bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Illustrative Education of Rousseau'sEmile
Authors: SCOTT JOHN T.
Published: July 2014

Rousseau's mission as an author was to make his readers see what he saw in his philosophical “illumination,” yet his task is a paradoxical one, for he must persuade his readers that they are deceived by what they see before their own eyes and must learn to see anew. In order to transform the perspective of his reader, Rousseau throughout his works uses visual imagery and rhetorical devices invoking vision that represents both the correct view of human nature and virtue and the obstacles to learning to see ourselves properly. As a former engraver's apprentice, he was particularly interested in educating his reader through actual images such as frontispieces or illustrations. The aim of this article is to offer an interpretation of the engravings that illustrateEmile, or On Education, in order to investigate how Rousseau educates his reader through challenging the reader's preconceptions concerning human nature and replacing traditional exemplars of human nature and virtue with a new exemplar seen in his imaginary pupil.
Pectoralis major myofascial flap in salvage laryngectomy
Authors: Cömert E , Tunçel Ü , Torun M Taner , Kiliç C , Cengiz A Buğra , şencan Z , Kaya M
Published: July 2014

Objective:

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the pectoralis major myofascial flap on pharyngocutaneous fistula formation and time to oral feeding.

Methods:

This retrospective study reviewed 155 total laryngectomies. Patients were divided into two main groups. Group 1 included 110 patients who were treated primarily by total laryngectomy and group 2 comprised 45 patients who were treated by salvage laryngectomy with or without a pectoralis major myofascial flap.

Results:

The use of a pectoralis major myofascial flap did not have a significant effect on pharyngocutaneous fistula formation in the salvage group (p = 0.376). When comparing the oral feeding day of patients with pharyngocutaneous fistula, a significant difference was observed between the salvage group with pectoralis major myofascial flap reinforcement and the salvage group without pectoralis major myofascial flap reinforcement (p = 0.004).

Discussion:

Our study demonstrated that pectoralis major myofascial flap reinforcement did not decrease the rate of pharyngocutaneous fistula formation. Instead, it prevented the formation of large fistulas that would require surgical management, and showed a similar time to oral feeding and length of hospital stay to primary laryngectomy.
Diet and ontogenetic shift in habitat use byRhinosardinia bahiensisin a tropical semi-arid estuary, north-eastern Brazil
Authors: Clark Fernando José König , Pessanha André Luiz Machado
Published: July 2014

The feeding biology of bahia sprat (Rhinosardinia bahiensis) was studied in two habitats of a tropical semi-arid estuary, on the north-eastern Brazilian coast. Samplings were collected on a monthly basis (January 2010–February 2011), and fish were caught during the day using an 8 m beach seine. Habitat use was size-dependent, with tidal mudflat occupied by higher size-classes than tidal creeks, which were occupied by smaller conspecifics. The diet analysis of different size-classes revealed that all sizes of fish consumed similar taxa (Calanoida, Cyclopoida and Decapoda larvae), and that the relative proportion of taxa consumed reflected fish size. Dietary differences between the two nursery areas mainly reflected prey availability. Although high diet overlap was only found between some size-classes in tidal mudflat, these results seem to demonstrate a strategy for efficient use of space potential; intraspecific competition was probably minimized by a differential habitat use patterns.
Survey and comparative study of free simulation software for mobile robots
Authors: Torres-Torriti M. , Arredondo T. , Castillo-Pizarro P.
Published: July 2014

In robotics, simulation has become an essential tool for research, education, and design purposes. Various software tools for mobile robot simulation have been developed and have reached different levels of maturity in recent years. This paper presents a general survey of mobile robot simulation tools and discusses qualitative and quantitative aspects of selection of four major simulators publicly available at no cost: Carmen, Player-Stage-Gazebo, Open Dynamics Engine, and Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio. The comparison of the simulators is aimed at establishing the range of applications for which these are best suited as well as their accuracy for certain simulation tasks. The simulators chosen for detailed comparison were selected considering their level of maturity, modularity, and popularity among engineers and researchers. The qualitative comparison included a discussion of relevant features. The quantitative analysis entailed the development of a detailed dynamical model of a mobile robot on a road with varying slope. This model was used as benchmark to compare the accuracy of each simulator. The validity of the simulated results was also contrasted against measurements obtained from experiments with a real robot. This research and analysis should be very valuable to educators, engineers, and researchers who are always seeking adequate tools for simulating autonomous mobile robots.
Pragmatics in acquisition
Authors: CLARK EVE V.
Published: July 2014

Recent research has highlighted several areas where pragmatics plays a central role in the process of acquiring a first language. In talking with their children, adults display their uses of language in each context, and offer extensive feedback on form, meaning, and usage, within their conversational exchanges. These interactions depend critically on joint attention, physical co-presence, and conversational co-presence – essential factors that help children assign meanings, establish reference, and add to common ground. For young children, getting their meaning across also depends on realizing language is conventional, that words contrast in meaning, and that they need to observe Grice's cooperative principle in conversation. Adults make use of the same pragmatic principles as they solicit repairs to what children say, and thereby offer feedback on both what the language is and how to use it.
First language development: a usage-based perspective on past and current research
Authors: LIEVEN ELENA
Published: July 2014

