bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meteorite impacts on ancient oceans opened up multiple NH3 production pathways
Authors: Shimamura Kohei , Shimojo Fuyuki , Nakano Aiichiro , Tanaka Shigenori
Published: April 2017

A recent series of shock experiments by Nakazawa et al. starting in 2005 (e.g. [Nakazawa et al., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2005, 235, 356]) suggested that meteorite impacts on ancient oceans would have yielded a considerable amount of NH3 to the early Earth from atmospheric N2 and oceanic H2O through reduction by meteoritic iron.
Threshold concentration in the nonlinear absorbance law
Authors: Tolbin Alexander Yu. , Pushkarev Victor E. , Tomilova Larisa G. , Zefirov Nikolay S.
Published: April 2017

Deviation from the Beer–Lambert law at high concentrations was described in terms of the nonlinear absorbance on the basis of a new empirical equation, which includes the threshold concentration as a breakpoint on the continuous function ‘absorption coefficient vs. concentration’.
Benzylene-linked [PNP] scaffolds and their cyclometalated zirconium and hafnium complexes
Authors: Sietzen Malte , Batke Sonja , Antoni Patrick W. , Wadepohl Hubert , Ballmann Joachim
Published: April 2017

The benzylene-linked [PNP] ligands HN(CH2-o-C6H4PPh2)2 and HN(C6H4-o-CH2PPh2)2 were employed for the synthesis of the cyclometalated complexes κ4-[PNCP]Zr(η6-C7H8) and κ4-[PNCP]M(H)(κ3-Et3BH) (M = Zr, Hf).
Well-defined functional mesoporous silica/polymer hybrids prepared by an ICAR ATRP technique integrated with bio-inspired polydopamine chemistry for lithium isotope separation
Authors: Liu Yuekun , Liu Xuegang , Ye Gang , Song Yang , Liu Fei , Huo Xiaomei , Chen Jing
Published: April 2017

Mesoporous silica/polymer hybrids synthesized via polydopamine-assisted surface-initiated ICAR ATRP for lithium isotopes separation.
Nanocrystalline cerium oxide prepared from a carbonate precursor and its ability to breakdown biologically relevant organophosphates
Authors: Janoš Pavel , Henych Jiří , Pfeifer Jan , Zemanová Nikola , Pilařová Věra , Milde David , Opletal Tomáš , Tolasz Jakub , Malý Marek , Štengl Václav
Published: April 2017

The phosphatase-mimetic ability of nanocrystalline cerium oxide was demonstrated using thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) as model compounds.
The emerging roles of carbon dots in solar photovoltaics: a critical review
Authors: Essner Jeremy B. , Baker Gary A.
Published: April 2017

Nanoscale carbon dots are promising candidates as inexpensive and sustainable alternatives to conventional materials for fabricating competitive solar photovoltaic devices.
Molecular self-assembly of substituted terephthalic acids at the liquid/solid interface: investigating the effect of solvent
Authors: Della Pia A. , Luo D. , Blackwell R. , Costantini G. , Martsinovich N.
Published: April 2017

Self-assembly of three related molecules – terephthalic acid and its hydroxylated analogues – at liquid/solid interfaces (graphite/heptanoic acid and graphite/1-phenyloctane) has been studied using a combination of scanning tunnelling microscopy and molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics calculations. Brickwork-like patterns typical for terephthalic acid self-assembly have been observed for all three molecules. However, several differences became apparent: (i) formation or lack of adsorbed monolayers (self-assembled monolayers formed in all systems, with one notable exception of terephthalic acid at the graphite/1-phenyloctane interface where no adsorption was observed), (ii) the size of adsorbate islands (large islands at the interface with heptanoic acid and smaller ones at the interface with 1-phenyloctane), and (iii) polymorphism of the hydroxylated terephthalic acids’ monolayers, dependent on the molecular structure and/or solvent. To rationalise this behaviour, molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics calculations have been performed, to analyse the three key aspects of the energetics of self-assembly: intermolecular, substrate–adsorbate and solvent–solute interactions. These energetic characteristics of self-assembly were brought together in a Born–Haber cycle, to obtain the overall energy effects of formation of self-assembled monolayers at these liquid/solid interfaces.
Enzymatic hydrolysis lignin derived hierarchical porous carbon for supercapacitors in ionic liquids with high power and energy densities
Authors: Guo Nannan , Li Min , Sun Xingkai , Wang Feng , Yang Ru
Published: April 2017

Hydrothermal synthesis of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin-derived 3D hierarchical porous carbon for high performance supercapacitors.
Standardless semi-quantitative analysis by PIXE
Authors: Rodríguez T. , Limandri S. , Suárez S. , Ortega-Feliu I. , Trincavelli J.
Published: April 2017

A method based on the refinement of atomic and experimental parameters developed for the description of PIXE spectra is presented and applied to standardless semi-quantitative PIXE analysis.
A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for Cu2+based on a novel naphthalimide–rhodamine platform and its application in live cell imaging
Authors: Liu Chang , Jiao Xiaojie , He Song , Zhao Liancheng , Zeng Xianshun
Published: April 2017

