bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoration of Mecp2 expression in GABAergic neurons is sufficient to rescue multiple disease features in a mouse model of Rett syndrome
Authors: Ure Kerstin , Lu Hui , Wang Wei , Ito-Ishida Aya , Wu Zhenyu , He Ling-jie , Sztainberg Yehezkel , Chen Wu , Tang Jianrong , Zoghbi Huda Y
Published: June 2016

The postnatal neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, caused by mutations in MECP2, produces a diverse array of symptoms, including loss of language, motor, and social skills and the development of hand stereotypies, anxiety, tremor, ataxia, respiratory dysrhythmias, and seizures. Surprisingly, despite the diversity of these features, we have found that deleting Mecp2 only from GABAergic inhibitory neurons in mice replicates most of this phenotype. Here we show that genetically restoring Mecp2 expression only in GABAergic neurons of male Mecp2 null mice enhanced inhibitory signaling, extended lifespan, and rescued ataxia, apraxia, and social abnormalities but did not rescue tremor or anxiety. Female Mecp2+/- mice showed a less dramatic but still substantial rescue. These findings highlight the critical regulatory role of GABAergic neurons in certain behaviors and suggest that modulating the excitatory/inhibitory balance through GABAergic neurons could prove a viable therapeutic option in Rett syndrome.
Manipulations of MeCP2 in glutamatergic neurons highlight their contributions to Rett and other neurological disorders
Authors: Meng Xiangling , Wang Wei , Lu Hui , He Ling-jie , Chen Wu , Chao Eugene S , Fiorotto Marta L , Tang Bin , Herrera Jose A , Seymour Michelle L , Neul Jeffrey L , Pereira Fred A , Tang Jianrong , Xue Mingshan , Zoghbi Huda Y
Published: June 2016

Many postnatal onset neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and intellectual disability are thought to arise largely from disruption of excitatory/inhibitory homeostasis. Although mouse models of Rett syndrome (RTT), a postnatal neurological disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in MECP2, display impaired excitatory neurotransmission, the RTT phenotype can be largely reproduced in mice simply by removing MeCP2 from inhibitory GABAergic neurons. To determine what role excitatory signaling impairment might play in RTT pathogenesis, we generated conditional mouse models with Mecp2 either removed from or expressed solely in glutamatergic neurons. MeCP2 deficiency in glutamatergic neurons leads to early lethality, obesity, tremor, altered anxiety-like behaviors, and impaired acoustic startle response, which is distinct from the phenotype of mice lacking MeCP2 only in inhibitory neurons. These findings reveal a role for excitatory signaling impairment in specific neurobehavioral abnormalities shared by RTT and other postnatal neurological disorders.
Admixture into and within sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Busby George BJ , Band Gavin , Si Le Quang , Jallow Muminatou , Bougama Edith , Mangano Valentina D , Amenga-Etego Lucas N , Enimil Anthony , Apinjoh Tobias , Ndila Carolyne M , Manjurano Alphaxard , Nyirongo Vysaul , Doumba Ogobara , Rockett Kirk A , Kwiatkowski Dominic P , Spencer Chris CA ,   Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network
Published: June 2016

Similarity between two individuals in the combination of genetic markers along their chromosomes indicates shared ancestry and can be used to identify historical connections between different population groups due to admixture. We use a genome-wide, haplotype-based, analysis to characterise the structure of genetic diversity and gene-flow in a collection of 48 sub-Saharan African groups. We show that coastal populations experienced an influx of Eurasian haplotypes over the last 7000 years, and that Eastern and Southern Niger-Congo speaking groups share ancestry with Central West Africans as a result of recent population expansions. In fact, most sub-Saharan populations share ancestry with groups from outside of their current geographic region as a result of gene-flow within the last 4000 years. Our in-depth analysis provides insight into haplotype sharing across different ethno-linguistic groups and the recent movement of alleles into new environments, both of which are relevant to studies of genetic epidemiology.
Sox9 and Sox8 protect the adult testis from male-to-female genetic reprogramming and complete degeneration
Authors: Barrionuevo Francisco J , Hurtado Alicia , Kim Gwang-Jin , Real Francisca M , Bakkali Mohammed , Kopp Janel L , Sander Maike , Scherer Gerd , Burgos Miguel , Jiménez Rafael
Published: June 2016

The new concept of mammalian sex maintenance establishes that particular key genes must remain active in the differentiated gonads to avoid genetic sex reprogramming, as described in adult ovaries after Foxl2 ablation. Dmrt1 plays a similar role in postnatal testes, but the mechanism of adult testis maintenance remains mostly unknown. Sox9 and Sox8 are required for postnatal male fertility, but their role in the adult testis has not been investigated. Here we show that after ablation of Sox9 in Sertoli cells of adult, fertile Sox8-/- mice, testis-to-ovary genetic reprogramming occurs and Sertoli cells transdifferentiate into granulosa-like cells. The process of testis regression culminates in complete degeneration of the seminiferous tubules, which become acellular, empty spaces among the extant Leydig cells. DMRT1 protein only remains in non-mutant cells, showing that SOX9/8 maintain Dmrt1 expression in the adult testis. Also, Sox9/8 warrant testis integrity by controlling the expression of structural proteins and protecting Sertoli cells from early apoptosis. Concluding, this study shows that, in addition to its crucial role in testis development, Sox9, together with Sox8 and coordinately with Dmrt1, also controls adult testis maintenance.
A Bayesian model of context-sensitive value attribution
Authors: Rigoli Francesco , Friston Karl J , Martinelli Cristina , Selaković Mirjana , Shergill Sukhwinder S , Dolan Raymond J
Published: June 2016

