bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oscar on the Boards: Playwrights Represent the Playwright on Stage
Authors: Porter Roger
Published: January 2018

In this article Roger Porter analyzes five plays about Oscar Wilde, by Leslie and Sewell Stokes, David Hare, Eric Bentley, Moises Kaufman, and Terry Eagleton. He focuses on various aspects of the three Wilde trials of 1895, and shows how, while the plays employ verbatim transcripts of the court records, they use the latter in quite different ways and with different emphases, suggesting how the several playwrights regard Douglas in his relation with Wilde, as well as Douglas's implication in the verdict. Several of the plays focus almost exclusively on Wilde's personality, while others engage with larger issues, including Victorian moral regulation of sexuality, the relation of art to society, and English attitudes towards the Irish. He also stresses how the plays’ dramaturgy relates to their perspectives on Wilde, especially on his cultural role. Roger Porter is Professor Emeritus of English, Reed College, Portland, Oregon, USA. He is the author of Self-Same Songs: Autobiographical Performances and Reflections (University of Nebraska Press), Bureau of Missing Persons: Writing the Secret Lives of Fathers (Cornell University Press), and co-editor (with Sandra Gilbert) of Eating Words: a Norton Anthology of Food Writing.
‘This Is a Historical Israeli Play’: Spectatorship, Ownership and the Israeli Localizations ofSalomé
Authors: LIPSHITZ YAIR
Published: January 2018

This article traces the reception of Oscar Wilde's playSaloméin Israeli theatre by focusing on the engagement of two artists – writer and translator Pinchas Sadeh and theatre director Ofira Henig – with the play at two different periods. InSalomé, Wilde utilizes his perception of Judaism, as well as the Song of Songs, for the creation of a theatrical space in which spectatorship and ownership are subverted and displaced. At the same time, ironically, the biblical and ‘Jewish’ presence in the play was fundamental for claims of ownership made by some in Hebrew and Israeli culture, asserting that the play somehow belonged to Hebrew culture and the Land of Israel. Despite these claims, the actual reception ofSaloméin Israeli theatre proved that the play's ‘belonging’ was far more tenuous. The article examines how the tensions between the seen and the unseen, between owning and disowning and between placement and displacement play out – in almost opposite directions – in Sadeh's ideological reasoning for translatingSaloméand in Henig's production of it.
Introduction
Authors: DUTT BISHNUPRIYA
Published: January 2018

These three essays on distinct research areas and case studies cover a broad history of educational institutions in India, their focus on theatre and cultural education, and their role in creating citizens active in the public sphere and civic communities. The common point of reference for all the three essays is the historical transition from pre- to post-independence India, and they represent three dominant genres of Indian theatre practice: the amateur progressive theatre emerging out of sociopolitical movements; the State Drama School, which has remained at the core of the state's policy and vision of a national theatre; and college theatre, which comprises the field from which the National School of Drama sources its acting students, as well as new audiences for urban theatres.
Feminist Processes and Performance: Interventions in Anamika Haksar's Antar Yatra
Authors: JAIN INDU
Published: January 2018

Since independence, theatre in India has been touted as a platform to foster a sense of national community and exhibit the ideal citizen. The new theatre, and official cultural-policy documents since independence, prescribed ways to become an ideal citizen–actor of a new nation's cultural manifestation. A conscious modification and disruption of the post-independence national canon, as I argue in this essay, came in the late 1980s from a group of teachers and directors with a gendered sensibility. The essay will focus on the unique performance and theatre-making processes of these women directors, with Anamika Haksar's Antar Yatra being the case study. The question it will raise is, how successful was Haksar in decentring the various hierarchies? Could her collaborative work engage her students as co-creators of knowledge rather than as citizens created out of hegemonic pedagogy, conditioned by the state's national identity politics?
A Quantitative Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Oral Cholera Vaccine as a Reactive Measure in Cholera Outbreaks
Authors: Schwerdtle Patricia , Onekon Coretta-Kings , Recoche Katrina
Published: January 2018

Introduction

The efficacy of oral cholera vaccines (OCVs) in laboratory conditions has been established, and the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland) has recommended their preventative use in high-risk settings. The WHO recommendation has not been fully operationalized, nor has it been extended to apply to the reactive use of OCVs in real field epidemic conditions due to concerns about potential resource diversion, feasibility, cost, and acceptability. The purpose of this study is to assess and synthesize existing evidence of OCV effectiveness when used reactively in real field conditions.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted involving studies that investigated vaccine effectiveness when used as a reactive measure; that is, cases had reached epidemic threshold and a cholera epidemic was declared in real field epidemic conditions. OVID Medline (US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland USA), CINAHL (EBSCO Information Services; Ipswich, Massachusetts USA), and EMBASE (Elsevier; Amsterdam, Netherlands), along with grey literature, were systematically searched using pre-determined criteria. Two independent reviewers identified studies that met the selection criteria and data were extracted using validated tools. Pooled estimates were obtained using fixed effect models.

Results

Of the 347 articles that met the inclusion criteria, four studies were retrieved for meta-analysis (three were case-control studies and one was a case-cohort study) involving a total of 1,509 participants and comprising 175 cases and 1,334 case controls. The effectiveness of one or two doses of either Shanchol (Shantha Biotechnics; India) or ORC-Vax (Vabiotech; Vietnam) OCVs showed a combined vaccine effectiveness of 75% (95% CI, 61-84).