A bifluorophore-based ratiometric fluorescent probe has been developed. The probe is cell-permeable and can be used as a FRET-based ratiometric fluorescent probe for lysosomal Cu2+imaging in living cells.
Palladium-catalyzed arene C–H activation/ketone C–H functionalization reaction: route to spirodihydroindenones
Authors: Zhang Bo-Sheng , Hua Hui-Liang , Gao Lu-Yao , Liu Ce , Qiu Yi-Feng , Zhou Ping-Xin , Zhou Zhao-Zhao , Zhao Jia-Hui , Liang Yong-Min
Published: April 2017

A novel palladium and norbornene catalyzed arene C–H activation method to synthesize various spirodihydroindenone derivatives is developed.
Metformin as a versatile ligand for recyclable palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in neat water
Authors: Fortun S. , Beauclair P. , Schmitzer A. R.
Published: April 2017

We present the high catalytic activity of an in situ generated palladium(ii)/metformin complex in neat water for the Suzuki–Miyaura and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions.
Formation of C60 fullerene-bonded-CNTs using radio frequency plasma
Authors: Duan Shengxia , Liu Xia , Wang Yanan , Shao Dadong , Meng Yuedong , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed , Li Jiaxing
Published: April 2017

Hybrid CNTs-C60 (CNBs) were successfully synthesized using radio frequency plasma for the first time. It would be an efficient and easy method to build a special structure with nanotube junctions.
Retraction: Cell orientation, proliferation, and differentiation on poly(l-lactide) spherulites
Authors: Zou F. , Lu F. Z. , Ma X. S. , He D. W. , Tang T. T. , Xia X. L. , Jiang J. Y. , Niu Y. F.
Published: April 2017

Retraction of ‘Cell orientation, proliferation, and differentiation on poly(l-lactide) spherulites’ by F. Zou et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 57396–57402.
Polyaniline coated Fe3O4 hollow nanospheres as anode materials for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Wang Xiaoliang , Liu Yanguo , Han Hongyan , Zhao Yanyan , Ma Wuming , Sun Hongyu
Published: April 2017

Polyaniline layer coated hollow Fe3O4 nanospheres show enhanced lithium storage properties as compared to hollow and solid Fe3O4 nanospheres.
Graphene quantum dots: multifunctional nanoplatforms for anticancer therapy
Authors: Iannazzo Daniela , Ziccarelli Ida , Pistone Alessandro
Published: April 2017

We review the recent advances in the application of GQDs as innovative nanoplatforms for anticancer therapy and bioimaging.
Open transport data for maximising reuse in multimodal route planners: a study in Flanders
Authors: Colpaert Pieter , Van Compernolle Mathias , Walravens Nils , Mechant Peter , Adriaenssens Jan , Ongenae Femke , Verborgh Ruben , Mannens Erik
Published: April 2017

The European Data Portal shows a growing number of governmental organisations opening up transport data. As end users need traffic or transit updates on their day‐to‐day travels, route planners need access to this government data to make intelligent decisions. Developers however, will not integrate a dataset when the cost for adoption is too high. In this paper, the authors study the internal and technological challenges to publish data from the Department of Transport and Public Works in Flanders for maximum reuse. Using the qualitative Engage STakeholdErs through a systEMatic toolbox (ESTEEM) research approach, they interviewed 27 governmental data owners and organised both an internal workshop as a matchmaking workshop. In these workshops, data interoperability was discussed on four levels: legal, syntactic, semantic and querying. The interviews were summarised in ten challenges to which possible solutions were formulated. The effort needed to reuse existing public datasets today is high, yet they see the first evidence of datasets being reused in a legally and syntactically interoperable way. Publishing data so that it is reusable in an affordable way is still challenging.
Model predictive control for parallel three‐level T‐type grid‐connected inverters in renewable power generations
Authors: Xing Xiangyang , Zhang Chenghui , He Jinwei , Chen Alian , Zhang Zicheng
Published: April 2017

As the penetration of renewable power generation units connected to the grid increases, high power quality and high efficiency have been widespread concerned. The parallel 3LT2Is are necessary to improve the quality and efficiency of applications. The use of common dc‐link without isolating transformers will cause the zero‐sequence circulating current (ZSCC) problem. This study proposes a finite control set model predictive current control to suppress the ZSCC, balance the neutral‐point (NP) voltage as well as control the currents with fast transient response. The cause of the ZSCC generated in the parallel 3LT2I is analysed. The proposed ZSCC suppression technique is achieved through changing the redundant small vectors in the parallel 3LT2Is. Moreover, the coupling problem between the ZSCC and NP balance is solved by the amplitude comparison of NP voltage and ZSCC. As a result, better ZSCC suppression and NP voltage performance can be achieved in different output currents and filter inductance condition. The proposed method has been verified experimentally.
Experimental investigation of the effect of partial shading on photovoltaic performance
Authors: Mamun Mohammad Abdullah Al , Hasanuzzaman Md , Selvaraj Jeyraj
Published: April 2017

Partial shading of a photovoltaic (PV) installation has an inconsistent impact on power production. This study investigates the effect of partial shading on PV performance. The experiments were carried out with a 90‐W PV module under both variable and constant irradiations with shaded area increased from 0 to 80% to observe the effect of variable solar radiation at certain shading points. The effect of shading under irradiation levels from 300 to 800 W/m2 was investigated. At a 600 W/m2 irradiation level, the shading impact factor was 1.25 with a 25% shading, while at 75% shading the impact factor decreased to 0.86. Results also show that for every 100 W/m2 increase in irradiation level, the electrical power output was enhanced by 3.89, 3.37, 2.27, and 2.02 W at 0, 25, 50, and 75% shading, respectively. The efficiency level was increased by 0.29, 0.27, 0.25, and 0.22% at 0, 25, 50, and 75% shading, respectively. Increasing the shaded area by 10% causes a 12.41 W drop in power output and a 2.3% drop in electrical efficiency. Partial shading not only deteriorates the PV performance, but also causes long‐term degradation of the module.
Efficient operation of residential solar panels with determination of the optimal tilt angle and optimal intervals based on forecasting model
Authors: Akhlaghi Shahrokh , Sangrody Hossein , Sarailoo Morteza , Rezaeiahari Mandana
Published: April 2017