Substantial evidence indicates that incentive value depends on an anticipation of rewards within a given context. However, the computations underlying this context sensitivity remain unknown. To address this question, we introduce a normative (Bayesian) account of how rewards map to incentive values. This assumes that the brain inverts a model of how rewards are generated. Key features of our account include (i) an influence of prior beliefs about the context in which rewards are delivered (weighted by their reliability in a Bayes-optimal fashion), (ii) the notion that incentive values correspond to precision-weighted prediction errors, (iii) and contextual information unfolding at different hierarchical levels. This formulation implies that incentive value is intrinsically context-dependent. We provide empirical support for this model by showing that incentive value is influenced by context variability and by hierarchically nested contexts. The perspective we introduce generates new empirical predictions that might help explaining psychopathologies, such as addiction.
Obligate coupling of CFTR pore opening to tight nucleotide-binding domain dimerization
Authors: Mihályi Csaba , Töröcsik Beáta , Csanády László
Published: June 2016

In CFTR, the chloride channel mutated in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, ATP-binding-induced dimerization of two cytosolic nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) opens the pore, and dimer disruption following ATP hydrolysis closes it. Spontaneous openings without ATP are rare in wild-type CFTR, but in certain CF mutants constitute the only gating mechanism, stimulated by ivacaftor, a clinically approved CFTR potentiator. The molecular motions underlying spontaneous gating are unclear. Here we correlate energetic coupling between residues across the dimer interface with spontaneous pore opening/closure in single CFTR channels. We show that spontaneous openings are also strictly coupled to NBD dimerization, which may therefore occur even without ATP. Coordinated NBD/pore movements are therefore intrinsic to CFTR: ATP alters the stability, but not the fundamental structural architecture, of open- and closed-pore conformations. This explains correlated effects of phosphorylation, mutations, and drugs on ATP-driven and spontaneous activity, providing insights for understanding CF mutation and drug mechanisms.
Anomalous reflection from metasurfaces with gradient phase distribution below 2π
Authors: Ho You Zhe , Cheng Bo Han , Hsu Wei-Lun , Wang Chih-Ming , Tsai Din Ping
Published: June 2016

Metasurfaces are artificial structures that have been demonstrated to possess the ability to manipulate light within a subwavelength spatial region. Here, we explore another unraised functionality of the energy redistribution of a metasurface by tuning the phase difference over a supercell. We also propose a practical nanorod-based design to achieve an anomalous steering reflection using the finite element method simulation. The proposed phenomena have potential applications in ultracompact nanophotonic systems and high-efficiency flat devices.
Computational nano-materials design of self-organized nanostructures by spinodal nano-decomposition in Eu-doped GaN
Authors: Masago Akira , Fukushima Tetsuya , Sato Kazunori , Katayama-Yoshida Hiroshi
Published: June 2016

We propose that nanostructures spontaneously generated by spinodal decomposition can be used as an efficiently luminescent material. The doping of Eu into GaN beyond the solubility limit forms EuN nanostructures, whose forms depend on the crystal growth method and conditions. The three-dimensional crystal growth generates the Dairiseki phase constructed of EuN quantum dots. These nanostructures are suitable for emission of red light and laser. The two-dimensional layer-by-layer crystal growth leads to the Konbu phase consisting of nanorods. The Konbu phase can be applied to the bottom-up construction of distributed feedback semiconductor lasers, which is currently built by the top-down nanotechnology such as photolithography.
Scaling limit for InGaAs/GaAsSb heterojunction double-gate tunnel FETs from the viewpoint of direct band-to-band tunneling from source to drain induced off-characteristics deterioration
Authors: Lin Wenbo , Iwata Shinjiro , Fukuda Koichi , Miyamoto Yasuyuki
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we propose a method to classify the tunneling currents using simulations. The main objective is to investigate the effects of the direct source-to-drain tunneling, which is undesirable, in the case of devices with extremely short channels. We performed the classification of tunneling currents in InGaAs/GaAsSb heterojunction double-gate tunnel FETs based on this method, and we found that the direct-tunneling component increased dramatically in short-channel cases. The channel length must be 20 nm or longer, in case of InGaAs/GaAsSb heterojunction double-gate tunnel FETs, to limit the off-current within 10 pA/µm, which is required as per the ITRS LP.
Exchange bias controlled by electric current: Interplay of Joule heating and the induced field
Authors: Oda Kent , Moriyama Takahiro , Kawaguchi Masashi , Kamiya Michinari , Tanaka Kensho , Kim Kab-Jin , Ono Teruo
Published: June 2016

Exchange bias is a unidirectional magnetic anisotropy developed in a bilayer of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic layers. Its technical importance as a “fix layer” is seen in various spintronic devices. The exchange bias can also be a probe to investigate the antiferromagnetic layer as it partly reflects the magnetic state of the antiferromagnet. In this work, we investigated the modulation of the exchange bias by a flow of electric current in Pt/Fe50Mn50/FeNi and Cu/Fe50Mn50/FeNi. We show that the exchange bias can be modulated just by applying the current due to interplay among the Joule heating, Ampere field, and current-induced effective field.
High-frequency poly(vinylidene fluoride) copolymer transducers used for spectral characterization of settled microparticles
Authors: Melandsø Frank , Wagle Sanat , Decharat Adit , Habib Anowarul , Ahluwalia Balpreet S.
Published: June 2016

High-frequency ultrasonic polymer transducers are used to investigate backscattering from spherical microparticles. These microspheres are immersed in water and allowed to settle on a polymer substrate acting as an ultrasonic contact material between the immersion fluid and the transducer. The experimental study is complemented with a three-dimensional (3D) numerical investigation; both yield rather long scattered waveforms in the time domain for the largest microparticles. The corresponding frequency spectra typically contain a number of minima values arising from wave resonances in the microparticles. The locations of these resonances, or eigenvalues, correlate strongly to the particle size. Good agreement is obtained between the experiment and the numerical model, which will help to identify the wave mode responsible for the extended scattering.
Shear wave transmissivity measurement by color Doppler shear wave imaging
Authors: Yamakoshi Yoshiki , Yamazaki Mayuko , Kasahara Toshihiro , Sunaguchi Naoki , Yuminaka Yasushi
Published: June 2016

