bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formation of iron oxide nanoparticles for the photooxidation of water: Alteration of finite size effects from ferrihydrite to hematite
Authors: Schwaminger Sebastian P. , Surya Rifki , Filser Simon , Wimmer Andreas , Weigl Florian , Fraga-García Paula , Berensmeier Sonja
Published: September 2017

Iron oxide nanoparticles represent a promising low-cost environmentally-friendly material for multiple applications. Especially hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles demonstrate great possibilities in energy storage and photoelectrochemistry. A hydrothermal one-pot synthesis can be used to synthesise hematite nanoparticles. Here, the particle formation, nucleation and growth of iron oxide nanoparticles using a FeCl3 precursor over time is monitored. The formation of 6-line ferrihydrite seeds of 2–8 nm which grow with reaction time and form clusters followed by a phase transition to ~15 nm hematite particles can be observed with ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopy. These particles grow with reaction time leading to 40 nm particles after 6 hours. The changes in plasmon and electron transition patterns, observed upon particle transition and growth lead to the possibility of tuning the photoelectrochemical properties. Catalytic activity of the hematite nanoparticles can be proven with visible light irradiation and the use of silver nitrate as scavenger material. The generation of elementary silver is dependent on the particle size of iron oxide nanoparticles while only slight changes can be observed in the oxygen generation. Low-cost nanoscale hematite, offers a range of future applications for artificial photosynthesis.
Mobile Phone Use and The Risk of Headache: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cross-sectional Studies
Authors: Wang Jing , Su Hui , Xie Wei , Yu Shengyuan
Published: September 2017

Headache is increasingly being reported as a detrimental effect of mobile phone (MP) use. However, studies aimed to investigate the association between MP use and headache yielded conflicting results. To assess the consistency of the data on the topic, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available cross-sectional studies. Published literature from PubMed and other databases were retrieved and screened, and 7 cross-sectional studies were finally included in this meta-analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. We found that the risk of headache was increased by 38% in MP user compared with non-MP user (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.18–1.61, p < 0.001). Among MP users, the risk of headache was also increased in those who had longer daily call duration (2–15 min vs. <2 min: OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.34–1.98, p < 0.001; >15 min vs. <2 min: OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.76–3.54, p < 0.001) and higher daily call frequency (2–4 calls vs. <2 calls: OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07–1.76, p < 0.001; >4 calls vs. <2 calls: OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.78–3.58, p < 0.001). Our data indicate that MP use is significantly associated with headache, further epidemiologic and experimental studies are required to affirm and understand this association.
Phylogeographic and genome-wide investigations of Vietnam ethnic groups reveal signatures of complex historical demographic movements
Authors: Pischedda S. , Barral-Arca R. , Gómez-Carballa A. , Pardo-Seco J. , Catelli M. L. , Álvarez-Iglesias V. , Cárdenas J. M. , Nguyen N. D. , Ha H. H. , Le A. T. , Martinón-Torres F. , Vullo C. , Salas A.
Published: September 2017

The territory of present-day Vietnam was the cradle of one of the world’s earliest civilizations, and one of the first world regions to develop agriculture. We analyzed the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) complete control region of six ethnic groups and the mitogenomes from Vietnamese in The 1000 Genomes Project (1000G). Genome-wide data from 1000G (~55k SNPs) were also investigated to explore different demographic scenarios. All Vietnamese carry South East Asian (SEA) haplotypes, which show a moderate geographic and ethnic stratification, with the Mong constituting the most distinctive group. Two new mtDNA clades (M7b1a1f1 and F1f1) point to historical gene flow between the Vietnamese and other neighboring countries. Bayesian-based inferences indicate a time-deep and continuous population growth of Vietnamese, although with some exceptions. The dramatic population decrease experienced by the Cham 700 years ago (ya) fits well with the Nam tiến (“southern expansion”) southwards from their original heartland in the Red River Delta. Autosomal SNPs consistently point to important historical gene flow within mainland SEA, and add support to a main admixture event occurring between Chinese and a southern Asian ancestral composite (mainly represented by the Malay). This admixture event occurred ~800 ya, again coinciding with the Nam tiến.
Addressing the role of the α-helical extension in the folding of the third PDZ domain from PSD-95
Authors: Gautier Candice , Visconti Lorenzo , Jemth Per , Gianni Stefano
Published: September 2017

PDZ domains are one of the most important protein-protein interaction domains in human. While presenting a conserved three dimensional structure, a substantial number of PDZ domains display structural extensions suggested to be involved in their folding and binding mechanisms. The C-terminal α-helix extension (α3) of the third PDZ domain from PSD-95 (PDZ3) has been reported to have a role in function of the domain as well as in the stabilization of the native fold. Here we report an evaluation of the effect of the truncation of this additional helix on the folding and unfolding kinetics of PDZ3. Fluorescent variants of full length and truncated PDZ3 were produced and stopped-flow fluorescence measurements were made under different experimental conditions (pH, ionic strength and temperature) to investigate the folding kinetics of the respective variant. The results show that folding of PDZ3 is robust and that the mechanism is only marginally affected by the truncation, which contributes to a destabilization of the native state, but otherwise do not change the overall observed kinetics. Furthermore, the increase in the unfolding rate constants, but not the folding rate constant upon deletion of α3 suggests that the α-helical extension is largely unstructured in the folding transition state.
Ultrafast Synthesis of Multifunctional Submicrometer Hollow Silica Spheres in Microfluidic Spiral Channels
Authors: Nie Yuan , Hao Nanjing , Zhang John X. J.
Published: September 2017

