bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Monovarietal and Commercial Portuguese Olive Oils
Authors: Gouvinhas Irene , Machado Juliana , Gomes Sónia , Lopes João , Martins‐Lopes Paula , Barros Ana I. R. N. A.
Published: April 2014

Olive oil composition has been investigated using chemical approaches, since the composition has a direct impact on its quality and safety and it may be used for certification purposes. In this paper, eleven monovarietal and twelve commercial Portuguese olive oils were analyzed to determine spectrophotometrically their total polyphenol content, ortho‐diphenols and antioxidant activity. The phenolic profiles of these olive oils were also studied by high performance liquid chromatography. The lowest phenolic content and antioxidant activity were observed for monovarietal olive oils, however, among these group, ‘Cobrançosa’ and ‘Redondil’ cultivars showed the highest values of these two chemical parameters. In commercial olive oils, the concentration of polyphenols, determined according to the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity (ABTS method) ranged from 97.37 ± 1.10 to 219.7 ± 1.50 mg GAE/kg of oil and from 387.2 ± 20.00 to 997.5 ± 30.90 µmol Trolox/kg, respectively. The study of the phenolic profile demonstrated that the highest concentrations of the most abundant compounds in olive oil (tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein) are present in commercial olive oils. The correlation coefficient between total phenolics and antioxidant activity was statistically significant (r = 0.95, p < 0.0001). The same was observed for ortho‐diphenol content and antioxidant capacity (r = 0.94, p < 0.0001).
Twin pregnancy among women with pregestational type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: González González Nieves L. , González Dávila Enrique , Goya Maria , Vega Begoña , Hernández Suarez Mercedes , Bartha Jose L.
Published: April 2014

Objective

To assess the impact of twin versus singleton pregnancy on obstetric and perinatal outcomes among women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

Multicenter retrospective cohort study of women with pregestational DM and twin or singleton pregnancy, conducted in Spain during 2005–2010. Each group included 63 women (type 1 DM, n = 39; type 2 DM, n = 24).

Results

Of 269 565 deliveries, 68 (0.025%) were twins of mothers with pregestational DM, with 28/63 (44.4%) conceptions achieved with assisted reproduction technology. Among women with type 1 DM, hypertensive complications were more common among those with twins than among controls (13% versus 3%, P = 0.02); the rate of preterm birth was higher (69% versus 15%, P < 0.001); and the rate of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was higher (51% versus 21%, P = 0.005). Twin pregnancy was an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes regardless of the type of diabetes.

Conclusion

Twin pregnancy in women with either type of DM dramatically increased the risk of perinatal morbidity. In mothers with type 1 DM, twin pregnancy was more often associated with hypertensive complications than singleton pregnancy. Transfer of more than one embryo should be avoided if ART is needed in a woman with DM.
Effect of Body Mass Index on Hemiparetic Gait
Authors: Sheffler Lynne R. , Bailey Stephanie Nogan , Gunzler Douglas , Chae John
Published: April 2014

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic gait parameters in chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors.

Design

Secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized controlled trial comparing two 12‐week ambulation training treatments.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Participants

Chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors (N = 108, >3 months poststroke)

Methods

Linear regression analyses were performed of BMI, and selected pretreatment gait parameters were recorded using quantitative gait analysis.

Main Outcome Measures

Spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic gait parameters.

Results

A series of linear regression models that controlled for age, gender, stroke type (ischemic versus hemorrhagic), interval poststroke, level of motor impairment (Fugl‐Meyer score), and walking speed found BMI to be positively associated with step width (m) (β = 0.364, P < .001), positively associated with peak hip abduction angle of the nonparetic limb during stance (deg) (β = 0.177, P = .040), negatively associated with ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact of the paretic limb (deg) (β = −0.222, P = .023), and negatively associated with peak ankle power at push‐off (W/kg) of the paretic limb (W/kg)(β = −0.142, P = .026).

Conclusions

When walking at a similar speed, chronic hemiparetic stroke subjects with a higher BMI demonstrated greater step width, greater hip hiking of the paretic lower limb, less paretic limb dorsiflexion at initial contact, and less paretic ankle power at push‐off as compared to stroke subjects with a lower BMI and similar level of motor impairment. Further studies are necessary to determine the clinical relevance of these findings with respect to rehabilitation strategies for gait dysfunction in hemiparetic patients with higher BMIs.
The response of the environment of the Angara–Lena Plateau to global climate change in the Holocene
Authors: Bezrukova E.V. , Belov A.V. , Letunova P.P. , Kulagina N.V.
Published: April 2014

