bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Very large‐scale integration architecture for video stabilisation and implementation on a field programmable gate array‐based autonomous vehicle
Authors: Nou‐Shene Tahiyah , Pudi Vikramkumar , Sridharan K. , Thomas Vineetha , Arthi J.
Published: March 2015

Autonomous vehicles engaged in terrain exploration are typically equipped with a camera. The camera is subjected to vibration as the vehicle moves so that the videos captured require stabilisation to facilitate accurate interpretation by remote operators. Dedicated architectures for video stabilisation that offer high performance while consuming low area and power are desirable for this application. This study presents a pipelined very large‐scale integration architecture. It is based on exploiting the separability property of the two‐dimensional (2‐D) Sobel matrix and the 2‐D Gaussian filtering matrix to obtain an efficient corner point detection architecture. It also employs the coordinate rotation digital computer architecture for global motion vector calculation. The proposed architecture has been coded in Verilog and synthesised for a field programmable gate array (FPGA), which offers massive parallelism at fairly low power. The proposed architecture is shown to be highly area efficient. An FPGA‐based autonomous vehicle has been fabricated, and experiments with a camera mounted on the vehicle are presented and analysed.
Deformation mechanism study of a hot rolled Zr-2.5Nb alloy by transmission electron microscopy. II. In situ transmission electron microscopy study of deformation mechanism change of a Zr-2.5Nb alloy upon heavy ion irradiation
Authors: Long Fei , Daymond Mark R. , Yao Zhongwen , Kirk Marquis A.
Published: March 2015

The effect of heavy-ion irradiation on deformation mechanisms of a Zr-2.5Nb alloy was investigated by using the in situ transmission electron microscopy deformation technique. The gliding behavior of prismatic 〈a〉 dislocations has been dynamically observed before and after irradiation at room temperature and 300 °C. Irradiation induced loops were shown to strongly pin the gliding dislocations. Unpinning occurred while loops were incorporated into or eliminated by 〈a〉 dislocations. In the irradiated sample, loop depleted areas with a boundary parallel to the basal plane trace were found by post-mortem observation after room temperature deformation, supporting the possibility of basal channel formation in bulk neutron irradiated samples. Strong activity of pyramidal slip was also observed at both temperatures, which might be another important mechanism to induce plastic instability in irradiated zirconium alloys. Finally, {011¯1}⟨01¯12⟩ twinning was identified in the irradiated sample deformed at 300 °C.
A factor involved in efficient breakdown of supersonic streamwise vortices
Authors: Hiejima Toshihiko
Published: March 2015

Spatially developing processes in supersonic streamwise vortices were numerically simulated at Mach number 5.0. The vortex evolution largely depended on the azimuthal vorticity thickness of the vortices, which governs the negative helicity profile. Large vorticity thickness greatly enhanced the centrifugal instability, with consequent development of perturbations with competing wavenumbers outside the vortex core. During the transition process, supersonic streamwise vortices could generate large-scale spiral structures and a number of hairpin like vortices. Remarkably, the transition caused a dramatic increase in the total fluctuation energy of hypersonic flows, because the negative helicity profile destabilizes the flows due to helicity instability. Unstable growth might also relate to the correlation length between the axial and azimuthal vorticities of the streamwise vortices. The knowledge gained in this study is important for realizing effective fuel-oxidizer mixing in supersonic combustion engines.
Initial time-dependent current growth phenomenon in n-type organic transistors induced by interfacial dipole effects
Authors: Lin Yi-Sheng , Yeh Bo-Liang , Tsai Min-Ruei , Cheng Horng-Long , Liu Shyh-Jiun , Tang Fu-Ching , Chou Wei-Yang
Published: March 2015

We describe an unusual phenomenon of time-dependent current growth in organic transistors, particularly n-type transistors. For an organic transistor based on N,N-ditridecyl-3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic diimide with a polyimide dielectric layer, the time-dependent increase in the drain current and an approximately hysteresis-free electricity were obtained under dc-bias stress. These phenomena could be attributed to (a) reduction in the trap-state density located at the interface between polyimide and semiconductor, (b) gate field effect enhanced by electric dipoles within polyimide, and (c) a low interface trap lifetime. This study reveals that polymer dielectrics with moderate polar groups are suitable for application in stable organic devices.
Experimental study of rotating Hagen-Poiseuille flow discharging into a 1:8 sudden expansion
Authors: Miranda-Barea A. , Martínez-Arias B. , Parras L. , Burgos M. A. , del Pino C.
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we present experimental evidence for the five different states that result from rotating Hagen-Poiseuille flow when it discharges into a 1:8 sudden expansion, namely: stable, convectively unstable, unstable shear layer, stable and unstable vortex breakdowns. Sanmiguel-Rojas et al. [“Three-dimensional structure of confined swirling jets at moderately large Reynolds numbers,” Phys. Fluids 20, 044104 (2008)] numerically predicted four of these five states and mapped the transition from one state to another. Our main objective is to study the onset of instabilities and vortex breakdown in these states experimentally. For this purpose, we visualize the flow at the inlet of the expansion for several values of moderately large Reynolds numbers, Re, and of swirl parameters, S. We analyze the inner region of the state that corresponds to the unstable shear layer in the sudden expansion and find two different states that share the same character, although they have different non-dimensional frequencies. The first relates to an oscillating structure near the axis, which arises at a small value of the swirl parameter, as well as to a generation of vortices that move downstream. The second shows, for greater values of the swirl parameter, vortices interacting with the boundary layer located on the wall of the static container that is perpendicular to the flow direction. In addition, we find a transition from stable to unstable vortex breakdown when perturbations become absolutely unstable inside the rotating pipe flow. Therefore, the most remarkable experimental finding is a new state, namely, unstable or transient vortex breakdown that takes place for the same pair of values (Rea, Sa) at which the onset of the absolute instability curve appears and intersects the region of stable vortex breakdown.
Quantification of the internal quantum efficiency in GaN via analysis of the heat generated by non-radiative recombination processes
Authors: Kawakami Yoichi , Inoue Kohei , Kaneta Akio , Okamoto Koichi , Funato Mitsuru
Published: March 2015

