bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic analysis of the ability of Nitric Oxide donors to dislodge biofilms formed by Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: Marvasi Massimiliano , Chen Charles , Carrazana Manuel , Durie Ian A , Teplitski Max 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Biofilms in the industrial environment could be problematic. Encased in extracellular polymeric substances, pathogens within biofilms are significantly more resistant to chlorine and other disinfectants. Recent studies suggest that compounds capable of manipulating nitric oxide-mediated signaling in bacteria could induce dispersal of sessile bacteria and provide a foundation for novel approaches to controlling biofilms formed by some microorganisms. In this work, we compared the ability of five nitric oxide donors (molsidomine, MAHMA NONOate, diethylamine NONOate, diethylamine NONOate diethylammonium salt, spermine NONOate) to dislodge biofilms formed by non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica and pathogenic E. coli on plastic and stainless steel surfaces at different temperatures. All five nitric oxide donors induced significant (35-80%) dispersal of biofilms, however, the degree of dispersal and the optimal dispersal conditions varied. MAHMA NONOate and molsidomine were strong dispersants of the Salmonella biofilms formed on polystyrene. Importantly, molsidomine induced dispersal of up to 50% of the pre-formed Salmonella biofilm at 4°C, suggesting that it could be effective even under refrigerated conditions. Biofilms formed by E. coli O157:H7 were also significantly dispersed. Nitric oxide donor molecules were highly active within 6 hours of application. To better understand mode of action of these compounds, we identified Salmonella genomic region recA-hydN, deletion of which led to an insensitivity to the nitric oxide donors.
Nonstretch normal moveout through iterative partial correction and deconvolution
Authors: Biondi Ettore , Stucchi Eusebio , Mazzotti Alfredo 
Published: June 2014

Source to receiver distances used in seismic data acquisition have been steadily increasing and it is now common to work with data acquired with more than 10 km of offset. Subbasalt exploration and seismic undershooting are just two applications in which long-offset reflections are sought. However, such reflections are often subjected to muting to suppress normal moveout (NMO) stretch artifacts, thus causing a loss of valuable information. To retrieve these portions of the recorded wavefield, we developed a nonstretch NMO correction based on wavelet estimation and on an iterative procedure of partial NMO correction and deconvolution. We evaluated this methodology using fourth-order traveltime curve approximations to increase the offset of usable reflections, but it can be adapted to traveltime curves of any order. Time- and space-variant wavelets, estimated by means of singular value decomposition along the sought traveltimes, were used to build the desired output for the deconvolution that aims at retrieving the original shape of the partially stretched wavelets. We tested our method on a synthetic gather presenting time and offset varying wavelets, on a real-marine line simulating an undershooting pattern and on true undershooting land-marine data. These examples demonstrated that our new algorithm effectively limits the stretching associated with the NMO correction and enables the recovery of those portions of the stacked sections that are typically lost from muting in the standard NMO correction.
Fabrication and Characterization of TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3-based Photovoltaic Devices
Authors: Zushi Masahito , Suzuki Atsushi , Akiyama Tsuyoshi , Oku Takeo 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3-based photovoltaic devices were fabricated by a spin-coating method using a mixture solution. Photovoltaic properties of the solar cells were investigated by optical absorption, current density–voltage characteristics, and incident photon to current conversion efficiency. Effects of TiO2 addition and hole-transport layers were also investigated. Microstructures of the cells were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, which indicated a nanoparticle structure of TiO2, and atomic arrangements of Pb atoms in the CH3NH3PbI3 crystal were also directly observed.
Rapid Synthesis of Cypress-like Gold Dendrites and Their Applications in Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering and Catalysis
Authors: Tao Wenyu , Zhao Aiwu , Chen Xucheng , Gan Zibao , Gao Qian , Wang Dapeng , Guo Hongyan 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
In this work, high-quality cypress-like Au dendrites were successfully synthesized by a fast, green, and cost-effective method. Time-dependent morphological evolution experiments revealed the growth process. The as-prepared Au dendrites with nanoscale roughness exhibited both excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and high catalytic activity, indicating their potential applications in catalysis and SERS-related detection and analysis.
Efficient Glycosylation Using In(OTf)3 as a Lewis Acid: Activation of N-Phenyltrifluoroacetimidate or Thioglycosides with Halogenated Reagents or PhIO
Authors: Salmasan Regina M , Manabe Yoshiyuki , Kitawaki Yuriko , Chang Tsung-Che , Fukase Koichi 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
In(OTf)3 efficiently activated N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidate and In(OTf)3 in combination with various halogenated reagents or PhIO promoted glycosylation using thioglycoside in good yields. The combination with iodine interhalogens (e.g., ICl or IBr) effectively promoted α-sialylation.
Silica Nanospheres Functionalized by Ferrocene-containing [2]Rotaxane
Authors: Yu Gilbert , Suzaki Yuji , Maekawa Yujin , Abe Tomoko , Osakada Kohtaro , Yokoi Toshiyuki 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
[2]Rotaxane having ferrocenyl group at a terminal of the axle molecule was immobilized to the surface of silica nanospheres by condensation of the triethoxysilyl terminal group with OH groups of the silica.
Sound-Strength Driven Parametric Design of an Acoustic Shell in a Free Field Environment
Authors: Palma Marco , Sarotto Maddalena , Echenagucia Tomás Méndez , Sassone Mario , Astolfi Arianna 
Published: June 2014

