bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Adaptive Capacity on Disaster Response and Recovery: Evidence Supporting Core Community Capabilities
Authors: Zukowski Rebecca S.
Published: July 2014

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between the development of adaptive capacity and disaster response and recovery outcomes. Hospitals and health care systems are a critical element in community planning for all phases of the disaster cycle. There is a lack of research, however, to validate the relationship between the development of these capabilities and improved response and recovery outcomes.

Hypothesis/Problem

Two hypotheses were formulated to address the research question. The first hypothesis argued that counties or parishes that developed adaptive capacity through pre-event planning, community engagement, training, and the use of national response frameworks would have improved response and recovery performance outcomes. The second hypothesis argued that adaptive capacity, along with response and recovery performance outcomes, predicts the trajectory of recovery progression.

Methods

This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey methodology and existing community demographic data to explore the development of adaptive capacity and its ability to predict disaster response and recovery outcomes in communities affected by major disaster in 2011. A total of 333 counties and parishes were included in the final sample, providing a 95% confidence interval with a 5% margin of error. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Multiple, hierarchical, and robust regression were used to find the best fitting model. Multi-level modeling with random intercepts was used to control for the nesting effects associated with county, state, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) region sampling.

Results

Descriptive results provide a baseline assessment of adaptive capacity development at the community level. While controlling for other variables, hypothesis testing revealed that pre-event planning, community engagement, full-scale exercises, and use of national frameworks predicated overall response and recovery performance outcomes (R2 = .43; F13,303 = 13.34; P < .001). In terms of recovery progression, pre-event planning, overall response and recovery performance outcome, total time of disruption, and percent of people below poverty were significant (R2 = .15; F14,302 = 4.53; P < .001).

Conclusions

Establishment of empirical data provides communities with reinforcement to continue resilience-building activities at the local level. However, findings from this study suggest that only full-scale exercises were significant in improving response and recovery outcomes. Implications for re-evaluation of disaster training warrant further exploration.

ZukowskiRS. The impact of adaptive capacity on disaster response and recovery: evidence supporting core community capabilities. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(4):1-8.
Correlation of X-Ray Dark-Field Radiography to Mechanical Sample Properties
Authors: Malecki Andreas , Eggl Elena , Schaff Florian , Potdevin Guillaume , Baum Thomas , Garcia Eduardo Grande , Bauer Jan S. , Pfeiffer Franz
Published: July 2014

The directional dark-field signal obtained with X-ray grating interferometry yields direction-dependent information about the X-ray scattering taking place inside the examined sample. It allows examination of its morphology without the requirement of resolving the micrometer size structures directly causing the scattering. The local morphology in turn gives rise to macroscopic mechanical properties of the investigated specimen. In this study, we investigate the relation between the biomechanical elasticity (Young’s modulus) and the measured directional dark-field parameters of a well-defined sample made of wood. In our proof-of-principle experiment, we found a correlation between Young’s modulus, the average dark-field signal, and the average dark-field anisotropy. Hence, we are able to show that directional dark-field imaging is a new method to predict mechanical sample properties. As grating interferometry provides absorption, phase-contrast, and dark-field data at the same time, this technique appears promising to combine imaging and mechanical testing in a single testing stage. Therefore, we believe that directional dark-field imaging will have a large impact in the materials science world.
Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Analysis to Understand the Role of Tannin-Based Dyes in the Degradation of Historical Wool Textiles
Authors: Restivo Annalaura , Degano Ilaria , Ribechini Erika , Pérez-Arantegui Josefina , Colombini Maria Perla
Published: July 2014

An innovative approach, combining field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, is presented to investigate the degradation mechanisms affecting tannin-dyed wool. In fact, tannin-dyed textiles are more sensitive to degradation then those dyed with other dyestuffs, even in the same conservation conditions.

FESEM-EDX was first used to study a set of 48 wool specimens (artificially aged) dyed with several raw materials and mordants, and prepared according to historical dyeing recipes. EDX analysis was performed on the surface of wool threads and on their cross-sections. In addition, in order to validate the model formulated by the analysis of reference materials, several samples collected from historical and archaeological textiles were subjected to FESEM-EDX analysis.

FESEM-EDX investigations enabled us to reveal the correlation between elemental composition and morphological changes. In addition, aging processes were clarified by studying changes in the elemental composition of wool from the protective cuticle to the fiber core in cross-sections. Morphological and elemental analysis of wool specimens and of archaeological and historical textiles showed that the presence of tannins increases wool damage, primarily by causing a sulfur decrease and fiber oxidation.
ON THE ORGANIZATION OF ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENTS WITH CONSTRAINTS
Authors: EGGAR M. H.
Published: July 2014

A sporting league places every team into one of several divisions of equal size, and runs a round robin tournament for each division. Some teams are paired with another team, not necessarily in the same division, to share facilities. It is shown that however many teams are paired and whatever the pairings, it is always possible to schedule the fixtures in the minimum time, so that no two paired teams have home matches simultaneously.
ON THE SUBSTITUTION THEOREM FOR RINGS OF SEMIALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
Authors: Fernando José F.
Published: July 2014

