bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rebellion and Repression in China, 1966–1971
Authors: Walder Andrew G.
Published: July 2015

In the first five years after the onset of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, one of the largest political upheavals of the twentieth century paralyzed a highly centralized party state, leading to a harsh regime of military control. Despite a wave of post-Mao revelations in the 1980s, knowledge about the nationwide impact of this insurgency and its suppression remains selective and impressionistic, based primarily on a handful of local accounts. Employing a data set drawn from historical narratives published in 2,213 county and city annals, this article charts the temporal and geographic spread of a mass insurgency, its evolution through time, and the repression through which militarized state structures were rebuilt. Comparisons of published figures with internal investigation reports and statistical estimates from sample selection models yield estimates that range from 1.1 to 1.6 million deaths and 22 to 30 million direct victims of some form of political persecution. The vast majority of casualties were due to repression by authorities, not the actions of insurgents. Despite the large overall death toll, per capita death rates were considerably lower than a range of comparable cases, including the Soviet purges at the height of Stalinist terror in the late 1930s.
Reevaluating the Vote Market Hypothesis: Effects of Australian Ballot Reform on Voter Turnout
Authors: Reed Daniel C.
Published: July 2015

This research reevaluates the effect of the Australian ballot reforms of the late nineteenth century on voter mobilization and turnout, challenging the “vote market hypothesis” regarding voter bribery by political parties. We propose that any subsequent declines in turnout were more directly affected by ballot design than by voter secrecy. In a regression analysis of voter turnout in statewide gubernatorial elections from 1870 to 1910, we find a significant decline in turnout in those states implementing “office bloc” reform ballots. However, the use of “party column” reform ballots did not lead to a decline in turnout. The results suggest that secrecy in voting does not fully explain the national turnout decline observed after passage.
The Adversarial Politics of Fiscal Federalism: Tax Policy and the Conservative Ascendancy in Canada, 1988–2008
Authors: Major Aaron , McCabe Josh
Published: July 2015

When and how do tax regimes become sites of social protest and support broader movements of social policy reform? This question has drawn increasing interest from political sociologists and political scientists who have looked at the ways in which tax regimes create political cleavages that create the foundations for major shifts in state policy making or become the focal points of collective identity formation, leading to “tax protests.” In this paper we seek to contribute to this line of inquiry through an examination of the politics of Canadian tax policy from 1988 through 2008. What makes this case so compelling is that during these years the debates over tax policy raged over, first, the implementation and, later, the reduction of a federal value-added tax (VAT). However, rather than fueling a broad-based tax protest, debates over the VAT heightened interprovincial political cleavages that allowed the Conservatives to tie the question of the VAT to a broader economic program of typically “neoliberal” reforms: improving private-sector competitiveness and shrinking the size of the state. Drawing on a statistical analysis of the Canadian Election Study and an historical analysis of the conflict over taxation, we show how the federal structure of the Canadian state, and its policies of revenue equalization across the provinces, created an interprovincial adversarial politics that made sales tax reduction a key issue for Canadian voters. Our findings show how recognizing the historically contingent and institutionally specific context of struggles over tax policy helps to explain cross-national variation in the politics of taxation.
Capitalism and Financial Development: The Case of Mortgage Markets in France, 1807–1899
Authors: Hoffman Philip T. , Postel-Vinay Gilles , Rosenthal Jean-Laurent
Published: July 2015

Historical research can contribute to greater understanding of economic growth, but only if it proceeds without theoretical blinders and assumptions imposed by past definitions of capitalism. We will make this case, by taking one particular historical example—mortgage markets in nineteenth-century France—and analyzing the financial development that accompanied the rise of capitalism there. The French example demonstrates that there is an immense amount that historians and social scientists still do not know about economic growth or capitalism. One common assumption is that little financing takes place before big banks and other modern financial institutions arrive on the scene. No one, however, has ever tested this implicit assumption by estimating how much lending or other financial dealing occurred before the arrival of the banks and modern financial institutions in developed economies. Although scholars have studied financial dealings back into the Middle Ages or before, no one knows whether the sums involved were big or small. We do so and discover that the sums involved were enormous. That so much borrowing went on outside modern financial institutions raises serious doubts about the argument that connects financial development and economic growth. Our research also makes it clear that context was critical when entrepreneurs raised money in the early stages of economic growth or when young businesses or firms in new industries sought funds.
Reading German Girlhood: Louise Tilly and the Agency of Girls in European History
Authors: Bruce Emily C.
Published: July 2015

This article addresses the legacies of Louise Tilly's work on women and the family in Europe for current studies of girls’ agency in history. Using my preliminary analysis of a body of German periodicals written for girls during the late Enlightenment, I propose some methodological possibilities for combining cultural histories of reading with social historical approaches to the roles played by girls and women in European social life. Tilly's focus on the life cycle as an organizing principle and the family economy as a key site of history established the importance of such groups to social historical understandings of the past. Though my study incorporates sources outside the usual bounds of social history, it also depends on the analysis and methods of pioneering feminist social historians such as Louise Tilly.
Ergebnisdarstellung in der Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation
Authors: Vetterlein Anja , Sengewald Erik
Published: July 2015

