bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brønsted acid-promoted [3 + 3] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with quinone monoimine: a practical method towards dihydrobenzoxazine derivatives
Authors: Wu Yang , Qiao Guanyu , Liu Honglei , Zhang Lei , Sun Zhanhu , Xiao Yumei , Guo Hongchao
Published: October 2015

Brønsted acid-promoted [3 + 3] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with quinone monoimine provided an expedient access to dihydrobenzoxazine derivatives.
Surface microstructure evolution of polytetrafluoroethylene microporous materials by a casting–lyophilization–calcining (CLC) method
Authors: Wang F. , Zhu H. L. , Zhang H. P. , Tang H. Y. , Chen J. Y. , Guo Y. H.
Published: October 2015

The novel casting–lyophilization–calcining (CLC) process endows PTFE microporous materials with a highly asymmetric structure and excellent filtration precision in solid–gas separation.
Electrospinning-derived ultrafine silver–carbon composite nanofibers for flexible transparent conductive films
Authors: Zhang Liwen , Qiu Yejun , Liu Hong
Published: October 2015

Hybrid TCFs with good conductivity, transparency, flexibility and environment resistance abilities were fabricated through partially substituting AgNWs with ultrafine Ag/CNFs.
Resorufin based fluorescence ‘turn-on’ chemodosimeter probe for nitroxyl (HNO)
Authors: Bobba Kondapa Naidu , Zhou Ying , Guo Lin E. , Zang Tie Nan , Zhang Jun Feng , Bhuniya Sankarprasad
Published: October 2015

A cellular responsive, highly selective fluorogenic and chromogenic chemodosimeter probe for HNO is developed.
Microwave-assisted fast conversion of lignin model compounds and organosolv lignin over methyltrioxorhenium in ionic liquids
Authors: Zhang Bo , Li Changzhi , Dai Tao , Huber George W. , Wang Aiqin , Zhang Tao
Published: October 2015

Fast depolymerization of β-O-4 model compounds and organosolv lignin to aromatic chemicals over methyltrioxorhenium in ionic liquids without oxidant/reducing agent under microwave irradiation is developed.
Protein sensing in living cells by molecular rotor-based fluorescence-switchable chemical probes
Authors: Yu Wan-Ting , Wu Ting-Wei , Huang Chi-Ling , Chen I-Chia , Tan Kui-Thong
Published: October 2015

We introduce a general design to construct fluorescence-switching probes. Upon the interaction of the ligand with the protein, the crowded surroundings restrict the bond rotation of the fluorescent molecular rotor to trigger a strong fluorescence signal, which is reduced upon the addition of a competitive ligand or after protein degradation.
Deacetylation of mycothiol-derived ‘waste product’ triggers the last biosynthetic steps of lincosamide antibiotics
Authors: Kamenik Zdenek , Kadlcik Stanislav , Radojevic Bojana , Jiraskova Petra , Kuzma Marek , Gazak Radek , Najmanova Lucie , Kopecky Jan , Janata Jiri
Published: October 2015

Two homologous pyridoxal 5′-phosphate-dependent enzymes LmbF and CcbF transform the deacetylated S-cysteinyl residue of related intermediates in the biosynthesis of lincomycin/celesticetin in different ways.
Micro-mechanics of nanostructured carbon/shape memory polymer hybrid thin film
Authors: Lei Ming , Xu Ben , Pei Yutao , Lu Haibao , Fu Yong Qing
Published: October 2015

This report proposed a study on the micro-mechanics of nanostructured carbon/shape memory polymer hybrid thin film.
An ab initio study of oxide ion dynamics in type-II Bi3NbO7
Authors: Krynski M. , Wrobel W. , Dygas J. R. , Malys M. , Krok F. , Abrahams I.
Published: October 2015

Oxide ion dynamics in the type-II phase of Bi3NbO7have been studied using a series of DFT molecular dynamics calculations.
Dissociation between exercise-induced reduction in liver fat and changes in hepatic and peripheral glucose homoeostasis in obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Cuthbertson Daniel J. , Shojaee-Moradie Fariba , Sprung Victoria S. , Jones Helen , Pugh Christopher J.A. , Richardson Paul , Kemp Graham J. , Barrett Mark , Jackson Nicola C. , Thomas E. Louise , Bell Jimmy D. , Umpleby A. Margot
Published: October 2015

