bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, structural characterization and magnetic properties of Fe/Pt core-shell nanoparticles
Authors: Pisane K. L. , Singh Sobhit , Seehra M. S.
Published: February 2015

Structural and magnetic properties of Fe/Pt core-shell nanostructure prepared by a sequential reduction process are reported. Transmission electron microscopy shows nearly spherical particles fitting a lognormal size distribution with Do = 3.0 nm and distribution width λD = 0.31. In x-ray diffraction, Bragg lines only from the Pt shell are clearly identified with line-widths yielding crystallite size = 3.1 nm. Measurements of magnetization M vs. T (2 K–350 K) in magnetic fields up to 90 kOe show a blocking temperature TB = 13 K below which hysteresis loops are observed with coercivity HC increasing with decreasing T reaching HC = 750 Oe at 2 K. Temperature dependence of the ac susceptibilities at frequencies fm = 10 Hz–5 kHz is measured to determine the change in TB with fm using the Vogel-Fulcher law. This analysis shows the presence of significant interparticle interaction, the Neel-Brown relaxation frequency fo = 5.3 × 1010 Hz and anisotropy constant Ka = 3.6 × 106 ergs/cm3. A fit of the M vs. H data up to H = 90 kOe for T > TB to the modified Langevin function taking particle size distribution into account yields magnetic moment per particle consistent with the proposed core-shell structure; Fe core of 2.2 nm diameter and Pt shell of 0.4 nm thickness.
The targeted heating and current drive applications for the ITER electron cyclotron system
Authors: Henderson M. , Saibene G. , Darbos C. , Farina D. , Figini L. , Gagliardi M. , Gandini F. , Gassmann T. , Hanson G. , Loarte A. , Omori T. , Poli E. , Purohit D. , Takahashi K.
Published: February 2015

A 24 MW Electron Cyclotron (EC) system operating at 170 GHz and 3600 s pulse length is to be installed on ITER. The EC plant shall deliver 20 MW of this power to the plasma for Heating and Current Drive (H&CD) applications. The EC system is designed for plasma initiation, central heating, current drive, current profile tailoring, and Magneto-hydrodynamic control (in particular, sawteeth and Neo-classical Tearing Mode) in the flat-top phase of the plasma. A preliminary design review was performed in 2012, which identified a need for extended application of the EC system to the plasma ramp-up, flattop, and ramp down phases of ITER plasma pulse. The various functionalities are prioritized based on those applications, which can be uniquely addressed with the EC system in contrast to other H&CD systems. An initial attempt has been developed at prioritizing the allocated H&CD applications for the three scenarios envisioned: ELMy H-mode (15 MA), Hybrid (∼12 MA), and Advanced (∼9 MA) scenarios. This leads to the finalization of the design requirements for the EC sub-systems.
Homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions in the stagnation point flow of carbon nanotubes with Newtonian heating
Authors: Hayat T. , Farooq M. , Alsaedi A.
Published: February 2015

This work addresses the stagnation point flow of carbon nanotubes over an impermeable stretching cylinder with homogeneous-heterogeneous reactions. Modern heat transfer technique (i.e., Newtonian heating) and Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and water are used to explore the impacts of heat transfer characteristics. Two types of CNTs are used as nanoparticles (i) Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and (ii) multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). A system of ordinary differential equations is obtained by using suitable transformations. Convergent series solutions are derived via homotopic procedure. Impacts of various pertinent parameters on the velocity, temperature and concentration distributions are discussed graphically. Numerical values of skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are computed and analyzed.
Relationship between Curie temperature and Brillouin function characteristics of NiCuZn ferrites
Authors: Guo Rongdi , Yu Zhong , Yang Yan , Chen Linglong , Sun Ke , Jiang Xiaona , Wu Chuanjian , Lan Zhongwen
Published: February 2015

Based on Néel's two-sublattice collinear model, the relationship between Curie temperature Tc and temperature characteristics of Brillouin function for NiCuZn ferrites has been studied by nonlinear fitting calculation method. According to the tetrahedral A sites and the octahedral B sites of spinel structure model which do not only contain Fe3+ but also some other multiple magnetic ions (Ni2+and Cu2+), molecular-field coefficients ωaa, ωbb, and ωab = ωba have been calculated; furthermore, the ferrimagnetism and paramagnetism Curie temperature Tc calculation formula has been modified, respectively. The magnetic moment versus temperature T (below the Curie temperature Tc) and the reciprocal of paramagnetism magnetic susceptibility 1/χm versus temperature T (beyond the Curie temperature Tc) have been investigated, respectively. The values of the calculated ferrimagnetism Curie temperature are very close to the values of the testing Curie temperature, and with the same zinc content t, the values of paramagnetic Curie point are all bigger than that of ferrimagnetism Curie point. With regard to different zinc contents, the fitting results are coincided well with the experimental data. With the increasing of zinc content, ωaa increases constantly. However, ωab = ωba shows an opposite trend and ωbb is invariant.
Models for daily global solar radiation for the Caribbean island of Trinidad
Authors: De Souza Keith , Andrews Roger
Published: February 2015

