bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pricing European options with stochastic volatility under the minimal entropy martingale measure
Authors: HE XIN-JIANG , ZHU SONG-PING
Published: October 2015

In this paper, a closed-form pricing formula in the form of an infinite series for European call options is derived for the Heston stochastic volatility model under a chosen martingale measure. Given that markets with the stochastic volatility are incomplete, there exists a number of equivalent martingale measures and consequently investors face a problem of making a choice of appropriate measure when they price options. The one we adopt here is the so-called minimal entropy martingale measure shown to be related to the expected utility maximization theory (Frittelli 2000 Math. Finance10(1), 39–52) and the financial rationality for choosing this measure will be further illustrated in this paper. A great advantage of our newly-derived pricing formula is that the convergence of the solution in series form can be proved theoretically; such a proof of the convergence is also complemented by some numerical examples to demonstrate the speed of convergence. To further show the validity of our formula, a comparison of prices calculated through the newly derived formula is made with those obtained directly from the Monte Carlo simulation as well as those from solving the PDE (partial differential equation) with the finite difference method.
How do healthcare workers judge pain in older palliative care patients with delirium near the end of life?
Authors: Gagliese Lucia , Rodin Rebecca , Chan Vincent , Stevens Bonnie , Zimmermann Camilla
Published: October 2015

Objective:

Pain and delirium are commonly reported in older people with advanced cancer. However, assessing pain in this population is challenging, and there is currently no validated assessment tool for this task. The present retrospective cohort study was conducted to understand how healthcare workers (HCWs; nurses and physicians) determine that older cancer patients with delirium are in pain.

Method:

We reviewed the medical records of consecutive palliative care inpatients, 65 years of age and above (N= 113), in order to identify patient-based cues used by HCWs to make pain judgments and to examine how the cues differ by delirium subtype and outcome.

Results:

We found that HCWs routinely make judgments about pain in older patients with delirium using a repertoire of strategies that includes patient self-report and observations of spontaneous and evoked behavior. Using these strategies, HCWs judged pain to be highly prevalent in this inpatient palliative care setting.

Significance of results:

These novel findings will inform the development of valid and reliable tools to assess pain in older cancer patients with delirium.
MODERNIZATION'S DOPPELGÄNGER
Authors: MANDLER PETER
Published: October 2015

Modernization theory has rightly become a central topic of twentieth-century US intellectual history. Not only does it represent a key movement in modern economics, but modernization theory's purposeful interdisciplinarity ropes in psychology, sociology and political science (at least), and makes it stand as one of the main pillars of the new interdiscipline of behavioral science that was so influential in the postwar Western academy. As an equally purposeful policy science, modernization theory also played an important role in a raft of postwar political initiatives—in the Cold War, in international economic development, in the organization of science, in counterinsurgency and the Vietnam War. This unusually fruitful (albeit often unusually destructive) intermeshing of ideas and politics has been neatly exemplified in the person of Walt Rostow, “America's Rasputin,” who parlayed a politically unpromising track record as an economic historian into a role as one of the principal strategists of the Vietnam War. Opinion differs as to how determinative modernization theory's ideas were; Bruce Kuklick has suggested of most social science in this period that it “served to legitimate but not to energize politics,” or, as a participant put it more trenchantly in 1949, “The administrator uses social science the way a drunk uses a lamppost, for support rather than for illumination.” Still, most intellectual historians would be happy (though not necessarily proud) to think that their key concepts provided even support for the major political enterprises of their day.
First record of Linopherus cf. canariensis (Polychaeta: Amphinomidae) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Peixoto Antonio J.M. , Santos Cinthya S.G.
Published: October 2015

The amphinomid polychaeteLinopheruscf.canariensiswas recorded for the first time in the coast of Rio de Janeiro (South-east Brazil). In 2011, a total of 15 specimens were collected in the intertidal zone of Itaipu Beach (Niterói) in deadEncope emarginatatest fragments. In this study, the specimens are described, and a brief discussion about their morphological variation and invading potential is provided.
Selbstkontrolle in der Schule: Der Zusammenhang von geringer Selbstkontrolle und schlechten Schulleistungen bei Kindern mit ADHS
Authors: Wirth Andrea , Reinelt Tilman , Gawrilow Caterina , Rauch Wolfgang A.
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Kinder mit einer Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) zeigen häufig akademische Minderleistung mit unklarer Ursache. Neben den Kernsymptomen der Störung haben Kinder mit ADHS typischerweise eine geringere Selbstkontrollkapazität, d. h. eine mangelnde Fähigkeit, automatisch auftretende Reaktionsimpulse zu unterdrücken oder zu modifizieren. In der Normalpopulation wurde mehrfach gezeigt, dass eine höhere Selbstkontrollkapazität mit besseren akademischen Leistungen einhergeht. Daher wird in der vorliegenden Studie der Einfluss der Selbstkontrollkapazität auf den Zusammenhang zwischen einer ADHS-Diagnose und Schulleistungen untersucht. 44 Kinder mit und 59 Kinder ohne ADHS im Alter von 7 bis 13 Jahren, für die jeweils ein Elternteil die Schulleistung und die Selbstkontrollkapazität einschätzte, wurden untersucht. Kinder mit ADHS hatten eine niedrigere Selbstkontrollkapazität und signifikant schlechtere Schulleistungen als Kinder ohne ADHS. In einer Mediationsanalyse zeigte sich, dass der Effekt von ADHS auf die Schulleistung vollständig durch die Selbstkontrollkapazität vermittelt wurde. Alle Befunde galten auch bei Kontrolle von Intelligenz. Die Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass nicht das Vorliegen einer ADHS-Diagnose für schlechtere Schulleistungen verantwortlich ist, sondern die mit der Störung einhergehenden Selbstkontrolldefizite. Diskutiert werden Diagnostik und Trainierbarkeit von Selbstkontrolle bei Kindern mit ADHS sowie Implikationen der Befunde für die Praxis, mit besonderem Augenmerk auf den Umgang mit Selbstkontrolldefiziten im schulischen Unterricht. Einschränkend muss festgehalten werden, dass alle berichteten Variablen nur durch die Eltern eingeschätzt und im Querschnitt erhoben wurden.
Ultrafast electronic state conversion at room temperature utilizing hidden state in cuprate ladder system
Authors: Fukaya R. , Okimoto Y. , Kunitomo M. , Onda K. , Ishikawa T. , Koshihara S. , Hashimoto H. , Ishihara S. , Isayama A. , Yui H. , Sasagawa T.
Published: October 2015

