bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Common dependence on stress for the statistics of granular avalanches and earthquakes
Authors: Hatano Takahiro , Narteau Clément , Shebalin Peter
Published: July 2015

Both earthquake size-distributions and aftershock decay rates obey power laws. Recent studies have demonstrated the sensibility of their parameters to faulting properties such as focal mechanism, rupture speed or fault complexity. The faulting style dependence may be related to the magnitude of the differential stress, but no model so far has been able to reproduce this behaviour. Here we investigate the statistical properties of avalanches in a dissipative, bimodal particulate system under slow shear. We find that the event size-distribution obeys a power law only in the proximity of a critical volume fraction, whereas power-law aftershock decay rates are observed at all volume fractions accessible in the model. Then, we show that both the exponent of the event size-distribution and the time delay before the onset of the power-law aftershock decay rate are decreasing functions of the shear stress. These results are consistent with recent seismological observations of earthquake size-distribution and aftershock statistics.
A Highly Responsive Silicon Nanowire/Amplifier MOSFET Hybrid Biosensor
Authors: Lee Jieun , Jang Jaeman , Choi Bongsik , Yoon Jinsu , Kim Jee-Yeon , Choi Yang-Kyu , Myong Kim Dong , Hwan Kim Dae , Choi Sung-Jin
Published: July 2015

This study demonstrates a hybrid biosensor comprised of a silicon nanowire (SiNW) integrated with an amplifier MOSFET to improve the current response of field-effect-transistor (FET)-based biosensors. The hybrid biosensor is fabricated using conventional CMOS technology, which has the potential advantage of high density and low noise performance. The biosensor shows a current response of 5.74 decades per pH for pH detection, which is 2.5 × 105 times larger than that of a single SiNW sensor. In addition, we demonstrate charged polymer detection using the biosensor, with a high current change of 4.5 × 105 with a 500 nM concentration of poly(allylamine hydrochloride). In addition, we demonstrate a wide dynamic range can be obtained by adjusting the liquid gate voltage. We expect that this biosensor will be advantageous and practical for biosensor applications which requires lower noise, high speed and high density.
Hyperosmotic stress activates the expression of members of the miR-15/107 family and induces downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes in rat liver
Authors: Santosa David , Castoldi Mirco , Paluschinski Martha , Sommerfeld Annika , Häussinger Dieter
Published: July 2015

microRNAs are an abundant class of small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression. Importantly, microRNA activity has been linked to the control of cellular stress response. In the present study, we investigated whether the expression of hepatic microRNAs is affected by changes in ambient osmolarity. It is shown that hyperosmotic exposure of perfused rat liver induces a rapid upregulation of miR-15a, miR-15b and miR-16, which are members of the miR-15/107 microRNAs superfamily. It was also identified that hyperosmolarity significantly reduces the expression of anti-apoptotic genes including Bcl2, Ccnd1, Mcl1, Faim, Aatf, Bfar and Ikbkb, which are either validated or predicted targets of these microRNAs. Moreover, through the application of NOX and JNK inhibitors as well as benzylamine it is shown that the observed response is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that miR-15a, miR-15b and miR-16 are novel redoximiRs. It is concluded that the response of these three microRNAs to osmotic stress is ROS-mediated and that it might contribute to the development of a proapoptotic phenotype.
Genome-wide uniparental disomy screen in human discarded morphologically abnormal embryos
Authors: Xu Jiawei , Zhang Meixiang , Niu Wenbin , Yao Guidong , Sun Bo , Bao Xiao , Wang Linlin , Du Linqing , Sun Yingpu
Published: July 2015

Uniparental disomy (UPD) has been shown to be rare in human normal blastocysts, but its frequency in discarded morphologically abnormal embryos and its relevance to embryonic self-correction of aneuploid remains unknown. The aim of this study was to detect UPD in discarded morphologically abnormal embryos. Both discarded morphologically abnormal embryos, including zero-pronuclear zygotes (0PN), one-pronuclear zygotes (1PN), three-pronuclear zygotes (3PN) and 2PN embryos scored as low development potential were cultured into blastocysts then underwent trophectoderm biopsy. Genome-wide UPD screening of the trophectoderm of 241 discarded morphologically abnormal embryo sourced blastocysts showed that UPD occurred in nine embryos. Five embryos exhibited UPDs with euploid chromosomes and four displayed UPDs with chromosomal aneuploid. The percentage of UPDs among the morphologically abnormal sourced blastocysts was 3.73%, which is significant higher than the percentage observed in normal blastocysts. The frequency of UPD in 3PN-sourced blastocysts was 7.69%, which is significantly higher than that in normal blastocysts. This study provides the first systematic genome-wide profile of UPD in discarded morphologically abnormal embryos. Our results indicated that UPD may be a common phenomenon in discarded morphologically abnormal embryos and may be relevant to human embryonic self-correction.
Ultra-broadband and high-responsive photodetectors based on bismuth film at room temperature
Authors: Yao J. D. , Shao J. M. , Yang G. W.
Published: July 2015

