bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Directional side scattering of light by a single plasmonic trimer
Authors: Lu Guowei , Wang Yuwei , Chou R. Yuanying , Shen Hongming , He Yingbo , Cheng Yuqing , Gong Qihuang 
Published: August 2015

AbstractDirectional side scattering of light by individual gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) trimers assembled by the atomic force microscope (AFM) nanomanipulation method is investigated in experiment and theory. The AFM nanomanipulation approach brings an active way to construct ultracompact and effective optical nanoantennas. Different configurations of the trimers are constructed in situ via AFM nanomanipulation. Unidirectional side scattering of light by a single trimer is demonstrated with a broad response bandwidth over 400 nm and directivity up to ∼7.8 dB in experiments. The near‐field plasmon coupling of the AuNPs is simulated with the 3D finite‐difference time‐domain method and the far‐field radiation patterns are calculated by employing near‐field‐to‐far‐field transformation methods. The calculated results are in agreement with the experiments qualitatively. The physical origin is revealed intuitively by employing a simple phenomenological “two‐dipole” model. The unidirectional light scattering is due to the interference between multiple plasmonic resonance modes of the trimers. The study contributes to the understanding of the optical response of complex nanostructures and optimizing nanoantenna performances for practical applications, e.g. increasing the detection efficiency of surface‐enhanced spectroscopy.
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Multi‐wavelength quantum cascade laser arrays
Authors: Rauter Patrick , Capasso Federico 
Published: August 2015

The progress on multi‐wavelength quantum cascade laser arrays in the mid‐infrared is reviewed, which are a powerful, robust and versatile source for next‐generation spectroscopy and stand‐off detection systems. Various approaches for the array elements are discussed, from conventional distributed‐feedback lasers over master‐oscillator power‐amplifier devices to tapered oscillators, and the performances of the different array types are compared. The challenges associated with reliably achieving single‐mode operation at deterministic wavelengths for each laser element in combination with a uniform distribution of high output power across the array are discussed. An overview of the range of applications benefiting from the quantum cascade laser approach is given. The distinct and crucial advantages of arrays over external cavity quantum cascade lasers as tunable single‐mode sources in the mid‐infrared are discussed. Spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging demonstrations by quantum cascade laser arrays are reviewed.
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Neuroproteomic profiling of human body fluids
Authors: Häggmark Anna , Schwenk Jochen M. , Nilsson Peter 
Published: August 2015

Analysis of protein expression and abundance provides a possibility to extend the current knowledge on disease‐associated processes and pathways. The human brain is a complex organ and dysfunction or damage can give rise to a variety of neurological diseases. Although many proteins potentially reflecting disease progress are originating from brain, the scarce availability of human tissue material has lead to utilization of body fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid and blood in disease‐related research. Within the most common neurological disorders, much effort has been spent on studying the role of a few hallmark proteins in disease pathogenesis but despite extensive investigation, the signatures they provide seem insufficient to fully understand and predict disease progress. In order to expand the view the field of neuroproteomics has lately emerged alongside developing technologies, such as affinity proteomics and mass spectrometry, for multiplexed and high‐throughput protein profiling. Here, we provide an overview of how such technologies have been applied to study neurological disease and we also discuss some important considerations concerning discovery of disease‐associated profiles.
