bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Light-induced activation and deactivation of bulk defects in boron-doped float-zone silicon
Authors: Niewelt T. , Selinger M. , Grant N. E. , Kwapil W. , Murphy J. D. , Schubert M. C.
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we present new insight in the degradation and subsequent recovery of charge carrier lifetime upon light soaking at 75 °C observed in float-zone silicon wafers. Variations of doping type, dielectric passivation schemes and thermal treatments after layer deposition were performed. The degradation was only observed for p-type float-zone silicon wafers passivated with passivation schemes involving silicon nitride layers. An influence of thermal treatments after deposition was found. N-type wafers did not degrade independent of their passivation scheme. Room temperature re-passivation experiments showed the degradation to affect the wafer bulk, and photoluminescence studies demonstrated fine lateral striations of effective lifetime. We conclude that the degradation is caused by bulk defects that might be related to hydrogen complexes.
Benchmarking the diffusion and viscosity of H-He mixtures in warm dense matter regime by quantum molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Li Zhi-Guo , Zhang Wei , Fu Zhi-Jian , Dai Jia-Yu , Chen Qi-Feng , Chen Xiang-Rong
Published: May 2017

Quantum molecular dynamics simulations for self-diffusion, mutual-diffusion, and viscosities of hydrogen-helium (H-He) mixtures are investigated to benchmark the standard theoretical models in the warm dense matter regime. We carefully examine the differences in velocity autocorrelation functions (VACFs) between the mixtures and pure hydrogen or helium. The VACFs for the mixtures exhibit oscillatory features, which however are absent for pure species. At low temperatures, the VACFs of H in H-He mixtures have a negative correlation region, which results in an obviously smaller self-diffusion of H in H-He mixtures compared to that in a pure H system. The calculated self-diffusion coefficients of H and He in H-He mixtures show much different behaviors with the variation of the composition of He (XHe): the self-diffusion coefficients of He increase monotonously with increasing XHe, whereas the self-diffusion coefficients of H generally decrease with the increase in XHe. The viscosities are smaller for the H-He mixtures with a more helium content. These diffusion and viscosity coefficients are used as a benchmark to check some analytical models based on the one component plasma or the Yukawa one component plasma.
Methods to improve harvested energy and conversion efficiency of viscoelastic dielectric elastomer generators
Authors: Zhou Jianyou , Jiang Liying , Khayat Roger E.
Published: May 2017

As a new transduction technology, dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) are capable of converting mechanical energy from diverse sources into electrical energy. However, their energy harvesting performance is strongly affected by the material viscoelasticity. Based on the finite-deformation viscoelasticity theory and the nonlinear coupled field theory for dielectric elastomers, this work presents a theoretical framework to model the performance of DEGs. Motivated by the recent experiments of DEGs with a triangular harvesting scheme, we propose a method to optimize the harvesting cycle, which could significantly improve the conversion efficiency of viscoelastic DEGs. From our simulation results, choosing a higher voltage power source appears to be an effective way to improve the performance of DEGs. In addition, optimizing the period of the discharging process of DEG can markedly increase its efficiency. Also, we have uncovered that the triangular harvesting scheme for DEGs, which is expected to harvest energy close to the maximum achievable energy, could be actually realized by choosing dielectric elastomers with a higher fraction of time-independent polymer networks. The theoretical framework and simulation results presented in this work are expected to benefit the optimal design of DEGs for different applications.
Spin pumping torque in antiferromagnets
Authors: Semenov Yuriy G. , Kim Ki Wook
Published: May 2017

A currentless, magnetic-field free mechanism for the Néel vector rotation in an antiferromagnet is proposed. An efficient torque is induced by spin pumping through charging/discharging of spin filtered electrons via a ferromagnetic layer in a spin capacitor structure consisting of the two heterogenous magnetic materials. The relatively long electron spin relaxation time in the antiferromagnet enables the electron spin polarizations to retain the exchange effective field sufficiently long to modulate the local magnetic moments and subsequently the magnetic state of the material. Precession of the sublattice magnetization is modeled based on the Néel vector formulation, theoretically demonstrating the feasibility of the physical mechanism (such as the reversal) with sub-aJ energy consumption. Its potential application to spintronic devices is also discussed.
Wide tunability and electron transfer in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well photodetector by magnetic field
Authors: Yu C. H. , Zhang Bo , Luo X. D. , Lu Wei , Shen X. C.
Published: May 2017

One strategy for terahertz (THz) detection in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well photodetectors under the magnetic field is reported. The THz detection begins to operate after the normally empty hydrogenic donor ground states in the AlGaAs barriers become populated by electrons transferred from the GaAs wells. Through the Landau quantization arising from a perpendicular magnetic field, we achieved the electron transfer from subband Landau levels in the GaAs wells at liquid helium temperature when the magnetic field reaches a certain threshold. One detector based on this strategy exhibited a dramatic range of frequency tunability of 3.20–6.13 THz. Our photothermal ionization spectroscopy measurements show quantitative agreement with the theoretical calculation of intradonor transition energies, verifying the origin of the strongly enhanced frequency tunability from the Zeeman behavior of transferred electrons in the AlGaAs barriers. This finding is useful for exploring magneto-optical effects and realization of wide tunability in THz photodetectors.
High current table-top setup for femtosecond gas electron diffraction
Authors: Zandi Omid , Wilkin Kyle J. , Xiong Yanwei , Centurion Martin
Published: May 2017

