bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conflict will Harden your Heart: Exposure to Violence, Psychological Distress, and Peace Barriers in Israel and Palestine
Authors: Hirsch-Hoefler Sivan , Canetti Daphna , Rapaport Carmit , Hobfoll Stevan E.
Published: October 2014

Does exposure to political violence prompt civilians to support peace? We investigate the determinants of civilian attitudes toward peace during ongoing conflict using two original panel datasets representing Israelis (n=996) and Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza (n=631) (149 communities in total). A multi-group estimation analysis shows that individual-level exposure to terrorism and political violence makes the subject populations less likely to support peace efforts. The findings also confirm psychological distress and threat perceptions as the mechanism that bridges exposure to violence and greater militancy over time. The study breaks ground in showing that individual-level exposure – necessarily accompanied by psychological distress and threat perceptions – is key to understanding civilians’ refusal to compromise in prolonged conflict.
Investigation of deuterated target effects on neutron yield in plasma focus device SBUMTPF1
Authors: Shahbazi Rad Zahra , Abbasi Davani Fereydoun , Shirani Babak
Published: October 2014

In this research, the effect of inserting deuterated solid target in plasma focus device ‘SBUMTPF1’ on neutron yield has been investigated. The deuterated target with the diameter of 2.5 cm was placed at different heights relative to the anode tip. In each height, the best place of target (where the ion density is highest) was found from observing the effects of ions struck on the aluminum samples. Also for each height, 20 shots were performed at the optimum pressure of deuterium working gas and operating voltage, which are equal to 1.5 mbar and 24 kV, respectively. The neutron production was measured with two activation counters, which placed in 0○ and 90○ relative to the anode axis. Neutron scattering from two activation counters was calculated with MCNP4C code and the results showed that this effect is negligible. In this article, the probability of implanting deuterium ions into the titanium target was also investigated. Deviation angle of the ion emission relative to the anode axis was measured experimentally in this research and it was about 3.1○.
Magellanic penguins: stomach contents and isotopic profiles to assess the feeding demands of juveniles in a wintering area off Brazil
Authors: Di Beneditto Ana Paula Madeira , Santos Roberta Aguiar Dos , Rosa Karen Russel , Siciliano Salvatore
Published: October 2014

The stomach contents of juvenile Magellanic penguins,Spheniscus magellanicus, stranded along the Atlantic coast (21–23°S) during the extreme mortality event of 2008 were analysed. The isotopic profiles of this species and their prey in a wintering area are presented to identify trophic relationships and to evaluate whether the prey species recovered in the stomach contents were assimilated. The prey groups recorded were molluscs (cephalopods and gastropods), teleost fish, and, to a lesser extent, crustaceans (decapods and isopods). Cephalopods were the most representative prey, andArgonauta nodosawas the most abundant species. Plant remains and solid waste were atypical items found in the stomach contents. The nitrogen isotope (δ15N) values found in this study confirm the higher trophic position of the penguins (14.5‰) relative to their prey (11.7–12.3‰). The carbon isotope (δ13C) measurements of all species are characteristic of marine coastal environments (−18.7 to −16.8‰). A Bayesian approach applied to stable isotope mixing models showed that cephalopods are assimilated to a greater extent than fish. However, the poor nutritional condition of specimens that reach the Brazilian coast, especially at the northern limit of migration (~21°S), indicates that prey ingestion is not sufficient for the maintenance of body weight.
Rietveld quantitative phase analysis with molybdenum radiation
Authors: Cuesta Ana , Álvarez-Pinazo Gema , García-Maté Marta , Santacruz Isabel , Aranda Miguel A. G. , De la Torre Ángeles G. , León-Reina Laura
Published: October 2014

Building materials are very complex samples of worldwide importance; hence quantitative knowledge of their mineralogical composition is necessary to predict performances. Rietveld quantitative phase analysis (RQPA) allows a direct measurement of the crystalline phase contents of cements. We highlight in this paper the use of laboratory X-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD) employing high-energy radiation, molybdenum (Mo), for attaining the RQPA of cements. Firstly, we evaluate the accuracy of RQPA employing a commercial calcium sulfoaluminate clinker with gypsum. In addition to MoKα1 and MoKα1,2 radiations, Cu and synchrotron patterns are also analyzed for the sake of comparison. Secondly, the assessment of the accuracy of RQPA results obtained using different radiations (synchrotron, Mo, and Cu) and geometries (reflection and transmission) is performed by analyzing two well-known commercial samples. As expected, for LXRPD data, accuracy in the RQPA results improves as the irradiated volume increases. Finally, three very complex aged hydrated cements have been analyzed using MoKα1-LXRPD and Synchrotron-XRPD. The main overall outcome of this work is the benefit for RQPA of using strictly monochromatic MoKα1 radiation. Best laboratory results arise from MoKα1 data as the effective tested volume is much increased but peak overlapping is not swelled.
Sperner's Problem forG-Independent Families
Authors: FALGAS-RAVRY VICTOR
Published: October 2014

Given a graphG, letQ(G)denote the collection of all independent (edge-free) sets of vertices inG. We consider the problem of determining the size of a largest antichain inQ(G). WhenGis the edgeless graph, this problem is resolved by Sperner's theorem. In this paper, we focus on the case whereGis the path of lengthn− 1, proving that the size of a maximal antichain is of the same order as the size of a largest layer ofQ(G).
Effect of epigenetic modification with trichostatin A and S-adenosylhomocysteine on developmental competence and POU5F1–EGFP expression of interspecies cloned embryos in dog
Authors: Mousai M. , Hosseini S.M. , Hajian M. , Jafarpour F. , Asgari V. , Forouzanfar M. , Nasr-Esfahani M.H.
Published: October 2014

