bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface plasmon resonance in ZnO nanorod arrays caused by gold nanoparticles for solar cell application
Authors: Gromyko Inga , Acik Ilona Oja , Krunks Malle , Dedova Tatjana , Katerski Atanas , Mere Arvo , Mikli Valdek , Vessart Risto
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we study the growth of gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs) onto ZnO nanorod arrays (ZnO‐NRAs) and the surface plasmon resonance effect caused by them. ZnO‐NRAs were deposited by the chemical spray pyrolysis method. Au‐NPs were obtained by spin‐coating of HAuCl4 in ethanol solution over the nanorod samples. According to XRD, the average size of Au‐NPs on ZnO‐NRAs increases from 27 nm to 72 nm by increasing the HAuCl4 concentration in solution from 0.01 to 0.1 mol/L. There are no visible changes in ZnO‐NRAs morphology using the solutions with 0.0004‐0.03 mol/L, partial dissolution of nanorods occurs when using HAuCl4 solution with the concentration of 0.05 mol/L or higher. ZnO‐NRAs covered with Au‐NPs show the red shift of the surface plasmon resonance band from 545 to 555 nm with increasing the HAuCl4 solution concentration from 0.002 to 0.05 mol/L. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Pyrolytically grown indium sulfide sensitized zinc oxide nanowires for solar water splitting
Authors: Komurcu Pelin , Can Emre Kaan , Aydin Erkan , Semiz Levent , Gurol Alp Eren , Alkan Fatma Merve , Sankir Mehmet , Sankir Nurdan Demirci
Published: September 2015

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires, sensitized with spray pyrolyzed indium sulfide, were obtained by chemical bath deposition. The XRD analysis indicated dominant evolution of hexagonal ZnO phase. Significant gain in photoelectrochemical current using ZnO nanowires is largely accountable to enhancement of the visible light absorption and the formation of heterostructure. The maximum photoconversion efficiency of 2.77% was calculated for the indium sulfide sensitized ZnO nanowire photoelectrodes. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
VIS/NIR wavelength selector based on a multilayer pi'n/pin a‐SiC:H optical filter
Authors: Vieira M. , Vieira M. A. , Silva V. , Louro P. , Rodrigues I. , Fantoni A.
Published: September 2015

In this paper, we present a tandem visible/nearinfrared (VIS/NIR) wavelength selector based on a multilayer a‐SiC:H optical filter that requires appropriate near‐ultraviolet steady states optical switches to select the desired wavelengths in the VIS/NIR ranges. Spectral response measurements are presented and show the feasibility of tailoring the wavelength and bandwidth of a polychromatic mixture of different wavelengths. The selector filter is realized by using a two terminal double pi'n/pin a‐SiC:H photodetector. Five visible/infrared communication channels are transmitted together, each one with a specific bit sequence. The combined optical signal is analysed by reading out the photocurrent, under near‐UV steady state background. Results show that the background side and intensity works as a selector in the infrared/visible regions, shifting the sensor sensitivity. This nonlinearity allows the identification and decoding of the different input channels in the visible/infrared ranges. This concept is extended to implement a 1 by 5 wavelength division multiplexer with channel separation in the VIS/NIR range and a transmission capability of 30 Kbps. The relationship between the optical inputs and the output signal is established and an algorithm to decode the Multiplexed (MUX) signal presented. An optoeletronic model gives insight on the system physics. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Development of Professionalism and Performance Accountability for Sustained FIM Accuracy Improvement
Authors: Eisenstadt Debra , Summar Ann , Beckel Jean
Published: September 2015

Purpose:

Rehabilitation nurses have essential responsibility for detailed Functional Independence Measure (FIM) documentation and accurate scoring. The goal of this performance improvement project was to improve individual FIM accuracy and establish and maintain a FIM accuracy standard.

Design:

Case Study.

Methods:

This performance improvement project was implemented in a 20-bed CARF-accredited Midwestern acute care hospital inpatient rehabilitation unit.

Findings:

Improved individual and overall RN FIM scoring accuracy, with increased length of stay and case mix index.

Conclusions:

Concurrent FIM scoring and documentation review holds staff accountable and allows for timely revisions following discrepancy identification. Leadership supports for concurrent FIM audits, utilization of available technology, transparent reporting of results, and individual accountability lead to sustained improvement in FIM scoring accuracy.

Clinical Relevance:

Accurate FIM documentation and scoring drive appropriate length of stay and case mix group assignment. Assessment competence enhances nursing engagement, confidence, and process accountability.
Smart malware detection on Android
Authors: Gheorghe Laura , Marin Bogdan , Gibson Gary , Mogosanu Lucian , Deaconescu Razvan , Voiculescu Valentin‐Gabriel , Carabas Mihai
Published: September 2015