Photo-control of material properties on femto- (10−15) and pico- (10−12) second timescales at room temperature has been a long-sought goal of materials science. Here we demonstrate a unique ultrafast conversion between the metallic and insulating state and the emergence of a hidden insulating state by tuning the carrier coherence in a wide temperature range in the two-leg ladder superconductor Sr14-xCaxCu24O41 through femtosecond time-resolved reflection spectroscopy. We also propose a theoretical scenario that can explain the experimental results. The calculations indicate that the holes injected by the ultrashort light reduce the coherence among the inherent hole pairs and result in suppression of conductivity, which is opposite to the conventional photocarrier-doping mechanism. By using trains of ultrashort laser pulses, we successively tune the carrier coherence to within 1 picosecond. Control of hole-pair coherence is shown to be a realistic strategy for tuning the electronic state on ultrafast timescales at room temperature.
High-temperature superconductivity in space-charge regions of lanthanum cuprate induced by two-dimensional doping
Authors: Baiutti F. , Logvenov G. , Gregori G. , Cristiani G. , Wang Y. , Sigle W. , van Aken P. A. , Maier J.
Published: October 2015

The exploitation of interface effects turned out to be a powerful tool for generating exciting material properties. Such properties include magnetism, electronic and ionic transport and even superconductivity. Here, instead of using conventional homogeneous doping to enhance the hole concentration in lanthanum cuprate and achieve superconductivity, we replace single LaO planes with SrO dopant planes using atomic-layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy (two-dimensional doping). Electron spectroscopy and microscopy, conductivity measurements and zinc tomography reveal such negatively charged interfaces to induce layer-dependent superconductivity (Tc up to 35 K) in the space-charge zone at the side of the planes facing the substrate, where the strontium (Sr) profile is abrupt. Owing to the growth conditions, the other side exhibits instead a Sr redistribution resulting in superconductivity due to conventional doping. The present study represents a successful example of two-dimensional doping of superconducting oxide systems and demonstrates its power in this field.
A non-proteolytic role for ubiquitin in deadenylation of MHC-I mRNA by the RNA-binding E3-ligase MEX-3C
Authors: Cano Florencia , Rapiteanu Radu , Sebastiaan Winkler G. , Lehner Paul J.
Published: October 2015

The regulation of protein and mRNA turnover is essential for many cellular processes. We recently showed that ubiquitin—traditionally linked to protein degradation—directly regulates the degradation of mRNAs through the action of a newly identified family of RNA-binding E3 ubiquitin ligases. How ubiquitin regulates mRNA decay remains unclear. Here, we identify a new role for ubiquitin in regulating deadenylation, the initial and often rate-limiting step in mRNA degradation. MEX-3C, a canonical member of this family of RNA-binding ubiquitin ligases, associates with the cytoplasmic deadenylation complexes and ubiquitinates CNOT7(Caf1), the main catalytic subunit of the CCR4-NOT deadenylation machinery. We establish a new role for ubiquitin in regulating MHC-I mRNA deadenylation as ubiquitination of CNOT7 by MEX-3C regulates its deadenylation activity and is required for MHC-I mRNA degradation. Since neither proteasome nor lysosome inhibitors rescued MEX-3C-mediated MHC-I mRNA degradation, our findings suggest a new non-proteolytic function for ubiquitin in the regulation of mRNA decay.
Correction: Corrigendum: Method for Controlling Electrical Properties of Single-Layer Graphene Nanoribbons via Adsorbed Planar Molecular Nanoparticles
Authors: Tanaka Hirofumi , Arima Ryo , Fukumori Minoru , Tanaka Daisuke , Negishi Ryota , Kobayashi Yoshihiro , Kasai Seiya , Kazu Yamada Toyo , Ogawa Takuji
Published: October 2015

