bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Planktonic rotifer feeding in hypertrophic conditions
Authors: Miracle Maria Rosa , Vicente Eduardo , Sarma S. S. S. , Nandini S.
Published: February 2014

We studied the role of rotifers as grazers in hypertrophic waters, dominated by poorly edible filamentous and colonial cyanobacteria. Population growth of Anuraeopsis fissa and Brachionus angularis, from hypertrophic lake Albufera in Valencia, was followed for 15 days in three treatments of different food size fractions: (a) 0–15 µm (lake water filtered through 15 µm nytal sieve), (b) 0–3 µm (15 µm lake water filtrate filtered through 3 µm nuclepore filter), and (c) 3–15 µm (re‐suspension, in absolute filtered lake water, of the seston collected on the 3 µm filter, after passing lake water previously filtered through 15 µm). None of the species grew when fed the food size fraction of 3–15 µm that contained a large proportion of filamentous and colonial cyanobacteria. A. fissa showed highest growth parameters when fed the <3 µm food size fraction, which was mainly composed of bacterioplankton, but much reduced growth on the whole <15 µm seston fraction. On the other hand, B. angularis showed highest growth on the whole <15 µm seston fraction and a moderate growth when fed only on the <3 µm seston fraction. Clearance, ingestion, and assimilation rates were measured with 3H‐thymidine plus 3H‐leucine‐labeled lake bacteria community, suspended in the 15 and 3 µm lake water filtrates. B. angularis had higher rates than A. fissa, and both had higher rates when suspended in the <3 µm seston fraction. Our results confirm that bacteria are the dominant food source for both species in this hypertrophic lake, but clear niche differences separate them. A. fissa is more dependent on smaller food particles and is more sensitive to dense blooms of colonial and filamentous cyanobacteria than B. angularis. The distinct feeding abilities of these species shape their differential distributions in space and time.
Activation of microglia and astrocytes in the nucleus tractus solitarius during ventilatory acclimatization to 10% hypoxia in unanesthetized mice
Authors: Tadmouri A. , Champagnat J. , Morin‐Surun M.P.
Published: February 2014

Nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) is the integrative sensory relay of autonomic functions in the brainstem. To explore the nonneuronal cellular basis of central chemosensitivity during the first 24 hr of ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia (VHA), we have investigated glial activation markers in the NTS. Conscious mice (C57/BL6) were placed in a hermetic hypoxia chamber containing a plethysmograph to record ventilation. After 4 days of habituation to the normoxic environment, mice were subjected to physiological hypoxia (10% O2) for 1, 6, or 24 hr. To dissociate interactions between microglia and astrocytes, another group received daily minocycline, a microglia activation blocker. By immunochemical localization of astrocytes (GFAP), activated microglia (Cd11b), and total microglia (Iba‐1), we identified an oxygen‐sensing glial layer in the NTS, in which astrocytes are first activated after 1–6 hr of hypoxia, followed by microglia after 6–24 hr of hypoxia. Minocycline administration suppressed microglial activation and decreased astrocyte activation at 6 hr and VHA at 24 hr of hypoxia. These results suggest that astrocytes contribute to the neuronal response during the first hour of hypoxia, whereas microglial cells, via cross‐talk with astrocytes, are involved in the VHA during the first 24 hr of acclimatization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Glycerol production by Oenococcus oeni during sequential and simultaneous cultures with wine yeast strains
Authors: Ale Cesar E. , Farías Marta E. , Strasser de Saad Ana M. , Pasteris Sergio E.
Published: February 2014

Growth and fermentation patterns of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kloeckera apiculata, and Oenococcus oeni strains cultured in grape juice medium were studied. In pure, sequential and simultaneous cultures, the strains reached the stationary growth phase between 2 and 3 days. Pure and mixed K. apiculata and S. cerevisiae cultures used mainly glucose, producing ethanol, organic acids, and 4.0 and 0.1 mM glycerol, respectively. In sequential cultures, O. oeni achieved about 1 log unit at 3 days using mainly fructose and L‐malic acid. Highest sugars consumption was detected in K. apiculata supernatants, lactic acid being the major end‐product. 8.0 mM glycerol was found in 6‐day culture supernatants. In simultaneous cultures, total sugars and L‐malic acid were used at 3 days and 98% of ethanol and glycerol were detected. This study represents the first report of the population dynamics and metabolic behavior of yeasts and O. oeni in sequential and simultaneous cultures and contributes to the selection of indigenous strains to design starter cultures for winemaking, also considering the inclusion of K. apiculata. The sequential inoculation of yeasts and O. oeni would enhance glycerol production, which confers desirable organoleptic characteristics to wines, while organic acids levels would not affect their sensory profile.
Separation and purification of fructooligosaccharides on a zeolite fixed‐bed column
Authors: Kuhn Raquel Cristine , Mazutti Marcio Antonio , Filho Francisco Maugeri
Published: February 2014

