bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge
in Artificial Air: Statistical Behaviour
of Microdischarges
Authors: Čech Jan , Hanusová Jana , Sťahel Pavel , Černák Mirko 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) is a novel type of atmospheric-pressure plasma source developed for high-speed large-area surface plasma treatments. The statistical behavior of microdischarges of DCSBD generated in artificial air atmosphere was studied using time-correlated optical and electrical measurements. Changes in behavior of microdischarges are shown for various electrode gap widths and input voltage amplitudes. They are discussed in the light of correlation of the number of microdischarges and the number of unique microdischarges’ paths per discharge event.

The ‘memory effect’ was observed in the behavior of microdischarges and it manifests itself in a significant number of microdischarges reusing the path of microdischarges from previous half-period. Surprisingly this phenomenon was observed even for microdischarges of the same half-period of the discharge, where mechanisms other than charge deposition have to be involved. The phenomenon of discharge paths reuse is most pronounced for wide electrode
Spark plasma sintering of Si3N4/multilayer graphene composites
Authors: Bódis Eszter , Tapasztó Orsolya , Károly Zoltán , Fazekas Péter , Klébert Szilvia , Keszler Anna Mária , Balázsi Katalin , Szépvölgyi János 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Mulitlayer graphene reinforced silicon nitride composites were prepared by spark plasma sintering to investigate the effect of the graphene addition on mechanical properties. The composites contained multilayer graphene (MLG) in various (0, 1, 3 and 5 wt%) content. Significantly higher fracture toughness of
8.0 MPa m1/2 was obtained at 1% MLG content, however, on further increasing the graphene content the toughness did not increase, but dropped to the value of the monolithic silicon nitride. The maximum hardness of 18.8 MPa was also obtained at 1% MLG, while at higher MLG contents it gradually decreased.
Polylactic acid surface activation by atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma
Authors: Hergelová Beáta , Zahoranová Anna , Kováčik Dušan , Stupavská Monika , Černák Mirko 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) is suitable for applications in packaging and biomedicine due to its biodegradability. To improve PLA surface adhesion a plasma-chemical treatment using nonthermal plasma generated in ambient air via diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) was used. The optimal treatment time and power were investigated. Interaction between active plasma species and the polymer surface, and the resulting surface changes were studied by contact angle measurement, surface energy determination, FTIR, and XPS.
The most hydrophilic surface was obtained after only 3–4 s treatment. Treatment up to 10 s did not damage the polymer but longer treatments (30 and 60 s) caused partial degradation. The plasma broke C-C/C-H bonds and formed more C-O, O-C=O and C-O-C bonds. During storage surface oxygen decreased and a negligible amount of nitrogen was adsorbed. The oxygen-containing functional groups probably sank into the PLA volume after treatment.
Optical emission spectra analysis of thermal plasma treatment of poly(vinyl chloride)
Authors: Fazekas Péter , Keszler Anna Mária , Bódis Eszter , Drotár Eszter , Klébert Szilvia , Károly Zoltán , Szépvölgyi János 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated in radiofrequency thermal plasma in neutral, oxidative and reductive conditions. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was applied for the characterization of the plasma column. OES was used to identify active plasma components such as excited atoms, ions, radicals and molecules. The spectra were dominated by molecular C2, CN, OH, and CH bands, and atomic H, Ar, C, Cl and O lines. Emission intensities of main species were monitored versus various experimental parameters. The rotational-vibrational temperatures determined from different bimolecular species were considered in the range of 2000–6400 K. Solid soot samples were collected and purified to investigate the possibility of graphene formation as a by-product of the decomposition process.
Time resolved optical emission spectroscopy in power modulated atmospheric pressure plasma jet
Authors: Hnilica Jaroslav , Potočňáková Lucia , Kudrle Vít 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In this paper, the effects of the power modulation on atmospheric pressure plasma jet, operated in
Ar+2%N2 mixture, are studied. Time resolved optical emission spectroscopy is used for the investigation. From line and band intensities, the excitation, vibration and rotation temperatures are calculated. Their evolution during the modulation period exhibits
a strong dependence on modulation frequency. For higher modulation frequencies, there is significant discrepancy in rotational temperatures calculated from OH spectra and from N2+ spectra, which indicates that thermalisation time can reach milliseconds.
