bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dirac and Weyl Semimetal in XYBi (X = Ba, Eu; Y = Cu, Ag and Au)
Authors: Du Yongping , Wan Bo , Wang Di , Sheng Li , Duan Chun-Gang , Wan Xiangang
Published: September 2015

Weyl and Dirac semimetals recently stimulate intense research activities due to their novel properties. Combining first-principles calculations and effective model analysis, we predict that nonmagnetic compounds BaYBi (Y = Au, Ag and Cu) are Dirac semimetals. As for the magnetic compound EuYBi, although the time reversal symmetry is broken, their long-range magnetic ordering cannot split the Dirac point into pairs of Weyl points. However, we propose that partially substitute Eu ions by Ba ions will realize the Weyl semimetal.
An integrated metabolomics workflow for the quantification of sulfur pathway intermediates employing thiol protection with N-ethyl maleimide and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Ortmayr Karin , Schwaiger Michaela , Hann Stephan , Koellensperger Gunda
Published: September 2015

The developed integrated thiol protection and sample preparation strategy prevents unwanted oxidation and allows accurate profiling of sulfur pathway intermediates.
Determination of inorganic arsenic in rice by solid phase extraction and hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Huang Yatao , Shan Jihao , Fan Bei , He Yan , Xia Shuangmei , Sun Yufeng , Lu Jia , Wang Miao , Wang Fengzhong
Published: September 2015

Low-cost, simple methods are needed for accurate determination of iAs in food crops. Total arsenic (As) from rice was extracted and As5+ reduced to As3+. The combined As3+ was separated then quantified. This method appears suitable for general use due to its low cost.
Isolation and crystal structure of a dithiophene dication: controlling covalent connection and disconnection with temperature and phase
Authors: Yuan Ningning , Zhang Zaichao , Wang Xingyong , Wang Xinping
Published: September 2015

A dithienylethene dication has been isolated and structurally characterized, which dissociates reversibly to an open-isomer in solution.
Intragel photoreduction of aryl halides by green-to-blue upconversion under aerobic conditions
Authors: Häring Marleen , Pérez-Ruiz Raúl , Jacobi von Wangelin Axel , Díaz David Díaz
Published: September 2015

The first proof of concept for the application of intragel green-to-blue photon upconversion to a chemical reaction is reported.
A fluorescent probe for specific detection of cysteine in the lipid dense region of cells
Authors: Ali Firoj , H. A. Anila , Taye Nandaraj , Gonnade Rajesh G. , Chattopadhyay Samit , Das Amitava
Published: September 2015

Use of a cysteine specific chemodosimetric receptor for probing its release in the ER-region of the HepG2 cells during drug metabolism and silica based strips for quantitative estimation of Cys in a human blood plasma sample.
Multi-probe relaxation dispersion measurements increase sensitivity to protein dynamics
Authors: Fenwick R. Bryn , Oyen David , Wright Peter E.
Published: September 2015

Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) relaxation dispersion measurements are a valuable tool for the characterization of structural transitions on the micro-millisecond timescale.
C–H activation in IrIIIand N-demethylation in PtIIcomplexes with mesoionic carbene ligands: examples of monometallic, homobimetallic and heterobimetallic complexes
Authors: Maity Ramananda , Tichter Tim , van der Meer Margarethe , Sarkar Biprajit
Published: September 2015

Mononuclear PtIIand the first dinuclear PtIIcomplexes along with a cyclometalated heterobimetallic IrIII/PdIIcomplex bearing mesoionic carbene donor ligands are presented starting from the same bis-triazolium salt.
Circularly polarised luminescence and circular dichroism of l- and d-oligopeptides with multiple pyrenes
Authors: Nishikawa Tomoki , Tajima Nobuo , Kitamatsu Mizuki , Fujiki Michiya , Imai Yoshitane
Published: September 2015

Among l- and d-oligopeptides with multiple pyrenes as pendants, the dipeptides with two and three pyrenes showed blue-coloured circularly polarised luminescence as high as |gem| ≈ (0.86−1.1) × 10−2 at around 450 nm, reflecting from exciton couplets of twisted pyrenes.
A novel BODIPY-Schiff base-based colorimetric and fluorometric dosimeter for Hg2+, Fe3+ and Au3+
Authors: Cheng Huan-ren , Qian Ying
Published: September 2015

A simple Schiff base-based multi-targets dosimeter for Hg2+, Fe3+ and Au3+ has been reported.
Stereocomplexation of quaternary or ternary monomer units and dual stereocomplexation in enantiomeric binary and quaternary polymer blends of poly(2-hydroxybutanoic acid)s, poly(2-hydroxybutanoic acid-co-lactic acid)s, and poly(lactic acid)s
Authors: Tsuji Hideto , Sobue Tadashi
Published: September 2015

Quaternary or ternary monomer units of 2-hydroxybutanoic and lactic acid-based enantiomeric random copolymer and copolymer or homopolymer form stereocomplex crystallites.
Catechin assisted phase and shape selection for luminescent LaVO4 zircon
Authors: Tamilmani Vairapperumal , Sreeram Kalarical Janardhanan , Nair Balachandran Unni
Published: September 2015

