bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A traditional evolutionary history of foot-and-mouth disease viruses in Southeast Asia challenged by analyses of non-structural protein coding sequences
Authors: Brito Barbara , Pauszek Steven J. , Hartwig Ethan J. , Smoliga George R. , Vu Le T. , Dong Pham V. , Stenfeldt Carolina , Rodriguez Luis L. , King Donald P. , Knowles Nick J. , Bachanek-Bankowska Katarzyna , Long Ngo T. , Dung Do H. , Arzt Jonathan
Published: April 2018

Recombination of rapidly evolving RNA-viruses provides an important mechanism for diversification, spread, and emergence of new variants with enhanced fitness. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) causes an important transboundary disease of livestock that is endemic to most countries in Asia and Africa. Maintenance and spread of FMDV are driven by periods of dominance of specific viral lineages. Current understanding of the molecular epidemiology of FMDV lineages is generally based on the phylogenetic relationship of the capsid-encoding genes, with less attention to the process of recombination and evolution of non-structural proteins. In this study, the putative recombination breakpoints of FMDVs endemic to Southeast Asia were determined using full-open reading frame sequences. Subsequently, the lineages’ divergence times of recombination-free genome regions were estimated. These analyses revealed a close relationship between two of the earliest endemic viral lineages that appear unrelated when only considering the phylogeny of their capsid proteins. Contrastingly, one lineage, named O/CATHAY, known for having a particular host predilection (pigs) has evolved independently. Additionally, intra-lineage recombination occurred at different breakpoints compared to the inter-lineage process. These results provide new insights about FMDV recombination patterns and the evolutionary interdependence of FMDV serotypes and lineages.
Genetic diversity in the endangered terrestrial orchid Cypripedium japonicum in East Asia: Insights into population history and implications for conservation
Authors: Tian Huai Zhen , Han Li Xia , Zhang Jun Li , Li Xing Lin , Kawahara Takayuki , Yukawa Tomohisa , López-Pujol Jordi , Kumar Pankaj , Chung Myong Gi , Chung Mi Yoon
Published: April 2018

Little is known about levels and patterns of genetic diversity for the entire range of endangered orchids native to China, Korea, and Japan. In this study, we focus on Cypripedium japonicum and suggest three hypotheses: 1) that genetic drift has been a primary evolutionary force; 2) that populations in central and western China harbor higher levels of genetic variation relative to those from eastern China; and 3) that C. japonicum in China maintains the highest genetic variation among the three countries. Using ISSR and SCoT markers, we investigated genetic diversity in 17 populations to test the three hypotheses. As anticipated, we found low levels of genetic diversity at the species level with substantially high degree of genetic divergence, which can be mainly attributed to random genetic drift. Chinese populations harbor the highest within-population genetic variation, which tends to increase from east to west. We also found a close relationship between Korean populations and central/western Chinese populations. Historical rarity coupled with limited gene flow seems to be important factors for shaping genetic diversity and structure of C. japonicum. Our results indicate that the mountain areas in central and western China were likely refugia at the Last Glacial Maximum.
Longitudinal two-photon imaging in somatosensory cortex of behaving mice reveals dendritic spine formation enhancement by subchronic administration of low-dose ketamine
Authors: Pryazhnikov Evgeny , Mugantseva Ekaterina , Casarotto Plinio , Kolikova Julia , Fred Senem Merve , Toptunov Dmytro , Afzalov Ramil , Hotulainen Pirta , Voikar Vootele , Terry-Lorenzo Ryan , Engel Sharon , Kirov Sergei , Castren Eero , Khiroug Leonard
Published: April 2018

Ketamine, a well-known anesthetic, has recently attracted renewed attention as a fast-acting antidepressant. A single dose of ketamine induces rapid synaptogenesis, which may underlie its antidepressant effect. To test whether repeated exposure to ketamine triggers sustained synaptogenesis, we administered a sub-anesthetic dose of ketamine (10 mg/kg i.p.) once-daily for 5 days, and repeatedly imaged dendritic spines of the YFP-expressing pyramidal neurons in somatosensory cortex of awake female mice using in vivo two-photon microscopy. We found that the spine formation rate became significantly higher at 72–132 h after the first ketamine injection (but not at 6–24 h), while the rate of elimination of pre-existing spines remained unchanged. In contrast to the net gain of spines observed in ketamine-treated mice, the vehicle-injected control mice exhibited a net loss typical for young-adult animals undergoing synapse pruning. Ketamine-induced spinogenesis was correlated with increased PSD-95 and phosphorylated actin, consistent with formation of new synapses. Moreover, structural synaptic plasticity caused by ketamine was paralleled by a significant improvement in the nest building behavioral assay. Taken together, our data show that subchronic low-dose ketamine induces a sustained shift towards spine formation.
Bats enhance their call identities to solve the cocktail party problem
Authors: Hase Kazuma , Kadoya Yukimi , Maitani Yosuke , Miyamoto Takara , Kobayasi Kohta I , Hiryu Shizuko
Published: April 2018

Echolocating bats need to solve the problem of signal jamming by conspecifics when they are in a group. However, while several mechanisms have been suggested, it remains unclear how bats avoid confusion between their own echoes and interfering sounds in a complex acoustic environment. Here, we fixed on-board microphones onto individual frequency-modulating bats flying in groups. We found that group members broaden the inter-individual differences in the terminal frequencies of pulses, thereby decreasing the similarity of pulses among individuals. To understand what features most affect similarity between pulses, we calculated the similarity of signals mimicking pulses. We found that the similarity between those artificial signals was decreased most by manipulation of terminal frequency. These results demonstrate that the signal jamming problem is solved by this simple strategy, which may be universally used by animals that use active sensing, such as echolocating bats and electric fish, thereby transcending species and sensory modalities.
Evaluation of a cooling/heating-assisted microextraction instrument using a needle trap device packed with aminosilica/graphene oxide nanocomposites, covalently attached to cotton
Authors: Ghiasvand A. R. , Heidari N. , Abdolhosseini S. , Hamdi A. , Haddad P. R.
Published: April 2018

