bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal supplementation with fishmeal protects against late gestation endotoxin-induced fetal programming of the ovine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Authors: Fisher R. E. , Or’Rashid M. , Quinton M. , AlZahal O. , Boermans H. J. , McBride B. W. , Karrow N. A.
Published: May 2014

Adverse uterine environments caused by maternal stress (such as bacterial endotoxin) can alter programming of the fetal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPAA) rendering offspring susceptible to various adulthood diseases. Thus, protection against this type of stress may be critical for ensuring offspring health. The present study was designed to determine if maternal supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) during pregnancy helps to protect against stress-induced fetal programming. Briefly, 53 ewes were fed a diet supplemented with fishmeal (FM) or soybean meal (SM) from day 100 of gestation (gd100) through lactation. On gd135, half the ewes from each dietary group were challenged with either 1.2 μg/kgEscherichia colilipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin, or saline as the control. The offspring’s cortisol response to weaning stress was assessed 50 days postpartum by measuring serum cortisol concentrations 0, 6 and 24 h post weaning. Twenty-four hours post-weaning, lambs were subjected to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge (0.5 μg/kg) and serum cortisol concentrations were measured 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 h post injection. At 5.5 months of age, offspring were also challenged with 400 ng/kg of LPS, and serum cortisol concentrations were measured 0, 2, 4 and 6 h post challenge. Interestingly, female offspring born to FM+LPS mothers had a greater cortisol response to weaning and endotoxin challenge compared with the other treatments, while female offspring born to SM+LPS mothers had a faster cortisol response to the ACTH stressor. Additionally, males born to FM+LPS mothers had a greater cortisol response to the ACTH challenge than the other treatments. Overall, FM supplementation during gestation combined with LPS challenge alters HPAA responsiveness of the offspring into adulthood.
Traumatisierte Mütter – traumatisierte Kinder?
Authors: Ruf-Leuschner Martina , Roth Maria , Schauer Maggie
Published: May 2014

Hintergrund: Die Prävalenz von Traumafolgestörungen bei erwachsenen Flüchtlingen ist bekanntermaßen hoch. Gleichzeitig zeigen auch Flüchtlingskinder multiple psychische Auffälligkeiten und Funktionseinschränkungen. Theorien zu generationsübergreifender Traumatisierung vermuten, dass die Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung (PTBS) der Eltern sowie familiäre Gewalt die psychische Gesundheit der Kinder maßgeblich beeinflussen. Doch auch andere Faktoren wie eigene traumatische Erfahrungen im Herkunfts- und Aufnahmeland oder die Lebensbedingungen im Exil stehen möglicherweise mit der psychischen Gesundheit der Kinder in Zusammenhang. Fragestellung: Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es, den Zusammenhang von PTBS, weiteren Traumafolgeerkrankungen und Gewalterfahrungen von Flüchtlingsmüttern und ihren Kindern transgenerational zu untersuchen. Methode: 41 Flüchtlingsmütter und ihre Kinder (Alter 11-18 Jahre) wurden mit Hilfe von standardisierten, psychodiagnostischen Instrumenten unabhängig voneinander interviewt. Bei den Kindern wurde das Ausmaß der erlebten familiären Gewalt, erlebte traumatische Ereignisse, Ängstlichkeit, Depressivität sowie PTBS erfasst. Bei den Müttern wurde das Ausmaß der erlebten familiären Gewalt in der Kindheit, Gewalterfahrungen in der Partnerschaft in den letzten 12 Monaten ebenso wie andere traumatische Ereignisse sowie PTBS und Depressivität erhoben. Ergebnisse: Die Schwere der PTBS-Symptomatik bei den Müttern zeigt keinen direkten Zusammenhang mit der PTBS-Symptomatik, der Ängstlichkeit und der Depressivität der Kinder. Die Schwere der mütterlichen PTBS-Symptomatik ist aber mit der vom Kind erlebten familiären Gewalt positiv assoziiert. Die von den Kindern berichtete Anzahl unterschiedlicher traumatischer Ereignistypen und das Ausmaß der familiären Gewalt korrelieren wiederum positiv sowohl mit deren PTBS-Symptomatik als auch mit deren Depressivität und Ängstlichkeit. Schlussfolgerung: Die Ergebnisse veranschaulichen, dass nicht die PTBS-Symptomatik der Mutter, sondern die von den Kindern selbst erlebten traumatischen Erfahrungen, einschließlich der erlebten familiären Gewalt, mit den Traumafolgeerkrankungen der Kinder in Zusammenhang stehen. Die PTBS-Symptomatik der Mutter steht jedoch mit der vom Kind erlebten familiären Gewalt in Zusammenhang. Psychotherapeutische, trauma-fokussierte Interventionen sind daher sowohl für Mütter als auch Kinder indiziert. Darüber hinaus können Elterntrainings sinnvoll sein, um langfristig den Zyklus der Gewalt zu durchbrechen.
Kognitive Reaktivität und Stressbelastung als Prädiktoren eines Rezidivs bei remittiert depressiven Personen
Authors: Rojas Roberto , Geissner Edgar , Hautzinger Martin
Published: May 2014

