bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundamental Rights and the Transformation of Governance in the European Union
Authors: de Schutter Olivier
Published: July 2016

It has been argued in many places, and in different forms, that the establishment between the EU Member States of an internal market, and now of an area of freedom, security and justice, requires the European Union to legislate in the field of fundamental rights, either in order to avoid a form of regulatory competition between the Member States or in order to ensure mutual trust allowing for mutual cooperation between judicial, police and administrative national authorities. ‘Negative integration’, in the form of the lowering of barriers to the movement of goods, services, persons and capital, or in the form of mutual recognition of judicial decisions or exchange of information between national authorities, should thus be followed with, or compensated by, ‘positive integration’, in the form of the setting of common standards applicable throughout the EU Member States. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, moreover, provides the baseline from which to act, since it represents a set of values which all the Member States have agreed to consider as fundamental. The question (so it would seem) is now that of implementing the Charter, by using the legal bases provided for in the treaties to the fullest extent possible.
Experience of the Time to Change programme in England as predictor of mental health service users' stigma coping strategies
Authors: Sampogna G. , Bakolis I. , Robinson E. , Corker E. , Pinfold V. , Thornicroft G. , Henderson C.
Published: July 2016

Aims.

In the field of stigma research, an area of interest is the coping strategies that mental health service users can use in response to discriminatory experiences. As a part of the evaluation of the Time to Change (TTC) anti-stigma programme, the Viewpoint telephone survey was run annually in order to assess service users' reported levels of discrimination and selected coping strategies. The study aim is to test the extent to which experience of TTC programme is a positive predictor of selected coping strategies.

Methods.

Telephone interview surveys carried out by peer interviewers were conducted annually. ‘Educating others’ and ‘challenging’ coping strategies were assessed alongside anticipated and experienced discrimination.

Results.

During 2011–2014, 3903 mental health service users were interviewed. Participants more often adopted the ‘educating others’ strategy (2.31 ± 0.01) than the ‘challenging’ strategy (2.15 ± 0.02) (p< 0.001). On the other hand, those who participated in campaign activities endorsed ‘challenging’ more frequently than people who were not aware of TTC (2.78 ± 1.23v.2.09 ± 1.08,p< 0.001). According to the multi-variate linear regression model, we found that being actively involved in TTC activities (OR = 0.74, CI: 0.29–1.19;p< 0.05), having a diagnosis of a depressive disorder (OR = 0.20, CI: 0.04–0.36;p< 0.05) or personality disorder (OR = 0.23, CI: 0.04–0.43;p< 0.05) were good predictors of endorsing a ‘challenging’ strategy even after adjusted for confounding variables.

Conclusions.

A positive relationship between participating in the TTC programme and using the ‘challenging’ strategy was found. There is still a need to disentangle the complex association between these two coping strategies and the role of anti-stigma campaigns, promoting further local activities led by service users and carers' as well as all others stakeholders' associations.
South Asian Free Trade Agreement and the Possibility of Regional Integration within the SAARC: A Historical, Legal and Economic Analysis
Authors: Ewing-Chow Michael , Islam Md. Rizwanul
Published: July 2016

Preferential trading exchanges have been a very common phenomenon in today's world. FTAs and RTAs are growing so fast that many academics are arguing that they are creating obstacles towards WTO's multilateral trade liberalization. Although seven nations in the South Asian region have recently executed an FTA, the progress of regional cooperation in this region is rather dismal. The purpose of this paper is to analyze SAFTA and discuss the prospect of more meaningful cooperation within the SAARC.
Religious Pluralism, Personal Laws and Gender Equality in Asia: Their History of Conflict and the Prospects for Accommodation
Authors: Duara Juliette G.
Published: July 2016

This paper examines the relationship between three religio-legal traditions and their interactions and responses to the concept of gender equality as reflected in their inheritance practices. Specifically, questions of accommodation and authenticity will be explored through the Hindu, Confucian and Islamic traditions as they exist in contemporary India, Singapore and Hong Kong. While the primary focus will be on the current state of law and practice, the paper will begin personal laws during the period of British colonization. The impact of British jurisprudence will be recounted as background to understanding the contemporary state of the three traditions. For India and Singapore this history will include the impact of their independence movements on their personal laws. Hong Kong's history will include the impact of the territory's return to China.
Early CCR6 expression on B cells modulates germinal centre kinetics and efficient antibody responses
Authors: Reimer Dorothea , Lee Adrian YS , Bannan Jennifer , Fromm Phillip , Kara Ervin E , Comerford Iain , McColl Shaun , Wiede Florian , Mielenz Dirk , Körner Heinrich
Published: July 2016

The CC‐chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) can be detected on naive and activated B cells. Counterintuitively, its absence accelerates the appearance of germinal centres (GCs) and increases the production of low‐affinity antibodies. The detailed mechanism of CCR6 function during the humoral response has remained elusive, but previously we identified a distinct CCR6high B‐cell population in vivo early after antigenic challenge. In this study, we defined this population specifically as early, activated pre‐GC B cells. In accordance, we show that CCR6 is upregulated rapidly within hours on the protein or mRNA level after activation in vitro. In addition, only activated B cells migrated specifically towards CCL20, the specific ligand for CCR6. Lack of CCR6 increased the dark zone/light zone ratio of GC and led to decreased antigen‐specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibody generation in a B‐cell intrinsic manner in mixed bone marrow chimeras. In contrast, antigen‐specific IgM responses were normal. Hence, CCR6 negatively regulates entry of activated, antigen‐specific pre‐GC B cells into the GC reaction.
Observational evidence confirms modelling of the long-term integrity of CO2-reservoir caprocks
Authors: Kampman N. , Busch A. , Bertier P. , Snippe J. , Hangx S. , Pipich V. , Di Z. , Rother G. , Harrington J. F. , Evans J. P. , Maskell A. , Chapman H. J. , Bickle M. J.
Published: July 2016