The internal quantum efficiency (IQE) in a GaN epilayer is quantified using transient lens (TL) spectroscopy and numerical simulations. TL spectroscopy can optically detect temperature and carrier changes induced in a photo-pumped GaN layer, and the observed temperature change is closely associated with non-radiative recombination processes that create heat. Then numerically solving diffusion equations, which represent the diffusion processes of the photo-generated heat and carriers, provide the spatiotemporal distributions. These distributions are subsequently converted into the refractive index distributions, which act as transient convex or concave lenses. Finally, ray-tracing simulations predict the TL signals. Comparing the experimentally obtained and simulated TL signals quantifies the generated heat and the IQE without the often-adopted assumption that non-radiative recombination processes are negligible at low temperatures.
Ultrafast carrier dynamics in SnOx thin films
Authors: Li Zhong-guo , Liang Lingyan , Cao Hongtao , Xiao Zhengguo , Wu Xingzhi , Fang Yu , Yang Junyi , Wei Tai-Huei , Song Ying-lin
Published: March 2015

We studied the carrier dynamics in a series of SnOx thin films using femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. The observed carrier relaxation was found to be strongly dependent on thin film stoichiometry. The TA spectra corresponding to free carriers, trapped carriers, and state filling were observed in the picosecond time region for SnO2, SnOx, and SnO film, respectively. The TA decay kinetics of all films were best fit with a tri-exponential decay model with fast (1 ps), medium (∼10 ps), and slow (ns) components. Our results revealed the carrier relaxation and recombination processes in SnOx thin films, identifying the critical role of stoichiometry in photo-induced phenomena.
Tunneling-enabled spectrally selective thermal emitter based on flat metallic films
Authors: Wang Zhu , Luk Ting Shan , Tan Yixuan , Ji Dengxin , Zhou Ming , Gan Qiaoqiang , Yu Zongfu
Published: March 2015

Infrared thermal emission from metals has important energy applications in thermophotovoltaics, radiative cooling, and lighting. Unfortunately, the emissivity of flat metal films is close to zero because the screening effect prevents metals' fluctuating currents from emitting to the far field. As a result, metal films are often used as reflecting mirrors instead of thermal emitters. Recently, nanostructured metals, such as metamaterials, have emerged as an interesting way to enhance and to spectrally control thermal emission based on plasmonic resonant effects. However, they require sophisticated lithography. Here, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a completely different mechanism to achieve spectrally selective metallic emitters based on a tunneling effect. This effect allows a simple flat metal film to achieve a near-unity emissivity with controlled spectral selectivity for efficient heat-to-light energy conversion.
Motor role of parietal cortex in a monkey model of hemispatial neglect
Authors: Kubanek Jan , Li Jingfeng M. , Snyder Lawrence H.
Published: March 2015

Significance

Humans and animals often choose between targets in space. Parietal cortex is known to be critical to this function. However, the exact role of parietal cortex in spatial choice remains controversial. Does parietal cortex implement choices at the general cognitive level, or are the choices made in the context of specific upcoming actions? We placed focused reversible lesions into specific parietal circuits of monkeys making choices between two targets. Lesions of specific circuits only affected choices made using specific actions: lesions of lateral intraparietal area (LIP) affected eye movements but not reaches, while lesions of the parietal reach region had converse effects. This illuminates the nature of spatial choice in parietal cortex, and suggests that choice is implemented in dedicated parietal circuits, each responsible for a specific class of actions.
Environmental Factors Affecting Brook Trout Occurrence in Headwater Stream Segments
Authors: Kanno Yoichiro , Letcher Benjamin H. , Rosner Ana L. , O'Neil Kyle P. , Nislow Keith H.
Published: March 2015