Conclusion

A positive association was demonstrated between the reactive use of OCVs and protection against cholera. This supported the WHO recommendation to utilize OCVs reactively as an additional measure to the standard cholera epidemic response package.

SchwerdtleP, OnekonCK, RecocheK. A quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of oral cholera vaccine as a reactive measure in cholera outbreaks. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2018;33(1):2–6.
REAL-TIME MONITORING OF THE US INFLATION EXPECTATION PROCESS
Authors: Golosnoy Vasyl , Roestel Jan
Published: January 2018

Real-time supervision of shifts in inflation expectations is an important issue for monetary policy makers, especially in the presence of economic uncertainty. In this paper, we elaborate tools for on-line monitoring of such shifts by extracting valuable information from noisy daily financial market data. For this purpose, first, we suggest a new risk adjustment for observable proxies of medium and long run inflation expectations assuming that the latter are well-anchored. Second, we propose an econometric methodology for sequential monitoring of level changes in the associated proxies at daily frequency. Our empirical evidence shows that the on-line surveillance of risk adjusted US forward breakeven inflation rates by means of the cumulative sum (CUSUM) detector appears to be helpful to extract timely signals on potential shifts. In particular, the obtained signals indicate important turning points in market-based measures of inflation expectations, which also tend to materialize in lower frequency experts' surveys.
ATF6 safeguards organelle homeostasis and cellular aging in human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Wang Si , Hu Boqiang , Ding Zhichao , Dang Yujiao , Wu Jun , Li Di , Liu Xiaoling , Xiao Bailong , Zhang Weiqi , Ren Ruotong , Lei Jinghui , Hu Huifang , Chen Chang , Chan Piu , Li Dong , Qu Jing , Tang Fuchou , Liu Guang-Hui
Published: January 2018

Loss of organelle homeostasis is a hallmark of aging. However, it remains elusive how this occurs at gene expression level. Here, we report that human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) aging is associated with dysfunction of double-membrane organelles and downregulation of transcription factor ATF6. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated inactivation of ATF6 in hMSCs, not in human embryonic stem cells and human adipocytes, results in premature cellular aging, characteristic of loss of endomembrane homeostasis. Transcriptomic analyses uncover cell type-specific constitutive and stress-induced ATF6-regulated genes implicated in various layers of organelles’ homeostasis regulation. FOS was characterized as a constitutive ATF6 responsive gene, downregulation of which contributes to hMSC aging. Our study unravels the first ATF6-regulated gene expression network related to homeostatic regulation of membrane organelles, and provides novel mechanistic insights into aging-associated attrition of human stem cells.
DNA methyltransferase inhibition upregulates MHC-I to potentiate cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in breast cancer
Authors: Luo Na , Nixon Mellissa J. , Gonzalez-Ericsson Paula I. , Sanchez Violeta , Opalenik Susan R. , Li Huili , Zahnow Cynthia A. , Nickels Michael L. , Liu Fei , Tantawy Mohammed N. , Sanders Melinda E. , Manning H. Charles , Balko Justin M.
Published: January 2018

Potentiating anti-tumor immunity by inducing tumor inflammation and T cell-mediated responses are a promising area of cancer therapy. Immunomodulatory agents that promote these effects function via a wide variety of mechanisms, including upregulation of antigen presentation pathways. Here, we show that major histocompatibility class-I (MHC-I) genes are methylated in human breast cancers, suppressing their expression. Treatment of breast cancer cell lines with a next-generation hypomethylating agent, guadecitabine, upregulates MHC-I expression in response to interferon-γ. In murine tumor models of breast cancer, guadecitabine upregulates MHC-I in tumor cells promoting recruitment of CD8+ T cells to the microenvironment. Finally, we show that MHC-I genes are upregulated in breast cancer patients treated with hypomethylating agents. Thus, the immunomodulatory effects of hypomethylating agents likely involve upregulation of class-I antigen presentation to potentiate CD8+ T cell responses. These strategies may be useful to potentiate anti-tumor immunity and responses to checkpoint inhibition in immune-refractory breast cancers.
Advantages of meta-total RNA sequencing (MeTRS) over shotgun metagenomics and amplicon-based sequencing in the profiling of complex microbial communities
Authors: Cottier Fabien , Srinivasan Kandhadayar Gopalan , Yurieva Marina , Liao Webber , Poidinger Michael , Zolezzi Francesca , Pavelka Norman
Published: January 2018

Sequencing-based microbiome profiling aims at detecting and quantifying individual members of a microbial community in a culture-independent manner. While amplicon-based sequencing (ABS) of bacterial or fungal ribosomal DNA is the most widely used technology due to its low cost, it suffers from PCR amplification biases that hinder accurate representation of microbial population structures. Shotgun metagenomics (SMG) conversely allows unbiased microbiome profiling but requires high sequencing depth. Here we report the development of a meta-total RNA sequencing (MeTRS) method based on shotgun sequencing of total RNA and benchmark it on a human stool sample spiked in with known abundances of bacterial and fungal cells. MeTRS displayed the highest overall sensitivity and linearity for both bacteria and fungi, the greatest reproducibility compared to SMG and ABS, while requiring a ~20-fold lower sequencing depth than SMG. We therefore present MeTRS as a valuable alternative to existing technologies for large-scale profiling of complex microbiomes.
Volatile molecules from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can ‘rule-in’ Pseudomonas aeruginosa and ‘rule-out’ Staphylococcus aureus infections in cystic fibrosis patients
Authors: Nasir Mavra , Bean Heather D. , Smolinska Agnieszka , Rees Christiaan A. , Zemanick Edith T. , Hill Jane E.
Published: January 2018