Storage of anthropogenic CO2 in geological formations relies on a caprock as the primary seal preventing buoyant super-critical CO2 escaping. Although natural CO2 reservoirs demonstrate that CO2 may be stored safely for millions of years, uncertainty remains in predicting how caprocks will react with CO2-bearing brines. This uncertainty poses a significant challenge to the risk assessment of geological carbon storage. Here we describe mineral reaction fronts in a CO2 reservoir-caprock system exposed to CO2 over a timescale comparable with that needed for geological carbon storage. The propagation of the reaction front is retarded by redox-sensitive mineral dissolution reactions and carbonate precipitation, which reduces its penetration into the caprock to ∼7 cm in ∼105 years. This distance is an order-of-magnitude smaller than previous predictions. The results attest to the significance of transport-limited reactions to the long-term integrity of sealing behaviour in caprocks exposed to CO2.
Peptide–oligonucleotide conjugates as nanoscale building blocks for assembly of an artificial three-helix protein mimic
Authors: Lou Chenguang , Martos-Maldonado Manuel C. , Madsen Charlotte S. , Thomsen Rasmus P. , Midtgaard Søren Roi , Christensen Niels Johan , Kjems Jørgen , Thulstrup Peter W. , Wengel Jesper , Jensen Knud J.
Published: July 2016

Peptide-based structures can be designed to yield artificial proteins with specific folding patterns and functions. Template-based assembly of peptide units is one design option, but the use of two orthogonal self-assembly principles, oligonucleotide triple helix and a coiled coil protein domain formation have never been realized for de novo protein design. Here, we show the applicability of peptide–oligonucleotide conjugates for self-assembly of higher-ordered protein-like structures. The resulting nano-assemblies were characterized by ultraviolet-melting, gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. These studies revealed the formation of the desired triple helix and coiled coil domains at low concentrations, while a dimer of trimers was dominating at high concentration. CD spectroscopy showed an extraordinarily high degree of α-helicity for the peptide moieties in the assemblies. The results validate the use of orthogonal self-assembly principles as a paradigm for de novo protein design.
Two-dimensional chiral topological superconductivity in Shiba lattices
Authors: Li Jian , Neupert Titus , Wang Zhijun , MacDonald A. H. , Yazdani A. , Bernevig B. Andrei
Published: July 2016

The chiral p-wave superconductor is the archetypal example of a state of matter that supports non-Abelian anyons, a highly desired type of exotic quasiparticle. With this, it is foundational for the distant goal of building a topological quantum computer. While some candidate materials for bulk chiral superconductors exist, they are subject of an ongoing debate about their actual paring state. Here we propose an alternative route to chiral superconductivity, consisting of the surface of an ordinary superconductor decorated with a two-dimensional lattice of magnetic impurities. We furthermore identify a promising experimental platform to realize this proposal.
Local biodiversity is higher inside than outside terrestrial protected areas worldwide
Authors: Gray Claudia L. , Hill Samantha L. L. , Newbold Tim , Hudson Lawrence N. , Börger Luca , Contu Sara , Hoskins Andrew J. , Ferrier Simon , Purvis Andy , Scharlemann Jörn P. W.
Published: July 2016

Protected areas are widely considered essential for biodiversity conservation. However, few global studies have demonstrated that protection benefits a broad range of species. Here, using a new global biodiversity database with unprecedented geographic and taxonomic coverage, we compare four biodiversity measures at sites sampled in multiple land uses inside and outside protected areas. Globally, species richness is 10.6% higher and abundance 14.5% higher in samples taken inside protected areas compared with samples taken outside, but neither rarefaction-based richness nor endemicity differ significantly. Importantly, we show that the positive effects of protection are mostly attributable to differences in land use between protected and unprotected sites. Nonetheless, even within some human-dominated land uses, species richness and abundance are higher in protected sites. Our results reinforce the global importance of protected areas but suggest that protection does not consistently benefit species with small ranges or increase the variety of ecological niches.
Ratio abstraction over discrete magnitudes by newly hatched domestic chicks (Gallus gallus)
Authors: Rugani Rosa , McCrink Koleen , de Hevia Maria-Dolores , Vallortigara Giorgio , Regolin Lucia
Published: July 2016