I first outline three major developments in child language research over the past forty years: the use of computational modelling to reveal the structure of information in the input; the focus on quantifying productivity and abstraction; and developments in the explanation of systematic errors. Next, I turn to what I consider to be major outstanding issues: how the network of constructions builds up and the relationship between social and cognitive development and language learning. Finally, I briefly consider a number of other areas of importance to a psychologically realistic understanding of children's language development.
Harmonizing influenza primary-care surveillance in the United Kingdom: piloting two methods to assess the timing and intensity of the seasonal epidemic across several general practice-based surveillance schemes
Authors: GREEN H. K. , CHARLETT A. , MORAN-GILAD J. , FLEMING D. , DURNALL H. , THOMAS D. Rh. , COTTRELL S. , SMYTH B. , KEARNS C. , REYNOLDS A. J. , SMITH G. E. , ELLIOT A. J. , ELLIS J. , ZAMBON M. , WATSON J. M. , McMENAMIN J. , PEBODY R. G.
Published: July 2014

General Practitioner consultation rates for influenza-like illness (ILI) are monitored through several geographically distinct schemes in the UK, providing early warning to government and health services of community circulation and intensity of activity each winter. Following on from the 2009 pandemic, there has been a harmonization initiative to allow comparison across the distinct existing surveillance schemes each season. The moving epidemic method (MEM), proposed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control for standardizing reporting of ILI rates, was piloted in 2011/12 and 2012/13 along with the previously proposed UK method of empirical percentiles. The MEM resulted in thresholds that were lower than traditional thresholds but more appropriate as indicators of the start of influenza virus circulation. The intensity of the influenza season assessed with the MEM was similar to that reported through the percentile approach. The MEM pre-epidemic threshold has now been adopted for reporting by each country of the UK. Further work will continue to assess intensity of activity and apply standardized methods to other influenza-related data sources.
ERK1/2 mediates sperm acrosome reaction through elevation of intracellular calcium concentration
Authors: Jaldety Yael , Breitbart Haim
Published: July 2014

Mammalian sperm acquire fertilization capacity after residing in the female reproductive tract for a few hours in a process called capacitation. Only capacitated sperm can bind the zona pellucida (ZP) of the egg and undergo the acrosome reaction, a process that allows penetration and fertilization. Extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) mediates signalling in many cell types, however its role in sperm function is largely unknown. Here we show that ERK1/2 is highly phosphorylated/activated after a short incubation of mouse sperm under capacitation conditions and that this phosphorylation is reduced after longer incubation. Further phosphorylation was observed upon addition of crude extract of egg ZP or epidermal growth factor (EGF). The mitogen-activated ERK-kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 abolished ERK1/2 phosphorylation,in vitrofertilization rate and the acrosome reaction induced by ZP or EGF but not by the Ca2+-ionophore A23187. Moreover, inhibition of ERK1/2 along the capacitation process diminished almost completely the sperm's ability to go through the acrosome reaction, while inhibition at the end of capacitation attenuated the acrosome reaction rate by only 45%. The fact that the acrosome reaction, induced by the Ca2+-ionophore A23187, was not inhibited by U0126 suggests that ERK1/2 mediates the acrosome reaction by activating Ca2+transport into the cell. Direct determination of intracellular [Ca2+] revealed that Ca2+influx induced by EGF or ZP was completely blocked by U0126. Thus, it has been established that the increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation/activation in response to ZP or by activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR) by EGF, is a key event for intracellular Ca2+elevation and the subsequent occurrence of the acrosome reaction.
Large congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula between the left main coronary artery and right superior vena cava, associated with aneurysmal dilatation of the left main coronary artery: rare case report
Authors: Chandra Naveen , Sarkar Achyut , Pande Arindam
Published: July 2014

Coronary arteriovenous fistula is an uncommon clinical entity. The right coronary artery is the most common site of origin, and the fistula commonly drains into the right-sided cardiac chambers. Very rarely it can arise from the left main coronary artery, and fistulas draining into the superior vena cavity are extremely rare. We report a 12-year-old asymptomatic boy with a large coronary arteriovenous fistula between the left main coronary artery and superior vena cava, with aneurysmal dilatation of the left main coronary artery. As the fistula was very large and to prevent its complications, it was planned to close the fistula percutaneously.
Fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of 11-year-old children in ten European countries – the PRO GREENS cross-sectional survey
Authors: Lynch Christel , Kristjansdottir Asa Gudrun , te Velde Saskia J , Lien Nanna , Roos Eva , Thorsdottir Inga , Krawinkel Michael , de Almeida Maria Daniel Vaz , Papadaki Angeliki , Hlastan Ribic Cirila , Petrova Stefka , Ehrenblad Bettina , Halldorsson Thorhallur I , Poortvliet Eric , Yngve Agneta
Published: July 2014

Objective

To describe fruit and vegetable intake of 11-year-old children in ten European countries and compare it with current dietary guidelines.

Design

Cross-sectional survey. Intake was assessed using a previously validated questionnaire containing a pre-coded 24 h recall and an FFQ which were completed in the classroom. Portion sizes were calculated using a standardized protocol.

Setting

Surveys were performed in schools regionally selected in eight countries and nationally representative in two countries.

Subjects

A total of 8158 children from 236 schools across Europe participating in the PRO GREENS project.

