bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workers and Egypt's January 25 Revolution
Authors: Beinin Joel
Published: October 2011

One of the less noticed events of the “January 25 Revolution,” as Egyptians call the popular uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, is the formation of the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions (EFITU). Its existence was announced at a press conference on January 30, 2011, in Cairo's Tahrir Square—the epicenter of the popular movement. The independent unions of Real Estate Tax Authority workers, healthcare technicians, and teachers established since 2008 initiated the new federation. They were joined by the 8.5 million-member retirees' association, which has just received permission to reorganize itself as a professional syndicate, as well as representatives of textile, pharmaceutical, chemical, iron and steel, and automotive workers from industrial zones in Cairo, Helwan, Mahalla al-Kubra, Tenth of Ramadan, and Sadat City. The independent trade union federation was the first new institution to emerge from the popular uprising, and it linked the cause of workers to what was, after January 28, an explicitly revolutionary movement.
From Geneva to the Americas: The International Labor Organization and Inter-American Social Security Standards, 1936–1948
Authors: Jensen Jill
Published: October 2011

Beginning in the mid-1930s, Western Hemisphere nations turned to social insurance legislation—guided by the new concept of social security—in response to the economic crisis of the Great Depression. Supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO), national-level policy makers introduced a range of measures in recognition of the 1935 US Social Security Act. As Europe descended into a war, inter-Americanism served as way to maintain regional economic, and later military, security. This article describes an era of social welfare diplomacy in the Americas, one in which countries south of the US border projected their own distinct visions of social policy. Regional solidarity served as an integral step in the development of ideas concerning international social and economic rights. Placing President Franklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy in a wider frame, this analysis of ILO inter-American activities reveals an intriguing moment in history, when leaders from several nations saw economic development, trade, future growth, social security, and labor rights as integrally bound together.
Solidarity and Rights: Two to Tango-A Response to Joseph A. McCartin
Authors: Compa Lance
Published: October 2011

Thanks to Joseph McCartin for advancing this debate with an insightful critique of the workers'-rights-as-human-rights framework and for his generous treatment of the series of Human Rights Watch reports in which I had a hand. McCartin so fairly presents the human rights case, even while disagreeing with it, that it's hard to respond without simply borrowing from his framing of my own views. But I'll try.
Workers' Rights, Human Rights, and Solidarity Across Borders
Authors: Seidman Gay
Published: October 2011

Over the past few decades, as restless capital has moved about the world looking for cheaper production sites, labor campaigns have looked across borders for support. In a world where threats of capital mobility and outsourcing strategies are used to push wages and working conditions ever lower, local activists have called on international allies to insist that multinationals improve the treatment of workers—especially in the developing world, where local governments often seem unwilling or unable to protect their citizens at work and where workers on their own have little leverage.
Contesting Values and Searching for “Rules” in the Anglican Crisis
Authors: Anderson John
Published: October 2011

Over the last decade the 80-million strong Anglican Communion has been increasingly divided, seemingly over the issue of sexuality. This article explores this conflict by focusing on the particular problems of resolving conflict when the divisions are a product of a growing ethical pluralism within the Church and the wider society. In particular, we locate the discussion within an emerging debate about the utility of “rules” in resolving conflict in an international community where cultural particularity challenges claims made for universal values. In the Anglican case, hope has been vested in a Covenant that is discussed in the second part of this article. The hope of Church leaders was that this particular set of rules would acquire not just formal consent but normative legitimacy, although by early 2010 it was far from clear that this had resolved the crisis.
Islamist Feminism: Constructing Gender Identities in Postcolonial Muslim Societies
Authors: Halverson Jeffry R. , Way Amy K.
Published: October 2011

This article analyzes the emergence of female Islamist leaders in the Middle East and North Africa, and the glaring contradictions between their feminist views and their roles as political activists for the Islamic State. The two Islamist leaders who form the primary focus of this analysis are Zaynab al-Ghazali (d. 2005) of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood and Nadia Yassine of Morocco's Justice and Charity Society. Our analysis reveals the existence of “Islamistfeminism,” distinguished from broader secular-oriented Islamic feminism, as a logical, albeit unique, extension, and expression of Muslim anti-colonial discourse rooted in the intellectual currents of twentieth century independence movements that still resonate today.
Using a 3‐D spherical plasmoid to interpret the Sun‐to‐Earth propagation of the 4 November 1997 coronal mass ejection event
Authors: Zhou Y. F. , Feng X. S. , Wu S. T. , Du D. , Shen F. , Xiang C. Q.
Published: October 2011

We present the time‐dependent propagation of a Sun‐Earth connection event that occurred on 4 November 1997 using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) numerical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation. A global steady state solar wind for this event is obtained by a 3‐D SIP‐CESE MHD model with Parker's 1‐D solar wind solution and measured photospheric magnetic fields as the initial values. Then, superposed on the quiet background solar wind, a spherical plasmoid is used to mimic the 4 November 1997 coronal mass ejection (CME) event. The CME is assumed to arise from the evolution of a spheromak magnetic structure with high‐speed, high‐pressure, and high‐plasma‐density plasmoid near the Sun. Moreover, the axis of the initial simulated CME is put at S14W34 to conform to the observed location of this flare/CME event. The result has provided us with a relatively satisfactory comparison with the Wind spacecraft observations, such as southward interplanetary magnetic field and large‐scale smooth rotation of the magnetic field associated with the CME.
Evaluation of present and future North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) regional climate simulations over the southeast United States
Authors: Sobolowski S. , Pavelsky T.
Published: October 2011

