bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating nutrient requirements for winter oilseed rape based on QUEFTS analysis
Authors: REN T. , ZOU J. , WANG Y. , LI X. K. , CONG R. H. , LU J. W.
Published: April 2015

Estimating crop nutrient requirements for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is a crucial step in optimizing fertilization to enhance seed yield and improve fertilizer use efficiency. In the present paper, a database composed of 1035 on-farm observations collected from 2005 to 2010 across the major winter oilseed rape production regions in China was used to evaluate internal nutrient efficiencies (kg seed per kg nutrient in plant dry matter); then the Quantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model for winter oilseed rape was developed to describe the nutrient uptake-yield relationship of oilseed rape over a wide range of environmental conditions and predict the nutrient requirements for a target yield. After excluding observations with low harvest index values, <0·20, and excluding 0·025 of the highest and lowest internal nutrient efficiencies, the minimum and maximum internal nutrient efficiencies were estimated as 13·1 and 31·6 kg seed/kg nitrogen (N), 68·9 and 200·3 kg seed/kg phosphorus (P) and 8·9 and 31·1 kg seed/kg potassium (K), respectively. On the basis of the data settings, the balanced N, P and K uptake at different yield potential levels was calculated using a linear–parabolic–plateau curve with the QUEFTS model. Crop nutrient requirements increased linearly until the yield reached approximately 0·60–0·70 of the potential yield, and 46·0 kg N, 8·0 kg P and 57·1 kg K were found to be needed to produce 1000 kg of seed. The corresponding internal nutrient efficiencies were 21·8, 125·1 and 17·5 kg seed/kg N, P and K, respectively. However, when the target yields approached the yield potential, a decrease in internal nutrient efficiencies was detected in the model. The predicted nutrient requirement values simulated by the QUEFTS model compared well with observed values across a range of conditions. To conclude, the QUEFTS model was shown to be a practical and robust tool for assessing the crop nutrient requirements of winter oilseed rape.
Influence of chymosin type and curd scalding temperature on proteolysis of hard cooked cheeses
Authors: Costabel Luciana M. , Bergamini Carina V. , Pozza Leila , Cuffia Facundo , Candioti Mario C. , Hynes Erica
Published: April 2015

In this work, we studied the influence of the type of coagulant enzyme and the curd scalding temperature on the proteolysis and residual coagulant and plasmin activities of a cooked cheese, Reggianito, in the interest of reducing ripening time. A two-factor experimental design was applied in two levels: type of coagulant enzyme, bovine chymosin or camel chymosin, and curd scalding temperature, 50 or 56 °C. The experimental treatments were applied in Reggianito cheese making experiments, and the samples were ripened for 90 d at 12 °C. Scalding temperature influenced residual coagulant activity; the cheeses cooked at 50 °C had significantly higher activity than those treated at 56 °C. In contrast, scalding temperature did not modify plasmin activity. Proteolysis was primarily affected by curd cooking temperature because chymosin-mediated hydrolysis of αs1 casein was slower in cheeses treated at 56 °C. Additionally, the nitrogen content in the cheese soluble fractions was consistently lower in the cheeses scalded at 56 °C than those cooked at 50 °C. A significant influence of the type of coagulant enzyme was observed, especially in the nitrogen fractions and peptide profiles, which demonstrated that camel chymosin was slightly less proteolytic; however, these differences were lower than those caused by the scalding temperature.
First comparative insight into the architecture ofCOImitochondrial minicircle molecules of dicyemids reveals marked inter-species variation
Authors: CATALANO SARAH R. , WHITTINGTON IAN D. , DONNELLAN STEPHEN C. , BERTOZZI TERRY , GILLANDERS BRONWYN M.
Published: April 2015

Dicyemids, poorly known parasites of benthic cephalopods, are one of the few phyla in which mitochondrial (mt) genome architecture departs from the typical ~16 kb circular metazoan genome. In addition to a putative circular genome, a series of mt minicircles that each comprises the mt encoded units (I–III) of the cytochromecoxidase complex have been reported. Whether the structure of the mt minicircles is a consistent feature among dicyemid species is unknown. Here we analyse the complete cytochromecoxidase subunit I (COI) minicircle molecule, containing theCOIgene and an associated non-coding region (NCR), for ten dicyemid species, allowing for first time comparisons between species of minicircle architecture, NCR function and inferences of minicircle replication. Divergence inCOInucleotide sequences between dicyemid species was high (average net divergence = 31·6%) while within species diversity was lower (average net divergence = 0·2%). The NCR and putative 5′ section of theCOIgene were highly divergent between dicyemid species (average net nucleotide divergence of putative 5′COIsection = 61·1%). No tRNA genes were found in the NCR, although palindrome sequences with the potential to form stem-loop structures were identified in some species, which may play a role in transcription or other biological processes.
Rhythmic paradigms in theCantigas de Santa Maria:French versus Arabic precedent
Authors: FERREIRA MANUEL PEDRO
Published: April 2015

