bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic granularity of imaging systems
Authors: Geissel Matthias , Smith Ian C. , Shores Jonathon E. , Porter John L.
Published: November 2015

Imaging systems that include a specific source, imaging concept, geometry, and detector have unique properties such as signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range, spatial resolution, distortions, and contrast. Some of these properties are inherently connected, particularly dynamic range and spatial resolution. It must be emphasized that spatial resolution is not a single number but must be seen in the context of dynamic range and consequently is better described by a function or distribution. We introduce the “dynamic granularity” Gdyn as a standardized, objective relation between a detector’s spatial resolution (granularity) and dynamic range for complex imaging systems in a given environment rather than the widely found characterization of detectors such as cameras or films by themselves. This relation can partly be explained through consideration of the signal’s photon statistics, background noise, and detector sensitivity, but a comprehensive description including some unpredictable data such as dust, damages, or an unknown spectral distribution will ultimately have to be based on measurements. Measured dynamic granularities can be objectively used to assess the limits of an imaging system’s performance including all contributing noise sources and to qualify the influence of alternative components within an imaging system. This article explains the construction criteria to formulate a dynamic granularity and compares measured dynamic granularities for different detectors used in the X-ray backlighting scheme employed at Sandia’s Z-Backlighter facility.
Effect of temperature variations and thermal noise on the static and dynamic behavior of straintronics devices
Authors: Barangi Mahmood , Mazumder Pinaki
Published: November 2015

A theoretical model quantifying the effect of temperature variations on the magnetic properties and static and dynamic behavior of the straintronics magnetic tunneling junction is presented. Four common magnetostrictive materials (Nickel, Cobalt, Terfenol-D, and Galfenol) are analyzed to determine their temperature sensitivity and to provide a comprehensive database for different applications. The variations of magnetic anisotropies are studied in detail for temperature levels up to the Curie temperature. The energy barrier of the free layer and the critical voltage required for flipping the magnetization vector are inspected as important metrics that dominate the energy requirements and noise immunity when the device is incorporated into large systems. To study the dynamic thermal noise, the effect of the Langevin thermal field on the free layer's magnetization vector is incorporated into the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. The switching energy, flipping delay, write, and hold error probabilities are studied, which are important metrics for nonvolatile memories, an important application of the straintronics magnetic tunneling junctions.
Experimental study on pressure, stress state, and temperature-dependent dynamic behavior of shear thickening fluid subjected to laser induced shock
Authors: Wu Xianqian , Yin Qiuyun , Huang Chenguang
Published: November 2015

The dynamic response of the 57 vol./vol. % dense spherical silica particle-polyethylene glycol suspension at high pressure was investigated through short pulsed laser induced shock experiments by measuring the back free surface velocities of aluminum-shear thickening fluid (STF)-aluminum assembled targets. The results showed that the attenuation behavior of shock wave in the STF was dependent on shock pressure, stress state, and test temperature. The measured back free particle velocities of the targets and shock wave velocities in the STF decreased with the decrease in shock pressure while shocked at the same stress state and the same test temperature. In addition, two types of dragging mechanisms in the STF were observed while shocked at different stress states. For a uniaxial strain state, the impact induced jamming behavior in the STF is the dragging mechanism for the attenuation of shock wave, and a critical shock pressure was required for the impact induced thickening behavior. However, while the shock wave transformed from a uniaxial strain state to a dilatation state after transmitted to a certain distance, beside the dragging effect of impact induced jamming behavior, a strong dragging effect, induced by shear induced thickening behavior, was also observed.
Dislocation-assisted tunnelling of charge carriers across the Schottky barrier on the hydride vapour phase epitaxy grown GaN
Authors: Chatterjee Abhishek , Khamari Shailesh K. , Dixit V. K. , Oak S. M. , Sharma T. K.
Published: November 2015

Barrier height and Ideality factor of Ni/n-GaN Schottky diodes are measured by performing temperature dependent current-voltage measurements. The measured value of barrier height is found to be much smaller than the theoretically calculated Schottky-Mott barrier height for the Ni/n-GaN diodes. Furthermore, a high value of ideality factor (>2) is measured at low temperatures. In order to understand these results, we need to consider a double Gaussian distribution of barrier height where the two components are related to the thermionic emission and thermionic filed emission mediated by dislocation-assisted tunnelling of carriers across the Schottky barrier. Thermionic emission is seen to dominate at temperatures higher than 170 K while the dislocation-assisted tunnelling dominates at low temperatures. The value of characteristic tunnelling energy measured from the forward bias current-voltage curves also confirms the dominance of dislocation-assisted tunnelling at low temperatures which is strongly corroborated by the Hall measurements. However, the value of characteristic tunnelling energy for high temperature range cannot be supported by the Hall results. This discrepancy can be eliminated by invoking a two layer model to analyse the Hall data which confirms that the charged dislocations, which reach the sample surface from the layer-substrate interface, provide an alternate path for the transport of carriers. The dislocation-assisted tunnelling of carriers governs the values of Schottky diode parameters at low temperature and the same is responsible for the observed inhomogeneity in the values of barrier height. The present analysis is applicable wherever the charge transport characteristics are severely affected by the presence of a degenerate layer at GaN-Sapphire interface and dislocations lines pierce the Schottky junction to facilitate the tunnelling of carriers.
Electron doping through lithium intercalation to interstitial channels in tetrahedrally bonded SiC
Authors: Sakai Yuki , Oshiyama Atsushi
Published: November 2015

