bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Institutional Review Board and International Field Research in Conflict Zones
Authors: Bhattacharya Srobana
Published: October 2014

Research on political conflict can benefit immensely from fieldwork. However, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process is elaborate and daunting that discourages rather than encourages this type of research. Existing policies often are insensitive to the many uncertainties related to field research abroad, especially in conflict zones. Three reasons for this are identified in this article. First, the federal regulations to protect human subjects of social science research are most suitable for biomedical sciences. Second, there is huge gap between “procedural ethics” and “ethics in practice.” Third, there is a lack of communication or dialogue between researchers and IRBs. After discussing these reasons, I offer the following suggestions: bridging the gap between the researcher and the IRB; reducing delays in the IRB approval and revision process; encouraging collaboration and dialogue among researchers; and advocating a proactive stance by academic associations.
Navigating the International Academic Job Market
Authors: Saiya Nilay
Published: October 2014

Given the extraordinarily competitive academic job market in the United States, this article explores a relatively new prospect for American-trained political science PhD graduates: teaching at a foreign institution. The article proceeds in two parts. First, it discusses various benefits and challenges associated with working abroad. Second, it provides practical guidance for candidates considering the international job market.
High-Impact Political Science Internships in a “Low-Density Opportunity” Environment
Authors: Anderson Brian
Published: October 2014

Internship placements located away from capital cities and metropolitan areas may lack opportunities for involvement in high-profile issues but they can uphold standards of “high-impact educational practice” (Kuh 2008). This study of 59 political science interns at the Mississippi University for Women demonstrates that high-impact outcomes may be generated in small-city placements that include administrative tasks if students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and recommend improvements. Students not only extract information from their experiences for academic assignments, they also appraise the effectiveness of the work unit in attaining its goals and they formulate means by which it may improve procedures and outcomes. The scale of operations in small-city environments broadens the options for this type of analysis: exposure to a wide scope of decision processes and results is preferred to a focus on a specialized task.
Satire and Efficacy in the Political Science Classroom
Authors: Glazier Rebecca A.
Published: October 2014

Political satire has become increasingly prominent in recent years, leading some political science instructors to use satire in their courses. Yet, recent work suggests that political satire may encourage cynicism and decrease political efficacy. In this article, the author develops and tests an approach to teaching effectively with satire. Frequent use, source diversity, and critical evaluation engage students while allaying satire’s potential detrimental effects. The author evaluates this pedagogical approach through a classroom experiment using both in-person and online classes (student N = 163). Qualitative and quantitative data offer suggestive evidence that refutes the warning that satire fundamentally depresses political efficacy and indicates that students enjoy satire and endorse its use. By deliberately using diverse satirical sources, instructors can maximize the benefits of satire while minimizing potential drawbacks. For interested instructors, the author’s website contains a searchable catalog of satirical articles, video clips, and cartoons that can be used to teach specific political science concepts.
Teaching Canadian Politics and Foreign Policy Onsite: Benefits and Challenges
Authors: McCormick James M.
Published: October 2014

This article discusses the benefits and challenges of offering an onsite seminar on Canadian politics and foreign policy and assesses how this format contributes to achieving the goals of the 2011 APSA report,Teaching Political Science in the 21st Century. First, the author describes the development and requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Global Seminar series at Iowa State University, the structure of the seminar, and its operation in Ottawa. Second, several of the pedagogical and experiential benefits, as well as the challenges, for making the seminar successful are identified and discussed. Third, by weighing these benefits and challenges, the author concludes that such a seminar has the potential to serve as an effective model for increasing an understanding of Canadian politics among American students, as well as to meet several important recommendations for improving the teaching of political science today.
Is Federalism Still the “Dark Continent” of Political Science Teaching? Yes and No
Authors: Kincaid John , Cole Richard L.
Published: October 2014

Federalism is a core principle of American government; yet, how much attention is given to federalism beyond introductory courses? A 1969 study described American federalism as the “dark continent” of political science teaching. Based on surveys of chairs of US departments of political science and members of the APSA’s section on federalism and intergovernmental relations in 2013, the authors found that these course offerings have increased markedly since 1969, that the courses cover a range of topics, and that many department chairs are interested in offering these courses in the future. However, the teaching of comparative federalism lags far behind American federalism. Thus, comparative federalism remains a “dark continent” of federalism teaching.
A Pilot Study Evaluating Attention and Strategy Training Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Sohlberg McKay Moore , Harn Beth , MacPherson Holly , Wade Shari L.
Published: October 2014

The prevalence of impairments in attention, working memory and executive functions associated with traumatic brain injury and developmental childhood diagnoses has resulted in increased research to identify effective treatments. The use of a broad based approach that combines both strategy training (domain specific training) and repetitive drill practice (domain general training), has been investigated in the acquired brain injury population with some promising initial findings although methodological issues and demonstration of transfer of training is challenging. This paper describes a pilot study, evaluating an integrated intervention, Attention Improvement Management (AIM) in eleven participants with cognitive processing impairments due to traumatic brain injury. The paper explores the therapy components that appear to be critical to achieving meaningful improvements in attention, working memory and executive functions using this hybrid approach. The results of the pilot study are analyzed to identify the clinical decisions and behaviors required by clinicians implementing even a highly proceduralized computer intervention such as AIM, in hopes of guiding current practice and improving future research investigations.
Promoting Physical Activity in the School Environment
Authors: Tholstrup Linda , Kaplan Marina , Drake Alanna , Gao Zhongcui , Nichols Dave , Zhao Jia
Published: October 2014

