bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective Memory Performance of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Depends on Shifting Aptitude: Evidence from Cognitive Rehabilitation
Authors: Costa Alberto , Peppe Antonella , Serafini Francesca , Zabberoni Silvia , Barban Francesco , Caltagirone Carlo , Carlesimo Giovanni Augusto
Published: June 2014

This study investigated the effect of cognitive training aimed at improving shifting ability on Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients’ performance of prospective memory (PM) tasks. Using a double-blind protocol, 17 PD patients were randomly assigned to two experimental arms. In the first arm (n=9) shifting training was administered, and in the second (placebo) arm (n=8), language and respiratory exercises. Both treatments consisted of 12 sessions executed over 4 weeks. PM and shifting measures (i.e., Trail Making Test and Alternate Fluency Test) were administered at T0 (before treatment) and T1 (immediately after treatment). A mixed analysis of variance was applied to the data. To evaluate the effects of treatment, the key effect was the interaction between Group (experimental vs. placebo) and Time of Assessment (T0 vs. T1). This interaction was significant for the accuracy indices of the PM procedure (p<.05) and for the performance parameters of the shifting tasks (p≤.05). Tukey’s HSD tests showed that in all cases passing from T0 to T1 performance significantly improved in the experimental group (in all cases p≤.02) but remained unchanged in the placebo group (all p consistently>.10). The performance change passing from T0 to T1 on the Alternate Fluency test and the PM procedure was significantly correlated (p<.05). Results show that the cognitive training significantly improved PD patients’ event-based PM performance and suggest that their poor PM functioning might be related to reduced shifting abilities. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–10)
Household food insecurity: a systematic review of the measuring instruments used in epidemiological studies
Authors: Marques Emanuele S , Reichenheim Michael E , de Moraes Claudia L , Antunes Marina ML , Salles-Costa Rosana
Published: June 2014

Objective

To conduct a systematic review aimed at identifying and characterizing the experience-based household food security scales and to synthesize their psychometric properties.

Design

Search in the MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO databases, using the descriptors (‘food insecurity’ OR ‘food security’) AND (‘questionnaires’ OR ‘scales’ OR ‘validity’ OR ‘reliability’). There was no limitation on the period of publication. All articles had their titles and abstracts analysed by two reviewers. The studies of interest were read in their entirety and the relevant information extracted using a standard form.

Results

The initial bibliographic search identified 299 articles. Of these, the 159 that seemed to meet the criteria for inclusion were read fully. After consultation of the bibliographic references of these articles, twenty articles and five documents were added, as they satisfied the previously determined criteria for inclusion. Twenty-four different instruments were identified; all were brief and of easy application. The majority were devised in the USA. Forty-seven references reported results of psychometric studies. The instruments that presented the highest number of psychometric studies were the Core Food Security Measurement/Household Food Security Survey Module (CFSM/HFSSM) and the Self-Perceived Household Food Security Scale.

Conclusions

There are a number of structured scales available in the literature for characterization of household food insecurity. However, despite some psychometric studies already existing about the majority of the instruments, it is observed that, except for the studies of the CFSM/HFSSM, these are still restricted to appraisal of a few aspects of reliability and validity.
Patient-reported quality of care and pain severity in cancer
Authors: Martinez Kathryn A. , Snyder Claire F. , Malin Jennifer L. , Dy Sydney M.
Published: June 2014

Objective:

Despite treatment availability, many cancer patients experience severe pain. Although patient assessments of care are increasingly employed to evaluate quality of care, little is known about its association with cancer symptom burden. The objective of our study was to examine the association between patient-reported quality of care and pain severity in a nationally representative cohort of cancer patients.

Method:

Quality of care was measured in three domains: physician communication, care coordination/responsiveness, and nursing care. Quality scores were dichotomized as optimal versus nonoptimal. Pain was measured on a scale of 0 (least) to 100 (worst). We utilized multivariable linear regression to examine the association between patient-reported quality of care and pain severity.

Results:

The analytic sample included 2,746 individuals. Fifty and 54% of patients, respectively, rated physician communication and care coordination/responsiveness as nonoptimal; 28% rated nursing care as nonoptimal. In adjusted models, rating physician communication as nonoptimal (versus optimal) was associated with a 1.8-point higher pain severity (p = 0.018), and rating care coordination/responsiveness as nonoptimal was associated with a 2.2-point higher pain severity (p = 0.006).

Significance of results:

Patient-reported quality of care was significantly associated with pain severity, although the differences were small. Interventions targeting physician communication and care coordination/responsiveness may result in improved pain control for some patients.
THE LOST CAUCASIAN CIVILIZATION: JEAN-SYLVAIN BAILLY AND THE ROOTS OF THE ARYAN MYTH
Authors: HARVEY DAVID ALLEN
Published: June 2014

