bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structures and Properties of Luminescent Pentanitratoeuropate(III) Ionic Liquids
Authors: Zhao Ying , He Ling , Tang Ning , Qin Song , Tao Guo‐Hong , Liang Fu‐Xin
Published: December 2014

A series of luminescent ionic liquids based on pentanitratoeuropate(III) anions combined with imidazolium cations, namely, 1,2,3‐trimethylimidazolium {[MC1mim]2[Eu(NO3)5] (1)}, 1,3‐dimethylimidazolium {[C1mim]2[Eu(NO3)5] (2)}, 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium {[C2mim]2[Eu(NO3)5] (3)}, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimdazolium {[C4mim]2[Eu(NO3)5] (4)}, 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium {[C6mim]2[Eu(NO3)5] (5)}, and 1‐methyl‐3‐octylimidazolium {[C8mim]2[Eu(NO3)5] (6)}, were synthesized. These complexes were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. They exhibit high thermostability and wide liquidus ranges of more than 300 °C. Colorless plate crystals of 1 were isolated, and the crystal structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction [monoclinic system, C2/c space group with the cell parameters a = 21.6870(6) Å, b = 9.9807(4) Å, c = 15.0267(6) Å, β = 131.140(4)°, Z = 4]. In the [Eu(NO3)5]2– anion, the 10‐coordinate EuIII ion is coordinated by five bidentate nitrate ligands and has a highly symmetrical trigonal‐bipyramidal geometry. Compounds 1–6 exhibit bright red luminescence of high colorimetric purity. Only two characteristic narrow monochromatic bands, arising from the 5D0→7FJ (J = 1 and 2) intraconfigurational f–f transitions, were clearly observed in their emission spectra at 298 K. The intense red photoluminescence is still stable at 150 °C. These 10‐coordinated EuIII complexes are of interest as potential thermally stable luminescent soft materials.
Synthesis of Isoindoles by One‐Electron Reductions of Dibenzo[1,4]diazocines
Authors: Bovenkerk Marcel , Esser Birgit
Published: December 2014

A synthetic protocol to isoindoles is reported through one‐electron reductions of dibenzo[1,4]diazocines. The utility of the approach has been demonstrated through the synthesis of six novel isoindole derivatives. Photophysical measurements revealed emissions between 440 and 460 nm. A reaction mechanism, supported by experimental results and quantum chemical calculations, is postulated.
Spirangien Derivatives from the Myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum: Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Biological Activity
Authors: Bruns Nicole , Collisi Wera , Bernecker Steffen , Stadler Marc , Richter Christian , Schwalbe Harald , Kalesse Markus
Published: December 2014

In addition to spirangiens A (1) and B (2), 11 new spirangiens have been isolated from the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum (strain So ce90). Spirangiens A and B consist of a polyketide backbone with a spiroketal core, 13 stereocenters, and a conjugated pentaene chromophore with a terminal carboxylic acid. The structures of the derivatives were elucidated on the basis of NMR and MS data. The stereochemistry was determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments as well as by biosynthetic studies. Four derivatives 6–9 differ in the cis/trans double‐bond geometry of the pentaene chromophore side‐chain and four of them (4–6 and 10) are characterized by the absence of methoxy groups. Derivative 13 does not exhibit the spiroketal core due to reduction of the acetalic carbonyl group. In addition, 11 and 12 exhibit the opposite configuration at C‐20 compared with the known spirangiens A and B. Derivative 3 contains an additional hydroxy group at the end of the side‐chain. All the new spirangien derivatives, as well as spirangiens A and B, were tested in cytotoxicity assays against two different cell lines and showed strong cytotoxic activity. Even though spirangien A was identified as the most cytotoxic compound, other derivatives, such as 3, 4, 6, and 10, showed significantly higher activity against the KB‐3‐1 cell line than against the nontransformed cells (L‐929).
Preparation and characterization of nanomagnetic cross‐linked cellulase aggregates for cellulose bioconversion
Authors: Jafari Khorshidi Kaveh , Lenjannezhadian Hengameh , Jamalan Mostafa , Zeinali Majid
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND

Cellulose as a renewable biomaterial has forced attention on the use of cellulose‐hydrolyzing enzymes for industrial bioconversion of lignocellulosic materials to glucose. This paper reports immobilization of cross‐linked cellulase aggregates (CLEA) on the amine‐functionalized Fe3O4@silica core‐shell magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs).

RESULTS

The optimum pH of the cellulase cocktail upon immobilization (cellulase CLEA–MNP) shifted a little to the acidic side whereas the optimum temperature did not change significantly. The behavior of CMCase activity in the cellulase CLEA–MNP at pH and temperature values higher than the optimum was significantly different compared with free cellulase. Cellulase CLEA–MNP retained about 45% of its maximum activity at pH values higher than 4.8, while free cellulase lost its activity sharply. Immobilized cellulase in contrast to the free form retained about 65% of its maximum activity at 80°C. Cellulase CLEA–MNP had improved thermal stability at 65°C. Operational stability of the immobilized cellulase was also noticeable. After a sharp decrease during two cycles of CMC hydrolysis, cellulase CLEA–MNP retained 30% of its initial activity through six cycles of reuse.