Layer-by-layer assembly of thin organic films on PTFE activated by cold atmospheric plasma
Authors: Tóth András , Szentmihályi Klára , Keresztes Zsófia , Szigyártó Imola , Kováčik Dusan , Černák Mirko , Kutasi Kinga 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
An air diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge is used to activate the surface of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) samples, which are subsequently coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and tannic acid (TAN) single, bi- and multilayers, respectively, using the dip-coating method. The surfaces are characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Attenuated Total Reflection – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The XPS measurements show that with plasma treatment the F/C atomic ratio in the PTFE surface decreases, due to the diminution of the concentration of CF2 moieties, and also oxygen incorporation through formation of new C–O, C=O and O=C–O bonds can be observed. In the case of coated samples, the new bonds indicated by XPS show the bonding between the organic layer and the surface, and thus the stability of layers, while the gradual decrease of the concentration of F atoms with the number of deposited layers proves the creation of PVP/TAN bi- and multi-layers. According to the ATR-FTIR spectra, in the case of PVP/TAN multilayer hydrogen bonding develops between the PVP and TAN, which assures the stability of the multilayer. The AFM lateral friction measurements show that the macromolecular layers homogeneously coat the plasma treated PTFE surface.
An application of fluorescent tracer
to groundwater tracking
Authors: Cidzikienė Vigilija , Jakimavičiūtė-Maselienė Vaidotė , Girgždienė Raselė , Ivanec-Goranina Rūta 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
A well network at a potential new nuclear site in Lithuania examined a semi-confined intertill aquifer 10–19 m deep and an unconfined aquifer 4.5–9 m deep. Tracer results indicate a northwest flow direction and great hydraulic connection between observation and injection wells. Natural conditions affect tracer flow velocities.
Simulation of alpha dose for predicting radiolytic
species at the surface of spent nuclear fuel pellets
Authors: Becker Frank , Kienzler Bernhard 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In many countries, spent nuclear fuel
is considered as a waste form to be disposed of in
underground disposal. Under deep host rock conditions,
a reducing environment prevails. In the case of water
contact, long-term radionuclide release from the fuel
depends on dissolution processes of the UO2 matrix. The
dissolution rate of irradiated UO2 is controlled by oxidizing
processes facilitated by dissolved species formed by alpharadiolysis
of water in contact with spent nuclear fuel. To
understand the effect of the radiation, the information of
the dose rate at the surface of the fuel and its proximity
is needed. α particles contribute strongly due to their
high linear energy transfer. However, their dose rate and
the energy deposition at the fuel surface are difficult to
measure. Cylindrical fuel pellets as used in fuel rods show
specific features, such as the rim zone, where a higher Pu
concentration and a different porosity of the fuel matrix
is present. The a particle dose rate was determined by
simulations with the code MCNPX with focus on the rim
zone of a pellet. As a result a 40% increased dose level
in the rim zone exists in comparison to the center of
a pellet. The potential dominant and inhomogeneous
α-dose distribution is supposed to have a strong impact on
radiolysis phenomena and in turn on an inhomogeneous
dissolution of elements over the surface.
Competing constructions: The pluralization of presentational haber in Dominican Spanish
Authors: Claes Jeroen 
Published: December 2014

AbstractDrawing on Cognitive Construction Grammar (CCxG), I present an analysis of the pluralization of haber in Dominican Spanish (e.g. Habían fiestas ‘There were parties’) as an ongoing language change from below during which the singular argument-structure construction (<AdvPhaberObj>) is being replaced by a pluralized schema (<AdvPhaberSubj>). Using a mixed-effects regression analysis, in which the individual speakers and the NPs' head nouns were included as random intercepts, I show that speakers pluralize presentational haber in 47% of the cases and that the variation is conditioned by three general cognitive constraints (markedness of coding, structural priming, and statistical pre-emption). Using a conditional inference tree, I show that the former two cognitive constraints work in tandem to promote the pluralized construction for the encoding of conceptualizations that statistical preemption tends to reserve to the singular construction. The results also unveil that the variation is associated with social class membership. These data confirm the main hypothesis, while at the same time corroborating and strengthening the conclusions of an earlier investigation of haber pluralization in Puerto Rican Spanish.
