bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pulsating pipe flow with large-amplitude oscillations in the very high frequency regime. Part 2. Phase-averaged analysis
Authors: Manna M. , Vacca A. , Verzicco R.
Published: February 2015

This paper is the follow-up of a previous study (Manna, Vacca & Verzicco,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 700, 2012, pp. 246–282) that numerically investigated the effects of a harmonic volume forcing on the turbulent pipe flow at a bulk Reynolds number of$\simeq 5900$. There, the investigation was focused on the time- and space-averaged statistics of the first- and second-order moments of the velocity, the vorticity fluctuations and the Reynolds stress budgets in order to study the changes induced on the mean current by the oscillating component. The amplitude of the latter was used as a parameter for the analysis. However, as the flow is inherently unsteady, the phase-averaged statistics are also of interest, and this is the motivation and subject of the present study. Here, we show the variability of the above quantities during different phases of the flow cycle and how they are affected by the amplitude of the oscillation. It is observed that when the ratio of the oscillating to the time-constant velocity component is of the order of one (${\it\beta}\simeq O(1)$), the phase-averaged profiles are appreciably influenced by the pulsation, although only small deviations of the time-averaged counterparts have been documented. In contrast, when that ratio is increased by one order of magnitude (${\it\beta}\simeq O(10)$) the phase- and cycle-averaged quantities differ considerably, especially during the decelerating part of the cycle. In more detail, the amplitude and the phase of all turbulence statistics show significant variations with${\it\beta}$. This variability has important implications in the dynamics and modelling of these flows. Since the data have been obtained by direct numerical simulations and validated by comparisons with experimental studies, the results could be used for validation of codes, testing of turbulence models or measurement procedures.
Optimal wavepackets in streamwise corner flow
Authors: Schmidt Oliver T. , Hosseini Seyed M. , Rist Ulrich , Hanifi Ardeshir , Henningson Dan S.
Published: February 2015

The global non-modal stability of the flow in a right-angled streamwise corner is investigated. Spatially confined linear optimal initial conditions and responses are obtained by use of direct-adjoint looping. Two base states are considered, the classical self-similar solution for a zero streamwise pressure gradient, and a modified solution that mimics leading-edge effects commonly observed in experimental studies. The latter solution is obtained in a reverse engineering fashion from published measurement data. Prior to the global analysis, a classical local linear stability and sensitivity analysis of both base states is conducted. It is found that the base-flow modification drastically reduces the critical Reynolds number through an inviscid mechanism, the so-called corner mode. A survey of the geometry of the two base states confirms that the modification greatly aggravates the inflectional nature of the flow. Global optimals are calculated for subcritical and supercritical Reynolds numbers, and for two finite optimization times. The optimal initial conditions are found to be self-confined in the spanwise directions, and symmetric with respect to the corner bisector. They evolve into streaks or streamwise modulated wavepackets, depending on the base state. Substantial transient growth caused by the Orr mechanism and the lift-up effect is observed.
On high-frequency sound generated by gust–aerofoil interaction in shear flow
Authors: Ayton Lorna J. , Peake N.
Published: February 2015

A theoretical model is constructed to predict the far-field sound generated by high-frequency gust–aerofoil interaction in steady parallel shear flow, including the effects of aerofoil thickness. Our approach is to use asymptotic analysis of the Euler equations linearised about steady parallel shear flow, in the limits of high frequency and small, but non-zero, aerofoil thickness and Mach number. The analysis splits the flow into various regions around the aerofoil; local inner regions around the leading and the trailing edges where sound is generated and scattered; a surface transition region accounting for the curvature of the aerofoil; a wake transition region downstream of the aerofoil; and an outer region through which the sound propagates to the observer. Solutions are constructed in all regions, and matched using the principle of matched asymptotic expansions to yield the first two terms in the expansion of both the amplitude and the phase of the far-field pressure. Result are computed for the particular case of scattering of a gust by a symmetric Joukowski aerofoil placed in symmetric Gaussian parallel shear flow. The introduction of mean shear is shown to have a significant effect on the far-field directivity and on the total radiated power.
Association of lameness with milk yield and lactation curves in Chios dairy ewes
Authors: Gelasakis Athanasios I , Arsenos Georgios , Valergakis Georgios E , Banos Georgios
Published: February 2015

The objective of the study was twofold: (i) to quantify the differences in daily milk yield (DMY) and total milk yield (TMY) between lame and non-lame dairy ewes and (ii) to determine the shape of lactation curves around the lameness incident. The overall study was a prospective study of lameness for the surveyed sheep population, with a nested study including the selection of matching controls for each lame ewe separately. Two intensively reared flocks of purebred Chios ewes and a total of 283 ewes were used. Data, including gait assessment and DMY records, were collected on a weekly basis during on-farm visits across the milking period. A general linear model was developed for the calculation of lactation curves of lame and non-lame ewes, whereas one-way ANOVA was used for the comparisons between lame ewes and their controls. Lameness incidence was 12·4 and 16·8% on Farms A and B, respectively. Average DMY in lame ewes was significantly lower (213·8 g, P < 0·001) compared with the rest of the flock, where DMY averaged 1·340 g. The highest DMY reduction in lame ewes was observed during the week 16 of the milking period (P < 0·001), whereas the reduction of DMY, for lame ewes, remained significant at P < 0·001 level from week 8 to week 28 of milking. Comparisons between lame and controls revealed that at the week of lameness diagnosis a significant DMY reduction (P ≤ 0·001) was observed in lame ewes (about 32·5%), which was maximised 1 week later (35·8%, P ≤ 0·001) and continued for several weeks after recovery, resulting in 19·3% lower TMY for lame ewes for the first 210 d of the milking period (P < 0·01). Moreover, at flock level, TMY for non-lame and lame ewes, as calculated by the general linear model, was 318·9 and 268·0 kg, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate evidence of significant financial losses in dairy sheep due to lameness which, however, need to be accurately estimated in further, more detailed, analyses.
Anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder are associated with abnormalities in processing visual information
Authors: Li W. , Lai T. M. , Bohon C. , Loo S. K. , McCurdy D. , Strober M. , Bookheimer S. , Feusner J.
Published: February 2015

