bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Similitude, Equality, and Reciprocity
Authors: Signori Gabriela
Published: February 2017

Unlike in the Mediterranean world, marriage in cisalpine urban societies was dominated by representations of equality and reciprocity, both in social practice and in theological and didactic discourse. This article first examines the conception of heavenly marriage as developed in late antiquity and elaborated in theological discourse before providing an in-depth analysis of various marriage contracts, particularly those held in the municipal archives of Strasbourg. Analysis of these contracts reveals the strong ties between social practice and didactic discourse, demonstrating that the representations of equality and reciprocity they conveyed were rooted in inheritance law, which treated both male and female children equally.
Referential Verisimilitude, Narrative Necessity and the Poetics of Vision
Authors: Calame Claude
Published: February 2017

In Classical Greece, the first forms of historiography sprung from a preoccupation with memory: to memorialize and publicize the actions of men in the recent past. They also aimed to make sense of those actions: the order of human and territorial justice for Herodotus, and the anthropology of domination for Thucydides. In this discursive “shaping” of History, rhetoric played an essential role. It provided an opportunity to muse about modalities of “fiction,” which, etymologically, “makes” hence “fictionalizes” facts, and an opportunity also to think about the importance of verisimilitude in the narrative constructions torn between internal coherence and external references. Hence the oxymoron of “referential fiction.”
Mathematical Meditations: Revisiting Moral Practice in the Sciences of the Classical Age
Authors: Van Damme Stéphane
Published: February 2017

To what extent did scholars use science to pursue the good life in the seventeenth century? How to articulate the Scientific Revolution with ethical questions? These are the questions at the core of the investigation led by the historian of science Matthew Jones in his bookThe Good Life in the Scientific Revolution. At first glance, his project is simply an extension of research on the social history of truth that has encouraged historians for two decades to decipher the moral norms that gave credit to the use and production of scientific knowledge. Civility, politeness, honor led to specific research that highlighted the cultural and social context surrounding the practices of scientific innovation in the Classical Age. This book deepens these questions by asking how mathematical practices were considered moral reflections. This article will discuss the contribution of this book by first examining the three attempts at experimenting mathematical morals led by Descartes, Pascal and Leibniz. The article then shows how Matthew Jones successfully draws on the work of Pierre Hadot by considering mathematical exercises as spiritual exercises. In a third broader step, the article examines how the book exemplifies a return of the moral issue in Anglophone history of science in the last twenty years while the French classical epistemology has avoided this kind of questioning. The article argues that these approaches open up avenues of research for historians to better understand the relationship between science and passion, science and spirituality, and more largely science and religion in the early modern period.
For a Comprehensive History of the Atlantic World or Histories Connected In and Beyond the Atlantic World?
Authors: Vidal Cécile
Published: February 2017

This article deals with the field of Atlantic history, which first rose to prominence in North America in the early 1990s. Based on a critical review of two recently published books that reflect this “new” historiographical current, it presents the various debates dividing the Atlanticist community, including the different ways of conceptualizing the Atlantic world, practicing Atlantic history, and envisioning the future of Atlantic studies. It argues that the Atlantic world should remain a simple historical framework instead of becoming the main object of investigation. The goal is thus to write a situated history that, while taking into account all historical actors, focuses on the redefinition and renegotiation of power relationships among individuals, groups, and socio-political formations in this interconnected world born out of European colonialism and imperialism.
Vows, Debt, and Pontifical Control of Exchanges in the Early Thirteenth Century
Authors: Boureau Alain
Published: February 2017

Between 1190 and 1234, from the first compilations of pontifical decretal letters up to theLiber Extra, the pontificate acquired power over the management of debts. This article provides a detailed analysis of theLiber Extrasection on vows, which offered a means of exchanging spiritual and temporal matters: vows, especially those concerning crusades, were offered, bartered, and redeemed. Innocent III played a significant role: for him, pontifical power was neither directly absolute nor contractual, but arbitrational. However, he had to compromise with more strictly centralizing forces in the Curia, which triumphed in theLiber Extra. This work, ordered by Gregory IX, served as the unstable but long-lasting basis for monarchical laws.
CRISPR–Cas9-targeted fragmentation and selective sequencing enable massively parallel microsatellite analysis
Authors: Shin GiWon , Grimes Susan M. , Lee HoJoon , Lau Billy T. , Xia Li C. , Ji Hanlee P.
Published: February 2017

Microsatellites are multi-allelic and composed of short tandem repeats (STRs) with individual motifs composed of mononucleotides, dinucleotides or higher including hexamers. Next-generation sequencing approaches and other STR assays rely on a limited number of PCR amplicons, typically in the tens. Here, we demonstrate STR-Seq, a next-generation sequencing technology that analyses over 2,000 STRs in parallel, and provides the accurate genotyping of microsatellites. STR-Seq employsin vitroCRISPR–Cas9-targeted fragmentation to produce specific DNA molecules covering the complete microsatellite sequence. Amplification-free library preparation provides single molecule sequences without unique molecular barcodes. STR-selective primers enable massively parallel, targeted sequencing of large STR sets. Overall, STR-Seq has higher throughput, improved accuracy and provides a greater number of informative haplotypes compared with other microsatellite analysis approaches. With these new features, STR-Seq can identify a 0.1% minor genome fraction in a DNA mixture composed of different, unrelated samples.
Investigation of the role of tyrosine kinase receptor EPHA3 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Andretta Elena , Cartón-García Fernando , Martínez-Barriocanal Águeda , de Marcondes Priscila Guimarães , Jimenez-Flores Lizbeth M. , Macaya Irati , Bazzocco Sarah , Bilic Josipa , Rodrigues Paulo , Nieto Rocio , Landolfi Stefania , Ramon y Cajal Santiago , Schwartz Simo , Brown Arthur , Dopeso Higinio , Arango Diego
Published: February 2017

