bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of New Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Access to Bank Credit: Case Study in the Phu Tho Province, Vietnam
Authors: Pham Hung D.
Published: June 2017

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a very important role in the Vietnamese economy. Specifically, new SMEs are seen as a suitable solution to cope with development issues such as poverty and a high unemployment rate. In Vietnam, a high SME failure rate is due to lack of capital and poor managerial experience of owners. Most existing research on SMEs focuses on well-established stages, and less attention is paid to new SMEs. This paper investigates the determinants of credit access by SMEs existing for less than forty-two months in the Phu Tho province located in Northern Vietnam. The quantitative data were collected from 259 SMEs in 2015. The regression analysis reveals that a business plan, the firm size, and networking (emotional trust, knowledge trust, and approachability) are the main drivers of access to bank loans by new SMEs. About 64% (165 observations) of new SMEs in our sample did not get any bank loan caused by high collateral requirements, unfavorable interest rate, poor business plans, limited networking, and lack of government support. The results also indicate that, among the selected explanatory variables, having a concrete business plan significantly affects the bank loan ratio (total bank loans over total capital). Based on these results, we derived political implications.
Het verschoningsrecht in de context van interne onderzoeken
Authors: Kristic A.
Published: June 2017

Het verschoningsrecht in de context van interne onderzoeken

In deze bijdrage wordt betoogd dat de ratio van het professionele verschoningsrecht van advocaten, bezien in samenhang met de aard van de hulpvraag en bijhorende beroepsmatige werkzaamheden die een cliënt doorgaans van zijn advocaat verwacht in de context van interne fraudeonderzoeken, meebrengt dat het verschoningsrecht in beginsel onverkort van toepassing is op (resultaten van) interne fraudeonderzoeken.
Het doorbreken van het verschoningsrecht: zijn de ‘zeer uitzonderlijke omstandigheden’ wel zo uitzonderlijk?
Authors: van Ardenne F.G.L. , Merkus R.J.E.
Published: June 2017

Het doorbreken van het verschoningsrecht: zijn de ‘zeer uitzonderlijke omstandigheden’ wel zo uitzonderlijk?

Een inperking van verschoningsrecht wordt gevormd door het leerstuk van de ‘zeer uitzonderlijke omstandigheden’. In dit artikel wordt geïnventariseerd welke omstandigheden met betrekking tot advocaten en notarissen volgens de cassatierechter ‘zeer uitzonderlijk’ zijn en of er sprake is van een hoge drempel voor het aannemen van deze omstandigheden. Het vereiste voor het aannemen van deze omstandigheden is dat sprake dient te zijn van verdenking van een ernstig strafbaar feit. In de praktijk is dat al snel het geval. Het leerstuk van de ‘zeer uitzonderlijke omstandigheden’ is daarom minder uitzonderlijk dan de term doet vermoeden.
Challenged by the state and the Internet: Struggles for professionalism in Southeast Asian journalism
Authors: Lehmann-Jacobsen Emilie
Published: June 2017

As in other regions, journalism in Southeast Asia is under pressure. Journalists in many of the region’s emerging markets have to develop their profession while struggling with changing market conditions, increasingly more demanding audiences, different degrees of authoritative states and growing competition from the Internet. Based on qualitative interviews and drawing on a combination of role theory and Pierre Bourdieu’s field theory, this article compares the role performances of journalists in Singapore and Vietnam by looking into the different expectations journalists in the two countries meet. The article illustrates how journalists continue to feel most conflicted about conforming with the states’ expectations to their profession. However, online actors imposing on the journalistic field are beginning to have a progressively bigger impact. Though they push the boundaries and set the media agenda, journalists fear they are changing the journalistic habitus, devaluing the journalistic capital and eroding years’ worth of professionalization progress.
Hong Kong protests: A quantitative and bottom-up account of resistance against Chinese social media (sina weibo) censorship
Authors: Zhao Jingyi
Published: June 2017

Chinese online censorship, though has been deeply explored by many scholars from a top-down perspective and has mostly concentrated on the macro level, it appears that there are few, if any, existing studies that features a bottom-up perspective and explores the micro-level aspects of online media censorship. To fill this research gap, this article uses the Occupy movement in Hong Kong as a research case to analyze social media users’ resistance under conditions of heavy censorship from a bottom-up perspective. That is, the research questions seek to uncover what novel ways Weibo users use to try and circumvent Weibo censorship. It is confirmed that the microbloggers tend to use embedded pictures and user ID names, instead of using text messages to camouflage the sensitive information to share with other users; that Weibo users tend to create new accounts once their original ones have been closed or monitored.
Media and communication in Asia in early 21st century: Changes, continuities, and challenges
Authors: Liu Jun , Sandvik Kjetil , Mortensen Christian Hviid
Published: June 2017

Asia has some of the largest, most dynamic, diversified, and complicated media industries in the world (McKinsey & Company, 2015). Entering the 21st Century, the rapid economic and political developments of Asia further energize the growth of media locally and globally (for general discussion, see, e.g., Keane [2006]; Thussu [2006], specific discussions on the cases of Korea [Kim, 2013], Japan [Iwabuchi, 2004], China [Sun, 2009]). In a reflection on the increasing importance of Asian players in global communication industry, Keane describes that “Asianness is colonizing international communications markets” (2006: 839-840) with the impacts ranging from the production of hardware (i.e., East Asian technology) to content (e.g., Japanese manga, anime and TV formats and South Korean popular culture) and from the cross-over of directors and actors from Asia to Hollywood and the world. Yet, a lack of timely understanding of media and communication in a fast-changing Asia is hindering not only our interpretation of the significance of media in social transformation in Asia, but also the efforts to de-westernize (e.g., Park & Curran, 2000; Wang, 2010) or internationalize communication studies (Lee, 2014).
Crossing the Lines of Caste: Viśvāmitra and the Construction of Brahmin Power in Hindu Mythology. By Adheesh A. Sathaye
Authors: Bailey Greg
Published: June 2017

