bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To Reflex or Not: Additional BRCA1/2 Testing in Ashkenazi Jewish Individuals Without Founder Mutations
Authors: Petrucelli Nancie , Mange Sarah , Fulbright Jennifer L. , Dohany Lindsay , Zakalik Dana , Duquette Debra
Published: September 2014

This study determined the prevalence of non‐Ashkenazi Jewish BRCA1/2 mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population in the state of Michigan, current provider testing practices, and the use of mutation probability models in determining which Ashkenazi Jewish individuals should be offered further analysis following negative BRCA1/2 founder testing. Testing patterns, mutation probabilities, and testing results were assessed for 327 Ashkenazi Jewish individuals seen for BRCA1/2 counseling in the state of Michigan who underwent testing for the Ashkenazi Jewish founder mutations. Only one (0.6 %) Ashkenazi Jewish individual with sequencing after negative founder analysis was found to have a non‐founder mutation; no rearrangements were identified. Testing patterns varied by clinic, with the proportion of Ashkenazi Jewish individuals undergoing additional sequencing ranging from 22.2 to 92.9 %. In Ashkenazi Jewish individuals with a pre‐test BRCAPRO risk calculation, the mean risk was significantly higher in those with follow‐up sequencing compared to those who did not pursue additional testing. The low prevalence of non‐founder BRCA1/2 mutations in Ashkenazi Jewish individuals does not warrant automatically reflexing to full analysis after negative mutation testing. Increased use of mutation probability models may aid in determining which cases warrant additional testing.
High Dietary Cholesterol Masks Type 2 Diabetes‐Induced Osteopenia and Changes in Bone Microstructure in Rats
Authors: Lapmanee Sarawut , Charoenphandhu Narattaphol , Aeimlapa Ratchaneevan , Suntornsaratoon Panan , Wongdee Kannikar , Tiyasatkulkovit Wacharaporn , Kengkoom Kanchana , Chaimongkolnukul Khuanjit , Seriwatanachai Dutmanee , Krishnamra Nateetip
Published: September 2014

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often occurs concurrently with high blood cholesterol or dyslipidemia. Although T2DM has been hypothesized to impair bone microstructure, several investigations showed that, when compared to age‐matched healthy individuals, T2DM patients had normal or relatively high bone mineral density (BMD). Since cholesterol and lipids profoundly affect the function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, it might be cholesterol that obscured the changes in BMD and bone microstructure in T2DM. The present study, therefore, aimed to determine bone elongation, epiphyseal histology, and bone microstructure in non‐obese T2DM Goto‐Kakizaki rats treated with normal (GK‐ND) and high cholesterol diet. We found that volumetric BMD was lower in GK‐ND rats than the age‐matched wild‐type controls. In histomorphometric study of tibial metaphysis, T2DM evidently suppressed osteoblast function as indicated by decreases in osteoblast surface, mineral apposition rate, and bone formation rate in GK‐ND rats. Meanwhile, the osteoclast surface and eroded surface were increased in GK‐ND rats, thus suggesting an activation of bone resorption. T2DM also impaired bone elongation, presumably by retaining the chondrogenic precursor cells in the epiphyseal resting zone. Interestingly, several bone changes in GK rats (e.g., increased osteoclast surface) disappeared after high cholesterol treatment as compared to wild‐type rats fed high cholesterol diet. In conclusion, high cholesterol diet was capable of masking the T2DM‐induced osteopenia and changes in several histomorphometric parameters that indicated bone microstructural defect. Cholesterol thus explained, in part, why a decrease in BMD was not observed in T2DM, and hence delayed diagnosis of the T2DM‐associated bone disease.
Micro-imagerie de matériaux anciens complexes (I)
Authors: Anheim Étienne , Thoury Mathieu , Bertrand Loïc
Published: September 2014

Cet article vise à exposer les premiers résultats d'un projet de recherche transdisciplinaire dans le domaine des sciences du patrimoine. À partir d'une réflexion sur l'utilisation croissante et les potentialités des méthodes de micro- et nanocaractérisation synchrotron pour l'étude de matériaux anciens (archéologie, paléontologie, patrimoine culturel, environnements anciens), il s'agira de dégager et tester des éléments conceptuels et méthodologiques de convergence entre sciences physicochimiques et sciences historiques.
Methionine deficiency does not increase polyamine turnover through depletion of hepatic S-adenosylmethionine in juvenile Atlantic salmon
Authors: Espe Marit , Andersen Synne Marte , Holen Elisabeth , Rønnestad Ivar , Veiseth-Kent Eva , Zerrahn Jens-Erik , Aksnes Anders
Published: September 2014