The paper is focused on the regularities and character of the response of the regional landscapes of the Angara–Lena Plateau to variations in the global climate system during the Holocene. They were revealed by integrated studies of four peat bogs of the plateau—an important area for the understanding of the environmental dynamics in the entire Baikal region. Age models for the records obtained were provided by 16 radiocarbon dates. A spatiotemporal correlation of spore–pollen indices with the trend of δ18O records from the global stratotypes was used to find out the possible causes of changes in the landscapes and climate of the Angara–Lena Plateau in the context of past changes in the global climate system. The plateau environment showed a dramatically varying response to global climate variations in the Middle–Late Holocene. Moreover, the observed intervals of reorganization in the regional environment took place in a quasi-millennial regime, in accordance with global climate rearrangement. However, not all the studied regions of the Angara–Lena Plateau exhibited a synchronous or analogous response to global environment change. This emphasizes the complicated character of regional climate manifestations in the Holocene and necessitates the use of paleogeographical data from a wider range of territories.
Mineralogy and crystal chemistry of carbonates from the Holocene sediments of Lake Kiran (western Transbaikalia): connection with paleoclimate
Authors: Solotchina E.P. , Sklyarov E.V. , Solotchin P.A. , Vologina E.G. , Sklyarova O.A.
Published: April 2014

We present results of research into the Holocene sediments of Lake Kiran, one of the small saline lakes with carbonate sedimentation in western Transbaikalia. The sediments were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, IR spectroscopy, analysis of stable 18O and 13C isotopes, laser granulometry, element analysis (SRXFA), etc. By the mathematical modeling of complex XRD patterns of lacustrine sediments, Mg-calcites with different Mg contents and excess-Ca dolomites have been determined in the assemblage of endogenic carbonate minerals.

The obtained carbonate record gives an insight into the stratigraphic distribution of endogenic carbonates of the calcite–dolomite series, in which the number and proportion of phases with different Mg contents are determined by the Mg/Ca ratio, salinity, and total alkalinity of the lake water in the past. The abundance of excess-Ca dolomites in the sediments indicates that the lake is of shallow playa type. The mineral composition and crystallochemical structure of carbonates are in high correlation with the data of lithological analysis, results of determination of stable isotopes (δ18O and δ13C), and distribution of some geochemical indicators of sedimentation conditions. Several stages of the lake evolution depending on the regional climatic changes have been recognized. It has been established that the most arid conditions in southern Buryatia were in the Subatlantic. Despite the highly arid climate in the region in the period under study (from 7 ka to the present), it underwent fluctuations toward humidification, in particular, at the Atlantic stage (the time of the lake formation) and in the recent decades, up to the present.
The earliest well-dated archeological site in the hyper-arid Tarim Basin and its implications for prehistoric human migration and climatic change
Authors: Han WenXia , Yu LuPeng , Lai ZhongPing , Madsen David , Yang Shengli
Published: April 2014

The routes and timing of human occupation of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) are crucial for understanding the evolution of Tibetan populations and associated paleoclimatic conditions. Many archeological sites have been found in/around the Tarim Basin, on the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Unfortunately, most of these sites are surface sites and cannot be directly dated. Their ages can only be estimated based on imprecise artifact comparisons. We recently found and dated an archeological site on a terrace along the Keriya River. Our ages indicate that the site was occupied at ~7.0–7.6 ka, making it the earliest well-dated archeological site yet identified in the Tarim Basin. This suggests that early human foragers migrated into this region prior to ~7.0–7.6 ka during the early to mid-Holocene climatic optimum, which may have provided the impetus for populating the region. We hypothesize that the Keriya River, together with the other rivers originating from the TP, may have served as access routes onto the TP for early human foragers. These rivers may also have served as stepping stones for migration further west into the now hyper-arid regions of the Tarim Basin, leading ultimately to the development of the Silk Road.
Nonstructural Safety of Hospitals for Disasters: A Comparison Between Two Capital Cities
Authors: Djalali Ahmadreza , Ardalan Ali , Ohlen Gunnar , Ingrassia Pier Luigi , Corte Francesco Della , Castren Maaret , Kurland Lisa
Published: April 2014

Objective

Hospitals are expected to function as a safe environment during disasters, but many become unusable because of nonstructural damage. This study compares the nonstructural safety of hospitals to disasters in Tehran and Stockholm.

Methods

Hospital safety in Tehran and Stockholm was assessed between September 24, 2012, and April 5, 2013, with use of the nonstructural module of the hospital safety index from the World Health Organization. Hospital safety was categorized as safe, at risk, or inadequate.

Results

All 4 hospitals in Stockholm were classified as safe, while 2 hospitals in Tehran were at risk and 3 were safe. The mean nonstructural safety index was 90% ± 2.4 SD for the hospitals in Stockholm and 64% ± 17.4 SD for those in Tehran (P = .014).