We report on first-principles calculations that clarify the effect of lithium atom intercalation into zinc blende 3C-silicon carbide (3C-SiC) on electronic and structural properties. Lithium atoms inside 3C-SiC are found to donate electrons to 3C-SiC that is an indication of a new way of electron doping through the intercalation. The electrons doped into the conduction band interact with lithium cations and reduce the band spacing between the original valence and conduction bands. We have also found that a silicon monovacancy in 3C-SiC promotes the lithium intercalation, showing that the vacancy generation makes SiC as a possible anode material for lithium-ion battery.
Image effects in transport at metal-molecule interfaces
Authors: Verzijl C. J. O. , Celis Gil J. A. , Perrin M. L. , Dulić D. , van der Zant H. S. J. , Thijssen J. M.
Published: November 2015

We present a method for incorporating image-charge effects into the description of charge transport through molecular devices. A simple model allows us to calculate the adjustment of the transport levels, due to the polarization of the electrodes as charge is added to and removed from the molecule. For this, we use the charge distributions of the molecule between two metal electrodes in several charge states, rather than in gas phase, as obtained from a density-functional theory-based transport code. This enables us to efficiently model level shifts and gap renormalization caused by image-charge effects, which are essential for understanding molecular transport experiments. We apply the method to benzene di-amine molecules and compare our results with the standard approach based on gas phase charges. Finally, we give a detailed account of the application of our approach to porphyrin-derivative devices recently studied experimentally by Perrin et al. [Nat. Nanotechnol. 8, 282 (2013)], which demonstrates the importance of accounting for image-charge effects when modeling transport through molecular junctions.
Determination of the separation efficiencies of a single-stage cryogenic distillation setup to remove krypton out of xenon by using a 83mKr tracer method
Authors: Rosendahl S. , Brown E. , Cristescu I. , Fieguth A. , Huhmann C. , Lebeda O. , Murra M. , Weinheimer C.
Published: November 2015

The separation of krypton and xenon is of particular importance for the field of direct dark matter search with liquid xenon detectors. The intrinsic contamination of the xenon with radioactive 85Kr makes a significant background for these kinds of low count-rate experiments and has to be removed beforehand. This can be achieved by cryogenic distillation, a technique widely used in industry, using the different vapor pressures of krypton and xenon. In this paper, we present an investigation on the separation performance of a single stage distillation system using a radioactive 83mKr-tracer method. The separation characteristics under different operation conditions are determined for very low concentrations of krypton in xenon at the level of 83mKr/Xe = 1.9 ⋅ 10−15, demonstrating, that cryogenic distillation in this regime is working. The observed separation is in agreement with the expectation from the different volatilities of krypton and xenon. This cryogenic distillation station is the first step on the way to a multi-stage cryogenic distillation column for the next generation of direct dark matter experiment XENON1T.
Far-field momentum flux of high-frequency axisymmetric synthetic jets
Authors: Xia X. , Mohseni K.
Published: November 2015

This study focuses on predicting the far-field momentum flux for axisymmetric synthetic jets, which is an important parameter that characterizes the performance of such jets in flow-control applications. Previous researchers have found that a negative pressure gradient near the jet orifice is responsible for the observed decrease in the momentum flux in the streamwise direction. As a result, prediction of the far field momentum flux of synthetic jets has encountered serious challenges. In this paper, the far-field momentum flux is modeled by calculating the hydrodynamic impulse of the vortical structure formed during one actuation cycle, under the assumption that the jet is fully developed and periodic. In this manner, the complex near-field effect of a synthetic jet is explicitly captured by the interactions between the vortices and the actuator. Furthermore, the impulse of these vortical structures is predicted using only the actuation parameters of the synthetic jet, namely, the stroke length, L, the orifice diameter, d, and the actuation frequency, f. For a synthetic jet with a stroke ratio, L/d, larger than the formation number, L∗/d, this model predicts that the normalized far-field momentum flux, K/Ks, decreases when L/d increases. This can be explained by an increasing circulation fraction of the trailing jet, which contains less impulse per unit circulation compared with the leading vortex. This model is validated using hot-wire anemometry measurement of a series of synthetic jets. Moreover, by comparing with experimental data that have large L/d, this model suggests that the contribution of trailing jet to the overall far-field momentum flux is not negligible.
Fitting high-dimensional potential energy surface using active subspace and tensor train (AS+TT) method
Authors: Baranov Vitaly , Oseledets Ivan
Published: November 2015

