bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Erratum: Exposure to a youthful circulation rejuvenates bone repair through modulation of β-catenin
Authors: Baht Gurpreet S. , Silkstone David , Vi Linda , Nadesan Puviindran , Amani Yasha , Whetstone Heather , Wei Qingxia , Alman Benjamin A.
Published: August 2015

Nature Communications 6, Article number: 7131 (2015); Published 19 May 2015; Updated: 26 August 2015. The original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of circulation in the title of the paper, and in Fig. 1e, a scale bar and arrows were inadvertently omitted. These errors havenow been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article.
Coupling of lysosomal and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization in trypanolysis by APOL1
Authors: Vanwalleghem Gilles , Fontaine Frédéric , Lecordier Laurence , Tebabi Patricia , Klewe Kristoffer , Nolan Derek P. , Yamaryo-Botté Yoshiki , Botté Cyrille , Kremer Anneke , Burkard Gabriela Schumann , Rassow Joachim , Roditi Isabel , Pérez-Morga David , Pays Etienne
Published: August 2015

Humans resist infection by the African parasite Trypanosoma brucei owing to the trypanolytic activity of the serum apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1). Following uptake by endocytosis in the parasite, APOL1 forms pores in endolysosomal membranes and triggers lysosome swelling. Here we show that APOL1 induces both lysosomal and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (LMP and MMP). Trypanolysis coincides with MMP and consecutive release of the mitochondrial TbEndoG endonuclease to the nucleus. APOL1 is associated with the kinesin TbKIFC1, of which both the motor and vesicular trafficking VHS domains are required for MMP, but not for LMP. The presence of APOL1 in the mitochondrion is accompanied by mitochondrial membrane fenestration, which can be mimicked by knockdown of a mitochondrial mitofusin-like protein (TbMFNL). The BH3-like peptide of APOL1 is required for LMP, MMP and trypanolysis. Thus, trypanolysis by APOL1 is linked to apoptosis-like MMP occurring together with TbKIFC1-mediated transport of APOL1 from endolysosomal membranes to the mitochondrion.
Chamber identity programs drive early functional partitioning of the heart
Authors: Mosimann Christian , Panáková Daniela , Werdich Andreas A. , Musso Gabriel , Burger Alexa , Lawson Katy L. , Carr Logan A. , Nevis Kathleen R. , Sabeh M. Khaled , Zhou Yi , Davidson Alan J. , DiBiase Anthony , Burns Caroline E. , Burns C. Geoffrey , MacRae Calum A. , Zon Leonard I.
Published: August 2015

The vertebrate heart muscle (myocardium) develops from the first heart field (FHF) and expands by adding second heart field (SHF) cells. While both lineages exist already in teleosts, the primordial contributions of FHF and SHF to heart structure and function remain incompletely understood. Here we delineate the functional contribution of the FHF and SHF to the zebrafish heart using the cis-regulatory elements of the draculin (drl) gene. The drl reporters initially delineate the lateral plate mesoderm, including heart progenitors. Subsequent myocardial drl reporter expression restricts to FHF descendants. We harnessed this unique feature to uncover that loss of tbx5a and pitx2 affect relative FHF versus SHF contributions to the heart. High-resolution physiology reveals distinctive electrical properties of each heart field territory that define a functional boundary within the single zebrafish ventricle. Our data establish that the transcriptional program driving cardiac septation regulates physiologic ventricle partitioning, which successively provides mechanical advantages of sequential contraction.
Controllable high-throughput high-quality femtosecond laser-enhanced chemical etching by temporal pulse shaping based on electron density control
Authors: Zhao Mengjiao , Hu Jie , Jiang Lan , Zhang Kaihu , Liu Pengjun , Lu Yongfeng
Published: August 2015

We developed an efficient fabrication method of high-quality concave microarrays on fused silica substrates based on temporal shaping of femtosecond (fs) laser pulses. This method involves exposures of fs laser pulse trains followed by a wet etching process. Compared with conventional single pulses with the same processing parameters, the temporally shaped fs pulses can enhance the etch rate by a factor of 37 times with better controllability and higher quality. Moreover, we demonstrated the flexibility of the proposed method in tuning the profile of the concave microarray structures by changing the laser pulse delay, laser fluence and pulse energy distribution ratio. Micro-Raman spectroscopy was conducted to elucidate the stronger modification induced by the fs laser pulse trains in comparison with the single pulses. Our calculations show that the controllability is due to the effective control of localized transient free electron densities by temporally shaping the fs pulses.
Network fingerprint: a knowledge-based characterization of biomedical networks
Authors: Cui Xiuliang , He Haochen , He Fuchu , Wang Shengqi , Li Fei , Bo Xiaochen
Published: August 2015

It can be difficult for biomedical researchers to understand complex molecular networks due to their unfamiliarity with the mathematical concepts employed. To represent molecular networks with clear meanings and familiar forms for biomedical researchers, we introduce a knowledge-based computational framework to decipher biomedical networks by making systematic comparisons to well-studied “basic networks”. A biomedical network is characterized as a spectrum-like vector called “network fingerprint”, which contains similarities to basic networks. This knowledge-based multidimensional characterization provides a more intuitive way to decipher molecular networks, especially for large-scale network comparisons and clustering analyses. As an example, we extracted network fingerprints of 44 disease networks in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. The comparisons among the network fingerprints of disease networks revealed informative disease-disease and disease-signaling pathway associations, illustrating that the network fingerprinting framework will lead to new approaches for better understanding of biomedical networks.
Transposase interaction with the β sliding clamp: effects on insertion sequence proliferation and transposition rate
Authors: Díaz-Maldonado Héctor , Gómez Manuel J. , Moreno-Paz Mercedes , San Martín-Úriz Patxi , Amils Ricardo , Parro Víctor , López de Saro Francisco J.
Published: August 2015