This article is a program description addressing program implementation process and feasibility and initial data on implementation and efficacy. It describes the implementation of a school-wide system-level health promotion initiative, Make School a Moving Experience (MSAME), which was designed to promote physical activity in 74 Delaware elementary schools from 2009 to 2012. By working with the schools to create environments supportive of physical activity (PA), the project goal was to provide students with the opportunity to participate in recommended levels of PA for at least 150 min per week during school hours. Evaluation data was presented in terms of school engagement, school-level PA plans and program implementation, student-level PA and fitness. Findings from the program evaluation illustrate a promising approach for generating system-level changes designed to influence children’s health behaviors.
SKN-1 and Nrf2 couples proline catabolism with lipid metabolism during nutrient deprivation
Authors: Pang Shanshan , Lynn Dana A. , Lo Jacqueline Y. , Paek Jennifer , Curran Sean P.
Published: October 2014

Mechanisms that coordinate different metabolic pathways, such as glucose and lipid, have been recognized. However, a potential interaction between amino acid and lipid metabolism remains largely elusive. Here we show that during starvation of Caenorhabditis elegans, proline catabolism is coupled with lipid metabolism by SKN-1. Mutation of alh-6, a conserved proline catabolic enzyme, accelerates fat mobilization, enhances the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and reduces survival in response to fasting. This metabolic coordination is mediated by the activation of the transcription factor SKN-1/Nrf2, possibly due to the accumulation of the alh-6 substrate P5C, and also requires the transcriptional co-regulator MDT-15. Constitutive activation of SKN-1 induces a similar transcriptional response, which protects animals from fat accumulation when fed a high carbohydrate diet. In human cells, an orthologous alh-6 enzyme, ALDH4A1, is also linked to the activity of Nrf2, the human orthologue of SKN-1, and regulates the expression of lipid metabolic genes. Our findings identify a link between proline catabolism and lipid metabolism, and uncover a physiological role for SKN-1 in metabolism.
Single-molecule diffusion and conformational dynamics by spatial integration of temporal fluctuations
Authors: Serag Maged F. , Abadi Maram , Habuchi Satoshi
Published: October 2014

Single-molecule localization and tracking has been used to translate spatiotemporal information of individual molecules to map their diffusion behaviours. However, accurate analysis of diffusion behaviours and including other parameters, such as the conformation and size of molecules, remain as limitations to the method. Here, we report a method that addresses the limitations of existing single-molecular localization methods. The method is based on temporal tracking of the cumulative area occupied by molecules. These temporal fluctuations are tied to molecular size, rates of diffusion and conformational changes. By analysing fluorescent nanospheres and double-stranded DNA molecules of different lengths and topological forms, we demonstrate that our cumulative-area method surpasses the conventional single-molecule localization method in terms of the accuracy of determined diffusion coefficients. Furthermore, the cumulative-area method provides conformational relaxation times of structurally flexible chains along with diffusion coefficients, which together are relevant to work in a wide spectrum of scientific fields.
Diversity in ATP concentrations in a single bacterial cell population revealed by quantitative single-cell imaging
Authors: Yaginuma Hideyuki , Kawai Shinnosuke , Tabata Kazuhito V. , Tomiyama Keisuke , Kakizuka Akira , Komatsuzaki Tamiki , Noji Hiroyuki , Imamura Hiromi
Published: October 2014

Recent advances in quantitative single-cell analysis revealed large diversity in gene expression levels between individual cells, which could affect the physiology and/or fate of each cell. In contrast, for most metabolites, the concentrations were only measureable as ensemble averages of many cells. In living cells, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a critically important metabolite that powers many intracellular reactions. Quantitative measurement of the absolute ATP concentration in individual cells has not been achieved because of the lack of reliable methods. In this study, we developed a new genetically-encoded ratiometric fluorescent ATP indicator “QUEEN”, which is composed of a single circularly-permuted fluorescent protein and a bacterial ATP binding protein. Unlike previous FRET-based indicators, QUEEN was apparently insensitive to bacteria growth rate changes. Importantly, intracellular ATP concentrations of numbers of bacterial cells calculated from QUEEN fluorescence were almost equal to those from firefly luciferase assay. Thus, QUEEN is suitable for quantifying the absolute ATP concentration inside bacteria cells. Finally, we found that, even for a genetically-identical Escherichia coli cell population, absolute concentrations of intracellular ATP were significantly diverse between individual cells from the same culture, by imaging QUEEN signals from single cells.
A single gold nanorod as a plasmon resonance energy transfer based nanosensor for high-sensitivity Cu(ii) detection
Authors: Jing Chao , Shi Lei , Liu Xiaoyuan , Long Yi-Tao
Published: October 2014

Plasmon resonance energy transfer (PRET) has been widely applied in the detection of bio-recognition, heavy metal ions and cellular reactions with high sensitivity, based on the overlap between the plasmon resonance scattering band of nanoparticles and the absorption band of the surface-modified chromophore molecules.
Switching of electrochemical characteristics of redox protein upon specific biomolecular interactions
Authors: Ho Man Yi , Goodchild Sarah A. , Estrela Pedro , Chu Daping , Migliorato Piero
Published: October 2014

