bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Yb substitution on room temperature magnetic and dielectric properties of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles
Authors: Remya K. P. , Amirthapandian S. , Manivel Raja M. , Viswanathan C. , Ponpandian N.
Published: October 2016

Effect of the Yb dopant on the structural, magnetic, and electrical properties of the multiferroic BiFeO3 have been studied. The structural properties of sol-gel derived Bi1-xYbxFeO3 (x = 0.0, 0.1, and 0.2) nanoparticles reveal the formation of a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite in XRD and a reduction in the average grain size have been observed with an increase in the Yb concentration. Microstructural studies exhibited the formation of sphere like morphology with decreasing particle size with increase in the dopant concentration. The effective doping also resulted in larger magnetization as well as coercivity with the maximum of 257 Oe and 1.76 emu/g in the Bi0.8Yb0.2FeO3 nanoparticles. Ferroelectric as well as dielectric properties of the nanoparticles were also improved on doping. The best results were obtained for the BiFeO3 nanoparticles having Yb concentration x = 0.2.
The pyroelectric coefficient of free standing GaN grown by HVPE
Authors: Jachalke Sven , Hofmann Patrick , Leibiger Gunnar , Habel Frank S. , Mehner Erik , Leisegang Tilmann , Meyer Dirk C. , Mikolajick Thomas
Published: October 2016

The present study reports on the temperature dependent pyroelectric coefficient of free-standing and strain-free gallium nitride (GaN) grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE). The Sharp-Garn method is applied to extract the pyroelectric coefficient from the electrical current response of the crystals subjected to a sinusoidal temperature excitation in a range of 0 °C to 160 °C. To avoid compensation of the pyroelectric response by an internal conductivity, insulating GaN crystals were used by applying C, Mn, and Fe doping during HVPE growth. The different pyroelectric coefficients observed at room temperature due to the doping correlate well with the change of the lattice parameter c. The obtained data are compared to previously published theoretical and experimental values of thin film GaN and discussed in terms of a strained lattice.
Temperature measurements for shocked polymethylmethacrylate, epoxy resin, and polytetrafluoroethylene and their equations of state
Authors: Bordzilovskii S. A. , Karakhanov S. M. , Merzhievskii L. A. , Voronin M. S.
Published: October 2016

This paper presents the results of computational and experimental studies of the temperature along the shock adiabat for three polymers. Measurements of the brightness temperatures of shock-compressed epoxy resin and polymethylmethacrylate and the brightness and color temperatures of shock-compressed polytetrafluoroethylene were carried out. The temperatures of the shock-compressed polymethylmethacrylate were determined in the range 1390–1900 K for shock pressures of 22–39 GPa. Similar measurements performed for epoxy resin in the pressure range of 18–40 GPa showed values of 940–1900 K, and the temperatures of polytetrafluoroethylene in the pressure range of 30–50 GPa were equal to 2000–3200 K. The equation of state for the three polymers with a nonspherical strain tensor was constructed to describe shock-wave and high-temperature processes in a wide range of thermodynamic parameters. In the proposed model, two Grüneisen parameters were used: the thermodynamic parameter corresponding to intrachain vibrations and the lattice parameter representing the contribution of interchain vibrations. The brightness temperatures of shocked-compressed polymethylmethacrylate and epoxy resin showed a good agreement with calculations using the proposed model and with the results of earlier calculation methods. Time dependences of the observed intensity of light were used to determine the absorption coefficients of the shocked polymers and estimate the effective thickness of the radiating layer. A typical feature of all the polymers is the width of the radiating layer of 0.8 to 2.5 mm, depending on the material and shock pressure.
Chaotic sequences for noisy environments
Authors: Carroll T. L. , Rachford F. J.
Published: October 2016

There have been many attempts to apply chaotic signals to communications or radar, but one obstacle has been that there is no effective way to recover chaotic signals from noise larger than the signal. In this work, we create “pseudo-chaotic” signals by concatenating dictionary sequences generated from a chaotic attractor. Because the number of dictionary sequences is finite, these pseudo-chaotic signals are not actually chaotic, but they can still contain some of the desirable properties of chaos. Using dictionary sequences allows the pseudo-chaotic signal to be recovered from noise using a correlation detector and a Viterbi decoder, so the signal can be recovered from noise or interference that is larger than the signal itself.
N-type control of single-crystal diamond films by ultra-lightly phosphorus doping
Authors: Kato Hiromitsu , Ogura Masahiko , Makino Toshiharu , Takeuchi Daisuke , Yamasaki Satoshi
Published: October 2016