During the last few decades, plant protein ingredients such as soya proteins have replaced fishmeal in the diets of aquacultured species. This may affect the requirement and metabolism of methionine as soya contains less methionine compared with fishmeal. To assess whether methionine limitation affects decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine availability and polyamine status, in the present study, juvenile Atlantic salmon were fed a methionine-deficient plant protein-based diet or the same diet supplemented with dl-methionine for 8 weeks. The test diets were compared with a fishmeal-based control diet to assess their effects on the growth performance of fish. Methionine limitation reduced growth and protein accretion, but when fish were fed the dl-methionine-supplemented diet their growth and protein accretion equalled those of fish fed the fishmeal-based control diet. Methionine limitation reduced free methionine concentrations in the plasma and muscle, while those in the liver were not affected. S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) concentrations were higher in the liver of fish fed the methionine-deficient diet, while S-adenosylhomocysteine concentrations were not affected. Putrescine concentrations were higher and spermine concentrations were lower in the liver of fish fed the methionine-deficient diet, while the gene expression of SAM decarboxylase (SAMdc) and the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine synthesis ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was not affected. Polyamine turnover, as assessed by spermine/spermidine acetyltransferase (SSAT) abundance, activity and gene expression, was not affected by treatment. However, the gene expression of the cytokine TNF-α increased in fish fed the methionine-deficient diet, indicative of stressful conditions in the liver. Even though taurine concentrations in the liver were not affected by treatment, methionine and taurine concentrations in muscle decreased due to methionine deficiency. Concomitantly, liver phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations were reduced, while NEFA concentrations were elevated. In conclusion, methionine deficiency did not increase polyamine turnover through depletion of hepatic SAM, as assessed by SSAT activity and abundance.
Debt Maturity Structure and Credit Quality
Authors: Gopalan Radhakrishnan , Song Fenghua , Yerramilli Vijay
Published: September 2014

We examine whether a firm’s debt maturity structure affects its credit quality. Consistent with theory, we find that firms with greater exposure to rollover risk (measured by the amount of long-term debt payable within a year relative to assets) have lower credit quality; long-term bonds issued by those firms trade at higher yield spreads, indicating that bond market investors are cognizant of rollover risk arising from a firm’s debt maturity structure. These effects are stronger among firms with a speculative-grade rating and declining profitability, and during recessions.
Effect of self-focused rippled laser beam on the excitation of ion acoustic wave in relativistic ponderomotive regime
Authors: Gauniyal Rakhi , Chauhan Prashant , Rawat Priyanka , Purohit Gunjan
Published: September 2014

This paper presents an investigation of self-focusing of intense Gaussian rippled laser beam in collisionless plasma by including the nonlinearity associated with the relativistic mass and the ponderomotive force and its effects on the excitation of ion acoustic wave. The growth of ripple, riding on an intense Gaussian laser beam in plasma and its coupling with ion acoustic wave has also been studied. Modified coupled equations for main laser beam, growth of laser ripple in plasma, rippled laser beam, beam width, and density perturbation associated with ion acoustic wave are derived using Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin and paraxial ray approximation. These coupled equations are solved analytically and numerically to study the laser intensity in plasma and the variation of amplitude of the ion acoustic wave for various established laser and plasma parameters. From numerical computation, it is observed that both nonlinearities significantly affected the dynamics of the growth of laser ripple in plasma, propagation of rippled laser beam as well as ion acoustic wave in plasma at high laser power flux. The growth of laser ripple increase with increase in the intensity of laser beam and due to the contribution of growth rate, intensity profile of rippled laser beam and ion acoustic wave modified accordingly.
WHEN BIAS KILLS THE VARIANCE: CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREMS FOR DEA AND FDH EFFICIENCY SCORES
Authors: Kneip Alois , Simar Léopold , Wilson Paul W.
Published: September 2014

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) and free disposal hull (FDH) estimators are widely used to estimate efficiencies of production units. In applications, both efficiency scores for individual units as well as average efficiency scores are typically reported. While several bootstrap methods have been developed for making inference about the efficiencies of individual units, until now no methods have existed for making inference about mean efficiency levels. This paper shows that standard central limit theorems do not apply in the case of means of DEA or FDH efficiency scores due to the bias of the individual scores, which is of larger order than either the variance or covariances among individual scores. The main difficulty comes from the fact that such statistics depend on efficiency estimators evaluated at random points. Here, new central limit theorems are developed for means of DEA and FDH scores, and their efficacy for inference about mean efficiency levels is examined via Monte Carlo experiments.
SIMPLE TWO-STAGE INFERENCE FOR A CLASS OF PARTIALLY IDENTIFIED MODELS
Authors: Shi Xiaoxia , Shum Matthew
Published: September 2014

This paper proposes a new two-stage estimation and inference procedure for a class of partially identified models. The procedure can be considered an extension of classical minimum distance estimation procedures to accommodate inequality constraints and partial identification. It involves no tuning parameter, is nonconservative, and is conceptually and computationally simple. The class of models includes models of interest to applied researchers, including the static entry game, a voting game with communication, and a discrete mixture model. Besides, a technical contribution is an implicit correspondence lemma which generalizes the implicit function theorem to multivalued implicit maps.
Seed storage proteins in cultivars and subspecies of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Authors: Krochko Joan E. , Derek Bewley J.
Published: September 2014

Seed storage proteins were analysed in 27 varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.); these included five subspecies (glomerata, caerulea, falcata, hemicycla, praefalcata), seven of the nine sources of Medicago germplasm introduced into North America and a sample of additional cultivars. The protein patterns were remarkably consistent for all of these taxa. One-dimensional and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed only minor differences in polypeptide composition within each of the three major classes of storage protein (7S globulin, 11S globulin, 2S albumin). The slight variations that were found provided no information on either parentage or evolutionary relationships amongst these particular taxa. Nonetheless, persistent and reproducible heterogeneity of some minor polypeptides of 11S globulin (medicagin) may be useful under other circumstances for cultivar identification in alfalfa. Both subfamilies (I and II) of the 11S globulin were strongly expressed in all of the cultivars and subspecies examined. It was concluded that this structural divergence within the 11S storage protein family predated the evolution of the M. sativa L. species complex. Most of the variability in storage proteins was quantitative. However, even this variability was reduced when data were standardized with respect to seed dry weights. The consistent similarities in qualitative and quantitative expression of seed storage proteins amongst all of these taxa suggest a high degree of uniformity in both seed physiology and genetics within the alfalfa species complex.
A General Asymptotic Scheme for the Analysis of Partition Statistics
Authors: GRABNER PETER J. , KNOPFMACHER ARNOLD , WAGNER STEPHAN
Published: September 2014

