bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lifecycle greenhouse gas footprint and minimum selling price of renewable diesel and jet fuel from fermentation and advanced fermentation production technologies
Authors: Staples Mark D. , Malina Robert , Olcay Hakan , Pearlson Matthew N. , Hileman James I. , Boies Adam , Barrett Steven R. H.
Published: March 2014

A techno-economic analysis of the environmental and economic feasibility of middle distillate fuel productionviafermentation and advanced fermentation technologies.
Small molecule BHJ solar cells based on DPP(TBFu)2 and diphenylmethanofullerenes (DPM): linking morphology, transport, recombination and crystallinity
Authors: Fernández Daniel , Viterisi Aurélien , Ryan James William , Gispert-Guirado Francesc , Vidal Sara , Filippone Salvatore , Martín Nazario , Palomares Emilio
Published: March 2014

Subtle modifications in the molecular structure of fullerenes significantly affect donor crystallinity and in turn lead to large photocurrent losses.
A paper electrode integrated lateral flow immunosensor for quantitative analysis of oxidative stress induced DNA damage
Authors: Zhu Xuena , Shah Pratikkumar , Stoff Susan , Liu Hongyun , Li Chen-zhong
Published: March 2014

The device combined lateral flow immunoassay with miniaturized paper electrodes for both colorimetrical and electrochemical detection, providing a platform which can be further upgraded into a wireless-enabled biosensing system in future.
Rapid preparation of robust polyaniline coating on an etched stainless steel wire for solid-phase microextraction of dissolved bisphenol A in drinking water and beverages
Authors: Liu Li , Liu Hai-xia , Li Yi , Wang Xue-mei , Du Xin-zhen
Published: March 2014

A uniform porous polyaniline-coated fiber for solid-phase microextraction was prepared in nitric acid using an etched stainless steel wire as a substrate (figure). It has a large surface area and long service time for the selective extraction and sensitive determination of bisphenol A in complex matrices.
Ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of lead and cadmium in water samples
Authors: Li Zonghao , Chen Jiaxi , Liu Mousheng , Yang Yaling
Published: March 2014

A new method based on ultrasound-assisted cloud point extraction (UA-CPE) using the mixture of non-ionic surfactant alkylphenol ethoxylate NP-7 and alkylphenol ethoxylate NP-9 for the preconcentration of trace amounts of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in water samples prior to determination by FAAS has been developed.
Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of hollow molecularly imprinted polymers for Sudan I
Authors: Ren Dong , He Jiang , Zhang Haixia
Published: March 2014

A novel strategy was developed to prepare hollow molecularly imprinted polymers (HMIPs) with thin solid shells, in which a soft polystyrene core and a hard inner shell of SiO2 were introduced; this strategy combined surface molecular imprinting of Sudan I and in situ polymerization.
Coiled fiber scaffolds embedded with gold nanoparticles improve the performance of engineered cardiac tissues
Authors: Fleischer Sharon , Shevach Michal , Feiner Ron , Dvir Tal
Published: March 2014

We report here on the fabrication of coiled fiber scaffolds incorporated with gold nanoparticles for improved cardiac tissue performance.
Biomimetic total synthesis of (±)-yezo'otogirin A
Authors: Lam Hiu C. , Kuan Kevin K. W. , George Jonathan H.
Published: March 2014

A concise total synthesis of (±)-yezo'otogirin A has been achieved via its presumed biosynthetic precursor using a late-stage biomimetic oxidative radical cyclization.
A surface-enhanced Raman scattering strategy for detection of peanut allergen Ara h 1 using a bipyramid-shaped gold nanocrystal substrate with an improved synthesis
Authors: Xiaoyan Zhou , Ruiyi Li , Zaijun Li , Junkang Liu , Zhiguo Gu , Guangli Wang
Published: March 2014

We report an improved synthesis of branched gold nanocrystals for detection of peanut allergen Ara h 1 through use of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. The method allows reduction of CTAB to 0.05 M and accelerates growth of gold seeds.
Development of a cell permeable ratiometric chemosensor and biomarker for hydrogen sulphate ions in aqueous solution
Authors: Sen Buddhadeb , Mukherjee Manjira , Pal Siddhartha , Mandal Sushil Kumar , Hundal Maninder S. , Khuda-Bukhsh Anisur Rahman , Chattopadhyay Pabitra
Published: March 2014

A newly designed benzimidazol-based water soluble ratiometric chemosensor selective for HSO4− ions behaves as an efficient biomarker for the detection of the distribution of HSO4− ions in living cells in HEPES buffer (1 mM; water : ethanol (v/v), 98 : 2).
The stereochemistry of two monoterpenoid diastereomers from Ferula dissecta
Authors: Wang Zhi-Qiang , Huang Chao , Huang Jian , Han Hong-Ying , Li Guo-Yu , Wang Jin-Hui , Sun Tie-Min
Published: March 2014

The absolute stereochemistry of tschimganin and iso-tschimganin was determined by chemical-related methods and ab initio calculations of ECD.
Enhancement of solar energy absorption using a plasmonic nanofluid based on TiO2/Ag composite nanoparticles
Authors: Xuan Yimin , Duan Huiling , Li Qiang
Published: March 2014