A wide impurity doping range of p- and n-type diamond semiconductors will facilitate the development of various electronics. This study focused on producing n-type diamond with ultra-lightly impurity doping concentrations. N-type single-crystal diamond films were grown on (111)-oriented diamond substrates by phosphorus doping using the optimized doping conditions based on microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition with a high magnetron output power of 3600 W. The surface morphology was investigated by an optical microscopy using the Nomarski prism and confocal laser microscopy, and the phosphorus concentration was estimated by a secondary ion mass spectrometry. The phosphorus concentration was reproducibly controlled to between 2 × 1015 and 3 × 1017 cm−3 using a standard mass flow controller, and the average incorporation efficiency was around 0.1%. The electrical properties of the films were characterized by the Hall effect measurements as a function of temperature over a wide range from 220 to 900 K. N-type conductivity with thermal activation from a phosphorus donor level at around 0.57 eV was clearly observed for all the phosphorus-doped diamond films. The electron mobility of the film with a phosphorus concentration of 2 × 1015 cm−3 was recorded at 1060 cm2/V s at 300 K and 1500 cm2/V s at 225 K.
X-band frequency response and electromagnetic interference shielding in multiferroic BiFeO3 nanomaterials
Authors: Reshi Hilal Ahmad , Singh Avanish Pratap , Pillai Shreeja , Para Touseef Ahmad , Dhawan S. K. , Shelke Vilas
Published: October 2016

The presence of electric dipoles, magnetic dipoles and mobile charges is a prerequisite for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. Here, we demonstrate that multiferroic compound with incipient ensemble of electric and magnetic dipoles can perform as an EMI shielding material. We synthesized single phase BiFeO3 nanomaterial and studied complex electromagnetic properties in an X-band frequency region. A shielding effectiveness up to 11 dB with a major contribution from absorption was observed in the BiFeO3 nanomaterials. An auxiliary functionality of radiation shielding is revealed in the multiferroic BiFeO3 compound.
Strong room temperature electroluminescence from lateral p-SiGe/i-Ge/n-SiGe heterojunction diodes on silicon-on-insulator substrate
Authors: Lin Guangyang , Yi Xiaohui , Li Cheng , Chen Ningli , Zhang Lu , Chen Songyan , Huang Wei , Wang Jianyuan , Xiong Xihuan , Sun Jiaming
Published: October 2016

A lateral p-Si0.05Ge0.95/i-Ge/n-Si0.05Ge0.95 heterojunction light emitting diode on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate was proposed, which is profitable to achieve higher luminous extraction compared to vertical junctions. Due to the high carrier injection ratio of heterostructures and optical reflection at the SiO2/Si interface of the SOI, strong room temperature electroluminescence (EL) at around 1600 nm from the direct bandgap of i-Ge with 0.30% tensile strain was observed. The EL peak intensity of the lateral heterojunction is enhanced by ∼4 folds with a larger peak energy than that of the vertical Ge p-i-n homojunction, suggesting that the light emitting efficiency of the lateral heterojunction is effectively improved. The EL peak intensity of the lateral heterojunction, which increases quadratically with injection current density, becomes stronger for diodes with a wider i-Ge region. The CMOS compatible fabrication process of the lateral heterojunctions paves the way for the integration of the light source with the Ge metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor.
Improvement of color conversion and efficiency droop in hybrid light-emitting diodes utilizing an efficient non-radiative resonant energy transfer
Authors: Zhuang Zhe , Dai Jiangping , Liu Bin , Guo Xu , Li Yi , Tao Tao , Zhi Ting , Zhang Guogang , Xie Zili , Ge Haixiong , Shi Yi , Zheng Youdou , Zhang Rong
Published: October 2016

Blue InGaN/GaN nanohole light-emitting diodes have been fabricated by soft UV-curing nanoimprint lithography, filling with CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals (NCs) as color conversion mediums. The excitonic recombination dynamics of hybrid nanohole light-emitting diodes were investigated by time-resolved photoluminescence, observing a significant reduction in the decay lifetime of excitons as a result of an efficient non-radiative resonant energy transfer, which leads to the improvement of color conversion and efficiency droop in these hybrid nanohole light-emitting diodes compared to hybrid nanocrystals/standard planar light-emitting diodes. The color-conversion efficiency and effective quantum yield of hybrid nanohole light-emitting diodes were nearly twice as much as those of hybrid standard light-emitting diodes. A model on the excitonic recombination process was proposed to explore this situation, explaining the advantages of non-radiative resonant energy transfer that avoiding energy loss associated with the intermediate light emission and conversion steps and transferring energy non-radiatively and resonantly to NCs with a higher quantum yield. The efficiency droop of hybrid nanohole light-emitting diodes was validly suppressed compared to the bare ones, even better than that of hybrid standard light-emitting diodes. It mainly results from the extraction of excess carrier concentrations in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells via the rapid non-radiative resonant energy transfer process under the higher injection condition, revealing a great potential to realize efficient white light emitters in the future.
Low loss, high tunable BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3/BaSn0.85Ti0.15O3 heterostructure thin films
Authors: Yu Shihui , Zhang Jieling , Li Lingxia , Zheng Haoran , Zhang Weifeng
Published: October 2016

Ferroelectric BaZr0.2Ti0.8O3/BaSn0.85Ti0.15O3 (BZT/BTS) heterostructure thin films (∼200-nm-thick) have been prepared on Pt/TiOx/SiO2/Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The heterostructure thin films are crack free, compact, and crystallized in a perovskite structure. Dielectric measurements indicate that the BZT/BTS heterostructure thin films exhibit a low dielectric loss of below 0.007, a medium dielectric constant of ∼441, and the superior tunable dielectric properties at room temperature. Calculations of tunability and figure of merit (FOM) display a maximum value of 68.5% at 500 kV/cm and ∼101, respectively. The FOM value is higher than that of the single-layer BTS and BZT thin films. A brief discussion is given on the lower loss compared to the single-layer thin films. The results indicate that BZT/BTS heterostructure thin films are excellent candidates for electrically steerable applications.
Architecture of a minimal signaling pathway explains the T-cell response to a 1 million-fold variation in antigen affinity and dose
Authors: Lever Melissa , Lim Hong-Sheng , Kruger Philipp , Nguyen John , Trendel Nicola , Abu-Shah Enas , Maini Philip Kumar , van der Merwe Philip Anton , Dushek Omer
Published: October 2016