A solar panel tilt angle plays a great role in the performance of the solar panel which is either fixed at an optimal tilt angle or continuously adjusted using a solar tracking system. Solar tracking systems are not cost efficient especially for residential usage. On the other hand, a fixed tilt angle results in a huge loss of solar energy. One resort to solve this problem is to adjust the tilt angle a limited number of times. In this paper, a novel procedure is proposed to select the number of intervals and their durations by solving an optimisation problem. The proposed algorithm is consisted of four major steps. First, the solar radiation of the next year is predicted using historical data. Second, using a bee algorithm the optimal tilt angle of each interval is computed. Third, an optimisation problem is solved to get new periods for each interval. Finally, a stopping criterion is checked to decide whether the previous step should be repeated or the algorithm has been converged. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is studied at nine different locations across the US. The results show improvement of the solar power generation by using the optimal intervals.
Self‐peeling‐off in the drying of particulate films mixed with cellulose nanofibres
Authors: Ooi Yuto , Hanasaki Itsuo , Mizumura Daiki , Matsuda Yu
Published: April 2017

Industrial applications of cellulose nanofibres (CNFs) include the additive to a wide range of materials from display and cosmetic to pigment inks. Many of these expected applications are based on the mixture of colloidal particles and CNFs in aqueous dispersion. In particular, the mixed dispersion is typically processed in such a way that the droplet or shallow wide volume of dispersion is dried on the substrate or container. In this work, the basic physical properties that these diverse kinds of potential applications share in common are focused on. The colloidal films were fabricated consisting of polystyrene particles and CNFs under the condition of various concentration combinations through the drying of aqueous dispersion in polystyrene well plates. It has been found that the films fabricated from higher concentrations of CNF tend to peel‐off spontaneously in the drying process. The basic mechanism of phenomenon is attributed to the contraction of CNFs during the drying by hydrogen bonding between the filaments.
“Dupatta” Entanglement: Cause of Head Injury in Female Pillion Riders on Motorcycles
Authors: Shinde Sushilkumar , Sharma Rajesh , Bhaskar S. , Chaudhary Ajay
Published: April 2017

Road traffic accidents are a major cause of head injury. Direct head-on collision, hit by vehicle, and overturning of vehicle are some of the modes of road traffic accidents leading to head injury. A dupatta is an accessory worn by many females in the Indian subcontinent. It is wrapped around the neck like a scarf. It can get entangled in the vehicle leading to skidding of vehicle and consequent traumatic injury. There are many reported cases of cervical spine injury by this mechanism. However, this can also result in head injury due to direct impact. In this article we report two cases of head injury caused by entanglement of dupatta in the tire of a two-wheeler vehicle. In both cases the dupatta got entangled in the tire of vehicle leading to skidding of bike and then leading to head injury.
Further Clinical Delineation of the MEF2C Haploinsufficiency Syndrome: Report on New Cases and Literature Review of Severe Neurodevelopmental Disorders Presenting with Seizures, Absent Speech, and Involuntary Movements
Authors: Vrečar Irena , Innes Josie , Jones Elizabeth , Kingston Helen , Reardon William , Kerr Bronwyn , Clayton-Smith Jill , Douzgou Sofia
Published: April 2017

Mutations in the MEF2C (myocyte enhancer factor 2) gene have been established as a cause for an intellectual disability syndrome presenting with seizures, absence of speech, stereotypic movements, hypotonia, and limited ambulation. Phenotypic overlap with Rett's and Angelman's syndromes has been noted. Following the first reports of 5q14.3q15 microdeletions encompassing the MEF2C gene, further cases with point mutations and partial gene deletions of the MEF2C gene have been described. We present the clinical phenotype of our cohort of six patients with MEF2C mutations and compare our findings with previously reported patients as well as with a growing number of genetic conditions presenting with a severe neurodevelopmental, Rett-like, phenotype. We aim to add to the current knowledge of the natural history of the “MEF2C haploinsufficiency syndrome” as well as of the differential diagnosis, clinical management, and genetic counseling in this diagnostically challenging group of patients.
Innovative E-Health-Ansätze für komorbide Depressionen bei Patienten mit Adipositas: Nutzungsakzeptanz aus Patienten- und Expertenperspektive
Authors: Löbner Margrit , Stein Janine , Rost Theresia , Förster Franziska , Dorow Marie , Keller Jana , Weidauer Enrico , Riedel-Heller Steffi
Published: April 2017

Ziel der Studie Untersuchung der Nutzungsakzeptanz eines internetbasierten Selbstmanagementprogramms für Depressionen.

Methodik Durchführung qualitativer Patienteninterviews (N = 7) und einer Expertenfokusgruppe (N = 12 Experten).