Evaluation of the first commercial sample of a cooling/heating-assisted microextraction instrument.
A novel porphyrin-based near-infrared fluorescent probe for hypochlorite detection and its application in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Wang Xiaoyi , Min Jie , Wang Weijie , Wang Yan , Yin Gui , Wang Ruiyong
Published: April 2018

A porphyrin-based highly selective sensor for hypochlorite was applied in real-time detection of exogenous and endogenous ClO− in biological systems.
Electron-induced origins of prebiotic building blocks of sugars: mechanism of self-reactions of a methanol anion dimer
Authors: Karsili Tolga N. V. , Fennimore Mark A. , Matsika Spiridoula
Published: April 2018

Reactions of methanol dimers in interstellar medium driven by low energy irradiation may lead to prebiotic precursors.
Structural and electronic properties of V2O5 and their tuning by doping with 3d elements – modelling using the DFT+U method and dispersion correction
Authors: Jovanović A. , Dobrota A. S. , Rafailović L. D. , Mentus S. V. , Pašti I. A. , Johansson B. , Skorodumova N. V.
Published: April 2018

V2O5 is accurately described using the PBE+U+D2 method which is used to analyze the effects of V2O5 doping with 3d elements
A general formulation of the quasiclassical trajectory method for reduced-dimensionality reaction dynamics calculations
Authors: Nagy Tibor , Vikár Anna , Lendvay György
Published: April 2018

A black-box formalism for generating initial conditions and following trajectories in reduced-dimensionality quasiclassical trajectory calculations using arbitrary internal coordinates.
Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of BiOBr nanosheets with tunable crystal facets and sizes
Authors: Mi Yuwei , Li Haiping , Zhang Yongfang , Du Na , Hou Wanguo
Published: April 2018

A series of BiOBr nanosheets with tunable exposed facets and crystallite sizes were prepared via a solvent adjustment strategy. The exposed facet and thickness of BiOBr nanosheets are both important for their photocatalytic activity.
Facile preparation of multifunctionalisable ‘stealth’ upconverting nanoparticles for biomedical applications
Authors: Nsubuga Anne , Sgarzi Massimo , Zarschler Kristof , Kubeil Manja , Hübner René , Steudtner Robin , Graham Bim , Joshi Tanmaya , Stephan Holger
Published: April 2018

Hide and Seek. Alendronate-modified upconverting nanoparticles display high colloidal stability, protein corona resistance, bright upconversion luminescence (800 nm excitation), and contain multifunctionalisation sites.
Comment on: “Synthesis of dodecamolybdoantimonate(v) salts containing the Keggin structure” by Raj P. Singh, Radheshyam P. Khatri, Jean Dubois, Sushma S. Gaur and Mitsuo Abe, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans., 1990, 947–951
Authors: Hartl Hans , Lunk Hans-Joachim
Published: April 2018

Instead of the claimed synthesis of M3[α-SbO4(Mo3O9)4]·nH2O (M = NH4, K, Rb, Cs) with Keggin anion, the authors simply prepared well-known hexagonal molybdenum oxide.
A color tunable and white light emitting Ca2Si5N8:Ce3+,Eu2+ phosphor via efficient energy transfer for near-UV white LEDs
Authors: Li Chao , Zheng Hongwei , Wei Hengwei , Qiu Shijie , Xu Ling , Wang Xiaoming , Jiao Huan
Published: April 2018

Achieving tunable color and white light emission in a single phase phosphor is a challenging issue.
New highlights on the health-improving effects of sulforaphane
Authors: Briones-Herrera Alfredo , Eugenio-Pérez Dianelena , Reyes-Ocampo Jazmin Gabriela , Rivera-Mancía Susana , Pedraza-Chaverri José
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we review recent evidence about the beneficial effects of sulforaphane (SFN), which is the most studied member of isothiocyanates, on bothin vivoandin vitromodels of different diseases, mainly diabetes and cancer.
Camel milk attenuates methotrexate-induced kidney injuryviaactivation of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling and intervention with oxidative aberrations
Authors: Arab Hany H. , Salama Samir A. , Maghrabi Ibrahim A.
Published: April 2018

Methotrexate (MTX) is a classical chemotherapeutic agent with nephrotoxicity as the most disturbing adverse effect.
Effects of EPA and lipoic acid supplementation on circulating FGF21 and the fatty acid profile in overweight/obese women following a hypocaloric diet
Authors: Escoté Xavier , Félix-Soriano Elisa , Gayoso Lucía , Huerta Ana Elsa , Alvarado María Antonella , Ansorena Diana , Astiasarán Iciar , Martínez J. Alfredo , Moreno-Aliaga María Jesús
Published: April 2018

EPA and LIP supplementation regulate the serum fatty acid profile. EPA supplementation also modulates the FGF21 level.
Expression of concern: ZnO nanoparticles affect intestinal function in an in vitro model
Authors: Hughes Philippa
Published: April 2018

Expression of concern for ‘ZnO nanoparticles affect intestinal function in an in vitro model’ by Fabiola Moreno-Olivas et al., Food Funct., 2018, 9, 1475–1491.
Cu(ii) complexes of a tridentate N,N,O-donor Schiff base of pyridoxal: synthesis, X-ray structures, DNA-binding properties and catecholase activity
Authors: Mondal Satyajit , Chakraborty Moumita , Mondal Antu , Pakhira Bholanath , Blake Alexander J. , Sinn Ekkehard , Chattopadhyay Shyamal Kumar
Published: April 2018

