bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of the Fear of Intimacy Components Questionnaire	(FICQ)
Authors: Pedro Sobral Maria , Emília Costa Maria
Published: February 2015

Abstract. We developed a new instrument designed to measure fear of intimacy in romantic relationships. We suggest assessing fear of intimacy through two dimensions: self-revelation and dependence. The Fear of Intimacy Components Questionnaire (FICQ) was validated across three studies in which a 10-item solution systematically emerged. Consistently with a two component perspective, a two-factor solution fitted data the best: fear of losing the self (FLS) and fear of losing the other (FLO). Qualitative analyses verified content validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses tested the factor structure. Multigroup analyses supported the structural invariance across gender, age, and relationship status. Both factors showed adequate discriminant validity and internal consistency, and good 3-week period test-retest reliability. Associations between the FICQ and insecure attachment orientations demonstrated convergent validity. The association between the FICQ and relationship satisfaction above and beyond a preexisting measure offered criterion validity. By going beyond traditional self-revelation-focused conception of fear of intimacy, that is, by proposing a bi-dimensional structure to fear of intimacy, we believe that this new measure will contribute to future research on fear of intimacy.
The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale	(U-MICS)
Authors: Dimitrova Radosveta , Crocetti Elisabetta , Buzea Carmen , Jordanov Venzislav , Kosic Marianna , Tair Ergyul , Taušová Jitka , van Cittert Natasja , Uka Fitim
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The Utrecht-Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U-MICS; Crocetti, Rubini, & Meeus, 2008 ) is a recently developed measure of identity that has been shown to be a reliable tool for assessing identity processes in adolescents. This study examines psychometric properties of the U-MICS in a large adolescent sample from seven European countries focused on the interplay of commitment, in-depth exploration, and reconsideration of commitment. Participants were 1,007 adolescents from Bulgaria (n = 146), the Czech Republic (n = 142), Italy (n = 144), Kosovo (n = 150), Romania (n = 142), Slovenia (n = 156), and the Netherlands (n = 127). We tested the U-MICS measurement invariance, reliability estimates in each language version, and compared latent identity means across groups. Results showed that the U-MICS has good internal consistency as well as configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance across groups in the sampled countries.
B-cell activating factor in the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma: a target for therapy?
Authors: Hengeveld P J , Kersten M J
Published: February 2015

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a currently incurable malignancy of plasma cells. Malignant myeloma cells (MMCs) are heavily dependent upon the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment for their survival. One component of this tumor microenvironment, B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF), has been implicated as a key player in this interaction. This review discusses the role of BAFF in the pathophysiology of MM, and the potential of BAFF-inhibitory therapy for the treatment of MM. Multiple studies have shown that BAFF functions as a survival factor for MMCs. Furthermore, MMCs express several BAFF-binding receptors. Of these, only Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor (TACI) correlates with the MMC’s capability to ligate BAFF. Additionally, the level of expression of TACI correlates with the level of the MMC’s BM dependency. Ligation of BAFF receptors on MMCs causes activation of the Nuclear Factor of κ-B (NF-κB) pathway, a crucial pathway for the pathogenesis of many B-cell malignancies. Serum BAFF levels are significantly elevated in MM patients when compared to healthy controls, and correlate inversely with overall survival. BAFF signaling is thus an interesting target for the treatment of MM. Several BAFF-inhibitory drugs are currently under evaluation for the treatment of MM. These include BAFF-monoclonal antibodies (tabalumab) and antibody-drug conjugates (GSK2857916).
Infectious mononucleosis
Authors: Balfour Henry H , Dunmire Samantha K , Hogquist Kristin A
Published: February 2015

Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical entity characterized by pharyngitis, cervical lymph node enlargement, fatigue and fever, which results most often from a primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. EBV, a lymphocrytovirus and a member of the γ‐herpesvirus family, infects at least 90% of the population worldwide, the majority of whom have no recognizable illness. The virus is spread by intimate oral contact among adolescents, but how preadolescents acquire the virus is not known. During the incubation period of approximately 6 weeks, viral replication first occurs in the oropharynx followed by viremia as early as 2 weeks before onset of illness. The acute illness is marked by high viral loads in both the oral cavity and blood accompanied by the production of immunoglobulin M antibodies against EBV viral capsid antigen and an extraordinary expansion of CD8+ T lymphocytes directed against EBV‐infected B cells. During convalescence, CD8+ T cells return to normal levels and antibodies develop against EBV nuclear antigen‐1. A typical clinical picture in an adolescent or young adult with a positive heterophile test is usually sufficient to make the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis, but heterophile antibodies are not specific and do not develop in some patients especially young children. EBV‐specific antibody profiles are the best choice for staging EBV infection. In addition to causing acute illness, long‐term consequences are linked to infectious mononucleosis, especially Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple sclerosis. There is no licensed vaccine for prevention and no specific approved treatment. Future research goals are development of an EBV vaccine, understanding the risk factors for severity of the acute illness and likelihood of developing cancer or autoimmune diseases, and discovering anti‐EBV drugs to treat infectious mononucleosis and other EBV‐spurred diseases.
Predicting clinical response to anticancer drugs using an ex vivo platform that captures tumour heterogeneity
Authors: Majumder Biswanath , Baraneedharan Ulaganathan , Thiyagarajan Saravanan , Radhakrishnan Padhma , Narasimhan Harikrishna , Dhandapani Muthu , Brijwani Nilesh , Pinto Dency D. , Prasath Arun , Shanthappa Basavaraja U. , Thayakumar Allen , Surendran Rajagopalan , Babu Govind K. , Shenoy Ashok M. , Kuriakose Moni A. , Bergthold Guillaume , Horowitz Peleg , Loda Massimo , Beroukhim Rameen , Agarwal Shivani , Sengupta Shiladitya , Sundaram Mallikarjun , Majumder Pradip K.
Published: February 2015