Let$R\subset F$be an extension of real closed fields, and let${\mathcal{S}}(M,R)$be the ring of (continuous) semialgebraic functions on a semialgebraic set$M\subset R^{n}$. We prove that every$R$-homomorphism${\it\varphi}:{\mathcal{S}}(M,R)\rightarrow F$is essentially the evaluation homomorphism at a certain point$p\in F^{n}$adjacent to the extended semialgebraic set$M_{F}$. This type of result is commonly known in real algebra as a substitution lemma. In the case when$M$is locally closed, the results are neat, while the non-locally closed case requires a more subtle approach and some constructions (weak continuous extension theorem, appropriate immersion of semialgebraic sets) that have interest of their own. We consider the same problem for the ring of bounded (continuous) semialgebraic functions, getting results of a different nature.
Psychometrische Eigenschaften der „Testbatterie zur Aufmerksamkeitsprüfung für Kinder” (KITAP) in einer klinischen Stichprobe
Authors: Renner Gerolf , Stottmeister-Lessing Tina , Irblich Dieter , Krampen Günter
Published: July 2014

An einer klinisch-sozialpädiatrischen Stichprobe von 225 Kindern im Alter von 6 – 10 Jahren wurden bis zu sechs Untertests der computerisierten „Testbatterie zur Aufmerksamkeitsprüfung für Kinder” (KITAP) durchgeführt. Außerdem wurden klinische Diagnosen nach ICD-10 erfasst und an Teilstichproben verschiedene Referenzvariablen erhoben (Intelligenz, Verhaltensratings). Die mittels der Split-half-Methode ermittelten Reliabilitätskennwerte fielen überwiegend vergleichbar mit den Daten der Normstichprobe und somit nicht durchgehend befriedigend aus. Die KITAP-Parameter zeigten überwiegend keine bedeutsamen Korrelationen mit der als Intelligenzmaß eingesetzten Kaufman-Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) und mit Verhaltensratings, einschließlich Ratings von Aufmerksamkeitsproblemen, von Eltern und Lehrern. Die differentielle Validität für klinische Gruppen (ADHS vs. Kinder ohne Aufmerksamkeitsprobleme; ADHS vs. Kinder mit Störungen des Sozialverhaltens, kombinierten Entwicklungsstörungen, umschriebenen Entwicklungsstörungen schulischer Fertigkeiten) konnte nicht belegt werden.
DAS-18 Form A und Form B
Authors: Rojas Roberto , Geissner Edgar , Hautzinger Martin
Published: July 2014

Zusammenfassung. Die Skala dysfunktionaler Einstellungen (DAS) hat sich als ein effektives Selbstbeurteilungsinstrument erwiesen. Vor allem zur Untersuchung der kognitiven Vulnerabilität und Reaktivität bei remittiert depressiven Personen ist ein unmittelbarer Vergleich der Änderung dysfunktionaler Einstellungen in kurzen Zeitabständen notwendig. Bislang gab es keine geeigneten parallelen Kurzversionen für die DAS. Die Studie untersucht die psychometrischen Eigenschaften sowie die Vergleichbarkeit der DAS-18A und DAS-18B. Bei 94 depressiven und 110 gesunden Probanden wurden die psychometrischen Kennwerte der Kurzversionen ermittelt. Ergebnisse: DAS-18A und DAS-18B zeigten gute Reliabilitäts- und Validitätswerte sowie eine ähnliche Item-Faktor-Zuordnung wie die Ausgangsform der DAS. Die Ergebnisse empfehlen die beiden Kurzversionen als parallele und zeitökonomische Testformen, die für wiederholte (Labor–) Untersuchungen geeignet sind.
Das Dreckige Dutzend und die Niederträchtigen Neun
Authors: Küfner Albrecht C. P. , Dufner Michael , Back Mitja D.
Published: July 2014

Bei der Erfassung persönlichkeitsrelevanter Eigenschaften kommen evaluativ negativere Dispositionen oft zu kurz. Diese sind jedoch besonders in interpersonellen Situationen wichtig. Die „Dunkle Triade”, bestehend aus Narzissmus, Psychopathie und Machiavellismus bietet die Möglichkeit diese verwandten Konstrukte und ihre Effekte spezifisch zu untersuchen. Im deutschen Sprachraum werden derzeit drei separate und umfangreiche Instrumente zu deren Messung benötigt. In drei Studien (N = 501; N = 828; N = 96) wird die Validierung einer deutschen Version (das „Dreckige Dutzend”) der „Dirty Dozen”-Kurzskalen ( Jonason & Webster, 2010 ), sowie eine psychometrisch optimierte Version (die „Niederträchtigen Neun”) zur Erfassung der Kernaspekte der Dunklen Triade vorgestellt. Die vier bzw. drei Items umfassenden Skalen beider Instrumente weisen eine gute Struktur, interne Konsistenz und Stabilität auf. Darüber hinaus zeigen die Skalen zufriedenstellende konvergente Beziehungen zu den Standardverfahren der Dunklen Triade, differenzierte Zusammenhänge mit weiteren relevanten Persönlichkeitskonstrukten (z. B. Big Five-Facetten, Aggressivität, Soziosexualität) und prädizieren charakteristische Verhaltensweisen. Implikationen für die Erfassung der Dunklen Triade in Forschungs- und Anwendungskontexten werden diskutiert.
Outcome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Toll‐like receptor interaction: immune response or immune evasion?
Authors: Saraav Iti , Singh Swati , Sharma Sadhna
Published: July 2014

