bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective medium-term results of multimodal pain management in patients with lumbar radiculopathy
Authors: Benditz A. , Madl M. , Loher M. , Grifka J. , Boluki D. , Linhardt O.
Published: June 2016

Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common diseases of modern civilisation. Multimodal pain management (MPM) represents a central approach to avoiding surgery. Only few medium-term results have been published in the literature so far. This study compared subjective and objective as well as anamnestic and clinical parameters of 60 patients who had undergone inpatient MPM because of lumbar radiculopathy before and 1 year ±2 weeks after treatment. The majority of patients were very satisfied (35%) or satisfied (52%) with the treatment outcome. Merely 8 patients commented neutrally and none negatively. The finger-floor distance had decreased significantly (p < 0.01) and 30 patients (50%) had shown improved mobility of the spine after therapy. The need for painkillers had also been significantly reduced after 1 year. The arithmetical average of pain on a visual analogue scale was 7.21 before treatment, which had significantly decreased to 3.58 at follow-up (p < 0.01). MPM is an effective approach for treating lumbar radiculopathy by mechanical nerve root irritation. Therefore, in the absence of an absolute indication for surgery or an absolute contradiction for MPM, patients should first be treated with this minimally invasive therapy.
Sensitivity Enhancement of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides/Silicon Nanostructure-based Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor
Authors: Ouyang Qingling , Zeng Shuwen , Jiang Li , Hong Liying , Xu Gaixia , Dinh Xuan-Quyen , Qian Jun , He Sailing , Qu Junle , Coquet Philippe , Yong Ken-Tye
Published: June 2016

In this work, we designed a sensitivity-enhanced surface plasmon resonance biosensor structure based on silicon nanosheet and two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides. This configuration contains six components: SF10 triangular prism, gold thin film, silicon nanosheet, two-dimensional MoS2/MoSe2/WS2/WSe2 (defined as MX2) layers, biomolecular analyte layer and sensing medium. The minimum reflectivity, sensitivity as well as the Full Width at Half Maximum of SPR curve are systematically examined by using Fresnel equations and the transfer matrix method in the visible and near infrared wavelength range (600 nm to 1024 nm). The variation of the minimum reflectivity and the change in resonance angle as the function of the number of MX2 layers are presented respectively. The results show that silicon nanosheet and MX2 layers can be served as effective light absorption medium. Under resonance conditions, the electrons in these additional dielectric layers can be transferred to the surface of gold thin film. All silicon-MX2 enhanced sensing models show much better performance than that of the conventional sensing scheme where pure Au thin film is used, the highest sensitivity can be achieved by employing 600 nm excitation light wavelength with 35 nm gold thin film and 7 nm thickness silicon nanosheet coated with monolayer WS2.
The Influence of Cognitive Load on Empathy and Intention in Response to Infant Crying
Authors: Hiraoka Daiki , Nomura Michio
Published: June 2016

Many studies have explored risk factors for child maltreatment, but little research has focused on situational risk factors such as cognitive load, which involves within-individual fluctuation. The current study sought to determine whether cognitive load led to within-individual changes in intention in response to infant crying. The study also sought to ascertain whether state empathy, empathic concern (EC) and personal distress mediated or moderated this relationship. Sixty-six participants completed a memory task (remembering meaningless, two- or eight-letter, English alphabet string), during which they were required to keep these letters in mind while hearing infant crying (or a tone). Subsequently, participants rated questions concerning state empathy and intention in response to the crying (i.e., intentions involving caregiving, neglect, or physical abuse). Results showed that cognitive load reduced caregiving intention and increased intention to perpetrate neglect. In addition, EC mediated the relationship between cognitive load and intention to provide care or perpetrate neglect. Moreover, cognitive load interacted with state empathy to predict intention to provide care or perpetrate neglect. These findings highlighted the importance of focusing on situational cognitive risk factors for child maltreatment and elucidated the role of state empathy as a mediator or moderator in child maltreatment research.
GPS-Lipid: a robust tool for the prediction of multiple lipid modification sites
Authors: Xie Yubin , Zheng Yueyuan , Li Hongyu , Luo Xiaotong , He Zhihao , Cao Shuo , Shi Yi , Zhao Qi , Xue Yu , Zuo Zhixiang , Ren Jian
Published: June 2016

As one of the most common post-translational modifications in eukaryotic cells, lipid modification is an important mechanism for the regulation of variety aspects of protein function. Over the last decades, three classes of lipid modifications have been increasingly studied. The co-regulation of these different lipid modifications is beginning to be noticed. However, due to the lack of integrated bioinformatics resources, the studies of co-regulatory mechanisms are still very limited. In this work, we developed a tool called GPS-Lipid for the prediction of four classes of lipid modifications by integrating the Particle Swarm Optimization with an aging leader and challengers (ALC-PSO) algorithm. GPS-Lipid was proven to be evidently superior to other similar tools. To facilitate the research of lipid modification, we hosted a publicly available web server at http://lipid.biocuckoo.org with not only the implementation of GPS-Lipid, but also an integrative database and visualization tool. We performed a systematic analysis of the co-regulatory mechanism between different lipid modifications with GPS-Lipid. The results demonstrated that the proximal dual-lipid modifications among palmitoylation, myristoylation and prenylation are key mechanism for regulating various protein functions. In conclusion, GPS-lipid is expected to serve as useful resource for the research on lipid modifications, especially on their co-regulation.
IgE-mediated enhancement of CD4+ T cell responses requires antigen presentation by CD8α− conventional dendritic cells
Authors: Ding Zhoujie , Dahlin Joakim S. , Xu Hui , Heyman Birgitta
Published: June 2016