In order to make well‐informed decisions in response to future climate change, officials and the public require reliable climate projections at the scale of tens of kilometers, rather than the hundreds of kilometers that the current atmosphere–ocean general circulation models provide. Recent efforts such as the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) aim to address this need. This study has two principal aims: (1) evaluate the seasonal performance of the NARCCAP simulations over the southeast United States for both present (1971–2000) and future (2041–2070) periods and (2) assess the impact of a performance‐based weighting scheme on bias and uncertainty. Application of the weighting scheme results in a substantial reduction in magnitude and percent area exhibiting significant bias in all seasons for both temperature and precipitation. The weighting scheme is then expanded to evaluate future change. Temperature changes are universally positive and outside the bounds of natural variability over the entire region and in all seasons. Application of the weighting scheme tightens confidence intervals by as much as 1.6°C. Future precipitation changes are modest, are of mixed sign, and vary by season and location. Though uncertainty is reduced by as much as 50%, the projected changes are generally not outside the bounds of natural background variability. Thus, under the NARCCAP simulations, stress on water resources is most likely to come from increased temperatures and not changes in mean seasonal precipitation. For energy use, the implication is that the ∼3°C temperature increase during the peak use summer season may place additional strain on power grids.
Hydrodynamic dispersion in steady buoyancy‐driven geological flows
Authors: Emami Meybodi H. , Hassanzadeh H.
Published: October 2011

An analytical model is developed to evaluate mixing induced by natural convection in a fluid‐saturated porous medium. First, the velocity and concentration fields are decoupled to generate a steady state velocity field and initiate a naturally convective system. In order to decouple the velocity and concentration fields, a steady thermal natural convection is established by imposing a destabilizing vertical temperature gradient across a porous layer and then introducing a passive tracer into the system. Based on the steady velocity field, effective longitudinal and transverse dispersion coefficients are evaluated using the shear flow dispersion theory, and convective mixing of the passive tracer is obtained using the developed analytical mixing model. The estimated dispersion coefficients and convective mixing are then characterized by the system Rayleigh and Sherwood numbers. The mixing obtained by the analytical model is then compared with high‐resolution numerical simulations. The results reveal that the simple analytical solution represents the nonlinear mixing involved in such a system and agrees with the numerical results. The developed model has potential applications in geophysical and geothermal buoyancy‐driven flows.
Rereading Vygotsky's Theses on Types of Internalization and Verbal Mediation
Authors: Damianova Maria K. , Sullivan Gavin Brent
Published: October 2011

The Vygotskyan sociocultural approach to human development and cognition marked a new direction in psychology and created new, distinctive avenues for exploring fundamental matters of the mind. The complexity, diversity, and multilayered meaning of Vygotsky's formulations have in the history of psychology triggered scholastic debate, which has focused on the clarification, implications, and extension of the core explanatory constructs of his framework—mediation and internalization. The aim of this review is to offer a contemporary logico-semantic rereading of Vygotsky's formulations of these constructs with an emphasis on speech and, in particular, its dual mediatory role as a primary mediational means and a mediating process. Vygotsky's less renowned, and rather incomplete, propositions on the types of internalization are revived and examined in relation to the ontogenetic formation of speech. In this critical analysis, some ambiguous conceptual links between the notion of internalization types and the transformation of social speech into private speech and inner speech are explicated, debated, and refined. By addressing these conceptual links, the present examination extends the sociocultural account of semiotic mediation. The interpretations proposed highlight the logical cohesion and enhance the comprehensibility of Vygotsky's theoretical stance on human development.
BRCA1-mediated repression of mutagenic end-joining of DNA double-strand breaks requires complex formation with BACH1
Authors: Dohrn Lisa , Salles Daniela , Siehler Simone Y. , Kaufmann Julia , Wiesmüller Lisa
Published: October 2011