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the causative agent of tuberculosis, is an intracellular bacterium capable of surviving and persisting within host mononuclear cells. The host response against tubercle bacilli is dominated by fine‐tuned interaction of innate and adaptive immune responses. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in the formation of this immune response by facilitating in elaboration of protective T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines and microbicidal molecules, but the intracellular persistence of M. tuberculosis in the phagosome and processing and presentation of TLR ligands by host antigen‐presenting cell leads to continuous and chronic TLR2 signaling. The prolonged stimulation of TLR ultimately results in elaboration of immunosuppressive cytokines and downregulation of antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and therefore becomes beneficial for M. tuberculosis, resulting in its continued survival inside macrophages. An understanding of the host–pathogen interaction in tuberculosis is important to delineate the mechanisms that can modulate the immune response toward protection. This review focuses on the role of TLRs in immune response and immune evasion and how M. tuberculosis maintains its dominance over the host during infection. A precise understanding of the TLRs and M. tuberculosis interaction will undoubtedly lead to the development of novel therapies to combat tuberculosis.
Natural small-molecule enhancers of autophagy induce autophagic cell death in apoptosis-defective cells
Authors: Law Betty Yuen Kwan , Chan Wai Kit , Xu Su Wei , Wang Jing Rong , Bai Li Ping , Liu Liang , Wong Vincent Kam Wai
Published: July 2014

Resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy is a significant problem in oncology and the development of sensitising agents or small-molecules with new mechanisms of action to kill these cells is needed. Autophagy is a cellular process responsible for the turnover of misfolded proteins or damaged organelles and it also recycles nutrients to maintain energy levels for cell survival. In some apoptosis-resistant cancer cells, autophagy can also enhance the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs through autophagy-mediated mechanisms of cell death. Because the modulation of autophagic processes can be therapeutically useful to circumvent chemoresistance and enhance the effects of cancer treatment, the identification of novel autophagic enhancers for use in oncology is highly desirable. Many novel anti-cancer compounds have been isolated from natural products; therefore, we worked to discover natural, anti-cancer small-molecule enhancers of autophagy. Here, we have identified a group of natural alkaloid small-molecules that function as novel autophagic enhancers. These alkaloids, including liensinine, isoliensinine, dauricine and cepharanthine, stimulated AMPK-mTOR dependent induction of autophagy and autophagic cell death in a panel of apoptosis-resistant cells. Taken together, our work provides novel insights into the biological functions, mechanisms and potential therapeutic values of alkaloids for the induction of autophagy.
The effect of heat treatment of thylakoids on their ability to inhibit in vitro lipase/co-lipase activity
Authors: Östbring Karolina , Rayner Marilyn , Sjöholm Ingegerd , Otterström Jennie , Albertsson Per-Åke , Emek Sinan Cem , Erlanson-Albertsson Charlotte
Published: July 2014

Thylakoids previously shown to reduce hunger, and their capacity to inhibit lipase/colipase in vitro is affected by heat treatment which correlates with degradation of chlorophyll a measured at 436 nm.
A specific, highly enriching and “green” method for hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction of ionizable pharmaceuticals from fish tissue
Authors: Boström Marja Lena , Huang Chuixiu , Engström Henrik , Larsson Estelle , Berglund Olof , Jönsson Jan Åke
Published: July 2014

A specific, highly enriching and “green” method for hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction of ionizable pharmaceuticals from fish tissue is presented.
Trace analysis of pesticides and an assessment of their occurrence in surface and drinking waters from the State of São Paulo (Brazil)
Authors: Montagner Cassiana C. , Vidal Cristiane , Acayaba Raphael D. , Jardim Wilson F. , Jardim Isabel C. S. F. , Umbuzeiro Gisela A.
Published: July 2014

Development of a method based on SPE and LC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of trace levels of pesticides in surface and drinking waters from São Paulo (Brazil), a state with high agricultural activity.
A europium-based fluorescence probe for detection of thiols in urine
Authors: Xie Feng , Tan Hong , Li Zhanbin , Yang Hongbo
Published: July 2014

It is extremely necessary to develop a simple and sensitive analytical method for the detection of biothiols in biological fluids due to their vital biological functions.
Urchin-like Ce/Tb co-doped GdPO4 hollow spheres for in vivo luminescence/X-ray bioimaging and drug delivery
Authors: Yi Zhigao , Lu Wei , Qian Chao , Zeng Tianmei , Yin Lingzhen , Wang Haibo , Rao Ling , Liu Hongrong , Zeng Songjun
Published: July 2014

Urchin-like hollow structure of the GdPO4:Ce/Tb spheres fabricated by a self-sacrificing template route was used for in vivo luminescence, X-ray, and 3D X-ray bioimaging and drug delivery.
A modular tyrosine kinase deoxyribozyme with discrete aptamer and catalyst domains
Authors: Dokukin Victor , Silverman Scott K.
Published: July 2014

A predetermined aptamer DNA module is integrated adjacent to a random catalytic DNA region for identifying modular tyrosine kinase deoxyribozymes by in vitro selection.
Arene C–H functionalisation using a removable/modifiable or a traceless directing group strategy
Authors: Zhang Fengzhi , Spring David R.
Published: July 2014

Recent advances in arene C–H functionalisation using a removable/modifiable or a traceless directing group strategy are reviewed.
Calix[4]pyrroles: versatile molecular containers with ion transport, recognition, and molecular switching functions
Authors: Kim Dong Sub , Sessler Jonathan L.
Published: July 2014