Shear wave elastography is a useful method for evaluating tissue stiffness. We have proposed a novel shear wave imaging method (color Doppler shear wave imaging: CD SWI), which utilizes a signal processing unit in ultrasound color flow imaging in order to detect the shear wave wavefront in real time. Shear wave velocity is adopted to characterize tissue stiffness; however, it is difficult to measure tissue stiffness with high spatial resolution because of the artifact produced by shear wave diffraction. Spatial average processing in the image reconstruction method also degrades the spatial resolution. In this paper, we propose a novel measurement method for the shear wave transmissivity of a tissue boundary. Shear wave wavefront maps are acquired by changing the displacement amplitude of the shear wave and the transmissivity of the shear wave, which gives the difference in shear wave velocity between two mediums separated by the boundary, is measured from the ratio of two threshold voltages required to form the shear wave wavefronts in the two mediums. From this method, a high-resolution shear wave amplitude imaging method that reconstructs a tissue boundary is proposed.
Study on heavy matching layer transducer towards producing second harmonics
Authors: Zaini Zulfadhli , Osuga Masamizu , Jimbo Hayato , Yasuda Jun , Takagi Ryo , Yoshizawa Shin , Umemura Shin-ichiro
Published: June 2016

Cavitation bubbles are microbubbles which can be incepted by highly negative pressure. Producing such highly negative pressure exceeding the cavitation threshold is difficult to accomplish due to nonlinear propagation followed by focal phase shift. By superimposing the second harmonic to fundamental is a way to significantly reduce the problem. However, the conventional design for an air-backed transducer is not suitable to generate both the second harmonic and fundamental at the same time. In order to overcome this problem, we propose a high impedance matching layer approach. Furthermore, we also construct a study to foresee the impact by adjusting the thickness ratio towards fundamental and second harmonic. Numerical simulation and experimental measurement have shown that by using a high impedance matching layer, efficiently generation of both the second harmonic (2 MHz) and fundamental (1 MHz) at the same time is possible. Besides, by adjusting the thickness ratio between piezocomposite and heavy matching layer will influence the amplitude of acoustic power over squared of voltage of the fundamental and second harmonic.
Improvement of high-voltage staircase drive circuit waveform for high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound
Authors: Tamano Satoshi , Jimbo Hayato , Azuma Takashi , Yoshizawa Shin , Fujiwara Keisuke , Itani Kazunori , Umemura Shin-Ichiro
Published: June 2016

Recently, in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, noninvasive or low-invasive modality, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), has been put into practice as an alternative to open surgery. HIFU induces thermal ablation of the target tissue to be treated. To improve the efficiency of HIFU, we have proposed a “triggered-HIFU” technique, which uses the combination of a short-duration, high-voltage transmission and a long-duration, medium-voltage transmission. In this method, the transmission device must endure high peak voltage for the former and the high time-average power for the latter. The triggered-HIFU sequence requires electronic scanning of the HIFU focus to maximize its thermal efficiency. Therefore, the transmission device must drive an array transducer with the number of elements on the order of a hundred or more, which requires that each part of the device that drives each element must be compact. The purpose of this work is to propose and construct such a transmission device by improving the staircase drive circuit, which we previously proposed. The main point of improvement is that both N and P MOSFETs are provided for each staircase voltage level instead of only one of them. Compared with the previous ultrasonic transmission circuit, high-voltage spikes were significantly reduced, the power consumption was decreased by 26.7%, and the transmission circuit temperature rise was decreased by 14.5 °C in the triggered-HIFU heating mode.
Acceleration of lithotripsy using cavitation bubbles induced by second-harmonic superimposition
Authors: Osuga Masamizu , Yasuda Jun , Jimbo Hayato , Yoshizawa Shin , Umemura Shin-ichiro
Published: June 2016

Shock wave lithotripsy potentially produces residual stone fragments too large to pass through ureters and significant injury to the normal tissue surrounding the stone. Previous works have shown that the collapse of cavitation bubbles induced by high-intensity focused ultrasound can produce small stone fragments via cavitation erosion. However, the erosion rate is hypothesized to be reduced by ultrasound attenuation by excessively generated bubble clouds. If so, it is important to generate the bubbles only on the stone surface. The effects of peak-negative-enhanced (PNE) and peak-positive-enhanced (PPE) waves obtained by second-harmonic superimposition were investigated to control cavitation bubbles. With the PNE waves, the bubbles were generated only on the stone surface and the maximum erosion rate was 232 ± 32 mg/min. All the fragments were smaller than 2 mm, which makes them pass through ureters naturally. The proposed method shows the potential to significantly improve the speed of lithotripsy.
Measurement of bottom-reflected sound in bottom-limited propagation environment
Authors: Hahn Jooyoung , Park Joungsoo
Published: June 2016

To study the bottom reflection of underwater acoustic sound in a bottom-limited propagation environment, an experiment was conducted using four transmitting sounds in the form of a continuous wave from 1 to 6 kHz. The site of the experiment was a continental shelf region off the east coast of Korea where the bottom was composed of sandy mud. The mean water depth was 1100 m in the experiment area. Oceanographic data and acoustic data were collected simultaneously during the experiment. It was found that the sound pressure level decreased by 90 dB to 3.4 km and there is little frequency dependence because a strong direct path contributes more than a bottom-reflected path in sound pressure level. At a range between 6 and 7 km, there is a strong bottom-reflected ray path and frequency dependence exists because the bottom reflection loss varies with frequency at a given grazing angle. Sound pressure levels increase as the range increases between 6 and 7 km by 5.4, 1.9, 1.7, and 1.5 dB at frequencies of 1000, 2490, 3990, and 5490 Hz, respectively.
On a (p,k)-analogue of the Gamma function and some associated Inequalities
Authors: Nantomah K. , Prempeh E. , Twum S. B.
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we introduce a new two-parameter deformation of the classical Gamma function, which we call a (p,k)-analogue of the Gamma function. We also provide some identities generalizing those satisfied by the classical Gamma function. Furthermore, we establish some inequalities involving this new function.
Species differences in unlocking B‐side electron transfer in bacterial reaction centers
Authors: Dylla Nicholas P. , Faries Kaitlyn M. , Wyllie Ryan M. , Swenson Angela M. , Hanson Deborah K. , Holten Dewey , Kirmaier Christine , Laible Philip D.
Published: June 2016

