bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical control of a single magnetoelastic domain structure on a clamped piezoelectric thin film—analysis
Authors: Liang Cheng-Yen , Keller Scott M. , Sepulveda Abdon E. , Sun Wei-Yang , Cui Jizhai , Lynch Christopher S. , Carman Gregory P.
Published: September 2014

This paper presents an analytical model coupling Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert micromagnetics with elastodynamics and electrostatics to model the response of a single domain magnetoelastic nano-element attached to a piezoelectric thin film (500 nm). The thin film piezoelectric is mounted on a Si substrate, globally clamping the film from in-plane extension or contraction. Local strain transfer to the magnetoelastic element is achieved using patterned electrodes. The system of equations is reduced to eight coupled partial differential equations as a function of voltage (V), magnetic potential ϕ, magnetic moments (m), and displacements (u), i.e., fully coupled material. The weak forms of the partial differential equations are solved using a finite element formulation. The problem of a Ni single domain structure (i.e., 150 nm × 120 nm × 10 nm) on a thin film (500 nm) piezoelectric transducer (PZT)-5H attached to an infinite substrate is studied. Discretization in the single domain structure is on the order of the exchange length (8.5 nm), providing spatial and temporal information on the local mechanical and magnetic fields. A −0.5 V potential is applied to a pair of surface electrodes, producing out-of-plane deformation and in turn straining the magnetoelastic single domain nanostructure in-plane. This strain is sufficient to reorient a single domain structure representative of an idealized memory element.
Direct first-principles simulation of a high-performance electron emitter: Lithium-oxide-coated diamond surface
Authors: Miyamoto Yoshiyuki , Miyazaki Takehide , Takeuchi Daisuke , Yamasaki Satoshi
Published: September 2014

We examined the field emission properties of lithium(Li)/oxygen(O)-co-terminated diamond (001) surface [C(001)-LiO] through real-time electron dynamics simulation under an applied field. The current emitted from this surface was found to be more than four-fold that emitted by an H-terminated (001) surface, the latter being a typical negative electron affinity system. This high performance is attributed to the Li layer, which bends the potential wall of O-induced electron pockets down in the direction of vacuum, thus facilitating electron emission. Detailed analysis of the emitted electrons and the profile of the self-consistent potential elucidated that the role of O atoms changes from an electron barrier on OH-terminated diamond surfaces to an outlet for electron emission on C(001)-LiO.
Multiphoton photoluminescence contrast in switched Mg:LiNbO3 and Mg:LiTaO3 single crystals
Authors: Reichenbach P. , Kämpfe T. , Thiessen A. , Haußmann A. , Woike T. , Eng L. M.
Published: September 2014

We observed a multiphoton luminescence contrast between virgin and single-switched domains in Mg-doped LiNbO3 (LNO) and LiTaO3 (LTO) single crystals with different doping levels of 0–7 mol. % and 0–8 mol. %, respectively. A luminescence contrast in the range of 3% was measured between as-grown and electrically inverted domain areas in Mg:LNO samples, while the contrast reaches values of up to 30% for the Mg:LTO case. Under annealing, an exponential decay of the domain contrast was observed. The activation energy of about 1 eV being determined for the decay allowed a comparison with reported activation energies of associated defects, clearly illustrating a strong connection between thermal contrast decay and the H+ and Li+-ion mobility. Finally, performing similar experiments on oxidized samples undoubtedly demonstrated that the origin of the reported luminescence contrast is strongly connected with lithium ions.
Step-edge-induced resistance anisotropy in quasi-free-standing bilayer chemical vapor deposition graphene on SiC
Authors: Ciuk Tymoteusz , Cakmakyapan Semih , Ozbay Ekmel , Caban Piotr , Grodecki Kacper , Krajewska Aleksandra , Pasternak Iwona , Szmidt Jan , Strupinski Wlodek
Published: September 2014

The transport properties of quasi-free-standing (QFS) bilayer graphene on SiC depend on a range of scattering mechanisms. Most of them are isotropic in nature. However, the SiC substrate morphology marked by a distinctive pattern of the terraces gives rise to an anisotropy in graphene's sheet resistance, which may be considered an additional scattering mechanism. At a technological level, the growth-preceding in situ etching of the SiC surface promotes step bunching which results in macro steps ∼10 nm in height. In this report, we study the qualitative and quantitative effects of SiC steps edges on the resistance of epitaxial graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition. We experimentally determine the value of step edge resistivity in hydrogen-intercalated QFS-bilayer graphene to be ∼190 Ωμm for step height hS = 10 nm and provide proof that it cannot originate from mechanical deformation of graphene but is likely to arise from lowered carrier concentration in the step area. Our results are confronted with the previously reported values of the step edge resistivity in monolayer graphene over SiC atomic steps. In our analysis, we focus on large-scale, statistical properties to foster the scalable technology of industrial graphene for electronics and sensor applications.
Modeling of dielectric elastomer as electromechanical resonator
Authors: Li Bo , Zhang Junshi , Liu Lei , Chen Hualing , Jia Shuhai , Li Dichen
Published: September 2014

