bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High performance, air stable n-type single crystal transistors based on core-tetrachlorinated perylene diimides
Authors: Liu Chunming , Xiao Chengyi , Li Yan , Hu Wenping , Li Zhibo , Wang Zhaohui
Published: August 2014

High performance organic single crystal transistors based on two kinds of core-tetrachlorinated perylene diimides are fabricated.
Enhanced Raman and luminescence spectra from co-encapsulated silicon quantum dots and Au–Ag nanoalloys
Authors: Harun Noor Aniza , Horrocks Benjamin R. , Fulton David A.
Published: August 2014

Luminescence and SERS signals are simultaneously enhanced with a single excitation wavelength by co-encapsulating silicon quantum dots and Au–Ag alloy nanoparticles encoded with Raman reporter molecules inside polymeric nanoparticles.
Mesoporous nanobelts and nano-necklaces of Co3O4 converted from β-Co(OH)2 nanobelts via a thermal decomposition route for the electrocatalytic oxidation of H2O2
Authors: Wang Qiang , Xia Yanping , Jiang Changlong
Published: August 2014

A direct and scalable approach, based upon a thermal decomposition route under normal atmospheric pressure via a precursor-induced mechanism, was developed for growing well-defined mesoporous Co3O4 nanobelts and nano-necklaces from β-Co(OH)2 nanobelts.
Atmospheric pressure synthesis of nanosized ZSM-5 with enhanced catalytic performance for methanol to aromatics reaction
Authors: Shen Kui , Wang Ning , Qian Weizhong , Cui Yu , Wei Fei
Published: August 2014

We develop an atmospheric pressure synthetic route for nanosized ZSM-5 with 100% yield, by decoupling its nucleation and growth process. The product exhibited excellent performance in catalytically transferring methanol into aromatics.
Accurate yet feasible computations of resonance Raman spectra for metal complexes in solution: [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a case study
Authors: Baiardi Alberto , Latouche Camille , Bloino Julien , Barone Vincenzo
Published: August 2014

Herein we present a new and promising approach for the high-resolution modeling of vibrational resonance Raman spectra of metal complexes in solution.
Nonlinear optical properties of colloidal carbon nanoparticles: nanodiamonds and carbon dots
Authors: Papagiannouli Irene , Bourlinos Athanasios B. , Bakandritsos Aristides , Couris Stelios
Published: August 2014

Nanodiamonds (NDs) and carbon-dots (CDs) suspensions exhibit significant NLO response under both ps and ns laser excitation. NDs exhibit important optical limiting action under nanosecond visible (532 nm) and infrared (1064 nm) laser excitation.
Biodiesel derived waste glycerol as an economic substrate for biosurfactant production using indigenous Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bharali Pranjal , Singh Salam Pradeep , Dutta Nippu , Gogoi Shyamalima , Bora L. C. , Debnath P. , Konwar Bolin Kumar
Published: August 2014

Biodiesel plant waste glycerol as low-cost substrate for biosurfactant production.
Mg–Al layered double hydroxides: a correlation between synthesis-structure and ionic conductivity
Authors: Zhang Peilin , Yamaguchi Takeo , Nair Balagopal N. , Miyajima Keita , Anilkumar Gopinathan M.
Published: August 2014

Mg–Al based layered double hydroxide (LDH) samples with distinct morphology and crystallinity were synthesized and their relationship with ionic conductivity was investigated.
Development and validation of an UPLC method for the quantification of ethambutol in rat plasma
Authors: Singh Harinder , Sharma Gaurav , Kaur Indu Pal
Published: August 2014

The method is applicable for pharmacokinetic studies after the oral administration of free EMB in rats, also with scope to extend the method to evaluate EMB-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.
Greener and expeditious one-pot synthesis of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives using non-commercial β-ketoesters via the Biginelli reaction
Authors: Rao G. B. Dharma , Anjaneyulu B. , Kaushik M. P.
Published: August 2014

An expeditious synthesis of novel 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives has been developed using a multi-component reaction involving the in situ generation of non-commercial β-ketoesters via transesterification of tert-butyl-β-ketoester with corresponding alcohol followed by the Biginelli reaction with arylaldehyde and urea in one-pot at 110 °C under green conditions.
Deep-eutectic solvents as a support in the nonaqueous synthesis of macroporous poly(HIPEs)
Authors: Carranza A. , Pojman J. A. , Mota-Morales J. D.
Published: August 2014

Polymerizations of nonaqueous HIPEs with (meth)acrylic monomers as continuous phase and DES as internal phase produce macroporous interconnected polymer monoliths.
Synthesis and evaluation of macroporous polymerized solid acid derived from Pickering HIPEs for catalyzing cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in an ionic liquid
Authors: Gao Heping , Peng Yinxian , Pan Jianming , Zeng Jun , Song Changhua , Zhang Yunlei , Yan Yongsheng , Shi Weidong
Published: August 2014

Stable water-in-oil (W/O) Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) were stabilized by both the hydrophobic silica nanoparticles and span 80.
Highly efficient aerobic oxidation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethyl furfural to produce 2,5-diformylfuran in the presence of copper salts
Authors: Tong Xinli , Sun Yongfa , Bai Xueqin , Li Yongdan
Published: August 2014

