bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chrysanthemum transcription factor CmLBD1 direct lateral root formation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhu Lu , Zheng Chen , Liu Ruixia , Song Aiping , Zhang Zhaohe , Xin Jingjing , Jiang Jiafu , Chen Sumei , Zhang Fei , Fang Weimin , Chen Fadi
Published: January 2016

The plant-specific LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) genes are important regulators of growth and development. Here, a chrysanthemum class I LBD transcription factor gene, designated CmLBD1, was isolated and its function verified. CmLBD1 was transcribed in both the root and stem, but not in the leaf. The gene responded to auxin and was shown to participate in the process of adventitious root primordium formation. Its heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana increased the number of lateral roots formed. When provided with exogenous auxin, lateral root emergence was promoted. CmLBD1 expression also favored callus formation from A. thaliana root explants in the absence of exogenously supplied phytohormones. In planta, CmLBD1 probably acts as a positive regulator of the response to auxin fluctuations and connects auxin signaling with lateral root formation.
A non-inheritable maternal Cas9-based multiple-gene editing system in mice
Authors: Sakurai Takayuki , Kamiyoshi Akiko , Kawate Hisaka , Mori Chie , Watanabe Satoshi , Tanaka Megumu , Uetake Ryuichi , Sato Masahiro , Shindo Takayuki
Published: January 2016

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is capable of editing multiple genes through one-step zygote injection. The preexisting method is largely based on the co-injection of Cas9 DNA (or mRNA) and guide RNAs (gRNAs); however, it is unclear how many genes can be simultaneously edited by this method and a reliable means to generate transgenic (Tg) animals with multiple gene editing has yet to be developed. Here, we employed non-inheritable maternal Cas9 (maCas9) protein derived from Tg mice with systemic Cas9 overexpression (Cas9 mice). The maCas9 protein in zygotes derived from mating or in vitro fertilization of Tg/+ oocytes and +/+ sperm could successfully edit the target genome. The efficiency of such maCas9-based genome editing was comparable to that of zygote microinjection–based genome editing widely used at present. Furthermore, we demonstrated a novel approach to create “Cas9 transgene-free” gene-modified mice using non-Tg (+/+) zygotes carrying maCas9. The maCas9 protein in mouse zygotes edited nine target loci simultaneously after injection with nine different gRNAs alone. Cas9 mouse-derived zygotes have the potential to facilitate the creation of genetically modified animals carrying the Cas9 transgene, enabling repeatable genome engineering and the production of Cas9 transgene-free mice.
Female reproductive competition explains variation in prenatal investment in wild banded mongooses
Authors: Inzani Emma L. , Marshall Harry H. , Sanderson Jennifer L. , Nichols Hazel J. , Thompson Faye J. , Kalema-Zikusoka Gladys , Hodge Sarah J. , Cant Michael A. , Vitikainen Emma I. K.
Published: January 2016

Female intrasexual competition is intense in cooperatively breeding species where offspring compete locally for resources and helpers. In mammals, females have been proposed to adjust prenatal investment according to the intensity of competition in the postnatal environment (a form of ‘predictive adaptive response’; PAR). We carried out a test of this hypothesis using ultrasound scanning of wild female banded mongooses in Uganda. In this species multiple females give birth together to a communal litter and all females breed regularly from one year old. Total prenatal investment (size times the number of fetuses) increased with the number of potential female breeders in the group. This relationship was driven by fetus size rather than number. The response to competition was particularly strong in low weight females and when ecological conditions were poor. Increased prenatal investment did not trade off against maternal survival. In fact we found the opposite relationship: females with greater levels of prenatal investment had elevated postnatal maternal survival. Our results support the hypothesis that mammalian prenatal development is responsive to the intensity of postnatal competition. Understanding whether these responses are adaptive requires information on the long-term consequences of prenatal investment for offspring fitness.
Cytotoxic Rocaglate Derivatives from Leaves of Aglaia perviridis
Authors: An Fa-Liang , Wang Xiao-Bing , Wang Hui , Li Zhong-Rui , Yang Ming-Hua , Luo Jun , Kong Ling-Yi
Published: January 2016

Rocaglates are a series of structurally complex secondary metabolites with considerable cytotoxicity that have been isolated from plants of the Aglaia genus (Meliaceae). A new rocaglate (aglapervirisin A, 1) and its eight new biosynthetic precursors of rocaglate (aglapervirisins B-J, 2–9) together with five known compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Aglaia perviridis. Their structures were elucidated based on a joint effort of spectroscopic methods [IR, UV, MS, ECD, 1D- and 2D-NMR, HRESIMS], chemical conversion and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Among these isolates, three (1, 10–11) were silvestrols, a rare subtype rocaglates, exhibiting notable cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines, with IC50 values between 8.0 and 15.0 nM. Aglapervirisin A (1) induces cell cycle arrest at the G2/M-phase boundary at concentration 10 nM accompanied by reductions in the expression levels of Cdc2 and Cdc25C in HepG2 cells after 72h co-incubation and further induces the apoptosis of HepG2 cells at concentrations over 160 nM.
Length Distribution of Ancestral Tracks under a General Admixture Model and Its Applications in Population History Inference
Authors: Ni Xumin , Yang Xiong , Guo Wei , Yuan Kai , Zhou Ying , Ma Zhiming , Xu Shuhua
Published: January 2016

