bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contamination Assessment of Heavy Metals Associated with an Alteration Area: Demirören Gümüshane, NE Turkey
Authors: Vural Alaaddin
Published: August 2015

Soil samples collected from Demirören Alteration area, Gümüshane NE Turkey were analyzed for heavy metals by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry and the contamination level of heavy metals was assessed on the basis of Geoaccumulation Index, Enrichment Factor, Pollution Index and Integrated Pollution Index. The results indicated that, in comparison with background value of upper crust, soil samples in Demirören alteration area have elevated levels of metal concentrations as a whole. High Geoaccumulation Indexes and Enrichment Factors for molybdenum, lead, selenium, bismuth, cadmium and copper in alteration area indicated that there is a considerable amount of especially molybdenum, lead and copper pollution, which mainly originate from alteration in the area.
Zircon U-Pb Age and Geochemical Characteristics of Ore-bearing Granodiorite Porphyry in the Duobuza Porphyry Copper Deposit, Tibet
Authors: Fei Guangchun , Xiong-Zhou  , Ji-Duo  , Yu-Zhou  , Wen Chun-Qi , Quan-Wen  , He Yangyang , Huo Yan , Yang Zhengxi , Zhang Jinshu , Liu Hongfei
Published: August 2015

The Duobuza deposit is the first porphyry-type copper deposit discovered with giant prospect in the Bangongco metallogenic belt. Geochemical data indicates that the ore-bearing Duobuza granodiorite porphyry is high-K calc-alkaline to shoshonitic and peraluminous composition. The ore-bearing granodiorite porphyry is enriched in large-ion lithophile elements(LILE) such as Rb, K, Th, La, Ce and Sr, and depleted in high-field-strength elements(HFSE) such as Nb, Ta, P, and Ti. The rare-earth element (REE) patterns show enrichment in light REEs relative to heavy REEs. The major, rare-earth, and trace elements of the ore-bearing granodiorite porphyry show characteristics of adakites, formed in an island arc setting. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) zircon U–Pb age of the ore-bearing granodiorite porphyry is 123.4±1.2 Ma (MSWD = 1.7), which also represents the age of the copper-mineralization. Together with the age data of the early Cretaceous magmatic rocks in the Bangongco–Nujiang suture zone and the middle-northern Gangdese, it indicates that there was bidirectional (northward and southward) subduction of the Bangongco–Nujiang ocean during 120 Ma, and the Duobuza deposit was related to this event.
Assembly of human mitochondrial ATP synthase through two separate intermediates, F1‐c‐ring andb–e–g complex
Authors: Fujikawa Makoto , Sugawara Kanako , Tanabe Tsutomu , Yoshida Masasuke
Published: August 2015

Mitochondrial ATP synthase is a motor enzyme in which a central shaft rotates in the stator casings fixed with the peripheral stator stalk. When expression ofd‐subunit, a stator stalk component, was knocked‐down, human cells could not form ATP synthase holocomplex and instead accumulated two subcomplexes, one containing a central rotor shaft plus catalytic subunits (F1‐c‐ring) and the other containing stator stalk components (“b–e–g” complex). F1‐c‐ring was also formed when expression of mitochondrial DNA‐codeda‐subunit and A6L was suppressed. Thus, the central rotor shaft and the stator stalk are formed separately and they assemble later. Similar assembly strategy has been known for ATP synthase of yeast andEscherichia coli and could be common to all organisms.
Loss of histone deacetylase Hdac1 disrupts metabolic processes in intestinal epithelial cells
Authors: Gonneaud Alexis , Turgeon Naomie , Boisvert François-Michel , Boudreau François , Asselin Claude
Published: August 2015

By using acetyl‐CoA as a substrate, acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases regulate protein acetylation by adding or removing an acetyl group on lysines. Nuclear‐located Hdac1 is a regulator of intestinal homeostasis. We have previously shown that Hdac1 define specific intestinal epithelial cell basal and inflammatory‐dependent gene expression patterns and control cell proliferation. We show here that Hdac1 depletionin cellulo leads to increased histone acetylation after metabolic stresses, and to metabolic disturbances resulting in impaired responses to oxidative stresses, AMPK kinase activation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Thus, nuclear Hdac1 may control intestinal epithelial cell metabolism by regulating the supply of acetyl groups.
Biochemical identification of the catalytic residues of a glycoside hydrolase family 120 β‐xylosidase, involved in xylooligosaccharide metabolisation by gut bacteria
Authors: Cecchini Davide A. , Fauré Régis , Laville Elisabeth , Potocki-Veronese Gabrielle
Published: August 2015

The β‐xylosidase B fromBifidobacterium adolescentis ATCC15703 belongs to the newly characterized family 120 of glycoside hydrolases. In order to investigate its catalytic mechanism, an extensive kinetic study of the wild‐type enzyme and mutants targeting the three highly conserved residues Asp393, Glu416 and Glu364 was performed. NMR analysis of the xyloside hydrolysis products, the change of the reaction rate‐limiting step for the Glu416 mutants, the pH dependency of E416A activity and its chemical rescue allowed to demonstrate that this GH120 enzyme uses a retaining mechanism of glycoside hydrolysis, Glu416 playing the role of acid/base catalyst and Asp393 that of nucleophile.
Cholesterol facilitates interactions between α‐synuclein oligomers and charge‐neutral membranes
Authors: van Maarschalkerweerd Andreas , Vetri Valeria , Vestergaard Bente
Published: August 2015

