bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY AND FAMILY PLANNING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF GUATEMALA: RESULTS OF A COMMUNITY RANDOMIZED STUDY
Authors: SCHULER SIDNEY RUTH , NANDA GEETA , RAMÍREZ LUIS F. , CHEN MARIO
Published: February 2015

In Guatemala, especially in rural areas, gender norms contribute to high fertility and closely spaced births by discouraging contraceptive use and constraining women from making decisions regarding the timing of their pregnancies and the size of their families. Community workshops for men, women and couples were conducted in 30 rural communities in Guatemala to test the hypothesis that the promotion of gender equity in the context of reproductive health will contribute to gender-equitable attitudes and strengthen the practice of family planning. Communities were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Pre/post surveys were conducted. Odds ratios estimated with mixed effect models to account for community-level randomization and repeated measures per participant were compared. The analyses showed statistically significant effects of the intervention on two of the three outcomes examined: gender attitudes and contraceptive knowledge. Findings regarding contraceptive use were suggestive but not significant. The results suggest that it is possible to influence both inequitable gender norms and reproductive health knowledge and, potentially, behaviours in a short span of time using appropriately designed communications interventions that engage communities in re-thinking the inequitable gender norms that act as barriers to health.
Nonlinear ion–acoustic waves in an inhomogeneous plasma with non-thermal distribution of electrons
Authors: Singh S. V.
Published: February 2015

In the Earth's magnetosphere, the boundary layer regions are the sources for inhomogeneous plasmas and are natural laboratories to study wave phenomena. In these regions, particles distributions also differ from Maxwellian and are found to be non-thermal. Therefore, amplitude of the waves propagating through these regions can vary differently compared to the homogeneous plasmas. In this study, propagation of ion–acoustic waves (IAWs) in an inhomogeneous, warm electron-ion plasma is examined. The electrons are considered to be having non-thermal Cairn's type distribution and ions follow the fluid dynamical equations. Further, inhomogeneity is assumed in equilibrium density of the electrons and ions. The evolution of the nonlinear IAWs is governed by the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation with variable coefficients. Analytical solution of the KdV equation shows that for a cold ion plasma and non-thermal electrons, the amplitude and the width of the nonlinear IAWs decreases and increases, respectively with the inclusion of the non-thermal distribution of electrons. It is interesting to note that nonlinear IAWs in this model can not propagate for whole range of non-thermal parameter, α. The novel result of this study is that for nonlinear IAWs to propagate in the inhomogeneous two component plasma with ions and non-thermal electrons, the non-thermal parameter, α ⩽ 0.155. Results from our study may have impact on the propagation of the IAWs in the boundary layer regions of the Earth's magnetosphere where density inhomogeneities are appreciable.
Perceptive communicating capsules for fluid flow measurement and visualisation
Authors: Stewart Robert Logan , Šutalo Ilija Denis , Liovic Petar
Published: February 2015

A new approach to flow measurement and visualisation in fluid dynamics based on a group of perceptive communicating capsules has been developed. Experiments were carried out with fluid-mobilised and stationary capsules deployed in a fluid flow test rig (raceway pond). Each capsule contains a microcontroller, battery, infra-red and visible LEDs and other electronics. Using optical communications, capsules can record encounters with one another. From the resulting interaction patterns, fluid flow speed and path-frequency measurements were obtained. Additionally, the capsules have shown the capacity for distributed sensing, and their streaklines provide a valuable means of external visualisation.
Recent status and population decline of the Great Bustard Otis tarda in Iran
Authors: BARATI AHMAD , ABDULKARIMI RAHIM , ALONSO JUAN CARLOS
Published: February 2015

The current distribution and recent population trends of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) in Iran were investigated based on a literature review and unpublished data (1995–2008) followed by three years of census (2009–2011) in areas where the species is still breeding. Results suggest that Great Bustards have disappeared from a large part of their former distribution in the country, including East Azarbayjan, Hamedan and Kurdistan provinces. The surviving groups are concentrated in West Azarbayjan where numbers are rapidly declining. The present population is estimated at about 43–48 birds in 2011, confirming a marked decline compared to the 200–300 birds estimated in the early 1990s. About 80–90% of the extant birds are concentrated in the plains of Boukan. Strict conservation measures are urgently needed to prevent the extinction of this species in Iran.
GEOMETRIC TAMELY RAMIFIED LOCAL THETA CORRESPONDENCE IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE GEOMETRIC LANGLANDS PROGRAM
Authors: Farang-Hariri Banafsheh
Published: February 2015

This paper deals with the geometric local theta correspondence at the Iwahori level for dual reductive pairs of type II over a non-Archimedean field $F$ of characteristic $p\neq 2$ in the framework of the geometric Langlands program. First we construct and study the geometric version of the invariants of the Weil representation of the Iwahori-Hecke algebras. In the particular case of $(\mathbf{GL}_{1},\mathbf{GL}_{m})$ we give a complete geometric description of the corresponding category. The second part of the paper deals with geometric local Langlands functoriality at the Iwahori level in a general setting. Given two reductive connected groups $G$ and $H$ over $F$, and a morphism ${\check{G}}\times \text{SL}_{2}\rightarrow \check{H}$ of Langlands dual groups, we construct a bimodule over the affine extended Hecke algebras of $H$ and $G$ that should realize the geometric local Arthur–Langlands functoriality at the Iwahori level. Then, we propose a conjecture describing the geometric local theta correspondence at the Iwahori level constructed in the first part in terms of this bimodule, and we prove our conjecture for pairs $(\mathbf{GL}_{1},\mathbf{GL}_{m})$.
Bypassing weak institutions in a large late-comer economy
Authors: BESSONOVA EVGUENIA , GONCHAR KSENIA
Published: February 2015

