bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FESTSCHRIFT FOR EROL GELENBE'S 70TH BIRTHDAY
Authors: Pekergin Nihal
Published: May 2016

This paper introduces a special collection of research contributions written to honour Professor Erol Gelenbe of his 70th birthday which was celebrated on September 20–25, 2015 at Imperial College in London where he holds the Dennis Gabor Professorship and is Head of the Intelligent Systems and Networks Group in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (see http://san.ee.ic.ac.uk/Gelenbe2015). All but three of the fourteen papers presented here were written by his students and descendants. These papers are centered on probability models related to computer systems and networks, an area where Erol plays a pioneering role in which he remains very active with many innovations and new directions that he has introduced in the last ten or twelve years. We first briefly review Erol's work in these areas, and then discuss each of the contributions that appear here together with their links to Erol's own published research.
VARIABILITY IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING
Authors: Tagarelli Kaitlyn M. , Ruiz Simón , Vega José Luis Moreno , Rebuschat Patrick
Published: May 2016

Second language learning outcomes are highly variable, due to a variety of factors, including individual differences, exposure conditions, and linguistic complexity. However, exactly how these factors interact to influence language learning is unknown. This article examines the relationship between these three variables in language learners.

Native English speakers were exposed to an artificial language containing three sentence patterns of varying linguistic complexity. They were randomly assigned to two groups—incidental and instructed—designed to promote the acquisition of implicit and explicit knowledge, respectively. Learning was assessed with a grammaticality judgment task, and subjective measures of awareness were used to measure whether exposure had resulted in implicit or explicit knowledge. Participants also completed cognitive tests.

Awareness measures demonstrated that learners in the incidental group relied more on implicit knowledge, whereas learners in the instructed group relied more on explicit knowledge. Overall, exposure condition was the most significant predictor of performance on the grammaticality judgment task, with learners in the instructed group outperforming those in the incidental group. Performance on a procedural learning task accounted for additional variance. When outcomes were analyzed according to linguistic complexity, exposure condition was the most significant predictor for two syntactic patterns, but it was not a predictor for the most complex sentence group; instead, procedural learning ability was.
How bilinguals listen in noise: linguistic and non-linguistic factors
Authors: KRIZMAN JENNIFER , BRADLOW ANN R. , LAM SILVIA SIU-YIN , KRAUS NINA
Published: May 2016

Bilinguals are known to perform worse than monolinguals on speech-in-noise tests. However, the mechanisms underlying this difference are unclear. By varying the amount of linguistic information available in the target stimulus across five auditory-perception-in-noise tasks, we tested if differences in language-independent (sensory/cognitive) or language-dependent (extracting linguistic meaning) processing could account for this disadvantage. We hypothesized that language-dependent processing differences underlie the bilingual disadvantage and predicted that it would manifest on perception-in-noise tasks that use linguistic stimuli. We found that performance differences between bilinguals and monolinguals varied with the linguistic processing demands of each task: early, high-proficiency, Spanish–English bilingual adolescents performed worse than English monolingual adolescents when perceiving sentences, similarly when perceiving words, and better when perceiving tones in noise. This pattern suggests that bottlenecks in language-dependent processing underlie the bilingual disadvantage while language-independent perception-in-noise processes are enhanced.
“Common Joys, Sorrows, Adventures, and Struggles”: Transnational Encounters in Amy Beach's “Gaelic” Symphony
Authors: GERK SARAH
Published: May 2016

Amy Beach's “Gaelic” Symphony is the most prominent nineteenth-century American expression of Irishness in music. Despite the reference to another country in its title, the work has largely been interpreted via the lens of American nationalism. Its historiography reflects the immense interest in national style in nineteenth-century American music scholarship. This article initiates a discussion about nineteenth-century American composers’ engagement with the world beyond their own national borders. It explores the “Gaelic” Symphony's transnational dimensions, which engage largely with two groups: concert music composers and the Irish diaspora. Regarding the former, the article illuminates nuances of intertextuality in Beach's style. It revises the historical narrative surrounding the “Gaelic” Symphony as a response to Antonín Dvořák's “New World” Symphony, finding multiple additional models for Beach's work. The “Gaelic” Symphony is positioned instead as a representation of concert music styles that valued cosmopolitan approaches and judged composers on the skill with which they consciously blended multiple streams of influence. Regarding the latter category of the Irish, the article contextualizes the symphony within a revival of Irish cultural practices taking place in the 1890s, revealing how constructions of Irishness in the symphony reflect Gaelic revival values and respond to social tensions between Boston's Irish-American community and the city's upper class.
Implementing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) as mindfulness skills courses offered as an adjunct to individual therapy: a feasibility and effectiveness study of mixed staff and patient groups in secondary care
Authors: Hortynska Kamila , Masterson Ciara , Connors Lesley , Geary Lesley , Winspear Richard
Published: May 2016