Theoretischer Hintergrund: Obwohl einige Studien zeigten, dass eine gesteigerte kognitive Reaktivität einen Risikofaktor für einen depressiven Rückfall darstellt, konnte dieser Befund von anderen Arbeitsgruppen nicht bestätigt werden. Fragestellung: Daher wollen wir mit einer Replikationsstudie zur Klärung der Frage beitragen, inwiefern kognitive Reaktivität und Stressbelastung ein depressives Rezidiv vorhersagen. Methode: Bei 39 remittierten Depressiven nach einer stationären Behandlung sowie 45 gesunden Kontrollpersonen wurde die kognitive Reaktivität gemessen. Die remittiert depressive Gruppe absolvierte darüber hinaus eine 16-monatige Katamnesephase. Ergebnisse: Am Ende der stationären Behandlung stellte sich bei der Patientengruppe eine signifikante Reduktion der dysfunktionalen Einstellungen heraus. Die kognitive Reaktivität erwies sich als bedeutsamer Prädiktor eines depressiven Rückfalls, insbesondere wenn die Anzahl negativer Lebensereignisse im Katamnesezeitraum berücksichtigt wurde. Schlussfolgerung: Kognitive Reaktivität wurde als wichtiger Prädiktor eines depressiven Rezidivs bestätigt.
Thermally stable gold/alumina aerogel catalysts prepared by a simultaneous synthesis process for solvent-free aerobic benzyl alcohol oxidation
Authors: Li Z. , Ji Y. , Cadigan C. , Richards R. M.
Published: May 2014

Gold nanoparticles physically trapped in the framework of alumina aerogel exhibit excellent thermal stability and catalytic activity at high temperature.
Flow analysis in Brazil: contributions over the last four decades
Authors: Batista Alex D. , Sasaki Milton K. , Rocha Fábio R. P. , Zagatto Elias A. G.
Published: May 2014

Timeline with the main contributions of Brazilian researchers to flow analysis.
Enhanced thermoelectric efficiency in ferromagnetic silicene nanoribbons terminated with hydrogen atoms
Authors: Zberecki K. , Swirkowicz R. , Wierzbicki M. , Barnaś J.
Published: May 2014

Using ab initio methods we calculate thermoelectric and spin thermoelectric properties of silicene nanoribbons with bare, mono-hydrogenated and di-hydrogenated edges.
The enhanced catalytic performance of Pd/SiC for the hydrogenation of furan derivatives at ambient temperature under visible light irradiation
Authors: Jiao Zhi-Feng , Guo Xiao-Ning , Zhai Zhao-Yang , Jin Guo-Qiang , Wang Xiao-Min , Guo Xiang-Yun
Published: May 2014

Pd/SiC exhibits a tremendous promotion of catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of furan derivatives at ambient temperature under visible light irradiation.
Theoretical insights into the effect of amine and phosphine decoration on the photoluminescence of copper(i) and silver(i) coordination polymers
Authors: Bayse Craig A. , Harper Lenora K. , Ming Jasprina L. , Pike Robert D.
Published: May 2014

Ligand decoration shifts the excitation and emission spectra of coinage metal cyanides. DFT and TD-DFT calculations are used to identify the MOs involved the transitions that contribute to photoluminescence.
One-step fabrication of functionalized magnetic adsorbents with large surface area and their adsorption for dye and heavy metal ions
Authors: Wang Jianzhi , Zhao Guanghui , Li Yanfeng , Zhu Hao , Peng Xiaomen , Gao Xian
Published: May 2014

Functionalized magnetic adsorbents were synthesized by a facile and surfactant-free one-pot solvothermal approach, using iron(iii) chloride hexahydrate as precursor, ethylene glycol as reducing agent, ammonium acetate, and EDTA-2Na as electrostatic stabilization agent.
Substrate factors that influence the synergistic interaction of AA9 and cellulases during the enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass
Authors: Hu Jinguang , Arantes Valdeir , Pribowo Amadeus , Gourlay Keith , Saddler Jack N.
Published: May 2014

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases utilise reducing agents within the biomass substrate to act synergistically with canonical hydrolases to enhance cellulose deconstruction.
Spectroscopic imaging: a spatial Odyssey
Authors: Adams Freddy
Published: May 2014

Analytical methods were developed or refined to link the composition and structure of man-made and natural materials down to the nanoscale dimensions to their functional behaviour at the macroscopic scale.
Dynamics matter: differences and similarities between alternatively designed mechanisms
Authors: Ay Ahmet , Yildirim Necmettin
Published: May 2014

Devil is in the details: alternatively designed similar regulatory inhibition and activation mechanisms can serve diverse dynamic needs of a cell.
Hydroxyl radical induced oxidation of theophylline in water: a kinetic and mechanistic study
Authors: Sunil Paul M. M. , Aravind U. K. , Pramod G. , Saha A. , Aravindakumar C. T.
Published: May 2014

Evidence is reported for the addition and hydrogen abstraction reactions of hydroxyl radicals with an important pharmaceutically active compound, theophylline.
Electrochemical and in situ ATR-SEIRAS investigations of methanol and CO electro-oxidation on PVP-free cubic and octahedral/tetrahedral Pt nanoparticles
Authors: Levendorf Augusta M. , Chen De-Jun , Rom Christopher L. , Liu Yangwei , Tong YuYe J.
Published: May 2014

The adsorbed PVP enhances further the MOR activity on the O/T but suppresses it on the cubic Pt NPs.
A facile route for the synthesis of sub-micron sized hollow and multiporous organosilica spheres
Authors: Segers Margot , Arfsten Nanning , Buskens Pascal , Möller Martin
Published: May 2014