We analyzed the associations of catchment‐scale and riparian‐scale environmental factors with occurrence of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis in Connecticut headwater stream segments with catchment areas of <15 km2. A hierarchical Bayesian approach was applied to a statewide stream survey data set, in which Brook Trout detection probability was incorporated and statistical significance of environmental covariates was based on 95% credible intervals of estimated coefficients that did not overlap a value of zero. Forested land at the catchment scale was the most important covariate affecting Brook Trout occurrence; i.e., heavily forested catchments with corresponding low levels of developed and impervious land area were more likely to be occupied by Brook Trout. Coarse surficial geology (an indicator of groundwater potential) and stream slope had significantly positive effects on occurrence, whereas herbaceous plant cover and wetland and open water area had significantly negative effects. Catchment‐scale and riparian‐scale covariates were highly correlated in many instances, and no riparian‐scale covariate was retained in the final model. Detection probability of Brook Trout at the stream‐segment scale was high (mean, 0.85). Our model had a high predictive ability, and the mean value of receiver operating characteristic area under the curve was 0.80 across 100 leave‐some‐out iterations. The fine spatial grain of this study identified patches of suitable stream habitat for Brook Trout in Connecticut, particularly in the northwestern part. Our analysis revealed a more optimistic status of Brook Trout in Connecticut than did a coarser‐grained analysis across the USA.

Received May 13, 2014; accepted November 15, 2014
Study on the Parameters of Extrusion Pretreatment of Corn Germ with Semi‐Wet Milling in Solvent Oil Extraction
Authors: Li Hongjun , He Yuanyuan , Zheng Hui , Chen Shanfeng
Published: March 2015

Efficiency of oil extraction from corn germ was improved by the extrusion pretreatment, and residual oil was taken as the index of this oil extraction process. An orthogonal rotation combination test design of five levels and four factors, consisting of the moisture of material, screw speed, barrel temperature, and die nozzle diameter, was employed to optimize the model and reaction condition. The optimum parameters of extrusion were as follows: moisture of material, W = 12%; extrusion temperature, T = 105°C; screw speed, n = 185 rpm; die nozzle diameter, Φ = 9 mm × 3. Under these optimum conditions, residual oil of this process was 0.61–0.66%, which was lower than residual oil by pressing alone (residual oil of 5–6%) or by a combination of prepressing and hexane extraction (residual oil of nearly 2%). The corn oil obtained by the optimum extrusion parameters was analyzed, and iodine value, acid value, peroxide value, and saponification value were 1,250 g/kg, 400 mg/kg, 5.1 mmol/kg, and 189%, respectively.
Effect of Bonding Forces on Corn Starch Isolation
Authors: Li Xiaona , Wang Chunyang , Lu Fei , Zhang Lili , Yang Qiang , Li Xinhua
Published: March 2015

Chemical treatments with a number of low‐toxicity or nontoxic reagents were applied to corn slurry to investigate the disruption or weakening of common bonding forces between corn starch and proteins, such as hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, electrostatic interactions, or combinations thereof, to improve the corn starch isolation process. Starch and proteins could be easily separated by disrupting disulfide bonds with 1% l‐cysteine (w/v). The most effective reagents for hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions were 3M urea and pH 7.5 separately. The sequence treatment of hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, and electrostatic interactions (namely, sequence treatment of 1M urea, 1% l‐cysteine, and pH 7.5) led to the highest amount of starch in corn slurry and facilitated the corn starch isolation.
Key Proteins Causing Changes in Pasting Properties of Rice During Aging
Authors: Guo Yubao , Cai Weirong , Tu Kang , Wang Shunmin , Zhu Xiuling
Published: March 2015

Key components that cause changes in pasting properties of rice during storage aging were investigated in this work. The main nonstarch components in rice were sequentially removed from fresh and aged rice, the aging effect of the component was separated, and thus the aging contribution rate of the component (CACR) on rice aging could be deduced. The results showed that the largest contributor to rice aging was albumin with a CACR of 65%, followed by globulin and prolamin with the CACRs of 38 and 14%, respectively, and the CACR of glutelin was small (1%). In contrast, the CACRs of fat and crude starch were –7 and –11%, respectively. These findings suggest that albumin and globulin are predominantly responsible for changes in pasting properties of rice during storage aging. This conclusion directs future researchers to the changes occurring in albumin and globulin for disclosing the mechanisms of rice aging.
Fluorescently Tagged Potato virus Y: A Versatile Tool for Functional Analysis of Plant-Virus Interactions
Authors: Rupar Matevz , Faurez Florence , Tribodet Michel , Gutiérrez-Aguirre Ion , Delaunay Agnès , Glais Laurent , Kriznik Maja , Dobnik David , Gruden Kristina , Jacquot Emmanuel , Ravnikar Maja
Published: March 2015

Potato virus Y (PVY) is an economically important plant virus that infects Solanaceous crops such as tobacco and potato. To date, studies into the localization and movement of PVY in plants have been limited to detection of viral RNA or proteins ex vivo. Here, a PVY N605 isolate was tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP), characterized and used for in vivo tracking. In Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi, PVY N605-GFP was biologically comparable to nontagged PVY N605, stable through three plant-to-plant passages and persisted for four months in infected plants. GFP was detected before symptoms and fluorescence intensity correlated with PVY RNA concentrations. PVY N605-GFP provided in vivo tracking of long-distance movement, allowing estimation of the cell-to-cell movement rate of PVY in N. tabacum cv. Xanthi (7.1 ± 1.5 cells per hour). PVY N605-GFP was adequately stable in Solanum tuberosum cvs. Désirée and NahG-Désirée and able to infect S. tuberosum cvs. Bintje and Bea, Nicotiana benthamiana, and wild potato relatives. PVY N605-GFP is therefore a powerful tool for future studies of PVY-host interactions, such as functional analysis of viral and plant genes involved in viral movement.
Sensitivity of Ascochyta Species Infecting Pea, Lentil, and Chickpea to Boscalid, Fluxapyroxad, and Prothioconazole
Authors: Lonergan Erin , Pasche Julie , Skoglund Linnea , Burrows Mary
Published: March 2015

