bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Asymmetric backscattering from the hybrid magneto-electric meta particle
Authors: Kozlov Vitali , Filonov Dmitry , Shalin Alexander S. , Steinberg Ben Z. , Ginzburg Pavel
Published: November 2016

The optical theorem relates the total scattering cross-section of a given structure with its forward scattering, but does not impose any restrictions on other directions. Strong backward-forward asymmetry in scattering could be achieved by exploring retarded coupling between particles, exhibiting both electric and magnetic resonances. Here, a hybrid magneto-electric particle (HMEP), consisting of a split ring resonator acting as a magnetic dipole and a wire antenna acting as an electric dipole, is shown to possess asymmetric scattering properties. When illuminated from opposite directions with the same polarization of the electric field, the structure has exactly the same forward scattering, whereas the backward scattering is drastically different. The scattering cross section is shown to be as low as zero at a narrow frequency range when illuminated from one side, while being maximal at the same frequency range when illuminated from the other side. Theoretical predictions of the phenomena are supported with both numerical and experimental conformations, obtained at the GHz frequency range, and all are in a good agreement with each other. HMEP meta-particles could be used as building blocks for various metamaterials assembling solar cells, invisibility cloaks, holographic masks, etc.
Elucidating the structure of merocyanine dyes with the ASEC-FEG method. Phenol blue in solution
Authors: Franco Leandro R. , Brandão Idney , Fonseca Tertius L. , Georg Herbert C.
Published: November 2016

The electronic structure of phenol blue (PB) was investigated in several protic and aprotic solvents, in a wide range of dielectric constants, using atomistic simulations. We employed the sequential QM/MM and the free energy gradient methods to optimize the geometry of PB in each solvent at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The ASEC mean field is used to include the ensemble average of the solute-solvent interaction into the molecular hamiltonian, both for the geometry optimization and for the calculations of the electronic properties. We found that the geometry of PB changes considerably, from a polyene-like structure in nonpolar solvents to a cyanine-like in water. Moreover, and quite interestingly, in protic solvents with higher dielectric constant than water, the structure of the molecule is less affected and lies in an intermediate state. The results illustrate the important role played by hydrogen bonds in the conformation of merocyanine dyes.
A new wavefunction hierarchy for interacting geminals
Authors: Limacher Peter A.
Published: November 2016

A new truncation scheme for non-orthogonal antisymmetrized products of interacting geminals (APIG) is introduced based on antisymmetrized products of strongly orthogonal geminals (APSG). This wavefunction hierarchy of interacting geminals (IG) allows us to gradually increase the accuracy at which the ground state of a seniority-zero Hamiltonian can be estimated, ranging from APSG up to approximation-free APIG. Mathematical expressions for the lowest four orders (IG0, IG1, IG2, and IG3) are given explicitly and the computational cost to evaluate their transition density matrix is verified to scale only cubically with system size. Exemplary numerical calculations indicate that already a very early truncation level leads to results virtually identical to APIG.
Coarse-grained simulations for flow of complex soft matter fluids in the bulk and in the presence of solid interfaces
Authors: Ahuja V. R. , van der Gucht J. , Briels W. J.
Published: November 2016

We present a coarse-grained particle-based simulation technique for modeling flow of complex soft matter fluids such as polymer solutions in the presence of solid interfaces. In our coarse-grained description of the system, we track the motion of polymer molecules using their centers-of-mass as our coarse-grain co-ordinates and also keep track of another set of variables that describe the background flow field. The coarse-grain motion is thus influenced not only by the interactions based on appropriate potentials used to model the particular polymer system of interest and the random kicks associated with thermal fluctuations, but also by the motion of the background fluid. In order to couple the motion of the coarse-grain co-ordinates with the background fluid motion, we use a Galilean invariant, first order Brownian dynamics algorithm developed by Padding and Briels [J. Chem. Phys. 141, 244108 (2014)], which on the one hand draws inspiration from smoothed particle hydrodynamics in a way that the motion of the background fluid is efficiently calculated based on a discretization of the Navier-Stokes equation at the positions of the coarse-grain coordinates where it is actually needed, but also differs from it because of the inclusion of thermal fluctuations by having momentum-conserving pairwise stochastic updates. In this paper, we make a few modifications to this algorithm and introduce a new parameter, viz., a friction coefficient associated with the background fluid, and analyze the relationship of the model parameters with the dynamic properties of the system. We also test this algorithm for flow in the presence of solid interfaces to show that appropriate boundary conditions can be imposed at solid-fluid interfaces by using artificial particles embedded in the solid walls which offer friction to the real fluid particles in the vicinity of the wall. We have tested our method using a model system of a star polymer solution at the overlap concentration.
Flexible architecture of data acquisition firmware based on multi-behaviors finite state machine
Authors: Arpaia Pasquale , Cimmino Pasquale
Published: November 2016