Nowadays, because of its increased popularity, Android is target to a growing number of attacks and malicious applications, with the purpose of stealing private information and consuming credit by subscribing to premium services. Most of the current commercial antivirus solutions use static signatures for malware detection, which may fail to detect different variants of the same malware and zero‐day attacks. In this paper, we present a behavior‐based, dynamic analysis security solution, called Android Malware Detection System, for detecting both well‐known and zero‐day malware. The proposed solution uses a machine learning classifier in order to differentiate between the behaviors of legitimate and malicious applications. In addition, it uses the application statistics for determining its reputation. The final decision is based on a combination of the classifier's result and the application reputation. The solution includes a unique and extensive set of data collectors, which gather application‐specific data that describe the behavior of the monitored application. We evaluated our solution on a set of legitimate and malicious applications and obtained a high accuracy of 0.985. Our system is able to detect zero‐day malware samples that are not detected by current commercial solutions. Our solution outperforms other similar solutions running on mobile devices. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Kurzzeitfestigkeit von Schweißverbindungen aus höchst‐ und ultrahochfesten Stählen
Authors: Hrabowski Jennifer , Herion Stefan , Ummenhofer Thomas
Published: September 2015

Krankonstruktionen sind im Allgemeinen hohen Beanspruchungen mit vergleichsweise geringen Lastspielzahlen ausgesetzt. Im Bereich der Kurzzeitfestigkeit, bekannter unter dem englischen Begriff Low‐Cycle Fatigue (LCF), bieten höchst‐ und ultrahochfeste Stähle erhebliche Vorteile. Im Folgenden wird über Ergebnisse von Ermüdungsversuchen an höchst‐ und ultrahochfesten stumpfgeschweißten Blechen und höchstfesten Rundhohlprofilen mit aufgeschweißten Längssteifen berichtet. Hierbei wurden Versuchsserien mit WIG‐Decklagen, geschliffenen Nahtwurzeln und hochfrequenten Hämmerverfahren (HFH) untersucht. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse werden zusammengefasst und mit Bezug auf die Kerbklassen des Eurocode 3 bzw. auf die FAT‐Klassen der aktuellen IIW‐Richtlinie ausgewertet.

Low‐cycle fatigue of welded joints made of high and ultra‐high strength steels. Crane structures are exposed to very high loading but with rather low number of load cycles. In the so called low cycle fatigue (LCF) domain the use of high‐ and ultra‐strength steels offer considerable advantages. In this paper, fatigue tests on butt welded ultrahigh‐strength plates and circular hollow sections with longitudinal attachments and post weld treatment by means of TIG‐dressing, high frequency hammer peening (HFHP) and grinded roots are presented. A summarized evaluation and discussion of results referring to fatigue class classification of Eurocode 3 and the recent IIW guideline is given.
Ermüdungsverhalten von aufgeschweißten Lamellen unterschiedlicher Form
Authors: Bucak Ömer , Ehard Heinrich , Rodic Slobodan , Strohbach Holger
Published: September 2015

Insbesondere bei Trägerkonstruktionen aus Blechen, in die örtlich konzentrierte Lasten eingeleitet werden sollen, wird im Regelfall der Bereich der Lasteinleitung lokal durch aufgeschweißte Bleche verstärkt. In DIN EN 1993‐1‐9 werden solche Kerbdetails in Klasse 56 eingestuft. Dieser Wert gilt für eckige Laschenformen. Mit modifizierten Laschenformen und darauf abgestimmten Schweißungen lässt sich solch ein Kerbdetail in eine höhere Kerbklasse einordnen.

Fatigue behaviour of welded‐on plates of different shapes. Especially when designing constructions with thin plates or if it is necessary to locally induce high loads, in most cases the area of the load induction will locally be enforced with welded‐on cover plates. In EN 1993‐1‐9 such notch details are classified in FAT class 56. This value applies for rectangular plates. With modified plate forms and matching welds, this notch detail can be classified in a higher FAT class.
Minimierung von Risiken bei Offshore‐Windkraftwerken
Authors: Pollicino Fabio
Published: September 2015

Der Kostendruck auf dem Markt der erneuerbaren Energien ist sehr hoch. Alle Akteure müssen von den Erfahrungen der Offshore‐Windprojekte Gebrauch machen, um aktuelle und zukünftige Herausforderungen zu meistern. Die genauere Betrachtung der Erfahrungen der letzten Jahre wird vermeidbare Hindernisse und Kosten in das Bewusstsein rufen. Die vorhandenen technischen Regeln bieten dem Anwender eine gute Grundlage zur Entwicklung und Verbesserung der Produkte und Projekte. Die kombinierte Nutzung gewonnener Erfahrungen und des Fachwissens sind jedoch der Schlüssel zum zukünftigen Erfolg. Deshalb sollten die Erfahrungen in der Industrie untereinander geteilt werden, um den Reifegrad der Offshore‐Wind‐Branche schneller zu erhöhen. Zuverlässige Qualität, stabiler Betrieb und ein gutes Risikomanagement helfen, wettbewerbsfähige erneuerbare Energie zu produzieren.