Label-free protein sensing platform based on a simplified and standardized immobilization process with Azurin redox self-assembled monolayer is fabricated. A significant change in the electrochemical characteristics of the assay upon specific interaction with target molecules is observed.
High-throughput sugarcane leaf analysis using a low cost closed-vessel conductively heated digestion system and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy
Authors: Miranda Kelber , Vieira Alan Lima , Gomes Neto José Anchieta
Published: October 2014

A CHDS with quartz tubes is a low cost alternative to MW digestion for laboratories involved in sugarcane leaf analysis.
Phase-transition contrast nanocapsules triggered by low-intensity ultrasound
Authors: Li Hao , Wang Jianhao , Wang Ping , Zheng Jian , Song Fangfang , Yin Tinghui , Zhou Guofu , Zheng Rongqing , Zhang Chao
Published: October 2014

Liquid fluorocarbon-loaded polymeric nanocapsules as contrast agents could be potentially triggered by mild hyperthermia under diagnostic ultrasound for tumor imaging.
Chitosan improves stability of carbon nanotube biocathodes for glucose biofuel cells
Authors: El Ichi Sarra , Zebda Abdelkader , Laaroussi Awatef , Reverdy-Bruas Nadège , Chaussy Didier , Naceur Belgacem Mohamed , Cinquin Philippe , Martin Donald K.
Published: October 2014

We demonstrate a novel combined chitosan–carbon-nanotube–enzyme biocathode with a fibrous microstructure that improves the performance by creating a protective microenvironment, preventing the loss of the electrocatalytic activity of the enzyme, and providing good oxygen diffusion.
Direct exfoliation of carbon allotropes with structural analogues of self-assembled nanostructures and their photovoltaic applications
Authors: Lee Woochul , Lee Dong-Woo , Lee Myongsoo , Hong Jong-In
Published: October 2014

The self-assembled nanostructures of amphiphilic molecules enabled a direct exfoliation of carbon allotropes, which were successfully introduced into the HTL layer.
Extending the shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy approach to interfacial ionic liquids at single crystal electrode surfaces
Authors: Zhang Meng , Yu Li-Juan , Huang Yi-Fan , Yan Jia-Wei , Liu Guo-Kun , Wu De-Yin , Tian Zhong-Qun , Mao Bing-Wei
Published: October 2014

We employ, for the first time, SHINERS to study single crystal electrode surfaces in ionic liquids, and combine DFT calculations to elucidate the structural details of imidazolium-based ionic liquid–Au single crystal electrode interfaces.
Photo-induced charge recombination kinetics in MAPbI3−xClx perovskite-like solar cells using low band-gap polymers as hole conductors
Authors: Marin-Beloqui Jose Manuel , Hernández Javier Pérez , Palomares Emilio
Published: October 2014

We measured the charge recombination kinetics using transient photovoltage (TPV) and laser transient absorption spectroscopy (L-TAS) in MAPbI3−xClx perovskite solar cells using low band gap polymers as hole transport materials (HTMs).
Application of graphene oxide as a hydrothermal catalyst support for synthesis of TiO2 whiskers
Authors: Parmar Kaushal R. , Basha Shaik , Murthy Z. V. P.
Published: October 2014

How graphene oxide (GO) with its step edges and wrinkles (∼1–2 nm) acts as a catalyst in hydrothermal nucleation and growth is demonstrated.
A highly efficient Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative ortho-arylation of amides with aryl acylperoxides
Authors: Li Dengke , Xu Ning , Zhang Yicheng , Wang Lei
Published: October 2014

A Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative ortho-arylation of amides with aryl acylperoxides was developed. Anilides afforded ortho-arylation products, and N-methoxyarylamides gave phenanthridinones.
Chiral metal phosphate catalysis: highly asymmetric hetero-Diels–Alder reactions
Authors: Liang Tao , Li Guilong , Wojtas Lukasz , Antilla Jon C.
Published: October 2014

A highly enantioselective hetero-Diels–Alder reaction of α-keto esters and isatins catalyzed by chiral calcium BINOL-derived phosphates (X-ray) is reported.
Long wavelength optical control of glutamate receptor ion channels using a tetra-ortho-substituted azobenzene derivative
Authors: Rullo A. , Reiner A. , Reiter A. , Trauner D. , Isacoff E. Y. , Woolley G. A.
Published: October 2014

Tetra-ortho-chloro substitution shifts the optical switching of azobenzene modified glutamate receptors into the red.
Redox-induced fluoride ligand dissociation stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonding
Authors: Moore Cameron M. , Szymczak Nathaniel K.
Published: October 2014

Appended hydrogen-bonding groups enable the reduction and F− capture of a tripodal copper fluoride complex.
A novel aggregation-induced emission based fluorescent probe for an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) assay and inhibitor screening
Authors: Wang Haibo , Huang Yi , Zhao Xiaoping , Gong Wan , Wang Yi , Cheng Yiyu
Published: October 2014

A novel ‘turn-on’ fluorescent probe with the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property for an ACE assay.
A solvent-free Diels–Alder reaction of graphite into functionalized graphene nanosheets
Authors: Seo Jeong-Min , Baek Jong-Beom
Published: October 2014

