bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile fabrication of polyethylene/silver nanoparticle nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles traps and holds early antibacterial effect
Authors: Anh Dau Hung , Dumri Kanchana , Anh Nguyen Tuan , Punyodom Winita , Rachtanapun Pornchai
Published: January 2016

Antibacterial polyethylene (PE)/silver nanoparticle (AgNP) nanocomposites containing AgNPs at concentrations of 5 × 10−5, 5 × 10−4, and 5 × 10−3 wt % were fabricated and tested. Transmission electron microscopy revealed an even dispersion of surface AgNPs in the PE/AgNP nanocomposites. No AgNP agglomeration was observed. The tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus of these PE/AgNP nanocomposites were similar to those of neat PE. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that the PE/AgNP nanocomposites and neat PE had similar melting and crystallization temperatures of 126 ± 0.5 and 109 ± 0.6°C, respectively. The heats of fusion of the PE/AgNP nanocomposites containing AgNPs at concentrations of 5 × 10−5 and 5 × 10−4 and of 5 × 10−3 wt % were lower than those of neat PE by 5 and 7%, respectively. These PE/AgNP nanocomposites were immersed in shaking liquid cultures of the potential pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhimurium in the lag phase. The results show that the growth rates of all of the tested bacteria were restricted effectively after 1.5, 3, and 6 h of cultivation, respectively. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43331.
A comparative study on different rubbery modifiers: Effect on morphologies, mechanical, and thermal properties of PLA blends
Authors: Yang Jinian , Nie Shibin , Zhu Jinbo
Published: January 2016

To improve the impact toughness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), four kinds of rubbery modifiers, including ground tyre rubber (GTR), styrene‐butadiene‐styrene block copolymer (SBS), ethylene‐α‐octene copolymer (EOC) and glycidyl methacrylate grafted EOC (mEOC), were introduced for fabricating the PLA blends. The morphological structures, mechanical properties, thermal stability and thermal decomposition kinetics of pristine PLA and the blends were investigated. Results showed that representative droplet‐matrix structures were observed in the PLA blends, of which the PLA/SBS blend presented the smallest domains while PLA/EOC case had the largest elastomeric particle size. Accordingly, the highest impact toughness and elongation at break were achieved by PLA/SBS blend, whereas the tensile strength and elastic modulus for the blends were all lower than that of pristine PLA. Though the incorporation of rubbery modifiers barely altered the peak temperature of melting, the degrees of crystallinity for blends were declined sharply. The results of thermo gravimetric analysis indicated thermal degradation process of PLA phase was accelerated by rubbery modifiers and evidenced by the relative higher mass conversion at peak temperature. The reaction order of PLA phase for blends calculated by Carrasco method exhibited similar values when compared with control sample. However, the values of activation energy were rather lower than that of pure PLA. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43340.
A comparison of triazole cross‐linked polymers based on poly‐AMMOandGAP: Mechanical properties and curing kinetics
Authors: Li Hui , Zhao FengQi , Yu QianQian , Wang BoZhou , Lu XianMing
Published: January 2016

Triazole cross‐linked polymers based on poly(3‐azidomethyl‐3‐methyl oxetane) (poly‐AMMO) and glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) were prepared using bis‐propargyl‐1,4‐cyclohexyl‐dicarboxylate (BPHA) as curing agent, respectively. Swelling tests demonstrated that cross‐linking densities of the resulted polymers both increased with the increase of BPHA. Triazole cross‐linked polymers based on poly‐AMMO showed superior tensile strength and elongation at break than those of GAP at comparable stoichiometry. The curing kinetics was also investigated by FTIR, and GAP exhibited faster reaction rate when reacted with BPHA than that of poly‐AMMO. In addition, with the increase of cross‐linking density, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of as‐prepared polymers significantly increased, and poly‐AMMO‐based polymers showed strongerTg‐raising effect than GAP‐based polymers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2016,133, 43341.
Stereochemistry of the Brivaracetam Diastereoisomers
Authors: Qiu Shi , Tehrani Kourosch Abbaspour , Sergeyev Sergey , Bultinck Patrick , Herrebout Wouter , Mathieu Benoit
Published: January 2016

The stereochemistry of all four stereoisomers of brivaracetam was determined using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. By comparing experimentally obtained VCD spectra and computationally simulated ones, the absolute configurations can be confidently assigned without prior knowledge of their relative stereochemistry. Neither the corrected mean absolute errors analysis of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, nor the matching of experimental and calculated infrared spectra allowed the diastereoisomers to be distinguished. VCD spectroscopy itself suffices to establish the absolute configurations of all diastereoisomers. The relative stereochemistry could also be statistically confirmed by matching experimental and computed NMR spectra using the CP3 algorithm. The combination of VCD and NMR is recommended for molecules bearing more than one chiral center, as the relative configurations obtained from NMR serve as an independent check for those established with VCD. Analysis of the calculated VCD spectra reveals that the localized NH2 scissoring mode at around 1600 cm‐1 is characteristic for intramolecular hydrogen bonding, while the orientation of the ethyl group is reflected by the delocalized modes between 1150 and 1050 cm‐1. Chirality 28:215–225, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spanish‐ and English‐Speaking Pregnant Women's Views on cfDNA and Other Prenatal Screening: Practical and Ethical Reflections
Authors: Floyd Erin , Allyse Megan A. , Michie Marsha
Published: January 2016