We consider statistical properties of random integer partitions. In order to compute means, variances and higher moments of various partition statistics, one often has to study generating functions of the formP(x)F(x), whereP(x)is the generating function for the number of partitions. In this paper, we show how asymptotic expansions can be obtained in a quasi-automatic way from expansions ofF(x)aroundx= 1, which parallels the classical singularity analysis of Flajolet and Odlyzko in many ways. Numerous examples from the literature, as well as some new statistics, are treated via this methodology. In addition, we show how to compute further terms in the asymptotic expansions of previously studied partition statistics.
Central Limit Theorems for Additive Tree Parameters with Small Toll Functions
Authors: WAGNER STEPHAN
Published: September 2014

We call a tree parameter additive if it can be determined recursively as the sum of the parameter values of all branches, plus a certain toll function. In this paper, we prove central limit theorems for very general toll functions, provided that they are bounded and small on average. Simply generated families of trees are considered as well as Pólya trees, recursive trees and binary search trees, and the results are illustrated by several examples of parameters for which we prove normal or log-normal limit laws.
Prehospital Care and In-hospital Mortality of Trauma Patients in Iran
Authors: Paravar Mohammad , Hosseinpour Mehrdad , Mohammadzadeh Mahdi , Mirzadeh Azade Sadat
Published: September 2014

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prehospital time and advanced trauma life support interventions for trauma patients transported to an Iranian Trauma Center.

Methods

This study was a retrospective study of trauma victims presenting to a trauma center in central Iran by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospitalized more than 24 hours. Demographic and injury characteristics were obtained, including accident location, damaged organs, injury mechanism, injury severity score, prehospital times (response, scene, and transport), interventions and in-hospital outcome.

Results

Two thousand patients were studied with an average age of 36.3 (SD = 20.8) years; 83.1% were male. One hundred twenty patients (6.1%) died during hospitalization. The mean response time, at scene time and transport time were 6.6 (SD = 3), 11.1 (SD = 5.2) and 12.8 (SD = 9.4), respectively. There was a significant association of longer transport time to worse outcome (P = .02). There was a trend for patients with transport times >10 minutes to die (OR: 0.8; 95% CI, 0.1-6.59). Advanced Life Support (ALS) interventions were applied for patients with severe injuries (Revised Trauma Score ⩽7) and ALS intervention was associated with more time on scene. There was a positive association of survival with ALS interventions applied in suburban areas (P = .001).

Conclusion

In-hospital trauma mortality was more common for patients with severe injuries and long prehospital transport times. While more severely injured patients received ALS interventions and died, these interventions were associated with positive survival trends when conducted in suburban and out-of-city road locations with long transport times.

HosseinpourM, ParavarM, MohammadzadehM, MirzadehAS. Prehospital care and in-hospital mortality of trauma patients in Iran. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(5):1-5.
Fabrication of a Lift-Out Grid with Electrical Contacts for Focused Ion Beam Preparation of Lamella for In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Mecklenburg M. , Brodie M. , Hubbard W. , White E.R. , Bushmaker A. , Deionno E. , Foran B. , Regan B.C.
Published: September 2014

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2013 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, August 4 – August 8, 2013.
High-Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM): A Tool for Visualizing Skin Biopsies
Authors: Geyer Stefan H. , Nöhammer Maria M. , Mathä Markus , Reissig Lukas , Tinhofer Ines E. , Weninger Wolfgang J.
Published: September 2014

We evaluate the usefulness of digital volume data produced with the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) method for visualizing the three-dimensional (3D) arrangement of components of human skin, and present protocols designed for processing skin biopsies for HREM data generation. A total of 328 biopsies collected from normally appearing skin and from a melanocytic nevus were processed. Cuboidal data volumes with side lengths of ~2×3×6 mm3 and voxel sizes of 1.07×1.07×1.5 µm3 were produced. HREM data fit ideally for visualizing the epidermis at large, and for producing highly detailed volume and surface-rendered 3D representations of the dermal and hypodermal components at a structural level. The architecture of the collagen fiber bundles and the spatial distribution of nevus cells can be easily visualized with volume-rendering algorithms. We conclude that HREM has great potential to serve as a routine tool for researching and diagnosing skin pathologies.
Men Who Pay for Sex and the Sex Work Movement? Client Responses to Stigma and Increased Regulation of Commercial Sex Policy
Authors: Hammond Natalie
Published: September 2014

