bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neugeborenen-Hörscreening – Ergebnisse einer Elternbefragung in Sachsen-Anhalt
Authors: Müller J. , Fechner H. , Köhn A. , Rißmann A.
Published: June 2015

Hintergrund: Qualitätssicherung ist in den letzten Jahren im Zuge des modernen patientenorientierten Qualitätsmanagements zu einem wesentlichen Bestandteil des heutigen Gesundheitswesens geworden. Mit der gesetzlichen Einführung des Neugeborenen-Hörscreening (NHS) im Jahr 2009 ist eine Qualitätssicherung dieser Früherkennungsuntersuchung notwendig geworden. Das Ziel der Studie war es, die Patientenzufriedenheit in Bezug auf das NHS in Sachsen-Anhalt zu ermitteln.

Patienten/Methode: Im Zeitraum von November 2013 bis April 2014 wurden retrospektiv 394 Eltern mithilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens zu ihren Erfahrungen und Erwartungen in Bezug auf das NHS befragt. Insgesamt beteiligten sich 21 Kindertageseinrichtungen und 6 Kinderarztpraxen aus ganz Sachsen-Anhalt.

Ergebnisse: Es zeigt sich, dass die Mehrheit der Eltern mit dem NHS zufrieden ist und 97,7% das Angebot eines NHS befürworten. Von den befragten Eltern empfanden 69,3% die Aufklärung als ausreichend. Jedoch hatten sich lediglich 66,2% der Eltern mit dem Merkblatt des G-BA beschäftigt. Darüber hinaus sind 17,7% der Befragungsteilnehmer mit der fachlichen Kompetenz des untersuchenden Personals unzufrieden.

Schlussfolgerung: Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass das NHS von den Eltern als sinnvoll erachtet wird und die Einstellung gegenüber dieser Früherkennungsuntersuchung trotz einiger Kritikpunkte positiv ausfällt.
Possible existence of two amorphous phases of d-mannitol related by a first-order transition
Authors: Zhu Men , Wang Jun-Qiang , Perepezko John H. , Yu Lian
Published: June 2015

We report that the common polyalcohol d-mannitol may have two amorphous phases related by a first-order transition. Slightly above its glass transition temperature Tg (284 K), the supercooled liquid (SCL) of d-mannitol transforms to a low-energy, apparently amorphous phase with stronger hydrogen bonds. The enthalpy of this so-called Phase X is approximately halfway between those of the known amorphous and crystalline phases, a position low for glass aging and high for crystal polymorphs. Similar to the SCL, Phase X is transparent with broad X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering; upon temperature cycling, it exhibits a glass-transition-like change of heat capacity. On fast heating, Phase X transforms back to the SCL near Tg + 50 K, enabling a determination of their equilibrium temperature. The presence of d-sorbitol as a plasticizer enables observation of a first-order transition from the SCL to Phase X entirely in the liquid state (liquid-liquid transition). The transition from d-mannitol’s SCL to Phase X has intriguing similarities with the formation of the glacial phase of triphenyl phosphite (TPP) and the conversion from high-density to low-density amorphous ice, both studied intensely in the context of polyamorphism. All three processes occur near Tg with substantial enthalpy decrease toward the crystalline phases; the processes in water and d-mannitol both strengthen the hydrogen bonds. In contrast to TPP, d-mannitol’s Phase X forms more rapidly and can transform back to the SCL. These features make d-mannitol a valuable new model for understanding polyamorphism.
Effect of the absorption coefficient of aluminium plates on their thermoelastic bending in photoacoustic experiments
Authors: Markushev D. D. , Ordonez-Miranda J. , Rabasović M. D. , Galović S. , Todorović D. M. , Bialkowski S. E.
Published: June 2015

The open-cell photoacoustic signal measured in the transmission configuration for aluminum thin plates with thicknesses of 280 μm, 197 μm, and 112 μm is experimentally and theoretically analyzed, in the 20 Hz–7 kHz modulation frequency range. It is shown that the observed differences between the predictions of the standard thermoelastic model and the experiment data of both the amplitude and phase of the photoacoustic signal can be overcome by considering the aluminum samples coated with a thin layer of black paint as volume-absorber materials. This new approach provides a quite good agreement with the obtained experimental data, in the whole frequency range, and yields an effective absorption coefficient of (16 ± 2) mm−1, for a 280 μm-thick sample. The introduction of the finite absorption coefficient led to the correct ratio between the thermal diffusion and thermoelastic components of the photoacoustic signal. Furthermore, it is found that the “volume-absorber” approach accurately describes the behavior of the amplitude, but not that of the phase recorded for a 112 μm-thick sample, due to its relatively strong thermoelastic bending, which is not considered by this theory. Within the approximation of the small bending, the proposed “volume-absorber” model provides a reliable description of the photoacoustic signal for Al samples thicker than 112 μm, and extends the applicability of the classical “opaque” approach.
Edge effects on band gap energy in bilayer 2H-MoS2 under uniaxial strain
Authors: Dong Liang , Wang Jin , Namburu Raju , O'Regan Terrance P. , Dubey Madan , Dongare Avinash M.
Published: June 2015

