bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic fields in Proto Planetary Nebulae
Authors: Sabin L. , Zhang Q. , Zijlstra A. A. , Patel N. A. , Vázquez R. , Zauderer B. A. , Contreras M. E. , Guillén P. F.
Published: August 2014

The role of magnetic field in late type stars such as proto-planetary and planetary nebulae (PPNe/PNe), is poorly known from an observational point of view. We present submillimetric observations realized with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) which unveil the dust continuum polarization in the envelopes of two well known PPNe: CRL 618 and OH 231.8+4.2. Assuming the current grain alignment theory, we were then able to trace the geometry of the magnetic field.
Measurements of the magnetic field in WD 1658+441
Authors: Vélez J. Ramírez , Hiriart D. , Valyavin G. , Valdez J. , Quiroz F. , Martínez B. , Plachinda S. , Iñiguez-Garín E.
Published: August 2014

We present the preliminary results of the measurements of longitudinal magnetic field of the massive white dwarf 1658+441. This star have an hydrogen pure atmosphere (e.g. Dupuis & Chayer, 2003). We have observed the target in a total of 18 hrs during 3 consecutive nights in June 2010 and one more in May 2011. The data was acquired with a prototypical spectropolarimeter at the San Pedro Martir Telescope in Mexico. We have tested the magnetic field measurements with our instrument using the famous Babcock's star obtaining consistent results with previous studies. For our object of study, the WD 1658+441, we have measured variable intensities of the longitudinal magnetic field of Blong = 720 kG that oscillates with an amplitude of 130 kG.
Search for Stable Magnetohydrodynamic Equilibria in Barotropic Stars.
Authors: Mitchell J. P. , Braithwaite J. , Langer N. , Reisenegger A. , Spruit H.
Published: August 2014

It is now believed that magnetohydrodynamic equilibria can exist in stably stratified stars due to the seminal works of Braithwaite & Spruit (2004) and Braithwaite & Nordlund (2006). What is still not known is whether magnetohydrodynamic equilibria can exist in a barotropic star, in which stable stratification is not present. It has been conjectured by Reisenegger (2009) that there will likely not exist any magnetohydrodynamical equilibria in barotropic stars. We aim to test this claim by presenting preliminary MHD simulations of barotropic stars using the three dimensional stagger code of Nordlund & Galsgaard (1995).
Parkin loss of function contributes to RTP801 elevation and neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Romaní-Aumedes J , Canal M , Martín-Flores N , Sun X , Pérez-Fernández V , Wewering S , Fernández-Santiago R , Ezquerra M , Pont-Sunyer C , Lafuente A , Alberch J , Luebbert H , Tolosa E , Levy O A , Greene L A , Malagelada C
Published: August 2014

Mutations in the PARK2 gene are associated with an autosomal recessive form of juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP). These mutations affect parkin solubility and impair its E3 ligase activity, leading to a toxic accumulation of proteins within susceptible neurons that results in a slow but progressive neuronal degeneration and cell death. Here, we report that RTP801/REDD1, a pro-apoptotic negative regulator of survival kinases mTOR and Akt, is one of such parkin substrates. We observed that parkin knockdown elevated RTP801 in sympathetic neurons and neuronal PC12 cells, whereas ectopic parkin enhanced RTP801 poly-ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. In parkin knockout mouse brains and in human fibroblasts from AR-JP patients with parkin mutations, RTP801 levels were elevated. Moreover, in human postmortem PD brains with mutated parkin, nigral neurons were highly positive for RTP801. Further consistent with the idea that RTP801 is a substrate for parkin, the two endogenous proteins interacted in reciprocal co-immunoprecipitates of cell lysates. A potential physiological role for parkin-mediated RTP801 degradation is indicated by observations that parkin protects neuronal cells from death caused by RTP801 overexpression by mediating its degradation, whereas parkin knockdown exacerbates such death. Similarly, parkin knockdown enhanced RTP801 induction in neuronal cells exposed to the Parkinson’s disease mimetic 6-hydroxydopamine and increased sensitivity to this toxin. This response to parkin loss of function appeared to be mediated by RTP801 as it was abolished by RTP801 knockdown. Taken together these results indicate that RTP801 is a novel parkin substrate that may contribute to neurodegeneration caused by loss of parkin expression or activity.
Evolutionary game theory: cells as players
Authors: Hummert Sabine , Bohl Katrin , Basanta David , Deutsch Andreas , Werner Sarah , Theißen Günter , Schroeter Anja , Schuster Stefan
Published: August 2014

The interaction of living cells can often be described by game theory, for example, in the case of secretion of extracellular enzymes. In this review we discuss numerous examples of applying game theory to cellular processes.
Conserved electrostatic fields at the Ras–effector interface measured through vibrational Stark effect spectroscopy explain the difference in tilt angle in the Ras binding domains of Raf and RalGDS
Authors: Walker David M. , Wang Ruifei , Webb Lauren J.
Published: August 2014

Vibrational Stark effect (VSE) spectroscopy was used to measure the electrostatic fields present at the interface of the human guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Ras docked with the Ras binding domain (RBD) of the protein kinase Raf.
Zinc blende versus wurtzite ZnS nanoparticles: control of the phase and optical properties by tetrabutylammonium hydroxide
Authors: La Porta F. A. , Andrés J. , Li M. S. , Sambrano J. R. , Varela J. A. , Longo E.
Published: August 2014