Based on the catalysis of copper salt, an efficient and selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural to 2,5-diformylfuran with molecular oxygen as the oxidant has been developed.
A novel self-seeding polyol synthesis of Ag nanowires using mPEG-b-PVP diblock copolymer
Authors: Zhao Hesong , Jiang Jianwei , Lim Young S. , Kim Sang-Ho , Piao Longhai
Published: August 2014

We first introduced mPEG-b-PVP diblock copolymer as a surfactant to the self-seeding polyol synthesis of Ag NWs.
SERS performance of graphene oxide decorated silver nanoparticle/titania nanotube array
Authors: Xie Yibing , Meng Yujie
Published: August 2014

A schematic illustrates the preparation of recyclable GO/Ag/TiO2 NTA substrate keeping both active SERS detection and photocatalytic self-cleaning properties.
Hydrodynamic on-rail droplet pass filter for fully passive sorting of droplet-phase samples
Authors: Yoon Dong Hyun , Numakunai Satoshi , Nakahara Asahi , Sekiguchi Tetsushi , Shoji Shuichi
Published: August 2014

A hydrodynamic droplet pass filter for droplet-phase sample sorting was developed in this study.
Identification of silver nanoparticles in Pimephales promelas gastrointestinal tract and gill tissues using flow field flow fractionation ICP-MS
Authors: Hawkins A. D. , Bednar A. J. , Cizdziel J. V. , Bu K. , Steevens J. A. , Willett K. L.
Published: August 2014

To further understand potential nanoparticle toxicity, silver nanoparticles were identified in both the GI tract and gill of fathead minnows using field-flow-fractionation ICP-MS.
Exploring the ring current of carbon nanotubes by first-principles calculations
Authors: Ren Pengju , Zheng Anmin , Xiao Jianping , Pan Xiulian , Bao Xinhe
Published: August 2014

The ring currents by the axial component of B0 depend on the semiconducting or metallic properties of CNTs and hence determine the overall magnetic responses and the aromatic characters.
Extracting the dynamic correlation length of actin networks from microrheology experiments
Authors: Sonn-Segev Adar , Bernheim-Groswasser Anne , Roichman Yael
Published: August 2014

Microrheology is used to measure the length scale dependent mechanical response of F-actin gels. The dynamic correlation length thus measured has a non-trivial dependence on the actin filament length.
The ratio of the lateral correlation length and particle radius determines the density profile of spherical molecules near a fluctuating membrane
Authors: Córdoba-Valdés Fidel , Castañeda-Priego Ramón , Timmer Jens , Fleck Christian
Published: August 2014

The distribution of spherical molecules in contact with a fluctuating membrane depends only on the ratio of the lateral correlation length of the membrane and the radius of the molecule.
Mechanosynthesis of new azine-functionalized Zn(ii) metal–organic frameworks for improved catalytic performance
Authors: Masoomi Mohammad Yaser , Beheshti Saeideh , Morsali Ali
Published: August 2014

Functionalization of MOF pore walls with azine groups enables greater interaction between the walls and substrate molecules, thereby increasing catalytic activity of the MOFs.
New building blocks for π-conjugated polymer semiconductors for organic thin film transistors and photovoltaics
Authors: He Yinghui , Hong Wei , Li Yuning
Published: August 2014

This article reviews novel electron donor and acceptor building blocks for constructing π-conjugated polymers for organic thin film transistors and organic photovoltaics.
Electrochemically created highly surface roughened Ag nanoplate arrays for SERS biosensing applications
Authors: Yang Shikuan , Slotcavage Daniel , Mai John D. , Guo Feng , Li Sixing , Zhao Yanhui , Lei Yong , Cameron Craig E. , Huang Tony Jun
Published: August 2014

Highly surface-roughened Ag nanoplate arrays are fabricated using a simple electro-deposition/corrosion method, which are promising candidates in SERS biosensing applications.
An electrodeposited lanthanide MOF thin film as a luminescent sensor for carbonate detection in aqueous solution
Authors: Liu Huiping , Wang Hongming , Chu Tianshu , Yu Minghao , Yang Yangyi
Published: August 2014

A luminescent lanthanide MOF-based thin film was fabricated by electrodeposition in an anhydride system and this film can be used as a highly selective sensor for CO32− in aqueous solution.
Harnessing nonlinear rubber swelling for bulk synthesis of anisotropic hybrid nanoparticles
Authors: Ding Tao , Smoukov Stoyan K. , Baumberg Jeremy J.
Published: August 2014

Facile, scalable synthesis of monodisperse anisotropic hybrid nanoparticles (Au nanospheres/nanorod cores and poly(divinyl benzene) shell). Mechanism is based on nonlinear swelling of the polymer during a seeded polymerization process.
Performance of threshold conditions over independent and non‐identically distributed α–μ fading channels over multiple input multiple output‐orthogonal space time block coding systems
Authors: Krithiga S. , Bhaskar Vidhyacharan
Published: August 2014