A simple method for fabricating single-layer graphene nanoribbons (sGNRs) from double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) was developed. A sonication treatment was employed to unzip the DWNTs by inducing defects in them through annealing at 500 °C. The unzipped DWNTs yielded double-layered GNRs (dGNRs). Further sonication allowed each dGNR to be unpeeled into two sGNRs. Purification performed using a high-speed centrifuge ensured that more than 99% of the formed GNRs were sGNRs. The changes induced in the electrical properties of the obtained sGNR by the absorption of nanoparticles of planar molecule, naphthalenediimide (NDI), were investigated. The shape of the I-V curve of the sGNRs varied with the number of NDI nanoparticles adsorbed. This was suggestive of the existence of a band gap at the narrow-necked part near the NDI-adsorbing area of the sGNRs.
Predictive analytics of environmental adaptability in multi-omic network models
Authors: Angione Claudio , Lió Pietro
Published: October 2015

Bacterial phenotypic traits and lifestyles in response to diverse environmental conditions depend on changes in the internal molecular environment. However, predicting bacterial adaptability is still difficult outside of laboratory controlled conditions. Many molecular levels can contribute to the adaptation to a changing environment: pathway structure, codon usage, metabolism. To measure adaptability to changing environmental conditions and over time, we develop a multi-omic model of Escherichia coli that accounts for metabolism, gene expression and codon usage at both transcription and translation levels. After the integration of multiple omics into the model, we propose a multiobjective optimization algorithm to find the allowable and optimal metabolic phenotypes through concurrent maximization or minimization of multiple metabolic markers. In the condition space, we propose Pareto hypervolume and spectral analysis as estimators of short term multi-omic (transcriptomic and metabolic) evolution, thus enabling comparative analysis of metabolic conditions. We therefore compare, evaluate and cluster different experimental conditions, models and bacterial strains according to their metabolic response in a multidimensional objective space, rather than in the original space of microarray data. We finally validate our methods on a phenomics dataset of growth conditions. Our framework, named METRADE, is freely available as a MATLAB toolbox.
The conservation and signatures of lincRNAs in Marek’s disease of chicken
Authors: He Yanghua , Ding Yi , Zhan Fei , Zhang Huanmin , Han Bo , Hu Gangqing , Zhao Keji , Yang Ning , Yu Ying , Mao Li , Song Jiuzhou
Published: October 2015

Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) associated with a number of cancers and other diseases have been identified in mammals, but they are still formidable to be comprehensively identified and characterized. Marek’s disease (MD) is a T cell lymphoma of chickens induced by Marek’s disease virus (MDV). Here, we used a MD chicken model to develop a precise pipeline for identifying lincRNAs and to determine the roles of lincRNAs in T cell tumorigenesis. More than 1,000 lincRNA loci were identified in chicken bursa. Computational analyses demonstrated that lincRNAs are conserved among different species such as human, mouse and chicken. The putative lincRNAs were found to be associated with a wide range of biological functions including immune responses. Interestingly, we observed distinct lincRNA expression signatures in bursa between MD resistant and susceptible lines of chickens. One of the candidate lincRNAs, termed linc-satb1, was found to play a crucial role in MD immune response by regulating a nearby protein-coding gene SATB1. Thus, our results manifested that lincRNAs may exert considerable influence on MDV-induced T cell tumorigenesis and provide a rich resource for hypothesis-driven functional studies to reveal genetic mechanisms underlying susceptibility to tumorigenesis.
Mass Spectrometric and Spectrofluorometric Studies of the Interaction of Aristolochic Acids with Proteins
Authors: Li Weiwei , Hu Qin , Chan Wan
Published: October 2015

Aristolochic acid (AA) is a potent carcinogen and nephrotoxin and is associated with the development of “Chinese herb nephropathy” and Balkan endemic nephropathy. Despite decades of research, the specific mechanism of the observed nephrotoxicity has remained elusive and the potential effects on proteins due to the observed toxicity of AA are not well-understood. To better understand the pharmacotoxicological features of AA, we investigated the non-covalent interactions of AA with proteins. The protein-binding properties of AA with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme were characterized using spectrofluorometric and mass spectrometric (MS) techniques. Moreover, the protein-AA complexes were clearly identified by high-resolution MS analyses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first direct evidence of non-covalently bound protein-AA complexes. An analysis of the spectrofluorometric data by a modified Stern−Volmer plot model also revealed that both aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII) were bound to BSA and lysozyme in 1:1 stoichiometries. A significantly stronger protein binding property was observed in AAII than in AAI as evidenced by the spectrofluorometric and MS analyses, which may explain the observed higher mutagenicity of AAII.
Artificial Gauge Field and Topological Phase in a Conventional Two-dimensional Electron Gas with Antidot Lattices
Authors: Shi Likun , Lou Wenkai , Cheng F. , Zou Y. L. , Yang Wen , Chang Kai
Published: October 2015

Based on the Born-Oppemheimer approximation, we divide the total electron Hamiltonian in a spin-orbit coupled system into the slow orbital motion and the fast interband transition processes. We find that the fast motion induces a gauge field on the slow orbital motion, perpendicular to the electron momentum, inducing a topological phase. From this general designing principle, we present a theory for generating artificial gauge field and topological phase in a conventional two-dimensional electron gas embedded in parabolically graded GaAs/InxGa1−xAs/GaAs quantum wells with antidot lattices. By tuning the etching depth and period of the antidot lattices, the band folding caused by the antidot potential leads to the formation of minibands and band inversions between neighboring subbands. The intersubband spin-orbit interaction opens considerably large nontrivial minigaps and leads to many pairs of helical edge states in these gaps.
RNAi knockdown of acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene eliminates jinggangmycin-enhanced reproduction and population growth in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Zhang Yi-Xin , Ge Lin-Quan , Jiang Yi-Ping , Lu Xiu-Li , Li Xin , Stanley David , Song Qi-Sheng , Wu Jin-Cai
Published: October 2015

