bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depth profiling cross‐linked poly(methyl methacrylate) films: a time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry approach
Authors: Naderi‐Gohar Soheila , Huang Kevin M.H. , Wu Yiliang , Lau Woon Ming , Nie Heng‐Yong
Published: December 2016

Rationale

In order to determine the degree of cross‐linking on the surface and its variations in a nanometer‐scale depth of organic materials, we developed an approach based on time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS), which provides rich chemical information in the form of fragment ions. TOF‐SIMS is extremely surface‐sensitive and capable of depth profiling with the use of a sputter ion beam to remove controllable amounts of substance.

Methods

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films spin‐coated on a Si substrate were cross‐linked using a recently developed, surface sensitive, hyperthermal hydrogen projectile bombardment technique. The ion intensity ratio between two ubiquitous hydrocarbon ions, C6H– and C4H–, detected in TOF‐SIMS, denoted as ρ, was used to assess the degree of cross‐linking of the PMMA films. The cross‐linking depth of the PMMA films was revealed by depth profiling ρ into the polymer films using a C60+ sputter beam.

Results

The control PMMA film spin‐coated on a Si substrate was characterized by ρ = 32% on its surface when using a 25 keV Bi3+ primary ion beam. This parameter on the PMMA films subjected to HHIC treatment for 10, 100 and 500 s increased to 45%, 56% and 65%, respectively. The depth profiles of ρ obtained using a 10 keV C60+ ion beam resembled an exponential decay, from which the cross‐linking depth was estimated to be 3, 15 and 39 nm, respectively, for the three cross‐linked PMMA films.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that the ion intensity ratio of C6H– to C4H– detected in TOF‐SIMS provides a unique and simple means to assess the degree of cross‐linking of the surface of PMMA films cross‐linked by the surface sensitive hyperthermal hydrogen projectile bombardment technique. With a C60+ sputter beam, we were able to depth profile the PMMA films and determine cross‐linking depths of the cross‐linked polymer films at nanometer resolutions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robust output‐feedback control of state‐multiplicative noisy discrete‐time systems
Authors: Gershon Eli , Shaked Uri
Published: December 2016

Linear discrete‐time systems with stochastic and deterministic polytopic type uncertainties in their state‐space model are considered. A dynamic output‐feedback controller is obtained via a new approach that allows a derivation of a controller in spite of parameter uncertainty. In the proposed approach, the system is described via a difference equation and an augmented system is then used to obtain the output‐feedback controller parameters. The controller is obtained without assuming a specific structure to the quadratic Lyapunov function, and it is the first time that an output‐feedback controller is obtained for robust state‐multiplicative systems. The controller minimizes the stochastic L2‐gain of the closed‐loop where a cost function is defined to be the expected value of the standard
performance index with respect to the stochastic uncertainty. Two examples are given where the second of which demonstrates the applicability of our theory to a robot manipulator system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A generalized exact tracking control methodology for disturbed nonlinear systems via homogeneous domination approach
Authors: Zhang Chuanlin , Yang Jun , Li Shihua
Published: December 2016

A generalized homogeneous exact set‐point tracking control methodology for a class of disturbed higher‐order nonlinear systems is investigated in this paper. By virtue of utilizing the disturbance estimation and active elimination approach, a homogeneous domination feedback technique is then integrated such that a generalized composite active anti‐disturbance control framework is proposed with a delicate handling procedure of the non‐vanishing nonlinearities. The proposed methodology has several new features. First, a genuine nonlinear composite controller employing the system nonlinearities will bring an improvement of the control performances. Second, the flexility of the design methodology renders its suitability for random output tracking with mismatched disturbances in every channel. Moreover, the control function is constructed in a neat nested form and hence easier to be implemented. Numerical simulation results affirm the output tracking control performances. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Simple View of Writing in Chinese
Authors: Yeung Pui‐sze , Ho Connie Suk‐han , Chan David Wai‐ock , Chung Kevin Kien‐hoa
Published: December 2016

This study examined the Chinese written composition development of elementary‐grade students in relation to the simple view of writing. Measures of nonverbal reasoning ability, component skills of transcription (stroke sequence knowledge, word spelling, and handwriting fluency), oral language (definitional skill, oral narrative skills, and syntactic skills), working memory, and Chinese written composition were administered to 249 Chinese students in grades 1, 3, and 5 in Hong Kong. Hierarchical multiple regression results showed that transcription skills (word spelling and handwriting fluency), syntactic skills, and working memory were unique predictors of Chinese written composition after controlling for nonverbal reasoning ability. No interaction effect of grade and cognitive‐linguistic skills contributed a significant amount of unique variance to Chinese written composition. The structural equation modeling results showed that the postulated simple view of writing in Chinese can be used to theorize the findings on the cognitive processes involved in Chinese writing.
Authentication of spatio‐textual similarity join queries in untrusted cloud environments
Authors: Yan Han , Cheng Xiang , Wang Dezheng , Su Sen , Zhang Qiying
Published: December 2016

