bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimization Of PVDF-TrFE Processing Conditions For The Fabrication Of Organic MEMS Resonators
Authors: Ducrot Pierre-Henri , Dufour Isabelle , Ayela Cédric 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis paper reports a systematic optimization of processing conditions of PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric thin films, used as integrated transducers in organic MEMS resonators. Indeed, despite data on electromechanical properties of PVDF found in the literature, optimized processing conditions that lead to these properties remain only partially described. In this work, a rigorous optimization of parameters enabling state-of-the-art piezoelectric properties of PVDF-TrFE thin films has been performed via the evaluation of the actuation performance of MEMS resonators. Conditions such as annealing duration, poling field and poling duration have been optimized and repeatability of the process has been demonstrated.
Priority Choice Experimental Two-Qubit Tomography: Measuring One by One All Elements of Density Matrices
Authors: Bartkiewicz Karol , Černoch Antonín , Lemr Karel , Miranowicz Adam 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn standard optical tomographic methods, the off-diagonal elements of a density matrix ρ are measured indirectly. Thus, the reconstruction of ρ, even if it is based on linear inversion, typically magnifies small errors in the experimental data. Recently, an optimal tomography solution measuring all the elements of ρ one-by-one without error magnification has been theoretically proposed. We implemented this method for two-qubit polarization states. For comparison, we also experimentally implemented other well-known tomographic protocols, either based solely on local measurements (of, e.g., the Pauli operators and James-Kwiat-Munro-White projectors) or with mutually unbiased bases requiring both local and global measurements. We reconstructed seventeen separable, partially and maximally entangled two-qubit polarization states. Our experiments show that our method has the highest stability against errors in comparison to other quantum tomographies. In particular, we demonstrate that each optimally-reconstructed state is embedded in an uncertainty circle of the smallest radius, both in terms of trace distance and disturbance. We explain how to experimentally estimate uncertainty radii for all the implemented tomographies and show that, for each reconstructed state, the relevant uncertainty circles intersect indicating the approximate location of the corresponding physical density matrix.
First freshwater coralline alga and the role of local features in a major biome transition
Authors: Žuljević A. , Kaleb S. , Peña V. , Despalatović M. , Cvitković I. , De Clerck O. , Le Gall L. , Falace A. , Vita F. , Braga Juan C. , Antolić B. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractCoralline red algae are significant components of sea bottom and up to now considered as exclusively marine species. Here we present the first coralline alga from a freshwater environment, found in the Cetina River (Adriatic Sea watershed). The alga is fully adapted to freshwater, as attested by reproductive structures, sporelings and an inability to survive brackish conditions. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal the species belongs to Pneophyllum and is described as P. cetinaensis sp. nov. The marine-freshwater transition most probably occurred during the last glaciation. The brackish-water ancestor was preadapted to osmotic stress and rapid changes in water salinity and temperature. The particular characteristics of the karst Cetina River, such as hard water enriched with dissolved calcium carbonate and a pH similar to the marine environment, favoured colonization of the river by a marine species. The upstream advance and dispersal is facilitated by exceptionally pronounced zoochory by freshwater gastropods. Pneophyllum cetinaensis defies the paradigm of Corallinales as an exclusively marine group.
Precisely Determining Ultralow level UO22+ in Natural Water with Plasmonic Nanowire Interstice Sensor
Authors: Gwak Raekeun , Kim Hongki , Yoo Seung Min , Lee Sang Yup , Lee Gyoung-Ja , Lee Min-Ku , Rhee Chang-Kyu , Kang Taejoon , Kim Bongsoo 
Published: January 2016

AbstractUranium is an essential raw material in nuclear energy generation; however, its use raises concerns about the possibility of severe damage to human health and the natural environment. In this work, we report an ultrasensitive uranyl ion (UO22+) detection method in natural water that uses a plasmonic nanowire interstice (PNI) sensor combined with a DNAzyme-cleaved reaction. UO22+ induces the cleavage of DNAzymes into enzyme strands and released strands, which include Raman-active molecules. A PNI sensor can capture the released strands, providing strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering signal. The combination of a PNI sensor and a DNAzyme-cleaved reaction significantly improves the UO22+ detection performance, resulting in a detection limit of 1 pM and high selectivity. More importantly, the PNI sensor operates perfectly, even in UO22+-contaminated natural water samples. This suggests the potential usefulness of a PNI sensor in practical UO22+-sensing applications. We anticipate that diverse toxic metal ions can be detected by applying various ion-specific DNA-based ligands to PNI sensors.
Early Results of Clinical Application of Autologous Whole Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation for Critical Limb Ischemia with Buerger’s Disease
Authors: Heo Seon-Hee , Park Yoong-Seok , Kang Eun-Suk , Park Kwang-Bo , Do Young-Soo , Kang Kyung-Sun , Kim Dong-Ik 
Published: January 2016