Background

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are characterized by distorted body image and are frequently co-morbid with each other, although their relationship remains little studied. While there is evidence of abnormalities in visual and visuospatial processing in both disorders, no study has directly compared the two. We used two complementary modalities – event-related potentials (ERPs) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – to test for abnormal activity associated with early visual signaling.

Method

We acquired fMRI and ERP data in separate sessions from 15 unmedicated individuals in each of three groups (weight-restored AN, BDD, and healthy controls) while they viewed images of faces and houses of different spatial frequencies. We used joint independent component analyses to compare activity in visual systems.

Results

AN and BDD groups demonstrated similar hypoactivity in early secondary visual processing regions and the dorsal visual stream when viewing low spatial frequency faces, linked to the N170 component, as well as in early secondary visual processing regions when viewing low spatial frequency houses, linked to the P100 component. Additionally, the BDD group exhibited hyperactivity in fusiform cortex when viewing high spatial frequency houses, linked to the N170 component. Greater activity in this component was associated with lower attractiveness ratings of faces.

Conclusions

Results provide preliminary evidence of similar abnormal spatiotemporal activation in AN and BDD for configural/holistic information for appearance- and non-appearance-related stimuli. This suggests a common phenotype of abnormal early visual system functioning, which may contribute to perceptual distortions.
Gender as a divine attribute
Authors: REA MICHAEL
Published: February 2015

It is standard within the Christian tradition to characterize God in predominantly masculine terms. Let ‘traditionalism’ refer to the view that this pattern of characterization is theologically mandatory. In this article, I seek to undercut the main motivations for traditionalism by showing that it is not moreaccurateto characterize God as masculine rather than feminine (or vice versa). The novelty of my argument lies in the fact that it presupposes neither theological anti-realism nor a robust doctrine of divine transcendence, but instead rests heavy theoretical weight on theimago Deidoctrine and the method of perfect-being theology. The article closes by examining the implications of the article's main argument for the moral and liturgical propriety of characterizing God in predominantly masculine terms.
Death does not become her: An examination of the public construction of female American soldiers as liminal figures
Authors: MILLAR KATHARINE M.
Published: February 2015

Since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, over 150 female American military personnel have been killed, over 70 following hostile fire. Given Western society’s long-standing practice of reserving the conduct of collective violence to men, these very public deaths are difficult to encompass within the normative and ideological structures of the contemporary American political system. This study examines the ways in which the public duty to commemorate the heroism of soldiers – and the private desire to accurately remember daughters and wives – poses a significant challenge to coherent discursive representation. In doing so, the study employs hermeneutical interpretation to analyse public representations of female soldiers and their relation to death in US popular culture. These representations are examined via Judith Butler’s concept of grievability – the possibility of receiving recognition as a worthy life within the existing social imaginary. It is argued that female soldiers are grievable as both ‘good soldiers’ and ‘good women’, but not as ‘good female soldiers’. The unified subject position of ‘good female soldier’ is liminal, and thus rendered socially and politically unintelligible. The article concludes with an analysis of the implications of this liminality for collective mourning and the possibility of closure after trauma.
Mass transference principle for limsup sets generated by rectangles
Authors: WANG BAO-WEI , WU JUN , XU JIAN
Published: February 2015

We generalise the mass transference principle established by Beresnevich and Velani to limsup sets generated by rectangles. More precisely, let {xn}n⩾1be a sequence of points in the unit cube [0, 1]dwithd⩾ 1 and {rn}n⩾1a sequence of positive numbers tending to zero. Under the assumption of full Lebesgue measure theoretical statement of the set\begin{equation*}\big\{x\in [0,1]^d: x\in B(x_n,r_n), \ {{\rm for}\, {\rm infinitely}\, {\rm many}}\ n\in \mathbb{N}\big\},\end{equation*}we determine the lower bound of the Hausdorff dimension and Hausdorff measure of the set\begin{equation*}\big\{x\in [0,1]^d: x\in B^{a}(x_n,r_n), \ {{\rm for}\, {\rm infinitely}\, {\rm many}}\ n\in \mathbb{N}\big\},\end{equation*}wherea= (a1, . . .,ad) with 1 ⩽a1⩽a2⩽ . . . ⩽adandBa(x, r) denotes a rectangle with centerxand side-length (ra1,ra2,. . .,rad). Whena1=a2= . . . =ad, the result is included in the setting considered by Beresnevich and Velani.
VII.—On the Measurement of Spatial Distance in a Curved Space-time
Authors: Ruse H. S.
Published: February 2015