Crossing the Lines of Caste: Viśvāmitra and the Construction of Brahmin Power in Hindu Mythology. By Adheesh A. Sathaye. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015. Pp. xxii + 310. $99 (cloth); $35 (paper).
Ancient Near East: The Basics. By Daniel C. Snell
Authors: Podany Amanda H.
Published: June 2017

Ancient Near East: The Basics. By Daniel C. Snell. London: Routldege, 2013. Pp. xiii + 161, illus. $21.95 (paper).
Women in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Edited by Mark W. Chavalas
Authors: Budin Stephanie Lynn
Published: June 2017

Women in the Ancient Near East: A Sourcebook. Edited by Mark W. Chavalas. Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World. London: Routledge, 2014. Pp. xii + 319. $43.95 (paper).
Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History. By Trevor Bryce
Authors: Chavalas Mark W.
Published: June 2017

Ancient Syria: A Three Thousand Year History. By Trevor Bryce. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. Pp. xiv + 379, illus. $50.
Draʿ Abu El-Naga I: Eindrücke Grabkegel als Elemente thebanischer Grabarchitektur. By Elisabeth Kruck
Authors: Theis Christoffer
Published: June 2017

Draʿ Abu El-Naga I: Eindrücke Grabkegel als Elemente thebanischer Grabarchitektur. By Elisabeth Kruck. Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Kairo, Archäologische Veröffentlichungen, vol. 124. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2012. Pp. 167, 10 plates. €98.
The behavior of iron and zinc stable isotopes accompanying the subduction of mafic oceanic crust: A case study from Western Alpine ophiolites
Authors: Inglis Edward C. , Debret Baptiste , Burton Kevin W. , Millet Marc‐Alban , Pons Marie‐Laure , Dale Christopher W. , Bouilhol Pierre , Cooper Matthew , Nowell Geoff M. , McCoy‐West Alex J. , Williams Helen M.
Published: June 2017

Arc lavas display elevated Fe3+/ΣFe ratios relative to MORB. One mechanism to explain this is the mobilization and transfer of oxidized or oxidizing components from the subducting slab to the mantle wedge. Here we use iron and zinc isotopes, which are fractionated upon complexation by sulfide, chloride, and carbonate ligands, to remark on the chemistry and oxidation state of fluids released during prograde metamorphism of subducted oceanic crust. We present data for metagabbros and metabasalts from the Chenaillet massif, Queyras complex, and the Zermatt‐Saas ophiolite (Western European Alps), which have been metamorphosed at typical subduction zone P‐T conditions and preserve their prograde metamorphic history. There is no systematic, detectable fractionation of either Fe or Zn isotopes across metamorphic facies, rather the isotope composition of the eclogites overlaps with published data for MORB. The lack of resolvable Fe isotope fractionation with increasing prograde metamorphism likely reflects the mass balance of the system, and in this scenario Fe mobility is not traceable with Fe isotopes. Given that Zn isotopes are fractionated by S‐bearing and C‐bearing fluids, this suggests that relatively small amounts of Zn are mobilized from the mafic lithologies in within these types of dehydration fluids. Conversely, metagabbros from the Queyras that are in proximity to metasediments display a significant Fe isotope fractionation. The covariation of δ56Fe of these samples with selected fluid mobile elements suggests the infiltration of sediment derived fluids with an isotopically light signature during subduction.
A reflecting, steepening, and breaking internal tide in a submarine canyon
Authors: Alberty M. S. , Billheimer S. , Hamann M. M. , Ou C. Y. , Tamsitt V. , Lucas A. J. , Alford M. H.
Published: June 2017

Submarine canyons are common features of the coastal ocean. Although they are known to be hotspots of turbulence that enhance diapycnal transport in their stratified waters, the dynamics of canyon mixing processes are poorly understood. Most studies of internal wave dynamics within canyons have focused on a handful of canyons with along‐axis slopes less steep than semidiurnal (D2) internal wave characteristics (subcritical). Here, we present the first tidally resolving observations within a canyon with a steeply sloping axis (supercritical). A process study consisting of two 24 h shipboard stations and a profiling mooring was conducted in the La Jolla Canyon off the coast of La Jolla, CA. Baroclinic energy flux is oriented up‐canyon and decreases from 182 ±18 W m−1 at the canyon mouth to
W m−1 near the head. The ratio of horizontal kinetic energy to available potential energy and the observed group speed of each mode are lower than expected for freely propagating D2 internal waves at each station, indicating partial reflection. Harmonic analysis reveals that variance is dominated by the D2 tide. Moving up‐canyon, the relative importance of D2 decreases and its higher harmonics are needed to account for a majority of the observed variance, indicating steepening. Steep internal tides cause large isopycnal displacements (∼50 m in 100 m water depth) and high strain events. These events coincide with enhanced O(
m2 s−3) dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy at mid‐depths.
Impact of data assimilation on Eulerian versus Lagrangian estimates of upper ocean transport
Authors: Sperrevik Ann Kristin , Röhrs Johannes , Christensen Kai Håkon
Published: June 2017