A flexible firmware architecture for different kinds of data acquisition systems, ranging from high-precision bench instruments to low-cost wireless transducers networks, is presented. The key component is a multi-behaviors finite state machine, easily configurable to both low- and high-performance requirements, to diverse operating systems, as well as to on-line and batch measurement algorithms. The proposed solution was validated experimentally on three case studies with data acquisition architectures: (i) concentrated, in a high-precision instrument for magnetic measurements at CERN, (ii) decentralized, for telemedicine remote monitoring of patients at home, and (iii) distributed, for remote monitoring of building’s energy loss.
Fast sweep direct absorption (sub)millimeter-wave spectroscopy
Authors: Hays Brian M. , McCabe Morgan N. , Shipman Steven T. , Widicus Weaver Susanna L.
Published: November 2016

Direct absorption spectroscopy has been the mainstay for spectral acquisition in the millimeter and submillimeter wavelength regimes because of the sensitivity offered by standard hot electron bolometer detectors. However, this approach is limited in its utility because of the slow spectral acquisition speeds. A few rapid acquisition techniques that offer reasonable levels of sensitivity have been developed, but these rely on specialized and costly equipment. We present here a new instrument design for a (sub)millimeter spectrometer that offers both rapid spectral acquisition and highly sensitive detection while using equipment from existing chirped-pulse Fourier transform spectrometers and direct absorption spectrometers. We report on spectrometer design and performance and compare the results to standard lock-in detection techniques.
Communication: Probing the existence of partially arrested states in ionic liquids
Authors: Ramírez-González Pedro E. , Sanchéz-Díaz Luis E. , Medina-Noyola Magdaleno , Wang Yanting
Published: November 2016

The recent predictions of the self-consistent generalized Langevin equation theory, describing the existence of unusual partially arrested states in the context of ionic liquids, were probed using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of a room-temperature ionic liquid. We have found a slower diffusion of the smaller anions compared with the large cations for a wide range of temperatures. The arrest mechanism consists on the formation of a strongly repulsive glass by the anions, stabilized by the long range electrostatic potential. The diffusion of the less repulsive cations occurs through the holes left by the small particles. All of our observations in the simulated system coincide with the theoretical picture.
Mobile setup for synchrotron based in situ characterization during thermal and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition
Authors: Dendooven Jolien , Solano Eduardo , Minjauw Matthias M. , Van de Kerckhove Kevin , Coati Alessandro , Fonda Emiliano , Portale Giuseppe , Garreau Yves , Detavernier Christophe
Published: November 2016

We report the design of a mobile setup for synchrotron based in situ studies during atomic layer processing. The system was designed to facilitate in situ grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), and x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements at synchrotron facilities. The setup consists of a compact high vacuum pump-type reactor for atomic layer deposition (ALD). The presence of a remote radio frequency plasma source enables in situ experiments during both thermal as well as plasma-enhanced ALD. The system has been successfully installed at different beam line end stations at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility and SOLEIL synchrotrons. Examples are discussed of in situ GISAXS and XRF measurements during thermal and plasma-enhanced ALD growth of ruthenium from RuO4 (ToRuS™, Air Liquide) and H2 or H2 plasma, providing insights in the nucleation behavior of these processes.
Structural analysis of the dominant axial Fe3+ center in LiNbO3 crystal by electron nuclear double resonance
Authors: Grachev V. G. , Petersen R. T. , Kokanyan E. P. , Schirmer O. F. , Malovichko G. I.
Published: November 2016

Measurements of the angular dependencies of Electron Nuclear Double Resonance (ENDOR) were used for the analysis of the substitution site and local environment of the dominant axial Fe3+ center in LiNbO3 crystals. All components of hyperfine and quadrupole tensors for several shells of Li and Nb nuclei were determined. Since the found isotropic part of the hyperfine interaction of the iron electrons with the Li nuclei was small, it was justified to approximate the anisotropic part by the dipole-dipole interaction of electron and nuclear spins. From the comparison of the calculated and observed ENDOR spectra of the Li nuclei, it was derived that the Fe3+ ion occupies a Li site but is shifted from the regular Li position by 0.009 nm toward the octahedral structural vacancy. There is no evidence for the presence of any charge compensators in the nearest Li and Nb shells, which indicates a distant mechanism of excess charge compensation. ENDOR of Nb nuclei shows that there is a large isotropic hyperfine interaction due to the significant indirect transferred interaction of Fe3+ with nearest off axis Nb nuclei via O2− and polarization of Nb inner electron shells.
The Uhlenbeck-Ford model: Exact virial coefficients and application as a reference system in fluid-phase free-energy calculations
Authors: Paula Leite Rodolfo , Freitas Rodrigo , Azevedo Rodolfo , de Koning Maurice
Published: November 2016

