bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COMPLIMENT RESPONSE PATTERNS BETWEEN PERSIAN MALE AND FEMALE ENGLISH AND NON-ENGLISH TEACHERS
Authors: Jalilzadeh-Mohammadi Zahra , Sarkhosh Mehdi
Published: June 2016

The present study aimed to investigate both the compliment response (CR) patterns between male and female English and non-English teachers and the eff ect of exposure to English on produced CRs. The study was conducted on 50 male and female English and 50 male and female non-English teachers. The teachers were chosen through nonrandomized sampling. Participants were asked to respond to a discourse completion test (DCT) which comprised eight complimenting situations. In order to investigate the eff ect of exposure to English on CR strategies, CRs produced by males and females in both groups were compared. The results revealed that at macro level, there were diff erences between females and males in the applied strategies in both groups. Regarding the eff ect of exposure on CRs and CR behavior, it was found that exposure to English infl uenced CR patterns and strategies. It was concluded that diff erent CR patterns implied cognitive diff erence between genders and their perception of appropriateness. CR behavior shift implied the occurrence of acculturation in CR patterns and strategies.
PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENTS AS TEXT COLONIES: FEATURES AND TYPES OF COLONIES
Authors: Šustáčková Věra
Published: June 2016

The genre of personal advertisements is relatively new; nevertheless, various branches of the social and linguistic sciences deal with this text type since personal advertisements refl ect social behaviour and attitudes and thus may provide information about language and society. The present paper studies personal advertisements from the perspective of text colonies and compares printed and online advertisements in order to explore the language manifestations of the communicative strategies employed by the two media. The study is carried out on advertisements published in The Times and placed on the dating website datingdirect.com.
Age and type of instruction (CLIC vs. traditional EFL) in lexical development
Authors: Agustín-Llach Maria Pilar
Published: June 2016

The present paper compares the vocabulary development of a group of CLIL and of traditional EFL learners along three years. The observation that a CLIL approach might provide with larger benefits in the long run vocabulary is the starting point of this study. We had learners in the two groups complete a letter writing task. These writings were then scrutinized for L1 influence in the form of borrowings and lexical creations. The frequency of the words in the letters was also object of analysis. Results revealed that CLIL learners perform slightly better but non-significantly better than traditional EFL along the three years. Furthermore, the evolution of L1 influence and word use also followed an expected improvement pattern as learners went up grade. However, our results do not provide evidence of a growing CLIL advantage with increasing experience. The young age and low proficiency of learners in the present study might be blocking this possible advantage found elsewhere.
Language in the times of The Absent City: Competing for the Creation of the Master Narrative in Times of Repression in Buenos Aires
Authors: GUNDERSON BRIAN J.
Published: June 2016

The Absent City (2000), by Ricardo Piglia, is a detective novel that narrates the transition of Argentina from an authoritarian regime to a democracy. Piglia employs language as a major point of contention in the novel between the governing elite and a group of anarchists. The battle over cultural production and the creation of one Master Narrative versus multiple truths hinges upon “the Eva machine,” a device that transmits memories and re-produced texts to the Argentine masses telepathically. This paper studies language with aid from some of the major founding fathers of linguistics. It discusses theories put forth by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Ferdinand de Saussure, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jacques Lacan, among others. Through a linguistic study of Piglia's dystopian novel, this paper seeks to underscore how cultural agency determines what narrative(s) exists in the new Argentine democracy. This paper includes a discussion on relevant Nation-state and cultural studies theorists to underline how the life or death of the Eva machine shapes the national hegemonic discourse of past and present Argentina. The paper also studies the use of multiple genres and how they contribute to a linguistic reading of The Absent City.
Groundwater Connectivity between Douglas Lake and Carp Creek Based on Fluorescein Dye Studies
Authors: HENDRICKS SUSAN , KOPPLE ROBERT VANDE , GOODSPEED PETER , WHITE DAVID
Published: June 2016

Sandy-gravelly deposits are highly permeable and allow groundwater to seep from one lake to another in glacial lake districts such as occur throughout much of Michigan. The springs that form the headwaters of Carp Creek were assumed to have their origins as groundwater seepage from Douglas Lake. A tracer test using a concentrated fluorescein dye solution was conducted during the summer of 2011 to confirm the velocity of groundwater flow from Douglas Lake to a series of springs in Carp Creek. Five springs were monitored from 28 June to 21 September 2011. Dilution of the dye by groundwater was nine orders of magnitude (g−L to ng−L) by the time it reached the springs. The fastest travel times of the dye were ≤ 10 days to all except one spring giving an average observed linear velocity of approximately 100 m d−1 to travel an average distance of 1036 m. Dye was not detectable in the springs after 19 August (day 53 of the experiment). Observed seepage velocities were faster than those predicted from Darcy's Law using hydraulic conductivities for gravel and sand. Douglas Lake and Carp Creek are connected hydrologically through the sand-gravel aquifer and much of the groundwater seepage most likely originates in the deep hole in South Fishtail Bay. This study contributes to our understanding of subsurface connectivity and drainage patterns between glacial lakes of northern Lower Michigan.
Gaston Bachelard's Scientific Pedagogy: Gaston Bachelard's (1888-1963) Interdisciplinary Contribution to the Role of Scientific Values in Education
Authors: WINTERS LAURENCE
Published: June 2016