This article argues that the rhythmic meaning of the notation in theCantigas de Santa Mariacan be only understood by confronting it with different theoretical paradigms. Julián Ribera in 1922 defended an Arabic paradigm, to the exclusion of any other, but his access to Arabic historical writings was severely limited. Higinio Anglés in 1943 and most modern musicologists have since adopted French mensural theory, but recognised that it does not fit many songs. The author has demonstrated elsewhere that songs that do not fit the French paradigm often fit the Arabic one. The applicability of both paradigms, including their superimposition, is systematically compared here. After comparison of general concepts (ordoand period), of even-time composition (modes V–VI or conjunctive rhythm), of long–short opposition in ternary time (modes I–II orRamal) and more complex patterns, the author provisionally concludes that very few patterns point unequivocally to French models, while in most cases (first and second mode and potential forms of the third mode) both French and Arabic paradigms could apply. In many other cases, encompassing both binary and ternary metre, the Arabic rhythmic paradigm is clearly either more fitting than the Parisian one, or the only one to apply.
Mensural and polyphonic music of the fourteenth century and a new
source for the Credo of Tournai in a gradual of the Basilica di Santa Maria
Maggiore in Rome
Authors: TANGARI NICOLA
Published: April 2015

An early fourteenth-century gradual produced for use in Avignon and today
preserved in Rome at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is a new source for
understanding the musical and liturgical exchange between France and Italy in
the fourteenth century. The present article will consider compositions written
after the main body of the gradual, and found now in the initial fascicle and on
the last three folios of the manuscript. These folios contain a hitherto unknown
source for the Credo of Tournai as well as other works not recorded elsewhere;
for example, a polyphonic Gloria, a polyphonic Credo, a troped Sanctus and a
Credo in cantus fractus.
Con lagreme bagnandome el viso: mourning and music in late medieval Padua
Authors: STOESSEL JASON
Published: April 2015

In the years before his death, Johannes Ciconia (1370?–1412) set to music several poems penned by the young Venetian humanist Leonardo Giustinian. One of the earliest of these settings isCon lagreme bagnandome el viso. This article proposes that both the poem and its setting by Ciconia operate within the emotional community of early humanists active at Padua in the decades around the year 1400. The public funeral oratory of one of the high-profile humanists active in this community in Padua, Pier Paolo Vergerio, reveals a renewed interest in ancient rhetoric that was instrumental in the development of new modes of self-expression within this emotional community. Different types of musical repetition in Ciconia's setting ofCon lagremeserve as musical analogues to rhetorical figures of pathos witnessed in the orations of Vergerio.
Recent recordings of plainchant
Authors: WEBER JEROME F.
Published: April 2015

Three continuing series of recordings are represented by new releases this year. The systematic coverage of Mass Propers in Graduale Novum begun by Johannes Berchmans Göschl continues with the participation of three other directors, including his pupil Stephan Zippe, mentioned last year. Alexander M. Schweitzer, who was Göschl's associate choir director earlier and has made several recordings with his Oslo ensemble, has grouped Masses for the Easter vigil, Easter day, Easter Monday, and the second and third Sundays of Easter (no. 1 in the following list). Göschl grouped the first five Sundays in Ordinary Time with the thirty-third Sunday (no. 2). Franz Karl Prassl directed his female ensemble in five Mass Propers of the Christmas season: Holy Family, Mary Mother of God, Second Sunday after Christmas, Baptism of the Lord and Presentation of the Lord (no. 3). All carry on the fine chant interpretations that represent these melodic restitutions to full advantage.
CO-graph: A new graph-based technique for cross-lingual word sense disambiguation
Authors: DUQUE ANDRES , ARAUJO LOURDES , MARTINEZ-ROMO JUAN
Published: April 2015

In this paper, we present a new method based on co-occurrence graphs for performing Cross-Lingual Word Sense Disambiguation (CLWSD). The proposed approach comprises the automatic generation of bilingual dictionaries, and a new technique for the construction of a co-occurrence graph used to select the most suitable translations from the dictionary. Different algorithms that combine both the dictionary and the co-occurrence graph are then used for performing this selection of the final translations: techniques based on sub-graphs (communities) containing clusters of words with related meanings, based on distances between nodes representing words, and based on the relative importance of each node in the whole graph. The initial output of the system is enhanced with translation probabilities, provided by a statistical bilingual dictionary. The system is evaluated using datasets from two competitions: task 3 of SemEval 2010, and task 10 of SemEval 2013. Results obtained by the different disambiguation techniques are analysed and compared to those obtained by the systems participating in the competitions. Our system offers the best results in comparison with other unsupervised systems in most of the experiments, and even overcomes supervised systems in some cases.
Computational generation and dissection of lexical replacement humor
Authors: VALITUTTI ALESSANDRO , DOUCET ANTOINE , TOIVANEN JUKKA M. , TOIVONEN HANNU
Published: April 2015

We consider automated generation of humorous texts by substitution of a single word in a given short text. In this setting, several factors that potentially contribute to the funniness of texts can be integrated into a unified framework as constraints on the lexical substitution. We discuss three types of such constraints: formal constraints concerning the similarity of sounds or spellings between the original word and the substitute, semantic or connotational constraints requiring the substitute to be a taboo word, and contextual constraints concerning the position and context of the replacement. Empirical evidence from extensive user studies using real SMSs as the corpus indicates that taboo constraints are statistically very effective, and so is a constraint requiring that the substitution takes place at the end of the text even though the effect is smaller. The effects of individual constraints are largely cumulative. In addition, connotational taboo words and word position have a strong interaction.
A low-loss, continuously tunable microwave notch filter
Authors: Acar Öncel , Johansen Tom K. , Zhurbenko Vitaliy
Published: April 2015

