bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EARLY INDUCTION OF SPROUTING ON SEED TUBERS OF YAM (Dioscorea spp.) SOON AFTER TUBER INITIATION IN A HYDROPONICS SYSTEM
Authors: AWOLOGBI E. , HAMADINA E. I.
Published: September 2015

Prolonged inability of yam tubers to sprout/germinate is associated with the expression of tuber dormancy, and the start of dormancy in tubers is linked to the onset of tuber formation. Although the plant hormone, abscisic acid (ABA) is known to regulate the onset and maintenance of dormancy in tubers, there are no known method(s) of inducing shoot growth (sprouting) on seed yam tubers that are harvested at 240 days after vine emergence or earlier. Therefore, this study was conducted to: (1) determine whether the absorption of fluridone, a reputed ABA inhibitor, prior to or during early seed yam tuber formation would induce sprouting, and (2) determine the effect of fluridone on early shoot growth. The study was a 2×4 factorial experiment arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with eight treatment combinations replicated three times. Two species of yam with long dormancy durations were used: D. rotundata var TDr 131 and D. alata var TDa 98/01166; and three concentrations of fluridone were tested (30, 50, 100 µM). Young plants (69 days after vine emergence) of TDr 131 and TDa 98/01166 were grown in a coco coir medium hydroponics system using Hoagland's Nutrient Solution, with or without the test fluridone concentrations. In all fluridone treatments, most leaves of both species of yam had 30–90% of their surface bleached while the stems appeared purplish. In both Controls, all the newly formed seed tubers that were harvested at 90 and 104 days after vine emergence were dormant (devoid of any new shoots/sprouts). In contrast, over 70% of the seed tubers that developed in 30 and 100 µM fluridone had at least one new shoot, particularly in TDa 98/01166. The fluridone treatments did not significantly affect tuber weight or vegetative growth parameters like dimensions and number of leaves. This study has shown that the duration from vine emergence of the old tuber to sprouting of the new tuber can be reduced by more than half if young plants absorbed fluridone during early tuber development.
A rare case of cerebral hydatidosis caused by a G1 genotype of Echinococcus granulosus in a cow from Iran
Authors: Moazeni M. , Oryan A. , Sharifiyazdi H. , Amrabadi O. , Akbari M.
Published: September 2015

Hydatidosis is a medically and veterinary important parasitic disease that is endemic in many parts of the world. Unilocular hydatid cysts may develop in almost any part of the body. Up to 70% of hydatid cysts are located in the liver, followed by 25% in the lungs. Cerebral hydatidosis is an uncommon manifestation of the disease, occurring in less than 1/1000 infected hosts, yet diagnosis does pose a problem. We have reported an exceptionally rare case of cerebral hydatidosis in cattle. This is the first report to describe the characteristic pathological features of the cerebral hydatidosis in cattle caused by the G1 genotype of Echinococcus granulosus. Genotypic analysis was performed on a hydatid cyst from a cow originating from southern Iran, based on the sequence analysis of the cox1 mitochondrial gene.
MONUMENTA COLUMBARIORUM INTEGRA REPERTA.ANALISI DI UN COMPLESSO MONUMENTALE PRESSO PORTA MAGGIORE
Authors: D'Andrea Francesca
Published: September 2015

Con il presente lavoro si propone la ricostruzione di un complesso funerario di età romana scoperto a Roma, nei pressi di Porta Maggiore, sul finire del XIX secolo (1871). Lo studio è stato condotto attraverso l'analisi critica dei dati offerti dalla documentazione di scavo, dalle foto d'archivio, dalle indicazioni topografiche e dai materiali epigrafici. L'articolo prende in esame le iscrizioni sepolcrali scoperte all'interno di questi ambienti, pubblicate nel sesto volume delCorpus Inscriptionum Latinarum(CILVI, 5961–6148). Grazie al ritrovamento di due fotografie, scattate durante gli scavi del 1871 da John Henry Parker, si è ora in grado di restituire all'originario contesto sepolcrale un gruppo di epigrafi, cui era stata finora attribuita un'erronea provenienza. L'obiettivo del presente lavoro è quello di contribuire, attraverso l'utilizzo di fonti diverse, alla comprensione dello sviluppo archeologico e topografico di quest'area, ripercorrendo le successive fasi di occupazione del sepolcreto che qui fu prese forma.
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA'S TOMB AND ITS PLACE IN SANTA MARIA SOPRA MINERVA, ROME: NARRATION, TRANSLATION AND VENERATION
Authors: Barclay Lloyd Joan
Published: September 2015

By examining the historical narratives of Saint Catherine of Siena's death and burial this paper sheds new light on the liturgical layout of the Dominican church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome c. 1380. Since then Saint Catherine's remains have been translated five times, and at each translation, the form and decoration of her sepulchre has changed, showing how different aspects of her life were commemorated at each renewal of her tomb. These transformations are examined in the light of what survives today and of other literary documentation. Particular attention is given to the way Catherine was represented before and after her canonization in 1461. This explains why a relief attributed to Donatello that has been associated with her tomb may date c. 1430, while a figure of the saint by an artist close to Isaia of Pisa was made c. 1466. The paper also examines the consequences of placing the tomb under the altar of the Capranica chapel in 1579, and of moving the monument under the high altar of the church in 1855, when Santa Maria sopra Minerva was restored according to neo-Gothic principles. Each phase of her tomb shows how Catherine has been venerated from 1380 until the present.
Norovirus diversity in children with gastroenteritis in South Africa from 2009 to 2013: GII.4 variants and recombinant strains predominate
Authors: MANS J. , MURRAY T. Y. , NADAN S. , NETSHIKWETA R. , PAGE N. A. , TAYLOR M. B.
Published: September 2015