Calix[4]pyrroles function as “molecular containers” as illustrated by their ability to act as carriers for the through-membrane transport of ions and as “monomers” in the construction of aggregated supramolecular constructs.
Phytochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of the cladodes of Opuntia macrorhiza (Engelm.) and Opuntia microdasys (Lehm.)
Authors: Chahdoura Hassiba , Barreira João C. M. , Barros Lillian , Santos-Buelga Celestino , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R. , Achour Lotfi
Published: July 2014

Phytochemical profiles are useful to select Opuntia species for antioxidant purposes.
Tocotrienol modulates crucial lipid metabolism-related genes in differentiated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes
Authors: Burdeos Gregor Carpentero , Nakagawa Kiyotaka , Abe Takumi , Kimura Fumiko , Miyazawa Teruo
Published: July 2014

Obesity and other lipid metabolism-related diseases have become more prevalent in recent years due to drastic lifestyle changes and dietary patterns.
Selective conversion of lignin in corncob residue to monophenols with high yield and selectivity
Authors: Jiang Zhicheng , He Ting , Li Jianmei , Hu Changwei
Published: July 2014

Selective conversion of lignin in corncob residue to monophenols with 24.3 wt% yield was achieved in the absence of hydrogen.
Deciphering aromaticity in porphyrinoids via adaptive natural density partitioning
Authors: Ivanov Alexander S. , Boldyrev Alexander I.
Published: July 2014

Aromaticity in porphyrins is described by the adaptive natural density partitioning analysis.
Covalent synthesis of perylenediimide-bridged silsesquioxane nanoribbons and their electronic properties
Authors: Xu Lan , Manda Venkata Ramana , McNamara Louis E. , Jahan Muhammad P. , Rathnayake Hemali , Hammer Nathan I.
Published: July 2014

Perylenediimide-bridged silsesquioxane nanostructures were prepared by base catalyzed polymerization and their electronic properties were studied for organic photovoltaics.
Length evolution of helical micro/nano-scale structures
Authors: Song Yuanqiang , Jian Xian , Pan Yu , Wang Bo , Huo Weirong , Liu Aifang , Lv Weiqiang , He Weidong
Published: July 2014

A geometric model for describing the kinetic growth of helical structures is derived and the correlation between helix length with parameters including height, pitch and radius is evaluated.
Al3+ selective coumarin based reversible chemosensor: application in living cell imaging and as integrated molecular logic gate
Authors: Sarkar Deblina , Pramanik Arindam , Biswas Sujan , Karmakar Parimal , Mondal Tapan Kumar
Published: July 2014

The new coumarin based fluorescent ‘turn-on’ chemosensor (H2L) efficiently detects Al3+ over other metal ions. It is efficient in detecting Al3+ in the intracellular region of HeLa cells and also exhibits an INHIBIT logic gate with Al3+ and EDTA as chemical inputs.
Probing the association of triblock copolymers with supported lipid membranes using microcantilevers
Authors: Wang Jinghui , Segatori Laura , Biswal Sibani Lisa
Published: July 2014

Microcantilevers are used to study how pluronics, class of amphiphilic triblock copolymers, interact with lipid membranes in interesting ways.
Enhanced selective CO2 adsorption on polyamine/MIL-101(Cr) composites
Authors: Lin Yichao , Lin Hao , Wang Haimin , Suo Yange , Li Baihai , Kong Chunlong , Chen Liang
Published: July 2014

Polyamine/MIL-101(Cr) composites exhibit excellent CO2 capture ability at 0.15 bar and low temperatures.
Efficient orange-red phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes using an in situ synthesized copper(i) complex as the emitter
Authors: Wei Feng , Qiu Jacky , Liu Xiaochen , Wang Jianqiang , Wei Huibo , Wang Zhibin , Liu Zhiwei , Bian Zuqiang , Lu Zhenghong , Zhao Yongliang , Huang Chunhui
Published: July 2014

Orange-red phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes with inexpensive and eco-friendly luminescent Cu(i) complexes as the emitter are successfully realized by a codeposition method
Origami magnetic cellulose: controlled magnetic fraction and patterning of flexible bacterial cellulose
Authors: Zeng Muling , Laromaine Anna , Feng Wenqian , Levkin Pavel A. , Roig Anna
Published: July 2014

Superparamagnetic, flexible and transparent bacterial cellulose films by very fast microwave-assisted synthesis with control over the magnetic fraction and magnetic patterning.
Design of light‐emitting‐diode array for solving problems of irregular radiation pattern and signal attenuation for infrared electronic‐toll‐collection systems
Authors: Shieh Wern‐Yarng , Hsu Chen‐Chien , Chen Hsin‐Chuan , Wang Ti‐Ho , Chang Shyang‐Lih
Published: July 2014

Infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) with a half‐intensity angle Φ1/2 ≃ 10° are suitable for electronic‐toll‐collection (ETC) applications. However, the radiation patterns of commonly available low‐cost commercial infrared LEDs are irregular to some extent, which result in difficulties to construct an infrared ETC system with a proper communication area. Most low‐cost infrared LEDs with a half‐intensity angle Φ1/2 ≃ 10° exhibit a common irregularity in their radiation pattern – a notch in the central radiant direction. The adverse influence bccause of such irregularities can be reduced by a proper design of an LED array in the emitter. High attenuation for the infrared signal of some windshields is also a serious problem for infrared ETC systems, which leads to severe shrinkage of the communication area if the emitter has not been properly designed. In this study, the authors present some successful designs with the aid of an optimisation algorithm to adjust the mounting angle of each constituent LED. In spite of the aforementioned irregularity, the proposed design still exhibits good performance in terms of the ability to withstand high signal attenuation and extended communication area in the vehicle‐travelling direction.
Phase retrieval technique for submillimetre‐wave frequency scanning‐based radar system
Authors: Laviada Jaime , Álvarez‐López Yuri , Camblor‐Díaz René , García‐González Cebrián , Vázquez‐Antuña Carlos , Arboleya‐Arboleya Ana , Fernández‐García Miguel , Hotopan George , Ver Hoeye Samuel , Las‐Heras Fernando
Published: July 2014

