bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bridging Media Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
Authors: Weber René , Eden Allison , Huskey Richard , Mangus J. Michael , Falk Emily
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Media neuroscience has emerged as a new area of study at the intersection of media psychology and cognitive neuroscience. In previous work, we have addressed this trend from a methodological perspective. In this paper, we outline the progression of scholarship in systematic investigations of mass communication phenomena over the past century, from behaviorism and environmental determinism to biological and evolutionary paradigms. These new paradigms are grounded in an emergentist perspective on the nature of psychological processes. We discuss what it means to ask valid research questions in media neuroscience studies and provide recent examples in the areas of interpersonal and intergroup processes, morality, and narratives as well as in persuasion and health communication. We conclude with a selection of innovative methodological avenues that have the potential to accelerate the integration of cognitive neuroscience into media psychology research.
Sonogenetics is a non-invasive approach to activating neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Ibsen Stuart , Tong Ada , Schutt Carolyn , Esener Sadik , Chalasani Sreekanth H.
Published: September 2015

A major challenge in neuroscience is to reliably activate individual neurons, particularly those in deeper brain regions. Current optogenetic approaches require invasive surgical procedures to deliver light of specific wavelengths to target cells to activate or silence them. Here, we demonstrate the use of low-pressure ultrasound as a non-invasive trigger to activate specific ultrasonically sensitized neurons in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. We first show that wild-type animals are insensitive to low-pressure ultrasound and require gas-filled microbubbles to transduce the ultrasound wave. We find that neuron-specific misexpression of TRP-4, the pore-forming subunit of a mechanotransduction channel, sensitizes neurons to ultrasound stimulus, resulting in behavioural outputs. Furthermore, we use this approach to manipulate the function of sensory neurons and interneurons and identify a role for PVD sensory neurons in modifying locomotory behaviours. We suggest that this method can be broadly applied to manipulate cellular functions in vivo.
Differential genomic imprinting regulates paracrine and autocrine roles of IGF2 in mouse adult neurogenesis
Authors: Ferrón S. R. , Radford E. J. , Domingo-Muelas A. , Kleine I. , Ramme A. , Gray D. , Sandovici I. , Constancia M. , Ward A. , Menheniott T. R. , Ferguson-Smith A. C.
Published: September 2015

Genomic imprinting is implicated in the control of gene dosage in neurogenic niches. Here we address the importance of Igf2 imprinting for murine adult neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus in vivo. In the SVZ, paracrine IGF2 is a cerebrospinal fluid and endothelial-derived neurogenic factor requiring biallelic expression, with mutants having reduced activation of the stem cell pool and impaired olfactory bulb neurogenesis. In contrast, Igf2 is imprinted in the hippocampus acting as an autocrine factor expressed in neural stem cells (NSCs) solely from the paternal allele. Conditional mutagenesis of Igf2 in blood vessels confirms that endothelial-derived IGF2 contributes to NSC maintenance in SVZ but not in the SGZ, and that this is regulated by the biallelic expression of IGF2 in the vascular compartment. Our findings indicate that a regulatory decision to imprint or not is a functionally important mechanism of transcriptional dosage control in adult neurogenesis.
Multivariate selection drives concordant patterns of pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection in a livebearing fish
Authors: Devigili Alessandro , Evans Jonathan P. , Di Nisio Andrea , Pilastro Andrea
Published: September 2015

In many species, females mate with multiple partners, meaning that sexual selection on male traits operates across a spectrum that encompasses the competition for mates (that is, before mating) and fertilizations (after mating). Despite being inextricably linked, pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection are typically studied independently, and we know almost nothing about how sexual selection operates across this divide. Here we bridge this knowledge gap using the livebearing fish Poecilia reticulata. We show that both selective episodes, as well as their covariance, explain a significant component of variance in male reproductive fitness. Moreover, linear and nonlinear selection simultaneously act on pre- and postcopulatory traits, and interact to generate multiple phenotypes with similar fitness.
How Leiomodin and Tropomodulin use a common fold for different actin assembly functions
Authors: Boczkowska Malgorzata , Rebowski Grzegorz , Kremneva Elena , Lappalainen Pekka , Dominguez Roberto
Published: September 2015

How proteins sharing a common fold have evolved different functions is a fundamental question in biology. Tropomodulins (Tmods) are prototypical actin filament pointed-end-capping proteins, whereas their homologues, Leiomodins (Lmods), are powerful filament nucleators. We show that Tmods and Lmods do not compete biochemically, and display similar but distinct localization in sarcomeres. Changes along the polypeptide chains of Tmods and Lmods exquisitely adapt their functions for capping versus nucleation. Tmods have alternating tropomyosin (TM)- and actin-binding sites (TMBS1, ABS1, TMBS2 and ABS2). Lmods additionally contain a C-terminal extension featuring an actin-binding WH2 domain. Unexpectedly, the different activities of Tmods and Lmods do not arise from the Lmod-specific extension. Instead, nucleation by Lmods depends on two major adaptations—the loss of pointed-end-capping elements present in Tmods and the specialization of the highly conserved ABS2 for recruitment of two or more actin subunits. The WH2 domain plays only an auxiliary role in nucleation.
Stacked bilayer phosphorene: strain-induced quantum spin Hall state and optical measurement
Authors: Zhang Tian , Lin Jia-He , Yu Yan-Mei , Chen Xiang-Rong , Liu Wu-Ming
Published: September 2015