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) feature nonlinear dynamics resulting from an electromechanical coupling. Under alternating voltage, the DE resonates with tunable performances. We present an analysis of the nonlinear dynamics of a DE as electromechanical resonator (DEER) configured as a pure shear actuator. A theoretical model is developed to characterize the complex performance under different boundary conditions. Physical mechanisms are presented and discussed. Chaotic behavior is also predicted, illustrating instabilities in the dynamics. The results provide a guide to the design and application of DEER in haptic devices.
Influence of Ni concentration on the crystallization of amorphous Si films and on the development of different Ni-silicide phases
Authors: Zanatta A. R. , Ingram D. C. , Kordesch M. E.
Published: September 2014

The crystallization mechanism was the subject of the present study which reports on the structure, and the Ni-silicide formation, of Si films containing different concentrations of Ni. The films were prepared by sputtering and were analyzed by compositional and structural characterization techniques. Additional information was obtained by thermal annealing the films up to 800 °C. The experimental results indicated that, in the as-deposited form, the films are amorphous, homogeneous, and with Ni contents in the ∼0–40 at. % range. Moreover, the development of Si and/or Ni-silicide crystalline structures was susceptible to factors like the Ni concentration, the annealing temperature and the annealing process (if cumulative or not, for example).
Exchange bias in UO2/Fe3O4 thin films above the Néel temperature of UO2
Authors: Tereshina E. A. , Bao Z. , Havela L. , Daniš S. , Kuebel C. , Gouder T. , Caciuffo R.
Published: September 2014

Magnetic exchange bias (EB) has been investigated on antiferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic heterostructures consisting of a stoichiometric UO2 film grown epitaxially on a LaAlO3 substrate and covered with highly textured Fe3O4 layers of variable thickness (tFe3O4 = 90–700 Å). EB values reaching ∼2.6 kOe were observed at lowest temperatures in UO2/Fe3O4 with the thinnest Fe3O4. Magnetization measurements demonstrate that a remarkably large exchange bias in UO2/Fe3O4 is present at temperatures higher than the bulk Néel temperature of UO2 (TN = 30.8 K). Our study reveals a complex nature of the effect: we suggest that it is provided both by strong exchange coupling between UO2 and Fe3O4 and by exchange biasing within magnetite (up to 25% of the total effect at 5 K in the UO2/Fe3O4 sample with the largest EB). The former can be caused by proximity effects of Fe3O4 on TN combined with a magnetic anisotropy of UO2, persisting above a continuous magnetic-ordering transformation. For magnetite, the results indicate the presence of pinned moments up to 120 K that correlates with the change in the easy magnetization axis of Fe3O4 across the Verwey transition.
The catalytic effect of lignite-CO2 gasification with K2CO3, alkali earth and transition metal salts as catalytic additives
Authors: Seo Seok Jin , Lee So Jung , Sohn Jung Min
Published: September 2014

In this study, the catalytic effects of impregnated catalysts of K2CO3, alkali earth, and transition metal salts in lignite-CO2 gasification were investigated. The gasification experiments were conducted over a temperature range of 800–900 °C at atmospheric pressure. Catalysts such as K2CO3, Ca(OH)2, CaCO3, Ce(NO3)3, and Fe(NO3)3 were impregnated on Mongolia coal using aqueous solutions in a rotary evaporator. The modified volumetric reaction model of the gas-solid reaction was applied to the experimental data to obtain kinetic information. The catalytic activity of single catalysts followed the sequence K2CO3 > Ca(OH)2 > CaCO3 > Fe(NO3)3 ≈ Ce(NO3)3. The reaction rate with K2CO3 can be enhanced by the addition of Ca(OH)2. The synergistic effect of K2CO3 4 wt. % + Ca(OH)2 1 wt. % exhibited the highest catalytic activity at 900 °C and the lowest activation energy.
Irradiation-induced grain growth in nanocrystalline reduced activation ferrite/martensite steel
Authors: Liu W. B. , Zhang C. , Ji Y. Z. , Yang Z. G. , Zang H. , Shen T. L. , Chen L. Q.
Published: September 2014

In this work, we investigate the microstructure evolution of surface-nanocrystallized reduced activation ferrite/martensite steels upon high-dose helium ion irradiation (24.3 dpa). We report a significant irradiation-induced grain growth in the irradiated buried layer at a depth of 300–500 nm, rather than at the peak damage region (at a depth of ∼840 nm). This phenomenon can be explained by the thermal spike model: minimization of the grain boundary (GB) curvature resulting from atomic diffusion in the cascade center near GBs.
A defiltration control method of pressurized liquid in zeolite ZSM-5 by silanol introduction
Authors: Sun Yueting , Lu Weiyi , Li Yibing
Published: September 2014

The defiltration performance of the zeolite ZSM-5/liquid system can be effectively modified by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) additive with various concentrations. The infiltration of NaOH aqueous solutions increases the density of silanol (Si-OH) groups on inner surface of the porous ZSM-5, converting the originally hydrophobic surface to hydrophilic and ceasing the liquid outflow. More importantly, the defiltration performance of the system can be adjusted independently without affecting the working pressure of the system. This unique infiltration associated hydrophobic-hydrophilic transition of nanopore surface leads the ZSM-5 based liquid system to an efficient energy absorption system instead of a super-elastic molecular spring.
Composició patrimonial i sintagmació / Vernacular Compounding and Syntagmatic Compounding
Authors: Sentí Andreu
Published: September 2014

