bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
F-actin distribution and function during sexual development inEimeria maxima
Authors: FRÖLICH SONJA , WALLACH MICHAEL
Published: March 2015

To determine the involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in macrogametocyte growth and oocyst wall formation, freshly purified macrogametocytes and oocysts were stained with Oregon Green 514 conjugated phalloidin to visualize F-actin microfilaments, while Evans blue staining was used to detect type 1 wall forming bodies (WFB1s) and the outer oocyst wall. The double-labelled parasites were then analysed at various stages of sexual development using three-dimensional confocal microscopy. The results showed F-actin filaments were distributed throughout the entire cytoplasm of matureEimeria maximamacrogametocytes forming a web-like meshwork of actin filaments linking the type 1 WFBs together into structures resembling ‘beads on a string’. At the early stages of oocyst wall formation, F-actin localization changed in alignment with the egg-shaped morphology of the forming oocysts with F-actin microfilaments making direct contact with the WFB1s. In tissue oocysts, the labelled actin cytoskeleton was situated underneath the forming outer layer of the oocyst wall. Treatment of macrogametocytesin vitrowith the actin depolymerizing agents, Cytochalasin D and Latrunculin, led to a reduction in the numbers of mature WFB1s in the cytoplasm of the developing macrogametocytes, indicating that the actin plays an important role in WFB1 transport and oocyst wall formation inE. maxima.
When a foreign adolescent orphan refuses to be treated: Considerations on a clinical case
Authors: Clerici Carlo Alfredo , Casiraghi Giovanna , Veneroni Laura , Pecori Emilia , Proserpio Tullio , Gandola Lorenza , Massimino Maura
Published: March 2015

Providing medical treatment for unaccompanied foreign minors can prove particularly demanding when a patient is not fully compliant. This report describes the case of a 13-year-old boy from Sub-Saharan Africa brought to Italy to receive treatment for a neoplasm. Right from the start, he showed strong oppositional reactions, with aggressive and self-harming behavior. This made it necessary to activate various different psychological, psychiatric, and social-support resources, and to adapt the proposed treatments to the patient's willingness and ability to cooperate. Here we outline the assessments and actions (also from the economic and organizational standpoint) that need to be implemented in any scheme to bring young foreign orphans to Italy for specialist medical care.
Gamma-ray blazars and active galactic nuclei seen by the Fermi-LAT
Authors: Lott B. , Cavazzuti E. , Ciprini S. , Cutini S. , Gasparrini D.
Published: March 2015

The third catalog of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) detected by the Fermi-LAT (3LAC) is presented. It is based on the third Fermi-LAT catalog (3FGL) of sources detected with a test statistic (TS) greater than 25 using the first 4 years of data. The 3LAC includes 1591 AGNs located at high Galactic latitudes, |b| > 10 (with 28 duplicate associations, thus corresponding to 1563 gamma-ray sources among 2192 sources in the 3FGL catalog), a 71% increase over the second catalog based on 2 years of data. A very large majority of these AGNs (98%) are blazars. About half of the newly detected blazars are of unknown type, i.e., they lack spectroscopic information of sufficient quality to determine the strength of their emission lines. The general properties of the 3LAC sample confirm previous findings from earlier catalogs, but some new subclasses (e.g., intermediate- and high-synchrotron-peaked FSRQs) have now been significantly detected.
The jet–disc connection in AGN
Authors: Sbarrato Tullia , Padovani Paolo , Ghisellini Gabriele
Published: March 2015

We present our latest results on the connection between the accretion rate and the power of relativistic jets. To this aim we use blazars, whose jet is pointing at us, with visible broad emission lines, along with broad lineless radio–galaxies. We trace the jet power with two proxies (gamma–ray and radio luminosities), while the broad emission lines are a direct measure of the accretion disc luminosity. We find a correlation between the broad emission line and the gamma–ray or luminosities in blazars, suggesting a direct tight connection between the jet and the accretion rate. Only extending our analysis to radio–galaxies, and using as jet tracer the radio luminosity, we are finally able to conclude that jetted AGN can accrete both through a radiatively efficient accretion disc and a hot accretion flow, depending on the accretion rate. We finally observe the transition between the two states among the family of jetted AGN.
Multi-wavelength selection and identification of gamma-ray blazar candidates
Authors: Paggi Alessandro , D'Abrusco R. , Massaro F. , Landoni M. , Milisavljevic D. , Masetti N. , Ricci F. , Jiménez-Bailón E. , Chavushyan V. , Giroletti M. , Smith H. A. , Margutti R. , Tosti G. , Martinéz-Galarza J. R. , Otí-Floranes H. , Grindlay J. E. , Funk S. , Cheung C. C. , Chomiuk L. , Strader J.
Published: March 2015

A significant fraction (~ 30%) of the gamma-ray sources detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is still of unknown origin, being not yet associated with counterparts at lower energies. Many unidentified gamma-ray sources (UGSs) could be blazars, the largest identified population of extragalactic gamma-ray sources and the rarest class of active galactic nuclei. In particular, it has been found that blazars occupy a defined region in WISE three dimensional color space, well separated from that occupied by other sources in which thermal emission prevails. For farther sources with weaker IR emission, additional informations can be obtained combining WISE data with X-ray or radio emission. Alternatively, the low-frequency radio emission can be used for identifying potential gamma-ray candidate blazars. However, optical spectroscopic observations represent the tell-tale tool to confirm the exact nature of these sources. To this end, an extensive observational campaign has been performed with several optical telescopes, aimed at pinpointing the exact nature of gamma-ray candidate blazars selected with the different selection methods mentioned above. The results of this campaign lead to the discovery of 60 new gamma-ray blazars, thus confirming the effectiveness of these selection criteria.
Optical variability of PHL 1811 and 3C 273
Authors: Fan J. H. , Kurtanidze O. , Liu Y. , Yuan Y. H. , Hao J. M. , Cai W. , Xiao H. B. , Pei Z. Y.
Published: March 2015