We demonstrate a facile and ultrafast approach for the synthesis of multifunctional submicrometer hollow silica spheres (smHSSs) using microfluidic spiral channels with enhanced mixing performance, introduced by the transverse Dean flows cross the channel as a result of centrifugal effects. Formation of smHSSs is initiated by the hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) at the interface of two laminar reactant flows. Complete mixing of the flows further facilitates the subsequent condensation of hydrolyzed TEOS, which builds up the shell layer of smHSSs. The average size of the as-synthesized smHSSs is 804.7 nm, and the thickness of the shell layer is ~20 nm. Multifunctional smHSSs integrated with proteins, fluorescent dyes, quantum dots, and magnetic nanoparticles can be further produced via this general platform. Their applications in cell imaging, organic dye adsorption, and drug delivery are examined.
Time-lapse imaging of microRNA activity reveals the kinetics of microRNA activation in single living cells
Authors: Ando Hideaki , Hirose Matsumi , Kurosawa Gen , Impey Soren , Mikoshiba Katsuhiko
Published: September 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play critical roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Although the molecular mechanisms of the biogenesis and activation of miRNA have been extensively studied, the details of their kinetics within individual living cells remain largely unknown. We developed a novel method for time-lapse imaging of the rapid dynamics of miRNA activity in living cells using destabilized fluorescent proteins (dsFPs). Real-time monitoring of dsFP-based miRNA sensors revealed the duration necessary for miRNA biogenesis to occur, from primary miRNA transcription to mature miRNA activation, at single-cell resolution. Mathematical modeling, which included the decay kinetics of the fluorescence of the miRNA sensors, demonstrated that miRNAs induce translational repression depending on their complementarity with targets. We also developed a dual-color imaging system, and demonstrated that miR-9-5p and miR-9-3p were produced and activated from a common hairpin precursor with similar kinetics, in single cells. Furthermore, a dsFP-based miR-132 sensor revealed the rapid kinetics of miR-132 activation in cortical neurons under physiological conditions. The timescale of miRNA biogenesis and activation is much shorter than the median half-lives of the proteome, suggesting that the degradation rates of miRNA target proteins are the dominant rate-limiting factors for miRNA-mediated gene silencing.
Cytological Assessments and Transcriptome Profiling Demonstrate that Evodiamine Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis in a Renal Carcinoma Cell Line
Authors: Yuan Xiao-Long , Zhang Peng , Liu Xin-Min , Du Yong-Mei , Hou Xiao-Dong , Cheng Sen , Zhang Zhong-Feng
Published: September 2017

Chinese medicines are an important source of secondary metabolites with excellent antitumour activity. Evodia rutaecarpa, from the family Rutaceae, exhibits antitumour activity. Evodiamine (EVO), which was isolated from the fruit of E. rutaecarpa, exhibits robust antitumour activity. However, the antitumour mechanism of EVO remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the growth-inhibiting effect of EVO on two renal carcinoma cell lines. We found that EVO could change the morphology and decrease the viability and proliferation of cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in vitro. In addition, transcriptome analysis indicated that EVO can modulate the transcriptome of Caki-1 cells. In total, 7,243 differentially expressed genes were found, among which 3,347 downregulated genes and 3,896 upregulated genes were mainly involved in cell migration, apoptosis, cell cycle, and DNA replication. Furthermore, we demonstrated that EVO can cause apoptosis, arrest cells in the G2/M phase, and regulate the expression of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes in Caki-1 cells. Our study reveals the anticancer effects of EVO using cellular and molecular data, and indicates the potential uses of this compound as a resource to characterize the antitumour mechanisms of E. rutaecarpa.
Musicians do not benefit from differences in fundamental frequency when listening to speech in competing speech backgrounds
Authors: Madsen Sara M. K. , Whiteford Kelly L. , Oxenham Andrew J.
Published: September 2017

Recent studies disagree on whether musicians have an advantage over non-musicians in understanding speech in noise. However, it has been suggested that musicians may be able to use differences in fundamental frequency (F0) to better understand target speech in the presence of interfering talkers. Here we studied a relatively large (N = 60) cohort of young adults, equally divided between non-musicians and highly trained musicians, to test whether the musicians were better able to understand speech either in noise or in a two-talker competing speech masker. The target speech and competing speech were presented with either their natural F0 contours or on a monotone F0, and the F0 difference between the target and masker was systematically varied. As expected, speech intelligibility improved with increasing F0 difference between the target and the two-talker masker for both natural and monotone speech. However, no significant intelligibility advantage was observed for musicians over non-musicians in any condition. Although F0 discrimination was significantly better for musicians than for non-musicians, it was not correlated with speech scores. Overall, the results do not support the hypothesis that musical training leads to improved speech intelligibility in complex speech or noise backgrounds.
Enlarged perivascular spaces are associated with the disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Miyata Mari , Kakeda Shingo , Iwata Shigeru , Nakayamada Shingo , Ide Satoru , Watanabe Keita , Moriya Junji , Tanaka Yoshiya , Korogi Yukunori
Published: September 2017