In this study, calibration and validation data sets from 2001 to 2005 and 2006 to 2010, respectively, were used to develop various Angström-Prescott models: A five-year model and five-year dry and wet seasonal models to calculate monthly average daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface and twelve monthly models to estimate average daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface. Also, ten yearly models were developed for each year in the period 2001–2010. The regression coefficients (a,b) for the five-year, dry season, and wet season models were found to be (0.21, 0.38), (0.21, 0.38), and (0.27, 0.28), respectively. For the twelve monthly models, a and b varied over the ranges 0.19–0.37 and 0.14–0.42, respectively. For the ten yearly models, a and b varied over the ranges 0.15–0.31 and 0.22–0.48, respectively. The regression coefficients of the twelve monthly models yielded a linear relationship between b and a over a one-year time scale. Similarly, the ten yearly models also yielded a linear relationship between b and a over a ten-year time scale. For all the models, measured and calculated daily global solar radiation were compared by calculating the mean bias error, mean percentage error, root mean square error, correlation coefficient, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, and p-values based on t-statistics. Good agreement was found between the measured and calculated values and hence these models can be used in Trinidad. The single five-year model was found to be adequate in modelling the dry and wet seasons. Using the full data set, 2001–2010, the average daily global solar radiation, average total global solar radiation, average daily number of sunshine hours, and average total number of sunshine hours were determined to be 16.93± 0.73 MJ m−2 day−1, 2.56±0.11 GJ m−2, 8.49±0.44 h day−1, and 1282±67 h, respectively, for the dry season; 15.52±0.81 MJ m−2 day−1, 3.32±0.17 GJ m−2, 7.03±0.38 h day−1, and 1504±81 h, respectively, for the wet season; and 16.08±0.71 MJ m−2 day−1, 5.87±0.26 GJ m−2, 7.65±0.24 h day−1, and 2792±83 h, respectively, for the whole year.
Effects of the computational domain size on direct numerical simulations of Taylor-Couette turbulence with stationary outer cylinder
Authors: Ostilla-Mónico Rodolfo , Verzicco Roberto , Lohse Detlef
Published: February 2015

In search for the cheapest but still reliable numerical simulation, a systematic study on the effect of the computational domain (“box”) size on direct numerical simulations of Taylor-Couette flow was performed. Four boxes with varying azimuthal and axial extents were used. The radius ratio between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder was fixed to η = ri/ro = 0.909. The outer cylinder was kept stationary, while the inner rotated at a Reynolds number Rei = 105. Profiles of mean and fluctuation velocities are compared, as well as autocorrelations and velocity spectra. The smallest box is found to accurately reproduce the torque and mean azimuthal velocity profiles of larger boxes, while having smaller values of the fluctuations than the larger boxes. The axial extent of the box directly reflects on the Taylor-rolls and plays a crucial role on the correlations and spectra. The azimuthal extent is found to play a minor role in the simulations, as the boxes are large enough. For all boxes studied, the spectra do not reach a box independent maximum.
Microstructural evolution of diamond films from CH4/H2/N2 plasma and their enhanced electrical properties
Authors: Sankaran K. J. , Tai N. H. , Lin I. N.
Published: February 2015

The influence of N2 concentration in CH4/H2/N2 plasma on microstructural evolution and electrical properties of diamond films is systematically investigated. While the diamond films grown in CH4/H2 plasma contain large diamond grains, for the diamond films grown using CH4/H2/(4%)N2 plasma, the microstructure drastically changed, resulting in ultra-nanosized diamond grains with Fd3m structure and a0 = 0.356 nm, along with the formation of n-diamond (n-D), a metastable form of diamond with space group Fm3m and a0 = 0.356 nm, and i-carbon (i-C) clusters, the bcc structured carbon with a0 = 0.432 nm. In addition, these films contain wide grain boundaries containing amorphous carbon (a-C). The electron field emission (EFE) studies show the best EFE behavior for 4% N2 films among the CH4/H2/N2 grown diamond films. They possess the lowest turn-on field value of 14.3 V/μm and the highest EFE current density value of 0.37 mA/cm2 at an applied field of 25.4 V/μm. The optical emission spectroscopy studies confirm that CN species are the major criterion to judge the changes in the microstructure of the films. It seems that the grain boundaries can provide electron conduction networks to transport efficiently the electrons to emission sites for field emission, as long as they have sufficient thickness. Whether the matrix nano-sized grains are 3C-diamond, n-D or i-C is immaterial.
Impedance spectroscopy of organic magnetoresistance devices—Effect of interface disorder
Authors: Fayolle M. , Yamaguchi M. , Ohto T. , Tada H.
Published: February 2015

Organic magnetoresistance (OMAR) can be caused by either single carrier (bipolaron) or double carriers (electron-hole)-based mechanisms. In order to consider applications for OMAR, it is important to control the mechanism present in the device. In this paper, we report the effect of traps on OMAR resulting of disorder at the interface between the organic active layer with the hole injection layer [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate): PEDOT:PSS]. It has been found that while the single carriers OMAR is enhanced by the presence of traps, the double carriers OMAR is totally removed in a sample with a high interface trap density. The reasons for these results are discussed based on the impedance spectroscopy measurements. First, the mechanism (single or double carriers) responsible of the OMAR was determined with the support of the capacitance measurement. Then, the influence of traps was discussed with the Nyquist diagrams and phase angle-frequency plots of the samples. The results suggested that with a rough interface and thus high disorder, the presence of traps enhanced the bipolaron formation. Traps also acted as recombination centers for electron-hole pairs, which prevented the double carriers OMAR in devices with a rough interface. On the other hand, with a low trap density, i.e., with a smooth surface, the single carrier OMAR decreased, and double carriers OMAR appeared. The sign of the OMAR could then be controlled by simply sweeping the bias voltage. This work demonstrated that the roughness at the interface is important for controlling OMAR and its reproducibility, and that the combination of OMAR measurement and impedance spectroscopy is helpful for clarifying the processes at the interface.
All-magnetic magnetoresistive random access memory based on four terminal mCell device
Authors: Bromberg D. M. , Sumbul H. E. , Zhu J.-G. , Pileggi L.
Published: February 2015

Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) is a promising candidate to enable fast, non-volatile storage on chip. In this paper, we present an MRAM design where each bitcell is comprised entirely of four-terminal magnetic devices (“mCells”) with no CMOS access transistors. We show that this design can achieve significant energy and area savings compared to the standard one transistor-one magnetic tunnel junction (1T1MTJ) bitcell based design. We estimate a write energy of ≈5 fJ/bit based on bitline and wordline voltages that operate at less than 100 mV with projected area smaller than that possible with aggressively scaled 10 nm node FinFETs in the 1T1MTJ design.
Superconducting dome and crossover to an insulating state in [Tl4]Tl1−xSnxTe3
Authors: Arpino K. E. , Wasser B. D. , McQueen T. M.
Published: February 2015

The structural, superconducting, and electronic phase diagram of [Tl4]Tl1−xSnxTe3 is reported. Magnetization and specific heat measurements show bulk superconductivity exists for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4. Resistivity measurements indicate a crossover from a metallic state at x = 0 to a doped insulator at x = 1. Universally, there is a large non-Debye specific heat contribution, characterized by an Einstein temperature of θE ≈ 35 K. Density functional theory calculations predict x = 0 to be a topological metal, while x = 1 is a topological crystalline insulator. The disappearance of superconductivity correlates with the transition between these distinct topological states.
Perspective: Maintaining surface-phase purity is key to efficient open air fabricated cuprous oxide solar cells
Authors: Hoye Robert L. Z. , Brandt Riley E. , Ievskaya Yulia , Heffernan Shane , Musselman Kevin P. , Buonassisi Tonio , MacManus-Driscoll Judith L.
Published: February 2015

Electrochemically deposited Cu2O solar cells are receiving growing attention owing to a recent doubling in efficiency. This was enabled by the controlled chemical environment used in depositing doped ZnO layers by atomic layer deposition, which is not well suited to large-scale industrial production. While open air fabrication with atmospheric pressure spatial atomic layer deposition overcomes this limitation, we find that this approach is limited by an inability to remove the detrimental CuO layer that forms on the Cu2O surface. Herein, we propose strategies for achieving efficiencies in atmospherically processed cells that are equivalent to the high values achieved in vacuum processed cells.
Enhancing the pH sensitivity by laterally synergic modulation in dual-gate electric-double-layer transistors
Authors: Liu Ning , Hui Liu Yang , Feng Ping , Qiang Zhu Li , Shi Yi , Wan Qing
Published: February 2015

The sensitivity of a standard ion-sensitive field-effect transistor is limited to be 59.2 mV/pH (Nernst limit) at room temperature. Here, a concept based on laterally synergic electric-double-layer (EDL) modulation is proposed in order to overcome the Nernst limit. Indium-zinc-oxide EDL transistors with two laterally coupled gates are fabricated, and the synergic modulation behaviors of the two asymmetric gates are investigated. A high sensitivity of ∼168 mV/pH is realized in the dual-gate operation mode. Laterally synergic modulation in oxide-based EDL transistors is interesting for high-performance bio-chemical sensors.
Validation of PigBal model predictions for pig manure production
Authors: Skerman A. G. , Willis S. , McGahan E. J. , Borgognone M. G. , Batstone D. J.
Published: February 2015

PigBal is a mass balance model that uses pig diet, digestibility and production data to predict the manure solids and nutrients produced by pig herds. It has been widely used for designing piggery effluent treatment systems and sustainable reuse areas at Australian piggeries. More recently, PigBal has also been used to estimate piggery volatile solids production for assessing greenhouse gas emissions for statutory reporting purposes by government, and for evaluating the energy potential from anaerobic digestion of pig effluent. This paper has compared PigBal predictions of manure total, volatile, and fixed solids, and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), with manure production data generated in a replicated trial, which involved collecting manure from pigs housed in metabolic pens. Predictions of total, volatile, and fixed solids and K in the excreted manure were relatively good (combined diet R2 ≥ 0.79, modelling efficiency (EF) ≥ 0.70) whereas predictions of N and P, were generally less accurate (combined diet R2 0.56 and 0.66, EF 0.19 and –0.22, respectively). PigBal generally under-predicted lower N values while over-predicting higher values, and generally over-predicted manure P production for all diets. The most likely causes for this less accurate performance were ammonium-N volatilisation losses between manure excretion and sample analysis, and the inability of PigBal to account for higher rates of P uptake by pigs fed diets containing phytase. The outcomes of this research suggest that there is a need for further investigation and model development to enhance PigBal’s capabilities for more accurately assessing nutrient loads. However, PigBal’s satisfactory performance in predicting solids excretion demonstrates that it is suitable for assessing the methane component of greenhouse gas emission and the energy potential from anaerobic digestion of volatile solids in piggery effluent. The apparent overestimation of N and P excretion may result in conservative nutrient application rates to land and the over-prediction of the nitrous oxide component of greenhouse gas emissions.
Enteric methane emissions in response to ruminal inoculation of Propionibacterium strains in beef cattle fed a mixed diet
Authors: Vyas D. , Alazzeh A. , McGinn S. M. , McAllister T. A. , Harstad O. M. , Holo H. , Beauchemin K. A.
Published: February 2015

