bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of pre-operative body mass index in head and neck cancer patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction
Authors: Hyun D-J , Joo Y-H , Kim M-S
Published: October 2017

Objectives:

To analyse the relationship of pre-operative body mass index with surgical complications and oncological outcomes in patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction for head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Method:

A retrospective review was conducted of 259 patients who underwent microvascular free flap reconstruction after head and neck ablative surgery.

Results:

Mean body mass index was 22.48 kg/m2. There were no correlations between body mass index and: flap failure (p = 0.739), flap ischaemia (p = 0.644), pharyngocutaneous fistula (p = 0.141) or wound infection (p = 0.224). The five-year disease-specific survival rate was 63 per cent. On univariate analysis, the five-year disease-specific survival rate was significantly correlated with pre-operative body mass index, based on Kaplan–Meier survival curves (p = 0.028). The five-year disease-specific survival rates in underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese groups were 47 per cent, 55 per cent, 65 per cent and 80 per cent, respectively.

Conclusion:

Pre-operative body mass index was a useful predictor for recurrence and survival in patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction for head and neck squamous cell cancer.
EXPLOITATION, INTENTIONALITY AND INJUSTICE
Authors: Steiner Hillel
Published: October 2017

This paper argues that, inasmuch as exploitation is a form of injustice, exploitative acts need not be performed intentionally.
A minimally processed dietary pattern is associated with lower odds of metabolic syndrome among Lebanese adults
Authors: Nasreddine Lara , Tamim Hani , Itani Leila , Nasrallah Mona P , Isma’eel Hussain , Nakhoul Nancy F , Abou-Rizk Joana , Naja Farah
Published: October 2017

Objective

To (i) estimate the consumption of minimally processed, processed and ultra-processed foods in a sample of Lebanese adults; (ii) explore patterns of intakes of these food groups; and (iii) investigate the association of the derived patterns with cardiometabolic risk.

Design

Cross-sectional survey. Data collection included dietary assessment using an FFQ and biochemical, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Food items were categorized into twenty-five groups based on the NOVA food classification. The contribution of each food group to total energy intake (TEI) was estimated. Patterns of intakes of these food groups were examined using exploratory factor analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of derived patterns with cardiometabolic risk factors.

Setting

Greater Beirut area, Lebanon.

Subjects

Adults ≥18 years (n302) with no prior history of chronic diseases.

Results

Of TEI, 36·53 and 27·10 % were contributed by ultra-processed and minimally processed foods, respectively. Two dietary patterns were identified: the ‘ultra-processed’ and the ‘minimally processed/processed’. The ‘ultra-processed’ consisted mainly of fast foods, snacks, meat, nuts, sweets and liquor, while the ‘minimally processed/processed’ consisted mostly of fruits, vegetables, legumes, breads, cheeses, sugar and fats. Participants in the highest quartile of the ‘minimally processed/processed’ pattern had significantly lower odds for metabolic syndrome (OR=0·18, 95 % CI 0·04, 0·77), hyperglycaemia (OR=0·25, 95 % CI 0·07, 0·98) and low HDL cholesterol (OR=0·17, 95 % CI 0·05, 0·60).

Conclusions

The study findings may be used for the development of evidence-based interventions aimed at encouraging the consumption of minimally processed foods.
Demonstrating deep biosphere activity in the geological record of lake sediments, on Earth and Mars
Authors: Parnell John , McMahon Sean , Boyce Adrian
Published: October 2017

The investigation of Gale Crater has highlighted the occurrence of lake sediments in the geological record of Mars. Lacustrine basins include a diversity of potential habitats for life. An analogue terrestrial lacustrine basin of Devonian age in Scotland contains sulphide minerals in several settings where subsurface microbial colonization can be envisaged. Sulphur isotope compositions for the sulphides imply that they were precipitated by microbial sulphate reduction. The data suggest that the search for life in martian lacustrine basins should include investigation of potential subsurface habitats, and that any sulphides in martian lacustrine basins could be useful indicators in the search for life.
Understanding system innovation adoption: A comparative analysis of integrated soil fertility management uptake in Tamale (Ghana) and Kakamega (Kenya)
Authors: Adolwa Ivan Solomon , Schwarze Stefan , Waswa Boaz , Buerkert Andreas
Published: October 2017

Sustainable intensification of African farming systems has been high on the agenda of research and development programs for decades. System innovations such as integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) and conservation agriculture have been proposed to tackle the complex challenges farmers face. In this study, we assess how different factors at the plot, farm and institutional level can influence the adoption of ISFM. We employed a stratified sampling approach to randomly select 285 and 300 farmers in Tamale, northern Ghana and Kakamega County, western Kenya, respectively. These two locations were selected to understand the underlying reasons for their divergent adoption levels. Ordinal regression models were used to identify determinants of adoption. In Tamale, adoption rates of ISFM are much lower than in Kakamega. Only 3% of the farmers fully adopted the recommended practices compared with 36% in Kakamega. The low availability of improved seeds is a major reason for the lower uptake of the complete ISFM paradigm in Tamale. The econometric analysis revealed that plot level variables such as soil carbon, soil texture, slope and plot area had a significant effect on the number of adopted ISFM components at both locations. Moreover, family labor availability is also an important factor. Other farm and household characteristics, such as off-farm occupation, livestock ownership, and membership in associations, matter for Kakamega only. Key policy recommendations include promotion of locally available organic resources and improved access to improved seeds in Tamale.
Has Breeding Improved Soybean Competitiveness with Weeds?
Authors: Hammer Devin J. , Stoltenberg David E. , Colquhoun Jed B. , Conley Shawn P.
Published: October 2017

