bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
2016/50 Employment status in discrimination claims: absence of obligations between assignments can be relevant (UK)
Authors: McEvoy Tom
Published: December 2016

2016/50 Employment status in discrimination claims: absence of obligations between assignments can be relevant (UK)

The Court of Appeal has given guidance on how to determine employment status in discrimination cases where the claimant is engaged on a case-by-case basis. The judgment confirms that the lack of mutual obligations between the putative employer and employee between assignments can be a relevant factor. If an individual is engaged on an assignment-by-assignment basis, with the freedom to turn down work when it is offered, this may imply a lack of subordination during the periods of work. The absence of an overarching ‘umbrella’ contract between assignments may therefore be relevant when determining whether an individual is protected by discrimination law.
2016/52 Pregnancy and job offers (NL)
Authors: van Leeuwen Anton
Published: December 2016

2016/52 Pregnancy and job offers (NL)

A discriminatory refusal to offer an employee a new employment contract upon expiry of a fixed term contract is not discriminatory dismissal but a discriminatory refusal to give access to employment. The employer is liable for emotional damages.
Gustavo Bolívar: el hombre de las narcotelenovelas
Authors: Renjel Encinas Daniela
Published: December 2016

El presente artículo reseñará la principal obra del creador de la narcotelenovela en Colombia, Gustavo Bolívar, quien desde su primer trabajo para la televisión sobre el tema del narcotráfico, Sin tetas no hay paraíso, no dejó de revolucionar el género a través de la escritura de sus siguientes obras: Tres Caínes y cada una de las temporadas de El capo.
Balas, narcotráfico y "corridos prohibidos": La banda sonora del conflicto colombiano
Authors: Almonacid Buitrago Julián Alveiro
Published: December 2016

El corrido es una expresión musical, narrativa y transnacional; con múltiples usos y funciones, como representar a la sociedad, fortalecer memorias y crear sentido en zonas con antecedentes de frontera, conflicto y contrabando. En el presente artículo, planteo un repaso sociohistórico sobre los corridos en Colombia, que introduce a las funciones sociales y el transnacionalismo en la música, apoyado con fuentes primarias y secundarias. A partir de ese propósito, inicio por contextualizar las migraciones para centrarme en el repertorio de “corridos prohibidos”: marca discográfica vigente desde el año 1997, la cual floreció atraída por la narcocultura en la nación suramericana.
Del fascinante fascismo a la fascinante violencia: Psico/bio/necro/política y mercado gore
Authors: Valencia Sayak , Sepúlveda Katia
Published: December 2016

En este trabajo nos proponemos hacer un análisis de lo que Susan Sontag entendía como fascinante fascismo y la manera en la cual la mass media y el Big Data le dan continuidad a dicha ideología a través de regímenes visuales violentos que aquí denominamos como la fascinante violencia, esto con el fin de aportar algunas claves para pensar en la rentabilización y consumo de la violencia visual en el México contemporáneo. Proponemos, que el régimen necro-escópico de la narcocultura es también un régimen económico que alimenta nichos importantes del mercado global, y que asociado al imaginario cultural g-local, producido por las industrias culturales, recupera la estetización de  la violencia ultra-especializada (heredada del colonialismo y del fascismo) y la re-combina con técnicas de gestión de la subjetividad a través de los regímenes psico/necro/biopolíticos.
Pathology of Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Patel Hershel R. , Margo Curtis E.
Published: December 2016

Ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) describes a state of hypoxic injury of the optic nerve. Clinically, ION is divided into anterior and posterior forms defined by the presence or absence of optic disc swelling, respectively. It is further classified as arteritic when secondary to vasculitis, and nonarteritic when not. The site of vascular occlusion for anterior ION from giant cell arteritis is the short posterior ciliary arteries, but mechanical vascular obstruction does not play a role in most nonarteritic cases. Histologically, ION is characterized by axon and glial necrosis, edema, and a sparse mononuclear response. Like other ischemic injuries, the morphologic alternations in the nerve are time dependent. A variant of ION called cavernous degeneration (of Schnabel) features large cystic spaces filled with mucin. Several conditions can histologically mimic cavernous degeneration of the optic nerve. The scarcity of cases of ION examined histologically has contributed to an incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis.
Beicų įtaka žieminių kviečių pašaknio puviniams ir pavasariniam pelėsiui
Authors: Jonavičienė Akvilė
Published: December 2016

Fungicidinių beicų tyrimai atlikti 2013–2016 m. Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filiale, Žemdirbystės institute. Tyrimais siekta nustatyti fungicidinių beicų veiksmingumą nuo daigų pašaknio puvinių ir pavasarinio pelėsio ‘Ada’ veislės žieminiuose kviečiuose. Sėjos metų meteorologinės sąlygos turėjo esminės įtakos žieminių kviečių daigų užsikrėtimui pašaknio puviniais. Pasėjus beicuotą sėklą ligos indeksas 2013 m. ant žieminių kviečių daigų apatinės stiebo dalies, augalams esant 2 lapelių tarpsnyje (BBCH 12), sumažėjo 27,3–85,3 %, 2014 – 13,6–39,3 %, o 2015 – 33,3–78,0 %. Pavasarį vegetacijai atsinaujinus pašaknio puvinių intensyvumas visais tyrimų metais buvo didelis: 2014 m. siekė 58,89 %, 2015 m. – 45,00 % ir 2016 m. – 50,38 %. Nuo pašaknio puvinių pavasarį didesniu veiksmingumu pasižymėjo beicai Chambel 6 FS ir Maxim 025 FS. Pavasarinis pelėsis žieminius kviečius pažeidė 2015 ir 2016 m. pavasariais, tačiau lapų pažeidimas neviršijo 30 %, o ligos intensyvumas tebuvo 0,48 %. Didesniu veiksmingumu pavasariniam pelėsiui išsiskyrė beicai Bariton® Ultra ir Maxim 025 FS.
Variability of valuable economic traits in M1 and M2 sunflower generations influenced by dimethyl sulfate and γ-rays
Authors: Vasko Victoria , Kyrychenko Victor
Published: December 2016