This paper is the first application of the tensor-train (TT) cross approximation procedure for potential energy surface fitting. In order to reduce the complexity, we combine the TT-approach with another technique recently introduced in the field of numerical analysis: an affine transformation of Cartesian coordinates into the active subspaces where the PES function has the most variability. The numerical experiments for the water molecule and for the nitrous acid molecule confirm the efficiency of this approach.
Driving-based generalized synchronization in two-layer networks via pinning control
Authors: Ning Di , Wu Xiaoqun , Lu Jun-an , Lü Jinhu
Published: November 2015

Synchronization of complex networks has been extensively investigated in various fields. In the real world, one network is usually affected by another one but coexists in harmony with it, which can be regarded as another kind of synchronization—generalized synchronization (GS). In this paper, the GS in two-layer complex networks with unidirectional inter-layer coupling via pinning control is investigated based on the auxiliary-system approach. Specifically, for two-layer networks under study, one is considered as the drive network and the other is the response one. According to the auxiliary-system approach, output from the drive layer is designed as input for the response one, and an identical duplication of the response layer is constructed, which is driven by the same driving signals. A sufficient condition for achieving GS via pinning control is presented. Numerical simulations are further provided to illustrate the correctness of the theoretical results. It is also revealed that the least number of pinned nodes needed for achieving GS decreases with the increasing density of the response layer. In addition, it is found that when the intra-layer coupling strength of the response network is large, nodes with larger degrees should be selected to pin first for the purpose of achieving GS. However, when the coupling strength is small, it is more preferable to pin nodes with smaller degrees. This work provides engineers with a convenient approach to realize harmonious coexistence of various complex systems, which can further facilitate the selection of pinned systems and reduce control cost.
Quantitative and high spatial resolution d33 measurement of piezoelectric bulk and thin films
Authors: Shetty Smitha , Yang Jung In , Stitt Joe , Trolier-McKinstry Susan
Published: November 2015

A single beam laser interferometer based on a modified Mirau detection scheme with a vertical resolution of ∼5 pm was developed for localized d33 measurements on patterned piezoelectric films. The tool provides high spatial resolution (∼2 μm), essential for understanding scaling and processing effects in piezoelectric materials. This approach enables quantitative information on d33, currently difficult in local measurement techniques such as piezoresponse force microscopy. The interferometer is built in a custom microscope and employs a phase lock-in technique in order to detect sub-Angstrom displacements. d33 measurements on single crystal 0.67PbMg0.33Nb0.67O3-0.33PbTiO3 and bulk PbZrTiO3-5A ceramics demonstrated agreement within <3% with measurements using a double beam laser interferometer. Substrate bending contributions to out-of-plane strain, observed in thin continuous PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 films grown on Si substrates is reduced for electrode diameters smaller than 100 μm. Direct scanning across room temperature and 150 °C poled 5 μm and 10 μm features etched in 0.5 μm thick PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 films doped with 1% Nb confirmed minimal substrate contributions to the effective d33,f. Furthermore, enhanced d33,f values were observed along the feature edges due to partial declamping from the substrate, thus validating the application of single beam interferometry on finely patterned electrodes.
Influence of anisotropic strain relaxation on the magnetoresistance properties of epitaxial Fe3O4 (110) films
Authors: Sofin R. G. S. , Wu Han-Chun , Ramos R. , Arora S. K. , Shvets I. V.
Published: November 2015

We studied Fe3O4 (110) films grown epitaxially on MgO (110) substrates using oxygen plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The films with thickness of 30–200 nm showed anisotropic in-plane partial strain relaxation. Magneto resistance (MR) measurements with current and magnetic field along ⟨001⟩ direction showed higher MR compared to ⟨1¯10⟩ direction. Maximum value of MR was measured at Verwey transition temperature for both directions. We explain the observed anisotropy in the MR on the basis of the effects of anisotropic misfit strain, and the difference between the density of antiferromagnetically coupled antiphase boundaries formed along ⟨001⟩ and ⟨1¯10⟩ crystallographic directions, suggesting the dependence of spin polarisation on the anisotropic strain relaxation along the said crystallographic directions.
Communication: Exciton analysis in time-dependent density functional theory: How functionals shape excited-state characters
Authors: Mewes Stefanie A. , Plasser Felix , Dreuw Andreas
Published: November 2015

Excited-state descriptors based on the one-particle transition density matrix referring to the exciton picture have been implemented for time-dependent density functional theory. State characters such as local, extended ππ∗, Rydberg, or charge transfer can be intuitively classified by simple comparison of these descriptors. Strong effects of the choice of the exchange-correlation kernel on the physical nature of excited states can be found and decomposed in detail leading to a new perspective on functional performance and the design of new functionals.
Heat dissipation due to ferromagnetic resonance in a ferromagnetic metal monitored by electrical resistance measurement
Authors: Yamanoi Kazuto , Yokotani Yuki , Kimura Takashi
Published: November 2015