Soybean yield gain over the last century has been attributed to both genetic and agronomic improvements. Recent research has characterized how breeding efforts to improve yield gain have also secondarily impacted agronomic practices such as seeding rate, planting date, and fungicide use. To our knowledge, no research has characterized the relationship between weed–soybean interference and genetic yield gain. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to determine whether newer cultivars would consistently yield higher than older cultivars under increasingly competitive environments, and whether soybean breeding efforts over time have indirectly increased soybean competitiveness. Field research was conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 in which 40 maturity group (MG) II soybean cultivars released between 1928 and 2013 were grown season-long with three different densities of volunteer corn (0, 2.8, and 11.2 plants m−2). Soybean seed yield of newer cultivars was higher than older cultivars at each volunteer corn density (P<0.0001). Soybean seed yield was also higher in the weed-free treatment than at low or high volunteer corn seeding rates. However, soybean cultivar release year did not affect late-season volunteer corn shoot dry biomass at either seeding rate of 2.8 or 11.2 seeds m−2. The results indicate that while soybean breeding efforts have increased yield potential over time, they have not increased soybean competitiveness with volunteer corn. These results highlight the importance of other cultural practices such as planting date and crop row spacing for weed suppression in modern soybean production systems.
Ultrafast giant magnetic cooling effect in ferromagnetic Co/Pt multilayers
Authors: Shim Je-Ho , Ali Syed Akbar , Kim Chul-Hoon , Lee Kyung Min , Park Seung-Young , Jeong Jong-Ryul , Kim Dong-Hyun , Eon Kim Dong
Published: October 2017

The magnetic cooling effect originates from a large change in entropy by the forced magnetization alignment, which has long been considered to be utilized as an alternative environment-friendly cooling technology compared to conventional refrigeration. However, an ultimate timescale of the magnetic cooling effect has never been studied yet. Here, we report that a giant magnetic cooling (up to 200 K) phenomenon exists in the Co/Pt nano-multilayers on a femtosecond timescale during the photoinduced demagnetization and remagnetization, where the disordered spins are more rapidly aligned, and thus magnetically cooled, by the external magnetic field via the lattice-spin interaction in the multilayer system. These findings were obtained by the extensive analysis of time-resolved magneto-optical responses with systematic variation of laser fluence as well as external field strength and direction. Ultrafast giant magnetic cooling observed in the present study can enable a new avenue to the realization of ultrafast magnetic devices.
Non-invasive assessment of hepatic mitochondrial metabolism by positional isotopomer NMR tracer analysis (PINTA)
Authors: Perry Rachel J. , Peng Liang , Cline Gary W. , Butrico Gina M. , Wang Yongliang , Zhang Xian-Man , Rothman Douglas L. , Petersen Kitt Falk , Shulman Gerald I.
Published: October 2017

Hepatic mitochondria play a central role in the regulation of intermediary metabolism and maintenance of normoglycemia, and there is great interest in assessing rates of hepatic mitochondrial citrate synthase flux (VCS) and pyruvate carboxylase flux (VPC) in vivo. Here, we show that a positional isotopomer NMR tracer analysis (PINTA) method can be used to non-invasively assess rates of VCS and VPC fluxes using a combined NMR/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of plasma following infusion of [3-13C]lactate and glucose tracer. PINTA measures VCS and VPC fluxes over a wide range of physiological conditions with minimal pyruvate cycling and detects increased hepatic VCS following treatment with a liver-targeted mitochondrial uncoupler. Finally, validation studies in humans demonstrate that the VPC/VCS ratio measured by PINTA is similar to that determined by in vivo NMR spectroscopy. This method will provide investigators with a relatively simple tool to non-invasively examine the role of altered hepatic mitochondrial metabolism.
Erratum: 53-attosecond X-ray pulses reach the carbon K-edge
Authors: Li Jie , Ren Xiaoming , Yin Yanchun , Zhao Kun , Chew Andrew , Cheng Yan , Cunningham Eric , Wang Yang , Hu Shuyuan , Wu Yi , Chini Michael , Chang Zenghu
Published: October 2017

Nature Communications8:186 10.1038/s41467-017-00321-0 (2017); Article published online: 4 August 2017
Ferroic glasses
Authors: Ji Yuanchao , Wang Dong , Wang Yu , Zhou Yumei , Xue Dezhen , Otsuka Kazuhiro , Wang Yunzhi , Ren Xiaobing
Published: October 2017