Results

The total mean consumption of fruit and vegetables was between 220 and 345 g/d in the ten participating countries. Mean intakes did not reach the WHO population goal of ≥400 g/d in any of the participating countries. Girls had a significantly higher intake of total fruit and vegetables than boys in five of the countries (Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Bulgaria and Slovenia). Mean total fruit intake ranged between 114 and 240 g/d and vegetable intake between 73 and 141 g/d. When using the level ≥400 g/d as a cut-off, only 23·5 % (13·8–37·0 %) of the studied children, depending on country and gender, met the WHO recommendation (fruit juice excluded).

Conclusions

Fruit and vegetable consumption was below recommended levels among the schoolchildren in all countries and vegetable intake was lower than fruit intake. The survey shows that there is a need for promotional activities to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in this age group.
Enhancement of the use and impact of germplasm in crop improvement
Authors: Upadhyaya H. D. , Dwivedi S. L. , Sharma S. , Lalitha N. , Singh S. , Varshney R. K. , Gowda C. L. L.
Published: July 2014

Plant genetic resources are raw materials and their use in breeding is one of the most sustainable ways to conserve biodiversity. The ICRISAT has over 120,000 accessions of its five mandate crops and six small millets. The management and utilization of such large diversity are greatest challenges to germplasm curators and crop breeders. New sources of variations have been discovered using core and minicore collections developed at the ICRISAT. About 1.4 million seed samples have been distributed; some accessions with specific attributes have been requested more frequently. The advances in genomics have led researchers to dissect population structure and diversity and mine allelic variations associated with agronomically beneficial traits. Genome-wide association mapping in sorghum has revealed significant marker–trait associations for many agronomically beneficial traits. Wild relatives harbour genes for resistance to diseases and insect pests. Resistance to pod borer in chickpea and pigeonpea and resistance to rust and late leaf spot in groundnut have been successfully introgressed into a cultivated genetic background. Synthetics in groundnut are available to broaden the cultigen's gene pool. ICRISAT has notified the release of 266 varieties/cultivars, germplasm, and elite genetic stocks with unique traits, with some having a significant impact on breeding programs. Seventy-five germplasm lines have been directly released for cultivation in 39 countries.
A new typology of judicial review of legislation
Authors: COLÓN-RÍOS JOEL I
Published: July 2014

The distinction between strong and weak judicial review occupies a privileged place in comparative constitutional law. This article argues that it is necessary to generate a new typology that includes two other increasingly influential models. The two ‘new’ models can be identified as ‘strong basic structure review’ and ‘weak basic structure review’. The former, present in some common law countries such as India and Belize, not only provides judges with the ability to strike down legislation that is inconsistent with a particular constitutional provision, but also constitutional amendments incompatible with the principles on which the constitution rests. The latter model, weak basic structure review, currently present in some Latin American countries, also provides judges with the power to strike down ordinary and constitution-amending legislation, but gives ‘the people’, acting through a constituent assembly, the final word on the validity of any form of positive law. Finally, the article considers the possibility of the development of a fifth model in which even the constituent people would be bound by certain principles to be identified and enforced by judges.
‘Rules about rules’ and the endogenous dynamics of international law: Dissonance reduction as a mechanism of secondary rule-making
Authors: REINOLD THERESA , ZÜRN MICHAEL
Published: July 2014

We can observe some developments that indicate a further strengthening of human rights and the rule of law even after 2001. These developments are puzzling as they occurred despite largely unfavourable scope conditions. This article offers an account of these developments that focuses on dynamics endogenous to the law. These internal dynamics provide a causal mechanism that sets in once a certain threshold of legalization has been reached. We employ the Hartian notion of secondary rules which we think is an especially helpful conceptual tool to analyse the endogenous dynamics of legal systems. To the extent that law is programmed towards consistency, secondary rules become necessary in an environment of rapidly increasing legal density to govern the complexity resulting from this proliferation of norms. Upholding consistency is necessary to maintain the autonomy of law in a Luhmannian sense and the ‘morality’ of the legal system in a Fullerian sense. Our goal is to show this and at the same move beyond an argument of system or normative functionality by identifying causal mechanisms that can explain the law’s built-in drive towards secondary rules, and that are in accordance with broader social science theory. We use some insights from cognitive psychology to develop these causal mechanisms further. While testing these causal mechanisms would be beyond the scope of this paper, we hope to provide the conceptual tools for future empirical research on the dynamics of secondary rule-making and offer some empirical illustrations to demonstrate how dissonance reduction operates in practice.
Significant N2 fixation by heterotrophs, photoheterotrophs and heterocystous cyanobacteria in two temperate estuaries
Authors: Bentzon-Tilia Mikkel , Traving Sachia J , Mantikci Mustafa , Knudsen-Leerbeck Helle , Hansen Jørgen L S , Markager Stiig , Riemann Lasse
Published: July 2014

