bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the leadership transition in North Korea: Using network analysis of field inspections, 1997–2012
Authors: Ishiyama John
Published: April 2014

This paper examines changes in the in the composition of the North Korean elite from 1997 to 2012, a particularly tumultuous period in the history of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Specifically, the paper assesses the changing composition of the leadership networks around both Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, using data from the entourages that accompanied the great leaders on their “on the spot guidance” inspection tours. The paper finds that there have been significant changes in the leadership elite since the succession of Kim Jong Un. The paper offers some observations regarding the implications these changes have on the receptivity of the regime to a normalization of relations with the West and future economic and political reform.
Elevated brain lesion volumes in older adults who use calcium supplements: a cross-sectional clinical observational study
Authors: Payne Martha E. , McQuoid Douglas R. , Steffens David C. , Anderson John J. B.
Published: April 2014

Recent studies have implicated Ca supplements in vascular risk elevation, and therefore these supplements may also be associated with the occurrence of brain lesions (or hyperintensities) in older adults. These lesions represent damage to brain tissue that is caused by ischaemia. In the present cross-sectional clinical observational study, the association between Ca-containing dietary supplement use and lesion volumes was investigated in a sample of 227 older adults (60 years and above). Food and supplemental Ca intakes were assessed with the Block 1998 FFQ; participants with supplemental Ca intake above zero were categorised as supplement users. Lesion volumes were determined from cranial MRI (1·5 tesla) scans using a semi-automated technique; volumes were log-transformed because they were non-normal. ANCOVA models revealed that supplement users had greater lesion volumes than non-users, even after controlling for food Ca intake, age, sex, race, years of education, energy intake, depression and hypertension (Ca supplement use: β = 0·34, se 0·10, F1,217= 10·98, P= 0·0011). The influence of supplemental Ca use on lesion volume was of a magnitude similar to that of the influence of hypertension, a well-established risk factor for lesions. Among the supplement users, the amount of supplemental Ca was not associated with lesion volume (β = − 0·000035, se 0·00 015, F1,139= 0·06, P= 0·81). The present study demonstrates that the use of Ca-containing dietary supplements, even low-dose supplements, by older adults may be associated with greater lesion volumes. Evaluation of randomised controlled trials is warranted to determine whether this relationship is a causal one.
Middle class construction: domestic architecture, aesthetics and anxieties in Tanzania
Authors: Mercer Claire
Published: April 2014

This paper examines the new styles of houses under construction in contemporary Tanzania and suggests that they can be understood as the material manifestation of middle class growth. Through an examination of the architecture, interior decor and compound space in a sample of these new houses in urban Dar es Salaam and rural Kilimanjaro, the paper identifies four domestic aesthetics: the respectable house, the locally aspirant house, the globally aspirant house and the minimalist house, each of which map on to ideas aboutujamaa, liberalisation and the consumption of global consumer goods in distinct ways. The paper argues that these different domestic aesthetics demonstrate intra-class differences, and in particular the emergence of a new middle class.
Environmental transmission of violent criminal behavior in siblings: a Swedish national study
Authors: Kendler K. S. , Morris N. A. , Lönn S. L. , Sundquist J. , Sundquist K.
Published: April 2014

Background.

Violent criminal behaviour (VCB) runs strongly in families partly because of shared environmental factors. Can we clarify the environmental processes that contribute to similarity of risk for VCB in siblings?

Method.

We assessed VCB from the Swedish National Crime Register for the years 1973–2011 in siblings born 1950–1991. We examined by conditional logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression, respectively, whether resemblance for VCB in sibling pairs was influenced by their age difference and whether VCB was more strongly ‘transmitted’ from older→younger versus younger→older siblings.

Results.

In our best-fit logistic model, for each year of age difference in full sibling pairs, the risk for VCB in the sibling of a case versus control proband declined by 2.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2–3.0]. In our best-fit Cox model, the hazard rate for VCB in a sibling when the affected proband was older versus younger was 1.4, 2.1 and 2.9 respectively for a 1-, 5- and 10-year difference in siblings.

Conclusions.

Controlling for genetic effects by examining only full siblings, sibling resemblance for risk for VCB was significantly greater in pairs closer versus more distant in age. Older siblings more strongly transmitted risk for VCB to their younger siblings than vice versa. These results strongly support the importance of familial–environmental influences on VCB and provide some insight into the possible mechanisms at work.
II.—The Van der Waals Force between a Proton and a Hydrogen Atom
Authors: Coulson C. A.
Published: April 2014

The calculation of Van der Waals forces has acquired considerable interest recently through the work of Buckingham, Knipp and others (Buckingham, 1937; Knipp, 1939). In these papers the interaction energy between two atoms is expressed as a power series in i/R, where R is the nuclear separation, and the various terms in this series are known as dipole-dipole, dipole-quadrupole, quadrupole-quadrupole, etc… interactions. In most cases only approximate values are obtainable for the coefficients in this series, though for two hydrogen atoms in their ground states, Pauling and Beach (1935) have determined the magnitudes correct to about I in 106. In this paper we discuss the simplest possible problem of this nature, i.e. the force between a bare proton and a normal unexcited hydrogen atom. We shall show that a rigorous determination of the coefficients in the power series can be made.
The Self-Ownership Proviso: A New and Improved Lockean Proviso
Authors: Mack Eric
Published: May 2014