The potential of ultrathin MoS2 nanostructures for applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices requires a fundamental understanding in their electronic structure as a function of strain. Previous experimental and theoretical studies assume that an identical strain and/or stress state is always maintained in the top and bottom layers of a bilayer MoS2 film. In this study, a bilayer MoS2 supercell is constructed differently from the prototypical unit cell in order to investigate the layer-dependent electronic band gap energy in a bilayer MoS2 film under uniaxial mechanical deformations. The supercell contains an MoS2 bottom layer and a relatively narrower top layer (nanoribbon with free edges) as a simplified model to simulate the as-grown bilayer MoS2 flakes with free edges observed experimentally. Our results show that the two layers have different band gap energies under a tensile uniaxial strain, although they remain mutually interacting by van der Waals interactions. The deviation in their band gap energies grows from 0 to 0.42 eV as the uniaxial strain increases from 0% to 6% under both uniaxial strain and stress conditions. The deviation, however, disappears if a compressive uniaxial strain is applied. These results demonstrate that tensile uniaxial strains applied to bilayer MoS2 films can result in distinct band gap energies in the bilayer structures. Such variations need to be accounted for when analyzing strain effects on electronic properties of bilayer or multilayered 2D materials using experimental methods or in continuum models.
On the scalar curvature for the noncommutative four torus
Authors: Fathizadeh Farzad
Published: June 2015

The scalar curvature for noncommutative four tori TΘ4, where their flat geometries are conformally perturbed by a Weyl factor, is computed by making the use of a noncommutative residue that involves integration over the 3-sphere. This method is more convenient since it does not require the rearrangement lemma and it is advantageous as it explains the simplicity of the final functions of one and two variables, which describe the curvature with the help of a modular automorphism. In particular, it readily allows to write the function of two variables as the sum of a finite difference and a finite product of the one variable function. The curvature formula is simplified for dilatons of the form sp, where s is a real parameter and p∈C∞(TΘ4) is an arbitrary projection, and it is observed that, in contrast to the two dimensional case studied by Connes and Moscovici, J. Am. Math. Soc. 27(3), 639-684 (2014), unbounded functions of the parameter s appear in the final formula. An explicit formula for the gradient of the analog of the Einstein-Hilbert action is also calculated.
Ab initio intermolecular potential energy surface and thermophysical properties of nitrous oxide
Authors: Crusius Johann-Philipp , Hellmann Robert , Hassel Egon , Bich Eckard
Published: June 2015

We present an analytical intermolecular potential energy surface (PES) for two rigid nitrous oxide (N2O) molecules derived from high-level quantum-chemical ab initio calculations. Interaction energies for 2018 N2O–N2O configurations were computed utilizing the counterpoise-corrected supermolecular approach at the CCSD(T) level of theory using basis sets up to aug-cc-pVQZ supplemented with bond functions. A site-site potential function with seven sites per N2O molecule was fitted to the pair interaction energies. We validated our PES by computing the second virial coefficient as well as shear viscosity and thermal conductivity in the dilute-gas limit. The values of these properties are substantiated by the best experimental data.
Pulsed plasma measurement method using harmonic analysis
Authors: Kim Yu-Sin , Kim Dong-Hwan , Lee Hyo-Chang , Chung Chin-Wook
Published: June 2015

A phase delay harmonic analysis method (PDHAM) with high-time resolution is proposed to measure the plasma parameters of the pulsed plasmas. The PDHAM, which is based on the floating harmonic method, applies the phase delayed voltages to a probe tip, and obtains each of the currents in the phase-domain at a given time. The time resolution of this method is 0.8 μs, and the total measurement is done within 2 s in the case of a pulsed plasma with a frequency of 1 kHz. The measurement result of the plasma parameters was compared with a conventional Langmuir probe using a boxcar mode, and shows good agreements. Because this PDHAM can measure the plasma parameters even in the processing discharges, it is expected to be usefully applied to plasma diagnostics for pulsed processing plasmas.
Real-time implementation of frequency-modulated continuous-wave synthetic aperture radar imaging using field programmable gate array
Authors: Quan Yinghui , Li Yachao , Hu Guibin , Xing Mengdao
Published: June 2015

A new miniature linear frequency-modulated continuous-wave radar which mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle is presented. It allows the accomplishment of high resolution synthetic aperture radar imaging in real-time. Only a Kintex-7 field programmable gate array from Xilinx is utilized for whole signal processing of sophisticated radar imaging algorithms. The proposed hardware architecture achieves remarkable improvement in integration, power consumption, volume, and computing performance over its predecessor designs. The realized design is verified by flight campaigns.
Tokamak magneto-hydrodynamics and reference magnetic coordinates for simulations of plasma disruptions
Authors: Zakharov Leonid E. , Li Xujing
Published: June 2015

This paper formulates the Tokamak Magneto-Hydrodynamics (TMHD), initially outlined by X. Li and L. E. Zakharov [Plasma Science and Technology 17(2), 97–104 (2015)] for proper simulations of macroscopic plasma dynamics. The simplest set of magneto-hydrodynamics equations, sufficient for disruption modeling and extendable to more refined physics, is explained in detail. First, the TMHD introduces to 3-D simulations the Reference Magnetic Coordinates (RMC), which are aligned with the magnetic field in the best possible way. The numerical implementation of RMC is adaptive grids. Being consistent with the high anisotropy of the tokamak plasma, RMC allow simulations at realistic, very high plasma electric conductivity. Second, the TMHD splits the equation of motion into an equilibrium equation and the plasma advancing equation. This resolves the 4 decade old problem of Courant limitations of the time step in existing, plasma inertia driven numerical codes. The splitting allows disruption simulations on a relatively slow time scale in comparison with the fast time of ideal MHD instabilities. A new, efficient numerical scheme is proposed for TMHD.
Self-organization in planar magnetron microdischarge plasmas
Authors: Ito Tsuyohito , Young Christopher V. , Cappelli Mark A.
Published: June 2015

