bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Tribological Performance of CVD Diamond Films Enabled by Using Graphene Layers as Solid Lubricant
Authors: Chen Su Lin , Shen Bin , Sun Fang Hong
Published: January 2016

The present study reports the influence of graphene layers on the tribological performance of CVD diamond films when they are used as the solid lubricants. Friction tests are conducted on a ball-on-plate friction tester, where the stainless steel is used as the counterpart material. The CVD diamond film sample is a typical microcrystalline diamond (MCD) coating which is deposited on a flat tungsten carbide substrate using the hot filament chemical vapor deposition method (HFCVD). Besides the MCD sample, a polished MCD film (pMCD) and a polished tungsten carbide (pWC) are also adopted in frictional tests, aiming at illustrating the influence of the surface morphology, as well as the physical property, of the sample on the lubricative effect of graphene layers. The experimental results show that graphene layers can effectively reduce the coefficient of friction (COF), regardless of the samples. The MCD sample presents the lowest stable COF, which is 0.13, in dry sliding period when the graphene flakes are sparyed on the sliding interface; while the pMCD and pWC samples exhibit slightly higher COFs, which are 0.16 and 0.18, respectively. Comparatively, the COFs of these three samples obtained in dry sliding process without graphene are 0.20, 0.25 and 0.64. In additon, the MCD sample exhibits a much longer stable dry slidng process which is more than 5000 cycles. Comparatively, the other two tribo-pairs only exhibit a stable low-COF dry sliding period for around 2000 cycles. The reduction of COF could be attributed to the graphene flakes adhered on the sliding interface. It forms a layer of solid lubricative film with extremely low shear strength and significantly decreases the interactions between two contacted surfaces. The rugged surface of the MCD film provides sufficient clogging locations for graphene flakes, which allows the generated lubricative film enduring a long sliding duration. It can be arrived from this study that the tribological properties of the MCD film could be enhanced by simply adoping graphene layers as a solid lubricant. Furthermore, an improved performance of a variety of MCD coated cutting tools or mechanical components could be expected when they are utilized with graphene layers.
In-Process Monitoring of the Machining State in Superfinishing by Measuring the Dynamic Machining Forces
Authors: Onishi Takashi , Ohashi Kazuhito , Higashi Kohei , Morinaka Yohei , Banno Shinichi , Kitagawa Takakazu , Tsukamoto Shinya
Published: January 2016

Superfinishing is widely used as a final finishing method for sliding surfaces of bearings. In superfinishing, a fine finished surface can be obtained by transiting the machining states from the cutting action to the finishing one as the tool loading is encouraged. To obtain good machining conditions, it is necessary to judge the transition of the machining state reliably. However, it is difficult to judge the transition of the machining states. In this study, we focused on the change of the dynamic component of the machining force, which was applied to the oscillation direction of the superfinishing stone, during machining process. With machining experiments, the relationship between the declination of the dynamic machining force and the transition of the machining state was confirmed.
Experimental Study on Profile Machining of Titanium Alloys with Superabrasive Tools
Authors: Jiang Bin , Fu Yu Can , Zhao Zheng Cai , Ping Bo , Wang Hai Ning , Ding Wen Feng
Published: January 2016

Electroplated profiled superabrasive grinding wheels which integrate both advantages of grinding and profile milling have been widely used in the machining process the wide chord hollow fan blade rabbets made of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. However, the employment of these tools has been impeded by drastic forces and thermal damage. In order to investigate the variation regularities of grinding forces and temperature with different machining parameters, experiments were carried out with single layer electroplated CBN grinding wheels. Grinding forces and temperature were measured and analyzed. Meanwhile, tool life and metallography of workpiece were studied. The results showed that higher spindle speed leads to lower forces and higher temperature. With the increase of feed rate and radial cutting depth, forces and temperature increase. Strong adherence of chips makes abrasives grits blunt which results in the increase of grinding forces after a great deal of tests. Metallographic structure of the machined workpiece is almost identical with the original sample.
Sensorless Cutting Force Estimation in Large Scale Ball-Screw-Driven Machine Tool
Authors: Yamada Yuki , Kakinuma Yasuhiro , Ito Takamichi , Fujita Jun , Tada Atsushi , Sagara Makoto
Published: January 2016

The cutting force is widely regarded as being the most valuable information when observing a metal cutting process. Considering practicability, indirect cutting force measurement methods which forego additional sensors have been studied in academic field. Disturbance observer-based cutting force estimation method was known as a typical example, and its validity was verified in linear motor driven stage. However, accurate cutting force estimation is still difficult in ball-screw driven stage because of non-linear friction and resonance. In this study, feasibility of sensorless cutting force estimation was verified by using large scale commercial machine tool. Considering that the motion of rotational and translational elements independently, cutting force observer (CFOB) was modeled as two-degree-of-freedom system. The CFOB was mounted to control systems of both stage and spindle head which were driven by ball-screw and servo motor. While friction force and torque have non-linear position dependence, high repeatability was confirmed. Thus, their non-linearity could be attenuated by identifying friction force and torque beforehand machining operation. From experimental results, it was shown that tooth-pass frequency and second harmonics component of the cutting forces could be estimated accurately by using the CFOB. The results were acquired from control systems of both stage and spindle head.
Development of Direct Drive Motor for Machine Tools and its Performance in Machining
Authors: Ikegami Takakazu , Hirogaki Toshiki , Aoyama Eiichi
Published: January 2016

