bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Deformation-Induced Grain Orientation Change in a Polycrystal During In Situ Tensile Deformation using EBSD
Authors: Buchheit Thomas E. , Carroll Jay D. , Clark Blythe G. , Boyce Brad L. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractUsing an in situ load frame within a scanning electron microscope, a microstructural section on the surface of an annealed tantalum (Ta) polycrystalline specimen was mapped at successive tensile strain intervals, up to ~20% strain, using electron backscatter diffraction. A grain identification and correlation technique was developed for characterizing the evolving microstructure during loading. Presenting the correlated results builds on the reference orientation deviation (ROD) map concept where individual orientation measurements within a grain are compared with a reference orientation associated with that grain. In this case, individual orientation measurements in a deformed grain are measured relative to a reference orientation derived from the undeformed (initial) configuration rather than the current deformed configuration as has been done for previous ROD schemes. Using this technique helps reveal the evolution of crystallographic orientation gradients and development of deformation-induced substructure within grains. Although overall crystallographic texture evolved slowly during deformation, orientation spread within grains developed quickly. In some locations, misorientation relative to the original orientation of a grain exceeded 20° by 15% strain. The largest orientation changes often appeared near grain boundaries suggesting that these regions were preferred locations for the initial development of subgrains.
What Humpty Dumpty might have said about property rights – and the need to put them back together again: a response to critics
Authors: HODGSON GEOFFREY M. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis is a response to the useful comments by Allen, Barzel and Cole on Hodgson (2015a) on property rights. One section deals with some misrepresentations by Allen and Barzel. For instance, contrary to one interpretation, Hodgson (2015a) did not accuse the ‘economics of property rights’ of ignoring legal institutions or of making them generally irrelevant. This response further clarifies the standard meaning of rights, showing that it is at variance with usages in the ‘economics of property rights’. The issue of moral motivation, and its relevance for legal compliance, are also elaborated. Some arguments in Hodgson (2015a) have been described by critics as mere semantics, but in response it is argued – contrary to philosophical nominalism – that changes in the meanings of words can be analytically significant, and we should treat traditional meanings more seriously, especially when dealing with other disciplines such as law. (The cryptic reference to Humpty Dumpty comes in here). Before concluding, there is also a brief discussion of different ways of interpreting transaction costs.
Market institutions and income inequality
Authors: HOLCOMBE RANDALL G. , BOUDREAUX CHRISTOPHER J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSome economic analysis concludes that capitalist institutions tend to produce growing income inequality. Piketty (2014Capital in the Twenty-First Century., Cambridge: Harvard University Press) is a recent example. This paper uses two different datasets on income shares of the top 10% to analyze the effect of market institutions on income inequality. The same empirical specifications give different results for the two datasets. This empirical investigation suggests that whether market institutions generate income inequality is an open question.
Does social trust speed up reforms? The case of central-bank independence
Authors: BERGGREN NICLAS , DAUNFELDT SVEN-OLOV , HELLSTRÖM JÖRGEN 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMany countries have undertaken central-bank independence reforms, but the years of implementation differ. What explains such differences in timing? This is of interest more broadly, as it sheds light on factors that matter for the speed at which economic reforms come about. We study a rich set of potential determinants, both economic and political, but put special focus on a cultural factor, i.e. social trust. We find empirical support for an inverse u-shape: Countries with low and high social trust implemented their reforms earlier than countries with intermediate levels. We make use of two factors to explain this pattern: the need to undertake reform (which is more urgent in countries with low social trust) and the ability to undertake reform (which is greater in countries with high social trust). Overall, our findings imply that culture matters for institutional change.