There is growing evidence regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions offered to diagnostically diverse groups of participants. This study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of adapted Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) groups offered to NHS patients in a secondary-care Psychology and Psychotherapy Service. The group was run as an adjunct to individual therapy and accepted referrals from all therapists in the service, so participants had experienced a range of therapeutic approaches prior to attending the group. The nine groups run during the project also included staff participants, as part of a capacity-building strategy. Results indicate high levels of acceptability, with low drop-out rates. Standardized outcome measures were used to examine the effectiveness of the group, and patient participants demonstrated improvements which were statistically significant. Qualitative feedback from group participants and referrers was positive. The findings support implementation of MBCT as part of a package of psychological therapy interventions. Further research regarding this form of MBCT is discussed.
Nations' Pledges to Reduce Emissions and the 2°C Objective
Authors: Boucher Olivier , Benveniste Hélène , Guivarch Céline
Published: May 2016

Preparatory workshop for the 21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Paris, France, 3 November 2015
Matching relations for optimal entanglement concentration and purification
Authors: Kong Fan-Zhen , Xia Hui-Zhi , Yang Ming , Yang Qing , Cao Zhuo-Liang
Published: May 2016

The bilateral controlled NOT (CNOT) operation plays a key role in standard entanglement purification process, but the CNOT operation may not be the optimal joint operation in the sense that the output entanglement is maximized. In this paper, the CNOT operations in both the Schmidt-projection based entanglement concentration and the entanglement purification schemes are replaced with a general joint unitary operation and the optimal matching relations between the entangling power of the joint unitary operation and the non-maximal entangled channel are found for optimizing the entanglement in- crement or the output entanglement. The result is somewhat counter-intuitive for entanglement concentration. The output entanglement is maximized when the entangling power of the joint unitary operation and the quantum channel satisfy certain relation. There exist a variety of joint operations with non-maximal entangling power that can induce a maximal output entanglement, which will greatly broaden the set of the potential joint operations in entanglement concentration. In addition, the entanglement increment in purification process is maximized only by the joint unitary operations (including CNOT) with maximal entangling power.
Analysis of serum immune markers in seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and in high-risk seropositive arthralgia patients
Authors: Chalan Paulina , Bijzet Johan , van den Berg Anke , Kluiver Joost , Kroesen Bart-Jan , Boots Annemieke M. H. , Brouwer Elisabeth
Published: May 2016

Presence of autoantibodies precedes development of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (SP RA) and seropositive arthralgia patients (SAP) are at risk of developing RA. The aims of the study are to identify additional serum immune markers discriminating between SP and seronegative (SN) RA, and markers identifying high-risk SAP. Sera from SAP (n = 27), SP RA (n = 22), SN RA (n = 11) and healthy controls (n = 20) were analyzed using the Human Cytokine 25-Plex Panel. Selected markers were validated in independent cohorts of SP RA (n = 35) and SN RA (n = 12) patients. Eleven of 27 SAP developed RA within 8 months (median follow-up time, range 1–32 months), and their baseline serum markers were compared to 16 non-progressing SAP. SAP and SP RA patients showed a marked overlap in their systemic immune profiles, while SN RA showed a distinct immune profile. Three of 4 markers discriminating between SP and SN RA (IL-1β, IL-15 and Eotaxin, but not CCL5) were similarly modulated in independent cohorts. SAP progressing to RA showed trends for increases in IL-5, MIP-1β, IL-1RA and IL-12 compared to non-progressing SAP. ROC analysis showed that serum IL-5 most accurately discriminated between the two SAP groups (AUC > 0.8), suggesting that baseline IL-5 levels may aid the identification of high-risk SAP.
Phase-reference monitoring in coherent-state discrimination assisted by a photon-number resolving detector
Authors: Bina Matteo , Allevi Alessia , Bondani Maria , Olivares Stefano
Published: May 2016

Phase estimation represents a crucial challenge in many fields of Physics, ranging from Quantum Metrology to Quantum Information Processing. This task is usually pursued by means of interferometric schemes, in which the choice of the input states and of the detection apparatus is aimed at minimizing the uncertainty in the estimation of the relative phase between the inputs. State discrimination protocols in communication channels with coherent states also require the monitoring of the optical phase. Therefore, the problem of phase estimation is relevant to face the issue of coherent states discrimination. Here we consider a quasi-optimal Kennedy-like receiver, based on the interference of two coherent signals, to be discriminated, with a reference local oscillator. By means of the Bayesian processing of a small amount of data drawn from the outputs of the shot-by-shot discrimination protocol, we demonstrate the achievement of the minimum uncertainty in phase estimation, also in the presence of uniform phase noise. Moreover, we show that the use of photon-number resolving detectors in the receiver improves the phase-estimation strategy, especially with respect to the usually employed on/off detectors. From the experimental point of view, this comparison is realized by employing hybrid photodetectors.
Universal quantum correlation close to quantum critical phenomena
Authors: Qin Meng , Ren Zhong-Zhou , Zhang Xin
Published: May 2016

We study the ground state quantum correlation of Ising model in a transverse field (ITF) by implementing the quantum renormalization group (QRG) theory. It is shown that various quantum correlation measures and the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality will highlight the critical point related with quantum phase transitions and demonstrate nonanalytic phenomena and scaling behavior when the size of the systems becomes large. Our results also indicate a universal behavior of the critical exponent of ITF under QRG theory that the critical exponent of different measures is identical, even when the quantities vary from entanglement measures to quantum correlation measures. This means that the two kinds of quantum correlation criterion including the entanglement-separability paradigm and the information-theoretic paradigm have some connections between them. These remarkable behaviors may have important implications on condensed matter physics because the critical exponent directly associates with the correlation length exponent.
Tunable Picosecond Laser Pulses via the Contrast of Two Reverse Saturable Absorption Phases in a Waveguide Platform
Authors: Tan Yang , Chen Lianwei , Wang Dong , Chen Yanxue , Akhmadaliev Shavkat , Zhou Shengqiang , Hong Minghui , Chen Feng
Published: May 2016