A phaseless setup for a submillimetre‐wave frequency scanning‐based radar system is presented. The phase retrieval setup is implemented by modifying a previous implementation at microwave frequencies. In the new setup, the number of involved components (e.g. directional couplers, power combiners etc.) is reduced by including a time‐domain reference signal by means of direct radiation, yielding a low‐cost submillimetre‐wave radar system that avoids the need for phase shifters. Several measurement examples are shown to illustrate the performance of the system.
Rotational spectrum of SO3 and theoretical evidence for the formation of sixfold rotational energy-level clusters in its vibrational ground state
Authors: Underwood Daniel S. , Yurchenko Sergei N. , Tennyson Jonathan , Jensen Per
Published: July 2014

The structure of the purely rotational spectrum of sulphur trioxide 32S16O3 is investigated using a new synthetic line list. The list combines line positions from an empirical model with line intensities determined, in the form of Einstein coefficients, from variationally computed ro-vibrational wavefunctions in conjunction with an ab initio dipole moment surface. The empirical model providing the line positions involves an effective, Watsonian-type rotational Hamiltonian with literature parameter values resulting from least-squares fittings to observed transition frequencies. The formation of so-called 6-fold rotational energy clusters at high rotational excitation are investigated. The SO3 molecule is planar at equilibrium and exhibits a unique type of rotational-energy clustering associated with unusual stabilization axes perpendicular to the S–O bonds. This behaviour is characterized theoretically in the J range from 100–250. The wavefunctions for these cluster states are analysed, and the results are compared to those of a classical analysis in terms of the rotational-energy-surface formalism.
Radiochemical determination of Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule compression at the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Shaughnessy D. A. , Moody K. J. , Gharibyan N. , Grant P. M. , Gostic J. M. , Torretto P. C. , Wooddy P. T. , Bandong B. B. , Despotopulos J. D. , Cerjan C. J. , Hagmann C. A. , Caggiano J. A. , Yeamans C. B. , Bernstein L. A. , Schneider D. H. G. , Henry E. A. , Fortner R. J.
Published: July 2014

We describe a radiochemical measurement of the ratio of isotope concentrations produced in a gold hohlraum surrounding an Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). We relate the ratio of the concentrations of (n,γ) and (n,2n) products in the gold hohlraum matrix to the down-scatter of neutrons in the compressed fuel and, consequently, to the fuel's areal density. The observed ratio of the concentrations of 198m+gAu and 196gAu is a performance signature of ablator areal density and the fuel assembly confinement time. We identify the measurement of nuclear cross sections of astrophysical importance as a potential application of the neutrons generated at the NIF.
Use of high-granularity position sensing to correct response non-uniformities of CdZnTe detectors
Authors: Bolotnikov A. E. , Camarda G. S. , Cui Y. , De Geronimo G. , Fried J. , Hossain A. , Lee K. , Mahler G. , Maritato M. , Marshall M. , Petryk M. , Roy U. , Vernon E. , Yang G. , James R. B.
Published: July 2014

CdZnTe (CZT) is a promising medium for room-temperature gamma-ray detectors. However, the low production yield of acceptable quality crystals hampers the use of CZT detectors for gamma-ray spectroscopy. Significant efforts have been directed towards improving quality of CZT crystals to make them generally available for radiation detectors. Another way to address this problem is to implement detector designs that would allow for more accurate and predictable correction of the charge loss associated with crystal defects. In this work, we demonstrate that high-granularity position-sensitive detectors can significantly improve the performance of CZT detectors fabricated from CZT crystals with wider acceptance boundaries, leading to an increase of their availability and expected decrease in cost.
Depletion force in the infinite-dilution limit in a solvent of nonadditive hard spheres
Authors: Fantoni Riccardo , Santos Andrés
Published: July 2014

The mutual entropic depletion force felt by two solute “big” hard spheres immersed in a binary mixture solvent of nonadditive “small” hard spheres is calculated as a function of the surface-to-surface distance by means of canonical Monte Carlo simulations and through a recently proposed rational-function approximation [R. Fantoni and A. Santos, Phys. Rev. E 84, 041201 (2011)]. Four representative scenarios are investigated: symmetric solute particles and the limit where one of the two solute spheres becomes a planar hard wall, in both cases with symmetric and asymmetric solvents. In all cases, the influence on the depletion force due to the nonadditivity in the solvent is determined in the mixed state. Comparison between results from the theoretical approximation and from the simulation shows a good agreement for surface-to-surface distances greater than the smallest solvent diameter.
Fragment transition density method to calculate electronic coupling for excitation energy transfer
Authors: Voityuk Alexander A.
Published: July 2014