The development in high-end microwave transceiver systems toward the software defined radio has brought about the need for tunable frontend filters. Although the problem is being tackled by the microwave community, there still appears to be an unmet demand for practical tunable filter technologies. With this motivation, this work presents a tuning method that delivers a resonator Q0of 2000–3621 within a minimum tuning ratio of 1:1.42. A continuously tunable notch filter based on this tuning method is presented. The design is manufactured, measured, and verified. It is shown that the tuning technology compares favorably to other selected technologies.
BCL-2 is dispensable for thrombopoiesis and platelet survival
Authors: Debrincat M A , Pleines I , Lebois M , Lane R M , Holmes M L , Corbin J , Vandenberg C J , Alexander W S , Ng A P , Strasser A , Bouillet P , Sola-Visner M , Kile B T , Josefsson E C
Published: April 2015

Navitoclax (ABT-263), an inhibitor of the pro-survival BCL-2 family proteins BCL-2, BCL-XL and BCL-W, has shown clinical efficacy in certain BCL-2-dependent haematological cancers, but causes dose-limiting thrombocytopaenia. The latter effect is caused by Navitoclax directly inducing the apoptotic death of platelets, which are dependent on BCL-XL for survival. Recently, ABT-199, a selective BCL-2 antagonist, was developed. It has shown promising anti-leukaemia activity in patients whilst sparing platelets, suggesting that the megakaryocyte lineage does not require BCL-2. In order to elucidate the role of BCL-2 in megakaryocyte and platelet survival, we generated mice with a lineage-specific deletion of Bcl2, alone or in combination with loss of Mcl1 or Bclx. Platelet production and platelet survival were analysed. Additionally, we made use of BH3 mimetics that selectively inhibit BCL-2 or BCL-XL. We show that the deletion of BCL-2, on its own or in concert with MCL-1, does not affect platelet production or platelet lifespan. Thrombocytopaenia in Bclx-deficient mice was not affected by additional genetic loss or pharmacological inhibition of BCL-2. Thus, BCL-2 is dispensable for thrombopoiesis and platelet survival in mice.
NFκB1 is a suppressor of neutrophil-driven hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wilson C. L. , Jurk D. , Fullard N. , Banks P. , Page A. , Luli S. , Elsharkawy A. M. , Gieling R. G. , Chakraborty J. Bagchi , Fox C. , Richardson C. , Callaghan K. , Blair G. E. , Fox N. , Lagnado A. , Passos J. F. , Moore A. J. , Smith G. R. , Tiniakos D. G. , Mann J. , Oakley F. , Mann D. A.
Published: April 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops on the background of chronic hepatitis. Leukocytes found within the HCC microenvironment are implicated as regulators of tumour growth. We show that diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced murine HCC is attenuated by antibody-mediated depletion of hepatic neutrophils, the latter stimulating hepatocellular ROS and telomere DNA damage. We additionally report a previously unappreciated tumour suppressor function for hepatocellular nfkb1 operating via p50:p50 dimers and the co-repressor HDAC1. These anti-inflammatory proteins combine to transcriptionally repress hepatic expression of a S100A8/9, CXCL1 and CXCL2 neutrophil chemokine network. Loss of nfkb1 promotes ageing-associated chronic liver disease (CLD), characterized by steatosis, neutrophillia, fibrosis, hepatocyte telomere damage and HCC. Nfkb1S340A/S340Amice carrying a mutation designed to selectively disrupt p50:p50:HDAC1 complexes are more susceptible to HCC; by contrast, mice lacking S100A9 express reduced neutrophil chemokines and are protected from HCC. Inhibiting neutrophil accumulation in CLD or targeting their tumour-promoting activities may offer therapeutic opportunities in HCC.
Parent–offspring conflict and the genetic trade-offs shaping parental investment
Authors: Kölliker Mathias , Boos Stefan , Wong Janine W.Y. , Röllin Lilian , Stucki Dimitri , Raveh Shirley , Wu Min , Meunier Joël
Published: April 2015

The genetic conflict between parents and their offspring is a cornerstone of kin selection theory and the gene-centred view of evolution, but whether it actually occurs in natural systems remains an open question. Conflict operates only if parenting is driven by genetic trade-offs between offspring performance and the parent’s ability to raise additional offspring, and its expression critically depends on the shape of these trade-offs. Here we investigate the occurrence and nature of genetic conflict in an insect with maternal care, the earwigForficula auricularia. Specifically, we test for a direct response to experimental selection on female future reproduction and correlated responses in current offspring survival, developmental rate and growth. The results demonstrate genetic trade-offs that differ in shape before and after hatching. Our study not only provides direct evidence for parent–offspring conflict but also highlights that conflict is not inevitable and critically depends on the genetic trade-offs shaping parental investment.
High-resolution genetic mapping of maize pan-genome sequence anchors
Authors: Lu Fei , Romay Maria C. , Glaubitz Jeffrey C. , Bradbury Peter J. , Elshire Robert J. , Wang Tianyu , Li Yu , Li Yongxiang , Semagn Kassa , Zhang Xuecai , Hernandez Alvaro G. , Mikel Mark A. , Soifer Ilya , Barad Omer , Buckler Edward S.
Published: April 2015

In addition to single-nucleotide polymorphisms, structural variation is abundant in many plant genomes. The structural variation across a species can be represented by a ‘pan-genome’, which is essential to fully understand the genetic control of phenotypes. However, the pan-genome’s complexity hinders its accurate assembly via sequence alignment. Here we demonstrate an approach to facilitate pan-genome construction in maize. By performing 18 trillion association tests we map 26 million tags generated by reduced representation sequencing of 14,129 maize inbred lines. Using machine-learning models we select 4.4 million accurately mapped tags as sequence anchors, 1.1 million of which are presence/absence variations. Structural variations exhibit enriched association with phenotypic traits, indicating that it is a significant source of adaptive variation in maize. The ability to efficiently map ultrahigh-density pan-genome sequence anchors enables fine characterization of structural variation and will advance both genetic research and breeding in many crops.
A rapid ambient ionization-mass spectrometry approach to monitoring the relative abundance of isomeric glycerophospholipids
Authors: Kozlowski Rachel L. , Mitchell Todd W. , Blanksby Stephen J.
Published: April 2015