How to enhance the optical nonlinearity of saturable absorption materials is an important question to improve the functionality of various applications ranging from the high power laser to photonic computational devices. We demonstrate the saturable absorption (SA) of VO2 film attributed to the large difference of optical nonlinearities between the two states of the phase-transition materials (VO2). Such VO2 film demonstrated significantly improved performance with saturation intensity higher than other existing ultrathin saturable absorbers by 3 orders due to its unique nonlinear optical mechanisms in the ultrafast phase change process. Owing to this feature, a Q-switched pulsed laser was fabricated in a waveguide platform, which is the first time to achieve picosecond pulse duration and maintain high peak power. Furthermore, the emission of this VO2 waveguide laser can be flexibly switched between the continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed operation regimes by tuning the temperature of the VO2 film, which enables VO2-based miniature laser devices with unique and versatile functions.
HIV infection results in metabolic alterations in the gut microbiota different from those induced by other diseases
Authors: Serrano-Villar Sergio , Rojo David , Martínez-Martínez Mónica , Deusch Simon , Vázquez-Castellanos Jorge F. , Sainz Talía , Vera Mar , Moreno Santiago , Estrada Vicente , Gosalbes María José , Latorre Amparo , Margolles Abelardo , Seifert Jana , Barbas Coral , Moya Andrés , Ferrer Manuel
Published: May 2016

Imbalances in gut bacteria have been associated with multiple diseases. However, whether there are disease-specific changes in gut microbial metabolism remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (n = 33) changes, at quantifiable levels, the metabolism of gut bacteria. These changes are different than those observed in patients with the auto-immune disease systemic lupus erythaematosus (n = 18) and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (n = 6). Using healthy controls as a baseline (n = 16), we demonstrate that a trend in the nature and directionality of the metabolic changes exists according to the type of the disease. The impact on the gut microbial activity and thus the metabolite composition and metabolic flux of gut microbes, is therefore disease-dependent. Our data further provide experimental evidence that HIV infection drastically changed the microbial community and the species responsible for the metabolism of 4 amino acids, in contrast to patients with the other two diseases and healthy controls. The identification in this present work of specific metabolic deficits in HIV-infected patients may define nutritional supplements to improve the health of these patients.
Superparamagnetic Properties of Hemozoin
Authors: Inyushin M. , Kucheryavih Yu. , Kucheryavih L. , Rojas L. , Khmelinskii I. , Makarov V.
Published: May 2016

We report that hemozoin nanocrystals demonstrate superparamagnetic properties, with direct measurements of the synthetic hemozoin magnetization. The results show that the magnetic permeability constant varies from μ = 4585 (at −20 °C) to 3843 (+20 °C), with the values corresponding to a superparamagnetic system. Similar results were obtained from the analysis of the diffusion separation of natural hemozoin nanocrystals in the magnetic field gradient, with μ = 6783 exceeding the value obtained in direct measurements by the factor of 1.8. This difference is interpreted in terms of structural differences between the synthetic and natural hemozoin. The ab initio analysis of the hemozoin elementary cell showed that the Fe3+ ion is in the high-spin state (S = 5/2), while the exchange interaction between Fe3+ electron-spin states was much stronger than kBT at room temperature. Thus, the spin dynamics of the neighboring Fe3+ ions are strongly correlated, lending support to the superparamagnetism.
Integrin CD11b attenuates colitis by strengthening Src-Akt pathway to polarize anti-inflammatory IL-10 expression
Authors: Hu Xiang , Han Chaofeng , Jin Jing , Qin Kewei , Zhang Hua , Li Tianliang , Li Nan , Cao Xuetao
Published: May 2016

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays a central role in regulation of intestinal mucosal homeostasis and prevention of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We previously reported that CD11bhi regulatory dendritic cells (DCs) can produce more IL-10 and CD11b can negatively regulate Toll-like receptors (TLRs)-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages. However whether CD11b and its signaling can control autoimmunity via IL-10 production remains unclear. Here we found that CD11b deficient (Itgam−/−) mice were more susceptible to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, with more tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) while less IL-10 production. CD11b inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) while promoted activator protein 1 (AP-1) activation through activating sarcoma oncogene (Src), leading to decreased TNF-α while increased IL-10 production. Src interacted with and promoted c-casitas B lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene (c-Cbl)-mediated degradation of the inhibitory subunit p85 of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Importantly, Src inhibitor dasatinib aggravated DSS-induced colitis by decreasing IL-10 while increasing TNF-α in vivo. Therefore, CD11b promotes IL-10 production by activating Src-Akt signal pathway. An axis of CD11b-Src pathway is important in balancing homeostasis of TLR-induced pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses.
Highly Efficient and Scalable Separation of Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes via Weak Field Centrifugation
Authors: Reis Wieland G. , Weitz R. Thomas , Kettner Michel , Kraus Alexander , Schwab Matthias Georg , Tomović Željko , Krupke Ralph , Mikhael Jules
Published: May 2016