The rapid clinical implementation of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) screening, a non‐invasive method of prenatal genetic screening, has outpaced research on its social and ethical implications. This study is the first to compare the ethical and practical views of Spanish‐ and English‐speaking pregnant women in the United States about cfDNA screening. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with diverse Spanish‐ and English‐speaking women who had received prenatal care at a large academic medical center. Of the 24 interviewees, ten were Latinas who were interviewed in Spanish; English‐language interviews were conducted with seven non‐Hispanic Asian and seven non‐Hispanic White women. Participants held positive opinions concerning the accuracy of cfDNA screening and often noted that it would enhance preparedness. Participants also expressed concerns about the possibility of inaccurate results and the potentially negative effects of cfDNA screening on the experience of pregnancy. Differences emerged between Spanish and English speakers in their portrayals of their relationships with prenatal health care providers, the extent to which they questioned providers’ advice, their ethical concerns, and their informational needs. We emphasize the importance of customizing prenatal test counseling to the needs of the individual patient, providing educationally appropriate counseling and literature, and mitigating potential language barriers.
Time to take health economics seriously—medical education in the United Kingdom
Authors: Jain Vageesh
Published: January 2016

In the UK, the General Medical Council clearly stipulates that upon completion of training, medical students should be able to discuss the principles underlying the development of health and health service policy, including issues relating to health economics. With the National Health Service facing the threat of large gaps in funding, there is pressure on doctors to identify where and how savings can be made. Whilst many may be keen to learn about health economics, the teaching environment and level of student knowledge differs considerably across medical schools in the UK. There is a compelling argument to suggest that key concepts such as economic evaluation, equity and priority-setting should form part of the curriculum in UK medical schools. To address the complex nature of modern health care problems, doctors must have a perspective that combines medical expertise with economic proficiency.
Plagioclase sub-species in Chinese loess deposits: Implications for dust source migration and past climate change
Authors: He Tong , Liu Lianwen , Chen Yang , Sheng Xuefen , Ji Junfeng
Published: January 2016

Plagioclase mineral sub-species in the Lingtai Section in central Chinese Loess Plateau are examined using Mineral Liberation Analyzer techniques, showing that loess and paleosol samples exhibit similar patterns in terms of plagioclase feldspar sub-species content. This suggests that both loess and paleosol units have preserved their primary Ca-bearing plagioclase compositions of loess source regions. Weighted average CaO (%) in Ca-bearing plagioclase lies within a narrow range and is equivalent to the average plagioclase composition for upper continental crust. This fact supports the hypothesis that Chinese loess deposits are the result of a thorough mixing of dust sources. The sum of Ca-bearing plagioclase content exhibits a general increasing trend superimposed by glacial–interglacial oscillations. In combination with observed plagioclase data in the deserts, the variations of Ca-bearing plagioclase minerals might be used as a proxy for dust source migration and climate changes in the loess source regions. Furthermore, linear relationship between lithogenic magnetic susceptibility (MS) component input and contents of Ca-bearing plagioclase in loess units revises a MS proxy for reconstructing paleo-monsoon precipitation history. The revised MS and plagioclase sub-species records help in understanding the mechanism of glaciation across northern Tibetan Plateau.
Short-time asymptotic expansions of semilinear evolution equations
Authors: Fahrenwaldt Matthias A.
Published: January 2016

We develop an algebraic approach to constructing short-time asymptotic expansions of solutions of a class of abstract semilinear evolution equations. The expansions are typically valid for both the solution of the equation and its gradient. We apply a perturbation approach based on the symbolic calculus of pseudo-differential operators and heat kernel methods. The construction is explicit and can be done to arbitrary order. All results are rigorously formulated in terms of Banach algebras. As an application we obtain a novel approach to finding approximate solutions of Markovian backward stochastic differential equations.
Complexity in Science: Syntaxis Versus Semantics
Authors: Arecchi Fortunato Tito
Published: January 2016

A definition of the objects of a science in terms of precise measuring operations M gives the objects a set-theoretical character whereby complexity, seen as a multiplicity of possible final outcomes, emerges. An adaptive strategy introduces a frequent readjustment of the M settings, which reduces that multiplicity. This way, an adaptive cognitive task can be seen as the extraction of a simple map out of a complex landscape.
Oxygen therapy in palliative care
Authors: Fardy H John
Published: January 2016

Breathlessness in advanced disease is a common problem, with the majority of people experiencing breathlessness in the weeks before death. The thrust of the new British Thoracic Society guidelines for home oxygen in adults is that oxygen therapy for home use is most useful in chronic hypoxaemia. However, clinicians make individual clinical decisions, cognisant of the guidelines but ultimately determined by what relieves the symptoms of the individual most effectively.
Correction: Corrigendum: 3D hierarchical porous graphene aerogel with tunable meso-pores on graphene nanosheets for high-performance energy storage
Authors: Ren Long , Hui K. N. , Hui K. S. , Liu Yundan , Qi Xiang , Zhong Jianxin , Du Yi , Yang Jianping
Published: January 2016