The problem of defining the concept of spatial distance in a general riemannian space-time has been discussed by E. T. Whittaker, who showed how to translate into the terms of four-dimensional geometry the method adopted by astronomers in determining the distance of a star from the earth by means of a comparison of its absolute and apparent luminosities. The problem was further considered by the present writer, who derived a different formula for spatial distance by a method which was essentially one of partitioning the whole of space-time into space and time relative to the given observer. It was suggested that the new spatial distance might be that determined practically by parallax-measurements, though the evidence in support of this suggestion was perhaps hardly sufficient to carry conviction.
A new trend of genotype distribution of hepatitis B virus infection in southeast China (Fujian), 2006–2013
Authors: WEI D. H. , LIU H. Z. , HUANG A. M. , LIU X. L. , LIU J. F.
Published: February 2015

HBV genotypes have specific geographical distributions and can serve as epidemiological markers. Accumulated data have shown that the major HBV genotypes in China are B and C. Here, the HBV genotypes were examined from 6817 blood samples, which were collected from patients with chronic HBV infection in Fujian Province during 2006–2013; genotype B was identified in 3384 patients (49·6%), while genotype C was identified in 3430 patients (50·3%). The percentage of patients infected with genotype C gradually increased with age from 39·5% (patients aged <20 years) to 63·9% (patients aged >50 years), reaching a peak of 67·3% in the 45–50 years age group. These results clearly demonstrate that the genotype distribution of HBV in Fujian Province has significantly changed in recent years with almost equal numbers of genotype B and genotype C infections existing in the entire patient population, while higher incidence of genotype C infection exists in older patients, but genotype B is no longer dominant in the Fujian area as previously reported.
Relations between early maltreatment and mental representations of relationships assessed with projective storytelling in middle childhood
Authors: McCrone Edward R. , Egeland Byron , Kalkoske Mark , Carlson Elizabeth A.
Published: February 2015

Children who participate in the Mother-Child Project, a longitudinal study of high-risk children, were giver projective storytelling task during their sixth-grade year. Story sets were coded for relationship themes like peer acceptance and problem solving, and responses were compared between groups identified based on pas maltreatment. The maltreatment group included 43 children who were identified as having been physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected or having psychologically unavailable care. A control group of 53 children from this high-risk sample was identified as having received adequate care. The remaining participants whose care was questionable were not included in this study. Based on quantitative analyses using a factor measuring relationship expectations and controlling for IQ and socioeconoraic status, the maltreate group told stories significantly more negative compared to the control group. Findings are introduced and discussed in terms of attachment theory and related work addressing the mental representations of maltreated children. In particular, it is proposed that, based on early maltreatment experiences, children acquire internal working models of themselves as unworthy and of others as unavailable. In subsequent relationship situations they would be constricted in cognitively processing events, have difficulty regulating their own emotions, an employ processes of defensive exclusion (e.g. projection, introjection, displacement, splitting, preoccupatioi idealization) to manage their distress feelings.
Forecasting the progress towards the target of Millennium Development Goal 1C in children under 5 years of age in Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan Md Tanvir , Soares Magalhaes Ricardo J , Williams Gail M , Mamun Abdullah A
Published: February 2015

Objective

To estimate the average annual rates of reduction of stunting, underweight and wasting for the period 1996 to 2011, and to evaluate whether Bangladesh will be expected to achieve the target of Millennium Development Goal 1C of reducing the prevalence of underweight by half by 2015.

Design

We used five nationwide, cross-sectional, Demographic and Health Survey data sets to estimate prevalence of undernutrition defined by stunting, underweight and wasting among children under 5 years of age using the WHO child growth standards. We then computed the average annual rates of reduction of prevalence of undernutrition using the formula derived by UNICEF. Finally, we projected the prevalence of undernutrition for the year 2015 using the estimated average annual rates of reduction.

Setting

Nationwide covering Bangladesh.

Subjects

Children under 5 years of age (n 28 941).

Results

The prevalence of stunting decreased by 18·8 % (from 60·0 % to 41·2 %), underweight by 16·0 % (from 52·2 % to 36·2 %) and wasting by 5·1 % (from 20·6 % to 15·5 %) during 1996 to 2011. The overall average annual rates of reduction were 2·84 %, 2·69 % and 2·47 %, respectively, for stunting, underweight and wasting. We forecast that in 2015, the prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting will be 36·7 %, 32·5 % and 14·0 %, respectively, at the national level. The prevalence of undernutrition is likely to remain high in rural areas, in the Sylhet division and in the poorest wealth quintile.

Conclusions

Bangladesh is likely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 1C target of reducing the prevalence of underweight by half by 2015. However, it is falling behind in reducing stunting and further investment is needed to reduce individual, household and environmental determinants of stunting in Bangladesh.
Evaluation of a brief intervention to assist health visitors and community practitioners to engage with fathers as part of the healthy child initiative
Authors: Humphries Heatha , Nolan Mary
Published: February 2015

Aims

To improve engagement of Health Visitors and Community Practitioners delivering the Healthy Child Programme with fathers. To evaluate a one-day, father-focused workshop with a supporting handbook for Practitioners. To identify institutional and organisational barriers to engagement with fathers.

Background

The UK government policy encourages health professionals to engage with fathers. This derives from robust evidence that fathers’ early involvement with their children impacts positively on emotional, behavioural and educational development. Yet, there is little evidence that the importance of engaging fathers is reflected in Health Visitor training or that primary-care services are wholly embracing father-inclusive practice. The Fatherhood Institute (FI), a UK charity, has developed a workshop for Practitioners delivering the Healthy Child Programme.