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a well‐known prebiotic product, are obtained by enzymatic synthesis and consist of a mixture of mono‐ and disaccharides. In this work, a methodology for their separation and purification was developed using a zeolite fixed‐bed column. The effects of column temperature (40–60°C), eluent flow rate (0.10–0.14 mL/min), injected to bed volume percent ratio (2.6–5.1%), and ethanol concentration in the eluent (40–60%, v/v) were investigated using a fractionary factorial design (24–1), having the separation efficiency and purity as target responses. Additional experiments were performed as well, where the temperature and ethanol concentration were studied in a central composite design (22). In this work, the zeolite fixed‐bed column was shown to be a good alternative for FOS purification, allowing a FOS purity of 90% and separation efficiency of 6.86 between FOS and glucose, using an eluent at 45°C with 60% ethanol concentration.
TiO2 nanotube arrays prepared by anodization as an adsorbent in micro‐solid‐phase extraction to preconcentrate and determine nitrogen‐containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples
Authors: Zhou Qingxiang , Fang Zhi
Published: February 2014

In this study, a simultaneous determination method for nitrogen‐containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including 7‐methylquinoline, acridine, 5,6‐benzoquinoline, carbazole, and 9‐methylcarbazole was developed. This method is based on a micro‐solid phase extraction using TiO2 nanotube arrays as an adsorbent in combination with HPLC. Some factors that had an effect on the enrichment were optimized, such as sample pH, surfactant concentration, ion strength, type of eluent, equilibrium time, and desorption time. Under the optimized conditions, the linear ranges and LODs were in the range of 0.01–100 and 0.0035–0.81 μg/L, respectively. The precisions of the proposed method were <9.51% (RSD, n = 6). The developed method was validated with four real samples, and the spiked recoveries were in the range of 77–109.6%. All these results demonstrated that this novel micro‐solid‐phase extraction technique was a reliable alternative to conventional preconcentration method for the extraction and analysis of such nitrogen‐containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in complex samples.
Myoclonus in mitochondrial disorders
Authors: Mancuso Michelangelo , Orsucci Daniele , Angelini Corrado , Bertini Enrico , Catteruccia Michela , Pegoraro Elena , Carelli Valerio , Valentino Maria L. , Comi Giacomo P. , Minetti Carlo , Bruno Claudio , Moggio Maurizio , Ienco Elena Caldarazzo , Mongini Tiziana , Vercelli Liliana , Primiano Guido , Servidei Serenella , Tonin Paola , Scarpelli Mauro , Toscano Antonio , Musumeci Olimpia , Moroni Isabella , Uziel Graziella , Santorelli Filippo M. , Nesti Claudia , Filosto Massimiliano , Lamperti Costanza , Zeviani Massimo , Siciliano Gabriele
Published: February 2014

Myoclonus is a possible manifestation of mitochondrial disorders, and its presence is considered, in association with epilepsy and the ragged red fibers, pivotal for the syndromic diagnosis of MERRF (myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers). However, its prevalence in mitochondrial diseases is not known. The aims of this study are the evaluation of the prevalence of myoclonus in a big cohort of mitochondrial patients and the clinical characterization of these subjects. Based on the database of the “Nation‐wide Italian Collaborative Network of Mitochondrial Diseases,” we reviewed the clinical and molecular data of mitochondrial patients with myoclonus among their clinical features. Myoclonus is a rather uncommon clinical feature of mitochondrial diseases (3.6% of 1,086 patients registered in our database). It is not strictly linked to a specific genotype or phenotype, and only 1 of 3 patients with MERRF harbors the 8344A>G mutation (frequently labeled as “the MERRF mutation”). Finally, myoclonus is not inextricably linked to epilepsy in MERRF patients, but more to cerebellar ataxia. In a myoclonic patient, evidences of mitochondrial dysfunction must be investigated, even though myoclonus is not a common sign of mitochondriopathy. Clinical, histological, and biochemical data may predict the finding of a mitochondrial or nuclear DNA mutation. Finally, this study reinforces the notion that myoclonus is not inextricably linked to epilepsy in MERRF patients, and therefore the term “myoclonic epilepsy” seems inadequate and potentially misleading. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Simultaneous reconstruction of the source term and the surface heat transfer coefficient
Authors: Kaya Mujdat , Erdem Arzu
Published: February 2014

We study the problem of identifying unknown source terms in an inverse parabolic problem, when the overspecified (measured) data are given in form of Dirichlet boundary condition u(0,t) = h(t) and , where is an arbitrarily prescribed subregion. The main goal here is to show that the gradient of cost functional can be expressed via the solutions of the direct and corresponding adjoint problems. We prove Hölder continuity of the cost functional and derive the Lipschitz constant in the explicit form via the given data. On the basis of the obtained results, we propose a monotone iteration process. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Substituent effects on electrochemical and electrochromic properties of aromatic polyimides with 4‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)triphenylamine moieties
Authors: Wang Hui‐Min , Hsiao Sheng‐Huei
Published: February 2014

