bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linguistic and object-based stance-taking in Appalachian interviews
Authors: Burkette Allison
Published: April 2016

This article uses data from interviews conducted in western North Carolina in order to examine the ways in which speakers enact authoritative, evaluative, and interactional stances to construct individual identity. In this data, we find a subtle interplay between the content of explicit statements, narrative content, and the use of grammatical features associated with Appalachian English (e.g.a-prefixing, nonstandard past tense), and the use of physical artifacts as sources of stance-taking. This article focuses on two speakers' use of (present and not-present) physical artifacts (a placemat, a Civil War era sword, a lock of hair, and a piece of wood with a bullet hole in it) to enact stances that construct individual versions of an Appalachian identity. What this analysis suggests is that it is not just linguistic choices that contribute to stance enactment, but physical objects as well. (Sociolinguistics, stance-taking, Appalachian English, material culture, language and idenity)*
Discursive accommodation: popular protest and strategic elite communication in China
Authors: Steinhardt H. Christoph
Published: April 2016

How do authoritarian states respond to, and seek to defuse, popular protest? This study answers this question by developing the concept of discursive accommodation and tracing the co-evolution of contention and strategic elite communication in China. It reveals that the Chinese Communist Party leadership has responded to waves of intense unrest with increasing, yet not unconditional, sympathy for protesters. It argues that the rationale behind this response pattern has been first, to deflect discontent from the regime and, second, to temper local official and protester behavior. And yet, the unintended consequence of discursive accommodation may well have been the acceleration of mobilization. Investigating elite discourse provides an alternative angle to understand why contention in China has become endemic, but remains conspicuously moderate. It helps to unpack the one-party state’s ability of coexisting with considerable popular pressure and not be washed away by it, and managing protest without institutionalizing it.
Vertical, capacitive microelectromechanical switches produced via direct writing of copper wires
Authors: Yi Zhiran , Guo Jianjun , Chen Yining , Zhang Haiqing , Zhang Shuai , Xu Gaojie , Yu Minfeng , Cui Ping
Published: April 2016

Three-dimensional (3D) direct writing based on the meniscus-confined electrodeposition of copper metal wires was used in this study to develop vertical capacitive microelectromechanical switches. Vertical microelectromechanical switches reduce the form factor and increase the area density of such devices in integrated circuits. We studied the electromechanical characteristics of such vertical switches by exploring the dependence of switching voltage on various device structures, particularly with regard to the length, wire diameter, and the distance between the two wires. A simple model was found to match the experimental measurements made in this study. We found that the electrodeposited copper microwires exhibit a good elastic modulus close to that of bulk copper. By optimizing the 3D structure of the electrodes, a volatile electromechanical switch with a sub-5 V switching voltage was demonstrated in a vertical microscale switch with a gap distance as small as 100 nm created with a pair of copper wires with diameters of ~1 μm and heights of 25 μm. This study establishes an innovative approach to construct microelectromechanical systems with arbitrary 3D microwire structures for various applications, including the demonstrated volatile and nonvolatile microswitches.
Spontaneous formation and base pairing of plausible prebiotic nucleotides in water
Authors: Cafferty Brian J. , Fialho David M. , Khanam Jaheda , Krishnamurthy Ramanarayanan , Hud Nicholas V.
Published: April 2016

The RNA World hypothesis presupposes that abiotic reactions originally produced nucleotides, the monomers of RNA and universal constituents of metabolism. However, compatible prebiotic reactions for the synthesis of complementary (that is, base pairing) nucleotides and mechanisms for their mutual selection within a complex chemical environment have not been reported. Here we show that two plausible prebiotic heterocycles, melamine and barbituric acid, form glycosidic linkages with ribose and ribose-5-phosphate in water to produce nucleosides and nucleotides in good yields. Even without purification, these nucleotides base pair in aqueous solution to create linear supramolecular assemblies containing thousands of ordered nucleotides. Nucleotide anomerization and supramolecular assemblies favour the biologically relevant β-anomer form of these ribonucleotides, revealing abiotic mechanisms by which nucleotide structure and configuration could have been originally favoured. These findings indicate that nucleotide formation and selection may have been robust processes on the prebiotic Earth, if other nucleobases preceded those of extant life.
The obesity-induced transcriptional regulator TRIP-Br2 mediates visceral fat endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced inflammation
Authors: Qiang Guifen , Kong Hyerim Whang , Fang Difeng , McCann Maximilian , Yang Xiuying , Du Guanhua , Blüher Matthias , Zhu Jinfang , Liew Chong Wee
Published: April 2016

The intimate link between location of fat accumulation and metabolic disease risk and depot-specific differences is well established, but how these differences between depots are regulated at the molecular level remains largely unclear. Here we show that TRIP-Br2 mediates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced inflammatory responses in visceral fat. Using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches, we demonstrate that obesity-induced circulating factors upregulate TRIP-Br2 specifically in visceral fat via the ER stress pathway. We find that ablation of TRIP-Br2 ameliorates both chemical and physiological ER stress-induced inflammatory and acute phase response in adipocytes, leading to lower circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines. Using promoter assays, as well as molecular and pharmacological experiments, we show that the transcription factor GATA3 is responsible for the ER stress-induced TRIP-Br2 expression in visceral fat. Taken together, our study identifies molecular regulators of inflammatory response in visceral fat that—given that these pathways are conserved in humans—might serve as potential therapeutic targets in obesity.
Retroviral intasomes search for a target DNA by 1D diffusion which rarely results in integration
Authors: Jones Nathan D. , Lopez Jr Miguel A. , Hanne Jeungphill , Peake Mitchell B. , Lee Jong-Bong , Fishel Richard , Yoder Kristine E.
Published: April 2016

