bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical behaviour of naked sub-nanometre sized copper clusters and effect of CO2
Authors: Passalacqua Rosalba , Parathoner Siglinda , Centi Gabriele , Halder Avik , Tyo Eric C. , Yang Bing , Seifert Sönke , Vajda Stefan
Published: August 2016

In size-controlled naked Cu5and Cu20nanoclusters the latter show anodic redox processes occurring at much lower potential with respect to Cu5, but the latter coordinate effectively CO2and allow to reduce CO2under cathodic conditions at lower overpotential.
Merging thiophene with boron: new building blocks for conjugated materials
Authors: Ren Yi , Jäkle Frieder
Published: August 2016

Recent advances on the use of thienylborane chemistry for the development of new functional materials are highlighted.
A copper based catalyst for poly-urethane synthesis from discarded motherboard
Authors: Barman Soumitra , Parasar Bibudha , Kundu Pradip , Roy Soumyajit
Published: August 2016

A cheap copper-based catalyst has been synthesized from discarded motherboard to replace the industrially used tin-based catalyst DBTDL and we found almost similar productivity.
Formation of thermally resistant films induced by vinylene carbonate additive on a hard carbon anode for lithium ion batteries at elevated temperature
Authors: Liu Yi-Hung , Takeda Sahori , Kaneko Ikue , Yoshitake Hideya , Yanagida Masahiro , Saito Yuria , Sakai Tetsuo
Published: August 2016

Vinylene carbonate induced film formation in a LiFePO4/hard carbon cell is clarified based on liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy and direct analysis in real time mass spectroscopy.
Stabilization of β-Gal-3 ATCC 31382 on agarose gels: synthesis of β-(1→3) galactosides under sustainable conditions
Authors: Gómez Sara , Bayón Carlos , Navarrete Sergio , Guisán José M. , Hernáiz María J.
Published: August 2016

β-Gal-3 was immobilized by multipoint covalent attachment on an agarose support. The derivative was characterized and usefully applied as a recoverable and reusable biocatalyst for the synthesis of β-(1 → 3) galactosides under sustainable conditions.
Phosphonate-functionalized polystyrene microspheres with controlled zeta potential for efficient uranium sorption
Authors: Zeng Zehua , Yang Sen , Zhang Lixia , Hua Daoben
Published: August 2016

A new method has been developed for effective uranium(vi) sorption from aqueous solution through phosphonate-functionalized polystyrene microspheres with controlled zeta potentials.
Correction: Dielectric properties of pyridine–ethanol mixtures: density functional theory and experiments
Authors: Wu Zhiyan , Huang Kama , Kuang Xiaoyu
Published: August 2016

Correction for ‘Dielectric properties of pyridine–ethanol mixtures: density functional theory and experiments’ by Zhiyan Wu et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 66007–66010.
Correction: Polyacrylonitrile/Syzygium aromaticum hierarchical hydrophilic nanocomposite as a carrier for antibacterial drug delivery systems
Authors: Yadav Ramdayal , Balasubramanian K.
Published: August 2016

Correction for ‘Polyacrylonitrile/Syzygium aromaticum hierarchical hydrophilic nanocomposite as a carrier for antibacterial drug delivery systems’ by Ramdayal Yadav et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 3291–3298.
Biomimetics for early stage biofouling prevention: templates from insect cuticles
Authors: Gangadoo Sheeana , Chandra Shaneel , Power Aoife , Hellio Claire , Watson Gregory S. , Watson Jolanta A. , Green David W. , Chapman James
Published: August 2016

Despite progress in characterising natural surfaces, the applied use of the natural architecture is still lacking in use. We present superhydrophobic replicated surfaces as alternative approaches to antifouling paints.
Engineering the energy gap near the valence band edge in Mn-incorporated Cu3Ga5Te9for an enhanced thermoelectric performance
Authors: Cui Jiaolin , Sun Zheng , Du Zhengliang , Chao Yimin
Published: August 2016

Mn substitution for Cu in Cu3Ga5Te9engineers the energy gap (ΔEA) between impurity and valence bands, which is responsible for the reduction of the potential barrier for thermal excitation of carriers.
Role of cytochrome P450s in the male reproductive toxicity of 1-bromopropane
Authors: Zong Cai , Zhang Xiao , Huang Chinyen , Chang Jie , Garner C. Edwin , Sakurai Toshihiro , Kato Masashi , Ichihara Sahoko , Ichihara Gaku
Published: August 2016

Cytochrome P450 contributes to male reproductive toxicity of 1-bromopropane.
Two independent evolutionary routes to Na+/H+ cotransport function in membrane pyrophosphatases
Authors: Nordbo Erika , Luoto Heidi H. , Baykov Alexander A. , Lahti Reijo , Malinen Anssi M.
Published: August 2016