Respiratory infections caused byPseudomonas aeruginosaandStaphylococcus aureusare the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The authors aimed to identify volatile biomarkers from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples that can guide breath biomarker development for pathogen identification. BAL samples (n = 154) from CF patients were analyzed using two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Random Forest was used to select suites of volatiles for identifyingP. aeruginosa-positive andS. aureus-positive samples using multiple infection scenarios and validated using test sets. Using nine volatile molecules, we differentiatedP. aeruginosa-positive (n = 7) fromP. aeruginosa-negative (n = 53) samples with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.86 (95% CI 0.71–1.00) and with positive and negative predictive values of 0.67 (95% CI 0.38–0.75) and 0.92 (95% CI 0.88–1.00), respectively. We were also able to discriminateS. aureus-positive (n = 15) fromS. aureus-negative (n = 45) samples with an AUROC of 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-1.00) using eight volatiles and with positive and negative predictive values of 0.86 (95% CI 0.61–0.96) and 0.70 (95% CI 0.61–0.75), respectively. Prospective validation of identified biomarkers as screening tools in patient breath may lead to clinical application.
Dinuclear PhosphoiminoBINOL-Pd Container for Malononitrile: Catalytic Asymmetric Double Mannich Reaction for Chiral 1,3-Diamine Synthesis
Authors: Arai Takayoshi , Sato Katsuya , Nakamura Ayu , Makino Hiroki , Masu Hyuma
Published: January 2018

A phosphoiminoBINOL ligand was designed to form a dinuclear metal complex that could hold a malononitrile molecule. The dinuclear bis(phosphoimino)binaphthoxy-Pd2(OAc)2 complex catalyzed a double Mannich reaction of N-Boc-imines with malononitrile to give chiral 1,3-diamines with high enantioselectivity. The rational asymmetric catalyst, which smoothly introduces the first coupling product to the second coupling reaction while avoiding the reverse reaction, facilitates the over-reaction into a productive reaction process.
Cilia-related protein SPEF2 regulates osteoblast differentiation
Authors: Lehti Mari S. , Henriksson Henna , Rummukainen Petri , Wang Fan , Uusitalo-Kylmälä Liina , Kiviranta Riku , Heino Terhi J. , Kotaja Noora , Sironen Anu
Published: January 2018

Sperm flagellar protein 2 (SPEF2) is essential for motile cilia, and lack of SPEF2 function causes male infertility and primary ciliary dyskinesia. Cilia are pointing out from the cell surface and are involved in signal transduction from extracellular matrix, fluid flow and motility. It has been shown that cilia and cilia-related genes play essential role in commitment and differentiation of chondrocytes and osteoblasts during bone formation. Here we show that SPEF2 is expressed in bone and cartilage. The analysis of a Spef2 knockout (KO) mouse model revealed hydrocephalus, growth retardation and death prior to five weeks of age. To further elucidate the causes of growth retardation we analyzed the bone structure and possible effects of SPEF2 depletion on bone formation. In Spef2 KO mice, long bones (tibia and femur) were shorter compared to wild type, and X-ray analysis revealed reduced bone mineral content. Furthermore, we showed that the in vitro differentiation of osteoblasts isolated from Spef2 KO animals was compromised. In conclusion, this study reveals a novel function for SPEF2 in bone formation through regulation of osteoblast differentiation and bone growth.
Decoding the dynamic representation of musical pitch from human brain activity
Authors: Sankaran N. , Thompson W. F. , Carlile S. , Carlson T. A.
Published: January 2018

In music, the perception of pitch is governed largely by its tonal function given the preceding harmonic structure of the music. While behavioral research has advanced our understanding of the perceptual representation of musical pitch, relatively little is known about its representational structure in the brain. Using Magnetoencephalography (MEG), we recorded evoked neural responses to different tones presented within a tonal context. Multivariate Pattern Analysis (MVPA) was applied to “decode” the stimulus that listeners heard based on the underlying neural activity. We then characterized the structure of the brain’s representation using decoding accuracy as a proxy for representational distance, and compared this structure to several well established perceptual and acoustic models. The observed neural representation was best accounted for by a model based on the Standard Tonal Hierarchy, whereby differences in the neural encoding of musical pitches correspond to their differences in perceived stability. By confirming that perceptual differences honor those in the underlying neuronal population coding, our results provide a crucial link in understanding the cognitive foundations of musical pitch across psychological and neural domains.
CLOCKΔ19 mutation modifies the manner of synchrony among oscillation neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus
Authors: Sujino Mitsugu , Asakawa Takeshi , Nagano Mamoru , Koinuma Satoshi , Masumoto Koh-Hei , Shigeyoshi Yasufumi
Published: January 2018