The identification of scalable processes that transfer random mixtures of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into fractions featuring a high content of semiconducting species is crucial for future application of SWCNTs in high-performance electronics. Herein we demonstrate a highly efficient and simple separation method that relies on selective interactions between tailor-made amphiphilic polymers and semiconducting SWCNTs in the presence of low viscosity separation media. High purity individualized semiconducting SWCNTs or even self-organized semiconducting sheets are separated from an as-produced SWCNT dispersion via a single weak field centrifugation run. Absorption and Raman spectroscopy are applied to verify the high purity of the obtained SWCNTs. Furthermore SWCNT - network field-effect transistors were fabricated, which exhibit high ON/OFF ratios (105) and field-effect mobilities (17 cm2/Vs). In addition to demonstrating the feasibility of high purity separation by a novel low complexity process, our method can be readily transferred to large scale production.
Alternating Diet as a Preventive and Therapeutic Intervention for High Fat Diet-induced Metabolic Disorder
Authors: Ma Yongjie , Gao Mingming , Liu Dexi
Published: May 2016

This study presents the alternating diet as a new strategy in combating obesity and metabolic diseases. Lean or obese mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for five days and switched to a regular diet for one (5 + 1), two (5 + 2), or five (5 + 5) days before switching back to HFD to start the second cycle, for a total of eight weeks (for prevention) or five weeks (for treatment) without limiting animals’ access to food. Our results showed that animals with 5 + 2 and 5 + 5 diet alternations significantly inhibited body weight and fat mass gain compared to animals fed an HFD continuously. The dietary switch changed the pattern of daily caloric intake and suppressed HFD-induced adipose macrophage infiltration and chronic inflammation, resulting in improved insulin sensitivity and alleviated fatty liver. Alternating diet inhibited HFD-induced hepatic Pparγ-mediated lipid accumulation and activated the expression of Pparα and its target genes. Alternating diet in the 5 + 5 schedule induced weight loss in obese mice and reversed the progression of metabolic disorders, including hepatic steatosis, glucose intolerance and inflammation. The results provide direct evidence to support that alternating diet represents a new intervention in dealing with the prevalence of diet-induced obesity.
QM/MM study ofl-lactate oxidation by flavocytochrome b2
Authors: Gillet N. , Ruiz-Pernía J. J. , de la Lande A. , Lévy B. , Lederer F. , Demachy I. , Moliner V.
Published: May 2016

Free energy surfaces calculated from a state-of-the-art computational methodology highlight the role of active site residues inl-lactate oxidation by flavocytochromeb2.
A comprehensive picture of the ultrafast excited-state dynamics of retinal
Authors: Flender Oliver , Scholz Mirko , Hölzer Jonas , Oum Kawon , Lenzer Thomas
Published: May 2016

UV-Vis transient absorption follows kinetics of 1nπ* and photoisomerisation of all-trans retinal.
The charge states of Au on gold-substituted Ce1−xO2(111) surfaces with multiple oxygen vacancies
Authors: Chang Ming-Wen , Sheu Wen-Shyan
Published: May 2016

Not only does the Au charge have a trend of decreasing when the number of oxygen vacancies increases, but this charge also can be significantly changed by the oxygen vacancy configuration.
Activation of [CrCl3{PPh2N(iPr)PPh2}] for the selective oligomerisation of ethene: a Cr K-edge XAFS study
Authors: Bartlett Stuart A. , Moulin Jerome , Tromp Moniek , Reid Gillian , Dent Andy J. , Cibin Giannantonio , McGuinness David S. , Evans John
Published: May 2016

Freeze-quench XAFS reveals initial methylation of the Cr(iii) precursor prior to reduction to Lewis-acid dependent Cr(ii) species.
Polymer crystal nucleation with confinement-enhanced orientation dominating the formation of nanohybrid shish-kebabs with multiple shish
Authors: Nie Yijing , Hao Tongfan , Wei Ya , Zhou Zhiping
Published: May 2016

An unexpected NHSK structure with multiple shish is observed. The aligned fillers act as multiple shish and the polymer crystal lamellae form kebabs.
Asymmetric deformation of swollen microspheres on a water surface
Authors: Wang Likui , Deng Liduo , Kang Fan , Yao Bolong , Li Yunxing
Published: May 2016

Fabrication of anisotropic particles simply by assembly of swollen spheres on a water surface and evaporation of the swelling agent.
Three-dimensional nanocomposite formed by hydrophobic multiwalled carbon nanotubes threading titanium dioxide as the counter electrode of enhanced performance dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Yang Zhichun , Ahmad Waqar , Chu Liang , Al-bahrani Majid Raissan , Tu Fanfan , Wang Yumei , Zhang Hang , Wang Xi , Su Jun , Liu Nishuang , Li Luying , Yang Changping , Gao Yihua
Published: May 2016