Oligomeric species formed during α‐synuclein fibrillation are suggested to be membrane‐disrupting agents, and have been associated with cytotoxicity in Parkinson's disease. The majority of studies, however, have revealed that the effect of α‐synuclein oligomers is only noticeable on systems composed of anionic lipids, while the more physiologically relevant zwitterionic lipids remain intact. We present experimental evidence for significant morphological changes in zwitterionic membranes containing cholesterol, induced by α‐synuclein oligomers. Depending on the lipid composition, model membranes are either unperturbed, disrupt, or undergo dramatic morphological changes and segregate into structurally different components, which we visualize by 2‐photon fluorescence microscopy and generalized polarization analysis using the fluorescent probe Laurdan. Our results highlight the crucial role of cholesterol for mediating interactions between physiologically relevant membranes and α‐synuclein.
In various protein complexes, disordered protomers have large per‐residue surface areas and area of protein‐, DNA‐ and RNA‐binding interfaces
Authors: Wu Zhonghua , Hu Gang , Yang Jianyi , Peng Zhenling , Uversky Vladimir N. , Kurgan Lukasz
Published: August 2015

We provide first large scale analysis of the peculiarities of surface areas of 5658 dissimilar (below 50% sequence similarity) proteins with known 3D‐structures that bind to proteins, DNA or RNAs. We show here that area of the protein surface is highly correlated with the protein length. The size of the interface surface is only modestly correlated with the protein size, except for RNA‐binding proteins where larger proteins are characterized by larger interfaces. Disordered proteins with disordered interfaces are characterized by significantly larger per‐residue areas of their surfaces and interfaces when compared to the structured proteins. These result are applicable for proteins involved in interaction with DNA, RNA, and proteins and suggest that disordered proteins and binding regions are less compact and more likely to assume extended shape. We demonstrate that disordered protein binding residues in the interfaces of disordered proteins drive the increase in the per residue area of these interfaces. Our results can be used to predict in silico whether a given protomer from the DNA, RNA or protein complex is likely to be disordered in its unbound form.
Resistance to BRAF inhibitors induces glutamine dependency in melanoma cells
Authors: Baenke Franziska , Chaneton Barbara , Smith Matthew , Van Den Broek Niels , Hogan Kate , Tang Haoran , Viros Amaya , Martin Matthew , Galbraith Laura , Girotti Maria R. , Dhomen Nathalie , Gottlieb Eyal , Marais Richard
Published: August 2015

BRAF inhibitors can extend progression‐free and overall survival in melanoma patients whose tumors harbor mutations in BRAF. However, the majority of patients eventually develop resistance to these drugs. Here we show that BRAF mutant melanoma cells that have developed acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors display increased oxidative metabolism and increased dependency on mitochondria for survival. Intriguingly, the increased oxidative metabolism is associated with a switch from glucose to glutamine metabolism and an increased dependence on glutamine over glucose for proliferation. We show that the resistant cells are more sensitive to mitochondrial poisons and to inhibitors of glutaminolysis, suggesting that targeting specific metabolic pathways may offer exciting therapeutic opportunities to treat resistant tumors, or to delay emergence of resistance in the first‐line setting.
Epidemiology of Methicillin-SusceptibleStaphylococcus aureusin a Neonatology Ward
Authors: Achermann Yvonne , Seidl Kati , Kuster Stefan P. , Leimer Nadja , Durisch Nina , Ajdler-Schäffler Evelyne , Karrer Stephan , Senn Gabriela , Holzmann-Bürgel Anne , Wolfensberger Aline , Leone Antonio , Arlettaz Romaine , Zinkernagel Annelies S. , Sax Hugo
Published: August 2015

OBJECTIVE

In-hospital transmission of methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureus(MSSA) among neonates remains enigmatic. We describe the epidemiology of MSSA colonization and infection in a 30-bed neonatal ward.

DESIGN

Multimodal outbreak investigation

SETTING

A public 800-bed tertiary care university hospital in Switzerland

METHODS

Investigations in 2012–2013, triggered by a MSSA infection cluster, included prospective MSSA infection surveillance, microbiologic screening of neonates and environment, onsite observations, and a prospective cohort study. MSSA isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and selected isolates were examined for multilocus sequence type (MLST) and virulence factors.

RESULTS

Among 726 in 2012, 30 (4.1%) patients suffered from MSSA infections including 8 (1.1%) with bacteremia. Among 655 admissions in 2013, 13 (2.0%) suffered from MSSA infections including 2 (0.3%) with bacteremia. Among 177 neonates screened forS. aureuscarriage, overall 77 (44%) tested positive. A predominant PFGE-1-ST30 strain was identified in 6 of 30 infected neonates (20%) and 30 of 77 colonized neonates (39%). This persistent clone waspvl-negative,tst-positive and belonged toagrgroup III. We found no environmental point source. MSSA carriage was associated with central vascular catheter use but not with a particular midwife, nurse, physician, or isolette. Observed healthcare worker behavior may have propagated transmission via hands and fomites. Despite multimodal interventions, clonal transmission and colonization continued and another clone, PFGE-6-ST5, became predominant.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospital-acquired MSSA clones represent a high proportion of MSSA colonization but not MSSA infections in neonate inpatients. In contrast to persisting MSSA, transmission infection rates decreased concurrently with interventions. It remains to be established whether eradication of hospital-acquired MSSA strains would reduce infection rates further.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.2015;36(11):1305–1312
Crowded Space, Fertile Ground: Party Entry and the Effective Number of Parties
Authors: Kselman Daniel M. , Powell Eleanor Neff , Tucker Joshua A.
Published: August 2015

