bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Valproyl‐CoA inhibits the activity of ATP‐ and GTP‐dependent succinate:CoA ligases
Authors: Luís Paula B. M. , Ruiter Jos , IJlst Lodewijk , de Almeida Isabel Tavares , Duran Marinus , Wanders Ronald J. A. , Silva Margarida F. B. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundValproic acid (VPA) is an effective antiepileptic drug that may induce progressive microvesicular steatosis. The impairment of mitochondrial function may be an important metabolic effect of VPA treatment with potential adverse consequences.ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of VPA on the activity of GTP‐ and ATP‐specific succinate:CoA ligases (G‐SUCL and A‐SUCL).MethodsThe GTP‐ and ATP‐specific SUCL activities were measured in human fibroblasts in the reverse direction, i.e. the formation of succinyl‐CoA. These were assessed at different concentrations of succinate in the presence of VPA, valproyl‐CoA and zinc chloride, an established inhibitor of the enzymes. Activities were measured using an optimized HPLC procedure.ResultsValproyl‐CoA (1 mM) inhibited the activity of A‐SUCL and G‐SUCL by 45‐55 % and 25‐50 %, respectively. VPA (1 mM) had no influence on the activity of the two enzymes.DiscussionValproyl‐CoA appears to affect the activity of SUCL, especially with the ATP‐specific enzyme. Considering the key role of SUCL in the Krebs cycle, interference with its activity might impair the cellular energy status. Moreover, A‐SUCL is bound to the nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK), which is responsible for the mitochondrial (deoxy)nucleotide synthesis. An inhibition of A‐SUCL might influence the activity of NDPK inducing an imbalance of nucleotides in the mitochondria and eventually mitochondrial DNA depletion. This may account for the potential liver failure associated with valproate therapy, reported in patients with deficiencies within the mitochondrial DNA replicase system such as polymerase gamma 1.
Spectral Decompositions of Multiple Time Series: A Bayesian Non-parametric Approach
Authors: Macaro Christian , Prado Raquel 
Published: October 2013

AbstractWe consider spectral decompositions of multiple time series that arise in studies where the interest lies in assessing the influence of two or more factors. We write the spectral density of each time series as a sum of the spectral densities associated to the different levels of the factors. We then use Whittle’s approximation to the likelihood function and follow a Bayesian non-parametric approach to obtain posterior inference on the spectral densities based on Bernstein–Dirichlet prior distributions. The prior is strategically important as it carries identifiability conditions for the models and allows us to quantify our degree of confidence in such conditions. A Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm for posterior inference within this class of frequency-domain models is presented.We illustrate the approach by analyzing simulated and real data via spectral one-way and two-way models. In particular, we present an analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain responses measured in individuals who participated in a designed experiment to study pain perception in humans.
High non-standard employment rates in the Republic of Korea and Japan: Analyzing policy configurations with fuzzy-set/QCA
Authors: Lee Sophia Seung-yoon 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
The paper investigates policy conditions for high rates of non-standard employment in Korea and Japan exploiting fs/QCA (fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis). We first review the previous literature on labor market risks and discuss the advantages of taking a configurational approach in investigating policies related to increase of non-standard workers. Secondly, non-standard employment in Korea and Japan are examined more closely in comparison with other OECD countries. In case of Korea, a low level of statutory minimum wage in combination with strict employment protection legislation for permanent workers is suggested as the sufficient condition for high rate of non-standard employment rate. In case of Japan, a low level of statutory minimum wage in combination with weak employment protection legislations for temporary workers is suggested to lead to a high level of non-standard employment rate. We empirically test which policy configurations cause high rate of non-standard employment and discuss (i) the importance of examining multiple policies together and (ii) that there can be different pathways to the same outcome.
Weakly nonlinear instability of planar viscous sheets
Authors: Yang Lijun , Wang Chen , Fu Qingfei , Du Minglong , Tong Mingxi 
Published: October 2013

