bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The making of a branching annelid: an analysis of complete mitochondrial genome and ribosomal data of Ramisyllis multicaudata
Authors: Aguado M. Teresa , Glasby Christopher J. , Schroeder Paul C. , Weigert Anne , Bleidorn Christoph
Published: July 2015

Ramisyllis multicaudatais a member of Syllidae (Annelida, Errantia, Phyllodocida) with a remarkable branching body plan. Using a next-generation sequencing approach, the complete mitochondrial genomes ofR. multicaudataandTrypanobiasp. are sequenced and analysed, representing the first ones from Syllidae. The gene order in these two syllids does not follow the order proposed as the putative ground pattern in Errantia. The phylogenetic relationships ofR. multicaudataare discerned using a phylogenetic approach with the nuclear18Sand the mitochondrial16Sandcox1genes.Ramisyllis multicaudatais the sister group of a clade containingTrypanobiaspecies. Both genera,RamisyllisandTrypanobia, together withParahaplosyllis,Trypanosyllis, Eurysyllis,andXenosyllisare located in a long branched clade. The long branches are explained by an accelerated mutational rate in the18SrRNA gene. Using a phylogenetic backbone, we propose a scenario in which the postembryonic addition of segments that occurs in most syllids, their huge diversity of reproductive modes and their ability to regenerate lost parts, in combination, have provided an evolutionary basis to develop a new branching body pattern as realised inRamisyllis.
Pockels effect of silicate glass-ceramics: Observation of optical modulation in Mach–Zehnder system
Authors: Yamaoka Kazuki , Takahashi Yoshihiro , Yamazaki Yoshiki , Terakado Nobuaki , Miyazaki Takamichi , Fujiwara Takumi
Published: July 2015

Silicate glass has been used for long time because of its advantages from material’s viewpoint. In this paper, we report the observation of Pockels effect by Mach–Zehnder interferometer in polycrystalline ceramics made from a ternary silicate glass via crystallization due to heat-treatment, i.e., glass-ceramics. Since the silicate system is employed as the precursor, merits of glass material are fully utilized to fabricate the optical device component, in addition to that of functional crystalline material, leading us to provide an electro-optic device, which is introducible into glass-fiber network.
MAD1L1 Arg558His and MAD2L1 Leu84Met interaction with smoking increase the risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhong Rong , Chen Xiaohua , Chen Xueqin , Zhu Beibei , Lou Jiao , Li Jiaoyuan , Shen Na , Yang Yang , Gong Yajie , Zhu Ying , Yuan Jing , Xia Xiaoping , Miao Xiaoping
Published: July 2015

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) has been established as an important mechanism of driving aneuploidy, which occurs at a high frequency in the colorectal tumorigenesis. Two important components of SAC are MAD1L1 and MAD2L1, which function together in an interactive manner to initiate the checkpoint signal. We hypothesize that genetic variants in the binding domains of MAD1L1 and MAD2L1 may modulate protein structures and eventually contribute to CRC susceptibility. A case-control study including 710 CRC cases and 735 controls was performed to examine MAD1L1 Arg558His and MAD2L1 Leu84Met’s conferring susceptibility to CRC. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assays were applied to assess the effect of two functional variants on chromosomal instability (CIN). Significant associations with CRC risk were observed for MAD1L1 Arg558His (OR = 1.38,95% CI: 1.09–1.75) and MAD2L1 Leu84Met in a dominant model (OR = 1.48,95% CI: 1.09–2.01). Moreover, significant multiplicative gene-smoking interactions were found in MAD1L1 Arg558His (P = 0.019) and MAD2L184 Leu/Met (P = 0.016) to enhance CRC risk. Additionally, the frequencies of lymphocytic micro-nucleated binucleated cells for MAD1L1 Arg558His polymorphism were significantly different in the exposed group (P = 0.013), but not in the control group. The study emphasized that MAD1L1 Arg558His and MAD2L1 Leu84Met can significantly interact with smoking to enhance CRC risk and the genetic effects of MAD1L1Arg558His on CIN need to be further clarified in follow-up studies.
Handedness Dependent Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Hybrid Chiral Metamaterials
Authors: Kang Lei , Hao Jiang Zhi , Yue Taiwei , Werner Douglas H.
Published: July 2015

We provide the first experimental demonstration of the handedness dependent electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in chiral metamaterials during the interaction with circularly polarized waves. The observed chiral-sensitive EIT phenomena arise from the coherent excitation of a non-radiative mode in the component split ring resonators (SRRs) produced by the corresponding Born−Kuhn type (radiative) resonators that are responsible for the pronounced chirality. The coherent coupling, which is dominated by the bonding and antibonding resonances of the Born−Kuhn type resonators, leads to an extremely steep dispersion for a circularly polarized wave of predefined handedness. Accordingly, retrieved effective medium parameters from simulated results further reveal a difference of 80 in the group indices for left- and right-handed circularly polarized waves at frequencies within the EIT window, which can potentially result in handedness-sensitive pulse delays. These chiral metamaterials which enable a handedness dependent EIT effect may provide more degrees of freedom for designing circular polarization based communication devices.
Computational Prediction and Validation of BAHD1 as a Novel Molecule for UlcerativeColitis
Authors: Zhu Huatuo , Wan Xingyong , Li Jing , Han Lu , Bo Xiaochen , Chen Wenguo , Lu Chao , Shen Zhe , Xu Chenfu , Chen Lihua , Yu Chaohui , Xu Guoqiang
Published: July 2015