The length of ancestral tracks decays with the passing of generations which can be used to infer population admixture histories. Previous studies have shown the power in recovering the histories of admixed populations via the length distributions of ancestral tracks even under simple models. We believe that the deduction of length distributions under a general model will greatly elevate the power. Here we first deduced the length distributions under a general model and proposed general principles in parameter estimation and model selection with the deduced length distributions. Next, we focused on studying the length distributions and its applications under three typical special cases. Extensive simulations showed that the length distributions of ancestral tracks were well predicted by our theoretical framework. We further developed a new method, AdmixInfer, based on the length distributions and good performance was observed when it was applied to infer population histories under the three typical models. Notably, our method was insensitive to demographic history, sample size and threshold to discard short tracks. Finally, good performance was also observed when applied to some real datasets of African Americans, Mexicans and South Asian populations from the HapMap project and the Human Genome Diversity Project.
CRISPR-Cas9 mediated efficient PD-1 disruption on human primary T cells from cancer patients
Authors: Su Shu , Hu Bian , Shao Jie , Shen Bin , Du Juan , Du Yinan , Zhou Jiankui , Yu Lixia , Zhang Lianru , Chen Fangjun , Sha Huizi , Cheng Lei , Meng Fanyan , Zou Zhengyun , Huang Xingxu , Liu Baorui
Published: January 2016

Strategies that enhance the function of T cells are critical for immunotherapy. One negative regulator of T-cell activity is ligand PD-L1, which is expressed on dentritic cells (DCs) or some tumor cells and functions through binding of programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on activated T cells. Here we described for the first time a non-viral mediated approach to reprogram primary human T cells by disruption of PD-1. We showed that the gene knockout of PD-1 by electroporation of plasmids encoding sgRNA and Cas9 was technically feasible. The disruption of inhibitory checkpoint gene PD-1 resulted in significant reduction of PD-1 expression but didn’t affect the viability of primary human T cells during the prolongedin vitroculture. Cellular immune response of the gene modified T cells was characterized by up-regulated IFN-γ production and enhanced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that we have demonstrated an approach for efficient checkpoint inhibitor disruption in T cells, providing a new strategy for targeting checkpoint inhibitors, which could potentialy be useful to improve the efficacy of T-cell based adoptive therapies.
Topical imiquimod yields systemic effects due to unintended oral uptake
Authors: Grine Lynda , Steeland Sophie , Van Ryckeghem Sara , Ballegeer Marlies , Lienenklaus Stefan , Weiss Siegfried , Sanders Niek N. , Vandenbroucke Roosmarijn E. , Libert Claude
Published: January 2016

Repetitive application of topical imiquimod is used as an experimental model for the induction of psoriasiform skin lesions in mice. The model is characterized by several inflammatory processes, including cytokine production both locally and systemically, cellular infiltration and splenomegaly. To investigate the production of type I interferons in response to imiquimod-containing Aldara cream, IFNβ-luciferase reporter mice were imaged in vivo and ex vivo. Type I interferons were found to be produced in the skin, but also in the intestinal system caused by unintended ingestion of imiquimod by the mice. Through the use of Elizabethan collars to prevent ingestion, these effects, including psoriasiform lesions were nearly completely prevented. Our findings reveal that topical treatment with Aldara induces a psoriasiform skin inflammation, but that its mode of action depends on ingestion of the chemical, which leads to systemic responses and affects local inflammation. Therefore, potential ingestion of topical treatments during experimental procedures should be taken into account during assessment of cutaneous inflammatory parameters in skin disease models.
Involvement of resistin-like molecule β in the development of methionine-choline deficient diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in mice
Authors: Okubo Hirofumi , Kushiyama Akifumi , Sakoda Hideyuki , Nakatsu Yusuke , Iizuka Masaki , Taki Naoyuki , Fujishiro Midori , Fukushima Toshiaki , Kamata Hideaki , Nagamachi Akiko , Inaba Toshiya , Nishimura Fusanori , Katagiri Hideki , Asahara Takashi , Yoshida Yasuto , Chonan Osamu , Encinas Jeffery , Asano Tomoichiro
Published: January 2016

Resistin-like molecule β (RELMβ) reportedly has multiple functions including local immune responses in the gut. In this study, we investigated the possible contribution of RELMβ to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development. First, RELMβ knock-out (KO) mice were shown to be resistant to methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet-induced NASH development. Since it was newly revealed that Kupffer cells in the liver express RELMβ and that RELMβ expression levels in the colon and the numbers of RELMβ-positive Kupffer cells were both increased in this model, we carried out further experiments using radiation chimeras between wild-type and RELMβ-KO mice to distinguish between the contributions of RELMβ in these two organs. These experiments revealed the requirement of RELMβ in both organs for full manifestation of NASH, while deletion of each one alone attenuated the development of NASH with reduced serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. The higher proportion of lactic acid bacteria in the gut microbiota of RELMβ-KO than in that of wild-type mice may be one of the mechanisms underlying the lower serum LPS level the former. These data suggest the contribution of increases in RELMβ in the gut and Kupffer cells to NASH development, raising the possibility of RELMβ being a novel therapeutic target for NASH.
Shape matters when engineering mesoporous silica-based nanomedicines
Authors: Hao Nanjing , Li Laifeng , Tang Fangqiong
Published: January 2016

This review introduces various fabrication methods for non-spherical mesoporous silica nanomaterials and the roles of particle shape in nanomedicine applications.
Transnitrosylation products of the dipeptide cysteinyl–cysteine: an examination by tandem mass spectrometry and density functional theory
Authors: Butler Matias , Michael Siu K. W. , Hopkinson Alan C.
Published: January 2016