This paper addresses the link between the strong inflow of FDI into Russia in the 2000s and its weak institutions, using plant-level data across subnational regions. The findings imply that investors have responded positively to improved quality of institutions in certain regions, which offered a combination of wealth, skills and good infrastructure. High development levels in host regions helped to bypass some institutional shortcomings. Investors from source countries exhibiting comparable institutional environment appeared to be more immune to political conflict. Round-trip investors reacted to institutional determinants in almost the same manner as genuine investors, except for tolerance to labor market imperfections.
Metakognitive Therapie
Authors: Teismann Tobias , Simons Michael
Published: February 2015

Die metakognitive Therapie (MCT) wurde von Adrian Wells als generische Therapieform emotionaler Störungen entwickelt. In der MCT gelten kognitive Prozesse sowie deren Steuerung durch metakognitive Überzeugungen als transdiagnostische Störungsdeterminanten. Die auf dem metakognitiven Modell emotionaler Störungen basierende metakognitive Therapie ist eine Kurzzeittherapie mit einem empfohlenen Umfang von fünf bis zwölf Sitzungen. Entsprechend der theoretischen Annahmen stellen die Infragestellung und Modifikation dysfunktionaler Metakognitionen und die Flexibilisierung von Denk- und Aufmerksamkeitsprozessen zentrale therapeutische Strategien dar. Die Wirksamkeit der metakognitiven Therapie wurde in Einzelfalluntersuchungen, unkontrollierten Studien und ersten randomisiert-kontrollierten Studien bestätigt. Die Störungstheorie, das praktisch-therapeutische Vorgehen und die bisherige Studienlage werden im vorliegenden Artikel beschrieben und kritisch diskutiert.
Achtsamkeitsbasierte kognitive Therapie
Authors: Heidenreich Thomas , Grober Christoph , Michalak Johannes
Published: February 2015

Unter den im Zentrum dieses Sonderhefts stehenden Neuentwicklungen nehmen achtsamkeitsbasierte Verfahren eine bedeutsame Rolle ein: Während die „Achtsamkeitsbasierte Stressreduktion” (mindfulness-based stress reduction, MBSR) bereits in der zweiten Hälfte der 1970er Jahre entwickelt wurde ( Kabat-Zinn, 1990 ), erlangte insbesondere die von Segal, Williams und Teasdale (2002) speziell für die Rückfallprävention bei rezidivierender depressiver Störung entwickelte „Achtsamkeitsbasierte Kognitive Therapie” (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBCT) eine zunehmende Bedeutung im Bereich kognitiv-behavioraler Ansätze. Der vorliegende Beitrag geht zunächst auf den historischen und theoretischen Hintergrund der Achtsamkeitsbasierten Kognitiven Therapie ein. Im Anschluss daran wird die praktische Umsetzung des Gruppenkonzepts vorgestellt und der Stand der Forschung anhand aktueller Metaanalysen referiert. Der Beitrag schließt mit einer kritischen Diskussion einer allzu verkürzten Anwendung von Achtsamkeit in der klinischen Praxis.
High-temperature creep properties of TATB-based polymer bonded explosives filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Lin Congmei , Liu Jiahui , Gong Feiyan , Zeng Guiyu , Huang Zhong , Pan Liping , Zhang Jianhu , Liu Shijun
Published: February 2015

The addition of 0.25 mass% MWCNTs is a simple and novel route for improving the creep resistance of TATB-based PBX.
Finding a suitable separation condition for TLC/FTIR analysis by using multiple-narrow-band TLC technique
Authors: Jiang Ye , Kang Xiaoyan , Gao Danqing , He Anqi , Guo Ran , Fan Xiaokun , Zhai Yanjun , Xia Jinming , Xu Yizhuang , Noda Isao , Wu Jinguang
Published: February 2015

A multiple-narrow-band TLC approach is proposed to find suitable solvent for TLC analysis in a high-throughput manner.
One-pot sol–gel synthesis of reduced graphene oxide uniformly decorated zinc oxide nanoparticles in starch environment for highly efficient photodegradation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Azarang Majid , Shuhaimi Ahmad , Yousefi Ramin , Jahromi Siamak Pilban
Published: February 2015

ZnO NPs + reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites were synthesized using a sol–gel method with starch as the polymerisation agent.
Pattern-based detection of anion pollutants in water with DNA polyfluorophores
Authors: Kwon Hyukin , Jiang Wei , Kool Eric T.
Published: February 2015

Eight fluorescent DNA-like oligomers bound to Y(iii) or Zn(ii) and attached to microbeads were able to distinguish 17 anions at micromolar concentrations in water.
Quatsomes for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm
Authors: Thomas Nicky , Dong Dong , Richter Katharina , Ramezanpour Mahnaz , Vreugde Sarah , Thierry Benjamin , Wormald Peter-John , Prestidge Clive A.
Published: February 2015

