bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GABA signalling modulates plant growth by directly regulating the activity of plant-specific anion transporters
Authors: Ramesh Sunita A. , Tyerman Stephen D. , Xu Bo , Bose Jayakumar , Kaur Satwinder , Conn Vanessa , Domingos Patricia , Ullah Sana , Wege Stefanie , Shabala Sergey , Feijó José A. , Ryan Peter R. , Gilliham Matthew
Published: July 2015

The non-protein amino acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) rapidly accumulates in plant tissues in response to biotic and abiotic stress, and regulates plant growth. Until now it was not known whether GABA exerts its effects in plants through the regulation of carbon metabolism or via an unidentified signalling pathway. Here, we demonstrate that anion flux through plant aluminium-activated malate transporter (ALMT) proteins is activated by anions and negatively regulated by GABA. Site-directed mutagenesis of selected amino acids within ALMT proteins abolishes GABA efficacy but does not alter other transport properties. GABA modulation of ALMT activity results in altered root growth and altered root tolerance to alkaline pH, acid pH and aluminium ions. We propose that GABA exerts its multiple physiological effects in plants via ALMT, including the regulation of pollen tube and root growth, and that GABA can finally be considered a legitimate signalling molecule in both the plant and animal kingdoms.
Facile and Scalable Preparation of Graphene Oxide-Based Magnetic Hybrids for Fast and Highly Efficient Removal of Organic Dyes
Authors: Jiao Tifeng , Liu Yazhou , Wu Yitian , Zhang Qingrui , Yan Xuehai , Gao Faming , Bauer Adam J. P. , Liu Jianzhao , Zeng Tingying , Li Bingbing
Published: July 2015

This study reports the facile preparation and the dye removal efficiency of nanohybrids composed of graphene oxide (GO) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles with various geometrical structures. In comparison to previously reported GO/Fe3O4 composites prepared through the one-pot, in situ deposition of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the GO/Fe3O4 nanohybrids reported here were obtained by taking advantage of the physical affinities between sulfonated GO and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which allows tuning the dimensions and geometries of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in order to decrease their contact area with GO, while still maintaining the magnetic properties of the nanohybrids for easy separation and adsorbent recycling. Both the as-prepared and regenerated nanohybrids demonstrate a nearly 100% removal rate for methylene blue and an impressively high removal rate for Rhodamine B. This study provides new insights into the facile and controllable industrial scale fabrication of safe and highly efficient GO-based adsorbents for dye or other organic pollutants in a wide range of environmental-related applications.
Family-based analysis of eight susceptibility loci in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Zhao Shigang , Tian Ye , Gao Xuan , Zhang Xiuqing , Liu Hongbin , You Li , Cao Yongzhi , Su Shizhen , Chan Wai-Yee , Sun Yun , Zhao Han , Chen Zi-Jiang
Published: July 2015

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that is proposed to have a genetic basis. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified eight new risk loci that are independently associated with PCOS. To further validate the findings, a total of 321 case-parent trios (963 participants) who had a proband affected with PCOS were recruited for the family-based study. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was used to analyze associations between PCOS and ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapped to eight new susceptibility loci. Significant differences in transmission were observed for the SNPs rs2349415 (located in the FSHR gene, P = 0.0001) and rs3802457 (located in the C9orf3 gene, P = 0.0001), even after correction for multiple testing bias. The present data provides further evidence for an association between two susceptibility loci, 2p16.3 and 9q22.32 and PCOS. Follow-up functional studies on the FSHR and C9orf3 genes are required to understand their roles in PCOS development.
Genome-wide analysis of enhancer RNA in gene regulation across 12 mouse tissues
Authors: Cheng Jen-Hao , Pan David Zhi-Chao , Tsai Zing Tsung-Yeh , Tsai Huai-Kuang
Published: July 2015

Enhancers play a crucial role in gene regulation but the participation of enhancer transcripts (i.e. enhancer RNA, eRNAs) in regulatory systems remains unclear. We provide a computational analysis on eRNAs using genome-wide data across 12 mouse tissues. The expression of genes targeted by transcribing enhancer is positively correlated with eRNA expression and significantly higher than expression of genes targeted by non-transcribing enhancers. This result implies eRNA transcription indicates a state of enhancer that further increases gene expression. This state of enhancer is tissue-specific, as the same enhancer differentially transcribes eRNAs across tissues. Therefore, the presence of eRNAs describes a tissue-specific state of enhancer that is generally associated with higher expressed target genes, surmising as to whether eRNAs have gene activation potential. We further found a large number of eRNAs contain regions in which sequences and secondary structures are similar to microRNAs. Interestingly, an increasing number of recent studies hypothesize that microRNAs may switch from their general repressive role to an activating role when targeting promoter sequences. Collectively, our results provide speculation that eRNAs may be associated with the selective activation of enhancer target genes.
An ultrahigh-contrast and broadband on-chip refractive index sensor based on a surface-plasmon-polariton interferometer
Authors: Wang Yujia , Chen Jianjun , Sun Chengwei , Rong Kexiu , Li Hongyun , Gong Qihuang
Published: July 2015

By using a novel optical illumination scheme, high-contrast and broadband plasmonic sensors with ultra-high figure of merits are experimentally demonstrated.
Development and validation of Q-TOF/MS method for the rapid and simultaneous quantification of three aconitum alkaloids in food
Authors: Lee J. H. , Choi J. Y. , Park H. , Yoon C.-Y. , Park S.-K. , Baek S. Y. , Cho S.
Published: July 2015