We demonstrated phase control, mediated by the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, in the growth of ZnS crystals by using a cost effective MAS method; a very moderate temperature (140 °C) and a very fast reaction time are sufficient to produce nanostructures with a good degree of crystallinity.
Evaluation of composite schemes for CCSDT(Q) calculations of interaction energies of noncovalent complexes
Authors: Demovičová Lucia , Hobza Pavel , Řezáč Jan
Published: August 2014

Evaluation of composite schemes for CCSDT(Q) calculations of interaction energies of noncovalent complexes.
Mechanistic and dynamic insights into ligand encapsulation by helical arylamide foldamers
Authors: Abramyan Ara M. , Liu Zhiwei , Pophristic Vojislava
Published: August 2014

A hydrazine molecule encapsulated in an arylamide helical foldamer escaping from the “top” (top) and “side” (bottom) of the capsule in the aqueous and methanol solution, respectively.
Environmental impacts of large-scale CSP plants in northwestern China
Authors: Wu Zhiyong , Hou Anping , Chang Chun , Huang Xiang , Shi Duoqi , Wang Zhifeng
Published: August 2014

Several concentrated solar power demonstration plants are being constructed, and a few commercial plants have been announced in northwestern China.
8-Azapurines as isosteric purine fluorescent probes for nucleic acid and enzymatic research
Authors: Wierzchowski Jacek , Antosiewicz Jan M. , Shugar David
Published: August 2014

We review fluorescence emission properties of 8-azapurines and related compounds, and their potential as fluorescence probes in various biochemical systems.
Sub-nanometer expansions of redox responsive polymer films monitored by imaging ellipsometry
Authors: Cumurcu Aysegul , Feng Xueling , Ramos Lionel Dos , Hempenius Mark A. , Schön Peter , Vancso G. Julius
Published: August 2014

We describe a novel approach to quantitatively visualize sub nm height changes occurring in thin films of redox active polymers upon reversible electrochemical oxidation/reduction in situ and in real-time with electrochemical imaging ellipsometry (EC-IE).
Development of highly transparent seedless ZnO nanorods engineered for inverted polymer solar cells
Authors: Ambade Swapnil B. , Ambade Rohan B. , Lee Wonjoo , Mane Rajaram S. , Yoon Sung Cheol , Lee Soo-Hyoung
Published: August 2014

The solution processed inverted BHJ polymer solar cells based on seedless, transparent and planar ZnO nanorods as a cathode buffer exhibit PCE upto 3.24%.
A roll-to-roll welding process for planarized silver nanowire electrodes
Authors: Lee Seong Jun , Kim Young-Hoon , Kim Jung Kyu , Baik Hionsuck , Park Jae Hoon , Lee Jaeki , Nam Jaewook , Park Jong Hyeok , Lee Tae-Woo , Yi Gi-Ra , Cho Jeong Ho
Published: August 2014

We demonstrate continuous roll-to-roll production of highly conductive silver network films on a plastic substrate via mechanical and chemical welding processes.
Substituted naphtholates of rare earth metals as emissive materials
Authors: Balashova T. V. , Belova N. A. , Burin M. E. , Kuzyaev D. M. , Rumyantcev R. V. , Fukin G. K. , Pushkarev A. P. , Ilichev V. A. , Shestakov A. F. , Grishin I. D. , Bochkarev M. N.
Published: August 2014

The synthesis, characterization, photoluminescent (PL) and electroluminescent (EL) behavior of trivalent Sc, Nd, Gd, Er, Tm and Yb complexes with 3-(5-methylbenzoxazol-2-yl)naphthol (L-5Me) and 3-(6-methylbenzoxazol-2-yl)naphthol (L-6Me) ligands are reported.
Chemosensitization of IκBα-overexpressing glioblastoma towards anti-cancer agents
Authors: Banerjee Subhamoy , Sahoo Amaresh Kumar , Chattopadhyay Arun , Ghosh Siddhartha Sankar
Published: August 2014

Mode of action of 5-FU and curcumin nanoconjugates in U87-IκBα cells.
Facile one-pot fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs)-supported organocatalysts using phosphonate as an anchor point through direct co-precipitation method
Authors: Wan Jingwei , ding Lu , Wu Tao , Ma Xuebing , Tang Qian
Published: August 2014

Novel MNP-supported organocatalysts were prepared by one-pot co-precipitation and surface modification using phosphonate as an anchor point, and exhibited excellent performance in aqueous asymmetric aldol reactions.
Antioxidant activity of selected natural polyphenolic compounds from soybean via peroxyl radical scavenging
Authors: Caicedo Carolina , Iuga Cristina , Castañeda-Arriaga Romina , Alvarez-Idaboy J. Raúl
Published: August 2014

Excellent antioxidantsviaSPLET in aqueous solution, moderate antioxidantsviaHAT in lipid medium.
Morphological evolution of anodic TiO2 nanotubes
Authors: Yang Yiyi , Li Yuning , Pritzker Mark
Published: August 2014

A new mechanism for formation of TiO2 nanotubes involving the growth of some nanopores and degeneration of others is proposed.
Nanostructured superhydrophobic silk fabric fabricated using the ion beam method
Authors: Oh Ji-Hyun , Ko Tae-Jun , Moon Myoung-Woon , Park Chung Hee
Published: August 2014