The Uhlenbeck-Ford (UF) model was originally proposed for the theoretical study of imperfect gases, given that all its virial coefficients can be evaluated exactly, in principle. Here, in addition to computing the previously unknown coefficients B11 through B13, we assess its applicability as a reference system in fluid-phase free-energy calculations using molecular simulation techniques. Our results demonstrate that, although the UF model itself is too soft, appropriately scaled Uhlenbeck-Ford (sUF) models provide robust reference systems that allow accurate fluid-phase free-energy calculations without the need for an intermediate reference model. Indeed, in addition to the accuracy with which their free energies are known and their convenient scaling properties, the fluid is the only thermodynamically stable phase for a wide range of sUF models. This set of favorable properties may potentially put the sUF fluid-phase reference systems on par with the standard role that harmonic and Einstein solids play as reference systems for solid-phase free-energy calculations.
Limited-view ultrasonic guided wave tomography using an adaptive regularization method
Authors: Rao Jing , Ratassepp Madis , Fan Zheng
Published: November 2016

Ultrasonic guided waves are useful to assess the integrity of a structure from a remote location. Recently, tomography techniques have been developed to quantitatively estimate the thickness map of plate-like structures based on the dispersion characteristics of guided waves. In many applications only limited locations are available to place transducers. The missing viewing angles lead to artifacts which can degrade the image quality. To address this problem, this paper applies the regularization method to synthesize the missing components. The regularization technique is performed by an adaptive threshold approach to the limited view reconstruction. The effectiveness of this method combined with the full waveform inversion method is demonstrated by using numerical simulations as well as experiments on an irregularly shaped defect and two flat-bottom defects. The results indicate that the additional components obtained from the regularization method can significantly reduce the artifacts, leading to better reconstruction accuracy.
Monte Carlo investigation of how interfacial magnetic couplings affect blocking temperature distributions in exchange bias bilayers
Authors: Lhoutellier G. , Ledue D. , Patte R. , Baltz V.
Published: November 2016

Exchange bias in ferromagnetic (F)/antiferromagnetic (AF) bilayers is a function of both the bulk properties of the AF layer and the interfacial properties determining the effective interfacial couplings between the F and AF layers. The distinction between bulk and interface can be clearly revealed in blocking temperature distributions, where AF grain volume distribution results in a high-temperature peak while disordered interfacial magnetic phases produce a low-temperature contribution. However, the coupling conditions producing such bimodal blocking temperature distributions remain to be specified. In this article, we use a granular model which accounts for the disordered interfacial phases by considering small magnetic grains (SGs) with weaker anisotropy and coupling with the F grains at the F/AF interface. The SG are included in the AF material. The coupling conditions producing bimodal blocking temperature distributions were determined. Then, using Monte Carlo simulations, these conditions were validated and the effect of interfacial F-SG coupling on distributions was investigated. We next determined how the ratio between F-SG and F-AF couplings could be used to estimate the surface coverage of the disordered interfacial phases from experimental data.
Ultrafast dynamics in solids probed by femtosecond time-resolved broadband electronic sum frequency generation
Authors: Foglia Laura , Wolf Martin , Stähler Julia
Published: November 2016

Time-resolved sum frequency generation is an established tool to investigate the ultrafast vibrational dynamics with surface and interface specificity, which can be extended to the regime of electronic transitions using a white light continuum as demonstrated previously by studies of liquid interfaces. We expand this technique to the investigation of solid single crystal samples. In particular, we demonstrate the potential of electronic sum frequency generation by probing the non-equilibrium dynamics at excitonic resonances in ZnO with a sensitivity as small as 0.6% and with a time resolution of 160 fs.
Comment on “Fluid modeling of a high-voltage nanosecond pulsed xenon microdischarge” [Phys. Plasmas 23, 073513 (2016)]
Authors: Koulakis J. , Bataller A. , Pree S. , Putterman S.
Published: November 2016

Simulations of sparks in 10 atmosphere Xenon gas by Levko and Raja [Phys. Plasmas 23, 073513 (2016)] are unable to reproduce the experimental fact of their opacity to visible light [Bataller et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, 223501 (2014)]. Levko and Raja have argued the discrepancy is due to enhanced ionization from the probing laser radiation and/or cathode field emission. Having observed comparable opacity in similar systems without probing lasers and without electrodes, we instead argue that the enhanced ionization is a thermodynamic result of dense plasma screening effects that lower the effective ionization potential. Levko and Raja do not adequately address these density effects in their spark discharge simulations.
Ion flow and sheath structure near positively biased electrodes
Authors: Hood R. , Scheiner B. , Baalrud S. D. , Hopkins M. M. , Barnat E. V. , Yee B. T. , Merlino R. L. , Skiff F.
Published: November 2016