The anti-biofilm effect of drug delivery systems composed of the antiseptic quaternary ammonium compound cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and cholesterol was evaluated inStaphylococcus aureusbiofilm.
Structural transition in KMnCrF6 – a chemically ordered magnetic ferroelectric
Authors: Drathen Christina , Nakagawa Takeshi , Crichton Wilson A. , Hill Adrian H. , Ohishi Yasuo , Margadonna Serena
Published: February 2015

Emergence of an orthorhombic phase at room temperature suggests this tetragonal tungsten bronze fluoride to be a potential multiferroic material.
Photochemical vapor generation and in situ preconcentration for determination of mercury by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: He Chunlin , Cheng Guanglei , Zheng Chengbin , Wu Li , Lee Yong-Ill , Hou Xiandeng
Published: February 2015

Mercury vapor from photo-chemical vapor generation (CVG) was enriched in gold nanorods (AuNRs) for enhancing sensitivity of GF-AAS.
Strong hydrophobizer: laterally chemisorbed low-molecular-weight polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Chae Soo Sang , Oh Jin Young , Park Jee Ho , Choi Won Jin , Han Jeong Hwan , Lee Jeong-O , Baik Hong Koo , Lee Tae Il
Published: February 2015

We introduce a siloxane chain-based hydrophobizer that exhibits superior thermal and chemical stability compared to the conventional hydrophobizing silane agent under conditions of over 300 °C and pH 2–13.
Triblock peptide–linker–lipid molecular design improves potency of peptide ligands targeting family B G protein-coupled receptors
Authors: Liu Yuting , Cai Yingying , Liu Wei , Li Xiao-Han , Rhoades Elizabeth , Yan Elsa C. Y.
Published: February 2015

Design and characterization of triblock peptide–linker–lipid constructs for targeting family B G protein-couple receptors with improved bioactivity and biostability.
Synthesis and characterisation of an open-cage fullerene encapsulating hydrogen fluoride
Authors: Krachmalnicoff Andrea , Bounds Richard , Mamone Salvatore , Levitt Malcolm H. , Carravetta Marina , Whitby Richard J.
Published: February 2015

We report the first encapsulation of HF in an open fullerene and its solution and solid-state NMR.
One pot synthesis of octahedral {111} CuIr gradient alloy nanocrystals with a Cu-rich core and an Ir-rich surface and their usage as efficient water splitting catalyst
Authors: Yoon Donghwan , Bang Sulgi , Park Jongsik , Kim Jongchan , Baik Hionsuck , Yang Haesik , Lee Kwangyeol
Published: February 2015

A facile one pot synthetic route has been developed to obtain octahedral CuIr nanocrystals with Ir-rich {111} facets, which show high catalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction.
Tetraphenolate niobium and tantalum complexes for the ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone
Authors: Al-Khafaji Yahya , Sun Xinsen , Prior Timothy J. , Elsegood Mark R. J. , Redshaw Carl
Published: February 2015

Reaction of the pro-ligands α,α,α′,α′-tetra(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl-p-(or -m-)xylene-para-(or -meta-)tetraphenol with [MCl5] (M = Nb, Ta) or [Nb(O)Cl3(NCMe)2] afforded complexes capable of the ROP of e-caprolactone at high temperature.
Frontier orbitals and transition states in the oxidation and degradation ofl-ascorbic acid: a DFT study
Authors: Yamabe Shinichi , Tsuchida Noriko , Yamazaki Shoko , Sakaki Shigeyoshi
Published: February 2015

DFT calculations were carried out to investigate reaction paths ofl-ascorbic acid, hydroxyl radicals and water clusters up to threonic, oxalic, xylonic and lyxonic acids.
Radiolabeled dendritic probes as tools for high in vivo tumor targeting: application to melanoma
Authors: Parat Audrey , Kryza David , Degoul Françoise , Taleb Jacqueline , Viallard Claire , Janier Marc , Garofalo Antonio , Bonazza Pauline , Heinrich-Balard Laurence , Cohen Richard , Miot-Noirault Elisabeth , Chezal Jean-Michel , Billotey Claire , Felder-Flesch Delphine
Published: February 2015

A small-sized and bifunctional111In-radiolabeled dendron shows highin vivotargeting efficiency towards an intracellular target in a murine melanoma model.
Reducing dielectric loss in CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films by high-pressure oxygen annealing
Authors: Lin Y. , Feng D. Y. , Gao M. , Ji Y. D. , Jin L. B. , Yao G. , Liao F. Y. , Zhang Y. , Chen C. L.
Published: February 2015

High pressure oxygen annealing could reduce the dielectric loss in CCTO films as well as induce obvious difference in strain status.
Enhanced piezoelectric activity in high-temperature Bi1−x−ySmxLayFeO3 lead-free ceramics
Authors: Zheng Ting , Wu Jiagang
Published: February 2015

In this work, a high piezoelectric activity (d33∼50 pC N−1) and a low dielectric loss (tan δ∼0.43%) have been obtained in high-temperature Bi1−x−ySmxLayFeO3 piezoceramics with x = 0.025 and y = 0.05.
Strong carrier localization effect in carrier dynamics of 585 nm InGaN amber light-emitting diodes
Authors: Li Panpan , Li Hongjian , Li Zhi , Kang Junjie , Yi Xiaoyan , Li Jinmin , Wang Guohong
Published: February 2015