Membrane-bound pyrophosphatases (mPPases) hydrolyze pyrophosphate (PPi) to transport H+, Na+ or both and help organisms to cope with stress conditions, such as high salinity or limiting nutrients. Recent elucidation of mPPase structure and identification of subfamilies that have fully or partially switched from Na+ to H+ pumping have established mPPases as versatile models for studying the principles governing the mechanism, specificity and evolution of cation transporters. In the present study, we constructed an accurate phylogenetic map of the interface of Na+-transporting PPases (Na+-PPases) and Na+- and H+-transporting PPases (Na+,H+-PPases), which guided our experimental exploration of the variations in PPi hydrolysis and ion transport activities during evolution. Surprisingly, we identified two mPPase lineages that independently acquired physiologically significant Na+ and H+ cotransport function. Na+,H+-PPases of the first lineage transport H+ over an extended [Na+] range, but progressively lose H+ transport efficiency at high [Na+]. In contrast, H+-transport by Na+,H+-PPases of the second lineage is not inhibited by up to 100 mM Na+. With the identification of Na+,H+-PPase subtypes, the mPPases protein superfamily appears as a continuum, ranging from monospecific Na+ transporters to transporters with tunable levels of Na+ and H+ cotransport and further to monospecific H+ transporters. Our results lend credence to the concept that Na+ and H+ are transported by similar mechanisms, allowing the relative efficiencies of Na+ and H+ transport to be modulated by minor changes in protein structure during the course of adaptation to a changing environment.
UWB to 30 narrow sub‐bands frequency reconfigurable antipodal Vivaldi antenna
Authors: Bitchikh M. , Ghanem F.
Published: August 2016

An antipodal Vivaldi antenna is presented that can be switched between an UWB mode and a tuneable very narrowband mode where the 3.3–10.6 GHz band can be covered by 30 different sub‐bands. To achieve this high‐frequency resolution, a gap is inserted in the Vivaldi feedline and a split‐ring‐resonator (SRR) is disposed close to it to serve as a coupling‐bridge. By doing so, only frequencies whose quarter‐wavelengths correspond to the SRR electrical length get coupled, before being coupled again to the other side of the feedline causing thus the antenna operation. Moreover, by capacitively loading the SRR and varying the load, the frequencies that can bridge the gap are varied, which allows tuning the antenna operating band. Now, to be able to efficiently cover the whole UWB, two SRRs of different sizes are alternatively used. Each SRR can be deactivated by disrupting its structure by means of switches. Finally, to operate the antenna in the UWB mode, the two SRR's are deactivated and the gap in the feedline is closed by means of a switch. To present the Letter, simulated and measured results are presented and discussed.
Joint interpolation for LTE downlink channel estimation in very high‐mobility environments with support vector machine regression
Authors: Charrada Anis , Samet Abdelaziz
Published: August 2016

In this study, the estimation of fast‐fading long term evolution (LTE) downlink channels in high‐speed applications of LTE advanced is investigated by the authors. A robust channel estimation and interpolation algorithm is essential in order to adequately track the fast time‐varying channel response. In this contribution, the multipath fast‐fading channel is modelled as a discrete, tapped‐delay and finite impulse response filter. Using support vector machine regression (SVR), they develop an extended algorithm to jointly estimate the complex‐valued channel frequency response in time and frequency domains, in the presence of fading and non‐linear noise from the transmission of known pilot symbols. Furthermore, the channel estimates at the known pilot symbols are interpolated to the unknown data symbols by using the non‐linear SVR approach exploiting kernel features. This study integrates both channel estimation at pilot symbols and interpolation at data symbol into the complex SVR interpolation method. The bit error rate and mean square error performances of the authors’ fast‐fading channel estimation scheme is demonstrated via simulation for LTE downlink with 64‐QAM modulation and 500 km/h velocity under non‐linearities.
Families of Gaussian integer sequences with high energy efficiency
Authors: Lee Chong‐Dao , Chen Yan‐Haw
Published: August 2016

This study extends the authors’ earlier work to show that the Gaussian integer sequences of period pm − 1 with p − 2 non‐zero out‐of‐phase autocorrelation values can be constructed from the known families of two‐tuple‐balanced p‐ary sequences over the finite field , where p is an odd prime and m ≥ 2. The proposed Gaussian integer sequences have high energy efficiency and are superior to the perfect Gaussian integer sequences (introduced by Hu et al. in 2012) for the peak‐to‐average power ratio reduction in orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing systems.
Terahertz band: Channel modelling for short‐range wireless communications in the spectral windows
Authors: Sheikh Fawad , Zarifeh Nidal , Kaiser Thomas
Published: August 2016

The channel in the terahertz (THz) band is extremely frequency selective. This study demonstrates a ray‐tracing method for modelling short‐range propagation channels at THz band. The propagation response of sounding bandwidth and centre frequency on power delay profile (PDP) is investigated in five spectral windows with relatively low attenuations and higher available bandwidths which could possibly offer terabit‐per‐second links also. In this approach, a very detailed non‐cubic three‐dimensional model of an ultra‐broadband indoor realistic office environment has been drawn up. Furthermore, the frequency‐dependent standard electrical parameters for the common building materials were taken from the literature. The transmitter (Tx) and the receiver (Rx) are 10 m apart in line‐of‐sight scenario with exactly same height of 1.5 m above the floor. The simulations were performed using 25 dBi horn antennas at the transmitter and receiver sides, respectively, to combat high path loss. These frequency‐dependent horn antennas were designed for the respective five spectral windows. Meanwhile, the corresponding channel impulse response of multipath components with spatial and temporal information such as angle of arrival, angle of departure and time of arrival has been captured to derive PDP models. Up to four reflections (i.e. fourth order) have been considered in the modelling process.
Facile fabrication of WO3 crystalline nanoplate on FTO glass and their application in electrochromism
Authors: Chu Jia , Lan Jinpeng , Lu Dengyu , Ma Jing , Wang Xiaoqin , Wu Bohua , Gong Ming , Zhang Runlan , Xiong Shanxin
Published: August 2016

Tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin films are of great interest as counter electrodes in electrochromic (EC) devices such as ‘smart window’ for energy‐efficient buildings. Uniform WO3 nanoplates filmed as EC working electrodes were fabricated on seed‐free fluorine‐tin‐oxide (FTO) coated glass via a facile and addictive agent‐free hydrothermal process. The WO3 nanoplates were characterised by scanning electron microscopy and the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphological analysis of the film showed that the WO3 nanoplates lying on the FTO glass uniformly. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to study the vibrational information of the sample. Furthermore, uniform WO3 nanoplates exhibit well performance of EC properties. Owing to the highly two‐dimensional nanostructure, a fast switching speed of 12 and 3 s for colouration and bleaching are achieved for WO3 film. These properties of the WO3 nanoplates film endow its promising practical applications in smart windows.
Preparation and dielectric properties of silver@poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) composites
Authors: Li Hairong , Yang Jinhui , Fang Dong , Liu Lei , Chen Jianping , Jiang Ming , Xiong Chuanxi
Published: August 2016

Silver@poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (Ag@PVP) core–shell nanoparticles are synthesised via a one‐step method. Ag@PVP/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composites with desirable dielectric properties were reported. It was found that the dielectric losses for Ag@PVP/PVDF composites were rather low similar to that of pure PVDF because of the insulating PVP coating. The Ag@PVP/PVDF with PVP of lower molecular weights exhibited more desirable dielectric properties than those with PVP of higher molecular weights. PVP can offer interesting permittivity enhancements without significantly adversely affecting the dielectric losses of the PVDF matrix. The results of this work make it possible to obtain the percolative composites with low dielectric loss and high permittivity by using Ag@PVP through simple methods.
Controllable synthesis and photocatalytic properties of ZnO hierarchical flower‐like porous nanostructures
Authors: Ji Xiaoxu , Wang Aihua , Li Genquan , Lu Zhiwen
Published: August 2016

Two kinds of hierarchical ZnO flower‐like porous nanostructures with numerous nanosheets were successfully synthesised through a template‐free and low‐cost oxalic acid assisted solvothermal method combined with a heat post‐treatment. The obtained products were characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). SEM and TEM results revealed that the two kinds of products had sword‐like and hydrangea‐like nanostructures originating from water and water/alcohol mixture solvents, respectively. XRD results confirmed that the growth process of ZnO involved a phase transformation from intermediate compound zinc oxalate hydroxide to ZnO. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties were also characterised. The results indicated that both samples exhibited high photocatalytic activities for the degradation of rhodamine B, which were mainly ascribed to the porous hierarchical structures.
Band structure of germanium carbides for direct bandgap silicon photonics
Authors: Stephenson C. A. , O'Brien W. A. , Penninger M. W. , Schneider W. F. , Gillett-Kunnath M. , Zajicek J. , Yu K. M. , Kudrawiec R. , Stillwell R. A. , Wistey M. A.
Published: August 2016

Compact optical interconnects require efficient lasers and modulators compatible with silicon. Ab initio modeling of Ge1−xCx (x = 0.78%) using density functional theory with HSE06 hybrid functionals predicts a splitting of the conduction band at Γ and a strongly direct bandgap, consistent with band anticrossing. Photoreflectance of Ge0.998C0.002 shows a bandgap reduction supporting these results. Growth of Ge0.998C0.002 using tetrakis(germyl)methane as the C source shows no signs of C-C bonds, C clusters, or extended defects, suggesting highly substitutional incorporation of C. Optical gain and modulation are predicted to rival III–V materials due to a larger electron population in the direct valley, reduced intervalley scattering, suppressed Auger recombination, and increased overlap integral for a stronger fundamental optical transition.
Accurate reaction-diffusion operator splitting on tetrahedral meshes for parallel stochastic molecular simulations
Authors: Hepburn I. , Chen W. , De Schutter E.
Published: August 2016

Spatial stochastic molecular simulations in biology are limited by the intense computation required to track molecules in space either in a discrete time or discrete space framework, which has led to the development of parallel methods that can take advantage of the power of modern supercomputers in recent years. We systematically test suggested components of stochastic reaction-diffusion operator splitting in the literature and discuss their effects on accuracy. We introduce an operator splitting implementation for irregular meshes that enhances accuracy with minimal performance cost. We test a range of models in small-scale MPI simulations from simple diffusion models to realistic biological models and find that multi-dimensional geometry partitioning is an important consideration for optimum performance. We demonstrate performance gains of 1-3 orders of magnitude in the parallel implementation, with peak performance strongly dependent on model specification.
Effect of five-membered ring and heteroatom substitution on charge transport properties of perylene discotic derivatives: A theoretical approach
Authors: Navarro Amparo , Fernández-Liencres M. Paz , Peña-Ruiz Tomás , García Gregorio , Granadino-Roldán José M. , Fernández-Gómez Manuel
Published: August 2016

