bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
9.0% efficient Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells from selenized nanoparticle inks
Authors: Miskin Caleb K. , Yang Wei‐Chang , Hages Charles J. , Carter Nathaniel J. , Joglekar Chinmay S. , Stach Eric A. , Agrawal Rakesh 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThin‐film solar cells using Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 absorber materials continue to attract increasing attention. The synthesis of kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles by a modified method of hot injection is explained. Characterization of the nanoparticles by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Raman, and transmission electron microscopy is presented and discussed. When suspended in an ink, coated, and processed into a device, the nanoparticles obtained by this synthesis achieve a total area (active area) efficiency of 9.0% (9.8%) using AM 1.5 illumination and light soaking. This improvement over the previous efficiency of 7.2% is attributed to the modified synthesis approach, as well as fine‐tuned conditions for selenizing the coated nanoparticles into a dense absorber layer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Respiratory muscle strength in healthy infants and those with surgically correctable anomalies
Authors: Kassim Zainab , Moxham John , Davenport Mark , Nicolaides Kypros , Greenough Anne , Rafferty Gerrard F. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryAssessment of respiratory muscle strength provides important diagnostic and prognostic information. Normative data in healthy, term infants is, however, limited. Surgically correctable birth defects, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and abdominal wall defects (AWD), commonly have impaired diaphragm function. The study aims were to obtain normative data for respiratory muscle strength in healthy, term born infants at birth and at 6 weeks postnatal age (PNA) and to investigate the influence of growth and maturation on inspiratory muscle strength in CDH/AWD infants. Maximal inspiratory (cPimax) and expiratory (cPemax) pressures during crying were measured at birth in 67 healthy, term born infants (mean (SD) gestational age (GA) 39.4 (1.7) weeks) and reassessed in 27 at 6 weeks PNA. cPimax and functional residual capacity (FRC) (22.3 (4.2) ml/kg) were also measured in 23 infants with AWD/CDH (mean (SD) GA 36.9 (2.1) weeks) and reassessed in 16 at median (range) 6.5 (1.5–15) months PNA. In healthy infants, mean (SD) cPimax was 88.8 (19.33) cmH2O and cPemax 61.8 (13.5) cmH2O at birth, increasing significantly at followup to 100.9 (15.2) cmH2O (P < 0.05) and 82.6 (19.4) cmH2O (P < 0.001) respectively. Mean (SD) cPimax was significantly lower (47.5 (22.4) cmH2O, P < 0.0001) in AWD/CDH infants compared to healthy infants at birth but had increased significantly to 88.1 (27.6) cmH2O (P < 0.0001) at followup which correlated significantly with increases in FRC (r2 = 0.33, P = 0.0263). Infants with AWD and CDH have significantly reduced inspiratory muscle strength compared to healthy term born infants but strength increases markedly in early life. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015; 50:71–78. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of Temperature, Density and Confinement on Deflagration to Detonation Transition of an HMX‐Based Explosive
Authors: Dai Xiao‐Gan , Wen Yu‐Shi , Huang Feng‐Lei , Huang Hui , Huang Yi‐Min 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn order to obtain the characteristics of the deflagration‐to‐detonation transition (DDT) of PBX‐2 (an HMX‐based explosive) under different conditions, DDT tests were carried out as a function of charge density, temperature, and shell confinement. In these tests, the energetic materials were electrically ignited. The DDT response characteristics for PBX‐2 with 53 % and 99 % of theoretical maximum density (TMD) were evaluated by different shell thickness confinements at ambient temperature and at 85 °C. The test results with different densities, confinements and temperatures exhibited a wide range of reaction violence. Firstly, at both ambient temperature and at 85 °C under 10 and 20 mm shell thickness confinement, PBX‐2 did not undergo fully DDT at 99 % TMD, only a low velocity detonation (LVD) occurred. Secondly, PBX‐2 at 53 % TMD underwent DDT, and significant influence on the minimum run distance to detonation by the shell confinement thickness was observed. Strong confinement is favorable for the transition of DDT but the confinement does not influence reaction degree. Thirdly, the reaction degree of PBX‐2 at 85 °C was remarkably lower than that at ambient temperature. This insensitizing effect of temperature is induced by the melting and flowing of bonders which reduces the porosity and inhibits an important step of DDT, namely, high turbulent combustion.