Often unacknowledged, Gaston Bachelard exercised profound influence on Foucault, Deleuze, and the ‘post-structuralists.' Much of the difficulty English speaking scholars have had coming to terms with the contemporary Continental ‘scene' would be mitigated by a study of Bachelard. In this essay, the connections between the current state of theory in the natural sciences and the pedagogy of values are explored. The method of ‘internal critique' is employed, while the works of several recent commentators are consulted, and many directions for further reading and research are indicated.
Co-expression of Foxa.a, Foxd and Fgf9/16/20 defines a transient mesendoderm regulatory state in ascidian embryos
Authors: Hudson Clare , Sirour Cathy , Yasuo Hitoyoshi
Published: June 2016

In many bilaterian embryos, nuclear β-catenin (nβ-catenin) promotes mesendoderm over ectoderm lineages. Although this is likely to represent an evolutionary ancient developmental process, the regulatory architecture of nβ-catenin-induced mesendoderm remains elusive in the majority of animals. Here, we show that, in ascidian embryos, three nβ-catenin transcriptional targets, Foxa.a, Foxd and Fgf9/16/20, are each required for the correct initiation of both the mesoderm and endoderm gene regulatory networks. Conversely, these three factors are sufficient, in combination, to produce a mesendoderm ground state that can be further programmed into mesoderm or endoderm lineages. Importantly, we show that the combinatorial activity of these three factors is sufficient to reprogramme developing ectoderm cells to mesendoderm. We conclude that in ascidian embryos, the transient mesendoderm regulatory state is defined by co-expression of Foxa.a, Foxd and Fgf9/16/20.
Distinct lateral inhibitory circuits drive parallel processing of sensory information in the mammalian olfactory bulb
Authors: Geramita Matthew A , Burton Shawn D , Urban Nathan N
Published: June 2016

Splitting sensory information into parallel pathways is a common strategy in sensory systems. Yet, how circuits in these parallel pathways are composed to maintain or even enhance the encoding of specific stimulus features is poorly understood. Here, we have investigated the parallel pathways formed by mitral and tufted cells of the olfactory system in mice and characterized the emergence of feature selectivity in these cell types via distinct lateral inhibitory circuits. We find differences in activity-dependent lateral inhibition between mitral and tufted cells that likely reflect newly described differences in the activation of deep and superficial granule cells. Simulations show that these circuit-level differences allow mitral and tufted cells to best discriminate odors in separate concentration ranges, indicating that segregating information about different ranges of stimulus intensity may be an important function of these parallel sensory pathways.
Nonenzymatic copying of RNA templates containing all four letters is catalyzed by activated oligonucleotides
Authors: Prywes Noam , Blain J Craig , Del Frate Francesca , Szostak Jack W
Published: June 2016

The nonenzymatic replication of RNA is a potential transitional stage between the prebiotic chemistry of nucleotide synthesis and the canonical RNA world in which RNA enzymes (ribozymes) catalyze replication of the RNA genomes of primordial cells. However, the plausibility of nonenzymatic RNA replication is undercut by the lack of a protocell-compatible chemical system capable of copying RNA templates containing all four nucleotides. We show that short 5′-activated oligonucleotides act as catalysts that accelerate primer extension, and allow for the one-pot copying of mixed sequence RNA templates. The fidelity of the primer extension products resulting from the sequential addition of activated monomers, when catalyzed by activated oligomers, is sufficient to sustain a genome long enough to encode active ribozymes. Finally, by immobilizing the primer and template on a bead and adding individual monomers in sequence, we synthesize a significant part of an active hammerhead ribozyme, forging a link between nonenzymatic polymerization and the RNA world.
Enhancement mode AlGaN/GaN MOS high-electron-mobility transistors with ZrO2 gate dielectric deposited by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Anderson Travis J. , Wheeler Virginia D. , Shahin David I. , Tadjer Marko J. , Koehler Andrew D. , Hobart Karl D. , Christou Aris , Kub Francis J. , Eddy Charles R.
Published: June 2016

Advanced applications of AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) in high-power RF and power switching are driving the need for insulated gate technology. We present a metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) gate structure using atomic-layer-deposited ZrO2 as a high-k, high-breakdown gate dielectric for reduced gate leakage and a recessed barrier structure for enhancement mode operation. Compared to a Schottky metal-gate HEMT, the recessed MOS-HEMT structure demonstrated a reduction in the gate leakage current by 4 orders of magnitude and a threshold voltage shift of +6 V to a record +3.99 V, enabled by a combination of a recessed barrier structure and negative oxide charge.
Quantitative measurement of ultrasound pressure field by optical phase contrast method and acoustic holography
Authors: Oyama Seiji , Yasuda Jun , Hanayama Hiroki , Yoshizawa Shin , Umemura Shin-ichiro
Published: June 2016