This paper develops a novel argument as to the conditions under which new political parties will form in democratic states. Our approach hinges on the manner in which politicians evaluate the policy implications of new party entry alongside considerations of incumbency for its own sake. We demonstrate that if candidates care sufficiently about policy outcomes, then the likelihood of party entry shouldincreasewith the effective number of status quo parties in the party system. This relationship weakens, and eventually disappears, as politicians’ emphasis on “office-seeking” motivations increases relative to their interest in public policy. We test these predictions with both aggregate electoral data in contemporary Europe and a data set on legislative volatility in Turkey, uncovering support for the argument that party system fragmentation should positively affect the likelihood of entry when policy-seeking motivations are relevant, but not otherwise.
Party System Nationalization and the Provision of Public Health Services
Authors: Hicken Allen , Kollman Ken , Simmons Joel W.
Published: August 2015

In this paper, we examine consequences of party system nationalization. We argue that the degree to which party systems are nationalized should affect the provision of public benefits by governments. When political competition at the national level occurs between parties that represent specific sub-national constituencies, then the outcomes of policy debates and conflicts can lead to an undersupply of nationally focused public services. We test our argument using data on DPT and measles immunization rates for 58 countries. We find that low party system nationalization is a barrier to improvements in these health indicators. Specifically, a substantial presence of regionalized parties hinders states’ convergence toward international heath standards.
ON MAXIMAL SUBSETS OF PAIRWISE NONCOMMUTING ELEMENTS IN FINITE -GROUPS
Authors: DARAFSHEH M. R. , GHORBANI M. , PRAJAPATI S. K.
Published: August 2015

A subset $X$ of a finite group $G$ is a set of pairwise noncommuting elements if $xy\neq yx$ for all $x\neq y\in X$. If $|X|\geq |Y|$ for any other subset $Y$ of pairwise noncommuting elements, then $X$ is called a maximal subset of pairwise noncommuting elements and the size of such a set is denoted by ${\it\omega}(G)$. In a recent article by Azad et al. [‘Maximal subsets of pairwise noncommuting elements of some finite $p$-groups’, Bull. Iran. Math. Soc.39(1) (2013), 187–192], the value of ${\it\omega}(G)$ is computed for certain $p$-groups $G$. In the present paper, our aim is to generalise these results and find ${\it\omega}(G)$ for some more $p$-groups of interest.
The New Internalization Theory and Multinational Enterprises from Emerging Economies: A Business History Perspective
Authors: Verbeke Alain , Kano Liena
Published: August 2015

The recent surge of emerging-economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs) has prompted a debate on whether existing international business theory—particularly internalization theory—can accommodate this phenomenon. Our view is that no new, EMNE-centric theory is required to study EMNEs. Using historical evidence, we argue that “new” internalization theory is sufficient to address the complexity of EMNEs, and we illustrate our argument with examples of ten successful EMNEs from Asia and the Americas. We further argue that a business history lens can illuminate the behavior of developed-economy multinationals. We show how management scholars can advance their research agendas by engaging with business history and how business historians can use internalization theory to analyze the history of multinationals.
Anatomy of a submerged archipelago in the Sicilian Channel (central Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: CIVILE DARIO , LODOLO EMANUELE , CAFFAU MAURO , BARADELLO LUCA , BEN-AVRAHAM ZVI
Published: August 2015

The Sicilian Channel is a broad and shallow shelf which is geologically part of the African Plate. Its NW sector (the Adventure Plateau), where water depths rarely exceed 100 m, is punctuated by several kilometre-sized morphological highs. These elevations, formed by both sedimentary and volcanic rocks, emerged around middle Holocene time or earlier when they constituted a large archipelago. High-resolution single-channel and multichannel seismic reflection profiles, along with stratigraphic and lithological information derived from exploration wells and rock samplings, are analysed to derive the shallow and deep structural setting of these banks and identify their geological nature. The sedimentary banks (Talbot, Ante-Talbot, Panope, Nereo and Pantelleria Vecchia), presently located at water depths 8–40 m, are composed of Miocene rocks severely deformed by a late Miocene compressional phase which produced the external sector of the Sicilian–Maghrebian thrust belt. Tortonian-aged rock samples from the Pantelleria Vecchia Bank represent patch reefs that have mostly formed on structural highs. Sedimentary analogies suggest that other sedimentary banks of the Adventure Plateau may have the same origin. Galatea, Anfitrite and Tetide represent submarine volcanic edifices emplaced on major extensional faults formed during early Pliocene – Quaternary continental rifting of the Sicilian Channel. The present-day morphology of the banks is the result of repeated phases of subaerial exposure and drowning, especially since the Last Glacial Maximum.
A Voice of Conscience: How Eleanor Roosevelt Helped to Popularize the Debate on Nuclear Fallout, 1950–1954
Authors: FAZZI DARIO
Published: August 2015

This article looks at Eleanor Roosevelt's role within the intense debate on nuclear fallout as it developed in the US in the early 1950s. In particular, the article analyzes Mrs. Roosevelt's position on nuclear weapons, deterrence, and disarmament; her condemnation of nuclear testing; and her role as both a public intellectual and a mass educator who helped people to understand the real consequences of nuclear fallout. Here, Mrs. Roosevelt emerges as an active voice that, by defending freedom of speech, also contributed to popularizing the issue of nuclear fallout and making American citizens aware of the urgency of a ban on nuclear testing.
The rise and decline inSalmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis outbreaks attributed to egg-containing foods in the United States, 1973–2009
Authors: WRIGHT A. P. , RICHARDSON L. , MAHON B. E. , ROTHENBERG R. , COLE D. J.
Published: August 2015