This paper describes the development of a direct drive motor (DD motor) without a reduction gear for the rotary motion of machine tools and its performance. We investigate novel DD motors from a view of total performance on machine tools. Moreover, we estimate to employ the developed DD motors for 5-axis control machine tools and the multi-functional machine tools. The study proves the required performance of rotary motion is achieved on machine tools, and the developed DD motors are found to be effective as follows. First, designing a DD motor with quality engineering and FEM analysis of electro-magnetic field is found to be effective for a low cogging torque and a low torque ripple. It is demonstrated that the developed DD motor makes it feasible to generate the excellent surface roughness on the complex shape workpiece with a ball-nose endmill tool, compared with the machined surface roughness by a conventional rotary axis with a reduction gear. Second, a maximum angular velocity of the DD motor is balanced with a maximum velocity of the linear axis, but a maximum angular acceleration of the DD motor is not balanced enough with a maximum acceleration of the linear axis. Therefore, the angular acceleration is needed to be improved as a next step.
Experimental Study of Fabrication of Cast-Iron Bonded cBN Grinding Wheels by V-EPC (I) - The Influence Factors on the Qualities of Grinding Layer
Authors: Dai Qiu Lian , Luo Can Bin , Liu Jing Feng
Published: January 2016

The new processing technique of vacuum evaporative pattern casting (V-EPC) process was explored to fabricate the cast-iron bonded cBN grinding wheels in this paper. The influences of pouring temperature, degree of vacuum, percentage and size of the cBN grits on the microstructures, distribution and thermal damage of cBN grits in the grinding layer, as well as the surface quality of the grinding layer were investigated. The experimental results revealed that thermal damage of the cBN grits and severe damage of nodulizer occurred when the pouring temperature was around 1480°C. The optimized pouring temperature for fabricate the austenite-bainite ductile cast-iron bonded cBN grinding wheels was about 1400°C. The appropriate degree of vacuum was 0.06Mpa. Too high or too low level of degree of vacuum would result in low surface quality of the grinding layer. The uniformity of the distribution of cBN grits in the metal matrix improved with the increase of the percentage and size of the cBN grits.
Fate of an unapproachable sharp metallic foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Dalai Prakash Chandra , Panda Kedar Nath , Misra Bijay , Agarwal Prakash
Published: January 2016

Sharp pointed objects carrying a risk of injury and perforation should be removed immediately with a flexible endoscope. In the present case, a 3-year-old boy ingested a sharp pin during a dental procedure. The only complain was mild pain in the throat. Chest X-ray done after 14 h of ingestion revealed a sharp pointed pin in the mid esophagus. On urgent endoscopy, no pin was found, but fluoroscopy (C-arm) image revealed same pin parallel to the endoscope at about 20 cm from incisors. It was planned for video thoracoscopic removal, patient referred to a pediatric surgeon, but, fortunately, the pin passed through stool after 3 days before any intervention.
Hepatogastric fistula: A rare complication of liver abscess
Authors: Anikhindi Shrihari , Ranjan Piyush , Sachdeva Munish , Kumar Mandhir
Published: January 2016

Rupture of amebic liver abscess into stomach is a rare complication. We report a case of a young male presenting with haematemesis due to a rupture of left lobe amebic liver abscess into stomach. We discuss the diagnosis and management of this rare clinical entity.
Антиквантование деформированных уравнений класса Гойна
Authors: Slavyanov Sergei Yur'evich , Stesik O L
Published: January 2016

Рассматриваются деформированные уравнения класса Гойна, т. е. уравнения класса Гойна с добавленной ложной особой точкой. Доказано, что каждое деформированное уравнение класса Гойна реализует при антиквантовании переход от уравнения класса Гойна к соответствующему уравнению Пенлеве. Приводится полный список таких переходов.
Análise inicial do super clone de eucalipto adubado com lodo de efluente suíno
Authors: Paula Ribeiro Elaino , Luiz Magalhães Joiran , Almeida Rodrigues Arthur , Almeida Rodrigues Douglas , Alves Frazão Marcelo , Lino Rodrigues Cássia
Published: January 2016

A geração de dejetos suínos aumenta gradativamente, resultando em preocupação com o destino final desse produto. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a análise do comportamento inicial do super clone de eucalipto (AEC 1528), adubado com lodo suíno em comparação à adubação química. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com 5 tratamentos e 3 repetições, sendo estes com volumes: 0; 1,25; 2,5; 5 L de biossólido e adubação química. A irrigação foi com água proveniente de poço da Universidade de Rio Verde, aumentando a quantidade de acordo com o crescimento da planta. Aos 120 dias, avaliou-se a altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, relação diâmetro do caule/altura da planta, peso da matéria verde, peso da matéria seca, peso da raiz, área foliar e mortalidade. O lodo de efluentes suínos acarretou aumento significativo em relação à altura da planta, peso da matéria verde e peso da matéria seca. Para as demais características, o uso do lodo foi semelhante à adubação química para o híbrido de eucalipto nos diferentes volumes utilizados. Observou-se, que a aplicação de lodo da suínocultura é uma alternativa eficaz para o uso como adubo em plantios de eucalipto.
A plasticidade fenotípica como indicador de arbóreas não pioneiras mais tolerantes à elevada irradiância
Authors: Paradizo Inayá Castiglioni , Becacici Macieira Bernardo Pretti , Novo Gama Vinícius , Valandro Zanetti Leonardo , Cuzzuol Geraldo Rogerio Faustini
Published: January 2016