Adult canine fibroblasts stably transfected with either cytomegalovirus (CMV) or POU5F1 promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were used to investigate if pre-treatment of these donor cells with two epigenetic drugs [trichostatin A (TSA), or S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH)] can improve the efficiency of interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), analyses revealed that TSA, but not SAH, treatment of both transgenic and non-transgenic fibroblasts significantly increased acetylation levels compared with untreated relatives. The expression levels of Bcl2 and P53 were significantly affected in TSA-treated cells compared with untreated cells, whereas SAH treatment had no significant effect on cell apoptosis. Irrespective of epigenetic modification, dog/bovine iSCNT embryos had overall similar rates of cleavage and development to 8–16-cell and morula stages in non-transgenic groups. For transgenic reconstructed embryos, however, TSA and SAH could significantly improve development to 8–16-cell and morula stages compared with control. Even though, irrespective of cell transgenesis and epigenetic modification, none of the iSCNT embryos developed to the blastocyst stage. The iSCNT embryos carrying CMV–EGFP expressed EGFP at all developmental stages (2-cell, 4-cell, 8–16-cell, and morula) without mosaicism, while no POU5F1–EGFP signal was observed in any stage of developing iSCNT embryos irrespective of TSA/SAH epigenetic modifications. These results indicated that bovine oocytes partially remodel canine fibroblasts and that TSA and SAH have marginal beneficial effects on this process.
Decrease in fertilization and cleavage rates, but not in clinical outcomes for infertile men with AZF microdeletion of the Y chromosome
Authors: Zhu Yuan-Chang , Wu Tong-Hua , Li Guan-Gui , Yin Biao , Liu Hong-Jie , Song Cheng , Mo Mei-Lan , Zeng Yong
Published: October 2014

This study aimed to explore whether the presence of a Y chromosome azoospermia factor (AZF) microdeletion confers any adverse effect on embryonic development and clinical outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Fifty-seven patients with AZF microdeletion were included in the present study and 114 oligozoospermia and azoospermia patients without AZF microdeletion were recruited as controls. Both AZF and control groups were further divided into subgroups based upon the methods of semen collection: the AZF-testicular sperm extraction subgroup (AZF-TESE, n = 14), the AZF-ejaculation subgroup (AZF-EJA, n = 43), the control-TESE subgroup (n = 28) and the control-EJA subgroup (n = 86). Clinical data were analyzed in the two groups and four subgroups respectively. A retrospective case–control study was performed. A significantly lower fertilization rate (69.27 versus 75.70%, P = 0.000) and cleavage rate (89.55 versus 94.39%, P = 0.000) was found in AZF group compared with the control group. Furthermore, in AZF-TESE subgroup, the fertilization rate (67.54 versus 74.25%, P = 0.037) and cleavage rate (88.96 versus 94.79%, P = 0.022) were significantly lower than in the control-TESE subgroup; similarly, the fertilization rate (69.85 versus 75.85%, P = 0.004) and cleavage rate (89.36 versus 94.26%, P = 0.002) in AZF-EJA subgroup were significantly lower than in the control-EJA subgroup; however, the fertilization rate and cleavage rate in AZF-TESE (control-TESE) subgroup was similar to that in the AZF-EJA (control-EJA) subgroup. The other clinical outcomes were comparable between four subgroups (P > 0.05). Therefore, sperm from patients with AZF microdeletion, obtained either by ejaculation or TESE, may have lower fertilization and cleavage rates, but seem to have comparable clinical outcomes to those from patients without AZF microdeletion.
Expression and cellular distribution of zona pellucida glycoproteins in canine oocytes before and afterin vitromaturation
Authors: Kempisty Bartosz , Piotrowska Hanna , Bukowska Dorota , Woźna Magdalena , Ciesiółka Sylwia , Wojtanowicz-Markiewicz Katarzyna , Włodarczyk Renata , Jopek Karol , Jeseta Michal , Bruska Małgorzata , Nowicki Michał , Jaśkowski Jędrzej M. , Brüssow Klaus-Peter , Zabel Maciej
Published: October 2014

This study was aimed at investigating zona pellucida glycoproteins (ZP) ZP2, ZP3 mRNA expression as well as ZP3, ZP4 (ZPB) protein distribution before and afterin vitromaturation (IVM) in canine oocytes. The cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were recovered from 27 anoestrous mongrel bitches and matured for 72 h in TCM199 medium. The canine COCs were analysed before and after IVM. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR), both groups of oocytes were analysed for detection of ZP2 and ZP3 mRNA profiles as well as using confocal microscopic analysis for observation of ZP3 and ZP4 protein distribution. In post-IVM canine oocytes an increase in transcript content of ZP2 and ZP3 genes as well as a decrease in ZP3 and ZP4 protein levels were observed when compared with pre-IVM oocytes. Moreover, the ZP4 protein before IVM was significantly distributed in the peripheral area of cytoplasm, whereas after IVM it was localized rather than in the entire cytoplasm. In contrast, the ZP3 protein was found both before and after IVM was distributed in the peripheral area of the cytoplasm. In conclusion, we suggest that the expression of ZP2 and ZP3 genes is associated with the maturation stage of canine oocytes, as higher mRNAs levels were found after IVM. However, a decreased expression of ZP3 and ZP4 proteins after IVM suggests maturation-dependent down-regulation of these protein translations, which may result in disturbed fertilization.
Investigation of histone H4 hyperacetylation dynamics in the 5S rRNA genes family by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay
Authors: Burlibașa Liliana , Suciu Ilinca
Published: October 2014

