bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total Variation-Based Reduction of Streak Artifacts, Ring Artifacts and Noise in 3D Reconstruction from Optical Projection Tomography
Authors: Michálek Jan
Published: October 2015

Optical projection tomography (OPT) is a computed tomography technique at optical frequencies for samples of 0.5–15 mm in size, which fills an important “imaging gap” between confocal microscopy (for smaller samples) and large-sample methods such as fluorescence molecular tomography or micro magnetic resonance imaging. OPT operates in either fluorescence or transmission mode. Two-dimensional (2D) projections are taken over 360° with a fixed rotational increment around the vertical axis. Standard 3D reconstruction from 2D OPT uses the filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm based on the Radon transform. FBP approximates the inverse Radon transform using a ramp filter that spreads reconstructed pixels to neighbor pixels thus producing streak and other types of artifacts, as well as noise. Artifacts increase the variation of grayscale values in the reconstructed images. We present an algorithm that improves the quality of reconstruction even for a low number of projections by simultaneously minimizing the sum of absolute brightness changes in the reconstructed volume (the total variation) and the error between measured and reconstructed data. We demonstrate the efficiency of the method on real biological data acquired on a dedicated OPT device.
Beef cattle welfare in the USA: identification of priorities for future research
Authors: Tucker Cassandra B. , Coetzee Johann F. , Stookey Joseph M. , Thomson Daniel U. , Grandin Temple , Schwartzkopf-Genswein Karen S.
Published: October 2015

This review identifies priorities for beef cattle welfare research in the USA. Based on our professional expertise and synthesis of existing literature, we identify two themes in intensive aspects of beef production: areas where policy-based actions are needed and those where additional research is required. For some topics, considerable research informs best practice, yet gaps remain between scientific knowledge and implementation. For example, many of the risk factors and management strategies to prevent respiratory disease are understood, but only used by a relatively small portion of the industry. This is an animal health issue that will require leadership and discussion to gain widespread adoption of practices that benefit cattle welfare. There is evidence of success when such actions are taken, as illustrated by the recent improvements in handling at US slaughter facilities. Our highest priorities for additional empirical evidence are: the effect of technologies used to either promote growth or manage cattle in feedlots, identification of management risk factors for disease in feedlots, and management decisions about transport (rest stops, feed/water deprivation, climatic conditions, stocking density). Additional research is needed to inform science-based recommendations about environmental features such as dry lying areas (mounds), shade, water and feed, as well as trailer design.
The need for friendships and information: Dimensions of social support and posttraumatic growth among women with breast cancer
Authors: Hasson-Ohayon Ilanit , Tuval-Mashiach Rivka , Goldzweig Gil , Levi Rienat , Pizem Noam , Kaufman Bela
Published: October 2015

Objective:

Employing a cross-sectional design, the current study examined the relationships between various agents and types of support and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among women with breast cancer.

Method:

Eighty married women who were coping with breast cancer completed social support and PTG questionnaires.

Results:

All agents of social support (family, friends, belief-based), excluding spousal support, and all types of social support were found to be related to the various PTG dimensions and its total score. Regression analyses revealed that, among the agents of support, only support provided from friends and belief-based support uniquely contribute to prediction of total PTG score. While examining the contribution of various types of support, only cognitive support had a unique contribution to prediction of total PTG score.

Significance of results:

Various agents and types of support play different roles in the PTG process following breast cancer. Accordingly, friends as an agent of support and information as a type of support seem to be most important in enhancing PTG among women with breast cancer.
Developing an Index of the Rule of Law: Sharing the Experience of Hong Kong
Authors: Tai Benny Y.T.
Published: October 2015

The Rule of Law is considered a major aspect of modern governance. For every legal system, it is important whether the Rule of Law is attained and how far it has been attained. Though there are various indicators and indexes of the Rule of Law they all have their limitations. This paper reported a study conducted in Hong Kong in 2005, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies, to assess the level of attainment of the Rule of Law in Hong Kong. It is found that the level of attainment is high but a downward trend is also discovered. A main objective of developing this new methodology in assessing Rule of Law, is that it could be used for tracking the development of the Rule of Law in a particular legal system and facilitating comparison between legal systems.
Auditory Verbal Hallucinations: can Beliefs about Voices Mediate the Relationship Patients establish with them and Negative Affect?
Authors: León-Palacios María de Gracia , Úbeda-Gómez Juan , Escudero-Pérez Silvia , Barros-Albarán María Dolores , López-Jiménez Ana María , Perona-Garcelán Salvador
Published: October 2015

This study was designed to find out whether a person’s relationship with his voices and the negative affect he suffers from are mediated by beliefs about the voices. Research done to date shows contradictory results (Sorrell, Hayward, & Meddings, 2010, Vaughan & Fowler, 2004). A cross-sectional study was done to study the associations among variables, and a multiple mediation model (Preacher & Hayes, 2008) in which the beliefs about voices were the mediating variables was tested. Sixty subjects who heard voices participated. The VAY (Hayward, Denney, Vaughan, & Fowler, 2008), BAVQ (Chadwick & Birchwood, 1995), BAI (Beck & Steer, 1993) and BDI-II (Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996) were given. We found a significant positive correlation between perception of voices as dominant and intrusive and maintaining a position of distance from them on one hand, and negative affect [anxiety (r = .57, p < .001; r = .40, p < .001; r = .34, p < .01 respectively) and depression (r = .58, p < .001; r = .37, p < .01; r = .38, p < .001 respectively)] on the other. We also found that beliefs of malevolence and omnipotence mediated between relating style and negative affect (anxiety and depression). The theoretical implications of the results and clinical implications of the mediating relationships found are discussed.
Egalitarianism and Sexual Prejudice: the Role of Ingroup Distinctiveness Motives
Authors: Falomir-Pichastor Juan Manuel , Berent Jacques , Mugny Gabriel , Faniko Klea
Published: October 2015