Method

A ‘before and after’ evaluation study, comprising a survey followed by telephone interviews, evaluated the impact of the FI workshop on Health Visitors’ and Community Practitioners’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in practice. A total of 134 Health Visitors and Community Practitioners from eight NHS Trusts in England attended the workshop from November 2011 to January 2014 at 12 sites. A specially constructed survey, incorporating a validated questionnaire, was administered before the workshop, immediately afterwards and three months later. Telephone interviews further explored participants’ responses.

Findings

Analysis of the questionnaire data showed that the workshop and handbook improved participants’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in practice. This was sustained over a three-month period. In telephone interviews, most participants said that the workshop had raised their awareness of engaging fathers and offered them helpful strategies. However, they also spoke of barriers to engagement with fathers. NHS Trusts need to review the training and education of Health Visitors and Community Practitioners and take a more strategic approach towards father-inclusive practice and extend services to meet the needs of fathers.
The Poetic Mingus and the Politics of Genre in String Quartet No. 1
Authors: AASLID VILDE
Published: February 2015

In 1972, the Whitney Museum of American Art commissioned new musical settings of poems by Frank O'Hara for a concert honoring the late poet. Among pieces by Virgil Thomson and Ned Rorem, the program featured a new work by Charles Mingus: his String Quartet No. 1. Mingus's piece was performed only once, at that concert, and was never recorded. It survives only in manuscript form.

String Quartet No. 1 thwarts nearly all expectations of a piece by Mingus. Scored for strings and voice, the work's modernist approach to rhythm and pitch is unprecedented for the composer. Mingus chafed at being categorized as a “jazz” composer, and String Quartet No. 1's style is both a bid for and an undermining of the prestige of the high art world. Faced with primitivist discourses that characterized jazz musicians as unschooled and nonverbal, Mingus deployed poetry as a mode of resistance. He worked with poetic texts throughout his life, often writing the poetry himself. Mingus's sensitive setting of O'Hara's text in String Quartet No. 1 points to the centrality of poetry to Mingus's artistic and political project, and suggests that the piece's anomalous style can be partially understood as his response to O'Hara's text.
Scientific Reasoning in Higher Education
Authors: Hartmann Stefan , Upmeier zu Belzen Annette , Krüger Dirk , Pant Hans Anand
Published: February 2015

The aim of this study was to develop a standardized test addressed to measure preservice science teachers’ scientific reasoning skills, and to initially evaluate its psychometric properties. We constructed 123 multiple-choice items, using 259 students’ conceptions to generate highly attractive multiple-choice response options. In an item response theory-based validation study (N = 2,247), we applied multiple regression analyses to test hypotheses based on groups with known attributes. As predicted, graduate students performed better than undergraduate students, and students who studied two natural science disciplines performed better than students who studied only one natural science discipline. In contrast to our initial hypothesis, preservice science teachers performed less well than a control group of natural sciences students. Remarkably, an interaction effect of the degree program (bachelor vs. master) and the qualification (natural sciences student vs. preservice teacher) was found, suggesting that preservice science teachers’ learning opportunities to explicitly discuss and reflect on the inquiry process have a positive effect on the development of their scientific reasoning skills. We conclude that the evidence provides support for the criterion-based validity of our interpretation of the test scores as measures of scientific reasoning competencies.
Spatiotemporal noise characterization for chirped-pulse amplification systems
Authors: Ma Jingui , Yuan Peng , Wang Jing , Wang Yongzhi , Xie Guoqiang , Zhu Heyuan , Qian Liejia
Published: February 2015

Optical noise, the core of the pulse-contrast challenge for ultra-high peak power femtosecond lasers, exhibits spatiotemporal (ST) coupling induced by angular dispersion. Full characterization of such ST noise requires two-dimensional measurements in the ST domain. Thus far, all noise measurements have been made only in the temporal domain. Here we report the experimental characterization of the ST noise, which is made feasible by extending cross-correlation from the temporal domain to the ST domain. We experimentally demonstrate that the ST noise originates from the optical surface imperfections in the pulse stretcher/compressor and exhibits a linear ST coupling in the far-field plane. The contrast on the far-field axis, underestimated in the conventional measurements, is further improved by avoiding the far-field optics in the stretcher. These results enhance our understanding of the pulse contrast with respect to its ST-coupling nature and pave the way toward the design of high-contrast ultra-high peak power lasers.
Hierarchical ZnO Nanostructures with Blooming Flowers Driven by Screw Dislocations
Authors: Huang Chengzi , Shi Run , Amini Abbas , Wu Zefei , Xu Shuigang , Zhang Linfei , Cao Wei , Feng Jiangwei , Song Haisheng , Shi Yantao , Wang Ning , Cheng Chun
Published: February 2015

Hierarchical ZnO nanostructures with a large yield were fabricated by a simple thermal evaporation method. For the first time, novel ZnO flowers were observed blooming at certain sites of a variety of spines, identified as Zn-terminated polar (0001) planes or tips. The spines for as-synthesized hierarchical structures can be nanowires, nanobelts, nanodendrites, nanobrushes, etc. This growth phenomenon determines the key role of polar sites in the fabrication of hierarchical structures. The spiral feature of ZnO flowers indicates an unusual screw dislocation driven growth mechanism, which is attributed to a high concentration of Zn vapor.
Co-overexpression of geraniol-10-hydroxylase and strictosidine synthase improves anti-cancer drug camptothecin accumulation in Ophiorrhiza pumila
Authors: Cui Lijie , Ni Xiaoling , Ji Qian , Teng Xiaojuan , Yang Yanru , Wu Chao , Zekria David , Zhang Dasheng , Kai Guoyin
Published: February 2015