The superhydrophobic silk fabric, having hierarchical nanostructures and hydrophobic film on the surface, repelled all kinds of liquid droplets: grape juice (purple), water droplet (dyed violet), coffee (brown) and milk (white), while the pristine silk fabric absorbed all.
BF3·Et2O-mediated intramolecular cyclization of unsaturated amides: convenient synthesis of dihydroquinolin-2-one-BF2 complexes
Authors: Liu Xu , Zhang Qian , Xin Xiaoqing , Zhang Rui , Zhang Ning , Liang Yongjiu , Dong Dewen
Published: August 2014

A facile and efficient synthesis of substituted dihydropyridone–BF2 complexes is developed via intramolecular cyclization of α-acyl acrylamides and α-acyl cinnamamides mediated by BF3·Et2O, respectively.
Fabrication of Ti3+ self-doped TiO2(A) nanoparticle/TiO2(R) nanorod heterojunctions with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties
Authors: Fu Rongrong , Gao Shanmin , Xu Hui , Wang Qingyao , Wang Zeyan , Huang Baibiao , Dai Ying
Published: August 2014

Ti3+ self-doped TiO2(A)/TiO2(R) heterojunctions were synthesized and the samples exhibit high visible light photocatalytic activity.
Microfluidic preparation of chitosan–poly(acrylic acid) composite microspheres with a porous surface structure
Authors: Xu Xiao-Min , Xu Jian-Hong , Wu Hai-Chao , Luo Guang-Sheng
Published: August 2014

We prepared chitosan–poly(acrylic acid) composite microspheres with a porous surface structure. Glucose isomerase immobilized on the microspheres showed great thermal and pH stability.
Preparation and topological properties of two structures with p-sulfobenzoic ligands and Zn2+ and Mn2+ ions
Authors: Franco Chris H. J. , Aglio Renata C. , Corrêa Charlane C. , Diniz Renata
Published: August 2014

There has been recent interest in coordinated polymers due to their structural and topological properties; therefore, the search for efficient synthesis processes to construct these materials by exploiting different organic ligands has intensified.
Organocatalytic asymmetric [4 + 2] formal cycloadditions of cyclohexenylidenemalononitriles and enals to construct chiral bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes
Authors: Li Qing-Zhu , Gu Jing , Chen Ying-Chun
Published: August 2014

A regio- and stereoselective [4 + 2] formal cycloaddition process of cyclohexenylidenemalononitriles and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was developed via cascade iminium–enamine catalysis, generating chiral bridged bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes with high molecular complexity.
Synthesis and characterisation of aqueous miscible organic-layered double hydroxides
Authors: Chen Chunping , Yang Miaosen , Wang Qiang , Buffet Jean-Charles , O'Hare Dermot
Published: August 2014

We report the synthesis and characterisation of a new family of high surface area and dispersible layered double hydroxides entitled Aqueous Miscible Organic Layered Double Hydroxide (AMO-LDH).
Core–shell Co@C catalyzed MgH2: enhanced dehydrogenation properties and its catalytic mechanism
Authors: Wang Ying , An Cuihua , Wang Yijing , Huang Yanan , Chen Chengcheng , Jiao Lifang , Yuan Huatang
Published: August 2014

Core–shell Co@C shows excellent catalytic effects on MgH2. JMA modeling reveals that desorption of MgH2 gradually occurs through lower-dimensional growth with increasing amounts of Co@C.
A straightforward, eco-friendly and cost-effective approach towards flame retardant epoxy resins
Authors: Carja Ionela-Daniela , Serbezeanu Diana , Vlad-Bubulac Tachita , Hamciuc Corneliu , Coroaba Adina , Lisa Gabriela , López Celia Guillem , Soriano Mónica Fuensanta , Pérez Vicente Forrat , Romero Sánchez Maria Dolores
Published: August 2014

Commercial epoxy resin loaded with phosphorus flame retardant led to composites exhibiting remarkable improved flame retardancy and thermal stability.
pH-sensitive perylene bisimide probes for live cell fluorescence lifetime imaging
Authors: Aigner D. , Dmitriev R. I. , Borisov S. M. , Papkovsky D. B. , Klimant I.
Published: August 2014

Several new perylene bisimide (PBI) probes comprising oligo-guanidine conjugates and cationic hydrogel nanoparticle structures were designed for sensing intracellular pH in live cell fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM).
Design of indigo derivatives as environment-friendly organic semiconductors for sustainable organic electronics
Authors: Klimovich I. V. , Leshanskaya L. I. , Troyanov S. I. , Anokhin D. V. , Novikov D. V. , Piryazev A. A. , Ivanov D. A. , Dremova N. N. , Troshin P. A.
Published: August 2014

Chemical functionalization can be used to tune optoelectronic properties of indigoids, their stability and semiconductor performance in OFETs.
Patient Outcomes, NOMS, and Goal Writing for Pediatrics and Adults
Authors: Swigert Nancy
Published: August 2014

Changes in the healthcare reimbursement models have made it clear that healthcare providers, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs), should focus on the outcome of therapy. Payment methodologies are changing so that payment will likely be made based on the outcome achieved, not on the number of services provided nor the percent of improvement on an impairment-focused goal. Patients and their caregivers must be involved in determining the desired outcome and in selecting goals to help the patient reach that outcome. The goals must be written in measurable terms. Outcomes selected must be meaningful to the patient and must be functional; focusing on things that will have an impact on their daily lives. Patient-reported outcomes are viewed favorably by payers. Utilizing tools such as the ASHA National Outcomes Measurement System (NOMS) can help the clinician maintain a focus on function. Patient outcomes can also be reported in the aggregate at the facility level and can contribute to answers at the healthcare system level. Outcomes at all three levels—patient, facility, and healthcare system—are an important responsibility of each SLP.
Floating small target detection in sea clutter via normalised Hurst exponent
Authors: Li Dongchen , Shui Penglang
Published: August 2014