In this study, the presence of three aconitum alkaloids (aconitine, mesaconitine, and hypaconitine) in food was determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) and quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF/MS).
A HFCF-UF method to directly analyze the total concentration of protein-binding drugs
Authors: Du Chaohui , Zhang Jinfeng , Wang Xinyu , Ran Congcong , Li Qinglian , Jiang Ye
Published: July 2015

In the present study, a direct injection hollow fiber centrifugal ultrafiltration (HFCF-UF) method was developed for monitoring liposoluble therapeutic drugs.
GC analysis of guanidino compounds in serum and urine of healthy volunteers and uremic patients using methylglyoxal and ethyl chloroformate as derivatizing reagent
Authors: Majidano Subhan Ali , Khuhawar Muhammad Yar , Channar Abdul Hamid , Jahangir Taj Muhammad , Mughol Moina , Channa Abdul Majid
Published: July 2015

Gas chromatographic determination of 9 guanidino compounds from the serum and urine of healthy volunteers and uremic patients.
Organic alloys of room temperature liquids thiophenol and selenophenol
Authors: Thomas Sajesh P. , Sathishkumar R. , Guru Row T. N.
Published: July 2015

The first examples of organic alloys of two room temperature liquids, obtained and characterizedvia in situcryo-crystallography, are presented. Thiophenol and selenophenol, which exhibit isostructurality and similar modes of S⋯S and Se⋯Se homo-chalcogen interactions along with weak and rare S–H⋯S and Se–H⋯Se hydrogen bonds, are shown to form solid solutions exhibiting Veggard's law-like trends.
Restricted diffusion of guest molecules in polymer thin films on solid substrates as revealed by three-dimensional single-molecule tracking
Authors: Ito Syoji , Taga Yuhei , Hiratsuka Kengo , Takei Satoshi , Kitagawa Daichi , Kobatake Seiya , Miyasaka Hiroshi
Published: July 2015

3D single-molecule tracking revealed that the translational diffusion of guest dyes in poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) thin films on glass substrates was confined in a horizontal layer at a distance longer than 300–700 nm from the surface of the substrate.
Identifying alkali metal inhibitors of crystal growth: a selection criterion based on ion pair hydration energy
Authors: Farmanesh Sahar , Alamani Bryan G. , Rimer Jeffrey D.
Published: July 2015

We show that alkali metals function as effective modifiers of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystallization wherein alkali-oxalate ion parings reduce the rate of crystal growth by as much as 60%.
Thienyl-BOPHY dyes as promising templates for bulk heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Mirloup A. , Huaulmé Q. , Leclerc N. , Lévêque P. , Heiser T. , Retailleau P. , Ziessel R.
Published: July 2015

BOPHY dyes absorbing in the 400–800 nm range give a PCE as high as 4.3% with an EQE higher than 70%.
Two microporous MOFs constructed from different metal cluster SBUs for selective gas adsorption
Authors: Li Yun-Wu , Xu Jian , Li Da-Cheng , Dou Jian-Min , Yan Hui , Hu Tong-Liang , Bu Xian-He
Published: July 2015

Two microporous MOFs have been constructed from different metal cluster SBUs. Both PMOFs exhibit highly selective uptake for CO2over CH4and N2owing to abundant active sites.
Ruthenium-catalyzed nucleophilic fluorination of halobenzenes
Authors: Konovalov Andrey I. , Gorbacheva Evgeniya O. , Miloserdov Fedor M. , Grushin Vladimir V.
Published: July 2015

The first π-coordination-catalyzed nucleophilic fluorination of unactivated aryl halides has been demonstrated. Chlorobenzene reacts with alkali metal fluorides (CsF, KF) in the presence of a Cp*Ru catalyst at 120–180 °C to give fluorobenzene.
Collisional excitation of CH(X2Π) by He: new ab initio potential energy surfaces and scattering calculations
Authors: Marinakis Sarantos , Dean Indigo Lily , Kłos Jacek , Lique François
Published: July 2015

We present a new CH(X)–He potential energy surface which is able to reproduce all the available experimental results.
Silver-catalysed reactions of alkynes: recent advances
Authors: Fang Guichun , Bi Xihe
Published: July 2015

Silver is a less expensive noble metal. Superior alkynophilicity due to π-coordination with the carbon–carbon triple bond makes silver salts ideal catalysts for alkyne-based organic reactions. This critical review clearly indicates that alkyne chemistry has been greatly benefiting from the emerging “Silver Rush” and will continue to generate increasingly more synthetic possibilities in the near future.
Mechanistic insights into the oxidative dehydrogenation of amines to nitriles in continuous flow
Authors: Corker Emily C. , Ruiz-Martínez Javier , Riisager Anders , Fehrmann Rasmus
Published: July 2015

Mechanistic investigations including in situ infrared spectroscopy and Hammett investigations of the oxidative dehydrogenation of amine compounds using RuO2/Al2O3 catalysts.
An imidazolyl-pyreno-imidazole conjugate as a cyanide sensor and a set–reset memorized sequential logic device
Authors: Mardanya Sourav , Karmakar Srikanta , Mondal Debiprasad , Baitalik Sujoy
Published: July 2015