We have constructed an experimental setup for gas phase electron diffraction with femtosecond resolution and a high average beam current. While gas electron diffraction has been successful at determining molecular structures, it has been a challenge to reach femtosecond resolution while maintaining sufficient beam current to retrieve structures with high spatial resolution. The main challenges are the Coulomb force that leads to broadening of the electron pulses and the temporal blurring that results from the velocity mismatch between the laser and electron pulses as they traverse the sample. We present here a device that uses pulse compression to overcome the Coulomb broadening and deliver femtosecond electron pulses on a gas target. The velocity mismatch can be compensated using laser pulses with a tilted intensity front to excite the sample. The temporal resolution of the setup was determined with a streak camera to be better than 400 fs for pulses with up to half a million electrons and a kinetic energy of 90 keV. The high charge per pulse, combined with a repetition rate of 5 kHz, results in an average beam current that is between one and two orders of magnitude higher than previously demonstrated.
Ultrafast electron microscopy integrated with a direct electron detection camera
Authors: Lee Young Min , Kim Young Jae , Kim Ye-Jin , Kwon Oh-Hoon
Published: May 2017

In the past decade, we have witnessed the rapid growth of the field of ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM), which provides intuitive means to watch atomic and molecular motions of matter. Yet, because of the limited current of the pulsed electron beam resulting from space-charge effects, observations have been mainly made to periodic motions of the crystalline structure of hundreds of nanometers or higher by stroboscopic imaging at high repetition rates. Here, we develop an advanced UEM with robust capabilities for circumventing the present limitations by integrating a direct electron detection camera for the first time which allows for imaging at low repetition rates. This approach is expected to promote UEM to a more powerful platform to visualize molecular and collective motions and dissect fundamental physical, chemical, and materials phenomena in space and time.
Cold exciton electroluminescence from air-suspended carbon nanotube split-gate devices
Authors: Higashide N. , Yoshida M. , Uda T. , Ishii A. , Kato Y. K.
Published: May 2017

Electroluminescence from individual carbon nanotubes within split-gate devices is investigated. By characterizing the air-suspended nanotubes with photoluminescence spectroscopy, chirality is identified and electroluminescence peaks are assigned. We observe electroluminescence linewidths comparable to photoluminescence, indicating negligible heating and state-mixing effects. Split-gate and bias voltage dependences are consistent with emission from an electrostatically formed pn-junction.
Superparticles Formed by Amphiphilic Tadpole-like Single Chain Polymeric Nanoparticles and Their Application as an Ultrasonic Responsive Drug Carrier
Authors: Jiang Li , Li Hui-ya , Chen Dao-yong
Published: May 2017

Herein, we report self-assembly of tadpole-like single chain polymeric nanoparticles (TPPs) and the ultrasonic response of the resultant superparticles. The TPPs are with an intramolecularly crosslinked poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl pent-4-ynoate)-r-poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PMAEP-r-PHEMA) chain as the “head” and a poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) linear chain as the “tail”, and are prepared simply and efficiently by Glaser-coupling of the pendant alkynes in the PMAEP-r-PHEMA block in the common solvent methanol. The formation of the TPPs was confirmed by gel permeation chromatograph, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, static dynamic scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. In aqueous solution, the amphiphilic TPPs could self-assemble into regular superparticles, driven by aggregation of the hydrophobic “heads”. Since in the structure there is no chain entanglement and the embedding of PDMAEMA chains disturb close-packing of the “heads”, the superparticles are responsive to a low-energy ultrasonic vibration, as evidenced by greatly enhanced release of the functional molecules from the superparticles by treatment of a low-energy ultrasound. Therefore, the superparticles should be very promising in the use as the drug carriers that can be manipulated from a long distance, considering that ultrasonic energy can be focused at a small area in a relatively long distance from the ultrasound-radiating source.
Low-Energy Electron Attachment to Serine Conformers: Shape Resonances and Dissociation Dynamics
Authors: Wang Yongfeng , Tian Shan Xi
Published: May 2017

Shape resonances of electron-molecule system formed in the low-energy electron attachment to four low-lying conformers of serine (serine 1, serine 2, serine 3, and serine 4) in gas phase are investigated using the quantum scattering method with the non-empirical model potentials in single-center expansion. In the attachment energy range of 0–10 eV, three shape resonances for serine 1, serine 2, and serine 4 and four shape resonances for serine 3 are predicted. The one-dimensional potential energy curves of the temporary negative ions of electron-serine are calculated to explore the correlations between the shape resonance and the bond cleavage. The bond-cleavage selectivity of the different resonant states for a certain conformer is demonstrated, and the recent experimental results about the dissociative electron attachment to serine are interpreted on the basis of present calculations.
Causes and consequences of variation in snow incidence on the high mountains of Tasmania, 1983–2013
Authors: Kirkpatrick Jamie B. , Nunez Manuel , Bridle Kerry L. , Parry Jared , Gibson Neil
Published: May 2017