Minimization of risks of wind power plants. The cost of energy pressure is high in the renewables power market. All actors must make use of the lessons learned from offshore wind power plant projects to face current and future challenges. Extracting experiences from projects over the last years will help to increase the awareness of avoidable obstacles and costs. The available technical standards provide the users a basis to improve their product and project developments. However, utilizing the experiences and know‐how is key for future success. Therefore the lessons learned should be shared within the industry to enhance the maturity of offshore wind business. Reliable quality, stable operation and proper risk management will help to produce renewable power in a competitive energy sector.
In vivo assay to monitor flavonoid uptake across plant cell membranes
Authors: Filippi Antonio , Petrussa Elisa , Peresson Carlo , Bertolini Alberto , Vianello Angelo , Braidot Enrico
Published: August 2015

Flavonoids represent one of the most important molecules of plant secondary metabolism, playing many different biochemical and physiological roles. Although their essential role in plant life and human health has been elucidated by many studies, their subcellular transport and accumulation in plant tissues remains unclear. This is due to the absence of a convenient and simple method to monitor their transport. In the present work, we suggest an assay able to followin vivo transport of quercetin, the most abundant flavonoid in plant tissues. This uptake was monitored using 2‐aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (DPBA), a fluorescent probe, in non‐pigmentedVitis vinifera cell cultures.
Between Discursive and Exclusive Autonomy – Opinion 2/13, the Protection of Fundamental Rights and the Autonomy of EU Law
Authors: PIRKER Benedikt H. , REITEMEYER Stefan
Published: September 2015

EU Opinion 2/13 on the accession of the EU to the ECHR was a landmark decision of the Court of Justice of the EU both for fundamental rights protection in the EU and the autonomy of the EU legal order. The present article argues that two approaches would have been possible, following either a discursive or an exclusive understanding of autonomy. As a thorough discussion of the Opinion shows, the Court chose the latter pathway, with detrimental consequences for the foreseeable future.
Rethinking Britishness: Religion and Debates about the “Nation” among Britons in Company India, 1813–1857
Authors: Sramek Joseph
Published: September 2015

This article examines the intersections of religion and national identity among Britons in nineteenth-century colonial India. It argues, contrary to Linda Colley and other scholars who have asserted a pan-Protestant nature of Britishness, that religion frequently was a site of division among Britons in India during the first half of the nineteenth century. Anglicans such as Claudius Buchanan wished to cement an Anglican hegemony within the empire. Presbyterian chaplain Dr. James Bryce, by contrast, advocated for the Churches of Scotland and England to be coestablished. Roman Catholic priests, less successfully, argued for similar rights to be extended to Roman Catholicism, the religion of close to a majority of British troops serving in India. Lastly, Baptist missionaries questioned the East India Company's continued support of Hinduism through its collection of pilgrim taxes, which they labeled as “anti-Christian.” These competing visions of “Greater Britain” in religious terms point to the fragility and divisiveness of national identity in the nineteenth-century British Empire, an institution scholars have generally claimed fostered a sense of Britishness.
Men of Parts: Masculine Embodiment and the Male Leg in Eighteenth-Century England
Authors: Harvey Karen
Published: September 2015

This essay explores changes in eighteenth-century male clothing in the context of the history of sexual difference, gender roles, and masculinity. The essay contributes to a history of dress by reconstructing a range of meanings and social practices through which men's clothing was understood by its consumers. Furthermore, critically engaging with work on the “great male renunciation,” the essay argues that the public authority that accrued to men through their clothing was based not on a new image of a rational disembodied man but instead on an emphasis on the male anatomy and masculinity as intrinsically embodied. Drawing on findings from the material objects of eighteenth-century clothing, visual representations, and evidence from the archival records of male consumers, the essay adopts an interdisciplinary approach that allows historians to study sex and gender as embodied, rather than simply performed. In so doing, the essay not only treats “embodiment” as an historical category but also responds to recent shifts in the historical discipline and the wider academy towards a more corporealist approach to the body.
The Struggle of the Male Self: A New Left Activist and His 1961 Diary
Authors: Hughes Celia
Published: September 2015

This article examines the 1961 diary of a new left young activist to explore his fractured sense of personal and political self. At the height of the Cold War, John Hoyland was an undergraduate at London's University College, living with his Communist Party family and active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). His intensely political world notwithstanding, Hoyland's diary reveals that interior life troubled his every day and shaped much of his thinking. Hoyland's self-conscious narrative illuminates self-making, male heterosexuality, generation, and relationships and cultures in the early 1960s British Left. He experienced himself as fragmented and struggled to negotiate his conflicting identities. He felt torn between older models of socialist identity and morality, his hedonism associated with the beatnik metropolitan scene, and his project of personal self-improvement. His diary offers rare insight into the intimate thoughts and feelings of one New Left young man at a time when political, social, and sexual codes and cultures were in transition before the emergence of feminist sexual politics. The article examines the identities Hoyland held as a socialist, sexual, and domestic male subject; it considers how his emotional world and relationships were shaped by his metropolitan landscapes, consisting of CND marches, Communist Party meetings, urban youth spaces, and the parental home; and it discusses Hoyland as a writer and the sense of selfhood the diary helped to make possible.
Replacing sugary drinks with milk is inversely associated with weight gain among young obesity-predisposed children
Authors: Zheng Miaobing , Rangan Anna , Allman-Farinelli Margaret , Rohde Jeanett Friis , Olsen Nanna Julie , Heitmann Berit Lilienthal
Published: September 2015