Retroviruses must integrate their linear viral cDNA into the host genome for a productive infection. Integration is catalysed by the retrovirus-encoded integrase (IN), which forms a tetramer or octamer complex with the viral cDNA long terminal repeat (LTR) ends termed an intasome. IN removes two 3′-nucleotides from both LTR ends and catalyses strand transfer of the recessed 3′-hydroxyls into the target DNA separated by 4–6 bp. Host DNA repair restores the resulting 5′-Flap and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) gap. Here we have used multiple single molecule imaging tools to determine that the prototype foamy virus (PFV) retroviral intasome searches for an integration site by one-dimensional (1D) rotation-coupled diffusion along DNA. Once a target site is identified, the time between PFV strand transfer events is 470 ms. The majority of PFV intasome search events were non-productive. These observations identify new dynamic IN functions and suggest that target site-selection limits retroviral integration.
Single-cell RNA-seq reveals cell type-specific transcriptional signatures at the maternal–foetal interface during pregnancy
Authors: Nelson Andrew C. , Mould Arne W. , Bikoff Elizabeth K. , Robertson Elizabeth J.
Published: April 2016

Growth and survival of the mammalian embryo within the uterine environment depends on the placenta, a highly complex vascularized organ comprised of both maternal and foetal tissues. Recent experiments demonstrate that the zinc finger transcriptional repressor Prdm1/Blimp1 is essential for specification of spiral artery trophoblast giant cells (SpA-TGCs) that invade and remodel maternal blood vessels. To learn more about functional contributions made by Blimp1+ cell lineages here we perform the first single-cell RNA-seq analysis of the placenta. Cell types of both foetal and maternal origin are profiled. Comparisons with microarray datasets from mutant placenta and in vitro differentiated trophoblast stem cells allow us to identify Blimp1-dependent transcripts enriched in SpA-TGCs. Our experiments provide new insights into the functionally distinct cell types present at the maternal–foetal interface and advance our knowledge of dynamic gene expression patterns controlling placental morphogenesis and vascular mimicry.
Dysregulation of miRNAs-COUP-TFII-FOXM1-CENPF axis contributes to the metastasis of prostate cancer
Authors: Lin Shih-Chieh , Kao Chung-Yang , Lee Hui-Ju , Creighton Chad J. , Ittmann Michael M. , Tsai Shaw-Jenq , Tsai Sophia Y. , Tsai Ming-Jer
Published: April 2016

Although early detection and treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) improves outcomes, many patients still die of metastatic PCa. Here, we report that metastatic PCa exhibits reduced levels of the microRNAsmiR-101 and miR-27a. These micro-RNAs (miRNAs) negatively regulate cell invasion and inhibit the expression of FOXM1 and CENPF, two master regulators of metastasis in PCa. Interestingly, the repression of FOXM1 and CENPF by these miRNAs occurs through COUP-TFII, a member of the orphan nuclear receptors family. Loss of miR-101 positively correlates with the increase of COUP-TFII-FOXM1-CENPF activity in clinical PCa data sets, implicating clinical relevance of such regulation. Further studies show that COUP-TFII is a critical factor controlling metastatic gene networks to promote PCa metastasis. Most importantly, this miRNA-COUP-TFII-FOXM1-CENPF regulatory axis is also involved in the development of enzalutaminde resistance. Taken together, our findings highlight the contribution of specific miRNAs through the regulation of the COUP-TFII-FOXM1-CENPF cascade in PCa metastasis and drug resistance.
Phosphotransferase-dependent accumulation of (p)ppGpp in response to glutamine deprivation in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Ronneau Séverin , Petit Kenny , De Bolle Xavier , Hallez Régis
Published: April 2016

The alarmone (p)ppGpp is commonly used by bacteria to quickly respond to nutrient starvation. Although (p)ppGpp synthetases such as SpoT have been extensively studied, little is known about the molecular mechanisms stimulating alarmone synthesis upon starvation. Here, we describe an essential role of the nitrogen-related phosphotransferase system (PTSNtr) in controlling (p)ppGpp accumulation in Caulobacter crescentus. We show that cells sense nitrogen starvation by way of detecting glutamine deprivation using the first enzyme (EINtr) of PTSNtr. Decreasing intracellular glutamine concentration triggers phosphorylation of EINtr and its downstream components HPr and EIIANtr. Once phosphorylated, both HPr∼P and EIIANtr∼P stimulate (p)ppGpp accumulation by modulating SpoT activities. This burst of second messenger primarily impacts the non-replicative phase of the cell cycle by extending the G1 phase. This work highlights a new role for bacterial PTS systems in stimulating (p)ppGpp accumulation in response to metabolic cues and in controlling cell cycle progression and cell growth.
Identifying genetically driven clinical phenotypes using linear mixed models
Authors: Mosley Jonathan D. , Witte John S. , Larkin Emma K. , Bastarache Lisa , Shaffer Christian M. , Karnes Jason H. , Stein C. Michael , Phillips Elizabeth , Hebbring Scott J. , Brilliant Murray H. , Mayer John , Ye Zhan , Roden Dan M. , Denny Joshua C.
Published: April 2016