This study investigates the performance of independent and non‐identically distributed (i.ni.d.) α–μ fading channel with threshold conditions. A multiple input multiple output system employing orthogonal space time block codes over α–μ fading channel with i.ni.d. fading parameter and average signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of K users as independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) is considered. In this study, analytical expressions for bit error rate and average capacity under threshold conditions are derived and their numerical and simulated results are compared for two different scenarios for i.i.d. and i.ni.d. fading parameters under absolute SNR scheduling without threshold conditions. It is shown that the proposed system under threshold conditions improves system performance for various values of code rate, Rc, number of receive antennas, nR, and threshold SNR, γT.
Automatic detection and removal of high‐density impulse noises
Authors: Bai Tian , Tan Jieqing
Published: August 2014

This study presents a novel method for automatic detection and removal of high‐density impulse noises. The method consists of two parts: the impulse detection part and the impulse noise removal part. In impulse detection part, an automatic detector based on local mean and variance (LMVD) is presented, which can automatically pick out noisy image from massive images and output corrupted grey levels. The detector utilises LMVD of the neighbourhood of corrupted pixels to simulate the cognitive processes of human observing noisy image. In impulse noise removal part, the Newton–Thiele filter (NTF) instead of median filter is applied to remove impulse noise. The process to construct NTF can be divided into two steps: setting up the grid and constructing the Newton–Thiele's rational interpolation on the grid. First, eight adjacent pixels of the corrupted centre pixel are used to construct the two‐dimensional grid. If a pixel in the grid is corrupted, a four‐direction linear interpolation algorithm will be performed to provide a rough estimate to the corrupted pixel. Second, the corrupted centre pixel value will be updated by Newton–Thiele's rational interpolation on the grid. The NTF has better robustness than existing filters because it does not need to adjust window size or other parameters. Simulations reveal that the proposed detector and filter have perfect performance in terms of both quantitative evaluation and visual quality, especially it can remove the impulse noise effectively even at 90% noise level.
Séniors et orthodontie : du déni au choix raisonné
Authors: Grollemund Bruno , Rinkenbach Renaud
Published: August 2014

Lorsque des patients âgés de plus de 60 ans décident d’entreprendre un traitement d’orthodontie, leurs motivations ne sont pas qu’esthétiques, elles portent aussi sur la préservation de leur capital biologique. Leurs traitements, souvent complexes, tiennent compte de spécificités liées à leur passé dentaire, voire orthodontique, et s’affranchissent, parfois par des compromis, de contraintes imposées par l’occlusion, par le parodonte ou par des prothèses dont certaines sont implanto-portées. La solution apportée à leur demande a longtemps relevé exclusivement de la pose d’artifices prothétiques. Pour certains, la forme originelle des dents participant au sourire fait partie intégrante de leur personnalité. Leur maintien par un traitement d’orthodontie évite une transformation brutale de leur sourire et préserve leur identité. Les choix thérapeutiques associant à l’orthodontie la prothèse et parfois la chirurgie préservent la sénescence d’un visage.
Compressed shell conditions extracted from spectroscopic analysis of Ti K-shell absorption spectra with evaluation of line self-emission
Authors: Johns H. M. , Mancini R. C. , Hakel P. , Nagayama T. , Smalyuk V. A. , Regan S. P. , Delettrez J.
Published: August 2014

Ti-doped tracer layers embedded in the shell at varying distances from the fuel-shell interface serve as a spectroscopic diagnostic for direct-drive experiments conducted at OMEGA. Detailed modeling of Ti K-shell absorption spectra produced in the tracer layer considers n = 1–2 transitions in F- through Li-like Ti ions in the 4400–4800 eV range, both including and excluding line self-emission. Testing the model on synthetic spectra generated from 1-D LILAC hydrodynamic simulations reveals that the model including self-emission best reproduces the simulation, while the model excluding self-emission overestimates electron temperature Te and density Ne to a higher degree for layers closer to the core. The prediction of the simulation that the magnitude of Te and duration of Ti absorption will be strongly tied to the distance of the layer from the core is consistent with the idea that regions of the shell close to the core are more significantly heated by thermal transport out of the hot dense core, but more distant regions are less affected by it. The simulation predicts more time variation in the observed Te, Ne conditions in the compressed shell than is observed in the experiment, analysis of which reveals conditions remain in the range Te = 400–600 eV and Ne = 3.0–10.0 × 1024 cm−3 for all but the most distant Ti-doped layer, with error bars ∼5% Te value and ∼10% Ne on average. The Te, Ne conditions of the simulation lead to a greater degree of ionization for zones close to the core than occurs experimentally, and less ionization for zones far from the core.
Charge-transfer excitations in low-gap systems under the influence of solvation and conformational disorder: Exploring range-separation tuning
Authors: de Queiroz Thiago B. , Kümmel Stephan
Published: August 2014