Nitrogen (N) fixation is fueling planktonic production in a multitude of aquatic environments. In meso- and poly-haline estuaries, however, the contribution of N by pelagic N2 fixation is believed to be insignificant due to the high input of N from land and the presumed absence of active N2-fixing organisms. Here we report N2 fixation rates, nifH gene composition and nifH gene transcript abundance for key diazotrophic groups over 1 year in two contrasting, temperate, estuarine systems: Roskilde Fjord (RF) and the Great Belt (GB) strait. Annual pelagic N2 fixation rates averaged 17 and 61 mmol N m−2 per year at the two sites, respectively. In RF, N2 fixation was mainly accompanied by transcripts related to heterotrophic (for example, Pseudomonas sp.) and photoheterotrophic bacteria (for example, unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria group A). In the GB, the first of two N2 fixation peaks coincided with a similar nifH-expressing community as in RF, whereas the second peak was synchronous with increased nifH expression by an array of diazotrophs, including heterotrophic organisms as well as the heterocystous cyanobacterium Anabaena. Thus, we show for the first time that significant planktonic N2 fixation takes place in mesohaline, temperate estuaries and that the importance of heterotrophic, photoheterotrophic and photosynthetic diazotrophs is clearly variable in space and time.
Sensitive voltammetric detection of caffeine in tea and other beverages based on a DNA-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode
Authors: Wang Yanwei , Wei Xiaohan , Wang Fei , Li Ming
Published: July 2014

An electrochemical sensor, based on a DNA-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (DNA-SWCNT) and Nafion composite film modified GCE, was developed and used for detection of caffeine.
The effect of pump-2 laser on Autler–Townes splitting in photoelectron spectra of K2 molecule
Authors: Guo Wei , Lu Xingqiang , Wang Xinlin , Yao Hongbin
Published: July 2014

Autler–Townes (AT) splitting was theoretically investigated in the photoelectron spectra of the four-level ladder K2 molecule driven by pump1–pump2–probe pulses using the time-dependent wave packet approach.
Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: epidemiology and effects on cardiometabolic risk factors
Authors: Mori Trevor A.
Published: July 2014

Clinical and epidemiological studies provide support that the polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish and fish oils are cardioprotective, particularly in the setting of secondary prevention.
Ne i spectral line shapes in Grimm-type glow discharge
Authors: Šišović N. M. , Ivanović N. V. , Majstorović G. Lj. , Konjević N.
Published: July 2014

We report the results of five Ne i line shapes study in an abnormal Grimm-type glow discharge operating in neon.
Structure-based approaches towards identification of fragments for the low-druggability ATAD2 bromodomain
Authors: Chaikuad Apirat , Petros Andrew M. , Fedorov Oleg , Xu Jing , Knapp Stefan
Published: July 2014

Fragments for the development of ATAD2 bromodomain inhibitors have been identified and characterized by NMR and co-crystallization.
Broadband ultrafast nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction of layered molybdenum dichalcogenide semiconductors
Authors: Wang Kangpeng , Feng Yanyan , Chang Chunxia , Zhan Jingxin , Wang Chengwei , Zhao Quanzhong , Coleman Jonathan N. , Zhang Long , Blau Werner J. , Wang Jun
Published: July 2014

The ultrafast, broadband, nonlinear optical response of a series of layered MoX2 (X = S, Se and Te) dispersions were investigated.
Monitoring penetratin interactions with lipid membranes and cell internalization using a new hydration-sensitive fluorescent probe
Authors: Zamotaiev Oleksandr M. , Postupalenko Viktoriia Y. , Shvadchak Volodymyr V. , Pivovarenko Vasyl G. , Klymchenko Andrey S. , Mély Yves
Published: July 2014

A new hydration-sensitive fluorescent label attached to the N-terminus of a cell-penetrating peptide allows visualization of the nanoscopic environment of its internalization pathway.
Tuning of HOMO energy levels and open circuit voltages in solar cells based on statistical copolymers prepared by ADMET polymerization
Authors: Paulsen Bryan D. , Speros Joshua C. , Claflin Megan S. , Hillmyer Marc A. , Frisbie C. Daniel
Published: July 2014

A donor–acceptor statistical copolymer series spanning the entire composition window was prepared and studied in organic solar cells.
Synthesis, characterisation, water adsorption and proton conductivity of three Cd(ii) based luminescent metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Parshamoni Srinivasulu , Jena Himanshu Sekhar , Sanda Suresh , Konar Sanjit
Published: July 2014

Three Cd(ii) based H-bonded 3D MOFs show a significant amount of uptake for water vapor and an impedance measurement indicates that they show proton conductivity at a higher temperature (358 K) at 95% relative humidity.
A simple and practical catalytic electron transfer system composed of TiCl4 and metallic Yb: application in carbonyl olefination and insight into the mechanism
Authors: Zhang Lili , Yu Xiaying , Zhang Lixin , Zhou Xigeng , Lin Yanghui
Published: July 2014

A simple and practical catalytic electron transfer system composed of TiCl4 and Yb, which turned out to be effective for homo- and cross-deoxygenative coupling of aldehydes and ketones was developed. Mechanistic data provide an insight into the rate-determining step and intermediates.
Highly efficient C–C cross-coupling for installing thiophene rings into π-conjugated systems
Authors: Song Juan , Wei Fuliang , Sun Wei , Cao Xiao , Liu Chao , Xie Linghai , Huang Wei
Published: July 2014

Thiophene, as one of the most common structural units in functional organic materials, was efficiently installed into π-conjugated systems via a simple, ligand free Suzuki coupling with only 0.02 mol% of palladium catalyst.
Two- and three-coordinate formal iron(i) compounds featuring monodentate aminocarbene ligands
Authors: Mo Zhenbo , Ouyang Zhenwu , Wang Lei , Fillman Kathlyn L. , Neidig Michael L. , Deng Liang
Published: July 2014

