bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Laplacian spectra of a class of small-world networks and their applications
Authors: Liu Hongxiao , Dolgushev Maxim , Qi Yi , Zhang Zhongzhi
Published: March 2015

One of the most crucial domains of interdisciplinary research is the relationship between the dynamics and structural characteristics. In this paper, we introduce a family of small-world networks, parameterized through a variable d controlling the scale of graph completeness or of network clustering. We study the Laplacian eigenvalues of these networks, which are determined through analytic recursive equations. This allows us to analyze the spectra in depth and to determine the corresponding spectral dimension. Based on these results, we consider the networks in the framework of generalized Gaussian structures, whose physical behavior is exemplified on the relaxation dynamics and on the fluorescence depolarization under quasiresonant energy transfer. Although the networks have the same number of nodes (beads) and edges (springs) as the dual Sierpinski gaskets, they display rather different dynamic behavior.
Production of diacetyl by metabolically engineered Enterobacter cloacae
Authors: Zhang Lijie , Zhang Yingxin , Liu Qiuyuan , Meng Liying , Hu Mandong , Lv Min , Li Kun , Gao Chao , Xu Ping , Ma Cuiqing
Published: March 2015

Diacetyl, a high value product that can be extensively used as a food ingredient, could be produced from the non-enzymatic oxidative decarboxylation of α-acetolactate during 2,3-butanediol fermentation. In this study, the 2,3-butanediol biosynthetic pathway in Enterobacter cloacae subsp. dissolvens strain SDM, a good candidate for microbial 2,3-butanediol production, was reconstructed for diacetyl production. To enhance the accumulation of the precursor of diacetyl, the α-acetolactate decarboxylase encoding gene (budA) was knocked out in strain SDM. Subsequently, the two diacetyl reductases DR-I (gdh) and DR-II (budC) encoding genes were inactivated in strain SDM individually or in combination to decrease the reduction of diacetyl. Although the engineered strain E. cloacae SDM (ΔbudAΔbudC) was found to have a good ability for diacetyl production, more α-acetolactate than diacetyl was produced simultaneously. In order to enhance the nonenzymatic oxidative decarboxylation of α-acetolactate to diacetyl, 20 mM Fe3+ was added to the fermentation broth at the optimal time. In the end, by using the metabolically engineered strain E. cloacae SDM (ΔbudAΔbudC), diacetyl at a concentration of 1.45 g/L was obtained with a high productivity (0.13 g/(L·h)). The method developed here may be a promising process for biotechnological production of diacetyl.
Allostery through protein-induced DNA bubbles
Authors: Traverso Joseph J. , Manoranjan Valipuram S. , Bishop A. R. , Rasmussen Kim Ø. , Voulgarakis Nikolaos K.
Published: March 2015

Allostery through DNA is increasingly recognized as an important modulator of DNA functions. Here, we show that the coalescence of protein-induced DNA bubbles can mediate allosteric interactions that drive protein aggregation. We propose that such allostery may regulate DNA's flexibility and the assembly of the transcription machinery. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), a dual-function protein involved in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) packaging and transcription initiation, is an ideal candidate to test such a hypothesis owing to its ability to locally unwind the double helix. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the coalescence of TFAM-induced bubbles can explain experimentally observed TFAM oligomerization. The resulting melted DNA segment, approximately 10 base pairs long, around the joints of the oligomers act as flexible hinges, which explains the efficiency of TFAM in compacting DNA. Since mitochondrial polymerase (mitoRNAP) is involved in melting the transcription bubble, TFAM may use the same allosteric interaction to both recruit mitoRNAP and initiate transcription.
Learning-related brain hemispheric dominance in sleeping songbirds
Authors: Moorman Sanne , Gobes Sharon M. H. , van de Kamp Ferdinand C. , Zandbergen Matthijs A. , Bolhuis Johan J.
Published: March 2015

There are striking behavioural and neural parallels between the acquisition of speech in humans and song learning in songbirds. In humans, language-related brain activation is mostly lateralised to the left hemisphere. During language acquisition in humans, brain hemispheric lateralisation develops as language proficiency increases. Sleep is important for the formation of long-term memory, in humans as well as in other animals, including songbirds. Here, we measured neuronal activation (as the expression pattern of the immediate early gene ZENK) during sleep in juvenile zebra finch males that were still learning their songs from a tutor. We found that during sleep, there was learning-dependent lateralisation of spontaneous neuronal activation in the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), a secondary auditory brain region that is involved in tutor song memory, while there was right hemisphere dominance of neuronal activation in HVC (used as a proper name), a premotor nucleus that is involved in song production and sensorimotor learning. Specifically, in the NCM, birds that imitated their tutors well were left dominant, while poor imitators were right dominant, similar to language-proficiency related lateralisation in humans. Given the avian-human parallels, lateralised neural activation during sleep may also be important for speech and language acquisition in human infants.
Fisetin exerts antihyperalgesic effect in a mouse model of neuropathic pain: engagement of spinal serotonergic system
Authors: Zhao Xin , Wang Chuang , Cui Wu-Geng , Ma Qing , Zhou Wen-Hua
Published: March 2015