Bismuth (Bi) has undergone researches for dozens of years on account of its abundant physics including the remarkably high mobility, exceptional large positive magnetoresistance and the coexistence of an insulating interior as well as metallic surfaces. Very recently, two-dimensional topologically-protected surface states immune to nonmagnetic perturbation such as surface oxidation and impurity scattering were experimentally demonstrated through systematic magnetotransport measurements, e.g. weak antilocalization effect and angular dependent Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations. Such robust metallic surface states, which are efficient in carrier transportation, along with its small bulk gap (14 meV) make Bi favored for high-responsive broadband photodetection. Here, we for the first time demonstrate the stable ultra-broadband photoresponse from 370 nm to 1550 nm with good reproducibility at room temperature based on a Bi photodetector. The fabricated device’s responsivity approaches 250 mA/W, accompanied with a rise time of 0.9 s and a decay time of 1.9 s. The photocurrent is linear dependent on the voltage and incident power, offering good tunability for multi-purpose applications. Thickness-dependent conductance and photocurrent reveal that the bulk is the optically active layer while the surface channel is responsible for carrier transportation. These findings pave an avenue to develop ultra-broadband Bi photodetectors for the next-generation multifunctional optoelectronic devices.
Label Propagation Prediction of Drug-Drug Interactions Based on Clinical Side Effects
Authors: Zhang Ping , Wang Fei , Hu Jianying , Sorrentino Robert
Published: July 2015

Drug-drug interaction (DDI) is an important topic for public health and thus attracts attention from both academia and industry. Here we hypothesize that clinical side effects (SEs) provide a human phenotypic profile and can be translated into the development of computational models for predicting adverse DDIs. We propose an integrative label propagation framework to predict DDIs by integrating SEs extracted from package inserts of prescription drugs, SEs extracted from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and chemical structures from PubChem. Experimental results based on hold-out validation demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. In addition, the new algorithm also ranked drug information sources based on their contributions to the prediction, thus not only confirming that SEs are important features for DDI prediction but also paving the way for building more reliable DDI prediction models by prioritizing multiple data sources. By applying the proposed algorithm to 1,626 small-molecule drugs which have one or more SE profiles, we obtained 145,068 predicted DDIs. The predicted DDIs will help clinicians to avoid hazardous drug interactions in their prescriptions and will aid pharmaceutical companies to design large-scale clinical trial by assessing potentially hazardous drug combinations. All data sets and predicted DDIs are available at http://astro.temple.edu/~tua87106/ddi.html.
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Perioperative Dexmedetomidine Administered as an Adjunct to General Anesthesia: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Li Bo , Li Yalan , Tian Shushi , Wang Huixia , Wu Hui , Zhang Aihua , Gao Chengjie
Published: July 2015

The aim of this meta-analysis is to examine the effects of dexmedetomidine on serum inflammatory markers when administered perioperatively. We searched multiple electronic databases for relevant research papers and carried out meta-analyses of weighted mean differences and interpreted in the light of statistical heterogeneity (I2). Fifteen RCTs recruiting 641 patients were included. Dexmedetomidine treatment significantly decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels with mean differences [95% CI] in the changes from baseline between dexmedetomidine treated and controls of −25.14 [−35.29, −15.00]; P < 0.00001 (for IL-6), −5.69 [−10.77, −0.60]; P < 0.04 (for IL-8) and −20.30 [−30.93, −9.67]; P < 0.0002 (for TNF-α) immediately after surgery; and −41.55 [−57.41, −25.70]; P < 0.00001 (IL-6), −6.46 [−10.83, −2.08]; P < 0.005 (IL-8) and −14.67 [−22.61, −6.73]; P < 0.0003 (TNF-α) on postoperative day 1 (random effects). IL-10 levels were found to increase significantly a day after surgery (8.33 [3.31, 13.36]; P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses did not reveal significant differences. In conclusion, perioperative adjunctive use of dexmedetomidine substantially decreases serum IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels.
Prediction of spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole with spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: Chen Haoyu , Chen Weiqi , Zheng Kangken , Peng Kun , Xia Honghe , Zhu Lei
Published: July 2015

It has been known that some traumatic macular holes can close spontaneously. However, knowledge about the types of macular hole that can close spontaneously is limited. In this retrospective study, we investigated patients with traumatic macular hole who were followed-up for at least 6 months without any surgical intervention. Clinical data and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images were compared between groups with and without macular hole closure. Overall, 27 eyes were included. Spontaneous closure of macular hole was observed in 10 (37.0%) eyes. The holes with spontaneous closure had smaller minimum diameter (244.9 ± 114.4 vs. 523.9 ± 320.0 μm, p = 0.007) and less intraretinal cysts (10% vs. 76.5%, p = 0.001) compared to the holes that did not close spontaneously. The area under the curve of receiver operative characteristic was 0.812 and 0.832 for minimum diameter of macular hole and presence of intraretinal cysts respectively. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the presence of intraretinal cysts was an independent predictive factor for closure of macular holes. The group with spontaneous macular hole closure had a high chance of visual improvement. Our study suggests that the absence of intraretinal cysts on SD-OCT can predict spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole.
Host-Guest Carbon Dots for Enhanced Optical Properties and Beyond
Authors: Sun Ya-Ping , Wang Ping , Lu Zhuomin , Yang Fan , Meziani Mohammed J. , LeCroy Gregory E. , Liu Yun , Qian Haijun
Published: July 2015

Carbon dots, generally small carbon nanoparticles with various forms of surface passivation, have achieved the performance level of semiconductor quantum dots in the green spectral region, but their absorption and fluorescence in red/near-IR are relatively weaker. Conceptually similar to endofullerenes, host-guest carbon dots were designed and prepared with red/near-IR dyes encapsulated as guest in the carbon nanoparticle core. Beyond the desired enhancement in optical properties, the host-guest configuration may significantly broaden the field of carbon dots.
Suppression of Poly(rC)-Binding Protein 4 (PCBP4) reduced cisplatin resistance in human maxillary cancer cells
Authors: Ito Yumi , Narita Norihiko , Nomi Nozomi , Sugimoto Chizuru , Takabayashi Tetsuji , Yamada Takechiyo , Karaya Kazuhiro , Matsumoto Hideki , Fujieda Shigeharu
Published: July 2015