A major challenge in ecology lies in understanding the coexistence of intraguild species, well documented at the organismal level, but not at the molecular level. This study focused on the effects of the antibiotic, jinggangmycin (JGM), a fungicide widely used in Asian rice agroecosystems, on reproduction of insects within the planthopper guild, including the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens and the white-backed planthopper (WBPH) Sogatella furcifera, both serious resurgence rice pests. JGM exposure significantly increased BPH fecundity and population growth, but suppressed both parameters in laboratory and field WBPH populations. We used digital gene expression and transcriptomic analyses to identify a panel of differentially expressed genes, including a set of up-regulated genes in JGM-treated BPH, which were down-regulated in JGM-treated WBPH. RNAi silencing of Acetyl Co-A carboxylase (ACC), highly expressed in JGM-treated BPH, reduced ACC expression (by > 60%) and eliminated JGM-induced fecundity increases in BPH. These findings support our hypothesis that differences in ACC expression separates intraguild species at the molecular level.
Effects of Scorpion venom peptide B5 on hematopoietic recovery in irradiated mice and the primary mechanisms
Authors: Wang Caixia , Zhou Meixun , Li Ting , Wang Yan , Xing Baiqian , Kong Tianhan , Dong Weihua
Published: October 2015

Scorpion venom peptide B5 (SVP-B5) stimulates recovery of hematopoiesis after exposure to radiation. However, its radioprotective effects and mechanisms are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SVP-B5 on hematopoietic recovery in mice after total body irradiation (TBI) at a dose of 7.5Gy and 6Gy and to explore the possible primary mechanisms. SVP-B5 at a dose of 2.63 μg/kg significantly reduced the mortality rate of mice after TBI (p < 0.05). It showed markedly protective effects against radiation injury. SVP-B5 also significantly increased the number of bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) and increased the colony forming unit (CFU) number in irradiated mice, accelerated the post-irradiation recovery of peripheral blood leukocytes and platelets in mice. SVP-B5 treatment markedly reduced the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels in BMNCs after TBI, reduced γH2AX levels and decreased the relative expression levels of p16 and p21 mRNA at day14 (d14) after irradiation. Our study indicated that SVP-B5 could partially mitigate radiation-induced DNA damage, enhance the post-radiation hematopoietic recovery and improve the survival rate probably through the ROS-p16/p21 pathway.
Sirt6 depletion causes spindle defects and chromosome misalignment during meiosis of mouse oocyte
Authors: Han Longsen , Ge Juan , Zhang Liang , Ma Rujun , Hou Xiaojing , Li Bin , Moley Kelle , Wang Qiang
Published: October 2015

Sirt6, a member of the sirtuin family of NAD-dependent protein deacetylases, has been implicated in multiple biological processes. However, the roles of Sirt6 in meiosis have not been addressed. In the present study, by employing knockdown analysis in mouse oocytes, we evaluated the effects of Sirt6 on meiotic apparatus. We found that specific depletion of Sirt6 results in disruption of spindle morphology and chromosome alignment in oocytes. Consistent with this observation, incidence of aneuploidy is also markedly increased in Sirt6-depleted oocytes. Furthermore, confocal scanning showed that kinetochore-microtubule interaction, an important mechanism controlling chromosome segregation, is severely impaired in metaphase oocytes following Sirt6 knockdown. Unexpectedly, we discovered that Sirt6 modulates the acetylation status of histone H4K16 as their knockdown specifically induces the hyperacetylation of H4K16 in oocytes, which may be associated with the defective phenotypes described above via altering kinetochore function. Altogether, our data reveal a novel function of Sirt6 during oocyte meiosis and indicate a pathway regulating meiotic apparatus.
Photoacoustic “nanobombs” fight against undesirable vesicular compartmentalization of anticancer drugs
Authors: Chen Aiping , Xu Chun , Li Min , Zhang Hailin , Wang Diancheng , Xia Mao , Meng Gang , Kang Bin , Chen Hongyuan , Wei Jiwu
Published: October 2015

Undesirable intracellular vesicular compartmentalization of anticancer drugs in cancer cells is a common cause of chemoresistance. Strategies aimed at circumventing this problem may improve chemotherapeutic efficacy. We report a novel photophysical strategy for controlled-disruption of vesicular sequestration of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), modified with folate, were trapped in acidic vesicles after entering lung cancer cells. Upon irradiation by near-infrared pulsed laser, these vesicles were massively broken by the resulting photoacoustic shockwave and the vesicle-sequestered contents were released, leading to redistribution of DOX from cytoplasm to the target-containing nucleus. Redistribution resulted in 12-fold decrease of the EC50 of DOX in lung cancer cells and enhanced antitumor efficacy of low-dose DOX in tumor-bearing mice. Side effects were not observed. These findings provide insights of using nanotechnology to improve cancer chemotherapy, i.e. not only for drug delivery, but also for overcoming intracellular drug-transport hurdles.
Organic Ferroelectric Memory Devices
Authors: Chang Hsuan-Chun , Wu Hung-Chin , Chen Wen-Chang
Published: October 2015

