Optimizing the Learning Order of Chinese Characters Using a Novel Topological Sort Algorithm

We present a novel algorithm for optimizing the order in which Chinese characters are learned, one that incorporates the benefits of learning them in order of usage frequency and in order of their hierarchal structural relationships. We show that our work outperforms previously published orders and algorithms. Our algorithm is applicable to any scheduling task where nodes have intrinsic differences in importance and must be visited in topological order

Transitive reduction of citation networks

In many complex networks, the vertices are ordered in time, and edges represent causal connections. We propose methods of analysing such directed acyclic graphs taking into account the constraints of causality and highlighting the causal structure. We illustrate our approach using citation networks formed from academic papers, patents and US Supreme Court verdicts. We show how transitive reduction (TR) reveals fundamental differences in the citation practices of different areas, how it highlights particularly interesting work, and how it can correct for the effect that the age of a document has on its citation count. Finally, we transitively reduce null models of citation networks with similar degree distributions and show the difference in degree distributions after TR to illustrate the lack of causal structure in such models

Low-background temperature sensors fabricated on parylene substrates

Temperature sensors fabricated from ultra-low radioactivity materials have been developed for low-background experiments searching for neutrinoless double-beta decay and the interactions of WIMP dark matter. The sensors consist of electrical traces photolithographically-patterned onto substrates of vapor-deposited parylene. They are demonstrated to function as expected, to do so reliably and robustly, and to be highly radio-pure. This work is a proof-of-concept study of a technology that can be applied to broad class of electronic circuits used in low-background experiments

Concise Total Synthesis of (+)-Asperazine, (+)-Pestalazine A, and (+)-iso-Pestalazine A. Structure Revision of (+)-Pestalazine A

The concise, enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-asperazine (1), (+)-iso-pestalazine A (2), and (+)-pestalazine A (3) have been achieved by the development of a late-stage C3–C8′ Friedel–Crafts union of polycyclic diketopiperazines. Our modular strategy enables the union of complex polycyclic diketopiperazines in virtually their final forms, thus providing rapid and highly convergent assembly at the challenging quaternary stereocenter of these dimeric alkaloids. The significance of this carbon–carbon bond formation can be gauged by the manifold constraints that were efficiently overcome, namely the substantial steric crowding at both reactive sites, the nucleophilic addition of C8′ over N1′ to the C3 carbocation, and the multitude of reactivity posed by the use of complex diketopiperazine fragments in the coupling event. The success of the indoline π-nucleophile that evolved through our studies is notable given the paucity of competing reaction pathways observed in the presence of the highly reactive C3 carbocation generated. This first total synthesis of (+)-pestalazine A also allowed us to revise the molecular structure for this natural alkaloid.National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (Grant GM089732)Amgen Inc.Fonds de Recherche du Québe

What impact evidence was used in REF 2014? Disciplinary differences in how researchers demonstrate and assess impact

A new report produced by the Digital Science team explores the types of evidence used to demonstrate impact in REF2014 and pulls together guidance from leading professionals on good practice. Here Tamar Loach and Martin Szomszor present a broad look at the the types of evidence in use in the REF impact case studies and reflect on the association between use of evidence in the various categories and the scores received by submissions in peer review

Using intervention mapping to develop a culturally appropriate intervention to prevent childhood obesity: the HAPPY (Healthy and Active Parenting Programme for Early Years) study.