The heat dissipation due to the resonant precessional motion of the magnetization in a ferromagnetic metal has been investigated. We demonstrated that the temperature during the ferromagnetic resonance can be simply detected by the electrical resistance measurement of the Cu strip line in contact with the ferromagnetic metal. The temperature change of the Cu strip due to the ferromagnetic resonance was found to exceed 10 K, which significantly affects the spin-current transport. The influence of the thermal conductivity of the substrate on the heating was also investigated.
Two-color detection with charge sensitive infrared phototransistors
Authors: Kim Sunmi , Komiyama Susumu , Ueda Takeji , Satoh Takashi , Kajihara Yusuke
Published: November 2015

Highly sensitive two-color detection is demonstrated at wavelengths of 9 μm and 14.5 μm by using a charge sensitive infrared phototransistor fabricated in a triple GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well (QW) crystal. Two differently thick QWs (7 nm- and 9 nm-thicknesses) serve as photosensitive floating gates for the respective wavelengths via intersubband excitation: The excitation in the QWs is sensed by a third QW, which works as a conducting source-drain channel in the photosensitive transistor. The two spectral bands of detection are shown to be controlled by front-gate biasing, providing a hint for implementing voltage tunable ultra-highly sensitive detectors.
Growth of gold nanoparticles at gelatin-silica bio-interfaces
Authors: Bensaid Imen , Masse Sylvie , Selmane Mohamed , Fessi Shemseddine , Coradin Thibaud
Published: November 2015

The growth of gold nanoparticles via chemical reduction of HAuCl4 dispersed in gelatin-silicate mixtures was studied. Gelatin leads to densely packed nanoparticles whereas open colloidal aggregates with tight boundaries are formed within silica. Within the bio-hybrid systems, gold species are located within the gelatin-silicate particles and/or within the gelatin phase, depending on the preparation conditions. These various localizations and their impact on the final nanoparticle structure are discussed considering attractive and repulsive electrostatic interactions existing between the three components. These data suggest that bio-hybrid systems are interesting and versatile interfaces to study crystallization processes in confined environments.
Anisotropic rectifying characteristics induced by the superconducting gap of YBa2Cu3O7−δ/Nb-doped SrTiO3 heterojunctions
Authors: Zhang M. J. , Hao F. X. , Zhang C. , Liu X. , Li X. G.
Published: November 2015

In this paper, we investigated the anisotropic rectifying characteristics of a YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO)/Nb-doped SrTiO3 heterojunction in magnetic fields of up to 9 T by rotating the junction from H//c to H//ab of the YBCO film. From the temperature and field dependencies of the diffusion potential Vd, we found that the angle-resolved reductions of Vd from its original value, δVd, were induced by the anisotropic superconducting gap Δ of the YBCO. The anisotropic parameter obtained from Δ was close to that obtained from the angular-dependent upper critical fields of the YBCO. This heterojunction is helpful both in investigating the superconducting gap and in designing sensitive superconducting devices.
Defect-induced discriminative modulation of the highest occupied molecular orbital energies of graphene
Authors: Yuan Wenjuan , Yang Hongping , Luo Jun , Zhu Jing
Published: November 2015

Defects are capable of modulating various properties of graphene, and thus controlling defects is useful in the development of graphene-based devices. Here we present first-principles calculations, which reveal a new avenue for defect engineering of graphene: the modulation by defects on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy of a charged monolayer graphene quantum dot (GQD) is discriminative. When the charge of a GQD increases its HOMO energy also increases. Importantly, when the GQD contains one particular class of defects its HOMO energy is sometimes higher and sometimes lower than that of the corresponding GQD without any defects, but when the GQD contains another class of defects its HOMO energy is always higher or lower than that of the corresponding intact GQD as its excess charge reaches a critical value. This discriminative modulation could allow defect engineering to control secondary electron ejection in graphene, leading to a new way to develop graphene-based devices.
A study of cooling process in bulk metallic glasses fabrication
Authors: Yang G. N. , Shao Y. , Yao K. F. , Chen S. Q.
Published: November 2015

To study the temperature distribution and evolution during bulk metallic glasses fabrication, finite element method was taken to simulate the cooling process in glassy alloys fabricated by water quenching and copper mold casting. The temperature distribution and evolution in different-sized samples in the two methods were successfully reproduced. The result showed that the temperature distribution in the alloy was strongly affected by fabricating method. Two relations were then proposed to estimate the cooling rate in different-sized samples prepared by these two methods. By comparing the reported data of critical size and critical cooling rate, we showed that the reported critical size and critical cooling rate of metallic glasses didn’t follow a heat transfer relation. Those critical-sized glassy alloys actually experienced cooling rates much larger than the critical cooling rates estimated by the classical nucleation theory or experiments on milligram-scaled samples. It results from the increasing degree of heterogeneity with sample size, and therefore a larger sample requires a faster cooling rate to avoid crystallization. This work clearly shows the temperature field evolution in bulk metallic glasses fabrication and reveals that the critical cooling rate of metallic glasses might be size-dependent.
Isotopic evidence for the origin of dimethylsulfide and dimethylsulfoniopropionate-like compounds in a warm, monomictic freshwater lake
Authors: Sela-Adler Michal , Said-Ahmad Ward , Sivan Orit , Eckert Werner , Kiene Ronald P. , Amrani Alon
Published: November 2015

