bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lasing in Bose-Fermi mixtures
Authors: Kochereshko Vladimir P. , Durnev Mikhail V. , Besombes Lucien , Mariette Henri , Sapega Victor F. , Askitopoulos Alexis , Savenko Ivan G. , Liew Timothy C. H. , Shelykh Ivan A. , Platonov Alexey V. , Tsintzos Simeon I. , Hatzopoulos Z. , Savvidis Pavlos G. , Kalevich Vladimir K. , Afanasiev Mikhail M. , Lukoshkin Vladimir A. , Schneider Christian , Amthor Matthias , Metzger Christian , Kamp Martin , Hoefling Sven , Lagoudakis Pavlos , Kavokin Alexey 
Published: January 2016

AbstractLight amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, well-known for revolutionising photonic science, has been realised primarily in fermionic systems including widely applied diode lasers. The prerequisite for fermionic lasing is the inversion of electronic population, which governs the lasing threshold. More recently, bosonic lasers have also been developed based on Bose-Einstein condensates of exciton-polaritons in semiconductor microcavities. These electrically neutral bosons coexist with charged electrons and holes. In the presence of magnetic fields, the charged particles are bound to their cyclotron orbits, while the neutral exciton-polaritons move freely. We demonstrate how magnetic fields affect dramatically the phase diagram of mixed Bose-Fermi systems, switching between fermionic lasing, incoherent emission and bosonic lasing regimes in planar and pillar microcavities with optical and electrical pumping. We collected and analyzed the data taken on pillar and planar microcavity structures at continuous wave and pulsed optical excitation as well as injecting electrons and holes electronically. Our results evidence the transition from a Bose gas to a Fermi liquid mediated by magnetic fields and light-matter coupling.
Naturally occurring proteinaceous nanoparticles in Coptidis Rhizoma extract act as concentration-dependent carriers that facilitate berberine absorption
Authors: Ma Bing-Liang , Yin Chun , Zhang Bo-Kai , Dai Yan , Jia Yi-Qun , Yang Yan , Li Qiao , Shi Rong , Wang Tian-Ming , Wu Jia-Sheng , Li Yuan-Yuan , Lin Ge , Ma Yue-Ming 
Published: January 2016

AbstractPharmacological activities of some natural products diminish and even disappear after purification. In this study, we explored the mechanisms underlying the decrease of acute oral toxicity of Coptidis Rhizoma extract after purification. The water solubility, in vitro absorption and plasma exposure of berberine (the major active compound) in the Coptidis Rhizoma extract were much better than those of pure berberine. Scanning electron microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and dynamic light scattering experiments confirmed that nanoparticles attached to very fine precipitates existed in the aqueous extract solution. The LSCM experiment showed that the precipitates were absorbed with the particles by the mouse intestine. High-speed centrifugation of the extract could not remove the nanoparticles and did not influence plasma exposure or acute oral toxicity. However, after extract dilution, the attached precipitates vanished, although the nanoparticles were preserved and there were no differences in the acute oral toxicity and plasma exposure between the extract and pure berberine. The nanoparticles were then purified and identified as proteinaceous. Furthermore, they could absorb co-dissolved berberine. Our results indicate that naturally occurring proteinaceous nanoparticles in Coptidis Rhizoma extract act as concentration-dependent carriers that facilitate berberine absorption. These findings should inspire related studies in other natural products.
Uricase alkaline enzymosomes with enhanced stabilities and anti-hyperuricemia effects induced by favorable microenvironmental changes
Authors: Zhou Yunli , Zhang Mi , He Dan , Hu Xueyuan , Xiong Huarong , Wu Jianyong , Zhu Biyue , Zhang Jingqing 
Published: January 2016