In this work, we reported the optical photometry monitoring results for two brightest nearby quasars, PHL 1811 and 3C 273 using the ST-6 camera at Abastumani Observatory, Georgia. For PHL 1811, we found 3 microvariability events with time scale of ΔT = 6.0 min. For 3C273, we found that the largest variations are ΔV = 0.369 ± 0.028 mag, ΔR = 0.495 ± 0.076 mag, and ΔI = 0.355 ± 0.009 mag. When periodicity analysis methods are adopted to the available data, a period of p = 5.80 ± 1.12 years is obtained for PHL 1811, and p = 21.10 ± 0.14, 10.00 ± 0.14, 7.30 ± 0.09, 13.20 ± 0.09, 2.10 ± 0.06, and 0.68 ± 0.05 years are obtained for 3C 273.
The variability and periods in the BL Lac AO 0235+164
Authors: Fan J. H. , Kurtanidze O. , Liu X. , Liu Y. , Wang H. T. , Yuan Y. H. , Hao J. M. , Wu D. X. , Cai W. , Xiao H. B. , Pei Z. Y.
Published: March 2015

Variability is one of the extreme observational properties of BL Lacertae objects. AO 0235+164 is a well studied BL Lac through the whole electro-magnetic wavebands, it is violently variable in the optical bands. In the present work, we show its optical R band photometric observations carried out during the period of Nov. 2006 to Dec. 2012 using the Ap6E CCD camera attached to the primary focus of the 70 cm meniscus telescope at Abastumani Observatory, Georgia. It shows a large variation of ΔR = 4.88 mag (14.20 - 19.08 mag) during our monitoring period. When periodicity analysis methods are adopted to its R observations from our Abastumani monitoring programme and those in the literature, the signs of some periods, P1 = 8.26 yr, P2 = 0.55 yr, P3 = 0.85 yr, P4 = 1.99 yr are found.
Kinematics of kiloparsec-scale jets
Authors: Laing R. A. , Bridle A. H.
Published: March 2015

It has long been known that kiloparsec-scale jets in radio galaxies can be divided into two flavours: strong (found in powerful sources, narrow and terminating in compact hot-spots) and weak (found in low-luminosity sources, flaring, unable to form hot-spots and terminating in diffuse lobes or tails). Both flavours are initially relativistic, but weak jets decelerate to sub-relativistic, transonic speeds by entraining external gas while strong jets remain relativistic and supersonic until they terminate. Much is now known about the kinematics of weak-flavour jets, which can be modelled as intrinsically symmetrical, decelerating relativistic flows, and we summarize the results of our work in this area. Strong-flavour jets are relatively faint and narrow, so it has hitherto proved difficult to obtain the necessary deep, transverse-resolved images in total intensity and linear polarization. The spectacular jets in the radio galaxy NGC 6251 appear to represent a transition case between weak and strong flavours: the jets show no clear evidence for deceleration, but are relatively wide. VLA observations hint at transverse velocity structure with a very fast (Lorentz factor >5) spine surrounded by a slower shear layer. New observations with the upgraded VLA should be able to test this picture.
Rotation measures in AGN jets seen by VLA at 21 cm to 6 mm
Authors: Kravchenko Evgeniya V. , Cotton William D. , Kovalev Yuri Y.
Published: March 2015

We present Faraday rotation measure (RM) properties of seven active galactic nuclei (AGN), observed with the NRAO VLA at three epochs in 2012-2014. Data was taken at 1.4, 2.2, 5.0, 8.2, 15.4, 22.4, 33.5 and 43.1 GHz quasi simultaneously in full polarization mode. For the first time RMs were calculated in a range of wavelengths covering more than one order of magnitude: from 21 cm up to 6 mm. We measured RM for each source and showed a tendency to increase its value toward high frequencies according to the law |RM|~νa with a = 1.6±0.1. For 0710+439, we observed an increase over the frequency range of 4 orders of magnitude and measured one of the highest RM ever, (−89±1)⋅103 rad/m2. Analysis of different epochs shows variations of the value and the sign of RM on short and long time-scales. This may be caused by changing physical conditions in the compact regions of the AGN jets, e.g., strength of magnetic field, particle density and so on.
Diagnosing particle acceleration in relativistic jets
Authors: Böttcher Markus , Baring Matthew G. , Liang Edison P. , Summerlin Errol J. , Fu Wen , Smith Ian A. , Roustazadeh Parisa
Published: March 2015

The high-energy emission from blazars and other relativistic jet sources indicates that electrons are accelerated to ultra-relativistic (GeV - TeV) energies in these systems. This paper summarizes recent results from numerical studies of two fundamentally different particle acceleration mechanisms potentially at work in relativistic jets: Magnetic-field generation and relativistic particle acceleration in relativistic shear layers, which are likely to be present in relativistic jets, is studied via Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations. Diffusive shock acceleration at relativistic shocks is investigated using Monte-Carlo simulations. The resulting magnetic-field configurations and thermal + non-thermal particle distributions are then used to predict multi-wavelength radiative (synchrotron + Compton) signatures of both acceleration scenarios. In particular, we address how anisotropic shear-layer acceleration may be able to circumvent the well-known Lorentz-factor crisis, and how the self-consistent evaluation of thermal + non-thermal particle populations in diffusive shock acceleration simulations provides tests of the bulk Comptonization model for the Big Blue Bump observed in the SEDs of several blazars.
The sequence of events that led to the 1963 publications in Nature of 3C273, the first quasar and the first extragalactic radio jet
Authors: Hazard Cyril , Jauncey David , Goss W. M. , Herald David
Published: March 2015

