bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of relativistic effects on two-photon absorption spectra in metal halide perovskites
Authors: Wei Zimu , Guo Dengyang , Thieme Jos , Katan Claudine , Caselli Valentina M. , Even Jacky , Savenije Tom J.
Published: November 2019

Despite intense research into the optoelectronic properties of metal halide perovskites (MHPs), sub-bandgap absorption in MHPs remains largely unexplored. Here we recorded two-photon absorption spectra of MHPs using the time-resolved microwave conductivity technique. A two-step upward trend is observed in the two-photon absorption spectrum for methylammonium lead iodide, and some analogues, which implies that the commonly used scaling law is not applicable to MHPs. This aspect is further confirmed by temperature-dependent conductivity measurements. Using an empirical multiband tight binding model, spectra for methylammonium lead iodide were calculated by integration over the entire Brillouin zone, showing compelling similarity with experimental results. We conclude that the second upward trend in the two-photon absorption spectrum originates from additional optical transitions to the heavy and light electron bands formed by the strong spin-orbit coupling. Hence, valuable insight can be obtained in the opto-electronic properties of MHPs by sub-bandgap spectroscopy, complemented by modelling.
Heritability of skewed X-inactivation in female twins is tissue-specific and associated with age
Authors: Zito Antonino , Davies Matthew N. , Tsai Pei-Chien , Roberts Susanna , Andres-Ejarque Rosa , Nardone Stefano , Bell Jordana T. , Wong Chloe C. Y. , Small Kerrin S.
Published: November 2019

Female somatic X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) balances the X-linked transcriptional dosages between the sexes. Skewed XCI toward one parental X has been observed in several complex human traits, but the extent to which genetics and environment influence skewed XCI is largely unexplored. To address this, we quantify XCI-skew in multiple tissues and immune cell types in a twin cohort. Within an individual, XCI-skew differs between blood, fat and skin tissue, but is shared across immune cell types. XCI skew increases with age in blood, but not other tissues, and is associated with smoking. XCI-skew is increased in twins with Rheumatoid Arthritis compared to unaffected identical co-twins. XCI-skew is heritable in blood of females >55 years old (h2 = 0.34), but not in younger individuals or other tissues. This results in a Gene x Age interaction that shifts the functional dosage of all X-linked heterozygous loci in a tissue-restricted manner.
Birds repurpose the role of drag and lift to take off and land
Authors: Chin Diana D. , Lentink David
Published: November 2019

The lift that animal wings generate to fly is typically considered a vertical force that supports weight, while drag is considered a horizontal force that opposes thrust. To determine how birds use lift and drag, here we report aerodynamic forces and kinematics of Pacific parrotlets (Forpus coelestis) during short, foraging flights. At takeoff they incline their wing stroke plane, which orients lift forward to accelerate and drag upward to support nearly half of their bodyweight. Upon landing, lift is oriented backward to contribute a quarter of the braking force, which reduces the aerodynamic power required to land. Wingbeat power requirements are dominated by downstrokes, while relatively inactive upstrokes cost almost no aerodynamic power. The parrotlets repurpose lift and drag during these flights with lift-to-drag ratios below two. Such low ratios are within range of proto-wings, showing how avian precursors may have relied on drag to take off with flapping wings.
Global chromatin conformation differences in the Drosophila dosage compensated chromosome X
Authors: Pal Koustav , Forcato Mattia , Jost Daniel , Sexton Thomas , Vaillant Cédric , Salviato Elisa , Mazza Emilia Maria Cristina , Lugli Enrico , Cavalli Giacomo , Ferrari Francesco
Published: November 2019