Camptothecin (CPT) belongs to a group of monoterpenoidindole alkaloids (TIAs) and its derivatives such as irinothecan and topothecan have been widely used worldwide for the treatment of cancer, giving rise to rapidly increasing market demands. Genes from Catharanthus roseus encoding strictosidine synthase (STR) and geraniol 10-hydroxylase (G10H), were separately and simultaneously introduced into Ophiorrhiza pumila hairy roots. Overexpression of individual G10H (G lines) significantly improved CPT production with respect to non-transgenic hairy root cultures (NC line) and single STR overexpressing lines (S lines), indicating that G10H plays a more important role in stimulating CPT accumulation than STR in O. pumila. Furthermore, co-overexpression of G10H and STR genes (SG Lines) caused a 56% increase on the yields of CPT compared to NC line and single gene transgenic lines, showed that simultaneous introduction of G10H and STR can produce a synergistic effect on CPT biosynthesis in O. pumila. The MTT assay results indicated that CPT extracted from different lines showed similar anti-tumor activity, suggesting that transgenic O. pumila hairy root lines could be an alternative approach to obtain CPT. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the enhancement of CPT production in O. pumila employing a metabolic engineering strategy.
Expression of Cystatin SN significantly correlates with recurrence, metastasis and survival duration in surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Cao Xun , Li Yong , Luo Rong-Zhen , Zhang Lin , Zhang Song-Liang , Zeng Jun , Han Yu-Jing , Wen Zhe-Sheng
Published: February 2015

Cystatin SN has been considered to be involved in human cancer, but its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of Cystatin SN expression in patients with surgically resected NSCLCs. A retrospective analysis of 174 patients with surgically resected NSCLCs from April 2002 to March 2005 was performed with immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization to analyze the protein expression and amplification of Cystatin SN. The associations between Cystatin SN expression and recurrence, metastasis and survival were investigated. In recurrence and metastasis analysis, compared with low-Cystatin SN expression NSCLCs, high expression tumors were more likely to recur and metastasize (P < 0.001). Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly prolonged in the low-Cystatin SN expression subgroup compared with the high-Cystatin SN expression subgroup (DFS, P < 0.001; OS, P = 0.001). A multivariate analysis confirmed that high expression of Cystatin SN was associated with poor survival (DFS, P = 0.001; OS, P = 0.006) and was an independent prognostic indicator. The present study indicates that high expression of Cystatin SN is a significant prognostic indicator of a higher rate of recurrence, metastatic risk and poor survival in patients with surgically resected NSCLCs.
A consensus linkage map of oil palm and a major QTL for stem height
Authors: Lee May , Xia Jun Hong , Zou Zhongwei , Ye Jian , Rahmadsyah  , Alfiko Yuzer , Jin Jingjing , Lieando Jessica Virginia , Purnamasari Maria Indah , Lim Chin Huat , Suwanto Antonius , Wong Limsoon , Chua Nam-Hai , Yue Gen Hua
Published: February 2015

Oil palm (Elaeis guinensis Jacquin) is the most important source of vegetable oil and fat. Several linkage maps had been constructed using dominant and co-dominant markers to facilitate mapping of QTL. However, dominant markers are not easily transferable among different laboratories. We constructed a consensus linkage map for oil palm using co-dominant markers (i.e. microsatellite and SNPs) and two F1 breeding populations generated by crossing Dura and Pisifera individuals. Four hundreds and forty-four microsatellites and 36 SNPs were mapped onto 16 linkage groups. The map length was 1565.6 cM, with an average marker space of 3.72 cM. A genome-wide scan of QTL identified a major QTL for stem height on the linkage group 5, which explained 51% of the phenotypic variation. Genes in the QTL were predicted using the palm genome sequence and bioinformatic tools. The linkage map supplies a base for mapping QTL for accelerating the genetic improvement and will be also useful in the improvement of the assembly of the genome sequences. Markers linked to the QTL may be used in selecting dwarf trees. Genes within the QTL will be characterized to understand the mechanisms underlying dwarfing.
Extended Loop Region of Hcp1 is Critical for the Assembly and Function of Type VI Secretion System in Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Lim Yan Ting , Jobichen Chacko , Wong Jocelyn , Limmathurotsakul Direk , Li Shaowei , Chen Yahua , Raida Manfred , Srinivasan Nalini , MacAry Paul Anthony , Sivaraman J. , Gan Yunn-Hwen
Published: February 2015

The Type VI Secretion System cluster 1 (T6SS1) is essential for the pathogenesis of Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease endemic in the tropics. Inside host cells, B. pseudomallei escapes into the cytosol and through T6SS1, induces multinucleated giant cell (MNGC) formation that is thought to be important for bacterial cell to cell spread. The hemolysin-coregulated protein (Hcp) is both a T6SS substrate, as well as postulated to form part of the T6SS secretion tube. Our structural study reveals that Hcp1 forms hexameric rings similar to the other Hcp homologs but has an extended loop (Asp40-Arg56) that deviates significantly in position compared to other Hcp structures and may act as a key contact point between adjacent hexameric rings. When two residues within the loop were mutated, the mutant proteins were unable to stack as dodecamers, suggesting defective tube assembly. Moreover, infection with a bacterial mutant containing in situ substitution of these hcp1 residues abolishes Hcp1 secretion inside infected cells and MNGC formation. We further show that Hcp has the ability to preferentially bind to the surface of antigen-presenting cells, which may contribute to its immunogenicity in inducing high titers of antibodies seen in melioidosis patients.
Dimming Titan Revealed by the Cassini Observations
Authors: Li Liming
Published: February 2015