In this paper, we study the problem of authentication of spatio‐textual similarity join queries in untrusted cloud environments. To solve this problem, we first propose a pairwise authentication scheme, where object pairs are considered as basic processing units. In this scheme, an object hash tree is proposed for the data owner (DO) to build the authenticated data structure (ADS) over the data collection. Moreover, during join processing, a pair table is introduced for the service provider (SP) to construct the verification object (VO) for client's authentication. However, when clients authenticate the join results, they have large number of pairs to examine, which leads to excessive computation cost. Therefore, we then propose an optimized MR*‐tree‐based scheme. In this scheme, the DO spatially organizes the objects in an ADS called MR*‐tree, which combines the concepts of the Merkle hash tree and the R*‐tree. Based on the MR*‐tree, the SP employs the depth‐first search strategy to find the join results and constructs the VO according to the visited nodes of the MR*‐tree. Our extensive experiments on the real‐world dataset verify the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed schemes on several performance metrics, including the data preprocessing time, running time, VO size, and authentication time. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PSO algorithm‐based scenario reduction method for stochastic unit commitment problem
Authors: Xiong Gaofeng , Liu Xiping , Chen Dan , Zhang Jianhua , Hashiyama Tomonori
Published: December 2016

This paper proposes a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm‐based scenario reduction method for stochastic unit commitment problems. In this method, the position of each particle is an index set of the preserved scenarios, that is, a possible solution to the optimal scenario reduction problem. The Kantorovich distance between the original scenarios and the preserved scenarios is used to calculate the fitness value of each particle. A repair procedure is carried out to ensure that there are non‐repeating index numbers in the newly generated position of each particle during the iterations. The performance of the PSO‐based method is tested on two scenario sets of electricity prices in a stochastic profit/price‐based unit commitment (SPBUC) problem, and is compared with backward reduction and forward selection. Test results show that the PSO‐based method performs very well with respect to the relative accuracy and running times when reducing large scenario set. Impacts of scenario reduction on the expected profits of the SPBUC problem are also investigated with different numbers of the preserved scenarios of electricity prices, which are obtained by these three different reduction methods from the same original scenario set. Simulation results show that optimal solutions of the SPBUC problem are related not only to the number of the preserved scenarios but also to the scenario reduction methods. The PSO‐based method can lead to less conservative solutions than the forward selection, while the backward reduction can result in nonconservative solutions.
Parameters of fetal pulmonary vascular health: baseline trends and response to maternal hyperoxia in the second and third trimesters
Authors: Yamamoto Y. , Hirose A. , Howley L. , Savard W. , Jain V. , Hornberger L. K.
Published: December 2016

Objectives

Several parameters, including branch pulmonary artery (PA) diameter and Doppler‐derived PA acceleration‐to‐ejection time ratio (AT/ET), peak late‐systolic/early‐diastolic reversed flow (PEDRF) and pulsatility index (PI) response to maternal hyperoxia, have been used to investigate fetal pulmonary health. Lower AT/ET, increased PEDRF and lack of PI response to hyperoxia have been observed in fetuses with severe lung hypoplasia and are considered markers of pulmonary vascular resistance. We sought to further define the evolution of PA diameter and Doppler parameters and their response to maternal hyperoxia in healthy fetuses.

Methods

Fifty‐four prospectively recruited women with healthy pregnancy underwent fetal echocardiography from 18–36 weeks of gestation. After baseline branch PA diameter and Doppler assessment, oxygen (8–10 L/min) was administered by non‐reservoir facemask for 10 min and PA Doppler parameters were reassessed.

Results

Branch PA diameters and AT/ET increased linearly with gestational age, while PEDRF increased quadratically (P < 0.001 for all) and PA‐PI did not change. In response to maternal hyperoxia, although most fetuses demonstrated a significant decrease in PI for both branch PAs (right PA, P = 0.025; left PA, P = 0.040) ≥ 30 weeks, significant variability was observed in PI response with 31% of cases demonstrating either no response or a slight decrease. No other parameter demonstrated a measurable change in response to maternal hyperoxia.

Conclusions

From the mid‐trimester, fetal branch PA diameters and AT/ET increase linearly and PEDRF increases quadratically, whereas PI remains unchanged. Although maternal hyperoxia triggers a significant decrease in PA‐PI after 30 weeks, variability in this response may reduce its utility in clinical practice. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Accounting for risk aversion, income distribution and social welfare in cost‐benefit analysis for flood risk management
Authors: Kind Jarl , Wouter Botzen W.J. , Aerts Jeroen C.J.H.
Published: December 2016

Most cost‐benefit analysis (CBA) textbooks and guidelines recognize the objective of CBAs to improve social welfare—a function of well‐being of all individuals, conceptualized by utility. However, today's common practice to value flood risk management benefits as the reduction of the expected annual damages does not comply with this concept of social welfare, since it erroneously focuses on money instead of well‐being (utility). Diminishing marginal utility of money implies that risk aversion and income differences should be taken into account while calculating the social welfare benefits of flood risk management. This is especially important when social vulnerability is high, damage compensation is incomplete and the distribution of income is regarded as unfair and income is not redistributed in other ways. Disagreement, misconception, complexity, untrained professionals, political economy and failing guidance are potential reasons why these concepts are not being applied. Compared to the common practice, a theoretically more sound social welfare approach to CBA for flood risk management leads to different conclusions on who to target, what to do, how much to invest and how to share risks, with increased emphasis on resiliency measures for population segments with low income and high social vulnerability. The social welfare approach to CBA, illustrated in this study in the context of floods, can be applied to other climate risks as well, such as storms, droughts, and landslides. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e446. doi: 10.1002/wcc.446

