bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing an Assessment of Fire-Setting to Guide Treatment in Secure Settings: The St Andrew's Fire and Arson Risk Instrument (SAFARI)
Authors: Long Clive G. , Banyard Ellen , Fulton Barbara , Hollin Clive R.
Published: July 2013

Background:Arson and fire-setting are highly prevalent among patients in secure psychiatric settings but there is an absence of valid and reliable assessment instruments and no evidence of a significant approach to intervention.Aims:To develop a semi-structured interview assessment specifically for fire-setting to augment structured assessments of risk and need.Method:The extant literature was used to frame interview questions relating to the antecedents, behaviour and consequences necessary to formulate a functional analysis. Questions also covered readiness to change, fire-setting self-efficacy, the probability of future fire-setting, barriers to change, and understanding of fire-setting behaviour. The assessment concludes with indications for assessment and a treatment action plan. The inventory was piloted with a sample of women in secure care and was assessed for comprehensibility, reliability and validity.Results:Staff rated the St Andrews Fire and Risk Instrument (SAFARI) as acceptable to patients and easy to administer. SAFARI was found to be comprehensible by over 95% of the general population, to have good acceptance, high internal reliability, substantial test-retest reliability and validity.Conclusions:SAFARI helps to provide a clear explanation of fire-setting in terms of the complex interplay of antecedents and consequences and facilitates the design of an individually tailored treatment programme in sympathy with a cognitive-behavioural approach. Further studies are needed to verify the reliability and validity of SAFARI with male populations and across settings.
Hear Today, Not gone Tomorrow? An Exploratory Longitudinal Study of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (Hearing Voices)
Authors: Hartigan Nicky , McCarthy-Jones Simon , Hayward Mark
Published: July 2013

Background:Despite an increasing volume of cross-sectional work on auditory verbal hallucinations (hearing voices), there remains a paucity of work on how the experience may change over time.Aims:The first aim of this study was to attempt replication of a previous finding that beliefs about voices are enduring and stable, irrespective of changes in the severity of voices, and do not change without a specific intervention. The second aim was to examine whether voice-hearers’ interrelations with their voices change over time, without a specific intervention.Method:A 12-month longitudinal examination of these aspects of voices was undertaken with hearers in routine clinical treatment (N= 18).Results:We found beliefs about voices’ omnipotence and malevolence were stable over a 12-month period, as were styles of interrelating between voice and hearer, despite trends towards reductions in voice-related distress and disruption. However, there was a trend for beliefs about the benevolence of voices to decrease over time.Conclusions:Styles of interrelating between voice and hearer appear relatively stable and enduring, as are beliefs about the voices’ malevolent intent and power. Although there was some evidence that beliefs about benevolence may reduce over time, the reasons for this were not clear. Our exploratory study was limited by only being powered to detect large effect sizes. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.
Stress-Related Psychological Symptoms Are Associated with Increased Attentional Capture by Visually Salient Distractors
Authors: Esterman Michael , DeGutis Joseph , Mercado Rogelio , Rosenblatt Andrew , Vasterling Jennifer J. , Milberg William , McGlinchey Regina
Published: July 2013

Research has shown that attention can be abnormally drawn to salient threat- or trauma-related information in individuals with posttraumatic stress and related psychological symptoms. The nature of this attentional bias is thought to derive from capture of attention toward potential threat overpowering the volitional, goal-directed attentional system. However, it is unclear whether this pattern of attentional dysregulation generalizes to salient, but non-emotional types of information. Using a well-established and sensitive measure of attentional capture, the current study demonstrates that posttraumatic psychological symptom severity is associated with the capture of attention by visually salient, non-emotional distractors. Specifically, during visual search for a unique shape, the presence of a task-irrelevant but salient color singleton disrupted search efficiency, and this disruption was correlated with both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptom severity as assessed by self-report. These findings suggest that posttraumatic stress and depression may be characterized as involving a general alteration of the balance between salience-based and goal-directed attentional systems. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–6)
Textiles as Money on the Silk Road?
Authors: WANG HELEN
Published: July 2013

The abstract concept of “the Silk Road” linking east and west shapes many popular narrative histories, encouraging readers to think dreamily of dazzling silks carried as luxury trade items on the backs of camels over sun-scorched sand dunes, and conveniently skirting more complex issues such as political, military, religious and cultural barriers. The actual mechanics of how any trading and other financial or economic transactions took place are seldom addressed, and references to money are few and far between.
The Transportation of Tax Textiles to the North-West as part of the Tang-Dynasty Military Shipment System
Authors: ARAKAWA MASAHIRO , HANSEN VALERIE
Published: July 2013

From the inception of its military campaign into Central Asia via the Gansu corridor, the Tang dynasty had to ensure the shipment of extensive military supplies to support the activities of its occupying armies north and south of the Tianshan Mountains. Since the government paid soldiers’ salaries and bought supplies using silk, the timely delivery of silk from central China was critical. Most of the silk was collected in the central provinces under thezuyongdiao租庸調 tax system, whether as stipulated payments of tax textiles or cloth-paid-in-place-of-annual-corvée tax. All this silk had to be shipped to the Western Regions. This article examines where this silk was made, how it was shipped to the north-west and how the system changed over time.
Special Issue: Textiles as Money on the Silk Road
Authors: Ansari Sarah
Published: July 2013