Ferroelectrics are polar substances of either solid (crystalline or polymeric) or liquid crystals, in which inverting the external electric field can reverse the spontaneously generated electric polarization. The bistable hysteresis of ferroelectric materials offers the possibility to develop electrically switchable data storage devices. Organic non-volatile memory devices based on ferroelectricity are a promising approach towards the development of low-cost memory technology. In addition, ferroelectric memory devices generally possess the advantages of long data or operating endurance, short switching time, and low-voltage operation. In this chapter, we discuss the latest developments of ferroelectric data storage memory devices based on three main device configurations, including capacitors, field-effect transistors, and diodes. Key materials and process issues for optimizing memory performance in each device architecture and thus realizing organic ferroelectric memory are discussed. The effects of the polymer orientation, interfacial engineering, device structure, and processing parameters on the memory switching characteristics are explored systematically.
Overview of Combustion Toxicology
Authors: Purser David A. , Maynard Robert L.
Published: October 2015

Chapter 1 summarizes the main aspects of the subject areas addressed in the book, which is divided into five main sections: the science of combustion, the toxicity of combustion products, clinical toxicology and management of combustion product exposures, examples of unusual conflagrations, and public health aspects of fire management. For each section a short guide to the topics covered in the different chapters is presented.
Products of Combustion and Toxicity from Specific Types of Fires
Authors: Wakefield James C.
Published: October 2015

The Chemical Hazards and Poisons Division (CHaPD) is frequently required to advise on the health effects arising from incidents due to fires. This chapter, adapted from a review prepared for the Health Protection Agency, considers the toxicity of combustion products from a range of different fire types. Following smoke inhalation, toxicity may result either from thermal injury, or from the toxic effects of substances present. This review considers only the latter, and aims to identify generalisations that may be made regarding the toxicity of common products present in fire smoke, with respect to the combustion conditions (temperature, oxygen availability, etc.), focusing largely on the adverse health effects to humans following acute exposure to these chemicals in smoke. The prediction of toxic combustion products is a complex area and there is the potential for the generation of a huge range of pyrolysis products depending on the nature of the fire and the conditions of burning. Although each fire will have individual characteristics and will ultimately need to be considered on a case by case basis, there are commonalities, particularly with regard to the most important components relating to toxicity. The chapter provides a brief overview of the topics and issues described more fully in the individual book chapters on specific subjects, which are referenced as appropriate.
Generation, Sampling and Quantification of Toxic Combustion Products
Authors: Hull T. Richard , Stec Anna A.
Published: October 2015

Despite a considerable body of published data on combustion chemistry and combustion product toxicity, the availability of an array of test methods and continued advances in analytical chemistry techniques, advances in understanding combustion toxicity and toxic fire hazards have been rather slow. This has occurred partly because of the huge range of components present in fire effluent and a lack of knowledge relating overall toxicity of the individual effects to interactions of all the individual components, and practical difficulties associated with sampling, detecting and quantifying each component from these complex mixtures of vapours and particulates. However, a major issue is the generally poor understanding of how much the range of different substances evolved and their yields depend on the combustion conditions. This has resulted in the development and use of combustion tests methods operating under poorly characterised combustion conditions often with little relevance to those occurring in actual fires. This chapter addresses aspects relating to the generation of fire effluents under well-characterised combustion conditions, the identification of methods performing inappropriately and the development of validated test methods. Consideration is then given to issues related to sampling and analysis of fire effluents.
Haber's Law and its Application to Combustion Products
Authors: Maynard Robert L. , Purser David A.
Published: October 2015

Haber's Law has long played an important role in toxicological thinking for calculation of acute toxicity and, in its original (Ct=k) or modified (Cnt=k) forms, underlies much work in the standard setting field, including the development of emergency planning guidelines and workplace exposure limits for some of the individual gases released in combustion products. This chapter describes the history of the development of Haber's Law and its derivatives. The extent to which these can be applied effectively to combustion products is examined. Several cases have been described for which the development of more sophisticated calculation models has been necessary for key combustion gases.
Mechanism of Action of Combustion-derived Nanoparticles
Authors: Donaldson Ken , Hunter Amanda , Poland Craig , Smith Steve
Published: October 2015

Combustion-derived nanoparticles (CDNP) are exemplified by diesel exhaust particles (DEP) and DEP have been studied extensively as to their mechanism of adverse action. These adverse actions include effects on the lungs in exacerbating existing airways disease and adverse effects in cardiovascular disease. Toxicologists seek to link particle structure to toxicity and studies have shown that DEP and other CDNP have components capable of causing oxidative stress in the lungs following deposition, i.e., the carbon core, metals and a range of organics. Oxidative stress can be measured in cells in culture and in tissues from animals and humans exposed to DEP and other CDNP. Oxidative stress is linked to inflammation by well-recognised signalling pathways and pro-inflammatory effects are induced in cells, animals and humans exposed to CDNP. Inflammation is an underlying mechanism in the major pulmonary effects of DEP and particulates in human populations. Oxidative stress and inflammation are known to be involved in atherosclerosis development and in their destabilisation and rupture, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Wood-smoke appears to be less potent than DEP in causing pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammation and impacts little on the cardiovascular system. Difference in composition between DEP and wood-smoke can reasonably explain the differences in potency between DEP and wood-smoke, and this suggests that CDNP from various sources will have different potency depending on their composition.
Treatment of Cyanide Poisoning Associated with Fires
Authors: Marrs Timothy C.
Published: October 2015