The development of effective mutation breeding methods and techniques for the modification of radiation and chemical injuries in plants is of vital importance. The effectiveness of induced mutagenesis is growing; therefore, our investigations were focused on the effects of mutagens on the growth and development of mutant generations and the variability of economic signs in M1 and M2 sunflower generations under the influence of dimethyl sulfate (DMS) and γ-rays. The aim of our research was to expand the genetic variability of important agronomic traits in M1 and M2 sunflower; identification of valuable mutants with altered characteristics in the next generations. Thus, in M3 of lines Kh201V and Kh06-135V, we selected short mutants (122 cm vs 139 cm in the control) with lemon coloration of petals and multi-leafed mutants (201 leaves vs 23 in the control) with a modified shape and size of calathidium.
Didelių ūkių žemės valdų optimizavimas
Authors: Aleknavičius Audrius , Aleknavičius Marius , Aleknavičius Pranas
Published: December 2016

Straipsnyje nagrinėjamas žemės reformos laikotarpiu susikūrusių ūkių naudojamos žemės laukų išsidėstymo racionalumas. Pagrindinis tyrimų tikslas – išanalizuoti stambiųjų ūkių žemės valdų išsidėstymą ir nustatyti jų optimizavimo galimybes. Tyrimams pasirinktuose Jonavos rajono savivaldybės ūkiuose nustatyta, kad vidutinis atskirai dirbamo lauko plotas 14,9  ha, vidutinis atstumas iš ūkinės sodybos į laukus  –  4,35  km, žemės valdos sąskaidos koeficiento K2 reikšmės – nuo 2,64 iki 8,81 (vidutiniškai 3,62). Siekiant padidinti ūkių žemės valdų kompaktiškumą, siūloma rengti žemėtvarkos schemas, kuriose būtų projektuojamos žemės valdų perspektyvinės ribos, ir įstatymu įteisinti ūkio savininkui pirmumo teise įsigyti nuosavybėn šiose ribose esančius parduodamos žemės sklypus. Straipsnyje pateikiami ūkių žemės valdų ribų pertvarkymo pavyzdžiai ir skaičiavimai, pagrindžiantys galimą ūkių gamybos išlaidų ekonomiją sumažinus vidutinius atstumus į laukus. Parengtos metodinės rekomendacijos ūkių žemės valdų perspektyvinių ribų projektavimui šiems tikslams rengiamose žemėtvarkos schemose.
Harbouring public good mutants within a pathogen population can increase both fitness and virulence
Authors: Lindsay Richard J , Kershaw Michael J , Pawlowska Bogna J , Talbot Nicholas J , Gudelj Ivana
Published: December 2016

Existing theory, empirical, clinical and field research all predict that reducing the virulence of individuals within a pathogen population will reduce the overall virulence, rendering disease less severe. Here, we show that this seemingly successful disease management strategy can fail with devastating consequences for infected hosts. We deploy cooperation theory and a novel synthetic system involving the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. In vivo infections of rice demonstrate that M. oryzae virulence is enhanced, quite paradoxically, when a public good mutant is present in a population of high-virulence pathogens. We reason that during infection, the fungus engages in multiple cooperative acts to exploit host resources. We establish a multi-trait cooperation model which suggests that the observed failure of the virulence reduction strategy is caused by the interference between different social traits. Multi-trait cooperative interactions are widespread, so we caution against the indiscriminant application of anti-virulence therapy as a disease-management strategy.
1015 cm−3 eV−1 level detection of density of states of a p-type polymer by hν-dependent high-sensitivity ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy
Authors: Sato Tomoya , Kinjo Hiroumi , Yamazaki Junki , Ishii Hisao
Published: December 2016

We propose a method, called hν-dependent high-sensitivity ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, to observe the density of states (DOS) in a very wide range from HOMO to extremely weak gap states (1022 to 1015 cm−3 eV−1 in density of states). The method was applied to a p-type semiconducting polymer. A series of spectra for hν = 4.4–7.7 eV were recorded, and the DOS was obtained by overlapping the spectral part with a similar line shape between adjacent photon energy spectra to eliminate the photon energy dependence of the photoionization cross section. This method can be applied to both organic and inorganic materials, providing useful information about the DOS of functional materials.
Growth mechanisms of zinc oxide and zinc sulfide films by mist chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Uno Kazuyuki , Yamasaki Yuichiro , Tanaka Ichiro
Published: December 2016

The growth mechanisms of zinc oxide and zinc sulfide films by mist chemical vapor deposition (mist-CVD) were experimentally investigated from the viewpoint of mist behaviors and chemical reactions. The proper growth model, either vaporization or the Leidenfrost model, was studied by supplying two kinds of mists with different kinds of sources, such as H2
16O and H2
18O for ZnO growth and ZnCl2 and thiourea for ZnS growth. Moreover, the origin of the oxygen atoms of ZnO was investigated using a quantitative analysis. The role of chloro complex of zinc in the growth of ZnS from aqueous solutions was also examined by systematic studies.
Tube Shunts in Advanced Angle Closure Glaucoma
Authors: Singh Kirti , Jain Divya , Sachdev Manav , Grover Sumit
Published: December 2016

Purpose:

To evaluate efficacy and safety of tube shunts in advanced angle closure glaucoma Vs. Standard Trabeculectomy.