How long is the sign?
Authors: Jantunen Tommi 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThis paper deals with the relative empirical length of signs in sign languages and provides evidence for the view that they are actually longer units than has hitherto been recognized. The evidence is presented from two perspectives: those of sign articulation and sign recognition. Concerning sign articulation, it is suggested that signs are longer units than is currently assumed because most of the structural features of signs are in fact already present before the currently accepted beginnings of signs and they continue after signs' generally accepted endings. Concerning sign recognition, the longer view of the sign is proposed on the grounds that the recognition point of signs is typically located before their alleged beginning, and because signs (as currently understood) can also be recognized on the basis of parts of their subsequent transitions only. The nature of the longer sign is discussed together with some more general consequences for sign language research of the revision of our view of what a sign might be.
The effect of an excessive amount of carbon nanotubes on the properties of zinc oxide-carbon nanotube nanocomposites
Authors: Güler Ömer 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe effect of the amount of carbon nanotubes on the electrical and optical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT)-zinc oxide nanocomposites was investigated. In this study, carbon nanotubes were prepared by chemical vapor deposition in a fluidized reactor. The diameters and lengths of the carbon nanotubes that were synthesized were determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to be 20–30 nm and a few micrometers, respectively. Then, CNTs were added to commercial zinc oxide powder to prepare the nanocomposite. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the samples were characterized by various techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis absorption, and electrical transport measurements. The room temperature conductivity σ25 values of the undoped ZnO and ZnO doped with 0.1% CNTs, 0.2% CNTs, and 5% CNTs were found to be 6.55×10-5, 5.46×10-4, 1.23×10-3, and 2.83×10-2 S/cm, respectively. The optical band gaps of the composites were determined by the Kubelka-Munk theory based on the analysis of diffuse reflectance. The results that were obtained indicated that the electrical and optical properties of ZnO semiconductors can be improved by the incorporation of CNTs. However, the ZnO lost some of its distinctive properties when excess amounts of CNTs were used in the ZnO-CNT composites.
Long-term results of the surgical management of insulinoma patients with MEN1: a Groupe d'étude des Tumeurs Endocrines (GTE) retrospective study
Authors: Vezzosi Delphine , Cardot-Bauters Catherine , Bouscaren Nicolas , Lebras Maëlle , Bertholon-Grégoire Mireille , Niccoli Patricia , Levy-Bohbot Nathalie , Groussin Lionel , Bouchard Philippe , Tabarin Antoine , Chanson Philippe , Lecomte Pierre , Guilhem Isabelle , Carrere Nicolas , Mirallié Eric , Pattou François , Peix Jean Louis , Goere Diane , Borson-Chazot Françoise , Caron Philippe , Bongard Vanina , Carnaille Bruno , Goudet Pierre , Baudin Eric 
Published: December 2014

ObjectiveManagement of insulinomas in the context of MEN1 remains poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of various surgical approaches in a large cohort of insulinoma–MEN1 patients.Design and methodsConsecutive insulinoma–MEN1 patients operated on for a nonmetastatic insulinoma between 1957 and 2010 were retrospectively selected from the MEN1 database of the French Endocrine Tumor Group. The type of surgery was categorized as distal pancreatectomy (DP), total pancreatectomy/cephalic duodenopancreatectomy (TP/CDP), or enucleation (E). Primary endpoint was time until recurrence of hypoglycemia after initial surgery. Secondary endpoints were post-operative complications.ResultsThe study included 73 patients (median age=28 years). Surgical procedures were DP (n=46), TP/CDP (n=9), or E (n=18). After a median post-operative follow-up of 9.0 years (inter-quartile range (IQR): 2.5–16.5 years), 60/73 patients (82.2%) remained hypoglycemia free. E and TP/CDP were associated with a higher risk of recurrent hypoglycemia episodes (unadjusted hazard ratio: 6.18 ((95% CI: 1.54–24.8);P=0.010) for E vs DP and 9.51 ((95% CI: 1.85–48.8);P=0.007) for TP/CDP vs DP. After adjustment for International Union against Cancer pTNM classification, enucleation remained significantly associated with a higher probability of recurrence. Long-term complications had occurred in 20 (43.5%) patients with DP, five (55.6%) with TP/CDP, but in none of the patients who have undergone E (P=0.002).ConclusionIn the French Endocrine database, DP is associated with a lower risk for recurrent hypoglycemia episodes. Due to lower morbidity, E alone might be considered as an alternative.