Insertion sequences (ISs) are ubiquitous and abundant mobile genetic elements in prokaryotic genomes. ISs often encode only one protein, the transposase, which catalyzes their transposition. Recent studies have shown that transposases of many different IS families interact with the β sliding clamp, a DNA replication factor of the host. However, it was unclear to what extent this interaction limits or favors the ability of ISs to colonize a chromosome from a phylogenetically-distant organism, or if the strength of this interaction affects the transposition rate. Here we describe the proliferation of a member of the IS1634 family in Acidiphilium over ~600 generations of cultured growth. We demonstrate that the purified transposase binds to the β sliding clamp of Acidiphilium, Leptospirillum and E. coli. Further, we also demonstrate that the Acidiphilium IS1634 transposase binds to the archaeal sliding clamp (PCNA) from Methanosarcina and that the transposase encoded by Methanosarcina IS1634 binds to Acidiphilium β. Finally, we demonstrate that increasing the strength of the interaction between β and transposase results in a higher transposition rate in vivo. Our results suggest that the interaction could determine the potential of ISs to be mobilized in bacterial populations and also their ability to proliferate within chromosomes.
Influences of large sets of environmental exposures on immune responses in healthy adult men
Authors: Yi Buqing , Rykova Marina , Jäger Gundula , Feuerecker Matthias , Hörl Marion , Matzel Sandra , Ponomarev Sergey , Vassilieva Galina , Nichiporuk Igor , Choukèr Alexander
Published: August 2015

Environmental factors have long been known to influence immune responses. In particular, clinical studies about the association between migration and increased risk of atopy/asthma have provided important information on the role of migration associated large sets of environmental exposures in the development of allergic diseases. However, investigations about environmental effects on immune responses are mostly limited in candidate environmental exposures, such as air pollution. The influences of large sets of environmental exposures on immune responses are still largely unknown. A simulated 520-d Mars mission provided an opportunity to investigate this topic. Six healthy males lived in a closed habitat simulating a spacecraft for 520 days. When they exited their “spacecraft” after the mission, the scenario was similar to that of migration, involving exposure to a new set of environmental pollutants and allergens. We measured multiple immune parameters with blood samples at chosen time points after the mission. At the early adaptation stage, highly enhanced cytokine responses were observed upon ex vivo antigen stimulations. For cell population frequencies, we found the subjects displayed increased neutrophils. These results may presumably represent the immune changes occurred in healthy humans when migrating, indicating that large sets of environmental exposures may trigger aberrant immune activity.
Role of mouse Wdr13 in placental growth; a genetic evidence for lifetime body weight determination by placenta during development
Authors: Singh Vijay Pratap , Alex Jomini Liza , Lakshmi B. Jyothi , Sailasree S Purnima , Raj T. Avinash , Kumar Satish
Published: August 2015

Placental development is essential for implantation and growth of foetus in the uterus of eutherian mammals. Numerous growth factors are responsible for placental development and cell lineage differentiation. Gene knockout mice have shown role of various genes in the placenta. Here using Wdr13 knockout mice, we show that this gene is important for proper placental development. Wdr13, a X-linked gene, expresses in multiple trophoblast cell types of placenta and the mutant placenta had reduced size after 17.5 dpc due to reduction of junctional zone (JZ) and labyrinth zone (LZ). We observed reduction in levels of angiopoietin-2 and cd44 mRNA in Wdr13 mutant placenta as compared to that in the wild type. Our findings show that Wdr13 is required for normal placental development and cell differentiation. Wdr13 heterozygous female placenta when the mutant allele was of maternal origin showed similar defects as those in case of Wdr13 null placenta. Using two types of heterozygous females carrying either maternally and paternally derived mutant Wdr13 allele we provide genetic evidence that development of placenta determines body weight of mice for the entire life.
Protein retention on plasma-treated hierarchical nanoscale gold-silver platform
Authors: Fang Jinghua , Levchenko Igor , Mai-Prochnow Anne , Keidar Michael , Cvelbar Uros , Filipic Gregor , Han Zhao Jun , Ostrikov Kostya
Published: August 2015

Dense arrays of gold-supported silver nanowires of about 100 nm in diameter grown directly in the channels of nanoporous aluminium oxide membrane were fabricated and tested as a novel platform for the immobilization and retention of BSA proteins in the microbial-protective environments. Additional treatment of the silver nanowires using low-temperature plasmas in the inductively-coupled plasma reactor and an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet have demonstrated that the morphology of the nanowire array can be controlled and the amount of the retained protein may be increased due to the plasma effect. A combination of the neutral gold sublayer with the antimicrobial properties of silver nanowires could significantly enhance the efficiency of the platforms used in various biotechnological processes.
Sandcastle: software for revealing latent information in multiple experimental ChIP-chip datasets via a novel normalisation procedure
Authors: Bennett Mark , Evans Katie Ellen , Yu Shirong , Teng Yumin , Webster Richard M. , Powell James , Waters Raymond , Reed Simon H.
Published: August 2015