The TiO2/Ag plasmonic nanofluid can enhance solar light absorption compared with common TiO2nanofluid.
A reactive graphene sheet in situ functionalized hyperbranched polyurethane for high performance shape memory material
Authors: Mahapatra Sibdas Singha , Ramasamy Madeshwaran Sekkarapatti , Yoo Hye Jin , Cho Jae Whan
Published: March 2014

Covalently bonded graphene sheets with hyperbranched polyurethane were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix appeared as high performance shape memory material.
Biomimicking the structure of silk fibers via cellulose nanocrystal as β-sheet crystallite
Authors: Liu Lin , Yang Xiaogang , Yu Houyong , Ma Chao , Yao Juming
Published: March 2014

Biomimic silk fibers with refined crystalline structure were produced via incorporating cellulose nanocrystals into silk fibroin matrix to mimic the β-sheet crystallites in natural silk. The fibers exhibit excellent thermal and mechanical properties, attributed to the strong hydrogen bonding interactions between cellulose nanocrystals and silk fibroin as well as cellulose nanocrystal-induced ordered structure.
Carbon nanotube-penetrated mesoporous V2O5 microspheres as high-performance cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Jia Xilai , Zhang Liqiang , Zhang Rufan , Lu Yunfeng , Wei Fei
Published: March 2014

A three-dimensional nanoarchitecture consisting of mesoporous V2O5 and penetrating CNTs was synthesized for high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
Hypervalent iodine mediated direct one pot transformation of aldehydes to ketones
Authors: Sagara Prateep Singh , Chebolu Rajesh , Bahuguna Ashish , Ravikumar P. C.
Published: March 2014

An environmentally benign, step economical synthesis of ketones directly from aldehydes has been developed using hypervalent iodine as an oxidant.
A dispersion-corrected DFT study on adsorption of battery active materials anthraquinone and its derivatives on monolayer graphene and h-BN
Authors: Yu Yang-Xin
Published: March 2014

Strong physisorption of 9,10-anthraquinone and its derivatives on monolayer graphene or h-BN can achieve good cycling stability of lithium-ion batteries.
Further improvement of battery performance via charge transfer enhanced by solution-based antimony doping into tin dioxide nanofibers
Authors: Kim Y. S. , Kim W. B. , Joo Y. L.
Published: March 2014

Enhanced charge transport by facile Sb doping into SnO2 nanofibers leads to improved capacity and cyclability in Li-ion battery application.
A2BiI5O15(A = K+or Rb+): two new promising nonlinear optical materials containing [I3O9]3−bridging anionic groups
Authors: Huang Yin , Meng Xianggao , Gong Pifu , Yang Lei , Lin Zheshuai , Chen Xingguo , Qin Jingui
Published: March 2014

K2BiI5O15and Rb2BiI5O15are synthesized and contain a unique [I3O9]3−bridging anionic group. Their powders show phase-matchable SHG effects 3 times that of KDP and the laser damage thresholds of 84 and 72 MW cm−2, plus wide transparent range and good thermal stability.
The curious case of CdTe/CdS: photoabsorption versus photoemission
Authors: Saha Avijit , Chattopadhyay Soma , Shibata Tomohiro , Viswanatha Ranjani
Published: March 2014

The internal structure can be used to tune the properties of quantum dots.
Advances and problems in plasma-optical mass-separation
Authors: Bardakov V. M. , Ivanov S. D. , Strokin N. A.
Published: March 2014

This paper presents a short review of plasma-optical mass-separation and defines the fields for its possible application. During theoretical studies, numerical simulations, and experiments, the effect of the azimuthator finite size and of the vacuum conditions on the mass separator characteristics was revealed, as well as the quality of different-mass ion separation. The problems, solving which may lead to a successful end of the mass-separation plasma-optical technique implementation, were specified.
Radiative precursors driven by converging blast waves in noble gases
Authors: Burdiak G. C. , Lebedev S. V. , Harvey-Thompson A. J. , Swadling G. F. , Suzuki-Vidal F. , Hall G. N. , Khoory E. , Pickworth L. , Bland S. N. , de Grouchy P. , Skidmore J. , Suttle L. , Bennett M. , Niasse N. P. L. , Williams R. J. R. , Blesener K. , Atoyan L. , Cahill A. , Hoyt C. , Potter W. , Rosenberg E. , Schrafel P. , Kusse B.
Published: March 2014

A detailed study of the radiative precursor that develops ahead of converging blast waves in gas-filled cylindrical liner z-pinch experiments is presented. The experiment is capable of magnetically driving 20 km s−1 blast waves through gases of densities of the order 10−5 g cm−3 (see Burdiak et al. [High Energy Density Phys. 9(1), 52–62 (2013)] for a thorough description). Data were collected for Ne, Ar, and Xe gas-fills. The geometry of the setup allows a determination of the plasma parameters both in the precursor and across the shock, along a nominally uniform line of sight that is perpendicular to the propagation of the shock waves. Radiation from the shock was able to excite NeI, ArII, and XeII/XeIII precursor spectral features. It is shown that the combination of interferometry and optical spectroscopy data is inconsistent with upstream plasmas being in LTE. Specifically, electron density gradients do not correspond to any apparent temperature change in the emission spectra. Experimental data are compared to 1D radiation hydrodynamics HELIOS-CR simulations and to PrismSPECT atomic physics calculations to assist in a physical interpretation of the observations. We show that upstream plasma is likely in the process of being radiatively heated and that the emission from a small percentage of ionised atoms within a cool background plasma dominates the emission spectra. Experiments were carried out on the MAGPIE and COBRA pulsed-power facilities at Imperial College London and Cornell University, respectively.
Sensitivity studies for the main r process: nuclear masses
Authors: Aprahamian A. , Bentley I. , Mumpower M. , Surman R.
Published: March 2014