Bilayer phosphorene attracted considerable interest, giving a potential application in nanoelectronics owing to its natural bandgap and high carrier mobility. However, very little is known regarding the possible usefulness in spintronics as a quantum spin Hall (QSH) state of material characterized by a bulk energy gap and gapless spin-filtered edge states. Here, we report a strain-induced topological phase transition from normal to QSH state in bilayer phosphorene, accompanied by band-inversion that changes "Equation missing" number from 0 to 1, which is highly dependent on interlayer stacking. When the bottom layer is shifted by 1/2 unit-cell along zigzag/armchair direction with respect to the top layer, the maximum topological bandgap 92.5 meV is sufficiently large to realize QSH effect even at room-temperature. An optical measurement of QSH effect is therefore suggested in view of the wide optical absorption spectrum extending to far infra-red, making bilayer phosphorene a promising candidate for opto-spintronic devices.
Animal movements in the Kenya Rift and evidence for the earliest ambush hunting by hominins
Authors: Kübler Simon , Owenga Peter , Reynolds Sally C. , Rucina Stephen M. , King Geoffrey C. P.
Published: September 2015

Animal movements in the Kenya Rift Valley today are influenced by a combination of topography and trace nutrient distribution. These patterns would have been the same in the past when hominins inhabited the area. We use this approach to create a landscape reconstruction of Olorgesailie, a key site in the East African Rift with abundant evidence of large-mammal butchery between ~1.2 and ~0.5 Ma BP. The site location in relation to limited animal routes through the area show that hominins were aware of animal movements and used the location for ambush hunting during the Lower to Middle Pleistocene. These features explain the importance of Olorgesailie as a preferred location of repeated hominin activity through multiple changes in climate and local environmental conditions and provide insights into the cognitive and hunting abilities of Homo erectus while indicating that their activities at the site were aimed at hunting, rather than scavenging.
The β-cell GHSR and downstream cAMP/TRPM2 signaling account for insulinostatic and glycemic effects of ghrelin
Authors: Kurashina Tomoyuki , Dezaki Katsuya , Yoshida Masashi , Sukma Rita Rauza , Ito Kiyonori , Taguchi Masanobu , Miura Rina , Tominaga Makoto , Ishibashi Shun , Kakei Masafumi , Yada Toshihiko
Published: September 2015

Gastric hormone ghrelin regulates insulin secretion, as well as growth hormone release, feeding behavior and adiposity. Ghrelin is known to exert its biological actions by interacting with the growth hormone secretagogue-receptor (GHSR) coupled to Gq/11-protein signaling. By contrast, ghrelin acts on pancreatic islet β-cells via Gi-protein-mediated signaling. These observations raise a question whether the ghrelin action on islet β-cells involves atypical GHSR and/or distinct signal transduction. Furthermore, the role of the β-cell GHSR in the systemic glycemic effect of ghrelin still remains to be defined. To address these issues, the present study employed the global GHSR-null mice and those re-expressing GHSR selectively in β-cells. We here report that ghrelin attenuates glucose-induced insulin release via direct interaction with ordinary GHSR that is uniquely coupled to novel cAMP/TRPM2 signaling in β-cells and that this β-cell GHSR with unique insulinostatic signaling largely accounts for the systemic effects of ghrelin on circulating glucose and insulin levels. The novel β-cell specific GHSR-cAMP/TRPM2 signaling provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Speckle disturbance limit in laser-based cinema projection systems
Authors: Verschaffelt Guy , Roelandt Stijn , Meuret Youri , Van den Broeck Wendy , Kilpi Katriina , Lievens Bram , Jacobs An , Janssens Peter , Thienpont Hugo
Published: September 2015

In a multi-disciplinary effort, we investigate the level of speckle that can be tolerated in a laser cinema projector based on a quality of experience experiment with movie clips shown to a test audience in a real-life movie theatre setting. We identify a speckle disturbance threshold by statistically analyzing the observers’ responses for different values of the amount of speckle, which was monitored using a well-defined speckle measurement method. The analysis shows that the speckle perception of a human observer is not only dependent on the objectively measured amount of speckle, but it is also strongly influenced by the image content. The speckle disturbance limit for movies turns out to be substantially larger than that for still images and hence is easier to attain.
CD8+NKT-like cells regulate the immune response by killing antigen-bearing DCs
Authors: Wang Chao , Liu Xi , Li Zhengyuan , Chai Yijie , Jiang Yunfeng , Wang Qian , Ji Yewei , Zhu Zhongli , Wan Ying , Yuan Zhenglong , Chang Zhijie , Zhang Minghui
Published: September 2015