EPH signaling deregulation has been shown to be important for colorectal carcinogenesis and genome-wide sequencing efforts have identified EPHA3 as one of the most frequently mutated genes in these tumors. However, the role of EPHA3 in colorectal cancer has not been thoroughly investigated. We show here that ectopic expression of wild type EPHA3 in colon cancer cells did not affect their growth, motility/invasion or metastatic potential in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of mutant EPHA3 or deletion of the endogenous mutant EPHA3 in colon cancer cells did not affect their growth or motility. EPHA3 inactivation in mice did not initiate the tumorigenic process in their intestine, and had no effects on tumor size/multiplicity after tumor initiation either genetically or pharmacologically. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis of EPHA3 tumor levels did not reveal associations with survival or clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer patients. In conclusion, we show that EPHA3 does not play a major role in colorectal tumorigenesis. These results significantly contribute to our understanding of the role of EPH signaling during colorectal carcinogenesis, and highlighting the need for detailed functional studies to confirm the relevance of putative cancer driver genes identified in sequencing efforts of the cancer genome.
A new perspective on studying burial environment before archaeological excavation: analyzing bacterial community distribution by high-throughput sequencing
Authors: Xu Jinjin , Wei Yanfei , Jia Hanqing , Xiao Lin , Gong Decai
Published: February 2017

Burial conditions play a crucial role in archaeological heritage preservation. Especially, the microorganisms were considered as the leading causes which incurred degradation and vanishment of historic materials. In this article, we analyzed bacterial diversity and community structure from M1 of Wangshanqiao using 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that microbial communities in burial conditions were diverse among four different samples. The samples from the robber hole varied most obviously in community structure both in Alpha and Beta diversity. In addition, the dominant phylum in different samples wereProteobacteria, ActinobacteriaandBacteroidetes, respectively. Moreover, the study implied that historical materials preservation conditions had connections with bacterial community distribution. At the genus level,Acinetobactermight possess high ability in degrading organic culture heritage in burial conditions, whileBacteroideswere associated closely with favorable preservation conditions. This method contributes to fetch information which would never recover after excavation, and it will help to explore microbial degradation on precious organic culture heritage and further our understanding of archaeological burial environment. The study also indicates that robbery has a serious negative impact on burial remains.
Polarization conversion in cubic Raman crystals
Authors: McKay Aaron , Sabella Alexander , Mildren Richard P.
Published: February 2017

Nonlinear conversion of unpolarized beams to lower frequencies is generally inefficient in c(2) materials, as it is challenging to achieve phase-matching for input ordinary and extraordinary beams simultaneously in the normal dispersion regime. Here, we show that cubic Raman crystals having doubly and triply degenerate (E and F type) modes provide a method for efficient nonlinear frequency downconversion of an unpolarized beam and yield a linearly polarized output state. Using Mueller calculus, optimal crystal directions for such polarization conversion are determined. Using diamond, an example of an F-class Raman crystal, we have verified that such conversion is possible with near quantum-defect-limited slope efficiency and a linear polarization contrast of more than 23.9 dB.
Variation among conventional cultivars could be used as a criterion for environmental safety assessment of Bt rice on nontarget arthropods
Authors: Wang Fang , Dang Cong , Chang Xuefei , Tian Junce , Lu Zengbin , Chen Yang , Ye Gongyin
Published: February 2017

The current difficulty facing risk evaluations of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops on nontarget arthropods (NTAs) is the lack of criteria for determining what represents unacceptable risk. In this study, we investigated the biological parameters in the laboratory and field population abundance of Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) on two Bt rice lines and the non-Bt parent, together with 14 other conventional rice cultivars. Significant difference were found in nymphal duration and fecundity of N. lugens fed on Bt rice KMD2, as well as field population density on 12 October, compared with non-Bt parent. However, compared with the variation among conventional rice cultivars, the variation of each parameter between Bt rice and the non-Bt parent was much smaller, which can be easily seen from low-high bar graphs and also the coefficient of variation value (C.V). The variation among conventional cultivars is proposed to be used as a criterion for the safety assessment of Bt rice on NTAs, particularly when statistically significant differences in several parameters are found between Bt rice and its non-Bt parent. Coefficient of variation is suggested as a promising parameter for ecological risk judgement of IRGM rice on NTAs.
Accelerating Corrosion of Pure Magnesium Co-implanted with Titanium in Vivo
Authors: Hou Peng , Han Pei , Zhao Changli , Wu Hongliu , Ni Jiahua , Zhang Shaoxiang , Liu Jingyi , Zhang Yuanzhuang , Xu Haidong , Cheng Pengfei , Liu Shen , Zheng Yufeng , Zhang Xiaonong , Chai Yimin
Published: February 2017