Nach Marsh (2007) ist eine Funktion der Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation das diagnostische Feedback und dient der Verbesserung der Lehre. Doch der Weg vom Ergebnisbericht bis zur Veränderung der nächsten Lehrveranstaltung ist „weit und beschwerlich”, wie Helmke und Hosenfeld (2005) in ihrem Rezeptionsmodell darlegen. Zusätzlich zur bereits etablierten langen Ergebnisdarstellung wird eine neue kompakte Ergebnisdarstellung für den Kontext der Lehrveranstaltungsevaluation entwickelt. Die Studie untersucht in einem randomisierten Experiment mit N = 283 Dozenten die Wirkung der beiden Ergebnisdarstellungen auf die Lehrveranstaltungsqualität. Letztere erfasst der Fragebogen PELVE ( Born, Loßnitzer & Schmidt, 2006 ) auf sieben latenten Dimensionen. Es wird ein Multi-Level-Strukturgleichungsmodell für kategoriale Variablen in Mplus spezifiziert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Dozenten mit dem kompakten Bericht höhere Werte auf der Bewertungsdimension Begleitmaterialien erreichen. Trotz höherer Komplexität finden sich keine Hinweise auf negative Effekte des kompakten Ergebnisberichts auf die Qualität der folgenden Lehrveranstaltung.
Zur Validität von studentischen Lehrveranstaltungsevaluationen
Authors: Fondel Eva , Lischetzke Tanja , Weis Susanne , Gollwitzer Mario
Published: July 2015

Die Studie untersucht verschiedene Aspekte der Validität von studentischen Lehrveranstaltungsevaluationen (LVE). Anhand einer adaptierten Version des Trierer Inventars zur Lehrevaluation (TRIL) überprüften wir sowohl faktorielle Validität, Messinvarianz über Veranstaltungsarten hinweg als auch Beurteilerübereinstimmung unter Studierenden (Konsistenz vs. Methodenspezifität). Hierzu wurden konfirmatorische Faktorenanalysen unter Berücksichtigung der Multilevel-Struktur der Daten modelliert. Außerdem wurde die Heterogenität der Urteile innerhalb von Veranstaltungen durch Studierendenvariablen (Interesse am Thema, Sympathie für die Lehrperson, wahrgenommene Schwierigkeit der Inhalte) erklärt. In einer Stichprobe von 1 823 Studierendenurteilen, geschachtelt in 101 Veranstaltungen, konnte die angenommene Struktur der Items bestätigt werden, die Items waren strikt messinvariant über Vorlesungen (n = 51) und Seminare/Übungen (n = 50) hinweg. Die Konsistenz der Studierendenurteile fiel moderat aus. Etwa 50 % der Variabilität innerhalb von Veranstaltungen ließen sich durch die Studierendenvariablen erklären. Hinweise auf die diskriminante Validität der Lehrqualitätsdimensionen ergaben sich durch differentielle Vorhersagebeiträge.
Exploring Occasion Specificity in the Assessment of DSM-5 Maladaptive	Personality Traits
Authors: Zimmermann Johannes , Mayer Axel , Leising Daniel , Krieger Tobias , grosse Holtforth Martin , Pretsch Johanna
Published: July 2015

Abstract. The alternative classification system for personality disorders in DSM-5 features a hierarchical model of maladaptive personality traits. This trait model comprises five broad trait domains and 25 specific trait facets that can be reliably assessed using the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5). Although there is a steadily growing literature on the validity of the PID-5, issues of temporal stability and situational influences on test scores are currently unexplored. We addressed these issues using a sample of 611 research participants who completed the PID-5 three times, with time intervals of 2 months. Latent state-trait (LST) analyses for each of the 25 PID-5 trait facets showed that, on average, 79.5% of the variance was due to stable traits (i.e., consistency), and 7.7% of the variance was due to situational factors (i.e., occasion specificity). Our findings suggest that the PID-5 trait facets predominantly capture individual differences that are stable across time.
Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance of the	Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory – Child Version (OCI-CV) in General	Population
Authors: Rodríguez-Jiménez Tíscar , Godoy Antonio , Piqueras José A. , Gavino Aurora , Martínez-González Agustín E. , Foa Edna B.
Published: July 2015

Abstract. Evidence-based assessment is necessary as a first step for developing psychopathological studies and assessing the effectiveness of empirically validated treatments. There are several measures of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and/or symptomatology in children and adolescents, but all of them present some limitations. The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) by Foa and her colleagues has showed to be a good self-report measure to capture the dimensionality of OCD in adults and adolescents. The child version of the OCI (OCI-CV) was validated for clinical children and adolescents in 2010, showing excellent psychometric properties. The objective of this study was to examine the factor structure and invariance of the OCI-CV in the general population. Results showed a six-factor structure with one second-order factor, good consistency values, and invariance across region, age, and sex. The OCI-CV is an excellent inventory for assessing the dimensions of OCD symptomatology in general populations of children and adolescents. The invariance across sex and age warrants its utilization for research purposes.
Demonstration of polarization-insensitive spatial light modulation using a single polarization-sensitive spatial light modulator
Authors: Liu Jun , Wang Jian
Published: July 2015