BACH1 (BRCA1-associated C-terminal helicase 1), the product of the BRIP1 {BRCA1 [breast cancer 1, early onset]-interacting protein C-terminal helicase 1; also known as FANCJ [FA-J (Fanconi anaemia group J) protein]} gene mutated in Fanconi anaemia patients from complementation group J, has been implicated in DNA repair and damage signalling. BACH1 exerts DNA helicase activities and physically interacts with BRCA1 and MLH1 (mutL homologue 1), which differentially control DNA DSB (double-strand break) repair processes. The present study shows that BACH1 plays a role in both HR (homologous recombination) and MMEJ (microhomology-mediated non-homologous end-joining) and reveals discrete mechanisms underlying modulation of these pathways. Our results indicate that BACH1 stimulates HR, which depends on the integrity of the helicase domain. Disruption of the BRCA1–BACH1 complex through mutation of BACH1 compromised errorfree NHEJ (non-homologous end-joining) and accelerated error-prone MMEJ. Conversely, molecular changes in BACH1 abrogating MLH1 binding interfered neither with HR nor with MMEJ. Importantly, MMEJ is a mutagenic DSB repair pathway, which is derepressed in hereditary breast and ovarian carcinomas. Since BRCA1 and BACH1 mutations targeting the BRCA1–BACH1 interaction have been associated with breast cancer susceptibility, the results of the present study thus provide evidence for a novel role of BACH1 in tumour suppression.
A mitochondrial-targeted cyclosporin A with high binding affinity for cyclophilin D yields improved cytoprotection of cardiomyocytes
Authors: Dube Henry , Selwood David , Malouitre Sylvanie , Capano Michela , Simone Michela I. , Crompton Martin
Published: October 2011

Mitochondrial CyP-D (cyclophilin-D) catalyses formation of the PT (permeability transition) pore, a key lesion in the pathogenesis of I/R (ischaemia/reperfusion) injury. There is evidence [Malouitre, Dube, Selwood and Crompton (2010) Biochem. J. 425, 137–148] that cytoprotection by the CyP inhibitor CsA (cyclosporin A) is improved by selective targeting to mitochondria. To investigate this further, we have developed an improved mtCsA (mitochondrial-targeted CsA) by modifying the spacer linking the CsA to the TPP+ (triphenylphosphonium) (mitochondrial-targeting) cation. The new mtCsA exhibits an 18-fold increase in binding affinity for CyP-D over the prototype and a 12-fold increase in potency of inhibition of the PT in isolated mitochondria, owing to a marked decrease in non-specific binding. The cytoprotective capacity was assessed in isolated rat cardiomyocytes subjected to transient glucose and oxygen deprivation (pseudo-I/R). The new mtCsA was maximally effective at lower concentrations than CsA (3–15 nM compared with 50–100 nM) and yielded improved cytoprotection for up to 3 h following the pseudo-ischaemic insult (near complete compared with 40%). These data indicate the potential value of selective CyP-D inhibition in cytoprotection.
SPAK/OSR1 regulate NKCC1 and WNK activity: analysis of WNK isoform interactions and activation by T-loop trans-autophosphorylation
Authors: Thastrup Jacob O. , Rafiqi Fatema H. , Vitari Alberto C. , Pozo-Guisado Eulalia , Deak Maria , Mehellou Youcef , Alessi Dario R.
Published: October 2011

Mutations in the WNK [with no lysine (K) kinase] family instigate hypertension and pain perception disorders. Of the four WNK isoforms, much of the focus has been on WNK1, which is activated in response to osmotic stress by phosphorylation of its T-loop residue (Ser382). WNK isoforms phosphorylate and activate the related SPAK (SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and OSR1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1) protein kinases. In the present study, we first describe the generation of double-knockin ES (embryonic stem) cells, where SPAK and OSR1 cannot be activated by WNK1. We establish that NKCC1 (Na+/K+/2Cl− co-transporter 1), a proposed target of the WNK pathway, is not phosphorylated or activated in a knockin that is deficient in SPAK/OSR1 activity. We also observe that activity of WNK1 and WNK3 are markedly elevated in the knockin cells, demonstrating that SPAK/OSR1 significantly influences WNK activity. Phosphorylation of another regulatory serine residue, Ser1261, in WNK1 is unaffected in knockin cells, indicating that this is not phosphorylated by SPAK/OSR1. We show that WNK isoforms interact via a C-terminal CCD (coiled-coil domain) and identify point mutations of conserved residues within this domain that ablate the ability of WNK isoforms to interact. Employing these mutants, we demonstrate that interaction of WNK isoforms is not essential for their T-loop phosphorylation and activation, at least for overexpressed WNK isoforms. Moreover, we finally establish that full-length WNK1, WNK2 and WNK3, but not WNK4, are capable of directly phosphorylating Ser382 of WNK1 in vitro. This supports the notion that T-loop phosphorylation of WNK isoforms is controlled by trans-autophosphorylation. These results provide novel insights into the WNK signal transduction pathway and provide genetic evidence confirming the essential role that SPAK/OSR1 play in controlling NKCC1 function. They also reveal a role in which the downstream SPAK/OSR1 enzymes markedly influence the activity of the upstream WNK activators. The knockin ES cells lacking SPAK/OSR1 activity will be useful in validating new targets of the WNK signalling pathway.
FOXA1: a transcription factor with parallel functions in development and cancer
Authors: Bernardo Gina M. , Keri Ruth A.
Published: October 2011