Magnesium is a type of reactive metal, and is susceptible to galvanic corrosion. In the present study, the impact of coexistence of Ti on the corrosion behavior of high purity Mg (HP Mg) was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Increased corrosion rate of HP Mg was demonstrated when Mg and Ti discs were not in contact. The in vivo experiments further confirmed accelerating corrosion of HP Mg screws when they were co-implanted with Ti screws into Sprague-Dawley rats’ femur, spacing 5 and 10 mm. Micro CT scan and 3D reconstruction revealed severe corrosion morphology of HP Mg screws. The calculated volume loss was much higher for the HP Mg screw co-implanted with Ti screw as compared to that co-implanted with another Mg screw. Consequently, less new bone tissue ingrowth and lower pullout force were found in the former group. It is hypothesized that the abundant blood vessels on the periosteum act as wires to connect the Mg and Ti screws and form a galvanic-like cell, accelerating the corrosion of Mg. Therefore, a certain distance is critical to maintain the mechanical and biological property of Mg when it is co-implanted with Ti.
Sequestration of Ribosome during Protein Aggregate Formation: Contribution of ribosomal RNA
Authors: Pathak Bani K. , Mondal Surojit , Banerjee Senjuti , Ghosh Amar Nath , Barat Chandana
Published: February 2017

An understanding of the mechanisms underlying protein aggregation and cytotoxicity of the protein aggregates is crucial in the prevention of several diseases in humans. Ribosome, the cellular protein synthesis machine is capable of acting as a protein folding modulator. The peptidyltransferase center residing in the domain V of large ribosomal subunit 23S rRNA is the centre for the protein folding ability of the ribosome and is also the cellular target of several antiprion compounds. Our in vitro studies unexpectedly reveal that the partial unfolding or aggregation of lysozyme under reducing conditions in presence of the ribosome can induce aggregation of ribosomal components. Electrostatic interactions complemented by specific rRNA-protein interaction drive the ribosome-protein aggregation process. Under similar conditions the rRNA, especially the large subunit rRNA and in vitro transcribed RNA corresponding to domain V of 23S rRNA (bDV RNA) stimulates lysozyme aggregation leading to RNA-protein aggregate formation. Protein aggregation during the refolding of non-disulfide containing protein BCAII at high concentrations also induces ribosome aggregation. BCAII aggregation was also stimulated in presence of the large subunit rRNA. Our observations imply that the specific sequestration of the translation machine by aggregating proteins might contribute to their cytotoxicity.
Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 overexpression in gastric cancer: Relationship with radiological findings of dual-energy spectral CT and PET-CT
Authors: Lin Huimin , Yang Guoyuan , Ding Bei , Zhang Miao , Zhang Mingjun , Yan Fuhua , Qu Ying , Zhang Huan
Published: February 2017

We explored the role of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP1) overexpression in gastric cancer and its relationship with radiological findings from dual-energy spectral CT(DEsCT) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). We established mouse metastatic models using the SGC-7901/sFRP1 gastric cancer cell line. A control group was established using the SGC-7901/vector cell line. The models were then scanned with dual-energy spectral CT and PET-CT. Subsequent analysis, including immunohistochemistry and Transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL), was performed to confirm the role of sFRP1. Transwell chamber and angiogenesis assays were conducted to verify the effect of sFRP1 in vitro. We found that the control group showed negative radiological performance with successful implantation. Concurrently, the treated group showed visible lesions, a higher FDG uptake and increasing enhancement. The immunological and histological analysis confirmed the positive radiological performance with larger size, increasing proliferation, more microvessels and less apoptosis. The angiogenic up-regulation of sFRP1 overexpression were further verified with in vitro cell models. This preliminary study demonstrates that sFRP1 overexpression in gastric cancer cells leads to increased cell proliferation and angiogenesis, which may, in turn, contribute to positive PET/CT and CT performances.
Aza-heterocyclic Receptors for Direct Electron Transfer Hemoglobin Biosensor
Authors: Kumar Vinay , Kashyap D. M. Nikhila , Hebbar Suraj , Swetha R. , Prasad Sujay , Kamala T. , Srikanta S. S. , Krishnaswamy P. R. , Bhat Navakanta
Published: February 2017

Direct Electron Transfer biosensors, facilitating direct communication between the biomolecule of interest and electrode surface, are preferable compared to enzymatic and mediator based sensors. Although hemoglobin (Hb) contains four redox active iron centres, direct detection is not possible due to inaccessibility of iron centres and formation of dimers, blocking electron transfer. Through the coordination of iron with aza-heterocyclic receptors - pyridine and imidazole - we report a cost effective, highly sensitive and simple electrochemical Hb sensor using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The receptor can be either in the form of liquid micro-droplet mixed with blood or dry chemistry embedded in paper membrane on top of screen printed carbon electrodes. We demonstrate excellent linearity and robustness against interference using clinical samples. A truly point of care technology is demonstrated by integrating disposable test strips with handheld reader, enabling finger prick to result in less than a minute.
The Rb1 tumour suppressor gene modifies telomeric chromatin architecture by regulating TERRA expression
Authors: Gonzalez-Vasconcellos I. , Schneider R. , Anastasov N. , Alonso-Rodriguez S. , Sanli-Bonazzi B. , Fernández J. L. , Atkinson M. J.
Published: February 2017