Predicting clinical response to anticancer drugs remains a major challenge in cancer treatment. Emerging reports indicate that the tumour microenvironment and heterogeneity can limit the predictive power of current biomarker-guided strategies for chemotherapy. Here we report the engineering of personalized tumour ecosystems that contextually conserve the tumour heterogeneity, and phenocopy the tumour microenvironment using tumour explants maintained in defined tumour grade-matched matrix support and autologous patient serum. The functional response of tumour ecosystems, engineered from 109 patients, to anticancer drugs, together with the corresponding clinical outcomes, is used to train a machine learning algorithm; the learned model is then applied to predict the clinical response in an independent validation group of 55 patients, where we achieve 100% sensitivity in predictions while keeping specificity in a desired high range. The tumour ecosystem and algorithm, together termed the CANScript technology, can emerge as a powerful platform for enabling personalized medicine.
Checkpoints are blind to replication restart and recombination intermediates that result in gross chromosomal rearrangements
Authors: Mohebi Saed , Mizuno Ken’Ichi , Watson Adam , Carr Antony M. , Murray Johanne M.
Published: February 2015

Replication fork inactivation can be overcome by homologous recombination, but this can cause gross chromosomal rearrangements that subsequently missegregate at mitosis, driving further chromosome instability. It is unclear when the chromosome rearrangements are generated and whether individual replication problems or the resulting recombination intermediates delay the cell cycle. Here we have investigated checkpoint activation during HR-dependent replication restart using a site-specific replication fork-arrest system. Analysis during a single cell cycle shows that HR-dependent replication intermediates arise in S phase, shortly after replication arrest, and are resolved into acentric and dicentric chromosomes in G2. Despite this, cells progress into mitosis without delay. Neither the DNA damage nor the intra-S phase checkpoints are activated in the first cell cycle, demonstrating that these checkpoints are blind to replication and recombination intermediates as well as to rearranged chromosomes. The dicentrics form anaphase bridges that subsequently break, inducing checkpoint activation in the second cell cycle.
3D hotspots of recurrent retroviral insertions reveal long-range interactions with cancer genes
Authors: Babaei Sepideh , Akhtar Waseem , de Jong Johann , Reinders Marcel , de Ridder Jeroen
Published: February 2015

Genomically distal mutations can contribute to the deregulation of cancer genes by engaging in chromatin interactions. To study this, we overlay viral cancer-causing insertions obtained in a murine retroviral insertional mutagenesis screen with genome-wide chromatin conformation capture data. Here we find that insertions tend to cluster in 3D hotspots within the nucleus. The identified hotspots are significantly enriched for known cancer genes, and bear the expected characteristics of bona fide regulatory interactions, such as enrichment for transcription factor-binding sites. In addition, we observe a striking pattern of mutual exclusive integration. This is an indication that insertions in these loci target the same gene, either in their linear genomic vicinity or in their 3D spatial vicinity. Our findings shed new light on the repertoire of targets obtained from insertional mutagenesis screening and underline the importance of considering the genome as a 3D structure when studying effects of genomic perturbations.
Symbiodinium thermophilum sp. nov., a thermotolerant symbiotic alga prevalent in corals of the world's hottest sea, the Persian/Arabian Gulf
Authors: Hume B. C. C. , D'Angelo C. , Smith E. G. , Stevens J. R. , Burt J. , Wiedenmann J.
Published: February 2015

Coral reefs are in rapid decline on a global scale due to human activities and a changing climate. Shallow water reefs depend on the obligatory symbiosis between the habitat forming coral host and its algal symbiont from the genus Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). This association is highly sensitive to thermal perturbations and temperatures as little as 1°C above the average summer maxima can cause the breakdown of this symbiosis, termed coral bleaching. Predicting the capacity of corals to survive the expected increase in seawater temperatures depends strongly on our understanding of the thermal tolerance of the symbiotic algae. Here we use molecular phylogenetic analysis of four genetic markers to describe Symbiodinium thermophilum, sp. nov. from the Persian/Arabian Gulf, a thermally tolerant coral symbiont. Phylogenetic inference using the non-coding region of the chloroplast psbA gene resolves S. thermophilum as a monophyletic lineage with large genetic distances from any other ITS2 C3 type found outside the Gulf. Through the characterisation of Symbiodinium associations of 6 species (5 genera) of Gulf corals, we demonstrate that S. thermophilum is the prevalent symbiont all year round in the world's hottest sea, the southern Persian/Arabian Gulf.
Response surface optimization of culture medium for enhanced docosahexaenoic acid production by a Malaysian thraustochytrid
Authors: Manikan Vidyah , Kalil Mohd Sahaid , Hamid Aidil Abdul
Published: February 2015