Salmonella entericacauses an estimated 1 million domestically acquired foodborne illnesses annually.Salmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis (SE) is among the top three serovars of reported cases ofSalmonella. We examined trends in SE foodborne outbreaks from 1973 to 2009 using Joinpoint and Poisson regression. The annual number of SE outbreaks increased sharply in the 1970s and 1980s but declined significantly after 1990. Over the study period, SE outbreaks were most frequently attributed to foods containing eggs. The average rate of SE outbreaks attributed to egg-containing foods reported by states began to decline significantly after 1990, and the proportion of SE outbreaks attributed to egg-containing foods began declining after 1997. Our results suggest that interventions initiated in the 1990s to decrease SE contamination of shell eggs may have been integral to preventing SE outbreaks.
A meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of dengue virus-specific IgA antibody-based tests for detection of dengue infection
Authors: ALAGARASU K. , WALIMBE A. M. , JADHAV S. M. , DEOSHATWAR A. R.
Published: August 2015

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)-based tests have been evaluated in different studies for their utility in diagnosing dengue infections. In most of the studies, the results were inconclusive because of a small sample size. Hence, a meta-analysis involving nine studies with 2096 samples was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of IgA-based tests in diagnosing dengue infections. The analysis was conducted using Meta-Disc software. The results revealed that IgA-based tests had an overall sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of 73·9%, 95·2%, 66·7, 22·0 and 0·25, respectively. Significant heterogeneity was observed between the studies. The type of test, infection status and day of sample collection influenced the diagnostic accuracy. The IgA-based diagnostic tests showed a greater accuracy when the samples were collected 4 days after onset of symptoms and for secondary infections. The results suggested that IgA-based tests had a moderate level of accuracy and are diagnostic of the disease. However, negative results cannot be used alone for dengue diagnosis. More prospective studies comparing the diagnostic accuracy of combinations of antigen-based tests with either IgA or IgM are needed and might be useful for suggesting the best strategy for dengue diagnosis.
Against Securitism, the New Breed of Actualism in Consequentialist Thought
Authors: VESSEL JEAN-PAUL
Published: August 2015

In Commonsense Consequentialism: Wherein Morality Meets Rationality, Douglas Portmore introduces a novel position regarding the actualist–possibilist controversies in consequentialist thought – securitism – a position he argues is theoretically superior to the standard views in both the actualist and possibilist camps. After distinguishing the two camps through an examination of the original Procrastinate case, I present Portmore's securitism (a new species of actualism) and its implications regarding his modified Procrastinate case. I level two serious objections against securitism: (i) that it implausibly implies that morality is radically more demanding for the virtuous than it is for the vicious and (ii) that it fails to recognize moral vice in a wide range of cases. I close by arguing that a possibilist variant of Portmore's securitist view is impervious to such objections and thus appears theoretically superior to the actualist version Portmore promotes.
Financial literacy, trust and retirement planning
Authors: RICCI ORNELLA , CARATELLI MASSIMO
Published: August 2015

We study the complex relationship between financial literacy, retirement planning and trust in financial institutions, using data from the 2010 Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth. The impact of financial literacy on retirement planning is a well-established issue in the existing empirical literature; our main contribution is proving that financial knowledge not only impacts retirement planning, but also the decisions of entering a private pension scheme (or devoting the severance pay to a private pension scheme). Adding the consideration of trust poses serious econometric concerns, since both financial literacy and trust in financial institutions are likely to be endogenous and the presence of two endogenous regressors renders the identification of causality very difficult. Our solution is to keep only financial literacy as endogenous and include in our models an exogenous regional indicator of social capital (similar to the one adopted by Guisoet al., 2004), as a proxy for the level of trust between the counterparts of a financial contract in each geographical area. Our main findings show that trust has a positive influence on both the decisions to enter a private pension scheme or to devote the severance pay to a private pension scheme.
Trends in the access to and the use of antipsychotic medications and psychotropic co-treatments in Asian patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Xiang Y.-T. , Ungvari G. S. , Correll C. U. , Chiu H. F. K. , Shinfuku N.
Published: August 2015

To date, antipsychotics remain the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia and related disorders although other psychotropic medications and non-pharmaceutical interventions have been used adjunctively in some patients and settings. Regular surveys on access to and prescription patterns of psychotropic medications in clinical practice are an important and efficient way of examining the use and time trends of treatments in a given population and region. Unlike developed Western countries, Asian countries have not fully undergone deinstitutionalisation of the severely and chronically mentally ill, and community-based mental health services are still under-developed. As a result, a large number of psychiatric patients still receive treatments in psychiatric hospitals. Moreover, there have been very limited studies examining access to and prescription patterns of psychotropic medications for schizophrenia patients in Asian countries. In this paper, we focus on the only international project on the use of psychotropic medications in schizophrenia patientsin selected East and Southeast Asian countries/territoriessummarising its major findings. Most of the first- and second-generation antipsychotics (FGAs and SGAs) are available in Asian countries, but the access to psychotropic medications is largely affected by socio-cultural and historical contexts, health insurance schemes, health care policy, medication cost and consumers’ preference across different countries/territories. Overall, the proportional use of FGAs, high dose antipsychotic treatment and antipsychotic polypharmacy have decreased, while the use of SGAs and antidepressants have increased and the utilisation of benzodiazepines and mood stabilisers has remained relatively stable over time. However, within these general trends, there is great inter-country variation regarding the psychotropic prescribing patterns and trends in Asian schizophrenia patients that also seems to differ from data in many Western countries.
Entwicklungsgefährdung bei Jugendlichen mit Alkoholintoxikation prognostizieren
Authors: Schwendemann Hanna , Kuttler Heidi , Bitzer Eva Maria
Published: August 2015