An improved fractal‐based detector using the normalised Hurst exponent is proposed to detect floating small targets in sea clutter. Analysis of the IPIX radar datasets shows that the Hurst exponent of sea clutter varies with sea state and the viewing geometry of the radar. Referring to the exploitation of the reference range cells in adaptive detection, the mean and variance of the Hurst exponent of sea clutter are first computed from clutter‐only time series at the reference range cells around the cell under test (CUT). Then the Hurst exponent at the CUT is normalised by the estimated mean and variance to attain the normalised Hurst exponent. The experimental results of the IPIX radar datasets show that the fractal‐based detector using the normalised Hurst exponent achieves better detection performance.
Effects of hierarchical features on longevity of submerged superhydrophobic surfaces with parallel grooves
Authors: Hemeda A. A. , Gad-el-Hak M. , Tafreshi H. Vahedi
Published: August 2014

While the air–water interface over superhydrophobic surfaces decorated with hierarchical micro- or nanosized geometrical features have shown improved stability under elevated pressures, their underwater longevity—-the time that it takes for the surface to transition to the Wenzel state—-has not been studied. The current work is devised to study the effects of such hierarchical features on the longevity of superhydrophobic surfaces. For the sake of simplicity, our study is limited to superhydrophobic surfaces composed of parallel grooves with side fins. The effects of fins on the critical pressure—-the pressure at which the surface starts transitioning to the Wenzel state—-and longevity are predicted using a mathematical approach based on the balance of forces across the air–water interface. Our results quantitatively demonstrate that the addition of hierarchical fins significantly improves the mechanical stability of the air–water interface, due to the high advancing contact angles that can be achieved when an interface comes in contact with the fins sharp corners. For longevity on the contrary, the hierarchical fins were only effective at hydrostatic pressures below the critical pressure of the original smooth-walled groove. Our results indicate that increasing the length of the fins decreases the critical pressure of a submerged superhydrophobic groove but increases its longevity. Increasing the thickness of the fins can improve both the critical pressure and longevity of a submerged groove. The mathematical framework presented in this paper can be used to custom-design superhydrophobic surfaces for different applications.
Long-lived coherences: Improved dispersion in the frequency domain using continuous-wave and reduced-power windowed sustaining irradiation
Authors: Sadet A. , Fernandes L. , Kateb F. , Balzan R. , Vasos P. R.
Published: August 2014

Long-lived coherences (LLC’s) are detectable magnetisation modes with favourable relaxation times that translate as sharp resonances upon Fourier transform. The frequency domain of LLC's was previously limited to the range of J-couplings within pairs of homonuclear spins. LLC evolution at high magnetic fields needs to be sustained by radio-frequency irradiation. We show that LLC-based spectral dispersion can be extended beyond the J-couplings domain using adapted carrier offsets and introduce a new reduced-power sustaining method to preserve LLC's within the required range of offsets. Spectral resolution is enhanced as the natively narrow lines of LLC's are further dispersed, making them potential probes for the study of biomolecules featuring strong resonance overlap and for media where NMR spectroscopy is commonly hindered by line broadening.
Communication: A reduced scaling J-engine based reformulation of SOS-MP2 using graphics processing units
Authors: Maurer S. A. , Kussmann J. , Ochsenfeld C.
Published: August 2014

We present a low-prefactor, cubically scaling scaled-opposite-spin second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (SOS-MP2) method which is highly suitable for massively parallel architectures like graphics processing units (GPU). The scaling is reduced from \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\cal O\mbox{(N^{5})}}$\end{document}O(N5) to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}${\cal O\mbox{(N^{3})}}$\end{document}O(N3) by a reformulation of the MP2-expression in the atomic orbital basis via Laplace transformation and the resolution-of-the-identity (RI) approximation of the integrals in combination with efficient sparse algebra for the 3-center integral transformation. In contrast to previous works that employ GPUs for post Hartree-Fock calculations, we do not simply employ GPU-based linear algebra libraries to accelerate the conventional algorithm. Instead, our reformulation allows to replace the rate-determining contraction step with a modified J-engine algorithm, that has been proven to be highly efficient on GPUs. Thus, our SOS-MP2 scheme enables us to treat large molecular systems in an accurate and efficient manner on a single GPU-server.
Denoising method of heart sound signals based on self-construct heart sound wavelet
Authors: Cheng Xiefeng , Zhang Zheng
Published: August 2014

In the field of heart sound signal denoising, the wavelet transform has become one of the most effective measures. The selective wavelet basis is based on the well-known orthogonal db series or biorthogonal bior series wavelet. In this paper we present a self-construct wavelet basis which is suitable for the heart sound denoising and analyze its constructor method and features in detail according to the characteristics of heart sound and evaluation criterion of signal denoising. The experimental results show that the heart sound wavelet can effectively filter out the noise of the heart sound signals, reserve the main characteristics of the signal. Compared with the traditional wavelets, it has a higher signal-to-noise ratio, lower mean square error and better denoising effect.
Ultrahigh energy density Li-ion batteries based on cathodes of 1D metals with –Li–N–B–N– repeating units in α-LixBN2 (1 ⩽ x ⩽ 3)
Authors: Németh Károly
Published: August 2014