AbstractOur goal was to evaluate early results of the clinical application of autologous whole bone marrow stem cell transplantation (AWBMSCT) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) in patients with Buerger’s disease. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 58 limbs of 37 patients (mean age, 43.0 years; range, 28–63 years; male, 91.9%) with Buerger’s disease with CLI who were treated with AWBMSCT from March 2013 to December 2014. We analyzed Rutherford category, pain score, pain-free walking time (PFWT), total walking time (TWT), ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) and toe brachial pressure index (TBPI) and investigated wound healing and occurrence of unplanned amputations. The mean follow-up duration was 11.9 ± 7.2 months (range, 0.9–23.9 months) and 100%, 72.4% and 74.1% of patients were available to follow-up 1, 3 and 6 months after AWBMST, respectively. At 6 months, patients demonstrated significant improvements in Rutherford category (P < 0.0001), pain score (P < 0.0001), PFWT (P < 0.0001) and TBPI (P < 0.0001). ABPI was increased compared to baseline, but the difference was not significant. A total of 76.5% ischemic wounds achieved complete or improved healing. AWBMSCT is a safe and effective alternative or adjunctive treatment modality to achieve clinical improvement in patients with CLI.
Acupuncture promotes mTOR-independent autophagic clearance of aggregation-prone proteins in mouse brain
Authors: Tian Tian , Sun Yanhong , Wu Huangan , Pei Jian , Zhang Jing , Zhang Yi , Wang Lu , Li Bin , Wang Lihua , Shi Jiye , Hu Jun , Fan Chunhai 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAcupuncture has historically been practiced to treat medical disorders by mechanically stimulating specific acupoints with fine needles. Despite its well-documented efficacy, its biological basis remains largely elusive. In this study, we found that mechanical stimulation at the acupoint of Yanglingquan (GB34) promoted the autophagic clearance of α-synuclein (α-syn), a well known aggregation-prone protein closely related to Parkinson’s disease (PD), in the substantia nigra par compacta (SNpc) of the brain in a PD mouse model. We found the protein clearance arose from the activation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) in a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-independent approach. Further, we observed the recovery in the activity of dopaminergic neurons in SNpc and improvement in the motor function at the behavior level of PD mice. Whereas acupuncture and rapamycin, a chemical mTOR inhibitor, show comparable α-syn clearance and therapeutic effects in the PD mouse model, the latter adopts a distinctly different, mTOR-dependent, autophagy induction process. Due to this fundamental difference, acupuncture may circumvent adverse effects of the rapamycin treatment. The newly discovered connection between acupuncture and autophagy not only provides a new route to understanding the molecular mechanism of acupuncture but also sheds new light on cost-effective and safe therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
A Nonsynonymous FCER1B SNP is Associated with Risk of Developing Allergic Rhinitis and with IgE Levels
Authors: Amo Gemma , García-Menaya Jesús , Campo Paloma , Cordobés Concepción , Serón M Carmen Plaza , Ayuso Pedro , Esguevillas Gara , Blanca Miguel , Agúndez Jose A.G. , García-Martín Elena 
Published: January 2016

AbstractAllergic rhinitis is associated with elevated serum IgE levels. IgE response is mediated by the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI), which is polymorphic. Studies analyzing the association between allergic rhinitis and FcεRI variants have been conducted with controversial results. The objective of this study is to analyze, in 1,041 individuals, the putative clinical association of allergic rhinitis with common polymorphisms in FcεRI subunits genes. These SNPs included FECR1A rs2494262, rs2427837 and rs2251746; FECR1B rs1441586, rs569108 and rs512555; FCER1G rs11587213, rs2070901 and rs11421. Statistically significant differences were observed for the FCER1B rs569108 and rs512555 polymorphisms frequencies when comparing patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma and controls. The OR (95% CI) value for the 237Gly allele (rs569108) is equal to 0.26 (0.08–0.86, P = 0.017) and for the G allele (rs512555) it is equal to 0.27 (0.08–0.88, P = 0.020). These two SNPs are linked (D’ = 1.0, LOD = 56.05). Also observed was a statistically significant trend towards lower IgE values among allergic rhinitis patients with variant alleles for both SNPs. In conclusion, in patients with allergic rhinitis without asthma, the FCER1B rs569108 and rs512555 polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of developing allergic rhinitis and with lower IgE levels.
Forest gaps slow the sequestration of soil organic matter: a humification experiment with six foliar litters in an alpine forest
Authors: Ni Xiangyin , Yang Wanqin , Tan Bo , Li Han , He Jie , Xu Liya , Wu Fuzhong 
Published: January 2016