Jean-Sylvain Bailly, an eighteenth-century French astronomer and polymath, elaborated an original interpretation of the prehistoric origins of civilization which anticipated many of the details of the “Aryan myth.” Bailly argued that Atlantis was the root civilization of mankind, which had invented the arts and sciences and civilized the Chinese, Indians, and Egyptians. He situated this primordial people in the far north of Eurasia, and argued that as the cooling of the Earth buried their ancestral home beneath sheets of ice, the Atlanteans were lost to history. Bailly drew eclectically upon science, classical mythology, linguistics, and orientalism to substantiate his case, and argued that the Brahmans who shaped Indian civilization were Sanskrit-speaking Atlanteans. His theories reflected many of the prevailing ideas of the age, such as the climate determinism of Montesquieu and Buffon and the superiority of the dynamic West over the decadent Orient. Though Bailly did not racialize the Atlanteans, his works laid the foundations for the subsequent emergence of the Aryan myth.
THE THEORETICAL ORIGINS OF CATHOLIC NATIONALISM IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY EUROPE
Authors: VILALLONGA BORJA
Published: June 2014

Catholicism's contribution to the development of nationalist ideology, and more generally to the process of European nation building in the nineteenth century, has been neglected. Most previous work has concentrated instead on varieties of liberal nationalism. In fact, Catholic intellectuals forged a whole nationalist discourse, but from traditional-conservative and orthodox doctrine. This essay charts a transnational path through Latin European countries, whose thinkers pioneered the theoretical development of Catholic nationalism. The Latin countries–France, Italy, and Spain, especially–were the homeland of Catholicism and theological, philosophical, historical, and political theories originating in it had a tremendous impact on the general formation of Western nationalism. This essay examines the formation, evolution, and consolidation of Catholic nationalism through “New Catholicism,” showing how the nation-state project and modernity itself were rethought in a new conservative and Catholic form.
The Occupied Palestinian Territory and international humanitarian law: a response to Peter Maurer
Authors: Jabarin Shawan
Published: June 2014

In his article ‘Challenges to international humanitarian law: Israel's occupation policy’, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr Peter Maurer, addresses the challenges that the application of international humanitarian law (IHL) faces in the Middle East in general and in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in particular. Mr Maurer focuses on three main issues in relation to Israel's military occupation of the Palestinian territory: East Jerusalem, settlements and the Annexation Wall. Furthermore, he touches on the ICRC's confidentiality policy and suggests that the ICRC engage in public dialogue with parties to the conflict, especially when confidential dialogue fails to improve the lives of the affected people.
Fundamental aspects of postharvest heat treatments
Authors: Lurie Susan , Pedreschi Romina
Published: June 2014

Heat treatments have been investigated for use in many aspects of postharvest storage. They have been developed for insect control, prevention of fungal development and prevention of postharvest storage disorders including chilling injury. The treatment times and temperature range vary widely, from days at 35 °C to 39 °C in hot air, to up to 63 °C for less than a minute in hot water. Much of the research has been performed to develop solutions to a particular problem, and less investigation has been conducted on the responses of the commodity to the treatment. However, since the turn of the century, a number of groups have been active in examining the molecular responses and changes that occur in commodities during and after the heat treatment. This review examines the changes at the level of transcriptome, proteome and metabolome that occur in response to the different heat treatments.
Allele-specific genome editing and correction of disease-associated phenotypes in rats using the CRISPR–Cas platform
Authors: Yoshimi K. , Kaneko T. , Voigt B. , Mashimo T.
Published: June 2014

The bacterial CRISPR/Cas system has proven to be an efficient gene-targeting tool in various organisms. Here we employ CRISPR/Cas for accurate and efficient genome editing in rats. The synthetic chimeric guide RNAs (gRNAs) discriminate a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) difference in rat embryonic fibroblasts, allowing allele-specific genome editing of the dominant phenotype in (F344 × DA)F1 hybrid embryos. Interestingly, the targeted allele, initially assessed by the allele-specific gRNA, is repaired by an interallelic gene conversion between homologous chromosomes. Using single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides, we recover three recessive phenotypes: the albino phenotype by SNP exchange; the non-agouti phenotype by integration of a 19-bp DNA fragment; and the hooded phenotype by eliminating a 7,098-bp insertional DNA fragment, evolutionary-derived from an endogenous retrovirus. Successful in vivo application of the CRISPR/Cas system confirms its importance as a genetic engineering tool for creating animal models of human diseases and its potential use in gene therapy.
Cocrystals of telmisartan: characterization, structure elucidation, in vivo and toxicity studies
Authors: Chadha Renu , Bhandari Swati , Haneef Jamshed , Khullar Sadhika , Mandal Sanjay
Published: June 2014

The present study reports novel cocrystals of telmisartan (TEL) with saccharin and glutaric acid.
Engineering of crystal surfaces and subsurfaces by framework biomineralization protein phases
Authors: Chang Eric P. , Russ Jennie A. , Verch Andreas , Kröger Roland , Estroff Lara A. , Evans John Spencer
Published: June 2014

A nacre protein, n16.3, forms phases that introduce textured mineral overgrowth and subsurface nanoporosities within calcite crystals.
Impedance analysis of secondary phases in a Co-implanted ZnO single crystal
Authors: Younas M. , Zou L. L. , Nadeem M. , Naeem-ur-Rehman Naeem-ur-Rehman , Su S. C. , Wang Z. L. , Anwand W. , Wagner A. , Hao J. H. , Leung C. W. , Lortz R. , Ling F. C. C.
Published: June 2014