IgE, forming an immune complex with small proteins, can enhance the specific antibody and CD4+ T cell responses in vivo. The effects require the presence of CD23 (Fcε-receptor II)+ B cells, which capture IgE-complexed antigens (Ag) in the circulation and transport them to splenic B cell follicles. In addition, also CD11c+ cells, which do not express CD23, are required for IgE-mediated enhancement of T cell responses. This suggests that some type of dendritic cell obtains IgE-Ag complexes from B cells and presents antigenic peptides to T cells. To elucidate the nature of this dendritic cell, mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE and OVA and different populations of CD11c+ cells, obtained from the spleens four hours after immunization, were tested for their ability to present OVA. CD8α− conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) were much more efficient in inducing specific CD4+ T cell proliferation ex vivo than were CD8α+ cDCs or plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Thus, IgE-Ag complexes administered intravenously are rapidly transported to the spleen by recirculating B cells where they are delivered to CD8α− cDCs which induce proliferation of CD4+ T cells.
Measuring the effects of fractionated radiation therapy in a 3D prostate cancer model system using SERS nanosensors
Authors: Camus Victoria L. , Stewart Grant , Nailon William H. , McLaren Duncan B. , Campbell Colin J.
Published: June 2016

Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy to measure cell death caused by radiation in a 3D model of prostate cancer.
Determination of hydrocarbon contamination in foods. A review
Authors: Purcaro Giorgia , Barp Laura , Moret Sabrina
Published: June 2016

Hydrocarbon contaminants in foods can be grouped into two main classes, based on the main process involved in their formation.
Determination of seven restricted halogenated salicylanilides in cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Li Siyan , Liu Xinjia , Zhang Yilin , Lin Senyu , Huang Jinfeng , Li Xiuying , Guo Xindong , Xian Yanping , Dong Hao
Published: June 2016

A simultaneous analytical method was established for the determination of seven halogenated salicylanilides in cosmetics by HPLC-FLD.
Self-assembly of pseudo-rotaxane and rotaxane complexes using an electrostatic slippage approach
Authors: Catalán Aldo C. , Tiburcio Jorge
Published: June 2016

The protonation of a cyclic tertiary amine, integrated into the structure of a dumbbell-shaped guest molecule, accelerates the sliding of the guest through the cavity of a crown ether macrocycle to yield a stable pseudo-rotaxane complex.
The role of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance in crystal engineering
Authors: Xu Yijue , Southern Scott A. , Szell Patrick M. J. , Bryce David L.
Published: June 2016

This Highlight article discusses the role of solid-state NMR spectroscopy in crystal engineering with the aid of several examples from the literature.
A full-dimensional model of ozone forming reaction: the absolute value of the recombination rate coefficient, its pressure and temperature dependencies
Authors: Teplukhin Alexander , Babikov Dmitri
Published: June 2016

Rigorous calculations of scattering resonances in ozone are carried out for a broad range of rotational excitations with a detailed analysis of their properties and contribution into recombination process.
Formation and evolution of the unexpected PbI2 phase at the interface during the growth of evaporated perovskite films
Authors: Xu Haitao , Wu Yanglin , Cui Jian , Ni Chaowei , Xu Fuzong , Cai Jiang , Hong Feng , Fang Zebo , Wang Wenzhen , Zhu Jiabin , Wang Linjun , Xu Run , Xu Fei
Published: June 2016

A PbI2 phase is found to be inevitably formed at the interface in dual-source evaporated perovskite films that will block carrier transport.
The influence of the ligand chelate effect on iron-amine-catalysed Kumada cross-coupling
Authors: Bedford Robin B. , Brenner Peter B. , Elorriaga David , Harvey Jeremy N. , Nunn Joshua
Published: June 2016

The performance of Fe-amine pre-catalysts in a representative Kumada reaction is inversely proportional to the lability of the chelate ligand.
Protective effect of Tremella fuciformis Berk extract on LPS-induced acute inflammation via inhibition of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways
Authors: Lee Jangho , Ha Su Jeong , Lee Hye Jin , Kim Min Jung , Kim Jin Hee , Kim Yun Tai , Song Kyung-Mo , Kim Young-Jun , Kim Hyun Ku , Jung Sung Keun
Published: June 2016

Tremella fuciformis Berk (TFB) prevent LPS-mediated inflammation by inhibition of NF-κB and MAPKs pathways.
A study of poplar organosolv lignin after melt rheology treatment as carbon fiber precursors
Authors: Sun Qining , Khunsupat Ratayakorn , Akato Kokouvi , Tao Jingming , Labbé Nicole , Gallego Nidia C. , Bozell Joseph J. , Rials Timothy G. , Tuskan Gerald A. , Tschaplinski Timothy J. , Naskar Amit K. , Pu Yunqiao , Ragauskas Arthur J.
Published: June 2016