AbstractEnzyme therapy is an effective strategy to treat diseases. Three strategies were pursued to provide the favorable microenvironments for uricase (UCU) to eventually improve its features: using the right type of buffer to constitute the liquid media where catalyze reactions take place; entrapping UCU inside the selectively permeable lipid vesicle membranes; and entrapping catalase together with UCU inside the membranes. The nanosized alkaline enzymosomes containing UCU/(UCU and catalase) (ESU/ESUC) in bicine buffer had better thermal, hypothermal, acid-base and proteolytic stabilities, in vitro and in vivo kinetic characteristics, and uric acid lowering effects. The favorable microenvironments were conducive to the establishment of the enzymosomes with superior properties. It was the first time that two therapeutic enzymes were simultaneously entrapped into one enzymosome having the right type of buffer to achieve added treatment efficacy. The development of ESU/ESUC in bicine buffer provides valuable tactics in hypouricemic therapy and enzymosomal application.
Enhanced film thickness for Néel wall in soft magnetic film by introducing strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy
Authors: Xu Fei , Wang Tao , Ma Tianyong , Wang Ying , Zhu Shimeng , Li Fashen 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis study investigated the magnetic domain walls in a single-layer soft magnetic film with strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy. The soft magnetic film is composed of a highly c-axis-oriented hcp-Co81Ir19 alloy with strong negative magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The domain structure of the soft Co81Ir19 films with thickness ranging from 50–230 nm in a demagnetization state was observed through magnetic force microscopy and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. Results reveal that the critical transition thickness at which the domain wall changes from Néel type to Bloch type is about 138 nm, which is much larger than the critical value of traditional Fe- and Co-based soft magnetic films with negligible magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Theoretical calculation was also performed and the calculated result agrees well with experimental data.
WISP1 mediates hepatic warm ischemia reperfusion injury via TLR4 signaling in mice
Authors: Tong Yao , Ding Xi-Bing , Chen Zhi-Xia , Jin Shu-Qing , Zhao Xiang , Wang Xin , Mei Shu-Ya , Jiang Xi , Wang Lingyu , Li Quan 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWnt-induced secreted protein-1 (WISP1) is an extracellular matrix protein that has been reported in cancer researches. Our previous studies on WISP1 implied it could be a harmful mediator in septic mice. However, its role in liver ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is unknown. This study investigated the effects of WISP1 on liver I/R damage. Male C57BL/6 wild-type mice were used to undergo 60 min segmental (70%) ischemia. WISP1 expression was measured after indicated time points of reperfusion. Anti-WISP1 antibody was injected intraperitoneally to mice. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockout mice and TIR-domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF) knockout mice were adopted in this study. WISP1 was significantly enhanced after 6 h of reperfusion when compared with sham treated mice and significantly decreased either by TLR4 knockout mice or TRIF knockout mice. Anti-WISP1 antibody significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), pathological changes and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the mice following I/R. Furthermore, significantly increased serum transaminase levels were found in C57 wild-type mice treated with recombinant WISP1 protein, but not found in TLR4 knockout or TRIF knockout mice subjected to liver I/R. Taken together, WISP1 might contribute to hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury in mice and possibly depends on TLR4/TRIF signaling.
A metasurface carpet cloak for electromagnetic, acoustic and water waves
Authors: Yang Yihao , Wang Huaping , Yu Faxin , Xu Zhiwei , Chen Hongsheng 
Published: January 2016

AbstractWe propose a single low-profile skin metasurface carpet cloak to hide objects with arbitrary shape and size under three different waves, i.e., electromagnetic (EM) waves, acoustic waves and water waves. We first present a metasurface which can control the local reflection phase of these three waves. By taking advantage of this metasurface, we then design a metasurface carpet cloak which provides an additional phase to compensate the phase distortion introduced by a bump, thus restoring the reflection waves as if the incident waves impinge onto a flat mirror. The finite element simulation results demonstrate that an object can be hidden under these three kinds of waves with a single metasurface cloak.
Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction: Differential Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Hussain Nehal , Charalampopoulos Athanasios , Ramjug Sheila , Condliffe Robin , Elliot Charlie A. , O'Toole Laurence , Swift Andrew , Kiely David G 
Published: January 2016