Three series of aromatic polyimides with 4‐(carbazol‐9‐yl)triphenylamine moieties were prepared from the polycondensation reactions of 4,4′‐diamino‐4″‐(carbazol‐9‐yl) triphenylamine (1), 4,4′‐diamino‐4″‐(3,6‐di‐tert‐butylcarbazol‐9‐yl)triphenylamine (t‐Bu‐1), and 4,4′‐diamino‐4″‐(3,6‐dimethoxycarbazol‐9‐yl)triphenylamine (MeO‐1), respectively, with various commercially available tetracarboxylic dianhydrides. In addition to high thermal stability and good film‐forming ability, the resulting polyimides exhibited an ambipolar electrochromic behavior. The polyimides based on t‐Bu‐1 and MeO‐1 revealed higher redox‐stability and enhanced electrochromic performance than the corresponding ones based on 1 because the active sites of their carbazole units are blocked with bulky t‐butyl or electron‐donating methoxy groups. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1172–1184
Comparison of AlGaN/GaN MISHEMT powerbar designs
Authors: Stoffels Steve , Ronchi Nicoló , Venegas Rafael , De Jaeger Brice , Marcon Denis , Decoutere Stefaan
Published: February 2014

This works presents a comparison of several different AlGaN/GaN powerbar designs, with a total gate width of 9mm, with the goal to minimize the total gate resistance. Analytical models were developed for the interconnect parasitics to aid in the design phase. The different power transistor topologies were fabricated in a GaN‐on‐Si MISHEMT technology. Measurements on the fabricated transistors showed a good agreement between the analytical models and the measurements. Furthermore, the modelling framework allowed us to design power transistors that reached the goal of reducing the gate resistance while having minimal impact on other characteristics. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Scanning and transmission electron microscopic observation of the parasitic form of Trichophyton violaceum in the infected hair from tinea capitis
Authors: Zhuang Kaiwen , Ran Xin , Lei Song , Zhang Chaoliang , Lama Jebina , Ran Yuping
Published: February 2014

Trichophyton violaceum is a pathogen of tinea capitis and usually cause infection of scalp and hair in children. To investigate the parasitic form of T. violaceum in the human hair tissue, the infected hair strands were collected from a 9‐year‐old boy with tinea capitis due to T. violaceum and observed under both the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The SEM and TEM findings revealed that T. violaceum parasitically lives in the hair shaft in various forms and the morphological transformation of the fungus from hyphae into arthrospores was noted. The involved hair shaft was damaged to the great extent and its ultrastructural changes were evident. Those morphological characteristics of T. violaceum and the three‐dimensional ultastructure changes of infected hairs give a better knowledge about the host‐fungus relationship in tinea capitis. SCANNING 36:465–470, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ex Vivo Gene Editing of the Dystrophin Gene in Muscle Stem Cells Mediated by Peptide Nucleic Acid Single Stranded Oligodeoxynucleotides Induces Stable Expression of Dystrophin in a Mouse Model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Nik-Ahd Farnoosh , Bertoni Carmen
Published: February 2014

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which result in the complete absence of dystrophin protein throughout the body. Gene correction strategies hold promise to treating DMD. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the ability of peptide nucleic acid single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (PNA-ssODNs) to permanently correct single-point mutations at the genomic level. In this study, we show that PNA-ssODNs can target and correct muscle satellite cells (SCs), a population of stem cells capable of self-renewing and differentiating into muscle fibers. When transplanted into skeletal muscles, SCs transfected with correcting PNA-ssODNs were able to engraft and to restore dystrophin expression. The number of dystrophin-positive fibers was shown to significantly increase over time. Expression was confirmed to be the result of the activation of a subpopulation of SCs that had undergone repair as demonstrated by immunofluorescence analyses of engrafted muscles using antibodies specific to full-length dystrophin transcripts and by genomic DNA analysis of dystrophin-positive fibers. Furthermore, the increase in dystrophin expression detected over time resulted in a significant improvement in muscle morphology. The ability of transplanted cells to return into quiescence and to activate upon demand was confirmed in all engrafted muscles following injury. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using gene editing strategies to target and correct SCs and further establish the therapeutic potential of this approach to permanently restore dystrophin expression into muscle of DMD patients. Stem Cells  2014;32:1817–1830
Flame Retardancy and Thermal Performance of Polypropylene Treated With the Intumescent Flame Retardant, Piperazine Spirocyclic Phosphoramidate
Authors: Li Bin , Zhan Zhaoshun , Zhang Hongfeng , Sun Caiying
Published: February 2014

Piperazine spirocyclic phosphoramidate (PSP), a novel halogen‐free intumescent flame retardant, was synthesized and used to improve the flame retardancy and dripping resistance of polypropylene (PP) combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and a triazine polymer charring‐foaming agent (CFA). The optimum flame‐retardant formulation was PSP:APP:CFA = 3:6:2 (weight ratio). The flammability and thermal behavior of the (intumescent flame‐retardant)‐PP (IFR‐PP) were investigated via limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning tests (UL‐94), thermogravimetric analysis, and cone calorimetry (CONE). The results indicated that the IFR‐PP had both excellent flame retardancy and anti‐dripping ability. The optimum flame‐retardant formulation gave an LOI value of 39.8 and a UL‐94 V‐0 rating to PP. Moreover, both the heat release rate and the total heat release of the IFR‐PP with the optimum formulation decreased significantly relative to those of pure PP, according to the cone calorimeter analyses. The residues of IFR‐PP obtained after CONE tests were observed by scanning electron microscopy, and it was found that the char yield was directly related to the flame retardancy and anti‐dripping behavior of the treated PP. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 20:10–15, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Managing Young Colorectal Cancer: A UK and Irish Perspective
Authors: Warrier Satish K. , Yeung Justin M. , Lynch A. Craig , Heriot Alexander G.
Published: February 2014