The present research examined the hypothesis that heterosexual men’s motivation to differentiate their ingroup from gay men moderates the link between egalitarianism and sexual prejudice. In two experiments conducted in Switzerland (N= 74) and Ecuador (N= 104), we assessed heterosexual men’s endorsement of egalitarian values and experimentally manipulated scientific evidence supporting or refuting the existence of biological differences between heterosexual and gay men (the biological theory). The main dependent variable was attitude towards homosexuality. As predicted, the interaction between egalitarianism and the biological theory was significant in both experiments,t(67) = 3.18,p= .002, ηp2= .13, andt(100) = 2.26,p= .026, ηp2= .04, respectively. Egalitarianism increased positive attitudes towards homosexuality only when science supported the existence of biological differences between heterosexual and gay men. We discuss the relevance of this finding to intergroup relations.
Tropical storm‐induced near‐inertial internal waves during the Cirene experiment: Energy fluxes and impact on vertical mixing
Authors: Cuypers Y. , Le Vaillant X. , Bouruet‐Aubertot P. , Vialard J. , McPhaden M. J.
Published: October 2015

Near‐inertial internal waves (NIW) excited by storms and cyclones play an essential role in driving turbulent mixing in the thermocline and interior ocean. Storm‐induced mixing may be climatically relevant in regions like the thermocline ridge in the southwestern Indian Ocean, where a shallow thermocline and strong high frequency wind activity enhance the impact of internal gravity wave‐induced mixing on sea surface temperature. The Cirene research cruise in early 2007 collected ship‐borne and mooring vertical profiles in this region under the effect of a developing tropical cyclone. In this paper, we characterize the NIW field and the impact of these waves on turbulent mixing in the upper ocean. NIW packets were identified down to 1000 m, the maximum depth of the measurements. We estimated an NIW vertical energy flux of up to 2.5 mW m−2 within the pycnocline, which represents about 10% of the maximum local wind power input. A non‐negligible fraction of the wind power input is hence potentially available for subsurface mixing. The impact of mixing by internal waves on the upper ocean heat budget was estimated from a fine‐scale mixing parameterization. During the first leg of the cruise (characterized by little NIW activity), the average heating rate due to mixing was ~0.06 °C month−1 in the thermocline (23–24 kg m−3 isopycnals). During the second leg, characterized by strong NIW energy in the thermocline and below, this heating rate increased to 0.42 °C month−1, indicative of increased shear instability along near inertial wave energy pathways.
Modeling aerosols and their interactions with shallow cumuli during the 2007 CHAPS field study
Authors: Shrivastava Manish , Berg Larry K. , Fast Jerome D. , Easter Richard C. , Laskin Alexander , Chapman Elaine G. , Gustafson William I. , Liu Ying , Berkowitz Carl M.
Published: October 2015

The Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry, using 2 km horizontal grid spacing, is used to simulate two important relationships between aerosols and clouds in the vicinity of Oklahoma City during the June 2007 Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Processing Study (CHAPS). First, the model reproduces the trends of higher nitrate volume fractions in cloud droplet residuals compared to interstitial nonactivated aerosols, as measured using an aerosol mass spectrometer. Comparing simulations with cloud chemistry turned on and off, we show that nitric acid vapor uptake by cloud droplets explains the higher nitrate content of cloud droplet residuals. Second, the model reasonably represents the observations of the first aerosol indirect effect where pollutants in the vicinity of Oklahoma City increase cloud droplet number concentrations and decrease the droplet effective radius. In addition, as documented using an offline optical code, simulated aerosol optical properties depend on several compensating effects including aerosol water content, size‐resolved chemical composition, and refractory index of various particle chemical species. All of our four sensitivity test cases clearly show an increase in simulated absorption and a decrease in single scattering albedo within the Oklahoma City plume relative to conditions outside the plume. While previous studies have often focused on cloud–aerosol interactions in stratiform and deep convective clouds, this study highlights the ability of regional‐scale models to represent some of the important aspects of cloud–aerosol interactions associated with fields of short‐lived shallow cumuli.
Erratum: Ultrafast visualization of crystallization and grain growth in shock-compressed SiO2
Authors: Gleason A. E. , Bolme C. A. , Lee H. J. , Nagler B. , Galtier E. , Milathianaki D. , Hawreliak J. , Kraus R. G. , Eggert J. H. , Fratanduono D. E. , Collins G. W. , Sandberg R. , Yang W. , Mao W. L.
Published: October 2015