The structure of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center (RC) reveals symmetry‐related electron transfer (ET) pathways, but only one path is used in native RCs. Analogous mutations have been made in two Rhodobacter (R.) species. A glutamic acid at position 133 in the M subunit increases transmembrane charge separation via the naturally inactive (B‐side) path through impacts on primary ET in mutant R. sphaeroidesRCs. Prior work showed that the analogous substitution in the R. capsulatusRC also increases B‐side activity, but mainly affects secondary ET. The overall yields of transmembrane ET are similar, but enabled in fundamentally different ways.
Saturation of superstorms and finite compressibility of the magnetosphere: Results of the magnetogram inversion technique and global PPMLR‐MHD model
Authors: Mishin V. V. , Mishin V. M. , Karavaev Yu. , Han J. P. , Wang C.
Published: June 2016

We report on novel features of the saturation process of the polar cap magnetic flux and Poynting flux into the magnetosphere from the solar wind during three superstorms. In addition to the well‐known effect of the interplanetary electric (Esw) and southward magnetic (interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz) fields, we found that the saturation depends also on the solar wind ram pressure Pd. By means of the magnetogram inversion technique and a global MHD numerical model Piecewise Parabolic Method with a Lagrangian Remap, we explore the dependence of the magnetopause standoff distance on ram pressure and the southward IMF. Unlike earlier studies, in the considered superstorms both Pd and Bz achieve extreme values. As a result, we show that the compression rate of the dayside magnetosphere decreases with increasing Pd and the southward Bz, approaching very small values for extreme Pd ≥ 15 nPa and Bz ≤ −40 nT. This dependence suggests that finite compressibility of the magnetosphere controls saturation of superstorms.
Development of a tunable filter for coronal polarimetry
Authors: Tomczyk S. , Mathew S. K. , Gallagher D.
Published: June 2016

Measuring magnetic fields in the solar corona is crucial to understanding and predicting the Sun's generation of space weather that affects communications, GPS systems, space flight, and power transmission. The Coronal Solar Magnetism Observatory Large Coronagraph (COSMO LC) is a proposed 1.5 m aperture coronagraph designed to synoptically observe magnetic fields and plasma properties in the large‐scale corona to improve our understanding of solar processes that cause space weather. The LC will observe coronal emission lines over the wavelength range from 500 to 1100 nm with a field of view of 1° and a spatial resolution of 2 arcsec. A spectral resolution greater than 8000 over the wavelength range is needed to resolve the polarization signatures of magnetic fields in the emission line profiles. The aperture and field of view of the LC set an étendue requirement of 1.39 m2 deg2 for the postfocus instrumentation. We find that a tunable wide‐field birefringent filter using Lithium Niobate crystals can meet the étendue and spectral resolution requirements for the LC spectrometer. We have tested a number of commercially available crystals and verify that crystals of the required size and birefringence uniformity are available. We also evaluate electro‐optical tuning of a Lithium Niobate birefringent filter by the application of high voltage. This tunable filter represents a key enabling technology for the COSMO LC.
3D‐Printed Cathodes of LiMn1−xFexPO4 Nanocrystals Achieve Both Ultrahigh Rate and High Capacity for Advanced Lithium‐Ion Battery
Authors: Hu Jiangtao , Jiang Yi , Cui Suihan , Duan Yandong , Liu Tongchao , Guo Hua , Lin Lingpiao , Lin Yuan , Zheng Jiaxin , Amine Khalil , Pan Feng
Published: June 2016

A 3D‐printing technology and printed 3D lithium‐ion batteries (3D‐printed LIBs) based on LiMn0.21Fe0.79PO4@C (LMFP) nanocrystal cathodes are developed to achieve both ultrahigh rate and high capacity. Coin cells with 3D‐printed cathodes show impressive electrochemical performance: a capacity of 108.45 mAh g−1 at 100 C and a reversible capacity of 150.21 mAh g−1 at 10 C after 1000 cycles. In combination with simulation using a pseudo 2D hidden Markov model and experimental data of 3D‐printed and traditional electrodes, for the first time deep insight into how to achieve the ultrahigh rate performance for a cathode with LMFP nanocrystals is obtained. It is estimated that the Li‐ion diffusion in LMFP nanocrystal is not the rate‐limitation step for the rate to 100 C, however, that the electrolyte diffusion factors, such as solution intrinsic diffusion coefficient, efficiency porosity, and electrode thickness, will dominate ultrahigh rate performance of the cathode. Furthermore, the calculations indicate that the above factors play important roles in the equivalent diffusion coefficient with the electrode beyond a certain thickness, which determines the whole kinetic process in LIBs. This fundamental study should provide helpful guidance for future design of LIBs with superior electrochemical performance.
Cobalt‐Catalyzed Oxidative Dimerization of 2‐Phenylpyridine Derivatives
Authors: Xie Yanli , Xu Dongdong , Sun Wen‐Wu , Zhang Shi‐Jin , Dong Xiao‐Ping , Liu Bin , Zhou Yingbi , Wu Bin
Published: June 2016