Evidence is presented of rotating azimuthal wave structures in a planar magnetron microdischarge operating at 150 mTorr in argon. Plasma emission captured using a high frame rate camera reveals waves of azimuthal modes m = 3–5 propagating in the −E→×B→ direction. The dominant stable mode structure depends on discharge voltage. The negative drift direction is attributed to a local field reversal arising from strong density gradients that drive excess ions towards the anode. The transition between modes is shown to be consistent with models of gradient drift-wave dispersion in the presence of such a field reversal when the fluid representation includes ambipolar diffusion along the direction parallel to the magnetic field.
Material dependence of anomalous Nernst effect in perpendicularly magnetized ordered-alloy thin films
Authors: Hasegawa K. , Mizuguchi M. , Sakuraba Y. , Kamada T. , Kojima T. , Kubota T. , Mizukami S. , Miyazaki T. , Takanashi K.
Published: June 2015

Material dependence of the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) in perpendicularly magnetized ordered-alloy thin films is systematically investigated. The ANE was found to have a tendency to increase simply as uniaxial magnetic anisotropy increased at room temperature. The ANE increases as temperature increases from 10 to 300 K for all the materials. However, the signs of the ANE in Fe-based ordered-alloys (L10-FePt and L10-FePd) and in a Co/Ni multilayer are opposite to those in Mn-based ordered-alloys (L10-MnGa and D022-Mn2Ga). Ordered-alloys with larger uniaxial magnetic anisotropies reveal larger ANE and might be desirable for thermoelectric applications.
Chemical potential shift in organic field-effect transistors identified by soft X-ray operando nano-spectroscopy
Authors: Nagamura Naoka , Kitada Yuta , Tsurumi Junto , Matsui Hiroyuki , Horiba Koji , Honma Itaru , Takeya Jun , Oshima Masaharu
Published: June 2015

A chemical potential shift in an organic field effect transistor (OFET) during operation has been revealed by soft X-ray operando nano-spectroscopy analysis performed using a three-dimensional nanoscale electron-spectroscopy chemical analysis system. OFETs were fabricated using ultrathin (3 ML or 12 nm) single-crystalline C10-DNBDT-NW films on SiO2 (200 nm)/Si substrates with a backgate electrode and top source/drain Au electrodes, and C 1s line profiles under biasing at the backgate and drain electrodes were measured. When applying −30 V to the backgate, there is C 1s core level shift of 0.1 eV; this shift can be attributed to a chemical potential shift corresponding to band bending by the field effect, resulting in p-type doping.
Beat wave excitation of electron plasma wave by relativistic cross focusing of cosh-Gaussian laser beams in plasma
Authors: Singh Arvinder , Gupta Naveen
Published: June 2015

A scheme for beat wave excitation of electron plasma wave (EPW) is proposed by relativistic cross-focusing of two coaxial Cosh-Gaussian (ChG) laser beams in an under dense plasma. The plasma wave is generated on account of beating of two coaxial laser beams of frequencies ω1 and ω2. The mechanism for laser produced nonlinearity is assumed to be relativistic nonlinearity in electron mass. Following moment theory approach in Wentzel Kramers Brillouin (W.K.B) approximation, the coupled differential equations governing the evolution of spot size of laser beams with distance of propagation have been derived. The relativistic nonlinearity depends not only on the intensity of first laser beam but also on the intensity of second laser beam. Therefore, propagation dynamics of one laser beam affect that of second beam and hence cross-focusing of the two laser beams takes place. Due to non uniform intensity distribution of pump laser beams, the background electron concentration gets modified. The amplitude of EPW, which depends on the background electron concentration, thus gets nonlinearly coupled with the laser beams. The effects of relativistic electron mass nonlinearity and the cross-focusing of pump beams on excitation of EPW have been incorporated. Numerical simulations have been carried out to investigate the effect of laser as well as plasma parameters on cross-focusing of laser beams and further its effect on power of excited EPW.
Fluids confined in wedges and by edges: From cluster integrals to thermodynamic properties referred to different regions
Authors: Urrutia Ignacio
Published: June 2015

Recently, new insights into the relation between the geometry of the vessel that confines a fluid and its thermodynamic properties were traced through the study of cluster integrals for inhomogeneous fluids. In this work, I analyze the thermodynamic properties of fluids confined in wedges or by edges, emphasizing on the question of the region to which these properties refer. In this context, the relations between the line-thermodynamic properties referred to different regions are derived as analytic functions of the dihedral angle α, for 0 < α < 2π, which enables a unified approach to both edges and wedges. As a simple application of these results, I analyze the properties of the confined gas in the low-density regime. Finally, using recent analytic results for the second cluster integral of the confined hard sphere fluid, the low density behavior of the line thermodynamic properties is analytically studied up to order two in the density for 0 < α < 2π and by adopting different reference regions.
Investigation of the CH3Cl + CN− reaction in water: Multilevel quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics study
Authors: Xu Yulong , Zhang Jingxue , Wang Dunyou
Published: June 2015