New and novel 3D hierarchical porous graphene aerogels (HPGA) with uniform and tunable meso-pores (e.g., 21 and 53 nm) on graphene nanosheets (GNS) were prepared by a hydrothermal self-assembly process and an in-situ carbothermal reaction. The size and distribution of the meso-pores on the individual GNS were uniform and could be tuned by controlling the sizes of the Co3O4 NPs used in the hydrothermal reaction. This unique architecture of HPGA prevents the stacking of GNS and promises more electrochemically active sites that enhance the electrochemical storage level significantly. HPGA, as a lithium-ion battery anode, exhibited superior electrochemical performance, including a high reversible specific capacity of 1100 mAh/g at a current density of 0.1 A/g, outstanding cycling stability and excellent rate performance. Even at a large current density of 20 A/g, the reversible capacity was retained at 300 mAh/g, which is larger than that of most porous carbon-based anodes reported, suggesting it to be a promising candidate for energy storage. The proposed 3D HPGA is expected to provide an important platform that can promote the development of 3D topological porous systems in a range of energy storage and generation fields.
High mobility group box 1-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition in human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Chen Yu-Ching , Statt Sarah , Wu Reen , Chang Hao-Teng , Liao Jiunn-Wang , Wang Chien-Neng , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Lee Chen-Chen
Published: January 2016

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is implicated in bronchial remodeling and loss of lung function in chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Previous studies showed the involvement of the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein in the pathology of chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases. However, the role of HMGB1 in EMT of human airway epithelial cells is still unclear. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to show that HMGB1 treatment regulated EMT-related gene expression in human primary-airway epithelial cells. The top five upregulated genes were SNAI2, FGFBP1, VIM, SPARC (osteonectin) and SERPINE1, while the downregulated genes included OCLN, TJP1 (ZO-1), FZD7, CDH1 (E-cadherin) and LAMA5. We found that HMGB1 induced downregulation of E-cadherin and ZO-1 and upregulation of vimentin mRNA transcription and protein translation in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, we observed that HMGB1 induced AKT phosphorylation, resulting in GSK3β inactivation, cytoplasmic accumulation and nuclear translocation of β-catenin to induce EMT in human airway epithelial cells. Treatment with PI3K inhibitor (LY294006) and β-catenin shRNA reversed HMGB1-induced EMT. Moreover, HMGB1 induced expression of receptor for advanced glycation products (RAGE), but not that of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 or TLR4 and RAGE shRNA inhibited HMGB1-induced EMT in human airway epithelial cells. In conclusion, we found that HMGB1 induced EMT through RAGE and the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Drug response in organoids generated from frozen primary tumor tissues
Authors: Walsh Alex J. , Cook Rebecca S. , Sanders Melinda E. , Arteaga Carlos L. , Skala Melissa C.
Published: January 2016

Primary tumor organoids grown in three-dimensional culture provide an excellent platform for studying tumor progression, invasion and drug response. However, organoid generation protocols require fresh tumor tissue, which limits organoid research and clinical use. This study investigates cellular morphology, viability and drug response of organoids derived from frozen tissues. The results demonstrate that viable organoids can be grown from flash-frozen and thawed tissue and from bulk tissues slowly frozen in DMSO supplemented media. While the freezing process affects the basal metabolic rate of the cells, the optical metabolic imaging index correlates between organoids derived from fresh and frozen tissue and can be used to detect drug response of organoids grown from frozen tissues. The slow, DMSO frozen tissue yielded organoids with more accurate drug response than the flash frozen tissues and thus bulk tissue should be preserved for subsequent organoid generation by slow freezing in DMSO supplemented media.
Acoustic dispersive prism
Authors: Esfahlani Hussein , Karkar Sami , Lissek Herve , Mosig Juan R.
Published: January 2016

The optical dispersive prism is a well-studied element, which allows separating white light into its constituent spectral colors and stands in nature as water droplets. In analogy to this definition, the acoustic dispersive prism should be an acoustic device with capability of splitting a broadband acoustic wave into its constituent Fourier components. However, due to the acoustical nature of materials as well as the design and fabrication difficulties, there is neither any natural acoustic counterpart of the optical prism, nor any artificial design reported so far exhibiting an equivalent acoustic behaviour. Here, based on exotic properties of the acoustic transmission-line metamaterials and exploiting unique physical behaviour of acoustic leaky-wave radiation, we report the first acoustic dispersive prism, effective within the audible frequency range 800 Hz–1300 Hz. The dispersive nature and consequently the frequency-dependent refractive index of the metamaterial are exploited to split the sound waves towards different and frequency-dependent directions. Meanwhile, the leaky-wave nature of the structure facilitates the sound wave radiation into the ambient medium.
Creation of chimeric human/rabbit APOBEC1 with HIV-1 restriction and DNA mutation activities
Authors: Ikeda Terumasa , Ong Eugene Boon Beng , Watanabe Nobumoto , Sakaguchi Nobuo , Maeda Kazuhiko , Koito Atsushi
Published: January 2016