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) producingintestinal inflammation and tissue damage. The precise aetiology of UC remainsunknown. In this study, we applied a rank-based expression profile comparativealgorithm, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), to evaluate the expression profilesof UC patients and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-perturbed cells to predict proteinsthat might be essential in UC from publicly available expression profiles. We usedquantitative PCR (qPCR) to characterize the expression levels of those genespredicted to be the most important for UC in dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-inducedcolitic mice. We found that bromo-adjacent homology domain (BAHD1), a novelheterochromatinization factor in vertebrates, was the most downregulated gene. Wefurther validated a potential role of BAHD1 as a regulatory factor for inflammationthrough the TNF signalling pathway in vitro. Our findings indicate thatcomputational approaches leveraging public gene expression data can be used to inferpotential genes or proteins for diseases and BAHD1 might act as an indispensablefactor in regulating the cellular inflammatory response in UC.
Aboveground-belowground biodiversity linkages differ in early and late successional temperate forests
Authors: Li Hui , Wang Xugao , Liang Chao , Hao Zhanqing , Zhou Lisha , Ma Sam , Li Xiaobin , Yang Shan , Yao Fei , Jiang Yong
Published: July 2015

Understanding ecological linkages between above- and below-ground biota is critical for deepening our knowledge on the maintenance and stability of ecosystem processes. Nevertheless, direct comparisons of plant-microbe diversity at the community level remain scarce due to the knowledge gap between microbial ecology and plant ecology. We compared the α- and β- diversities of plant and soil bacterial communities in two temperate forests that represented early and late successional stages. We documented different patterns of aboveground-belowground diversity relationships in these forests. We observed no linkage between plant and bacterial α-diversity in the early successional forest and even a negative correlation in the late successional forest, indicating that high bacterial α-diversity is not always linked to high plant α-diversity. Beta-diversity coupling was only found at the late successional stage, while in the early successional forest, the bacterial β-diversity was closely correlated with soil property distances. Additionally, we showed that the dominant competitive tree species in the late successional forest may play key roles in driving forest succession by shaping the soil bacterial community in the early successional stage. This study sheds new light on the potential aboveground-belowground linkage in natural ecosystems, which may help us understand the mechanisms that drive ecosystem succession.
Change in Tear Film Lipid Layer Thickness, Corneal Thickness, Volume and Topography after Superficial Cauterization for Conjunctivochalasis
Authors: Chan Tommy C. Y. , Ye Cong , Ng Paul KF , Li Emmy Y. M. , Yuen Hunter K. L. , Jhanji Vishal
Published: July 2015

We evaluated the change in tear film lipid layer thickness, corneal thickness, volume and topography after superficial cauterization of symptomatic conjunctivochalasis. Bilateral superficial conjunctival cauterization was performed in 36 eyes of 18 patients with symptomatic conjunctivochalasis. The mean age of patients (12 males, 6 females) was 68.6 ± 10.9 years (range: 44–83 years). Preoperatively, 28 eyes (77.8%) had grade 1 conjunctivochalasis and 8 eyes (22.2%) had grade 2 conjunctivochalasis. At 1 month postoperatively, the severity of conjunctivochalasis decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and 29 eyes (80.6%) had grade 0 conjunctivochalasis whereas 7 eyes (19.4%) had grade 1 conjunctivochalasis. The mean Ocular Surface Disease Index score decreased from 31.5 ± 15.2 preoperatively to 21.5 ± 14.2 at the end of 1 month postoperatively (p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in mean tear film lipid layer thickness 1 month after the surgery (49.6 ± 16.1 nm vs 62.6 ± 21.6 nm; p < 0.001). The central corneal thickness, thinnest corneal thickness and corneal volume decreased significantly postoperatively (p < 0.001). Our study showed that superficial conjunctival cauterization is an effective technique for management of conjunctivochalasis in the short term. An increase in tear film lipid layer thickness along with a decrease in corneal thickness and volume were observed after surgical correction of conjunctivochalasis.
Pu isotopes in soils collected downwind from Lop Nor: regional fallout vs. global fallout
Authors: Bu Wenting , Ni Youyi , Guo Qiuju , Zheng Jian , Uchida Shigeo
Published: July 2015

For the first time, soil core samples from the Jiuquan region have been analyzed for Pu isotopes for radioactive source identification and radiological assessment. The Jiuquan region is in downwind from the Lop Nor Chinese nuclear test (CNT) site. The high Pu inventories (13 to 546 Bq/m2) in most of the sampling locations revealed that this region was heterogeneously contaminated by the regional fallout Pu from the CNTs. The contributions of the CNTs to the total Pu in soils were estimated to be more than 40% in most cases. The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the soils ranged from 0.059 to 0.186 with an inventory-weighted average of 0.158, slightly lower than that of global fallout. This atom ratio could be considered as a mixed fingerprint of Pu from the CNTs. In addition, Pu in soils of Jiuquan region had a faster downward migration rate compared with other investigated places in China.
Polarization-tuned Dynamic Color Filters Incorporating a Dielectric-loaded Aluminum Nanowire Array
Authors: Raj Shrestha Vivek , Lee Sang-Shin , Kim Eun-Soo , Choi Duk-Yong
Published: July 2015