We present a simple configuration incorporating a single polarization-sensitive phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) to facilitate polarization-insensitive spatial light modulation. The polarization-insensitive configuration is formed by a polarization beam splitter (PBS), a polarization-sensitive phase-only LC-SLM, a half-wave plate (HWP) and a mirror in a loop structure. We experimentally demonstrate polarization-insensitive spatial light modulations for incident linearly polarized beams with different polarization states and polarization-multiplexed beams. Polarization-insensitive spatial light modulations generating orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams are demonstrated in the experiment. The designed polarization-insensitive configuration may find promising applications in spatial light modulations accommodating diverse incident polarizations.
Deducing acidification rates based on short-term time series
Authors: Lui Hon-Kit , Arthur Chen Chen-Tung
Published: July 2015

We show that, statistically, the simple linear regression (SLR)-determined rate of temporal change in seawater pH (βpH), the so-called acidification rate, can be expressed as a linear combination of a constant (the estimated rate of temporal change in pH) and SLR-determined rates of temporal changes in other variables (deviation largely due to various sampling distributions), despite complications due to different observation durations and temporal sampling distributions. Observations show that five time series data sets worldwide, with observation times from 9 to 23 years, have yielded βpH values that vary from 1.61 × 10−3 to −2.5 × 10−3 pH unit yr−1. After correcting for the deviation, these data now all yield an acidification rate similar to what is expected under the air-sea CO2 equilibrium (−1.6 × 10−3 ~ −1.8 × 10−3 pH unit yr−1). Although long-term time series stations may have evenly distributed datasets, shorter time series may suffer large errors which are correctable by this method.
Formation and manipulation of cell spheroids using a density adjusted PEG/DEX aqueous two phase system
Authors: Han Chungmin , Takayama Shuichi , Park Jaesung
Published: July 2015

Various spheroid formation techniques have been widely developed for efficient and reliable 3-D cell culture research. Although those efforts improved many aspects of spheroid generation, the procedures became complex and also required unusual laboratory equipment. Many recent techniques still involve laborious pipetting steps for spheroid manipulation such as collection, distribution and reseeding. In this report, we used a density-controlled polyethylene glycol and dextran aqueous two phase system to generate spheroids that are both consistent in size and precisely size-controllable. Moreover, by adding a few drops of fresh medium to the wells the contain spheroids, they can be simply settled and attached to the culture surface due to reduced densities of the phases. This unique attribute of the technique significantly reduces the numerous pipetting steps of spheroid manipulation to a single pipetting; therefore, the errors from those steps are eliminated and the reliability and efficiency of a research can be maximized.
RASA: Robust Alternative Splicing Analysis for Human Transcriptome Arrays
Authors: Seok Junhee , Xu Weihong , Davis Ronald W. , Xiao Wenzhong
Published: July 2015

Human transcriptome arrays (HTA) have recently been developed for high-throughput alternative splicing analysis by measuring signals not only from exons but also from exon-exon junctions. Effective use of these rich signals requires the development of computational methods for better gene and alternative splicing analyses. In this work, we introduce a computational method, Robust Alternative Splicing Analysis (RASA), for the analysis of the new transcriptome arrays by effective integration of the exon and junction signals. To increase robustness, RASA calculates the expression of each gene by selecting exons classified as not alternatively spliced. It then identifies alternatively spliced exons that are supported by both exon and junction signals to reduce the false positives. Finally, it detects additional alternative splicing candidates that are supported by only exon signals because the signals from the corresponding junctions are not well detected. RASA was demonstrated with Affymetrix HTAs and its performance was evaluated with mRNA-Seq and RT-PCR. The validation rate is 52.4%, which is a 60% increase when compared with previous methods that do not use selected exons for gene expression calculation and junction signals for splicing detection. These results suggest that RASA significantly improves alternative splicing analyses on HTA platforms.
Beyond Homozygosity Mapping: Family-Control analysis based on Hamming distance for prioritizing variants in exome sequencing
Authors: Imai Atsuko , Nakaya Akihiro , Fahiminiya Somayyeh , Tétreault Martine , Majewski Jacek , Sakata Yasushi , Takashima Seiji , Lathrop Mark , Ott Jurg
Published: July 2015

A major challenge in current exome sequencing in autosomal recessive (AR) families is the lack of an effective method to prioritize single-nucleotide variants (SNVs). AR families are generally too small for linkage analysis and length of homozygous regions is unreliable for identification of causative variants. Various common filtering steps usually result in a list of candidate variants that cannot be narrowed down further or ranked. To prioritize shortlisted SNVs we consider each homozygous candidate variant together with a set of SNVs flanking it. We compare the resulting array of genotypes between an affected family member and a number of control individuals and argue that, in a family, differences between family member and controls should be larger for a pathogenic variant and SNVs flanking it than for a random variant. We assess differences between arrays in two individuals by the Hamming distance and develop a suitable test statistic, which is expected to be large for a causative variant and flanking SNVs. We prioritize candidate variants based on this statistic and applied our approach to six patients with known pathogenic variants and found these to be in the top 2 to 10 percentiles of ranks.
Forensic Investigations in Complex Pollution Cases Involving PCBs, Dioxins and Furans: Potential Pitfalls and Tips
Authors: Christophe Balouet Jean , Gallion Francis , Martelain Jacques , Megson David , O'Sullivan Gwen
Published: July 2015