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3) plays a vital role in the enhancement of human health, particularly for cognitive, neurological and visual functions. Marine microalgae, such as members of the genus Aurantiochytrium, are rich in DHA and represent a promising source of omega-3 fatty acids. In this study, levels of glucose, yeast extract, sodium glutamate and sea salt were optimized for enhanced lipid and DHA production by a Malaysian isolate of thraustochytrid, Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1, using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized medium contained 60 g/L glucose, 2 g/L yeast extract, 24 g/L sodium glutamate and 6 g/L sea salt. This combination produced 17.8 g/L biomass containing 53.9% lipid (9.6 g/L) which contained 44.07% DHA (4.23 g/L). The optimized medium was used in a scale-up run, where a 5 L bench-top bioreactor was employed to verify the applicability of the medium at larger scale. This produced 24.46 g/L biomass containing 38.43% lipid (9.4 g/L), of which 47.87% was DHA (4.5 g/L). The total amount of DHA produced was 25% higher than that produced in the original medium prior to optimization. This result suggests that Aurantiochytrium sp. SW1 could be developed for industrial application as a commercial DHA-producing microorganism.
Effects of Fe oxide on N transformations in subtropical acid soils
Authors: Jiang Xianjun , Xin Xiaoping , Li Shiwei , Zhou Junchao , Zhu Tongbin , Müller Christopher , Cai Zucong , Wright Alan L.
Published: February 2015

Subtropical ecosystems are often characterized by high N cycling rates, but net nitrification rates are often low in subtropical acid soils. NO3−-N immobilization into organic N may be a contributing factor to understand the observed low net nitrification rates in these acid soils. The effects of Fe oxide and organic matter on soil N transformations were evaluated using a 15N tracing study. Soil net nitrification was low for highly acidic yellow soil (Ferralsols), but gross ammonia oxidation was 7 times higher than net nitrification. In weakly acidic purple soil (Cambisols), net nitrification was 8 times higher than in Ferralsols. The addition of 5% Fe oxide to Cambisols, reduced the net nitrification rate to a negative rate, while NO3−-N immobilization rate increased 8 fold. NO3−-N immobilization was also observed in Ferralsols which contained high Fe oxides levels. A possible mechanism for these reactions could be stimulation of NO3−-N immobilization by Fe oxide which promoted the abiotic formation of nitrogenous polymers, suggesting that the absence of net nitrification in some highly acid soils may be due to high rates of NO3−-N immobilization caused by high Fe oxide content rather than a low pH.
Tonsil-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate CCl4–induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice via Autophagy Activation
Authors: Park Minhwa , Kim Yu-Hee , Woo So-Youn , Lee Hye Jin , Yu Yeonsil , Kim Han Su , Park Yoon Shin , Jo Inho , Park Joo-Won , Jung Sung-Chul , Lee Hyukjin , Jeong Byeongmoon , Ryu Kyung-Ha
Published: February 2015

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for chronic liver failure, although it is complicated by donor shortage, surgery-related complications and immunological rejection. Cell transplantation is an alternative, minimally invasive treatment option with potentially fewer complications. We used human palatine tonsil as a novel source of mesenchymal stem cells (T-MSCs) and examined their ability to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in vivo and in vitro. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) mouse model was used to investigate the ability of T-MSCs to home to the site of liver injury. T-MSCs were only detected in the damaged liver, suggesting that they are disease-responsive. Differentiation of T-MSCs into hepatocyte-like cells was confirmed in vitro as determined by expression of hepatocyte markers. Next, we showed resolution of liver fibrosis by T-MSCs via reduction of TGF-β expression and collagen deposition in the liver. We hypothesized that autophagy activation was a possible mechanism for T-MSC-mediated liver recovery. In this report, we demonstrate for the first time that T-MSCs can differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and ameliorate liver fibrosis via autophagy activation and down-regulation of TGF-β. These findings suggest that T-MSCs could be used as a novel source for stem cell therapy targeting liver diseases.
Number of sons contributes to ageing-associated inflammation
Authors: Marttila Saara , Nevalainen Tapio , Kananen Laura , Jylhävä Juulia , Jylhä Marja , Hervonen Antti , Ilonen Jorma , Hurme Mikko
Published: February 2015

The rate of inflammation increases in elderly individuals, a phenomenon called inflammaging and is associated with degenerative diseases. However, the causes of inflammaging and the origin of the associated inflammatory mediators have remained enigmatic. We show herein that there is a positive correlation between the number of sons born and C-reactive protein concentrations in 90-year-old women. This association is influenced by HLA genetics known to regulate the immune response against HY antigens.
Organ-specific PTB1-associated microRNAs determine expression of pyruvate kinase isoforms
Authors: Taniguchi Kohei , Ito Yuko , Sugito Nobuhiko , Kumazaki Minami , Shinohara Haruka , Yamada Nami , Nakagawa Yoshihito , Sugiyama Tarou , Futamura Manabu , Otsuki Yoshinori , Yoshida Kazuhiro , Uchiyama Kazuhisa , Akao Yukihiro
Published: February 2015