Catechin conformers enhance luminescence from rare earth orthovanadates by tuning the structures in 0, 1 and 2 dimensions with a preferred tetragonal phase.
A computationally designed titanium-mediated amination of allylic alcohols for the synthesis of secondary allylamines
Authors: Sun Zunming , Wang Qingxia , Xu Yi , Wang Zhihong
Published: September 2015

A direct amination on allylic alcohols under mild conditions was enlightened by computational investigations and implemented in secondary allylamines synthesis.
High throughput imaging cytometer with acoustic focussing
Authors: Zmijan Robert , Jonnalagadda Umesh S. , Carugo Dario , Kochi Yu , Lemm Elizabeth , Packham Graham , Hill Martyn , Glynne-Jones Peter
Published: September 2015

Acoustic plane focussing and a scanning mirror enhances throughput of an imaging cytometer.
Structural, mesomorphic, photoluminescence and thermoelectric studies of mononuclear and polymeric complexes of copper(ii) with 2-hexyldecanoato and 4,4′-bipyridine ligands
Authors: Abdullah Norbani , Hashim Rauzah , Ozair Lailatun Nazirah , Al-Hakem Yasameen , Samsudin Habibah , Marlina Anita , Salim Malinda , Mohd. Said Suhana , Subramanian Balamurugan , Nordin Abdul Rahman
Published: September 2015

Copper(ii) complexes exhibiting temperature-dependent mesomorphisms.
Adaptive PWM for four‐switch three‐phase inverter
Authors: Zhou Wenzhi , Sun Dan
Published: September 2015

An adaptive pulse width modulation (PWM) strategy is proposed for four‐switch three‐phase inverter (FSTPI) to improve the performance and simplify the algorithm. The FSTPI has a split DC‐link and one phase of the AC load is connected to the neutral point. The conventional space vector PWM has a limited performance in the low‐frequency region since the phase currents are unbalanced due to the neutral‐point voltage fluctuation caused by the phase current flowing through the capacitors. To solve this problem, an adaptive PWM considering the neutral‐point voltage fluctuation is proposed. Moreover, sector identification is unnecessary thus the algorithm is simplified. Experimental results demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed strategy.
GaAs quantum well‐dots solar cells with spectral response extended to 1100 nm
Authors: Mintairov S.A. , Kalyuzhnyy N.A. , Maximov M.V. , Nadtochiy A.M. , Rouvimov S. , Zhukov A.E.
Published: September 2015

Expanding the photosensitivity spectrum of a single‐junction GaAs‐based solar cell to 1100 nm by using InGaAs hybrid quantum well dots (QWDs) multilayer media is reported. This nanostructure represents an In0.3Ga0.7As quantum wells with modulation of thickness and composition. Up to 15 QWD layers alternated with GaAs spacers can be inserted in an i‐region of the GaAs p–i–n junction without impairing its crystal quality and quantum efficiency in spectral interval of GaAs absorption. The QWD layers are responsible for appearance of a longer wave spectral response (900–1100 nm). A photocurrent increment as high as 4.6 (5.2) mA/cm2 for terrestrial (space) spectrum is demonstrated.
Performance optimisation for visitor information systems using smart sensors and analysis of trial data
Authors: Farnham Tim
Published: September 2015

Exploitation of smart sensor data has the potential to significantly improve the way in which content is wirelessly delivered to end user devices within visitor attractions. Content delivery over wireless infrastructure can use knowledge and predictions of performance for intelligently prefetching and adaptively exploiting opportunities in order to enhance the overall user experience. The advantage of this approach over prior static multicast and on‐demand approaches is that it is possible to exploit location awareness (such as using global positioning system, iBeacons) combined with accelerometer and compass and other sensors, to plan and adapt content delivery in a more efficient and flexible manner. This study assesses different options for prioritisation and prefetching of content over dedicated wireless fidelity off‐load infrastructure to compare the ability to satisfy the user demands. The overall assessment, based on trials performed at two visitor attractions, shows that intelligent predictive prefetching of content can greatly reduce the need for expensive infrastructure compared with alternative static reliable multicast or on‐demand delivery strategies.
Experimental testing of a random neural network smart controller using a single zone test chamber
Authors: Javed Abbas , Larijani Hadi , Ahmadinia Ali , Emmanuel Rohinton , Gibson Des , Clark Caspar
Published: September 2015

Monitoring and analysis of energy use and indoor environmental conditions is an urgent need in large buildings to respond to changing conditions in an efficient manner. Correct estimation of occupancy will further improve energy performance. In this work, a smart controller for maintaining a comfortable environment using multiple random neural networks (RNNs) has been developed. The implementation of RNN‐based controller is demonstrated to be more efficient on hardware and requires less memory compared to both artificial neural networks and model predictive controllers. This controller estimates the number of room occupants by using the information from wireless sensor nodes placed in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) duct and the room. For an occupied room, the controller can switch between thermal comfort mode (based on predicted mean vote set points) and user defined mode (i.e. occupant defined set points for heating/cooling/ventilation). Furthermore, the hybrid particle swarm optimisation with sequential quadratic programming training algorithms are used (for the first time to the best of the authors' knowledge) for training the RNN and results show that this algorithm outperforms the widely used gradient descent algorithm for RNN. The results show that occupancy estimation by smart controller is 83.08% accurate.
Exchange bias effect and glassy-like behavior of EuCrO3 and CeCrO3 nano-powders
Authors: Taheri M. , Kremer R. K. , Trudel S. , Razavi F. S.
Published: September 2015