Perineural invasion in prostate biopsy specimens is associated with increased bone metastasis in prostate cancer
Authors: Ciftci Seyfettin , Yilmaz Hasan , Ciftci Esra , Simsek Emrah , Ustuner Murat , Yavuz Ufuk , Muezzinoglu Bahar , Dillioglugil Ozdal 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate the relationship between perineural invasion (PNI) and bone metastasis in prostate cancer (PCa).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 633 PCas who had whole‐body bone scan (WBBS) between 2008 and 2014. We recorded the age, clinical T‐stage, total PSA (tPSA) prior to biopsy, Gleason sum (GS), and PNI in transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy (TRUS‐Bx) and digital rectal examination findings. Bone metastases were assessed with WBBS and magnetic resonance image if WBBS was suspicious. We divided the patients into two groups according to NCCN criteria: (Group 1) bone scan not indicated, (Group 2) bone scan indicated.ResultsThere were 262 patients in Group 1 and 371 in 2. There is not significant relationship between PNI and bone metastasis in Group 1. However, there is very limited number of metastatic patients (n = 12) in this group. There is a strong relationship between PNI and bone metastasis in Group 2 (P = 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of PNI for bone metastasis were 72.4%, 81.7%, and 77.7%, respectively. In this group, tPSA, GS, positive DRE, and PNI were significant covariates for prediction of bone metastasis in univariate and multivariate analysis (except age). The most powerful predictor was PNI, and it increased the risk of bone metastasis 11‐fold.ConclusionsPNI in the TRUS‐Bx specimens is the most powerful predictive histopathological feature for bone metastasis, by increasing the risk of bone metastasis 11‐fold in NCCN bone scan indicated patients (Group 2). Prostate 75:1783–1789, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Partial consensus of identical feedforward dynamic systems with input saturations
Authors: Lim Young‐Hun , Ahn Hyo‐Sung 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThis paper studies the partial consensus problem for identical feedforward dynamic systems with input saturations. We construct two consensus protocols using the partial‐state information and full‐state information, respectively. Applying a change of coordinates, feedforward system is transformed into the block diagonal form. Then, by utilizing the bounded real lemma and small gain theorem, we solve the partial consensus problem, and the existence of each protocol is derived. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Doping GeSb2Te4 with Cr3+: Structure and Temperature‐Dependent Physical Properties
Authors: Welzmiller Simon , Schlegel Robert , Pöppl Andreas , Bothmann Georg , Scheidt Ernst‐Wilhelm , Scherer Wolfgang , Oeckler Oliver 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe tellurides Ge0.94Cr0.04Sb2Te4 and Ge0.88Cr0.08Sb2Te4 were synthesized in sealed silica glass ampoules. Rietveld refinements show that they crystallize in the 21R‐In3Te4 structure type (Rm), similar to undoped GeSb2Te4. The composition and phase purity were confirmed by ICP‐AES as well as by SEM and TEM, including EDX measurements. EPR spectroscopy reveals the valence state +III for the Cr atoms (g = 1.990) in Ge0.88Cr0.08Sb2Te4, which agrees well with the Cr3+ content calculated from the inverse magnetic susceptibility. The material exhibits a ferromagnetic fluctuations with a paramagnetic Curie temperature of 70 K ± 20 K and is a metallic conductor. Compared to GeSb2Te4, the electrical conductivity is increased by a factor of 2.5. As Cr doping further leads to a higher Seebeck coefficient, the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT reaches values of up to 0.3 at 500 °C, i.e. three times the value of undoped material.
Dealing with Deportability: Deportation Laws and the Political Personhood of Temporary Migrant Workers in Singapore
Authors: BAL Charanpal S. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBy severely constraining the political personhood of temporary migrant workers, states’ use of deportation laws seeks to curb agitation among these workers. Despite this, various episodes of unrest have been witnessed in both liberal and illiberal regimes across Asia. Drawing on a case study of Bangladeshi migrant construction workers in Singapore, this paper examines the development of migrant labour politics as deportation laws, and their enforcement, construct these workers as “use-and-discard” economic subjects. Data for the paper are drawn from multi-level sources—government, industry, media, and non-governmental organization (NGO) reports; interviews with key actors; and a participant observation stint in a construction firm—collected between 2010 and 2014. The paper argues that, rather than solely constraining, deportability serves as a constituent of certain forms of tactical worker contestations in the workplace. Specifically, under different workplace conditions, deportability can translate into differing forms of worker tactics, ranging from accommodation to confrontation and desertion. The outcomes of these strategies, in turn, have significant repercussions for the ways in which civil society groups and state-actors, respectively, challenge and reconfigure the political personhood of temporary migrant workers.