CONCLUSION

Simple separation of MNPs from reaction medium and durability of CLEA–MNP composite during repeated use may overcome the major bottleneck against comprehensive applications of cellulase enzymes in industry. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Fair Business und Geschäftsanbahnung auf Auslandsmärkten
Authors: Schneider Thomas
Published: December 2014

Gerade im Export setzen Bergbauzulieferer häufig fremde Dritte wie Agenten oder Handelshäuser ein. Dieser Beitrag zeigt, welche Voraussetzungen erfüllt sein müssen, um nicht den Anschein steuer‐ und strafrechtlicher Verfehlungen zu wecken oder gar zu begehen.
A multigrid compact finite difference method for solving the one‐dimensional nonlinear sine‐Gordon equation
Authors: Moghaderi Hamid , Dehghan Mehdi
Published: December 2014

The aim of this paper is to propose a multigrid method to obtain the numerical solution of the one‐dimensional nonlinear sine‐Gordon equation. The finite difference equations at all interior grid points form a large sparse linear system, which needs to be solved efficiently. The solution cost of this sparse linear system usually dominates the total cost of solving the discretized partial differential equation. The proposed method is based on applying a compact finite difference scheme of fourth‐order for discretizing the spatial derivative and the standard second‐order central finite difference method for the time derivative. The proposed method uses the Richardson extrapolation method in time variable. The obtained system has been solved by V‐cycle multigrid (VMG) method, where the VMG method is used for solving the large sparse linear systems. The numerical examples show the efficiency of this algorithm for solving the one‐dimensional sine‐Gordon equation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mathematical models for the non‐isothermal Johnson–Segalman viscoelasticity in porous media: stability and wave propagation
Authors: Franchi Franca , Lazzari Barbara , Nibbi Roberta
Published: December 2014

We present a nonlinear model for Johnson–Segalman type polymeric fluids in porous media, accounting for thermal effects of Oldroyd‐B type. We provide a thermodynamic development of the Darcy's theory, which is consistent with the interlacement between thermal and viscoelastic relaxation effects and diffusion phenomena. The appropriate invariant convected time derivative for the flux vector and the stress tensor is discussed. This is performed by investigating the local balance laws and entropy inequality in the spatial configuration, within the single‐fluid approach. For constant parameters, our thermomechanical setting is of Jeffreys type with two delay time parameters, and hence, in the linear/linearized version, it is strictly related to phase‐lag theories within first‐order Taylor approximations.

A detailed spectral analysis is carried out for the linearized version of the model, with a scrutiny to some significant limit situations, enhancing the stabilizing effects of the dissipative and elastic mechanisms, also for retardation responses.

For polymeric liquids, rheological aspects, wave propagation properties and analogies with other theories with lagging are pointed out. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Under‐expression of α8 integrin aggravates experimental atherosclerosis
Authors: Menendez‐Castro Carlos , Cordasic Nada , Neureiter Daniel , Amann Kerstin , Marek Ines , Volkert Gudrun , Stintzing Sebastian , Jahn Angelika , Rascher Wolfgang , Hilgers Karl F , Hartner Andrea
Published: December 2014

Integrins play an important role in vascular biology. The α8 integrin chain attenuates smooth muscle cell migration but its functional role in the development of atherosclerosis is unclear. Therefore, we studied the contribution of α8 integrin to atherosclerosis and vascular remodelling. We hypothesized that α8 integrin expression is reduced in atherosclerotic lesions, and that its under‐expression leads to a more severe course of atherosclerosis. α8 Integrin was detected by immunohistochemistry and qPCR and α8 integrin‐deficient mice were used to induce two models of atherosclerotic lesions. First, ligation of the carotid artery led to medial thickening and neointima formation, which was quantified in carotid cross‐sections. Second, after crossing into ApoE‐deficient mice, the formation of advanced vascular lesions with atherosclerotic plaques was quantified in aortic en face preparations stained with Sudan IV. Parameters of renal physiology and histopathology were assessed: α8 integrin was detected in the media of human and murine vascular tissue and was down‐regulated in arteries with advanced atherosclerotic lesions. In α8 integrin‐deficient mice (α8−/−) as well as α8+/− and α8+/+ littermates, carotid artery ligation increased media:lumen ratios in all genotypes, with higher values in ligated α8−/− and α8+/− compared to ligated α8+/+ animals. Carotid artery ligation increased smooth muscle cell number in the media of α8+/+ mice and, more prominently, of α8−/− or α8+/− mice. On an ApoE−/− background, α8+/− and α8−/− mice developed more atherosclerotic plaques than α8+/+ mice. α8 Integrin expression was reduced in α8+/− animals. Renal damage with increased serum creatinine and glomerulosclerosis was detected in α8−/− mice only. Thus, under‐expression of α8 integrin aggravates vascular lesions, while a complete loss of α8 integrin results in reduced renal mass and additional renal disease in the presence of generalized atherosclerosis. Our data support the hypothesis that integrin α8β1 has a protective role in arterial remodelling and atherosclerosis. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Wild boar populations up, numbers of hunters down? A review of trends and implications for Europe
Authors: Massei Giovanna , Kindberg Jonas , Licoppe Alain , Gačić Dragan , Šprem Nikica , Kamler Jiří , Baubet Eric , Hohmann Ulf , Monaco Andrea , Ozoliņš Janis , Cellina Sandra , Podgórski Tomasz , Fonseca Carlos , Markov Nickolay , Pokorny Boštjan , Rosell Carme , Náhlik András
Published: December 2014