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Geschätzt ist etwa ein Drittel der Jugendlichen, das aufgrund einer akuten Alkoholintoxikation im Krankenhaus ist, in seiner Entwicklung gefährdet. Es ist jedoch wenig bekannt über Art und Umfang von Entwicklungsgefährdungen (EG) und familialen Schutzfaktoren zum Zeitpunkt der Intoxikation und deren prognostischer Relevanz. Methode: Prospektive, multizentrische Kohortenstudie mit zwei Erhebungszeitpunkten bei alkoholintoxikierten Jugendlichen (12 – 18 Jahren). Erhoben werden im Krankenhaus (T0) Angaben zu Risiko-, Schutzfaktoren und EG (CTC-Survey). Sechs Monate später (T1) werden ausschließlich zwischenzeitlich eingetretene EG erfragt. Mittels multipler logistischer Regression prädizieren wir in den 6 Monaten nach der Entlassung aus dem Krankenhaus eingetretene EG. Ergebnis: Von den n = 228 zu beiden Zeitpunkten erreichten Jugendlichen, weisen 45,2 % zum Zeitpunkt des Krankenhausaufenthaltes zwei und mehr EG (aktuell/ lebenszeitlich) auf. In den 6 Monaten später sind es 22,4 % (nur aktuell). Bei Jugendlichen mit zwei zu T0 bestehenden EG erhöht sich das Risiko für eine mittelfristige starke Gefährdung um das Fünffache (RR: 5,0 95 %-Konfidenzintervall 2,6 – 9,5). Unter Ausschluss von EG aus dem Modell zeigt sich die Wirkung familialer Schutzfaktoren. Schlussfolgerung/Diskussion: EG sind zum Zeitpunkt des Krankenhausaufenthaltes verbreitet und erhöhen die Wahrscheinlichkeit für mittelfristig eintretende Gefährdungen.
Lightning "Impulses" Improve Models of Global Electrical Circuit
Authors: Zastrow Mark
Published: August 2015

New simulations of how thunderstorms drive electrical currents through the Earth's atmosphere combine precision with computational speed.
Seismic monitoring in the oceans by autonomous floats
Authors: Sukhovich Alexey , Bonnieux Sébastien , Hello Yann , Irisson Jean-Olivier , Simons Frederik J. , Nolet Guust
Published: August 2015

Our understanding of the internal dynamics of the Earth is largely based on images of seismic velocity variations in the mantle obtained with global tomography. However, our ability to image the mantle is severely hampered by a lack of seismic data collected in marine areas. Here we report observations made under different noise conditions (in the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian and Pacific Oceans) by a submarine floating seismograph, and show that such floats are able to fill the oceanic data gap. Depending on the ambient noise level, the floats can record between 35 and 63% of distant earthquakes with a moment magnitude M≥6.5. Even magnitudes <6.0 can be successfully observed under favourable noise conditions. The serendipitous recording of an earthquake swarm near the Indian Ocean triple junction enabled us to establish a threshold magnitude between 2.7 and 3.4 for local earthquakes in the noisiest of the three environments.
A Magnetic Wormhole
Authors: Prat-Camps Jordi , Navau Carles , Sanchez Alvaro
Published: August 2015

Wormholes are fascinating cosmological objects that can connect two distant regions of the universe. Because of their intriguing nature, constructing a wormhole in a lab seems a formidable task. A theoretical proposal by Greenleafet al.presented a strategy to build a wormhole for electromagnetic waves. Based on metamaterials, it could allow electromagnetic wave propagation between two points in space through an invisible tunnel. However, an actual realization has not been possible until now. Here we construct and experimentally demonstrate a magnetostatic wormhole. Using magnetic metamaterials and metasurfaces, our wormhole transfers the magnetic field from one point in space to another through a path that is magnetically undetectable. We experimentally show that the magnetic field from a source at one end of the wormhole appears at the other end as an isolated magnetic monopolar field, creating the illusion of a magnetic field propagating through a tunnel outside the 3D space. Practical applications of the results can be envisaged, including medical techniques based on magnetism.
Terahertz detectors arrays based on orderly aligned InN nanowires
Authors: Chen Xuechen , Liu Huiqiang , Li Qiuguo , Chen Hao , Peng Rufang , Chu Sheng , Cheng Binbin
Published: August 2015

Nanostructured terahertz detectors employing a single semiconducting nanowire or graphene sheet have recently generated considerable interest as an alternative to existing THz technologies, for their merit on the ease of fabrication and above-room-temperature operation. However, the lack of alignment in nanostructure device hindered their potential toward practical applications. The present work reports ordered terahertz detectors arrays based on neatly aligned InN nanowires. The InN nanostructures (nanowires and nano-necklaces) were achieved by chemical vapor deposition growth and then InN nanowires were successfully transferred and aligned into micrometer-sized groups by a “transfer-printing” method. Field effect transistors on aligned nanowires were fabricated and tested for terahertz detection purpose. The detector showed good photoresponse as well as low noise level. Besides, dense arrays of such detectors were also fabricated, which rendered a peak responsivity of 1.1 V/W from 7 detectors connected in series.
The Multiple DSF-family QS Signals are Synthesized from Carbohydrate and Branched-chain Amino Acids via the FAS Elongation Cycle
Authors: Zhou Lian , Yu Yonghong , Chen Xiping , Diab Abdelgader Abdeen , Ruan Lifang , He Jin , Wang Haihong , He Ya-Wen
Published: August 2015