We are undertaking a detailed investigation, based on the available evidence, of the sequence of events that led to the historical discovery of the first quasar, 3C273.
The road to quasars
Authors: Kellermann K. I.
Published: March 2015

Although the extragalactic nature of 3C 48 and other quasi stellar radio sources was discussed as early as 1960 by John Bolton and others, it was rejected largely because of preconceived ideas about what appeared to be unrealistically high radio and optical luminosities. Not until the 1962 occultations of the strong radio source 3C 273 at Parkes, which led Maarten Schmidt to identify 3C 273 with an apparent stellar object at a redshift of 0.16, was the true nature understood. Successive radio and optical measurements quickly led to the identification of other quasars with increasingly large redshifts and the general, although for some decades not universal, acceptance of quasars as the very luminous nuclei of galaxies.

Curiously, 3C 273, which is one of the strongest extragalactic sources in the sky, was first cataloged in 1959 and the magnitude 13 optical counterpart was observed at least as early as 1887. Since 1960, much fainter optical counterparts were being routinely identified using accurate radio interferometer positions which were measured primarily at the Caltech Owens Valley Radio Observatory. However, 3C 273 eluded identification until the series of lunar occultation observations led by Cyril Hazard. Although an accurate radio position had been obtained earlier with the OVRO interferometer, inexplicably 3C 273 was initially misidentified with a faint galaxy located about an arc minute away from the true quasar position.
Tracing the high energy emission of γ-ray detected radio loud quasars
Authors: Migliori Giulia
Published: March 2015

We present a multiwavelength study of the core and relativistic jet of the radio loud (RL) quasar RGB J1512+020A (z=0.20). We report the discovery of a bright, 13” extended X-ray jet with a short Chandra observation. We discuss the origin of the jet X-ray emission and its properties in comparison with sample of X-ray quasar jets. The broadband core spectrum is contributed by the emission of the central quasar, by a blazar component, responsible for the γ-ray emission detected by Fermi, and by the host galaxy. We model the non-thermal blazar spectral energy distribution (SED) and constrain the total jet power. The jet power inferred from the blazar SED modeling is in agreement with the values obtained from the total radio power, pointing to a jet that efficiently carries its power up to kiloparsec scales. The quasar emission appears intrinsically weak in the optical-UV band. The disk luminosity estimated from the broad emission lines is lower than the jet power, in agreement with recent results from observations and theory.
Unraveling AGN feedback and ICM physics with deep Chandra X-ray observations of the galaxy group NGC 5813
Authors: Randall Scott W. , Nulsen Paul E. J. , Jones Christine , Forman William R. , Clarke Tracy E. , Blanton Elizabeth L.
Published: March 2015

We present results from deep Chandra X-ray observations of the galaxy group NGC 5813. This system shows three pairs of collinear cavities, with each pair associated with an elliptical AGN outburst shock. Due to the relatively regular morphology of this system, and the unique unambiguous detection of three distinct AGN outburst shocks, it is particularly well-suited for the study of AGN feedback and the AGN outburst history. We find that the mean kinetic power is roughly the same for each outburst, and that the total energy associated with the youngest outburst is significantly lower than that of the previous outbursts. This implies that the mean AGN jet power has remained stable for at least 50 Myr, and that the youngest outburst is ongoing. We find that the mean shock heating rate balances the local radiative cooling rate at each shock front, suggesting that AGN outburst shock heating alone is sufficient to offset cooling and establish AGN/ICM feedback within at least the central 30 kpc. Finally, we find non-zero shock front widths that are too large to be explained by particle diffusion, but are instead consistent with arising from broadening of the shock fronts due to propagation through a turbulent ICM with a mean turbulent speed of ~ 70 km s−1.
The cluster environments of radio-loud AGN
Authors: Ineson Judith , Croston Judith , Hardcastle Martin , Kraft Ralph , Evans Daniel , Jarvis Matt
Published: March 2015

Radio-loud AGN play an important rôle in galaxy evolution. We need to understand their properties, and the processes that affect their behaviour in order to model galaxy formation and development. We here present preliminary results of an investigation into the cluster environments of radio galaxies. We have found evidence of a strong correlation between radio luminosity and environment richness for low excitation radio galaxies, and no evidence of evolution of the environment with redshift. Conversely, for high excitation radio galaxies, we found no correlation with environment richness, and tentative evidence of evolution of the cluster environment.
Using the morphology and magnetic fields of tailed radio galaxies as environmental probes
Authors: Johnston-Hollitt M. , Dehghan S. , Pratley L.
Published: March 2015