Across Europe, wild boar numbers increased in the 1960s–1970s but stabilised in the 1980s; recent evidence suggests that the numbers and impact of wild boar has grown steadily since the 1980s. As hunting is the main cause of mortality for this species, we reviewed wild boar hunting bags and hunter population trends in 18 European countries from 1982 to 2012. Hunting statistics and numbers of hunters were used as indicators of animal numbers and hunting pressure. The results confirmed that wild boar increased consistently throughout Europe, while the number of hunters remained relatively stable or declined in most countries. We conclude that recreational hunting is insufficient to limit wild boar population growth and that the relative impact of hunting on wild boar mortality had decreased. Other factors, such as mild winters, reforestation, intensification of crop production, supplementary feeding and compensatory population responses of wild boar to hunting pressure might also explain population growth. As populations continue to grow, more human–wild boar conflicts are expected unless this trend is reversed. New interdisciplinary approaches are urgently required to mitigate human–wild boar conflicts, which are otherwise destined to grow further. © 2014 Crown copyright. Pest Management Science © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Examination of defects and the seed's critical thickness in HVPE‐GaN growth on ammonothermal GaN seed
Authors: Sochacki Tomasz , Amilusik Mikolaj , Fijalkowski Michal , Iwinska Malgorzata , Lucznik Boleslaw , Weyher Jan L. , Kamler Grzegorz , Kucharski Robert , Grzegory Izabella , Bockowski Michal
Published: December 2014

It is demonstrated in this paper that 1.9‐mm‐thick gallium nitride grown by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE) on an ammonothermally grown GaN seed can reproduce the structural, in terms of defects, properties of the seed. The etch pit density and its correlation to the threading dislocation density in the ammonothermal GaN substrate and the HVPE‐GaN layer is presented and analyzed. However, it has recently been observed that for HVPE‐GaN thicker than 2 mm some additional defects are formed in the new grown material. Therefore, three HVPE growth runs were performed in the same experimental conditions, using three structurally identical ammonothermally grown GaN seeds of different thicknesses. The influence of the thickness of the seeds on the crystallization process and the properties of the HVPE‐GaN layers is shown and discussed.
Perceived Changes in Social Relations after Earthquake Trauma among Eastern Anatolian Women: Associated Factors and Mental Health Consequences
Authors: Sezgin A. Ufuk , Punamäki Raija‐Leena
Published: December 2014

In this study, we examined social relations in women exposed to earthquake trauma in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. We examined women's perceptions regarding the changes in their social relations within their neighbourhood, within their marriage and with their children; analysed the factors that were associated with these relations; and tested the hypothesis that an improvement in social relations will protect women's mental health from the negative impact of earthquake trauma.

Participants consisted of a random selection of 1253 women, who were interviewed regarding their psychosocial needs and mental health status 1 year after earthquake. They reported trauma‐related changes in their social relations; their mental health was evaluated using the Post Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale and Brief Symptom Inventory.

Our study demonstrated severe earthquake trauma was associated with deteriorated social relations, especially neighbourhood and marital relations. Deteriorated marital and child relations were associated with increased levels of psychiatric distress; deteriorated neighbourhood relations were associated with intrusive posttraumatic stress symptoms. Improved neighbourhood relations, but not family relations, were able to protect women's mental health from the negative impact of trauma. The results are discussed regarding their relevance to gender effects and the provision of relation‐specific and symptom‐specific disaster relief. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cardiac axis shift within the cardiac cycle of normal fetuses and fetuses with congenital heart defect
Authors: Zhao Y. , Abuhamad S. , Sinkovskaya E. , Mlynarczyk M. , Romary L. , Abuhamad A.
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To investigate changes in the cardiac axis (CAx) within the cardiac cycle of normal fetuses and fetuses with congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods

This was a retrospective case–control study in which stored videoclips of four‐chamber views from 527 prenatal ultrasound examinations performed at 18 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks of gestation were reviewed. Among the ultrasound scans included, 287 were of normal fetuses (controls) and 240 were of fetuses with CHD. In each case, the CAx was measured at end systole (just before the atrioventricular (AV) valve opened) and at end diastole (just before the AV valve closed). CAx measurements of fetuses with CHD were compared to those of controls.

Results

The mean CAx in the control group was 45.9 ± 8.5° at end systole and 38.3 ± 8.4° at end diastole (P < 0.001), resulting in an average difference of 7.6 ± 3.2°. The mean CAx in fetuses with CHD was 53.4 ± 17.8° at end systole and 47.5 ± 17.3° at end diastole (P < 0.001), resulting in an average difference of 5.9 ± 6.3°. However, in some forms of CHD, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and L‐transposition of the great arteries, the CAx was greater at end diastole than at end systole, with a difference of more than 5°. In 21.3% of control fetuses, there was a CAx shift within the cardiac cycle of ≥ 10°. Abnormal CAx measured at end systole was strongly associated with CHD.