Using four‐dimensional variational analysis, we produce an estimate of the state of a coastal region in Northern Norway during the late winter and spring in 1984. We use satellite sea surface temperature and in situ observations from a series of intensive field campaigns, and obtain a more realistic distribution of water masses both in the horizontal and the vertical than a pure downscaling approach can achieve. Although the distribution of Eulerian surface current speeds are similar, we find that they are more variable and less dependent on model bathymetry in our reanalysis compared to a hindcast produced using the same modeling system. Lagrangian drift currents on the other hand are significantly changed, with overall higher kinetic energy levels in the reanalysis than in the hindcast, particularly in the superinertial frequency band.
An intercomparison of multidecadal observational and reanalysis data sets for global total ozone trends and variability analysis
Authors: Bai Kaixu , Chang Ni‐Bin , Shi Runhe , Yu Huijia , Gao Wei
Published: June 2017

A four‐step adaptive ozone trend estimation scheme is proposed by integrating multivariate linear regression (MLR) and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) to analyze the long‐term variability of total column ozone from a set of four observational and reanalysis total ozone data sets, including the rarely explored ERA‐Interim total ozone reanalysis, from 1979 to 2009. Consistency among the four data sets was first assessed, indicating a mean relative difference of 1% and root‐mean‐square error around 2% on average, with respect to collocated ground‐based total ozone observations. Nevertheless, large drifts with significant spatiotemporal inhomogeneity were diagnosed in ERA‐Interim after 1995. To emphasize long‐term trends, natural ozone variations associated with the solar cycle, quasi‐biennial oscillation, volcanic aerosols, and El Niño–Southern Oscillation were modeled with MLR and then removed from each total ozone record, respectively, before performing EEMD analyses. The resulting rates of change estimated from the proposed scheme captured the long‐term ozone variability well, with an inflection time of 2000 clearly detected. The positive rates of change after 2000 suggest that the ozone layer seems to be on a healing path, but the results are still inadequate to conclude an actual recovery of the ozone layer, and more observational evidence is needed. Further investigations suggest that biases embedded in total ozone records may significantly impact ozone trend estimations by resulting in large uncertainty or even negative rates of change after 2000.
Near‐surface turbulence as a missing link in modeling evapotranspiration‐soil moisture relationships
Authors: Haghighi Erfan , Kirchner James W.
Published: June 2017

Despite many efforts to develop evapotranspiration (ET) models with improved parametrizations of resistance terms for water vapor transfer into the atmosphere, estimates of ET and its partitioning remain prone to bias. Much of this bias could arise from inadequate representations of physical interactions near nonuniform surfaces from which localized heat and water vapor fluxes emanate. This study aims to provide a mechanistic bridge from land‐surface characteristics to vertical transport predictions, and proposes a new physically based ET model that builds on a recently developed bluff‐rough bare soil evaporation model incorporating coupled soil moisture‐atmospheric controls. The newly developed ET model explicitly accounts for (1) near‐surface turbulent interactions affecting soil drying and (2) soil‐moisture‐dependent stomatal responses to atmospheric evaporative demand that influence leaf (and canopy) transpiration. Model estimates of ET and its partitioning were in good agreement with available field‐scale data, and highlight hidden processes not accounted for by commonly used ET schemes. One such process, nonlinear vegetation‐induced turbulence (as a function of vegetation stature and cover fraction) significantly influences ET‐soil moisture relationships. Our results are particularly important for water resources and land use planning of semiarid sparsely vegetated ecosystems where soil surface interactions are known to play a critical role in land‐climate interactions. This study potentially facilitates a mathematically tractable description of the strength (i.e., the slope) of the ET‐soil moisture relationship, which is a core component of models that seek to predict land‐atmosphere coupling and its feedback to the climate system in a changing climate.
Observed correlation between the depth to base and top of gas hydrate occurrence from review of global drilling data
Authors: Riedel M. , Collett T. S.
Published: June 2017

A global inventory of data from gas hydrate drilling expeditions is used to develop relationships between the base of structure I gas hydrate stability, top of gas hydrate occurrence, sulfate‐methane transition depth, pressure (water depth), and geothermal gradients. The motivation of this study is to provide first‐order estimates of the top of gas hydrate occurrence and associated thickness of the gas hydrate occurrence zone for climate‐change scenarios, global carbon budget analyses, or gas hydrate resource assessments. Results from publically available drilling campaigns (21 expeditions and 52 drill sites) off Cascadia, Blake Ridge, India, Korea, South China Sea, Japan, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Gulf of Mexico, and Borneo reveal a first‐order linear relationship between the depth to the top and base of gas hydrate occurrence. The reason for these nearly linear relationships is believed to be the strong pressure and temperature dependence of methane solubility in the absence of large difference in thermal gradients between the various sites assessed. In addition, a statistically robust relationship was defined between the thickness of the gas hydrate occurrence zone and the base of gas hydrate stability (in meters below seafloor). The relationship developed is able to predict the depth of the top of gas hydrate occurrence zone using observed depths of the base of gas hydrate stability within less than 50 m at most locations examined in this study. No clear correlation of the depth to the top and base of gas hydrate occurrences with geothermal gradient and sulfate‐methane transition depth was identified.
Joint Sentinel‐1 and SMAP data assimilation to improve soil moisture estimates
Authors: Lievens H. , Reichle R. H. , Liu Q. , De Lannoy G. J. M. , Dunbar R. S. , Kim S. B. , Das N. N. , Cosh M. , Walker J. P. , Wagner W.
Published: June 2017