Oogenesis is a critical event in the formation of female gamete, whose role in development is to transfer genomic information to the next generation. During this process, the gene expression pattern changes dramatically concomitant with genome remodelling, while genomic information is stably maintained. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of H4 acetylation of the oocyte and somatic 5S rRNA genes in Triturus cristatus, using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP). Our findings suggest that some epigenetic mechanisms such as histone acetylation could be involved in the transcriptional regulation of 5S rRNA gene families.
(Un/Semi-)supervised SMS text message SPAM detection
Authors: GIANNELLA CHRIS R. , WINDER RANSOM , WILSON BRANDON
Published: October 2014

We address the problem of unsupervised and semi-supervised SMS (Short Message Service) text message SPAM detection. We develop a content-based Bayesian classification approach which is a modest extension of the technique discussed by Resnik and Hardisty in 2010. The approach assumes that the bodies of the SMS messages arise from a probabilistic generative model and estimates the model parameters by Gibbs sampling using an unlabeled, or partially labeled, SMS training message corpus. The approach classifies new SMS messages as SPAM or HAM (non-SPAM) by zero-thresholding their logit estimates. We tested the approach on a publicly available SMS corpora collected from the UK. Used in semi-supervised fashion, the approach clearly outperformed a competing algorithm, Semi-Boost. Used in unsupervised fashion, the approach outperformed a fully supervised classifier, an SVM (Support Vector Machine), when the number of training messages used by the SVM was small and performed comparably otherwise. We believe the approach works well and is a useful tool for SMS SPAM detection.
Understanding Treasures: The Application of Micro-Computed Tomography on the study of the Blaschka Models
Authors: Verveniotou E. , Sykes D. , Walker H. , Collins C. , Ahmed F.
Published: October 2014

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.
Prevalence of schizophrenia and related disorders in Malaga (Spain): results using multiple clinical databases
Authors: Moreno-Küstner B. , Mayoral F. , Navas-Campaña D. , García-Herrera J. M. , Angona P. , Martín C. , Rivas F.
Published: October 2014

Background.

To calculate the 1-year prevalence of schizophrenia and related disorders in a catchment area of Malaga (Spain) and determine the prevalence by gender, dwelling (rural or urban) and socioeconomic area (deprived or non-deprived area).

Method.

This cross-sectional study comprised the mental health area covered by Carlos Haya Hospital. We used multiple large clinical databases and key informants to identify cases.

Results.

The mean 1-year prevalence of schizophrenia and related disorders was 6.27 per 1000. It was nearly double in men (8.45 per 1000) than in women (4.26 per 1000) (p < 0.001), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.98. The rate was higher in urban (6.64 per 1000) than rural areas (3.95 per 1000) (p < 0.0001) and in socioeconomic deprived areas (7.56 per 1000) than non-deprived areas (6.12 per 1000) (p = 0.005). For the subgroup of schizophrenia, the rates were: men, 5.88 per 1000 and women, 2.2 per 1000 (p < 0.0001), with a male-to-female ratio of 2.67. The rate was also higher in urban (4.2 per 1000) than rural areas (2.49 per 1000) (p < 0.0001) and in socioeconomic deprived areas (4.49 per 1000) than non-deprived areas (3.9 per 1000) (p =0.149).

Conclusions.

The use of multiple clinical sources of information not only from mental health services, but also from emergency departments, primary care and private settings revealed high prevalence rates of schizophrenia and related disorders. This diagnosis is more common in men and in cities. Such precise estimates of the prevalence of schizophrenia have important repercussions for resource allocation and policy planning.
Standoffish States: Nonliterate Leviathans in Southeast Asia
Authors: Slater Dan , Kim Diana
Published: October 2014

Under what conditions do states strive to homogenise their populations, rendering them ‘legible’ for state-making projects? Virtually all conditions, according to James Scott's landmark treatise,The Art of Not Being Governed. Whereas Scott sees states’ appetites to standardise their populations for purposes of control and extraction as practically universal, we see this appetite as radically and fascinatingly uneven. Much as Scott sees mobile populations as ‘nonliterate’ due to their disinterest in (and not their ignorance of) the purported fruits of civilisation, we see Leviathans as frequently ‘nonliterate’ in their disinclination (and not simply their incapacity) to actively administer their subjects and territory: even in Southeast Asia, the region that has done more than any other to generate Scott's theories of state power and practice. We thus argue that the world is riddled with standoffish states, not just standardising states. Even in the zones where the potential costs of eschewing the pursuit of legibility appear highest – those containing violent insurgencies – states can prove surprisingly disinterested in pursuing centralised governance in a highly administrative manner. We highlight four alternative strategies – indirect rule, divide and conquer, militarised pacification, and forcible expulsion – that states commonly deploy to fulfil what we see as their most fundamental objective: preventing political challenges to the ruling centre.
A Novel Model for Brain Iron Uptake: Introducing the Concept of Regulation
Authors: Simpson Ian A , Ponnuru Padmavathi , Klinger Marianne E , Myers Roland L , Devraj Kavi , Coe Christopher L , Lubach Gabriele R , Carruthers Anthony , Connor James R
Published: October 2014