Glycerophospholipids with two, non-equivalent fatty acyl chains can adopt one of two isomeric forms depending on the relative position of substitutions on the glycerol backbone. These so-called sn-positional isomers can have distinct biophysical and biochemical behaviors making it desirable to uniquely assign their regiochemistries. Unambiguous assignment of such similar molecular structures in complex biological extracts is a significant challenge to current analytical technologies. We have recently reported a novel mass spectrometric method that combines collision- and ozone-induced dissociation in series (CID/OzID) to yield product ions characteristic of acyl chain substitution patterns in glycerophospholipids. Here phosphatidylcholines are examined using the CID/OzID protocol combined with desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) to facilitate the rapid exploration of sample arrays comprised of a wide variety of synthetic and biological sources. Comparison of the spectra acquired from different extracts reveals that the sn-positional isomers PC 16:0/18:1 and PC 18:1/16:0 (where the 18:1 chain is present at the sn-2 and sn-1 position of the glycerol backbone, respectively) are most often found together in lipids of either natural or synthetic origin. Moreover, the proportions of the two isomers vary significantly between extracts from different organisms or even between adjacent tissues from the same organism.
Titration of biologically active amyloid–β seeds in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Morales Rodrigo , Bravo-Alegria Javiera , Duran-Aniotz Claudia , Soto Claudio
Published: April 2015

Experimental evidence in animal models suggests that misfolded Amyloid-β (Aβ) spreads in disease following a prion-like mechanism. Several properties characteristics of infectious prions have been shown for the induction of Aβ aggregates. However, a detailed titration of Aβ misfolding transmissibility and estimation of the minimum concentration of biologically active Aβ seeds able to accelerate pathological changes has not yet been performed. In this study, brain extracts from old tg2576 animals were serially diluted and intra-cerebrally injected into young subjects from the same transgenic line. Animals were sacrificed several months after treatment and brain slices were analyzed for amyloid pathology. We observed that administration of misfolded Aβ was able to significantly accelerate amyloid deposition in young mice, even when the original sample was diluted a million times. The titration curve obtained in this experiment was compared to the natural Aβ load spontaneously accumulated by these mice overtime. Our findings suggest that administration of the largest dose of Aβ seeds led to an acceleration of pathology equivalent to over a year. These results show that active Aβ seeds present in the brain can seed amyloidosis in a titratable manner, similarly as observed for infectious prions.
Enhancer of rudimentary homolog regulates DNA damage response in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Weng Meng-Tzu , Tung Tzu-Hsun , Lee Jih-Hsiang , Wei Shu-Chen , Lin Hang-Li , Huang Yu-Jung , Wong Jau-Min , Luo Ji , Sheu Jin-Chuan
Published: April 2015

We previously demonstrated that the enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) gene is required for the expression of multiple cell cycle and DNA damage response (DDR) genes. The present study investigated the role of ERH and its target DNA damage repair genes in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. We observed positive correlation between ERH and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) expression in liver tissues. Expression of ERH, ATR as well as checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) were higher in HCCs than in normal liver tissues. Knocking-down ERH augmented ultraviolet light induced DNA damage in HepG2 cells. ATR protein level is reduced upon ERH depletion as a result of defect in the splicing of ATR mRNA. Consequently, the ATR effector kinase Chk1 failed to be phosphorylated upon ultraviolet light or hydroxyurea treatment in ERH knocked-down HepG2 cells. Finally, we observed Chk1 inhibitor AZD7762 enhanced the effect of doxorubicin on inhibiting growth of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. This study suggested that ERH regulates the splicing of the DNA damage response proteins ATR in HCC cells and targeting DNA damage response by Chk1 inhibitor augments chemotherapy to treat HCC cells.
Nelfinavir and Nelfinavir Analogs Block Site-2 Protease Cleavage to Inhibit Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Guan Min , Su Leila , Yuan Yate-Ching , Li Haiqing , Chow Warren A.
Published: April 2015

Nelfinavir and its analogs inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of castration-resistant prostate cancer through inhibition of site-2 protease (S2P) activity, which leads to suppression of regulated intramembrane proteolysis. Western blotting in nelfinavir and its analog treated cells confirms accumulation of precursor SREBP-1 and ATF6. Nelfinavir and its analogs inhibit human homolog M. jannaschii S2P cleavage of an artificial protein substrate CED-9 in an in vitro proteolysis assay in a dose-dependent manner. Nelfinavir and its analogs are more potent inhibitors of S2P cleavage activity than 1,10-phenanthroline, a metalloprotease-specific inhibitor. Further, cluster analysis of gene expression from treated DU145 and PC3 cell lines demonstrate a close similarity of nelfinavir, its analogs and 1,10-phenanthroline. These results show nelfinavir and its analogs inhibit castration-resistant prostate cancer proliferation by blocking regulated intramembrane proteolysis through suppression of S2P cleavage activity. This leads to accumulation of precursor SREBP-1 and ATF6 and development of insufficient reserves of their transcriptionally-active forms. The present results validate S2P and regulated intramembrane proteolysis as novel therapeutic targets for castration-resistant prostate cancer therapeutics. A clinical trial of nelfinavir or its analogs should be developed for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
A novel magnetic palladium catalyst for the mild aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid in water
Authors: Mei Nan , Liu Bing , Zheng Judun , Lv Kangle , Tang Dingguo , Zhang Zehui
Published: April 2015