ChIP-chip is a microarray based technology for determining the genomic locations of chromatin bound factors of interest, such as proteins. Standard ChIP-chip analyses employ peak detection methodologies to generate lists of genomic binding sites. No previously published method exists to enable comparative analyses of enrichment levels derived from datasets examining different experimental conditions. This restricts the use of the technology to binary comparisons of presence or absence of features between datasets. Here we present the R package Sandcastle — Software for the Analysis and Normalisation of Data from ChIP-chip AssayS of Two or more Linked Experiments — which allows for comparative analyses of data from multiple experiments by normalising all datasets to a common background. Relative changes in binding levels between experimental datasets can thus be determined, enabling the extraction of latent information from ChIP-chip experiments. Novel enrichment detection and peak calling algorithms are also presented, with a range of graphical tools, which facilitate these analyses. The software and documentation are available for download from http://reedlab.cardiff.ac.uk/sandcastle.
Superconducting magnetoresistance in ferromagnet/superconductor/ferromagnet trilayers
Authors: Stamopoulos D. , Aristomenopoulou E.
Published: August 2015

Magnetoresistance is a multifaceted effect reflecting the diverse transport mechanisms exhibited by different kinds of plain materials and hybrid nanostructures; among other, giant, colossal and extraordinary magnetoresistance versions exist, with the notation indicative of the intensity. Here we report on the superconducting magnetoresistance observed in ferromagnet/superconductor/ferromagnet trilayers, namely Co/Nb/Co trilayers, subjected to a parallel external magnetic field equal to the coercive field. By manipulating the transverse stray dipolar fields that originate from the out-of-plane magnetic domains of the outer layers that develop at coercivity, we can suppress the supercurrent of the interlayer. We experimentally demonstrate a scaling of the magnetoresistance magnitude that we reproduce with a closed-form phenomenological formula that incorporates relevant macroscopic parameters and microscopic length scales of the superconducting and ferromagnetic structural units. The generic approach introduced here can be used to design novel cryogenic devices that completely switch the supercurrent ‘on’ and ‘off’, thus exhibiting the ultimate magnetoresistance magnitude 100% on a regular basis.
Restrictive blood transfusion strategies and associated infection in orthopedic patients: a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials
Authors: Teng Zhaowei , Zhu Yun , Liu Yugang , Wei Guojun , Wang Shuangneng , Du Shaoliang , Zhang Xiguang
Published: August 2015

This study sought to evaluate whether restrictive blood transfusion strategies are associated with a risk of infection in orthopedic patients by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs with restrictive versus liberal red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategies were identified by searching Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from their inception to December 2014. Eight RCTs with infections as outcomes were included in the final analysis. According to the Jadad scale, all studies were considered to be of high quality. The pooled risk ratio [RR] for the association between transfusion strategy and infection was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.47–0.91; p = 0.012) and the number of patients needed to treat to avoid an infection using a restrictive transfusion strategy was 62. No heterogeneity was observed. The sensitivity analysis indicated unstable results and no significant publication bias was observed. This meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrates that restrictive transfusion strategies in orthopedic patients result in a significant reduction in infections compared with more liberal strategies.
Engineering catechol 1, 2-dioxygenase by design for improving the performance of the cis, cis-muconic acid synthetic pathway in Escherichia coli
Authors: Han Li , Liu Pi , Sun Jixue , Wu Yuanqing , Zhang Yuanyuan , Chen Wujiu , Lin Jianping , Wang Qinhong , Ma Yanhe
Published: August 2015

Regulating and ameliorating enzyme expression and activity greatly affects the performance of a given synthetic pathway. In this study, a new synthetic pathway for cis, cis-muconic acid (ccMA) production was reconstructed without exogenous induction by regulating the constitutive expression of the important enzyme catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (CatA). Next, new CatAs with significantly improved activities were developed to enhance ccMA production using structure-assisted protein design. Nine mutations were designed, simulated and constructed based on the analysis of the CatA crystal structure. These results showed that mutations at Gly72, Leu73 and/or Pro76 in CatA could improve enzyme activity and the activity of the most effective mutant was 10-fold greater than that of the wild-type CatA from Acinetobacter sp. ADP1. The most productive synthetic pathway with a mutated CatA increased the titer of ccMA by more than 25%. Molecular dynamic simulation results showed that enlarging the entrance of the substrate-binding pocket in the mutants contributed to their increased enzyme activities and thus improved the performance of the synthetic pathway.
Wigner Crystal and Colossal Magnetoresistance in InSb Doped with Mn
Authors: Obukhov S. A. , Tozer S. W. , Coniglio W. A.
Published: August 2015

We report magnetotransport investigation of nonmagnetic InSb single crystal doped with manganese at Mn concentration NMn ~ 1,5 × 1017 cm−3 in the temperature range T = 300 K–40 mK, magnetic field B = 0–25T and hydrostatic pressure P = 0–17 kbar. Resistivity saturation was observed in the absence of magnetic field at temperatures below 200 mK while applied increasing external magnetic field induced colossal drop of resistivity (by factor 104) at B ~ 4T with further gigantic resistivity increase (by factor 104) at 15T. Under pressure, P = 17 kbar, resistivity saturation temperature increased up to 1,2 K. Existing models are discussed in attempt to explain resistivity saturation, dramatic influence of magnetic field and pressure on resistivity with the focus on possible manifestation of three dimensional Wigner crystal formed in InSb by light electrons and heavy holes.
Two-step complete polarization logic Bell-state analysis
Authors: Sheng Yu-Bo , Zhou Lan
Published: August 2015