Conclusions

Measurement of the CAx at end systole provides values that differ from those when measured at end diastole, in both normal fetuses and those with CHD. We recommend that the CAx be measured at end systole as a greater proportion of fetuses with CHD and fewer normal fetuses have an abnormal CAx at this stage compared to at end diastole. The occurrence of an abnormal CAx and the CAx shift within the fetal cardiac cycle depend on the type of CHD. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The development of poly(vinyl chloride) extrusions for a 14,000‐ton self‐supporting structure for the detection of neutrinos
Authors: Grudzinski James J. , Talaga Richard L. , Pla‐Dalmau Anna , Fagan James E. , Grozis Charles , Kephart Karen , Fischer Richard
Published: December 2014

The NOvA Neutrino Experiment has built a one‐of‐a‐kind self‐supporting plastic structure, potentially the largest ever built. The poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) structure serves as a neutrino detector and is composed of 28 individual blocks that measure 15.5 m (51 feet) high by 15.5 m (51 feet) wide by 2.1 m (7 feet) deep. The primary parts in the detector construction are 15.5‐m (51‐foot), 16‐cell PVC extrusions. These extrusions form the basis of the detector modules, which are laminated together in a crossed pattern to form the individual blocks and then filled with (mineral oil)–based liquid scintillator. The self‐supporting nature of the detector places important structural requirements on both the PVC formulation and the extrusions. Block assembly requirements impose narrow geometric tolerances. Because of the method of detecting neutrinos, the extrusions must possess exceptionally high reflectivity over a particular wavelength range. This requirement places additional restrictions on the components of the PVC formulation. Altogether, the PVC extrusions have to maintain important reflectivity characteristics, provide structural support to the detector, and meet relatively tight geometric requirements for assembly. In order to meet these constraints, a custom PVC formulation had to be created and extruded. We describe the purpose and requirements of the NOvA detector leading to the production of our unique PVC extrusion, summarize the research and development process, and discuss the lessons learned. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:368–376, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Recurrent Symptoms After Heller Myotomy for Achalasia: Evaluation and Treatment
Authors: Patti Marco G. , Allaix Marco E.
Published: December 2014

A laparoscopic Heller myotomy with partial fundoplication is considered today in most centers in the United States and abroad the treatment of choice for patients with esophageal achalasia. Even though the operation has initially a very high success rate, dysphagia eventually recurs in some patients. In these cases, it is important to perform a careful work‐up to identify the cause of the failure and to design a tailored treatment plan by either endoscopic means or revisional surgery. The best results are obtained by a team approach, in Centers where radiologists, gastroenterologists, and surgeons have experience in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Hibernomas of the Upper Extremity: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Cipriano Cara A. , Gray Robert R. L. , Fernandez John J.
Published: December 2014

Hibernomas are rare, benign tumors of brown adipose tissue. While they have been found in a variety of locations, they are rare in the upper extremity and not previously described in the hand. Diagnosis is most often made histologically, and treatment consists of surgical resection. We present an unusual case of hibernoma in the hand treated with marginal excision, resulting in good function, cosmesis, and no recurrence.
RECURSIVE CALCULATION OF RUIN PROBABILITIES AT OR BEFORE CLAIM INSTANTS FOR NON-IDENTICALLY DISTRIBUTED CLAIMS
Authors: Raducan Anisoara Maria , Vernic Raluca , Zbaganu Gheorghita
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we present recursive formulae for the ruin probability at or before a certain claim arrival instant for some particular continuous time risk model. The claim number process underlying this risk model is a renewal process with either Erlang or a mixture of exponentials inter-claim times (ICTs). The claim sizes (CSs) are independent and distributed in Erlang's family, i.e., they can have different parameters, which yields a non-homogeneous risk process. We present the corresponding recursive algorithm used to evaluate the above mentioned ruin probability and we illustrate it on several numerical examples in which we vary the model's parameters to assess the impact of the non-homogeneity on the resulting ruin probability.
Happiness and Virtue Ethics in Business
Authors: Sison Alejo José G.
Published: December 2014

Research on happiness has steadily increased over the last decade, with different streams of inquiry converging into what has come to be known as 'modern happiness studies' (MHS). In this book, Alejo José G. Sison draws on the latest research in economics and psychology as well as Aristotelian virtue ethics to show why happiness is the ultimate value proposition for business. Using non-technical language and a number of illustrative vignettes, he proposes ways for businesses to cultivate the virtues, providing advice on production and service enhancement, customer satisfaction, employee well-being and overall organizational wellness. This book will appeal to a wide readership, including graduate students and researchers in business ethics, moral philosophy and positive psychology.
Young people in drug treatment in Ireland: their views on substance use aetiology, trajectory, parents’ role in substance use and coping skills
Authors: Darker C. D. , Palmer D. , O’Reilly G. , Whiston L. , Smyth B.
Published: December 2014

Objectives

The aim of the current study was to gain insight into the process of initiation and progression to problematic use among young people who reach clinically significant levels of substance use requiring treatment.