APOBEC1 (A1) proteins from lagomorphs and rodents have deaminase-dependent restriction activity against HIV-1, whereas human A1 exerts a negligible effect. To investigate these differences in the restriction of HIV-1 by A1 proteins, a series of chimeric proteins combining rabbit and human A1s was constructed. Homology models of the A1s indicated that their activities derive from functional domains that likely act in tandem through a dimeric interface. The C-terminal region containing the leucine-rich motif and the dimerization domains of rabbit A1 is important for its anti-HIV-1 activity. The A1 chimeras with strong anti-HIV-1 activity were incorporated into virions more efficiently than those without anti-HIV-1 activity and exhibited potent DNA-mutator activity. Therefore, the C-terminal region of rabbit A1 is involved in both its packaging into the HIV-1 virion and its deamination activity against both viral cDNA and genomic RNA. This study identifies the novel molecular mechanism underlying the target specificity of A1.
Untargeted lipidomics study of coronary artery disease by FUPLC-Q-TOF-MS
Authors: Liang Qun , Liu Han , Zhang Tianyu , Jiang Yan , Zhang Ai-Hua
Published: January 2016

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has emerged as a major public health problem worldwide. An untargeted lipidomics approach was used to profile the lipid changes and discover potential biomarkers in CHD patients.
Designing voltage multipliers with nanofluidic diodes immersed in aqueous salt solutions
Authors: Ramirez P. , Gomez V. , Verdia-Baguena C. , Nasir S. , Ali M. , Ensinger W. , Mafe S.
Published: January 2016

Novel networks composed of asymmetric membranes operate as voltage multipliers and suggest opportunities for the monitoring of sensors and actuators.
Improving dipolar recoupling for site-specific structural and dynamics studies in biosolids NMR: windowed RN-symmetry sequences
Authors: Lu Xingyu , Zhang Huilan , Lu Manman , Vega Alexander J. , Hou Guangjin , Polenova Tatyana
Published: January 2016

Efficient wPARS recoupling is introduced for accurate determination of dipolar tensors over a broad range of MAS conditions.
Deformability based sorting of red blood cells improves diagnostic sensitivity for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Guo Quan , Duffy Simon P. , Matthews Kerryn , Deng Xiaoyan , Santoso Aline T. , Islamzada Emel , Ma Hongshen
Published: January 2016

Sorting red blood cell based on deformability improves sensitivity of malaria diagnosis by >100×.
Curcumin loaded on pullulan acetate nanoparticles protects the liver from damage induced by DEN
Authors: Ganeshkumar Moorthy , Ponrasu Thangavel , Subamekala Muthaiya Kannappan , Janani Murthy , Suguna Lonchin
Published: January 2016

Curcumin loaded nanoparticles protect liver from damage induced by DEN.
Design, synthesis and evaluation of clioquinol–ebselen hybrids as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Wang Zhiren , Li Wenrui , Wang Yali , Li Xiruo , Huang Ling , Li Xingshu
Published: January 2016

A novel series of compounds obtained by fusing the metal-chelating agent clioquinol and the antioxidant ebselen were designed, synthesized and evaluated as multi-target-directed ligands against Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Correction: Assembly of BF4−, PF6−, ClO4− and F− with trinuclear copper(i) acetylide complexes bearing amide groups: structural diversity, photophysics and anion binding properties
Authors: Shi Hua-Yun , Huang Yong-Liang , Sun Jia-Kai , Jiang Ji-Jun , Luo Zhi-Xing , Ling Hui-Tao , Lam Chi-Keung , Chao Hsiu-Yi
Published: January 2016

Correction for ‘Assembly of BF4−, PF6−, ClO4− and F− with trinuclear copper(i) acetylide complexes bearing amide groups: structural diversity, photophysics and anion binding properties’ by Hua-Yun Shi et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 89669–89681.
Graphene oxide self-assembled with a cationic fullerene for high performance pseudo-capacitors
Authors: Senthilkumar Krishnan , Prabakar S. J. Richard , Park Chunkuk , Jeong Seok , Lah Myoung Soo , Pyo Myoungho
Published: January 2016

Control of the microstructures of graphene oxide is realized by introducing a cationic fullerene, resulting in a high-performance pseudo-capacitor.
Tumbling of asymmetric microrods in a microchannel flow
Authors: Einarsson J. , Mihiretie B. M. , Laas A. , Ankardal S. , Angilella J. R. , Hanstorp D. , Mehlig B.
Published: January 2016

We describe results of measurements of the orientational motion of glass microrods in a microchannel flow, following the orientational motion of particles with different shapes. We determine how the orientational dynamics depends on the shape of the particle and on its initial orientation. We find that the dynamics depends so sensitively on the degree to which particle axisymmetry is broken that it is difficult to find particles that are sufficiently axisymmetric so that they exhibit periodic tumbling (“Jeffery orbits”). The results of our measurements confirm earlier theoretical analysis predicting sensitive dependence on particle shape and its initial orientation. Our results illustrate the different types of orientational dynamics for asymmetric particles predicted by theory.
Effect of flexibility on the growth of concentration fluctuations in a suspension of sedimenting fibers: Particle simulations
Authors: Manikantan Harishankar , Saintillan David
Published: January 2016