The Bell state plays a significant role in the fundamental tests of quantum mechanics, such as the nonlocality of the quantum world. The Bell-state analysis is of vice importance in quantum communication. Existing Bell-state analysis protocols usually focus on the Bell-state encoding in the physical qubit directly. In this paper, we will describe an alternative approach to realize the near complete logic Bell-state analysis for the polarized concatenated Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (C-GHZ) state with two logic qubits. We show that the logic Bell-state can be distinguished in two steps with the help of the parity-check measurement (PCM) constructed by the cross-Kerr nonlinearity. This approach can be also used to distinguish arbitrary C-GHZ state with N logic qubits. As both the recent theoretical and experiment work showed that the C-GHZ state has its robust feature in practical noisy environment, this protocol may be useful in future long-distance quantum communication based on the logic-qubit entanglement.
Printed dose-recording tag based on organic complementary circuits and ferroelectric nonvolatile memories
Authors: Nga Ng Tse , Schwartz David E. , Mei Ping , Krusor Brent , Kor Sivkheng , Veres Janos , Bröms Per , Eriksson Torbjörn , Wang Yong , Hagel Olle , Karlsson Christer
Published: August 2015

We have demonstrated a printed electronic tag that monitors time-integrated sensor signals and writes to nonvolatile memories for later readout. The tag is additively fabricated on flexible plastic foil and comprises a thermistor divider, complementary organic circuits and two nonvolatile memory cells. With a supply voltage below 30 V, the threshold temperatures can be tuned between 0 °C and 80 °C. The time-temperature dose measurement is calibrated for minute-scale integration. The two memory bits are sequentially written in a thermometer code to provide an accumulated dose record.
Novel spiro-based hole transporting materials for efficient perovskite solar cells
Authors: Li Ming-Hsien , Hsu Che-Wei , Shen Po-Shen , Cheng Hsin-Min , Chi Yun , Chen Peter , Guo Tzung-Fang
Published: August 2015

Three spiro-acridine-fluorene based hole transporting materials (HTMs), namely CW3, CW4 and CW5, are employed in the fabrication of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells.
A reagent for specific recognition of cysteine in aqueous buffer and in natural milk: imaging studies, enzymatic reaction and analysis of whey protein
Authors: A. Anila H. , G. Upendar Reddy , Ali Firoj , Taye Nandaraj , Chattopadhyay Samit , Das Amitava
Published: August 2015

A new chemodosimetric reagent for specific detection of cysteine (Cys) and protein residues with the Cys-moiety having the sulfhydrylCysgroup.
Unexpected functions of oxygen in a chemical vapor deposition atmosphere to regulate graphene growth modes
Authors: Li Jing , Wang Dong , Wan Li-Jun
Published: August 2015

The ppm grade of oxygen in a CVD atmosphere can obviously tune the graphene growth modes of multilayer and etching fragments.
Solvent-starved conditions in confinement cause chemical oscillations excited by passage of a cathodic delamination front
Authors: Iqbal Danish , Sarfraz Adnan , Stratmann Martin , Erbe Andreas
Published: August 2015

In situand operando Raman spectroscopy shows oscillations in pH during delamination of a polymer coating.
A new avenue to the synthesis of GAG-mimicking polymers highly promoting neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Lyu Zhonglin , Chen Gaojian , Wang Hongwei , Yuan Yuqi , Ding Kaiguo , Yu Qian , Yuan Lin , Chen Hong
Published: August 2015

A new strategy for the fabrication of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) analogs with high bioactivities was proposed by copolymerizing the sulfonated unit and the glyco unit, ‘splitted’ from the sulfated saccharide building blocks of GAGs.
Fractional photo-current dependence of graphene quantum dots prepared from carbon nanotubes
Authors: Kundu Sumana , Ghosh Sujoy , Fralaide Michael , Narayanan T. N. , Pillai Vijayamohanan K. , Talapatra Saikat
Published: August 2015

A schematic representation of the photocurrent generation by laser power from GQDs.
Mode-specific fragmentation of amino acid-containing clusters
Authors: Scott Hopkins W. , Marta Rick A. , Steinmetz Vincent , McMahon Terry B.
Published: August 2015

Mode-specific IR-induced fragmentation is observed as a result of isomerization-induced transparency in an amino acid-containing cluster.
π-Ring currents in doped coronenes with nitrogen and boron: diatropic–paratropic duality
Authors: García Cuesta Inmaculada , Pownall Barnaby , Pelloni Stefano , Sánchez de Merás Alfredo M.
Published: August 2015

By means of doping with nitrogen or boron in the central ring of coronene, it is possible to modulate the size and intensity of the diamagnetic and paramagnetic π ring-currents caused by an external magnetic field and then to switch from delocalized (aromatic) to localized (antiaromatic) behavior.
Mechanisms of large Stokes shift and aggregation-enhanced emission of osmapentalyne cations in solution: combined MD simulations and QM/MM calculations
Authors: Sun Guang-Xu , Ju Ming-Gang , Zang Hang , Zhao Yi , Liang WanZhen
Published: August 2015

The large Stokes shift and aggregation-enhanced emission of OCs are caused by the photoexcitation-induced chromophore's symmetrical variation and molecular aggregation in solutions, respectively.
Predicting suitable optoelectronic properties of monoclinic VON semiconductor crystals for photovoltaics using accurate first-principles computations
Authors: Harb Moussab
Published: August 2015

Using accurate first-principles quantum calculations based on DFT (including the DFPT) with the range-separated hybrid HSE06 exchange–correlation functional, we can predict the essential fundamental properties (such as bandgap, optical absorption co-efficient, dielectric constant, charge carrier effective masses and exciton binding energy) of two stable monoclinic vanadium oxynitride (VON) semiconductor crystals for solar energy conversion applications.
Preparation of raspberry-like ZIF-8/PS composite spheres via dispersion polymerization
Authors: Zhu He , Zhang Qi , Zhu Shiping
Published: August 2015