DNA binding and catecholase activities of two Cu(ii) complexes [Cu(L1)X] (X = N3, NCS) of pyridoxal derived ligands are reported.
Novel nanomagnetic Ag/β-Ag2WO4/CoFe2O4 as a highly efficient photocatalyst under visible light irradiation
Authors: Ghobadifard Mahdieh , Mohebbi Sajjad
Published: April 2018

The Ag/β-Ag2WO4/CoFe2O4 heterogeneous nanophotocatalyst exhibits high photocatalytic activity for the oxidation of alcohols and can be easily recycled using a permanent magnet. Also, the underlying mechanism for its activity is proposed.
NiCo2O4 nanowire based flexible electrode materials for asymmetric supercapacitors
Authors: Zhao Depeng , Hu Fang , Umar Ahmad , Wu Xiang
Published: April 2018

The rational design and construction of supercapacitor electrode materials with prominent energy and power density play an indispensable role for their potential application in energy storage devices.
Pd anchored on C3N4nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide: an efficient catalyst for the transfer hydrogenation of alkenes
Authors: Li Jie , Cheng Saisai , Du Tianxing , Shang Ningzhao , Gao Shutao , Feng Cheng , Wang Chun , Wang Zhi
Published: April 2018

Pd nanoparticles anchored on g-C3N4NS/rGO were prepared by means of a cost-effective and facile co-assembly approach. The hybrid composite showed high catalytic activity and stability for the hydrogenation of alkenes with FA and HCOONH4as hydrogen donors.
Iodine promoted iodosulfonylation of alkynes with sulfonyl hydrazides in an aqueous medium: highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)-β-iodo vinylsulfones
Authors: Hou Yunlei , Zhu Liangyu , Hu Hao , Chen Shaowei , Li Zefei , Liu Yajing , Gong Ping
Published: April 2018

An efficient, molecular iodine-promoted MCR of alkynes and sulfonyl hydrazide for the synthesis of (E)-β-iodo vinylsulfone derivatives has been developed.
Oxygen incorporated WS2 nanoclusters with superior electrocatalytic properties for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Sarma Prasad V. , Tiwary Chandra Sekhar , Radhakrishnan Sruthi , Ajayan Pulickel M. , Shaijumon Manikoth M.
Published: April 2018

A new approach for the controlled synthesis of oxygen incorporated 1T and 2H WS2 nanoclusters from oxygen deficient WO3−x nanorods is demonstrated for an efficient hydrogen evolution reaction.
Self-assembled polymeric micelles for combined delivery of anti-inflammatory gene and drug to the lungs by inhalation
Authors: Kim Gyeungyun , Piao Chunxian , Oh Jungju , Lee Minhyung
Published: April 2018

Cholesterol conjugated polyamidoamine nanomicelles were synthesized and evaluated as a carrier for combined delivery of anti-inflammatory drug and gene to the lungs by inhalation for the treatment acute lung injury.
A unique 19F MRI agent for the tracking of non phagocytic cells in vivo
Authors: Moonshi Shehzahdi S. , Zhang Cheng , Peng Hui , Puttick Simon , Rose Stephen , Fisk Nicholas M. , Bhakoo Kishore , Stringer Brett W. , Qiao Greg G. , Gurr Paul A. , Whittaker Andrew K.
Published: April 2018

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a novel PFPE-based partially fluorinated copolymer for in vivo tracking of MSCs.
ROS-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles for MR imaging-guided photodynamically maneuvered chemotherapy
Authors: N Vijayakameswara Rao , Han Hwa Seung , Lee Hansang , Nguyen Van Quy , Jeon Sangmin , Jung Dae-Woong , Lee Jeongjin , Yi Gi-Ra , Park Jae Hyung
Published: April 2018

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with stimuli-responsive gatekeepers have been extensively investigated for controlled drug delivery at the target sites.
Thermo-plasmonic gold nanofilms for simple and mass-producible photothermal neural interfaces
Authors: Lee Jee Woong , Kang Hongki , Nam Yoonkey
Published: April 2018

A plasmonic gold nanofilm by thermal evaporation is proposed as a simple, mass-producible photothermal neural stimulation layer on microelectrode array chips.
Synthesis of fused pyrroles containing 4-hydroxycoumarins by regioselective metal-free multicomponent reactions
Authors: Mishra Richa , Jana Asim , Panday Anoop Kumar , Choudhury Lokman H.
Published: April 2018

Two novel methods have been developed for the synthesis of chromone, flavone and coumarin fused pyrroles by one-pot three component reactions.
Denitrogenative palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with arylhydrazines under mild conditions
Authors: Chang Sheng , Dong Lin Lin , Song Hai Qing , Feng Bo
Published: April 2018

A novel, simple, and efficient protocol via Pd(ii)-catalyzed denitrogenative coupling of arylhydrazines with aryl halides under ambient and mild conditions.
Control over the relative reactivities of monomers in RAFT copolymerization of styrene and acrylic acid
Authors: Chernikova E. V. , Zaitsev S. D. , Plutalova A. V. , Mineeva K. O. , Zotova O. S. , Vishnevetsky D. V.
Published: April 2018

The tuning of the relative monomer reactivities of styrene and acrylic acid in a solution of N,N-dimethylformamide by using polymeric RAFT agents.
Comparative study on the dynamic properties of lightweight porous concrete
Authors: Bai Er-Lei , Xu Jin-Yu , Lu Song , Lin Ke-Xin , Zhang Yi-Ming
Published: April 2018

