching 7 GPa. The simulations utilized a time-dependent, anisotropic material model that incorporated dislocation dynamics, deformation twinning, and shear cracking based descriptions of inelastic deformation. The simulation results showed good overall agreement with measured wave profiles for all the different crystal orientations examined [Pope and Johnson, J. Appl. Phys. 46, 720 (1975)], including features arising from wave mode coupling due to the highly anisotropic inelastic response of Be. This good agreement demonstrates that the measured profiles can be understood in terms of dislocation slip along basal, prismatic, and pyramidal planes, together with deformation twinning along {101¯2} planes. Our results show that the response of shocked Be single crystals involves the simultaneous operation of multiple, distinct inelastic deformation mechanisms for all orientations except the c-axis. For shocked c-axis Be, the measured wave profiles do not provide good discrimination between pyramidal slip and other inelastic deformation mechanisms, such as shear cracking. The findings presented here provide insight into the complex inelastic deformation response of shocked Be single crystals and are expected to be useful for other hcp crystals. More broadly, the present work demonstrates the potential of shock wave propagation along low-symmetry directions to examine, and discriminate between, different inelastic deformation mechanisms in crystalline solids.
Generation of tunable plasma photonic crystals in meshed dielectric barrier discharge
Authors: Wang Yongjie , Dong Lifang , Liu Weibo , He Yafeng , Li Yonghui
Published: July 2014

Tunable superlattice plasma photonic crystals are obtained in a meshed dielectric barrier discharge. These plasma photonic crystals are composed of thin artificial lattices and thick self-organized lattices, and can be tuned easily by adjusting the applied voltage. A plasma photonic crystal with self-organized hexagonal lattice coupled to artificial square lattice is first realized. The dispersion relations of the square sublattices with different radii, which are recorded by an intensified charge-coupled device camera, are calculated. The results show that the thick square sublattice has the higher band edge frequencies and wider band widths. Band gaps of superlattice plasma photonic crystals are actually temporal integrations of those of transient sublattices.
Label free selective detection of estriol using graphene oxide-based fluorescence sensor
Authors: Kushwaha H. S. , Sao Reshma , Vaish Rahul
Published: July 2014

Water-soluble and fluorescent Graphene oxide (GO) is biocompatible, easy, and economical to synthesize. Interestingly, GO is also capable of quenching fluorescence. On the basis of its fluorescence and quenching abilities, GO has been reported to serve as an energy acceptor in a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensor. GO-based FRET biosensors have been widely reported for sensing of proteins, nucleic acid, ATP (Adenosine triphosphate), etc. GO complexes with fluorescent dyes and enzymes have been used to sense metal ions. Graphene derivatives have been used for sensing endocrine-disrupting chemicals like bisphenols and chlorophenols with high sensitivity and good reproducibility. On this basis, a novel GO based fluorescent sensor has been successfully designed to detect estriol with remarkable selectivity and sensitivity. Estriol is one of the three estrogens in women and is considered to be medically important. Estriol content of maternal urine or plasma acts as an important screening marker for estimating foetal growth and development. In addition, estriol is also used as diagnostic marker for diseases like breast cancer, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, lupus erythematosus, endometriosis, etc. In this present study, we report for the first time a rapid, sensitive with detection limit of 1.3 nM, selective and highly biocompatible method for label free detection of estriol under physiological conditions using fluorescence assay.
Plasma screening effects on the energies of hydrogen atom under the influence of velocity-dependent potential
Authors: Bahar M. K.
Published: July 2014