We hypothesized that generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), which estimate the additive genetic variance underlying phenotype variability, would facilitate rapid characterization of clinical phenotypes from an electronic health record. We evaluated 1,288 phenotypes in 29,349 subjects of European ancestry with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping on the Illumina Exome Beadchip. We show that genetic liability estimates are primarily driven by SNPs identified by prior genome-wide association studies and SNPs within the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region. We identify 44 (false discovery rate q<0.05) phenotypes associated with HLA SNP variation and show that hypothyroidism is genetically correlated with Type I diabetes (rG=0.31, s.e. 0.12, P=0.003). We also report novel SNP associations for hypothyroidism near HLA-DQA1/HLA-DQB1 at rs6906021 (combined odds ratio (OR)=1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–1.2), P=9.8 × 10−11) and for polymyalgia rheumatica near C6orf10 at rs6910071 (OR=1.5 (95% CI: 1.3–1.6), P=1.3 × 10−10). Phenome-wide application of GLMMs identifies phenotypes with important genetic drivers, and focusing on these phenotypes can identify novel genetic associations.
North Atlantic forcing of moisture delivery to Europe throughout the Holocene
Authors: Smith Andrew C. , Wynn Peter M. , Barker Philip A. , Leng Melanie J. , Noble Stephen R. , Tych Wlodek
Published: April 2016

Century-to-millennial scale fluctuations in precipitation and temperature are an established feature of European Holocene climates. Changes in moisture delivery are driven by complex interactions between ocean moisture sources and atmospheric circulation modes, making it difficult to resolve the drivers behind millennial scale variability in European precipitation. Here, we present two overlapping decadal resolution speleothem oxygen isotope (δ18O) records from a cave on the Atlantic coastline of northern Iberia, covering the period 12.1–0 ka. Speleothem δ18O reveals nine quasi-cyclical events of relatively wet-to-dry climatic conditions during the Holocene. Dynamic Harmonic Regression modelling indicates that changes in precipitation occurred with a ~1500 year frequency during the late Holocene and at a shorter length during the early Holocene. The timing of these cycles coincides with changes in North Atlantic Ocean conditions, indicating a connectivity between ocean conditions and Holocene moisture delivery. Early Holocene climate is potentially dominated by freshwater outburst events, whilst ~1500 year cycles in the late Holocene are more likely driven by changes internal to the ocean system. This is the first continental record of its type that clearly demonstrates millennial scale connectivity between the pulse of the ocean and precipitation over Europe through the entirety of the Holocene.
A general and highly regioselective synthesis approach to multi-functionalized organoimido derivatives of Polyoxometalates
Authors: Huang Yichao , Zhang Jiangwei , Hao Jian , Wei Yongge
Published: April 2016

Organoimidoylization of Polyoxometalates (POMs) can dramatically modify the electronic structures of POMs and gives rise to novel “value-adding” properties of the POMs for promising material applications including photo-electronic transformation and catalysis. To date, the preparation of multi-functionalized organoimido derivatives of POMs is generally conducted under strict condition and is time-consuming with limited yields. Herein, a series of regioselective polyorganoimido derivatives of POMs, ocatant- [Mo6O13(NAr)3(μ2-NAr)3]2− (Ar = phenyl (1), p-methoxyphenyl (2) and p-ethylphenyl (3)), were synthesized with high selectivity and in good yields via a general and highly regioselective synthesis method, called as the one-octant synthesis protocol. The reaction was monitored by ESI-MS and the as-prepared products were studied by ESI-MS, IR, UV-Vis, EA, 1HNMR, single crystal XRD analysis and DFT calculations. The one-octant synthesis protocol here may serve as an idea method to design novel nanoscale POM-based organic-inorganic multi-functional hybrids.
Accelerated nucleation of the 2014 Iquique, Chile Mw 8.2 Earthquake
Authors: Kato Aitaro , Fukuda Jun’ichi , Kumazawa Takao , Nakagawa Shigeki
Published: April 2016

The earthquake nucleation process has been vigorously investigated based on geophysical observations, laboratory experiments and theoretical studies; however, a general consensus has yet to be achieved. Here, we studied nucleation process for the 2014 Iquique, Chile Mw 8.2 megathrust earthquake located within the current North Chile seismic gap, by analyzing a long-term earthquake catalog constructed from a cross-correlation detector using continuous seismic data. Accelerations in seismicity, the amount of aseismic slip inferred from repeating earthquakes and the background seismicity, accompanied by an increasing frequency of earthquake migrations, started around 270 days before the mainshock at locations up-dip of the largest coseismic slip patch. These signals indicate that repetitive sequences of fast and slow slip took place on the plate interface at a transition zone between fully locked and creeping portions. We interpret that these different sliding modes interacted with each other and promoted accelerated unlocking of the plate interface during the nucleation phase.
Major histocompatibility complex harbors widespread genotypic variability of non-additive risk of rheumatoid arthritis including epistasis
Authors: Wei Wen-Hua , Bowes John , Plant Darren , Viatte Sebastien , Yarwood Annie , Massey Jonathan , Worthington Jane , Eyre Stephen
Published: April 2016