Hydrogen cyanide is one of a number of nitrogen-containing substances produced in fires, although the extent to which hydrogen cyanide (HCN) contributes to morbidity and mortality is not completely clear. Much of the experimental and clinical data related to cyanide poisoning is based not on exposure to HCN, but upon oral poisoning with cyanide salts, from which extrapolation to HCN poisoning has to be undertaken with caution. The most important measure is to stop further exposure to hydrogen cyanide; thus the casualty needs to be removed from the source of HCN. There is evidence to suggest that oxygen is beneficial in cyanide poisoning. Very many antidotes have been studied experimentally in animals and a few of these have been used clinically. Those used clinically include sodium thiosulfate, which hastens the enzymatic detoxication of cyanide. Alternatively, hydrogen cyanide can be detoxified by complexation with heavy metals, either iron (Fe++) in the form of drug-induced methaemoglobin or cobalt. The only methaemoglobin formers that have been used clinically are amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite and 4-dimethylaminophenol. Sodium nitrite, together with sodium thiosulfate, forms the “classical therapy” for cyanide poisoning. Two cobalt compounds have been used clinically: dicobalt edetate (Kelocyanor) and hydroxocobalamin. Both appear effective, although the evidence base supporting their use is not vast.
Preparation of pH-responsive mesoporous hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for intracellular controlled release of an anticancer drug
Authors: Li Dalong , Huang Xin , Wu Yadong , Li Jiwei , Cheng Weilu , He Jinmei , Tian Huayu , Huang Yudong
Published: October 2015

A well-defined core–shell nano-carrier (PAA–MHAPNs) was successfully synthesized based on a graft-onto method by using mesoporous hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (MHAPNs) as the core and polyacrylic acid (PAA) as the shell.
A facile synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles via a copper-catalyzed cascade reaction of alkenes with azides
Authors: Li Jiu-ling , Wang Ying-chun , Li Wei-ze , Wang Heng-shan , Mo Dong-liang , Pan Ying-ming
Published: October 2015

A novel approach to the synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles is developed via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition/ring cleavage/1,2-H migration/denitrogenation/copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative dehydrogenative cyclization cascade.
Crystallization of undercooled liquid fenofibrate
Authors: Amstad Esther , Spaepen Frans , Weitz David A.
Published: October 2015

Crystallization of undercooled liquid fenofibrate, a model hydrophobic drug.
Nitrenium ions and trivalent boron ligands as analogues of N-heterocyclic carbenes in olefin metathesis: a computational study
Authors: Pazio A. , Woźniak K. , Grela K. , Trzaskowski B.
Published: October 2015

A DFT mechanistic study reveals that nitrenium ion-modified Hoveyda-like complexes are good candidates for latent metathesis catalysts, while boron-modified systems are candidates for very fast metathesis catalysts.
The cation-dependent structural phase transition and dielectric response in a family of cyano-bridged perovskite-like coordination polymers
Authors: Xu Wei-Jian , Chen Shao-Li , Hu Zhi-Tao , Lin Rui-Biao , Su Yu-Jun , Zhang Wei-Xiong , Chen Xiao-Ming
Published: October 2015

The cation-dependent phase transition and the relevant dielectric response were demonstrated in a family of cyano-bridged perovskite-like coordination polymers, [(CH3)nNH4−n]2[KFe(CN)6] (n = 1–4).
Theoretical characterization of a series of N5-based aromatic hyperhalogen anions
Authors: Sun Wei-Ming , Hou Dan , Wu Di , Li Xiang-Hui , Li Ying , Chen Jing-Hua , Li Chun-Yan , Li Zhi-Ru
Published: October 2015

A series of mono- and di-nuclear N5-based aromatic hyperhalogen anions have been reported in this work.
Unexpected fluorescence from maleimide-containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes: nanoparticle and sequence distribution analyses of polystyrene-based alternating copolymers
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed Gamal , Hsu Kuo-Chih , Hong Jin-Long , Kuo Shiao-Wei
Published: October 2015

Unusual fluorescent polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-containing polymers lacking any common fluorescent units because of the crystallinity and clustering of locked CO groups of POSS units.
Capacity of thiourea Schiff base esters as multifunctional additives: synthesis, characterization and performance evaluation in polyol
Authors: Singh Raj K. , Kukrety Aruna , Sharma Om P. , Thakre Gananath D. , Atray Neeraj , Ray Siddharth S.
Published: October 2015

Novel thiourea Schiff base esters evaluated by a four ball test as multifunctional additives in polyol base oil showing excellent antifriction activity and moderate anti-wear properties.
TiO2 nanofibers supported on Ti sheets prepared by hydrothermal corrosion: effect of the microstructure on their photochemical and photoelectrochemical properties
Authors: Chaguetmi Samiha , Achour Slimane , Mouton Ludovic , Decorse Philippe , Nowak Sophie , Costentin Cyrille , Mammeri Fayna , Ammar Souad
Published: October 2015

TiO2 nanostructures were prepared by hydrothermal corrosion of Ti sheets for various heating temperatures and times. Their change from thick and short nanorods to thin and long nanowires by increasing these processing parameters led to improved photocatalytic properties.
Fast track for quantitative isolation of lignosulfonates from spent sulfite liquors
Authors: Sumerskii I. , Korntner P. , Zinovyev G. , Rosenau T. , Potthast A.
Published: October 2015