The Warburg effect is a well-known feature of cancer cells. However, its' functional significance hasn't been elucidated yet. Pyruvate kinase muscle (PKM), which is a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme, has 2 isoforms, PKM1 and PKM2. It has been reported that PKM2 is a tumor-specific isoform and promotes the Warburg effect. Also, it has been thought that tumor cells switch their PKM isoform from PKM1 to PKM2 during tumor development. Here, we showed that this switching machinery was induced only in limited cases, based on PKM expression in normal tissues and that brain-specific microRNA (miR)-124 and muscle-specific miR-133b regulated this machinery by controlling PKM expression through targeting polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTB1), which is a splicer of the PKM gene. Also, we confirmed that the PKM2/PKM1 ratio was further elevated in other PKM2-dominant organs such as colon through the down-regulation of these PTB1-associated microRNAs during tumor development.
Evaluation of pulsed electromembrane extraction for the analysis of diclofenac and mefenamic acid in biological fluids
Authors: Fotouhi Lida , Seidi Shahram , Yamini Yadollah , Hosseini Elham
Published: February 2015

In the present study, electromembrane extraction (EME) and pulsed electromembrane extraction (PEME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were compared for the extraction of two acidic drugs including diclofenac (DIC) and mefenamic acid (MEF).
Enhanced performance and morphological evolution of PTB7:PC71BM polymer solar cells by using solvent mixtures with different additives
Authors: Huang Di , Li Yang , Xu Zheng , Zhao Suling , Zhao Ling , Zhao Jiao
Published: February 2015

The performance of PTB7:PC71BM solar cells was enhanced by using co-solvents, and their morphology was investigated by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.
Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity in BiOCl/SnO2: heterojunction of two wide band-gap semiconductors
Authors: Sun Menglin , Zhao Qihang , Du Chunfang , Liu Zhiliang
Published: February 2015

A series of BiOCl/SnO2heterojunctions exhibiting exceptional visible light photocatalytic performance has been successfully prepared using a two-step solution route.
Adsorption of sulfamethazine by multi-walled carbon nanotubes: effects of aqueous solution chemistry
Authors: Yang Quanquan , Chen Guangcai , Zhang Jianfeng , Li Helian
Published: February 2015

The adsorption of SMZ by MWCNTs was studied under varied pH, ionic strength, cations and anions in solution. The results indicated that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions were the main adsorption mechanisms, and π–π interaction also played an important role.
Gold nanoparticle modified graphitic carbon nitride/multi-walled carbon nanotube (g-C3N4/CNTs/Au) hybrid photocatalysts for effective water splitting and degradation
Authors: Pawar Rajendra C. , Kang Suhee , Ahn Sung Hoon , Lee Caroline Sunyong
Published: February 2015

Highly stable plasmonic potocatalysts based on Au, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrids for effective degradation of organic pollutant and photoelectrchemical (PEC) water splitting.
Reductive cleavage of P4 by iron(i) centres: synthesis and structural characterisation of Fe2(P2)2 complexes with two bridging P22− ligands
Authors: Yao Shenglai , Szilvási Tibor , Lindenmaier Nils , Xiong Yun , Inoue Shigeyoshi , Adelhardt Mario , Sutter Jörg , Meyer Karsten , Driess Matthias
Published: February 2015

The one-electron reduction of a new Fe2(P2)2 complex affords the first delocalised mixed-valent Fe(ii,iii) complex with an Fe2P4 core.
Design of polystyrene latex particles covered with polyoxometalate clusters via multiple covalent bonding
Authors: Chen Xinyue , Li Hui , Yin Panchao , Liu Tianbo
Published: February 2015

Polyoxometalate clusters can be chemically grafted onto the surface of polymer latex via simple emulsion polymerization reaction. Such hierarchical nano-structures could serve as highly efficient quasi-homogeneous catalysts.
3D-printed microfluidic automation
Authors: Au Anthony K. , Bhattacharjee Nirveek , Horowitz Lisa F. , Chang Tim C. , Folch Albert
Published: February 2015

We present a novel microvalve design which can be 3D-printed in optically-clear, biocompatible plastic without assembly.
What makes a good graphene-binding peptide? Adsorption of amino acids and peptides at aqueous graphene interfaces
Authors: Hughes Zak E. , Walsh Tiffany R.
Published: February 2015

Molecular dynamics simulations of the aqueous biomolecule–graphene interface have predicted the free energy of adsorption of amino acids and the structure of peptides.
Non‐invasive identification of turbo‐generator parameters from actual transient network data
Authors: Hutchison Greame , Zahawi Bashar , Harmer Keith , Gadoue Shady , Giaouris Damian
Published: February 2015

Synchronous machines are the most widely used form of generators in electrical power systems. Identifying the parameters of these generators in a non‐invasive way is very challenging because of the inherent non‐linearity of power station performance. This study proposes a parameter identification method using a stochastic optimisation algorithm that is capable of identifying generator, exciter and turbine parameters using actual network data. An eighth order generator/turbine model is used in conjunction with the measured data to develop the objective function for optimisation. The effectiveness of the proposed method for the identification of turbo‐generator parameters is demonstrated using data from a recorded network transient on a 178 MVA steam turbine generator connected to the UK's national grid.
Important variable assessment and electricity price forecasting based on regression tree models: classification and regression trees, Bagging and Random Forests
Authors: González Camino , Mira‐McWilliams José , Juárez Isabel
Published: February 2015