In Drosophila melanogaster the single male chromosome X undergoes an average twofold transcriptional upregulation for balancing the transcriptional output between sexes. Previous literature hypothesised that a global change in chromosome structure may accompany this process. However, recent studies based on Hi-C failed to detect these differences. Here we show that global conformational differences are specifically present in the male chromosome X and detectable using Hi-C data on sex-sorted embryos, as well as male and female cell lines, by leveraging custom data analysis solutions. We find the male chromosome X has more mid-/long-range interactions. We also identify differences at structural domain boundaries containing BEAF-32 in conjunction with CP190 or Chromator. Weakening of these domain boundaries in male chromosome X co-localizes with the binding of the dosage compensation complex and its co-factor CLAMP, reported to enhance chromatin accessibility. Together, our data strongly indicate that chromosome X dosage compensation affects global chromosome structure.
Identification of the periplasmic DNA receptor for natural transformation of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Damke Prashant P. , Di Guilmi Anne Marie , Varela Paloma Fernández , Velours Christophe , Marsin Stéphanie , Veaute Xavier , Machouri Mérick , Gunjal Gaurav V. , Rao Desirazu N. , Charbonnier Jean-Baptiste , Radicella J. Pablo
Published: November 2019

Horizontal gene transfer through natural transformation is a major driver of antibiotic resistance spreading in many pathogenic bacterial species. In the case of Gram-negative bacteria, and in particular of Helicobacter pylori, the mechanisms underlying the handling of the incoming DNA within the periplasm are poorly understood. Here we identify the protein ComH as the periplasmic receptor for the transforming DNA during natural transformation in H. pylori. ComH is a DNA-binding protein required for the import of DNA into the periplasm. Its C-terminal domain displays strong affinity for double-stranded DNA and is sufficient for the accumulation of DNA in the periplasm, but not for DNA internalisation into the cytoplasm. The N-terminal region of the protein allows the interaction of ComH with a periplasmic domain of the inner-membrane channel ComEC, which is known to mediate the translocation of DNA into the cytoplasm. Our results indicate that ComH is involved in the import of DNA into the periplasm and its delivery to the inner membrane translocator ComEC.
Assembly of chromosome-scale contigs by efficiently resolving repetitive sequences with long reads
Authors: Du Huilong , Liang Chengzhi
Published: November 2019

The abundant repetitive sequences in complex eukaryotic genomes cause fragmented assemblies, which lose value as reference genomes, often due to incomplete gene sequences and unanchored or mispositioned contigs on chromosomes. Here we report a genome assembly method HERA, which resolves repeats efficiently by constructing a connection graph from an overlap graph. We test HERA on the genomes of rice, maize, human, and Tartary buckwheat with single-molecule sequencing and mapping data. HERA correctly assembles most of the previously unassembled regions, resulting in dramatically improved, highly contiguous genome assemblies with newly assembled gene sequences. For example, the maize contig N50 size reaches 61.2 Mb and the Tartary buckwheat genome comprises only 20 contigs. HERA can also be used to fill gaps and fix errors in reference genomes. The application of HERA will greatly improve the quality of new or existing assemblies of complex genomes.
Simultaneous multi-signal quantification for highly precise serodiagnosis utilizing a rationally constructed platform
Authors: Liu Yuxin , Wei Zheng , Zhou Jing , Ma Zhanfang
Published: November 2019

Serodiagnosis with a single quantification method suffers from high false positive/negative rates. In this study, a three-channel platform with an accessional instrumented system was constructed for simultaneous electrochemical, luminescent, and photothermal quantification of H2S, a bio-indicator for acute pancreatitis (AP) diagnosis. Utilizing the specific reaction between platform and H2S, the three-channel platform showed high sensitivity and selectivity in the biological H2S concentration range. The three-channel platform was also feasible for identifying the difference in the plasma H2S concentrations of AP and normal mice. More importantly, the precision of AP serodiagnosis was significantly improved (>99.0%) using the three-signal method based on the three-channel platform and an optimized threshold, which was clearly higher than that of the single- or two-signal methods (79.5%–94.1%). Our study highlights the importance of constructing a multichannel platform for the simultaneous multi-signal quantification of bio-indicators, and provides rigorous ways to improve the precision of medical serodiagnosis.
Styrene maleic acid recovers proteins from mammalian cells and tissues while avoiding significant cell death
Authors: Smith Andrew J. , Wright Kathleen E. , Muench Stephen P. , Schumann Sophie , Whitehouse Adrian , Porter Karen E. , Colyer John
Published: November 2019