The oxidative dimerization of 2‐phenylpyridine derivatives using cobalt catalysis is reported. Three types of reaction conditions were developed with different loadings of cobalt catalyst. Cross coupling of two different 2‐arylpyridines using cobalt catalysis proceeded with modest yields and selectivity.
Importance of Micropore–Mesopore Interfaces in Carbon Dioxide Capture by Carbon‐Based Materials
Authors: Durá Gema , Budarin Vitaliy L. , Castro‐Osma José A. , Shuttleworth Peter S. , Quek Sophie C. Z. , Clark James H. , North Michael
Published: June 2016

Mesoporous carbonaceous materials (Starbons®) derived from low‐value/waste bio‐resources separate CO2 from CO2/N2 mixtures. Compared to Norit activated charcoal (AC), Starbons® have much lower microporosities (8–32 % versus 73 %) yet adsorb up to 65 % more CO2. The presence of interconnected micropores and mesopores is responsible for the enhanced CO2 adsorption. The Starbons® also showed three–four times higher selectivity for CO2 adsorption rather than N2 adsorption compared to AC.
Copper‐Catalyzed Formal [2+2+1] Heteroannulation of Alkenes, Alkylnitriles, and Water: Method Development and Application to a Total Synthesis of (±)‐Sacidumlignan D
Authors: Ha Tu M. , Chatalova‐Sazepin Claire , Wang Qian , Zhu Jieping
Published: June 2016

A copper‐catalyzed three‐component reaction of alkenes, alkylnitriles, and water affords γ‐butyrolactones in good yields. The domino process involves an unprecedented hydroxy‐cyanoalkylation of alkenes and subsequent lactonization with the creation of three chemical bonds and a quaternary carbon center. The synthetic potential of this novel [2+2+1] heteroannulation reaction was illustrated by a concise total synthesis of (±)‐sacidumlignan D.
Boron nitride based polyaniline nanocomposite: Preparation, property, and application
Authors: Ahmad Sharique , Sultan Adil , Raza Waseem , Muneer M. , Mohammad Faiz
Published: June 2016

In this study, we report first time the electrical properties and photocatalytic activity of HCl doped polyaniline (Pani) and Pani/boron nitride (Pani/BN) nanocomposite prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline using potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) in the presence of hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN). The prepared Pani and Pani/BN nanocomposite were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis, Scanning electron microscope, and Transmission electron microscope. The stability of the Pani/BN nanocomposite in comparison of Pani in terms of the DC electrical conductivity retention was investigated under isothermal and cyclic aging conditions. The Pani/BN nanocomposite in terms of DC electrical conductivity was observed to be comparatively more thermally stable than Pani. The degradation of Methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV‐light irradiation were 50 and 56.4%, respectively, over Pani and 65.7 and 71.6%, respectively, over Pani/BN. The results indicated that the extent of degradation of MB and RhB was greater over nanocomposite material than Pani, which may result due to high electron–hole pairs charge separation under UV light. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43989.
Expression of Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 Retroelements and Induction of Type I Interferon in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Disease
Authors: Mavragani Clio P. , Sagalovskiy Irina , Guo Qiu , Nezos Adrianos , Kapsogeorgou Efstathia K. , Lu Pin , Liang Zhou Jun , Kirou Kyriakos A. , Seshan Surya V. , Moutsopoulos Haralampos M. , Crow Mary K.
Published: June 2016

Objective

Increased expression of type I interferon (IFN) and a broad signature of type I IFN–induced gene transcripts are observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other systemic autoimmune diseases. To identify disease‐relevant triggers of the type I IFN pathway, this study sought to investigate whether endogenous virus‐like genomic repeat elements, normally silent, are expressed in patients with systemic autoimmune disease, and whether these retroelements could activate an innate immune response and induce type I IFN.

Methods

Expression of type I IFN and long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE‐1; L1) was studied by polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in samples of kidney tissue from patients with lupus nephritis and minor salivary gland (MSG) tissue from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Induction of type I IFN by L1 was investigated by transfection of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) or monocytes with an L1‐encoding plasmid or L1 RNA. Involvement of innate immune pathways and altered L1 methylation were assessed.

Results

Levels of L1 messenger RNA transcripts were increased in lupus nephritis kidneys and in MSG tissue from patients with SS. Transcript expression correlated with the expression of type I IFN and L1 DNA demethylation. L1 open‐reading frame 1/p40 protein and IFNβ were expressed in MSG ductal epithelial cells and in lupus nephritis kidneys, and IFNα was detected in infiltrating PDCs. Transfection of PDCs or monocytes with L1‐encoding DNA or RNA induced type I IFN. Inhibition of Toll‐like receptor 7 (TLR‐7)/TLR‐8 reduced the induction of IFNα by L1 in PDCs, and an inhibitor of IKKε/TANK‐binding kinase 1 abrogated the induction of type I IFN by L1 RNA in monocytes.

Conclusion

L1 genomic repeat elements represent endogenous nucleic acid triggers of the type I IFN pathway in SLE and SS and may contribute to initiation or amplification of autoimmune disease.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Desymmetrization of Silacyclobutanes with Alkynes to Silicon‐Stereogenic Silanes: A Density Functional Theory Study
Authors: Zhang Jin , Xu Jin‐Zhou , Zheng Zhan‐Jiang , Xu Zheng , Cui Yu‐Ming , Cao Jian , Xu Li‐Wen
Published: June 2016