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of Propionibacterium strains to mitigate enteric methane (CH4) emissions in beef heifers fed a mixed diet. An experiment was conducted with 16 ruminally cannulated beef heifers fed a basal diet consisting of 60 : 40 barley silage : barley grain (DM basis). Treatments included: (1) Control, (2) Propionibacterium freudenreichii T114, (3) P. thoenii T159, and (4) P. freudenreichii T54. Strains (1 × 1011 colony forming units) were administered daily directly into the rumen before feeding. No treatment effects were observed for DM intake (P = 0.90), mean ruminal pH (P = 0.50) and total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.44). However, compared with the Control, proportions of individual volatile fatty acids changed with acetate being less with Propionibacterium T159 (P = 0.02), whereas ruminal isobutyrate (P < 0.01) and acetate : propionate ratio (P = 0.04) were greater with Propionibacterium T114. Total daily enteric CH4 production averaged 188 g/day and was not affected by Propionbacterium strains (P = 0.51). Methane yield averaged 22 g/kg of DMI intake and tended to be greater with Propionibacterium strains (P = 0.08). The relative abundance of total Propionibacteria was greater with the inoculation of Propionibacterium T159 relative to the Control heifers (P = 0.04). In conclusion, inoculation of Propionibacterium T159 decreased ruminal acetate proportion and Propionibacterium T114 increased acetate : propionate ratio. However, inoculated strains failed to lower total CH4 emissions possibly due to the inability of Propionibacterium strains to elevate ruminal propionate concentrations.
Effects of landscape matrix type, patch quality and seasonality on the diet of frugivorous bats in tropical semi-deciduous forest
Authors: Bolívar-Cimé Beatriz , Laborde Javier , MacSwiney G. M. Cristina , Sosa Vinicio J.
Published: February 2015

Context Dry forests usually have a marked seasonality in resource availability; as a consequence, wildlife is subjected to drastic changes in food availability during the year. The presence of high-quality sites that provide food during lean periods is crucial in these habitats, especially in human-modified landscapes where resources are limited and scattered. Aims We assessed whether seasonal fluctuations in the availability of fruit resources in two contrasting landscape matrices (continuous tropical semi-deciduous forest and pasture) affect the diet diversity for frugivorous bats, and whether the presence of cenotes (freshwater-filled sinkholes) in these matrices had any effect during the rainy and dry seasons. Methods For each matrix type, two sites with a cenote and two sites with no cenote were sampled. The highest richness of chiropterochorous plants and the longer availability of fruit in the forest surrounding cenotes than in forest with no cenote helped evaluate the importance of patch quality on diet diversity. Two dry and two wet seasons were sampled to assess the effect of the season on diet diversity. Key results After four seasons, 1398 frugivorous bats belonging to seven species had been captured, with Artibeus jamaicensis being the most abundant and important seed disperser. Thirteen plant species made up the diet of the frugivorous bats, with Ficus and Solanum being the most frequent genera. Diet diversity was greater in the pasture matrix than in the continuous forest. During the dry season, diet diversity was higher at sites with a cenote in both landscape matrices, but this interaction was not statistically significant. Conclusions Frugivorous bats are flexible and capable of tracking variations in food availability at different temporal and spatial scales. The latter allows these bats to use several vegetation types during the year to complement their diet in highly seasonal forests. Implications Owing to their foraging habits and the high number and variety of seeds that bats can disperse, they create strong connections between both fragmented and continuous landscapes. Management practices that conserve the areas with arboreal vegetation are essential to the movement of bats and the seeds they disperse across fragmented landscapes that later contribute to forest regeneration.
Measuring connectivity of invasive stoat populations to inform conservation management
Authors: Veale A. J. , Gleeson D. M. , Clout M. N.
Published: February 2015