Density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the evolvement of charge transport properties of a set of new discotic systems as a function of ring and heteroatom (B, Si, S, and Se) substitution on the basic structure of perylene. The replacement of six-membered rings by five-membered rings in the reference compound has shown a prominent effect on the electron reorganization energy that decreases ∼0.2 eV from perylene to the new carbon five-membered ring derivative. Heteroatom substitution with boron also revealed to lower the LUMO energy level and increase the electron affinity, therefore lowering the electron injection barrier compared to perylene. Since the rate of the charge transfer between two molecules in columnar discotic systems is strongly dependent on the orientation of the stacked cores, the total energy and transfer integral of a dimer as a disc is rotated with respect to the other along the stacking axis have been predicted. Aimed at obtaining a more realistic approach to the bulk structure, the molecular geometry of clusters made up of five discs was fully optimized, and charge transfer rate and mobilities were estimated for charge transport along a one dimensional pathway. Heteroatom substitution with selenium yields electron transfer integral values ∼0.3 eV with a relative disc orientation of 25°, which is the preferred angle according to the dimer energy profile. All the results indicate that the tetraselenium-substituted derivative, not synthetized so far, could be a promising candidate among those studied in this work for the fabrication of n-type semiconductors based on columnar discotic liquid crystals materials.
Piston cylinder cell for high pressure ultrasonic pulse echo measurements
Authors: Kepa M. W. , Ridley C. J. , Kamenev K. V. , Huxley A. D.
Published: August 2016

Ultrasonic techniques such as pulse echo, vibrating reed, or resonant ultrasound spectroscopy are powerful probes not only for studying elasticity but also for investigating electronic and magnetic properties. Here, we report on the design of a high pressure ultrasonic pulse echo apparatus, based on a piston cylinder cell, with a simplified electronic setup that operates with a single coaxial cable and requires sample lengths of mm only. The design allows simultaneous measurements of ultrasonic velocities and attenuation coefficients up to a pressure of 1.5 GPa. We illustrate the performance of the cell by probing the phase diagram of a single crystal of the ferromagnetic superconductor UGe2.
First principles prediction of the electronic structure and carrier mobilities of biaxially strained molybdenum trioxide (MoO3)
Authors: Dandogbessi Bruno S. , Akin-Ojo Omololu
Published: August 2016

The electronic band structures of unstrained and biaxially strained MoO3 were determined by first-principles density functional theory calculations. From the band structures, the effects of strain on the charge carrier mobilities were investigated. These mobilities were calculated based on deformation potential theory. First, we found that the electron effective masses of unstrained bulk pristine MoO3 are about three times smaller than the corresponding hole effective masses, and, second, the electron mobility is about ten times the hole mobility, making the compound an electron transport material. Our results also show that, when compressed biaxially, as the strain increases from 0% to 1.5%, the electron (hole) mobility increases by 0% to 53% (0% to 17%). On the other hand, the application of a biaxial tensile strain decreases the electron (hole) mobility by 65% to 0% (90% to 0%), as the tensile strain increases from 0% to 1.5 %. These changes are caused mainly by the fact that the carrier effective masses reduce (increase) upon application of compressive (tensile) strain. Only the acoustic-phonon limited carrier mobilities were computed; hence, the actual mobilities cannot be less than the values obtained in this work.
Fast imaging diagnostics on the C-2U advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration device
Authors: Granstedt E. M. , Petrov P. , Knapp K. , Cordero M. , Patel V.
Published: August 2016

The C-2U device employed neutral beam injection, end-biasing, and various particle fueling techniques to sustain a Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC) plasma. As part of the diagnostic suite, two fast imaging instruments with radial and nearly axial plasma views were developed using a common camera platform. To achieve the necessary viewing geometry, imaging lenses were mounted behind re-entrant viewports attached to welded bellows. During gettering, the vacuum optics were retracted and isolated behind a gate valve permitting their removal if cleaning was necessary. The axial view incorporated a stainless-steel mirror in a protective cap assembly attached to the vacuum-side of the viewport. For each system, a custom lens-based, high-throughput optical periscope was designed to relay the plasma image about half a meter to a high-speed camera. Each instrument also contained a remote-controlled filter wheel, set between shots to isolate a particular hydrogen or impurity emission line. The design of the camera platform, imaging performance, and sample data for each view is presented.
Improving positive and negative bias illumination stress stability in parylene passivated IGZO transistors
Authors: Kiazadeh Asal , Gomes Henrique L. , Barquinha Pedro , Martins Jorge , Rovisco Ana , Pinto Joana V. , Martins Rodrigo , Fortunato Elvira
Published: August 2016