The palladium‐catalyzed desymmetrization of silacyclobutanes using electron‐deficient alkynes proceeds with high enantioselectivity in the presence of a chiral P ligand; this provides a facile approach for the synthesis of novel silicon‐stereogenic silanes. In this work, we used hybrid density functional theory (DFT) to elucidate the mechanism of the palladium‐catalyzed desymmetrization of silacyclobutanes with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate. Full catalytic cycle including two different initiation modes that were proposed to be a possible initial step to the formation of the 1‐pallada‐2‐silacyclopentane/alkyne intermediate—the oxidative addition of the palladium complex to the silacyclobutane Si−C bond (cycle MA) or coordination of the Pd0 complex with the alkyne C≡C bond (cycle MB)—have been studied. It was found that the ring‐expansion reaction began with cycle MB is energetically more favorable. The formation of a seven‐membered metallocyclic PdII intermediate was found to be the rate‐determining step, whereas the enantioselectivity‐determining step, oxidative addition of silacyclobutane to the three‐membered metallocyclic PdII intermediate, was found to be quite sensitive to the steric repulsion between the chiral ligand and silacyclobutane.
Convergence chromatographic determination of camphor in the essential oil of Tanacetum parthenium L.
Authors: Végh Krisztina , Riethmüller Eszter , Tóth Anita , Alberti Ágnes , Béni Szabolcs , Balla József , Kéry Ágnes
Published: June 2016

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L., Asteraceae) is a perennial medicinal plant which has been used to alleviate the symptoms of migraine, headache and rheumatoid arthritis and possesses numerous pharmacological activities. An ultra‐high‐performance supercritical fluid chromatographic method (UHPSFC) was developed and validated in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines in order to determine the camphor content of the volatile oil, which was accurate, precise, robust and selective. The method was validated for specificity, accuracy (100.2%), repeatability and intermediate precision, linearity (r2 > 0.999), limit of detection (2.055 μg/mL), limit of quantification (6.228 μg/mL) and robustness. The common range of accuracy and linearity was between 0.125 and 1.000 mg/mL. Steam distillation was carried out in order to study the essential oil yield of three different T. parthenium L. samples originating from Hungarian medicinal herb collections. The camphor content of the essential oils from the aerial parts of feverfew samples from different origin was compared. Although the composition of the essential oil is well reported, a validated quantitative UHPSFC method for the determination of the constituents is presented herein for the first time.
Finding the right fit: the search and selection process for direct assessment program enrollees
Authors: Morrison Cali M.K.
Published: June 2016

Background

Coupling the new majority of learners being 22 or older with the dawning of new alternative programs such as direct assessment competency‐based programs this study serves two purposes—to test a model for researching college choice of competency‐based education (CBE) students and investigate how learners, like participant one mentioned above, who ultimately enroll in a direct assessment competency‐based program, search for and choose that program.

Method

This qualitative study utilized interviews to investigate how learners, who recently enrolled in direct assessment CBE programs, undertook the college choice process.

Results

Initial results found that 80% of participants (N = 5) did not complete a formal search process and chose to enroll based on information from a trusted source—namely their employers and in one case, the Washington Post. The flexibility and the potential for cost savings, both through credit for prior learning and the ability to move quickly, were key enrollment catalysts.

Conclusion

The implications of this study are important for institutions developing competency‐based education programs—adult learners may not be actively looking for a program, the program has to find them through a trusted source and appeal to their wallet and career aspirations with flexible programs that treat them like the professionals they are.
A rare type of congenital Sturge‐Weber Syndrome: presenting with history of perinatal asphyxia
Authors: Ejike Obuoha , Odume Calistus , Ekwochi Uchenna , Ndu Ikenna , Imanyikwa Ugochukwu
Published: June 2016

Key Clinical Message

The presentation of a newborn with perinatal asphyxia and poor developmental milestones in a resource‐poor setting. Many a times, obscured, unsuspected, and uncommon etiologies compound well‐known causes of failure to thrive; in this case a rare finding of Type III Sturge‐Weber Syndrome was revealed by Brain CT scanning.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura presenting as acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Mouabbi Jason Aboudi , Zein Rami , Kafri Zyad , Al‐Katib Ayad , Hadid Tarik
Published: June 2016

Key Clinical Message

In patients presenting with thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura and non‐ST elevation myocardial infarction, prompt initiation of plasma exchange takes precedence over other invasive diagnostic procedures for coronary artery disease. Such procedures should be delayed until clinical condition and laboratory parameters have been stabilized.
Conformation‐Controlled Diplatinum(II)–Ferrocene Dyads to Achieve Long‐Lived Charge‐Separated States
Authors: Wang Ge‐Xia , Feng Ke , Crossley Maxwell J. , Xing Ling‐Bao , Xiao Hong‐Yan , Li Wen , Tung Chen‐Ho , Wu Li‐Zhu
Published: June 2016

Square‐planar polypyridyl platinum(II) complexes possess a rich range of structural and spectroscopic properties that are ideal for designing artificial photosynthetic centers. Taking advantage of the directionality in the charge‐transfer excitation from the metal to the polypyridyl ligand, we describe here diplatinum(II)–ferrocene dyads, open‐butterfly‐like dyad 1 and closed‐butterfly‐like dyad 2, which were designed to understand the conformation and orientation effects to prolong the lifetime of charge‐separated state. In contrast to the open‐butterfly‐like dyad 1, the closed‐butterfly‐like dyad 2 shows three‐times long lifetime of charge separated state upon photoexcitation, demonstrating that the orientation in the rigid structure of dyad 2 is a very important issue to achieve long‐lived charge separated state.
A Sustainable, Semi‐Continuous Flow Synthesis of Hydantoins
Authors: Vukelić Stella , Koksch Beate , Seeberger Peter H. , Gilmore Kerry
Published: June 2016

Hydantoins are an important class of heterocycles with applications in pharmacy, agriculture, and as intermediates in organic synthesis. Traditional synthetic procedures to access hydantoins are target oriented with multiple synthetic steps and often use reagents that are not commercially available or sustainable. Herein, an efficient process is described for accessing hydantoins starting from commercially available amines using consecutive gas–liquid transformations (oxygen, carbon dioxide). This semi‐continuous process produced ten benzylic/aliphatic hydantoins in good overall yields (52–84 %).
Room‐Temperature Gold‐Catalysed Arylation of Heteroarenes: Complementarity to Palladium Catalysis
Authors: Cresswell Alexander J. , Lloyd‐Jones Guy C.
Published: June 2016