Management of Ascochyta blight in pea, lentil, and chickpea relies on repeated fungicide applications, which has led to development of fungicide resistance and disease control failures in some systems. In vitro assays were conducted to determine baseline fungicide sensitivity in Mycosphaerella pinodes (Ascochyta pinodes), A. lentis, and A. rabiei populations to the demethylation-inhibiting fungicide prothioconazole and the succinate dehydrogenase-inhibiting fungicides boscalid and fluxapyroxad by determining the effective concentration at which 50% of germination or fungal growth was inhibited (EC50). Mean boscalid EC50 values from conidial germination assays were 0.669, 0.639, and 0.171 μg/ml and from mycelial growth assays were 0.258, 0.791, and 0.443 μg/ml for M. pinodes, A. lentis, and A. rabiei, respectively. Mean fluxapyroxad EC50 values were 0.050, 0.763, and 0.057 μg/ml for M. pinodes, A. lentis, and A. rabiei, respectively. Mean baseline EC50 values for prothioconazole with mycelial growth were 0.541, 0.604, and 0.283 μg/ml for M. pinodes, A. lentis, and A. rabiei, respectively. A single discriminatory fungicide concentration of 1 μg/ml was selected for all species. Established sensitivity profiles and discriminatory concentrations will be used to monitor sensitivity shifts in populations of Ascochyta spp. and to make effective disease management recommendations.
Five Reasons to Consider Phytophthora infestans a Reemerging Pathogen
Authors: Fry W. E. , Birch P. R. J. , Judelson H. S. , Grünwald N. J. , Danies G. , Everts K. L. , Gevens A. J. , Gugino B. K. , Johnson D. A. , Johnson S. B. , McGrath M. T. , Myers K. L. , Ristaino J. B. , Roberts P. D. , Secor G. , Smart C. D.
Published: March 2015

Phytophthora infestans has been a named pathogen for well over 150 years and yet it continues to “emerge”, with thousands of articles published each year on it and the late blight disease that it causes. This review explores five attributes of this oomycete pathogen that maintain this constant attention. First, the historical tragedy associated with this disease (Irish potato famine) causes many people to be fascinated with the pathogen. Current technology now enables investigators to answer some questions of historical significance. Second, the devastation caused by the pathogen continues to appear in surprising new locations or with surprising new intensity. Third, populations of P. infestans worldwide are in flux, with changes that have major implications to disease management. Fourth, the genomics revolution has enabled investigators to make tremendous progress in terms of understanding the molecular biology (especially the pathogenicity) of P. infestans. Fifth, there remain many compelling unanswered questions.
Genetic Diversity of the Indian Populations of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Based on the Tandem Repeat Variability in a Genomic Locus
Authors: Ghosh Dilip Kumar , Bhose Sumit , Motghare Manali , Warghane Ashish , Mukherjee Krishanu , Ghosh Dipak Kumar , Sharma Ashwani Kumar , Ladaniya Milind Shivratan , Gowda Siddarame
Published: March 2015

Citrus huanglongbing (HLB, citrus greening disease) is an extremely destructive disease affecting citrus and causes severe economic loss to the crop yield worldwide. The disease is caused by a phloem-limited, noncultured, gram-negative bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the widely present and most destructive species being ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’. Although the disease has been reported from almost all citrus growing regions of India, knowledge on the molecular variability of the pathogen ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ populations from different geographical regions and cultivars is limited. In the present study, variability of the Indian ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ based on the tandem repeats at the genomic locus CLIBASIA_01645 was characterized and categorized into four classes based on the tandem repeat number (TRN); Class I (TRN ≤ 5), Class II (TRN > 5 ≤ 10), Class III (TRN > 10 ≤ 15), and Class IV (TRN > 15). The study revealed that the Indian population of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ is more diverse than reported for Florida and Guangdong populations, which showed less diversity. While Florida and Guangdong populations were dominated by a TRN5 and TRN7 genotype, respectively, the Indian ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ populations with TRN copy numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 were widely distributed throughout the country. Additionally, TRN2 and TRN17 genotypes were also observed among the Indian ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ populations. The predominant ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ genotypes from the northeastern region of India were TRN6 and TRN7 (53.12%) and surprisingly similar to neighboring South China populations. Preliminary results showed absence of preference of citrus cultivars to any specific ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ genotype.
Higgs mechanism and the added-mass effect
Authors: Krishnaswami Govind S. , Phatak Sachin S.
Published: March 2015