Co ions with 100 keV energy with a fluence of 1 × 1015cm−2are implanted into ZnO(0001) single crystals at 300 °C under vacuum.
The effect of a detonation nanodiamond coating on the thermal decomposition properties of RDX explosives
Authors: Tong Yi , Liu Rui , Zhang Tonglai
Published: June 2014

The relationship between the reactivity of the NDRs and the DND coating amount exhibits a volcano-shaped curve.
An ab initio thermodynamics study of cobalt surface phases under ethanol steam reforming conditions
Authors: Luo Wenjia , Asthagiri Aravind
Published: June 2014

A combination of DFT and ab initio atomistic thermodynamics study illustrated the surface structure evolution of Co0/Co2+ catalysts under ethanol steam reforming conditions.
Insitu nanotomography and operando transmission X-ray microscopy of micron-sized Ge particles
Authors: Weker J. Nelson , Liu N. , Misra S. , Andrews J. C. , Cui Y. , Toney M. F.
Published: June 2014

2D and 3D nanometer resolution imaging of Ge anodes during cycling show particle size-dependent fracturing and failure.
Environmental science and engineering applications of nanocellulose-based nanocomposites
Authors: Wei Haoran , Rodriguez Katia , Renneckar Scott , Vikesland Peter J.
Published: June 2014

This review summarizes recent progress in the development of nanocellulose-based nanocomposites and in their environmental applications.
The determination of V and Mo by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
Authors: de Jesus Amanda M. D. , Aguirre Miguel Ángel , Hidalgo Montserrat , Canals Antonio , Pereira-Filho Edenir R.
Published: June 2014

Analysis of extracts from DLLME by LIBS is a promising method for elemental trace analysis in liquid samples.
Induced charge electroosmosis micropumps using arrays of Janus micropillars
Authors: Paustian Joel S. , Pascall Andrew J. , Wilson Neil M. , Squires Todd M.
Published: June 2014

Theory, fabrication, and testing of an electrokinetic pump that uses Induced Charge Electro-Osmosis (ICEO) to generate on-chip pressures.
Two-dimensional Au lattices featuring unique carrier transport preference and wide forbidden gap
Authors: Zhang Chunmiao , Wu Yaping , Zhou Yinghui , Gao Na , Guo Fei , Chen Xiaohang , Jiang Baofeng , Hu Wei , Kang Junyong
Published: June 2014

Large-scale 2D Au lattices are achieved that display a unique wide energy gap and a Kagome-like transport route.
Amine-modified hyaluronic acid-functionalized porous silicon nanoparticles for targeting breast cancer tumors
Authors: Almeida Patrick V. , Shahbazi Mohammad-Ali , Mäkilä Ermei , Kaasalainen Martti , Salonen Jarno , Hirvonen Jouni , Santos Hélder A.
Published: June 2014

Synthesis of amine-modified hyaluronic acid porous silicon nanoparticles resulted in a suitable and promising nanodelivery system for the targeting of CD44-overexpressing tumors.
Drastic nickel ion removal from aqueous solution by curcumin-capped Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Bettini S. , Pagano R. , Valli L. , Giancane G.
Published: June 2014

A completely green synthesis protocol has been adopted to obtain silver nanoaggregates capped by the natural compound (1E, 6E)-1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-diene), also known as curcumin.
Nanoalloying bulk-immiscible iridium and palladium inhibits hydride formation and promotes catalytic performances
Authors: Zlotea C. , Morfin F. , Nguyen T. S. , Nguyen N. T. , Nelayah J. , Ricolleau C. , Latroche M. , Piccolo L.
Published: June 2014

Supported Ir–Pd nanoalloys accommodate much less hydrogen than their Ir and Pd counterparts, and exhibit improved performances for the preferential oxidation of CO in hydrogen excess.
Interaction of fullerene chains and a lipid membrane via computer simulations
Authors: Tian Wen-de , Chen Kang , Ma Yu-qiang
Published: June 2014

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were employed to study the fullerene polymers with various functionalization degrees interacting with the DPPC membrane. Structure, dynamics, and thermodynamics of systems were analyzed.
The adsorption–desorption behaviour and structure function relationships of bile salts
Authors: Parker Roger , Rigby Neil M. , Ridout Michael J. , Gunning A. Patrick , Wilde Peter J.
Published: June 2014

The adsorption–desorption behaviour of bile salts on hydrophobic interfaces is sensitive to molecular structure and influences the interfacial behaviour of colipase.
Manipulating charge transport in a π-stacked polymer through silicon incorporation
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Wang Zhixiang , Song Chao , Wang Yang , Lin Zhaomin , Xiao Jianjian , Chen Runfeng , Zheng Chao , Huang Wei
Published: June 2014

The charge transport of a π-stacked polymer was manipulated by silicon incorporation to realize molecular nanofuse devices in a silicon-stimulated filament mechanism.
Oxygen induced strained ZnO nanoparticles: an investigation of Raman scattering and visible photoluminescence
Authors: Gaikwad Shrikrushna Shivaji , Gandhi Ashish Chhaganlal , Pandit Swarada D. , Pant Jayashree , Chan Ting-Shan , Cheng Chia-Liang , Ma Yuan-Ron , Wu Sheng Yun
Published: June 2014