Monodentate aminocarbene ligands, both NHC and cAAC, are capable of stabilizing low-coordinate iron(i) compounds.
Mesoporous Ni0.3Co2.7O4hierarchical structures for effective non-enzymatic glucose detection
Authors: Liu Yuanying , Zhang Youjuan , Wang Ting , Qin Panpan , Guo Qifei , Pang Huan
Published: July 2014

An electrode modified with mesoporous Ni0.3Co2.7O4hierarchical structures shows a low detection limit of 1.0 μM glucose, good sensitivity of 206.5 mA mM−1cm−2, and good selectivity.
Redox-controlled fluorescence modulation (electrofluorochromism) in triphenylamine derivatives
Authors: Quinton Cassandre , Alain-Rizzo Valérie , Dumas-Verdes Cécile , Miomandre Fabien , Clavier Gilles , Audebert Pierre
Published: July 2014

The study of the chemical and electrochemical fluorescence switching properties of a family of substituted triphenylamine derivatives is reported.
A facile solvent-free route to synthesize ordered mesoporous carbons
Authors: Wang Qiaowei , Mu Yijie , Zhang Weili , Zhong Liangshu , Meng Yan , Sun Yuhan
Published: July 2014

A novel solvent-free route is developed to synthesize a series of highly ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) and functionalized OMCs from solid raw materials.
Dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes into aqueous solutions using Poh's cyclotetrachromo-tropylene (CTCT)
Authors: Georghiou Paris E. , Valluru Gopikishore , Schneider Celine , Liang Shuai , Woolridge Kathleen , Mulla Karimulla , Adronov Alex , Zhao Yuming
Published: July 2014

Poh's cyclotetrachromotropylene (CTCT), a water-soluble cyclic oligomeric dihydroxynaphthalenedisulfonate, was found to be capable of selectively dispersing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into the aqueous phase.
Conductivity stability and its relationship with the filler network structure of elastomer composites with combined fibrous/layered nickel-coated fillers
Authors: Ning Nanying , Liu Suting , Shao Qian , Yan Shani , Zou Hua , Zhang Liqun , Tian Ming
Published: July 2014

Conductive elastomer composites with high electrical conductivity and high conductivity stability were prepared by using combined fibrous/layered nickel-coated fillers.
Growth mechanisms and mechanical properties of 3D carbon nanotube–graphene junctions: molecular dynamic simulations
Authors: Niu Jianbing , Li Mingtao , Xia Zhenhai
Published: July 2014

Two mechanisms of seamlessly C–C bonded junction formation: (i) CNT growth over the holes that are smaller than 3 nm. (ii) CNT growth inside the holes that are larger than 3 nm.
Rational design of Co-based redox mediators for dye-sensitized solar cells by density functional theory
Authors: Sun Zhu-Zhu , Zheng Kui-Ming , Li Quan-Song , Li Ze-Sheng
Published: July 2014

We theoretically describe the effects of chemically modifying polypyridine ligands and design efficient Co-based redox mediators for dye-sensitized solar cells.
A simple and effective strategy for the directed and high-yield assembly of large-sized gold nanoparticles driven by bithiol-modified complementary dsDNA architectures
Authors: Cheng Yan-Fang , Yu Gui-Ping , Yan Yuan , Liu Jian-Yu , Ye Cui , Yu Xiang , Lai Xuan-Di , Hu Jian-Qiang
Published: July 2014

A simple strategy for the high-yield assembly of large-sized Au NPs has been demonstrated by bithiol-modified complementary dsDNA architectures, which obviate the traditional conjugate of Au NPs to long ssDNA.
Bio-doping of regenerated silk fibroin solution and films: a green route for biomanufacturing
Authors: Sagnella A. , Chieco C. , Di Virgilio N. , Toffanin S. , Posati T. , Pistone A. , Bonetti S. , Muccini M. , Ruani G. , Benfenati V. , Rossi F. , Zamboni R.
Published: July 2014

Optically active silk fibroin films could be successfully obtained by biodoping, i.e. from cocoons of Bombyx mori fed with a rhodamine B-added diet.
Aqueous dispersion of polymer coated boron nitride nanotubes and their antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies
Authors: Maria Nithya Jeghan Shrine , Pandurangan Arumugam
Published: July 2014

The present study focuses on the aqueous dispersion of BNNTs via noncovalent functionalization with four surfactants including pluronic (P123), polyethyleneimine (PEI), pluronic (F127) and ammonium oleate (A.O).
Mechanism of aggregate formation in simplified industrial silica styrene–butadiene nanocomposites: effect of chain mass and grafting on rheology and structure
Authors: Baeza Guilhem P. , Genix Anne-Caroline , Degrandcourt Christophe , Gummel Jérémie , Couty Marc , Oberdisse Julian
Published: July 2014

A unified picture of aggregate formation in nanocomposites during solid-phase mixing based on the chain-mass dependent grafting density is proposed and successfully compared to experimental results.
The high thermopower of the Zintl compound Sr5Sn2As6 over a wide temperature range: first-principles calculations
Authors: Luo Dong Bao , Wang Yuan Xu , Yan Yu Li , Yang Gui , Yang Jue Ming
Published: July 2014

The highest ZT value of n-type Sr5Sn2As6 at 950 K appears at a carrier concentration of 9.4 × 19 e cm−3.
Multi-stimuli responsive smart elastomeric hyperbranched polyurethane/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites
Authors: Thakur Suman , Karak Niranjan
Published: July 2014