Nanostructured spectral filters enabling dynamic color-tuning are saliently attractive for implementing ultra-compact color displays and imaging devices. Realization of polarization-induced dynamic color-tuning via one-dimensional periodic nanostructures is highly challenging due to the absence of plasmonic resonances for transverse-electric polarization. Here we demonstrate highly efficient dynamic subtractive color filters incorporating a dielectric-loaded aluminum nanowire array, providing a continuum of customized color according to the incident polarization. Dynamic color filtering was realized relying on selective suppression in transmission spectra via plasmonic resonance at a metal-dielectric interface and guided-mode resonance for a metal-clad dielectric waveguide, each occurring at their characteristic wavelengths for transverse-magnetic and electric polarizations, respectively. A broad palette of colors, including cyan, magenta and yellow, has been attained with high transmission beyond 80%, by tailoring the period of the nanowire array and the incident polarization. Thanks to low cost, high durability and mass producibility of the aluminum adopted for the proposed devices, they are anticipated to be diversely applied to color displays, holographic imaging, information encoding and anti-counterfeiting.
Simple hydrothermal preparation of carbon nanodots and their application in colorimetric and fluorimetric detection of mercury ions
Authors: Liang Yan , Zhang Hui , Zhang Yan , Chen Fang
Published: July 2015

The present article reports on the one-step rapid green synthesis of water-soluble, fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-dots) with a quantum yield of 8.9%.
Nano-copper catalysed highly regioselective synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles from terminal alkynes and isocyanides
Authors: Tiwari Dipak Kumar , Pogula Jaya , Sridhar B. , Tiwari Dharmendra Kumar , Likhar Pravin R.
Published: July 2015

Nano-copper(0) stabilized on alumina prepared from Cu–Al hydrotalcite has been reported for completely regioselective synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted pyrroles from unactivated terminal aromatic/aliphatic alkynes and isocyanides.
Mesoporous materials modified by aptamers and hydrophobic groups assist ultra-sensitive insulin detection in serum
Authors: Lei Chang , Xu Chun , Noonan Owen , Meka Anand Kumar , Zhang Long , Nouwens Amanda , Yu Chengzhong
Published: July 2015

A mesoporous material modified with insulin-binding-aptamers and –CH3is applied in sample pre-treatment to enhance the limit-of-detection of ELISA 30-fold.
A two-step fluorinase enzyme mediated 18F labelling of an RGD peptide for positron emission tomography
Authors: Thompson S. , Onega M. , Ashworth S. , Fleming I. N. , Passchier J. , O'Hagan D.
Published: July 2015

Fluorine-18 radiolabelling of a peptide is conducted in water (pH 7.8 and 37 °C) using the fluorinase enzyme and a ‘click’ reaction.
Energy landscapes of a hairpin peptide including NMR chemical shift restraints
Authors: Carr Joanne M. , Whittleston Chris S. , Wade David C. , Wales David J.
Published: July 2015

Energy landscapes for trpzip1 peptide sampled as the relative weight of forcefield and NMR restraint potential contributions is systematically varied.
Experimental approach to the fundamental limit of the extinction coefficients of ultra-smooth and highly spherical gold nanoparticles
Authors: Kim Dong-Kwan , Hwang Yoon Jo , Yoon Cheolho , Yoon Hye-On , Chang Ki Soo , Lee Gaehang , Lee Seungwoo , Yi Gi-Ra
Published: July 2015

The extinction coefficients of ultra-smooth Au nanospheres were obtained, which were higher than those of faceted AuNPs and were found to approach the theoretical limits.
A Cu(111) supported h-BN nanosheet: a potential low-cost and high-performance catalyst for CO oxidation
Authors: Lin Sen , Huang Jing , Gao Xiaomei
Published: July 2015

CO oxidation on h-BNNS/Cu(111).
Mechanistic details of energy transfer and soft landing in ala2-H+ collisions with a F-SAM surface
Authors: Pratihar S. , Kim N. , Kohale S. C. , Hase W. L.
Published: July 2015

Previous chemical dynamics simulations (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 23769–23778) were analyzed to delineate mechanistic details of collisional energy transfer and trapping/soft landing for collisions of N-protonated dialanine (ala2-H+) with a C8 perfluorinated self-assembled monolayer.
A combined crossed molecular beam and theoretical investigation of the reaction of the meta-tolyl radical with vinylacetylene – toward the formation of methylnaphthalenes
Authors: Yang Tao , Muzangwa Lloyd , Kaiser Ralf I. , Jamal Adeel , Morokuma Keiji
Published: July 2015

Flux contour map for the reactive scattering channel of meta-tolyl radical with vinylacetylene.
Insights into colour-tuning of chlorophyll optical response in green plants
Authors: Jornet-Somoza Joaquim , Alberdi-Rodriguez Joseba , Milne Bruce F. , Andrade Xavier , Marques Miguel A. L. , Nogueira Fernando , Oliveira Micael J. T. , Stewart James J. P. , Rubio Angel
Published: July 2015

First-principles calculations show that chlorophyll absorption spectra are different when located on the stromal and lumenal sides of the thylakoid membrane in the major light-harvesting complex from green plants.
Transition metal-catalyzed ketone-directed or mediated C–H functionalization
Authors: Huang Zhongxing , Lim Hee Nam , Mo Fanyang , Young Michael C. , Dong Guangbin
Published: July 2015