Housestaff Knowledge Related to Urinary Catheter Use and Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Paras Molly L. , Shenoy Erica S. , Hsu Heather E. , Walensky Rochelle P. , Hooper David C. 
Published: August 2015

Despite published catheter-associated urinary tract infection prevention guidelines, inappropriate catheter use is common. We surveyed housestaff about their knowledge of catheter-associated urinary tract infections at a teaching hospital and found most are aware of prevention guidelines; however, their application to clinical scenarios and catheter practices fall short of national goals.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(11):1355–1357
Abusive supervision and turnover intentions: The mediating role of perceived organisational support
Authors: Haar Jarrod M. , de Fluiter Alida , Brougham David 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAbusive supervision has a significant impact on employee turnover intentions. An underexplored factor in this area is the influence of support: we test perceived organisational support as a mediator. The present study utilised data from three distinct populations within New Zealand: (1) ethnically diverse blue-collar workers, (2) Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) employees, and (3) Chinese employees working within New Zealand. Structural equation modelling from the combined sample of 432 respondents (in total) showed that the indirect-effects model fit the data best, where abusive supervision was positively related to turnover intentions and negatively towards perceived organisational support; while support was negatively related to turnover intentions. Our findings bear out the notion that organisational support mediates the influence of abusive supervision on turnover intentions, highlighting the effect of organisational influence within this area. By exploring these relationships on three distinct populations, this study improves the generalisability of the related theories.
Testing a Mixture of Rank Preference Models on Judges' Scores in Paris and Princeton
Authors: Bodington Jeffrey C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRank preference and mixture models have been employed to evaluate the ranks assigned by consumers in taste tests of beans, cheese, crackers, salad dressings, soft drinks, sushi, animal feed, and wine. In many wine tastings, including the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris and the 2012 Judgment of Princeton, judges assign scores rather than ranks, and those scores often include ties. This article advances the application of ranking and mixture models to wine-tasting results by modifying the established use of a Plackett-Luce rank preference model to accommodate scores and ties. The modified model is tested and then employed to evaluate the Paris and Princeton wine-tasting results. Test results show that the mixture model is an accurate predictor of observed rank densities. Results for Paris and Princeton show that the group preference orders implied by the mixture model are highly correlated with the orders implied by widely employed rank-sum methods. However, the mixture model satisfies choice axioms that rank-sum methods do not, it yields an estimate of the proportion of scores that appear to be assigned randomly, and it also yields a preference order based on nonrandom preferences that tasters appear to hold in common. (JEL Classifications: A10, C00, C10, C12, D12)
Lutein intake at the age of 1 year and cardiometabolic health at the age of 6 years: the Generation R Study
Authors: Leermakers Elisabeth T. M. , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica C. , Hofman Albert , Jaddoe Vincent W. V. , Franco Oscar H. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractLutein is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties. Previous studies in adults suggest a beneficial role of lutein on cardiometabolic health. However, it is unknown whether this relation also exists in children; therefore, we aimed to assess the relation between lutein intake at 13 months of age and cardiometabolic outcomes at the age of 6 years. We included 2044 Dutch children participating in a population-based prospective cohort study. Diet was measured at 13 months of age with an FFQ. Lutein intake was standardised for energy and β-carotene intake. Blood pressure, anthropometrics, serum lipids and insulin were measured at the age of 6 years. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was performed to measure total and regional fat and lean mass. A continuous cardiometabolic risk factor score was created, including the components body fat percentage, blood pressure, insulin, HDL-cholesterol and TAG. Age- and sex-specific standard deviation scores were created for all outcomes. Multivariable linear regression was performed, including socio-demographic and lifestyle variables. Median (energy-standardised) lutein intake was 1317 mcg/d (95 % range 87, 6069 mcg/d). There were no consistent associations between lutein intake at 13 months and anthropometrics and body composition measures at 6 years of age. In addition, lutein intake was not associated with a continuous cardiometabolic risk factor score, nor was it associated with any of the individual components of the cardiometabolic risk factor score. Results from this large population-based prospective cohort study do not support the hypothesis that lutein intake early in life has a beneficial role for later cardiometabolic health.