Abiotic and Biotic Stressors Causing Equivalent Mortality Induce Highly Variable Transcriptional Responses in the Soybean Aphid
Authors: Enders Laramy S , Bickel Ryan D , Brisson Jennifer A , Heng-Moss Tiffany M , Siegfried Blair D , Zera Anthony J , Miller Nicholas J 
Published: December 2014

AbstractEnvironmental stress affects basic organismal functioning and can cause physiological, developmental, and reproductive impairment. However, in many nonmodel organisms, the core molecular stress response remains poorly characterized and the extent to which stress-induced transcriptional changes differ across qualitatively different stress types is largely unexplored. The current study examines the molecular stress response of the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) using RNA sequencing and compares transcriptional responses to multiple stressors (heat, starvation, and plant defenses) at a standardized stress level (27% adult mortality). Stress-induced transcriptional changes showed remarkable variation, with starvation, heat, and plant defensive stress altering the expression of 3985, 510, and 12 genes, respectively. Molecular responses showed little overlap across all three stressors. However, a common transcriptional stress response was identified under heat and starvation, involved with up-regulation of glycogen biosynthesis and molecular chaperones and down-regulation of bacterial endosymbiont cellular and insect cuticular components. Stressor-specific responses indicated heat affected expression of heat shock proteins and cuticular components, whereas starvation altered a diverse set of genes involved in primary metabolism, oxidative reductive processes, nucleosome and histone assembly, and the regulation of DNA repair and replication. Exposure to host plant defenses elicited the weakest response, of which half of the genes were of unknown function. This study highlights the need for standardizing stress levels when comparing across stress types and provides a basis for understanding the role of general vs. stressor specific molecular responses in aphids.
Plant Genetic Archaeology: Whole-Genome Sequencing Reveals the Pedigree of a Classical Trisomic Line
Authors: Salomé Patrice A , Weigel Detlef 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The circadian oscillator is astonishingly robust to changes in the environment but also to genomic changes that alter the copy number of its components through genome duplication, gene duplication, and homeologous gene loss. While studying the potential effect of aneuploidy on the Arabidopsis thaliana circadian clock, we discovered that a line thought to be trisomic for chromosome 3 also bears the gi-1 mutation, resulting in a short period and late flowering. With the help of whole-genome sequencing, we uncovered the unexpected complexity of this trisomic stock’s history, as its genome shows evidence of past outcrossing with another A. thaliana accession. Our study indicates that although historical aneuploidy lines exist and are available, it might be safer to generate new individuals and confirm their genomes and karyotypes by sequencing.
Ectopic Expression Screen Identifies Genes AffectingDrosophilaMesoderm Development Including the HSPG Trol
Authors: Trisnadi Nathanie , Stathopoulos Angelike 
Published: December 2014

AbstractGastrulation of the embryo involves coordinate cell movements likely supported by multiple signaling pathways, adhesion molecules, and extracellular matrix components. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have a major role in Drosophila melanogaster mesoderm migration; however, few other inputs are known and the mechanism supporting cell movement is unclear. To provide insight, we performed an ectopic expression screen to identify secreted or membrane-associated molecules that act to support mesoderm migration. Twenty-four UAS insertions were identified that cause lethality when expressed in either the mesoderm (Twi-Gal4) or the ectoderm (69B-Gal4). The list was narrowed to a subset of 10 genes that were shown to exhibit loss-of-function mutant phenotypes specifically affecting mesoderm migration. These include the FGF ligand Pyramus, α-integrins, E-cadherin, Cueball, EGFR, JAK/STAT signaling components, as well as the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) Terribly reduced optic lobes (Trol). Trol encodes the ortholog of mammalian HSPG Perlecan, a demonstrated FGF signaling cofactor. Here, we examine the role of Trol in Drosophila mesoderm migration and compare and contrast its role with that of Syndecan (Sdc), another HSPG previously implicated in this process. Embryos mutant for Trol or Sdc were obtained and analyzed. Our data support the view that both HSPGs function to support FGF-dependent processes in the early embryo as they share phenotypes with FGF mutants: Trol in terms of effects on mesoderm migration and caudal visceral mesoderm (CVM) migration and Sdc in terms of dorsal mesoderm specification. The differential roles uncovered for these two HSPGs suggest that HSPG cofactor choice may modify FGF-signaling outputs.