CD1d-dependent NKT cells have been extensively studied; however, the function of CD8+NKT-like cells, which are CD1d-independent T cells with NK markers, remains unknown. Here, we report that CD1d-independent CD8+NKT-like cells, which express both T cell markers (TCRβ and CD3) and NK cell receptors (NK1.1, CD49b and NKG2D), are activated and significantly expanded in mice immunized with GFP-expressing dendritic cells. Distinct from CD1d-dependent NKT cells, CD8+NKT-like cells possess a diverse repertoire of TCRs and secrete high levels of IFN-gamma but not IL-4. CD8+NKT-like cell development is normal in CD1d−/− mice, which suggests that CD8+NKT-like cells undergo a unique development pathway that differs from iNKT cells. Further functional analyses show that CD8+NKT-like cells suppress T-cell responses through elimination of dendritic cells in an antigen-specific manner. Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific CD8+NKT-like cells into RIP-OVA mice prevented subsequent development of diabetes in the animals induced by activated OT-I CD8 T cells. Our study suggests that CD8+NKT-like cells can function as antigen-specific suppressive cells to regulate the immune response through killing antigen-bearing DCs. Antigen-specific down regulation may provide an active and precise method for constraining an excessive immune response and avoiding bypass suppression of necessary immune responses to other antigens.
Manifestation of a Second Dirac Surface State and Bulk Bands in THz Radiation from Topological Insulators
Authors: Tu Chien-Ming , Yeh Tien-Tien , Tzeng Wen-Yen , Chen Yi-Ru , Chen Hsueh-Ju , Ku Shin-An , Luo Chih-Wei , Lin Jiunn-Yuan , Wu Kaung-Hsiung , Juang Jenh-Yih , Kobayashi Takayoshi , Cheng Cheng-Maw , Tsuei Ku-Ding , Berger Helmuth , Sankar Raman , Chou Fang-Cheng
Published: September 2015

Topological insulators (TIs) are interesting quantum matters that have a narrow bandgap for bulk and a Dirac-cone-like conducting surface state (SS). The recent discovered second Dirac surface state (SS) and bulk bands (BBs) located ~1.5 eV above the first SS are important for optical coupling in TIs. Here, we report on the time-domain measurements of THz radiation generated from TIs n-type Cu0.02Bi2Se3 and p-type Bi2Te3 single crystals by ultrafast optical pulse excitation. The observed polarity-reversal of the THz pulse originated from transient current is unusual and cannot be reconciled with the photo-Dember effect. The second SS and BBs are found to be indispensable for the explanation of the unusual phenomenon. Thanks to the existence of the second SS and BBs, TIs manifest an effective wide band gap in THz generation. The present study demonstrates that time-domain THz spectroscopy provide rich information of the optical coupling and the electronic structure of TIs.
Supramolecular One-Dimensional n/p-Nanofibers
Authors: Insuasty Alberto , Atienza Carmen , Luis López Juan , Marco-Martínez Juan , Casado Santiago , Saha Avishek , Guldi Dirk M. , Martín Nazario
Published: September 2015

Currently, there is a broad interest in the control over creating ordered electroactive nanostructures, in which electron donors and acceptors are organized at similar length scales. In this article, a simple and efficient procedure is reported en-route towards the construction of 1D arrays of crystalline pristine C60 and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) coated onto supramolecular fibers based on exTTF-pentapeptides. The resulting n/p-nanohybrids have been fully characterized by a variety of spectroscopic (FTIR, UV-Vis, circular dichroism, Raman and transient absorption), microscopic (AFM, TEM and SEM) and powder diffraction (X-ray) techniques. Our experimental findings document the tendency of electroactive exTTF-fibers to induce the crystallization of C60 and PCBM, on one hand and to afford 1D n/p-nanohybrids, on the other hand. Furthermore, photogenerated radical ion pairs, formed upon visible light irradiation of the n/p-nanohybrids, feature lifetimes on the range of 0.9–1.2 ns.
Large difference in carbon emission – burial balances between boreal and arctic lakes
Authors: Lundin E. J. , Klaminder J. , Bastviken D. , Olid C. , Hansson S. V. , Karlsson J.
Published: September 2015

Lakes play an important role in the global carbon (C) cycle by burying C in sediments and emitting CO2and CH4to the atmosphere. The strengths and control of these fundamentally different pathways are therefore of interest when assessing the continental C balance and its response to environmental change. In this study, based on new high-resolution estimates in combination with literature data, we show that annual emission:burial ratios are generally ten times higher in boreal compared to subarctic – arctic lakes. These results suggest major differences in lake C cycling between biomes, as lakes in warmer boreal regions emit more and store relatively less C than lakes in colder arctic regions. Such effects are of major importance for understanding climatic feedbacks on the continental C sink – source function at high latitudes. If predictions of global warming and northward expansion of the boreal biome are correct, it is likely that increasing C emissions from high latitude lakes will partly counteract the presumed increasing terrestrial C sink capacity at high latitudes.
Variable telomere length across post-mortem human brain regions and specific reduction in the hippocampus of major depressive disorder
Authors: Mamdani F , Rollins B , Morgan L , Myers R M , Barchas J D , Schatzberg A F , Watson S J , Akil H , Potkin S G , Bunney W E , Vawter M P , Sequeira P A
Published: September 2015

Stress can be a predisposing factor to psychiatric disorders and has been associated with decreased neurogenesis and reduced hippocampal volume especially in depression. Similarly, in white blood cells chronic psychological stress has been associated with telomere shortening and with mood disorders and schizophrenia (SZ). However, in previous post-mortem brain studies from occipital cortex and cerebellum, no difference in telomere length was observed in depression. We hypothesized that in psychiatric disorders, stress-driven accelerated cellular aging can be observed in brain regions particularly sensitive to stress. Telomere length was measured by quantitative-PCR in five brain regions (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus (HIPP), amygdala, nucleus accumbens and substantia nigra (SN)) in major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, SZ and normal control subjects (N=40, 10 subjects per group). We observed significant differences in telomere length across brain regions suggesting variable levels of cell aging, with SN and HIPP having the longest telomeres and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex the shortest. A significant decrease (P<0.02) in telomere length was observed specifically in the HIPP of MDD subjects even after controlling for age. In the HIPP of MDD subjects, several genes involved in neuroprotection and in stress response (FKBP5, CRH) showed altered levels of mRNA. Our results suggest the presence of hippocampal stress-mediated accelerated cellular aging in depression. Further studies are needed to investigate the cellular specificity of these findings.
Rapid screening of anti-infective drug products for counterfeits using Raman spectral library-based correlation methods
Authors: Loethen Yvette L. , Kauffman John F. , Buhse Lucinda F. , Rodriguez Jason D.
Published: September 2015