This review summarizes transition metal-catalyzed C–H functionalization using ketones as directing groups or substrates.
meso-Phenyltetrabenzotriazaporphyrin based double-decker lanthanide(iii) complexes: synthesis, structure, spectral properties and electrochemistry
Authors: Pushkarev Victor E. , Kalashnikov Valery V. , Tolbin Alexander Yu. , Trashin Stanislav A. , Borisova Nataliya E. , Simonov Sergey V. , Rybakov Victor B. , Tomilova Larisa G. , Zefirov Nikolay S.
Published: July 2015

A series of tetrabenzotriazaporphyrin half-sandwich and sandwich compounds, including unexpected meso-dearylated derivatives as well as the first triple-decker, have been prepared.
Convergent reductive depolymerization of wood lignin to isolated phenol derivatives by metal-free catalytic hydrosilylation
Authors: Feghali Elias , Carrot Géraldine , Thuéry Pierre , Genre Caroline , Cantat Thibault
Published: July 2015

Convergent reductive depolymerization of wood lignin to isolated phenol derivatives by metal-free catalytic hydrosilylation.
Relative contributions of mercury bioavailability and microbial growth rate on net methylmercury production by anaerobic mixed cultures
Authors: Kucharzyk Katarzyna H. , Deshusses Marc A. , Porter Kaitlyn A. , Hsu-Kim Heileen
Published: July 2015

Net production of methylmercury correlated with sulfate reduction rates in cultures exposed to dissolved Hg, but was insensitive to sulfate reduction rates for cultures exposed to nanoparticulate HgS.
Determination of cadmium in geological samples by aerosol dilution ICP-MS after inverse aqua regia extraction
Authors: Xu Qian , Guo Wei , Jin Lanlan , Guo Qinghai , Hu Shenghong
Published: July 2015

A valid method is developed based on aerosol dilution ICP-MS after inverse aqua regia extraction for direct determination of trace levels of Cd in geological samples.
Hyperthermia studies of ferrite nanoparticles synthesized in the presence of cotton
Authors: Mendo Sofia G. , Alves André F. , Ferreira Liliana P. , Cruz Maria Margarida , Mendonça Maria Helena , Godinho Margarida , Carvalho Maria Deus
Published: July 2015

Hydrothermal synthesis in the presence of cotton led to ferrite nanoparticles displaying enhanced hyperthermia performance.
Mitochondria-acting hexokinase II peptides carried by short-length carbon nanotubes with increased cellular uptake, endosomal evasion, and enhanced bioactivity against cancer cells
Authors: Yoong Sia Lee , Lau Wei Liang , Liu Ang Yu , Prendergast D'Arcy , Ho Han Kiat , Yu Victor Chun Kong , Lee Chengkuo , Ang Wee Han , Pastorin Giorgia
Published: July 2015

Enhanced cellular uptake of the HKII peptide by functionalized MWCNTs resulted in an increased cytotoxicity profile.
An enantioselective organocatalyzed aza-Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction of isatin-derived ketimines with acrolein
Authors: Yoshida Yasushi , Sako Makoto , Kishi Kenta , Sasai Hiroaki , Hatakeyama Susumi , Takizawa Shinobu
Published: July 2015

This protocol with β-ICD or α-ICPN selectively gave (S) or (R)-adducts.
Pyrite nanotube array films as an efficient photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue and phenol
Authors: Tian Ang , Xu Quan , Shi Xiaoguo , Yang He , Xue Xiangxin , You Junhua , Wang Xiaoqiang , Dong Chenbo , Yan Xin , Zhou Hongjun
Published: July 2015

The nanotube topography would improve the optical property of the pyrite crystals. The photodegradation of MB and phenol suggested that the pyrite nanotubes array films would be potential to be used in the treatment of pollutants.
Preparation and pervaporation characteristics of novel ethanol permselective polyelectrolyte–surfactant complex membranes
Authors: Zhang Ping , Zheng Pei-Yao , Zhao Feng-Yang , An Quan-Fu , Gao Cong-Jie
Published: July 2015

Recovery of ethanol from a low concentration aqueous solution is a critical step for biofuel production.
Glycerol: a more benign and biodegradable promoting medium for catalyst-free one-pot multi-component synthesis of triazolo[1,2-a]indazole-triones
Authors: Shekouhy Mohsen , Sarvestani Abdollah Masoudi , Khajeh Soheila , Khalafi-Nezhad Ali
Published: July 2015

The one-pot three component synthesis of triazolo[1,2-a]indazole-triones was conducted successfully under catalyst-free conditions in glycerol as a benign, nontoxic and biodegradable promoting medium.
2,2′-Bipyridyl formation from 2-arylpyridines through bimetallic diyttrium intermediate
Authors: Shibata Yu , Nagae Haruki , Sumiya Shiki , Rochat Raphaël , Tsurugi Hayato , Mashima Kazushi
Published: July 2015

Formation of dianionic 2,2′-bipyridyl-bridged dinuclear yttrium complexes proceeded upon treatment of (ArNCH2CH2NAr)Y(CH2SiMe3)(THF)2 with 2-arylpyridine, in which mononuclear (2-pyridylphenyl)yttrium complexes were detected as key intermediates.
Shining light on clay–chromophore hybrids: layered templates for accelerated ring closure photo-oxidation
Authors: Jain Ankit , Achari Amritroop , Mothi Nivin , Eswaramoorthy Muthuswamy , George Subi J.
Published: July 2015