Alpine plant species are considered to have a precarious near future in a warming world, especially where endemic on mountains without a nival zone. We investigated how and why snow patch vegetation and snow incidence varied over recent decades in Tasmania, Australia. Landsat images between 1983 and 2013 were used to calculate the proportion of clear days with snow visible on Mt Field. We compared average annual snow incidence on 74 Tasmanian alpine mountains for 1983–1996 with that for 1997–2013 using the small subset of Landsat runs in which most of Tasmania was clear of cloud. We related the temporal data from Mt Field to Tasmanian climatic data and climate indices to determine the predictors of change. We recorded plant species and life form cover from quadrats in transects through a snow patch on Mt Field in 1983, 2001 and 2014, and mapped decadal scale changes in boundaries and shrub cover at five other snow patches across the extent of the Tasmanian alpine areas from aerial photographs. The incidence of snow fluctuated between 1983 and 2013 at Mt Field with no overall trend. Snow incidence was less on lower elevation alpine mountains in the period 1997–2013 than in the period 1983–1996, but showed a weak opposite trend on mountains higher than 1350 m. The contrast in trends may be a consequence of the effect on lapse rates of stronger frontal winds associated with a steepening of latitudinal pressure gradients. At Mt Field, bare ground decreased, cover of cushion plants and tall shrubs increased and obligate snow patch species were persistent. The trends we observed in both vegetation and snow incidence differ markedly from those observed on mainland Australia. The increase in shrub cover and decrease in bare ground on Mt Field were unexpected, given the constancy in incidence of snow. These results may relate to ongoing recovery from a fire in the 1960s, as the shrub species that have increased are fire-sensitive, obligate seeders and there has been no indication of warming since 1983 in the climatic record for western Tasmania. There is a possibility that some Tasmanian alpine areas might act as long-term refugia from general warming.
Variation in seed nutrient content, seedling growth and yield of rice varieties grown in a paddy field without application of fertilisers for forty years
Authors: Mayamulla S. , Weerarathne L. V. Y. , Marambe B. , Sirisena D. N. , Suriyagoda L. D. B.
Published: May 2017

Knowledge on the growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in low-fertility field conditions is essential to ensure their sustainability and enhance productivity. The key variables determining the productivity of such systems were studied in 40 recommended rice varieties grown in a low-fertile field. The paddy field had received no form of fertiliser or straw for the past 40 years, but it was used for rice cultivation two times per year under other standard crop-management practices. Harvests were made at 6 weeks after planting and at physiological maturity. The same varieties were also grown for 14 days in glass boxes containing distilled water only. Stepwise regression was used to identify the important variables for predicting dry weight (DW) at 14 days, 6 weeks and maturity. Thousand-seed weight and seed phosphorus (P) content of seed paddy (grains used for planting) had strong positive correlations with DW of seedlings after 14 days (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001) and 6 weeks (r = 0.7, P < 0.0001), respectively. However, initial growth performances did not correlate well with aboveground DW or grain yield at maturity. DW at maturity positively correlated with time taken to maturity (r = 0.78, P < 0.0001), shoot K content (r = 0.28, P = 0.008), root DW (r = 0.22, P < 0.02), and uptake rates of K (r = 0.32, P < 0.01) and P (r = 0.33, P < 0.01) at 6 weeks. Seed N concentration decreased (r = −0.63, P < 0.001) and growth rate increased (r = 0.65, P < 0.001) with time taken to maturity. Although seed weight and seed P content of rice are key determinants of early crop establishment, capacity to produce large roots, amount of K taken up, P and K uptake rates at 6 weeks, and time taken to maturity are the key determinants of maturity biomass and grain yield in low-fertile field conditions.
Overexpression of GSK3-like Kinase 5 (OsGSK5) in rice (Oryza sativa) enhances salinity tolerance in part via preferential carbon allocation to root starch
Authors: Thitisaksakul Maysaya , Arias Maria C. , Dong Shaoyun , Beckles Diane M.
Published: May 2017