Method:

Fifteen cases of end stage angle closure glaucoma with visual acuity ranging from hand movements only to perception of light were implanted with pediatric model Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV). The efficacy and complications (if any) of the implant group were evaluated in comparison to a control group of fifteen patients of similar profile with angle closure glaucoma subjected to trabeculectomy with releasable sutures. Both group cases were followed up over a 12 month period.

Results:

Tube shunts were as effective as trabeculectomy in the early postoperative period of 4 months with increased complications like corneal edema and mild hyphema. Over a 1 year follow up tube related complications like tube erosion and retraction were noted with reduced efficacy of the shunt versus trabeculectomy at complete success of 66% and 80 % respectively. The tube shunt surgery was performed with three modifications from conventional method due to the angle closure element.

Conclusions:

Tube implants should not be attempted as primary surgical means in chronic angle closure glaucoma without considering certain surgical modifications and precautions. Standard Trabeculectomy remains gold standard primary procedure in this subtype of glaucoma.
IRE1α nucleotide sequence cleavage specificity in the unfolded protein response
Authors: Poothong Juthakorn , Sopha Pattarawut , Kaufman Randal J. , Tirasophon Witoon
Published: December 2016

Inositol‐requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is a conserved sensor of the unfolded protein response that has protein kinase and endoribonuclease (RNase) enzymatic activities and thereby initiates HAC1/XBP1 splicing. Previous studies demonstrated that human IRE1α (hIRE1α) does not cleave Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAC1 mRNA. Using an in vitro cleavage assay, we show that adenine to cytosine nucleotide substitution at the +1 position in the 3′ splice site of HAC1 RNA is required for specific cleavage by hIRE1α. A similar restricted nucleotide specificity in the RNA substrate was observed for XBP1 splicing in vivo. Together these findings underscore the essential role of cytosine nucleotide at +1 in the 3′ splice site for determining cleavage specificity of hIRE1α.
FGF11 induced by hypoxia interacts with HIF‐1α and enhances its stability
Authors: Lee Kyeong Won , Yim Hyung‐Soon , Shin Jihye , Lee Cheolju , Lee Jung‐Hyun , Jeong Jae‐Yeon
Published: December 2016

Fibroblast growth factor 11 (FGF11) is an intracellular FGF. Although induction of FGF11 by hypoxia has been observed in several cell types, the molecular function of FGF11 is not clearly understood yet. Here, we investigated the role of FGF11 under hypoxia. We identified hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) as an interacting protein of FGF11 using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. FGF11 knockdown decreased HIF‐1α protein, while FGF11 overexpression increased it, without affecting HIF‐1α mRNA. Protein stability test and ubiquitination assay showed that FGF11 increased HIF‐1α stability by acting upstream of proteasomal degradation. Altogether, these results suggest a cross‐regulation between HIF‐1α and FGF11, through which hypoxia‐induced FGF11 reinforces hypoxia responses by enhancing the stability of HIF‐1α.
Coupled topographic and vegetation patterns in coastal dunes: Remote sensing observations and ecomorphodynamic implications
Authors: Yousefi Lalimi F. , Silvestri S. , Moore L. J. , Marani M.
Published: December 2016

Vegetation plays a key role in stabilizing coastal dunes and barrier islands by mediating sand transport, deposition, and erosion. Dune topography, in turn, affects vegetation growth, by determining local environmental conditions. However, our understanding of vegetation and dune topography as coupled and spatially extensive dynamical systems is limited. Here we develop and use remote sensing analyses to quantitatively characterize coastal dune ecotopographic patterns by simultaneously identifying the spatial distribution of topographic elevation and vegetation biomass. Lidar‐derived leaf area index and hyperspectral‐derived normalized difference vegetation index patterns yield vegetation distributions at the whole‐system scale which are in agreement with each other and with field observations. Lidar‐derived concurrent quantifications of biomass and topography show that plants more favorably develop on the landward side of the foredune crest and that the foredune crestline marks the position of an ecotone, which is interpreted as the result of a sheltering effect sharply changing local environmental conditions. We conclude that the position of the foredune crestline is a chief ecomorphodynamic feature resulting from the two‐way interaction between vegetation and topography.
Effects of initial aquifer conditions on economic benefits from groundwater conservation
Authors: Foster T. , Brozović N. , Butler A. P.
Published: December 2016

Worldwide, there is growing recognition of the need to reduce agricultural groundwater use in response to rapid rates of aquifer depletion. To date, however, few studies have evaluated how benefits of conservation vary along an aquifer's depletion pathway. To address this question, we develop an integrated modeling framework that couples an agro‐economic model of farmers' field‐level irrigation decision‐making with a borehole‐scale groundwater flow model. Unique to this framework is the explicit consideration of the dynamic reductions in well yields that occur as an aquifer is depleted, and how these changes in intraseasonal groundwater supply affect farmers' ability to manage production risks caused by climate variability and, in particular, drought. For an illustrative case study in the High Plains region of the U.S., we apply our model to analyze the value of groundwater conservation activities for different initial aquifer conditions. Our results demonstrate that there is a range of initial conditions for which reducing pumping will have long‐term economic benefits for farmers by slowing reductions in well yields and prolonging the usable lifetime of an aquifer for high‐value irrigated agriculture. In contrast, restrictions on pumping that are applied too early or too late will provide limited welfare benefits. We suggest, therefore, that there are “windows of opportunity” to implement groundwater conservation, which will depend on complex feedbacks between local hydrology, climate, crop growth, and economics.
Optimal adaptation to extreme rainfalls in current and future climate
Authors: Rosbjerg Dan
Published: December 2016

