bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nematicidal fluorescent pseudomonads for the in vitro and in vivo suppression of root knot (Meloidogyne incognita) of Capsicum annuum L.
Authors: Wahla Verinder , Maheshwari Dinesh K , Bajpai Vivek K 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Considerable attention has been paid to plant‐growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), especially the fluorescent group of Pseudomonas species, as the best alternatives to chemicals for facilitating ecofriendly biological control of soil‐ and seedborne microorganisms. On the basis of their novel plant‐growth‐promoting attributes, two rhizobacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa VP1 and VP2 selected out of over 63 isolates from the rhizosphere of chilli (Capsicum annuum) were identified as potential candidates for biocontrol of the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on chilli.RESULTS: The nematicidal activity of both strains was evaluated in vitro and in vivo for their efficacy against M. incognita. P. aeruginosa VP2 exhibited strong nematicidal activity in comparison with VP1, based on the in vitro killing of the second‐stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita. Seed bacterisation with both strains VP1 and VP2 was able to manage root‐knot M. incognita on chilli (C. annuum) in a pot trial study. Increase in root and shoot length and in fresh and dry weight of root and shoot and reduction in the root‐knot index over the control were attained. In overall performance, VP2 was 29.5% more effective than VP1, and about 30% more effective than the control (non‐bacterised).CONCLUSION: The application of P. aeruginosa VP1 and P. aeruginosa VP2 controls the development of M. incognita in C. annuum, and hence they are recommended as efficient plant growth promotors and biocontrolling agents for raising healthy crop of C. annuum that can promote the growth of plants and reduce the nematode (M. incognita) population. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Electron scattering by random adsorbates: A tunable decoherence mechanism in surface bands
Authors: Marion Sanjin , Gumhalter Branko 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMechanisms of electron decoherence at surfaces are manifold as they may originate from the various complex interactions of electrons with the static crystal structure and dynamical degrees of freedom of the environment. Decoherence effects manifest themselves in the spectroscopic data in a convoluted fashion and it is usually hard or even impossible to fully disentangle them from each other because of the lack of control of underlying mechanisms by the external observer. However, electronic propagation in quasi‐two‐dimensional image potential bands (IS‐bands) on flat low index surfaces of some metals is subject to an efficient decoherence mechanism that can be controlled externally by careful preparation of the surface. By dosing the concentration (i.e. the coverage) of adsorbates on clean surfaces, which act as randomly distributed scattering centres, one can tune the strength of incoherent IS‐electron scattering from defects. Such processes in IS‐bands on Cu(100) surface have been investigated by two‐photon‐photoemission (2PPE) spectroscopy and interpreted using Fermi golden rule approach to calculation of the quasiparticle decay rates and scattering cross sections. However, these results could reproduce the experimental data only in a limited energy interval. Here, we employ the description of electron decoherence in IS‐bands based on the propagator approach and infrared renormalization of quasiparticle self‐energy and demonstrate that it gives a very good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results for the cross sections. This enables us to discuss the temporal stages of electron dynamics and decoherence in the intermediate states of 2PPE spectroscopy of surface bands.
Blue‐shift of E2 critical point resonance in optical second‐harmonic spectrum of Si nanocrystals
Authors: Mendoza Bernardo S. , Wei Junwei , Downer Michael C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe E2 critical point (CP) resonance in the second‐harmonic spectrum of silica‐embedded Si nanocrystals (NCs) of 3 and 5 nm average diameter is observed to be blue‐shifted by 0.5 eV from its energy (4.4 eV) in the linear dielectric response ε(ω) of the same samples. In contrast, the E1 CP resonance (3.4 eV) and a third resonance intermediate in energy (3.8 eV) between E1 and E2 occur at nearly the same energy in both linear and nonlinear spectra. We explain the anomalous E2 blue‐shift by calculating the second‐harmonic response function Δ(ω) of the NCs analytically from the measured ε(ω) using a dipolium model. The analysis shows that the E2 blue‐shift originates from the screening factors of the form [ε(2ω) + 2]−1 and [2ε(2ω) + 3]−1 that are unique to second‐harmonic generation (SHG) from nanospheres. Strong interaction between E2 and $E'_{1} $ (5.3 eV in bulk c‐Si) resonant contributions to this factor pulls the E2 peak response toward the higher $E'_{1} $ energy while negligibly influencing lower energy resonances.
