bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishing the origin of metastatic deposits in the setting of multiple primary malignancies: The role of massively parallel sequencing
Authors: De Mattos-Arruda Leticia , Bidard Francois-Clement , Won Helen H. , Cortes Javier , Ng Charlotte K.Y. , Peg Vicente , Nuciforo Paolo , Jungbluth Achim A. , Weigelt Britta , Berger Michael F. , Seoane Joan , Reis-Filho Jorge S.
Published: October 2013

In this proof‐of‐principle study, we sought to define whether targeted capture massively parallel sequencing can be employed to determine the origin of metastatic deposits in cases of synchronous primary malignancies and metastases in distinct anatomical sites. DNA samples extracted from synchronous tumor masses in the breast, adnexal, and pelvic‐peritoneal regions from a 62‐year‐old BRCA1 germline mutation carrier were subjected to targeted massively parallel sequencing using a platform comprising 300 cancer genes known to harbor actionable mutations. In addition to BRCA1 germline mutations, all lesions harbored somatic loss of the BRCA1 wild‐type allele and TP53 somatic mutations. The primary breast cancer displayed a TP53 frameshift (p.Q317fs) mutation, whereas and the adnexal lesion harbored a TP53 nonsense (p.R213*) mutation, consistent with a diagnosis of two independent primary tumors (i.e. breast and ovarian cancer). The adnexal tumor and all pelvic‐peritoneal implants harbored identical TP53 (p.R213*) and NCOA2 (p.G952R) somatic mutations. Evidence of genetic heterogeneity within and between lesions was observed, both in terms of somatic mutations and copy number aberrations. The repertoires of somatic genetic aberrations found in the breast, ovarian, and pelvic‐peritoneal lesions provided direct evidence in support of the distinct origin of the breast and ovarian cancers, and established that the pelvic‐peritoneal implants were clonally related to the ovarian lesion. These observations were consistent with those obtained with immunohistochemical analyses employing markers to differentiate between carcinomas of the breast and ovary, including WT1 and PAX8. Our results on this case of a patient with BRCA1‐mutant breast and ovarian cancer demonstrate that massively parallel sequencing may constitute a useful tool to define the relationship, clonality and intra‐tumor genetic heterogeneity between primary tumor masses and their metastatic deposits in patients with multiple primary malignancies and synchronous metastases.
THE COMMUTATIVITY OF EVIDENCE: A PROBLEM FOR CONCILIATORY VIEWS OF PEER DISAGREEMENT
Authors: Gardiner Georgi
Published: October 2013

Conciliatory views of peer disagreement hold that when an agent encounters peer disagreement she should conciliate by adjusting her doxastic attitude towards that of her peer. In this paper I distinguish different ways conciliation can be understood and argue that the way conciliationism is typically understood violates the principle of commutativity of evidence. Commutativity of evidence holds that the order in which evidence is acquired should not influence what it is reasonable to believe based on that evidence. I argue that when an agent encounters more than one peer, and applies the process of conciliation serially, the order she encounters the peers influences the resulting credence. I argue this is a problem for conciliatory views of disagreement, and suggest some responses available to advocates of conciliation.
RECITAL 12 OF THE RECAST REGULATION: A NEW HOPE?
Authors: Camilleri Simon P
Published: October 2013

This article seeks to consider the EU's new approach to arbitration as set out in Recital 12 of the Brussels I Regulation (Recast). The article first considers the Court of Justice of the European Union'sWest Tankersdecision and the foremost English authority applying that case (The Wadi Sudr) in order to provide some background to the problem which gave rise to Recital 12. Following this, the article goes on to consider whether Recital 12 does in fact act as a solution to the problem created by theWest Tankersdecision.
DIGGING DEEP: PROPERTY RIGHTS IN SUBTERRANEAN SPACE AND THE CHALLENGE OF CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE
Authors: Morgan Jill
Published: October 2013

A burgeoning international interest in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a means of mitigating the effects of climate change has raised a number of novel legal issues, one of which concerns ownership of the underground sites in which captured carbon dioxide can be stored. This paper considers the extent of a surface landowner's rights above and below land and explores the treatment of underground space within the context of CCS in relation to differing jurisdictions. Particular attention is paid to legal principles applied in the United Kingdom and the United States, and consideration is also given to relevant legislation in Australia and Canada.
I. RESETTING THE LOCATION OF REGULATORY AND SUPERVISORY CONTROL OVER EU FINANCIAL MARKETS: LESSONS FROM FIVE YEARS ON
Authors: Moloney Niamh
Published: October 2013

Some five years on from the Autumn 2008 collapse of Lehmans, the regulatory dust from the Global Financial Crisis has settled. Significant regulatory policy debates are still underway internationally, notably with respect to the treatment of shadow banking.1But the main contours of the crisis-era regulatory landscape are now clear. Internationally, most major economies, including the EU, have implemented the G20 reform agenda, set out initially in the 2008 Washington Declaration,2and covering,inter alia: bank capital, liquidity and leverage; hedge funds; rating agencies; and the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets. That major regulatory change would have followed the financial crisis is not, of course, a surprise.3Observation of responses to major financial crises over the years from the 1929 Crash to the ‘dotcom bubble’ era and beyond4makes clear that what Professor Coffee has vividly described as the ‘regulatory sine curve’5leads to a regulatory boom after financial market bust.
II. SURVEYING THE STATE OF EU ENVIRONMENTAL LAW: MUCH BARK WITH LITTLE BITE?
Authors: Kingston Suzanne
Published: October 2013