The tumour suppressor gene (Rb1) is necessary for the maintenance of telomere integrity in osteoblastic cells. We now show that the compaction of telomeric chromatin and the appropriate histone modifications of telomeric DNA are both dependent upon Rb1-mediated transcription of the telomere-derived long non-coding RNA TERRA. Expression of TERRA was reduced in Rb1 haploinsufficient cells, and further decreased by shRNA-mediated reduction of residual Rb1 expression. Restoration of Rb1 levels through lentiviral transduction was sufficient to reestablish both transcription of TERRA and condensation of telomeric chromatin. The human chromosome 15q TERRA promoter contains predicted retinoblastoma control elements, and was able to confer Rb1-dependent transcription upon a promoterless reporter gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed preferential binding of phosphorylated over non-phosphorylated Rb1 at the TERRA promoter. As Rb1-deficient cells show increased genomic instability we suggest that this novel non-canonical action of Rb1 may contribute to the tumour suppressive actions of Rb1.
Operator Radiation and the Efficacy of Ceiling-Suspended Lead Screen Shielding during Coronary Angiography: An Anthropomorphic Phantom Study Using Real-Time Dosimeters
Authors: Jia Qianjun , Chen Ziman , Jiang Xianxian , Zhao Zhenjun , Huang Meiping , Li Jiahua , Zhuang Jian , Liu Xiaoqing , Hu Tianyu , Liang Wensheng
Published: February 2017

Operator radiation and the radiation protection efficacy of a ceiling-suspended lead screen were assessed during coronary angiography (CA) in a catheterization laboratory. An anthropomorphic phantom was placed under the X-ray beam to simulate patient attenuation in eight CA projections. Using real-time dosimeters, radiation dose rates were measured on models mimicking a primary operator (PO) and an assistant. Subsequently, a ceiling-suspended lead screen was placed in three commonly used positions to compare the radiation protection efficacy. The radiation exposure to the PO was 2.3 to 227.9 (mean: 67.2 ± 49.0) μSv/min, with the left anterior oblique (LAO) 45°/cranial 25° and cranial 25° projections causing the highest and the lowest dose rates, respectively. The assistant experienced significantly less radiation overall (mean: 20.1 ± 19.6 μSv/min, P < 0.003), with the right anterior oblique (RAO) 30° and cranial 25° projections resulting in the highest and lowest exposure levels, respectively. Combined with table-side shielding, the ceiling-suspended lead screen reduced the radiation to the PO by 76.8%, 81.9% and 93.5% when placed close to the patient phantom, at the left side and close to the PO, respectively, and reduced the radiation to the assistant by 70.3%, 76.7% and 90.0%, respectively. When placed close to the PO, a ceiling-suspended lead screen provides substantial radiation protection during CA.
Room Temperature Characteristics of Polymer-Based Low Ice Adhesion Surfaces
Authors: He Zhiwei , Vågenes Elisabeth T. , Delabahan Chrisrosemarie , He Jianying , Zhang Zhiliang
Published: February 2017

Ice adhesion is mainly dictated by surface properties, and water wettability is frequently correlated with ice adhesion strength. However, these established correlations are limited to high ice adhesion and become invalid when the ice adhesion strength is low. Here we carried out an experimental study to explore the relationships between low ice adhesion strength and room temperature surface properties. A variety of room temperature properties of 22 polymer-based hydrophilic and hydrophobic samples consisting of both low and high ice adhesion surfaces were analysed. The properties investigated include water adhesion force, water wettability, roughness, elastic modulus and hardness. Our results show that low ice adhesion strength does not correlate well with water contact angle and its variants, surface roughness and hardness. Low elastic modulus does not guarantee low ice adhesion, however, surfaces with low ice adhesion always show low elastic modulus. Low ice adhesion (below 60 kPa) of tested surfaces may be determinative of small water adhesion force (from 180 to 270 μN). Therefore, measurement of water adhesion force may provide an effective strategy for screening anti-icing or icephobic surfaces, and surfaces within specific values of water adhesion force will possibly lead to a low ice adhesion.
Rewritable Painting Realized from Ambient-Sensitive Fluorescence of ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Kai-Kai , Shan Chong-Xin , He Gao-Hang , Wang Ruo-Qiu , Dong Lin , Shen De-Zhen
Published: February 2017

Paper, as one of the most important information carriers, has contributed to the development and transmission of human civilization greatly. Meanwhile, a serious problem of environmental sustainable development caused by the production and utilization of paper has been resulted to modern society. Therefore, a simple and green route is urgently demanded to realize rewritable painting on paper. Herein, a simple route to rewritable painting on copy paper has been demonstrated by using eco-friendly ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as fluorescent ink, and vinegar and soda that are frequently used in kitchen as erasing and neutralizing agents. Words or patterns written using the ZnO NPs as ink can be erased by vinegar vapour within five seconds, and after a neutralizing process in the ambient of soda vapour, the paper can be used for writing again. It is worth noting that the resolution and precision of the patterns produced via the above route degrade little after ten rewriting cycles, and the quality of the patterns produced using the ZnO NPs as ink fades little after being storage for several months, which promises the versatile potential applications of the rewriting route proposed in this paper.
Microbubbles trigger oscillation of crystal size in solids
Authors: Kollath Anna , Brezhneva Nadzeya , Skorb Ekaterina V. , Andreeva Daria V.
Published: February 2017