The concomitant loss of 2 NO molecules from the protonated di-nitrosylated dipeptide leads to the formation of a closed-shell fragment.
Tuning the activity and selectivity of iridium-NSiN catalyzed CO2 hydrosilylation processes
Authors: Julián Alejandro , Jaseer E. A. , Garcés Karin , Fernández-Alvarez Francisco J. , García-Orduña Pilar , Lahoz Fernando J. , Oro Luis A.
Published: January 2016

Catalyst design for iridium-catalyzed CO2 hydrosilylation processes: improvement of the selectivity and reduction of the reaction time.
Cationic ruthenium alkylidene catalysts bearing phosphine ligands
Authors: Endo Koji , Grubbs Robert H.
Published: January 2016

The discovery of highly active catalysts and the success of ionic liquid immobilized systems have accelerated attention to a new class of cationic metathesis catalysts.
Facile rhenium–peptide conjugate synthesis using a one-pot derived Re(CO)3 reagent
Authors: Chanawanno Kullapa , Kondeti Vinay , Caporoso Joel , Paruchuri Sailaja , Leeper Thomas C. , Herrick Richard S. , Ziegler Christopher J.
Published: January 2016

The Re(CO)3-modified lysine complexes 1 and 2 were synthesized via a one-pot Schiff base reaction and can be used in SPPS to produce Re(CO)3-peptide bioconjugates.
Flower-like RuCu nanodendrites as catalysts for hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol with β-cyclodextrin as promoters
Authors: Bai Lei
Published: January 2016

Flower-like ruthenium–copper nanodendrites were synthesized by RuCl3·xH2O and CuCl with oleylamine. The nanodendrites contained various small particles and showed efficient catalytic ability in the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol and by adding β-cyclodextrin as a phase transfer agent, the reaction rate can be greatly enhanced.
C2H2 adsorption in three isostructural metal–organic frameworks: boosting C2H2 uptake by rational arrangement of nitrogen sites
Authors: Song Chengling , Jiao Jingjing , Lin Qiyi , Liu Huimin , He Yabing
Published: January 2016

Rational arrangement of nitrogen sites in metal–organic frameworks with the same structure is capable of boosting acetylene adsorption.
An updated evolutionary study of Flaviviridae NS3 helicase and NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase reveals novel invariable motifs as potential pharmacological targets
Authors: Papageorgiou Louis , Loukatou Styliani , Sofia Kossida , Maroulis Dimitrios , Vlachakis Dimitrios
Published: January 2016

The rate ofFlaviviridaefamily virus infections worldwide has increased dramatically in the last few years.
Synthesis and characterization of chiral aza-macrocycles and study of their enantiomer recognition ability for organo-phosphoric acid and phosphonic acid derivatives by 31P NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Khanvilkar Aditya N. , Bedekar Ashutosh V.
Published: January 2016

Two diastereomers of optically active N,O-containing new macrocycles with dual chirality were synthesized and evaluated for chiral discrimination of organo phosphoric and phosphonic acids by 31P NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) coated gold nanoparticles as colourimetric temperature and salt sensors
Authors: Maji Samarendra , Cesur Belgin , Zhang Zhiyue , De Geest Bruno G. , Hoogenboom Richard
Published: January 2016

Thermoresponsive PNIPAM coated AuNPs having dual stabilisation by the polymer chains and the charges, has been utilised for the development of temperature and salt sensors.
Unique solubility of polyoxoniobate salts in methanol: coordination to cations and POM methylation
Authors: Abramov P. A. , Vicent C. , Kompankov N. B. , Laricheva J. A. , Sokolov M. N.
Published: January 2016

In methanolic solutions of A4[{LM′}2M6O19] ({LM′} = {Cp*Rh}2+, {Cp*Ir}2+, {(C6H6)Ru}2+; M = Nb, Ta; A = Na, K) formation of methoxo complexes [{LM′}2M6O19−n(OMe)n] (n = 1–3) and coordination of CH3OH to A+ take place.
Triazine–benzimidazole conjugates: synthesis, spectroscopic and molecular modelling studies for interaction with calf thymus DNA
Authors: Singla Prinka , Luxami Vijay , Paul Kamaldeep
Published: January 2016

Triazine–benzimidazole analogues with different substitutions of primary and secondary amines as well as aryl groups were synthesized and studied their interactions with calf thymus DNA.
Nitrogen mediated electronic structure of the Ti(0001) surface
Authors: Li Lei , Meng Fan-Ling , Hu Xiao-Ying , Qiao Liang , Sun Chang Q. , Tian Hong-Wei , Zheng Wei-Tao
Published: January 2016

A combination of DFT and UPS studies revealed that N chemisorption modified DOS for Ti(0001) surface with four features: bonding, nonbonding, holes, and dipoles. These states associated with optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of nitrides.
Effect of the thermal treatment temperature of RuNi bimetallic nanocatalysts on their catalytic performance for benzene hydrogenation
Authors: Zhu Lihua , Zheng Jinbao , Yu Changlin , Zhang Nuowei , Shu Qing , Zhou Hua , Li Yunhua , Chen Bing H.
Published: January 2016