In this essay I propose to explicate and defend a new and improved version of a Lockean proviso—the self-ownership proviso (SOP). I shall presume here that individuals possess robust rights of self-ownership. I shall take it that each individual has strong moral claims over the elements which constitute her person, e.g., her body parts, her talents, and her energies. However, in the course of the essay, I shall be challenging what I take to be the standard conception of self-ownership and proposing an enrichment of that conception. The SOP is presented and in part justified as an implication of the right of self-ownership as it is more richly conceived—hence its designation as the self-ownership proviso. As an implication of the right of self-ownership which is also compatible, in theory and practice, with extensive and robust private property rights, the SOP is offered as an integral element of classical-liberal political theory.
Is It Asthma or a Panic Attack? A Case Study of Asthma and Anxiety in an Adolescent Male
Authors: Tien Karen J. , Goodie Jeffrey L. , Duncan Christina L. , Szabo Margo M. , Larson Nicholas A.
Published: May 2014

Because respiratory complications arising from common anxiety medications may contraindicate pharmacological intervention in patients with asthma, behavioral intervention is a vital component of treating anxiety successfully in these patients. Previous research suggests behavioral treatment may reduce panic symptoms and asthma medication use while subsequently increasing quality of life in patients with asthma and panic disorder; however, research assessing treatment outcomes of this population remains limited. A 16-year-old male, “Mark,” was referred for psychological services regarding concerns about a high frequency of asthma attacks and anxiety surrounding these attacks. Mark met diagnostic criteria for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition ( DSM–IV) panic disorder without agoraphobia, mental disorder (panic disorder) affecting asthma, and generalized anxiety disorder. Treatment consisted of psychoeducation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, cognitive restructuring, problem-solving training, interoceptive exposure, and relapse prevention training. At treatment termination and 2-year follow-up, Mark displayed clinically significant reductions in depressive and anxious symptoms, reported no further occurrences of panic attacks, and no longer required routine psychotropic or asthmatic medications. Therefore, Mark’s posttreatment diagnosis was panic disorder without agoraphobia, in full remission; he no longer met criteria for diagnoses of mental disorder (panic disorder) affecting asthma or generalized anxiety disorder. These findings support the claim that behavioral treatment effectively reduces anxiety and asthma symptoms in patients with panic disorder and asthma, and suggests that targeting psychological concerns can significantly impact physical health.
Endothelial Progenitor Cells Augment Collateralization and Hemodynamic Rescue in a Model of Chronic Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Hecht Nils , Schneider Ulf C , Czabanka Marcus , Vinci Maria , Hatzopoulos Antonis K , Vajkoczy Peter , Woitzik Johannes
Published: April 2014

Surgical flow augmentation for treatment of cerebral hemodynamic impairment remains controversial. Here, we investigated the benefit of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) treatment in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. At repeated time points after 3-vessel occlusion (3-VO), animals were treated with 1 × 10 6 Dil-labeled (a) ex vivo-expanded embryonic-EPC (e-EPC), (b) cyclic AMP-differentiated embryonic-endothelial progenitor-derived cells (e-EPDC as biologic control) or, (c) saline. The cerebrovascular reserve capacity (CVRC) was assessed immediately before and on days 7 and 21 after 3-VO. Structural effects were assessed by latex perfusion, immunohistochemistry, and intravital fluorescence video microscopy on day 21. Three-vessel occlusion resulted in a significant impairment of the CVRC with better functional recovery after treatment with e-EPC (16.4 ± 8%) compared with e-EPDC (3.7 ± 8%) or saline (6.4 ± 9%) by day 21 ( P<0.05), which was paralleled by a significant increase in the vessel diameters of the anterior Circle of Willis, a significantly higher number of leptomeningeal anastomoses and higher parenchymal capillary density in e-EPC-treated animals. Interestingly, despite in vivo interaction of e-EPC with the cerebral endothelium, e-EPC incorporation into the cerebral vasculature was not observed. Our results suggest that EPC may serve as a novel therapeutic agent in clinical trials for nonsurgical treatment of chronic cerebral hemodynamic impairment.
In utero exposure to the endocrine disruptor di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate promotes local adipose and systemic inflammation in adult male offspring
Authors: Campioli E , Martinez-Arguelles D B , Papadopoulos V
Published: May 2014

Background:

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer used to increase the flexibility of polyvinyl chloride. DEHP and its active metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate are detected in many biological fluids during fetal and postnatal life. In rodent models, in utero DEHP exposure has been shown to alter sexual organ development, decrease testosterone and aldosterone production, increase body and epididymal adipose tissue weight, and raise serum lipids and glucose levels in male offspring.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to characterize the effects of in utero DEHP exposure on adipose tissue development and function in male offspring.

Methods:

Sprague–Dawley pregnant dams were gavaged 1, 20, 50 or 300 mg DEHP per kg per day from gestational day 14 until birth.