Fisetin, a natural flavonoid, has been shown in our previous studies to exert antidepressant-like effect. As antidepressant drugs are clinically used to treat chronic neuropathic pain, this work aimed to investigate the potential antinociceptive efficacies of fisetin against neuropathic pain and explore mechanism(s). We subjected mice to chronic constriction injury (CCI) by loosely ligating the sciatic nerves and Hargreaves test or von Frey test was used to assess thermal hyperalgesia or mechanical allodynia, respectively. Chronic fisetin treatment (5, 15 or 45 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated thermal hyperalgesia (but not mechanical allodynia) in CCI mice, concomitant with escalated levels of spinal monoamines and suppressed monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A activity. The antihyperalgesic action of fisetin was abolished by chemical depletion of spinal serotonin (5-HT) but potentiated by co-treatment with 5-HTP, a precursor of 5-HT. Moreover, intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intrathecal (i.t.) co-treatment with 5-HT7 receptor antagonist SB-258719 completely abrogated fisetin's antihyperalgesia. These findings confirm that chronic fisetin treatment exerts antinociceptive effect on thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic mice, with spinal serotonergic system (coupled with 5-HT7) being critically involved. Of special benefit, fisetin attenuated co-morbidly behavioral symptoms of depression and anxiety (evaluated in forced swim test, novelty suppressed feeding test and light-dark test) evoked by neuropathic pain.
Growth of a deep-water, predatory fish is influenced by the productivity of a boundary current system
Authors: Nguyen Hoang Minh , Rountrey Adam N. , Meeuwig Jessica J. , Coulson Peter G. , Feng Ming , Newman Stephen J. , Waite Anya M. , Wakefield Corey B. , Meekan Mark G.
Published: March 2015

The effects of climate change on predatory fishes in deep shelf areas are difficult to predict because complex processes may govern food availability and temperature at depth. We characterised the net impact of recent environmental changes on hapuku (Polyprion oxygeneios), an apex predator found in continental slope habitats (>200 m depth) by using dendrochronology techniques to develop a multi-decadal record of growth from otoliths. Fish were sampled off temperate south-western Australia, a region strongly influenced by the Leeuwin Current, a poleward-flowing, eastern boundary current. The common variance among individual growth records was relatively low (3.4%), but the otolith chronology was positively correlated (r = 0.61, p < 0.02) with sea level at Fremantle, a proxy for the strength of the Leeuwin Current. The Leeuwin Current influences the primary productivity of shelf ecosystems, with a strong current favouring growth in hapuku. Leeuwin Current strength is predicted to decline under climate change models and this study provides evidence that associated productivity changes may flow through to higher trophic levels even in deep water habitats.
Revealing the cellular localization of STAT1 during the cell cycle by super-resolution imaging
Authors: Gao Jing , Wang Feng , Liu Yanhou , Cai Mingjun , Xu Haijiao , Jiang Junguang , Wang Hongda
Published: March 2015

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) can transduce cytokine signals and regulate gene expression. The cellular localization and nuclear trafficking of STAT1, a representative of the STAT family with multiple transcriptional functions, is tightly related with transcription process, which usually happens in the interphase of the cell cycle. However, these priority questions regarding STAT1 distribution and localization at the different cell-cycle stages remain unclear. By using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), we found that the nuclear expression level of STAT1 increased gradually as the cell cycle carried out, especially after EGF stimulation. Furthermore, STAT1 formed clusters in the whole cell during the cell cycle, with the size and the number of clusters also increasing significantly from G1 to G2 phase, suggesting that transcription and other cell-cycle related activities can promote STAT1 to form more and larger clusters for fast response to signals. Our work reveals that the cellular localization and clustering distribution of STAT1 are associated with the cell cycle and further provides an insight into the mechanism of cell-cycle regulated STAT1 signal transduction.
A Filifactor alocis-centered co-occurrence group associates with periodontitis across different oral habitats
Authors: Chen Hui , Liu Ying , Zhang Menghui , Wang Guoyang , Qi Zhengnan , Bridgewater Laura , Zhao Liping , Tang Zisheng , Pang Xiaoyan
Published: March 2015

Periodontitis is a highly prevalent polymicrobial disease worldwide, yet the synergistic pattern of the multiple oral pathogens involved is still poorly characterized. Here, saliva, supragingival and subgingival plaque samples from periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy volunteers were collected and profiled with 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Different oral habitats harbored significantly different microbiota and segregation of microbiota composition between periodontitis and health was observed as well. Two-step redundancy analysis identified twenty-one OTUs, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia and Filifactor alocis, as potential pathogens that were significantly associated with periodontitis and with two periodontitis diagnostic parameters (pocket depth and attachment loss) in both saliva and supragingival plaque habitats. Interestingly, pairwise correlation analysis among the 21 OTUs revealed that Filifactor alocis was positively correlated with seven other putative pathogens (R > 0.6, P < 0.05), forming a co-occurrence group that was remarkably enriched in all three habitats of periodontitis patients. This bacterial cluster showed a higher diagnostic value for periodontitis than did any individual potential pathogens, especially in saliva. Thus, our study identified a potential synergistic ecological pattern involving eight co-infecting pathogens across various oral habitats, providing a new framework for understanding the etiology of periodontitis and developing new diagnoses and therapies.
Rightward-biased hemodynamic response of the parahippocampal system during virtual navigation
Authors: Baker Travis E. , Umemoto Akina , Krawitz Adam , Holroyd Clay B.
Published: March 2015