Objective

Young patients with familial syndromes have an increased metachronous cancer rate. Effective management is possible by identifying this high‐risk group prior to index colectomy. The study surveys the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) membership preoperative evaluation and clinical management in young patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Method

An electronic survey was sent to the membership of the ACPGBI. The survey polled members on clinical scenarios relating to young‐onset CRC patients. We were particularly concerned with preoperative management strategies, the extent of colectomy, and postoperative surveillance. Survey responses were collated and analysed.

Results

A total of 124 members responded to the survey and 74 completed the survey. Of these, 87.8 % would proceed to colectomy without preoperative tumor or genetic testing. Decisions regarding the extent of colectomy depended on family history. A total of 67 (90.6 %) would offer a limited colectomy with no family history, 49 (66.2 %) in a patient with familial CRC type X, 29 (39.2 %) in a young patient with Lynch syndrome. A similar trend was seen with young rectal cancer. Only 16 surgeons (21.6 %) could identify a syndrome of MYH‐associated polyposis (MAP).

Conclusion

The majority of ACPGBI members will not offer preoperative risk testing based on a young age alone; however, the majority would alter their surgical strategy based on the results of this testing. MAP is poorly recognized by ACPGBI members and therefore an opportunity exists for education among members.

What is new in this paper?

This study is the first paper to survey the ACPGBI membership on management practices in young‐onset CRC. Members are poor in adopting preoperative testing, alter surgical strategy based on a familial syndrome, with a minority recognizing MAP. An opportunity to improve education on young CRC patients exists.
Bone Mineral Density and Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover during the First Year of Injury in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Singh Roop , Rohilla Rajesh Kumar , Saini Gaurav , Magu Narender Kumar , Kaur Kiranpreet
Published: February 2014

Background

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with bone mass loss that can be complicated by fractures, which result in further disabilities for patients. After a SCI, the body starts losing large amounts of calcium and other minerals in the urine (demineralisation). This study aimed to assess the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) during the 1st year of acute SCI in patients with neurological deficit.

Methods

A total of 95 patients with acute SCI and neurological deficit were evaluated in this prospective study. Haematological investigations such as evaluation of serum calcium, serum phosphate, serum creatinine, and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were carried out. Urinary investigations such as 24-hour urinary creatinine level and excretion of calcium and phosphate in the urine were measured. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan with Hologic QDR 2000 scanner (Explorer). All of the aforementioned parameters were measured again at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results

Serum ALP at 1-year follow up was significantly raised (p < 0.05). The BMD at 1-year follow up had statistically significant lower values than the initial BMD at the hip (p < 0.05), proximal tibia (p < 0.00l), and distal tibial epiphysis (p < 0.001). The BMD in motor-complete SCI patients [American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grades A and B] had significant lower values than motor-incomplete SCI patients (ASIA C and D) at the hip (p < 0.05) and proximal tibial epiphysis (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

There was a marked decrease in BMD in metaphyseal sites than below the neurological deficit level with maximum decrease at the proximal tibia during the 1st year of SCI. Although the markers of osteoblastic activity did not show much change, the decrease in BMD was influenced by the neurological recovery after SCI.
Instantaneous pressure measurements on a spherical grain under threshold flow conditions
Authors: Celik Ahmet O. , Diplas P. , Dancey C. L.
Published: February 2014

The aim of this investigation was to experimentally examine the surface pressures and resulting forces on an individual sediment grain whose size is comparable to the scales of the turbulent channel flow in an effort to discern details of the flow/grain interaction. This was accomplished by measuring the pressure fluctuations on the surface of a coarse, fully exposed, spherical grain resting upon a bed of identical grains in open channel turbulent flow. This spherical particle was instrumented with low-range, high-frequency-response pressure transducers to measure the individual surface pressures simultaneously on its front, back, top and bottom. The local flow velocity was measured synchronously with a laser Doppler velocimeter. The flow and sediment are near threshold conditions for entrainment with the channel and particle Reynolds numbers varying between 31 000–39 000 and 330–440 respectively. The emphasis was on determining the characteristics of the flow field with the potential to dislodge a spherical grain under uniform flow conditions as well as in the wake of a circular cylinder placed spanwise across the flow in otherwise fully developed open channel flow. It is concluded that the streamwise velocity near the bed is most directly related to those force events (and associated individual surface pressure distributions) crucial for particle entrainment. The lift force was observed to momentarily reach values which can be consequential for particle stability, although it is poorly correlated with the fluctuating normal velocity component. Turbulence intensity near the bed, rather than being the causative factor for increased force fluctuations, was shown to be an indicator of changes in the average lift force experienced by the grain during the application of extreme drag forces, at least for this particular flow condition (the upstream, spanwise-mounted circular cylinder). This effect is known to alter the sediment transport rates significantly. The characteristics of the temporal durations of flow events about the local maxima in the stagnation pressure, drag and lift forces, using a conditional sampling method, revealed the prevalence of sweep-type near-bed flow events in generating favourable conditions for particle dislodgement, although the dominant feature is the positive streamwise velocity fluctuation, not the normal velocity component. The duration of such events was the highest in the fourth and first quadrants in the $u,w$ plane, inducing high impulses on the grain.
On the impact of swirl on the growth of coherent structures
Authors: Oberleithner K. , Paschereit C. O. , Wygnanski I.
Published: February 2014