Results:

Global gene expression analyses of postnatal day 60 male offspring that were exposed in utero to 300 mg DEHP per kg per day revealed increased expression of immune response and inflammation markers, and increased expression of differentiation pathway genes in the epididymal whole-adipose tissue and isolated stromal vascular fraction. C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) serum levels were increased in the 300 mg DEHP in utero-exposed offspring. TNF levels in adipose tissue homogenates were increased in the 50 and 300 mg DEHP in utero-exposed offspring. Immunofluorescence studies revealed focal macrophage infiltration in whole-adipose tissue confirmed by increased CD163 tissue content.

Conclusions:

In utero DEHP exposure promotes local adipose tissue inflammation and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation. Moreover, evidence is presented, suggesting that DEHP increases the differentiation capacity of the pre-adipocytes of male offspring without affecting total body weight.
A dye-sensitized Pt@UiO-66(Zr) metal–organic framework for visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: He Jiao , Wang Jiaqiang , Chen Yongjuan , Zhang Jinping , Duan Deliang , Wang Yao , Yan Zhiying
Published: May 2014

The rhodamine B dye was used to sensitize a Pt@UiO-66(Zr) metal–organic framework for visible-light driven photocatalytic hydrogen production from a triethanolamine aqueous solution.
Hybrid magnetic nanoparticle/nanogold clusters and their distance-dependent metal-enhanced fluorescence effect via DNA hybridization
Authors: Gu Xuefan , Wu Youshen , Zhang Lingze , Liu Yongchun , Li Yan , Yan Yongli , Wu Daocheng
Published: April 2014

We have prepared hybrid magnetic Au/Fe3O4 nanoclusters, which exhibit significant distance-dependent metal-enhanced fluorescence effects after DNA hybridization.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) nanoparticle tumour vaccination
Authors: Phua Kyle K. L. , Nair Smita K. , Leong Kam W.
Published: May 2014

This review discusses the modification of mRNA for biomedical applications and analyzes the barriers to mRNA nanoparticle tumor vaccination.
Plasmon mediated shape and size selective synthesis of icosahedral silver nanoparticles via oxidative etching and their 1-D transformation to pentagonal pins
Authors: Keunen R. , Cathcart N. , Kitaev V.
Published: May 2014

Silver icosahedral nanoparticles prepared photochemically with high size- and shape-selectivity, icosahedral self-assembly and 1D regrowth have been demonstrated.
Highly efficient and generalized asymmetric synthesis of quaternary stereogenic carbon-containing β-amino indanones/indanoles via Mannich-type additions between 1-indanones and N-tert-butanesulfinylketimines
Authors: Wu Lingmin , Xie Chen , Mei Haibo , Soloshonok Vadim A. , Han Jianlin , Pan Yi
Published: April 2014

1-Indanone and acetophenone derived enolates undergo Mannich-type reactions with ketimines in up to 98% yields and >99 : 1 diastereoselectivities.
Alkyl chain substituted 1,9-pyrazoloanthrones exhibit prominent inhibitory effect on c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)
Authors: Prasad Karothu Durga , Trinath Jamma , Biswas Ansuman , Sekar Kanagaraj , Balaji Kithiganahalli N. , Guru Row Tayur N.
Published: May 2014

N-Alkyl substituted pyrazoloanthrone derivatives were synthesized, characterized and tested for theirin vitroinhibitory activity over c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in regulating inflammation associated disorders.
Carbonate phosphonium salts as catalysts for the transesterification of dialkyl carbonates with diols. The competition between cyclic carbonates and linear dicarbonate products
Authors: Selva Maurizio , Caretto Alessio , Noè Marco , Perosa Alvise
Published: April 2014

Methylcarbonate and bicarbonate methyltrioctylphosphonium salts were excellent catalysts for the transesterification of dialkyl carbonates with diols: cyclic or linear carbonates are obtained.
Regiospecific and highly stereoselective synthesis of β-amino (Z)-enylphosphonates via β-hydrogen migration reaction of dialkyl α-diazophosphonates catalyzed by AgOTf
Authors: Cai Yan , Ge Haihong , Yu Chengbin , Sun Weize , Zhan Junchen , Miao Zhiwei
Published: May 2014

The diazo decomposition of dialkyl α-diazophosphonates in the presence of AgOTf provides an efficient one-step route to a variety of β-amino (Z)-enylphosphonates in good yields with complete control over regio- and stereochemistry.
Aluminium–ligand cooperation promotes selective dehydrogenation of formic acid to H2 and CO2
Authors: Myers T. W. , Berben L. A.
Published: April 2014

Selective conversion of formic acid to H2 and CO2 is catalysed by a molecular aluminum complex. Metal–ligand cooperative interactions stabilize a transition state for an outer-sphere β-hydride abstraction mechanism for catalysis.
Self‐embedding watermarking scheme for colour images by bi‐level moment‐preserving technique
Authors: Liu Kuo‐Cheng
Published: April 2014