In the Higgs mechanism, mediators of the weak force acquire masses by interacting with the Higgs condensate, leading to a vector boson mass matrix. On the other hand, a rigid body accelerated through an inviscid, incompressible and irrotational fluid feels an opposing force linearly related to its acceleration, via an added-mass tensor. We uncover a striking physical analogy between the two effects and propose a dictionary relating them. The correspondence turns the gauge Lie algebra into the space of directions in which the body can move, encodes the pattern of gauge symmetry breaking in the shape of an associated body and relates symmetries of the body to those of the scalar vacuum manifold. The new viewpoint is illustrated with numerous examples, and raises interesting questions, notably on the fluid analogues of the broken symmetry and Higgs particle, and the field-theoretic analogue of the added mass of a composite body.
The impact of demographic changes on the epidemiology of herpes zoster: Spain as a case study
Authors: Marziano Valentina , Poletti Piero , Guzzetta Giorgio , Ajelli Marco , Manfredi Piero , Merler Stefano
Published: March 2015

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella upon first exposure and may reactivate later in life into herpes zoster (HZ), with a risk that is thought to be reduced by re-exposures to VZV. Given the decades-long time scales of reactivation and its dependence on the accumulation of re-exposure episodes, adopting a long-term perspective may be useful to correctly interpret current epidemiological trends of VZV. In this study, we investigate the possible impact of demographic changes on varicella and HZ in Spain, using an age-structured mathematical model informed with historical demographic data and calibrated against age-specific profiles of varicella seroprevalence and HZ incidence data. The model qualitatively reproduces the remarkable growth of HZ incidence observed in Spain between 1997 and 2004, before the introduction of varicella vaccination programmes. We demonstrate that this growth may be partially ascribed to the reduction of varicella circulation that followed the overall decline of the birth rate in the twentieth century. Model predictions further suggest that, even under the most optimistic projections, HZ incidence will continue its rise until at least 2040. Considering the effect of demographic changes can help interpreting variations in epidemiological trends of HZ, contributing to a more accurate evaluation of vaccination programmes against VZV.
The direct cost of traumatic secretion transfer in hermaphroditic land snails: individuals stabbed with a love dart decrease lifetime fecundity
Authors: Kimura Kazuki , Chiba Satoshi
Published: March 2015

Several taxa of simultaneously hermaphroditic land snails exhibit a conspicuous mating behaviour, the so-called shooting of love darts. During mating, such land snail species transfer a specific secretion by stabbing a mating partner's body with the love dart. It has been shown that sperm donors benefit from this traumatic secretion transfer, because the secretions manipulate the physiology of a sperm recipient and increase the donors' fertilization success. However, it is unclear whether reception of dart shooting is costly to the recipients. Therefore, the effect of sexual conflict and antagonistic arms races on the evolution of traumatic secretion transfer in land snails is still controversial. To examine this effect, we compared lifetime fecundity and longevity between the individuals that received and did not receive dart shooting from mating partners in
Bradybaena pellucida
. Our experiments showed that the dart-receiving snails suffered reduction in lifetime fecundity and longevity. These results suggest that the costly mating behaviour, dart shooting, generates conflict between sperm donors and recipients and that sexually antagonistic arms races have contributed to the diversification of the morphological and behavioural traits relevant to dart shooting. Our findings also support theories suggesting a violent escalation of sexual conflict in hermaphroditic animals.
Orientation behaviour of leatherback sea turtles within the North Atlantic subtropical gyre
Authors: Dodge Kara L. , Galuardi Benjamin , Lutcavage Molly E.
Published: March 2015

Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) travel thousands of kilometres between temperate feeding and tropical breeding/over-wintering grounds, with adult turtles able to pinpoint specific nesting beaches after multi-year absences. Their extensive migrations often occur in oceanic habitat where limited known sensory information is available to aid in orientation. Here, we examined the migratory orientation of adult male, adult female and subadult leatherbacks during their open-ocean movements within the North Atlantic subtropical gyre by analysing satellite-derived tracks from fifteen individuals over a 2-year period. To determine the turtles' true headings, we corrected the reconstructed tracks for current drift and found negligible differences between current-corrected and observed tracks within the gyre. Individual leatherback headings were remarkably consistent throughout the subtropical gyre, with turtles significantly oriented to the south-southeast. Adult leatherbacks of both sexes maintained similar mean headings and showed greater orientation precision overall. The consistent headings maintained by adult and subadult leatherbacks within the gyre suggest use of a common compass sense.
Molecular phylogeny and ultrastructure of the lichen microalga Asterochloris mediterranea sp. nov. from Mediterranean and Canary Islands ecosystems
Authors: Moya Patricia , Škaloud Pavel , Chiva Salvador , García-Breijo Francisco J. , Reig-Armiñana José , Vančurová Lucie , Barreno Eva
Published: March 2015