Raman and photoluminescence measurements results reveal a positive Poisson ratio in strained ZnO nanoparticles, signaling the short-range electron–phonon coupling effect and an energy red-shift in the PL spectrum.
Leishmania major possesses a unique HemG-type protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase
Authors: Zwerschke Dagmar , Karrie Simone , Jahn Dieter , Jahn Martina
Published: June 2014

Leishmania major was proposed to either utilize haem from its host or partially synthesize the tetrapyrrole from host provided precursors. However, only indirect evidence was available for this partial late haem biosynthetic pathway. Here, we demonstrate that the LMJF_06_1280 gene of L. major encodes a HemG-type PPO (protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase) catalysing the oxidation of protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX. Interestingly, trypanosomatids are currently the only known eukaryotes possessing HemG-type enzymes. The LMJF_06_1280 gene forms a potential transcriptional unit with LMJF_06_1270 encoding CPO (coproporphyrinogen III oxidase) and with LMJF_06_1290 for a cytochrome b5. In vivo function of the L. major hemG gene was shown by the functional complementation of the Escherichia coli ΔhemG strain LG285. Restored haem formation in E. coli was observed using HPLC analyses. Purified recombinant L. major HemG revealed PPO activity in vitro using different ubiquinones and triphenyltetrazolium as electron acceptors. FMN was identified as the L. major HemG cofactor. Active site residues were found to be essential for HemG catalysis. These data in combination with the solved crystal structures of L. major CPO and the physiological proof of a ferrochelatase activity provide clear-cut evidence for a partial haem biosynthetic pathway in L. major.
Detecting partially occluded vehicles with geometric and likelihood reasoning
Authors: Yu Teng , Shin Hyunchul
Published: June 2014

In real‐world scenes, vehicles are frequently overlapped by other objects and various backgrounds. In this study, an effective method to detect such vehicles, especially those partially occluded by nearby vehicles or other objects is presented. The authors have developed a statistical approach to generate occlusion hypothesis and a new hypothesis verification method. To verify occlusion hypothesis, the verification method utilises geometric and likelihood information. In this way, both vehicle–background and vehicle–vehicle occlusions can be detected. No additional occlusion‐specific training is required. In addition, a median filter is applied to eliminate the noise in the patch scoring, and a union‐find algorithm is used to find the connected positive region in the binary map. A synthesised occlusion dataset is created to test the performance, and the experimental results on popular benchmarks indicate that the proposed method is effective and robust in recognising partially occluded vehicles.
Ice-templated structures for biomedical tissue repair: From physics to final scaffolds
Authors: Pawelec K. M. , Husmann A. , Best S. M. , Cameron R. E.
Published: June 2014

Ice-templating techniques, including freeze-drying and freeze casting, are extremely versatile and can be used with a variety of materials systems. The process relies on the freezing of a water based solution. During freezing, ice nucleates within the solution and concentrates the solute in the regions between the growing crystals. Once the ice is removed via sublimation, the solute remains in a porous structure, which is a negative of the ice. As the final structure of the ice relies on the freezing of the solution, the variables which influence ice nucleation and growth alter the structure of ice-templated scaffolds. Nucleation, the initial step of freezing, can be altered by the type and concentration of solutes within the solution, as well as the set cooling rate before freezing. After nucleation, crystal growth and annealing processes, such as Ostwald ripening, determine the features of the final scaffold. Both crystal growth and annealing are sensitive to many factors including the set freezing temperature and solutes. The porous structures created using ice-templating allow scaffolds to be used for many diverse applications, from microfluidics to biomedical tissue engineering. Within the field of tissue engineering, scaffold structure can influence cellular behavior, and is thus critical for determining the biological stimulus supplied by the scaffold. The research focusing on controlling the ice-templated structure serves as a model for how other ice-templating systems might be tailored, to expand the applications of ice-templated structures to their full potential.
Marked ghost imaging
Authors: Chen Wen , Chen Xudong
Published: June 2014

In recent years, ghost imaging has been widely applied in various areas, such as optical security. Here, we report how an object and multiple hidden marks can be simultaneously recovered by using only one rebuilt reference intensity sequence in ghost imaging. The reconstructed object can be clearly observed during the decoding, and multiple marks can be effectively hidden. This unique characteristic is established for ghost imaging system due to random selections of pixels from each reference intensity pattern, which also guarantees high security. This finding may open up a different research perspective for ghost-imaging-based security system.
Heterogeneous nucleation in solutions: Generalized Gibbs’ approach
Authors: Abyzov Alexander S. , Schmelzer Jürn W. P.
Published: June 2014

Heterogeneous nucleation in solutions on planar solid surfaces is modeled taking into account changes of the state parameters of the critical clusters in dependence on supersaturation. The account of the variation of the state parameters of the cluster phase on nucleation is performed in the framework of the generalized Gibbs’ approach. A regular solution is chosen as a model for the analysis of the basic qualitative characteristics of the process. It is shown that, employing the generalized Gibbs approach, contact angle and catalytic activity factor for heterogeneous nucleation become dependent on the degree of metastability (supersaturation) of the solution. For the case of formation of a cluster in supersaturated solutions on a surface of low wettability (the macroscopic equilibrium contact angles being larger than 90°), the solid surface has only a minor influence on nucleation. In the alternative case of high wettability (for macroscopic equilibrium contact angles being less than 90°), nucleation is significantly enhanced by the solid surface. Effectively, the existence of the solid surface results in a significant shift of the spinodal to lower supersaturations as compared with homogeneous nucleation. Qualitatively, the same behavior is observed now near the new (solid surface induced) limits of instability of the solution as compared with the behavior near to the spinodal curve in the case of homogeneous nucleation.
Integration of roof-top solar photovoltaic systems into the low voltage distribution network
Authors: Shafiullah G. M. , Oo Amanullah M. T. , Stojcevski Alex , Shawkat Ali A. B. M.
Published: June 2014