A pyrenyl-bisimidazole system can act as an efficient cyanide sensor and a ‘set–reset’ memory device.
Novel fiber-rich lentil flours as snack-type functional foods: an extrusion cooking effect on bioactive compounds
Authors: Morales P. , Berrios J. De J. , Varela A. , Burbano C. , Cuadrado C. , Muzquiz M. , Pedrosa M. M.
Published: July 2015

The effect of extrusion processing on inositol phosphates.
Phenotypic side effects prediction by optimizing correlation with chemical and target profiles of drugs
Authors: Kanji Rakesh , Sharma Abhinav , Bagler Ganesh
Published: July 2015

Knowing the importance of identification of drug features that are critical for specifying their adverse effects, we propose a generalized ordinary canonical correlation analysis model that integrates the target profiles and chemical profiles of drugs.
Moxifloxacin-capped noble metal nanoparticles as potential urease inhibitors
Authors: Nisar Muhammad , Khan Shujaat Ali , Shah Muhammad Raza , Khan Ajmal , Farooq Umar , Uddin Ghias , Ahmad Bashir
Published: July 2015

The fluoroquinolone drug moxifloxacin (Mox) has been used to protect silver and gold nanoparticles. The nano-conjugates exhibited urease inhibition and antibacterial activity.
Enantioselective cascade double Michael addition of 3-nitro-2H-chromenes and acyclic enones: efficient synthesis of functionalized tricyclic chroman derivatives
Authors: Li Jun-Hua , Du Da-Ming
Published: July 2015

An efficient protocol for the construction of enantiomerically enriched tetrahydro-6H-benzo[c]chromenes by the cascade double Michael addition of 3-nitro-2H-chromenes and α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by a quinine-derived primary amine has been developed.
A lactate-derived chiral aldehyde for determining the enantiopurity of enantioenriched primary amines
Authors: Gibson Samantha M. , Lanigan Rachel M. , Benhamou Laure , Aliev Abil E. , Sheppard Tom D.
Published: July 2015

In this paper we describe the use of a chiral aldehyde derived from lactate esters for determining the enantiopurity of primary amines, via the formation of diastereomeric imines.
Crystal orientation dependence of crack growth and stress evolution in single crystal nickel: a molecular dynamics simulation-based cohesive zone model
Authors: Qi Yuan , Wu Wen-Ping , Chen Yun-Bing , Chen Ming-Xiang
Published: July 2015

Void forms in the sample with (100) orientation; brittle fracture in the sample with (110) orientation; blunting and slip bands occurs in the sample with (111) orientation.
Hybrid bismuth oxyhalides@gypsum as self-cleaning composites: novel aspects of a sustainable photocatalytic technology for solar environmental cleanup
Authors: Gnayem Hani , Uvarov Vladimir , Lahad Ofer , Sasson Yoel
Published: July 2015

The novel fabrication of BiOCl0.80Br0.20@gypsum hybrid material is demonstrated. The composite is efficiently functionalized as an indoor self-cleaning applicant.
Improved stability and enhanced efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells by using europium doped yttrium vanadate down-shifting nanophosphor
Authors: Chander Nikhil , Khan Atif F. , Komarala Vamsi K.
Published: July 2015

YVO4:Eu3+ nanophosphor improves long-term stability of DSSCs under illumination, due to down-shifting of high energy UV photons to the visible region.
The influence of polar (0001) zinc oxide (ZnO) on the structure and morphology of vanadyl phthalocyanine (VOPc)
Authors: Ramadan Alexandra J. , Rochford Luke A. , Ryan Mary P. , Jones Tim S. , Heutz Sandrine
Published: July 2015

Metal oxide thin films are increasingly utilized in small molecular organic photovoltaic devices to facilitate electron transport and injection.
Novel halogen-free flame retardants based on adamantane for polycarbonate
Authors: Fu Shu-Qin , Guo Jian-Wei , Zhu Dong-Yu , Yang Zhe , Yang Chu-Fen , Xian Jia-Xing , Li Xiong
Published: July 2015

The surface of PC/FR compositions presents a continuous and protective carbon layer with several bubbles and folds.
Robust spin-on-glass poly(methyl)silsesquioxane-based low-k materials derived from a cyclic siloxane precursor
Authors: Lee Albert S. , Oh Sung Yeoun , Choi Seung-Sock , Lee He Seung , Hwang Seung Sang , Baek Kyung-Youl
Published: July 2015

Low dielectric constant poly(methyl)silsesquioxane spin-on-glass resins incorporating a cyclic precursor exhibited exceptional mechanical properties to withstand CMP processes.
Small molecule antagonists of cell-surface heparan sulfate and heparin–protein interactions
Authors: Weiss Ryan J. , Gordts Philip L. S. M. , Le Dzung , Xu Ding , Esko Jeffrey D. , Tor Yitzhak
Published: July 2015

A series of rationally designed surfen analogs were synthesized and utilized as antagonists of glycosaminoglycan–protein interactions, including the neutralization of the anticoagulant activity of fondaparinux, a synthetic pentasaccharide analog of heparin.
The medicinal thiosulfinates from garlic and Petiveria are not radical-trapping antioxidants in liposomes and cells, but lipophilic analogs are
Authors: Li Bo , Zheng Feng , Chauvin Jean-Philippe R. , Pratt Derek A.
Published: July 2015