Ferroic glasses (strain glass, relaxor and cluster spin glass) refer to frozen disordered states in ferroic systems; they are conjugate states to the long-range ordered ferroic states—the ferroic crystals. Ferroic glasses exhibit unusual properties that are absent in ferroic crystals, such as slim hysteresis and gradual property changes over a wide temperature range. In addition to ferroic glasses and ferroic crystals, a third ferroic state, a glass-ferroic (i.e., a composite of ferroic glass and ferroic crystal), can be produced by the crystallization transition of ferroic glasses. It can have a superior property not possessed by its two components. These three classes of ferroic materials (ferroic crystal, ferroic glass and glass-ferroic) correspond to three transitions (ferroic phase transition, ferroic glass transition and crystallization transition of ferroic glass, respectively), as demonstrated in a generic temperature vs. defect-concentration phase diagram. Moreover, through constructing a phase field model, the microstructure evolution of three transitions and the phase diagram can be reproduced, which reveals the important role of point defects in the formation of ferroic glass and glass-ferroic. The phase diagram can be used to design various ferroic glasses and glass-ferroics that may exhibit unusual properties.
Insensitive ionic bio-energetic materials derived from amino acids
Authors: Zhang Lei , Song Kang-Xiang , Zhang Zhang , Yuan Wen-Li , Zhao Nanrong , Qin Song , He Ling , Tao Guo-Hong
Published: October 2017

Energetic salts/ionic liquids have received increasing attention as fascinating energetic materials, and the use of renewable compounds is a promising approach to developing energetic materials. Until recently, biomolecules have been used as raw materials to develop neutral energetic compounds, whereas research focused on ionic energetic materials obtained from natural bio-renewable frameworks is scarce. This work systematically investigates ionic bio-energetic materials (IBEMs) derived from sustainable natural amino acids. In addition to combustibility, high density, good thermal stability, and one-step preparation, these IBEMs demonstrated apparent hypotoxicity and insensitivity. Moreover, a theoretical examination was performed to explore their appropriate properties. The intriguing results of this study indicates that IBEMs are potential bio-based energetic materials.
Collision with duplex DNA renders Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme susceptible to DNA polymerase IV-mediated polymerase switching on the sliding clamp
Authors: Le Thanh Thi , Furukohri Asako , Tatsumi-Akiyama Masahiro , Maki Hisaji
Published: October 2017

Organisms possess multiple DNA polymerases (Pols) and use each for a different purpose. One of the five Pols in Escherichia coli, DNA polymerase IV (Pol IV), encoded by the dinB gene, is known to participate in lesion bypass at certain DNA adducts. To understand how cells choose Pols when the replication fork encounters an obstacle on template DNA, the process of polymerase exchange from the primary replicative enzyme DNA polymerase III (Pol III) to Pol IV was studied in vitro. Replicating Pol III forming a tight holoenzyme (Pol III HE) with the sliding clamp was challenged by Pol IV on a primed ssDNA template carrying a short inverted repeat. A rapid and lesion-independent switch from Pol III to Pol IV occurred when Pol III HE encountered a hairpin stem duplex, implying that the loss of Pol III-ssDNA contact induces switching to Pol IV. Supporting this idea, mutant Pol III with an increased affinity for ssDNA was more resistant to Pol IV than wild-type Pol III was. We observed that an exchange between Pol III and Pol IV also occurred when Pol III HE collided with primer/template duplex. Our data suggest that Pol III-ssDNA interaction may modulate the susceptibility of Pol III HE to Pol IV-mediated polymerase exchange.
A porous Ru nanomaterial as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction under acidic and neutral conditions
Authors: Drouet S. , Creus J. , Collière V. , Amiens C. , García-Antón J. , Sala X. , Philippot K.
Published: October 2017

A porous Ru nanomaterial exhibits high electrocatalytic performance and excellent durability for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under both acidic and neutral conditions.
Alkali earth MOx (x = 6, 7, 9, 12) polyhedra tuned cadmium selenites with different dimensions and diverse SeO32− coordinations
Authors: Jia Ying-Jie , Chen Yi-Gang , Yao Xiao-Ni , Zhang Xian-Ming
Published: October 2017

Alkali earth cation-tuned framework of cadmium selenites resulting in evolvement of the structures from high dimension to low dimension.
Differential detection photothermal spectroscopy: towards ultra-fast and sensitive label-free detection in picoliter & femtoliter droplets
Authors: Maceiczyk Richard M. , Hess David , Chiu Flora W. Y. , Stavrakis Stavros , deMello Andrew J.
Published: October 2017

Differential detection photothermal spectroscopy enables ultra-fast and sensitive absorbance quantification in microfluidic droplets.
Single cell sequencing: An engineer and business person's perspective on how we got here
Authors: Gilligan Mark
Published: October 2017

Microfluidics entrepreneur Mark Gilligan provides a perspective on the development of single-cell sequencing technologies.
Enhanced electrochemical performance of sulfur on Y2O3-modified porous carbon aerogels for high performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Ding Zhongqiang , Li Xueliang , Zhang Pei , Yu Jingjian , Hua Yang
Published: October 2017