Detection of protein biomarkers is an important tool for medical diagnostics, typically exploiting concentration of particular biomarkers or biomarker release from tissues. We sought to establish whether proteins not normally released by living cells can be extracted without harming cells, with a view to extending this into biomarker harvest for medical diagnosis and other applications. Styrene maleic acid (SMA) is a polymer that extracts nanodiscs of biological membranes (containing membrane proteins) from cells. Hitherto it has been used to harvest SMA-lipid-membrane protein particles (SMALP) for biochemical study, by destroying the living cellular specimen. In this study, we applied SMA at low concentration to human primary cardiovascular cells and rat vascular tissue, to ‘biopsy’ cell proteins while avoiding significant reductions in cell viability. SMA at 6.25 parts per million harvested proteins from cells and tissues without causing significant release of cytosolic dye (calcein) or reduction in cell viability at 24 and 72 hours post-SMA (MTT assay). A wide range of proteins were recovered (20–200 kDa) and a number identified by mass spectrometry: this confirmed protein recovery from plasma membrane, intracellular membranes and cell cytosol without associated cell death. These data demonstrate the feasibility of non-lethally sampling proteins from cells, greatly extending our sampling capability, which could yield new physiological and/or pathological biomarkers.
Stability of cellulase in ionic liquids: correlations between enzyme activity and COSMO-RS descriptors
Authors: Pedersen Jacob Nedergaard , Pérez Bianca , Guo Zheng
Published: November 2019

Ionic liquids (ILs) are effective in pretreating cellulose for enhanced enzymatic saccharification, however ILs can inactivate cellulases. To guide the selection of ILs, the activity of cellulase was correlated with COSMO-RS calculations and descriptors of ILs including hydrogen bond (H-bond) basicity/acidity, polarity and ion size. Trends were deduced using an anion-series and a cation-series of ionic liquids in aqueous solutions. The activity in the cation-series was best correlated with the size of varied cations, whereas the activity in the anion-series showed a pronounced correlation to H-bond basicity and polarity of different anions. COSMO-RS was further used to predict the solubility of cellulose in ILs, which was correlated with cellulase activity on IL-pretreated cellulose. The best correlations were found between the enzyme activity in the anion-series ILs and the logarithmic activity coefficients, the H-bond energy, H-bond basicity and polarizability, underlining that the anion plays a crucial role in cellulose dissolution.
Gastric acid inhibitor aggravates indomethacin-induced small intestinal injury via reducing Lactobacillus johnsonii
Authors: Nadatani Yuji , Watanabe Toshio , Suda Wataru , Nakata Akinobu , Matsumoto Yuji , Kosaka Satoshi , Higashimori Akira , Otani Koji , Hosomi Shuhei , Tanaka Fumio , Nagami Yasuaki , Kamata Noriko , Taira Koichi , Yamagami Hirokazu , Tanigawa Tetsuya , Hattori Masahira , Fujiwara Yasuhiro
Published: November 2019