From 2009 to 2013 the diversity of noroviruses (NoVs) in children (⩽5 years) hospitalized with gastroenteritis in South Africa was investigated. NoVs were genotyped based on nucleotide sequence analyses of partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and capsid genes. Seventeen RdRp genotypes (GI.P2, GI.P3, GI.P6, GI.P7, GI.P not assigned (NA), GI.Pb, GI.Pf, GII.P2, GII.P4, GII.P7, GII.P13, GII.P16, GII.P21, GII.Pc, GII.Pe, GII.Pg, GII.PNA) and 20 capsid genotypes (GI.1, GI.2, GI.3, GI.5, GI.6, GI.7, GI.NA, GII.1, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.7, GII.10, GII.12, GII.13, GII.14, GII.16, GII.17, GII.21) were identified. The combined RdRp/capsid genotype was determined for 275 GII strains. Fifteen confirmed recombinant NoV strains circulated during the study period. NoV GII.P4/GII.4 (47%) and GII.Pe/GII.4 (18%) predominated, followed by GII.PNA/GII.3 (10%) and GII.P21/GII.3 (7%). Other prevalent strains included GII.Pg/GII.12 (6%) and GII.Pg/GII.1 (3%). Two novel recombinants, GII.Pg/GII.2 and GII.Pg/GII.10 were identified. In 2013 the replacement of GII.4 New Orleans 2009 and GII.P21/GII.3, which predominated during the early part of the study, with GII.4 Sydney 2012 and GII.PNA/GII.3 was observed. This study presents the most comprehensive recent data on NoV diversity in Africa.
Perception, cognition, and linguistic structure: The effect of linguistic modularity and cognitive style on sociolinguistic processing
Authors: Levon Erez , Buchstaller Isabelle
Published: September 2015

TheInterface Principleposits that morphosyntactic variation does not elicit the same kinds of perceptual reactions as phonetic variables because “members of the speech community evaluate the surface form of language but not more abstract structural features” (Labov, 1993:4). This article examines the effect of linguistic modularity on listeners' social evaluations. Our point of departure is thesociolinguistic monitor,a hypothesized cognitive mechanism that governs frequency-linked perceptual awareness (Labov, Ash, Ravindranath, Weldon, & Nagy, 2011). Results indicate that “higher level” structural variables are available to the sociolinguistic monitor. Moreover, listeners' reactions are conditioned by independent effects of region of provenance and individual cognitive style. Overall, our findings support the claim that sociolinguistic processing is influenced by a range of social and psychological constraints (Campbell-Kibler, 2011; Preston, 2010; Wagner & Hesson, 2014) while also demonstrating the need for models of sociolinguistic cognition to include patterns of grammatical variation (Meyerhoff & Walker, 2013; Walker, 2010).
Variants of the scimitar syndrome
Authors: Bo Ilaria , Carvalho Julene S. , Cheasty Emma , Rubens Michael , Rigby Michael L.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

The scimitar syndrome comprises hypoplastic right pulmonary artery and lung, anomalous right pulmonary venous drainage to the inferior caval vein, aortopulmonary collateral(s) to the right lung, and bronchial anomalies.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the morphological and clinical spectrum of variants from the classical scimitar syndrome in a single institution over 22 years.

Results

In total, 10 patients were recognised. The most consistent feature was an aortopulmonary collateral to the affected lung (90%), but there was considerable variation in the site and course of pulmonary venous drainage. This was normal in 3 (one with meandering course), anomalous right to superior caval vein in 1, to the superior caval vein and inferior caval vein in 2, and to the superior caval vein and the left atrium in 1; one patient had a right pulmonary (scimitar) vein occluded at the insertion into the inferior caval vein but connected to the right upper pulmonary vein via a fistula. There were two left-sided variants, one with anomalous left drainage to the coronary sinus and a second to the innominate vein.

Among all, three patients had an antenatal diagnosis and seven presented between 11 and 312 months of age; 90% of the patients were symptomatic at first assessment.

All the patients underwent cardiac catheterisation; collateral embolisation was performed in 50% of the patients. Surgical repair of the anomalous vein was carried out in two patients, one patient had a right pneumonectomy, and one patient was lost to follow-up. There was no mortality reported in the remainder of patients during the study period.

Conclusion

The heterogeneity of this small series confirms the consistent occurrence of an anomalous arterial supply to the affected lung but considerable variation in pulmonary venous drainage.
Meandering right pulmonary vein associated with severe and progressive “idiopathic-like” pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease
Authors: Cuenca Sofia , Bret Montserrat , del Cerro Maria Jesus
Published: September 2015

Congenital anomalies of the pulmonary veins are rare. Meandering right pulmonary vein, considered a part of the Scimitar syndrome spectrum, is often an incidental finding during chest imaging. We present the case of a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with meandering pulmonary vein, who developed pulmonary hypertensive disease with an aggressive course, in spite of absence of hypoxia or elevated pulmonary wedge pressure.
Supererogation and the relationship between religious and secular ethics: some perspectives drawn from Thomas Aquinas and John of the Cross
Authors: Wynn Mark
Published: September 2015