Nature Communications 6: Article number: 8191 doi: (2015); Published 4 September 2015; Updated 13 October 2015 An incorrect version of the Supplementary Information was inadvertently published with this Article and did not show axes labels for Supplementary Figs 2–4. The HTML has now been updated toinclude the correct version of the Supplementary Information.
Disparities in breast cancer care and research: report from a Breast Cancer Research Foundation sponsored workshop, 9–10 October 2014
Authors: Canin Beverly , Freund Karen M , Ganz Patricia A , Hershman Dawn L , Paskett Electra D ,   on behalf of the workshop participants
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this workshop was to bring together diverse stakeholders from the breast cancer research community to discuss critical issues related to disparities in breast cancer care and to identify potential strategies for reducing disparities and inequities in care through research. The workshop format included a series of formal content presentations, participation in break out groups that focused on specific topics highlighted in the content presentations, reporting back of findings and a facilitated discussion that focused on shaping a research agenda. The workshop members concluded that numerous groups of women are at increased risk for disparities in breast cancer care: many patients and survivors suffer disproportionately from inadequate access to high-quality diagnosis and treatment, resulting in more frequent and severe adverse outcomes from the disease. Research on breast cancer disparities provides a major opportunity for reducing the burden of breast cancer. Thus, it is important for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other research funders to consider how to best promote research focused on ensuring breast cancer health equity.
Determining Associations between Human Diseases and non-coding RNAs with Critical Roles in Network Control
Authors: Kagami Haruna , Akutsu Tatsuya , Maegawa Shingo , Hosokawa Hiroshi , Nacher Jose C.
Published: October 2015

Deciphering the association between life molecules and human diseases is currently an important task in systems biology. Research over the past decade has unveiled that the human genome is almost entirely transcribed, producing a vast number of non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with potential regulatory functions. More recent findings suggest that many diseases may not be exclusively linked to mutations in protein-coding genes. The combination of these arguments poses the question of whether ncRNAs that play a critical role in network control are also enriched with disease-associated ncRNAs. To address this question, we mapped the available annotated information of more than 350 human disorders to the largest collection of human ncRNA-protein interactions, which define a bipartite network of almost 93,000 interactions. Using a novel algorithmic-based controllability framework applied to the constructed bipartite network, we found that ncRNAs engaged in critical network control are also statistically linked to human disorders (P-value of P = 9.8 × 10−109). Taken together, these findings suggest that the addition of those genes that encode optimized subsets of ncRNAs engaged in critical control within the pool of candidate genes could aid disease gene prioritization studies.
Neonicotinoid pesticides severely affect honey bee queens
Authors: Williams Geoffrey R. , Troxler Aline , Retschnig Gina , Roth Kaspar , Yañez Orlando , Shutler Dave , Neumann Peter , Gauthier Laurent
Published: October 2015

Queen health is crucial to colony survival of social bees. Recently, queen failure has been proposed to be a major driver of managed honey bee colony losses, yet few data exist concerning effects of environmental stressors on queens. Here we demonstrate for the first time that exposure to field-realistic concentrations of neonicotinoid pesticides during development can severely affect queens of western honey bees (Apis mellifera). In pesticide-exposed queens, reproductive anatomy (ovaries) and physiology (spermathecal-stored sperm quality and quantity), rather than flight behaviour, were compromised and likely corresponded to reduced queen success (alive and producing worker offspring). This study highlights the detriments of neonicotinoids to queens of environmentally and economically important social bees and further strengthens the need for stringent risk assessments to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services that are vulnerable to these substances.
Computational analysis of stochastic heterogeneity in PCR amplification efficiency revealed by single molecule barcoding
Authors: Best Katharine , Oakes Theres , Heather James M. , Shawe-Taylor John , Chain Benny
Published: October 2015

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most widely used techniques in molecular biology. In combination with High Throughput Sequencing (HTS), PCR is widely used to quantify transcript abundance for RNA-seq and in the context of analysis of T and B cell receptor repertoires. In this study, we combine DNA barcoding with HTS to quantify PCR output from individual target molecules. We develop computational tools that simulate both the PCR branching process itself and the subsequent subsampling which typically occurs during HTS sequencing. We explore the influence of different types of heterogeneity on sequencing output and compare them to experimental results where the efficiency of amplification is measured by barcodes uniquely identifying each molecule of starting template. Our results demonstrate that the PCR process introduces substantial amplification heterogeneity, independent of primer sequence and bulk experimental conditions. This heterogeneity can be attributed both to inherited differences between different template DNA molecules and the inherent stochasticity of the PCR process. The results demonstrate that PCR heterogeneity arises even when reaction and substrate conditions are kept as constant as possible and therefore single molecule barcoding is essential in order to derive reproducible quantitative results from any protocol combining PCR with HTS.
Extracellular microvesicles and invadopodia mediate non-overlapping modes of tumor cell invasion
Authors: Sedgwick Alanna E. , Clancy James W. , Olivia Balmert M. , D’Souza-Schorey Crislyn
Published: October 2015

Tumor cell invasion requires the molecular and physical adaptation of both the cell and its microenvironment. Here we show that tumor cells are able to switch between the use of microvesicles and invadopodia to facilitate invasion through the extracellular matrix. Invadopodia formation accompanies the mesenchymal mode of migration on firm matrices and is facilitated by Rac1 activation. On the other hand, during invasion through compliant and deformable environments, tumor cells adopt an amoeboid phenotype and release microvesicles. Notably, firm matrices do not support microvesicle release, whereas compliant matrices are not conducive to invadopodia biogenesis. Furthermore, Rac1 activation is required for invadopodia function, while its inactivation promotes RhoA activation and actomyosin contractility required for microvesicle shedding. Suppression of RhoA signaling blocks microvesicle formation but enhances the formation of invadopodia. Finally, we describe Rho-mediated pathways involved in microvesicle biogenesis through the regulation of myosin light chain phosphatase. Our findings suggest that the ability of tumor cells to switch between the aforementioned qualitatively distinct modes of invasion may allow for dissemination across different microenvironments.
Towards the Knittability of Graphene Oxide Fibres
Authors: Seyedin Shayan , Romano Mark S. , Minett Andrew I. , Razal Joselito M.
Published: October 2015