Multi-stimuli responsive smart elastomeric hyperbranched polyurethane/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite is fabricated using ultrafast reduced graphene oxide.
The effect of photoanode structure on the performances of quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells: a case study of the anatase TiO2nanocrystals and polydisperse mesoporous spheres hybrid photoanodes
Authors: Wu Dapeng , Shi Xiaojuan , Dong Hui , Zhu Feng , Jiang Kai , Xu Dongsheng , Ai Xicheng , Zhang Jianping
Published: July 2014

Four types of photoanodes, made from TiO2nanocrystals and PMSs, were presented to shed light on their structural influence over the performance of QDSSCs.
Multifunctional star-shaped polylactic acid implants for use in angioplasty
Authors: Nagarajan Selvaraj , Kiran M. S. , Tsibouklis John , Reddy Boreddy Siva Rami
Published: July 2014

Star-shaped polylactic acids with different tacticity were synthesized and both polymers are capable of bestowing properties of anticoagulation and angiogenesis to their living host.
A series of triphenylamine-based two-photon absorbing materials with AIE property for biological imaging
Authors: Liu Yanqiu , Kong Ming , Zhang Qiong , Zhang Zhiwen , Zhou Hongping , Zhang Shengyi , Li Shengli , Wu Jieying , Tian Yupeng
Published: July 2014

One- and two-photon fluorescence properties of six chromophores were successfully tuned by a simple structure modification. The chromophore3Bwith significant AIE and 2PA effect shows promise in bioimaging applications.
MicroRNA-34c-3p is an early predictive biomarker for doxorubicin-induced glomerular injury progression in male Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Church Rachel J. , McDuffie J. Eric , Sonee Manisha , Otieno Monicah , Ma Jing Ying , Liu Xuejun , Watkins Paul B. , Harrill Alison H.
Published: July 2014

Increased microRNA-34c-3p appeared as a novel biomarker for doxorubicin nephrotoxicity in rats; alterations showed greater specificity than and comparable sensitivity to albuminuria for early prediction of glomerular injury.
Evidence of second order transition induced by the porosity in the thermal conductivity of sintered metals
Authors: Gheribi Aïmen E. , Gardarein Jean-Laurent , Rigollet Fabrice , Chartrand Patrice
Published: July 2014

In this paper, using both experimental data and theoretical modelling, we investigate the degradation of the thermal conductivity of sintered metals due simultaneously to the grain boundary thermal resistance and the porosity. We show that the porosity dependence of the thermal conductivity of sintered material from spherical particle powder, exhibits a critical behaviour associated with a second order phase transition. An analytical model with a single parameter is proposed to describe the critical behaviour of the thermal conductivity of sintered metals versus porosity.
Ion-induced gamma-ray detection of fast ions escaping from fusion plasmas
Authors: Nishiura M. , Doi K. , Taniike A. , Matsuki T. , Shimazoe K. , Mushiake T. , Yoshino M. , Nagasaka T. , Fujimoto Y. , Fujioka K. , Tanaka T. , Kisaki M. , Yamaoka H. , Matsumoto Y. , Wada M.
Published: July 2014

A 12 × 12 pixel detector has been developed and used in a laboratory experiment for lost fast-ion diagnostics. With gamma rays in the MeV range originating from nuclear reactions 9Be(α, nγ)12C, 9Be(d, nγ)12C, and 12C(d, pγ)13C, a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector measured a fine-energy-resolved spectrum of gamma rays. The HPGe detector enables the survey of background-gamma rays and Doppler-shifted photo peak shapes. In the experiments, the pixel detector produces a gamma-ray image reconstructed from the energy spectrum obtained from total photon counts of irradiation passing through the detector's lead collimator. From gamma-ray image, diagnostics are able to produce an analysis of the fast ion loss onto the first wall in principle.
Ring polymer dynamics for rigid tops with an improved integrator
Authors: Wolf S. , Curotto E.
Published: July 2014

When working in curved spaces, such as those created with the introduction of holonomic constraints, or those generated from the parameters of Lie groups, the presence of a non-uniform metric significantly alters the Ring Polymer Molecular Dynamics from its Cartesian space counterpart. The presence of a nonuniform metric causes difficulties manifested in significant long-time energy drift for the common integrators, which should be absent in a good algorithm. Using a new integrator developed with the aid of the variational principle, we implement a version of Ring Polymer Molecular Dynamics adapted to curved spaces [S. Wolf and E. Curotto, J. Chem. Phys. 137, 014109 (2012)], specifically testing a symmetric ellipsoid of inertia mapped by stereographic projection coordinates. We find that the algorithm conserves the energy without long-term energy drift and converges quadratically in the time step. To test this implementation of Ring Polymer Molecular Dynamics, we compute the position-position autocorrelation function for a rigid ammonia molecule in an external field, for several values of the Trotter number.
Hole-transport material variation in fully vacuum deposited perovskite solar cells
Authors: Polander Lauren E. , Pahner Paul , Schwarze Martin , Saalfrank Matthias , Koerner Christian , Leo Karl
Published: July 2014