In this study, the watermarking issue for colour image authentication is presented to resist malicious tampering. The objective of this study is to preserve the colour moments such that the tampered region of the colour image can be recovered with high quality. An input colour image is first partitioned into non‐overlapping blocks for watermark embedding. The watermark information embedded into each block consists of the authentication data and the feature information that is given by the bi‐level moment‐preserving technique. In the proofing process, the authors propose a two‐stage dual parity‐check method and use morphological operations to prove the validity of the image blocks. The former is proposed to check two set dual authentication data for obtaining better results of tamper proofing and the latter is used to further improve the neighbourhood connectivity of the results. In the recovery process, the feature information of each block is rebuilt for reconstruction. The simulation results show that the proposed self‐embedding watermarking scheme is able to effectively prove the tempered region with high detection rate and recover the tempered region with high quality. Meanwhile, the proposed scheme outperforms the relevant existing methods.
Image adaptive and high‐capacity watermarking system using accurate Zernike moments
Authors: Singh Chandan , Ranade Sukhjeet K.
Published: April 2014

The authors propose a novel image adaptive watermarking scheme for geometrically invariant and high‐capacity data embedding scheme based on accurate and fast framework for the computation of Zernike moments (ZMs). The high capacity is achieved by maximising data embedding size and improving the hiding ratio after reducing the inaccuracies in the computation of ZMs. Furthermore, they also introduce a concept of conditional quantisation technique which enables to reduce the total number of ZMs needed to be modified during watermark embedding. This concept enhances the visual imperceptibility of the watermarked image and its robustness against various attacks. Numerous experiments have been performed to demonstrate the improvements in embedding capacity, visual imperceptibility, watermark robustness and time complexity as compared with the existing methods.
Single‐harmonic active power line conditioner for harmonic distortion control in power networks
Authors: Ramos‐Carranza Hugo A. , Medina Aurelio
Published: April 2014

In this contribution, a novel alternative concept and solution procedure for single‐harmonic active power line conditioner (SHAPLC) planning is proposed to control voltage harmonic distortion in power networks. The development of the proposed solution concept, defined and detailed in this paper, is based on seeking a proper solution to practical situations, taking into account the particular harmonic distortion pattern and configuration of the power system in question. The location of the SHAPLC's, for each harmonic h of interest is determined through feasibility and sensitivity analysis. Once the best location for the SHAPLCs is known, the injection currents are determined by solving a non‐linear programming algorithm. The usefulness and novelty of the SHAPLC planning methodology is illustrated with a case study, where results show its effectiveness to control the harmonic distortion in the power system. The solution procedure proposed in this contribution is aimed to achieve and assure individual harmonic distortion and total harmonic distortion indices meet recommended limits by Std‐519 IEEE using SHAPLCs devices. According with revised literature, this goal has only been approached with certainty and sufficiency (not trial and error) by considering multiple injection currents at different harmonic frequencies from the selected bus.
Investigation of combinatorial coevaporated thin film Cu2ZnSnS4 (II): Beneficial cation arrangement in Cu-rich growth
Authors: Lund E. A. , Du H. , Hlaing OO W. M. , Teeter G. , Scarpulla M. A.
Published: May 2014

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) is an earth-abundant semiconductor with potential for economical photovoltaic power generation at terawatt scales. In this work, we use Raman scattering to investigate phase coexistence in combinatorial CZTS thin films grown at 325 or 470 °C. The surface of the samples grown at 325 °C is rough except for a prominent specularly reflective band near and along the ZnS-Cu2SnS3 (CTS) tie line in the Cu-Zn-Sn-S quaternary phase diagram. All structurally incoherent secondary phases (SnS2, CuS) exist only as surface phases or are embedded as separate grains, whereas the structurally coherent secondary phase CTS coexists with CZTS in the dense underlying film. In films grown at 325 °C, which are kinetically trapped by the low growth temperature, a change is observed in Cu and Sn site occupancy, evidenced by the shift from cubic-CTS in the Cu-rich region (Cu/Sn > 2) to more tetragonal-CTS in the Sn-rich region (Cu/Sn < 2). For CZTS samples grown at 470 °C, CTS is not observed and regions grown under excess Sn flux are more disordered than Cu-rich regions evidenced by broader CZTS A mode peaks. Therefore, increasing Sn chemical potential results in more CZTS lattice disorder, suggesting, with other evidence, the formation of Sn antisite defects. In contrast, the CZTS A mode breadth is insensitive to Zn richness suggesting that excess Zn does not induce significant disorder within the CZTS lattice. We postulate that initially growing CZTS films Cu-rich (Cu/Sn > 2) results in higher cation ordering meaning fewer antisite defects.
Numerical simulation of drop and bubble dynamics with soluble surfactant
Authors: Wang Qiming , Siegel Michael , Booty Michael R.
Published: May 2014