Recent developments in graphene oxide fibre (GO) processing include exciting demonstrations of hand woven textile structures. However, it is uncertain whether the fibres produced can meet the processing requirements of conventional textile manufacturing. This work reports for the first time the production of highly flexible and tough GO fibres that can be knitted using textile machinery. The GO fibres are made by using a dry-jet wet-spinning method, which allows drawing of the spinning solution (the GO dispersion) in several stages of the fibre spinning process. The coagulation composition and spinning conditions are evaluated in detail, which led to the production of densely packed fibres with near-circular cross-sections and highly ordered GO domains. The results are knittable GO fibres with Young’s modulus of ~7.9 GPa, tensile strength of ~135.8 MPa, breaking strain of ~5.9% and toughness of ~5.7 MJ m−3. The combination of suitable spinning method, coagulation composition and spinning conditions led to GO fibres with remarkable toughness; the key factor in their successful knitting. This work highlights important progress in realising the full potential of GO fibres as a new class of textile.
Prioritization Of Nonsynonymous Single Nucleotide Variants For Exome Sequencing Studies Via Integrative Learning On Multiple Genomic Data
Authors: Wu Mengmeng , Wu Jiaxin , Chen Ting , Jiang Rui
Published: October 2015

The rapid advancement of next generation sequencing technology has greatly accelerated the progress for understanding human inherited diseases via such innovations as exome sequencing. Nevertheless, the identification of causative variants from sequencing data remains a great challenge. Traditional statistical genetics approaches such as linkage analysis and association studies have limited power in analyzing exome sequencing data, while relying on simply filtration strategies and predicted functional implications of mutations to pinpoint pathogenic variants are prone to produce false positives. To overcome these limitations, we herein propose a supervised learning approach, termed snvForest, to prioritize candidate nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants for a specific type of disease by integrating 11 functional scores at the variant level and 8 association scores at the gene level. We conduct a series of large-scale in silico validation experiments, demonstrating the effectiveness of snvForest across 2,511 diseases of different inheritance styles and the superiority of our approach over two state-of-the-art methods. We further apply snvForest to three real exome sequencing data sets of epileptic encephalophathies and intellectual disability to show the ability of our approach to identify causative de novo mutations for these complex diseases. The online service and standalone software of snvForest are found at http://bioinfo.au.tsinghua.edu.cn/jianglab/snvforest.
The eQTL-missense polymorphisms of APOBEC3H are associated with lung cancer risk in a Han Chinese population
Authors: Zhu Meng , Wang Yuzhuo , Wang Cheng , Shen Wei , Liu Jia , Geng Liguo , Cheng Yang , Dai Juncheng , Jin Guangfu , Ma Hongxia , Hu Zhibin , Shen Hongbing
Published: October 2015

APOBEC (Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like) enzymes may involve in mutagenic processes in multiple cancer types, including lung cancer. APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases induces base substitutions with a stringent TCW motif, which is widespread in multiple human cancers. We hypothesized that common missense variants in coding regions of APOBEC genes might damage the structure of proteins and modify lung cancer risk. To test this hypothesis, we systematically screened predicted deleterious polymorphisms in the exon regions of 10 APOBEC core genes (APOBEC1, APOBEC2, APOBEC3A, APOBEC3B, APOBEC3C, APOBEC3D, APOBEC3F, APOBEC3G, APOBEC3H and APOBEC4) and evaluated them with a case-control study including 1200 cases and 1253 controls. We found that the T allele of rs139293 in exon 2 of APOBEC3H was significantly associated with decreased risk of lung cancer (odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.63–0.91). Similar inverse association of this variant was observed in subgroups. Further study showed that the T allele of rs139293 was associated with the altered expression of APOBEC3H and APOBEC3C and that the two genes were co-expressed in both tumor and adjacent normal tissues. These results indicate that genetic variants in APOBEC3H may contribute to lung cancer susceptibility in Chinese population.
Junb controls lymphatic vascular development in zebrafish via miR-182
Authors: Kiesow Kristin , Bennewitz Katrin , Miranda Laura Gutierrez , Stoll Sandra J. , Hartenstein Bettina , Angel Peter , Kroll Jens , Schorpp-Kistner Marina
Published: October 2015

JUNB, a subunit of the AP-1 transcription factor complex, mediates gene regulation in response to a plethora of extracellular stimuli. Previously, JUNB was shown to act as a critical positive regulator of blood vessel development and homeostasis as well as a negative regulator of proliferation, inflammation and tumour growth. Here, we demonstrate that the oncogenic miR-182 is a novel JUNB target. Loss-of-function studies by morpholino-mediated knockdown and the CRISPR/Cas9 technology identify a novel function for both JUNB and its target miR-182 in lymphatic vascular development in zebrafish. Furthermore, we show that miR-182 attenuates foxo1 expression indicating that strictly balanced Foxo1 levels are required for proper lymphatic vascular development in zebrafish. In conclusion, our findings uncover with the Junb/miR-182/Foxo1 regulatory axis a novel key player in governing lymphatic vascular morphogenesis in zebrafish.
Rapid DNA detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-towards single cell sensitivity in point-of-care diagnosis
Authors: Ng Benjamin Y.C. , Wee Eugene J.H. , West Nicholas P. , Trau Matt
Published: October 2015