Electricity price forecasting has become the focus of considerable interest in a deregulated energy market. In this study, regression tree‐based models: classification and regression trees, Bagging and Random Forests have been built and used to identify the variables dominating the marginal price of the commodity as well as for short‐term (one hour and day ahead) electricity price forecasting for the Spanish–Iberian market. Different prediction models are proposed including the main features of the market such as load, hydro and thermal generation and from available, wind energy production, of strategic interest in the Spanish market. In addition other explanatory variables are considered as lagged prices, as well as hour, day, month and year indicators. In the study, hourly data from 2000–2011 corresponding to 22 variables have been used. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed ensemble of tree‐based models which emerge as an alternative and promising tool, competitive with other existing methods.
Cross‐domain approach for operation support in smart grid
Authors: Shin Jin‐Ho , Choi Seong‐Hwan , Han Seon Yeong
Published: February 2015

Power grid operation centres have been separately developed and operated in various domains, such as the transmission, distribution and marketing domains. As the need for cooperation among domains increases in the smart grid environment, operation of the grid based on separated domains reveals serious problems, such as heterogeneous data presentation. For reliable operation of the smart grid, it is essential to integrate data from separated domains in real time and provide seamless analytics without increasing the security risk. This study presents a cross‐domain approach to grid operation that supports cross‐domain monitoring, seamless analytics and simulation based operation action recommendation. The results of the experiment show that the presented system monitors the whole grid state and supports seamless analytics with acceptable overhead.
Iterative transmission and distribution optimal power flow framework for enhanced utilisation of distributed resources
Authors: Singhal Nikita Ghanshyam , Hedman Kory W.
Published: February 2015

This study focuses on developing an integrated transmission and distribution framework that couples the two sub‐systems together with due consideration to conventional demand flexibility. The proposed framework ensures accurate representation of the system resources and the network conditions when modelling the distribution system in the transmission optimal power flow and vice‐versa. It is further used to develop an accurate pricing mechanism (distribution‐based location marginal pricing), which is reflective of the moment‐to‐moment costs of generating and delivering electrical energy, for the distribution system. By accurately modelling the two sub‐systems, the authors can improve the economic efficiency and the system reliability, as the price sensitive resources can be controlled to behave in a way that benefits the power system as a whole.
Selection diversity‐aided subcarrier intensity modulation/spatial modulation for free‐space optical communication
Authors: Lee Jeong‐Ho , Hwang Seung‐Hoon
Published: February 2015

In this study, the authors investigate the performance of selection diversity‐aided subcarrier intensity modulation (SIM)/spatial modulation (SM) for free‐space optical communications. Selection diversity is a receiver diversity technique which can enhance reception robustness in atmospheric turbulence‐induced fading. Moreover, it is most attractive in terms of the complexity when compared with the other diversity schemes. Through computer simulations, the performance of the proposed selection diversity‐aided SIM/SM is compared in terms of bit error rate with that of the conventional SIM in an additive white Gaussian noise and in an outdoor environment with log‐normal atmospheric channel. Furthermore, the error performance are mathematically analysed in the atmospheric turbulence channel at the spectral efficiency of 2 bits/s/Hz. Numerical results show that the performance of the proposed SIM/SM with two receivers is better than that of a conventional SIM with four receivers at the spectral efficiency of 4 bits/s/Hz. It means that the SIM/SM can release the complexity with less diversity photodetectors over the atmospheric turbulence channel. Additionally, it is shown that the performance of the proposed SIM/SM outperforms that of a conventional SIM regardless of the irradiance variance value. Therefore, the proposed selection diversity‐aided SIM/SM can be a good solution to achieve reliable communication with low complexity under high spectral efficiency, even under the impaired conditions of a turbulence fading channel.
Porous core photonic crystal fibre with metal‐coated central hole for terahertz applications
Authors: Muhammad Muhammad H. , Hameed Mohamed Farhat O. , Heikal Ahmed M. , Obayya Salah S.A.
Published: February 2015

In this study, a novel design of porous octagonal photonic crystal fibre with a metal‐coated central hole is investigated and analysed in the terahertz (THz) range. The suggested structure is analysed near a frequency of 1.0 THz by using the full vectorial finite difference method. The effects of the structure geometrical parameters and bending radius on the mode effective index, effective mode area and attenuation of the proposed design are investigated. The numerical results reveal that the effective mode area with a metal‐coated central hole is smaller than that of porous core without a metal‐coated central hole by 80%. In addition, very low attenuation can be obtained because of the porosity inside the core region.
Manufacturing‐tolerant compact red‐emitting laser diode designs for next generation applications
Authors: Elliott Stella Nina , Smowton Peter M.
Published: February 2015

Quantum well laser diodes with low far‐field divergence remain a requirement for many applications such as optical interconnects and data networks, pump sources and next generation holographic red–green–blue displays requiring compact, high power, visible light sources with high spatial and spectral coherence. Many designs exist, but the structure must be easy to grow reproducibly, which has commercial advantages. The authors' low far‐field divergence design widens the vertical mode in such a way as to decrease the far‐field divergence without significantly reducing the confinement factor, thus keeping threshold current lower. In this study, the authors calculate the sensitivity of their design, which has high refractive index mode expansion layers inserted in the cladding, to unintentional variations in layer thickness and composition during growth. They obtain consistency in measured far‐fields for three wafers grown over an interval of a year, with a full‐width‐half‐maximum vertical far‐field divergence of 17° for a narrow design (Design A) and just under 13° for a very narrow design (Design B). They have demonstrated a useful, reproducible design, adding to the range of versatile semiconductor lasers available for every application.
Automatic feature extraction from jet engine modulation signals based on an image processing method
Authors: Woo Yong Yang , Ji Hoon Park , Jun Woo Bae , Sung Cheol Kang , Noh Hoon Myung
Published: February 2015

