bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
2-(3′,4′-Dimethoxybenzylidene)tetralone induces anti-breast cancer activity through microtubule stabilization and activation of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Gautam Yashveer , Dwivedi Sonam , Srivastava Ankita , Hamidullah Hamidullah , Singh Arjun , Chanda D. , Singh Jyotsna , Rai Smita , Konwar Rituraj , Negi Arvind S.
Published: March 2016

2-Benzylidene tetralone derivatives are exhibited as potent anti-breast cancer agents through microtubule stabilization and induction of apoptosis through reactive oxygen species.
Impact of structure and homo-coupling of the central donor unit of small molecule organic semiconductors on solar cell performance
Authors: Verstappen Pieter , Cardinaletti Ilaria , Vangerven Tim , Vanormelingen Wouter , Verstraeten Frederik , Lutsen Laurence , Vanderzande Dirk , Manca Jean , Maes Wouter
Published: March 2016

Next to the molecular structure, homo-coupling of the central donor moiety has a profound influence on organic solar cell efficiency.
Mesoporous boron-doped onion-like carbon as long-life oxygen electrode for sodium–oxygen batteries
Authors: Shu Chaozhu , Lin Yangming , Zhang Bingsen , Abd Hamid Sharifah Bee , Su Dangsheng
Published: March 2016

Boron-doped onion-like carbon is successfully synthesized by calcination of ultra-dispersed nanodiamond and it exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the oxygen electrode reaction in Na–O2 batteries.
A hydrothermal reaction of an aqueous solution of BSA yields highly fluorescent N doped C-dots used for imaging of live mammalian cells
Authors: Kumar Vijay Bhooshan , Sheinberger Jonathan , Porat Zeev , Shav-Tal Yaron , Gedanken Aharon
Published: March 2016

In the current study, we present a new and facile synthesis of N doped C-dots (N@C-dots) by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous solution of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) for imaging of live mammalian cells.
Fast and accurate algorithm for eye localisation for gaze tracking in low‐resolution images
Authors: George Anjith , Routray Aurobinda
Published: March 2016

Iris centre (IC) localisation in low‐resolution visible images is a challenging problem in computer vision community due to noise, shadows, occlusions, pose variations, eye blinks etc. This study proposes an efficient method for determining IC in low‐resolution images in the visible spectrum. Even low‐cost consumer‐grade webcams can be used for gaze tracking without any additional hardware. A two‐stage algorithm is proposed for IC localisation. The proposed method uses geometrical characteristics of the eye. In the first stage, a fast convolution‐based approach is used for obtaining the coarse location of IC). The IC location is further refined in the second stage using boundary tracing and ellipse fitting. The algorithm has been evaluated in public databases such as BioID, Gi4E and is found to outperform the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Framework for capacity credit assessment of electrical energy storage and demand response
Authors: Zhou Yutian , Mancarella Pierluigi , Mutale Joseph
Published: March 2016

The use of electrical energy storage (EES) and demand response (DR) to support system capacity is attracting increasing attention. However, little work has been done to investigate the capability of EES/DR to displace generation while providing prescribed levels of system reliability. In this context, this study extends the generation‐oriented concept of capacity credit (CC) to EES/DR, with the aim of assessing their contribution to adequacy of supply. A comprehensive framework and relevant numerical algorithms are proposed for the evaluation of EES/DR CC, with different ‘traditional’ generation‐oriented CC metrics being extended and a new CC metric defined to formally quantify the capability of EES/DR to displace conventional generation for different applications (system expansion, reliability increase etc.). In particular, specific technology‐agnostic models have been developed to illustrate the implications of energy capacity, power ratings, and efficiency of EES, as well as payback characteristics and customer flexibility (that often also depend on different forms of storage available to customers) of DR. Case studies are performed on the IEEE RTS to demonstrate how the different characteristics of EES/DR can impact on their CC. The framework developed can thus support the important debates on the role of EES/DR for smart grid planning and market development.
Overhead line design considerations for conductor creep mitigation
Authors: Kopsidas Konstantinos , Boumecid Boudjemaa , Cooper Ian P.
Published: March 2016

Utilities are continuously investigating methods to economically reinforce their overhead line (OHL) networks by reconductoring with larger conductors or with novel high‐temperature low‐sag (HTLS) conductor technologies. To further optimise the OHL design, conductor creep ageing is calculated and mitigated at installation, which economically improves an OHLs’ performance. An already established methodology is used to investigate common and HTLS conductors ageing effect on sag and tension in order to highlight the benefits and risks that could result from existing creep mitigation methods particularly on HTLS conductors. The study aims to identify the impact of important design factors such as ice loading and emergency operation events and their frequency of occurrence on creep mitigation as well as to highlight the creep variation of the same materials used particularly on different HTLS conductors. The analysis presented here indicates that pre‐tensioning could be more beneficial on soft aluminium HTLS conductors while over‐tensioning can result in extensive durations of conductor over‐stressing on steel supported and Gap‐type conductors. Furthermore, the conductor technology majorly affects the creep of steel core which cannot be considered always as zero. The accuracy of the methodology is also re‐validated using recent experimental data from Gap conductor.
Improved differential evolution‐based Elman neural network controller for squirrel‐cage induction generator system
Authors: Lin Faa‐Jeng , Tan Kuang‐Hsiung , Tsai Chia‐Hung
Published: March 2016