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) are frequently detected in grass, soil and farm animals near incineration plants, electric transformers recycling facilities, or after major fires during environmental forensic investigations. The sale of farm animals for food above established PCBs and PCDD/F limits is forbidden, and therefore are slaughtered, or removed from contaminated areas to graze on uncontaminated food, in an attempt to detoxify. If regulated levels are exceeded in one sample, the impacts are rarely limited to one area, or within the sampling period. It is therefore important to establish the extent of the contamination, distinguish the potential source(s) and identify the duration of the contamination event. This manuscript examine potential pitfalls in the analysis of (PCBs), dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) in terms of their regulated levels, sampling challenges, the analysis of samples and statistical interpretation of the test data.
Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Urban Soil Dataset
Authors: Doherty Rory , McIlwaine R. , McAnallen L. , Cox S.
Published: July 2015

We compare a suite of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (Parent PAHs) in soils and air across an urban area (Belfast UK). Isomeric PAH ratios suggest that soil PAHs are mainly from a combustion source. Fugacity modelling across a range of soil temperatures predicts that four ring and larger PAHs from pyrene to indeno[1,2,3–cd]pyrene all partition strongly (>98%) to the soil compartment. This modelling also implies that these PAHs do not experience losses through partitioning to other phases (air, water) due to soil temperature effects. Such modelling may help in understanding the overall contaminant distribution in soils. The air and soil data together with modelling suggests that care must be taken when considering isomeric ratios of compounds with mass lighter than 178 (i.e. phenanthrene and anthracene) in the soil phase. Comparison of duplicate and replicate samples suggest that field sampling of duplicates dominates uncertainty and validated methodologies for selection of field duplicates and lab splitting are required. As the urban soil four ring PAHs are at equilibrium in the soil phase, and have characteristic ratios that are dominated by a combustion source that is a single controlling factor over spatial distribution, methods that calculate background concentrations can be compared.
Evidence for Acid Mine Drainage in an Urban Stream in the West Midlands
Authors: Turnbull Stephanie M. , Duke C. V. A.
Published: July 2015

A six month study was conducted to outline the overall contamination present in Rough Brook stream, Bloxwich, Walsall. Previous studies in the area outlined that the pH of the stream water was far more acidic than expected therefore acid mine drainage as a cause was investigated. Water and soil samples were collected from Rough Brook and compared to selected control sites in the same area. The samples were collected over three sampling periods in order to determine whether seasonal variation occurred in relation to the leaching of contaminants. The samples underwent elemental analysis via ICP and XRF to specify the concentration of suspected contaminants in the stream. Field testing also outlined the pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen concentrations in the samples collected directly from Rough Brook. The results of the investigation outlined that conductivity and pH values for the water samples collected were similar to the results obtained for the control sites. In contrast the dissolved oxygen concentrations in Rough Brook were affected by the presence of the sewage works downstream of Rough Brook. The ICP analysis outlined seasonal variation for the concentration of elements in Rough Brook. Seasonal variation was portrayed in the concentration of nickel, manganese, iron and magnesium. Therefore there was evidence that Rough Brook was affected by leachates from the historical iron/brass foundries and coal seams close to the stream. Overall, contamination in Rough Brook was found to be a results of acid mine drainage and the sewage outlet. However, the significance of the contamination was minimal.
Rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices with integrated wrinkled gold micro-/nano textured electrodes for electrochemical analysis
Authors: Gabardo C. M. , Adams-McGavin R. C. , Vanderfleet O. M. , Soleymani L.
Published: July 2015

Fully-integrated electro-fluidic systems with micro-/nano-scale features have a wide range of applications in lab-on-a-chip systems used for biosensing, biological sample processing, and environmental monitoring.
Two fluorescent Schiff base sensors for Zn2+: the Zn2+/Cu2+ion interference
Authors: Jiménez-Sánchez Arturo , Ortíz Benjamín , Ortiz Navarrete Vianney , Farfán Norberto , Santillan Rosa
Published: July 2015

While theenol-iminetautomer inL1exhibits Zn2+/Cu2+ion interference, theketo-enaminetautomer inL2recognizes only Zn2+.
Detection of water contamination from hydraulic fracturing wastewater: a μPAD for bromide analysis in natural waters
Authors: Loh Leslie J. , Bandara Gayan C. , Weber Genevieve L. , Remcho Vincent T.
Published: July 2015

A field test was developed for the quantification of bromide in water as an indicator of contamination from hydraulic fracturing.
A recognition-before-labeling strategy for sensitive detection of lung cancer cells with a quantum dot–aptamer complex
Authors: Wu Chunlei , Liu Jianbo , Zhang Pengfei , Li Jing , Ji Haining , Yang Xiaohai , Wang Kemin
Published: July 2015

A recognition-before-labeling strategy is developed for sensitive detection of A549 cancer cells, by using fluorescent quantum dots as signal units and aptamers as recognition elements, which avoided the possible impact on the aptamer configuration from steric hindrance.
A simple and rapid method for simultaneous pre-concentration of eight trace-heavy-metals in water using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol and yttrium for X-ray fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Taguchi Shigeru , Asaoka Miyabi , Hirokami Eiko , Hata Noriko , Kuramitz Hideki , Kawakami Takanori , Miyatake Ryuta
Published: July 2015

A simple and rapid pre-concentration technique for the simultaneous determination of eight trace heavy metals in water by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
Validation of total inorganic element determination in wastewater samples by on-line isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Etxeandia Jon , Raposo Juan Carlos
Published: July 2015