The advancement in solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, the cost and efficiency of PVs have encouraged users worldwide to adopt more and more PVs as it is free from greenhouse gas emissions and unlimited in nature. Integration of roof-top solar PV systems is currently emerging rapidly in Australia as the governments are giving attractive incentives and encouraging households to build a sustainable climate-friendly society for the future. The key major barriers to the integration of roof-top solar PV systems are the uncertainties in the performance of the low voltage distribution network due to the intermittent nature of solar PV sources. In this paper, a model was developed to investigate the potential technical impacts of integrating roof-top solar PV systems into the low voltage distribution network in a subtropical climate. The results show that integration of roof-top solar PV in the customer premises causes uncertainties such as voltage fluctuations, phase unbalance, distribution transformer overloading, reactive power compensation, and harmonic injections that detract the overall power quality of the typical distribution network.
Coalescing drops in microfluidic parking networks: A multifunctional platform for drop-based microfluidics
Authors: Bithi Swastika S. , Wang William S. , Sun Meng , Blawzdziewicz Jerzy , Vanapalli Siva A.
Published: June 2014

Multiwell plate and pipette systems have revolutionized modern biological analysis; however, they have disadvantages because testing in the submicroliter range is challenging, and increasing the number of samples is expensive. We propose a new microfluidic methodology that delivers the functionality of multiwell plates and pipettes at the nanoliter scale by utilizing drop coalescence and confinement-guided breakup in microfluidic parking networks (MPNs). Highly monodisperse arrays of drops obtained using a hydrodynamic self-rectification process are parked at prescribed locations in the device, and our method allows subsequent drop manipulations such as fine-gradation dilutions, reactant addition, and fluid replacement while retaining microparticles contained in the sample. Our devices operate in a quasistatic regime where drop shapes are determined primarily by the channel geometry. Thus, the behavior of parked drops is insensitive to flow conditions. This insensitivity enables highly parallelized manipulation of drop arrays of different composition, without a need for fine-tuning the flow conditions and other system parameters. We also find that drop coalescence can be switched off above a critical capillary number, enabling individual addressability of drops in complex MPNs. The platform demonstrated here is a promising candidate for conducting multistep biological assays in a highly multiplexed manner, using thousands of submicroliter samples.
On the relationship between quadrupolar magnetic field and collisionless reconnection
Authors: Smets R. , Aunai N. , Belmont G. , Boniface C. , Fuchs J.
Published: June 2014

Using hybrid simulations, we investigate the onset of fast reconnection between two cylindrical magnetic shells initially close to each other. This initial state mimics the plasma structure in High Energy Density Plasmas induced by a laser-target interaction and the associated self-generated magnetic field. We clearly observe that the classical quadrupolar structure of the out-of-plane magnetic field appears prior to the reconnection onset. Furthermore, a parametric study reveals that, with a non-coplanar initial magnetic topology, the reconnection onset is delayed and possibly suppressed. The relation between the out-of-plane magnetic field and the out-of-plane electric field is discussed.
Evaluation of hole-spin superposition in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells through time-resolved photoluminescence measurements
Authors: Ito Tetsu , Gotoh Hideki , Ichida Masao , Ando Hiroaki
Published: June 2014

Relaxation dynamics of the up–down superposition of hole spins in undoped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells were investigated by means of time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurements with a view toward achieving quantum bits using hole spins. Linearly polarized PL signals reflecting the hole-spin superposition were observed using linearly polarized excitation light under quasi-resonant excitation conditions. In contrast to circular-polarization experiments conducted under nonresonant excitation conditions, the decay time of the degree of linear polarization obtained from the time-resolved PL signal increased slightly with increasing quantum confinement energy. These experimental results demonstrate that the creation and observation of hole-spin superposition under resonant conditions are crucial for manipulating hole-spin quantum bits.
Rotatable anisotropy driven training effects in exchange biased Co/CoO films
Authors: Dias T. , Menéndez E. , Liu H. , Van Haesendonck C. , Vantomme A. , Temst K. , Schmidt J. E. , Giulian R. , Geshev J.
Published: June 2014

The training effect for exchange bias in field-cooled Co/CoO bilayers films is investigated. Previous experiments on the same system have shown that, starting from the ascending branch of the first hysteresis loop, coherent magnetization rotation is the dominant reversal mechanism. This is confirmed by the performed numerical simulations, which also indicate that the training is predominantly caused by changes of the rotatable anisotropy parameters of uncompensated spins at the Co/CoO interface. Moreover, in contrast with what is commonly assumed, the exchange coupling between the rotatable spins and the ferromagnetic layer is stronger than the coupling between the ferromagnet and the spins responsible for the bias. Thus, uncompensated spins strongly coupled to the ferromagnet contribute to the coercivity rather than to the bias, whatever the strength of their magnetic anisotropy.
Magnetotransport studies of FeSe under hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Tiwari Brajesh , Jha Rajveer , Awana V. P. S.
Published: June 2014

