bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design of large dynamic range, low‐power, high‐precision ROIC for quantum dot infrared photo‐detector
Authors: Gupta H.S. , Kumar A.S.K. , Chakrabarti S. , Paul S. , Parmar R.M. , Samudraiah D.R.M. , Baghini M.S. , Sharma D.K. 
Published: July 2013

Hybrid infrared (IR) focal plane arrays consist of an array of IR photo‐detectors, bump‐bonded to a silicon CMOS readout integrated circuit (ROIC) chip. Design and optimisation of ROIC for quantum dot IR detectors is a multidimensional problem. The major design challenge is to select appropriate readout circuit topology to meet the large dynamic range requirement of quantum dot IR photo‐detectors within the area dictated by the matched pixel size. Proposed is an efficient design optimisation for ROIC. The optimisation is based on a proposed decision matrix, which leads to a decision merit for ROIC design. Four main specifications, i.e. charge handling capacity, noise, power dissipation and detector bias voltage variations, have been considered. Various architectures have been compared using circuit design, simulation and implementation. The targeted ROIC specifications for a test chip containing a 4 × 4 array are: 5 Mē charge handling capacity, 30 × 30 µm maximum pixel size, snapshot mode of operation, variable integration time, 5 megapixels/s (Mpps) readout rate and readout noise of 600ē at ambient temperature. Also presented is a design with 5 Mē charge handling capacity, which has not been reported for 180 nm CMOS process earlier.
Design of ultra‐wideband bandstop filter using defected ground structure
Authors: Chen Fu‐Chang , Zhang Ning‐Yu , Zhang Pei‐Sheng , Chu Qing‐Xin 
Published: July 2013

A simple wideband bandstop filter which yields equal ripples in the stopband is described. The filter comprises only two resonators and a connecting transmission line. Ultra‐wide stopband characteristic is achieved by realising three transmission zeros near the passband edges. Stopband rejection depth and bandwidth can be controlled by impedances of the configuration. The defected ground structure is chosen to realise the high impedance line. To validate the proposed topology, a compact microstrip bandstop filter centred at 1.5 GHz with a measured 20 dB rejection bandwidth of about 139% is fabricated.
Low‐profile circularly polarised loop antenna assisted with an effective PMC bandwidth
Authors: Li H. , Xu K.W. , Wang X.B. , Kanan R. , Ran L.X. 
Published: July 2013

Proposed is an ultra‐low‐profile loop antenna backed by an electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) surface reflector, where the EBG surface can effectively exhibit the property of a perfect magnetic conductor (PMC) inside a deliberately designed bandwidth. It is shown that, assisted by the effective PMC bandwidth, while the proposed antenna is with a 0.07‐λ spacing between the loops and the EBG reflector, its axial ratio (AR) and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) performances are significantly improved. Experimental measurements show that the prototype antenna has a 3 dB AR bandwidth of 17% with an input VSWR less than 1.6. The proposed approach can find a wide range of low‐profile circularly polarised (CP) antenna applications.
Single‐stage battery charger for light electric vehicles based on DC‐SRC with current‐boosting circuit
Authors: Yoon Y.‐D. , Kwon S.‐M. , Lee J.‐Y. 
Published: July 2013

A single‐stage battery charger for light electric vehicles to improve lifetime by removing high‐voltage electrolytic capacitors is suggested. The proposed charger is based on a diode‐clamped series resonant converter equipped with a current‐boosting circuit, which increases the power factor by removing dead zones in the line current. The feasibility of the proposed charger has been verified with a 1.7 kW prototype.
Controllable stretched pulse and dissipative soliton emission using non‐linear polarisation rotation and cavity loss tuning mechanism
Authors: Tan Sin Jin , Harun Sulaiman Wadi , Ahmad Harith 
Published: August 2013