A solvent-free Diels–Alder reaction between graphite as a diene and a typical dienophile, maleic anhydride or maleimide is developed. The functionalization of graphite with dienophiles is efficient enough for delamination of graphitic layers into graphene nanosheets upon dispersion in a polar solvent.
Isomorphous free-base, Ni(ii)- and Cu(ii)-5,10,15,20-tetra(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin nitrobenzene hexasolvates with tetragonal 3D hydrogen-bonded network structures
Authors: Seidel Rüdiger W. , Goddard Richard , Oppel Iris M.
Published: October 2014

The crystal structures of 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-hydroxyphenyl)-21,23H-porphyrin nitrobenzene hexasolvate (1), 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrinatonickel(ii) and -copper(ii)nitrobenzene hexasolvates (2and3) are described.
Efficacy of titanium doped-indium tin oxide (Ti/TiO2–ITO) films in rapid oxygen generation under photocatalysis and their suitability for bio-medical application
Authors: Subrahmanyam A. , Rajakumar A. , Rakibuddin Md. , Paul Ramesh T. , Raveendra Kiran M. , Shankari D. , Chandrasekhar K.
Published: October 2014

Fabrication of novel titanium doped ITO films and understanding the mechanism for effective photocatalytic oxygen generation for artificial lung-assistive devices.
A cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b′]dithiophene–porphyrin conjugate for mesoscopic solar cells: a D–π–D–A approach
Authors: Lu Jianfeng , Zhang Bingyan , Liu Shuangshuang , Li Hao , Yuan Huailiang , Shen Yan , Xu Jie , Cheng Yibing , Wang Mingkui
Published: October 2014

In this article, cyclopenta[1,2-b:5,4-b′]dithiophene (CPDT) was introduced as a spacer between the porphyrin chromophore and cyanoacetic acid to obtain a porphyrin dye (coded as LW9).
Improvement of desolvation and resilience of alginate binders for Si-based anodes in a lithium ion battery by calcium-mediated cross-linking
Authors: Yoon Jihee , Oh Dongyeop X. , Jo Changshin , Lee Jinwoo , Hwang Dong Soo
Published: October 2014

Calcium-mediated cross-linking of alginate improves toughness, resilience and electrolyte desolvation of the alginate binder. These improved properties contribute to enhance the capacity and lifetime of Si anode in LIB.
Mechanical properties of mesoporous ceria nanoarchitectures
Authors: Sayle Thi X. T. , Inkson Beverley J. , Möbus Günter , Parker Stephen C. , Seal Sudipta , Sayle Dean C.
Published: October 2014

Architectural constructs are engineered to impart desirable mechanical properties. However, do the same ‘engineering-rules’ translate to the nanoscale?
Temperature sensing from the emission rise times of Eu3+ in SrY2O4
Authors: Lojpur V. , Antić Ž. , Dramićanin M. D.
Published: October 2014

The emission rise time of Eu3+-doped SrY2O4 was investigated in the temperature range of 20–200 °C for application in luminescence thermometry.
Room temperature synthesis of Bi25FeO39 and hydrothermal kinetic relations between sillenite- and distorted perovskite-type bismuth ferrites
Authors: Lopes Armandina M. L. , Araújo João P. , Ferdov Stanislav
Published: October 2014

Sillentite-type Bi25FeO39 is synthesized at room temperature and its kinetic relations with rombohedrally distorted perovskite-type BiFeO3 are revealed.
P(EO-co-LLA) functionalized Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanocomposites for thermo/pH responsive drug controlled release and hyperthermia
Authors: Guo Wei , Yang Chunyu , Lin Huiming , Qu Fengyu
Published: October 2014

The Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanocarrier that consisted of a magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticle core and a mesoporous silica (mSiO2) shell was synthesized.
Exploring coherent transport through π-stacked systems for molecular electronic devices
Authors: Li Qian , Solomon Gemma C.
Published: October 2014

Understanding electron transport across π-stacked systems can help to elucidate the role of intermolecular tunneling in molecular junctions and potentially with the design of high-efficiency molecular devices. Here we show how conjugation length and substituent groups influence the electron transport and thermoelectric response in the π-stacked structures by investigating five representative stacked molecular junctions. We found that a π-stacked system of two substituted anthracenes exhibits good thermopower and a high power factor, suggesting that increased conjugation can enhance the thermoelectric response. The fully eclipsed structure of quinhydrone exhibits a high power factor at the minimum energy structure and could thus be a better candidate in a thermoelectric device compared with the other π-stacked systems considered.
Oxygen removal from intact biomass to produce liquid fuel range hydrocarbons via fast-hydropyrolysis and vapor-phase catalytic hydrodeoxygenation
Authors: Venkatakrishnan Vinod Kumar , Delgass W. Nicholas , Ribeiro Fabio H. , Agrawal Rakesh
Published: October 2014

This article presents proof-of-concept of a biofuel process for producing hydrocarbons from cellulose and intact biomass, using catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of fast-hydropyrolysis vapors.
Manipulating and quantifying temperature-triggered coalescence with microcentrifugation
Authors: Feng Huanhuan , Ershov Dmitry , Krebs Thomas , Schroen Karin , Cohen Stuart Martien A. , van der Gucht Jasper , Sprakel Joris
Published: October 2014

Combining microcentrifugation, synchronized high-speed imaging and image processing allows direct measurement of coalescence dynamics in thermoresponsive emulsions.
A simple microfluidic dispenser for single-microparticle and cell samples
Authors: Kasukurti A. , Eggleton C. D. , Desai S. A. , Disharoon D. I. , Marr D. W. M.
Published: October 2014