The CH3Cl + CN− reaction in water was studied using a multilevel quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (MM) method with the multilevels, electrostatic potential, density functional theory (DFT) and coupled-cluster single double triple (CCSD(T)), for the solute region. The detailed, back-side attack SN2 reaction mechanism was mapped along the reaction pathway. The potentials of mean force were calculated under both the DFT and CCSD(T) levels for the reaction region. The CCSD(T)/MM level of theory presents a free energy activation barrier height at 20.3 kcal/mol, which agrees very well with the experiment value at 21.6 kcal/mol. The results show that the aqueous solution has a dominant role in shaping the potential of mean force. The solvation effect and the polarization effect together increase the activation barrier height by ∼11.4 kcal/mol: the solvation effect plays a major role by providing about 75% of the contribution, while polarization effect only contributes 25% to the activation barrier height. Our calculated potential of mean force under the CCSD(T)/MM also has a good agreement with the one estimated using data from previous gas-phase studies.
Exploiting chaos for applications
Authors: Ditto William L. , Sinha Sudeshna
Published: June 2015

We discuss how understanding the nature of chaotic dynamics allows us to control these systems. A controlled chaotic system can then serve as a versatile pattern generator that can be used for a range of application. Specifically, we will discuss the application of controlled chaos to the design of novel computational paradigms. Thus, we present an illustrative research arc, starting with ideas of control, based on the general understanding of chaos, moving over to applications that influence the course of building better devices.
Suppression of phonon transport in multiple Si/PtSi heterostructures
Authors: Oh Jung Hyun , Jang Moon-Gyu , Kim Hanchul , Moon S. E. , Shin Mincheol
Published: June 2015

Using a Green function method based on an atomic vibration model, herein we report the results from our investigation of phonon transport through multiple Si/PtSi layered structures. In contrast with values predicted using elastic wave theory and an impedance mismatch method, we find that a detailed atomic-vibration approach exhibits significantly suppressed phonon transport and leads to a 30-times reduction of the thermal conductance, compared to that of Si bulk. We attribute the origin of the suppression to the lack of PtSi phonon modes in the energy range of 20–30 meV, and to the effects of interface scattering between Si and PtSi layers.
Probing on green long persistent Eu2+/Dy3+ doped Sr3SiAl4O11 emerging phosphor for security applications
Authors: Gupta Bipin Kumar , Kumar Arun , Kumar Pawan , Dwivedi Jaya , Pandey G. N. , Kedawat Garima
Published: June 2015

Herein, a novel green emitting long-persistent Sr3SiAl4O11:Eu2+/Dy3+ phosphor was synthesized in a single phase form using facile solid state reaction method under the reducing atmosphere of 10% H2 and 90% N2. The resulting phosphor exhibits hyper-sensitive strong broad green emission, peaking at 510 nm upon 340 nm excitation wavelength, which is attributed to the 4f65d1-4f7 transitions of emission center of europium (Eu2+) ions. Moreover, the incorporation of dysprosium (Dy3+) ions, which act as effective hole trap centers with appropriate depth, largely enhances the photoluminescence characteristics and greatly improves the persistent intense luminescence behavior of Sr3SiAl4O11:Eu2+/Dy3+ phosphor under ultraviolet (UV) excitation. In addition, with the optimum doping concentration and sufficient UV excitation time period, the as-synthesized phosphor can be persisted afterglow for time duration ∼4 h with maximum luminescence intensity. Thus, these results suggest that this phosphor could be expected as an ultimate choice for next generation advanced luminescent materials in security applications such as latent finger-marks detection, photo-masking induced phosphorescent images, and security code detection.
Three-dimensional adaptive soft phononic crystals
Authors: Babaee Sahab , Wang Pai , Bertoldi Katia
Published: June 2015

We report a new class of three-dimensional (3D) adaptive phononic crystals whose dynamic response is controlled by mechanical deformation. Using finite element analysis, we demonstrate that the bandgaps of the proposed 3D structure can be fully tuned by the externally applied deformation. In fact, our numerical results indicate that the system acts as a reversible phononic switch: a moderate level of applied strain (i.e., −0.16) is sufficient to completely suppress the bandgap, and upon the release of applied strain, the deformed structure recovers its original shape, which can operate with a sizable bandgap under dynamic loading. In addition, we investigate how material damping significantly affects the propagation of elastic waves in the proposed 3D soft phononic crystal. We believe that our results pave the way for the design of a new class of soft, adaptive, and re-configurable 3D phononic crystals, whose bandgaps can be easily tuned and switched on/off by controlling the applied deformation.
Design of nanoporous materials with optimal sorption capacity
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Urita Koki , Moriguchi Isamu , Tartakovsky Daniel M.
Published: June 2015

Modern technological advances have enabled one to manufacture nanoporous materials with a prescribed pore structure. This raises a possibility of using controllable pore-scale parameters (e.g., pore size and connectivity) to design materials with desired macroscopic properties (e.g., diffusion coefficient and adsorption capacity). By relating these two scales, the homogenization theory (or other upscaling techniques) provides a means of guiding the experimental design. To demonstrate this approach, we consider a class of nanoporous materials whose pore space consists of nanotunnels interconnected by nanotube bridges. Such hierarchical nanoporous carbons with mesopores and micropores have shown high specific electric double layer capacitances and high rate capability in an organic electrolyte. We express the anisotropic diffusion coefficient and adsorption coefficient of such materials in terms of the tunnels' properties (pore radius and inter-pore throat width) and their connectivity (spacing between the adjacent tunnels and nanotube-bridge density). Our analysis is applicable for solutes that undergo a non-equilibrium Langmuir adsorption reaction on the surfaces of fluid-filled pores, but other homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions can be handled in a similar fashion. The presented results can be used to guide the design of nanoporous materials with optimal permeability and sorption capacity.
Analysis of current-voltage characteristics of Au/pentacene/fluorine polymer/indium zinc oxide diodes by electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation
Authors: Nishi Shohei , Taguchi Dai , Manaka Takaaki , Iwamoto Mitsumasa
Published: June 2015