Towards electrical detection of plasmons in all‐silicon pin‐diodes
Authors: Fischer Inga A. , Wu Jyh‐Lih , Vogelgesang Ralf , Schulze Jörg 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe investigate the possibility for optically exciting and electrically detecting surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a set‐up fully compatible with complementary‐metal‐oxide‐semiconductor that consists of a silicon pin‐diode. A grating in the aluminum electrode of the pin‐diode is intended to enable the optical excitation of SPPs at the interface between the aluminum metallization and the SiO2‐passivation of the diode. When the SPP propagates towards the pin‐diode and excites electron–hole pairs, it can be detected on the basis of the resulting photocurrent. We report on preliminary results obtained with scanning photocurrent microscopy with three different laser wavelengths (458, 512, and 633 nm).
Boehmite (γ‐AlOOH) nanoparticles: Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization, pH‐controlled morphologies, optical properties, and DFT calculations
Authors: Alemi Abdolali , Hosseinpour Zahra , Dolatyari Mahboubeh , Bakhtiari Akbar 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBoehmite nanoparticles (γ‐AlOOH) have been successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal method at 180 °C using aluminum nitrate, Al(NO3)3·9H2O, as the aluminum source and sodium metaborate, NaBO2·4H2O, as controlling agent. The size and morphology of boehmite nanoparticles could be controlled by adjusting the pH value of the reaction mixture. The resulting products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform‐infrared spectra (FT‐IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–Vis spectra, and photoluminescence spectra. The electronic band structure along with density of states (DOS), obtained at the density functional theory (DFT) level indicates that γ‐AlOOH has a direct energy bandgap of 4.51 eV. The optical properties, including the dielectric, absorption, reflectivity, and energy‐loss spectra of the compound are calculated by the DFT method and analyzed based on the electronic structures.
Numerical minimisation of Gutzwiller energy functionals
Authors: Bünemann Jörg , Gebhard Florian , Schickling Tobias , Weber Werner 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe give a comprehensive introduction into an efficient numerical scheme for the minimisation of Gutzwiller energy functionals for multi‐band Hubbard models. Our method covers all conceivable cases of Gutzwiller variational wave functions and has been used successfully in previous numerical studies.
Optimal surgical planning guidance for lumbar spinal fusion considering operational safety and vertebra–screw interface strength
Authors: Lee Jongwon , Kim Sungmin , Kim Young Soo , Chung Wan Kyun 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackgroundAn optimized pre‐operative planning framework for lumbar spinal fusion was proposed, which augmented a novel functionality of suggesting optimal insertion trajectories and the screw size, considering operational safety and vertebra–screw interface strength, autonomously.MethodsBased on an accurate 3D pedicle model with pre‐operative computed tomography (CT) data, the framework begins with safety margin estimation for each potential insertion trajectory, followed by procedures to collect a set of insertion trajectories satisfying the operation safety objective. Among the trajectory candidates, the insertion trajectory, which maximized the insertable depth of a pedicle screw into the vertebral body, was then chosen as optimal, because the insertable depth enhanced the strength of the screw–vertebra interface. The radius of a pedicle screw was chosen as 70% of the pedicle radius.ResultsThis framework has been tested on 176 spinal pedicles of 20 patients requiring spinal fusion. It was successfully applied, resulting in an average success rate of 100% and a final safety margin of 2.1 ± 0.2 mm. Planning accuracy and usefulness of the proposed surgical planner show significant differences compared with a conventional manual planner.ConclusionWe can expect that the derived conservative safety margin mitigates screw misplacement or pedicle breach, despite potential errors induced during registrations or intraoperative screw insertion. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microgroove cushion of robotic endoscope for active locomotion in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Gao Peng , Yan Guozheng , Wang Zhiwu , Jiang Pingping , Liu Hua 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe robotic endoscope the advantage of active locomotion in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but lacks a suitable contact device to improve the locomotion efficiency and safety.MethodsThis paper proposes a microgroove cushion for the robotic endoscope to improve its active locomotion ability in the GI tract. Coupons with different microgrooves were designed and tested to verify the contact efficiency of the grooves. Based on experimental investigations, uniform oblique grid grooves were suggested, because they could generate gteater friction than other proposed microgrooves on the intestinal surface. To improve the contact safety of the robotic endoscope, a cushion‐type contact device was designed and fabricated. The microgroove cushion was tested under the use of a custom‐built robot.ResultsAn experiment in a rigid tube showed that the robot with cushion had a static friction 65% higher than the robot without cushion; an experiment in the in vitro colonic tract showed that the robot without the cushion produced a more obvious contact appearance than with the cushion. It can be seen that the microgroove cushion provides the robotic endoscope with efficient and safe contact ability.ConclusionsThe microgroove cushion is a useful addition to the development of a contact device for the robotic endoscope in the GI tract, although requiring further improvements. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Model reference adaptive control of discrete‐time piecewise linear systems
Authors: Bernardo Mario di , Montanaro Umberto , Olm Josep M. , Santini Stefania 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYThis article presents a switched model reference adaptive controller for discrete‐time piecewise linear systems. In the spirit of the work by Landau in the late seventies, proof of asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop error system is obtained, recasting its dynamics as a feedback system and showing the feedforward and the feedback paths are both passive. The challenge is that both paths can be piecewise linear. Numerical results show excellent performance of the proposed controller even in the face of sudden variations of the plant parameters. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Approximate controllability of abstract stochastic impulsive systems with multiple time‐varying delays
Authors: Shen Lijuan , Sun Jitao 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYThis paper investigates the approximate controllability of abstract stochastic impulsive systems with multiple time‐varying delays. The class of stochastic impulsive systems consists of ordinary differential equations effected by impulse and noise environment. We focus first on constructing the control function. With this control function, we present sufficient conditions for approximate controllability problems in Hilbert space. The results are then extended to more easily verified conditions. The methods we choose are mainly Nussbaum fixed point theorem and stochastic analysis techniques combined with a strongly continuous semigroup. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maximum likelihood ratio detection of abrupt state change for MIMO linear systems based on frequency domain data
Authors: Xia Yuanqing , Liu Bo 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYThis paper is devoted to the detection of abrupt changes for multiple‐input, multiple‐output (MIMO) linear systems based on frequency domain data. The real discrete‐time Fourier transform is used to map the measured inputs and outputs from the time domain to the frequency domain. Under the hypothesis that the state change occurrence time is k, the system is split up into two systems at the time instant k. One of them describes the frequency dynamics before the hypothetical state change occurs, whereas the other describes the frequency dynamics after the hypothetical occurrence. Thus, the latent state change is modeled as an initial state disturbance to be estimated on the basis of frequency domain samples. Furthermore, the occurrence time is estimated by maximizing a likelihood ratio function. Finally, a numerical example is presented to show the performance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Non‐binary protograph low‐density parity‐check codes for space communications
Authors: Costantini Laura , Matuz Balázs , Liva Gianluigi , Paolini Enrico , Chiani Marco 
Published: February 2012