In January 2013 we published our third special issue ‘Perfumery and Ritual in Asia’. As I wrote in the Introduction to that group of articles, the Journal's broad remit, both in terms of historical period and geographical boundaries, affords us the privilege of exploring those elements of human activity that historically ‘bind’ or ‘separate’ different Asian cultures. By the beginning of 2013 we had already published two other special issues, one on a linguistic topic and the other on a politico/religious topic and so we felt it was appropriate to devote space to the exploration of ‘material’ culture, an equally powerful force in shaping a huge range of human interactions.
Food choice, plate waste and nutrient intake of elementary- and middle-school students participating in the US National School Lunch Program
Authors: Smith Stephanie L , Cunningham-Sabo Leslie
Published: July 2013

Objective

To (i) evaluate food choices and consumption patterns of elementary- and middle-school students who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and (ii) compare students’ average nutrient intake from lunch with NSLP standards.

Design

Plate waste from elementary- and middle-school students’ lunch trays was measured in autumn 2010 using a previously validated digital photography method. Percentage waste was estimated to the nearest 10 % for the entrée, canned fruit, fresh fruit, vegetable, grain and milk. Univariate ANOVA determined differences in percentage waste between schools, grades and genders. Daily nutrient intake was calculated using the district's menu analysis and percentage waste.

Setting

Elementary and middle schools in northern Colorado (USA).

Subjects

Students, grades 1–8.

Results

Plate waste was estimated from 899 lunch trays; 535 elementary- and 364 middle-school students. Only 45 % of elementary- and 34 % middle-school students selected a vegetable. Elementary-school students wasted more than a third of grain, fruit and vegetable menu items. Middle-school students left nearly 50 % of fresh fruit, 37 % of canned fruit and nearly a third of vegetables unconsumed. Less than half of the students met the national meal standards for vitamins A and C, or Fe.

Conclusions

Few students’ lunch consumption met previous or new, strengthened NSLP lunch standards. Due to the relatively low intake of vegetables, intakes of vitamins A and C were of particular concern. Effective behavioural interventions, combined with marketing, communications and behavioural economics, will likely be necessary to encourage increased vegetable intake to meet the new meal standards.
INTEGRATED PID CONTROLLER DESIGN FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH STATIC STABILITY
Authors: LI R. , SHI Y. J. , XU H. L.
Published: July 2013

This paper presents an integrated guidance and control (IGC) design method for an unmanned aerial vehicle with static stability which is described by a nonlinear six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) model. The model is linearized by using small disturbance linearization. The dynamic characteristics of pitching mode, rolling mode and Dutch rolling mode are obtained by analysing the linearized model. Furthermore, an IGC design procedure is also proposed in conjunction with a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) control method and fuzzy control method. A PID controller is applied in the control loop of the elevator and aileron, and the attitude angle and attitude angular velocity are used as compensation feedback, giving a simple and low-order control law. A fuzzy control method is applied to perform the cross-coupling control of rolling and yawing. Finally, the 6-DOF simulation shows the effectiveness of the developed method.
Determinants of subquotients of Galois representations associated with
abelian varieties
Authors: Larson Eric , Vaintrob Dmitry
Published: July 2013

Given an abelian variety $A$ of dimension $g$ over a number field $K$, and a prime $\ell $, the ${\ell }^{n} $-torsion points of $A$ give rise to a representation ${\rho }_{A, {\ell }^{n} } : \mathrm{Gal} ( \overline{K} / K)\rightarrow {\mathrm{GL} }_{2g} ( \mathbb{Z} / {\ell }^{n} \mathbb{Z} )$. In particular, we get a mod-$\ell $representation ${\rho }_{A, \ell } : \mathrm{Gal} ( \overline{K} / K)\rightarrow {\mathrm{GL} }_{2g} ({ \mathbb{F} }_{\ell } )$ and an $\ell $-adic representation ${\rho }_{A, {\ell }^{\infty } } : \mathrm{Gal} ( \overline{K} / K)\rightarrow {\mathrm{GL} }_{2g} ({ \mathbb{Z} }_{\ell } )$. In this paper, we describe the possible determinants of
subquotients of these two representations. These two lists turn out to be remarkably
similar.