Temperature dependence and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) have been carried out to study carrier dynamics for 585 nm InGaN amber light-emitting diodes (LEDs). It is found that in InGaN amber LEDs, peak emission energy only shows a slight blueshift from 588 to 575 nm, as temperature increased from 10 K to 300 K. Moreover, radiative recombination lifetime has demonstrated independent of temperature based TRPL results. These two features indicate that a strong carrier localization effect plays a dominant role in carrier dynamics for InGaN amber LEDs. Also, activation energy of 40.3 meV is obtained through Arrhenius plot of PL intensity versus temperature.
Alternative configuration scheme for signal amplification with scanning ion conductance microscopy
Authors: Kim Joonhui , Kim Seong-Oh , Cho Nam-Joon
Published: February 2015

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM) is an emerging nanotechnology tool to investigate the morphology and charge transport properties of nanomaterials, including soft matter. SICM uses an electrolyte filled nanopipette as a scanning probe and detects current changes based on the distance between the nanopipette apex and the target sample in an electrolyte solution. In conventional SICM, the pipette sensor is excited by applying voltage as it raster scans near the surface. There have been attempts to improve upon raster scanning because it can induce collisions between the pipette sidewalls and target sample, especially for soft, dynamic materials (e.g., biological cells). Recently, Novak et al. demonstrated that hopping probe ion conductance microscopy (HPICM) with an adaptive scan method can improve the image quality obtained by SICM for such materials. However, HPICM is inherently slower than conventional raster scanning. In order to optimize both image quality and scanning speed, we report the development of an alternative configuration scheme for SICM signal amplification that is based on applying current to the nanopipette. This scheme overcomes traditional challenges associated with low bandwidth requirements of conventional SICM. Using our alternative scheme, we demonstrate successful imaging of L929 fibroblast cells and discuss the capabilities of this instrument configuration for future applications.
Universal low-energy behavior in three-body systems
Authors: Gridnev Dmitry K.
Published: February 2015

We consider a pairwise interacting quantum 3-body system in 3-dimensional space with finite masses and the interaction term V12 + λ(V13 + V23), where all pair potentials are assumed to be nonpositive. The pair interaction of the particles {1, 2} is tuned to make them have a zero energy resonance and no negative energy bound states. The coupling constant λ > 0 is allowed to take the values for which the particle pairs {1, 3} and {2, 3} have no bound states with negative energy. Let λcr denote the critical value of the coupling constant such that E(λ) → −0 for λ → λcr, where E(λ) is the ground state energy of the 3-body system. We prove the theorem, which states that near λcr, one has E(λ) = C(λ − λcr)[ln(λ − λcr)]−1 + h.t., where C is a constant and h.t. stands for “higher terms.” This behavior of the ground state energy is universal (up to the value of the constant C), meaning that it is independent of the form of pair interactions.
An improved phase shift reconstruction algorithm of fringe scanning technique for X-ray microscopy
Authors: Lian S. , Yang H. , Kudo H. , Momose A. , Yashiro W.
Published: February 2015

The X-ray phase imaging method has been applied to observe soft biological tissues, and it is possible to image the soft tissues by using the benefit of the so-called “Talbot effect” by an X-ray grating. One type of the X-ray phase imaging method was reported by combining an X-ray imaging microscope equipped by a Fresnel zone plate with a phase grating. Using the fringe scanning technique, a high-precision phase shift image could be obtained by displacing the grating step by step and measuring dozens of sample images. The number of the images was selected to reduce the error caused by the non-sinusoidal component of the Talbot self-image at the imaging plane. A larger number suppressed the error more but increased radiation exposure and required higher mechanical stability of equipment. In this paper, we analyze the approximation error of fringe scanning technique for the X-ray microscopy which uses just one grating and proposes an improved algorithm. We compute the approximation error by iteration and substitute that into the process of reconstruction of phase shift. This procedure will suppress the error even with few sample images. The results of simulation experiments show that the precision of phase shift image reconstructed by the proposed algorithm with 4 sample images is almost the same as that reconstructed by the conventional algorithm with 40 sample images. We also have succeeded in the experiment with real data.
Light depolarization in off-specular reflection on submicro rough metal surfaces with imperfectly random roughness
Authors: Liu Linsheng , Li Xuefeng , Nonaka Kazuhiro
Published: February 2015

Depolarization at a rough surface relates to its roughness and irregularity (e.g., sags and crests) besides the material property. However, there is still lack of general theory to clearly describe the relationship between depolarization ratios and surface conditions, and one important reason is that the mechanism of depolarization relates to geometric parameters such as microcosmic height/particle distributions of sub-micro to nm levels. To study the mechanism in more detail, a compact laser instrument is developed, and depolarization information of a linearly polarized incident light is used for analyzing the roughness, during which a He-Ne laser source (λ = 632.8 nm) is used. Three nickel specimens with RMS roughness (Rq) less than λ/4 are fabricated and tested. Six different areas in each specimen are characterized in detail using an AFM. Rq are in the range of 34.1–155.0 nm, and the heights are non-Gaussian distribution in the first specimen and near-Gaussian distribution in the others. Off-specular inspection is carried out exactly on these 18 characterized areas, and results show that the cross-polarization ratios match quite well with Rq values of the first sample that has Rq ≤ λ/10 (or Rt ≤ λ), while they match well with maximum height, Rt, values of the other two that have Rt > λ (the maximum derivation is 11%). In addition, since this instrument is simple, portable, stable, and low-cost, it has great potential for practical online roughness testing after a linear calibration.
Out of plane superferromagnetic behavior of quasi two-dimensional Fe/Al2O3 multilayer nanocomposites
Authors: Miu Dana , Jinga S. I. , Vasile B. S. , Miu L.
Published: February 2015