The site of the rapid neutron capture process (r process) is one of the open challenges in all of physics today. The r process is thought to be responsible for the creation of more than half of all elements beyond iron. The scientific challenges to understanding the origin of the heavy elements beyond iron lie in both the uncertainties associated with astrophysical conditions that are needed to allow an r process to occur and a vast lack of knowledge about the properties of nuclei far from stability. One way is to disentangle the nuclear and astrophysical components of the question. On the nuclear physics side, there is great global competition to access and measure the most exotic nuclei that existing facilities can reach, while simultaneously building new, more powerful accelerators to make even more exotic nuclei. On the astrophysics side, various astrophysical scenarios for the production of the heaviest elements have been proposed but open questions remain. This paper reports on a sensitivity study of the r process to determine the most crucial nuclear masses to measure using an r-process simulation code, several mass models (FRDM, Duflo-Zuker, and HFB-21), and three potential astrophysical scenarios.
Conductive shield for ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging: Theory and measurements of eddy currents
Authors: Zevenhoven Koos C. J. , Busch Sarah , Hatridge Michael , Öisjöen Fredrik , Ilmoniemi Risto J. , Clarke John
Published: March 2014

Eddy currents induced by applied magnetic-field pulses have been a common issue in ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging. In particular, a relatively large prepolarizing field—applied before each signal acquisition sequence to increase the signal—induces currents in the walls of the surrounding conductive shielded room. The magnetic-field transient generated by the eddy currents may cause severe image distortions and signal loss, especially with the large prepolarizing coils designed for in vivo imaging. We derive a theory of eddy currents in thin conducting structures and enclosures to provide intuitive understanding and efficient computations. We present detailed measurements of the eddy-current patterns and their time evolution in a previous-generation shielded room. The analysis led to the design and construction of a new shielded room with symmetrically placed 1.6-mm-thick aluminum sheets that were weakly coupled electrically. The currents flowing around the entire room were heavily damped, resulting in a decay time constant of about 6 ms for both the measured and computed field transients. The measured eddy-current vector maps were in excellent agreement with predictions based on the theory, suggesting that both the experimental methods and the theory were successful and could be applied to a wide variety of thin conducting structures.
Structural quantities of quasi-two-dimensional fluids
Authors: Lang Simon , Franosch Thomas , Schilling Rolf
Published: March 2014

Quasi-two-dimensional fluids can be generated by confining a fluid between two parallel walls with narrow separation. Such fluids exhibit an inhomogeneous structure perpendicular to the walls due to the loss of translational symmetry. Taking the transversal degrees of freedom as a perturbation to an appropriate 2D reference fluid we provide a systematic expansion of the m-particle density for arbitrary m. To leading order in the slit width this density factorizes into the densities of the transversal and lateral degrees of freedom. Explicit expressions for the next-to-leading order terms are elaborated analytically quantifying the onset of inhomogeneity. The case m = 1 yields the density profile with a curvature given by an integral over the pair-distribution function of the corresponding 2D reference fluid, which reduces to its 2D contact value in the case of pure excluded-volume interactions. Interestingly, we find that the 2D limit is subtle and requires stringent conditions on the fluid-wall interactions. We quantify the rapidity of convergence for various structural quantities to their 2D counterparts.
Origins of electrostatic potential wells at dislocations in polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films
Authors: Dietrich J. , Abou-Ras D. , Schmidt S. S. , Rissom T. , Unold T. , Cojocaru-Mirédin O. , Niermann T. , Lehmann M. , Koch C. T. , Boit C.
Published: March 2014

Thin-film solar cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) reach high power-conversion efficiencies in spite of large dislocation densities of up to 1010–1011 cm−2. The present work gives insight into the structural and compositional properties of dislocations in CIGSe thin films, which are embedded in a complete solar cell stack. These properties are related to the average electrical potential distributions obtained by means of inline electron holography. At a part of the dislocations studied, the average electrostatic potential shows local minima, all with depths of about −1.4 V. The measured average electrostatic potential distributions were modeled in order to reveal possible influences from strain fields, excess charge, and also compositional changes at the dislocation core. Cu depletion around the dislocation core, as evidenced by atom-probe tomography, explains best the measured potential wells. Their influences of the strain field around the dislocation core and of excess charge at the dislocation core are small. A structural model of dislocations in CIGSe thin films is provided which includes a Cu-depleted region around the dislocation core and gives a possible explanation for why decent photovoltaic performances are possible in the presence of rather large dislocation densities.
Beam coupling in hybrid photorefractive inorganic-cholesteric liquid crystal cells: Impact of optical rotation
Authors: Reshetnyak V. Yu. , Pinkevych I. P. , Sluckin T. J. , Cook G. , Evans D. R.
Published: March 2014