What effect does a dielectric material surrounding a small positively biased electrode have on the ion flow and sheath structure near the electrode? Measurements of the ion velocity distribution function and plasma potential near positively biased electrodes were made using laser-induced fluorescence and an emissive probe. The results were compared with 2D particle-in-cell simulations. Both measurements and simulations showed that when the positive electrode was surrounded by the dielectric material, ions were accelerated toward the electrode to approximately 0.5 times the ion sound speed before being deflected radially by the electron sheath potential barrier of the electrode. The axial potential profile in this case contained a virtual cathode. In comparison, when the dielectric material was removed from around the electrode, both the ion flow and virtual cathode depth near the electrode were dramatically reduced. These measurements suggest that the ion presheath from the dielectric material surrounding the electrode may enclose the electron sheath of the electrode, resulting in a virtual cathode that substantially influences the ion flow profile in the region.
Doubling the critical current density in superconducting FeSe0.5Te0.5 thin films by low temperature oxygen annealing
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Si Weidong , Li Qiang
Published: November 2016

Iron chalcogenide superconducting thin films and coated conductors are attractive for potential high field applications at liquid helium temperature for their high critical current densities Jc, low anisotropies, and relatively strong grain couplings. Embedding flux pinning defects is a general approach to increase the in-field performance of superconductors. However, many effective pinning defects can adversely affect the zero field or self-field Jc, particularly in cuprate high temperature superconductors. Here, we report the doubling of the self-field Jc in FeSe0.5Te0.5 films by low temperature oxygen annealing, reaching ∼3 MA/cm2. In-field performance is also dramatically enhanced. Our results demonstrate that low temperature oxygen annealing is a simple and cost-efficient post-treatment technique which can greatly help to accelerate the potential high field applications of the iron-based superconductors.
Split-loop resonator array for microwave energy harvesting
Authors: Wang Shen-Yun , Xu Peng , Geyi Wen , Ma Zhewang
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional split-loop resonator composed of a bended wire, a metallic ground slab, and a coaxial line loaded with a lumped matching resistor to mimic the input impedance of a rectifier. An ensemble of such resonators can function as an efficient energy harvester. The energy capture mechanism is explained by an equivalent circuit model. A 20 × 20 resonator array is fabricated to resonate around 2.45 GHz. The simulated and measured results indicate that the proposed resonator array has nearly unity energy conversion efficiency at the resonant frequency and is quite promising as an energy harvester in the microwave wireless power transmission system.
Thermal contact resistance measurement at the interface between Yb:YAG crystal and WCu cooler at 80 K and 300 K
Authors: Battaglia J.-L. , Gavory B. , Courjaud A.
Published: November 2016

The thermal resistance at the interface between a Yb:YAG crystal and WCu cooler has been measured at 80 K and 300 K using a hot disk technique. Furthermore, the technique allows retrieving the thermal conductivity for both materials at the two investigated temperature. Those results lead to envisage the implementation of the hot disk technique as an efficient non-destructive and in-situ technique to evaluate the quality of the interface between the crystal and the cooler during the assembling process as well as a during the use of the laser along its lifetime.
Collisionless electrostatic shock formation and ion acceleration in intense laser interactions with near critical density plasmas
Authors: Liu M. , Weng S. M. , Li Y. T. , Yuan D. W. , Chen M. , Mulser P. , Sheng Z. M. , Murakami M. , Yu L. L. , Zheng X. L. , Zhang J.
Published: November 2016

Laser-driven collisionless electrostatic shock formation and the subsequent ion acceleration have been studied in near critical density plasmas. Particle-in-cell simulations show that both the speed of laser-driven collisionless electrostatic shock and the energies of shock-accelerated ions can be greatly enhanced due to fast laser propagation in near critical density plasmas. However, a response time longer than tens of laser wave cycles is required before the shock formation in a near critical density plasma, in contrast to the quick shock formation in a highly overdense target. More important, we find that some ions can be reflected by the collisionless shock even if the electrostatic potential jump across the shock is smaller than the ion kinetic energy in the shock frame, which seems against the conventional ion-reflection condition. These anomalous ion reflections are attributed to the strong time-oscillating electric field accompanying the laser-driven collisionless shock in a near critical density plasma.
Electrical energy deposition on mitochondria and the different substrates
Authors: Hepokur C. , Kariper İ. A. , Kariper S. E.
Published: November 2016

Mitochondria were deposited via dip coating on different substrates, namely, commercial glass, copper plate (Cu), aluminum plate (Al), and poly (methylmethacrylate). Mitochondria are organelles that are found in live cells. Mitochondria produce most of the ATP via oxidative phosphorylation. First, mitochondria were extracted for the thin film, as described in the literature. Capacitance properties of thin films were measured with Agilent LCR meter. SEM analysis was used for the surface analysis. The structure of mitochondrion was characterized with FTIR, whose spectrum was measured using a Perkin Elmer Spectrum 400 spectrometer. The stretching vibration of the P-O bond was observed at 1236 cm−1 in FTIR spectrum of the thin film. The capacitance and dielectric permittivity were first measured and calculated for the substrates, and then for mitochondria plated substrates. The properties, such as dielectric permittivity, capacitance, energy density, and power density of some substrates have been changed when their surface has been coated with mitochondria.
High voltage breakdown (1.8 kV) of hydrogenated black diamond field effect transistor
Authors: Syamsul M. , Kitabayashi Y. , Matsumura D. , Saito T. , Shintani Y. , Kawarada H.
Published: November 2016