A large body of literature shows that non-human animals master a variety of numerical tasks, but studies involving proportional discrimination are sparse and primarily done with mature animals. Here we trained 4-day-old domestic chicks (Gallus gallus) to respond to stimuli depicting multiple examples of the proportion 4:1 when compared with the proportion 2:1. Stimuli were composed of green and red dot arrays; for the rewarded 4:1 proportion, 4 green dots for every red dot (e.g. ratios: 32:8, 12:3, and 44:11). The birds continued to discriminate when presented with new ratios at test (such as 20:5), characterized by new numbers of dots and new spatial configurations (Experiment 1). This indicates that chicks can extract the common proportional value shared by different ratios and apply it to new ones. In Experiment 2, chicks identified a specific proportion (2:1) from either a smaller (4:1) or a larger one (1:1), demonstrating an ability to represent the specific, and not relative, value of a particular proportion. Again, at test, chicks selectively responded to the previously reinforced proportion from new ratios. These findings provide strong evidence for very young animals’ ability to extract, identify, and productively use proportion information across a range of different amounts.
Understanding and simulating the material behavior during multi-particle irradiations
Authors: Mir Anamul H. , Toulemonde M. , Jegou C. , Miro S. , Serruys Y. , Bouffard S. , Peuget S.
Published: July 2016

A number of studies have suggested that the irradiation behavior and damage processes occurring during sequential and simultaneous particle irradiations can significantly differ. Currently, there is no definite answer as to why and when such differences are seen. Additionally, the conventional multi-particle irradiation facilities cannot correctly reproduce the complex irradiation scenarios experienced in a number of environments like space and nuclear reactors. Therefore, a better understanding of multi-particle irradiation problems and possible alternatives are needed. This study shows ionization induced thermal spike and defect recovery during sequential and simultaneous ion irradiation of amorphous silica. The simultaneous irradiation scenario is shown to be equivalent to multiple small sequential irradiation scenarios containing latent damage formation and recovery mechanisms. The results highlight the absence of any new damage mechanism and time-space correlation between various damage events during simultaneous irradiation of amorphous silica. This offers a new and convenient way to simulate and understand complex multi-particle irradiation problems.
Versatile microrobotics using simple modular subunits
Authors: Cheang U Kei , Meshkati Farshad , Kim Hoyeon , Lee Kyoungwoo , Fu Henry Chien , Kim Min Jun
Published: July 2016

The realization of reconfigurable modular microrobots could aid drug delivery and microsurgery by allowing a single system to navigate diverse environments and perform multiple tasks. So far, microrobotic systems are limited by insufficient versatility; for instance, helical shapes commonly used for magnetic swimmers cannot effectively assemble and disassemble into different size and shapes. Here by using microswimmers with simple geometries constructed of spherical particles, we show how magnetohydrodynamics can be used to assemble and disassemble modular microrobots with different physical characteristics. We develop a mechanistic physical model that we use to improve assembly strategies. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of dynamically changing the physical properties of microswimmers through assembly and disassembly in a controlled fluidic environment. Finally, we show that different configurations have different swimming properties by examining swimming speed dependence on configuration size.
Effects of induction and inhibition of matrix cross-linking on remodeling of the aqueous outflow resistance by ocular trabecular meshwork cells
Authors: Yang Yong-Feng , Sun Ying Ying , Acott Ted S. , Keller Kate E.
Published: July 2016

The trabecular meshwork (TM) tissue controls drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye primarily by regulating extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Glaucomatous TM tissue is stiffer than age-matched controls, which may be due to alterations in ECM cross-linking. In this study, we used genipin or beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) agents to induce or inhibit matrix cross-linking, respectively, to investigate the effects on outflow resistance and ECM remodeling. Treatment with BAPN increased outflow rates in perfused human and porcine anterior segments, whereas genipin reduced outflow. Using a fluorogenic peptide assay, MMP activity was increased with BAPN treatment, but reduced with genipin treatment. In genipin-treated TM cells, Western immunoblotting showed a reduction of active MMP2 and MMP14 species and the presence of TIMP2-MMP14 higher molecular weight complexes. BAPN treatment increased collagen type I mRNA and protein levels, but genipin reduced the levels of collagen type I, tenascin C, elastin and versican. CD44 and fibronectin levels were unaffected by either treatment. Collectively, our results show that matrix cross-linking has profound effects on outflow resistance and ECM composition and are consistent with the emerging paradigm that the stiffer the ECM, the lower the aqueous outflow facility through the TM.
Two IIIf Clade-bHLHs from Freesia hybrida Play Divergent Roles in Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Trichome Formation when Ectopically Expressed in Arabidopsis
Authors: Li Yueqing , Shan Xiaotong , Gao Ruifang , Yang Song , Wang Shucai , Gao Xiang , Wang Li
Published: July 2016

The MBW complex, comprised by R2R3-MYB, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and WD40, is a single regulatory protein complex that drives the evolution of multiple traits such as flavonoid biosynthesis and epidermal cell differentiation in plants. In this study, two IIIf Clade-bHLH regulator genes, FhGL3L and FhTT8L, were isolated and functionally characterized from Freesia hybrida. Different spatio-temporal transcription patterns were observed showing diverse correlation with anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin accumulation. When overexpressed in Arabidopsis, FhGL3L could enhance the anthocyanin accumulation through up-regulating endogenous regulators and late structural genes. Unexpectedly, trichome formation was inhibited associating with the down-regulation of AtGL2. Comparably, only the accumulation of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins was strengthened in FhTT8L transgenic lines. Furthermore, transient expression assays demonstrated that FhGL3L interacted with AtPAP1, AtTT2 and AtGL1, while FhTT8L only showed interaction with AtPAP1 and AtTT2. In addition, similar activation of the AtDFR promoter was found between AtPAP1-FhGL3L/FhTT8L and AtPAP1- AtGL3/AtTT8 combinations. When FhGL3L was fused with a strong activation domain VP16, it could activate the AtGL2 promoter when co-transfected with AtGL1. Therefore, it can be concluded that the functionality of bHLH factors may have diverged and a sophisticated interaction and hierarchical network might exist in the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis and trichome formation.
Evolutionary prediction of medicinal properties in the genus Euphorbia L.
Authors: Ernst Madeleine , Saslis-Lagoudakis C. Haris , Grace Olwen M. , Nilsson Niclas , Simonsen Henrik Toft , Horn James W. , Rønsted Nina
Published: July 2016