Significance

T cells initiate and regulate adaptive immune responses when their T-cell antigen receptors recognize antigens. The T-cell response is known to depend on the antigen affinity/dose, but the precise relationship, and the mechanisms underlying it, are debated. To resolve the debate, we stimulated T cells with antigens spanning a 1 million-fold range in affinity/dose. We found that a different antigen (and hence different affinity) produced the largest T-cell response at different doses. Using model identification algorithms, we report a simple mechanistic model that can predict the T-cell response from the physiological low-affinity regime into the high-affinity regime applicable to therapeutic receptors.
Theory of prokaryotic genome evolution
Authors: Sela Itamar , Wolf Yuri I. , Koonin Eugene V.
Published: October 2016

Significance

Bacteria and archaea have small genomes with tightly packed protein-coding genes. Typically, this genome architecture is explained by “genome streamlining” (minimization) under selection for high replication rate. We developed a mathematical model of microbial evolution and tested it against extensive data from multiple genome comparisons to identify the key evolutionary forces. The results indicate that genome evolution is not governed by streamlining but rather, reflects the balance between the benefit of additional genes that diminishes with the genome size and the intrinsic preference for DNA deletion over acquisition. These results explain the observation that, in an apparent contradiction with the population genetic theory, microbes with large genomes reach higher abundance and are subject to stronger selection than small “streamlined” genomes.
Dynamic microRNAome profiles in the developing porcine liver
Authors: Liu Yihui , Jin Long , Lou Pengbo , Gu Yiren , Li Mingzhou , Li Xuewei
Published: October 2016

Increasing evidence suggests that micro (mi)RNAs play important roles in various biological process. To evaluate the roles of miRNA in the porcine liver, we investigated the dynamic profiles of microRNAomes using liver tissue from pigs during the embryonic period (embryonic day 90), weaning stage (postnatal day 30), and adult stage (7 years old). A total of 186 unique miRNAs were differentially expressed during liver development. We also identified that 17, 13, and 6 miRNAs were specifically abundant at embryonic day 90, postnatal day 30, and at 7 years, respectively. Besides regulating basic cellular roles in development, miRNAs expressed at the three developmental stages also participated in regulating “embryonic liver development,” “early hepatic growth and generating a functioning liver,” and “energy metabolic processes,” respectively. Our study indicates that miRNAs are extensively involved in liver development, and provides a valuable resource for the further elucidation of miRNA regulatory roles during liver development.
Estimating shifts in diversification rates based on higher-level phylogenies
Authors: Stadler Tanja , Smrckova Jana
Published: October 2016

Macroevolutionary studies recently shifted from only reconstructing the past state, i.e. the species phylogeny, to also infer the past speciation and extinction dynamics that gave rise to the phylogeny. Methods for estimating diversification dynamics are sensitive towards incomplete species sampling. We introduce a method to estimate time-dependent diversification rates from phylogenies where clades of a particular age are represented by only one sampled species. A popular example of this type of data is phylogenies on the genus- or family-level, i.e. phylogenies where one species per genus or family is included. We conduct a simulation study to validate our method in a maximum-likelihood framework. Further, this method has already been introduced into the Bayesian package M
r
B
ayes
, which led to new insights into the evolution of Hymenoptera.
Migratory life histories explain the extreme egg-size dimorphism of
Eudyptes
penguins
Authors: Crossin Glenn T. , Williams Tony D.
Published: October 2016

When successive stages in the life history of an animal directly overlap, physiological conflicts can arise resulting in carryover effects from one stage to another. The extreme egg-size dimorphism (ESD) of
Eudyptes
penguins, where the first-laid A-egg is approximately 18–57% smaller than the second-laid B-egg, has interested researchers for decades. Recent studies have linked variation in this trait to a carryover effect of migration that limits the physiology of yolk production and egg sizes. We assembled data on ESD and estimates of migration–reproduction overlap in penguin species and use phylogenetic methods to test the idea that migration–reproduction overlap explains variation in ESD. We show that migration overlap is generally restricted to
Eudyptes
relative to non-
Eudyptes
penguins, and that this overlap (defined as the amount of time that egg production occurs on land versus at sea during homeward migration) is significantly and positively correlated with the degree of ESD in
Eudyptes
. In the non-
Eudyptes
species, however, ESD was unrelated to migration overlap as these species mostly produce their clutches on land. Our results support the recent hypothesis that extreme ESD of
Eudyptes
penguins evolved, in part, as a response to selection for a pelagic overwinter migration behaviour. This resulted in a temporal overlap with, and thus a constraint on, the physiology of follicle development, leading to smaller A-egg size and greater ESD.
Technical Note: Bone mineral density measurements of strontium‐rich trabecular bone‐mimicking phantoms using quantitative ultrasound
Authors: Rizvi Bisma , Da Silva Eric , Slatkovska Luba , Cheung Angela M. , Tavakkoli Jahan , Pejović‐Milić Ana
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Bone quantity, as determined by the current gold standard, dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), through measured areal bone mineral density (aBMD), is subject to positive biases if bone strontium levels are high. This is of particular concern for populations administered strontium‐based compounds for the treatment of osteoporosis. This study investigated the dependence of bone mineral density (BMD) determinations, and associated ultrasound‐determined indices, obtained by quantitative ultrasound (QUS), on bone strontium content using a new generation of trabecular bone‐mimicking phantoms.

