bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Discovery Workflows in the Exploration of Complex Astronomical Datasets
Authors: D'Abrusco Raffaele , Fabbiano Giuseppina , Laurino Omar , Massaro Francesco 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe massive amount of data produced by the recent multi-wavelength large-area surveys has spurred the growth of unprecedentedly massive and complex astronomical datasets that are proving the traditional data analysis techniques more and more inadequate. Knowledge discovery techniques, while relatively new to astronomy, have been successfully applied in several other quantitative disciplines for the determination of patterns in extremely complex datasets. The concerted use of different unsupervised and supervised machine learning techniques, in particular, can be a powerful approach to answer specific questions involving high-dimensional datasets and degenerate observables. In this paper I will present CLaSPS, a data-driven methodology for the discovery of patterns in high-dimensional astronomical datasets based on the combination of clustering techniques and pattern recognition algorithms. I shall also describe the result of the application of CLaSPS to a sample of a peculiar class of AGNs, the blazars.
Galaxy Zoo: Outreach and Science Hand in Hand
Authors: Masters Karen L. ,   the Galaxy Zoo Team
Published: March 2015

AbstractGalaxy Zoo (www.galaxyzoo.org) is familiar to many as a hugely successful public engagement project. Hundreds of thousands of members of the public have contributed to Galaxy Zoo which collects visual classifications of galaxies in Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Hubble Space Telescope images. Galaxy Zoo has inspired a suite of similar Citizen Science projects known as “The Zooniverse“ (www.zooniverse.org) which now has well over half a million participants. Galaxy Zoo has also shown itself, in a series of peer reviewed papers, to be a fantastic database for the study of galaxy evolution. In this invited talk I described how that public engagement via citizen science is not only an effective means of outreach from data intensive surveys, but if done right can and must also increase the scientific output of the survey.
Amorphous Hydrocarbon Optical Properties
Authors: Jones Anthony 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHydrogenated amorphous carbon materials, a-C(:H), whose optical properties evolve in response to UV irradiation processing are promising candidate materials for cosmic carbonaceous dust. The optical properties of a:C(:H) particles have been derived as a function of size, band gap and hydrogen content over a wide wavelength range (EUV-cm) and can be used to investigate the size-dependent evolution of a-C(:H) material properties in the ISM.
Synthesis and Transformation of Carbonaceous Nanoparticles
Authors: Mennella Vito 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe physical properties of carbonaceous nanoparticles depend on the production conditions. In addition, these properties are modified by heat, UV and ion irradiation and gas interaction. We will discuss the synthesis and transformation of carbon nanoparticles that have been proposed as carriers of aromatic and aliphatic spectroscopic features observed in the interstellar medium.
Knowing What is Best
Authors: Griffin R. E. M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAlready, and with good reason, light pollution is recognized as one of the most damaging legacies that current “civilization“ is bequeathing to its children. Denying them the opportunity, even the right, to experience visually the majesty and awe of the universe has obvious repercussions for our science, and other contributors to this meeting are addressing those eloquently. But it is also critically important to place light pollution in the cadre of the general environmental degradation which unbridled technology is causing. The amount of power consumed by one outdoor light is only a minuscule drop in the ocean, but enough of those drops make an ocean. Using low-wattage bulbs, and getting more power out of them via halogen or LED technology, can ease the drain on the supply of power, but when several can be run, and run brighter, than a single tungsten lamp and cost is the only goal, the consumer simply installs more of them.We all hope for a restored and sustainable environment, but the challenge is first to learn and practice the essential difference between “want“ and “need”. A more specific challenge is to educate the affluent countries about the deleterious effects of nighttime lights on human health and on other bio-systems and species, and to explain the truth about “security“ issues. If astronomers place the needs of their own science too foremost they risk the criticism of selfishness: why are our own scientific requirements more important than the pleasure and health benefits of a whole town in pursuing sports activities outdoors after sunset? How can the need to illuminate streets, intersections, parking lots and to deter intruders be less necessary for personal and community safety and wellbeing than some rather esoteric scientific opportunities for a small population of astronomers?Dark Sky Preserves are a lovely concept but they are not the full answer; reducing light pollution is the responsibility of every citizen, and ensuring good astronomical conditions in a few remote parks must does not excuse the prevailing cavalier attitudes that are causing light pollution to be blithely accelerated everywhere else.The solution is Education, and for astronomers the key is to tone down the astronomically important and to emphasize the many general benefits of reducing light pollution. It is only when the non-astronomical community starts offering the astronomical advantages too of its own volition that we will see true progress in fighting this most pervasive of modern environmental disasters.