A novel strategy of fast solvent induced assembly is used to synthesize a three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposite of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and TiO2, as the counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
In2O3-functionalized MoO3 heterostructure nanobelts with improved gas-sensing performance
Authors: Zhang Su , Song Peng , Zhang Jia , Li Zhuoqi , Yang Zhongxi , Wang Qi
Published: May 2016

A novel heterostructure with superior TMA-sensing performance were successfully obtained by dispersing In2O3 nanoparticles on the surfaces of MoO3 nanobelts.
Synthesis, crystal structure from PXRD of a MnII(purp)2complex, interaction with DNA at different temperatures and pH and lack of stimulated ROS formation by the complex
Authors: Mandal Bitapi , Singha Soumen , Dey Sanjay Kumar , Mazumdar Swagata , Mondal Tapan Kumar , Karmakar Parimal , Kumar Sanjay , Das Saurabh
Published: May 2016

MnII(purpurin)2crystal structure done from PXRD is the second report on hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone with a 3d-transition metal. DNA binding of complex is better and ROS generation less than purpurin. Complex maintains biological activity of purpurin.
Zero valent iron/poly(amidoxime) adsorbent for the separation and reduction of U(vi)
Authors: Shao Dadong , Wang Xiangxue , Wang Xiaolin , Hu Sheng , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed , Li Jiaxing , Wang Suhua , Hu Jun , Wang Xiangke
Published: May 2016

Zero valent iron/poly(amidoxime) nanocomposite presents excellent performance in the efficient separation of U(vi) and reduction of U(vi) to U(iv) from aqueous solutions.
Catalytic distillation for ethyl acetate synthesis using microfibrous-structured Nafion–SiO2/SS-fiber solid acid packings
Authors: Deng Tao , Li Yakun , Zhao Guofeng , Zhang Zhiqiang , Liu Ye , Lu Yong
Published: May 2016

We present a microfibrous-structured Nafion–SiO2/SS-fiber solid acid catalyst and demonstrate its separation and reaction efficiency as catalytic distillation (CD) packings for esterification to produce ethyl acetate from acetic acid and ethanol.
The Swi3 protein plays a unique role in regulating respiration in eukaryotes
Authors: Lal Sneha , Alam Md Maksudul , Hooda Jagmohan , Shah Ajit , Cao Thai M. , Xuan Zhenyu , Zhang Li
Published: May 2016

Recent experimental evidence increasingly shows that the dysregulation of cellular bioenergetics is associated with a wide array of common human diseases, including cancer, neurological diseases and diabetes. Respiration provides a vital source of cellular energy for most eukaryotic cells, particularly high energy demanding cells. However, the understanding of how respiration is globally regulated is very limited. Interestingly, recent evidence suggests that Swi3 is an important regulator of respiration genes in yeast. In this report, we performed an array of biochemical and genetic experiments and computational analysis to directly evaluate the function of Swi3 and its human homologues in regulating respiration. First, we showed, by computational analysis and measurements of oxygen consumption and promoter activities, that Swi3, not Swi2, regulates genes encoding functions involved in respiration and oxygen consumption. Biochemical analysis showed that the levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes were substantially increased in Δswi3 cells, compared with the parent cells. Additionally, our data showed that Swi3 strongly affects haem/oxygen-dependent activation of respiration gene promoters whereas Swi2 affects only the basal, haem-independent activities of these promoters. We found that increased expression of aerobic expression genes is correlated with increased oxygen consumption and growth rates in Δswi3 cells in air. Furthermore, using computational analysis and RNAi knockdown, we showed that the mammalian Swi3 BAF155 and BAF170 regulate respiration in HeLa cells. Together, these experimental and computational data demonstrated that Swi3 and its mammalian homologues are key regulators in regulating respiration.
Interference cancellation technique for faster‐than‐Nyquist signalling
Authors: Nie Shengyu , Guo Mingxi , Shen Yuehong
Published: May 2016

The faster‐than‐Nyquist (FTN) signalling is a bandwidth‐efficient technology which has drawn attention in the bandwidth‐starved world. However, inter‐symbol interference is introduced by transmitting signals at a higher signalling rate than allowed by the Nyquist criterion. Decision feedback equalisation (DFE) cancellation is an efficient signal detection scheme for FTN‐based communication system. However, since the DFE interference cancellation is executed by overall matrix computation, the required memory size is very large. In order to reduce the complexity of the interference cancellation process, a novel simple interference cancellation is proposed. Simulation results show that the scheme can perform better than DFE, and its complexity is very low because of the absence of QR decomposition.
Broadband, partially unilateral active testset for network analyser
Authors: Ghosh D. , Kumar G.
Published: May 2016

This Letter describes the design of a broadband testset which measures the reflection coefficient of an arbitrary load. The designed testset has four ports. The first port is for an RF input and the second is for the unknown load, while the remaining two ports are for a reflected power detector and a reference power detector, respectively. The testset adopts a divider‐combiner configuration and makes use of differential amplifier and compact, broadband two section power combiners to realise port matching networks at the intermediate stage and for phase cancellation at the last stage. The good phase cancellation is shown to result in high isolation over a broad frequency range. The testset achieves high load dynamic range from 28 to 35 dB in the frequency range of 500 MHz to 3 GHz. The high dynamic range over a broad bandwidth makes the designed testset suitable for use in network analysers.
Pressure-induced structural transformation of CaC2
Authors: Wang Lu , Huang Xiaoli , Li Da , Huang Yanping , Bao Kuo , Li Fangfei , Wu Gang , Liu Bingbing , Cui Tian
Published: May 2016