This study presents an automatic method for extracting the jet engine features from the joint time‐frequency (JTF) representation of jet engine modulation (JEM) signals. First, empirical mode decomposition with adaptive low‐pass filtering was employed to extract the first harmonic component of the JEM signal. Then, a smoothed pseudo Wigner–Ville distribution (SPWVD) technique was used for acquiring the refined JTF representation. After converting the SPWVD result into an image with RGB colours, the green component was extracted as a representative of the JEM component. Finally, the peaks detected from the extracted green component can represent the jet engine features. The approach proposed in this study is significant because the overall procedures for extracting the jet engine features are not manual but automatically performed based on the image processing method. Application to measured JEM signals demonstrated that the automatic feature presented in this study improved the accuracy of JEM analysis and is expected to be efficient for real‐time radar non‐cooperative target recognition.
General integrable n-level, many-mode Janes-Cummings-Dicke models and classical r-matrices with spectral parameters
Authors: Skrypnyk T.
Published: February 2015

Using the technique of classical r-matrices and quantum Lax operators, we construct the most general form of the quantum integrable “n-level, many-mode” spin-boson Jaynes-Cummings-Dicke-type hamiltonians describing an interaction of a molecule of N n-level atoms with many modes of electromagnetic field and containing, in general, additional non-linear interaction terms. We explicitly obtain the corresponding quantum Lax operators and spin-boson analogs of the generalized Gaudin hamiltonians and prove their quantum commutativity. We investigate symmetries of the obtained models that are associated with the geometric symmetries of the classical r-matrices and construct the corresponding algebra of quantum integrals. We consider in detail three classes of non-skew-symmetric classical r-matrices with spectral parameters and explicitly obtain the corresponding quantum Lax operators and Jaynes-Cummings-Dicke-type hamiltonians depending on the considered r-matrix.
Full-dimensional multilayer multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree study of electron transfer dynamics in the anthracene/C60 complex
Authors: Xie Yu , Zheng Jie , Lan Zhenggang
Published: February 2015

Electron transfer at the donor-acceptor heterojunctions plays a critical role in the photoinduced process during the solar energy conversion in organic photovoltaic materials. We theoretically investigate the electron transfer process in the anthracene/C60 donor-acceptor complex by using quantum dynamics calculations. The electron-transfer model Hamiltonian with full dimensionality was built by quantum-chemical calculations. The quantum dynamics calculations were performed using the multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) theory and multilayer (ML) MCTDH methods. The latter approach (ML-MCTDH) allows us to conduct the comprehensive study on the quantum evolution of the full-dimensional electron-transfer model including 4 electronic states and 246 vibrational degrees of freedom. Our quantum dynamics calculations exhibit the ultrafast anthracene → C60 charge transfer process because of the strong coupling between excitonic and charge transfer states. This work demonstrates that the ML-MCTDH is a very powerful method to treat the quantum evolution of complex systems.
Water organization between oppositely charged surfaces: Implications for protein sliding along DNA
Authors: Marcovitz Amir , Naftaly Aviv , Levy Yaakov
Published: February 2015

Water molecules are abundant in protein–DNA interfaces, especially in their nonspecific complexes. In this study, we investigated the organization and energetics of the interfacial water by simplifying the geometries of the proteins and the DNA to represent them as two equally and oppositely charged planar surfaces immersed in water. We found that the potential of mean force for bringing the two parallel surfaces into close proximity comprises energetic barriers whose properties strongly depend on the charge density of the surfaces. We demonstrated how the organization of the water molecules into discretized layers and the corresponding energetic barriers to dehydration can be modulated by the charge density on the surfaces, salt, and the structure of the surfaces. The 1–2 layers of ordered water are tightly bound to the charged surfaces representing the nonspecific protein–DNA complex. This suggests that water might mediate one-dimensional diffusion of proteins along DNA (sliding) by screening attractive electrostatic interactions between the positively charged molecular surface on the protein and the negatively charged DNA backbone and, in doing so, reduce intermolecular friction in a manner that smoothens the energetic landscape for sliding, and facilitates the 1D diffusion of the protein.
Landau damping
Authors: Wesson John
Published: February 2015

Landau damping is calculated using real variables, clarifying the physical mechanism.
Influences of wide-angle and multi-beam interference on the chromaticity and efficiency of top-emitting white organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Deng Lingling , Zhou Hongwei , Chen Shufen , Shi Hongying , Liu Bin , Wang Lianhui , Huang Wei
Published: February 2015