Genotypic variability based genome-wide association studies (vGWASs) can identify potentially interacting loci without prior knowledge of the interacting factors. We report a two-stage approach to make vGWAS applicable to diseases: firstly using a mixed model approach to partition dichotomous phenotypes into additive risk and non-additive environmental residuals on the liability scale and secondly using the Levene’s (Brown-Forsythe) test to assess equality of the residual variances across genotype groups per marker. We found widespread significant (P < 2.5e-05) vGWAS signals within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) across all three study cohorts of rheumatoid arthritis. We further identified 10 epistatic interactions between the vGWAS signals independent of the MHC additive effects, each with a weak effect but jointly explained 1.9% of phenotypic variance. PTPN22 was also identified in the discovery cohort but replicated in only one independent cohort. Combining the three cohorts boosted power of vGWAS and additionally identified TYK2 and ANKRD55. Both PTPN22 and TYK2 had evidence of interactions reported elsewhere. We conclude that vGWAS can help discover interacting loci for complex diseases but require large samples to find additional signals.
Age-related impairment of humoral response to influenza is associated with changes in antigen specific T follicular helper cell responses
Authors: Lefebvre Julie S , Masters April R , Hopkins Jacob W , Haynes Laura
Published: April 2016

T follicular helper (TFH) cell responses are essential for generation of protective humoral immunity during influenza infection. Aging has a profound impact on CD4+ T cell function and humoral immunity, yet the impact of aging on antigen specific TFH responses remains unclear. Influenza specific TFH cells are generated in similar numbers in young and aged animals during infection, but TFH cells from aged mice exhibit significant differences, including reduced expression of ICOS and elevated production of IL-10 and IFNγ, which potentially impairs interaction with cognate B cells. Also, more influenza specific T cells in aged mice have a regulatory phenotype, which could contribute to the impaired TFH function. Adoptive transfer studies with young T cells demonstrated that TGF-β1 in the aged environment can drive increased regulatory T cell accumulation. Aging and the aged environment thus impact antigen specific TFH cell function and formation, which contribute to reduced protective humoral responses.
Effect of lipid head group interactions on membrane properties and membrane-induced cationic β-hairpin folding
Authors: Ganesan Sai J. , Xu Hongcheng , Matysiak Silvina
Published: April 2016

Stages in membrane induced SVS-1 folding.
Optimizing the dehydrogenation catalyst of higher normal paraffins supported on a nanocrystalline gamma alumina
Authors: Akia Mandana , Arandiyan Hamidreza , Lozano Karen , Alavi Seyed Mahdi
Published: April 2016

This study presents an optimization of dehydrogenation catalyst components including platinum, indium, and lithium using response surface methodology (RSM).
Covalent non-fused tetrathiafulvalene–acceptor systems
Authors: Pop Flavia , Avarvari Narcis
Published: April 2016

The main families of non-fused TTF–acceptors are discussed with a special focus on their characteristics and properties.
Compression icing of room-temperature NaX solutions (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
Authors: Zeng Qingxin , Yan Tingting , Wang Kai , Gong Yinyan , Zhou Yong , Huang Yongli , Sun Chang Q. , Zou Bo
Published: April 2016

From the image, it is observed that salt hydration increases the critical pressures for the liquid–VI–VII phase transitions in the Hofmeister series order in terms of electronegativity difference Δηand anion radiusR.
Formation of various crystalline structures in a polypropylene/polycarbonate in situ microfibrillar blend during the melt second flow
Authors: Xia Xiao-Chao , Yang Wei , He Shan , Xie Dan-Dan , Zhang Rui-Yan , Tian Feng , Yang Ming-Bo
Published: April 2016

A special shell–core structure is formed in PP/PC/β-NA composites, which has huge potential for the improvement of mechanical performance.
Fabrication of chiral networks for a tri-substituted anthraquinone derivative using molecular self-assembly
Authors: Hu Yi , Miao Kai , Zha Bao , Xu Li , Miao Xinrui , Deng Wenli
Published: April 2016

This work displays the fabrication of chiral networks which are induced by the dipole–dipole interaction and alkyl chain interdigitation.
Surface functionalization of dinuclear clathrochelates via Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions: facile synthesis of polypyridyl metalloligands
Authors: Marmier Mathieu , Cecot Giacomo , Curchod Basile F. E. , Pattison Philip , Solari Euro , Scopelliti Rosario , Severin Kay
Published: April 2016

Clathrochelates can be decorated with pyridyl groups by cross-coupling reactions. They represent interesting ligands for supramolecular chemistry and materials science.
One-pot synthesis of 3-(furan-2-yl)-4H-chromen-4-ones from 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)butane-1,3-diones and 2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofuran catalyzed via K10 montmorillonite under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Han Jie , Wang Tao , Feng Siqi , Li Chenchen , Zhang Zunting
Published: April 2016

A new, concise and efficient method of one-pot synthesis of 3-(furan-2-yl)-4H-chromen-4-ones was developed using K10 montmorillonite catalysis under solvent-free conditions.
N-Ester-substituted polyacrylamides with a tunable lower critical solution temperature (LCST): the N-ester-substitute dependent thermoresponse
Authors: Chen Shengli , Zhang Yuan , Wang Ke , Zhou Heng , Zhang Wangqing
Published: April 2016

New thermoresponsive polymers ofN-ester-substituted polyacrylamides were discovered, and theN-ester-substitute exerting a great influence on the solution property was demonstrated.
Perylenediimide-cored cationic nanocarriers deliver virus DNA to kill insect pests
Authors: Liu Xiaoxia , Zheng Yang , Zhang Shaobo , Liu Kelan , Zhang Songdou , Yin Meizhen , Zhang Long , Shen Jie
Published: April 2016

The narrow infection range of insect virus restricts its use for the control of broad range of pests. A cationic fluorescent nanocarrier delivery system was successfully applied to broaden the host range of an insecticidal virus DNA, which should contributes to the organic and green food production.
Functionalization of graphene by a TPE-containing polymer using nitrogen-based nucleophiles
Authors: Tu Jin , Zhao Min , Zhan Xuejun , Ruan Zhijun , Zhang Hao-Li , Li Qianqian , Li Zhen
Published: April 2016