In the three years since last surveyed in the Quarterly,1 EU environmental law has continued to justify its reputation as one of the most fast-moving fields of EU law, with a large number of highly significant legislative and jurisprudential developments. This review selects some of the most important areas of development in the field in recent years: in particular, the EU's new environmental action programme for 2013–20, EU climate and energy law, environmental governance and enforcement, and integration of environmental concerns into other EU policy areas.
Further contributions to the lichen genus Leptogium in southern South America
Authors: JØRGENSEN Per M. , BUCK William R.
Published: October 2013

Two new species in Leptogium are described and illustrated from the Cape Horn region: L. auriculatum and L. adnatum both grow on wet rocks, the former by a river, the latter on coastal rocks. In addition to the special habitat the latter is easily identified on the closely appressed thallus which centrally often have densely packed squamules in intricately folded structures. Leptogium auriculatum is characterized by the regular, rounded lobes with thickened margins carrying granular isidia. The total number of Leptogium species known in the region at present is 19, including the previously doubtful L. patagonicum Zahlbr., which is here confirmed as a distinct species.
Pyrenocarpous lichens (except Trypetheliaceae) in Rondônia
Authors: APTROOT André , CÁCERES Marcela Eugenia da Silva
Published: October 2013

The following new species of pyrenocarpous lichens are described from Rondônia: Agonimia tenuiloba: corticolous, thallus with minute flabellate lobes developing goniocysts; ascomata smooth, grey, ellipsoidal; ascospores densely muriform, 30–50(–76)×20–35 µm. Anisomeridium lateriticum: saxicolous; conidiomata sessile, pyriform, ostiole with brown and hyaline septate setae; conidia simple to 1-septate, 8–11×2·0–2·5 µm. Anisomeridium triseptatum: corticolous, ascomata with lateral ostioles; ascospores (1–)3-septate, 25–30×7·5–10·0 µm, often with gelatinous appendages. Mycomicrothelia megaspora: ascospores ornamented, 1-septate, (27–)29–35(–40)×8–12 µm, often with a gelatinous layer 6–15 µm thick. Porina linearispora: corticolous; thallus green, shiny; ascomata immersed, 0·2–0·3 mm; ascospores filiform, (7–)9(–13)-septate, 75–90×1·5–2·0 µm. Porina maxispora: corticolous; thallus green, matt; ascomata immersed, 0·5–0·7 mm; ascospores filiform, (17–)23–35-septate, 95–110×4·5–5·5 µm. Porina novemseptatoides: saxicolous; thallus very thin, brown, glossy; ascomata superficial, 0·1–0·2 mm; ascospores fusiform, (7–)9-septate, 21–24×4·5–5·0 µm, with a c. 5 µm thick gelatinous layer. Porina termitophila: terricolous; thallus greyish green; ascomata emergent, 0·15–0·20 mm; ascospores fusiform, 1–3-septate, 13–15×2·5–3·0 µm. Pyrenula bispora: corticolous, thallus whitish, ascomata dispersed; hamathecium inspersed; ascospores 2 per ascus, muriform, 55–75×19–23 µm. Pyrenula leptaleoides: corticolous; thallus green to pale brown; ascomata deeply immersed in bark, with long necks fused in joint ostioles visible as brown dots on the surface; ascospores 23–27×8–11 µm, with rather angular lumina. Pyrenula rhomboidea: corticolous; thallus olive-brown; ascomata single, immersed; ascospores irregularly uniseriate, clavate-rhomboidal, 11–13×3·5–4·0 µm.

A key is provided to all species of pyrenocarpous lichens (except Trypetheliaceae) found in Rondônia. Nearly all species are new reports for Rondônia. Aspidothelium glabrum, Pyrenula leucotrypa and P. micheneri are newly reported for South America. The usually foliicolous Strigula nitidula is reported for the first time from bark.

The high lichen diversity is explained by the poor soils, supporting an only moderately dense forest where enough light can reach the tree trunks at ground level to support a rich flora of crustose lichens usually confined to the upper trunks.
Genetic diversity of sterile culturedTrebouxiaphotobionts associated with the lichen-forming fungusXanthoria parietinavisualized with RAPD-PCR fingerprinting techniques
Authors: NYATI Shyam , WERTH Silke , HONEGGER Rosmarie
Published: October 2013