A synthesis yielding hollow and multiporous spheres with stringent control over outer diameter, size distribution and void size is presented.
Alkaline quaternary ammonium hydroxides and their polymer electrolytes for electrochemical capacitors
Authors: Gao Han , Li Jak , Lian Keryn
Published: May 2014

Tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH)–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) electrolytes showed superior stability and shelf life to KOH–PVA electrolytes in electrochemical capacitors (ECs).
Co9S8nanoflakes on graphene (Co9S8/G) nanocomposites for high performance supercapacitors
Authors: Ramachandran Rajendran , Saranya Murugan , Santhosh Chella , Velmurugan Venugopal , Raghupathy Bala P. C. , Jeong Soon Kwan , Grace Andrews Nirmala
Published: May 2014

Co9S8/graphene nanocomposites (Co9S8/G) at various concentrations of graphene and Co9S8were prepared and tested for its electrochemical behaviour for supercapacitors.
BiFeO3/YSZ bilayer electrolyte for low temperature solid oxide fuel cell
Authors: Tu Yu-Chieh , Chang Chun-Yu , Wu Ming-Chung , Shyue Jing-Jong , Su Wei-Fang
Published: May 2014

Highly crystalline perovskite BiFeO3 is obtained by a facile solution method. We have reported that the YSZ/BFO electrolyte with 17 μm/30 μm thickness, respectively, showed a maximum power density of 165 mW cm−2 and open-circuit voltage of 0.75 V at 650 °C.
Highly selective uptake of Ba2+and Sr2+ions by graphene oxide from mixtures of IIA elements
Authors: Sofer Zdeněk , Wang Lu , Klímová Kateřina , Pumera Martin
Published: May 2014

We show here that graphene oxide selectively gathers heavy IIA group elements in the order of Ba2+> Sr2+> Ca2+> Mg2+with enrichment factors >100.
Large grained single-crystalline-like germanium thin film on flexible Ni–W tape
Authors: Dutta Pavel , Rathi Monika , Yao Yao , Gao Ying , Majkic Goran , Iliev Milko , Martinez James , Holzapfel Bernhard , Selvamanickam Venkat
Published: May 2014

Roll-to-roll growth of single-crystalline-like germanium thin films with high carrier mobility on low-cost flexible Ni–W metal foils has been demonstrated.
Mechano-responsive gelation of water by a short alanine-derivative
Authors: Reddy M Amarendar , Srivastava Aasheesh
Published: May 2014

A structurally concise alanine derivative (Ala-hyd) self-assembles into nanofibers upon mechanical agitation and gels water.
Controllable synthesis of RGO/FexOy nanocomposites as high-performance anode materials for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Dong Xiangmao , Li Li , Zhao Chongjun , Liu Hua-Kun , Guo Zaiping
Published: May 2014

We have developed a simple, efficient, and environmentally benign approach to the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/metal oxide composites via hydrothermal reaction of graphene oxide and metal powder under mild reaction conditions.
Wind turbine contribution in frequency drop mitigation – modified operation and estimating released supportive energy
Authors: Attya Ayman Bakry , Hartkopf Thomas
Published: May 2014

Wind energy high penetration levels in power systems require robust and practical operation algorithms to maintain and improve the present conventional systems performance. Thus, several studies consider the impact of wind farms installation on grid frequency, especially during frequency drops. The proposed algorithm makes the wind turbine provide promising support during frequency deviations through two operation modes, namely, normal and support. Normal mode controls wind turbine output by adjusting rotational speed and pitch angle according to the incident wind speed category. Novel normal operation secures wind turbine positive contribution in frequency deviations curtailment regardless of poor accompanying wind speed conditions. The innovative concept of merging pitch de‐loading and rotational speed overproduction deceleration is implemented to avoid continuous de‐loading; hence wasted wind energy is reduced. Wind turbine generator is overloaded when frequency drop occurs during high wind speed. Major algorithm parameters are tuned based on wind turbine specifications and dominant wind speed conditions at wind turbine location. The amount of supportive excess energy during frequency deviation clearance is estimated at different wind speed circumstances, including serious wind speed drop events. An islanded medium capacity hypothetical benchmark system is implemented to examine the proposed algorithm through MATLAB and Simulink simulation environments.
Multivariate mathematical morphology based on fuzzy extremum estimation
Authors: Lei Tao , Wang Yi , Wang Guohua , Fan Yangyu
Published: May 2014

The existing lexicographical ordering approaches respect the total ordering properties, thus making this approach a very robust solution for multivariate ordering. However, different marginal components derived from various representations of a colour image will lead to different results of multivariate ordering. Moreover, the output of lexicographical ordering only depends on the first component leading to the followed components taking no effect. To address these issues, three new marginal components are obtained by means of quaternion decomposition, and they are employed by fuzzy lexicographical ordering, and thus a new fuzzy extremum estimation algorithm (FEEA) based on quaternion decomposition is proposed in this study. The novel multivariate mathematical morphological operators are also defined according to FEEA. Comparing with the existing solutions, experimental results show that the proposed FEEA performs better results on multivariate extremum estimation, and the presented multivariate mathematical operators can be easily handled and can provide better results on multivariate image filtering.
Structural similarity‐based video fingerprinting for video copy detection
Authors: Nie Xiushan , Zeng Wenjun , Yan Hua , Sun Jiande , Liu Zheng , Wang Qian
Published: May 2014