Cisplatin plays an important role in the therapy for human head and neck cancers. However, cancer cells develop cisplatin resistance, leading to difficulty in treatment and poor prognosis. To analyze cisplatin-resistant mechanisms, a cisplatin-resistant cell line, IMC-3CR, was established from the IMC-3 human maxillary cancer cell line. Flow cytometry revealed that, compared with IMC-3 cells, cisplatin more dominantly induced cell cycle G2/M arrest rather than apoptosis in IMC-3CR cells. That fact suggests that IMC-3CR cells avoid cisplatin-induced apoptosis through induction of G2/M arrest, which allows cancer cells to repair damaged DNA and survive. In the present study, we specifically examined Poly(rC)-Binding Protein 4 (PCBP4), which reportedly induces G2/M arrest. Results showed that suppression of PCBP4 by RNAi reduced cisplatin-induced G2/M arrest and enhanced apoptosis in IMC-3CR cells, resulting in the reduction of cisplatin resistance. In contrast, overexpression of PCBP4 in IMC-3 cells induced G2/M arrest after cisplatin treatment and enhanced cisplatin resistance. We revealed that PCBP4 combined with Cdc25A and suppressed the expression of Cdc25A, resulting in G2/M arrest. PCBP4 plays important roles in the induction of cisplatin resistance in human maxillary cancers. PCBP4 is a novel molecular target for the therapy of head and neck cancers, especially cisplatin-resistant cancers.
Insight on how fishing bats discern prey and adjust their mechanic and sensorial features during the attack sequence
Authors: Aizpurua Ostaizka , Alberdi Antton , Aihartza Joxerra , Garin Inazio
Published: July 2015

Several insectivorous bats have included fish in their diet, yet little is known about the processes underlying this trophic shift. We performed three field experiments with wild fishing bats to address how they manage to discern fish from insects and adapt their hunting technique to capture fish. We show that bats react only to targets protruding above the water and discern fish from insects based on prey disappearance patterns. Stationary fish trigger short and shallow dips and a terminal echolocation pattern with an important component of the narrowband and low frequency calls. When the fish disappears during the attack process, bats regulate their attack increasing the number of broadband and high frequency calls in the last phase of the echolocation as well as by lengthening and deepening their dips. These adjustments may allow bats to obtain more valuable sensorial information and to perform dips adjusted to the level of uncertainty on the location of the submerged prey. The observed ultrafast regulation may be essential for enabling fishing to become cost-effective in bats and demonstrates the ability of bats to rapidly modify and synchronise their sensorial and motor features as a response to last minute stimulus variations.
Behavioral inhibition in childhood predicts smaller hippocampal volume in adolescent offspring of parents with panic disorder
Authors: Schwartz C E , Kunwar P S , Hirshfeld-Becker D R , Henin A , Vangel M G , Rauch S L , Biederman J , Rosenbaum J F
Published: July 2015

Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a genetically influenced behavioral profile seen in 15–20% of 2-year-old children. Children with BI are timid with people, objects and situations that are novel or unfamiliar, and are more reactive physiologically to these challenges as evidenced by higher heart rate, pupillary dilation, vocal cord tension and higher levels of cortisol. BI predisposes to the later development of anxiety, depression and substance abuse. Reduced hippocampal volumes have been observed in anxiety disorders, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Animal models have demonstrated that chronic stress can damage the hippocampal formation and implicated cortisol in these effects. We, therefore, hypothesized that the hippocampi of late adolescents who had been behaviorally inhibited as children would be smaller compared with those who had not been inhibited. Hippocampal volume was measured with high-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging in 43 females and 40 males at 17 years of age who were determined to be BI+ or BI− based on behaviors observed in the laboratory as young children. BI in childhood predicted reduced hippocampal volumes in the adolescents who were offspring of parents with panic disorder, or panic disorder with comorbid major depression. We discuss genetic and environmental factors emanating from both child and parent that may explain these findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a relationship between the most extensively studied form of temperamentally based human trait anxiety, BI, and hippocampal structure. The reduction in hippocampal volume, as reported by us, suggests a role for the hippocampus in human trait anxiety and anxiety disorder that warrants further investigation.
Analysis of exome sequence in 604 trios for recessive genotypes in schizophrenia
Authors: Rees E , Kirov G , Walters J T , Richards A L , Howrigan D , Kavanagh D H , Pocklington A J , Fromer M , Ruderfer D M , Georgieva L , Carrera N , Gormley P , Palta P , Williams H , Dwyer S , Johnson J S , Roussos P , Barker D D , Banks E , Milanova V , Rose S A , Chambert K , Mahajan M , Scolnick E M , Moran J L , Tsuang M T , Glatt S J , Chen W J , Hwu H -G ,   The Taiwanese Trios Exome Sequencing Consortium, Faraone Stephen V , Roe Cheri A , Chandler Sharon D , Liu Chih-Min , Liu Chen-Chung , Yeh Ling-Ling , Ouyang Wen-Chen , Chan Hung-Yu , Chen Chun-Ying , Neale B M , Palotie A , Sklar P , Purcell S M , McCarroll S A , Holmans P , Owen M J , O'Donovan M C
Published: July 2015