Clay–chromophore hybrids have been employed to critically affect the kinetic landscape of the ring closure photo-oxidation reaction.
Fabrication of porous graphene/polyimide composites using leachable poly-acrylic resin for enhanced electrochemical and energy storage capabilities
Authors: Okafor Patricia Azuka , Iroh Jude O.
Published: July 2015

A plot of log specific capacityversusnumber of cycles for graphene–polyimide composite samples and their SEM images.
Visible-light sensitive Cu(ii)–TiO2with sustained anti-viral activity for efficient indoor environmental remediation
Authors: Liu Min , Sunada Kayano , Hashimoto Kazuhito , Miyauchi Masahiro
Published: July 2015

Photocatalysts with efficient visible-light activity and sustainable function under dark conditions are desirable for indoor environmental remediation applications.
A Questionnaire for Parents of Children Who Stutter Attending a Self-Help Convention
Authors: Klein Joseph F. , Jackson Eric S. , Caggiano Lee
Published: July 2015

Purpose

To examine the attitudes and feelings of parents of children who stutter attending an annual convention for children who stutter.

Method

A survey consisting of demographic information, 30 questions regarding parents' feelings and attitudes using a 5-point Likert scale, and 3 open-ended questions was created by the authors and completed by 45 parents of children who stutter attending a convention for children who stutter.

Results

Parents attending the support group convention were comfortable with and knowledgeable about stuttering. Parents reported that they attended the convention to support their children and themselves and to gain information regarding stuttering. Parents were most concerned that stuttering would impact their children's future and hoped that their children would become happy, confident, and effective communicators. New attendees were less comfortable answering a question regarding the cause of stuttering than were returning parents, and fathers were less likely than mothers to work on therapy homework with their child.

Conclusions

This is the first study of parents who attend stuttering support groups. The results indicated these parents were comfortable and knowledgeable about stuttering. More research regarding feelings and attitudes of parents of children who stutter, and the impact of support groups on parents, is needed.
A Phenomenological Case Study: Successful Management of a Child Who Stutters
Authors: Osborne Charlie , Pensinger Katie , Tetnowski John
Published: July 2015

This study is an exploratory, qualitative case study. The participant is a child who stutters (CWS) that recently completed therapy. At discharge the child continued to stutter, but was deemed successful by all involved in his management. This study was conducted to consider the therapeutic outcome of the management from the perspectives of each of the stake-holders in the management process: the child, his parents, and three of the treating graduate student clinicians. Phenomenological analyses based on artifactual analysis of therapy data were used to discover common themes regarding the therapy and therapeutic outcomes. Implications of results are discussed.
Theory-Based Practice: A Case Study of the Multifactorial Model of Stuttering
Authors: Kleinow Jennifer
Published: July 2015

Theory concerning general processes of speech motor control can inform questions and hypothesis in stuttering research, as well as goal and activity selection in clinical practice. This paper attempts to describe the flow of information from theory to research and clinical fields, using the multifactorial model of stuttering as an example.
Qualitative Case Study Research Design
Authors: Tetnowski Jennifer
Published: July 2015

Qualitative case study research can be a valuable tool for answering complex, real-world questions. This method is often misunderstood or neglected due to a lack of understanding by researchers and reviewers. This tutorial defines the characteristics of qualitative case study research and its application to a broader understanding of stuttering that cannot be defined through other methodologies. This article will describe ways that data can be collected and analyzed.
Joint optimisation of computational accuracy and algorithm parameters for energy‐efficient recognition algorithms
Authors: Lim Heesung , Park Taejoon , Kim Nam Sung
Published: July 2015

In this reported work, firstly, the artificial neural network (ANN) is taken as a target recognition algorithm and then jointly, the computational accuracy and an algorithm parameter (i.e. the number of hidden nodes) are optimised to minimise the overall energy consumption of ANN evaluations. This joint optimisation is motivated by the observation that both the computational accuracy and the algorithm parameter affect recognition accuracy and energy consumption. The evaluation shows that the jointly optimised computational accuracy and the algorithm parameter reduces the energy consumption of ANN evaluations by 79% at the same recognition target, compared with optimising only the algorithm parameter with precise computations. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that to evaluating ANNs with reduced computational accuracy, recognition accuracy is further improved by training the ANNs with reduced computational accuracy. This allows reduction of energy consumption by 86%.
Accurate DC offset calibration of Doppler radar via non‐convex optimisation
Authors: Zhao Heng , Hong Hong , Sun Li , Xi Feng , Li Changzhi , Zhu Xiaohua
Published: July 2015

Continuous‐wave Doppler radar has attracted a lot of attention for non‐contact vital sign detection. In the typical quadrature homotype architecture, the DC offset is a tough issue in that it seriously deteriorates the demodulated results. However, existing methods for DC offset calibration can hardly obtain accurate compensation, especially when the sparsity of measurement outliers is relatively large. Proposed is a novel iteratively reweighed ℓ1 algorithm‐based error correction method. Simulated and experimental results demonstrate the advantages of the method for accurate DC offset calibration.
Slot multi‐arm helix antenna with simple and efficient feeding network
Authors: Guo Jingli , Yang Yuhang , Huang Youhuo , Sun Baohua
Published: July 2015

A slot helix antenna with a simple and efficient feeding network for satellite communications and global positioning system (GPS) applications is presented. Rectangular slotted openings, ended with fan‐shaped slots, are designed for the helix‐shaped slot radiating arms so as to obtain excitation from the circular microstrip feeding line. By adjusting the coupling, the four or more slot radiating elements can obtain appropriate excitation, which leads to the good circular polarisation properties of the antenna.
Shape matching algorithm based on shape contexts
Authors: Zhao Long , Peng Qiangqiang , Huang Baoqi
Published: July 2015