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with multi-organ (hepatic, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue) insulin resistance (IR). Exercise is an effective treatment for lowering liver fat but its effect on IR in NAFLD is unknown. We aimed to determine whether supervised exercise in NAFLD would reduce liver fat and improve hepatic and peripheral (skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) insulin sensitivity. Sixty nine NAFLD patients were randomized to 16 weeks exercise supervision (n=38) or counselling (n=31) without dietary modification. All participants underwent MRI/spectroscopy to assess changes in body fat and in liver and skeletal muscle triglyceride, before and following exercise/counselling. To quantify changes in hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity, a pre-determined subset (n=12 per group) underwent a two-stage hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp pre- and post-intervention. Results are shown as mean [95% confidence interval (CI)]. Fifty participants (30 exercise, 20 counselling), 51 years (IQR 40, 56), body mass index (BMI) 31 kg/m2 (IQR 29, 35) with baseline liver fat/water % of 18.8% (IQR 10.7, 34.6) completed the study (12/12 exercise and 7/12 counselling completed the clamp studies). Supervised exercise mediated a greater reduction in liver fat/water percentage than counselling [Δ mean change 4.7% (0.01, 9.4); P<0.05], which correlated with the change in cardiorespiratory fitness (r=–0.34, P=0.0173). With exercise, peripheral insulin sensitivity significantly increased (following high-dose insulin) despite no significant change in hepatic glucose production (HGP; following low-dose insulin); no changes were observed in the control group. Although supervised exercise effectively reduced liver fat, improving peripheral IR in NAFLD, the reduction in liver fat was insufficient to improve hepatic IR.
Service Learning in Undergraduate Audiology Education
Authors: Krishnan Lata A. , Richards K. Andrew R. , Bajek Mary
Published: October 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to incorporate a service learning project in an undergraduate audiology course and evaluate how it affected student learning in the class.

Method

The study involved partnering with a group of students enrolled in a band learning community. Students in the audiology course learned about hearing assessment procedures in class and practiced the procedures on each other in labs. Toward the end of the semester, they assessed the hearing of the band students and provided counseling regarding the importance of hearing protection. Qualitative data were obtained in the form of preflections and final reflection papers completed by the students in the audiology course at the start and conclusion of the semester. Quantitative data included completion of the Community Service Attitudes Scale (CSAS; Shiarella, McCarthy, & Tucker, 2000) prior to and at the conclusion of the course.

Results

Results revealed overwhelmingly positive comments from the students in their final reflections, although there were no significant changes in the pre- and post-administration of the CSAS.

Conclusion

Incorporating service learning projects into undergraduate curricula in speech and hearing has the potential to enhance academic and civic learning while also benefitting the community.
Referential Ambiguity in the Narrative Productions of African American Adults
Authors: Wainwright Angela Bradford , Cannito Michael P.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the production of referential ambiguities in two contrasting narrative conditions among age-defined groups of healthy African American women.

Method

Twenty middle-aged adults (
M
= 51 years) and 20 older adults (
M
= 72 years) produced a complex story retelling and a personal narrative. All narratives were transcribed orthographically, parsed into T-units, and analyzed for surface structure markings of referents and the presence of ambiguities.

Results

The results demonstrated that older adults produced more ambiguities than middle-aged adults, were more compromised with task complexity, used more role or relation designations to refer to story characters while underusing proper names, and exhibited significant lexical retrieval deficits during ongoing narrative production. Middle-aged adults produced more proper names, but were also challenged by the complexity of the story-retelling task. Moreover, the results showed that older adults produced more African American English variants than middle-aged adults.

Conclusion

This investigation revealed a pattern of age-related ambiguities during narrative production. The results demonstrated that lexical retrieval from long-term semantic memory was an important predictor of ambiguity, whereas African American English contributed negligibly. These results show that referential ambiguities may be a robust characteristic of cognitive–linguistic changes that occur with typical aging.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6170255
Voxel-Based Lesion Symptom Mapping of Coarse Coding and Suppression Deficits in Patients With Right Hemisphere Damage
Authors: Yang Ying , Tompkins Connie A. , Meigh Kimberly M. , Prat Chantel S.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

This study examined right hemisphere (RH) neuroanatomical correlates of lexical–semantic deficits that predict narrative comprehension in adults with RH brain damage. Coarse semantic coding and suppression deficits were related to lesions by voxel-based lesion symptom mapping.

Method

Participants were 20 adults with RH cerebrovascular accidents. Measures of coarse coding and suppression deficits were computed from lexical decision reaction times at short (175 ms) and long (1000 ms) prime-target intervals. Lesions were drawn on magnetic resonance imaging images and through normalization were registered on an age-matched brain template. Voxel-based lesion symptom mapping analysis was applied to build a general linear model at each voxel.
Z
score maps were generated for each deficit, and results were interpreted using automated anatomical labeling procedures.

Results

A deficit in coarse semantic activation was associated with lesions to the RH posterior middle temporal gyrus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and lenticular nuclei. A maintenance deficit for coarsely coded representations involved the RH temporal pole and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex more medially. Ineffective suppression implicated lesions to the RH inferior frontal gyrus and subcortical regions, as hypothesized, along with the rostral temporal pole.