In this paper, two types of lightweight porous concrete material, expanded polystyrene concrete (EPSC) and ceramics-cement based porous material (CCPM) have been prepared on the base of C60 concrete.
Liposomes formed from photo-cleavable phospholipids: in situ formation and photo-induced enhancement in permeability
Authors: Zhang Dawei , Liu Zhenzhen , Konetski Danielle , Wang Chen , Worrell Brady. T. , Bowman Christopher N.
Published: April 2018

In situ formation of photo-cleavable liposomes triggered by copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. Photo-labile o-nitrobenzyl-structure in phospholipids enables control over the permeability and morphology of the liposomes.
The facile synthesis and bioactivity of a 3D nanofibrous bioglass scaffold using an amino-modified bacterial cellulose template
Authors: Wen Cuilian , Hong Yun , Wu Junru , Luo Lijin , Qiu Yimei , Ye Jianxia
Published: April 2018

A nanofibrous BG scaffold with a high quality 3D porous interconnected structure has been prepared via a facile modified sol–gel approach using amino-modified bacterial cellulose as the template.
Anab initiostudy on coinage atom-inserted cyanide/isocyanide: XMCN/XMNC (M = coinage atoms; X = halogen)
Authors: Huang Zhengguo , Wang Xiaohong , Zhang Jingbo , Li Yuqing , Li Yuying
Published: April 2018

XMCN is more stable thermodynamically than XMNC because the –CN group has better coordination ability than the –NC group.
Revealing unusual rigid diamond net analogues in superhard titanium carbides
Authors: Xu Chunhong , Bao Kuo , Ma Shuailing , Li Da , Duan Defang , Yu Hongyu , Jin Xilian , Tian Fubo , Liu Bingbing , Cui Tian
Published: April 2018

We found three diamond net analogues in titanium carbides firstly, including hard TiC2, superhard TiC3 and TiC4. Their hardness mainly originates from the strong covalent interactions of diamond-like C-layers.
Single-step and ultrasensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen based on an aptamer transduction-mediated exonuclease III-assisted dual-amplification strategy
Authors: Lu Ruojun , Li Shengqiang , Fan Meihong , Wei Jingjing , Liu Xu
Published: April 2018

Single-step, rapid and ultrasensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen based on an aptamer transduction-mediated exonuclease III-assisted dual-amplification strategy was developed.
Acetone vapour-assisted growth of 2D single-crystalline organic lead halide perovskite microplates and their temperature-enhanced photoluminescence
Authors: Zhai Wenhao , Ge Chaoyang , Fang Xin , Zhang Kun , Tian Cheng , Yuan Kai , Sun Shuren , Li Yanping , Chen Weixi , Ran Guangzhao
Published: April 2018

We report an acetone vapour-assisted method to grow single-crystalline 2D perovskite microplates and find their temperature-enhanced photoluminescence.
Accessing individual 75-micron diameter nozzles of a desktop inkjet printer to dispense picoliter droplets on demand
Authors: Waasdorp Rick , van den Heuvel Oscar , Versluis Floyd , Hajee Bram , Ghatkesar Murali Krishna
Published: April 2018

We show that individual nozzles in desktop printers can be accessed to dispense droplets on demand.
In vitro and in vivo assessment of nanostructured porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics for promoting osteogenesis in an osteoporotic environment
Authors: Zhang Kun , Zhang Jieyu , Chen Kelei , Hu Xuefeng , Wang Yunbing , Yang Xiao , Zhang Xingdong , Fan Yujiang
Published: April 2018

Nanostructured porous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics are able to significantly promote bone defect healing in an osteoporotic environment.
Thymoquinone protects against cardiac damage from doxorubicin-induced heart failure in Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Pei Zuowei , Hu Jiahui , Bai Qianru , Liu Baiting , Cheng Dong , Liu Hainiang , Na Rongmei , Yu Qin
Published: April 2018

Heart failure is a complex end stage result of various cardiovascular diseases, and has a poor prognosis.
Wide range temperature-dependent deformation and fracture mechanisms for 8701 under dynamic and static loading
Authors: Guo Hong-fu , Wu Yan-qing , Huang Feng-lei
Published: April 2018

The mechanical properties of 8701 were tested over a wide temperature range of −125 °C to 100 °C using the MTS Landmark hydraulic servo test system and SHPB.
Thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ionic liquid) of pyridinium sulfonate immobilized Pd nanoparticles in C–C coupling reactions
Authors: Ghasemi Soheila , Harandi Zahra Amini
Published: April 2018

Preparation of thermo-responsive PNIPAM-b-PIL/PdNPs via RAFT method and its catalytic behavior in C–C coupling with extreme reusability.
Multiblock copolymers of PPC with oligomeric PBS: with low brittle–toughness transition temperature
Authors: Qin Jiaxiang , Lin Limiao , Wang Shuanjin , Ye Shuxian , Luo Weikeng , Xiao Min , Han Dongmei , Meng Yuezhong
Published: April 2018

In present work, biodegradable multiblock copolymers from oligomeric PPC and PBS with low brittle–toughness transition temperature and superior mechanical properties was synthesized, making it more potential candidate as packaging materials.
Field-driven single domain wall motion in ferromagnetic nanowires
Authors: Ho L. D. Anh , Tran Minh-Tung , Cao Xuan-Huu , Dao Vinh-Ai , Ngo Duc-The , Hoang Duc-Quang
Published: April 2018

A domain wall trap structure was found which is suitable for the field-driven single DW propagation between two narrow nanowires.
A concise synthesis of (±)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan
Authors: Zhang Wenxuan , Xue Wenjie , Jia Yuqing , Wen Gang , Lian Xu , Shen Jing , Liu Ailin , Wu Song
Published: April 2018