Members of the diffusible signal factor (DSF) family are a novel class of quorum sensing (QS) signals in diverse Gram-negative bacteria. Although previous studies have identified RpfF as a key enzyme for the biosynthesis of DSF family signals, many questions in their biosynthesis remain to be addressed. In this study with the phytopathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), we show that Xcc produces four DSF-family signals (DSF, BDSF, CDSF and IDSF) during cell culture and that IDSF is a new functional signal characterized as cis-10-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid. Using a range of defined media, we further demonstrate that Xcc mainly produces BDSF in the presence of carbohydrates; leucine and valine are the primary precursor for DSF biosynthesis; isoleucine is the primary precursor for IDSF biosynthesis. Furthermore, our biochemical analyses show that the key DSF synthase RpfF has both thioesterase and dehydratase activities and uses 3-hydroxydedecanoyl-ACP as a substrate to produce BDSF. Finally, our results show that the classic fatty acid synthesis elongation cycle is required for the biosynthesis of DSF-family signals. Taken all together, these findings establish a general biosynthetic pathway for the DSF-family quorum sensing signals.
The structure of an endogenous Drosophila centromere reveals the prevalence of tandemly repeated sequences able to form i-motifs
Authors: Garavís Miguel , Méndez-Lago María , Gabelica Valérie , Whitehead Siobhan L. , González Carlos , Villasante Alfredo
Published: August 2015

Centromeres are the chromosomal loci at which spindle microtubules attach to mediate chromosome segregation during mitosis and meiosis. In most eukaryotes, centromeres are made up of highly repetitive DNA sequences (satellite DNA) interspersed with middle repetitive DNA sequences (transposable elements). Despite the efforts to establish complete genomic sequences of eukaryotic organisms, the so-called ‘finished’ genomes are not actually complete because the centromeres have not been assembled due to the intrinsic difficulties in constructing both physical maps and complete sequence assemblies of long stretches of tandemly repetitive DNA. Here we show the first molecular structure of an endogenous Drosophila centromere and the ability of the C-rich dodeca satellite strand to form dimeric i-motifs. The finding of i-motif structures in simple and complex centromeric satellite DNAs leads us to suggest that these centromeric sequences may have been selected not by their primary sequence but by their ability to form noncanonical secondary structures.
3D coral-like nitrogen-sulfur co-doped carbon-sulfur composite for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries
Authors: Wu Feng , Li Jian , Tian Yafen , Su Yuefeng , Wang Jing , Yang Wen , Li Ning , Chen Shi , Bao Liying
Published: August 2015

3D coral-like, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped mesoporous carbon has been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal-nanocasting method to house sulfur for Li–S batteries. The primary doped species (pyridinic-N, pyrrolic-N, thiophenic-S and sulfonic-S) enable this carbon matrix to suppress the diffusion of polysulfides, while the interconnected mesoporous carbon network is favourable for rapid transport of both electrons and lithium ions. Based on the synergistic effect of N, S co-doping and the mesoporous conductive pathway, the as-fabricated C/S cathodes yield excellent cycling stability at a current rate of 4 C (1 C = 1675 mA g−1) with only 0.085% capacity decay per cycle for over 250 cycles and ultra-high rate capability (693 mAh g−1 at 10 C rate). These capabilities have rarely been reported before for Li-S batteries.
Graphene-quantum-dots-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for visual detection of copper ion
Authors: Sun Xiangying , Liu Pengchao , Wu Lulu , Liu Bin
Published: August 2015

A novel dual-photoluminescence probe for Cu2+ with the naked eye.
Rapid and simple detection of pethidine hydrochloride injection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on silver aggregates
Authors: Zhang Mei-Ling , Hasi Wu-Li-Ji , Lin Xiang , Zhao Xiao-Rong , Lou Xiu-Tao , Han Si-qin-gao-wa , Lin Dian-Yang , Lu Zhi-Wei
Published: August 2015

A rapid and simple SERS method for detecting pethidine hydrochloride injection utilizing silver aggregates as the active substrate was developed.
Several hundred-fold enhanced fluorescence from single fluorophores assembled on silver nanoparticle–dielectric–metal substrate
Authors: Ray Krishanu , Badugu Ramachandram , Szmacinski Henryk , Lakowicz Joseph R.
Published: August 2015

We observed over 400-fold enhanced fluorescence from single Cy5 molecules assembled on multilayer silver nanoparticle–dielectric–metal (PDM) substrate.
Residual metals present in “metal-free” N-doped carbons
Authors: Jin Xiuyan , Zhang Guoxin , Hao Yongchao , Chang Zheng , Sun Xiaoming
Published: August 2015

We verified that residual metals were inevitably present in these N-doped carbons and the catalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was due to the remaining metals, present at only a ppm level.
Hierarchical porous polycaprolactone microspheres generated via a simple pathway combining nanoprecipitation and hydrolysis
Authors: Fan Hailong , Jin Zhaoxia
Published: August 2015

We demonstrated a one-pot, soap-free fabrication of porous polycaprolactone microspheres by combining nanoprecipitation and hydrolysis. The obtained porous polycaprolactone microspheres show great advantages for application in drug delivery.
Multi-ion ionic liquids and a direct, reproducible, diversity-oriented way to make them
Authors: Stenson Alexandra C. , West Kevin N. , Matthew Reichert W. , Klomkaew Phiwat , Cassity Cody G. , Dobyns Breanna M. , Siu Benjamin , Davis James H.
Published: August 2015

Multi-ion ionic liquids featuring large numbers of distinct imidazolium cations can be easily and reproducibly prepared in a simple one-pot procedure.
Selective growth of metallic nanostructures on microstructured copper substrate in solution
Authors: He Zhiwei , He Jianying , Zhang Zhiliang
Published: August 2015