When aberrant, factors critical for organ morphogenesis are also commonly involved in disease progression. FOXA1 (forkhead box A1), also known as HNF3α (hepatocyte nuclear factor 3α), is required for postnatal survival due to its essential role in controlling pancreatic and renal function. In addition to regulating a variety of tissues during embryogenesis and early life, rescue experiments have revealed a specific role for FOXA1 in the postnatal development of the mammary gland and prostate. Activity of the nuclear hormone receptors ERα (oestrogen receptor α) and AR (androgen receptor) is also required for proper development of the mammary gland and prostate respectively. FOXA1 modulates ER and AR function in breast and prostate cancer cells, supporting the postulate that FOXA1 is involved in ER and AR signalling under normal conditions, and that some carcinogenic processes in these tissues stem from hormonally regulated developmental pathways gone awry. In addition to broadly reviewing the function of FOXA1 in various aspects of development and cancer, this review focuses on the interplay of FOXA1/ER and FOXA1/AR, in normal and cancerous mammary and prostate epithelial cells. Given the hormone dependency of both breast and prostate cancer, a thorough understanding of FOXA1's role in both cancer types is critical for battling hormone receptor-positive disease and acquired anti-hormone resistance.
Alternative splicing of the neurofibromatosis type I pre-mRNA
Authors: Barron Victoria A. , Lou Hua
Published: October 2011

NF1 (neurofibromatosis type I) is a common genetic disease that affects one in 3500 individuals. The disease is completely penetrant but shows variable phenotypic expression in patients. NF1 is a large gene, and its pre-mRNA undergoes alternative splicing. The NF1 protein, neurofibromin, is involved in diverse signalling cascades. One of the best characterized functions of NF1 is its function as a Ras-GAP (GTPase-activating protein). NF1 exon 23a is an alternative exon that lies within the GAP-related domain of neurofibromin. This exon is predominantly included in most tissues, and it is skipped in CNS (central nervous system) neurons. The isoform in which exon 23a is skipped has 10 times higher Ras-GAP activity than the isoform in which exon 23a is included. Exon 23a inclusion is tightly regulated by at least three different families of RNA-binding proteins: CELF {CUG-BP (cytosine-uridine-guanine-binding protein) and ETR-3 [ELAV (embryonic lethal abnormal vision)-type RNA-binding protein]-like factor}, Hu and TIA-1 (T-cell intracellular antigen 1)/TIAR (T-cell intracellular antigen 1-related protein). The CELF and Hu proteins promote exon 23a skipping, while the TIA-1/TIAR proteins promote its inclusion. The widespread clinical variability that is observed among NF1 patients cannot be explained by NF1 mutations alone and it is believed that modifier genes may have a role in the variability. We suggest that the regulation of alternative splicing may act as a modifier to contribute to the variable expression in NF1 patients.
Cochlear Implant Connections: A Biopsychosocial Audiologic Rehabilitation Program for Late-Deafened Adults With Cochlear Implants
Authors: Tucker Denise , Compton Mary V. , Mankoff Lyn , Rulison Kelly
Published: October 2011

In this article, the authors describe a biopsychosocial approach to group audiologic/aural rehabilitation (AR) for late deafened adults with cochlear implants. A detailed account of Cochlear Implant Connections is provided, including the individual components of this innovative program. A qualitative review of written narratives and videotaped AR sessions illustrates the ongoing needs, expectations, challenges, and experiences of this underserved patient population. These challenges underscore the need for ongoing AR, including instruction, counseling, and support, to promote late deafened adults’ psychosocial adjustment and to maximize their peripheral and central auditory adaptation to cochlear implant use.
Nanomechanics of magnetically driven cellular endocytosis
Authors: Zablotskii V. , Lunov O. , Dejneka A. , Jastrabík L. , Polyakova T. , Syrovets T. , Simmet Th.
Published: October 2011

Being essential for many pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic processes and playing a crucial role in regulating substrate detachment that enables cellular locomotion, endocytotic mechanisms in many aspects still remain a mystery and therefore can hardly be controlled. Here, we report on experimental and modeling studies of the magnetically assisted endocytosis of functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by prostate cancer cells (PC-3) and characterize the time and force scales of the cellular uptake machinery. The results indicate how the cellular uptake rate could be controlled by applied magnetic field, membrane elasticity, and nanoparticle magnetic moment.
Picture-to-picture switching in full-color thermochromic paper displays
Authors: Hennerdal Lars-Olov , Berggren Magnus
Published: October 2011

Presently, we contemplate the merger of paper and electronics in different forms. There is a great desire to further explore this twinning of the information displaying features of printed papers and electronic inks. Here, we report a full-color paperboard display technology comprised of thermochromic and static inks combined with a patterned heater foil. Black and full-color thermochromic ink dots were screen-printed adjacent to, and on top of, static ink dots using a zero-angle mesh and template pattern orientation. As the heater is turned on and off, the display alter its content in between two predefined four-color pictures.
Strain relaxation induced spin reorientation in Fe films on W(110)
Authors: Seo Jungpil , Oh Y. , Kim T.-H. , Kuk Young
Published: October 2011