The thermal treatment temperature of bimetallic nanocatalysts plays an important role in determining their catalytic performance.
Controlled growth of MoS2 nanopetals and their hydrogen evolution performance
Authors: Ling Lin , Wang Chan , Zhang Kai , Li Taotao , Tang Lei , Li Chaowei , Wang Liangjie , Xu Yancui , Song Qijun , Yao Yagang
Published: January 2016

From horizontal to vertical growth, dense edge-oriented MoS2 nanopetals have been synthesized via an APCVD method through the spiral growth mechanism.
Theoretical study of the regio- and stereoselectivity of the intramolecular Povarov reactions yielding 5H-chromeno[2,3-c] acridine derivatives
Authors: Mahi Meriem Awatif , Mekelleche Sidi Mohamed , Benchouk Wafaa , Aurell M. José , Domingo Luis Ramón
Published: January 2016

The intramolecular Povarov (IMP) reactions involved in the synthesis of 5H-chromeno[2,3-c] acridine derivatives [Tetrahedron Lett., 2010, 51, 3071–3074] have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods.
Bilayered photoanode consisting of zinc oxide hollow spheres and urchin-like titanium dioxide microspheres enables fast electron transport and efficient light-harvesting for improved-performance dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Zhao Peilu , Wang Le , Yu Zhangduo , Liu Fengmin , Sun Peng , Gao Yuan , Lu Geyu
Published: January 2016

Derived from ZnO hollow spheres (ZHSs) as the underlayer and urchin-like TiO2 spheres (UTSs) as the light scattering overlayer, a new bilayered photoanode (ZHS + UTS) is fabricated for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
The robustness of a thermoset of a main-chain type polybenzoxazine precursor prepared through a strategy of A–A and B–B polycondensation
Authors: Wang Meng Wei , Jeng Ru Jong , Lin Ching Hsuan
Published: January 2016

A polybenzoxazine precursor was prepared via an A–A and B–B condensation, with a much higher molecular weight than those prepared by Mannich condensation. After curing, the thermoset shows robustness in thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties.
Microwave directed metal-free regiodivergent synthesis of 1,2-teraryls and study of supramolecular interactions
Authors: Singh Surjeet , Shally Shally , Shaw Ranjay , Yadav Reena , Kumar Abhinav , Pratap Ramendra
Published: January 2016

Microwave mediated regiodivergent synthesis of highly functionalized 1,2-teraryls has been reported.
Spin-resolved transport properties in zigzag α-graphyne nanoribbons with symmetric and asymmetric edge fluorinations
Authors: Zhang Dan , Long Mengqiu , Zhang Xiaojiao , Ouyang Jun , Xu Hui , Chan KowkSum
Published: January 2016

Using the non-equilibrium Green's function method and spin-polarized density functional theory, we investigate the stability and spin-resolved transport properties of zigzag α-graphyne nanoribbons with symmetric and asymmetric edge fluorinations.
A ratiometric fluorescent and colorimetric probe for selective detection of hydrazine
Authors: Tse Hoyin , Li Qinghua , Chan Singming , You Qihua , Lee Albert W. M. , Chan Winghong
Published: January 2016

In aqueous DMSO solution, ratiometric fluorescent hydrazine probe COUMA2 undergoes hydrazinolysis affording deacetylation products displaying dual emissive peaks at 500 and 655 nm.
Compositional dependence of electrocaloric effect in lead-free (1 − x)Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 ceramics
Authors: Zhou Yingze , Lin Qianru , Liu Wenfeng , Wang Danyang
Published: January 2016

Compositional dependence of the electrocaloric effect in lead-free BZT–xBCT ceramics (x = 0.3–0.7) was investigated using the indirect method.
Buffering agents modify the hydration landscape at charged interfaces
Authors: Trewby William , Livesey Duncan , Voïtchovsky Kislon
Published: January 2016

We demonstrate, using atomic force microscopy and ellipsometry, that commonly-used buffers aggregate at the surface of mica and lipid bilayers, altering the structure of the interfacial water.
A target responsive aptamer machine for label-free and sensitive non-enzymatic recycling amplification detection of ATP
Authors: Li Xin , Peng Ying , Chai Yaqin , Yuan Ruo , Xiang Yun
Published: January 2016

Label-free and non-enzymatic target recycling amplification detection of ATP is achieved through an aptamer machine powered by the DNA fuel.
Redox mediated synthesis of hierarchical Bi2O3/MnO2 nanoflowers: a non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide electrochemical sensor
Authors: Ray Chaiti , Dutta Soumen , Roy Anindita , Sahoo Ramkrishna , Pal Tarasankar
Published: January 2016

Redox mediated synthesis of Bi2O3/MnO2 nanoflowers for efficient electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide down to 0.05 μM.
Construction of tetranuclear metallacycles based on half-sandwich Ir, Rh fragments and pyridyl-substituted ligands with different coordinate vectors
Authors: Fan Qi-Jia , Zhang Wen-Ying , Lin Yue-Jian , Jin Guo-Xin
Published: January 2016

Two-step reactions of [Cp*M(μ-Cl)Cl]2(M = Ir, Rh), first with AgOTf and then with pyridyl-substituted ligands of different coordinate vectors, resulted in the formation of distorted tetrahedral and parallelogram type tetranuclear metallacycles.
Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of clinical and biological materials, foods and beverages
Authors: Taylor Andrew , Barlow Nicola , Day Martin P. , Hill Sarah , Patriarca Marina , White Mark
Published: January 2016