In mammals, the principal circadian oscillator exists in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). In the SCN, CLOCK works as an essential component of molecular circadian oscillation, andClockΔ19 mutant mice show unique characteristics of circadian rhythms such as extended free running periods, amplitude attenuation, and high-magnitude phase-resetting responses. Here we investigated what modifications occur in the spatiotemporal organization of clock gene expression in the SCN ofClockΔ19 mutants. The cultured SCN, sampled from neonatal homozygousClockΔ19 mice on an ICR strain comprising PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE, demonstrated that theClockgene mutation not only extends the circadian period, but also affects the spatial phase and period distribution of circadian oscillations in the SCN. In addition, disruption of the synchronization among neurons markedly attenuated the amplitude of the circadian rhythm of individual oscillating neurons in the mutant SCN. Further, with numerical simulations based on the present studies, the findings suggested that, in the SCN of theClockΔ19 mutant mice, stable oscillation was preserved by the interaction among oscillating neurons, and that the orderly phase and period distribution that makes a phase wave are dependent on the functionality of CLOCK.
Regulation of the Response of Caenorhabditis elegans to Simulated Microgravity by p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling
Authors: Li Wenjie , Wang Daoyong , Wang Dayong
Published: January 2018

The in vivo function of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in regulating the response to simulated microgravity is still largely unclear. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an assay system, we investigated the in vivo function of p38 MAPK signaling in regulating the response of animals to simulated microgravity and the underlying molecular mechanism. Simulated microgravity treatment significantly increased the transcriptional expressions of genes (pmk-1, sek-1, and nsy-1) encoding core p38 MAPK signaling pathway and the expression of phosphorylated PMK-1/p38 MAPK. The pmk-1, sek-1, or nsy-1 mutant was susceptible to adverse effects of simulated microgravity. The intestine-specific activity of PMK-1 was required for its function in regulating the response to simulated microgravity, and the entire p38 MAPK signaling pathway could act in the intestine to regulate the response to simulated microgravity. In the intestine, SKN-1 and ATF-7, two transcriptional factors, were identified as downstream targets for PMK-1 in regulating the response to simulated microgravity. Therefore, the activation of p38 MAPK signaling may mediate a protection mechanism for nematodes against the adverse effects of simulated microgravity. Additionally, our results highlight the potential crucial role of intestinal cells in response to simulated microgravity in nematodes.
A quantitative approach for pesticide analysis in grape juice by direct interfacing of a matrix compatible SPME phase to dielectric barrier discharge ionization-mass spectrometry
Authors: Mirabelli Mario F. , Gionfriddo Emanuela , Pawliszyn Janusz , Zenobi Renato
Published: January 2018

We evaluated the performance of a dielectric barrier discharge ionization (DBDI) source for pesticide analysis in grape juice, a fairly complex matrix due to the high content of sugars (≈20% w/w) and pigments.
An electrochemiluminescence biosensing platform for Hg2+ determination based on host–guest interactions between β-cyclodextrin functionalized Pd nanoparticles and ferrocene
Authors: Hu Yijie , Liu Zhimin , Zhan Haijun , Shen Zhiqiang
Published: January 2018

A solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) switch biosensor using a Ru(bpy)32+/β-cyclodextrin–Pd nanoparticles (β-CY–PdNPs)/gelatin (Gel) complex and a ferrocene-labeled DNA probe (Fer-DNA) for the detection of Hg2+ was successfully developed.
Dynamic blue light-switchable protein patterns on giant unilamellar vesicles
Authors: Bartelt S. M. , Chervyachkova E. , Steinkühler J. , Ricken J. , Wieneke R. , Tampé R. , Dimova R. , Wegner S. V.
Published: January 2018

The photoswitchable iLID/Nano interaction allows for specific, non-invasive, reversible and dynamic protein photopatterning on GUVs with high spatiotemporal control.
A well-defined unimolecular channel facilitates chloride transport
Authors: Chen Sujun , Zhao Yongliang , Bao Chunyan , Zhou Yaowu , Wang Chenxi , Lin Qiuning , Zhu Linyong
Published: January 2018

A well-defined unimolecular channel was optimized for Cl− transport and its fluorescence feature endowed visualization for channel insertion in a membrane.
Enantioselective cooperative proton-transfer catalysis using chiral ammonium phosphates
Authors: Zhang Linrui , Yuan Pengfei , Chen Jiean , Huang Yong
Published: January 2018

Chiral phosphorate anions are shown to be highly enantioselective templates for proton-transfer catalysis.
Epitaxial growth of single crystalline film scintillating screens based on Eu3+ doped RAlO3 (R = Y, Lu, Gd, Tb) perovskites
Authors: Gorbenko V. , Zorenko T. , Paprocki K. , Riva F. , Douissard P. A. , Martin T. , Zhydachevskii Ya. , Suchocki A. , Fedorov A. , Zorenko Yu.
Published: January 2018

The study is dedicated to the development of scintillating screens for microimaging applications based on the single crystalline films of Eu3+-doped (Y,Lu,Gd,Tb)AlO3-mixed perovskites using the liquid phase epitaxy method.
Electron transport in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons/boron nitride hybrid structures: density functional theory combined with the nonequilibrium Green's function
Authors: Panahi S. F. K. S. , Namiranian Afshin , Soleimani Maryam , Jamaati Maryam
Published: January 2018