Although there have been many recent advances in Tuberculosis (TB) detection technologies, there still remains a major need to develop simpler point-of-care techniques. In an effort towards such a diagnostic test for resource-poor settings, we have designed a bioassay based on detecting amplified DNA via bridging flocculation. The assay is cheap, with a sensitivity approaching a single cell of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the potential for translation into broader applications.
The folate-coupled enzyme MTHFD2 is a nuclear protein and promotes cell proliferation
Authors: Gustafsson Sheppard Nina , Jarl Lisa , Mahadessian Diana , Strittmatter Laura , Schmidt Angelika , Madhusudan Nikhil , Tegnér Jesper , Lundberg Emma K. , Asplund Anna , Jain Mohit , Nilsson Roland
Published: October 2015

Folate metabolism is central to cell proliferation and a target of commonly used cancer chemotherapeutics. In particular, the mitochondrial folate-coupled metabolism is thought to be important for proliferating cancer cells. The enzyme MTHFD2 in this pathway is highly expressed in human tumors and broadly required for survival of cancer cells. Although the enzymatic activity of the MTHFD2 protein is well understood, little is known about its larger role in cancer cell biology. We here report that MTHFD2 is co-expressed with two distinct gene sets, representing amino acid metabolism and cell proliferation, respectively. Consistent with a role for MTHFD2 in cell proliferation, MTHFD2 expression was repressed in cells rendered quiescent by deprivation of growth signals (serum) and rapidly re-induced by serum stimulation. Overexpression of MTHFD2 alone was sufficient to promote cell proliferation independent of its dehydrogenase activity, even during growth restriction. In addition to its known mitochondrial localization, we found MTHFD2 to have a nuclear localization and co-localize with DNA replication sites. These findings suggest a previously unknown role for MTHFD2 in cancer cell proliferation, adding to its known function in mitochondrial folate metabolism.
Interface designed MoS2/GaAs heterostructure solar cell with sandwich stacked hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Lin Shisheng , Li Xiaoqiang , Wang Peng , Xu Zhijuan , Zhang Shengjiao , Zhong Huikai , Wu Zhiqian , Xu Wenli , Chen Hongsheng
Published: October 2015

MoS2 is a layered two-dimensional semiconductor with a direct band gap of 1.8 eV. The MoS2/bulk semiconductor system offers a new platform for solar cell device design. Different from the conventional bulk p-n junctions, in the MoS2/bulk semiconductor heterostructure, static charge transfer shifts the Fermi level of MoS2 toward that of bulk semiconductor, lowering the barrier height of the formed junction. Herein, we introduce hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) into MoS2/GaAs heterostructure to suppress the static charge transfer and the obtained MoS2/h-BN/GaAs solar cell exhibits an improved power conversion efficiency of 5.42%. More importantly, the sandwiched h-BN makes the Fermi level tuning of MoS2 more effective. By employing chemical doping and electrical gating into the solar cell device, PCE of 9.03% is achieved, which is the highest among all the reported monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide based solar cells.
Lateral prefrontal model-based signatures are reduced in healthy individuals with high trait impulsivity
Authors: Deserno L , Wilbertz T , Reiter A , Horstmann A , Neumann J , Villringer A , Heinze H-J , Schlagenhauf F
Published: October 2015

High impulsivity is an important risk factor for addiction with evidence from endophenotype studies. In addiction, behavioral control is shifted toward the habitual end. Habitual control can be described by retrospective updating of reward expectations in ‘model-free’ temporal-difference algorithms. Goal-directed control relies on the prospective consideration of actions and their outcomes, which can be captured by forward-planning ‘model-based’ algorithms. So far, no studies have examined behavioral and neural signatures of model-free and model-based control in healthy high-impulsive individuals. Fifty healthy participants were drawn from the upper and lower ends of 452 individuals, completing the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. All participants performed a sequential decision-making task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and underwent structural MRI. Behavioral and fMRI data were analyzed by means of computational algorithms reflecting model-free and model-based control. Both groups did not differ regarding the balance of model-free and model-based control, but high-impulsive individuals showed a subtle but significant accentuation of model-free control alone. Right lateral prefrontal model-based signatures were reduced in high-impulsive individuals. Effects of smoking, drinking, general cognition or gray matter density did not account for the findings. Irrespectively of impulsivity, gray matter density in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was positively associated with model-based control. The present study supports the idea that high levels of impulsivity are accompanied by behavioral and neural signatures in favor of model-free behavioral control. Behavioral results in healthy high-impulsive individuals were qualitatively different to findings in patients with the same task. The predictive relevance of these results remains an important target for future longitudinal studies.
Advances in Stripping Analysis of Metals
Authors: Economou Anastasios , Kokkinos Christos
Published: October 2015

Stripping analysis (SA) is an extremely sensitive electroanalytical technique suitable for trace and ultra-trace determination of metal cations. It is based on a preconcentration step of the target metals on the surface of a suitable working electrode followed by a voltammetric or chronopotentiometric stripping/measurement step of the accumulated metals. The preconcentration stage results in a significant increase in the detection sensitivity allowing the determination of trace metals from μg L−1 down to sub-ng L−1 levels. This chapter is a review of some recent advances in SA of metals with emphasis on new electrode materials (amalgam, “green” metallic electrodes, and screen–printed electrodes), microfabrication approaches (cell-on-a-chip and paper-based devices), lab-on-a-valve configurations, and submersible probes.
Quantification of Zn(ii) using a label-free sensor based on graphene oxide and G-quadruplex
Authors: Guo Yahui , Sun Yan , Shen Xiaoqiang , Chen Xing , Yao Weirong , Xie Yunfei , Hu Jiming , Pei Renjun
Published: October 2015