Applying our results in dimension $g= 1$, we recover a generalized version of a theorem of Momose on isogeny
characters of elliptic curves over number fields, and obtain, conditionally on the
Generalized Riemann Hypothesis, a generalization of Mazur’s bound on rational
isogenies of prime degree to number fields.
Pioneers in Optics: Robert Hooke
Authors: Davidson Michael W.
Published: July 2013

Robert Hooke was a brilliant British experimental and theoretical scientist who lived and worked in London during the seventeenth century. As a child, Hooke suffered from a devastating case of smallpox that left him physically and emotionally scarred for the rest of his life. He was born the son of a minister on July 18, 1635, at Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight. Hooke's father, John Hooke, took an active role in Robert's early education until he entered the Westminster School at the age of thirteen following his father's suicide. After graduating Westminster in 1648, Hooke first conducted an apprenticeship with artist Sir Peter Lely and then entered Oxford University where he met and studied under some of the greatest scientists in England. Hooke eventually became a paid assistant for Robert Boyle and helped develop a working air pump. He remained in Boyle's laboratory until 1662 when he was made curator of experiments for the Royal Society of London, a job that entailed demonstration of scientific equipment and experimental procedures during weekly meetings of the entire society.
A Boy and His Atom
Authors: Carmichael Stephen W.
Published: July 2013

There are certainly “big movies” such as Gone with the Wind and “small movies” such as Beasts of the Southern Wild, but Andreas Heinrich, Chris Lutz, Susanne Baumann, and Ileana Rau at IBM literally have set a new Guinness World Record™ for the smallest movie ever made. Heinrich et al. used a remotely operated two-ton scanning tunneling microscope to manipulate carbon monoxide molecules into a pattern, then capture the image (at a magnification of about 100,000,000×!), then move a few atoms and capture another image, and so on. This was done at 268 degrees below zero Celsius. Then approximately 250 images were assembled into a stop-action movie accompanied by cute music that lasts a little over a minute. The “boy” appears to be composed of 88 individual atoms. He bounces a “ball” (a single atom) off a wall in a minuscule game of “handatom,” which is reminiscent of the early video game “Pong.” Then he bounces on a tiny trampoline. The movie concludes with a tasteful mention of IBM.
NetNotes
Authors: Phillips Thomas E.
Published: July 2013

Selected postings from the Microscopy Listserver from March 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013. Complete listings and subscription information can be obtained at http://www.microscopy.com. Postings may have been edited to conserve space or for clarity.
MegaBooth
Authors: Lyman Charles
Published: July 2013

The Microscopy & Microanalysis (M&M) meeting is known as the largest annual microscopy meeting with the largest annual exhibition of microscopy instruments and supplies. One regular feature of the exhibition is the Microscopy Society of America's own booth called the MegaBooth, which is visible from the far reaches of the hall because of the huge circular banner above it. This large booth, planned and implemented by volunteers, acts as a central meeting place for many MSA activities at the meeting.
Combined Electron Excitation and X-Ray Excitation for Spectrometry in the SEM
Authors: Witherspoon Kenny C. , Cross Brian J. , Hellested Mandi D.
Published: July 2013

Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) is an analytical technique used to determine elemental composition. It is a powerful, easy-to-use, non-destructive technique that can be employed for a wide variety of materials. In this technique the electron beam of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) impinges on the sample and excites atomic electrons causing the production of characteristic X rays. These characteristic X rays have energies specific to elements in the sample. The EDS detector collects these X rays as a signal and produces a spectrum. Samples also can be excited by X rays. Collimated and focused X rays from an X-ray source produce characteristic X rays that can be detected by the same EDS detector. When X rays are used as the source of excitation, the method is then called X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or micro-XRF.
Ground State Depletion Microscopy Applied to Tubulin Modifications in Epithelial Cells
Authors: Zink Sabrina , Grosse Lena , Bänfer Sebastian , Jacob Ralf
Published: July 2013

Ground state depletion (GSD) microscopy is a form of super-resolution light microscopy suggested almost a decade ago but demonstrated practically in 2007. In principle, this is a parallel recording wide-field approach that temporarily switches the majority of fluorophores off to allow the precise localization of single fluorophores. Almost all fluorophores in the sample are turned dark by high-intensity laser excitation, leaving only single, well-separated fluorophores emitting fluorescence. The precise localization of the fluorescent dyes is then determined to produce images with a resolution in the 20- to 50-nanometer range. One of the key advantages of this method over other localization techniques is that it can be used with standard fluorescence labels routinely applied in biomedical research.
On the role of asymmetries in the reversal of the solar magnetic field
Authors: Brun A. S. , Derosa M. L. , Hoeksema J. T.
Published: July 2013

We study how the solar magnetic field evolves from antisymmetric (dipolar) to symmetric (quadrupolar) state during the course of its 11-yr cycle. We show that based on equatorial symmetries of the induction equation, flux transport solar mean field dynamo models excite mostly the antisymmetric (dipolar) family whereas a decomposition of the solar magnetic field data reveals that both families should be excited to similar amplitude levels. We propose an alternative solar dynamo solution based on North-South asymmetry of the meridional circulation to better reconcile models and observations.
Convective mechanism of amplification and structuring of magnetic fields
Authors: Getling A. V. , Kolmychkov V. V. , Mazhorova O. S.
Published: July 2013

Magnetoconvection in a horizontal layer of incompressible fluid is simulated numerically. The initial magnetic field is assumed to be uniform and horizontal. The interaction of quasi-ordered cellular convection with the magnetic field is shown to be able to produce bipolar (and also diverse more complex) configurations of a substantially amplified magnetic field. The operation of this mechanism, which can be regarded as a modification of the mechanism suggested by Tverskoi (1966), is controlled by the very topology of the cellular flow, should be manifest on various spatial scales, and does not require strong initial fields. Magnetic configurations develop both in the central parts of convection cells, where circulatory fluid motion “winds” magnetic field lines, and in the network formed by their peripheral regions due to the “sweeping” of magnetic field lines.
Magnetic helicity as a probe of magnetic flux-tube dynamics in the solar interior
Authors: Sakurai Takashi , Gao Yu , Kuzanyan Kirill
Published: July 2013