This article is categorized under:

Climate Economics > Iterative Risk‐Management Policy Portfolios
Removal of Direct Yellow 27 Dye by Ionic Flocculation: The Use of an Environmentally Friendly Surfactant
Authors: Melo Ricardo Paulo Fonseca , de Barros Neto Eduardo Lins , Moura Maria Carlenise Paiva de Alencar , de Castro Dantas Tereza Neuma , Dantas Neto Afonso Avelino , Nunes Shirlle Katia da Silva
Published: December 2016

The presence of dyes is one of the main contributors to the organic load in textile effluents. In this study a mixture of surfactants, produced from animal/vegetable fats, was used to remove the Direct Yellow 27 dye from a synthetic wastewater through an ionic flocculation process. It was evaluated the effect of contact time, temperature, and surfactant concentration on dye removal efficiency. It was also evaluated the kinetics, equilibrium, and diffusion mechanism of the process. The kinetics of the process was well described by both Pseudo‐second order and Elovich models. The transport of dye molecules to the surfactant flocs is controlled by the external layer. Equilibrium data showed a good fit to the Langmuir model. A removal rate of 93% was achieved in a single stage, after 5 h of contact time.
Adsorption and Aggregation Activity of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and Rhamnolipid Mixture
Authors: Mańko Diana , Zdziennicka Anna , Jańczuk Bronisław
Published: December 2016

Measurements of the surface tension, density and viscosity of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and rhamnolipid (RL) mixtures were carried out in aqueous solution. From the obtained results, composition of mixed surface layer at the water–air interface, mixed micelles, parameter of intermolecular interactions, activity of SDS and RL in the surface layer and micelles, Gibbs standard free energy of adsorption and micellization as well as Gibbs free energy of SDS and RL mixing in the surface layer and micelles were established. These parameters were discussed in the light of independent adsorption of SDS and RL and the size of their molecules as well as the area in contact with water molecules. A correlation between the number of water molecules in contact with those of SDS and RL and standard free energy of adsorption as well as micellization of these surfactants was observed. A correlation between the apparent and partial molar volumes of RL and SDS in their mixture and size of surfactant molecules as well as the average distance between molecules was also found. The parameter of intermolecular interactions indicates that there is a synergetic effect in the reduction of water surface tension and micelle formation.
Codimension two surfaces pinched by normal curvature evolving by mean curvature flow
Authors: Baker Charles , Nguyen Huy The
Published: December 2016

We prove that codimension two surfaces satisfying a nonlinear curvature condition depending on normal curvature smoothly evolve by mean curvature flow to round points.
Endoscopic treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage: A technical review
Authors: Zhao Yi‐ning , Chen Xiao‐lei
Published: December 2016

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is still a highlighting global issue. Endoscopic evacuation as a minimally invasive treatment became an alternative other than conventional craniotomy and catheter drainage for ICH. However, there is no unified indication or standardized procedure on endoscopic treatment of ICH. Here we explored the literature and gathered information from different studies, to review the background, technical points, and existing problems of endoscopic treatment for ICH.
Repetitive head impact exposure and later‐life plasma total tau in former National Football League players
Authors: Alosco Michael L. , Tripodis Yorghos , Jarnagin Johnny , Baugh Christine M. , Martin Brett , Chaisson Christine E. , Estochen Nate , Song Linan , Cantu Robert C. , Jeromin Andreas , Stern Robert A.
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Blood protein analysis of total tau (t‐tau) may be a practical screening biomarker for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative tauopathy associated with repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure. We examined plasma t‐tau in symptomatic former National Football League (NFL) players compared with controls and the relationship between RHI exposure and later‐life plasma t‐tau.

Methods

Ninety‐six former NFL players (age 40–69) and 25 same‐age controls underwent blood draw to determine plasma t‐tau levels. The cumulative head impact index (CHII) quantified RHI exposure. Subjects completed measures of clinical function.

Results

A higher CHII predicted greater plasma t‐tau in the former NFL players (P = .0137). No group differences in plasma t‐tau emerged, but a concentration ≥3.56 pg/mL was 100% specific to former NFL players. Plasma t‐tau did not predict clinical function.