Focusing on the issues of sound propagation in a free field condition and on the concept of uniform sound energy in an outdoor performance environment, our research aimed to develop a computer-aided process for the generation of reflective acoustic surfaces to be used as concert-shells, a computational design tool for acoustic form-finding. The project is ultimately aimed to investigate the acoustic potential of complex and doubly-curved surfaces through the analysis of the Total Relative Sound Level / Strength parameter (G), with reference to the proposed values set by M. Barron, based upon the source-receiver distance and the subsequent subjective judgments on loudness. A simplified and fast ray-tracing acoustic simulation algorithm was developed in combination with parametrically controlled shape variations of the reflective surfaces. Sound energy uniformity evaluation function considering the direct and reflected sound components was written in order to define and evaluate the rate of distribution uniformity of sonic energy over an audience. This evaluation function was used in a genetic algorithm that enabled us to explore a wide set of surface morphologies which allowed us to isolate the fittest one to our specific uniformity requirements. At the end of the genetic search, an acoustic simulation plug-in called Pachyderm was employed with both NURBS and mesh-based acoustic simulations in order to validate the genetically selected surfaces with specific reference to G values. A further step of resultant data visualization and human selection was necessary to compare the output data and to evaluate the final surfaces from an architectural perspective.
Immunoextraction–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for Measuring Intact Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, Free β-Subunit, and β-Subunit Core Fragment in Urine
Authors: Woldemariam Getachew A , Butch Anthony W 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulates testosterone production by the testicles. Because of the potential for abuse, hCG is banned (males only) in most sports and has been placed on the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances. Intact hCG, free β-subunit (hCGβ), and β-subunit core fragment (hCGβcf) are the major variants or isoforms in urine. Immunoassays are used by antidoping laboratories to measure urinary hCG. Cross-reactivity with isoforms differs among immunoassays, resulting in widely varying results. We developed a sequential immunoextraction method with LC-MS/MS detection for quantification of intact hCG, hCGβ, and hCGβcf in urine.

METHODS
hCG isoforms were immunoextracted with antibody-conjugated magnetic beads and digested with trypsin, and hCGβ and hCGβcf unique peptides were quantified by LC-MS/MS with the corresponding heavy peptides as internal standard. hCG isoform concentrations were determined in urine after administration of hCG, and the intact hCG results were compared to immunoassay results.