Numerical computations are presented to study the effect of soluble surfactant on the deformation and breakup of an axisymmetric drop or bubble stretched by an imposed linear strain flow in a viscous fluid. At the high values of bulk Peclet number Pe in typical fluid-surfactant systems, there is a thin transition layer near the interface in which the surfactant concentration varies rapidly. The large surfactant gradients are resolved using a fast and accurate “hybrid” numerical method that incorporates a separate, singular perturbation analysis of the dynamics in the transition layer into a full numerical solution of the free boundary problem. The method is used to investigate the dependence of drop deformation on parameters that characterize surfactant solubility. We also compute resolved examples of tipstreaming, and investigate its dependence on parameters such as flow rate and bulk surfactant concentration.
Propulsive performance of unsteady tandem hydrofoils in an in-line configuration
Authors: Boschitsch Birgitt M. , Dewey Peter A. , Smits Alexander J.
Published: May 2014

Experiments are reported on the behavior of two hydrofoils arranged in an in-line configuration as they undergo prescribed pitching motions over a wide range of phase lags and spacings between the foils. It is found that the thrust production and propulsive efficiency of the upstream foil differed from that of an isolated one only for relatively closely spaced foils, and the effects attenuated rapidly with increasing spacing. In contrast, the performance of the downstream foil depends strongly on the streamwise spacing and phase differential between the foils for all cases considered, and the thrust and propulsive efficiency could be as high as 1.5 times or as low as 0.5 times those of an isolated foil. Particle image velocimetry reveals how the wake interactions lead to these variations in propulsive performance, where a coherent mode corresponds to enhanced performance, and a branched mode corresponds to diminished performance.
Development of the scintillator-based probe for fast-ion losses in the HL-2A tokamak
Authors: Zhang Y. P. , Liu Yi , Luo X. B. , Isobe M. , Yuan G. L. , Liu Y. Q. , Hua Y. , Song X. Y. , Yang J. W. , Li X. , Chen W. , Li Y. , Yan L. W. , Song X. M. , Yang Q. W. , Duan X. R.
Published: May 2014

A new scintillator-based lost fast-ion probe (SLIP) has been developed and operated in the HL-2A tokamak [L. W. Yan, X. R. Duan, X. T. Ding, J. Q. Dong, Q. W. Yang, Yi Liu, X. L. Zou, D. Q. Liu, W. M. Xuan, L. Y. Chen, J. Rao, X. M. Song, Y. Huang, W. C. Mao, Q. M. Wang, Q. Li, Z. Cao, B. Li, J. Y. Cao, G. J. Lei, J. H. Zhang, X. D. Li, W. Chen, J. Chen, C. H. Cui, Z. Y. Cui, Z. C. Deng, Y. B. Dong, B. B. Feng, Q. D. Gao, X. Y. Han, W. Y. Hong, M. Huang, X. Q. Ji, Z. H. Kang, D. F. Kong, T. Lan, G. S. Li, H. J. Li, Qing Li, W. Li, Y. G. Li, A. D. Liu, Z. T. Liu, C. W. Luo, X. H. Mao, Y. D. Pan, J. F. Peng, Z. B. Shi, S. D. Song, X. Y. Song, H. J. Sun, A. K. Wang, M. X. Wang, Y. Q. Wang, W. W. Xiao, Y. F. Xie, L. H. Yao, D. L. Yu, B. S. Yuan, K. J. Zhao, G. W. Zhong, J. Zhou, J. C. Yan, C. X. Yu, C. H. Pan, Y. Liu, and the HL-2A Team, Nucl. Fusion 51, 094016 (2011)] to measure the losses of neutral beam ions. The design of the probe is based on the concept of the α-particle detectors on Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) using scintillator plates. The probe is capable of traveling across an equatorial plane port and sweeping the aperture angle rotationally with respect to the axis of the probe shaft by two step motors, in order to optimize the radial position and the collimator angle. The energy and the pitch angle of the lost fast ions can be simultaneously measured if the two-dimensional image of scintillation light intensity due to the impact of the lost fast ions is detected. Measurements of the fast-ion losses using the probe have been performed during HL-2A neutral beam injection discharges. The clear experimental evidence of enhanced losses of beam ions during disruptions has been obtained by means of the SLIP system. A detailed description of the probe system and the first experimental results are reported.
A compact, multichannel, and low noise arbitrary waveform generator
Authors: Govorkov S. , Ivanov B. I. , Il'ichev E. , Meyer H.-G.
Published: May 2014

A new type of high functionality, fast, compact, and easy programmable arbitrary waveform generator for low noise physical measurements is presented. The generator provides 7 fast differential waveform channels with a maximum bandwidth up to 200 MHz frequency. There are 6 fast pulse generators on the generator board with 78 ps time resolution in both duration and delay, 3 of them with amplitude control. The arbitrary waveform generator is additionally equipped with two auxiliary slow 16 bit analog-to-digital converters and four 16 bit digital-to-analog converters for low frequency applications. Electromagnetic shields are introduced to the power supply, digital, and analog compartments and with a proper filter design perform more than 110 dB digital noise isolation to the output signals. All the output channels of the board have 50 Ω SubMiniature version A termination. The generator board is suitable for use as a part of a high sensitive physical equipment, e.g., fast read out and manipulation of nuclear magnetic resonance or superconducting quantum systems and any other application, which requires electromagnetic interference free fast pulse and arbitrary waveform generation.
A study of energetic large-scale structures in turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Wu Yanhua
Published: April 2014