A new spectral library-based approach that is capable of screening a diverse set of finished drug products using only an active pharmaceutical ingredient spectral library is described in this paper.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a new way to control the edge effect and its application for bevacizumab pharmacokinetic studies in beagle dogs by fitting with a new pharmacokinetic model
Authors: Wang Lei , Cheng Zeneng
Published: September 2015

A modified ELISA for controlling the edge effect is established for the bevacizumab pharmacokinetic study by combining with a new pharmacokinetic model.
Sonochemical degradation of N-methylpyrrolidone and its influence on single walled carbon nanotube dispersion
Authors: Yau Hin Chun , Bayazit Mustafa K. , Steinke Joachim H. G. , Shaffer Milo S. P.
Published: September 2015

During sonication, NMP degrades to form organic nanoparticles, likely to contaminate SWNT and other nanomaterial dispersions.
A facile one-pot synthesis of deep blue luminescent lead bromide perovskite microdisks
Authors: Yuan Zhao , Shu Yu , Tian Yu , Xin Yan , Ma Biwu
Published: September 2015

We report a facile one-pot synthetic method to prepare highly luminescent layered lead(ii) bromide perovskite microdisks with the lateral size of a few micrometers and thickness of 100–150 nm, featuring narrow deep blue emissions with quantum yields of up to 53% in toluene solutions and thin films at room temperature.
Host–guest complexation of pillar[6]arenes towards neutral nitrile guests
Authors: Yuan Mao-Sen , Chen Huanqing , Du Xianchao , Li Jian , Wang Jinyi , Jia Xueshun , Li Chunju
Published: September 2015

The binding behavior of a series of nitrile derivatives by ethylated pillar[6]arene is described; this work represents the first example of complexation of neutral guests by pillar[6]arenes.
Supramolecular copolymers with stimuli-responsive sequence control
Authors: Albertazzi Lorenzo , van der Veeken Nick , Baker Matthew B. , Palmans Anja R. A. , Meijer E. W.
Published: September 2015

Two molecular inputs to control supramolecular copolymer sequence: towards molecular design of synthetic supramolecular networks.
The effect of Gd on trityl-based dynamic nuclear polarisation in solids
Authors: Ravera Enrico , Shimon Daphna , Feintuch Akiva , Goldfarb Daniella , Vega Shimon , Flori Alessandra , Luchinat Claudio , Menichetti Luca , Parigi Giacomo
Published: September 2015

The increase in 13C polarisation of 13C-urea dissolved in samples containing water/DMSO mixtures and trityl radical (OX063) in the presence of Gd3+ is explained by changes in electron relaxation, electron spectral diffusion and effective electron–proton hyperfine interaction.
Tunable photoluminescence and magnetic properties of Dy3+ and Eu3+ doped GdVO4 multifunctional phosphors
Authors: Liu Yanxia , Liu Guixia , Dong Xiangting , Wang Jinxian , Yu Wensheng
Published: September 2015

Multicolor photoluminescence is realized in the Dy3+ and Eu3+ co-doped GdVO4 system by adopting different excitation wavelengths or adjusting the appropriate concentration of Dy3+ and Eu3+ ions.
Clarifying the role of Ru in methanol oxidation at Rucore@Ptshell nanoparticles
Authors: El Sawy Ehab N. , El-Sayed Hany A. , Birss Viola I.
Published: September 2015

Rucore@Ptshell NPs with a controlled Ptshell coverage and two different Rucore sizes (2 and 3 nm) were synthesized to determine the precise role of Ru in the MOR activity at Rucore@Ptshell NPs.
How to make a porphyrin flip: dynamics of asymmetric porphyrin oligomers
Authors: Shang Cheng , Philpott Julian M. , Bampos Nick , Barker Paul D. , Wales David J.
Published: September 2015

The pathways and energy barriers from computational and experimental methods reveal the dynamics of asymmetric porphyrin oligomers.
Correction: Structure, function, self-assembly, and applications of bottlebrush copolymers
Authors: Verduzco Rafael , Li Xianyu , Pesek Stacy L. , Stein Gila E.
Published: September 2015

Correction for ‘Structure, function, self-assembly, and applications of bottlebrush copolymers’ by Rafael Verduzco et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44, 2405–2420.
Adding the ‘heart’ to hanging drop networks for microphysiological multi-tissue experiments
Authors: Rismani Yazdi Saeed , Shadmani Amir , Bürgel Sebastian C. , Misun Patrick M. , Hierlemann Andreas , Frey Olivier
Published: September 2015