This work addresses the effect of energy level alignment between the hole-transporting material and the active layer in vacuum deposited, planar-heterojunction CH3NH3PbIx−3Clx perovskite solar cells. Through a series of hole-transport materials, with conductivity values set using controlled p-doping of the layer, we correlate their ionization potentials with the open-circuit voltage of the device. With ionization potentials beyond 5.3 eV, a substantial decrease in both current density and voltage is observed, which highlights the delicate energetic balance between driving force for hole-extraction and maximizing the photovoltage. In contrast, when an optimal ionization potential match is found, the open-circuit voltage can be maximized, leading to power conversion efficiencies of up to 10.9%. These values are obtained with hole-transport materials that differ from the commonly used Spiro-MeO-TAD and correspond to a 40% performance increase versus this reference.
Degradation study and calculation of density-of-states in PTCDI-C8 channel layer from the electrical characteristics of thin-film transistors
Authors: Shijeesh M. R. , Vikas L. S. , Jayaraj M. K. , Puigdollers J.
Published: July 2014

N-type organic thin film transistor (OTFT) with a top-contact structure was fabricated by thermal vapour deposition using N,N′-Dioctyl-3,4,9,10-perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-C8) as an n-channel layer on Si/SiO2 substrate. The density of localised states (DOS) in the gap of PTCDI-C8 is estimated by studying the temperature dependence of the electrical characteristics of OTFT. The measurements were done immediately after the devices fabrication (non-degraded devices) and also after 2 h of exposure to air (degraded devices). The extracted field effect mobility decreased from 0.02 to 0.004 cm2 V−1 s−1 and threshold voltage increased from 25.3 to 40.5 V for the degraded OTFT. The degradation of OTFTs was due to the trapping of majority charge carriers in the localised trap states created by adsorbed oxygen in the PTCDI-C8 layer. These localised trap states were found to be situated at around 0.15 eV above the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit level. The study of DOS in OTFTs gives a complete understanding of trap-limited transport in organic thin film semiconductors.
Variation in surface plasmonic response due to the reorganization of Au nanoparticles in Langmuir-Blodgett film
Authors: Das Kaushik , Kundu Sarathi
Published: July 2014

Layer-by-layer structures of dodecanethiol-encapsulated Au nanoparticles have been formed on Si(001) and quartz substrates at different surface pressures by Langmuir-Blodgett method. Optical absorption spectra and out-of-plane structural information have been obtained from UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray reflectivity measurements, respectively. With time the thickness of the film decreases keeping the layered structure unchanged but finally monolayer like structure forms. Localized surface plasmon resonance peaks obtained from the UV-Vis spectra show that coupling between Au nanoparticles occurs at the initial stage of the reorganization process as the interparticle distance decreases and as a result, a redshift in the plasmon peak wavelength takes place. Maximum redshift occurs for the monolayer and the peak shift linearly decreases for the multilayer structures. After prolonged reorganization when all layered structures transform into monolayer like structure again redshift occurs but in this process the redshift is reverse with respect to the previous one. In the later process, redshift is minimum for the monolayer structure and increases nearly linearly for the multilayer structures. Two different mechanisms responsible for these two processes are proposed.
Estimation of dc transport dynamics in strongly correlated (La,Pr,Ca)MnO3 film using an insulator-metal composite model for terahertz conductivity
Authors: Nguyen T. V. A. , Hattori A. N. , Nagai M. , Nakamura T. , Fujiwara K. , Ashida M. , Tanaka H.
Published: July 2014

Temperature-dependent conductivities at dc and terahertz (THz) frequency region (σTHz(ω,T)) were obtained for a strongly correlated (La0.275Pr0.35Ca0.375)MnO3 (LPCMO) film using THz time domain spectroscopy. A composite model that describes σTHz(ω,T) for LPCMO through the insulator-metal transition (IMT) was established by incorporating Austin-Mott model characterizing the hopping of localized electrons and Drude model explaining the behavior of free electrons. This model enables us to reliably investigate the dc transport dynamics from THz conductivity measurement, i.e., simultaneously evaluate the dc conductivity and the competing composition of metal and insulator phases through the IMT, reflecting the changes in microscopic conductivity of these phases.
General method for simultaneous optimization of light trapping and carrier collection in an ultra-thin film organic photovoltaic cell
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Chia , Grote Richard R. , Beck Jonathan H. , Kymissis Ioannis , Osgood Richard M. , Englund Dirk
Published: July 2014

We describe a general method for maximizing the short-circuit current in thin planar organic photovoltaic (OPV) heterojunction cells by simultaneous optimization of light absorption and carrier collection. Based on the experimentally obtained complex refractive indices of the OPV materials and the thickness-dependence of the internal quantum efficiency of the OPV active layer, we analyze the potential benefits of light trapping strategies for maximizing the overall power conversion efficiency of the cell. This approach provides a general strategy for optimizing the power conversion efficiency of a wide range of OPV structures. In particular, as an experimental trial system, the approach is applied here to a ultra-thin film solar cell with a SubPc/C60 photovoltaic structure. Using a patterned indium tin oxide (ITO) top contact, the numerically optimized designs achieve short-circuit currents of 0.790 and 0.980 mA/cm2 for 30 nm and 45 nm SubPc/C60 heterojunction layer thicknesses, respectively. These values correspond to a power conversion efficiency enhancement of 78% for the 30 nm thick cell, but only of 32% for a 45 nm thick cell, for which the overall photocurrent is actually higher. Applied to other material systems, the general optimization method can elucidate if light trapping strategies can improve a given cell architecture.
The replicator equation and other game dynamics
Authors: Cressman Ross , Tao Yi
Published: July 2014