Magnetic helicity (volume integral of the product of the magnetic field vectorBand the vector potentialA), or its proxy, the current helicity at the surface (surface integral ofB·JorBzJz), is an important quantity which characterizes the helical nature of solar magnetic fields. The current helicity on the Sun shows a tendency, though with large dispersion, that it is positive in the southern hemisphere and negative in the northern hemisphere (the helicity sign rule). However, there are indications that the helicity sign rule may be reversed at activity minimum periods. We will discuss the significance of this property by focusing on the statistical distributions of helicity whether its dispersion follows Gaussian distribution or not.
Topological constraints on magnetic field relaxation
Authors: Candelaresi Simon , Brandenburg Axel
Published: July 2013

Magnetic field relaxation is determined by both the field's geometry and its topology. For relaxation processes, however, it turns out that its topology is a much more stringent constraint. As quantifier for the topology we use magnetic helicity and test whether it is a stronger condition than the linking of field lines. Further, we search for evidence of other topological invariants, which give rise to further restrictions in the field's relaxation. We find that magnetic helicity is the sole determinant in most cases. Nevertheless, we see evidence for restrictions not captured through magnetic helicity.
Theory of differential rotation and meridional circulation
Authors: Kitchatinov Leonid L.
Published: July 2013

Meridional flow results from slight deviations from the thermal wind balance. The deviations are relatively large in the boundary layers near the top and bottom of the convection zone. Accordingly, the meridional flow attains its largest velocities at the boundaries and decreases inside the convection zone. The thickness of the boundary layers, where meridional flow is concentrated, decreases with rotation rate, so that an advection-dominated regime of dynamos is not probable in rapidly rotating stars. Angular momentum transport by convection and by the meridional flow produce differential rotation. The convective fluxes of angular momentum point radially inward in the case of slow rotation but change their direction to equatorward and parallel to the rotation axis as the rotation rate increases. The differential rotation of main-sequence dwarfs is predicted to vary mildly with rotation rate but increase strongly with stellar surface temperature. The significance of differential rotation for dynamos has the opposite tendency to increase with spectral type.
Solar differential rotation: hints to reproduce a near-surface shear layer in global simulations
Authors: Guerrero G. , Smolarkiewicz P. K. , Kosovichev A. , Mansour N.
Published: July 2013

Convective turbulent motions in the solar interior, as well as the mean flows resulting from them, determine the evolution of the solar magnetic field. With the aim to get a better understanding of these flows we study anelastic rotating convection in a spherical shell whose stratification resembles that of the solar interior. This study is done through numerical simulations performed with the EULAG code. Due to the numerical formulation, these simulations are known as implicit large eddy simulations (ILES), since they intrinsically capture the contribution of, non-resolved, small scales at the same time maximizing the effective Reynolds number. We reproduce some previous results and find a transition between buoyancy and rotation dominated regimes which results in anti-solar or solar like rotation patterns. Even thought the rotation profiles are dominated by Taylor-Proudman columnar rotation, we are able to reproduce the tachocline and a low latitude near-surface shear layer. We find that simulations results depend on the grid resolution as a consequence of a different sub-grid scale contribution.
Development and first year of results from the Heliometer of Observatório Nacional
Authors: Andrei Alexandre H. , D'Ávila Victor A. , Neto Eugânio Reis , Penna Jucira L. , Boscardin Sérgio C. , Coletti Alissandro , Oliveira Luiz C. , Sigismondi Costantino
Published: July 2013

Recent research on global climate changes points to three distinct sources of climate disturbance: anthropogenic; natural changes in the oceans and atmosphere; and irregularities in the solar cycles. One of the most direct ways to survey an exogenous component of the climatic variability is through the measurement of variations in the diameter and shape of the solar disk. At Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rio de Janeiro, after several years of diameter observation using a CCD Solar Astrolabe, these measurements are now performed by a state-of-the-art Solar Heliometer. The heliometric method is one of the most successful techniques to measure small variations of angles. Its principle has been used for the latest space borne astrometric missions, aiming to milli-arcsecond precision. The success of this method relies in the fact that it minimizes the dependence of angular measurements to the thermal and mechanical stability of the instrument. However in the classic heliometer the objective is split into two halves to which is applied a linear displacement along the cut, thus still leaving room for a residual dependence with the focus, due to non-concentricity of the beams of the two images. The focus variation, as well as the effects brought by the large temperature variations during solar observations, was tackled in the Solar Heliometer by having all optical elements and their niches made on CCZ, and the telescope tube on carbon fiber, both materials of negligible thermal coefficient. Additionally, the measures are made perpendicular to the separation direction and the plate scale can be known at every time from the solar motion itself. We present the results from the first year of measurements, in special exploring the upheaval of solar activity on late 2011.
Five-element Digital Corrector Receiver for the Chinese Spectral Radioheliograph
Authors: Zhao An , Yan Yihua , Wang Wei , Chen Linjie , Zhang Jian , Liu Fei
Published: July 2013