The magnetic properties of nano-sized EuCrO3 and CeCrO3 powders, synthesized by a solution combustion method, were investigated using DC/AC magnetization measurements. An exchange bias effect, magnetization irreversibility and AC susceptibility dispersion in these samples provided evidence for the presence of the spin disorder magnetic phase. The exchange bias phenomenon, which is assigned to the exchange coupling between the glassy-like shell and canted antiferromagnetic core, showed the opposite sign in EuCrO3 and CeCrO3 at low temperatures, suggesting different exchange interactions at the interfaces in these compounds. We also observed a sign reversal of exchange bias in CeCrO3 at different temperatures.
Low-frequency noise characterization of single CuO nanowire gas sensor devices
Authors: Steinhauer S. , Köck A. , Gspan C. , Grogger W. , Vandamme L. K. J. , Pogany D.
Published: September 2015

Low-frequency noise properties of single CuO nanowire devices were investigated under gas sensor operation conditions in dry and humid synthetic air at 350 °C. A 1/f noise spectrum was found with the normalized power spectral density of current fluctuations typically a factor of 2 higher for humid compared to dry atmosphere. A core-shell nanowire model is proposed to treat the noise as parallel combination of gas-independent bulk and gas-dependent surface noise components. The observed increase in 1/f noise in the presence of water vapor is explained in terms of Hooge's mobility fluctuation model, where the increased surface noise component is attributed to carrier scattering at potential fluctuations due to hydroxyl groups at the nanowire surface.
Superposition of DC magnetic fields by cascading multiple magnets in magnetic loops
Authors: Sun Fei , He Sailing
Published: September 2015

A novel method that can effectively collect the DC magnetic field produced by multiple separated magnets is proposed. With the proposed idea of a magnetic loop, the DC magnetic field produced by these separated magnets can be effectively superimposed together. The separated magnets can be cascaded in series or in parallel. A novel nested magnetic loop is also proposed to achieve a higher DC magnetic field in the common air region without increasing the DC magnetic field in each magnetic loop. The magnetic loop can be made by a magnetic hose, which is designed by transformation optics and can be realized by the combination of super-conductors and ferromagnetic materials.
Effect of conductive additives to gel electrolytes on activated carbon-based supercapacitors
Authors: Barzegar Farshad , Dangbegnon Julien K. , Bello Abdulhakeem , Momodu Damilola Y. , Johnson A. T. Charlie , Manyala Ncholu
Published: September 2015

This article is focused on polymer based gel electrolyte due to the fact that polymers are cheap and can be used to achieve extended potential window for improved energy density of the supercapacitor devices when compared to aqueous electrolytes. Electrochemical characterization of a symmetric supercapacitor devices based on activated carbon in different polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based gel electrolytes was carried out. The device exhibited a maximum energy density of 24 Wh kg−1 when carbon black was added to the gel electrolyte as conductive additive. The good energy density was correlated with the improved conductivity of the electrolyte medium which is favorable for fast ion transport in this relatively viscous environment. Most importantly, the device remained stable with no capacitance lost after 10,000 cycles.
Oxidation of vanadium metal in oxygen plasma and their characterizations
Authors: Sharma Rabindar Kumar , Singh Megha , Kumar Prabhat , Reddy G. B.
Published: September 2015

In this report, the role of oxygen plasma on oxidation of vanadium (V) metal and the volatilization of its oxides has been studied as a function of source (V metal strip) temperature (Tss) and oxygen partial pressure (PO2). The presence of O2-plasma not only enhances the oxidation rate but also ficilitates in transport of oxide molecules from metal to substrate, as confirmed by the simultanous deposition of oxide film onto substrate. Both the oxidized metal strips and oxide films deposited on substrates are characterized separately. The structural and vibrational results evidence the presence of two different oxide phases (i.e. orthorhombic V2O5 and monocilinic V O2) in oxide layers formed on V metal strips, whereas the oxide films deposited on substrates exhibit only orthorhombic phase (i.e. V2O5). The decrease in peak intensities recorded from heated V metal strips on increasing Tss points out the increment in the rate of oxide volatilization, which also confirms by the oxide layer thickness measurements. The SEM results show the noticeable surface changes on V-strips as the function of Tss and PO2 and their optimum values are recorded to be 500 ˚C and 7.5 × 10−2 Torr, respectively to deposit maximum thick oxide film on substrate. The formation of microcracks on oxidized V-strips, those responsible to countinue oxidation is also confirmed by SEM results. The compositional study of oxide layers formed on V-strips, corroborates their pureness and further assures about the existence of mixed oxide phases. The effect of oxygen partial pressure on oxidation of V-metal has also been discussed in the present report. All the results are well in agreement to each other.
On Nuclear Stress Rule in Chinese
Authors: Feng Shengli
Published: September 2015

This paper discusses the syntactic function of Nuclear Stress Rule (NSR) in Chinese; it is argued that the NSR is a central mechanism developed in the theory of prosodic syntax under which the interface effects between prosody and syntax are derived. It is shown that the NS not only carries the normal sentential stress but also manifests wide scope focus information. In answering questions and confusions raised in recent years, this paper provides some new facts with new analyses motivated by the Government-based Nuclear Stress Rule in Chinese.
The governance and politics of urban space in the postcolonial city: Kampala, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam
Authors: Guma Prince Karakire
Published: September 2015