The magnetic properties of low filling factor Fe-nanoparticle monolayers separated by relatively thick Al2O3 layers were investigated in parallel and perpendicular external magnetic field. The thin film nanocomposites were prepared by sequential pulsed laser deposition on (100) Si substrates, and the monolayers contain single-domain, dispersive nanoparticles. When the magnetic field is oriented parallel to the layers, the composite exhibits superparamagnetism. However, in perpendicular field, the superferromagnetic order sets in, as revealed by the increase of the magnetic moment, the hysteresis persisting at high temperatures, and a smaller relaxation rate. The complex out of plane behavior of our nanocomposites in perpendicular field is attributed to quasi two-dimensionality and to the dispersion of the in-plane nanoparticle separation.
Six-vertex model with partial domain wall boundary conditions: Ferroelectric phase
Authors: Bleher Pavel , Liechty Karl
Published: February 2015

We obtain an asymptotic formula for the partition function of the six-vertex model with partial domain wall boundary conditions in the ferroelectric phase region. The proof is based on a formula for the partition function involving the determinant of a matrix of mixed Vandermonde/Hankel type. This determinant can be expressed in terms of a system of discrete orthogonal polynomials, which can then be evaluated asymptotically by comparison with the Meixner polynomials.
FeCo nanowires with enhanced heating powers and controllable dimensions for magnetic hyperthermia
Authors: Alonso J. , Khurshid H. , Sankar V. , Nemati Z. , Phan M. H. , Garayo E. , García J. A. , Srikanth H.
Published: February 2015

A detailed study of the magnetic properties and heating capacities of electrodeposited FeCo nanowires with varying lengths (2–40 μm) and diameters (100 and 300 nm) is reported. We find that specific absorption rate (SAR) increases rapidly with increasing wire length up to 10 μm, followed by a gradual increase for larger lengths. Magnetic and hyperthermia measurements have revealed the important effect of dipolar interactions between the nanowires on their magnetic and inductive heating responses. Both calorimetric and AC magnetometry methods consistently show that the physical movement contribution of the nanowires to the SAR is small, and that for applied fields exceeding the coercive field, the nanowires tend to align parallel to the field, thus enhancing the SAR. Maximum SAR values of ∼1500 W/g have been achieved for the largest wires at H = 300 Oe and f = 310 kHz.
Charge injection and trapping in TiO2 nanoparticles decorated silicon nanowires arrays
Authors: Rasool Kamran , Rafiq M. A. , Ahmad Mushtaq , Imran Z. , Batool S. S. , Nazir Adnan , Durrani Z. A. K. , Hasan M. M.
Published: February 2015

We investigate carrier transport properties of silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Ohmic conduction was dominant at lower voltages and space charge limited current with and without traps was observed at higher voltages. Mott's 3D variable range hoping mechanism was found to be dominant at lower temperatures. The minimum hopping distance (Rmin) for n and p-SiNWs/TiO2 NPs devices was 1.5 nm and 0.68 nm, respectively, at 77 K. The decrease in the value of Rmin can be attributed to higher carrier mobility in p-SiNWs/TiO2 NPs than that of n-SiNWs/TiO2 NPs hybrid device.
Perovskite LaRhO3 as a p-type active layer in oxide photovoltaics
Authors: Nakamura Masao , Krockenberger Yoshiharu , Fujioka Jun , Kawasaki Masashi , Tokura Yoshinori
Published: February 2015

Perovskite-type transition-metal oxides have a wide variety of physical properties and triggered intensive research on functional devices in the form of heteroepitaxial junctions. However, there is a missing component that is a p-type conventional band semiconductor. LaRhO3 (LRO) is one of very few promising candidates having its bandgap between filled t2g and empty eg of Rh in low-spin state, but there has been no report on the synthesis of large-size single crystals or thin films. Here, we report on the junction properties of single-crystalline thin films of LRO grown on (110) oriented Nb-doped SrTiO3 substrates. The external quantum efficiency of the photo-electron conversion exceeds 1% in the visible-light region due to the wide depletion layer and long diffusion length of minority carriers in LRO. Clear indication of p-type band semiconducting character in a perovskite oxide of LRO will pave a way to explore oxide electronics of perovskite heterostructures.
Surface emitting multi-wavelength array of single frequency quantum cascade lasers
Authors: Jouy P. , Bonzon C. , Wolf J. , Gini E. , Beck M. , Faist J.
Published: February 2015

We present a surface emitting laser array design based on distributed Bragg reflectors together with a second order extractor, providing a deterministic mode selection mechanism. The technology is implemented as a buried heterostructure compatible with continuous-wave operation and low dissipation. A proof of principle featured 10 regularly spaced single mode devices with a coverage of 175 cm−1 in the 8–10 μm wavelength range and milliwatt output powers with a far-field pattern full-width half-maximum of 8.3° in the longitudinal direction.
The perception by pastoralists of the factors influencing the appropriate distribution of livestock in the rangelands of north-east Iran
Authors: Shahraki M. R. , Abedi-Sarvestani A. , Seyedi M.S. , Khachak P. Rafiaani , Nieto-Garibay A. , Van Passel S. , Azadi H.
Published: February 2015