The radical-trapping antioxidant (RTA) activities of allicin and petivericin, thiosulfinates widely believed responsible for the medicinal properties of garlic andPetiveria, were determined in phosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers and mammalian cell culture.
Enhancement of hydroxide conductivity by grafting flexible pendant imidazolium groups into poly(arylene ether sulfone) as anion exchange membranes
Authors: Zhuo Yi Zhi , Lai Ao Lan , Zhang Qiu Gen , Zhu Ai Mei , Ye Mei Ling , Liu Qing Lin
Published: July 2015

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) have been recognized as one of the most prospective polyelectrolytes for fuel cells due to their potential of adopting cheaper metal catalysts against proton exchange membranes (PEMs).
Repelling hot water from superhydrophobic surfaces based on carbon nanotubes
Authors: Wan Fang , Yang De-Quan , Sacher Edward
Published: July 2015

Superhydrophobic (SH) surfaces generally refer to those having a static water contact angle larger than 150° and a slide angle less than 10°, when both the surface and the water droplet are at room temperature.
Bimodal silicone interpenetrating networks sequentially built as electroactive dielectric elastomers
Authors: Tugui C. , Stiubianu G. , Iacob M. , Ursu C. , Bele A. , Vlad S. , Cazacu M.
Published: July 2015

Dielectric elastomers with reasonable electromechanical performances are obtained by only choosing suitable siloxane precursors and construction mode of the networks. Due to the full silicone nature without polar components, materials obtained are homogeneous.
Non-stoichiometric compositions arising from synergistic electronic and size effects. Synthesis, crystal chemistry and electronic properties of A14Cd1+xPn11compounds (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3; A = Sr, Eu; Pn = As, Sb)
Authors: Makongo Julien P. A. , Darone Gregory M. , Xia Sheng-Qing , Bobev Svilen
Published: July 2015

Synthesis and structural characterization of four compounds, isostructural, but not isoelectronic, with the thermoelectric material Yb14MnSb11.
Fully integrated CMOS overvoltage protection circuit for automotive applications
Authors: Boni A. , Tonelli M. , Magnanini A. , Caselli M.
Published: July 2015

The voltage signal at the output of the power device driving the ignition coil or the fuel injector of a car engine is often required to be detected and processed for control and diagnostic purposes. Providing this kind of signals to an integrated circuit raises several design and reliability issues due to the presence of voltage peaks of several hundred volts. The design and implementation of an integrated detection and overvoltage protection circuit is presented. A prototype chip was implemented in a 350 nm CMOS technology without a thick‐oxide option. The measured performance over the −40 to +125°C temperature range is in good agreement with the simulation results.
Preventing hydrogen embrittlement in stainless steel by means of compressive stress induced by cavitation peening
Authors: Takakuwa Osamu , Soyama Hitoshi
Published: July 2015

In this paper, it has been demonstrated that compressive residual stress induced by cavitation peening which is one of the mechanical surface modification techniques can reduce invasion of the surface of austenitic stainless steel by hydrogen. Cavitation peening was done with employing a cavitating jet in air. The specimens were prepared with different processing time of cavitation peening. Then, stress measurement was performed using an X‐ray diffraction analysis. After that, the surface was charged with hydrogen employing a cathodic charging method. Hydrogen content was evaluated by a thermal desorption analysis using a gas chromatography. From the obtained results, hydrogen content was reduced along with increase in compressive residual stress at surface. In particular hydrogen content became to 15% at processing time of 2 s/mm introducing compressive residual stress of 378 MPa. In short, cavitation peening can drastically prevent invasion by hydrogen.
A parametric study of laser spot size and coverage on the laser shock peening induced residual stress in thin aluminium samples
Authors: Sticchi M. , Staron P. , Sano Y. , Meixer M. , Klaus M. , Rebelo‐Kornmeier J. , Huber N. , Kashaev N.
Published: July 2015

Laser Shock Peening is a fatigue enhancement treatment using laser energy to induce compressive Residual Stresses (RS) in the outer layers of metallic components. This work describes the variations of introduced RS‐field with peen size and coverage for thin metal samples treated with under‐water‐LSP. The specimens under investigation were of aluminium alloy AA2024‐T351, AA2139‐T3, AA7050‐T76 and AA7075‐T6, with thickness 1.9 mm. The RS were measured by using Hole Drilling with Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry and X‐ray Diffraction. Of particular interest are the effects of the above mentioned parameters on the zero‐depth value, which gives indication of the amount of RS through the thickness, and on the value of the surface compressive stresses, which indicates the magnitude of induced stresses. A 2D‐axisymmetrical Finite Element model was created for a preliminary estimation of the stress field trend. From experimental results, correlated with numerical and analytical analysis, the following conclusions can be drawn: increasing the spot size the zero‐depth value increases with no significant change of the maximum compressive stress; the increase of coverage leads to significant increase of the compressive stress; thin samples of Al‐alloy with low Hugoniot Elastic Limit (HEL) reveal deeper compression field than alloy with higher HEL value.
Interaction picture density matrix quantum Monte Carlo
Authors: Malone Fionn D. , Blunt N. S. , Shepherd James J. , Lee D. K. K. , Spencer J. S. , Foulkes W. M. C.
Published: July 2015