An improved differential evolution (IDE) algorithm‐based Elman neural network (ENN) controller is proposed to control a squirrel‐cage induction generator (SCIG) system for grid‐connected wind power applications. First, the control characteristics of a wind turbine emulator are introduced. Then, an AC/DC converter and a DC/AC inverter are developed to convert the electric power generated by a three‐phase SCIG to the grid. Moreover, the dynamic model of the SCIG system is derived for the control of the square of DC‐link voltage according to the principle of power balance. Furthermore, in order to improve the transient and steady‐state responses of the square of DC‐link voltage of the SCIG system, an IDE‐based ENN controller is proposed for the control of the SCIG system. In addition, the network structure and the online learning algorithm of the ENN are described in detail. Additionally, according to the different wind speed variations, a lookup table built offline by the dynamic model of the SCIG system using the IDE is provided for the optimisation of the learning rates of ENN. Finally, to verify the control performance, some experimental results are provided to verify the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed SCIG system for grid‐connected wind power applications.
Heat removal capacity enhanced micropin array heatsink with optimised pin height and inlet–outlet positions
Authors: Yang Dawei , Ding Guifu , Wang Yan , Zhao Junhong , Wang Guilian
Published: March 2016

A micropin array heatsink with high heat removal capacity for its optimised pin height and inlet–outlet positions is presented. Computational fluid dynamics simulation indicates pin height has a big impact on the pressure difference and heat removal capacity. A decrease of 2.67°C of the maximum temperature was achieved when pin height increased from 200 to 500 µm. Meanwhile with the proper pin height, the different positions of inlet and outlet that the maximum temperature decreases 13.89°C, the best design compared with the worst design among 63 samples under the same working condition. The two typical samples were fabricated and tested through micromachining technology and an infrared imaging testing system. Experiment result preferably matches with the simulation result of the same variation trend of 5.8°C. The positions of inlet and outlet were proved to play an important role in enhancing the heat removal capacity of the micropin array heatsink.
Hydrothermal synthesis and electrochemical performance of walnut‐like CoS2 hierarchical structures
Authors: Liu Fusheng , Zhao Hongxiao , Jia Huimin , Zhu Congxu , Li Jing , Zheng Zhi
Published: March 2016

Walnut‐like CoS2 hierarchical structures were synthesised by a simple hydrothermal method. The crystalline phase and morphology of the products were characterised with X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, respectively. The results showed that CoS2 prepared by hydrothermal method were hierarchical walnut‐like materials consist of nanoparticles. As an anode material of Li ion batteries (LIBs), reversible capacity of these CoS2 materials reached 132.8 mAh/g after 100 cycles. Due to outstanding electrochemical performance, CoS2 materials can be exploited as a practical anode material for LIBs.
The magnetic ordering in high magnetoresistance Mn-doped ZnO thin films
Authors: Venkatesh S. , Baras A. , Lee J.-S. , Roqan I. S.
Published: March 2016

We studied the nature of magnetic ordering in Mn-doped ZnO thin films that exhibited ferromagnetism at 300 K and superparamagnetism at 5 K. We directly inter-related the magnetisation and magnetoresistance by invoking the polaron percolation theory and variable range of hopping conduction below the metal-to-insulator transition. By obtaining a qualitative agreement between these two models, we attribute the ferromagnetism to the s-d exchange-induced spin splitting that was indicated by large positive magnetoresistance (∼40 %). Low temperature superparamagnetism was attributed to the localization of carriers and non-interacting polaron clusters. This analysis can assist in understanding the presence or absence of ferromagnetism in doped/un-doped ZnO.
Hermiticity of Hamiltonian Matrix using the Fourier Basis Sets in Bond-Bond-Angle and Radau Coordinates
Authors: Yu De-quan , Huang He , Nyman Gunnar , Sun Zhi-gang
Published: March 2016

In quantum calculations a transformed Hamiltonian is often used to avoid singularities in a certain basis set or to reduce computation time. We demonstrate for the Fourier basis set that the Hamiltonian can not be arbitrarily transformed. Otherwise, the Hamiltonian matrix becomes non-hermitian, which may lead to numerical problems. Methods for correctly constructing the Hamiltonian operators are discussed. Specific examples involving the Fourier basis functions for a triatomic molecular Hamiltonian (J=0) in bond-bond angle and Radau coordinates are presented. For illustration, absorption spectra are calculated for the OClO molecule using the time-dependent wavepacket method. Numerical results indicate that the non-hermiticity of the Hamiltonian matrix may also result from integration errors. The conclusion drawn here is generally useful for quantum calculation using basis expansion method using quadrature scheme.
Efficient Separation of Ar and Kr from Environmental Samples for Trace Radioactive Noble Gas Detection
Authors: Tu Le-yi , Yang Guo-min , Zhang Xiang-yang , Hu Shui-ming
Published: March 2016