In this paper, I consider the fruitfulness of the notion of supererogation for an understanding of the relationship between religious and secular ethics. I approach this theme in three ways. First, I note a contrast between the virtues of neighbour love and infused temperance, as they are represented in the work of Thomas Aquinas: in the first case, but not the second, appeal to religious context changes the status of an action, so that it is now obligatory when it would otherwise have been supererogatory. I consider how we might explain this difference, and what it indicates about the distinctive character of a ‘religious ethic’. Next, I note how John of the Cross's account of the spiritual life, while tracking Aquinas's discussion on certain points, invites a more radical revision of the distinction between obligation and supererogation. Finally, and briefly, I argue that these reflections throw new light on a puzzle that is posed by some attempts to ground religious commitments in moral commitments. In all of these ways, the notion of supererogation turns out to be key for an appreciation of the distinctive character of a religious vision of human life.
Neuroimaging studies of reading in bilinguals
Authors: CAO FAN
Published: September 2015

The ability to learn a second language is a skill that is often mediated by functional and structural changes in the brain. An inverted U-shaped function has been revealed in the neural response with increased expertise of L2 reading. In particular, the neural response at the left temporo-occipital region increases after initial learning and then decreases with increased expertise and efficiency. Another intriguing question in the literature of bilingual reading is whether brain activation for L2 is similar to or different from that for L1, which seems to be driven by tangled variables such as the proficiency level of L2, age of acquisition in L2, and orthographic transparency of L2 in relation to L1. In addition, the established L1 reading mechanisms and skills constrain how L2 is being learned in the brain, while acquiring a L2 also reversely influences how L1 is processed in the brain.
A Compact “Water Window” Microscope with 60 nm Spatial Resolution for Applications in Biology and Nanotechnology
Authors: Wachulak Przemyslaw , Torrisi Alfio , Nawaz Muhammad F. , Bartnik Andrzej , Adjei Daniel , Vondrová Šárka , Turňová Jana , Jančarek Alexandr , Limpouch Jiří , Vrbová Miroslava , Fiedorowicz Henryk
Published: September 2015

Short illumination wavelength allows an extension of the diffraction limit toward nanometer scale; thus, improving spatial resolution in optical systems. Soft X-ray (SXR) radiation, from “water window” spectral range, λ=2.3–4.4 nm wavelength, which is particularly suitable for biological imaging due to natural optical contrast provides better spatial resolution than one obtained with visible light microscopes. The high contrast in the “water window” is obtained because of selective radiation absorption by carbon and water, which are constituents of the biological samples. The development of SXR microscopes permits the visualization of features on the nanometer scale, but often with a tradeoff, which can be seen between the exposure time and the size and complexity of the microscopes. Thus, herein, we present a desk-top system, which overcomes the already mentioned limitations and is capable of resolving 60 nm features with very short exposure time. Even though the system is in its initial stage of development, we present different applications of the system for biology and nanotechnology. Construction of the microscope with recently acquired images of various samples will be presented and discussed. Such a high resolution imaging system represents an interesting solution for biomedical, material science, and nanotechnology applications.
A literature review of antimicrobial resistance in Pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease
Authors: DeDonder K.D. , Apley M.D.
Published: September 2015

The objective of this paper was to perform a critical review of the literature as it pertains to the current status of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in beef cattle and to provide a concise yet informative narrative on the most relevant publications available. As such, the scientific literature contained in PubMed, AGRICOLA, and CAB were searched in February of 2014 for articles related to susceptibility testing ofMannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, andHistophilus somnifrom cases of BRD. Titles and abstracts were read and 105 articles that were relevant to the subject of BRD antibiotic resistance were attained for further review. After the application of exclusion criterion (publications must have originated from North America, be in English, adhere to standards set forth by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, and be concerning antimicrobial resistance in BRD in beef cattle), 16 articles remained and are the focus of this publication. Due to the disparate data from the few studies that investigate susceptibility testing of BRD pathogens, a quantitative assessment or meta-analysis was not performed on the studies presented in this review. However, considering diagnostic lab data, there appears to be a clear trend of a decrease in susceptibility of the three major BRD pathogens to the antimicrobials used commonly for treatment and control of BRD. Studies performing sensitivity testing on healthy cattle report much lower resistance, but it remains unclear if this is because of a true lack of resistance mechanisms, or if the isolates do contain quiescent genes for resistance that are only phenotypically expressed following the administration of an antimicrobial for either treatment or control of BRD. Future research to address this question of genotype and phenotypic expression before and after antimicrobial administration will further advance our knowledge in this area.
EC – Asbestos: European Communities – Measures Affecting Asbestos and Asbestos-Containing Products
Authors: Horn Henrik , Weiler Joseph H. H.
Published: September 2015

Some cases attain “landmark” status because they constitute a jurisprudential paradigm shift. Others attain such status because in them a decisor, usually a supreme jurisdiction, renders a definitive, “canonical,” ruling. Sometimes it is both reasons. Sometimes, rarely, it is neither. EC – Asbestos is such a rare case. It may well qualify as a landmark. It has, justifiably, attracted huge attention and, understandably, considerable controversy. Its reasoning, however, is so decidedly non-definitive that it is not, consequently, possible to say whether it represents a veritable paradigm shift or is just a badly reasoned case by the Appellate Body (AB), albeit with a non controversial result.
US – Section 110(5) Copyright Act: United States – Section 110(5) of the US Copyright Act, Recourse to Arbitration under Article 25 of the DSU: Would’ve or Should’ve? Impaired Benefits due to Copyright Infringement
Authors: Grossman Gene M. , Mavroidis Petros C.
Published: September 2015