Methods

A new generation of bone‐mimicking phantoms, consisting of hydroxyapatite (HA) and gelatin, was developed. Castor oil layers were included in these phantoms to create a multilayer bone‐mimicking phantom. These phantoms were prepared using a bone mineral fraction consisting of varying strontium concentrations in the range of 0–2.5% mol/mol as strontium‐substituted HA. The effect of varying bone strontium content on determined quality indices was evaluated based on determined speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and determined quantitative ultrasound index (QUI) for phantoms with varying BMD values and varying strontium concentration using two QUS systems: a clinical Sahara® system and an in‐house research system with two identical transducers with center frequency of 1 MHz. The two QUS systems were also compared through a Bland–Altman analysis.

Results

Both the clinical system and the research QUS systems showed a strong dependency between BMD and BUA, indicating a potential for QUS to be used as a means of estimating BMD (p = 0.001). SOS was found to have no correlation to BMD (p = 0.546). There was no correlation observed between BUA and increasing bone strontium concentrations for the research (p = 0.749) and clinical (p = 0.609) QUS systems. Similarly, no dependency was observed between the SOS and bone strontium levels up to 2.5 mol/mol [Sr/(Sr+Ca)]% for the research (p = 0.862) and clinical (p = 0.481) QUS systems. No effect on the QUI values was observed with changing strontium levels with either research (p = 0.939) or clinical QUS systems (p = 0.931). A Bland–Altman analysis showed that there was a clear offset in determined QUI values for both systems but they are in agreement with one another.

Conclusions

Bone quality can be assessed through the use of QUS while increasing bone strontium concentration was found to have no effect on QUS‐determined quality indices. This study concludes that QUS can potentially be used for the determination of bone quality without introducing biases due to bone strontium levels as is known to be the case with DXA determined aBMD.
Breast parenchymal patterns in processed versus raw digital mammograms: A large population study toward assessing differences in quantitative measures across image representations
Authors: Gastounioti Aimilia , Oustimov Andrew , Keller Brad M. , Pantalone Lauren , Hsieh Meng‐Kang , Conant Emily F. , Kontos Despina
Published: October 2016

Purpose

With raw digital mammograms (DMs), which retain the relationship with x‐ray attenuation of the breast tissue, not being routinely available, processed DMs are often the only viable means to acquire imaging measures. The authors investigate differences in quantitative measures of breast density and parenchymal texture, shown to have value in breast cancer risk assessment, between the two DM representations.

Methods

The authors report data from 8458 pairs of bilateral raw (“FOR PROCESSING”) and processed (“FOR PRESENTATION”) DMs acquired from 4278 women undergoing routine screening evaluation, collected with DM units from two different vendors. Breast dense tissue area and percent density (PD), as well as a range of quantitative descriptors of breast parenchymal texture (statistical, co‐occurrence, run‐length, and structural descriptors), were measured using previously validated, fully automated software. Feature measurements were compared using matched‐pairs Wilcoxon signed‐ranks test, correlation (r), and linear‐mixed‐effects (LME) models, where potential interactions with woman‐ and system‐specific factors were also assessed. The authors also compared texture feature correlations with the established risk factors of the Gail lifetime risk score (rG) and breast PD (rPD), and evaluated the within woman intraclass feature correlation (ICC), a measure of bilateral breast‐tissue symmetry, in raw versus processed images.

Results

All density measures and most of the texture features were strongly (r ≥ 0.6) or moderately (0.4 ≤ r < 0.6) correlated between raw and processed images. However, measurements were significantly different between the two imaging formats (Wilcoxon signed‐ranks test, pw < 0.05). The association between measurements varied across features and vendors, and was substantially modified by woman‐ and system‐specific image acquisition factors, such as age, BMI, and mAs/kVp, respectively. The strongest correlation, combined with minimal LME‐model interactions, was observed for structural texture features. Overall, texture measures from either image representation were weakly associated with Gail lifetime risk (−0.2 ≤ rG ≤ 0.2), weakly to moderately associated with breast PD (−0.6 ≤ rPD ≤ 0.6), and had overall strong bilateral symmetry (ICC ≥ 0.6).