A facile method for the preparation of raspberry-like ZIF-8/PS organic–inorganic composite spheres through dispersion polymerization.
Organotemplate-free synthesis of two open-framework metal borophosphates
Authors: Zhang Dan , Feng Yuquan , Liu Yunling , Zhang Yuan , Li Guanghua , Yuan Hongming
Published: August 2015

Two new isostructural metal borophosphates, |K2(H2O)|[CoB2P3O12(OH)] (1) and |K2(H2O)|[NiB2P3O12(OH)] (2), have been hydrothermally synthesized by the “green” organotemplate-free route. Notably, the introduction of potassium ions in our synthetic system endows 1 and 2 with the K+ ion conductivity.
Ultrafine and respirable particle exposure during vehicle fire suppression
Authors: Evans Douglas E. , Fent Kenneth W.
Published: August 2015

Vehicle fires are a common occurrence, yet few studies have reported exposures associated with burning vehicles.
Engineered manganese oxide nanocrystals for enhanced uranyl sorption and separation
Authors: Lee Seung Soo , Li Wenlu , Kim Changwoo , Cho Minjung , Catalano Jeffrey G. , Lafferty Brandon J. , Decuzzi Paolo , Fortner John D.
Published: August 2015

For the first time, this work develops and demonstrates precisely engineered manganese oxide nanoscale particles for the sorption of uranium, as uranyl, in water.
Fluorous ethers
Authors: Lo Angel S. W. , Horváth István. T.
Published: August 2015

Fluorous ethers, having one or more fluorous ponytails containing longer and shorter F(CxF2x)-perfluoroalkyl substituent(s) where x ≥ 6 or x = 1–5, respectively, were reviewed including some of their basic properties, synthesis and selected applications in chemical processes.
A solvent selection guide based on chemometrics and multicriteria decision analysis
Authors: Tobiszewski Marek , Tsakovski Stefan , Simeonov Vasil , Namieśnik Jacek , Pena-Pereira Francisco
Published: August 2015

A chemometric and multicriteria decision analysis-based solvent selection guide gives a more holistic view of solvents’ environmental impact.
Single step conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid using temperature-responsive dodeca-aluminotungstic acid catalysts
Authors: Sun Zhong , Xue Lifang , Wang Shengtian , Wang Xiaohong , Shi Junyou
Published: August 2015

A new series of heteropolyacids [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]nH5−nAlW12O40 are used to catalyse the single step conversion of cellulose into levulinic acid (LA). The highest reported yield of LA directly from cellulose was achieved with 74.8% yield and 98.9% conversion in one pot.
Mesoporous carbon nanoparticles: a super catalyst support for fuel cells
Authors: He Xiaodie , Zhang Yalin , Zhu Cheng , Huang Hui , Hu Hailiang , Liu Yang , Kang Zhenhui
Published: August 2015

Ionic liquid-modified mesoporous carbon nanoparticles exhibit good electrochemical activity compared with commercial Pt/C catalyst and Pt nanoparticles.
Visualizing dopamine released from living cells using a nanoplasmonic probe
Authors: Qin W. W. , Wang S. P. , Li J. , Peng T. H. , Xu Y. , Wang K. , Shi J. Y. , Fan C. H. , Li D.
Published: August 2015

We report the development of an ultrasensitive nanoplasmonic probe for discriminative detection and imaging of dopamine released from living cells.
Evaluating hydrogen bonding control in the diastereoselective Diels–Alder reactions of 9-(2-aminoethyl)-anthracene derivatives
Authors: Bawa R. A. , Gautier F.-M. , Adams H. , Meijer A. J. H. M. , Jones S.
Published: August 2015

Hydrogen bonding can be used to control the stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition of some anthracene derivatives. DFT calculations provide support for the origins of the selectivity in these reactions.
Systematic synthesis of low-molecular weight fucoidan derivatives and their effect on cancer cells
Authors: Kasai Akihiro , Arafuka Shinsuke , Koshiba Nozomi , Takahashi Daisuke , Toshima Kazunobu
Published: August 2015

Low-molecular weight fucoidan derivatives with different sulfation patterns were designed, systematically synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-cancer activities against MCF-7 and HeLa cells.
A pyrene-bridged macrocage showing no excimer fluorescence
Authors: Shionari Hirokuni , Inagaki Yusuke , Yamaguchi Kentaro , Setaka Wataru
Published: August 2015

A pyrene bridged macrocage shows fluorescence from a monomeric excited state without excimer due to cage effects.
Two-dimensional quinoxaline based low bandgap conjugated polymers for bulk-heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Li Shuang , Yuan Tao , Tu Guoli , Zhang Jian , Li Zhen
Published: August 2015

Photovoltaic cells based on the two-dimensional quinoxaline-based polymers,P2andP3, exhibited PCEs of over 3% compared to the PCE of less than 2% in theP1-based device.
Synthesis and self-assembly of amphiphilic bent-shaped molecules based on dibenzo[a,c]phenazine and poly(ethylene oxide) units
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhong Keli , Li Zhaohua , Wang Yanqiu , Chen Tie , Lee Myongsoo , Jin Long Yi
Published: August 2015