The authors propose a video fingerprinting method based on structural similarity and a graph model. Structural similarity‐based fingerprint generation and double‐layer matching are the two main contributions. The video is mapped to a graph with frames as its vertices, and structural similarity is proposed to compute the weights of the edges. Then, the fingerprint consisting of a match tag (a coarse fingerprint) and a fine fingerprint is generated by this graph. The match tag is generated by an independent set of this graph, and the fine fingerprint is generated by the weight matrix of the graph based on the two‐block‐dimensional discrete cosine transform. During the matching, the video can be matched at the first‐layer using the match tag to obtain a candidate set, whereas the second‐layer matching is performed in this candidate set using the fine fingerprint to find a final match. The proposed video fingerprinting method is shown to be resistant to geometric attacks on frames and impairment of transmission channels.
Fermi surface and effect of high magnetic fields on the metal-semimetal Peierls-like transition of (TSeT)2Cl
Authors: Laukhin Vladimir , Audouard Alain , Vignolles David , Drigo Loïc , Alemany Pere , Canadell Enric
Published: May 2014

Resistance measurements in pulsed magnetic fields up to 55 T as well as a first-principles DFT calculation of the Fermi surface for the organic metal (TSeT)2Cl have been performed to investigate its metal-semimetal phase transition. The results obtained are in line with the imperfect nesting that can be inferred from both the observed metallic behavior of the resistivity at low temperature and the previously reported Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations due to small carrier pockets. The DFT study points out the possibility that the LUMO bands of the TSeT donor may interact with the HOMO ones and modify the shape of the Fermi surface under pressure.
Recent developments in the determination of the amplitude and phase of quantum oscillations for the linear chain of coupled orbits
Authors: Audouard Alain , Fortin Jean-Yves
Published: May 2014

De Haas-van Alphen oscillations are studied for Fermi surfaces (FS) illustrating the model proposed by Pippard in the early sixties, namely the linear chain of orbits coupled by magnetic breakdown. This FS topology is relevant to many multiband quasi-two-dimensional (q-2D) organic metals such as κ-(BEDT–TTF)2Cu(NCS)2 and θ-(BEDT–TTF)4CoBr4(C6H4Cl2) which are considered in detail. Whereas the Lifshits-Kosevich model only involves a first order development of field- and temperature-dependent damping factors, second order terms may have significant contribution to the Fourier components amplitude for such q-2D systems at high magnetic field and low temperature. The strength of these second order terms depends on the relative value of the involved damping factors, which are in turns strongly dependent on parameters such as the magnetic breakdown field, effective masses and, most of all, effective Lande factors. In addition, the influence of field-dependent Onsager phase factors on the oscillation spectra is considered.
Near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy of naphthalene diimide-thiophene co-polymers
Authors: Gann Eliot , McNeill Christopher R. , Szumilo Monika , Sirringhaus Henning , Sommer Michael , Maniam Subashani , Langford Steven J. , Thomsen Lars
Published: May 2014

Near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy is an important tool for probing the structure of conjugated polymer films used in organic electronic devices. High-performance conjugated polymers are often donor-acceptor co-polymers which feature a repeat unit with multiple functional groups. To facilitate better application of NEXAFS spectroscopy to the study of such materials, improved understanding of the observed NEXAFS spectral features is required. In order to examine how the NEXAFS spectrum of a donor-acceptor co-polymer relates to the properties of the sub-units, a series of naphthalene diimide-thiophene-based co-polymers have been studied where the nature and length of the donor co-monomer has been systematically varied. The spectra of these materials are compared with that of a thiophene homopolymer and naphthalene diimide monomer enabling peak assignment and the influence of inter-unit electronic coupling to be assessed. We find that while it is possible to attribute peaks within the π* manifold as arising primarily due to the naphthalene diimide or thiophene sub-units, very similar dichroism of these peaks is observed indicating that it may not be possible to separately probe the molecular orientation of the separate sub-units with carbon K-edge NEXAFS spectroscopy.
Quantization of magnetic moment in CdBxF2−x/p-CdF2–QW/CdBxF2−x nanosandwiches
Authors: Bagraev N. T. , Klyachkin L. E. , Romanov V. V. , Ryskin A. I.
Published: May 2014

The tunneling current-voltage characteristics, and the temperature and field dependences of the specific heat and static magnetic susceptibility of planar CdBxF2−x/p-CdF2–QW/CdBxF2−x sandwich structures produced on the surface of n-CdF2 crystals are studied in order to establish the superconducting properties of the CdBxF2−x δ-barriers which delimit the ultranarrow p-type CdF2 quantum well. A comparative analysis of the current and conduction voltage characteristics below and above the superconducting transition temperature shows that the supercurrent quantization and the size quantization of the holes in the p-CdF2 quantum well are related. Measurements of the field and temperature dependences of the static magnetic susceptibility of these sandwich structures reveal de Haas-van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations at high temperatures and low magnetic fields. The temperature dependences of the amplitudes of the dHvA oscillations give a low value for the effective mass of the two-dimensional holes, so that the strong field condition μB ≫ 1 is met at high temperatures. A periodic change in the frequency of the dHvA oscillations accompanied by a diamagnetic response with rising temperature is detected for the first time; it exhibits synchronous temperature oscillations in the density and effective mass of the two-dimensional holes owing to the mesoscopic properties of the δ-barriers. These results are explained in terms of the formation of quantum states of a Bose condensate, which is a consequence of a discrete change in the Cooper pair coherence length of the holes when the superconducting δ-barriers have a fractal structure.
Nonlinear photoresponse of field effect transistors terahertz detectors at high irradiation intensities
Authors: But D. B. , Drexler C. , Sakhno M. V. , Dyakonova N. , Drachenko O. , Sizov F. F. , Gutin A. , Ganichev S. D. , Knap W.
Published: May 2014