Bent-tailed (BT) radio sources have long been known to trace over densities in the Universe up to z ~ 1 and there is increasing evidence this association persists out to redshifts of 2. The morphology of the jets in BT galaxies is primarily a function of the environment that they have resided in and so BTs provide invaluable clues as to their local conditions. Thus, not only can samples of BT galaxies be used as signposts of large-scale structure, but are also valuable for obtaining a statistical measurement of properties of the intra-cluster medium including the presence of cluster accretion shocks & winds, and as historical anemometers, preserving the dynamical history of their surroundings in their jets. We discuss the use of BTs to unveil large-scale structure and provide an example in which a BT was used to unlock the dynamical history of its host cluster. In addition to their use as density and dynamical indicators, BTs are useful probes of the magnetic field on their environment on scales which are inaccessible to other methods. Here we discuss a novel way in which a particular sub-class of BTs, the so-called ‘corkscrew’ galaxies might further elucidate the coherence lengths of the magnetic fields in their vicinity. Given that BTs are estimated to make up a large population in next generation surveys we posit that the use of jets in this way could provide a unique source of environmental information for clusters and groups up to z = 2.
Jets in AGN at extremely high redshifts
Authors: Gurvits Leonid I. , Frey Sándor , Paragi Zsolt
Published: March 2015

The jet phenomenon is a trademark of active galactic nuclei (AGN). In most general terms, the current understanding of this phenomenon explains the jet appearance by effects of relativistic plasma physics. The fundamental source of energy that feeds the plasma flow is believed to be the gravitational field of a central supermassive black hole. While the mechanism of energy transfer and a multitude of effects controlling the plasma flow are yet to be understood, major properties of jets are strikingly similar in a broad range of scales from stellar to galactic. They are supposed to be controlled by a limited number of physical parameters, such as the mass of a central black hole and its spin, magnetic field induction and accretion rate. In a very simplified sense, these parameters define the formation of a typical core–jet structure observed at radio wavelengths in the region of the innermost central tens of parsecs in AGN. These core–jet structures are studied in the radio domain by Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) with milli- and sub-milliarcsecond angular resolution. Such structures are detectable at a broad range of redshifts. If observed at a fixed wavelength, a typical core–jet AGN morphology would appear as having a steep-spectrum jet fading away with the increasing redshift while a flat-spectrum core becoming more dominant. If core–jet AGN constitute the same population of objects throughout the redshift space, the apparent “prominence” of jets at higher redshifts must decrease (Gurvits 1999): well pronounced jets at high z must appear less frequent than at low z.
Pinpointing the base of the AGN jets through general relativistic X-ray reverberation studies
Authors: Emmanoulopoulos D.
Published: March 2015

Many theoretical models of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) predict that the X-ray corona, lying above the black hole, constitutes the base of the X-ray jet. Thus, by studying the exact geometry of the close black hole environment, we can pinpoint the launching site of the jet. Detection of negative X-ray reverberation time delays (i.e. soft band X-ray variations lagging behind the corresponding hard band X-ray variations) can yield significant information about the geometrical properties of the AGN, such as the location of the X-ray source, as well as the physical properties of the the black hole, such as its mass and spin. In the frame-work of the lamp-post geometry, I present the first systematic X-ray time-lag modelling results of an ensemble of 12 AGN, using a fully general relativistic (GR) ray tracing approach for the estimation of the systems' response functions. By combing these state-of-the art GR response models with statistically innovative fitting routines, I derive the geometrical layout of the close BH environment for each source, unveiling the position of the AGN jet-base.
Jet-induced star formation by a microquasar
Authors: Mirabel I. F. , Chaty S. , Rodríguez L. F. , Sauvage M.
Published: March 2015

Theoretical and observational work show that jets from AGN can trigger star formation. However, in the Milky Way the first -and so far- only clear case of relativistic jets inducing star formation has been found in the surroundings of the microquasar GRS 1915+105. Here we summarize the multiwavelength observations of two compact star formation IRAS sources axisymmetrically located and aligned with the position angle of the sub-arcsec relativistic jets from the stellar black hole binary GRS 1915+105 (Mirabel & Rodríguez 1994). The observations of these two star forming regions at centimeter (Mirabel & Rodríguez 1998), millimeter and infrared (Chaty et al. 2001) wavelengths had suggested -despite the large uncertainties in the distances a decade ago- that the jets from GRS 1915+105 are triggering along the radio jet axis the formation of massive stars in a radio lobe of bow shock structure. Recently, Reid et al. (2014) found that the jet source and the IRAS sources are at the same distance, enhancing the evidence for the physical association between the jets from GRS 1915+105 and star formation in the IRAS sources. We conclude that as jets from AGN, jets from microquasars can trigger the formation of massive stars, but at distances of a few tens of parsecs. Although star formation induced by microquasar jets may not be statistically significant in the Milky Way, jets from stellar black holes may have been important to trigger star formation during the re-ionization epoch of the universe (Mirabel et al. 2011). Because of the relative proximity of GRS 1915+105 and the associated star forming regions, they may serve as a nearby laboratory to gain insight into the physics of jet-trigger star formation elsewhere in the universe.
Gas outflow in Seyfert galaxies: 3D radiative cooling hydrodynamical simulations
Authors: Melioli Claudio , de Gouveia Dal Pino Elisabete M.
Published: March 2015

Accreting supermassive black holes and starburst regions influence their host galaxies through kinetic/radiative feedback processes. To better understand the gas evolution of a Seyfert galaxy, in this study we perform fully 3D hydrodynamical simulations with radiative cooling considering the presence of star formation regions, supernova feedback and small-scale (1 kpc) jet propagation in the central region of an active spiral galaxy. We compute the gas mass lost by the system and we conclude that a kpc-scale outflow is generally established only when a nuclear starburst region is coupled to a supermassive black hole jet.
Fourier plane modeling of the jet in the galaxy M81
Authors: Ramessur Arvind , Bietenholz Michael F. , Leeuw Lerothodi L. , Bartel Norbert
Published: March 2015