We investigate the electronic transport properties of two types of junction based on polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), using nonequilibrium Green's functions and DFT.
Size dependence of magneto-optical activity in silver nanoparticles with dimensions between 10 and 60 nm studied by MCD spectroscopy
Authors: Shiratsu Taisuke , Yao Hiroshi
Published: January 2018

Size-dependent magneto-optical activity in Ag nanoparticles with dimensions from 10 to 60 nm is demonstrated with magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy.
Ultrafast stimulated emission of nitrophenolates in organic and aqueous solutions
Authors: Michenfelder N. C. , Ernst H. A. , Schweigert C. , Olzmann M. , Unterreiner A.-N.
Published: January 2018

Early-time dynamics of nitroaromatics and its corresponding bases can give valuable insights into photo-induced reactions relevant to atmospheric and environmental processes.
The S-functionalized Ti3C2 Mxene as a high capacity electrode material for Na-ion batteries: a DFT study
Authors: Meng Qiangqiang , Ma Jiale , Zhang Yonghui , Li Zhen , Zhi Chunyi , Hu Alice , Fan Jun
Published: January 2018

MXenes are attracting much attention as electrode materials due to their excellent energy storage properties and electrical conductivity, and the energy storage capacities were found to strongly depend on the surface terminal groups.
Single cells in nanoshells for the functionalization of living cells
Authors: Geng Wei , Wang Li , Jiang Nan , Cao Jian , Xiao Yu-Xuan , Wei Hao , Yetisen Ali K. , Yang Xiao-Yu , Su Bao-Lian
Published: January 2018

Inspired by nature, the different building blocks and special functions from nanoshells further optimize nanocoated single-cells, which have great potential in many applications.
Oxygen vacancy regulation on tungsten oxides with specific exposed facets for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidation
Authors: Meng Jie , Lin Qingyun , Chen Tao , Wei Xiao , Li Jixue , Zhang Ze
Published: January 2018

The density of oxygen vacancy on WO3 with specific exposed facets can be regulated through different cooling methods.
Advances toward the effective use of block copolymers as organic photovoltaic active layers
Authors: Mitchell V. D. , Jones D. J.
Published: January 2018

Donor/acceptor block copolymers for organic photovoltaic active layers are discussed from first principles through the modern state-of-the-art and future perspectives.
Reporting pH-sensitive drug releaseviaunpaired spin fluorescence silencing
Authors: Eing Matthias , Olshausen Bettina , Fairfull-Smith Kathryn E. , Schepers Ute , Barner-Kowollik Christopher , Blinco James P.
Published: January 2018

We pioneer an approach for the visualization of a self-reporting pH-controlled molecular release of a fluorescent drug from a nitroxide polymer scaffold.
Metamagnetism withTN= 97 K in a layered assembly of paddlewheel [Ru2] units and TCNQ: an empirical rule for interlayer distances determining the magnetic ground state
Authors: Kosaka Wataru , Itoh Masahisa , Miyasaka Hitoshi
Published: January 2018

A new layered antiferromagnet was synthesized from the reaction of a paddlewheel diruthenium(ii,ii) complex with a TCNQ derivative. The complex has a short interlayer distance and forms part of a series of layered antiferromagnets.
The similarity and variability of the iridoid glycoside profile and antioxidant capacity of aerial and underground parts of Lamiophlomis rotata according to UPLC-TOF-MS and multivariate analyses
Authors: Zhang Dan , Gao Yun-ling , Jiang Sheng , Chen Yiwen , Zhang Yi , Pan Zheng
Published: January 2018

Lamiophlomis rotata (L. rotata) is a Tibetan medicinal herb used for centuries that contains iridoid glycosides (IGs), which are pharmacologically active ingredients and can be used for quality control.
Adsorption of toluene with water on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/graphene oxide hybrid nanocomposites in a humid atmosphere
Authors: Chu Fuchen , Zheng Yue , Wen Boyuan , Zhou Lin , Yan Jun , Chen Yunlin
Published: January 2018

ZIF-8/GO composites can be used as efficient and recyclable adsorbents for the removal of toluene with water in a humid atmosphere.
Electrospray synthesis of nano-Si encapsulated in graphite/carbon microplates as robust anodes for high performance lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liu Wen , Zhong Yongming , Yang Siyuan , Zhang Shengsen , Yu Xiaoyuan , Wang Hongqiang , Li Qingyu , Li Jun , Cai Xin , Fang Yueping
Published: January 2018

Developing efficient Si-based anode materials for new-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has drawn extensive attention.
Probing the variability in oxidation states of magnetite nanoparticles by single-particle spectroscopy
Authors: Fraile Rodríguez A. , Moya C. , Escoda-Torroella M. , Romero A. , Labarta A. , Batlle X.
Published: January 2018

Single-particle X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals that the oxidation state and cation distribution of individual magnetite nanoparticles may be largely heterogeneous even when the macroscopic structural and magnetic response of the ensembles is uniform.
Recent advances in organic near-infrared photodiodes
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Lin Yiwei , Liao Yingjie , Wu Jiazun , Zheng Yonghao
Published: January 2018

Both broadband and narrowband organic photodetectors can be realized due to the easily tunable optical/electronic properties of organic semiconductors.
Photophysics and phosphate fluorescence sensing by poly(phenylene ethynylene) conjugated polyelectrolytes with branched ammonium side groups
Authors: Li Zhiliang , Acharya Rajendra , Wang Shanshan , Schanze Kirk S.
Published: January 2018

Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) have been applied as sensors for various small molecules and ions including biologically important ions.
Photoacid catalyzed organic–inorganic hybrid inks for the manufacturing of inkjet-printed photonic devices
Authors: Alamán Jorge , López-Valdeolivas María , Alicante Raquel , Medel Francisco J. , Silva-Treviño Jorge , Peña Jose Ignacio , Sánchez-Somolinos Carlos
Published: January 2018

Inkjet printing of photoacid catalyzed organic–inorganic hybrid formulations has been used in the preparation of low-loss optical waveguides.
Enhanced performance of perovskite/organic-semiconductor hybrid heterojunction photodetectors with the electron trapping effects
Authors: Xie Chao , Yan Feng
Published: January 2018

Both responsivity and response speed of photodetectors based on perovskite/organic-semiconductor hybrid heterojunctions can be simultaneously improved upon coating of a PCBM layer.
Optimization of metal-to-insulator phase transition properties in polycrystalline VO2 films for terahertz modulation applications by doping
Authors: Ji Chunhui , Wu Zhiming , Wu Xuefei , Feng Haoqian , Wang Jun , Huang Zehua , Zhou Hongxi , Yao Wei , Gou Jun , Jiang Yadong
Published: January 2018

A low TC and small ΔH were successfully achieved without significantly impairing THz MD by doping through an appropriate annealing process.
The interactions of CdTe quantum dots with serum albumin and subsequent cytotoxicity: the influence of homologous ligands
Authors: Yan Ren , Yu Bing-Qiong , Yin Miao-Miao , Zhou Zhi-Qiang , Xiang Xun , Han Xiao-Le , Liu Yi , Jiang Feng-Lei
Published: January 2018

With spreading applications of fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) in biomedical fields in recent years, there is increasing concern over their toxicity.
Brain–Computer Interfaces for Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A Tutorial
Authors: Brumberg Jonathan S. , Pitt Kevin M. , Mantie-Kozlowski Alana , Burnison Jeremy D.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to improve communication for people who require but are unable to use traditional augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. As BCIs move toward clinical practice, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) will need to consider their appropriateness for AAC intervention.

Method

This tutorial provides a background on BCI approaches to provide AAC specialists foundational knowledge necessary for clinical application of BCI. Tutorial descriptions were generated based on a literature review of BCIs for restoring communication.

Results

The tutorial responses directly address 4 major areas of interest for SLPs who specialize in AAC: (a) the current state of BCI with emphasis on SLP scope of practice (including the subareas: the way in which individuals access AAC with BCI, the efficacy of BCI for AAC, and the effects of fatigue), (b) populations for whom BCI is best suited, (c) the future of BCI as an addition to AAC access strategies, and (d) limitations of BCI.

Conclusion

Current BCIs have been designed as access methods for AAC rather than a replacement; therefore, SLPs can use existing knowledge in AAC as a starting point for clinical application. Additional training is recommended to stay updated with rapid advances in BCI.
Database for content of mercury in Polish brown coal
Authors: Jastrząb Krzysztof
Published: January 2018

Poland is rated among the countries with largest level of mercury emission in Europe. According to information provided by the National Centre for Balancing and Management of Emissions (KOBiZE) more than 10.5 tons of mercury and its compounds were emitted into the atmosphere in 2015 from the area of Poland. Within the scope of the BazaHg project lasting from 2014 to 2015 and co-financed from the National Centre of Research and Development (NCBiR) a database was set up with specification of mercury content in Polish hard steam coal, coking coal and brown coal (lignite) grades. With regard to domestic brown coal the database comprises information on coal grades from Brown Coal Mines of ‘Bełchatów’, ‘Adamów’, ‘Turów’ and ‘Sieniawa’. Currently the database contains 130 records with parameters of brown coal, where each record stands for technical analysis (content of moisture, ash and volatile particles), elemental analysis (CHNS), content of chlorine and mercury as well as net calorific value and combustion heat. Content of mercury in samples of brown coal grades under test ranged from 44 to 985 μg of Hg/kg with the average level of 345 μg of Hg/kg. The established database makes up a reliable and trustworthy source of information about content of mercury in Polish fossils. The foregoing details completed with information about consumption of coal by individual electric power stations and multiplied by appropriate emission coefficients may serve as the background to establish loads of mercury emitted into atmosphere from individual stations and by the entire sector of power engineering in total. It will also enable Polish central organizations and individual business entities to implement reasonable policy with respect of mercury emission into atmosphere.
Application of headspace for research volatile organic compounds emitted from building materials
Authors: Kultys Beata , Waląg Karolina
Published: January 2018

Headspace technique and gas chromatography method with mas detector has been used for the determination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from various building and finishing materials, such as sealing foams, mounting strips, paints, varnishes, floor coverings. The tests were carried out for different temperatures (in the temperature range of 60 to 180 °C) and the time of heated vials with tested materials inside. These tests were conducted to verify the possibility of use this method of determination the VOC emission. Interpretation of chromatograms and mass spectra allowed to identify the type of compounds emitted from the tested materials and the optimum time and temperature for each type of material was determined. The increase in heating temperature of the samples resulted in increase the type and number of identified compounds: for four materials the increase was in the whole temperature range, for others it was from 90 °C. On the other hand, emission from mineral wool was low in whole temperature range. 30-minutes heating of the samples was sufficient to identify emitted compounds for most of tested materials. Applying a longer time, i.e. 24 hours, significantly increased the sensitivity of the method.
Environmental issues and process risks for operation of carbon capture plant
Authors: Lajnert Radosław , Nowak Martyna , Telenga-Kopyczyńska Jolanta
Published: January 2018