The high pressure structural changes of calcium carbide CaC2 have been investigated with Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. At ambient conditions, two forms of CaC2 co-exist. Above 4.9 GPa, monoclinic CaC2-ii diminished indicating the structural phase transition from CaC2-ii to CaC2-i. At about 7.0 GPa, both XRD patterns and Raman spectra confirmed that CaC2-i transforms into a metallic Cmcm structure which contains polymeric carbon chains. Along with the phase transition, the isolated C2 dumbbells are polymerized into zigzag chains resulting in a large volume collapse with 22.4%. Above 30.0 GPa, the XRD patterns of CaC2 become featureless and remain featureless upon decompression, suggesting an irreversible amorphization of CaC2.
Large-scale atomistic simulations of helium-3 bubble growth in complex palladium alloys
Authors: Hale Lucas M. , Zimmerman Jonathan A. , Wong Bryan M.
Published: May 2016

Palladium is an attractive material for hydrogen and hydrogen-isotope storage applications due to its properties of large storage density and high diffusion of lattice hydrogen. When considering tritium storage, the material’s structural and mechanical integrity is threatened by both the embrittlement effect of hydrogen and the creation and evolution of additional crystal defects (e.g., dislocations, stacking faults) caused by the formation and growth of helium-3 bubbles. Using recently developed inter-atomic potentials for the palladium-silver-hydrogen system, we perform large-scale atomistic simulations to examine the defect-mediated mechanisms that govern helium bubble growth. Our simulations show the evolution of a distribution of material defects, and we compare the material behavior displayed with expectations from experiment and theory. We also present density functional theory calculations to characterize ideal tensile and shear strengths for these materials, which enable the understanding of how and why our developed potentials either meet or confound these expectations.
Cold and intense OH radical beam sources
Authors: Ploenes Ludger , Haas Dominik , Zhang Dongdong , van de Meerakker Sebastiaan Y. T. , Willitsch Stefan
Published: May 2016

We present the design and performance of two supersonic radical beam sources: a conventional pinhole-discharge source and a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) source, both based on the Nijmegen pulsed valve. Both designs have been characterized by discharging water molecules seeded in the rare gases Ar, Kr, or Xe. The resulting OH radicals have been detected by laser-induced fluorescence. The measured OH densities are (3.0 ± 0.6) × 1011 cm-3 and (1.0 ± 0.5) × 1011 cm-3 for the pinhole-discharge and DBD sources, respectively. The beam profiles for both radical sources show a relative longitudinal velocity spread of about 10%. The absolute rotational ground state population of the OH beam generated from the pinhole-discharge source has been determined to be more than 98%. The DBD source even produces a rotationally colder OH beam with a population of the ground state exceeding 99%. For the DBD source, addition of O2 molecules to the gas mixture increases the OH beam density by a factor of about 2.5, improves the DBD valve stability, and allows to tune the mean velocity of the radical beam.
Persistent topological features of dynamical systems
Authors: Maletić Slobodan , Zhao Yi , Rajković Milan
Published: May 2016

Inspired by an early work of Muldoon et al., Physica D 65, 1–16 (1993), we present a general method for constructing simplicial complex from observed time series of dynamical systems based on the delay coordinate reconstruction procedure. The obtained simplicial complex preserves all pertinent topological features of the reconstructed phase space, and it may be analyzed from topological, combinatorial, and algebraic aspects. In focus of this study is the computation of homology of the invariant set of some well known dynamical systems that display chaotic behavior. Persistent homology of simplicial complex and its relationship with the embedding dimensions are examined by studying the lifetime of topological features and topological noise. The consistency of topological properties for different dynamic regimes and embedding dimensions is examined. The obtained results shed new light on the topological properties of the reconstructed phase space and open up new possibilities for application of advanced topological methods. The method presented here may be used as a generic method for constructing simplicial complex from a scalar time series that has a number of advantages compared to the mapping of the same time series to a complex network.
Temperature calibration for diffusion experiments to sub-Kelvin precision
Authors: Zaum Christopher , Bertram Cord , Meyer auf der Heide Kastur M. , Mehlhorn Michael , Morgenstern Karina
Published: May 2016

Arrhenius plots are often used to determine energy barriers and prefactors of thermally activated processes. The precision of thus determined values depends crucially on the precision of the temperature measurement at the sample surface. We line out a procedure to determine the absolute temperature of a metal sample in a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope between 5 K and 50 K with sub-Kelvin precision. We demonstrate the dependence of prefactor and diffusion energy on this calibration for diffusion of CO on Cu(111) and on Ag(100) measured in the temperature range from 30 K to 38 K and 19 K to 23 K, respectively.
Nonlinear radiative heat transfer to stagnation-point flow of Sisko fluid past a stretching cylinder
Authors: Khan Masood , Malik Rabia , Hussain M.
Published: May 2016