Spatial linear stability analysis is applied to the mean flow of a turbulent swirling jet at swirl intensities below the onset of vortex breakdown. The aim of this work is to predict the dominant coherent flow structure, their driving instabilities and how they are affected by swirl. At the nozzle exit, the swirling jet promotes shear instabilities and, less unstable, centrifugal instabilities. The latter stabilize shortly downstream of the nozzle, contributing very little to the formation of coherent structures. The shear mode remains unstable throughout generating coherent structures that scale with the axial shear-layer thickness. The most amplified mode in the nearfield is a co-winding double-helical mode rotating slowly in counter-direction to the swirl. This gives rise to the formation of slowly rotating and stationary large-scale coherent structures, which explains the asymmetries in the mean flows often encountered in swirling jet experiments. The co-winding single-helical mode at high rotation rate dominates the farfield of the swirling jet in replacement of the co- and counter-winding bending modes dominating the non-swirling jet. Moreover, swirl is found to significantly affect the streamwise phase velocity of the helical modes rendering this flow as highly dispersive and insensitive to intermodal interactions, which explains the absence of vortex pairing observed in previous investigations. The stability analysis is validated through hot-wire measurements of the flow excited at a single helical mode and of the flow perturbed by a time- and space-discrete pulse. The experimental results confirm the predicted mode selection and corresponding streamwise growth rates and phase velocities.
Notes Towards A Definition of Politics
Authors: Alexander James
Published: February 2014

Politics has been defined in different and contradictory ways in the last century or so. If politics is to be a single subject of study then contradictory theories should be capable of being related together. In this article I argue that they can be related in terms of what I call the Aristotelian criterion. The article is in four parts. Firstly, I discuss the problem of defining politics; secondly, I introduce the criterion; thirdly, I consider five modern theories of politics (those of Arendt, Oakeshott, Collingwood, Schmitt and Rancière) in relation to the criterion; and fourthly, I use the criterion to put forward an original and capacious definition of politics.1
Investigation of increased listeriosis revealed two fishery production plants with persistentListeriacontamination in Finland in 2010
Authors: NAKARI U.-M. , RANTALA L. , PIHLAJASAARI A. , TOIKKANEN S. , JOHANSSON T. , HELLSTEN C. , RAULO S. M. , KUUSI M. , SIITONEN A. , RIMHANEN-FINNE R.
Published: February 2014

In 2010, a marked increase in listeriosis incidence was observed in Finland.Listeria monocytogenesPFGE profile 96 was responsible for one-fifth of the reported cases and a cluster of PFGE profile 62 was also detected. Investigations revealed two fishery production plants with persistentListeriacontamination. It appears likely that the plants were at least partly responsible for the increase of listeriosis. Epidemiological investigation revealed that 57% (31/54) of cases with underlying immunosuppressive condition or medication reported eating gravad or cold-smoked fish. Two public notices were issued by THL and Evira informing which groups were most at risk from the effects of listeriosis and should therefore be cautious in consuming certain products. Systematic sampling of foods and adequate epidemiological investigation methods are required to identify the sources ofListeriainfections. Continuous control measures at fishery production plants producing risk products are essential.
Compensation for intracellular environment in expression levels of mammalian circadian clock genes
Authors: Matsumura Ritsuko , Okamoto Akihiko , Node Koichi , Akashi Makoto
Published: February 2014

The circadian clock is driven by transcriptional oscillation of clock genes in almost all body cells. To investigate the effect of cell type-specific intracellular environment on the circadian machinery, we examined gene expression profiles in five peripheral tissues. As expected, the phase relationship between expression rhythms of nine clock genes was similar in all tissues examined. We also compared relative expression levels of clock genes among tissues and unexpectedly found that quantitative variation remained within an approximately three-fold range, which was substantially smaller than that of metabolic housekeeping genes. Interestingly, circadian gene expression was little affected even when fibroblasts were cultured with different concentrations of serum. Together, these findings support a hypothesis that expression levels of clock genes are quantitatively compensated for the intracellular environment, such as redox potential and metabolite composition. However, more comprehensive studies are required to reach definitive conclusions.
A potentiometric phosphate biosensor based on entrapment of pyruvate oxidase in a polypyrrole film
Authors: Ogabiela Edward , Adeloju Samuel B.
Published: February 2014