This study proposes a novel shape matching algorithm through exploiting shape contexts. The contributions of the proposed algorithm are twofold: (i) a new framework is presented to deal with the shape matching problem based on shape contexts, but differently from existing methods, the authors exploit a polynomial fitting‐based feature point extraction method as a preprocessing step, so as to enhance the performance of the shape contexts‐based descriptor; (ii) the authors design a voting classification method based on the chi‐square statistical measure to evaluate the matching results. The experimental results show that this method is able to achieve high performance, even if shapes of testing objects suffer from translation, rotation and scaling.
Discriminating features learning in hand gesture classification
Authors: Jiang Feng , Wang Cuihua , Gao Yang , Wu Shen , Zhao Debin
Published: July 2015

The advent and popularity of Kinect provides a new choice and opportunity for hand gesture recognition (HGR) research. In this study, the authors propose a discriminating features extraction for HGR, in which features from red, green and blue (RGB) images and depth images are both explored. More specifically, histogram of oriented gradient feature, local binary pattern feature, structure feature and three‐dimensional voxel feature are first extracted from RGB images and depth images, then these features are further reduced with a novel deflation orthogonal discriminant analysis, which enhances the discriminative ability of the features with supervised subspace projection. The extensive experimental results show that the proposed method improves the HGR performance significantly.
Magnetic antenna excitation of whistler modes. IV. Receiving antennas and reciprocity
Authors: Stenzel R. L. , Urrutia J. M.
Published: July 2015

Antenna radiation patterns are an important property of antennas. Reciprocity holds in free space and the radiation patterns for exciting and receiving antennas are the same. In anisotropic plasmas, radiation patterns are complicated by the fact that group and phase velocities differ and certain wave properties like helicity depend on the direction of wave propagation with respect to the background magnetic field B0. Interference and wave focusing effects are different than in free space. Reciprocity does not necessarily hold in a magnetized plasma. The present work considers the properties of various magnetic antennas used for receiving whistler modes. It is based on experimental data from exciting low frequency whistler modes in a large uniform laboratory plasma. By superposition of linear waves from different antennas, the radiation patterns of antenna arrays are derived. Plane waves are generated and used to determine receiving radiation patterns of different receiving antennas. Antenna arrays have radiation patterns with narrow lobes, whose angular position can be varied by physical rotation or electronic phase shifting. Reciprocity applies to broadside antenna arrays but not to end fire arrays which can have asymmetric lobes with respect to B0. The effect of a relative motion between an antenna and the plasma has been modeled by the propagation of a short wave packet moving along a linear antenna array. An antenna moving across B0 has a radiation pattern characterized by an oscillatory “whistler wing.” A receiving antenna in motion can detect any plane wave within the group velocity resonance cone. The radiation pattern also depends on loop size relative to the wavelength. Motional effects prevent reciprocity. The concept of the radiation pattern loses its significance for wave packets since the received signal does not only depend on the antenna but also on the properties of the wave packet. The present results are of fundamental interest and of relevance to loop antennas in space.
Impact of SiNx passivation on the surface properties of InGaAs photo-detectors
Authors: Zhou Ying , Ji Xiaoli , Shi Ming , Tang Hengjing , Shao Xiumei , Li Xue , Gong Haimei , Cao Xun , Yan Feng
Published: July 2015

We investigate surface passivation effects of SiNx films deposited by inductive coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICPCVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technologies for InAlAs/InGaAs/InP photo-detectors. It is found that ICPCVD deposited SiNx film effectively reduces the densities of the interface states and slow traps near SiNx/InAlAs interface, which realize the small surface recombination velocity and low surface current for InAlAs/InGaAs/InP photo-detectors. By comparing C-V and XPS results, it is suggested that the trap density reduction by ICPCVD technology could be attributed to the disorder suppression on InAlAs surface due to the high density of SiNx film and less processing energy to the InAlAs surface.
Experimental studies in magnetically induced transverse force-frequency effect in thin quartz microresonators
Authors: Hatipoglu Gokhan , Tadigadapa Srinivas
Published: July 2015

In this work, the transverse force-frequency sensitivity of magnetostrictive Metglas® (Fe85B5Si10) thin film coated AT-cut thickness shear mode quartz thin plate microresonator (500 μm × 500 μm × 19 μm) is experimentally measured and modeled in Lagrangian formulation by coupling magnetostrictive deformation equations with the basic plate equations from the theory of small deformation. The quartz plate resonator is fabricated by micromachining techniques and released into fixed-free structure using focused ion beam milling. Application of a magnetic field results in the out-of-plane bending of the structure due to elastic coupling between the magnetostrictive Metglas® and quartz resonator layers. As a result of the transverse loading and out-of-plane bending, the admittance characteristics of the resonator shifts, and these shifts are recorded in real time utilizing a network analyzer. The sensitivity is experimentally measured to be 162.3 mdeg/Oe for phase, corresponding to a frequency sensitivity of Δf/H = 11 Hz/Oe. The equivalent force-frequency sensitivity can then be calculated as 2.36 μN/Hz using the developed model. The coupled domain analysis fits well with the experimental data. Further reduction of quartz thickness and optimization of the thickness ratio of the magnetostrictive to quartz layers offers the possibility of exploiting the stress sensitivity of plate microresonators as sensitive magnetic field sensors capable of low nanoTesla to picoTesla level magnetic flux densities.
Density-matrix renormalization group algorithm with multi-level active space
Authors: Ma Yingjin , Wen Jing , Ma Haibo
Published: July 2015