This chapter focuses on both syntagmatic (i.e. a neologism made by following syntactic rules) and vernacular compounding (i.e. a neologism made by following lexical rules). We have studied both kinds of neologisms collected in all Catalan nodes. Vernacular compounding is the fifth most frequent kind of neologism formation source, and syntagmatic compounding occupies the eighth position. In general terms, no significant differences are found among the different regions.
Regarding vernacular compounding, we show that the genuine word-formation pattern NN, in which there is a dependence relation (as in filferro), is no longer used to create new words in Catalan. Additionally, the genuine word-formation pattern VN still produces new words, but it only represents 11.5% of all vernacular compound neologisms. We have found VN neologisms related to agentive nouns (aparcacotxes, cerca-talents), tools (parafocs, marcapàgines), spatial areas (passaplats), and also neologisms with a metaphorical meaning
(escanya-pobres, buscavides).
According to data collected by the NEOXOC network, the majority of neologisms correspond to the pattern NN with no dependence relation (as in actriu cantant), which is made up of two Ns with no obvious nucleus. This kind of neologism is not as genuine as filferro, but they are very frequent. Evidently, two classes can be distinguished. On the one hand, a coordinated NN compound, which creates a neologism that gets its meaning from the two nouns (as in acte-homenatge, actor-cantant, aler-pivot). This class represents the majority of neologisms in all Catalan zones. On the other hand, an attributive NN compound whose first N is the nucleus and the second one is a specifier (like an adjective). In some cases, it is difficult to establish how a neologism gets its meaning from the first and second nouns. That is why our approach from cognitive linguistics and blending (Fauconnier & Turner 2002) allows for a new account to these phenomena (Schmid 2011): the new word compresses the meanings from two inputs (the first and the second nouns) into a new meaning. Similarly, the adjectival vernacular compounding AA has been studied following this approach.
Concerning syntagmatic compounding, it gives rise to a neologism when there is fixation and, sometimes, idiomaticity. NA units are the most frequent in all zones: balança fiscal, banda ambla, bombolla immobiliària. There are neologisms with a compounded meaning: federalism fiscal, país emergent, and there are neologisms with a metaphorical meaning (idioms): caixa tonta, llengua blava, ovella negra. Other kinds of syntagmatic compounding include the following: N SP (cançó d’autor), V N (carregar piles), V SP (pujar al carro).
To sum up, we find a similar evolution of these kinds of compounds in all Catalan zones. The most genuine patterns are decreasing, and the NN compounds – the closest to syntagmatic compounds – are increasing.
Language exposure and online processing efficiency in bilingual development
Authors: Grüter Theres , Hurtado Nereyda , Marchman Virginia A. , Fernald Anne
Published: September 2014

This chapter summarizes what we know so far about the development of online processing skill in young bilingual children, with a focus on the relation between individual differences in language exposure and processing skill. We discuss evidence from studies with Spanish-English bilingual children in California, showing clear contingencies between language exposure and both vocabulary size and online processing efficiency as measured in the looking-while-listening (LWL) procedure. However, the strength of these contingencies is critically affected by whether the constructs are operationalized in relative or absolute terms. While relative amount of language exposure is only weakly related to absolute processing speed, we find a more solid association when both exposure and outcome are cast in relative terms. Finally, we consider the advantages, as well as the challenges, of using absolute measures for both language exposure and outcome measures. Our ongoing studies explore ways to capture variation in the absolute amount of talk that young bilinguals hear from their caregivers, presenting preliminary evidence that variation in caregiver engagement is critical for language outcomes in bilingual children, as many earlier studies have shown for monolinguals.
The absolute frequency of maternal input to bilingual and monolingual children
Authors: De Houwer Annick
Published: September 2014

This study examines the actual amount of maternal language input received by young bilingual versus matched monolingual children. All mothers had always addressed their children in Dutch. The bilingual children in addition heard French from other caregivers since they were born. Analyses are based on video recordings of mother-child interaction when children were 13 and 20 months old. There was considerable interindividual variation amongst mothers in how much they talked with their children, regardless of whether mothers were part of a bilingual family or not. Based on analyses of 13 measures of input frequency, no differences emerged in the quantity of language input between mothers in bilingual and monolingual families. A number of bilingual children heard more Dutch from their mothers than children in monolingual families did. This study, likely the first to compare mothers in matched bilingual and monolingual families and to empirically compare maternal input, thus finds no evidence of reduced (maternal) language input for bilingual children. Instead, the absolute amount of maternal language input varied considerably for both bilingual and monolingual children. The study of this variation holds great potential for a better understanding of the underpinnings of bilingual children's language development.
Interactions between input factors in bilingual language acquisition
Authors: Pearson Barbara Zurer , Amaral Luiz
Published: September 2014