Photobiont diversity within populations ofXanthoria parietinawas studied at the species level by means of ITS analyses and at the subspecific level with fingerprinting techniques (RAPD-PCR) applied to sterile cultured algal isolates. Populations from coastal, rural and urban sites from NW, SW and central France and from NE Switzerland were investigated. Between 8 and 63 samples per population, altogether 150 isolates, were subjected to phenetic and ordination analyses. Epiphytic samples ofX. parietinaassociated with different genotypes ofTrebouxia decoloransbut saxicolous samples containedT. arboricola. For comparison theT. gelatinosaphotobiont of a small population ofTeloschistes chrysophthalmus(4 samples) was investigated. ITS sequences ofT. decoloransisolates from different geographic locations were largely similar. In all populations a surprisingly high diversity of genotypes was observed inTrebouxiaisolated from lichen thalli growing side by side. AsTrebouxiaspp. are assumed to be asexually reproducing haplonts, the genetic background of this diversity is discussed. Fingerprinting techniques are a powerful tool for obtaining valuable insights into the genetic diversity within the algal partner of lichen-forming fungi at the population level, provided that sterile cultured isolates are available.
Fact or fiction? Welfare cuts and fiscal adjustments
Authors: Wenzelburger Georg
Published: October 2013

Governments in the industrialised western democracies have repeatedly been advised to curb the welfare state when adjusting public finances in order to stabilise public debt in the long run and to create economic growth. This recommendation has been founded on a vast body of research on fiscal adjustments, which has come to the conclusion that cutting social expenditures leads to expansionary and more sustainable budget consolidations. This paper adds to the existing literature suggesting a more nuanced view, which challenges the simplicity of the “cutting-welfare” advice: first, we find that whereas less social spending is indeed associated with expansionary and successful adjustments, this is not the case for overall welfare state generosity. Second, disaggregating the welfare state in its components reveals that a reduction of pension generosity is indeed related to successful adjustments whereas reducing unemployment generosity does not seem to play a major role.
Cyclophilin A: a key player for human disease
Authors: Nigro P , Pompilio G , Capogrossi M C
Published: October 2013

Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a ubiquitously distributed protein belonging to the immunophilin family. CyPA has peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity, which regulates protein folding and trafficking. Although CyPA was initially believed to function primarily as an intracellular protein, recent studies have revealed that it can be secreted by cells in response to inflammatory stimuli. Current research in animal models and humans has provided compelling evidences supporting the critical function of CyPA in several human diseases. This review discusses recently available data about CyPA in cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, neurodegeneration, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, asthma, periodontitis and aging. It is believed that further elucidations of the role of CyPA will provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases and will help develop novel pharmacological therapies.
High rate capability caused by surface cubic spinels in Li-rich layer-structured cathodes for Li-ion batteries
Authors: Song Bohang , Liu Hongwei , Liu Zongwen , Xiao Pengfei , Lai Man On , Lu Li
Published: October 2013

Modified Li-rich layered cathode Li(Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13)O2 has been synthesized by a simple strategy of using surface treatment with various amounts (0–30 wt.%) of Super P (carbon black). Based on detailed characterizations from X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), it is suggested that the phase transformation from Li2MnO3-type of structure to spinel-like phase take place at the surface regions of particles during post annealing process at 350°C, leading to increase in both first coulombic efficiency and rate capability, from 78% and 100 mAh·g−1 (charge capacity at 2500 mA·g−1) of the pristine material to 93.4% and 200 mAh·g−1. The evidences of spinel formation and the reasons for electrochemical enhancement are systematically investigated.
Computers Instead of Cells: Computational Modeling of Chemical Toxicity
Authors: Zhu Hao , Kim Marlene , Zhang Liying , Sedykh Alexander
Published: October 2013

Animal toxicity testing is broadly utilized both in the pharmaceutical industry and by environmental organizations to determine the potential health hazards of drug candidates and environmental chemicals. The traditional approaches for animal toxicity testing (e.g., chronic toxicity tests) are costly, time-consuming, and have low throughput. Cell-based assays, especially those using high throughput screening (HTS) techniques, have been developed and used as a possible alternative to in vivo toxicity testing. Additionally, quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) can be used to explore the dependency of biological, toxicological, or other types of activities/properties of chemicals on their molecular features and thereby used as a predictive tool. In the past two decades, computational toxicity models, especially those by QSAR modeling, have been used extensively in the drug discovery process. Computer toxicity predictors can be used to evaluate the toxicity potential of compounds before they are synthesized. This chapter reviews recent efforts in computational toxicology, including chemical toxicity database curation, information on public and commercial toxicity predictors, and modern computational toxicity models developed by hybrid modeling techniques. The applications introduced in this chapter will be of interest to researchers working in the field of computational drug discovery and environmental chemical risk assessment.
In Vitro Toxicology Models for Acute Eye and Skin Irritation Assessment
Authors: Costin Gertrude-Emilia , Raabe Hans
Published: October 2013