Heated birthing pools as a source of Legionnaires' disease
Authors: COLLINS S. L. , AFSHAR B. , WALKER J. T. , AIRD H. , NAIK F. , PARRY-FORD F. , PHIN N. , HARRISON T. G. , CHALKER V. J. , SORRELL S. , CRESSWELL T. 
Published: August 2015

SUMMARYIn June 2014 Public Health England confirmed a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) in a neonate following birth at home in a hired birthing pool incorporating a heater and a recirculation pump which had been filled in advance of labour. The case triggered a public health investigation and a microbiological survey of an additional ten heated birthing pools hired or recently hired to the general public across England. The birthing pool used by the parent of the confirmed case was identified as the source of the neonate's infection following detection ofLegionella pneumophilaST48 in both patient and environmental samples.Legionellaspecies were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction but not culture in a further three pools together with other opportunistic pathogens identified by culture and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI–ToF) mass spectrometry. A Patient Safety Alert from NHS England and Public Health England was issued stating that heated birthing pools filled in advance of labour should not be used for home births. This recommendation remains in place. This investigation in conjunction with other recent reports has highlighted a lack of awareness regarding the microbiological safety of heated birthing pools and their potential to be a source of LD and other opportunistic infections. Furthermore, the investigation raised important considerations with regards to microbiological sampling and testing in such incidents. Public health authorities and clinicians should consider LD in the differential diagnosis of severe respiratory infection in neonates within 14 days of a water birth.
PENETRATION OF SPHERICAL GOLD NANOPARTICLE INTO A LIPID BILAYER
Authors: BAOWAN D. 
Published: August 2015

Safety issues for the use of products containing nanoparticles need to be considered, since these nanoparticles may break through human skin to damage cells. In this paper, applied mathematical techniques are used to model the penetration of a spherical gold nanoparticle into an assumed circular hole in a lipid bilayer. The 6–12 Lennard-Jones potential is employed, and the total molecular interaction energy is obtained using the continuous approximation. Nanoparticles of three different radii, namely, 10, 15 and 20 Å, are studied, which are initiated at rest, confined to the axis of the hole. A similar behaviour for these three cases is observed. The critical hole radii at which these nanoparticles enter the bilayer are 12.65, 17.62 and 22.60 Å, respectively. Further, once the hole radii become larger than 20.79, 23.14 and 27.02 Å, respectively, the gold nanoparticles tend to remain at the mid-plane of the bilayer, and do not pass through the bilayer.
Femtosecond laser ablation-based mass spectrometry: An ideal tool for stoichiometric analysis of thin films
Authors: LaHaye Nicole L. , Kurian Jose , Diwakar Prasoon K. , Alff Lambert , Harilal Sivanandan S. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAn accurate and routinely available method for stoichiometric analysis of thin films is a desideratum of modern materials science where a material’s properties depend sensitively on elemental composition. We thoroughly investigated femtosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (fs-LA-ICP-MS) as an analytical technique for determination of the stoichiometry of thin films down to the nanometer scale. The use of femtosecond laser ablation allows for precise removal of material with high spatial and depth resolution that can be coupled to an ICP-MS to obtain elemental and isotopic information. We used molecular beam epitaxy-grown thin films of LaPd(x)Sb2 and T′-La2CuO4 to demonstrate the capacity of fs-LA-ICP-MS for stoichiometric analysis and the spatial and depth resolution of the technique. Here we demonstrate that the stoichiometric information of thin films with a thickness of ~10 nm or lower can be determined. Furthermore, our results indicate that fs-LA-ICP-MS provides precise information on the thin film-substrate interface and is able to detect the interdiffusion of cations.