Terahertz power dependence of the photoresponse of field effect transistors, operating at frequencies from 0.1 to 3 THz for incident radiation power density up to 100 kW/cm2 was studied for Si metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors and InGaAs high electron mobility transistors. The photoresponse increased linearly with increasing radiation intensity up to the kW/cm2 range. Nonlinearity followed by saturation of the photoresponse was observed for all investigated field effect transistors for intensities above several kW/cm2. The observed photoresponse nonlinearity is explained by nonlinearity and saturation of the transistor channel current. A theoretical model of terahertz field effect transistor photoresponse at high intensity was developed. The model explains quantitative experimental data both in linear and nonlinear regions. Our results show that dynamic range of field effect transistors is very high and can extend over more than six orders of magnitudes of power densities (from ∼0.5 mW/cm2 to ∼5 kW/cm2).
Recent advances in long-pulse high-confinement plasma operations in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak
Authors: Guo H. Y. , Li J. , Wan B. N. , Gong X. Z. , Liang Y. F. , Xu G. S. , Zhang X. D. , Ding S. Y. , Gan K. F. , Hu J. S. , Hu L. Q. , Liu S. C. , Qian J. P. , Sun Y. W. , Wang H. Q. , Wang L. , Xia T. Y. , Xiao B. J. , Zeng L. , Zhao Y. P. , Denner P. , Ferron J. R. , Garofalo A. M. , Holcomb C. T. , Hyatt A. W. , Jackson G. L. , Loarte A. , Maingi R. , Menard J. E. , Rack M. , Solomon W. M. , Xu X. Q. , Van Zeeland M. , Zou X. L. ,   EAST Team
Published: May 2014

A long-pulse high confinement plasma regime known as H-mode is achieved in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) with a record duration over 30 s, sustained by Lower Hybrid wave Current Drive (LHCD) with advanced lithium wall conditioning and divertor pumping. This long-pulse H-mode plasma regime is characterized by the co-existence of a small Magneto-Hydrodynamic (MHD) instability, i.e., Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) and a continuous quasi-coherent MHD mode at the edge. We find that LHCD provides an intrinsic boundary control for ELMs, leading to a dramatic reduction in the transient power load on the vessel wall, compared to the standard Type I ELMs. LHCD also induces edge plasma ergodization, broadening heat deposition footprints, and the heat transport caused by ergodization can be actively controlled by regulating edge plasma conditions, thus providing a new means for stationary heat flux control. In addition, advanced tokamak scenarios have been newly developed for high-performance long-pulse plasma operations in the next EAST experimental campaign.
The effect of plasma radius and profile on the development of self-modulation instability of electron bunches
Authors: Fang Y. , Vieira J. , Amorim L. D. , Mori W. , Muggli P.
Published: May 2014

Plasmas available for plasma wakefield accelerator experiments may have longitudinal and transverse density profiles that could affect the outcome of an experiment. This paper investigates the effect of plasmas with finite radius and inhomogeneous transverse density profiles on the wakefield excitation and the self-modulation instability (SMI) development in overdense plasmas. We focus here on the case of an electron bunch. Simulation results show that such plasmas generate larger focusing force for the propagating electron beam and therefore higher growth rate for the SMI. Although the initial accelerating field (Ez) amplitude is lower in such plasmas, the increased focusing force can dominate the development trend of the SMI, i.e., larger saturated Ez amplitude can be reached over similar plasma lengths.
Four-probe measurements with a three-probe scanning tunneling microscope
Authors: Salomons Mark , Martins Bruno V. C. , Zikovsky Janik , Wolkow Robert A.
Published: May 2014

We present an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) three-probe scanning tunneling microscope in which each probe is capable of atomic resolution. A UHV JEOL scanning electron microscope aids in the placement of the probes on the sample. The machine also has a field ion microscope to clean, atomically image, and shape the probe tips. The machine uses bare conductive samples and tips with a homebuilt set of pliers for heating and loading. Automated feedback controlled tip-surface contacts allow for electrical stability and reproducibility while also greatly reducing tip and surface damage due to contact formation. The ability to register inter-tip position by imaging of a single surface feature by multiple tips is demonstrated. Four-probe material characterization is achieved by deploying two tips as fixed current probes and the third tip as a movable voltage probe.
Predicting for thermodynamic instabilities in water/oil/surfactant microemulsions: A mesoscopic modelling approach
Authors: Duvail Magali , Arleth Lise , Zemb Thomas , Dufrêche Jean-François
Published: May 2014

The thermodynamics and structural properties of flexible and rigid nonionic water/oil/surfactant microemulsions have been investigated using a two level-cut Gaussian random field method based on the Helfrich formalism. Ternary stability diagrams and scattering spectra have been calculated for different surfactant rigidities and spontaneous curvatures. A more important contribution of the Gaussian elastic constants compared to the bending one is observed on the ternary stability diagrams. Furthermore, influence of the spontaneous curvature of the surfactant points out a displacement of the instability domains which corresponds to the difference between the spontaneous and effective curvatures. We enlighten that a continuous transition from a connected water in oil droplets to a frustrated locally lamellar (oil in water in oil droplets) microstructure is found to occur when increasing the temperature for an oil-rich microemulsion. This continuous transition translated in a shift in the scattering functions, points out that the phase inversion phenomenon occurs by a coalescence of the water droplets.
Demonstration of InAsBi photoresponse beyond 3.5 μm
Authors: Sandall I. C. , Bastiman F. , White B. , Richards R. , Mendes D. , David J. P. R. , Tan C. H.
Published: May 2014