Adaptation and Validation of the Psychological Need Thwarting Scale in Spanish Physical Education Teachers
Authors: Cuevas Ricardo , Sánchez-Oliva David , Bartholomew Kimberley J. , Ntoumanis Nikos , García-Calvo Tomás 
Published: July 2015

AbstractDrawing from self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2002), the aim of the study was to adapt and validate a Spanish version of the Psychological Need Thwarting Scale (PNTS; Bartholomew, Ntoumanis, Ryan, & Thørgersen-Ntoumani, 2011) in the educational domain. Psychological need thwarting and burnout were assessed in 619 physical education teachers from several high schools in Spain. Overall, the adapted measure demonstrated good content, factorial (χ2/gl = 4.87, p < .01, CFI = .95, IFI = .96, TLI = .94, RMSEA = .08, SRMR = .05), and external validity, as well as internal consistency (α ≥ .81) and invariance across gender. Moreover, burnout was strongly predicted by teachers’ perceptions of competence (β = .53, p ≤ .01), autonomy (β = .34, p ≤ .01), and relatedness (β = .31, p ≤ .01) need thwarting. In conclusion, these results support the Spanish version of the PNTS as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the understudied concept of psychological need thwarting in teachers.
Non-wetting surface-driven high-aspect-ratio crystalline grain growth for efficient hybrid perovskite solar cells
Authors: Bi Cheng , Wang Qi , Shao Yuchuan , Yuan Yongbo , Xiao Zhengguo , Huang Jinsong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractLarge-aspect-ratio grains are needed in polycrystalline thin-film solar cells for reduced charge recombination at grain boundaries; however, the grain size in organolead trihalide perovskite (OTP) films is generally limited by the film thickness. Here we report the growth of OTP grains with high average aspect ratio of 2.3–7.9 on a wide range of non-wetting hole transport layers (HTLs), which increase nucleus spacing by suppressing heterogeneous nucleation and facilitate grain boundary migration in grain growth by imposing less drag force. The reduced grain boundary area and improved crystallinity dramatically reduce the charge recombination in OTP thin films to the level in OTP single crystals. Combining the high work function of several HTLs, a high stabilized device efficiency of 18.3% in low-temperature-processed planar-heterojunction OTP devices under 1 sun illumination is achieved. This simple method in enhancing OTP morphology paves the way for its application in other optoelectronic devices for enhanced performance.
Atomic view of the histidine environment stabilizing higher-pH conformations of pH-dependent proteins
Authors: Valéry Céline , Deville-Foillard Stéphanie , Lefebvre Christelle , Taberner Nuria , Legrand Pierre , Meneau Florian , Meriadec Cristelle , Delvaux Camille , Bizien Thomas , Kasotakis Emmanouil , Lopez-Iglesias Carmen , Gall Andrew , Bressanelli Stéphane , Le Du Marie-Hélène , Paternostre Maïté , Artzner Franck 
Published: July 2015

AbstractExternal stimuli are powerful tools that naturally control protein assemblies and functions. For example, during viral entry and exit changes in pH are known to trigger large protein conformational changes. However, the molecular features stabilizing the higher pH structures remain unclear. Here we elucidate the conformational change of a self-assembling peptide that forms either small or large nanotubes dependent on the pH. The sub-angstrom high-pH peptide structure reveals a globular conformation stabilized through a strong histidine-serine H-bond and a tight histidine-aromatic packing. Lowering the pH induces histidine protonation, disrupts these interactions and triggers a large change to an extended β-sheet-based conformation. Re-visiting available structures of proteins with pH-dependent conformations reveals both histidine-containing aromatic pockets and histidine-serine proximity as key motifs in higher pH structures. The mechanism discovered in this study may thus be generally used by pH-dependent proteins and opens new prospects in the field of nanomaterials.