Ergebnisse Internetprogramme stellen einen komplementären Behandlungsbaustein dar. Gewünscht werden folgende Themenverknüpfungen: Übergewicht, Bewegung, Depression und sozialer Austausch.

Schlussfolgerung Patienten- und Expertenurteile zeigen eine hohe Nutzungsakzeptanz. Eine Implementation solcher Programme sollte soziale und körperliche Aspekte berücksichtigen.
Tanshinol Alleviates Osteoporosis and Myopathy in Glucocorticoid-Treated Rats
Authors: Chen Guanghua , Zhang Xinle , Lin Han , Huang Guizhi , Chen Yahui , Cui Liao
Published: April 2017

Tanshinol is a major water-soluble active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether tanshinol has potential therapeutic effects against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and glucocorticoid-induced myopathy. Ninety-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups: a control group, a model group, and three model groups treated with 25 or 50 mg/kg of tanshinol, or calcitriol. All model groups received prednisone acetate for 90 days to induce glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Afterwards, all animals underwent a surgical procedure to induce bone defects at the right proximal tibia. Prednisone treatment was stopped after surgery, but tanshinol or calcitriol treatment was continued to the endpoint. At the experimental endpoint, compared to the model group, 25 mg/kg tanshinol could significantly reverse glucocorticoid-induced loss of bone mineral density by 12.5 %, while enhancing mechanical bone strength, causing a significant 11 % increase in trabecular number, and reducing trabecular separation by 28 %. In addition, tanshinol improved the bone microarchitecture and prevented glucocorticoid-induced bone loss by promoting bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption. Moreover, results of bone defect repair and muscle weight measurements revealed that tanshinol accelerated the bone fracture healing process and attenuated muscle atrophy caused by glucocorticoid. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed a 1-fold upregulation in mRNA levels of transforming growth factor beta and roughly 6-fold increases in vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression in calluses from the tanshinol groups. Tanshinol also preserved muscular ubiquitin mRNA levels from glucocorticoid-induced elevation. These findings demonstrate the potential benefits of tanshinol against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and glucocorticoid-induced myopathy, which warrants further investigation in future studies.
Influence of optical material properties on strong coupling in organic semiconductor based microcavities
Authors: Tropf Laura , Dietrich Christof P. , Herbst Stefanie , Kanibolotsky Alexander L. , Skabara Peter J. , Würthner Frank , Samuel Ifor D. W. , Gather Malte C. , Höfling Sven
Published: April 2017

The optical properties of organic semiconductors are generally characterised by a number of material specific parameters, including absorbance, photoluminescence quantum yield, Stokes shift, and molecular orientation. Here, we study four different organic semiconductors and compare their optical properties to the characteristics of the exciton-polaritons that are formed when these materials are introduced into metal-clad microcavities. We find that the strength of coupling between cavity photons and excitons is clearly correlated with the absorptivity of the material. In addition, we show that anisotropy strongly affects the characteristics of the formed exciton-polaritons.
Mean-trajectory approximation for electronic and vibrational-electronic nonlinear spectroscopy
Authors: Loring Roger F.
Published: April 2017

Mean-trajectory approximations permit the calculation of nonlinear vibrational spectra from semiclassically quantized trajectories on a single electronically adiabatic potential surface. By describing electronic degrees of freedom with classical phase-space variables and subjecting these to semiclassical quantization, mean-trajectory approximations may be extended to compute both nonlinear electronic spectra and vibrational-electronic spectra. A general mean-trajectory approximation for both electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom is presented, and the results for purely electronic and for vibrational-electronic four-wave mixing experiments are quantitatively assessed for harmonic surfaces with linear electronic-nuclear coupling.
Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of GaN homoepitaxy on c- and m-plane surfaces
Authors: Xu Dongwei , Zapol Peter , Stephenson G. Brian , Thompson Carol
Published: April 2017

The surface orientation can have profound effects on the atomic-scale processes of crystal growth and is essential to such technologies as GaN-based light-emitting diodes and high-power electronics. We investigate the dependence of homoepitaxial growth mechanisms on the surface orientation of a hexagonal crystal using kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. To model GaN metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy, in which N species are supplied in excess, only Ga atoms on a hexagonal close-packed (HCP) lattice are considered. The results are thus potentially applicable to any HCP material. Growth behaviors on c-plane (0001) and m-plane (011¯0) surfaces are compared. We present a reciprocal space analysis of the surface morphology, which allows extraction of growth mode boundaries and direct comparison with surface X-ray diffraction experiments. For each orientation, we map the boundaries between 3-dimensional, layer-by-layer, and step flow growth modes as a function of temperature and growth rate. Two models for surface diffusion are used, which produce different effective Ehrlich-Schwoebel step-edge barriers and different adatom diffusion anisotropies on m-plane surfaces. Simulation results in agreement with observed GaN island morphologies and growth mode boundaries are obtained. These indicate that anisotropy of step edge energy, rather than adatom diffusion, is responsible for the elongated islands observed on m-plane surfaces. Island nucleation spacing obeys a power-law dependence on growth rate, with exponents of −0.24 and −0.29 for the m- and c-plane, respectively.
Compression of high-density 0.16 pC electron bunches through high field gradients for ultrafast single shot electron diffraction: The Compact RF Gun
Authors: Daoud Hazem , Floettmann Klaus , Dwayne Miller R. J.
Published: April 2017