Recent years have seen an increase in sex worker organisation, with sex workers and their allies forming unions and collectives, protesting in defence of sex workers’ rights, contesting working conditions, opposing criminalisation and aiming to decrease the stigma associated with sex work. However, the actions of male clients have remained invisible. Drawing on empirical data collected from interviews with thirty-five men who pay for sex, and borrowing from social movement literature, specifically Diani's (1992) framework of social movements, this article examines the role of collective identity and the way some clients negotiate political and media constructions of the client figure, and respond to policy processes surrounding the regulation of commercial sex. By taking a cultural studies approach to the sex industry, the article locates commercial sex and its actors within the wider social, cultural and political landscape, reflecting how wider trends regarding the mobilisation and resistance of marginalised groups are apparent within the most unlikely communities.
Piezoelectric inkjet assisted rapid electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of metabolites in plant single cells via a direct sampling probe
Authors: Yu Zhan , Chen Lee Chuin , Ninomiya Satoshi , Mandal Mridul Kanti , Hiraoka Kenzo , Nonami Hiroshi
Published: September 2014

We report the combination of a piezoelectric inkjet and a surface modified sharp tipped probe for the direct sampling and rapid mass spectrometric analysis of metabolites in plant single cells.
A novel chemiluminescence sensor for determination of vanillin with magnetite–graphene oxide molecularly imprinted polymers
Authors: Duan Huimin , Li Xiangjun , Li Leilei , Wang Xiaojiao , Feng Juanjuan , Sun Min , Luo Chuannan
Published: September 2014

A simple column-packing method and a novel chemiluminescence sensor based on magnetite–graphene oxide molecularly imprinted polymers for vanillin determination.
Rapid determination of sulfide sulfur in anaerobic system by gas-phase molecular absorption spectrometry
Authors: Chen Dong , Li Shilei , Liu Haibo , Chen Tianhu , Chen Chen , Yu Chao
Published: September 2014

A detection system was designed for rapid and accurate determination of sulfide sulfur in an anaerobic system by gas-phase molecular absorption spectrometry (GPMAS).
Label-free electrical recognition of a dengue virus protein using the SEGFET simplified measurement system
Authors: Vieira Nirton C. S. , Figueiredo Alessandra , dos Santos Juliana F. , Aoki Ségio M. , Guimarães Francisco E. G. , Zucolotto Valtencir
Published: September 2014

Separative extended gate field-effect transistor was applied as an immunosensor for the label-free recognition of dengue virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1).
Targeted delivery of a novel anticancer compound anisomelic acid using chitosan-coated porous silica nanorods for enhancing the apoptotic effect
Authors: Senthilkumar Rajendran , Karaman Didem Şen , Paul Preethy , Björk Emma M. , Odén Magnus , Eriksson John E. , Rosenholm Jessica M.
Published: September 2014

Chitosan-coated and FA-conjugated mesoporous silica nanorods were developed for cancer-cell targeted delivery of a novel naturally derived anticancer compound.
Highly interlocked anion-bridged supramolecular networks from interrupted imidazole–urea gels
Authors: James Samuel J. , Perrin Andrea , Jones Christopher D. , Yufit Dmitry S. , Steed Jonathan W.
Published: September 2014

Hydrogels from a combination of imidazole and urea hydrogen bonding interactions are turned off by metal complexation and anion binding.
Dioxomolybdenum(vi) complex immobilized on ascorbic acid coated TiO2 nanoparticles catalyzed heterogeneous oxidation of olefins and sulfides
Authors: Jafarpour Maasoumeh , Rezaeifard Abdolreza , Ghahramaninezhad Mahboube , Feizpour Fahimeh
Published: September 2014

TiO2/AA/MoO2 nanocomplex demonstrated desired activity and selectivity in the epoxidation of olefins and oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using H2O2 as an environmentally benign oxidant in ethanol as a green solvent.
Designing an ultrathin silica layer for highly durable carbon nanofibers as the carbon support in polymer electrolyte fuel cells
Authors: Hwang Sun-Mi , Park Jae-Hyun , Lim Seongyop , Jung Doo-Hwan , Guim Hwanuk , Yoon Young-Gi , Yim Sung-Dae , Kim Tae-Young
Published: September 2014

The partially coated, ultrathin, hydrophobic silica layer around CNF helps improve the durability without decreasing the electrical conductivity of virgin CNF.
Kinetics of the AlCl3 catalyzed xylan hydrolysis during Methanosolv pulping of beech wood
Authors: Schwiderski Martin , Kruse Andrea , Grandl Robert , Dockendorf Dennis
Published: September 2014

The kinetics of the AlCl3 catalyzed xylan degradation during Methanosolv pulping of beech wood is investigated.
Fabrication of nanopatterned polymeric microparticles using a diatom as a sacrificial template
Authors: Lang Yvonne , Finn David. P. , Caruso Frank , Pandit Abhay
Published: September 2014

Diatoms serve as sacrificial templates to fabricate polymeric microparticles with elaborate nano-scale architecture.
Dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene by nano zero-valent iron/activated carbon composite: iron loading, kinetics and pathway
Authors: Chen Wei-fang , Pan Ling , Chen Li-fang , Wang Qiong , Yan Chang-cheng
Published: September 2014

HCB was removed by nano ZVI/AC composite by both adsorption and dechlorination. The dechlorination was stepwise, for which a pathway is proposed.
pH-responsive luminescence of a new trinuclear Ru(ii) polypyridine complex
Authors: Viveke A. Arun , Alexander V.
Published: September 2014