Genetic associations involving both rare and common alleles have been reported for schizophrenia but there have been no systematic scans for rare recessive genotypes using fully phased trio data. Here, we use exome sequencing in 604 schizophrenia proband–parent trios to investigate the role of recessive (homozygous or compound heterozygous) nonsynonymous genotypes in the disorder. The burden of recessive genotypes was not significantly increased in probands at either a genome-wide level or in any individual gene after adjustment for multiple testing. At a system level, probands had an excess of nonsynonymous compound heterozygous genotypes (minor allele frequency, MAF ⩽1%) in voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs; eight in probands and none in parents, P=1.5 × 10−4). Previous findings of multiple de novo loss-of-function mutations in this gene family, particularly SCN2A, in autism and intellectual disability provide biological and genetic plausibility for this finding. Pointing further to the involvement of VGSCs in schizophrenia, we found that these genes were enriched for nonsynonymous mutations (MAF ⩽0.1%) in cases genotyped using an exome array, (5585 schizophrenia cases and 8103 controls), and that in the trios data, synaptic proteins interacting with VGSCs were also enriched for both compound heterozygosity (P=0.018) and de novo mutations (P=0.04). However, we were unable to replicate the specific association with compound heterozygosity at VGSCs in an independent sample of Taiwanese schizophrenia trios (N=614). We conclude that recessive genotypes do not appear to make a substantial contribution to schizophrenia at a genome-wide level. Although multiple lines of evidence, including several from this study, suggest that rare mutations in VGSCs contribute to the disorder, in the absence of replication of the original findings regarding compound heterozygosity, this conclusion requires evaluation in a larger sample of trios.
Highly sensitive ligand-binding assays in pre-clinical and clinical applications: immuno-PCR and other emerging techniques
Authors: Spengler Mark , Adler Michael , Niemeyer Christof M.
Published: July 2015

Emerging state-of-the-art ligand-binding assay technologies for pharmaceutical sample testing are surveyed, which reveal enhanced analytical sensitivity over classical ELISA formats.
Raman spectroscopy and cytopathology of oral exfoliated cells for oral cancer diagnosis
Authors: Sahu Aditi , Tawde Sneha , Pai Venkatesh , Gera Poonam , Chaturvedi Pankaj , Nair Sudhir , Krishna C. Murali
Published: July 2015

Raman spectroscopy coupled with cytopathology of oral exfoliated cell specimens can differentiate between healthy and tumor groups.
Novel glycopolymer hydrogels as mucosa-mimetic materials to reduce animal testing
Authors: Cook Michael T. , Smith Sarah L. , Khutoryanskiy Vitaliy V.
Published: July 2015

Glycopolymer hydrogels capable of mimicking mucosal tissue in mucoadhesion testing have been designed.
Corannulene derivatives with low LUMO levels and dense convex–concave packing for n-channel organic field-effect transistors
Authors: Chen Rui , Lu Ru-Qiang , Shi Ke , Wu Fan , Fang Hong-Xun , Niu Zhe-Xuan , Yan Xiao-Yun , Luo Ming , Wang Xin-Chang , Yang Chi-Yuan , Wang Xiao-Ye , Xu Binbin , Xia Haiping , Pei Jian , Cao Xiao-Yu
Published: July 2015

N-channel OFETs in air based on corannulenes through lowering their LUMO levels and packing the molecules densely in single crystals were achieved.
Efficient photocatalytic water oxidation catalyzed by polyoxometalate [Fe11(H2O)14(OH)2(W3O10)2(α-SbW9O33)6]27− based on abundant metals
Authors: Du Xiaoqiang , Ding Yong , Song Fangyuan , Ma Baochun , Zhao Junwei , Song Jie
Published: July 2015

We report a novel molecular polyanionic cluster of eleven-FeIII substituted antimoniotungstate Na27[Fe11(H2O)14(OH)2(W3O10)2(α-SbW9O33)6]·103H2O (1). Under optimal conditions, a turn-over number (TON) of 1815 ± 50 and a turn-over frequency (TOFinitial) of 6.3 s−1 over 1 were achieved for water oxidation.
Multifunctional nanoparticles: recent progress in cancer therapeutics
Authors: Seeta Rama Raju G. , Benton Leah , Pavitra E. , Yu Jae Su
Published: July 2015

In recent times, several biocompatible nanomaterials with different morphologies and compositions, such as metals, metal oxides, and polymers, have been employed as multi-functional biomaterials to target cancer cells.
Amorphous metal–organic frameworks for drug delivery
Authors: Orellana-Tavra Claudia , Baxter Emma F. , Tian Tian , Bennett Thomas D. , Slater Nigel K. H. , Cheetham Anthony K. , Fairen-Jimenez David
Published: July 2015

We show controlled release over a 30 day period compared with the release from crystalline MOF, which occurs in less than 2 days.
Ionic liquids enhance the electrochemical CO2 reduction catalyzed by MoO2
Authors: Oh Yeonji , Hu Xile
Published: July 2015

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids promote MoO2-catalyzed electrochemical reduction of CO2.
Bisalkynylated 3,6-diiminocyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-diamine
Authors: Biegger Philipp , Schaffroth Manuel , Brödner Kerstin , Tverskoy Olena , Rominger Frank , Bunz Uwe H. F.
Published: July 2015

Reduction of bis(benzothiadiazole) by LiAlH4/CuI gives diethynylated diaminobenzoquinoneimine. This building block accesses novel targets in a one-step condensation reaction with different orthoquinones, resulting in unexpected rearrangement products. The compounds are characterized by their photophysical and electrochemical data as well as quantum chemical calculations.
Diverse mixtures of 2,4-dihydroxy tautomers and O4 protonated conformers of uridine and 2′-deoxyuridine coexist in the gas phase
Authors: Wu R. R. , Yang Bo , Frieler C. E. , Berden G. , Oomens J. , Rodgers M. T.
Published: July 2015

IRMPD spectroscopy and theoretical studies reveal that a diverse mixture of minor 2,4-dihydroxy and O4 protonated tautomeric conformations of the protonated forms of uridine and 2′-deoxyuridine are populated by ESI.
Low temperature catalytic oxidative aging of LDPE films in response to heat excitation
Authors: Luo Xuegang , Zhang Sizhao , Ding Feng , Lin Xiaoyan
Published: July 2015