Conclusions

The level of hospital safety, with respect to disasters, was not related to local vulnerability. Future studies on hospital safety should assess other factors such as legal and financial issues. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-6)
Long-distance dependencies without filler−gaps: a cognitive-functional alternative in Fluid Construction Grammar
Authors: VAN TRIJP REMI
Published: April 2014

abstract

Long-distance dependencies are notoriously difficult to analyze in a formally explicit way because they involve constituents that seem to have been extracted from their canonical position in an utterance. The most widespread solution is to identify agapat anextraction siteand to communicate information about that gap to itsfiller, as inWhat_FILLERdid you see_GAP?This paper rejects the filler−gap solution and proposes a cognitive-functional alternative in which long-distance dependencies spontaneously emerge as a side effect of how grammatical constructions interact with each other for expressing different conceptualizations. The proposal is supported by a computational implementation in Fluid Construction Grammar that works for both parsing and production.
Dating the Dead: a High-Resolution Radiocarbon Chronology of Burial Within an Early Bronze Age Barrow Cemetery at Over, Cambridgeshire
Authors: Garrow Duncan , Meadows John , Evans Christopher , Tabor Jonathan
Published: April 2014

This paper outlines the results of a programme of radiocarbon dating and Bayesian modelling relating to an Early Bronze Age barrow cemetery at Over, Cambridgeshire. In total, 43 dates were obtained, enabling the first high-resolution independent chronology (relating to both burial and architectural events) to be constructed for a site of this kind. The results suggest that the three main turf-mound barrows were probably constructed and used successively rather than simultaneously, that the shift from inhumation to cremation seen on the site was not a straightforward progression, and that the four main ‘types’ of cremation burial in evidence were used throughout the life of the site. Overall, variability in terms of burial practice appears to have been a key feature of the site. The paper also considers the light that the fine-grained chronology developed can shed on recent much wider discussions of memory and time within Early Bronze Age barrows
Immunosuppressive PAS-1 is an excretory/secretory protein released by larval and adult worms of the ascarid nematodeAscaris suum
Authors: Antunes M.F.P. , Titz T.O. , Batista I.F.C. , Marques-Porto R. , Oliveira C.F. , Alves de Araujo C.A. , Macedo-Soares M.F.
Published: April 2014

Helminths use several strategies to evade and/or modify the host immune response, including suppression or inactivation of the host antigen-specific response. Several helminth immunomodulatory molecules have been identified. Our studies have focused on immunosuppression induced by the roundwormAscaris suumand anA. suum-derived protein named protein 1 fromA. suum(PAS-1). Here we assessed whether PAS-1 is an excretory/secretory (E/S) protein and whether it can suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. Larvae from infective eggs were cultured in unsupplemented Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) for 2 weeks. PAS-1 was then measured in the culture supernatants and in adultA. suumbody fluid at different time points by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with the monoclonal antibody MAIP-1. Secreted PAS-1 was detected in both larval culture supernatant and adult body fluid. It suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced leucocyte migration and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and stimulated interleukin (IL)-10 secretion, indicating that larval and adult secreted PAS-1 suppresses inflammation in this model. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of PAS-1 was abolished by treatment with MAIP-1, a PAS-1-specific monoclonal antibody, confirming the crucial role of PAS-1 in suppressing LPS-induced inflammation. These findings demonstrate that PAS-1 is an E/S protein with anti-inflammatory properties likely to be attributable to IL-10 production.
Structural and functional imaging of the hippocampus in young people at familial risk of depression
Authors: Mannie Z. N. , Filippini N. , Williams C. , Near J. , Mackay C. E. , Cowen P. J.
Published: April 2014

Background

Major depression is associated with abnormalities in the function and structure of the hippocampus. However, it is unclear whether these abnormalities might also be present in people ‘at risk’ of illness.

Method

We studied 62 young people (mean age 18.8 years) at familial risk of depression (FH+) but who had never been depressed themselves. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to assess hippocampal structure and neural responses to a task designed to activate hippocampal memory networks. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure levels of a combination of glutamine and glutamate (Glx) in the right hippocampus. A total of 59 matched controls with no history of mood disorder in a first-degree relative underwent the same investigations.

Results

Hippocampal volume did not differ between FH+ participants and controls; however, relative to controls, during the memory task, FH+ participants showed increased activation in brain regions encompassing the insular cortices, putamen and pallidum as well as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). FH+ participants also had increased hippocampal levels of Glx.

Conclusions

Euthymic individuals with a parental history of depression demonstrate increased activation of hippocampal-related neural networks during a memory task, particularly in brain regions involved in processing the salience of stimuli. Changes in the activity of the ACC replicate previous findings in FH+ participants using different psychological tasks; this suggests that task-related abnormalities in the ACC may be a marker of vulnerability to depression. Increased levels of Glx in the hippocampus might also represent a risk biomarker but follow-up studies will be required to test these various possibilities.
‘She called her partner – hence she is needy’: depressed patients show increased tendencies to make spontaneous trait inferences
Authors: Boecking B. , Barnhofer T.
Published: April 2014

Background

Interpersonal stress generation is an important maintaining factor in major depression; however, little is known about the psychological mechanisms that undermine interpersonal functioning. This study investigated the role of deficits in person perception to this regard.

Method

Depressed patients (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20) completed a false recognition task that measured participants' tendencies to make spontaneous trait inferences (STIs), that is to spontaneously ascribe personality traits to other people. Participants then reported interpersonal daily hassles for one week following the task.

Results

Tendencies to make STIs were significantly higher in depressed patients, particularly those with a history of childhood trauma. The degree to which participants made STIs was significantly related to depression severity, and predicted the occurrence of interpersonal daily hassles during follow-up across, but not within groups.