INTRODUCTION: Interventions that make extensive use of theory tend to have larger effects on behaviour. The Intervention Mapping (IM) framework incorporates theory into intervention design, implementation and evaluation, and was applied to the development of a community-based childhood obesity prevention intervention for a multi-ethnic population. METHODS: IM was applied as follows: 1) Needs assessment of the community and culture; consideration of evidence-base, policy and practice; 2) Identification of desired outcomes and change objectives following identification of barriers to behaviour change mapped alongside psychological determinants (e.g. knowledge, self-efficacy, intention); 3) Selection of theory-based methods and practical applications to address barriers to behaviour change (e.g., strategies for responsive feeding); 4) Design of the intervention by developing evidence-based interactive activities and resources (e.g., visual aids to show babies stomach size). The activities were integrated into an existing parenting programme; 5) Adoption and implementation: parenting practitioners were trained by healthcare professionals to deliver the programme within Children Centres. RESULTS: HAPPY (Healthy and Active Parenting Programme for Early Years) is aimed at overweight and obese pregnant women (BMI > 25); consists of 12 × 2.5 hr. sessions (6 ante-natal from 24 weeks; 6 postnatal up to 9 months); it addresses mother's diet and physical activity, breast or bottle feeding, infant diet and parental feeding practices, and infant physical activity. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that IM is a feasible and helpful method for providing an evidence based and theoretical structure to a complex health behaviour change intervention. The next stage will be to assess the impact of the intervention on behaviour change and clinical factors associated with childhood obesity. The HAPPY programme is currently being tested as part of a randomised controlled feasibility trial

Direct C7 Functionalization of Tryptophan. Synthesis of Methyl ( S )-2-(( tert -Butoxycarbonyl)amino)-3-(7-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2- dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1 H -indol-3-yl)propanoate

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM089732)National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM074825)National Science Foundation (U.S.) (CHE-1205646

Influence of subunit structure on the oligomerization state of light harvesting complexes: a free energy calculation study

Light harvesting complexes 2 (LH2) from Rhodospirillum (Rs.) molischianum and Rhodopseudomonas (Rps.) acidophila form ring complexes out of eight or nine identical subunits, respectively. Here, we investigate computationally what factors govern the different ring sizes. Starting from the crystal structure geometries, we embed two subunits of each species into their native lipid-bilayer/water environment. Using molecular dynamics simulations with umbrella sampling and steered molecular dynamics, we probe the free energy profiles along two reaction coordinates, the angle and the distance between two subunits. We find that two subunits prefer to arrange at distinctly different angles, depending on the species, at about 42.5 deg for Rs. molischianum and at about 38.5 deg for Rps. acidophila, which is likely to be an important factor contributing to the assembly into different ring sizes. Our calculations suggest a key role of surface contacts within the transmembrane domain in constraining these angles, whereas the strongest interactions stabilizing the subunit dimers are found in the C-, and to a lesser extent, N-terminal domains. The presented computational approach provides a promising starting point to investigate the factors contributing to the assembly of protein complexes, in particular if combined with modeling of genetic variants.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, LaTeX2e - requires elsart.cls (included), submitted to Chemical Physic

6sterreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft / Was? Wie? Warum? Jugendliche erforschen Flusslandschaften \u2013 F\uf6rderung des Systemverst\ue4ndnisses als Basis f\ufcr gelebte Partizipation im Flussgebietsmanagement