The distribution of livestock grazing is a key principle of range management. This study examines pastoralists’ perceptions of the factors that affect the distribution of livestock in the rangelands of the Neqab region of the Kashmar County in north-east Iran. Data were collected from the pastoralists on their perceptions of the managerial, biological and physical factors that influences the distribution of livestock, using both qualitative and quantitative assessments. Results showed that, the perception of the majority of pastoralists was that the distribution of livestock was ‘average’ or ‘good’ in the study area. It was perceived that the experience of herders and the size of the rangeland were the main factors influencing the distribution of livestock. Regression analyses showed that it was perceived that managerial factors had a more important role than biological and physical factors in the distribution of livestock and the proper use of the rangelands in north-east Iran.
Inference of seasonal and pandemic influenza transmission dynamics
Authors: Yang Wan , Lipsitch Marc , Shaman Jeffrey
Published: February 2015

Significance

Infectious disease surveillance systems are powerful tools for monitoring and understanding infectious disease dynamics; however, underreporting (due to both unreported and asymptomatic infections) and observation errors in these systems create challenges for delineating a complete picture of infectious disease epidemiology. This issue is true for influenza, an infectious disease of pandemic potential. Here we develop and present influenza inference systems capable of compensating for observational biases and underreporting. Using both Google Flu Trends and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data in conjunction with Bayesian model inference methods, we are able to infer the evolving epidemiological features of influenza and its impacts among the large population during 2003−2013, including the 2009 pandemic. In addition, differences among regions within the United States are identified.
Persistent and widespread occurrence of bioactive quinone pigments during post-Paleozoic crinoid diversification
Authors: Wolkenstein Klaus
Published: February 2015

Significance

Marine organisms produce a wide diversity of natural products with specific bioactivities, representing a valuable source for drug discovery. These secondary metabolites are the result of adaptation and natural selection during the evolution of the producing organisms. However, little is known about the evolutionary persistence and distribution of these secondary metabolites through deep time, because original secondary metabolites of ancient organisms usually are not preserved. Here the unique example of a group of bioactive quinone pigments is shown to have persisted almost unchanged and with a wide distribution from the Early Mesozoic (about 240 MyBP) until today within the echinoderm class Crinoidea, whereas the class underwent a major adaptive radiation and diversification after the end-Permian mass extinction.
Structural assembly of the signaling competent ERK2–RSK1 heterodimeric protein kinase complex
Authors: Alexa Anita , Gógl Gergő , Glatz Gábor , Garai Ágnes , Zeke András , Varga János , Dudás Erika , Jeszenői Norbert , Bodor Andrea , Hetényi Csaba , Reményi Attila
Published: February 2015

Significance

Signaling pathways often use kinase cascades, but structural characterization of catalytic complexes between heterodimeric kinase pairs has been elusive. For MAPK–MAPKAPK binary complexes, a high-affinity “docking” interaction holds kinase domains proximal within a tethered complex. This heterodimer provided a unique opportunity to shed light on kinase domain–domain contacts that play a role in the assembly of the transient catalytic complex. Starting out from a new precatalytic extracellular signal regulated kinase 2–ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (ERK2–RSK1) crystallographic complex, where the activation loop of the downstream kinase (RSK1) faced the enzyme's (ERK2) catalytic site, we used molecular dynamics simulation to show how the catalytic ERK2–RSK1 complex forms. Our findings reveal the dynamic process through which transient, physiologically relevant kinase heterodimers form in a prototypical kinase cascade.
Regulation and aggregation of intrinsically disordered peptides
Authors: Levine Zachary A. , Larini Luca , LaPointe Nichole E. , Feinstein Stuart C. , Shea Joan-Emma
Published: February 2015

Significance

The microtubule-regulating protein tau is a prototypical intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) that plays an important physiological role in the human body; however, aggregates of tau are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Here we demonstrate through simulations and experiments with an aggregating tau fragment that cosolvent interactions can significantly affect the balance between hydrogen bonds and salt bridge formation in IDPs, subsequently determining their preferred conformations. These subtle perturbations can dramatically shift IDPs from compact ensembles to extended ones, thereby influencing aggregate formation. These results lend considerable insight into the biophysics of the regulation and aggregation of IDPs.
Major diversification of voltage-gated K
+
channels occurred in ancestral parahoxozoans
Authors: Li Xiaofan , Liu Hansi , Chu Luo Jose , Rhodes Sarah A. , Trigg Liana M. , van Rossum Damian B. , Anishkin Andriy , Diatta Fortunay H. , Sassic Jessica K. , Simmons David K. , Kamel Bishoy , Medina Monica , Martindale Mark Q. , Jegla Timothy
Published: February 2015