SMAP (Soil Moisture Active and Passive) radiometer observations at ∼40 km resolution are routinely assimilated into the NASA Catchment Land Surface Model to generate the 9 km SMAP Level‐4 Soil Moisture product. This study demonstrates that adding high‐resolution radar observations from Sentinel‐1 to the SMAP assimilation can increase the spatiotemporal accuracy of soil moisture estimates. Radar observations were assimilated either separately from or simultaneously with radiometer observations. Assimilation impact was assessed by comparing 3‐hourly, 9 km surface and root‐zone soil moisture simulations with in situ measurements from 9 km SMAP core validation sites and sparse networks, from May 2015 to December 2016. The Sentinel‐1 assimilation consistently improved surface soil moisture, whereas root‐zone impacts were mostly neutral. Relatively larger improvements were obtained from SMAP assimilation. The joint assimilation of SMAP and Sentinel‐1 observations performed best, demonstrating the complementary value of radar and radiometer observations.
Episodic surface intrusions in the Yellow Sea during relaxation of northerly winds
Authors: Hu Zifeng , Wang Dong‐Ping , He Xianqiang , Li Mingting , Wei Jun , Pan Delu , Bai Yan
Published: June 2017

The surface currents over the Yellow and East China Seas are mapped from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI). Based on a composite of six intrusion events in January–April, the strong northward surface current in the Yellow Sea is shown to be concentrated along the deep trough, accompanied by a broad northward surface current over the East China Sea. From the corresponding surface winds, the episodic northward surface flow bursts appear to be associated with abrupt changes from the strong northerly winds to weak southerly winds during cold front passages. A three‐dimensional model driven with observed surface winds is used to simulate the observed shelf‐wide response to northerly winds. There is an outstanding agreement between the simulated and observed surface currents. The surface intrusion in the Yellow Sea is shown to be driven primarily by a barotropic longitudinal surface slope, while the strong northward current in the East China Sea is associated with a coastal trapped wave. Moreover, the surface intrusion is associated with a large volume transport, suggesting that the transient intrusions could be important in the northward heat transport. The unprecedented capability of GOCI satellite in providing a regional circulation pattern, in conjunction with complementary model simulations, could contribute greatly to understanding of the dynamics of the Yellow and East China Seas.
Tertiary evolution of the Shimanto belt (Japan): A large‐scale collision in Early Miocene
Authors: Raimbourg Hugues , Famin Vincent , Palazzin Giulia , Yamaguchi Asuka , Augier Romain
Published: June 2017

To decipher the Miocene evolution of the Shimanto belt of southwestern Japan, structural and paleothermal studies were carried out in the western area of Shikoku Island. All units constituting the belt, both in its Cretaceous and Tertiary domains, are in average strongly dipping to the NW or SE, while shortening directions deduced from fault kinematics are consistently orientated NNW‐SSE. Peak paleotemperatures estimated with Raman spectra of organic matter increase strongly across the southern, Tertiary portion of the belt, in tandem with the development of a steeply dipping metamorphic cleavage. Near the southern tip of Ashizuri Peninsula, the unconformity between accreted strata and fore‐arc basin, present along the whole belt, corresponds to a large paleotemperature gap, supporting the occurrence of a major collision in Early Miocene. This tectonic event occurred before the magmatic event that affected the whole belt at ~15 Ma. The associated shortening was accommodated in two opposite modes, either localized on regional‐scale faults such as the Nobeoka Tectonic Line in Kyushu or distributed through the whole belt as in Shikoku. The reappraisal of this collision leads to reinterpret large‐scale seismic refraction profiles of the margins, where the unit underlying the modern accretionary prism is now attributed to an older package of deformed and accreted sedimentary units belonging to the Shimanto belt. When integrated into reconstructions of Philippine Sea Plate motion, the collision corresponds to the oblique collision of a paleo Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana Arc with Japan in Early Miocene.
Low‐Cost Zeta Potentiometry Using Solute Gradients
Authors: Shin Sangwoo , Ault Jesse T. , Feng Jie , Warren Patrick B. , Stone Howard A.
Published: June 2017

The zeta potential is an electric potential in the Debye screening layer of an electrolyte, which represents a key physicochemical surface property in various fields ranging from electrochemistry to pharmaceuticals. Thus, characterizing the zeta potential is essential for many applications, but available measurement techniques are limited. Electrophoretic light scattering is typically used to measure the zeta potential of particles in suspension, whereas zeta potential measurements of a solid wall in solution rely on either streaming potential or electroosmotic mobility measurement techniques, both of which are expensive and sophisticated. Here, a simple, robust method to simultaneously measure the zeta potential of particles in suspension and solid walls is presented. The method uses solute gradients to induce particle and fluid motions via diffusiophoresis and diffusioosmosis, respectively, which are both sensitive to the zeta potential of the particle and the wall. By visualizing the particle dynamics, both zeta potentials can be determined independently. Finally, a compact microscope is used to demonstrate low‐cost zeta potentiometry that allows measurement of both particle and wall zeta potentials, which suggests a cost‐effective tool for pharmaceuticals as well as for educational purposes.
Printed Nonvolatile Resistive Memories Based on a Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Functional Ink
Authors: Casula Giulia , Tkacz‐Szczesna Beata , Busby Yan , Ranoszek‐Soliwoda Katarzyna , Tomaszewska Emilia , Celichowski Grzegorz , Grobelny Jaroslaw , Pireaux Jean‐Jacques , Cosseddu Piero , Bonfiglio Annalisa
Published: June 2017