A label-free fluorescence assay was developed for the detection of Zn2+ using GO and a guanine-rich sequence H22.
Label-free simple fluorescence assay of DNA polymerase using the G-quadruplex structure
Authors: Kim Seyeon , Gang Jongback
Published: October 2015

In this study, the G-quadruplex structure was used to detect the enzymatic activity and inhibition of the Klenow fragment exo−(KF−) in the presence ofN-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM) which binds specifically to the G-quadruplex.
Development and validation of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of sennoside A and sennoside B in laxatives based on optimal chromatographic parameters
Authors: Tan Peng , Zhao Yan-ling , Cao Jun-ling , Xiao Xiao-he , Wang Jia-bo
Published: October 2015

A simple and sensitive UHPLC method was developed for simultaneous quantification of sennoside A and sennoside B in laxatives.
Metal-carbonyl organometallic polymers, PFpP, as resists for high-resolution positive and negative electron beam lithography
Authors: Zhang J. , Cao K. , Wang X. S. , Cui B.
Published: October 2015

Metal-carbonyl organometallic polymers, PFpP, can function as high-resolution resists for electron beam lithography.
The copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amidation of tertiary amines
Authors: Cheng Hui-Cheng , Hou Wen-Jun , Li Zeng-Wen , Liu Ming-Yu , Guan Bing-Tao
Published: October 2015

A general and efficient method for the synthesis of tertiary amides has been developed via the copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative amidation of tertiary amines.
A KISS (keep it simple, sensor) array for glycosaminoglycans
Authors: Francoia Jean-Patrick , Vial Laurent
Published: October 2015

We demonstrate that it is possible to design a sensor array with one unique receptor and indicator, allowing not only the blind identification of pure GAGs with a level of accuracy of 100%, but also the differentiation of mixtures.
Nature of flocculation and tactoid formation in montmorillonite: the role of pH
Authors: Segad M. , Åkesson T. , Cabane B. , Jönsson Bo
Published: October 2015

Montmorillonite platelets dissolve slowly at low pH and among other species trivalent Al3+ions are released, hydrated and polymerized. The dissolution process dramatically changes the microstructure of Na montmorillonite, which instead of having fully exfoliated platelets, turns into a structure of aggregated platelets, so-called tactoids.
Physicochemical perspectives (aggregation, structure and dynamics) of interaction between pluronic (L31) and surfactant (SDS)
Authors: Prameela G. K. S. , Phani Kumar B. V. N. , Pan A. , Aswal V. K. , Subramanian J. , Mandal A. B. , Moulik S. P.
Published: October 2015

The influence of the water soluble non-ionic tri-block copolymer L31 on the microstructure and self-aggregation dynamics of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution was investigated.
Fluorescence from an H-aggregated naphthalenediimide based peptide: photophysical and computational investigation of this rare phenomenon
Authors: Basak Shibaji , Nandi Nibedita , Bhattacharyya Kalishankar , Datta Ayan , Banerjee Arindam
Published: October 2015

An NDI based peptide is found to form a fluorescent H-aggregate in a chloroform-methylcyclohexane mixture and the transition from the second exited state (S2) to the ground energy state (S0) is responsible for this unusual fluorescence.
Novel C3N4/Zn1−xCdxS heterostructures with adjustment of the band gap and their visible light photocatalytic properties
Authors: Cui Xia , Zheng Yi Fan , Yin Hao Yong , Song Xu Chun
Published: October 2015

C3N4/Zn1−xCdxS heterostructures with excellent photocatalytic activitiy were prepared. The enhanced performance may be attributed to the appropriate band structure.
Bimetallic bis(benzotriazole iminophenolate) cobalt, nickel and zinc complexes as versatile catalysts for coupling of carbon dioxide with epoxides and copolymerization of phthalic anhydride with cyclohexene oxide
Authors: Yu Chun-Yue , Chuang Hui-Ju , Ko Bao-Tsan
Published: October 2015

New bimetallic bis(benzotriazole iminophenolate) cobalt and nickel catalysts were developed for versatile catalysis of CO2/epoxide coupling and PA/CHO copolymerization.
Magnetically separable Ag3PO4/NiFe2O4composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity
Authors: Patil Santosh S. , Tamboli Mohaseen S. , Deonikar Virendrakumar G. , Umarji Govind G. , Ambekar Jalindar D. , Kulkarni Milind V. , Kolekar Sanjay S. , Kale Bharat B. , Patil Deepak R.
Published: October 2015

A step wise growth process of APO nuclei leads to developing interesting morphologies of APO/NFO composites.
Mechanical properties of zirconium alloys and zirconium hydrides predicted from density functional perturbation theory
Authors: Weck Philippe F. , Kim Eunja , Tikare Veena , Mitchell John A.
Published: October 2015

The elastic properties and mechanical stability of zirconium alloys and zirconium hydrides have been investigated within the framework of density functional perturbation theory. Results show that the lowest-energy Pn3̄m δ-ZrH1.5 phase is not mechanically stable.
Neutral N-donor ligand based flexible metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Manna Biplab , Desai Aamod V. , Ghosh Sujit K.
Published: October 2015