Integrated hanging-drop micropump synchronized with cardiac microtissue beating enables parallel and closed-loop medium circulation in microfluidic hanging-drop networks for multi-tissue experiments.
Discovery of a potent and highly fluorescent sirtuin inhibitor
Authors: Yoon Y. K. , Ali M. A. , Wei A. C. , Choon T. S. , Shirazi A. N. , Parang K.
Published: September 2015

Highly fluorescent sirtuin inhibitor was discovered to possess growth inhibitory effect against multiple cancer cell lines.
Studies on the reactions between the DNA bases and a model α,β-unsaturated oxoaldehyde
Authors: Pluskota-Karwatka Donata , Muńko Malwina , Hoffmann Marcin , Kuta Martyna , Kronberg Leif
Published: September 2015

Two sets of adducts of 2′-dC with a model oxoenal were characterised based on 2D NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations indicated that two mechanisms can be involved in these compounds formation. The instability of one of these products leads to deamination of 2′-dC.
Comprehensive insights into the structure and coordination behavior of thiosemicarbazone ligands: a computational assessment of the E–Z interconversion mechanism during coordination
Authors: Khalilian M. Hossein , Mirzaei Saber , Taherpour Avat (Arman)
Published: September 2015

The calculations transpired that the isomerization mechanism of thiosemicarbazones is influenced by the solvents, in which the inversion and tautomerization path is the likely mechanisms in aprotic and protic solvents, respectively.
Validation of a homology model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DXS: rationalization of observed activities of thiamine derivatives as potent inhibitors of two orthologues of DXS
Authors: Masini T. , Lacy B. , Monjas L. , Hawksley D. , de Voogd A. R. , Illarionov B. , Iqbal A. , Leeper F. J. , Fischer M. , Kontoyianni M. , Hirsch A. K. H.
Published: September 2015

We present the a homology model ofM. tuberculosisDXS that we validated by identifying thiamine and thiamine diphosphate analogues as potent inhibitors of DXS.
A Bodipy as a luminescent probe for detection of the G protein estrogen receptor (GPER)
Authors: Papalia T. , Lappano R. , Barattucci A. , Pisano A. , Bruno G. , Santolla M. F. , Campagna S. , De Marco P. , Puntoriero F. , De Francesco E. M. , Rosano C. , Maggiolini M. , Bonaccorsi P.
Published: September 2015

A Bodipy has been rationally designed and synthesized as a fluorescent ligand of GPER for diagnostic purposes and prospective therapeutic implications.
Chalcogenodiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine based donor–acceptor–donor polymers for green and near-infrared electrochromics
Authors: Ming Shouli , Zhen Shijie , Liu Ximei , Lin Kaiwen , Liu Hongtao , Zhao Yao , Lu Baoyang , Xu Jingkun
Published: September 2015

Thiadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine and selenadiazolo[3,4-c]pyridine were employed as novel acceptors for rational design of donor-acceptor-type systems, yielding neutral green and near-infrared electrochromic polymers.
Biomass to fuel gas conversion through a low pyrolysis temperature induced by gamma radiation: an experimental and simulative study
Authors: El Naggar Ahmed M. A. , El Sayed Hussien A. , Elsalamony Radwa A. , Elrazak Ahmed Abd
Published: September 2015

Currently, 80% of global energy is supplied by carbon-based fossil fuels, which has led to concerns over the environmental impact of increasing atmospheric CO2 levels and has sparked ever-growing interest in renewable energy sources.
Graphitic-carbon nitride support for the synthesis of shape-dependent ZnO and their application in visible light photocatalysts
Authors: Fageria Pragati , Nazir Roshan , Gangopadhyay Subhashis , Barshilia Harish C. , Pande Surojit
Published: September 2015

A simple wet-chemical approach for morphology-dependent ZnO nanostructure synthesis on g-C3N4surface using different hydrolyzing agents has been reported.
A spectroscopic study to decipher the mode of interaction of some common acridine derivatives with CT DNA within nanosecond and femtosecond time domains
Authors: Sengupta Chaitrali , Basu Samita
Published: September 2015

Our spectroscopic investigation with acridine derivatives presents the electronic control of their substituents on intercalation, solvation and PET with DNA.
Fabrication of BaSO4-based mineralized thin-film composite polysulfone/polyamide membranes for enhanced performance in a forward osmosis process
Authors: Jin Haiyang , Huang Yangbo , Li Hao , Yu Ping , Luo Yunbai
Published: September 2015

BaSO4-based mineralized thin-film composite (TFC) forward osmosis (FO) membranes were fabricated by depositing barium sulfate on the surface of prepared polysulfone/polyamide (PSf/PA) membranes by adopting an approach named surface mineralization.
Theoretical studies of heteroatom-doping in TiO2 to enhance the electron injection in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Hao Li , Bai Fu-Quan , Kong Chui-Peng , Bibi Shamsa , Zhang Hong-Xing
Published: September 2015

Density functional calculations have been explored to analyze the structural, electronic and charge transfer properties of a doped TiO2 substrate and catechol–TiO2 interfaces for dye-sensitized solar cells.
Rapid access to unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes and 2,5-disubstituted thiophenes under ligand and Pd/Ni-free Cu-catalysis
Authors: Rao Maddali L. N. , Islam Sk Shamim , Dasgupta Priyabrata
Published: September 2015