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is very sensitive to soil salinity. To identify endogenous mechanisms that may help rice to better survive salt stress, we studied a rice GSK3-like isoform (OsGSK5), an orthologue of a Medicago GSK3 previously shown to enhance salinity tolerance in Arabidopsis by altering carbohydrate metabolism. We wanted to determine whether OsGSK5 functions similarly in rice. OsGSK5 was cloned and sequence, expression, evolutionary and functional analyses were conducted. OsGSK5 was expressed highest in rice seedling roots and was both salt and sugar starvation inducible in this tissue. A short-term salt-shock (150 mM) activated OsGSK5, whereas moderate (50 mM) salinity over the same period repressed the transcript. OsGSK5 response to salinity was due to an ionic effect since it was unaffected by polyethylene glycol. We engineered a rice line with 3.5-fold higher OsGSK5 transcript, which better tolerated cultivation on saline soils (EC = 8 and 10 dS m–2). This line produced more panicles and leaves, and a higher shoot biomass under high salt stress than the control genotypes. Whole-plant 14C-tracing and correlative analysis of OsGSK5 transcript with eco-physiological assessments pointed to the accelerated allocation of carbon to the root and its deposition as starch, as part of the tolerance mechanism.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue? Reviewing the evidence on commissioning and health services
Authors: Robinson Suzanne , Dickinson Helen , Durrington Learne
Published: May 2017

The concept of commissioning is starting to gain traction in the Australian health system. Primary Care Networks began operations in July 2015 with a remit around commissioning health services. Despite the centrality of this concept, we know relatively little about commissioning in Australia. Other systems have experimented with it for some time, and this paper reviews the evidence and lessons inherent within the international literature. The study defines commissioning, and explores experiences of others who have adopted commissioning approaches and the evidence concerning the outcomes of these experiments. Commissioning is a difficult topic in many senses and its application to a complex area such as health reform can make it even more challenging. Ultimately, this evidence suggests that commissioning is more than simply a technical or operational process, but one that is value-based and relational. This is not to downplay the technical aspects, which in many jurisdictions have resulted in explicit and evidenced-based approaches to planning and priority setting. However, if new commissioning organisations, such as Primary Health Networks, are to have an impact, they need to balance the operational and relational elements of commissioning.
A rapid review of the impact of commissioning on service use, quality, outcomes and value for money: implications for Australian policy
Authors: Gardner Karen , Davies G. Powell , Edwards Karen , McDonald Julie , Findlay Terry , Kearns Rachael , Joshi Chandni , Harris Mark
Published: May 2017

The aim of this systematic review was to assess evidence of the impact of commissioning on health service use, quality, outcomes and value for money and to consider findings in the Australian context. Systematic searches of the literature identified 444 papers and, after exclusions, 36 were subject to full review. The commissioning cycle (planning, contracting, monitoring) formed a framework for analysis and impacts were assessed at individual, subpopulation and population levels. Little evidence of the effectiveness of commissioning at any level was available and observed impacts were highly context-dependent. There was insufficient evidence to identify a preferred model. Lack of skills and capacity were cited as major barriers to the implementation of commissioning. Successful commissioning requires a clear policy framework of national and regional priorities that define agreed targets for commissioning agencies. Engagement of consumers and providers, especially physicians, was considered to be critically important but is time consuming and has proven difficult to sustain. Adequate information on the cost, volume and quality of healthcare services is critically important for setting priorities, and for contracting and monitoring performance. Lack of information resulted in serious problems. High-quality nationally standardised performance measures and data requirements need to be built into contracts and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. In Australia, there is significant work to be done in areas of policy and governance, funding systems and incentives, patient enrolment or registration, information systems, individual and organisational capacity, community engagement and experience in commissioning.
Predictive processes during simultaneous interpreting from German into English
Authors: Hodzik Ena , Williams John N.
Published: May 2017

We report a study on prediction in shadowing and simultaneous interpreting (SI), both considered as forms of real-time, ‘online’ spoken language processing. The study comprised two experiments, focusing on: (i) shadowing of German head-final sentences by 20 advanced students of German, all native speakers of English; (ii) SI of the same sentences into English head-initial sentences by 22 advanced students of German, again native English speakers, and also by 11 trainee and practising interpreters. Latency times for input and production of the target verbs were measured. Drawing on studies of prediction in English-language reading production, we examined two cues to prediction in both experiments: contextual constraints (semantic cues in the context) and transitional probability (the statistical likelihood of words occurring together in the language concerned). While context affected prediction during both shadowing and SI, transitional probability appeared to favour prediction during shadowing but not during SI. This suggests that the two cues operate on different levels of language processing in SI.
Hedges in conference interpreting
Authors: Magnifico Cédric , Defrancq Bart
Published: May 2017

This paper, part of a project on gender differences in simultaneous interpreting, analyzes possible gender-related trends in the use of hedges by professional interpreters and examines two hypotheses: (1) simultaneous interpretations, because of processing constraints, contain fewer hedges than the original speeches; (2) consistent with gender differences in spontaneous speech, women interpreters use more hedges than men. The research draws on Ghent University’s EPICG corpus of speeches at the European Parliament and their interpretations. Here, French speeches recorded in 2008 were compared with their English and Dutch interpretations in respect of hedging frequency. Statistical comparison was based on the chi-squared test. With regard to the first hypothesis, comparison of normalized frequencies (occurrences per 1000 words) shows that the interpreters in both language combinations used significantly more hedges than the speakers. The second hypothesis was tested by comparing data according to interpreters’ gender, factoring in the frequency of hedges in the source texts: women interpreters hedged more than men in both target languages, significantly so in Dutch. Regarding strategies that might account for the interpreters’ use of hedges (omission, translation, addition), the women interpreters made more additions than the men. Possible reasons for these patterns are discussed.
South Caucasus from 1918 to 1921: history and historical parallels with the contemporary era
Authors: Mkhoyan Anna
Published: May 2017