A fast and accurate measurement of an ultrasound field with various exposure sequences is necessary to ensure the efficacy and safety of various ultrasound applications in medicine. The most common method used to measure an ultrasound pressure field, that is, hydrophone scanning, requires a long scanning time and potentially disturbs the field. This may limit the efficiency of developing applications of ultrasound. In this study, an optical phase contrast method enabling fast and noninterfering measurements is proposed. In this method, the modulated phase of light caused by the focused ultrasound pressure field is measured. Then, a computed tomography (CT) algorithm used to quantitatively reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) pressure field is applied. For a high-intensity focused ultrasound field, a new approach that combines the optical phase contrast method and acoustic holography was attempted. First, the optical measurement of focused ultrasound was rapidly performed over the field near a transducer. Second, the nonlinear propagation of the measured ultrasound was simulated. The result of the new approach agreed well with that of the measurement using a hydrophone and was improved from that of the phase contrast method alone with phase unwrapping.
Efficient generation of cavitation bubbles and reactive oxygen species using triggered high-intensity focused ultrasound sequence for sonodynamic treatment
Authors: Yasuda Jun , Yoshizawa Shin , Umemura Shin-ichiro
Published: June 2016

Sonodynamic treatment is a method of treating cancer using reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by cavitation bubbles in collaboration with a sonosensitizer at a target tissue. In this treatment method, both localized ROS generation and ROS generation with high efficiency are important. In this study, a triggered high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) sequence, which consists of a short, extremely high intensity pulse immediately followed by a long, moderate-intensity burst, was employed for the efficient generation of ROS. In experiments, a solution sealed in a chamber was exposed to a triggered HIFU sequence. Then, the distribution of generated ROS was observed by the luminol reaction, and the amount of generated ROS was quantified using KI method. As a result, the localized ROS generation was demonstrated by light emission from the luminol reaction. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the triggered HIFU sequence has higher efficiency of ROS generation by both the KI method and the luminol reaction emission.
Data analysis results of the second sea trial of ambient noise imaging with acoustic lens in 2014: Two-dimensional target images affected by direction of field of view and spatial noise distribution
Authors: Mori Kazuyoshi , Ogasawara Hanako , Tsuchiya Takenobu , Endoh Nobuyuki
Published: June 2016

An aspherical lens with an aperture diameter of 1.0 m has been designed and fabricated to develop a prototype system for ambient noise imaging (ANI). A sea trial of silent target detection using the prototype ANI system was conducted under only natural ocean ambient noise at Uchiura Bay in November 2010. It was verified that targets are successfully detected under natural ocean ambient noise, mainly generated by snapping shrimps. Recently, we have built a second prototype ANI system using an acoustic lens with a two-dimensional (2D) receiver array with 127 elements corresponding to a field of view (FOV) spanning 15° horizontally by 9° vertically. In this study, we investigated the effects of the direction of the FOV and the spatial noise distribution on the 2D target image obtained by ANI. Here, the noise sources in front of the target are called “front light”, and those at the rear of the target are called “back light”. The second sea trial was conducted to image targets arranged in the FOV and measure the positions of noise sources at Uchiura Bay in November 10–14, 2014. For front light, the pixel values in the on-target directions were greater than those in other directions owing to the dominant target scatterings. Reversely, for back light, the pixel values in the on-target directions were lower than those in other directions owing to the dominant direct noises such as “silhouette”.
Growth enhancement and gene expression of Arabidopsis thaliana irradiated with active oxygen species
Authors: Watanabe Satoshi , Ono Reoto , Hayashi Nobuya , Shiratani Masaharu , Tashiro Kosuke , Kuhara Satoru , Inoue Asami , Yasuda Kaori , Hagiwara Hiroko
Published: June 2016

The characteristics of plant growth enhancement effect and the mechanism of the enhancement induced by plasma irradiation are investigated using various active species in plasma. Active oxygen species in oxygen plasma are effective for growth enhancement of plants. DNA microarray analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana indicates that the genes coding proteins that counter oxidative stresses by eliminating active oxygen species are expressed at significantly high levels. The size of plant cells increases owing to oxygen plasma irradiation. The increases in gene expression levels and cell size suggest that the increase in the expression level of the expansin protein is essential for plant growth enhancement phenomena.
Three-dimensional magnetic recording using ferromagnetic resonance
Authors: Suto Hirofumi , Kudo Kiwamu , Nagasawa Tazumi , Kanao Taro , Mizushima Koichi , Sato Rie
Published: June 2016

To meet the ever-increasing demand for data storage, future magnetic recording devices will need to be made three-dimensional by implementing multilayer recording. In this article, we present methods of detecting and manipulating the magnetization direction of a specific layer selectively in a vertically stacked multilayer magnetic system, which enable layer-selective read and write operations in three-dimensional magnetic recording devices. The principle behind the methods is ferromagnetic resonance excitation in a microwave magnetic field. By designing each magnetic recording layer to have a different ferromagnetic resonance frequency, magnetization excitation can be induced individually in each layer by tuning the frequency of an applied microwave magnetic field, and this selective magnetization excitation can be utilized for the layer-selective operations. Regarding media for three-dimensional recording, when layers of a perpendicular magnetic material are vertically stacked, dipolar interaction between multiple recording layers arises and is expected to cause problems, such as degradation of thermal stability and switching field distribution. To solve these problems, we propose the use of an antiferromagnetically coupled structure consisting of hard and soft magnetic layers. Because the stray fields from these two layers cancel each other, antiferromagnetically coupled media can reduce the dipolar interaction.
B2O3: Grain boundary material for high-Ku CoPt–oxide granular media with low degree of intergranular exchange coupling
Authors: Tham Kim Kong , Hinata Shintaro , Kushibiki Ryosuke , Saito Shin
Published: June 2016