A Pd/Ni-free copper-catalysed tandem synthesis was realized for rapid access to unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes from 1,1-dibromoalkenes and terminal alkynes.
Theoretical investigation of gold-catalyzed oxidative Csp3–Csp2 bond formation via aromatic C–H activation
Authors: Geng Cuihuan , Zhang Sujuan , Duan Chonggang , Lu Tongxiang , Zhu Rongxiu , Liu Chengbu
Published: September 2015

The mechanisms of Selectfluor-mediated homogeneous Au-catalyzed intramolecular Csp3–Csp2 cross-coupling reaction involving direct aryl Csp2–H functionalization has been investigated theoretically.
Study of decomposition products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ion chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry in thermally decomposed lithium hexafluorophosphate-based lithium ion battery electrolytes
Authors: Kraft Vadim , Weber Waldemar , Grützke Martin , Winter Martin , Nowak Sascha
Published: September 2015

In this work, the thermal decomposition of a lithium ion battery electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/ethyl methyl carbonate, 50/50 wt%) with a focus on the formation of organophosphates was systematically studied.
Polyacrylamide grafted guar gum based glimepiride loaded pH sensitive pellets for colon specific drug delivery: fabrication and characterization
Authors: M. P. Gowrav , Hani Umme , Shivakumar Hosakote G. , Osmani Riyaz Ali M. , Srivastava Atul
Published: September 2015

The purpose of this study was to prepare pH-sensitive pellets using an extrusion-spheronization pelletization (ESP) technique.
Self-assembly protocol design for periodic multicomponent structures
Authors: Jacobs William M. , Frenkel Daan
Published: September 2015

We propose a general theory to design self-assembly pathways for addressable crystals with complex, multicomponent unit cells.
Grafting alkylamine in UiO-66 by charge-assisted coordination bonds for carbon dioxide capture from high-humidity flue gas
Authors: Li Lu-Jian , Liao Pei-Qin , He Chun-Ting , Wei Yong-Sheng , Zhou Hao-Long , Lin Jiao-Min , Li Xu-Yu , Zhang Jie-Peng
Published: September 2015

A new post-synthetic modification method was performed to graft alkylamine in a metal–organic framework, giving exceptional stability and performance for carbon dioxide capture from high-humidity flue gas.
A poly-l-glutamic acid functionalized nanocomplex for improved oral drug absorption
Authors: Zhu Quanlei , Song Wenyi , Xia Dengning , Fan Weiwei , Yu Miaorong , Guo Shiyan , Zhu Chunliu , Gan Yong
Published: September 2015

A PGA-based complex enhanced intestinal absorption due to the improved active epithelial endocytosis through specific interactions with epithelium-bound γ-GT.
Mechanistic understanding of molecular initiating events (MIEs) using NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Sanderson Paul N. , Simpson Wendy , Cubberley Richard , Aleksic Maja , Gutsell Stephen , Russell Paul J.
Published: September 2015

Toxicological risk assessments in the 21st century are increasingly being driven by the Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) conceptual framework in which the Molecular Initiating Event (MIE) is of fundamental importance to pathway progression. For those MIEs that involve covalent chemical reactions, such as protein haptenation, determination of relative rates and mechanisms of reactions is a prerequisite for their understanding. The utility of NMR spectroscopy as an experimental technique for effectively providing reaction rate and mechanistic information for early assessment of likely MIE(s) has been demonstrated. To demonstrate the concept, model systems exemplifying common chemical reactions involved in the covalent modification of proteins were utilized; these involved chemical reactions of electrophilic species (representing different mechanistic classes) with simple amine and thiol nucleophiles acting as surrogates for the reactive groups of lysine and cysteine protein side chains respectively. Such molecular interactions are recognized as critical mechanisms in a variety of chemical and drug toxicities, including respiratory and skin sensitization and liver toxicity as well as being the key mechanism of action for a number of therapeutic agents.
Solution NMR characterization of chemokine CXCL8/IL-8 monomer and dimer binding to glycosaminoglycans: structural plasticity mediates differential binding interactions
Authors: Joseph Prem Raj B. , Mosier Philip D. , Desai Umesh R. , Rajarathnam Krishna
Published: September 2015

Chemokine CXCL8/interleukin-8 (IL-8) plays a crucial role in directing neutrophils and oligodendrocytes to combat infection/injury and tumour cells in metastasis development. CXCL8 exists as monomers and dimers and interaction of both forms with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) mediate these diverse cellular processes. However, very little is known regarding the structural basis underlying CXCL8–GAG interactions. There are conflicting reports on the affinities, geometry and whether the monomer or dimer is the high-affinity GAG ligand. To resolve these issues, we characterized the binding of a series of heparin-derived oligosaccharides [heparin disaccharide (dp2), heparin tetrasaccharide (dp4), heparin octasaccharide (dp8) and heparin 14-mer (dp14)] to the wild-type (WT) dimer and a designed monomer using solution NMR spectroscopy. The pattern and extent of binding-induced chemical shift perturbation (CSP) varied between dimer and monomer and between longer and shorter oligosaccharides. NMR-based structural models show that different interaction modes coexist and that the nature of interactions varied between monomer and dimer and oligosaccharide length. MD simulations indicate that the binding interface is structurally plastic and provided residue-specific details of the dynamic nature of the binding interface. Binding studies carried out under conditions at which WT CXCL8 exists as monomers and dimers provide unambiguous evidence that the dimer is the high-affinity GAG ligand. Together, our data indicate that a set of core residues function as the major recognition/binding site, a set of peripheral residues define the various binding geometries and that the structural plasticity of the binding interface allows multiplicity of binding interactions. We conclude that structural plasticity most probably regulates in vivo CXCL8 monomer/dimer–GAG interactions and function.
Global translation variations in host cells upon attack of lytic and sublytic Staphylococcus aureus α-haemolysin
Authors: Clamer Massimiliano , Tebaldi Toma , Marchioretto Marta , Bernabò Paola , Bertini Efrem , Guella Graziano , Serra Mauro Dalla , Quattrone Alessandro , Viero Gabriella
Published: September 2015