We report the first total synthesis of (±)-7-O-galloyltricetiflavan (1a) in five steps as well as an interesting discovery during the demethylation process.
Dinuclear molecular magnets with unblocked magnetic connectivity: magnetocaloric effect
Authors: Fitta Magdalena , Pełka Robert , Sas Wojciech , Pinkowicz Dawid , Sieklucka Barbara
Published: April 2018

The study of magnetocaloric effect in two related bimetallic cyanide-bridged molecular magnets: {[M (H2O)2]2[Nb (CN)8]·4H2O}n (M = Mn, Fe) is presented.
Nickel-enhanced silver nanowire-based transparent heater with large size
Authors: Zhang Liwen , Chen Yanan , Xu Caiwei , Liu Zhonggui , Qiu Yejun
Published: April 2018

An AgNW-based transparent heater derived from electrodeposition of Ni shows excellent heating performance.
Retracted Article: High-throughput metabolomics identifies serum metabolic signatures in acute kidney injury using LC-MS combined with pattern recognition approach
Authors: Li Hai-Hong , Pan Jian-Liang , Hui Su , Ma Xiao-Wei , Wang Zhi-Long , Yao Hui-Xin , Wang Jun-Feng , Li Hong
Published: April 2018

Metabolomics can identify the small molecule endogenous metabolites in a biological system which is capable of further understanding the mechanisms of diseases for early diagnosis, effective treatment and prognosis.
New perspective to understand the effect of electrochemical prelithiation behaviors on silicon monoxide
Authors: Shen Chengxu , Fu Rusheng , Xia Yonggao , Liu Zhaoping
Published: April 2018

A different evaluation strategy is introduced to understand the effect of electrochemical prelithiation behaviours through a facile electrochemical data analysis.
Synthesis, characterization and sorption studies of aromatic compounds by hydrogels of chitosan blended with β-cyclodextrin- and PVA-functionalized pectin
Authors: Filho Cesar M. C. , Bueno Pedro V. A. , Matsushita Alan F. Y. , Rubira Adley F. , Muniz Edvani C. , Durães Luísa , Murtinho Dina M. B. , Valente Artur J. M.
Published: April 2018

Complex coacervation of chitosan with β-cyclodextrin- and poly(vinyl alcohol)-functionalized pectin: ability for simultaneous removal of six different aromatic compounds.
Persistent radical anion polymers based on naphthalenediimide and a vinylene spacer
Authors: Debnath Sashi , Boyle Connor J. , Zhou Dongming , Wong Bryan M. , Kittilstved Kevin R. , Venkataraman D.
Published: April 2018

A design strategy for polymers that can be reduced by up to 4 electrons and have persistent radical anions.
Trifluoromethylated proline analogues as efficient tools to enhance the hydrophobicity and to promote passive diffusion transport of the l-prolyl-l-leucyl glycinamide (PLG) tripeptide
Authors: Oliver Martin , Gadais Charlène , García-Pindado Júlia , Teixidó Meritxell , Lensen Nathalie , Chaume Grégory , Brigaud Thierry
Published: April 2018

The incorporation of trifluoromethylated proline analogues in the tripeptide PLG enhances its hydrophobicity and promotes passive diffusion transport.
The influence of substituent field and resonance effects on the ease of N-heterocyclic carbene formation from imidazolium rings
Authors: Oziminski Wojciech P. , Ramsden Christopher A.
Published: April 2018

The influence of substituents on the relative acidity of C–H bonds.
Study on influencing factors of Pickering emulsions stabilized by hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with nonionic surfactants
Authors: Song Na , Wang Ai-juan , Li Jun-ming , Zhu Zhuo , Shi Huijun , Ma Xiao-long , Sun Dejun
Published: April 2018

Varied properties of Pickering emulsions stabilized by hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with nonionic surfactant sorbitan monooleate as well as their corresponding composite morphologies.
Study of the thixotropic behaviors of ferrofluids
Authors: Li Zhenkun , Li Decai , Chen Yibiao , Cui Hongchao
Published: April 2018

Ferrofluids exhibit significant thixotropic behaviors under a magnetic field, which are induced by the presence and evolution of different microstructures.
Evaluation of energy loss at Sn anodes based on phase transition behaviors and formation of electrically resistive phases of Na–Sn batteries
Authors: Choi Yong-Seok , Byeon Young-Woon , Ahn Jae-Pyoung , Lee Jae-Chul
Published: April 2018

Theoretical voltage curves of a Na–Sn battery were predicted by incorporating the phase transition behaviors and the associated resistivity changes.
A highly efficient Ni–Mo bimetallic hydrogen evolution catalyst derived from a molybdate incorporated Ni-MOF
Authors: Wang Teng , Jin Rumei , Wu Xiuqi , Zheng Jie , Li Xingguo , Ostrikov Kostya
Published: April 2018

A bimetallic Ni–Mo nanocomposite as a highly efficient HER catalyst with critical synergetic effect can be obtained from a molybdate incorporated Ni-MOF.
Efficient synthesis of aluminosilicate RTH zeolite with good catalytic performances in NH3-SCR and MTO reactions
Authors: Xu Hao , Wu Qinming , Chu Yueying , Jiang Jingang , Zhang Ling , Pan Shuxiang , Zhang Changsheng , Zhu Longfeng , Deng Feng , Meng Xiangju , Maurer Stefan , McGuire Robert , Parvulescu Andrei-Nicolae , Müller Ulrich , Xiao Feng-Shou
Published: April 2018

The synthesis of aluminosilicate RTH zeolite is very fast in the presence of 2,6-methyl-N-methylpyridinium cations.
Intermediate-crystallization promoted catalytic activity of titanosilicate zeolites
Authors: Bai Risheng , Sun Qiming , Song Yue , Wang Ning , Zhang Tianjun , Wang Fei , Zou Yongcun , Feng Zhaochi , Miao Shu , Yu Jihong
Published: April 2018