We develop a theoretical model to describe two-beam energy exchange in a hybrid photorefractive inorganic-cholesteric cell. A cholesteric layer is placed between two inorganic substrates. One of the substrates is photorefractive (Ce:SBN). Weak and strong light beams are incident on the hybrid cell. The interfering light beams induce a periodic space-charge field in the photorefractive window. This penetrates into the cholesteric liquid crystal (LC), inducing a diffraction grating written on the LC director. In the theory, the flexoelectric mechanism for electric field-director coupling is more important than the LC static dielectric anisotropy coupling. The LC optics is described in the Bragg regime. Each beam induces two circular polarized waves propagating in the cholesteric cell with different velocities. The model thus includes optical rotation in the cholesteric LC. The incident light beam wavelength can fall above, below, or inside the cholesteric gap. The theory calculates the energy gain of the weak beam, as a result of its interaction with the pump beam within the diffraction grating. Theoretical results for exponential gain coefficients are compared with experimental results for hybrid cells filled with cholesteric mixture BL038/CB15 at different concentrations of chiral agent CB15. Reconciliation between theory and experiment requires the inclusion of a phenomenological multiplier in the magnitude of the director grating. This multiplier is cubic in the space-charge field, and we provide a justification of the q-dependence of the multiplier. Within this paradigm, we are able to fit theory to experimental data for cholesteric mixtures with different spectral position of cholesteric gap relative to the wavelength of incident beams, subject to the use of some fitting parameters.
Enhancement of laser-driven electron acceleration in an ion channel
Authors: Arefiev Alexey V. , Khudik Vladimir N. , Schollmeier Marius
Published: March 2014

A laser beam with duration longer than the period of plasma oscillations propagating through an underdense plasma produces a steady-state positively charged channel in the electron density. We consider a test electron in the two-dimensional plane channel under the combined action of the laser field and the transverse static electric field of the channel. At ultrarelativistic laser wave amplitude (a≫1), the electron is pushed primarily forward. As the electron gradually dephases from the wave, the field it samples and its relativistic γ-factor strongly oscillate. The natural frequency of electron oscillations across the channel (betatron frequency) depends on γ, which couples the betatron oscillations to the longitudinal motion induced by the wave. We show that the modulation of the natural frequency makes the oscillations unstable. The resulting amplification of the oscillations across the channel reduces the axial dephasing between the electron and the wave, leading to a considerable electron energy enhancement well above the ponderomotive energy. We find that there is a well-pronounced laser amplitude threshold a*, above which the enhancement takes place, that scales as a*∝1/n0, where n0 is the ion density. The presented mechanism of energy enhancement is robust with respect to a longitudinal variation of the density, because it relies on a threshold phenomenon rather than on a narrow linear resonance.
Valence and conduction band offsets at amorphous hexagonal boron nitride interfaces with silicon network dielectrics
Authors: King Sean W. , Paquette Michelle M. , Otto Joseph W. , Caruso A. N. , Brockman Justin , Bielefeld Jeff , French Marc , Kuhn Markus , French Benjamin
Published: March 2014

To facilitate the design of heterostructure devices employing hexagonal/sp2 boron nitride, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been utilized in conjunction with prior reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements to determine the valence and conduction band offsets (VBOs and CBOs) present at interfaces formed between amorphous hydrogenated sp2 boron nitride (a-BN:H) and various low- and high-dielectric-constant (k) amorphous hydrogenated silicon network dielectric materials (a-SiX:H, X = O, N, C). For a-BN:H interfaces formed with wide-band-gap a-SiO2 and low-k a-SiOC:H materials (Eg ≅ 8.2−8.8 eV), a type I band alignment was observed where the a-BN:H band gap (Eg = 5.5 ± 0.2 eV) was bracketed by a relatively large VBO and CBO of ∼1.9 and 1.2 eV, respectively. Similarly, a type I alignment was observed between a-BN:H and high-k a-SiC:H where the a-SiC:H band gap (Eg = 2.6 ± 0.2 eV) was bracketed by a-BN:H with VBO and CBO of 1.0 ± 0.1 and 1.9 ± 0.2 eV, respectively. The addition of O or N to a-SiC:H was observed to decrease the VBO and increase the CBO with a-BN:H. For high-k a-SiN:H (Eg = 3.3 ± 0.2 eV) interfaces with a-BN:H, a slightly staggered type II band alignment was observed with VBO and CBO of 0.1 ± 0.1 and −2.3 ± 0.2 eV, respectively. The measured a-BN:H VBOs were found to be consistent with those deduced via application of the commutative and transitive rules to VBOs reported for a-BN:H, a-SiC:H, a-SiN:H, and a-SiO2 interfaces with Si (100).
Multiple-band reflective polarization converter using U-shaped metamaterial
Authors: Huang Xiaojun , Yang Dong , Yang Helin
Published: March 2014

A multiple-band metamaterial reflective polarization converter (RPC) is proposed, which is composed of the dielectric substrate sandwiched with U-shaped metallic patterns and continuous metal film. The proposed U-shaped metamaterial RPC (UMM-RPC) can convert a linearly polarized wave to its cross polarized wave at the three resonant frequencies, which also can convert the linearly polarized wave to circularly polarized wave at other three resonant frequencies. Furthermore, the proposed UMM-RPC can maintain the same conversional direction at the three resonant frequencies when incident on a circularly polarized wave. The simulated and measured results are in agreement in the entire frequency range, and the polarization conversion ratio is over 90% for both linear and circular polarizations. The surface current distributions of the UMM-RPC are discussed to look into the physical mechanism. The proposed UMM-RPC has simple geometry but more operating frequency bands compared to the previous designs and can be used in applications such as antenna radome, remote sensors, and radiometer.
Magnetization dynamics for L1 MnGa/Fe exchange coupled bilayers
Authors: Mizukami S. , Kubota T. , Iihama S. , Ranjbar R. , Ma Q. , Zhang X. , Ando Y. , Miyazaki T.
Published: March 2014