The magnetic properties and structures of Co80Pt20–30 vol % oxide (ZrO2, Cr2O3, Y2O3, Al2O3, MnO, TiO2, WO2, SiO2, Mn3O4, WO3, Co3O4, MoO3, and B2O3) granular media deposited at room temperature were investigated. As a result, the following were found. 1) By employing oxides with low melting point temperatures as the granular media, magnetic grains with high saturation magnetization (

) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (

) are obtained; the increases in

and

are due to the promotion of the columnar growth of magnetic grains and phase separation or two-phase precipitation between magnetic grains and oxides. 2) The increase in the

of the granular media followed by the decrease in the melting point of oxides is due to the reduction in the amount of stacking faults. 3) Among these granular media, the CoPt–B2O3 granular medium has the highest coercivity (H
c) and ratio of H
c to the magnetic anisotropy field (

) of 8.0 kOe and 0.4, with

and

of 1115 emu/cm3 and 1.1 × 107 erg/cm3, respectively. 4) The CoPt–B2O3 granular medium has well-isolated and columnar growth magnetic grains with an average grain size of 6.5 nm.
Volume-Synchronised Probability of Informed Trading on Chinese Index Futures: A Comparative Approach1
Authors: He Zhongzhi , Jiang Jinzhi , Kusy Martin , Trabelsi Samir
Published: June 2016

In light of the controversial debate over the measure of Volume-Synchronised Probability of Informed Trading (VPIN), this paper investigates the effectiveness of VPIN as a risk warning signal in the Chinese market. Using intraday transaction data on Chinese stock index futures from 2012 to 2013, we conduct a comparative analysis of VPIN metrics using three trade classification methods: the tick rule (TR), the Lee-Ready (LR) algorithm, and bulk volume (BV). We assess the predictive ability of VPIN metrics for two highly volatile market events in China: the Money Shortage Event in June 2013 and the Fat Finger Event on 16 August 2013. Our results suggest that BV-VPIN has the best risk warning effect in signalling the occurrence of volatile events. Our work suggests that BV-VPIN can be used in the prevalent high-frequency trading (HFT) mechanism of the current financial world.
Nipah virus matrix protein: expert hacker of cellular machines
Authors: Watkinson Ruth E. , Lee Benhur
Published: June 2016

Nipah virus (NiV, Henipavirus) is a highly lethal emergent zoonotic paramyxovirus responsible for repeated human outbreaks of encephalitis in South East Asia. There are no approved vaccines or treatments, thus improved understanding of NiV biology is imperative. NiV matrix protein recruits a plethora of cellular machinery to scaffold and coordinate virion budding. Intriguingly, matrix also hijacks cellular trafficking and ubiquitination pathways to facilitate transient nuclear localization. While the biological significance of matrix nuclear localization for an otherwise cytoplasmic virus remains enigmatic, the molecular details have begun to be characterized, and are conserved among matrix proteins from divergent paramyxoviruses. Matrix protein appropriation of cellular machinery will be discussed in terms of its early nuclear targeting and later role in virion assembly.
Assimilation of temperature and hydraulic gradients for quantifying the spatial variability of streambed hydraulics
Authors: Huang Xiang , Andrews Charles B. , Liu Jie , Yao Yingying , Liu Chuankun , Tyler Scott W. , Selker John S. , Zheng Chunmiao
Published: June 2016

Understanding the spatial and temporal characteristics of water flux into or out of shallow aquifers is imperative for water resources management and eco‐environmental conservation. In this study, the spatial variability in the vertical specific fluxes and hydraulic conductivities in a streambed were evaluated by integrating distributed temperature sensing (DTS) data and vertical hydraulic gradients into an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and smoother (EnKS) and an empirical thermal‐mixing model. The formulation of the EnKF/EnKS assimilation scheme is based on a discretized 1D advection‐conduction equation of heat transfer in the streambed. We first systematically tested a synthetic case and performed quantitative and statistical analyses to evaluate the performance of the assimilation schemes. Then a real‐world case was evaluated to calculate assimilated specific flux. An initial estimate of the spatial distributions of the vertical hydraulic gradients was obtained from an empirical thermal‐mixing model under steady‐state conditions using a constant vertical hydraulic conductivity. Then, this initial estimate was updated by repeatedly dividing the assimilated specific flux by estimates of the vertical hydraulic gradients to obtain a refined spatial distribution of vertical hydraulic gradients and vertical hydraulic conductivities. Our results indicate that optimal parameters can be derived with fewer iterations but greater simulation effort using the EnKS compared with the EnKF. For the field application in a stream segment of the Heihe River Basin in northwest China, the average vertical hydraulic conductivities in the streambed varied over three orders of magnitude (5 × 10−1 to 5 × 102 m/d). The specific fluxes ranged from near zero (qz < ±0.05 m/d) to ±1.0 m/d, while the vertical hydraulic gradients were within the range of −0.2 to 0.15 m/m. The highest and most variable fluxes occurred adjacent to a debris‐dam and bridge pier. This phenomenon is very likely the result of heterogeneous streambed hydraulic characteristics in these areas. Our results have significant implications for hyporheic micro‐habitats, fish spawning and other wildlife incubation, regional flow and hyporheic solute transport models in the Heihe River Basin, as well as in other similar hydrologic settings.
Radar detection of the brine extent at McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, and its control by snow accumulation
Authors: Grima Cyril , Greenbaum Jamin S. , Lopez Garcia Erika J. , Soderlund Krista M. , Rosales Arami , Blankenship Donald D. , Young Duncan A.
Published: June 2016