AbstractA second-order instability analysis has been performed for sinuous disturbances on two-dimensional planar viscous sheets moving in a stationary gas medium using a perturbation technique. The solutions of second-order interface disturbances have been derived for both temporal instability and spatial instability. It has been found that the second-order interface deformation of the fundamental sinuous wave is varicose or dilational, causing disintegration and resulting in ligaments which are interspaced by half a wavelength. The interface deformation has been presented; the breakup time for temporal instability and breakup length for spatial instability have been calculated. An increase in Weber number and gas-to-liquid density ratio extensively increases both the temporal or spatial growth rate and the second-order initial disturbance amplitude, resulting in a shorter breakup time or length, and a more distorted surface deformation. Under normal conditions, viscosity has a stabilizing effect on the first-order temporal or spatial growth rate, but it plays a dual role in the second-order disturbance amplitude. The overall effect of viscosity is minor and complicated. In the typical condition, in which the Weber number is 400 and the gas-to-liquid density ratio is 0.001, viscosity has a weak stabilizing effect when the Reynolds number is larger than 150 or smaller than 10; when the Reynolds number is between 150 and 10, viscosity has a weak destabilizing effect.
The effect of dicyandiamide addition to cattle slurry on soil gross nitrogen transformations at a grassland site in Northern Ireland
Authors: McGEOUGH K. L. , MÜLLER C. , LAUGHLIN R. J. , WATSON C. J. , ERNFORS M. , CAHALAN E. , RICHARDS K. G. 
Published: October 2013

SUMMARYMany studies have shown the efficacy of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) in reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3−) leaching. However, there is no information on the effect of DCD on gross soil N transformations under field conditions, which is key information if it is to be used as a mitigation strategy to reduce N losses. The current field study was conducted to determine the effect of DCD on ten gross nitrogen (N) transformations in soil following cattle slurry (CS) application to grassland in Northern Ireland on three occasions (June 2010, October 2010 and March 2011).Ammonium (NH4+) oxidation (ONH4) was the dominant process in total NO3−production (ONH4+ONrec(oxidation of recalcitrant organic N to NO3−)) following CS application, accounting for 0·894–0·949. Dicyandiamide inhibited total NO3−production from CS by 0·781, 0·696 and 0·807 in June 2010, October 2010 and March 2011, respectively. The lower inhibition level in October 2010 was thought to be due to the higher rainfall and soil moisture content in that month compared to the other application times. As DCD strongly inhibited NH4+oxidation following CS application, it also decreased the rate of total NO3−consumption, since less NO3−was formed. The rates of mineralization from recalcitrant organic-N (MNrec) were higher than from labile organic-N (MNlab) on all occasions. The DCD significantly increased total mineralization (MNrec+MNlab) following CS application in June 2010 and March 2011, but had no significant effect in October 2010. In contrast, the rate of immobilization of labile organic-N (INH4_Nlab) was higher than from recalcitrant organic-N (INH4_Nrec) on all occasions, accounting for 0·878–0·976 of total NH4+immobilization from CS. The DCD significantly increased total immobilization (INH4_Nrec+INH4_Nlab) when CS was applied in June 2010, but had no significant effect at other times of the year.Dicyandiamide was shown to be a highly effective inhibitor of ammonium oxidation at this grassland site. Although there was evidence that it increased both NH4+mineralization and immobilization following CS application, its effect on these processes was inconsistent. Further work is required to understand the reason for these inconsistent effects: future improvements in15N tracer models may help.
The nitrogen footprint of food products in the European Union
Authors: LEIP A. , WEISS F. , LESSCHEN J. P. , WESTHOEK H. 
Published: October 2013