The current decrease of new drugs brought to the market has fostered renewed interest in plant-based drug discovery. Given the alarming rate of biodiversity loss, systematic methodologies in finding new plant-derived drugs are urgently needed. Medicinal uses of plants were proposed as proxy for bioactivity, and phylogenetic patterns in medicinal plant uses have suggested that phylogeny can be used as predictive tool. However, the common practice of grouping medicinal plant uses into standardised categories may restrict the relevance of phylogenetic predictions. Standardised categories are mostly associated to systems of the human body and only poorly reflect biological responses to the treatment. Here we show that medicinal plant uses interpreted from a perspective of a biological response can reveal different phylogenetic patterns of presumed underlying bioactivity compared to standardised methods of medicinal plant use classification. In the cosmopolitan and pharmaceutically highly relevant genus Euphorbia L., identifying plant uses modulating the inflammatory response highlighted a greater phylogenetic diversity and number of potentially promising species than standardised categories. Our interpretation of medicinal plant uses may therefore allow for a more targeted approach for future phylogeny-guided drug discovery at an early screening stage, which will likely result in higher discovery rates of novel chemistry with functional biological activity.
High energy X-ray phase and dark-field imaging using a random absorption mask
Authors: Wang Hongchang , Kashyap Yogesh , Cai Biao , Sawhney Kawal
Published: July 2016

High energy X-ray imaging has unique advantage over conventional X-ray imaging, since it enables higher penetration into materials with significantly reduced radiation damage. However, the absorption contrast in high energy region is considerably low due to the reduced X-ray absorption cross section for most materials. Even though the X-ray phase and dark-field imaging techniques can provide substantially increased contrast and complementary information, fabricating dedicated optics for high energies still remain a challenge. To address this issue, we present an alternative X-ray imaging approach to produce transmission, phase and scattering signals at high X-ray energies by using a random absorption mask. Importantly, in addition to the synchrotron radiation source, this approach has been demonstrated for practical imaging application with a laboratory-based microfocus X-ray source. This new imaging method could be potentially useful for studying thick samples or heavy materials for advanced research in materials science.
Nature of the Insulating Ground State of the Two-Dimensional Sn Atom Lattice on SiC(0001)
Authors: Yi Seho , Lee Hunpyo , Choi Jin-Ho , Cho Jun-Hyung
Published: July 2016

Semiconductor surfaces with narrow surface bands provide unique playgrounds to search for Mott-insulating state. Recently, a combined experimental and theoretical study of the two-dimensional (2D) Sn atom lattice on a wide-gap SiC(0001) substrate proposed a Mott-type insulator driven by strong on-site Coulomb repulsion U within a single-band Hubbard model. However, our systematic density-functional theory (DFT) study with local, semilocal, and hybrid exchange-correlation functionals shows that the Sn dangling-bond state largely hybridizes with the substrate Si 3p and C 2p states to split into three surface bands due to the crystal field. Such a hybridization gives rise to the stabilization of the antiferromagnetic order via superexchange interactions. The band gap and the density of states predicted by the hybrid DFT calculation agree well with photoemission data. Our findings not only suggest that the Sn/SiC(0001) system can be represented as a Slater-type insulator driven by long-range magnetism, but also have an implication that taking into account long-range interactions beyond the on-site interaction would be of importance for properly describing the insulating nature of Sn/SiC(0001).
Energy transmission using recyclable quantum entanglement
Authors: Ye Ming-Yong , Lin Xiu-Min
Published: July 2016

It is known that faster-than-light (FTL) transmission of energy could be achieved if the transmission were considered in the framework of non-relativistic classical mechanics. Here we show that FTL transmission of energy could also be achieved if the transmission were considered in the framework of non-relativistic quantum mechanics. In our transmission protocol a two-spin Heisenberg model is considered and the energy is transmitted by two successive local unitary operations on the initially entangled spins. Our protocol does not mean that FTL transmission can be achieved in reality when the theory of relativity is considered, but it shows that quantum entanglement can be used in a recyclable way in energy transmission.
Alterations of the gut microbiome of largemouth bronze gudgeon (Coreius guichenoti) suffering from furunculosis
Authors: Li Tongtong , Long Meng , Ji Cheng , Shen Zhixin , Gatesoupe François-Joël , Zhang Xujie , Zhang Qianqian , Zhang Lanli , Zhao Yuanli , Liu Xinhua , Li Aihua
Published: July 2016