Context Effective design of conservation management programs for long-term population control requires an accurate definition of the spatial extent of populations, along with a proper understanding of the ways that landscape patchiness influences demography and dispersal within these populations. Aims In the present study, genetic techniques are used to describe the population genetic structure and connectivity of invasive stoats (Mustela erminea) across the Auckland region, New Zealand, so as to assist planning for mainland stoat control, and define potential future eradication units. Methods A sample of stoats from across the region (n = 120), was genotyped at 17 microsatellite loci, and a combination of clustering, genetic population assignment and various migration estimation methods were applied to these data. Key results Moderate population structure was observed (FST = 0.03–0.21), with five geographic populations defined by genetic clustering. Almost all individuals were correctly assigned to the location of origin, and recent migration rates among forest patches were found to be low. Conclusions It is possible to define the origin of stoats at this regional scale using genetic measures. From this, we show that the stoat incursion on Rangitoto Island that occurred post-eradication in 2010 probably came from East Auckland (P < 0.0001), whereas the 2014 stoat incursion on Motutapu Island probably originated from a population linked to the Waitakeres. Also, the Waiheke Island stoat population has minimal connection to all other populations and it is therefore a potential eradication unit. Implications The low migration rates among forest patches indicated that if thorough control is imposed on a discrete forest patch, reinvasion from other forest patches will be relatively low. Importantly, for stoat control in the region, the isolation of the Waiheke Island stoat population means that eradication here is likely to be feasible with low reinvasion pressure.
Using novel spatial mark–resight techniques to monitor resident Canada geese in a suburban environment
Authors: Rutledge M. Elizabeth , Sollmann Rahel , Washburn Brian E. , Moorman Christopher E. , DePerno Christopher S.
Published: February 2015

Context Over the past two decades, an increase in the number of resident (non-migratory) Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in the United States has heightened the awareness of human–goose interactions. Aims Accordingly, baseline demographic estimates for goose populations are needed to help better understand the ecology of Canada geese in suburban areas. Methods As a basis for monitoring efforts, we estimated densities of adult resident Canada geese in a suburban environment by using a novel spatial mark–resight method. We resighted 763 neck- and leg-banded resident Canada geese two to three times per week in and around Greensboro, North Carolina, over an 18-month period (June 2008 – December 2009). We estimated the density, detection probabilities, proportion of male geese in the population, and the movements and home-range radii of the geese by season ((post-molt I 2008 (16 July – 31 October), post-molt II 2008/2009 (1 November – 31 January), breeding and nesting 2009 (1 February – 31 May), and post-molt I 2009). Additionally, we used estimates of the number of marked individuals to quantify apparent monthly survival. Key results Goose densities varied by season, ranging from 11.10 individuals per km2 (s.e. = 0.23) in breeding/nesting to 16.02 individuals per km2 (s.e. = 0.34) in post-molt II. The 95% bivariate normal home-range radii ranged from 2.60 to 3.86 km for males and from 1.90 to 3.15 km for females and female home ranges were smaller than those of male geese during the breeding/nesting and post-molt II seasons. Apparent monthly survival across the study was high, ranging from 0.972 (s.e. = 0.005) to 0.995 (s.e. = 0.002). Conclusions By using spatial mark–resight models, we determined that Canada goose density estimates varied seasonally. Nevertheless, the seasonal changes in density are reflective of the seasonal changes in behaviour and physiological requirements of geese. Implications Although defining the state–space of spatial mark–resight models requires careful consideration, the technique represents a promising new tool to estimate and monitor the density of free-ranging wildlife. Spatial mark–resight methods provide managers with statistically robust population estimates and allow insight into animal space use without the need to employ more costly methods (e.g. telemetry). Also, when repeated across seasons or other biologically important time periods, spatial mark–resight modelling techniques allow for inference about apparent survival.
Second-Order Evaluations of the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Keith Linda Camp , Miller Banks , McGuire Rachel
Published: February 2015

Scholars have found that citizens tend to evaluate European institutions in light of how they feel about their own domestic institutions (second-order evaluations). We argue that this approach is more appropriate for understanding international courts than is the legitimacy approach of the law and courts literature. While studies applying the second-order evaluations approach have overwhelmingly focused on EU institutions, here we seek to determine whether second-order evaluations are also characteristic of citizens’ opinions about the European Court of Human Rights. We evaluate our hypotheses using a sample of the British population and find strong support for the general second-order evaluation.
The Right Ventricle under Pressure: Evaluating the Adaptive and Maladaptive Changes in the Right Ventricle in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension using Echocardiography (2013 Grover Conference Series)
Authors: Harrison Alexis , Hatton Nathan , Ryan John J.
Published: February 2015

The importance of the right ventricle (RV) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been gaining increased recognition. This has included a reconceptualization of the RV as part of an RV–pulmonary circulation interrelated unit and the observation that RV function is a major determinant of prognosis in PAH. Noninvasive imaging of RV size and function is critical to the longitudinal management of patients with PAH, and continued understanding of the pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular disease relies on the response of the RV to pulmonary vascular remodeling. Echocardiography, in particular the newer echocardiographic measurements and techniques, allows easy, readily accessible means to assess and follow RV size and function.
A solution to the focusing 3d NLS that blows up on a contracting sphere
Authors: Holmer Justin , Perelman Galina , Roudenko Svetlana
Published: February 2015

We rigorously construct radial

H
1

H^1

solutions to the 3d cubic focusing NLS equation

i

∂
t

ψ
+
Δ
ψ
+
2

|

ψ

|

2

ψ
=
0

i\partial _t \psi + \Delta \psi + 2 |\psi |^2\psi =0

that blow-up along a contracting sphere. With blow-up time set to

t
=
0

t=0

, the solutions concentrate on a sphere at radius

∼

t

1

/

3

\sim t^{1/3}

but focus towards this sphere at the faster rate

∼

t

2

/

3

\sim t^{2/3}

. Such dynamics were originally proposed heuristically by Degtyarev-Zakharov-Rudakov in 1975 and independently later by Holmer-Roudenko in 2007, where it was demonstrated to be consistent with all conservation laws of this equation. In the latter paper, it was proposed as a solution that would yield divergence of the