Among the first in vitro methods to be developed were those targeted at replacing the Draize eye and skin tests. Public sentiment against the use of animals in research, pressure from animal welfare groups, and leadership by key cosmetics and personal care companies to meet corporate animal welfare mandates drove the development of these non-animal methods. Since acute irritation effects in the eye and skin are relatively simple in comparison to the complex toxicological effects observed in organ system responses after systemic exposures, the development of alternative assays for eye and skin irritation was relatively straightforward. The development of alternative test methods to predict eye and skin irritation included a number of common features and endpoints. In vivo, ocular and dermal epithelia are directly exposed to neat chemicals or undiluted formulations, and thus many of the in vitro test systems were designed model these exposures. Irritation responses typically occur locally at the site of chemical exposure in vivo resulting in cell damage and cell death. Accordingly, many of the in vitro methods are cell-based and rely on cell viability endpoints. In general, these alternative test methods fall into four categories; simple in vitro monolayer cell systems, ex vivo tissue or organ systems, complex in vitro reconstructed cell-based three dimensional tissue models, and a variety of artificial non-cell-based eye or skin models. Each assay has its special application and uses, and applicability domain, but also is limited in some manner from the in vivo experience. Overall, these in vitro and ex vivo assays may be used to predict eye or skin irritation, and some have been validated for regulatory classification and labeling purposes, but to date none of the assays provide adequate demonstrations of recovery. Furthermore, due to the specialization and limited applicability of each of the assays, current consensus suggests that no single in vitro method is likely to generate all of the required safety information needed. Thus, a combination of methods providing distinct endpoints may be utilized to meet industry needs for eye and skin irritation safety assessments. This chapter provides a review of current non-animal test methods used for regulatory classification and labeling purposes.
In Vitro Receptor Binding Assays
Authors: Charles Eldridge J.
Published: October 2013

This chapter discusses the methods, use and value of receptor binding assays in the contemporary world of identifying and regulating risk of putative endocrine disruptors. Estrogen and androgen receptor systems are emphasized, as part of the US EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program Tier 1 battery of 11 assays. Basic methods of solubilized binding assays are presented along with methods of calculation and interpretation results. Binding properties of a suspected weak estrogen receptor modulator are shown as examples. Relative advantages and drawbacks of the solubilized receptor binding approach are then presented, with respect to other in vitro and in vivo approaches, and in light of the importance of reducing, refining, and replacing animal consumption in toxicology testing.
Secret of the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1: identification of the physiological ligand
Authors: Seutter von Loetzen Christian , Hoffmann Thomas , Hartl Maximilian J. , Schweimer Kristian , Schwab Wilfried , Rösch Paul , Hartl-Spiegelhauer Olivia
Published: October 2013

The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 is the main elicitor of airborne type I allergies and belongs to the PR-10 family (pathogenesis-related proteins 10). Bet v 1 is the most extensively studied allergen, and is well characterized at a biochemical and immunological level; however, its physiological function remains elusive. In the present study, we identify Q3OS (quercetin-3-O-sophoroside) as the natural ligand of Bet v 1. We isolated Q3OS bound to Bet v 1 from mature birch pollen and confirmed its binding by reconstitution of the Bet v 1–Q3OS complex. Fluorescence and UV–visible spectroscopy experiments, as well as HSQC (heteronuclear single-quantum coherence) titration, and the comparison with model compounds, such as quercetin, indicated the specificity of Q3OS binding. Elucidation of the binding site by NMR combined with a computational model resulted in a more detailed understanding and shed light on the physiological function of Bet v 1. We postulate that the binding of Q3OS to Bet v 1 plays an important, but as yet unclear, role during the inflammation response and Bet v 1 recognition by IgE.
Structural insights into the small G-protein Arl13B and implications for Joubert syndrome
Authors: Miertzschke Mandy , Koerner Carolin , Spoerner Michael , Wittinghofer Alfred
Published: October 2013

Ciliopathies are human diseases arising from defects in primary or motile cilia. The small G-protein Arl13B (ADP-ribosylation factor-like 13B) localizes to microtubule doublets of the ciliary axoneme and is mutated in Joubert syndrome. Its GDP/GTP mechanistic cycle and the effect of its mutations in patients with Joubert syndrome remain elusive. In the present study we applied high resolution structural and biochemical approaches to study Arl13B. The crystal structure of Chlamydomonas rheinhardtii Arl13B, comprising the G-domain and part of its unique C-terminus, revealed an incomplete active site, and together with biochemical data the present study accounts for the absence of intrinsic GTP hydrolysis by this protein. The structure shows that the residues representing patient mutations R79Q and R200C are involved in stabilizing important intramolecular interactions. Our studies suggest that Arg79 is crucial for the GDP/GTP conformational change by stabilizing the large two-residue register shift typical for Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) and Arl subfamily proteins. A corresponding mutation in Arl3 induces considerable defects in effector and GAP (GTPase-activating protein) binding, suggesting a loss of Arl13B function in patients with Joubert syndrome.
Trust‐networks for changing driver behaviour during severe weather
Authors: Elevant Katarina
Published: October 2013

Studies on on‐road behaviour imply that designing user‐centred services is important for raising awareness about severe weather and adverse road conditions. Along with the developments of new communication technologies and practices, the research area of ITS is challenged to move on from traditional ways of collecting and distributing traffic weather information. This study presents two methods for potential improvements and personalisation of traffic weather information. The methods were demonstrated and evaluated by 440 respondents in Stockholm. Weather alerts were sent by SMS 12–48 h, up to a week, prior to the occurrence of severe weather events during 2008–2010. The service was personalised because of assumptions regarding perception and memory of weather, including user's recent observations. The second aspect of potential improvement was the introduction of a social network component, including user‐generated local weather observations. The impact of the service was evaluated in a longitudinal study through a series of questionnaires on user behaviour and evaluation of the service. The combination of the two methods proved efficient as the amount of changed decisions was of considerable amplitude. A correlation between time of exposure and changed decisions implies that social components and interactivity may be a powerful tool in traffic weather services and ITS.
Sharp‐rejection and ultra‐wide bandstop filter with five transmission zero frequencies
Authors: Li Lin , Wu Qing‐Hua , Zhao Kai‐Yu , Li Jin , Wang Ya‐Ming
Published: October 2013