To determine whether any brain MR abnormalities, including enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS), were associated with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as an inflammatory activity. One hundred and thirty SLE patients with normal MR findings were assessed. With regard to MRI abnormalities, patients with brain atrophy and mild white matter hyperintensity (WMH) on T2WI were not excluded. The disease activity was assessed using the SLEDAI and the BILAG scores. The imaging characteristics included centrum semiovale EPVS (CS- EPVS) and basal ganglia EPVS on T2WI, WMH, and brain atrophy. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the clinical (vascular risk factors and blood examinations) and imaging characteristics that were associated with the disease activity of SLE. High CS-EPVS to be the only factor that was independently associated with the severity of the SLEDAI and BILAG scores (odds ratio [OR] 5.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.21–15.00; p < 0.001 for the SLEDAI, and OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.03–6.74; p = 0.042 for the BILAG score). The CS-EPVS in the SLE patients are associated with the systemic disease activity, suggesting that CS- EPVS may be indicative of the reactive changes of the white matter due to the inflammatory activity.
Temporal patterns of cotton Fusarium and Verticillium wilt in Jiangsu coastal areas of China
Authors: Li Xiaogang , Zhang Ya’nan , Ding Changfeng , Xu Wenhua , Wang Xingxiang
Published: September 2017

Cotton diseases caused by soil-borne pathogenic fungi present a major constraint to cotton production not only in China but also worldwide. A long-term field inventory was made of the prevalence of Fusarium and Verticillium wilt of cotton in the Jiangsu coastal area of China from 2000 to 2014. Various factors (crop varieties, rotation and weather) were analyzed to explore the dynamics of these diseases in cotton. The results showed that the prevalence of Fusarium and Verticillium wilt increased before 2005 and that Verticillium wilt remained at a high incidence over most of the past 10 years, while Fusarium wilt began to gradually decrease after 2005. The dynamics of Fusarium and Verticillium wilt were closely associated with the introduced cotton varieties and the intensive cropping history. In addition, weather conditions occurring during some of the years appeared to coincide with a substantial variation in the wilt diseases. Our study highlighted epidemiological dynamics of Fusarium and Verticillium wilt in a long-term survey.
Genome-wide identification and expression analyses of the homeobox transcription factor family during ovule development in seedless and seeded grapes
Authors: Li Yunduan , Zhu Yanxun , Yao Jin , Zhang Songlin , Wang Li , Guo Chunlei , van Nocker Steve , Wang Xiping
Published: September 2017

Seedless grapes are of considerable importance for the raisin and table grape industries. Previous transcriptome analyses of seed development in grape revealed that genes encoding homeobox transcription factors were differentially regulated in seedless compared with seeded grape during seed development. In the present study, we identified a total of 73 homeobox-like genes in the grapevine genome and analyzed the genomic content and expression profiles of these genes. Based on domain architecture and phylogenetic analyses grape homeobox genes can be classified into eleven subfamilies. An analysis of the exon-intron structures and conserved motifs provided further insight into the evolutionary relationships between these genes. Evaluation of synteny indicated that segmental and tandem duplications have contributed greatly to the expansion of the grape homeobox gene superfamily. Synteny analysis between the grape and Arabidopsis genomes provided a potential functional relevance for these genes. The tissue-specific expression patterns of homeobox genes suggested roles in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Expression profiling of these genes during the course of ovule development in seeded and seedless cultivars suggested a potential role in ovule abortion associated with seedlessness. This study will facilitate the functional analysis of these genes and provide new resources for molecular breeding of seedless grapes.
Neofunctionalization of “Juvenile Hormone Esterase Duplication” in Drosophila as an odorant-degrading enzyme towards food odorants
Authors: Steiner Claudia , Bozzolan Françoise , Montagné Nicolas , Maïbèche Martine , Chertemps Thomas
Published: September 2017

Odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs) are thought to be responsible, at least in part, for olfactory signal termination in the chemosensory system by rapid degradation of odorants in the vicinity of the receptors. A carboxylesterase, specifically expressed in Drosophila antennae, called “juvenile hormone esterase duplication (JHEdup)” has been previously reported to hydrolyse different fruit esters in vitro. Here we functionally characterize JHEdup in vivo. We show that the jhedup gene is highly expressed in large basiconic sensilla that have been reported to detect several food esters. An electrophysiological analysis demonstrates that ab1A olfactory neurons of jhedup mutant flies exhibit an increased response to certain food acetates. Furthermore, mutant flies show a higher sensitivity towards the same odorants in behavioural assays. A phylogenetic analysis reveals that jhedup arose as a duplication of the juvenile hormone esterase gene during the evolution of Diptera, most likely in the ancestor of Schizophora, and has been conserved in all the 12 sequenced Drosophila species. Jhedup exhibits also an olfactory-predominant expression pattern in other Drosophila species. Our results support the implication of JHEdup in the degradation of food odorants in D. melanogaster and propose a neofunctionalization of this enzyme as a bona fide ODE in Drosophilids.
Annexin-enriched osteoblast-derived vesicles act as an extracellular site of mineral nucleation within developing stem cell cultures
Authors: Davies O. G. , Cox S. C. , Williams R. L. , Tsaroucha D. , Dorrepaal R. M. , Lewis M. P. , Grover L. M.
Published: September 2017