L
x
3

L_x^3

norm within the “wide” radius

∼
‖
∇
u
(
t
)

‖

L
x
2

−
1

/

2

\sim \|\nabla u(t)\|_{L_x^2}^{-1/2}

but not within the “tight” radius

∼
‖
∇
u
(
t
)

‖

L
x
2

−
2

\sim \|\nabla u(t)\|_{L_x^2}^{-2}

, the second being the rate of contraction of self-similar blow-up solutions observed numerically and described in detail by Sulem-Sulem in 1999.
Conditions for the vanishing of the genus-2 G-function
Authors: Liu Xiaobo , Wang Xin
Published: February 2015

In this paper we give some sufficient conditions for the vanishing of the genus-2 G-function, which was introduced by B. Dubrovin, S. Liu and Y. Zhang in 2012. As a corollary we prove their conjecture for the vanishing of the genus-2 G-function for ADE singularities.
Chloroquine analogues in drug discovery: new directions of uses, mechanisms of actions and toxic manifestations from malaria to multifarious diseases
Authors: Al-Bari Md. Abdul Alim
Published: February 2015

Antimalarial drugs (e.g. chloroquine and its close structural analogues) were developed primarily to treat malaria; however, they are beneficial for many dermatological, immunological, rheumatological and severe infectious diseases, for which they are used mostly today. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, two of the most fascinating drugs developed in the last 50 years, are increasingly recognized for their effectiveness in myriad non-malarial diseases. In advanced research, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been shown to have various immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects, and currently have established roles in the management of rheumatic diseases, lupus erythematosus (different forms) and skin diseases, and in the treatment of different forms of cancer. Recently, chloroquine analogues have also been found to have metabolic, cardiovascular, antithrombotic and antineoplastic effects. This review is concerned with the lysosomotropic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, quinacrine and related analogues, and the current evidence for both their beneficial effects and potential adverse manifestations in various diseases.
A Phase I study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of boceprevir and sildenafil when dosed separately and together, in healthy male volunteers
Authors: Mora-Peris Borja , Else Laura , Goldmeier David , Mears Alison , Weston Rosy , Cooke Graham , Khoo Saye , Back David , Winston Alan
Published: February 2015

Objectives

Boceprevir is a first-generation direct-acting antiviral licensed for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. Sildenafil is an oral therapy for erectile dysfunction. As boceprevir is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, potential pharmacokinetic interactions may occur when it is coadministered with sildenafil. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of sildenafil and boceprevir when dosed separately and together in healthy volunteers.

Methods

Thirteen male subjects completed the following study procedures: phase 1 (Day 0), a single dose of 25 mg of sildenafil was administered; washout period (Days 1–9); phase 2 (Days 10–15), 800 mg of boceprevir three times a day was administered; and phase 3 (Day 16), 800 mg of boceprevir and 25 mg of sildenafil were administered. All drugs were administered in the fed state. Intensive pharmacokinetic sampling was undertaken on Days 0, 15 and 16. Differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of sildenafil, N-desmethyl-sildenafil and boceprevir between phase 3 and the earlier phases were evaluated by changes in the geometric mean ratios (GMRs).

Results

All the drugs were well tolerated with no safety concerns arising. In the presence of boceprevir (phase 3 versus phase 1), the GMR for the plasma Cmax and the AUC24 for sildenafil increased by 1.9-fold (95% CI 1.5–2.4) and 2.7-fold (95% CI 2.1–3.4), respectively, whereas a reduction in the Cmax of N-desmethyl-sildenafil was observed (GMR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.7). No significant changes in boceprevir exposure were observed between phases 3 and 2.

Conclusions

Exposure of sildenafil is increased in the presence of boceprevir. A dose adjustment of sildenafil is therefore necessary. An initial dose of 25 mg of sildenafil is suggested.
CarD stabilizes mycobacterial open complexes via a two-tiered kinetic mechanism
Authors: Rammohan Jayan , Ruiz Manzano Ana , Garner Ashley L. , Stallings Christina L. , Galburt Eric A.
Published: February 2015

CarD is an essential and global transcriptional regulator in mycobacteria. While its biological role is unclear, CarD functions by interacting directly with RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme promoter complexes. Here, using a fluorescent reporter of open complex, we quantitate RPo formation in real time and show that Mycobacterium tuberculosis CarD has a dramatic effect on the energetics of RNAP bound complexes on the M. tuberculosis rrnAP3 ribosomal RNA promoter. The data reveal that Mycobacterium bovis RNAP exhibits an unstable RPo that is stabilized by CarD and suggest that CarD uses a two-tiered, concentration-dependent mechanism by associating with open and closed complexes with different affinities. Specifically, the kinetics of open-complex formation can be explained by a model where, at saturating concentrations of CarD, the rate of bubble collapse is slowed and the rate of opening is accelerated. The kinetics and open-complex stabilities of CarD mutants further clarify the roles played by the key residues W85, K90 and R25 previously shown to affect CarD-dependent gene regulation in vivo. In contrast to M. bovis RNAP, Escherichia coli RNAP efficiently forms RPo on rrnAP3, suggesting an important difference between the polymerases themselves and highlighting how transcriptional machinery can vary across bacterial genera.
Comparison Between Acrylic Cage and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cage in Single-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Farrokhi Majid R. , Nikoo Zahra , Gholami Mehrnaz , Hosseini Khadijeh
Published: February 2015

Study Design:

Prospective, single-blind randomized-controlled clinical study.