Conclusions

Differences in measures from processed versus raw DM depend highly on the feature, the DM vendor, and image acquisition settings, where structural features appear to be more robust across the different DM settings. The reported findings may serve as a reference in the design of future large‐scale studies on mammographic features and breast cancer risk assessment involving multiple DM representations.
Microbial Succession and Flavor Production in the Fermented Dairy Beverage Kefir
Authors: Walsh Aaron M. , Crispie Fiona , Kilcawley Kieran , O’Sullivan Orla , O’Sullivan Maurice G. , Claesson Marcus J. , Cotter Paul D.
Published: October 2016

Traditional fermented foods represent relatively low-complexity microbial environments that can be used as model microbial communities to understand how microbes interact in natural environments. Our results illustrate the dynamic nature of kefir fermentations and microbial succession patterns therein. In the process, the link between individual species, and associated pathways, with flavor compounds is revealed and several genes that could be responsible for the purported gut health-associated benefits of consuming kefir are identified. Ultimately, in addition to providing an important fundamental insight into microbial interactions, this information can be applied to optimize the fermentation processes, flavors, and health-related attributes of this and other fermented foods.
Quasi-Transitive Rationality of Fuzzy Choice Functions Through Indicators
Authors: Desai S. S. , Desai A. S.
Published: October 2016

The aim of this paper is to study a quasi-transitive rationality of the fuzzy choice functions through indicators. In this paper, we introduce the indicators of the path independent property, fuzzy Condorcet property and fuzzy [Formula: see text] condition of a fuzzy choice function. These indicators measure the degree to which the fuzzy choice function satisfies the fuzzy path independent, fuzzy Condorcet property and fuzzy [Formula: see text] condition, respectively. We express the indicator of quasi-transitive rationality in terms of the indicator of the path independent, Condorcet property and fuzzy [Formula: see text] condition.
Placental Growth Factor, Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1, Soluble Endoglin, IL-6, and IL-16 as Biomarkers in Preeclampsia
Authors: Rădulescu Carmen , Bacârea Anca , Huțanu Adina , Gabor Rozalia , Dobreanu Minodora
Published: October 2016

Preeclampsia (PE), an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, is a pregnancy-related disease characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. The aim of our study was to find a practical panel of biomarkers useful in early diagnosis of PE. This study was carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department in Tîrgu Mureș University Hospital, Romania, between January 2014 and July 2015 and included 68 pregnant women (47 preeclamptic women and 21 controls) with gestational age between 16 and 20 weeks at enrollment. The biomarkers PlGF, sFlt-1, sEng, IL-6, and IL-16 were determined by ELISA test. We compared the serum levels of soluble markers analysed in preeclamptic women and controls during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and we found that the best predictor for PE was PlGF with a sensitivity of 100% at a concentration threshold of 120.16 pg/mL, a diagnosis accuracy of 70.8%, and AUC of 0.684 (p=0.005). We also estimated the risk for PE according to BMI and we found that pregnant women with weight >90 kg had 7 times higher risk for PE. Second-trimester PlGF serum level may serve as an early biomarker for the diagnosis of PE.
On Degrees of Modular Common Divisors and the Big PrimegcdAlgorithm
Authors: Mikaelian Vahagn
Published: October 2016

We consider a few modifications of the Big prime modulargcdalgorithm for polynomials inZ[x]. Our modifications are based on bounds of degrees of modular common divisors of polynomials, on estimates of the number of prime divisors of a resultant, and on finding preliminary bounds on degrees of common divisors using auxiliary primes. These modifications are used to suggest improved algorithms forgcdcalculation and for coprime polynomials detection. To illustrate the ideas we apply the constructed algorithms on certain polynomials, in particular on polynomials from Knuth’s example of intermediate expression swell.
Serum Amyloid A Promotes E-Selectin Expression via Toll-Like Receptor 2 in Human Aortic Endothelial Cells
Authors: Nishida Eisaku , Aino Makoto , Kobayashi Shu-ichiro , Okada Kosuke , Ohno Tasuku , Kikuchi Takeshi , Hayashi Jun-ichiro , Yamamoto Genta , Hasegawa Yoshiaki , Mitani Akio
Published: October 2016

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the periodontium. Recent studies suggest an association between periodontal and cardiovascular diseases. However, the detailed molecular mechanism is unknown. A previous study has demonstrated that experimental periodontitis induces serum amyloid A (SAA) in the liver and peripheral blood of ApoE-deficient mice as an atherosclerosis model. SAA is an acute-phase protein that affects systemic inflammation. The aim of this study is to investigate the atherosclerosis-onset mechanism using human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) stimulated by SAAin vitro. Atherosclerosis PCR array and qPCR analyses showed upregulation of adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin in HAECs upon SAA stimulation. In addition, the results demonstrated that Toll-like receptor, TLR2, could serve as an important receptor of SAA in HAECs. Furthermore, small interfering RNA (siRNA) against TLR2 inhibited the upregulation of adhesion molecules in HAECs stimulated by SAA. Our results suggest that SAA stimulates the expression of adhesion molecules via TLR2. SAA could be an important molecule for atherosclerosis induced by periodontal disease.
Synthesis and Modeling of Temperature Distribution For Nanoparticles Produced Using Nd:YAG Lasers
Authors: Hassan Mu’ataz S. , Taha Ziad A. , Rasheed Bassam G.
Published: October 2016