This chapter synthesizes findings from research on relationships between language input and language development in bilingual children, and highlights a context in which the ability to manipulate input factors to promote bilingual acquisition takes on increased urgency, namely in language maintenance and revitalization. Indeed, child bilinguals are considered the key to language survival. We present a brief overview of major input factors and how their interactions affect children’s ability to become bilingual. Using nine major factors from UNESCO guidelines for assessing language vitality (UNESCO 2011), we describe the contrasting linguistic, cultural, and economic circumstances in Brazil and Guyana where an endangered Amazonian language, Wapichana, is spoken. A project in northern Brazil linking documentation for language preservation and education for language revitalization is evaluated for its potential to expand the domains in which Wapichana can continue to play a role in the life of the community and reverse the process of language shift that has recently taken hold at a faster pace in Brazil than in Guyana.
Properties of dual language input that shape bilingual development and properties of environments that shape dual language input
Authors: Hoff Erika , Welsh Stephanie , Place Silvia , Ribot Krystal M.
Published: September 2014

This chapter summarizes several studies of the relation of language input to language development in Spanish-English bilingual children in the U.S., studied from the age of 22 to 30 months. Analyses compare these children to monolingual children from SES-equivalent homes and also examine sources of variability between different groups of bilingual children. The findings suggest that differences in the quantity of input explain differences between bilinguals and monolinguals in the rate of English growth and that differences in the relative quantity and quality of input explain individual differences among bilingual children in their rates of English and Spanish growth. Some of the differences in bilingual children’s language environments can be traced to effects of family composition variables, specifically the presence of school-aged older siblings in the home and whether one or both parents are native Spanish speakers.
Comparing the role of input in bilingual acquisition across domains
Authors: Unsworth Sharon
Published: September 2014

Amount of exposure has been observed to affect the linguistic development of bilingual children in a variety of domains. As yet, however, relatively few studies have compared the acquisition across domains within the same group of children. Such a comparative approach is arguably essential to gain a more complete understanding of input effects in bilingual acquisition. Most studies in this area concentrate on the acquisition of vocabulary and grammar/morphosyntax; the bilingual acquisition of linguistic properties involving the interaction between syntax and semantics remains under-investigated. The present study seeks to address these gaps by examining – within the same group of English/Dutch bilinguals – the acquisition of linguistic properties taken from two different domains, namely gender-marking on definite determiners, a morphosyntactic property of Dutch with a considerable lexical component, and the acquisition of meaning restrictions on different word orders (scrambling), a property involving both compositional semantic and syntactic processes. The results show input effects for gender but not for scrambling. This is argued to be in line with approaches to acquisition which assume scrambling to constitute a poverty of the stimulus problem, but problematic for those approaches where input plays a more central role.
Reason, statecraft and the art of war: a politique reassessment
Authors: Jones David Martin
Published: September 2014

Recent events in world politics, from the implosion of Syria and the Ukraine to China's growing assertiveness in the East and South China Seas, have exposed the limitations of the dominant idealist and normativist paradigms in the study of international relations. In a world that is more Metternich than Rawls, it is necessary once again to examine statecraft from a realist perspective and to focus on the reasons of state that have informed its practice since the sixteenth century. Attention, here, is also focused on the rhetoric that informed political counsel and how a form of prudential reasoning shaped the art of diplomacy. In this context, casuistry, which involved applying principles of case law in particular circumstances, offered a mode of practical reasoning very different from contemporary normative approaches whose rhetoric seems increasingly divorced from the real practice of power and interest. Casuistry can be seen, as Stephen Toulmin has argued, as a form of situational or practical ethics. Casuistry, prudence and a particularist ethical practice might offer a more illuminating way of interpreting our increasingly complicated, interconnected but by no means integrated world.
Unpublishable research: examining and organizing the ‘file drawer’
Authors: TSOU Andrew , SCHICKORE Jutta , SUGIMOTO Cassidy R.
Published: September 2014

It is well known that a number of research outcomes are not reported (the so‐called ‘file drawer problem’). It is generally assumed that what is not reported are ‘negative results’. Our study approaches the issue from a new angle by exploring what researchers perceive to be ‘unpublishable’. A survey regarding ‘unpublishables’ was sent out to 2,535 faculty members at Indiana University. Forty of these individuals consented to in‐depth interviews, which more fully explored these academics' views on the issue of unpublishable work. Our results indicate that there are several types of research besides negative results that are perceived to be unpublishable yet worthy of publication. Moreover, there is a great diversity within and across disciplines as to what constitutes ‘unpublishable’ research. Respondents indicated that academic discourse would benefit from the formal dissemination of papers that included inconclusive or null results, as well as replication and refutation studies. The results of our study suggest that there is a perceived gap in scholarly communication, which is to the detriment of science. These results can be used by administrators, educators, and publishers in order to refine scholarly communication practices so as to create a more robust, accurate literature and to inform future generations of researchers.
MTide: an integrated tool for the identification of miRNA–target interaction in plants
Authors: Zhang Zhao , Jiang Li , Wang Jingjing , Gu Peizhen , Chen Ming
Published: September 2014

Motivation: Small RNA sequencing and degradome sequencing (also known as parallel analysis of RNA ends) have provided rich information on the microRNA (miRNA) and its cleaved mRNA targets on a genome-wide scale in plants, but no computational tools have been developed to effectively and conveniently deconvolute the miRNA–target interaction (MTI).