This dispute between the European Communities and the United States originated when the United States amended its copyright law in a way that nullified and impaired certain benefits promised to the European Communities under the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPs). Article 9.1 of TRIPs requires all WTO members to comply with Articles 1 through 21 of the Berne Convention of 1971. Among the provisions of the Berne Convention thus incorporated into the TRIPs Agreement is one that grants to authors of literary and artistic works the exclusive right to authorize “the public communication by loudspeaker or any analogous instrument transmitting, by signs, sounds or images, the broadcast of the work,” and another that grants to authors of dramatic and musical works the exclusive right to authorize “any communication to the public of the performance of these works.”1
United States – Countervailing Measures Concerning Certain Products from the European Communities (WTO Doc. WT/DS212/AB/R): Recurring Misunderstanding of Non-Recurring Subsidies
Authors: Grossman Gene M. , Mavroidis Petros C.
Published: September 2015

In United States – Countervailing Measures Concerning Certain Products from the European Communities (WTO Doc. WT/DS212/QB/R, henceforth Certain Products), the Appellate Body (AB) of the World Trade Organization was called upon to revisit the issue of whether the United States can legally impose countervailing duties following the privatization of state-owned enterprises that had received non-recurring subsidies. In twelve cases, the United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) had applied either the “gamma method” or the “same-person method” in assessing the impact of a change of ownership on the continued existence of a benefit from a countervailable subsidy. The European Communities challenged the legality of these methods.
United States – Section 211 Omnibus Appropriations Act of 1998 (WT/DS176/AB/R) A Comment
Authors: Howse Robert , Neven Damien J.
Published: September 2015

As usual the authors have divided their labor, based on expertise. In particular, the economic analysis in section 4 was the responsibility of Damien Neven; Robert Howse’s own understanding of the costs and benefits of international trade law rules with respect to intellectual property protection in general depends on a rather different framework for analysing the problem. However, in so far as the legal and economic analysis of the Havana Club case itself is concerned, which deals only with trademarks as a form of IP protection, the authors are in agreement.
United States – Sunset Review of Anti-Dumping Duties on Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan (AB-2003-5, WT/DS244/AB/R): A Legal and Economic Analysis of the Appellate Body Ruling
Authors: Howse Robert , Staiger Robert W.
Published: September 2015

The WTO Anti-Dumping (AD) Agreement requires that anti-dumping duties be reviewed at least every five years (Art. 11.3); pursuant to this requirement, domestic trade authorities in the United States are charged with the task of making a determination as to whether, after five years, revoking the duties would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping (Commerce) and of material injury (US International Trade Commission, or USITC). This is called a Sunset Review; a negative determination of likelihood, either with respect to dumping or injury, will result in the duties expiring, the “sun” setting, as it were.
United States – Final Determination with Respect to Certain Softwood Lumber from Canada (AB-2003-6, WT/DS257/AB/R)
Authors: Horn Henrik , Mavroidis Petros C.
Published: September 2015

This note addresses the Word Trade Organization (WTO) dispute United States – Final Countervailing Duty Determination With Respect To Certain Softwood Lumber From Canada (WT/DS257); denoted “Softwood Lumber IV” below. The issues discussed by the Panel and the Appellate Body (AB) in this dispute are very closely related to those examined by the Panel in United States – Preliminary Countervailing Duty Determination With Respect To Certain Softwood Lumber From Canada (WT/DS236); to be referred to as “Softwood Lumber III.” This dispute was not appealed, and the AB thus did not have the opportunity to provide its view on the issues raised in the dispute. The fundamental character of several of the issues at stake in both these disputes makes the AB’s determination in Softwood Lumber IV particularly interesting.
Zehn Jahre Erfahrung mit der Dialektisch-Behavioralen Therapie für Adoleszente (DBT-A) unter stationären Bedingungen – die Station Wellenreiter
Authors: von Auer Anne Kristin , Kleindienst Nikolaus , Ludewig Sonia , Soyka Oliver , Bohus Martin , Ludäscher Petra
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Im April 2004 wurde in der Vorwerker Fachklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, -psychosomatik und -psychotherapie in Lübeck die Station Wellenreiter eröffnet. Trotz großer Skepsis wurde diese als Spezialstation für die Behandlung von Mädchen mit Borderline-Symptomen mithilfe der Dialektisch-Behavioralen Therapie für Adoleszente (DBT-A) eingerichtet. Das zehnjährige Bestehen dieser Station dient als Anlass, das Konzept, unsere Erfahrungen aus zehn Jahren Arbeit auf der Station und Ergebnisse der Begleitevaluation vorzustellen.
Sonografie bei Thromboembolie
Authors: Mathis Gebhard
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Die bildgebende Diagnostik der Lungenembolie bleibt eine grosse Herausforderung, da die Mortalität immer noch zu hoch ist. Die Möglichkeiten der Sonografie werden in Zusammenschau von Lungensonografie, Echokardiografie und Kompressionssonografie der Beinvenen diskutiert. Beim hämodynamisch instabilen Patienten ist die Echokardiografie zu 90% treffsicher. Eine sofortige Therapie kann eingeleitet werden. Es lassen sich mittels Lungenultraschall in mindestens drei Viertel der Fälle durchschnittlich 2,4 subpleurale, echoarme Lungenkonsolidierungen darstellen. Eine tiefe Beinvenenthrombose als Emboliequelle kann mit der Kompressionssonografie bewiesen oder ausgeschlossen werden. In Kombination von Lungenultraschall mit Echokardiografie und Beinvenenkompressionssonografie liegt die Treffsicherheit über 90%, womit die Sonografie eine Ergänzung und in bestimmten klinischen Situationen eine Alternative zur Angiocomputertomografie darstellt.
Ultraschall: grosse Hilfe in der kleinen Traumatologie
Authors: Imahorn Andrea
Published: September 2015