Thermocatalytic oxidative degradation shows very fascinating route for the complete decomposition of polymeric waste that can be triggered at low temperatures.
A blue-emitting Sc silicate phosphor for ultraviolet excited light-emitting diodes
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhu Ge , Xin Shuangyu , Ding Xin , Xu Ju , Wang Yuansheng , Wang Yuhua
Published: July 2015

A series of phosphor BaSc2Si3O10:Eu2+ was synthesized, which exhibited strong absorption in the near ultraviolet range and gave abnormal blue emission.
Ice nucleation behaviour on sol–gel coatings with different surface energy and roughness
Authors: Fu Q. T. , Liu E. J. , Wilson P. , Chen Z.
Published: July 2015

Ice nucleation tends to occur at the three-phase contact line instead of on the liquid/solid contact interface.
Potentiostatic current and galvanostatic potential oscillations during electrodeposition of cadmium
Authors: López-Sauri D. A. , Veleva L. , Pérez-Ángel G.
Published: July 2015

The oscillations observed during the electrodeposition of cadmium are characteristic of an HN-NDR electrochemical oscillator.
The effect of RE substitution in layered REO0.5F0.5BiS2: chemical pressure, local disorder and superconductivity
Authors: Mizuguchi Y. , Paris E. , Sugimoto T. , Iadecola A. , Kajitani J. , Miura O. , Mizokawa T. , Saini N. L.
Published: July 2015

We have studied the effect of RE substitution on the structure and the local atomic disorder in REO0.5F0.5BiS2 (RE = rare-earth) to understand their correlation with the bulk superconductivity in these materials.
Catalytic behaviors of combined oxides derived from Mg/AlxFe1−x–Cl layered double hydroxides for H2S selective oxidation
Authors: Zhang Xin , Wang Zhuo , Tang Yuyin , Qiao Nanli , Li Yang , Qu Siqiu , Hao Zhengping
Published: July 2015

H2S was firstly adsorbed on the moderated basic site and then oxidized into elemental sulfur by Fe3+.
A polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-based catalyst for the efficient synthesis of cyclic carbonates
Authors: Bivona Lucia A. , Fichera Ornella , Fusaro Luca , Giacalone Francesco , Buaki-Sogo Mireia , Gruttadauria Michelangelo , Aprile Carmela
Published: July 2015

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane functionalized with imidazolium chloride peripheries was synthesized and successfully used as a catalyst for CO2 conversion.
Light-induced nitric oxide release from physiologically stable porous coordination polymers
Authors: Kim Chiwon , Diring Stéphane , Furukawa Shuhei , Kitagawa Susumu
Published: July 2015

A physiologically stable PCP based on titanium ions produces nitric oxide from bis-N-nitroso functionality on ligands under light irradiation.
Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy of subsurface layer dynamics of polymers with nanometer resolution in the axial direction
Authors: Vainer Yuri G. , Sobolev Yaroslav I. , Naumov Andrei V. , Osad'ko Igor S. , Kador Lothar
Published: July 2015

We studied the dynamics in ultrathin subsurface layers of an amorphous polymer by the spectra of single fluorescent molecules embedded into the layer by vapor deposition and subsequent controlled diffusion to the desired depth in ≈0.5 nm steps. The spectral trails of single molecules were recorded at 4.5 K as a function of diffusion depth. In depths shallower than 20 nm, the spectral dynamics deviate from those deep in the bulk. Less than 5 nm deep, the linewidths increase rapidly, whereas the number of detected molecules decreases. No zero-phonon lines were observed closer than 0.5 nm to the polymer surface. Possible physical reasons of the observed phenomena are discussed.
Physicochemical properties and adsorption of cholesterol by okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) powder
Authors: Chen Yi , Zhang Bing-Cheng , Sun Yu-Han , Zhang Jian-Guo , Sun Han-Ju , Wei Zhao-Jun
Published: July 2015

Superfine ground okra powders show various physicochemical properties and improve the adsorption of cholesterol.
Suppressive effects of saponin-enriched extracts from quinoa on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Yao Yang , Zhu Yingying , Gao Yue , Shi Zhenxing , Hu Yibo , Ren Guixing
Published: July 2015

This study was performed to investigate the effect of quinoa saponins (QS) on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.
The effect of hydride formation on instrumental mass discrimination in MC-ICP-MS: a case study of mercury (Hg) and thallium (Tl) isotopes
Authors: Georg R. Bastian , Newman Karla
Published: July 2015

Here we report evidence for enhanced hydride formation for Hg isotopes when using high sensitivity X skimmer cones and the Neptune MC-ICP-MS.
Exploring resistance mechanisms of HCV NS3/4A protease mutations to MK5172: insight from molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations
Authors: Guan Yan , Sun Huiyong , Pan Peichen , Li Youyong , Li Dan , Hou Tingjun
Published: July 2015

Mutations at a number of key positions (Ala156, Asp168 and Arg155) of the HCV NS3/4A protease can induce medium to high resistance to MK5172.
Searching beyond Gd for magnetocaloric frameworks: magnetic properties and interactions of the Ln(HCO2)3 series
Authors: Saines Paul J. , Paddison Joseph A. M. , Thygesen Peter M. M. , Tucker Matthew G.
Published: July 2015

Inclusion of Tb3+ in Ln(HCO2)3 improves magnetocaloric performance above 4 K and in low magnetic fields due to its greater ease of magnetization, supported by 1D ferromagnetic coupling intra-chain coupling.
Magnetic gold nanotriangles by microwave-assisted polyol synthesis
Authors: Yu Siming , Hachtel Jordan A. , Chisholm Matthew F. , Pantelides Sokrates T. , Laromaine Anna , Roig Anna
Published: July 2015