Radioactive noble-gas isotopes, 85Kr (half-life t1/2=10.8 y), 39Ar (t1/2=269 y), and 81Kr (t1/2=229,000 y), are ideal tracers and can be detected by atom trap trace analysis (ATTA), a laser-based technique, from environmental samples like air and groundwater. Prior to ATTA measurements, it is necessary to efficiently extract krypton and argon gases from samples. Using a combination of cryogenic distillation, titanium chemical reaction and gas chromatography, we demonstrate that we can recover both krypton and argon gases from 1–10 L “air-like” samples with yields in excess of 90% and 98%, respectively, which meet well the requirements for ATTA measurements. A group of testing samples are analyzed to verify the performance of the system, including two groundwater samples obtained from north China plain.
Structural and Infrared Spectroscopic Study on Solvation of Acetylene by Protonated Water Molecules
Authors: Kong Xiang-tao , Lei Xin , Yuan Qin-qin , Zhang Bing-bing , Zhao Zhi , Yang Dong , Jiang Shu-kang , Dai Dong-xu , Jiang Ling
Published: March 2016

The effect of solvation on the conformation of acetylene has been studied by adding one water molecule at a time. Quantum chemical calculations of the H+(C2H2)(H2O)n (n=1−5) clusters indicate that the H2O molecules prefer to form the OH⋯π interaction rather than the CH⋯;O interaction. This solvation motif is different from that of neutral (C2H2)(H2O)n (n=1−4) clusters, in which the H2O molecules prefer to form the CH⋯;O and OH⋯;C H-bonds. For the H+(C2H2)(H2O)n cationic clusters, the first solvation shell consists of one ring structure with two OH⋯;π H-bonds and three water molecules, which is completed at n=4. Simulated infrared spectra reveal that vibrational frequencies of OH⋯;π H-bonded O−H stretching afford a sensitive probe for exploring the solvation of acetylene by protonated water molecules. Infrared spectra of the H+(C2H2)(H2O)n(n=1−5) clusters could be readily measured by the infrared photodissociation technique and thus provide useful information for the understanding of solvation processes.
Excited-State Proton Transfer and Decay in Hydrogen-Bonded Oxazole System: MS-CASPT2//CASSCF Study
Authors: Xie Bin-bin , Li Chun-xiang , Cui Gang-long , Fang Qiu
Published: March 2016

Herein we have employed high-level multi-reference CASSCF and MS-CASPT2 electronic structure methods to systematically study the photochemical mechanism of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methyloxazole. At the CASSCF level, we have optimized minima, conical intersections, minimum-energy reaction paths relevant to the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), rotation, photoisomerization, and the excited-state deactivation pathways. The energies of all structures and paths are refined by the MS-CASPT2 method. On the basis of the present results, we found that the ESIPT process in a conformer with the OH···N hydrogen bond is essentially barrierless process; whereas, the ESIPT process is inhibited in the other conformer with the OH···O hydrogen bond. The central single-bond rotation of the S1 enol species is energetically unfavorable due to a large barrier. In addition, the excited-state deactivation of the S1 keto species, as a result of the ultrafast ESIPT, is very efficient because of the existence of two easily-approached keto S1/S0 conical intersections. In stark contrast to the S1 keto species, the decay of the S1 enol species is almostly blocked. The present theoretical study contributes valuable knowledge to the understanding of photochemistry of similar intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded molecular and biological systems.
Polarization Dependent Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy and Its Applications
Authors: Zhang Wen-kai
Published: March 2016

Polarization dependent time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy has proven to be a useful technique to study the structural dynamics in a photochemical process. The angular information of transient species is obtainable in this measurement, which makes it a valuable technique for the investigation of electron distribution, molecular structure, and conformational dynamics. In this review, we briefly introduce the principles and applications of polarization dependent TRIR spectroscopy. We mainly focused on the following topics: (i) an overview of TRIR spectroscopy, (ii) principles of TRIR spectroscopy and its advantages compared to the other ultrafast techniques, (iii) examples that use polarization dependent TRIR spectroscopy to probe a variety of chemical and dynamical phenomena including protein conformational dynamics, excited state electron localization, and photoisomerization, (iv) the limitations and prospects of TRIR spectroscopy.
High-Resolution Experimental Study on Photodissocaition of N2O
Authors: Yu Sheng-rui , Yuana Dao-fu , Chen Wen-tao , Xie Ting , Wang Si-wen , Yang Xue-ming , Wang Xing-an
Published: March 2016

We study the photodissociation dynamics of nitrous oxide using the time-sliced ion velocity imaging technique at three photolysis wavelengths of 134.20, 135.30, and 136.43 nm. The O(1SJ=0)+N2(X1∑+g) product channels were investigated by measuring images of the O(1SJ=0) products. Vibrational states of N2(X1∑+g products were fully resolved in the images. Product total kinetic energy releases (TKER) and the branching ratios of vibrational states of N2 products were determined. It is found that the most populated vibrational states of N2 products are v=2 and v=3. The angular anisotropy parameters (β values) were also derived. The β values are very close to 2 at low vibrational states of the correlated N2(X1∑+g products at all three photolysis wavelengths, and gradually decrease to about 1.4 at v=7. This indicates the dissociation is mainly through a parallel transition state to form products at lower vibrational states, and the highly vibrational exited products are from a more bent configuration. This is consistent with the observed shift of the most intense rotational structure in the TKER as the vibrational quantum number increases.
Laser Ablation Atomic Beam Apparatus with Time-Sliced Velocity Map Imaging for Studying State-to-State Metal Reaction Dynamics
Authors: Dong Chang-wu , Liu Jia-xing , Li Fang-fang , Wang Feng-yan
Published: March 2016