Poplar organosolv lignins were investigated for structural changes after rheology treatment as a carbon fiber precursor.
Structure, formation, thermodynamics and interactions in 9-carboxy-10-methylacridinium-based molecular systems
Authors: Trzybiński Damian , Zadykowicz Beata , Wera Michał , Serdiuk Illia E. , Sieradzan Andrzej , Sikorski Artur , Storoniak Piotr , Krzymiński Karol
Published: June 2016

Comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies on the physicochemical features of crystals containing monomeric and homoconjugated forms of 9-carboxy-10-methylacridinium cations are presented.
Exploring quantum interference in heteroatom-substituted graphene-like molecules
Authors: Sangtarash Sara , Sadeghi Hatef , Lambert Colin J.
Published: June 2016

If design principles for controlling quantum interference in single molecules could be elucidated and verified, then this will lay the foundations for exploiting such effects in nanoscale devices and thin-film materials.
Catalytic signal amplification for the discrimination of ATP and ADP using functionalised gold nanoparticles
Authors: Pezzato Cristian , Chen Jack L.-Y. , Galzerano Patrizia , Salvi Michela , Prins Leonard J.
Published: June 2016

ATP and ADP inhibit the catalytic activity of functionalized gold nanoparticles to a different extent causing a difference in output signal.
Borane-catalyzed metal-free hydrogenation of 2,7-disubstituted 1,8-naphthyridines
Authors: Wang Wei , Feng Xiangqing , Du Haifeng
Published: June 2016

Metal-free hydrogenation of 2,7-disubstituted 1,8-naphthyridines was realized to furnish 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridines in high yields with up to 74% ee.
BCl3-mediated polycoupling of alkynes and aldehydes: a facile, metal-free multicomponent polymerization route to construct stereoregular functional polymers
Authors: Zhang Yun , Tseng Nai-Wen , Deng Haiqin , Kwok Ryan T. K. , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: June 2016

BCl3-mediated alkyne–aldehyde polymerization to stereoregular functional polymers in a facile, metal-free and multicomponent manner.
Polypyrrole-decorated 2D carbon nanosheet electrodes for supercapacitors with high areal capacitance
Authors: Cherusseri Jayesh , Kar Kamal K.
Published: June 2016

Supercapacitor with polypyrrole-decorated 2D carbon nanosheet electrodes exhibits area specific capacitance of 376.9 mF cm−2.
Degradation of phenethoxybenzene in sodium hydroxide
Authors: Cronin Dylan , Moghaddam Lalehvash , Rackemann Darryn , Bartley John , Doherty William O. S.
Published: June 2016

Simple lignin model compounds containing β-O-4 aryl ether linkages have been utilized as a means to understand lignin depolymerisation.
Effect of temperature and alloying elements (Fe and Bi) on the electrical resistivity of Sn–0.7Cu solder alloy
Authors: Jaffery Hasan Abbas , Mohd Sabri Mohd Faizul , Rozali Shaifulazuar , Mahdavifard Mohammad Hossein , Shnawah Dhafer Abdulameer
Published: June 2016

The addition of Fe/Bi decrease the atomic percent of Sn4+, thus effect the electrical resistivity of the solder alloy.
Polyaniline-intercalated layered double hydroxides: synthesis and properties for humidity sensing
Authors: Li Xiao-Zhou , Liu Shui-Ren , Guo Ying
Published: June 2016

A series of polyaniline and sodium dodecanesulfonate co-intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDH/PANI/SDS) with high humidity sensitivity, rapid response and good stability.
The use of ionic liquid as a mobile phase modifier in analytical supercritical fluid chromatography for the separation of flavonoids
Authors: Gao Wen , Dong Xin , Wang Rui , Liu Xin-Guang , Li Ping , Yang Hua
Published: June 2016

This paper presents a method that the uses ionic liquids (ILs) as a mobile phase modifier in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for flavonoid aglycone analysis, significantly improving the resolution and changing the selectivity.
Enantioselective synthesis of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines (THPs) via proline-catalyzed direct Mannich-cyclization/domino oxidation–reduction sequence: application for medicinally important N-heterocycles
Authors: Ramaraju Panduga , Mir Nisar A. , Singh Deepika , Kumar Indresh
Published: June 2016

An enantioselective multi-component synthesis of 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines (THPs) has been developed through a one-pot domino-process.
Bis(diphenylamino)naphthalene host materials: careful selection of the substitution pattern for the design of fully solution-processed triple-layered electroluminescent devices
Authors: Dumur Frédéric , Bui Thanh-Tuân , Péralta Sébastien , Lepeltier Marc , Wantz Guillaume , Sini Gjergji , Goubard Fabrice , Gigmes Didier
Published: June 2016

Two new triarylamine-based wide bandgap small molecules differing by the position of their substituents were investigated as hosts for solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).
The dual capture of AsV and AsIII by UiO-66 and analogues
Authors: Audu Cornelius O. , Nguyen Huong Giang T. , Chang Chih-Yi , Katz Michael J. , Mao Lily , Farha Omar K. , Hupp Joseph T. , Nguyen SonBinh T.
Published: June 2016