Phase reset of parahippocampal electrophysiological oscillations in the theta frequency range is said to contribute to item encoding and retrieval during spatial navigation. Although well-studied in non-human animals, this mechanism is poorly understood in humans. Previously we found that feedback stimuli presented in a virtual maze environment elicited a burst of theta power over right-posterior areas of the human scalp and that the power and phase angle of these oscillations were greater following right turns compared to left turns in the maze. Here we investigated the source of this effect with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Consistent with our predictions, we found that 1) feedback encountered in the maze task activated right parahippocampal cortex (PHC), 2) right PHC was more activated by rewards following right turns compared to left turns in the maze and 3) the rightward-biased activation was more pronounced in individuals who displayed good spatial abilities. These findings support our previous electrophysiological findings and highlight, in humans, a role for PHC theta oscillations in encoding salient information for the purpose of spatial navigation.
PERK silence inhibits glioma cell growth under low glucose stress by blockage of p-AKT and subsequent HK2's mitochondria translocation
Authors: Hou Xu , Liu Yaohua , Liu Huailei , Chen Xin , Liu Min , Che Hui , Guo Fei , Wang Chunlei , Zhang Daming , Wu Jianing , Chen Xiaofeng , Shen Chen , Li Chenguang , Peng Fei , Bi Yunke , Yang Zhuowen , Yang Guang , Ai Jing , Gao Xin , Zhao Shiguang
Published: March 2015

Glioma relies on glycolysis to obtain energy and sustain its survival under low glucose microenvironment in vivo. The mechanisms on glioma cell glycolysis regulation are still unclear. Signaling mediated by Double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) – like ER kinase (PERK) is one of the important pathways of unfolded protein response (UPR) which is comprehensively activated in cancer cells upon the hypoxic and low glucose stress. Here we show that PERK is significantly activated in human glioma tissues. PERK silencing results in decreased glioma cell viability and ATP/lactate production upon low glucose stress, which is mediated by partially blocked AKT activation and subsequent inhibition of Hexokinase II (HK2)'s mitochondria translocation. More importantly, PERK silenced glioma cells show decreased tumor formation capacity. Our results reveal that PERK activation is involved in glioma glycolysis regulation and may be a potential molecular target for glioma treatment.
Shot-noise Limited Faraday Rotation Spectroscopy for Detection of Nitric Oxide Isotopes in Breath, Urine and Blood
Authors: Wang Yin , Nikodem Michal , Zhang Eric , Cikach Frank , Barnes Jarrod , Comhair Suzy , Dweik Raed A. , Kao Christina , Wysocki Gerard
Published: March 2015

Measurement of NO and/or its metabolites in the various body compartments has transformed our understanding of biology. The inability of the current NO measurement methods to account for naturally occurring and experimental NO isotopes, however, has prevented the scientific community from fully understating NO metabolism in vivo. Here we present a mid-IR Faraday rotation spectrometer (FRS) for detection of NO isotopes. The instrument utilizes a novel dual modulation/demodulation (DM) FRS method which exhibits noise performance at only 2 times the fundamental quantum shot-noise level and provides the record sensitivity in its class. This is achieved with a system that is fully autonomous, robust, transportable and does not require cryogenic cooling. The DM-FRS enables continuous monitoring of nitric oxide isotopes with the detection limits of 3.72 ppbv/Hz1/2 to14NO and 0.53 ppbv/Hz1/2 to15NO using only 45 cm active optical path. This DM-FRS measurement method can be used to improve the performance of conventional FRS sensors targeting other radical species. The feasibility of the instrument to perform measurements relevant to studies of NO metabolism in humans is demonstrated.
Lipidomic-based investigation into the regulatory effect of Schisandrin B on palmitic acid level in non-alcoholic steatotic livers
Authors: Kwan Hiu Yee , Niu Xuyan , Dai Wenlin , Tong Tiejun , Chao Xiaojuan , Su Tao , Chan Chi Leung , Lee Kim Chung , Fu Xiuqiong , Yi Hua , Yu Hua , Li Ting , Tse Anfernee Kai Wing , Fong Wang Fun , Pan Si-Yuan , Lu Aiping , Yu Zhi-Ling
Published: March 2015

Schisandrin B (SchB) is one of the most abundant bioactive dibenzocyclooctadiene derivatives found in the fruit of Schisandra chinensis. Here, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of SchB on non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD). In lipidomic study, ingenuity pathway analysis highlighted palmitate biosynthesis metabolic pathway in the liver samples of SchB-treated high-fat-diet-fed mice. Further experiments showed that the SchB treatment reduced expression and activity of fatty acid synthase, expressions of hepatic mature sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α and hepatic level of palmitic acid which is known to promote progression of steatosis to steatohepatitis. Furthermore, the treatment also reduced hepatic fibrosis, activated nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor-2 which is known to attenuate the progression of NASH-related fibrosis. Interestingly, in fasting mice, a single high-dose SchB induced transient lipolysis and increased the expressions of adipose triglyceride lipase and phospho-hormone sensitive lipase. The treatment also increased plasma cholesterol levels and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity, reduced the hepatic low-density-lipoprotein receptor expression in these mice. Our data not only suggest SchB is a potential therapeutic agent for NAFLD, but also provided important information for a safe consumption of SchB because SchB overdosed under fasting condition will have adverse effects on lipid metabolism.
Nano-enabled bioanalytical approaches to ultrasensitive detection of low abundance single nucleotide polymorphisms
Authors: Lapitan Jr. Lorico D. S. , Guo Yuan , Zhou Dejian
Published: March 2015

A survey of the recent, significant developments on nanomaterials enabled ultrasensitive DNA and gene mutation assays is presented.
Projections of on-farm salinity in coastal Bangladesh
Authors: Clarke D. , Williams S. , Jahiruddin M. , Parks K. , Salehin M.
Published: March 2015

Salty soil in Bangladesh.
PerFlexMEA: a thin microporous microelectrode array for in vitro cardiac electrophysiological studies on hetero-cellular bilayers with controlled gap junction communication
Authors: Mondal A. , Baker B. , Harvey I. R. , Moreno A. P.
Published: March 2015