The most common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left heart disease (LHD) was previously rheumatic mitral valve disease. However, with the disappearance of rheumatic fever and an aging population, nonvalvular LHD is now the most common cause of group 2 PH in the developed world. In this review, we examine the challenge of investigating patients who have PH and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF‐pEF), where differentiating between pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and PH‐LHD can be difficult, and also discuss the entity of combined precapillary and postcapillary PH. Given the proven efficacy of targeted therapy for the treatment of PAH, there is increasing interest in whether these treatments may benefit selected patients with PH associated with HF‐pEF, and we review current trial data.
Susceptibility of Maize Inbreds and Incidence of Symptomless Infection by the Head Smut Pathogen, Sphacelotheca reiliana
Authors: Anderson S. J. , Simmons H. E. , French-Monar R. D. , Munkvold G. P. 
Published: January 2016

A real-time PCR assay was used to compare seedling infection by Sphacelotheca reiliana, the causal agent of head smut, among five inbred genotypes representing low, moderate, and high susceptibility to the disease. Seeds were coated with teliospores and planted in autoclaved field soil in a growth chamber. Incidence of seedling infection at growth stage V3 differed between an inbred genotype of low susceptibility and those of moderate and high susceptibility, but did not differ between the high and moderately susceptible groups (P < 0.05). The real-time PCR assay was also used to compare infection status at early and late vegetative stages with observable symptoms in the field. We detected infection via real-time PCR in maize at both growth stages during field trials conducted in Texas and California but observed no disease symptoms (smutted ears or tassels). Notably, the fungus was present in up to 31% of the ear shoots in plots without disease symptoms. The real-time assay can be a useful tool for screening seedling-stage host resistance, and for better understanding the progress of infection in different maize genotypes. The field data suggest that asymptomatic infection is much more common than previously thought, and may have important implications for the epidemiology of this fungus under diverse plant resistance and growing conditions. Accepted for publication 11 December 2015. Published 5 January 2016.
Synchronization of discrete-time multi-agent systems under input sets with limited precision
Authors: Meng Yang , Wang Zi 
Published: January 2016

Purpose
– This paper aims to study that for multi-agent systems, how to find proper control protocols to ensure synchronization when the input set of each agent is not the whole real axis but a discrete set, and how the coarseness of imprecise input sets affect the synchronization control of the multi-agent systems.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper uses a relative state feedback method and non-linear mapping functions to design a proper control protocol which matches the coarseness of the input set and ensures synchronization. For theoretical analysis, the paper uses an error analysis method and mathematic induction to prove the effectiveness of the designed control protocol. The paper also uses a numerical example to show the correctness of the theoretical results.

Findings
– The paper provides a method for protocol design when the input set of each agent is imprecise. The paper establishes a bi-direction relationship which suffices for synchronization between the coarseness of the input set and the synchronization precision, and finds that this relationship describes how the coarseness of the input set affects the synchronization control of the multi-agent system.

Research limitations/implications
– This paper only studies the case with logarithmically distributed and uniformly distributed discrete input sets. The authors are encouraged to study the synchronization control of multi-agent systems under input sets with more general distributions.

Practical implications
– The paper includes implications for coordination control of multi-agent networks when the actuator of each agent is with a limited capacity, which leads to the case of discrete input sets with limit precision.

Originality/value
– This paper fulfils an identified need to study how the coarseness of the input set of each agent affects the synchronization control of the whole multi-agent system.
Capacity building in construction health and safety research, education, and practice in Pakistan
Authors: Azhar Salman , Choudhry Rafiq M. 
Published: January 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present findings of a capacity building project on construction health and safety that is recently completed in Pakistan. The major objectives of this project are: first, to benchmark the current state of construction health and safety practices in Pakistan and to identify the data needs for continuous performance measurement; second, to develop health and safety guidelines; third, to develop adequate educational and training material; and finally, to improve the existing regulatory infrastructure for worker health and safety.