UiO-66 and analogues were successfully tailored to chemoselectively capture AsV oxyanions at the hydroxylated node and neutral AsIII species with the thiolated organic linkers. More efficient and faster uptake of AsV can be achieved with increasing defect densities, increasing pore aperture sizes, and decreasing particle sizes.
Novel benzo-bis(1,2,5-thiadiazole) fluorophores for in vivo NIR-II imaging of cancer
Authors: Sun Yao , Qu Chunrong , Chen Hao , He Maomao , Tang Chu , Shou Kangquan , Hong Suhyun , Yang Meng , Jiang Yuxin , Ding Bingbing , Xiao Yuling , Xing Lei , Hong Xuechuan , Cheng Zhen
Published: June 2016

Optical imaging of diseases represents a highly dynamic and multidisciplinary research area, and second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) imaging is at the forefront of the research on optical imaging techniques.
Inhibition of P. aeruginosa c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase RocR and swarming motility by a benzoisothiazolinone derivative
Authors: Zheng Yue , Tsuji Genichiro , Opoku-Temeng Clement , Sintim Herman O.
Published: June 2016

Pseudomonas aeruginosaswarming motility can be inhibited with a small molecule inhibitor of c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase, RocR.
Structural and electrochemical studies of a new Tavorite composition: LiVPO4OH
Authors: Boivin Edouard , Chotard Jean-Noël , Ménétrier Michel , Bourgeois Lydie , Bamine Tahya , Carlier Dany , Fauth François , Suard Emmanuelle , Masquelier Christian , Croguennec Laurence
Published: June 2016

A vanadium based hydroxy-phosphate of the Tavorite-type structure LiVPO4OH was obtained for the first time, by a hydrothermal route. Li+ and H+ are extracted from the structure at the same equilibrium potential.
Nitrogen-doped carbon coated Li4Ti5O12–TiO2/Sn nanowires and their enhanced electrochemical properties for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Wang Shitong , Yang Yong , Jiang Caihua , Hong Ye , Quan Wei , Zhang Zhongtai , Tang Zilong
Published: June 2016

Li4Ti5O12–TiO2/Sn nanowires embedded in N-doped carbon network were synthesized via a simple heterostructured growth process, and exhibited excellent electrochemical performances as anode materials for lithium ion batteries
Intense white emission from a single-upconversion nanoparticle and tunable emission colour with laser power
Authors: Hu Min , Ma Dandan , Liu Chengcheng , Wang Jing , Zhang Zhenxi , Meng Lingjie
Published: June 2016

The development of upconversion nanoparticles with tunable emissions, particularly white colour emission, has always been at the forefront of colour display technologies.
Unusual electronic and magnetic properties of lateral phosphorene–WSe2 heterostructures
Authors: Tian Xiao-Qing , Liu Lin , Gong Zhi-Rui , Du Yu , Gu Juan , Yakobson Boris I. , Xu Jian-Bin
Published: June 2016

The unusual electronic and magnetic properties of in-plane phosphorene/WSe2 heterostructures are theoretically investigated.
Development of Auxiliaries in Young Children Learning African American English
Authors: Newkirk-Turner Brandi L. , Oetting Janna B. , Stockman Ida J.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

We examined language samples of young children learning African American English (AAE) to determine if and when their use of auxiliaries shows dialect-universal and dialect-specific effects.

Method

The data were longitudinal language samples obtained from two children, ages 18 to 36 months, and three children, ages 33 to 51 months. Dialect-universal analyses examined age of first form and early uses of BE, DO, and modal auxiliaries. Dialect-specific analyses focused on rates of overt marking by auxiliary type and syntactic construction and for BE by surface form and succeeding element.

Results

Initial production of auxiliaries occurred between 19 and 24 months. The children's forms were initially restricted and produced in syntactically simple constructions. Over time, they were expanded in ways that showed their rates of marking to vary by auxiliary type, their rates of BE and DO marking to vary by syntactic construction, and their rates of BE marking to vary by surface form and succeeding element.

Conclusions

Development of auxiliaries by young children learning AAE shows both dialect-universal and dialect-specific effects. The findings are presented within a development chart to guide clinicians in the assessment of children learning AAE and in the treatment of AAE-speaking children with language impairment.
Beamforming and combining based scheme over κ − μ shadowed fading satellite channels
Authors: M.K. Arti
Published: June 2016

In this study, the authors address the problem of beamforming and combining based amplify‐and‐forward relaying in a satellite communication system in which two earth stations (ESs) with multiple antennas communicate via a single antenna based satellite relay. The transparent satellite is used to relay the received signals from one ES to other ES. Both ESs are assumed to be geographically separated by a very large distance, therefore, no direct path exists in between the ESs. The ESs‐satellite links are assumed to follow the κ − μ shadowed fading. A closed form expression of moment generating function (MGF) of the instantaneous received signal‐to‐noise ratio at destination ES is derived. An expression for the symbol error rate of the considered system is obtained by using the expression of MGF. The analytical diversity order of the system is also obtained by using an asymptotic property of the Meijer‐G function. It is shown by simulation and analysis that the diversity order of the considered system is min(L1μ1, L2μ2), where L1 and L2 are the number of antennas at the ES‐1 and ES‐2, respectively.
Adaptive neural control for an uncertain fractional‐order rotational mechanical system using disturbance observer
Authors: Shao Shuyi , Chen Mou , Chen Shaodong , Wu Qingxian
Published: June 2016