Nanosecond pulses of Nd:YAG laser were employed to produce silver and silicon nanoparticles by laser ablation process in liquid. Two Nd:YAG laser systems of 6 and 10 nanoseconds pulse duration with variable laser energy in the range 700–760 mJ were employed. Morphological investigation using AFM and TEM reveals the formation of silver and silicon nanoparticles with uniform size distribution. It is found that mean nanoparticles sizes of 50 and 70 nm for silver and silicon, respectively, are produced under similar laser parameters. Moreover, theoretical model was used to estimate the temperature distributions for both silver and silicon nanoparticles. It is also found that the maximum temperature of about 50 k K° and 70 k K° for silver and silicon nanoparticles, respectively, is generated when Nd:YAG of 10 ns is used to prepare nanoparticles. Zeta potential measurements reveal that silver nanoparticles are more stable than those of silicon prepared by similar conditions.
Ineffabilities of Making Music: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Schmicking Daniel A.
Published: October 2016

Some facets of making music are explored by combining arguments of Raffman's cognitivist explanation of ineffability with Merleau-Ponty's view of embodied perception. Behnke's approach to a phenomenology of playing a musical instrument serves as a further source. Focusing on the skilled performer-listener, several types of ineffable knowledge of performing music are identified: gesture feeling ineffability—the performer's sensorimotor knowledge of the gestures necessary to produce instrumental sounds is not exhaustively communicable via language; gesture nuance ineffability—the performer is aware of nuances of instrumental gestures, e.g., micro-variations of intensity or duration of musical gestures, but cannot perceptually, and consequently conceptually, categorize those fine-grained variations; and ineffabilities of inter-subjectivity—the non-verbal interaction between performers that makes a performance a vibrant dialogue is similarly incommunicable. An attempt to identify some of the ineffable dimensions of this dialogue is proposed. Further ineffabilities relating the acoustical embedding of performing are identified.
A Phenomenological Investigation of the Experience of Not Belonging
Authors: Clegg Joshua W.
Published: October 2016

This study employed the Duquesne method of phenomenology to explore eight participants' experiences of not belonging. These experiences began with a discomforting sense of difference that then developed into self-conscious, wary behavior. This experience was followed by attempts at interpersonal transformation whose success led to an episodic view of not belonging and whose failure led to a more dramatic, personalized, isolating, and permanent view of not belonging. Such a view was also accompanied by a profound transformation in how the participants experienced themselves, others, and their social environments. Among the most interesting findings in this research were the descriptions of isolated belonging—a pattern of relating involving many interpersonally distant relationships—and consistent, generalized not belonging—an experience where not belonging is the primary mode of interpersonal relation.
Der Abfassungszweck des sogenannten Haereticarum fabularum compendium des Theodoret von Kyrrhos
Authors: Scholten Clemens
Published: October 2016

The date of origin, the addressee and the intended purpose of Theodoret’s of Cyrrhus so-called Haereticarum fabularum compendium demonstrate the profound connection of the writing to the christological dispute between 448 and 452. The significance of the text for the history of heresies and for the reconstruction of texts of Early Christianity is therefore small.
The United Nations Prosecution Support Cell Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo – A Strategy to Combat Impunity for Serious Crimes
Authors: Briefel Charles , Tredici Ignacio
Published: October 2016

The Prosecutions Support Cells is a programme of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), aimed at improving the capacity of the military judicial authorities to investigate and prosecute the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of sexual violence perpetrated in the eastern provinces of the country. Notwithstanding the challenges faced by the pscs and, subject to a number of adjustments and improvements, this model of assistance in the fight against impunity for international and other serious crimes (including transnational crimes) could be replicated in similar post-conflict contexts where United Nations peace operations are mandated to support efforts to achieve peace, stability and security.
The EU, the Arctic, and Arctic Indigenous Peoples
Authors: Scarpa Federica
Published: October 2016

Acknowledging the EU’s problematic relationship with Arctic indigenous peoples, and considering that it is currently struggling to find its role within the Arctic governance, this paper argues that a more committed approach toward Arctic indigenous peoples by the EU would not only be in line with the EU’s strong commitment toward human rights promotion worldwide and the relevance accorded to indigenous peoples within the gradual formulation of an Arctic Policy, but could also highly benefit the advancement of indigenous peoples rights in the Arctic while positively strengthening the EU’s role within Arctic governance.
China’s Reform and Opening-Up and Choices in How to Regulate Associations: An Interview with Chen Jinluo
Authors:   The Editorial Board of The China Nonprofit Review
Published: October 2016

With China’s reform and opening-up drive in full swing in the late 1980s, the number of voluntarily organized associations was on the rise and different demands were reflected in the sector of civic association. An urgent need arose for the status, role, rights and duties of voluntarily organized associations to be defined in basic laws in line with the constitutional principle concerning civil society. The drafting of a law was put on the agenda to guarantee the rights of associations and their law-based development. This article reviews the background against which The Law on Association was drafted, the drafting process, the main content of the law, and the contentions in the drafting process, before recounting the drafting of the Regulations on Registration and Administration of Social Groups and the establishment of the Department for the Management of Social Groups. It is hoped that the experience may provide useful information for the legislation on social groups that is in the pipeline.
Connecteurs Ad Versatifs Mais Et Keshi
Authors: Hoa Monique
Published: October 2016