Genome-wide analyses of translation can provide major contributions in our understanding of the complex interplay between virulent factors and host cells. So far, the activation of host translational control mechanisms by bacterial toxins, owing to specific recruitment of mRNAs, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and ncRNAs (non-coding RNAs), are far from being understood. In the present study, we characterize for the first time the changes experienced by the translational control system of host cells in response to the well-known Staphylococcus aureus α-haemolysin (AHL) under both sublytic and lytic conditions. By comparing variations occurring in the cellular transcriptome and translatome, we give evidence that global gene expression is primarily rewired at the translational level, with the contribution of the RBP ELAVL1 (HuR) in the sublytic response. These results reveal the importance of translational control during host–pathogen interaction, opening new approaches for AHL-induced diseases.
Abscisic acid: biosynthesis, inactivation, homoeostasis and signalling
Authors: Dong Ting , Park Youngmin , Hwang Inhwan
Published: September 2015

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays crucial roles in numerous physiological processes during plant growth and abiotic stress responses. The endogenous ABA level is controlled by complex regulatory mechanisms involving biosynthesis, catabolism, transport and signal transduction pathways. This complex regulatory network may target multiple levels, including transcription, translation and post-translational regulation of genes involved in ABA responses. Most of the genes involved in ABA biosynthesis, catabolism and transport have been characterized. The local ABA concentration is critical for initiating ABA-mediated signalling during plant development and in response to environmental changes. In this chapter we discuss the mechanisms that regulate ABA biosynthesis, catabolism, transport and homoeostasis. We also present the findings of recent research on ABA perception by cellular receptors, and ABA signalling in response to cellular and environmental conditions.
Plant peptide hormone signalling
Authors: Motomitsu Ayane , Sawa Shinichiro , Ishida Takashi
Published: September 2015

The ligand–receptor-based cell-to-cell communication system is one of the most important molecular bases for the establishment of complex multicellular organisms. Plants have evolved highly complex intercellular communication systems. Historical studies have identified several molecules, designated phytohormones, that function in these processes. Recent advances in molecular biological analyses have identified phytohormone receptors and signalling mediators, and have led to the discovery of numerous peptide-based signalling molecules. Subsequent analyses have revealed the involvement in and contribution of these peptides to multiple aspects of the plant life cycle, including development and environmental responses, similar to the functions of canonical phytohormones. On the basis of this knowledge, the view that these peptide hormones are pivotal regulators in plants is becoming increasingly accepted. Peptide hormones are transcribed from the genome and translated into peptides. However, these peptides generally undergo further post-translational modifications to enable them to exert their function. Peptide hormones are expressed in and secreted from specific cells or tissues. Apoplastic peptides are perceived by specialized receptors that are located at the surface of target cells. Peptide hormone–receptor complexes activate intracellular signalling through downstream molecules, including kinases and transcription factors, which then trigger cellular events. In this chapter we provide a comprehensive summary of the biological functions of peptide hormones, focusing on how they mature and the ways in which they modulate plant functions.
Queue performance of cognitive radio networks with general primary user activity model
Authors: Jiao Wanguo , Sheng Min , Lui King‐Shan , Liu Guoqing
Published: September 2015

The quality of service (QoS) performance analysis is of great guiding significance for a QoS guarantee of secondary users (SUs). However, the QoS performance of SUs has not been well studied, especially how it is impacted by the traffic property of primary users (PUs). In this study, the authors propose a method to analyse the queue performance of the SU when the active and inactive durations of PUs follow general distributions. To characterise the non‐memoryless property of the channel when the distributions of PUs active/inactive durations are general distributions, they propose a two‐dimensional Markov chain to model the states of the channel. By using this Markov chain, they derive the effective capacity (EC) function of the cognitive radio network. On the basis of the EC function and the effective bandwidth function, the queue performance of the SU, that is, the stationary tail distribution of the queue length, is estimated. The author's result can not only be used to calculate other QoS metrics, such as the buffer overflow probability and throughput, but also provide some guidelines for QoS guarantee of the SU. Finally, they verify their work by comparing the analytical results with simulation results.
Measurement of vacuum pressure with a magneto-optical trap: A pressure-rise method
Authors: Moore Rowan W. G. , Lee Lucie A. , Findlay Elizabeth A. , Torralbo-Campo Lara , Bruce Graham D. , Cassettari Donatella
Published: September 2015

The lifetime of an atom trap is often limited by the presence of residual background gases in the vacuum chamber. This leads to the lifetime being inversely proportional to the pressure. Here, we use this dependence to estimate the pressure and to obtain pressure rate-of-rise curves, which are commonly used in vacuum science to evaluate the performance of a system. We observe different rates of pressure increase in response to different levels of outgassing in our system. Therefore, we suggest that this is a sensitive method which will find useful applications in cold atom systems, in particular, where the inclusion of a standard vacuum gauge is impractical.
Radiation comb generation with extended Josephson junctions
Authors: Solinas P. , Bosisio R. , Giazotto F.
Published: September 2015