The precessional magnetization dynamics of L10 MnGa/Fe bilayers with a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are investigated using vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance (VNA-FMR) and time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect (TRMOKE). The MnGa/Fe(1 nm) bilayer exhibited perpendicular magnetization and MnGa/Fe(2 and 5 nm) bilayers showed in-plane magnetizations. The VNA-FMR and TRMOKE data for these bilayers are well explained from calculations, based on the coupled Landau-Lifshitz equations, taking into account the interfacial exchange coupling of 2.4 erg/cm2.
Electric field effect in ultrathin black phosphorus
Authors: Koenig Steven P. , Doganov Rostislav A. , Schmidt Hennrik , Castro Neto A. H. , Özyilmaz Barbaros
Published: March 2014

Black phosphorus exhibits a layered structure similar to graphene, allowing mechanical exfoliation of ultrathin single crystals. Here, we demonstrate few-layer black phosphorus field effect devices on Si/SiO2 and measure charge carrier mobility in a four-probe configuration as well as drain current modulation in a two-point configuration. We find room-temperature mobilities of up to 300 cm2/Vs and drain current modulation of over 103. At low temperatures, the on-off ratio exceeds 105, and the device exhibits both electron and hole conduction. Using atomic force microscopy, we observe significant surface roughening of thin black phosphorus crystals over the course of 1 h after exfoliation.
Real-time terahertz wave imaging by nonlinear optical frequency up-conversion in a 4-dimethylamino-N′-methyl-4′-stilbazolium tosylate crystal
Authors: Fan Shuzhen , Qi Feng , Notake Takashi , Nawata Kouji , Matsukawa Takeshi , Takida Yuma , Minamide Hiroaki
Published: March 2014

Real-time terahertz (THz) wave imaging has wide applications in areas such as security, industry, biology, medicine, pharmacy, and arts. In this letter, we report on real-time room-temperature THz imaging by nonlinear optical frequency up-conversion in organic 4-dimethylamino-N′-methyl-4′-stilbazolium tosylate crystal. The active projection-imaging system consisted of (1) THz wave generation, (2) THz-near-infrared hybrid optics, (3) THz wave up-conversion, and (4) an InGaAs camera working at 60 frames per second. The pumping laser system consisted of two optical parametric oscillators pumped by a nano-second frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. THz-wave images of handmade samples at 19.3 THz were taken, and videos of a sample moving and a ruler stuck with a black polyethylene film moving were supplied online to show real-time ability. Thanks to the high speed and high responsivity of this technology, real-time THz imaging with a higher signal-to-noise ratio than a commercially available THz micro-bolometer camera was proven to be feasible. By changing the phase-matching condition, i.e., by changing the wavelength of the pumping laser, we suggest THz imaging with a narrow THz frequency band of interest in a wide range from approximately 2 to 30 THz is possible.
Bright persistent ceramic phosphors of Ce3+-Cr3+-codoped garnet able to store by blue light
Authors: Ueda Jumpei , Kuroishi Keisuke , Tanabe Setsuhisa
Published: March 2014

We have developed bright persistent phosphors of Ce3+-Cr3+-doped Y3Al5-xGaxO12 (x = 2.5, 3, 3.5) ceramics with green luminescence (Ce3+:5d→4f) via blue-light excitation. The persistent luminance value 5 min after ceasing blue-light excitation for the Ce3+-Cr3+-doped Y3Al2Ga3O12 sample is approximately 3900 times higher than that for a Ce3+-doped Y3Al2Ga3O12 sample and better than that from compact SrAl2O4:Eu2+-Dy3+ powders. The results are consequences of efficient carrier trap formation and effective excitation of the interior of the translucent ceramic samples. A series of Ce3+-Cr3+-doped garnet materials is the best candidate for the persistent phosphor under white-light emitting diode (LED) illumination consisting of blue LEDs and visible phosphors.
Fabrication of super-hydrophobic surfaces on aluminum alloy substrates by RF-sputtered polytetrafluoroethylene coatings
Authors: Wang Yang , Liu Xiao Wei , Zhang Hai Feng , Zhou Zhi Ping
Published: March 2014

In this work, we present a method of fabricating super-hydrophobic surface on aluminum alloy substrate. The etching of aluminum surfaces has been performed using Beck's dislocation etchant for different time to create micrometer-sized irregular steps. An optimised etching time of 50 s is found to be essential before polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating, to obtain a highest water contact angle of 165±2° with a lowest contact angle hysteresis as low as 5±2°. The presence of patterned microstructure as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with the low surface energy ultrathin RF-sputtered PTFE films renders the aluminum alloy surfaces highly super-hydrophobic.
Synthesis of silver particles on copper substrates using ethanol-based solution for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Li , Zhang Zuojun , Chen Gang , Lai Chunhong , Zhou Hui
Published: March 2014