Ultrafine Y2O3modified carbon aerogels with S loading were successfully prepared and exhibit excellent electrochemical performance.
Polymer sequencing by molecular machines: a framework for predicting the resolving power of a sliding contact force spectroscopy sequencing method
Authors: Dunlop Alex , Bowman Kate , Aarstad Olav , Skjåk-Bræk Gudmund , Stokke Bjørn T. , Round Andrew N.
Published: October 2017

An AFM-based single molecule force spectroscopy method for polymer sequencing distinguishes between different monomers on the basis of their size and hydrophobicity.
Tuning the collective switching behavior of azobenzene/Au hybrid materials: flexible versus rigid azobenzene backbones and Au(111) surfaces versus curved Au nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Chunyan , Zheng Dong , Hu Weigang , Zhu Qiang , Tian Ziqi , Zhao Jun , Zhu Yan , Ma Jing
Published: October 2017

The collective switching behavior of Au/AB hybrid materials can be tuned through the flexible azobenzene backbone and the size of the Au substrate.
Towards visualisation of central-cell-effects in scanning tunnelling microscope images of subsurface dopant qubits in silicon
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Voisin Benoit , Salfi Joe , Rogge Sven , Hollenberg Lloyd C. L.
Published: October 2017

High-precision physics modeling at the atomic scale indicates potential for direct observation of central-cell-effects in scanning tunnelling microscope images of single dopant wave functions.
Uniform carbon dots@TiO2 nanotube arrays with full spectrum wavelength light activation for efficient dye degradation and overall water splitting
Authors: Wang Qun , Huang Jianying , Sun Hongtao , Zhang Ke-Qin , Lai Yuekun
Published: October 2017

A uniform carbon dot-decorated TiO2 nanotube array composite heterojunction with full spectrum wavelength light activation was fabricated via a facile electrochemical strategy for efficient dye degradation and overall water splitting.
Correction: Inhibition of mild steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid using two novel pyridine Schiff base derivatives: a comparative study of experimental and theoretical results
Authors: Meng Yue , Ning Wenbo , Xu Bin , Yang Wenzhong , Zhang Kegui , Chen Yun , Li Lihua , Liu Xi , Zheng Jinhong , Zhang Yimin
Published: October 2017

Correction for ‘Inhibition of mild steel corrosion in hydrochloric acid using two novel pyridine Schiff base derivatives: a comparative study of experimental and theoretical results’ by Yue Meng et al., RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 43014–43029.
Identification of catabolite control protein A fromStaphylococcus aureusas a target of silver ions
Authors: Liao Xiangwen , Yang Fang , Wang Runming , He Xiaojun , Li Hongyan , Kao Richard Y. T. , Xia Wei , Sun Hongzhe
Published: October 2017

The catabolite control protein A (CcpA) ofS. aureushas been identified as a putative target for silver ions.
Precise synthesis of unique polydopamine/mesoporous calcium phosphate hollow Janus nanoparticles for imaging-guided chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy
Authors: Zhang Manjie , Zhang Lingyu , Chen Yidan , Li Lu , Su Zhongmin , Wang Chungang
Published: October 2017

A novel synthetic strategy has been developed for fabricating spherical polydopamine/mesoporous calcium phosphate (PDA/mCaP) hollow Janus nanoparticles (H-JNPs).
Tunable photoacoustic properties of gold nanoshells with near-infrared optical responses
Authors: Yu Hai-Qun , Yao Jie , Wu Xue-Wei , Wu Da-Jian , Liu Xiao-Jun
Published: October 2017

Photoacoustic (PA) properties of liquid-immersed gold nanoshells (GNSs) with near-infrared optical responses are investigated using the finite element method. We focus on the dependence of the PA signal of the GNS on the geometry, surrounding medium, laser fluence, and laser pulse width. It is found that the PA signal of the GNS is strongly sensitive to the optical absorption of the GNS and can be greatly modulated by changing the geometry. At the wavelength of 800 nm, the maximal PA signal could be obtained for the GNS with the optimized size of the inner radius (r1 = 48.5 nm) and outer radius (r2 = 57 nm). The increased laser fluence enhances the optical absorption and PA signal. The decreased laser pulse width induces the decreased PA pulse width, the increased bandwidth of the PA signal, and the increased PA conversion efficiency, resulting in the enhanced PA signal. In addition, we find that the larger Gruneisen parameter of the embedding medium leads to a stronger PA signal.
Influence of magnetization on the applied magnetic field in various AMR regenerators
Authors: Mira A. , de Larochelambert T. , Espanet C. , Giurgea S. , Nika P. , Bahl C. R. H. , Bjørk R. , Nielsen K. K.
Published: October 2017

The aim of this work is to assess the influence of a magnetic sample on the applied magnetic field inside the air gap of a magnetic circuit. Different magnetic sources including an electromagnet, a permanent magnet in a soft ferromagnetic toroidal yoke, as well as 2D and 3D Halbach cylinders are considered, using a numerical model. Gadolinium is chosen as magnetic material for the sample, due to its strong magnetocaloric properties and its wide use in magnetic refrigeration prototypes. We find that using uniform theoretical demagnetizing factors for cylinders or spheres results in a deviation of less than 2% in the calculation of internal magnetic fields at temperatures above the Curie point of gadolinium. Below the Curie point, a stronger magnetization of the cylinders and spheres leads to a larger deviation which can reach 8% when using uniform demagnetizing factors for internal magnetic field calculations.
Parameter-space survey of linear G-mode and interchange in extended magnetohydrodynamics
Authors: Howell E. C. , Sovinec C. R.
Published: October 2017