We fabricated and characterized black polycrystalline diamond field effect transistors. By implementing a C-H bonded channel with a wide gate-drain length up to 20 μm, a breakdown voltage of 1.8 kV was achieved, which is the highest value reported for a diamond field effect transistor (FET) to date. Several of our devices achieved a breakdown voltage/wide gate-drain length ratio > 100 V/μm. This is comparable to the performance of lateral SiC and GaN FETs. We investigated the effects of voltage stress up to 2.0 kV, and showed that the maximum current density fell to 26% of its initial value of 2.42 mA/mm before the device eventually broke down at 1.1 kV.
Microscopic mechanism on coalescence of the nano-droplets in present non-uniform electric field by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Chen Qicheng , Ma Jie , Wang Bingbing , Zhang Yingjin
Published: November 2016

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the nano-droplets coalescence process in a non-uniform electric field. Coalescence of droplets driven by dielectrophoresis (DEP) could be observed clearly in a strong electric field. The efficiency of coalescence is remarkably improved about 2 times for non-uniform electric field as much as the efficiency for the uniform electric field. Increasing the gradient of the field, it is found that the DEP force will accelerate the droplets motion of coalescence. But when the gradient of the field increases to a certain degree, the DEP force acting on the droplets presents strongly and rapidly nonlinear increasing and induces the droplets forming the chain structure due to intensively elongating. Moreover, the average operating voltages is much lower in non-uniform electric field.
Strongly localized states at the band-inverting interface with periodic lattice dislocations
Authors: Gaafer Fatma Nafaa , Peng Yu-Gui , Zhao De-Gang , Zhu Xue-Feng
Published: November 2016

We have constructed an interface which separates two different phononic crystals (PCs) with respectively effective negative density and negative bulk modulus through band inversion. Besides the eigenstates in weak localization stemming from the sign flipping of imaginary acoustic impedances at the interface, we observed an unusual type of strongly localized states at the band-inverting contact after a periodic lattice dislocation is purposely introduced. From the layered multiple scattering theory, we have uncovered that the underlying physics for these unique interface states in the hetero-structured PC are due to nontrivial constructive interferences of high-ordered Mie-scattered acoustic waves from the mismatched cylinders. The intriguing features include interface resonances of enormous quality factors (∼3×104) and chiral field patterns along the dislocation line. We envision potential applications of the work in slow sound trapping, notch filtering, and nonlinearity strengthening, etc.
Nitrate supplementation has marginal effects on enteric methane production from Bos indicus steers fed Flinders grass (Iseilema spp.) hay, but elevates blood methaemoglobin concentrations
Authors: Tomkins N. , Parker A. J. , Hepworth G. , Callaghan M. J.
Published: November 2016

This experiment has quantified the methane abatement potential of nitrate in the context of extensively managed cattle. The experimental protocol consisted of two, 4 × 4 Latin square design using eight rumen fistulated Bos indicus steers fed Flinders grass (Iseilema spp.) hay ad libitum. The treatments were Control (nil nitrogen supplement), urea (32.5 g/day urea) and two levels of calcium nitrate: CaN1 and CaN2 (to provide 4.6 g and 7.9 g NO3/kg DM equivalent to ~0.46% and 0.80% of DM, respectively). Complete supplement intake was ensured by dosing any supplement that had not been voluntarily consumed, through the rumen fistula, 1 h after feeding. Enteric methane production was measured using open circuit respiration chambers. Methane yield (g/kg DM intake) from the CaN2 treatment tended to be lower (P < 0.07) than either the Control or urea treatments. There were no significant differences in methane yield between Control, urea or CaN1 treatments. Mean blood methaemoglobin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher for CaN2 animals compared with the Control, urea or CaN1 treatments. In addition, a significant time effect after dosing (P < 0.001) and a significant interaction between treatment and time after dosing (P < 0.001) was apparent. Overall mean total volatile fatty acid concentration was 74.0 ± 1.53 mM with no significant treatment effect, but a significant effect for both time of sampling (3 h vs 6 h) within days and among 7 sampling days. The inclusion of calcium nitrate as a non-protein-N source significantly reduced the molar proportions of butyrate (P < 0.001), iso-butyrate (P < 0.05) and iso-valerate (P < 0.001) compared with the Control. The provision of nitrate supplements, providing both a NPN and an alternative sink for H that would otherwise support enteric methanogenesis, has some potential. In extensive grazing systems effective methane abatement strategies are required. The elevated concentration of MetHb using CaN2 suggests that the strategy of replacing urea with nitrate in supplements fed to extensively managed cattle in the northern rangelands may be inappropriate where supplement intake cannot be controlled on an individual animal basis and forage quality is seasonally variable.
Effect of holding office on the behavior of politicians
Authors: Enemark Daniel , Gibson Clark C. , McCubbins Mathew D. , Seim Brigitte
Published: November 2016