The author considers the use of the adversative ke (shi) in modern Chinese and opposes it to French mais. Conducted within the framework of pragmatics, this study shows an analogous functioning for these two adversatives when they express oppositions refering to the contents of utterances but a different one when they express oppositions refering to enunciation and non-speech acts. An attempt has been also made at defining the semantieopragmatic relationship between post-subject and pre-subject ke (shi).
Syntaxe, Morphologie Et Genese De La Forme Dite "Hypothetique" Du Palau
Authors: Lemarechal Alain
Published: October 2016

The so-called "Hypothetical" Form (L.S. Josephs, 1975) is one of the enigmas of the Palauan language. 1) It can be interpreted, syntactically, as a form of the predicate which is not oriented towards one of the participants but towards the process itself; 2) morphologically, a) the subject prefix which characterizes that form is an ancient Possessive Personal Marker (cf. ponapean); b) the change in the verb stem which is the other characteristic of the "H" Form constitutes by itself the mark of the change of orientation (cf. tagalog). Finally the almost omnipresent a morpheme, an other enigma, is derived from an ancient General-Classifier (cf. ponapean language).
Tonogénèse, registrogénèse et traits laryngals binaires
Authors: Brunelle Mare
Published: October 2016

Tonogenesis as described by André G. Haudricourt can be represented by using a limited set of distinctive laryngeal features. These binary and articulatory distinctive features, combined with a phonological representation inspired by feature geometry, allow us to propose a simple model for tonogenesis and registrogenesis. Phenomena cIosely related to register, like phonation type and vowel quality, mayaiso be accounted for by this model. We conclude with an attempt at using the proposed laryngeal features in a synchronie analysis of the tone systems of a few modem Southeast Asian languages.
Short notes and data
Authors: FERLUS Michel
Published: October 2016

In Viet-Muong languages certain words present anomalous tonal correspondences, a high-series tone in the northern languages being represented by its low-tone series counterpart in the southern languages. The third type of these discrepancies is the result of a former correspondence between a northern voiceless plosive initial series and a southern voiced plosive. This difference in the phonetic treatment of initials in the same roots seems to be due to the influence of two different substrata which coincide with two political divisions of Ancient Vietnam.
Temporal phrases in the Shiji: adverbials indicating a point of time
Authors: MEISTERERNST Barbara
Published: October 2016

In this paper, the syntax and the semantics of deictic temporal adverbials - complex temporal noun phrases and prepositional phrases with yi 以 - that locate a situation on the time axis are at issue. Although these adverbials differ syntactically, they can represent both independent (calendar adverbials) and dependent adverbials which are related to a previously established time. Within a framework based on Reichenbach's distinction of the temporal categories speech time, event (situation) time, and reference time and on a fourth category TA time which focuses on the time inherent in the temporal adverbial, it will be shown how these adverbials contribute to the temporal interpretation of a sentence.
CHAIN SHIFTS IN CHINESE HISTORICAL PHONOLOGY : PROBLEMS OF MOTIVATION AND FUNCTIONALITY
Authors: Baron Stephen P.
Published: October 2016

L’auteur passe en revue plusieurs cas de changements vocaliques et consonantiqu.es en chaîne en chinois et s’interroge sur leur signification fonctionnelle. Il observe que des changements dont la motivation est apparemment de maintenir des contrastes phonologiques aboutissent souvent à la disparition des mêmes contrastes. Après avoir critiqué les vues opposes de Labor et de Lass sur la fonctionnalité des changements phonétiques, il aboutit à la conclusion que les changements en chaîne ne sont au mieux que partiellement fonctionnels, et pro pose une interprétation probabiliste des faits.
SPECIFICATIFS NUMERAUX, UNITE ET PLURALITE EN JAPONAIS ET EXPRESSION DU NOMBRE EN FRANCAIS
Authors: Tamba Irène
Published: October 2016

Cet article présente les paradigmes des numéraux en japonais moderne, en dégage le statut et le fonctionnement grammatical et montre comment les notions d'unité et de pluralité ont été grammaticalisées en japonais. On découvre ainsi la distance qui sépare ce système de dicibilité de celui qui se fonde sur une catégorie grammaticale du nombre, opposant singulier à pluriel, comme dans les langues européennes.
PHONETIQUE ET ECRITURE DU TAI DE QUI CHÂU (VIETNAM)
Authors: Ferlus Michel
Published: October 2016

The Tai language of Qui Châu (northern Nghê An, Vietnam) was until recently one of the least known languages of the Daic phylum. It has an alphabetic orthography which is written vertically in columns from right to left, like traditional Chinese books. The present article, based on materials left by Henri Maspero, gives an overwiew of this writting system, which is ultimately derived from systems used in Siam in the XIVth Century. The Tai language of Qui Châu has a stratum of vocabulary closely related to the Yay branch of southern China. Our hypothesis is that these Tai people represent a Yay group who were forced out of southern China, settled in the Qui Châu area, and were later submerged by the migration of other Tai groups from northern Laos.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back? Reflections on the Recent Attempts to Reform the Austrian National Minorities Act of 1976
Authors: Pirker Jürgen
Published: October 2016

From 2009 to 2012, the Austrian federal government conducted a political process to modernize the national legal framework for minority protection to support national minorities and further promote the linguistic and cultural diversity of Austria. A final draft for an amendment to the National Minorities Act of 1976 suggested reforming its legal terms with regard to a “modern and pluralistic society” and reconfiguring the National Minority Advisory Councils to the federal government (Volksgruppenbeiräte) following a “civil society-model” (zivilgesellschaftliches Modell). This article focuses on the implications and consequences of this intention.
The Role of Interaction Patterns with Hybrid Electric Vehicle Eco-Features for Drivers’ Eco-Driving Performance
Authors: Arend Matthias G. , Franke Thomas
Published: October 2016

Objective:

The objective of the present research was to understand drivers’ interaction patterns with hybrid electric vehicles’ (HEV) eco-features (electric propulsion, regenerative braking, neutral mode) and their relationship to fuel efficiency and driver characteristics (technical system knowledge, eco-driving motivation).