Neurologic disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, and Restless Legs Syndrome involve a loss of brain iron homeostasis. Moreover, iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional concern worldwide with many associated cognitive and neural ramifications. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which iron enters the brain and how those processes are regulated addresses significant global health issues. The existing paradigm assumes that the endothelial cells (ECs) forming the blood—brain barrier (BBB) serve as a simple conduit for transport of transferrin-bound iron. This concept is a significant oversimplification, at minimum failing to account for the iron needs of the ECs. Using an in vivo model of brain iron deficiency, the Belgrade rat, we show the distribution of transferrin receptors in brain microvasculature is altered in luminal, intracellular, and abluminal membranes dependent on brain iron status. We used a cell culture model of the BBB to show the presence of factors that influence iron release in non-human primate cerebrospinal fluid and conditioned media from astrocytes; specifically apo-transferrin and hepcidin were found to increase and decrease iron release, respectively. These data have been integrated into an interactive model where BBB ECs are central in the regulation of cerebral iron metabolism.
Broad impacts of fine-scale dynamics on seascape structure from zooplankton to seabirds
Authors: Bertrand Arnaud , Grados Daniel , Colas François , Bertrand Sophie , Capet Xavier , Chaigneau Alexis , Vargas Gary , Mousseigne Alexandre , Fablet Ronan
Published: October 2014

In marine ecosystems, like most natural systems, patchiness is the rule. A characteristic of pelagic ecosystems is that their ‘substrate’ consists of constantly moving water masses, where ocean surface turbulence creates ephemeral oases. Identifying where and when hotspots occur and how predators manage those vagaries in their preyscape is challenging because wide-ranging observations are lacking. Here we use a unique data set, gathering high-resolution and wide-range acoustic and GPS-tracking data. We show that the upper ocean dynamics at scales less than 10 km play the foremost role in shaping the seascape from zooplankton to seabirds. Short internal waves (100 m–1 km) play a major role, while submesoscale (~1–20 km) and mesoscale (~20–100 km) turbulence have a comparatively modest effect. Predicted changes in surface stratification due to global change are expected to have an impact on the number and intensity of physical structures and thus biological interactions from plankton to top predators.
Concurrent DNA preconcentration and separation in bipolar electrode-based microfluidic device
Authors: Song Hongjun , Wang Yi , Garson Charles , Pant Kapil
Published: October 2014

A microfluidic device combining bipolar electrode phenomenon and end-labeled free-solution electrophoresis for concurrent preconcentration and separation of DNA samples.
Strategies for the asymmetric functionalization of indoles: an update
Authors: Dalpozzo Renato
Published: October 2014

During the past four years, the research of new synthetic methodologies for the rapid construction of enantiomerically pure substituted indole has had a fruitful and important growth.
Molecular wires – impact of π-conjugation and implementation of molecular bottlenecks
Authors: Schubert C. , Margraf J. T. , Clark T. , Guldi D. M.
Published: October 2014

We highlight recent progress in the field of electron transport through molecular bridges as integrative parts of electron donor–bridge–acceptor conjugates.
Supramolecular photochemistry: from molecular crystals to water-soluble capsules
Authors: Ramamurthy V. , Gupta Shipra
Published: October 2014

Photochemical and photophysical behavior of molecules in supramolecular assemblies are different and more selective than in gas and isotropic solution phases.
Optimization of in vitro inhibition of HT-29 colon cancer cell cultures by Solanum tuberosum L. extracts
Authors: Zuber T. , Holm D. , Byrne P. , Ducreux L. , Taylor M. , Kaiser M. , Stushnoff C.
Published: October 2014

A model research potato selection that permits sampling tissues with different pigmentation from an identical genetic background with no confounding from age, developmental stage, nutritional differences or other environmental factors.
Use of vacuum bagging for fabricating thermoplastic microfluidic devices
Authors: Cassano Christopher L. , Simon Andrew J. , Liu Wei , Fredrickson Carl , Hugh Fan Z.
Published: October 2014

Vacuum bagging technique has been adapted for fabricating thermoplastic microfluidics devices, yielding strong bonding with little channel deformation.
Heparin makes differences: a molecular dynamics simulation study on the human βII-tryptase monomer
Authors: Wang Yan , Zheng Qing-Chuan , Kong Chui-Peng , Tian Ye , Zhan Jiuyu , Zhang Ji-Long , Zhang Hong-Xing
Published: October 2014

The structural alignment for the representative structure of Hep system (yellow color) and crystal structure (gray color). The small figure on the right top of TOC is from PCA analysis. The first frame from PCA is in blue color and the last frame from PCA is colored in red. The other two small figures of TOC show the detailed of 4-mer heparin and 0GX in the Hep system.
Antiviral drug discovery: broad-spectrum drugs from nature
Authors: Martinez J. P. , Sasse F. , Brönstrup M. , Diez J. , Meyerhans A.
Published: October 2014