This study established the connection in turbulent boundary layers between the first two dominant proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes and the instantaneous large-scale turbulence structures. The velocity fields consistent with the signature velocity fields of the hairpin vortex packets in two-dimensional PIV (particle image velocimetry) measurement planes are observed as the major contributors to the first two POD modes. Another kind of equally important turbulence structure is the large region of Q4 vectors, which may possibly be obtained by slicing the outskirts of the three-dimensional structure of the hairpin vortex packet by PIV planes. The streamwise Reynolds normal stress, Reynolds shear stress, and the length scales of the two-point velocity correlation coefficients ρuu and ρuv are noticeably decreased without those large-scale turbulence structures contributing significantly to the first POD mode. Similarity of these results is observed at a higher Reynolds number.
Velocity profile in a two-layer Kolmogorov-like flow
Authors: Suri Balachandra , Tithof Jeffrey , Mitchell Radford , Grigoriev Roman O. , Schatz Michael F.
Published: May 2014

In this article, we discuss flows in shallow, stratified horizontal layers of two immiscible fluids. The top layer is an electrolyte which is electromagnetically driven and the bottom layer is a dielectric fluid. Using a quasi-two-dimensional approximation, which assumes a horizontal flow whose direction is independent of the vertical coordinate, we derive a generalized two-dimensional vorticity equation describing the evolution of the horizontal flow. Also, we derive an expression for the vertical profile of the horizontal velocity field. Measuring the horizontal velocity fields at the electrolyte-air and electrolyte-dielectric interfaces using particle image velocimetry, we validate the theoretical predictions of the horizontal velocity and its vertical profile for steady as well as for freely decaying Kolmogorov-like flows. Our analysis shows that by increasing the viscosity of the electrolyte relative to that of the dielectric, one may significantly improve the uniformity of the flow in the electrolyte, yielding excellent agreement between the analytical predictions and the experimental measurements.
Experimental investigation on a vectorized aerodynamic dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator array
Authors: Neretti Gabriele , Cristofolini Andrea , Borghi Carlo A.
Published: April 2014

The Electro-Hydro-Dynamics (EHD) interaction, induced in atmospheric pressure still air by a surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator, had been experimentally studied. A plasma aerodynamic actuator array, able to produce a vectorized jet, with the induced airflow oriented toward the desired direction, had been developed. The array was constituted by a sequence of single surface DBD actuators with kapton as dielectric material. An ac voltage in the range of 0–6 kV peak at 15 kHz had been used. The vectorization had been obtained by feeding the upper electrodes with different voltages and by varying the electrical connections. The lower electrodes had been connected either to ground or to the high voltage source, to produce the desired jet orientation and to avoid plasma formation acting in an undesired direction. Voltage and current measurements had been carried out to evaluate waveforms and to estimate the active power delivered to the discharge. Schlieren imaging allowed to visualize the induced jet and to estimate its orientation. Pitot measurements had been performed to obtain velocity profiles for all jet configurations. A proportional relation between the jet deflection angle and the applied voltage had been found. Moreover, a linear relation had been obtained between the maximum speed in the jet direction and the applied voltage. The active power of the discharge is approximated by both a power law function and an exponential function of the applied voltage.
Nodal soliton solutions for generalized quasilinear Schrödinger equations
Authors: Deng Yinbin , Peng Shuangjie , Wang Jixiu
Published: May 2014

This paper is concerned with constructing nodal radial solutions for generalized quasilinear Schrödinger equations in \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\begin{document}$\mathbb {R}^N$\end{document}RN which arise from plasma physics, fluid mechanics, as well as high-power ultashort laser in matter. For any given integer k ⩾ 0, by using a change of variables and minimization argument, we obtain a sign-changing minimizer with k nodes of a minimization problem.
A modified resistance equation for modeling underwater spark discharge with salinity and high pressure conditions
Authors: Zhao Pengfei , Roy Subrata
Published: May 2014

This work investigates the performance of underwater spark discharge relating to bubble growth and decay under high pressure and with salinity conditions by introducing a modified form of the resistance equation. Here, we study salinity influence on circuit parameters by fitting the experimental data for which gap resistance is much larger in conductive water than in dielectric water. Accordingly, the resistance equation is modified by considering the influence of both plasma and its surrounding liquid. Thermal radiation effect of the bubble is also studied by comparing two different radiation models. Numerical results predict a larger bubble pressure for saline water but a reduced size and a smaller bubble cycle at a greater water depth. Such study may be useful in many saltwater applications, including that for deep sea conditions.
Facile passivation of solution-processed InZnO thin-film transistors by octadecylphosphonic acid self-assembled monolayers at room temperature
Authors: Xu Wangying , Liu Danqing , Wang Han , Ye Lei , Miao Qian , Xu Jian-Bin
Published: May 2014