The republics that make up the South Caucasus today gained brief independence after the fall of the Tsarist Empire, before the integration of the region into Bolshevik Russia. This period, even though short, gives interesting historical background to understand the present. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to study the South Caucasian republics from 1918 to 1921 at the regional and international levels, paying particular attention to the historical continuities with the contemporary era (since 1991). The results of the study show three main parallels between the early twentieth century (1918–1921) and the present. First, the region is still internally divided (e.g. the unresolved conflicts). Second, externally, it is torn between sometimes opposing powers (e.g. Russia and the Western powers). Finally, third, the partnerships with international or regional powers still remain asymmetrical; consequently, the need to cooperate with Russia exceeds the aspirations of the Western powers toward the South Caucasus. Based on archival research, this study contributes to the historiography of the region and gives a framework for understanding the South Caucasus in contemporary international relations.
Position preference and position change of hiders in the game of hide-and-seek
Authors: Sanderson Yasmine B
Published: May 2017

We study common tendencies adult hiders have in choosing and changing positions in the game of hide-and-seek. In our case, the game takes the form of commercial and homemade advent calendars in which the creator has hidden Numbers 1, 2, . . ., 24 in a seemingly random way. By comparing the numberings in the 332 human-generated calendars with random numberings, we identify common tendencies that hiders share. We observe that hiders hide things far apart and spread out from each other, the behavior which is consistent with, but concurrently extends previous research on hiding and its connection with subjective randomness.
Prognostic Significance of Spot Urine Na/K for Longitudinal Changes in Blood Pressure and Renal Function: The Nagahama Study
Authors: Tabara Yasuharu , Takahashi Yoshimitsu , Setoh Kazuya , Kawaguchi Takahisa , Kosugi Shinji , Nakayama Takeo , Matsuda Fumihiko ,   the Nagahama Study Group
Published: May 2017

BACKGROUND

Urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na/K) represents a simple measure of sodium load and has been reported to be associated with blood pressure (BP) levels in a cross-sectional setting even with spot measurements. The aim of the present large-scale cohort study is to determine prognostic significance of spot urine Na/K for longitudinal changes in BP levels and renal function.

METHODS

The present study population consisted of 7,063 individuals from the general population. Clinical parameters were measured at baseline and at a follow-up interval of 5 years.

RESULTS

Mean systolic BP was slightly increased during the follow-up period (overall, 124 ± 17 to 125 ± 18 mm Hg; nontreated participants, 119 ± 15 to 122 ± 17 mm Hg). Although, the urinary Na/K demonstrated a linear association with BP in a cross-sectional analysis (P < 0.001), analysis of repeated measured BP values identified baseline Na/K * time interaction, i.e., an intraindividual effect, as an inverse determinant (F = 76.9, P < 0.001) independently of hypertension status and fasting conditions possibly due to regression to the mean of temporary high baseline Na/K values at baseline. Spot urine Na/K values were found to be positively associated with renal function in a cross-sectional analysis (P < 0.001). Although baseline Na/K * time interaction showed inverse associated with renal functional decline (F = 85.8, P < 0.001), this inverse association might not represent physiological relationship in likewise fashion with the analysis for BP.

CONCLUSIONS

Spot urine Na/K may have limited utility as a prognostic marker of longitudinal BP change, as well as renal functional decline.
Optimum stable model search: algorithms and implementation
Authors: Alviano Mario , Dodaro Carmine , Marques-Silva Joao , Ricca Francesco
Published: May 2017

Answer Set Programming (ASP) is a well-known declarative problem solving paradigm developed in the field of nonmonotonic reasoning and logic programming. The usual target of ASP is the solution of combinatorial search problems, nonetheless the language of ASP was extended with weak constraints for concise modelling of optimization problems. In the case of ASP programs with weak constraints, the main computational task of an ASP solver is optimum stable model search . In this article, we present and compare several algorithms for optimum stable model search. We consider solutions traditionally adopted by ASP solvers, and we introduce new solving strategies obtained by porting to the ASP setting some algorithms that were introduced for Maximum Satisfiability solving. The article also reports on the implementation of these algorithms in the ASP solver wasp . An empirical analysis highlights pros and cons of different strategies for computing optimum stable models.
An optically-selected cluster catalog at redshift 0.1 < z < 1.1 from the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program S16A data
Authors: Oguri Masamune , Lin Yen-Ting , Lin Sheng-Chieh , Nishizawa Atsushi J , More Anupreeta , More Surhud , Hsieh Bau-Ching , Medezinski Elinor , Miyatake Hironao , Jian Hung-Yu , Lin Lihwai , Takada Masahiro , Okabe Nobuhiro , Speagle Joshua S , Coupon Jean , Leauthaud Alexie , Lupton Robert H , Miyazaki Satoshi , Price Paul A , Tanaka Masayuki , Chiu I-Non , Komiyama Yutaka , Okura Yuki , Tanaka Manobu M , Usuda Tomonori
Published: May 2017