Charge transfer excitations play a prominent role in the fields of molecular electronics and light harvesting. At the same time they have developed a reputation for being hard to predict with time-dependent density functional theory, which is the otherwise predominant method for calculating molecular structure and excitations. Recently, it has been demonstrated that range-separated hybrid functionals, in particular with an “optimally tuned” range separation parameter, describe charge-transfer excitations reliably for different molecules. Many of these studies focused on molecules in vacuum. Here we investigate the influence of solvation on the electronic excitations of thiophene oligomers, i.e., paradigm low gap systems. We take into account bulk solvation using a continuum solvation model and geometrical distortions from molecular dynamics. From our study, three main findings emerge. First, geometrical distortions increase absorption energies by about 0.5 eV for the longer thiophene oligomers. Second, combining optimal tuning of the range separation parameter with a continuum solvation method is not straightforward and has to be approached with great care. Third, optimally tuned range-separated hybrids without a short-range exchange component tend to inherit undesirable characteristics of semi-local functionals: with increasing system size the range separation parameter takes a smaller value, leading to a functional of effectively more semi-local nature and thus not accurately capturing, e.g., the saturation of the optical gap with increasing system size.
Etching of a-Si:H thin films by hydrogen plasma: A view from in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Hadjadj Aomar , Larbi Fadila , Gilliot Mickaël , Roca i Cabarrocas Pere
Published: August 2014

When atomic hydrogen interacts with hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), the induced modifications are of crucial importance during a-Si:H based devices manufacturing or processing. In the case of hydrogen plasma, the depth of the modified zone depends not only on the plasma processing parameters but also on the material. In this work, we exposed a-Si:H thin films to H2 plasma just after their deposition. In situ UV-visible spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements were performed to track the H-induced changes in the material. The competition between hydrogen insertion and silicon etching leads to first order kinetics in the time-evolution of the thickness of the H-modified zone. We analyzed the correlation between the steady state structural parameters of the H-modified layer and the main levers that control the plasma-surface interaction. In comparison with a simple doped layer, exposure of a-Si:H based junctions to the same plasma treatment leads to a thinner H-rich subsurface layer, suggesting a possible charged state of hydrogen diffusing.
Completeness of Cauchy horizon generators
Authors: Minguzzi E.
Published: August 2014

It is proved that every compactly generated future Cauchy horizon has past complete generators, and dually. No condition on the differentiability of the horizon is imposed.
Room temperature alcohol sensing by oxygen vacancy controlled TiO2 nanotube array
Authors: Hazra A. , Dutta K. , Bhowmik B. , Chattopadhyay P. P. , Bhattacharyya P.
Published: August 2014

Oxygen vacancy (OV) controlled TiO2 nanotubes, having diameters of 50–70 nm and lengths of 200–250 nm, were synthesized by electrochemical anodization in the mixed electrolyte comprising NH4F and ethylene glycol with selective H2O content. The structural evolution of TiO2 nanoforms has been studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Variation in the formation of OVs with the variation of the structure of TiO2 nanoforms has been evaluated by photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The sensor characteristics were correlated to the variation of the amount of induced OVs in the nanotubes. The efficient room temperature sensing achieved by the control of OVs of TiO2 nanotube array has paved the way for developing fast responding alcohol sensor with corresponding response magnitude of 60.2%, 45.3%, and 36.5% towards methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol, respectively.
Quantum transport of a nanowire field-effect transistor with complex phonon self–energy
Authors: Valin R. , Aldegunde M. , Martinez A. , Barker J. R.
Published: August 2014

In this work, the impact of the real part of the phonon self-energy on the transfer characteristics of a silicon nanowire transistor is investigated. The physical effects of the real part of the self-energy are to create a broadening and a shift on the density of states. This increases the drain current in the sub–threshold region and decreases it in the above–the–threshold region. In the first region, the current is increased as a result of an increase of charge in the middle of the channel. In the second one, the electrostatic self–consistency or the enforcement of charge neutrality in the channel reduces the current because a substantial amount of electrons are under the first subband and have imaginary wave vectors. The change in the phonon–limited mobility due to the real part of self–energy is evaluated for a nanowire transistor and a nanowire in which there is not source to drain barrier. We also assess the validity of Mathiessen's rule using the self–consistent NEGF simulations and the Kubo–Greenwood formalism.
Shear strain induced modulation to the transport properties of graphene
Authors: He Xin , Gao Li , Tang Ning , Duan Junxi , Xu Fujun , Wang Xinqiang , Yang Xuelin , Ge Weikun , Shen Bo
Published: August 2014

Applying shear strain has been considered as a hopeful method to open a band gap of graphene. To study the transport properties of graphene under shear strain, a device was fabricated to apply shear strain, up to 16.7%, to graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition method. A top gate with ionic liquid as the dielectric material was used to tune the carrier density. The conductance of the Dirac point and carrier mobility is found to increase with a comparatively small increasing strain but then decrease with a larger one. Such a behavior might be related to several factors: the wrinkles, the transverse conducting channels, and the grain boundaries of graphene. Our study is helpful to further understand the strain engineering in graphene.
Magneto-resistive property study of direct and indirect band gap thermoelectric Bi-Sb alloys
Authors: Das Diptasikha , Malik K. , Bandyopadhyay S. , Das D. , Chatterjee S. , Banerjee Aritra
Published: August 2014