Significance

Does being elected to political office change an individual’s behavior? Some scholars and policymakers assert that elected officials are inherently different from nonpoliticians, whereas others argue that political institutions or the culture of politics inculcate certain behaviors. We identify the effect of holding office on behavior. We recruit in-office and out-of-office politicians in Zambia to participate in behavioral games that measure reciprocity, a behavioral trait that underpins various interactions in the political arena from bribery to lobbying to legislative bargaining. We find that holding elected office causes an increase in reciprocity. The policy implication of this finding is that political institutions, culture, and incentive structures can be designed to shape the behavior and choices of society’s leaders.
Twisted light transmission over 143 km
Authors: Krenn Mario , Handsteiner Johannes , Fink Matthias , Fickler Robert , Ursin Rupert , Malik Mehul , Zeilinger Anton
Published: November 2016

Significance

Light is the main carrier of information. Its spatial mode allows the encoding of more than 1 bit per photon, and thus can increase the information capacity. For communication purposes, these modes need to be transmitted over large distances. Nowadays, fiber-based solutions are in their infancy, which renders free-space transmission the only possibility. We present an experiment where we investigate the behavior of the spatial modes after a distance of 143 km. With the help of an artificial neural network, we distinguished different mode superpositions up to the third order with more than 80% accuracy. Our results indicate that with state-of-the-art adaptive optics systems, both classical communication and entanglement transmission is feasible over distances of more than 100 km.
Quantum entanglement of angular momentum states with quantum numbers up to 10,010
Authors: Fickler Robert , Campbell Geoff , Buchler Ben , Lam Ping Koy , Zeilinger Anton
Published: November 2016

Significance

Challenging quantum mechanical predictions is an important task to better understand the underlying principles of nature and possibly develop novel applications. Quantum entanglement as one of the key features is often investigated in optical experiments to push the known limits from smaller to larger scales, for example by increasing the number of entangled systems, their separation, or dimensionality. In the present study we pursue another route and investigate photons with large quantum numbers. We demonstrate entanglement between a photon with orbital angular momentum quantum numbers up to 10,010 and its partner encoded in polarization. The results show how complex the structure of entangled photons can be and hint at the large information content a single quantum system is able to carry.
Missing the Forest for the Fish: How Much Does the ‘Hawkmoth Effect’ Threaten the Viability of Climate Projections?
Authors: Goodwin William M. , Winsberg Eric
Published: November 2016

Roman Frigg and others have developed a general epistemological argument designed to cast doubt on the capacity of a broad range of mathematical models (including many climate models) to generate “decision relevant predictions.” In this article, we lay out the structure of their argument—an argument by analogy—with an eye to identifying points at which certain epistemically significant distinctions might limit the force of the analogy. Finally, some of these epistemically significant distinctions are introduced and defended as relevant to a great many of the predictive mathematical modeling projects employed in contemporary climate science.
Quality Information and Procurement Auction Outcomes: Evidence from a Payment for Ecosystem Services Laboratory Experiment
Authors: Conte Marc N. , Griffin Robert M.
Published: November 2016

Procuring agencies in conservation auctions typically have more information about the ecosystem service (ES) quality of conservation actions than landowners and can affect auction outcomes by controlling participants’ access to this information. Our induced‐value laboratory auction experiment explores the impact of sellers’ access to ES‐quality information on auction efficiency when the conservation action choice is endogenous to offer formation. We find that providing ES‐quality information allows sellers to identify and submit higher‐quality conservation actions, an effect that counteracts previously identified efficiency losses from information rents.
Calypso: a user-friendly web-server for mining and visualizing microbiome–environment interactions
Authors: Zakrzewski Martha , Proietti Carla , Ellis Jonathan J , Hasan Shihab , Brion Marie-Jo , Berger Bernard , Krause Lutz
Published: November 2016

Calypso is an easy-to-use online software suite that allows non-expert users to mine, interpret and compare taxonomic information from metagenomic or 16S rDNA datasets. Calypso has a focus on multivariate statistical approaches that can identify complex environment-microbiome associations. The software enables quantitative visualizations, statistical testing, multivariate analysis, supervised learning, factor analysis, multivariable regression, network analysis and diversity estimates. Comprehensive help pages, tutorials and videos are provided via a wiki page.

Availability and Implementation

The web-interface is accessible via http://cgenome.net/calypso/. The software is programmed in Java, PERL and R and the source code is available from Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/record/50931). The software is freely available for non-commercial users.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
RBPPred: predicting RNA-binding proteins from sequence using SVM
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Liu Shiyong
Published: November 2016

Motivation

Detection of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) is essential since the RNA-binding proteins play critical roles in post-transcriptional regulation and have diverse roles in various biological processes. Moreover, identifying RBPs by computational prediction is much more efficient than experimental methods and may have guiding significance on the experiment design.