The displacement reaction of AgNO3 and copper metal is an effective and economical way to fabricate Ag-Cu surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates. Aqueous solutions of AgNO3 are usually used for substrate preparation. In this work, a new method for Ag-Cu SERS substrate preparation is proposed, which uses an ethanol solution rather than an aqueous AgNO3 solution. Analysis of the surface morphologies of sample substrates by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that the silver nanoparticles prepared by this new method were more regular than those prepared in the traditional aqueous solution. The SERS spectra of Rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed on these Ag-Cu substrates were then investigated and compared. It was found that the Ag-Cu substrates prepared by this method provide significant improvements in Raman signal sensitivity and large-area uniformity. The enhancement factor of this new substrate is about 330 times higher than that prepared using an aqueous AgNO3 solution under identical experimental conditions. It was also found that 70% of the original sensitivity of the substrate remains after 15 days of exposure to air.
Ferroelectric and photovoltaic properties of transition metal doped Pb(Zr0.14Ti0.56Ni0.30)O3-δ thin films
Authors: Kumari Shalini , Ortega Nora , Kumar Ashok , Scott J. F. , Katiyar R. S.
Published: March 2014

We report nearly single phase Pb(Zr0.14Ti0.56Ni0.30)O3-δ (PZTNi30) ferroelectric having large remanent polarization (15–30 μC/cm2), 0.3–0.4 V open circuit voltage (VOC), reduced band gap (direct 3.4 eV, and indirect 2.9 eV), large ON and OFF photo current ratio, and the fast decay time. Reasonably good photo current density (1–5 μA/cm2) was obtained without gate bias voltage which significantly increased with large bias field. Ferroelectric polarization dictates the polarity of VOC and direction of short circuit current (ISC), a step forward towards the realization of noncentrosymmetric ferroelectric material sensitive to visible light.
A sliding cell technique for diffusion measurements in liquid metals
Authors: Geng Yongliang , Zhu Chunao , Zhang Bo
Published: March 2014

The long capillary and shear cell techniques are the usual methods for diffusion measurements in liquid metals. Here we present a new “sliding cell technique” to measure interdiffusion in liquid alloys, which combines the merits of these two methods. Instead of a number of shear cells, as used in the shear cell method, only one sliding cell is designed to separate and join the liquid diffusion samples. Using the sliding cell technique, the influence of the heating process (which affects liquid diffusion measurements in the conventional long capillary method) can be eliminated. Time-dependent diffusion measurements at the same isothermal temperature were carried out in Al-Cu liquids. Compared with the previous results measured by in-situ X-ray radiography, the obtained liquid diffusion coefficient in this work is believed to be influenced by convective flow. The present work further supports the idea that to obtain accurate diffusion constants in liquid metals, the measurement conditions must be well controlled, and there should be no temperature gradients or other disturbances.
Low-index-metamaterial for gain enhancement of planar terahertz antenna
Authors: Zhang Qing-Le , Si Li-Ming , Huang Yongjun , Lv Xin , Zhu Weiren
Published: March 2014

We theoretically present a high gain planar antenna at terahertz (THz) frequencies by combing a conventional log-periodic antenna (LPA) with a low-index-metamaterial (LIM, |n| < 1). The LIM is realized by properly designing a fishnet metamaterial using full-wave finite-element simulation. Owing to the impedance matching, the LIM can be placed seamlessly on the substrate of the LPA without noticeable reflection. The effectiveness of using LIM for antenna gain enhancement is confirmed by comparing the antenna performance with and without LIM, where significantly improved half-power beam-width (3-dB beam-width) and more than 4 dB gain enhancement are seen within a certain frequency range. The presented LIM-enhanced planar THz antenna is compact, flat, low profile, and high gain, which has extensive applications in THz systems, including communications, radar, and spectroscopy.
Mitigation of rotational instability of high-beta field-reversed configuration by double-sided magnetized plasmoid injection
Authors: Itagaki H. , Asai T. , Inomoto M. , Takahashi Ts.
Published: March 2014

Active control of destructive rotational instability in a high-beta field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma was demonstrated by using double-sided plasmoid injection technique. The elliptical deformation of the FRC's cross section was mitigated as a result of substantial suppression of spontaneous spin-up by the plasmoid injection. It was found that the injected plasmoid provided better stability against the rotational mode, suggesting that the compensation of the FRC's decaying magnetic flux might help to suppress its spin-up.
The Mark II Bromilow Kinnear humane soft trap: a major upgrade
Authors: Kinnear J. E. , Bromilow R. N. , Moore N.
Published: March 2014

The Bromilow soft trap was originally created to counter the propensity of black-flanked rock-wallabies (Petrogale lateralis lateralis, hence black-flanked) to harm themselves in wire traps. It achieved that goal commendably and has proven to be durable and versatile as it is also suitable for trapping other medium-sized mammals. Major improvements have been incorporated without altering the basic design thus enabling existing traps to be readily upgraded.
The traps are now 15% lighter, and easier to set with a new more reliable trigger. The shroud has been discarded, and it now folds more compactly for transport and storage. The capture chamber is constructed of new materials designed to enable an animal to be extracted more readily.
These modifications are described in detail along with illustrations. For anyone intending on building a new trap, free professional-grade architectural drawings of the framework and components are available via the web (see text).
Long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) behaviour and handling times when foraging for buried truffles
Authors: Vernes Karl , Jarman Peter
Published: March 2014