This study proposes a new modified optimum wideband bandstop filter (BSF). Detailed theoretical analysis reveals that five transmission zero frequencies appear in the proposed BSF's response to compose an ultra‐wide BSF with stiff rejection. Moreover, the filter's bandwidth, stopband rejection level and passband performance can be tuned flexibly by changing the impedances of the configuration. Both the simulations and measurements of the fabricated filter demonstrate good wideband BSF performance including an ultra‐wide 20 dB rejection bandwidth of 140%, sharp attenuation rates more than 227.3 dB/GHz at both skirts, lower passband insertion loss less than 1.5 dB at both lower and upper passband and very compact size of λg2.
Efficiency of three‐level neutral‐point clamped converters: analysis and experimental validation of power losses, thermal modelling and lifetime prediction
Authors: Firouz Yousef , Tavakoli Bina Mohammad , Eskandari Bahman
Published: October 2013

Multilevel converters are growing fast, whereas industry needs particular tools to evaluate efficiency and performance of such converters. This study focuses on the analysis and practice of power losses in a three‐level neutral‐point clamped (NPC) inverter. First, a precise mathematical model for three‐level inverters is introduced to be used for simulating power losses of the switches, providing AC voltage and current of each phase, voltage and current of the switches as well as both the conduction and switching losses. Further, an NPC inverter was developed to validate the analytical work by comparing experimental results with those of simulations. Additionally, the thermal modelling of semiconductors is obtained using datasheet parameters. Then, the temperature rise is further modelled using the power losses along with the thermal model in the form of RC ladder. Finally, the lifetime of semiconductors is predicted using the heating curves in line with the power‐cycling concept. The measured power losses and temperatures in comparison with the presented model suggest this kind of research as an applicable replacement for expensive measuring devices.
Extended multilevel converters: an attempt to reduce the number of independent DC voltage sources in cascaded multilevel converters
Authors: Babaei Ebrahim , Farhadi Kangarlu Mohammad , Sabahi Mehran
Published: October 2013

The cascaded multilevel converters are the most favorable topologies of multilevel converters. However, they have the main disadvantage of using multiple independent dc voltage sources. This study proposes new cascaded multilevel converter topologies in which the number of independent dc voltage sources is reduced. In the proposed topologies, for a specific number of voltage levels, the number of dc voltage sources is halved. Beside the number of dc voltage sources, in one of the proposed topologies the number of switches is also reduced in comparison with that of the conventional cascaded multilevel converter. A new modified pulse‐width modulation method is presented to control the proposed topologies. Also, a method for compensating non‐ideality of the dc voltage sources is presented. Simulation results using PSCAD software as well as experimental results from a laboratory‐scale prototype are presented to verify the proposed multilevel converters.
Switched‐diode structure for multilevel converter with reduced number of power electronic devices
Authors: Alishah Rasoul Shalchi , Nazarpour Daryoosh , Hosseini Seyyed Hossein , Sabahi Mehran
Published: October 2013

To reduce the number of power electronic devices in multilevel converters, a new switched‐diode multilevel converter is proposed in this study. This topology generates a large number of levels with fewer number of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), gate driver circuits and power diodes. For recommended multilevel converter, a novel method for determination of dc voltage sources magnitudes is presented. Also, the optimal structures is presented for different aims including less number of IGBTs, gate driver circuits, dc voltage sources and power diodes in order to generating a large number of levels. The proposed structure is compared with other topologies to reflect the merits of the proposed structure. The operation and performance of the proposed topology is verified by experimental and simulation results.
Analysis, design and implementation of an improved two‐switch zero‐current zero‐voltage pulse‐width modulation forward converter
Authors: Soltanzadeh Karim , Dehghani Majid , Khalilian Hosein
Published: October 2013

In this study, an improved two‐switch zero‐current zero‐voltage switching pulse‐width modulation (ZCZVS‐PWM) forward converter, which employs a simple resonant lossless snubber circuit, is introduced. A simple resonant snubber circuit consists of a capacitor, an inductor and two diodes. In proposed converter, switch Q1 operates under exactly zero‐current switching at turn‐on, and exactly zero‐voltage switching (ZVS) at turn‐off, and switch Q2 operates under exactly ZCZVS at turn‐on, and ZVS at turn‐off, and the all‐passive semiconductor devices operate under soft‐switching at turn‐on and turn‐off. The proposed converter has no current and voltage spikes in the switches in comparison with the hard‐switching forward converter counterpart and is suitable for high switching frequency and high‐power operation. The proposed converter is analysed and various operating modes of the improved two‐switch ZCZVS‐PWM forward converter are discussed. Analysis and design considerations are presented and the prototype experimental results of a 160 W (32 V/5 A) proposed converter operating at 300 kHz switching frequency, confirm the validity of theoretical analysis.
Effect of Zr substitution on phase transformation and dielectric properties of Ba0.9Ca0.1TiO3 ceramics
Authors: Sindhu Monica , Ahlawat Neetu , Sanghi Sujata , Kumari Rekha , Agarwal Ashish
Published: October 2013