By using electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation measurement coupled with the conventional current-voltage (I-V) measurement, we studied the carrier transport of organic double-layer diodes with a Au/pentacene/fluorine polymer (FP)/indium zinc oxide (IZO) structure. The rectifying I-V characteristics were converted into the I-E characteristics of the FP and pentacene layers. Results suggest a model in which Schottky-type electron injection from the IZO electrode to the FP layer governs the forward electrical conduction (V > 0), where the space charge electric field produced in the FP layer by accumulated holes at the pentacene/FP interface makes a significant contribution. On the other hand, Schottky-type injection by accumulated interface electrons from the pentacene layer to the FP layer governs the backward electrical conduction (V < 0). The electroluminescence generated from the pentacene layer in the region V > 0 verifies the electron transport across the FP layer, and supports the above suggested model.
Note: A high-efficiency multi-coincidence method designed for molecular fragmentation studies
Authors: Wang Enliang , Tang Yaguo , Shen Zhenjie , Gong Maomao , Shan Xu , Chen Xiangjun
Published: June 2015

A high-efficiency multi-coincidence method is developed based on the hardware electronic multiple coincidence units. The multi-hit signals originating from one single detector can be selected and measured in coincidence. The performance of the method is tested by the electron impact three-body fragmentation of CO23+. Compared to the conventional method, the relative and absolute coincidence efficiencies of the triple-coincidence measurement are improved by about 200 and 3 times, respectively.
Highly multiplexible thermal kinetic inductance detectors for x-ray imaging spectroscopy
Authors: Ulbricht Gerhard , Mazin Benjamin A. , Szypryt Paul , Walter Alex B. , Bockstiegel Clint , Bumble Bruce
Published: June 2015

For X-ray imaging spectroscopy, high spatial resolution over a large field of view is often as important as high energy resolution, but current X-ray detectors do not provide both in the same device. Thermal Kinetic Inductance Detectors (TKIDs) are being developed as they offer a feasible way to combine the energy resolution of transition edge sensors with pixel counts approaching CCDs and thus promise significant improvements for many X-ray spectroscopy applications. TKIDs are a variation of Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) and share their multiplexibility: working MKID arrays with 2024 pixels have recently been demonstrated and much bigger arrays are under development. In this work, we present a TKID prototype, which is able to achieve an energy resolution of 75 eV at 5.9 keV, even though its general design still has to be optimized. We further describe TKID fabrication, characterization, multiplexing, and working principle and demonstrate the necessity of a data fitting algorithm in order to extract photon energies. With further design optimizations, we expect to be able to improve our TKID energy resolution to less than 10 eV at 5.9 keV.
The non-equilibrium response of a superconductor to pair-breaking radiation measured over a broad frequency band
Authors: de Visser P. J. , Yates S. J. C. , Guruswamy T. , Goldie D. J. , Withington S. , Neto A. , Llombart N. , Baryshev A. M. , Klapwijk T. M. , Baselmans J. J. A.
Published: June 2015

We have measured the absorption of terahertz radiation in a BCS superconductor over a broad range of frequencies from 200 GHz to 1.1 THz, using a broadband antenna-lens system and a tantalum microwave resonator. From low frequencies, the response of the resonator rises rapidly to a maximum at the gap edge of the superconductor. From there on, the response drops to half the maximum response at twice the pair-breaking energy. At higher frequencies, the response rises again due to trapping of pair-breaking phonons in the superconductor. In practice, this is a measurement of the frequency dependence of the quasiparticle creation efficiency due to pair-breaking in a superconductor. The efficiency, calculated from the different non-equilibrium quasiparticle distribution functions at each frequency, is in agreement with the measurements.
Coherent precession in arrays of dipolar-coupled soft magnetic nanodots
Authors: Hu X. K. , Dey H. , Liebing N. , Schumacher H. W. , Csaba G. , Orlov A. , Bernstein G. H. , Porod W.
Published: June 2015

Precession modes of rectangular nanodot arrays with diameters of 90 and 150 nm and varied dipolar interaction are systematically studied by vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance, and micromagnetic simulations. The large dots reveal two dominant modes: a low frequency edge mode and a high frequency center mode, while in the smaller dots only the edge mode is observed. With increasing dipolar interaction, the precession-mode frequencies increase. The interaction has a stronger influence on the edge mode than on the center mode, resulting in different precession behaviors in different ranges of magnetic fields: well-separated modes in high fields and a merging of edge and center modes at low fields. At low fields and for strong dipolar interaction, coherent precession of the whole dot array is observed.
Optical nonlinearities and ultrafast all-optical switching of m-plane GaN in the near-infrared
Authors: Fang Yu , Xiao Zhengguo , Wu Xingzhi , Zhou Feng , Yang Junyi , Yang Yong , Song Yinglin
Published: June 2015