Objective:

To compare polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage with a novel Acrylic cage to find out which fusion cage yielded better clinical outcomes following single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Summary of Background Data:

ACDF is considered a standard neurosurgical treatment for degenerative diseases of cervical intervertebral disks. There are many options, including bone grafts, bone cement, and spacers made of titanium, carbon fiber, and synthetic materials, used to restore physiological disk height and enhance spinal fusion, but the ideal device, which would provide immediate structural support and subsequent osteointegration and stability, has not been identified yet. To overcome this, we designed a new, inexpensive Acrylic cage.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 64 patients were eligible to participate and were randomly allocated to undergo ACDF either with Acrylic interbody fusion cage filled with bone substitute (n=32) or PEEK cage (n=32). Nurick’s grading was used for quantifying the neurological deficit. Clinical and radiologic outcome was assessed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and subsequently at 2, 6, and 12 months of follow-up using Odom’s criteria and dynamic radiographs (flexion-extension) and computed tomography scans, respectively.

Results:

There was a statistically significant improvement in the clinical outcomes of the Acrylic cage group compared with the PEEK cage group (mean difference: −0.438; 95% confidence interval, −0.807 to −0.068; P=0.016). There was a statistically significant difference in disk space height increase between the 2 groups at the 6- and 12-month follow-up. The Acrylic cage achieved higher fusion rate (good fusion) than the PEEK cage (96.9% vs. 93.8%). Intervertebral angle demonstrated a significant difference among the 2 treated groups throughout the follow-up period.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that the use of Acrylic cage is associated with good clinical and radiologic outcomes and it can be therefore a good substitute for bone graft and other cages in ACDF.
Efficacy of Dietary Treatment for Inducing Disease Remission in Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis
Authors: Lucendo Alfredo J. , Serrano‐Montalbán Beatriz , Arias Ángel , Redondo Olga , Tenias José M.
Published: February 2015

Objectives:

Various dietary interventions have been used to treat patients with eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE). Concrete evidence as to the effectiveness of such treatments in inducing disease remission is, however, lacking. The aim of the study was to systematically review the efficacy of dietary therapies in inducing EGE remission.

Methods:

We performed a systematic search for the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS libraries for studies investigating the efficacy of dietary interventions (in both histological and symptomatic remission) for children and adults with EGE and colitis.

Results:

The search yielded 490 references; 30 were included in the review, with most of these references being “low‐quality” individual cases or short case series. No significant publication bias was found. Elemental diets in children were linked to 75.8% of clinical improvement, but few of these patients underwent a histological evaluation. Allergy‐testing results have been used scarcely in EGE. Empiric elimination of allergy‐associated foods was the most commonly used option. The variable results in terms of symptom relief, however, were scarcely accompanied by histological confirmation. Clinical and methodological heterogeneity hindered the performance of quantitative summaries for the efficacy of dietary therapies in inducing disease remission.

Conclusions:

Symptomatic improvements reported for dietary treatment in EGE by most of the available literature are questionable because of the lack of objective evaluation of clinical changes and the very limited assessment of histological remission. Because of the relative lack of well‐designed, high‐quality studies, the unequivocal use of dietary treatment for patients with EGE and colitis cannot be supported. Further research should be undertaken.
Flexible expressed region analysis for RNA-seq withderfinder
Authors: Collado-Torres Leonardo , Nellore Abhinav , Frazee Alyssa C. , Wilks Christopher , Love Michael I. , Langmead Ben , Irizarry Rafael A. , Leek Jeffrey T. , Jaffe Andrew E.
Published: February 2015

Background

Differential expression analysis of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data typically relies on reconstructing transcripts or counting reads that overlap known gene structures. We previously introduced an intermediate statistical approach called differentially expressed region (DER) finder that seeks to identify contiguous regions of the genome showing differential expression signal at single base resolution without relying on existing annotation or potentially inaccurate transcript assembly.

Results

We present thederfindersoftware that improves our annotation-agnostic approach to RNA-seq analysis by: (1) implementing a computationally efficient bump-hunting approach to identify DERs which permits genome-scale analyses in a large number of samples, (2) introducing a flexible statistical modeling framework, including multi-group and time-course analyses and (3) introducing a new set of data visualizations for expressed region analysis. We apply this approach to public RNA-seq data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project and BrainSpan project to show thatderfinderpermits the analysis of hundreds of samples at base resolution in R, identifies expression outside of known gene boundaries and can be used to visualize expressed regions at base-resolution. In simulations our base resolution approaches enable discovery in the presence of incomplete annotation and is nearly as powerful as feature-level methods when the annotation is complete.

Conclusions

derfinderanalysis using expressed region-level and single base-level approaches provides a compromise between full transcript reconstruction and feature-level analysis.