Ultrahigh energy density batteries based on α-LixBN2 (1 ⩽ x ⩽ 3) positive electrode materials are predicted using density functional theory calculations. The utilization of the reversible LiBN2 + 2 Li+ + 2 e− \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\rightleftharpoons$\end{document}⇌ Li3BN2 electrochemical cell reaction leads to a voltage of 3.62 V (vs Li/Li+), theoretical energy densities of 3251 Wh/kg and 5927 Wh/l, with capacities of 899 mAh/g and 1638 mAh/cm3, while the cell volume of α-Li3BN2 shrinks only 2.8% per two-electron transfer on charge. These values are far superior to the best existing or theoretically designed intercalation or conversion-based positive electrode materials. For comparison, the theoretical energy density of a Li–O2/peroxide battery is 3450 Wh/kg (including the weight of O2), that of a Li–S battery is 2600 Wh/kg, that of Li3Cr(BO3)(PO4) (one of the best designer intercalation materials) is 1700 Wh/kg, while already commercialized LiCoO2 allows for 568 Wh/kg. α-Li3BN2 is also known as a good Li-ion conductor with experimentally observed 3 mS/cm ionic conductivity and 78 kJ/mol (≈0.8 eV) activation energy of conduction. The attractive features of α-LixBN2 (1 ⩽ x ⩽ 3) are based on a crystal lattice of 1D conjugated polymers with –Li–N–B–N– repeating units. When some of the Li is deintercalated from α-Li3BN2 the crystal becomes a metallic electron conductor, based on the underlying 1D conjugated π electron system. Thus, α-LixBN2 (1 ⩽ x ⩽ 3) represents a new type of 1D conjugated polymers with significant potential for energy storage and other applications.
Achieving selective interrogation and sub-wavelength resolution in thin plates with embedded metamaterial acoustic lenses
Authors: Semperlotti F. , Zhu H.
Published: August 2014

In this study, we present an approach to ultrasonic beam-forming and high resolution identification of acoustic sources having critical implications for applications such as structural health monitoring. The proposed concept is based on the design of dynamically tailored structural elements via embedded acoustic metamaterial lenses. This approach provides a completely new alternative to conventional phased-array technology enabling the formation of steerable and collimated (or focused) ultrasonic beams by exploiting a single transducer. Numerical results show that the ultrasonic beam can be steered by simply tuning the frequency of the excitation. Also, the embedded lens can be designed to achieve sub-wavelength resolution to clustered acoustic sources, which is a typical scenario encountered in incipient structural damage.
Near-field resonance shifts of ferroelectric barium titanate domains upon low-temperature phase transition
Authors: Döring Jonathan , von Ribbeck Hans-Georg , Fehrenbacher Markus , Kehr Susanne C. , Eng Lukas M.
Published: August 2014

Scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) has been established as an excellent tool to probe domains in ferroelectric crystals at room temperature. Here, we apply the s-SNOM possibilities to quantify low-temperature phase transitions in barium titanate single crystals by both temperature-dependent resonance spectroscopy and domain distribution imaging. The orthorhombic-to-tetragonal structural phase transition at 263 K manifests in a change of the spatial arrangement of ferroelectric domains as probed with a tunable free-electron laser. More intriguingly, the domain distribution unravels non-favored domain configurations upon sample recovery to room temperature as explainable by increased sample disorder. Ferroelectric domains and topographic influences are clearly deconvolved even at low temperatures, since complementing our s-SNOM nano-spectroscopy with piezoresponse force microscopy and topographic imaging using one and the same atomic force microscope and tip.
Micro to mesoscale temperature gradients in microwave heated energetic materials
Authors: Perry William Lee , Higginbotham Duque Amanda L.
Published: August 2014

Temperature gradients will appear in any microwave-heated heterogeneous system where there is contrast in the complex permittivity of the constituent materials. The magnitude of the gradients depends on several factors that include the permittivity, thermal conductivity, length scale, and thermal diffusivity. In general, it is challenging to measure the absolute temperature accurately in a strong microwave field; the presence of large gradients can further complicate the interpretation of temperature measurements. These issues are especially important during the microwave heating of highly exothermic chemical reaction systems, such as those containing explosives or propellants. It was therefore the intent of this work to theoretically and numerically investigate the nature of microwave-induced thermal gradients in energetic systems over a wide range of length scales, primarily for the purpose of interpreting temperature measurement.
Surface plasmon enhanced photoluminescence from copper nanoparticles: Influence of temperature
Authors: Yeshchenko Oleg A. , Bondarchuk Illya S. , Losytskyy Mykhaylo Yu.
Published: August 2014

Anomalous temperature dependence of surface plasmon enhanced photoluminescence from copper nanoparticles embedded in a silica host matrix has been observed. The quantum yield of photoluminescence increases as the temperature increases. The key role of such an effect is the interplay between the surface plasmon resonance and the interband transitions in the copper nanoparticles occurring at change of the temperature. Namely, the increase of temperature leads to the red shift of the resonance. The shift leads to increase of the spectral overlap of the resonance with photoluminescence band of copper as well as to the decrease of plasmon damping caused by interband transitions. Such mechanisms lead to the increase of surface plasmon enhancement factor and, consequently, to increase of the quantum yield of the photoluminescence.
Microfluidic conformal coating of non-spherical magnetic particles
Authors: Moon Byeong-Ui , Hakimi Navid , Hwang Dae Kun , Tsai Scott S. H.
Published: August 2014