Micropores in the ultra-thin parylene membrane limit myocyte–nonmyocyte interactions without transmembrane cell migration. Microelectrodes record field potentials for computing electrical conduction of the myocyte layer.
Synthesis of bisarylethyne–peptide conjugates
Authors: Strack Martin , Langklotz Sina , Bandow Julia E. , Metzler-Nolte Nils , Bauke Albada H.
Published: March 2015

Convenient preparation of bisarylethyne–peptide conjugates, and a mild procedure for the H- or D-reduction of the bisarylethyne triple bond.
Graphene as a template and structural scaffold for the synthesis of a 3D porous bio-adsorbent to remove antibiotics from water
Authors: Zhuang Yuan , Yu Fei , Ma Jie , Chen Junhong
Published: March 2015

Graphene acts as a template for protein to form biopolymer aerogels which can be used in adsorption.
A high rate Li-rich layered MNC cathode material for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Ates Mehmet Nurullah , Mukerjee Sanjeev , Abraham K. M.
Published: March 2015

Morphology-driven Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.14Co0.06O2with excellent cycling stability.
All-solid-state flexible supercapacitors by fast laser annealing of printed metal nanoparticle layers
Authors: Lee Habeom , Hong Sukjoon , Kwon Jinhyeong , Suh Young D. , Lee Jinhwan , Moon Hyunjin , Yeo Junyeob , Ko Seung Hwan
Published: March 2015

A flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor was demonstrated with a flexible Ag nanoparticle current collector prepared by an R2R printed and laser annealing process.
Enhanced chitosan–DNA interaction by 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane coupling for an efficient transfection in cancer cells
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Garg Pankaj , Pandey Shambhavi , Kumari Mridula , Hoon Seonwoo , Jang Kyoung-Je , Kapavarapu Ravikumar , Choung Pill-Hoon , Sobral Abilio J. F. N. , Hoon Chung Jong
Published: March 2015

Chitosan modification by AMP increases its interaction with DNA leading to a higher DNA delivery in to the cancer cell.
Voltammetric determination of ciprofloxacin in urine samples and its interaction with dsDNA on a cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode
Authors: Garbellini Gustavo Stoppa , Rocha-Filho Romeu C. , Fatibello-Filho Orlando
Published: March 2015

A cathodically pretreated boron-doped diamond electrode is successfully used to determine ciprofloxacin (CIP) by differential pulse voltammetry and to infer the type of binding of CIP to DNA by square-wave voltammetry.
Water proton NMR—a sensitive probe for solute association
Authors: Feng Yue , Taraban Marc B. , Yu Yihua Bruce
Published: March 2015

The transverse relaxation rate of water protons,R2(H2O), can quantify solute association, such as protein aggregation and micelle assembly.
Metal-free nitro-carbocyclization of 1,6-enynes with tBuONO and TEMPO
Authors: Hao Xin-Hua , Gao Pin , Song Xian-Rong , Qiu Yi-Feng , Jin Dong-Po , Liu Xue-Yuan , Liang Yong-Min
Published: March 2015

A novel and convenient metal-free nitration and cyclization of 1,6-enynes has been developed.
Two-step naked-eye detection of lectin by hierarchical organization of soft nanotubes into liquid crystal and gel phases
Authors: Kameta Naohiro , Masuda Mitsutoshi , Shimizu Toshimi
Published: March 2015

Depending on the concentration of a lectin analyte, soft nanotubes, bearing recognition sites on the outer surface, hierarchically organized into naked-eye-detectable liquid crystals (LC) and hydrogels.
Expanding the scope of strained-alkyne chemistry: a protection–deprotection strategy via the formation of a dicobalt–hexacarbonyl complex
Authors: Gobbo Pierangelo , Romagnoli Tommaso , Barbon Stephanie M. , Price Jacquelyn T. , Keir Jennifer , Gilroy Joe B. , Workentin Mark S.
Published: March 2015

A protection–deprotection strategy for strained alkynes is reported. A strained alkyne can be protected with dicobalt–octacarbonyl and we demonstrate for the first time that the a strained alkyne can be re-formed and isolated under mild conditions for further bioorthogonal reactivity.
Unconventional resistive switching behavior in ferroelectric tunnel junctions
Authors: Mao H. J. , Song C. , Xiao L. R. , Gao S. , Cui B. , Peng J. J. , Li F. , Pan F.
Published: March 2015

An unconventional resistive switching behavior is observed in ferroelectric tunnel junctions, which builds a bridge between ferroelectric tunnel junctions and resistive random access memory devices.
UV spectroscopy of cold ions as a probe of the protonation site
Authors: Féraud Géraldine , Esteves-López Natalia , Dedonder-Lardeux Claude , Jouvet Christophe
Published: March 2015

Where does the proton go?
Effect of potassium precursors on the thermal stability of K-promoted Ru/carbon catalysts for ammonia synthesis
Authors: Lin Bingyu , Qi Yanchao , Guo Yunjie , Lin Jianxin , Ni Jun
Published: March 2015

The effect of K precursors on the stability of K-promoted Ru/carbon catalysts for ammonia synthesis was studied.
Boron nitride coated rhodium black for stable production of syngas
Authors: Chien Andrew C. , van Bokhoven Jeroen A.
Published: March 2015

A blanket of boron nitride grown by CVD stablizes rhodium black for syngas production in methane oxidation and avoid agglomeration of metal particle by carbon deposition.
SnGa2GeS6: synthesis, structure, linear and nonlinear optical properties
Authors: Lin Zuohong , Li Chao , Kang Lei , Lin Zheshuai , Yao Jiyong , Wu Yicheng
Published: March 2015