We report a newly constructed laser ablation crossed molecular beam apparatus, equipped with time-sliced velocity map imaging technique, to study state-to-state metal atom reaction dynamics. Supersonic metal atomic beam is generated by laser vaporization of metal rod, and free expansion design without gas flow channel has been employed to obtain a good quality of metal atomic beam. We have chosen the crossed-beam reaction Al+O2 to test the performance of the new apparatus. Two-rotational-states selected AlO(X2∑+, v=0, N and N+14) products can be imaged via P(N) and R(N+14) branches of the Δv=1 band at the same wavelength, during (1+1) resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization through the AlO(D2∑+) intermediate state. In our experiment at 244.145 nm for simultaneous transitions of P(15) and R(29) branch, two rings in slice image were clearly distinguishable, corresponding to the AlO(v=0, N=15) and AlO(v=0, N=29) states respectively. The energy difference between the two rotational levels is 403 cm−1. The success of two states resolved in our apparatus suggests a better collisional energy resolution compared with the recent research study [J. Chem. Phys. 140, 214304 (2014)].
Facet Dependence of Photochemistry of Methanol on Single Crystalline Rutile Titania
Authors: Hao Qun-qing , Wang Zhi-qiang , Mao Xin-chun , Zhou Chuan-yao , Dai Dong-xu , Yang Xue-ming
Published: March 2016

The crystal phase, morphology and facet significantly influence the catalytic and photocatalytic activity of TiO2. In view of optimizing the performance of catalysts, extensive efforts have been devoted to designing new sophisticate TiO2 structures with desired facet exposure, necessitating the understanding of chemical properties of individual surface. In this work, we have examined the photooxidation of methanol on TiO2(011)-(2×1) and TiO2(110)-(1×1) by two-photon photoemission spectroscopy (2PPE). An excited state at 2.5 eV above the Fermi level (EF) on methanol covered (011) and (110) interface has been detected. The excited state is an indicator of reduction of TiO2 interface. Irradiation dependence of the excited resonance signal during the photochemistry of methanol on TiO2(011)-(2×1) and TiO2(110)-(1×1) is ascribed to the interface reduction by producing surface hydroxyls. The reaction rate of photooxidation of methanol on TiO2(110)-(1×1) is about 11.4 times faster than that on TiO2(011)-(2×1), which is tentatively explained by the difference in the surface atomic configuration. This work not only provides a detailed characterization of the electronic structure of methanol/TiO2 interface by 2PPE, but also shows the importance of the surface structure in the photoreactivity on TiO2.
Genetic structure and unique origin of the introduced blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in the north-western Pacific: clues from mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences
Authors: Han Zhiqiang , Mao Yangli , Shui Bonian , Yanagimoto Takashi , Gao Tianxiang
Published: March 2016

As an introduced species, the Mediterranean blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis is widely distributed in the north-western Pacific. However, the mussel's introduction pathway, colonisation route and source of introduction are unclear. In the present study, genetic variation among 11 colonised populations of M. galloprovincialis in the north-western Pacific was analysed using fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) detected no significant differences at any hierarchical level, and all fixation index (FST) values were non-significant, reflecting a founder event and potential high dispersal ability. Phylogenetic analysis showed that populations of M. galloprovincialis in the north-western Pacific were introduced from the middle Mediterranean Sea and that the Dalian population was the first colonised population in the coastal waters of China. By assessing the origin of introduced populations of M. galloprovincialis, the present study provides new insights into the biogeography of M. galloprovincialis.
A single membrane-bound enzyme catalyzes the conversion of 2,5-diketo-d-gluconate to 4-keto-d-arabonate in d-glucose oxidative fermentation by Gluconobacter oxydans NBRC 3292
Authors: Tazoe Masaaki , Oishi Hiromi , Kobayashi Setsuko , Hoshino Tatsuo
Published: March 2016

4-Keto-d-arabonate synthase (4KAS), which converts 2,5-diketo-d-gluconate (DKGA) to 4-keto-d-arabonate (4KA) in d-glucose oxidative fermentation by some acetic acid bacteria, was solubilized from the Gluconobacter oxydans NBRC 3292 cytoplasmic membrane, and purified in an electrophoretically homogenous state. A single membrane-bound enzyme was found to catalyze the conversion from DKGA to 4KA. The 92-kDa 4KAS was a homodimeric protein not requiring O2 or a cofactor for the conversion, but was stimulated by Mn2+. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of 4KAS, followed by gene homology search indicated a 1,197-bp open reading frame (ORF), corresponding to the GLS_c04240 locus, GenBank accession No. CP004373, encoding a 398-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 42,818 Da. An Escherichia coli transformant with the 4kas plasmid exhibited 4KAS activity. Furthermore, overexpressed recombinant 4KAS was purified in an electrophoretically homogenous state and had the same molecular size as the natural enzyme.
The Douady-Earle extensions are not always harmonic
Authors: Jiang Manman , Liu Lixin , Yao Hongyu
Published: March 2016