High-throughput sequencing was applied to compare the intestinal microbiota in largemouth bronze gudgeon either healthy or affected by furunculosis. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were detected as the predominant bacterial phyla in the gut of both diseased and healthy fish. The abundance of Proteobacteria differed significantly between the two groups of fish, mainly due to the overwhelming prevalence of Aeromonas in the diseased fish (81% ± 17%), while the genus was unevenly spread among the apparently healthy fish (33% ± 33%). The bacterial diversity in the intestine of diseased fish was markedly lower than in healthy fish. Analysis revealed the significant dissimilarity between the gut microbiota of diseased and healthy fish. The bacterial profiles in the gut were further characterized with the 28 phylotypes that were shared by the two groups. In diseased fish, two shared OTUs (OTU0001 and OTU0013) were closely related to Aeromonas salmonicida, their total proportion exceeding 70% of the sequences in diseased fish, while averaging 5.2% ± 4.6% in the healthy fish. This result suggested the presence of healthy carriers of pathogenic A. salmonicida among the farmed fish, and the gut appeared as a probable infection source for furunculosis in largemouth bronze gudgeon.
Performance of a Heating Block System Designed for Studying the Heat Resistance of Bacteria in Foods
Authors: Kou Xiao-xi , Li Rui , Hou Li-xia , Huang Zhi , Ling Bo , Wang Shao-jin
Published: July 2016

Knowledge of bacteria’s heat resistance is essential for developing effective thermal treatments. Choosing an appropriate test method is important to accurately determine bacteria’s heat resistances. Although being a major factor to influence the thermo-tolerance of bacteria, the heating rate in samples cannot be controlled in water or oil bath methods due to main dependence on sample’s thermal properties. A heating block system (HBS) was designed to regulate the heating rates in liquid, semi-solid and solid foods using a temperature controller. Distilled water, apple juice, mashed potato, almond powder and beef were selected to evaluate the HBS’s performance by experiment and computer simulation. The results showed that the heating rates of 1, 5 and 10 °C/min with final set-point temperatures and holding times could be easily and precisely achieved in five selected food materials. A good agreement in sample central temperature profiles was obtained under various heating rates between experiment and simulation. The experimental and simulated results showed that the HBS could provide a sufficiently uniform heating environment in food samples. The effect of heating rate on bacterial thermal resistance was evaluated with the HBS. The system may hold potential applications for rapid and accurate assessments of bacteria’s thermo-tolerances.
Solution-Processible Crystalline NiO Nanoparticles for High-Performance Planar Perovskite Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Kwon Uisik , Kim Bong-Gi , Nguyen Duc Cuong , Park Jong-Hyeon , Ha Na Young , Kim Seung-Joo , Ko Seung Hwan , Lee Soonil , Lee Daeho , Park Hui Joon
Published: July 2016

In this work, we report on solution-based p-i-n-type planar-structured CH3NH3PbI3perovskite photovoltaic (PV) cells, in which precrystallized NiO nanoparticles (NPs) without post-treatment are used to form a hole transport layer (HTL). X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy showed the crystallinity of the NPs, and atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the uniform surfaces of the resultant NiO thin film and the subsequent perovskite photoactive layer. Compared to the conventional poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) HTL, the NiO HTL had excellent energy-level alignment with that of CH3NH3PbI3and improved electron-blocking capability, as analyzed by photoelectron spectroscopy and diode modeling, resulting inVoc~0.13 V higher than conventional PEDOT:PSS-based devices. Consequently, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.4% with a high fill factor (FF, 0.74), short-circuit current density (Jsc, 20.2 mA·cm−2), and open circuit voltage (Voc, 1.04 V) having negligible hysteresis and superior air stability has been achieved.
Ultrasound assisted extraction for the determination of mercury in sediment samples employing cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: Leao Danilo J. , Silva Junior Mario M. , Silva Junior Jucelino B. , de Oliveira Daiane A. F. , Queiroz Antonio F. S. , Ferreira Sergio L. C.
Published: July 2016

An extraction procedure involving ultrasound assisted radiation was proposed for the determination of mercury in river sediment samples using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV AAS).
Replication of α-amino acids via Strecker synthesis with amplification and multiplication of chiral intermediate aminonitriles
Authors: Aiba Shohei , Takamatsu Naoya , Sasai Taichiro , Tokunaga Yuji , Kawasaki Tsuneomi
Published: July 2016

Amino acids trigger the amplification and multiplication of their own chiral intermediate aminonitriles in the replicative Strecker reaction.
Shape-controlled iron oxide nanocrystals: synthesis, magnetic properties and energy conversion applications
Authors: Liu Jun , Wu Zhaohui , Tian Qingyong , Wu Wei , Xiao Xiangheng
Published: July 2016

Iron oxide nanocrystals (IONCs) with various geometric morphologies show excellent physical and chemical properties and have received extensive attention in recent years.
The effect of copper from water and food: changes of serum nonceruloplasmin copper and brain's amyloid-beta in mice
Authors: Wu Min , Han Feifei , Gong Weisha , Feng Lifang , Han Jianzhong
Published: July 2016

Copper in water is more toxic than copper in food as it raises the serum nonceruloplasmin copper and brain's amyloid-beta.
Acoustofluidic actuation of in situ fabricated microrotors
Authors: Kaynak Murat , Ozcelik Adem , Nama Nitesh , Nourhani Amir , Lammert Paul E. , Crespi Vincent H. , Huang Tony Jun
Published: July 2016