Three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to study the stability of a sedimenting suspension of weakly flexible fibers. It is well known that a suspension of rigid rods sedimenting under gravity at low Reynolds number is unstable to concentration fluctuations owing to hydrodynamic interactions. Flexible fibers, however, reorient while settling and even weak flexibility can alter their collective dynamics. In our recent work [Manikantan et al., “The instability of a sedimenting suspension of weakly flexible fibres,” J. Fluid Mech. 756, 935–964 (2014)], we developed a mean-field theory to predict the linear stability of such a system. Here, we verify these predictions using accurate and efficient particle simulations based on a slender-body model. We also demonstrate the mechanisms by which flexibility-induced reorientation alters suspension microstructure, and through it, its stability. Specifically, we first show that the anisotropy of the base state in the case of a suspension of flexible fibers has a destabilizing effect compared to a suspension of rigid rods. Second, a conflicting effect of flexibility is also shown to suppress particle clustering and slow down the growth of the instability. The relative magnitude of filament flexibility and rotational Brownian motion dictates which effect dominates, and our simulations qualitatively follow theoretically predicted trends. The mechanism for either effects is tied to the flexibility-induced reorientation of particles, which we illustrate using velocity and orientation statistics from our simulations. Finally, we also show that, in the case of an initially homogeneous and isotropic suspension, flexibility always acts to suppress the growth of the instability.
Insulator charging limits direct current across tunneling metal-insulator-semiconductor junctions
Authors: Vilan Ayelet
Published: January 2016

Molecular electronics studies how the molecular nature affects the probability of charge carriers to tunnel through the molecules. Nevertheless, transport is also critically affected by the contacts to the molecules, an aspect that is often overlooked. Specifically, the limited ability of non-metallic contacts to maintain the required charge balance across the fairly insulating molecule often have dramatic effects. This paper shows that in the case of lead/organic monolayer-silicon junctions, a charge balance is responsible for an unusual current scaling, with the junction diameter (perimeter), rather than its area. This is attributed to the balance between the 2D charging at the metal/insulator interface and the 3D charging of the semiconductor space-charge region. A derivative method is developed to quantify transport across tunneling metal-insulator-semiconductor junctions; this enables separating the tunneling barrier from the space-charge barrier for a given current-voltage curve, without complementary measurements. The paper provides practical tools to analyze specific molecular junctions compatible with existing silicon technology, and demonstrates the importance of contacts' physics in modeling charge transport across molecular junctions.
Reaction paths of phosphine dissociation on silicon (001)
Authors: Warschkow O. , Curson N. J. , Schofield S. R. , Marks N. A. , Wilson H. F. , Radny M. W. , Smith P. V. , Reusch T. C. G. , McKenzie D. R. , Simmons M. Y.
Published: January 2016

Using density functional theory and guided by extensive scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) image data, we formulate a detailed mechanism for the dissociation of phosphine (PH3) molecules on the Si(001) surface at room temperature. We distinguish between a main sequence of dissociation that involves PH2+H, PH+2H, and P+3H as observable intermediates, and a secondary sequence that gives rise to PH+H, P+2H, and isolated phosphorus adatoms. The latter sequence arises because PH2 fragments are surprisingly mobile on Si(001) and can diffuse away from the third hydrogen atom that makes up the PH3 stoichiometry. Our calculated activation energies describe the competition between diffusion and dissociation pathways and hence provide a comprehensive model for the numerous adsorbate species observed in STM experiments.
Polarizability of radially anisotropic elliptic inclusion
Authors: Rimpiläinen T. , Wallén H. , Sihvola A.
Published: January 2016

This article discusses a two-dimensional electrostatic scattering problem where an elliptic inclusion is suspended in a homogeneous background and impinged by an electric field which is uniform and static. The novelty of the discussion stems from the inclusion's material parameters. The material of the inclusion is assumed to be axially anisotropic, so that the axis of anisotropy aligns itself with the radial unit vector of the elliptic coordinate system. Similar varieties of anisotropy have been formerly referred to as radial anisotropy, and the same term is employed herein. The radially anisotropic elliptic inclusions are studied with an analytic method. The validation is likewise analytic. The validation method compares the new results with the results for radially anisotropic circles and homogeneous two-dimensional needles. The elliptic inclusion is found to facilitate both cloaking and field concentration.
Anomalous structural disorder and distortion in metal-to-insulator-transition Ti2O3
Authors: Hwang In-Hui , Jiang Bingzhi , Jin Zhenlan , Park Chang-In , Han Sang-Wook
Published: January 2016

Mott proposed that impurity bands in corundum-symmetry Ti2O3 at high temperatures caused a collapse in the bandgap. However, the origin of the impurity bands has not yet been clarified. We examine the local structural properties of metal-to-insulator-transition Ti2O3 using in-situ x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements at the Ti K edge in the temperature range from 288 to 739 K. The Ti2O3 powder is synthesized by using a chemical reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements from Ti2O3 with a Rietveld refinement demonstrate a single-phased R-3c symmetry without additional distortion. Extended-XAFS combined with XRD reveals a zigzag patterned Ti position and an anomalous structural disorder in Ti-Ti pairs, accompanied by a bond length expansion of the Ti-Ti pairs along the c-axis for T > 450 K. The local structural distortion and disorder of the Ti atoms would induce impurity levels in the band gap between the Ti 3d a1g and egπ bands, resulting in a collapse of the band gap for T > 450 K.
Anisotropic Mn-Al-(C) hot-deformed bulk magnets
Authors: Madugundo Rajasekhar , Hadjipanayis George C.
Published: January 2016