Conclusions

The results suggest that depressed patients show characteristic biases in person perception that may contribute to the generation of interpersonal stress.
Evidence for structural and functional abnormality in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex in major depressive disorder
Authors: Rodríguez-Cano E. , Sarró S. , Monté G. C. , Maristany T. , Salvador R. , McKenna P. J. , Pomarol-Clotet E.
Published: April 2014

Background.

The subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) is considered to be an important site of abnormality in major depressive disorder. However, structural alterations in this region have not been a consistent finding and functional imaging studies have also implicated additional areas.

Method.

A total of 32 patients with major depressive disorder, currently depressed, and 64 controls underwent structural imaging with MRI. Also, 26 patients and 52 controls were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during performance of the n-back working memory task. Structural and functional changes were evaluated using whole-brain, voxel-based methods.

Results.

The depressed patients showed volume reductions in the sgACC and orbitofrontal cortex bilaterally, plus in both temporal poles and the hippocampus/parahippocampal gyrus on the left. Functional imaging revealed task-related hypoactivation in the left lateral prefrontal cortex and other regions, as well as failure of deactivation in a subcallosal medial frontal cortical area which included the sgACC.

Conclusions.

Whole-brain, voxel-based analysis finds evidence of both structural and functional abnormality in the sgACC in major depressive disorder. The fact that the functional changes in this area took the form of failure of deactivation adds to previous findings of default mode network dysfunction in the disorder.
Cohesion and segregation in swarm navigation
Authors: Santos Vinicius Graciano , Chaimowicz Luiz
Published: April 2014

The use of large groups of robots in the execution of complex tasks has received much attention in recent years. Generally called robotic swarms, these systems employ a large number of simple agents to perform different types of tasks. A basic requirement for most robotic swarms is the ability for safe navigation in shared environments. Particularly, two desired behaviors are to keep robots close to their kin and to avoid merging with distinct groups. These are respectively called cohesion and segregation, which are observed in several biological systems. In this paper, we investigate two different approaches that allow swarms of robots to navigate in a cohesive fashion while being segregated from other groups of agents. Our first approach is based on artificial potential fields and hierarchical abstractions. However, this method has one drawback: It needs a central entity which is able to communicate with all robots. To cope with this problem, we introduce a distributed mechanism that combines hierarchical abstractions, flocking behaviors, and an efficient collision avoidance mechanism. We perform simulated and real experiments to study the feasibility and effectiveness of our methods. Results show that both approaches ensure cohesion and segregation during swarm navigation.
Can non-interactive language input benefit young second-language learners?
Authors: AU TERRY KIT-FONG , CHAN WINNIE WAILAN , CHENG LIAO , SIEGEL LINDA S. , TSO RICKY VAN YIP
Published: April 2014

To fully acquire a language, especially its phonology, children need linguistic input from native speakers early on. When interaction with native speakers is not always possible – e.g. for children learning a second language that is not the societal language – audios are commonly used as an affordable substitute. But does such non-interactive input work? Two experiments evaluated the usefulness of audio storybooks in acquiring a more native-like second-language accent. Young children, first- and second-graders in Hong Kong whose native language was Cantonese Chinese, were given take-home listening assignments in a second language, either English or Putonghua Chinese. Accent ratings of the children's story reading revealed measurable benefits of non-interactive input from native speakers. The benefits were far more robust for Putonghua than English. Implications for second-language accent acquisition are discussed.
Research in urban history: recent Ph.D. theses on gender and the city, 1550–2000
Authors: PLUSKOTA MARION
Published: April 2014

Since the first outcries from feminist historians in the early 1970s against the absence of women as historical subjects, tangible progress has been made towards the inclusion of both female and male identities and experiences in historical research. The definition of gender as a ‘category of analysis’ brought about a small revolution in historical research, especially in social, economic and, more recently, cultural history. Traditional narratives about the marginal economic role of women or their limited participation in the public sphere have subsequently been re-evaluated and new hypotheses about people's gendered experiences have emerged. This growing interest in the formation and influence of gender identities is also increasingly discernible in urban history, where gender analysis has proven to be of particular relevance in understanding men's and women's use of urban space and, vice versa, the ways that the urban environment shaped the construction of people's gendered identities.
Advancing Disaster Relief: Development of a Self-Report Questionnaire for Firefighters
Authors: Kehl Doris , Knuth Daniela , Galea Ed , Hulse Lynn , Sans Jordi , Valles Lola , Seidler Frank , Diebe Eberhard , Kecklund Lena , Petterson Sara , Wolanin Jerzy , Beltowski Grzegorz , Preiss Marek , Holubova Marketa , Sofuoglu Turhan , Baskaya Sofuoglu Zeynep , Pietrantoni Luca , Saccinto Elisa , Schmidt Silke
Published: April 2014