A facile, fast and bio-friendly microwave-assisted polyol route to synthesize high yield magnetic gold nanotriangles.
Understanding the conformational behaviour of Ac-Ala-NHMe in different media. A joint NMR and DFT study
Authors: Cormanich Rodrigo A. , Bühl Michael , Rittner Roberto
Published: July 2015

The conformational behaviour of Ac-Ala-NHMe is investigated in the gas-phase and in nonpolar, polar and polar protic solutions by experimental1H NMR and theoretical calculations.
Metal-free cycloaddition to synthesize naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole-4,9-diones
Authors: Chen Ping-Fan , Kuo Kung-Kai , Vandavasi Jaya Kishore , Boominathan Siva Senthil Kumar , Chen Chung-Yu , Wang Jeh-Jeng
Published: July 2015

A metal-free domino [3 + 2] cycloaddition is reported to construct naphtho[2,3-d][1,2,3]triazole-4,9-dione derivatives and provide an alternative approach to the azide–alkyne cycloadditions.
Recent advances in the synthesis and applications of graphene–polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Mingfa , Li Yang , Su Zhiqiang , Wei Gang
Published: July 2015

We summarize the recent advances in the modification of graphene with polymers and the synthesis and applications of high quality graphene–polymer nanocomposites.
Cr3+-substitution induced structural reconfigurations in the nanocrystalline spinel compound ZnFe2O4 as revealed from X-ray diffraction, positron annihilation and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies
Authors: Thankachan Rahul Mundiyaniyil , Cyriac Jincemon , Raneesh B. , Kalarikkal Nandakumar , Sanyal D. , Nambissan P. M. G.
Published: July 2015

In an earlier work, the substitution of Zn2+ ions at the tetrahedral sites of nanocrystalline zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) by Ni2+ ions had been observed to cause a transformation from the normal spinel structure to the inverse one.
Determination of DNA adenine methylation in genomes of mammals and plants by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Huang Wei , Xiong Jun , Yang Ying , Liu Song-Mei , Yuan Bi-Feng , Feng Yu-Qi
Published: July 2015

Determination of DNA adenine methylation in genomes of mammals and plants.
A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor based on a Ru(bpy)32+/nano Sm2O3modified carbon paste electrode for the determination ofl-proline
Authors: Hosseini Morteza , Moghaddam Mohammad Reza , Faridbod Farnoush , Norouzi Parviz , Pur Mohammad Reza Karimi , Ganjali Mohammad Reza
Published: July 2015

A novel solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor was successfully developed for the determination ofl-proline.
Azo-containing asymmetric bent-core liquid crystals with modulated smectic phases
Authors: Trišović Nemanja , Antanasijević Jelena , Tóth-Katona Tibor , Kohout Michal , Salamonczyk Miroslaw , Sprunt Samuel , Jákli Antal , Fodor-Csorba Katalin
Published: July 2015

We present the synthesis and characterization of ten asymmetric bent-core liquid crystals with enantiotropic modulated smectic (B7 type) phases. Their relatively low and wide photosensitive mesomorphic temperature range offers potential applications.
Electrochemical detection of cholesterol based on competitive host–guest recognition using a β-cyclodextrin/poly(N-acetylaniline)/graphene-modified electrode
Authors: Yang Long , Zhao Hui , Fan Shuangmei , Zhao Genfu , Ran Xin , Li Can-Peng
Published: July 2015

Illustration of the strategy of the proposed electrochemical sensor based on the competitive host–guest interaction between β-CD and MB (signal probe)/cholesterol (target).
Synthesis and evaluation of a glucose attached pyrene, as a fluorescent molecular probe in sugar and non-sugar based micro-heterogeneous media
Authors: Sarkar Ivy , Malini Hema , Das Thangamuthu Mohan , Mishra Ashok Kumar
Published: July 2015

A new fluorescent pyrene–glucose conjugate (pyd-glc), 1-(4,6-O-butylidene-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-4-(1-pyrene)-butan-2-one, has been synthesized by attaching a pyrene molecule to acetal (butylidene) protected glucoseviaa butane-2-one linker.
Synthesis of FeNi3 nanocrystals encapsulated in carbon nanospheres/reduced graphene oxide as a light weight electromagnetic wave absorbent
Authors: Ding Xiao , Huang Ying , Wang Jianguo
Published: July 2015

FeNi3 nanocrystals encapsulated in carbon nanospheres/reduced graphene oxide (FeNi3@C@rGO) composites have been synthesized through liquid-phase reduction reaction and then two-step hydrothermal processes followed by a pyrolysis process.
A simple and efficient synthesis of 9-arylfluorenes via metal-free reductive coupling of arylboronic acids and N-tosylhydrazones in situ
Authors: Shen Xu , Gu Ningning , Liu Ping , Ma Xiaowei , Xie Jianwei , Liu Yan , He Lin , Dai Bin
Published: July 2015

A general, yet efficient synthesis method of 9-arylfluorenes via metal-free reductive coupling of N-tosylhydrazones and arylboronic acids has been developed.
Dielectric environment as a factor to enhance the production yield of solvent exfoliated graphene
Authors: Srivastava Pawan Kumar , Yadav Premlata , Ghosh Subhasis
Published: July 2015

High yield production of high quality graphene is essential for its application in electronics, optoelectronics and energy storage devices.
The effect of 5-nitroindazole as an inhibitor for the corrosion of copper in a 3.0% NaCl solution
Authors: Qiang Yujie , Zhang Shengtao , Xu Shenying , Yin Linliang
Published: July 2015