We report magneto-resistive properties of direct and indirect band gap Bismuth-Antimony (Bi-Sb) alloys. Band gap increases with magnetic field. Large positive magnetoresistance (MR) approaching to 400% is observed. Low field MR experiences quadratic growth and at high field it follows a nearly linear behavior without sign of saturation. Carrier mobility extracted from low field MR data depicts remarkable high value of around 5 m2V−1s−1. Correlation between MR and mobility is revealed. We demonstrate that the strong nearly linear MR at high field can be well understood by classical method, co-build by Parish and Littlewood, Nature 426, 162 (2003) and Phys. Rev. B 72, 094417 (2005).
Highly stable and efficient tandem organic light-emitting devices with intermediate connectors using lithium amide as n-type dopant
Authors: Zhou Dong-Ying , Zu Feng-Shuo , Zhang Ying-Jie , Shi Xiao-Bo , Aziz Hany , Liao Liang-Sheng
Published: August 2014

In this work, we report thermally decomposable lithium amide (LiNH2) feasible to function as an effective n-type dopant for intermediate connectors in tandem organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Metallic lithium, which is released from the decomposition process of LiNH2, is proved by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and responsible for n-type electrical doping of electron transporting materials. We demonstrate that tandem OLEDs using LiNH2 and Cs2CO3 as n-type dopants, respectively, give a comparable electroluminescence efficiency and, moreover, the device with LiNH2 has far longer operational lifetime. The results therefore highlight the significance of selecting suitable n-type dopant in intermediate connectors to fabricate high-stability tandem OLEDs.
Alfvénic instabilities driven by runaways in fusion plasmas
Authors: Fülöp T. , Newton S.
Published: August 2014

Runaway particles can be produced in plasmas with large electric fields. Here, we address the possibility that such runaway ions and electrons excite Alfvénic instabilities. The magnetic perturbation induced by these modes can enhance the loss of runaways. This may have important implications for the runaway electron beam formation in tokamak disruptions.
Efficient room temperature spin-Hall injection across an oxide barrier
Authors: Chen Shuhan , Qin Chuan , Ji Yi
Published: August 2014

Spin Hall injection is demonstrated at room temperature using Pt metal and AlOx barriers. A substantial spin accumulation, comparable to that of a magnetic spin injection, is transferred into a mesoscopic Cu wire from an adjacent Pt wire across an AlOx barrier. The Pt spin Hall angle is 0.030 ± 0.007 when assuming a Pt spin diffusion length λpt > 6 nm and 0.09 ± 0.02 when assuming λpt = 2 nm. Nearly (66 ± 6)% of the spin accumulation on the Pt surface is transferred into the Cu across the AlOx, enabling an efficient spin Hall injection scheme.
Quantifying electron-phonon coupling in CdTe1−xSex nanocrystals via coherent phonon manipulation
Authors: Spann B. T. , Xu X.
Published: August 2014

We employ ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy with temporal pulse shaping to manipulate coherent phonon excitation and quantify the strength of electron-phonon coupling in CdTe1−xSex nanocrystals (NCs). Raman active CdSe and CdTe longitudinal optical phonon (LO) modes are excited and probed in the time domain. By temporally controlling pump pulse pairs to coherently excite and cancel coherent phonons in the CdTe1−xSex NCs, we estimate the relative amount of optical energy that is coupled to the coherent CdSe LO mode.
Hepatitis E in Australian HIV-infected patients: an under-recognised pathogen?
Authors: Yong Michelle K. , Paige Emma K. , Anderson David , Hoy Jennifer F.
Published: August 2014

Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been found to cause chronic hepatitis in HIV-infected patients. In Australia, where HEV is nonendemic, background seroprevalence is reportedly low but has not been evaluated in the HIV-infected population. The study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of HEV in a cohort of HIV-infected patients with normal liver function and in another group with biochemical hepatitis. Methods: Patients were selected from the Victorian HIV Blood and Tissue Storage Bank and stored plasma was tested. Positive HEV antibody specimens were examined for HEV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 191 HIV patients were tested for HEV by serology. Eight of 100 (8%) HIV-infected patients with normal liver function and 4 of 91 (4.4%) of those with biochemical hepatitis had HEV antibodies. All four patients with abnormal liver function and positive HEV serology were coinfected with hepatitis C and were significantly more likely to have higher median alanine aminotransferase levels (382 vs 139 U L–1, P = 0.01). HEV-positive patients with normal liver function were more likely to be born outside Australia (P = 0.004). Two of four patients with biochemical hepatitis who were seropositive for HEV had detectable HEV RNA. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of HEV in this Australian HIV-infected cohort is higher than the estimated background prevalence in the HIV-negative population. In patients coinfected with hepatitis C, the degree of alanine aminotransferase elevation was significantly worse. HEV may contribute to the development of abnormal liver function.
Joint CP-AMPA and group I mGlu receptor activation is required for synaptic plasticity in dentate gyrus fast-spiking interneurons
Authors: Hainmüller Thomas , Krieglstein Kerstin , Kulik Akos , Bartos Marlene
Published: August 2014