The extended magnetohydrodynamic stability of interchange modes is studied in two configurations. In slab geometry, a local dispersion relation for the gravitational interchange mode (g-mode) with three different extensions of the MHD model [Zhu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 085005 (2008)] is analyzed. Our results delineate where drifts stablize the g-mode with gyroviscosity alone and with a two-fluid Ohm's law alone. The two-fluid Ohm's law produces an ion drift wave that interacts with the g-mode. This interaction gives rise to a second instability at finite ky. A second instability is also observed in numerical extended MHD computations of linear interchange in cylindrical screw-pinch equilibria, the second configuration. Particularly with incomplete models, this mode limits the regions of stability for physically realistic conditions. However, applying a consistent two-temperature extended MHD model that includes the diamagnetic heat flux density (q→*) makes the onset of the second mode occur at a larger Hall parameter. For conditions relevant to the SSPX experiment [E. B. Hooper, Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 54, 113001 (2012)], significant stabilization is observed for Suydam parameters as large as unity (Ds ≲ 1).
Effect of Holmium substitution on the magnetic and magnetodielectric properties of multiferroic Bi2Fe4O9
Authors: Mohapatra S. R. , Vishwakarma P. N. , Kaushik S. D. , Singh A. K.
Published: October 2017

In the quest for deriving new multiferroics from the existing ones, we have prepared and studied polycrystalline Bi2(1-x)Ho2xFe4O9 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.02) ceramics. A substantial increase in the Néel temperature (TN) from 250 K (x = 0, BFO) to 266 K (x = 0.02, BHFO2) is observed for Ho-substituted samples. The magnetization measurements suggest that Ho3+ goes as isolated magnetic defects and interaction among them is reflected only when the temperature goes below 70 K. Interestingly, the Néel temperature is not clearly visible in the magnetization-temperature plot due to its masking by the high moment of isolated Ho3+ ions, but TN is very clearly reflected in the dielectric plot, thus indicating a plausible coupling between the magnetic and electric order parameters. Also, a dielectric crossover at T ∼ 200 K is observed for Ho3+ substituted samples and explained using a mean-field approximation model, thereby validating the presence of isolated defects arising due to Ho3+ substitution. At the same time, an enhanced magnetodielectric (MD) effect at 200 K i.e., ∼−1.6% (∼530 times) for BHFO2 is discerned as compared to BFO. Furthermore, confirmation to this coupling is drawn from MD% versus T plot and MD% versus H plot, where the latter is found to obey ∝(H)m behaviour.
Vortex-controlled morphology conversion of microstructures on silicon induced by femtosecond vector vortex beams
Authors: Cheng Huachao , Li Peng , Liu Sheng , Chen Peng , Han Lei , Zhang Yi , Hu Wei , Zhao Jianlin
Published: October 2017

We demonstrate the morphology conversion of surface microstructures on silicon induced by femtosecond vector vortex beams. By tuning the topological charge of the vortex phase carried by the vector beam, we achieve the transition of ablation crater between subwavelength ripples and hole, and the switching of ripple orientation. It is shown that the vortex phases give rise to the converting of the two polarization components of the focused vector beams, and produce dramatically different polarization and intensity distributions in the focal fields. Such vortex-dependent focal fields of femtosecond vector beams are experimentally generated to realize the morphology conversion of surface microstructures on silicon. Our results not only enable the realization of manipulating the laser-induced morphology but also support the visualized mapping of the polarization state of the focused vector beams.
High performance multicrystalline silicon: Grain structure and iron precipitation
Authors: Autruffe Antoine , M'hamdi Mohammed , Schindler Florian , Heinz Friedemann D. , Ekstrøm Kai Erik , Schubert Martin C. , Di Sabatino Marisa , Stokkan Gaute
Published: October 2017

A study of the spatial occurrence of iron precipitation in a high performance multicrystalline silicon (HPMC-Si) sample is presented. The separated effects of grain-boundaries, sparse intra-granular dislocations, and dislocation clusters are investigated by combining the Fei imaging method with glow discharge mass spectroscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and two iron precipitation models. While the area-averaged precipitation at grain boundaries is relatively minor, almost the whole iron precipitation occurs within the grains, despite the very low intra-granular dislocation density. The fraction of non-precipitated iron in the studied HPMC-Si material was found to be one to two orders of magnitude higher than that reported previously for standard materials.
On the nature of AFM tip metal-MoS2 contact; effect of single layer character and tip force
Authors: Kaushik Vishakha , Varandani Deepak , Das Pintu , Mehta Bodh R.
Published: October 2017