The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of sugary drink consumption and its substitution with alternative beverages with body weight gain among young children predisposed to future weight gain. Secondary analysis of the Healthy Start Study, a 1·5-year randomised controlled trial designed to prevent overweight among Danish children aged 2−6 years (n366), was carried out. Multivariate linear regression models were used to investigate the associations of beverage consumption with change in body weight (Δweight) or BMI(ΔBMI)z-score. Substitution models were used to extrapolate the influence of replacing sugary drinks with alternative beverages (water, milk and diet drinks) on Δweight or ΔBMIz-score. Sugary drink intake at baseline and substitution of sugary drinks with milk were associated with both Δweight and ΔBMIz-score. Every 100 g/d increase in sugary drink intake was associated with 0·10 kg and 0·06 unit increases in body weight (P=0·048) and BMIz-score (P=0·04), respectively. Substitution of 100 g/d sugary drinks with 100 g/d milk was inversely associated with Δweight (β=−0·16 kg;P=0·045) and ΔBMIz-score (β=−0·07 units;P=0·04). The results of this study suggest that sugary drink consumption was associated with body weight gain among young children with high predisposition for future overweight. In line with the current recommendations, sugary drinks, whether high in added or natural sugar, should be discouraged to help prevent childhood obesity. Milk may be a good alternative to sugary drinks with regard to weight management among young obesity-predisposed children.
The Papal Apocrisiarii in Constantinople during the Pontificate of Gregory i, 590–604
Authors: WESTERN JOSEPH
Published: September 2015

From the fifth through to the eighth century an ecclesiastical official, the apocrisiarius, streamlined the effective governance of both Church and Empire by serving as the pope's permanent representative at the imperial Byzantine court. The letters of a former apocrisiarius, Pope Gregory i, serve as the best sources for uncovering the duties of this office and its benefits to the Church and the Empire. Investigating this office under Gregory emphasises the independent ambassadorial mandate given to these men and highlights the vital role of personal relationships in the conduct of imperial business.
Is low-dose intratympanic gentamicin an effective treatment for Ménière's disease: the Birmingham experience
Authors: Watson G J , Nelson C , Irving R M
Published: September 2015

Background:

Since the development of intratympanic aminoglycoside in the 1950s, otologists have been able to chemically ablate the vestibule. We present the results of using low-dose intratympanic gentamicin to treat Ménière's disease.

Method:

A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent low-dose intratympanic gentamicin therapy over seven years. Data on gender, age, number of procedures, pure tone audiometry and symptom control were analysed.

Results:

In all, 38 patients underwent low-dose intratympanic gentamicin therapy. These comprised 25 females and 13 males, with an average age of 58.4 years. Hearing was preserved in 87.5 per cent of patients, with no significant difference before and after treatment (p = 0.744). In all, 85.7 per cent of patients had complete or substantial symptom control (classes A and B, respectively).

Conclusion:

Low-dose intratympanic gentamicin therapy was effective in controlling the symptoms of Ménière's disease patients, while preserving hearing.
Reproductive biology of female franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Argentina
Authors: Panebianco María V. , Del Castillo Daniela L. , Denuncio Pablo E. , Negri María F. , Bastida Ricardo , Failla Mauricio , Vitullo Alfredo D. , Cappozzo Humberto L.
Published: September 2015

The ovaries of 31 franciscana dolphins (19 immature and 12 mature) by-caught in coastal waters of Argentina were examined to describe the reproductive biology. No ovarian polarity was found, both ovaries were functional and showed similar amounts of corpora. A positive trend was observed between the number of corpora and age (3–8 years old), indicating that ovulation scars are detectable for at least 4 years, and a ovulation rate of 0.39 was found for the sampled population. Age, length and weight at sexual maturity were estimated at 3.92 ± 0.09 years, 133.47 ± 11.11 cm and 32.68 ± 2.72 kg, respectively. The annual pregnancy rate was 0.36 ± 0.02 (95% CI = 0.10–0.65). The proportion of lactating and resting females found were 0.25 and 0.33 respectively. These outcomes constitute the first reproductive and life history information on franciscana dolphins from the southernmost population and are important in relation with adequate conservation management plans for this small cetacean.
‘Before the breaking of the day, in a riotous manner and with great shouts and outcries’: Disputes over Common Land in Shropshire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
Authors: BOWEN JAMES P.
Published: September 2015

Enclosure disputes have long attracted attention given their perceived political motivations, the importance of custom and customary practices in legitimising action and various forms of protest. Based on research undertaken at local and national record offices and the study of both written records and maps, this paper explores a series of disputes over common land in the wood-pasture countryside of Shropshire, placing them within the wider historiography concerning enclosure riots and popular protest. It complements the existing body of local and regional studies which have provided insight into the national historical context of the enclosure process. Historians need to examine economic and social developments at a local level to ascertain the causation of enclosure protest and the motivation of those involved. This evidence suggests that disputes arose between lords and tenants over the loss of customary rights and also neighbouring manorial lords as a result of ownership or boundary disputes.
Food insecurity, coping strategies and glucose control in low-income patients with diabetes
Authors: Mayer Victoria L , McDonough Kevin , Seligman Hilary , Mitra Nandita , Long Judith A
Published: September 2015

Objective

To examine the relationship between food insecurity and coping strategies (actions taken to manage economic stress) hypothesized to worsen glucose control in patients with diabetes.

Design

Using a cross-sectional telephone survey and clinical data, we compared food-insecure and food-secure individuals in their use of coping strategies. Using logistic regression models, we then examined the association between poor glucose control (glycated Hb, HbA1c≥8·0 %), food insecurity and coping strategies.

Setting

An urban medical centre, between June and December 2013.

Subjects

Four hundred and seven adults likely to be low income (receiving Medicaid or uninsured and/or residing in a zip code with >30 % of the population below the federal poverty level) with type 2 diabetes.