Two kinds of micro/nanostructured superhydrophobic CuO surfaces were achieved by the solution-immersion method.
Contrasting crystal packing arrangements in triiodide salts of radical cations of chiral bis(pyrrolo[3,4-d])tetrathiafulvalenes
Authors: Martin Lee , Yang Songjie , Brooks Andrew C. , Horton Peter N. , Male Louise , Moulfi Ourida , Harmand Lydie , Day Peter , Clegg William , Harrington Ross W. , Wallis John D.
Published: August 2015

Triiodides are arranged in head to tail pairs, infinite lines or a castellated arrangement in the radical cation salts of chiral bis(N(1-arylethyl))pyrrolo-tetrathiafulvalene salts.
Hybrid zinc oxide/graphene electrodes for depleted heterojunction colloidal quantum-dot solar cells
Authors: Tavakoli Mohammad Mahdi , Aashuri Hossein , Simchi Abdolreza , Fan Zhiyong
Published: August 2015

Recently, hybrid nanocomposites consisting of graphene/nanomaterial heterostructures have emerged as promising candidates for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices.
Theoretical study of the reactions of Criegee intermediates with ozone, alkylhydroperoxides, and carbon monoxide
Authors: Vereecken L. , Rickard A. R. , Newland M. J. , Bloss W. J.
Published: August 2015

The reaction of Criegee intermediates with hydroperoxides yields exotic ether oxides, as well as oligomers.
Self-diffusion, velocity cross-correlation, distinct diffusion and resistance coefficients of the ionic liquid [BMIM][Tf2N] at high pressure
Authors: Harris Kenneth R. , Kanakubo Mitsuhiro
Published: August 2015

Distinct diffusion coefficients for 1-alkyl-3-imidazolium [Tf2N] salts show very similar viscosity dependence; thermodynamic scaling parameters for the reduced transport properties are equal.
Enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of carbon nitride through hybridization with light-sensitive AgCl for carbon dioxide reduction to methane
Authors: Putri Lutfi Kurnianditia , Ong Wee-Jun , Chang Wei Sea , Chai Siang-Piao
Published: August 2015

Schematic illustration of the photocatalytic CO2 reduction mechanism on the Ag/AgCl/CN hybrid nanostructure and their respective band structure alignment.
Development of a post-synthetic method for tuning the Al content of OSDA-free Beta as a catalyst for conversion of methanol to olefins
Authors: Otomo Ryoichi , Müller Ulrich , Feyen Mathias , Yilmaz Bilge , Meng Xiangju , Xiao Feng-Shou , Gies Hermann , Bao Xinhe , Zhang Weiping , De Vos Dirk , Yokoi Toshiyuki
Published: August 2015

Post-synthetic modification was performed upon an Al-rich OSDA-free Beta to obtain high-silica Beta catalysts for MTO reaction, achieving a high selectivity to light olefins and long catalyst life.
Beneficial effect of Re doping on the electrochemical HER activity of MoS2 fullerenes
Authors: Chhetri Manjeet , Gupta Uttam , Yadgarov Lena , Rosentsveig Rita , Tenne Reshef , Rao C. N. R.
Published: August 2015

The combined synergistic effect of Re doping and the IF structure on MoS2 for enhancing the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction.
Synthesis and characterisation of thioether functionalised gallium and indium alkoxides
Authors: Barth Sven , Biegger Felix , Puchberger Michael
Published: August 2015

The first coordination of thioethers in metal alkoxides is described and the bonding compared to thioether-containing aminoalcoholate derivatives.
Insights into chitosan multiple functional properties: the role of chitosan conformation in the behavior of liposomal membrane
Authors: Tan Chen , Zhang Yating , Abbas Shabbar , Feng Biao , Zhang Xiaoming , Xia Shuqin , Chang Dawei
Published: August 2015

Interactions of chitosan with liposomes correlate with multiple functionalities. Chitosan chains can self-aggregate above a critical aggregation concentration. The physical properties of liposomes are affected by chitosan conformation. Chitosan displays “polymeric surfactant property” in the form of coils.
Interfacial dilational properties of tea polyphenols and milk proteins with gut epithelia and the role of mucus in nutrient adsorption
Authors: Guri Anilda , Li Yang , Corredig Milena
Published: August 2015

Human mucin films mediate the absorption of model bioactives.
Simultaneous spin-coating and solvent annealing: manipulating the active layer morphology to a power conversion efficiency of 9.6% in polymer solar cells
Authors: He Zhicai , Liu Feng , Wang Cheng , Chen Jihua , He Lilin , Nordlund Dennis , Wu Hongbin , Russell Thomas P. , Cao Yong
Published: August 2015

We demonstrate spin coating together with solvent annealing, which can be used to tune the morphology of the BHJ active layer and thus enhance device performances.
Hexagonal columnar liquid crystals as a processing additive to a P3HT:PCBM photoactive layer
Authors: T. N. Ahipa , K. M. Anoop , Krishna Pai Ranjith
Published: August 2015

Trihydrazone-functionalized cyanopyridine liquid crystals are introduced into the photoactive layer as processing additives to acquire an improved interpenetrating network and charge carrier mobility.
Recyclable aluminium oxy-hydroxide supported Pd nanoparticles for selective hydrogenation of nitro compounds via sodium borohydride hydrolysis
Authors: Göksu Haydar
Published: August 2015

The method for the reduction of nitroarenes developed in the presence of PdAlO(OH) NPs is simple, efficient and eco-friendly.
Pd(OAc)2-catalysed regioselective alkoxylation of aryl (β-carbolin-1-yl)methanones via β-carboline directed ortho-C(sp2)–H activation of an aryl ring
Authors: Kolle Shivalinga , Batra Sanjay
Published: August 2015