Flusslandschaftsplanung und -management im Sinne einer zukunftsvertr\ue4glichen Entwicklung einer Flusslandschaft sind dem Prinzip der Nachhaltigkeit verpflichtet. Ziel ist es dabei, eine Entwicklung von Flusslandschaften zu initiieren, die die Anforderungen des Natur- und Gew\ue4sserschutzes mit den sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Anspr\ufcchen in Einklang bringt und die betroffenen B\ufcrgerInnen in den Entscheidungsprozess einbezieht. Systemverst\ue4ndnis und \uf6kologische Handlungskompetenz sind f\ufcr Beteiligungsprozesse wesentliche Voraussetzungen. Im Oktober 2014 startete im Rahmen des Forschungsprogrammes \u201eSparkling Science\u201c des Bundesministeriums f\ufcr Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft das Projekt \u201eTraisen.w3 \u2013 Traisen. Was? Wie? Warum? \u2013 Identifizierung und Wahrnehmung von Funktionen in Flusslandschaften und Verstehen einzugsgebietsbezogener Prozesse am Beispiel der Traisen\u201c. In diesem Projekt arbeitet ein WissenschaftlerInnen-Team gemeinsam mit Sch\ufclerInnen und P\ue4dagogInnen zweier Oberstufenklassen des BG/BRG St. P\uf6lten \ufcber einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren zu Forschungsfragen des Flusslandschaftsmanagements am Beispiel der Traisen. Neben der Integration der Sch\ufclerInnen in den Forschungsprozess, in Freilandarbeiten und Datenauswertungen und -interpretationen ist vor allem die Entwicklung von Systemverst\ue4ndnis in Bezug auf Prozesse in Flusslandschaften Ziel des Projektes. Die Sch\ufclerInnen wurden mithilfe der Lern-Software \u201eDynaLearn\u201c angeregt, sich konzeptuelles und kausales Wissen anzueignen und damit systemische Prozesse in der Umwelt zu verstehen und in qualitative Modelle umzusetzen. Als weiteres Instrument, die Komplexit\ue4t von Flusslandschaften anzusprechen, wurde das Konzept der 6kosystemleistungen verwendet. In Wissenstests sowie durch die Auswertung der qualitativen Sch\ufclerInnen-Modelle wurden das Wissen und das Systemverst\ue4ndnis der Sch\ufclerinnen vor und nach den gemeinsamen Aktivit\ue4ten evaluiert. Die Auswertungen zeigten, dass regionales Wissen \ufcber den Heimatfluss und Vorg\ue4nge im Einzugsgebiet nicht im Bewusstsein der Jugendlichen verankert sind. Aufgrund der durchgef\ufchrten Schul-Workshops konnte ein signifikanter Zuwachs des Wissens und Verst\ue4ndnisses der Sch\ufclerInnen festgestellt werden. Die Modelle der Sch\ufclerInnen zeigten die komplexen Fragestellungen im Flussgebietsmanagement auf. Alle Modell-Szenarien der Jugendlichen spiegelten nachhaltige Entwicklungen der Flusslandschaft wider und belegten ein ma fgeblich gesteigertes Verst\ue4ndnis der Sch\ufclerInnen f\ufcr wichtige kausale Zusammenh\ue4nge an der Traisen. Die Ergebnisse dokumentieren weiters, dass das Konzept der 6kosystemleistungen eine geeignete Methode zur Wissensvermittlung von komplexen Zusammenh\ue4ngen in Flusslandschaften darstellt. Die Erhebung der Wahrnehmung von 6kosystemleistungen durch B\ufcrgerInnen, insbesondere Jugendliche, kann zu einer umfassenden Betrachtung der Flusslandschaft in zuk\ufcnftigen Planungen im Flusslandschaftsmanagement beitragen. Mittels der in diesem Rahmen identifizierten Wissensl\ufccken und des fehlenden Umweltverst\ue4ndnisses kann der zuk\ufcnftige Bildungsbedarf hinsichtlich Funktionsf\ue4higkeit und Leistungen von Flusslandschaften abgesch\ue4tzt werden. Gerade bei jungen Menschen ist es wichtig, das Interesse f\ufcr Umwelthemen zu f\uf6rdern und eine m\uf6gliche Beteiligung an Entscheidungen zu forcieren. Gezielte Initiativen sind notwendig, damit junge Menschen zuk\ufcnftig als BewohnerInnen und NutzerInnen der Flusslandschaften nachhaltige Planungen und Ma fnahmen unterst\ufctzen, sich aktiv an der Entscheidungsfindung beteiligen und damit Verantwortung f\ufcr die Gestaltung ihrer Umwelt \ufcbernehmen.River landscape planning and management to promote the positive long-term development of river landscapes must adhere to the principle of sustainability. In this context, the goal is to initiate a development process for river landscapes that successfully reconciles the requirements of nature and water conservation with social and economic aspects, and which actively involves affected citizens in the decision-making process. A systems-based understanding and the opportunity to make ecologically relevant decisions are essential prerequisites for participative processes. In the context of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy research program \u201cSparkling Science,\u201d the project \u201cTraisen.w3 \u2013 Traisen. What?How?Why? \u2013 Identification and Perception of Functions in River Landscapes and Understanding Catchment-related Processes on the Example of the Traisen River\u201d was launched in October 2014. The project involves a team of scientists working together with teachers and students from two high-school classes from the BG/BRG St. P\uf6lten schools over a two-year period to investigate central research questions on river landscape management using the example of the Traisen River. Beyond integrating the students in the research process, in field work, and in assessing and interpreting results, one of the project\u2019s central goals is to promote a systems-based understanding of the processes at work in river landscapes. With the help of the learning software program \u201cDynaLearn,\u201d students were encouraged to acquire both conceptual and problem-solving skills, which in turn allowed them to better understand systematic processes in the environment and implement those processes in qualitative models. The concept of ecosystem services was employed as a further means of approaching the complexity of river landscapes. Using knowledge-based tests and by assessing their qualitative models, the students\u2019 systems-based understanding before and after their shared activities was evaluated. The results show that regional knowledge of their home river and key processes in its catchment area is not anchored in the students\u2019 minds. The school workshops confirmed a significant increase in the students\u2019 knowledge and grasp of the subject matter, while the models they produced illustrate the complex questions involved in river landscape management. All of the model scenarios the students depicted reflect sustainable developments in the river landscape and evince their considerably improved grasp of important causal relationships on the Traisen. The results also confirm that the concept of ecosystem services offers a suitable method for conveying complex interrelationships in river landscapes. Raising awareness of ecosystem services among citizens, and especially among young people, can help to ensure that more comprehensive approaches are utilized in future river landscape planning and management efforts. Further, the gaps in knowledge and lack of environmental awareness identified in the course of the project can be used to determine the future need for education on the functions of and ecosystem services provided by river landscapes. When it comes to young people, it is essential that we promote their interest in environmental issues and offer them opportunities to join in decision-making processes. Focused initiatives are called for to ensure that these future inhabitants and users of river landscapes support sustainable planning and measures, actively participate in decision-making, and in so doing take on responsibility for shaping their own environment