In this study, a robust adaptive neural control is proposed for a fractional‐order rotational mechanical system (FORMS) in the presence of system uncertainties and external unknown disturbances. System uncertainties of the FORMS are handled by the neural network (NN). To tackle unknown disturbances, a non‐linear fractional‐order disturbance observer (FODO) is explored for the FORMS. A robust adaptive control scheme is then developed by combining the NN with the designed FODO. Finally, numerical simulation results further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed tracking control scheme for the uncertain FORMS subject to external unknown disturbances.
Spacecraft fault‐tolerant control using adaptive non‐singular fast terminal sliding mode
Authors: Han Zhiguo , Zhang Ke , Yang Tianshe , Zhang Minghuan
Published: June 2016

Finite‐time convergence control strategies based on adaptive non‐singular fast terminal sliding mode are proposed for spacecraft attitude tracking subject to actuator faults, actuator saturations, external disturbances and inertia uncertainties. The designed non‐singular fast terminal sliding mode control law can converge in a finite time and avoid singularity, hence it can be used to develop a finite‐time fault‐tolerant attitude tracking controller that meets multiple constraints. It is demonstrated that the controller is independent of inertia uncertainties and external disturbances with adaptive parameters. The controller designed considers the actuator output torque saturation amplitude requirements and makes the spacecraft accomplish certain operations within the saturation magnitude and without the need for on‐line fault estimate. The Lyapunov stability analysis shows that the controller can guarantee the fast convergence of a closed‐loop system and has a good fault‐tolerant performance on actuator faults and saturations under the multiple constraints on actuator faults, actuator saturations, external disturbances and inertia uncertainties. Numerical simulation verified the good performance of the controller in the attitude tracking control.
Context‐based classification via mixture of hidden Markov model experts with applications in landmine detection
Authors: Yuksel Seniha E. , Gader Paul D.
Published: June 2016

In many applications data classification may be hindered by the existence of multiple contexts that produce an input sample. To alleviate the problems associated with multiple contexts, context‐based classification is a process that uses different classifiers depending on a measure of the context. Context‐based classifiers offer the promise of increasing performance by allowing classifiers to become experts at classifying input samples of certain types, rather than trying to force single classifiers to perform well on all possible inputs. This study introduces a novel mixture of experts (ME) model, the mixture of hidden Markov model experts, for context‐based classification of samples that are variable length sequences; and derives the update equations for a single probabilistic model that to learn the experts and a gate that connects the experts. The model has a similar high‐level structure to the ME model but has the novelty that the gates and the experts are HMMs and the input data are sequences. Experimental results are presented on three datasets including one for landmine detection. Detailed analysis of the model is provided; which, over multiple runs and cross‐validation experiments, show superior results over the compared algorithms.
MyHealthAvatar and CARRE: case studies of interactive visualisation for internet‐enabled sensor‐assisted health monitoring and risk analysis
Authors: Zhao Youbing , Parvinzamir Farzad , Deng Zhikun , Wei Hui , Zhao Xia , Liu Enjie , Dong Feng , Clapworthy Gordon , Lukoševičius Arūnas , Marozas Vaidotas , Kaldoudi Eleni
Published: June 2016

With the progress of wearable sensor technologies, more wearable health sensors have been made available on the market, which enables not only people to monitor their health and lifestyle in a continuous way but also doctors to utilise them to make better diagnoses. Continuous measurement from a variety of wearable sensors implies that a huge amount of data needs to be collected, stored, processed and presented, which cannot be achieved by traditional data processing methods. Visualisation is designed to promote knowledge discovery and utilisation via mature visual paradigms with well‐designed user interactions and has become indispensable in data analysis. In this study the authors introduce the role of visualisation in wearable sensor‐assisted health analysis platforms by case studies of two projects funded by the European Commission: MyHealthAvatar and CARRE. The former focuses on health sensor data collection and lifestyle tracking while the latter aims to provide innovative means for the management of cardiorenal diseases with the assistance of wearable sensors. The roles of visualisation components including timeline, parallel coordinates, map, node‐link diagrams, Sankey diagrams, etc. are introduced and discussed.
Impact of negative feedback in metabolic noise propagation
Authors: Borri Alessandro , Palumbo Pasquale , Singh Abhyudai
Published: June 2016

Synthetic biology combines different branches of biology and engineering aimed at designing synthetic biological circuits able to replicate emergent properties useful for the biotechnology industry, human health and environment. The role of negative feedback in noise propagation for a basic enzymatic reaction scheme is investigated. Two feedback control schemes on enzyme expression are considered: one from the final product of the pathway activity, the other from the enzyme accumulation. Both schemes are designed to provide the same steady‐state average values of the involved players, in order to evaluate the feedback performances according to the same working mode. Computations are carried out numerically and analytically, the latter allowing to infer information on which model parameter setting leads to a more efficient noise attenuation, according to the chosen scheme. In addition to highlighting the role of the feedback in providing a substantial noise reduction, our investigation concludes that the effect of feedback is enhanced by increasing the promoter sensitivity for both schemes. A further interesting biological insight is that an increase in the promoter sensitivity provides more benefits to the feedback from the product with respect to the feedback from the enzyme, in terms of enlarging the parameter design space.
Clathrates and beyond: Low-density allotropy in crystalline silicon
Authors: Beekman Matt , Wei Kaya , Nolas George S.
Published: June 2016