In this paper we give examples to show that the Douady-Earle extensions are not always harmonic. Furthermore, we discuss the criterion for the Douady-Earle extensions to be harmonic.
On cut sets of attractors of iterated function systems
Authors: Loridant Benoît , Luo Jun , Sellami Tarek , Thuswaldner Jörg
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we study cut sets of attractors of iterated function systems (IFS) in

R

d

\mathbb {R}^d

. Under natural conditions, we show that all irreducible cut sets of these attractors are perfect sets or single points. This leads to a criterion for the existence of cut points of IFS attractors. If the IFS attractors are self-affine tiles, our results become algorithmically checkable and can be used to exhibit cut points with the help of Hata graphs. This enables us to construct cut points of some self-affine tiles studied in the literature.
Projectively universal countable metrizable groups
Authors: Pestov Vladimir , Uspenskij Vladimir
Published: March 2016

We prove that there exists a countable metrizable topological group

G
G

such that every countable metrizable group is isomorphic to a quotient of

G
G

. The completion

H
H

of

G
G

is a Polish group such that every Polish group is isomorphic to a quotient of

H
H

.
Special functions, integral equations and a Riemann-Hilbert problem
Authors: Wong R. , Zhao Yu-Qiu
Published: March 2016

We consider a pair of special functions,

u
β

u_\beta

and

v
β

v_\beta

, defined respectively as the solutions to the integral equations
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="u left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis equals 1 plus integral Subscript 0 Superscript normal infinity Baseline StartFraction upper K left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis u left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis d t Over t plus x EndFraction and v left-parenthesis x right-parenthesis equals 1 minus integral Subscript 0 Superscript normal infinity Baseline StartFraction upper K left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis v left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis d t Over t plus x EndFraction comma x element-of left-bracket 0 comma normal infinity right-parenthesis comma">

u
(
x
)
=
1
+

∫
0
∞

K
(
t
)
u
(
t
)
d
t

t
+
x

 
 

and

 
 
v
(
x
)
=
1
−

∫
0
∞

K
(
t
)
v
(
t
)
d
t

t
+
x

,
 
 
x
∈
[
0
,
∞
)
,

\begin{equation*} u(x)=1+\int ^\infty _0 \frac {K(t) u(t) dt}{t+x} ~~\mbox {and}~~v(x)=1-\int ^\infty _0 \frac { K(t) v(t) dt}{t+x},~~x\in [0, \infty ),\end{equation*}

where
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="upper K left-parenthesis t right-parenthesis equals StartFraction 1 Over pi EndFraction exp left-parenthesis minus t Superscript beta Baseline sine StartFraction pi beta Over 2 EndFraction right-parenthesis sine left-parenthesis t Superscript beta Baseline cosine StartFraction pi beta Over 2 EndFraction right-parenthesis">

K
(
t
)
=

1
π

exp
⁡

(
−

t
β

sin
⁡

π
β

2

)

sin
⁡

(

t
β

cos
⁡

π
β

2

)

K(t)= \frac {1} \pi \exp \left (- t^\beta \sin \frac {\pi \beta } 2\right )\sin \left ( t^\beta \cos \frac {\pi \beta } 2 \right )

for

β
∈
(
0
,
1
)

\beta \in (0, 1)

. In this note, we establish the existence and uniqueness of

u
β

u_\beta

and

v
β

v_\beta

which are bounded and continuous in

[
0
,
+
∞
)

[0, +\infty )

. Also, we show that a solution to a model Riemann-Hilbert problem in Kriecherbauer and McLaughlin [Int.Math.Res.Not.,1999] can be constructed explicitly in terms of these functions. A preliminary asymptotic study is carried out on the Stokes phenomena of these functions by making use of their connection formulas.

Several open questions are also proposed for a thorough investigation of the analytic and asymptotic properties of the functions

u
β

u_\beta

and

v
β

v_\beta

, and a related new special function

G
β

G_\beta

.
The novel RacE-binding protein GflB sharpens Ras activity at the leading edge of migrating cells
Authors: Senoo Hiroshi , Cai Huaqing , Wang Yu , Sesaki Hiromi , Iijima Miho
Published: March 2016

Directional sensing, a process in which cells convert an external chemical gradient into internal signaling events, is essential in chemotaxis. We previously showed that a Rho GTPase, RacE, regulates gradient sensing in Dictyostelium cells. Here, using affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identify a novel RacE-binding protein, GflB, which contains a Ras GEF domain and a Rho GAP domain. Using biochemical and gene knockout approaches, we show that GflB balances the activation of Ras and Rho GTPases, which enables cells to precisely orient signaling events toward higher concentrations of chemoattractants. Furthermore, we find that GflB is located at the leading edge of migrating cells, and this localization is regulated by the actin cytoskeleton and phosphatidylserine. Our findings provide a new molecular mechanism that connects directional sensing and morphological polarization.
Changes in single-molecule integrin dynamics linked to local cellular behavior
Authors: Jaqaman Khuloud , Galbraith James A. , Davidson Michael W. , Galbraith Catherine G.
Published: March 2016