Method

Twenty young people, aged between 15 and 19 years from two different drug treatment centres in Ireland were interviewed regarding their views on their pathway into substance use, their progress to more problematic use, their perception of their parents’ role, if any, in their trajectory and their typical coping style before treatment. Content analysis was conducted on the resulting narratives.

Results

The use of substances to cope with life stressors emerged as a prominent theme at initial and problematic stages of use. Multiple maladaptive coping approaches were reported. Both direct and indirect influences from parents in their substance use problem were cited. However, some participants reported that parents had no causal role in their substance use trajectory, in particular regarding mothers.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that substance misuse is a multi-determined problem and a number of intervention strategies are suggested to delay onset and related harms associated with adolescent substance use.
Workplace bullying: Propositions from Heider’s balance theory
Authors: Standen Peter , Paull Megan , Omari Maryam
Published: December 2014

Individuals who allege bullying bring their own version of events to any investigation, and regardless of the allegations made, there is always more than one account of what took place. Perception influences the interpretations placed on our actions and that of others, especially in terms of whether these constitute bullying in the context in which they are observed. Since investigators, and researchers, are heavily reliant on self-reports, it is important to understand how subjectivities affect individual interpretation and responses. Based on Heider’s Balance Theory, this conceptual article presents a series of propositions relating to subjective factors in perceiving an act as bullying. Research which explores these factors will facilitate better understanding of allegations of bullying. Potential implications for research, awareness raising, education and training, investigation and interpretation of allegations of workplace bullying are advanced.
Climate Change and Grapevines: A Simulation Study for the Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Ferrise Roberto , Trombi Giacomo , Moriondo Marco , Bindi Marco
Published: December 2014

The present paper aims to assess the impacts of climate change on grapevine cultivation in the Mediterranean basin by using three regional climatic models (RCMs), which were designed specifically for high-resolution simulation of climate in that region. RCM outputs were used to feed a grapevine growth simulation model, which was developed, tested, and calibrated for the Sangiovese variety. The study area was identified by implementing a bioclimatic classification of the regions based on the Winkler Index (ranging from 1,700 to 1,900 thermal units). The results indicated that the projected increasing temperatures will result in a general acceleration and shortening of the phenological stages compared to the present period. Accordingly, the reduction in time for biomass accumulation negatively affected the final yield. Few exceptions were found in the northern and central regions of the study area (southern France and western Balkans) for which changes in climatic conditions were not limiting and the crop benefited from the enhanced atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. (JEL Classifications: Q100, Q540)
Blackface Abolition and the New Slave Narrative
Authors: Murphy Laura T.
Published: December 2014

Since the 1990s, survivors of forced labor have been authoring first-person narratives that consciously and unconsciously reiterate the tropes and conventions of the nineteenth-century American slave narrative. These “new slave narratives” typically conform to the generic tendencies of the traditional slave narratives and serve similar activist purposes. Some of the most popular of the narratives have taken a particular political turn in the post-9/11 context, however, as neoliberal political agendas and anti-Muslim sentiments come to dominate the form and content of many of the African narratives that have been produced. This paper identifies a “blackface abolitionist” trend, in which the first-person testimonies of formerly enslaved Africans is co-opted by some politically motivated white American abolitionists to play a black masquerade, in which they adorn themselves with the suffering of enslaved Africans to thinly veil the self-exonerating and self-defensive crusade politics that motivate their engagement in anti-slavery work.
LITHIC POETICS: POSIDIPPUS AND HIS STONES
Authors: Elsner Jaś
Published: December 2014

The 20 poems collected together as thelithikaof Posidippus, the first surviving poems on a papyrus roll only published in 2001 and dating from the third century BCE, offer a range of spectacular new evidence for a series of issues in Hellenistic history, art and literature. The standard view is that Posidippus was probably author of all the epigrams in the roll known as P. Mil. Vogl. VIII 309, although this has been contested and by no means need certainly be the case. For my purposes here, I do assume that the interconnected poetics of the poems in thelithikado imply a single poet who is quite likely to be Posidippus, since poem 15—independently anthologised in antiquity and known through a manuscript tradition—was attributed to Posidippus in the twelfth century by the Byzantine poet and grammarian John Tzetzes. Historically speaking, the fact that so many of these poems focus on gems from the east gives remarkable insight into the interchange between Hellenistic and Achaemenid cultures: specifically, they signal the prestige of treasures from the east in the Hellenistic courts. In the history of collections, they represent a very early example of exoticism in elite collecting, of the accumulation of valuables in what we may assume was a royal and non-sacredSchatzkammer, of the need for an aesthetic response (in this case through short poems) to ‘label’ and valorise the precious items in the collection. In the history of ancientWissenschaft, the poems’ use of late Classical gem-lore (exemplified in texts like theOn Stonesof Theophrastus) offers a vivid instance of the ways theoretical knowledge circulated at least in elite contexts around the royal circle.
Holy Rollers: Monasteries, Lamas, and the Unseen Transport of Chinese–Russian Trade, 1850–1911
Authors: Dear Devon
Published: December 2014