A general approach, the Fragment Transition Density (FTD) scheme, is introduced to estimate electronic coupling for excitation energy transfer in a molecular system. Within this method, the excitation energies and transition densities of the system are used to derive the coupling matrix element. The scheme allows one to treat systems where exciton donor and acceptor are close together and their exchange interaction and orbital overlap are significant. The FTD method can be applied in combination with any quantum mechanical approach to treat excited states of general nature including single-, double-, and higher excitations. Using FTD approach, we derive excitonic couplings for several systems computed with the CIS, TD DFT and MS-CASPT2 methods. In particular, it is shown that the estimated coupling values in DNA π-stacks are strongly affected by the short-range electronic interaction of adjacent nucleobases.
Communication: Relative diffusion in two dimensions: Breakdown of the standard diffusive model for simple liquids
Authors: Litniewski Marek , Gorecki Jerzy
Published: July 2014

Using molecular dynamics simulations for a liquid of identical soft spheres we analyze the relative diffusion constant DΣn(r) and the self diffusion constant Dn where r is the interparticle distance and n = 2, 3 denotes the dimensionality. We demonstrate that for the periodic boundary conditions, Dn is a function of the system size and the relation: DΣn(r = L/2) ≅ 2Dn(L), where L is the length of the cubic box edge, holds both for n = 2 and 3. For n = 2 both DΣ2(r) and D2(L) increase logarithmically with its argument. However, it was found that the diffusive process for large two dimensional systems is very sensitive to perturbations. The sensitivity increases with L and even a very low perturbation limits the increase of D2(L → ∞). Nevertheless, due to the functional form of DΣ2(r) the standard assumption for the Smoluchowski type models of reaction kinetics at three dimensions:DΣn(r) ≈ 2Dn leads to giant errors if applied for n = 2.
Localized modulated waves in microtubules
Authors: Zdravković Slobodan , Bugay Aleksandr N. , Aru Guzel F. , Maluckov Aleksandra
Published: July 2014

In the present paper, we study nonlinear dynamics of microtubules (MTs). As an analytical method, we use semi-discrete approximation and show that localized modulated solitonic waves move along MT. This is supported by numerical analysis. Both cases with and without viscosity effects are studied.
Nonlinear alternating current conduction in polycrystalline manganites
Authors: Ghosh T. N. , Nandi U. N. , Jana D. , Dey K. , Giri S.
Published: July 2014

The real part of ac conductance Σ(T, f) of yttrium-doped mixed-valent polycrystalline manganite systems La1−x−yYyCaxMnO3 with x = 0.33 and 0.05 and y = 0.07 and iron doped LaMn1−xFexO3 with x = 0.15 is measured as a function of frequency f by varying zero-frequency Ohmic conductance Σ0 by T. The former shows a metal-insulator transition, whereas the latter exhibits insulating character throughout the measured temperature range. At a fixed temperature T, Σ(T, f) remains almost constant to the value Σ0 up to a certain frequency, known as the onset frequency fc and increases from Σ0 as frequency is increased from fc. Scaled appropriately, the data for Σ(T, f) at different T fall on the same universal curve, indicating the existence of a general scaling formalism for the ac conductance. fc scales with Σ0 as fc∼Σ0xf, where xf is the nonlinearity exponent characterising the onset. With the help of data for ac conduction, it is shown that xf is very much phase sensitive and can be used to characterize the different phases in a manganite system originated due to change in temperature or disorder. Scaling theories and existing theoretical models are used to analyze the results of ac conduction and the nonlinearity exponent xf.
Electronic and optical properties of Fe, Pd, and Ti studied by reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy
Authors: Tahir Dahlang , Kraaer Jens , Tougaard Sven
Published: July 2014

We have studied the electronic and optical properties of Fe, Pd, and Ti by reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy (REELS). REELS spectra recorded for primary energies in the range from 300 eV to 10 keV were corrected for multiple inelastically scattered electrons to determine the effective inelastic-scattering cross section. The dielectric functions and optical properties were determined by comparing the experimental inelastic-electron scattering cross section with a simulated cross section calculated within the semi-classical dielectric response model in which the only input is Im(−1/ε) by using the QUEELS-ε(k,ω)-REELS software package. The complex dielectric functions ε(k,ω), in the 0–100 eV energy range, for Fe, Pd, and Ti were determined from the derived Im(−1/ε) by Kramers-Kronig transformation and then the refractive index n and extinction coefficient k. The validity of the applied model was previously tested and found to give consistent results when applied to REELS spectra at energies between 300 and 1000 eV taken at widely different experimental geometries. In the present paper, we provide, for the first time, a further test on its validity and find that the model also gives consistent results when applied to REELS spectra in the full range of primary electron energies from 300 eV to 10000 eV. This gives confidence in the validity of the applied method.
Computational studies of multiple-particle nonlinear dynamics in a spatio-temporally periodic potential
Authors: Myers Owen D. , Wu Junru , Marshall Jeffrey S. , Danforth Christopher M.
Published: July 2014