We derive the surface density and brine infiltration depth/extent at McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, from combined analysis of radar profiles and radar statistical reconnaissance of the surface from 2011 to 2012 austral summer airborne observations. Most of the brine boundaries appear controlled, directly or indirectly, by the snow accumulation pattern. The infiltration is bounded westward by an ablation area and resides just above the pore close‐off depth over most of its extent. The eastern brine limit matches a light‐snow corridor, suggesting a reversed pressure gradient at depth that might sharply slow down the infiltration. Brine into ice is confirmed at the deepest locations north and east of Williams Field. The ice‐ocean interface is undetected west of the infiltrated zone, except in localized patches. We hypothesize this echo‐free zone to be due to high scattering below the surface, possibly from a network of accreted ice and/or ice platelets at the ice‐ocean interface.
Thermospheric wind observed by GOCE: Wind jets and seasonal variations
Authors: Liu Huixin , Doornbos Eelco , Nakashima Junichiro
Published: June 2016

Four years of GOCE observation near ∼250 km altitude during 2010–2013 provide a large data set for examining winds near dawn and dusk. The analysis has revealed interesting new features on the spatial and seasonal variation of the quiet time F region wind. (1) The wind structure in equatorial regions is aligned with the dip equator in all seasons but June solstice, forming a strong eastward jet in the evening sector but a weak westward jet in the morning sector. This demonstrates a magnetic control of the thermospheric wind. (2) The equatorial evening eastward wind reaches over 120 m/s in December but drops below 90 m/s in June. This weak wind likely leads to the frequently observed weak prereversal enhancement in June. (3) At middle latitudes, winds experience a marked annual variation but with opposite phase between the evening and morning sectors. The evening eastward wind maximizes in local winter (∼140 m/s) and minimizes in local summer (∼60 m/s), while the morning westward wind behaves vice versa. This annual variation may be attributed to the Midlatitude Summer Night Anomaly. (4) Although HWM14 empirical wind model significantly improved over HWM07, neither captures the wind's alignment with the dip equator. This leads to large underestimation of zonal winds by over 50 m/s at low latitudes in the evening sector at all longitudes in all seasons. Care should thus be taken when using HWMs to drive physical models, as they likely produce weaker upward plasma drift.
Cloudiness over the Amazon rainforest: Meteorology and thermodynamics
Authors: Collow Allison B. Marquardt , Miller Mark A. , Trabachino Lynne C.
Published: June 2016

Comprehensive meteorological observations collected during GOAmazon2014/15 using the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Mobile Facility no. 1 and assimilated observations from the Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 are used to document the seasonal cycle of cloudiness, thermodynamics, and precipitation above the Amazon rainforest. The reversal of synoptic‐scale vertical motions modulates the transition between the wet and dry seasons. Ascending moist air during the wet season originates near the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and is advected into the Amazon rainforest, where it experiences convergence and, ultimately, precipitates. The dry season is characterized by weaker winds and synoptic‐scale subsidence with little or no moisture convergence accompanying moisture advection. This combination results in the drying of the midtroposphere during June through October as indicated by a decrease in liquid water path, integrated water, and the vertical profile of water vapor mixing ratio. The vertical profile of cloud fraction exhibits a relatively consistent decline in cloud fraction from the lifting condensation level (LCL) to the freezing level where a minimum is observed, unlike many other tropical regions. Coefficients of determination between the LCL and cloud fractional coverage suggest a relatively robust relationship between the LCL and cloudiness beneath 5 km during the dry season (R2 = 0.42) but a weak relationship during the wet season (0.12).
Effects of Laser Surface Melting on Ti–30Nb–2Sn Sintered Alloy
Authors: Candel Juan José , Amado Jose Manuel , Amigó Vicente , Tobar María José
Published: June 2016

Laser surface melting (LSM) is used to simultaneously melt a thin layer and quench Ti–30Nb–2Sn substrate produced by powder metallurgy route. Results show LSM is useful to eliminate non‐desirable open porosity and to reduce even more the Young Modulus. The best microstructure is achieved below the melting pool where high peak temperature combined with high cooling rate during laser processing is present. LSM retains beta titanium without traces of martensite or grain boundary alpha due to oxygen contamination.
One‐Way Water‐Transport Cotton Fabrics with Enhanced Cooling Effect
Authors: Zhou Hua , Wang Hongxia , Niu Haitao , Zeng Chao , Zhao Yan , Xu Zhiguang , Fu Sida , Lin Tong
Published: June 2016