In this work, bulk anisotropic Mn-Al-(C) magnets have been produced by hot-deforming arc-melted alloys. The hot-deformed magnets develop a texture in a plane perpendicular to the deformation direction. Optimum magnetic properties have been obtained in a magnet with nominal composition Mn53.5Al44.5C2 with values of remnant magnetization, coercivity, and energy product of 2.2 kOe, 3.3 kG, and 1.8 MGOe, respectively. A maximum coercivity of 2.8 kOe has been obtained in the magnet with composition Mn54.5Al43.5C2. Addition of C is effective in increasing the coercivity of the substituted alloy.
A dilute Cu(Ni) alloy for synthesis of large-area Bernal stacked bilayer graphene using atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition
Authors: Madito M. J. , Bello A. , Dangbegnon J. K. , Oliphant C. J. , Jordaan W. A. , Momodu D. Y. , Masikhwa T. M. , Barzegar F. , Fabiane M. , Manyala N.
Published: January 2016

A bilayer graphene film obtained on copper (Cu) foil is known to have a significant fraction of non-Bernal (AB) stacking and on copper/nickel (Cu/Ni) thin films is known to grow over a large-area with AB stacking. In this study, annealed Cu foils for graphene growth were doped with small concentrations of Ni to obtain dilute Cu(Ni) alloys in which the hydrocarbon decomposition rate of Cu will be enhanced by Ni during synthesis of large-area AB-stacked bilayer graphene using atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition. The Ni doped concentration and the Ni homogeneous distribution in Cu foil were confirmed with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and proton-induced X-ray emission. An electron backscatter diffraction map showed that Cu foils have a single (001) surface orientation which leads to a uniform growth rate on Cu surface in early stages of graphene growth and also leads to a uniform Ni surface concentration distribution through segregation kinetics. The increase in Ni surface concentration in foils was investigated with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The quality of graphene, the number of graphene layers, and the layers stacking order in synthesized bilayer graphene films were confirmed by Raman and electron diffraction measurements. A four point probe station was used to measure the sheet resistance of graphene films. As compared to Cu foil, the prepared dilute Cu(Ni) alloy demonstrated the good capability of growing large-area AB-stacked bilayer graphene film by increasing Ni content in Cu surface layer.
Wild populations of Sydney rock oysters differ in their proteomic responses to elevated carbon dioxide
Authors: Thompson E. L. , Parker L. , Amaral V. , Bishop M. J. , O'Connor W. A. , Raftos D. A.
Published: January 2016

This study tested the proteomic responses of three spatially distinct Sydney rock oyster populations to elevated pCO2. Oysters were collected from environmentally different sites, two chronically affected by acid sulfate soil. Oysters from each of the three populations were exposed to ambient (380µatm) or elevated (856 and 1500µatm) pCO2 for 4 weeks. Subsequent proteomic analysis from haemolymph revealed that (1) there were differences between the proteomes of the three populations after exposure to ambient pCO2, and (2) the different oyster populations mounted significantly different responses to elevated pCO2. Proteins that differed significantly in concentration between pCO2 treatments fell into five broad functional categories: energy metabolism, cellular stress responses, the cytoskeleton, protein synthesis and the extracellular matrix. This is consistent with the hypothesis that environmental stress in oysters leads to a generic response involving increased mitochondrial energy production to maintain cellular homeostasis. Proteins involved in the cytoskeleton and energy metabolism were the most differentially expressed and were seen in all three oyster populations. Differences between populations in their proteomic responses suggested that the local environments from which oysters originate may affect their capacity to respond to ocean acidification.
SDPR functions as a metastasis suppressor in breast cancer by promoting apoptosis
Authors: Ozturk Sait , Papageorgis Panagiotis , Wong Chen Khuan , Lambert Arthur W. , Abdolmaleky Hamid M. , Thiagalingam Arunthathi , Cohen Herbert T. , Thiagalingam Sam
Published: January 2016

Significance

Discovery of novel metastasis suppressor genes in breast cancer using genomic efforts has been limited, potentially due to overlooking their regulation by epigenetic mechanisms. We report the discovery of
SDPR
as a novel metastasis suppressor gene localized to 2q32-33, a region associated with significant loss of heterozygosity in breast cancer, using comparative gene expression analysis of a breast cancer progression model system in conjunction with in silico metaanalysis of publicly available datasets.
SDPR
is silenced epigenetically by promoter DNA methylation and its loss of expression correlates with significantly reduced distant-metastasis–free and relapse-free survival of breast cancer patients. Overexpression of SDPR reduces cell migration and intravasation/extravasation potential, favors cell death, and suppresses experimental lung metastasis of breast cancer cells.
Some Topics for Philosophical Inquiry Concerning the Theories of Mathematical Geometrodynamics and of Physical Geometrodynamics
Authors: Misner Charles W.
Published: January 2016