Discussion

Greater RHI exposure predicted higher later‐life plasma t‐tau concentrations, and further study on plasma t‐tau as a candidate screening biomarker for CTE is warranted.
Evaluation of mechanical strengths of three types of mini‐implants in artificial bones
Authors: Tseng Yu‐Chuan , Wu Ju‐Hui , Ting Chun‐Chan , Chen Hong‐Sen , Chen Chun‐Ming
Published: December 2016

We investigates the effect of the anchor area on the mechanical strengths of infrazygomatic mini‐implants. Thirty mini‐implants were divided into three types based on the material and shape: Type A (titanium alloy, 2.0 × 12 mm), Type B (stainless steel, 2.0 × 12 mm), and Type C (titanium alloy, 2.0 × 11 mm). The mini‐implants were inserted at 90° and 45° into the artificial bone to a depth of 7 mm, without predrilling. The mechanical strengths [insertion torque (IT), resonance frequency (RF), and removal torque (RT)] and the anchor area were measured. We hypothesized that no correlation exists among the mechanical forces of each brand. In the 90° tests, the IT, RF, and RT of Type C (8.5 N cm, 10.2 kHz, and 6.1 N cm, respectively) were significantly higher than those of Type A (5.0 N cm, 7.7 kHz, and 4.7 N cm, respectively). In the 45° test, the RFs of Type C (9.2 kHz) was significantly higher than those of Type A (7.0 kHz) and Type B (6.7 kHz). The anchor area of the mini‐implants was in the order of Type C (706 mm2) > Type B (648 mm2) > Type A (621 mm2). Type C exhibited no significant correlation in intragroup comparisons, and the hypothesis was accepted. In the 90° and 45° tests, Type C exhibited the largest anchor area and the highest mechanical strengths (IT, RF, and RT) among the three types of mini‐implants. The anchor area plays a crucial role in the mechanical strength of mini‐implants.
A 50-m laser strainmeter system installed in Transbaikalia: testing results
Authors: Dolgikh G.I. , Dolgikh S.G. , Rasskazov I.Yu. , Lugovoy V.A. , Saksin B.G.
Published: December 2016

We report testing results for a 50-m laser strainmeter installed 300 m under the ground in a mine of PJSC Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union (Krasnokamensk) and demonstrate its ability to record microseisms and waves of infrasonic–sonic bandwidths. Processing and interpretation of the collected data provides information about microseismic to tidal strain changes in the Transbaikalian region.
Kinematics of recent tectonic motions in the east of the Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt
Authors: Zhizherin V.S. , Serov M.A.
Published: December 2016

We present the first data of GPS measurements on recent motions in the east of the Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt. Processing of GPS data yielded a vector field of the velocities of observation point displacements in the geodynamic network of the Upper Amur region. Comprehensive analysis of geological and geophysical data and the estimated velocities of site displacements in this network have shown kinematic heterogeneity of the present-day Mongol–Okhotsk Fold Belt and an intricate deformation pattern there. The tectonic regime within the belt permits considering it a buffer or transit zone, where tectonic stresses arise as a result of the different kinematics of the surrounding tectonic structures.
Geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Posolsky Bank and the Kukuy Griva, Lake Baikal
Authors: Khlystov O.M. , Kononov E.E. , Khabuev A.V. , Belousov O.V. , Gubin N.A. , Solovyeva M.A. , Naudts L.
Published: December 2016

Detailed geological and geophysical investigations of the underwater topography of Lake Baikal, based on single-channel high-resolution seismic profiling and bathymetric survey using an ELAC SeaBeam 1050 multibeam echosounder, as well as the data obtained during diving of MIR deep-sea manned underwater submersibles determined the morphological characteristics of the Posolsky Bank and Kukuy Griva elevations suggesting that their elevated parts represent fragments of the once common delta surface of the Selenga River. The current relief of these structures resulted from the joint activity of tectonic and underwater erosive processes. Sediments at the base of the slope of the Kukuy Griva are likely to be no older than 1.8 Ma.
Nivel de empatía médica y factores asociados en estudiantes de medicina
Authors: Parra Ramírez Giovanny De Jesús , Cámara Vallejos Rubén Marcelo
Published: December 2016

Introducción: La empatía médica es una cualidad que permite al médico comprender mejor al paciente. La actitud empática involucra principalmente la dimensión cognitiva y se adquiere en los procesos formativos del médico.
Objetivo: Analizar el nivel de empatía médica y factores asociados en estudiantes de medicina.
Método: Se aplicó la escala de empatía médica de Jefferson a 180 estudiantes de medicina, misma que está diseñada para obtener un puntaje ubicado entre 20 y 140. Con base en esto y empleando una desviación estándar de 12.98, obtenida de un estudio piloto, se creó una escala ponderada de empatía médica para establecer el nivel de dicha empatía. Variables dependientes: Puntaje de la escala de empatía médica de Jefferson y nivel de empatía médica; variables independientes: grado escolar, edad, sexo, lugar de procedencia, escuela de procedencia, religión y especialidad que aspira a estudiar. Pruebas estadísticas empleadas: Tau-b de Kendall, correlación de Spearman, Chi cuadrado, U de Mann Whitney, ANOVA y t de Student.
Resultados: El puntaje obtenido se ubicó en 5 categorías que van de deficiente a alto. El puntaje promedio obtenido fue 113, equivalente a un nivel sobresaliente. Se obtuvo correlación significativa entre grado escolar y nivel de empatía (p = 0.001; índice Tau-b = −0.231) y entre edad y nivel de empatía (p = 0.006, índice Rho = −0.176). Las mujeres obtuvieron mayor puntaje de empatía (p = 0.017).
Conclusiones: Los estudiantes obtuvieron un nivel sobresaliente de empatía médica. El nivel menor se obtuvo en los de mayor grado escolar y edad. Las mujeres son más empáticas que  los hombres. A mayor grado escolar menor habilidad para la toma de perspectiva, atencióncompasiva y «situarse en el lugar del otro»; a mayor edad menor habilidad para «situarse en ellugar del otro»; las mujeres presentaron mayor habilidad para la toma de perspectiva y tencióncompasiva.
Cyclic AC253, a novel amylin receptor antagonist, improves cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Soudy Rania , Patel Aarti , Fu Wen , Kaur Kamaljit , MacTavish David , Westaway David , Davey Rachel , Zajac Jeffrey , Jhamandas Jack
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Amylin receptor serves as a portal for the expression of deleterious effects of amyloid β‐protein (Aβ), a key pathologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Previously, we showed that AC253, an amylin receptor antagonist, is neuroprotective against Aβ toxicity in vitro and abrogates Aβ‐induced impairment of hippocampal long‐term potentiation.