Results

In this study, we present the RBPPred (an RNA-binding protein predictor), a new method based on the support vector machine, to predict whether a protein binds RNAs, based on a comprehensive feature representation. By integrating the physicochemical properties with the evolutionary information of protein sequences, the new approach RBPPred performed much better than state-of-the-art methods. The results show that RBPPred correctly predicted 83% of 2780 RBPs and 96% out of 7093 non-RBPs with MCC of 0.808 using the 10-fold cross validation. Furthermore, we achieved a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 97% and MCC of 0.788 on the testing set of human proteome. In addition we tested the capability of RBPPred to identify new RBPs, which further confirmed the practicability and predictability of the method.

Availability and Implementation

RBPPred program can be accessed at: http://rnabinding.com/RBPPred.html.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
iSmaRT: a toolkit for a comprehensive analysis of small RNA-Seq data
Authors: Panero Riccardo , Rinaldi Antonio , Memoli Domenico , Nassa Giovanni , Ravo Maria , Rizzo Francesca , Tarallo Roberta , Milanesi Luciano , Weisz Alessandro , Giurato Giorgio
Published: November 2016

The interest in investigating the biological roles of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) is increasing, due to the pleiotropic effects of these molecules exert in many biological contexts. While several methods and tools are available to study microRNAs (miRNAs), only few focus on novel classes of sncRNAs, in particular PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). To overcome these limitations, we implemented iSmaRT (integrative Small RNA Tool-kit), an automated pipeline to analyze smallRNA-Seq data.

Availability and Implementation

iSmaRT is a collection of bioinformatics tools and own algorithms, interconnected through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). In addition to performing comprehensive analyses on miRNAs, it implements specific computational modules to analyze piRNAs, predicting novel ones and identifying their RNA targets. A smallRNA-Seq dataset generated from brain samples of Huntington’s Disease patients was used here to illustrate iSmaRT performances, demonstrating how the pipeline can provide, in a rapid and user friendly way, a comprehensive analysis of different classes of sncRNAs. iSmaRT is freely available on the web at ftp://labmedmolge-1.unisa.it (User: iSmart - Password: password)

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Novel Clinical and Pathologic Findings in a Heartland Virus–Associated Death
Authors: Fill Mary-Margaret A. , Compton Margaret L. , McDonald Edward C. , Moncayo Abelardo C. , Dunn John R. , Schaffner William , Bhatnagar Julu , Zaki Sherif R. , Jones Timothy F. , Shieh Wun-Ju
Published: November 2016

We describe an investigation into a Heartland virus (HRTV)–associated death in Tennessee with novel clinical and pathologic findings. HRTV can cause rapidly fatal, widely disseminated infection with multisystem organ failure in patients without substantial comorbidities. We identified viral antigen in multiple organ tissues where it was not detected previously.
The role of geography in sustainable development
Authors: Qiu Jane
Published: November 2016

China has achieved unprecedented economic growth in the past decades. This has had serious consequences on the environment and public health. The Chinese government now realizes that it is not just the quantity, but the quality of development that matters. It has begun to instigate a series of policies to tackle pollution, increase the proportion of clean energy, and redress the balance between urban and rural development—in a coordinated effort to build a harmonious society.

Building a harmonious world was also the theme of the 33rd International Geographical Congress, which was held in Beijing last August. At the meeting, Bojie Fu, a member of National Science Review’s editorial board, shared a platform with geographers from Australia, China, Canada and France to discuss the challenges of urbanization, the roles of geographers in sustainable development, as well as the importance of food security, safety and diversity.

Dadao Lu

Economic geographer at the Institute of Geography and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing

Jean-Robert Pitte

Historical and cultural geographer at the University of Paris-Sorbonne in Paris, France

Mark Rosenberg

Health geographer at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada

Mark Stafford Smith

Ecologist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Canberra, Australia

Bojie Fu (Chair)

Physical geographer at the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; President of Geographical Society of China
Surface brightness correction for compact extended sources observed by the AKARI Far-Infrared Surveyor in the slow-scan mode
Authors: Ueta Toshiya , Tomasino Rachael L. , Takita Satoshi , Izumiura Hideyuki , Shirahata Mai , Fullard Andrew , Yamamura Issei , Matsuura Shuji
Published: November 2016