Environmental context The volatile sulfur compound, dimethylsulfide (DMS), plays a major role in the global sulfur cycle by transferring sulfur from aquatic environments to the atmosphere. Compared to marine environments, freshwater environments are under studied with respect to DMS cycling. The goal of this study was to assess the formation pathways of DMS in a freshwater lake using natural stable isotopes of sulfur. Our results provide unique sulfur isotopic evidence for the multiple DMS sources and dynamics that are linked to the various biogeochemical processes that occur in freshwater lake water columns and sediments. Abstract The volatile methylated sulfur compound, dimethylsulfide (DMS), plays a major role in the global sulfur cycle by transferring sulfur from aquatic environments to the atmosphere. The main precursor of DMS in saline environments is dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a common osmolyte in algae. The goal of this study was to assess the formation pathways of DMS in the water column and sediments of a monomictic freshwater lake based on seasonal profiles of the concentrations and isotopic signatures of DMS and DMSP. Profiles of DMS in the epilimnion during March and June 2014 in Lake Kinneret showed sulfur isotope (δ34S) values of +15.8±2.0 per mille (‰), which were enriched by up to 4.8 ‰ compared with DMSP δ34S values in the epilimnion at that time. During the stratified period, the δ34S values of DMS in the hypolimnion decreased to –7.0 ‰, close to the δ34S values of coexisting H2S derived from dissimilatory sulfate reduction in the reduced bottom water and sediments. This suggests that H2S was methylated by unknown microbial processes to form DMS. In the hypolimnion during the stratified period DMSP was significantly 34S enriched relative to DMS reflecting its different S source, which was mostly from sulfate assimilation. In the sediments, δ34S values of DMS were depleted by 2–4 ‰ relative to porewater (HCl-extracted) DMSP and enriched relative to H2S. This observation suggests two main formation pathways for DMS in the sediment, one from the degradation of DMSP and one from methylation of H2S. The present study provides isotopic evidence for multiple sources of DMS in stratified water bodies and complex DMSP–DMS dynamics that are linked to the various biogeochemical processes within the sulfur cycle.
Derivation of ecological standards for risk assessment of molybdate in soil
Authors: Oorts Koen , Smolders Erik , McGrath Steve P. , van Gestel Cornelis A.M. , McLaughlin Michael J. , Carey Sandra
Published: November 2015

Environmental context In order to assess the potential risks of elevated molybdenum concentrations in soil due to anthropogenic activities, toxicity thresholds must be known and environmental criteria defined. Setting such criteria for metals is not straightforward because of varying natural background concentrations and differences in toxicity between typical laboratory and field conditions and across soil types. Toxicity data and models were derived that account for these parameters so that soil quality criteria can be derived based on total molybdenum concentrations in soil. Abstract An extensive testing programme on the toxicity of sodium molybdate dihydrate in soil was initiated to comply with the European REACH Regulation. The molybdate toxicity was assayed with 11 different bioassays, 10 different soils, soil chemical studies on aging reactions, and toxicity tests before and after 1-year equilibration in field conditions. Differences in molybdate toxicity among soils were best explained by soil pH and clay content. A correction factor of 2.0 was selected to account for the difference in molybdate toxicity between laboratory and field conditions due to leaching and aging processes. Toxicity thresholds were determined as the HC5–50 (median hazardous concentration for 5% of the species, i.e. median 95% protection level) derived from the species sensitivity distribution of ecotoxicity data after bioavailability corrections. Uncertainty analysis illustrated that the HC5–50 provides a robust and ecologically relevant predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) for risk characterisation. The 10th and 90th percentiles for site-specific PNEC values in European agricultural soil are 10.7 and 168mgMokg–1 dry weight respectively based on a large survey of metal concentrations and soil properties in arable land soils. Total soil Mo concentrations in these soils are below corresponding PNEC values at most locations, suggesting no regional risks of molybdate to soil organisms at this scale. The information presented can be used in the EU risk-assessment framework as well as for national and international regulatory purposes for the setting of soil quality criteria based on total molybdenum concentrations, soil pH and clay content.
Marine and estuarine phylogeography of the coasts of south-eastern Australia
Authors: Colgan D. J.
Published: November 2015