Results: A freely available package, MTide, was developed by combining modified miRDeep2 and CleaveLand4 with some other useful scripts to explore MTI in a comprehensive way. By searching for targets of a complete miRNAs, we can facilitate large-scale identification of miRNA targets, allowing us to discover regulatory interaction networks.

Availability and implementation:  http://bis.zju.edu.cn/MTide

Contact:  mchen@zju.edu.cn
Saccharothrix carnea sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from soil
Authors: Liu Chongxi , Guan Xuejiao , Wang Shurui , Zhao Junwei , Wang Haiyan , He Hairong , Xiang Wensheng , Wang Xiangjing
Published: September 2014

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-yn17T, was isolated from a soil sample collected at the wastewater discharge site of a pesticide factory in Harbin, northern China, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Morphological and chemotaxonomic properties of strain NEAU-yn17T were consistent with the description of the genus

Saccharothrix

, such as the spore arrangement, the diamino acid of the peptidoglycan, the whole-cell hydrolysates, the predominant menaquinone and the phospholipid profile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that strain NEAU-yn17T should also be classified in the genus

Saccharothrix

, with

Saccharothrix saharensis

DSM 45456T (99.52 % sequence similarity) and

Saccharothrix xinjiangensis

JCM 12329T (99.04 %) as the nearest phylogenetic relatives. A combination of DNA–DNA hybridization results and some phenotypic characteristics indicated that strain NEAU-yn17T can be distinguished from its closest relatives. Therefore, strain NEAU-yn17T represents a novel species of the genus

Saccharothrix

, for which the name Saccharothrix
carnea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-yn17T ( = CGMCC 4.7097T = DSM 45878T).
Large-scale identification of chemically induced mutations in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Haelterman Nele A. , Jiang Lichun , Li Yumei , Bayat Vafa , Sandoval Hector , Ugur Berrak , Tan Kai Li , Zhang Ke , Bei Danqing , Xiong Bo , Charng Wu-Lin , Busby Theodore , Jawaid Adeel , David Gabriela , Jaiswal Manish , Venken Koen J.T. , Yamamoto Shinya , Chen Rui , Bellen Hugo J.
Published: September 2014

Forward genetic screens using chemical mutagens have been successful in defining the function of thousands of genes in eukaryotic model organisms. The main drawback of this strategy is the time-consuming identification of the molecular lesions causative of the phenotypes of interest. With whole-genome sequencing (WGS), it is now possible to sequence hundreds of strains, but determining which mutations are causative among thousands of polymorphisms remains challenging. We have sequenced 394 mutant strains, generated in a chemical mutagenesis screen, for essential genes on the Drosophila X chromosome and describe strategies to reduce the number of candidate mutations from an average of ∼3500 to 35 single-nucleotide variants per chromosome. By combining WGS with a rough mapping method based on large duplications, we were able to map 274 (∼70%) mutations. We show that these mutations are causative, using small 80-kb duplications that rescue lethality. Hence, our findings demonstrate that combining rough mapping with WGS dramatically expands the toolkit necessary for assigning function to genes.
The structure of allophycocyanin B fromSynechocystisPCC 6803 reveals the structural basis for the extreme redshift of the terminal emitter in phycobilisomes
Authors: Peng Pan-Pan , Dong Liang-Liang , Sun Ya-Fang , Zeng Xiao-Li , Ding Wen-Long , Scheer Hugo , Yang Xiaojing , Zhao Kai-Hong
Published: September 2014

Allophycocyanin B (AP-B) is one of the two terminal emitters in phycobilisomes, the unique light-harvesting complexes of cyanobacteria and red algae. Its low excitation-energy level and the correspondingly redshifted absorption and fluorescence emission play an important role in funnelling excitation energy from the hundreds of chromophores of the extramembraneous phycobilisome to the reaction centres within the photosynthetic membrane. In the absence of crystal structures of these low-abundance terminal emitters, the molecular basis for the extreme redshift and directional energy transfer is largely unknown. Here, the crystal structure of trimeric AP-B [(ApcD/ApcB)3] fromSynechocystissp. PCC 6803 at 1.75 Å resolution is reported. In the crystal lattice, eight trimers of AP-B form a porous, spherical, 48-subunit assembly of 193 Å in diameter with an internal cavity of 1.1 × 106 Å3. While the overall structure of trimeric AP-B is similar to those reported for many other phycobiliprotein trimers, the chromophore pocket of the α-subunit, ApcD, has more bulky residues that tightly pack the phycocyanobilin (PCB). Ring D of the chromophores is further stabilized by close interactions with ApcB from the adjacent monomer. The combined contributions from both subunits render the conjugated rings B, C and D of the PCB in ApcD almost perfectly coplanar. Together with mutagenesis data, it is proposed that the enhanced planarity effectively extends the conjugation system of PCB and leads to the redshifted absorption (λmax= 669 nm) and fluorescence emission (679 nm) of the ApcD chromophore in AP-B, thereby enabling highly efficient energy transfer from the phycobilisome core to the reaction centres.
A new family of β-helix proteins with similarities to the polysaccharide lyases
Authors: Close Devin W. , D'Angelo Sara , Bradbury Andrew R. M.
Published: September 2014