The spatio-temporally periodic (STP) potential is interesting in Physics due to the intimate coupling between its time and spatial components. In this paper, we begin with a brief discussion of the dynamical behaviors of a single particle in a STP potential and then examine the dynamics of multiple particles interacting in a STP potential via the electric Coulomb potential. For the multiple particles' case, we focus on the occurrence of bifurcations when the amplitude of the STP potential varies. It is found that the particle concentration of the system plays an important role; the type of bifurcations that occur and the number of attractors present in the Poincaré sections depend on whether the number of particles in the simulation is even or odd. In addition to the nonlinear dynamical approach, we also discuss dependence of the squared fractional deviation of particles' kinetic energy of the multiple particle system on the amplitude of the STP potential which can be used to elucidate certain transitions of states; this approach is simple and useful particularly for experimental studies of complicated interacting systems.
A widely tunable 10-μm quantum cascade laser phase-locked to a state-of-the-art mid-infrared reference for precision molecular spectroscopy
Authors: Sow P. L. T. , Mejri S. , Tokunaga S. K. , Lopez O. , Goncharov A. , Argence B. , Chardonnet C. , Amy-Klein A. , Daussy C. , Darquié B.
Published: July 2014

We report the coherent phase-locking of a quantum cascade laser (QCL) at 10-μm to the secondary frequency standard of this spectral region, a CO2 laser stabilized on a saturated absorption line of OsO4. The stability and accuracy of the standard are transferred to the QCL resulting in a line width of the order of 10 Hz, and leading to the narrowest QCL to date. The locked QCL is then used to perform absorption spectroscopy spanning 6 GHz of NH3 and methyltrioxorhenium, two species of interest for applications in precision measurements.
Collimated proton acceleration in light sail regime with a tailored pinhole target
Authors: Wang H. Y. , Yan X. Q. , Zepf M.
Published: July 2014

A scheme for producing collimated protons from laser interactions with a diamond-like-carbon + pinhole target is proposed. The process is based on radiation pressure acceleration in the multi-species light-sail regime [B. Qiao et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 155002 (2010); T. P. Yu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 065002 (2010)]. Particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate that transverse quasistatic electric field at TV/m level can be generated in the pinhole. The transverse electric field suppresses the transverse expansion of protons effectively, resulting in a higher density and more collimated proton beam compared with a single foil target. The dependence of the proton beam divergence on the parameters of the pinhole is also investigated.
Structural and dielectric studies of Co doped MgTiO3 thin films fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering
Authors: Kumar T. Santhosh , Gogoi P. , Thota S. , Pamu D.
Published: July 2014

We report the structural, dielectric and leakage current properties of Co doped MgTiO3 thin films deposited on platinized silicon (Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si) substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The role of oxygen mixing percentage (OMP) on the growth, morphology, electrical and dielectric properties of the thin films has been investigated. A preferred orientation of grains along (110) direction has been observed with increasing the OMP. Such evolution of the textured growth is explained on the basis of the orientation factor analysis followed the Lotgering model. (Mg1-xCox)TiO3 (x = 0.05) thin films exhibits a maximum relative dielectric permittivity of ɛr = 12.20 and low loss (tan δ ∼ 1.2 × 10−3) over a wide range of frequencies for 75% OMP. The role of electric field frequency (f) and OMP on the ac-conductivity of (Mg0.95Co0.05)TiO3 have been studied. A progressive increase in the activation energy (Ea) and relative permittivity ɛr values have been noticed up to 75% of OMP, beyond which the properties starts deteriorate. The I-V characteristics reveals that the leakage current density decreases from 9.93 × 10−9 to 1.14 × 10−9 A/cm2 for OMP 0% to 75%, respectively for an electric field strength of 250 kV/cm. Our experimental results reveal up to that OMP ≥ 50% the leakage current mechanism is driven by the ohmic conduction, below which it is dominated by the schottky emission.
Trouble lies ahead for Antarctic ice
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: July 2014

It’s probably too late to save the West Antarctic glaciers. And East Antarctica’s situation is unexpectedly precarious.
Global cooperation is key to US high-energy physics strategy
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: July 2014

A consensus emerges on which exciting opportunities to pursue under tight budgets.
The search for Newton’s constant
Authors: Speake Clive , Quinn Terry
Published: July 2014

Three decades of careful experimentation have painted a surprisingly hazy picture of the constant governing the most familiar force on Earth.
Area burned in Portugal over recent decades: an extreme value analysis
Authors: Scotto M. G. , Gouveia S. , Carvalho A. , Monteiro A. , Martins V. , Flannigan M. D. , San-Miguel-Ayanz J. , Miranda A. I. , Borrego C.
Published: July 2014

Forest fires are a major concern in Europe, particularly in Portugal where large forest fires are responsible for negative environmental, social and economic effects. In this work, a long time series of daily area burned in 18 Portuguese districts (north, coastal areas and inner–south) from 1980 to 2010 are analysed to characterise extreme area burned and regional variability. The analysis combines the peak-over-threshold method and classification techniques to cluster the time series on the basis either of their corresponding tail indices or their predictive distributions for 5- and 15-year return values, that is, the level that is exceeded on average once every 5 or 15 years. As previously reported in other wildfire studies, the results show that the distributions of area burned (1980–2010) are heavy tailed for all Portuguese districts, with considerable density in the tail, indicating a non-negligible probability of occurrence of days with very large area burned. Moreover, clustering based on tail indices identified three distinct groups with spatial pattern closely related to the percentage of shrub cover within each district. Finally, clustering based on return values shows that the largest return levels of area burned are expected to occur in districts located in the centre and south of Portugal.
Webs on surfaces, rings of invariants, and clusters
Authors: Fomin Sergey , Pylyavskyy Pavlo
Published: July 2014

Significance

We investigate cluster algebra structures in classical rings of invariants for the special linear group SL
3
. The key role is played by the combinatorics of webs on marked bordered surfaces.
Positive basis for surface skein algebras
Authors: Thurston Dylan Paul
Published: July 2014