RESULTS
The method was linear to 20 IU/L. Total imprecision was 6.6%–13.7% (CV), recovery ranged from 91% to 109%, and the limit of quantification was 0.2 IU/L. Intact hCG predominated in the urine after administration of 2 hCG formulations. The window of detection ranged from 6 to 9 days. Mean immunoassay results were 12.4–15.5 IU/L higher than LC-MS/MS results.

CONCLUSIONS
The performance characteristics of the method are acceptable for measuring hCG isoforms, and the method can quantify intact hCG and hCGβ separately. The limit of quantification will allow LC-MS/MS hCG reference intervals to be established in nondoping male athletes for improved doping control.
The drums of Islam, a shrine and a story set in Pakistan
Authors: Wolf Richard K. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Many kinds of act we recognize as performative and help constitute religious experiences all over the world. This article focuses on the experiences of drummers, dancers and other participants at a Sufi shrine in Lahore, Pakistan. The readers of this journal are likely to have encountered historical debates concerning the appropriateness of music in Islam, as well as discussions regarding what qualifies as recitation, as music, or as noise. Understanding these debates and semantic concerns is an essential part of gaining insight into important aspects of Sufi Islamic religious experiences. In this article I invite the reader to contemplate performance not only in reference to music and dance themselves but also with respect to the creative non-fictional form in which I present them ethnographically. This article is adapted from my forthcoming book, The Voice in the Drum: Music, language, and emotion in Islamicate South Asia (2014), a hybrid piece of creative and analytic writing in the form of a novel. It is based on my fieldwork in India and Pakistan over a 28-month period in late 1996 and on shorter visits extending into the mid- and late 2000s.
Hausa film: Compatible or incompatible with Islam?
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad Muhsin 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Globalization, now at its peak, is tied with media like a computer to its screen. Film is a vital media technology endowed with ample efficacy through which much propaganda – for good or bad – is sold out to the people. This is so because almost everybody can understand the language of film and its appeal; it is conferred with the communicative power that often mobilizes people to react peacefully or otherwise. Such as it is, film-makers in Kano as well as other didactic, Shari’ah-abiding and substantially Muslim northern states of Nigeria are in constant ideological clash with the larger society, the government and the religious institutions. The film-makers are accused of misrepresenting and attacking the sociocultural and the religious value systems. The major ethnic group in the state and the region is Hausa, the people who are strict followers of Islam, the religion, which, in a greater proportion, conforms with their Arab-influenced culture; thus, both the culture and Islam frown at the films, especially such as those being produced, for many contain Indian masala popular cinema and quasi-Euro-American and non-Islamic ideas, practices and experiences, and do not correspond to the culture and the religion of the people. Therefore, this article, among other things, seeks to look inwards in search of what led to the current state of affairs. The writer offers advice on how to better things.
French Republican secularism and Islam in North African diasporic cultural production
Authors: Gill-Khan Chloé A. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Centuries of anti-Arab stigma continue to haunt Franco-Maghrebians, the descendants of ex-colonial French North African migrants born and brought up in France. Franco-Maghrebians’ anti-colonial civic resistances (riots) against decades of segregation are dismissed as evidence of their alleged Islamicization and communitarianism. Focussing on Azouz Begag’s novel Béni ou le paradis privé (1989), this article explores how Franco-Maghrebians’ investment in and reproduction of the Republican secular world-view in fact leads to the denigration, suppression and corporeal annihilation of their Arabo-Muslim heritages. Drawing upon the theories of Jacques Derrida (1996) and Mikhail Bakhtin (1981), western philosophical obsession with origins, centres and margins returns diasporic citizens to colonial dualistic binaries, trapping them in the mirrors of negation and affirmation. Such a predicament is contrasted with the presentation of alternative philosophical perspectives of the other in Ismaël Ferroukhi’s film Le grand voyage (2004). Making references to Seyyed Hossein Nasr (2002), Ali Shariati (1979) and Karen Armstrong (2012), this research examines how Islamic ethical imperatives captured in motion across lands, cultures and time envision coexistence, contesting much of the existing discourse surrounding French Muslims and Islam.
Limiting Sobolev inequalities and the 1-biharmonic operator
Authors: Parini Enea , Ruf Bernhard , Tarsi Cristina 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
In this article we present recent results on optimal embeddings, and associated PDEs, of the space of functions whose
distributional Laplacian belongs to L1
. We discuss sharp embedding inequalities which allow to improve the optimal summability results for solutions of Poisson equations with L1
-data by Maz'ya (N ≥ 3) and Brezis–Merle (N = 2).
Then, we consider optimal embeddings of the mentioned space into L1
, for the simply supported and the clamped case, which yield corresponding eigenvalue problems for the 1-biharmonic operator (a higher order analogue of the 1-Laplacian). We derive some properties of the corresponding eigenfunctions, and prove some Faber–Krahn type inequalities.
Need for CT-based bone density modelling in finite element analysis of a shoulder arthroplasty revealed through a novel method for result analysis
Authors: Pomwenger Werner , Entacher Karl , Resch Herbert , Schuller-Götzburg Peter 
Published: June 2014