A simple passivation method is developed to overcome the water susceptibility of solution-processed InZnO thin-film transistors (TFTs) by utilizing octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The unpassivated InZnO TFTs exhibit large hysteresis in their electrical characteristics due to the adsorbed water at the semiconductor surface. Formation of a SAM of ODPA on the top of InZnO removes water molecules weakly absorbed at the back channel and prevents water diffusion from the surroundings. Therefore, the passivated devices exhibit significantly reduced hysteretic characteristics.
Slanted n-ZnO/p-GaN nanorod arrays light-emitting diodes grown by oblique-angle deposition
Authors: Lee Ya-Ju , Yang Zu-Po , Lo Fang-Yuh , Siao Jhih-Jhong , Xie Zhong-Han , Chuang Yi-Lun , Lin Tai-Yuan , Sheu Jinn-Kong
Published: May 2014

High-efficient ZnO-based nanorod array light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were grown by an oblique-angle deposition scheme. Due to the shadowing effect, the inclined ZnO vapor-flow was selectively deposited on the tip surfaces of pre-fabricated p-GaN nanorod arrays, resulting in the formation of nanosized heterojunctions. The LED architecture composed of the slanted n-ZnO film on p-GaN nanorod arrays exhibits a well-behaving current rectification of junction diode with low turn-on voltage of 4.7 V, and stably emits bluish-white luminescence with dominant peak of 390 nm under the operation of forward injection currents. In general, as the device fabrication does not involve passivation of using a polymer or sophisticated material growth techniques, the revealed scheme might be readily applied on other kinds of nanoscale optoelectronic devices.
Damping properties for vibration suppression in electrohydraulic servo-valve torque motor using magnetic fluid
Authors: Peng Jinghui , Li Songjing , Han Hasiaoqier
Published: May 2014

Aiming to suppress high frequency vibrations of a torque motor in electrohydraulic servo-valves, damping properties of an ester-based Fe3O4 magnetic fluid operating in the squeeze mode are studied in this Letter. The expression of damping forces due to the magnetic fluid on the torque motor is derived and simplified based on the measured magneto-viscosity property. Dynamic characteristics of the torque motor with and without the magnetic fluid are simulated and tested. Damping properties of magnetic fluid for the vibration suppression of a torque motor are verified by the good agreement between the predicted and tested results.
Looking for footprint of bulk metallic glass in electronic and phonon heat capacities of Cu55Hf45−xTix alloys
Authors: Remenyi G. , Biljaković K. , Starešinić D. , Dominko D. , Ristić R. , Babić E. , Figueroa I. A. , Davies H. A.
Published: May 2014

We report on the heat capacity investigation of Cu55Hf45−xTix metallic glasses. The most appropriate procedure to estimate low temperature electronic and phonon contributions has been determined. Both contributions exhibit monotonous Ti concentration dependence, demonstrating that there is no relation of either the electron density of states at the Fermi level or the Debye temperature to the increased glass forming ability in the Ti concentration range x = 15–30. The thermodynamic parameters (e.g., reduced glass temperature) remain better indicators in assessing the best composition for bulk metallic glass formation.
Shadow-Related Concavity-Convexity Inversions Reveal a Very Basic Tolerance for Impossible Shadows
Authors: Casati Roberto
Published: April 2014

The stimuli traditionally used for demonstrating shadow-related concavity–convexity inversions reveal a very basic tolerance for impossible shadows—namely, self shadows do not induce a visual request for geometrically mandatory cast shadows.
From Science to Heritage: the History of a Wood Collection
Authors: Dargavel John , Evans Philip D. , Dadswell Gordon
Published: May 2014

There is a process by which scientific collections become heritage. The case of a wood collection, or xylarium, at the Australian National University (ANU) is discussed from its start in the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau in 1926, its association with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research/Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1928, its transfer to ANU in 1965, its manifold uses at ANU, and its decline and heritage assessment in 2011. The collection, consisting of 8,400 wood samples, microscope slides, panels and artefacts, was used for teaching forestry students, research into wood anatomy, and for identifying timber. Its future is uncertain.
Life histories of two arid-zone shrubs change with differences in habitat, grazing and climate
Authors: Norman P. , Denham R. , Calvert M. J.
Published: April 2014

Shrubs are an important component of vegetation throughout the world. They are particularly significant in semiarid environments where they can dominate, driving ecosystem structure and functioning, and shaping land use. Life-history information was derived for Eremophila sturtii R.Br. and Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima J.G.West, two widespread and common shrubs of semiarid eastern Australia. Plants growing under background climatic conditions took between 2 and 4 years to become established, attained the capacity to reproduce sexually at between 10 and 12 years, were in a sexually reproductive stage for between 17 and 28 years and lived an average maximum of 33–40 years. Under background climatic conditions between 70 and 80% of plants that entered the juvenile stage survived to sexual maturity while under severe drought this proportion fell to between 40 and 60%. Juvenile plants, particularly of E. sturtii, experienced the highest mortality under background conditions while, when exposed to severe drought, older plants, particularly D. viscosa subsp. angustissima in the intermediate stage, experienced the greatest increase in mortality, dying at more than twice the background rate. The high survival rates of E. sturtii and D. viscosa subsp. angustissima shown here, even under extreme drought conditions and in grazed- and ungrazed areas, help to explain why these shrub species have been observed to dominate vegetation in large areas of eastern Australia.
Morphology and histology of the uropygial gland in Antarctic birds: relationship with their contact with the aquatic environment?
Authors: Chiale María Cecilia , Fernández Patricia E. , Gimeno Eduardo J. , Barbeito Claudio , Montalti Diego
Published: April 2014