We present an optically-selected cluster catalog from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program. The HSC images are sufficiently deep to detect cluster member galaxies down to M* ∼ 1010.2 M⊙ even at z ∼ 1, allowing a reliable cluster detection at such high redshifts. We apply the CAMIRA algorithm to the HSC Wide S16A dataset covering ∼232 deg2 to construct a catalog of 1921 clusters at redshift 0.1 < z < 1.1 and richness ${\skew7\hat{N}}_{\rm mem}>15$ that roughly corresponds to M200m ≳ 1014 h−1 M⊙. We confirm good cluster photometric redshift performance, with the bias and the scatter in Δz/(1 + z) being better than 0.005 and 0.01, respectively, over most of the redshift range. We compare our cluster catalog with large X-ray cluster catalogs from the XXL and XMM-LSS (the XMM Large Scale Structure) surveys and find good correlation between richness and X-ray properties.We also study the mis-centering effect from the distribution of offsets between optical and X-ray cluster centers. We confirm the high (>0.9) completeness and purity for high-mass clusters by analyzing mock galaxy catalogs.
Comparative and population genomics landscape ofPhellinus noxius: a hypervariable fungus causing root rot in trees
Authors: Chung Chia-Lin , Lee Tracy J. , Akiba Mitsuteru , Lee Hsin-Han , Kuo Tzu-Hao , Liu Dang , Ke Huei-Mien , Yokoi Toshiro , Roa Marylette B , Lu Meiyeh J , Chang Ya-Yun , Ann Pao-Jen , Tsai Jyh-Nong , Chen Chien-Yu , Tzean Shean-Shong , Ota Yuko , Hattori Tsutomu , Sahashi Norio , Liou Ruey-Fen , Kikuchi Taisei , Tsai Isheng J
Published: May 2017

The order Hymenochaetales of white rot fungi contain some of the most aggressive wood decayers causing tree deaths around the world. Despite their ecological importance and the impact of diseases they cause, little is known about the evolution and transmission patterns of these pathogens. Here, we sequenced and undertook comparative genomics analyses of Hymenochaetales genomes using brown root rot fungusPhellinus noxius, wood-decomposing fungusPhellinus lamaensis, laminated root rot fungusPhellinus sulphurascens, and trunk pathogenPorodaedalea pini. Many gene families of lignin-degrading enzymes were identified from these fungi, reflecting their ability as white rot fungi. Comparing against distant fungi highlighted the expansion of 1,3-beta-glucan synthases inP. noxius, which may account for its fast-growing attribute. We identified 13 linkage groups conserved within Agaricomycetes, suggesting the evolution of stable karyotypes. We determined thatP. noxiushas a bipolar heterothallic mating system, with unusual highly expanded ~60 kbAlocus as a result of accumulating gene transposition. We investigated the population genomics of 60P. noxiusisolates across multiple islands of the Asia Pacific region. Whole-genome sequencing showed this multinucleate species contains abundant poly-allelic single-nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs) with atypical allele frequencies. Different patterns of intra-isolate polymorphism reflect mono-/heterokaryotic states which are both prevalent in nature. We have shown two genetically separated lineages with one spanning across many islands despite the geographical barriers. Both populations possess extraordinary genetic diversity and show contrasting evolutionary scenarios. These results provide a framework to further investigate the genetic basis underlying the fitness and virulence of white rot fungi.
Whole-brain serial-section electron microscopy in larval zebrafish
Authors: Hildebrand David Grant Colburn , Cicconet Marcelo , Torres Russel Miguel , Choi Woohyuk , Quan Tran Minh , Moon Jungmin , Wetzel Arthur Willis , Champion Andrew Scott , Graham Brett Jesse , Randlett Owen , Plummer George Scott , Portugues Ruben , Bianco Isaac Henry , Saalfeld Stephan , Baden Alex , Lillaney Kunal , Burns Randal , Vogelstein Joshua Tzvi , Schier Alexander Franz , Lee Wei-Chung Allen , Jeong Won-Ki , Lichtman Jeff William , Engert Florian
Published: May 2017