SnGa2GeS6possesses a powder second harmonic generation response and a band gap of 2.04 eV.
A tetranuclear arylstibonic acid with an adamantane type structure
Authors: Brünig Julian , Hupf Emanuel , Lork Enno , Mebs Stefan , Beckmann Jens
Published: March 2015

Base hydrolysis of an intramolecularly coordinated arylantimony tetrachloride is the key to the preparation a well-defined arylstibonic acid having an adamantane type structure.
An ionic liquid-based synergistic extraction strategy for rare earths
Authors: Zhu Menghao , Zhao Junmei , Li Yingbo , Mehio Nada , Qi Yuruo , Liu Huizhou , Dai Sheng
Published: March 2015

A sustainable IL-based synergistic extraction system for rare earth nitrates shows improved extraction selectivity and good physical properties.
Substrate-bound growth of Au–Pd diblock nanowire and hybrid nanorod–plate
Authors: He Jiating , Wang Yawen , Fan Zhanxi , Lam Zhenhui , Zhang Hua , Liu Bin , Chen Hongyu
Published: March 2015

The Active Surface Growth mechanism provides a versatile platform for the growth of substrate-bound Au–Pd diblock nanowires and hybrid nanorod–plate.
A nanoglass alloying immiscible Fe and Cu at the nanoscale
Authors: Chen Na , Wang Di , Feng Tao , Kruk Robert , Yao Ke-Fu , Louzguine-Luzgin Dmitri V. , Hahn Horst , Gleiter Herbert
Published: March 2015

Synthesized from ultrafine particles with a bottom-up approach, nanoglasses are of particular importance in pursuing unique properties. From different kinds of nanoglasses with immiscible metals, nanoglass alloys are created, which may open an avenue to an entirely new world of solid solutions. These new solid solutions are likely to have properties that are yet unknown in today's alloys.
Intramolecular direct aldol reactions of sugar 2,7-diketones: syntheses of hydroxylated cycloalka(e)nones
Authors: Shing Tony K. M. , Cheng Hau M.
Published: March 2015

A regio- and stereoselective intramolecular direct aldol reaction of 2,7-diketones derived from carbohydrates has been developed to construct cycloalkanones 7, which were dehydrated to obtain heavily oxygenated cycloalkenones 8.
Accessible protocol for asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes using formaldehyde
Authors: Morimoto Tsumoru , Fujii Tetsuji , Miyoshi Kota , Makado Gouki , Tanimoto Hiroki , Nishiyama Yasuhiro , Kakiuchi Kiyomi
Published: March 2015

The rhodium(i)/chiral Ph-bpe-catalyzed reaction of vinylarenes with formaldehyde provides an accessible protocol for asymmetric hydroformylation to enantioenriched aldehydes in high yields.
Synthesis of cadmium oxide and carbon nanotube based nanocomposites and their use as a sensing interface for xanthine detection
Authors: Jain U. , Narang J. , Rani K. , Burna Burna , Sunny Sunny , Chauhan N.
Published: March 2015

Xanthine oxidase (XOD) was immobilized covalentlyviacarbodiimide chemistry onto cadmium oxide nanoparticles (CdO)/carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotube (c-MWCNT) composite film electrodeposited onto Au electrode.
Iodine-induced synthesis of sulfonate esters from sodium sulfinates and phenols under mild conditions
Authors: Gao Jian , Pan Xiaojun , Liu Juan , Lai Junyi , Chang Liming , Yuan Gaoqing
Published: March 2015

A facile and highly efficient method for the synthesis of sulfonate esters mediated by iodine at room temperature has been developed, without transition metal catalysts and oxidants.
Multilayer fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles with dual thermoresponsive and pH-sensitive polymeric nanolayers as anti-cancer drug carriers
Authors: Torkpur-Biglarianzadeh Maziar , Salami-Kalajahi Mehdi
Published: March 2015

Fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles with dual thermoresponsive and pH-sensitive polymeric nanolayers as anti-cancer drug carriers.
Role of novel silicon nanoparticles in luminescence detection of a family of antibiotics
Authors: Lin Jintai , Wang Qianming
Published: March 2015

The design, synthesis, photophysical properties and practical application of fluorescent silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) of a quantum-size (∼3 nm) have been studied.
pH/redox dual-sensitive nanoparticles based on the PCL/PEG triblock copolymer for enhanced intracellular doxorubicin release
Authors: Cao Yan , Zhao Junqiang , Zhang Yumin , Liu Jianfeng , Liu Jinjian , Dong Anjie , Deng Liandong
Published: March 2015

Acid/redox-dual sensitivities of nanoparticles based on PEG/PCL enhance the intracellular drug release of cancer cells.
Copolymers from epoxidized soybean oil and lactic acid oligomers for pressure-sensitive adhesives
Authors: Li Yonghui , Wang Donghai , Sun Xiuzhi Susan
Published: March 2015

Corn based lactic acid oligomers and soybean based epoxidized oil were copolymerized under UV irradiation for biobased pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA).
Effect of Pt doping on the gas sensing properties of porous chromium oxide films through a kinetic response analysis approach
Authors: Kamble Vinayak B. , Umarji Arun M.
Published: March 2015

The kinetic model fitting of response transients of (a) undoped (CH) and (b) 1% Pt doped (CHPt) Cr2O3 films for 1000 ppm of ethanol vapors at various temperatures.
Fast synthesis of submicron all-silica CHA zeolite particles using a seeding method
Authors: Zhang Jianming , Liu Xiangyan , Li Meng , Liu Chen , Hu Deng , Zeng Gaofeng , Zhang Yanfeng , Sun Yuhan
Published: March 2015