The Night Sky Monitoring Network in Hong Kong
Authors: Pun Chun S. J. , So Chu W. , Wong Chung F. T. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe Night Sky Monitoring Network is a project that aims to study the extent, distribution, and properties of the light pollution condition in the populous metropolis of Hong Kong. Continuous measurements of the Night Sky Brightness (NSB) at strategically chosen locations that cover a wide range of population density and land usage were made, with over 2.5 million NSB readings collected in 18 months up to June 2012. Results from the project are presented, with focus on the contrast between the urban and rural night sky profiles, and light pollution contributions from artificial lightings. This project is supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund of the Hong Kong SAR government (ECF 10/2009, ECF 1/2007).
The Effects of Lamp Spectral Distribution on Sky Glow over Observatories
Authors: Luginbuhl C. B. , Boley P. A. , Davis D. R. , Duriscoe D. M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractUsing a wavelength-generalized version of the Garstang (1991) model, we evaluate overhead sky glow as a function of distance up to 300 km, from a variety of lamp types, including common gas discharge lamps and several types of LED lamps. We conclude for both professional, and especially cultural (visual), astronomy, that low-pressure sodium and narrow-spectrum amber LED lamps cause much less sky glow than all broad-spectrum sources.
Fabrication of three-dimensionally interconnected nanoparticle superlattices and their lithium-ion storage properties
Authors: Jiao Yucong , Han Dandan , Ding Yi , Zhang Xianfeng , Guo Guannan , Hu Jianhua , Yang Dong , Dong Angang 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThree-dimensional superlattices consisting of nanoparticles represent a new class of condensed materials with collective properties arising from coupling interactions between close-packed nanoparticles. Despite recent advances in self-assembly of nanoparticle superlattices, the constituent materials have been limited to those that are attainable as monodisperse nanoparticles. In addition, self-assembled nanoparticle superlattices are generally weakly coupled due to the surface-coating ligands. Here we report the fabrication of three-dimensionally interconnected nanoparticle superlattices with face-centered cubic symmetry without the presynthesis of the constituent nanoparticles. We show that mesoporous carbon frameworks derived from self-assembled supercrystals can be used as a robust matrix for the growth of nanoparticle superlattices with diverse compositions. The resulting interconnected nanoparticle superlattices embedded in a carbon matrix are particularly suitable for energy storage applications. We demonstrate this by incorporating tin oxide nanoparticle superlattices as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, and the resulting electrochemical performance is attributable to their unique architectures.
Double-scattering/reflection in a Single Nanoparticle for Intensified Ultrasound Imaging
Authors: Zhang Kun , Chen Hangrong , Guo Xiasheng , Zhang Dong , Zheng Yuanyi , Zheng Hairong , Shi Jianlin 
Published: March 2015

AbstractUltrasound contrast agents (UCAs) designed by the conventional composition-based strategy, often suffer from relatively low ultrasound utilization efficiency. In this report, a structure-based design concept of double-scattering/reflection in a single nanoparticle for enhancing ultrasound imaging has been proposed. To exemplify this concept, a rattle-type mesoporous silica nanostructure (MSN) with two contributing interfaces has been employed as the ideal model. Contributed by double-scattering/reflection interfaces, the rattle-type MSN, as expected, performs much better in in vitro and in vivo ultrasound imaging than the other two nanostructures (solid and hollow) containing only one scattering/reflection interface. More convincingly, related acoustic measurements and simulation calculations also confirm this design concept. Noticeably, the rattle-type MSN has also been demonstrated capable of improving intracellular ultrasound molecular imaging. As a universal method, the structure-design concept can extend to guide the design of new generation UCAs with many other compositions and similar structures (e.g., heterogeneous rattle-type, double-shelled).
Centrosome maturation requires YB-1 to regulate dynamic instability of microtubules for nucleus reassembly
Authors: Kawaguchi Atsushi , Asaka Masamitsu N. , Matsumoto Ken , Nagata Kyosuke 
Published: March 2015