SUMMARYNitrogen (N) is an essential element for plants and animals. Due to large inputs of mineral fertilizer, crop yields and livestock production in Europe have increased markedly over the last century, but as a consequence losses of reactive N to air, soil and water have intensified as well. Two different models (CAPRI and MITERRA) were used to quantify the N flows in agriculture in the European Union (EU27), at country-level and for EU27 agriculture as a whole, differentiated into 12 main food categories. The results showed that the N footprint, defined as the total N losses to the environment per unit of product, varies widely between different food categories, with substantially higher values for livestock products and the highest values for beef (c. 500 g N/kg beef), as compared to vegetable products. The lowest N footprint of c. 2 g N/kg product was calculated for sugar beet, fruits and vegetables, and potatoes. The losses of reactive N were dominated by N leaching and run-off, and ammonia volatilization, with 0·83 and 0·88 due to consumption of livestock products. The N investment factors, defined as the quantity of new reactive N required to produce one unit of N in the product varied between 1·2 kg N/kg N in product for pulses to 15–20 kg N for beef.
From Economic Incentives to Dialogic Nudging – The Politics of Change and Inertia in Norwegian Sickness Insurance
Authors: HAGELUND ANNIKEN 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn 1978, Norway established a sickness insurance with no waiting days and full wage compensation. For the past thirty years, Norwegian authorities have repeatedly attempted to change this incentive structure in order to reduce comparatively high sickness-absence levels, but with little success. Thus, Norway seems to exemplify the retrenchment literature's diagnosis of fiscally unsustainable welfare states whose attempts to reduce costs are blocked by strong interest groups and institutional inertia. However, while changes in the incentive structure have been blocked, policy development has taken other paths.New structures for monitoring sickness absence and for activating employers and employees have been established. The course of a sickness-absence spell has been regulated, with ‘stop points’ and procedures which must be adhered to. Rather than increasing employers’ and employees’ economic responsibility, these actors have been made responsible for the establishment of individual plans, they are to enter into dialogue at compulsory meetings and aim towards the use of active measures. While this often has been perceived as a sign of inability to reform, it may alternatively be viewed as the silent establishment of new relations of governance.By analysing this specific case, the paper addresses the wider issue of welfare state change. Through the analysis of incremental, qualitative reforms such as these – often overlooked in comparative social policy research – it throws light upon how social policies may work through restructuring citizen–employer–social partner–state relationships.
Detail and the devil of on-farm parasite control under climate change
Authors: Morgan Eric R. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractLevels and seasonal patterns of parasite challenge to livestock are likely to be affected by climate change, through direct effects on life cycle stages outside the definitive host and through alterations in management that affect exposure and susceptibility. Net effects and options for adapting to them will depend very strongly on details of the system under consideration. This short paper is not a comprehensive review of climate change effects on parasites, but rather seeks to identify key areas in which detail is important and arguably under-recognized in supporting farmer adaptation. I argue that useful predictions should take fuller account of system-specific properties that influence disease emergence, and not just the effects of climatic variables on parasite biology. At the same time, excessive complexity is ill-suited to useful farm-level decision support. Dealing effectively with the ‘devil of detail’ in this area will depend on finding the right balance, and will determine our success in applying science to climate change adaptation by farmers.
Phase equilibrium in Mg-Cu-Y
Authors: Mezbahul-Islam Mohammad , Medraj Mamoun 
Published: October 2013

AbstractMagnesium-based bulk metallic glasses (BMG) have potential in applications ranging from biomedical to sports equipment and the Mg-Cu-Y system offers some of the most promising alloys. Phase relations and ternary solubility of the binary and ternary compounds of this system have been experimentally investigated. The Isothermal section of Mg-Cu-Y system at 673 K for the entire composition range has been constructed. Phase relations in the Cu-rich (>66 at.% Cu) region of the Mg-Cu-Y system has been determined for the first time. The homogeneity range of three ternary compounds has been determined. Solidifications behavior of several key alloys have been discussed based on the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments and thermodynamic calculations. Extensive analysis of the DSC curves has been carried out to relate them to the corresponding phase transformation reactions and temperatures. Some of the most promising metallic glass forming regions have been analyzed using thermodynamic calculations.
PCSK9 acts as a chaperone for the LDL receptor in the endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Strøm Thea Bismo , Tveten Kristian , Leren Trond P. 
Published: October 2013

PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) binds to the LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) at the cell surface and disrupts recycling of the LDLR. However, PCSK9 also interacts with the LDLR in the ER (endoplasmic reticulum). In the present study we have investigated the role of PCSK9 for the transport of the LDLR from the ER to the cell membrane. A truncated LDLR consisting of the ectodomain (ED-LDLR) was used for these studies to avoid PCSK9-mediated degradation of the LDLR. The amount of secreted ED-LDLR was used as a measure of the amount of ED-LDLR transported from the ER. From co-transfection experiments of various PCSK9 and ED-LDLR plasmids, PCSK9 increased the amount of WT (wild-type) ED-LDLR in the medium, but not of an ED-LDLR lacking the EGF (epidermal growth factor)-A repeat or of a Class 2a mutant ED-LDLR which fails to exit the ER. Mutant PCSK9s which failed to undergo autocatalytic cleavage or failed to exit the ER, failed to increase the amount of WT-ED-LDLR in the medium. These mutants also reduced the amount of WT-ED-LDLR intracellularly, which could partly be prevented by the proteasome inhibitor lactacystine. WT-ED-LDLR promoted autocatalytic cleavage of pro-PCSK9. The findings of the present study indicate that the binding of WT-ED-LDLR to pro-PCSK9 in the ER promotes autocatalytic cleavage of PCSK9, and autocatalytically cleaved PCSK9 acts as a chaperone to promote the exit of WT-ED-LDLR from the ER.
0.5 V switching current integrator
Authors: Shen D.‐L. 
Published: October 2013

A switching current integrator that works in an environment with a low supply voltage is presented. The sampling transistors are all realised using PMOSs, by connecting their body to the ground, in order to lower their threshold voltage. The current sources are constructed using NMOSs by tying their gate to the supply voltage, in order to minimise the voltage required between drain and source. In this type of approach, the proposed switching current integrator works at a supply voltage of 0.5 V, using a sampling frequency of 100 MHz in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology.
Uniform and linear variable doping ultra‐thin PSOI LDMOS with n‐type buried layer
Authors: Li Yanfei , Qiao Ming , Jiang Yongheng , Zhou Xin , Xu Wan , Zhang Bo 
Published: October 2013

A novel ultra‐thin partial silicon‐on‐insulator (PSOI) LDMOS with n‐type buried (n‐buried) layer (NBL PSOI LDMOS) is proposed. The new PSOI LDMOS features an n‐buried layer underneath the n‐type drift (n‐drift) region close to the source side, providing a large conductivity region for majority carriers to significantly improve the self‐heating effect. A combination of uniform and linear variable doping (LVD) profile with highly initial concentration is utilised in the n‐drift region, which alleviates the inherent tradeoff between specific on‐resistance (Ron,sp) and breakdown voltage (BV), as well as achieving low power dissipation. With a 60‐µm n‐drift region length, the NBL PSOI LDMOS obtains a high BV of 940 V with a low maximum temperature (Tmax) of 327 K at a power (P) of 1 mW/μm, which is reduced by around 56 K in comparison to the conventional SOI LDMOS using an LVD profile for the n‐drift region (LVD SOI LDMOS). Moreover, Ron,sp of the NBL PSOI LDMOS is lower than that of the LVD SOI LDMOS for a wide range of BV from 400 to 900 V.
Low‐cost low‐power HV startup circuit with 50 V pJFET and 700 V T‐nJFET
Authors: Mao Kun , Qiao Ming , Li Zhaoji , Zhang Bo 
Published: October 2013

An advanced low‐cost and low‐power high‐voltage (HV) startup circuit which uses a 50 V pJFET and a 700 V T‐nJFET (triple RESURF nJFET) is proposed. Compared with traditional technology, a mass of module area is saved. This mainly benefits from: first, with increase of VDS, IOFF (leakage current in off‐state) can be quickly pinched off to a low value by pJFET without a large layout area which is needed for the traditional resistance method. Secondly, T‐nJFET is located at the drain terminal of T‐nLDMOS (triple RESURF LDMOS) with common drain electrode which also saves large area than traditional independent nJFET. Moreover, pJFET brings stable and low IOFF which leads to 4 mW POFF (static power consumption in off‐state) due to its low VP (pinch‐off voltage) and high BVDS.
Anti‐Stokes signal conversion of femtosecond pulses at near‐ultraviolet wavelength in photonic crystal fibre
Authors: Yuan Jinhui , Zhou Guiyao , Liu Hongzhan , Xia Changming , Sang Xinzhu , Wu Qiang , Yu Chongxiu , Wang Kuiru , Yan Binbin , Han Ying , Farrell G. , Hou Lantian 
Published: October 2013