Background:

Eco-driving (driving behaviors performed to achieve higher fuel efficiency) has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions caused by road vehicles. Eco-driving in HEVs is particularly challenging due to the systems’ dynamic energy flows. As a result, drivers are likely to show diverse eco-driving behaviors, depending on factors like knowledge and motivation. The eco-features represent an interface for the control of the systems’ energy flows.

Method:

A sample of 121 HEV drivers who had constantly logged their fuel consumption prior to the study participated in an online questionnaire.

Results:

Drivers’ interaction patterns with the eco-features were related to fuel efficiency. A common factor was identified in an exploratory factor analysis, characterizing the intensity of actively dealing with electric energy, which was also related to fuel efficiency. Driver characteristics were not related to this factor, yet they were significant predictors of fuel efficiency.

Conclusion:

From the perspective of user–energy interaction, the relationship of the aggregated factor to fuel efficiency emphasizes the central role of drivers’ perception of and interaction with energy conversions in determining HEV eco-driving success.

Application:

To arrive at an in-depth understanding of drivers’ eco-driving behaviors that can guide interface design, authors of future research should be concerned with the psychological processes that underlie drivers’ interaction patterns with eco-features.
Dancing to the tune of the employer? Union–management relationships at Nordic subsidiaries in Russia
Authors: Sippola Markku
Published: October 2016

This research concerns the labour–management relationship at Nordic-owned industrial enterprises in Russia. The analysis draws upon case study data from four unionized factories in the northwest region of Russia that represent different union–management (U-M) relationships representing varying degrees of confrontation and cooperation. Although the long-run dynamics of the U-M relationship at all the factories is heading for partnership (‘dancing’), short-term dynamics may contain periods of antagonism (‘boxing’). There is little indication of a Nordic-type ‘healthy combination’ of recurring dialogue between boxing and dancing at the factories. Moreover, the managements have set limitations in the action allowed and the scope for partnership, and there are discrepancies in the cultural and identity dimensions of ‘dancing’ at the factories. The findings support the hybridization approach to the IR model transfer of multinational companies as Nordic employers seek to escape standards that are in place in their home IR regimes.
Direct and Interaction Effects of Co-Existing Familial Risk Factors and Protective Factors Associated With Internet Addiction Among Chinese Students in Hong Kong
Authors: Wu Anise M. S. , Lau Joseph T. F. , Cheng Kit-man , Law Rita W. , Tse Vincent W. S. , Lau Mason M. C.
Published: October 2016

Internet addiction (IA) is prevalent among adolescents and imposes a serious public health threat. Familial risk and protective factors may co-exist and interact with each other to determine IA. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 9,618 Secondary 1 to 4 students in Hong Kong, China. About 16% of the surveyed students were classified as Internet addicted; nearly one third of them perceived that at least one of their family members had IA (FMIA). We found that FMIA was a risk factor (multivariate odds ratio [OR] = 2.04), and perceived family support was a protective factor (multivariate OR = 0.97) of IA. We also found a significant risk-enhancement moderation effect between these risk and protective factors, that is, the risk effect of FMIA increased with perceived family support. The finding highlights that family-based interventions, which modify familial risk and protective factors, should be effective for adolescent IA, but caution is required about potential risk-enhancement moderations between such factors.
Content matters: Stakeholder assessment of river stories or river science
Authors: McBeth Mark K , Lybecker Donna L , Stoutenborough James W , Davis Sarah N , Running Katrina
Published: October 2016

Stakeholders include scientists, interest groups, leaders, professionals, government and NGO employees, and activists; they are individuals or groups that play an increasingly important role in public policy. As such, stakeholders are frequently used as a source to better inform public decision making. Given the growing importance of stakeholders’ understanding and thus communication concerning the issues on which they inform the public, it is timely to ask: How do stakeholders comprehend, or mentally construct an understanding of the policy issues upon which they are asked to weigh in? In an attempt to address this issue, this paper uses a case study of a policy issue, river restoration. Results from a survey of 85 stakeholders and a follow up interview of 20 stakeholders shed light on whether stakeholders predominantly prefer to think of river restoration in terms of science or through policy narratives. The findings indicate that stakeholders prefer explanations that use science and the engaged citizen narrative when they think about the river’s restoration. Additionally, stakeholders who work for government particularly emphasize that the river should be described in scientific terms. We use this data to further analyze what elements of science and narratives are divisive to stakeholders and which are not and conclude with advice on how stakeholders can speak in a non-divisive way to the public and other stakeholders.