Current interest in analytical chemistry concerns the traceability of analytical measurements to the International System of Units (SI) and estimation of their uncertainties.
Hollow Co3O4 nanospheres for the direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of hemoglobin with an ionic liquid as an enhancer
Authors: Zeng Yan , Zhang Huanhuan , Wu Xu , Ke Yan , Qu Pingping , Zhu Zhihong
Published: July 2015

Hollow Co3O4 nanospheres were synthesized via a hydrothermal process and applied to fabricate a redox protein-based sensing platform.
Bio-inspired computational design of iron catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide
Authors: Yang Xinzheng
Published: July 2015

A computationally designed aliphatic PNP iron complex as a mimic of the active center of [Fe]-hydrogenase for the hydrogenation of CO2.
Highly-efficient T4 DNA ligase-based SNP analysis using a ligation fragment containing a modified nucleobase at the end
Authors: Jang Eui Kyoung , Yang Munhee , Pack Seung Pil
Published: July 2015

A highly accurate ligase-based SNP analysis was developed by using modified base-end downstream ligation fragments as detection probes, which can clearly distinguish C/T SNP types without any “false-positive” results.
A new aspect of cyclopentadithiophene based polymers: narrow band gap polymers upon protonation
Authors: Tang Tao , Lin Tingting , Wang FuKe , He Chaobin
Published: July 2015

A new aspect of CPDT based conjugated polymers that CPDT units in the polymers can be protonated with a significant change in optical and electronic properties was reported.
Monolayers of gold nanostars with two near-IR LSPRs capable of additive photothermal response
Authors: Pallavicini Piersandro , Basile Simone , Chirico Giuseppe , Dacarro Giacomo , D'Alfonso Laura , Donà Alice , Patrini Maddalena , Falqui Andrea , Sironi Laura , Taglietti Angelo
Published: July 2015

Monolayers of gold nanostars with two NIR LSPRs can be irradiated on one, or the other or both LSPRs, obtaining additive photothermal response.
The effect of molecular structure on the anticancer drug release rate from prodrug nanoparticles
Authors: Ikuta Yoshikazu , Koseki Yoshitaka , Onodera Tsunenobu , Oikawa Hidetoshi , Kasai Hitoshi
Published: July 2015

The controlled release of an anticancer agent from drug nanoparticles could be successfully achieved by optimizing the chemical structure of dimeric compounds as prodrug.
Palladium-catalyzed oxidative 6-exo-trig cyclization of 1,6-enynes: facile synthesis of bicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-5-ones
Authors: Liu Bang , Song Ren-Jie , Ouyang Xuan-Hui , Li Yang , Hu Ming , Li Jin-Heng
Published: July 2015

We here describe a new palladium-catalyzed oxidative 6-exo-trig cyclization of 1,6-enynes at room temperature using tBuONO as an oxidant for the synthesis of 3-bicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-5-ones.
Cascade bicyclizations of o-alkynyl aldehydes with thiazolium salts: a new access toward poly-functionalized indeno[2,1-b]pyrroles
Authors: Zhou Peng , Hao Wen-Juan , Zhang Jin-Peng , Jiang Bo , Li Guigen , Tu Shu-Jiang
Published: July 2015

A new cascade bicyclization of o-alkynyl aldehydes with thiazolium salts is described, in which 25 examples of densely functionalized indeno[2,1-b]pyrroles are achieved in a functional-group-compatible manner.
Catalyst-controlled divergence in cycloisomerisation reactions of N-propargyl-N-vinyl sulfonamides: gold-catalysed synthesis of 2-sulfonylmethyl pyrroles and dihydropyridines
Authors: Undeela Sridhar , Thadkapally Srinivas , Nanubolu Jagadeesh Babu , Singarapu Kiran Kumar , Menon Rajeev S.
Published: July 2015

Gold-catalysed, divergent synthesis of 2-sulfonylmethyl pyrroles and dihydropyridines from readily available N-propargyl-N-vinyl sulfonamides is reported.
Manipulating connecting nodes through remote alkoxy chain variation in coordination networks with 4′-alkoxy-4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridine linkers
Authors: Klein Y. Maximilian , Prescimone Alessandro , Constable Edwin C. , Housecroft Catherine E.
Published: July 2015

A switch from a (6,3) to (4,4) net results from lengthening the chain in 4′-alkoxy-4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridines in reactions with Cd(NO3)2·4H2O; the assembly can be switched to a 1D-ladder if lower amounts of ligand are available.
A theoretical study of sum-frequency generation for chiral solutions near electronic resonance
Authors: Zheng Ren-hui , Wei Wen-mei , Shi Qiang
Published: July 2015

We present a method of computing the SFG intensity in or near electronic resonance including vibronic contributions.
Phase field modelling of spinodal decomposition in the oil/water/asphaltene system
Authors: Tóth Gyula I. , Kvamme Bjørn
Published: July 2015

In this paper the quantitative applicability of van der Sman/van der Graaf type Ginzburg–Landau theories of surfactant assisted phase separation [van der Smanet al.,Rheol. Acta, 2006,46, 3] is studied for real systems displaying high surfactant concentrations at the liquid–liquid interface.
Luminescence and fine structure correlation in ZnO permeated porous silicon nanocomposites
Authors: Gallach D. , Muñoz-Noval A. , Torres-Costa V. , Manso-Silván M.
Published: July 2015