This short review focuses on the flexibility aspect of MOFs based on neutral N-donor ligands with representative examples concerning the structural aspects and the subsequent properties induced by the reorganization of the frameworks.
Solvothermal synthesis of enneanuclear [CuII7LnIII2] clusters
Authors: Canaj Angelos B. , Tzimopoulos Demetrios I. , Otręba Marta , Lis Tadeusz , Inglis Ross , Milios Constantinos J.
Published: October 2015

Four enneanuclear heterometallic copper–lanthanide [CuII7LnIII2] (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy and Y) complexes were isolated and characterized by magnetic measurements.
Switching the orientation of Jahn–Teller axes in oxime-based MnIII dimers and its effect upon magnetic exchange: a combined experimental and theoretical study
Authors: Comar Priyanka , Rajeshkumar Thayalan , Nichol Gary S. , Pitak Mateusz B. , Coles Simon J. , Rajaraman Gopalan , Brechin Euan K.
Published: October 2015

A switch in the relative orientations of the Jahn–Teller axes in [Mn(NO)]2 dimers switches the magnetic exchange from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic.
Synthesis, structure and properties of the manganese-doped polyoxotitanate cage [Ti18MnO30(OEt)20(MnPhen)3] (Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline)
Authors: Li Ning , Matthews Peter D. , Leung Jane J. , King Timothy C. , Wood Paul T. , Luo He-Kuan , Wright Dominic S.
Published: October 2015

The novel Mn-doped polyoxotitanate [Ti18MnO30(OEt)20(MnPhen)3] decomposes thermally into α-Mn2O3/TiO2.
Monomeric siliconthiodichloride trapped by a Lewis base
Authors: Roy Sudipta , Mondal Kartik Chandra , Mondal Totan , Koley Debasis , Dittrich Birger , Roesky Herbert W.
Published: October 2015

cAAC-ligand stabilized monomeric siliconthiodichloride (cAAC)SiSCl2 (3) is prepared via reaction of (cAAC˙)2Si2Cl4 (1) or (cAAC)2Si2Cl2 (2) with elemental sulfur (S8).
Fabrication of nanocomposites composed of silver cyanamide and titania for improved photocatalytic hydrogen generation
Authors: Meng Hao , Li Xiaoxue , Zhang Xia , Liu Yufeng , Xu Yan , Han Yide , Xu Junli
Published: October 2015

Highly efficient composite photocatalysts composed of silver cyanamide (Ag2NCN) and anatase titania (TiO2) were fabricated through a chemical precipitation process of silver nitrate and cyanamide in TiO2suspensions.
Planar heterojunction organometal halide perovskite solar cells: roles of interfacial layers
Authors: Kim Hobeom , Lim Kyung-Geun , Lee Tae-Woo
Published: October 2015

This review article gives an overview of progress in planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells and the roles of interfacial layers in the device, and suggests a practical strategy to fabricate highly efficient and flexible planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells.
Food matrix and processing influence on carotenoid bioaccessibility and lipophilic antioxidant activity of fruit juice-based beverages
Authors: Rodríguez-Roque María Janeth , de Ancos Begoña , Sánchez-Vega Rogelio , Sánchez-Moreno Concepción , Cano M. Pilar , Elez-Martínez Pedro , Martín-Belloso Olga
Published: October 2015

Food matrix and food processing are factors of importance in designing food and beverages with a high content of bioaccessible carotenoids.
Haemoglobin content modulated deformation dynamics of red blood cells on a compact disc
Authors: Kar Shantimoy , Ghosh Uddipta , Maiti Tapas Kumar , Chakraborty Suman
Published: October 2015

This study brings out the interplay between haemoglobin content and RBC deformability in a centrifugally actuated microfluidic environment.
Ultrasensitive optical detection of anions by quantum dots
Authors: Lou Yongbing , Zhao Yixin , Zhu Jun-Jie
Published: October 2015

A review about ultrasensitive optical detection of anions by quantum dots in aqueous solution or in vivo.
The excited-state multiple proton transfer mechanism of the 7-hydroxyquinoline–(CH3OH)3cluster
Authors: Cui Yanling , Zhao Hong , Zhao Jinfeng , Li Pengyu , Song Peng , Xia Lixin
Published: October 2015

Two proposed competitive types of multiple excited-state proton transfer take place along the intermolecular hydrogen-bond for 7-hydroxyquinoline–(CH3OH)3.
Direct and continuous synthesis of VO2 nanoparticles
Authors: Powell M. J. , Marchand P. , Denis C. J. , Bear J. C. , Darr J. A. , Parkin I. P.
Published: October 2015

The synthesis of thermochromic VO2 nanoparticles, with the ability to tailor the particle size and shape, is reported from a continuous hydrothermal synthetic route.
Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide alloys: preparation, characterization and applications
Authors: Xie L. M.
Published: October 2015

Alloying allows broad band gap engineering and more for two-dimensional materials.
The role of the domain size and titanium dopant in nanocrystalline hematite thin films for water photolysis
Authors: Yan Danhua , Tao Jing , Kisslinger Kim , Cen Jiajie , Wu Qiyuan , Orlov Alexander , Liu Mingzhao
Published: October 2015

A two-step “deposition–oxidation” strategy is adapted for the fabrication of titanium-doped hematite thin films with a large domain size and excellent activity for photoelectrochemical water splitting.
Repeated appearance and disappearance of localized surface plasmon resonance in 1.2 nm gold clusters induced by adsorption and desorption of hydrogen atoms
Authors: Ishida Ryo , Yamazoe Seiji , Koyasu Kiichirou , Tsukuda Tatsuya
Published: October 2015