The nearby spiral galaxy M81 has a low-luminosity Active Galactic Nucleus in its center with a core and a one-sided curved jet, dubbed M81*, that is barely resolved with VLBI. To derive basic parameters such as the length of the jet, its orientation and curvature, the usual method of model-fitting with point sources and elliptical Gaussians may not always be the most appropriate one. We are developing Fourier-plane models for such sources, in particular an asymmetric triangle model to fit the extensive set of VLBI data of M81* in the u-v plane. This method may have an advantage over conventional ones in extracting information close to the resolution limit to provide us with a more comprehensive picture of the structure and evolution of the jet. We report on preliminary results.
First spectroscopy of a short-hard GRB: the environment of a compact object merger
Authors: de Ugarte Postigo Antonio , Thöne Christina C. , Rowllinson Antonia , Benito Rubén García , Levan Andrew J. , Gorosabel Javier , Goldoni Paolo , Schulze Steve
Published: March 2015

Short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are an extremely elusive family of cosmic explosions. They are thought to be related to the violent merger of compact objects (such as a neutron stars or black holes). Their optical counterparts were not discovered until 2005, and since then, there had been no successful spectroscopic observations. Here we present the first spectra of a short GRB, which we use to study the environment and derive implications on the progenitors of these cosmic explosions. This poster is based on the work by de Ugarte Postigoet al. (2014).
Do Cities Cause Thundersnow?
Authors: Palus Shannon
Published: March 2015

Analysis of lightning within a February 2011 snowstorm reveals that 73% of lightning flashes occurred close to tall, human-built structures.
Dissecting meiotic recombination based on tetrad analysis by single-microspore sequencing in maize
Authors: Li Xiang , Li Lin , Yan Jianbing
Published: March 2015

Meiotic recombination drives eukaryotic sexual reproduction and the generation of genome diversity. Tetrad analysis, which examines the four chromatids resulting from a single meiosis, is an ideal method to study the mechanisms of homologous recombination. Here we develop a method to isolate the four microspores from a single tetrad in maize for the purpose of whole-genome sequencing. A high-resolution recombination map reveals that crossovers are unevenly distributed across the genome and are more likely to occur in the genic than intergenic regions, especially common in the 5′- and 3′-end regions of annotated genes. The direct detection of genomic exchanges suggests that conversions likely occur in most crossover tracts. Negative crossover interference and weak chromatid interference are observed at the population level. Overall, our findings further our understanding of meiotic recombination with implications for both basic and applied research.
Flexible pulse-controlled fiber laser
Authors: Liu Xueming , Cui Yudong
Published: March 2015

Controlled flexible pulses have widespread applications in the fields of fiber telecommunication, optical sensing, metrology and microscopy. Here, we report a compact pulse-controlled all-fiber laser by exploiting an intracavity fiber Bragg grating (FBG) system as a flexible filter. The width and wavelength of pulses can be tuned independently by vertically and horizontally translating a cantilever beam, respectively. The pulse width of the laser can be tuned flexibly and accurately from ~7 to ~150 ps by controlling the bandwidth of FBG. The wavelength of pulse can be tuned precisely with the range of >20 nm. The flexible laser is precisely controlled and insensitive to environmental perturbations. This fiber-based laser is a simple, stable and low-cost source for various applications where the width-tunable and/or wavelength-tunable pulses are necessary.
Caught in Action: Selecting Peptide Aptamers Against Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Live Cells
Authors: Cobbert Jacqueline D. , DeMott Christopher , Majumder Subhabrata , Smith Eric A. , Reverdatto Sergey , Burz David S. , McDonough Kathleen A. , Shekhtman Alexander
Published: March 2015

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) or unstructured segments within proteins play an important role in cellular physiology and pathology. Low cellular concentration, multiple binding partners, frequent post-translational modifications and the presence of multiple conformations make it difficult to characterize IDP interactions in intact cells. We used peptide aptamers selected by using the yeast-two-hybrid scheme and in-cell NMR to identify high affinity binders to transiently structured IDP and unstructured segments at atomic resolution. Since both the selection and characterization of peptide aptamers take place inside the cell, only physiologically relevant conformations of IDPs are targeted. The method is validated by using peptide aptamers selected against the prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein, Pup, of the mycobacterium proteasome. The selected aptamers bind to distinct sites on Pup and have vastly different effects on rescuing mycobacterial proteasome substrate and on the survival of the Bacille-Calmette-Guèrin, BCG, strain of M. bovis. This technology can be applied to study the elusive action of IDPs under near physiological conditions.
Effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident on goshawk reproduction
Authors: Murase Kaori , Murase Joe , Horie Reiko , Endo Koichi
Published: March 2015

Although the influence of nuclear accidents on the reproduction of top predators has not been investigated, it is important that we identify the effects of such accidents because humans are also top predators. We conducted field observation for 22 years and analysed the reproductive performance of the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis fujiyamae), a top avian predator in the North Kanto area of Japan, before and after the accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant that occurred in 2011. The reproductive performance declined markedly compared with the pre-accident years and progressively decreased for the three post-accident study years. Moreover, it was suggested that these declines were primarily caused by an increase in the air dose rate of radio-active contaminants measured under the nests caused by the nuclear accidents, rather than by other factors. We consider the trends in the changes of the reproductive success rates and suggest that internal exposure may play an important role in the reproductive performance of the goshawk, as well as external exposure.
A ruthenium complex as a single-component redox shuttle for electrochemical photovoltaics
Authors: Kim Jeung Yoon , Yun Won Seok , Son Ho-Jin , Lee JaeDong , Jeong Nak Cheon
Published: March 2015