The authors demonstrate a controllable generation of a stretched pulse and dissipative soliton in a normal dispersion erbium‐doped fibre laser (EDFL) based on non‐linear polarisation rotation technique. It is found that the mode‐locking could self‐start in the EDFL even without inserting a polariser in the cavity because of the large residual polarisation‐dependent loss of a cavity component. By slightly adjusting a polarisation controller, a stretched pulse can be switchable to the dissipative soliton, while maintaining the repetition rate of 2.5 MHz. The stretched pulse has a pulse width of 0.35 ps with energy of 127.6 pJ, whereas the dissipative soliton has a pulse width of 0.60 ps with energy of 208.4 pJ.
A soft‐switching post‐regulator for multi‐outputs dual forward DC/DC converter with tight output voltage regulation
Authors: Su Bin , Wen Huiqing , Zhang Junming , Lu Zhengyu 
Published: August 2013

An improved soft‐switching post‐regulator topology for multi‐outputs dual forward DC/DC converter is presented. A delay‐trailing modulation method is proposed. ZVSZCS on/zero‐current‐switching off conditions can be realised on both the primary MOSFETs and the secondary rectifying diodes. Excellent decoupling among different outputs and tight output voltage regulation are achieved. The efficiency is improved due to single power‐conversion stage and share in the primary components. The operating principle and main feature of this improved topology are analysed. Key design issue including zero‐voltage‐switching operation, maximum duty ratio of the primary side MOSFETs and parameter determination for the primary magnetising inductor and the secondary additional redistribution capacitor are discussed. Finally, an experimental prototype with two outputs (300–400 V input, 48 V, 6.5 A and 24 V, 11 A outputs) is built to verify the theoretical analysis. The measured efficiency at normal operation input voltage (400 V) is improved by about 0.5–2%, and the measured efficiency under light loads is improved by more than 2%.
100 mV–1.2 V fully‐integrated DC–DC converters for thermal energy harvesting
Authors: Bassi Giovanni , Colalongo Luigi , Richelli Anna , Kovacs‐Vajna Zsolt Miklós 
Published: August 2013

Two fully‐integrated DC/DC converters for energy harvesting applications are presented. The startup‐voltages of the converters are, respectively, 140 and 100 mV, the output voltage exceeds 1.2 V, with a power efficiency of about 20%. The architectures for boosting such extremely low voltages are based on an ultra‐low‐voltage oscillator cross connected to a capacitive converter. The overall circuits do not require any external components and can be fully integrated in a standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor low‐voltage technology. The converters have been designed in United Microelectronics Corporation 180 nm process.
Real and reactive power control of hybrid excited wind‐driven grid‐connected doubly fed induction generators
Authors: Vijayakumar Krishnasamy , Kumaresan Natarajan , Ammasai Gounden Nanjappa Gounder , Tennakoon Sarath B. 
Published: August 2013

This study proposes a simple topology which consists of a single sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) inverter and battery banks with wind‐driven doubly fed induction generators (DFIGs) to dispatch a controllable power to the grid. The excitation of the rotor is established using an SPWM inverter supplied through a set of batteries with the stator connected to the grid. The proposed system supplies the desired real and reactive power to the grid by appropriately charging/discharging the batteries depending on excess/deficit power from the wind. A closed‐loop controller has been developed for this purpose which involves varying the rotor voltage magnitude and frequency. The entire control strategy proposed in this study has been implemented using TMS320LF2407A DSP controller and detailed procedure for such implementation is presented. The steady‐state analysis and phasor diagram representation of the system have been developed and presented. Experimental results obtained on a three‐phase, four‐pole, 50 Hz, 5 kVA DFIG together with the closed‐loop controller under steady‐state and dynamic operating conditions, confirm the usefulness of the proposed system. The experimental results have been compared with predicted values and a very close agreement between the two is observed.
MAIT cells are critical for optimal mucosal immune responses during in vivo pulmonary bacterial infection
Authors: Meierovics Anda , Yankelevich Wei-Jen Chua , Cowley Siobhán C. 
Published: July 2013

SignificanceMucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an innate T-cell subset uniquely activated by microbe-derived vitamin B metabolites. Thus far, little is known about MAIT cell contributions to defense against pathogens in vivo. Using murine respiratory tularemia as a model of mucosal infection, we show that MAIT cells are required for the prompt initiation of immune responses in the lungs. Surprisingly, MAIT cells also actively contributed to immunity throughout the later stages of infection. Thus, MAIT cells are a unique T-cell subset with wide-ranging activities that may be harnessed to improve future vaccines and adjuvants used at mucosal surfaces.
The Relative Volatility of Commodity Prices: A Reappraisal
Authors: Arezki Rabah , Lederman Daniel , Zhao Hongyan 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis article studies the relative volatility of commodity prices by examining a large dataset of monthly prices observed in international trade data taken from the United States between 2002–2011. The evidence presented here suggests that, on average, prices of individual primary commodities are less volatile than individual manufactured goods prices. Furthermore, robustness tests suggest that these results are not likely to be due to alternative product classification choices, differences in product exit rates, measurement errors in the trade data, or the aggregation level of the trade data at the 10‐digit level of the Harmonized System of products classification.
MaGnET: Malaria Genome Exploration Tool
Authors: Sharman Joanna L. , Gerloff Dietlind L. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Summary: The Malaria Genome Exploration Tool (MaGnET) is a software tool enabling intuitive ‘exploration-style’ visualization of functional genomics data relating to the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. MaGnET provides innovative integrated graphic displays for different datasets, including genomic location of genes, mRNA expression data, protein–protein interactions and more. Any selection of genes to explore made by the user is easily carried over between the different viewers for different datasets, and can be changed interactively at any point (without returning to a search).
Availability and Implementation: Free online use (Java Web Start) or download (Java application archive and MySQL database; requires local MySQL installation) at http://malariagenomeexplorer.org
Contact: joanna.sharman@ed.ac.uk or dgerloff@ffame.org
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Trends in long‐term mechanical circulatory support for advanced heart failure in the UK
Authors: Emin Akan , Rogers Chris A. , Parameshwar Jayan , MacGowan Guy , Taylor Rhiannon , Yonan Nizar , Simon Andre , Tsui Steven , Schueler Stephan , Banner Nicholas R. ,   on behalf of the Steering Group of the UK Cardiothoracic Transplant Audit and the UK VAD Forum, Banner Nicholas , Braidley Peter , Burch Mike , Clark Stephen , Collett Dave , Cromwell David , Haire Kate , Mascaro Jorge , Parameshwar Jayan , Petrie Mark , Simon Andre , Tsui Steven , Yonan Nizar , Collins Ms Katherine , Haj‐Yahia Saleem , MacGowan Guy , Shaw Steven , Schueler Stephan , Townsend John , Venkateswaran Rajamiyer , Wilson Ian , Winter Mike , Yonan Nizar 
Published: July 2013