This article examines the roles of Mongolian monasteries and lamas in transportation between the Qing Chinese (1636–1911) and Russian Romanov (1613–1917) empires during the latter half of the nineteenth century. A series of treaties between 1858 and 1882 granted Russian subjects the right to trade in Mongolian territories under Qing sovereignty, and the resultant increase of Russian trade across Mongolia provided new wage-earning opportunities. Larger monasteries, with their access to pack animals and laborers, acted as brokers, while for poorer lamas haulage was one of the few sources of paid labor available in Mongolian territories, making working in transportation a strategy of survival for many Mongolian lamas. Mongolian porters provide a window on to how the broad processes of nineteenth-century imperialism in the Qing empire affected labor on the Sino–Russian frontier, and on to how imperialism was experienced in one of the most remote corners of the Qing empire.
Constructing civilisations: Embedding and reproducing the ‘Muslim world’ in American foreign policy practices and institutions since 9/11
Authors: BETTIZA GREGORIO
Published: December 2014

Since 11 September 2001, the ‘Muslim world’ has become a novel religio-culturally defined civilisational frame of reference around which American foreign policy has been partly reoriented and reorganised. In parallel, the ‘Muslim world’, is increasingly becoming, at this historical juncture, a civilisational social fact in international politics by being progressively embedded in, and enacted onto the world by, American foreign policy discourses, institutions, practices, and processes of self-other recognition. This article theoretically understands and explains the causes and consequences of these changes through an engagement with the emerging post-essentialist civilisational analysis turn in International Relations (IR). In particular, the article furthers a constructivist civilisational politics approach that is theoretically, empirically, and methodologically oriented towards recovering and explaining how actors are interpreting, constructing, and reproducing – in this case through particular American foreign policy changes – an international society where intra- and inter-civilisational relations ‘matter’.
Incomes and Hardship in Early Transitions to Retirement
Authors: Milligan Kevin
Published: December 2014

Canada et d'autres pays sont en train de changer l'âge d'admissibilité de pension public. Le bien-être de ces personnes qui quittent le marché du travail avant d'atteindre l'âge d'éligibilité de retraite est une préoccupation politique. Grâce à l'utilisation des données de l'Enquête sur la dynamique du travail et du revenu (EDTR), cette étude porte sur les pré-retraites par (a) l'examination des revenus de ceux qui ne travaillent pas à un âge proche de la retraite, et (b) examinant comment ces Canadiens ont evité des difficultés économiques. Il a constaté que près des trois quarts de ceux qui ne travaillent pas ont été en mesure d'éviter une situation de faible revenu. Le plus important pour éviter les revenus bas sont d'autres sources de revenus de la famille, une bonne santé, et les revenus de pensions liées à l'emploi.
Solid Energy: a Report on the 18th International Symposium on the Reactivity of Solids
Authors: Levin O. , Kazakov S. , Antipov E.
Published: December 2014

The 18th International Symposium on the Reactivity of Solids (June 9–13, 2014 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia) brought together 137 researches from 18 countries, from crystallographers to electrochemists, to discuss the new materials design, advanced methods of preparation and characterization, mechanisms of reactions involving solids, structure–property relations, and new horizons of the materials application. What emerged from the meeting was an understanding that even if up-to-date solid state chemistry cannot be limited to organic, inorganic, or physical one, different groups of researches can understand each other and find a way for collaboration. More than half of the talks were devoted to energy production and storage problems, where the researcher should take into account not only just the chemistry of solid material, but also its crystalline structure, surface morphology, and even the bath liquid phase and interface properties. It means that only the interdisciplinary partnership can lead to outstanding results.
Pre-meiotic transformation of germplasm-related structures during male gamete differentiation in Xenopus laevis
Authors: Reunov Arkadiy A. , Reunova Yulia A.
Published: December 2014

To highlight the ultrastructural features of transformation occurring with germplasm-related structures (GPRS), the spermatogenic cells of Xenopus laevis were studied by transmission electron microscopy and quantitative analysis. It was determined that in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, the compact germinal granules underwent fragmentation into particles comparable with inter-mitochondrial cement (IMC). Fragments of IMC agglutinated some cell mitochondria and resulted in the creation of mitochondrial clusters. Clustered mitochondria responded with loss of their membranes that occurred by the twisting of membranous protrusions around themselves until multi-layered membranes were formed. The mitochondrial affinity of multi-layered membranes was proven by an immunopositive test for mitochondrial dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase. As a consequence of mitochondrial membrane twisting, the naked mitochondrial cores appeared and presumably underwent dispersion, which is the terminal stage of GPRS transformation. As no GPRS were observed in spermatids and sperm, it was assumed that these structures are functionally assigned to early stages of meiotic differentiation.
Metatranscriptomics of N2-fixing cyanobacteria in the Amazon River plume
Authors: Hilton Jason A , Satinsky Brandon M , Doherty Mary , Zielinski Brian , Zehr Jonathan P
Published: December 2014