Understanding a region’s phylogeography is essential for an evolutionary perspective on its biological conservation. This review examines the phylogeographic structures in south-eastern Australia that have been revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequencing and other genetic techniques and examines whether they can be explained by known factors. The review covers species that occur in the intertidal zone or, even infrequently, in the shallow subtidal zone. The coasts most frequently associated with phylogeographic structure are the boundaries between the Peronian and Maugean biogeographical provinces in southern New South Wales and the Maugean and Flindersian provinces in South Australia, the areas in Victoria and north-eastern Tasmania separated by the Bassian Isthmus at glacial maxima, long sandy stretches without rocky intertidal habitat on the Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria and the Younghusband Peninsula–Coorong in South Australia, southern Tasmania and Bass Strait, which acts as a barrier for littoral species.
Measuring exposure to sexually explicit media among young men who have sex with men: a pilot study
Authors: Nelson Kimberly M. , Golden Matthew R. , Glick Sara Nelson
Published: November 2015

Background
Sexually explicit media (SEM) consumption may contribute to sexual risk-taking among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). Methods: The prevalence and frequency of SEM consumption as well as associations with contextual and sexual risk characteristics among 61 YMSM were estimated. Results: All participants (n = 61, 100%) reported viewing SEM; 45 (74%) in the past week. There were no significant associations between viewing SEM in the past week and measured characteristics. Conclusion: SEM use among YMSM is extremely common. Future research should clarify potential relations between SEM and sexual risk-taking with larger samples of YMSM and specific measures, including SEM content and amount.
Does affective forecasting change motivation for disaster preparedness? Motivation one month after a hypothetical earthquake / ¿Influye la predicción afectiva en la motivación para la preparación ante las catástrofes? La motivación un mes después de un terremoto hipotético
Authors: Noda Masayo
Published: November 2015

The present study examined how disaster preparedness would change after people predicted their affective reactions in the event of a major earthquake. In Study 1, participants ( N = 255) completed an assessment of disaster preparedness. One week later, participants predicted their thoughts and feelings if a major earthquake were to strike, and then responded to the motivation measure. Study 2 ( N = 129) examined the status of participants’ motivation after one month. The results showed that greater motivation was only seen immediately after affective forecasting, and the same level of motivation was not maintained after one month. When people imagine a potential earthquake the expected negative affective reactions are overestimated. Disaster preparedness allows people to mitigate their future negative affective reactions. In order to avoid these affective reactions, affective forecasters had greater motivation for disaster preparedness.
Effect of Salinity on the Survival and Growth of the Larvae and Juveniles of Japanese Grenadier Anchovy Coilia nasus
Authors: Xu Jiabo , Deng PingPing , Shi Yonghai , Zhang Genyu , Zhang Haiming , Yan Yinlong , Lu Genhai , Liu Yongshi , Wang Yang
Published: November 2015

The anadromous Japanese Grenadier Anchovy Coilia nasus is a commercially important fish that is mainly distributed in the Yangtze River and its estuarine area. Two trials were performed to determine the effect of acute salinity stress on the survival of early C. nasus larvae at 0 d posthatch (DPH) and 2 DPH. The salinity treatments for these two trials were 0.4, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25‰. A third trial compared the growth of juveniles in 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18‰ salinity. Larvae could only tolerate a limited range of salinity (<5‰). Salinity challenge significantly affected the survival of early C. nasus larvae. When salinity was changed, even a low concentration of 2.5‰ could adversely affect early C. nasus larvae. The growth of juveniles was also influenced by salinity. High salinity (>12‰) caused low survival, and low salinity (<6‰) caused poor growth. The optimum salinity for the survival and growth of C. nasus juveniles ranges from 6‰ to 12‰.
A role of goals for social inhibition of return?
Authors: Janczyk Markus , Welsh Timothy N. , Dolk Thomas
Published: November 2015

The social inhibition of return (sIOR) effect refers to the finding that response initiation times are longer if a movement is executed to a location where another person has responded to just before. Previous studies have examined the influence of the goal of the action on sIOR. In these studies, however, the movement endpoint and to-be-attained goal (e.g., touching/pressing a response key) were at the same spatial location. In the present two experiments, we disentangled movement endpoint and goal's identity and locations by means of introducing action effects that followed directly from a movement. Similar methods were previously shown powerful enough to clearly show the importance of action goals for other phenomena—a finding consistent with effect-based theories of action control, such as the ideomotor theory. The results of the present study revealed that sIOR was shaped by the movement endpoint location, not the goal's identity or location. That is, in both experiments, an sIOR effect was observed, but the magnitude of the sIOR effect was not modulated by repetitions/switches of goals or their locations. Thus, results indicate that goals play a negligible role in the emergence of the sIOR and, consequently, highlight the importance of action observation for the emergence of the sIOR effect.
Mixed norm estimates for the Cesàro means associated with Dunkl–Hermite expansions
Authors: Boggarapu Pradeep , Roncal Luz , Thangavelu Sundaram
Published: November 2015

Our main goal in this article is to study mixed norm estimates for the Cesàro means associated with Dunkl–Hermite expansions on

R

d

\mathbb {R}^d

. These expansions arise when one considers the Dunkl–Hermite operator (or Dunkl harmonic oscillator)