Schematic of fabrication and actuation set up shows polymerized microrotor around the PDMS axle in the microchannel.
Atmospheric CO2 promoted synthesis of N-containing heterocycles over B(C6F5)3 catalyst
Authors: Gao Xiang , Yu Bo , Mei Qingqing , Yang Zhenzhen , Zhao Yanfei , Zhang Hongye , Hao Leiduan , Liu Zhimin
Published: July 2016

CO2 gas greatly promoted the cyclization of various o-substituted anilines with N,N-dimethylformamide, producing N-containing heterocycles in high yields.
Nanomechanical sandwich assay for multiple cancer biomarkers in breast cancer cell-derived exosomes
Authors: Etayash H. , McGee A. R. , Kaur K. , Thundat T.
Published: July 2016

The use of exosomes as cancer diagnostic biomarkers is technically limited by their size, heterogeneity and the need for extensive purification and labelling.
Functionalized graphene oxide as an efficient adsorbent for CO2capture and support for heterogeneous catalysis
Authors: Bhanja Piyali , Das Sabuj Kanti , Patra Astam K. , Bhaumik Asim
Published: July 2016

New functionalized graphene oxide materials IFGO and Cu-IFGO have been synthesizedviapost-synthetic pathway where IFGO exhibited high CO2uptake capacity and Cu-IFGO displayed high catalytic activity in one-pot three component C–S coupling reactions.
Ultrathin BiVO4 nanobelts: controllable synthesis and improved photocatalytic oxidation of water
Authors: Jiao Zhengbo , Yu Hongchao , Wang Xuesen , Bi Yingpu
Published: July 2016

Ultrathin BiVO4 nanobelts, which was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, exhibited improved photocatalytic performances due to their short charge transfer distance and highly crystalline structure.
Extract-mediated synthesis of Ag@AgCl nanoparticles using Conium maculatum seeds: characterization, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity effect against MCF-7 cell line
Authors: Alishah Hossein , Pourseyedi Shahram , Mahani Saeed Esmaili , Ebrahimipour S. Yousef
Published: July 2016

Silver/silver chloride nanoparticles synthesized using the seed extract of Conium maculatum exhibited considerable antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line.
Graphene oxide/cellulose composite films with enhanced UV-shielding and mechanical properties prepared in NaOH/urea aqueous solution
Authors: Liu Xiaoting , Zhang Tongping , Pang Kai , Duan Yongxin , Zhang Jianming
Published: July 2016

The scheme demonstrates the sampling process and microstructure formation of GO/cellulose composite films, which have excellent ultraviolet-shielding and mechanical properties with optimal GO loading.
Synthesis and analysis of stable isotope-labelled N-acyl homoserine lactones
Authors: Ruysbergh Ewout , Stevens Christian V. , De Kimpe Norbert , Mangelinckx Sven
Published: July 2016

An easy, reliable manner to make suitable, deuterated standards of AHL-molecules belonging to all three important classes of AHLs is presented, starting from a cheap and commercially available deuterium source.
Intramolecular 1,5-C(sp3)–H radical amination via Co(ii)-based metalloradical catalysis for five-membered cyclic sulfamides
Authors: Lu Hongjian , Lang Kai , Jiang Huiling , Wojtas Lukasz , Zhang X. Peter
Published: July 2016

Synthesis of strained five-membered cyclic sulfamides has been achieved for the first time by intramolecular 1,5-C(sp3)–H aminationviaCo(ii)-based metalloradical catalysis.
Converting disulfide bridges in native peptides to stable methylene thioacetals
Authors: Kourra C. M. B. K. , Cramer N.
Published: July 2016

A mild and simple protocol converts the labile disulfide bond of unprotected native peptides into highly stable methylene thioacetals, annihilating reductive lability and increasing stability.
C–H functionalization of amines with aryl halides by nickel-photoredox catalysis
Authors: Ahneman Derek T. , Doyle Abigail G.
Published: July 2016

A redox-neutral method for α-amino C(sp3)–H arylation is described using nickel and photoredox catalysis.
A wide-bandgap conjugated polymer for highly efficient inverted single and tandem polymer solar cells
Authors: Guo Bing , Guo Xia , Li Wanbin , Meng Xiangyi , Ma Wei , Zhang Maojie , Li Yongfang
Published: July 2016

Polymer solar cells based on a wide-bandgap polymer exhibited PCEs of 7.7% and 10.3% for single and tandem devices, respectively.
Graphene enabled all-weather solar cells for electricity harvest from sun and rain
Authors: Zhang Yue , Tang Qunwei , He Benlin , Yang Peizhi
Published: July 2016

Graphene enabled all-weather solar cells can generate electricity from both sunlight and raindrops, making them promising for solving energy problems.
Electropolymerized supermolecule derived N, P co-doped carbon nanofiber networks as a highly efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Yan Dafeng , Dou Shuo , Tao Li , Liu Zhijuan , Liu Zhigang , Huo Jia , Wang Shuangyin
Published: July 2016

Electropolymerized supermolecule derived N, P co-doped carbon as a highly efficient metal-free HER catalyst.
pH-Induced switches of the oil- and water-selectivity of crosslinked polymeric membranes for gravity-driven oil–water separation
Authors: Liu Ching-Ting , Liu Ying-Ling
Published: July 2016