We studied Fe double layer films on W(110) to investigate the role of strain relaxation in determination of the magnetic ground states. The spin reorientation transition (SRT) between perpendicular and in-plane magnetization takes place with varying density of dislocation lines as imaged with spin polarized scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. Unexpected domain wall orientation along W[001] and aperiodic magnetic domain patterns suggest that strain relaxation-induced domain has an easy axis along W[001] rather than W[11¯0] in conjunction with the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Furthermore, we confirmed that the SRT can be suppressed by reducing the density of the dislocation lines with lower temperature annealing.
Light emission enhancement in blue InGaAlN/InGaN quantum well structures
Authors: Park Seoung-Hwan , Moon Yong-Tae , Han Dae-Seob , Seo Park Joong , Oh Myeong-Seok , Ahn Doyeol
Published: October 2011

Optical properties of blue AlInGaN/InGaN quantum well (QW) structures with a quaternary AlInGaN well layer were investigated by using the non-Markovian gain model with many-body effects. The band-gap expression of the AlInGaN materials was determined through a comparison with experimental results. We found that the emission peak can be enhanced by using quaternary AlInGaN well and is sensitive on In composition in the InGaN barrier. For example, the spontaneous emission coefficient for Al0.08In0.22Ga0.67 N/InxGa1−xN QW structures shows a maximum at In composition of 0.13 in the barrier and gradually decreases with increasing In composition. This is attributed to the fact that the quasi-Fermi-level separation linearly decreases with increasing In composition in the barrier due to the decrease in the conduction and valence band offsets. The AlInGaN/InGaN system with zero internal field is found to have smaller emission peak than the AlInGaN/InGaN system with nonzero internal field due to smaller band offsets.
High-performance, long-wave (∼10.2 μm) InGaAs/GaAs quantum dot infrared photodetector with quaternary In0.21Al0.21Ga0.58As capping
Authors: Chakrabarti Subhananda , Adhikary Sourav , Halder Nilanjan , Aytac Yigit , Perera A. G. U.
Published: October 2011

A high-performance InGaAs/GaAs vertical quantum dot infrared photodetector (QDIP) with combined barrier of quaternary In0.21Al0.21Ga0.58As and GaAs was investigated in this study. A dominant long wavelength (∼10.2 μm) response was observed from the device. The device demonstrates large responsivity (2.16 A/W) with narrow spectral-width (Δλ/λ ∼0.14) and high detectivity (1.01 × 1011 cm Hz1/2/W at 0.3 V) at 10.2 μm at 77 K. In addition, the device has also produced a detectivity in the order of 6.4 × 1010 cm Hz1/2/W at 100 K at a bias of 0.2 V, indicating its suitability for high-temperature operations.
Size effect on the conduction band orbital character of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals
Authors: Vayssieres L. , Persson C. , Guo J.-H.
Published: October 2011

O 1s x-ray absorption spectroscopy and first principle calculation have been used to probe the size effect on the orbital character and hybridization of the conduction band of anatase TiO2 nanocrystals over two orders of magnitude in diameter (2-200 nm). The appearance and predominance of unoccupied delocalized states derived from the hybridization of antibonding O 2p and Ti 4s rather than 3d is observed when the nanoparticle size approaches the exciton radius. These results provide an experimental evidence of quantum size effect on unoccupied states in anatase TiO2 nanocrystals.
Efficient continuous wave deep ultraviolet Pr3+:LiYF4 laser at 261.3 nm
Authors: Gün Teoman , Metz Philip , Huber Günter
Published: October 2011

We report continuous wave deep ultraviolet laser operation at 261.3 nm by intracavity frequency doubling of laser diode pumped Pr3+ doped LiYF4 lasers. Using two InGaN laser diodes with a maximum output power of about 1 W each, a 2.9 mm long Pr3+:LiYF4 crystal and a 5 mm long beta-barium-borate crystal, coherent radiation with an output power of 481 mW at 261.3 nm was achieved at an optical-to-optical efficiency of 26.1% with respect to the total pump power. Both, linear and nonlinear losses have been calculated to be approximately 0.6% by using a model for intracavity frequency doubling with focussed Gaussian beams.
Feasible organic thin-film deposition architecture for large-area organic electronics by roller vacuum thermal evaporation
Authors: Li Dexing , Wang Liangmin , Jin Qiao , Hu Yuanyuan , Jiang Chao
Published: October 2011

Pentacene thin film deposition with high uniformity of 2.7% on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate is achievable over area of 300 mm× 500 mm using a simple roller vacuum thermal evaporation system with point sources. Thickness numerical simulations, agree well with measurements, indicate that the multi-dimensional movement of the cylindrical sample holder guarantees film uniformity over a larger area. High device performance with excellent uniformity and reproducibility is demonstrated by pentacene-based thin film transistor arrays on large PET substrates with average saturation mobilities of 0.42 cm2/V s. The system provides a feasible thin film deposition architecture for large-scale organic electronics.
Evidence of cation vacancy induced room temperature ferromagnetism in Li-N codoped ZnO thin films
Authors: Zhang B. Y. , Yao B. , Li Y. F. , Liu A. M. , Zhang Z. Z. , Li B. H. , Xing G. Z. , Wu T. , Qin X. B. , Zhao D. X. , Shan C. X. , Shen D. Z.
Published: October 2011