Non-destructive isolation of single-cells has become an important need for many biology research laboratories; however, there is a lack of easily employed and inexpensive tools.
Advances in spinel Li4Ti5O12anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Sun Xiangcheng , Radovanovic Pavle V. , Cui Bo
Published: October 2014

Nanoscale batteries with anode-Li4Ti5O12(LTO) and cathode-LiFePO4(LFP) have shown a significant potential to develop long-life and high-rate Li-ion batteries.
BODIPY-based macromolecular photosensitizer with cation-enhanced antibacterial activity
Authors: Lu Zhentan , Zhang Xinge , Zhao Yu , Xue Yinan , Zhai Tingting , Wu Zhongming , Li Chaoxing
Published: October 2014

The macromolecular photosensitizer could bind and eliminate bacteria efficiently.
Thiol-reactive functional poly(meth)acrylates: multicomponent monomer synthesis, RAFT (co)polymerization and highly efficient thiol–para-fluoro postpolymerization modification
Authors: Noy Janina-Miriam , Koldevitz Miriam , Roth Peter J.
Published: October 2014

Novel Passerini-made pentafluorophenyl-functional (meth)acrylate monomers are (co)polymerized by RAFT and modified quantitatively with a variety of functional primary, secondary, and tertiary thiols.
Function through bio-inspired, synthesis-informed design: step-economical syntheses of designed kinase inhibitors
Authors: Wender Paul A. , Axtman Alison D. , Golden Jennifer E. , Kee Jung-Min , Sirois Lauren E. , Quiroz Ryan V. , Stevens Matthew C.
Published: October 2014

We describe here step-economical, function-oriented strategies towards the syntheses of potent kinase inhibitors inspired by the natural product staurosporine.
Investigation of electron transfer from isolated spinach thylakoids to indium tin oxide
Authors: Dewi Herlina Arianita , Meng Fanben , Sana Barindra , Guo Chunxian , Norling Birgitta , Chen Xiaodong , Lim Sierin
Published: October 2014

The electrons generated by photosynthetic water splitting have been studied for direct electron transfer under light irradiation.
Large resistive switching in Pt/BNT/HfO2/Pt capacitors
Authors: Song H. J. , Wang J. B. , Zhong X. L. , Cheng J. J. , Zhong G. K.
Published: October 2014

A large resistive switching (RS) of 4 orders of magnitude is observed in Pt/Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12(BNT)/HfO2/Pt capacitors.
N-Bromosuccinimide-based bromination and subsequent functionalization of hydrogen-terminated silicon quantum dots
Authors: Bell Jacob P. , Cloud Jacqueline E. , Cheng Jifang , Ngo Chilan , Kodambaka Suneel , Sellinger Alan , Ratanathanawongs Williams S. Kim , Yang Yongan
Published: October 2014

N-Bromosuccinimide based bromination is proven to be an effective and mild intermediate step to produce surface functionalized, red-emitting, colloidal SiQDs.
Facile synthesis of hollow hierarchical Ni/γ-Al2O3 nanocomposites for methane dry reforming catalysis
Authors: Zhang Qing , Wu Tao , Zhang Peng , Qi Ruijuan , Huang Rong , Song Xuefeng , Gao Lian
Published: October 2014

Hierarchical Ni/Al2O3 nanocomposite possesses a high surface area, high loading of well dispersed metal nanoparticles, and a hierarchical hollow structure. The strong interaction between metal and support and the large open accessible surface lead to excellent sintering and carbon resistance, and superior catalytic performance in methane dry reforming.
Visual monitoring of laser power and spot profile in micron region by a single chip of Zn-doped CdS nanobelts
Authors: Wang Xiaoxu , Zhang Wensheng , Song Guangli , Zou Bingsuo , Li Zhishuang , Guo Shuai , Li Jing , Li Qisong , Liu Ruibin
Published: October 2014

On the basis of pumping-power-dependent emission property, Zn-doped CdS nanobelts are developed to monitor injected laser power and detect the profile of laser focal spots visually in the micron region through color changes.
Continuous polycrystalline ZIF-8 membrane supported on CO2-selective mixed matrix supports for CO2/CH4 separation
Authors: Yeo Zee Ying , Tan Pei Yee , Chai Siang-Piao , Zhu Peng Wei , Mohamed Abdul Rahman
Published: October 2014

Thin and compact ZIF-8 membranes were successfully synthesized on PES-ZIF-8 mixed matrix supports. Incorporating both selective ZIF-8 layer and PES-ZIF-8 mixed matrix support in a membrane has enhanced the overall CO2/CH4 selectivity.
Synthesis of imprinted monolithic column with high content of monomers in ionic liquid
Authors: Li Xiu-Yuan , Chen Xiu-Xiu , Zhong Dan-Dan , Huang Yan-Ping , Liu Zhao-Sheng
Published: October 2014

A MIP monolith with good permeability was successfully achieved using a strategy involving a high content of monomers in a [BMIM][BF4]-based green solvent.
Luminescent properties of milk carbon dots and their sulphur and nitrogen doped analogues
Authors: Wang Dan , Wang Xudong , Guo Yali , Liu Weisheng , Qin Wenwu
Published: October 2014