The application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as natural delivery vehicles capable of enhancing tissue regeneration could represent an exciting new phase in medicine. We sought to define the capacity of EVs derived from mineralising osteoblasts (MO-EVs) to induce mineralisation in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) cultures and delineate the underlying biochemical mechanisms involved. Strikingly, we show that the addition of MO-EVs to MSC cultures significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the expression of alkaline phosphatase, as well as the rate and volume of mineralisation beyond the current gold-standard, BMP-2. Intriguingly, these effects were only observed in the presence of an exogenous phosphate source. EVs derived from non-mineralising osteoblasts (NMO-EVs) were not found to enhance mineralisation beyond the control. Comparative label-free LC-MS/MS profiling of EVs indicated that enhanced mineralisation could be attributed to the delivery of bridging collagens, primarily associated with osteoblast communication, and other non-collagenous proteins to the developing extracellular matrix. In particular, EV-associated annexin calcium channelling proteins, which form a nucleational core with the phospholipid-rich membrane and support the formation of a pre-apatitic mineral phase, which was identified using infrared spectroscopy. These findings support the role of EVs as early sites of mineral nucleation and demonstrate their value for promoting hard tissue regeneration.
Maternal Gestational Diabetes Mellitus increases placental and foetal lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 which might exert protective functions against oxidative stress
Authors: Schliefsteiner Carolin , Hirschmugl Birgit , Kopp Susanne , Curcic Sanja , Bernhart Eva Maria , Marsche Gunther , Lang Uwe , Desoye Gernot , Wadsack Christian
Published: September 2017

Increased Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) has been associated with inflammatory pathologies, including Type 2 Diabetes. Studies on LpPLA2 and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) are rare, and have focused mostly on maternal outcome. In the present study, we investigated whether LpPLA2 activity on foetal lipoproteins is altered by maternal GDM and/or obesity (a major risk factor for GDM), thereby contributing to changes in lipoprotein functionality. We identified HDL as the major carrier of LpPLA2 activity in the foetus, which is in contrast to adults. We observed marked expression of LpPLA2 in placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells; HBCs) and found that LpPLA2 activity in these cells was increased by insulin, leptin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. These regulators were also increased in plasma of children born from GDM pregnancies. Our results suggest that insulin, leptin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines are positive regulators of LpPLA2 activity in the foeto-placental unit. Of particular interest, functional assays using a specific LpPLA2 inhibitor suggest that high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated LpPLA2 exerts anti-oxidative, athero-protective functions on placental endothelium and foetus. Our results therefore raise the possibility that foetal HDL-associated LpPLA2 might act as an anti-inflammatory enzyme improving vascular barrier function.
Preparation of a novel RAM-MIP for selective solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography determination of heptachlor, endosulfan and their metabolite residues in pork
Authors: Zuo Hai Gen , Yang Hong , Zhu Jian Xin , Ding Yuan
Published: September 2017

A novel method was established using RAM-MIP and GC for determination of α-endosulfan, β-endosulfan, endosulfate, endosulfan-ether, endosulfan lacton, heptachlor, heptachlor-exo-epoxide, heptachlor-endo-epoxide residues in pork.
Bio-templated fabrication of metal-free boron carbonitride tubes for visible light photocatalysis
Authors: Chen Liuyong , Wang Xinchen
Published: September 2017

A novel and facile biotemplating method has been presented to synthesize boron carbon nitride tubes (BCNTs) by using the low-cost kapok fibers (KFs). This pathway not only transplanted the structure of KFs into the h-BN lattice, but also introduced C simultaneously in a self-doping manner. The BCNT photocatalysts can catalyse hydrogen evolution from water under visible light illumination.
Direct sensing of cancer biomarkers in clinical samples with a designed nanopore
Authors: Lin Yao , Ying Yi-Lun , Shi Xin , Liu Shao-Chuang , Long Yi-Tao
Published: September 2017

We introduce a designed nanopore sensor with highly selective DNA probe and an integrated nanofiltration membrane to achieve the direct sensing and quantification of cancer biomarkers in serum samples.
Excited-state absorption in tetrapyridyl porphyrins: comparing real-time and quadratic-response time-dependent density functional theory
Authors: Bowman David N. , Asher Jason C. , Fischer Sean A. , Cramer Christopher J. , Govind Niranjan
Published: September 2017

Three meso-substituted tetrapyridyl porphyrins (free base, Ni(ii), and Cu(ii)) were investigated for their optical limiting (OL) capabilities using real-time (RT-), linear-response (LR-), and quadratic-response (QR-) time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods.
Structural rationale for the chiral separation and migration order reversal of clenpenterol enantiomers in capillary electrophoresis using two different β-cyclodextrins
Authors: Salgado Antonio , Tatunashvili Elene , Gogolashvili Ann , Chankvetadze Bezhan , Gago Federico
Published: September 2017

The observed reversal of migration order of clenpenterol enantiomers in capillary electrophoresis runs was studied by NMR, molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical chemistry calculations.
Kinetics of volatile impurity removal from silicon by electron beam melting for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Shi Shuang , Li Pengting , Meng Jianxiong , Jiang Dachuan , Tan Yi , Asghar H. M. Noor ul Huda Khan
Published: September 2017

A full domain control model is established to analyze the kinetics of volatile impurities removal from silicon by electron beam melting. The removal mechanisms of P, Al and Ca are clarified.
Interaction with prefibrillar species and amyloid-like fibrils changes the stiffness of lipid bilayers
Authors: Borro Bruno C. , Parolini Lucia , Cicuta Pietro , Foderà Vito , Di Michele Lorenzo
Published: September 2017

Prefibrillar species cause a significant reduction in the bending modulus of lipid bilayers, without large-scale morphological disruption.
Model-averaging of ab initio spectra for the absolute configuration assignment via vibrational circular dichroism
Authors: Monaco Guglielmo , Aquino Francesco , Zanasi Riccardo , Herrebout Wouter , Bultinck Patrick , Massa Antonio
Published: September 2017