Conclusion

Beyond their scientific implications, these lesion–deficit correspondences may help inform the clinical diagnosis and enhance decisions about candidacy for deficit-focused treatment to improve narrative comprehension in individuals with RH damage.
Reconfigurable wideband metamaterial absorber with wide angle and polarisation stability
Authors: Zhai Huiqing , Zhan Chuanhan , Liu Lu , Zang Yiping
Published: October 2015

A reconfigurable wideband metamaterial absorber based on lumped components is proposed. The wideband can be tuned with a −10 dB bandwidth of about 1.5 GHz by selecting certain values of the resistors and the inductors. The simulated results demonstrate that the designed absorber has good performance regarding polarisation insensitiveness and wide angles of incident waves for both TE and TM polarisations. The waveguide measurement method is used to verify the simulated result of the wideband metamaterial absorber.
Fast encoding of quasi‐cyclic low‐density parity‐check codes in IEEE 802.15.3c
Authors: Zhang Peng , Du Shuai , Liu Changyin , Jiang Qianqian
Published: October 2015

A high‐speed encoder is proposed for quasi‐cyclic low‐density parity‐check codes. By merging some sub‐matrices of a parity‐check matrix H in an approximately lower triangular form, a compact encoding process is obtained, reducing pipeline stages from six to three. Moreover, well‐designed circuits are used to implement back‐substitution and sparse‐matrix–vector multiplication. The low‐density parity‐check (672, 336) code in IEEE 802.15.3c shows that the proposed encoder is easy to implement, runs fast, and requires no memory.
Design of miniaturised UWB antenna for oil pipeline imaging
Authors: Kumar T. , Gautam A.K. , Kanaujia B.K. , Rambabu K.
Published: October 2015

A novel design of miniaturised ultra‐wideband (UWB) antenna for oil pipeline imaging is presented. The proposed prototype uses a simple eye‐shaped slot radiator and two ground planes at the same side of the dielectric substrate. The proposed antenna design exhibits an enhanced bandwidth of 20.3 GHz from 3.2 to 23.5 GHz (for return loss <10 dB) which provides a wide usable fractional bandwidth of more than 152% with ultra‐compact area of 14 mm × 12 mm. The simulated and measured results confirm the benefits of the proposed design and reduction in the antenna size with enhanced UWB performance.
Spectral–spatial hyperspectral image classification with adaptive mean filter and jump regression detection
Authors: Lu Zhenyu , He Jueshan
Published: October 2015

A new remotely sensed hyperspectral image data classification algorithm which integrates the adaptive mean filter and jump regression in a variational framework is introduced. First, the adaptive mean filter is used to build the posterior probability distributions in each subpixel, and the jump detection method is then used to provide the content‐aware information to adjust the smoothing extent of total variation in image discontinuous areas. Experimental results on real hyperspectral datasets show the relatively good performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of the overall accuracy, average accuracy and kappa statistic.
Scattering analysis of SAW asymmetrical resonators and delay lines
Authors: Soluch W.
Published: October 2015

Analytical expressions for the transfer function and reflection coefficients of the surface acoustic wave (SAW) two‐port asymmetrical resonator were obtained using the scattering matrix method. This resonator consists of two different interdigital transducers (IDTs) and reflectors located asymmetrically with respect to the centre of the resonator structure. Equations for the normalised amplitudes for forward and backward travelling SAWs in areas between the IDTs and reflectors have been written and solved. Numerical calculations of the above functions are possible by using the analytical expressions for the admittances and the scattering coefficients of the IDTs and the reflection coefficients of the reflectors. The analytical expressions obtained for the two‐port asymmetrical resonator can also be used for the analysis and design of asymmetrical one‐port resonators and delay lines.
Electromagnetic human motion generator with magnetic spring and ferrofluid
Authors: Wang Siqi , Li Decai
Published: October 2015

An inertial electromagnetic generator realised with magnetic spring and ferrofluid to scavenge energy from low‐frequency human motion is presented. The magnetic spring is formed by magnetic attraction force between the fixed and the moving permanent magnet (PM). The kerosene‐based ferrofluid is used on the moving PM and suspends the moving PM due to the fluid‐magnetic pressure to reduce the mechanical friction as a fluid lubricant. The resonance frequency of the generator 3.5 Hz is experimentally validated with the sinusoidal excitation. The generator can generate an open‐circuit voltage of ∼10 V and 0.26 mW average power at a load resistance of 465 Ω on resonance condition with the acceleration of 0.55778 m/s2, and the corresponding power density of the generator is 40.35 μW/cm2. The generator can be fastened to the belt on the backside of waist to harvest human vibration for walking and low running, and the power lever of the generator can reach 1.4–3.4 mW, which is a considerable power for low‐power electronic devices.
Comparison of two energy storage options for optimum balancing of wind farm power outputs
Authors: Hayes Barry P. , Wilson Alister , Webster Roger , Djokic Sasa Z.
Published: October 2015

This study presents a simple methodology for analysing and optimising combined wind generation and storage schemes, using both technical and economic performance criteria. The study provides a detailed analysis of the performance of two storage options for such a scheme: pumped storage hydro (PSH) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). The analysis is carried out using recorded data from an actual UK wind farm (WF), information on the UK electricity market, and currently available PSH and BESS storage technologies to estimate and compare performance of the considered wind generation–storage schemes over the entire lifetime. The results show that an optimised generation–storage scheme can significantly reduce the variability of power outputs and increase the profitability of the WF. It is further shown that optimised PSH‐based schemes have better economic performance than BESS schemes, as the latter are limited by the short discharge times. The approach developed in this study could be used during the initial design and planning stages, in order to select and optimise the type and size of energy storage for a combined wind generation–storage scheme.
Spin waves damping in nanometre-scale magnetic materials (Review Article)
Authors: Krivoruchko V. N.
Published: October 2015