Methods

Amyloid precursor protein–overexpressing TgCRND8 mice received intracerebroventricularly AC253 for 5 months. New cyclized peptide cAC253 was synthesized and administered intraperitoneally three times a week for 10 weeks in the same mouse model. Cognitive functions were monitored, and pathologic changes were quantified biochemically and immunohistochemically.

Results

AC253, when administered intracerebroventricularly, improves spatial memory and learning, increases synaptic integrity, reduces microglial activation without discernible adverse effects in TgCRND8 mice. cAC253 demonstrates superior brain permeability, better proteolytic stability, and enhanced binding affinity to brain amylin receptors after a single intraperitoneal injection. Furthermore, cAC253 administered intraperitoneally also demonstrates improvement in spatial memory in TgCRND8 mice.

Discussion

Amylin receptor is a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease and represents a disease‐modifying therapy for this condition.
Evolving Ideas about Business Strategy
Authors: Ghemawat Pankaj
Published: December 2016

This paper updates an earlier article published inBusiness History Reviewthat concluded that by the second half of the 1990s, there had been a profusion of new, purportedly practical ideas about strategy, many of which embodied some explicit dynamics. This update provides several indications of a drop-off since then in the rate of development of new ideas about strategy but also a continued focus, in the new ideas thatarebeing developed, on dynamics. And since our stock of dynamic frameworks has, based on one enumeration, more than doubled in the last fifteen to twenty years, updating expands both the need and the empirical basis for some generalizations about the types of dynamic strategy frameworks—and strategy frameworks in general—that managers are likely to find helpful versus those that they are not.
Neophilia and Old Master paintings: changes in consumer choice and the evolution of art auctions in the eighteenth century
Authors: BLONDÉ BRUNO , LYNA DRIES
Published: December 2016

abstract

Over the course of the eighteenth century the Austrian Netherlands witnessed the emergence of specialised art auctions. In this article we argue that both the evolution of the auctions and of the prices paid for works of art at the auctions can only be understood as a response to changes in consumer culture during the eighteenth century. Although auctions rapidly gained in importance as a commercial arena through which Old Masters could be resold in Antwerp and Brussels, the prices paid for art saw only modest movement during the 1700s, but then collapsed at the end of the century. By analysing both how local demand for art in Austrian Netherlands failed to absorb the abundant supply of paintings during this period, and how this created a flourishing export market, the study reported here maps the mechanisms that ensured the – often permanent – movement of Flanders’ artistic legacy to collections and museums abroad.
The Legal Ethical Backbone of Conscientious Refusal
Authors: MUNTHE CHRISTIAN , NIELSEN MORTEN EBBE JUUL
Published: December 2016

This article analyzes the idea of a legal right to conscientious refusal for healthcare professionals from a basic legal ethical standpoint, using refusal to perform tasks related to legal abortion (in cases of voluntary employment) as a case in point. The idea of a legal right to conscientious refusal is distinguished from ideas regarding moral rights or reasons related to conscientious refusal, and none of the latter are found to support the notion of a legal right. Reasons for allowing some sort of room for conscientious refusal for healthcare professionals based on the importance of cultural identity and the fostering of a critical atmosphere might provide some support, if no countervailing factors apply. One such factor is that a legal right to healthcare professionals’ conscientious refusal must comply with basic legal ethical tenets regarding the rule of law and equal treatment, and this requirement is found to create serious problems for those wishing to defend the idea under consideration. We conclude that the notion of a legal right to conscientious refusal for any profession is either fundamentally incompatible with elementary legal ethical requirements, or implausible because it undermines the functioning of a related professional sector (healthcare) or even of society as a whole.
The British Isles and Beyond: The Performance of Instrumental Music by William Sterndale Bennett during the Long Nineteenth Century
Authors: Ellsworth Therese
Published: December 2016