In order to examine the plasma screening and velocity-dependent potential effects on the hydrogen atom, the Schrödinger equation including a more general exponential cosine screened Coulomb and velocity-dependent potential is solved numerically in the framework asymptotic iteration method. The more general exponential cosine screened Coulomb potential is used to model Debye and quantum plasma for the specific values of the parameters in its structure. However, in order to examine effects of velocity-dependent potential on energy values of hydrogen atom in Debye and quantum plasma, the isotropic form factor of velocity-dependent potential is given as harmonic oscillator type, ρ(r)=ρor2. Then, the energies of s and p states are calculated numerically without any approximation. In order to investigate thoroughly plasma screening effects and contribution of velocity-dependent potential on energy values of hydrogen atom, the corresponding calculations are carried out by using different values of parameters of more general exponential cosine screened Coulomb potential and isotropic dependence, results of which are discussed.
Interaction of the high energy deuterons with the graphite target in the plasma focus devices based on Lee model
Authors: Akel M. , Alsheikh Salo S. , Ismael Sh. , Saw S. H. , Lee S.
Published: July 2014

Numerical experiments are systematically carried out using the Lee model code extended to compute the ion beams on various plasma focus devices operated with Deuterium gas. The deuteron beam properties of the plasma focus are studied for low and high energy plasma focus device. The energy spectral distribution for deuteron ions ejected from the pinch plasma is calculated and the ion numbers with energy around 1 MeV is then determined. The deuteron–graphite target interaction is studied for different conditions. The yield of the reaction 12C(d,n)13N and the induced radioactivity for one and multi shots plasma focus devices in the graphite solid target is investigated. Our results present the optimized high energy repetitive plasma focus devices as an alternative to accelerators for the production of 13N short lived radioisotopes. However, technical challenges await solutions on two fronts: (a) operation of plasma focus machines at high rep rates for a sufficient period of time (b) design of durable targets that can take the thermal load.
Large magnetic entropy change associated with the weakly first-order paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic transition in antiperovskite manganese nitride CuNMn3
Authors: Yang C. , Tong P. , Lin J. C. , Lin S. , Cui D. P. , Wang B. S. , Song W. H. , Lu W. J. , Sun Y. P.
Published: July 2014

We report a systematic study of the specific heat and dc magnetic susceptibility on the paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic transition (TC ∼ 141 K) in CuNMn3. A large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) at TC is observed with the entropy change of 3.49 J/kg K (6.38 J/kg K) for the field change of ΔH = 20 kOe (45 kOe). The analysis of the isothermal magnetizations, including the derived Arrott plots and magnetic entropy change, shows a second-order like transition at TC. However, the existence of latent heat around TC is unambiguously manifested by the reduced slope of the temperature-time relaxations recorded during the specific heat measurement, indicating the transition is in fact weakly first-order in nature. The large MCE comparable with those observed the antiperovskite manganese carbides suggests it is equivalently interesting to explore the MCE in the antiperovskite manganese nitrides as in the carbides.
On the doping limit for strain stability retention in phosphorus doped Si:C
Authors: Chuang Yao-Teng , Hu Kuan-Kan , Woon Wei-Yen
Published: July 2014

Strain stability of phosphorus doped pseudomorphically strained Si:C alloy is investigated via high-resolution X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Hall measurement. Significant strain relaxations are found under post-annealing treatment far below β-SiC precipitation threshold temperature, especially for the highest phosphorus doped case. Most of the substitutional carbon is retained and no further β-SiC formation can be found for all samples investigated. Volume compensation through gettering of interstitial atoms around substitutional carbon is considered as a probable mechanism for the observed strain relaxation. The strain relaxation effect can be further reduced with HF treatment prior to post-annealing process. We found an upper limit for ion implant dose (<1 × 1014 atom/cm2) for the retention of strain stability in phosphorus doped Si:C.
Nonmonotonic variation of aging behavior in Fe-doped BaTiO3 ceramics
Authors: Huang Fengzhen , Jiang Zhenghao , Lu Xiaomei , Ti Ruixia , Wu Huarui , Kan Yi , Zhu Jinsong
Published: July 2014

The investigation of ferroelectric aging effect in Fe-doped BaTiO3 ceramics reveals that such effect is first strengthened and then suppressed with the increase content of Fe dopant. Such nonmonotonic variation of aging behavior is considered to be originated from the competition effects between increased concentration of oxygen vacancies and decreased c/a value on the formation of defect dipoles (FeTi′−Vo··)·. This study provides a feasible alternative method for modulating aging effect and will favor the applications of ferroelectrics.