Truffles represent an important food resource for many small mammals, but because most mycophagous mammals are difficult to observe in the wild, behavioural observations of mammals handling and consuming truffles are almost non-existent. Using camera traps, we observed the behaviour of long-nosed potoroos (Potorous tridactylus) foraging for buried truffles, and recorded the rate at which truffles were excavated and consumed. Potoroos excavated buried truffles rapidly (2.4 ± 0.2 s) with synchronous drawing strokes of their forepaws, then gathered the excavated truffles with forepaws and/or mouth and cleaned away adherent debris before consuming the truffle. When potoroos were unsuccessful at recovering a truffle, they spent significantly more time digging (4.8 ± 0.6 s) before giving up. Potoroos were successful at recovering a truffle in 76% of digging attempts, and once they had located a cache of buried truffles, achieved a rate of recovery of ~2.4 truffles per minute.
Corrigendum to: Exposure to mono-n-butyl phthalate disrupts the development of preimplantation embryos
Authors: Chu Da-Peng , Tian Shi , Sun Da-Guang , Hao Chan-Juan , Xia Hong-Fei , Ma Xu
Published: March 2014

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a widely used phthalate, is known to cause many serious diseases, especially in the reproductive system. However, little is known about the effects of its metabolite, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), on preimplantation embryo development. In the present study, we found that treatment of embryos with 10–3M MBP impaired developmental competency, whereas exposure to 10–4M MBP delayed the progression of preimplantation embryos to the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in embryos were significantly increased following treatment with 10–3M MBP. In addition, 10–3M MBP increased apoptosis via the release of cytochrome c, whereas immunofluorescent analysis revealed that exposure of preimplantation embryos to MBP concentration-dependently (10–5, 10–4 and 10–3M) decreased DNA methylation. Together, the results indicate a possible relationship between MBP exposure and developmental failure in preimplantation embryos.
Evaluation of selected angiogenic and inflammatory markers in endometriosis before and after danazol treatment
Authors: Szubert M. , Suzin J. , Duechler M. , Szuławska A. , Czyż M. , Kowalczyk-Amico K.
Published: March 2014

Angiogenesis and inflammation are pivotal processes in developing endometriosis in the peritoneal cavity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate these two processes in women with endometriosis who had been treated with danazol to determine the sensitivity of a non-invasive test in diagnosing endometriosis. The clinical follow-up study was conducted in a group of 103 women diagnosed laparoscopically with endometriosis. Thirty-five patients qualified for danazol treatment. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale, whereas endometriosis was assessed using the revised American Society of Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) scale. Cancer antigen (CA)-125 and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in plasma and peritoneal fluid were determined by immunoenzymatic methods, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin (IL)-1β concentrations in plasma and peritoneal fluid were determined by ELISA. Endometrial expression of IL-8 and platelet-derived growth factor alpha polypeptide (PDGF-A) was determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Women with endometriosis (68.9% of patients) had higher plasma concentrations of CA-125, as well as higher concentrations of both CA-125 and VEGF in the peritoneal fluid. Endometrial expression of IL-8 mRNA was significantly higher, whereas that of PDGF-A was significantly lower, in contrast. After danazol treatment the patients reported lower pain scores; in addition, CA-125 concentrations in the plasma were decreased (P < 0.001), whereas VEGF concentration in the plasma increased (P = 0.009). For the diagnosis of endometriosis, none of the combinations of given markers had a sensitivity >60%. Danazol treatment is highly effective in relieving pain and decreasing CA-125 concentrations in the plasma. Higher plasma concentrations of VEGF after treatment could imply stimulation of angiogenesis.
Can treatment-based HIV prevention curb the epidemic among gay and other men who have sex with men? A narrative synthesis of increasing evidence for moderating and countervailing effects
Authors: de Wit John B. F. , Adam Philippe C. G.
Published: March 2014

As HIV epidemics among gay and other men who have sex with men (GMSM) persist worldwide, the importance of novel prevention approaches is recognised. Evidence that antiretroviral therapy (ART) can decrease the likelihood of infection is informing emerging HIV prevention approaches, encompassing early initiation of treatment as prevention by people living with HIV and use of antiretroviral drugs as pre-exposure prophylaxis for people presumed to be uninfected. Despite widespread excitement, robust evidence of the beneficial effects of ART-based HIV prevention for GMSM remains limited. Also, theoretical models project widely varying effects of ART-based prevention on the future course of HIV epidemics among GMSM, drawing attention to the possible moderating role of differences in the achievements of local HIV responses and the critical importance of sustained protective sexual practices into the future. Ecological analyses and simulations of ongoing epidemics in major gay communities illustrate that the preventive effects of ART in many settings are being offset by increased sexual risk-taking, as reflected in stable or increasing HIV infection rates. Also, the effects of scaling up HIV testing and treatment among GMSM in settings that are often considered prime examples of the success of ART-based prevention may be levelling as ‘scope for improvement’ diminishes. ART-based approaches further extend the HIV prevention toolkit and substantially increase people’s options to protect themselves and others. The future impact of ART-based prevention on HIV epidemics among GMSM ultimately depends on whether heralded responses offset, attenuate or compound the ongoing social and behavioural changes that drive increased sexual risk.
Influence of lime and gypsum on long-term rehabilitation of a Red Sodosol, in a semi-arid environment of New South Wales
Authors: Bennett J. McL. , Greene R. S. B. , Murphy B. W. , Hocking P. , Tongway D.
Published: March 2014