Crystallization time-modulated catalytic activity for oxidative desulfurization has been demonstrated over titanosilicate zeolite catalysts prepared by a seeding method.
Durable and robust transparent superhydrophobic glass surfaces fabricated by a femtosecond laser with exceptional water repellency and thermostability
Authors: Lin Yi , Han Jinpeng , Cai Mingyong , Liu Weijian , Luo Xiao , Zhang Hongjun , Zhong Minlin
Published: April 2018

Self-cleaning transparent glass surfaces with periodic micro–nano structures fabricated by a femtosecond laser exhibit exceptional water repellency and thermostability.
NanoMOFs: little crystallites for substantial applications
Authors: Majewski M. B. , Noh H. , Islamoglu T. , Farha O. K.
Published: April 2018

Synthetic methods for the preparation of metal–organic framework crystallites in the nano-size regime and their potential applications are reviewed.
Formic acid powered reusable autonomous ferrobots for efficient hydrogen generation under ambient conditions
Authors: Singh Amit Kumar , Rarotra Saptak , Pasumarthi Viswanath , Mandal Tapas Kumar , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar
Published: April 2018

In this study, we report the synthesis of ferrobots, which utilize aqueous formic acid as fuel for pH sensing and efficient H2production at room temperature to power a fan integrated with a PEM fuel cell.
A Na+conducting hydrogel for protection of organic electrochemical transistors
Authors: del Agua I. , Porcarelli L. , Curto V. F. , Sanchez-Sanchez A. , Ismailova E. , Malliaras G. G. , Mecerreyes D.
Published: April 2018

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are being intensively developed for applications in electronics and biological interfacing.
A high efficiency broad-band near-infrared Ca2LuZr2Al3O12:Cr3+ garnet phosphor for blue LED chips
Authors: Zhang Liangliang , Zhang Sheng , Hao Zhendong , Zhang Xia , Pan Guo-hui , Luo Yongshi , Wu Huajun , Zhang Jiahua
Published: April 2018

The garnet Ca2LuZr2Al3O12 (CLZA) is a promising broad-band NIR phosphor for blue LED chips when it is doped with Cr3+.
NF-κB-vimentin is involved in steroidogenesis stimulated by di-n-butyl phthalate in prepubertal female rats
Authors: Zhang Chang , Gong Pan , Ye Yan , Zhang Lulu , Chen Minjian , Hu Yanhui , Gu Aihua , Chen Shanshan , Wang Yubang
Published: April 2018

This study was aimed at assessing steroidogenesis stimulated by low-dose exposure to DBP in prepubertal female rats.
Insulin-induced exocytosis regulates the cell surface level of low-density lipoprotein-related protein-1 in Müller Glial cells
Authors: Actis Dato Virginia , Grosso Rubén A. , Sánchez María C. , Fader Claudio M. , Chiabrando Gustavo A.
Published: April 2018

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) is expressed in retinal Müller glial cells (MGCs) and regulates intracellular translocation to the plasma membrane (PM) of the membrane proteins involved in cellular motility and activity. Different functions of MGCs may be influenced by insulin, including the removal of extracellular glutamate in the retina. In the present work, we investigated whether insulin promotes LRP1 translocation to the PM in the Müller glial-derived cell line MIO-M1 (human retinal Müller glial cell-derived cell line). We demonstrated that LRP1 is stored in small vesicles containing an approximate size of 100 nm (mean diameter range of 100–120 nm), which were positive for sortilin and VAMP2, and also incorporated GLUT4 when it was transiently transfected. Next, we observed that LRP1 translocation to the PM was promoted by insulin-regulated exocytosis through intracellular activation of the IR/PI3K/Akt axis and Rab-GTPase proteins such as Rab8A and Rab10. In addition, these Rab-GTPases regulated both the constitutive and insulin-induced LRP1 translocation to the PM. Finally, we found that dominant-negative Rab8A and Rab10 mutants impaired insulin-induced intracellular signaling of the IR/PI3K/Akt axis, suggesting that these GTPase proteins as well as the LRP1 level at the cell surface are involved in insulin-induced IR activation.
The Prevalence of Speech and Language Disorders in French-Speaking Preschool Children From Yaoundé (Cameroon)
Authors: Tchoungui Oyono Lilly , Pascoe Michelle , Singh Shajila
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of speech and language disorders in French-speaking preschool-age children in Yaoundé, the capital city of Cameroon.

Method

A total of 460 participants aged 3–5 years were recruited from the 7 communes of Yaoundé using a 2-stage cluster sampling method. Speech and language assessment was undertaken using a standardized speech and language test, the Evaluation du Langage Oral (Khomsi, 2001), which was purposefully renormed on the sample. A predetermined cutoff of 2SDs below the normative mean was applied to identify articulation, expressive language, and receptive language disorders. Fluency and voice disorders were identified using clinical judgment by a speech-language pathologist.

Results

Overall prevalence was calculated as follows: speech disorders, 14.7%; language disorders, 4.3%; and speech and language disorders, 17.1%. In terms of disorders, prevalence findings were as follows: articulation disorders, 3.6%; expressive language disorders, 1.3%; receptive language disorders, 3%; fluency disorders, 8.4%; and voice disorders, 3.6%.

Conclusion

Prevalence figures are higher than those reported for other countries and emphasize the urgent need to develop speech and language services for the Cameroonian population.
The Role of Language in Nonlinguistic Stimuli: Comparing Inhibition in Children With Language Impairment
Authors: Roebuck Hettie , Sindberg Heidi , Weismer Susan Ellis
Published: April 2018

Purpose

There is conflicting evidence regarding if and how a deficit in executive function may be associated with developmental language impairment (LI). Nonlinguistic stimuli are now frequently used when testing executive function to avoid a language confound. However, it is possible that increased stimulus processing demands for nonlinguistic stimuli may also compound the complexity of the relationship between executive function and LI. The current study examined whether variability across nonlinguistic auditory stimuli might differentially affect inhibition and whether performance differs between children with and without language difficulties.