The design of five-element digital receiver system is decribed. At first, we analyzed the process of data processing in the receiver system. Then we wrote programs to implement the FIR parallel filter and showed its simulation results. Finally the testing result of the correlation receiver system is demonstrated.
Observations of a geomagnetic SI+ – SI− pair and associated solar wind fluctuations
Authors: Bisoi Susanta Kumar , Janardhan P.
Published: July 2013

We report a pair of oppositely directed sudden impulses (SI), in the geomagnetic field (ΔX), at ground stations, called SI+ – SI− pairs, that occurred between 1835 UT and 2300 UT on 23 April 1998. The SI+ – SI− pair, was well correlated with corresponding variations in the solar wind density, while solar wind velocity and the southward component of the interplanetary magnetic field (Bz) did not show any correspondence. This event had no source on the visible solar disk but was associated with a rear-side fast partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME) and an optically occulted M1.4 class solar flare behind the west limb. This event was unique in that one could clearly identify variations in ΔX at ground stations with solar wind parameters.
Frequency and time properties of decimeter narrowband spikes in solar flares
Authors: Wang Shujuan
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we focus to study the frequency and time properties of a group of spikes recorded by the 1.08-2.04 GHz spectrometer of NAOC on 27 October 2003. At the first we calculate the mean and minimum bandwidth of the spikes. We apply two different methods based on the wavelet analysis according to Messmer & Benz (2000). The first method determines the dominant spike bandwidth scale based on their scalegram, and the second method is a feature detection algorithm in the time-frequency plane. Secondly the time profile of each single spike was fitted and analyzed. In particular, we determined the e-folding rise and decay times corresponding to the ascending and decaying parts of the time profile, respectively. Several important correlations were studied and compared with the results in earlier literature, i.e. those between duration and frequency, e-folding rise time and decay time, e-folding decay time and duration, and e-folding decay time and peak flux. Finally some parameters of source region were estimated and the possible decaying mechanism was discussed.
Study of ribbon separation and magnetic reconnection rates
Authors: Xie Wenbin , Zhang Hongqi , Lin Jun , Wang Haimin
Published: July 2013

We study the correlation between the speed of two-ribbon separation and the magnetic flux density during the 2001 April 10 solar flare. A weak negative correlation is found between the ribbon separation speed (Vr) and the longitudinal magnetic flux density (Bz). In addition, we estimate the magnetic reconnection rate (Erec). Along the flare ribbons, Erec fluctuates in the small range except near the HXR source. The localized enhancement of the reconnection rate corresponds to the position of the HXR source.
BET inhibition as a single or combined therapeutic approach in primary paediatric B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Da Costa D , Agathanggelou A , Perry T , Weston V , Petermann E , Zlatanou A , Oldreive C , Wei W , Stewart G , Longman J , Smith E , Kearns P , Knapp S , Stankovic T
Published: July 2013

Paediatric B-precursor ALL is a highly curable disease, however, treatment resistance in some patients and the long-term toxic effects of current therapies pose the need for more targeted therapeutic approaches. We addressed the cytotoxic effect of JQ1, a highly selective inhibitor against the transcriptional regulators, bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family of proteins, in paediatric ALL. We showed a potent in vitro cytotoxic response of a panel of primary ALL to JQ1, independent of their prognostic features but dependent on high MYC expression and coupled with transcriptional downregulation of multiple pro-survival pathways. In agreement with earlier studies, JQ1 induced cell cycle arrest. Here we show that BET inhibition also reduced c-Myc protein stability and suppressed progression of DNA replication forks in ALL cells. Consistent with c-Myc depletion and downregulation of pro-survival pathways JQ1 sensitised primary ALL samples to the classic ALL therapeutic agent dexamethasone. Finally, we demonstrated that JQ1 reduces ALL growth in ALL xenograft models, both as a single agent and in combination with dexamethasone. We conclude that targeting BET proteins should be considered as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of paediatric ALL and particularly those cases that exhibit suboptimal responses to standard treatment.
Comparative metatranscriptomics reveals kingdom level changes in the rhizosphere microbiome of plants
Authors: Turner Thomas R , Ramakrishnan Karunakaran , Walshaw John , Heavens Darren , Alston Mark , Swarbreck David , Osbourn Anne , Grant Alastair , Poole Philip S
Published: July 2013