Unescapable errors of calculations are taken into account through a model-averaging technique, opening the way to a quantitative comparison with experiment.
Revealing tunnelling details by normalized differential conductance analysis of transport across molecular junctions
Authors: Vilan A.
Published: September 2017

A new analysis tool reveals hidden fingerprints of tunnelling mechanisms and quantifies the bias response via a scaling bias parameter.
Production of p-xylene from bio-based 2,5-dimethylfuran over high performance catalyst WO3/SBA-15
Authors: Feng Xinqiang , Shen Chun , Ji Kaiyue , Yin Jiabin , Tan Tianwei
Published: September 2017

Mesoporous solid acid catalyst WO3/SBA-15 possessing mainly Lewis acids exhibits high performance for the production of bio-based PX.
High selectivity for n-dodecane hydroisomerization over highly siliceous ZSM-22 with low Pt loading
Authors: Niu Pengyu , Xi Hongjuan , Ren Jun , Lin Minggui , Wang Qiang , Jia Litao , Hou Bo , Li Debao
Published: September 2017

Pt/siliceous ZSM-22 with silanol nests exhibits high isomer selectivity with low Pt loading.
Enhanced oxygen exchange of perovskite oxide surfaces through strain-driven chemical stabilization
Authors: Koo Bonjae , Kwon Hyunguk , Kim YeonJu , Seo Han Gil , Han Jeong Woo , Jung WooChul
Published: September 2017

Concurrent studies of lattice strain, surface composition, and surface reactivity of a model perovskite oxide electrode provide a practical solution for effectively improving the durability of solid oxide electrochemical cell electrode.
Soluble soybean polysaccharides enhance the protective effects of genistein against hepatic injury in high l-carnitine-fed mice
Authors: Lu Yalong , Li Wenfeng , Yang Xingbin
Published: September 2017

This study was to develop a novel strategy for the simultaneous consumption of soluble soybean polysaccharides (SSPS) to enhance the absorption of genistein and its protective effects against high l-carnitine-induced hepatic injury in mice.
Predicting lignin depolymerization yields from quantifiable properties using fractionated biorefinery lignins
Authors: Phongpreecha Thanaphong , Hool Nicholas C. , Stoklosa Ryan J. , Klett Adam S. , Foster Cliff E. , Bhalla Aditya , Holmes Daniel , Thies Mark C. , Hodge David B.
Published: September 2017

Aromatic monomer yields from lignin depolymerization can be predicted using quantifiable lignin properties.
Neodymium isotope ratio measurements by CE-MC-ICPMS: investigation of isotopic fractionation and evaluation of analytical performances
Authors: Martelat Benoît , Vio Laurent , Isnard Hélène , Simonnet Jérôme , Cornet Térence , Nonell Anthony , Chartier Frédéric
Published: September 2017

This study demonstrated the feasibility of precise online measurements of Nd isotope ratios by EC-MC-ICPMS.
Synthesis, characterization and application of a MnFe2O4@poly(o-toluidine) nanocomposite for magnetic solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Hesampour Mojgan , Ali Taher Mohammad , Behzadi Mansoureh
Published: September 2017

A nanocomposite of poly(o-toluidine)-coated MnFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles with a core–shell structure was synthesized by the chemical co-precipitation method and employed as a magnetic adsorbent for solid-phase extraction of ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Preparation, thermal conductivity, and thermal stability of flame retardant polyethylene with exfoliated MoS2/MxOy
Authors: Wenelska Karolina , Mijowska Ewa
Published: September 2017

In this work, exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) modified by a metal oxide (MoS2/MxOy) was prepared by a hydrothermal method and characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Correction: Artificial miniaturized luminescent materials based on perylene-covered glass surfaces
Authors: Mameri Samir
Published: September 2017

Correction for ‘Artificial miniaturized luminescent materials based on perylene-covered glass surfaces’ by Samir Mameri et al., New J. Chem., 2017, 41, 6083–6088.
Hot off the Press
Authors: Hill Robert A. , Sutherland Andrew
Published: September 2017

A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products such as caesalpinflavin A from Caesalpinia enneaphylla.
Phenolic condensation and facilitation of fluorescent carbon dot formation: a mechanism study
Authors: Lee Kyueui , Park Eunsook , Lee Haesung A. , Sugnaux Caroline , Shin Mikyung , Jeong Chan Jin , Lee Jeehee , Messersmith Phillip B. , Park Sung Young , Lee Haeshin
Published: September 2017

Unexpected phenolic compounds found in basil seeds play a facilitating role in the formation of carbon dots.
Superstructures with diverse morphologies and highly ordered fullerene C60 arrays from 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 adamantane–C60 hybrid molecules
Authors: Zhou Shengju , Wang Lin , Chen Mengjun , Liu Baoyong , Sun Xiaofeng , Cai Meirong , Li Hongguang
Published: September 2017

Two adamantane–fullerene C60 hybrid molecules have been synthesized, which show diverse morphological transitions in binary solvent mixtures.
Photolabile protecting groups: a strategy for making primary amine polymers by RAFT
Authors: De Alwis Watuthanthrige Nethmi , Kurek Pierce N. , Konkolewicz Dominik
Published: September 2017