Rod–coil molecules consisting of a dibenzo[a,c]phenazine unit and different lengths of PEO coils were synthesized, and their self-assembling behavior in both bulk and aqueous solutions was investigated.
Programmable self-assembly of a cystamine-block copolymer in response to pH and progressive reduction–ionization–oxidation
Authors: Shi Hui , Zhou Kaiyi , Yu Qiuping , Cui Zhigang , Jiang Yanyan , Lu Xinhua , Cai Yuanli
Published: August 2015

A water-soluble cystamine-block copolymer undergoes air/pH-mediated programmable self-assembly/reconstructions simply stemming from the unique environment-mediated reaction complexity of the cystamine-functionalized unit.
Steric group enforced aromatic cyclic trimer conformer in tripodal molecules
Authors: Sathiyashivan Shankar Deval , Shankar Bhaskaran , Rajakannu Palanisamy , Vishnoi Pratap , Masram Dhanraj T. , Sathiyendiran Malaichamy
Published: August 2015

A family of tripodal molecules (1–6) with/without steric ethyl groups at the central benzene scaffold and with furan/thiophene/pyridyl groups at the 2-position of the benzimidazolyl unit was synthesised.
Synthesis of hyperpolarizable biomaterials at molecular level based on pyridinium–chitosan complexes
Authors: Franconetti Antonio , Contreras-Bernal Lidia , Prado-Gotor Rafael , Cabrera-Escribano Francisca
Published: August 2015

Novel types of fluorescent and quaternized pyridinium–chitosan derivatives have been synthesized and their characteristics as potential NLO-phore biomaterials have been disclosed by DFT calculations.
BF3 bonded nano Fe3O4 (BF3/MNPs): an efficient magnetically recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives
Authors: Abdollahi-Alibeik Mohammad , Moaddeli Ali , Masoomi Kianoosh
Published: August 2015

1,4-Dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives were efficiently synthesized in a simple one-pot three-component reaction of various aldehydes with malononitrile and a 2-pyrazoline-5-one in the presence of BF3/MNPs as a novel nanostructured, heterogeneous and reusable catalyst.
Electron-rich π-extended phthalocyanine–thiophene–phthalocyanine triad for the sensitive and selective detection of picric acid
Authors: Gupta Ankush , Lee Ji Hye , Seo Jeong Hwa , Lee Seung Geol , Park Jong S.
Published: August 2015

An electron-rich phthalocyanine–thiophene–phthalocyanine triad3(Pc-triad3), newly synthesized, can function as a highly selective chemosensor against picric acid (PA).
A facile novel preparation of three-dimensional Ni@graphene by catalyzed glucose blowing for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Liu Lizhong , Wang Huanli , Zhou Zhengwei , He Guangyu , Sun Xiaoqiang , Chen Qun , Chen Haiqun
Published: August 2015

Three-dimensional Ni@graphene with high-electrochemical activities was prepared for the first time at a low temperature by a one-step calcination method.
Facile and surfactant-free synthesis of supported Pd nanoparticles on hydrotalcite for oxidation of benzyl alcohol
Authors: He Yufei , Yang Pengfei , Fan Jiaxuan , Liu Yanan , Du Yiyun , Feng Junting , Fan Faying , Li Dianqing
Published: August 2015

A Pd/HT catalyst with an average particle size of 2.3 nm and an electron-deficient Pd surface is synthesized by modified deposition–precipitation, and exhibits enhanced catalytic performance in the solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol.
Correction: Sensitive and selective determination of aqueous triclosan based on gold nanoparticles on polyoxometalate/reduced graphene oxide nanohybrid
Authors: Yola Mehmet Lütfi , Atar Necip , Eren Tanju , Karimi-Maleh Hassan , Wang Shaobin
Published: August 2015

Correction for ‘Sensitive and selective determination of aqueous triclosan based on gold nanoparticles on polyoxometalate/reduced graphene oxide nanohybrid’ by Mehmet Lütfi Yola et al., RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 65953–65962.
A simple model to understand the effect of membrane shear elasticity and stress-free shape on the motion of red blood cells in shear flow
Authors: Dupire Jules , Abkarian Manouk , Viallat Annie
Published: August 2015

Time variation of the inclination (θ) and the membrane rotation (ω) of a red blood cell tumbling in a shear flow for three shear rates.
Dipolar capillary interactions between tilted ellipsoidal particles adsorbed at fluid–fluid interfaces
Authors: Davies Gary B. , Botto Lorenzo
Published: August 2015

Capillary interactions have emerged as a tool for the directed self-assembly of particles adsorbed at fluid interfaces. Recent observations of anisotropic particle monolayers interacting via induced dipolar capillary interactions showed very interesting phenomenology. Our investigations explain many of the observed monolayer properties.
Hematite iron oxide nanorod patterning inside COK-12 mesochannels as an efficient visible light photocatalyst
Authors: Wee L. H. , Meledina M. , Turner S. , Custers K. , Kerkhofs S. , van Tendeloo G. , Martens J. A.
Published: August 2015

Three-dimensional visualization of hematite iron oxide nanorod patterning inside hexagonally ordered mesochannels of COK-12 by electron tomography.
Fast smoothing technique with edge preservation for single image dehazing
Authors: Wang Dan , Zhu Jubo
Published: August 2015