Anti‐Stokes signals at the near‐ultraviolet wavelength are efficiently generated based on degenerate four‐wave mixing by coupling the femtosecond pulses into the fundamental mode of a photonic crystal fibre. When the pump pulses with the central wavelength of 840 nm and the average power of 300 mW are used, the conversion efficiency ηs of the anti‐Stokes signal at 432 nm can be up to 40℅, and the pulse width is measured to be 42 fs by the Talbot effect.
UWB small slot antenna with WLAN frequency band‐stop function
Authors: Ojaroudi N. , Ghadimi N. 
Published: October 2013

A new design of a multi‐resonance small slot antenna with variable band‐notched function for ultra‐wideband (UWB) applications is proposed. The proposed slot antenna consists of a square radiating stub and a ground plane with a pair of L‐shaped parasitic structures and an inverted T‐shaped strip protruding inside the rectangular slit, which provides a wide usable fractional bandwidth of more than 135% (2.98–16.73 GHz), while showing the band rejection performance in the frequency band of 5.05–5.9 GHz to avoid any interference from wireless local area network systems. The designed antenna has a small size of 20 × 20 × 0.8 mm3. Simulated and experimental results obtained for this antenna show that it exhibits good radiation behaviour within the UWB frequency range.
Miniaturised rat‐race coupler with second and third harmonic suppression using synthesised transmission lines
Authors: Lai C.‐H. , Ma T.‐G. 
Published: October 2013

A miniaturised rat‐race coupler capable of suppressing the second and third harmonics is proposed. The coupler is designed with slow‐wave synthesised transmission lines using two π‐networks in cascade. Each π‐network is formed by a parallel LC tank and two shunt capacitors, and is associated with a transmission zero for harmonic attenuation. The two transmission zeros embedded in the synthesised line can be controlled independently. The proposed rat‐race coupler, centred at 2.4 GHz with an operational bandwidth of 18.8%, and at least 21‐dB suppression at the second and third harmonics, features a compact footprint, which is only 12.9% the size of its conventional counterpart.
Novel topology for DC/DC unidirectional converter for fuel cell
Authors: Ortega Manuel , Jurado Francisco , Valverde Manuel 
Published: October 2013

This study presents a new isolated DC/DC converter of full‐bridge to connect a fuel cell to DC bus in a hybrid distribution generation system. This converter consists of a high‐frequency transformer and a voltage booster circuit. The circuit has been designed and each isolated‐gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) presents soft‐switching during the whole power range of the converter. The switching losses of the IGBTs, the reverse‐recovery losses of all of the diodes, and the core losses have almost been eliminated. To improve the efficiency, transformer cores and inductors have been built with material nanocrystalline. The efficiency is improved if this is compared with that of a conventional zero‐voltage switching converter. Also, this converter can obtain a high‐voltage gain and medium and high DC power can be converted. The analysis and switching techniques have been reported. Finally, to verify the principle of operation, a laboratory prototype of 2 kW has been performed.
Wrinkling deformation and thermal conductivity of one graphane sheet under shear
Authors: Shen Haijun 
Published: October 2013

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the wrinkling deformation of one single‐layer graphane (GA) sheet under shear, and the shear deformation was compared with that of the macromembrane under shear. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the wrinkled GA sheet at 300 K was calculated. Moreover, the differences of anti‐shear capability and thermal conductance between the GA and another corresponding graphene sheet are discussed. The results show that the solutions of the macromembrane are applicable to predict the wrinkling deformation of the GA sheet under shear and that both the GA and the graphene sheet under shear have comparable anti‐buckling capability, whereas the GA sheet has much lower post‐buckling load‐carrying capacity. By increasing the shear strain, the thermal conductivity of both the GA and the graphene sheets decreases, and under the same shear strain the graphene sheet has higher thermal conductivity than the GA sheet.