The microalgae of the genusAsterochlorisare the preferential phycobionts inCladonia,LeprariaandStereocaulonlichens. Recent studies have highlighted the hidden diversity of the genus, even though phycobionts hosting species of the genusCladoniain Mediterranean and Canarian ecosystems have been poorly explored. Phylogenetic analyses were made by concatenation of the sequences obtained with a plastid – LSU rDNA – and two nuclear – internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and actin – molecular markers of the phycobionts living in several populations of theCladonia convoluta-Cladonia foliaceacomplex,Cladonia rangiformisandCladonia cervicorniss. str. widely distributed in these areas in a great variety of substrata and habitats. A new strongly supported clade was obtained in relation to the previously publishedAsterochlorisphylogenies. Minimum genetic variation was detected between our haplotypes and other sequences available in the GenBank database. The correct identification of the fungal partners was corroborated by the ITS rDNA barcode. In this study we provide a detailed characterization comprising chloroplast morphology, and ultrastructural and phylogenetic analyses of a novel phycobiont species, here described asAsterochloris mediterraneasp. nov. Barreno, Chiva, Moya et Škaloud. A cryopreserved holotype specimen has been deposited in the Culture Collection of Algae of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic (CAUP) as CAUP H 1015. We suggest the use of a combination of several nuclear and plastid molecular markers, as well as ultrastructural (transmission electron and confocal microscopy) techniques, both in culture and in the symbiotic state, to improve novel species delimitation of phycobionts in lichens.
Antioxidant activity of hot-water extracts and floral waters from natural plant pigments
Authors: Kim Yeon-Soon , Suh Hwa-Jin , Park Shin
Published: March 2015

The antioxidant potentials of ten kinds of medicinal plants used as natural dyeing agents were tested. Among the plant extracts and floral waters that were examined in this study, the antioxidant activities of the DPPH and ABTS radical scavengers increased with increasing amounts of the extracts. The hot-water extracts from Aphis chinensis, Caesalpinia sappan L., Rumex crispus L., and Areca catechu effectively inhibited the DPPH and ABTS radicals at concentration below 0.1 mg/mL. The floral water obtained through steam distillation from Areca catechu, Rubia akane Nakai, Coptis chinensis, and Phellodendron amurense showed relatively valid antioxidant activities. In particular, the natural colorants extracted from Rumex crispus L., Areca catechu, and Aphis chinensis effectively suppressed the photogenerated singlet oxygen induced by a photosensitizer in in-vitro assay systems. The concentrations (IC50) of the hot-water Aphis chinensis extract required to exert a 50% reduction effect on DPPH, ABTS, and singlet oxygen were found to be 8.5, 8.0, and 210 μg/mL, respectively. The study results suggest that extracts derived from naturally occurring colorants as well as floral waters could be used as natural antioxidants in the food and health-care industries.
Quality changes in the lotus root frozen under different conditions
Authors: Park Seung-Jong , Song Kyung Bin
Published: March 2015

This study was performed to optimize the preparation of frozen lotus roots. Prior to freezing, an optimal blanching condition at 100°C for 5 min was established, based on the microbial growth, texture, total phenolic content (TPC), and sensory evaluation results. The blanched samples were then frozen under various freezing conditions (-20°C in a freezer for 2 hr, -70°C in a gas nitrogen convection chamber for 7 min, and -196°C in liquid nitrogen for 20 sec), and their qualities after thawing were determined. The scanning electron microscopic analysis indicated that the microstructure of the sample frozen at -70°C was similar to that of the control sample, compared with the other freezing conditions (-20 and -196°C). The antioxidant activities of the frozen samples decreased compared to those of the control, but there was no significant (p<0.05) difference among the treatments. In terms of TPC, the samples frozen at -70 and -196°C had significantly (p<0.05) higher values than the sample frozen at -20°C. In addition, the drip loss of the sample frozen at -20°C was higher than those of the other frozen samples. These results suggest that freezing at -70°C in a gas nitrogen convection chamber can be an optimal freezing method of producing high-quality frozen lotus roots.
Study on quality characteristics of fish paste containing Curcuma aromatica powder
Authors: Park Bock-Hee , Jung Yu-Jin , Cho Hee-Sook
Published: March 2015

This study was conducted to promote the utilization of fish paste with 0, 2, 3, and 4% added Curcuma aromatica powder. The moisture, crude protein, crude lipid, and crude ash contents of the used Curcuma aromatica powder were 11.15, 6.25, 2.36, and 9.98%, respectively. For the Hunter color values, the L, a values of the fish paste decreased with increasing concentrations of Curcuma aromatica powder, while the b values appreciated. In the folding test, whose results reveal the flexibility of the fish paste, all the test samples showed AA results. In the texture meter test, the hardness, cohesiveness, and springiness increased with increasing concentrations of Curcuma aromatica powder, but the gumminess and brittleness of the fish paste were reduced. In the sensory evaluation, the color and taste of the fish paste with 3% added Curcuma aromatica powder were preferred over those of the other fish pastes. These results suggest that Curcuma aromatica powder can be applied to fish paste to achieve high quality and functionality.
Physicochemical properties and protease activities of microencapsulated pineapple juice powders by spray drying process
Authors: Park Hye-Mi , Chae Ho-Yong , Hong Joo-Heon
Published: March 2015