Changes in the responsiveness of hypothalamic prokineticin 2 mRNA expression to food deprivation in developing female rats
Authors: Iwasa Takeshi , Matsuzaki Toshiya , Munkhzaya Munkhsaikhan , Tungalagsuvd Altankhuu , Kawami Takako , Murakami Masahiro , Yamasaki Mikio , Kato Takeshi , Kuwahara Akira , Yasui Toshiyuki , Irahara Minoru 
Published: February 2014

AbstractProkineticin 2 (PK2) is highly expressed in several regions of the central nervous system, including the hypothalamus. Recently, it has been suggested that PK2 plays a role in appetite regulation. In adult male rodents, the administration of PK2 decreased food intake, and PK2 mRNA expression was reduced by food deprivation. Usually, the changes in the expression levels of appetite‐regulating factors induced in response to fasting are not fully established during the neonatal period. Thus, we investigated the developmental changes in hypothalamic PK2 mRNA expression and the alterations in hypothalamic PK2 mRNA expression induced by fasting during the pre‐pubertal period in female rats. The changes in hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA expression were also examined because NPY is a potent appetite regulatory factor. Hypothalamic PK2 mRNA expression was extremely high during the early neonatal period (postnatal day (PND) 5) compared with that observed during subsequent periods (PND15, 25, and 42), while hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression did not differ among any of the examined periods. A fasting‐induced reduction in hypothalamic PK2 mRNA expression was observed on PND5, but no fasting‐induced increase in hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression was seen during the same period. In addition, the fasting‐induced reduction in hypothalamic PK2 mRNA expression observed on PND5 was more marked than that seen on PND25. These results suggest that the sensitivity of hypothalamic PK2 expression to undernutrition develops during the early neonatal period, when the responses of other appetite regulatory factors to such pressures remain immature.
Expression of chemokine receptor‐4 in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on experimental rat abdominal aortic aneurysms and the migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with stromal‐derived factor‐1
Authors: Long Miao‐Yun , Li Hong‐Hao , Pen Xin‐Zhi , Huang Ming‐Qing , Luo Ding‐Yuan , Wang Pei‐Shun 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis study investigated the expression and role of chemokine receptor‐4 (CXCR4) in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from experimental rats with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) for migration of BMSCs. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into an experimental group and control group (n = 18 each). AAA was induced with 0.75 M solution infiltrate for 30 minutes, after which the abdomen was rinsed and closed. Saline was used in place of CaCl2 in the control group. CD34 and CD29 were detected by flow cytometry, the gene and protein expression of CXCR4 were detected by real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. The migration of BMSCs with stromal‐derived factor‐1 was detected by Transwell chamber. CD34 expression was negative and CD29 expression was positive. The gene and protein expression of CXCR4 were significantly higher in experimental group than them in control group (p < 0.05), the migration ability of BMSCs from the experimental group was significantly higher than that from the control group (p < 0.05). Stromal‐derived factor ‐1/CXCR4 can enhance the migration of BMSCs in vitro in a rat AAA model.
The transfer of IgA from mucus to plasma and the implications for diagnosis and control of nematode infections
Authors: DE CISNEROS JOAQUÍN PRADA JIMÉNEZ , MATTHEWS LOUISE , MAIR COLETTE , STEFAN THORSTEN , STEAR MICHAEL J. 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYImmunoglobulin A (IgA) activity has been associated with reduced growth and fecundity of Teladorsagia circumcincta. IgA is active at the site of infection in the abomasal mucus. However, while IgA activity in abomasal mucus is not easily measured in live animals without invasive methods, IgA activity can be readily detected in the plasma, making it a potentially valuable tool in diagnosis and control. We used a Bayesian statistical analysis to quantify the relationship between mucosal and plasma IgA in sheep deliberately infected with T. circumcincta. The transfer of IgA depends on mucosal IgA activity as well as its interaction with worm number and size; together these account for over 80% of the variation in plasma IgA activity. By quantifying the impact of mucosal IgA and worm number and size on plasma IgA, we provide a tool that can allow more meaningful interpretation of plasma IgA measurements and aid the development of efficient control programmes.