Bennett wrote in a variety of instrumental and vocal genres. Some of his most popular pieces during his lifetime comprise anthems, oratorios and cantatas. But his enduring legacy resides with his instrumental output, in particular works that include a pianist. This article begins with an examination of performances that occurred in Britain and in Germany, where Bennett’s close associations with the Mendelssohn circle provided him with substantial encouragement during his formative years. Advances in transportation and increasing globalization led touring artists to travel farther to cities worldwide, bringing with them Bennett repertoire to foreign shores. George Loder, for example, conducted the US premiere ofThe Wood Nymphsoverture at the New York Philharmonic in 1848. Arabella Goddard gave an early American performance of the Piano Sonata Op. 46 (Die Jungfrau von Orleans) in 1875, just two years after its premiere in London. In addition, émigrés from Britain and Germany, especially to Australia, New Zealand and America, contributed to the movement of British music across the globe. In both small towns and large cities, from Melbourne to Auckland, San Francisco to Boston, audiences heard Bennett compositions. In tracing performances of Bennett’s instrumental music before the First World War in both his own country and selected areas outside the British Isles, this research contributes to our understanding of developments in modern concert life as well as the transmission of British music within the Empire and beyond.
Second malignancies in the context of lenalidomide treatment: an analysis of 2732 myeloma patients enrolled to the Myeloma XI trial
Authors: Jones J R , Cairns D A , Gregory W M , Collett C , Pawlyn C , Sigsworth R , Striha A , Henderson R , Kaiser M F , Jenner M , Cook G , Russell N H , Williams C , Pratt G , Kishore B , Lindsay J , Drayson M T , Davies F E , Boyd K D , Owen R G , Jackson G H , Morgan G J ,   on behalf of the NCRI Haemato-Oncology CSG
Published: December 2016

We have carried out the largest randomised trial to date of newly diagnosed myeloma patients, in which lenalidomide has been used as an induction and maintenance treatment option and here report its impact on second primary malignancy (SPM) incidence and pathology. After review, 104 SPMs were confirmed in 96 of 2732 trial patients. The cumulative incidence of SPM was 0.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4–1.0%), 2.3% (95% CI 1.6–2.7%) and 3.8% (95% CI 2.9–4.6%) at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Patients receiving maintenance lenalidomide had a significantly higher SPM incidence overall (P=0.011). Age is a risk factor with the highest SPM incidence observed in transplant non-eligible patients aged >74 years receiving lenalidomide maintenance. The 3-year cumulative incidence in this group was 17.3% (95% CI 8.2–26.4%), compared with 6.5% (95% CI 0.2–12.9%) in observation only patients (P=0.049). There was a low overall incidence of haematological SPM (0.5%). The higher SPM incidence in patients receiving lenalidomide maintenance therapy, especially in advanced age, warrants ongoing monitoring although the benefit on survival is likely to outweigh risk.
Use of plankton-derived vitamin B1 precursors, especially thiazole-related precursor, by key marine picoeukaryotic phytoplankton
Authors: Paerl Ryan W , Bouget Francois-Yves , Lozano Jean-Claude , Vergé Valérie , Schatt Philippe , Allen Eric E , Palenik Brian , Azam Farooq
Published: December 2016

Several cosmopolitan marine picoeukaryotic phytoplankton are B1 auxotrophs requiring exogenous vitamin B1 or precursor to survive. From genomic evidence, representatives of picoeukaryotic phytoplankton (Ostreococcus and Micromonas spp.) were predicted to use known thiazole and pyrimidine B1 precursors to meet their B1 demands, however, recent culture-based experiments could not confirm this assumption. We hypothesized these phytoplankton strains could grow on precursors alone, but required a thiazole-related precursor other the well-known and extensively tested 4-methyl-5-thiazoleethanol. This hypothesis was tested using bioassays and co-cultures of picoeukaryotic phytoplankton and bacteria. We found that specific B1-synthesizing proteobacteria and phytoplankton are sources of a yet-to-be chemically identified thiazole-related precursor(s) that, along with pyrimidine B1 precursor 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine, can support growth of Ostreococcus spp. (also Micromonas spp.) without B1. We additionally found that the B1-synthesizing plankton do not require contact with picoeukaryotic phytoplankton cells to produce thiazole-related precursor(s). Experiments with wild-type and genetically engineered Ostreococcus lines revealed that the thiazole kinase, ThiM, is required for growth on precursors, and that thiazole-related precursor(s) accumulate to appreciable levels in the euphotic ocean. Overall, our results point to thiazole-related B1 precursors as important micronutrients promoting the survival of abundant phytoplankton influencing surface ocean production and biogeochemical cycling.
Correction: Corrigendum: Using rare earth elements to constrain particulate organic carbon flux in the East China Sea
Authors: Hung Chin-Chang , Chen Ya-Feng , Hsu Shih-Chieh , Wang Kui , Chen Jianfang , Burdige David J.
Published: December 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 33880; published online: 27 September 2016; updated: 09 December 2016
Functional and structural characterization of a novel putative cysteine protease cell wall-modifying multi-domain enzyme selected from a microbial metagenome
Authors: Faheem Muhammad , Martins-de-Sa Diogo , Vidal Julia F. D. , Álvares Alice C. M. , Brandão-Neto José , Bird Louise E. , Tully Mark D. , von Delft Frank , Souto Betulia M. , Quirino Betania F. , Freitas Sonia M. , Barbosa João Alexandre R. G.
Published: December 2016