The recently developed density matrix quantum Monte Carlo (DMQMC) algorithm stochastically samples the N-body thermal density matrix and hence provides access to exact properties of many-particle quantum systems at arbitrary temperatures. We demonstrate that moving to the interaction picture provides substantial benefits when applying DMQMC to interacting fermions. In this first study, we focus on a system of much recent interest: the uniform electron gas in the warm dense regime. The basis set incompleteness error at finite temperature is investigated and extrapolated via a simple Monte Carlo sampling procedure. Finally, we provide benchmark calculations for a four-electron system, comparing our results to previous work where possible.
Communication: Classical threshold law for ion-neutral-neutral three-body recombination
Authors: Pérez-Ríos Jesús , Greene Chris H.
Published: July 2015

A very recently method for classical trajectory calculations for three-body collision [Pérez-Ríos et al., J. Chem. Phys. 140, 044307 (2014)] has been applied to describe ion-neutral-neutral ternary processes for low energy collisions: 0.1 mK–10 mK. As a result, a threshold law for the three-body recombination cross section is obtained and corroborated numerically. The derived threshold law predicts the formation of weakly bound dimers, with binding energies comparable to the collision energy of the collisional partners. In this low energy range, this analysis predicts that molecular ions should dominate over molecular neutrals as the most products formed.
Ultrathin barrier AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors grown at a dramatically reduced growth temperature by pulsed metal organic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Xue JunShuai , Zhang JinCheng , Hao Yue
Published: July 2015

Ultrathin-barrier AlN/GaN heterostructures were grown on sapphire substrates by pulsed metal organic chemical vapor deposition (PMOCVD) using indium as a surfactant at a dramatically reduced growth temperature of 830 °C. Upon optimization of growth parameters, an electron mobility of 1398 cm2/V s together with a two-dimensional-electron-gas density of 1.3 × 1013 cm−2 was obtained for a 4 nm thick AlN barrier. The grown structures featured well-ordered parallel atomic steps with a root-mean-square roughness of 0.15 nm in a 5 × 5 μm2 area revealed by atomic-force-microscopic image. Finally, the potential of such structures for device application was demonstrated by fabricating and testing under dc operation AlN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors. These results indicate that this low temperature PMOCVD growth technique is promising for the fabrication of GaN-based electronic devices.
Near-infrared photodetectors utilizing MoS2-based heterojunctions
Authors: Park Min Ji , Min Jung Ki , Yi Sum-Gyun , Kim Joo Hyoung , Oh Jeseung , Yoo Kyung-Hwa
Published: July 2015

Near-infrared photodetectors are developed using graphene/MoS2 and WSe2/MoS2 vertical heterojunctions. These heterojunctions exhibit diode-rectifying behavior in the dark and enhanced photocurrent upon near-infrared irradiation. The photocurrent increases with increasing near-infrared power, leading to the photoresponsibility of 0.14 and 0.3 A W−1 for the graphene/MoS2 and WSe2/MoS2 heterojunctions, respectively, which are much higher than the photoresponsibility reported for a multilayer MoS2 phototransistor.
First data on the age, growth and sexual maturity of the piked spurdog, Squalus megalops (Chondrichthyes: Squalidae), in the Gulf of Gabès (central Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Marouani Sondes , Kadri Hasna , Bradai Mohamed Nejmeddine
Published: July 2015

The occurrence of the piked spurdog (Squalus megalops) in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, central Mediterranean Sea) was recently confirmed. The present study is the first to report the age, growth, longevity, natural mortality and size and age at maturity of this species in the Mediterranean Sea, precisely in the Gulf of Gabès. Marginal increment and edge analysis suggested annual band formation. Age estimates ranged from 0 to 26 and from 0 to 29 years for males and females respectively. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters derived from length-at-age data were: the theoretical asymptotic length L∞=82.31±1.55cm, the growth-rate coefficient k=0.06±0.003 years–1, the theoretical age at length zero t0=–3.89±0.25 years for females; and L∞=68.55±0.98cm, k=0.08±0.003 years–1, t0=–4.65±0.25 years for males. Males and females reached maturity at 44.36- and 56.41-cm total length, corresponding to 8.39 and 15.38 years respectively. Longevity estimates were 32.85 and 46.11 years for males and females respectively. On the basis of life-history parameters, natural mortality estimation M ranged from 0.14 to 0.17.
Membrane topology of Golgi-localized probable S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 cells
Authors: Liu Jianping , Hayashi Kyoko , Matsuoka Ken
Published: July 2015

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases (MTases) transfer methyl groups to substrates. In this study, a novel putative tobacco SAM-MTase termed Golgi-localized methyl transferase 1 (GLMT1) has been characterized. GLMT1 is comprised of 611 amino acids with short N-terminal region, putative transmembrane region, and C-terminal SAM-MTase domain. Expression of monomeric red fluorescence protein (mRFP)-tagged protein in tobacco BY-2 cell indicated that GLMT1 is a Golgi-localized protein. Analysis of the membrane topology by protease digestion suggested that both C-terminal catalytic region and N-terminal region seem to be located to the cytosolic side of the Golgi apparatus. Therefore, GLMT1 might have a different function than the previously studied SAM-MTases in plants.
Contact technique and concussions in the South African under‐18 Coca‐Cola Craven Week Rugby tournament
Authors: Hendricks Sharief , O'connor Sam , Lambert Michael , Brown James , Burger Nicholas , Mc Fie Sarah , Readhead Clint , Viljoen Wayne
Published: July 2015