A polypyrrole based potentiometric phosphate biosensor has been fabricated by entrapment of pyruvate oxidase in a polypyrrole film.
Cloud point extraction for the determination of bisphenol A, bisphenol AF and tetrabromobisphenol A in river water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Li Yingtang , Yang Chao , Ning Jinyan , Yang Yaling
Published: February 2014

In this study, BPA, BPAF and TBBPA were firstly extracted using AEO9, and then detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
In situ generation of a high-performance Pd-polypyrrole composite with multi-functional catalytic properties
Authors: Choudhary Meenakshi , Islam Rafique Ul , Witcomb Michael J. , Mallick Kaushik
Published: February 2014

Catalytic activity of palladium nanoparticles for PCET reaction.
Cadmium toxicity in Mus musculus mice based on a metallomic study. Antagonistic interaction between Se and Cd in the bloodstream
Authors: García-Sevillano M. A. , García-Barrera T. , Navarro F. , Gómez-Ariza J. L.
Published: February 2014

Cadmium (Cd) is an important inorganic toxicant in the environment which impacts on human health.
Quick low temperature coalescence of Pt nanocrystals on silica exposed to NO – the case of reconstruction driven growth?
Authors: Kaszkur Zbigniew , Mierzwa Bogusław , Juszczyk Wojciech , Rzeszotarski Piotr , Łomot Dariusz
Published: February 2014

We report an operando XRD/MS experiment on nanocrystalline Pt supported on silica, monitoring quick, low temperature coalescence of Pt in an NO atmosphere accompanied by surface reconstruction deduced from an apparent lattice parameter (ALP) evolution.
The periodic resin configuration design for ceramic-resin composite structure using topology optimization
Authors: Zhu Ji-Hong , Li Qing , Zhang Wei-Hong
Published: February 2014

The ceramic-resin composite structure has broad prospects in many fields like rapid casting and thermal protection. Due to the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of resin is about 10 times higher than that of ceramic, the excessive thermal expansion of the resin pattern will lead to the undesirable crack of the ceramic shell during the heating procedure. The proposed approach is to find a reasonable resin configuration minimizing the thermal stress in the ceramic shell. Simultaneously, the mechanical stiffness of the whole structure should be maintained at a certain level to resist the pressure applied on the ceramic shell. In the actual production, the periodic resin configurations are more operable than the disordered configuration, so finding reasonable periodic resin configurations for ceramic-resin composite structure has lots of significance. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the topology optimization method into the periodic resin configuration design for ceramic-resin composite structure. A structural topology optimization procedure in combination with thermo-mechanical finite element analysis has been developed. A single-layer periodic model and a double-layer periodic model are optimized and respective CAD models are rebuilt according to the optimal results. By comparing with the existing hexagonal honeycomb configuration, two optimal designs have shown better performances both in reducing the thermal stress in the ceramic shell and maintaining the stiffness of the whole structure.
Digital configurable instrument for emulation of signals from radiation detectors
Authors: Abba A. , Caponio F. , Geraci A.
Published: February 2014

The paper presents a digital instrument characterized by a specially designed architecture that is able to emulate in real time signals from a generic radiation detection system. The instrument is not a pulse generator of recorded shapes but a synthesizer of random pulses compliant to programmable statistics for height and starting time of events. Completely programmable procedures for emulation of noise, disturbances, and reference level variation are implemented.
Theoretical analysis of aqueous solutions of mixed strong electrolytes by a smaller-ion shell electrostatic model
Authors: Fraenkel Dan
Published: February 2014

In spite of the great importance of mixed electrolytes in science and technology, no compelling theoretical explanation has been offered yet for the thermodynamic behavior of such systems, such as their deviation from ideality and the variation of their excess functions with ionic composition and concentration. Using the newly introduced Smaller-ion Shell treatment – an extension of the Debye–Hückel theory to ions of dissimilar size (hence DH–SiS) – simple analytic mathematical expressions can be derived for the mean and single-ion activity coefficients of binary electrolyte components of ternary ionic systems. Such expressions are based on modifying the parallel DH–SiS equations for pure binary ionic systems, by adding to the three ion-size parameters – a (of counterions), b+ (of positive coions), and b− (of negative coions) – a fourth parameter. For the (+ + −) system, this is “b++,” the contact distance between non-coion cations. b++ is derived from fits with experiment and, like the other b’s, is constant at varying ion concentration and combination. Four case studies are presented: (1) HCl–NaCl–H2O, (2) HCl–NH4Cl–H2O, (3) (0.01 M HX)–MX–H2O with X = Cl, Br, and with M = Li, Na, K, Cs, and (4) HCl–MCln–H2O with n = 2, M = Sr, Ba; and n = 3, M = Al, Ce. In all cases, theory is fully consistent with experiment when using a of the measured binary electrolyte as the sole fitting parameter. DH–SiS is thus shown to explain known “mysteries” in the behavior of ternary electrolytes, including Harned rule, and to adequately predict the pH of acid solutions in which ionized salts are present at different concentrations.
Omni-conducting and omni-insulating molecules
Authors: Fowler P. W. , Pickup B. T. , Todorova T. Z. , Borg Martha , Sciriha Irene
Published: February 2014