The impact of a parylene top-coating layer on the illumination and bias stress instabilities of indium-gallium-zinc oxide thin-film transistors (TFTs) is presented and discussed. The parylene coating substantially reduces the threshold voltage shift caused by continuous application of a gate bias and light exposure. The operational stability improves by 75%, and the light induced instability is reduced by 35%. The operational stability is quantified by fitting the threshold voltage shift with a stretched exponential model. Storage time as long as 7 months does not cause any measurable degradation on the electrical performance. It is proposed that parylene plays not only the role of an encapsulation layer but also of a defect passivation on the top semiconductor surface. It is also reported that depletion-mode TFTs are less sensitive to light induced instabilities. This is attributed to a defect neutralization process in the presence of free electrons.
A numerical study on the elastic modulus of volume and area dilation for a deformable cell in a microchannel
Authors: Moon Ji Young , Tanner Roger I. , Lee Joon Sang
Published: August 2016

A red blood cell (RBC) in a microfluidic channel is highly interesting for scientists in various fields of research on biological systems. This system has been studied extensively by empirical, analytical, and numerical methods. Nonetheless, research of predicting the behavior of an RBC in a microchannel is still an interesting area. The complications arise from deformation of an RBC and interactions among the surrounding fluid, wall, and RBCs. In this study, a pressure-driven RBC in a microchannel was simulated with a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method of an immersed boundary. First, the effect of boundary thickness on the interaction between the wall and cell was analyzed by measuring the time of passage through the narrow channel. Second, the effect of volume conservation stiffness was studied. Finally, the effect of global area stiffness was analyzed.
Excitation of nonlinear ion acoustic waves in CH plasmas
Authors: Feng Q. S. , Zheng C. Y. , Liu Z. J. , Xiao C. Z. , Wang Q. , He X. T.
Published: August 2016

Excitation of nonlinear ion acoustic wave (IAW) by an external electric field is demonstrated by Vlasov simulation. The frequency calculated by the dispersion relation with no damping is verified much closer to the resonance frequency of the small-amplitude nonlinear IAW than that calculated by the linear dispersion relation. When the wave number kλDe increases, the linear Landau damping of the fast mode (its phase velocity is greater than any ion's thermal velocity) increases obviously in the region of Ti/Te<0.2 in which the fast mode is weakly damped mode. As a result, the deviation between the frequency calculated by the linear dispersion relation and that by the dispersion relation with no damping becomes larger with kλDe increasing. When kλDe is not large, such as kλDe=0.1,0.3,0.5, the nonlinear IAW can be excited by the driver with the linear frequency of the modes. However, when kλDe is large, such as kλDe=0.7, the linear frequency cannot be applied to exciting the nonlinear IAW, while the frequency calculated by the dispersion relation with no damping can be applied to exciting the nonlinear IAW.
Recent advances and results from the solid radiochemistry nuclear diagnostic at the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Gharibyan N. , Shaughnessy D. A. , Moody K. J. , Grant P. M. , Despotopulos J. D. , Faye S. A. , Jedlovec D. R. , Yeamans C. B.
Published: August 2016

The solid debris collection capability at the National Ignition Facility has been expanded to include a third line-of-sight assembly. The solid radiochemistry nuclear diagnostic measurement of the ratio of gold isotopes is dependent on the efficient collection of neutron-activated hohlraum debris by passive metal disks. The collection of target debris at this new location is more reliable in comparison to the historic locations, and it appears to be independent of collector surface ablation.
The polar 2e/12c bond in phenalenyl-azaphenalenyl hetero-dimers: Stronger stacking interaction and fascinating interlayer charge transfer
Authors: Zhong Rong-Lin , Xu Hong-Liang , Li Zhi-Ru
Published: August 2016

An increasing number of chemists have focused on the two-electron/multicenter bond (2e/mc) that was first introduced to interpret the bonding mechanism of radical dimers. Herein, we report the polar two-electron/twelve center (2e/12c) bonding character in a series of phenalenyl-azaphenalenyl radical hetero-dimers. Interestingly, the bonding energy of weaker polar hetero-dimer (P-TAP) is dominated by the overlap of the two different singly occupied molecular orbital of radicals, while that of stronger polar hetero-dimer (P-HAP) is dominated by the electrostatic attraction. Results show that the difference between the electronegativity of the monomers plays a prominent role in the essential attribution of the polar 2e/12c bond. Correspondingly, a stronger stacking interaction in the hetero-dimer could be effectively achieved by increasing the difference of nitrogen atoms number between the monomers. It is worthy of note that an interesting interlayer charge transfer character is induced in the polar hetero-dimers, which is dependent on the difference between the electronegativity of the monomers. It is our expectation that the new knowledge about the bonding nature of radical hetero-dimers might provide important information for designing radical based functional materials with various applications.
A streaked X-ray spectroscopy platform for rapidly heated, near-solid density plasmas
Authors: Stillman C. R. , Nilson P. M. , Ivancic S. T. , Mileham C. , Begishev I. A. , Junquist R. K. , Nelson D. J. , Froula D. H.
Published: August 2016