In the present paper, we endeavor to perform a numerical analysis in connection with the nonlinear radiative stagnation-point flow and heat transfer to Sisko fluid past a stretching cylinder in the presence of convective boundary conditions. The influence of thermal radiation using nonlinear Rosseland approximation is explored. The numerical solutions of transformed governing equations are calculated through forth order Runge-Kutta method using shooting technique. With the help of graphs and tables, the influence of non-dimensional parameters on velocity and temperature along with the local skin friction and Nusselt number is discussed. The results reveal that the temperature increases however, heat transfer from the surface of cylinder decreases with the increasing values of thermal radiation and temperature ratio parameters. Moreover, the authenticity of numerical solutions is validated by finding their good agreement with the HAM solutions.
Reconfigurable quadruple quantum dots in a silicon nanowire transistor
Authors: Betz A. C. , Tagliaferri M. L. V. , Vinet M. , Broström M. , Sanquer M. , Ferguson A. J. , Gonzalez-Zalba M. F.
Published: May 2016

We present a reconfigurable metal-oxide-semiconductor multi-gate transistor that can host a quadruple quantum dot in silicon. The device consists of an industrial quadruple-gate silicon nanowire field-effect transistor. Exploiting the corner effect, we study the versatility of the structure in the single quantum dot and the serial double quantum dot regimes and extract the relevant capacitance parameters. We address the fabrication variability of the quadruple-gate approach which, paired with improved silicon fabrication techniques, makes the corner state quantum dot approach a promising candidate for a scalable quantum information architecture.
Synthesis of photochromic nanoparticles and determination of the mechanism of photochromism
Authors: Inoue Shuhei , Kawamoto Takahiro , Matsumura Yukihiko , Tomita Kentaro , Uchino Kiichiro , Takata Keiji , Kajiyama Hiroshi
Published: May 2016

Photochromic nanoparticles of zinc-silicon oxide were synthesized using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. These particles turned black upon irradiating with ultraviolet light. We investigated this phenomenon using density functional theory calculations. Silicon inclusions create trap levels and oxygen defects that reduce the ionization potential of ZnO. This forms a quantum potential between ZnO and zinc-silicon oxide, and the excited electron is stable. Because oxygen defects also increase the bond overlap population between the zinc atoms in a ZnO crystal, they introduce further defects and help in the formation of quantum potentials. Growth of a perfect crystal of ZnO prevents the formation of oxygen defects, which is not desirable for photochromism.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of tungsten inert gas welded–brazed Al/Ti joints
Authors: Chen W.B.
Published: May 2016

The tungsten inert gas welding–brazing process using Al-based filler metal has been developed for joining 5052 Al alloy to Ti–6Al–4V alloy in a butt configuration. The results indicated that heat input influenced the morphology and thickness of the interfacial reaction layer of Al/Ti joints, which played an important role in the mechanical properties of weldment. With the optimised tungsten electrode offset D of 1.0 mm from Al/Ti initial interface to Al side and welding current of 70 A, the thin cellular-shaped and club-shaped TiAl3 reaction layers formed in the brazing zone, which contributed to suppressing crack initiation and propagation during tensile test. Eventually, the maximum tensile strength of 183 MPa was obtained and the optimised Al/Ti joint fractured at Al alloy base plate. Moreover, the power density characterisation and joining mechanism of Al/Ti joints were discussed.
Influence of polarity on mechanical properties of dissimilar resistance spot welds of DP 600/AISI 304 steels
Authors: Espinel Hernández Alejandro , Sánchez Roca Angel , Carvajal Fals Hipólito , Antonio Ferraresi Valtair , Oliveira Vilarinho Louriel
Published: May 2016

The influence of polarity during resistance spot weld (RSW) of dissimilar lap joints on mechanical properties and failure mode is assessed in this work. A dissimilar lap joint was set using DP 600 dual phase steel with AISI 304 stainless steel. The experiments were performed on a medium-frequency direct current spot welding machine with proper data acquisition of voltage and welding current. Temperature evolution was also acquired by using IR camera. The mechanical properties of spot welds were evaluated by using a coach peel testing. The effect of welding current and welding time on mechanical properties was also evaluated. Correlations between polarity with the welding nugget size, failure mode, tensile strength, temperature evolution and dynamic resistance were analysed. The analysis confirmed that the polarity on dissimilar lap joints affects the behaviour of dissimilar RSWs.
Variation of fundamental groups of curves in positive characteristic
Authors: Saïdi Mohamed , Tamagawa Akio
Published: May 2016

In this paper we prove that given a non-isotrivial family of hyperbolic curves in positive characteristic, the isomorphism type of the geometric fundamental group is not constant on the fibres of the family.
The Relationship Between Gene Polymorphisms and Dipping Profile in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Wirtwein Marcin , Melander Olle , Sjőgren Marketa , Hoffmann Michal , Narkiewicz Krzysztof , Gruchala Marcin , Sobiczewski Wojciech
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to report the relationship between certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and blunted nighttime blood pressure (BP) fall in patients with coronary artery disease confirmed by coronary angiography.

METHODS

According to the percentage decrease in mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) during the nighttime period, subjects were classified as dippers or nondippers (nighttime relative SBP or DBP decline ≥10% and <10%, respectively). Genetic risk score (GRS18) was constructed to evaluate additive effect of 18 SNPs for nondipping status.