Significance

During spatial learning, hippocampal fast-spiking inhibitory cells couple dynamically to excitatory principal cell (PC) assemblies that encode locations in the animal’s environment. Repeated coactivation of highly active PC assemblies and fast-spiking interneurons strengthens their synaptic connections and promotes silencing of less active neurons, thereby stabilizing the active assembly. Here, we show that synaptic plasticity between excitatory dentate gyrus granule cells and fast-spiking interneurons requires coincident activation of postsynaptic Ca
2+
-permeable AMPA and group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. Both jointly activate postsynaptic PKC to induce long-term synaptic plasticity. In the future, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity between PCs and interneurons in vitro will enable us to study its role in memory formation in vivo.
Contrasting coastal and shelf nursery habitats of Pacific cod in the southeastern Bering Sea
Authors: Hurst Thomas P. , Cooper Daniel W. , Duffy-Anderson Janet T. , Farley Edward V.
Published: August 2014

Shallow, subtidal waters of coastal embayments are the primary nursery habitats of juvenile Pacific cod through much of their range. However, the importance of these habitats to the Bering Sea population is poorly understood as the Bering Sea offers relatively little of this habitat. In this study, we examined the use of demersal and pelagic habitats in the southeast Bering Sea by age-0 Pacific cod. In 4 years of demersal beam trawling on the shelf at depths of 20–146 m, fish were most abundant along the Alaska Peninsula (AKP) at depths to 50 m. In addition, 1 year of spatially intensive beam trawl sampling was conducted at depths of 5–30 m in a nearshore focal area along the central AKP. In this survey, age-0 cod were more abundant along the open coastline than they were in two coastal embayments, counter to patterns observed in the Gulf of Alaska. Demersal sampling in 2012 was conducted synoptically with surveys of surface and subsurface waters over the continental shelf. Age-0 cod were captured in pelagic waters over the middle and outer shelf, with maximum catches occurring over depths of 60–80 m. The similar size distributions of fish in coastal-demersal and shelf-surface habitats and the proximity of concentrations in the two habitat types suggests that habitat use in the Bering Sea occurs along a gradient from coastal to pelagic. While capture efficiencies may differ among trawl types, trawl-based estimates of age-0 cod density in demersal waters along the AKP was 10 times that observed in the highest density pelagic-shelf habitats, demonstrating the importance of coastal nursery habitats in this population. Despite representing a much smaller habitat area, the coastal waters along the AKP appear an important nursery area and support a significant fraction of the age-0 Pacific cod in the Bering Sea.
Overexpression of the HspL PromotesAgrobacterium tumefaciensVirulence inArabidopsisUnder Heat Shock Conditions
Authors: Hwang Hau-Hsuan , Liu Yin-Tzu , Huang Si-Chi , Tung Chin-Yi , Huang Fan-Chen , Tsai Yun-Long , Cheng Tun-Fang , Lai Erh-Min
Published: August 2014

Agrobacterium tumefaciens transfers a specific DNA fragment from the resident tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid and effector virulence (Vir) proteins to plant cells during infection. A. tumefaciens VirB1-11 and VirD4 proteins assemble as the type IV secretion system (T4SS), which mediates transfer of the T-DNA and effector Vir protein into plant cells, thus resulting in crown gall disease in plants. Previous studies revealed that an α-crystallin-type, small heat-shock protein (HspL) is a more effective VirB8 chaperone than three other small heat-shock proteins (HspC, HspAT1, and HspAT2). Additionally, HspL contributes to efficient T4SS-mediated DNA transfer and tumorigenesis under room-temperature growth. In this study, we aimed to characterize the impact of HspL on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency under heat-shock treatment. During heat shock, transient transformation efficiency and VirB8 protein accumulation were lower in the hspL deletion mutant than in the wild type. Overexpression of HspL in A. tumefaciens enhanced the transient transformation efficiency in root explants of both susceptible and recalcitrant Arabidopsis ecotypes. In addition, the reduced transient transformation efficiency during heat stress was recovered by overexpression of HspL in A. tumefaciens. HspL may help maintain VirB8 homeostasis and elevate Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency under both heat-shock and nonheat-shock growth.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Via Nasogastric Tube for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Kronman Matthew P. , Nielson Heather J. , Adler Amanda L. , Giefer Matthew J. , Wahbeh Ghassan , Singh Namita , Zerr Danielle M. , Suskind David L.
Published: August 2014

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a safe and effective therapy for adults with recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis, but data regarding FMT in children are limited and focus on colonoscopic administration of FMT. We present 10 consecutive children who received FMT via nasogastric tube for treatment of recurrent C difficile infection. Median age was 5.4 years, and 30% were receiving simultaneous immunosuppression. Median follow‐up was 44 days, and 90% of patients resolved their C difficile infection; one patient relapsed 2 months later after receiving antibiotics. FMT via nasogastric tube appears safe, well tolerated, and effective in treating pediatric recurrent C difficile colitis.
The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool: Validation of an Organizational Resource for Assessing Second Victim Effects and the Quality of Support Resources
Authors: Burlison Jonathan D. , Scott Susan D. , Browne Emily K. , Thompson Sierra G. , Hoffman James M.
Published: August 2014

Objectives

Medical errors and unanticipated negative patient outcomes can damage the well-being of health care providers. These affected individuals, referred to as “second victims,” can experience various psychological and physical symptoms. Support resources provided by health care organizations to prevent and reduce second victim–related harm are often inadequate. In this study, we present the development and psychometric evaluation of the Second Victim Experience and Support Tool (SVEST), a survey instrument that can assist health care organizations to implement and track the performance of second victim support resources.