This 2016 review discusses developments in elemental mass spectrometry, atomic absorption, emission and fluorescence, XRF and LIBS, as applied to the analysis of specimens of clinical interest, foods and beverages. Sample preparation procedures and quality assurance are also included.
A new application of the traditional Fenton process to gold cyanide synthesis using acetonitrile as a cyanide source
Authors: Yi Wuzhong , Yan Xiaoqing , Li Renhong , Wang Jian-Qiang , Zou Shihui , Xiao Liping , Kobayashi Hisayoshi , Fan Jie
Published: January 2016

We introduced a general Fenton-reaction synthesis of metal cyanide solids using acetonitrile as a green cyanide source. This Fenton-improved cyanation method gets rid of CN− ions and UV-light efficiently, which is green and facile.
Application of novel multi-cationic ionic liquids in microwave assisted 2-amino-4H-chromene synthesis
Authors: Kumbhar Arjun , Jadhav Sanjay , Shejwal Rajendra , Rashinkar Gajanan , Salunkhe Rajshri
Published: January 2016

Novel multi-cationic ionic liquids containing a mesitylene backbone with acetate and methane sulphonate anions have been synthesized, and used for 2-amino-4H-chromene synthesis under MW.
Thermal stability and electrical conductivity of carbon-enriched silicon oxycarbide
Authors: Lu Kathy , Erb Donald , Liu Mengying
Published: January 2016

Carbon-rich SiOC can effectively delay phase separation and crystallization during pyrolysis. In air, the SiOC materials are stable up to 1000 °C with <0.5 wt% weight loss. The material has electrical conductivity as high as 4.28 S cm−1in air and as high as 4.64 S cm−1in Ar. This semi-conducting behavior and the thermal stability present promising application potentials.
Robust fuzzy‐sliding mode based UPFC controller for transient stability analysis in autonomous wind‐diesel‐PV hybrid system
Authors: Mohanty Asit , Patra Sandipan , Ray Prakash K.
Published: January 2016

This study presents a comparative study of transient stability and reactive power compensation issues in an autonomous wind–diesel‐photovoltaic based hybrid system (HS) using robust fuzzy‐sliding mode based unified power flow controller (UPFC). A linearised small‐signal model of the different elements of the HS is considered for the transient stability analysis in the HS under varying loading conditions. An IEEE type 1 excitation system is considered for the synchronous generator in the HS, with negligible saturation characteristic, for detailed voltage stability analysis. It is noted from the simulation results that the performance of UPFC is superior to static VAR compensator and static synchronous compensator in improving the voltage profile of the HS. Further, fuzzy and fuzzy‐sliding mode based UPFC controller is designed in order to improve the transient performance. Simulation results reflect the robustness of the proposed fuzzy‐sliding mode controller for better reactive power management to improve the voltage stability in comparison with the conventional PI and fuzzy‐PI controllers. In addition to this, system stability analysis is performed based on eigenvalue, bode and popov for supporting the robustness of the proposed controller.
Design of a dual‐band waveguide filter based on micromachining fabrication process
Authors: Cao Xin , Tang Zongxi , Bao Jingfu
Published: January 2016

In this study, a dual‐band waveguide filter based on micromachining fabrication process in terahertz is proposed. The proposed filter employs a pair of four‐stage rectangular waveguide resonators based on the parallel structure and the centre frequencies of the two passbands are designed at 240 and 300 GHz with the relative bandwidths of 4.2 and 3.3%. The isolation between the two passbands has been achieved over 40 dB. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement and the proposed filter can be applied in the millimetre wave communication systems.
Design and application of dynamic environmental knowledge base
Authors: Lu Shuping , Yi Wei , Cui Guolong , Kong Lingjiang , Yang Xiaobo
Published: January 2016

The authors propose a two‐stage approach to design radar dynamic environmental knowledge base (DEKB), which provides a priori information for knowledge‐based (KB) signal processing and radar system design. Specifically, the first stage is to use historical knowledge such as maps to establish the static environmental knowledge base (SEKB), which is the initial state of the DEKB. The second stage is to employ radar returns and other sensors information to update the knowledge base dynamically. Moreover, an exemplar establishment of the SEKB based on real scene and a specific update method based on two Anderson–Darling tests are introduced. Finally, as an application of the DEKB, the authors present a new KB constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector utilising multidimensional knowledge from the DEKB. The performance of the new detector is analysed by real radar data, collected by a linear frequency‐modulated continues wave radar, and compared with the classical cell averaging CFAR detector and the KB CFAR detector which uses only one kind of knowledge.
Gd-doped BaSnO3: A transparent conducting oxide with localized magnetic moments
Authors: Alaan Urusa S. , Shafer Padraic , N'Diaye Alpha T. , Arenholz Elke , Suzuki Y.
Published: January 2016