AbstractMicrotubule formation from the centrosome increases dramatically at the onset of mitosis. This process is termed centrosome maturation. However, regulatory mechanisms of microtubule assembly from the centrosome in response to the centrosome maturation are largely unknown. Here we found that YB-1, a cellular cancer susceptibility protein, is required for the centrosome maturation. Phosphorylated YB-1 accumulated in the centrosome at mitotic phase. By YB-1 knockdown, microtubules were found detached from the centrosome at telophase and an abnormal nuclear shape called nuclear lobulation was found due to defective reassembly of nuclear envelope by mis-localization of non-centrosomal microtubules. In conclusion, we propose that YB-1 is important for the assembly of centrosomal microtubule array for temporal and spatial regulation of microtubules.
Photo-induced optical activity in phase-change memory materials
Authors: Borisenko Konstantin B. , Shanmugam Janaki , Williams Benjamin A. O. , Ewart Paul , Gholipour Behrad , Hewak Daniel W. , Hussain Rohanah , Jávorfi Tamás , Siligardi Giuliano , Kirkland Angus I. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe demonstrate that optical activity in amorphous isotropic thin films of pure Ge2Sb2Te5 and N-doped Ge2Sb2Te5N phase-change memory materials can be induced using rapid photo crystallisation with circularly polarised laser light. The new anisotropic phase transition has been confirmed by circular dichroism measurements. This opens up the possibility of controlled induction of optical activity at the nanosecond time scale for exploitation in a new generation of high-density optical memory, fast chiroptical switches and chiral metamaterials.
Uterine artery impedance during the first eight postpartum weeks
Authors: Guedes-Martins L. , Gaio A. R. , Saraiva J. , Cunha A. , Macedo F. , Almeida H. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe aim of this study was to construct reference ranges for the uterine artery (UtA) mean pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices from 1–8 weeks postpartum. A prospective, cross-sectional and observational study was performed with 320 healthy women from week 1 through week 8 postpartum. UtAs were examined transvaginally using colour and pulsed Doppler imaging and the means of the right and left values of the PI and RI, as well as the presence or absence of a bilateral protodiastolic notch, were recorded. The 5th, 50th and 95th reference percentile curves for the UtA-PI and UtA-RI were derived using regression models. The adjusted reference intervals uncovered a convergence trend at the week 8 time-point, although impedance was lower at the week 1 time-point in multiparous women compared with primiparous women. The notching prevalence was 22.5% (9/40) at week 1 and 95.0% (38/40) at week 8. The study revealed consistent evidence of a progressive increase of postpartum uterine impedance and provided new average UtA-PI and UtA-RI reference charts for weeks 1 through 8. Multiparity does not change the trend but does impart a lower rate of increase, likely as a consequence of previous vascular structural and functional differences.
Selective chemical binding enhances cesium tolerance in plants through inhibition of cesium uptake
Authors: Adams Eri , Chaban Vitaly , Khandelia Himanshu , Shin Ryoung 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHigh concentrations of cesium (Cs+) inhibit plant growth but the detailed mechanisms of Cs+ uptake, transport and response in plants are not well known. In order to identify small molecules with a capacity to enhance plant tolerance to Cs+, chemical library screening was performed using Arabidopsis. Of 10,000 chemicals tested, five compounds were confirmed as Cs+ tolerance enhancers. Further investigation and quantum mechanical modelling revealed that one of these compounds reduced Cs+ concentrations in plants and that the imidazole moiety of this compound bound specifically to Cs+. Analysis of the analogous compounds indicated that the structure of the identified compound is important for the effect to be conferred. Taken together, Cs+ tolerance enhancer isolated here renders plants tolerant to Cs+ by inhibiting Cs+ entry into roots via specific binding to the ion thus, for instance, providing a basis for phytostabilisation of radiocesium-contaminated farmland.
Too Busy to Eat with the Kids? Parental Work and Children's Eating
Authors: Chen Susan E. , Möser Anke , Nayga Rodolfo M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractParents influence their children's eating behavior by providing access to certain types of food, creating enjoyable mealtimes and associations with food, and by role modeling. In this study we investigate the association between parental employment and parental time spent eating with their children. Using data from the 2001/02 German Time Budget Survey, we explore associations between time spent eating with children and labor force participation in Germany. We find that parental labor force participation is negatively associated with time spent eating with children. Each additional hour of work per day by the mother is associated with a 2.4 minute decrease in the amount of time the mother spends eating with her children. For paternal hours of work, we find that the more time a father spends working, the less time the child spends eating with the father or with both parents. Overall, we find evidence of mother inter‐gender time substitution and some amount of time/food away from home substitution. Understanding how parents allocate their time, where they are most likely to eat, and what drives these decisions is an important endeavor since parents play a critical role in shaping and reinforcing their children's eating practices.
Modulation of the activity of moxifloxacin and solithromycin in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model of Streptococcus pneumoniae naive and induced biofilms
Authors: Vandevelde Nathalie M. , Tulkens Paul M. , Muccioli Giulio G. , Van Bambeke Françoise 
Published: March 2015