We propose the implementation of a Josephson radiation comb generator based on an extended Josephson junction subject to a time dependent magnetic field. The junction critical current shows known diffraction patterns and determines the position of the critical nodes when it vanishes. When the magnetic flux passes through one of such critical nodes, the superconducting phase must undergo a π-jump to minimize the Josephson energy. Correspondingly, a voltage pulse is generated at the extremes of the junction. Under periodic driving, this allows us to produce a comb-like voltage pulses sequence. In the frequency domain, it is possible to generate up to hundreds of harmonics of the fundamental driving frequency, thus mimicking the frequency comb used in optics and metrology. We discuss several implementations through a rectangular, cylindrical, and annular junction geometries, allowing us to generate different radiation spectra and to produce an output power up to 10 pW at 50 GHz for a driving frequency of 100 MHz.
Microscopic observation of magnetic bacteria in the magnetic field of a rotating permanent magnet
Authors: Smid Pieter , Shcherbakov Valeriy , Petersen Nikolai
Published: September 2015

Magnetotactic bacteria are ubiquitous and can be found in both freshwater and marine environments. Due to intracellular chains of magnetic single domain particles, they behave like swimming compass needles. In external magnetic fields like the Earth’s magnetic field, a torque is acting on the chain. This will cause the bacterium to be rotated and aligned with the external field. The swimming direction of magnetotactic bacteria can be controlled with external magnetic fields, which makes it convenient to study them under a light microscope. Usually, a special set of coils arranged around a light microscope is used to control the swimming magnetotactic bacteria. Here, we present a simple mechanical system with a permanent magnet, which produces a rotating magnetic field of nearly constant amplitude in the focal plane of a light microscope. The device is placed beside the light microscope and easily adaptable to almost any microscope and thus convenient for field experiments. To describe the trajectories qualitatively, a theoretical model of the trajectories is presented. This device can be used to control the swimming direction of magnetotactic bacteria and also for studying their magnetic and hydrodynamic properties.
Novel methods for configuration interaction and orbital optimization for wave functions containing non-orthogonal orbitals with applications to the chromium dimer and trimer
Authors: Olsen Jeppe
Published: September 2015

A novel algorithm for performing configuration interaction (CI) calculations using non-orthogonal orbitals is introduced. In the new algorithm, the explicit calculation of the Hamiltonian matrix is replaced by the direct evaluation of the Hamiltonian matrix times a vector, which allows expressing the CI-vector in a bi-orthonormal basis, thereby drastically reducing the computational complexity. A new non-orthogonal orbital optimization method that employs exponential mappings is also described. To allow non-orthogonal transformations of the orbitals, the standard exponential mapping using anti-symmetric operators is supplemented with an exponential mapping based on a symmetric operator in the active orbital space. Expressions are obtained for the orbital gradient and Hessian, which involve the calculation of at most two-body density matrices, thereby avoiding the time-consuming calculation of the three- and four-body density matrices of the previous approaches. An approach that completely avoids the calculation of any four-body terms with limited degradation of convergence is also devised. The novel methods for non-orthogonal configuration interaction and orbital optimization are applied to the chromium dimer and trimer. For internuclear distances that are typical for chromium clusters, it is shown that a reference configuration consisting of optimized singly occupied active orbitals is sufficient to give a potential curve that is in qualitative agreement with complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations containing more than 500 × 106 determinants. To obtain a potential curve that deviates from the CASSCF curve by less than 1 mHartree, it is sufficient to add single and double excitations out from the reference configuration.
The evolution of the ion diffusion region during collisionless magnetic reconnection in a force-free current sheet
Authors: Zhou Fushun , Huang Can , Lu Quanming , Xie Jinlin , Wang Shui
Published: September 2015

Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation is performed to investigate magnetic reconnection in a force-free current sheet. The results show that the evolution of the ion diffusion region has two different phases. In the first phase, the electrons flow toward the X line along one pair of separatrices and away from the X line along the other pair of separatrices. Therefore, in the ion diffusion region, a distorted quadrupole structure of the out-of-plane magnetic field is formed, which is similar to that of a typical guide field reconnection in the Harris current sheet. In the second phase, the electrons move toward the X line along the separatrices and then flow away from the X line at the inner side of the separatrices. In the ion diffusion region, the out-of-plane magnetic field exhibits a characteristic quadrupole pattern with a good symmetry, which is similar to that of antiparallel reconnection in the Harris current sheet.
Spatiotemporal evolution of high power laser pulses in relativistic magnetized inhomogeneous plasmas
Authors: Bokaei B. , Niknam A. R. , Imani E.
Published: September 2015

In this work, the spatiotemporal evolution of Gaussian laser pulse propagated through a plasma is investigated in the presence of an external axial magnetic field. The coupled equations of self-focusing and self-compression are obtained via paraxial approximation by taking into account the relativistic nonlinearity. The effect of axial magnetic field on simultaneously relativistic self-focusing and self-compression of the laser pulse is studied for homogeneous and inhomogeneous plasmas. The results show that the simultaneous use of both axial magnetic field and density ramp-up leads to generate pulses with the smallest spot size and shortest compression length.