Ultra-fast synthesis of all-silica CHA zeolite was achieved using a seeding method.
Preparation of (substituted) picenes via solar light-induced Mallory photocyclization
Authors: Protti Stefano , Artioli Gianluca A. , Capitani Francesco , Marini Carlo , Dore Paolo , Postorino Paolo , Malavasi Lorenzo , Fagnoni Maurizio
Published: March 2015

(Substituted) picenes were obtained via photocyclization of dinaphthylethenes by a solar light-induced Mallory reaction. Picene (R = H) was characterized by means of Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses.
Synergistic toughening of bioinspired artificial nacre by polystyrene grafted graphene oxide
Authors: Wu Yanhong , Cao Rui , Ji Liangliang , Huang Weichun , Yang Xiaoming , Tu Yingfeng
Published: March 2015

A biologically inspired, multilayer laminate structural design is deployed in composite films of polystyrene (PS) grafted graphene oxide (GO) synthesized by a Ce(iv)/HNO3 redox system in aqueous solution.
Locked nucleic acid modified bi-specific aptamer-targeted nanoparticles carrying survivin antagonist towards effective colon cancer therapy
Authors: Roy Kislay , Kanwar Rupinder K. , Antonio Cheung Chun Hei , Lee Fleming Cassandra , Veedu Rakesh N. , Krishnakumar Subramanian , Kanwar Jagat R.
Published: March 2015

EpCAM and nucleolin translocate into the cytoplasm and nucleus that facilitates enhanced uptake of nanocarrier to specifically target cancer cells.
Characterization of phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. rhizomes and roots
Authors: Martins Natália , Barros Lillian , Dueñas Montserrat , Santos-Buelga Celestino , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R.
Published: March 2015

The present work aims to characterize and quantify the phenolic composition and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (commonly known as licorice) rhizomes and roots.
Correction: Novel dextran/graphene oxide composite material as a sorbent for solid-phase microextraction of polar aromatic compounds
Authors: Hou Xiudan , Tang Sheng , Guo Yong , Liu Shujuan , Li Jubai , Wang Licheng , Liu Xia
Published: March 2015

Correction for ‘Novel dextran/graphene oxide composite material as a sorbent for solid-phase microextraction of polar aromatic compounds’ by Xiudan Hou et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 21720–21727.
Room-temperature crystallization of hybrid-perovskite thin films via solvent–solvent extraction for high-performance solar cells
Authors: Zhou Yuanyuan , Yang Mengjin , Wu Wenwen , Vasiliev Alexander L. , Zhu Kai , Padture Nitin P.
Published: March 2015

A simple one-step solvent-bathing process based on solvent–solvent extraction, is demonstrated for the controlled room-temperature crystallization of uniform, ultra-smooth hybrid-perovskite thin films for high-efficiency solar cells.
In situ studies of the molecular packing dynamics of bulk-heterojunction solar cells induced by the processing additive 1-chloronaphthalene
Authors: Kwon Sooncheol , Park Jin Kuen , Kim Jehan , Kim Geunjin , Yu Kilho , Lee Jinho , Jo Yong-Ryun , Kim Bong-Joong , Kang Hongkyu , Kim Junghwan , Kim Heejoo , Lee Kwanghee
Published: March 2015

In situGIWAXS was used to monitor the molecular packing dynamics and phase separation of bulk-heterojunction composites with a processing additive 1-chloronaphthalene.
Flexible thermistors: pulsed laser-induced liquid-phase sintering of spinel Mn–Co–Ni oxide films on polyethylene terephthalate sheets
Authors: Nakajima Tomohiko , Tsuchiya Tetsuo
Published: March 2015

Flexible Co and Ni doped Mn3O4 spinel oxide thermistors with a high B constant and quick response.
Articulatory-to-Acoustic Relations in Talkers With Dysarthria: A First Analysis
Authors: Mefferd Antje
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the strength of interspeaker and intraspeaker articulatory-to-acoustic relations of vowel contrast produced by talkers with dysarthria and controls.

Methods

Six talkers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), six talkers with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 12 controls repeated a sentence at typical, slow, and fast rates. Tongue displacements and acoustic vowel distances were measured to determine articulatory and acoustic vowel contrasts.

Results

Interspeaker articulatory-to-acoustic relations were strong for talkers with PD and controls but weak for talkers with ALS and controls. Further, predominantly moderate and strong intraspeaker articulatory-to-acoustic relations were found in response to rate modulations; however, correlation coefficients were significantly lower in talkers with ALS than in controls.

Conclusions

The findings on interspeaker articulatory-to-acoustic relations suggested that the degree of tongue displacement can be accurately inferred from the degree of acoustic vowel contrast in talkers with PD but not in talkers with ALS. Findings on intraspeaker articulatory-to-acoustic relations generally supported the longstanding notion that speaking rate–induced changes in tongue displacement evoke similar changes in acoustic vowel contrast. Differential effects of the pathophysiology on inter- and intraspeaker articulatory-to-acoustic relations are discussed.
Counselling and mental health nursing: a qualitative study
Authors: Stickley T.
Published: March 2015

The author draws upon his experience of training, practising and teaching both counselling and mental health nursing in order to examine the relevance of counselling skills training to mental health nurses. The qualitative study reported in this paper elicits the feelings and thoughts of five mental health nurses about their attitude towards individual counselling work with mental health clients. It is asserted that newly qualified mental health nurses may feel inadequately prepared for this aspect of their work and they may also feel inadequately supported. Additional counselling training may help equip mental health nurses for the skills they need to work within the therapeutic relationship. By not providing adequate counselling skills training, mental health nurse educators may contribute to a cycle of incompetence. Training methods are identified that may enhance nurse training and help promote competence and confidence for the newly qualified nurse.
Resource allocation in integrated femto–macrocell networks based on location awareness
Authors: Kalbkhani Hashem , Solouk Vahid , Shayesteh Mahrokh G.
Published: March 2015