H

κ

:=
−

Δ

κ

+

|

x

|

2

H_{\kappa }:=-\Delta _{\kappa }+|x|^2

, where

Δ

κ

\Delta _{\kappa }

stands for the Dunkl–Laplacian. It is shown that the desired mixed norm estimates are equivalent to vector-valued inequalities for a sequence of Cesàro means for Laguerre expansions with shifted parameter. In order to obtain such vector-valued inequalities, we develop an argument to extend these Laguerre operators for complex values of the parameters involved and apply a version of the three lines lemma.
Dissecting in vivo steady-state dynamics of karyopherin-dependent nuclear transport
Authors: Lolodi Ogheneochukome , Yamazaki Hiroya , Otsuka Shotaro , Kumeta Masahiro , Yoshimura Shige H.
Published: November 2015

Karyopherin-dependent molecular transport through the nuclear pore complex is maintained by constant recycling pathways of karyopherins coupled with the Ran-dependent cargo catch-and-release mechanism. Although many studies have revealed the bidirectional dynamics of karyopherins, the entire kinetics of the steady-state dynamics of karyopherin and cargo is still not fully understood. In this study, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and fluorescence loss in photobleaching on live cells to provide convincing in vivo proof that karyopherin-mediated nucleocytoplasmic transport of cargoes is bidirectional. Continuous photobleaching of the cytoplasm of live cells expressing NLS cargoes led to progressive decrease of nuclear fluorescence signals. In addition, experimentally obtained kinetic parameters of karyopherin complexes were used to establish a kinetic model to explain the entire cargo import and export transport cycles facilitated by importin β. The results strongly indicate that constant shuttling of karyopherins, either free or bound to cargo, ensures proper balancing of nucleocytoplasmic distribution of cargoes and establishes effective regulation of cargo dynamics by RanGTP.
No Promoter Left Behind (NPLB): learn de novo promoter architectures from genome-wide transcription start sites
Authors: Mitra Sneha , Narlikar Leelavati
Published: November 2015

Summary: Promoters have diverse regulatory architectures and thus activate genes differently. For example, some have a TATA-box, many others do not. Even the ones with it can differ in its position relative to the transcription start site (TSS). No Promoter Left Behind (NPLB) is an efficient, organism-independent method for characterizing such diverse architectures directly from experimentally identified genome-wide TSSs, without relying on known promoter elements. As a test case, we show its application in identifying novel architectures in the fly genome.

Availability and implementation: Web-server at http://nplb.ncl.res.in. Standalone also at https://github.com/computationalBiology/NPLB/ (Mac OSX/Linux).

Contact:  l.narlikar@ncl.res.in

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The economic and social impacts of environmental change on fishing towns and coastal communities: a historical case study of Geraldton, Western Australia
Authors: Tull M. , Metcalf S. J. , Gray H.
Published: November 2015

For decades, many Australian coastal communities have been changing, in varying degrees, from traditional “fishing towns” to “mining”, “tourism”, or “retirement” towns. However, environmental changes, such as climate change, have increased the vulnerability of these communities and their capacity to continue to successfully adapt is unknown. A framework for the assessment of socio-ecological vulnerability is used to provide information on the response to change in Geraldton, Western Australia. Geraldton has traditionally been a port and fishing town and has recently become a hub for the expanding mining industry. An innovative historical assessment of adaptive capacity using sustainable livelihoods analysis with indicators of social, economic, human, financial, physical, and natural capital is used to calculate socio-ecological vulnerability over time. The framework integrates adaptive capacity with environmental change, resource dependence, and the socio-economic importance of the fished species during four census years: 1921, 1954, 1981, and 2011. The earlier years are characterized by high adaptive capacity and low socio-ecological vulnerability in keeping with strong economic growth and low unemployment rates following the First and Second World Wars. The years 1981 and 2011 showed markedly higher socio-ecological vulnerability and lower adaptive capacities. This result was due to progressively greater exposure to climate change and the high socio-economic importance of fished species, as well as relatively poor physical, social, and natural capital. With continuing environmental and economic change, the fishing industry and the broader Geraldton population is likely to become increasingly vulnerable. Proactive rather than passive adaptation may speed the recovery and reduce a decline in the fishing industry and local economies. The paper briefly discusses potential adaptation in Geraldton which may be useful as a guideline for other coastal communities.
Effects of high CO2 and warming on a Baltic Sea microzooplankton community
Authors: Horn Henriette G. , Boersma Maarten , Garzke Jessica , Löder Martin G. J. , Sommer Ulrich , Aberle Nicole
Published: November 2015