Significance

We examined the origin and evolution of two major families of voltage-gated K
+
channels, Shaker and KCNQ, which regulate action potential repolarization, patterning, and threshold. Shaker family channels evolved in a basal metazoan ancestor of ctenophores and parahoxozoans (including cnidarians and bilaterians), but functional diversification of the Shaker family and the emergence of the KCNQ family occurred specifically within the parahoxozoan lineage. Our results suggest that many major innovations in the regulation of cellular excitability by voltage-gated K
+
channels are unique to parahoxozoans and that these innovations occurred before the divergence of cnidarians and bilaterians. Ctenophores and sponges separated prior to this burst of innovation and thus either lack major mechanisms for action potential regulation or evolved such mechanisms independently.
HDAC inhibition prevents white matter injury by modulating microglia/macrophage polarization through the GSK3β/PTEN/Akt axis
Authors: Wang Guohua , Shi Yejie , Jiang Xiaoyan , Leak Rehana K. , Hu Xiaoming , Wu Yun , Pu Hongjian , Li Wei-Wei , Tang Bo , Wang Yun , Gao Yanqin , Zheng Ping , Bennett Michael V. L. , Chen Jun
Published: February 2015

Significance

Moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) damages white matter, thereby contributing to long-term neurological deficits. Currently, there are no satisfactory therapies to mitigate this white matter injury (WMI). Here we show that inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) exerts robust structural and functional protection of white matter in a murine model of TBI/WMI by polarizing microglia/macrophages toward the beneficial M2 phenotype. HDAC inhibition shifted microglia/macrophage phenotype by up-regulating glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), which inactivated phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) through phosphorylation, thereby promoting PI3K/Akt signaling. The GSK3β-dependent M2 phenotype exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects that protected myelin-forming oligodendrocytes and diminished WMI. These results reveal a previously unexplored role for GSK3β/PTEN/PI3K signaling in the regulation of microglia/macrophages and demonstrate the promise of HDAC inhibition in the treatment of TBI/WMI.
Towards a pragmatic approach to the study of languages in contact
Authors: Argente Joan A. , Payrató Lluís
Published: February 2015

The study of language contact has been traditionally carried out from a structural perspective (synchronic or diachronic), from a sociolinguistic perspective and/or from a rather psychological perspective, centered on the linguistic and communicative competence of the multilingual individual.

However, a great number of linguistic and sociolinguistic topics that appear in language contact situations may be productively tackled from a pragmatic viewpoint. This pragmatic perspective takes into account linguistic use in communication contexts and raises, at a different level, questions that deal with the structures and the evolution of the codes in contact.

The main aim of this presentation is the analysis of some of the specific problems that arise in given language contact situations from a pragmatic perspective, considering the adaptation processes of the speakers, their particular interactive strategies and the social meaning generated. Understanding pragmatics in its original sense, i.e. as the study of the relationship between linguistic signs and speakers (users of certain resources), these phenomena should be understood as the result of speakers’ adaptation to changing sociocultural circumstances. This adaptation creates a new distribution of the verbal resources (or linguistic economy) of the community and, consequently, modifies its varieties as far as form and function are concerned.
When husbands die
Authors: Nardini Gloria
Published: February 2015

This is a paper about women and language. In it women tell jokes, both individually and collaboratively, which are performances of verbal art. It is also a paper about ethnicity and gender, for in their joke telling, these women meld both discourses in seamless fashion. My analysis of a 2 minute 40 second transcript of “talk as play,” (Coates 151) explicates the powerful identity they fashion for themselves. Both this identity and the fun they have with each other are dependent, of course, upon understanding the context of their club, the Collandia Ladies’ Club.
Sol, sombra, y media luz
Authors: Haney Peter C.
Published: February 2015

This paper analyzes a parody of the tango “A media luz” that was performed by Rodolfo Garcia, a Mexican American comedian who worked in his family’s tent show, the Carpa Garcia, in the early 1940s. I argue that by juxtaposing the generic conventions of the tango with those of the canción ranchera and by introducing carnivalesque humor, Mr. Garcia’s parody articulated a distinctly local Mexican American identity which was strongly linked to a sense of working-class masculinity. In this way, the parody highlights the class- and gender-based contradictions that were inherent in ongoing processes of Mexican American identity fonnation at mid-century.
Notes on the role of metapragmatic awareness in language use
Authors: Verschueren Jef
Published: February 2015

Against the background of a general theory of pragmatics, reflections are formulated on the central role of metapragmatic awareness as a specific manifestation of salience, the status of processes of meaning generation in language use in relation to the cognitive apparatus. First the notions of metalanguage and metapragmatics, as used in linguistics, are discussed. Then metalinguistic and metapragmatic phenomena are presented as reflections of metapragmatic awareness. Two ways in which indicators of metapragmatic awareness function in language use are distinguished: Their functioning as anchoring devices locating linguistic form in relation to context, and their functioning as signals of the language users’ reflexive interpretations of the activities they are engaged in. Finally, some social implications of metapragmatic functioning are discussed, in particular in relation to language ideologies and identity construction.
Language and cognition in development
Authors: Hickmann Maya
Published: February 2015

The relation between language and cognition in child development is one of the oldest and most debated questions, which has recently come back to the forefront of several disciplines in the social sciences. The overview below examines several universalistic vs. relativistic approaches to this question, stemming both from traditional developmental theories and from more recent proposals in psycholinguistics that are illustrated by some findings concerning space in child language. Two main questions are raised for future research. First, substantial evidence is necessary concerning the potential impact of linguistic variation on cognitive development, including evidence that can provide ways of articulating precocious capacities in the pre-linguistic period and subsequent developments across a variety of child languages. Second, relating language and cognition also requires that we take into account both structural and functional determinants of child language within a model that can explain development at different levels of linguistic organization in the face of cross-linguistic diversity.
Coherence, focus and structure
Authors: Lee-Wong Song Mei
Published: February 2015