The density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) method, which can deal with a large active space composed of tens of orbitals, is nowadays widely used as an efficient addition to traditional complete active space (CAS)-based approaches. In this paper, we present the DMRG algorithm with a multi-level (ML) control of the active space based on chemical intuition-based hierarchical orbital ordering, which is called as ML-DMRG with its self-consistent field (SCF) variant ML-DMRG-SCF. Ground and excited state calculations of H2O, N2, indole, and Cr2 with comparisons to DMRG references using fixed number of kept states (M) illustrate that ML-type DMRG calculations can obtain noticeable efficiency gains. It is also shown that the orbital re-ordering based on hierarchical multiple active subspaces may be beneficial for reducing computational time for not only ML-DMRG calculations but also DMRG ones with fixed M values.
Dielectric evidence of persistence of polar nanoregions within the ferroelectric phases of (1-x)Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-xPbTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric system
Authors: Hentati Mouhamed Amin , Dammak Hichem , Khemakhem Hamadi , Guiblin Nicolas , Thi Mai Pham
Published: July 2015

The electromechanical and structural properties of [001] and [111]-oriented Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-6%PbTiO3 (PZN-6%PT) single crystals have been characterized using dielectric spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, depolarization current, and piezoelectric techniques from 80 K to 300 K. Both unpoled and poled samples show a dielectric loss peak located in the range from 100 to 200 K. The poled samples show a change in the slope of the real part of the dielectric permittivity and a broad, frequency dependent peak in the imaginary part below 200 K. In the same temperature range, we observed a broadening of the Bragg peaks, fluctuations in the macroscopic polarization, and a change in the rate of decrease in the elastic compliance and the d31 piezoelectric coefficient. These results were analyzed within the framework of three models proposed in the literature. This analysis argues that these observations originate from the freezing of the dynamics of the polar nanoregions (PNRs) at low temperature. This assumption implicates two important results; (i) the PNRs are embedded and persist within the ferroelectric, low-temperature phases, and (ii) they contribute to the large piezoelectric properties of the PZN−x%PT single crystals. These conclusions may be general to all ferroelectric relaxor systems.
New developments in laser-heated diamond anvil cell with in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction at High Pressure Collaborative Access Team
Authors: Meng Yue , Hrubiak Rostislav , Rod Eric , Boehler Reinhard , Shen Guoyin
Published: July 2015

An overview of the in situ laser heating system at the High Pressure Collaborative Access Team, with emphasis on newly developed capabilities, is presented. Since its establishment at the beamline 16-ID-B a decade ago, laser-heated diamond anvil cell coupled with in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction has been widely used for studying the structural properties of materials under simultaneous high pressure and high temperature conditions. Recent developments in both continuous-wave and modulated heating techniques have been focusing on resolving technical issues of the most challenging research areas. The new capabilities have demonstrated clear benefits and provide new opportunities in research areas including high-pressure melting, pressure-temperature-volume equations of state, chemical reaction, and time resolved studies.
Note: Upgrade of electron cyclotron emission imaging system and preliminary results on HL-2A tokamak
Authors: Jiang M. , Shi Z. B. , Domier C. W. , Luhmann N. C. , Zhong W. L. , Chen W. , Liu Z. T. , Ding X. T. , Yang Q. W. , Zhang B. Y. , Yang Z. C. , Shi P. W. , Liu Y. , Fu B. Z. , Xu Y.
Published: July 2015

The electron cyclotron emission imaging system on the HL-2A tokamak has been upgraded to 24 (poloidally) × 16 (radially) channels based on the previous 24 × 8 array. The measurement region can be flexibly shifted due to the independence of the two local oscillator sources, and the field of view can be adjusted easily by changing the position of the zoom lenses. The temporal resolution is about 2.5 μs and the achievable spatial resolution is 1 cm. After laboratory calibration, it was installed on HL-2A tokamak in 2014, and the local 2D mode structures of MHD activities were obtained for the first time.
Inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material amenable to water-based processing for use in electron beam lithography
Authors: Takei Satoshi , Maki Hirotaka , Sugahara Kigen , Ito Kenta , Hanabata Makoto
Published: July 2015

An electron beam (EB) lithography method using inedible cellulose-based resist material derived from woody biomass has been successfully developed. This method allows the use of pure water in the development process instead of the conventionally used tetramethylammonium hydroxide and anisole. The inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material, as an alternative to alpha-linked disaccharides in sugar derivatives that compete with food supplies, was developed by replacing the hydroxyl groups in the beta-linked disaccharides with EB-sensitive 2-methacryloyloxyethyl groups. A 75 nm line and space pattern at an exposure dose of 19 μC/cm2, a resist thickness uniformity of less than 0.4 nm on a 200 mm wafer, and low film thickness shrinkage under EB irradiation were achieved with this inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material using a water-based development process.
Enantioselective Photochemical Rearrangements of Spirooxindole Epoxides Catalyzed by a Chiral Bifunctional Xanthone
Authors: Maturi Mark M. , Pöthig Alexander , Bach Thorsten
Published: July 2015