Two types of directional water transport fabrics are prepared by using cotton fabric as substrate and an electrospraying technique to apply a hydrophobic coating on one side of the fabric. The main difference between the two electrosprayed fabrics is that one of them was precoated with a hydrophilic thermoconductive resin over the fiber surface prior to electrospraying. As a result, the precoated fabric has a much higher thermoconductivity than the other, while they are similar in water transport and fibrous structure. In the wet state, the directional water‐transport fabrics generate a temperature difference between the two fabric sides while drying naturally. The fabric with higher thermal conductivity shows smaller temperature difference, better thermal transfer within the fabric, stronger evaporation cooling effect, and accelerated moisture evaporation. Directional water transport fabrics with high thermal conductivity may be used to mitigate thermal burden in sportswear, summer clothing, medical fabrics, and workwear.
Boosting Organic Solar Cell Electrical Performance by Introducing Large Aromatics onto Small‐Molecule Peripheral Side‐Chains
Authors: Zhang Xinliang , Yao Jiannian , Zhan Chuanlang
Published: June 2016

It is reported herein that electrical performance of diketopyrrolopyrrole based small‐molecule solar cells are boosted via increasing the conjugation size fraction (δ) on lateral side‐chains and on the mainchain of small‐molecule donor. The conjugation size fraction is defined as δ = N
p/N
m, where N
p is the number of five‐ or six‐member aromatic rings on the peripheral side‐chains and N
m is that on the mainchain. As the DPP‐dimer's core structure varies from 5,10‐bis((5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)dithieno[2,3‐d:2′,3′‐d′]benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene (DT‐BDT) to 4,8‐bis((5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)‐BDT (2T‐BDT), and then 4,8‐bis(5′‐(2‐ethylhexyl)‐(2,2′‐bithiophen)‐5‐yl)‐BDT (4T‐BDT), the term of δ increases from 2/13 to 2/11 and then 4/11. In the blended film with the fullerene acceptor, the donor phase size decreases from 35 to 24 and 15 nm, becoming more and more approaching to the effective exciton diffusion length. Consequently, the obtainable maximum generation rate of electron–hole bound pairs increases from 7.0 × 1027 to 7.3 × 1027 and then 7.7 × 1027 m−3 s−1. Meanwhile, reduction of donor crystallinity with the increase of δ leads to a higher effective carrier mobility, which suppresses recombination losses and leads to a larger carrier collection probability. Promotions of both charge separation and transport give a larger short‐circuit current density, a higher fill‐factor, and ultimately a larger efficiency.
Photoinduced Schottky Barrier Lowering in 2D Monolayer WS2 Photodetectors
Authors: Fan Ye , Zhou Yingqiu , Wang Xiaochen , Tan Haijie , Rong Youmin , Warner Jamie H.
Published: June 2016

Arrays of metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) photodetectors are fabricated using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown 2D monolayer WS2 as the absorbing semiconductor (WS2) with gold electrodes. A study of the channel length dependence (0.2–6.4 μm) on the photoresponsivity and gain show substantial increase in performance is achieved when the length is reduced to 200 nm. A large gain factor of up to 480 is measured for 200 nm length devices and attributed to lowering of the Schottky barriers due to the filling of trapped states between the metal contact and WS2 by photogenerated carriers. Only photoexcited carriers close to the interface contribute to filling trap states and lowering the Schottky barrier and therefore increasing channel length only adds series resistance to the device that reduces performance. These results reveal detailed insights regarding the mechanisms for photocurrent generation in lateral MSM photodetectors that employ CVD grown monolayer WS2 material, which has important consequences for the commercial applications and large scale development of 2D imaging arrays.
Mortality of lead smelter workers: A follow‐up study with exposure assessment
Authors: Bertke Stephen J. , Lehman Everett J. , Wurzelbacher Steven J. , Hein Misty J.
Published: June 2016

Background

Lead exposure has been linked to impaired renal function and kidney failure. High lead exposures have been associated with increased mortality from certain cancers, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods

We extended vital status follow‐up on a cohort of 1,990 lead smelter workers by 25 years and computed standardized mortality ratios and rate ratios (RR) stratified by cumulative lead exposure.

Results

The update added 13,823 person‐years at risk and 721 deaths. Increased risk of mortality was observed for the a priori outcomes of lung cancer, cardiovascular disease (including cerebrovascular disease), chronic kidney disease, and ALS. However, of these outcomes, only cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and chronic kidney diseases were associated with a positive exposure‐response in RR analyses.

Conclusions

This study reaffirms the association of lead exposure with cardiovascular and kidney diseases; however, increased mortality observed for certain cancers is not likely to be due to lead exposure. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:979–986, 2016. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Clinically distinct electroencephalographic phenotypes of early myoclonus after cardiac arrest
Authors: Elmer Jonathan , Rittenberger Jon C. , Faro John , Molyneaux Bradley J. , Popescu Alexandra , Callaway Clifton W. , Baldwin Maria ,   for the Pittsburgh Post‐Cardiac Arrest Service
Published: June 2016

Objective

We tested the hypothesis that there are readily classifiable electroencephalographic (EEG) phenotypes of early postanoxic multifocal myoclonus (PAMM) that develop after cardiac arrest.