Design/methodology/approach
– Mixed-methods approach is adopted for data collection which included site observations, surveys, semi-structured interviews, and case studies. The methodology consists of following major tasks: first, literature review and study of best practices; second, investigation of existing safety practices and development of guidelines; third, educational and training programs for construction professionals and educators; and finally, development of a strategic framework for continuous improvement in construction safety culture, laws, and practices. Collected data were analyzed using various qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods.

Findings
– The enforcement of health and safety regulations on construction sites is very limited in Pakistan. Procedures for formulating, implementing, and monitoring safety rules and regulations are weak, and the implementation of safety management systems does not occur on most construction sites. The paper presents a detailed plan to improve the health and safety culture, laws, and practices in Pakistan.

Practical/implications
– Detailed proposals for improving existing construction health and safety laws and regulations are prepared for relevant regulatory and statutory bodies and ministries in Pakistan. From an educational perspective, comprehensive health and safety training material are developed and training workshops are conducted in major cities of Pakistan. Over 1,000 construction professionals benefited from these workshops.

Social/implications
– The project helped in raising awareness about construction health and safety in Pakistan.

Originality/value
– The project benchmarked existing health and safety practices in Pakistan. It identified data needs for continuous monitoring of health and safety performance and provided a mechanism for collecting such data. The project produced international standard health and safety training material that can fulfill the local needs. The project deliverables are extremely helpful for other developing countries in the region.
Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature; 91
Authors: McGrath Mike 
Published: January 2016

Purpose– This paper aims to review the current library and information science (LIS) literature for document supply, resource sharing and other issues such as open access (OA) that have an impact on the service.Design/methodology/approach– The approach is based on the scanning of about 150 journals, reports, Web sites and blogs.Findings– Nearly all material reviewed is freely available, continuing the trend of increasing OA. As always, these days, much is happening on the OA front. Big deals and Scholarly Communications are reviewed along with ebooks, users and of course ILL.Originality value– The only regular literature review that focuses on interlending, document supply and related issues.
Different‐sized grazers have distinctive effects on plant functional composition of an African savannah
Authors: van der Plas Fons , Howison Ruth A. , Mpanza Nokukhanya , Cromsigt Joris P. G. M. , Olff Han 
Published: January 2016

Summary

Grazing ungulates play a key role in many ecosystems worldwide and can form diverse assemblages, such as in African savannahs. In many of these ecosystems, present‐day ungulate communities are impoverished subsets of once diverse assemblages. While we know that excluding all ungulates from grasslands can exert major effects on both the structure and composition of the vegetation, how different individual ungulate species may have contrasting effects on grassland communities remains poorly understood.

Here, we performed a long‐term ‘Russian doll’ grazing exclosure experiment in an African savannah to test for the effects of different size classes of grazers on grassland structure and composition. At five sites, grazer species of decreasing size class (ranging from white rhino to scrub hare) were excluded using four fence types, to experimentally create different realized grazer assemblages. The vegetation structure and the grass functional community composition were characterized in 6 different years over a 10‐year period. Additionally, animal footprints were counted to quantify the abundance of different ungulate species in each treatment.

We found that while vegetation height was mostly driven by total grazing pressure of all species together, ungulate community composition best explained the functional community composition of grasses. In the short term, smaller ungulate species (‘mesoherbivores’) had strongest effects on vegetation composition, by shifting communities towards dominance by species with low specific leaf area and low nutritional value. In the long term, large grazers had stronger but similar effects on the functional composition of the system. Surprisingly, the largest ‘mega‐herbivore’, the white rhinoceros, did not have strong effects on the vegetation structure or composition.