Synthesis of a new heteroleptic trinuclear Ru(ii) complex of a ditopic imidazole-based terpyridine bridging ligand and its room temperature luminescence in fluid solution and pH modulated luminescence behaviour is reported.
Non-aqueous sol–gel synthesis through a low-temperature solvothermal process of anatase showing visible-light photocatalytic activity
Authors: Karmaoui Mohamed , Tobaldi David M. , Andrijana Sever Skapin Andrijana Sever Skapin , Pullar Robert C. , Seabra Maria P. , Labrincha João A. , Amaral Vitor. S.
Published: September 2014

A novel, facile method based on a non-aqueous sol–gel solvothermal process has been developed to synthesise spherical TiO2nanoparticles (NPs) in one pot.
A magnetic supported iron complex for selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using 30% hydrogen peroxide at room temperature
Authors: Bayat Ahmad , Shakourian-Fard Mehdi , Ehyaei Nona , Hashemi Mohammad Mahmoodi
Published: September 2014

Selective oxidation of sulfides to corresponding sulfoxides using H2O2 as a green oxidant at room temperature have been investigated by a magnetic supported iron (iron(ii) acetylacetonate) as an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst with excellent sulfide conversion and good sulfoxide selectivity.
Transition metal (Ni, Fe, and Cu) hydroxides enhanced α-Fe2O3photoanode-based photofuel cell
Authors: Chong Ruifeng , Wang Zhiliang , Li Jun , Han Hongxian , Shi Jingying , Li Can
Published: September 2014

Photofuel cells have been demonstrated to be a promising strategy for generating electricity using biomass.
Synthesis of gold nanoparticles and nanoclusters in a supramolecular gel and their applications in catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol and Hg(ii) sensing
Authors: Kumar Dhurjati Prasad
Published: September 2014

Seven gelator molecules giving supramolecular gels produced Au-nanoparticles and fluorescent, small Au-nanoclusters. Such Au-nanoparticle containing gels catalyzed the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol without NaBH4. The fluorescent Au-nanoclusters acted as a Hg(ii) sensor.
A convenient and efficient synthesis of glycals by zinc nanoparticles
Authors: Xu Yun , Wang Wenjun , Cai Yu , Yang Xia , Wang Peng George , Zhao Wei
Published: September 2014

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of pyranoid glycals utilizing the reductive elimination of glycopyranosyl bromides by zinc nanoparticles in an acetate buffer is described. A variety of pyranoid glycal derivatives were obtained, especially for the synthesis of 6-deoxy-4,6-O-benzylidene and disaccharide glycals with good yields.
Copper-catalyzed tandem N-arylation/condensation: synthesis of quinazolin-4(3H)-ones from 2-halobenzonitriles and amides
Authors: Chai Hongxin , Li Jiarong , Yang Liupan , Lu Hongyan , Qi Zhang , Shi Daxin
Published: September 2014

A novel, straightforward and practical copper-catalyzed domino protocol for synthesis of quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives from commercially available 2-halobenzonitriles and amides was successfully developed.
Reaction of α-amido sulfones with functionalized nitrocompounds: a new two-step synthesis of N-alkoxycarbonyl-2,5-disubstituted pyrroles
Authors: Ballini Roberto , Gabrielli Serena , Palmieri Alessandro , Petrini Marino
Published: September 2014

N-Alkoxycarbonyl-2,5-disubstituted pyrroles can be readily prepared by a new two-step procedure involving a preliminary addition of nitro ketals to α-amido sulfones followed by an acid promoted ring closure of the obtained intermediates through a cascade process.
Cost-effective CuO nanotube electrodes for energy storage and non-enzymatic glucose detection
Authors: Lu Yang , Qiu Kangwen , Zhang Deyang , Lin Jing , Xu Jinyou , Liu Xianming , Tang Chengchun , Kim Jang-Kyo , Luo Yongsong
Published: September 2014

Porous CuO nanotube electrodes synthesized by thein situoxidation of copper foils exhibit superior pseudocapacitive and electrocatalytic performances.
A multi-photoresponsive molecular-hybrid for dual-modal photoinactivation of cancer cells
Authors: Fraix Aurore , Guglielmo Stefano , Cardile Venera , Graziano Adriana C. E. , Gref Ruxandra , Rolando Barbara , Fruttero Roberta , Gasco Alberto , Sortino Salvatore
Published: September 2014

A bichromophoric molecular conjugate combines red fluorescence with the simultaneous photogeneration of singlet oxygen and nitric oxide, inducing amplified photomortality on melanoma cancer cells.
Onset of mixing-induced thixotropy in hydrogels by mixing two homologues of low-molecular-weight hydrogelators
Authors: Ohsedo Yutaka , Oono Masashi , Saruhashi Kowichiro , Watanabe Hisayuki
Published: September 2014

We determined the onset of thixotropy in hydrogels when two homologues of low-molecular-weight hydrogelators, N-alkyl-d-glucamides (CnNG), were mixed.
Preparation and performance of β-MnO2 nanorod @ nanoflake (Ni, Co, Mn) oxides with hierarchical mesoporous structure
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhao Qinglan , Wang Xianyou , Zhang Youwei , Gao Jiao , Fu Yanqing , Yang Xiukang , Shu Hongbo
Published: September 2014

Nanoflake (Ni, Co, Mn) oxides were successfully grown on the surface of β-MnO2 nanorods via a simple redox reaction.
The effect of K2HPO4 and Al2(SO4)3 modified MCM-41 on the dehydration of methyl lactate to acrylic acid
Authors: Wang Bin , li Chao , Zhu Qiangqiang , Tan Tianwei
Published: September 2014