An understanding of the nature and conditions of nonlinear processes in open systems is important for modulation of the microstructure of solids at a new level of complexity.
Determination of the positions of aluminum atoms introduced into SSZ-35 and the catalytic properties of the generated Brønsted acid sites
Authors: Miyaji Akimitsu , Kimura Nobuhiro , Shiga Akinobu , Hayashi Yoshihiro , Nishitoba Toshiki , Motokura Ken , Baba Toshihide
Published: February 2017

Al atoms were introduced into three of the four possible sites with constant proportions in the zeolite SSZ-35 lattice.
Cesium lead iodide solar cells controlled by annealing temperature
Authors: Kim Yu Geun , Kim Tae-Yoon , Oh Jeong Hyeon , Choi Kyoung Soon , Kim Youn-Jea , Kim Soo Young
Published: February 2017

The power conversion efficiency of CsPbI3 based perovskite solar cells annealed at 100 °C is 4.88%.
Effect of adsorption kinetics on dissociation of DNA-nucleobases on gold nanoparticles under pulsed laser illumination
Authors: Schürmann Robin , Bald Ilko
Published: February 2017

The kinetics of adsorption and photofragmentation of DNA nucleobase analogues on gold nanoparticles is evaluated towards an improvement of cancer photothermal therapy.
Electrochemical micro/nano-machining: principles and practices
Authors: Zhan Dongping , Han Lianhuan , Zhang Jie , He Quanfeng , Tian Zhao-Wu , Tian Zhong-Qun
Published: February 2017

Micro/nano-machining (MNM) is becoming the cutting-edge of high-tech manufacturing because of the ever increasing industrial demands for super smooth surfaces and functional three-dimensional micro/nano-structures in miniaturized and integrate devices, and electrochemistry plays an irreplaceable role in MNM.
Preferential site occupancy of Eu3+ ions in strontium hydroxyapatite nanocrystalline – Sr10(PO4)6(OH)2 – structural and spectroscopic characterisation
Authors: Zawisza Katarzyna , Wiglusz Rafal J.
Published: February 2017

Strontium hydroxyapatite (Sr10(PO4)6(OH)2) nanopowders doped with Eu3+ ions were synthesized via a microwave-stimulated hydrothermal method and were heat-treated in the temperature range of 450–650 °C for 3 h.
Matrix dependency for oxide production rates by LA-ICP-MS
Authors: Gilbert Sarah , Olin Paul , Thompson Jay , Lounejeva Elena , Danyushevsky Leonid
Published: February 2017

The production rates of polyatomic oxygen interferents (MO+/M+) during LA-ICP-MS analysis were investigated in a range of silicate materials and metals.
Tandem emulsification for high-throughput production of double emulsions
Authors: Eggersdorfer M. L. , Zheng W. , Nawar S. , Mercandetti C. , Ofner A. , Leibacher I. , Koehler S. , Weitz D. A.
Published: February 2017

We scale the production of single-core double emulsions by parallelized tandem emulsification using step emulsification and flow focusing devices.
An efficient and mild oxidative amidation of aldehydes using B(C6F5)3 as a catalyst and biological evaluation of the products as potential antimicrobial agents
Authors: Guggilapu Sravanthi Devi , Chari Alpina Ramnath , Nagarsenkar Atulya , Sigalapalli Dilep Kumar , Babu Bathini Nagendra
Published: February 2017

A mild and efficient protocol for oxidative amidation of diverse aldehydes with amines was developed to generate the corresponding amides in good to excellent yields.
Synthesis of dinuclear aluminum complexes bearing bis-phenolate ligand and application in ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone
Authors: Zhang Jie , Liu Shaofeng , Zuo Weiwei , Ye Hongqi , Li Zhibo
Published: February 2017

Dinuclear zwitterionic aluminum complexes were prepared and applied as efficient catalysts toward ROP of ε-CL in a controlled manner.
A photo-degradable supramolecular hydrogel for selective delivery of microRNA into 3D-cultured cells
Authors: Zhou Zhengquan , Yi Qikun , Xia Tingting , Yin Wencui , Kadi Adnan A. , Li Jinbo , Zhang Yan
Published: February 2017

A multi-functional supramolecular hydrogel was developed for long-term 3D cell culture, targeted miRNA delivery and easy collection of encapsulated cells.
Students’ attitudes, self-efficacy and experiences in a modified process-oriented guided inquiry learning undergraduate chemistry classroom
Authors: Vishnumolakala Venkat Rao , Southam Daniel C. , Treagust David F. , Mocerino Mauro , Qureshi Sheila
Published: February 2017