In rugby union, understanding the techniques and events leading to concussions is important because of the nature of the injury and the severity and potential long‐term consequences, particularly in junior players. Proper contact technique is a prerequisite for successful participation in rugby and is a major factor associated with injury. However, the execution of proper contact technique and its relationship to injury has yet to be studied in matches. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare contact techniques leading to concussion with a representative sample of similarly matched non‐injury (NI) contact events. Injury surveillance was conducted at the 2011–2013 under‐18 Craven Week Rugby tournaments. Video footage of 10 concussive events (5 tackle, 4 ruck and 1 aerial collision) and 83 NI events were identified (19 tackle, 61 ruck and 3 aerial collisions). Thereafter, each phase of play was analysed using standardised technical proficiency criteria. Overall score for ruck proficiency in concussive events was 5.67 (out of a total of 15) vs. 6.98 for NI events (n = 54) (effect size = 0.52, small). Overall average score for tackler proficiency was 7.25 (n = 4) and 6.67 (n = 15) for injury and NI tackles, respectively (out of 16) (effect size = 0.19, trivial). This is the first study to compare concussion injury contact technique to a player‐matched sample of NI contact techniques. Certain individual technical criteria had an effect towards an NI outcome, and others had an effect towards a concussive event, highlighting that failure to execute certain techniques may substantially increase the opportunity for concussion.
Exploring attitudes to NATO in Republika Srpska
Authors: Roberts Ron , Halilović Majda , Becirević Edina , Hewer Christopher J.
Published: July 2015

The role of NATO in the maintenance of regional security was assessed from a random sample of 1000 residents in the Serbian entity Republika Srpska (RS) – part of Bosnia and Herzegovina – in the fall of 2011. Attitudes to NATO were largely divided along ethnic lines. Evidence of positive attitudes towards NATO was mostly found among (i) non-Serbs (71%) compared with Serbs (18%), (ii) women and (iii) respondents over 65 years. Specific features underpinning these responses were analysed and modelled, which included consequences of NATO membership in the domain of security, economics, international reputation and international relations. A main effects general linear model was able to predict 25.7% of the variance. Ethnicity, age group, level of education, degree of trust in politicians, understanding the role and purpose of NATO and the importance attached to reaching a common understanding of the past were significant predictors. Logistic regression models of a pro- or anti-NATO stance predicted considerably higher variation and showed that the importance attached to reaching a common understanding of the past is predicated, not on ethnicity per se, but on general responses to NATO and whether Serbia would benefit from NATO membership. The implications of these findings for political stability and reconciliation within the region are discussed.
Superconvergent HDG methods for linear, stationary, third-order equations in one-space dimension
Authors: Chen Yanlai , Cockburn Bernardo , Dong Bo
Published: July 2015

We design and analyze the first hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin methods for stationary, third-order linear equations in one-space dimension. The methods are defined as discrete versions of characterizations of the exact solution in terms of local problems and transmission conditions. They provide approximations to the exact solution

u
u

and its derivatives

q
:=

u
′

q:=u’

and

p
:=
u

p:=u

which are piecewise polynomials of degree

k
u

k_u

,

k
q

k_q

and

k
p

k_p

, respectively. We consider the methods for which the difference between these polynomial degrees is at most two. We prove that all these methods have superconvergence properties which allows us to prove that their numerical traces converge at the nodes of the partition with order at least

2

k
+
1

2\,k+1

, where

k
k

is the minimum of

k
u

,

k
q

k_u,k_q

, and

k
p

k_p

. This allows us to use an element-by-element post-processing to obtain new approximations for

u
,
q

u, q

and

p
p

converging with order at least

2
k
+
1

2k+1

uniformly. Numerical results validating our error estimates are displayed.
Hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin and mixed finite element methods for elliptic problems on surfaces
Authors: Cockburn Bernardo , Demlow Alan
Published: July 2015

We define and analyze hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin methods for the Laplace-Beltrami problem on implicitly defined surfaces. We show that the methods can retain the same convergence and superconvergence properties they enjoy in the case of flat surfaces. Special attention is paid to the relative effect of approximation of the surface and that introduced by discretizing the equations. In particular, we show that when the geometry is approximated by polynomials of the same degree of those used to approximate the solution, although the optimality of the approximations is preserved, the superconvergence is lost. To recover it, the surface has to be approximated by polynomials of one additional degree. We also consider mixed surface finite element methods as a natural part of our presentation. Numerical experiments verifying and complementing our theoretical results are shown.
Conjugated polymers developed from alkynes
Authors: Liu Yajing , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: July 2015

The numerous merits of conjugated polymers (CPs) have encouraged scientists to develop a variety of synthetic routes to CPs with diverse structures and functionalities. Among the large scope of substrates, alkyne plays an important role in constructing polymers with conjugated backbones. In addition to some well-developed reactions including Glaser–Hay and Sonogashira coupling, azide/thiol-yne click reaction and cyclotrimerization, some novel alkyne-based reactions have also been explored such as oxidative polycoupling, decarbonylative polycoupling and multicomponent tandem polymerizations. This review focuses on the recent progress on the synthetic methodology of CPs in the last five years using monomers with two or more triple bonds and some of their high-technological applications. Selected examples of materials properties of these CPs are given in this review, such as fluorescence response to chemical or physical stimuli, magnetism, white light emission, cell imaging and bioprobing. Finally, a short perspective is raised in regard to the outlook of the preparation methodologies, functionalities as well as potential applications of CPs in the future.
Effect of Powdery Scab Root Galls on Yield of Potato
Authors: Johnson Dennis A. , Cummings Thomas F.
Published: July 2015