K2HPO4 + Al2(SO4)3/MCM-41 shows good methyl lactate dehydration activity and acid–basic balance is important for the acrylic acid selectivity.
Construction of dissipative particle dynamics models for complex fluids via the Mori–Zwanzig formulation
Authors: Li Zhen , Bian Xin , Caswell Bruce , Karniadakis George Em
Published: September 2014

We present a bottom-up coarse-graining procedure to construct mesoscopic force fields directly from microscopic dynamics.
Hierarchical porous nitrogen-rich carbon monoliths via ice-templating: high capacity and high-rate performance as lithium-ion battery anode materials
Authors: Roberts Aled D. , Wang Suxi , Li Xu , Zhang Haifei
Published: September 2014

Ice-templating is utilized to prepare hierarchically porous carbon monolith with aligned macropores. N-doped and graphene-incorporated carbon composite can be easily produced, demonstrating a reversible capacity of about 300 mA h g−1 at a high current density of 10 A g−1.
3-Nitro-1-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine (HANTT) and its energetic salts: highly thermally stable energetic materials with low sensitivity
Authors: Bian Chengming , Zhang Man , Li Chuan , Zhou Zhiming
Published: September 2014

Highly thermally stable and insensitive energetic salts based on 3-nitro-1-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine (HANTT).
Thermoelectrics with earth abundant elements: low thermal conductivity and high thermopower in doped SnS
Authors: Tan Qing , Zhao Li-Dong , Li Jing-Feng , Wu Chao-Feng , Wei Tian-Ran , Xing Zhi-Bo , Kanatzidis Mercouri G.
Published: September 2014

We present that earth-abundant and environmentally friendly SnS is a promising thermoelectric material due to its high ZT of 0.6 despite its relatively wide band gap of 1.2 eV. Ag doping significantly improved electrical conductivity but maintained the Seebeck coefficient above 400 μV K−1 and the thermal conductivity below 0.45 W m−1 K−1 at 873 K.
NIR fluorescence labelled carbon nano-onions: synthesis, analysis and cellular imaging
Authors: Giordani Silvia , Bartelmess Juergen , Frasconi Marco , Biondi Ilaria , Cheung Shane , Grossi Marco , Wu Dan , Echegoyen Luis , O'Shea Donal F.
Published: September 2014

The synthesis and characterisation of carbon nano-onion materials functionalised with NIR fluorescent boron difluoride azadipyrromethenes is described. They reveal reversible NIR fluorescence on-off-switching in response to pH changes both in solution and intracellularly.
Characterization of precursor-based ZnO transport layers in inverted polymer solar cells
Authors: Grossiord Nadia , de Bruyn Paul , Moet Date J. D. , Andriessen Ronn , Blom Paul W. M.
Published: September 2014

Partly crystalline ZnO-based transport layers made from precursor solutions are characterized and used to produce well-performing inverted organic solar cells.
High‐performance stacked‐coil transformers with thick metal layers
Authors: Kim Cheol Ho , Park Bonghyuk
Published: September 2014

Miniaturised stacked‐coil radio‐frequency (RF) transformers were fabricated with thick metal layers using the low‐cost anodised aluminium substrate process. The transformer consists of a 34 μm‐thick substrate‐buried copper lower coil and a 30 μm‐thick copper/gold upper coil with a 3 μm‐thick benzocyclobutene (BCB) interlayer between the coils. Owing to extremely low losses and tight coupling, the fabricated transformers achieved very low insertion losses as low as 0.28 dB and high maximum available gains of up to 0.96 at GHz frequencies. The results verify that the stacked‐coil transformer with thick metal layers can be a promising component for high‐performance miniaturised RF circuits.
Soft decision iterative error and erasure decoder for Reed–Solomon codes
Authors: Ur‐Rehman Obaid , Zivic Natasa
Published: September 2014

A list decoding algorithm for iterative soft‐decision decoding of Reed–Solomon (RS) codes is proposed in this study. The algorithm erases a combination of least reliable symbols and iteratively flips a new combination of least reliable bits in the received sequence. The symbol error correction capability of the algebraic hard decision RS decoder is extended up to the minimum Hamming distance of the code. A gain in performance is exhibited either at a lower or similar iteration complexity as compared to other iterative soft decision decoders of similar type. A complexity comparison with some of the comparable soft decision decoders is given. Simulation results for different modulation schemes and channel types are presented in this study for a comparison with other soft decision decoders of a similar kind.
Collection probability with discrete random signal‐to‐interference power ratios in multiple interferences for electronic intelligence receivers
Authors: Romero Ric A. , Ha Tri T. , Lioulis Stylianos
Published: September 2014

In certain applications, signal transmit power is adjusted in discrete levels. Moreover, interference powers themselves can be discretely random. For electronic intelligence applications, the authors refer to the signal to be collected as signal of interest (SoI). Thus, for a passive receiver, the resulting instantaneous SoI‐to‐interference power ratio (SIR) in multiple interferences is a discrete random variable. This means signal detection or collection is not guaranteed. They proposed collection probability (CP) as a metric when the SIR is random. In this study, the authors evaluate CP probabilistically and show CP against SIR threshold degradation and/or improvement as a function of increasing number of interferences, increasing signal power range and increasing distribution gain.
A 12b‐control ultra‐low‐power low‐noise SC‐VGA for medical ultrasound probes
Authors: Wang Peng , Halvorsrød Thomas M. , Ytterdal Trond
Published: September 2014