Correlation between luminescence and fine structure changes induced in PS–ZnO nanocomposites annealed in air studied by advanced photon- and ion-based techniques (XAS and EBS).
Imaging metals in biology: balancing sensitivity, selectivity and spatial resolution
Authors: Hare Dominic J. , New Elizabeth J. , de Jonge Martin D. , McColl Gawain
Published: July 2015

A Tutorial Review to aid in designing the most comprehensive metal imaging experiments for biological samples.
Hydrogenolysis vs. aqueous phase reforming (APR) of glycerol promoted by a heterogeneous Pd/Fe catalyst
Authors: Mauriello Francesco , Vinci Alessandro , Espro Claudia , Gumina Bianca , Musolino Maria Grazia , Pietropaolo Rosario
Published: July 2015

The hydrogenolysis and the aqueous phase reforming of glycerol have been investigated using Pd/Fe as the catalyst. At 180 °C, the C–O bond is preferentially cleaved while C–C bond breaking is favoured at higher reaction temperatures.
Pd/C as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for carbonylative four-component synthesis of 4(3H)-quinazolinones
Authors: Natte Kishore , Neumann Helfried , Wu Xiao-Feng
Published: July 2015

A relatively mild, operationally simple, phosphine-free and recyclable catalytic system for the carbonylative synthesis of 4(3H)-quinazolinones with 2-iodoanilines, trimethyl orthoformate, and amines as the substrates has been developed.
Elucidating the mechanism responsible for anomalous thermal expansion in a metal–organic framework
Authors: van Heerden Dewald P. , Esterhuysen Catharine , Barbour Leonard J.
Published: July 2015

A mechanistic model is developed to reproduce concerted changes in the internal coordinates of the coordination helix of a MOF and evaluated using DFT.
A chelating diisocyanide ligand for cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes with strong and tunable luminescence
Authors: Monti Filippo , Baschieri Andrea , Matteucci Elia , Mazzanti Andrea , Sambri Letizia , Barbieri Andrea , Armaroli Nicola
Published: July 2015

We report the synthesis, structural characterisation and detailed photophysical description of three cationic cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes (2–4) bearing a chelating diisocyanide as the ancillary ligand (1 = 2,2′′-diisocyano-1,1′:3′,1′′-terphenyl). All compounds display irreversible reduction and oxidation potentials and emit from a triplet excited state centred on the cyclometalating ligands with lifetimes of several dozen microseconds, as commonly observed for other iridium(iii) isocyanide complexes and further confirmed by DFT calculations. Room-temperature photoluminescence can be tuned from blue to orange upon variation of the cyclometalating ligands, and the related quantum yields range from around 30% in acetonitrile solution to nearly 80% in solid-state, as for complex 3 embedded in a 1% w/w poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix.
Watching the dynamics of electrons and atoms at work in solar energy conversion
Authors: Canton S. E. , Zhang X. , Liu Y. , Zhang J. , Pápai M. , Corani A. , Smeigh A. L. , Smolentsev G. , Attenkofer K. , Jennings G. , Kurtz C. A. , Li F. , Harlang T. , Vithanage D. , Chabera P. , Bordage A. , Sun L. , Ott S. , Wärnmark K. , Sundström V.
Published: July 2015

The photochemical reactions performed by transition metal complexes have been proposed as viable routes towards solar energy conversion and storage into other forms that can be conveniently used in our everyday applications. In order to develop efficient materials, it is necessary to identify, characterize and optimize the elementary steps of the entire process on the atomic scale. To this end, we have studied the photoinduced electronic and structural dynamics in two heterobimetallic ruthenium–cobalt dyads, which belong to the large family of donor–bridge–acceptor systems. Using a combination of ultrafast optical and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, we can clock the light-driven electron transfer processes with element and spin sensitivity. In addition, the changes in local structure around the two metal centers are monitored. These experiments show that the nature of the connecting bridge is decisive for controlling the forward and the backward electron transfer rates, a result supported by quantum chemistry calculations. More generally, this work illustrates how ultrafast optical and X-ray techniques can disentangle the influence of spin, electronic and nuclear factors on the intramolecular electron transfer process. Finally, some implications for further improving the design of bridged sensitizer-catalysts utilizing the presented methodology are outlined.
Low molecular weight guluronate prevents TNF-α-induced oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Dun Yun-lou , Zhou Xiao-lin , Guan Hua-shi , Yu Guang-li , Li Chun-xia , Hu Ting , Zhao Xia , Cheng Xiao-lei , He Xiao-xi , Hao Jie-jie
Published: July 2015

Marine derived low molecular weight guluronate has positive effects on inflammation induced muscle wastingviaantioxidant and mitochondrial protection.
Design, synthesis and in vivo evaluation of sodium 2-benzyl-chloromalonates as new central nervous system depressants
Authors: Vieira Andreia Aguiar , Marinho Bruno Guimarães , de Souza Luana Gonçalves , Fernandes Patricia Dias , Figueroa-Villar José D.
Published: July 2015

This work describes the design, synthesis and in vivo evaluation of new central nervous system depressing agents that show low levels of acute toxicity, high solubility in water, anxiolytic and hypnotic effects without sleep deprivation.
Two Cu(ii) complexes of triadimefon: crystal structure, antifungal activities and structure–activity relationship
Authors: Li Jie , Xi Teng , Yan Biao , Yang Mingyan , Song Jirong , Ma Haixia
Published: July 2015