A picosecond, time-resolved, x-ray spectroscopy platform was developed to study the thermal line emission from rapidly heated solid targets containing buried aluminum or iron layers. The targets were driven by high-contrast 1ω or 2ω laser pulses at focused intensities up to 1 × 1019 W/cm2. The experimental platform combines time-integrating and time-resolved x-ray spectrometers. Picosecond time resolution was achieved with a pair of ultrafast x-ray streak cameras coupled to high-throughput Hall spectrometers. Time-integrated spectra were collected on each shot to correct the streaked data for variations in x-ray photocathode spectral sensitivity. The time-integrated spectrometer uses three elliptical crystals to disperse x rays with energies between 800 and 2100 eV with moderate (E/ΔE ∼ 450) resolving power. The streaked spectrometers accept four interchangeable conical crystals with higher resolving power (E/ΔE ∼ 650) to measure the brightest thermal lines in the 1300 to 1700 eV spectral range.
Determination of crystal growth rates during rapid solidification of polycrystalline aluminum by nano-scale spatio-temporal resolution in situ transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Zweiacker K. , McKeown J. T. , Liu C. , LaGrange T. , Reed B. W. , Campbell G. H. , Wiezorek J. M. K.
Published: August 2016

In situ investigations of rapid solidification in polycrystalline Al thin films were conducted using nano-scale spatio-temporal resolution dynamic transmission electron microscopy. Differences in crystal growth rates and asymmetries in melt pool development were observed as the heat extraction geometry was varied by controlling the proximity of the laser-pulse irradiation and the associated induced melt pools to the edge of the transmission electron microscopy support grid, which acts as a large heat sink. Experimental parameters have been established to maximize the reproducibility of the material response to the laser-pulse-related heating and to ensure that observations of the dynamical behavior of the metal are free from artifacts, leading to accurate interpretations and quantifiable measurements with improved precision. Interface migration rate measurements revealed solidification velocities that increased consistently from ∼1.3 m s−1 to ∼2.5 m s−1 during the rapid solidification process of the Al thin films. Under the influence of an additional large heat sink, increased crystal growth rates as high as 3.3 m s−1 have been measured. The in situ experiments also provided evidence for development of a partially melted, two-phase region prior to the onset of rapid solidification facilitated crystal growth. Using the experimental observations and associated measurements as benchmarks, finite-element modeling based calculations of the melt pool evolution after pulsed laser irradiation have been performed to obtain estimates of the temperature evolution in the thin films.
Control of the domain wall motion in cylindrical magnetic wires
Authors: Chizhik Alexander , Zhukov Arcady , Gonzalez Julian , Stupakiewicz Andrzej
Published: August 2016

We demonstrate direct experimental evidence of domain wall motion driven by a magnetic field in a magnetic microwire. The velocity of the elliptically shaped domain wall significantly increases with increasing domain wall inclination with respect to the axis of the wire. The Walker breakdown has been found in the presence of circular magnetic field. We develop an analytical model describing the motion of inclined elliptically shaped domain walls in a steady regime. The controllable mobility of the domain wall using ultra-low magnetic field is determined by the increase of domain wall length.
Intercalation of solid hydrogen into graphite under pressures
Authors: Lim Jinhyuk , Yoo Choong-Shik
Published: August 2016

We present the Raman spectral evidence of pressure-induced intercalation of solid hydrogen into graphite to 60 GPa. The intercalation is evident by the emergence of two characteristic Raman bands of hydrogen (νo1 and νo2), which appear upon the solidification of hydrogen and disappear as all sp2-hybridized graphitic carbons convert to sp3-hybridized hexagonal diamond at 57 GPa. The νo1 and νo2 frequencies of intercalated hydrogen, 4250 and 4270 cm−1 at 10 GPa, are substantially higher than the νo of bulk hydrogen, 4228 cm−1 at the same pressure, indicating the presence of strong repulsive interactions between intercalated hydrogen molecules and graphite layers and, thereby, strong internal chemical pressures. Based on the spectral blue shift of intercalated hydrogen vibrons, we estimate the internal pressure to be ∼1 GPa at 10 GPa and ∼10 GPa at 50 GPa.
Understanding patient access patterns for primary health-care services for Aboriginal and Islander people in Queensland: a geospatial mapping approach
Authors: Panaretto K. S. , Dellit A. , Hollins A. , Wason G. , Sidhom C. , Chilcott K. , Malthouse D. , Andrews S. , Mein J. , Ahkee B. , McDermott R.
Published: August 2016

This paperexplores the patterns ofpatients’accessingsix Aboriginal and Islander CommunityControlled Health Services (AICCHSs) in Queensland. Between August 2011 and February 2014, 26199 patients made at least one visit over a 2-year period prior to at least one of six Queensland AICCHS – one urban service (RA 1) in south-east Queensland, and five services in regional towns (RA 3) in Far North Queensland. Geospatial mapping of addresses for these registered patients was undertaken. The outcomes analysed included travel times to, the proportion of catchment populations using each AICCHS and an assessment of alternative mainstream general practice availability to these patients was made. In brief, the use of AICCHS was higher than Australian Bureau of Statistics census data would suggest. Approximately 20% of clients travel more than 30min to seek Aboriginal Health services, but only 8% of patients travelled longer than 60min. In the major city site, many other general practitioner (GP) services were bypassed. The data suggest Aboriginal and Islander patients in Queensland appear to value community-controlled primary care services. The number of Indigenous clients in regional locations in the Far North Queensland registered with services is often higher than the estimated resident population numbers.
Effects of multiple types of stigma on the probability of HIV disclosure to sex partners: a systematic review
Authors: Li Haochu , Li Xiaoming , Zhang Lei , Chow Eric
Published: August 2016