Investigating the dense meshwork of wires and synapses that form neuronal circuits is possible with the high resolution of serial-section electron microscopy (ssEM)1. However, the imaging scale required to comprehensively reconstruct axons and dendrites is more than 10 orders of magnitude smaller than the spatial extents occupied by networks of interconnected neurons2—some of which span nearly the entire brain. The difficulties in generating and handling data for relatively large volumes at nanoscale resolution has thus restricted all studies in vertebrates to neuron fragments, thereby hindering investigations of complete circuits. These efforts were transformed by recent advances in computing, sample handling, and imaging techniques1, but examining entire brains at high resolution remains a challenge. Here we present ssEM data for a complete 5.5 days post-fertilisation larval zebrafish brain. Our approach utilizes multiple rounds of targeted imaging at different scales to reduce acquisition time and data management. The resulting dataset can be analysed to reconstruct neuronal processes, allowing us to, for example, survey all the myelinated axons (the projectome). Further, our reconstructions enabled us to investigate the precise projections of neurons and their contralateral counterparts. In particular, we observed that myelinated axons of reticulospinal and lateral line afferent neurons exhibit remarkable bilateral symmetry. Additionally, we found that fasciculated reticulospinal axons maintain the same neighbour relations throughout the extent of their projections. Furthermore, we use the dataset to set the stage for whole-brain comparisons of structure and function by co-registering functional reference atlases andin vivotwo-photon fluorescence microscopy data from the same specimen. We provide the complete dataset and reconstructions as an open-access resource for neurobiologists and others interested in the ultrastructure of the larval zebrafish.
Characterization of Copper Complex Nanoparticles synthesized by Plant Polyphenols
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , An Pengfei
Published: May 2017

In this paper a kind of copper oxide material of copper–polyphenols complex nanoparticles (Cu–P NPs) were synthesized byCinnamomum pedunculatumleaves extract, which have different morphology and appearance compared with usual copper oxides Cu2O and CuO. For better understanding about this material, the Cu–P NPs were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that synthesized Cu–P NPs were amorphous with spherical particles ranged from 80 to 500 nm. XAS data analysis indicated that the synthesized Cu–P NPs has different molecular structure with Cu2O and CuO. It is assumed that the copper ions chelated with polyphenol molecule. The nanoparticles showed a clear antiEscherichia coliactivity in this study, and may also be used in fields of semiconductor, ceramic, catalyst, and sensor. This synthesis approach provided a novel route to manufacture copper oxide nanomaterial.
A New Big-Data Paradigm for Target Identification and Drug Discovery
Authors: Madhukar Neel S. , Khade Prashant K. , Huang Linda , Gayvert Kaitlyn , Galletti Giuseppe , Stogniew Martin , Allen Joshua E. , Giannakakou Paraskevi , Elemento Olivier
Published: May 2017

Drug target identification is one of the most important aspects of pre-clinical development yet it is also among the most complex, labor-intensive, and costly. This represents a major issue, as lack of proper target identification can be detrimental in determining the clinical application of a bioactive small molecule. To improve target identification, we developed BANDIT, a novel paradigm that integrates multiple data types within a Bayesian machine-learning framework to predict the targets and mechanisms for small molecules with unprecedented accuracy and versatility. Using only public data BANDIT achieved an accuracy of approximately 90% over 2000 different small molecules – substantially better than any other published target identification platform. We applied BANDIT to a library of small molecules with no known targets and generated ∼4,000 novel molecule-target predictions. From this set we identified and experimentally validated a set of novel microtubule inhibitors, including three with activity on cancer cells resistant to clinically used anti-microtubule therapies. We next applied BANDIT to ONC201 – an active anti- cancer small molecule in clinical development – whose target has remained elusive since its discovery in 2009. BANDIT identified dopamine receptor 2 as the unexpected target of ONC201, a prediction that we experimentally validated. Not only does this open the door for clinical trials focused on target-based selection of patient populations, but it also represents a novel way to target GPCRs in cancer. Additionally, BANDIT identified previously undocumented connections between approved drugs with disparate indications, shedding light onto previously unexplained clinical observations and suggesting new uses of marketed drugs. Overall, BANDIT represents an efficient and highly accurate platform that can be used as a resource to accelerate drug discovery and direct the clinical application of small molecule therapeutics with improved precision.
Mapping quantitative trait loci underlying circadian light sensitivity inDrosophila
Authors: Adewoye Adeolu B. , Nuzhdin Sergey V. , Tauber Eran
Published: May 2017

Despite the significant advance in our understanding of the molecular basis of light entrainment of the circadian clock inDrosophila, the underlying genetic architecture is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify loci associated with variation in circadian photosensitivity, which are important for the evolution of this trait. We have used complementary approaches that combined quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, complementation testing and transcriptome profiling to dissect this variation.

We identified a major QTL on chromosome 2, which was subsequently fine-mapped using deficiency complementation mapping into two smaller regions spanning 139 genes, some of which are known to be involved in functions which have been previously implicated in light entrainment. Two genes implicated with the clock and located within that interval,timelessandcycle, failed to complement the QTL, indicating that alleles of these genes contribute to the variation in light response. Specifically, we find that thetimelesss/lspolymorphism that has been previously shown to constitute a latitudinal cline in Europe, is also segregating in our recombinant inbred lines, and is contributing to the phenotypic variation in light sensitivity.