A ocorrência de Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze (Lecythidaceae) em florestas secundárias em diferentes fases de regeneração sugere que essa espécie seja mais resistente a pleno sol em relação a Paratecoma peroba (Record. & Mell) Kuhlm. (Bignoniaceae) encontrada no interior da floresta primária densa. O objetivo desse trabalho foi caracterizar a plasticidade das variáveis de crescimento, anatômicas e estruturais de parede celular de C. legalis e P. peroba. Como o caule é forte dreno em arbóreas, foi elaborada a hipótese que as plasticidades das ligninas e dos monossacarídeos das hemiceluloses são maiores em relação às variáveis de crescimento e anatômicas, especialmente em C. legalis, mais resistente a pleno sol, como sugere seu hábito ecológico. Plantas jovens, com 14 meses de idade, foram submetidas a 20 e 100% de luminosidade solar por 60 dias. Diferente do esperado, a plasticidade das ligninas foi inferior a das variáveis de crescimento e anatômicas para as duas espécies. A composição das hemiceluloses de C. legalis não foi influenciada pela luminosidade. Em P. peroba, a proporção de arabinose foi menor a pleno sol. Concluímos que a indicação de maior resistência de C. legalis a pleno sol foi associada ao índice de plasticidade das taxas de assimilação líquida e de crescimento relativo (≥ 0,6), densidade estomática (≥ 0,3) e ligninas (≤ 0,2).
Funciones de la fotografía en las relaciones interculturales entre familias inmigrantes
Authors: Bautista García-Vera Antonio , Limón Medizábal María Rosario , Oñate y García de la Rasilla Pilar , Rostand Quijada Carmen
Published: January 2016

En este artículo presentamos los resultados y el análisis de uno de los objetivos del proyecto I+D+i aprobado por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España titulado Mediaciones audiovisuales en las relaciones entre escuela y familias inmigrantes. Concretamente, el dirigido a conocer las funciones que tienen las imágenes fotográficas en las relaciones de un grupo de padres inmigrantes en el colegio al que asisten sus hijos e hijas. Los datos presentados corresponden a las narraciones biográfico-culturales y visuales iniciadas en las aulas por estas familias junto a la tutora del grupo, y continuadas en sus contextos personal y social. Concluimos que las fotografías en los relatos han tenido las funciones de: fuente de información, soporte de análisis, reflexión y debate y, finalmente, medio para comunicar el conocimiento experiencial generado. Dentro de esta última, se han utilizado tres procedimientos que hemos denominado: denotativo autorreferencial, connotativo texto-visual y secuencial.
El Prácticum de Maestro en las voces de sus tutores. Balance del plan 2010 en la UAM
Authors: Paredes-Labra Joaquín , Esteban-Moreno Rosa Mª , Fernández-Prieto Manuel Santiago
Published: January 2016

Se aborda un análisis del desarrollo del Prácticum de Maestro derivado del plan 2010, particularmente dirigido a valorar los cambios acaecidos en relación con el plan 2000, desde el punto de vista de sus tutores profesionales. La metodología es de tipo cualitativo, con entrevistas a 6 tutores profesionales innovadores de la red de centros de una universidad pública y a los 3 responsables de la materia analizada en ambos planes. Entre los resultados se observa que la percepción sobre las transformaciones operadas en el desarrollo en los centros de esta materia son poco apreciables, así como que la tutela del Prácticum se construye mediante una fuerte relación interpersonal de tutelado y tutor y que está vinculada al tipo de enseñanza que practica. Ello tiene consecuencias en la redefinición futura del Prácticum.
Análisis del control de la comprensión lectora en textos científicos en alumnos de Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato
Authors: Jiménez Taracido Lourdes , Baridon Chauvie Daniela , Manzanal Martínez Ana Isabel
Published: January 2016

El proceso de aprendizaje de un alumno puede verse afectado negativamente cuando su control de la comprensión lectora no es adecuado. Esta investigación se centra en cómo una muestra de alumnos de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) y Bachillerato evalúan su comprensión lectora con textos científicos manipulados. El instrumento fue diseñado ad hoc para establecer qué nivel de control de la comprensión alcanzan los alumnos cuando leen textos cortos del área de ciencias con una contradicción añadida. Los resultados indican que en los cursos de 1º y 3º de ESO, predomina una evaluación y/o regulación inadecuada, en cambio en 1º de Bachillerato la evaluación y regulación adecuada es más frecuente. Por otra parte, no se han encontrado diferencias significativas por el tipo de texto, en relación al curso o género. Finalmente, las correlaciones entre el control de la comprensión y las calificaciones escolares indican una asociación débil e inversamente proporcional a la edad de los educandos, resultados que concuerdan con los estudios previos.
Os Empreiteiros de Obras Públicas e o Golpe Civil de 1964
Authors: Pedreira Campos Pedro Henrique
Published: January 2016