The electronic structures of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-stabilized gold clusters with a diameter of ∼1.2 nm can be modulated repeatedly by the adsorption and desorption of hydrogen atoms derived from NaBH4.
Silica core–polystyrene shell nanoparticle synthesis and assembly in three dimensions
Authors: Sabouri Hadi , Huang Yun , Ohno Kohji , Perrier Sébastien
Published: October 2015

Monodisperse silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) grafted with well-defined and highly dense polystyrene brushes are used as building blocks for the formation of three-dimensional (3D) colloidal crystals.
One-pot one-cluster synthesis of fluorescent and bio-compatible Ag14 nanoclusters for cancer cell imaging
Authors: Yang Jie , Xia Nan , Wang Xinan , Liu Xianhu , Xu An , Wu Zhikun , Luo Zhixun
Published: October 2015

A fluorescent, bio-compatible silver cluster (Ag14) is synthesized in a one-pot one-cluster fashion, and successfully applied to imaging living cells A549.
A frogspawn-inspired hierarchical porous NaTi2(PO4)3–C array for high-rate and long-life aqueous rechargeable sodium batteries
Authors: Zhao Baidan , Lin Bo , Zhang Sen , Deng Chao
Published: October 2015

A frogspawn-inspired hierarchical porous NaTi2(PO4)3/C array exhibits superior high rate capability and ultralong cycling life as an anode for ARSB.
Ultrafast colorimetric determination of predominant protein structure evolution with gold nanoplasmonic particles
Authors: Kim Hye Young , Choi Inhee
Published: October 2015

We report an ultrafast colorimetric method for the real-time monitoring of protein structure evolution and the determination of predominant structuresviananoparticle-assisted protein aggregation.
A computational study of the chlorination and hydroxylation of amines by hypochlorous acid
Authors: Šakić Davor , Hanževački Marko , Smith David M. , Vrček Valerije
Published: October 2015

The reactions of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with ammonia, (di)methylamine, and heterocyclic amines have been studied computationally using double-hybrid DFT methods (B2PLYP-D and BK-PLYP) and a G3B3 composite scheme.
Optimizing the lifetimes of phenoxonium cations derived from vitamin E via structural modifications
Authors: Yue Yanni , Novianti Maria L. , Tessensohn Malcolm E. , Hirao Hajime , Webster Richard D.
Published: October 2015

Systematic synthesis of a number of new phenolic compounds with structures similar to vitamin E led to the identification of several sterically hindered compounds that when electrochemically oxidised in acetonitrile in a –2e−/–H+ process formed phenoxonium diamagnetic cations that were resistant to hydrolysis reactions.
Stereoselective recognition of the Ac-Glu-Tyr-OH dipeptide by pseudopeptidic cages
Authors: Faggi Enrico , Vicent Cristian , Luis Santiago V. , Alfonso Ignacio
Published: October 2015

Pseudopeptidic cages derived from Ser and Thr displayed stereoselective molecular recognition of the Ac-Glu-Tyr-OH dipeptide, both in mixed aqueous solution (NMR) and in the gas phase (ESI-MS). The results allowed proposing a mode of binding that explains the observed trends.
Cheap and fast: oxalic acid initiated CO2-based polyols synthesized by a novel preactivation approach
Authors: Liu Shunjie , Qin Yusheng , Qiao Lijun , Miao Yuyang , Wang Xianhong , Wang Fosong
Published: October 2015

Preactivation: an interesting means to shorten the copolymerization time of the CO2-based polyols synthesized by strongly acidic but cheap oxalic acid.
A thioether-decorated {Mn11Tb4} coordination cluster with slow magnetic relaxation
Authors: Schmitz Sebastian , van Leusen Jan , Ellern Arkady , Kögerler Paul , Monakhov Kirill Yu.
Published: October 2015

A {MnIII11TbIII4}-nuclearity coordination complex with structurally exposed thioether functional groups and antiferromagnetic intramolecular coupling interactions was synthesised and characterised by temperature- and field-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements.
Structural, optical and electronic properties of homoepitaxial GaN nanowalls grown on GaN template by laser molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Kushvaha S. S. , Kumar M. Senthil , Shukla A. K. , Yadav B. S. , Singh Dilip K. , Jewariya M. , Ragam S. R. , Maurya K. K.
Published: October 2015

We have grown homoepitaxial GaN nanowall networks on GaN template using an ultra-high vacuum laser assisted molecular beam epitaxy system by ablating solid GaN target under a constant r.f. nitrogen plasma ambient.
MOLPRINT 2D-based identification and synthesis of novel chromene based small molecules that target PLA2: validation through chemo- and bioinformatics approaches
Authors: Keerthy Hosadurga K. , Vivek Hamse K. , Bharathkumar Hanumantharayappa , Rangappa Shobith , Bulusu Krishna C. , Mervin Lewis H. , Fuchs Julian E. , Priya Babu S. , Basappa Basappa , Swamy S Nanjuda , Bender Andreas , Rangappa Kanchugarakoppal S.
Published: October 2015

A chemoinformatics approach identified 2-Amino-4-(2′-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene-3-carbonitrile as a snake venom PLA2 inhibitor, this was confirmed with an IC50 = 12.5 μM.
Removal of Pb(ii) by nano-titanium oxide investigated by batch, XPS and model techniques
Authors: Jin Zhongxiu , Gao Huiyi , Hu Linhua
Published: October 2015

The ion exchange and inner-sphere surface complexation were inferred as the adsorption mechanisms of Pb(ii) on nano-TiO2.