bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A hydrophobic and abrasion-resistant MgF2coating with an ultralow refractive index for double-layer broadband antireflective coatings
Authors: Cui Xinmin , Ding Ruimin , Wang Mengchao , Wang Conghui , Zhang Jing , Wang Jing , Dong Wensheng , Xu Yao
Published: February 2017

A novel sol–gel route was proposed in order to prepare an ultralow-index MgF2coating with both hydrophobicity and good abrasion-resistance.
Extrusion printing of a designed three-dimensional YBa2Cu3O7−x superconductor with milled precursor powder
Authors: Wei Xiangxia , Peng Erwin , Xie Yanyou , Xue Junmin , Wang John , Ding Jun
Published: February 2017

Designed milled YBCO hollow structures with high density, good mechanical properties and enhanced magnetization can prolong levitation time over magnets.
Development of a simple and robust microwave-assisted decomposition method for the determination of rare earth elements in coal fly ash by ICP-OES
Authors: Krishna M. V. Balarama , Venkateswarlu G. , Karunasagar D.
Published: February 2017

A novel two-step method based on hotplate treatment (HT) in combination with microwave-assisted decomposition (MWD) was developed for the determination of rare earth elements (REEs) in coal fly ash samples by ICP-OES.
Characterization of DNA duplex unzipping through a sub-2 nm solid-state nanopore
Authors: Lin Yao , Shi Xin , Liu Shao-Chuang , Ying Yi-Lun , Li Qiao , Gao Rui , Fathi Farkhondeh , Long Yi-Tao , Tian He
Published: February 2017

The unzipping and translocation of DNA duplexes through a sub-2 nm SiNx solid-state nanopore have been demonstrated by well-resolved three-level blockades.
Synthesis of carbazoles based on gold–copper tandem catalysis
Authors: Choi Subin , Srinivasulu Vunnam , Ha Sujin , Park Cheol-Min
Published: February 2017

An efficient synthetic method for carbazoles has been developed employing diazo anilinoalkynes as substrates.
Enhanced site-selectivity in acylation reactions with substrate-optimized catalysts on solid supports
Authors: Tong My Linh , Huber Florian , Taghuo Kaptouom Estelle S. , Cellnik Torsten , Kirsch Stefan F.
Published: February 2017

A concept for site-selective acylation is presented, using substrate-optimized DMAP–peptide conjugates on a solid support.
Local pH and effective pKA of weak polyelectrolytes – insights from computer simulations
Authors: Nová Lucie , Uhlík Filip , Košovan Peter
Published: February 2017

In this work we study the titration behavior of weak polyelectrolytes by computer simulations.
Reaction of SO2with OH in the atmosphere
Authors: Long Bo , Bao Junwei Lucas , Truhlar Donald G.
Published: February 2017

We theoretically investigate the rate constantk(T,p) of the OH + SO2reaction with experimental accuracy.
Ligand-free Cu(ii)-mediated aerobic oxidations of aldehyde hydrazones leading to N,N′-diacylhydrazines and 1,3,4-oxadiazoles
Authors: Liu Lei , Feng Suliu
Published: February 2017

These reactions offered advantages including green oxidation by O2 in air, simple workups and wide scope of substrates.
Copper-catalyzed TEMPO oxidative cleavage of 1,3-diketones and β-keto esters for the synthesis of 1,2-diketones and α-keto esters
Authors: Zhou Peng-Jun , Li Cheng-Kun , Zhou Shao-Fang , Shoberu Adedamola , Zou Jian-Ping
Published: February 2017

Copper-catalyzed, TEMPO oxidized cleavage of α-methylene of 1,3-diketones and β-keto esters to form 1,2-diketones and α-keto esters.
Selective water-based oxychlorination of phenol with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by manganous sulfate
Authors: Xin Hongchuan , Yang Shilei , An Baigang , An Zengjian
Published: February 2017

An efficient, VOC free method for the synthesis of 2,4-dichlorophenol, with simple product separation and a recyclable catalyst is developed.
Specific pH effect for selective colorimetric assay of glutathione using anti-aggregation of label-free gold nanoparticles
Authors: Li Jian-Fang , Huang Peng-Cheng , Wu Fang-Ying
Published: February 2017

An operationally simple colorimetric method for measuring glutathione (GSH) concentration was developed using anti-aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in this work.
Direct assembly of thioacid capped quantum dots in solid-state hybrid photovoltaics, effect of QDs size and thermal annealing
Authors: Triana Manuel A. , Jaramillo-Quintero Oscar A. , Camargo Rubén J. , Rincón Marina E.
Published: February 2017

The effect of QD size and thermal annealing on water soluble QD solar cells is investigated. CdSe QDs corresponding to the bright-point during synthesis yield the best performance.
Selective adhesive cell capture without molecular specificity: new surfaces exploiting nanoscopic polycationic features as discrete adhesive units
Authors: Kalasin S. , Browne E. P. , Arcaro K. F. , Santore M. M.
Published: February 2017