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) alter the composition of the intestinal microbiome, exacerbating indomethacin (IND)-induced small intestinal damage. Vonoprazan fumarate inhibits gastric acid secretion using a different mechanism from PPIs. We investigated the effects of both drugs on the intestinal microbiome and IND-induced small intestinal damage. We sought to clarify whether PPI-induced dysbiosis and worsening of the damage were due to a specific drug class effect of PPIs. Rabeprazole administration increased operational taxonomic unit numbers in the small intestines of C57BL/6 J mice, whereas the difference was not significant in the vonoprazan-treated group but exhibited a trend. Permutational multivariate analysis of variance of the unweighted UniFrac distances showed significant differences between vehicle- and vonoprazan- or rabeprazole-treated groups. L. johnsonii was the predominant microbial species, and the population ratio decreased after vonoprazan and rabeprazole administration. The vonoprazan- and rabeprazole-treated groups showed increased IND-induced damage. This high sensitivity to IND-induced damage was evaluated by transplantation with contents from the small intestine of mice treated with either vonoprazan or rabeprazole. Supplementation of L. johnsonii orally in mice treated with rabeprazole and vonoprazan prevented the increase in IND-induced small intestinal damage. In conclusion, both rabeprazole and vonoprazan aggravated NSAID-induced small intestinal injury by reducing the population of L. johnsonii in the small intestine via suppressing gastric acid secretion.
Phenomenological models of NaV1.5. A side by side, procedural, hands-on comparison between Hodgkin-Huxley and kinetic formalisms
Authors: Andreozzi Emilio , Carannante Ilaria , D’Addio Giovanni , Cesarelli Mario , Balbi Pietro
Published: November 2019

Computational models of ion channels represent the building blocks of conductance-based, biologically inspired models of neurons and neural networks. Ion channels are still widely modelled by means of the formalism developed by the seminal work of Hodgkin and Huxley (HH), although the electrophysiological features of the channels are currently known to be better fitted by means of kinetic Markov-type models. The present study is aimed at showing why simplified Markov-type kinetic models are more suitable for ion channels modelling as compared to HH ones, and how a manual optimization process can be rationally carried out for both. Previously published experimental data of an illustrative ion channel (NaV1.5) are exploited to develop a step by step optimization of the two models in close comparison. A conflicting practical limitation is recognized for the HH model, which only supplies one parameter to model two distinct electrophysiological behaviours. In addition, a step by step procedure is provided to correctly optimize the kinetic Markov-type model. Simplified Markov-type kinetic models are currently the best option to closely approximate the known complexity of the macroscopic currents of ion channels. Their optimization can be achieved through a rationally guided procedure, and allows to obtain models with a computational burden that is comparable with HH models one.
ctDNA detected by ddPCR reveals changes in tumour load in metastatic malignant melanoma treated with bevacizumab
Authors: Forthun Rakel Brendsdal , Hovland Randi , Schuster Cornelia , Puntervoll Hanne , Brodal Hans Petter , Namløs Heidi Maria , Aasheim Lars Birger , Meza-Zepeda Leonardo A. , Gjertsen Bjørn Tore , Knappskog Stian , Straume Oddbjørn
Published: November 2019

Bevacizumab is included in an increasing number of clinical trials. To find biomarkers to predict and monitor treatment response, cancer and angiogenesis relevant mutations in tumour and circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) were investigated in 26 metastatic melanoma patients treated with bevacizumab. Patients with >1% BRAF/NRAS ctDNA at treatment start had significantly decreased progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: p = 0.019, median 54 vs 774 days, OS: p = 0.026, median 209 vs 1064 days). Patients with >1% BRAF/NRAS ctDNA during treatment showed similar results (PFS: p = 0.002, OS: p = 0.003). ≤1% BRAF/NRAS ctDNA and normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels both significantly predicted increased response to treatment, but BRAF/NRAS ctDNA was better at predicting response compared to LDH at treatment start (OR 16.94, p = 0.032 vs OR 4.57, p = 0.190), and at predicting PFS (HR 6.76, p = 0.002) and OS (HR 6.78, p = 0.002) during therapy. ctDNA BRAF p.V600D/E/K and NRAS p.G12V/p.Q61K/L/R were better biomarkers for response prediction than TERT promoter mutations (OR 1.50, p = 0.657). Next generation sequencing showed that all patients with ≥2 mutations in angiogenesis-relevant genes had progressive disease, but did not reveal other biomarkers identifying responders. To conclude, ctDNA and LDH are useful biomarkers for both monitoring and predicting response to bevacizumab.
Evidence for confounding eye movements under attempted fixation and active viewing in cognitive neuroscience
Authors: Thielen Jordy , Bosch Sander E. , van Leeuwen Tessa M. , van Gerven Marcel A. J. , van Lier Rob
Published: November 2019