Gastrointestinal parasites in relation to host traits and group factors in wild meerkatsSuricata suricatta
Authors: LECLAIRE SARAH , FAULKNER CHARLES T. 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYMeerkats are one of the most endearing of South African's wildlife celebrities and one of the most highly studied social mammals. However, although parasites are widely recognized as important regulatory factors in animal population, basic knowledge on meerkats’ parasites is lacking. Here 100 fresh fecal samples of wild meerkats were examined for the presence of endoparasitic infection. Endoparasitic taxa identified by the presence of eggs or oocysts includedToxocara suricattae,Oxynema suricattae,Pseudandrya suricattae,Cystoisosporasp. andEimeriasp. Non-specific diagnoses were made for parasites in the Order Strongylida, Order Spirurida and coccidian based on the morphology and size of the eggs and oocysts. The prevalence of infection withT. suricattaeand the strongylate species increased with age, while prevalence of coccidia and intensity of infection by the strongylate species increased with decreasing group size, suggesting that stress associated with living in smaller group may increase susceptibility to parasitism. Moreover, parasite communities were more similar between individuals from the same group than between individuals from different groups, suggesting an important role of the environment in parasite infestation. We did not detect any differences between males and females. This study represents the first detailed report of gastrointestinal parasites in wild meerkats, and is a key starting point for future studies on the effect of endoparasite load in the life history of this species.
Redating Rams Hill and reconsidering Bronze Age enclosure
Authors: Needham Stuart , Ambers Janet 
Published: February 2014

A new set of radiocarbon measurements for the three phases of Bronze Age enclosure at Rams Hill allows refinement of their chronology. Phase 1 is radiocarbon dated for the first time and appears, contrary to previous indications, not to be very much earlier than phases 2 and 3. The dates are on carefully selected bone samples and give a rather later timespan overall than an earlier set of dates on charcoal, within the 13th–10th centuries cal BC. This span bridges the formal Middle–Late Bronze Age transition, overlapping the use ofPenard and Wilburton metalwork. The opportunity is taken to clarify some confused aspects of Bronze Age periodization.The development of Bronze Age enclosure in Britain is reviewed. A former suggestion that Rams Hill is representative of a class of Middle Bronze Age high-status enclosure is re-examined. Current evidence does not support the idea of a coherent set of sites either functionally or chronologically. It is considered likely that Rams Hill represents an emergent state of larger-scale enclosure, perhaps after the regular embanking of small domestic sites. However, the precise role of Rams Hill in the regional economy remains enigmatic.
Excavations at Mad Mans Window, Glenarm, Co. Antrim: Problems of Flint Exploitation in East Antrim
Authors: Woodman P. C. 
Published: February 2014

This study examines the archaeological significance of the material from a group of Neolithic chipping floors rescued during the rebuilding of the Antrim coast road, at Mad Mans Window, south of Glenarm, Co. Antrim. It shows that the lithic production strategies vary significantly between assemblages although it is presumed that they are all Neolithic in date and come from the same area of coast. It is apparent that flint axe production was of limited importance on these sites and that in spite of the abundance of flint available along the Antrim coast, relatively few polished flint axes were manufactured. Instead the numerous flint caches found in adjacent parts of the north-east of Ireland tend to produce scrapers and blades. Hoards containing arrowheads may be confined to the Bronze Age.Around 300 polished flint axes and roughouts are known from Ireland. These are frequently small and only partially polished. A limited number of highly polished axes with ground flat side facets have been designated sub-type A. The tendency to use porcellanite rather than flint for axe manufacture may be due to its ability to withstand robust shock.During the last 100 years, the role of flint as a key resource in the stone age of north-eastern Ireland has always been recognized but this has usually led to an uncritical assumption as to the paramount importance of flint. Work in recent years has shown that its significance in attracting and retaining Mesolithic settlement may have been over-emphasized.The role of the flint industries in the Irish Neolithic in this region has never been properly assessed, either in relation to older Mesolithic manufacturing traditions or in the broader context of supply to the Neolithic communities of this part of Ireland.In particular, good or even reasonable quality flint is usually only exposed in Cretaceous outcrops along a narrow strip on the edge of the basalt plateau and, therefore, has a very limited availability in parts of Co. Antrim as well as parts of Counties Down and Deny. As a contrast, erratic and beach flint is available in some quantity down the east coast of Ireland from Co. Down to Wexford. A second potential constraining factor is that unlike Britain, where flint was exploited for axe manufacture in the east and other rocks in the west, flint sources and porcellanite for axe manufacturing are both found adjacent to each other in the same corner of Co. Antrim. In particular, a number of more substantial chipping floors of Neolithic age are known, e.g. the opencast quarry sites at Ballygalley Head. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of flint production on the Antrim coast with particular reference to its significance in the Neolithic. This topic will be developed in the context of an analysis of the material found at Mad Mans Window near Glenarm.