In its common, thermodynamically stable state, silicon adopts the same crystal structure as diamond. Although only a few alternative allotropic structures have been discovered and studied over the past six decades, advanced methods for structure prediction have recently suggested a remarkably rich low-density phase space that has only begun to be explored. The electronic properties of these low-density allotropes of silicon, predicted by first-principles calculations, indicate that these materials could offer a pathway to improving performance and reducing cost in a variety of electronic and energy-related applications. In this focus review, we provide an introduction and overview of recent theoretical and experimental results related to low-density allotropes of silicon, highlighting the significant potential these materials may have for technological applications, provided substantial challenges to their experimental preparation can be overcome.
Quantum and spectral properties of the Labyrinth model
Authors: Takahashi Yuki
Published: June 2016

We consider the Labyrinth model, which is a two-dimensional quasicrystal model. We show that the spectrum of this model, which is known to be a product of two Cantor sets, is an interval for small values of the coupling constant. We also consider the density of states measure of the Labyrinth model and show that it is absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure for almost all values of coupling constants in the small coupling regime.
Self-similar roll-up of a vortex sheet driven by a shear flow: Hyperbolic double spiral
Authors: Sohn Sung-Ik
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we consider the roll-up of an infinite vortex sheet and investigate its self-similar behavior. We address the question of whether the unsteady double spiral produced by the curvature singularity in finite time exhibits self-similar behavior. We find a self-similar solution of the double-spiral vortex sheet, which in fact, is a hyperbolic spiral. The radius of the spiral asymptotically grows with time and is proportional to the inverse of the angle from the spiral center. The curvature singularity plays the role of triggering spiral formation, but the source of vorticity for forming the spiral is the initial vorticity of the sheet. We show analytically that the self-similar solution satisfies the Birkhoff-Rott equation asymptotically. Numerical validation is also given by applying the blob-regularization model to the vortex sheet with a periodic perturbation. We examine various asymptotic relations among primitive variables for the spiral turns and find agreement of numerical results of the inner turns of the vortex sheet with the analytic solution. Our study clarifies contrasting results on the existence of the self-similar double-spiral of a large structure in the previous studies. Our solution also suggests the possibility of bifurcation of the self-similar solution of the double-spiral as the sheet strength varies.
Electronic origin of spatial self-phase modulation: Evidenced by comparing graphite with C60 and graphene
Authors: Wu Y. L. , Zhu L. L. , Wu Q. , Sun F. , Wei J. K. , Tian Y. C. , Wang W. L. , Bai X. D. , Zuo Xu , Zhao Jimin
Published: June 2016

We report unambiguous observation of spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM) in a dispersive suspension of graphite flakes. This coherent nonlinear optical effect in bulk graphite is found to be broadband and large, with a third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) of 2.2 × 10−9 esu (i.e., 3.1 × 10−17 m2/V2 in SI units) at 532 nm excitation. Comparison with other carbon allotropes shows that this value is 5 × 107 times higher than that of C60 but ∼50 times lower than that of graphene, fully exhibiting the electronic origin of SSPM.
Analytic solution of two-density integral equations for sticky Janus dumbbells with arbitrary monomer diameters
Authors: Gazzillo Domenico , Munaò Gianmarco , Prestipino Santi
Published: June 2016

We study a pure fluid of heteronuclear sticky Janus dumbbells, considered to be the result of complete chemical association between unlike species in an initially equimolar mixture of hard spheres (species A) and sticky hard spheres (species B) with different diameters. The B spheres are particles whose attractive surface layer is infinitely thin. Wertheim’s two-density integral equations are employed to describe the mixture of AB dumbbells together with unbound A and B monomers. After Baxter factorization, these equations are solved analytically within the associative Percus-Yevick approximation. The limit of complete association is taken at the end. The present paper extends to the more general, heteronuclear case of A and B species with size asymmetry a previous study by Wu and Chiew [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 6641 (2001)], which was restricted to dumbbells with equal monomer diameters. Furthermore, the solution for the Baxter factor correlation functions qijαβ(r) is determined here in a fully analytic way, since we have been able to find explicit analytic expressions for all the intervening parameters.
Plasma sheath properties in a magnetic field parallel to the wall
Authors: Moritz J. , Faudot E. , Devaux S. , Heuraux S.
Published: June 2016

Particle in cell simulations were carried out with a plasma bounded by two absorbing walls and a magnetic field applied parallel to them. Both the sheath extent and the potential drop in it were derived from simulations for different plasma parameters, such as the electron and ion temperature Ti, particle density, and ion mass. Both of them exhibit a power law dependent on the Larmor to plasma ion pulsation ratio Ωi. For increasing values of the magnetic field, the potential drop within the sheath decreases from a few Ti/e down to zero, where e stands for the electron charge. The space charge extent increases with Ωi and saturates to 2.15 ion Larmor radius. A simple model of sheath formation in such a magnetic field configuration is presented. Assuming strongly magnetized electrons, and neglecting collisions and ionizations, a new typical length is evidenced, which depends on the ratio Ωi. The charge separation sheath width is theoretically found to increase from a combination of the electron gyroradius and the ion Debye length for low Ωi ratios up to several ion gyroradii for strongly magnetized ions. Both the calculated sheath extent and plasma potential show a fair agreement with the numerical simulations.
Change of scattering mechanism and annealing out of defects on Ga-doped ZnO films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering
Authors: Nulhakim Lukman , Makino Hisao
Published: June 2016