Powdery scab of potato, caused by Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea, has increased in incidence since 1981 to become a major concern for potato production in the Columbia Basin of south-central Washington and north-central Oregon. Disease symptoms consist of pustules on the tuber surface and wart-like galls on roots, stolons, and tubers. In the current study, the effect of powdery scab root galls on potato yield was quantified by comparing yields of cultivars susceptible and resistant to root galling grown on soil naturally infested and noninfested with the powdery scab pathogen. Potato tuber yields for the three yield components of yield per plant, number of tubers, and weight of tubers were not negatively affected by powdery scab galls on roots of Umatilla Russet and Shepody, as indicated by yield ratios ≥1.0 in 3 of 4 years, and also by regression analyses in all 3 years. Regression lines with a nonsignificant slope or slopes that significantly increased with gall index also indicated that root galls did not negatively affect yield. Mean tuber weight increased as gall index increased for Umatilla Russet in 2 of 3 years. Consequently, control tactics directed solely at reducing powdery scab galls on roots are not justified economically under conditions encountered in the Columbia Basin of Washington and Oregon states. Effort has been made to develop resistant cultivars and search for soil applied chemicals to reduce root galls.
Radiologic, Neurologic and Cardiopulmonary Aspects of Submersion Injury
Authors: Hon Kam Lun Ellis , So King Woon Alan , Wong William , Cheung Hon Ming , Cheung Kam Lau
Published: July 2015

Many indices and scores are used in critical care medicine to aid management and predict risk of mortality. We report 2 cases of submersion injury and discuss the usefulness and application of common respiratory and critical care indices. The respiratory indices help better understand the pulmonary pathophysiology and characterize the severity of lung injury and ventilation/perfusion mismatch. Severe lung injury resolved after ventilation support with appropriate positive end-expiratory pressure in both cases. The 6-year-old girl survived the near-fatal submersion injury intact despite grossly abnormal initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and high Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 scores, whereas the 5-year-old boy with grossly abnormal GCS and Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 scores died despite resolution of lung injury. These cases illustrate that resuscitation should be promptly instituted at the scene to ensure optimal outcome because initial pulmonology and neurology indices may not reliably predict mortality or intact survival. The GCS score was not initially designed for prognostication. Nevertheless, 2 serial GCS scores of 3, one performed at emergency department and one at the pediatric intensive care unit, were associated with nonsurvival in our second patient.
A Curiously Rare Case of Septic Shock From Clostridium difficile Colitis
Authors: Loftus Kirsten Virginia , Wilson Paria Majd
Published: July 2015

This case provides the first report of a young healthy child presenting in septic shock from Clostridium difficile colitis. This child had no identifiable risk factors for C. difficile, raising the suspicion for a hypervirulent strain. Once infection was recognized and treated appropriately, the child made a full recovery. This case presentation highlights the need to consider C. difficile colitis in the differential diagnosis of severely ill patients, even in the absence of traditional risk factors or symptoms.
Female Adolescent Presenting With Abdominal Pain
Authors: Di Guglielmo Matthew , Savage Jillian , Gould Sharon , Murphy Stephen
Published: July 2015

Introduction

Abdominal pain in female adolescents is a common presentation to both the emergency department and the outpatient pediatric clinic. The broad differential diagnosis for abdominal pain requires a high index of suspicion to make an accurate diagnosis of foreign body ingestion as the etiology. Foreign body ingestion occurs in all age groups, but sequelae of gastrointestinal tract perforation in children are rare. Treatment for perforation requires consultation of the pediatric general surgeon. Clinicians should take care to not overlook subtle imaging findings or dietary/exposure history, even in the context of a patient with known history of abdominal pain.

Case Report/Technique Description

We report the accidental ingestion of a wire bristle from a grill cleaning brush by a female adolescent. The patient, previously treated and seen for constipation and irritable bowel syndrome in the outpatient gastroenterology clinic, was referred to the emergency department after identification of a foreign body on abdominal radiography. Emergency department physicians discovered the history of grilling and consumption of grilled food, facilitating diagnosis of a wire bristle as the foreign body. The metallic foreign body had migrated to the colon, where it perforated and lodged into the abdominal wall, causing acute, focal symptoms. Observation in the hospital with pain control and infection management allowed for elective laparoscopy. The surgical team removed the object with minimal morbidity and avoided laparotomy.

Discussion

Reports of unintended ingestion of wire bristles have been increasingly reported in the literature; however, most focus on injury to the upper airway or upper digestive tract and subsequent endoscopic or laryngoscopic removal. Most reports detail injury in adult patients, pediatric case reports with digestive tract injury are uncommon, and foreign body removal after lower digestive tract injury in children from a wire bristle has not been reported. We caution pediatric emergency medicine and ambulatory providers to consider such an ingestion and perforation in the differential diagnosis of acute-onset, focal, and localizable abdominal pain in children.
Nicholas Charles Handy. 17 June 1941 — 2 October 2012
Authors: Clary David C. , Knowles Peter J. , Tozer David J.
Published: July 2015

Nicholas Handy made significant contributions in the applications of quantum mechanics to molecules. In an academic career at Cambridge University he was involved with many advances in the computational methods that have turned quantum chemistry into a central tool for understanding modern molecular science.
Hydrodynamic drag constrains head enlargement for mouthbrooding in cichlids
Authors: Van Wassenbergh Sam , Potes Nuno Zavattieri , Adriaens Dominique
Published: July 2015