Method

Sixty children, aged 8–14 years, took part in the study: 20 typically developing children, 20 children with autism spectrum disorder, and 20 children with specific LI. For the purposes of assessing the role of language, children were further categorized based on language ability: 33 children with normal-language (NL) ability and 27 children with LI. Children completed a go/no-go task with 2 conditions comparing nonlinguistic auditory stimuli: 2 abstract sounds and 2 familiar sounds (duck quack and dog bark).

Results

There was no significant difference for diagnostic category. However, there was a significant interaction between language ability and condition. There was no significant difference in the NL group performance in the abstract and familiar sound conditions. In contrast, the group with LI made significantly more errors in the abstract condition compared with the familiar condition. There was no significant difference in inhibition between the NL group and the group with LI in the familiar condition; however, the group with LI made significantly more errors than the NL group in the abstract condition.

Conclusions

Caution is needed in stimuli selection when examining executive function skills because, although stimuli may be selected on the basis of being “nonlinguistic and auditory,” the type of stimuli chosen can differentially affect performance. The findings have implications for the interpretation of deficits in executive function as well as the selection of stimuli in future studies.
100 Gb/s wavelength division multiplexing four‐level pulse amplitude modulated transmission over 160 km using advanced optical fibres
Authors: Downie J.D. , Hurley J. , Nagarajan R. , Maj T. , Dong H. , Makovejs S.
Published: April 2018

The authors compare transmission reach of 100 Gb/s four‐level pulse amplitude modulated signals over single‐span systems constructed with three optical fibre types. They demonstrate reach up to 160 km with fibres having ultra‐low attenuation, one with a large effective area.
Programmable negative differential resistance device using FED
Authors: Sheikhian I.
Published: April 2018

A novel programmable negative differential resistance (NDR) device based on the field‐effect diode is proposed. The field‐effect diode (FED) is a gated diode and compatible with semiconductor on insulator (SOI) CMOS technology. Semiconductor device simulator tools are used to simulate the structure of the FED. Then, it is employed to design the programmable NDR device. The operating principles of this new device are similar to the comparable MOSFET device. The proposed design is a unique device that consists of only three transistors and can be programmed by an isolated gate.
Design optimisation of a waveguide‐based LP01–LP0m mode converter by using artificial intelligence technique
Authors: Mellah H. , Mirjalili S.M. , Zhang X.
Published: April 2018

A novel optimisation method for designing new and highly complex mode converters is presented. Owing to the complex relationship between the structural parameters and the output performance merit factor, it is very difficult to obtain a general algorithm. As a case study, a mode converter with eight structural parameters is designed with the proposed method. Owing to a large number of structural parameters and complexity of the designing process, the problem is formulated and optimised by using a recent optimisation algorithm called Grey Wolf Optimiser. Six optimal mode converter designs are obtained for LP01–LP0m (m = 2, 3,…, 7). These optimal designs outperform existing state‐of‐the‐art designs. Furthermore, achieving these results is done without any human involvement.
Blind image quality assessment utilising local mean eigenvalues
Authors: Yang Jiachen , Sim Kyohoon , Jiang Bin , Lu Wen
Published: April 2018

Eigenvalues are intrinsic and representative values of a square matrix. They have thus been used in many image processing areas due to their important application value, but not in the image quality assessment (IQA) field. In this Letter, the authors study the correlation between local mean eigenvalues (LMEs) and perceptual quality of images, and demonstrate the applicability of LMEs in IQA. The LMEs are related to structural complexity of images. The LMEs and natural scene statistics features are utilised for a sparse dictionary learning. Experimental results conducted on promising IQA databases show their method's superiority in comparison with top‐performing blind IQA metrics.
Quasi‐Z‐source network DC–DC converter with different techniques to achieve a high voltage gain
Authors: Andrade A.M.S.S. , Guisso R.A.
Published: April 2018

A new step‐up DC–DC converter is presented, based on quasi‐Z‐source network intended for photovoltaic applications. The proposed converter combines voltage multiplier cells to the secondary winding of the coupled inductor which is included in the second inductor of the quasi‐Z‐source network. In the output of the quasi‐Z‐source network, a switched capacitor is connected. This converter shows attractive characteristics such as high voltage gain, low voltage stresses on their components, continuous input current. A detailed description of the operating principles of the proposed converter is presented and experimental results on a 250 W prototype show that a high efficiency above 91.4% can be achieved.
Structure selection based on interval predictor model for recovering static non‐linearities from chaotic data
Authors: Lacerda Márcio Júnior , Martins Samir Angelo Milani , Nepomuceno Erivelton Geraldo
Published: April 2018

This study introduces a method of structure selection based on interval predictor model (IPM) and sum of squares formulation. The main contribution is to provide polynomial identified models that can recover static non‐linearities from chaotic data. Moreover, the dynamical behaviour of the identified models is also examined in the structure selection by considering convex combinations of the polynomial functions that describe the IPM. Numerical experiments contemplating non‐linear maps borrowed from the literature are presented to illustrate the potential and efficacy of the proposed approach.
Regularisation learning of correlation filters for robust visual tracking
Authors: Jiang Min , Shen Jianyu , Kong Jun , Huo Hongtao
Published: April 2018