This study examines the change of carrier scattering mechanism and defects states in Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering as a function of the substrate temperature (Ts) during deposition. The GZO films deposited at room temperature exhibited a high defect density that resulted in a lower carrier concentration, lower Hall mobility, and optical absorption in visible wavelength range. Such defects were created by ion bombardment and were eliminated by increasing the Ts. The defects related to the optical absorption disappeared at a Ts of 125 °C. The defects responsible for the suppression of the carrier concentration gradually decreased with increasing Ts up to 200 °C. As a result, the carrier concentration and in-grain carrier mobility gradually increased. The Hall mobility was also influenced by film structural properties depending on the Ts. In addition to the c-axis preferred orientation, other oriented grains such as the (101¯1) plane parallel to the substrate surface appeared below 150 °C. This orientation of the (101¯1) plane significantly reduced the Hall mobility via grain boundary scattering. The films deposited at a Ts higher than 175 °C exhibited perfect c-axis orientation and grain boundary scattering was thus negligible in these films. The appearance of the 101¯1 peak in x-ray diffraction profile was correlated with the contribution of grain boundary scattering in heavily doped GZO films.
Noise induced escape from a nonhyperbolic chaotic attractor of a periodically driven nonlinear oscillator
Authors: Chen Zhen , Li Yang , Liu Xianbin
Published: June 2016

Noise induced escape from the domain of attraction of a nonhyperbolic chaotic attractor in a periodically excited nonlinear oscillator is investigated. The general mechanism of the escape in the weak noise limit is studied in the continuous case, and the fluctuational path is obtained by statistical analysis. Selecting the primary homoclinic tangency as the initial condition, the action plot is presented by parametrizing the set of escape trajectories and the global minimum gives rise to the optimal path. Results of both methods show good agreements. The entire process of escape is discussed in detail step by step using the fluctuational force. A structure of hierarchical heteroclinic crossings of stable and unstable manifolds of saddle cycles is found, and the escape is observed to take place through successive jumps through this deterministic hierarchical structure.
Topological structures of vortex flow on a flying wing aircraft, controlled by a nanosecond pulse discharge plasma actuator
Authors: Du Hai , Shi Zhiwei , Cheng Keming , Wei Dechen , Li Zheng , Zhou Danjie , He Haibo , Yao Junkai , He Chengjun
Published: June 2016

Vortex control is a thriving research area, particularly in relation to flying wing or delta wing aircraft. This paper presents the topological structures of vortex flow on a flying wing aircraft controlled by a nanosecond plasma dielectric barrier discharge actuator. Experiments, including oil flow visualization and two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV), were conducted in a wind tunnel with a Reynolds number of 0.5 × 106. Both oil and PIV results show that the vortex can be controlled. Oil topological structures on the aircraft surface coincide with spatial PIV flow structures. Both indicate vortex convergence and enhancement when the plasma discharge is switched on, leading to a reduced region of separated flow.
All-optical diode structure based on asymmetrical coupling by a micro-cavity and FP cavity at two sides of photonic crystal waveguide
Authors: Liu Bin , Liu Yun-Feng , Jia Chen , He Xing-Dao
Published: June 2016

A high efficiency all-optical diode based on photonic crystal (PC) waveguide has been proposed and numerically investigated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The structure is asymmetrically coupled by a micro-cavity containing nonlinear Kerr medium and a FP cavity at sides of PC waveguide. Because of interference between two cavities, Fano peak and FP peak can both appear in transmission spectra and unidirectional transmission can be achieved. The working wavelength can set between two peaks and near to the Fano peak. For forward launch with suitable light intensity, nonlinear Kerr effect of micro-cavity can been excited. It will result in red shift of Fano peak and achieving forward transmission. But for backward launch, a stronger incidence light is needed to the excite Kerr effect due to the design of asymmetric structure. This design has many advantages, including high maximum transmittance, high transmittance contrast ratio, low power threshold, short response time, and ease of integration.
The relationship between salt gland density and sodium accumulation/secretion in a wide selection from three Zoysia species
Authors: Yamamoto Akihiro , Hashiguchi Masatsugu , Akune Ryo , Masumoto Takahito , Muguerza Melody , Saeki Yuichi , Akashi Ryo
Published: June 2016

Several zoysiagrasses (Zoysia spp.) have been reported to have leaf-epidermal salt glands, and it has been suggested that salt gland density, salt secretion and salt tolerance are positively correlated. The economically most important Zoysia species are Zoysia japonica Steud., Zoysia matrella Merr., and Zoysia pacifica (Goudswaard) M. Hotta & Kuroki, and among these, Z. matrella is considered to be the most salt-tolerant. In this study, we investigated the salt gland density, and characterised the secretion and accumulation of Na+ of 48 accessions of the three Zoysia species. We did not find any morphological differences in salt glands of Z. japonica and Z. pacifica, but large bicellular salt glands were found only on the adaxial side of Z. matrella. In addition, salt gland density differed significantly within and between the species. Under salt stress, all accessions accumulated and secreted Na+ at different rates. Z. japonica was a salt-accumulating type, whereas Z. matrella and Z. pacifica secreted most of the absorbed salt. However, the correlation between salt gland density and salt accumulation/secretion were not observed. Furthermore, Z. pacifica had the lowest gland density but showed the highest Na+ uptake and a secretion rate similar to most salt-tolerant Z. matrella. These results suggest that response to salt stress, namely, salt accumulation/secretion, is different between species, and that salt gland density and salt secretion are not always positively correlated.
Changes in irradiance and soil properties explain why typical non-arboreal savanna species disappear under tree encroachment
Authors: Pinheiro Luiz Felipe Souza , Kolb Rosana Marta , Rossatto Davi Rodrigo
Published: June 2016