AbstractTreatment of common pathologies of the shoulder complex, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, is usually performed by total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Survival of the glenoid component is still a problem in TSA, whereas the humeral component is rarely subject to failure. To set up a finite element analysis (FEA) for simulation of a TSA in order to gain insight into the mechanical behaviour of a glenoid implant, the modelling procedure and the application of boundary conditions are of major importance because the computed result strongly depends upon the accuracy and sense of realism of the model. The goal of this study was to show the influence on glenoid stress distribution of a patient-specific bone density distribution compared with a homogenous bone density distribution for the purpose of generating a valid model in future FEA studies of the shoulder complex. Detailed information on the integration of bone density properties using existing numerical models as well as the applied boundary conditions is provided. A novel approach involving statistical analysis of values derived from an FEA is demonstrated using a cumulative distribution function. The results show well the mechanically superior behaviour of a realistic bone density distribution and therefore emphasise the necessity for patient-specific simulations in biomechanical and medical simulations.
Where does metonymy begin? Some comments on Janda (2011)
Authors: Brdar Mario , Brdar-Szabó Rita 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn a recent paper published in this journal, Laura Janda makes a number of claims about metonymy, specifically about metonymy in word-formation as part of grammar. In a nutshell, what she says is that suffixed nouns such as Russian saxarnica (from saxar ‘sugar’) ‘sugar bowl’, Czech břicháč (from břicho ‘belly’) ‘person with a large belly’, or Norwegian baker ‘baker’, are metonymic extensions from saxar ‘sugar’, břicho ‘belly’, and bake ‘bake’, respectively. It is our contention that this claim about metonymy being involved in word-formation phenomena such as suffixation is misconceived and leads to an overuse of the term ‘metonymy’. We first comment on Janda's views on cognitive linguistic research on metonymy in grammar and word-formation, and then evaluate the evidence that she provides to support her central claim – from some general claims about metonymy and grammar to the way she identifies metonymy in word-formation. Finally, we point out a series of problems ensuing from the concept of word-formation metonymy. The analytical parts of Janda's article are in our view a more or less traditional cross-linguistic inventory of suffixation patterns that do not exhibit metonymy as such. However, some genuine metonymies that crop up among her examples are glossed over. In other words, we claim that her analysis ignores metonymies where they appear and postulates metonymies where they do not exist.
Design of Microstrip LPF with Sharp Cut-off Frequency and Wide Stopband
Authors: Karimi G. , Yazdani M. , Siahkamari H. , Lalbakhsh A. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractA novel lowpass filter with wide stopband and sharp skirt characteristics is proposed. To obtain the applicable lowpass filter, several cells of coupled T-shaped resonator, U-shape and dumbbell-shaped resonators are connected in series. The proposed filter has low insertion loss, high return loss in the passband and wide stopband. The transition band is from 3.18 to 3.29 GHz with −3 and −20 dB, respectively. Results of the fabricated filter exhibit a roll-off and relative stopband bandwidth of 217 and 137%, respectively. Measurement and simulation results show good agreement.
Collaborative Wideband Compressed Signal Detection in Interplanetary Internet
Authors: Wang Yulin , Zhang Gengxin , Bian Dongming , Gou Liang , Zhang Wei 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAs the development of autonomous radio in deep space network, it is possible to actualize communication between explorers, aircrafts, rovers and satellites, e.g. from different countries, adopting different signal modes. The first mission to enforce the autonomous radio is to detect signals of the explorer autonomously without disturbing the original communication. This paper develops a collaborative wideband compressed signal detection approach for InterPlaNetary (IPN) Internet where there exist sparse active signals in the deep space environment. Compressed sensing (CS) can be utilized by exploiting the sparsity of IPN Internet communication signal, whose useful frequency support occupies only a small portion of an entirely wide spectrum. An estimate of the signal spectrum can be obtained by using reconstruction algorithms. Against deep space shadowing and channel fading, multiple satellites collaboratively sense and make a final decision according to certain fusion rule to gain spatial diversity. A couple of novel discrete cosine transform (DCT) and walsh-hadamard transform (WHT) based compressed spectrum detection methods are proposed which significantly improve the performance of spectrum recovery and signal detection. Finally, extensive simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of our proposed collaborative scheme for signal detection in IPN Internet. Compared with the conventional discrete fourier transform (DFT) based method, our DCT and WHT based methods reduce computational complexity, decrease processing time, save energy and enhance probability of detection.
The relaxant actions of ethanolic extract of Tridax procumbens (Linn.) on rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle contraction
Authors: Salahdeen Hussein M. , Idowu Gbolahan O. , Yemitan Omoniyi K. , Murtala Babatunde A. , Alada Abdul Rasak A. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Background: The effect of Tridax procumbens aqueous ethanolic extract on the rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscles was evaluated in the present study.