More intense and frequent rainfalls have increased the number of urban flooding events in recent years, prompting adaptation efforts. Economic optimization is considered an efficient tool to decide on the design level for adaptation. The costs associated with a flooding to the T‐year level and the annual capital and operational costs of adapting to this level are described with log‐linear relations. The total flooding costs are developed as the expected annual damage of flooding above the T‐year level plus the annual capital and operational costs for ensuring no flooding below the T‐year level. The value of the return period T that corresponds to the minimum of the sum of these costs will then be the optimal adaptation level. The change in climate, however, is expected to continue in the next century, which calls for expansion of the above model. The change can be expressed in terms of a climate factor (the ratio between the future and the current design level) which is assumed to increase in time. This implies increasing costs of flooding in the future for many places in the world. The optimal adaptation level is found for immediate as well as for delayed adaptation. In these cases, the optimum is determined by considering the net present value of the incurred costs during a sufficiently long time‐span. Immediate as well as delayed adaptation is considered.
Determination of Urinary 1‐Hydroxypyrene for Biomonitoring of Human Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Carcinogens by a Lanthanide‐functionalized Metal‐Organic Framework Sensor
Authors: Hao Ji‐Na , Yan Bing
Published: December 2016

1‐Hydroxypyrene (1‐HP), which is a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) carcinogens and represents the internal dose of PAHs exposure in the human body, is detected by a newly designed luminescent Eu‐functionalized metal‐organic framework (1a) sensor. The luminescence of 1a can be effectively quenched by 1‐HP via a fluorescent resonant energy transfer process, thus achieving its recognition of 1‐HP. This is the first use of lanthanide metal‐organic frameworks (Ln‐MOFs) as chemical sensors for 1‐HP. The probe exhibits outstanding performances for sensing 1‐HP, such as high selectivity, excellent sensitivity, fast response, and good reusability. Importantly, the sensing system enables the detection of 1‐HP in real human urine specimens, and a portable 1‐HP urine test paper is also developed. Hence, the reported 1‐HP sensing platform has promising application potential for clinical diagnosis of the intoxication level of PAHs.
Photophysical Study of DPPTT‐T/PC70BM Blends and Solar Devices as a Function of Fullerene Loading: An Insight into EQE Limitations of DPP‐Based Polymers
Authors: Collado‐Fregoso Elisa , Deledalle Florent , Utzat Hendrik , Tuladhar Pabitra S. , Dimitrov Stoichko D. , Gillett Alexander , Tan Ching‐Hong , Zhang Weimin , McCulloch Iain , Durrant James R.
Published: December 2016

Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)‐based polymers have been consistently used for the fabrication of solar cell devices and transistors due to the existence of intermolecular short contacts, resulting in high electron and hole mobilities. However, they also often show limited external quantum efficiencies (EQEs). In this contribution, the authors analyze the limitations on EQE by a combined study of exciton dissociation efficiency, charge separation, and recombination kinetics in thin films and solar devices of a DPP‐based donor polymer, DPPTT‐T (thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐diketopyrrolopyrrole copolymer) blended with varying weight fractions of the fullerene acceptor PC70BM. From the correlations between photoluminescence quenching, transient absorption studies, and EQE measurements, it is concluded that the main limitation of photon‐to‐charge conversion in DPPTT‐T/PC70BM devices is poor exciton dissociation. This exciton quenching limit is related not only to the low affinity/miscibility of the materials, as confirmed by wide angle X‐ray diffraction diffraction and transmission electron microscopy data, but also to the relatively short DPPTT‐T singlet exciton lifetime, possibly associated with high nonradiative losses. A further strategy to improve EQE in this class of polymers without sacrificing the good extraction properties in optimized blends is therefore to limit those nonradiative decay processes.
1T‐Phase WS2 Protein‐Based Biosensor
Authors: Toh Rou Jun , Mayorga‐Martinez Carmen C. , Sofer Zdenek , Pumera Martin
Published: December 2016

Metallic 1T‐phase transition metal dichalcogenides have been recognized for their desirable properties like high surface‐to‐volume ratio, high conductivity, and capacitive behavior, making them outstanding for catalytic and sensing applications. Herein, a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) biosensor is constructed by the immobilization of hemoglobin (Hb) on 1T‐phase WS2 (1T‐WS2) sheets, and entrapment by glutaraldehyde. 1T‐WS2 not only displays electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H2O2 but also provides a high surface‐to‐volume ratio and conductive platform for the immobilization of Hb and facilitation of its electron transfer to the electrode surface. The advantageous role of 1T‐phase WS2 is further demonstrated for the construction of a heme‐based H2O2 biosensor compared to its 1T‐phase MoS2, MoSe2, and WSe2 counterparts. Synergistic interactions between 1T‐WS2 and Hb result in a H2O2 biosensor with high analytical performance in terms of wide range, sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, repeatability, and stability. These findings have profound impact in the research fields of electrochemical sensing and biodiagnostics.
Selenium‐Containing Polymer@Metal‐Organic Frameworks Nanocomposites as an Efficient Multiresponsive Drug Delivery System
Authors: Zhou Weiqiang , Wang Lu , Li Feng , Zhang Weina , Huang Wei , Huo Fengwei , Xu Huaping
Published: December 2016