Overdominance Effect of the Bovine Ghrelin Receptor (GHSR1a)-DelR242Locus on Growth in Japanese Shorthorn Weaner Bulls: Heterozygote Advantage in Bull Selection and Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Komatsu Masanori , Sato Yoichi , Negami Tatsuki , Terada Tohru , Sasaki Osamu , Yasuda Jumpei , Arakawa Aisaku , Yoshida Chikara , Takahashi Hideaki , Malau-Aduli Aduli E O , Suzuki Keiichi , Shimizu Kentaro 
Published: December 2014

AbstractGhrelin and the ghrelin receptor (GHSR1a) are involved in growth hormone secretion, food intake, and several other important functions. Ghrelin acts on GHSR1a and induces signal transduction via the Gαq subunit. In our previous study, we identified the DelR242 (3R) allele, a truncated 3-arginine residue (3R) [major type: 4 arginine residues (4R)] of the third intracellular loop of GHSR1a, with a high frequency in Japanese Shorthorn bulls (0.43) but with a low frequency in other cattle breeds (0.00–0.09). To further investigate the reasons for the higher frequency of the 3R allele, we performed several experiments. In this study, we found a significant sex difference in the frequency of the 3R allele. Statistical analysis revealed a significant overdominance effect of the DelR242 locus on growth in Japanese Shorthorn weaner bulls. However, additive/dominance/overdominance effects of the 3R allele on carcass traits in adult steers and dams were not significant. The mode of the overdominance effect was estimated to be solely controlled by the single DelR242 locus without any other linked loci using linkage disequilibrium analysis in GHSR1a. These results indicated that 4R/3R heterozygotes had a selective advantage in weaner bulls because of their higher average daily gain than homozygotes. We discussed possible molecular mechanisms involved in the overdominance effect of the DelR242 locus on these traits in weaner bulls using a structural model of the complex consisting of a GHSR1a dimer and Gαq.
Threshold Models for Genome-Enabled Prediction of Ordinal Categorical Traits in Plant Breeding
Authors: Montesinos-López Osval A , Montesinos-López Abelardo , Pérez-Rodríguez Paulino , de los Campos Gustavo , Eskridge Kent , Crossa José 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Categorical scores for disease susceptibility or resistance often are recorded in plant breeding. The aim of this study was to introduce genomic models for analyzing ordinal characters and to assess the predictive ability of genomic predictions for ordered categorical phenotypes using a threshold model counterpart of the Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (i.e., TGBLUP). The threshold model was used to relate a hypothetical underlying scale to the outward categorical response. We present an empirical application where a total of nine models, five without interaction and four with genomic × environment interaction (G×E) and genomic additive × additive × environment interaction (G×G×E), were used. We assessed the proposed models using data consisting of 278 maize lines genotyped with 46,347 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and evaluated for disease resistance [with ordinal scores from 1 (no disease) to 5 (complete infection)] in three environments (Colombia, Zimbabwe, and Mexico). Models with G×E captured a sizeable proportion of the total variability, which indicates the importance of introducing interaction to improve prediction accuracy. Relative to models based on main effects only, the models that included G×E achieved 9–14% gains in prediction accuracy; adding additive × additive interactions did not increase prediction accuracy consistently across locations.