We present an RF gun design for single shot ultrafast electron diffraction experiments that can produce sub-100 fs high-charge electron bunches in the 130 keV energy range. Our simulations show that our proposed half-cell RF cavity is capable of producing 137 keV, 27 fs rms (60 fs FWHM), 106 electron bunches with an rms spot size of 276 μm and a transverse coherence length of 2.0 nm. The required operation power is 9.2 kW, significantly lower than conventional rf cavity designs and a key design feature. This electron source further relies on high electric field gradients at the cathode to simultaneously accelerate and compress the electron bunch to open up new space-time resolution domains for atomically resolved dynamics.
Drift wave driven double layers in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma in the presence of stationary dust
Authors: Haque Q. , Ali Shan S.
Published: April 2017

The properties of drift wave driven Double Layers (DLs) in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma with density and temperature inhomogeneity in the presence of stationary dust are investigated. An extended Korteweg–de Vries like equation is derived, and its solution in the form of DLs is obtained by employing proper boundary conditions. It is noticed that the amplitude and steepness of drift wave driven DLs change with the variation in the dust concentration and temperature inhomogeneity. It is also seen that the DLs in this inhomogeneous plasma are rarefactive in nature if structures move faster than the drift speed. For illustration, the results are applied in the F-region of Earth's ionosphere.
Enhancing the Magnetic–Luminescent Properties of Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+ Core–Shell Bifunctional Particles Using Li+ Doping
Authors: Zhang Hong , Wang Le , Wu Tuo , Chen Rubiao , Luo Dong , Li Yanghui
Published: April 2017

Magnetic–luminescent nanoparticles are now attracting great attention in biochemistry and biomedicine for their promising bifunctional characteristics. In this work, we propose a strategy of Li+ doping to enhance both the luminescent and magnetic properties of Fe3O4@Y2O3:Eu3+ core–shell particles. A comprehensive investigation of phase assembly, microscopic morphology, luminescence, and magnetic characteristics of the bifunctional particles was carried out. The core–shell structured particles have a spherical morphology and the agglomerated particle size is ~1 μm in diameter. Under 254 nm excitation, the co-doped sample (5 mol-% Li+) with a dominant emission peak at 612 nm, exhibits luminescence 2.35 times more intense than the undoped sample (0 mol-% Li+). Li+ doping also leads to an improved saturation magnetisation, which was 2.41 times greater than the undoped sample.
Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) improve the developmental competence of in vitro-matured prepubertal ovine oocytes
Authors: Ariu F. , Bogliolo L. , Pinna A. , Malfatti L. , Innocenzi P. , Falchi L. , Bebbere D. , Ledda S.
Published: April 2017

The present study investigated whether supplementation with different doses of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) during in vitro maturation (IVM) of prepubertal ovine oocytes influenced their embryonic development in vitro. Cumulus–oocyte complexes derived from the ovaries of slaughtered prepubertal sheep underwent IVM with CeO2NPs (0, 44, 88 or 220 µg mL–1). Matured oocytes were fertilised in vitro and zygotes were cultured for 7 days. The results demonstrated that CeO2NPs were internalised in the cumulus cells and not in the oocyte. The treatment with CeO2NPs did not affect nuclear maturation or intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species of the oocytes. The percentage of oocytes with regular chromatin configuration and cytoskeleton structures when treated with 44 µg mL–1 CeO2NPs was similar to oocytes matured in the absence of CeO2NPs and significantly higher than those treated with 88 or 220 µg mL–1 CeO2NPs. The relative quantification of transcripts in the cumulus cells of oocytes matured with 44 µg mL–1 CeO2NPs showed a statistically lower mRNA abundance of BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) compared with the 0 µg mL–1 CeO2 NPs group. A concentration of 44 µg mL–1 CeO2NPs significantly increased the blastocyst yield and their total, inner cell mass and trophectoderm cell numbers, compared with the 0 and 220 µg mL–1 groups. A low concentration of CeO2NPs in the maturation medium enhanced in vitro embryo production of prepubertal ovine oocytes.
Endo-siRNA deficiency results in oocyte maturation failure and apoptosis in porcine oocytes
Authors: Liu Wanxin , Zhao Qi , Piao Shanhua , Wang Chunsheng , Kong Qingran , An Tiezhu
Published: April 2017

Both microRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) play key regulatory roles in gene expression. Some studies have demonstrated that the function of miRNA is suppressed in mouse oocytes, suggesting that endo-siRNA, not miRNA, is essential for female meiosis. This finding has yet to be confirmed in other species. In this study, by knockdown of DICER1, DROSHA and its cofactor DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (DGCR8) in porcine oocytes, we found that the proportion of oocytes with DICER1 deficiency that developed to meiosis II (MII) stage was significantly lower than oocytes with DROSHA and DGCR8 deficiency (39.23 versus 68.71 and 71.25% respectively; P < 0.05). Oocytes lacking DROSHA and DGCR8 formed a barrel-shaped metaphase I spindle, with chromosomes tightly aligned at the metaphase plate whereas most oocytes (87%) lacking DICER1 showed spindle abnormalities during oocyte in vitro maturation. Furthermore, DICER1 deficiency also resulted in oocyte apoptosis. These results indicate that endo-siRNAs are essential for oocyte maturation in pigs.
SHPRH regulates rRNA transcription by recognizing the histone code in an mTOR-dependent manner
Authors: Lee Deokjae , An Jungeun , Park Young-Un , Liaw Hungjiun , Woodgate Roger , Park Jun Hong , Myung Kyungjae
Published: April 2017