Here we report the temporal variation of Titan's emitted energy with the Cassini/CIRS observations. In the northern hemisphere, the hemispheric-average emitted power decreased from 2007 to 2009 and increased from 2009 to 2012–13, which make the net change insignificant (0.1 ± 0.2%) during the period 2007–2013. The decrease from 2007 to 2009 is mainly due to the cooling around the stratospause and the increase from 2009 to 2012–13 is probably related to temporal variation of atmospheric temperature around the tropopuase in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, the emitted power continuously decreased by 5.0 ± 0.6% from 2.40 ± 0.01 W/m2 in 2007 to 2.28 ± 0.01 in 2012–13, which is mainly related to Titan's seasonal variation. The asymmetry in the temporal variation between the two hemispheres results in the global-average emitted power decreasing by 2.5 ± 0.6% from 2.41 ± 0.01 W/m2 in 2007 to 2.35 ± 0.01 W/m2 in 2012–13. The solar constant at Titan decreased by ~13.0% in the same period 2007–2013, which is much stronger than the temporal variation of emitted power. The measurements of Titan's absorbed solar power are needed to determine the temporal variation of the global energy budget.
Synthesis and Verification of Biobased Terephthalic Acid from Furfural
Authors: Tachibana Yuya , Kimura Saori , Kasuya Ken-ichi
Published: February 2015

Exploiting biomass as an alternative to petrochemicals for the production of commodity plastics is vitally important if we are to become a more sustainable society. Here, we report a synthetic route for the production of terephthalic acid (TPA), the monomer of the widely used thermoplastic polymer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), from the biomass-derived starting material furfural. Biobased furfural was oxidised and dehydrated to give maleic anhydride, which was further reacted with biobased furan to give its Diels-Alder (DA) adduct. The dehydration of the DA adduct gave phthalic anhydride, which was converted via phthalic acid and dipotassium phthalate to TPA. The biobased carbon content of the TPA was measured by accelerator mass spectroscopy and the TPA was found to be made of 100% biobased carbon.
Core – shell upconversion nanoparticle – semiconductor heterostructures for photodynamic therapy
Authors: Dou Qing Qing , Rengaramchandran Adith , Selvan Subramanian Tamil , Paulmurugan Ramasamy , Zhang Yong
Published: February 2015

Core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) with diverse chemical compositions have been attracting greater attention in recent years. However, it has been a challenge to develop CSNPs with different crystal structures due to the lattice mismatch of the nanocrystals. Here we report a rational design of core-shell heterostructure consisting of NaYF4:Yb,Tm upconversion nanoparticle (UCN) as the core and ZnO semiconductor as the shell for potential application in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The core-shell architecture (confirmed by TEM and STEM) enables for improving the loading efficiency of photosensitizer (ZnO) as the semiconductor is directly coated on the UCN core. Importantly, UCN acts as a transducer to sensitize ZnO and trigger the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce cancer cell death. We also present a firefly luciferase (FLuc) reporter gene based molecular biosensor (ARE-FLuc) to measure the antioxidant signaling response activated in cells during the release of ROS in response to the exposure of CSNPs under 980 nm NIR light. The breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and 4T1) exposed to CSNPs showed significant release of ROS as measured by aminophenyl fluorescein (APF) and ARE-FLuc luciferase assays and ~45% cancer cell death as measured by MTT assay, when illuminated with 980 nm NIR light.
The contribution of PA-X to the virulence of pandemic 2009 H1N1 and highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses
Authors: Gao Huijie , Sun Yipeng , Hu Jiao , Qi Lu , Wang Jinliang , Xiong Xin , Wang Yu , He Qiming , Lin Yang , Kong Weili , Seng Lai-Giea , Sun Honglei , Pu Juan , Chang Kin-Chow , Liu Xiufan , Liu Jinhua
Published: February 2015

PA-X is a novel protein encoded by PA mRNA and is found to decrease the pathogenicity of pandemic 1918 H1N1 virus in mice. However, the importance of PA-X proteins in current epidemiologically important influenza A virus strains is not known. In this study, we report on the pathogenicity and pathological effects of PA-X deficient 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) and highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses. We found that loss of PA-X expression in pH1N1 and H5N1 viruses increased viral replication and apoptosis in A549 cells and increased virulence and host inflammatory response in mice. In addition, PA-X deficient pH1N1 and H5N1 viruses up-regulated PA mRNA and protein synthesis and increased viral polymerase activity. Loss of PA-X was also accompanied by accelerated nuclear accumulation of PA protein and reduced suppression of PA on non-viral protein expression. Our study highlights the effects of PA-X on the moderation of viral pathogenesis and pathogenicity.
Hollow screw-like drill in plasma using an intense Laguerre–Gaussian laser
Authors: Wang Wenpeng , Shen Baifei , Zhang Xiaomei , Zhang Lingang , Shi Yin , Xu Zhizhan
Published: February 2015