A new conceptual “single-component redox shuttle” led to a large enhancement of VOC (∼940 mV) and also greatly boosted the energy conversion efficiency under low-power illumination level by a factor of ca. 5.6.
An artificial receptor synthesized by surface-confined imprinting for the recognition of acetylation on histone H4 K16
Authors: Yang Fangfang , Lin Shen , Dong Xiangchao
Published: March 2015

Molecularly imprinted artificial receptor with high selectivity for the recognition of acetylation on histone H4 K16.
A Cu-free clickable fluorescent probe for intracellular targeting of small biomolecules
Authors: Yamagishi Kento , Sawaki Kazuaki , Murata Atsushi , Takeoka Shinji
Published: March 2015

A Cu-free clickable fluorescent probe (FC-DBCO) for intracellular targeting of small biomolecules.
Passive sampling for volatile organic compounds in indoor air-controlled laboratory comparison of four sampler types
Authors: McAlary Todd , Groenevelt Hester , Disher Stephen , Arnold Jason , Seethapathy Suresh , Sacco Paolo , Crump Derrick , Schumacher Brian , Hayes Heidi , Johnson Paul , Górecki Tadeusz
Published: March 2015

Chamber tests were conducted using 4 passive samplers, 10 VOCs, and three levels of temperature, humidity, velocity, duration and concentration.
Potent and regularizable crosslinking of ultrafine fibrous protein scaffolds for tissue engineering using a cytocompatible disaccharide derivative
Authors: Xu Helan , Liu Peng , Mi Xiang , Xu Lan , Yang Yiqi
Published: March 2015

A sucrose derived crosslinker enhanced the water stability of ultrafine fibrous protein scaffolds efficiently and showed biocompatibility similar to citric acid.
Drug cross-contamination of latent fingermarks during routine powder dusting detected by SALDI TOF MS
Authors: Sundar Latha , Rowell Frederick
Published: March 2015

The process of dusting powders over latent fingermarks was shown to transfer drug contact residues between adjacent marks.
Preparation and characterization of tripeptide chiral stationary phases with varying amino acid sequences and terminal groups
Authors: Li Yang , Jiang Denggao , Huang Deyou , Huang Mingxian , Li Lianjie
Published: March 2015

CSP 1 affords higher enantioselectivity for analytes facilitating stronger π–π interaction, whereas CSP 2 is more pronounced for separation of enantiomers bearing more hydrophobic groups. 5-Nitronicotinoyl exhibited similar enantioseparation ability.
In situ encapsulation of Pd inside the MCM-41 channel
Authors: Lin Xi-Jie , Zhong Ai-Zhi , Sun Yong-Bin , Zhang Xing , Song Wei-Guo , Lu Rong-Wen , Cao An-Min , Wan Li-Jun
Published: March 2015

Pd nanoparticles were successfully introduced into the channels of mesoporous silica MCM-41 with their dispersion well-tuned.
Bio-inspired multinuclear copper complexes covalently immobilized on reduced graphene oxide as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Xi Yue-Ting , Wei Ping-Jie , Wang Ru-Chun , Liu Jin-Gang
Published: March 2015

A bio-inspired multinuclear copper complex covalently immobilized on graphene exhibited high ORR activity and long-term stability in alkaline media.
Polypyrrole encapsulation on flower-like porous NiO for advanced high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Ji Wenjing , Ji Junyi , Cui Xinghong , Chen Jianjun , Liu Daijun , Deng Hua , Fu Qiang
Published: March 2015

A 3D flower-like porous NiO@polypyrrole composite is prepared to investigate the role of PPy coating for high-performance supercapacitors.
Evidence for hydrophobic catalysis of DNA strand exchange
Authors: Feng B. , Westerlund F. , Nordén B.
Published: March 2015

DNA strand exchange is catalysed by a hydrophobic environment which destabilises base stacking and promotes DNA breathing.
The flavan–isoflavan rearrangement: bioinspired synthetic access to isoflavonoids via 1,2-shift–alkylation sequence
Authors: Nakamura Kayo , Ohmori Ken , Suzuki Keisuke
Published: March 2015

An approach to 2-substituted isoflavonoids is reported based on the 1,2-shift of the aryl group in the catechin skeleton followed by the in situ alkylation. Synthesis of (−)-equol, a natural isoflavan with estrogenic activities, was achieved.
A new protocol for nickel-catalysed regio- and stereoselective hydrocyanation of allenes
Authors: Arai Shigeru , Hori Hiroto , Amako Yuka , Nishida Atsushi
Published: March 2015

Regio- and stereoselective hydrocyanation under nickel catalysis is described.
Enhanced thermoelectric properties of Ga-doped In2O3 ceramics via synergistic band gap engineering and phonon suppression
Authors: Liu Yong , Xu Wei , Liu Da-Bo , Yu Meijuan , Lin Yuan-Hua , Nan Ce-Wen
Published: March 2015

The performance of Ge doped In2O3 thermoelectric materials is enhanced via band structure engineering and phonon suppression.
A combined molecular dynamic and quantum mechanic study of the solvent and guest molecule effect on the stability and length of heterocyclic peptide nanotubes
Authors: Izadyar Mohammad , Khavani Mohammad , Housaindokht Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2015

Guest molecules and solvents affect the stability and length of the heterocyclic peptide nanotube through the electrostatic interactions.
Dissociation of CO2 on rhodium nanoclusters (Rh13) in various structures supported on unzipped graphene oxide – a DFT study
Authors: Chang Chun-Chih , Ho Jia-Jen
Published: March 2015