Previous review studies explored factors related to the process of HIV disclosure. However, none of these review studies specifically focused on the effects of stigma on HIV disclosure to sex partners. A comprehensive systematic review of empirical studies on the effects of stigma on HIV disclosure to sex partners was conducted until December 2014. Twenty-seven articles published in English-language journals were selected, and study characteristics and findings were evaluated. Inconsistent findings in the assessment of impacts of stigma on HIV disclosure to sex partners were documented. Three underlying plausible reasons were identified, and these included: (1) different types of stigma may have different effects on HIV disclosure to sex partners; (2) studies used different measurement strategies; and (3) varied personal backgrounds and health factors that can mitigate, facilitate or moderate the effect of stigma on HIV disclosure to sex partners. Studies with precise definition measurements of specific types of stigma used them appropriately in a matching context to provide more consistent research results. This review identifies the need for further investigation into how the HIV disclosure process is shaped by particular types of stigma, types of sex partners and demographic characteristics of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Kinetic and thermodynamic framework for P4-P6 RNA reveals tertiary motif modularity and modulation of the folding preferred pathway
Authors: Bisaria Namita , Greenfeld Max , Limouse Charles , Pavlichin Dmitri S. , Mabuchi Hideo , Herschlag Daniel
Published: August 2016

Significance

Many biological processes, including splicing, translation, and genome maintenance, require structured RNAs to fold into complex three-dimensional shapes. Our current understanding of these processes is based on distilling principles from descriptive folding studies. Moving toward predictive models will require coupling observed structural changes with kinetic and thermodynamic measurements. We have dissected P4-P6 RNA folding through distinct structural states and measured the rate and equilibrium constants for transitions between these states. Common kinetics found for RNA tertiary elements embedded in different structural contexts may help develop predictive folding models. Also, our results suggest that RNA folding may be well described by a model analogous to the diffusion-collision model for protein folding.
Crystal structure of a human neuronal nAChR extracellular domain in pentameric assembly: Ligand-bound α2 homopentamer
Authors: Kouvatsos Nikolaos , Giastas Petros , Chroni-Tzartou Dafni , Poulopoulou Cornelia , Tzartos Socrates J.
Published: August 2016

Significance

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels involved in fast neurotransmission. Here, we present the crystal structure of the homopentameric assembly of the extracellular domain (ECD) of α2 nAChR subunit in complex with an agonist. The structure provides a unique opportunity to probe the interactions involved in the formation of the ligand binding site of a WT nAChR and their role in stabilizing an agonist. Furthermore, functional studies revealed the role of additional residues in the activation and desensitization of the α2β2 nAChRs. High sequence identity of α2 ECD with other neuronal subunits signifies the importance of the structure as a template for modeling several neuronal nAChR ECDs and for designing nAChR subtype-specific drugs against related diseases.
From fire whirls to blue whirls and combustion with reduced pollution
Authors: Xiao Huahua , Gollner Michael J. , Oran Elaine S.
Published: August 2016

Significance

The growing worldwide demand to reduce emissions from combustion calls for development of alternative technologies for high-efficiency and low-emission combustion. Whereas fire whirls are known for their intense and disastrous threat to life and surrounding environments, their swirl properties and thus higher combustion efficiency imply an unexploited potential for highly efficient, low-emission combustion. In studying fire whirls over water for oil-spill cleanup, we discovered a beautiful, swirling flame phenomenon, the “blue whirl,” which evolves from a fire whirl and burns with nearly soot-free combustion. Understanding and control of the blue whirl and its predecessor, the fire whirl, will suggest new ways for fuel-spill remediation, reduced-pollution combustion, and fluid mechanics research.
The politics of office design
Authors: Roderick Ian
Published: August 2016

Recent changes in open plan office design are intended to facilitate flexible and collaborative work practices. Though promoted in terms of aesthetics and functionality, these changes in layout and furnishing communicate a great deal about how work and the workers that perform them are understood. Drawing upon the semiotics of framing and the chronotope, the open plan office is analyzed as a multimodal realization of neoliberal discourses on the flexibilization and deregulation of work. As such, the collaborative open plan office does more than represent or give expression to neoliberal ideologies, it normalizes and makes durable the work processes, identities and temporalities of neoliberalized labour.
Opening up the NHS to market
Authors: Brookes Gavin , Harvey Kevin
Published: August 2016