Eye movements can have serious confounding effects in cognitive neuroscience experiments. Therefore, participants are commonly asked to fixate. Regardless, participants will make so-called fixational eye movements under attempted fixation, which are thought to be necessary to prevent perceptual fading. Neural changes related to these eye movements could potentially explain previously reported neural decoding and neuroimaging results under attempted fixation. In previous work, under attempted fixation and passive viewing, we found no evidence for systematic eye movements. Here, however, we show that participants’ eye movements are systematic under attempted fixation when active viewing is demanded by the task. Since eye movements directly affect early visual cortex activity, commonly used for neural decoding, our findings imply alternative explanations for previously reported results in neural decoding.
Publisher Correction: A portable epigenetic switch for bistable gene expression in bacteria
Authors: Olivenza David R. , Nicoloff Hervé , Sánchez-Romero María Antonia , Cota Ignacio , Andersson Dan I. , Casadesús Josep
Published: November 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
The fabrication of a gold nanoelectrode–nanopore nanopipette for dopamine enrichment and multimode detection
Authors: Yang Dan , Liu Guohui , Li Hongna , Liu Aoxue , Guo Jing , Shan Yuping , Wang Zhe , He Jin
Published: November 2019

It is important to further improve the electrophysiology and electrochemistry techniques of neurotransmitter detection.
Luminescent pro-nitroxide lanthanide complexes for the detection of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Barré Richard , Mouchel dit Leguerrier Damien , Fedele Lionel , Imbert Daniel , Molloy Jennifer K. , Thomas Fabrice
Published: November 2019

A DOTA-based ligand appended with a pro-nitroxide moiety has been chelated to trivalent Eu and Yb, giving luminescent complexes. Under Fenton conditions both are converted into iminonitroxide and subsequently nitronyl nitroxide complexes.
A novel synthesis towards a vanadium pentoxide porous nanodisk film as a cathode material for advanced Li-ion hybrid capacitors
Authors: Liu Xiaolin , Jiang Yuqi , Ba Deliang , Zhou Wan , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Jinping
Published: November 2019

A V2O5 porous nanodisk film is synthesized via a novel VO2 template oxidation strategy and used as a cathode to construct a Li-ion hybrid capacitor.
Synthesis of pyridyl carbyne complexes and their conversion to N-heterocyclic vinylidenes
Authors: Frogley Benjamin J. , Hill Anthony F.
Published: November 2019

A new synthetic approach to hetero-aryl substituted carbyne complexes has allowed the synthesis of pyridyl functionalised carbynes and bis(carbynes), alkylation of which affords the first N-heterocyclic vinylidene complexes.
Color-tunable X-ray scintillation based on a series of isotypic lanthanide–organic frameworks
Authors: Wang Xia , Wang Yaxing , Wang Yanlong , Liu Hanzhou , Zhang Yugang , Liu Wei , Wang Xiangxiang , Wang Shuao
Published: November 2019

X-ray excited luminescence from lanthanide–organic frameworks are reported for the first time, enabling color-tunable visualization of X-ray radiation by changing the lanthanide moiety in the crystals.
Microfluidics-enabled rational design for Ag–ZnO nanocomposite films for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Jun Ho Young , Chang Chih-Hung , Ahn Kwang-Soon , Ryu Si Ok , Choi Chang-Ho
Published: November 2019

A facile and rapid synthetic method to fabricate the Ag–ZnO nanocomposite films with controlled morphology is developed by using microreactor-assisted solution deposition (MASD) process for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.
Correlation effects in the photoelectron spectrum and photoionization dynamics of OsO4
Authors: Manna Soumitra , Mishra Sabyashachi
Published: November 2019

The valence shell photoelectron spectrum of OsO4+is studied using the Dyson orbital theory and the photoionization cross-section and asymmetry parameters are analyzed by partial wave decomposition of the photoelectron.
A promising blue phosphorene/C2N van der Waals type-II heterojunction as a solar photocatalyst: a first-principles study
Authors: Li Chong , Xu Ying , Sheng Wei , Yin Wen-Jin , Nie Guo-Zheng , Ao Zhimin
Published: November 2019