Passadas três décadas do fim do governo do último general-ditador, a sociedade brasileira ainda guarda muitas marcas que remontam ao período do regime autoritário. Uma delas é o fato de vários grupos empresariais que dominam hoje a economia e, em certa medida, também a política brasileira, terem crescido de maneira significativa ao longo da ditadura. Dentre esses empresários, os empreiteiros de obras públicas se destacam, sendo que sua importância atual na economia brasileira remete em grande parte à emergência verificada no período ditatorial, quando as empresas do setor foram beneficiadas por políticas altamente favoráveis e cresceram de forma expressiva. Antes disso, e tendo relação direta com essas políticas benéficas, os empreiteiros desempenharam um papel bastante ativo no golpe de Estado de 1964. Nossa intenção nesse artigo é tentar apreender o posicionamento e a contribuição desse fração específica do empresariado brasileiro no golpe civil-militar.
Ernesto Geisel e a Autocracia Burguesa no Brasil
Authors: Maciel David
Published: January 2016

Este trabalho busca discutir o papel desempenhado por Ernesto Geisel na consolidação da autocracia burguesa no Brasil como um de seus intelectuais orgânicos. Ao longo de sua carreira Ernesto Geisel pôde desempenhar funções decisivas na reprodução e na consolidação da dominação burguesa no Brasil, emergindo não apenas como um dos principais representantes das forças políticas e militares vitoriosas nos embates políticos das décadas de 1930 a 1980, mas como um dos seus principais dirigentes. Por conta disto, avançamos a tese de que, mais do que um intelectual vinculado ao chamado bloco dependente-associado, ao longo de sua trajetória Geisel constituiu-se como um intelectual orgânico da autocracia burguesa no Brasil.
Musical iconography by travel artists in nineteenth century Brazil
Authors: Varoni de Castro Renato Moreira
Published: January 2016

Este artigo examina cenas musicais com cordofones (de cordas dedilhadas) nas obras dos dois maiores artistas viajantes no Brasil do século XIX, o francês Jean-Baptiste Debret, e o alemão Johan Moritz Rugendas. Diferentemente do esperado, tais ilustrações não registram cordofones no formato do numeral ‘oito’, como os tradicionais viola e do violão. Alternativamente, encontam-se instrumentos, desconhecidos, em formatos ‘ovais’ e ‘piriformes’. Porém, para além do interesse organológico-classificatório, esse artigo assinala a multidimensionalidade da mediação visual do fenômeno musical por tais artistas, indicando a necessidade de contextualização política, social e cultural das imagens como condição para seu melhor uso como registro musical do passado. Palavras-chave: Iconografia musical no Brasil, viola e violão, Debret e Rugendas
Museu virtual (e plural) de arte
Authors: Bahia Ana Beatriz
Published: January 2016

O artigo aborda os museus virtuais de arte, interfaces on-line que essas instituições desenvolvem para ampliar a comunicação com seus públicos. Evoca o conceito de museu plural proposto por Martín-Barbero e discute iniciativas em três tipos de interface: bancos de dados, visitas virtuais e jogos digitais. Analisa a relação obra-espectador que se dá em cada iniciativa, enfocando jogos de três museus: Tate Gallery de Londres, Museu Boijmans de Roterdan e Museu Virtual de Arte Brasileira. Conclui que o emprego de tecnologias não é condição, sequer garantia, para realização do conceito de museu plural, o que depende de como o museu entende seu papel institucional e relaciona-se com seus públicos.Palavras-chave: Museu virtual, obra de arte, Martín-Barbero
Pixeles que identifican. Etnografía digital sobre las identidades digitales de género y sexualidad en las interfaces del grupo Gay Colombia
Authors: Ospina Juan Sebastián
Published: January 2016

Esta investigación, adscrita a la línea de investigación “Sostenibilidad, Arte, Sociedad y Medio Ambiente” de la Maestría en Diseño y Creación Interactiva de la Universidad de Caldas-Colombia, se centró en comprender, a través del uso de objetos de diseño como las interfaces gráficas de usuario, el proceso de construcción de las identidades de género y sexualidad de algunos participantes del grupo GAY COLOMBIA de Facebook. Para tal fin, se estudiaron las imágenes y las interacciones de los y las integrantes de dicho grupo bajo la óptica de las políticas de poder, los estudios de género, los estudios de la cultura visual, entre otros.

El diseño en dicha investigación se ubicó como disciplina desde la cual se abordaron hábitos y afectos en el uso de los objetos, y no propiamente como campo de construcción objetual, espacial o visual. A partir de los análisis, se estableció la necesidad de que el diseño visual y de información, además de tener en cuenta factores estéticos y de usabilidad, considere las imágenes del cotidiano para estudiar a los interactores que dan sentido a aquellos artefactos producidos mediante sus ejercicios proyectuales. A lo anterior se añade el problema aportado por el diseño al estereotipar los sujetos y sus necesidades a nivel comunicativo.

Por su carácter trans-metodológico y por guardar relación con la epistemología de las fronteras, se eligieron los estudios de la cultura visual como eje orientador de los análisis; estos permitieron reconocer las características fluidas de las identidades digitales a través del trabajo con las fotografías de perfil, portada y álbumes en las cuentas de Facebook. La materialidad de los cuerpos digitales que habitan GAY COLOMBIA y muchas otras comunidades digitales de contacto proviene de las fotografías y textos compartidos en estas y equivalen a la piel humana o lugar de diversas inscripciones socioculturales. Las imágenes usadas por las personas registradas en esta comunidad son determinantes a la hora de concretar encuentros que en muchas ocasiones se trasladan al plano análogo.