A current metagenomics focus is to interpret and transform collected genomic data into biological information. By combining structural, functional and genomic data we have assessed a novel bacterial protein selected from a carbohydrate-related activity screen in a microbial metagenomic library from Capra hircus (domestic goat) gut. This uncharacterized protein was predicted as a bacterial cell wall-modifying enzyme (CWME) and shown to contain four domains: an N-terminal, a cysteine protease, a peptidoglycan-binding and an SH3 bacterial domain. We successfully cloned, expressed and purified this putative cysteine protease (PCP), which presented autoproteolytic activity and inhibition by protease inhibitors. We observed cell wall hydrolytic activity and ampicillin binding capacity, a characteristic of most bacterial CWME. Fluorimetric binding analysis yielded a Kb of 1.8 × 105 M−1 for ampicillin. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) showed a maximum particle dimension of 95 Å with a real-space Rg of 28.35 Å. The elongated molecular envelope corroborates the dynamic light scattering (DLS) estimated size. Furthermore, homology modeling and SAXS allowed the construction of a model that explains the stability and secondary structural changes observed by circular dichroism (CD). In short, we report a novel cell wall-modifying autoproteolytic PCP with insight into its biochemical, biophysical and structural features.
Structural Analysis of Glycine Sarcosine N-methyltransferase from Methanohalophilus portucalensis Reveals Mechanistic Insights into the Regulation of Methyltransferase Activity
Authors: Lee Yi-Ru , Lin Te-Sheng , Lai Shu-Jung , Liu Mu-Sen , Lai Mei-Chin , Chan Nei-Li
Published: December 2016

Methyltransferases play crucial roles in many cellular processes, and various regulatory mechanisms have evolved to control their activities. For methyltransferases involved in biosynthetic pathways, regulation via feedback inhibition is a commonly employed strategy to prevent excessive accumulation of the pathways’ end products. To date, no biosynthetic methyltransferases have been characterized by X-ray crystallography in complex with their corresponding end product. Here, we report the crystal structures of the glycine sarcosine N-methyltransferase from the halophilic archaeon Methanohalophilus portucalensis (MpGSMT), which represents the first structural elucidation of the GSMT methyltransferase family. As the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of the osmoprotectant betaine, MpGSMT catalyzes N-methylation of glycine and sarcosine, and its activity is feedback-inhibited by the end product betaine. A structural analysis revealed that, despite the simultaneous presence of both substrate (sarcosine) and cofactor (S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine; SAH), the enzyme was likely crystallized in an inactive conformation, as additional structural changes are required to complete the active site assembly. Consistent with this interpretation, the bound SAH can be replaced by the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine without triggering the methylation reaction. Furthermore, the observed conformational state was found to harbor a betaine-binding site, suggesting that betaine may inhibit MpGSMT activity by trapping the enzyme in an inactive form. This work implicates a structural basis by which feedback inhibition of biosynthetic methyltransferases may be achieved.
Reevaluation of Performance of Electric Double-layer Capacitors from Constant-current Charge/Discharge and Cyclic Voltammetry
Authors: Allagui Anis , Freeborn Todd J. , Elwakil Ahmed S. , Maundy Brent J.
Published: December 2016

The electric characteristics of electric-double layer capacitors (EDLCs) are determined by their capacitance which is usually measured in the time domain from constant-current charging/discharging and cyclic voltammetry tests, and from the frequency domain using nonlinear least-squares fitting of spectral impedance. The time-voltage and current-voltage profiles from the first two techniques are commonly treated by assuming ideal SsC behavior in spite of the nonlinear response of the device, which in turn provides inaccurate values for its characteristic metrics. In this paper we revisit the calculation of capacitance, power and energy of EDLCs from the time domain constant-current step response and linear voltage waveform, under the assumption that the device behaves as an equivalent fractional-order circuit consisting of a resistance Rs in series with a constant phase element (CPE(Q, α), with Q being a pseudocapacitance and α a dispersion coefficient). In particular, we show with the derived (Rs, Q, α)-based expressions, that the corresponding nonlinear effects in voltage-time and current-voltage can be encompassed through nonlinear terms function of the coefficient α, which is not possible with the classical RsC model. We validate our formulae with the experimental measurements of different EDLCs.
Quantitative analysis of nonadiabatic effects in dense H3S and PH3 superconductors
Authors: Durajski Artur P.
Published: December 2016

The comparison study of high pressure superconducting state of recently synthesized H3S and PH3 compounds are conducted within the framework of the strong-coupling theory. By generalization of the standard Eliashberg equations to include the lowest-order vertex correction, we have investigated the influence of the nonadiabatic effects on the Coulomb pseudopotential, electron effective mass, energy gap function and on the 2Δ(0)/TC ratio. We found that, for a fixed value of critical temperature (178 K for H3S and 81 K for PH3), the nonadiabatic corrections reduce the Coulomb pseudopotential for H3S from 0.204 to 0.185 and for PH3 from 0.088 to 0.083, however, the electron effective mass and ratio 2Δ(0)/TC remain unaffected. Independently of the assumed method of analysis, the thermodynamic parameters of superconducting H3S and PH3 strongly deviate from the prediction of BCS theory due to the strong-coupling and retardation effects.
Plant-derived cis-β-ocimene as a precursor for biocompatible, transparent, thermally-stable dielectric and encapsulating layers for organic electronics
Authors: Bazaka Kateryna , Destefani Ryan , Jacob Mohan V.
Published: December 2016