The development of efficient multiresponsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) to control drug release has been widely explored. Herein, a facile strategy is reported that enables the micelles of the selenium‐containing polymer with the drug to be encapsulated in metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), which serves as multiresponsive drug release by employing the selenium‐containing polymers with redox‐triggered property and the MOFs with pH‐triggered property in DDS. In this case, the micelles of selenium‐containing polymers, as core easily disassembles in the presence of redox agents, can then release the drug in MOFs matrixes. The ZIF‐8 (one type of MOFs) crystal frameworks serving as shell can collapse only under low pH conditions, and the drug can be further released. In the presence of external redox agents as well as the pH stimuli, the prepared nanocomposite (P@ZIF‐8) drug system exhibits the capability of multiresponsive release of the doxorubicin (DOX) and possesses good selectivity in releasing the DOX under low pH conditions instead of normal pH conditions. In addition, the merits of P@ZIF‐8 such as good biocompatibility, multiresponsive release properties, and especially the selective release properties under different pH conditions make the materials highly promising candidates for the realization of controlled drug delivery in tumor tissue systems.
Surface Topography and Mechanical Strain Promote Keratocyte Phenotype and Extracellular Matrix Formation in a Biomimetic 3D Corneal Model
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chen Jialin , Backman Ludvig J. , Malm Adam D. , Danielson Patrik
Published: December 2016

The optimal functionality of the native corneal stroma is mainly dependent on the well‐ordered arrangement of extracellular matrix (ECM) and the pressurized structure. In order to develop an in vitro corneal model, it is crucial to mimic the in vivo microenvironment of the cornea. In this study, the influence of surface topography and mechanical strain on keratocyte phenotype and ECM formation within a biomimetic 3D corneal model is studied. By modifying the surface topography of materials, it is found that patterned silk fibroin film with 600 grooves mm–1 optimally supports cell alignment and ECM arrangement. Furthermore, treatment with 3% dome‐shaped mechanical strain, which resembles the shape and mechanics of native cornea, significantly enhances the expression of keratocyte markers as compared to flat‐shaped strain. Accordingly, a biomimetic 3D corneal model, in the form of a collagen‐modified, silk fibroin‐patterned construct subjected to 3% dome‐shaped strain, is created. Compared to traditional 2D cultures, it supports a significantly higher expression of keratocyte and ECM markers, and in conclusion better maintains keratocyte phenotype, alignment, and fusiform cell shape. Therefore, the novel biomimetic 3D corneal model developed in this study serves as a useful in vitro 3D culture model to improve current 2D cultures for corneal studies.
Surface Engineering of Nanostructured ZnO Surfaces
Authors: Laurenti Marco , Stassi Stefano , Canavese Giancarlo , Cauda Valentina
Published: December 2016

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanostructures represent promising substrate materials for numerous applications, ranging from new generation solar cells, to bio‐ and chemical sensors. This interest is due to particular physical and chemical properties and highly active surface areas. Despite showing promising perspectives, the performances of ZnO nanomaterials are affected by several drawbacks, including a poor chemical stability against reaction solutions and intrinsic defects that are still preventing their integration into product applications. To overcome some of these limitations, different functionalization strategies have been introduced to engineer the ZnO surface properties. The synthetic methods used for surface functionalization are here discussed and analyzed with respect to the morphology of the agent to be anchored and to the functionalization approach. These approaches range from continuous coatings, to low‐dimensional ligands like nanoparticles, photosensible dyes, quantum dots and organic compounds.
Optoelectronic Enhancement of Ultrathin CuIn1–xGaxSe2 Solar Cells by Nanophotonic Contacts
Authors: Yin Guanchao , Knight Mark W. , van Lare Marie‐Claire , Solà Garcia Maria Magdalena , Polman Albert , Schmid Martina
Published: December 2016

CuIn1–xGaxSe2 (CIGSe) solar cells have achieved record efficiency values as high as 22.6% for small areas, with module efficiency values of 16.5%. However, for economic viability these values must be achieved with reduced material consumption (especially indium), which requires reducing the CIGSe absorber thickness from 2000–3000 nm to below 500 nm. Soft‐imprinted SiOx nanoparticles (NPs) beneath a conformal CIGSe layer enable this thickness reduction. Optically, they enhance the absorption of light through Fabry–Pérot and waveguided resonances within the CIGSe layer, preventing current loss. For CIGSe solar cells on ITO with an absorber thickness of only 390 nm and a nanophotonic contact the current density (Jsc) increases from 25.7 to 32.1 mA cm−2. At the same time, the nanopatterned contact reduces the back barrier, leading to an increased open‐circuit voltage (518 to 558 mV) and fill factor (50.7% to 55.2%). Combined, these effects increase the efficiency value from 6.8% to 10.0% for this initial demonstration. With the addition of an antireflection coating, the champion NP‐enhanced cell achieves a Jsc of 34.0 mA cm−2, corresponding to 93% of the Jsc achieved by the thick world‐record cell. This result shows that optoelectronic nanopatterning provides a path to high efficiency cells with reduced materials consumption.
Bifluorene Single Crystals with Extremely Low‐Threshold Amplified Spontaneous Emission
Authors: Kreiza Gediminas , Baronas Paulius , Radiunas Edvinas , Adomėnas Povilas , Adomėnienė Ona , Kazlauskas Karolis , Ribierre Jean‐Charles , Adachi Chihaya , Juršėnas Saulius
Published: December 2016