Fluorescence image of SMMC-7721 cells excited by ultraviolet light: (a) Milk-CDs; (b) S doped CDs; (c) N doped CDs.
Facile synthesis of smart biopolymeric nanofibers towards toxic ion removal and disinfection control
Authors: Chauhan Divya , Dwivedi Jaya , Sankararamakrishnan Nalini
Published: October 2014

To provide safe drinking water, it is crucial to tackle both bacterial infection and inorganic pollutants.
Nano La0.6Ca0.4Fe0.8Ni0.2O3−δ decorated porous doped ceria as a novel cobalt-free electrode for “symmetrical” solid oxide fuel cells
Authors: Yang Guangming , Su Chao , Chen Yubo , Tadé Moses O. , Shao Zongping
Published: October 2014

Nano La0.6Ca0.4Fe0.8Ni0.2O3−δ (LCFN)-infiltrated porous Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC) composite is a promising electrode material for “symmetrical” SOFCs due to the excellent anode and cathode performance.
The synergistic effects of Al and Te on the structure and Li+-mobility of garnet-type solid electrolytes
Authors: Wang Dawei , Zhong Guiming , Dolotko Oleksandr , Li Yixiao , McDonald Matthew J. , Mi Jinxiao , Fu Riqiang , Yang Yong
Published: October 2014

The cubic garnet-type solid electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 with aliovalent doping exhibits a high ionic conductivity.
Efficient quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells based on organic sensitizers containing fluorinated quinoxaline moiety
Authors: Jia Xiaowei , Zhang Weiyi , Lu Xuefeng , Wang Zhong-Sheng , Zhou Gang
Published: October 2014

Two organic sensitizers containing fluorinated quinoxaline moiety have been designed and synthesized for efficient quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.
Fully integrated four‐input combining receiver front‐end circuit for laser radar with static unitary detector
Authors: Lee Eun‐Gyu , An Jongsun , Kim Choul‐Young
Published: October 2014

A fully integrated four‐input combining receiver front‐end circuit is designed in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology for laser radar with a static unitary detector (STUD). This circuit consists of four independent transimpedance amplifiers, one signal combiner, a balun and an output buffer in one single integrated chip. The circuit provides 16.2 mW power consumption for a 1.8 V supplied voltage and 59.8 dBΩ transimpedance gain in the implemented experimental prototype for electrical pulse measurement. The fabricated prototype is worked exactly the same as the operation principle of the STUD in the two‐dimensional optical pulse scanning measurement. Therefore, the proposed circuit is available for the STUD‐based laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system as one integrated chip. This is the first demonstrated IC for the STUD‐based laser radar system.
Effects of nitrogen flow rate in ohmic contacts on InAlN/GaN heterostructures
Authors: Geum Dae‐Myeong , Shin Seungheon , Park Min‐Su , Jang Jae‐Hyung
Published: October 2014

The effects of nitrogen (N2) flow rate during high‐temperature annealing were investigated for Ti/Al/Ni/Au ohmic metallisation on InAlN/GaN heterostructures. The samples annealed at 900°C for 100 s at a 30 SCCM N2 flow rate had the highest ohmic contact performance: a contact resistance of 0.12 Ω·mm, transfer length of 0.31 μm and specific contact resistivity of 3.42 × 10−7 Ω·cm2.
Experimental demonstration of crosstalk compensation for super high‐density multi‐carrier PDM‐QPSK signal by MIMO processing
Authors: Hamaoka F. , Saito K. , Yamamoto S. , Matsuda T. , Naka A.
Published: October 2014

It has been experimentally demonstrated that the proposed multiple‐input and multiple‐output (MIMO) processing compensated for the crosstalk of a super high‐density multi‐carrier signal consisting of two optical polarisation division multiplexing (PDM) quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) sub‐carriers. Precise frequency spacing of synthesised optical local oscillators has been applied to the proposed MIMO processing. The experimental results show that the sub‐carrier spacing can be reduced to 78% of the baud rate of the PDM‐QPSK sub‐carriers.
Apollonius unilateral transducer constant power gain circles on 3D Smith charts
Authors: Muller A.A. , Sanabria‐Codesal E. , Moldoveanu A. , Asavei V. , Soto P. , Boria V.E. , Lucyszyn S.
Published: October 2014

Unilateral transducer constant power gain circles play an essential role in the design of radio‐frequency amplifiers and active modulators, as they help to determine optimal impedance matching conditions to meet gain and stability specifications. It is shown that these gain circles are a subfamily of Apollonius circles. For better visualisation, unilateral transducer constant gain power circles have been plotted for the first time on the three‐dimensional (3D) Smith chart. To this end, a natural relationship from an inversive geometry was required, in order to relate the gain circles with cutting planes for the 3D Smith chart.
A Metal-Free and Ionic Liquid-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Bromination in Water
Authors: Wang Jian , Chen Shu-Bin , Wang Shu-Guang , Li Jing-Hua
Published: October 2014

A metal-free aerobic oxidative bromination of aromatic compounds in water has been developed. Hydrobromic acid is used as a bromine source and 2-methylpyridinium nitrate ionic liquid is used as a recyclable catalyst. Water is used as the reaction mediate. This is the first report of aerobic oxidative bromination using only catalytic amount of metal-free catalyst. This system shows not only high bromine atom economy, but also high bromination selectivity. The possible mechanism and the role of the catalyst in this system have also been discussed.
Revisiting the biogeography of Sideroxylon (Sapotaceae) and an evaluation of the taxonomic status of Argania and Spiniluma
Authors: Stride Gail , Nylinder Stephan , Swenson Ulf
Published: October 2014