The scope of this publication is a presentation of environmental issues and process risks connected with operation an installation for carbon capture from waste gas. General technological assumptions, typical for demonstration plant for carbon capture from waste gas (DCCP) with application of two different solutions – 30% water solution of monoethanoloamine (MEA) and water solution with 30% AMP (2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol) and 10% piperazine have been described. The concept of DCCP installation was made for Łaziska Power Plant in Łaziska Górne owned by TAURON Wytwarzanie S.A. Main hazardous substances, typical for such installation, which can be dangerous for human life and health or for the environment have been presented. Pollution emission to the air, noise emission, waste water and solid waste management have been described. The environmental impact of the released substances has been stated. Reference to emission standards specified in regulations for considered substances has been done. Principles of risk analysis have been presented and main hazards in carbon dioxide absorption node and regeneration node have been evaluated.
Minamata Convention on Mercury. Reporting obligations of the Parties to the Convention and the sources of data existing in Poland
Authors: Strzelecka-Jastrząb Ewa
Published: January 2018

After that, when more than 60 years ago in the Japanese city of Minamata there was caused a mass poisoning of residents by seafood contaminated with mercury, Minamata Convention on Mercury came into force on August 16, 2017. To date, the Convention has been signed by 128 States, the signatories of the Convention and ratified by 83 States - Parties to the Convention. The Convention imposes a number of obligations on the Parties to the Convention, including the reporting obligation. The paper analyses the reporting obligations of the Parties to the Convention, which are in force after the entry into force of the Convention, pursuant to the provisions contained therein. In addition, the existing sources of quantitative data on mercury in Poland are characterized.
Determination of water-soluble elements in PM2.5, PM10, and PM2.5-10 collected in the surroundings of power plants
Authors: Zajusz-Zubek Elwira , Mainka Anna , Kaczmarek Konrad
Published: January 2018

The analysis reported in this study was performed to characterize the concentrations and water-soluble content of trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb and Se) in PM2.5, PM10 and PM2.5-10 samples collected in the surroundings of power plants in southern Poland. The solubility of trace elements bound to PM2.5 and PM10 was higher than for PM2.5-10, and in most cases, significant differences were revealed in the relative percentage concentrations of the water-soluble fractions. The occurrence of Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb and Se in first PCA (Principal Component Analysis) factor (PC1) – indicate coal combustion processes as the potential source of these elements. Other factors indicate two further anthropogenic sources: the resuspension of road dust due to vehicular activities and waste burning in domestic sources – factor (PC2), and, soil dust sources affected by fugitive dust from the mining processes and unpaved roads, as well as transportation and deposition of coal –factor (PC3).
Upgrade of the ATLAS Hadronic Tile Calorimeter for the High Luminosity LHC
Authors: Tortajada Ignacio Asensi
Published: January 2018

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has envisaged a series of upgrades towards a High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) delivering five times the LHC nominal instantaneous luminosity. The ATLAS Phase II upgrade, in 2024, will accommodate the upgrade of the detector and data acquisition system for the HL-LHC. The Tile Calorimeter (TileCal) will undergo a major replacement of its on- and off-detector electronics. In the new architecture, all signals will be digitized and then transferred directly to the off-detector electronics, where the signals will be reconstructed, stored, and sent to the first level of trigger at the rate of 40 MHz. This will provide better precision of the calorimeter signals used by the trigger system and will allow the development of more complex trigger algorithms. Changes to the electronics will also contribute to the reliability and redundancy of the system.

Three different front-end options are presently being investigated for the upgrade, two of them based on ASICs, and a final solution will be chosen after extensive laboratory and test beam studies that are in progress. A hybrid demonstrator module is being developed using the new electronics while conserving compatibility with the current system. The status of the developments will be presented, including results from the several tests with particle beams.
RESPONSE OF CsI:Pb SCINTILLATOR CRYSTAL TO NEUTRON RADIATION
Authors: Costa Pereira Maria da Conceição , Filho Tufic Madi , Berretta José Roberto , Náhuel Cárdenas José Patrício , Iglesias Rodrigues Antonio Carlos
Published: January 2018