Methods

The SVEST (29 items representing 7 dimensions and 2 outcome variables) was completed by 303 health care providers involved in direct patient care. The survey collected responses on second victim–related psychological and physical symptoms and the quality of support resources. Desirability of possible support resources was also measured. The SVEST was assessed for content validity, internal consistency, and construct validity with confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis results suggested good model fit for the survey. Cronbach α reliability scores for the survey dimensions ranged from 0.61 to 0.89. The most desired second victim support option was “A respected peer to discuss the details of what happened.”

Conclusions

The SVEST can be used by health care organizations to evaluate second victim experiences of their staff and the quality of existing support resources. It can also provide health care organization leaders with information on second victim–related support resources most preferred by their staff. The SVEST can be administered before and after implementing new second victim resources to measure perceptions of effectiveness.
Marching into battle: synchronized walking diminishes the conceptualized formidability of an antagonist in men
Authors: Fessler Daniel M. T. , Holbrook Colin
Published: August 2014

Paralleling behaviours in other species, synchronized movement is central to institutionalized collective human activities thought to enhance cooperation, and experiments demonstrate that synchrony has this effect. The influence of synchrony on cooperation may derive from an evolutionary history wherein such actions served to signal coalitional strength to both participants and observers—including adversaries. If so, then synchronous movement should diminish individuals' estimations of a foe's formidability. Envisioned physical size and strength constitute the dimensions of a representation that summarizes relative fighting capacity. Experiencing synchrony should therefore lead individuals to conceptualize an antagonist as smaller and weaker. We found that men who walked synchronously with a male confederate indeed envisioned a purported criminal as less physically formidable than did men who engaged in this task without synchronizing.
Assessing the bank profitability in the MENA region
Authors: Ben Selma Mokni Rim , Rachdi Houssem
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– Which of the banking stream is relatively more profitable in Middle Eastern and North Africa (MENA) region?

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical study covers a sample of 15 conventional and 15 Islamic banks for the period 2002-2009.The authors estimate models using the generalized method of moments in system, of Blundell and Bond (1998). They exploit an up-to-date econometric technique which takes into consideration the issue of endogeneity of regressors to evaluate the comparative profitability of Islamic and conventional banks in the MENA region.

Findings

– Empirical analysis results show that the determinants’ significance varies between Islamic and conventional banks. Profitability seems to be quite persistent in the MENA region reflecting a higher degree of government intervention and may signal barriers to competition.

Originality/value

– The main interest is to develop a comprehensive model that integrates macroeconomic, industry-specific and bank-specific determinants. The paper makes comparison of the performance between two different banking systems in the MENA region. The authors consider a variable crisis to gain additional insights into the impacts of the financial crisis on MENA banking sector.
Derivative products and innovation in Islamic finance
Authors: Kiong Kok Seng , Giorgioni Gianluigi , Laws Jason
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight the possibility of structuring an Islamic option which includes an element of risk sharing as opposed to risk transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach adopted in this research involved a combination of a wa’ad (promise) and murabaha (cost plus sale) and examining if they could form a risk-sharing Islamic option. The payoffs were assumed to be dependent on bi-period outcomes.

Findings

– The paper attempted to create a hybrid risk-sharing option by combining elements of both wa’ad (promise) and murabaha (cost plus sale). The results yielded are dependent on the eventual direction of the market (in-the-money, at-the-money and out-the-money). While the results are not definitive, they do provide arguments for the adoption of a risk-sharing, as opposed to a risk-transfer, methodology when it comes to structuring risk management instruments.

Research limitations/implications

– One of the major limitations of this research is the inability to assess the Shariah compliance of the proposed instrument. Shariah compliance is determined by a Shariah Supervisory Board, and every effort has been made to ensure that Shariah financial principles are adhered to in the creation of this structure.

Practical implications

– The structure provides some interest arguments in the creation of risk management tools under a Shariah financial framework. The structure illustrates the benefits of having a risk-sharing mode over the conventional risk-transfer stances of most risk management tools.

Originality/value

– The paper offers a new way of structuring a risk management tool in Islamic finance. It explores the highly debated area of derivatives in Islamic finance and proposes a new way of creating a risk management tool that involves some elements of risk sharing.
Opinion of the zakat recipients on their food security: a case study on Bangladesh
Authors: Tanvir Mahmud Kazi , Kabir Hassan M. , Ferdous Alam Md. , Sohag Kazi , Rafiq Farhana
Published: August 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of zakat fund on the food expenditure of the households to assess the impact of zakat fund on the agricultural production of the households and to assess the opinion of the zakat recipients on food security status under zakat program.

Design/methodology/approach

– Samples were selected for this study using the simple random sampling (SRS) technique. A total of 149 households were selected from 196 households. A survey was conducted during January to March 2011 among the project beneficiaries using questionnaire. The ordinary least squares technique was used to assess the impact of zakat on food security status of the zakat recipients. Heteroscedasticity problem was detected in this study which was corrected using White's method. Logit model was used to assess the opinions of the zakat recipients on their food security status under the Hasana project.