Significance

Transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), which composes the ribosome with other proteins, is tightly regulated to maintain the right number of ribosomes. Many DNA repair proteins have functions in addition to their role in DNA repair. We provide evidence that SHPRH functioning in DNA repair at stalled DNA replication forks recognizes epigenetic histone codes of rDNA through its plant homeodomain (PHD) and modulates 47S rRNA transcription. SHPRH bound to rDNA promoters and promoted RNA polymerase I recruitment for rRNA transcription. SHPRH localization to the rDNA promoter was inhibited by trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4, which is a mark of the rDNA promoter at poised status on starvation. Collectively, we suggest a mechanism controlling 47S rRNA transcription by SHPRH in a histone methylation-dependent manner.
Influence of CeO2 on tribological behaviour of TiC/Fe-based composite coating
Authors: Cai Yangchuan , Luo Zhen , Chen Yao , Ao Sansan
Published: April 2017

The TiC/Fe-based composite coating with different CeO2 content was fabricated on the Cr12MoV steel by laser cladding. The microstructure of cladding layers all had the planar grain, columnar grain, cellular grain, and equiaxed grain. Without adding rare earth, TiC ceramic particles had the irregular shape, large size difference, and a certain degree of reunion. Appropriate rare earth could effectively spheroidise and refine ceramic particles, and made the distribution uniform. Excessive rare earth could cause the burning loss of ceramic particles, inhibit the formation of second precipitated phases, and the reunion of particles occurred again. The Ti element, decomposed from TiC ceramic particles, combined with the Fe and Cr elements to form the Ti/Fe/Cr or Fe/Ti/Cr compounds. Hence, the metallurgical bonding between particles and cladding layer metal was increased. The micro-hardness and wear properties of the cladding layer had a close relation with the shape, size, distribution, and the form of TiC ceramic particles.
Effect of spray angle on Ni particle deposition behaviour in cold spray
Authors: Xie Yingchun , Chen Chaoyue , Planche Marie-Pierre , Deng Sihao , Liao Hanlin
Published: April 2017

In this work, cold sprayed Ni particles depositing onto stainless steel (SS) and aluminium substrates was studied the deposition behaviour and bonding mechanism at different spray angles. Contrary to common investigation which is limited to the cross-section or surface, the fractured contact surface on deposited particle was obtained by detaching the as-sprayed particle from the substrate. The results show that the contact surface of Ni particle detached from Al substrate was smooth without signs of metallurgical bonding or interfacial remelting. Compared to the relatively hard SS substrate where dimple-like fractures were found, the substrate hardness is found to play an important role in the formation of metallurgical bonding. Additionally, finite element analysis results show that the relatively hard SS substrate leads to a higher maximum contact pressure, which can promote the formation of metallurgical bonding. It can be convinced that the high contact pressure area is the determining factor for metallurgical bonding.
Environmental education after sustainability: hope in the midst of tragedy
Authors: Pihkala Panu
Published: April 2017

In this article, I discuss the challenge posed to environmental education (EE; and education for sustainable development) by the thinkers who see the situation of the world as so severe that ‘sustainability’ is an outdated concept.

My approach is interdisciplinary and I discuss especially the connections between EE and eco-psychology. Based on psychological research, I argue that the wide-scale unconscious anxiety, which people experience, should be taken very seriously in EE. My discussion thus contributes in a new kind of way to a long-standing key issue in EE, the gap between people's values and the perceived action.

Scholars of eco-anxiety have argued that instead of not caring, many people in fact care too much, and have to resort to psychological defenses of denial and disavowal. Thus, the question in EE is not anymore whether EE should deal with anxiety, for anxiety is already there. The prevailing attitude in EE writing is right in emphasizing positive matters and empowerment, but the relation between hope and optimism must be carefully thought about and a certain sense of tragedy must be included. Therefore, my article participates in the discussion about the role of ‘fear appeals’ in EE.

My discussion is directed to anyone who wants to understand the reasons for inaction and the ways in which these may be overcome.
Peripherin diverts ciliary ectosome release to photoreceptor disc morphogenesis
Authors: Molday Robert S. , Goldberg Andrew F.X.
Published: April 2017

Formation of membrane discs in photoreceptor cells requires evagination of its ciliary plasma membrane by an unknown molecular mechanism. Salinas et al. (2017. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201608081) show that peripherin (also known as peripherin-2 or peripherin-2/rds) diverts membrane traffic to photoreceptor disc formation by inhibiting ectosome release from the cilium.
NLR members NLRC4 and NLRP3 mediate sterile inflammasome activation in microglia and astrocytes
Authors: Freeman Leslie , Guo Haitao , David Clément N. , Brickey W. June , Jha Sushmita , Ting Jenny P.-Y.
Published: April 2017