In this study, a novel approach for isolation and purification of lignosulfonates from spent sulfite liquor was established.
Interactions, morphology and thermal stability of graphene-oxide reinforced polymer aerogels derived from star-like telechelic aldehyde-terminal benzoxazine resin
Authors: Alhwaige Almahdi A. , Alhassan Saeed M. , Katsiotis Marios S. , Ishida Hatsuo , Qutubuddin Syed
Published: October 2015

Graphene oxide (GO)-reinforced nanocomposite aerogels of polybenzoxazine preparedviafreeze-drying of GO suspensions in benzoxazine precursor solutions have been studied.
Electricity generation from sulfide tailings using a double-chamber microbial fuel cell
Authors: Nie P. F. , Li X. F. , Ren Y. P. , Wang X. H.
Published: October 2015

Pyrrhotite tailings have the potential to drive electricity generation accompanied by microbial leaching of valuable metals using the double-chamber MFC reactor.
Nanoporous iron oxide@carbon composites with low carbon content as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Xu Xiaoqian , Wan Yuanxin , Sha Ye , Deng Weijia , Xue Gi , Zhou Dongshan
Published: October 2015

Nanoporous Fe2O3@C nanoparticles with low carbon content as high performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries.
PO43− doped Li4Ti5O12 hollow microspheres as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Han Dian-Dian , Pan Gui-Ling , Liu Sheng , Gao Xue-Ping
Published: October 2015

PO43− doped Li4Ti5O12 hollow microspheres present stable cycling stability and outstanding high-rate capability due to the slight increase in the number of diffusion paths for lithium ions by doping with large PO43− anions.
Facile synthesis of Mn6.87(OH)3(VO4)3.6(V2O7)0.2microtubes and their application as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhang Shaoyan , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: October 2015

Mn6.87(OH)3(VO4)3.6(V2O7)0.2microtubes have been fabricated by a simple one-step hydrothermal procedure.
Highly efficient dehydrogenative cross-coupling of aldehydes with amines and alcohols
Authors: Deshidi Ramesh , Rizvi Masood Ahmad , Shah Bhahwal Ali
Published: October 2015

A common protocol for the synthesis of amides, esters and α-ketoesters via cross dehydrogenative coupling of aldehydes and amines/alcohols has been developed.
Melamine trisulfonic acid (MTSA): an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst in green organic synthesis
Authors: Vekariya Rajesh H. , Patel Kinjal D. , Patel Hitesh D.
Published: October 2015

Melamine trisulfonic acid (MTSA) as a highly efficient heterogeneous solid acid catalyst catalyzes various organic transformations.
Electrospun In@C nanofibers as a superior Li-ion battery anode
Authors: Guo Wei , Mei Lin , Li Xiu , Mao Minglei , Ma Jianmin
Published: October 2015

In this communication, we have successfully obtained electrospun indium@carbon nanofibers. When applied as the Li-ion battery anode, the indium@carbon nanofibers could exhibit a high discharge capacity of 500 mA h g−1after 200 cycles at 100 mA g−1.
Combustion deposition of MoO3films: from fundamentals to OPV applications
Authors: Marchal Wouter , De Dobbelaere Christopher , Kesters Jurgen , Bonneux Gilles , Vandenbergh Joke , Damm Hanne , Junkers Tanja , Maes Wouter , D'Haen Jan , Van Bael Marlies K. , Hardy An
Published: October 2015

Strong indications for combustion in films illustrated by morphological properties of the functional MoO3layers.
Flower-like NiO nanostructures synthesized by electrodeposition method for efficient detection of toluene gas
Authors: Yuan Chaoxin , Li Hairong , Xie Longzhen , Wang Fang , Deng Heng , Chang Fangzhi , Sun Yongzhe
Published: October 2015

The technological process for the preparation of nickel oxide nanomaterials in this work.
An advanced asymmetric supercapacitor based on a novel ternary graphene/nickel/nickel oxide and porous carbon electrode with superior electrochemical performance
Authors: Liu Miaomiao , Chang Jie , Bai Yang , Sun Jing
Published: October 2015

A novel ternary system of RGO/Ni/NiO is synthesized for the first time, exhibiting high energy density of 65.3 W h kg−1.
Direct, rapid, solvent-free conversion of unactivated esters to amides using lithium hydroxide as a catalyst
Authors: Miller Shelli A. , Leadbeater Nicholas E.
Published: October 2015

A simple, solvent-free methodology is reported for the direct conversion of esters to amides using lithium hydroxide as a catalyst.
A versatile model for soft patchy particles with various patch arrangements
Authors: Li Zhan-Wei , Zhu You-Liang , Lu Zhong-Yuan , Sun Zhao-Yan
Published: October 2015

A simple and general mesoscale soft patchy particle model is proposed to investigate the aggregation behavior and mechanism of various types of soft patchy particles with tunable number, size, direction, and geometrical arrangement of the patches.
In situ preparation of interconnected networks constructed by using flexible graphene/Sn sandwich nanosheets for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes
Authors: Qin Jian , Zhang Xiang , Zhao Naiqin , Shi Chunsheng , Liu En-Zuo , Li Jiajun , He Chunnian
Published: October 2015

A novel 3D composite architecture constructed by flexible graphene/Sn sandwich nanosheets was synthesized and exhibits excellent lithium storage performance.
Fabrication of a ternary CdS/ZnIn2S4/TiO2 heterojunction for enhancing photoelectrochemical performance: effect of cascading electron–hole transfer
Authors: Mahadik Mahadeo A. , Shinde Pravin S. , Cho Min , Jang Jum Suk
Published: October 2015