An Indium Arsenide Bismide photodiode has been grown, fabricated, and characterized to evaluate its performance in the Mid Wave Infrared region of the spectrum. Spectral response from the diode has been obtained up to a diode temperature of 225 K. At this temperature, the diode has a cut off wavelength of 3.95 μm, compared to 3.41 μm in a reference Indium Arsenide diode, indicating that Bismuth has been incorporated to reduce the band gap of Indium Arsenide by 75 meV. Similar band gap reduction was deduced from the cut off wavelength comparison at 77 K. From the dark current data, shunt resistance values of 8 and 39 Ω at temperatures of 77 and 290 K, respectively, were obtained in our photodiode.
Measurements of electron density profiles using an angular filter refractometer
Authors: Haberberger D. , Ivancic S. , Hu S. X. , Boni R. , Barczys M. , Craxton R. S. , Froula D. H.
Published: May 2014

A novel diagnostic technique, angular filter refractometry (AFR), has been developed to characterize high-density, long-scale-length plasmas relevant to high-energy-density physics experiments. AFR measures plasma densities up to 1021 cm−3 with a 263-nm probe laser and is used to study the plasma expansion from CH foil and spherical targets that are irradiated with ∼9 kJ of ultraviolet (351-nm) laser energy in a 2-ns pulse. The data elucidate the temporal evolution of the plasma profile for the CH planar targets and the dependence of the plasma profile on target radius for CH spheres.
Isolation of viable cancer cells in antibody-functionalized microfluidic devices
Authors: Zheng Xiangjun , Jiang Linan , Schroeder Joyce , Stopeck Alison , Zohar Yitshak
Published: May 2014

Microfluidic devices functionalized with EpCAM antibodies were utilized for the capture of target cancer cells representing circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The fraction of cancer cells captured from homogeneous suspensions is mainly a function of flow shear rate, and can be described by an exponential function. A characteristic shear rate emerges as the most dominant parameter affecting the cell attachment ratio. Utilizing this characteristic shear rate as a scaling factor, all attachment ratio results for various combinations of receptor and ligand densities collapsed onto a single curve described by the empirical formula. The characteristic shear rate increases with both cell-receptor and surface-ligand densities, and empirical formulae featuring a product of two independent cumulative distributions described well these relationships. The minimum detection limit in isolation of target cancer cells from binary mixtures was experimentally explored utilizing microchannel arrays that allow high-throughput processing of suspensions about 0.5 ml in volume, which are clinically relevant, within a short time. Under a two-step attachment/detachment flow rate, both high sensitivity (almost 1.0) and high specificity (about 0.985) can be achieved in isolating target cancer cells from binary mixtures even for the lowest target/non-target cell concentration ratio of 1:100 000; this is a realistic ratio between CTCs and white blood cells in blood of cancer patients. Detection of CTCs from blood samples was also demonstrated using whole blood from healthy donors spiked with cancer cells. Finally, the viability of target cancer cells released after capture was confirmed by observing continuous cell growth in culture.
A study of the glow discharge characteristics of contact electrodes at atmospheric pressure in air
Authors: Liu Wenzheng , Sun Guangliang , Li Chuanhui , Zhang Rongrong
Published: May 2014

Electric field distributions and discharge properties of rod-rod contact electrodes were studied under the condition of DBD for the steady generation of atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma (APGD) in air. We found that under the effect of the initial electrons generated in a nanometer-scale gap, the rod-rod cross-contact electrodes yielded APGD plasma in air. Regarding the rod-rod cross-contact electrodes, increasing the working voltage expanded the strong electric field area of the gas gap so that both discharge area and discharge power increased, and the increase in the number of contact points kept the initial discharge voltage unchanged and caused an increase in the plasma discharge area and discharge power. A mesh-like structure of cross-contact electrodes was designed and used to generate more APGD plasma, suggesting high applicability.
Optical detection of spin Hall effect in metals
Authors: van ‘t Erve O. M. J. , Hanbicki A. T. , McCreary K. M. , Li C. H. , Jonker B. T.
Published: May 2014

Optical techniques have been widely used to probe the spin Hall effect in semiconductors. In metals, however, only electrical methods such as nonlocal spin valve transport, ferromagnetic resonance, or spin torque transfer experiments have been successful. These methods require complex processing techniques and measuring setups. We show here that the spin Hall effect can be observed in non-magnetic metals such as Pt and β-W, using a standard bench top magneto-optical Kerr system with very little sample preparation. Applying a square wave current and using Fourier analysis significantly improve our detection level. One can readily determine the angular dependence of the induced polarization on the bias current direction (very difficult to do with voltage detection), the orientation of the spin Hall induced polarization, and the sign of the spin Hall angle. This optical approach is free from the complications of various resistive effects, which can compromise voltage measurements. This opens up the study of spin Hall effect in metals to a variety of spin dynamic and spatial imaging experiments.
Extremely compliant and highly stretchable patterned graphene
Authors: Zhu Shuze , Huang Yinjun , Li Teng
Published: May 2014