Since its implementation, the British Government’s controversial 2013 Health and Social Care Act has had far-reaching effects on health care provision in England, not least the creation of 212 regional practitioner-led clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) which are now responsible for much of the service provision across the country. Taking as an example the website of one of these new commissioning groups, this study shows that multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) can reveal how health and social care matters are being increasingly framed within a corporate and neoliberal set of ideas, values, identities and social relations. Despite government assurances that the Act preserves the (non-commercial) founding values of the NHS, our MCDA provides textual evidence of the influence of neoliberal and commercial discourses operating across this particular website, which appear to be just as much about promoting an appealing corporate identity as responding to the practical, day-to-day concerns of patients.
Mutations inEBF3disturb transcriptional profiles and underlie a novel syndrome of intellectual disability, ataxia and facial dysmorphism
Authors: Harms Frederike Leonie , Girisha Katta Mohan , Hardigan Andrew A. , Kortüm Fanny , Shukla Anju , Alawi Malik , Dalal Ashwin , Brady Lauren , Tarnopolsky Mark , Bird Lynne M. , Ceulemans Sophia , Bebin Martina , Bowling Kevin M. , Hiatt Susan M. , Lose Edward J. , Primiano Michelle , Chung Wendy K. , Juusola Jane , Akdemir Zeynep C. , Bainbridge Matthew , Charng Wu-Lin , Drummond-Borg Margaret , Eldomery Mohammad K. , El-Hattab Ayman W. , Saleh Mohammed A.M. , Beziéau Stéphane , Cogné Benjamin , Isidor Bertrand , Küry Sébastien , Lupski James R. , Myers Richard M. , Cooper Gregory M. , Kutsche Kerstin
Published: August 2016

From a GeneMatcher-enabled international collaboration, we identified ten individuals with intellectual disability, speech delay, ataxia and facial dysmorphism and a mutation inEBF3, encoding a transcription factor required for neuronal differentiation. Structural assessments, transactivation assays,in situfractionation, RNA-seq and ChlP-seq experiments collectively show that the mutations are deleterious and impair EBF3 transcriptional regulation. These findings demonstrate that EBF3-mediated dysregulation of gene expression has profound effects on neuronal development in humans.
Late Onset Alzheimer’s disease risk variants in cognitive decline: The PATH Through Life Study
Authors: Andrews Shea J. , Das Debjani , Anstey Kaarin J. , Easteal Simon
Published: August 2016

Recent genome wide association studies have identified a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with late onset Alzheimer’s disease. Here we examine the associations of 24 LOAD risk loci, individually and collectively as a genetic risk score, with cognitive function. We used data from 1,626 non-demented older Australians of European ancestry who were examined up to four times over 12 years on tests assessing episodic memory, working memory, vocabulary and information processing speed. Linear mixed models were generated to examine associations between genetic factors and cognitive performance. Twelve SNPs were significantly associated with baseline cognitive performance (ABCA7, MS4A4E, SORL1), linear rate of change (APOE, ABCA7, INPP5D, ZCWPW1, CELF1) or quadratic rate of change (APOE, CLU, EPHA1, HLA, INPP5D, FERMT2). In addition, a weighted GRS was associated with linear rate of change in episodic memory and information processing speed. Our results suggest that a minority of AD related SNPs may be associated with non-clinical cognitive decline. Further research is required to verify these results and to examine the effect of preclinical AD in genetic association studies of cognitive decline. The identification of LOAD risk loci associated with non-clinical cognitive performance may help in screening for individuals at greater risk of cognitive decline.
The genealogical decomposition of a matrix population model with applications to the aggregation of stages
Authors: Bienvenu François , Akçay Erol , Legendre Stéphane , McCandlish David M.
Published: August 2016

Matrix projection models are a central tool in many areas of population biology. In most applications, one starts from the projection matrix to quantify the asymptotic growth rate of the population (the dominant eigenvalue), the stable stage distribution, and the reproductive values (the dominant right and left eigenvectors, respectively). Any primitive projection matrix also has an associated ergodic Markov chain that contains information about the genealogy of the population. In this paper, we show that these facts can be used to specify any matrix population model as a triple consisting of the ergodic Markov matrix, the dominant eigenvalue and one of the corresponding eigenvectors. This decomposition of the projection matrix separates properties associated with lineages from those associated with individuals. It also clarifies the relationships between many quantities commonly used to describe such models, including the relationship between eigenvalue sensitivities and elasticities. We illustrate the utility of such a decomposition by introducing a new method for aggregating classes in a matrix population model to produce a simpler model with a smaller number of classes. Unlike the standard method, our method has the advantage of preserving reproductive values and elasticities. It also has conceptually satisfying properties such as commuting with changes of units.
The changing paradigm of fair trade social entrepreneurship in the United States
Authors: Cater John James , Beal Brent D. , Collins Lorna A.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine why social entrepreneurs in the USA choose to operate an entirely fair trade business and the factors that affect fair trade social entrepreneurship. Fair trade seeks to benefit producers in developing countries by providing a market for their goods in developed countries. Fair trade enables all parties in the supply chain to make living wages and/or a profit.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a qualitative multiple case study approach of social entrepreneurs in 35 US fair trade companies, the authors develop a model and nine propositions to explain the findings.

Findings

– The authors identify three primary motivational factors (ethical belief, religious faith, and business values), four contributory factors that strengthen fair trade engagement (family member involvement, the trend toward for profit status, industry professionalism, and consumer education), and three negative factors that work to discourage involvement (loss of identity, lack of industry consensus, and the shortage of retailers). The authors conclude by using the findings to consider the future of US fair trade social entrepreneurship.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors recognize limitations due to the sample size.

Practical implications

– The authors believe that fair trade is worthy of further study and increased awareness.

Social implications

– Increased awareness of fair trade may lead to better consumer buying decisions.

Originality/value

– The authors contribute to the development of theory in the study of fair trade, which has rarely been studied in the context of US social entrepreneurs.