This Letter presents a 12b‐control ultra‐low‐power low‐noise two‐stage single‐ended to differential switched‐capacitor variable gain amplifier (SC‐VGA) for 2–6‐MHz second harmonic cardiac imaging ultrasound probes in 0.18 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor. The proposed SC‐VGA consists of inverters and capacitor (CAP) arrays. By adopting inverters instead of operational trans‐conductance amplifiers (OTAs) in traditional SC‐amplifiers, both the power and noise are significantly improved. Each stage has a 6b binary‐weighted CAP array, and in total the 12b CAP arrays achieve the dB‐in‐linear gain range from − 21 to 21 dB. The CAP array is divided between the upper 3b and lower 3b by a CAP to decrease the capacitance spread. The total power consumption is 150 μA at 1 V supply voltage, and the input referred noise is 6.5 nV/√HZ at 4 MHz. The second harmonic distortion (HD2) has the mean value − 77 dB at the 460 mV peak‐to‐peak output swing for 50 samples of Monte Carlo mismatch simulation with a 30 MHz sampling frequency.
Quantitative analysis of optical network unit sleep technique with maintained latency for asymmetric usage by residential users
Authors: Nishihara Susumu , Miura Naoki , Nomura Hiroko , Tanaka Nobuyuki , Suzuki Kenichi , Yoshimoto Naoto
Published: September 2014

This study provides an insight into the effectiveness of an optical network unit (ONU) sleep technique, where a subcomponent of the ONU is powered down during the absence of input traffic. The approach contributes to the realisation of advanced power efficiency over a wide range of input throughputs in situations where downstream traffic exceeds upstream traffic in recent residential networks. A numerical simulation showed that power‐saving effectiveness could be achieved for an Mbit/s downstream throughput without latency implications in the Tx sleep mode.
Wavelet‐based automatic cry recognition system for detecting infants with hearing‐loss from normal infants
Authors: Mansouri Jam Mahmoud , Sadjedi Hamed
Published: September 2014

Infant cry is a multimodal and dynamic behaviour that it contains a lot of information. Goal of this investigation is recognition of two groups of infants by new acoustic feature that has not used in infant cry classification. The cry of deaf infants and normal hearing infants is studied. ‘Mel filter‐bank discrete wavelet coefficients (MFDWCs)’ have been extracted as feature vector. Infant cry classification is a pattern recognition problem such as ‘automatic speech recognition’, which in signal processing stage the authors performed some pre‐processing included silence elimination, filtering, pre‐emphasising and, segmentation. After applying the discrete wavelet transform on the Mel scaled log filter bank energies of a cry signal frames, MFDWCs feature vector was extracted. The feature vector, MFDWCs, of each cry sample has large length, so they used principle components analysis to reduce in feature space dimension, after training of neural network as classifier, they achieved to 93.2% correction rate in cry recognition of test data set. This result shows better efficiency in comparison with previous familiarised approaches.
Wideband active quasi‐circulator with tunable isolation enhancement
Authors: Mung S.W.Y. , Chan W.S.
Published: September 2014

An active quasi‐circulator comprises three single‐stage distributed amplifiers (DAs), in which two are for wideband transmission while the remaining one is for wideband signal cancellation. This quasi‐circulator has wideband frequency operation and by optimising the bias current, tunable isolation enhancement between port 1 and port 3 is achieved. The experimental results show that this quasi‐circulator has insertion losses of around 0 dB, return losses better than 10 dB at each port, minimum non‐tunable isolation of around 15 dB from 0.8 to 2.2 GHz and tunable isolation of more than 40 dB between port 1 and port 3 from 0.8 to 2.2 GHz.
Fast reconstruction of an unmanned engineering vehicle and its application to carrying rocket
Authors: Qian Jun , Zhu Huabing , Wang Shuwang , Zeng Yishan
Published: September 2014

Engineering vehicle is widely used as a huge moving platform for transporting heavy goods. However, traditional human operations have a great influence on the steady movement of the vehicle. In this Letter, a fast reconstruction process of an unmanned engineering vehicle is carried out. By adding a higher‐level controller and two two‐dimensional laser scanners on the moving platform, the vehicle could perceive the surrounding environment and locate its pose according to extended Kalman filter. Then, a closed‐loop control system is formed by communicating with the on‐board lower‐level controller. To verify the performance of automatic control system, the unmanned vehicle is automatically navigated when carrying a rocket towards a launcher in a launch site. The experimental results show that the vehicle could align with the launcher smoothly and safely within a small lateral deviation of 1 cm. This fast reconstruction presents an efficient way of rebuilding low‐cost unmanned special vehicles and other automatic moving platforms.
Mutual capacitor and its applications
Authors: Li Chun , Li Jason , Li Jieming
Published: September 2014

This study presents a new ac circuit element – the mutual capacitor, being a dual of the mutual inductor, which is also a new ac transformer. This element is characteristic of the mutual‐capacitance coupling of a multi‐capacitance system. A unity‐coupled mutual capacitor works as an ideal current or voltage transformer, and incidentally acts as waveform separating when inductor employed or waveform converting from square‐wave to quasi‐sine or waveform filtering, between ports. As a transformer, the mutual capacitor is easy to design, easy for heat cooling, more accurate for current or voltage transformation, dissipating less energy as well as saving materials, suitable for high‐power and high‐voltage applications. Experiments to demonstrate performances of unity‐coupled mutual capacitors are also given.
Assistive technology for relieving communication lumber between hearing/speech impaired and hearing people
Authors: Akmeliawati Rini , Bailey Donald , Bilal Sara , Demidenko Serge , Gamage Nuwan , Khan Shujjat , Kuang Ye Chow , Ooi Melanie , Sen Gupta Gourab
Published: September 2014