In the present study, the nature of metal-MoS2 contacts has been investigated using conductive atomic force microscopy. The point I-V characteristics have been acquired as a function of loading force (53 nN–252 nN) for an interface formed between the atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip (Pt and Co coated) and MoS2 domains (single and multilayer). The metal-MoS2 junctions for both Co and Pt tips exhibit a rectifying nature with higher forward current for the Co tip as compared to the Pt tip for both single and multilayer samples. An interesting behavior of decreasing junction current and rectification ratio with increasing tip loading force is observed in the case of single layer MoS2. In comparison, negligible or very small change in the forward junction current is observed in the case of multilayer samples. The single layer MoS2 undergoes charge polarization in the presence of uniaxial strain exerted in the form of AFM tip loading force, resulting in current in a direction opposite to the forward current due to the migration of majority electron carriers away from the tip-MoS2 interface. Therefore, the net current which is a sum of the forward junction current and the force induced current reduces with loading force for single layer MoS2. This study emphasizes the influence of the single layer nature of MoS2 on the electrical properties of metal-MoS2 contacts, an understanding of which is important from the perspective of basic physics and its applications.
Crystal orientation-dependent mechanical property and structural phase transition of monolayer molybdenum disulfide
Authors: Xiong Qi-lin , Kitamura Takayuki , Li Zhen-huan
Published: October 2017

By performing molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the mechanical property and structural phase transition in monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) with different crystal orientations under uniaxial tensions systematically. The results show that both the mechanical property and structural phase transition are strongly dependent on the crystal orientation, specifically, for some crystal orientation angles lower than about 20°, the structural phase transition takes place with the plastic deformation; for other crystal orientation angles, plastic deformation cannot occur. Further studies have found that plastic deformation results from irreversible changes of the angles between the bonds, rather than the variation of bond length. Young's modulus increases while ultimate strength and fracture strain decrease with the increase of the crystal orientation angle. The critical strain at which the first structural phase transition occurs increases with the increase of the crystal orientation angle. The plastic deformation and the irreversible structural transition almost linearly increase with the decrease of the crystal orientation angle.
The direct piezoelectric effect in the globular protein lysozyme
Authors: Stapleton A. , Noor M. R. , Sweeney J. , Casey V. , Kholkin A. L. , Silien C. , Gandhi A. A. , Soulimane T. , Tofail S. A. M.
Published: October 2017

Here, we present experimental evidence of the direct piezoelectric effect in the globular protein, lysozyme. Piezoelectric materials are employed in many actuating and sensing applications because they can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Although originally studied in inorganic materials, several biological materials including amino acids and bone, also exhibit piezoelectricity. The exact mechanisms supporting biological piezoelectricity are not known, nor is it known whether biological piezoelectricity conforms strictly to the criteria of classical piezoelectricity. The observation of piezoelectricity in protein crystals presented here links biological piezoelectricity with the classical theory of piezoelectricity. We quantify the direct piezoelectric effect in monoclinic and tetragonal aggregate films of lysozyme using conventional techniques based on the Berlincourt Method. The largest piezoelectric effect measured in a crystalline aggregate film of lysozyme was approximately 6.5 pC N−1. These findings raise fundamental questions as to the possible physiological significance of piezoelectricity in lysozyme and the potential for technical applications.
Electrospun p-type CuO nanofibers for low-voltage field-effect transistors
Authors: Zhu Huihui , Liu Ao , Liu Guoxia , Shan Fukai
Published: October 2017

One-dimensional metal-oxide nanofibers show great promise as the basis for nano-device platforms due to their large surface to volume ratio and unique electrical properties. Here, we represent the facile fabrication of p-type CuO nanofibers utilizing the electrospinning technique for field-effect transistors (FETs), which incorporate CuO nanofibers as a channel and high-κ Al2O3 as a dielectric layer. The FETs exhibit typical p-type characteristics with a high hole mobility of 3.5 cm2/Vs at a low operating voltage of 4 V, fast switching speed, and modulation of light emission over the external light-emitting diode.
Tumor cell capture patterns around aptamer-immobilized microposts in microfluidic devices
Authors: Chen Kangfu , Georgiev Teodor Z. , Sheng Weian , Zheng Xiangjun , Varillas Jose I. , Zhang Jinling , Hugh Fan Z.
Published: October 2017

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have shown potential for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Affinity-based CTC isolation methods have been proved to be efficient for CTC detection in clinical blood samples. One of the popular choices for affinity-based CTC isolation is to immobilize capture agents onto an array of microposts in microchannels, providing high CTC capture efficiency due to enhanced interactions between tumor cells and capture agents on the microposts. However, how the cells interact with microposts under different flow conditions and what kind of capture pattern results from the interactions have not been fully investigated; a full understanding of these interactions will help to design devices and choose experimental conditions for higher CTC capture effeciency. We report our study on their interaction and cell distribution patterns around microposts under different flow conditions. Human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM) were used as target cancer cells in this study, while the Sgc8 aptamer that has specific binding with CCRF-CEM cells was employed as a capture agent. We investigated the effects of flow rates and micropost shapes on the cell capture efficiency and capture patterns on microposts. While a higher flow rate decreased cell capture efficiency, we found that the capture pattern around microposts also changed, with much more cells captured in the front half of a micropost than at the back half. We also found the ratio of cells captured on microposts to the cells captured by both microposts and channel walls increased as a function of the flow rate. We compared circular microposts with an elliptical shape and found that the geometry affected the capture distribution around microposts. In addition, we have developed a theoretical model to simulate the interactions between tumor cells and micropost surfaces, and the simulation results are in agreement with our experimental observation.
Parametric instabilities in a quantum magnetoplasma with electron exchange-correlations
Authors: Rozina Ch. , Ali S. , Maryam N. , Amina N.
Published: October 2017