Theoretical investigations of the electronic structures of Cu(ii) complexes carried out by DFT calculations partially explained the increased biocidal properties.
One-step spontaneous synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles with thermosensitivity from polyethylene glycol
Authors: Li Siqiao , Pan Renfeng , Ait Mehdi Yamina , Xiao Deli , He Hua
Published: July 2015

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles were synthesized via a spontaneous exothermic reaction and their preliminary applications were investigated.
Photophysical characterisation of Tröger's base molecular scaffolds: a combined theoretical and experimental study
Authors: Aroche Débora Muller Pimentel , Toldo Josene Maria , Descalzo Rodrigo Roceti , Gonçalves Paulo Fernando Bruno , Rodembusch Fabiano Severo
Published: July 2015

The photophysics of Tröger's base in the ground and excited states was performed by comparing experimental and theoretical properties predicted using TD-DFT calculations.
Enzyme immobilization and molecular modeling studies on an organic–inorganic polypyrrole–titanium(iv)phosphate nanocomposite
Authors: Baig Umair , Gondal Mohammed Ashraf , Alam Md Fazle , Laskar Amaj Ahmed , Alam Mahboob , Younus Hina
Published: July 2015

A polypyrrole–titanium(iv)phosphate nanocomposite was synthesized by using facile chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of titanium(iv)phosphate for YADH immobilization.
A thermally stable pH-responsive “supramolecular buckle” based on the encapsulation of 4-(4-aminophenyl)-N-methylpyridinium by cucurbit[8]uril
Authors: Zhou Tian-You , Qi Qiao-Yan , Zhang Ying , Xu Xiao-Na , Zhao Xin
Published: July 2015

A CB[8]-based host-guest system forms a thermally stable 1 : 2 complex under neutral conditions and transforms into a 1 : 1 complex upon acidification, which makes it a “supramolecular buckle” to fabricate pH-responsive materials at elevated temperatures.
A sensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen by using PtAu nanoparticles loaded on TiO2colloidal spheres as labels
Authors: Ma Hongmin , Wang Yaoguang , Zhang Hui , Wu Dan , Guo Aiping , Yan Tao , Wei Qin , Du Bin
Published: July 2015

A sensitive sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor for detection of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) was developed by using PtAu nanoparticles loaded on TiO2colloidal spheres (PtAu/TiO2) as secondary-antibody (Ab2) labels.
The growth of Nin clusters and their interaction with cubic, monoclinic, and tetragonal ZrO2 surfaces–a theoretical and experimental study
Authors: Yang Jinzhou , Ren Jun , Guo Hailong , Qin Xiang , Han Bingying , Lin Jianying , Li Zhong
Published: July 2015

The interaction and growth of Ni clusters on three phases of ZrO2 surfaces were investigated through theoretical and experimental methods.
Fabrication of fluorescent nitrogen-rich graphene quantum dots by tin(iv) catalytic carbonization of ethanolamine
Authors: Zhu Wei , Song Hongjie , Zhang Lichun , Weng Yueyang , Su Yingying , Lv Yi
Published: July 2015

A novel metal catalytic strategy, arising from the coordinated interaction between metal ions tin(iv) and ethanolamine, was presented to prepare nitrogen-rich graphene quantum dots (N-rich GQDs).
Occurrence, distribution, and risk assessment of the metals in sediments and fish from the largest reservoir in China
Authors: Gao Bo , Zhou Huaidong , Yu Yang , Wang Yuchun
Published: July 2015

The concentrations, distribution, and ecological risk assessment of the metals in sediments and fish were investigated in the mainstream and tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) after a submergence period.
Triplet states and energy back transfer of carbazole derivatives
Authors: Woon Kai Lin , Hasan Zainal A. , Ong Bee Kian , Ariffin Azhar , Griniene Raimonda , Grigalevicius Saulius , Chen Show-An
Published: July 2015

The red-shift of triplet energies between the dilute phase and solid states is a function of intermolecular distance.
Diversity oriented synthesis of 6-nitro- and 6-aminoquinolones and their activity as alkaline phosphatase inhibitors
Authors: Miliutina Mariia , Ivanov Anton , Ejaz Syeda Abida , Iqbal Jamshed , Villinger Alexander , Iaroshenko Viktor O. , Langer Peter
Published: July 2015

The novel quinolone derivatives synthesized by cyclization of α,β-ynones with primary amines were shown to be promising TNAP and IAP inhibitors.
Dynamics of fatty acid vesicles in response to pH stimuli
Authors: Ikari Keita , Sakuma Yuka , Jimbo Takehiro , Kodama Atsuji , Imai Masayuki , Monnard Pierre-Alain , Rasmussen Steen
Published: July 2015

By applying ph stimuli to fatty acid vesicles, unique response dynamics caused by solubilization of fatty acids are observed.
New route for the activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1: a passage that links poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 to lipotoxicity?
Authors: Bai Péter , Csóka Balázs
Published: July 2015