With the fading of colonial memory in postcolonial Africa, dramatic changes are emerging and are shaping urban cities in quite significant ways. Urbanization is exploding. Large numbers of Africans are becoming town dwellers. Informal settlements alike are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Urban challenges have thus become complex, hence the need for an infrastructural rethink to urban governance and development in Africa. The interest for this paper is to explore the governance and politics of urban space in the postcolonial African city. My research question, put in its most general form, asks: what constitutes the governance and politics of urban space in postcolonial African city? By taking three East African cities of Kampala, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as my main analytical units, I focus on: (1) understanding urban structures and dynamics of urban governance and political frameworks and networks of survival, and (2) exploring realities that shape urban governance within the global and neo-liberal context of postcolonial Africa. I draw upon comparative, qualitative and reflective exploratory research within the ream of socioanthropological, legal–political and architectural–geographical investigation. The article is hoped to invite further debate on this important phenomena.
William Shakespeare
Authors: Wells Stanley
Published: September 2015

William Shakespeare: A Very Short Introduction provides a guide to the life and writings of one of the world’s greatest and best-known dramatists: William Shakespeare. Looking at his early life and education, it explores Shakespeare’s social and intellectual background and the literary traditions on which Shakespeare drew. Examining the theatres and theatrical profession of the time, it also considers how Shakespeare experienced this world, both as an actor and as a writer. Examining Shakespeare’s narrative poems, sonnets, and all of his plays, this VSI outlines their sources, style, and originality over the course of Shakespeare’s career, to consider the fundamental impact his work has had for subsequent generations.
Formation of emission line dots and extremely metal-deficient dwarfs from almost dark galaxies
Authors: Bekki Kenji
Published: September 2015

Recent observations have discovered a number of extremely gas-rich very faint dwarf galaxies possibly embedded in low-mass dark matter haloes. We investigate star formation histories of these gas-rich dwarf (‘almost dark’) galaxies both for isolated and interacting/merging cases. We find that although star formation rates (SFRs) are very low (<10−5 M⊙ yr−1) in the simulated dwarfs in isolation for the total halo masses (Mh) of 108-109 M⊙, they can be dramatically increased to be ∼10−4 M⊙ yr−1 when they interact or merge with other dwarfs. These interacting faint dwarfs with central compact H ii regions can be identified as isolated emission line dots (‘ELdots’) owing to their very low surface brightness envelopes of old stars. The remnant of these interacting and merging dwarfs can finally develop central compact stellar systems with very low metallicities (Z/Z⊙ < 0.1), which can be identified as extremely metal-deficient (‘XMD’) dwarfs. These results imply that although there would exist many faint dwarfs that can be hardly detected in the current optical observations, they can be detected as isolated ELdots or XMD dwarfs, when they interact with other galaxies and their host environments. We predict that nucleated ultrafaint dwarfs formed from the darkest dwarf merging can be identified as low-mass globular clusters owing to the very low surface brightness stellar envelopes.
Epicureanism
Authors: Verde Francesco
Published: September 2015

The term “Epicureanism” means the philosophy of Epicurus (b. Samos c. 342–341 bce, d. Athens c. 271–270 bce) and the school founded by him. Epicurus was one of the most famous Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic period (which traditionally dates from the death of Alexander the Great [323 bce] to the Battle of Actium [31 bce]) and its influence on the history of Western philosophy is certainly decisive. Epicurus’s philosophy is organized into a coherent system, with parts that follow an unchangeable order oriented toward ethics; i.e., the end and the culmination to which philosophy aims: (1) canonic (i.e., the epistemological part of the system, which contains the criteria of truth based on the veracity of sensations); (2) physiology (i.e., the science of nature, which explains everything on the ground of atoms and void); (3) ethics (which promises the attainment of happiness through pleasure, which is the complete absence of pain). Although most of Epicurus’s works have been lost, a crucial source to rebuild his philosophy is Diogenes Laertius’s Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, Book 10, that preserved the “Testament” (§§ 16–21); the three doctrinal letters addressed to Herodotus (§§ 35–83, about the science of nature), to Pythocles (§§ 84–116, about celestial and meteorological phenomena), and to Menoeceus (§§ 121–135, about ethics); and forty “Principal Doctrines” (§§ 139–154, essentially about morals). A Vatican Library manuscript (Vat gr. 1950) also preserved eighty-one maxims (some are identical to Principal Doctrines; others are attributable to the Epicurean Metrodorus of Lampsacus): it is the so-called Gnomologium Vaticanum Epicureum (Vatican Sayings). The masterpiece of Epicurus devoted to the science of nature is Peri physeos (On Nature) in thirty-seven books, only a few fragmentary papyri of these have been found in the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum (Italy). Beyond the works by several Epicureans (such as Philodemus of Gadara) found in Herculaneum, Lucretius’s De rerum natura (Of the Nature of Things) and the monumental inscription on stone by Diogenes of Oinoanda (in Lycia) dated around 120 ce are very significant Epicurean sources. After establishing some “philosophical circles” in Mytilene and Lampsacus, Epicurus founded his main philosophical school, the “Garden” (Kepos), in Athens (307–304 bce). Many scholarchs succeeded Epicurus at the helm of the Garden, from Hermarchus of Mytilene (scholarch after Epicurus until about 250 bce) to Patron (before 50 bce); however, no clear information is available after that on the succession of Kepos leaders. Epicureanism was one of the most enduring philosophical schools of the ancient world. Up to the Imperial Age, it is possible to ascertain that Epicureanism was still active; it is well known, indeed, that one of the Imperial chairs created by Marcus Aurelius (176 ce) was of Epicurean philosophy.
Emotional Labor
Authors: Ren Run
Published: September 2015