Ba0.9Ca0.1Ti1−xZrxO3 (x = 0.05, 0.07 and 0.10; BCTZ5, BCTZ7, BCTZ10) lead free ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction. The phase transitional behaviour, composition, and temperature dependent electrical properties and composition dependent ferroelectric properties were investigated. XRD analysis at room temperature and Rietveld refinement revealed a structural transformation from tetragonal to rhombohedral with enhancement of Zr content in the BCT matrix. Study of impedance spectra of these ceramics confirmed a heterogeneous electrical microstructure where the conduction and relaxation mechanisms originated from grain boundaries and grains. The ceramics depicted non Debye type of relaxation. Dielectric properties illustrated a decrease in Curie temperature and a diffused phase transition behavior with increase in Zr content. The conducting species changed from V′o to V′′o on ferroelectric phase transition in grain interiors. Saturated hysteresis loops confirmed the ferroelectric nature of the ceramics.
Kernels of the linear Boltzmann equation for spherical particles and rough hard sphere particles
Authors: Khurana Saheba , Thachuk Mark
Published: October 2013

Kernels for the collision integral of the linear Boltzmann equation are presented for several cases. First, a rigorous and complete derivation of the velocity kernel for spherical particles is given, along with reductions to the smooth, rigid sphere case. This combines and extends various derivations for this kernel which have appeared previously in the literature. In addition, the analogous kernel is derived for the rough hard sphere model, for which a dependence upon both velocity and angular velocity is required. This model can account for exchange between translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Finally, an approximation to the exact rough hard sphere kernel is presented which averages over the rotational degrees of freedom in the system. This results in a kernel depending only upon velocities which retains a memory of the exchange with rotational states. This kernel tends towards the smooth hard sphere kernel in the limit when translational-rotational energy exchange is attenuated. Comparisons are made between the smooth and approximate rough hard sphere kernels, including their dependence upon velocity and their eigenvalues.
Improving the microwave window breakdown threshold by using a fluorinated, periodically patterned surface
Authors: Chen C. H. , Chang C. , Liu W. Y. , Sun J. , Huang H. J. , Ke C. F. , Song W. , Teng Y. , Wu X. L. , Xie J. L. , Zhu M. , Li S. , Fang J. P. , Wu P. , Zhang L. J.
Published: October 2013

The breakdown at the dielectric window of the high-power microwave (HPM) horn limits the maximum radiation power of HPM system, and keeps the bottle neck of the development of the HPM technology in decades. In this paper, the multi-way diagnostics for the window breakdown at vacuum/dielectric interface are studied in the C-band multi-gigawatt HPM experiment with the atmospheric pressure SF6 environment. The method of using the fluorinated periodic surface is demonstrated to significantly improve the power capacity by fourfold, compared with the flat surface. The threshold for fluorinated periodic surface could be higher than 70 kV/cm for HPM with the frequency 4.3 GHz, and 40 ns pulse width.
The development of the high intensity electron cyclotron resonance ion source at China Institute of Atomic Energy
Authors: Tang B. , Ma R. , Ma Y. , Chen L. , Huang Q. , Liang H. , Cui B. , Jiang W.
Published: October 2013

High-current microwave ion source has been under development over 15 years for accelerator driven sub-critical system research at China Institute of Atomic Energy, and the beam intensity higher than 140 mA proton beam is produced by this ion source with long lifetime and high reliability. The emittance of high intensity continue-wave and pulse beam is measured on a test-bench in the laboratory. Based on the good performance of this proton ion source, a new 120 mA deuterium ion source is proposed for a high intensity neutron generator. The ion source details and status will be presented.
Modeling of stored charge in metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene film capacitors based on charging current measurement
Authors: Li Hua , Wang Bowen , Li Zhiwei , Liu De , Lin Fuchang , Dai Ling , Zhang Qin , Chen Yaohong
Published: October 2013

Metallized biaxially oriented polypropylene film (BOPP) capacitors are widely used in pulsed power systems. When the capacitor is used as the energy storage equipment under high electric field, more charges should be provided to maintain the voltage of the capacitor. This should be ascribed to the completion of the slow polarization which may take several hours or even longer. This paper focuses on the stored charge in metallized BOPP film capacitors. The modeling of the stored charge by the equivalent conversion of circuits is conducted to analyse the slow polarization in the BOPP film. The 3-RC network is proposed to represent the time-dependent charge stored in the capacitor. A charging current measurement system is established to investigate the charge storage property of the capacitor. The measurement system can measure the long time charging current with a sampling rate of 300Hz. The total charge calculated by the charging current indicates that the stored charge in the capacitor under the electric field of 400 V/μm is 13.5% larger than the product of the voltage and the capacitance measured by the AC bridge. The nonlinear effect of the electric field on the slow polarization charge is also demonstrated. And the simulation of charge storage based on the 3-RC network can match well with the trend of the stored charge increasing with the time.
Resonant photoemission at the iron M-edge of Fe(CO)5
Authors: Sistrunk E. , Grilj J. , McFarland B. K. , Rohlén J. , Aguilar A. , Gühr M.
Published: October 2013