We have synthesized transparent, conducting, paramagnetic stannate thin films via rare-earth doping of BaSnO3. Gd3+ (4f7) substitution on the Ba2+ site results in optical transparency in the visible regime, low resistivities, and high electron mobilities, along with a significant magnetic moment. Pulsed laser deposition was used to stabilize epitaxial Ba0.96Gd0.04SnO3 thin films on (001) SrTiO3 substrates, and compared with Ba0.96La0.04SnO3 and undoped BaSnO3 thin films. Gd as well as La doping schemes result in electron mobilities at room temperature that exceed those of conventional complex oxides, with values as high as 60 cm2/V·s (n = 2.5 × 1020 cm−3) and 30 cm2/V·s (n = 1 × 1020 cm−3) for La and Gd doping, respectively. The resistivity shows little temperature dependence across a broad temperature range, indicating that in both types of films the transport is not dominated by phonon scattering. Gd-doped BaSnO3 films have a strong magnetic moment of ∼7 μB/Gd ion. Such an optically transparent conductor with localized magnetic moments may unlock opportunities for multifunctional devices in the design of next-generation displays and photovoltaics.
Design and experimental study of a secondary hohlraum radiation source with laser focal spots blocked
Authors: Song Tianming , Zhu Tuo , Yang Jiamin , Huang Chengwu , Wang Feng , Peng Xiaoshi , Xu Tao , Li Zhichao , Zhang Huan
Published: January 2016

A design of secondary hohlraum radiation source with laser focal spots blocked is introduced. The hard x-ray radiation such as the gold M-band emission and hot electrons from the coronal plasma were designed to be shielded using a cylindrical shield. Three-dimensional view factor analysis was carried out to optimize the shield structure to achieve higher radiation temperature. An experiment was performed at Shenguang III prototype laser facility to verify the design. Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector was used to measure the shock wave speed in a three-stepped Al sample driven by this radiation source and the peak radiation temperature of the radiation source was estimated to be about 90 eV.
Understanding the optical properties of ZnO1−xSx and ZnO1−xSex alloys
Authors: Baldissera Gustavo , Persson Clas
Published: January 2016

ZnO1−xYx with chalcogen element Y exhibits intriguing optoelectronic properties as the alloying strongly impacts the band-gap energy Eg(x). In this work, we analyze and compare the electronic structures and the dielectric responses of Zn(O,S) and Zn(O,Se) alloys by means of the density functional theory and the partially self-consistent GW approach. We model the crystalline stability from the total energies, and the results indicate that Zn(O,S) is more stable as alloy than Zn(O,Se). We demonstrate also that ion relaxation strongly affects total energies, and that the band-gap bowing depends primarily on local relaxation of the bonds. Moreover, we show that the composition dependent band-gap needs to be analyzed by the band anti-crossing model for small alloying concentration, while the alloying band-bowing model is accurate for strong alloying. We find that the Se-based alloys have a stronger change in the band-gap energy (for instance, ΔEg(0.50) = Eg(ZnO) – Eg(x = 0.50) ≈ 2.2 eV) compared with that of the S-based alloy (ΔEg(0.50) = 1.2 eV), mainly due to a stronger relaxation of the Zn–anion bonds that affects the electronic structure near the band edges. The optical properties of the alloys are discussed in terms of the complex dielectric function ε(ω) = ε1(ω) + iε2(ω) and the absorption coefficient α(ω). While the large band-gap bowing directly impacts the low-energy absorption spectra, the high-frequency dielectric constant ε∞ is correlated to the intensity of the dielectric response at energies above 4 eV. Therefore, the dielectric constant is only weakly affected by the non-linear band-gap variation. Despite strong structural relaxation, the high absorption coefficients of the alloys demonstrate that the alloys have well-behaved optoelectronic properties.
Kinetics of the B1-B2 phase transition in KCl under rapid compression
Authors: Lin Chuanlong , Smith Jesse S. , Sinogeikin Stanislav V. , Park Changyong , Kono Yoshio , Kenney-Benson Curtis , Rod Eric , Shen Guoyin
Published: January 2016

Kinetics of the B1-B2 phase transition in KCl has been investigated under various compression rates (0.03–13.5 GPa/s) in a dynamic diamond anvil cell using time-resolved x-ray diffraction and fast imaging. Our experimental data show that the volume fraction across the transition generally gives sigmoidal curves as a function of pressure during rapid compression. Based upon classical nucleation and growth theories (Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov theories), we propose a model that is applicable for studying kinetics for the compression rates studied. The fit of the experimental volume fraction as a function of pressure provides information on effective activation energy and average activation volume at a given compression rate. The resulting parameters are successfully used for interpreting several experimental observables that are compression-rate dependent, such as the transition time, grain size, and over-pressurization. The effective activation energy (Qeff) is found to decrease linearly with the logarithm of compression rate. When Qeff is applied to the Arrhenius equation, this relationship can be used to interpret the experimentally observed linear relationship between the logarithm of the transition time and logarithm of the compression rates. The decrease of Qeff with increasing compression rate results in the decrease of the nucleation rate, which is qualitatively in agreement with the observed change of the grain size with compression rate. The observed over-pressurization is also well explained by the model when an exponential relationship between the average activation volume and the compression rate is assumed.
Electrical spin injection and detection of spin precession in room temperature bulk GaN lateral spin valves
Authors: Bhattacharya Aniruddha , Baten Md Zunaid , Bhattacharya Pallab
Published: January 2016

We report the measurement of diffusive electronic spin transport characteristics in an epitaxial wurtzite GaN lateral spin valve at room temperature. Hanle spin precession and non-local spin accumulation measurements have been performed with the spin valves fabricated with FeCo/MgO spin contacts. Electron spin relaxation length and spin-flip lifetime of 176 nm and 37 ps, respectively, are derived from analysis of results obtained from four-terminal Hanle spin precession measurements at 300 K. The role of dislocations and defects in bulk GaN has also been examined in the context of electronic spin relaxation dynamics.
Origin of lattice bowing of freestanding GaN substrates grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy
Authors: Yamane Keisuke , Matsubara Tohoru , Yamamoto Takeshi , Okada Narihito , Wakahara Akihiro , Tadatomo Kazuyuki
Published: January 2016