This one-semester, mixed methods study underpinning social cognition and theory of planned behaviour investigated the attitudes, self-efficacy, and experiences of 559 first year undergraduate chemistry students from two cohorts in modified process-oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) classes. Versions of attitude toward the study of chemistry (ASCI v2), and chemistry attitudes and experiences questionnaire (CAEQ) were adopted, modified, and administered to understand and gauge students’ affective outcomes before (pre) and after (post) POGIL intervention. Students’ post-POGIL perceptions of their attitudes, self-efficacy and experiences were statistically significantly higher. In addition to confirmatory testing of reliability of data obtained from ASCI v2 and CAEQ in an Australian POGIL context, the findings suggest that POGIL intervention provides positive affective experiences to students who are new to chemistry or have limited prior chemistry knowledge.
Selective palladium(ii)-mediated oxidation of homoallylic N-tert-butanesulfinyl amine derivatives
Authors: Sirvent Ana , Soler Tatiana , Foubelo Francisco , Yus Miguel
Published: February 2017

The palladium(ii)-catalyzed oxidation of N-tert-butanesulfinyl homoallylamine derivatives was substrate dependent and proceeded with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
Discovery of (S)-3′-hydroxyblebbistatin and (S)-3′-aminoblebbistatin: polar myosin II inhibitors with superior research tool properties
Authors: Verhasselt Sigrid , Roman Bart I. , De Wever Olivier , Van Hecke Kristof , Van Deun Rik , Bracke Marc E. , Stevens Christian V.
Published: February 2017

Chemical optimization of (S)-blebbistatin resulted in the discovery of (S)-3′-hydroxyblebbistatin and (S)-3′-aminoblebbistatin, myosin II inhibitors with superior research tool properties.
Full-Videoendoscopic Interlaminar Surgery for the Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniations—A Series of 50 Cases
Authors: Alvarenga Marco , da Rocha Thiago , Marchi Luis , Correia Leonardo
Published: February 2017

The present study aims to describe the results of full-videoendoscopic surgery through the interlaminar route for central lumbar disc herniation in a series of 50 cases in Brazil.

This is a retrospective single-center study. With the aim of describing safety, the present study reports the complication and revision rates. The clinical results were collected with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (a questionnaire to evaluate functional disability) at the preoperative visit and at 6 months postsurgery.

The average surgical time was 20 minutes (range: 9–40 minutes), and 100% of the procedures were performed in an outpatient setting. The mean VAS scores improved from 9.4 to 1.1 (p < 0.001), and the mean ODI scores decreased from 69 to 9 points in the last follow-up (p < 0.001). There was 1 case (2%) with hernia recurrence, 1 case with intraoperative root injury (2%), and 2 cases (4%) that required lumbar fusion due to a preexisting instability. No infections were observed.

The full-videoendoscopic surgery is a modern option for treating lumbar disc herniation. In the present study, we have observed that the use of this technique for the removal of fragments affecting the vertebral canal presented satisfactory clinical results, low complication rates, and that it has demonstrated its feasibility in an outpatient setting without prolonged hospitalization.
Characterizing tips suitable for atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy with atomic resolution and spin sensitivity
Authors: Schmidt R. , Schwarz A. , Wiesendanger R.
Published: February 2017

We describe the on-surface preparation of tips suitable to perform force microscopy and force spectroscopy experiments with atomic resolution and spin sensitivity by monitoring length changes and changes of the dissipated energy. On the antiferromagnetic Fe monolayer on W(001), we find tip apices that are capable of atomic resolution with or without spin sensitivity and with or without atomic scale dissipation. Tips that exhibit adhesion hysteresis are structurally unstable and reveal themselves by an atomic scale dissipation contrast. We emphasize that such tips should not be used to evaluate distance dependent spectroscopy data quantitatively.
Effect of remote inductively coupled plasma (ICP) on the electron energy probability function of an in-tandem main ICP
Authors: Lee Jaewon , Kim Kyung-Hyun , Chung Chin-Wook
Published: February 2017

The remote plasma has been generally used as the auxiliary plasma source for indirect plasma processes such as cleaning or ashing. When tandem plasma sources that contain main and remote plasma sources are discharged, the main plasma is affected by the remote plasma and vice versa. Charged particles can move between two chambers due to the potential difference between the two plasmas. For this reason, the electron energy possibility function of the main plasma can be controlled by adjusting the remote plasma state. In our study, low energy electrons in the main plasma are effectively heated with varying remote plasma powers, and high energy electrons which overcome potential differences between two plasmas—are exchanged with no remarkable change in the plasma density and the effective electron temperature.
Orbital motion theory and operational regimes for cylindrical emissive probes
Authors: Chen Xin , Sanchez-Arriaga G.
Published: February 2017

A full-kinetic model based on the orbital-motion theory for cylindrical emissive probes (EPs) is presented. The conservation of the distribution function, the energy, and the angular momentum for cylindrical probes immersed in collisionless and stationary plasmas is used to write the Vlasov-Poisson system as a single integro-differential equation. It describes self-consistently the electrostatic potential profile and, consequently, the current-voltage (I-V) probe characteristics. Its numerical solutions are used to identify different EP operational regimes, including orbital-motion-limited (OML)/non-OML current collection and monotonic/non-monotonic potential, in the parametric domain of probe bias and emission level. The most important features of the potential and density profiles are presented and compared with common approximations in the literature. Conventional methods to measure plasma potential with EPs are briefly revisited. A direct application of the model is to estimate plasma parameters by fitting I-V measurements to the theoretical results.
System for time-resolved laser absorption spectroscopy and its application to high-power impulse magnetron sputtering
Authors: Adámek P. , Olejníček J. , Hubička Z. , Čada M. , Kment Š. , Kohout M. , Do H. T.
Published: February 2017