Palabras clave: identidades digitales, estudios de género, visualidades
O cigarro em propaganda na revista Ilustração Brasileira: uma experiência estética
Authors: Lopes Lara
Published: January 2016

O objetivo deste trabalho é compreender a construção das propagandas de cigarro publicadas na revista Ilustração Brasileira entre 1937 e 1945. Essas propagandas são compostas de reproduções de fotografias de atrizes segurando um cigarro e textos que associam o produto à elegância e sensualidade. Ainda que o cigarro ganhe destaque, tanto nas imagens quanto nos textos, não há menção nessas páginas de marcas ou anunciantes - a propaganda é camuflada no conteúdo da revista se integrando a publicação como parte dela. Sendo assim, considerando que os principais elementos simbólicos das propagandas são o cigarro, o cinema e a mulher, pretende-se analisar como estes elementos foram integrados tanto nas imagens quanto nos textos, a fim de transformar o ato de fumar em uma experiência estética.Palavras-chave: Revista Ilustração Brasileira, propaganda, cigarro
Facilitating English Learners’ Speaking: Toastmasters Meeting as a Format for the ESL Speaking Class
Authors: Shatrova Zhanna
Published: January 2016

Speaking skills come upfront in teaching English due to rapidly growing global demand for professionals with adequate level of the language proficiency. New approaches to teaching speaking are needed to meet these demands. The article describes how Toastmasters meeting format was utilized in a speaking course for the students at a Turkish university. The project had a twofold objective: to incorporate the format to the speaking course and investigate the effect of such a classroom environment on students’ preparedness for speaking assessment and their speaking anxiety. The paper presents the rationale, timeline, and components of the class. Engagement of the participants in a meaningful project and speaking activities in a non-threatening atmosphere contributed to improving students’ oral communication skills and decreasing speaking anxiety. Such format is believed to be beneficial for university level students in their academic progression.
Ad hoc Network for Emergency Rescue System based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Cambra Carlos , Sendra Sandra , Lloret Jaime , Parra Lorena
Published: January 2016

Intelligent Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on emergency rescue is widely used to detect injured mountaineers in inaccessible areas. These systems should satisfied several features. On the one hand, it is important to know the georeference of the injured mountaineers. It is also important to have real-time images of the situation and the area where people have been hilly. For this reasons, in this paper, we present the development of a UAV integrated within a wireless ad hoc network and a communication protocol able to transfer between several UAV’s and Smartphones working with Android OS. This paper also shows how to extend the concept of ad hoc network on Smartphones to extend wireless coverage for emergency situations in critical areas without GSM cellular coverage. After developing our system, we have focused our effort on demonstrating the correct operation of our UAV and its network performance when the system is used to track within a zone. Experimental results show the big potential of this kind of networks working on hostile terrain such as big mountains, ravines and river canyons without GSM signal communication.
Predictors of time to biochemical recurrence in a radical prostatectomy cohort within the PSA-era
Authors: Shahabi Ahva , Satkunasivam Raj , Gill Inderbir S. , Lieskovsky Gary , Daneshmand Sia , Pinski Jacek K. , Stern Mariana C.
Published: January 2016

Introduction: We sought to determine predictors for early and late biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy among localized prostate cancer patients.Methods: The study included localized prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) at the University of Southern California from 1988 to 2008. Competing risks regression models were used to determine risk factors associated with earlier or late biochemical recurrence, defined using the median time to biochemical recurrence in this population (2.9 years after radical prostatectomy).Results: The cohort for this study included 2262 localized prostate cancer (pT2-3N0M0) patients who did not receive neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies. Of these patients, 188 experienced biochemical recurrence and a subset continued to clinical recurrence, either within (n=19, 10%) or following (n=13, 7%) 2.9 years after RP. Multivariable stepwise competing risks analysis showed Gleason score ≥7, positive surgical margin status, and ≥pT3a stage to be associated with biochemical recurrence within 2.9 years following surgery. Predictors of biochemical recurrence after 2.9 years were Gleason score 7 (4+3), preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and ≥pT3a stage.Conclusions: Higher stage was associated with biochemical recurrence at any time following radical prostatectomy. Particular attention may need to be made to patients with stage ≥pT3a, higher preoperative PSA, and Gleason 7 prostate cancer with primary high-grade patterns when considering longer followup after RP.
A Viable Solution to Implementing Effective Instructional Supervision
Authors: Benigno Stephen
Published: January 2016

With an increased emphasis on instructional accountability with respect to instruction, assessment and curriculum development, administrators have been struggling to find a model of supervision that is clinical and collaborative and that will produce an accurate assessment of classroom instruction. According to Goe (2007), “In recent years, the focus has moved away from holding schools accountable for student achievement and toward holding teachers accountable” (p. 12). The Clinical Supervision model is an accepted and viable strategy of teacher evaluation that has been utilized in many school districts for a number of years. Clinical Supervision, if conducted with fidelity, can provide the administration of the school with an opportunity to collaborate with the teacher and create an effective evaluation experience.
An oxygen-insensitive Hif-3α isoform inhibits Wnt signaling by destabilizing the nuclear β-catenin complex
Authors: Zhang Peng , Bai Yan , Lu Ling , Li Yun , Duan Cunming
Published: January 2016