This paper describes a mechanism to explain the lattice bowing of freestanding GaN substrates grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy on sapphire substrates. The freestanding GaN substrates typically exhibit a concave shape. It is revealed that the radius of curvature and lattice constant of the top surface are almost the same as those of the bottom surface. This is indicative of the complete relaxation of the GaN lattice, even though the freestanding GaN substrate exhibited a curvature. It is shown that dislocations are present in a plane normal to the growth direction in addition to conventionally known threading dislocations; these are referred to as in-plane dislocations. Based on these results, it is proven quantitatively that the extra-half planes related to the in-plane dislocations are primarily responsible for the phenomenon of lattice bowing.
Melting heat transfer in stagnation point flow of carbon nanotubes towards variable thickness surface
Authors: Hayat T. , Muhammad Khursheed , Farooq M. , Alsaedi A.
Published: January 2016

This work concentrates on the mathematical modeling for stagnation point flow of nanofluids over an impermeable stretching sheet with variable thickness. Carbon nanotubes [single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)] as the nanoparticles are utilized. Water and kerosene oil are taken as the base fluids. Heat transfer through melting effect is discussed. Transformation procedure is adapted to obtain the non-linear ordinary differential equations from the fundamental laws of mass, linear momentum and energy. The optimal values of convergence control parameters and corresponding individual and total residual errors for SWCNTs and MWCNTs are computed by means of homotopy analysis method (HAM) based BVPh 2.0. Characteristics of different involved parameters on the velocity, temperature, skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are discussed. Higher velocity profile is observed for wall thickness parameter in case of water carbon nanotubes when compared with the kerosene oil carbon nanotubes.
A bead-based fluorescence immunosensing technique enabled by the integration of Förster resonance energy transfer and optoelectrokinetic concentration
Authors: Wang Jhih-Cheng , Ku Hu-Yao , Shieh Dar-Bin , Chuang Han-Sheng
Published: January 2016

Bead-based immunosensing has been growing as a promising technology in the point-of-care diagnostics due to great flexibility. For dilute samples, functionalized particles can be used to collect dispersed analytes and act as carriers for particle manipulation. To realize rapid and visual immunosensing, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used herein to ensure only the diabetic biomarker, lipocalin 1, to be detected. The measurement was made in an aqueous droplet sandwiched between two parallel plate electrodes. With an electric field and a focused laser beam applying on the microchip simultaneously, the immunocomplexes in the droplet were further concentrated to enhance the FRET fluorescent signal. The optoelectrokinetic technique, termed rapid electrokinetic patterning (REP), has been proven to be excellent in dynamic and programmable particle manipulation. Therefore, the detection can be complete within several tens of seconds. The lower detection limit of the REP-enabled bead-based diagnosis reached nearly 5 nM. The combinative use of FRET and the optoelectrokinetic technique for the bead-based immunosensing enables a rapid measure to diagnose early stage diseases and dilute analytes.
Electrical properties of NiAs-type MnTe films with preferred crystallographic plane of (110)
Authors: Yang L. , Wang Z. H. , Zhang Z. D.
Published: January 2016

NiAs-type manganese telluride (MnTe) films with preferred crystallographic plane of (110) were prepared on Si/SiO2 substrates by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the films was studied at different temperatures. The XRD peak of MnTe (110) films shifts to higher angle with decreasing temperature, showing the decrease of the lattice parameter. Resistivity of the films was studied in the temperature range of 2–350 K. The bump between 150 and 250 K was observed in the films, which may be related to the special s-d and p-d overlaps induced by the compressed lattice. The magnon drag effect near its Néel temperature TN and enlarged magnetic-elastic coupling below 100 K were observed and analyzed in details.
Ex vivo characterization of age-associated impedance changes of single vascular endothelial cells using micro electrical impedance spectroscopy with a cell trap
Authors: Park Yangkyu , Cha Jung-Joon , Seo Seungwan , Yun Joho , Woo Kim Hyeon , Park Changju , Gang Giseok , Lim Juhun , Lee Jong-Hyun
Published: January 2016

We aimed to characterize aging of single vascular endothelial cells, which are indicators of senescence, using micro electrical impedance spectroscopy (μEIS) for the first time. The proposed μEIS was equipped with two barriers under the membrane actuator near the sensing electrodes, increasing its cell-trapping capability and minimizing the interference between the target cell and subsequent cells. The cell-trapping capability in μEIS with barriers was considerably improved (90%) with a capture time of 5 s or less, compared to μEIS without barriers (30%). Cells were extracted from transgenic zebrafish to minimize an initial discrepancy originating from genetic differences. In order to estimate useful parameters, cytoplasm resistance and membrane capacitance were estimated by fitting an electrical equivalent circuit to the data of ex vivo sensor output. The estimated cytoplasm resistance and membrane capacitance in the younger vascular endothelial cells were 20.16 ± 0.79 kΩ and 17.46 ± 0.76 pF, respectively, whereas those in the older cells were 17.81 ± 0.98 kΩ and 20.08 ± 1.38 pF, respectively. Discrimination of each group with different aging showed statistical significance in terms of cytoplasm resistance (p < 0.001) and membrane capacitance (p < 0.001). Considering both of the sensor and cellular level, the optimal frequency was determined as 1 MHz at which the electrical impedance of each group was clearly discriminated (p < 0.001).
Reintroduction methods and a review of mortality in the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Grampians National Park, Australia
Authors: Taggart D. A. , Schultz D. J. , Corrigan T. C. , Schultz T. J. , Stevens M. , Panther D. , White C.R.
Published: January 2016