This study presents an efficient fractional frequency reuse scheme for macrocell network which uses six directional antennas to cover the outer region and analyses the performance. Cross‐tier interference between macrocell and femtocell networks leading to throughput and outage probability degradation is a major issue in two‐tier networks when femtocells are deployed in co‐channel with macrocells. In this study, the received interference from the macrocell network to femtocell network is analysed. Then, based on the degree of received interference, an algorithm for orthogonal resource allocation to femtocells with low cross‐tier interference is presented. According to the introduced scheme, macrocell uses all resource blocks along with a portion of the spectrum allocated to femtocell while both networks operate simultaneously. Closed‐form expressions for downlink throughput and outage probability of femtocells are also attained as well as the throughput of macrocell network. The results demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical cellular network achieves higher throughput and lower outage probability for femtocell when compared to other hierarchical macro–femto cellular networks.
On capacity region of certain classes of three‐receiver broadcast channels with side information
Authors: Bahrami Sajjad , Abed Hodtani Ghosheh
Published: March 2015

The fact that the results for 2‐receiver broadcast channels (BCs) are not generalised to the 3‐receiver ones is of information theoretical importance. In this study, the authors study two classes of discrete memoryless BCs with non‐causal side information, that is, multilevel BC (MBC) and 3‐receiver less noisy BC. First, they obtain an achievable rate region and a capacity outer bound for the MBC. Second, they provide the capacity region for a special class of 3‐receiver less noisy BC. Third, the obtained special capacity region for the 3‐receiver less noisy BC is evaluated for the continuous alphabet fading Gaussian version. It is worth mentioning that the previous works are special cases of the authors works.
Synthesis of New 3-[(Alkylthio)methyl]-1-hydroxy-2-phenylindoles
Authors: Lee Sang , Kim Hyejin , Park Yeon , Cho Hyunsung
Published: March 2015

The syntheses of new 3-[(alkylthio)methyl]-1-hydroxy-2-phenylindoles are presented. The substrates, obtained by efficient three-step synthesis, were treated with various thiol nucleophiles in the presence of SnCl2·2H2O to provide target compounds, through the consecutive processes of reduction, condensation, and addition in one pot. The mechanistic studies on reaction pathways and the involved intermediates are described.
Efficiency enhancement of a harmonic lasing free-electron laser
Authors: Salehi E. , Maraghechi B. , Mirian N. S.
Published: March 2015

The harmonic lasing free-electron laser amplifier, in which two wigglers is employed in order for the fundamental resonance of the second wiggler to coincide with the third harmonic of the first wiggler to generate ultraviolet radiation, is studied. A set of coupled nonlinear first-order differential equations describing the nonlinear evolution of the system, for a long electron bunch, is solved numerically by CYRUS code. Solutions for the non-averaged and averaged equations are compared. Remarkable agreement is found between the averaged and non-averaged simulations for the evolution of the third harmonic. Thermal effects in the form of longitudinal velocity spread are also investigated. For efficiency enhancement, the second wiggler field is set to decrease linearly and nonlinearly at the point where the radiation of the third harmonic saturates. The optimum starting point and the slope of the tapering of the amplitude of the wiggler are found by a successive run of the code. It is found that tapering can increase the saturated power of the third harmonic considerably. In order to reduce the length of the wiggler, the prebunched electron beam is considered.
Study of magnetic domain evolution in an auxetic plane of Galfenol using Kerr microscopy
Authors: Raghunath Ganesh , Flatau Alison B.
Published: March 2015

Galfenol (FexGa100−x), a magnetostrictive alloy (3/2λ 110–400 ppm) of Iron and Gallium exhibits an in-plane auxetic response in the ⟨110⟩ crystallographic direction. Negative Poisson's ratios have been observed in response to application of stress fields, where values of as low as −0.7 have been reported for compositions of greater than roughly 20% Ga [Zhang et al., J. Appl. Phys. 108(2), 023513 (2010)] and in response to application of magnetic fields, where values of as low as −2.5 have been reported to be expected for compositions of less than roughly 20% Ga [G. Raghunath and A. B. Flatau, IEEE Trans. Magn. (in press)]. Several models have been proposed to understand these two distinct phenomena. Galfenol samples with less than 20% Ga also exhibit an unusual response to an increasing magnetic field applied along the ⟨110⟩ direction. The longitudinal strain which increases initially with applied field experiences a dip (until ∼10 mT) before increasing again to reach saturation. The transverse strain increases and reaches a maximum value (at the same field of ∼10 mT) and then drops from the maximum by 5%–10% as magnetic saturation is approached [G. Raghunath and A. B. Flatau, IEEE Trans. Magn. (in press)].This work deals with discussing the evolution of magnetic domains in a 16 at. % Ga single crystal Galfenol sample when subjected to magnetic fields in the ⟨110⟩ direction in the (100) plane. The magnetic domains on the surface of mechanically polished Galfenol samples were imaged using Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect microscopy. Simultaneously, the strains along the longitudinal and transverse ⟨110⟩ directions were recorded using a bi-directional strain gauge rosette mounted on the unpolished bottom surface of the planar samples. The energy from the applied magnetic field is expected to grow the ⟨110⟩ oriented domains at the expense of domains oriented along all other directions. But since the plane has an easy ⟨100⟩ axis, we expect the domains to orient along the easy direction before saturating along the applied magnetic field direction. A correlation between the images recorded and the strains observed will be used to understand this shift of domains and bump in strain at low fields.
Motion of test particles in a regular black hole space–time
Authors: García Alberto , Hackmann Eva , Kunz Jutta , Lämmerzahl Claus , Macías Alfredo
Published: March 2015