With the development of ultra-intense laser technology, MeV ions can be obtained from laser–foil interactions in the laboratory. These energetic ion beams can be applied in fast ignition for inertial confinement fusion, medical therapy and proton imaging. However, these ions are mainly accelerated in the laser propagation direction. Ion acceleration in an azimuthal orientation was scarcely studied. In this research, a doughnut Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) laser is used for the first time to examine laser–plasma interaction in the relativistic intensity regime in three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Studies have shown that a novel rotation of the plasma is produced from the hollow screw-like drill of an "Equation missing" mode laser. The angular momentum of particles in the longitudinal direction produced by the LG laser is enhanced compared with that produced by the usual laser pulses, such as linearly and circularly polarized Gaussian pulses. Moreover, the particles (including electrons and ions) can be trapped and uniformly compressed in the dark central minimum of the doughnut LG pulse. The hollow-structured LG laser has potential applications in the generation of x-rays with orbital angular momentum, plasma accelerators, fast ignition for inertial confinement fusion and pulsars in the astrophysical environment.
Targeted Sequencing in Chromosome 17q Linkage Region Identifies Familial Glioma Candidates in the Gliogene Consortium
Authors: Jalali Ali , Amirian E. Susan , Bainbridge Matthew N. , Armstrong Georgina N. , Liu Yanhong , Tsavachidis Spyros , Jhangiani Shalini N. , Plon Sharon E. , Lau Ching C. , Claus Elizabeth B. , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill S. , Il'yasova Dora , Schildkraut Joellen , Ali-Osman Francis , Sadetzki Siegal , Johansen Christoffer , Houlston Richard S. , Jenkins Robert B. , Lachance Daniel , Olson Sara H. , Bernstein Jonine L. , Merrell Ryan T. , Wrensch Margaret R. , Davis Faith G. , Lai Rose , Shete Sanjay , Aldape Kenneth , Amos Christopher I. , Muzny Donna M. , Gibbs Richard A. , Melin Beatrice S. , Bondy Melissa L.
Published: February 2015

Glioma is a rare, but highly fatal, cancer that accounts for the majority of malignant primary brain tumors. Inherited predisposition to glioma has been consistently observed within non-syndromic families. Our previous studies, which involved non-parametric and parametric linkage analyses, both yielded significant linkage peaks on chromosome 17q. Here, we use data from next generation and Sanger sequencing to identify familial glioma candidate genes and variants on chromosome 17q for further investigation. We applied a filtering schema to narrow the original list of 4830 annotated variants down to 21 very rare (<0.1% frequency), non-synonymous variants. Our findings implicate the MYO19 and KIF18B genes and rare variants in SPAG9 and RUNDC1 as candidates worthy of further investigation. Burden testing and functional studies are planned.
Determination methods for the anticancer drug dicycloplatin, a supramolecule assembled through hydrogen bonding
Authors: Yang Xuqing , Zheng Jianwei , Song Qinghua , Xie Fang , Tang Jijun , Chen Jia , Wu Jianfeng , Li Chunzheng , Cui Weichuan , Tang Youqi , Xie Jianwei , Zheng Jianqiang
Published: February 2015

Dicycloplatin is a new generation supramolecular platinum-containing anti-cancer drug.
Switching the recognition preference of thiourea derivative by replacing Cu2+: spectroscopic characteristics of aggregation-induced emission and mechanism studies for recognition of Hg(ii) in aqueous solution
Authors: Wang Aizhi , Yang Yunxu , Yu Feifei , Xue Lingwei , Hu Biwei , Dong Yajun , Fan Weiping
Published: February 2015

Design, synthesis and characterization of thiourea-functionalized π-conjugated cyanostilbene derivative of CN-S.
Ultra-small gold nanoparticles immobilized on mesoporous silica/graphene oxide as highly active and stable heterogeneous catalysts
Authors: Peng Li , Zhang Jianling , Yang Shuliang , Han Buxing , Sang Xinxin , Liu Chengcheng , Ma Xue , Yang Guanying
Published: February 2015

The ultra-small gold nanoparticles immobilized on the mesoporous SiO2/graphene oxide (GO) support were formed via a one-pot synthetic route.
All-atom lipid bilayer self-assembly with the AMBER and CHARMM lipid force fields
Authors: Skjevik Åge A. , Madej Benjamin D. , Dickson Callum J. , Teigen Knut , Walker Ross C. , Gould Ian R.
Published: February 2015

In this work we report the first example of spontaneous lipid bilayer formation in unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
Microporous polymer network films covalently bound to gold electrodes
Authors: Becker Daniel , Heidary Nina , Horch Marius , Gernert Ulrich , Zebger Ingo , Schmidt Johannes , Fischer Anna , Thomas Arne
Published: February 2015

Thin films of microporous polymer networks are covalently attached to SAM functionalized gold electrodes.
Anchoring AgBr nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped graphene for enhancement of electrochemiluminescence and radical stability
Authors: Jiang Ding , Du Xiaojiao , Liu Qian , Hao Nan , Qian Jing , Dai Liming , Mao Hanping , Wang Kun
Published: February 2015

AgBr nanoparticles anchored nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposites were designed to obtain enhanced electrochemiluminescence intensity and better stability.
Thermodynamic stability and structure of cuprous chloride surfaces: a DFT investigation
Authors: Suleiman Ibrahim A. , Radny Marian W. , Gladys Michael J. , Smith Phillip V. , Mackie John C. , Kennedy Eric M. , Dlugogorski Bogdan Z.
Published: February 2015