This work explored how molecularly non-specific polycationic nanoscale features on a collecting surface control kinetic and selectivity aspects of mammalian cell capture.
Inside-fused perylenediimide dimers with planar structures for high-performance fullerene-free organic solar cells
Authors: Ding Guodong , Tang Ailing , Chen Fan , Tajima Keisuke , Xiao Bo , Zhou Erjun
Published: February 2017

For perylenediimide derivatives it seems that twisted structures are essential to avoid excessive aggregation tendencies and realize high-performance fullerene-free solar cells.
Deformation and failure mechanisms of electrochemically lithiated silicon thin films
Authors: Sitinamaluwa Hansinee , Nerkar Jawahar , Wang Mingchao , Zhang Shanqing , Yan Cheng
Published: February 2017

A fundamental understanding of mechanical behavior of a Li–Si system is necessary to address the poor mechanical integrity of amorphous silicon (a-Si) electrodes, in order to utilize their enormous capacity in Li-ion batteries.
Fractal analysis of pre-reduced Pt/TiO2catalysts for formaldehyde oxidation
Authors: Peng Jiaxi , Wu Xiaoxin , Wang Shudong
Published: February 2017

The amount of reactive sites, usually dispersed noble atoms, on the top of a catalyst rough surface is characterized within the framework of fractal geometry.
Graphene-based antimicrobial polymeric membranes: a review
Authors: Zhu Junyong , Wang Jing , Hou Jingwei , Zhang Yatao , Liu Jindun , Van der Bruggen Bart
Published: February 2017

Graphene-based nanocomposites have been increasingly used for the design of antimicrobial polymeric membranes due to enhanced antibacterial properties.
Electrochemical deposition of carbon nanotubes from CO2in CaCl2–NaCl-based melts
Authors: Hu Liwen , Song Yang , Ge Jianbang , Zhu Jun , Han Zhenchao , Jiao Shuqiang
Published: February 2017

As part of the efforts to address global climate change, the identification of methods for the capture of carbon dioxide and its selective electrochemical conversion into value-added carbonaceous materials in molten salt electrolytes is a research topic of scientific and technological significance.
BiFeO3–SrTiO3thin film as a new lead-free relaxor-ferroelectric capacitor with ultrahigh energy storage performance
Authors: Pan Hao , Zeng Yi , Shen Yang , Lin Yuan-Hua , Ma Jing , Li Liangliang , Nan Ce-Wen
Published: February 2017

We report ultrahigh energy storage density of 51 J cm−3and good fatigue & thermal stability of BiFeO3-based lead-free dielectric films.
A high-performance oxygen electrode for Li–O2 batteries: Mo2C nanoparticles grown on carbon fibers
Authors: Luo Yong , Jin Chao , Wang Zhangjun , Wei Minghui , Yang Chenghao , Yang Ruizhi , Chen Yu , Liu Meilin
Published: February 2017

While lithium–oxygen batteries (LOBs) have the potential to offer energy density far greater than those of existing batteries, their commercialization hinges on the creation of highly reversible and efficient oxygen electrodes.
Comprehensive study on cellular morphologies, proliferation, motility, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of breast cancer cells incubated on electrospun polymeric fiber substrates
Authors: Domura Ryota , Sasaki Rie , Okamoto Masami , Hirano Minoru , Kohda Katsunori , Napiwocki Brett , Turng Lih-Sheng
Published: February 2017

Aligned fibers substrates caused elongation and alignment of the MDA-MB-231 cells along the fiber directionsviareducing the cell roundness and E-cadherin expression.
Nanoscale interfacial electroactivity in PVDF/PVDF-TrFE blended films with enhanced dielectric and ferroelectric properties
Authors: Meng Nan , Zhu Xiaojing , Mao Rui , Reece Michael John , Bilotti Emiliano
Published: February 2017

The existing interactions substantially affect the structure of PVDF/PVDF-TrFE blends as well as their electric properties.
Ultra‐wideband RCS reduction of microstrip antenna array by optimised multi‐element metasurface
Authors: Kang Xiaole , Su Jianxun , Zhang Hui , Li Zengrui , Yang Yaoqing (Lamar)
Published: February 2017

A microstrip antenna array (MAA) loading with metasurface is designed and fabricated for ultra‐wideband radar cross‐section (RCS) reduction while preserving its radiation characteristics. A new physical mechanism based on size adjustment of the multiple basic unit cells is proposed for ultra‐wideband manipulation of electromagnetic waves. To obtain the excellent RCS performance, the selection of the basic unit cells is optimised by the hybrid optimisation algorithm. Both simulated and measured results indicate that the proposed MAA can reduce the RCS significantly in an ultra‐wide frequency band from 6.2 to 27.3 GHz under x‐ and y‐polarised normal incidence. The radiation characteristics of the MAA are well preserved simultaneously.
Flexible traction power system adopting energy optimisation controller for AC‐fed railway
Authors: Wang Yao‐Wu , Chen Min‐Wu , Guo Lei , Luo Jie
Published: February 2017

