bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propagation properties of specular and antispecular twisted Gaussian Schell-model beams
Authors: Yuan Peng-Ju , Yang Yun-Zhe , Dong Shi-Jie , Tang Miao-Miao ,   School of Physics and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
Published: September 2024

We introduce a class of specular and antispecular twisted Gaussian Schell-model beams, which are generated by inserting a twisted Gaussian Schell-model beam into a wavefront folding interferometer (WFI). The analytical expression for the cross-spectral density function of the beam propagating in free space is derived, and the statistical properties of the optical field are investigated in detail. The results show that the twisted effect is still maintained after the transformation, and the spectral density of the light field always rotates to 90 degrees around the axis during propagation. Furthermore, with appropriate optical field adjustment, the twist effect of the spectral degree of coherence (DOC) can be observed, but in opposite directions to the irradiance profile. We also find that the twisted phase not only controls the rotation of the field, but also effectively modulates the overall spot contour. For the far-field spectral density distribution, a larger twist effect will induce a smaller ellipticity of the beam spot. However, the intensity pattern in the central area is mainly determined by the phase difference of WFI. To be specific, the specular twisted field always has a sharp central peak during propagation, and in the antispecular case it has a central dip. Besides, the DOC distribution can be flexibly adjusted by the source coherence, the twisted phase and the phase difference of the WFI. The results of our work have important applications in the fields of free-space beam communication and particle trapping.
Sympathetic Motor Neuron Dysfunction is a Missing Link in Age-Associated Sympathetic Overactivity
Authors: de la Cruz Lizbeth , Bui Derek , Moreno Claudia M , Vivas Oscar
Published: September 2024

Overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system is a hallmark of aging. The cellular mechanisms behind this overactivity remain poorly understood, with most attention paid to likely central nervous system components. In this work, we hypothesized that aging also affects the function of motor neurons in the peripheral sympathetic ganglia. To test this hypothesis, we compared the electrophysiological responses and ion-channel activity of neurons isolated from the superior cervical ganglia of young (12 weeks), middle-aged (64 weeks), and old (115 weeks) mice. These approaches showed that aging does impact the intrinsic properties of sympathetic motor neurons, increasing spontaneous and evoked firing responses. A reduction of M current emerged as a major contributor to age-related hyperexcitability. Thus, it is essential to consider the effect of aging on motor components of the sympathetic reflex as a crucial part of the mechanism involved in sympathetic overactivity.
Transcriptomic profiling of Schlemm’s canal cells reveals a lymphatic-biased identity and three major cell states
Authors: Balasubramanian Revathi , Kizhatil Krishnakumar , Li Taibo , Tolman Nicholas , Bhandari Aakriti , Clark Graham , Bupp-Chickering Violet , Kelly Ruth A , Zhou Sally , Peregrin John , Simón Marina , Montgomery Christa , Stamer W Daniel , Qian Jiang , John Simon WM
Published: September 2024

Schlemm’s canal (SC) is central in intraocular pressure regulation but requires much characterization. It has distinct inner and outer walls, each composed of Schlemm’s canal endothelial cells (SECs) with different morphologies and functions. Recent transcriptomic studies of the anterior segment added important knowledge, but were limited in power by SEC numbers or did not focus on SC. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of SC biology, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on C57BL/6J SC, blood vessel, and lymphatic endothelial cells from limbal tissue (∼4500 SECs). We also analyzed mouse limbal tissues by single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (C57BL/6J and 129/Sj strains), successfully sequencing 903 individual SECs. Together, these datasets confirm that SC has molecular characteristics of both blood and lymphatic endothelia with a lymphatic phenotype predominating. SECs are enriched in pathways that regulate cell-cell junction formation pointing to the importance of junctions in determining SC fluid permeability. Importantly, and for the first time, our analyses characterize 3 molecular classes of SECs, molecularly distinguishing inner wall from outer wall SECs and discovering two inner wall cell states that likely result from local environmental differences. Further, and based on ligand and receptor expression patterns, we document key interactions between SECs and cells of the adjacent trabecular meshwork (TM) drainage tissue. Also, we present cell type expression for a collection of human glaucoma genes. These data provide a new molecular foundation that will enable the functional dissection of key homeostatic processes mediated by SECs as well as the development of new glaucoma therapeutics.
Aeromonas hydrophila CobQ is a new type of NAD+- and Zn2+- independent protein lysine deacetylase
Authors: Wang Yuqian , Wang Guibin , Zhang Lishan , Cai Qilan , Lin Meizhen , Huang Dongping , Xie Yuyue , Lin Wenxiong , Lin Xiangmin
Published: September 2024

Protein N
Ɛ
-lysine acetylation (Kac) modifications play crucial roles in diverse physiological and pathological functions in cells. In prokaryotic cells, there are only two types of lysine deacetylases (KDACs) that are Zn
2+
- or NAD
+
-dependent. In this study, we reported a protein, AhCobQ, in
Aeromonas hydrophila
ATCC 7966 that presents NAD
+
- and Zn
2+
-independent KDAC activity. Furthermore, its KDAC activity is located in an unidentified domain (from 195–245 aa). Interestingly, AhCobQ has no homology with current known KDACs, and no homologous protein was found in eukaryotic cells. A protein substrate analysis showed that AhCobQ has specific protein substrates in common with other known KDACs, indicating that these KDACs can dynamically co- regulate the states of Kac proteins. Microbiological methods employed in this study affirmed AhCobQ’s positive regulation of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD) enzymatic activity at the K388 site, implicating AhCobQ in the modulation of bacterial enzymatic activities. In summary, our findings present compelling evidence that AhCobQ represents a distinctive type of KDAC with significant roles in bacterial biological functions.
Terrorism group prediction using feature combination and BiGRU with self-attention mechanism
Authors: Abdalsalam Mohammed , Li Chunlin , Dahou Abdelghani , Kryvinska Natalia
Published: September 2024