Organic single crystals offering numerous advantages due to their long‐range molecular order are considered a promising gain medium for realization of electrically‐pumped organic lasers provided their amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) threshold is sufficiently low. Unfortunately, ASE thresholds of such crystals are typically more than one order of magnitude higher (in the range of tens of kW cm−2) as compared to those of amorphous neat/doped films. Here, this issue is addressed by rationally designing bifluorene‐based compounds to express weak intermolecular coupling in the crystalline phase. The twisted molecular backbone as well as out‐of‐plane twisted dimethyl moieties attached at the fluorene end‐groups additionally benefit with enhanced electron–vibronic coupling resulting in a large Stokes shift (0.5 eV) and reduced reabsorption of emission. Endowed with such features the bifluorenes exhibit similarly high radiative decay rates (≈1.5 × 109 s−1) when doped in polystyrene matrix at low concentrations and in sublimation‐grown single crystals. The high radiative rates accompanied by excellent waveguiding properties, favorable orientation of transition dipole moments as well as non‐overlapping excited‐state absorption and gain regions enable achieving extremely low ASE thresholds (≈700 W cm−2) in the bifluorene single crystals. The achieved low threshold encourages employment of rationally designed molecules in organic crystals for lasing applications.
Low‐Voltage Polyelectrolyte‐Gated Polymer Field‐Effect Transistors Gravure Printed at High Speed on Flexible Plastic Substrates
Authors: Thiburce Quentin , Campbell Alasdair J.
Published: December 2016

This study reports the fabrication of polymer field‐effect transistors operating under a bias of |1 V| in which the insulator and semiconductor are gravure‐printed on plastic at the high speed of 0.7 m s−1. Remarkably, the process does not necessitate any surface modification and relies solely on the careful selection and optimization of formulations based on solvent blends. In addition to demonstrating high‐throughput fabrication, this study fulfills another requirement for organic electronics and achieves low‐voltage operation in ambient air by using a polyelectrolyte insulator, poly(4‐styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSH). PSSH is a proton conductor that forms electrical double layers at the interfaces with the gate electrode and the semiconductor channel upon application of a small gate voltage (≤ |1 V|). Printed PSSH exhibits a high capacitance of 10 µF cm−2, leading to a printed poly(3‐hexylthiophene) hole mobility above 0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 in a bottom‐gate, top‐contact configuration.
Handling multi‐rate and missing data in variable duration economic model predictive control of batch processes
Authors: Rashid Mudassir M. , Mhaskar Prashant , Swartz Christopher L. E.
Published: December 2016

In the present work, we consider the problem of variable duration economic model predictive control of batch processes subject to multi‐rate and missing data. To this end, we first generalize a recently developed subspace‐based model identification approach for batch processes to handle multi‐rate and missing data by utilizing the incremental singular value decomposition technique. Exploiting the fact that the proposed identification approach is capable of handling inconsistent batch lengths, the resulting dynamic model is integrated into a tiered EMPC formulation that optimizes process economics (including batch duration). Simulation case studies involving application to the energy intensive electric arc furnace process demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach compared to a traditional trajectory tracking approach subject to limited availability of process measurements, missing data, measurement noise, and constraints. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 2705–2718, 2017
A hybrid numerical‐symbolic solving strategy for equation‐oriented process simulation and optimization
Authors: Zhao Fei , Chen Xi , Zhu Lingyu
Published: December 2016

The equation‐oriented (EO) and sequential modular (SM) methods are two typical approaches for numerical process simulation and optimization. For a large‐scale system, the EO method usually suffers from difficulties in variable initialization. The SM method, conversely, can suffer from slow convergence and requires experience in choosing appropriate tear variables. In this article, a novel strategy combining numerical and symbolic approaches is proposed for solving process systems represented by polynomials. First, a digraph method is developed to identify the subset of equations that should be solved simultaneously. Then, a symbolic computation method based on Gröbner basis is proposed to reformulate the simultaneous equations as a completely sequential model with a triangular structure. Last, the reformulated model is solved sequentially without any iterative tearing process. The case studies show that the proposed strategy can significantly improve the solving efficiency and robustness for process simulation and optimization. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 2764–2780, 2017
Anti‐LGI1 encephalitis is associated with unique HLA subtypes
Authors: Kim Tae‐Joon , Lee Soon‐Tae , Moon Jangsup , Sunwoo Jun‐Sang , Byun Jung‐Ick , Lim Jung‐Ah , Shin Yong‐Won , Jun Jin‐Sun , Lee Han Sang , Lee Woo‐Jin , Yang Ah Reaum , Choi Yunhee , Park Kyung‐Il , Jung Keun‐Hwa , Jung Ki‐Young , Kim Manho , Lee Sang Kun , Chu Kon
Published: December 2016

Objective

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE), represented by anti–leucine‐rich glioma‐inactivated 1 (anti‐LGI1) and anti–N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (anti‐NMDAR) encephalitis, has increasing clinical significance based on recent discoveries of neuronal autoantibodies. However, its immunopathogenesis is not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether AE is associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtypes.

Methods

We compared the HLA genotypes of 11 anti‐LGI1 and 17 anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients to the control groups, which consisted of 210 epilepsy patients and 485 healthy Koreans.