Exploiting the power of nature to fight viral infections. This review describes the concept of direct- and host-acting natural products with broad-spectrum antiviral activities and provides promising examples derived from plants, fungi, bacteria and marine organisms.
Controlled assembly and single electron charging of monolayer protected Au144 clusters: an electrochemistry and scanning tunneling spectroscopy study
Authors: Bodappa Nataraju , Fluch Ulrike , Fu Yongchun , Mayor Marcel , Moreno-García Pavel , Siegenthaler Hans , Wandlowski Thomas
Published: October 2014

The energy level spectra for Au144 MPCs were probed by voltammetry and scanning tunneling spectroscopy from cluster arrays to individual clusters.
Mesoporous persistent nanophosphors for in vivo optical bioimaging and drug-delivery
Authors: Maldiney Thomas , Ballet Benoit , Bessodes Michel , Scherman Daniel , Richard Cyrille
Published: October 2014

Based upon the ambitious idea that one single particle could serve multiple purposes at the same time, the combination and simultaneous use of imaging and therapeutics has lately arisen as one of the most promising prospects among nanotechnologies directed toward biomedical applications.
Recent developments and directions in printed nanomaterials
Authors: Choi Hyung Woo , Zhou Tianlei , Singh Madhusudan , Jabbour Ghassan E.
Published: October 2014

In this review article, we survey the current state of art of printed nanomaterial systems and their future prospects.
Porous single-crystalline palladium nanoflowers with enriched {100} facets for highly enhanced ethanol oxidation
Authors: Qi Kun , Wang Qiyu , Zheng Weitao , Zhang Wei , Cui Xiaoqiang
Published: October 2014

Palladium porous single-crystalline nanoflowers (PSNFs) with enriched high catalytic activity {100} facets were synthesized using a mild and controllable seed mediated growth method.
A QSAR study on the inhibition mechanism of matrix metalloproteinase-12 by arylsulfone analogs based on molecular orbital calculations
Authors: Hitaoka Seiji , Chuman Hiroshi , Yoshizawa Kazunari
Published: October 2014

The inhibition mechanism of matrix metalloproteinase-12 by arylsulfone analogs is revealed using a comprehensive computational approach including docking simulations, molecular orbital calculations, and QSAR.
Cationic azacryptands as selective three-way DNA junction binding agents
Authors: Novotna Jana , Laguerre Aurelien , Granzhan Anton , Pirrotta Marc , Teulade-Fichou Marie-Paule , Monchaud David
Published: October 2014

Azacryptands are promising candidates for assessing the therapeutic potential of three-way DNA junctions.
Luminescence properties of Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ prepared by gas-pressed sintering using BaF2 as flux and cation substitution
Authors: Wang Chuang , Zhao Zhengyan , Wang Xicheng , Li Yanyan , Wu Quansheng , Wang Yuhua
Published: October 2014

The red-shift of the Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphors and a large enhancement in the emission intensity have been obtained by incorporating BaF2.
CCSO nano catalyzed solid phase synthesis of 3-oxo-5,6-disubstituted-2,3-dihydropyridazine-4-carbonitrile
Authors: Singh Praveen , Kumar Ranjeet , Yadav Brijesh Kumar , Khanna Ranjana S. , Tewari Ashish Kumar
Published: October 2014

CCSO nano particles successfully catalyzed the synthesis of substituted pyridazines from substituted benzil and cyanoacetylhydrazide.
Facile method to sort graphene quantum dots by size through ammonium sulfate addition
Authors: Ryu Seongwoo , Lee Kyueui , Hong Soon Hyung , Lee Haeshin
Published: October 2014

Schematic of graphene quantum dots salting-out procedure through ammonium sulfate.
A series of ditopic receptors for succinic acid binding
Authors: Dey Swapan , Sain Dibyendu , Kumar Ashish , Kumari Chanda
Published: October 2014

Three ditopic-abiotic receptors (R1, R2 and R3) have been designed and synthesised. The receptors have been applied for the recognition of dicarboxylic acids viz. malonic, succinic, glutaric and adipic acids. Among them, succinic acid shows the highest binding efficiency to all receptors. Recognition of succinic acid is very important due to its various adverse effects on human health upon prolonged exposure.
PVA/Fe(NO3)3 nanofiber mats: an efficient, heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of quinolines via Friedländer annulations
Authors: Ziyadi Hakimeh , Heydari Akbar
Published: October 2014

PVA/Fe(NO3)3 nanofiber mats are found to be a heterogeneous recyclable catalyst for the efficient synthesis of quinoline derivatives in the Friedländer condensation of 2-aminoarylketones with carbonyl compounds and β-keto esters.
Long-term monitoring of capase-3 activity in living cells based on the FRET probe composed of quantum dot, nanogold and EGF
Authors: Ren Dahai , Wang Jun , You Zheng
Published: October 2014

In this paper, a unique probe was developed based on quantum dots, nanogold and EGF. The sensing section of the probe was developed by linking the streptavidin-labeled QD and monomaleimide-functionalized nanogoldviaa substrate peptide. The activity of caspase-3 was successfully monitored during a longer time span compared to the reported probes.
An ionogel composite including copolymer nanowires for disposable electrochemiluminescent sensor configurations
Authors: Díaz-Ortega I. F. , Ballesta-Claver J. , Martín M. Cruz , Benítez-Aranda S. , Capitán-Vallvey L. F.
Published: October 2014

Aniline derivatives such as luminol and benzidines can be electropolymerized for the preparation of electrochemiluminescent sensors.
Electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles on a pectin scaffold and its electrocatalytic application in the selective determination of dopamine
Authors: Devasenathipathy Rajkumar , Mani Veerappan , Chen Shen-Ming , Viswanath Balaji , Vasantha V. S. , Govindasamy Mani
Published: October 2014

Electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles on a pectin scaffold for the selective determination of dopamine.
Calculating primary energy and carbon emission factors for the United States' energy sectors
Authors: Dixit Manish K. , Culp Charles H. , Fernandez-Solis Jose L.
Published: October 2014

In this paper, we identified and proposed methods to comprehensively calculate primary energy factors (PEFs) and carbon emission factors (CEFs) for the major fuels used in the United States' economy.
One-step biofabrication of copper nanoparticles from Aegle marmelos correa aqueous leaf extract and evaluation of its anti-inflammatory and mosquito larvicidal efficacy
Authors: Angajala Gangadhara , Pavan Pasupala , Subashini R.
Published: October 2014

Biofabrication of CuNps from AmC aqueous leaf extract of various sizes with good anti-inflammatory and mosquito larvicidal efficacy.
Structural study of a small molecule receptor bound to dimethyllysine in lysozyme
Authors: McGovern Róise E. , Snarr Brendan D. , Lyons Joseph A. , McFarlane James , Whiting Amanda L. , Paci Irina , Hof Fraser , Crowley Peter B.
Published: October 2014

X-ray crystallography reveals how a calixarene can bind to dimethyllysine to form a complex with features similar to the aromatic cage motif of a chromodomain bound to a histone tail.
A high-spin square-planar Fe(ii) complex stabilized by a trianionic pincer-type ligand and conclusive evidence for retention of geometry and spin state in solution
Authors: Pascualini M. E. , Di Russo N. V. , Thuijs A. E. , Ozarowski A. , Stoian S. A. , Abboud K. A. , Christou G. , Veige A. S.
Published: October 2014

Extensive spectroscopic evaluation of a novel ONO3− trianionic pincer Fe(ii) complex indicates the rare square-planar geometry and S = 2 spin state are retained in solution.
Molecular geometry, twist-bend nematic phase and unconventional elasticity: a generalised Maier–Saupe theory
Authors: Greco Cristina , Luckhurst Geoffrey R. , Ferrarini Alberta
Published: October 2014

Just because of their geometry, bent mesogens can form the modulated twist-bend nematic phase, whose stability range is strongly sensitive to the bend angle.
Facile synthesis of scalable pore-containing silicon/nitrogen-rich carbon composites from waste contact mass of organosilane industry as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Shi Lu , Wang Weikun , Wang Anbang , Yuan Keguo , Yang Yusheng
Published: October 2014

The scalable pore-containing silicon/nitrogen-rich carbon materials are fabricated by using the waste contact mass of organosilane industry as silicon source.
Ultrasmall palladium nanoparticles supported on amine-functionalized SBA-15 efficiently catalyze hydrogen evolution from formic acid
Authors: Koh K. , Seo J.-E. , Lee J. H. , Goswami A. , Yoon C. W. , Asefa T.
Published: October 2014

Amine-functionalized mesoporous silica-supported ultrasmall Pd nanoparticles catalyze hydrogen evolution from formic acid at ambient temperature.
New CuxSy/nanoporous carbon composites as efficient oxygen reduction catalysts in alkaline medium
Authors: Seredych Mykola , Rodriguez-Castellon Enrique , Bandosz Teresa J.
Published: October 2014

Hybrid CuxSy/S-doped nanoporous carbon composite is a superior non-noble metal catalyst for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR). The unique surface features of the material resulted in a marked catalytic activity for ORR in alkaline medium, high tolerance to methanol oxidation and long term stability.
Biological materials and molecular biomimetics – filling up the empty soft materials space for tissue engineering applications
Authors: Miserez Ali , Weaver James C. , Chaudhuri Ovijit
Published: October 2014

The discovery and molecular (genetic) characterization of novel biological materials offers great potential to expand the range of soft materials used for biomedical applications.
An electrochemical sensor for detecting triglyceride based on biomimetic polydopamine and gold nanocomposite
Authors: Zhang Wei , Tang Yan , Liu Jia , Ma Yujie , Jiang Ling , Huang Wei , Huo Feng-wei , Tian Danbi
Published: October 2014

A novel electrochemical sensing strategy for triglyceride detection based on a biomimetic polydopamine and gold nanoparticle hybrid.
Exceptional dielectric performance induced by the stepwise reversible phase transitions of an organic crystal: betainium chlorodifluoroacetate
Authors: Sun Zhihua , Zhang Shuquan , Ji Chengmin , Chen Tianliang , Luo Junhua
Published: October 2014

A molecular phase transition material that exhibits exceptional dielectric performance induced by stepwise structural changes and phase transitions is reported.
Dual‐mode wide‐range linear CMOS interface circuit for resistive sensors
Authors: Kim Sung‐Woo , Eom Won‐Jin , Choi Jaehyouk , Kim Jae Joon
Published: October 2014

A dual‐mode adaptive method to provide a wide‐range linear sensing characteristic over various resistive sensors is presented. A high‐R mode acts as a resistance‐to‐digital converter without an analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC), and a low‐R mode utilises an adaptive current source to keep the required ADC resolution below 8 bits. A prototype of the dual‐mode sensor interface was fabricated in a 0.18 μm CMOS process, and its measured coverage of sensor resistance was from 750 to 1.2 MΩ. The power dissipation with a 1.8 V supply was 2.6–3.1 μW in the high‐R mode and 0.31–2.1 mW in the low‐R mode.
Data clustering algorithm for channel segmentation in a radio monitoring system
Authors: Weber Christian , Peter Martin , Felhauer Tobias , Christ Andreas , Schuessele Lothar
Published: October 2014