The world faces the ongoing challenge of terrorism and extremism, which threaten the stability of nations, the security of their citizens, and the integrity of political, economic, and social systems. Given the complexity and multifaceted nature of this phenomenon, combating it requires a collective effort, with tailored methods to address its various aspects. Identifying the terrorist organization responsible for an attack is a critical step in combating terrorism. Historical data plays a pivotal role in this process, providing insights that can inform prevention and response strategies. With advancements in technology and artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in military applications, there is growing interest in utilizing these developments to enhance national and regional security against terrorism. Central to this effort are terrorism databases, which serve as rich resources for data on armed organizations, extremist entities, and terrorist incidents. The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) stands out as one of the most widely used and accessible resources for researchers. Recent progress in machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and natural language processing (NLP) offers promising avenues for improving the identification and classification of terrorist organizations. This study introduces a framework designed to classify and predict terrorist groups using bidirectional recurrent units and self-attention mechanisms, referred to as BiGRU-SA. This approach utilizes the comprehensive data in the GTD by integrating textual features extracted by DistilBERT with features that show a high correlation with terrorist organizations. Additionally, the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique with Tomek links (SMOTE-T) was employed to address data imbalance and enhance the robustness of our predictions. The BiGRU-SA model captures temporal dependencies and contextual information within the data. By processing data sequences in both forward and reverse directions, BiGRU-SA offers a comprehensive view of the temporal dynamics, significantly enhancing classification accuracy. To evaluate the effectiveness of our framework, we compared ten models, including six traditional ML models and four DL algorithms. The proposed BiGRU-SA framework demonstrated outstanding performance in classifying 36 terrorist organizations responsible for terrorist attacks, achieving an accuracy of 98.68%, precision of 96.06%, sensitivity of 96.83%, specificity of 99.50%, and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 97.50%. Compared to state-of-the-art methods, the proposed model outperformed others, confirming its effectiveness and accuracy in the classification and prediction of terrorist organizations.
Intercropping and Nutrient Management in Tuber Crops: A Review
Authors: Aswathy J. C. , Sheeba Rebecca. Isaac. , Shalini Pillai. P.
Published: September 2024

Among the land used for growing food and tuber crops assume prime importance in human diet after cereals, being a concentrated source of carbohydrates. In Philippines, Java, Indonesia, Sumatra, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, China and south eastern Asian countries, tuber crops are either the staple or subsidiary food for about one-fifth of the human population. The crop plays a crucial role in satisfying the multifaceted needs of the human population contributing to food, nutritional, social and economic security. In the present scenario of climate change and lack of adequate areas for cultivation tuber crops are gaining a significant importance. Limited availability of additional land for crop production, decreased soil fertility and declining yield for major food crops have been cited as the major concerns for agriculture’s ability to provide nourishment for the increasing population. The tuber crops are usually long duration crops and it provides a scope for land intensification through intercropping. Intercropping is a farming practice that is commonly adopted in the tropics. Based on the spatial arrangement of crops in the field, intercropping can be largely practiced in various ways. The implementation of intercropping within tuber crop systems, especially in conjugation with leguminous species, has demonstrated considerable advantages in augmenting productivity, pest control and resource efficiency. This methodology not only elevates crop yields but also plays a vital role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Another important aspect that affects the overall productivity of the tuber crops is the nutrient management. Nutrient management plays a crucial role in optimizing tuber productivity in the tropical regions. While this review emphasizes the importance of intercropping and tailored nutrient management, challenges remain in ensuring that all farmers adopt these practices effectively, particularly in regions with varying soil conditions and crop requirements.
REEBOXPRO: A forward model simulating melting of thermally and lithologically variable upwelling mantle
Authors: Brown Eric L. , Lesher Charles E.
Published: September 2016

The compositions and volumes of basalts erupted in divergent margin environments provide a record of the thermal, chemical, and dynamical state of their mantle source regions. To relate basalt compositions and volumes to the underlying thermochemical and dynamical state of their mantle source regions, we have developed REEBOX PRO, a compiled stand‐alone application that simulates adiabatic decompression melting of passively or actively upwelling mantle containing up to five distinct lithologies. The model calculates melt compositions using thermodynamic and experimental constraints on the melting behaviors and mineral‐melt partitioning behavior of homogeneous and lithologically heterogeneous mantle sources containing anhydrous peridotite, hydrous peridotite, harzburgite, and/or silica‐saturated/‐undersaturated pyroxenite. Key model outputs include the mean composition and crustal thickness for the bulk basaltic crust, calculated for passive and active upwelling scenarios. Here, we present the mathematical formulations underlying the model and benchmark it against existing hydrous melting models and models for mid‐ocean ridge basalt formation. We show that the hydrous and anhydrous peridotite melting models incorporated in REEBOX PRO capture the essential differences in basalt composition and volume demonstrated by previous models, and constrain the ambient mantle beneath the global spreading ridge system to be between 1319 and 1366°C, depending on the relative fertility and/or water content of the mid‐ocean ridge mantle source. We also show how model outputs may be manipulated outside of the modeling program to calculate nontraditional melt mixing scenarios. These examples highlight the flexibility of REEBOX PRO for simulating melt generation within a range of geodynamical contexts.
Water mass transformation by cabbeling and thermobaricity
Authors: Groeskamp Sjoerd , Abernathey Ryan P. , Klocker Andreas
Published: September 2016