Biogeography of Sideroxylon (Sapotoideae) and whether the satellite genera Argania and Spiniluma merit recognition are revisited. The hypothesis of an African origin with a subsequent migration to Central America via Europe and the North Atlantic landbridge is challenged. We analysed 58 accessions of trnH-psbA and ITS sequences in a fossil-calibrated, relaxed lognormal clock model with BEAST for phylogenetic and biogeographic inference. Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels from Morocco must be united with Sideroxylon, whereas S. discolor Radcl.-Sm. and S. oxyacanthum Baill. belong to subfamily Chrysophylloideae and may be recognised as Spiniluma. The divergence time estimate suggests that Sideroxylon originated and first diversified in Central America 56.3–52.2 million years ago, contemporaneous with the landbridge, but an archipelago of islands and the Tethys Seaway halted eastward expansion to Africa until c.20 million years ago, i.e. 25 million years after establishment in Africa. Range expansion of Sideroxylon was therefore not powered by the landbridge, and a long-distance dispersal from Central America to Africa is proposed. The establishment of the Gomphotherium landbridge between Africa and Eurasia at 19 million years ago provided a land-migration route to Europe and Asia, which is reconcilable with the extension of Xantolis into Asia. Sideroxylon has colonised Socotra by over-water dispersal in the Gulf of Aden, Macaronesia, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands.
An investigation of taxon boundaries in rare and range-restricted Synaphea (Proteaceae: Conosperminae) species from south-west Western Australia
Authors: Butcher R. , Thiele K. R.
Published: October 2014

The Swan Coastal Plain of south-west Western Australia has been extensively cleared since European settlement, with the fertile Pinjarra Plain land system preferentially cleared for grazing; what remains of the native vegetation is of high conservation value despite being highly fragmented and often degraded. The following six taxa of Synaphea R.Br. (Proteaceae), with conservation status corresponding to IUCN Red List categories Threatened and Data Deficient, are restricted to vegetation remnants in this region: S. stenoloba A.S.George, S. odocoileops A.S.George, S. sp. Pinjarra (R. Davis 6578), S. sp. Fairbridge Farm (D. Papenfus 696), S. sp. Pinjarra Plain (A.S. George 17182) and S. sp. Serpentine (G.R. Brand 103). Taxonomic boundaries among these morphologically similar taxa of Synaphea were investigated using morphometric analyses based on characters of leaves, inflorescences, flowers and fruits. Results allow the circumscription of the four informally named taxa from this complex, which will enable their formal description in a subsequent publication. They also provide support for several morphologically closely related taxa, including the provisional distinction of S. sp. Udumung (A.S. George 17058) from close ally S. decorticans Lindl. Two described species (S. odocoileops and S. stenoloba) and several anomalous specimens could not be adequately resolved in these analyses, and further investigation of their boundaries using molecular markers is required.
Corrigendum to: Effectiveness of commercial harvesting in controlling feral-pig populations
Authors: Gentle Matthew , Pople Anthony
Published: October 2014

Context
The feral pig (Sus scrofa) is a widespread pest species in Australia and its populations are commonly controlled to reduce damage to agriculture and the environment. Feral pigs are also a resource and harvested for commercial export as game meat. Although many other control techniques are used, commercial harvesting of feral pigs is often encouraged by land managers, because it carries little or no cost and is widely perceived to control populations.

Aims
To use feral-pig harvesting records, density data and simple harvest models to examine the effectiveness of commercial harvesting to reduce feral-pig populations.

Methods
The present study examined commercial harvest off-take on six sites (246–657km2) in southern Queensland, and 20 large blocks (~2–6000km2) throughout Queensland. The harvest off-take for each site was divided by monthly or average annual population size, determined by aerial survey, to calculate monthly and annual harvest rates. A simple harvest model assuming logistic population growth was used to determine the likely effectiveness of harvesting.

Key results
Commercial harvest rates were generally low (50%) in long-term population size were isolated occurrences and not maintained across sites and years. High harvest rates were observed only at low densities. Although these harvest rates may be sufficiently high to hold populations at low densities, the population is likely to escape this entrapment following a flush in food supply or a reduction in harvest effort.

Implications
Our results demonstrated that, at current harvest rates, commercial harvesting is ineffective for the landscape-scale control of feral-pig populations. Unless harvest rates can be significantly increased, commercial harvesting should be used as a supplement to, rather than as a substitute for, other damage-control techniques.
Reinforcement and the Organisation of Behaviour in Golden Hamsters: Differential Overshadowing of a CS by different Responses
Authors: Shettleworth Sara J.
Published: October 2014

Are different responses differentially associable with their consequences? An overshadowing design was used to try to answer this question for three responses previously studied in golden hamsters. In Experiment I, scrabbling was rapidly suppressed by electric shock punishment, and it overshadowed a tone which occurred between scrabbling and shock. In Experiment II, no evidence of response-shock association was obtained when open rearing was the punished response, and open rearing did not overshadow the tone. Punishment had some effect on face washing, but there was no statistically significant overshadowing with this response. These results are consistent with the idea that differences in punishment suppression among these three responses have an associative basis. They also demonstrate the usefulness of a novel paradigm for studying “preparedness” of response-reinforcer associations.
Appetitive Pavlovian-Instrumental Interactions: Effects of Inter-Stimulus Interval and Baseline Reinforcement Conditions
Authors: Lovibond Peter F.
Published: October 2014