We present the conformal coating of non-spherical magnetic particles in a co-laminar flow microfluidic system. Whereas in the previous reports spherical particles had been coated with thin films that formed spheres around the particles; in this article, we show the coating of non-spherical particles with coating layers that are approximately uniform in thickness. The novelty of our work is that while liquid-liquid interfacial tension tends to minimize the surface area of interfaces—for example, to form spherical droplets that encapsulate spherical particles—in our experiments, the thin film that coats non-spherical particles has a non-minimal interfacial area. We first make bullet-shaped magnetic microparticles using a stop-flow lithography method that was previously demonstrated. We then suspend the bullet-shaped microparticles in an aqueous solution and flow the particle suspension with a co-flow of a non-aqueous mixture. A magnetic field gradient from a permanent magnet pulls the microparticles in the transverse direction to the fluid flow, until the particles reach the interface between the immiscible fluids. We observe that upon crossing the oil-water interface, the microparticles become coated by a thin film of the aqueous fluid. When we increase the two-fluid interfacial tension by reducing surfactant concentration, we observe that the particles become trapped at the interface, and we use this observation to extract an approximate magnetic susceptibility of the manufactured non-spherical microparticles. Finally, using fluorescence imaging, we confirm the uniformity of the thin film coating along the entire curved surface of the bullet-shaped particles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of conformal coating of non-spherical particles using microfluidics.
Multiwalled carbon nanotube/polydimethylsiloxane composite films as high performance flexible electric heating elements
Authors: Yan Jing , Jeong Young Gyu
Published: August 2014

High performance elastomeric electric heating elements were prepared by incorporating various contents of pristine multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix by using an efficient solution-casting and curing technique. The pristine MWCNTs were identified to be uniformly dispersed in the PDMS matrix and the electrical percolation of MWCNTs was evaluated to be at ∼0.27 wt. %, where the electrical resistivity of the MWCNT/PDMS composite films dropped remarkably. Accordingly, the composite films with higher MWCNT contents above 0.3 wt. % exhibit excellent electric heating performance in terms of temperature response rapidity and electric energy efficiency at constant applied voltages. In addition, the composite films, which were thermally stable up to 250 °C, showed excellent heating-cooling cyclic performance, which was associated with operational stability in actual electric heating applications.
Enhanced reflection from inverse tapered nanocone arrays
Authors: Kong Xiang-Tian , Butt Haider , Yetisen Ali K. , Kangwanwatana Chuan , Montelongo Yunuen , Deng Sunan , Cruz Vasconcellos Fernando da , Qasim Malik M. , Wilkinson Timothy D. , Dai Qing
Published: August 2014

We computationally and experimentally demonstrate enhanced reflection effects displayed by silicon-based inverted nanocone arrays. A 3D finite element model is used to characterize the optical properties of the nanocone arrays with respect to the change in polarization and incident angles. The nanocone arrays are fabricated by e-beam lithography in hexagonal and triangular geometries with a lattice constant of 300 nm. The fabricated devices show a two-fold increase in reflection compared with bare silicon surface, as well as a strong diffraction within the visible and near-infrared spectra. The nanocone arrays may find a variety of applications from optical devices to energy conservation technologies.
Enhancing the thermoelectric figure of merit through the reduction of bipolar thermal conductivity with heterostructure barriers
Authors: Bahk Je-Hyeong , Shakouri Ali
Published: August 2014

In this paper, we present theoretically that the thermoelectric figure of merit for a semiconductor material with a small band gap can be significantly enhanced near the intrinsic doping regime at high temperatures via the suppression of bipolar thermal conductivity when the minority carriers are selectively blocked by heterostructure barriers. This scheme is particularly effective in nanostructured materials where the lattice thermal conductivity is lowered by increased phonon scatterings at the boundaries, so that the electronic thermal conductivity including the bipolar term is limiting the figure of merit zT. We show that zT can be enhanced to above 3 for p-type PbTe, and above 2 for n-type PbTe at 900 K with minority carrier blocking, when the lattice thermal conductivity is as low as 0.3 W/m K.
Interrogating Networks: Towards an Agnostic Perspective on Governance Research
Authors: Davies Jonathan S , Spicer André
Published: August 2014

Networks have rapidly become the dominant trope in governance theory and practice. While scholarship highlights important benefits, there has been insufficient systematic interrogation of the potential pathologies in network governance. This paper addresses the lacuna. We begin by discussing different kinds of network analysis and distinguishing the specific claims of network governance theory. We then pull together the scattered critically oriented literatures on the topic, identifying major problems with network modes of governance: hypocrisy, distrust, marketization, subjugation, antiproceduralism, fragmentation, and ‘netsploitation’. We finally argue for a more agnostic approach to governance research, capable of taking account of these pathologies and thereby putting networks in their place. This means avoiding the fetishization of particular modes of governance and giving more careful attention to the settings in which they each can be useful.
Hospitals caring for rural Aboriginal patients: holding response and denial
Authors: Dwyer Judith , Willis Eileen , Kelly Janet
Published: August 2014