Through the nitrogen-centered anion reaction of PCT and GO, two new hybrids, RGO-PCT-i and RGO-PCT-s, were successfully prepared and applied as potential optical limiting materials.
High photodegradation efficiency of phenol by mixed-metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Masoomi Mohammad Yaser , Bagheri Minoo , Morsali Ali , Junk Peter C.
Published: April 2016

Four MOFs, TMU-5, TMU-5(Cd 15%), TMU-5(Cd 30%) and (TMU-7) were synthesized and studied for phenol degradation from aqueous solutions under UV and/or visible light irradiation without auxiliary oxidants such as H2O2.
A mesoporous Ni3N/NiO composite with a core–shell structure for room temperature, selective and sensitive NO2gas sensing
Authors: Zou Mingming , Meng Hu , Qu Fengdong , Feng Liang , Yang Minghui
Published: April 2016

Mesoporous Ni3N/NiO composites with core–shell structure were synthesized by a template free method, demonstrate a significant improvements both in sensitivity and in selectivity for NO2gas sensing at room temperature.
Dielectric investigation of the Sr3WO6 double perovskite at RF/microwave frequencies
Authors: Paiva D. V. M. , Silva M. A. S. , Sombra A. S. B. , Fechine P. B. A.
Published: April 2016

This work reports the dielectric properties of Sr3WO6 (SWO) double perovskite at radio frequencies as a function of the temperature and a study in microwaves range to evaluate the material as a novel dielectric resonator.
Design, synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour of a four-ring achiral bent-core liquid crystal in the nematic phase
Authors: Nafees Amina , Sinha Aloka , Rao Nandiraju V. S. , Kalita Gayatri , Mohiuddin Golam , Paul Manoj Kumar
Published: April 2016

Design, synthesis and characterization of a four-ring achiral bent-core liquid crystal with a broad range nematic phase which can be cooled down without crystallization.
Introducing DDEC6 atomic population analysis: part 2. Computed results for a wide range of periodic and nonperiodic materials
Authors: Limas Nidia Gabaldon , Manz Thomas A.
Published: April 2016

DDEC6 atomic population analysis gives excellent performance for small and large molecules, porous solids, dense solids, solid surfaces, organometallic complexes, nanoclusters, and magnetic materials.
Synthesis of TiO2-loaded silicate-1 monoliths and their application for degradation rhodamine B
Authors: Jing Y. Q. , Wang Y. C. , Gao Y. Z. , Li H. Q. , Cheng Y. Y. , Lu P. , Zhang Y. H. , Ma C.
Published: April 2016

TiO2-loaded silicate-1 monoliths, with TiO2 (Degussa P25) nanoparticles loaded in silicate-1 crystal, were directly synthesized by combining sol–gel method and hydrothermal method.
Flavonol-based fluorescent indicator for determination of β-glucosidase activity
Authors: Serdiuk Illia E. , Reszka Milena , Myszka Henryk , Krzymiński Karol , Liberek Beata , Roshal Alexander D.
Published: April 2016

A flavonol-based ESIPT fluorescence probe for evaluation of β-glucosidase activity was synthesized and tested for sensitivity to enzymatic cleavage at different conditions.
Central composite design approach towards optimization of super activated carbons from bamboo for hydrogen storage
Authors: Zhao W. , Fan M. , Gao H. , Wang H.
Published: April 2016

Super activated carbons were developed from moso bamboo and central composite design was used to determine optimum responses by investigating the influence of activation parameters, weight ratio of KOH/precursor (W) and activation temperature (T).
Hierarchical TS-1 synthesized effectively by post-modification with TPAOH and ammonium hydroxide
Authors: Wang Baorong , Lin Min , Peng Xinxin , Zhu Bin , Shu Xingtian
Published: April 2016

Hierarchical TS-1 with intracrystalline voids could be synthesized by post-modification with tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide (TPAOH), however the process was supposed to be restrained by the charge balance effect.
Controllable synthesis of ultrathin gold nanomembranes
Authors: Cong Zhenhua , Li Weiqing , Jin Jianhui , Niu Jian
Published: April 2016

The growth of Au nanomembranes is realized using an anisotropic HGM hydrogel with a one-dimensional periodic lamellar structure.
Rationally introduce multi-competitive binding interactions in supramolecular gels: a simple and efficient approach to develop multi-analyte sensor array
Authors: Lin Qi , Lu Tao-Tao , Zhu Xin , Wei Tai-Bao , Li Hui , Zhang You-Ming
Published: April 2016

A supramolecular-gel-based twenty-two-member sensor array has been created by introducing well-designed multi-competitive binding interactions into a supramolecular gel.
Elucidation of the heme active site electronic structure affecting the unprecedented nitrite dismutase activity of the ferriheme b proteins, the nitrophorins
Authors: He Chunmao , Ogata Hideaki , Lubitz Wolfgang
Published: April 2016

A highly ruffled heme conformation and an extended H-bonding network at the heme active site are the key factors facilitating the unprecedented nitrite dismutase activity of the nitrophorins.
Improving the stability of solar cells using metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Nevruzoglu Vagif , Demir Selçuk , Karaca Gökçehan , Tomakin Murat , Bilgin Nuray , Yilmaz Fatih
Published: April 2016