Inflammation in the brain accompanies several high-impact neurological diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroinflammation is sterile, as damage-associated molecular patterns rather than microbial pathogens elicit the response. The inflammasome, which leads to caspase-1 activation, is implicated in neuroinflammation. In this study, we reveal that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a molecule associated with neurodegeneration and demyelination, elicits NLRP3 and NLRC4 inflammasome activation in microglia and astrocytes, which are central players in neuroinflammation. LPC-activated inflammasome also requires ASC (apoptotic speck containing protein with a CARD), caspase-1, cathepsin-mediated degradation, calcium mobilization, and potassium efflux but not caspase-11. To study the physiological relevance, Nlrc4−/− and Nlrp3−/− mice are studied in the cuprizone model of neuroinflammation and demyelination. Mice lacking both genes show the most pronounced reduction in astrogliosis and microglial accumulation accompanied by decreased expression of the LPC receptor G2A, whereas MS patient samples show increased G2A. These results reveal that NLRC4 and NLRP3, which normally form distinct inflammasomes, activate an LPC-induced inflammasome and are important in astrogliosis and microgliosis.
Pick and peak interpolation
Authors: Izzo Alexander
Published: April 2017

We show how Pick interpolation and interpolation on peak interpolation sets can be combined in an abstract uniform algebra setting. In particular, as a special case, the Rudin-Carleson theorem can be combined with the classical Pick interpolation theorem on the disc.
Asymptotic order of the quantization errors for a class of self-affine measures
Authors: Zhu Sanguo
Published: April 2017

Let

E
E

be a Bedford-McMullen carpet determined by a set of affine mappings

(

f

i
j

)

(
i
,
j
)
∈
G

(f_{ij})_{(i,j)\in G}

and

μ
\mu

a self-affine measure on

E
E

associated with a probability vector

(

p

i
j

)

(
i
,
j
)
∈
G

(p_{ij})_{(i,j)\in G}

. We prove that, for every

r
∈
(
0
,
∞
)

r\in (0,\infty )

, the upper and lower quantization coefficient are always positive and finite in its exact quantization dimension

s
r

s_r

. As a consequence, the

n
n

th quantization error for

μ
\mu

of order

r
r

is of the same order as

n

−

1

s
r

n^{-\frac {1}{s_r}}

. In sharp contrast to the Hausdorff measure for Bedford-McMullen carpets, our result is independent of the horizontal fibres of the carpets.
Introduction
Authors: McMillen Christian W.
Published: April 2017

What are pandemics? The National Institutes of Health proposed pandemics must meet eight criteria: wide geographic extension, disease movement, high attack rates and explosiveness, minimal population immunity, novelty, infectiousness, contagiousness, and severity. The introduction explains that much of the way we confront pandemics now has been shaped by the past history of pandemic and epidemic disease. There is a clear relationship between disease and social conditions, conditions that do not exist everywhere and that will not be alleviated with biomedicine. The question of susceptibility—who gets a disease and why—is also important. Epidemics and pandemics cannot occur without a dense and mobile population.
Malaria
Authors: McMillen Christian W.
Published: April 2017

Malaria originated in Africa and is caused by an infection with the plasmodium protozoan. Five types have infected humans; Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal and is responsible for the vast majority of global malaria deaths. ‘Malaria’ outlines the spread of malaria from Africa, into Europe and the New World. Generally, agricultural and rural development has been responsible for the proliferation of malaria, but poor sanitation and stagnant water can make malaria an urban disease. Vector and parasite control is described, along with the World Health Organization’s Malaria Eradication Program and attempts to stem malaria with treated bed nets and more effective drugs.
Attrition and exhaustion
Authors: Echevarria Antulio J.
Published: April 2017

Two of the more frequently used military strategies are attrition and exhaustion. Attrition means reducing an adversary’s physical capacity to fight; exhaustion entails wearing down the opponent’s willingness to do so. Both strategies can mean long wars, imposing heavy burdens on a nation’s population and economy, meaning they are not always culturally acceptable or economically practical. The Allies’ strategy in the Second World War is a modern example of attrition. A strategy of exhaustion can take several forms: blockades, sieges, guerrilla warfare, and “scorched earth” policies that destroy the physical ground an attacker might use. Physical and political geographies in the region will affect the implementation of either strategy.
4. Haemoglobin
Authors: Cooper Chris
Published: April 2017

‘Haemoglobin’ explains the key role played by this protein: binding oxygen in the lungs and carrying it around the blood circulation, where it is offloaded to every cell in the body. Haemoglobin has also played a key role in the history of our understanding of all proteins and the science of biochemistry. The complex, three-dimensional quaternary structure of haemoglobin was identified in 1960 by Max Perutz. A haemoglobin tetramer contains four haem groups and can bind four molecules of oxygen. Chemical interaction of oxygen with haem iron is explained along with diseases—such as sickle cell disease, thalassaemias, and haemoglobinopathies—caused by changes in the globin part of the protein.
The socialization of markets
Authors: Moon Jeremy
Published: April 2017

‘The socialization of markets’ is concerned with how and why corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become more institutionalized. It considers the ways in which CSR features in some markets, thereby shaping a ‘business case’ for CSR. Markets have become ever more socialized as non-economic criteria increasingly feature in market transactions. As companies both respond to and reinforce this trend, they consolidate CSR as part of ‘business as usual’, and new, shared, and legitimized norms of appropriate business behaviour emerge. The socialization of markets results from the interaction of market, social, and governmental factors. Companies retain a critical role in shaping products and services that foster and reward demands for social criteria in market decisions.
6. Hermeneutics and law
Authors: Zimmermann Jens
Published: April 2017