Using DFT calculations, we report the geometries and energetics of the ideal and defective low index CuCl surfaces, and show that CuCl nanoparticles have a prismatic shape in a Cl-rich environment.
Electrocatalytic proton reduction catalysed by the low-valent tetrairon-oxo cluster [Fe4(CO)10(κ2-dppn)(μ4-O)]2− [dppn = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene]
Authors: Ghosh Shishir , Holt Katherine B. , Kabir Shariff E. , Richmond Michael G. , Hogarth Graeme
Published: February 2015

[Fe4(CO)10(κ2-dppn)(μ4-O)]2− reduces protons and DFT calculations support the sequential formation of hydride and dihydrogen ligands at the unique iron centre.
Metal ion-assisted ring-opening of a quinazoline-based chemosensor: detection of copper(ii) in aqueous media
Authors: Cao Wei , Zheng Xiang-Jun , Fang De-Cai , Jin Lin-Pei
Published: February 2015

A fluorescence chemosensor for Cu(ii) in aqueous media was synthesized. The experiments and theoretical calculations confirmed that the Cu(ii) ion assisted the ring-opening of the quinazoline derivative, forming a Cu(ii) Schiff base during the detection.
Dynamic modeling of the Ganga river system: impacts of future climate and socio-economic change on flows and nitrogen fluxes in India and Bangladesh
Authors: Whitehead P. G. , Sarkar S. , Jin L. , Futter M. N. , Caesar J. , Barbour E. , Butterfield D. , Sinha R. , Nicholls R. , Hutton C. , Leckie H. D.
Published: February 2015

This study investigates the potential impacts of future climate and socio-economic change on the flow and nitrogen fluxes of the Ganga river system.
Negative hyperconjugation and red-, blue- or zero-shift in X–Z⋯Y complexes
Authors: Joy Jyothish , Jemmis Eluvathingal D. , Vidya Kaipanchery
Published: February 2015

A generalized explanation is provided for the existence of the red- and blue-shifting nature of X–Z bonds (Z = H, halogens, chalcogens, pnicogens,etc.) in X–Z⋯Y complexes based on computational studies on a selected set of weakly bonded complexes and analysis of existing literature data. The additional electrons and orbitals available on Z in comparison to H make for dramatic differences between the H-bond and the rest of the Z-bonds. The nature of the X-group and its influence on the X–Z bond length in the parent X–Z molecule largely controls the change in the X–Z bond length on X–Z⋯Y bond formation; the Y-group usually influences only the magnitude of the effects controlled by X. The major factors which control the X–Z bond length change are: (a) negative hyperconjugative donation of electron density from X-group to X–Z σ* antibonding molecular orbital (ABMO) in the parent X–Z, (b) induced negative hyperconjugation from the lone pair of electrons on Z to the antibonding orbitals of the X-group, and (c) charge transfer (CT) from the Y-group to the X–Z σ* orbital. The exchange repulsion from the Y-group that shifts partial electron density at the X–Z σ* ABMO back to X leads to blue-shifting and the CT from the Y-group to the σ* ABMO of X–Z leads to red-shifting. The balance between these two opposing forces decides red-, zero- or blue-shifting. A continuum of behaviour of X–Z bond length variation is inevitable in X–Z⋯Y complexes.
“On water” catalysis: an expeditious approach for the synthesis of quaternary centered 3-hydroxy-3-(nitromethyl)indolin-2-one derivatives
Authors: SaiPrathima Parvathaneni , Srinivas Keesara , Mohan Rao Mandapati
Published: February 2015

An efficient, eco-friendly “on water” method has been developed for the Henry reaction of isatins with nitromethane to afford 3-hydroxy-3-nitromethylindolin-2-ones. An enhancement in reaction rate was observed “on water” under mild and catalyst-free conditions.
Inkjet print microchannels based on a liquid template
Authors: Guo Yuzhen , Li Lihong , Li Fengyu , Zhou Haihua , Song Yanlin
Published: February 2015

A simple method to fabricate microchannels is demonstrated based on an inkjet printing liquid template.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts induce trastuzumab resistance in HER2 positive breast cancer cells
Authors: Mao Yan , Zhang Yuzi , Qu Qing , Zhao Meizhong , Lou Ying , Liu Junjun , huang Ou , Chen Xiaosong , Wu Jiayi , Shen Kunwei
Published: February 2015

CAFs isolated from HER2+ patients secreted higher levels of IL6 which expanded cancer stem cells and activated multiple pathways, then induced trastuzumab resistance in HER2 positive breast cancer cells.
Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory/chondroprotective activity of aldose reductase inhibitors in human chondrocyte cultures
Authors: Panico Annamaria , Maccari Rosanna , Cardile Venera , Avondo Sergio , Crascì Lucia , Ottanà Rosaria
Published: February 2015

2-Thioxo-4-thiazolidinone derivatives active as aldose reductase inhibitors were able to control key inflammatory/degenerative events induced by IL-1β in human chondrocytes, appearing to be promising candidates in the search for novel anti-inflammatory agents.
A manual and an automatic TERS based virus discrimination
Authors: Olschewski Konstanze , Kämmer Evelyn , Stöckel Stephan , Bocklitz Thomas , Deckert-Gaudig Tanja , Zell Roland , Cialla-May Dana , Weber Karina , Deckert Volker , Popp Jürgen
Published: February 2015

New chemometric methods for a successful visual and automatic discrimination of two different virus species based on their TERS spectra.