We reported a systematic investigation on the three-photon absorption (3PA) spectra and wavelength dispersion of Kerr refraction of bulk m-plane GaN crystal with both polarization E⊥c and E//c by femtosecond Z-scan technique in the near-infrared region from 760 to 1030 nm. Both 3PA spectra and Kerr refraction dispersion were in good agreement with two-band models. The calculated nonlinear figure of merit and measured ultrafast nonlinear refraction dynamics via femtosecond pump-probe with phase object method revealed that m-plane GaN would be a promising candidate for ultrafast all-optical switching and autocorrelation applications at telecommunication wavelengths.
Optical properties of individual site-controlled Ge quantum dots
Authors: Grydlik Martyna , Brehm Moritz , Tayagaki Takeshi , Langer Gregor , Schmidt Oliver G. , Schäffler Friedrich
Published: June 2015

We report photoluminescence (PL) experiments on individual SiGe quantum dots (QDs) that were epitaxially grown in a site-controlled fashion on pre-patterned Si(001) substrates. We demonstrate that the PL line-widths of single QDs decrease with excitation power to about 16 meV, a value that is much narrower than any of the previously reported PL signals in the SiGe/Si heterosystem. At low temperatures, the PL-intensity becomes limited by a 25 meV high potential-barrier between the QDs and the surrounding Ge wetting layer (WL). This barrier impedes QD filling from the WL which collects and traps most of the optically excited holes in this type-II heterosystem.
Terahertz generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers with a dual-upper-state active region
Authors: Fujita Kazuue , Hitaka Masahiro , Ito Akio , Edamura Tadataka , Yamanishi Masamichi , Jung Seungyong , Belkin Mikhail A.
Published: June 2015

We report the performance of room temperature terahertz sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers with a dual-upper-state (DAU) active region. DAU active region design is theoretically expected to produce larger optical nonlinearity for terahertz difference-frequency generation, compared to the active region designs of the bound-to-continuum type used previously. Fabricated buried heterostructure devices with a two-section buried distributed feedback grating and the waveguide designed for Cherenkov difference-frequency phase-matching scheme operate in two single-mode mid-infrared wavelengths at 10.7 μm and 9.7 μm and produce terahertz output at 2.9 THz with mid-infrared to terahertz conversion efficiency of 0.8 mW/W2 at room temperature.
Phase transformation as the single-mode mechanical deformation of silicon
Authors: Wong S. , Haberl B. , Williams J. S. , Bradby J. E.
Published: June 2015

The metastable body-centered cubic (bc8) and rhombohedral (r8) phases of silicon that are formed after the nanoindentation of diamond cubic silicon exhibit properties that are of both scientific and technological interest. This letter demonstrates that large regions of these phases can be readily formed from crystalline silicon via nanoindentation with minimal damage to the surrounding crystal. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy is used to show that volumes of these phases 6 μm wide and up to 650 nm deep can be generated using a symmetrical spherical tip of ∼21.5 μm diameter. This result indicates that the use of large symmetrical spherical tips result in highly hydrostatic conditions that can favor the single phase transformation mode without extensive damage to the surrounding crystalline regions that are observed in previous studies.
Cr-based bulk metallic glasses with ultrahigh hardness
Authors: Si J. J. , Wang T. , Wu Y. D. , Cai Y. H. , Chen X. H. , Wang W. Y. , Liu Z. K. , Hui X. D.
Published: June 2015

This letter reports quaternary Cr-Co-Nb-B bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with ultrahigh hardness and Young's moduli. Especially, Cr55Co24Nb7B14 BMG exhibits ultrahigh Vickers hardness and Young's modulus of 1605 and 278 GPa, respectively, and the highest specific Young's modulus of 37.0 × 106 N m/kg among all the developed BMGs so far. It is considered that the high hardness and Young's moduli for this kind of BMGs are intrinsically attributed to the strong interactions between metallic constituent elements and B.
Generation of terahertz radiation in ordered arrays of GaAs nanowires
Authors: Trukhin V. N. , Bouravleuv A. D. , Mustafin I. A. , Kakko J. P. , Huhtio T. , Cirlin G. E. , Lipsanen H.
Published: June 2015

THz generation under excitation by ultrashort optical pulses in ordered arrays of GaAs nanowires is reported. It was found that the efficiency of THz radiation generation increases due to the resonant leaky mode excitation in nanowires. The maximum value of the THz field is achieved when the distance between the nanowires is of the order of the wavelength of exciting light.
Partial coalescence of soap bubbles
Authors: Pucci G. , Harris D. M. , Bush J. W. M.
Published: June 2015

We present the results of an experimental investigation of the merger of a soap bubble with a planar soap film. When gently deposited onto a horizontal film, a bubble may interact with the underlying film in such a way as to decrease in size, leaving behind a smaller daughter bubble with approximately half the radius of its progenitor. The process repeats up to three times, with each partial coalescence event occurring over a time scale comparable to the inertial-capillary time. Our results are compared to the recent numerical simulations of Martin and Blanchette [“Simulations of surfactant effects on the dynamics of coalescing drops and bubbles,” Phys. Fluids 27, 012103 (2015)] and to the coalescence cascade of droplets on a fluid bath.
Optimization of culture conditions for Chlorella sorokiniana using swine manure wastewater
Authors: Zhang Bo , Chen Sanfeng
Published: June 2015