Objective To investigate how policy requiring cultural respect and attention to health equity is implemented in the care of rural and remote Aboriginal people in city hospitals. Methods Interviews with 26 staff in public hospitals in Adelaide, South Australia, were analysed (using a framework based on cultural competence) to identify their perceptions of the enabling strategies and systemic barriers against the implementation of official policy in the care of rural Aboriginal patients. Results The major underlying barriers were lack of knowledge and skills among staff generally, and the persistent use of ‘business as usual’ approaches in their hospitals, despite the clear need for proactive responses to the complex care journeys these patients undertake. Staff reported a sense that while they are required to provide responsive care, care systems often fail to authorise or guide necessary action to enable equitable care. Conclusions Staff caring for rural Aboriginal patients are required to respond to complex particular needs in the absence of effective authorisation. We suggest that systemic misinterpretation of the principle of equal treatment is an important barrier against the development of culturally competent organisations. What is known about this topic? The care received by Aboriginal patients is less effective than it is for the population generally, and access to care is poorer. Those in rural and remote settings experience both severe access barriers and predictable complexity in their patient care journeys. This situation persists despite high-level policies that require tailored responses to the particular needs of Aboriginal people. What does this paper add? Staff who care for these patients develop skills and modify care delivery to respond to their particular needs, but they do so in the absence of systematic policies, procedures and programs that would ‘build in’ or authorise the required responsiveness. What are the implications for practitioners? Systematic attention, at hospital and clinical unit level, to operationalising high policy goals is needed. The framework of cultural competence offers relevant guidance for efforts (at system, organisation and care delivery levels) to improve care, but requires organisations to address misinterpretation of the principle of equal treatment.
Critical role of
all
-
trans
retinoic acid in stabilizing human natural regulatory T cells under inflammatory conditions
Authors: Lu Ling , Lan Qin , Li Zhiyuan , Zhou Xiaohui , Gu Jian , Li Qiang , Wang Julie , Chen Maogen , Liu Ya , Shen Yi , Brand David D. , Ryffel Bernhard , Horwitz David A. , Quismorio Francisco P. , Liu Zhongmin , Li Bin , Olsen Nancy J. , Zheng Song Guo
Published: August 2014

Significance

Natural regulatory T cells (nTregs) play important roles in preventing autoimmune diseases, but they may be unstable in the presence of inflammation. Here we report that
all
-
trans
RA (atRA) but not rapamycin prevents human nTregs from converting to Th1/Th17 cells and sustains their suppressive function in inflammatory environments. Adoptive transfer of nTregs pretreated with atRA enhances their suppressive effects on xenograft-vs.
-
host diseases. Moreover, we show that atRA suppresses IL-1 receptor upregulation, accelerates IL-6 receptor downregulation, and affects the epigenetic modifications in
Foxp3
locus in nTregs following inflammatory stimulation. We suggest that nTregs primed with atRA may represent a novel treatment strategy to control established chronic immune-mediated diseases.
Multidecadal Evidence of Recovery of Nearshore Red Drum Stocks off West-Central Florida and Connectivity with Inshore Nurseries
Authors: Winner Brent L. , Flaherty-Walia Kerry E. , Switzer Theodore S. , Vecchio Julie L.
Published: August 2014

The importance of defining and quantifying ontogenetic movements and connectivity between juvenile and adult fish populations, especially for exploited species, has been well documented. Furthermore, the persistence of strong year-classes can be used to track the success of regulations that contribute to the increased survival and escapement of fish into the adult population. Size and age structures of Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus were documented within the Tampa Bay estuary, in southwest Florida, using haul seines and trammel nets (1989–2008), and in nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters using a commercial purse seine (2005–2008). In the estuary, juvenile Red Drum (<100-mm TL) were collected from low-salinity backwater areas, and peaks in the annual relative abundance were apparent. In the estuary, Red Drum older than age 4 (>800-mm TL) were rare. Red Drum from nearshore gulf waters ranged from 2 to 35 years of age (674–1,074-mm TL), but most were greater than age 4. After back-calculating ages from Red Drum collected in the estuary and in nearshore gulf waters, we found that specific year-classes of Red Drum, driven by strong juvenile recruitment, were disproportionately represented in the adult spawning stock. We evaluated the long-term effectiveness of fishing regulations as a tool for rebuilding local adult Red Drum stocks by comparing data on size and age structures with results from earlier research conducted in the same geographic area. Adult Red Drum in nearshore waters off Tampa Bay were significantly longer, heavier, and older than were individuals collected a decade earlier, suggesting rebuilding of local Red Drum stocks. These observations validate the utility of long-term, multigear monitoring efforts to track populations from the estuary to nearshore coastal waters.

Received June 27, 2013; accepted April 1, 2014
Physiological Stress Responses to Prolonged Exposure to MS-222 and Surgical Implantation in Juvenile Chinook Salmon
Authors: Wagner Katie A. , Woodley Christa M. , Seaburg Adam G. , Skalski John R. , Eppard M. Brad
Published: August 2014

This study simulated large-scale monitoring program operations to evaluate the responses of age-1 Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha to tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222; 80 mg/L) exposure and intracoelomic acoustic microtransmitter implantation. The MS-222 exposure effects and appropriate exposure times for juvenile Chinook Salmon undergoing intracoelomic implantation were determined using blood analytes (Na+, K+, Ca2+), blood pH, plasma cortisol, and survival immediately following anesthetic exposure (3, 6, 9, and 12 min on day 0) and over a recovery period (days 1, 7, and 14). In addition, effects were examined in surgically implanted and nonimplanted fish (but exposed to MS-222 for 3 min) over a 14-d recovery period. Regardless of anesthetic exposure time, there were no mortalities during exposure on day 0 or over the recovery period. On day 0, MS-222 exposure treatments of 9 and 12 min resulted in significantly higher Na+ and Ca2+ and lower K+, indicating a reduced ability to maintain osmotic balance; however, MS-222 effectively dampened the cortisol release following surgical implantation and anesthetic exposure. Cortisol concentration was significantly higher in surgically implanted fish than in those not surgically implanted over the recovery period. Given these results, we recommend MS-222 exposure (80 mg/L) times of 6 min or less for compliance programs and studies involving age-1 Chinook Salmon. In addition, we recommend for other monitoring programs, regardless of species, that maximum MS-222 exposure times are implemented to minimize stress and surgical effect and that exposure times are specific to a species’ life stage to prevent overexposure and long-term effects. Furthermore, the knowledge of effects and the development of maximum exposure times are beneficial for hatchery programs, fish barging or transportation programs, and most studies in which fish behavior and physiological responses would need to be dampened using MS-222 without adverse side effects.