Methods

We studied a cohort of consecutive comatose patients treated after cardiac arrest from January 2012 to February 2015. For patients with clinically evident myoclonus before awakening, 2 expert physicians reviewed and classified all EEG recordings. Major categories included: Pattern 1, suppression‐burst background with high‐amplitude polyspikes in lockstep with myoclonic jerks; and Pattern 2, continuous background with narrow, vertex spike‐wave discharges in lockstep with myoclonic jerks. Other patterns were subcortical myoclonus and unclassifiable. We compared population characteristics and outcomes across these EEG subtypes.

Results

Overall, 401 patients were included, of whom 69 (16%) had early myoclonus. Among these patients, Pattern 1 was the most common, occurring in 48 patients (74%), whereas Pattern 2 occurred in 8 patients (12%). The remaining patients had subcortical myoclonus (n = 2, 3%) or other patterns (n = 7, 11%). No patients with Pattern 1, subcortical myoclonus, or other patterns survived with favorable outcome. By contrast, 4 of 8 patients (50%) with Pattern 2 on EEG survived, and 4 of 4 (100%) survivors had favorable outcomes despite remaining comatose for 1 to 2 weeks postarrest.

Interpretation

Early PAMM is common after cardiac arrest. We describe 2 distinct patterns with distinct prognostic significances. For patients with Pattern 1 EEGs, it may be appropriate to abandon our current clinical standard of aggressive therapy with conventional antiepileptic therapy in favor of early limitation of care or novel neuroprotective strategies. Ann Neurol 2016;80:175–184
Development of White Matter Hyperintensity Is Preceded by Reduced Cerebrovascular Reactivity
Authors: Sam Kevin , Crawley Adrian P. , Conklin John , Poublanc Julien , Sobczyk Olivia , Mandell Daniel M. , Venkatraghavan Lakshmikumar , Duffin James , Fisher Joseph A. , Black Sandra E. , Mikulis David J.
Published: June 2016

Objective

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) observed on neuroimaging of elderly individuals are associated with cognitive decline and disability. However, the pathogenesis of WMH remains poorly understood. We observed that regions of reduced cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in the white matter of young individuals correspond to the regions most susceptible to WMH in the elderly. This finding prompted us to consider that reduced CVR may play a role in the pathogenesis of WMH. We hypothesized that reduced CVR precedes development of WMH.

Methods

We examined 45 subjects (age range = 50–91 years; 25 males) with moderate–severe WMH, and measured their baseline CVR using the blood oxygen level–dependent magnetic resonance imaging signal response to a standardized step change in the end‐tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide. Diffusion tensor imaging and transverse relaxation time (T2) relaxometry were performed at baseline and 1‐year follow‐up, with automated coregistration between time points. Baseline fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), T2, and CVR were measured in areas that progressed from normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM) to WMH over the 1‐year period.

Results

CVR and FA values in baseline NAWM that progressed to WMH were lower by mean (standard deviation) = 26.5% (23.2%) and 11.0% (7.2%), respectively, compared to the contralateral homologous NAWM that did not progress (p < 0.001). T2 and MD were higher by 8.7% (7.9%) and 17.0% (8.5%), respectively, compared to the contralateral homologous NAWM (p < 0.001).

Interpretation

Areas of reduced CVR precede the progression from NAWM to WMH, suggesting that hemodynamic impairment may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of age‐related white matter disease. Ann Neurol 2016;80:277–285
Structural Analysis using SHALiPE to Reveal RNA G‐Quadruplex Formation in Human Precursor MicroRNA
Authors: Kwok Chun Kit , Sahakyan Aleksandr B. , Balasubramanian Shankar
Published: June 2016

RNA G‐quadruplex (rG4) structures are of fundamental importance to biology. A novel approach is introduced to detect and structurally map rG4s at single‐nucleotide resolution in RNAs. The approach, denoted SHALiPE, couples selective 2′‐hydroxyl acylation with lithium ion‐based primer extension, and identifies characteristic structural fingerprints for rG4 mapping. We apply SHALiPE to interrogate the human precursor microRNA 149, and reveal the formation of an rG4 structure in this non‐coding RNA. Additional analyses support the SHALiPE results and uncover that this rG4 has a parallel topology, is thermally stable, and is conserved in mammals. An in vitro Dicer assay shows that this rG4 inhibits Dicer processing, supporting the potential role of rG4 structures in microRNA maturation and post‐transcriptional regulation of mRNAs.
Oxazolidinone‐containing pseudopeptides: Supramolecular materials, fibers, crystals, and gels
Authors: Tomasini Claudia , Zanna Nicola
Published: June 2016