We have also profiled gene expression in two recombinant inbred strains that differ significantly in their photosensitivity, and identified a total of 368 transcripts that showed differential expression (FDR < 0.1). Out of 131 transcripts that showed a significant RIL by treatment interaction (i.e. putative expression QTL), four are located within QTL2
Robust X-ray angular correlations for the study of meso-structures
Authors: Lhermitte Julien R. , Tian Cheng , Stein Aaron , Rahman Atikur , Zhang Yugang , Wiegart Lutz , Fluerasu Andrei , Gang Oleg , Yager Kevin G.
Published: May 2017

As self-assembling nanomaterials become more sophisticated, it is becoming increasingly important to measure the structural order of finite-sized assemblies of nano-objects. These mesoscale clusters represent an acute challenge to conventional structural probes, owing to the range of implicated size scales (10 nm to several micrometres), the weak scattering signal and the dynamic nature of meso-clusters in native solution environments. The high X-ray flux and coherence of modern synchrotrons present an opportunity to extract structural information from these challenging systems, but conventional ensemble X-ray scattering averages out crucial information about local particle configurations. Conversely, a single meso-cluster scatters too weakly to recover the full diffraction pattern. Using X-ray angular cross-correlation analysis, it is possible to combine multiple noisy measurements to obtain robust structural information. This paper explores the key theoretical limits and experimental challenges that constrain the application of these methods to probing structural order in real nanomaterials. A metric is presented to quantify the signal-to-noise ratio of angular correlations, and it is used to identify several experimental artifacts that arise. In particular, it is found that background scattering, data masking and inter-cluster interference profoundly affect the quality of correlation analyses. A robust workflow is demonstrated for mitigating these effects and extracting reliable angular correlations from realistic experimental data.
Processing two-dimensional X-ray diffraction and small-angle scattering data in DAWN 2
Authors: Filik J. , Ashton A. W. , Chang P. C. Y. , Chater P. A. , Day S. J. , Drakopoulos M. , Gerring M. W. , Hart M. L. , Magdysyuk O. V. , Michalik S. , Smith A. , Tang C. C. , Terrill N. J. , Wharmby M. T. , Wilhelm H.
Published: May 2017

A software package for the calibration and processing of powder X-ray diffraction and small-angle X-ray scattering data is presented. It provides a multitude of data processing and visualization tools as well as a command-line scripting interface for on-the-fly processing and the incorporation of complex data treatment tasks. Customizable processing chains permit the execution of many data processing steps to convert a single image or a batch of raw two-dimensional data into meaningful data and one-dimensional diffractograms. The processed data files contain the full data provenance of each process applied to the data. The calibration routines can run automatically even for high energies and also for large detector tilt angles. Some of the functionalities are highlighted by specific use cases.
Quantitative phase analysis using observed integrated intensities and chemical composition data of individual crystalline phases: quantification of materials with indefinite chemical compositions
Authors: Toraya Hideo
Published: May 2017

In a previous report, a new method for quantitative phase analysis (QPA) of multi-component mixtures using a conventional X-ray powder diffractometer was proposed. The formula for deriving weight fractions of individual crystalline phases presented therein includes sets of observed integrated intensities measured in a wide 2\theta range, chemical formula weights and sums of squared numbers of electrons belonging to atoms in respective chemical formula units [Toraya (2016).J. Appl. Cryst.49, 1508–1516]. The latter two parameters required to perform QPA could be calculated from only the information of chemical formulae of individual phases. In the present study, these two parameters are replaced with a single parameter in the form new parameter = (chemical formula weight)/(sum of squared numbers of electrons). As will be expected from this definition, the parameter has nearly equal values for groups of materials consisting of similar kinds of atoms, and its value becomes identical for polytypes or polymorphs having the same chemical composition. That characteristic of this parameter makes it possible to estimate the parameter value not only directly from the chemical composition of the target material itself but also from database-stored chemical analysis data sorted on the basis of mineral or chemical composition. The parameter value is also hardly changed as a result of small compositional variations of the target component material. Therefore, the present method can be applied to QPA of materials not only of definite chemical compositions but also of indefinite chemical compositions without degrading the accuracy of the analysis. This is expected to widen the application to QPA of, for example, natural products containing many kinds of trace elements, industrial materials with complex substitutional replacement of atoms, nonstoichiometric compoundsetc. The theory and some examples of applications are presented. A procedure for quantifying unknown material is also proposed.
Nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa: a causality test using panel data
Authors: Ogundari Kolawole , Aromolaran Adebayo
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the causal relationship between nutrition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic panel causality test based on the Blundell-Bond’s system generalized methods-of-moment was used. To make efficient inference for the estimates, the authors check for the panel unit root and co-integration relationship amongst the variables.

Findings

The variables were found to be non-stationary at level, stationary after first difference and co-integrated. The results of the causality tests reveal evidence of long and short-run bidirectional causality between nutrition and economic growth, which implies that nutritional improvement is a cause and consequence of economic growth and vice versa.

Originality/value

This is the first study to consider causality between nutrition and economic growth in the region.