The physicochemical properties and protease activities of spray-dried pineapple juice powders were investigated. The pH, soluble solids, and protease activity of the pineapple juice were pH 5.43, 12.8°Brix, and 4.82 unit/mL, respectively. The optimum pH and temperature of the protease activity from pineapple juice were pH 7.0 and 50°C, respectively. The microencapsulation of pineapple juice was achieved using maltodextrin and alginic acid through spray-drying. The L value and moisture content of the spray-dried powder were higher than those of the freeze-dried powder. The particle size of the freeze-dried powder (501.57 μm) was higher than that of the spray-dried powder (42.58-53.32 μm). The water absorption and water solubility of the powders were 0.41-0.87, and 90.45-99.76%, respectively. When compared, the protease activities were found to be in the following order : FD (1,297.47 unit/g) > SD-MA-1 (692.08 unit/g) > SD-MA-2 (664.66 unit/g) > SD-MA-3 (642.65 unit/g) > SD-M (633.51 unit/g). In the in vitro dissolution study measurements were conducted for 4 hr in pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid and pH 6.8 simulated intestinal fluid, using a dissolution tester at 37°C in 50 rpm. The protease survival of the 3.74-15.69% microencapsulated pineapple juice powders improved with an increase in the treatment concentration of alginic acid.
Phenolic compounds of must and wine supplemented with Muscat Bailey A grape fruit stem
Authors: Jeong Se-Hyun , Chang Eun-Ha , Hur Youn-Young , Jeong Sung-Min , Nam Jong-Chul , Koh Sang-Wook , Choi In-Myung
Published: March 2015

This study investigated the phenolic compounds of must and wine supplemented with different concentrations (0% (no added stems), 1%, 2%, 3%, and 5%) of fruit stems during winemaking using Muscat Bailey A (MBA) grapes. The red color, and total anthocyanin, total polyphenol, and tannin contents of the must and wine significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing added amounts of grape fruit stems, while the volatile acid content decreased with increasing added amounts of grape fruit stems. Catechin (8.16~23.08 mg/L), gallic acid (2.32~3.28 mg/L), trans-resveratrol (1.38~3.27 mg/L), and ferulic acid (1.51~1.59 mg/L) were detected in the must and wine via HPLC. The bioactive substance contents increased with increasing added amounts of grape fruit stems, except for ferulic acid. The DPPH IC50 activity was higher in the wine (12 mg/L) with 5% grape fruit stems than in ascorbic acid (67 mg/L). These results suggest that the fruit stems of MBA grapes can be used as functional materials for winemaking.
Dislocation structure in different texture components determined by neutron diffraction line profile analysis in a highly textured Zircaloy-2 rolled plate
Authors: Ungár Tamás , Holden Thomas M. , Jóni Bertalan , Clausen Bjørn , Balogh Levente , Csiszár Gábor , Brown Donald W.
Published: March 2015

A novel diffraction-based method has been developed to determine the substructure in terms of the fraction of prevailing slip systems and dislocation densities in multiple individual texture components of strongly textured materials. The method was applied to a strongly textured cold-rolled Zircaloy-2 sample, compressed along the normal direction of the rolled plate. Fourteen diffraction patterns were collected by time-of-flight neutron diffraction experiments at seven different purposely selected sample orientations. The diffraction peaks corresponding only to one single texture component out of the four prevailing components were identified and used to construct texture-specific diffraction patterns. The best five such patterns were evaluated by the convolutional multiple whole profile procedure of line profile analysis for the fractions of the prevailing 〈a〉-, 〈c + a〉- and 〈c〉-type slip systems and the corresponding dislocation densities. It is found that in the three texture components with thecaxis not parallel to the normal direction of rolling the average dislocation densities and fractions of slip-system types are the same. However, in the texture component with thecaxis parallel to the normal direction of rolling the fraction of the 〈a〉-type slip system is somewhat smaller than in the other components and that of the 〈c〉-type slip system is somewhat larger than zero. The fractions of the prevailing slip systems are in good correlation with literature data of self-consistent polycrystal plasticity modeling of Zircaloy-2.
Achieving grazing-incidence ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering in a laboratory setup
Authors: Zheng Nan , Yi Zhiyong , Li Zhenzhen , Chen Ran , Lai Yuqing , Men Yongfeng
Published: March 2015

A grazing-incidence sample stage was designed for realizing grazing-incidence scattering measurements, especially in the ultra-small-angle regime, in a modified Xenocs Xeuss system in the laboratory. The designed sample stage, which is composed of four separate motorized positioning stages, allows the sample to be moved along four different directions to locate it in the proper position for scattering measurement. In an effort to realize grazing-incidence ultra-small-angle scattering (GIUSAXS) measurements, both the separation of the collimation slit systems and the sample-to-detector distance have been lengthened. At a separation of the collimation slit systems of 2400 mm and a sample-to-detector distance of 6558 mm, the effective smallest scattering vector magnitudeqminreaches 0.01 nm−1. A colloidal crystalline thin film obtained from drying a polystyrene latex dispersion on silicon substrate was measured in the setup in GIUSAXS mode at different beam sizes. The resultant GIUSAXS patterns at smaller beam sizes reveal fine crystalline structures in the film.
Effect of stress on NiO reduction in solid oxide fuel cells: a new application of energy-resolved neutron imaging
Authors: Makowska Małgorzata G. , Strobl Markus , Lauridsen Erik M. , Frandsen Henrik L. , Tremsin Anton S. , Kardjilov Nikolay , Manke Ingo , Kelleher Joe F. , Theil Kuhn Luise
Published: March 2015