Zusammenfassung. Die Sonografie eignet sich hervorragend zur schnellen und sicheren Diagnostik bei Bagatelltraumen. Frakturen werden in kurzer Zeit schmerzfrei ausgeschlossen oder dargestellt. Fremdkörper können gesichert und lokalisiert werden. Die Ätiologie von Hinken und Hüftschmerzen (vor allem in der Pädiatrie) kann eruiert werden. Der Artikel soll in einem kurzen Abriss einige Möglichkeiten aufzeigen.
Kepler: A Giant Leap for Exoplanet Studies
Authors: Lissauer Jack
Published: September 2015

NASA's low-cost space telescope opened up a universe of possibilities for scientists who scour space in search of planets—and possibly life.
Pritchard Receives 2015 Geodesy Section Award
Authors:   AGU
Published: September 2015

Matthew Pritchard will receive the 2015 Geodesy Section Award at the 2015 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, to be held 14–18 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award is given in recognition of major advances in geodesy.
Tailoring the Synergistic Bronsted-Lewis acidic effects in Heteropolyacid catalysts: Applied in Esterification and Transesterification Reactions
Authors: Tao Meilin , Xue Lifang , Sun Zhong , Wang Shengtian , Wang Xiaohong , Shi Junyou
Published: September 2015

In order to investigate the influences of Lewis metals on acidic properties and catalytic activities, a series of Keggin heteropolyacid (HPA) catalysts, HnPW11MO39 (M = TiIV, CuII, AlIII, SnIV, FeIII, CrIII, ZrIV and ZnII; for Ti and Zr, the number of oxygen is 40), were prepared and applied in the esterification and transesterification reactions. Only those cations with moderate Lewis acidity had a higher impact. Ti Substituted HPA, H5PW11TiO40, posse lower acid content compared with TixH3−4xPW12O40 (Ti partial exchanged protons in saturated H3PW12O40), which demonstrated that the Lewis metal as an addenda atom (H5PW11TiO40) was less efficient than those as counter cations (TixH3−4xPW12O40). On the other hand, the highest conversion reached 92.2% in transesterification and 97.4% in esterification. Meanwhile, a good result was achieved by H5PW11TiO40 in which the total selectivity of DAG and TGA was 96.7%. In addition, calcination treatment to H5PW11TiO40 make it insoluble in water which resulted in a heterogeneous catalyst feasible for reuse.
Formation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Secondary Copper Production Fly Ash: Mechanistic Aspects and Correlation to Other Persistent Organic Pollutants
Authors: Jiang Xiaoxu , Liu Guorui , Wang Mei , Zheng Minghui
Published: September 2015

Emission of unintentionally formed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from industrial thermal processes is a global issue. Because the production and use of technical PCB mixtures has been banned, industrial thermal processes have become increasingly important sources of PCBs. Among these processes, secondary copper smelting is an important PCB source in China. In the present study, the potential for fly ash-mediated formation of PCBs in the secondary copper industry and the mechanisms involved, were studied in laboratory thermochemical experiments. The total PCB concentrations were 37–70 times higher than the initial concentrations. Thermochemical reactions on the fly ash amplified the potential toxic equivalents of PCBs. The formation of PCBs over time and the effect of temperature were investigated. Based on analyses of PCB homologue profiles with different reaction conditions, a chlorination mechanism was proposed for forming PCBs in addition to a de novo synthesis mechanism. The chlorination pathway was supported by close correlations between each pair of adjacent homologue groups. Formation of PCBs and multiple persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated naphthalenes, occurred during the tests, indicating that these compounds may share similar formation mechanisms.
Electrospun Flexible Coaxial Nanoribbons Endowed With Tuned and Simultaneous Fluorescent Color-Electricity-Magnetism Trifunctionality
Authors: Shao Hong , Ma Qianli , Dong Xiangting , Yu Wensheng , Yang Ming , Yang Ying , Wang Jinxian , Liu Guixia
Published: September 2015

In order to develop new-typed multifunctional nanocomposites, fluorescent-electrical-magnetic trifunctional coaxial nanoribbons with tunable fluorescent color, including white-light emission, have been successfully fabricated via coaxial electrospinning technology. Each stripe of coaxial nanoribbon is composed of a Fe3O4/PMMA core and a [Eu(BA)3phen+Dy(BA)3phen]/PANI/PMMA (PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate, BA = benzoic acid, phen = phenanthroline, polyaniline = PANI) shell. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), biological microscopy (BM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), Hall effect measurement system and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the coaxial nanoribbons. Emitting color of the coaxial nanoribbons can be tuned by adjusting the contents of Dy(BA)3phen, Eu(BA)3phen, PANI and Fe3O4 in a wide color range of blue-white-orange under the excitation of 273-nm single-wavelength ultraviolet light. The coaxial nanoribbons simultaneously possess excellent luminescent performance, electrical conduction and magnetism compared with the counterpart composite nanoribbons. Furthermore, the electrical and magnetic performances of the coaxial nanoribbons also can be tunable by adding different quantities of PANI and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, respectively. The obtained coaxial nanoribbons have promising applications in many areas, such as electromagnetic interference shielding, microwave absorption, molecular electronics, biomedicine, future nanomechanics and display fields.
Adjunctive Systemic Corticosteroids for Hospitalized Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2015 Update
Authors: Horita Nobuyuki , Otsuka Tatsuya , Haranaga Shusaku , Namkoong Ho , Miki Makoto , Miyashita Naoyuki , Higa Futoshi , Takahashi Hiroshi , Yoshida Masahiro , Kohno Shigeru , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: September 2015

Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses evaluated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive corticosteroids for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the results from them had large discrepancies. The eligibility criteria for the current meta-analysis were original RCTs written in English as a full article that evaluated adjunctive systemic corticosteroids adding on antibiotic therapy targeting typical and/or atypical pathogen for treating hospitalized human CAP cases. Four investigators independently searched for eligible articles through PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Random model was used. The heterogeneity among original studies and subgroups was evaluated with the I2 statistics. Of 54 articles that met the preliminary criteria, we found 10 eligible RCTs comprising 1780 cases. Our analyses revealed following pooled values by corticosteroids. OR for all-cause death: 0.80 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.53–1.21) from all studies; 0.41 (95% CI 0.19–0.90) from severe-case subgroup; 0.21 (95% CI 0.0–0.74) from intensive care unit (ICU) subgroup. Length of ICU stay: −1.30 days (95% CI (−3.04)−0.44). Length of hospital stay: −0.98 days (95% CI (−1.26)–(−0.71)). Length to clinical stability: −1.16 days (95% CI (−1.73)–(−0.58)). Serious complications do not seem to largely increase by steroids. In conclusion, adjunctive systemic corticosteroids for hospitalized patients with CAP seems preferred strategies.
Beating the amorphous limit in thermal conductivity by superlattices design
Authors: Mizuno Hideyuki , Mossa Stefano , Barrat Jean-Louis
Published: September 2015

The value measured in the amorphous structure with the same chemical composition is often considered as a lower bound for the thermal conductivity of any material: the heat carriers are strongly scattered by disorder and their lifetimes reach the minimum time scale of thermal vibrations. An appropriate design at the nano-scale, however, may allow one to reduce the thermal conductivity even below the amorphous limit. In the present contribution, using molecular-dynamics simulation and the Green-Kubo formulation, we study systematically the thermal conductivity of layered phononic materials (superlattices), by tuning different parameters that can characterize such structures. We have discovered that the key to reach a lower-than-amorphous thermal conductivity is to block almost completely the propagation of the heat carriers, the superlattice phonons. We demonstrate that a large mass difference in the two intercalated layers, or weakened interactions across the interface between layers result in materials with very low thermal conductivity, below the values of the corresponding amorphous counterparts.
Anion-Tunable Properties and Electrochemical Performance of Functionalized Ferrocene Compounds
Authors: Cosimbescu Lelia , Wei Xiaoliang , Vijayakumar M. , Xu Wu , Helm Monte L. , Burton Sarah D. , Sorensen Christina M. , Liu Jun , Sprenkle Vincent , Wang Wei
Published: September 2015

We report a series of ionically modified ferrocene compounds for hybrid lithium-organic non-aqueous redox flow batteries, based on the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple as the active catholyte material. Tetraalkylammonium ionic moieties were incorporated into the ferrocene structure, in order to enhance the solubility of the otherwise relatively insoluble ferrocene. The effect of various counter anions of the tetraalkylammonium ionized species appended to the ferrocene, such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, hexafluorophosphate, perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate and dicyanamide on the solubility of the ferrocene was investigated. The solution chemistry of the ferrocene species was studied, in order to understand the mechanism of solubility enhancement. Finally, the electrochemical performance of these ionized ferrocene species was evaluated and shown to have excellent cell efficiency and superior cycling stability.
Membranes of MnO Beading in Carbon Nanofibers as Flexible Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Xin , Du Yuxuan , Jin Lei , Yang Yang , Wu Shuilin , Li Weihan , Yu Yan , Zhu Yanwu , Zhang Qinghua
Published: September 2015

Freestanding yet flexible membranes of MnO/carbon nanofibers are successfully fabricated through incorporating MnO2 nanowires into polymer solution by a facile electrospinning technique. During the stabilization and carbonization processes of the as-spun membranes, MnO2 nanowires are transformed to MnO nanoparticles coincided with a conversion of the polymer from an amorphous state to a graphitic structure of carbon nanofibers. The hybrids consist of isolated MnO nanoparticles beading in the porous carbon and demonstrate superior performance when being used as a binder-free anode for lithium-ion batteries. With an optimized amount of MnO (34.6 wt%), the anode exhibits a reversible capacity of as high as 987.3 mAh g−1 after 150 discharge/charge cycles at 0.1 A g−1, a good rate capability (406.1 mAh g−1 at 3  A g−1) and an excellent cycling performance (655 mAh g−1 over 280 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). Furthermore, the hybrid anode maintains a good electrochemical performance at bending state as a flexible electrode.
Seven neurons memorizing sequences of alphabetical images via spike-timing dependent plasticity
Authors: Osogami Takayuki , Otsuka Makoto
Published: September 2015