High resolution electron kinetic energy spectra of iron pentacarbonyl (Fe(CO)5) are studied in the photon energy range of 40–90 eV. The relative yield of photolines associated with the Fe 3d level shows a Fano line shape at photon energies of 61 eV. The increase in signal from the 3d level is indicative of resonant photoemission involving 3p-3d transitions at the M edge of iron. The signature of this resonance is also present in photolines typically attributed to be mostly CO in character. We use the modulation depth of the Fano resonances to reinterpret the photoelectron lines in the literature.
Green and blue emissions in phase-separated InGaN quantum wells
Authors: Wang Fan , Ji Ziwu , Wang Qiang , Wang Xuesong , Qu Shuang , Xu Xiangang , Lv Yuanjie , Feng Zhihong
Published: October 2013

We have investigated temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) of green and blue light-emitting InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells at different excitation powers. Two InGaN-related PL peaks centered at around 2.4 and 2.7 eV are assigned to quasi-quantum dot (QD) emissions (PD) and the InGaN matrix emission (PM), respectively, due to a strong phase separation confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. In contrast to the S-shaped temperature-dependent behavior of the PM peak energy, the PD peak energy initially decreased and then increased with increasing temperature up to 300 K, indicating that the carriers within QDs relax to stronger localized states first and then are thermalized to higher levels with increasing temperature. Interestingly, it was found that with increasing temperature both the emission intensities initially increased and then decreased. This behavior was attributed to an increased carrier localization effect and then enhanced non-radiative recombination with increasing temperature; this was consistent with the temperature-related behavior of the emission energy. In addition, the temperature dependence of the intensity ratio of PM to PD further shows that the enhanced thermalization effect of the carriers inside the QDs with increasing temperature, resulted in the significant decrease of PD intensity relative to PM intensity.
Temperature relaxation in a magnetized plasma
Authors: Dong Chao , Ren Haijun , Cai Huishan , Li Ding
Published: October 2013

A magnetic field greatly affects the relaxation phenomena in a plasma when the particles’ thermal gyro-radii are smaller than the Debye length. Its influence on the temperature relaxation (TR) is investigated through consideration of binary collisions between charged particles in the presence of a uniform magnetic field within a perturbation theory. The relaxation times are calculated. It is shown that the electron-electron (e-e) and ion-ion (i-i) TR rates first increase and then decrease as the magnetic field grows, and the doubly logarithmic term contained in the electron-ion (e-i) TR rate results from the exchange between the electron parallel and the ion perpendicular kinetic energies.
Antireflective structures on silicon surface using catalytic nickel nanoparticles
Authors: Pranaitis M. , Jaraminė L. , Čyras V. , Selskis A. , Galdikas A.
Published: October 2013

In this work, we present a nickel assisted electroless deposition and etching method for significant reduction of reflectivity of silicon by creating two-scale structured silicon surface. As the first step, the nano-texturization process was applied on planar Si wafers in order to optimize the process. Next, we applied this method for silicon surface with chemically prepared pyramids in order to produce a hierarchical (micron/nano) structure. We found that silicon wafers with hierarchical structure shown very low about 2.2% weighted reflection over broad wavelength range from 300 to 1100 nm, which is related with changes in surface morphology.
The effect of intake of lamb meat on energy metabolism of Sprague-Dawley rats: possible role of carnitine
Authors: Feng Xian-Chao , Chen Lin , Zhuang Su , Xu Xing-Lian , Zhou Guang-Hong
Published: October 2013

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether carnitine was responsible for the increased energy metabolism observed in Sprague-Dawley rats following inclusion of lamb meat in their diet. This was tested by feeding one of the following three diets: a control diet (control) based on a standard formulation (AIN-93G), a carnitine-supplemented control diet (CD) and a lamb meat diet (LD). All diets were isocaloric (15.46 kJ/g DM) and contained 18.3% protein, 7.1% fat and 58.3% carbohydrate. The carnitine concentrations in the control diet, CD and LD were 29, 984 and 953 mg/kg, respectively. The expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I(CPT-I)α and CTP-Iβ genes, Na,K-ATPase activities and the contents of fat, ATP and creatine phosphate (Cr.P) in liver and skeletal muscle tissues were measured on Days 7 and 14. Bodyweights, bodyweight gains and oxygen consumption rates (OCR) of rats were also measured. The rats fed the LD had higher OCR, ATP and Cr.P concentrations, expressions of CPT-I gene, Na,K-ATPase activities, and lower fat contents, bodyweights and bodyweight gains (P < 0.05) than did the control-group rats. However, rats fed the CD were not significantly different from those fed the control diet, except for the higher CPT-Iα expression, ATP concentrations and lower fat contents in liver (P < 0.05). We conclude that carnitine intake from lamb was not the main factor accounting for the significant effects of lamb consumption on energy metabolism. However, it is likely that carnitine intake by consumption of lamb meat in the LD partly contributed to lowering fat contents in liver, compared with the CD and the control diet groups.
Eukaryotic resistance to fluoride toxicity mediated by a widespread family of fluoride export proteins
Authors: Li Sanshu , Smith Kathryn D. , Davis Jared H. , Gordon Patricia B. , Breaker Ronald R. , Strobel Scott A.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Although fluoride is plentiful in the environment and is commonly used at high concentrations in oral hygiene products, little has been known about how biological systems overcome the toxic effects of this anion. We demonstrate that a protein called FEX in many fungi is essential for cell survival in the presence of high fluoride concentrations. The protein is required for the rapid expulsion of cytoplasmic fluoride, indicating that many eukaryotic species that carry
FEX
genes likely avoid fluoride toxicity by purging cellular fluoride.
The London Symphony Orchestra: The First Decade Revisited
Authors: McVeigh Simon
Published: October 2013