Magnetically separable, graphene oxide-supported palladium nanoparticles showed high catalytic activity for the aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid.
Temperature and precipitation projections over Bangladesh and the upstream Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna systems
Authors: Caesar J. , Janes T. , Lindsay A. , Bhaskaran B.
Published: April 2015

High resolution climate change simulations for south Asia are evaluated and show the changes projected during the 21stcentury.
Development of organically modified silica nanoparticles for monitoring the intracellular level of oxygen using a frequency-domain FLIM platform
Authors: Korzeniowska Barbara , Raspe Marcel , Wencel Dorota , Woolley Robert , Jalink Kees , McDonagh Colette
Published: April 2015

The dynamic quenching of luminescence derived from Ru(dpp3)2+-doped ORMOSIL nanoparticles is used for monitoring of the intracellular oxygen concentration.
Smoothing of contact lines in spreading droplets by trisiloxane surfactants and its relevance for superspreading
Authors: Isele-Holder Rolf E. , Berkels Benjamin , Ismail Ahmed E.
Published: April 2015

Trisiloxane surfactants allow for smooth transfer of surfactant between the liquid–vapor and liquid–substrate interfaces, enabling faster droplet spreading.
An optical-fiber sensor based on time-gated fluorescence for detecting water content in organic solvents
Authors: Huang Dawei , Bing Yongxin , Yi Hao , Hong Wei , Lai Cui , Guo Qingwei , Niu Chenggang
Published: April 2015

A stable and highly sensitive optical-fiber sensor based on time-gated fluorescence for water content determination in organic solvents was proposed in this paper.
Greener procedures for biodiesel quality control
Authors: Amais Renata S. , Teixeira Leonardo S. G. , Rocha Fábio R. P.
Published: April 2015

Critical discussion of environmentally friendly strategies for biodiesel analysis.
Microfluidic protein crystallisation controlled using spontaneous emulsification
Authors: Fukuyama Mao , Akiyama Aoi , Harada Makoto , Okada Tetsuo , Hibara Akihide
Published: April 2015

Microdroplet-based protein crystallisation using spontaneous emulsification is proposed and demonstrated. The dependency of crystal number in a single microdroplet on the surfactant concentration is discussed.
A new method for chlorine determination in commercial pet food after decomposition by microwave-induced combustion
Authors: Crizel Marcelo G. , Hartwig Carla A. , Novo Diogo L. R. , Toralles Isis G. , Schmidt Lucas , Muller Edson I. , Mesko Marcia F.
Published: April 2015

A new method for commercial pet food decomposition using microwave-induced combustion was developed for further determination of chlorine by ion selective electrode.
Development of silica-containing redox nanoparticles for medical applications
Authors: Yoshitomi Toru , Nagasaki Yukio
Published: April 2015

Silica-containing redox nanoparticles act as adsorbents for peritoneal dialysis and orally administrable drug carriers for the treatment of gastrointestinal inflammation.
Detection of NAD(P)H-dependent enzyme activity with dynamic luminescence quenching of terbium complexes
Authors: Ito Hiroki , Terai Takuya , Hanaoka Kenjiro , Ueno Tasuku , Komatsu Toru , Nagano Tetsuo , Urano Yasuteru
Published: April 2015

We developed a practical and general luminescence assay platform for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H)-dependent enzymes by exploiting dynamic luminescence quenching of some Tb3+ complexes by NAD(P)H.
Spectacular photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using metal-phosphide/CdS hybrid catalysts under sunlight irradiation
Authors: Cao Shuang , Chen Yong , Wang Chuan-Jun , Lv Xiao-Jun , Fu Wen-Fu
Published: April 2015

Transition metal phosphide (CoP,Ni2P,Cu3P)/CdS hybrid catalysts were applied to heterogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and exhibited splendid photocatalytic activity with a H2-production rate of up to 254 000 μmol h−1 g−1 and excellent stability in aqueous acidic media.
In situ PM-IRRAS of a glassy carbon electrode/deep eutectic solvent interface
Authors: Vieira Luciana , Schennach Robert , Gollas Bernhard
Published: April 2015

Firstin situPM-IRRAS studies of a carbon electrode/deep eutectic solvent interface show ad- and desorption of electrolyte components.
DNA damage induced by bare and loaded microporous coordination polymers from their ground and electronic excited states
Authors: Yañuk Juan G. , Alomar María L. , Gonzalez M. Micaela , Simon Francisco , Erra-Balsells Rosa , Rafti Matías , Cabrerizo Franco M.
Published: April 2015

The type and extent of DNA damage depends on chemical identity of linker and metal ion center of the MCP considered. Moreover, some MCPs can provide a suitable platform for its use in photodynamic therapy.
The molecular mechanism of ligand unbinding from the human telomeric G-quadruplex by steered molecular dynamics and umbrella sampling simulations
Authors: Zhou Jia-Kai , Yang Dah-Yen , Sheu Sheh-Yi
Published: April 2015

The mechanical properties and kinetic pathways of the ligand BMVC unbinding from the G-quadruplex were investigated via the computation of free energy profiles.
A molecular material based on electropolymerized cobalt macrocycles for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Rioual Stéphane , Lescop Benoit , Quentel François , Gloaguen Frederic
Published: April 2015