A flexible traction power system is proposed for AC‐fed railway due to its benefits in power flow optimisation, online catenary anti‐icing and power quality improvement. In this system, an energy optimisation controller in section post is adopted to provide reactive anti‐icing current and control the energy flow in regenerative braking of the locomotives. The energy optimisation controller in traction substations is adopted to eliminate three‐phase unbalance in power grid and perform reactive power compensation. The mathematic model of the proposed system is built based on a power transformation analysis and the validity of compensation algorithms is verified by case studies.
Measurement and modelling of the dynamic radar cross‐section of an unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors: Guay Rudy , Drolet Germain , Bray Joey R.
Published: February 2017

The optimal radar detection of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) requires that the radar cross‐section (RCS) of the UAVs be known. Although RCS estimates may be obtained from computer simulation and conventional static RCS measurements, the results may not be accurate given that the dynamic effects of the UAV, such as propeller motion, are absent. In this study, an X‐band tracking radar is developed and used to measure the RCS of a mini‐UAV while the UAV is in flight. Statistical methods are then applied to obtain models of the dynamic RCS for each aspect bin and for the UAV as a whole. For the particular quadcopter considered herein, the results indicate that the dynamic RCS is significantly higher than its static RCS. As a result, a target model developed from the dynamic RCS leads to a 15% increase of the 50% probability of detection range compared with a model based on static RCS measurements.
Occupational measures and averaged shape optimization
Authors: Bright Ido , Li Qinfeng , Torres Monica
Published: February 2017

We consider the minimization of averaged shape optimization problems over the class of sets of finite perimeter. We use occupational measures, which are probability measures defined in terms of the reduced boundary of sets of finite perimeter, that allow to transform the minimization into a linear problem on a set of measures. The averaged nature of the problem allows the optimal value to be approximated with sets with unbounded perimeter. In this case, we show that we can also approximate the optimal value with convex polytopes withn+1 faces shrinking to a point. We derive conditions under which we show the existence of minimizers and we also analyze the appropriate spaces in which to study the problem.
Generating arbitrary ultrasound fields with tailored optoacoustic surface profiles
Authors: Brown M. D. , Nikitichev D. I. , Treeby B. E. , Cox B. T.
Published: February 2017

Acoustic fields with multiple foci have many applications in physical acoustics ranging from particle manipulation to neural modulation. However, the generation of multiple foci at arbitrary locations in three-dimensional is challenging using conventional transducer technology. In this work, the optical generation of acoustic fields focused at multiple points using a single optical pulse is demonstrated. This is achieved using optically absorbing surface profiles designed to generate specific, user-defined, wavefields. An optimisation approach for the design of these tailored surface profiles is developed. This searches for a smoothly varying surface that will generate a high peak pressure at a set of target focal points. The designed surface profiles are then realised via a combination of additive manufacturing and absorber deposition techniques. Acoustic field measurements from a sample designed to generate the numeral “7” are used to demonstrate the design method.
Formation of a magnetite/hematite epitaxial bilayer generated with low energy ion bombardment
Authors: Ruiz-Gómez S. , Serrano A. , Carabias I. , García M. A. , Hernando A. , Mascaraque A. , Pérez L. , González Barrio M. A. , Rodríguez de la Fuente O.
Published: February 2017

We have used a low-energy ion bombardment to fabricate an epitaxial single-crystalline magnetite/hematite bilayer grown on Au(111). This non-conventional fabrication method involves the transformation of the upper layers of a single-crystalline hematite thin film to single-crystalline magnetite, a process driven by the preferential sputtering of oxygen atoms and favoured by the good structural matching of both phases. We show the reversibility of the transformation between hematite and magnetite, always keeping the epitaxial and single-crystalline character of the films. The magnetic characterization of the bilayer grown using this method shows that the magnetic response is mainly determined by the magnetite thin film, exhibiting a high coercivity.
Computational study on hole conduction in normal alkanes: Anisotropy and effect of dynamic disorder
Authors: Sato M. , Kumada A. , Hidaka K. , Hirano T. , Sato F.
Published: February 2017

Despite its importance, carrier conduction in electrical insulators is poorly understood. This work presents a computational study of hole conduction in single crystalline alkanes (n-C18H38 and n-C36H74). Hole mobilities are computed with the combination of molecular dynamics simulation, quantum chemical calculation, and the kinetic Monte Carlo method. The hole hopping rate is computed by the Fermi golden rule rate kernel without high temperature approximation. A strong correlation between the anisotropy of hole mobility and crystalline morphology is found. Hole mobilities in the direction of the c axis are more than an order of magnitude larger than those in the a − b plane. At room temperature, hole mobility is increased by roughly a factor of 10 due to the thermal motion of molecules. Computed anisotropic hole mobilities are in reasonable agreement with experimental values when the effect of dynamic disorder is taken into account. The results strongly indicate that hole transfer in crystalline alkane occurs in the phonon-assisted transport regime.
Fragmentation and adhesion properties of CoFeB thin films on polyimide substrate
Authors: Faurie D. , Zighem F. , Garcia-Sanchez A. , Lupo P. , Adeyeye A. O.
Published: February 2017