Although Cu2S-containing chalcogenide solar cells are appealing and cost-effective for photovoltaics (PVs), these materials suffer from rapid performance degradation as a result of the diffusion of copper ions into the CdS layer.
Reduced crystallinity and enhanced charge transport by melt annealing of an organic semiconductor on single layer graphene
Authors: Skrypnychuk Vasyl , Boulanger Nicolas , Yu Victor , Hilke Michael , Toney Michael F. , Barbero David R.
Published: April 2016

We report on the effect of the annealing temperature on the crystallization and the electrical properties of the semiconducting polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) on single layer graphene.
Poly-(3-hexylthiophene) bottlebrush copolymers with tailored side-chain lengths and high charge carrier mobilities
Authors: Heinrich C. David , Thelakkat Mukundan
Published: April 2016

A series of well-defined PS-g-P3HT bottlebrushes was synthesized and the influence of the P3HT chain length on aggregation, crystallinity and electronic properties of brushes was investigated.
SNR‐based selective relaying schemes in network‐coded two‐way relay channels
Authors: Bastami Ali H.
Published: April 2016

In this study, for a network‐coded two‐way relay channel (TWRC), the authors propose three different relaying schemes that satisfy certain quality of service requirements at both transceivers. In these schemes, the relay decides independently whether to help each transceiver or not based on the instantaneous signal‐to‐noise ratios received from the transceivers. Under the assumption of error propagation, they analyse the performance of the system in terms of the end‐to‐end bit error rate (BER), the outage probability, the average spectral efficiency (ASE) and the diversity order. All of these performance measures depend on two thresholds employed by the relay node. By optimising these thresholds under three different criteria, they achieve three different relaying schemes: (i) the BER­ optimal scheme that minimises the end‐to‐end BER; (ii) the outage‐constrained scheme that minimises the end‐to­ end BER under an outage probability constraint; and (iii) the BER‐constrained scheme that maximises the ASE under an end‐to‐end BER constraint. The analysis of the system shows that the BER‐optimal scheme guarantees the full diversity gain at both transceivers; the outage‐constrained scheme results in a bidirectional relaying scheme with a constant outage probability; and the BER‐constrained scheme makes use of spectrum as efficiently as possible while maintaining the target BER.
Model‐based exact technique to identify type and degree of eccentricity faults in induction motors
Authors: Ojaghi Mansour , Aghmasheh Reza , Sabouri Mahdi
Published: April 2016

In spite of numerous research activities performed so far, determination of type and exact degree of the eccentricity faults in induction motors is challenging yet. This study presents a model‐based fault diagnosis technique for identifying all the three eccentricity fault types, including static, dynamic and mixed eccentricities, with their exact degrees in the mentioned motors. This technique uses a special analytic model prepared for simulating squirrel‐cage induction motors under healthy and all eccentricity fault conditions as well as the particle swarm optimisation method. Correct performance and effectiveness of the proposed technique is verified by using simulation and experiments. Finally, an algorithm is introduced for the eccentricity fault treatment using the identified degrees of the fault components and their time trends.
Investigation of short‐range, broadband, on‐body electromagnetic wave propagations
Authors: Xue Dong , Garner Brian A. , Li Yang
Published: April 2016

Electromagnetic wave propagation over a broad frequency band (300 MHz – 3 GHz) and within short ranges (<40 cm) was investigated for on‐body wireless channel communications. Experimental and modelling methods were used to examine two scenarios: along the body surface [line‐of‐sight (LOS)] and around the body torso [non‐LOS (NLOS)]. The LOS scenario was modelled simply as an infinitely‐large ground plane, and the NLOS scenario as a finite‐height cylinder. Homogeneous muscle tissue properties were assumed for both models. The propagation characteristics were extracted using signal‐processing techniques. The results show that the space wave is the dominant wave for the LOS scenario and the creeping wave for the NLOS scenario over the short ranges of the body's surface. The analytical models based on the ground wave theories of Bannister and Wait were derived and shown to agree well with the experimental and simulation data.
Impact of Gender on Outcome in Octogenarians after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Panholzer Bernd , Huenges Katharina , Jussli-Melchers Jill , Schoeneich Felix , Friedrich Christine , Hoffmann Grischa , Cremer Jochen , Haneya Assad , Berndt Rouven
Published: April 2016

Background Increasing life expectancy makes cardiac surgery in octogenarians not very uncommon. In this study, the impact of gender on outcome of octogenarians after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was assessed.

Materials and Methods We retrospectively studied 485 octogenarians (176 females: mean age 82.4 ± 2.2 years vs. 306 males: mean age 82.2 ± 2.4 years) who underwent isolated CABG using extracorporeal circulation between January 2005 and December 2012.

Results No significant differences were noted between both gender groups with regard to preoperative risk factors. At baseline, the groups differed significantly with respect to mean logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) (women: 22.3 ± 17.4% vs. men: 17.5 ± 13.3%; p < 0.001). Likewise, EuroSCORE II differs significantly between women and men in our cohort (women: 16.7 ± 11.9% vs. men: 13.9 ± 10.7%; p = 0.008). Intraoperatively, the number of distal anastomoses (3.1 ± 0.9 vs. 3.2 ± 0.8), the mean extracorporeal circulation time (99 ± 31 vs. 102 ± 29 minutes), and the mean aortic cross-clamp time (63 ± 31 vs. 60 ± 19 minutes) were similar in both groups. Postoperatively, no significant differences in complications and major morbidity were observed between the groups. The 30-day mortality (women 8.0 vs. men 9.7%; p = 0.62) were without statistical significance between the groups.