John Wheeler is the effective owner of the trade mark ‘geometrodynamics’, since he coined the word, so we look to him for the definition. In his introduction, Professor Grünbaum has quoted a number of things from Wheeler. I would like to point out that in recent papers Wheeler refers to “Einstein's standard battle-tested 1915 geometrodynamics.” Wheeler therefore takes geometrodynamics as simply another name for standard general relativity. I think there is no doubt that he intends to exclude aberrations, such as the cosmological constant or the scalar-tensor (Brans-Dicke) theory of gravity. The central feature, in this view, is that geometry is part of physics. Geometry may even be such a blindingly beautiful part of physics as to nearly eclipse everything else. But there is no assertion (although also no denial) that all of physics is geometry. The coupled Einstein-Maxwell equations are a standard basis for current discussions of geometrodynamics.
Complexity and Organization
Authors: Wimsatt William C.
Published: January 2016

In his now classic paper, ‘The Architecture of Complexity’, Herbert Simon observed that “… In the face of complexity, an in-principle reductionist may be at the same time a pragmatic holist.” (Simon, 1962, p. 86.) Writers in philosophy and in the sciences then and now could agree on this statement but draw quite different lessons from it. Ten years ago pragmatic difficulties usually were things to be admitted and then shrugged off as inessential distractions from the way to the in principle conclusions. Now, even among those who would have agreed with the in principle conclusions of the last decade's reductionists, more and more people are beginning to feel that perhaps the ready assumption of ten years ago that the pragmatic issues were not interesting or important must be reinspected.
On the Usefulness of Modal Logic in Axiomatizations of Physics
Authors: Bressan Aldo
Published: January 2016

Natural sciences such as geology, geography, and astronomy are mainly interested in describing features of the real world. Other sciences such as physics and chemistry deal with certain classes of possible phenomena, no matter whether they really taken place or not. The former sciences are based on the latter, so that all are interested in possible phenomena or worlds.

Roughly speaking, on the one hand there are some axiomatic theories - e.g. theories of classical mechanics similar to Newton's presentation of mechanics - that speak of phenomena occurring in the typical possible world, without considering basic relations involving several of these worlds. These theories do not aim very much at reducing primitive concepts. On the other hand, to make assertions involving possible worlds is practically compulsory in theories that include the definition of some constitutive magnitudes, i.e. magnitudes that characterize the reaction of a system S to a situation Σ possibly depending on parameters.
The Essential but Implicit Role of Modal Concepts in Science
Authors: Suppes Patrick
Published: January 2016

When J. C. C. McKinsey and I were working on the foundations of mechanics many years ago, we thought it important to give a rigorous axiomatization within standard set theory, and we therefore resisted any use of modal concepts or counterfactual conditionals in the formulation of the axioms of mechanics. I continue to think that the use of an extensional set-theoretical framework is appropriate and adequate for most, if not all, scientific discourse. As my interests have shifted more to the foundations of probability and the applications of probability concepts in the behavioral sciences, however, I have gradually come to the position that modal concepts, especially as expressed in the use of probability concepts, are essential to standard scientific talk. Yet, in a majority of cases the modal concepts remain implicit in that talk, and their logic is scarcely used in either theoretical or experimental analyses of empirical phenomena.
Theory Generalization, Problem Reduction and the Unity of Science
Authors: Nickles Thomas
Published: January 2016

Although doubtlessly aimed at later developments in physics, Einstein's famous remark, if interpreted so as to include classical statistical mechanics, nicely captures the spirit of work on the early quantum theory by men like Bohr and Ehrenfest, who, despite their conviction that the classical theories failed, nevertheless mined their riches to the fullest in the development of the new theory. In this paper I try to exhibit and characterize the patterns of reasoning involved in Ehrenfest's attempts to generalize Planck's early theory of the linear harmonic oscillator, and I then employ the same historical case as a basis for arguing that the reduction of problems to problems is an important phenomenon which cannot be fully understood in terms of the reduction of theories.
Dispositional Explanation and the Covering-Law Model: Response to Laird Addis
Authors: Hempel Carl G.
Published: January 2016

The following considerations are offered in response to the critical observations and constructive proposals set forth by Laird Addis, in his paper ‘On Defending the Covering-Law “Model”’, concerning my explications of “rational” and dispositional explanation and concerning the claims associated with the covering-law model of explanation.

1. My main objection to Dray's construal of rational explanation, as characterized by the first schema in Addis's paper, was not that it is at odds with the covering-law model, but that the second explanans sentence, ‘In a situation of type C, the appropriate thing to do is x’, expresses a norm and therefore cannot possibly explain why A did in fact do x: to do that, we need, not a normative sentence, but a descriptive one, roughly to the effect that A was disposed to act in accordance with the normative principle.
The ‘Logic’ of ‘Quantum Logic’
Authors: Stachel John
Published: January 2016

One can and often does use the word ‘logic’ in a variety of metaphorical ways, speaking of “the logic of the situation”, “the logic of events”, “the logic of history”, and so on. No harm is done, so long as one realizes that these usages are metaphorical, and should not be given any deeper significance – at least without extensive discussion of the meaning of the word ‘logic’ in these phrases. In this metaphorical sense, one may speak of “the logic of quantum mechanics”, just as one may speak of “the logic of modern art”, for example.