We have studied the electro-mechanical properties of 20 nm thick CoFeB thin films deposited on Kapton® substrate by electrical resistivity measurements and atomic force microscopy observations during in situ tensile tests. We show in this paper that the amorphous CoFeB thin film has a brittle behavior with crack initiation at 1.6%. Moreover, the partial reversibility of the resistivity curve depends on the maximum applied strain because of the plastic deformation of the Kapton® up to 5%. Finally, the adhesion energy between CoFeB and Kapton® has been estimated from the geometry of buckling induced by the transverse compressive stress occurring during the fragmentation test. This study shows that adhesion is good enough for considering this system for potential applications in flexible spintronics applications.
Nanosecond pulsed laser texturing of optical diffusers
Authors: Alqurashi Tawfiq , Sabouri Aydin , Yetisen Ali K. , Butt Haider
Published: February 2017

High-quality optical glass diffusers have applications in aerospace, displays, imaging systems, medical devices, and optical sensors. The development of rapid and accurate fabrication techniques is highly desirable for their production. Here, a micropatterning method for the fast fabrication of optical diffusers by means of nanosecond pulsed laser ablation is demonstrated (λ=1064 nm, power=7.02, 9.36 and 11.7 W and scanning speed=200 and 800 mm s-1). The experiments were carried out by point-to-point texturing of a glass surface in spiral shape. The laser machining parameters, the number of pulses and their power had significant effect on surface features. The optical characteristics of the diffusers were characterized at different scattering angles. The features of the microscale structures influenced average roughness from 0.8 μm to 1.97 μm. The glass diffusers scattered light at angles up to 20° and their transmission efficiency were measured up to ∼97% across the visible spectrum. The produced optical devices diffuse light less but do so with less scattering and energy losses as compared to opal diffusing glass. The presented fabrication method can be applied to any other transparent material to create optical diffusers. It is anticipated that the optical diffusers presented in this work will have applications in the production of LED spotlights and imaging devices.
Reduced yellowing of silver nanowire transparent conductive electrodes by simple hydrazine treatment
Authors: Cheon Yuhong , Nam Jiyoon , Kim Chang Su , Jo Sungjin
Published: February 2017

This paper introduces a simple hydrazine treatment method to reduce the yellowing of silver nanowire transparent conductive electrodes. To investigate the effects of hydrazine treatment on the yellowing of silver nanowire electrodes, the optical and electrical properties of silver nanowire electrodes were analyzed before and after hydrazine treatment. The optimal hydrazine treatment conditions were investigated by varying the concentration and thickness of hydrazine; the effect of hydrazine treatment on the long-term stability of silver nanowires was also analyzed.
Effect of growth path on the performance and carcass traits of Hereford steers finished either on pasture or in feedlot
Authors: Peripolli Elisa , Banchero Georgget , Pereira Angélica Simone Cravo , Brito Gustavo , La Manna Alejandro , Fernandez Enrique , Montossi Fabio , Baldi Fernando
Published: February 2017

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional management treatments during the rearing period on the performance and carcass traits of Hereford steers finished either on pasture or in feedlot. Two hundred and forty male Hereford calves, weaned at 8 months of age with an average weight of 170 ± 17 kg, were used. After weaning, four nutritional treatments were imposed on the calves so as to obtain different daily liveweight gains (LWGs, kg/day) during the first winter (winter-growth phase). The nutritional management groups were high LWG in feedlot (HF), low LWG in feedlot (LF), high LWG on pasture (HP) and low LWG on pasture (LP). Finishing phase began when each group reached a mean liveweight (LW) of 350 ± 28 kg. During this phase, one half of the HF, LF, HP and LP animals were finished on pasture and the other half in feedlot. The animals were slaughtered when each group attained a mean LW of 500 kg. The carcass traits ribeye area (cm2) and backfat thickness (mm) were measured by ultrasonography. Liveweight, LWG and ultrasonography records were analysed by repeated-measures analysis. DM intake as a percentage of LW and feed conversion ratio (FCR; kg DM/kg LW) during feedlot were analysed by ANOVA. Least-square means for LWGs of pasture-finished animals were 0.807, 0.799, 0.819c and 0.782 kg/day for HF, LF, HP and LP respectively. Least-square means for LWG of feedlot-finished animals were 1.569, 1.554, 1.484 and 1.431 kg/day for HF, LF, HP and LP respectively. Least-square means for FCR in feedlot were 7.12, 7.20, 7.97 and 8.92 for HF, LF, HP and LP respectively. Hot carcass weight had a similar trend as did LWG. Feedlot-finished animals attained heavier hot carcass weights once they received a better nutritional management during the first winter. The growth-group management did not affect (P > 0.05) dressing percentage. The carcasses of feedlot-finished animals showed higher (P < 0.05) dressing percentages than did carcasses of pasture-finished animals. Nutritional feeding management during the first winter had permanent effects on growth, carcass and FCR traits; however, the prevalence of these effects depended on the feeding system during the finishing phase. On the basis of the results obtained in the study, it is recommended that animals receive an adequate nutritional management during the first winter so as to maximise their future performance, especially for intensive beef-cattle growing–finishing systems. However, if the animals have been subjected to restriction during early growth, they should be finished under pasture conditions.
Sheep death and loss of production associated with flystrike in mature Merino and crossbred ewes
Authors: Horton B. J. , Corkrey R. , Doughty A. K.
Published: February 2017