This study proposes an automatic sign language translator, which is developed as assistive technology to help the hearing/speech impaired communities to communicate with the rest of the world. The system architecture, which includes feature extraction and recognition stages is described in detail. The signs are classified into two types: static and dynamic. Various types of sign features are presented and analysed. Recognition stage considers the hidden Markov model and segmentation signature. Real‐time implementation of the system with the use of Windows7 and LINUX Fedora 16 operating systems with VMware workstation is presented in detail. The system has been successfully tested on Malaysian sign language.
MPD model for radar echo signal of hypersonic targets
Authors: Xuefei Xu , Guisheng Liao
Published: September 2014

The stop‐and‐go (SAG) model is typically used for echo signal received by the radar using linear frequency modulation pulse compression. In this study, the authors demonstrate that this model is not applicable to hypersonic targets. Instead of SAG model, they present a more realistic echo signal model (moving‐in‐pulse duration (MPD)) for hypersonic targets. Following that, they evaluate the performances of pulse compression under the SAG and MPD models by theoretical analysis and simulations. They found that the pulse compression gain has an increase of 3 dB by using the MPD model compared with the SAG model in typical cases.
Doubling‐resolution analog‐to‐digital conversion based on PIC18F45K80
Authors: Yuan Yueyang , Yang Chongchang
Published: September 2014

Aiming at the analog signal being converted into the digital with a higher precision, a method to improve the analog‐to‐digital converter (ADC) resolution is proposed and described. Based on the microcomputer PIC18F45K80 in which the internal ADC modules are embedded, a circuit is designed for doubling the resolution of ADC. According to the circuit diagram, the mathematical formula for calculating this resolution is derived. The corresponding software and print circuit board assembly is also prepared. With the experiment, a 13 bit ADC is achieved based on the 12 bit ADC module predesigned in the PIC18F45K80.
Selection of higher eigenmode amplitude based on dissipated power and virial contrast in bimodal atomic force microscopy
Authors: Diaz Alfredo J. , Eslami Babak , López-Guerra Enrique A. , Solares Santiago D.
Published: September 2014

This paper explores the effect of the amplitude ratio of the higher to the fundamental eigenmode in bimodal atomic force microscopy (AFM) on the phase contrast and the dissipated power contrast of the higher eigenmode. We explore the optimization of the amplitude ratio in order to maximize the type of contrast that is most relevant to the particular study. Specifically, we show that the trends in the contrast range behave differently for different quantities, especially the dissipated power and the phase, with the former being more meaningful than the latter (a similar analysis can be carried out using the virial, for which we also provide a brief example). Our work is based on numerical simulations using two different conservative-dissipative tip-sample models, including the standard linear solid and the combination of a dissipation coefficient with a conservative model, as well as experimental images of thin film Nafion® proton exchange polymers. We focus on the original bimodal AFM method, where the higher eigenmode is driven with constant amplitude and frequency (i.e., in “open loop”).
Impacts of climate change on net primary productivity of grasslands in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Li Qiuyue , Tuo Debao , Zhang Lizhen , Wei Xiaoyu , Wei Yurong , Yang Ning , Xu Yinlong , Anten Niels P. R. , Pan Xuebiao
Published: September 2014

Net primary productivity (NPP) of grasslands is a key variable for characterising carbon cycles in grassland ecosystems. The prediction of NPP in Inner Mongolia is important for adaptation to future climate change, food security and sustainable use of the grassland resources. The output from two models, potentially suitable for simulating NPP in response to climate change, was tested against observed aboveground forage mass of dry matter at eight sites in Inner Mongolia from 1995 to 2005. The Classification Indices-Based Model (CIBM) showed an acceptable agreement with field measurements. The impact of climate change on the NPP of grasslands was subsequently analysed by CIBM using future climate projections from a Global Circulation Model based on three greenhouse gas emission scenarios: A2 (medium-high emission), A1B (medium emission) and B2 (medium-low emission) differing in assumptions about patterns of global social and economic development. Generally, significant increases in NPP, compared with the baseline NPP of 3.6 tonnes ha–1 for 1961–90, were predicted. The magnitude of the increase in NPP depended on the emission scenario, as well as on the time frame and region considered. Overall the predicted NPP stimulation increased with the level of emissions assumed, being 4.8 tonnes ha–1 in the A2 scenario, 4.3 tonnes ha–1 in the B2 scenario and 4.5 tonnes ha–1 in the A1B scenario in the 2080s (2071–2100). The increase in NPP in response to climate change differed between regions and there was an interaction with emission scenario. For the A2 and the B2 emission scenarios, the western region of Inner Mongolia was predicted to exhibit the strongest NPP increases, but, under the A1B scenario for the 2050s, the south-eastern region exhibited the greatest increase in NPP. It is concluded that the productivity of grassland in Inner Mongolia is likely to increase in response to climate change but these predicted effects are sensitive to emission scenarios and differ regionally. This will provide opportunities but also challenges for herders and policy makers in adapting to this change.