RESULTS

In the present study, 1,345 subjects with coronary heart disease (CHD) were included. During follow-up period (median 8.3 years, interquartile range 5.3–9.0 years), there were 245 all-cause deaths (18.2%) including 114 cardiovascular deaths (8.5%). There were significant differences in the number of revascularizations between nondippers SBP and DBP and dippers SBP and DBP (48.0% vs. 36.4%, P < 0.01). SNPs of the genes, MIA3, MRAS, PCSK9, SMG6, and ZC3HC1, were related to a higher risk of nondipping SBP and DBP status.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, polymorphisms of genes related to CHD ( MIA3 , MRAS , PCSK9 , SMG6 , and ZC3HC1 ) were associated with nondipping SBP and DBP profile, and GRS18 was associated with nondipping status. In addition, this profile was related to a higher risk of revascularization.
Opportunities and challenges in developing risk prediction models with electronic health records data: a systematic review
Authors: Goldstein Benjamin A , Navar Ann Marie , Pencina Michael J , Ioannidis John P A
Published: May 2016

Objective: Electronic health records (EHRs) are an increasingly common data source for clinical risk prediction, presenting both unique analytic opportunities and challenges. We sought to evaluate the current state of EHR based risk prediction modeling through a systematic review of clinical prediction studies using EHR data.

Methods: We searched PubMed for articles that reported on the use of an EHR to develop a risk prediction model from 2009 to 2014. Articles were extracted by two reviewers, and we abstracted information on study design, use of EHR data, model building, and performance from each publication and supplementary documentation.

Results: We identified 107 articles from 15 different countries. Studies were generally very large (median sample size = 26 100) and utilized a diverse array of predictors. Most used validation techniques (n = 94 of 107) and reported model coefficients for reproducibility (n = 83). However, studies did not fully leverage the breadth of EHR data, as they uncommonly used longitudinal information (n = 37) and employed relatively few predictor variables (median = 27 variables). Less than half of the studies were multicenter (n = 50) and only 26 performed validation across sites. Many studies did not fully address biases of EHR data such as missing data or loss to follow-up. Average c-statistics for different outcomes were: mortality (0.84), clinical prediction (0.83), hospitalization (0.71), and service utilization (0.71).

Conclusions: EHR data present both opportunities and challenges for clinical risk prediction. There is room for improvement in designing such studies.
Respondent selection in a repeated survey on lifestyle within the randomized colorectal cancer screening programme
Authors: Jäntti Maija , Heinävaara Sirpa , Helander Sanni , Sarkeala Tytti , Malila Nea
Published: May 2016

Screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) has been shown to decrease colorectal cancer mortality in randomized-controlled trials. However, screening may have an adverse impact on an individual’s lifestyle. We describe here the design of a repeated survey study on lifestyle and assess response in the survey target population by randomization to CRC screening and demographic factors. The survey study population (n=10271) included Finnish men and women born in 1951 who were randomized for the CRC screening programme in 2011 and received a questionnaire on lifestyle in 2010 and 2012. We assessed responding by randomization to CRC screening, calendar time and demographic factors using the population-averaged Poisson model. Responding to survey was overall similar in 2010 and 2012. Those invited for CRC screening increased responding in time [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.06, confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.09], whereas controls decreased their responding (IRR 0.97, CI 0.94–1.00). Women were more likely to respond than men (IRR 1.17, CI 1.12–1.23). Also, secondary (IRR 1.20, CI 1.13–1.27) and tertiary (IRR 1.31, CI 1.23–1.40) level education increased the response proportion compared with primary-level education. We could reliably assess the effect of CRC screening invitation and demographic factors on survey response. Although invitation to CRC screening increased responding, the self-selection was similar on both survey rounds. Self-selection should be taken into account when generalizing results from survey studies to their target population.
Work Environment and Its Relationship to Quality Improvement
Authors: Hussein Azza Hassan Mohamed , Abou Hashish Ebtsam Aly
Published: May 2016

There is a gap in understanding how work environment contributes to hospitals' readiness for quality improvement (QI) in developing countries; thus, diagnosing work environment problems in health care organizations is the initial step in designing strategies for QI in organizations. This study examines the relationship between nurses' and physicians' perspectives of the work environments and hospitals' climate for QI. Study results indicate that work environment is positively associated with hospitals' readiness for QI.
Extended non-local games and monogamy-of-entanglement games
Authors: Johnston Nathaniel , Mittal Rajat , Russo Vincent , Watrous John
Published: May 2016

We study a generalization of non-local games—which we call
extended non-local games
—in which the players, Alice and Bob, initially share a tripartite quantum state with the referee. In such games, the winning conditions for Alice and Bob may depend on the outcomes of measurements made by the referee, on its part of the shared quantum state, in addition to Alice and Bob's answers to randomly selected questions. Our study of this class of games was inspired by the
monogamy-of-entanglement
games introduced by Tomamichel, Fehr, Kaniewski and Wehner, which they also generalize. We prove that a natural extension of the Navascués–Pironio–Acín hierarchy of semidefinite programmes converges to the optimal commuting measurement value of extended non-local games, and we prove two extensions of results of Tomamichel
et al.
 concerning monogamy-of-entanglement games.