The detection of signals and the estimation of signal bandwidth is a perpetual topic in radio communication systems. Both issues are extremely challenging, since the wireless channel is unreliable in nature. A radio monitoring system faces the most difficult conditions in this task; it normally scans a wide frequency range of several hundred MHz and has to detect a multitude of different signals. Owing to the computational costs, the radio monitoring systems use nowadays mainly energy detectors based on fast Fourier transform spectrum analysers and a static threshold, defined by a previous noise estimation. A refined algorithm based on the self‐splitting competitive learning (SSCL) clustering is presented that quantises the power spectral density (PSD) according to the present signal power levels. The quantisation of the PSD results in a promising channel segmentation. In contrast to the traditional threshold evaluation, this approach is independent of a previously assumed noise estimation and therefore more robust against noise level and noise distribution changes. The presented definition of the essential cluster validity criterion is key for a successful channel segmentation. Furthermore, the novel postprocessing of the clustering result introduced in this study evaluates the progression of the PSD data and significantly improves the channel segmentation.
Efficient list‐sphere detection scheme for joint iterative multiple‐input multiple‐output detection
Authors: Ahmed Saleem , Kim Sooyoung
Published: October 2014

List‐sphere detection (LSD) is a sub‐optimal multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) detection scheme which searches candidate symbol vectors that lie within a sphere of a given radius. This study presents an efficient LSD based method for a joint iterative MIMO detection scheme. The proposed method utilises a channel condition in order to define the list size. During the search process, the radius is adaptively updated to reduce the computational complexity. Owing to the list size and corresponding radius are adaptively determined by the channel condition, the authors can operate the detector at the most appropriate complexity to produce the required performance. Simulation results show that the proposed methods provide substantial complexity reduction without bit error rate performance degradation.
Non‐fragile H∞ control with randomly occurring gain variations, distributed delays and channel fadings
Authors: Li Zhen'na , Wang Zidong , Ding Derui , Shu Huisheng
Published: October 2014

This study is concerned with the non‐fragile H∞ control problem for a class of discrete‐time systems subject to randomly occurring gain variations (ROGVs), channel fadings and infinite‐distributed delays. A new stochastic phenomenon (ROGVs), which is governed by a sequence of random variables with a certain probabilistic distribution, is put forward to better reflect the reality of the randomly occurring fluctuation of controller gains implemented in networked environments. A modified stochastic Rice fading model is then exploited to account for both channel fadings and random time‐delays in a unified representation. The channel coefficients are a set of mutually independent random variables which abide by any (not necessarily Gaussian) probability density function on [0, 1]. Attention is focused on the analysis and design of a non‐fragile H∞ output‐feedback controller such that the closed‐loop control system is stochastically stable with a prescribed H∞ performance. Through intensive stochastic analysis, sufficient conditions are established for the desired stochastic stability and H∞ disturbance attenuation, and the addressed non‐fragile control problem is then recast as a convex optimisation problem solvable via the semi‐definite programme method. An example is finally provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.
Real‐time constrained current control of permanent magnet synchronous machines for automotive applications
Authors: Carpiuc Sabin‐Constantin , Lazar Corneliu
Published: October 2014

A challenging problem in automotive industry is the torque control of permanent magnet synchronous machines employed in automotive electrical traction drives. These applications are characterised by fast dynamics that are subject to physical and computational constraints. The goal of this study is to provide a controller synthesis method that can deal with these challenges. To this end, a one step ahead model predictive state‐feedback control scheme based on flexible Lyapunov functions concept was designed. The existing constraints related to the system states and control inputs are approximated with polytopic constraints, which are linear constraints. Moreover, the rotor temperature behaviour, which is crucial in automotive electrical drives, is taken into account directly in the controller synthesis methodology. As a result, the derived model predictive control problem is reduced to a linear program that can be solved on‐line at each sample instant. Then, the obtained control solution is implemented in a real electronic control unit and tested in real‐time using an industrial hardware‐in‐the‐loop test‐bench. Real‐time results are reported and analysed and show significant improvement compared with the classical proportonal–integral approach.
Bayesian denoising of ultrasound images using heavy‐tailed Levy distribution
Authors: Ranjani J. Jennifer , M. S. Chithra
Published: October 2014

Ultrasound images often exhibit poor signal to noise ratio when compared with optical images, because of the presence multiplicative speckle noise. Speckle suppression is often carried out as a pre‐processing step to aid in diagnosis using ultrasound images. In this study, dual tree complex wavelet transform‐based Levy Shrink algorithm is proposed for denoising ultrasound images. The coefficients in each wavelet subband are modelled using a heavy tailed Levy distribution. The scale parameters of the Levy distribution are estimated using fractional moments. Within this framework, a Bayesian estimator is employed to denoise ultrasound images. The proposed Levy Shrink algorithm is verified using evaluation parameters such as peak signal to noise ratio, mean structural similarity index, correlation coefficient and equivalent number of looks. The efficiency of the proposed denoising algorithm is justified by conducting extensive experiments on real as well as simulated ultrasound images.
Simultaneous image fusion and denoising with adaptive sparse representation
Authors: Liu Yu , Wang Zengfu
Published: October 2014