Relying on the density functional theory, we have examined the impact of electron exchange-correlations on the nonlinear dispersion relations and associated parametric instabilities induced by nonlinear couplings of high-frequency quantum upper-hybrid waves (QUHWs) with different low-frequency waves, like quantum lower-hybrid waves (QLHWs), quantum ion-cyclotron waves (QICWs), and quantum Alfvén waves (QAWs) in a dense quantum magnetoplasma. For theoretical description of waves, we make use of quantum hydrodynamic equations to account for the electron exchange-correlation and Bohm potentials, strongly dependent on the density fluctuations. At quantum scales, nonlinear dispersion equations are derived for QUHWs, QICWs, QLHWs, and QAWs and then Fourier transformed for obtaining the nonlinear dispersion relations and growth rates involving the three wave decay and modulational instabilities in dense quantum magnetoplasmas. The relevance to nonlinear interactions due to high- and low-frequency waves in perspective of electron exchange-correlations is highlighted.
Chorion-less zebrafish embryos may hold key to improving toxicity bioassays
Authors: Dowd Deborah
Published: October 2017

New lab-on-a-chip immobilization of dechorionated zebrafish embryos may improve toxicity bioassays
Strengthening the primary care workforce to deliver community case management for child health in rural Indonesia
Authors: Setiawan Agus , Dawson Angela
Published: October 2017

Objectives
The aim of the present study was to report on the implementation of community case management (CCM) to reduce infant mortality in a rural district, namely Kutai Timur, Kalimantan Indonesia.

Methods
An interpretive qualitative methodology was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 primary healthcare workers (PHCWs), and PHCWs were observed during a consultation with mothers to gain insight into the delivery of the new protocol and workforce issues. The field notes and interview transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results
PHCWs reported that their performance had improved as a result of increased knowledge and confidence. The implementation of CCM had also reportedly enhanced the PHCWs’ clinical reasoning. However, the participants noted confusion surrounding their role in prescribing medication.

Conclusions
CCM is viewed as a useful model of care in terms of enhancing the capacity of rural PHCWs to provide child health care and improve the uptake of life-saving interventions. However, work is needed to strengthen the workforce and to fully integrate CCM into maternal and child health service delivery across Indonesia.

What is known about the topic?
Indonesia has successfully reduced infant mortality in the past 10 years. However, concerns remain regarding issues related to disparities between districts. The number of infant deaths in rural areas tends to be staggeringly high compared with that in the cities. One of the causes is inadequate access to child health care.

What does this paper add?
CCM is a model of care that is designed to address childhood illnesses in limited-resource settings. In CCM, PHCWs are trained to deliver life-saving interventions to sick children in rural communities. In the present study, CCM improved the capacity of PHCWs to treat childhood illnesses.

What are the implications for practitioners?
CCM can be considered to strengthen PHCWs’ competence in addressing infant mortality in areas where access to child health care is challenging. Policy regarding task shifting needs to be examined further so that CCM can be integrated into current health service delivery in Indonesia.
Intensification processes in Italian
Authors: Grandi Nicola
Published: October 2017

In this paper intensification will be considered an instantiation of evaluative morphology. Intensification will be defined as a uniform semantic-functional operation formally performed by different strategies. The main goal of this paper is to survey these formal strategies in order to understand the reciprocal relationships among them and in order to understand which of them can be considered the most typical expressions of this semantic operation. My main focus will be on Italian. After a brief survey of the constructions usually used to express intensification in contemporary Italian, I will concentrate on two specific issues: the synonymy among the intensifiers described in the first part of the article and the internal structure of constructions where more intensifiers are present at the same time. In this way, it will be possible to single out which are the most typical Italian intensifiers.
Diminutives in Ancient Greek
Authors: Meluzzi Chiara
Published: October 2017

This work analyzes diminutives in three Ancient Greek comedies by Aristophanes. Although this work may not be strictly defined as morphopragmatic in the very specific sense of the term provided by Dressler & Merlini Barbaresi (1994: 56–7), many considerations emerged within this theoretical framework. Ancient Greek diminutives were usually considered as related to gender: Fögen (2004: 228) refers to diminutives only as markers of emotion, with a “general tendency of women to be more affective or emotional than men”. However, data emerging from the analysis of Aristophanes’ three female comedies do not justify this claim. Another interpretation may be advanced: diminutives could be seen as markers of subjectivity, since they fulfill the function of indexing a speaker’s perspective, viewpoint and attitude (Athanasiadou 2007: 554), and also of affecting the addressee’s positive and negative faces (Brown & Levinson 1987).
Nulla sum, nulla sum: Tota, tota occidi
Authors: Fedriani Chiara
Published: October 2017