Plant–microbe interactions in the rhizosphere have important roles in biogeochemical cycling, and maintenance of plant health and productivity, yet remain poorly understood. Using RNA-based metatranscriptomics, the global active microbiomes were analysed in soil and rhizospheres of wheat, oat, pea and an oat mutant (sad1) deficient in production of anti-fungal avenacins. Rhizosphere microbiomes differed from bulk soil and between plant species. Pea (a legume) had a much stronger effect on the rhizosphere than wheat and oat (cereals), resulting in a dramatically different rhizosphere community. The relative abundance of eukaryotes in the oat and pea rhizospheres was more than fivefold higher than in the wheat rhizosphere or bulk soil. Nematodes and bacterivorous protozoa were enriched in all rhizospheres, whereas the pea rhizosphere was highly enriched for fungi. Metabolic capabilities for rhizosphere colonisation were selected, including cellulose degradation (cereals), H2 oxidation (pea) and methylotrophy (all plants). Avenacins had little effect on the prokaryotic community of oat, but the eukaryotic community was strongly altered in the sad1 mutant, suggesting that avenacins have a broader role than protecting from fungal pathogens. Profiling microbial communities with metatranscriptomics allows comparison of relative abundance, from multiple samples, across all domains of life, without polymerase chain reaction bias. This revealed profound differences in the rhizosphere microbiome, particularly at the kingdom level between plants.
Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide over Gold Catalysts
Authors: Avgouropoulos George
Published: July 2013

Innovative recent research has shown that gold in a highly dispersed state can exceptionally catalyze preferential CO oxidation (PROX) reaction and be effectively employed in fuel cell applications. Several factors control the activity and the selectivity of gold catalysts and can affect their efficiency in the title process. Following the pioneer work of Haruta and Hutchings, a variety of nanostructured gold‐based systems has been evaluated in the recent literature as PROX catalysts. However, contradictory approaches have been proposed with respect to the mechanism and the nature of active sites. This chapter reviews most recent reports with special attention on Au/ceria based catalysts and highlights the key factors that control the activity and selectivity of these catalytic systems.
Activation of Gold on Metal Carbides and the Discovery of Novel Catalysts for DeSOx and HDS Reactions
Authors: Rodriguez J. A. , Liu P. , Nakamura K. , Illas F.
Published: July 2013

In this chapter, we review a series of studies which have recently appeared in the literature investigating desulfurization reactions on novel gold/metal carbide catalysts. In order to avoid the negative environmental effects of SO2 one can design highly efficient DeSOx processes or remove the sulfur that is present in oil‐derived fuels by hydrodesulfurization. This chapter starts by describing studies examining the adsorption of S and S‐containing molecules on different types of metal carbide surfaces, paying attention to the effects of the carbon : metal ratio on the prevention of S poisoning and on the reactivity of the carbide towards S–O and C–S bond cleavage. Then, we focus on studies examining the interaction of gold with MC substrates, with respect to variations in the strength of the Au↔C interactions with admetal particle size and the properties of the carbide surface. This is followed by studies of DeSOx and HDS processes on highly active Au/MC surfaces.
Applications and Future Trends in Gold Catalysis
Authors: Keel T. , McPherson J.
Published: July 2013

Recent years have seen tremendous change in the commercial prospects for gold‐based heterogeneous catalysts. Significant technological progress has been made, but the economic situation has become an increasingly important consideration as the gold price has risen to record levels. In this chapter, we have used secondary data such as papers, patents, press releases and other corporate material to review the landscape for gold‐based catalysts in early 2013, analysing current commercialised processes, near‐to‐market opportunities and likely areas of future interest.
Peptides: minimal drug surrogates to interrogate and interfere with protein function
Authors: Cruz-Migoni A. , Fuentes-Fernandez N. , Rabbitts T. H.
Published: July 2013

The interactome in normal and disease cells is a key area for study and therapeutic targeting, yet few molecules have been developed that can interfere with protein–protein interactions within cells. Peptides and homologues are potential reagents to target PPI.
Binding and supramolecular organization of homo- and heterotelechelic oligomers in solutions
Authors: Cortese Jessalyn , Soulié-Ziakovic Corinne , Leibler Ludwik
Published: July 2013

Solvent can subtly influence the organization of supramolecular polymers.
Facile synthesis of chain end functionalized polyethylenes via epoxide ring-opening and thiol–ene addition click chemistry
Authors: Zhang Yongjie , Li Huayi , Dong Jin-Yong , Hu Youliang
Published: July 2013

A library of low MW chain end functionalized polyethylenes with narrow MW distributions were prepared under mild conditions.
ILK: a pseudokinase with a unique function in the integrin–actin linkage
Authors: Ghatak Sushmita , Morgner Jessica , Wickström Sara A.
Published: July 2013

ILK (integrin-linked kinase) is a central component of cell–matrix adhesions and an important regulator of integrin function. It forms a ternary complex with two other adaptor proteins, PINCH (particularly interesting cysteine- and histidine-rich protein) and parvin, forming the IPP (ILK–PINCH–parvin) complex that regulates the integrin–actin linkage as well as microtubule dynamics. These functions are essential for processes such as cell migration and matrix remodelling. The present review discusses the recent advances on the structural and functional characterization of ILK and the long-standing debate regarding its reported kinase activity.
Many roads from mTOR to eIF4F
Authors: Thoreen Carson C.
Published: July 2013