Spin dynamics in magnetic nanostructured materials is a topic of great current interest. To describe spin motions in such magnetic systems, the phenomenological Landau–Lifshitz (LL), or the LL–Gilbert (LLG), equation is widely used. Damping term is one of the dominant features of magnetization dynamics and plays an essential role in these equations of motion. The form of this term is simple; however, an important question arises whether it provides a proper description of the magnetization coupling to the thermal bath and the related magnetic fluctuations in the real nanometre-scale magnetic materials. It is now generally accepted that for nanostructured systems the damping term in the LL (LLG) equation fails to account for the systematics of the magnetization relaxation, even at the linear response level. In ultrathin films and nanostructured magnets particular relaxation mechanisms arise, extrinsic and intrinsic, which are relevant at nanometre-length scales, yet are not so efficient in bulk materials. These mechanisms of relaxation are crucial for understanding the magnetization dynamics that results in a linewidth dependence on the nanomagnet's size. We give an overview of recent efforts regarding the description of spin waves damping in nanostructured magnetic materials. Three types of systems are reviewed: ultrathin and exchange-based films, magnetic nanometre-scale samples and patterned magnetic structures. The former is an example of a rare case where consideration can be done analytically on microscopic footing. The latter two are typical samples when analytical approaches hardly have to be developed and numerical calculations are more fruitful. Progress in simulations of magnetization dynamics in nanometre-scale magnets gives hopes that a phenomenological approach can provide us with a realistic description of spin motions in expanding diverse of magnetic nanostructures.
An integrated microfluidic chip for immunocapture, preconcentration and separation of β-amyloid peptides
Authors: Mohamadi Reza M. , Svobodova Zuzana , Bilkova Zuzana , Otto Markus , Taverna Myriam , Descroix Stephanie , Viovy Jean-Louis
Published: October 2015

We present an integrated microfluidic chip for detection of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. Aβ peptides are major biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in its early stages. This microfluidic device consists of three main parts: (1) An immunocapture microcolumn based on self-assembled magnetic beads coated with antibodies specific to Aβ peptides, (2) a nano-porous membrane made of photopolymerized hydrogel for preconcentration, and (3) a microchip electrophoresis (MCE) channel with fluorescent detection. Sub-milliliter sample volume is either mixed off-chip with antibody coated magnetic beads and injected into the device or is injected into an already self-assembled column of magnetic beads in the microchannel. The captured peptides on the beads are then electrokinetically eluted and re-concentrated onto the nano-membrane in a few nano-liters. By integrating the nano-membrane, total assay time was reduced and also off-chip re-concentration or buffer exchange steps were not needed. Finally, the concentrated peptides in the chip are separated by electrophoresis in a polymer-based matrix. The device was applied to the capture and MCE analysis of differently truncated peptides Aβ (1–37, 1–39, 1–40, and 1–42) and was able to detect as low as 25 ng of synthetic Aβ peptides spiked in undiluted cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The device was also tested with CSF samples from healthy donors. CSF samples were fluorescently labelled and pre-mixed with the magnetic beads and injected into the device. The results indicated that Aβ1-40, an important biomarker for distinguishing patients with frontotemporal lobe dementia from controls and AD patients, was detectable. Although the sensitivity of this device is not yet enough to detect all Aβ subtypes in CSF, this is the first report on an integrated or semi-integrated device for capturing and analyzing of differently truncated Aβ peptides. The method is less demanding and faster than the conventional Western blotting method currently used for research.
Granular chaos and mixing: Whirled in a grain of sand
Authors: Shinbrot Troy
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we overview examples of chaos in granular flows. We begin by reviewing several remarkable behaviors that have intrigued researchers over the past few decades, and we then focus on three areas in which chaos plays an intrinsic role in granular behavior. First, we discuss pattern formation in vibrated beds, which we show is a direct result of chaotic scattering combined with dynamical dissipation. Next, we consider stick-slip motion, which involves chaotic scattering on the micro-scale, and which results in complex and as yet unexplained peculiarities on the macro-scale. Finally, we examine granular mixing, which we show combines micro-scale chaotic scattering and macro-scale stick-slip motion into behaviors that are well described by dynamical systems tools, such as iterative mappings.
Eigenvalues of block structured asymmetric random matrices
Authors: Aljadeff Johnatan , Renfrew David , Stern Merav
Published: October 2015

We study the spectrum of an asymmetric random matrix with block structured variances. The rows and columns of the random square matrix are divided into D partitions with arbitrary size (linear in N). The parameters of the model are the variances of elements in each block, summarized in g∈R+D×D. Using the Hermitization approach and by studying the matrix-valued Stieltjes transform we show that these matrices have a circularly symmetric spectrum, we give an explicit formula for their spectral radius and a set of implicit equations for the full density function. We discuss applications of this model to neural networks.
Cryocooled terahertz photoconductive detector system with background-limited performance in 1.5–4 THz frequency range
Authors: Aoki Makoto , Hiromoto Norihisa
Published: October 2015