Results

Anti‐LGI1 encephalitis was associated with the DRB1*07:01–DQB1*02:02 haplotype (10 patients; 91%) in HLA class II genes, as well as with B*44:03 (8 patients; 73%) and C*07:06 (7 patients; 64%) in the HLA class I region. The prevalence of these alleles in anti‐LGI1 encephalitis was significantly higher than that in the epilepsy controls or healthy controls. By contrast, anti‐NMDAR encephalitis was not associated with HLA genotypes. Additional analysis using HLA‐peptide binding prediction algorithms and computational docking underpinned the close relationship.

Interpretation

This finding suggests that most anti‐LGI1 encephalitis develops in a population with specific HLA subtypes, providing insight into a novel disease mechanism. Ann Neurol 2017;81:183–192
2,4,6‐Tri(hydroxy)‐1,3,5‐triphosphinine, P3C3(OH)3: The Phosphorus Analogue of Cyanuric Acid
Authors: Suter Riccardo , Mei Yanbo , Baker Matthew , Benkő Zoltan , Li Zhongshu , Grützmacher Hansjörg
Published: December 2016

Cyanuric acid (C3H3N3O3) is widely used as cross‐linker in basic polymers (often in combination with other crosslinking agents like melamine) but also finds application in more sophisticated materials such as in supramolecular assemblies and molecular sheets. The unknown phosphorus analogue of cyanuric acid, P3C3(OH)3, may become an equally useful building block for phosphorus‐based polymers or materials which have unique properties. Herein we describe a straightforward synthesis of 2,4,6‐tri(hydroxy)‐1,3,5‐triphosphinine and its derivatives P3C3(OR)3 which have been applied as strong π‐acceptor η6‐ligands in piano stool Mo(CO)3 complexes.
Single‐Molecule Force Spectroscopy Trajectories of a Single Protein and Its Polyproteins Are Equivalent: A Direct Experimental Validation Based on A Small Protein NuG2
Authors: Lei Hai , He Chengzhi , Hu Chunguang , Li Jinliang , Hu Xiaodong , Hu Xiaotang , Li Hongbin
Published: December 2016

Single‐molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) has become a powerful tool in investigating the mechanical unfolding/folding of proteins at the single‐molecule level. Polyproteins made of tandem identical repeats have been widely used in atomic force microscopy (AFM)‐based SMFS studies, where polyproteins not only serve as fingerprints to identify single‐molecule stretching events, but may also improve statistics of data collection. However, the inherent assumption of such experiments is that all the domains in the polyprotein are equivalent and one SMFS trajectory of stretching a polyprotein made of n domains is equivalent to n trajectories of stretching a single domain. Such an assumption has not been validated experimentally. Using a small protein NuG2 and its polyprotein (NuG2)4 as model systems, here we use optical trapping (OT) to directly validate this assumption. Our results show that OT experiments on NuG2 and (NuG2)4 lead to identical parameters describing the unfolding and folding kinetics of NuG2, demonstrating that indeed stretching a polyprotein of NuG2 is equivalent to stretching single NuG2 in force spectroscopy experiments and thus validating the use of polyproteins in SMFS experiments.
Carbofunctional sulfur‐containing organosilicon compounds
Authors: Vlasova N.N. , Sorokin M.S. , Oborina E.N.
Published: December 2016

This review summarizes literature data and the authors’ own research results from the past 14–15 years relating to practical, valuable organosilicon carbofunctional sulfur‐containing compounds of general formula R4−nSi(SxR1)n, where R is alkyl, arylalkoxyl, aroxyl or even sylatranyl fragment, R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, etc., n = 1–3, x = 1–10, having sulfur functional groups such as thiol, sulfide, di‐ and polysulfide, as well as sulfur heteroatomic groups such as thiocarbamide, dioxothiocarbamide, dithiourethane, thiuramdisulfide, etc. The compounds reviewed have been found to be effective, for example, as ingredients for rubber compositions for non‐flammable, water‐ and wear‐proof tires or as ion‐exchanging and complexing sorbents of heavy and noble metals.
Controlling lignin particle size for polymer blend applications
Authors: Miao Chuanwei , Hamad Wadood Y.
Published: December 2016

Softwood lignin produced by the LignoForce SystemTM was physically processed using different milling approaches to ascertain effective and scalable means to yield micro to submicron particles of controllable and uniform size. Our work suggests that wet ball‐milling using a small milling medium is the most reliable method in terms of processing efficiency and particle‐size controllability. Controllable particle size reduction would permit lignin to be used as an effective filler in polymer blends. We show that wet‐milled lignin could, subsequently, be oven‐ or spray‐dried, and, subsequently, blended with, for instance, polypropylene (PP) through co‐extrusion. The spray‐drying method produced spherical lignin aggregates smaller and more uniform than oven‐dried ones. As a consequence, spray‐dried lignin demonstrated a more uniform distribution within the polymer melt, leading to noticeable improvement in the strain—or flexibility—of the lignin‐PP polymer blends. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the investigated drying methods had no effect on the thermal stability of the resulting lignin‐PP blends. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44669.
Event‐Triggered Control for Couple‐Group Multi‐Agent Systems with Logarithmic Quantizers and Communication Delays
Authors: Yu Mei , Yan Chuan , Xie Dongmei
Published: December 2016