A new environment-friendly inhibitor which can prevent the chloride corrosion of copper significantly.
A review of the structures of oxide glasses by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Yadav Avadhesh Kumar , Singh Prabhakar
Published: July 2015

The family of oxide glasses is very wide and it is continuously developing.
A cupronickel-based micromesh film for use as a high-performance and low-voltage transparent heater
Authors: Kim Han-Jung , Kim Yoonkap , Jeong Jun-Ho , Choi Jun-Hyuk , Lee Jihye , Choi Dae-Geun
Published: July 2015

Uniformly interconnected CuNi mesh film was prepared by using a simple transfer printing method. The CuNi mesh films showed excellent heating performances, which reached a maximum steady-state temperature of 225 °C in 60 s, with respect to applied low-voltage (9 V), and better thermal stability than that of the pure Cu mesh film.
Enhanced photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells based on Sr-doped TiO2/SrTiO3 nanorod array heterostructures
Authors: Tang Rui , Yin Longwei
Published: July 2015

We present a novel Sr-doped TiO2/SrTiO3 nanorod array heterostructure for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) via a facile two-step hydrothermal process, with a tunable microstructure, optical response and photoelectrical conversion properties.
Double-shelled support and confined void strategy to improve the lithium storage properties of SnO2/C anode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Tian Qinghua , Tian Yang , Zhang Zhengxi , Yang Li , Hirano Shin-ichi
Published: July 2015

The as-prepared SnO2@DSC exhibits excellent electrochemical performance due to the double-shelled support and confined void strategy.
Incorporation of quantum dots into silk biomaterials for fluorescence imaging
Authors: Zheng Z. Z. , Liu M. , Guo S. Z. , Wu J. B. , Lu D. S. , Li G. , Liu S. S. , Wang X. Q. , Kaplan D. L.
Published: July 2015

Tracking the distribution and degradation of biomaterials after in vivo implantation or injection is important for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
The mucolipidosis IV Ca2+ channel TRPML1 (MCOLN1) is regulated by the TOR kinase
Authors: Onyenwoke Rob U. , Sexton Jonathan Z. , Yan Feng , Díaz María Cristina Huertas , Forsberg Lawrence J. , Major Michael B. , Brenman Jay E.
Published: July 2015

Autophagy is a complex pathway regulated by numerous signalling events that recycles macromolecules and may be perturbed in lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). During autophagy, aberrant regulation of the lysosomal Ca2+ efflux channel TRPML1 [transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (MCOLN1)], also known as MCOLN1, is solely responsible for the human LSD mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV); however, the exact mechanisms involved in the development of the pathology of this LSD are unknown. In the present study, we provide evidence that the target of rapamycin (TOR), a nutrient-sensitive protein kinase that negatively regulates autophagy, directly targets and inactivates the TRPML1 channel and thereby functional autophagy, through phosphorylation. Further, mutating these phosphorylation sites to unphosphorylatable residues proved to block TOR regulation of the TRPML1 channel. These findings suggest a mechanism for how TOR activity may regulate the TRPML1 channel.
DNA cytosine and methylcytosine deamination by APOBEC3B: enhancing methylcytosine deamination by engineering APOBEC3B
Authors: Fu Yang , Ito Fumiaki , Zhang Gewen , Fernandez Braulio , Yang Hanjing , Chen Xiaojiang S.
Published: July 2015

APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like) is a family of enzymes that deaminates cytosine (C) to uracil (U) on nucleic acid. APOBEC3B (A3B) functions in innate immunity against intrinsic and invading retroelements and viruses. A3B can also induce genomic DNA mutations to cause cancer. A3B contains two cytosine deaminase domains (CD1, CD2), and there are conflicting reports about whether both domains are active. Here we demonstrate that only CD2 of A3B (A3BCD2) has C deamination activity. We also reveal that both A3B and A3BCD2 can deaminate methylcytosine (mC). Guided by structural and functional analysis, we successfully engineered A3BCD2 to gain over two orders of magnitude higher activity for mC deamination. Important determinants that contribute to the activity and selectivity for mC deamination have been identified, which reveals that multiple elements, rather than single ones, contribute to the mC deamination activity and selectivity in A3BCD2 and possibly other APOBECs.
Comparative study of LDPC coding schemes and FPGA implementation for inter‐vehicle communications
Authors: Kiokes G. , Zountouridou E.
Published: July 2015

A novel comparative study of different low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) coding algorithms and implementation issues through field‐programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) technology for wireless vehicular applications is presented. A key development in LDPC codes is the iterative decoding algorithm which uses the belief propagation algorithm. A comprehensive investigation of the performance of different coding schemes was carried out. Four different decoding techniques were tested by computer‐based simulations of messages modulated under the binary phase‐shift keying modulation scheme and transmitted through a vehicular channel model. Finally, the best performance ratio against complexity algorithm was chosen to be implemented on a Xilinx FPGA platform.
Highly sensitive dual‐mode relative humidity sensor based on integrated SAW and LC resonators
Authors: Lu D. , Zheng Y. , Penirschke A. , Jakoby R.
Published: July 2015

A dual‐mode relative humidity (RH) sensor is fabricated based on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator with anti‐corrosive gold electrodes. The reflectors of the SAW resonator consist of two interdigital capacitors with loaded polyvinyl‐alcohol (PVA) films as sensitive layers, which further form a LC resonator operating below the SAW resonance frequency. With this sensor configuration, two sensing mechanisms are realised. The SAW resonator senses the mass loading of the PVA film with an average sensitivity of 0.38 × 10−4/%RH and a minimum electrical quality factor Q of 267 from 14.2% to its cutoff RH of 72.4%. The LC resonator senses the permittivity of the PVA film, which extends the operation range of the sensor to 89.3%RH with an average sensitivity of 4.79 × 10−4/%RH and a minimum Q factor of 8.7. Furthermore, a figure of merit (FoM) is defined and extracted from measurements to evaluate both the sensitivity and the Q factor. Below the cutoff RH, the sensor is preferable for use for the SAW resonator for RH sensing because of its better FoM. Above the cutoff RH, the SAW resonator is out of function, and the LC resonator is used instead with a good FoM.
Compact dual‐band bandpass filter using simply hybrid structures
Authors: Duan Qi , Song Kaijun , Chen Fulong , Fan Yong
Published: July 2015