SUMMARYProtograph‐based non‐binary low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) codes with ultra‐sparse parity‐check matrices are compared with binary LDPC and turbo codes (TCs) from space communication standards. It is shown that larger coding gains are achieved, outperforming the binary competitors by more than 0.3 dB on the additive white Gaussian noise channel (AWGN). In the short block length regime, the designed codes gain more than 1 dB with respect to the binary protograph LDPC codes recently proposed for the next generation up‐link standard of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detecting SYN flooding attacks based on traffic prediction
Authors: Wang Shangguang , Sun Qibo , Zou Hua , Yang Fangchun 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTSYN flooding attacks are a common type of distributed denial‐of‐service attacks. Up to now, many defense schemes have been proposed against SYN flooding attacks. Traditional defense schemes rely on passively sniffing an attacking signature and are inaccurate in the early stages of an attack. These schemes are effective only at the later stages when attacking signatures are obvious. In this paper, we propose a detection approach that makes use of SYN traffic prediction to determine whether SYN flooding attacks happen at the early stage. We firstly adopt grey prediction model to predict SYN traffic, and then, we employ cumulative sum algorithm to detect SYN flooding attack traffic among forecasted SYN traffic. Trace‐driven simulation results demonstrate that our proposed detection approach can detect SYN flooding attacks effectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reconciling and improving of multi‐receiver signcryption protocols with threshold decryption
Authors: Zhang Mingwu , Yang Bo , Takagi Tsuyoshi 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTSigncryption is a cryptographic primitive that offers both confidentiality and authentication simultaneously, which combines the functionalities of signature and encryption in a provably secure manner. Indistinguishability against adaptive chosen‐ciphertext attacks (ind‐cca2) and unforgeability against adaptive chosen‐message attacks (euf‐cma2) are two important security requirements of a signcryption protocol. In a multi‐receiver signcryption with a threshold decryption scheme, the ciphertext can be decrypted and verified when arbitrary t or more receivers among the n candidate decrypters work together. Recently, Qin et al. [Security and Communication Networks, 2011] proposed an identity‐based multi‐receiver signcryption scheme with threshold decryption, and they declared that the scheme achieves ind‐cca2 and euf‐cma2 security. In this paper, we first indicate that Qin et al.'s scheme is not secure, that is, Qin et al.'s scheme is neither semantically secure against ind‐cca2 nor unforgeable against euf‐cma2. After that, we present an improved scheme to capture the security requirements. Furthermore, we construct an anonymous version that can preserve the identity privacy of the sender and receiver, and we give the performance evaluation to indicate that our scheme has lower communication overhead although it provides the identity privacy preservation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural and physical effects of aroma compound binding to native starch granules
Authors: Jørgensen Anders D. , Jensen Susanne L. , Ziegler Gregory , Pandeya Anuranjan , Buléon Alain , Svensson Birte , Blennow Andreas 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe interaction and physical/structural effects of aroma compounds, at high concentrations on dry native starch granules were studied using eight selected model compounds: acetaldehyde, dimethyl sulphide, diacetyl, allyl isothiocyanate, ethyl butyrate, citral, octanol and butyric acid. The maize, potato and pea starches used represent different typical structural and chemical starch characteristics. Retention of the different aroma compounds varied from a few to one hundred percent and starch was found to induce as well as reduce aroma evaporation depending on the aroma compound and the starch type. As deduced from DSC, powder XRD and SEM analyses, citral, butyric acid and octanol exerted specific effects on the starch granules manifested in local melting of crystalline layers and partial disruption of the granular meso structure. The most prominent effect was obtained with citral that generated surface wrinkles on B‐ and C‐type polymorphic granules and aggregation of A‐type polymorphic granules, decreased the melting temperature and suppressed the crystallinity of the starch.