Recent advances in light microscopy permit visualization of the behavior of individual molecules within dense macromolecular ensembles in live cells. It is now conceptually possible to relate the dynamic organization of molecular machinery to cellular function. However, inherent heterogeneities, as well as disparities between spatial and temporal scales, pose substantial challenges in deriving such a relationship. New approaches are required to link discrete single-molecule behavior with continuous cellular-level processes. Here we combined intercalated molecular and cellular imaging with a computational framework to detect reproducible transient changes in the behavior of individual molecules that are linked to cellular behaviors. Applying our approach to integrin transmembrane receptors revealed a spatial density gradient underlying characteristic molecular density increases and mobility decreases, indicating the subsequent onset of local protrusive activity. Integrin mutants further revealed that these density and mobility transients are separable and depend on different binding domains within the integrin cytoplasmic tail. Our approach provides a generalizable paradigm for dissecting dynamic spatiotemporal molecular behaviors linked to local cellular events.
Handle with Care
Authors: Gross Kali Nicole
Published: March 2016

Chapter 1 begins with the discovery of a man’s disembodied torso next to a pound in Eddington, Pennsylvania—a town just outside of Philadelphia. It then traces the investigation by exploring the fascination, anxiety, and difficulty that arise as citizens and investigators alike grapple with shifting notions of race particularly as the torso’s complexion is such that few can definitively identify its race. This chapter also examines how that racial ambiguity shapes the investigation. In doing so, it delves into efforts to redefine and reform white supremacy in absence of enslavement and amid increased ethnic European immigration and it explores the role that the race-science of the period plays therein.
A Most Revolting Deed
Authors: Gross Kali Nicole
Published: March 2016

Chapter 6 concludes the story by revealing the trial outcomes and the ultimate sentences that George Wilson and Hannah Mary Tabbs served. It also discusses the advent of plea deals versus jury verdicts and discusses the efficacy of Tabbs’s courtroom manuevers. This chapter also offers a little history into what happened to both Wilson and Tabbs after they served their respective sentences. It also concludes with observations about Tabbs’s use of lies, omission, and racial deference during the course of the investigation and court proceedings. It argues that she embraced the nihilism of the era and found ways to exploit black people’s alienation from the criminal justice system.
Toward a Science of Emerging Media
Authors: Smith Barry
Published: March 2016

If media studies are to become established as a genuine science, then it needs to be determined what the subject matter of this science is to be. The chapter proposes a specification of this subject matter as consisting of: (1) the new sorts of digital entities that have been added to social reality through the invention of the digital computer, and (2) the new sorts of interactions involving human beings that such entities make possible. The chapter supports this proposal by examining examples of some of the ways in which the digital products of emerging media differ from entities of other sorts. The chapter then draws consequences from this examination to demonstrate how these products mark out a new realm within the larger domain of social ontology.
New Media, Old Concerns: Heidegger Revisited
Authors: Kondor Zsuzsanna
Published: March 2016

According to Heidegger, the new, ready-to-hand instruments that technology can provide are, significantly, tools that create a framework within which humans’ relations to their environment change unnoticed. Heidegger touches on some of his era’s new media, such as radio and telephony, and an earlier invention, the typewriter. His analyses suggest that technological inventions have a distortive potential as they conceal the primordial relation to certain phenomena and activities. At the same time, however, he considers these processes to be unavoidable: at the very beginning, philosophical reasoning has gone astray. This chapter investigates new media against the background of Heidegger’s philosophical inquiry. It is beyond question that today’s new media are capable of transforming everyday and scientific practices, and, accordingly, entail the alteration of beliefs, expectations, and biases. The crucial question is whether new media can help us re-establish our primordial (now forgotten) relation to our environment.
Turing, Wittgenstein, and Emergence
Authors: Floyd Juliet
Published: March 2016

Emerging media are a product of the digital world that Alan Turing fathered. In 1936 Turing transformed the ancient notion of algorithm—by the 1920s central to mathematical logic—into the idea of a stored program computer. He based this transformation on the notion of a human “computor” calculating with pencil and paper, thereby envisioning the far-reaching implications of this work for everyday life. Like the philosopher Wittgenstein, with whom he discussed the foundations of mathematics, Turing recast the notions of truth and ontology by taking what we say and do as part of the world. The key philosophical ideas here are those of an interface and of the emergence of meaning. First, complexity and meaning are, in general, unforeseeable, while emerging in use. Second, what people say and what they mean can and often do diverge. Third, by using emerging media we can study such phenomena.
Leibniz on Symbolism as a Cognitive Instrument
Authors: Krämer Sybille
Published: March 2016

Leibniz’s goal is to transfer a novel form of nonlinguistic, operative writing, practiced in sixteenth- and seventeenth- century mathematics and written reckoning, to cognition and research in general. “Operative writing” is inspired by three attributes: (1) Symbolic language can be used as a technique for problem solving. (2) The rules of manipulating symbols can be independent of their interpretation. (3) Symbols do not only depict, but constitute knowledge. By introducing this kind of operative procedure, Leibniz hopes to reduce truth to correctness. Kurt Gödel in the twentieth century demonstrates the impossibility of the Leibnizian program. But its ongoing inheritance is that all reasoning depends on and is constituted by symbolism, be it linguistic, iconic, or written signs.
Explorations in the Grammar of “Being in Touch”: From Locke to Winch, from SMS to Skype
Authors: Harper Richard H. R.
Published: March 2016