Room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) was observed in Li-N codoped ZnO thin films [ZnO:(Li, N)] fabricated by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, and p-type ZnO:(Li, N) shows the strongest RTFM. Positron annihilation spectroscopy and low temperature photoluminescence measurements indicate that the RTFM in ZnO:(Li, N) is attributed to the defect complex related to VZn, such as VZn and Lii-NO-VZn complex, well supported by first-principles calculations. The incorporation of NO can stabilize and enhance the RTFM of ZnO:(Li, N) by combining with Lii to form Lii-NO complex, which restrains the compensation of Lii for VZn and makes the ZnO:(Li, N) conduct in p-type.
A 60 nm channel length ferroelectric-gate field-effect transistor capable of fast switching and multilevel programming
Authors: Kaneko Yukihiro , Nishitani Yu , Ueda Michihito , Tokumitsu Eisuke , Fujii Eiji
Published: October 2011

We demonstrate a 60 nm channel length ferroelectric-gate field-effect transistor (FeFET) with thin-film transistor structure and good electrical properties. The FeFET contains three oxide thin-films: SrRuO3 (bottom gate electrode), Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (ferroelectric), ZnO (semiconductor). The FeFET drain current-bottom gate voltage (IDS−VGS) characteristics show a high ON/OFF ratio of 105. The drain current ON/OFF ratio was about three orders of magnitude for write pulse widths as narrow as 10 ns. Although the channel length is set at 60 nm, the conductance can be changed continuously by varying the write pulse width. Good retention properties for three-level data were demonstrated.
Semiconducting graphene nanoribbon retains band gap on amorphous or crystalline SiO2
Authors: Zubaer Hossain M.
Published: October 2011

Electronic properties of a semiconducting armchair graphene nanoribbon on SiO2 are examined using first-principles calculations and taking into account the van der Waals interaction. Unlike semiconducting carbon nanotubes, which exhibit variations in band gap on SiO2, the nanoribbon is found to retain its band gap on SiO2, regardless of the separation distance or the dielectric’s surface type—crystalline or amorphous. The interfacial interaction leads to electron-transfer from the nanoribbon to the dielectric. Moreover, for crystalline SiO2, the quantity of electron-transfer and the binding energy depend strongly on the type of surface termination and weakly on the binding sites.
Electrical tuning of metastable dielectric constant of ferroelectric single crystals for low-power electronics
Authors: Wu Tao , Bao Mingqiang , Bur Alexandre , Kim Hyungsuk K.D. , Mohanchandra Kotekar P. , Lynch Christopher S. , Carman Gregory P.
Published: October 2011

Electrical control of the dielectric constant in (011) [Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3](1−x)-[PbTiO3]x (PMN-PT, x ≈ 0.32) single crystal ferroelectric material is reported. It is demonstrated that the metastable dielectric constant value of (011) PMN-PT can be manipulated from approximately 3000 to 1000 by applying electric pulses of different amplitudes. These metastable properties are due to non-180° polarization reorientation within the ferroelectric crystals. Taking advantage of the tunable and metastable dielectric constant, a reconfigurable RC oscillator as well as a ferroelectric memory device is demonstrated. The reconfigurability of this ferroelectric capacitor and potential applications for low-power electronics are described.
Phase-shifting surfaces bend the rules of ray optics
Authors: Smart Ashley G.
Published: October 2011

Researchers have outlined a recipe for fashioning subwavelength optical components from plasmonic antennas.
Opaque atoms turn transparent in the vacuum field of an optical cavity
Authors: Wilson R. Mark
Published: October 2011

A subtle quantum interference effect may offer a path to engineering all-optical logic gates and switches.
Universities seek culture change for improved STEM teaching
Authors: Kramer David
Published: October 2011

The Association of American Universities is pushing to institute new methodologies, but success will require big changes by academic departments.
Watery Enceladus
Authors: Spencer John
Published: October 2011

In 1980, telescopes revealed that one of Saturn’s rings is centered at the orbit of Enceladus, a medium-sized Saturnian moon. It was the first hint that Enceladus is a world like no other.
Visual discourses of the role of women in war commemoration
Authors: Abousnnouga Gill , Machin David
Published: October 2011

Discourses of war are disseminated and legitimised not only through speeches and written texts, but through visual semiotic resources. One important vehicle for this has been the war monument. Evidence shows that from WW1 in Europe and the US monuments have been used systematically by authorities to recontextualise the realities of war and soldiery, suppressing much of what comprises war, avoiding any critical stance, while fostering celebratory discourses of nation, protection and noble sacrifice. The representation of women on the war monument has been particularly important in this recontexualisation. Using Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis to examine the discourses realised by British war monuments, this paper shows that while much of the way women participate in and experience war has been suppressed on war monuments. Their representation has been a key part of the legitimation of one particular discourse of war, a representation that has helped to sideline other possible discourse in British society and which is still used in the commemoration of the death of ‘our boys’ — such as the young men killed in Afghanistan.
Language, rights and the language of language rights
Authors: Peled Yael
Published: October 2011