During emergencies, firefighters may face challenges such as inappropriate victim responses, poor communication, and lack of needed information. Here we describe the multistep development of a questionnaire for firefighters to identify emergency-related human factors that may impair their professional performance and interfere with procedures during threatening events and evacuations. The resulting self-report questionnaire, titled the Behavior Security Culture–First Responder, comprises a battery of scales plus single questions designed for international use. We report the psychometric properties of the battery of scales and their application across 8 countries: Germany, UK, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, and Italy. Exploratory factor analysis and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis were conducted with a total sample of 3,011 firefighters (97% male). Exploratory factor analysis revealed 6 unidimensional scales assessing various aspects of victim behavior, communication with others, and information availability and reliability. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses, with the 8 countries inserted as groups, confirmed configural and metric invariance, but not scalar invariance. Internal consistency estimates of the 6 scales ranged from α = .77 to .80. Divergent validity was established for all scales in all national samples. The collected data and the questionnaire may be used for developing training programs and to aid in directing resources efficiently.
Risk Assessment and Decision Making Regarding Imminent Suicidality in Pediatric Settings
Authors: Helms Sarah W. , Prinstein Mitchell J.
Published: April 2014

Risk assessment for suicidality and related clinical decision making raises a number of ethical, clinical, and professional challenges for pediatric psychologists across the many clinical settings and professional roles in which these risk assessments may be conducted. Prior work has focused on ethical issues related to imminent risk concerns and the development of risk assessment protocols for use in clinical work or research. However, little work has attended to the real-world clinical scenarios in which risk assessment occurs, specifically within pediatric settings, and the unique clinical decision-making dilemmas faced by pediatric psychologists in these risk assessment scenarios. After a review of the ethical, clinical, and professional challenges often faced by pediatric psychologists in evaluating and addressing imminent risk among youth, a series of case vignettes is presented to illustrate these challenges and the clinical decision-making skills utilized to resolve such challenges.
Constructing a mixed π-conjugated bridge to effectively enhance the nonlinear optical response in the Möbius cyclacene-based systems
Authors: Chen Liwei , Yu Guangtao , Chen Wei , Tu Chunyun , Zhao Xingang , Huang Xuri
Published: April 2014

Constructing a mixed π-conjugated bridge is an effective strategy to significantly improve the first hyperpolarizabilities of Möbius cyclacene-based systems.
Ni2+chemistry in pathogens – a possible target for eradication
Authors: Rowinska-Zyrek Magdalena , Zakrzewska-Czerwinska Jolanta , Zawilak-Pawlik Anna , Kozlowski Henryk
Published: April 2014

Nickel homeostasis inHelicobacter pyloriand potential histidine-rich binding sites from various bacterial and fungal pathogens are discussed.
Highly active and durable non-precious-metal catalysts encapsulated in carbon nanotubes for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Deng Jiao , Ren Pengju , Deng Dehui , Yu Liang , Yang Fan , Bao Xinhe
Published: April 2014

Novel non-precious-metal catalysts encapsulated in N-doped carbon nanotubes exhibit high activity and remarkable stability towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic medium.
Magnesium nitrate as a chemical modifier to improve sensitivity in manganese determination in plant materials by tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometry
Authors: Silva Sidnei G. , Nóbrega Joaquim A. , Jones Bradley T. , Donati George L.
Published: April 2014

The use of magnesium nitrate as a chemical modifier in atomic emission spectrometry to improve sensitivity and minimize matrix effects in Mn determination is demonstrated here.
Synthesis, antiribosomal and antibacterial activity of 4′-O-glycopyranosyl paromomycin aminoglycoside antibiotics
Authors: Chen Weiwei , Matsushita Takahiko , Shcherbakov Dimitri , Boukari Heithem , Vasella Andrea , Böttger Erik C. , Crich David
Published: April 2014

4′-O-Glycopyranosylation of the aminoglycoside paromomycin affects differentially the inhibition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes and influences antibacterial activity against MRSA.
Spectral selectivity of 3D magnetophotonic crystal film fabricated from single butterfly wing scales
Authors: Peng Wenhong , Zhu Shenmin , Zhang Wang , Yang Qingqing , Zhang Di , Chen Zhixin
Published: April 2014

A magnetite film with photonic structures, which possess spatial optical anisotropy properties and can be tuned by an external magnetic field, has been successfully fabricated by a simple sol–gel process.
Synthesis and formation mechanism of twinned SiC nanowires made by a catalyst-free thermal chemical vapour deposition method
Authors: Huang Zhaohui , Liu Haitao , Chen Kai , Fang Minghao , Huang Juntong , Liu Shuyue , Huang Saifang , Liu Yan-gai , Wu Xiaowen
Published: April 2014

Twinned SiC nanowires were prepared on a silicon wafer by a simple catalyst-free thermal chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method.
Room temperature lead-free relaxor–antiferroelectric electroceramics for energy storage applications
Authors: Borkar Hitesh , Singh V. N. , Singh B. P. , Tomar M. , Gupta Vinay , Kumar Ashok
Published: April 2014

Round the globe, scientific communities have been searching for new materials for “green” energy, producing efficiently both high power as well as high energy density.
Physicochemical characterisation and hydrothermal stability investigation of cobalt-incorporated silica xerogels
Authors: Liu Liang , Wang David K. , Martens Dana. L. , Smart Simon , Strounina Ekaterina , Diniz da Costa João C.
Published: April 2014