Somersault of Paramecium in extremely confined environments
Authors: Jana Saikat , Eddins Aja , Spoon Corrie , Jung Sunghwan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe investigate various swimming modes of Paramecium in geometric confinements and a non-swimming self-bending behavior like a somersault, which is quite different from the previously reported behaviors. We observe that Paramecia execute directional sinusoidal trajectories in thick fluid films, whereas Paramecia meander around a localized region and execute frequent turns due to collisions with adjacent walls in thin fluid films. When Paramecia are further constrained in rectangular channels narrower than the length of the cell body, a fraction of meandering Paramecia buckle their body by pushing on the channel walls. The bucking (self-bending) of the cell body allows the Paramecium to reorient its anterior end and explore a completely new direction in extremely confined spaces. Using force deflection method, we quantify the Young’s modulus of the cell and estimate the swimming and bending powers exerted by Paramecium. The analysis shows that Paramecia can utilize a fraction of its swimming power to execute the self-bending maneuver within the confined channel and no extra power may be required for this new kind of self-bending behavior. This investigation sheds light on how micro-organisms can use the flexibility of the body to actively navigate within confined spaces.
Investigation of Human Cancers for Retrovirus by Low-Stringency Target Enrichment and High-Throughput Sequencing
Authors: Vinner Lasse , Mourier Tobias , Friis-Nielsen Jens , Gniadecki Robert , Dybkaer Karen , Rosenberg Jacob , Langhoff Jill Levin , Cruz David Flores Santa , Fonager Jannik , Izarzugaza Jose M. G. , Gupta Ramneek , Sicheritz-Ponten Thomas , Brunak Søren , Willerslev Eske , Nielsen Lars Peter , Hansen Anders Johannes 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAlthough nearly one fifth of all human cancers have an infectious aetiology, the causes for the majority of cancers remain unexplained. Despite the enormous data output from high-throughput shotgun sequencing, viral DNA in a clinical sample typically constitutes a proportion of host DNA that is too small to be detected. Sequence variation among virus genomes complicates application of sequence-specific and highly sensitive, PCR methods. Therefore, we aimed to develop and characterize a method that permits sensitive detection of sequences despite considerable variation. We demonstrate that our low-stringency in-solution hybridization method enables detection of <100 viral copies. Furthermore, distantly related proviral sequences may be enriched by orders of magnitude, enabling discovery of hitherto unknown viral sequences by high-throughput sequencing. The sensitivity was sufficient to detect retroviral sequences in clinical samples. We used this method to conduct an investigation for novel retrovirus in samples from three cancer types. In accordance with recent studies our investigation revealed no retroviral infections in human B-cell lymphoma cells, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or colorectal cancer biopsies. Nonetheless, our generally applicable method makes sensitive detection possible and permits sequencing of distantly related sequences from complex material.
Long- and Short-Range Electrostatic Fields in GFP Mutants: Implications for Spectral Tuning
Authors: Drobizhev M. , Callis P. R. , Nifosì R. , Wicks G. , Stoltzfus C. , Barnett L. , Hughes T. E. , Sullivan P. , Rebane A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe majority of protein functions are governed by their internal local electrostatics. Quantitative information about these interactions can shed light on how proteins work and allow for improving/altering their performance. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its mutation variants provide unique optical windows for interrogation of internal electric fields, thanks to the intrinsic fluorophore group formed inside them. Here we use an all-optical method, based on the independent measurements of transition frequency and one- and two-photon absorption cross sections in a number of GFP mutants to evaluate these internal electric fields. Two physical models based on the quadratic Stark effect, either with or without taking into account structural (bond-length) changes of the chromophore in varying field, allow us to separately evaluate the long-range and the total effective (short- and long-range) fields. Both types of the field quantitatively agree with the results of independent molecular dynamic simulations, justifying our method of measurement.