The discoveries of iron-based superconductors with relatively high transition temperature are under intense experimental and theoretical investigation. Here we present magnetotransport measurements on FeSe superconductor under hydrostatic pressure. We show that in Fe-deficient tetragonal FeSe binary compound, the onset of superconducting transition is almost doubled under 1.98 GPa pressure and the estimated upper critical field of 26.7 Tesla is increased to 47.5 Tesla.
Ultrahigh sensitive sub-terahertz detection by InP-based asymmetric dual-grating-gate high-electron-mobility transistors and their broadband characteristics
Authors: Kurita Y. , Ducournau G. , Coquillat D. , Satou A. , Kobayashi K. , Boubanga Tombet S. , Meziani Y. M. , Popov V. V. , Knap W. , Suemitsu T. , Otsuji T.
Published: June 2014

We report on room-temperature plasmonic detection of sub-terahertz radiation by InAlAs/InGaAs/InP high electron mobility transistors with an asymmetric dual-grating-gate structure. Maximum responsivities of 22.7 kV/W at 200 GHz and 21.5 kV/W at 292 GHz were achieved under unbiased drain-to-source condition. The minimum noise equivalent power was estimated to be 0.48 pW/Hz0.5 at 200 GHz at room temperature, which is the record-breaking value ever reported for plasmonic THz detectors. Frequency dependence of the responsivity in the frequency range of 0.2–2 THz is in good agreement with the theory.
Source and frequency of dry season lipid supplementation of finishing grazing cattle
Authors: Santana Márcia Cristina Araújo , Vieira Bruno Ramalho , Costa Diogo Fleury , Dian Paulo Henrique Moura , Fiorentini Giovani , Canesin Roberta Carrilho , Pereira Gener Tadeu , Reis Ricardo Andrade , Berchielli Telma Teresinha
Published: June 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sources of soybean oil [ground soybean (GS), soybean oil (SO) and calcium salts of soybean oil (CS)] on DM intake (DMI), ingestive behaviour and average daily gain (ADG) of heifers grazing marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) supplemented in two frequencies [daily and 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday – MWF)]. The experiment was conducted from July until November of 2007. Forty-two crossbred heifers (1/4 Nellore × 1/4 Santa Gertrudis × 1/2 Braunvieh), 17-months old and 297.1 kg ± 30.5 BW ± s.e.m., were used. Supplements were offered at 0.75% BW.day. Treatments were allocated in a completely randomised design and distributed in a factorial arrangement (3 × 2 – SO from three different sources and two supplementation frequencies). Total DMI was greater in August and October (2.2 kg DM/kg BW) than in November (1.5 kg DM/kg BW). There was an effect of SO source on total DM, herbage and nutrients intake, but no effects of supplementation frequency. The animals supplemented with SO had greater DMI (P < 0.05) than the ones fed GS and CS. Average daily gain (0.580 g) was not affected by supplement sources or feeding frequency. Therefore, GS and CS are more efficient supplements. Supplementation frequency altered grazing time differently according to source. The MWF treatment resulted in a decreased grazing time when GS and SO were fed. However, in days when supplements were not offered, grazing time was increased for GS and CS. It was concluded that a decreased frequency of supplementation may be implemented without effect on weight gain and will reduce labour and machinery costs.
Characterization and Acidic Properties of AlMCM-41 Prepared by Conventional and Post-Synthesis Alumination
Authors: Costa Maria J. F. , Chellappa Thiago , Araujo Antonio S. , Fonseca Viviane M. , Fernandes Valter J. , Nascimento Rubens M. , Pacheco José G. A.
Published: June 2014

The catalysts analysed in the current work are variations of MCM-41. The properties of these highly ordered mesoporous aluminosilicates were adjusted by an isomorphous substitution of Si by a trivalent cation, in this case Al3+, generating catalysts of the AlMCM-41 type. The materials were synthesized with a silicon/aluminium ratio of 40, through two methods of impregnation of the metal: conventional and post-synthesis alumination. With the aim of determining the density of the acid sites of the Al40MCM-41 prepared by post-synthesis and conventional alumination, studies of the adsorption of n-butylamine probe molecule were carried out. Further, the studied material was characterized by thermogravimetry measurements, providing the profile of decomposition of the samples, which allowed calculation of the densities of the acid sites. The model-free kinetic algorithms were applied in order to determinate conversion and apparent activation energy. Comparison of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicated that the post-synthesis method was more favourable based on the metal positioning, ‘anchored’ in the surface of the catalyst. The textural properties of the calcined Al40MCM-41 prepared by post-synthesis and conventional alumination were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 isothermal adsorption measurements (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda), transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Suboptimal maternal nutrition during early-to-mid gestation in the sheep enhances pericardial adiposity in the near-term fetus
Authors: Ojha Shalini , Symonds Michael E. , Budge Helen
Published: June 2014