Graphene is intrinsically ultra-stiff in its plane. Its huge mechanical mismatch when interfacing with ultra-compliant biological tissues and elastomers (7–9 orders of magnitude difference in stiffness) poses significant challenge in its application to functional devices such as epidermal electronics and sensing prosthesis. We offer a feasible and promising solution to this significant challenge by suitably patterning graphene into a nanomesh. Through systematic coarse-grained simulations, we show that graphene nanomesh can be made extremely compliant with nearly zero stiffness up to about 20% elongation and then remain highly compliant up to about 50% elongation.
Enhanced quantum efficiency from hybrid cesium halide/copper photocathodes
Authors: Kong Lingmei , Joly Alan G. , Droubay Timothy C. , Gong Yu , Hess Wayne P.
Published: May 2014

The quantum efficiency (QE) of Cu is found to increase dramatically when coated by a CsI film and then irradiated by a UV laser. Over three orders of magnitude quantum efficiency enhancement at 266 nm is observed in CsI/Cu(100), indicating potential application in future photocathode devices. Upon laser irradiation, a large work function reduction to a value less than 2 eV is also observed, significantly greater than for similarly treated CsBr/Cu(100). The initial QE enhancement, prior to laser irradiation, is attributed to interface interaction and the intrinsic properties of the Cs halide film. Further QE enhancement following activation is attributed to formation of inter-band states and Cs metal accumulation at the interface induced by laser irradiation.
Passively Q-switching induced by the smallest single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Xu X. T. , Zhai J. P. , Wang J. S. , Chen Y. P. , Yu Y. Q. , Zhang M. , Li I. L. , Ruan S. C. , Tang Z. K.
Published: May 2014

We report a passively Q-switched erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) by using the smallest single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a diameter of 0.3 nm as the saturable absorber. These small SWNTs are fabricated in the nanochannels of a ZnAPO-11 (AEL) single crystal. By inserting one of the AEL crystal into an EDFL cavity pumped by a 980 nm laser diode, stable passive Q-switching is achieved for a threshold pump power of 206.2 mW, and 4.73 μs pulses with a repetition rate of 41.78 kHz and an average output power of 3.75 mW are obtained for a pump power of 406 mW.
De Broglie’s meter stick: Making measurements with matter waves
Authors: Arndt Markus
Published: May 2014

Interfering atoms and molecules serve as exquisite rulers that sharpen our knowledge of physical laws, measure tiny forces, and reveal subtle properties of matter.
An approach to building research capacity for health practitioners in a public health environment: an organisational perspective
Authors: Hulcombe Julie , Sturgess Jennifer , Souvlis Tina , Fitzgerald Cate
Published: May 2014

A unique opportunity to engage in research capacity-building strategies for health practitioners arose within public sector health services during the negotiations for an industrial agreement. A research capacity-building initiative for health practitioners that is allied health, oral health and scientist practitioners was funded and the components of this initiative are described. The initiative was implemented using a research capacity-building framework developed from a review of the literature and stakeholder consultations. The framework included leadership and governance, support to researchers and translation of evidence into practice and was contextualised to public health environments. There were several phases of implementation. An evaluation of the preliminary phase of establishing research positions and research activity was conducted and several successes of the capacity-building strategies were identified. These successes (e.g. solid partnerships with universities) are discussed, as are future concerns, such as sustainability of the initiative in a tighter fiscal context.

What is known about the topic?
The literature identifies strategies to increase research capacity, including grant funds and bursaries, training in research methods, regular forums and networks for support, positions for research fellows and linkages and partnerships. There is minimal clarity or discourse around the organisational strategies or proposed evaluation of such strategies to enable or support research capacity building.

What does this paper add?
This paper describes implementation of a research capacity-building framework developed from a unique opportunity to provide funding for research positions and grants embedded in an industrial agreement. It describes the organisational and cultural perspectives and framework to build a research culture based on this funding, in a predominantly clinical workforce.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Research positions for allied health, oral health and scientist practitioners funded and supported jointly by a health organisation and a university are able to influence the number and quality of research proposals developed. These disciplines in other jurisdictions may use this model of research capacity building within their particular context.
Synthesis of Biocompatible Gelatin-functionalised Graphene Nanosheets For Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Chen Guangxin , Qiao Congde , Wang Yang , Yao Jinshui
Published: May 2014

Gelatin-functionalised graphene nanosheets (gelatin-GNS) with good biocompatibility were successfully synthesised using gelatin as a reductant. Factors that affect the reduction of graphene oxide (GO), such as the ratio of gelatin to GO, pH, and temperature, were investigated to establish optimum reaction conditions. We found that GO was efficiently reduced by gelatin at a comparatively low temperature and a stable gelatin-GNS aqueous dispersion was formed. The as-obtained biocompatible gelatin-GNS displayed a high methotrexate (MTX) drug loading capacity and a good ability for controlled drug release. The pH-dependent release behaviour of MTX from MTX@gelatin-GNS showed that the release amount under acid conditions was much higher than that under neutral conditions, indicating a gelatin-mediated sustained release process.
Synthesis of Flame-retardant Phosphaphenanthrene Derivatives with High Phosphorus Contents
Authors: Zheng Jinyun , Yu Yujian , Zhang Lulu , Zhen Xiaomin , Zhao Yufen
Published: May 2014