A membrane with pH-induced switchable oil- and water-selectivity for gravity-driven continuous oil–water separation.
Correction: Simultaneous sulfur doping and exfoliation of graphene from graphite using an electrochemical method for supercapacitor electrode materials
Authors: Parveen Nazish , Ansari Mohd Omaish , Ansari Sajid Ali , Cho Moo Hwan
Published: July 2016

Correction for ‘Simultaneous sulfur doping and exfoliation of graphene from graphite using an electrochemical method for supercapacitor electrode materials’ by Nazish Parveen et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 233–240.
Image alignment by parameter hypersurface learning
Authors: Choi H.C. , Ahn B.H.
Published: July 2016

A new concept of image alignment method is introduced based on machine learning technique. The proposed method estimates image alignment parameters by using a regression hypersurface, which maps image feature space onto alignment parameter space. The regression hypersurface is obtained by learning an appropriate type of neural network from a large number of training samples, which consist of image features and corresponding alignment parameters. Compared with the previous method that utilises a regression hyperplane, this method achieved a significant improvement in convergence range to apply for alignment of rectangular region in long term image sequences in low frame rate.
Wireless backhaul resource allocation and user‐centric clustering in ultra‐dense wireless networks
Authors: Hua Cunqing , Luo Yifeng , Liu Huibo
Published: July 2016

Wireless backhaul is a promising technology to lower the cost for connecting a large number of densely deployed access points in the emerging fifth generation wireless system. In this study, the authors consider the joint optimisation of resource allocation in wireless backhaul links and user‐centric clustering in the access links. The objective is to maximise the weighted sum rate of all users under the backhaul resource constraints. To solve this intractable problem, they first adopt the ℓ1‐norm approximation approach to convert the non‐convex backhaul constraints into the solvable forms. They then reformulate the objective function as a set of second‐order cone constraints based on the sequential parametric convex approximation method. An iterative algorithm is proposed to solve the transformed problem based on its special property. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other existing schemes under different network settings.
Non‐telecommunication based DC line fault detection methodology for meshed HVDC grids
Authors: Troitzsch Constanze , Marten Anne‐K. , Westermann Dirk
Published: July 2016

One of the most challenging aspects regarding realisation of meshed high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) systems is the handling of DC line faults. Due to the specific DC fault current phenomena, AC fault detection and clearance methods are not applicable in meshed HVDC grids. New fault clearing algorithms and equipment need to be developed. Therefore it is necessary to be aware of the DC fault current characteristics. Starting from a travelling wave approach simplifications for fault currents in low – and high impedance earthed DC grids are derived. On this basis, a non‐telecommunication based DC fault detection algorithm is designed. Due to its decentralised implementation, it is very fast acting, reliable and economic in comparison with centralised approaches which are characterised by a parallel telecommunication system. Furthermore it is able to detect pole to pole as well as pole to earth faults in low‐ and high‐impedance earthed DC grid. Finally this fault detection algorithm is validated by numerical case studies.
Overestimation of Mach number due to probe shadow
Authors: Gosselin J. J. , Thakur S. C. , Sears S. H. , McKee J. S. , Scime E. E. , Tynan G. R.
Published: July 2016

Comparisons of the plasma ion flow speed measurements from Mach probes and laser induced fluorescence were performed in the Controlled Shear Decorrelation Experiment. We show the presence of the probe causes a low density geometric shadow downstream of the probe that affects the current density collected by the probe in collisional plasmas if the ion-neutral mean free path is shorter than the probe shadow length, Lg = w2 Vdrift/D⊥, resulting in erroneous Mach numbers. We then present a simple correction term that provides the corrected Mach number from probe data when the sound speed, ion-neutral mean free path, and perpendicular diffusion coefficient of the plasma are known. The probe shadow effect must be taken into account whenever the ion-neutral mean free path is on the order of the probe shadow length in linear devices and the open-field line region of fusion devices.
Mixing with piecewise isometries on a hemispherical shell
Authors: Park Paul P. , Umbanhowar Paul B. , Ottino Julio M. , Lueptow Richard M.
Published: July 2016

We introduce mixing with piecewise isometries (PWIs) on a hemispherical shell, which mimics features of mixing by cutting and shuffling in spherical shells half-filled with granular media. For each PWI, there is an inherent structure on the hemispherical shell known as the exceptional set E, and a particular subset of E, E+, provides insight into how the structure affects mixing. Computer simulations of PWIs are used to visualize mixing and approximations of E+ to demonstrate their connection. While initial conditions of unmixed materials add a layer of complexity, the inherent structure of E+ defines fundamental aspects of mixing by cutting and shuffling.
Stochastic basins of attraction for metastable states
Authors: Serdukova Larissa , Zheng Yayun , Duan Jinqiao , Kurths Jürgen
Published: July 2016