We describe a 4-K-cryocooled dual-band terahertz (THz) photoconductive detector system with background-limited performance. The detector system comprises two THz photoconductive detectors covering a response in a wide frequency range from 1.5 to 4 THz, low noise amplifiers, optical low-pass filters to eliminate input radiation of higher frequencies, and a mechanical 4 K Gifford-McMahon refrigerator that provides practical and convenient operation without a liquid He container. The electrical and optical performances of the THz detector system were evaluated at a detector temperature of 4 K under 300 K background radiation. We proved that the detector system can achieve background-limited noise-equivalent-power on the order of 10−14 W/Hz1/2 in the frequency range from 1.5 to 4 THz even if the vibration noise of the mechanical refrigerator is present.
Using generalized Landau-Lifshitz equations to describe the dynamics of multi-sublattice antiferromagnets induced by spin-polarized current
Authors: Gomonay O. V. , Loktev V. M.
Published: October 2015

Antiferromagnets (AFM) with a zero, or very small macroscopic magnetization, are promising materials in spintronics. Based on generalized Landau-Lifshitz equations, we examine the magnetic dynamics of three-sublattice AFM in the presence of a spin-polarized current, and in particular, the switching processes between different equilibrium states. We found the conditions for effective switching by pulsed and DC, as well as by an external magnetic field. We examined the features of stationary dynamic states, caused by the current. The obtained results can be used to develop high-speed elements of AFM-based memory materials.
Generation of flat-top pulsed magnetic fields with feedback control approach
Authors: Kohama Yoshimitsu , Kindo Koichi
Published: October 2015

We describe the construction of a simple, compact, and cost-effective feedback system that produces flat-top field profiles in pulsed magnetic fields. This system is designed for use in conjunction with a typical capacitor-bank driven pulsed magnet and was tested using a 60-T pulsed magnet. With the developed feedback controller, we have demonstrated flat-top magnetic fields as high as 60.64 T with an excellent field stability of ±0.005 T. The result indicates that the flat-top pulsed magnetic field produced features high field stability and an accessible field strength. These features make this system useful for improving the resolution of data with signal averaging.
Transmission properties of one-dimensional ternary plasma photonic crystals
Authors: Shiveshwari Laxmi , Awasthi S. K.
Published: October 2015

Omnidirectional photonic band gaps (PBGs) are found in one-dimensional ternary plasma photonic crystals (PPC) composed of single negative metamaterials. The band characteristics and transmission properties are investigated through the transfer matrix method. We show that the proposed structure can trap light in three-dimensional space due to the elimination of Brewster's angle transmission resonance allowing the existence of complete PBG. The results are discussed in terms of incident angle, layer thickness, dielectric constant of the dielectric material, and number of unit cells (N) for TE and TM polarizations. It is seen that PBG characteristics is apparent even in an N ≥ 2 system, which is weakly sensitive to the incident angle and completely insensitive to the polarization. Finite PPC could be used for multichannel transmission filter without introducing any defect in the geometry. We show that the locations of the multichannel transmission peaks are in the allowed band of the infinite structure. The structure can work as a single or multichannel filter by varying the number of unit cells. Binary PPC can also work as a polarization sensitive tunable filter.
Investigating the electronic properties of Al2O3/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 interface
Authors: Kotipalli R. , Vermang B. , Joel J. , Rajkumar R. , Edoff M. , Flandre D.
Published: October 2015

Atomic layer deposited (ALD) Al2O3 films on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) surfaces have been demonstrated to exhibit excellent surface passivation properties, which is advantageous in reducing recombination losses at the rear metal contact of CIGS thin-film solar cells. Here, we report, for the first time, experimentally extracted electronic parameters, i.e. fixed charge density (Qf) and interface-trap charge density (Dit), for as-deposited (AD) and post-deposition annealed (PDA) ALD Al2O3 films on CIGS surfaces using capacitance–voltage (C-V) and conductance-frequency (G-f) measurements. These results indicate that the AD films exhibit positive fixed charges Qf (approximately 1012 cm−2), whereas the PDA films exhibit a very high density of negative fixed charges Qf (approximately 1013 cm−2). The extracted Dit values, which reflect the extent of chemical passivation, were found to be in a similar range of order (approximately 1012 cm−2 eV−1) for both AD and PDA samples. The high density of negative Qf in the bulk of the PDA Al2O3 film exerts a strong Coulomb repulsive force on the underlying CIGS minority carriers (ns), preventing them to recombine at the CIGS/Al2O3 interface. Using experimentally extracted Qf and Dit values, SCAPS simulation results showed that the surface concentration of minority carriers (ns) in the PDA films was approximately eight-orders of magnitude lower than in the AD films. The electrical characterization and estimations presented in this letter construct a comprehensive picture of the interfacial physics involved at the Al2O3/CIGS interface.
Astronomers observe a nascent galaxy stuck to the cosmic web
Authors: Chang Sung
Published: October 2015

A strand of the web appears to be conducting gas into the protogalaxy.
Freestanding solids get stretched
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: October 2015

Engineering a phase transformation to proceed in just the right way creates a material that’s permanently under tension.
The universal statistics of random searches
Authors: Wilson R. Mark
Published: October 2015