Effect of lime treatment and subsequent carbonation on gelatinization and saccharification of starch granules
Authors: Matsuki Junko , Park Jeung‐yil , Shiroma Riki , Ike Masakazu , Yamamoto Kazutaka , Tokuyasu Ken 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe present study was aimed to improve the efficiency of bioconversion process, namely the calcium capturing by carbonation at room temperature (RT‐CaCCO) process. Rice endosperm starch was used as a model substance to observe the effects of lime treatments on the gelatinization of starch granules. Effect of subsequent carbonation and saccharification behaviors were also evaluated. With increasing lime concentration, significant rise in the gelatinization temperatures, and decrease in the gelatinization enthalpy were observed, suggesting enhanced granule stability and disruption of hydrogen bonds. These changes appeared to be leveling off near 9% lime concentration, at which the binding effect of calcium ions may be saturated. The mild heat treatment further promoted changes in gelatinization. It was postulated that it was not an annealing effect, but that mild heat treatment disrupted hydrogen bonds and provided more available sites for calcium binding. Carbondioxide (CO2) neutralization led to decrease in gelatinization temperatures. The optimum pretreatment conditions for efficient hydrolysis of mild heat treatment at 50°C for 24 h subsequent to lime pretreatment is effective in accelerating saccharification by 1.9‐fold and CO2 neutralization should be carried out after heat treatment. This approach can be useful in improving the recovery of liberated glucose when applying the RT‐CaCCO process to feedstocks which contain both starch and lignocellulosic material.
Starch in the Arabidopsis plant
Authors: Smith Alison M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe genetic and genomic resources available for the model plant Arabidopsis have allowed rapid progress in understanding the pathways of leaf starch synthesis and degradation. The pathway of starch synthesis is generally similar to that in other plants, but Arabidopsis research has permitted new insights into the mechanism of granule initiation. The pathway of starch degradation is very different from the ‘textbook’ version, largely derived from research on germinating cereal grains. The starch granule is attacked by β‐ rather than α‐amylases, and this process is strongly dependent on a cycle of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the granule surface. The major product of granule degradation is maltose, which is exported to the cytosol where it is metabolised to hexose phosphate and then to sucrose. Cytosolic maltose metabolism requires a glucanotransferase and a glucosyl acceptor which is believed to be a complex heteroglycan. Plant productivity and yield are highly dependent on leaf starch turnover, and starch metabolism is coordinated with other factors and processes that determine growth rate. Research in Arabidopsis provides an important knowledge base for the study of starch metabolism in other, less tractable species.
A Small Molecule Modulator of Prion Protein Increases Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Lifespan, Ex Vivo Expansion, and Engraftment to Bone Marrow in NOD/SCID Mice
Authors: Mohanty Sindhu T. , Cairney Claire J. , Chantry Andrew D. , Madan Sanjeev , Fernandes James A. , Howe Steven J. , Moore Harry D. , Thompson Mark J. , Chen Beining , Thrasher Adrian , Keith W. Nicol , Bellantuono Ilaria 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been shown to have potential in regenerative approaches in bone and blood. Most protocols rely on their in vitro expansion prior to clinical use. However, several groups including our own have shown that hMSCs lose proliferation and differentiation ability with serial passage in culture, limiting their clinical applications. Cellular prion protein (PrP) has been shown to enhance proliferation and promote self-renewal of hematopoietic, mammary gland, and neural stem cells. Here we show, for the first time, that expression of PrP decreased in hMSC following ex vivo expansion. When PrP expression was knocked down, hMSC showed significant reduction in proliferation and differentiation. In contrast, hMSC expanded in the presence of small molecule 3/689, a modulator of PrP expression, showed retention of PrP expression with ex vivo expansion and extended lifespan up to 10 population doublings. Moreover, cultures produced a 300-fold increase in the number of cells generated. These cells showed a 10-fold increase in engraftment levels in bone marrow 5 weeks post-transplant. hMSC treated with 3/689 showed enhanced protection from DNA damage and enhanced cell cycle progression, in line with data obtained by gene expression profiling. Moreover, upregulation of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) was also observed in hMSC expanded in the presence of 3/689. The increase in SOD2 was dependent on PrP expression and suggests increased scavenging of reactive oxygen species as mechanism of action. These data point to PrP as a good target for chemical intervention in stem cell regenerative medicine.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.