Development of a transformation system for Hirsutella spp. and visualization of the mode of nematode infection by GFP-labeled H. minnesotensis
Authors: Sun Jingzu , Park Sook-Young , Kang Seogchan , Liu Xingzhong , Qiu Junzhi , Xiang Meichun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractHirsutella rhossiliensis and H. minnesotensis are endoparasitic fungi of the second-stage juvenile (J2) of the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) in nature. They also parasitize both H. glycines J2 and Caenorhabditis elegans on agar plates. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation conditions were established for these Hirsutella spp. The resulting transformants were similar to the corresponding wild-type strains. The infection processes of H. glycines J2 and C. elegans second larval stage (L2) by H. minnesotensis expressing ZsGreen were microscopically analyzed. Conidia of H. minnesotensis adhered to passing nematodes within 8 h post-inoculation (hpi), formed an infection peg between 8 and 12 hpi and penetrated the nematode cuticle between 12 and 24 hpi for C. elegans L2 and between 12 and 32 hpi for H. glycines J2. Hyphal proliferation inside of the nematode coelom was observed at approximately 32 hpi for C. elegans L2 and at approximately 40 hpi for H. glycines J2. The fungus consumed the whole body and grew out to produce conidia at approximately 156 and 204 hpi for C. elegans L2 and H. glycines J2, respectively. The efficient transformation protocol and a better understanding of infection process provide a solid foundation for studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying fungal parasitism of nematodes.
Rhes influences striatal cAMP/PKA-dependent signaling and synaptic plasticity in a gender-sensitive fashion
Authors: Ghiglieri Veronica , Napolitano Francesco , Pelosi Barbara , Schepisi Chiara , Migliarini Sara , Di Maio Anna , Pendolino Valentina , Mancini Maria , Sciamanna Giuseppe , Vitucci Daniela , Maddaloni Giacomo , Giampà Carmela , Errico Francesco , Nisticò Robert , Pasqualetti Massimo , Picconi Barbara , Usiello Alessandro 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMechanisms of gender-specific synaptic plasticity in the striatum, a brain region that controls motor, cognitive and psychiatric functions, remain unclear. Here we report that Rhes, a GTPase enriched in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of striatum, alters the striatal cAMP/PKA signaling cascade in a gender-specific manner. While Rhes knockout (KO) male mice, compared to wild-type (WT) mice, had a significant basal increase of cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, the Rhes KO females exhibited a much stronger response of this pathway, selectively under the conditions of dopamine/adenosine-related drug challenge. Corticostriatal LTP defects are exclusively found in A2AR/D2R-expressing MSNs of KO females, compared to KO males, an effect that is abolished by PKA inhibitors but not by the removal of circulating estrogens. This suggests that the synaptic alterations found in KO females could be triggered by an aberrant A2AR/cAMP/PKA activity, but not due to estrogen-mediated effect. Consistent with increased cAMP signaling, D1R-mediated motor stimulation, haloperidol-induced catalepsy and caffeine-evoked hyper-activity are robustly enhanced in Rhes KO females compared to mutant males. Thus Rhes, a thyroid hormone-target gene, plays a relevant role in gender-specific synaptic and behavioral responses.
Mechanism of influenza A M2 transmembrane domain assembly in lipid membranes
Authors: Georgieva Elka R. , Borbat Peter P. , Norman Haley D. , Freed Jack H. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractM2 from influenza A virus functions as an oligomeric proton channel essential for the viral cycle, hence it is a high-priority pharmacological target whose structure and functions require better understanding. We studied the mechanism of M2 transmembrane domain (M2TMD) assembly in lipid membranes by the powerful biophysical technique of double electron-electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy. By varying the M2TMD-to-lipid molar ratio over a wide range from 1:18,800 to 1:160, we found that M2TMD exists as monomers, dimers and tetramers whose relative populations shift to tetramers with the increase of peptide-to-lipid (P/L) molar ratio. Our results strongly support the tandem mechanism of M2 assembly that is monomers-to-dimer then dimers-to-tetramer, since tight dimers are abundant at small P/L’s and thereafter they assemble as dimers of dimers in weaker tetramers. The stepwise mechanism found for a single-pass membrane protein oligomeric assembly should contribute to the knowledge of the association steps in membrane protein folding.
Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles with Exposed {001} Facets for Efficient Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Chu Liang , Qin Zhengfei , Yang Jianping , Li Xing’ao 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAnatase TiO2 nanoparticles with exposed {001} facets were synthesized from Ti powder via a sequential hydrothermal reaction process. At the first-step hydrothermal reaction, H-titanate nanowires were obtained in NaOH solution with Ti powder and at second-step hydrothermal reaction, anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with exposed {001} facets were formed in NH4F solution. If the second-step hydrothermal reaction was carried out in pure water, the H-titanate nanowires were decomposed into random shape anatase-TiO2 nanostructures, as well as few impurity of H2Ti8O17 phase and rutile TiO2 phase. Then, the as-prepared TiO2 nanostructures synthesized in NH4F solution and pure water were applied to the photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which exhibited power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.06% (VOC of 0.756 V, JSC of 14.80 mA/cm2, FF of 0.631) and 3.47% (VOC of 0.764 V, JSC of 6.86 mA/cm2, FF of 0.662), respectively. The outstanding performance of DSSCs based on anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with exposed {001} facets was attributed to the high activity and large special surface area for excellent capacity of dye adsorption.
Studying the Polarization Switching in Polycrystalline BiFeO3 Films by 2D Piezoresponse Force Microscopy
Authors: Jin Yaming , Lu Xiaomei , Zhang Junting , Kan Yi , Bo Huifeng , Huang Fengzhen , Xu Tingting , Du Yingchao , Xiao Shuyu , Zhu Jinsong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractFor rhombohedral multiferroelectrics, non-180° ferroelectric domain switching may induce ferroelastic and/or (anti-)ferromagnetic effect. So the determination and control of ferroelectric domain switching angles is crucial for nonvolatile information storage and exchange-coupled magnetoelectric devices. We try to study the intrinsic characters of polarization switching in BiFeO3 by introducing a special data processing method to determine the switching angle from 2D PFM (Piezoresponse Force Microscopy) images of randomly oriented samples. The response surface of BiFeO3 is first plotted using the piezoelectric tensor got from first principles calculations. Then from the normalized 2D PFM signals before and after switching, the switching angles of randomly oriented BiFeO3 grains can be determined through numerical calculations. In the polycrystalline BiFeO3 films, up to 34% of all switched area is that with original out-of-plane (OP) polarization parallel to the poling field. 71° polarization switching is more favorable, with the area percentages of 71°, 109° and 180° domain switching being about 42%, 29% and 29%, respectively. Our analysis further reveals that IP stress and charge migration have comparable effect on switching and they are sensitive to the geometric arrangements. This work helps exploring a route to control polarization switching in BiFeO3, so as to realize desirable magnetoelectric coupling.
A Josephson radiation comb generator
Authors: Solinas P. , Gasparinetti S. , Golubev D. , Giazotto F. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWe propose the implementation of a Josephson Radiation Comb Generator (JRCG) based on a dc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) driven by an external magnetic field. When the magnetic flux crosses a diffraction node of the critical current interference pattern, the superconducting phase undergoes a jump of π and a voltage pulse is generated at the extremes of the SQUID. Under periodic drive this allows one to generate a sequence of sharp, evenly spaced voltage pulses. In the frequency domain, this corresponds to a comb-like structure similar to the one exploited in optics and metrology. With this device it is possible to generate up to several hundreds of harmonics of the driving frequency. For example, a chain of 50 identical high-critical-temperature SQUIDs driven at 1 GHz can deliver up to a 0.5 nW at 200 GHz. The availability of a fully solid-state radiation comb generator such as the JRCG, easily integrable on chip, may pave the way to a number of technological applications, from metrology to sub-millimeter wave generation.