Two novel types of phosphate derivatives of phosphaphenanthrene with a high phosphorus content were prepared by phosphorylation reaction between either 2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz<1,2>oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-methanol (ODOPM) or 2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz<1,2>oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-1,4-benzenediol (ODOPB) and dialkyl phosphoryl chloride. The structures of all compounds were characterised by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 31P NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The thermal stability of representative compounds was determined by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the compounds have excellent resistance to oxidation, high thermal stability with an onset decomposition temperature above 200°C, and a high char yield over 25 %, owing to the high P content. The representative compound was added to conventional electrolytes of lithium-ion batteries as flame retardant additive, and the self-extinguishing time and ionic conductivity were measured. The result showed that the compounds have effective flame retardant properties.
Digital soil mapping of a coastal acid sulfate soil landscape
Authors: Huang Jingyi , Nhan Terence , Wong Vanessa N. L. , Johnston Scott G. , Lark R. Murray , Triantafilis John
Published: May 2014

Coastal floodplains are commonly underlain by sulfidic sediments and coastal acid sulfate soils (CASS). Oxidation of sulfidic sediments leads to increases in acidity and mobilisation of trace metals, resulting in an increase in the concentrations of conducting ions in sediment and pore water. The distribution of these sediments on floodplains is highly heterogeneous. Accurately identifying the distribution of CASS is essential for developing targeted management strategies. One approach is the use of digital soil mapping (DSM) using ancillary information. Proximal sensing instruments such as an EM38 can provide data on the spatial distribution of soil salinity, which is associated with CASS, and can be complemented by digital elevation models (DEM). We used EM38 measurements of the apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) in the horizontal and vertical modes in combination with a high resolution DEM to delineate the spatial distribution of CASS. We used a fuzzy k-means algorithm to cluster the data. The fuzziness exponent, number of classes (k) and distance metric (i.e. Euclidean, Mahalanobis and diagonal) were varied to determine a set of parameters to identify CASS. The mean-squared prediction error variance of the class mean of various soil properties (e.g. EC1:5 and pH) was used to identify which of these metrics was suitable for further analysis (i.e. Mahalanobis) and also determine the optimal number of classes (i.e. k = 4). The final map is consistent with previously defined soil–landscape units generated using traditional soil profile description, classification and mapping. The DSM approach is amenable for evaluation on a larger scale and in order to refine CASS boundaries previously mapped using the traditional approach or to identify CASS areas that remain unmapped.
Switchable
S
= 1/2 and
J
= 1/2 Rashba bands in ferroelectric halide perovskites
Authors: Kim Minsung , Im Jino , Freeman Arthur J. , Ihm Jisoon , Jin Hosub
Published: May 2014

Significance

Manipulation of electron spins is an important research subject to achieve breakthroughs in current electronics. The Rashba effect is the spin energy level splitting due to broken inversion symmetry and spin–orbit coupling, and the controllability of Rashba splitting is crucial to spin manipulation. Here, we report a theoretical investigation of Rashba band splitting in ferroelectric halide perovskite materials. Since the polarization direction in ferroelectric materials can be switched by external electric fields, Rashba splitting can be controlled conveniently in these materials. Interestingly, ferroelctric polarizations give rise to two distinct Rashba bands of contrasting orbital and spin characters. Taking advantage of the unique band characteristics, these materials prove promising candidates for the switchable Rashba effect.
Characterization of the roles of Blt1p in fission yeast cytokinesis
Authors: Goss John W. , Kim Sunhee , Bledsoe Hannah , Pollard Thomas D.
Published: May 2014

Spatial and temporal regulation of cytokinesis is essential for cell division, yet the mechanisms that control the formation and constriction of the contractile ring are incompletely understood. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe proteins that contribute to the cytokinetic contractile ring accumulate during interphase in nodes—precursor structures around the equatorial cortex. During mitosis, additional proteins join these nodes, which condense to form the contractile ring. The cytokinesis protein Blt1p is unique in being present continuously in nodes from early interphase through to the contractile ring until cell separation. Blt1p was shown to stabilize interphase nodes, but its functions later in mitosis were unclear. We use analytical ultracentrifugation to show that purified Blt1p is a tetramer. We find that Blt1p interacts physically with Sid2p and Mob1p, a protein kinase complex of the septation initiation network, and confirm known interactions with F-BAR protein Cdc15p. Contractile rings assemble normally in blt1∆ cells, but the initiation of ring constriction and completion of cell division are delayed. We find three defects that likely contribute to this delay. Without Blt1p, contractile rings recruited and retained less Sid2p/Mob1p and Clp1p phosphatase, and β-glucan synthase Bgs1p accumulated slowly at the cleavage site.
Vacceed: a high-throughput in silico vaccine candidate discovery pipeline for eukaryotic pathogens based on reverse vaccinology
Authors: Goodswen Stephen J. , Kennedy Paul J. , Ellis John T.
Published: May 2014

Summary: We present Vacceed, a highly configurable and scalable framework designed to automate the process of high-throughput in silico vaccine candidate discovery for eukaryotic pathogens. Given thousands of protein sequences from the target pathogen as input, the main output is a ranked list of protein candidates determined by a set of machine learning algorithms. Vacceed has the potential to save time and money by reducing the number of false candidates allocated for laboratory validation. Vacceed, if required, can also predict protein sequences from the pathogen’s genome.

Availability and implementation:  Vacceed is tested on Linux and can be freely downloaded from https://github.com/sgoodswe/vacceed/releases (includes a worked example with sample data). Vacceed User Guide can be obtained from https://github.com/sgoodswe/vacceed.

Contact:  John.Ellis@uts.edu.au

Supplementary information:  Supplementary Data are available at Bioinformatics online.