Organic memories are increasingly being considered as promising candidates for a number of novel consumer applications, such as smart labels and smart packaging devices. Indeed, organic memories can be fabricated on highly flexible substrates at low temperatures from liquid phase, employing for instance printing techniques. In this work, a nonvolatile resistive memory element conceived for large‐area processing and operation in ambient conditions is presented. In particular, a functional ink made out of an air stable organic semiconductor, namely ActivInk N1400, and gold nanoparticles (NPs) is developed and optimized for the fabrication of high performance memories through inkjet printing. The ink formulation is varied in order to explore the influence of Au NPs concentration on the switching behavior. Devices are operated in ambient conditions with reproducible memory behavior, high ON/OFF current ratios, and low programming voltages. In depth material analysis with time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiles are carried out on operated devices to shine a light on resistive switching mechanism and to determine the average gold content and its 3D distribution in stable memories.
Preparation of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with poly (styrene‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl propanesulfonic acid) as novel adsorbents for removal of pharmaceuticals from aqueous solutions
Authors: Hayasi Mozhgan , Saadatjoo Naghi
Published: June 2017

This work describes the removal of three pharmaceuticals, namely ceftriaxone sodium (CFX), diclofenac sodium (DCF) and atenolol (ATN) from water using magnetic poly (styrene‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl propanesulfonic acid) (St‐AMPS) adsorbent. This adsorbent was characterized by several techniques such as FTIR, TEM, TGA, VSM and DLS. Three kinetic models, pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order and intra‐particle diffusion models were used to study the adsorption kinetics. The results showed that the adsorption kinetics of pharmaceuticals onto magnetic poly (St‐AMPS) adsorbent followed the pseudo‐second‐order model and were relatively rapid. In addition, it was found that the intra‐particle diffusion was not the sole rate‐controlling step and the adsorption of pharmaceuticals onto adsorbent occurred via two steps adsorption process. The experimental data were fitted with three isotherm models including Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin‐Radushkevich (D‐R). It was found that the adsorption of pharmaceuticals onto magnetic poly (St‐AMPS) nanoparticles was the best described by the Langmuir model. Maximum adsorption capacities of 150.602, 47.824 and 119.904 mg/g were obtained for DCF, ATN and CFX, respectively. Also the obtained free energy from D‐R isotherm (6.19, 4.93 and 6.45 kJ/mol for DCF, ATN and CFX respectively) indicated that the adsorption process was a physiosorption. Magnetic poly (St‐AMPS) adsorbent could be recycled for removal of CFX, DCF and ATN by alkaline aqueous solution (pH 8). Therefore, this adsorbent can act as a promising adsorbent for water treatment processes.
Eco‐Friendly Solvent‐Processed Fullerene‐Free Polymer Solar Cells with over 9.7% Efficiency and Long‐Term Performance Stability
Authors: Park Gi Eun , Choi Suna , Park Seo Yeon , Lee Dae Hee , Cho Min Ju , Choi Dong Hoon
Published: June 2017

A wide‐bandgap polymer, (poly[(2,6‐(4,8‐bis(5‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophen‐2‐yl)‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene))‐alt‐(2,5‐(methyl thiophene carboxylate))]) (3MT‐Th), is synthesized to obtain a complementary broad range absorption when harmonized with 3,9‐bis(2‐methylene‐(3‐(1,1‐dicyanomethylene)‐indanone))‐5,5,11,11‐tetrakis(4‐hexylphenyl)‐dithieno[2,3‐d:2′,3′‐d′]‐s‐indaceno[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene (ITIC). The synthesized regiorandom 3MT‐Th polymer shows good solubility in nonhalogenated solvents. A film of 3MT‐Th:ITIC can be employed for forming an active layer in a polymer solar cell (PSC), with the blend solution containing toluene with 0.25% diphenylether as a nonhalogenated additive. The corresponding PSC devices display a power conversion efficiency of 9.73%. Moreover, the 3MT‐Th‐based PSCs exhibit excellent shelf‐life time of over 1000 h and are operationally stable under continuous light illumination. Therefore, methyl thiophene‐3‐carboxylate in 3MT‐Th is a promising new accepting unit for constructing p‐type polymers used for high‐performance nonfullerene‐type PSCs.
Prediction of thermodynamic properties of aqueous electrolyte solutions using equation of state
Authors: Shahriari Reza , Dehghani Mohammad Reza
Published: June 2017

In this study, a predictive model is presented for estimation of second order thermodynamic properties of electrolyte solutions. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding, the capability of modified electrolyte PC‐SAFT up to high pressure and temperature has been studied. In addition to the first order derivative thermodynamic properties, the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and heat capacity of aqueous electrolyte solutions at infinite dilution are predicted. Using new methodology, the dielectric constant is modified to keep the pressure, temperature, and ionic strength dependency. Our results show that the Born term has a significant contribution on prediction of second order derivative properties. Meanwhile the impact of temperature‐dependent solution dielectric constant on standard state heat capacity is studied. Finally, the isobaric heat capacity at various salt concentrations is predicted without any adjustable parameters. The results of this work indicate an acceptable agreement with experimental data especially at high pressure and temperature. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017
Clinical and molecular genetic characterization of two siblings with trisomy 2p24.3‐pter and monosomy 5p14.3‐pter
Authors: Fukushi Daisuke , Kurosawa Kenji , Suzuki Yasuyo , Suzuki Kaoru , Yamada Kenichiro , Watanabe Seiji , Yokochi Kenji , Wakamatsu Nobuaki
Published: June 2017