In the single‐image dehazing problem, it is critical that the transmission is accurately estimated. However, the extracted transmission in the dark channel model cannot effectively deal with the edge and the sky area because of the poor applicability of the dark channel prior to these areas. This study aims to solve that problem by proposing a novel variational model (VM) to optimise the transmission. This VM introduces a smoothness term and a gradient‐preserving term to mitigate the false edge and the distorted sky area in the recovered image. Further, a fast algorithm to solve the VM is proposed on the basis of the additional operator splitting algorithm. This algorithm is an effective linear time algorithm and has excellent performance on optimising the transmission. The average running time of the algorithm shows an improvement of over 20 times that of the guided image filtering in these experiments. Experimental results also show that the proposed algorithm is both effective and efficient for optimising the transmission.
The effect of chemical structure on the stability of physical vapor deposited glasses of 1,3,5-triarylbenzene
Authors: Liu Tianyi , Cheng Kevin , Salami-Ranjbaran Elmira , Gao Feng , Li Chen , Tong Xiao , Lin Yi-Chih , Zhang Yue , Zhang William , Klinge Lindsey , Walsh Patrick J. , Fakhraai Zahra
Published: August 2015

We detail the formation and properties associated with stable glasses (SG) formed by a series of structural analogues of 1,3-bis(1-naphthyl)-5-(2-naphthyl)benzene (α,α,β-TNB), a well-studied SG former. Five compounds with similar structural properties were synthesized and physical vapor-deposited with a constant deposition rate at various substrate temperatures (Tdep) in the range between 0.73 Tg and 0.96 Tg. These molecules include α,α,β-TNB, 3,5-di(naphthalen-1-yl)-1-phenylbenzene (α,α-P), 9-(3,5-di(naphthalen-1-yl)phenyl)anthracene (α,α-A), 9,9′-(5-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1,3-phenylene)dianthracene (β-AA), and 3,3′,5,5′-tetra(naphthalen-1-yl)-1,1′-biphenyl (α,α,α,α-TNBP). Ellipsometry was used to study the transformations from the as-deposited glasses into ordinary glasses (OG). The stability of each film was evaluated by measuring the fictive temperature (Tf) and density difference between the as-deposited glass and OG. It is demonstrated that all five molecules can form SGs upon vapor deposition in this temperature range. In-depth studies on the dependence of the stability of as-deposited glasses upon Tdep were performed with three molecules, α,α,β-TNB, α,α-P, and α,α-A. The general trends of stability were comparable at the same Tdep/Tg for these three compounds. Similar to previous studies on α,α,β-TNB, vapor-deposited glasses of α,α-P and α,α-A formed the most stable structures around Tdep = 0.8-0.85 Tg. The most stable glass of each molecule showed the lowest thermal expansion coefficient compared to OG and a positive optical birefringence. However, the SGs of α,α-A were less stable compared to α,α-P and α,α,β-TNB at the relative Tdep/Tg. Based on Arrhenius extrapolation of the aging time, as a measure of stability, the most stable α,α-A glass was only aged for a few years as opposed to hundreds or thousands of years for other glasses. We hypothesize that the reduced stability is due to slower mobility at the free surface of α,α-A glass compared to the other two molecules.
A general theory of DC electromagnetic launchers
Authors: Engel Thomas G. , Timpson Erik J.
Published: August 2015

The non-linear, transient operation of DC electromagnetic launchers (EMLs) complicates their theoretical understanding and prevents scaling studies and performance comparisons without the aid of detailed numerical models. This paper presents a general theory for DC electromagnetic launchers that has simplified these tasks by identifying critical EML parameters and relationships affecting the EML's voltage, current, and power scaling, as well as its performance and energy conversion efficiency. EML parameters and relationships discussed in this paper include the specific force, the operating mode, the launcher constant, the launcher characteristic velocity, the contact characteristic velocity, the energy conversion efficiency, and the kinetic power and voltage-current scaling relationship. The concepts of the ideal EML, same-scale comparisons, and EML impedance are discussed. This paper defines conditions needed for the EML to operate in the steady-state. A comparison of the general theory with experimental results of several different types of DC (i.e., non-induction) electromagnetic launchers ranging from medium velocity (100's m/s) to high velocity (1000's m/s) is performed. There is good agreement between the general theory and the experimental results.
Detecting wave function collapse without prior knowledge
Authors: Cowan Charles Wesley , Tumulka Roderich
Published: August 2015

We are concerned with the problem of detecting with high probability whether a wave function has collapsed or not, in the following framework: A quantum system with a d-dimensional Hilbert space is initially in state ψ; with probability 0 < p < 1, the state collapses relative to the orthonormal basis b1, …, bd. That is, the final state ψ′ is random, it is ψ with probability 1 − p and bk (up to a phase) with p times Born’s probability bk|ψ2. Now an experiment on the system in state ψ′ is desired that provides information about whether or not a collapse has occurred. Elsewhere [C. W. Cowan and R. Tumulka, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 47, 195303 (2014)], we identify and discuss the optimal experiment in case that ψ is either known or random with a known probability distribution. Here, we present results about the case that no a priori information about ψ is available, while we regard p and b1, …, bd as known. For certain values of p, we show that the set of ψs for which any experiment E is more reliable than blind guessing is at most half the unit sphere; thus, in this regime, any experiment is of questionable use, if any at all. Remarkably, however, there are other values of p and experiments E such that the set of ψs for which E is more reliable than blind guessing has measure greater than half the sphere, though with a conjectured maximum of 64% of the sphere.
A direct route for the investigation of crystalline field effects on the spectral properties of Eu3+ ions in designed nanostructures
Authors: Yu Hua , Guo Hui , Zhang Xiaoyu , Lao Aiqing , Gao Shaohua , Li Qingxuan , Zhao Lijuan
Published: August 2015