An artificial neural network, such as a Boltzmann machine, can be trained with the Hebb rule so that it stores static patterns and retrieves a particular pattern when an associated cue is presented to it. Such a network, however, cannot effectively deal with dynamic patterns in the manner of living creatures. Here, we design a dynamic Boltzmann machine (DyBM) and a learning rule that has some of the properties of spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP), which has been postulated for biological neural networks. We train a DyBM consisting of only seven neurons in a way that it memorizes the sequence of the bitmap patterns in an alphabetical image “SCIENCE” and its reverse sequence and retrieves either sequence when a partial sequence is presented as a cue. The DyBM is to STDP as the Boltzmann machine is to the Hebb rule.
Quantum Spin Hall States in Stanene/Ge(111)
Authors: Fang Yimei , Huang Zhi-Quan , Hsu Chia-Hsiu , Li Xiaodan , Xu Yixu , Zhou Yinghui , Wu Shunqing , Chuang Feng-Chuan , Zhu Zi-Zhong
Published: September 2015

For topological insulators to be implemented in practical applications, it is a prerequisite to select suitable substrates that are required to leave insulators’ nontrivial properties and sizable opened band gaps (due to spin-orbital couplings) unaltered. Using ab initio calculations, we predict that Ge(111) surface qualified as a candidate to support stanene sheets, because the band structure of √3 × √3 stanene/Ge(111) (2 × 2) surface displays a typical Dirac cone at Γ point in the vicinity of the Fermi level. Aided with the result of Z2 invariant calculations, a √3 × √3 stanene/Ge(111) (2 × 2) system has been proved to sustain the nontrivial topological phase, with the prove being confirmed by the edge state calculations of stanene ribbons. This finding can serve as guidance for epitaxial growth of stanene on substrate and render stanene feasible for practical use as a topological insulator.
Disclination mediated dynamic recrystallization in metals at low temperature
Authors: Aramfard Mohammad , Deng Chuang
Published: September 2015

Recrystallization is one of the most important physical phenomena in condensed matter that has been utilized for materials processing for thousands of years in human history. It is generally believed that recrystallization is thermally activated and a minimum temperature must be achieved for the necessary atomic mechanisms to occur. Here, using atomistic simulations, we report a new mechanism of dynamic recrystallization that can operate at temperature as low as T = 10 K in metals during deformation. In contrast to previously proposed dislocation-based models, this mechanism relies on the generation of disclination quadrupoles, which are special defects that form during deformation when the grain boundary migration is restricted by structural defects such as triple junctions, cracks or obstacles. This mechanism offers an alternative explanation for the grain refinement in metals during severe plastic deformation at cryogenic temperature and may suggest a new method to tailor the microstructure in general crystalline materials.
Structural models of intrinsically disordered and calcium-bound folded states of a protein adapted for secretion
Authors: O’Brien Darragh P. , Hernandez Belen , Durand Dominique , Hourdel Véronique , Sotomayor-Pérez Ana-Cristina , Vachette Patrice , Ghomi Mahmoud , Chamot-Rooke Julia , Ladant Daniel , Brier Sébastien , Chenal Alexandre
Published: September 2015

Many Gram-negative bacteria use Type I secretion systems, T1SS, to secrete virulence factors that contain calcium-binding Repeat-in-ToXin (RTX) motifs. Here, we present structural models of an RTX protein, RD, in both its intrinsically disordered calcium-free Apo-state and its folded calcium-bound Holo-state. Apo-RD behaves as a disordered polymer chain comprising several statistical elements that exhibit local rigidity with residual secondary structure. Holo-RD is a folded multi-domain protein with an anisometric shape. RTX motifs thus appear remarkably adapted to the structural and mechanistic constraints of the secretion process. In the low calcium environment of the bacterial cytosol, Apo-RD is an elongated disordered coil appropriately sized for transport through the narrow secretion machinery. The progressive folding of Holo-RD in the extracellular calcium-rich environment as it emerges form the T1SS may then favor its unidirectional export through the secretory channel. This process is relevant for hundreds of bacterial species producing virulent RTX proteins.
Characterization of the Transcriptional Complexity of the Receptive and Pre-receptive Endometria of Dairy Goats
Authors: Zhang Lei , An Xiao-Peng , Liu Xiao-Rui , Fu Ming-Zhe , Han Peng , Peng Jia-Yin , Hou Jing-Xing , Zhou Zhan-Qin , Cao Bin-Yun , Song Yu-Xuan
Published: September 2015

Endometrium receptivity is essential for successful embryo implantation in mammals. However, the lack of genetic information remains an obstacle to understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of a receptive endometrium from the pre-receptive phase in dairy goats. In this study, more than 4 billion high-quality reads were generated and de novo assembled into 102,441 unigenes; these unigenes were annotated using published databases. A total of 3,255 unigenes that were differentially expressed (DEGs) between the PE and RE were discovered in this study (P-values < 0.05). In addition, 76,729–77,102 putative SNPs and 12,837 SSRs were discovered in this study. Bioinformatics analysis of the DEGs revealed a number of biological processes and pathways that are potentially involved in the establishment of the RE, notably including the GO terms proteolysis, apoptosis and cell adhesion and the KEGG pathways Cell cycle and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction. We speculated that ADCY8, VCAN, SPOCK1, THBS1 and THBS2 may play important roles in the development of endometrial receptivity. The de novo assembly provided a good starting point and will serve as a valuable resource for further investigations into endometrium receptivity in dairy goats and future studies on the genomes of goats and other related mammals.
Transport and retention of engineered Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles through various sedimentary rocks
Authors: Esfandyari Bayat Ali , Junin Radzuan , Shamshirband Shahaboddin , Tong Chong Wen
Published: September 2015