Partial trisomy 2p syndrome is occasionally associated with neural tube defects (NTDs), such as anencephaly, encephalocele, and spina bifida, in addition to common features of intellectual disability, developmental delay, and characteristic facial appearance. The 2p24 region has been reported to be associated with NTDs. Here, we report the cases of 2 siblings with trisomy 2p24.3‐pter and monosomy 5p14.3‐pter caused by the paternal translocation t(2;5)(p24.3;p14.3). Of the two siblings, the elder sister had spina bifida. We determined the nucleotide sequences of the chromosomal breakpoints and found that the sizes of trisomy 2p and monosomy 5p segments were 18.77 and 17.89 Mb, respectively. NTDs were present in four of seven previously reported patients with trisomy 2p and monosomy 5p as well as in one of the two patients examined in the present study. Although the monosomy 5p of the nine patients were similar in size, the two patients reported here had the smallest size of trisomy 2p. When the clinical features of the nine patients were compared to the present two patients, the elder sister had postaxial polydactyly of the left foot in addition to the characteristic facial appearance and spina bifida, indicating that these features were associated with trisomy 2p24.3‐pter. To our knowledge, this is the first study on spina bifida to determine the nucleotide sequences of breakpoints for trisomy 2p24.3‐pter and monosomy 5p14.3‐pter. Increased gene dosages of dosage‐sensitive genes or genes at the trisomy segment (2p24.3) of the presented patients could be associated with NTDs of patients with trisomy 2p.
Sinus hypoplasia in the cystic fibrosis rat resolves in the absence of chronic infection
Authors: Grayson Jessica , Tipirneni Kiranya E. , Skinner Daniel F. , Fort Matthew , Cho Do‐Yeon , Zhang Shaoyan , Prince Andrew C. , Lim Dong‐Jin , Mackey Calvin , Woodworth Bradford A.
Published: June 2017

Background

Sinus hypoplasia is a hallmark characteristic in cystic fibrosis (CF). Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is nearly universal from a young age, impaired sinus development could be secondary to loss of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) or consequences of chronic infection during maturation. The objective of this study was to assess sinus development relative to overall growth in a novel CF animal model.

Methods

Sinus development was evaluated in CFTR−/− and CFTR+/+ rats at 3 stages of development: newborn; 3 weeks; and 16 weeks. Microcomputed tomography (microCT) scanning, cultures, and histology were performed. Three‐dimensional sinus and skull volumes were quantified.

Results

At birth, sinus volumes were decreased in CFTR−/− rats compared with wild‐type rats (mean ± SEM: 11.3 ± 0.85 mm3 vs 14.5 ± 0.73 mm3; p < 0.05), despite similar weights (8.4 ± 0.46 gm vs 8.3 ± 0.51 gm; p = 0.86). CF rat weights declined by 16 weeks (378.4 ± 10.6 gm vs 447.4 ± 15.9 gm; p < 0.05), sinus volume increased similar to wild‐type rats (201.1 ± 3.77 gm vs 203.4 ± 7.13 gm; p = 0.8). The ratio of sinus volume to body weight indicates hypoplasia present at birth (1.37 ± 0.12 vs 1.78 ± 0.11; p < 0.05) and showed an increase compared with CFTR+/+ animals by 16 weeks (0.53 ± 0.02 vs 0.46 ± 0.02; p < 0.05). Rats did not develop histologic evidence of chronic infection.

Conclusion

CF rat sinuses are smaller at birth, but develop volumes similar to wild‐type rats with maturation. This suggests that loss of CFTR may confer sinus hypoplasia at birth, but normal development ensues without chronic sinus infection.
Controlled Growth of Monocrystalline Organo‐Lead Halide Perovskite and Its Application in Photonic Devices
Authors: Mao Wenxin , Zheng Jialu , Zhang Yupeng , Chesman Anthony S. R. , Ou Qingdong , Hicks Jamie , Li Feng , Wang Ziyu , Graystone Brenton , Bell Toby D. M. , Rothmann Mathias Uller , Duffy Noel W. , Spiccia Leone , Cheng Yi‐Bing , Bao Qiaoliang , Bach Udo
Published: June 2017

Organo‐lead halide perovskites (OHPs) have recently emerged as a new class of exceptional optoelectronic materials, which may find use in many applications, including solar cells, light emitting diodes, and photodetectors. More complex applications, such as lasers and electro‐optic modulators, require the use of monocrystalline perovskite materials to reach their ultimate performance levels. Conventional methods for forming single crystals of OHPs like methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3) afford limited control over the product morphology, rendering the assembly of defined microcavity nanostructures difficult. We overcame this by synthesizing for the first time (MA)[PbBr3]⋅DMF (1), and demonstrating its facile transformation into monocrystalline MAPbBr3 microplatelets. The MAPbBr3 microplatelets were tailored into waveguide based photonic devices, of which an ultra‐low propagation loss of 0.04 dB μm−1 for a propagation distance of 100 μm was demonstrated. An efficient active electro‐optical modulator (AEOM) consisting of a MAPbBr3 non‐linear arc waveguide was demonstrated, exhibiting a 98.4 % PL intensity modulation with an external voltage of 45 V. This novel synthetic approach, as well as the demonstration of effective waveguiding, will pave the way for developing a wide range of photonic devices based on organo‐lead halide perovskites.
Nanoscale Chemical Imaging of Interfacial Monolayers by Tip‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Shao Feng , Müller Vivian , Zhang Yao , Schlüter A. Dieter , Zenobi Renato
Published: June 2017