Prehistoric Copper Mining in South-West Ireland: The Mount Gabriel-Type Mines
Authors: O'Brien William F. 
Published: February 2014

This paper examines the Mt Gabriel-type exploitation of sedimentary mineralization in the West Cork region of south-west Ireland. It includes a consideration of the physical setting of the mines, their distribution, morphology, technology, dating and cultural affinities. Mt Gabriel, the highest mountain of the Mizen Peninsula in south-west Cork, was the setting for extensive mining of surface copper beds during the closing stages of the Early Bronze Age. Recent radiocarbon dating of wood and charcoal from these sites confirms that the main period of mining activity on this mountain was between 1700–1500 cal. BC, making these the oldest copper mines presently known in north-west Europe. The importance of these sites lies not only in their antiquity, but in their unique preservation in upland blanket bog environments.A recent programme of survey and excavation culminated in the investigation of the mine 3/4 site on the eastern slopes of the mountain. The removal of a large peat-based infill deposit from mine 3 revealed an 11 metre deep inclined opening, in which the transition from a strata-bound drift-mine to a cross-cutting tunnel was visible. Waterlogged sediments within this mine contained a large assemblage of roundwood fuel and wooden mining equipment, including a shovel, pick, wedges, lighting chips and handles for the many stone-hammers which were also found. The excavation of a large spoil mound outside this mine has provided important evidence on ore treatment in these operations, an important element of which involved the repeated crushing of rock using stone cobble-hammers. Activity areas located on the periphery of this dump included further dressing floors, concentrations of broken stone tools and a posthole structure with associated water trough.This mining, together with an expanded Early Bronze Age metal production in south-west Ireland, may be directly associated with an important intensification of agricultural production and human settlement in this region, which also finds expression in the adoption of new sepulchral and ceremonial traditions. The ore sources constituted an important resource during this period, contributing to the emergence of controlling élites who had an important managerial role in the production and distribution of metal.
Survey and Excavation of Ring Cairns in SE Dyfed and on Gower, West Glamorgan
Authors: Ward Anthony H. 