High cobalt oxide concentrations were able to shield the microporous silica network from excessive structural rearrangement during harsh hydrothermal testing.
Structural transition of VO2 (A) nanorods studied by vibrational spectroscopies
Authors: Hou Jiwei , Zhang Jianwu , Wang Zhongping , Zhang Zengming , Ding Zejun
Published: April 2014

The temperature-induce phase transition of VO2 (A) nanorods was observed from the Raman spectrum. Temperature-dependent Raman spectra of the VO2 (A) during the increasing temperature.
Sol-gel entrapped visible light photocatalysts for selective conversions
Authors: Zhang Yanhui , Ciriminna Rosaria , Palmisano Giovanni , Xu Yi-Jun , Pagliaro Mario
Published: April 2014

A new photoactive, low-cost nanomaterial to harvest solar energy and use it a selective reactant is now available. Sol–gel encapsulation of flower-like Bi2WO6into transparent silica glass affords a catalyst far more active, but still highly selective, compared to the non-entrapped species.
Novel polyoxadiazoles with non-coplanar ortho-linked structures as highly CO2 permselective membranes
Authors: Abouzari-Lotf E. , Shockravi A. , Rafieimanesh A. , Saremi M. , Javadi A. , Nasef M. M.
Published: April 2014

A novel class of polyoxadiazole membranes containing non-coplanar 1,1′-thiobis(2-naphthoxy) groups was synthesized using versatile route and tested for CO2 separation. Upon oxidation, the sulfone-containing membranes exhibited higher permeability and lower selectivity.
Discovery of a novel fluorescent HSP90 inhibitor and its anti-lung cancer effect
Authors: Bai Su-Yun , Dai Xi , Zhao Bao-Xiang , Miao Jun-Ying
Published: April 2014

A novel fluorescent HSP90 inhibitor with strong growth inhibitory effects on lung cancer cells was developed.
Design of lamellar structured POSS/BPZ polybenzoxazine nanocomposites as a novel class of ultra low-k dielectric materials
Authors: Sasi kumar R. , Ariraman M. , Alagar M.
Published: April 2014

A novel class of lamellar structured polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane/bisphenol Z (POSS/BPZ) polybenzoxazine (PBz) nanocomposites was successfully designed by a facile one-step copolymerization technique.
Fabrication of cuprous nanoparticles in MIL-101: an efficient adsorbent for the separation of olefin–paraffin mixtures
Authors: Chang Ganggang , Bao Zongbi , Ren Qilong , Deng Shuguang , Zhang Zhiguo , Su Baogen , Xing Huabin , Yang Yiwen
Published: April 2014

Cu+-doped MIL-101 was synthesized, and its application in the separation of olefin–paraffin was investigated for the first time.
Preparation of graphene oxide nano-composite ion-exchange membranes for desalination application
Authors: Gahlot Swati , Sharma Prem P. , Gupta Hariom , Kulshrestha Vaibhav , Jha Prafulla K.
Published: April 2014

Different membrane properties by inclusion of graphene oxide content.
Synthesis of mixed poly(ε-caprolactone)/polystyrene brushes from Y-initiator-functionalized silica particles by surface-initiated ring-opening polymerization and nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization
Authors: Li Weikun , Bao Chunhui , Wright Roger A. E. , Zhao Bin
Published: April 2014

This article reports the synthesis of mixed brushes by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization of styrene from Y-initiator-functionalized silica particles.
Bioinspired polydopamine nanospheres: a superquencher for fluorescence sensing of biomolecules
Authors: Qiang Weibing , Li Wei , Li Xiaoqing , Chen Xiang , Xu Danke
Published: April 2014

A sensing platform based on the fluorescence quenching ability of polydopamine nanospheres was developed for the assay of biomolecules.
Rapid, facile synthesis of conjugated polymer zwitterions in ionic liquids
Authors: Page Zachariah A. , Liu Feng , Russell Thomas P. , Emrick Todd
Published: April 2014

Ionic liquids (ILs) were utilized for the rapid air-stable Suzuki polymerization of polar zwitterionic thiophene monomers, precluding the need for volatile organic solvents, phosphine ligands and phase transfer catalysts typically used in conjugated polymer synthesis.
Nac1 interacts with the POZ-domain transcription factor, Miz1
Authors: Stead Mark A. , Wright Stephanie C.
Published: April 2014

Nac1 (nucleus accumbens 1) is a POZ (poxvirus and zinc finger)-domain transcriptional repressor that is expressed at high levels in ovarian serous carcinoma. Here we identify Nac1 as a novel interacting partner of the POZ-domain transcriptional activator, Miz1 (Myc-interacting zinc-finger protein 1), and using chemical crosslinking we show that this association is mediated by a heterodimeric interaction of the Nac1 and Miz1 POZ domains. Nac1 is found in discrete bodies within the nucleus of mammalian cells, and we demonstrate the relocalization of Miz1 to these structures in transfected HeLa cells. We show that siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated knockdown of Nac1 in ovarian cancer cells results in increased levels of the Miz1 target gene product, p21Cip1. The interaction of Nac1 with Miz1 may thus be relevant to its mechanism of tumourigenesis in ovarian cancer.
60 GHz foam‐based antenna for near‐field focusing
Authors: Bor J. , Clauzier S. , Lafond O. , Himdi M.
Published: April 2014