We report an investigation of interfacial fluorinated hydrocarbon (carboxylic‐fantrip) monolayers by nanoscale imaging using tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing TERS images of a sub‐monolayer prepared by spin‐coating and a π–π‐stacked monolayer on Au(111) in which the molecular orientation is confined, specific Raman peaks shift and line widths narrow in the transferred LB monolayer. Based on DFT calculations that take into account dispersion corrections and surface selection rules, these specific effects are proposed to originate from π–π stacking and molecular orientation restriction. TERS shows the possibility to distinguish between a random and locked orientation with a spatial resolution of less than 10 nm. This work combines experimental TERS imaging with theoretical DFT calculations and opens up the possibility of studying molecular orientations and intermolecular interaction at the nanoscale and molecular level.
Activation‐Dependent Breathing in a Flexible Metal–Organic Framework and the Effects of Repeated Sorption/Desorption Cycling
Authors: Engel Emile R. , Jouaiti Abdelaziz , Bezuidenhout Charl X. , Hosseini Mir Wais , Barbour Leonard J.
Published: June 2017

A non‐interpenetrated metal–organic framework with a paddle‐wheel secondary building unit has been activated by direct thermal evacuation, guest exchange with a volatile solvent, and supercritical CO2 drying. Conventional thermal activation yields a mixture of crystalline phases and some amorphous content. Exchange with a volatile solvent prior to vacuum activation produces a pure breathing phase with high sorption capacity, selectivity for CO2 over N2 and CH4, and substantial hysteresis. Supercritical drying can be used to access a guest‐free open phase. Pressure‐resolved differential scanning calorimetry was used to confirm and investigate a systematic loss of sorption capacity by the breathing phase as a function of successive cycles of sorption and desorption. A corresponding loss of sample integrity was not detectable by powder X‐ray diffraction analysis. This may be an important factor to consider in cases where flexible MOFs are earmarked for industrial applications.
Iridium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Allylic Substitution of Aliphatic Esters with Silyl Ketene Acetals as the Ester Enolates
Authors: Jiang Xingyu , Hartwig John F.
Published: June 2017

Enantioselective allylic substitution with enolates derived from aliphatic esters under mild conditions remains challenging. Herein we report iridium‐catalyzed enantioselective allylation reactions of silyl ketene acetals, the silicon enolates of esters, to form products containing a quaternary carbon atom at the nucleophile moiety and a tertiary carbon atom at the electrophile moiety. Under relatively neutral conditions, the allylated aliphatic esters were obtained with excellent regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. These products were readily converted into primary alcohols, carboxylic acids, amides, isocyanates, and carbamates, as well as tetrahydrofuran and γ‐butyrolactone derivatives, without erosion of enantiomeric purity.
DNA‐Hydrogele aus Plasmid‐DNA
Authors: Nöll Tanja , Wenderhold‐Reeb Sabine , Schönherr Holger , Nöll Gilbert
Published: June 2017

DNA‐Hydrogele sind aufgrund ihrer Biokompatibilität und ihrer biologischen Abbaubarkeit für verschiedene biomedizinische Anwendungen von großem Interesse. Bisher werden DNA‐Hydrogele aus synthetischen Bausteinen hergestellt, was mit hohen Kosten verbunden ist. Als Alternative wird hier die Herstellung von DNA‐Hydrogelen aus Plasmid‐DNA beschrieben. Plasmid‐DNA kann durch Fermentation in großem Maßstab hergestellt werden. Die gewünschten linearen DNA‐Bausteine werden dann durch enzymatischen Verdau erhalten. Die Gelierung erfolgt durch die Ausbildung kovalenter Bindungen zwischen einzelnen Bausteinen durch enzymatische Ligation. Hier wird zum ersten Mal die Herstellung reiner DNA‐Hydrogele aus Plasmid‐DNA vorgestellt. Rheologische Untersuchungen bestätigen, dass die so hergestellten DNA‐Hydrogele Speichermoduli von G′ >100 Pa besitzen.
Energy Transfer between Spatially Separated Entangled Molecules
Authors: Zhong Xiaolan , Chervy Thibault , Zhang Lei , Thomas Anoop , George Jino , Genet Cyriaque , Hutchison James A. , Ebbesen Thomas W.
Published: June 2017

Light–matter strong coupling allows for the possibility of entangling the wave functions of different molecules through the light field. We hereby present direct evidence of non‐radiative energy transfer well beyond the Förster limit for spatially separated donor and acceptor cyanine dyes strongly coupled to a cavity. The transient dynamics and the static spectra show an energy transfer efficiency approaching 37 % for donor–acceptor distances ≥100 nm. In such systems, the energy transfer process becomes independent of distance as long as the coupling strength is maintained. This is consistent with the entangled and delocalized nature of the polaritonic states.
Pristine DNA Hydrogels from Biotechnologically Derived Plasmid DNA
Authors: Nöll Tanja , Wenderhold‐Reeb Sabine , Schönherr Holger , Nöll Gilbert
Published: June 2017