Synthesis. Our results support the idea that different size classes of grazers have varying effects on the functional composition of grassland plant communities. Therefore, the worldwide decline in the diversity of ungulate species is expected to have (had) major impacts on community composition and functioning of grassland ecosystems, even if total grazing pressure has remained constant, for example, due to replacement by livestock.
The Commons Select Committee System in the 2015–20 Parliament
Authors: Marsh Ian 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe House of Commons select committees witnessed some of the most constructive political theatre of the 2010‐2015 Parliament. Recall Rupert Murdoch's public contrition, Margaret Hodge's assault on MNC tax evasion and Keith Vaz's timely interrogations of G4S, etc. The committees also embraced social media and adopted public engagement as a key task. These developments all reflect a newly emboldened system. In recent months, four reports have been published which reflect on these developments. They also look forward to the further substantial development of committee activity. The system thus sets sail with an abundance of specific suggestions, including ideas that could have far wider and more far‐reaching democratic implications.
Isolation and Characterization of Spore‐Forming Bacilli (SFB) from Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa‐pastoris)
Authors: Lee Won‐Jun , Kim Hye‐Bin , Kim Keun‐Sung 
Published: January 2016

AbstractShepherd's purse (Capsella bursa‐pastoris), native to Europe, is commonly consumed fresh and sometimes inadequately washed before consumption in Korea. The objective of this study was to characterize isolates of spore‐forming bacilli (SFB) in samples of fresh Shepherd's purse. Three genera were identified: Bacillus (9 species), Paenibacillus (3 species), and Brevibacillus (1 species). None of the genes of the hemolysin BL (HBL) and nonhemolytic enterotoxin (NHE) complexes, or of the emetic toxin, was detected in the 25 SFB isolates, except for 2 Bacillus pseudomycoides isolates, where all 3 genes of the HBL enterotoxin complex were detected. There were significant sequence variations between the 2 species (Bacillus cereus and B. pseudomycoides) in the 3 genes of the HBL enterotoxin complex. These findings may provide insights into the diverse characteristics of the B. pseudomycoides HBL enterotoxin complex. Antibiotic resistance was assessed using 8 antibiotics. Among the 25 SFB isolates, 11 showed resistance to antibiotics, of which 5 were multiresistant. Assessment of the spoilage potential showed that all 25 SFB isolates could produce enzymes that can cause spoilage of foods. In conclusion, our findings may serve as integrative information for food research and industrial sectors.
Ketamine exposure during embryogenesis inhibits cellular proliferation in rat fetal cortical neurogenic regions
Authors: Dong C. , Rovnaghi C. R. , Anand K. J. S. 
Published: January 2016

BackgroundDevelopmental neurotoxicity of ketamine, an N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor antagonist, must be considered due to its widespread uses for sedation/analgesia/anesthesia in pediatric and obstetric settings. Dose‐dependent effects of ketamine on cellular proliferation in the neurogenic regions of rat fetal cortex [ventricular zone (VZ) and subventricular zone (SVZ)] were investigated in this in vivo study.MethodsTimed‐pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats at embryonic day 17 (E17) were given with different doses of ketamine intraperitoneally (0, 1, 2, 10, 20, 40, and 100 mg/kg). Proliferating cells in the rat fetal brains were labeled by injecting 100 mg/kg of 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally. BrdU‐labeled cells were detected by immunostaining methods. The numbers of BrdU‐positive cells in VZ and SVZ of rat fetal cortex were employed to quantify proliferation in the developing rat cortex.ResultsKetamine dose‐dependently reduced the number of BrdU‐positive cells in VZ (P < 0.001) and SVZ (P < 0.001) of the rat fetal cortex. SVZ showed greater susceptibility to ketamine‐induced reduction of proliferation in rat fetal cortex, occurring even at clinically relevant doses (2 mg/kg).ConclusionThese data suggest that exposure to ketamine during embryogenesis can dose‐dependently inhibit the cellular proliferation in neurogenic regions of the rat fetal cortex.