The source and sink potential model is used to predict the existence of omni-conductors (and omni-insulators): molecular conjugated π systems that respectively support ballistic conduction or show insulation at the Fermi level, irrespective of the centres chosen as connections. Distinct, ipso, and strongomni-conductors/omni-insulators show Fermi-level conduction/insulation for all distinct pairs of connections, for all connections via a single centre, and for both, respectively. The class of conduction behaviour depends critically on the number of non-bonding orbitals (NBO) of the molecular system (corresponding to the nullity of the graph). Distinct omni-conductors have at most one NBO; distinct omni-insulators have at least two NBO; strong omni-insulators do not exist for any number of NBO. Distinct omni-conductors with a single NBO are all also strong and correspond exactly to the class of graphs known as nut graphs. Families of conjugated hydrocarbons corresponding to chemical graphs with predicted omni-conducting/insulating behaviour are identified. For example, most fullerenes are predicted to be strong omni-conductors.
Observation of a large optical birefringence effect in a (110) oriented porous silicon layer
Authors: Hakshur K. , Ruschin S.
Published: February 2014

We account the observation of the largest reported birefringence effect in a semi-artificial material. An in-plane birefringence of more than 0.7 was observed at the blue-green optical spectral range in a porous silicon film fabricated by electrochemical etching of a (110) Si wafer. Birefringent films are of interest in a variety of applications including sensing and polarization control.
Fast magnetic response in gigahertz-band for columnar-structured Fe nanoparticle assembly
Authors: Ogawa T. , Kura H. , Tate R. , Oikawa T. , Hata K.
Published: February 2014

High density Fe-based ferromagnetic nanoparticle (NP) assembly is expected to have unique magnetic properties, such as superferromagnetism and super-spin-glass, different from magnetically isolated NP systems due to strong dipole interactions among the NPs. A high dipole interaction field, Hdip, of ∼3.5 kOe can result in a high effective internal field to the magnetic moment of the NP, expecting for ultra-fast magnetic response, that is, a high magnetic resonance frequency, fr, of ∼10 GHz. However, for a simply molded Fe NP assembly, a low fr was observed due to inhomogeneous distribution of the internal field, implying the necessity of a unidirectional state of Hdip for higher fr. In this study, we fabricated a columnar Fe NP assembly for realizing the unidirectional state of Hdip by applying our uniquely developed external field-induced agglomeration method for monodispersed Fe NPs (13 nm in average size) as a function of the field (0–30 kOe) and volume fraction of the Fe NPs (0.5%–51%) in a polymer matrix with dimensions of 4 mm × 4 mm × 0.7 mmt. A columnar-structured Fe NP assembly was successfully achieved along an in-plane direction (defined as the x-axis) under optimized conditions. From static magnetization curves, induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy was observed according to the shape of the columnar structure of the Fe NP assembly, where easy and hard axes of magnetization were realized along the parallel (x-axis) and normal directions (in-plane y-axis and z-axis in the thickness direction) to the external field during the process, respectively. Interestingly, this fabricated columnar-structured Fe NP assembly exhibited very high fr in the range from 3 to 11 GHz judging from the complex susceptibility spectra obtained. The fr values were well-scaled by a modified Snoek's-limit-law using demagnetization factors quantitatively estimated from the static magnetization curves. Thus, shape-induced anisotropy originating from the unidirectional state of Hdip in the columnar structure of the Fe NP assembly plays an important role for high frequency magnetic response in the GHz-band.
Multiple chiral topological states in liquid crystals from unstructured light beams
Authors: Loussert Charles , Brasselet Etienne
Published: February 2014

It is shown experimentally that unstructured light beams can generate a wealth of distinct metastable defect structures in thin films of chiral liquid crystals. Various kinds of individual chiral topological states are obtained as well as dimers and trimers, which correspond to the entanglement of several topological unit cells. Self-assembled nested assemblies of several metastable particle-like topological states can also be formed. Finally, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an opto-electrical approach to generate tailor-made architectures.
InAs quantum dot morphology after capping with In, N, Sb alloyed thin films
Authors: Keizer J. G. , Ulloa J. M. , Utrilla A. D. , Koenraad P. M.
Published: February 2014

Using a thin capping layer to engineer the structural and optical properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) has become common practice in the last decade. Traditionally, the main parameter considered has been the strain in the QD/capping layer system. With the advent of more exotic alloys, it has become clear that other mechanisms significantly alter the QD size and shape as well. Larger bond strengths, surfactants, and phase separation are known to act on QD properties but are far from being fully understood. In this study, we investigate at the atomic scale the influence of these effects on the morphology of capped QDs with cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy. A broad range of capping materials (InGaAs, GaAsSb, GaAsN, InGaAsN, and GaAsSbN) are compared. The QD morphology is related to photoluminescence characteristics.
Heat assisted magnetic recording with patterned FePt recording media using a lollipop near field transducer
Authors: Ghoreyshi Ali , Victora R. H.
Published: February 2014