Water mass transformation is an important process for the global ocean circulation. Nonlinearities in the equation of state of seawater lead to water mass transformation due to cabbeling and thermobaricity. Here the contribution of cabbeling and thermobaricity to water mass transformation is calculated in a Neutral Density framework, using temperature gradients derived from observationally based gridded climatologies and observationally based estimates of the spatially varying eddy diffusivities. It is shown that cabbeling and thermobaricity play a significant role in the water mass transformation budget, with cabbeling having a particularly important role in the formation of Antarctic Intermediate Water and Antarctic Bottom Water. A physical hypothesis is presented which explains why cabbeling is important for Antarctic Intermediate Water formation. It is shown that spatially varying estimates of eddy diffusivities are essential to correctly quantify the role of cabbeling to the formation of Antarctic Intermediate Water.
Selection of FUV auroral imagers for satellite missions
Authors: Unick Craig , Donovan Eric , Spanswick Emma , Uritsky Vadim
Published: September 2016

A survey of previously flown and recently designed FUV auroral imagers is presented in conjunction with selection criteria to optimize the potential scientific impact of future satellite‐based FUV auroral observations. The selection of the appropriate suppressive imager is ultimately broken down to four field‐of‐view categories: (1) less than 10°, (2) 10° to 16°, (3) 16° to 24°, and (4) greater than 24°. The determination of the field of view follows as a necessary consequence of the orbit of the satellite, which is often imposed by the mission. The first category of imagers has a wide range of available choices, the second and third categories have a couple of options each where a distinction is made between narrow and wide aggregate filter bandwidth, and the fourth category is limited to on‐axis designs introduced by the authors. High‐resolution imaging is possible up to 50° field of view with the class of imager design first presented in this paper.
Using satellite‐based measurements to explore spatiotemporal scales and variability of drivers of new particle formation
Authors: Sullivan R. C. , Crippa P. , Hallar A. G. , Clarisse L. , Whitburn S. , Van Damme M. , Leaitch W. R. , Walker J. T. , Khlystov A. , Pryor S. C.
Published: September 2016

New particle formation (NPF) can potentially alter regional climate by increasing aerosol particle (hereafter particle) number concentrations and ultimately cloud condensation nuclei. The large scales on which NPF is manifest indicate potential to use satellite‐based (inherently spatially averaged) measurements of atmospheric conditions to diagnose the occurrence of NPF and NPF characteristics. We demonstrate the potential for using satellite‐based measurements of insolation (UV), trace gas concentrations (sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia (NH3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and ozone (O3)), aerosol optical properties (aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Ångström exponent (AE)), and a proxy of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions (leaf area index (LAI) and temperature (T)) as predictors for NPF characteristics: formation rates, growth rates, survival probabilities, and ultrafine particle (UFP) concentrations at five locations across North America. NPF at all sites is most frequent in spring, exhibits a one‐day autocorrelation, and is associated with low condensational sink (AOD × AE) and HCHO concentrations, and high UV. However, there are important site‐to‐site variations in NPF frequency and characteristics, and in which of the predictor variables (particularly gas concentrations) significantly contribute to the explanatory power of regression models built to predict those characteristics. This finding may provide a partial explanation for the reported spatial variability in skill of simple generalized nucleation schemes in reproducing observed NPF. In contrast to more simple proxies developed in prior studies (e.g., based on AOD, AE, SO2, and UV), use of additional predictors (NO2, NH3, HCHO, LAI, T, and O3) increases the explained temporal variance of UFP concentrations at all sites.
Impacts of cloud superparameterization on projected daily rainfall intensity climate changes in multiple versions of the Community Earth System Model
Authors: Kooperman Gabriel J. , Pritchard Michael S. , Burt Melissa A. , Branson Mark D. , Randall David A.
Published: September 2016

Changes in the character of rainfall are assessed using a holistic set of statistics based on rainfall frequency and amount distributions in climate change experiments with three conventional and superparameterized versions of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM and SPCAM). Previous work has shown that high‐order statistics of present‐day rainfall intensity are significantly improved with superparameterization, especially in regions of tropical convection. Globally, the two modeling approaches project a similar future increase in mean rainfall, especially across the Inter‐Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and at high latitudes, but over land, SPCAM predicts a smaller mean change than CAM. Changes in high‐order statistics are similar at high latitudes in the two models but diverge at lower latitudes. In the tropics, SPCAM projects a large intensification of moderate and extreme rain rates in regions of organized convection associated with the Madden Julian Oscillation, ITCZ, monsoons, and tropical waves. In contrast, this signal is missing in all versions of CAM, which are found to be prone to predicting increases in the amount but not intensity of moderate rates. Predictions from SPCAM exhibit a scale‐insensitive behavior with little dependence on horizontal resolution for extreme rates, while lower resolution (∼2°) versions of CAM are not able to capture the response simulated with higher resolution (∼1°). Moderate rain rates analyzed by the “amount mode” and “amount median” are found to be especially telling as a diagnostic for evaluating climate model performance and tracing future changes in rainfall statistics to tropical wave modes in SPCAM.
Structural geology of the Rub' Al‐Khali Basin, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Stewart S. A.
Published: September 2016