Engineered aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are utilized in a broad range of applications; causing noticeable quantities of these materials to be released into the environment. Issues of how and where these particles are distributed into the subsurface aquatic environment remain as major challenges for those in environmental engineering. In this study, transport and retention of Al2O3, TiO2and SiO2NPs through various saturated porous media were investigated. Vertical columns were packed with quartz-sand, limestone and dolomite grains. The NPs were introduced as a pulse suspended in aqueous solutions and breakthrough curves in the column outlet were generated using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. It was found that Al2O3and TiO2NPs are easily transported through limestone and dolomite porous media whereas NPs recoveries were achieved two times higher than those found in the quartz-sand. The highest and lowest SiO2-NPs recoveries were also achieved from the quartz-sand and limestone columns, respectively. The experimental results closely replicated the general trends predicted by the filtration and DLVO calculations. Overall, NPs mobility through a porous medium was found to be strongly dependent on NP surface charge, NP suspension stability against deposition and porous medium surface charge and roughness.
Nanobody-targeted E3-ubiquitin ligase complex degrades nuclear proteins
Authors: Ju Shin Yeong , Kyun Park Seung , Jung Jung Yoo , Na Kim Ye , Sung Kim Ki , Kyu Park Ok , Kwon Seung-Hae , Ho Jeon Sung , Trinh Le A. , Fraser Scott E. , Kee Yun , Joon Hwang Byung
Published: September 2015

Targeted protein degradation is a powerful tool in determining the function of specific proteins or protein complexes. We fused nanobodies to SPOP, an adaptor protein of the Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, resulting in rapid ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome-dependent degradation of specific nuclear proteins in mammalian cells and zebrafish embryos. This approach is easily modifiable, as substrate specificity is conferred by an antibody domain that can be adapted to target virtually any protein.
Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry combined with statistical analysis for rapidly revealing the influence of sulfur-fumigated Paeoniae Radix Alba on the chemical constituents of Si Wu Tang
Authors: Pei Ke , Duan Yu , Cai Hao , Tu Sicong , Qiao Fengxian , Song Xiaoqing , Liu Xiao , Cao Gang , Fan Kailei , Cai Baochang
Published: September 2015

Strategy for differentiation of SFP SWT and SDP SWT.
Correction: Catalytic enantioselective construction of quaternary stereocenters by direct vinylogous Michael addition of deconjugated butenolides to nitroolefins
Authors: Manna Madhu Sudan , Kumar Vikas , Mukherjee Santanu
Published: September 2015

Correction for ‘Catalytic enantioselective construction of quaternary stereocenters by direct vinylogous Michael addition of deconjugated butenolides to nitroolefins’ by Madhu Sudan Manna et al., Chem. Commun., 2012, 48, 5193–5195.
Effects of inorganic acids and divalent hydrated metal cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Ni2+) on γ-AlOOH sol–gel process
Authors: Zhang Jian , Xia Yuguo , Zhang Li , Chen Dairong , Jiao Xiuling
Published: September 2015

In-depth understanding of the sol–gel process plays an essential role in guiding the preparation of new materials.
Enhanced thermoelectric performance of carbon nanotubes at elevated temperature
Authors: Jiang P. H. , Liu H. J. , Fan D. D. , Cheng L. , Wei J. , Zhang J. , Liang J. H. , Shi J.
Published: September 2015

High thermoelectric performance can be realized in single-walled carbon nanotubes by isotopic substitution and chemisorptions of hydrogen.
Multiwavelength excitation of photosensitizers interacting with gold nanoparticles and its impact on optical properties of their hybrid mixtures
Authors: Kotkowiak Michał , Dudkowiak Alina
Published: September 2015

Different behavior of the mixtures on excitation with the wavelengths from the Soret and Q bands of the dyes and with those corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance band of gold nanoparticles, was analyzed.
Non-covalent intermolecular carbon–carbon interactions in polyynes
Authors: Remya Karunakaran , Suresh Cherumuttathu H.
Published: September 2015

Polyynes, the smaller analogues of one dimensional infinite chain carbon allotrope carbyne, have been studied for the type and strength of the intermolecular interactions in their dimer and tetramer complexes using density functional theory.
The (0001) surfaces of α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals are preferentially activated for water oxidation by Ni doping
Authors: Zhao Peng , Wu Fan , Kronawitter Coleman X. , Chen Zhu , Yao Nan , Koel Bruce E.
Published: September 2015

A modification process on hematite nanoplates leads to controlled surface area ratio of (0001) facets and Ni-doped surfaces. Electrochemical testing shows the enhancement of water oxidation activity by Ni-doping increases as the surface area ratio of (0001) facets increases.
The enhancement of the catalytic performance of CrOx/Al2O3 catalysts for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation through tailored coke deposition
Authors: Gomez Sanz Sara , McMillan Liam , McGregor James , Zeitler J. Axel , Al-Yassir Nabil , Al-Khattaf Sulaiman , Gladden Lynn F.
Published: September 2015

The origin and role of coke in ethylbenzene dehydrogenation over CrOx/Al2O3 has been studied. Ethylene is the main coke precursor; however coke from aromatic species is beneficial for styrene production.