Algae, an ideal feedstock for biodiesel, can assimilate organic and inorganic pollutants of animal wastewater and convert them into cellular constituents such as lipids and carbohydrates. In the study, the impacts of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) of swine manure wastewater and inoculation concentration of algae seeds on biomass production of algae Chlorella sorokiniana were studied. Our results demonstrated that concentration of TN in wastewater would scarcely affect the algae growth, and inhibition of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) on the growth of C. sorokiniana was not so obvious, although NH3-N occupied the overwhelming proportion of nitrogen source. Three factors (COD, TP, and inoculation size) which had significant impact on biomass production of C. sorokiniana using swine manure wastewater were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimal biomass production (128 mg l−1 d−1) was obtained when C. sorokiniana was cultivated in swine manure wastewater containing 345 mg l−1 COD and 45 mg l−1 TP, with the initial inoculation concentration of 136 mg l−1 algae seeds (dry weight). Then the strain was cultivated in 30 l photobioreactor with the optimized condition, a biomass yield (160 mg l−1 d−1) was achieved, accompanied with removal rates of TN (72%), TP (86%), and COD (38%). The study could provide guidance for large-scale cultivation of algae in wastewater.
Treating Bos indicus bulls with rumen transfaunation after 24 hours of transportation does not replete muscle glycogen
Authors: Leo-Penu C. L. O. , Fitzpatrick L. A. , Zerby H. N. , Parker A. J.
Published: June 2015

Twelve Bos indicus bulls were allocated to one of two treatment groups: rumen transfaunation (n = 6) given 10 kg of rumen fluid after transport or Control (n = 6), given 10 kg of deionised water after transport. Glycogen concentrations of the M. semimembranosus, M. semitendinosis and M. longisimus dorsi were measured before transport on Day –7 and after transport on Day 0, Day 1, Day 4 and Day 9. Feed intake, liveweight gain, plasma metabolites and electrolytes were recorded on the sampling days. Rumen transfaunation increased the dry matter intake of treated bulls compared with the bulls treated with deionised water. Rumen transfaunation had no effect on glycogen concentrations of the M. semimembranosus, M. semitendinosis and M. longisimus dorsi compared with the bulls treated with deionised water. The M. semimembranosus and the M. semitendinosis decreased in glycogen concentration immediately after transport on Day 0 but repleted to pre-transportation concentrations within 1 day. However, the M. longisimus dorsi demonstrated no change in glycogen concentration between the pre-transportation sample on Day –7 and Day 0 or Day 1 after transportation. The M. longisimus dorsi of the bulls increased in glycogen concentration between Day 1 and Day 4 after transportation. The bulls in this experiment demonstrated that muscle glycogen, as measured at the M. longissimus dorsi, cannot recover to sufficient concentrations (40–45 µmol of glycogen concentration per gram muscle) to ensure normal meat quality until between 1 and 4 days of rest when feeding Rhodes grass hay ad libitum.
Post-wildfire soil and plant foliar nutrient ratios and soil fungi : bacterial ratios in alpine meadows on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Zhang Lin , Liu Lijuan , Pan Kaiwen , Li Wei , Wang Yanjie , Deng Mingrui , Xia Jiguo , Yang Xu
Published: June 2015

Wildfire is increasingly considered as a common ecological phenomenon in grassland. However, little is known about its effects on soil and plant nutrient ratios, especially in alpine ecosystems where wildfires are common. In the present study, nutrient ratios of the post-wildfire surface soil (0–5 cm) and nine dominant plant species leaves, in addition to soil fungi : bacterial ratios (F : B ratios), were investigated in the alpine meadows on the south-eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, approximately 20 months after a high-severity wildfire. The results indicated that the burned sites had lower soil nitrogen : phosphorus (N : P) and nitrogen : potassium (N : K) ratios compared with unburned sites. Moreover, foliar N concentrations were lower on burned than unburned sites, but foliar N : P ratios were not different. Compared with the unburned sites, greater foliar K concentrations and lower N : K ratios were observed in burned sites. The idiosyncratic responses of foliar nutrient ratios to wildfire varied greatly, especially N and related nutrient ratios with plant species. Soil F : B ratios were positively correlated with soil C : N and C : P ratios, whereas they were negatively correlated with soil N : P and N : K ratios. The results of the present study suggest that there is reduced supply capacity of soil N for plants relative to soil P and K in the post-fire alpine meadow, which could have potential ecological implications in this region.
Vimentin filament precursors exchange subunits in an ATP-dependent manner
Authors: Robert Amélie , Rossow Molly J. , Hookway Caroline , Adam Stephen A. , Gelfand Vladimir I.
Published: June 2015

Significance

Although vimentin intermediate filaments (VIFs) are the most stable cytoskeletal component in motile cells, VIFs undergo dramatic reorganization during cell spreading, cell division, and motility. Here, we studied the first step of IF assembly using the vimentin
Y117L
mutant, which forms oligomers called unit-length filaments (ULFs) but cannot assemble into mature VIFs. We discovered that ULFs, unlike VIFs, are extremely dynamic and rapidly exchange subunits with the soluble vimentin pool. Surprisingly, this process requires ATP but seems independent of the vimentin phosphorylation events previously shown to trigger filament disassembly. We believe that dynamic exchange of subunits could play a role in the regulation of ULF assembly and maintenance of a soluble vimentin pool during the reorganization of the filament network.
Phosphorylation is an on/off switch for 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde
O
-methyltransferase activity in poplar monolignol biosynthesis
Authors: Wang Jack P. , Chuang Ling , Loziuk Philip L. , Chen Hao , Lin Ying-Chung , Shi Rui , Qu Guan-Zheng , Muddiman David C. , Sederoff Ronald R. , Chiang Vincent L.
Published: June 2015