Abstract

Objectives
Bacterial biofilms developing in the bronchial tree of patients experiencing acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECBs) are suggested to cause relapses and recurrences of the disease because the matrix barrier impairs antibiotic access to the offending organisms. We examined whether bronchodilators could modulate pneumococcal biofilm development and antibiotic action using an in vitro model.

Methods
Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from patients hospitalized for AECBs and two reference strains (ATCC 49619 and R6) were screened for biofilm formation (multi-well plates; 2–11 days of growth). Ipratropium and salbutamol (alone or in combination) were added at concentrations of 1.45 and 7.25 mg/L, respectively (mimicking those in the bronchial tree), and their effects were measured on biofilm formation and modulation of the activity of antibiotics [full antibiotic concentration-dependent effects (pharmacodynamic model)] with a focus on moxifloxacin and solithromycin. Bacterial viability and biomass were measured by the reduction of resazurin and crystal violet staining, respectively. Release of sialic acid (from biofilm) and neuraminidase activity were measured using enzymatic and HPLC–MS detection of sialic acid.

Results
All clinical isolates produced biofilms, but with fast disassembly if from patients who had received muscarinic antagonists. Ipratropium caused: (i) reduced biomass formation and faster biofilm disassembly with free sialic acid release; and (ii) a marked improvement of antibiotic activity (bacterial killing and biomass reduction). Salbutamol stimulated neuraminidase activity associated with improved antibiotic killing activity (reversed by zanamivir) but modest biomass reduction.

Conclusions
Ipratropium and, to a lesser extent, salbutamol may cooperate with antibiotics for bacterial clearance and disassembly of pneumococcal biofilms.
In vitro activity of gentamicin, vancomycin or amikacin combined with EDTA or l-arginine as lock therapy against a wide spectrum of biofilm-forming clinical strains isolated from catheter-related infections
Authors: Lebeaux David , Leflon-Guibout Véronique , Ghigo Jean-Marc , Beloin Christophe 
Published: March 2015

Abstract

Objectives
Treatment of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) is hampered by the characteristic tolerance of bacterial biofilms towards antibiotics. Our objective was to study the effect of the combination of antibiotics and the alkaline amino acid l-arginine or the cation chelator EDTA on the bacterial killing of in vitro biofilms formed by an array of clinical strains responsible for CRBSI and representative of epidemiologically relevant bacterial species.