Presumably as an adaptation for mouthbrooding, many cichlid fish species have evolved a prominent sexual dimorphism in the adult head. Since the head of fishes serves as a bow during locomotion, an evolutionary increase in head volume to brood more eggs can trade-off with the hydrodynamic efficiency of swimming. Here, the differences between males and females in three-dimensional shape and size of the external head surfaces and the effect thereof on drag force during locomotion was analysed for the Nile tilapia (
Oreochromis niloticus
), a maternal mouthbrooder. To do so, three-dimensional body surface reconstructions from laser scans and computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed. After scaling the scanned specimens to post-cranial body volume, in order to theoretically equalize propulsive power, the external volume of the head of females was 27% larger than that of males (head length + 14%; head width + 9%). These differences resulted in an approximate 15% increase in drag force. Yet, hydrodynamics imposed important constraints on the adaptation for mouthbrooding as a much more drastic drop in swimming efficiency seems avoided by mainly enlarging the head along the swimming direction.
Membrane shrinkage and cortex remodelling are predicted to work in harmony to retract blebs
Authors: Woolley Thomas E. , Gaffney Eamonn A. , Goriely Alain
Published: July 2015

Numerous cell types undergo an oscillatory form of dynamics known as blebbing, whereby pressure-driven spherical protrusions of membrane (known as blebs) expand and contract over the cell's surface. Depending on the cell line, blebs play important roles in many different phenomena including mitosis and locomotion. The expansion phase of cellular blebbing has been mathematically modelled in detail. However, the active processes occurring during the retraction phase are not so well characterized. It is thought that blebs retract because a cortex reforms inside, and adheres to, the bleb membrane. This cortex is retracted into the cell and the attached bleb membrane follows. Using a computational model of a cell's membrane, cortex and interconnecting adhesions, we demonstrate that cortex retraction alone cannot account for bleb retraction and suggest that the mechanism works in tandem with membrane shrinking. Further, an emergent hysteresis loop is observed in the intracellular pressure, which suggests a potential mechanism through which a secondary bleb can be initiated as a primary bleb contracts.
Stabilization of combustion wave through the competitive endothermic reaction
Authors: Gubernov V. V. , Kolobov A. V. , Polezhaev A. A. , Sidhu H. S. , McIntosh A. C. , Brindley J.
Published: July 2015

In this paper, we numerically investigate the stability of propagating combustion waves in the competitive exothermic–endothermic reaction model. The analysis is based on the Evans function method and direct numerical integration of the governing partial differential equations. The critical conditions for the onset of instability are found for a broad range of parameter values of the model. It is demonstrated that for the parameter values for which the combustion wave is unstable in the one-step reaction model, the inclusion of the endothermic step can lead to flame stabilization.
A spatial theory for characterizing predator–multiprey interactions in heterogeneous landscapes
Authors: Fortin Daniel , Buono Pietro-Luciano , Schmitz Oswald J. , Courbin Nicolas , Losier Chrystel , St-Laurent Martin-Hugues , Drapeau Pierre , Heppell Sandra , Dussault Claude , Brodeur Vincent , Mainguy Julien
Published: July 2015

Trophic interactions in multiprey systems can be largely determined by prey distributions. Yet, classic predator–prey models assume spatially homogeneous interactions between predators and prey. We developed a spatially informed theory that predicts how habitat heterogeneity alters the landscape-scale distribution of mortality risk of prey from predation, and hence the nature of predator interactions in multiprey systems. The theoretical model is a spatially explicit, multiprey functional response in which species-specific advection–diffusion models account for the response of individual prey to habitat edges. The model demonstrates that distinct responses of alternative prey species can alter the consequences of conspecific aggregation, from increasing safety to increasing predation risk. Observations of threatened boreal caribou, moose and grey wolf interacting over 378 181 km2of human-managed boreal forest support this principle. This empirically supported theory demonstrates how distinct responses of apparent competitors to landscape heterogeneity, including to human disturbances, can reverse density dependence in fitness correlates.
Exposure to static electric fields leads to changes in biogenic amine levels in the brains ofDrosophila
Authors: Newland Philip L. , Al Ghamdi Mesfer S. , Sharkh Suleiman , Aonuma Hitoshi , Jackson Christopher W.
Published: July 2015

Natural and anthropogenic static electric fields are commonly found in the environment and can have both beneficial and harmful effects on many animals. Here, we asked how the fruitfly responds to these fields and what the consequences of exposure are on the levels of biogenic amines in the brain. When given a choice in a Y-tube bioassayDrosophilaavoided electric fields, and the greater the field strength the more likelyDrosophilawere to avoid it. By comparing wild-type flies, flies with wings surgically removed and vestigial winged flies we found that the presence of intact wings was necessary to produce avoidance behaviour. We also show that Coulomb forces produced by electric fields physically lift excised wings, with the smaller wings of males being raised by lower field strengths than larger female wings. An analysis of neurochemical changes in the brains showed that a suite of changes in biogenic amine levels occurs following chronic exposure. Taken together we conclude that physical movements of the wings are used byDrosophilain generating avoidance behaviour and are accompanied by changes in the levels of amines in the brain, which in turn impact on behaviour.