Emotional labor could be regarded as a third type of labor, in addition to physical and mental labor. This third type of labor is predominant in our everyday life and work. The reason is that during face-to-face or voice-to-voice interactions with customers, employees are required to express proper emotions as a job requirement. Thus, employees need to conduct emotional labor to deal with emotional work demands. Research on emotional labor has focused more on service employees, who frequently interact with customers and clients and need to create proper facial expressions with them. For instance, flight attendants or waiters need to greet every customer, even a rude customer, with warm-hearted smiles, even when they are not in a good mood. Much research on emotional labor has focused mainly on service employees and on the consequences such labor may have on the service employee’s physical and mental health. Such emotional labor is required not only for service employees; every employee needs to exhibit a facial expression that is appropriate for his or her role in a job. Consequently, recent research has expanded to consider emotional labor in a broader sense to include professionals’ interactions with clients and coworkers; for example, a judge should look serious in court, a nurse should show empathy to the patient, and an employee should be friendly to his peer.
OP‐18 THE COMBINATION OF SCGOS/LCFOS AND FERMENTED INFANT FORMULA SOFTENS STOOLS OF INFANTS COMPARED TO UNFERMENTED INFANT FORMULA WITHOUT SCGOS/LCFOS
Authors: Herrera Alfonso R. , Ludwig Thomas , Bouritius Hetty , Rubio Rocio P. , Muñoz Antonio , Agosti Massimo , Lista Gianluca , Corvaglia Luigi T. , Navero Juan L.P.
Published: September 2015

Objectives and study:

Hard stools can be commonly observed in formula‐fed infants, but rarely in breast fed infants. The effects on stool frequency and stool consistency of a novel infant formula were evaluated in a randomized, controlled, double‐blind, multicenter, parallel‐group, intervention study on gastrointestinal (GI) tolerance. The novel infant formula (FF+) combined fermented formula (Lactofidus™) with short‐chain galacto‐oligosaccharides and long‐chain fructo‐oligosaccharides (scGOS/lcFOS, ratio 9:1, 0.8 g/100 ml).

Methods:

Healthy, term infants aged 0–28 days were randomized after parent's autonomous decision to discontinue breastfeeding, to receive either infant formula with scGOS/lcFOS and 30% fermented formula (FF+, n = 95 infants), or infant formula without fermented formula and scGOS/lcFOS (IF‐, n = 105 infants). Exclusively breast fed infants (n = 100) were included as a reference group. Parents completed standardized diaries with daily entries on stool consistency and frequency until 17 weeks of age. Stool consistency was rated on a five point scale. Starting at an age of 4 weeks, the distributions of the weekly average of the daily mean stool consistency, and distributions of the daily average number of stools were compared between intervention groups.

Results:

Based on low GI symptom‐scores and adverse events, the newly‐developed infant formula FF+ was well tolerated. The average stool consistency of infants fed with FF+ was closer to the breast fed reference group, and had a significantly softer median stool consistency than IF‐ fed infants from 4 weeks of age for the remaining study period (Mann Whitney, p ≤ 0.005). From 9 weeks of age, FF+ fed infants had a significantly higher median stool frequency than IF‐ fed infants (Mann Whitney, p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions:

The specific combination of 30% fermented formula with scGOS/lcFOS yielded stool consistencies closer to that of breastfed infants, and significantly softer stools than those of infants fed a standard formula.
Genome-wide analysis of the response to nitric oxide in uropathogenic Escherichia coli CFT073
Authors: Mehta Heer H. , Liu Yuxuan , Zhang Michael Q. , Spiro Stephen
Published: September 2015

Uropathogenic Escherchia coli (UPEC) is the causative agent of urinary tract infections. Nitric oxide (NO) is a toxic water-soluble gas that is encountered by UPEC in the urinary tract. Therefore, UPEC probably requires mechanisms to detoxify NO in the host environment. Thus far, flavohaemoglobin (Hmp), an NO denitrosylase, is the only demonstrated NO detoxification system in UPEC. Here we show that, in E. coli strain CFT073, the NADH-dependent NO reductase flavorubredoxin (FlRd) also plays a major role in NO scavenging. We generated a mutant that lacks all known and candidate NO detoxification pathways (Hmp, FlRd and the respiratory nitrite reductase, NrfA). When grown and assayed anaerobically, this mutant expresses an NO-inducible NO scavenging activity, pointing to the existence of a novel detoxification mechanism. Expression of this activity is inducible by both NO and nitrate, and the enzyme is membrane-associated. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling of UPEC grown under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate (as a source of NO) highlighted various aspects of the response of the pathogen to nitrate and NO. Several virulence-associated genes are upregulated, suggesting that host-derived NO is a potential regulator of UPEC virulence. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing was used to evaluate the NsrR regulon in CFT073. We identified 49 NsrR binding sites in promoter regions in the CFT073 genome, 29 of which were not previously identified in E. coli K-12. NsrR may regulate some CFT073 genes that do not have homologues in E. coli K-12.
Utilization of high throughput genome sequencing technology for large scale single nucleotide polymorphism discovery in red deer and Canadian elk
Authors: Brauning Rudiger , Fisher Paul J , McCulloch Alan F , Smithies Russell J , Ward James F , Bixley Matthew J , Lawley Cindy T , Rowe Suzanne J , McEwan John C
Published: September 2015