This article presents low-temperature, one-step dry synthesis of optically transparent thermally-stable, biocompatible cis−β−ocimene-based thin films for applications as interlayer dielectric and encapsulating layer for flexible electronic devices, e.g. OLEDs. Morphological analysis of thin films shows uniform, very smooth (Rq < 1 nm) and defect-free moderately hydrophilic surfaces. The films are optically transparent, with a refractive index of ~1.58 at 600 nm, an optical band gap of ~2.85 eV, and dielectric constant of 3.5−3.6 at 1 kHz. Upon heating, thin films are chemically and optically stable up to at least 200 °C, where thermal stability increases for films manufactured at higher RF power as well as for films deposited away from the plasma glow. Heating of the sample increases the dielectric constant, from 3.7 (25 °C) to 4.7 (120 °C) at 1 kHz for polymer fabricated at 25 W. Polymers are biocompatible with non-adherent THP–1 cells and adherent mouse macrophage cells, including LPS-stimulated macrophages, and maintain their material properties after 48 h of immersion into simulated body fluid. The versatile nature of the films fabricated in this study may be exploited in next-generation consumer electronics and energy technologies.
Contributions of rational soil tillage to compaction stress in main peanut producing areas of China
Authors: Shen Pu , Wu Zhengfeng , Wang Chunxiao , Luo Sheng , Zheng Yongmei , Yu Tianyi , Sun Xuewu , Sun Xiushan , Wang Caibin , He Xinhua
Published: December 2016

Tillage intensities largely affect soil compaction dynamics in agro-ecosystems. However, the contribution of tillage intensities on compaction changes in underground peanut (Arachis hypogaea) fields has not been quantified. We thus aimed to better understand the role of soil tillage intensities in mitigation of compaction stress for peanuts. Using three field tillage experiments in major Chinese peanut producing areas, we quantified the effects of (1) no tillage, (2) shallow (20 cm) plowing, (3) deep (30 cm) plowing and (4) deep (30 cm) loosening on changes in soil bulk density at 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm depths, roots and pods growth, and nutrient accumulation. Results showed that tillage management effectively mitigated soil compaction stress for peanut growth and production. Greater beneficial improvement for the underground growth of roots and pods, and N accumulation ranked as deep plowing > shallow plowing and deep loosening. Respective increases of 7.5% and 4.6% in root biomass productions and peanut yields were obtained when soil bulk density was decreased by 0.1 g cm−3. Our results suggest that the mitigation of soil compaction stress by deep plowing could be a key tillage strategy for increasing peanut yields in the field.
Aldosterone induces rapid sodium intake by a nongenomic mechanism in the nucleus tractus solitarius
Authors: Qiao Hu , Hu Bo , Zhou Hong , Yan Jianqun , Jia Ru , Lu Bo , Sun Bo , Luo Xiao , Fan Yuanyuan , Wang Nan
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine whether aldosterone has a rapid action in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) that increases sodium intake, and to examine whether this effect of aldosterone, if present, is mediated by G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with a stainless-steel cannula in the NTS were used. Aldosterone was injected into the NTS at the doses of 1, 5, 10 and 20 ng 0.1 μl−1. A rapid dose-related increase of 0.3 M NaCl intake was induced within 30 min and this increase was not suppressed by the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist spironolactone (10 ng 0.1 μl−1). Water intake was not affected by aldosterone. The GPER agonist G-1 produced a parallel and significant increase in sodium intake, while pre-treatment with GPER antagonist G15 (10 ng 0.1 μl−1) blocked the G-1 or aldosterone-induced rapid sodium intake. In addition, sodium intake induced by sodium depletion or low-sodium diet fell within 30 min after injection into the NTS of the MR antagonist spironolactone, while G15 had no effect. Our results confirm previous reports, and support the hypothesis that aldosterone evokes rapid sodium intake through a non-genomic mechanism involving GPER in NTS.
Set anode potentials affect the electron fluxes and microbial community structure in propionate-fed microbial electrolysis cells
Authors: Hari Ananda Rao , Katuri Krishna P. , Logan Bruce E. , Saikaly Pascal E.
Published: December 2016

Anode potential has been shown to be a critical factor in the rate of acetate removal in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), but studies with fermentable substrates and set potentials are lacking. Here, we examined the impact of three different set anode potentials (SAPs; −0.25, 0, and 0.25 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode) on the electrochemical performance, electron flux to various sinks, and anodic microbial community structure in two-chambered MECs fed with propionate. Electrical current (49–71%) and CH4 (22.9–41%) were the largest electron sinks regardless of the potentials tested. Among the three SAPs tested, 0 V showed the highest electron flux to electrical current (71 ± 5%) and the lowest flux to CH4 (22.9 ± 1.2%). In contrast, the SAP of −0.25 V had the lowest electron flux to current (49 ± 6%) and the highest flux to CH4 (41.1 ± 2%). The most dominant genera detected on the anode of all three SAPs based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing were Geobacter, Smithella and Syntrophobacter, but their relative abundance varied among the tested SAPs. Microbial community analysis implies that complete degradation of propionate in all the tested SAPs was facilitated by syntrophic interactions between fermenters and Geobacter at the anode and ferementers and hydrogenotrophic methanogens in suspension.