Insights into the key interactions between human protein phosphatase 5 and cantharidin using molecular dynamics and site-directed mutagenesis bioassays
Authors: Liu Ji-Yuan , Chen Xi-En , Zhang Ya-Lin 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSerine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) is a promising novel target for anticancer therapies. This work aims to uncover the key interactions at the atomic level between PP5 and three inhibitors (cantharidin, norcantharidin and endothall). We found that, unlike previous report, Arg 100 contributes less to PP5-inhibitor binding and the residues His 69, Asn 128, His 129, Arg 225, His 252 and Arg 250 are of importance to PP5-inhibitor binding. The hydrophobic interactions established between the residues Val 254, Phe 271 and Tyr 276, especially Glu 253, are very important to enhance the inhibitive interaction. We suggested that, to increase the inhibitory activity, the interactions of inhibitor with three negatively charged unfavorable interaction residues, Asp 99, Glu 130 and Asp 213, should be avoided. However, the interactions of inhibitor with favorable interaction residue Arg 250 could enhance the inhibitory activity. The Manganese ion 2 (MN2) unfavorably contribute to the total interaction free energies. The coordination between MN2 and chemical group of inhibitor should be eliminated. This work provides insight into how cantharidin and its analogs bind to PP5c at the atomic level and will facilitate modification of cantharidin-like chemicals to rationally develop more specific and less cytotoxic anti-cancer drugs.
Improving fold activation of small transcription activating RNAs (STARs) with rational RNA engineering strategies
Authors: Meyer Sarai , Chappell James , Sankar Sitara , Chew Rebecca , Lucks Julius B. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractEngineered RNAs have become integral components of the synthetic biology and bioengineering toolbox for controlling gene expression. We recently expanded this toolbox by creating small transcription activating RNAs (STARs) that act by disrupting the formation of a target transcriptional terminator hairpin placed upstream of a gene. While STARs are a promising addition to the repertoire of RNA regulators, much work remains to be done to optimize the fold activation of these systems. Here we apply rational RNA engineering strategies to improve the fold activation of two STAR regulators. We demonstrate that a combination of promoter strength tuning and multiple RNA stabilization strategies can improve fold activation from 5.4-fold to 13.4-fold for a STAR regulator derived from the pbuE riboswitch terminator. We then validate the generality of our approach and show that these same strategies improve fold activation from 2.1-fold to 14.6-fold for an unrelated STAR regulator. We also establish that the optimizations preserve the orthogonality of these STARs between themselves and a set of antisense RNA transcriptional repressors, enabling these optimized STARs to be used in more sophisticated circuits. These optimization strategies open the door for creating a generation of additional STARs to use in a broad array of biotechnologies.
The impact of employees’ positive psychological capital on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behaviors in the hotel
Authors: Jung Hyo Sun , Yoon Hye Hyun 
Published: July 2015

Purpose– This paper aims to explain the relationships among employees’ positive psychological capital (PPC) (hope, self-efficacy, resilience and optimism), job satisfaction (JS) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) in deluxe hotels. This study also seeks to analyze the effect of JS on the employees’ OCBs. In an era of global competition when the speed of change is increasing, companies’ competitiveness depends on how well they adapt. To respond flexibly to changes, knowing how to use intangible resources is crucial.Design/methodology/approach– This study was administered to 324 deluxe hotel employees using a self-administered questionnaire. Following Anderson and Gerbing’s (1988) two-step approach, confirmatory factor analysis was first undertaken to assess the overall fit of the three-factor model, structural equation model which was used to examine the hypothesized relationships between the constructs.Findings– The findings showed that employees’ hope and optimism among PPC have a significant effect on their JS; their hope and resilience affect OCBs. Employees’ satisfaction was positively associated with their OCBs.Practical implications– It was verified that PPC was an important performance factor that could improve hotel employees’ attitudes and organization’s effectiveness. Employees with high PPC were high in satisfaction with job, positively helped coworkers or superiors, and had high possibility of doing devotional action for organization. Accordingly, there will be a need of forming favorable working atmosphere so that employees can perform job with positive psychology, and of seeking diverse support programs such as counseling program or leisure activity.Originality/value– Most previous studies have examined PPC mainly in general industries; however, this study focused on hotels as a hospitality industry. This study will have significance as the initial research of having considered that the hotel employees’ PPC formation has significant influence upon the JS and OCBs. It is predicted that positive psychology of hotel employees in a job situation leads to various efforts to develop their organization and their own development, thereby creating performance and strengthening management power.