A novel, three-dimensional, ternary CdS/ZnIn2S4/TiO2 heterojunction has been fabricated via a three-step facile hydrothermal method.
Dynamics of homogeneous nucleation
Authors: Toxvaerd Søren
Published: October 2015

The classical nucleation theory for homogeneous nucleation is formulated as a theory for a density fluctuation in a supersaturated gas at a given temperature. But molecular dynamics simulations reveal that it is small cold clusters which initiates the nucleation. The temperature in the nucleating clusters fluctuates, but the mean temperature remains below the temperature in the supersaturated gas until they reach the critical nucleation size. The critical nuclei have, however, a temperature equal to the supersaturated gas. The kinetics of homogeneous nucleation is not only caused by a grow or shrink by accretion or evaporation of monomers only but also by an exponentially declining change in cluster size per time step equal to the cluster distribution in the supersaturated gas.
Aging of nano-morphology, resistivity, and far-infrared absorption in gold-black
Authors: Panjwani Deep , Dutta Aniruddha , Nath Janardan , Heinrich Helge , Peale Robert E.
Published: October 2015

Gold black is a highly porous, extremely fragile, infrared-absorbing film used primarily as a coating for bolometers. Long term stability of its absorbance is a significant practical concern. This paper reports on the aging of morphological, electrical, and optical properties of gold black samples prepared with different initial porosities. An observed two-fold decrease in electrical resistance after 90 days at room-temperature is correlated with an increase in nano-crystalline grain size. Much larger resistance drops were observed after isothermal annealing at temperatures up to 100 °C. Aging and annealing tended to improve the far-infrared absorption. Samples with the highest initial porosity have the fastest structural relaxation.
Minimum current principle and variational method in theory of space charge limited flow
Authors: Rokhlenko A.
Published: October 2015

In spirit of the principle of least action, which means that when a perturbation is applied to a physical system, its reaction is such that it modifies its state to “agree” with the perturbation by “minimal” change of its initial state. In particular, the electron field emission should produce the minimum current consistent with boundary conditions. It can be found theoretically by solving corresponding equations using different techniques. We apply here the variational method for the current calculation, which can be quite effective even when involving a short set of trial functions. The approach to a better result can be monitored by the total current that should decrease when we on the right track. Here, we present only an illustration for simple geometries of devices with the electron flow. The development of these methods can be useful when the emitter and/or anode shapes make difficult the use of standard approaches. Though direct numerical calculations including particle-in-cell technique are very effective, but theoretical calculations can provide an important insight for understanding general features of flow formation and even sometimes be realized by simpler routines.
Geographical information systems and cost benefit analysis-based approach for wind power feasibility: A case study of Terceira Island
Authors: Rodrigues A. , Silva V. , Barcelos E. , Silva C. , Dentinho T.
Published: October 2015

Wind power reduces our exposure to fuel price volatility and abrupt supply disruptions; it has no CO2 emissions and increases energy security through the diversification of the energy portfolio. If well sited and dimensioned, wind farms may contribute to decreased electricity generation costs. This article presents a combined GISs (Geographical Information Systems) and CBA (Cost Benefit Analysis) approach, in determining the most feasible sites that would be suitable for the generation of wind energy in Terceira Island, which is aimed towards efficient policy designs. Data corrected with Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program, from local effects of the territory, are used to determine potential energy. Furthermore, a CBA is performed, without taking into consideration subsidies and economic indicators are displayed in maps using GIS. Results indicated that Terceira Island has large available areas capable of generating wind energy at low prices. On Terceira Island, while considering a 1500 kW wind farm under the best siting conditions, it is estimated to achieve a Net Present Value of nearly 3 330 000.00 €, an Internal Rate of Return of nearly 26%, and a Levelized Cost of Energy of nearly 0.04 €/KW h, without incentives. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that reductions in the energy sold may drastically impair the feasibility of a wind energy generation project, and that increases in the lifetime of a project from 15 to 25 years may improve its feasibility. The minimum wind speed required to grant feasibility of investments on Terceira Island, for 1500 kW installed power, is 6 m/s, ceteris paribus. This analysis pointed out that Serra do Cume and Serra da Ribeirinha are the most suited for wind energy projects on Terceira Island.
Out-of-plane nano-electro-mechanical tuning of the Fano resonance in photonic crystal split-beam nanocavity
Authors: Lin Tong , Zhang Xingwang , Zou Yongchao , Chau Fook Siong , Deng Jie , Zhou Guangya
Published: October 2015

We propose and experimentally demonstrate the use of Fano resonance as a means to improve the Quality factor of photonic crystal split-beam nanocavities. The Fano resonance is triggered by the interference between the second-order quasi-transverse electric resonant mode and the leaky high-order quasi-transverse electric propagation mode of the optimized photonic crystal split-beam nanocavity. Compared with a similar photonic crystal split-beam nanocavity without asymmetric Fano lineshape, the Q-factor is increased up to 3-fold: from 1.99×104 to  5.95×104. Additionally, out-of-plane tuning of the Fano resonance is investigated by means of a Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems based actuator. The maximum centre wavelength shift of the Fano resonance reached 116.69 pm, which is more than 4.5 times the original quasi-Full Width at Half Magnitude.