Deer farming is a significant international industry. For genetic improvement, using genomic tools, an ordered array of DNA variants and associated flanking sequence across the genome is required. This work reports a comparative assembly of the deer genome and subsequent DNA variant identification. Next generation sequencing combined with an existing bovine reference genome enabled the deer genome to be assembled sufficiently for large-scale SNP discovery. In total, 28 Gbp of sequence data were generated from sevenCervus elaphus(European red deer and Canadian elk) individuals. After aligning sequence to the bovine reference genome build UMD 3.0 and binning reads into one Mbp groups; reads were assembled and analyzed for SNPs. Greater than 99% of the non-repetitive fraction of the bovine genome was covered by deer chromosomal scaffolds. We identified 1.8 million SNPs meeting IlluminaInfiniumIISNP chip technical threshold. Markers on the published Red x Pere David deer linkage map were aligned to both UMD3.0 and the new deer chromosomal scaffolds. This enabled deer linkage groups to be assigned to deer chromosomal scaffolds, although the mapping locations remain based on bovine order. Genotyping of 270 SNPs on a Sequenom MS system showed that 88% of SNPs identified could be amplified. Also, inheritance patterns showed no evidence of departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. A comparative assembly of the deer genome, alignment with existing deer genetic linkage groups and SNP discovery has been successfully completed and validated facilitating application of genomic technologies for subsequent deer genetic improvement.
Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of a 2-(diethylaminomethyl)indole ligated dimethylaluminium complex
Authors: Shephard Logan E. , Kingsley Nicholas B.
Published: September 2015

The title compound, [Al(CH3)2(C13H17N2)] (systematic name; {2-[(diethylamino)methyl]indol-1-yl-κ2N,N′}dimethylaluminium), was prepared by methane elimination from the reaction of 2-(diethylaminomethyl)indole and trimethylaluminium. The complex crystallizes readily from a concentrated toluene solution in high yield. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent molecules. Each molecule has a four-coordinate aluminium atom that has pseudo-tetrahedral geometry. C—H...π interactions link the independent molecules into chains extending along theb-axis direction.
Crystal structure of triethyl 2-(5-nitro-2H-indazol-2-yl)propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate
Authors: Boulhaoua Mohammed , Benchidmi Mohammed , Essassi El Mokhtar , Saadi Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: September 2015

In the title compound, C19H23N3O8, the 5-nitro-2H-indazol-2-yl unit is almost planar, with the maximum deviation from the mean plane being 0.024 (2) Å. The fused-ring system is nearly perpendicular to the three carboxylate groups, with dihedral angles of 90.0 (3), 83.8 (1) and 80.4 (1)°. The ethyl groups attached to both ends of the propane chain are each disordered over two sets of sites, with site-occupancy ratios of 0.425 (17):0.575 (17) and 0.302 (15):0.698 (15). In the crystal, molecules are linked by pairs of C—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. The dimers are further linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structures of morpholinium hydrogen bromanilate at 130, 145 and 180 K
Authors: Gotoh Kazuma , Tahara Yuki , Ishida Hiroyuki
Published: September 2015

Crystal structures of the title compound (systematic name: morpholin-4-ium 2,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-dien-1-olate), C4H10NO+·C6HBr2O4−, were determined at three temperatures,viz.130, 145 and 180 K. The asymmetric unit comprises one morpholinium cation and two halves of crystallographically independent bromanilate monoanions, which are located on inversion centres. The conformations of the two independent bromanilate anions are different from each other with respect to the O—H orientation. In the crystal, the two different anions are linked alternately into a chain along [211] through a short O—H...O hydrogen bond, in which the H atom is disordered over two positions. The refined site-occupancy ratios, which are almost constant in the temperature range studied, are 0.49 (3):0.51 (3), 0.52 (3):0.48 (3) and 0.50 (3):0.50 (3), respectively, at 130, 145 and 180 K, and no significant difference in the molecular geometry and the molecular packing is observed at the three temperatures. The morpholinium cation links adjacent chains of anionsviaN—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a sheet structure parallel to (-111).
Crystal structure of poly[[μ2-diaqua-diaqua-μ2-L-proline-κ2O:O′-strontium] dibromide]
Authors: Sathiskumar Selladurai , Balakrishnan Thangavelu , Ramamurthi Kandasamy , Thamotharan Subbiah
Published: September 2015