AbstractHumification of plant litter containing carbon and other nutrients greatly contributes to the buildup of soil organic matter, but this process can be altered by forest gap-induced environmental variations during the winter and growing seasons. We conducted a field litterbag experiment in an alpine forest on the eastern Tibetan Plateau from November 2012 to October 2014. Six dominant types of foliar litter were placed on the forest floor in various forest gap positions, including gap centre, canopy gap, expanded gap and closed canopy. Over two years of incubation, all foliar litters were substantially humified especially during the first winter, although the newly accumulated humic substances were young and could be decomposed further. The forest gaps exhibited significant effects on early litter humification, but the effects were regulated by sampling seasons and litter types. Compared with the litter under the closed canopy, humification was suppressed in the gap centre after two years of field incubation. The results presented here suggest that gap formation delays the accumulation of soil organic matter and reduces soil carbon sequestration in these alpine forests.
Charge carrier thermalization in organic diodes
Authors: van der Kaap N. J. , Koster L. J. A. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractCharge carrier mobilities of organic semiconductors are often characterized using steady-state measurements of space charge limited diodes. These measurements assume that charge carriers are in a steady-state equilibrium. In reality, however, energetically hot carriers are introduces by photo-excitation and injection into highly energetic sites from the electrodes. These carriers perturb the equilibrium density of occupied states and therefore change the overall charge transport properties. In this paper, we look into the effect of energetically hot carriers on the charge transport in organic semiconductors using steady state kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. For injected hot carriers in a typical organic semiconductor, rapid energetic relaxation occurs in the order of tens of nanoseconds, which is much faster than the typical transit time of a charge carrier throught the device. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of photo-generated carriers on the steady-state mobility. For a typical organic voltaic material, an increase in mobility of a factor of 1.1 is found. Therefore, we conclude that the impact of energetically hot carriers on normal device operation is limited.
Method for surface coating of octahdro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine with submicron 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene
Authors: Tan Xuerong , Duan Xiaohui , Li Hongzhen , Pei Chonghua 
Published: January 2016

To improve the safety of octahdro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX), a submicron energetic material, 1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene (TATB), was introduced to coat HMX by a novel method. This novel method contained the reaction crystallisation and the solvent–non‐solvent method. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and optical microscopy analyses showed that a homogeneous layer of TATB particles with submicron scale had been successfully coated on the surface of HMX particle. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry indicated that the coated HMX only had an exothermic peak at 279.4 °C, and the phase transition temperature reached 213.5 °C and increased by 20.2 °C compared with the pure HMX. The content of the coating TATB was determined to be 6.2 wt.% through high‐performance liquid chromatograph. Relative to the mechanically mixed HMX/TATB, the drop height (H50) was increased from 23.0 to 74.1 cm, and the friction probability was reduced from 4 to 0% for the coated HMX.
Greek Hymnic Spaces
Authors: Thomas Oliver 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis chapter surveys how space is presented in a range of ancient Greek hymns, both literary and cultic. It proposes as a framework for analysis a distinction between the space of the god addressed, that of the human performers and audience, and that of any inset narratives in the hymn. Alignments between these three frames are often used to create empathy between worshipper and god, while disjunctions between them acknowledge the awesome strangeness of a divine worldview. The presentation of space is therefore a crucial strategy in constructing the worshipper–deity relationship. The chapter also shows how hymnic depictions of Delos help to make sense of Herodotus’ presuppositions when he describes the island.
Inferring and predicting global temperature trends
Authors: Ansley Craig , de Jong Piet 
Published: January 2016