This paper examines the usage of NE in Chinese dialogues and monologues excerpted from a Chinese collection of narratives. The analysis of NE as a constituent in discourse structure shows that linguistically it functions like a grammatical connector. From a cognitive point of view, NE signals topic shift and focuses on new, contrastive information. It is argued that coherence is achieved through semantic contrastiveness, and pragmatic relevance. It is also argued that the prosodic feature of pause i.e. NE+{Pause}, serves to further emphasize the semantic contrastiveness in topic and comment.
Coherence is defined not merely in terms of structural relations but more importantly from the viewpoint of semantic connectivity. It is the focus on semantic connectivity signaled by NE, which underlies the semantic cohesion in topic shifts.
Critique of puerile reason
Authors: Cushing Steven
Published: February 2015

Key arguments in J.P. Moreland’s The Creation Hypothesis that purport to provide a scientific basis for creationism as an alternative to evolutionary theory are examined. Arguments based on Bayes’ theorem, the existence of intracable mathematical problems, the close correspondence between the actual values of basic physical constants and those required for the existence of life, the second law of thermodynamics, the nature of infinity, the specified complexity of DNA, and the human-specificity of language are analyzed and found wanting. In general, the arguments are seen to fail as a result of confusions in word usage or meaning, sometimes of a very elementary nature. The scientific, philosophical, and ethical implications of the overall argument’s failure and the reasons for it are discussed.
The communicative role of silence in Akan
Authors: Agyekum Kofi
Published: February 2015

This paper looks at the meaning of silence within the Akan speech community. It discusses two types of silence (1) performative silence and (2) semiotic silence. The positive attributes of silence as a communicative strategy will be explored.

The paper outlines the various communicative situations in Akan society in which silence is employed, highlighting religious, social and linguistic aspects. Attention is drawn to indigenous expressions to describe silence. In passing, I will also compare the Akan data with other African societies and cultures outside Africa. The paper finally discusses silence vs. talk, silence and gender, and the acquisition of silence as a form of socialisation and communicative competence.
Contextual resources for inferring unexpressed referents in Japanese conversation
Authors: Takagi Tomoyo
Published: February 2015

The phenomenon of “elliptical” expressions in Japanese has been extensively studied in the field of Japanese linguistics. However, this phenomenon has been often treated as a general syntactic feature of Japanese, and the question of how this feature is realized in actual use of the language has been rather neglected. The present paper is intended to analyze how speakers of Japanese actually deal with the task of interpreting unexpressed elements that emerge in their talk in interaction. Using video- and audio-data of naturally occurring conversations in Japanese, it is shown that, in producing and understanding utterances involving unexpressed referents, conversational parties utilize not only their morphological and syntactic knowledge but also various, multilayered resources that are available to them in the immediate context of interaction.
Interaction and conversational constrictions in the relationships between suppliers of services and immigrant users
Authors: Valero-Garcés Carmen
Published: February 2015

This article deals with aspects of interaction between doctors and immigrant users whose native language is not Spanish (immigrant non-native speakers of Spanish: INNSS) in healthcare centers in Spain. The methodological focus is based on institutional conversation analysis following Drew and Heritage’s studies (Drew & Heritage 1992; Heritage 1997; Drew and Sarjonen 1997), and ethnographic research (Cicourel 1992). It is my intention to examine the characteristics and peculiarities -if any- of doctor-patient interaction when the participants are immigrants and non-native speakers of Spanish who are not fluent in the language of interaction, in this case Spanish. The study is based on quantitative and qualitative data which come from surveys and recordings carried out in healthcare centers in northern Madrid, Spain, during 2000 - 2001.
Indirectness, inexplicitness and vagueness made clearer
Authors: Cheng Winnie , Warren Martin
Published: February 2015

The ability to do indirectness, inexplicitness and vagueness is a key component in the repertoire of all competent discoursers and these are commonplace phenomena in written and spoken discourses, particularly in conversations. The study reported in the paper seeks to delineate and exemplify these three terms which are used frequently in the literature, but which are potentially confusing as they are not always unambiguously defined and consistently applied. The purpose of the study is to describe the differences between the three terms in terms of their pragmatic usage and functions, drawing upon a corpus of naturally-occurring conversational data between Hong Kong Chinese and native speakers of English. In so doing, this study underlines the widespread occurrence of these forms of language use and the ways in which participants in spoken discourse employ them to jointly construct both context and meaning.
Perspective in the discourse of war
Authors: Suleiman Camelia , O’Connell Daniel C.
Published: February 2015

The following article applies both quantitative and qualitative methods of research to markers of perspective in a TV interview of Colin Powell on the CNN LARRY KING LIVE program from November 26, 2001. Perspective is well established in phenomenology and social psychology; its starting point is the conviction that every utterance expresses a point of view. From previous research, we accept the dialogical nature of perspective (see O’Connell & Kowal 1998) and further argue that perspective can be observed through measures of orality and literacy and through referencing (name and pronoun reference). The following measures of orality and literacy are examined: Back channeling hesitations, interruptions, contractions and elisions, first person singular pronominals, interjections and tag questions, and turn transitions from interviewer to interviewee and vice versa. We argue further that Colin Powell’s perspective stresses the division between “we” and “they” with regard to the then imminent involvement in Iraq. Theoretical implications are discussed.