It is only in recent years, after a surprising long period of neglect, that political theorists began to engage with the evident normative dimension of policymaking on language. Within the body of literature that has emerged in this process, the conceptual framework of language rights maintains a central position. The article examines this emerging debate on language rights, and identifies both advantages and drawbacks of committing the debate on normative language policy primarily to the language of rights. While recognising the valuable contribution of the refined analytical tools of political theory to the debate on normative language policy, it raises concerns about its relatively limited engagement with linguistics and sociolinguistics as distinct fields of inquiry, and therefore the adequacy and relevance of the work it produces. The article argues for the need to develop a new conceptual framework for normative language policy, and concludes with an outline for a more informed theory-building process.
Accusative object marking
Authors: Alfaraz Gabriela G.
Published: October 2011

Although accusative object marking has been widely studied in Spanish, there do not appear to be sociolinguistic studies addressing its variation and possible change, despite evidence of loss of the marker from Dominican Spanish. This paper describes the findings of a study on the marking of human accusative objects in Cuban Spanish that compared two time periods and two generational cohorts with spoken data from the 1960s and 1990s. A significantly lower rate of object marking was found for the later time period, as well as similar rates for one generational cohort studied at both times. The findings of a logistic regression analysis suggested that loss of the object marker is a change in progress constrained by definiteness of the object. It is shown that the pattern found here for Cuban Spanish is more similar to Old Spanish than to Modern Spanish.
Variation in the use of deber and deber de in written and oral materials from Latin America and Spain
Authors: Eddington David , Silva-Corvalán Carmen
Published: October 2011

deber
deber de
Deber
Juan debe presentarse al trabajo mañana
deber de
Juan debe de tener unos 30 años
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Developing a community of research practice
Authors: Murray Rowena
Published: October 2011

Writing journal articles is essential for academics and professionals to develop their ideas, make an impact in their fields and progress in their careers. Research assessment makes successful performance in this form of writing even more important. This article describes a course on writing journal articles and draws on interviews with participants one year after the course in which they identified persistent challenges. These writers’ accounts make visible some of the processes of writing for publication that are often tacit and identify key writing strategies. However, they also identify barriers to writing in academic workplaces and those professional workplaces where academic writing is produced. This article concludes by suggesting that while research assessment values written outputs over almost everything else, it is equally important to legitimise writing processes—and to be able to articulate the development of these processes—in communities of research practice.
The C terminus of talin links integrins to cell cycle progression
Authors: Wang Pengbo , Ballestrem Christoph , Streuli Charles H.
Published: October 2011

Integrins are cell adhesion receptors that sense the extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. One of their functions is to regulate cell fate decisions, although the question of how integrins initiate intracellular signaling is not fully resolved. In this paper, we examine the role of talin, an adapter protein at cell–matrix attachment sites, in outside-in signaling. We used lentiviral small hairpin ribonucleic acid to deplete talin in mammary epithelial cells. These cells still attached to the ECM in an integrin-dependent manner and spread. They had a normal actin cytoskeleton, but vinculin, paxillin, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and integrin-linked kinase were not recruited to adhesion sites. Talin-deficient cells showed proliferation defects, and reexpressing a tail portion of the talin rod, but not its head domain, restored integrin-mediated FAK phosphorylation, suppressed p21 expression, and rescued cell cycle. Thus, talin recruits and activates focal adhesion proteins required for proliferation via the C terminus of its rod domain. Our study reveals a new function for talin, which is to link integrin adhesions with cell cycle progression.
Clathrin phosphorylation is required for actin recruitment at sites of bacterial adhesion and internalization
Authors: Bonazzi Matteo , Vasudevan Lavanya , Mallet Adeline , Sachse Martin , Sartori Anna , Prevost Marie-Christine , Roberts Allison , Taner Sabrina B. , Wilbur Jeremy D. , Brodsky Frances M. , Cossart Pascale
Published: October 2011

Bacterial pathogens recruit clathrin upon interaction with host surface receptors during infection. Here, using three different infection models, we observed that host–pathogen interactions induce tyrosine phosphorylation of clathrin heavy chain. This modification was critical for recruitment of actin at bacteria–host adhesion sites during bacterial internalization or pedestal formation. At the bacterial interface, clathrin assembled to form coated pits of conventional size. Because such structures cannot internalize large particles such as bacteria, we propose that during infection, clathrin-coated pits serve as platforms to initiate actin rearrangements at bacteria–host adhesion sites. We then showed that the clathrin–actin interdependency is initiated by Dab2 and depends on the presence of clathrin light chain and its actin-binding partner Hip1R, and that the fully assembled machinery can recruit Myosin VI. Together, our study highlights a physiological role for clathrin heavy chain phosphorylation and reinforces the increasingly recognized function of clathrin in actin cytoskeletal organization in mammalian cells.
Structural basis for the channel function of a degraded ABC transporter, CFTR (ABCC7)
Authors: Bai Yonghong , Li Min , Hwang Tzyh-Chang
Published: October 2011