The early history of the London Symphony Orchestra and its association with Richter and Elgar have been well documented, yet there is much still to be learnt about the 1904 break with the autocratic Henry Wood and about the artistic and commercial decisions facing the new self-governing orchestra. From the start, the LSO confidently allied itself with international standards and cosmopolitan repertoire, and a roster of celebrated conductors to match. But financial security was less easily gained. Detailed analysis of the finances of the prestigious subscription series shows initial eclecticism giving way to concentration on the Austro-German canon in reaction to commercial and social pressures. British music came in and out of focus, despite the nationalistic mood of the time, and the analysis places in sharp relief the successes and failures of the link with Elgar. Furthermore, in an extraordinary sacrifice of self-interest, the freelance members decided to renounce normal fees for the subscription series in order to gain lucrative engagements elsewhere: thus the orchestra acted more as an agency than as a stable business proposition. Nevertheless, the innovative governance structure, underpinning a combination of resolute management, entrepreneurial energy and communal decision-making, eventually proved a viable and sustainable model that has remained influential up to this day.
‘Putting the BBC and T. Beecham to Shame’: The Macnaghten–Lemare Concerts, 1931–7
Authors: Fuller Sophie
Published: October 2013

This article explores and contextualizes the Macnaghten–Lemare concerts, a London concert series run for six seasons in the 1930s by the violinist Anne Macnaghten and the conductor Iris Lemare, with the help of the composer Elisabeth Lutyens and others. Notable for their performances of the work of emerging British composers such as Benjamin Britten and Elizabeth Maconchy, the concerts are also remarkable for the central role played by women – as performers, organizers and composers – and for the space they provided for the unconventional and ignored. Drawing on interviews with Macnaghten and Lemare as well as extensive archival research, the article provides details of the 20 concerts and argues for their hitherto overlooked importance in understanding the British concert life of this decade.
HapFABIA: Identification of very short segments of identity by descent characterized by rare variants in large sequencing data
Authors: Hochreiter Sepp
Published: October 2013

Identity by descent (IBD) can be reliably detected for long shared DNA segments, which are found in related individuals. However, many studies contain cohorts of unrelated individuals that share only short IBD segments. New sequencing technologies facilitate identification of short IBD segments through rare variants, which convey more information on IBD than common variants. Current IBD detection methods, however, are not designed to use rare variants for the detection of short IBD segments. Short IBD segments reveal genetic structures at high resolution. Therefore, they can help to improve imputation and phasing, to increase genotyping accuracy for low-coverage sequencing and to increase the power of association studies. Since short IBD segments are further assumed to be old, they can shed light on the evolutionary history of humans. We propose HapFABIA, a computational method that applies biclustering to identify very short IBD segments characterized by rare variants. HapFABIA is designed to detect short IBD segments in genotype data that were obtained from next-generation sequencing, but can also be applied to DNA microarray data. Especially in next-generation sequencing data, HapFABIA exploits rare variants for IBD detection. HapFABIA significantly outperformed competing algorithms at detecting short IBD segments on artificial and simulated data with rare variants. HapFABIA identified 160 588 different short IBD segments characterized by rare variants with a median length of 23 kb (mean 24 kb) in data for chromosome 1 of the 1000 Genomes Project. These short IBD segments contain 752 000 single nucleotide variants (SNVs), which account for 39% of the rare variants and 23.5% of all variants. The vast majority—152 000 IBD segments—are shared by Africans, while only 19 000 and 11 000 are shared by Europeans and Asians, respectively. IBD segments that match the Denisova or the Neandertal genome are found significantly more often in Asians and Europeans but also, in some cases exclusively, in Africans. The lengths of IBD segments and their sharing between continental populations indicate that many short IBD segments from chromosome 1 existed before humans migrated out of Africa. Thus, rare variants that tag these short IBD segments predate human migration from Africa. The software package HapFABIA is available from Bioconductor. All data sets, result files and programs for data simulation, preprocessing and evaluation are supplied at http://www.bioinf.jku.at/research/short-IBD.