The Rub' Al‐Khali basin lies below a Quaternary sand sea, and the structural evolution from the Late Precambrian to Neogene is known only from reflection seismic, gravity, and magnetic data, and wells. Gravity and magnetic data show north‐south and northwest‐southeast trends, matching mapped Precambrian faults. The deepest structures imaged on reflection seismic data are undrilled Precambrian rifts filled with layered strata at depths up to 13 km. The distribution of Ediacaran‐Cambrian Ara/Hormuz mobile salt is restricted to an embayment in the eastern Rub' Al‐Khali. The Precambrian rifts show local inversion and were peneplained at base Phanerozoic. A broad crustal‐scale fold (Qatar Arch) developed in the Carboniferous and amplified in the Late Triassic, separating subbasins in the west and east Rub' Al‐Khali. A phase of kilometer‐scale folding occurred in the Late Cretaceous, coeval with thrusting and ophiolite obduction in eastern Oman. These folds trend predominantly north‐south, oblique to the northwesterly shortening direction, and occasionally have steep fault zones close to their axial surfaces. The trend and location of these folds closely matches the Precambrian lineaments identified in this study, demonstrating preferential reactivation of basement structures. Compression along the Zagros suture reactivated these folds in the Neogene, this time the result of highly oblique, north‐northeast to south‐southwest shortening. Cretaceous‐Tertiary fold style is interpreted as transpression with minor strain partitioning. Permian, Jurassic, and Eocene evaporite horizons played no role in the structural evolution of the basin, but the Eocene evaporites caused widespread kilometer‐scale dissolution collapse structures in the basin center.
Dike emplacement, footwall rotation, and the transition from magmatic to tectonic extension in the Whipple Mountains metamorphic core complex, southeastern California
Authors: Gans Phillip B. , Gentry Beau J.
Published: September 2016

The Chambers Well dike swarm and associated plutonic/volcanic rocks in the western footwall of the Whipple Detachment Fault (WDF) provide key insight into the evolution of this metamorphic core complex. New structural and geochronologic data suggest that the western 12–15 km of exposed footwall is steeply tilted to the SW, providing a cross‐sectional view of the upper crust, from the Miocene erosion surface to the top of the coeval mylonitization. Ages and compositions of dikes are indistinguishable from adjacent thick volcanic successions. Several kilometers of early Miocene extension (~20.5 to 19.0 Ma) were accommodated by magmatic accretion but transitioned to rapid extensional faulting and tilting at 19.0–18.5 Ma. The subhorizontal WDF in this area initiated as a northeast dipping high‐angle (50–60°) normal fault that breached the surface locally, not in a breakaway tens of kilometers to the west. Large‐scale tilting and differential uplift of the western footwall was in part coeval with mylonitization and dike emplacement and was accomplished by block rotation in the hanging wall of additional normal faults, isostatic uplift, and flow of lower crust from beneath less extended regions to the west. The WDF is likely a composite surface with a western segment that had ceased moving by ~18.5 Ma, cut by successively younger and steeper fault(s) to the east. Perhaps, the most important difference between seismogenic high‐angle normal faults and low‐angle “detachment faults” characteristic of metamorphic core complexes is one of magnitude and rate of total accumulated slip, not of initial failure conditions.
Invisibility Dips of Near‐Field Energy Transport in a Spoof Plasmonic Metadimer
Authors: Gao Fei , Gao Zhen , Luo Yu , Zhang Baile
Published: September 2016

Invisibility dips, i.e., minima in scattering spectrum associated with asymmetric Fano‐like line‐shapes, have been predicted with transformation optics in studying strong coupling between two plasmonic nanoparticles. This feature of strongly coupled plasmonic nanoparticles holds promise for sensor cloaking. It requires an extremely narrow gap between the two nanoparticles, preventing its experimental observation at optical frequencies. Here, the concept of spoof surface plasmons is used to facilitate the strong coupling between two spoof‐localized‐surface‐plasmon (SLSP) resonators. Instead of observing in far field, the near‐field energy transport is probed through the two SLSP resonators. By virtue of enhanced coupling between the two resonators stacked vertically, a spectral transmission dip with asymmetric Fano‐like line‐shape, similar to the far‐field “invisibility dips” predicted by transformation optics, is observed. The underlying mode interference mechanism is further demonstrated by directly imaging the field maps of interfered waves that are tightly localized around the resonators. These near‐field “invisibility dips” may find use in near‐field sensing, on‐chip switching, filters, and logical operation elements.
Size Effects of Platinum Nanoparticles in the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Over 3D Mesoporous Networks of CdS and Pt Nanojunctions
Authors: Vamvasakis Ioannis , Liu Bin , Armatas Gerasimos S.
Published: September 2016