This chapter reflects on various ways that the act of communication between persons has been treated in the social sciences and humanities. There is a distinction between a concern for acts as intelligible to those who engage in them and those perspectives that seek to offer views that somehow contrast the frameworks and reflexive practices constitutive of this intelligibility. Whatever the value of these contrastive views, a concern for the frameworks of intelligibility and their reflexive organization is the proper basis for identifying why and with what ends people communicate. The chapter illustrates this argument with explorations and a discussion of why people “Skype.”
Emerging Categories of Media Institutions
Authors: Lundsten Lars
Published: March 2016

New media challenges current ontological taxonomies of media institutions. A question, therefore, arises concerning critical media analysis, namely how do ontological differences between types of media institutions affect matters of power and responsibility. Whenever there is a visible change in media technology and media practices, there is a debate about the presumed negative—and positive—effects on society of that change. Generally speaking, there are two opposing attitudes. Radical commentators claim that society will change fundamentally due to the media development. Moderate commentators hold that such developments actually only enhance or augment existing practices, which means that good or bad tendencies in media use are the same as before. What is clear is that as (or if) media landscapes change strongly in favor of emerging media at the expense of traditional mass media, their political power will be decreased.
Parametric variation in nominal root compounding
Authors: Bauke Leah S.
Published: March 2016

This chapter re-examines the distinction that is standardly made between Romance and Germanic languages in nominal root compounding. In the former, nominal root compounding is characterized as unproductive, non-recursive, and non-compositional, whereas in the latter it is fully productive, recursive, and compositional. It is shown that this distinction, which is frequently described in macroparametric terms, is too broad, and it is argued that instead nominal root compounding shows typical characteristics of microparametric variation. This opens the path to the description of language internal and cross-linguistic variation. Two radically different, yet syntactic, derivational paths that generate either fully compositional and recursive compounds or non-compositional and non-recursive compounds are identified; these two paths allow the relevant distinctions to be captured without the need for a broad macroparameter.
Macroparameters break down under the weight of evidence
Authors: Jeong Youngmi
Published: March 2016

This chapter critically examines the recently posited “NP/DP” parameter by Bošković and finds it inadequate on multiple grounds. The problems faced by Bošković’s proposal is very reminiscent of the fate of many classical macroparameters, so the chapter concludes with a claim to the effect that many of the specific problems discussed here are inherent to the classical notion of parameter, which must therefore be abandoned.
The syntax of answers
Authors: Holmberg Anders
Published: March 2016

Answers to yes–no questions are sentences even when they are just a question particle or just a verb. An answer can be a declarative sentence expressing one of the alternative propositions posed by the question, or it may be a focused polarity feature spelled out as a particle or supported by a moved verb or moved remnant PolP, assigning value to an unvalued polarity feature inherited from the question, with the IP (PolP) deleted. The identity condition on ellipsis in answers is discussed and the distribution of answer types among world languages. There are two types of verb-echo answers, one derived by pro-drop and VP-ellipsis, the other derived by verb movement or remnant PolP-movement. A distinguishing test is proposed. The verb-echo type derived by movement is characteristic of about 25% of the world’s languages. The derivation of yes–no answers in Welsh, Finnish, and Thai is discussed in some detail.
How Industry Analysts Shape the Digital Future
Authors: Pollock Neil , Williams Robin
Published: March 2016

This book explores the emergence of a new class of expert—the industry analyst—whose advice has enormous impacts across IT markets. In just over 30 years, Gartner Inc. has emerged as market leader with 40 per cent of the revenue of this $4.4 billion industry. Gideon Gartner in establishing the firm that bears his name created a distinctive model for offering and trading advisory services that could primarily help technology adopters facing difficult procurement decisions. The book will provide detailed empirical focus on Gartner’s innovations which include novel approaches to generating, validating, and defending their pronouncements about the digital futures (‘IT predictions’), their differential assessments of the capabilities and prospects of vendors in the market (through its signature product the ‘Magic Quadrant’), and its potent naming interventions (‘product classifications’). These assessments, though much criticised, are all highly influential, having reshaped understandings and actions within emerging and current technology fields. Drawing on recent debates within science and technology studies, economic sociology, accounting, marketing and organisation studies, the book examines the extent to which industry analysts’ advice is ‘performative’: framing understandings within sectors and pushing or ‘nudging’ innovation pathways or technology procurement choices in particular directions. The book argues that what may be at stake is less the performativity of knowledge and more how knowledge is performed.
The Emergence of a New Expert
Authors: Pollock Neil , Williams Neil
Published: March 2016

The chapter explores how, in the late 1970s, Gideon Gartner reinvented industry market research around a novel concept of advisory services provided on a subscription basis to large numbers of technology adopters as well as vendors and investors. The book examines some of the ‘innovations’ introduced by Gideon Gartner which helped constitute this distinctive new body of expertise. This included integrating research and analysis to increase productivity of analysts and developing methods to generate knowledge relevant for action. In place of long technical market reports, Gartner introduced new formats that could be quickly absorbed. Its various knowledge products include the ‘Hype-Cycle’ that tracks the lifecycle of the emergence and establishment of technology fields and its signature output the ‘Magic Quadrant’. The latter are highly influential but, given the impacts of their differential assessments on vendors’ market prospects, are often highly controversial.
The Organization of Analyst Work
Authors: Pollock Neil , Williams Neil
Published: March 2016