Significance

The Jones polynomial of knots is one of the simplest and most powerful knot invariants, at the center of many recent advances in topology; it is a polynomial in a parameter
q
. The skein algebra of a surface is a natural generalization of the Jones polynomial to knots that live in a thickened surface. In this paper, we propose a basis for the skein algebra. This basis has positivity properties when
q
is set to 1, and conjecturally for general values of
q
as well. This is part of a more general conjecture for cluster algebras, and suggests the existence of well-behaved higher-dimensional structures.
Plastic debris in the open ocean
Authors: Cózar Andrés , Echevarría Fidel , González-Gordillo J. Ignacio , Irigoien Xabier , Úbeda Bárbara , Hernández-León Santiago , Palma Álvaro T. , Navarro Sandra , García-de-Lomas Juan , Ruiz Andrea , Fernández-de-Puelles María L. , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: July 2014

Significance

High concentrations of floating plastic debris have been reported in remote areas of the ocean, increasing concern about the accumulation of plastic litter on the ocean surface. Since the introduction of plastic materials in the 1950s, the global production of plastic has increased rapidly and will continue in the coming decades. However, the abundance and the distribution of plastic debris in the open ocean are still unknown, despite evidence of affects on organisms ranging from small invertebrates to whales. In this work, we synthetize data collected across the world to provide a global map and a first-order approximation of the magnitude of the plastic pollution in surface waters of the open ocean.
Effect of a Jurassic oceanic anoxic event on belemnite ecology and evolution
Authors: Ullmann Clemens Vinzenz , Thibault Nicolas , Ruhl Micha , Hesselbo Stephen P. , Korte Christoph
Published: July 2014

Significance

The Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (OAE; ∼183 million y ago) is marked by one of the largest carbon cycle perturbations in Earth history, rapid climate change, widespread ocean oxygen deficiency, and strong changes in marine ecosystems. The temporal links between increasing atmospheric
p
CO
2
, changes in ocean oxygen availability, and marine biotic response during this event are still poorly understood. Here we use isotopic analyses of calcite and organic matter from belemnites, marine predators of that time, to address their response to bottom water anoxia during the OAE. We infer that some belemnite taxa showed resilience to a strong reduction in ocean oxygen availability and occupied ecological niches in the Cleveland Basin (United Kingdom), enabling a strong evolutionary diversification after the event.
Neurons in the human amygdala selective for perceived emotion
Authors: Wang Shuo , Tudusciuc Oana , Mamelak Adam N. , Ross Ian B. , Adolphs Ralph , Rutishauser Ueli
Published: July 2014

Significance

Primates have a dedicated system to process faces. Neuroimaging, lesion, and electrophysiological studies find that the amygdala processes facial emotions. Here we recorded 210 neurons from 7 neurosurgical patients and asked whether amygdala responses are driven primarily by properties of the stimulus or by the perceptual judgments of the perceiver. Our finding shows, for the first time to our knowledge, that neurons in the human amygdala encode the subjective judgment of emotions shown in face stimuli, rather than simply their stimulus features.
Engineered nanomedicine for myeloma and bone microenvironment targeting
Authors: Swami Archana , Reagan Michaela R. , Basto Pamela , Mishima Yuji , Kamaly Nazila , Glavey Siobhan , Zhang Sufeng , Moschetta Michele , Seevaratnam Dushanth , Zhang Yong , Liu Jinhe , Memarzadeh Masoumeh , Wu Jun , Manier Salomon , Shi Jinjun , Bertrand Nicolas , Lu Zhi Ning , Nagano Kenichi , Baron Roland , Sacco Antonio , Roccaro Aldo M. , Farokhzad Omid C. , Ghobrial Irene M.
Published: July 2014

Significance

Limited treatment options exist for cancer within the bone, as demonstrated by the inevitable, pernicious course of metastatic breast, prostate, and blood cancers. The difficulty of eliminating bone-residing cancer necessitates novel, alternative treatments to manipulate the tumor cells and their microenvironment, with minimal off-target effects. To this end, we engineered bone-homing, stealth nanoparticles to deliver anticancer, bone-stimulatory drugs, and demonstrated their utility with bortezomib (a model drug) and multiple myeloma (a model cancer). To test our hypothesis that increasing bone volume and strength inhibits tumor growth, mice were treated with these nanoparticles before being injected with cancer cells. Results demonstrated significantly slower myeloma growth and prolonged survival. Our research demonstrates the potential of bone-homing nanomedicine as an efficacious cancer treatment mechanism.
C-terminal propeptide is required for fibrillin-1 secretion and blocks premature assembly through linkage to domains cbEGF41-43
Authors: Jensen Sacha A. , Aspinall Georgia , Handford Penny A.
Published: July 2014

Significance

Fibrillin microfibrils are extracellular matrix assemblies that provide the connective tissues of metazoan species with many of their biomechanical properties. They are also involved in regulating the production of extracellular matrix through their interactions with growth factors such as transforming growth factor-β. The process of microfibril assembly and its regulation are poorly understood. We have investigated the role of the conserved C-terminal propeptide of fibrillin-1 using an in vitro microfibril assay in which HEK293T cells, transiently expressing a GFP-tagged variant of fibrillin-1, are cocultured with fibroblasts to produce a recombinant microfibril network. Our data show that the C-terminal propeptide plays a crucial role in preventing premature intracellular microfibril assembly.