A novel compact dual‐band bandpass filter (BPF) using a hybrid structure of microstrip patch and coplanar waveguide (CPW) is proposed, designed, and implemented. The dual‐band response can be realised by embedding two CPW structures in the microstrip square patch, which can not only disturb two fundamental degenerated modes, TM100 and TM010, but also adjust the resonant frequency of the TM110 mode. The two degenerated modes are used to form the first passband while the TM110 mode and two CPW resonators are used to generate the second passband. The first and second passbands have two and three poles, respectively. The dual‐band BPF has a simple structure and good performance.
Adaptive hysteresis and fuzzy logic controlled‐based shunt active power filter resistant to shoot‐through phenomenon
Authors: Panda Anup Kumar , Patel Ranjeeta
Published: July 2015

This study proposes a novel adaptive hysteresis and fuzzy logic controlled based 3‐phase 4‐wire full bridge interleaved buck active power filter (FB IB‐APF) which eliminates current harmonics without shoot‐through phenomenon. Besides mitigating current harmonics, special attention has been given to improve the reliability of the APF by eliminating shoot‐through current occurred in the converter circuit. The proposed APF topology consists of three single phase full bridge interleaved buck converter and therefore can be used for high voltage, medium‐to‐high power application. id–iq control strategy along with fuzzy logic controller (FLC) have been used for reference current generation. The results with PI controller have also been shown to prove the superiority of FLC. The adaptive hysteresis band current controller is being implemented to obtain optimised switching frequency. The performance of the proposed FB IB‐APF is evaluated under sinusoidal, unbalanced and non‐sinusoidal voltage source condition. Exhaustive simulation results are presented and finally verified with a real time digital simulator. The performance shows that FB IB‐APF brings the total harmonic distortion of the source current well below 5% adhering to IEEE‐519 standard. A comparison has also been made, based on switch device power between the IB‐APFs using for low power and high power application.
Identification of cancer‐related genes and motifs in the human gene regulatory network
Authors: Carson Matthew B. , Gu Jianlei , Yu Guangjun , Lu Hui
Published: July 2015

The authors investigated the regulatory network motifs and corresponding motif positions of cancer‐related genes. First, they mapped disease‐related genes to a transcription factor regulatory network. Next, they calculated statistically significant motifs and subsequently identified positions within these motifs that were enriched in cancer‐related genes. Potential mechanisms of these motifs and positions are discussed. These results could be used to identify other disease‐ and cancer‐related genes and could also suggest mechanisms for how these genes relate to co‐occurring diseases.
Lactogenic hormones regulate mammary protein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells via the mTOR and JAK–STAT signal pathways
Authors: Tian Q. , Wang H. R. , Wang M. Z. , Wang C. , Liu S. M.
Published: July 2015

The expression of CSN3, hormone receptor, the expression of genes regulating the mTOR, JAK–STAT signal pathways, and the relative content of к-casein as well as total casein were determined in the present study to explore the mechanism of the effect of lactogenic hormones on milk-protein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells. The results showed that apoptosis of the cells was increased by inhibitor LY294002, while the expressions of genes encoding PKB, Rheb, PRAS40 and S6K1 in the mTOR signal pathway, JAK2, STAT5A in the JAK–STAT signal pathway, and genes encoding INSR, PRLR, NR3C1 and CSN3 were all downregulated, and the relative contents of κ-casein and total casein were decreased in the mammary epithelial cells compared with those in the control group. Comparatively, the inhibitory effects of AG-490 were more profound than those of LY294002, and the double block using both inhibitors had a greater effect than the single block. The CSN3 gene expression was downregulated and the content of milk casein was decreased by the inhibitors. In addition, the expression of the hormone receptor genes was downregulated. Our results suggest that lactogenic hormones, via their receptors in the membrane, regulated the JAK–STAT and m-TOR signal pathways, and affected cell proliferation and apoptosis, leading to changes in milk-protein synthesis.
The effect of slaughter weight on the carcass characteristics of pork with sex type as co-variable
Authors: Pieterse E. , Hoffman L. C. , Siebrits F. K. , Gloy E. L. , Polawska E.
Published: July 2015

A study was conducted with 192 pigs of three sex types with treatments according to slaughter weight (65 kg to 144 kg). The main statistical differences observed were for slaughter weight with significant (P < 0.05) and highly significant (P < 0.01) differences describing more than 10% of variance observed for all characteristics (liveweight, warm carcass weight, dressing percentage, eye muscle area, subcutaneous fat thickness, intramuscular fat area, subcutaneous fat : eye muscle area, intramuscular fat : eye muscle area, fat thickness, muscle depth, carcass length, ham circumference, ham length and chest depth) measured. Sex differences (P < 0.05) were also observed for dressing percentage, fat measurements and muscle depth measured between the 5th and 6th lumbar vertebrae. Sex type differences, in all instances, accounted for 10% or less variance except for subcutaneous fat : eye muscle area ratio (18.47%). It was shown that although significant sex type differences (P < 0.05) existed; slaughter weight had the largest effect on carcass characteristics in the given circumstances accounting for most of the observed variance.