Method: Corpus cavernosum strips obtained from healthy, young, adult male Wistar albino rats (250–300 g) were precontracted with phenylephrine (10–7 M) or KCl (60 mM) and then treated with various concentrations of T. procumbens extract (0.15–1.05 mg/mL). The change in corpus cavernosum strip tension was recorded. The interactions between T. procumbens extract with acetylcholine and with sodium nitroprusside were also evaluated.

Results: The results indicated that corpus cavernosum strips relaxation induced by T. procumbens extract was concentration-dependent and this was significant (p<0.5). Pre-treatment with a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor (N(1) nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester, l-NAME), did not completely inhibit the relaxation. However, T. procumbens extract (0.6 mg/mL) significantly (p<0.5) enhanced both acetylcholine- and sodium nitroprusside-induced corpus cavernosum strips relaxation.

Conclusions: Results suggest that T. procumbens extract has a concentration-dependent relaxant effect on the isolated rat corpus cavernosum. The mechanism of action of T. procumbens extract is complex. A part of its relaxing effect is mediated directly by the release of NO from endothelium which may improve erectile dysfunction.
Contagious Bank Failures in a Free Banking System: A Persistent Misunderstanding
Authors: Bédard Mathieu 
Published: June 2014

AbstractA recurring citation in systemic risk literature reviews (P. Aghion, P. Bolton, and M. Dewatripont. 2000. “Contagious Bank Failures in a Free Banking System.”European Economic Review44:713–18) offers a model where what they describe as a free banking system is vulnerable to contagious bank runs through clearinghouse loans. The paper ignores key contributions to both free banking and financial history literature, such that the paper is of little relevance to the understanding of the stability of both free banking systems and clearinghouse arrangements. Our criticism concentrates on the institutions of banking absent or misrepresented. It is argued that their conclusions are inapplicable to free banking.
Performance Analysis of DQPSK Modulated RoF System
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Bhatia Kamaljit singh 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAdvanced modulation schemes play a vital role for RoF communication system for different channels. Keeping into view the same, in this paper a DQPSK (Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) based radio over fiber system is proposed. Appropriate value of FWHM is also concluded for faithful communication.