We present a general surface brightness correction method for compact extended sources imaged in the slow-scan pointed observation mode of the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) aboard the AKARI infrared astronomical satellite. Our method recovers correct surface brightness distribution maps by rescaling archived raw FIS maps using the surface-brightness-dependent inverse FIS response function. The flux of a target source is then automatically corrected for as the simple sum of surface brightnesses within the adopted contour encircling the perimeter of the target (i.e., contour photometry). This correction method is contrasted with the previous aperture photometry method for point sources, which directly corrects for the target flux with a flux-dependent scaling law. The new surface brightness correction scheme is applicable to objects of any shape from unresolved point sources to resolved extended objects, as long as the target is not deemed diffuse, i.e., the total extent of the target source does not exceed too much more than a single FIS scan width of 10΄. The new correction method takes advantage of the well-defined shape (i.e., the scale invariance) of the point spread function, which enables us to adopt a power-law FIS response function. We analyze the point source photometric calibrator data using the FIS AKARI Slow-scan Tool and constrain the parameters of the adopted power-law FIS response function. We conclude that the photometric accuracy of the new correction method is better than 10% error based on comparisons with the expected fluxes of the photometric calibrators, and that resulting fluxes without the present correction method can lead to up to 230% overestimates or down to 50% underestimates.
Corn Yield Loss Estimates Due to Diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2012 to 2015
Authors: Mueller Daren S. , Wise Kiersten A. , Sisson Adam J. , Allen Tom W. , Bergstrom Gary C. , Bosley D. Bruce , Bradley Carl A. , Broders Kirk D. , Byamukama Emmanuel , Chilvers Martin I. , Collins Alyssa , Faske Travis R. , Friskop Andrew J. , Heiniger Ron W. , Hollier Clayton A. , Hooker David C. , Isakeit Tom , Jackson-Ziems Tamra A. , Jardine Douglas J. , Kelly Heather M. , Kinzer Kasia , Koenning Steve R. , Malvick Dean K. , McMullen Marcia , Meyer Ron F. , Paul Pierce A. , Robertson Alison E. , Roth Gregory W. , Smith Damon L. , Tande Connie A. , Tenuta Albert U. , Vincelli Paul , Warner Fred
Published: November 2016

Annual decreases in corn yield caused by diseases were estimated by surveying members of the Corn Disease Working Group in 22 corn-producing states in the United States and in Ontario, Canada, from 2012 through 2015. Estimated loss from each disease varied greatly by state and year. In general, foliar diseases such as northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot, and Goss's wilt commonly caused the largest estimated yield loss in the northern United States and Ontario during non-drought years. Fusarium stalk rot and plant-parasitic nematodes caused the most estimated loss in the southern-most United States. The estimated mean economic loss due to yield loss by corn diseases in the United States and Ontario from 2012 to 2015 was $76.51 USD per acre. The cost of disease-mitigating strategies is another potential source of profit loss. Results from this survey will provide scientists, breeders, government, and educators with data to help inform and prioritize research, policy, and educational efforts in corn pathology and disease management.

Accepted for publication 26 August 2016.
DURATION OF PRONE POSITIONING AFTER MACULAR HOLE SURGERY DETERMINED BY SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY
Authors: Sano Masahiko , Inoue Makoto , Itoh Yuji , Kita Yoshiyuki , Hirota Kazunari , Koto Takashi , Hirakata Akito
Published: November 2016

Purpose:

To compare the closure rate of macular hole closure and duration of the prone positioning after macular hole (MH) surgery with two protocols for halting the prone positioning.

Methods:

The authors studied 129 eyes of 125 consecutive patients with MH who had undergone vitrectomy. In 60 eyes of 59 patients, the prone positioning was halted after detecting an MH closure in the swept-source optical coherence tomographic images (SS group). In 69 eyes of 66 patients, the prone position was halted by the surgeon's decision (conventional group). The MH closure rate and duration of the prone positioning were compared.

Results:

Clear images of the MH were recorded in the SS group on postoperative Day 1 in 58 eyes (97%). In the SS group, MH closure was detected on postoperative Day 1 in 47 eyes (78%) and Day 2 in 4 eyes (7%). The MH was closed in 58 eyes (97%) in the SS group and 69 eyes (100%) in the conventional group (P = 0.21). None of the eyes had a reopening of the MH. The duration of prone positioning in the SS group was 1.8 ± 2.5 days, which was significantly shorter than that in the conventional group at 8.4 ± 4.2 days (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

The SS-OCT protocol can significantly decrease the duration of the prone positioning without a reopening of the MH.
A Comparison of Surgical Treatments for Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ziylan Fuat , Kinaci Ahmet , Beynon Andy J. , Kunst Henricus P. M.
Published: November 2016

Objective:

We investigate the postoperative subjective and objective outcomes of different surgical treatments for superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD): vestibular signs, auditory signs, vestibular evoked myogenic potential test, pure tone audiogram, speech audiogram, or video-nystagmography.

Data Sources:

An electronic search performed in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases on 15th of September 2015. A systematic search was conducted. Articles were included if written in English, Dutch, German, or French language.

Study Selection:

Original studies reporting on the pre and postoperative subjective and/or objective outcomes of surgical treatments for superior semicircular canal dehiscence were included.

Data Extraction:

The methodological quality of the studies was independently assessed by two reviewers using a constructed critical appraisal, to assess the directness of evidence and the risk of bias. The results of the pre and postoperative subjective and/or objective outcomes were extracted.

Data Synthesis:

Comparative study was conducted.

Conclusion:

Surgical treatment for SSCD is particularly effective for vestibular symptoms and there is no evidence for improvement of hearing loss after surgical treatment. Since plugging using transmastoid approach had a lower complication rate, lower revision rate, and a shorter hospital stay, this treatment is recommended in high disabled SSCD patients.