In eight well-managed Australian Merino and crossbred sheep flocks the adult ewes were monitored frequently for flystrike. Occurrences of flystrike and severity of strike scores were recorded, whereas bodyweights and condition scores were recorded regularly across two wool production and reproduction cycles. In these unmulesed flocks, 17% of Merino and 5% of crossbred ewes were struck, with 2% of those struck dead within 7 days of detection of the strike. For those adult ewes that survived the immediate period of the strike, the rate of loss over the following year was slightly greater than for ewes that were never struck, particularly for those with a high severity strike. Flystrike also contributed to losses of up to 2.7 (Merino ewes) and 5.2 (crossbred ewes) kg of bodyweight, and 0.3 condition score units at the time of the strike. Bodyweights were still 2 kg lower by 3 months after the strike occurred for Merinos, although condition scores returned to average levels. For ewes struck between mating and lambing, flystrike was associated with significant losses of lambs. Flystrike at severity level 1 (light) had only minor effects on wool production, but severity score 3 (heavy) reduced clean fleece weight.
The impact of genetic selection on greenhouse-gas emissions in Australian dairy cattle
Authors: Pryce Jennie E. , Bell Matthew J.
Published: February 2017

In Australia, dairy cattle account for ~12% of the nation’s agricultural greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Genetic selection has had a positive impact, reducing GHG emissions from dairy systems mainly due to increased production per cow, which has led to (1) requiring fewer cows to produce the same amount of milk and (2) lowering emissions per unit of milk produced (emission intensity). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of previous and current genetic-selection practices on carbon emissions, using realised and predicted responses to selection for key traits that are included in the Australian national breeding objective. A farm model was used to predict the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions per unit change of these traits, while holding all other traits constant. Estimates of the realised change in annual CO2-eq emissions per cow over the past decade were made by multiplying predicted CO2-eq emissions per unit change of each trait under selection by the realised rates of genetic gain in each of those traits. The total impact is estimated to be an increase of 55 kg CO2-eq/cow.year after 10 years of selection. The same approach was applied to future CO2-eq emissions, except predicted rates of genetic gain assumed to occur over the next decade through selection on the Balanced Performance Index (BPI) were used. For an increase of AU$100 in BPI (~10 years of genetic improvement), we predict that the increase of per cow emissions will be reduced to 37 kg CO2-eq/cow.year. Since milk-production traits are a large part of the breeding goal, the GHG emitted per unit of milk produced will reduce as a result of improvements in efficiency and dilution of emissions per litre of milk produced at a rate estimated to be 35.7 g CO2-eq/kg milk solids per year in the past decade and is predicted to reduce to 29.5 g CO2-eq/kg milk solids per year after a conservative 10-year improvement in BPI (AU$100). In fact, cow numbers have decreased over the past decade and production has increased; altogether, we estimate that the net impact has been a reduction of CO2-eq emissions of ~1.0% in total emissions from the dairy industry per year. Using two future scenarios of either keeping the number of cows or amount of product static, we predict that net GHG emissions will reduce by ~0.6%/year of total dairy emissions if milk production remains static, compared with 0.3%/year, if cow numbers remain the same and there is genetic improvement in milk-production traits.
Public concerns about dairy-cow welfare: how should the industry respond?
Authors: Weary D. M. , von Keyserlingk M. A. G.
Published: February 2017

Common practices on dairy farms have fallen out of step with public values, such that the dairy industry has now become a target for public criticism. In the present paper, we describe some of the forces that have led to the current situation, and various potential methods to rectify the situation. One approach is to shield industry practices from public scrutiny, for example, by using ‘ag-gag’ legislation to stem the flow of videos exposing contentious practices. Another is to educate members of the public so that they better understand the nature of these practices and the reasons that they are used on farms. The literature we reviewed indicated that neither of these approaches is likely to be successful. Instead, we suggest that the dairy industry needs to develop methods of meaningful two-way engagement with concerned citizens, including research using social-science methods to document the values of different stakeholders and examine approaches to resolving conflicts. We also reviewed how biological research can help resolve issues, for example, by developing rearing systems that address public concerns around freedom of movement and social contact without putting animals at an increased risk of disease. We end with a discussion of how policy efforts by the dairy industry can be used to ensure compliance with commonly accepted standards, and more ambitiously, develop a common vision of dairying that positions the industry as a leader in animal welfare.
Defence mechanisms associated with mycorrhiza-induced resistance in wheat against powdery mildew
Authors: Mustafa Ghalia , Khong Ngan Giang , Tisserant Benoît , Randoux Béatrice , Fontaine Joël , Magnin-Robert Maryline , Reignault Philippe , Sahraoui Anissa Lounès-Hadj
Published: February 2017