Results

Of respondents, 40·5 % were food insecure. A significantly higher percentage of the food-insecure group reported use of most examined coping strategies, including foregone medical care, participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)) and use of emergency food programmes. Food insecurity was associated with poor glucose control (OR=2·23; 95 % CI 1·22, 4·10); coping strategies that were more common among the food insecure were not associated with poor glucose control. Among the food insecure, receipt of SNAP was associated with lower risk of poor glucose control (OR=0·27; 95 % CI 0·09, 0·80).

Conclusions

While food insecurity was associated with poor glucose control, most examined coping strategies did not explain this relationship. However, receipt of SNAP among food-insecure individuals was associated with better diabetes control, suggesting that such programmes may play a role in improving health.
WEIGHTED ORLICZ ALGEBRAS ON LOCALLY COMPACT GROUPS
Authors: OSANÇLIOL ALEN , ÖZTOP SERAP
Published: September 2015

For a locally compact group$G$with left Haar measure and a Young function${\rm\Phi}$, we define and study the weighted Orlicz algebra$L_{w}^{{\rm\Phi}}(G)$with respect to convolution. We show that$L_{w}^{{\rm\Phi}}(G)$admits no bounded approximate identity under certain conditions. We prove that a closed linear subspace$I$of the algebra$L_{w}^{{\rm\Phi}}(G)$is an ideal in$L_{w}^{{\rm\Phi}}(G)$if and only if$I$is left translation invariant. For an abelian$G$, we describe the spectrum (maximal ideal space) of the weighted Orlicz algebra and show that weighted Orlicz algebras are semisimple.
ENTHUSIASTIC READING: RETHINKING CONTEXTUALIZATION IN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY
Authors: BARING EDWARD
Published: September 2015

In the past ten years, contextual approaches to intellectual history have been dislodged from their dominant position in the discipline. In the 2013 volume Rethinking European Intellectual History, edited by Samuel Moyn and Darrin McMahon, a number of the contributors challenged the previous generation's emphasis on context, whether social, political, or linguistic, arguing that it constrained the scope of intellectual history and unnecessarily foreclosed the possibility of critical engagement: if we could only understand ideas by embedding them in foreign contexts, how could they be meaningful today? Instead, many historians have come to embrace what had earlier been derided as a form of “idealism”: an emphasis on the autonomy of ideas and their internal structure. Paying attention to this structure has allowed historians to treat ideas less as historical artifacts and thus offer them as living resources for thinking through problems in the present.
First report on a newborn grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) in the Danish Wadden Sea since the 16th Century
Authors: Jensen Lasse Fast , Galatius Anders , Teilmann Jonas
Published: September 2015

During an aerial survey on 30 December 2014 in the Danish Wadden Sea, a newborn grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) with umbilical cord was observed at a sandbank located north of the island Rømø together with the mother. This is the first report in the scientific literature on grey seals breeding in the Danish Wadden Sea since the species disappeared from the area in the 16th Century.
Dentoxanthus iranicus Stephensen, 1946 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Galenidae): a new record from Gujarat, India, with systematic notes
Authors: Ng Peter K.L. , Trivedi Jignesh N. , Vachhrajani Kauresh D.
Published: September 2015

The rare pilumnoid crab,Dentoxanthus iranicusStephensen, 1946 (Galenidae), is recorded from Gujarat state in India for the first time. Originally described from a small female (Gulf of Oman), and subsequently reported twice from Pakistan on the basis of two males and a female, the species is not well known and has never been described to modern standards. On the basis of the present male specimen from India, as well as a previously unreported male specimen from Pakistan, the species is redescribed and its systematics discussed.
The impact of modelling method selection on predicted extent and distribution of deep-sea benthic assemblages
Authors: Piechaud Nils , Downie Anna , Stewart Heather A. , Howell Kerry L.
Published: September 2015

Predictive modelling of deep-sea species and assemblages with multibeam acoustic datasets as input variables is now a key tool in the provision of maps upon which spatial planning and management of the marine environment can be based. However, with a multitude of methods available, advice is needed on the best methods for the task at hand. In this study, we predictively modelled the distribution and extent of three vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) at the assemblage level (‘Lophelia pertusa reef frameworks’; ‘Stylasterids and lobose sponges’; and ‘Xenophyophore fields’) on the eastern flank of Rockall Bank, using three modelling methods: MaxEnt; RandomForests classification with multiple assemblages (gRF); and RandomForests classification with the presence/absence of a single VME (saRF). Performance metrics indicated that MaxEnt performed the best, but all models were considered valid. All three methods broadly agreed with regard to broad patterns in distribution. However, predicted extent presented a variation of up to 35 % between the different methods, and clear differences in predicted distribution were observed. We conclude that the choice of method is likely to influence the results of predicted maps, potentially impacting political decisions about deep-sea VME conservation.
A Weather Eye on Coastal Winds
Authors: Monaldo F. , Jackson C. , Pichel W. , Li X.
Published: September 2015

New satellite radar image-processing system provides wind speed maps with an unprecedented degree of precision. Such maps will help coastal communities prepare for wind-related hazards.
Counter inhibition between leukotoxins attenuates Staphylococcus aureus virulence
Authors: Yoong Pauline , Torres Victor J.
Published: September 2015