Biological N2 fixation is an important nitrogen source for surface ocean microbial communities. However, nearly all information on the diversity and gene expression of organisms responsible for oceanic N2 fixation in the environment has come from targeted approaches that assay only a small number of genes and organisms. Using genomes of diazotrophic cyanobacteria to extract reads from extensive meta-genomic and -transcriptomic libraries, we examined diazotroph diversity and gene expression from the Amazon River plume, an area characterized by salinity and nutrient gradients. Diazotroph genome and transcript sequences were most abundant in the transitional waters compared with lower salinity or oceanic water masses. We were able to distinguish two genetically divergent phylotypes within the Hemiaulus-associated Richelia sequences, which were the most abundant diazotroph sequences in the data set. Photosystem (PS)-II transcripts in Richelia populations were much less abundant than those in Trichodesmium, and transcripts from several Richelia PS-II genes were absent, indicating a prominent role for cyclic electron transport in Richelia. In addition, there were several abundant regulatory transcripts, including one that targets a gene involved in PS-I cyclic electron transport in Richelia. High sequence coverage of the Richelia transcripts, as well as those from Trichodesmium populations, allowed us to identify expressed regions of the genomes that had been overlooked by genome annotations. High-coverage genomic and transcription analysis enabled the characterization of distinct phylotypes within diazotrophic populations, revealed a distinction in a core process between dominant populations and provided evidence for a prominent role for noncoding RNAs in microbial communities.
Identification of tetrahydrocarbazoles as novel multifactorial drug candidates for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Honarnejad K , Daschner A , Gehring A P , Szybinska A , Giese A , Kuznicki J , Bracher F , Herms J
Published: December 2014

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder and the most frequent cause of dementia. To date, there are only a few approved drugs for AD, which show little or no effect on disease progression. Impaired intracellular calcium homeostasis is believed to occur early in the cascade of events leading to AD. Here, we examined the possibility of normalizing the disrupted calcium homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) store as an innovative approach for AD drug discovery. High-throughput screening of a small-molecule compound library led to the identification of tetrahydrocarbazoles, a novel multifactorial class of compounds that can normalize the impaired ER calcium homeostasis. We found that the tetrahydrocarbazole lead structure, first, dampens the enhanced calcium release from ER in HEK293 cells expressing familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD)-linked presenilin 1 mutations. Second, the lead structure also improves mitochondrial function, measured by increased mitochondrial membrane potential. Third, the same lead structure also attenuates the production of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides by decreasing the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase, without notably affecting α- and γ-secretase cleavage activities. Considering the beneficial effects of tetrahydrocarbazoles addressing three key pathological aspects of AD, these compounds hold promise for the development of potentially effective AD drug candidates.
Raman microspectroscopy of human aortic valves: investigation of the local and global biochemical changes associated with calcification in aortic stenosis
Authors: Czamara Krzysztof , Natorska Joanna , Kapusta Przemysław , Baranska Malgorzata , Kaczor Agnieszka
Published: December 2014

Raman microspectroscopy was applied to characterize the local and global biochemical changes associated with calcification in human stenotic aortic valves.
Quantitative detection of eryptosis in human erythrocytes using tunable resistive pulse sensing and annexin-V-beads
Authors: Cheung Anthony K. L. , Yang Alice K. L. , Ngai Brandon H. , Yu Samuel S. C. , Gao M. , Lau P. M. , Kong S. K.
Published: December 2014

A novel assay using the quantitative tunable resistive pulse sensing technique to detect eryptosis in human RBCs in a non-optical manner.
Linear–cyclic polymer structural transformation and its reversible control using a rational rotaxane strategy
Authors: Ogawa Takahiro , Usuki Naoya , Nakazono Kazuko , Koyama Yasuhito , Takata Toshikazu
Published: December 2014

A new strategy for “polymer structural transformation” was developed. One [1]rotaxane unit was introduced at the chain end of a linear polymer and the wheel component position was defined by controlling the attractive interaction between the polymer ends. Thus, the reversible linear–cyclic structural transformation was demonstrated.
Al20+does melt, albeit above the bulk melting temperature of aluminium
Authors: Ojha Udbhav , Steenbergen Krista G. , Gaston Nicola
Published: December 2014

Employing first principles parallel tempering molecular dynamics in the microcanonical ensemble, we report the presence of a clear solid–liquid-like melting transition in Al20+clusters, not found in experiments.
Spinel compounds as multivalent battery cathodes: a systematic evaluation based on ab initio calculations
Authors: Liu Miao , Rong Ziqin , Malik Rahul , Canepa Pieremanuele , Jain Anubhav , Ceder Gerbrand , Persson Kristin A.
Published: December 2014

A matrix of spinel structures are systematically calculated and evaluated for improved multivalent battery cathode properties.
A multi-constituent site blocking model for nanoparticle and stabilizing agent transport in porous media
Authors: Becker Matthew D. , Wang Yonggang , Pennell Kurt D. , Abriola Linda M.
Published: December 2014

A multi-constituent kinetic model is developed that can describe competitive transport and retention of nanoparticles and stabilizing co-polymer.
Lab on a chip for continuous-flow magnetic cell separation
Authors: Hejazian Majid , Li Weihua , Nguyen Nam-Trung
Published: December 2014