An innovative way to manufacture a sectoral horn antenna with a biconvex dielectric lens is presented. The antenna focuses on the near‐field signal in the H‐plane to illuminate a linear array for example. It is made of only two symmetrical pieces of foam and a metallic support. A prototype is manufactured and measured at 60 GHz to verify its focusing properties and validate the technological process.
Magnetoluminescence of light-emitting field-effect transistors based on alpha sexithiophene
Authors: Pham Song-Toan , Tada Hirokazu
Published: April 2014

We demonstrated the effect of a magnetic field on the luminous intensity and electric current of light-emitting field-effect transistors (LEFETs) based on alpha sexithiophene (α-6T). Sublimate-grade α-6T was thermally deposited on an n+-Si/300 nm-SiO2 substrate with patterned asymmetric gold-aluminum electrodes to fabricate a bottom-contact LEFET. We observed an increase in luminous intensity of approximately 1.3% under a magnetic field of 100 mT. A possible explanation for this is that the magnetic field increased the probability of singlet formation at the α-6T/Al interface. While the magneto-electroluminescence (MEL) was reported to be derived from the magneto-conductance (MC) in ordinary light emitting diodes, the MEL in LEFET was independent with MC. This indicates that the luminous efficiency can be improved by optimizing the magnetic field effect.
Ion plasma wave and its instability in interpenetrating plasmas
Authors: Vranjes J. , Kono M.
Published: April 2014

Some essential features of the ion plasma wave in both kinetic and fluid descriptions are presented. The wave develops at wavelengths shorter than the electron Debye radius. Thermal motion of electrons at this scale is such that they overshoot the electrostatic potential perturbation caused by ion bunching, which consequently propagates as an unshielded wave, completely unaffected by electron dynamics. So in the simplest fluid description, the electrons can be taken as a fixed background. However, in the presence of magnetic field and for the electron gyro-radius shorter than the Debye radius, electrons can participate in the wave and can increase its damping rate. This is determined by the ratio of the electron gyro-radius and the Debye radius. In interpenetrating plasmas (when one plasma drifts through another), the ion plasma wave can easily become growing and this growth rate is quantitatively presented for the case of an argon plasma.
Rendering graphene supports hydrophilic with non-covalent aromatic functionalization for transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Pantelic Radosav S. , Fu Wangyang , Schoenenberger Christian , Stahlberg Henning
Published: April 2014

Amorphous carbon films have been routinely used to enhance the preparation of frozen-hydrated samples for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), either in retaining protein concentration, providing mechanical stability or dissipating sample charge. However, strong background signal from the amorphous carbon support obstructs that of the sample, and the insulating properties of thin amorphous carbon films preclude any efficiency in dispersing charge. Graphene addresses the limitations of amorphous carbon. Graphene is a crystalline material with virtually no phase or amplitude contrast and unparalleled, high electrical carrier mobility. However, the hydrophobic properties of graphene have prevented its routine application in Cryo-TEM. This Letter reports a method for rendering graphene TEM supports hydrophilic—a convenient approach maintaining graphene's structural and electrical properties based on non-covalent, aromatic functionalization.
Single-mode, quasi-stable coherent random lasing in an amplifying periodic-on-average random system
Authors: Tiwari Anjani Kumar , Shadak Alee K. , Uppu Ravitej , Mujumdar Sushil
Published: April 2014

We experimentally demonstrate single-mode coherent random lasing in a linear array of monodisperse amplifying microresonators, which behaves as an amplifying periodic-on-average random system. We theoretically analyse the frequency distribution of lasing modes under weak and strong configurational disorder. We show that the tuning of the microresonator diameter can match the frequency interval of the lasing modes with the gain maximum, thus achieving spectral mode-matching. We implement this experimentally and demonstrate that the spectral mode-matched system yields single-mode coherent random lasing with 76% probability of the modes restricted to an interval of width ∼1.2 nm, thus offering quasi-stability in the emission.
Band gap narrowing in zinc oxide-based semiconductor thin films
Authors: Kumar Jitendra , Kumar Srivastava Amit
Published: April 2014

A simple expression is proposed for the band gap narrowing (or shrinkage) in semiconductors using optical absorption measurements of spin coated 1 at. % Ga-doped ZnO (with additional 0–1.5 at. % zinc species) thin films as ΔEBGN = Bn1/3 [1 − (nc/n)1/3], where B is the fitting parameter, n is carrier concentration, and nc is the critical density required for shrinkage onset. Its uniqueness lies in not only describing variation of ΔEBGN correctly but also allowing deduction of nc automatically for several M-doped ZnO (M: Ga, Al, In, B, Mo) systems. The physical significance of the term [1 − (nc/n)1/3] is discussed in terms of carrier separation.
Discrimination between energy transfer and back transfer processes for GaAs host and Er luminescent dopants using electric response analysis
Authors: Ishii Masashi , Koizumi Atsushi , Takeda Yoshikazu , Fujiwara Yasufumi
Published: April 2014