The helium-3 world crisis requires a development of new methods of neutron detection to replace commonly used 3He proportional counters. In the past decades, great effort was made to developed efficient and fast scintillators to detect radiation. The inorganic scintillator may be an alternative. Inorganic scintillators with much higher density should be selected for optimal neutron detection efficiency taking into consideration the relevant reactions leading to light emission. These detectors should, then, be carefully characterized both experimentally and by means of advanced simulation code. Ideally, the detector should have the capability to separate neutron and gamma induced events either by amplitude or through pulse shape differences. As neutron sources also generate gamma radiation, which can interfere with the measurement, it is necessary that the detector be able to discriminate the presence of such radiation. Considerable progress has been achieved to develop new inorganic scintillators, in particular increasing the light output and decreasing the decay time by optimized doping. Crystals may be found to suit neutron detection. In this report, we will present the results of the study of lead doped cesium iodide crystals (CsI:Pb) grown in our laboratory, using the vertical Bridgman technique. The concentration of the lead doping element (Pb) was studied in the range 5х10-4 M to 10-2 M . The crystals grown were subjected to annealing (heat treatment). In this procedure, vacuum of 10-6 mbar and continuous temperature of 350°C, for 24 hours, were employed. In response to neutron radiation, an AmBe source with energy range of 1 MeV to 12 MeV was used. The activity of the AmBe source was 1Ci Am. The fluency was 2.6 х 106 neutrons/second. The operating voltage of the photomultiplier tube was 1700 V; the accumulation time in the counting process was 600 s and 1800 s. The scintillator crystals used were cut with dimensions of 20 mm diameter and 10 mm height.
Induced Charge Fluctuations in Semiconductor Detectors with a Cylindrical Geometry
Authors: Samedov Victor V.
Published: January 2018

Now, compound semiconductors are very appealing for hard X-ray room-temperature detectors for medical and astrophysical applications. Despite the attractive properties of compound semiconductors, such as high atomic number, high density, wide band gap, low chemical reactivity and long-term stability, poor hole and electron mobility-lifetime products degrade the energy resolution of these detectors. The main objective of the present study is in development of a mathematical model of the process of the charge induction in a cylindrical geometry with accounting for the charge carrier trapping. The formulae for the moments of the distribution function of the induced charge and the formulae for the mean amplitude and the variance of the signal at the output of the semiconductor detector with a cylindrical geometry were derived. It was shown that the power series expansions of the detector amplitude and the variance in terms of the inverse bias voltage allow determining the Fano factor, electron mobility lifetime product, and the nonuniformity level of the trap density of the semiconductor material.
The Use of 3D Printing in the Development of Gaseous Radiation Detectors
Authors: Fargher Sam , Steer Chris , Thompson Lee
Published: January 2018

Fused Deposition Modelling has been used to produce a small, single wire, Iarocci-style drift tube to demonstrate the feasibility of using the Additive Manufacturing technique to produce cheap detectors, quickly. Recent technological developments have extended the scope of Additive Manufacturing, or 3D printing, to the possibility of fabricating Gaseous Radiation Detectors, such as Single Wire Proportional Counters and Time Projection Chambers. 3D printing could allow for the production of customisable, modular detectors; that can be easily created and replaced and the possibility of printing detectors on-site in remote locations and even for outreach within schools.

The 3D printed drift tube was printed using Polylactic acid to produce a gas volume in the shape of an inverted triangular prism; base length of 28 mm, height 24.25 mm and tube length 145 mm. A stainless steel anode wire was placed in the centre of the tube, mid-print. P5 gas (95% Argon, 5% Methane) was used as the drift gas and a circuit was built to capacitively decouple signals from the high voltage. The signal rate and average pulse height of cosmic ray muons were measured over a range of bias voltages to characterise and prove correct operation of the printed detector.
Monitoring and Hardware Management for Critical Fusion Plasma Instrumentation
Authors: Carvalho Paulo F. , Santos Bruno , Correia Miguel , Combo Álvaro M. , Rodrigues AntÓnio P. , Pereira Rita C. , Fernandes Ana , Cruz Nuno , Sousa Jorge , Carvalho Bernardo B. , Batista AntÓnio J.N. , Correia Carlos M.B.A. , Gonçalves Bruno
Published: January 2018

Controlled nuclear fusion aims to obtain energy by particles collision confined inside a nuclear reactor (Tokamak). These ionized particles, heavier isotopes of hydrogen, are the main elements inside of plasma that is kept at high temperatures (millions of Celsius degrees). Due to high temperatures and magnetic confinement, plasma is exposed to several sources of instabilities which require a set of procedures by the control and data acquisition systems throughout fusion experiments processes. Control and data acquisition systems often used in nuclear fusion experiments are based on the Advanced Telecommunication Computer Architecture (AdvancedTCA®) standard introduced by the Peripheral Component Interconnect Industrial Manufacturers Group (PICMG®), to meet the demands of telecommunications that require large amount of data (TB) transportation at high transfer rates (Gb/s), to ensure high availability including features such as reliability, serviceability and redundancy. For efficient plasma control, systems are required to collect large amounts of data, process it, store for later analysis, make critical decisions in real time and provide status reports either from the experience itself or the electronic instrumentation involved. Moreover, systems should also ensure the correct handling of detected anomalies and identified faults, notify the system operator of occurred events, decisions taken to acknowledge and implemented changes. Therefore, for everything to work in compliance with specifications it is required that the instrumentation includes hardware management and monitoring mechanisms for both hardware and software. These mechanisms should check the system status by reading sensors, manage events, update inventory databases with hardware system components in use and maintenance, store collected information, update firmware and installed software modules, configure and handle alarms to detect possible system failures and prevent emergency scenarios occurrences. The goal is to ensure high availability of the system and provide safety operation, experiment security and data validation for the fusion experiment. This work aims to contribute to the joint effort of the IPFN control and data acquisition group to develop a hardware management and monitoring application for control and data acquisition instrumentation especially designed for large scale tokamaks like ITER.