Electropolymerization of CoTAA gives an electrocatalytic material for the H2 evolution reaction in acidic aqueous solution.
Three-dimensional sp2-hybridized carbons consisting of orthogonal nanoribbons of graphene and net C
Authors: Hu Meng , Dong Xu , Yang Bingchao , Xu Bo , Yu Dongli , He Julong
Published: April 2015

The sp2-hybridized three-dimensional carbons consist of orthogonal nanoribbons of graphene and net C with superconductivities and high Young's moduli.
Deep eutectic solvent system based on choline chloride-urea as a pre-treatment for nanofibrillation of wood cellulose
Authors: Sirviö Juho Antti , Visanko Miikka , Liimatainen Henrikki
Published: April 2015

Deep eutectic solvent of choline chloride-urea was used as a sustainable pre-treatment media prior mechanical nanofibrillation of wood cellulose.
Microfluidic generation of aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) droplets by controlled pulsating inlet pressures
Authors: Moon Byeong-Ui , Jones Steven G. , Hwang Dae Kun , Tsai Scott S. H.
Published: April 2015

Simple microfluidic flow focusing generation of droplets from ultralow interfacial tension aqueous two phase systems (ATPS).
The microenvironment of double emulsions in rectangular microchannels
Authors: Ma Shaohua , Sherwood Joseph M. , Huck Wilhelm T. S. , Balabani Stavroula
Published: April 2015

The flow environment in inner cores of water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) microfluidic double emulsions has a significant impact on industrial applications of such systems.
Polyaniline electrospinning composite fibers for orthotopic photothermal treatment of tumors in vivo
Authors: Chen Yinyin , Li Chunxia , Hou Zhiyao , Huang Shanshan , Liu Bei , He Fei , Luo Laoyong , Lin Jun
Published: April 2015

Electrospun nanocomposite fiber fabric, consisting of polyaniline nanoparticles, poly(ε-caprolactone), and gelatin, efficiently inhibited tumor growth in vivo by orthotopic photothermal treatment.
The dopant type and amount governs the electrochemical performance of graphene platforms for the antioxidant activity quantification
Authors: Hui Kai Hwee , Ambrosi Adriano , Sofer Zdeněk , Pumera Martin , Bonanni Alessandra
Published: April 2015

Graphene doped with heteroatoms can show new or improved properties as compared to the original undoped material. Boron-doped graphene and nitrogen-doped graphene containing different amounts of dopants were compared for the detection of gallic acid.
3D intra-stacked CoO/carbon nanocomposites welded by Ag nanoparticles for high-capacity, reversible lithium storage
Authors: Chae Changju , Kim Ki Woong , Kim Sue Jin , Lee Daehee , Jo Yejin , Yun Young Jun , Moon Jooho , Choi Youngmin , Lee Sun Sook , Choi Sungho , Jeong Sunho
Published: April 2015

We demonstrate 3D intra-stacked CoO/carbon nanocomposites welded by Ag nanoparticles with a capacity of 770 mA h g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1, by reducing efficiently the irreversible capacity loss.
Anisotropic optical properties of oriented silver nanorice and nanocarrots in stretched polymer films
Authors: Tong Xia , Liang Hongyan , Liu Yanlong , Tan Long , Ma Dongling , Zhao Yue
Published: April 2015

Oriented arrays of silver nanorice or nanocarrots in stretched polymer films show polarization-dependent transmission of near-infrared light over a wide spectral region.
Grignard-mediated reduction of 2,2,2-trichloro-1-arylethanones
Authors: Essa Ali H. , Lerrick Reinner I. , Çiftçi Eçe , Harrington Ross W. , Waddell Paul G. , Clegg William , Hall Michael J.
Published: April 2015

2,2,2-Trichloro-1-aryl-ethanones can be reduced by RMgX to the corresponding 2,2-dichloro-1-arylethen-1-olates and trapped with a range of electrophiles. In addition we demonstrate that 2,2-dichloro-1-arylethen-1-olates undergo counter-ion controlled Darzens condensations.
A recyclable disulfide bond chemically cross-linking, high toughness, high conductivity ion gel based on re-shaping and restructuring in the gel state
Authors: Wei Chengsha , Chen Mingming , Liu Dong , Zhou Weiming , Khan Majid , Wu Xibo , Huang Ningdong , Li Liangbin
Published: April 2015

We report the recyclability of a disulfide bond cross-linking ion gel with high toughness and ionic conductivity based on re-shaping and restructuring in the gel state.
Correction: Boronic esters of corannulene: potential building blocks toward icosahedral supramolecules
Authors: Da Ros Sara , Linden Anthony , Baldridge Kim K. , Siegel Jay S.
Published: April 2015

Correction for ‘Boronic esters of corannulene: potential building blocks toward icosahedral supramolecules’ by Sara Da Ros et al., Org. Chem. Front., 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c5qo00009b.
MFC with vermicompost soil: power generation with additional importance of waste management
Authors: Nandy Arpita , Kumar Vikash , Khamrai Moumita , Kundu Patit P.
Published: April 2015

Schematic representation of the series of events occurring in a MFC run with vermicompost soil.
Label-free detection of Pb2+ based on aggregation-induced emission enhancement of Au-nanoclusters
Authors: Ji Liya , Guo Yahui , Hong Shanni , Wang Zhili , Wang Kewei , Chen Xing , Zhang Jianye , Hu Jiming , Pei Renjun
Published: April 2015