AimsHeart transplantation (HTx) is limited by the scarcity of suitable donor hearts. Consequently, more patients with advanced heart failure require a ventricular assist device (VAD). We report UK activity, trends, and outcome for long‐term VAD support as a bridging therapy to HTx.Methods and resultsPatients were grouped into three eras: E1, February 2004–March 2006; E2, April 2006–March 2009; and E3, April 2009–March 2011. Exclusions were patients who received isolated short‐term support or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation without prior or subsequent long‐term VAD support. A total of 247 patients received VAD support; 202 left ventricular (LVAD) support alone and 45 both left and right ventricular support. Activity increased over time, from 36 patients implanted in E1 to 123 in E3. Overall, 46 patients received a first‐generation device, 80 a second‐generation device, and 121 a third‐generation device. Use of third‐generation devices increased from <6% in E1 to 78% in E3. Median duration of LVAD support increased from 141 days in E1 to 578 days in E3 (P < 0.001). Overall survival to 1 year after LVAD implant rose from 58.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 40.7–72.4%] in E1 to 72.5% (95% CI 63.3–79.8%) in E3 (P = 0.21), and improved significantly with device generation; at 1 year, 50% of patients with first‐generation devices were alive compared with 68.1% and 76.9% of patients with second‐ and third‐generation devices, respectively (P = 0.002). These differences remained after risk adjustment. HTx following LVAD implant reduced over time (P < 0.001).ConclusionVAD activity and duration of support have increased. There has been a shift from first‐ and second‐ to third‐generation devices, and an associated improvement in survival.
Characterization of Japanese encephalitis virus infection in an immortalized mesencephalic cell line, CSM14.1
Authors: Kimura Takashi , Okumura Megumi , Kim Eunmi , Sasaki Michihito , Orba Yasuko , Sawa Hirofumi 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTNeurons are the major target cell of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Rats intracerebrally inoculated with JEV show an age‐dependent pattern of resistance to infection in which resistance is closely associated with neuronal maturation. However, because there is no reliable and convenient cell culture system that mimics the in vivo properties of JEV infection of immature and mature neurons, the mechanisms underlying this association remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to examine JEV infection in immortalized CSM14.1 rat neuronal cells, which can be induced to differentiate into neurons by culture under non‐permissive conditions. JEV infected undifferentiated CSM14.1 cells more efficiently than differentiated cells, resulting in production of more progeny virus in the former setting than in the latter. An infectious virus recovery assay detected more internalized virions in undifferentiated cells. On the other hand, JEV infection of differentiated cells induced more rapid and stronger expression of interferon‐β gene, along with smaller amounts of JEV RNA. Taken together, these results show that the initial phase of viral infection and the later IFN response play roles in the viral susceptibility of undifferentiated and differentiated CSM14.1 cells. Because CSM14.1 cells became more resistant to JEV infection as they mature, this culture system can be used as an in vitro model for studying age‐dependent resistance of neurons to JEV infection.
Novel polyvalent live vaccine against varicella–zoster and mumps virus infections
Authors: Matsuura Masaaki , Somboonthum Pranee , Murakami Kouki , Ota Megumi , Shoji Masaki , Kawabata Kenji , Mizuguchi Hiroyuki , Gomi Yasuyuki , Yamanishi Koichi , Mori Yasuko 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTThe varicella–zoster virus (VZV) Oka vaccine strain (vOka) is a highly immunogenic and safe live vaccine that has long been used worldwide. Because its genome is large, making it suitable for inserting foreign genes, vOka is considered a candidate vector for novel polyvalent vaccines. Previously, a recombinant vOka, rvOka‐HN, that expresses mumps virus (MuV) hemagglutinin‐neuraminidase (HN) was generated by the present team. rvOka‐HN induces production of neutralizing antibodies against MuV in guinea pigs. MuV also expresses fusion (F) protein, which is important for inducing neutralizing antibodies, in its viral envelope. To induce a more robust immune response against MuV than that obtained with rvOka‐HN, here an rvOka expressing both HN and F (rvOka‐HN‐F) was generated. However, co‐expression of HN and F caused the infected cells to form syncytia, which reduced virus titers. To reduce the amount of cell fusion, an rvOka expressing HN and a mutant F, F(S195Y) were generated. Almost no syncytia formed among the rvOka‐HN‐F(S195Y)‐infected cells and the growth of rvOka‐HN‐F(S195Y) was similar to that of the original vOka clone. Moreover, replacement of serine 195 with tyrosine had no effect on the immunogenicity of F in mice and guinea pigs. Although obvious augmentation of neutralizing antibody production was not observed after adding F protein to vOka‐HN, the anti‐F antibodies did have neutralizing activity. These data suggest that F protein contributes to induction of immune protection against MuV. Therefore this recombinant virus is a promising candidate vaccine for polyvalent protection against both VZV and MuV.
Mechanisms of biotic resistance across complex life cycles
Authors: Rius Marc , Potter Elaine E. , Aguirre J. David , Stachowicz John J. 
Published: August 2013

Summary

Biotic resistance is the ability of communities to inhibit the establishment, spread or impact of novel species. However, the interactions that underlie biotic resistance depend heavily on the contexts in which species interact. Consequently, studies of biotic resistance that consider single processes, patches, species or life‐history stages may provide an incomplete picture of the capacity for communities to resist invasion.

Many organisms have multiphasic life cycles, where individuals can occupy distinct niches at different stages of the life history. Generally, studies of biotic resistance focus on interactions within a single life‐history stage, and interactions at other life‐history stages are overlooked. Here, we demonstrate that different mechanisms of biotic resistance occur across the life history and together limit the invasion success of an introduced marine invertebrate (Ciona intestinalis) in Northern California.