The uropygial gland is morphologically different in diverse bird species. This gland was macroscopically and microscopically examined in penguins, storm petrels and skuas. In all the studied species, the gland showed a connective tissue capsule and one papilla. A negative relationship was observed between the relative glandular mass and the body mass, being highest in petrels (small glands) and lowest in penguins (large glands). Birds that spend much time in water (penguins) have gland characteristics related to a continuous, but not stored, secretion, such as straight adenomers, the presence of abundant elastic fibres in the connective tissue and the absence of a primary storage chamber. Instead, birds that have less contact with water (storm petrels) have a gland with much more tortuous adenomers and a small primary storage chamber. The secretory cells showed a positive PAS reaction in all the glandular zones. Therefore, no differences could be seen between the sebaceous and glucogenic zones, as proposed in other birds. These results allow the conclusion that, in aquatic birds, there is no connection between the relative mass of the uropygial gland and the time in contact with water, though the differences found in the histological structure could be related to a different contact with the aquatic environment.
Speaking in (Whose) Tongue
Authors: Chiang Wai Fong
Published: May 2014

This article discusses the intricate religio-linguistic links in multiethnic, multi-religion and multi-lingual Singapore, and looks at how language use in religious activities may affect language maintenance. As an ethnographic study, it examines heritage language use in both private and public domains of traditional religious events, in addition to discussing the implications that meaning-making processes involved in religious conversions in multi-faith families have for heritage language maintenance. The study also reveals the family institution as a stronghold where national language policy does not fully penetrate, and argues that the vitality of heritage language may depend on how successfully cultural and religious practices continue to be performed in the heritage languages.
WebProtégé: a collaborative Web-based platform for editing biomedical ontologies
Authors: Horridge Matthew , Tudorache Tania , Nuylas Csongor , Vendetti Jennifer , Noy Natalya F. , Musen Mark A.
Published: April 2014

Summary: WebProtégé is an open-source Web application for editing OWL 2 ontologies. It contains several features to aid collaboration, including support for the discussion of issues, change notification and revision-based change tracking. WebProtégé also features a simple user interface, which is geared towards editing the kinds of class descriptions and annotations that are prevalent throughout biomedical ontologies. Moreover, it is possible to configure the user interface using views that are optimized for editing Open Biomedical Ontology (OBO) class descriptions and metadata. Some of these views are shown in the Supplementary Data and can be seen in WebProtégé itself by configuring the project as an OBO project.

Availability and implementation: WebProtégé is freely available for use on the Web at http://webprotege.stanford.edu. It is implemented in Java and JavaScript using the OWL API and the Google Web Toolkit. All major browsers are supported. For users who do not wish to host their ontologies on the Stanford servers, WebProtégé is available as a Web app that can be run locally using a Servlet container such as Tomcat. Binaries, source code and documentation are available under an open-source license at http://protegewiki.stanford.edu/wiki/WebProtege.

Contact:  matthew.horridge@stanford.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary Data are available at Bioinformatics online.
EnsembleGASVR: a novel ensemble method for classifying missense single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Rapakoulia Trisevgeni , Theofilatos Konstantinos , Kleftogiannis Dimitrios , Likothanasis Spiros , Tsakalidis Athanasios , Mavroudi Seferina
Published: April 2014

Motivation: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are considered the most frequently occurring DNA sequence variations. Several computational methods have been proposed for the classification of missense SNPs to neutral and disease associated. However, existing computational approaches fail to select relevant features by choosing them arbitrarily without sufficient documentation. Moreover, they are limited to the problem of missing values, imbalance between the learning datasets and most of them do not support their predictions with confidence scores.

Results: To overcome these limitations, a novel ensemble computational methodology is proposed. EnsembleGASVR facilitates a two-step algorithm, which in its first step applies a novel evolutionary embedded algorithm to locate close to optimal Support Vector Regression models. In its second step, these models are combined to extract a universal predictor, which is less prone to overfitting issues, systematizes the rebalancing of the learning sets and uses an internal approach for solving the missing values problem without loss of information. Confidence scores support all the predictions and the model becomes tunable by modifying the classification thresholds. An extensive study was performed for collecting the most relevant features for the problem of classifying SNPs, and a superset of 88 features was constructed. Experimental results show that the proposed framework outperforms well-known algorithms in terms of classification performance in the examined datasets. Finally, the proposed algorithmic framework was able to uncover the significant role of certain features such as the solvent accessibility feature, and the top-scored predictions were further validated by linking them with disease phenotypes.

Availability and implementation: Datasets and codes are freely available on the Web at http://prlab.ceid.upatras.gr/EnsembleGASVR/dataset-codes.zip. All the required information about the article is available through http://prlab.ceid.upatras.gr/EnsembleGASVR/site.html

Contact:  mavroudi@ceid.upatras.gr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary Data are available at Bioinformatics online.