Basin of attraction of a stable equilibrium point is an effective concept for stability analysis in deterministic systems; however, it does not contain information on the external perturbations that may affect it. Here we introduce the concept of stochastic basin of attraction (SBA) by incorporating a suitable probabilistic notion of basin. We define criteria for the size of the SBA based on the escape probability, which is one of the deterministic quantities that carry dynamical information and can be used to quantify dynamical behavior of the corresponding stochastic basin of attraction. SBA is an efficient tool to describe the metastable phenomena complementing the known exit time, escape probability, or relaxation time. Moreover, the geometric structure of SBA gives additional insight into the system's dynamical behavior, which is important for theoretical and practical reasons. This concept can be used not only in models with small noise intensity but also with noise whose amplitude is proportional or in general is a function of an order parameter. As an application of our main results, we analyze a three potential well system perturbed by two types of noise: Brownian motion and non-Gaussian α-stable Lévy motion. Our main conclusions are that the thermal fluctuations stabilize the metastable system with an asymmetric three-well potential but have the opposite effect for a symmetric one. For Lévy noise with larger jumps and lower jump frequencies (α=0.5) metastability is enhanced for both symmetric and asymmetric potentials.
Exploration of CdTe quantum dots as mesoscale pressure sensors via time-resolved shock-compression photoluminescent emission spectroscopy
Authors: Kang Zhitao , Banishev Alexandr A. , Lee Gyuhyon , Scripka David A. , Breidenich Jennifer , Xiao Pan , Christensen James , Zhou Min , Summers Christopher J. , Dlott Dana D. , Thadhani Naresh N.
Published: July 2016

The nanometer size of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and their unique optical properties, including size-tunable narrow photoluminescent emission, broad absorption, fast photoluminescence decay, and negligible light scattering, are ideal features for spectrally tagging the shock response of localized regions in highly heterogeneous materials such as particulate media. In this work, the time-resolved laser-excited photoluminescence response of QDs to shock-compression was investigated to explore their utilization as mesoscale sensors for pressure measurements and in situ diagnostics during shock loading experiments. Laser-driven shock-compression experiments with steady-state shock pressures ranging from 2.0 to 13 GPa were performed on nanocomposite films of CdTe QDs dispersed in a soft polyvinyl alcohol polymer matrix and in a hard inorganic sodium silicate glass matrix. Time-resolved photoluminescent emission spectroscopy was used to correlate photoluminescence changes with the history of shock pressure and the dynamics of the matrix material surrounding the QDs. The results revealed pressure-induced blueshifts in emitted wavelength, decreases in photoluminescent emission intensity, reductions in peak width, and matrix-dependent response times. Data obtained for these QD response characteristics serve as indicators for their use as possible time-resolved diagnostics of the dynamic shock-compression response of matrix materials in which such QDs are embedded as in situ sensors.
On virial analysis at low aspect ratio
Authors: Bongard M. W. , Barr J. L. , Fonck R. J. , Reusch J. A. , Thome K. E.
Published: July 2016

The validity of virial analysis to infer global MHD equilibrium poloidal beta βp and internal inductance ℓi from external magnetics measurements is examined for low aspect ratio configurations with A<2. Numerical equilibrium studies at varied aspect ratio are utilized to validate the technique at finite aspect ratio. The effect of applying high-A approximations to low-A experimental data is quantified and demonstrates significant over-estimation of stored energy (factors of 2–10) in spherical tokamak geometry. Experimental approximations to equilibrium-dependent volume integral terms in the analysis are evaluated at low-A. Highly paramagnetic configurations are found to be inadequately represented through the virial mean radius parameter RT. Alternate formulations for inferring βp and ℓi that are independent of RT to avoid this difficulty are presented for the static isotropic limit. These formulations are suitable for fast estimation of tokamak stored energy components at low aspect ratio using virial analysis.
Localized surface plasmon resonance in graphene nanomesh with Au nanostructures
Authors: Wu Yang , Niu Jing , Danesh Mohammad , Liu Jingbo , Chen Yuanfu , Ke Lin , Qiu Chengwei , Yang Hyunsoo
Published: July 2016

A hybrid structure of a graphene nanomesh with the gold nanodisks is studied to enhance the light absorption by the localized surface plasmon resonance. From the reflection spectra of the visible range for graphene nanomesh samples without and with nanodisks, it is found that the absorption of graphene nanomesh structures is greatly enhanced in the presence of gold nanodisks around the resonance wavelength. Simulation results based on the finite-difference time-domain method support the experimental observations. This study demonstrates the potential of constructing graphene based photodetectors with a high light absorption efficiency and wavelength selectivity.
Induced liquid-crystalline ordering in solutions of stiff and flexible amphiphilic macromolecules: Effect of mixture composition
Authors: Glagolev Mikhail K. , Vasilevskaya Valentina V. , Khokhlov Alexei R.
Published: July 2016

Impact of mixture composition on self-organization in concentrated solutions of stiff helical and flexible macromolecules was studied by means of molecular dynamics simulation. The macromolecules were composed of identical amphiphilic monomer units but a fraction f of macromolecules had stiff helical backbones and the remaining chains were flexible. In poor solvents the compacted flexible macromolecules coexist with bundles or filament clusters from few intertwined stiff helical macromolecules. The increase of relative content f of helical macromolecules leads to increase of the length of helical clusters, to alignment of clusters with each other, and then to liquid-crystalline-like ordering along a single direction. The formation of filament clusters causes segregation of helical and flexible macromolecules and the alignment of the filaments induces effective liquid-like ordering of flexible macromolecules. A visual analysis and calculation of order parameter relaying the anisotropy of diffraction allow concluding that transition from disordered to liquid-crystalline state proceeds sharply at relatively low content of stiff components.