The energy transfer and back transfer processes of GaAs co-doped with Er and O (GaAs:Er,O) were experimentally distinguished by using a frequency response analysis of the AC photocurrent. The results were achieved by using the difference in the frequency dispersion between (1) the dispersion of the energy transfer, which is triggered by the trapping of free charges in the GaAs host and is represented with the Debye relaxation response and (2) the dispersion of the energy back transfer, which is induced by non-radiative transition of 4f bound electrons in the Er dopants and is described with a Lorentzian. The Debye relaxation response found in GaAs:Er,O provided a charge trapping time that was dependent on temperature, which was well correlated with the thermal quenching property of intense intra-4f-shell luminescence. The spectral shape of the Lorentzian dependence on the temperature was explained with the thermal excitation of Er 4f electrons and release of trapped charges in GaAs. The thermal excitation and release of charges consistently explained the characteristics of weak 4f luminescence in low- and high-temperature regions, respectively.
Simultaneous sensing of light and sound velocities of fluids in a two-dimensional phoXonic crystal with defects
Authors: Amoudache Samira , Pennec Yan , Djafari Rouhani Bahram , Khater Antoine , Lucklum Ralf , Tigrine Rachid
Published: April 2014

We theoretically investigate the potentiality of dual phononic-photonic (the so-called phoxonic) crystals for liquid sensing applications. We study the transmission through a two-dimensional (2D) crystal made of infinite cylindrical holes in a silicon substrate, where one row of holes oriented perpendicular to the propagation direction is filled with a liquid. The infiltrated holes may have a different radius than the regular holes. We show, in the defect structure, the existence of well-defined features (peaks or dips) in the transmission spectra of acoustic and optical waves and estimate their sensitivity to the sound and light velocity of the analyte. Some of the geometrical requirements behave in opposite directions when searching for an efficient sensing of either sound or light velocities. Hence, a compromise in the choice of the parameters may become necessary in making the phoxonic sensor.
Long-term morphological stasis maintained by a plant–pollinator mutualism
Authors: Davis Charles C. , Schaefer Hanno , Xi Zhenxiang , Baum David A. , Donoghue Michael J. , Harmon Luke J.
Published: April 2014

Significance

Long-term morphological stasis is a major feature of the paleontological record, but the explanation for this pattern has been controversial. Here, we use the species-rich plant clade Malpighiaceae to determine whether long-term floral stasis is maintained by selection or developmental and genetic constraint. Our results, which use an explicit phylogenetic framework and comparative methods, strongly support selection. We hypothesize that this floral morphology has been maintained over tens of millions of years via their specialized pollinator interaction with oil-collecting bees. To our knowledge, this study in which stasis has been connected to such a plant-pollinator mutualism, is unique, and opens the door to future research on how this association may have enhanced diversification in this plant lineage.
Making sense of collostructional analysis
Authors: Gilquin Gaëtanelle
Published: April 2014

This paper looks at the ways of refining the technique of collostructional analysis, and more precisely multiple distinctive collexeme analysis, by taking word senses into account. It presents the main results of a sense-based multiple distinctive collexeme analysis of the non-finite verb slot of English periphrastic causative constructions and shows how these results compare with those of a lemma-based analysis of the same data. The study reveals that the different senses of a verb tend to be attracted to different constructions and that integrating sense into the analysis not only makes the interpretation of the data more straightforward and more reliable, but also provides information that would otherwise have to be obtained by means of other techniques.
Constructions-and-frames analysis of translations
Authors: Čulo Oliver
Published: April 2014

Translation can generally be seen as a task in which the meaning of the original should be preserved as far as possible. This paper formulates the preservation of meaning in terms of theprimacy of the framehypothesis: ideally, the frame of the original is matched by the frame of the translation. I investigate one factor overriding this principle in translations between English and German through the examination of two grammatical constructions, one in English, one in German, which are not commonly available in the other language. Picking a construction comparable in function in the target language leads to frame shifts. In addition to highlighting the interplay between construction and frame choice, the paper explores how frame-to-frame relations can be used to describe the semantic relatedness of original and translation in cases of frame divergences. Theoretical and methodological questions and implications of the cross-lingual application of frame relations are discussed at the end.
I think,I meanandI believein political discourse
Authors: Fetzer Anita
Published: April 2014

This article examines the distribution, collocates and function of the first-person-singular cognitive-verb-based syntagmatic configurationsI think,I meanandI believein argumentative political discourse, considering their status as parenthetical construction and pragmatic marker in two sets of spoken data: monologic speech and dialogic interview. Its goal is to identify discourse-domain-specific discourse patterns, which manifest themselves in patterned co-occurrences with other pragmatic markers, and with expressions of modality and evidentiality. The explicit accommodation of local context allows for a fine-grained analysis of the three constructions, filtering out those contextual configurations in whichI think,I meanandI believemay count as a pragmatic marker.