Savanna vegetation maintains its openness and its diverse plant composition because of frequent fire events; however, when these are suppressed, encroachment is caused by increases in the tree density. In the neotropical savanna (cerrado of Brazil), typical forest trees are invading savanna areas, altering abiotic conditions and affecting the persistence of their exclusive species. Here we studied changes in abiotic conditions, species richness and diversity of a non-arboreal community (herbs, vines, grasses, subshrubs and shrubs) in a gradient of encroachment at a site where fire has been suppressed for more than 50 years in south-eastern Brazil. Encroached communities were more shaded and possessed a wetter and richer soil (higher contents of organic matter and P) compared with the typical savanna. These abiotic changes were related to a less rich and less diverse plant community in encroached savanna compared with typical savanna. The most important abiotic variables driving such changes were photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) reaching the understorey and soil P content: communities with lower species richness and diversity had lower PAR incidence and higher soil P content. Our results suggest that non-arboreal savanna species may be under serious threat of extinction given the expected ecological changes caused by the widespread expansion of forest on the savannas in the absence of fire.
Structures of trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase from pathogenic fungi reveal the mechanisms of substrate recognition and catalysis
Authors: Miao Yi , Tenor Jennifer L. , Toffaletti Dena L. , Washington Erica J. , Liu Jiuyu , Shadrick William R. , Schumacher Maria A. , Lee Richard E. , Perfect John R. , Brennan Richard G.
Published: June 2016

Significance

Fungal infections pose a serious threat to human health and result in several million deaths annually. To survive in their human host, pathogenic fungi require the disaccharide, trehalose. Significantly, the enzymes that synthesize trehalose are absent in humans, and thus serve as potential targets for novel antifungal intervention. Here, we describe multiple structures of one of the trehalose biosynthetic enzymes, trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (Tps2). These structures and germane in vivo and biochemical studies reveal the significance of the Tps2 N-terminal domain in fungal cellular stress responses and the conformational flexibility of the Tps2 C-terminal domain that imposes exquisite substrate specificity and permits efficient catalysis. These structures pave the way for “rational” inhibitor design against Tps2, facilitating antifungal drug design.
Repair of adjacent single-strand breaks is often accompanied by the formation of tandem sequence duplications in plant genomes
Authors: Schiml Simon , Fauser Friedrich , Puchta Holger
Published: June 2016

Significance

A major principle in genome evolution is the duplication of existing sequences. Various mechanisms linked to DNA replication, homologous recombination, or double-strand break repair have been elucidated over the years. Using the single-strand break (SSB)-inducing nickase variant of the CRISPR/Cas system, we examined genomic alterations following the occurrence of two adjacent SSBs in the model plant
Arabidopsis thaliana
. In addition to deletions, tandem duplications were found regularly, with both outcomes indicating partial involvement of microhomologies. These results demonstrate that the repair of adjacent SSBs plays a surprising and important role in shaping plant genomes during evolution.
Comparison of the effect of two types of whole mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) powders on intestinal fermentation in rats
Authors: Kawakami Sakura , Araki Takahiro , Ohba Kiyoshi , Sasaki Keiko , Kamada Takeo , Shimada Ken-Ichiro , Han Kyu-Ho , Fukushima Michihiro
Published: June 2016

The effects of two types of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus; white, WM; brown, BM) powders on intestinal fermentation in rats were investigated in terms of the physical characteristics of animals and by bacterial and HPLC analyses of cecal contents. Short-chain fatty acid levels were found to be significantly higher in the WM group than in the BM and the control (CN) groups; coliform bacteria levels in the BM group were significantly lower than those in the CN group, with the WM group inducing an apparent but insignificant decrease in coliforms. Anaerobe levels in the WM group were significantly higher than those in the CN group and, compared with the CN group, the BM and WM groups exhibited significantly increased feces weight and cecum weight, respectively. These results indicate that the mushroom powders, and in particular the WM powder, have beneficial effects on the intestinal environment in rats.
Fatigue life assessment of weld joints manufactured by GMAW and CW-GMAW processes
Authors: Marques L. F. N. , Santos E. B. F. , Gerlich A. P. , Braga E. M.
Published: June 2016

The fatigue strength of weld joints manufactured using gas metal arc welding and cold wire GMAW (CW-GMAW) was evaluated under stress-controlled cyclic loading. The material used in this study was class ASTM 131 grade A steel, joined using ER70S wire filler metal. The addition of cold wire led to a decrease in the amount of intergranular ferrite and an increase in hardness in the heat-affected zone. The assessment of fatigue life was performed by using the Weibull distribution and the results revealed that with a 99% reliability the joints produced using the CW-GMAW process have a longer fatigue life, especially as the stress amplitude increases.