The process of cell growth depends on a complex co-ordinated programme of macromolecular synthesis that can be tuned to environmental constraints. In eukaryotes, the mTOR [mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin] signalling pathway is a master regulator of this process, in part by regulating mRNA translation through control of the eIF4F (eukaryotic initiation factor 4F) initiation complex. The present review discusses the role of this relationship in mTOR-regulated gene expression, and its contribution to phenotypes associated with deregulated mTOR signalling, such as cancer.
Functional diversification of Argonautes in nematodes: an expanding universe
Authors: Buck Amy H. , Blaxter Mark
Published: July 2013

In the last decade, many diverse RNAi (RNA interference) pathways have been discovered that mediate gene silencing at epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. The diversity of RNAi pathways is inherently linked to the evolution of Ago (Argonaute) proteins, the central protein component of RISCs (RNA-induced silencing complexes). An increasing number of diverse Agos have been identified in different species. The functions of most of these proteins are not yet known, but they are generally assumed to play roles in development, genome stability and/or protection against viruses. Recent research in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has expanded the breadth of RNAi functions to include transgenerational epigenetic memory and, possibly, environmental sensing. These functions are inherently linked to the production of secondary siRNAs (small interfering RNAs) that bind to members of a clade of WAGOs (worm-specific Agos). In the present article, we review briefly what is known about the evolution and function of Ago proteins in eukaryotes, including the expansion of WAGOs in nematodes. We postulate that the rapid evolution of WAGOs enables the exceptional functional plasticity of nematodes, including their capacity for parasitism.
The functionally diverse roles of tribbles
Authors: Lohan Fiona , Keeshan Karen
Published: July 2013

Tribbles are members of the pseudokinase family of proteins, with no associated kinase activity detectable to date. As tribbles appear not to function as kinases, there has been debate surrounding their functional classification. Tribbles have been proposed to function as adaptor molecules facilitating degradation of their target proteins. Tribbles have also been proposed to mediate signalling changes to MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascades and also to function as decoy kinases interfering with the activity of known kinases. The present review discusses the functionally divergent roles of tribbles as molecular adaptors mediating degradation, changes to signalling cascades and action as decoy kinases.
Line‐start permanent magnet motors: proper design for pole‐changing starting method
Authors: Ershad Nima Farrokhzad , Mirsalim Mojtaba , Aliabad Aliakbar Damaki
Published: July 2013

Pole‐changing of line‐start permanent magnet (LSPM) motors at start‐up eliminates all their drawbacks such as poor starting torque, vibration at start‐up and synchronisation problems. In addition, by using this method almost all the inherent limitations in the design parameters of line‐start motors such as rotor resistance, permanent magnet strength and mechanical stress influenced by pulsating torques are alleviated. Therefore there is no need to compromise between the motor parameters. In this study, the design procedure of these motors is investigated and a high‐performance motor based on the pole‐changing starting‐method is designed and fabricated. Next, the possibility and advantages of replacing laminated cage‐bar rotors with solid rotors are investigated for pole‐changing LSPM motors. Then, simulations are done by the two‐dimensional finite element method and finally, the experimental results are presented. The good agreement between simulation and experimental results validates the theoretical method and also the new design.
Fast and continuous on‐load voltage regulator based on electronic power transformer
Authors: Yang Jiawei , Mao Chengxiong , Wang Dan , Lu Jiming , Fu Xueqiang , Chen Xun
Published: July 2013

The on‐load tap changing transformers have been widely used for their ability to maintain output voltages at desired levels despite the load or voltage changes in the ac mains. However, they present several disadvantages such as slow response, high‐maintenance cost and discontinuous voltage regulation. This study proposes a novel on‐load voltage regulator based on electronic power transformer (OLVR‐EPT) to eliminate these drawbacks. By injecting an appropriate voltage component to traditional power transformer windings through EPT output stage, the resultant load voltage can be maintained at the desired value. There are no tap‐changers anymore, so the voltage regulation is fast and continuous. Two sample schemes of OLVR‐EPT are given and corresponding control method is developed in this study. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that OLVR‐EPT is able to maintain load voltages at the desired value effectively.
Carrier‐based pulse‐width modulation techniques for asymmetrical six‐phase open‐end winding drives
Authors: Jones Martin , Patkar Fazlli , Levi Emil
Published: July 2013

The study discusses development, implementation and performance of carrier‐based pulse‐width modulation (PWM) techniques for an asymmetrical six‐phase open‐end winding drive supplied by two two‐level six‐phase voltage source inverters (VSIs). The VSIs are fed from two equal and mutually isolated dc voltage sources, so that the same performance as with a three‐level VSI in single‐sided supply mode can be achieved. The considered modulation techniques are the in‐phase disposition (PD‐PWM) and the alternate phase opposition disposition, which are both classified as level‐shifted PWM methods, and the phase‐shifted PWM method. The performance is studied and compared using computer simulations and experiments undertaken on a laboratory prototype. It is shown that, in contrast to the three‐phase and five‐phase cases, the PD‐PWM method does not offer the best performance.
Simple ultrasonic construction of AgBr/Ag3PO4 hybrid quasi‐microcube with improved visible‐driven photocatalytic property
Authors: Xie Jinsong , Zhao Difang , Tian Changan , Han Chengliang , Zhang Hui
Published: July 2013