In heat-assisted magnetic recording, optical energy is transferred to a small optical spot on the recording media using a near field transducer. In this study, a scattered field finite difference time domain simulation is used to analyze the performance of a lollipop transducer in heat assisted magnetic recording on both a patterned FePt media and a continuous thin film. To represent wear, sharp corners of the peg are approximated with curved ones, which are found to narrow the track width without excessive loss of intensity. Compared with continuous media, the patterned media exhibits higher energy efficiency and a better concentrated optical beam spot. This effect is due to the near field effects of patterned media on the performance of the transducer.
Influence of the group V element on the chemical potential and crystal structure of Au-catalyzed III-V nanowires
Authors: Dubrovskii V. G.
Published: February 2014

We present a kinetic growth model having a particular emphasis on the influence of the group V element on the preferred crystal structure of Au-catalyzed III-V nanowires. The model circumvents the uncertainty in the group V contribution into the overall liquid chemical potential. We show why the nanowire elongation rate is limited by the group III transport, while the crystal structure depends on the effective group V to III imbalance. Within the model, we are able to explain some important structural trends in Au-catalyzed III-V nanowires. In particular, we show that high group V flux always favors wurtzite structure in molecular-beam epitaxy. This tendency could be inverted in vapor deposition techniques due to suppression of the group III diffusion at high group V flux.
Template assisted fabrication of free-standing MnO2 nanotube and nanowire arrays and their application in supercapacitors
Authors: Grote Fabian , Kühnel Ruben-Simon , Balducci Andrea , Lei Yong
Published: February 2014

In this Letter, an innovative technique is reported to control the fabrication of free-standing MnO2 nanotube and nanowire arrays. The synthesis is based on a three-step process, using porous anodic aluminum oxide as a template, and enables the selective fabrication of vertically aligned MnO2 nanotubes or nanowires on large areas. The as-prepared MnO2 nanotube and nanowire arrays are investigated as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications and show a good electrochemical performance with specific capacitances of 210 F g−1 at 1.9 A g−1 and 231 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, respectively. The investigation of the rate capability of both structures indicates a superior performance of the nanotube arrays.
Proximity-induced superconductivity effect in a double-stranded DNA
Authors: Simchi Hamidreza , Esmaeilzadeh Mahdi , Mazidabadi Hossein
Published: February 2014

We study the proximity-induced superconductivity effect in a double-stranded DNA by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations and taking into account the effect of thermal fluctuations of the twist angle between neighboring base pairs. We show that the electron conductance is spin-dependent and the conductance of spin up (down) increases (decreases) due to the spin-orbit coupling (SOC). It is found that, for T < 100 K, the band gap energy is temperature-independent and it decreases due to the SOC. In addition, by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations and local gap parameter equation self-consistently, we find the critical temperature at which transition to superconductivity can take place.
Conventions in Cross-Border Trade Coordination: The Case of Organic Food Imports to Germany and Australia
Authors: Bernzen Amelie , Braun Boris
Published: February 2014

Monitoring and tracing product and process qualities along global supply chains have become increasingly challenging tasks for companies at the downstream end of the chain. High levels of uncertainty in trade coordination arise among importing companies in the face of these developments. The conceptual aim of this paper is to show, by the example of organic food imports to Germany and Australia, how convention theory can contribute to the analysis of trade coordination in global value chains. Our empirical results affirm that industrial conventions such as standards and third-party certification have gained increasing significance over the past two decades. Simultaneously, however, we argue that industrial conventions are not enough to overcome uncertainties in trade. They do not necessarily lead to reduced differences in perceptions of product quality between suppliers and importers. Less tangible factors such as trust established through relationship management and reputation are likewise significant. Furthermore, not only companies with a certain ideological tradition, but also individual people with altruistic motives within other types of firms, can determine how ‘dedicated’ a firm is in pushing trade coordination according to civic and domestic conventions. Market conventions (ie, the importance of price and competitiveness) are stressed more by Australian firms reflecting the country's liberal market economy and low state subsidies especially in the area of agriculture. Finally, compromises between conventions are sometimes necessary to end a situation of conflict between buyer and supplier.
Buprenorphine–Naloxone Therapy in Pain Management
Authors: Chen Kelly Yan , Chen Lucy , Mao Jianren
Published: February 2014

Buprenorphine–naloxone (bup/nal in 4:1 ratio; Suboxone®; Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Incorporation, Richmond, VA) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for outpatient office-based addiction treatment. In the past few years, bup/nal has been increasingly prescribed off-label for chronic pain management. The current data suggest that bup/nal may provide pain relief in patients with chronic pain with opioid dependence or addiction. However, the unique pharmacological profile of bup/nal confers it to be a weak analgesic that is unlikely to provide adequate pain relief for patients without opioid dependence or addiction. Possible mechanisms of pain relief by bup/nal therapy in opioid-dependent patients with chronic pain may include reversal of opioid-induced hyperalgesia and improvement in opioid tolerance and addiction. Additional studies are needed to assess the implication of bup/nal therapy in clinical anesthesia and perioperative pain management.