We review the fundamental physics in continuous-flow magnetic cell separation and identify the optimisation parameters of LOC devices.
Coloured chemical image-based models for the prediction of soil sorption of herbicides
Authors: Freitas Mirlaine R. , Barigye Stephen J. , Freitas Matheus P.
Published: December 2014

Herbicides with high soil sorption profiles constitute important organic pollutants leading to detrimental environmental effects, particularly due to prolonged use.
Structure and bonding in Au(i) chloride species: a critical examination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) data
Authors: Chang Sin-Yuen , Uehara Akihiro , Booth Samuel G. , Ignatyev Konstantin , Mosselmans J. Frederick W. , Dryfe Robert A. W. , Schroeder Sven L. M.
Published: December 2014

We determined a reliable Au(i) chloride X-ray absorption spectrum from dichlorobenzene solutions containing varying amounts of [AuCl2]−and [AuCl3OH]−.
Phenothiazine and pyridine-N-oxide-based AIE-active triazoles: synthesis, morphology and photophysical properties
Authors: Belei Dalila , Dumea Carmen , Bicu Elena , Marin Luminita
Published: December 2014

AIE triazoles based on phenothiazine and pyridine-N-oxide units provided micro- and nano-crystals with an emission enhancement of 233-fold higher.
Box–Behnken designed adsorption based elution – unique separation process for commercially important acetyl shikonin from Arnebia nobilis
Authors: Subramaniam Shankar , Palanisamy Anbumathi , Sivasubramanian Aravind
Published: December 2014

Box–Behnken optimized, adsorption based robust separation technique for acetyl shikonin (AS), a commercially important compound from industrial crop Arnebia nobilis.
Bacteria microarrays as sensitive tools for exploring pathogen surface epitopes and recognition by host receptors
Authors: Campanero-Rhodes María Asunción , Llobet Enrique , Bengoechea José Antonio , Solís Dolores
Published: December 2014

We have developed a readily adaptable microarray technology for high-throughput screening of pathogen-binding biomolecules and inhibitors of pathogen–counter-receptor interactions, based on the generation of bacteria microarrays.
Photocatalytic H2 production under visible-light irradiation based on covalent attachment of manganese phthalocyanine to graphene
Authors: Wang Dandan , Huang Jie , Li Xia , Yang Ping , Du Yukou , Goh Cynthia M. , Lu Cheng
Published: December 2014

In this paper, a manganese phthalocyanine (MnPc) covalently functionalized graphene nanohybrid (MnPcG) has been successfully synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, and used as a photocatalyst after modifying it with platinum nanoparticles via photodeposition.
High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) xerogels for enhanced oil spill recovery
Authors: Wu Yuanpeng , Zhang Tao , Xu Zhiguang , Guo Qipeng
Published: December 2014

High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) xerogels based on charge-driven assembled polymer HIPE organogels were prepared by freeze-drying and examined as oil absorbents for oil spill recovery.
Ambipolar transistor properties of 2,2′-binaphthosemiquinones
Authors: Higashino Toshiki , Kumeta Shohei , Tamura Sumika , Ando Yoshio , Ohmori Ken , Suzuki Keisuke , Mori Takehiko
Published: December 2014

Binaphthosemiquinones having characteristic blue colors owing to the small energy gaps are proved to show ambipolar transistor properties.
FoxO1 negatively regulates leptin-induced POMC transcription through its direct interaction with STAT3
Authors: Ma Wei , Fuentes Gloria , Shi Xiaohe , Verma Chandra , Radda George K. , Han Weiping
Published: December 2014

FoxO1, which is up-regulated during early stages of diet-induced leptin resistance, directly interacts with STAT3 and prevents STAT3 from binding to specificity protein 1 (SP1)–pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) promoter complex, and thereby inhibits STAT3-mediated regulation of POMC transcription. FoxO1 also binds directly to the POMC promoter and negatively regulates its transcription. The present study aims to understand the relative contribution of the two interactions in regulating POMC expression. We studied the structural requirement of FoxO1 for its interaction with STAT3 and POMC promoter, and tested the inhibitory action of FoxO1 mutants by using biochemical assays, molecular biology and computer modelling. FoxO1 mutant with deletion of residues Ala137–Leu160 failed to bind to STAT3 or inhibit STAT3-mediated POMC activation, although its binding to the POMC promoter was unaffected. Further analysis mapped Gly140–Leu160 to be critical for STAT3 binding. The identified region Gly140–Leu160 was conserved among mammalian FoxO1 proteins, and showed a high degree of sequence identity with FoxO3, but not FoxO4. Consistently, FoxO3 could interact with STAT3 and inhibit POMC promoter activity, whereas FoxO4 could not bind to STAT3 or affect POMC promoter activity. We further identified that five residues (Gln145, Arg147, Lys148, Arg153 and Arg154) in FoxO1 were necessary in FoxO1–STAT3 interaction, and mutation of these residues abolished its interaction with STAT3 and inhibition of POMC promoter activity. Finally, a FoxO1–STAT3 interaction interface model generated by computational docking simulations confirmed that the identified residues of FoxO1 were in close proximity to STAT3. These results show that FoxO1 inhibits STAT3-mediated leptin signalling through direct interaction with STAT3.