AgBr/Ag3PO4 composite quasi‐microcubes were fabricated by a simple ultrasonic synthesis method, in which hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide was used as Br resource and surfactant. The structures and morphologies of the as‐obtained product were initially characterised by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis spectroscopy. The ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectrum of the as‐obtained products demonstrated that this hybrid structure exhibits an enhanced absorption ability in the visible region. Furthermore, the composite products exhibit much higher photocatalytic performance and stability on degradation of rhodamine B dye under the stimulated sunlight irradiation compared with pure AgBr and Ag3PO4.
Timescales for adiabatic photodissociation dynamics from the ${\rm \tilde A}$Ã state of ammonia
Authors: Chatterley Adam S. , Roberts Gareth M. , Stavros Vasilios G.
Published: July 2013

Photodissociation dynamics after excitation of the ${\rm \tilde A}$Ã state ν′2 = 4 (umbrella) level of ammonia are investigated using ultrafast time-resolved velocity map ion imaging (TR-VMI). These studies extend upon previous TR-VMI measurements [K. L. Wells, G. Perriam, and V. G. Stavros, J. Chem. Phys. 130, 074308 (2009)]10.1063/1.3072763, which reported the appearance timescales for ground state ${\rm NH}_2 {\rm (\tilde X)} + {\rm H}$ NH 2(X̃)+H photoproducts, born from non-adiabatic passage through an ${\rm \tilde X/\tilde A}$X̃/Ã state conical intersection (CI) at elongated H–NH2 bond distances. In particular, the present work sheds new light on the formation timescales for electronically excited ${\rm NH}_2 {\rm (\tilde A)} + {\rm H}$ NH 2(Ã)+H species, generated from NH3 parent molecules that avoid the CI and dissociate adiabatically. The results reveal a step-wise dynamical picture for the production of ${\rm NH}_2 {\rm (\tilde A)} + {\rm H}$ NH 2(Ã)+H products, where nascent dissociative flux can become temporarily trapped/impeded around the upper cone of the CI on the ${\rm \tilde A}$Ã state potential energy surface (PES), while on course towards the adiabatic dissociation asymptote – this behavior contrasts the concerted mechanism previously observed for non-adiabatic dissociation into H-atoms associated with ro-vibrationally “cold” ${\rm NH}_2 {\rm (\tilde X)}$ NH 2(X̃). Initially, non-planar NH3 molecules (species which have the capacity to yield adiabatic photoproducts) are found to evolve out of the vertical Franck-Condon excitation region and towards the CI region of the ${\rm \tilde A}$Ã state PES with a time-constant of 113 ± 46 fs. Subsequently, transient population encircling the CI then progresses to finally form ${\rm NH}_2 {\rm (\tilde A)} + {\rm H}$ NH 2(Ã)+H photoproducts from the CI region of the $\tilde{\rm A}$Ã state PES with a slower time-constant of 415 ± 25 fs. Non-adiabatic dissociation into ro-vibrationally “hot” ${\rm NH}_2 {\rm (\tilde X)}$ NH 2(X̃) radicals together with H-atoms is also evidenced to occur via a qualitatively similar process.
Commentary: The Materials Project: A materials genome approach to accelerating materials innovation
Authors: Jain Anubhav , Ong Shyue Ping , Hautier Geoffroy , Chen Wei , Richards William Davidson , Dacek Stephen , Cholia Shreyas , Gunter Dan , Skinner David , Ceder Gerbrand , Persson Kristin A.
Published: July 2013

Accelerating the discovery of advanced materials is essential for human welfare and sustainable, clean energy. In this paper, we introduce the Materials Project (www.materialsproject.org), a core program of the Materials Genome Initiative that uses high-throughput computing to uncover the properties of all known inorganic materials. This open dataset can be accessed through multiple channels for both interactive exploration and data mining. The Materials Project also seeks to create open-source platforms for developing robust, sophisticated materials analyses. Future efforts will enable users to perform ‘‘rapid-prototyping’’ of new materials in silico, and provide researchers with new avenues for cost-effective, data-driven materials design.
A transient solution for vesicle electrodeformation and relaxation
Authors: Zhang Jia , Zahn Jeffrey D. , Tan Wenchang , Lin Hao
Published: July 2013

A transient analysis for vesicle deformation under direct-current electric fields is developed. The theory extends from a droplet model, with the additional consideration of a lipid membrane separating two fluids of arbitrary properties. For the latter, both a membrane-charging and a membrane-mechanical model are supplied. The vesicle is assumed to remain spheroidal in shape for all times. The main result is an ordinary differential equation governing the evolution of the vesicle aspect ratio. The effects of initial membrane tension and pulse length are examined. The model prediction is extensively compared with experimental data, and is shown to accurately capture the system behavior in the regime of no or weak electroporation. More importantly, the comparison reveals that vesicle relaxation obeys a similarity law regardless of the means of deformation. The process is governed by a single time scale that is a function of the vesicle initial radius, the fluid viscosity, and the initial membrane tension. This similarity scaling law can be used to calculate membrane properties from experimental data.