Wide-angle interference (WI) and multi-beam interference (MI) in microcavity are analyzed separately to improve chromaticity and efficiency of the top-emitting white organic light-emitting diodes (TWOLEDs). A classic electromagnetic theory is used to calculate the resonance intensities of WI and MI in top-emitting organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs) with influence factors (e.g., electrodes and exciton locations) being considered. The role of WI on the performances of TOLEDs is revealed through using δ-doping technology and comparing blue and red EML positions in top-emitting and bottom-emitting devices. The blue light intensity significantly increases and the chromaticity of TWOLEDs is further improved with the use of enhanced WI (the blue emitting layer moving towards the reflective electrode) in the case of a weak MI. In addition, the effect of the thicknesses of light output layer and carrier transport layers on WI and MI are also investigated. Apart from the microcavity effect, other factors, e.g., carrier balance and carrier recombination regions are considered to obtain TWOLEDs with high efficiency and improved chromaticity near white light equal-energy point.
Thermal conductivity and spectral phonon properties of freestanding and supported silicene
Authors: Wang Zuyuan , Feng Tianli , Ruan Xiulin
Published: February 2015

We conduct molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the thermal conductivity of freestanding silicene and silicene supported on an amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO2) substrate in the temperature range from 300 to 900 K. The results show that the thermal conductivity decreases with increasing temperature and that the presence of the SiO2 substrate results in a great reduction, up to 78% at 300 K, to the thermal conductivity of silicene. With atomic trajectories from equilibrium MD simulations, we perform spectral energy density analysis to compute the thermal conductivities, spectral phonon relaxation times, and spectral phonon mean free paths (MFPs) of freestanding and supported silicene at 300 K. When silicene is put on a SiO2 substrate, the phonon relaxation times are decreased from 1–13 ps to less than 1 ps, and the phonon MFPs are reduced from 10–120 nm to 0–20 nm. We also calculate the thermal conductivity contributions from all phonon branches and find that the thermal conductivities of freestanding and supported silicene are mainly (>85%) contributed by the longitudinal and transverse acoustic phonons, while the out-of-plane acoustic phonons have a contribution less than 3%. Our study predicts the reduction of the thermal conductivity of silicene due to substrate effects and provides a fundamental understanding of the reduction in terms of the spectral phonon relaxation times and MFPs.
Comparative study of magnetic ordering in bulk and nanoparticles of Sm0.65Ca0.35MnO3: Magnetization and electron magnetic resonance measurements
Authors: Goveas Lora Rita , Anuradha K. N. , Bhagyashree K. S. , Bhat S. V.
Published: February 2015

To explore the effect of size reduction to nanoscale on the hole doped Sm0.65Ca0.35MnO3 compound, dc magnetic measurements and electron magnetic resonance (EMR) were done on bulk and nanoparticle samples in the temperature range 10 ≤ T ≤ 300 K. Magnetization measurement showed that the bulk sample undergoes a charge ordering transition at 240 K and shows a mixed magnetic phase at low temperature. However, the nanosample underwent a ferromagnetic transition at 75 K, and the charge ordered state was destabilized on size reduction down to nanoscale. The low-temperature ferromagnetic component is found to be enhanced in nanoparticles as compared to their bulk counterpart. Interestingly around room temperature, bulk particles show higher magnetization where as at low temperature nanoparticles show higher magnetization. Ferromagnetism in the bulk is due to super exchange where as ferromagnetism in nanoparticles is due to uncompensated spins of the surface layer. Temperature variation of EMR parameters correlates well with the results of magnetic measurements. The magnetic behaviour of the nanoparticles is understood in terms of the core shell scenario.
Effect of substrate and orientation on charge ordering behaviors in epitaxial Pr0.5Ca0.35Sr0.15MnO3 films
Authors: Yang H. W. , Wang C. , Cai R. S. , Hu F. X. , Wang Y. Q. , Sun J. R.
Published: February 2015

The charge ordering (CO) behaviors of Pr0.5Ca0.35Sr0.15MnO3 films grown on STO(100), STO(110) and LAO(100) are systematically investigated by transport measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations. From the transport measurements, the CO transition temperatures of all the three films are much higher than those of the bulk materials, showing that the film strain could enhance the CO transition. From TEM observations, many superlattice spots appear in the electron diffraction patterns taken from the films, indicating the appearance of the CO modulation structures at room temperature. The modulation vectors are determined to be (1/2, 0, 0) for STO (100), (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) for STO (110), and both (0, 1/2, 0) and (1/2, 1/2, 0) for LAO (100). It is shown that both the substrate orientation and the film strain have a great effect on the CO modulation structures. The CO state is much easier to appear in the compressive strain direction which is due to the Mn-O-Mn angle tilting.
Advances in methods to obtain and characterise room temperature magnetic ZnO
Authors: Lorite I. , Straube B. , Ohldag H. , Kumar P. , Villafuerte M. , Esquinazi P. , Rodríguez Torres C. E. , Perez de Heluani S. , Antonov V. N. , Bekenov L. V. , Ernst A. , Hoffmann M. , Nayak S. K. , Adeagbo W. A. , Fischer G. , Hergert W.
Published: February 2015