Conclusion Outcome of octogenarians after CABG resulted in acceptable mortality. Female gender was not associated with increased risks for morbidity and mortality after surgery. Satisfactory outcomes encourage the offering of surgery in octogenarians.
Relationship between Serum Albumin Level and Monocyte-to-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio with Saphenous Vein Graft Disease in Coronary Bypass
Authors: Yayla Cagri , Balci Kevser , Ozeke Ozcan , Maden Orhan , Kisacik Halil , Temizhan Ahmet , Aydogdu Sinan , Akboga Mehmet
Published: April 2016

Background Previous studies proposed that inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired endothelial dysfunction have a crucial role in occurrence of saphenous vein graft (SVG) disease (SVGD). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (MHR) and serum albumin (SA) level as readily available inflammatory and oxidative stress markers with the presence of SVGD in patients with a coronary bypass.

Methods In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a total of 257 patients (n = 112 SVGD [+] [mean age was 65.3 ± 8.4 years, 75.0% males] and n = 145 SVGD [−] [mean age was 66.5 ± 10.1 years, 74.5% males]) were enrolled. At least one SVG with ≥ 50% stenosis was defined as SVGD. Independent predictors of SVGD were determined by logistic regression analysis.

Results White blood cell, neutrophil, monocyte, the age of SVG, and MHR were significantly higher, whereas SA level was significantly lower in patients with SVGD. In regression analysis, neutrophil, age of SVG, SA (odds ratio [OR]: 0.232 [0.156–0.370], p < 0.001), and MHR (OR: 1.122 [1.072–1.174], p < 0.001) remained as independent predictors of SVGD. Moreover, age of SVG showed a significant negative correlation with SA (r = − 0.343, p < 0.001) and a positive correlation with MHR (r = 0.238, p < 0.001). In the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the cutoff value of ≤ 3.75 g/dL for SA has a 73.2% sensitivity and 64.8% specificity and the cutoff value of ≥ 12.1 for MHR has a 71.4% sensitivity and 60.0% specificity for prediction of SVGD.

Conclusion Consequently, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing a significant and independent association between SA and MHR with SVGD.
Linear coupling of planetary scale waves in ionospheric zonal shear winds: Generation of fast magnetic waves
Authors: Chanishvili R. , Chagelishvili G. , Uchava E. , Kharshiladze O.
Published: April 2016

Our goal is to gain new insight into the physics of wave dynamics in ionospheric zonal shear flows. We study the shear flow non-normality induced linear coupling of planetary scale (slow) modified Rossby waves and westward propagating fast magnetized (Khantadze) waves using an approach different from the existing one to the linear wave dynamics. The performed analysis allows us to separate from each other different physical processes, grasp their interplay, and, by this way, construct the basic physics of the linear coupling of the slow and fast waves in an ionospheric zonal flow with linear shear of mean velocity, U0=(Sy,0). It should be noted from the beginning that we consider incompressible flow and the classified “slow” and “fast” waves are not connected with the similarly labeled magnetosonic waves in compressible heliosphere. We show that: the modified Rossby waves generate fast magnetized waves due to the coupling for a quite wide range of ionospheric and shear flow parameters; the linear transient processes are highly anisotropic in wavenumber plane; the generation of the magnetized waves/oscillations is most efficient/optimal for S≃0.1 (S is the shear rate normalized to the combination of the angular velocity and latitude, Ω0 cos θ0); the streamwise wave number of the optimally generated magnetized wave harmonics decreases (the length scale increases) with increasing the Hall parameter, α. At the end, we discuss nonlinear consequences of the described anisotropic linear dynamics—they should lead to an anisotropy of nonlinear cascade processes (in wavenumber plane). In turn, an interplay of the analyzed quite strong transient growth of the fast magnetic waves with anisotropic nonlinear processes should ensure self-sustenance of (stochastic or regular) magnetic perturbations.
Theoretical and experimental study of the porous film using quartz crystal microbalance
Authors: Zhang Songpeng , Zhang Xiangjun , Tian Yu , Meng Yonggang
Published: April 2016

The self-assembled multilayers have been studied by many researchers to modify the surfaces of artificial implants for increasing biocompatibility. The accurate mechanical properties of the film can only be obtained from the experimental results using appropriate theoretical models. As the film is composed of both solid polymers and fluid, this paper proposes a two-phase model. Based on the volume average method, the momentum equations are derived for both solid and liquid phases. In order to test our model, we built the porous film on the gold chip of the quartz crystal microbalance using the layer-by-layer method. The buildup process is based on the electrostatic interactions between anionic sodium hyaluronate and cationic chitosan by imitating the endothelial surface layer. By fitting our model to the experimental changes of the resonant frequency and dissipation factor, we get reasonable values of the film thickness, the porosity, the shear modulus of the solid phase, and the permeability. Compared with the existing models, the newly introduced permeability is an important property of the porous layer affecting the values of other parameters. Our model can provide more intrinsic properties of the self-assembled polymeric network and explain its interaction with the permeating fluid.
Engineering hybrid Co-picene structures with variable spin coupling
Authors: Zhou Chunsheng , Shan Huan , Li Bin , Zhao Aidi , Wang Bing
Published: April 2016