The replicator equation is the first and most important game dynamics studied in connection with evolutionary game theory. It was originally developed for symmetric games with finitely many strategies. Properties of these dynamics are briefly summarized for this case, including the convergence to and stability of the Nash equilibria and evolutionarily stable strategies. The theory is then extended to other game dynamics for symmetric games (e.g., the best response dynamics and adaptive dynamics) and illustrated by examples taken from the literature. It is also extended to multiplayer, population, and asymmetric games.
Friendship and natural selection
Authors: Christakis Nicholas A. , Fowler James H.
Published: July 2014

More than any other species, humans form social ties to individuals who are neither kin nor mates, and these ties tend to be with similar people. Here, we show that this similarity extends to genotypes. Across the whole genome, friends’ genotypes at the single nucleotide polymorphism level tend to be positively correlated (homophilic). In fact, the increase in similarity relative to strangers is at the level of fourth cousins. However, certain genotypes are also negatively correlated (heterophilic) in friends. And the degree of correlation in genotypes can be used to create a “friendship score” that predicts the existence of friendship ties in a hold-out sample. A focused gene-set analysis indicates that some of the overall correlation in genotypes can be explained by specific systems; for example, an olfactory gene set is homophilic and an immune system gene set is heterophilic, suggesting that these systems may play a role in the formation or maintenance of friendship ties. Friends may be a kind of “functional kin.” Finally, homophilic genotypes exhibit significantly higher measures of positive selection, suggesting that, on average, they may yield a synergistic fitness advantage that has been helping to drive recent human evolution.
Some dynamics of signaling games
Authors: Huttegger Simon , Skyrms Brian , Tarrès Pierre , Wagner Elliott
Published: July 2014

Information transfer is a basic feature of life that includes signaling within and between organisms. Owing to its interactive nature, signaling can be investigated by using game theory. Game theoretic models of signaling have a long tradition in biology, economics, and philosophy. For a long time the analyses of these games has mostly relied on using static equilibrium concepts such as Pareto optimal Nash equilibria or evolutionarily stable strategies. More recently signaling games of various types have been investigated with the help of game dynamics, which includes dynamical models of evolution and individual learning. A dynamical analysis leads to more nuanced conclusions as to the outcomes of signaling interactions. Here we explore different kinds of signaling games that range from interactions without conflicts of interest between the players to interactions where their interests are seriously misaligned. We consider these games within the context of evolutionary dynamics (both infinite and finite population models) and learning dynamics (reinforcement learning). Some results are specific features of a particular dynamical model, whereas others turn out to be quite robust across different models. This suggests that there are certain qualitative aspects that are common to many real-world signaling interactions.
Evolutionary shaping of demographic schedules
Authors: Wachter Kenneth W. , Steinsaltz David , Evans Steven N.
Published: July 2014

Evolutionary processes of natural selection may be expected to leave their mark on age patterns of survival and reproduction. Demographic theory includes three main strands—mutation accumulation, stochastic vitality, and optimal life histories. This paper reviews the three strands and, concentrating on mutation accumulation, extends a mathematical result with broad implications concerning the effect of interactions between small age-specific effects of deleterious mutant alleles. Empirical data from genomic sequencing along with prospects for combining strands of theory hold hope for future progress.
Fast running restricts evolutionary change of the vertebral column in mammals
Authors: Galis Frietson , Carrier David R. , van Alphen Joris , van der Mije Steven D. , Van Dooren Tom J. M. , Metz Johan A. J. , ten Broek Clara M. A.
Published: July 2014

Significance

Our study explains one of the riddles of mammal evolution: the strong conservation of the number of trunk vertebrae. The vertebral column and its high evolvability are considered to be of central importance for the evolution of vertebrates, which is why the constancy is both puzzling and important. We hypothesize, on biomechanical and developmental grounds, that evolutionary change is virtually impossible in fast running and agile mammals. The rationale is that several mutations are necessary to change trunk vertebral counts, with single mutations usually leading to irregular lumbosacral joints that severely hamper running and jumping capability. Our observations indeed show that selection against these initial changes is strong in fast and agile mammals and weak in slower and sturdier ones.
Caspase-8 promotes NLRP1/NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β production in acute glaucoma
Authors: Chi Wei , Li Fei , Chen Hongrui , Wang Yandong , Zhu Yingting , Yang Xuejiao , Zhu Jie , Wu Frances , Ouyang Hong , Ge Jian , Weinreb Robert N. , Zhang Kang , Zhuo Yehong
Published: July 2014

Significance

Retinal damage and resulting irreversible vision loss are feared complications of rapid and substantially elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in acute glaucoma. An inflammatory response to retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury involving Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and IL-1β has been implicated in disease pathogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study demonstrates the critical role of caspase-8 in IOP-induced cell death in rodent models of acute glaucoma. TLR4 signaling, mediated by caspase-8, was crucial for the activation of Nod-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 1 (NLRP1)/NLRP3 inflammasomes and processing of IL-1β. Inhibition of either TLR4 or caspase-8 signaling significantly blocked production of IL-1β and attenuated retinal ischemic damage. These findings identify a mechanism of retinal retinal ganglion cell death and provide a previously unidentified treatment strategy to preserve vision in acute glaucoma.