Microorganisms that degrade biomass produce diverse assortments of carbohydrate-active enzymes and binding modules. Despite tremendous advances in the genomic sequencing of these organisms, many genes do not have an ascribed function owing to low sequence identity to genes that have been annotated. Consequently, biochemical and structural characterization of genes with unknown function is required to complement the rapidly growing pool of genomic sequencing data. A protein with previously unknown function (Cthe_2159) was recently isolated in a genome-wide screen using phage display to identify cellulose-binding protein domains from the biomass-degrading bacteriumClostridium thermocellum. Here, the crystal structure of Cthe_2159 is presented and it is shown that it is a unique right-handed parallel β-helix protein. Despite very low sequence identity to known β-helix or carbohydrate-active proteins, Cthe_2159 displays structural features that are very similar to those of polysaccharide lyase (PL) families 1, 3, 6 and 9. Cthe_2159 is conserved across bacteria and some archaea and is a member of the domain of unknown function family DUF4353. This suggests that Cthe_2159 is the first representative of a previously unknown family of cellulose and/or acid-sugar binding β-helix proteins that share structural similarities with PLs. Importantly, these results demonstrate how functional annotation by biochemical and structural analysis remains a critical tool in the characterization of new gene products.
Crystal structure and functional implications of LprF fromMycobacterium tuberculosisandM. bovis
Authors: Kim Jin-Sik , Jiao Li , Oh Jeong-Il , Ha Nam-Chul , Kim Yong-Hak
Published: September 2014

The Gram-positive bacteriaMycobacterium tuberculosisandM. bovisare causative agents of tuberculosis in humans and cattle. The lipoprotein LprF is found inM. tuberculosisandM. bovisbut not in the nonpathogenicM. smegmatis. To date, the role of LprF remains to be elucidated. In this study, the crystal structure of LprF has been determined at 1.1 Å resolution. The overall structure is similar to that of a homologue, LprG, with a central hydrophobic cavity that binds a triacylated glycolipid. LprF exhibited a central cavity structure similar to that of LprG, but with a smaller cavity that binds two alkyl chains. Consistently, subsequent mass-spectrometric analysis revealed that the bound ligand was a diacylated glycolipid, as found in the structure. Furthermore, an increased ratio of lipoarabinomannan to lipomannan in the mycobacterial cell wall was observed whenlprFwas introduced intoM. smegmatis. These observations suggested that LprF transfers the diacylated glycolipid from the plasma membrane to the cell wall, which might be related to the pathogenesis of the bacteria.
New methods for indexing multi-lattice diffraction data
Authors: Gildea Richard J. , Waterman David G. , Parkhurst James M. , Axford Danny , Sutton Geoff , Stuart David I. , Sauter Nicholas K. , Evans Gwyndaf , Winter Graeme
Published: September 2014

A new indexing method is presented which is capable of indexing multiple crystal lattices from narrow wedges of diffraction data. The method takes advantage of a simplification of Fourier transform-based methods that is applicable when the unit-cell dimensions are knowna priori. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated with both semi-synthetic multi-lattice data and real multi-lattice data recorded from crystals of ∼1 µm in size, where it is shown that up to six lattices can be successfully indexed and subsequently integrated from a 1° wedge of data. Analysis is presented which shows that improvements in data-quality indicators can be obtained through accurate identification and rejection of overlapping reflections prior to scaling.
Crystallographic study of the phosphoethanolamine transferase EptC required for polymyxin resistance and motility inCampylobacter jejuni
Authors: Fage Christopher D. , Brown Dusty B. , Boll Joseph M. , Keatinge-Clay Adrian T. , Trent M. Stephen
Published: September 2014

The foodborne enteric pathogenCampylobacter jejunidecorates a variety of its cell-surface structures with phosphoethanolamine (pEtN). Modifying lipid A with pEtN promotes cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance, whereas post-translationally modifying the flagellar rod protein FlgG with pEtN promotes flagellar assembly and motility, which are processes that are important for intestinal colonization. EptC, the pEtN transferase required for all known pEtN cell-surface modifications inC. jejuni, is a predicted inner-membrane metalloenzyme with a five-helix N-terminal transmembrane domain followed by a soluble sulfatase-like catalytic domain in the periplasm. The atomic structure of the catalytic domain of EptC (cEptC) was crystallized and solved to a resolution of 2.40 Å. cEptC adopts the α/β/α fold of the sulfatase protein family and harbors a zinc-binding site. A phosphorylated Thr266 residue was observed that was hypothesized to mimic a covalent pEtN–enzyme intermediate. The requirement for Thr266 as well as the nearby residues Asn308, Ser309, His358 and His440 was ascertainedvia in vivoactivity assays on mutant strains. The results establish a basis for the design of pEtN transferase inhibitors.
Crystal structure of tetraaquabis(8-chloro-9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracene-1-carboxylato-κO1)cobalt(II) dihydrate
Authors: Cai Wen-Juan , Liu Bo , Liu Feng-Yi , Kou Jun-Feng
Published: September 2014