The chapter examines the methods by which industry analysts generate and validate the knowledge that make up their predictions and rankings. A ‘think-tank culture’ within internal research communities is accompanied by increasing resort to formal methodologies and checking outputs driven by a desire to generate defensible knowledge and avoid litigation. The chapter examines the formation of these experts: their recruitment, induction and the evolution of their careers. In Gartner, analysts are selected not just on the basis of their technical knowledge but also their ability to present and defend positions. To enter the firm they must pass the ‘grace under fire’ test. Finally the chapter examines the day-to-day management of this expert labour. Their exceptional knowledge of particular areas frustrates detailed task management. As well as volumes of outputs (‘publish or die’), they are assessed and rewarded in the basis of detailed assessment of client satisfaction and subscription renewal rates.
The Professionalization of Business Knowledge
Authors: Pollock Neil , Williams Neil
Published: March 2016

The chapter conceptualizes this novel form of expertise through drawing upon the Sociology of Professions, the Sociology of Science and its extension into the Sociology of Markets. The chapter shows how the initial ideas underpinning the industry analyst role drew upon, but also differed from, various models of technical expertise such as market research, investment analysts, management consultants and journalism. Though drawing parallels with traditional professional (e.g. scientific) expertise (involving a ‘truth element’) analysts describe their work as differing from it (‘pseudo-academic’). The chapter shows that industry analysts, like management consultants, did not need to pursue a professionalization strategy to validate their knowledge but instead use the ‘brand’ of established firms as a guarantor of the quality and reliability of their expertise. However they differ from management consultants (who they portray as users of their research) in that they seek ‘cognitive authority’ over technical fields.
Venues of High Tech Prediction
Authors: Pollock Neil , Williams Neil
Published: March 2016

Gartner makes predictions on a regular basis but it does not seem to matter if it gets these forecasts ‘wrong’: there appears no decline in number of predictions made, the appetite for this knowledge, or standing of those producing them. How might the chapter explain this paradox? The chapter argues that Gideon Gartner got around problems regarding the accuracy of predictions by shifting this form of knowledge making from the circulation of paper to face-to-face presentations at conferences. Crucially the conference venue allowed analysts to simultaneously state and legitimate knowledge. These venues were deliberately organized to encourage audiences to interact with analysts and evaluate the knowledge presented. Departing from studies that foreground the ‘accuracy’ of predictions, the chapter describes how predictions are subject to more ‘plural’ methods of assessment. The chapter discusses in particular its ‘utility’ amongst Gartner clients, and how Gartner analysts gauge the effectiveness of their knowledge through provoking reactions from audiences.
Replica theory and spin glasses
Authors: Parisi Giorgio
Published: March 2016

This chapter starts with an introduction to the replica method, a standard method in statistical physics, along with a concrete application to the computation of the eigenvalue distribution of random matrices in the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble. The solution of the Sherrington–Kirkpatrick (SK) disordered spin-glass model is then derived, along with the phenomenon of replica symmetry breaking (RSB). The physical meaning of the RSB is explained. The ultrametricity of the space of pure states emerges as a consequence of the hierarchical RSB scheme. Moreover, it is shown how some low-temperature properties of physical observables can be derived by invoking the stochastic stability principle. Some rigorous results on the SK model are described: the existence of the thermodynamic limit, and the proof of the exactness of the hierarchical RSB solution.
Statistical estimation: from denoising to sparse regression and hidden cliques
Authors: Montanari Andrea
Published: March 2016

This chapter provides a gentle introduction to some modern topics in high-dimensional statistics, statistical learning, and signal processing for an audience who may not have any previous background in these areas. The pedagogical path of the chapter is to first connect recent advances in these fields to the basic topics of statistics, such as estimation, regression, and bias-variance trade-off, as well as to classical—although non-elementary—developments such as sparse estimation and wavelet denoising. After this theoretical introduction, the chapter presents results from more recent research, including discussions on sparse linear regression, the theory of compressed sensing as well as sparse signal reconstruction, approximate message passing, and also sparse and low-rank matrix factorization problems with applications to hidden clique discovery within large networks.
From the Origins to the End of the Third Century
Authors: Houghton H.A.G.
Published: March 2016

The earliest Christian authors writing in Latin, such as Tertullian and Victorinus of Poetovio, seem to have used a Greek New Testament and made their own translations. Cyprian of Carthage, in the middle of the third century, provides the first secure evidence for a fixed form of the Latin Bible. All surviving Latin New Testament books appear to derive from a single original translation, probably made in Africa at the beginning of the third century. This was revised in different ways at different times, leading to a multiplicity of later forms. The earliest translation was less literal than later texts, but demonstrates linguistic competence and offers significant evidence for readings in Greek tradition. Although the concept of ‘Christian Latin’ is outdated, the language of biblical texts coloured the writings of Christian authors.