DNA hydrogels are of great interest for a variety of biomedical applications owing to their biocompatibility and biodegradability but the advantages of DNA hydrogels have not been exploited yet because of their limited availability. Thus far, DNA hydrogels have been prepared from synthetically derived building blocks, and their production on large scale would be far too expensive. As an alternative, here the generation of DNA hydrogels from plasmid DNA is reported. Plasmid DNA can be prepared on large scale at reasonable costs by a fermentation process. The desired linear DNA building blocks are then obtained from the plasmid DNA by enzymatic digestion. Gel formation is carried out by covalent bond formation between individual building blocks via enzymatic ligation. The generation of pristine DNA hydrogels from plasmid DNA is thus presented for the first time. The viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels were studied by rheology, which confirmed that the gels have storage moduli G′ of >100 Pa.
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Induces Inflammation and Predicts Spinal Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Ranganathan Vidya , Ciccia Francesco , Zeng Fanxing , Sari Ismail , Guggino Guiliana , Muralitharan Janogini , Gracey Eric , Haroon Nigil
Published: June 2017

Objective

To investigate the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

Patients who met the modified New York criteria for AS were recruited for the study. Healthy volunteers, rheumatoid arthritis patients, and osteoarthritis patients were included as controls. Based on the annual rate of increase in modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS), AS patients were classified as progressors or nonprogressors. MIF levels in serum and synovial fluid were quantitated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Predictors of AS progression were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of ileal tissue was performed to identify MIF‐producing cells. Flow cytometry was used to identify MIF‐producing subsets, expression patterns of the MIF receptor (CD74), and MIF‐induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production in the peripheral blood. MIF‐induced mineralization of osteoblast cells (SaOS‐2) was analyzed by alizarin red S staining, and Western blotting was used to quantify active β‐catenin levels.

Results

Baseline serum MIF levels were significantly elevated in AS patients compared to healthy controls and were found to independently predict AS progression. MIF levels were higher in the synovial fluid of AS patients, and MIF‐producing macrophages and Paneth cells were enriched in their gut. MIF induced TNF production in monocytes, activated β‐catenin in osteoblasts, and promoted the mineralization of osteoblasts.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate an unexplored pathogenic role of MIF in AS and a link between inflammation and new bone formation.
Three‐Dimensional Impact Angle Constrained Guidance Laws with Fixed‐Time Convergence
Authors: Gao Jiwei , Cai Yuan‐Li
Published: June 2017

In this paper, three dimensional coupled engagement dynamics are firstly transformed into a state‐space form without decoupling three dimensional engagement dynamics into two mutually orthogonal planes to avoid degrading the performance of the guidance law. Specially, fixed‐time guidance laws are proposed to guarantee that the line‐of‐sight (LOS) angular rates can be steered to zero before the final time of the guidance process at the same time. The exact convergence time can be set beforehand with respect to the LOS rates, and it is independent of initial conditions with respect to the guidance system. Moreover, impact angle constraint is taken into account, and these guidance laws are robust against maneuvering targets by sliding mode techniques. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Distributed State Estimation of Smart Grids with Packet Losses
Authors: Rana Md Masud , Li Li , Su Steven W.
Published: June 2017

This paper explores the problem of distributed state estimation including packet losses for the environment‐friendly renewable microgrid incorporating electricity generating circuits. The problem is becoming critical due to the global warming, increasing green house gas emissions, and practical infeasibility with computational burden of the large‐scale centralized power system monitoring. To address the impending problem, a novel distributed state estimation algorithm is derived in the context of smart grids. Specifically, after modelling the microgrid, this paper proposes a local state estimation algorithm considering packet losses. Then a novel optimal weighting factor calculation method for the global state estimation is proposed. Particularly, it can automatically adjust the optimal weighting factors for different sensor measurements based on the observation. Simulations results show that the desired state estimation accuracy is achieved.
Orange–Yellow Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complex for Solution‐processed Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes: Structural, Optical and Electroluminescent Properties of Bis(2‐phenylbenzothiazole)[2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole]iridium(III)
Authors: Kang Sung Kwon , Jeon Jinsil , Jin Sung‐Ho , Kim Young‐Inn
Published: June 2017

New orange–yellow phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complex, (bt)2Ir(btz), where btH = 2‐phenylbenzothiazole and btzH = 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole, was synthesized, and its structural, photophysical and electroluminescence properties were investigated to apply for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) applications. The coordination geometry around iridium metal ion was distorted octahedral, exhibiting cis‐C, C′ and trans‐N, N′ chelate dispositions with narrow ligand bite angles ranging from 79.7° (2) to 84.5° (1). The optical properties revealed that the π‐conjugated nature of bt ligand caused a bathochromic shift in emission and btz ligand played a role in fine color tuning. The synthesized (bt)2Ir(btz) was soluble in common organic solvents and the emitting layer was readily spin‐coated in chlorobenzene solution onto substrate. The OLED fabricated with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK:TCTA:OXD‐7: (bt)2Ir(btz) (32:32:28:8)/Bphen/LiF/Al exhibited a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 4.67% and a maximum luminance efficient (LE) of 8.61 cd/A with CIE (x, y) coordinates of (0.54,0.45).