Catalysts for the photogeneration of hydrogen from water are key for realizing solar energy conversion. Despite tremendous efforts, developing hydrogen evolution catalysts with high activity and long‐term stability remains a daunting challenge. Herein, the design and fabrication of mesoporous Pt‐decorated CdS nanocrystal assemblies (NCAs) are reported, and their excellent performance for the photocatalytic hydrogen production is demonstrated. These materials comprise varying particle size of Pt (ranging from 1.8 to 3.3 nm) and exhibit 3D nanoscale pore structure within the assembled network. Photocatalytic measurements coupled with UV–vis/NIR optical absorption, photoluminescence, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies suggest that the performance enhancement of these catalytic systems arises from the efficient hole transport at the CdS/electrolyte interface and interparticle Pt/CdS electron‐transfer process as a result of the deposition of Pt. It is found that the Pt‐CdS NCAs catalyst at 5 wt% Pt loading content exerts a 1.2 mmol h−1 H2‐evolution rate under visible‐light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm) with an apparent quantum yield of over 70% at wavelength λ = 420 nm in alkaline solution (5 m NaOH), using ethanol (10% v/v) as sacrificial agent. This activity far exceeds those of the single CdS and binary noble metal/CdS systems, demonstrating the potential for practical photocatalytic hydrogen production.
Strong and Rapidly Self‐Healing Hydrogels: Potential Hemostatic Materials
Authors: Huang Weijuan , Wang Yixiang , Chen Yun , Zhao Yanteng , Zhang Qiang , Zheng Xiang , Chen Lingyun , Zhang Lina
Published: September 2016

Benzaldehyde‐terminated telechelic four‐armed polyethylene glycol (PEG‐BA) is synthesized and cross‐linked with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) to form dynamic hydrogels with strong mechanical performance. The gelation temperature and time, mechanical performance, and self‐healing behaviors are systematically investigated. The hydrogels have good storage modulus up to 3162.06 ± 21.06 Pa, comparable to conventional bulk hydrogels. The separated alternate hydrogel lines connect together to become an integrated hydrogel film after 5 min at room temperature without any external intervention. This is due to the dynamic equilibrium between the Schiff base linkages and the aldehyde groups of PEG‐BA and amine groups on CMC backbone. The hydrogel shows excellent cytocompatibility and the cell viability is as high as 90.7 ± 6.8% after 2 d 3D encapsulation in the hydrogel. In vivo tests indicate that the hydrogels can effectively stop bleeding when the hydrogel is directly injected into a rabbit liver incision. The total blood loss is reduced from 0.65 ± 0.10 g to 0.29 ± 0.11 g, and the hemostasis time is decreased from 167 ± 21 s to 120 ± 10 s, when compared to a gauze treatment with physical compression. These self‐healing hydrogels have potential to be used as a novel hemostatic material.
Giant Vesicles Exposed to Aqueous Two‐Phase Systems: Membrane Wetting, Budding Processes, and Spontaneous Tubulation
Authors: Dimova Rumiana , Lipowsky Reinhard
Published: September 2016

In this review, we describe recent studies of giant unilamellar vesicles exposed to aqueous polymer solutions. These solutions undergo phase separation when the weight fractions of the polymers exceed a few percent. Depending on the lipid and polymer composition, the membrane may be completely or partially wetted by the aqueous phases. The deflation process induces a variety of vesicle shape transformations. One such transformation is droplet‐induced budding of the vesicles. Another, particularly striking transformation is the spontaneous tube formation, which reveals a substantial asymmetry and spontaneous curvature of the membranes, arising from the different polymer compositions across the membrane. The tubulation starts with the nucleation of small membrane buds which then grow into necklace‐like tubes. When the tube length reaches a certain critical value, the necklace‐like tube transforms into a cylindrical one. Analyzing different aspects of the observed vesicle shapes, quantitative estimates of the spontaneous curvature which is found to vary, depending on the lipid composition, between 1/(125 nm) and 1/(600 nm), are obtained. These curvatures are generated by the weak adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) molecules onto the lipid membranes, with a relatively small binding affinity of about 4 kJ mol−1 or 1.6 kBT per PEG molecule for either liquid‐ordered or liquid‐disordered membranes.
Toroidal versus Fano Resonances in High Q planar THz Metamaterials
Authors: Gupta Manoj , Singh Ranjan
Published: September 2016

Radiative losses are crucial in optimizing the performance of metamaterial‐based devices across the electromagnetic spectrum. Introducing structural asymmetry in meta‐atom design leads to the excitation of sharp Fano resonances with reduced radiative losses. However, at larger asymmetries, the Fano resonance becomes highly radiative which results in the broadening of the asymmetric line shaped resonances. Here, the authors experimentally demonstrate a scheme to couple mirrored asymmetric Fano resonators through interaction of anti‐aligned magnetic dipoles which results in a strong toroidal resonance in 2D planar metasurface. The quality (Q) factor and the figure of merit of the toroidal dipolar mode are significantly higher than the Fano resonance. Moreover, the authors discover that the exponential decay of the Q factor of toroidal resonance mode occurs at half the rate of that in the Fano resonance as the asymmetry of the system is enhanced which indicates significant tailoring and the suppression of the radiative loss channel in the toroidal configuration. The weakly radiative toroidal resonance in planar metamaterials offers the potential for applications in terahertz and optical sensing, spectroscopy, narrow‐band filtering, and large modulation.
Copper‐Catalyzed Domino Reaction Involving Nitro as an Unexpected Leaving Group: Construction of Dibenzo‐Fused Azepinone Ring
Authors: Sunke Rajnikanth , Ramarao E. V. Venkat Shivaji , Nallapati Suresh Babu , Medisetti Raghavender , Kulkarni Pushkar , Kapavarapu Ravi Kumar , Bankala Ramudu , Parsa Kishore V. L. , Pal Manojit
Published: September 2016