Staphylococcus aureus subverts host defences by producing a collection of virulence factors including bi-component pore-forming leukotoxins. Despite extensive sequence conservation, each leukotoxin has unique properties, including disparate cellular receptors and species specificities. How these toxins collectively influence S. aureus pathogenesis is unknown. Here we demonstrate that the leukotoxins LukSF-PV and LukED antagonize each other’s cytolytic activities on leukocytes and erythrocytes by forming inactive hybrid complexes. Remarkably, LukSF-PV inhibition of LukED haemolytic activity on both human and murine erythrocytes prevents the release of nutrients required for in vitro bacterial growth. Using in vivo murine models of infection, we show that LukSF-PV negatively influences S. aureus virulence and colonization by inhibiting LukED. Thus, while S. aureus leukotoxins can certainly injure immune cells, the discovery of leukotoxin antagonism suggests that they may also play a role in reducing S. aureus virulence and maintaining infection without killing the host.
Microgravity protein crystallization
Authors: McPherson Alexander , DeLucas Lawrence James
Published: September 2015

Over the past 20 years a variety of technological advances in X-ray crystallography have shortened the time required to determine the structures of large macromolecules (i.e., proteins and nucleic acids) from several years to several weeks or days. However, one of the remaining challenges is the ability to produce diffraction-quality crystals suitable for a detailed structural analysis. Although the development of automated crystallization systems combined with protein engineering (site-directed mutagenesis to enhance protein solubility and crystallization) have improved crystallization success rates, there remain hundreds of proteins that either cannot be crystallized or yield crystals of insufficient quality to support X-ray structure determination. In an attempt to address this bottleneck, an international group of scientists has explored use of a microgravity environment to crystallize macromolecules. This paper summarizes the history of this international initiative along with a description of some of the flight hardware systems and crystallization results.
Measures of kidney function by minimally invasive techniques correlate with histological glomerular damage in SCID mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy
Authors: Scarfe Lauren , Rak-Raszewska Aleksandra , Geraci Stefania , Darssan Darsy , Sharkey Jack , Huang Jiaguo , Burton Neal C. , Mason David , Ranjzad Parisa , Kenny Simon , Gretz Norbert , Lévy Raphaël , Kevin Park B. , García-Fiñana Marta , Woolf Adrian S. , Murray Patricia , Wilm Bettina
Published: September 2015

Maximising the use of preclinical murine models of progressive kidney disease as test beds for therapies ideally requires kidney function to be measured repeatedly in a safe, minimally invasive manner. To date, most studies of murine nephropathy depend on unreliable markers of renal physiological function, exemplified by measuring blood levels of creatinine and urea and on various end points necessitating sacrifice of experimental animals to assess histological damage, thus counteracting the principles of Replacement, Refinement and Reduction. Here, we applied two novel minimally invasive techniques to measure kidney function in SCID mice with adriamycin-induced nephropathy. We employed i) a transcutaneous device that measures the half-life of intravenously administered FITC-sinistrin, a molecule cleared by glomerular filtration; and ii) multispectral optoacoustic tomography, a photoacoustic imaging device that directly visualises the clearance of the near infrared dye, IRDye 800CW carboxylate. Measurements with either technique showed a significant impairment of renal function in experimental animals versus controls, with significant correlations with the proportion of scarred glomeruli five weeks after induction of injury. These technologies provide clinically relevant functional data and should be widely adopted for testing the efficacies of novel therapies. Moreover, their use will also lead to a reduction in experimental animal numbers.
Imaging transplanted stem cells in real time using an MRI dual-contrast method
Authors: Ngen Ethel J. , Wang Lee , Kato Yoshinori , Krishnamachary Balaji , Zhu Wenlian , Gandhi Nishant , Smith Barbara , Armour Michael , Wong John , Gabrielson Kathleen , Artemov Dmitri
Published: September 2015

Stem cell therapies are currently being investigated for the repair of brain injuries. Although exogenous stem cell labelling with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) prior to transplantation provides a means to noninvasively monitor stem cell transplantation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), monitoring cell death is still a challenge. Here, we investigate the feasibility of using an MRI dual-contrast technique to detect cell delivery, cell migration and cell death after stem cell transplantation. Human mesenchymal stem cells were dual labelled with SPIONs and gadolinium-based chelates (GdDTPA). The viability, proliferation rate and differentiation potential of the labelled cells were then evaluated. The feasibility of this MRI technique to distinguish between live and dead cells was next evaluated using MRI phantoms and in vivo using both immune-competent and immune-deficient mice, following the induction of brain injury in the mice. All results were validated with bioluminescence imaging. In live cells, a negative (T2/T2*) MRI contrast predominates and is used to track cell delivery and cell migration. Upon cell death, a diffused positive (T1) MRI contrast is generated in the vicinity of the dead cells and serves as an imaging marker for cell death. Ultimately, this technique could be used to manage stem cell therapies.
The stability and activity of human neuroserpin are modulated by a salt bridge that stabilises the reactive centre loop
Authors: Noto Rosina , Randazzo Loredana , Raccosta Samuele , Caccia Sonia , Moriconi Claudia , Miranda Elena , Martorana Vincenzo , Manno Mauro
Published: September 2015