We tested the role of interactions (competition and predation) with the resident community in limiting the abundance of Ciona through experiments conducted on fertilization, larval survival, settlement, early postsettlement survival, and the survival of juveniles and adults.

Under some circumstances, Ciona became abundant in mid‐successional stages and showed more rapid growth rates than a morphologically similar native species, Ascidia ceratodes. However, predators reduced Ciona abundance much more than that of Ascidia at several life stages. Furthermore, Ciona appeared to be a weaker competitor at the adult stage. Early life‐history interactions with other sessile species at the fertilization, larval and recruit stages had modest to no effects on Ciona abundance.

The presence of biotic resistance mechanisms acting at multiple life stages, and potentially under different conditions, suggests that different components of biotic resistance interact to enhance the resident community's resistance to invasion.
Abiotic factors may explain the geographical distribution of flower colour morphs and the maintenance of colour polymorphism in the scarlet pimpernel
Authors: Arista Montserrat , Talavera María , Berjano Regina , Ortiz Pedro Luis 
Published: August 2013

SummaryFlower colour polymorphism is traditionally attributed to pollinator selection although other factors, such as indirect selection on correlated traits, can play an important role.Lysimachia arvensisis a widespread annual species with two colour morphs differing in anthocyanin composition. We explored the hypothesis that colour polymorphism is maintained by selection related to environmental heterogeneity.Morph frequencies and environmental traits were recorded in 51 populations along a wide geographical range. To explore the existence of morph‐by‐environment interactions, we conducted an experimental study comparing the two morphs under treatments differing in water and light availability.A geographical pattern was found with a negative association between blue frequencies and latitude. The proportion of the blue morph increased with temperature and sunshine hours, but decreased with precipitation. Flowering onset and flower size differed between morphs and scarcely varied across treatments. In contrast, several fitness components such as germination, seedling survival, seedling mass and flower production showed important morph‐by‐environment interactions. The blue morph showed higher overall male and female fitness in all the treatment combinations excepting in sun‐wet conditions where the red morph had higher fitness.Synthesis. Our results indicate that the mechanism of selection on flower colour seems to be related to differences in fitness of both morphs due to abiotic factors. These differences could explain the geographical distribution of flower colour morphs and the maintenance of the colour polymorphism. The marked difference in flowering time between morphs leaves open the potential for assortative mating and speciation inLysimachia arvensis.
Quinolone‐resistant Escherichia coli isolated from birds of prey in Portugal are genetically distinct from those isolated from water environments and gulls in Portugal, Spain and Sweden
Authors: Vredenburg Jana , Varela Ana Rita , Hasan Badrul , Bertilsson Stefan , Olsen Björn , Narciso‐da‐Rocha Carlos , Bonnedahl Jonas , Stedt Johan , Da Costa Paulo Martins , Manaia Célia M. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe influence of geographic distribution and type of habitat on the molecular epidemiology of ciprofloxacin resistant Escherichia coli was investigated. Ciprofloxacin resistant E. coli from wastewater, urban water with faecal contamination and faeces of gulls, pigeons and birds of prey, from Portugal, Spain and Sweden were compared based on multi‐locus sequence typing (MLST) and quinolone resistance genetic determinants. Multi‐locus sequence typing allowed the differentiation of E. coli lineages associated with birds of prey from those inhabiting gulls and waters. E. coli lineages of clinical relevance, such as the complex ST131, were detected in wastewater, streams and gulls in Portugal, Spain and Sweden.Quinolone resistance was due to gyrA and parC mutations, although distinct mutations were detected in birds of prey and in wastewater, streams and gulls isolates. These differences were correlated with specific MLST lineages, suggesting resistance inheritance. Among the plasmid‐mediated quinolone resistance genes, only aac(6′)‐ib‐cr and qnrS were detected in wastewater, streams and gulls isolates, but not in birds of prey. The horizontal transfer of the gene aac(6′)‐ib‐cr could be inferred from its occurrence in different MLST lineages.