A copper‐catalyzed new domino reaction allowed the facile and direct construction of the dibenzo‐fused azepinone ring leading to an array of novel small molecules. The co‐catalyst, ligand or additive free one‐pot method afforded a unique class of functionalized derivatives, one of which showed encouraging PDE4 inhibition in vitro and apoptosis in vivo.

magnified image
Superb Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution and Simultaneous Electricity Generation by Pt‐Decorated Ni3N Nanosheets
Authors: Wang Yuhang , Chen Long , Yu Xiaomin , Wang Yonggang , Zheng Gengfeng
Published: September 2016

The development of efficient hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts is critical to the realization of clean hydrogen fuel production, while the sluggish kinetics of the Volmer‐step substantially restricts the catalyst performances in alkali electrolyzers, even for noble metal catalysts such as Pt. Here, a Pt‐decorated Ni3N nanosheet electrocatalyst is developed to achieve a top performance of hydrogen evolution in alkaline conditions. Possessing a high metallic conductivity and an atomic‐thin semiconducting hydroxide surface, the Ni3N nanosheets serve as not only an efficient electron pathway without the hindrance of Schottky barriers, but also provide abundant active sites for water dissociation and generation of hydrogen intermediates, which are further adsorbed on the Pt surface to recombine to H2. The Pt‐decorated Ni3N nanosheet catalyst exhibits a hydrogen evolution current density of 200 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 160 mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode, a Tafel slope of ≈36.5 mV dec−1, and excellent stability of 82.5% current retention after 24 h of operation. Moreover, a hybrid cell consisting of a Pt‐decorated Ni3N nanosheet cathode and a Li‐metal anode is assembled to achieve simultaneous hydrogen evolution and electricity generation, exhibiting >60 h long‐term hydrogen evolution reaction stability and an output voltage ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 V.
Market Power in the Chinese Wine Industry
Authors: Zheng Qiujie , Wang H. Holly
Published: September 2016

With the rapid expansion of China's middle class and the increasing Western cultural influence, the wine consumption in China has experienced a remarkable growth in recent decades. A quantitative study on market power of Chinese wine firms is conducted to assess the competition structure of this industry and to provide economic insights into effective strategies for existing and prospective firms. In this paper, we employ an econometric model to estimate markups using a firm‐level dataset collected from the Chinese wine industry allowing price heterogeneity. The results suggest that there exists an oligopolistic structure in the Chinese wine industry, and geographical region has significant impact on the market power. We also provide discussions on future directions of market structure for domestic as well as multinational firms. [EconLit citations: Q13, L11, L66].
Enhancing co‐production of H2 and syngas via water splitting and POM on surface‐modified oxygen permeable membranes
Authors: Wu Xiao‐Yu , Ghoniem Ahmed F. , Uddi Mruthunjaya
Published: September 2016

In this article, we report a detailed study on co‐production of H2 and syngas on La0.9Ca0.1FeO3−δ (LCF‐91) membranes via water splitting and partial oxidation of methane, respectively. A permeation model shows that the surface reaction on the sweep side is the rate limiting step for this process on a 0.9 mm‐thick dense membrane at 990°C. Hence, sweep side surface modifications such as adding a porous layer and nickel catalysts were applied; the hydrogen production rate from water thermolysis is enhanced by two orders of magnitude to 0.37 μmol/cm2•s compared with the results on the unmodified membrane. At the sweep side exit, syngas (H2/CO = 2) is produced and negligible solid carbon is found. Yet near the membrane surface on the sweep side, methane can decompose into solid carbon and hydrogen at the surface, or it may be oxidized into CO and CO2, depending on the oxygen permeation flux. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4427–4435, 2016
Investigating dry reforming of methane with spatial reactor profiles and particle‐resolved CFD simulations
Authors: Wehinger Gregor D. , Kraume Matthias , Berg Viktor , Korup Oliver , Mette Katharina , Schlögl Robert , Behrens Malte , Horn Raimund
Published: September 2016

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) over nickel in a fixed‐bed reactor of spheres was studied experimentally and with CFD simulations. Temperature and mole fraction profiles were measured in a dedicated profile reactor as function of axial coordinate. Particle‐resolved CFD simulations took into account conjugate heat transfer, surface‐to‐surface radiation, and surface reactions described by microkinetics. Energy transport of CFD simulations were verified by studying heat transfer without chemical reactions. DRM experiments could not be reproduced with the original microkinetics formulation, even with the axial temperature profile applied. A detailed analysis of the microkinetics showed that thermodynamic inconsistencies are present, which are amplified by high surface coverage of CO*. After modifying the mechanism the experiments could be reproduced. This study shows how complex interactions between local transport phenomena and local kinetics can be quantified without relying on transport correlations. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4436–4452, 2016
A packed‐bed solar reactor for the carbothermal zinc production – dynamic modelling and experimental validation
Authors: Tzouganatos Nikolaos , Wieckert Christian , Steinfeld Aldo
Published: September 2016