The luminescence intensity of the glutathione capped Au-nanoclusters could be enhanced due to the formation of aggregates, and was employed for the visual detection of Pb2+.
Metal free direct formation of various substituted pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5-amines and their further functionalization
Authors: Tber Z. , Hiebel M.-A. , Allouchi H. , El Hakmaoui A. , Akssira M. , Guillaumet G. , Berteina-Raboin S.
Published: April 2015

Original substituted pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5-amines have been easily prepared via an Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé MCR, then an N-deprotection followed by a spontaneous final cyclization step.
One-pot synthesis of colloidal Cdx:CuInS2 quaternary quantum dots used as sensitizers in photovoltaic cells
Authors: Wu Bin-Long , Chao Hsi-Jung , Chen Chih-Ping , Yang Cheng-Hsien , Chang Jia-Yaw
Published: April 2015

Cdx:CuInS2 quaternary QDs were obtained in a one-pot reaction; these quaternary QDs exhibited enhanced photovoltaic performance compared to pristine CuInS2 ternary QDs.
Mesoporous silica based reservoir for the active protection of mild steel in an aggressive chloride ion environment
Authors: Siva T. , Mayavan Sundar , Sreejakumari S. S. , Sathiyanarayanan S.
Published: April 2015

Spherical mesoporous silica (m-SiO2) with well-ordered pores was synthesized by a modified Stöber method using CTAB micelles.
Characterization and interfacial properties of the surfactant ionic liquid 1-dodecyl-3-methyl imidazolium acetate for enhanced oil recovery
Authors: Rodríguez-Palmeiro Iago , Rodríguez-Escontrela Iria , Rodríguez Oscar , Arce Alberto , Soto Ana
Published: April 2015

Formulations of ionic liquids and alkalis are promising for enhanced oil recovery.
Asymmetric C–H functionalization of cyclopropanes using an isoleucine-NH2 bidentate directing group
Authors: Kim Jinhee , Sim Mikyung , Kim Namhoon , Hong Sungwoo
Published: April 2015

The use of an Ile-NH2 auxiliary can provide excellent levels of asymmetric induction in the Pd(ii)-catalyzed C(sp3)–H functionalization of cyclopropanes.
Correction: Inorganic p-type contact materials for perovskite-based solar cells
Authors: Li Ming-Hsien , Shen Po-Shen , Wang Kuo-Chin , Guo Tzung-Fang , Chen Peter
Published: April 2015

Correction for ‘Inorganic p-type contact materials for perovskite-based solar cells’ by Ming-Hsien Li et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, DOI: 10.1039/c4ta06425a.
Multicavity halloysite–amphiphilic cyclodextrin hybrids for co-delivery of natural drugs into thyroid cancer cells
Authors: Massaro M. , Piana S. , Colletti C. G. , Noto R. , Riela S. , Baiamonte C. , Giordano C. , Pizzolanti G. , Cavallaro G. , Milioto S. , Lazzara G.
Published: April 2015

Multicavity halloysite nanotube materials were employed as simultaneous carriers for two different natural drugs, silibinin and quercetin, at 6.1% and 2.2% drug loadings, respectively.
Biochemical and redox characterization of the mediator complex and its associated transcription factor GeBPL, a GLABROUS1 enhancer binding protein
Authors: Shaikhali Jehad , Davoine Céline , Brännström Kristoffer , Rouhier Nicolas , Bygdell Joakim , Björklund Stefan , Wingsle Gunnar
Published: April 2015

The eukaryotic mediator integrates regulatory signals from promoter-bound transcription factors (TFs) and transmits them to RNA polymerase II (Pol II) machinery. Although redox signalling is important in adjusting plant metabolism and development, nothing is known about a possible redox regulation of mediator. In the present study, using pull-down and yeast two-hybrid assays, we demonstrate the association of mediator (MED) subunits MED10a, MED28 and MED32 with the GLABROUS1 (GL1) enhancer-binding protein-like (GeBPL), a plant-specific TF that binds a promoter containing cryptochrome 1 response element 2 (CryR2) element. All the corresponding recombinant proteins form various types of covalent oligomers linked by intermolecular disulfide bonds that are reduced in vitro by the thioredoxin (TRX) and/or glutathione/glutaredoxin (GRX) systems. The presence of recombinant MED10a, MED28 and MED32 subunits or changes of its redox state affect the DNA-binding capacity of GeBPL suggesting that redox-driven conformational changes might modulate its activity. Overall, these results advance our understanding of how redox signalling affects transcription and identify mediator as a novel actor in redox signalling pathways, relaying or integrating redox changes in combination with specific TFs as GeBPL.
Robust estimation of target scale by removing outlier motion vectors using MAD
Authors: Park J.W. , Moon Y.S.
Published: April 2015

A robust estimation method for target scale using median absolute deviation (MAD) for reducing outlier motion vectors is proposed. To remove outlier motion vectors, the proposed method first uses normalised cross‐correlation (NCC) and forward–backward (FB) filters. Then, the MAD filter removes the remaining outlier motion vectors. After filtering, inlier motion vectors are used to estimate a scale change ratio of the target. The estimated scale change ratio is evaluated by the MAD of scale change ratios to guarantee reliability of estimation.
Boost bulk‐driven sense‐amplifier flip‐flop operating in ultra‐wide voltage range
Authors: Deng Xiaoying , Mo Yanyan
Published: April 2015