In the title coordination polymer, {[Sr(C5H9NO2)(H2O)4]Br2}n, the proline molecule exists in a zwitterionic form with one of the ring C atoms disordered over two sites [site-occupancy factors = 0.57 (6):0.43 (6)]. The SrIIion is nine-coordinated by six water O atoms, two monodentate and two μ2-bridging, and three carboxylate O atoms of the proline ligands, with two bridging [Sr—O range = 2.524 (4)–2.800 (5) Å]. In the crystal, there is no direct interaction between the proline molecules. However, the proline and water molecules associate with the bromide counter-anions through a number of intermolecular O—H...Br and N—H...Br hydrogen-bonding interactions, giving a three-dimensional supramolecular structure.
Crystal structure of 1,5-diethyl-3′,5′-diphenyl-1,5-dihydro-3′H-spiro[pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-4,2′-[1,3,4]thiadiazole]
Authors: El Fal Mohammed , Ramli Youssef , Essassi El Mokhtar , Saadi Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: September 2015

In the title compound, C22H22N6S, the pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine rings system is almost planar, with the r.m.s. deviation for the fitted atoms being 0.011 Å. The two phenyl groups linked to the thiadiazole ring are nearly perpendicular to the fused-ring system as indicated by the dihedral angles of 86.93 (10) and 83.35 (11)°. However, the phenyl rings are almost coplanar with the thiadiazole ring (r.m.s. deviation = 0.015 Å), forming dihedral angles of 10.44 (11) and 10.06 (12)°. In the crystal, molecules are connected into a supramolecular layer in theacplaneviaC—H...π interactions.
Informing regional food innovation through lead user experiments
Authors: Hjalager Anne-Mette , Johansen Pia Heike , Rasmussen Bjorn
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Lead user experiments are increasingly applied in food-related innovation. The purpose of this paper is to: first, experiments should excavate new recipes, production processes and narratives for mussels with a specific regional origin and connotation. Second, the study should test a lead user set-up and investigate the commitment and potential benefits, not only for future mussel producers but also for the lead users themselves.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study organized and evaluated a lead user experiment involving eight chefs and other food experts.

Findings

– The experiment was successful in the sense that the lead users activated a considerable combinatory knowledge ability and creativity, and they could address issues of wider regional branding significance and contribute with catching narratives. The lead users found the experiment beneficial on several dimensions, providing the opportunity to reflect and undertake tests under respectfully inquisitive observation of others, and they also appreciated the opportunity openly to expose their own professionalism on various media that were organized as ingredients in this experiment.

Practical implications

– The study accentuates the applicability of lead user experiments as supplements or alternative to other ways of informing product development processes and demonstrates a practical method.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to the increasing methodological evidence in the field of lead user-based innovation and scrutinizes the issues in a wider food industry context.
The CCO: appointed or organic leader? The rise of conversational leadership
Authors: Gambetti Rossella C. , Biraghi Silvia
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Studies that inquire in-depth into whether the Corporate Communications Officer (CCO) is an entrusted corporate executive and enacts a genuine leadership of his/her own style are generally neglected. The purpose of this paper is to unravel the leadership nature of the CCO beyond the managerial role. More specifically, the authors collected accounts of the span of the professional life and job experiences of CCOs, with the aim of understanding how their leadership, if any, can be depicted.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors developed a qualitative research design to grasp the complexity of the CCO job experience. The authors chose a narrative approach involving a purposive sample of CCOs operating in global companies based in Italy to elicit and nurture their spontaneous reconstruction of the significant moments of their working lives.

Findings

– Based on the interpretive analysis, the capability of the CCO to overcome the trap of the formal appointment seems to rely on the organic emergence of a genuine leadership. The turning point between his/her resting on the appointment or becoming a genuine leader is marked by the display of his/her humanistic nature that can be ascribed to the enactment of a conversational leadership.

Originality/value

– While this is an exploratory qualitative study, it holds heuristic value in deepening the specific nature of genuine CCO leadership beyond an essentially task-based analysis of its managerial profile.
Bringing person-centeredness and active involvement into reality
Authors: Torenholt Rikke , Engelund Gitte , Willaing Ingrid
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the use and applicability of cultural probes – an explorative participatory method to gain insights into a person’s life and thoughts – to achieve person-centeredness and active involvement in self-management education for people with chronic illness.

Design/methodology/approach

– An education toolkit inspired by the ideas of cultural probes was developed and feasibility tested in 49 education settings in Denmark. Questionnaires, interviews, and observations were used to collect data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and systematic text condensation.

Findings

– Educators emphasized the applicability of the toolkit, and between 69 and 82 per cent of educators reported that the toolkit supported them in facilitating person-centred education and active involvement to a high or very high degree. Most educators (81 per cent) reported that they would like to apply the toolkit again in future education to a high or very high degree. Five categories of educator experiences were identified: interaction and activity; person-centeredness; group dynamics and synergy; openness; and light and cheerful atmosphere. Educators talked significantly less in situations where the toolkit was applied. This indicates the ability of the toolkit to facilitate talk among participants and thereby let participants become the focal point of education. Applying cultural probes in patient education targeting people with chronic illness seems to be a useful method to achieve patient-centeredness and active involvement in patient education and to support educators in facilitating this process.