We report on the in situ engineering of hybrid Co-picene magnetic structures with variable spin coupling using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Single picene molecules adsorbed on Au(111) are manipulated to accommodate individual Co atoms one by one, forming stable artificial hybrid structures with magnetism introduced by the Co atoms. By monitoring the evolution of the Kondo effect at each site of Co atom, we found that the picene molecule plays an important role in tuning the spin coupling between individual Co atoms, which is confirmed by theoretical calculations based on the density-functional theory. Our findings indicate that the hybrid metal-molecule structures with variable spin coupling on surfaces can be artificially constructed in a controlled manner.
High refractive index in wurtzite GaP measured from Fabry-Pérot resonances
Authors: Assali S. , van Dam D. , Haverkort J. E. M. , Bakkers E. P. A. M.
Published: April 2016

We investigate the optical emission of wurtzite GaP/Al0.4Ga0.6P core/shell nanowires (NWs) transferred to a SiOx substrate to demonstrate a high degree of waveguiding of the emitted photoluminescence (PL) signal. By analysing the Fabry-Pérot mode spacing in combination with calculations of the guided modes in the NWs, we calculate a very high refractive index of bulk WZ GaP of 4.2 at a wavelength of 600 nm. The measured quality factors up to 600 indicate the excellent optical quality of the nanowire resonator.
Electronic structure study of wide band gap magnetic semiconductor (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 nanocrystals in paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases
Authors: Dwivedi G. D. , Joshi Amish G. , Kumar Shiv , Chou H. , Yang K. S. , Jhong D. J. , Chan W. L. , Ghosh A. K. , Chatterjee Sandip
Published: April 2016

X-ray circular magnetic dichroism (XMCD), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) techniques were used to study the electronic structure of nanocrystalline (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 near Fermi-level. XMCD results indicate that Mn3+ and Mn4+ spins are aligned parallel to each other at 20 K. The low M-H hysteresis curve measured at 5 K confirms ferromagnetic ordering in the (La0.6Pr0.4)0.65Ca0.35MnO3 system. The low temperature valence band XPS indicates that coupling between Mn3d and O2p is enhanced and the electronic states near Fermi-level have been suppressed below TC. The valence band UPS also confirms the suppression of electronic states near Fermi-level below Curie temperature. UPS near Fermi-edge shows that the electronic states are almost absent below 0.5 eV (at 300 K) and 1 eV (at 115 K). This absence clearly demonstrates the existence of a wide band-gap in the system since, for hole-doped semiconductors, the Fermi-level resides just above the valence band maximum.
Tunable superconducting microstrip resonators
Authors: Adamyan A. A. , Kubatkin S. E. , Danilov A. V.
Published: April 2016

We report on a simple yet versatile design for a tunable superconducting microstrip resonator. Niobium nitride is employed as the superconducting material and aluminum oxide, produced by atomic layer deposition, as the dielectric layer. We show that the high quality of the dielectric material allows to reach the internal quality factors in the order of Qi∼104 in the single photon regime. Qi rapidly increases with the number of photons in the resonator N and exceeds 105 for N∼10−50. A straightforward modification of the basic microstrip design allows to pass a current bias through the strip and to control its kinetic inductance. We achieve a frequency tuning δf=62 MHz around f0=2.4 GHz for a fundamental mode and δf=164 MHz for a third harmonic. This translates into a tuning parameter Qiδf/f0=150. The presented design can be incorporated into essentially any superconducting circuitry operating at temperatures below 2.5 K.
Contact resistivities of metal-insulator-semiconductor contacts and metal-semiconductor contacts
Authors: Yu Hao , Schaekers Marc , Barla Kathy , Horiguchi Naoto , Collaert Nadine , Thean Aaron Voon-Yew , De Meyer Kristin
Published: April 2016

Applying simulations and experiments, this paper systematically compares contact resistivities (ρc) of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) contacts and metal-semiconductor (MS) contacts with various semiconductor doping concentrations (Nd). Compared with the MS contacts, the MIS contacts with the low Schottky barrier height are more beneficial for ρc on semiconductors with low Nd, but this benefit diminishes gradually when Nd increases. With high Nd, we find that even an “ideal” MIS contact with optimized parameters cannot outperform the MS contact. As a result, the MIS contacts mainly apply to devices that use relatively low doped semiconductors, while we need to focus on the MS contacts to meet the sub-1 × 10−8 Ω cm2 ρc requirement for future Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology.
Barrier against water loss: relationship between epicuticular wax composition, gene expression and leaf water retention capacity in banana
Authors: Sampangi-Ramaiah Megha H. , Ravishankar Kundapura V. , Seetharamaiah Shivashankar K. , Roy Tapas K. , Hunashikatti Laxman R. , Rekha Ajitha , Shilpa Pandurangaiah
Published: April 2016

In the present study we examined 13 banana (Musa spp.) genotypes belonging to different genomic groups with respect to total leaf cuticular wax concentration, chemical composition, carbon chain length and their relationship with leaf water retention capacity (LWRC). A positive correlation between epicuticular wax content and LWRC clearly indicated that the cuticular wax plays an important role in maintaining banana leaf water content. The classification of hexane soluble cuticular wax components into different classes based on functional group and their association with LWRC showed that alcohol and ester compounds have a positive correlation. Further, the compounds with >C28 carbon chain length had a positive correlation with LWRC, indicating the role of longer carbon chain length in maintaining the water status of banana leaves. Also, the gene expression analysis showed higher expression of the wax biosynthetic genes FATB and KCS11 in higher wax load genotypes whereas lower expression was seen in low wax banana genotypes. Here, we report for the first time the compositional variations of cuticular wax in different banana genotypes, followed by their association with leaf water retention capacity. The results were also supported by variation in gene expression analysis of cuticular wax biosynthetic genes – FATB and KCS11.