Neuroserpin (NS) is an inhibitory protein belonging to the serpin family and involved in several pathologies, including the dementia Familial Encephalopathy with Neuroserpin Inclusion Bodies (FENIB), a genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by accumulation of NS polymers. Our Molecular Dynamics simulations revealed the formation of a persistent salt bridge between Glu289 on strand s2C and Arg362 on the Reactive Centre Loop (RCL), a region important for the inhibitory activity of NS. Here, we validated this structural feature by simulating the Glu289Ala mutant, where the salt bridge is not present. Further, MD predictions were tested in vitro by purifying recombinant Glu289Ala NS from E. coli. The thermal and chemical stability along with the polymerisation propensity of both Wild Type and Glu289Ala NS were characterised by circular dichroism, emission spectroscopy and non-denaturant gel electrophoresis, respectively. The activity of both variants against the main target protease, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), was assessed by SDS-PAGE and chromogenic kinetic assay. Our results showed that deletion of the salt bridge leads to a moderate but clear reduction of the overall protein stability and activity.
Preparation and recognition characteristics of alanine surface molecularly imprinted polymers
Authors: Zhu Fengling , Yan Xiangyang , Liu Shaomin
Published: September 2015

Ala-SMIPs have high recognition capability and affinity toward Ala, and the Ala-SMIPs clearly have more significant selectivity than the SNIPs.
Spectral properties and isomerisation path of retinal in C1C2 channelrhodopsin
Authors: Dokukina I. , Weingart O.
Published: September 2015

Computed torsion profiles along the reactive coordinate in S1reveal a two-path deactivation mechanism for retinal in C1C2 channelrhodopsin.
Quantum mechanical study of the β- and δ-lyase reactions during the base excision repair process: application to FPG
Authors: Sowlati-Hashjin Shahin , Wetmore Stacey D.
Published: September 2015

The β- and δ-elimination reactions catalyzed by FPG during the base excision repair of 8-oxoguanine are intrinsically different.
Electrocavitation in nanofluidics: unique phenomenon and fundamental platform
Authors: Janssen Kjeld G. H. , Pennathur Sumita
Published: September 2015

We review a phenomenon, electrocavitation, which can be used as a platform to fundamentally study cavitation in well-defined nanofluidic systems.
Zn(OTf)2 promoted rearrangement of 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars with amines: a convenient method for the synthesis of 3-polyhydroxyalkyl-substituted pyrrole derivatives
Authors: Shen Xudong , Xia Jianhui , Liang Peng , Ma Xiaofeng , Jiao Wei , Shao Huawu
Published: September 2015

A rearrangement reaction of 1,2-cyclopropanated sugars with amines promoted by Zn(OTf)2 is described. The method offers 3-polyhydroxyalkyl-substituted pyrrole derivatives with multiple chiral centers.
The effect of molecular geometry on the polymer/fullerene ratio in polymer solar cells
Authors: Yuan Jianyu , Liu Yu , Dong Huilong , Shi Xiaobo , Liu Zeke , Li Youyong , Ma Wanli
Published: September 2015

In order to reveal the correlation between molecular structures and the corresponding film morphology as well as polymer/fullerene blend ratio, a new donor–acceptor (D–A) polymer poly-(benzodithiophene-naphthothiophenedione) (PTN8) was synthesized, which was intentionally designed to further increase the molecular structure bulkiness of our previously reported polymer poly-(benzodithiophene-thienopyrroledione) (PTP8).
Self-healing, malleable and creep limiting materials using both supramolecular and reversible covalent linkages
Authors: Zhang Borui , Digby Zachary A. , Flum Jacob A. , Foster Elizabeth M. , Sparks Jessica L. , Konkolewicz Dominik
Published: September 2015

A combination of supramolecular and dynamic covalent linkages were used to create creep limited self-healing materials.
Heteroleptic iridium(iii) complexes bearing a coumarin moiety: an experimental and theoretical investigation
Authors: Maity Amit , Sarkar Rupa , Rajak Kajal Krishna
Published: September 2015

Three mononuclear heteroleptic Ir(iii) complexes have been synthesized. The electronic structure and the spectral properties of the complexes were calculated applying the DFT-TDDFT method. The chemical shift was also computed by the GIAO-DFT method.
Ambient in situ analysis and imaging of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic thin layer chromatography plates by electrostatic spray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhong Xiaoqin , Qiao Liang , Liu Baohong , Girault Hubert H.
Published: September 2015

Direct coupling of ESTASI-MS with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic TLC for ambient in situ analysis and imaging with ultralow sample consumption.
The optical response of nanoclusters under confinement
Authors: Nagare Balasaheb J.
Published: September 2015

We report the optical properties of metallic and semiconductor nanoclusters with various sizes as a function of confinement using real-space time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT).
Silyl-assisted 1,2-cis-α-glucosylation for the synthesis of a triglucoside moiety in high-mannose-type oligosaccharides
Authors: Totani Kiichiro , Shinoda Yuki , Shiba Masaaki , Iwamoto Shogo , Koizumi Akira , Matsuzaki Yuji , Hirano Makoto
Published: September 2015