This paper determines the influence of lime and gypsum on the rehabilitation of a degraded sodic soil in a semi-arid environment 12 years after application. The aim was to assess rehabilitation strategies for sodic soils as alternatives to the application of gypsum alone. An experimental site was used where lime and gypsum combinations (L0G0, lime 0 t ha–1 and gypsum 0 t ha–1; L0G1, L0G2.5, L0G5, L1G0, L2.5G0, L5G0, L1G1, L2.5G1) had been applied 12 years prior, in 1994. An earlier study had reported on the effects after 3 years of the chemical ameliorants and tillage on a range of soil physical and chemical properties at the site. The current study, sampled in 2006, assessed the effects after 12 years of lime and gypsum on soil chemistry, stability, hydraulics, vegetative growth and soil respiration. Calcium, primarily from lime, was observed to have a major effect on soil health. Significant effects on soil chemistry were limited to increases in exchangeable calcium and decreases in exchangeable magnesium, although aggregate stability in water and hydraulic conductivity were significantly improved where L5G0 was applied. Vegetation patch width, total nitrogen and carbon, and soil respiration were significantly improved where lime had been added at 2.5 or 5 t ha–1. As no lime could be detected in the soil 12 years after application, it was deduced that lime had acted as a catalyst for increased functionality in soil and vegetation interactions. This increased soil functionality resulted in an increased rate of lime dissolution in the soil.
Soil genesis on hypersaline tidal flats (apicum ecosystem) in a tropical semi-arid estuary (Ceará, Brazil)
Authors: Albuquerque A. G. B. M. , Ferreira T. O. , Nóbrega G. N. , Romero R. E. , Júnior V. S. Souza , Meireles A. J. A. , Otero X. L.
Published: March 2014

Wetland soils, especially those under a semi-arid climate, are among the least studied soils in the tropics. The hypersaline tidal flats on the north-eastern Brazilian coast, locally named apicum, are coastal wetland ecosystems in the peripheral portions of semi-arid estuaries. Despite their great ecological importance, they have been highly impacted by anthropogenic activities. Morphological and analytical data of six soil profiles, representative of the different coastal compartments (mangroves, apicum and coastal tablelands) of the north-eastern Brazilian coast, were examined to better understand the pedogenesis of apicum soils. The hypersaline tidal flat soils were classified as Typic Fluvaquents and Typic Sulfaquents with the following main characteristics: predominance of sand fraction (62–77%); presence of high-activity clays (>24 cmolc kg–1 clay); clay fraction comprising kaolinite, illite, smectite and an interstratified smectite/illite; exchangeable complex dominated by Na+ (ESP ≥15%); elevated levels of salinity (electrical conductivity, EC 25–44 dS m–1); alkaline pH values (7.5–9.5). The sandy texture and quartz-dominated composition of the hypersaline, tidal flat soils indicate a pedogenesis associated with the superficial addition of mineral material. This upbuilding process would have lowered the watertable (relatively to the ground level) and decreased the flooding frequency by the tides, favouring salinisation and solonisation processes at the hypersaline tidal flats. Furthermore, the still-existing hydromorphism would have promoted the maintenance of gleisation and sulfidisation. The presence of pyrite on the hyper-saline tidal flat soils further corroborates the formation of apicum soils from/over buried mangroves.
Limit cycles bifurcating from a non-isolated zero-Hopf equilibrium of three-dimensional differential systems
Authors: Llibre Jaume , Xiao Dongmei
Published: March 2014

In this paper we study the limit cycles bifurcating from a non-isolated zero-Hopf equilibrium of a differential system in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

. The unfolding of the vector fields with a non-isolated zero-Hopf equilibrium is a family with at least three parameters. By using analysis techniques and the averaging theory of the second order, explicit conditions are given for the existence of one or two limit cycles bifurcating from such a zero-Hopf equilibrium. This result is applied to study three-dimensional generalized Lotka-Volterra systems in a paper by Bobieński and Żołądek (2005). The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a non-isolated zero-Hopf equilibrium of this system are given, and it is shown that two limit cycles can be bifurcated from the non-isolated zero-Hopf equilibrium under a general small perturbation of three-dimensional generalized Lotka-Volterra systems.
A personalized committee classification approach to improving prediction of breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Jahid Md Jamiul , Huang Tim H. , Ruan Jianhua
Published: March 2014

Motivation: Metastasis prediction is a well-known problem in breast cancer research. As breast cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease with many molecular subtypes, predictive models trained for one cohort often perform poorly on other cohorts, and a combined model may be suboptimal for individual patients. Furthermore, attempting to develop subtype-specific models is hindered by the ambiguity and stereotypical definitions of subtypes.

Results: Here, we propose a personalized approach by relaxing the definition of breast cancer subtypes. We assume that each patient belongs to a distinct subtype, defined implicitly by a set of patients with similar molecular characteristics, and construct a different predictive model for each patient, using as training data, only the patients defining the subtype. To increase robustness, we also develop a committee-based prediction method by pooling together multiple personalized models. Using both intra- and inter-dataset validations, we show that our approach can significantly improve the prediction accuracy of breast cancer metastasis compared with several popular approaches, especially on those hard-to-learn cases. Furthermore, we find that breast cancer patients belonging to different canonical subtypes tend to have different predictive models and gene signatures, suggesting that metastasis in different canonical subtypes are likely governed by different molecular mechanisms.

Availability and implementation: Source code implemented in MATLAB and Java available at www.cs.utsa.edu/∼jruan/PCC/ .

Contact:  jianhua.ruan@utsa.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online .