Experiment I manipulated two variables which appear to influence whether a signal for food enhances or suppresses food-rewarded instrumental performance: interstimulus interval (ISI) during classical conditioning and instrumental reinforcement schedule during testing. In two groups a 10-s conditioned stimulus (CS) and food were paired (10-s and 20- to 100-s ISI), while in a third group they were unpaired. During signalled reinforcement of lever-pressing (S+), the CS suppressed responding in both paired groups. During signalled extinction (S−), responding in the 10-s ISI group was suppressed during the CS and enhanced for 60 s after CS offset; responding in the 20- to 100-s ISI group was enhanced both during the CS and for 120 s after CS offset. Experiment II examined whether the long ISI enhancement effect would occur when the baseline response rate was lowered by satiation rather than extinction. A 20- to 100-s CS and food were paired in one group and unpaired in another. After near-satiation on a CRF schedule, CS presentations caused a reduction in responding in both groups, with no significant difference between the two groups. The results of the two experiments were interpreted in terms of an interaction between the expectancy of food generated by stimuli conditioned at short and long ISIs and the expectancy of food availability controlled by the instrumental schedule.
Pigeons’ Withdrawal from an Appetitive Conditioned Inhibitor under two Training Procedures
Authors: Gaffan E. A. , Hart M. M.
Published: October 2014

The approach-withdrawal behaviour of pigeons to a red keylight was measured under three conditions; a negative contingency (NC) between keylight and food reinforcement, a CI or conditioned inhibition procedure where the keylight was non-reinforced in compound with a tone which was reinforced when presented alone, and a random control procedure (RC). The keylight-food contingencies in CI and NC were identical, and keylight and food presentation frequency were the same in all conditions. Subsequently the effect of adding the red keylight to a novel CS+ during or after excitatory conditioning was examined (summation test of inhibition). The inhibitory procedures, CI and NC, generally yielded similar functions for the acquisition of withdrawal, and the results of the withdrawal and summation measures were positively correlated. The implications of the results for theories of the acquisition and behavioural action of conditioned inhibitors are discussed.
Overshadowing of a Stimulus–Reinforcer Association by an Instrumental Response
Authors: Garrud Paul , Goodall Glyn , Mackintosh N. J.
Published: October 2014

In two experiments, rats were first exposed to pairings of a clicker and food; they were subsequently, in order to measure the effectiveness of the clicker as a conditioned reinforcer, given the opportunity to press a lever which turned the clicker on. For one group of animals the food originally delivered in the presence of the clicker had been contingent on their performance of an instrumental response (running in a running wheel); for a second the contingency between clicker and food had been purely classical. Although the actual correlation between clicker and food was identical for the two groups, the clicker was a less effective conditioned reinforcer for the first group than for the second. In a third experiment, all animals were initially required to run to obtain food in the presence of the clicker, but one group received additional trials on which food was delivered contingent on running in the absence of the clicker. This group showed less tendency to lever press for the clicker than a second group that had received free food on trials when the clicker was not presented. The results of all three experiments suggest that conditioning to the clicker could be overshadowed if the occurrence of food was more reliably predicted by the execution of an instrumental running response; they thus support the view that instrumental conditioning depends on the establishment of an association between response and reinforcer similar to the association between stimulus and reinforcer underlying classical conditioning.
Contralateral transfer of inhibitory and excitatory eyelid conditioning in the rabbit
Authors: Pearce John M. , Montgomery Anthony , Dickinson Anthony
Published: October 2014

In Experiment I, rabbits received training to establish a clicker as a conditioned inhibitor. In a subsequent test phase this stimulus was used as a signal for shock either to the eye reinforced during initial training or to the opposite eye. Learning to the clicker was slower in both conditions than in the appropriate control groups. The second experiment replicated the results of those subjects trained and tested with opposite eyes and ruled out the possibility that the slower learning was due to the effects of latent inhibition. Experiment III demonstrated that excitatory conditioning to a clicker to one eye facilitated future excitatory conditioning to that stimulus to the opposite eye. These results are consistent with the view that inhibitory and excitatory conditioning both involve the acquisition of a general, motivational conditioned response which is capable of mediating the transfer of conditioning across different response systems.
Manipulation of the Apparatus and Response Context may Reduce the US Pre-Exposure Interference Effect
Authors: Baker A. G. , Mercier Pierre
Published: October 2014

In two experiments, we investigated whether manipulations of associations formed between the context and unconditioned stimulus (US) during exposure would reduce the retardation of future conditioning produced by exposure to the US. In the first experiment, we found that extinguishing the context reduced fear of the context and partially attenuated interference with future conditioning. This attenuation was only transient and there was considerable interference which was unaffected by extinction. In the second experiment, we found that signalling the US during pre-exposure which was carried out off-baseline did not reduce interference when conditioning was also carried out off-baseline. However, signalling the US did reduce interference when conditioning was subsequently continued on-baseline. These results suggest that although the US interference effect is partly mediated by conditioning of the context, it may also depend on learning about the unpredictability of the US during exposure, and some long-term, perhaps context specific, adaption-like mechanism.