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), while best known for their roles in the hypoxic response, have oxygen-independent roles in early development with poorly defined mechanisms. Here, we report a novel Hif-3α variant, Hif-3α2, in zebrafish. Hif-3α2 lacks the bHLH, PAS, PAC, and ODD domains, and is expressed in embryonic and adult tissues independently of oxygen availability. Hif-3α2 is a nuclear protein with significant hypoxia response element (HRE)-dependent transcriptional activity. Hif-3α2 overexpression not only decreases embryonic growth and developmental timing but also causes left-right asymmetry defects. Genetic deletion of Hif-3α2 by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing increases, while Hif-3α2 overexpression decreases, Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This action is independent of its HRE-dependent transcriptional activity. Mechanistically, Hif-3α2 binds to β-catenin and destabilizes the nuclear β-catenin complex. This mechanism is distinct from GSK3β-mediated β-catenin degradation and is conserved in humans. These findings provide new insights into the oxygen-independent actions of HIFs and uncover a novel mechanism regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
NF-κB oscillations translate into functionally related patterns of gene expression
Authors: Zambrano Samuel , De Toma Ilario , Piffer Arianna , Bianchi Marco E , Agresti Alessandra
Published: January 2016

Several transcription factors (TFs) oscillate, periodically relocating between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. NF-κB, which plays key roles in inflammation and cancer, displays oscillations whose biological advantage remains unclear. Recent work indicated that NF-κB displays sustained oscillations that can be entrained, that is, reach a persistent synchronized state through small periodic perturbations. We show here that for our GFP-p65 knock-in cells NF-κB behaves as a damped oscillator able to synchronize to a variety of periodic external perturbations with no memory. We imposed synchronous dynamics to prove that transcription of NF-κB-controlled genes also oscillates, but mature transcript levels follow three distinct patterns. Two sets of transcripts accumulate fast or slowly, respectively. Another set, comprising chemokine and chemokine receptor mRNAs, oscillates and resets at each new stimulus, with no memory of the past. We propose that TF oscillatory dynamics is a means of segmenting time to provide renewing opportunity windows for decision.
Bistability of a coupled Aurora B kinase-phosphatase system in cell division
Authors: Zaytsev Anatoly V , Segura-Peña Dario , Godzi Maxim , Calderon Abram , Ballister Edward R , Stamatov Rumen , Mayo Alyssa M , Peterson Laura , Black Ben E , Ataullakhanov Fazly I , Lampson Michael A , Grishchuk Ekaterina L
Published: January 2016

Aurora B kinase, a key regulator of cell division, localizes to specific cellular locations, but the regulatory mechanisms responsible for phosphorylation of substrates located remotely from kinase enrichment sites are unclear. Here, we provide evidence that this activity at a distance depends on both sites of high kinase concentration and the bistability of a coupled kinase-phosphatase system. We reconstitute this bistable behavior and hysteresis using purified components to reveal co-existence of distinct high and low Aurora B activity states, sustained by a two-component kinase autoactivation mechanism. Furthermore, we demonstrate these non-linear regimes in live cells using a FRET-based phosphorylation sensor, and provide a mechanistic theoretical model for spatial regulation of Aurora B phosphorylation. We propose that bistability of an Aurora B-phosphatase system underlies formation of spatial phosphorylation patterns, which are generated and spread from sites of kinase autoactivation, thereby regulating cell division.
The Sec7 N-terminal regulatory domains facilitate membrane-proximal activation of the Arf1 GTPase
Authors: Richardson Brian C , Halaby Steve L , Gustafson Margaret A , Fromme J Christopher
Published: January 2016

The Golgi complex is the central sorting compartment of eukaryotic cells. Arf guanine nucleotide exchange factors (Arf-GEFs) regulate virtually all traffic through the Golgi by activating Arf GTPase trafficking pathways. The Golgi Arf-GEFs contain multiple autoregulatory domains, but the precise mechanisms underlying their function remain largely undefined. We report a crystal structure revealing that the N-terminal DCB and HUS regulatory domains of the Arf-GEF Sec7 form a single structural unit. We demonstrate that the established role of the N-terminal region in dimerization is not conserved; instead, a C-terminal autoinhibitory domain is responsible for dimerization of Sec7. We find that the DCB/HUS domain amplifies the ability of Sec7 to activate Arf1 on the membrane surface by facilitating membrane insertion of the Arf1 amphipathic helix. This enhancing function of the Sec7 N-terminal domains is consistent with the high rate of Arf1-dependent trafficking to the plasma membrane necessary for maximal cell growth.
Mapping the functional versatility and fragility of Ras GTPase signaling circuits through in vitro network reconstitution
Authors: Coyle Scott M , Lim Wendell A
Published: January 2016

The Ras-superfamily GTPases are central controllers of cell proliferation and morphology. Ras signaling is mediated by a system of interacting molecules: upstream enzymes (GEF/GAP) regulate Ras’s ability to recruit multiple competing downstream effectors. We developed a multiplexed, multi-turnover assay for measuring the dynamic signaling behavior of in vitro reconstituted H-Ras signaling systems. By including both upstream regulators and downstream effectors, we can systematically map how different network configurations shape the dynamic system response. The concentration and identity of both upstream and downstream signaling components strongly impacted the timing, duration, shape, and amplitude of effector outputs. The distorted output of oncogenic alleles of Ras was highly dependent on the balance of positive (GAP) and negative (GEF) regulators in the system. We found that different effectors interpreted the same inputs with distinct output dynamics, enabling a Ras system to encode multiple unique temporal outputs in response to a single input. We also found that different Ras-to-GEF positive feedback mechanisms could reshape output dynamics in distinct ways, such as signal amplification or overshoot minimization. Mapping of the space of output behaviors accessible to Ras provides a design manual for programming Ras circuits, and reveals how these systems are readily adapted to produce an array of dynamic signaling behaviors. Nonetheless, this versatility comes with a trade-off of fragility, as there exist numerous paths to altered signaling behaviors that could cause disease.
A 60-nm-thick enhancement mode In0.65Ga0.35As/InAs/In0.65Ga0.35As high-electron-mobility transistor fabricated using Au/Pt/Ti non-annealed ohmic technology for low-power logic applications
Authors: Fatah Faiz Aizad , Lin Yueh-Chin , Liu Ren-Xuan , Yang Kai-Chun , Lin Tai-We , Hsu Heng-Tung , Yang Jung-Hsiang , Miyamoto Yasuyuki , Iwai Hiroshi , Hu Chenming Calvin , Salahuddin Sayeef , Chang Edward Yi
Published: January 2016