This paper deals with the development and construction of an apparatus for time-resolved tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS) for the diagnostics of pulsed plasma. A detailed description of the extension of a progressive method of laser absorption spectroscopy in continuous regime to a direct triggering method of the time-resolved laser absorption spectroscopy (TR-LAS) is presented. The main advantage of the developed method is its capability to measure the time evolution of the whole absorption profile with a preset time resolution, which can be less than 1 μs. Therefore, the presented method of repetitive sampling applied on LAS in plasma processes is capable of simultaneous measurement of the density and kinetic temperature of selected particles. Its appropriate applications are to periodical processes in technological plasma, namely pulsed plasma discharges. The developed method of TR-LAS was applied to measurements of the temporal evolution of density and kinetic temperature of argon metastable species during high-power impulse magnetron sputtering of titanium and titanium dioxide thin films.
Influences of guide-tube and bluff-body on advanced atmospheric pressure plasma source for single-crystalline polymer nanoparticle synthesis at low temperature
Authors: Kim Dong Ha , Park Choon-Sang , Kim Won Hyun , Shin Bhum Jae , Hong Jung Goo , Park Tae Seon , Seo Jeong Hyun , Tae Heung-Sik
Published: February 2017

The use of a guide-tube and bluff-body with an advanced atmospheric pressure plasma source is investigated for the low-temperature synthesis of single-crystalline high-density plasma polymerized pyrrole (pPPy) nano-materials on glass and flexible substrates. Three process parameters, including the position of the bluff-body, Ar gas flow rate, and remoteness of the substrate from the intense and broadened plasma, are varied and examined in detail. Plus, for an in-depth understanding of the flow structure development with the guide-tube and bluff-body, various numerical simulations are also conducted using the same geometric conditions as the experiments. As a result, depending on both the position of the bluff-body and the Ar gas flow rate, an intense and broadened plasma as a glow-like discharge was produced in a large area. The production of the glow-like discharge played a significant role in increasing the plasma energy required for full cracking of the monomers in the nucleation region. Furthermore, a remote growth condition was another critical process parameter for minimizing the etching and thermal damage during the plasma polymerization, resulting in single- and poly-crystalline pPPy nanoparticles at a low temperature with the proposed atmospheric pressure plasma jet device.
Fluctuation-dissipation theorems for inhomogeneous Markov jump processes and a biochemical application
Authors: Chen Yong , Jia Chen , Jiang Da-Quan
Published: February 2017

In this paper, we establish a rigorous mathematical theory of three types of fluctuation-dissipation theorems (FDTs) for inhomogeneous Markov jump processes. It turns out that the FDTs and the response formula proved in this paper apply to any form of external perturbations and thus are quite general. Further physical and biochemical applications are also discussed. In particular, the FDTs are used to study an important biochemical phenomenon called adaptation.
Axial tensile strain effects on the contact thermal conductance between cross contacted single-walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Chen Weiyu , Yang Juekuan , Wei Zhiyong , Liu Chenhan , Bi Kedong , Chen Yunfei
Published: February 2017

The axial strain effects on the contact thermal conductance between two cross contacted single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are assessed using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation. The results show that the contact thermal conductance can be decreased by ∼44% as the axial strain increases from 0 to 10%. The calculated vibrational density of state reveals that the enhanced phonon scattering resulting from the blue shift of the low frequency phonon is the main factor leading to the reduction of the contact thermal conductance. We also studied the effect of the defects caused by hydrogenation and vacancy in SWCNTs on the contact thermal conductance and found that this effect can be neglected.
Constructing nanoporous carbon nanotubes/Bi2Te3 composite for synchronous regulation of the electrical and thermal performances
Authors: Zhang Qihao , Xu Leilei , Zhou Zhenxing , Wang Lianjun , Jiang Wan , Chen Lidong
Published: February 2017

Porous nanograined thermoelectric materials exhibit low thermal conductivity due to scattering of phonons by pores, which are favorable for thermoelectric applications. However, the benefit is not large enough to overcome the deficiency in the electrical performance. Herein, an approach is presented to reduce the thermal conductivity and synchronously enhance the electrical conductivity through constructing a nanoporous thermoelectric composite. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are truncated and homogeneously dispersed within the Bi2Te3 matrix by a cryogenic grinding (CG) technique for the first time, which efficiently suppress the Bi2Te3 grain growth and create nanopores with the size ranging from dozens to hundreds of nanometers. The lattice thermal conductivity is substantially decreased by broad wavelength phonon scattering resulting from nanopores, increased grain boundaries, and newly formed interfaces. Meanwhile, the electrical conductivity is improved due to the enhanced carrier mobility, which may originate from the bridging effect between the Bi2Te3 grains and CNTs. The maximum ZT is improved by almost a factor of 2 due to the simultaneous optimization of electrical and thermal performances. Our study demonstrates the superiority of constructing a bulk thermoelectric composite with nanopores by the uniform dispersion of CNTs through a CG technique for enhanced thermoelectric properties, which provides a wider approach to thermoelectric nanostructure engineering.
Rb based alkali antimonide high quantum efficiency photocathodes for bright electron beam sources and photon detection applications
Authors: Cultrera L. , Gulliford C. , Bartnik A. , Lee H. , Bazarov I.
Published: February 2017