Integration of concentrated solar energy into the pyrometallurgical Zn production process as clean source of high‐temperature process heat could significantly reduce fossil fuels consumption and its concomitant CO2 emissions. The solar‐driven carbothermal reduction of ZnO is investigated using a 10‐kWth solar reactor featuring two cavities, the upper one serving as the solar absorber and the lower one containing a packed‐bed of ZnO and beech charcoal as the biogenic reducing agent. Experimentation in a high‐flux solar simulator is carried out under radiative fluxes of 2300–2890 suns, yielding a peak solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion efficiency of 18.4%. The reactor performance under variable operating conditions is analyzed via a dynamic numerical model coupling heat transfer with chemical kinetics. The model is validated by comparison to the experimental data obtained with the 10‐kWth packed‐bed solar reactor and further applied to predict the effect of incorporating semi‐continuous feeding of reactants on the process efficiency. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4586–4594, 2016
Development of methods for using workers’ compensation data for surveillance and prevention of occupational injuries among State‐insured private employers in Ohio
Authors: Wurzelbacher Steven J. , Al‐Tarawneh Ibraheem S. , Meyers Alysha R. , Bushnell P.Timothy , Lampl Michael P. , Robins David C. , Tseng Chih‐Yu , Wei Chia , Bertke Stephen J. , Raudabaugh Jill A. , Haviland Thomas M. , Schnorr Teresa M.
Published: September 2016

Background

Workers’ compensation (WC) claims data may be useful for identifying high‐risk industries and developing prevention strategies.

Methods

WC claims data from private‐industry employers insured by the Ohio state‐based workers’ compensation carrier from 2001 to 2011 were linked with the state's unemployment insurance (UI) data on the employer's industry and number of employees. National Labor Productivity and Costs survey data were used to adjust UI data and estimate full‐time equivalents (FTE). Rates of WC claims per 100 FTE were computed and Poisson regression was used to evaluate differences in rates.

Results

Most industries showed substantial claim count and rate reductions from 2001 to 2008, followed by a leveling or slight increase in claim count and rate from 2009 to 2011. Despite reductions, there were industry groups that had consistently higher rates.

Conclusion

WC claims data linked to employment data could be used to prioritize industries for injury research and prevention activities among State‐insured private employers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:1087–1104, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New SMARCA2 mutation in a patient with Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome and myoclonic astatic epilepsy
Authors: Tang S. , Hughes E. , Lascelles K. ,   EuroEPINOMICS RES myoclonic astatic epilepsy working group, Simpson M. A. , Pal D. K.
Published: September 2016

We report a de novo SMARCA2 missense mutation discovered on exome sequencing in a patient with myoclonic astatic epilepsy, leading to reassessment and identification of Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome. This de novo SMARCA2 missense mutation c.3721C>G, p.Gln1241Glu is the only reported mutation on exon 26 outside the ATPase domain of SMARCA2 to be associated with Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome and adds to chromatin remodeling as a pathway for epileptogenesis. © 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reaktivitätsdeskriptoren für die Aktivität von molekularen MN4‐Katalysatoren zur Sauerstoffreduktion
Authors: Zagal José H. , Koper Marc T. M.
Published: September 2016

Zwischen allgemein bekannten Reaktivitätsdeskriptoren für die Aktivität von Metallelektroden bezüglich der Sauerstoffreduktion (ORR, oxygen reduction reaction) und der Reaktivität von molekularen Katalysatoren, im Speziellen auf Elektrodenoberflächen haftenden makrocyclischen MN4‐Metallkomplexen, lassen sich eindeutige Ähnlichkeiten herstellen. Wir zeigen auf, dass ein Zusammenhang zwischen dem MIII/MII‐Redoxpotential von MN4‐Chelaten und ihren M‐O2‐Bindungsenergien besteht. Insbesondere die Bindungsenergie von O2 (und anderen O‐Spezies) folgen dem MIII‐OH/MII‐Übergang von MnN4‐ und FeN4‐Chelaten. Die Vulkankurve für die Sauerstoffreduktion an MN4‐Katalysatoren ähnelt der Vulkankurve von Metallkatalysatoren: Katalysatoren auf dem Abschnitt mit schwacher Bindung (vor allem CoN4‐Chelate) ergeben H2O2 als Hauptprodukt, wobei der Beginn der Sauerstoffreduktion pH‐unabhängig auf der NHE‐Skala ist (und damit pH‐abhängig auf der RHE‐Skala); Katalysatoren auf dem Abschnitt mit starker Bindung ergeben H2O als Produkt und zeigen die erwartete pH‐Abhängigkeit auf der NHE‐Skala. Die hier behandelten Deskriptoren treffen auch auf thermisch behandelte pyrolysierte MN4‐Katalysatoren zu.
Direct and Versatile Synthesis of Red‐Shifted Azobenzenes
Authors: Hansen Mickel J. , Lerch Michael M. , Szymanski Wiktor , Feringa Ben L.
Published: September 2016