Recently, two new phenomena linking stress field and reduction rates in anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been demonstrated, so-called accelerated creep during reduction and reduction rate enhancement and nucleation due to stress (Frandsenet al., 2014). These complex phenomena are difficult to study and it is demonstrated here that energy-resolved neutron imaging is a feasible technique for combined mechanics–chemical composition studies of SOFC components, including commercially produced ones. Cermet anode supports, which prior to the measurements were reduced under varying conditions such as different temperatures, various times and different values of applied stress, have been measured. Thus, samples with different contents (and gradients) of Ni and NiO phases were investigated. The first Bragg edge transmission neutron measurements applied for the studies of the reduction progress in these samples were performed at two neutron beamline facilities (ISIS in the UK, Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin in Germany). The obtained results demonstrate the possibility to image and distinguish NiO and Ni phases within SOFC anode supports by energy-resolved neutron imaging and the potential of the neutron imaging method forin situstudies of reduction processes.
Structure factor for an icosahedral quasicrystal within a statistical approach
Authors: Strzalka Radoslaw , Buganski Ireneusz , Wolny Janusz
Published: March 2015

This paper describes a detailed derivation of a structural model for an icosahedral quasicrystal based on a primitive icosahedral tiling (three-dimensional Penrose tiling) within a statistical approach. The average unit cell concept, where all calculations are performed in three-dimensional physical space, is used as an alternative to higher-dimensional analysis. Comprehensive analytical derivation of the structure factor for a primitive icosahedral lattice with monoatomic decoration (atoms placed in the nodes of the lattice only) presents in detail the idea of the statistical approach to icosahedral quasicrystal structure modelling and confirms its full agreement with the higher-dimensional description. The arbitrary decoration scheme is also discussed. The complete structure-factor formula for arbitrarily decorated icosahedral tiling is derived and its correctness is proved. This paper shows in detail the concept of a statistical approach applied to the problem of icosahedral quasicrystal modelling.
Price discount framings on product bundles with shipping surcharges in the Indian market
Authors: Sahay Arvind , Mukherjee Sumitava , Dewani Prem Prakash
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study how consumers process price frames of product bundles (product plus surcharge) and discount offers to weigh contentious positions between the weighted-additive and the reference-dependent models. Further, some research suggests bundling, while others suggest partitioning to be a more effective pricing strategy. This research evaluated the relative influences of different price frames to examine which model is supported and what are the boundary conditions for price framing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two online studies were conducted on Indian adults who had prior experiences of online purchases. They were asked to judge attractiveness of bundles (product along with shipping surcharge). Discounts were shown on the product, the surcharge or on the overall bundle either as partitioned prices or as a bundle.

Findings

– Across two studies on low- and high-priced products, discounts on shipping surcharge increased attractiveness of the bundle compared to a similar discount on the product or on the overall bundle, supporting the reference-dependent model. Further, for a low-priced product, bundling increased attractiveness, while for a high-priced product, partitioning was more attractive.

Research limitations/implications

– More research is needed to examine whether these results translate to other kinds of products, surcharges or discount promotions and in different populations.

Originality/value

– This research makes important contributions to theoretical and practical aspects of bundling and partitioned pricing research. It also adds much needed data about evaluation of product bundles with shipping surcharges among Indian customers.
Fixing positive change
Authors: Thomas Mark
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This article aims to outline how tangible objects can encourage more efficient working practices and how they can be powerful tools for leading change within an organisation. It looks specifically at how Toyota, Haier and IDEO have very powerful symbols and the type of behaviour this wish to encourage with the company.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper discusses the use of objects as powerful symbols and relates this to three specific companies.

Findings

– It might seem strange to denote core values through such things as a long piece of rope running through a factory, a sledgehammer attached to a company wall and a small bell that is occasionally rung in meetings. Chosen carefully, however, and with real meaning behind them, those objects can be very powerful symbols that have a lasting impact on corporate culture and can encourage positive change within the organisation.

Originality/value

– This article outlines how tangible objects can encourage more efficient working practices and how they can be powerful tools for leading change within an organisation.
Imputing Missing Race/Ethnicity in Pediatric Electronic Health Records: Reducing Bias with Use of U.S. Census Location and Surname Data
Authors: Grundmeier Robert W. , Song Lihai , Ramos Mark J. , Fiks Alexander G. , Elliott Marc N. , Fremont Allen , Pace Wilson , Wasserman Richard C. , Localio Russell
Published: March 2015

Objective

To assess the utility of imputing race/ethnicity using U.S. Census race/ethnicity, residential address, and surname information compared to standard missing data methods in a pediatric cohort.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Electronic health record data from 30 pediatric practices with known race/ethnicity.

Study Design

In a simulation experiment, we constructed dichotomous and continuous outcomes with pre‐specified associations with known race/ethnicity. Bias was introduced by nonrandomly setting race/ethnicity to missing. We compared typical methods for handling missing race/ethnicity (multiple imputation alone with clinical factors, complete case analysis, indicator variables) to multiple imputation incorporating surname and address information.

Principal Findings

Imputation using U.S. Census information reduced bias for both continuous and dichotomous outcomes.

Conclusions

The new method reduces bias when race/ethnicity is partially, nonrandomly missing.