High quantum efficiency alkali antimonide photocathodes have been grown over both stainless steel and glass substrates using sequential evaporation of Sb, K, Rb, and Cs. Quantum efficiencies well above 25% have been measured at 400 nm. A bi-alkali Rb-K-Sb photocathode grown on a stainless steel substrate has been installed in a high voltage DC gun at Cornell University and the intrinsic electron beam emittance was measured at different photon energies.
Non-linear optical deformation potentials in uniaxially strained ZnO microwires
Authors: Sturm C. , Wille M. , Lenzner J. , Khujanov S. , Grundmann M.
Published: February 2017

The emission properties of bent ZnO microwires with diameters ranging from 1.5 μm to 7.3 μm are systematically investigated by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy at T≈10 K. We induced uniaxial strains along the c-axis of up to ±2.9 %. At these high strain values, we observe a non-linear shift of the emission energy with respect to the induced strain, and the magnitude of the energy shift depends on the sign of the strain. The linear and non-linear deformation potentials were determined to be D1=−2.50±0.05  eV and D2=−15.0±0.5  eV, respectively. The non-linearity of the energy shift is also reflected in the observed spectral broadening of the emission peak as a function of the locally induced strain, which decreases with increasing strain on the compressive side and increases on the tensile side.
Brillouin scattering-like effect and non-reciprocal propagation of elastic waves due to spatio-temporal modulation of electrical boundary conditions in piezoelectric media
Authors: Croënne C. , Vasseur J. O. , Bou Matar O. , Ponge M.-F. , Deymier P. A. , Hladky-Hennion A.-C. , Dubus B.
Published: February 2017

The properties of a one-dimensional phononic crystal made of identical piezoelectric elements separated by thin metallic electrodes connected to the ground are studied theoretically for cases where the locations of the electrical connections change as a function of time with a specific speed. This spatio-temporal modulation of the electrical boundary conditions results in significant non-linear effects that are evidenced numerically. The interaction between an incident harmonic longitudinal wave and the time-dependent phononic crystal is shown to lead to frequency splitting analogous to Brillouin scattering. Moreover, the boundaries of the Bragg bandgaps are strongly affected, and for some specific modulation speed, one-way wave propagation can be achieved.
Electric field effect near the metal-insulator transition of a two-dimensional electron system in SrTiO3
Authors: Ahadi Kaveh , Shoron Omor F. , Marshall Patrick B. , Mikheev Evgeny , Stemmer Susanne
Published: February 2017

SmTiO3/SrTiO3 interfaces exhibit a two-dimensional electron system with carrier densities in the order of 3 × 1014 cm−2 due to the polar discontinuity at the interface. Here, electric field effect is used to investigate an electron system at this interface whose carrier density has been depleted substantially by the gate metal and by reducing the thickness of the SmTiO3. At zero applied gate voltage, the sheet resistance exceeds the quantum resistance, h/e2, by more than an order of magnitude, and the SrTiO3 channel is in the hopping transport regime. The electric field modulates the carrier density in the channel, which approaches the transition to a metal at positive gate bias. The channel resistances are found to scale by a single parameter that depends on the gate voltage, similar to two-dimensional electron systems in high-quality semiconductors.
A Theoretical Probe for Structures, Metal–Metal Bonding, and Electronic Spectra of Paramagnetic Tetrapyrrolic RuII Complex
Authors: Lv Jin-Yu , Guo Yuan-Ru , Pan Qing-Jiang
Published: February 2017

Dimeric complexes (RuIIPz)2 have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT), where Pz is a porphyrazine ligand that features a 16-atom, 18-π-electron cyclic polyene aromatic skeleton. Structural optimizations in various configurations and spin states indicate that (RuPz)2 favours a Pz–Pz staggered conformer over an eclipsed one; the paramagnetic triplet state with the staggered configuration is found as the global ground state. This agrees with experimental magnetic results of (RuOEPor)2 (OEPor = octaethylporphyrin) and (RuPc)2 (Pc = phthalocyanine). The Ru–Ru bond length was optimized to be 2.38 Å, close to the experimental bond length of 2.40–2.41 Å. The Ru2 doubly bonded nature has been evidenced by the Ru–Ru stretching vibrational frequency of 202 cm–1, bond energy of 30.7 kcal mol–1, and electronic arrangement of σ2π4(nonbonding-δ)4(π*)2. Further confirmation was obtained from high-level wave function theory calculations (complete active space self-consistent field and n-electron valence state second-order perturbation theory). Associated with the solvation of the explicit pyridine accounting for the first coordination sphere and the implicit continuum model for the long-range interaction, the electronic spectra of tetrapyrrolic ruthenium complex were calculated at the time-dependent DFT level.