This paper mainly investigates the event‐triggered control for couple‐group multi‐agent systems with communication delay. Logarithmic quantization is considered in the communication channels. Event‐triggered control laws are adopted to reduce the frequency of individual actuation updating for discrete‐time agent dynamics. The proposed protocol is efficient as long as the quantization levels are dense enough, i.e. the density of quantization levels goes to infinity is a sufficient condition for the asymptotic consensus of the multi‐agent systems. It turns out that the bounded consensus depends on not only the density of quantization levels, but also the updating strategy of events. Finally, a simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Sensibel, pragmatisch und entscheidungsfreudig – Die breite Spur von Martin Bachmann in Pergamon
Authors: Steiner Josef
Published: December 2016

Widmung

Martin Bachmann, geb. am 19. Dezember 1964 in Karlsruhe, wuchs im Stadtteil Durlach in einem äußerst gastfreundlichen, offenen Elternhaus auf. Nach dem Abitur am Durlacher Gymnasium studierte er in Karlsruhe an der Technischen Hochschule Fridericiana Architektur und widmete sich nach dem Diplom am Institut für Baugeschichte bei Prof. Schirmer als wissenschaft licher Mitarbeiter schwerpunktmäßig der Erforschung und Erhaltung alter Bauwerke. In dieser Zeit, und auch schon früher als Student, war er während der sommerlichen Grabungskam pagnen der Abteilung Istanbul des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts (DAI) regelmäßig in der Türkei bei den Ausgrabungen in Pergamon aktiv, in Karlsruhe war er als Mitarbeiter in den interdisziplinären Sonderforschungsbereich 315 „Erhaltung historisch bedeutsamer Bauwerke” eingebunden. Im Jahr 1999 wurde er mit seiner Arbeit „Die Karlsburg, Spuren einer Residenzanlage im Karlsruher Stadtgefüge”, einem Thema aus der heimischen Umgebung, promoviert. Anschließend verlegte er seine beruflichen Aktivitäten in die Türkei und nahm am DAI in Istanbul bis 2006 die Stelle eines Referenten für Bauforschung an. In diesen Zeitraum fielen Forschungsprojekte zum Quell heiligtum Eflatun Pinar bei Konya und erste Erkundungen der Burg Karasis, in Pergamon widmete er sich zusammen mit seinem ehemaligen Studienkollegen Andreas Schwarting der Planung und der Ausführung des im August 2004 eingeweihten Schutzbaus Z. Nach der Übernahme von Lehraufträgen in Cottbus, Karlsruhe und Dortmund wurde Martin Bachmann 2006 zum zweiten Direktor der Abteilung Istanbul des DAI gewählt und übersiedelte endgültig nach Istanbul, wo er sich auch mit der Istanbuler Stadttopografie beschäftigte und sich intensiv für den Erhalt der historischen Holzhäuser eingesetzt hat.

Im Zuge der Planungen für den Bau Z habe ich Martin Bachmann kennengelernt. Aus diesen ersten Kontakten hat sich im Laufe der vergangenen 14 Jahre bei der Instandsetzung des Südlichen Rundturms und des anschließenden Kellergewölbes neben der Roten Halle in Pergamon, der Stabilisierung absturzgefährdeter Teile des Mauerwerks ihrer Umfassungswände, der Aufstellung einer Stützfigur, der Reparatur eines Gewölbes der Faustina‐Thermen in Milet und bei den vorbereitenden Planungen und Maßnahmen für die Rekonstruktion einer Palästra‐Ecke des oberen Gymnasiums unterhalb von Bau Z eine von großem gegenseitigen Verständnis geprägte Zusammenarbeit zwischen Bauforscher/Architekt und Bauingenieur entwickelt.

Am 3. August 2016, einige Tage nach der Rückkehr vom Heimaturlaub, ist Martin Bachmann an seinem Arbeitsplatz in Istanbul im Alter von 51 Jahren und ohne vorherige Warn zeichen an den Folgen einer Herzattacke gestorben. Ein furchtbarer Verlust für seine Familie, aber auch für die Wissenschaft und für seinen großen Freundeskreis.

Dieser Beitrag über die Fußabdrücke, die er in Pergamon hinterlassen hat und die immer an Martin Bachmann erinnern werden, ist ihm und seinem dortigen Wirken gewidmet.
Retracted: Physiologically based pharmacokinetic predictions of intestinal BCRP‐mediated effect of telmisartan on the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in humans
Authors: Bae Soo Hyeon , Park Wan‐Su , Han Seunghoon , Park Gab‐jin , Lee Jongtae , Hong Taegon , Jeon Sangil , Yim Dong‐Seok
Published: December 2016

‘Physiologically based pharmacokinetic predictions of intestinal BCRP‐mediated effect of telmisartan on the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in humans’ by Soo Hyeon Bae, Wan‐Su Park, Seunghoon Han, Gab‐jin Park, Jongtae Lee, Taegon Hong, Sangil Jeon and Dong‐Seok Yim

The above article, published online on 06 February 2017 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, K. Sandy Pang, and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The authors retracted the paper due to errors associated with use of log D vs. log P of telmisartan as inputs of the PBPK model. The authors concluded that there are too many changes in the article to be resolved by an Erratum, and had requested a retraction.

Reference

Bae, S. H., Park, W.‐S., Han, S., Park, G., Lee, J., Hong, T., Jeon, S., and Yim, D.‐S. (2016) Physiologically based pharmacokinetic predictions of intestinal BCRP‐mediated effect of telmisartan on the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in humans. Biopharm. Drug Dispos., doi: 10.1002/bdd.2060.