AbstractA number of recent papers have proposed and used a method based on the Butterworth filter for smoothing the climatic time series. This chapter shows that the proposed method has undesirable properties, in that the smoothed values have high standard errors and may have considerable bias. Standard time series models can be used to avoid these problems. A state space model that fits the data well is estimated by maximum likelihood, and used to answer the questions of firstly whether there has been recent (in the last ten to twenty years) global warming, and secondly whether warming has been accelerating. The first question is answered in the affirmative while the second in the negative. The conclusions are robust to parameter uncertainties. Hundred year temperature forecasts are displayed as well as associated error bounds.
Inference for models with asymmetric α -stable noise processes
Authors: Lemke Tatjana , Godsill Simon J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis chapter begins with a simple general framework for inference in the presence of α-stable processes, where the stable processes are represented as conditionally Gaussian distributions, relying on (exact) series representations of the stable laws and the corresponding stochastic integrations in terms of infinite summations of random Poisson process arrival times. Inference can therefore be carried out using techniques including auxiliary variables, Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering, and Markov chain Monte Carlo. The Poisson series representation is further enhanced by introducing an approximation of the series residual terms based on exact moment calculations. Extensions to the discrete-time asymmetric stable case and to continuous-time are
Generalized linear spectral models
Authors: Proietti Tommaso , Luati Alessandra 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThis chapter considers a class of parametric spectrum estimators based on a generalized linear model for exponential random variables with power link. The power transformation of the spectrum of a stationary process can be expanded in a Fourier series, with the coefficients representing generalized autocovariances. Direct Whittle estimation of the coefficients is generally unfeasible, as they are subject to constraints. The problem can be overcome using an ARMA representation for the power transformation of the spectrum. Estimation is carried out by maximizing the Whittle likelihood, whereas spectral model selection, as a function of the power transformation parameter and the ARMA orders, can be by information criteria. The proposed methods are applied to the estimation of the inverse autocorrelation function and the related problem of selecting the optimal interpolator, and for the identification of spectral peaks. More generally, they can be applied to spectral estimation with possibly misspecified models.
The Fermi-LAT view of the colliding wind binaries
Authors: Pshirkov M. S. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Colliding wind binaries (CWBs) have been considered as a possible high-energy γ-ray sources for some time, however no system other than η Car has been detected. In the Letter, a sample of seven CWBs (WR 11, WR 70, WR 137, WR 140, WR 146, WR 147) which, by means of theoretic modelling, were deemed most promising candidates, was analysed using almost 7 yr of the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT) data. WR 11 (γ2 Vel) was detected at 6.1σ confidence level with a photon flux in 0.1–100 GeV range (1.8 ± 0.6) × 10−9 ph cm−2 s−1 and an energy flux (2.7 ± 0.5) × 10−12  erg cm−2 s−1. At the adopted distance d = 340 pc this corresponds to a luminosity L = (3.7 ± 0.7) × 1031 erg s−1. This luminosity amounts to ∼6 × 10−6 fraction of the total wind kinetic power and ∼1.6 × 10−4 fraction of the power injected into the wind–wind interaction region of this system. Upper limits were set on the high energy flux from the WR 70 and WR 140 systems.
Progress in the Study of Nonstationary Political Time Series: A Comment
Authors: Freeman John R. 
Published: January 2016

Cointegration was introduced to our discipline by Renée Smith and Charles Ostrom Jr. and by Robert Durr more than two decades ago at political methodology meetings in Washington University�St. Louis and Florida State University. Their articles, along with comments by Neal Beck and John T. Williams, were published in a symposium like this one in the fourth volume ofPolitical Analysis. Keele, Lin, and Webb (2016; hereafter KLW) and Grant and Lebo (2016; hereafter GL) show how, in the years that followed, cointegration was further evaluated by political scientists, and the related idea of error correction subsequently was applied.Have the last twenty-plus years witnessed significant progress in modeling nonstationary political time series? In some respects, the answer is yes. The present symposium represents progress in understanding equation balance, analyzing bounded variables, and decomposing short- and longterm causal effects. In these respects KLW's and GL's articles deserve wide dissemination. But KLW and GL leave important methodological issues unresolved. They do not address some critical methodological challenges. From a historical perspective, the present symposium shows that we have made relatively little progress in modeling nonstationary political time series.
Relationship value in outsourced FM services – value dimensions and drivers
Authors: Cui Ying Ying , Coenen Christian 
Published: January 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between relationship value and relationship quality in the business relationship between customers and facility management (FM) suppliers. To investigate the relationship value in outsourced FM services, the customer’s perspective is used to identify the dimensions and drivers of relationship value.Design/methodology/approach– A three-stage research design was used. The first stage was a thorough literature review, followed by expert interviews with six senior managers from the customer side, together with workshop and discussion with FM academics. In the third stage, quantitative data were gathered in a survey of 60 senior managers whose companies outsourced FM services.Findings– Findings show that relationship value is an antecedent to relationship quality of the business relationship in the context of FM. In all, 9 dimensions and 34 drivers of relationship value were identified, and a framework of relationship value for FM was established and measured. The sacrifice dimension correlates positively with relationship value, which contrasts with previous studies of relationship value in the context of business markets.Research limitations/implications– A framework of relationship value has been established for further in-depth investigation. There are limitations related to the sampling procedure: qualitative research selected large-sized organizations; the relationship value was only studied within the customer–FM supplier dyad; and a static view of customers’ perceived value from the relationship with their FM suppliers.Practical implications– The study provides a set of value dimensions and drivers for customers to assess how a FM supplier adds value in a relationship, and for FM suppliers to improve their services.Originality/value– This research narrowed the gap in relationship-value studies in FM. The findings can contribute to traditional theory that customer value can be the add-on between benefits (“what you get”) and sacrifices (“what you give”), rather than just a trade-off between these two dimensions.