In the title complex, [Co(C15H6ClO4)2(H2O)4]·2H2O, the CoIIion is bound by two carboxylate O atoms of two 5-chloro-9,10-anthraquinone-1-carboxylate anions and four water O atoms in atransconformation, forming an irregular octahedral coordination geometry. This arrangement is stabilized by intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds between water and carboxylate. Further O—H...O hydrogen bonds between coordinating and non-coordinating water and carboxylate produce layers of molecules that extend parallel to (001). The organic ligands project above and below the plane. Those ligands of adjacent planes are interdigitated and there are π–π interactions between them with centroid–centroid distances of 3.552 (2) and 3.767 (2) Å that generate a three-dimensional supramolecular structure.
Crystal structure of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde
Authors: Mague Joel T. , Mohamed Shaaban K. , Akkurt Mehmet , El-Emary Talaat I. , Albayati Mustafa R.
Published: September 2014

In the title compound, C15H13N3O, the pyrrolyl and phenyl rings make dihedral angles of 58.99 (5) and 34.95 (5)°, respectively, with the central pyrazole ring. In the crystal, weak, pairwise C—H...O interactions across centers of symmetry form dimers, which are further associated into corrugated sheets running approximately parallel to (100)viaweak C—H...N interactions.
Green training supporting eco-innovation in three Brazilian companies: practices and levels of integration
Authors: Saturnino Neto Angelo , José Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel , Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour Ana
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show results from the relationship between green/environmental training and the development of three projects of low-carbon eco-innovations in top Brazilian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study includes three organizational projects for low-carbon eco-innovations in products (A, B and C) with the objective of reducing their impact on GHG emissions, the so-called low-carbon products. Data were collected from several sources of evidence, including in-depth interviews, document analyses and direct observations.

Findings

– The authors verified that the environmental training interface for mitigating climate change is relevant for the systematic development of low-carbon products in most of the cases studied.

Originality/value

– Low-carbon eco-innovations are a trend in the corporate world; however, there is not enough literature and practical evidence on this subject. Thus, this paper adds new evidence to the literature.
A survey on recent research in business intelligence
Authors: Aruldoss Martin , Lakshmi Travis Miranda , Prasanna Venkatesan V.
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Business intelligence (BI) has been applied in various domains to take better decisions and it provides different level of information to its stakeholders according to the information needs. The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on recent works in BI. The two principal aims in this survey are to identify areas lacking in recent research, thereby offering potential opportunities for investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

– To simplify the study on BI literature, it is segregated into seven categories according to the usage. Each category of work is analyzed using parameters such as purpose, domain, problem identified, solution applied, benefit and outcome.

Findings

– The BI contribution in various domains, ongoing research in BI, the convergence of BI domains, problems and solutions, results of congregated domains, core problems and key solutions. It also outlines BI and its components composition, widely applied BI solutions such as algorithm-based, architecture-based and model-based solutions. Finally, it discusses BI implementation issues and outlines the security and privacy policies adopted in BI environment.

Research limitations/implications

– In this survey BI has been discussed in theoretical perspective whereas practical contribution has been given less attention.

Originality/value

– A comprehensive survey on BI which identifies areas lacking in recent research and providing potential opportunities for investigation.
“Natural” labeling and consumers’ sentimental pastoral notion
Authors: Amos Clinton , Pentina Iryna , Hawkins Timothy G. , Davis Natalie
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to investigate the appeal of “natural” labeling and builds on past research which suggests that people may have a naïve pastoral view of nature and natural entities. “Natural” labeling is pervasive in supermarkets across the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper employs a multi-method approach to examine consumer perceptions and beliefs about products labeled “natural”. Qualitative responses are solicited to examine the images and feelings that come to mind when consumers see “natural” labeling on a food product. Two experiments are conducted to examine consumers’ evaluations of “natural” labeling on both food and supplement products.

Findings

– The results of three studies suggest that “natural” labeling evokes positive feelings and sentimental imagery associated with a pastoral view of nature. These perceptions reinforce beliefs that food and supplement products labeled “natural” possess positive instrumental benefits such as health advantages, lack of contamination and safety.

Social implications

– Consumers are under pressure to make better choices regarding what they put into their bodies due to pervasive concern over the prevalence of obesity and diabetes. This study provides insight into why consumers perceive food and supplement products labeled “natural” as better alternatives.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the first studies to investigate the underlying perceptual forces accounting for the effectiveness of “natural” food and supplement labeling.
What is a Smart Building?
Authors: Buckman A.H. , Mayfield M. , B.M. Beck Stephen
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Within the building sector a lack of clarity in terminology does not help designers, clients or researchers. Non-domestic buildings have shown rapid increases in the use of advanced technology and control systems with varying drivers, many of which are labelled as intelligent. The term smart has been used interchangeably with intelligent without any clear distinction between the two. If the term Smart Buildings represented a separate, more advanced grouping, it would provide an opportunity to focus the future progress of non-domestic building development. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing upon academic and industrial literature and experience, this paper reviews the scope of Intelligent Buildings and the current available definitions of Smart Buildings to form a clear definition of both smart and Intelligent Buildings.

Findings

– These definitions define the border between the intelligent and the (more advanced) Smart Building. The upper bound of the Smart Building is defined by (the future development of) the predictive building.