‘Hermeneutics and law’ begins with natural law in Greco-Roman culture and God’s moral law of Christendom. It then explains legal positivism as espoused by John Austin (1790–1859) and the more democratic ideal of Herbert L. A. Hart (1907–92). For Hart, society operates two sets of legal rules: primary rules that tell us not to steal or not to kill, and secondary rules ‘of recognition’ by which primary positive law is recognized and applied in a regulated manner. Critics of legal positivism—legal realism and natural law—are discussed, before concluding that a legal judgment involves more than the mere application of rules. To judge is to interpret.
Contextualizing History-as-Adaptation: An Interdisciplinary Comparison of Historical Revisionism
Authors: Weiser Frans
Published: April 2017

The return to history in the humanities during the 1980s prompted literary and film scholars to question historiography’s empirical scientific status, as they instead argued that history shared more in common with fiction while their own fields of study provided means of democratizing the historical record. The concept of history-as-adaptation, recently introduced by Laurence Raw and Defne Ersin Tutan, and further developed by Tom Leitch, draws upon several of the same goals as these earlier revisionist critiques. This article contextualizes how external revision of history has been used by disciplines as a means of solidifying their own identities, despite the fact that history departments have not responded to such criticism. Through a cross-disciplinary analysis of the postmodern interrogation of historical claims, I seek to not only contextualize the adaptive turn but also demonstrate how the field’s comparative identity provides a means of transcending oppositional discourse. Drawing on the work of Robert Berkhofer, I establish a supplemental interpretation of history-as-adaptation, demonstrating the advantages of applying adaptive strategies to the documentary framework at the heart of historical methodology.
DMINDA 2.0: integrated and systematic views of regulatory DNA motif identification and analyses
Authors: Yang Jinyu , Chen Xin , McDermaid Adam , Ma Qin
Published: April 2017

Motivation

Motif identification and analyses are important and have been long-standing computational problems in bioinformatics. Substantial efforts have been made in this field during the past several decades. However, the lack of intuitive and integrative web servers impedes the progress of making effective use of emerging algorithms and tools.

Results

Here we present an integrated web server, DMINDA 2.0, which contains: (i) five motif prediction and analyses algorithms, including a phylogenetic footprinting framework; (ii) 2125 species with complete genomes to support the above five functions, covering animals, plants and bacteria and (iii) bacterial regulon prediction and visualization.

Availability and Implementation

DMINDA 2.0 is freely available at http://bmbl.sdstate.edu/DMINDA2.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Orthologous Matrix (OMA) algorithm 2.0: more robust to asymmetric evolutionary rates and more scalable hierarchical orthologous group inference
Authors: Train Clément-Marie , Glover Natasha M , Gonnet Gaston H , Altenhoff Adrian M , Dessimoz Christophe
Published: April 2017

Motivation

Accurate orthology inference is a fundamental step in many phylogenetics and comparative analysis. Many methods have been proposed, including OMA (Orthologous MAtrix). Yet substantial challenges remain, in particular in coping with fragmented genes or genes evolving at different rates after duplication, and in scaling to large datasets. With more and more genomes available, it is necessary to improve the scalability and robustness of orthology inference methods.

Results

We present improvements in the OMA algorithm: (i) refining the pairwise orthology inference step to account for same-species paralogs evolving at different rates, and (ii) minimizing errors in the pairwise orthology verification step by testing the consistency of pairwise distance estimates, which can be problematic in the presence of fragmentary sequences. In addition we introduce a more scalable procedure for hierarchical orthologous group (HOG) clustering, which are several orders of magnitude faster on large datasets. Using the Quest for Orthologs consortium orthology benchmark service, we show that these changes translate into substantial improvement on multiple empirical datasets.

Availability and Implementation

This new OMA 2.0 algorithm is used in the OMA database (http://omabrowser.org) from the March 2017 release onwards, and can be run on custom genomes using OMA standalone version 2.0 and above (http://omabrowser.org/standalone).
Clinical exome sequencing reports: current informatics practice and future opportunities
Authors: Swaminathan Rajeswari , Huang Yungui , Astbury Caroline , Fitzgerald-Butt Sara , Miller Katherine , Cole Justin , Bartlett Christopher , Lin Simon
Published: April 2017

The increased adoption of clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) has improved the diagnostic yield for patients with complex genetic conditions. However, the informatics practice for handling information contained in whole exome reports is still in its infancy, as evidenced by the lack of a common vocabulary within clinical sequencing reports generated across genetic laboratories. Genetic testing results are mostly transmitted using portable document format, which can make secondary analysis and data extraction challenging. This paper reviews a sample of clinical exome reports generated by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments–certified genetic testing laboratories at tertiary-care facilities to assess and identify common data elements. Like structured radiology reports, which enable faster information retrieval and reuse, structuring genetic information within clinical WES reports would help facilitate integration of genetic information into electronic health records and enable retrospective research on the clinical utility of WES. We identify elements listed as mandatory according to practice guidelines but are currently missing from some of the clinical reports, which might help to organize the data when stored within structured databases. We also highlight elements, such as patient consent, that, although they do not appear within any of the current reports, may help in interpreting some of the information within the reports. Integrating genetic and clinical information would assist the adoption of personalized medicine for improved patient care and outcomes.
Transitioning newly diagnosed patients with HIV into care
Authors: Perazzo Joseph D.
Published: April 2017

Fewer than half of the individuals in the United States with HIV are receiving the full benefit of treatment. Primary care providers play a pivotal role in creating a pipeline into HIV care following diagnosis. Using interview data and current literature, this article provides recommendations for promoting care initiation for individuals newly diagnosed with HIV.