Carbon dioxide could readily dissociate to form CO on an unzipped graphene oxide supported icosahedral structure of Rh13 (Rh13-Ih/UGO).
BODIPY-based probes for the fluorescence imaging of biomolecules in living cells
Authors: Kowada Toshiyuki , Maeda Hiroki , Kikuchi Kazuya
Published: March 2015

This review covers recent advances in the development of BODIPY-based fluorescent probes for biological studies.
Recent advances in electrochemiluminescence
Authors: Liu Zhongyuan , Qi Wenjing , Xu Guobao
Published: March 2015

Recent advances, novel phenomena, and prospectives in electrochemiluminescence are presented.
Paederia foetida Linn. inhibits adjuvant induced arthritis by suppression of PGE2and COX-2 expression via nuclear factor-κB
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Al-Abbasi F. A. , Ahmed Danish , Verma Amita , Mujeeb Mohd. , Anwar Firoz
Published: March 2015

The current investigation was undertaken to determine the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects ofPaederia foetidaLinn. (PF) along with its mechanism of action.
Microfluidic studies of polymer adsorption in flow
Authors: Wang Zhaoyi , Voicu Dan , Tang Ling , Li Wei , Kumacheva Eugenia
Published: March 2015

Adsorption of polymers from solutions moving past solid or liquid surfaces controls a broad range of phenomena in science, technology, and medicine.
Identification of functionally methylated regions based on discriminant analysis through integrating methylation and gene expression data
Authors: Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhang Junying
Published: March 2015

DNA methylation is essential not only in cellular differentiation but also in diseases.
Discovery of 4-acetyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(p-tolyl)-5-methylpyrrole as a dual inhibitor of human P-glycoprotein and Staphylococcus aureus Nor A efflux pump
Authors: Bharate Jaideep B. , Singh Samsher , Wani Abubakar , Sharma Sadhana , Joshi Prashant , Khan Inshad A. , Kumar Ajay , Vishwakarma Ram A. , Bharate Sandip B.
Published: March 2015

Pyrroles showed dual inhibition of human P-gp andS. aureusNor A efflux pump.
Metal-free oxysulfenylation of alkenes with 1-(arylthio)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones and alcohols
Authors: Yu Jipan , Gao Chang , Song Zhixuan , Yang Haijun , Fu Hua
Published: March 2015

An easy and efficient metal-free approach to β-alkoxy sulfides has been developed. The protocol uses readily available 1-(arylthio)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones and alcohols as the oxysulfenylating agents, chloroform as the solvent, and no ligand, additive and exclusion of air were required.
Efficient synthesis of (R)-harmonine – the toxic principle of the multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
Authors: Nagel Nadja C. , Masic Anita , Schurigt Uta , Boland Wilhelm
Published: March 2015

An efficient and flexible synthesis of (R)-harmonine and putative biosynthetic precursors has been developed. Furthermore, its antimicrobial activity againstLeishmania majoris demonstrated.
Thermal stability of G-rich anti-parallel DNA triplexes upon insertion of LNA and α-l-LNA
Authors: Kosbar Tamer R. , Sofan Mamdouh A. , Abou-Zeid Laila , Pedersen Erik B.
Published: March 2015

G-rich anti-parallel DNA triplexes were modified with LNA or α-l-LNA in their Watson–Crick and TFO strands.
B(C6F5)3-catalyzed group transfer polymerization of alkyl methacrylates with dimethylphenylsilane through in situ formation of silyl ketene acetal by B(C6F5)3-catalyzed 1,4-hydrosilylation of methacrylate monomer
Authors: Chen Yougen , Kitano Kodai , Tsuchida Shinji , Kikuchi Seiya , Takada Kenji , Satoh Toshifumi , Kakuchi Toyoji
Published: March 2015

The B(C6F5)3-catalyzed GTP of alkyl methacrylates using hydrosilane has been studied in this study.
Boronic esters of corannulene: potential building blocks toward icosahedral supramolecules
Authors: Da Ros Sara , Linden Anthony , Baldridge Kim K. , Siegel Jay S.
Published: March 2015

Direct iridium-catalyzed multi-borylation provides a valuable tool for the symmetric functionalization of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,inter alia, regular fivefold derivatization of corannulene.
Stabilization of silicon nanoparticles in graphene aerogel framework for lithium ion storage
Authors: Xu Binghui , Wu Hao , Lin C. X. (Cynthia) , Wang Bo , Zhang Zhi , Zhao X. S.
Published: March 2015

Schematic illustration of the preparation of Si/RGO-AG.
Immobilization of metalloporphyrin on a silica shell with bimetallic oxide core for ethylbenzene oxidation
Authors: Zhao Sufang , Chen Yuan , Liu Zhigang
Published: March 2015

In this study, metalloporphyrin has been immobilized on a core–shell structured SiO2@CeO2 doped with transition metals such as Fe, Cu, Co and Mn.
Thermally stable phosphorus and nickel modified ZSM-5 zeolites for catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastics
Authors: Yao Weikun , Li Jian , Feng Yu , Wang Wei , Zhang Xianlong , Chen Qun , Komarneni Sridhar , Wang Yujue
Published: March 2015

Phosphorus and nickel modification greatly improves ZSM-5 zeolite's hydrothermal stability and catalytic activity for catalytic co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastics.
Morphology dependent surface enhanced fluorescence study on silver nanorod arrays fabricated by glancing angle deposition
Authors: Singh Dhruv Pratap , Kumar Samir , Singh J. P.
Published: March 2015