The time it takes a random walker to find all the targets in a given domain can be determined from the average time it takes to find just one of them.
Imaging particle beams for cancer treatment
Authors: Polf Jerimy C. , Parodi Katia
Published: October 2015

Proton and carbon-ion radiotherapy are powerful tools for killing tumor cells, but only if the particles deposit their energy where they’re supposed to.
Density character of subgroups of topological groups
Authors: Leiderman Arkady , Morris Sidney , Tkachenko Mikhail
Published: October 2015

We give a complete characterization of subgroups of separable topological groups. Then we show that the following conditions are equivalent for an

ω
\omega

-narrow topological group

G
G

: (i)

G
G

is homeomorphic to a subspace of a separable regular space; (ii)

G
G

is topologically isomorphic to a subgroup of a separable topological group; (iii)

G
G

is topologically isomorphic to a closed subgroup of a separable path-connected, locally path-connected topological group.

A pro-Lie group is a projective limit of finite-dimensional Lie groups. We prove here that an almost connected pro-Lie group is separable if and only if its weight is not greater than the cardinality

c

\mathfrak {c}

of the continuum. It is deduced from this that an almost connected pro-Lie group is separable if and only if it is homeomorphic to a subspace of a separable Hausdorff space. It is also proved that a locally compact (even feathered) topological group

G
G

which is a subgroup of a separable Hausdorff topological group is separable, but the conclusion is false if it is assumed only that

G
G

is homeomorphic to a subspace of a separable Tychonoff space.

We show that every precompact (abelian) topological group of weight less than or equal to

c

\mathfrak {c}

is topologically isomorphic to a closed subgroup of a separable pseudocompact (abelian) group of weight

c

\mathfrak {c}

. This result implies that there is a wealth of closed non-separable subgroups of separable pseudocompact groups. An example is also presented under the Continuum Hypothesis of a separable countably compact abelian group which contains a non-separable closed subgroup.
Probability-based particle detection that enables threshold-free and robust in vivo single-molecule tracking
Authors: Smith Carlas S. , Stallinga Sjoerd , Lidke Keith A. , Rieger Bernd , Grunwald David
Published: October 2015

Single-molecule detection in fluorescence nanoscopy has become a powerful tool in cell biology but can present vexing issues in image analysis, such as limited signal, unspecific background, empirically set thresholds, image filtering, and false-positive detection limiting overall detection efficiency. Here we present a framework in which expert knowledge and parameter tweaking are replaced with a probability-based hypothesis test. Our method delivers robust and threshold-free signal detection with a defined error estimate and improved detection of weaker signals. The probability value has consequences for downstream data analysis, such as weighing a series of detections and corresponding probabilities, Bayesian propagation of probability, or defining metrics in tracking applications. We show that the method outperforms all current approaches, yielding a detection efficiency of >70% and a false-positive detection rate of <5% under conditions down to 17 photons/pixel background and 180 photons/molecule signal, which is beneficial for any kind of photon-limited application. Examples include limited brightness and photostability, phototoxicity in live-cell single-molecule imaging, and use of new labels for nanoscopy. We present simulations, experimental data, and tracking of low-signal mRNAs in yeast cells.
How much averaging is necessary to cancel out cross-terms in noise correlation studies?
Authors: Medeiros Walter E. , Schimmel Martin , do Nascimento Aderson F.
Published: October 2015

We present an analytical approach to jointly estimate the correlation window length and number of correlograms to stack in ambient noise correlation studies to statistically ensure that noise cross-terms cancel out to within a chosen threshold. These estimates provide the minimum amount of data necessary to extract coherent signals in ambient noise studies using noise sequences filtered in a given frequency bandwidth. The inputs for the estimation process are (1) the variance of the cross-correlation energy density calculated over an elementary time length equal to the largest period present in the filtered data and (2) the threshold below which the noise cross-terms will be in the final stacked correlograms. The presented theory explains how to adjust the required correlation window length and number of stacks when changing from one frequency bandwidth to another. In addition, this theory provides a simple way to monitor stationarity in the noise. The validity of the deduced expressions have been confirmed with numerical cross-correlation tests using both synthetic and field data.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Newly Diagnosed at Autopsy in New York City, 2008–2012
Authors: Ramaswamy Chitra , Ellman Tanya M. , Myers Julie , Madsen Ann , Sepkowitz Kent , Shepard Colin
Published: October 2015

Background.  Studying the most extreme example of late diagnosis, new HIV diagnoses after death, may be instructive to HIV testing efforts. Using the results of routine HIV testing of autopsies performed by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), we identified new HIV diagnoses after death in New York City (NYC) from 2008 to 2012.

Methods.  Population-based registries for HIV and deaths were linked to identify decedents not known to be HIV-infected before death. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to determine correlates of a new HIV diagnosis after death among all persons newly diagnosed with HIV and among all HIV-infected decedents receiving an OCME autopsy.