In this issue of Biochemical Journal, Chen and colleagues characterize an interaction between ACBD3 (acyl-CoA-binding domain-containing 3) protein and PARP [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase]-1 through the activation of ERKs (extracellular-signal-regulated kinases). This study envisages a pathway through which ABCD3 translates enhanced fatty acid levels to ERK and consequently PARP-1 activation. The consequences of PARP-1 activation lead to cellular and tissue damage, implying that the ACBD3/PARP-1 pathway is an important pathway in lipotoxicity events.
Effectiveness of advisory warnings based on cooperative perception
Authors: Naujoks Frederik , Grattenthaler Heidi , Neukum Alexandra , Weidl Galia , Petrich Dominik
Published: July 2015

Cooperative perception makes it possible to provide drivers with early advisory warnings about potentially dangerous driving situations. On the basis of the research results pertaining to imminent crash warnings, it was expected that the effectiveness of such advisory warnings depends on situation‐specific anticipations by the driver. During a simulator study, N = 20 drivers went through a wide range of longitudinal traffic and intersection scenarios. The scenarios varied in the possibility to anticipate traffic conflicts (anticipation: high against low) and were completed under different visibility conditions (visibility: obstructed against visible), with and without driver assistance based on cooperative perception (i.e. visual–auditory advisory warnings 2 s prior to the last‐possible warning moment; assistance: no assistance against with assistance). The warning concept was based on empirical pre‐studies and previously validated on a public test intersection. During non‐assisted driving, critical situations were mainly experienced when the possibility to anticipate traffic conflicts was low. Visual obstructions lead to a further increase in the frequency of critical situations. Furthermore, the results indicate a clear mitigation of critical encounters when providing early advisory warnings. This applies particularly to surprising and unexpected scenarios and thus illustrates the potential of cooperative perception to enhance active traffic safety.
First assembly times and equilibration in stochastic coagulation-fragmentation
Authors: D’Orsogna Maria R. , Lei Qi , Chou Tom
Published: July 2015

We develop a fully stochastic theory for coagulation and fragmentation (CF) in a finite system with a maximum cluster size constraint. The process is modeled using a high-dimensional master equation for the probabilities of cluster configurations. For certain realizations of total mass and maximum cluster sizes, we find exact analytical results for the expected equilibrium cluster distributions. If coagulation is fast relative to fragmentation and if the total system mass is indivisible by the mass of the largest allowed cluster, we find a mean cluster-size distribution that is strikingly broader than that predicted by the corresponding mass-action equations. Combinations of total mass and maximum cluster size under which equilibration is accelerated, eluding late-stage coarsening, are also delineated. Finally, we compute the mean time it takes particles to first assemble into a maximum-sized cluster. Through careful state-space enumeration, the scaling of mean assembly times is derived for all combinations of total mass and maximum cluster size. We find that CF accelerates assembly relative to monomer kinetic only in special cases. All of our results hold in the infinite system limit and can be only derived from a high-dimensional discrete stochastic model, highlighting how classical mass-action models of self-assembly can fail.
Numerical investigation of binary fluid convection with a weak negative separation ratio in finite containers
Authors: Zhao Bingxin , Tian Zhenfu
Published: July 2015

By using a high-order compact finite difference method to solve the full hydrodynamic field equations, convection in binary fluid mixtures with a weak negative separation ratio of −0.1 in rectangular containers heated from below is numerically investigated. We consider the problem with the Prandtl number Pr ranging from 0.01 to 10 and the Lewis number Le from 0.0005 to 1. Several convective structures such as traveling wave, localized traveling wave, and undulation traveling wave convection as well as stationary overturning convection (SOC) are obtained. For the separation ratio considered, localized traveling wave state exists in a range of Rayleigh numbers spanning the critical point (the critical Rayleigh number at the onset of convection), and their length of the convective region is uniquely selected for a given parameter set. A bifurcation diagram of solution is drawn and the transitions between various traveling waves and the steady states on their upper branches are discussed. The effects of the fluid parameters and the aspect ratio of the container on the onset of convection and their saturated structures are studied in detail. Finally, several types of initial temperature fields are used to start simulations and five different stable SOC states with different mean wavenumbers are found. The corresponding heat and mass transfer properties of these stable SOC states are also investigated.
Combined hydrogen and lithium beam emission spectroscopy observation system for Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research
Authors: Lampert M. , Anda G. , Czopf A. , Erdei G. , Guszejnov D. , Kovácsik Á. , Pokol G. I. , Réfy D. , Nam Y. U. , Zoletnik S.
Published: July 2015

A novel beam emission spectroscopy observation system was designed, built, and installed onto the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research tokamak. The system is designed in a way to be capable of measuring beam emission either from a heating deuterium or from a diagnostic lithium beam. The two beams have somewhat complementary capabilities: edge density profile and turbulence measurement with the lithium beam and two dimensional turbulence measurement with the heating beam. Two detectors can be used in parallel: a CMOS camera provides overview of the scene and lithium beam light intensity distribution at maximum few hundred Hz frame rate, while a 4 × 16 pixel avalanche photo-diode (APD) camera gives 500 kHz bandwidth data from a 4 cm × 16 cm region. The optics use direct imaging through lenses and mirrors from the observation window to the detectors, thus avoid the use of costly and inflexible fiber guides. Remotely controlled mechanisms allow adjustment of the APD camera’s measurement location on a shot-to-shot basis, while temperature stabilized filter holders provide selection of either the Doppler shifted deuterium alpha or lithium resonance line. The capabilities of the system are illustrated by measurements of basic plasma turbulence properties.