We consider the motion of test particles in the regular black hole space-time given by Ayón-Beato and García [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5056 (1998)]. The complete set of orbits for neutral and weakly charged test particles is discussed, including for neutral particles the extreme and over-extreme metric. We also derive the analytical solutions for the equation of motion of neutral test particles in a parametric form and consider a post-Schwarzschild expansion of the periastron shift to second order in the charge.
Electrostatically transparent graphene quantum-dot trap layers for efficient nonvolatile memory
Authors: Kim Young Rae , Jo Yong Eun , Shin Yong Seon , Kang Won Tae , Sung Yeo Hyun , Won Ui Yeon , Lee Young Hee , Yu Woo Jong
Published: March 2015

In this study, we have demonstrated nonvolatile memory devices using graphene quantum-dots (GQDs) trap layers with indium zinc oxide (IZO) semiconductor channel. The Fermi-level of GQD was effectively modulated by tunneling electrons near the Dirac point because of limited density of states and weak electrostatic screening in monolayer graphene. As a result, large gate modulation was driven in IZO channel to achieve a subthreshold swing of 5.21 V/dec (300 nm SiO2 gate insulator), while Au quantum-dots memory shows 15.52 V/dec because of strong electrostatic screening in metal quantum-dots. Together, discrete charge traps of GQDs enable stable performance in the endurance test beyond 800 cycles of programming and erasing. Our study suggests the exciting potential of GQD trap layers to be used for a highly promising material in non-volatile memory devices.
Theory vs. experiment for molecular clusters: Spectra of OCS trimers and tetramers
Authors: Evangelisti Luca , Perez Cristobal , Seifert Nathan A. , Pate Brooks H. , Dehghany M. , Moazzen-Ahmadi N. , McKellar A. R. W.
Published: March 2015

All singly substituted 13C, 18O, and 34S isotopomers of the previously known OCS trimer are observed in natural abundance in a broad-band spectrum measured with a chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The complete substitution structure thus obtained critically tests (and confirms) the common assumption that monomers tend to retain their free structure in a weakly bound cluster. A new OCS trimer isomer is also observed, and its structure is determined to be barrel-shaped but with the monomers all approximately aligned, in contrast to the original trimer which is barrel-shaped with two monomers aligned and one anti-aligned. An OCS tetramer spectrum is assigned for the first time, and the tetramer structure resembles an original trimer with an OCS monomer added at the end with two sulfur atoms. Infrared spectra observed in the region of the OCS ν1 fundamental (≈2060 cm−1) are assigned to the same OCS tetramer, and another infrared band is tentatively assigned to a different tetramer isomer. The experimental results are compared and contrasted with theoretical predictions from the literature and from new cluster calculations which use an accurate OCS pair potential and assume pairwise additivity.
Temporal evolution of instantaneous phonons in time-dependent harmonic oscillators
Authors: Yang Zhenshan
Published: March 2015

We study a time-dependent harmonic oscillator based on the dynamics of instantaneous phonons, which have obvious physical meaning and direct experimental relevance. We find simple analytic solutions for an important class of evolution and identify two parameter-changing-rate regimes with qualitatively different oscillator behaviors. We show that rapid adiabatic processes are possible if the frequency and the mass of the oscillator change in opposite directions. The state vector in the Schrödinger picture is handily achieved by use of the eigenstates of the instantaneous phonon operators that are analytically known for arbitrary frequency and mass values.
Manipulation of polystyrene nanoparticles on a silicon wafer in the peak force tapping mode in water: pH-dependent friction and adhesion force
Authors: Schiwek Simon , Heim Lars-Oliver , Stark Robert W. , Dietz Christian
Published: March 2015

The friction force between nanoparticles and a silicon wafer is a crucial parameter for cleaning processes in the semiconductor industry. However, little is known about the pH-dependency of the friction forces and the shear strength at the interface. Here, we push polystyrene nanoparticles, 100 nm in diameter, with the tip of an atomic force microscope and measure the pH-dependency of the friction, adhesion, and normal forces on a silicon substrate covered with a native silicon dioxide layer. The peak force tapping mode was applied to control the vertical force on these particles. We successively increased the applied load until the particles started to move. The main advantage of this technique over single manipulation processes is the achievement of a large number of manipulation events in short time and in a straightforward manner. Geometrical considerations of the interaction forces at the tip-particle interface allowed us to calculate the friction force and shear strength from the applied normal force depending on the pH of an aqueous solution. The results clearly demonstrated that particle removal should be performed with a basic solution at pH 9 because of the low interaction forces between particle and substrate.
Systematic investigation on in-plane anisotropy of surface and buried channel mobility of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors on Si-, a-, and m-face 4H-SiC
Authors: Ariyoshi K. , Iijima R. , Harada S. , Kojima K. , Senzaki J. , Tanaka Y. , Takao K. , Shinohe T.
Published: March 2015

We have systematically investigated the channel mobility of the 4H-SiC MOSFETs with surface and buried channels in different directions on Si-, a-, and m-faces. We have found that, on a- and m-faces, the in-plane anisotropy of the surface channel mobility is different from that of the buried channel mobility. It has been demonstrated that this anomalous anisotropic behavior can be observed regardless of the gate oxide processes. These results suggest that the dependence of scattering mechanisms or effective masses of carriers on crystal orientations may be modulated near the oxide/SiC interface.