Repetition of a linguistic form is a widespread strategy in the world’s languages to express a number of related functions, such as pluralization, distribution, collectivity and, crucially, intensification. This last function is the core meaning expressed by word repetition in Latin, a language where this copying process does not constitute a morphological rule, but rather an occasional mean to express intensification among the typical grammaticalized strategies (prefixes, the superlative suffix ‑issimus, and adverbs). This paper firstly provides a survey of forms and functions of repetition in Latin and suggests a distinction between degree and illocutionary intensification depending on their specific meaning, their scope, and the status of the source involved. Secondly, it contains a corpus-based study of word repetition based on the Plautine comedies, providing evidence about its uses and productivity effects across different lexical categories. The paper closes with a reassessment of the status of repetition as a pragmatic strategy of intensification in Latin, with a focus on Plautus, also offering some diachronic remarks.
A pragmatic view on intensification
Authors: Salzmann Katharina
Published: October 2017

The aim of this paper is to show that Expansionen (‘expansions’), a category belonging to the grammar of spoken German, in addition to other functions described in previous studies (Salzmann 2017), can serve as intensifiers both in German and Italian. For this purpose, I will first define the concept of expansion and afterwards establish a definition of intensification that can be applied to the analysis of expansions. Intensification is considered as a phenomenon with both semantic and pragmatic aspects, which can be analysed at all levels of the speech act (locution, illocution and perlocution). The central part of this article is dedicated to the interpretation of various examples from a bilingual corpus of academic talks held at conferences.
The coordination of identical conjuncts as a means of strengthening expressions in German and Italian
Authors: Foschi Marina
Published: October 2017

The article deals with syntactic units which are formed in German and in Italian by means of coordination of identical conjuncts with und or e. The resulting structure can be characterized as x ˄ x. x ˄ x units show weak productivity with a strong tendency to idiomaticity. They are often seen as stylistic means and idiomatic expressions to which the general rules of coordination do not strictly apply. Coordination of identical conjuncts is usually viewed as a case of “false coordination”, wherein the und/e conjugation does not have linking function. x ˄ x expressions are often used for specific stylistic effects, including intensification. Based on the observation of about 100 authentic examples in both languages, the article offers a description of different types of x ˄ x structures, in order to focus on those serving as intensifiers. The main issues addressed regard the roles of reduplication and conjunction in the intensification and the status of x ˄ x structures (independent groups or idioms). First contrastive observations are offered about frequency, form and function of x ˄ x structures in German and in Italian.
What does reduplication intensify?
Authors: Bonacchi Silvia
Published: October 2017

In the present paper, the semantics of reduplication forms in Italian is analyzed on the basis of their intensifying pragmatic functions in regard to their base-forms (duration, graduation, modulation, disambiguation, accreditation of speaker, appeal to hearer) and to their “embodied” character (evoking gestuality and suprasegmentality) and compared with their possible equivalents in German. Reduplicative forms in Italian not only modify the truth-conditional value of verbal units – in the direction of a quantitative or qualitative intensification –; furthermore they express a new use-conditional (pragmatic) meaning. Reduplication is, in face-to-face-communication, therefore to be considered an important instrument of emotive communication (as strategic and intentional conveying of emotional information about feelings and attitudes towards things, events, interlocutors), used in specific contexts to express an affective register. Its main function is the modulation of affective intensity and the evocation of conversational and emotional (affective) implicatures. Instead of reduplicated forms, German uses other language resources which produce use-conditional (pragmatic) meanings: intensifiers, intensifying prefixes, modal particles, adverbs, verbal forms.
Tlachichilco Tepehua
Authors: Watters James K.
Published: October 2017

Tlachichilco Tepehua, like other Tepehua and Totonacan languages, has a rich system of morphology that modifies verb valency. There are five constructions that affect core arguments of the verb: the dative and causative and the four valency-decreasing constructions ─ passive, antipassive, body-part incorporation, and the decausative. These morphological processes typically affect inherent aspect and lexical semantics or facilitate tracking referents in discourse. The three applicative prefixes, and, in some cases, the dative suffix, license non-core arguments which function as direct arguments of the verb. Syntactically, the applicatives allow non-core arguments to be questioned or relativized. Semantically, their arguments manifest roles that are frame-internal ─ determined by the scene associated with the base verb ─ or frame-external, such as the benefactive.
Arabic ‘labile verbs’ in form III
Authors: Letuchiy Alexander
Published: October 2017

The article discusses labile (also known as ambitransitive) verbs in literary Arabic. I show that, though Arabic does not have a rich system of labile verbs, some existing cases of lability (labile verbs of form III) are particularly interesting from the typological point of view. Their unusual property is that the opposition between semantically causative vs. non-causative uses (and number of syntactic arguments) do not always correlate with syntactic (in)transitivity. Verbs of form III have both possible types of non-standard uses: transitive non-causative and intransitive causative uses, as well as the two standard uses (transitive causative and intransitive non-causative uses). I link this non-standard type of lability to some general features of voice and transitivity in Arabic. At the end of the article, some cases of lability outside form III are discussed.