Photolabile amine protecting groups are combined with RAFT polymerization to create well-defined amine containing polymers, which is typically a challenge for RAFT polymerization.
Modular and rapid access to amphiphilic homopolymers via successive chemoselective post-polymerization modification
Authors: Kubo Tomohiro , Bentz Kyle C. , Powell Kristin C. , Figg C. Adrian , Swartz Jeremy L. , Tansky Maxym , Chauhan Anuj , Savin Daniel A. , Sumerlin Brent S.
Published: September 2017

A modular and simplified post-polymerization modification strategy is developed for the synthesis of amphiphilic homopolymers.
Asymmetric hydrofunctionalization of minimally functionalized alkenesviaearth abundant transition metal catalysis
Authors: Chen Jianhui , Lu Zhan
Published: September 2017

The development of earth-abundant transition metal-catalysed highly enantioselective hydrofunctionalization of minimally functionalized alkenes was summarized.
Cobalt(iii)-catalyzed 1,4-addition of C–H bonds of oximes to maleimides
Authors: Chen Xiangxiang , Ren Jiangtao , Xie Hu , Sun Wei , Sun Meng , Wu Biao
Published: September 2017

An oxime directed cobalt-catalyzed sp2 C–H bond addition reaction was developed with a broad substrate scope and no external additives were needed.
Ultrahigh humidity sensitivity of graphene oxide combined with Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Li Ning , Chen Xiangdong , Chen Xinpeng , Ding Xing , Zhao Xuan
Published: September 2017

Novel capacitive-type humidity sensors with ultrahigh sensitivity based on graphene oxide (GO) combined with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) in different concentrations are reported in this study.
Synthesis and functionalization of 3-bromo-2-(2-chlorovinyl)benzothiophenes as molecular tools
Authors: Zhao Guangkuan , Alami Mouad , Provot Olivier
Published: September 2017

An efficient bromocyclization process ofortho-substituted arylmethyl sulfide promoted byN-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-one hydrotribromide led to the synthesis of 3-bromo-2-(2-(di)chlorovinyl)benzothiophene as a polyhalogenated platform.
A hybrid magnetic core–shell fibrous silica nanocomposite for a chemosensor-based highly effective fluorescent detection of Cu(ii)
Authors: Radhakrishnan K. , Panneerselvam P. , Ravikumar A.
Published: September 2017

Herein, a novel hybrid magnetic core–shell fibrous silica nanocomposite (RhB–Fe3O4/MnO2/SiO2/KCC-1) probe-based chemosensor was designed and its behaviour towards Cu(ii) metal ion was investigated using a fluorescence spectrometer.
Non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of ramie fiber-reinforced polylactic acid biocomposite
Authors: Jin Xing , Chen Xie , Cheng Qian , Zhang Naiwen , Cai Shenyang , Ren Jie
Published: September 2017

The addition of RF weakened the interaction between PLA chains and reduced the energy barrier of PLA during crystallization.
Extrusion of a nano-ordered active layer for organic photovoltaic cells
Authors: Nourdine Ali , Flandin Lionel , Albérola Nicole , Perrin Lara , Planès Emilie , Hiltner Anne , Baer Eric
Published: September 2017

For the first time, an extrusion process is used to produce a perfectly nanostructured organic photoactive layer.
A new etching environment (FeF3/HCl) for the synthesis of two-dimensional titanium carbide MXenes: a route towards selective reactivity vs. water
Authors: Wang X. , Garnero C. , Rochard G. , Magne D. , Morisset S. , Hurand S. , Chartier P. , Rousseau J. , Cabioc'h T. , Coutanceau C. , Mauchamp V. , Célérier S.
Published: September 2017

TinCn−1Tx2D-sheets are functionalized using a new etching environment allowing the modification of their surface chemistry and production of rationalized TiO2@MXene nanocomposites.
Hydrogen and methane storage and release by MoS2 nanotubes for energy storage
Authors: Wang Xiuxiu , Li Baoyu , Bell David R. , Li Weifeng , Zhou Ruhong
Published: September 2017

Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the performance of molybdenum disulfide nanotubes (MoS2 NTs) as a medium for energy gas storage (hydrogen and methane).
Smart responsive materials for water purification: an overview
Authors: Dutta Kingshuk , De Sirshendu
Published: September 2017

Smart adsorbents and filtration membranes used in water treatment are responsive to either a single stimulus, such as pH, temperature, light, electric field, magnetic field, electrolytes, salts, etc., or multiple stimuli, i.e. two or more stimuli.
One-pot controllable synthesis of CoFe2O4solid, hollow and multi-shell hollow nanospheres as superior anode materials for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Qi Yun , Liu Bingqiu , Zhang Lingyu , Huo Yuqiu , Li Lu , Xie Haiming , Wang Chungang , Su Zhongmin
Published: September 2017

CFO-SNSs, CFO-HNSs and MS-CFO-HNSs are controllably fabricated for the first time by a straightforward and cost-effective method on a large scale as superior anode materials for lithium ion batteries.
Arsenic trioxide exposure accelerates colon preneoplasic aberrant crypt foci induction regionally through mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Moulahoum Hichem , Boumaza Belkacem Mohamed Amine , Ferrat Meriem , Djerdjouri Bahia
Published: September 2017

Exposure to arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been confirmed to cause tissue injury and accelerates the colon carcinogenesis process regionally.
Isoflurane promotes glucose metabolism through up-regulation of miR-21 and suppresses mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in ovarian cancer cells
Authors: Guo Nai-Liang , zhang Jia-Xin , Wu Jing-Ping , Xu Ying-Hua
Published: September 2017