The package is available fromBioconductoratwww.bioconductor.org/packages/derfinder.
Where the elements go when it rains: carbon and nutrient stocks of soil amended with stabilised organic matter
Authors: Ng E-L , Schefe C.R. , Cavagnaro T.R. , Patti A.F
Published: February 2015

The addition of compost to the soil can increase C and nutrient levels, but how these are affected by different rainfall regimes remain unknown. This study determines the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stocks after drying and rewetting events in a compost-amended grassland ecosystem at 3 depths (0-5, 5-10, 10-30cm). Compost addition consistently increased C, N and P stocks despite altered rainfall but these improvements can only be detected by careful consideration of soil depths.
Characterizing and controlling intrinsic biases of lambda exonuclease in nascent strand sequencing reveals phasing between nucleosomes and G-quadruplex motifs around a subset of human replication origins
Authors: Foulk Michael S. , Urban John M. , Casella Cinzia , Gerbi Susan A.
Published: February 2015

Nascent strand sequencing (NS-seq) is used to discover DNA replication origins genome-wide, allowing identification of features for their specification. NS-seq depends on the ability of lambda exonuclease (λ-exo) to efficiently digest parental DNA while leaving RNA-primer protected nascent strands intact. We used genomics and biochemical approaches to determine if λ-exo digests all parental DNA sequences equally. We report that λ-exo does not efficiently digest G-quadruplex (G4) structures in a plasmid. Moreover, λ-exo digestion of nonreplicating genomic DNA (LexoG0) enriches GC-rich DNA and G4 motifs genome-wide. We used LexoG0 data to control for nascent strand–independent λ-exo biases in NS-seq and validated this approach at the rDNA locus. The λ-exo–controlled NS-seq peaks are not GC-rich, and only 35.5% overlap with 6.8% of all G4s, suggesting that G4s are not general determinants for origin specification but may play a role for a subset. Interestingly, we observed a periodic spacing of G4 motifs and nucleosomes around the peak summits, suggesting that G4s may position nucleosomes at this subset of origins. Finally, we demonstrate that use of Na+ instead of K+ in the λ-exo digestion buffer reduced the effect of G4s on λ-exo digestion and discuss ways to increase both the sensitivity and specificity of NS-seq.
Development of a laboratory-based transmission diffraction technique forin situdeformation studies of Mg alloys
Authors: Kada Sitarama Raju , Lynch P. A. , Barnett M. R.
Published: February 2015

A laboratory-based transmission X-ray diffraction technique was developed to measure elastic lattice strains parallel to the loading direction duringin situtensile deformation. High-quality transmission X-ray diffraction data were acquired in a time frame suitable forin situloading experiments by application of a polycapillary X-ray optic with a conventional laboratory Cu X-ray source. Based on the measurement of two standard reference materials [lanthanum hexaboride (NIST SRM 660b) and silicon (NIST SRM 640c)], precise instrumental alignment and calibration of the transmission diffraction geometry were realized. These results were also confirmed by the equivalent data acquired using the standard Bragg–Brentano measurement geometry. An empirical Caglioti function was employed to describe the instrumental broadening, while an axis of rotation correction was used to measure and correct the specimen displacement from the centre of the goniometer axis. For precise Bragg peak position andhkilintensity information, a line profile fitting methodology was implemented, with Pawley refinement used to measure the sample reference lattice spacings (do(hkil)). It is shown that the relatively large X-ray probe size available (7 × 7 mm) provides a relatively straightforward approach for improving the grain statistics for the study of metal alloys, where grain sizes in excess of 1 µm can become problematic for synchrotron-based measurements. This new laboratory-based capability was applied to study the lattice strain evolution during the elastic–plastic transition in extruded and rolled magnesium alloys. A strain resolution of 2 × 10−4at relatively low 2θ angles (20–65° 2θ) was achieved for thein situtensile deformation studies.In situmeasurement of the elastic lattice strain accommodation with applied stress in the magnesium alloys indicated the activation of dislocation slip and twin deformation mechanisms. Furthermore, measurement of the relative change in the intensity of 0002 and 10\overline 13 was used to quantify {10\overline 12}〈\overline 1011〉 tensile twin onset and growth with applied load.
Antisite defect elimination through Mg doping in stoichiometric lithium tantalate powder synthesizedviaa wet-chemical spray-drying method
Authors: Sun Dehui , Kang Xueliang , Yu Qian , Cui Kun , Qin Xiaoyong , Shi Xuxia , Cai Huaqiang , Ohachi Tadashi , Sang Yuanhua , Liu Hong
Published: February 2015

MgO-doped stoichiometric LiTaO3(MgO:SLT) is one of the most promising nonlinear materials. However, its industrial application is limited by the poor optical quality caused by the nonhomogeneous distribution of magnesium. Herein, an MgO:SLT polycrystalline powder was synthesized with a homogenous magnesium distribution by a wet-chemical spray-drying method. A comparative investigation of the coordination state of Ta ions in MgO:SLT powders synthesized by this method and by a conventional solid-state reaction method was performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is proved that the Ta–Li antisite was completely eliminated as a result of the homogeneous Mg doping in the SLT lattice using the wet-chemical spray-drying method. However, for MgO:LT powder produced by the solid-state reaction method, element analysis after acid treatment shows that some Mg ions did not enter the LT lattice after high-temperature calcination. Also, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy verified that some MgO particles still exist in the as-synthesized MgO:LT powder. This synthesis method can be used for mass production of high-quality polycrystalline powders for doped crystal growth and some other doped oxide powder products with high melt point.