Tailoring of the pre‐catalyst, the oxidant and the arylsilane enables the first room‐temperature, gold‐catalysed, innate C−H arylation of heteroarenes. Regioselectivity is consistently high and, in some cases, distinct from that reported with palladium catalysis. Tolerance to halides and boronic esters, in both the heteroarene and silane partners, provides orthogonality to Suzuki–Miyaura coupling.
ChemInform Abstract: The Crystal Structures of Ni3+xSn4Zn and Ni6+xSn8Zn and Their Structural Relations to Ni3+xSn4, NiSn and Ni5‐δZnSn4.
Authors: Schmetterer Clemens , Effenberger Herta Silvia , Rajamohan Divakar , Flandorfer Hans
Published: June 2016

Two new compounds, Ni3+xSn4Zn (x≈1.35, monoclinic, space group I2/m, Z = 2, single crystal XRD) and Ni6+xSn8Zn (x≈1.35, monoclinic, space group C2/m, Z = 2) are prepared by solid state reaction of the elements (Al2O3 crucible in evacuated quartz tubes, 1453 K).
ChemInform Abstract: Na2Hg3M2S8 (M: Si, Ge, and Sn): New Infrared Nonlinear Optical Materials with Strong Second Harmonic Generation Effects and High Laser‐Damage Thresholds.
Authors: Wu Kui , Yang Zhihua , Pan Shilie
Published: June 2016

The new title compounds are prepared from mixtures of Na, HgS, M (M: Si, Ge, Sn), and excess sulfur (600—700 °C, 60 h, 80% yield for Na2Hg3Si2S8).
ChemInform Abstract: Flower‐Like Cu2In2ZnS5 Nanosheets: A Novel Promising Photoelectrode for Water Splitting.
Authors: Hong Tiantian , Liu Zhifeng , Zhang Jing , Li Guangmin , Liu Junqi , Zhang Xueqi , Lin Shaohua
Published: June 2016

A flower‐like Cu2In2ZnS5 structure composed of nanosheets on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate is hydrothermally synthesized from a mixture of CuCl, InCl4, Zn(OAc)2, and thioacetamide in EtOH together with the ITO substrate (autoclave, 200 °C, 1 h).
ChemInform Abstract: Chiral Squaramide Catalyzed Synthesis of C4 Substituted Chiral Pyrazol‐3‐ol Derivatives via a Facile Asymmetric Michael Addition of 3‐Methyl‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one to β‐Nitrostyrenes.
Authors: Rao Kadiyala Srinivasa , Ramesh Pambala , Trivedi Rajiv , Kantam M. Lakshmi
Published: June 2016

A series of different chiral squaramide catalysts are screened for the enantioselective Michael addition of pyrazolinones (I) and (IV) to nitrostyrenes.
ChemInform Abstract: Organophotocatalytic Synthesis of Phosphoramidates.
Authors: Meazza Marta , Kowalczuk Agnieszka , Shirley Luke , Yang Jung Woon , Guo Hao , Rios Ramon
Published: June 2016

Dehydrogenative cross‐coupling reactions between phosphites and amines are performed using organic dyes and visible light, thus providing a sustainable and green protocol for preparation of phosphoramidates.
ChemInform Abstract: An Unexpected C—C Bond Cleavage of Acetophenones: Synthesis of Bis(heteroaryl)arylmethanes and Triarylmethanes via SeO2/Lanthanide Chloride Catalyzed Friedel—Crafts Arylation.
Authors: Kumar G. Santosh , Kumar A. Sanjeeva , Swetha A. , Babu B. Madhu , Meshram H. M.
Published: June 2016

The catalyst is recyclable.
ChemInform Abstract: CO2 Conversion into Esters by Fluoride‐Mediated Carboxylation of Organosilanes and Halide Derivatives.
Authors: Frogneux Xavier , von Wolff Niklas , Thuery Pierre , Lefevre Guillaume , Cantat Thibault
Published: June 2016

An optimized method is developed which allows the preparation of heteroaromatic esters under metal‐free conditions.
ChemInform Abstract: Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Multicomponent Reactions: Access to α‐Silyl‐β‐Hydroxy Vinylsilanes, Stereodefined 1,3‐Dienes, and Cyclohexenes.
Authors: Trost Barry M. , Koester Dennis C. , Sharif Ehesan U.
Published: June 2016

A broad spectrum of linear unsaturated silanes can be prepared from the same educts (I), (II) and different aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst via variation of the reaction conditions.
ChemInform Abstract: Highly Efficient Biphasic Ozonolysis of Alkenes Using a High‐Throughput Film‐Shear Flow Reactor.
Authors: Kendall Alexander J. , Barry Justin T. , Seidenkranz Daniel T. , Ryerson Ajay , Hiatt Colin , Salazar Chase A. , Bryant Dillon J. , Tyler David R.
Published: June 2016

A new method for flow ozonolysis using a film‐shear reactor is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative α‐Arylation of tert‐Butyl Cyanoacetate with (Hetero)aryl Bromides.
Authors: Jensen Mikkel T. , Juhl Martin , Nielsen Dennis U. , Jacobsen Mikkel F. , Lindhardt Anders T. , Skrydstrup Troels
Published: June 2016

A mild method is developed for the synthesis of a variety of β‐ketonitriles from aryl‐, hetaryl‐, and cinnamyl bromides, tert‐butyl 2‐cyanoacetate, and carbon monoxide using a two chamber system.
ChemInform Abstract: Direct Synthesis of Enolizable N‐Sulfonyl Ketimines under Microwave Irradiation.
Authors: Ortiz Pablo , Collados Juan F. , Harutyunyan Syuzanna R.
Published: June 2016