Results.  Of 264 893 deaths, 24 426 (9.2%) were autopsied by the NYC OCME. Of these, 1623 (6.6%) were infected with HIV, including 142 (8.8%) with a new HIV diagnosis at autopsy. This represents 0.8% (142 of 18 542) of all new HIV diagnoses during the 5-year period. Decedents newly diagnosed with HIV at OCME autopsy were predominantly male (73.9%), aged 13–64 years (85.9%), non-white (85.2%), unmarried (81.7%), less than college educated (83.8%), and residents of an impoverished neighborhood (62.0%). Of all HIV-infected OCME decedents aged ≥65 years (n = 71), 22.0% were diagnosed at autopsy. The strongest independent correlate of new HIV diagnosis at autopsy in both multivariable models was age ≥65 years.

Conclusions.  Human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses first made after death are rare, but, when observed, these diagnoses are more commonly found among persons ≥65 years, suggesting that despite highly visible efforts to promote HIV testing community-wide, timely diagnosis among older adults living in impoverished, high-prevalence neighborhoods may require additional strategies.
Epidemiology and aetiology of impaired level of consciousness in prehospital nontrauma patients in an urban setting
Authors: Björkman Johannes , Hallikainen Juhana , Olkkola Klaus T. , Silfvast Tom
Published: October 2015

Background

There is little information on the epidemiology and aetiology of nontraumatic loss of consciousness in patients in the Emergency Department, and this high-risk patient group has been poorly characterized in the prehospital setting as well. The aim of this study was to study the epidemiology and aetiology of nontraumatic impaired level of consciousness among the patients treated by an urban Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system in Finland.

Methods

Data of all emergency calls not related to trauma in an urban EMS system in southern Finland during 2012 were analysed. The inclusion criterion in this study was impaired level of consciousness as identified from the EMS run sheets. Diagnoses made in the receiving facility were cross-checked with the data.

Results

During the study period, the EMS was alerted to 22 184 emergency calls. Of these, 306 calls met the inclusion criterion. The included patients could be categorized into four groups: seizures (32%), diabetes (24%), intoxication (17%) and impaired level of consciousness with no other obvious or specific cause (27%). The overall case fatality rate was 8%.

Conclusion

Of all EMS calls, patients who presented with an impaired level of consciousness represented 1.4% of all patients, but the fatality rate in those who remained with an impaired level of consciousness during the prehospital phase was considerable. Impaired level of consciousness was associated with a multitude of aetiologies, of which seizures were the most common.
Sharp eigenvalue enclosures for the perturbed angular Kerr–Newman Dirac operator
Authors: Boulton Lyonell , Winklmeier Monika
Published: October 2015

We examine a certified strategy for determining sharp intervals of enclosure for the eigenvalues of matrix differential operators with singular coefficients. The strategy relies on computing the second-order spectrum relative to subspaces of continuous piecewise linear functions. For smooth perturbations of the angular Kerr–Newman Dirac operator, explicit rates of convergence linked to regularity of the eigenfunctions are established. Numerical tests which validate and sharpen by several orders of magnitude the existing benchmarks are also included.
Analysis of Meiotic Recombination and Homolog Interaction during Yeast Meiosis
Authors: Börner G. Valentin , Cha Rita S.
Published: October 2015

During meiosis, one round of genome duplication is followed by two rounds of chromosome segregation, resulting in the halving of the genetic complement and the formation of haploid reproductive cells. In most organisms, intimate juxtaposition of homologous chromosomes and homologous recombination during meiotic prophase are required for meiotic success. Here we present a general protocol for visualizing chromosomal proteins and homolog interaction on surface-spread nuclei and a widely used protocol for analyzing meiotic recombination based on an engineered hotspot referred to as HIS4::LEU2.
Analysis of Spine Motility of Newborn Granule Cells in Acute Brain Slices
Authors: Tashiro Ayumu , Zhao Chunmei , Suh Hoonkyo , Gage Fred H.
Published: October 2015

In this protocol, acute brain slices are prepared from mice in which newborn granule cells have been labeled using retroviral vector technology. Using a live-cell imaging stage and confocal microscopy coupled to imaging software, dendritic spines are analyzed.
Generation of Thy1 Constructs for Pronuclear Injection
Authors: Marinković Petar , Godinho Leanne , Misgeld Thomas
Published: October 2015

With easy access to core facilities or commercial providers of pronuclear injections, generating simple Thy1-XFP transgenic mice (where XFP stands for any fluorescent protein) is now a possibility even for small laboratories. The generation of new Thy1 transgenic lines generally consists of five steps: (1) engineering and characterization of the desired fluorescent reporter protein, (2) cloning of the reporter protein into the Thy1 vector, (3) linearization and purification of the new Thy1 construct, (4) pronuclear injection to generate founders, and (5) screening of founder progeny to establish transgenic lines. Here, we provide a protocol for Steps 2 and 3. The sequence for a desired fluorescent reporter protein is cloned into the XhoI restriction site of the Thy1 vector. This usually involves blunt-end cloning because the traditional Thy1 vector does not carry an intact multiple cloning site. Following successful cloning, the DNA is prepared for pronuclear injection by linearizing it using EcoRI and PvuI restriction enzymes. The purified linearized DNA must then be sent to a facility specializing in pronuclear injection to generate transgenic founder mice.
Generation and Screening of Transgenic Mice with Neuronal Labeling Controlled byThy1Regulatory Elements
Authors: Marinković Petar , Godinho Leanne , Misgeld Thomas
Published: October 2015