Received January 22, 2014; accepted May 15, 2014
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Patient with β‐Thalassemia Intermedia and Reversal with Infusion Epoprostenol Then Transition to Oral Calcium Channel Blocker Therapy: Review of Literature
Authors: Ussavarungsi Kamonpun , Burger Charles D.
Published: August 2014

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a potentially life‐threatening complication of thalassemia. A sexagenarian with β‐thalassemia intermedia presented with new‐onset dyspnea and syncope. Right heart catheterization confirmed severe PAH. Her functional class IV symptoms and severely elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure prompted the initiation of continuous epoprostenol therapy. Clinical follow‐up documented significant improvement in functional class, 6‐minute walk distance, and right ventricular size and function as well as pulmonary arterial pressure on echocardiogram. At the patient's request, epoprostenol was down‐titrated and eventually discontinued. The patient was then safely transitioned to nifedipine therapy after verification of vasoresponsiveness.
Drug/Cell-line Browser: interactive canvas visualization of cancer drug/cell-line viability assay datasets
Authors: Duan Qiaonan , Wang Zichen , Fernandez Nicolas F. , Rouillard Andrew D. , Tan Christopher M. , Benes Cyril H. , Ma’ayan Avi
Published: August 2014

Summary: Recently, several high profile studies collected cell viability data from panels of cancer cell lines treated with many drugs applied at different concentrations. Such drug sensitivity data for cancer cell lines provide suggestive treatments for different types and subtypes of cancer. Visualization of these datasets can reveal patterns that may not be obvious by examining the data without such efforts. Here we introduce Drug/Cell-line Browser (DCB), an online interactive HTML5 data visualization tool for interacting with three of the recently published datasets of cancer cell lines/drug-viability studies. DCB uses clustering and canvas visualization of the drugs and the cell lines, as well as a bar graph that summarizes drug effectiveness for the tissue of origin or the cancer subtypes for single or multiple drugs. DCB can help in understanding drug response patterns and prioritizing drug/cancer cell line interactions by tissue of origin or cancer subtype.

Availability and implementation: DCB is an open source Web-based tool that is freely available at: http://www.maayanlab.net/LINCS/DCB

Contact:  avi.maayan@mssm.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Double-strand break repair deficiency in NONO knockout murine embryonic fibroblasts and compensation by spontaneous upregulation of the PSPC1 paralog
Authors: Li Shuyi , Li Zhentian , Shu Feng-Jue , Xiong Hairong , Phillips Andrew C. , Dynan William S.
Published: August 2014

NONO, SFPQ and PSPC1 make up a family of proteins with diverse roles in transcription, RNA processing and DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. To understand long-term effects of loss of NONO, we characterized murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from knockout mice. In the absence of genotoxic stress, wild-type and mutant MEFs showed similar growth rates and cell cycle distributions, and the mutants were only mildly radiosensitive. Further investigation showed that NONO deficiency led to upregulation of PSPC1, which replaced NONO in a stable complex with SFPQ. Knockdown of PSPC1 in a NONO-deficient background led to severe radiosensitivity and delayed resolution of DSB repair foci. The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitor, NU7741, sensitized wild-type and singly deficient MEFs, but had no additional effect on doubly deficient cells, suggesting that NONO/PSPC1 and DNA-PK function in the same pathway. We tested whether NONO and PSPC1 might also affect repair indirectly by influencing mRNA levels for other DSB repair genes. Of 12 genes tested, none were downregulated, and several were upregulated. Thus, NONO or related proteins are critical for DSB repair, NONO and PSPC1 are functional homologs with partially interchangeable functions and a compensatory response involving PSPC1 blunts the effect of NONO deficiency.
Weather-Based Forecasting of Rhizoctonia Web Blight Development on Container-Grown Azalea
Authors: Copes Warren E.
Published: August 2014

The most reliable approach for timing fungicides to control Rhizoctonia web blight on container-grown azalea has been a fixed calendar date. The purpose of this study was to model periods when a preventive control could be applied in advance of significant increases in leaf blight intensity (LBI) in response to a daily accumulated risk value indicating conducive conditions of temperature (18 or more hours between 20 and 30°C when maximum temperature is less than 35°C), leaf wetness (16 or more hours), and/or rainfall (greater than 6.7 mm above the maximum daily irrigation). Analysis used weather measurements taken every 30 minutes from 11 site-year datasets from 2006 to 2011, and weekly or biweekly LBI assessments. Six developmental site-year datasets were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve procedures to evaluate models. Only a single model predicted true positives and negatives significantly greater than a 50:50 probability. Subsequently, five site-year validation datasets were evaluated. Similar results were obtained from both the developmental and validation datasets, which produced ROC areas of 0.7715 (P = 0.0120) and 0.8393 (P = 0.0034), respectively. The practical application of weather-based forecasting for management of web blight in nurseries is discussed.