Originality/value

– This work provides a clear focus which will allow the progression of the non-domestic building sector by providing guidance and aspiration, as well as providing a platform upon which a large amount of technical work can be based.
Elevated d‐Dimer Level is a Risk Factor for Coronary Artery Lesions Accompanying Intravenous Immunoglobulin‐Unresponsive Kawasaki Disease
Authors: Masuzawa Yuko , Mori Masaaki , Hara Takuma , Inaba Aya , Oba Mari S , Yokota Shumpei
Published: September 2014

Although there are many reports on the resistance of Kawasaki disease (KD) to initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy, risk factors for coronary artery lesions in such cases remain to be established. The objective of this study was to explore when additional therapies should be administered and to identify factors helpful for selecting a therapeutic option. Based on their written clinical records, we performed a retrospective review of KD patients who did not respond to initial IVIg therapy and who therefore then underwent plasma exchange (PE) therapy. This was a case‐control study to compare the presence or absence of acute coronary lesions in patients treated by PE for IVIg‐unresponsive KD at Yokohama City University Hospital or at Yokohama City University Medical Center. Fifteen of 44 patients had acute coronary artery lesions (CAL) correlating with high levels of white blood cells (WBC) (P = 0.045), d‐dimer (P = 0.008), and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (P = 0.009) and lower levels of fibrinogen (P = 0.013) prior to PE therapy. There was a strong correlation between pre‐PE levels of albumin and d‐dimer (Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.610). Multivariate analyses revealed that the odds ratio for CAL when d‐dimer was ≥ 4.5 μg/mL was 25.06 (95% CI, 2.56–244.91, P = 0.006). d‐dimer elevation and albumin decline in IVIg‐unresponsive KD patients could be risk factors for acute CAL, suggesting the possibility that angitis has spread throughout the arterial system, as far as the coronary artery.
Sonic hedgehog increases the skin wound‐healing ability of mouse embryonic stem cells through the microRNA 200 family
Authors: Suh Han Na , Han Ho Jae
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose

To use stem cell therapy effectively, it is important to enhance the therapeutic potential of stem cells with soluble factors. Although sonic hedgehog (shh) is important in maintaining the stem cell, the recovery effect of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) with shh has not yet been elucidated. The present study investigated the effect of mESCs with shh in skin recovery in vivo as well as the related intracellular signal pathways in vitro.

Experimental Approach

The healing effect of mESCs with shh on skin wounds was examined in vivo in ICR mice. The involvement of Smads, the microRNA (miR)‐200 family, zinc finger E‐box‐binding homeobox (ZEBs) and E‐cadherin on shh‐induced mESC migration and self‐renewal was determined in vitro.

Key Results

The mESCs with shh increased re‐epithelialization and VEGF expression in skin wounds. Shh‐treated mESCs increased both secreted and intracellular levels of VEGF. Shh induced dephosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β through the Smoothened receptor and increased the phosphorylation of Smad1 and Smad2/3 in mESCs. Shh‐induced decrease of the mmu‐miR‐141, ‐200c, ‐200a, ‐200b and ‐429 expression levels was significantly reversed by Smad4 siRNA. Shh increased nuclear expression of ZEB1/ZEB2 and decreased E‐cadherin expression while increasing cell migration and skin wound healing. Both these effects were reversed by mmu‐miR‐141 and ‐200b mimics.

Conclusions and Implications

Mouse ESCs accelerated skin wound healing by shh through down‐regulating E‐cadherin, an effect dependent on mmu‐miR‐141 and ‐200b. Our data provides evidence for the effectiveness of shh in stem cell‐based therapy in vivo.
Parental Involvement Moderates Etiological Influences on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Behaviors in Child Twins
Authors: Nikolas Molly A. , Klump Kelly L. , Burt S. Alexandra
Published: September 2014

Although few would now contest the presence of Gene × Environment (G × E) effects in the development of child psychopathology, it remains unclear how these effects manifest themselves. Alternative G × E models have been proposed (i.e., diathesis–stress, differential susceptibility, bioecological), each of which has notably different implications for etiology. Child twin studies present a powerful tool for discriminating between these models. The current study examined whether and how parental involvement moderated etiological influences on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within 500 twin pairs aged 6–11 years. Results indicated moderation of genetic and nonshared environmental contributions to ADHD by parental involvement, and moreover, suggested both differential susceptibility and bioecological models of G × E. Results highlight the utility of child twin samples in testing different manifestations of G × E effects.
The Development of Scientific Thinking in Elementary School: A Comprehensive Inventory
Authors: Koerber Susanne , Mayer Daniela , Osterhaus Christopher , Schwippert Knut , Sodian Beate
Published: September 2014

The development of scientific thinking was assessed in 1,581 second, third, and fourth graders (8‐, 9‐, 10‐year‐olds) based on a conceptual model that posits developmental progression from naïve to more advanced conceptions. Using a 66‐item scale, five components of scientific thinking were addressed, including experimental design, data interpretation, and understanding the nature of science. Unidimensional and multidimensional item response theory analyses supported the instrument's reliability and validity and suggested that the multiple components of scientific thinking form a unitary construct, independent of verbal or reasoning skills. A partial credit model gave evidence for a hierarchical developmental progression. Across each grade transition, advanced conceptions increased while naïve conceptions decreased. Independent effects of intelligence, schooling, and parental education on scientific thinking are discussed.