Significance

To meet environmental and developmental needs, the monolignol biosynthetic pathway for lignification in plant cell walls is regulated by complex mechanisms involving transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and metabolic controls. However, posttranslational modification by protein phosphorylation had not been demonstrated in the regulation of monolignol biosynthesis. Here, we show that reversible monophosphorylation at Ser
123
or Ser
125
acts as an on/off switch for the activity of 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde
O
-methyltransferase 2 (PtrAldOMT2). Phosphorylation induces a loss of function of PtrAldOMT2, which directly affects metabolic flux for syringyl monolignol biosynthesis. The Ser
123
/Ser
125
phosphorylation sites are conserved across 98% of AldOMTs from 46 diverse plant species. Protein phosphorylation provides a rapid and energetically efficient mode of regulating PtrAldOMT2 activity for syringyl monolignol biosynthesis and represents an additional level of control for this important pathway.
Activity-dependent synaptic GRIP1 accumulation drives synaptic scaling up in response to action potential blockade
Authors: Gainey Melanie A. , Tatavarty Vedakumar , Nahmani Marc , Lin Heather , Turrigiano Gina G.
Published: June 2015

Significance

Brain circuits need plasticity mechanisms that stabilize activity to function properly. Although such homeostatic plasticity mechanisms have been widely described in a number of brain circuits, little is known about the molecular pathways that mediate them. Here, we show that an important form of homeostatic synaptic plasticity at excitatory synapses, synaptic scaling, relies on the activity-dependent accumulation of the glutamate receptor-binding protein glutamate receptor-interacting protein-1 (GRIP1) at synaptic sites. Our data show that GRIP1 is recruited to synapses under conditions of hypoactivity and, through a direct interaction with AMPA-type glutamate receptors, in turn, recruits more AMPA receptors to the synapse. These findings generate molecular insight into the mechanisms that adjust excitatory synaptic strength in response to perturbations in firing.
Usefulness and Validity of the Modified Addiction Severity Index: A Focus on Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco, and Gambling
Authors: Denis Cécile , Fatséas Mélina , Beltran Virginie , Serre Fuschia , Alexandre Jean-Marc , Debrabant Romain , Daulouède Jean-Pierre , Auriacombe Marc
Published: June 2015

Background

Individuals who seek treatment for an addictive disorder often exhibit comorbid substance use disorders and/or gambling disorder. The lack of a unique severity assessment instrument might be an obstacle for individuals to access integrated and comprehensive treatment. This paper aimed to examine the usefulness and validity of a modified version of the Addiction Severity Index (mASI) to assess all substance use disorders (including tobacco) and gambling.

Methods

Participants ( N = 833) were interviewed with the mASI and completed a validity battery questionnaire. The validity and the reliability of the mASI were examined.

Results

The mASI was reliable, and its 9 assessed domains showed a relative independence, supporting its multidimensionality.

Conclusions

The standardized properties of the mASI permit a comprehensive and systematic assessment of all addictive disorders independent of individuals’ perceived problems and treatment settings, hence facilitating personalized treatment planning.
Nuclear-localized CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase α regulates phosphatidylcholine synthesis required for lipid droplet biogenesis
Authors: Aitchison Adam J. , Arsenault Daniel J. , Ridgway Neale D.
Published: June 2015

The reversible association of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase α (CCTα) with membranes regulates the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) by the CDP-choline (Kennedy) pathway. Based on results with insect CCT homologues, translocation of nuclear CCTα onto cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs) is proposed to stimulate the synthesis of PC that is required for LD biogenesis and triacylglycerol (TAG) storage. We examined whether this regulatory mechanism applied to LD biogenesis in mammalian cells. During 3T3-L1 and human preadipocyte differentiation, CCTα expression and PC synthesis was induced. In 3T3-L1 cells, CCTα translocated from the nucleoplasm to the nuclear envelope and cytosol but did not associate with LDs. The enzyme also remained in the nucleus during human adipocyte differentiation. RNAi silencing in 3T3-L1 cells showed that CCTα regulated LD size but did not affect TAG storage or adipogenesis. LD biogenesis in nonadipocyte cell lines treated with oleate also promoted CCTα translocation to the nuclear envelope and/or cytoplasm but not LDs. In rat intestinal epithelial cells, CCTα silencing increased LD size, but LD number and TAG deposition were decreased due to oleate-induced cytotoxicity. We conclude that CCTα increases PC synthesis for LD biogenesis by translocation to the nuclear envelope and not cytoplasmic LDs.
Mam33 promotes cytochromecoxidase subunit I translation inSaccharomyces cerevisiaemitochondria
Authors: Roloff Gabrielle A. , Henry Michael F.
Published: June 2015

Three mitochondrial DNA–encoded proteins, Cox1, Cox2, and Cox3, comprise the core of the cytochrome c oxidase complex. Gene-specific translational activators ensure that these respiratory chain subunits are synthesized at the correct location and in stoichiometric ratios to prevent unassembled protein products from generating free oxygen radicals. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nuclear-encoded proteins Mss51 and Pet309 specifically activate mitochondrial translation of the largest subunit, Cox1. Here we report that Mam33 is a third COX1 translational activator in yeast mitochondria. Mam33 is required for cells to adapt efficiently from fermentation to respiration. In the absence of Mam33, Cox1 translation is impaired, and cells poorly adapt to respiratory conditions because they lack basal fermentative levels of Cox1.