Findings

– This study shows that amount of zakat provided to the poor recipients failed to create any significant influence on their agricultural production, food expenditure and food security status. The study also shows that household income, family members’ involvement in agricultural activities and numbers of income-generating activities pursued by the households were the key determinants of households’ food consumption.

Originality/value

– This study helps in assessing the opinion of the zakat recipients about the effectiveness of the zakat program on their living standard in terms of household agricultural production and food security and also assisting in policy planning for alleviating rural poverty in Bangladesh through the zakat system.
Lutein supplementation leads to decreased soluble complement membrane attack complex sC5b‐9 plasma levels
Authors: Tian Yuan , Kijlstra Aize , van der Veen Rob L. P. , Makridaki Maria , Murray Ian J. , Berendschot Tos T. J. M.
Published: August 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of lutein on systemic complement activation in elderly individuals.

Methods

Seventy patients with signs of early age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) were included in this study. All subjects were randomly assigned to receive a 10 mg daily dose of lutein or a placebo for a time period of 1 year. EDTA blood was collected before and at various time‐points during the study (0, 4, 8 and 12 months). The plasma level of the soluble complement membrane attack complex sC5b‐9 was measured by ELISA.

Results

We found a significant 1.1 ng/ml monthly decrease in the plasma sC5b‐9 concentration in the lutein group (p < 0.001), resulting in a decrease from 60.3 ng/ml at baseline to 46.3 ng/ml at 12 months. For the placebo group, we found a significant 0.6 ng/ml monthly increase in plasma sC5b‐9 concentration (p = 0.001), resulting in an increase from 51.6 ng/ml at baseline to 58.4 ng/ml at 12 months.

Conclusions

Lutein supplementation inhibits the systemic activation of the complement system, which provides further functional evidence for the reported beneficial effects of this carotenoid in the management of AMD.
A randomized trial to compare the safety and efficacy of two ranibizumab dosing regimens in a Turkish cohort of patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD
Authors: Eldem Bora M. , Muftuoglu Gulipek , Topbaş Seyhan , Çakir Mehmet , Kadayifcilar Sibel , Özmert Emin , Bahçecioğlu Halil , Sahin Feride , Sevgi Serhan ,   the SALUTE study group
Published: August 2014

Purpose

To compare visual outcomes, number of visits and ranibizumab injections in patients treated with a Wait & Extend (W&E) or Treat & Observe (T&O) regimen.

Methods

This 12‐month, randomized, multicentre, open‐label study enrolled patients aged ≥50 years with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD who had not received anti‐VEGF agents. Patients received three monthly injections of ranibizumab before randomization (1:1): (i) T&O patients were examined monthly and retreated if needed, (ii) W&E patients had a follow‐up visit 1 month later. If no lesions were active, the interval to the next visit was extended by 2 weeks to a maximum of 8 weeks. Active lesions were re‐treated and the follow‐up schedule restarted. Primary end‐point was change in BCVA at Month 12.

Results

Of the 104 screened patients, 99 were eligible and received ≥1 ranibizumab injection; 93 were randomized (T&O: 45, W&E: 48). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) change in BCVA (logMAR) from baseline at Month 12 was similar between groups (T&O: −0.12 [0.38]; W&E: −0.18 [0.32], p = 0.267). Median (IQR) number of visits at study end (including screening, baseline and control visit after 1st injection) was 15.0 (1.0) for T&O, and 12.0 (2.0) for W&E (p < 0.001). Injection numbers were similar between groups (median [IQR]: 6.0 [3.0] and 5.0 [4.0], respectively, p = 0.215). Adverse events were similar between groups.

Conclusion

W&E regimen resulted in a similar efficacy and safety profile to the labelled T&O regimen in patients with CNV secondary to AMD, and may help reduce the burden of follow‐up visits.
Episodic memory impairments in bipolar disorder are associated with functional and structural brain changes
Authors: Oertel‐Knöchel Viola , Reinke Britta , Feddern Richard , Knake Annika , Knöchel Christian , Prvulovic David , Pantel Johannes , Linden David EJ
Published: August 2014

Objectives

We combined multimodal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and structural magnetic resonance imaging to probe abnormalities in brain circuits underpinning episodic memory performance deficits in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods

We acquired whole‐brain fMRI data in 21 patients with BD and a matched group of 20 healthy controls during a non‐verbal episodic memory task, using abstract shapes. We also examined density of gray matter, using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM), and integrity of connecting fiber tracts, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tract‐based spatial statistics, for areas with significant activation differences.

Results

Patients with BD remembered less well than controls which shapes they had seen and had lower activation levels during the encoding stage of the task in the anterior cingulate gyrus, the precuneus/cuneus bilaterally, and the left lingual gyrus, and higher activation levels during the retrieval stage in the left temporo‐parietal junction. Patients with BD showed reduced gray matter volumes in the left anterior cingulate, the precuneus/cuneus bilaterally, and the left temporo‐parietal region in comparison with controls. DTI revealed increased radial, axial, and mean diffusivity in the left superior longitudinal fascicle in patients with BD compared with controls.

Conclusions

Changes in task‐related activation in frontal and parietal areas were associated with poorer episodic memory in patients with BD. Compared with data from single imaging modalities, integration of multimodal neuroimaging data enables the building of more complete neuropsychological models of mental disorders.