Published: February 2014

Ring cairns in Wales have been viewed as a discrete form of structured cairn, a stony ring enclosing an open central area, dating to the second millennium be, whose distinctive character may reflect a particular role not primarily connected with the interment of the dead. Fifteen likely ring cairns were noted in cairn groups on five ridges in SE Dyfed and on the Gower Peninsula. Although the position of ring cairns on these ridges to some extent overlaps that of other cairns, ring cairns tend towards locations particularly dominated by higher ground which are not so favoured by the other cairns. A range of structural elaborations was present amongst the ring cairns including kerbing, in-filled interiors, orthostats in the bank, and breaks in the ring possibly representing entrances.Two ring cairns adjacent to each other, GCRC I and II, on Cefn Bryn, Gower were excavated. GCRC I was a stony ring bank, originally with two entrances, one of which had been blocked in antiquity. It enclosed an open area at the centre of which was a pit containing a very little burnt bone. GCRC II comprised a ring bank of stone with inner kerb, against which was a pit containing earth and charcoal flecks. It certainly had one entrance, which was deliberately blocked perhaps at the same time as the interior was filled with stone to the level of the top of the kerb. The pit contents at the rings each gave mid-ind millennium be radiocarbon dates. It is possible that the pit fill at GCRC I came from an earlier burial elsewhere so the determination may not reflect the time of deposition at GCRC I.A case can be argued that ring cairns in the area were built for the public performance of ceremonial on the basis of the apparent absence of formal burial at GCRC I and II, and the structure and siting of the monuments suggesting their suitability as arenas. Ceremonial may have been connected with mortuary ritual, although undated evidence for early agricultural activity in the vicinity of the rings indicates a potentially wider social and economic context for their use. While aspects of the evidence for activity at the two excavated ring cairns may be paralleled at structurally similar monuments in N Wales and S W England, some variations in form and activity are apparent which could indicate differences of emphasis during the time they were in use across the region. Finally, ring cairns are not the only form of broadly contemporary monument to which a ceremonial role can be assigned, and the differences in monumental form could well reflect different ritual requirements, or even social distinctions though too little work has been undertaken as yet on possible social models for the region for this idea to be developed.
Acute gastroenteritis outbreaks associated with ground-waterborne norovirus in South Korea during 2008–2012
Authors: CHO H. G. , LEE S. G. , KIM W. H. , LEE J. S. , PARK P. H. , CHEON D. S. , JHEONG W. H. , JHO E. H. , LEE J. B. , PAIK S. Y. 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYEpidemiological and virological studies indicate that noroviruses-contaminated groundwater was the primary source of four acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in South Korea between 2008 and 2012. Furthermore, cabbage kimchi was first identified as the vehicle of transmission between groundwater and infected patients in an outbreak in 2011. The proper treatment of groundwater sources prior to use for drinking or in food preparation is necessary to prevent further outbreaks.
Recent trends in the epidemiology of shigellosis in Israel
Authors: COHEN D. , BASSAL R. , GOREN S. , ROUACH T. , TARAN D. , SCHEMBERG B. , PELED N. , KENESS Y. , KEN-DROR S. , VASILEV V. , NISSAN I. , AGMON V. , SHOHAT T. 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYWe provide an update on the epidemiology of shigellosis in Israel using data generated by a sentinel laboratory-based surveillance network for the period 1998–2012. The average annual incidence of culture-proven shigellosis was 97/100 000. We estimated that each case of shigellosis accounted for 25 cases in the community indicating the high burden of disease. Orthodox Jewish communities, living in highly crowded conditions and with a high number of children aged <5 years were the epicentre of country-wide biennial propagated epidemics ofS. sonneishigellosis.S. flexneriwas the leadingShigellaserogroup in Israeli Arabs.S. flexneri2a andS. flexneri6 alternated as the most common serotypes. BothS. sonneiandS. flexneriisolates showed high rates of resistance to ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and very low rates of resistance to quinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. Shigellosis due toS. sonneiconferred 81% (95% confidence interval 69–89) protection against the homologousShigellaserotype when epidemic exposure re-occurred 2 years later. These data are of value in the process ofShigellavaccine development.
CoRoT target HD 51844: a δ Scuti star in a binary system with periastron brightening
Authors: Hareter Markus , Paparó Margit 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe star HD 51844 was observed in the CoRoT LRa02 as a target in the seismology field, which turned out to be an SB2 system. The 117-day light curve revealed δ Scuti pulsations in the range of 6 to 15 d−1 where four frequencies have amplitudes larger than 1.4 mmag, and a rich frequency spectrum with amplitudes lower than 0.6 mmag. Additionally, the light curve exhibits a 3-mmag brightening event recurring every 33.5 days with a duration of about 5 days. The radial velocities from spectroscopy confirmed that the star is an eccentric binary system with nearly identical masses and physical parameters. The brightening event in the light curve coincides with the maximum radial-velocity separation showing that the brightening is in fact caused by tidal distortion and/or reflected light. One component displays large line-profile variations, while the other does not show significant variation. The frequency analysis revealed a quintuplet structure of the four highest-amplitude frequencies, which is due to the orbital motion of the pulsating star.