Global warming and ocean acidification are among the most important stressors for aquatic ecosystems in the future. To investigate their direct and indirect effects on a near-natural plankton community, a multiple-stressor approach is needed. Hence, we set up mesocosms in a full-factorial design to study the effects of both warming and high CO2 on a Baltic Sea autumn plankton community, concentrating on the impacts on microzooplankton (MZP). MZP abundance, biomass, and species composition were analysed over the course of the experiment. We observed that warming led to a reduced time-lag between the phytoplankton bloom and an MZP biomass maximum. MZP showed a significantly higher growth rate and an earlier biomass peak in the warm treatments while the biomass maximum was not affected. Increased pCO2 did not result in any significant effects on MZP biomass, growth rate, or species composition irrespective of the temperature, nor did we observe any significant interactions between CO2 and temperature. We attribute this to the high tolerance of this estuarine plankton community to fluctuations in pCO2, often resulting in CO2 concentrations higher than the predicted end-of-century concentration for open oceans. In contrast, warming can be expected to directly affect MZP and strengthen its coupling with phytoplankton by enhancing its grazing pressure.
A Virtual Clinic Improves Pneumococcal Vaccination for Asplenic Veterans at High Risk for Pneumococcal Disease
Authors: Jump Robin L. , Banks Richard , Wilson Brigid , Montpetite Michelle M. , Carter Rebecca , Phillips Susan , Perez Federico
Published: November 2015

We developed a “virtual clinic” to improve pneumococcal vaccination among asplenic adults. Using an electronic medical record, we identified patients, assessed their vaccination status, entered orders, and notified patients and providers. Within 180 days, 38 of 76 patients (50%) received a pneumococcal vaccination. A virtual clinic may optimize vaccinations among high-risk patients.
Intracarotid Etomidate Decreases the Interhemispheric Synchronization in Electroencephalogram (EEG) During the Wada Test
Authors: Shahaf Dana B. , Shahaf Goded , Mehta Jigesh , Venkatraghavan Lashmi
Published: November 2015

Background:

The Wada test is a diagnostic method to anesthetize 1 cerebral hemisphere and assess the language and memory functions of awake contralateral hemisphere before temporal lobectomy in patients with epilepsy. The effects of an ipsilateral injection of etomidate on the functional properties of contralateral hemisphere are not known. Our aim was to characterize the electroencephalographic (EEG) effects after intracarotid injection of etomidate and to determine the changes in synchronization between the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed EEG data from 15 patients who underwent Wada test with etomidate. Continuous EEG data from 4 electrodes (2 anterior [F3, F4] and 2 posterior [P3, P4]) were analyzed. After artifact rejection, we measured the amplitudes of delta (1 to 4 Hz) and alpha (7 to 13 Hz) waves and the changes in the interhemispheric synchronization before, during, and after etomidate injection.

Results:

Ipsilateral injection of etomidate causes EEG changes in both hemispheres with increased amplitude of delta waves anteriorly and the alpha waves posteriorly. However this effect of etomidate is not uniform. Although there was a decrease in the interhemispheric synchronization of delta waves, there was no change in the synchronization of the alpha waves.

Conclusions:

Our study showed that the EEG effects of intracarotid ipsilateral injection of etomidate is not uniform in both hemispheres. Decrease in the interhemispheric synchronization of delta waves might serve as an indicator of ipsilateral effect of etomidate on the brain. Additional studies are needed to confirm our findings.
The Birth of the Illegitimate Linear No-Threshold Model
Authors: Siegel Jeffry A. , Pennington Charles W. , Sacks Bill , Welsh James S.
Published: November 2015

This paper examines the birthing process of the linear no-threshold model with respect to genetic effects and carcinogenesis. This model was conceived >70 years ago but still remains a foundational element within much of the scientific thought regarding exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation. This model is used today to provide risk estimates for cancer resulting from any exposure to ionizing radiation down to zero dose, risk estimates that are only theoretical and, as yet, have never been conclusively demonstrated by empirical evidence. We are literally bathed every second of every day in low-dose radiation exposure due to natural background radiation, exposures that vary annually from a few mGy to 260 mGy, depending upon where one lives on the planet. Irrespective of the level of background exposure to a given population, no associated health effects have been documented to date anywhere in the world. In fact, people in the United States are living longer today than ever before, likely due to always improving levels of medical care, including even more radiation exposure from diagnostic medical radiation (eg, x-ray and computed tomography imaging examinations) which are well within the background dose range across the globe. Yet, the persistent use of the linear no-threshold model for risk assessment by regulators and advisory bodies continues to drive an unfounded fear of any low-dose radiation exposure, as well as excessive expenditures on putative but unneeded and wasteful safety measures.
Modified Tightening for Figure-of-Eight Sternal Wiring Closure
Authors: Bhagwat Krishna A. , Stephens Georgina C. , Chakaramakkill Mathew Jose , Ratinam Ratheesraj
Published: November 2015

This is a simple and quick method for the tightening of figure-of-eight wires routinely used for sternal closure. This technique gives a stable approximation, adequate reduction, and immobilization, providing higher strength and rigidity compared with conventional figure-of-eight closure. The advantage of this technique is that it tightens all the four wires equally, thus avoiding loose loops.