But if we want to use the term ‘logic’ in a non-metaphorical sense – and I take it that this is the intent in all serious discussions of ‘quantum logic’–we are under some obligation to give an account of the significance to be given to the word ‘logic’ and to demonstrate that the proposed usage does not do violence to the several-thousand-year-old tradition in the field.
Reductionism in Biology: Prospects and Problems
Authors: Schaffner Kenneth F.
Published: January 2016

Explications of what it means for one science to be reduced to another have been the focus of considerable interest in recent years, and when the reducing science is physics (and chemistry) and the reduced science is biology, additional concerns seem to arise. In this paper I wish to represent a model for theory reduction which has occupied my attention for some years now, and consider its applicability in the area of the biological sciences.

I should state in advance that the model to be discussed represents an ideal standard for accomplished reductions, and does not characterize the research programmes of molecular biologists. Recently I have argued, in point of fact, that a research programme which might be generated from the tenets of the reduction model to be outlined in this paper would not represent some of the most significant advances in molecular biology, such as the development of the Watson-Crick model of DNA or the genesis of the Jacob-Monod operon theory.
The Logical Structure of Functional Explanations in Biology
Authors: Williams Mary B.
Published: January 2016

The philosophical literature is heavy with discussions of the logical structure of various proposed schema of functional explanation (most of which are modifications of Hempel's schema [7]) but it is very light on detailed analysis of the way in which these schema actually work or the way in which they apply to the instances in which functional explanations are used by scientists. These papers use statements by scientists ascribing particular functions to particular traits, along with intuitions about the way in which ‘function’ is used in ordinary language, to ascertain the referents of the term and thus to determine the class of uses against which any schema should be tested; but such examples only show whether the schema under discussion refer to the same things as those the scientists’ refer to; they do not show whether the logical structure of the schema really captures the logical structure underlying the scientists’ use.
The Unintelligibility of “Observational Equivalence”
Authors: Gardner Michael R.
Published: January 2016

In his recent book Space, Time, and Spacetime, Lawrence Sklar has argued for a fundamental re-orientation in the philosophical study of the logical and epistemic status of the geometry of physical space. A very large part of the recent literature in this area, he notes (p. 109) has been concerned with the alleged bearing of the continuity of space on the question of whether geometry is the object of empirical knowledge, conventional stipulation, or utter ignorance. That continuity has been thought crucial is due, of course, largely to the enormous influence of the work of Adolf Gruhbaum (e.g., [9]). Sklar, however, argues (pp. 109-112) that the issue of continuity is in fact irrelevant to the logical and epistemic status of geometry, and that its pursuit leads one away from the fundamental questions involved. (See also Michael Friedman for a definitive critique of Grünbaum.)
Galileo and the Philosophy of Science
Authors: Finocchiaro Maurice A.
Published: January 2016

Galileo occupies a unique position in the philosophy of science. He has a significant place both in the history of the philosophy of science and in the history of science, that is, both in the theory of scientific practice and in the practice of which philosophy of science is the theory. Moreover, virtually every philosopher of science has felt or feels the need to come to grips with Galileo, in the sense that he either derives his theories from his analysis of Galileo, or he tests the theories he has otherwise formulated by applying them to the case of Galileo. Finally, it has turned out to be possible for philosophers of science of almost any persuasion to use Galileo for their purposes, in the sense of finding evidence from Galileo to support their theories. It is this last fact to which I wish to call attention.
The Relevance of Philosophy of Medicine for the Philosophy of Science
Authors: Whitbeck Caroline
Published: January 2016

How could philosophy of medicine have any particular relevance for the philosophy of science, one might wonder. Either medical science is like other sciences or it is not. If it is like them, if (or to the extent that) it is not unique in the features it possesses, then attention to it is unnecessary. If (or to the extent that) it is unique in the features it possesses, then it is irrelevant to an account of science in general. Surely what is wrong with this way of putting the matter is that the differences between the medical and other sciences are matters of degree rather than kind.

Medical science is distinctive as a theoretical science in prominantly displaying certain features which, while possessed to some degree by all sciences, were much easier to overlook when we took physics, or even just classical mechanics, as our prime example of science.
The Heritage From Logical Positivism: A Reassessment
Authors: Darden Lindley
Published: January 2016

Stephen Toulmin, in assessing the legacy of logical positivism, remarked: “Yet, even though we slay our intellectual parents, we cannot help but inherit from them…. While many of us whose philosophical careers began after 1946 reject the positivism of our forebears, it would be presumptuous for us to deny our inheritance entirely. At the very least, we share with our analytic predecessors a common stock of questions and problems about whose answers and solutions we disagree” ([28], p. 51).

In biological evolution organisms cannot choose which genes to retain, nor can they strive to introduce particular new genes. However, we, as philosophers, can choose which things we wish to inherit from our intellectual parents and which things we wish to eliminate as nonadaptive in our current environment.