To develop a more sustainable agriculture using alternative control strategies, mechanisms involved in the biocontrol ability of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Funneliformis mosseae to protect wheat against the foliar biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici were investigated under controlled conditions. B. graminis infection on wheat leaves was reduced by 78% in mycorrhizal plants compared with non-mycorrhizal ones (control). Wheat roots inoculated with F. mosseae revealed a systemic resistance in leaves to B. graminis, after a 6-week co-culture. Accordingly, this resistance was associated with a significant reduction of B. graminis haustorium formation in epidermal leaf cells of mycorrhizal wheat and an accumulation of phenolic compounds and H2O2 at B. graminis penetration sites. Moreover, gene expression analysis demonstrated upregulation of genes encoding for several defence markers, such as peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chitinase 1 and nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related proteins 1 in mycorrhizal wheat only in the absence of the pathogen. This study showed that protection of wheat obtained against B. graminis in response to mycorrhizal inoculation by F. mosseae could be interpreted as a mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR). Our findings also suggest that MIR-associated mechanisms impaired the B. graminis development process and corresponded to a systemic elicitation of plant defences rather than a primed state in wheat leaves.
Federal fire managers' perceptions of the importance, scarcity and substitutability of suppression resources
Authors: Stonesifer Crystal S. , Calkin David E. , Hand Michael S.
Published: February 2017

Wildland firefighting in the United States is a complex and costly enterprise. While there are strong seasonal signatures for fire occurrence in specific regions of the United States, spatiotemporal occurrence of wildfire activity can have high inter-annual variability. Suppression resources come from a variety of jurisdictions and provide a wide range of skills, experience and associated mobility and logistical needs. Dispatch centres and regional and national resource allocation centres move suppression resources to respond to demand. However, little is known about the decision-making processes driving the allocation of limited resources at the national scale, particularly during periods of increased resource scarcity. Moreover, an understanding of these systems provides no insight into the impressions from the field regarding the value and relative scarcity of specific resources. We designed and implemented an online survey of United States Forest Service employees who have direct or indirect responsibility for ordering suppression resources, with the main objective of identifying which resources the field perceived to be most important, most scarce and which were without acceptable substitutes. In this research note, we present a preliminary overview of a selection of results of our survey and discuss the next steps for potential future analyses of the dataset.
Legislative coalitions with incomplete information
Authors: Dragu Tiberiu , Laver Michael
Published: February 2017

Significance

It is rare in parliamentary democracies for one party to win more than half the votes. Choosing new policies or new governments depends on coalitions of legislative parties. We study the formation of these coalitions under the assumption of incomplete information. Therefore, rather than assuming that each politician’s private preferences are known to everybody, we make the more plausible and general assumption that politicians can never be certain about the preferences of others, especially because those others may have strategic incentives to misstate these preferences. This approach has implications that are both distinctive and plausible. Policy coalitions should typically be either of the center left or the center right, but should not comprise parties from both left and right of center.
Voltage-sensitive rhodol with enhanced two-photon brightness
Authors: Kulkarni Rishikesh U. , Kramer Daniel J. , Pourmandi Narges , Karbasi Kaveh , Bateup Helen S. , Miller Evan W.
Published: February 2017

Significance

Fast changes in membrane potential drive the unique physiology of neurons. Despite the critical importance of coordinated neuronal firing, observing neuronal activity in a noninvasive, highly parallel manner remains an outstanding challenge, due in part to a lack of tools that can report on fast changes in membrane potential with sufficient speed, sensitivity, and brightness. We report an optical voltage reporter based on a fluorescent rhodol that shows improved photostability and brightness under both one- and two-photon illumination. We use the indicator RhodolVoltageFluor-5 to probe dynamics of neuronal excitability in a mouse model of genetic epilepsy, both in culture and in brain slices.
Agrobacterium
-delivered virulence protein VirE2 is trafficked inside host cells via a myosin XI-K–powered ER/actin network
Authors: Yang Qinghua , Li Xiaoyang , Tu Haitao , Pan Shen Q.
Published: February 2017

Significance

Agrobacterium
causes diseases in a wide range of host plants. It has been developed as a genetic tool to transform a variety of plant species and nonplant organisms. It can achieve a transformation efficiency as high as 100%. However, it is not clear how
Agrobacterium
virulence factors are trafficked through host cytoplasm to achieve such a wide host range and a high efficiency. Here we report that
Agrobacterium
-delivered VirE2 is trafficked inside plant cells via the endoplasmic reticulum and F-actin network. This trafficking is powered by myosin XI-K. As the myosin-powered actin network is well conserved, our data suggest that
Agrobacterium
hijacks the conserved host network for virulence trafficking to transform a wide range of recipient cells with high efficiency.
Enhanced groundwater recharge rates and altered recharge sensitivity to climate variability through subsurface heterogeneity
Authors: Hartmann Andreas , Gleeson Tom , Wada Yoshihide , Wagener Thorsten
Published: February 2017