A 60-nm-thick E-mode In0.65Ga0.35As/InAs/In0.65Ga0.35As high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) was successfully fabricated and evaluated by using Au/Pt/Ti-based non-annealed ohmic technology for high-speed and low-power logic applications. The device exhibited a minimal SS of 69 mV/decade, a lower DIBL of 30 mV/V, an I
ON/I
OFF ratio above 1.2 × 104 at V
DS = 0.5 V and a high f
T of 378 GHz and f
max of 214 GHz at V
DS = 1.0 V. These results demonstrate that non-annealed ohmic contacts can be used for fabricating E-mode In0.65Ga0.35As/InAs/In0.65Ga0.35As HEMTs with excellent electrical characteristics. The fabricated HEMTs are likely to find use in future high-speed and low-power logic applications.
Quantum process of exciton dissociation at organic semiconductor interfaces: Effects of interface roughness and hot exciton
Authors: Iizuka Hideyuki , Nakayama Takashi
Published: January 2016

Quantum processes of bound exciton dissociation at organic donor/acceptor interfaces were studied by the time-evolution simulation of a wave packet, focusing on the effects of interface roughness and hot excitons. It is shown that the dissociation is remarkably enhanced by the interface roughness that is comparable to the exciton diameter. Moreover, the dissociation probability increases for the hot excitons compared with the ground-state exciton owing to their small binding energies and large diameters.
Generation of fluorescent nanodroplets of liquid crystal utilizing electrospray deposition
Authors: Ohdaira Yasuo , Oka Hisaki , Shinbo Kazunari , Baba Akira , Kato Keizo , Kaneko Futao
Published: January 2016

Fluorescent nanodroplets of liquid crystal (LC) were generated by the electrospray deposition of LC solvent containing rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) dye molecules. The shape and density of the nanodroplets strongly depended on the concentration of LC diluted with ethanol solution. The fluorescent spectra from the Rh6G molecules in LC nanodroplets were obviously blue-shifted compared with the LC films of the bulk state. Furthermore, the LC nanodroplets were dispersed on a metallic nanograting formed by optically modifying an azobenzene thin-film layer under the metallic film. The nanodroplets were size-selectively aligned on the metallic nanograting.
Improvement of device performance by using zinc oxide in hybrid organic–inorganic solar cells
Authors: Hayakawa Akinobu , Sagawa Takashi
Published: January 2016

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanopowder was applied to hybrid solar cells in combination with poly(3-hexylthiophene). Stability tests of the hybrid solar cell with or without encapsulation with glass and UV cut-off films were performed under 1 sun at 63 °C at a relative humidity of 50%. It was found that the sealed cell showed worse device performance in terms of the loss of the open-circuit voltage (V
oc), whereas the unsealed cell exposed to air retained an almost constant V
oc for more than 3 d under dark and atmospheric conditions. Placement in O2 atmosphere in the dark led to the recovery of V
oc. Cation (Sn4+) doping into ZnO was performed, and the loss of V
oc was effectively suppressed through the restraint of the supply of the excited electron from the valence band to the conduction band.
Biogeographic barriers drive co-diversification within associated eukaryotes of theSarracenia alatapitcher plant system
Authors: Satler Jordan D. , Zellmer Amanda J. , Carstens Bryan C.
Published: January 2016

Understanding if the members of an ecological community have co-diversified is a central concern of evolutionary biology, as co-diversification suggests prolonged association and possible coevolution. By sampling associated species from an ecosystem, researchers can better understand how abiotic and biotic factors influence diversification in a region. In particular, studies of co-distributed species that interact ecologically can allow us to disentangle the effect of how historical processes have helped shape community level structure and interactions. Here we investigate theSarracenia alatapitcher plant system, an ecological community where many species from disparate taxonomic groups live inside the fluid-filled pitcher leaves. Direct sequencing of the eukaryotes present in the pitcher plant fluid enables us to better understand how a host plant can shape and contribute to the genetic structure of its associated inquilines, and to ask whether genetic variation in the taxa are structured in a similar manner to the host plant. We used 454 amplicon-based metagenomics to demonstrate that the pattern of genetic diversity in many, but not all, of the eukaryotic community is similar to that ofS. alata, providing evidence that associated eukaryotes share an evolutionary history with the host pitcher plant. Our work provides further evidence that a host plant can influence the evolution of its associated commensals.
Trophic ecology of sea urchins in coral-rocky reef systems, Ecuador
Authors: Cabanillas-Terán Nancy , Loor-Andrade Peggy , Rodríguez-Barreras Ruber , Cortés Jorge
Published: January 2016