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies in women. Isoflurane is one of the volatile anesthetics used extensively for inhalational anesthesia and gynecological surgery. However, the effects of isoflurane on ovarian cancer have not been fully elucidated. It is widely studied that one of the biochemical fingerprints of cancer cells is the altered energy metabolism which is characterized by preferential dependence on glycolysis for energy production in an oxygen-independent manner. In the present study, we explored the roles of isoflurane in the regulation of cellular metabolism of ovarian cancer cells. We observed the glucose uptake, lactate production and extracellular acidification of two ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV3 and TOV21G were significantly stimulated by isoflurane treatments at 1 and 2 h. The glycolysis enzymes, HK2, PKM2, and LDHA were up-regulated by isoflurane. We report that miR-21 was induced by isoflurane treatments in ovarian cancer cells, leading to the elevated AKT phosphorylation and up-regulation of glycolysis enzymes. In contrast, the mitochondrial functions were suppressed by isoflurane treatments: the oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and activities of complex I, II, and IV on the electron transport chain were significantly decreased under isoflurane treatments. Importantly, ovarian cancer cells become hypersensitive to glycolysis inhibitors with isoflurane pretreatments. The present study demonstrates that isoflurane treatments drive a metabolic switch of ovarian cancer cells and contributes to the discovery and development of clinical therapeutic agents against ovarian cancer.
LncRNA DANCR promotes migration and invasion through suppression of lncRNA-LET in gastric cancer cells
Authors: Mao Zhengqiang , Li Hang , Du Botao , Cui Kai , Xing Yuguang , Zhao Xiangyu , Zai Shoufeng
Published: September 2017

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal malignancies. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DANCR is a newly identified oncogenic lncRNA. However, the functional role and underlying molecular mechanisms of DANCR involved in GC progress remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the biological function and underlying mechanisms of DANCR in GC cell migration and invasion. The results showed that knockdown of DANCR inhibited migration and invasion of GC cells, whereas overexpression of DANCR showed the opposite effect. Further investigation demonstrated that lncRNA-LET was a bona fide target gene of DANCR. In addition, high DANCR and low lncRNA-LET were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and late clinical stage. DANCR associated with EZH2 and HDAC3 to epigenetically silence lncRNA-LET and then regulated GC migration and invasion. Taken together, these findings indicate an important role for DANCR–lncRNA-LET axis in GC cell migration and invasion, and reveal a novel epigenetic mechanism for lncRNA-LET silencing.
New giant radio sources and underluminous radio halos in two galaxy clusters
Authors: Cuciti V. , Brunetti G. , van Weeren R. , Bonafede A. , Dallacasa D. , Cassano R. , Venturi T. , Kale R.
Published: September 2017

Aims. The aim of this work is to analyse the radio properties of the massive and dynamically disturbed clusters Abell 1451 and Zwcl 0634.1+4750, especially focusing on the possible presence of diffuse emission.

Methods. We present new Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) 320 MHz and Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) 1.5 GHz observations of these two clusters.

Results. We found that both Abell 1451 and Zwcl 0634.1+4750 host a radio halo with a typical spectrum (α ~ 1−1.3). Similarly to a few other cases reported in the recent literature, these radio halos are significantly fainter in radio luminosity with respect to the current radio power-mass correlations and they are smaller than classical giant radio halos. These underluminous sources might contribute to elucidating the complex mechanisms of formation and evolution of radio halos. Furthermore, we detected a candidate radio relic at large distance from the cluster centre in Abell 1451 and a peculiar head-tail (HT) radio galaxy in Zwcl 0634.1+4750, which might be interacting with a shock front.
Cosmic flow around local massive galaxies
Authors: Kashibadze Olga G. , Karachentsev Igor D.
Published: September 2017

Aims. We use accurate data on distances and radial velocities of galaxies around the Local Group, as well as around 14 other massive nearby groups, to estimate their radius of the zero-velocity surface, R0, which separates any group against the global cosmic expansion.

Methods. Our R0 estimate was based on fitting the data to the velocity field expected from the spherical infall model, including effects of the cosmological constant. The reported uncertainties were derived by a Monte Carlo simulation.

Results. Testing various assumptions about a location of the group barycentre, we found the optimal estimates of the radius to be 0.91 ± 0.05 Mpc for the Local Group, and 0.93 ± 0.02 Mpc for a synthetic group stacked from 14 other groups in the Local Volume. Under the standard Planck model parameters, these quantities correspond to the total mass of the group ~ (1.6 ± 0.2) × 1012M⊙. Thus, we are faced with the paradoxical result that the total mass estimate on the scale of R0 ≈ (3−4)Rvir is only 60% of the virial mass estimate. Anyway, we conclude that wide outskirts of the nearby groups do not contain a large amount of hidden mass outside their virial radius.
Kinetic temperature of massive star-forming molecular clumps measured with formaldehyde
Authors: Tang X. D. , Henkel C. , Menten K. M. , Wyrowski F. , Brinkmann N. , Zheng X. W. , Gong Y. , Lin Y. X. , Esimbek J. , Zhou J. J. , Yuan Y. , Li D. L. , He Y. X.
Published: September 2017