Significance

Understanding the implications of climate changes on hydrology is crucial for water resources management. Widely used global hydrological models generally assume simple homogeneous subsurface representations to translate climate signals into hydrological variables. We study groundwater recharge in the carbonate rock regions of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East, which are known to exhibit strong subsurface heterogeneity. We demonstrate that subsurface heterogeneity alters the sensitivity of recharge to climate variability and enhances recharge estimates, resulting in potentially more available water per capita, than previously estimated. Our results are opposing previous modeling studies on future groundwater availability that assumed homogeneous subsurface properties everywhere. We suggest that water management strategies in regions with heterogeneous subsurface properties need to consider these revised estimates.
Vitamin D receptor regulates autophagy in the normal mammary gland and in luminal breast cancer cells
Authors: Tavera-Mendoza Luz E. , Westerling Thomas , Libby Eric , Marusyk Andriy , Cato Laura , Cassani Raymundo , Cameron Lisa A. , Ficarro Scott B. , Marto Jarrod A. , Klawitter Jelena , Brown Myles
Published: February 2017

Significance

Epidemiological evidence suggests that vitamin D can protect women from developing breast cancer (BC). This study reveals that vitamin D and its receptor regulate autophagy in both normal mammary epithelial cells and luminal BCs, and suggests a potential mechanism underlying the link between vitamin D levels and BC risk. In addition, this work suggests that vitamin D receptor ligands could be exploited therapeutically for the treatment of a significant subset of BCs.
Cooperation of two distinct coupling proteins creates chemosensory network connections
Authors: Abedrabbo Samar , Castellon Juan , Collins Kieran D. , Johnson Kevin S. , Ottemann Karen M.
Published: February 2017

Significance

Signal transduction systems are important pathways that organisms use to sense and respond to their environments. Chemotaxis is controlled by a signal transduction system that allows bacteria to coordinate their movement in response to their environment. This response requires proper assembly and localization of large multiprotein chemotaxis complexes, which are built by interactions between coupling proteins. The significance of having multiple types of coupling proteins in a single signal transduction system is poorly understood. Here, we show that multiple coupling proteins allow bacteria to build superprotein interaction networks and localize them to cell poles, a role that is required for optimal chemotaxis.
Probing the conformation of a conserved glutamic acid within the Cl− pathway of a CLC H+/Cl− exchanger
Authors: Vien Malvin , Basilio Daniel , Leisle Lilia , Accardi Alessio
Published: February 2017

The CLC proteins form a broad family of anion-selective transport proteins that includes both channels and exchangers. Despite extensive structural, functional, and computational studies, the transport mechanism of the CLC exchangers remains poorly understood. Several transport models have been proposed but have failed to capture all the key features of these transporters. Multiple CLC crystal structures have suggested that a conserved glutamic acid, Gluex, can adopt three conformations and that the interconversion of its side chain between these states underlies H+/Cl− exchange. One of these states, in which Gluex occupies the central binding site (Scen) while Cl− ions fill the internal and external sites (Sint and Sext), has only been observed in one homologue, the eukaryotic cmCLC. The existence of such a state in other CLCs has not been demonstrated. In this study, we find that during transport, the prototypical prokaryotic CLC exchanger, CLC-ec1, adopts a conformation with functional characteristics that match those predicted for a cmCLC-like state, with Gluex trapped in Scen between two Cl− ions. Transport by CLC-ec1 is reduced when [Cl−] is symmetrically increased on both sides of the membrane and mutations that disrupt the hydrogen bonds stabilizing Gluex in Scen destabilize this trapped state. Furthermore, inhibition of transport by high [Cl−] is abolished in the E148A mutant, in which the Gluex side chain is removed. Collectively, our results suggest that, during the CLC transport cycle, Gluex can occupy Scen as well as the Sext position in which it has been captured crystallographically and that hydrogen bonds with the side chains of residues that coordinate ion binding to Scen play a role in determining the equilibrium between these two conformations.
Nation and Ethnicity in American Performance and Theater
Authors: Nathans Heather S.
Published: February 2017

Scholars have long wrestled with definitions of what might constitute “American” performance or theater. Early 19th-century histories defined it in strictly white, largely anti-British terms, imagining an art form that could instruct citizens of the newly created nation in lessons of civic virtue. In his History of American Theatre (1832), playwright, theater manager, and theater historian William Dunlap described theater as a “powerful engine” for a democratic state. Subsequent theater historians would catalog records of “firsts”—such as the first American stars (including Edwin Forrest and Charlotte Cushman), or the first long-running American dramatic hits (including The Drunkard or Uncle Tom’s Cabin). The roles of women and racial or ethnic minorities were frequently relegated to the anecdotal or the exceptional.

In the wake of the Civil War, and with the expansion of the frontier, definitions of American theater grew more capacious, encompassing more amateur, popular, and immigrant performances as new groups struggled to establish footholds in American culture. The turn into the 20th century and the unfolding series of civil rights movements on behalf of women, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer) citizens, people of color, and people with disabilities rapidly transformed the nation’s theatrical landscape. Groups that had found themselves represented by others onstage discovered new opportunities for creative expression in the playhouse.