Originality/value

– Introducing fully flexible education toolkits inspired by cultural probes may, in the future, lead to improved self-management patient education among people with chronic illness.
A tale of reverse deviance: non-compliant spatial practices in the land of Gomorrah
Authors: Trifuoggi Mario
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– Being territoriality a distinctive feature of mafia groups, the purpose of this paper is to study how the production of space contributes to the reproduction of such organisations by reinforcing their norms and values.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper provides an ethnographic account of the regeneration of space for the establishment of legal worker cooperatives in previous mafia territories. It aims to illuminate, by contrast, how space reflects the social construction of the mafia governance.

Findings

– The account of non-compliant spatial practices of legal worker cooperatives in the area of Caserta (aka Gomorrah) elucidates how mafia groups set great value on space, making sense of the societal dimension of territoriality for Italian organised crime.

Research limitations/implications

– Compared to the current literature, this paper explores the link between space and organised crime not only in ecological terms but also in cultural ones. Furthermore, it suggests an alternative methodology for accessing the unspoken of the mafia phenomenon.

Practical implications

– The account of the reterritorialisation process provided in this paper raises several policy implications for the fight against the mafia.

Originality/value

– The paper focuses on territoriality for a more comprehensive understanding of the mafia phenomenon, attempting to conciliate the idiosyncratic aspects of Italian criminal networks with a more general framework of analysis for the study of organised crime. It also bridges between the organised crime topic and the sociology of space.
Functional replacement across species pools of vertebrate scavengers separated at a continental scale maintains an ecosystem function
Authors: Huijbers Chantal M. , Schlacher Thomas A. , McVeigh Rosemary R. , Schoeman David S. , Olds Andrew D. , Brown Marion B. , Ekanayake Kasun B. , Weston Michael A. , Connolly Rod M.
Published: September 2015

The composition of species pools can vary in space and time. While many studies are focused on understanding which factors influence the make‐up of species pools, the question to which degree biogeographic variation in species composition propagates to biogeographic variation in ecological function is rarely examined. If different local species assemblages operate in ways that maintain specific ecological processes across continents, they can be regarded as functionally equivalent. Alternatively, variation in species assemblages might result in the loss of ecological function if different species fulfil different functions, and thereby fail to maintain the ecological process.

Here, we test whether ecological function is affected by differences in the composition of species pools across a continental scale, comparing a tropical with a temperate pool. The model systems are assemblages of vertebrates foraging on ocean beaches, and the ecological function of interest is the consumption of wave‐cast carrion, a pivotal process in sandy shore ecosystems.

We placed fish carcasses (n = 179) at the beach–dune interface, monitored by motion‐triggered cameras to record scavengers and quantify the detection and removal of carrion. Scavenging function was measured on sandy beaches in two distinct biogeographic regions of Australia: tropical north Queensland and temperate Victoria.

The composition of scavenging assemblages on sandy beaches varied significantly across the study domain. Raptors dominated in the tropics, while invasive red foxes were prominent in temperate assemblages. Notwithstanding the significant biogeographic change in species composition, ecological function – as indexed by carcass detection and removal – was maintained, suggesting strong functional replacement at the continental scale.

Species pools of vertebrate scavengers that are assembled from taxonomically distinct groups (birds vs. mammals) and located in distinct climatic regions (temperate vs. tropical) can maintain an ecological process via replacement of species with comparable functional traits.
Fast thinking: Implications for democratic politics
Authors: STOKER GERRY , HAY COLIN , BARR MATTHEW
Published: September 2015

A major programme of research on cognition has been built around the idea that human beings are frequently intuitive thinkers and that human intuition is imperfect. The modern marketing of politics and the time‐poor position of many citizens suggests that ‘fast’, intuitive, thinking in many contemporary democracies is ubiquitous. This article explores the consequences that such fast thinking might have for the democratic practice of contemporary politics. Using focus groups with a range of demographic profiles, fast thinking about how politics works is stimulated and followed by a more reflective and collectively deliberative form of slow thinking among the same participants. A strong trajectory emerges consistently in all groups in that in fast thinking mode participants are noticeably more negative and dismissive about the workings of politics than when in slow thinking mode. A fast thinking focus among citizens may be good enough to underwrite mainstream political exchange, but at the cost of supporting a general negativity about politics and the way it works. Yet breaking the cycle of fast thinking – as advocated by deliberation theorists – might not be straightforward because of the grip of fast thinking. The fast/slow thinking distinction, if carefully used, offers valuable new insight into political science.
The Influence of Lying Body Position on Handwriting
Authors: Dziedzic Tomasz
Published: September 2015

Although the problem of handwriting variability due to lying body position has practical significance, particularly for last will cases, it has not been sufficiently studied. The presented experiment aimed to recognize how such posture may influence handwriting features. Samples of text and signatures were collected from 50 healthy individuals, aged 23–58, produced in three postures: typical sitting position (SP) and two different lying positions (LP1 & LP2). Using the SP sample of each individual as a specimen, eleven characteristics in LP1 and LP2 samples were evaluated as similar or different. Nine other features were measured with a specialized software, and their conformity was tested with Student's t‐test. Although none of the characteristics differed significantly in most cases, variation occurred in pen pressure, margins, baselines, and heights of letters. Additionally, a series of blind tests revealed that lying position of the individuals did not hinder the possibility to identify their writings.