A straightforward synthesis of azobenzenes with bathochromically‐shifted absorption bands is presented. It employs an ortho‐lithiation of aromatic substrates, followed by a coupling reaction with aryldiazonium salts. The products are obtained with good to excellent yields after simple purification. Moreover, with the presented methodology, a structurally diverse panel of different azobenzenes, including unsymmetric tetra‐ortho‐substituted ones, can be readily obtained, which paves the way for future development of red‐light‐addressable azobenzene derivatives for in vivo application.
Reactivity Descriptors for the Activity of Molecular MN4 Catalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zagal José H. , Koper Marc T. M.
Published: September 2016

Similarities are established between well‐known reactivity descriptors of metal electrodes for their activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the reactivity of molecular catalysts, in particular macrocyclic MN4 metal complexes confined to electrode surfaces. We show that there is a correlation between the MIII/MII redox potential of MN4 chelates and the M‐O2 binding energies. Specifically, the binding energy of O2 (and other O species) follows the MIII‐OH/MII redox transition for MnN4 and FeN4 chelates. The ORR volcano plot for MN4 catalysts is similar to that for metal catalysts: catalysts on the weak binding side (mostly CoN4 chelates) yield mainly H2O2 as the product, with an ORR onset potential independent of the pH value on the NHE scale (and therefore pH‐dependent on the RHE scale); catalysts on the stronger binding side yield H2O as the product with the expected pH‐dependence on the NHE scale. The suggested descriptors also apply to heat‐treated pyrolyzed MN4 catalysts.
Evaluation of interactions of biopolymers using dynamic rheological measurements: Effect of temperature and blend ratios
Authors: Behrouzian Fataneh , Razavi Seyed M. A. , Alghooneh Ali
Published: September 2016

Herein, a robust scheme is defined to elaborate interaction behavior of biopolymers and the effect of temperature on it using dynamic rheological measurements. As a case study, sage seed gum‐xanthan gum (SSG‐XG) interaction at different ratios (1‐0, 3‐1, 1‐1, 1‐3, 0‐1) and temperatures (10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 °C) were experimentally evaluated. SSG‐XG of 3‐1 showed the highest temperature tolerance of almost all rheological parameters and relaxation time in amplitude sweep and frequency sweep measurements, respectively. Higher elastic component and higher extent of temperature dependency of this parameter were observed with increasing SSG fraction. At high temperature, XG molecules in aqueous solution illustrated an ordered (helix) –disordered (coil) conformational transformation while SSG exhibited more rigidity at higher temperature. Only 3‐1 and 1‐1 SSG‐XG at 50 °C showed synergistic interaction of Aa (stiffness parameter) among all blends, which suggested the use of 3‐1 SSG‐XG blend in systems where enhanced structure at high temperature is desirable. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44414.
Production of 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural and levulinic acid from lignocellulose in aqueous solution and different solvents
Authors: Zheng Xujing , Gu Xiaochao , Ren Yun , Zhi Zehao , Lu Xuebin
Published: September 2016

With the continuous development of society and a serious energy crisis, renewable energy has become highly important. As platform compounds that can produce large amounts of chemical products, 5‐hydroxymethyl furfural (5‐HMF) and levulinic acid (LA) have attracted the attention of many researchers. Production of 5‐HMF and LA with lignocellulose is currently one of the most promising research directions in biomass energy. Conventionally, production of 5‐HMF and LA with lignocellulose is typically performed in aqueous solutions containing dilute mineral acids as catalysts. Recently, advances have been reported in the use of heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of lignocellulose into 5‐HMF and LA in different solvents to eliminate the use of mineral acids. In this paper, the merits, demerits, and requirements for commercialization are outlined for 5‐HMF and LA production from lignocellulose in aqueous solution, and different solvents are reviewed. Special attention is focused on the use of green chemicals (such as γ‐valerolactone) and ionic liquids as solvents due to their clean and recoverable characteristics. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Effect of fructose on the phosphorylation of AMP‐activated protein kinase and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase in HepG2 cells stimulated with placental lactogen
Authors: Mukai Yuuka , Hoshi Fumika , Sato Shin
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND

High fructose intake induces disruption of lipid metabolism via AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling in the liver and peripheral tissues. Maternal lipid metabolism is physiologically altered by the activity of pregnancy hormones such as human placental lactogen (PL). To elucidate the influence of high fructose intake on hepatic lipid metabolism during pregnancy, we examined the effects of fructose on lipid metabolism via the AMPK pathway in hepatocytes stimulated with PL.

METHODS

Human hepatoma cells (HepG2) were treated with D(‐)‐fructose in the presence or absence of PL. Intracellular lipid contents were measured. The total and phosphorylated protein content of AMPK and acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) was quantified by Western blotting.

RESULTS

The intracellular triacylglycerol level in fructose‐treated HepG2 cells decreased significantly compared with that in untreated cells in the presence, but not absence, of PL. AMPK and ACC phosphorylation increased significantly and concentration‐dependently in fructose‐treated HepG2 cells in the presence of PL.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that fructose treatment reduces triacylglycerol levels via AMPK/ACC signaling in PL‐stimulated hepatocytes. These findings suggest that high fructose intake during pregnancy might impair lipid metabolism in the maternal liver.