Major progress has been made using in vivo imaging in mice to study mammalian nervous system development, plasticity, and disease. This progress has depended in part on the wide availability of two-photon microscopy, which is capable of penetrating deep into scattering tissue. Equally important, however, is the generation of suitable transgenic mouse models, which provide a “Golgi staining”-like labeling of neurons that is sparse and bright enough for in vivo imaging. Particularly prominent among such transgenic mice are the so-calledThy1-XFP mice (in which XFP stands for any fluorescent protein) that are used in numerous studies, especially to visualize spine plasticity in the cortex and remodeling in peripheral synapses. New generations ofThy1-XFP mice are now being generated at a high rate, and these have allowed previously difficult experiments to become feasible. Moreover, with easy access to core facilities or commercial providers of pronuclear injections, generating simpleThy1transgenic mice is now a possibility even for small laboratories. In this introduction, we discuss theThy1regulatory elements used to generate transgenic lines with neuronal labeling. We provide a brief overview of currently availableThy1transgenic mice, including lines labeling neuronal organelles or reporting neuronal function.
Combined analysis of chemical bonding in a CuIIdimer using QTAIM, Voronoi tessellation and Hirshfeld surface approaches
Authors: Vologzhanina Anna V. , Kats Svitlana V. , Penkova Larisa V. , Pavlenko Vadim A. , Efimov Nikolay N. , Minin Vadim V. , Eremenko Igor L.
Published: October 2015

Interaction of 1-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)ethanone oxime (H2PzOx) with copper(II) chloride in the presence of pyridine afforded a binuclear discrete [Cu2(HPzOx)2Cl2py2] complex, which was characterized by Fourier transform–IR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, magnetochemistry and high-resolution X-ray diffraction experiments. Multipole refinement of X-ray diffraction data and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations of an isolated molecule allowed charge and spin distributions to be obtained for this compound. Magnetochemistry data, EPR spectra and DFT calculations of an isolated molecule show antiferromagnetic coupling between copper(II) ions. The spin distribution suggests an exchange pathwayviathe bridging pyrazole ring in the equatorial plane of the CuN4Cl coordination polyhedron, thus providing support for the classical superexchange mechanism; the calculated value of the magnetic coupling constant −2Jis equal to 220 cm−1, which compares well with the experimental value of 203 ± 2 cm−1. Chemical connectivity was derived by Bader's `quantum theory of atoms in molecules' and compared with Voronoi tessellation and Hirshfeld surface representations of crystal space. All methodologies gave a similar qualitative and semi-quantitative description of intra- and intermolecular connectivity.
Transforming new curriculum objectives into classroom instruction with the aid of learning studies
Authors: Selin Per , Holmqvist Olander Mona
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report a case study that qualitatively describes and analyses teachers’ discussions when planning and evaluating lessons under supervision, and what is described is the focus on their reasoning, the activities decided upon and how they decided to assess the pupils’ learning outcomes when transforming formal curriculum objectives for English as a foreign language (EFL) into classroom instruction. The effect of this transformation, expressed in different ways of designing lessons, is evaluated by assessing the pupils’ learning outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The content analysis is based on variation theory. An iteratively designed method, the learning study, is used and data from five teacher meetings in this iterative process is analysed.

Findings

– The analysis shows that the areas the teachers focus on initially are: implementation (activities); content; and pupils’ knowledge, prioritised in this order, even if they partly seem to be intertwined and handled as a whole, with the three different areas being put in the foreground or background during the learning-study process. In the later part of the process, the perspective has changed to a focus on: pupils’ knowledge; content; and implementation (activities).

Originality/value

– The findings in this paper suggest to teachers a way to implement a formal curriculum in a local context. The authors also argue for the importance of collective work in this process.
Lesson study at the foreign language university level in Japan
Authors: Lander Bruce
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine if a blended learning component can aid professional development, improve student ability and be approved at the foreign language level using the lesson study (LS) method at a university in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper introduces the three main theoretical concepts of blended learning, learner autonomy and technology in education before explaining the LS in full. Two groups of students were taught using almost identical syllabus. One group, the A group were taught using computer rooms for two semesters, while the other (B) group were taught in regular classrooms without computers for one semester then with computers for the following semester. The impact on the student and teacher will be discussed.

Findings

– The findings of this study indicate that technology, in the form of a blended learning component added to a test-based curriculum, can enhance student test-scores, raise teacher and student awareness of technology and improve ability over a relatively short period.

Practical implications

– This study emphasizes the power of technology in modern day education. Through blended learning methodology this study proposes that teachers in the modern age should adopt some form of technology into their teaching technique.

Originality/value

– This paper is directed at teachers who are interested in integrating technology into their teaching techniques, through either computer aided or mobile assisted learning, but are slightly apprehensive in doing so. This study focuses on the introduction of an online and mobile digital flashcard tool called Quizlet. Very little literature exists in this field as the mobile application was only released in 2013.