The formation of fibers through self‐assembly is of particular interest, as fibrous proteins (such as collagen, keratin, actin, and so on) are involved in intra‐ and extracellular functions. To understand aggregation phenomena, oligopeptides may be designed and prepared either to mimic or to interfere with these processes. In this article, we will demonstrate that the introduction of the 4‐methyl‐5‐carboxy‐oxazolidin‐2‐one (Oxd) moiety inside a peptide chain favors the formation of fiber‐like materials organized either in β‐sheets or in supramolecular helices, provided that it is combined with other factors, like π‐stacking interactions and intermolecular NH•••OC bonds. The presence of the Oxd moiety is essential for the material formation: when Oxd is replaced with Pro, only liquids or amorphous solids are obtained. Remarkably, some of these molecules are low‐molecular‐weight gelators, as they induce the formation of both organogel and hydrogels that have been used for several applications.
Room‐temperature Synthesis of Cu2O Nanostructures and Their Morphology‐dependent Adsorption Properties
Authors: Xu Yanyan , Liu Ping , Cao Yanyan , Sun Yaqiu , Zhang Guoying
Published: June 2016

Three different Cu2O nanostructures, namely porous nanospheres, nanoparticles, and nanocubes, were synthesized through a facile solution route at room temperature. Structure and morphology of the products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The adsorption behavior of Methyl Orange (MO) onto these Cu2O nanostructures was investigated, considering the effect of initial methyl orange concentration and the additive amount of Cu2O products. The kinetic and equilibrium investigations suggested that the adsorption process of MO followed a pseudo‐second order rate equation and the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the three samples followed the sequence: porous nanospheres > nanoparticles > nanocubes, which was in accordance of the BET specific surface of the samples. In addition, further investigations indicated that the as‐prepared Cu2O nanostructures also show good adsorption properties for other anionic dyes including Congo red and Methyl blue.
Prognostic significance of sarcopenia in upper tract urothelial carcinoma patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy
Authors: Fukushima Hiroshi , Nakanishi Yasukazu , Kataoka Madoka , Tobisu Ken‐ichi , Koga Fumitaka
Published: June 2016

We investigated the prognostic significance of sarcopenia in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated from computed tomography images. Sarcopenia was defined as SMI <43 cm2/m2 for males with body mass index <25 kg/m2, <53 cm2/m2 for males with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, and <41 cm2/m2 for females. Associations of sarcopenia with cancer‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in 81 consecutive UTUC patients who underwent RNU. Forty‐seven (58%) out of 81 patients had sarcopenia. Multivariate analyses identified sarcopenia as a significant and independent poor prognostic factor for both CSS (hazard ratio [HR] 8.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63–158.1, P = 0.008) and OS (HR 6.05, 95%CI 2.00–26.21, P < 0.001). In patients with locally advanced disease (pT3/4 or pN+), those with sarcopenia showed significantly worse CSS and OS than those without (5‐year CSS rate 55% vs. 100%, P = 0.014; 5‐year OS rate 40% vs. 86%, P = 0.007). In contrast, no prognostic difference was observed between patients with and without sarcopenia in those with organ‐confined disease (pTa‐2pN0/x). Sarcopenia is an independent poor prognostic factor for UTUC patients treated with RNU, particularly for those with locally advanced disease.
Developmental analysis of the dopamine‐containing neurons of the Drosophila brain
Authors: Hartenstein Volker , Cruz Louie , Lovick Jennifer K. , Guo Ming
Published: June 2016

The Drosophila dopaminergic (DAergic) system consists of a relatively small number of neurons clustered throughout the brain and ventral nerve cord. Previous work shows that clusters of DA neurons innervate different brain compartments, which in part accounts for functional diversity of the DA system. We analyzed the association between DA neuron clusters and specific brain lineages, developmental and structural units of the Drosophila brain that provide a framework of connections that can be followed throughout development. The hatching larval brain contains six groups of primary DA neurons (born in the embryo), which we assign to six distinct lineages. We can show that all larval DA clusters persist into the adult brain. Some clusters increase in cell number during late larval stages, whereas others do not become DA positive until early pupa. Ablating neuroblasts with hydroxyurea (HU) prior to onset of larval proliferation (generates secondary neurons) confirms that these added DA clusters are primary neurons born in the embryo, rather than secondary neurons. A single cluster that becomes DA positive in the late pupa, PAM1/lineage DALcm1/2, forms part of a secondary lineage that can be ablated by larval HU application. By supplying lineage information for each DA cluster, our analysis promotes further developmental and functional analyses of this important system of neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:363–379, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Retinal ganglion cell survival and axon regeneration after optic nerve injury in naked mole‐rats
Authors: Park Kevin K. , Luo Xueting , Mooney Skyler J. , Yungher Benjamin J. , Belin Stephane , Wang Chen , Holmes Melissa M. , He Zhigang
Published: June 2016

In the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS), axonal damage often triggers neuronal cell death and glial activation, with very limited spontaneous axon regeneration. In this study, we performed optic nerve injury in adult naked mole‐rats, the longest living rodent, with a maximum life span exceeding 30 years, and found that injury responses in this species are quite distinct from those in other mammalian species. In contrast to what is seen in other mammals, the majority of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) survive with relatively high spontaneous axon regeneration. Furthermore, injured RGCs display activated signal transducer and activator of transcription‐3 (STAT3), whereas astrocytes in the optic nerve robustly occupy and fill the lesion area days after injury. These neuron‐intrinsic and ‐extrinsic injury responses are reminiscent of those in “cold‐blooded” animals, such as fish and amphibians, suggesting that the naked mole‐rat is a powerful model for exploring the mechanisms of neuronal injury responses and axon regeneration in mammals. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:380–388, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.