Sea urchins are important grazers and influence reef development in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP).Diadema mexicanumandEucidaris thouarsiiare the most important sea urchins on the Ecuadorian coastal reefs. This study provided a trophic scenario for these two species of echinoids in the coral-rocky reef bottoms of the Ecuadorian coast, using stable isotopes. We evaluated the relative proportion of algal resources assimilated, and trophic niche of the two sea urchins in the most southern coral-rocky reefs of the ETP in two sites with different disturbance level. Bayesian models were used to estimate the contribution of algal sources, niche breadth, and trophic overlap between the two species. The sea urchins behaved as opportunistic feeders, although they showed differential resource assimilation.Eucidaris thouarsiiis the dominant species in disturbed environments; likewise, their niche amplitude was broader than that ofD. mexicanumwhen conditions were not optimal. However, there was no niche overlap between the species. The Stable Isotope Analysis in R (SIAR) indicated that both sea urchins shared limiting resources in the disturbed area, mainlyDictyotaspp. (contributions of up to 85% forD. mexicanumand up to 75% forE. thouarsii). The Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) analysis results indicated less interspecific competition in the undisturbed site. Our results suggested a trophic niche partitioning between sympatric sea urchin species in coastal areas of the ETP, but the limitation of resources could lead to trophic overlap and stronger habitat degradation.
Normal distal pulmonary vein anatomy
Authors: Klimek-Piotrowska Wiesława , Hołda Mateusz K. , Piątek Katarzyna , Koziej Mateusz , Hołda Jakub
Published: January 2016

Background.It is well known that the pulmonary veins (PVs), especially their myocardial sleeves play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. Understanding the PV anatomy is crucial for the safety and efficacy of all procedures performed on PVs. The aim of this study was to present normal distal PV anatomy and to create a juxtaposition of all PV ostium variants.

Methods.A total of 130 randomly selected autopsied adult human hearts (Caucasian) were examined. The number of PVs ostia was evaluated and their diameter was measured. The ostium-to-last-tributary distance and macroscopic presence of myocardial sleeves were also evaluated.

Results.Five hundred forty-one PV ostia were identified. Four classical PV ostia patterns (two left and two right PVs) were observed in 70.8% of all cases. The most common variant was the classical pattern with additional middle right PV (19.2%), followed by the common ostium for the left superior and the inferior PVs (4.44%). Mean diameters of PV ostia (for the classical pattern) were: left superior = 13.8 ± 2.9 mm; left inferior = 13.3 ± 3.4 mm; right superior = 14.3 ± 2.9 mm; right inferior = 13.7 ± 3.3 mm. When present, the additional middle right PV ostium had the smallest PV ostium diameter in the heart (8.2 ± 4.1 mm). The mean ostium-to-last-tributary (closest to the atrium) distances were: left superior = 15.1 ± 4.6 mm; left inferior = 13.5 ± 4.0 mm; right superior = 11.8 ± 4.0 mm; right inferior = 11.0 ± 3.7 mm. There were no statistically significant differences between sexes in ostia diameters and ostium-to-last-tributary distances.

Conclusion.Only 71% of the cases have four standard pulmonary veins. The middle right pulmonary vein is present in almost 20% of patients. Presented data can provide useful information for the clinicians during interventional procedures or radiologic examinations of PVs.
Poroelastic response of mid‐ocean ridge hydrothermal systems to ocean tidal loading: Implications for shallow permeability structure
Authors: Barreyre Thibaut , Sohn Robert A.
Published: January 2016

We use the time delay between tidal loading and exit‐fluid temperature response for hydrothermal vents to model the poroelastic behavior and shallow upflow zone (SUZ) effective permeability structure of three mid‐ocean ridge (MOR) sites with different spreading rates. Hydrothermal vents at Lucky Strike field exhibit relatively small phase lags corresponding to high SUZ effective permeabilities of ≥ ~10−10 m2, with variations that we interpret as resulting from differences in the extrusive layer thickness. By contrast, vents at East Pacific Rise site exhibit relatively large phase lags corresponding to low SUZ effective permeabilities of ≤ ~10−13 m2. Vents at Main Endeavour field exhibit both high and low phase lags, suggestive of a transitional behavior. Our results demonstrate that tidal forcing perturbs hydrothermal flow across the global MOR system, even in places where the tidal amplitude is very low, and that the flow response can be used to constrain variations in SUZ permeability structure beneath individual vent fields.
Forecasting and remote sensing outer belt relativistic electrons from low Earth orbit
Authors: Chen Yue , Reeves Geoffrey D. , Cunningham Gregory S. , Redmon Robert J. , Henderson Michael G.
Published: January 2016

This study demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of using observations from low Earth orbit (LEO) to forecast and nowcast relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt. We first report a high cross‐energy, cross‐pitch‐angle coherence discovered between the trapped MeV electrons and precipitating approximately hundreds (~100s) of keV electrons—observed by satellites with very different altitudes—with correlation coefficients as high as ≳ 0.85. Based upon the coherence, we then tested the feasibility of applying linear prediction filters to LEO data to predict the arrival of new MeV electrons during geomagnetic storms, as well as their evolving distributions afterward. Reliability of these predictive filters is quantified by the performance efficiency with values as high as 0.74 when driven merely by LEO observations (or up to 0.94 with the inclusion of in situ MeV electron measurements). Finally, a hypothesis based upon the wave‐particle resonance theory is proposed to explain the coherence, and a first‐principle electron tracing model yields supporting evidence.