The title compounds were shown to undergo an enantioselective photochemical rearrangement to 3-acylindolin-2-ones (16–33 % ee). A xanthone, which is tethered via an anellated oxazole to a chiral 1,5,7-trimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-one scaffold, efficiently catalyzed this reaction at λ 366 nm, presumably by triplet sensitization. The observed enantioselectivity can be explained by hydrogen bonding of the oxindole substrate and the putative 1,3-diradical intermediate to the lactam part of the catalyst. Although one substrate enantiomer is processed with minor preference over the other, it was shown that the reaction is not stereospecific. Rather, the main reason for the observed selectivity is the enantioselective migration step.
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) concentrate around urban waste dumps across Tigray, northern Ethiopia
Authors: Yirga Gidey , Leirs Herwig , De Iongh Hans H. , Asmelash Tsehaye , Gebrehiwot Kindeya , Deckers Jozef , Bauer Hans
Published: July 2015

Context The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) lives in remarkably close proximity to humans in the degraded and prey-depleted landscapes in Tigray in northern Ethiopia, predominantly feeding on human organic waste. Aims We sought to provide an estimate of spotted hyena abundance at garbage dumps and open agricultural areas across Tigray. Methods We used 28 calling stations, including 12 at garbage dumps and 16 in open agricultural areas located in nine randomly selected urban districts across Tigray. We also used 65 randomly placed calling stations in three districts to establish spotted hyena abundance in Tigray. We also collected 610 scat samples during wet (n = 134) and dry season (n = 476) so as to identify diet. Key results A total of 398 hyenas responded, including 356 hyenas at garbage dumps and 42 hyenas in open agricultural areas. The response at the garbage dumps was significantly higher. Approximately 2525 hyenas were estimated from 65 calling stations in three districts. There was no statistically significant difference in the diet of hyena between wet and dry seasons for any food item. Frequency occurrence of prey remains of donkeys and cattle were dominant, followed by human, goat and sheep, respectively. Key conclusions We infer that a very large hyena population persists in unprotected areas of Tigray in northern Ethiopia, where they concentrate around urban waste dumps at night for scavengeable food resources, mainly originating from slaughterhouse waste of livestock. Implications We suggest promotion of nature-based ecotourism of this exceptional coexistence of hyenas and humans in Ethiopia. We raise questions about local hyena social structure, movement, home-range, activity pattern and the implications for human–hyena coexistence.
Size distribution of particles in Saturn’s rings from aggregation and fragmentation
Authors: Brilliantov Nikolai , Krapivsky P. L. , Bodrova Anna , Spahn Frank , Hayakawa Hisao , Stadnichuk Vladimir , Schmidt Jürgen
Published: July 2015

Significance

Although it is well accepted that the particle size distribution in Saturn’s rings is not primordial, it remains unclear whether the observed distribution is unique or universal, that is, whether it is determined by the history of the rings and details of the particle interaction or whether the distribution is generic for all planetary rings. We show that a power-law size distribution with large-size cutoff, as observed in Saturn’s rings, is universal for systems where a balance between aggregation and disruptive collisions is steadily sustained. Hence, the same size distribution is expected for any ring system where collisions play a role, like the Uranian rings, the recently discovered rings of Chariklo and Chiron, and possibly rings around extrasolar objects.
Role of buoyant flame dynamics in wildfire spread
Authors: Finney Mark A. , Cohen Jack D. , Forthofer Jason M. , McAllister Sara S. , Gollner Michael J. , Gorham Daniel J. , Saito Kozo , Akafuah Nelson K. , Adam Brittany A. , English Justin D.
Published: July 2015

Significance

Wildfires burn millions of hectares per year on every inhabited continent, but the physical mechanism governing spread is not known. Models of wildfire spread are widely used for prediction, firefighter training, and ecological research but have assumed various formulations of known heat transfer processes (radiation and convection) absent a definitive theory of their organization. New experimental evidence reported here reveals how buoyancy generated by the fire induces vorticity and instabilities in the flame zone that control the convective heating needed to ignite fuel particles and produce spread.
Innovation in agri-food clusters - mini review.
Authors: Phillips P. W. B. , Karwandy J. , Webb G. , Ryan C. D.
Published: July 2015

How fast and widespread the global agriculture and food sectors can develop, adapt and adopt new technologies, products, production systems and institutional arrangements will probably have the single largest impact on global prosperity and security in the next generation. This review concludes that the theory and evidence to support this policy goal is incomplete. Innovation is the buzz concept of the twenty-first century. It is generally agreed that innovation must accelerate and spread more widely in the global agri-food system. Nevertheless, action and impacts will most often be felt at the local food system level. A challenge is that both the theory and evidence in support of good public policy is mixed.
Persistently damped transport on a network of circles
Authors: Chitour Yacine , Mazanti Guilherme , Sigalotti Mario
Published: July 2015

In this paper we address the exponential stability of a system of transport equations with intermittent damping on a network of

N
≥
2

N \geq 2

circles intersecting at a single point

O
O

. The

N
N

equations are coupled through a linear mixing of their values at

O
O

, described by a matrix

M
M

. The activity of the intermittent damping is determined by persistently exciting signals, all belonging to a fixed class. The main result is that, under suitable hypotheses on

M
M

and on the rationality of the ratios between the lengths of the circles, such a system is exponentially stable uniformly with respect to the persistently exciting signals. The proof relies on an explicit formula for the solutions of this system, which allows one to track down the effects of the intermittent damping.