Methods
Among 32 strains described in a previous clinical study, we focused on the most antibiotic-tolerant strains including CoNS (n = 4), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4), Enterococcus faecalis (n = 2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 4) and Enterobacteriaceae (n = 4). We used an in vitro biofilm model (96-well plate assay) to study biofilm tolerance and tested various combinations of antibiotics and non-antibiotic adjuvants. Gentamicin, amikacin or vancomycin was combined with disodium EDTA or l-arginine for 24 h to reproduce the antibiotic lock therapy (ALT) approach. Killing of biofilm bacteria was measured by cfu quantification after a vigorous step of pipetting up and down in order to detach all biofilm bacteria from the surface of the wells.

Results
Both of our adjuvant strategies significantly increased the effect of antibiotics against biofilms formed by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. The combination of gentamicin + EDTA was active against all tested strains apart from one P. aeruginosa. The combination of gentamicin + l-arginine was active against most of the tested strains with the notable exception of CoNS for which no potentiation was observed. We also demonstrated that amikacin + EDTA was active against Gram-negative bacteria and that vancomycin + EDTA was active against Gram-positive bacteria.

Conclusions
The addition of EDTA enhanced the activity of gentamicin, amikacin and vancomycin against biofilms formed by a wide spectrum of bacterial strains responsible for CRBSI.
Measurement and prediction of the heat transfer properties of hydrocarbon mixtures with potential application as aluminum cold rolling base oils
Authors: Pattemore Daniel , Heenan David F. , Januszkiewicz Krzysztof R. 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The objective of this paper is to measure the differences in heat transfer properties of refined hydrocarbon distillate fractions that are commonly used as base oils in aluminium sheet cold rolling applications and assess if the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) values for these oils can be predicted from their compositions. The composition and physical properties of these fluids affect their tribological behaviour by influencing hydrodynamic lubrication, wear debris removal and cooling.

Design/methodology/approach
– A purpose-built test rig was used to measure HTCs for a wide range of hydrocarbon solvents used as aluminium cold rolling oils. The results are expressed in the form of the HTCs relative to those of 14- to 16-carbon-chain-length normal paraffins. Measured HTC values were compared to values calculated from oil compositions and from the thermal conductivities of compounds representing different classes of typical oil components.

Findings
– There were significant differences between the heat transfer properties of various hydrocarbon solvents, and these differences could be estimated from their content of normal and simple iso-paraffins and heavily branched and cyclic hydrocarbons. The HTC of hydrocarbon mixtures increases with the increasing content of n-paraffinic compounds.

Originality/value
– This paper shows how one can estimate the relative HTCs of oils of known compositions, based on the relative thermal conductivities of model compounds. This is relevant to prediction of cooling properties of aluminium cold rolling base oils.
Determination of optimum particle size of Al2O3/SiCp reinforced hybrid composites materials in wear testing
Authors: Altinkök Necat , Ficici Ferit , Coban Aslan 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to optimize input parameters of particle size and applied load to determine minimum weight loss and friction coefficient for Al2O3/SiC particles-reinforced hybrid composites by using Taguchi’s design methodology.

Design/methodology/approach
– The experimental results demonstrate that the applied size is the major parameter influencing the weight loss for all samples, followed by particle size. The applied load, however, was found to have a negligible effect on the friction coefficient. Moreover, the optimal combination of the testing parameters was predicted. The predicted weight loss and friction coefficient for all the test samples were found to lie close to those of the experimentally observed ones.

Findings
– The optimum levels of the control factors to obtain better weight loss and friction coefficient were A8 (particle size, 60 μm) and B1 (applied load, 20 N), respectively. Taguchi’s orthogonal design was developed to predict the quality characteristics (weight loss and friction coefficient) within the selected range of process parameters (particle size and applied load). The results were validated through ANOVA.

Originality/value
– Firstly, hybrid MMCs ceramic powders were produced and then mechanical tests and optimization were performed.