Captive-bred brush-tailed rock-wallabies (BTRW) were reintroduced into the Grampians National Park, Australia, during 2008–12. Two release strategies (methods) were examined: ‘Small release with supplementation’ (Strategy 1) and ‘Larger release, no supplementation’ (Strategy 2). Of the 39 animals released, 18% survived. Thirty-six percent of all mortality occurred within the first 100 days. Under Strategy 1, 22 animals were released in five groups. Twenty deaths occurred across 48 months, with predation estimated to account for 15% of mortalities. Under Strategy 2, 17 individuals were reintroduced across one month. Twelve deaths occurred in the five months following release, with predation estimated to account for 83.4% of mortalities. Of the independent variables tested for their relationship to survival time after release, release strategy was the only significant predictor of survival time after release with the risk of death 3.2 times greater in Strategy 2. Independent variables tested for their relationship to predation risk indicated that release strategy was also the only significant predictor of predation risk, with the risk of death associated with predation 10.5 times greater in Strategy 2. Data suggested that fox predation was the main factor affecting BTRW establishment. Predation risk declined by 75% during the first six months after release. A significant positive relationship was also found between predation risk and colony supplementation events. We conclude that predation risk at Moora Moora Creek is reduced in releases of fewer animals, that it declines across time and that disturbing BTRW colonies through the introduction of new animals can increase predation risk. We recommend that future reintroductions should employ diverse exotic predator control measures at the landscape scale, time releases to periods of lowest predator activity, and limit colony disturbance to maintain group cohesion and social structure. Furthermore, the preferred method of population establishment should be single, small releases over multiple sites without supplementation. Further testing of the reintroduction biology of this species is urgently required.
Regulation of mitochondrial translation of theATP8/ATP6mRNA by Smt1p
Authors: Rak Malgorzata , Su Chen Hsien , Xu Jonathan Tong , Azpiroz Ricardo , Singh Angela Mohan , Tzagoloff Alexander
Published: January 2016

Expression of the mitochondrially encoded ATP6 and ATP8 genes is translationally regulated by F1ATPase. We report a translational repressor (Smt1p) of the ATP6/8 mRNA that, when mutated, restores translation of the encoded Atp6p and Atp8p subunits of the ATP synthase. Heterozygous smt1 mutants fail to rescue the translation defect, indicating that the mutations are recessive. Smt1p is an intrinsic inner membrane protein, which, based on its sedimentation, has a native size twice that of the monomer. Affinity purification of tagged Smt1p followed by reverse transcription of the associated RNA and PCR amplification of the resultant cDNA with gene-specific primers demonstrated the presence in mitochondria of Smt1p- ATP8/ATP6 and Smt1p- COB mRNA complexes. These results indicate that Smt1p is likely to be involved in translational regulation of both mRNAs. Applying Occam’s principle, we favor a mechanistic model in which translation of the ATP8/ATP6 bicistronic mRNA is coupled to the availability of F1for subsequent assembly of the Atp6p and Atp8p products into the ATP synthase. The mechanism of this regulatory pathway is proposed to entail a displacement of the repressor from the translationally mute Smt1- ATP8/ATP6 complex by F1, thereby permitting the Atp22p activator to interact with and promote translation of the mRNA.
Environmental Politics: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Dobson Andrew
Published: January 2016

Environmental Politics: A Very Short Introduction considers the many facets of environmental politics and shows how it operates at multiple scales: it preoccupies individuals as well as governments; drives local agreements as well as international treaties; results in minor business changes as well as wholesale business decisions; and fluctuates between a politics of protest and one of accommodation. Looking towards the future, this VSI asks whether environmental politics will be comfortably accommodated by mainstream politics, or whether the advent of the Anthropocene will herald a break with the politics of growth that has dominated social life since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
Deep-scattering layer, gas-bladder density, and size estimates using a two-frequency acoustic and optical probe
Authors: Kloser Rudy J. , Ryan Tim E. , Keith Gordon , Gershwin Lisa
Published: January 2016

Estimating the biomass of gas-bladdered organisms in the mesopelagic ocean is a simple first step to understanding ecosystem structure. An existing two-frequency (38 and 120 kHz) acoustic and optical probe was lowered to 950 m to estimate the number and size of gas-bladders. In situ target strengths from 38 and 120 kHz and their difference were compared with those of a gas-bladder resonance-scattering model. Predicted mean equivalent spherical radius gas-bladder size varied with depth, ranging from 2.1 mm (shallow) to 0.6 mm (deep). Density of night-time organisms varied throughout the water column and were highest (0.019 m−3) in the 200–300 m depth range. Predictions of 38 kHz volume-backscattering strength (Sv) from the density of gas-bladdered organisms could explain 88% of the vessel's 38 kHz Sv at this location (S 40.9, E 166.7). Catch retained by trawls highlighted the presence of gas-bladdered fish of a similar size range but different densities while optical measurements highlighted the depth distribution and biomass of gas-inclusion siphonophores. Organism behaviour and gear selectivity limits the validation of acoustic estimates. Simultaneous optical verification of multifrequency or broadband acoustic targets at depth are required to verify the species, their size and biomass.