Manipulation of the maternal diet at defined stages of gestation influences long-term health by inducing changes in fetal adipose tissue development, characterised as possessing brown and white adipocytes. We determined whether suboptimal maternal nutrition in early-to-mid gestation, followed by ad libitum feeding until term, increases adiposity in the pericardial depot of the sheep fetus. Pericardial adipose tissue was sampled from near-term (140 days) fetuses delivered to mothers fed either 100% (C) or 60% (i.e. nutrient restricted (NR)) of their total metabolisable requirements from 28 to 80 days gestation and then fed ad libitum. Adipose tissue mass, uncoupling protein (UCP) 1 and gene expression of brown and white adipogenic genes was measured. Total visceral and pericardial adiposity was increased in offspring born to NR mothers. The abundance of UCP1 was increased, together with those genes involved in brown (e.g. BMP7 and C/EBPβ) and white (e.g. BMP4 and C/EBPα) adipogenesis, whereas insulin receptor gene expression was downregulated. In conclusion, suboptimal maternal nutrition between early-to-mid gestation followed by ad libitum feeding enhances pericardial adiposity near to term. A combination of raised UCP1 and adipose tissue mass could improve survival following cold exposure at birth. In the longer term, this enhanced adipogenic potential could predispose to greater pericardial adiposity.
OCT1 is a high-capacity thiamine transporter that regulates hepatic steatosis and is a target of metformin
Authors: Chen Ligong , Shu Yan , Liang Xiaomin , Chen Eugene C. , Yee Sook Wah , Zur Arik A. , Li Shuanglian , Xu Lu , Keshari Kayvan R. , Lin Michael J. , Chien Huan-Chieh , Zhang Youcai , Morrissey Kari M. , Liu Jason , Ostrem Jonathan , Younger Noah S. , Kurhanewicz John , Shokat Kevan M. , Ashrafi Kaveh , Giacomini Kathleen M.
Published: June 2014

Significance

This manuscript describes a previously unidentified mechanism for organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), the major hepatic metformin transporter, in hepatic steatosis. Here we show that OCT1, long thought to function primarily as a transporter for drugs, functions as a major thiamine transporter in the liver, which has profound implications in cellular metabolism. Collectively, our results point to an important role of thiamine (through OCT1) in hepatic steatosis and suggest that the modulation of thiamine disposition by metformin may contribute to its pharmacologic effects.
A short-term ingestion of fructo-oligosaccharides increases immunoglobulin A and mucin concentrations in the rat cecum, but the effects are attenuated with the prolonged ingestion
Authors: Komura Mika , Fukuta Tomonori , Genda Tomomi , Hino Shingo , Aoe Seiichiro , Kawagishi Hirokazu , Morita Tatsuya
Published: June 2014

We examined the effects of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) on IgA and mucin secretion in the rat cecum after different ingestion periods. Rats were fed a control diet or a diet containing FOS for 1, 2, 4, and 8 wk. FOS ingestion greatly increased IgA and mucin concentrations at 1 and 2 wk, but the effects were disappeared or attenuated at 4 and 8 wk. After 1 wk, FOS induced higher lactobacilli and lactate concentrations and lower cecal pH in the cecum, but the alterations were moderated with the prolonged ingestion accompanying with increasing short-chain fatty acid concentrations. At 1 and 2 wk, FOS increased IgA plasma cells and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor expression in the cecal mucosa and strongly depressed fecal mucinase activities related to the lower cecal pH. These findings may explain the FOS-induced early elevation of IgA and mucin. Clearly, FOS effects on IgA and mucin secretion considerably differ depending on the ingestion period.
Commensal bacteria directly suppressin vitrodegranulation of mast cells in a MyD88-independent manner
Authors: Kasakura Kazumi , Takahashi Kyoko , Itoh Tomoko , Hosono Akira , Momose Yoshika , Itoh Kikuji , Nishiyama Chiharu , Kaminogawa Shuichi
Published: June 2014

The intestine harbors a substantial number of commensal bacteria that provide considerable benefits to the host. Epidemiologic studies have identified associations between alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the development of allergic disease. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain to be determined. Here, we show that heat-killed commensal bacteria suppressed degranulation of mast cells in vitro in a MyD88-independent manner. In particular, Enterococcus faecalis showed the strongest suppression of degranulation through partial inhibition of Ca2+ signaling upon the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) cross-linking.
More Judicious Use of Fish Oil in Cobia Feeds: I. Assessing the Relative Merits of Alternative Lipids
Authors: Woitel Franklin R , Trushenski Jesse T , Schwarz Michael H , Jahncke Michael L
Published: June 2014

Limited availability and high prices underscore the need to use fish oil more judiciously in aquafeeds. Most alternative lipids contain little to no n-3 long-chain (LC) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). If alternative lipids are fed exclusively, growth performance may be impaired and tissue fatty acid composition may be altered in fish such as the Cobia Rachycentron canadum. Alternative lipids that are rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) may increase the efficiency of LC-PUFA metabolism and may limit or attenuate the tissue LC-PUFA loss associated with fish oil sparing. Cobias (weight [mean ± SE] = 77.4 ± 0.2 g) were fed diets containing either fish oil (control) or a 50/50 blend of fish oil and standard soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, fully hydrogenated soybean oil, pork lard, or beef tallow. After 8 weeks, the feed conversion ratio (mean ± SE = 1.56 ± 0.04), weight gain (180 ± 6%), and specific growth rate (1.83 ± 0.04% of body weight/d) were equivalent among groups. Dietary fatty acid profiles influenced tissue composition; fatty acid profiles of control fish were more similar to those of fish that received higher levels of SFAs and MUFAs than to those of fish that were fed higher levels of C18 PUFAs. The SFA- and MUFA-rich lipids, such as fully hydrogenated soybean oil and beef tallow, may be useful in reducing the fish oil quantities needed in Cobia feeds while maximizing fillet LC-PUFA content.
Impact of Stirring on the Luminescent Dissolved Oxygen Sensor
Authors: Colt John
Published: June 2014