A promising alternative to established multistep procedures for preparation of the title compounds is presented.
ChemInform Abstract: TBHP‐Promoted and Iodide‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Anhydrides via Cross Dehydrogenative Coupling (CDC) of Aldehydes.
Authors: Singha Raju , Ghosh Munmun , Nuree Yasin , Ray Jayanta K.
Published: June 2016

The newly developed method can also be successfully applied for the synthesis of amides.
ChemInform Abstract: Highly Energetic, Low Sensitivity Aromatic Peroxy Acids.
Authors: Gamage Nipuni‐Dhanesha H. , Stiasny Benedikt , Stierstorfer Joerg , Martin Philip D. , Klapoetke Thomas M. , Winter Charles H.
Published: June 2016

Acids (II) and (IV) are prepared as shown.
ChemInform Abstract: Pummerer Reaction of Sulfoxides in Acetic Anhydride Catalyzed by Al‐MCM‐41.
Authors: Ito Suguru , Kubota Yoshihiro , Asami Masatoshi
Published: June 2016

Al‐MCM‐41 is found to be a useful catalyst for both inter‐ and intramolecular Pummerer reactions of sulfoxides.
ChemInform Abstract: Chemoselective Claisen—Schmidt Bis‐substitutional Condensation Catalyzed by an Alkoxy‐Bridged Dinuclear Ti(IV) Cluster.
Authors: Wu Yufei , Hou Jie , Liu Yuliang , Zhang Mingfu , Tung Chen‐Ho , Wang Yifeng
Published: June 2016

An efficient approach to a series of α,α‐bis‐substituted alkanone structures becomes possible in the presence of DTC (mechanism of the catalytic process).
ChemInform Abstract: Chiral Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Kinetic Resolution of Indolines Based on a Self‐Redox Reaction.
Authors: Saito Kodai , Akiyama Takahiko
Published: June 2016

The oxidative kinetic resolution involves an asymmetric intermolecular hydride transfer from indoline to an iminium intermediate generated from indoline and the salicylaldehyde reagent.
ChemInform Abstract: tert‐Butyl Iodide Mediated Reductive Fischer Indolization of Conjugated Hydrazones.
Authors: Ito Yuta , Ueda Masafumi , Takeda Norihiko , Miyata Okiko
Published: June 2016

Conditions A) include tBuI which is used as an anhydrous HI source.
ChemInform Abstract: Simple and Mild Synthesis of Indoles via Hydroamination Reaction Catalyzed by NHC‐Gold Complexes: Looking for Optimized Conditions.
Authors: Michalska Malina , Grela Karol
Published: June 2016

2‐Alkynylanilines are converted into the corresponding indoles using AuCl(IPr) complex as catalyst with catalyst loadings as low as 0.25 mol% for many of the substrates.
ChemInform Abstract: Highly Regioselective Synthesis of Pyrazole Derivatives Using a 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloaddition Approach.
Authors: Alizadeh Abdolali , Moafi Leila , Zhu Long‐Guan
Published: June 2016

3‐Formylchromones and aryloyl chloride phenylhydrazones react regioselectively under basic conditions to give the 1‐phenyl‐3‐aryl‐5‐(2‐hydroxybenzoyl)pyrazoles via an intermediary formed nitrile imine.
ChemInform Abstract: Generation of Oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones Bearing Sulfur‐Substituted Quaternary Carbon Atoms by Oxothiolation/Cyclization of Ynamides.
Authors: Huang Hai , Fan Junzhen , He Guangke , Yang Zhimin , Jin Xiaodong , Liu Qi , Zhu Hongjun
Published: June 2016

A novel method for the metal‐free oxothiolation of ynamides to construct oxazolidine‐2,4‐diones bearing sulfur‐substituted quaternary carbon atoms is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: DBU and DBU‐Derived Ionic Liquid Synergistic Catalysts for the Conversion of Carbon Dioxide/Carbon Disulfide to 3‐Aryl‐2‐oxazolidinones/[1,3]Dithiolan‐2‐ylidenephenylamine.
Authors: Wang Binshen , Luo Zhoujie , Elageed Elnazeer H. M. , Wu Shi , Zhang Yongya , Wu Xiaopei , Xia Fei , Zhang Guirong , Gao Guohua
Published: June 2016

The title compounds are prepared by conversion of CO2/CS2, epoxides, and amines under solvent‐ and metal‐free conditions.
ChemInform Abstract: Triacetic Acid Lactone as a Common Intermediate for the Synthesis of 4‐Hydroxy‐2‐pyridones and 4‐Amino‐2‐pyrones.
Authors: Kraus George A. , Wanninayake Umayangani K. , Bottoms Jashaun
Published: June 2016

Triacetic acid lactones (I) and (IV) react with amines at room temperature to yield 4‐aminopyrans (VI).
ChemInform Abstract: Metal‐Free Oxidative Hydrophosphinylation of 1,7‐Enynes.
Authors: Zhu Yi‐Long , Wang De‐Cai , Jiang Bo , Hao Wen‐Juan , Wei Ping , Wang Ai‐Fang , Qiu Jiang‐Kai , Tu Shu‐Jiang
Published: June 2016

A method for construction of polyfunctionalized dihydroquinolines is developed.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of Two ′Heteroaromatic Rings of the Future′ for Applications in Medicinal Chemistry.
Authors: Silva P. E. Jr. , Rezende L. C. D. , Possamai Gimenes Julia , Goncalves Maltarollo Vinicius , Dale James , Trossini G. H. G. , Emery F. S. , Ganesan A.
Published: June 2016

A short and inexpensive route to pyrazolopyridinol (II) and to the previously unknown naphthyridinol (X) is reported.