We developed a new 1,2-cis-α-glucosylation reaction, mediated by enhancing the α-favoured transition state via an electron-donating form the TBS group.
Imparting magnetic functionality to iron-based MIL-101 via facile Fe3O4 nanoparticle encapsulation: an efficient and recoverable catalyst for aerobic oxidation
Authors: Jin Zhaokui , Luan Yi , Yang Mu , Tang Jia , Wang Jingjing , Gao Hongyi , Lu Yunfeng , Wang Ge
Published: September 2015

The development of sustainable, easily synthesizable and highly efficient catalysts is a fundamental goal of catalysis science.
Ferromagnetic hierarchical carbon nanofiber bundles derived from natural collagen fibers: truly lightweight and high-performance microwave absorption materials
Authors: Wang Xiaoling , Huang Xin , Chen Zerui , Liao Xuepin , Liu Chang , Shi Bi
Published: September 2015

High-performance microwave absorption materials with a broad bandwidth and strong intensity have significant applications in both civil and military areas.
Diversity in the structures and ligand-binding sites of nematode fatty acid and retinol-binding proteins revealed by Na-FAR-1 from Necator americanus
Authors: Rey-Burusco M. Florencia , Ibáñez-Shimabukuro Marina , Gabrielsen Mads , Franchini Gisela R. , Roe Andrew J. , Griffiths Kate , Zhan Bin , Cooper Alan , Kennedy Malcolm W. , Córsico Betina , Smith Brian O.
Published: August 2015

Fatty acid and retinol-binding proteins (FARs) comprise a family of unusual α-helix rich lipid-binding proteins found exclusively in nematodes. They are secreted into host tissues by parasites of plants, animals and humans. The structure of a FAR protein from the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is available, but this protein [C. elegans FAR-7 (Ce-FAR-7)] is from a subfamily of FARs that does not appear to be important at the host/parasite interface. We have therefore examined [Necator americanus FAR-1 (Na-FAR-1)] from the blood-feeding intestinal parasite of humans, N. americanus. The 3D structure of Na-FAR-1 in its ligand-free and ligand-bound forms, determined by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography respectively, reveals an α-helical fold similar to Ce-FAR-7, but Na-FAR-1 possesses a larger and more complex internal ligand-binding cavity and an additional C-terminal α-helix. Titration of apo-Na-FAR-1 with oleic acid, analysed by NMR chemical shift perturbation, reveals that at least four distinct protein–ligand complexes can be formed. Na-FAR-1 and possibly other FARs may have a wider repertoire for hydrophobic ligand binding, as confirmed in the present study by our finding that a range of neutral and polar lipids co-purify with the bacterially expressed recombinant protein. Finally, we show by immunohistochemistry that Na-FAR-1 is present in adult worms with a tissue distribution indicative of possible roles in nutrient acquisition by the parasite and in reproduction in the male.
Challenges of commissioning and contracting for integrated care in the National Health Service (NHS) in England
Authors: Addicott Rachael
Published: September 2015

For many years there has been a separation between purchasing and provision of services in the English National Health Service (NHS). Many studies report that this commissioning function has been weak: purchasers have had little impact or power in negotiations with large acute providers, and have had limited strategic control over the delivery of care. Nevertheless, commissioning has become increasingly embedded in the NHS structure since the arrival of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in 2012. Recently, some of these CCGs have focused on how they can contract and commission in different ways to stimulate greater collaboration across providers. This paper examines experiences of commissioning and contracting for integrated care in the English NHS, based on a series of national-level interviews and case studies of five health economies that are implementing novel contracting models. The cases illustrated here demonstrate early experiments to drive innovation through contracting in the NHS that have largely relied on the vision of individual teams or leaders, in combination with external legal, procurement and actuarial support. It is unlikely that this approach will be sustainable or replicable across the country or internationally, despite the best intentions of commissioners. Designing and operating novel contractual approaches will require considerable determination, alongside advanced skills in procurement, contract management and commissioning. The cost of developing new contractual approaches is high, and as the process is difficult and resource-intensive, it is likely that dedicated teams or programs will be required to drive significant improvement.
Modeling the Market and Welfare Effects of Mexico's “Agriculture by Contract” Program
Authors: Lence Sergio H.
Published: September 2015

“Agriculture by contract” (A × C) is the main Mexican government program aimed at mitigating price risks for agricultural producers in Mexico. A × C has unique features involving forward contracts and the provision of basis subsidies and subsidized exchange‐traded futures options for both producers and intermediaries. A simulation model is developed to analyze the market and welfare effects of A × C. When applied to corn, results show that A × C exerts substantial impacts and causes large transfers across sectors. Even if A × C reduced intermediaries' market power to the largest extent feasible, results indicate that it would still cause important losses in aggregate welfare.
Personalized screening intervals for biomarkers using joint models for longitudinal and survival data
Authors: Rizopoulos Dimitris , Taylor Jeremy M. G. , Van Rosmalen Joost , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Takkenberg Johanna J. M.
Published: August 2015

Screening and surveillance are routinely used in medicine for early detection of disease and close monitoring of progression. Motivated by a study of patients who received a human tissue valve in the aortic position, in this work we are interested in personalizing screening intervals for longitudinal biomarker measurements. Our aim in this paper is 2-fold: First, to appropriately select the model to use at the time point the patient was still event-free, and second, based on this model to select the optimal time point to plan the next measurement. To achieve these two goals, we combine information theory measures with optimal design concepts for the posterior predictive distribution of the survival process given the longitudinal history of the subject.