The nanorods morphology dependence of surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) has been investigated for Rhodamine 6G adsorbed onto silver nanorod arrays.
Activation of C–H bonds of thiosemicarbazones by transition metals: synthesis, structures and importance of cyclometallated compounds
Authors: Lobana Tarlok S.
Published: March 2015

Transition metals (PdII, PtII, RuII, RhIIIand IrIII) have induced activation of C–H bonds of thiosemicarbazones and yielded mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-nuclear complexes.
DMSO as oxidant and sulfenylating agent for metal-free oxidation and methylthiolation of alcohol-containing indoles
Authors: Zou Jin-Feng , Huang Wei-Sheng , Li Li , Xu Zheng , Zheng Zhan-Jiang , Yang Ke-Fang , Xu Li-Wen
Published: March 2015

A new methylthiolation protocol was successfully established for the synthesis of substituted indoles bearing 3-methylthioether moiety, in which new C–S bond and C=O bond were formed using dimethyl sulfoxide as the sulfur source under mild conditions.
Two more pieces of the colibactin genotoxin puzzle from Escherichia coli show incorporation of an unusual 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid moiety
Authors: Bian Xiaoying , Plaza Alberto , Zhang Youming , Müller Rolf
Published: March 2015

Biosynthetic pathway intermediates related to genotoxin colibactin formation: a linear compound3bearing a rare 7-methyl-4-azaspiro[2.4]hept-6-en-5-one residue.
Using molecular rotors to probe gelation
Authors: Raeburn Jaclyn , Chen Lin , Awhida Salmah , Deller Robert C. , Vatish Manu , Gibson Matthew I. , Adams Dave J.
Published: March 2015

Molecular rotors can be used to follow the self-assembly of low molecular weight gelators.
Iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon nanotube@hollow carbon fibers derived from plant biomass as efficient catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Li Mian , Xiong Yueping , Liu Xiaotian , Han Ce , Zhang Yufan , Bo Xiangjie , Guo Liping
Published: March 2015

Fe/N/CNT@PCFs were prepared by simple pyrolysis of natural product catkin, FeCl3 and melamine and act as an excellent ORR catalyst.
Two generation reproduction and teratogenicity studies of feeding diaveridine in Wistar rats
Authors: Wang Xu , Su Shijia , Awais Ihsan , Liu Qianying , Chen Dongmei , Liu Zhenli , Wang Yulian , Yuan Zonghui
Published: March 2015

Diaveridine (DVD), belonging to the class of compounds called diaminopyrimidines, has been widely used as a bacteriostatic agent.
The real vampires of New Orleans and Buffalo: a research note towards comparative ethnography
Authors: Browning John Edgar
Published: March 2015

This research note is an elaboration of my ethnographic work of the last 5 years and is here presented to raise careful discussion of the little-explored identity and phenomenon of “real vampirism”. An auxiliary purpose of these preliminary findings is to draw attention specifically to a yet unexplored dimension of the real vampire identity: geographical specificity. This line of enquiry is informed by the intensive ethnographic fieldwork I conducted in 2009–2011 in the New Orleans metropolitan area, and by supplementary ethnographic work in 2011–2013 in Buffalo, New York. Also explored is what I term “defiant culture”, through which, I posit, vampire self-identification is able to achieve a measure of empowerment by resisting “normalcy” while critiquing and challenging the power structures that re/produce it.
Elastocaloric effect of Ni-Ti wire for application in a cooling device
Authors: Tušek J. , Engelbrecht K. , Mikkelsen L. P. , Pryds N.
Published: March 2015

We report on the elastocaloric effect of a superelastic Ni-Ti wire to be used in a cooling device. Initially, each evaluated wire was subjected to 400 loading/unloading training cycles in order to stabilize its superelastic behavior. The wires were trained at different temperatures, which lead to different stabilized superelastic behaviors. The stabilized (trained) wires were further tested isothermally (at low strain-rate) and adiabatically (at high strain-rate) at different temperatures (from 312 K to 342 K). We studied the impact of the training temperature and resulting superelastic behavior on the adiabatic temperature changes. The largest measured adiabatic temperature change during loading was 25 K with a corresponding 21 K change during unloading (at 322 K). A special focus was put on the irreversibilities in the adiabatic temperature changes between loading and unloading. It was shown that there are two sources of the temperature irreversibilities: the hysteresis (and related entropy generation) and the temporary residual strain immediately after unloading, respectively. The latter results in the temporary bending of the wire and reduced negative adiabatic temperature change. The paper also shows the impact of the applied strain on the adiabatic temperature changes as well as the distribution of the elastocaloric effect over the wire during loading in the case of two wires trained at different temperatures and the virgin wire, respectively. In the end, we propose guidelines about the required material properties for an efficient elastocaloric cooling device.
Hydrothermal fabrication of octahedral-shaped Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their magnetorheological response
Authors: Jung H. S. , Choi H. J.
Published: March 2015

Octahedral-shaped Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized in the presence of 1,3-diaminopropane using a hydrothermal method and assessed as a potential magnetorheological (MR) material. Their morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and vibrating sample magnetometry, respectively. The MR characteristics of the octahedral-shaped, Fe3O4 nanoparticle-based MR particles when dispersed in silicone oil with a 10 vol. % particle concentration were examined using a rotational rheometer under an external magnetic field. The resulting MR fluids exhibited a Bingham-like behavior with a distinctive yield stress from their flow curves.