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily, but little is known about how this ion channel that harbors an uninterrupted ion permeation pathway evolves from a transporter that works by alternately exposing its substrate conduit to the two sides of the membrane. Here, we assessed reactivity of intracellularly applied thiol-specific probes with cysteine residues substituted into the 12th transmembrane segment (TM12) of CFTR. Our experimental data showing high reaction rates of substituted cysteines toward the probes, strong blocker protection of cysteines against reaction, and reaction-induced alterations in channel conductance support the idea that TM12 of CFTR contributes to the lining of the ion permeation pathway. Together with previous work, these findings raise the possibility that pore-lining elements of CFTR involve structural components resembling those that form the substrate translocation pathway of ABC transporters. In addition, comparison of reaction rates in the open and closed states of the CFTR channel leads us to propose that upon channel opening, the wide cytoplasmic vestibule tightens and the pore-lining TM12 rotates along its helical axis. This simple model for gating conformational changes in the inner pore domain of CFTR argues that the gating transition of CFTR and the transport cycle of ABC proteins share analogous conformational changes. Collectively, our data corroborate the popular hypothesis that degradation of the cytoplasmic-side gate turned an ABC transporter into the CFTR channel.
Corrosion protection with eco-friendly inhibitors
Authors: Shahid Muhammad
Published: October 2011

Corrosion occurs as a result of the interaction of a metal with its environment. The extent of corrosion depends on the type of metal, the existing conditions in the environment and the type of aggressive ions present in the medium. For example,CO3−2andNO−3produce an insoluble deposit on the surface of iron, resulting in the isolation of metal and consequent decrease of corrosion. On the other hand, halide ions are adsorbed selectively on the metal surface and prevent formation of the oxide phase on the metal surface, resulting in continuous corrosion. Iron, aluminum and their alloys are widely used, both domestically and industrially. Linear alkylbenzene and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate are commonly used as detergents. They have also been found together in waste water. It is claimed that these chemicals act as inhibitors for stainless steel and aluminum. Release of toxic gases as a result of corrosion in pipelines may lead in certain cases to air pollution and possible health hazards. Therefore, there are two ways to look at the relationship between corrosion and pollution: (i) corrosion of metals and alloys due to environmental pollution and (ii) environmental pollution as a result of corrosion protection. This paper encompasses the two scenarios and possible remedies for various cases, using ‘green’ inhibitors obtained either from plant extracts or from pharmaceutical compounds. In the present study, the effect of piperacillin sodium as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel was investigated using a weight-loss method as well as a three-electrode dc electrochemical technique. It was found that the corrosion rate decreased as the concentration of the inhibitor increased up to 9×10−4 M; 93% efficiency was exhibited at this concentration.
The synthesis of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ nanopowder by a combustion method and its luminescent properties
Authors: Nguyen Manh Son , Ho Van Tuyen , Pham Nguyen Thuy Trang
Published: October 2011

Europium ion doped BaMgAl
10
O
17 blue phosphor nanopowder has been fabricated by urea–nitrate solution combustion synthesis at 590 °C for 5 min. These phosphors were codoped with different europium ion concentrations (1–8 mol%). The experimental results of x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence showed that the phosphors have a hexagonal single phase structure, the average particle size of the powders was about 50 nm and the emission spectra have a broad band with maximum intensity at wavelength λ
max
=455 nm due to transitions from the 4f
65d
1 to the 4f
7 electronic configuration of Eu
2+ ion. The maximum emission of phosphor corresponds to the europium concentration 7 mol%.
The time resolution of the St Petersburg paradox
Authors: Peters Ole
Published: October 2011

A resolution of the St Petersburg paradox is presented. In contrast to the standard resolution, utility is not required. Instead, the time-average performance of the lottery is computed. The final result can be phrased mathematically identically to Daniel Bernoulli's resolution, which uses logarithmic utility, but is derived using a conceptually different argument. The advantage of the time resolution is the elimination of arbitrary utility functions.
Understanding the receivers and the reception of science's uncertain messages
Authors: Campbell Philip
Published: October 2011

Although much work has been done by scientists in developing communications to non-scientist audiences, much less attention has been given by them to the ways in which those messages are interpreted. Here, I look at the published work that examines the issue. I focus on three contexts in particular: debates over the triple vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella, the impacts of the Soufrière Hills volcano on the inhabitants of the island of Montserrat and the public communication of the results of climate change research. Several common themes emerge. The most important conclusions are that scientists communicating with the public need to develop their methods deliberatively, involving their target audiences; and that they need to avoid undue dependence on traditional media and public authorities for such communication, and to develop multiple channels to those audiences, including Internet-based and more traditional social networks. Their approach to communicating uncertainty should depend on the context but, except in some extreme emergencies, transparency is generally a virtue. Above all, they need to persist in such public engagements even when the going is rough and extends over long periods. They need support in doing so.
Curious and sublime: the connection between uncertainty and probability in physics
Authors: Brown Harvey R.
Published: October 2011

From its first significant appearance in physics, the notion of probability has been linked in the minds of physicists with the notion of uncertainty. But the link may prove to be tenuous, if quantum mechanics, construed in terms of the Everett interpretation, is anything to go by.