In this study, a novel adaptive sparse representation (ASR) model is presented for simultaneous image fusion and denoising. As a powerful signal modelling technique, sparse representation (SR) has been successfully employed in many image processing applications such as denoising and fusion. In traditional SR‐based applications, a highly redundant dictionary is always needed to satisfy signal reconstruction requirement since the structures vary significantly across different image patches. However, it may result in potential visual artefacts as well as high computational cost. In the proposed ASR model, instead of learning a single redundant dictionary, a set of more compact sub‐dictionaries are learned from numerous high‐quality image patches which have been pre‐classified into several corresponding categories based on their gradient information. At the fusion and denoising processes, one of the sub‐dictionaries is adaptively selected for a given set of source image patches. Experimental results on multi‐focus and multi‐modal image sets demonstrate that the ASR‐based fusion method can outperform the conventional SR‐based method in terms of both visual quality and objective assessment.
Finite element analysis of magnetohydrodynamic effects on blood flow in an aneurysmal geometry
Authors: Raptis Anastasios , Xenos Michalis , Tzirtzilakis Efstratios , Matsagkas Miltiadis
Published: October 2014

Blood flow in an aneurysmal geometry, subjected to a static and uniform magnetic field, was studied. Blood was considered as a Newtonian, incompressible, and electrically conducting fluid. The nonlinear system of partial differential equations, describing the blood flow under the presence of a magnetic field, was discretized by the Galerkin weighted residual method. The transformation in generalized curvilinear coordinates facilitates the solution of the governing equations within arbitrary geometries. Pressure and velocity fields along with wall shear stress distributions were obtained for varying magnetic field intensities and directions. The visualization of the blood streamlines in the dilatation region highlights the effect of a magnetic field on the recirculation zones. The application of static magnetic fields can yield spatio-temporal description of blood flow patterns. The current study discusses implications of the hemodynamic properties estimated by respective screening techniques since the static magnetic field might cause alterations that possibly cannot be detected and thus eliminated.
Perspective: The Asakura Oosawa model: A colloid prototype for bulk and interfacial phase behavior
Authors: Binder Kurt , Virnau Peter , Statt Antonia
Published: October 2014

In many colloidal suspensions, the micrometer-sized particles behave like hard spheres, but when non-adsorbing polymers are added to the solution a depletion attraction (of entropic origin) is created. Since 60 years the Asakura-Oosawa model, which simply describes the polymers as ideal soft spheres, is an archetypical description for the statistical thermodynamics of such systems, accounting for many features of real colloid-polymer mixtures very well. While the fugacity of the polymers (which controls their concentration in the solution) plays a role like inverse temperature, the size ratio of polymer versus colloid radii acts as a control parameter to modify the phase diagram: when this ratio is large enough, a vapor-liquid like phase separation occurs at low enough colloid packing fractions, up to a triple point where a liquid-solid two-phase coexistence region takes over. For smaller size ratios, the critical point of the phase separation and the triple point merge, resulting in a single two-phase coexistence region between fluid and crystalline phases (of “inverted swan neck”-topology, with possibly a hidden metastable phase separation). Furthermore, liquid-crystalline ordering may be found if colloidal particles of non-spherical shape (e.g., rod like) are considered. Also interactions of the particles with solid surfaces should be tunable (e.g., walls coated by polymer brushes), and interfacial phenomena are particularly interesting experimentally, since fluctuations can be studied in the microscope on all length scales, down to the particle level. Due to its simplicity this model has become a workhorse for both analytical theory and computer simulation. Recently, generalizations addressing dynamic phenomena (phase separation, crystal nucleation, etc.) have become the focus of studies.
Electromagnetic wave propagation in a random distribution of C60 molecules
Authors: Moradi Afshin
Published: October 2014

Propagation of electromagnetic waves in a random distribution of C60 molecules are investigated, within the framework of the classical electrodynamics. Electronic excitations over the each C60 molecule surface are modeled by a spherical layer of electron gas represented by two interacting fluids, which takes into account the different nature of the π and σ electrons. It is found that the present medium supports four modes of electromagnetic waves, where they can be divided into two groups: one group with shorter wavelength than the light waves of the same frequency and the other with longer wavelength than the free-space radiation.
A small-form-factor piezoelectric vibration energy harvester using a resonant frequency-down conversion
Authors: Sun Kyung Ho , Kim Young-Cheol , Kim Jae Eun
Published: October 2014

While environmental vibrations are usually in the range of a few hundred Hertz, small-form-factor piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters will have higher resonant frequencies due to the structural size effect. To address this issue, we propose a resonant frequency-down conversion based on the theory of dynamic vibration absorber for the design of a small-form-factor piezoelectric vibration energy harvester. The proposed energy harvester consists of two frequency-tuned elastic components for lowering the first resonant frequency of an integrated system but is so configured that an energy harvesting beam component is inverted with respect to the other supporting beam component for a small form factor. Furthermore, in order to change the unwanted modal characteristic of small separation of resonant frequencies, as is the case with an inverted configuration, a proof mass on the supporting beam component is slightly shifted toward a second proof mass on the tip of the energy harvesting beam component. The proposed small-form-factor design capability was experimentally verified using a fabricated prototype with an occupation volume of 20 × 39 × 6.9 mm3, which was designed for a target frequency of as low as 100 Hz.