The spectral properties of lanthanide ions doped in a solid-state matrix, especially the Stark splitting and emission shifts, are strongly influenced by the local crystalline field. Here, we use a direct approach to quantitatively investigate the crystalline field effect on these spectral properties of Eu3+ ions in our designed β-PbF2:Eu3+ and BaF2:Eu3+ nanostructures. The extremely similar structures in which the central Eu3+ ions have the same site symmetry allow the local crystalline field to be simplified as the same point charge electrostatic field model. In this model, the direction and intensity of the electrostatic field are related to the distortion and expansion degree of the charge cloud of the luminescent center, respectively, and further determine the Stark splitting and emission shift. The theoretical analysis and charge-cloud stimulations were in good agreement with the experimental results. The direction and intensity of the crystalline field were calculated, and showed that the emission spectra shift to red with the increase in intensity. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the spectral changes induced by a crystalline field, which is of great significance for the design of materials with the desired spectral properties.
Quantum Monte Carlo calculation of the binding energy of the beryllium dimer
Authors: Deible Michael J. , Kessler Melody , Gasperich Kevin E. , Jordan Kenneth D.
Published: August 2015

The accurate calculation of the binding energy of the beryllium dimer is a challenging theoretical problem. In this study, the binding energy of Be2 is calculated using the diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method, using single Slater determinant and multiconfigurational trial functions. DMC calculations using single-determinant trial wave functions of orbitals obtained from density functional theory calculations overestimate the binding energy, while DMC calculations using Hartree-Fock or CAS(4,8), complete active space trial functions significantly underestimate the binding energy. In order to obtain an accurate value of the binding energy of Be2 from DMC calculations, it is necessary to employ trial functions that include excitations outside the valence space. Our best estimate DMC result for the binding energy of Be2, obtained by using configuration interaction trial functions and extrapolating in the threshold for the configurations retained in the trial function, is 908 cm−1, only slightly below the 935 cm−1 value derived from experiment.
Random iteration for infinite nonexpansive iterated function systems
Authors: Leśniak Krzysztof
Published: August 2015

We prove that the random iteration algorithm works for strict attractors of infinite iterated function systems. The system is assumed to be compactly branching and nonexpansive. The orbit recovering an attractor is generated by a deterministic process and the algorithm is always convergent. We also formulate a version of the random iteration for uncountable equicontinuous systems.
Improvement on electrical conductivity and electron field emission properties of Au-ion implanted ultrananocrystalline diamond films by using Au-Si eutectic substrates
Authors: Sankaran K. J. , Sundaravel B. , Tai N. H. , Lin I. N.
Published: August 2015

In the present work, Au-Si eutectic layer was used to enhance the electrical conductivity/electron field emission (EFE) properties of Au-ion implanted ultrananocrystalline diamond (Au-UNCD) films grown on Si substrates. The electrical conductivity was improved to a value of 230 (Ω cm)−1, and the EFE properties was enhanced reporting a low turn-on field of 2.1 V/μm with high EFE current density of 5.3 mA/cm2 (at an applied field of 4.9 V/μm) for the Au-UNCD films. The formation of SiC phase circumvents the formation of amorphous carbon prior to the nucleation of diamond on Si substrates. Consequently, the electron transport efficiency of the UNCD-to-Si interface increases, thereby improving the conductivity as well as the EFE properties. Moreover, the salient feature of these processes is that the sputtering deposition of Au-coating for preparing the Au-Si interlayer, the microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process for growing the UNCD films, and the Au-ion implantation process for inducing the nanographitic phases are standard thin film preparation techniques, which are simple, robust, and easily scalable. The availability of these highly conducting UNCD films with superior EFE characteristics may open up a pathway for the development of high-definition flat panel displays and plasma devices.
Cu diffusion in single-crystal and polycrystalline TiN barrier layers: A high-resolution experimental study supported by first-principles calculations
Authors: Mühlbacher Marlene , Bochkarev Anton S. , Mendez-Martin Francisca , Sartory Bernhard , Chitu Livia , Popov Maxim N. , Puschnig Peter , Spitaler Jürgen , Ding Hong , Schalk Nina , Lu Jun , Hultman Lars , Mitterer Christian
Published: August 2015

Dense single-crystal and polycrystalline TiN/Cu stacks were prepared by unbalanced DC magnetron sputter deposition at a substrate temperature of 700 °C and a pulsed bias potential of −100 V. The microstructural variation was achieved by using two different substrate materials, MgO(001) and thermally oxidized Si(001), respectively. Subsequently, the stacks were subjected to isothermal annealing treatments at 900 °C for 1 h in high vacuum to induce the diffusion of Cu into the TiN. The performance of the TiN diffusion barrier layers was evaluated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry mapping and atom probe tomography. No Cu penetration was evident in the single-crystal stack up to annealing temperatures of 900 °C, due to the low density of line and planar defects in single-crystal TiN. However, at higher annealing temperatures when diffusion becomes more prominent, density-functional theory calculations predict a stoichiometry-dependent atomic diffusion mechanism of Cu in bulk TiN, with Cu diffusing on the N sublattice for the experimental N/Ti ratio. In comparison, localized diffusion of Cu along grain boundaries in the columnar polycrystalline TiN barriers was detected after the annealing treatment. The maximum observed diffusion length was approximately 30 nm, yielding a grain boundary diffusion coefficient of the order of 10−16 cm2 s−1 at 900 °C. This is 10 to 100 times less than for comparable underdense polycrystalline TiN coatings deposited without external substrate heating or bias potential. The combined numerical and experimental approach presented in this paper enables the contrasting juxtaposition of diffusion phenomena and mechanisms in two TiN coatings, which differ from each other only in the presence of grain boundaries.