A new boost bulk‐driven sense‐amplifier‐based flip‐flop (BBDSAFF) is presented. First, thanks to the boost and bulk‐driven technique, the BBDSAFF consumes much lower power and can operate normally in the ultra‐wide voltage range. Secondly, the adopted pseudo‐PMOS dynamic technique in the RS latch output stage can greatly reduce the delay and improve the driving capability. The simulation results show advantages of high‐speed, low power dissipation and very small and symmetrical rise/fall delay. Under the same simulation conditions, power dissipation, delay and PDP of the Strollo sense‐amplifier‐based flip‐flop is 31 μW, 107 ps and 3.32 fJ whereas that of the proposed bulk‐driven SAFF is 29 μW, 94 ps and 2.73 fJ. This low power consumption and high‐speed BBDSAFF can be applied in various fields, such as ultra‐dynamic voltage scaling VLSI, circuits, low power dissipation counter‐clock systems and microprocessors.
Theory of multi‐level refractive geometry
Authors: Kang Lai , Wu Lingda , Wei Yingmei , Yang Zheng
Published: April 2015

When capturing images of a submerged object using a conventional digital camera in the air, the light ray no longer travels along a straight line due to refraction occurring at the interface between different media, making the traditional multi‐view geometry based on a perspective camera model invalid. By analysing the imaging formulation of a submerged object and taking into account refraction effects, a novel theory of multi‐level refractive geometry for refractive camera calibration and for submerged scene depth perception is proposed. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed theory are verified by experiments on synthetic datasets under various imaging configurations. The proposed theory is believed to be the first that allows recovering both the pose of the camera and the depth of a submerged object simultaneously, without using any calibration object or a priori camera pose.
Downlink performance of two‐tier networks with time‐hopping modulation
Authors: Banitalebi Behrouz , Zeinalpour‐Yazdi Zolfa
Published: April 2015

With growing demand for high data rates, the mobile network has faced excessive traffic and it seems that one of the few long‐term solutions to this problem is employing femtocells which improve capacity and indoors coverage. In the typical femtocell networks, co‐ and cross‐layer interferences caused by simultaneous transmission of macrocell base stations and femtocell access points in the same frequency band, results in dead spots especially if femtocells are densely employed. In this study, to mitigate the interference and improve the system's performance, the authors study the application of time‐hopping approach. Particularly, the impact of aggressive signals of femto access points on a macro user equipment located in the second tier, that is, the femtocell coverage area, is analysed and the semi‐closed‐form expression for the system outage probability is derived. Based on the analysis, they also simulate the transmission capacity (TC) that represents the total capacity of the co‐channel two‐tier networks with outage constraints. Next, employing Gaussian approximations, they derive upper and lower bounds on the outage probability. These bounds provide better insight on the effect of system's parameters on its performance. Their numerical results show that the time‐hopping technique significantly reduces the outage probability and therefore increases the TC of two‐tier networks.
Interference alignment‐and‐cancellation scheme based on Alamouti code for the three‐user multi‐input–multi‐output interference channel
Authors: Kim Jaehong , Jin Dong‐Sup , Jin Xianglan , No Jong‐Seon , Shin Dong‐Joon
Published: April 2015

An interference alignment (IA) scheme for interference channels was recently proposed to achieve the maximum degrees of freedom (DoF). Although most studies of IA focus on network throughput, that is, DoF, reliability in terms of diversity order is also an important performance measure. In this study, interference cancellation (IC) scheme based on Alamouti code in the multi‐access scenario is applied to the K‐user, multi‐input–multi‐output (MIMO) interference channel. This IC scheme gives the benefit of diversity order and requires no channel‐state‐information at the transmitters (CSIT). However, it requires more receive antennas than the IA scheme to achieve the same DoF. In order to reduce the number of receive antennas, especially for the three‐user MIMO interference channel, an IA‐and‐cancellation (IAC) scheme based on Alamouti code is proposed. It keeps the same DoF as the IC scheme, but requires partial CSIT. It is analytically shown that the IC and IAC schemes enable symbol‐by‐symbol decoding and achieve diversity order of two, while the conventional IA scheme achieves diversity order of one.
Dynamic source–channel coding for estimation and control over binary symmetric channels
Authors: Shirazinia Amirpasha , Zaidi Ali A. , Bao Lei , Skoglund Mikael
Published: April 2015

The authors study causal dynamic source–channel codes for mean‐square stabilisation of a linear plant with random initial state, over binary symmetric channels (BSCs). A binary expansion source coding scheme and two types of channel coding schemes are investigated: (i) dynamic repetition encoding under sequential majority logic decoding, and (ii) dynamic Fountain encoding under sequential BP decoding. The coding schemes are first analysed for an open‐loop system, where the goal is to transmit a real‐valued source over BSCs with the objective of minimising end‐to‐end mean‐square error distortion. They derive upper‐ and lower bounds on the achievable distortion which is a function of time. Based on these distortion bounds, they show that the dynamic Fountain codes are able to stabilise (in mean‐square sense) an unstable linear plant over BSCs.
Non‐intrusive induction motor speed detection
Authors: Orji Uzoma A. , Remscrim Zachary , Schantz Christopher , Donnal John , Paris James , Gillman Mark , Surakitbovorn Kawin , Leeb Steven B. , Kirtley James L.
Published: April 2015

This paper presents an algorithm that enables estimation of the speed of a single induction motor in an aggregate current signal supplying several motors from a common utility feed. This algorithm maintains accuracy of speed estimation while using shorter lengths of data, and can distinguish the activation of individual motors in the aggregate signal. The ability to separate and track distinct motor harmonics in an aggregate current signal opens the door to non‐intrusive energy scorekeeping and diagnostics for systems like air conditioning that operate under closed‐loop control. New experimental results demonstrate the approach for these air‐conditioning components in real buildings.