Recently, kernelised correlation filter (KCF)‐based trackers aroused increasing interest and achieved extremely compelling results in different competitions and benchmarks in the field of visual object tracking. However, the training mechanism of the KCF that exploits simple linear combinations of filter from the previous frame easily cause error accumulation. To overcome this problem, the authors propose a novel training strategy that utilises all of the previous training samples, and a sparsity‐related loss function regularised by the L1 norm to deal with the problem of the fixed template size in KCF trackers, a separate scale filter is learned for scale estimation during the tracking process. Moreover, powerful features that include histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) and colour features are integrated to further improve the robustness of the authors’ tracking. Extensive experiments in various challenging situations demonstrate that the proposed method performs favourably against several state‐of‐the‐art tracking algorithms.
An ALMA 3 mm continuum census of Westerlund 1
Authors: Fenech D. M. , Clark J. S. , Prinja R. K. , Dougherty S. , Najarro F. , Negueruela I. , Richards A. , Ritchie B. W. , Andrews H.
Published: April 2018

Massive stars play an important role in both cluster and galactic evolution and the rate at which they lose mass is a key driver of both their own evolution and their interaction with the environment up to and including their terminal SNe explosions. Young massive clusters provide an ideal opportunity to study a co-eval population of massive stars, where both their individual properties and the interaction with their environment can be studied in detail. We aim to study the constituent stars of the Galactic cluster Westerlund 1 in order to determine mass-loss rates for the diverse post-main sequence population of massive stars. To accomplish this we made 3mm continuum observations with the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array. We detected emission from 50 stars in Westerlund 1, comprising all 21 Wolf-Rayets within the field of view, plus eight cool and 21 OB super-/hypergiants. Emission nebulae were associated with a number of the cool hypergiants while, unexpectedly, a number of hot stars also appear spatially resolved. We were able to measure the mass-loss rates for a unique population of massive post-main sequence stars at every stage of evolution, confirming a significant increase as stars transitioned from OB supergiant to WR states via LBV and/or cool hypergiant phases. Fortuitously, the range of spectral types exhibited by the OB supergiants provides a critical test of radiatively-driven wind theory and in particular the reality of the bi-stability jump. The extreme mass-loss rate inferred for the interacting binary Wd1-9 in comparison to other cluster members confirmed the key role binarity plays in massive stellar evolution. The presence of compact nebulae around a number of OB and WR stars is unexpected; by analogy to the cool super-/hypergiants we attribute this to confinement and sculpting of the stellar wind via interaction with the intra-cluster medium/wind. Given the morphologies of core collapse SNe depend on the nature of the pre-explosion circumstellar environment, if this hypothesis is correct then the properties of the explosion depend not just on the progenitor, but also the environment in which it is located.
Rotation of the asymptotic giant branch star R Doradus
Authors: Vlemmings W. H. T. , Khouri T. , De Beck E. , Olofsson H. , García-Segura G. , Villaver E. , Baudry A. , Humphreys E. M. L. , Maercker M. , Ramstedt S.
Published: April 2018

High-resolution observations of the extended atmospheres of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars can now directly be compared to the theories that describe stellar mass loss. Using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) high angular resolution (30 × 42 mas) observations, we have for the first time resolved stellar rotation of an AGB star, R Dor. We measure an angular rotation velocity of ωR sin i = (3.5 ± 0.3) × 10−9 rad s−1, which indicates a rotational velocity of |υrot sin i| = 1.0 ± 0.1 km s−1 at the stellar surface (R* = 31.2 mas at 214 GHz). The rotation axis projected on the plane of the sky has a position angle Φ = 7 ± 6°. We find that the rotation of R Dor is two orders of magnitude faster than expected for a solitary AGB star that will have lost most of its angular momentum. Its rotational velocity is consistent with angular momentum transfer from a close companion. As a companion has not been directly detected, we suggest R Dor has a low-mass, close-in companion. The rotational velocity approaches the critical velocity, set by the local sound speed in the extended envelope, and is thus expected to affect the mass-loss characteristics of R Dor.
Influence of media with different acidity on structure of FeNi nanotubes
Authors: Shumskaya Alena , Kaniukov Egor , Kutuzau Maksim , Bundyukova Victoria , Tulebayeva Dinara , Kozlovskiy Artem , Borgekov Daryn , Kenzhina Inesh , Zdorovets Maxim
Published: April 2018

A detailed analysis of the structure features of FeNi nanotubes exposed at environment with different acidity is carried out. It is demonstrated that the exposure of the nanostructures in the environment with high acidity causes the structure deformation, leading to sharply increasing of the presents of oxide phases and partial amorphization of nanotubes walls that determined the rate of FeNi nanotubes destruction. It was established that the evolution of the crystal structure parameters concerned with appearance of oxide phases and with formation of disorder regions as a result of oxidation processes.
Delithiated states of layered cathode materials: doping and dispersion interaction effects on the structure
Authors: Eremin Roman , Zolotarev Pavel , Bobrikov Ivan
Published: April 2018

Here we present results of density functional theory (DFT) study of delithiated structures of layered LiNiO2 (LNO, Li12Ni12O24 model) cathode material and its doped analogue LiNi0.833Co0.083Al0.083O2 (N10C1A1, Li12Ni10CoAlO24 model). The paper is aimed at independent elucidation of doping and dispersion interaction effects on the structural stability of cathode materials studied. For this purpose, the LNO and N10C1A1 configurational spaces consisting of 87 and 4512 crystallographically independent configurations (obtained starting from 2×2×1 supercell of R-3m structure of LNO) are optimized within a number of DFT models. Based on a comparison of the calculated dependencies for the lattice parameters with the results of in situ neutron diffraction experiments, the most pronounced effect of cathode material stabilization is due to the dispersion interaction. In turn, the doping effect is found to affect cathode structure behavior at the latest stages of delithiation only.