We report the existence of magnetic order at room temperature in Li-doped ZnO microwires after low energy H+ implantation. The microwires with diameters between 0.3 and 10 μm were prepared by a carbothermal process. We combine spectroscopy techniques to elucidate the influence of the electronic structure and local environment of Zn, O, and Li and their vacancies on the magnetic response. Ferromagnetism at room temperature is obtained only after implanting H+ in Li-doped ZnO. The overall results indicate that low-energy proton implantation is an effective method to produce the necessary amount of stable Zn vacancies near the Li ions to trigger the magnetic order.
Plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy growth and effect of varying buffer thickness on the formation of ultra-thin In0.17Al0.83N/GaN heterostructure on Si(111)
Authors: Chowdhury Subhra , Biswas Dhrubes
Published: February 2015

This work reports on the detailed plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE) growth of ultra-thin In0.17Al0.83N/GaN heterostructures on Si(111) substrate with three different buffer thickness (600 nm, 400 nm, and 200 nm). Growth through critical optimization of growth conditions is followed by the investigation of impact of varying buffer thickness on the formation of ultra-thin 1.5 nm, In0.17Al0.83N–1.25 nm, GaN–1.5 nm, In0.17Al0.83N heterostructure, in terms of threading dislocation (TD) density. Analysis reveals a drastic reduction of TD density from the order 1010 cm−2 to 108 cm−2 with increasing buffer thickness resulting smooth ultra-thin active region for thick buffer structure. Increasing strain with decreasing buffer thickness is studied through reciprocal space mapping analysis. Surface morphology through atomic force microscopy analysis also supports our study by observing an increase of pits and root mean square value (0.89 nm, 1.2 nm, and 1.45 nm) with decreasing buffer thickness which are resulted due to the internal strain and TDs.
Reduced graphene oxide coated polydimethylsiloxane film as an optoacoustic transmitter for high pressure and high frequency ultrasound generation
Authors: Lee Seok Hwan , Lee Yongseon , Yoh Jack J.
Published: February 2015

We demonstrate that reduced graphene oxide coated thin polydimethylsiloxane (rGO-PDMS) film is an effective optoacoustic transmitter for generating high pressure and high frequency ultrasound, previously unattainable using other techniques. Various coatings such as rGO-Aluminum, rGO-PDMS, PDMS-alone, and aluminum-alone are deposited on the glass substrate. Under a pulsed laser excitation, rGO-PDMS transmitter generated remarkable optoacoustic pressure which is 76 times stronger than Al-alone, 5 times stronger than PDMS-alone, and 2.2 times stronger than rGO-Al transmitter. The observed signal enhancement persisted over a broadband frequency range, and thus by optimizing the thermoelasticity of PDMS film and the thermal conductivity of rGO, a promising optoacoustic wave generation was confirmed for laser-induced ultrasound applications.
Re‐Estimating Temperature‐Dependent Consumption Parameters in Bioenergetics Models for Juvenile Chinook Salmon
Authors: Plumb John M. , Moffitt Christine M.
Published: February 2015

Researchers have cautioned against the borrowing of consumption and growth parameters from other species and life stages in bioenergetics growth models. In particular, the function that dictates temperature dependence in maximum consumption (Cmax) within the Wisconsin bioenergetics model for Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha produces estimates that are lower than those measured in published laboratory feeding trials. We used published and unpublished data from laboratory feeding trials with subyearling Chinook Salmon from three stocks (Snake, Nechako, and Big Qualicum rivers) to estimate and adjust the model parameters for temperature dependence in Cmax. The data included growth measures in fish ranging from 1.5 to 7.2 g that were held at temperatures from 14°C to 26°C. Parameters for temperature dependence in Cmax were estimated based on relative differences in food consumption, and bootstrapping techniques were then used to estimate the error about the parameters. We found that at temperatures between 17°C and 25°C, the current parameter values did not match the observed data, indicating that Cmax should be shifted by about 4°C relative to the current implementation under the bioenergetics model. We conclude that the adjusted parameters for Cmax should produce more accurate predictions from the bioenergetics model for subyearling Chinook Salmon.

Received May 20, 2014; accepted November 5, 2014
Evaluating Effects of Exploitation on Annual Apparent Mortality Rates of Paddlefish Using Mark–Recapture Data
Authors: Pierce Landon L. , Graeb Brian D. S. , Willis David W. , Sorensen Jason S.
Published: February 2015

Knowledge of the effects of exploitation on population dynamics is critical to effective conservation and management of fish populations. To improve our understanding of the effects of sport fishery exploitation on populations of PaddlefishPolyodon spathula, we tested eight additive and compensatory harvest mortality hypotheses for the Paddlefish population in Lake Francis Case (LFC), South Dakota, with 33 years of tag recovery data using dead recovery models in Program MARK. We evaluated additive and compensatory harvest mortality hypotheses by modeling the effects of sport fishery closures on annual apparent survival and tag recovery rates. Our most‐supported hypotheses indicated that exploitation prior to the functional closure of the sport fishery (i.e., when exploitation became negligible) was an additive source of mortality. Annual apparent mortality estimates (i.e., 1 − annual apparent survival) of our most‐supported model decreased from 0.237 (SE = 0.036) to 0.110 (SE = 0.063) following the functional closure of the sport fishery and coincided with a decrease in recovery rate from 0.095 (SE = 0.015) to 0.010 (SE = 0.004). These results suggest that relatively unregulated sport fishery exploitation can substantially increase mortality rates of Paddlefish populations. The effects of exploitation on mortality likely differ between populations and temporally within populations due to differences in density‐dependent mortality rates.

Received January 7, 2014; accepted November 19, 2014