The derivation of the formyl-group oxygen of chlorophyll b in higher plants from molecular oxygen.

The mechanism of formation of the formyl group of chlorophyll b has long been obscure but, in this paper, the origin of the 7-formyl-group oxygen of chlorophyll b in higher plants was determined by greening etiolated maize leaves, excised from dark-grown plants, by illumination under white light in the presence of either H218O or 18O2 and examining the newly synthesized chlorophylls by mass spectroscopy. To minimize the possible loss of 18O label from the 7-formyl substituent by reversible formation of chlorophyll b-71-gem-diol (hydrate) with unlabelled water in the cell, the formyl group was reduced to a hydroxymethyl group during extraction with methanol containing NaBH4: chlorophyll a remained unchanged during this rapid reductive extraction process. Mass spectra of chlorophyll a and [7-hydroxymethyl]-chlorophyll b extracted from leaves greened in the presence of either H218O or 18O2 revealed that 18O was incorporated only from molecular oxygen but into both chlorophylls: the mass spectra were consistent with molecular oxygen providing an oxygen atom not only for incorporation into the 7-formyl group of chlorophyll b but also for the well-documented incorporation into the 131-oxo group of both chlorophylls a and b [see Walker, C. J., Mansfield, K. E., Smith, K. M. & Castelfranco, P. A. (1989) Biochem. J. 257, 599–602]. The incorporation of isotope led to as much as 77% enrichment of the 131-oxo group of chlorophyll a: assuming identical incorporation into the 131 oxygen of chlorophyll b, then enrichment of the 7-formyl oxygen was as much as 93%. Isotope dilution by re-incorporation of photosynthetically produced oxygen from unlabelled water was negligible as shown by a greening experiment in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. The high enrichment using 18O2, and the absence of labelling by H218O, unequivocally demonstrates that molecular oxygen is the sole precursor of the 7-formyl oxygen of chlorophyll b in higher plants and strongly suggests a single pathway for the formation of the chlorophyll b formyl group involving the participation of an oxygenase-type enzyme