Synthesis of (2-alkoxyphenyl)(9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-1-yl)methanoneviaPd(OAc)2-catalyzed regioselective alkoxylation of aryl (β-carbolin-1-yl)methanones employing β-carboline directedortho-C(sp2)–H activation of an aryl ring under oxidative conditions is described.
Synthesis and photophysical properties of pyrene-labeled 3-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosines comprising a non-π-conjugated linker: fluorescence quenching-based oligodeoxynucleotide probes for thymine identification
Authors: Aso Tatsuya , Saito Koichiro , Suzuki Azusa , Saito Yoshio
Published: August 2015

ODN probes containingpy3zA(1) exhibited remarkable fluorescence quenching only when the opposite base of the complementary strand was thymine.
Correction: Comparison of the reactivity of β-thiolactones and β-lactones toward ring-opening by thiols and amines
Authors: Noel Amandine , Delpech Bernard , Crich David
Published: August 2015

Correction for ‘Comparison of the reactivity of β-thiolactones and β-lactones toward ring-opening by thiols and amines’ by Amandine Noel et al., Org. Biomol. Chem., 2012, 10, 6480–6483.
Recent development of polymer membranes as separators for all-vanadium redox flow batteries
Authors: Doan The Nam Long , Hoang Tuan K. A. , Chen P.
Published: August 2015

A key component for all-vanadium redox flow batteries is the membrane separator, which separates the positive and negative half-cells and prevents the cross-mixing of vanadium ions, while providing required ionic conductivity.
Self-assembly of cuprous oxide nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide and their enhanced performance for catalytic reduction of nitrophenols
Authors: Wu Chengke , An Xiaoyu , Gao Shuyan , Su Li
Published: August 2015

Mechanism for the catalytic reduction of nitrophenols; the catalyst can be reused with nearly invariable high catalytic efficiency.
Investigation of the nonlinear absorption spectrum of all-trans retinoic acid by using the steady and transient two-photon absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Vivas M. G. , Siqueira J. P. , Silva D. L. , de Boni L. , Mendonca C. R.
Published: August 2015

This paper reports for the first time a complete study on the steady and transient excited state dynamics induced by 2PA for ATRA.
Palladium catalyst supported on PEGylated imidazolium based phosphinite ionic liquid-modified magnetic silica core–shell nanoparticles: a worthy and highly water-dispersible catalyst for organic reactions in water
Authors: Bahadorikhalili Saeed , Ma’mani Leila , Mahdavi Hossein , Shafiee Abbas
Published: August 2015

A highly water-dispersible palladium nanocatalyst was fabricated by the immobilization of Pd onto the surface of PEGylated imidazolium based phosphinite ionic liquid functionalized γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles.
Predicting aquatic toxicities of benzene derivatives in multiple test species using local, global and interspecies QSTR modeling approaches
Authors: Gupta Shikha , Basant Nikita , Singh Kunwar P.
Published: August 2015

A flow diagram showing QSTR modeling strategy for aquatic toxicity prediction of benzene derivatives in multiple test species.
Synthesis and physiochemical properties of novel gemini surfactants with phenyl-1,4-bis(carbamoylmethyl) spacer
Authors: Wang Liyan , Zhang Yue , Ding Limin , Liu Jia , Zhao Bing , Deng Qigang , Yan Tie
Published: August 2015

A series of novel gemini surfactants, namely, phenyl-1,4-bis[(carbamoylmethyl) N,N-(dimethylalkyl ammonium chloride)] (a, b and c), was synthesized systematically and characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS.
Tetramethylguanidium-based ionic liquids as efficient and reusable catalysts for the synthesis of biscoumarin at room temperature
Authors: Zhu Anlian , Wang Mingyue , Li Lingjun , Wang Jianji
Published: August 2015

The ionic liquid tetramethylguanidium acetate is very efficient for the one-pot catalytic preparation of biscoumarins through a domino Knoevenagel–Michael reaction at room temperature.
Repeated self-healing of nano and micro scale cracks in epoxy based composites by tri-axial electrospun fibers including different healing agents
Authors: Monfared Zanjani Jamal Seyyed , Okan Burcu Saner , Letofsky-Papst Ilse , Menceloglu Yusuf , Yildiz Mehmet
Published: August 2015

Multi-walled healing fibers with a novel architecture are fabricated through a direct, one-step tri-axial electrospinning process to encapsulate different healing agents inside the fibers with two distinct protective walls.
Urea-containing metal-organic frameworks as heterogeneous organocatalysts
Authors: Tehrani Alireza Azhdari , Abedi Sedigheh , Morsali Ali , Wang Jun , Junk Peter C.
Published: August 2015

Two novel pillared MOFs containing a urea-functional group are introduced and their efficiency as organocatalysts is evaluated in methanolysis of epoxides.
Photocatalytic activity of Ag2MO4 (M = Cr, Mo, W) photocatalysts
Authors: Xu Difa , Cheng Bei , Zhang Jinfeng , Wang Weikang , Yu Jiaguo , Ho Wingkei
Published: August 2015

The photocatalytic activity and stability of Ag2MO4 (M = Cr, Mo, W) photocatalysts highly depend on their light-absorption, crystal structure and electronic structure.
Correction: Wound healing properties of hyaluronan derivatives bearing ferulate residues
Authors: Valacchi Giuseppe , Grisci Giorgio , Sticozzi Claudia , Lim Yunsook , Paolino Marco , Giuliani Germano , Mendichi Raniero , Belmonte Giuseppe , Artusi Roberto , Zanardi Andrea , Garofalo Paolo , Giorgi Gianluca , Cappelli Andrea , Rovati Lucio
Published: August 2015

Correction for ‘Wound healing properties of hyaluronan derivatives bearing ferulate residues’ by Giuseppe Valacchi et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5tb00661a.