The impact of stirring on the response of the field YSI ProODO luminescence dissolved oxygen sensor was measured in a 300-mL biological oxygen demand (BOD) test bottle with a magnetic stirrer either on or off. With a water sample from a fish transport experiment, the dissolved oxygen dropped by 2–3 mg/L when the magnetic stirrer was turned off for 11 min. The initial rate of dissolved oxygen decline ranged from −0.39 to −1.04 mg/L per min for this water. The dissolved oxygen returned to a value projected from the oxygen uptake rate when the stirrer was turned on. A much smaller impact was observed for 18.2 MΩ high-purity water (mean: −0.11 mg/L). Acid-washing the BOD bottle/stir bar and cleaning the sensor cap reduced the decrease to −0.08 mg/L. Based on t-tests between pairs of stirring-on and stirring-off results, the lack of stirring had a significant effect on measured dissolved oxygen. The source of this effect and its potential impact on the accuracy of the optical probe under typical operating conditions remain to be determined.
Minimal Body Size for Tagging Fish with Electronic Microchips as Studied in the Nile Tilapia
Authors: Ouedraogo Christian , Canonne Marc , D’Cotta Helena , Baroiller Jean-François , Baras Etienne
Published: June 2014

Individual identification of fish is often desirable for the smallest possible size, but it is crucial that tagging does not interfere with fish survival, physiology, or behavior. We evaluated radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags (10 mg) and PIT tags (PIT; 32 mg) in fish of two different size-classes of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus: 200–500 mg and 640–1,600 mg, wet mass (WM). This produced four categories of tag load for each type of tag: 5.0, 3.3, 2.5, and 2.0% of WM. We tested 30 fish per category. Survival averaged 95.8% for RFID tags and 98.3% for PIT tags. Tag retention after 35 d was 99.1% for RFID tags and 96.6% for PIT tags. Tagged fish grew more slowly than controls. Growth penalty was proportional to tag load, but restricted to the first 4 d after tagging and compensated by catch-up growth, except in fish <300 mg presumably due to greater difficulties of handling and tagging. Small PIT tags can thus be used confidently in tilapia of about 1.3 g and RFID tags in tilapia of about 0.4 g. If growth is not a premium, the corresponding minimal sizes are 1.0 (for PIT) and 0.3 g (for RFID).
Diagnostics of cathode material loss in cutting plasma
torch
Authors: Gruber J , Šonský J , Hlína J
Published: June 2014

A cutting plasma torch was observed in several ways by a high-speed camera with a
focus on the cathode area. In the first experiment, the plasma arc between the
nozzle tip and anode was recorded in a series of duty cycles ranging from new
unworn cathodes to cathode failure due to wear and material loss. In the second
experiment, we used a specially modified nozzle to observe the inside area
between the cathode and the nozzle exit through a fused silica window. Finally,
using tilted view, we observed a pool of molten hafnium at the cathode tip
during the plasma torch operation. The process of cathode material melting,
droplet formation, their expulsion and rate of cathode material loss was
examined.
Ectodomain shedding of TβRIII is required for TβRIII-mediated suppression of TGF-β signaling and breast cancer migration and invasion
Authors: Elderbroom Jennifer L. , Huang Jennifer J. , Gatza Catherine E. , Chen Jian , How Tam , Starr Mark , Nixon Andrew B. , Blobe Gerard C.
Published: June 2014

The type III transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) receptor (TβRIII), also known as betaglycan, is the most abundantly expressed TGF-β receptor. TβRIII suppresses breast cancer progression by inhibiting migration, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. TβRIII binds TGF-β ligands, with membrane-bound TβRIII presenting ligand to enhance TGF-β signaling. However, TβRIII can also undergo ectodomain shedding, releasing soluble TβRIII, which binds and sequesters ligand to inhibit downstream signaling. To investigate the relative contributions of soluble and membrane-bound TβRIII on TGF-β signaling and breast cancer biology, we defined TβRIII mutants with impaired (ΔShed-TβRIII) or enhanced ectodomain shedding (SS-TβRIII). Inhibiting ectodomain shedding of TβRIII increased TGF-β responsiveness and abrogated TβRIII's ability to inhibit breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Conversely, expressing SS-TβRIII, which increased soluble TβRIII production, decreased TGF-β signaling and increased TβRIII-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Of importance, SS-TβRIII–mediated increases in soluble TβRIII production also reduced breast cancer metastasis in vivo. Taken together, these studies suggest that the ratio of soluble TβRIII to membrane-bound TβRIII is an important determinant for regulation of TβRIII- and TGF-β–mediated signaling and biology.