We mapped the kinetic temperature structure of the Orion molecular cloud 1 (OMC-1) with para-H2CO (JKaKc = 303–202, 322–221, and 321–220) using the APEX 12 m telescope. This is compared with the temperatures derived from the ratio of the NH3 (2, 2)/(1, 1) inversion lines and the dust emission. Using the RADEX non-LTE model, we derive the gas kinetic temperature modeling the measured averaged line ratios of para-H2CO 322–221/303–202 and 321–220/303–202. The gas kinetic temperatures derived from the para-H2CO line ratios are warm, ranging from 30 to >200 K with an average of 62 ± 2 K at a spatial density of 105 cm-3. These temperatures are higher than those obtained from NH3 (2, 2)/(1, 1) and CH3CCH (6–5) in the OMC-1 region. The gas kinetic temperatures derived from para-H2CO agree with those obtained from warm dust components measured in the mid infrared (MIR), which indicates that the para-H2CO (3–2) ratios trace dense and warm gas. The cold dust components measured in the far infrared (FIR) are consistent with those measured with NH3 (2, 2)/(1, 1) and the CH3CCH (6–5) line series. With dust at MIR wavelengths and para-H2CO (3–2) on one side, and dust at FIR wavelengths, NH3 (2, 2)/(1, 1), and CH3CCH (6–5) on the other, dust and gas temperatures appear to be equivalent in the dense gas (n(H2) ≳ 104 cm-3) of the OMC-1 region, but provide a bimodal distribution, one more directly related to star formation than the other. The non-thermal velocity dispersions of para-H2CO are positively correlated with the gas kinetic temperatures in regions of strong non-thermal motion (Mach number ≳ 2.5) of the OMC-1, implying that the higher temperature traced by para-H2CO is related to turbulence on a ~0.06 pc scale. Combining the temperature measurements with para-H2CO and NH3 (2, 2)/(1, 1) line ratios, we find direct evidence for the dense gas along the northern part of the OMC-1 10 km s-1 filament heated by radiation from the central Orion nebula.
Elemental Sulfur-Mediated Decarboxylative Redox Cyclization ­Reaction: Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2-Substituted Benzo­thiazoles
Authors: Wang Xin , Li Xiaotong , Hu Renhe , Yang Zhao , Gu Ren , Ding Sai , Li Pengyi , Han Shiqing
Published: September 2017

A S8-mediated directed decarboxylative redox-cyclization strategy for the synthesis of 2-substituted benzothiazoles from o-iodoanilines, arylacetic acids, and elemental sulfur catalyzed by cheap copper metal has been developed. This reaction is operationally simple, ligand-free, compatible with a wide range of functional groups, and provides the desired products in good to excellent yields. In addition, a gram-scale experiment was carried out to furnish PMX 610, an antitumor drug.
Asymmetric Alkene and Arene Halofunctionalization Reactions in Meroterpenoid Biosynthesis
Authors: Moore Bradley
Published: September 2017

Meroterpenoid natural products are important bioactive molecules with broad distribution throughout nature. In Streptomyces bacteria, naphthoquinone-based meroterpenoids comprise a simple yet structurally fascinating group of natural product antibiotics that are enzymatically constructed through a series of asymmetric alkene and arene halofunctionalization reactions. This account article highlights our discovery and characterization of a group of vanadium-dependent chloroperoxidase enzymes that catalyze halogen-assisted cyclization and rearrangement reactions and have inspired biomimetic syntheses of numerous meroterpenoid natural products.

1 Introduction

2 Early Biosynthetic Insights and the Characterization of Alkene Halofunctionalization in Napyradiomycin Biosynthesis

3 Discovery of the Merochlorin Natural Products and Enzymatic Aryl Halofunctionalization

4 Discovery and Development of Unifying THN-Based Meroterpenoid Biosynthesis and Synthesis Approaches

5 Insights into Naphterpin and Marinone Biosynthesis Involving Cryptic Aryl Halofunctionalization Reactions

6 Closing Thoughts
Anterior Submandibular Approach for Transmylohyoid Endotracheal Intubation: A Reappraisal with Prospective Study in 206 Cases of Craniomaxillofacial Fractures
Authors: Bhola Nitin , Jadhav Anendd , Kala Atul , Deshmukh Rahul , Bhutekar Umesh , Prasad G.S.V.
Published: September 2017

Despite a paradigm shift in anesthesia and trauma airway management, the craniomaxillofacial fracture (CMF) patients continue to pose a challenge. A prospective study was planned between April 2007 and March 2015 to investigate the safety, efficacy, utility, and complications of anterior submandibular approach for transmylohyoid intubation (TMI) in CMFs using an armored endotracheal tube (ETT). Out of 1,207 maxillofacial trauma cases reported, this study recruited 206 patients (152 males and 54 females) aged between 21 and 60 years. No episode of oxygen desaturation was noted intraoperatively. Mean time to perform TMI was 6 ± 2 minutes. The mean transmylohyoid ETT withdrawal time/disconnection time from ventilator was approximately 1.5 minutes. Accidental partial extubation of ETT was noted in two patients (0.97%), and three patients (1.45%) developed abscess formations at anterior submandibular site which were managed by incision and drainage. The anterior submandibular approach for TMI was successfully used and provided stable airway in all elective CMF surgery cases, where oral or nasal intubations were not indicated/feasible and long-term ventilation support was not required. It permitted simultaneous dental occlusion-guided reduction and fixation of all the facial fractures without interference from the tube during the surgery with unhindered maintenance of the anesthesia and airway. The advantages include easy, swift, efficient, and reliable approach with a small learning curve.