Over the past twenty-five years, theater scholars have shifted away from a narrative of “firsts” and national exceptionalism toward a more nuanced series of intertwined histories that illuminate the complex discourses of national and ethnic identity in American culture. Their work has revealed a performance community—whether in the playhouse or on the streets—constantly struggling to create workable definitions of citizenship and belonging. Theater artists have never stopped pushing themselves and their audiences to challenge definitions of national identity. Their work invites contemporary students to expand their understanding of what constitutes the canon of “American” theater.
Aisthēsis
Authors: Vichnar David , Armand Louis
Published: February 2017

Etymologically and conceptually linked with sense perception (as opposed to, in the Platonic tradition, noēsis or intellection) in ancient, medieval, and early-modern thought, aisthēsis formed part of theorizing not only questions surrounding beauty and art, but also perception, epistemology, and even ontology (in, for instance, the work of Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas). During the Enlightenment and its project of subdivision and categorization of the “humanities,” aisthēsis became subsumed, in the work of Alexander Baumgarten, by “aesthetics,” the study of beauty in the narrower sense. However, by the beginning of the 20th century and the Marxist/Freudian/Saussurean revolution in humanist inquiry and the “avant-garde” revolution in the arts, aisthēsis resumed its place and function as a central node in a vast network of concerns: for the Marxists, the history of aisthēsis follows the pattern of social development of progressive mastery over nature by humankind, described as a process of rationalization (the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory); in psychoanalysis and phenomenology, artistic activity is regarded as the “sublimated” expression of socially objectionable energies, taking place in a world conceived of as indefinite and open multiplicity (John Dewey, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, et al.); in poststructuralist theory, the image not simply “acquires” a politico-aesthetic function by way of an act of judgement, but rather accedes in its very technological condition to a political imaginary, to an aesthetics as such (Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, et al.). In the second half of the 20th century, with the progressive technologization of society, aisthēsis formed the backbone of media studies, which examines how technological innovation overthrows a settled political and aesthetic order, with special attention paid to the effects of electronic media and the hypertext: non-linearity, repetitiveness, discontinuity, intuition (e.g., Marshall McLuhan and Jay David Bolter). At the dawn of the 21st century, in the aesthetico-mimetic doubling of the mediasphere, from teletext and satellite TV to the World Wide Web and GPS, a critical, ecological mode of thinking aisthēsis assumes the ideal function of an “avant-gardism” in affecting the structure of how things come to mean, how meaning is virtualized, and how the virtual is lived.
Australian Women’s Writing in Mid-Century Modernity
Authors: Sheridan Susan
Published: February 2017

Women seem barely visible in the lively Australian literary scene of the 1950s and 1960s. Popular wisdom has it that after the war women were sent home and imprisoned in domesticity, but this was not entirely true. Significant numbers earned a living, and gained popular success, writing historical fiction, children’s stories, feature journalism, and radio and television scripts, but the growing separation of literary from popular writing meant that their work lacked serious critical attention, and still does. Others did not achieve publication for years, while those who did were rarely recognized as significant artists. As a writing generation, these women, in particular the novelists, were eclipsed from view, both at the time and in subsequent histories. One reason for this is that they tended to be detached from prevailing debates about national identity and from traditional Left-Right oppositions. Their sense of the social responsibility of writers led them to explore topics and ideas that were outside the postwar political mainstream, such as conservation, peace, civil liberties, and Indigenous rights. Four case studies offer some illustration of the range of literary activities undertaken by these women writers, and allow a consideration of the ways in which they engaged with their social and cultural milieux: Kylie Tennant (1912–1988), Nancy Cato (1917–2000), Judith Wright (1915–2000), and Kath Walker/Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920–1993).
Theory of Mind and Communication in Health and Risk Messaging
Authors: Farrar M. Jeffrey , Guan Yao , Erhardt Kaitlyn
Published: February 2017

Humans live not only in a physical world but also in a mental world. Theory of mind reflects the understanding that the mind is comprised of different mental states, such as intentions, desires, and beliefs. This conception of the mind is a critical achievement in human development because it directly impacts effective communication and social interaction. It allows for the understanding of others’ behaviors by inferring their mental states. The formation of a theory of mind has been a central topic in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy. It impacts related processes, such as communication skills, perspective-taking ability, and social cognition.

Across the life span, the understanding of the mind becomes increasingly complex. Early in development, infants and toddlers can discern the intentions of others. Later, more sophisticated reasoning about the mental states of others becomes possible. For instance, the ability to follow and understand the recursive thought that “Sam believes, that Mary said, that Jose wanted . . .” develops. Additionally, within distinctive developmental time periods, people differ in their ability to take into account mental states. Once people’s beliefs, including their misconceptions, are identified, it is possible to generate effective communication strategies designed to teach, learn, and even reduce risk-taking behaviors.
Communication Ethics
Authors: Lipari Lisbeth A.
Published: February 2017

Communication ethics concerns the creation and evaluation of goodness in all aspects and manifestations of communicative interaction. Because both communication and ethics are tacitly or explicitly inherent in all human interactions, everyday life is fraught with intentional and unintentional ethical questions—from reaching for a cup of coffee to speaking critically in a public meeting. Thus ethical questions infuse all areas of the discipline, including rhetoric, media studies, intercultural/international communication, relational and organization communication, as well as other iterations of the field.