An appropriate band structure and effective carrier separation are very important for the performance of a solar photocatalyst.
Librating dipoles as a probe of spontaneously electrical films and as a source of THz radiation
Authors: Field D.
Published: November 2019

Pulsing a spontaneously electrical solid causes the molecular dipoles to oscillate and emit THz radiation.
Fabrication and study of the synergistic effect of Janus Ni2P/Ni5P4 embedded in N-doped carbon as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Hong Weizhao , Lv Chade , Sun Shanfu , Chen Gang
Published: November 2019

Ni2P/Ni5P4 with Janus nanostructure was fabricated via a controllable phosphidation approach and the interfacial effects were revealed by DFT theory.
One-pot synthesis of Ln3+-doped porous BiF3@PAA nanospheres for temperature sensing and pH-responsive drug delivery guided by CT imaging
Authors: Zhao Shuang , Tian Rongrong , Shao Baiqi , Feng Yang , Yuan Senwen , Dong Langping , Zhang Liang , Wang Zhenxin , You Hongpeng
Published: November 2019

One-pot solvothermal strategy to synthesize PAA-functionalized porous BiF3:Ln3+ nanospheres towards CT imaging-guided and pH-responsive drug delivery.
Cytochalasin Z11 inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via suppressing NFATc1 activation
Authors: Wang Lu , Chen Kai , He Jianbo , Kenny Jacob , Yuan Yu , Chen Junhao , Liu Qian , Tan Renxiang , Zhao Jinmin , Xu Jiake
Published: November 2019

CytoZ11 was demonstrated to inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and function by affecting NFATc1 activation. This is achieved by the suppression of c-Fos and NF-κB pathways. Therefore, CytoZ11 may serve as a promising therapy for osteoclast-related bone disorders.
Performance of graphite felt as a cathode and anode in the electro-Fenton process
Authors: Li Junfeng , Song Dongbao , Du Keqing , Wang Zhaoyang , Zhao Chun
Published: November 2019

Choosing an electrode material with good performance and low cost is of great significance for the practical application of the electro-Fenton process.
Concise synthesis of 3-alkylthieno[3,2-b]thiophenes; building blocks for organic electronic and optoelectronic materials
Authors: Ilhan Koray T. , Topal Sebahat , Eroglu Mehmet S. , Ozturk Turan
Published: November 2019

Four step synthesis of 3-alkylthieno[3,2-b]thiophenes in the literature was reduced to two steps in good yields, through the preparation of the mono ketone, i.e. 1-(thiophene-3-ylthio)alkan-2-one, from 3-bromothiophene and ring formation reaction.
Persistent organic room temperature phosphorescence: what is the role of molecular dimers?
Authors: Wang Yunsheng , Yang Jie , Tian Yu , Fang Manman , Liao Qiuyan , Wang Liwei , Hu Wenping , Tang Ben Zhong , Li Zhen
Published: November 2019

The first purely organic room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) luminogen, with singlet excimer emission and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) effect, was successfully developed.
Combining hydrophilic and hydrophobic environment sensitive dyes to detect a wide range of cellular polarity
Authors: Park Sang Jun , Juvekar Vinayak , Jo Jae Hyung , Kim Hwan Myung
Published: November 2019

Ratiometric polarity sensitive probe (RPS-1) contains two dyes of same absorption but different emissions utilized in comprehensive and quantitative detection of wide range of intracellular polarity.
Novel aqueous amine looping approach for the direct capture, conversion and storage of CO2 to produce magnesium carbonate
Authors: Liu Meishen , Asgar Hassnain , Seifert Soenke , Gadikota Greeshma
Published: November 2019

Aqueous amine solvents (e.g., monoethanolamine) coupled with reactive alkaline sorbents (e.g., MgO) favor low temperature CO2 removal as solid carbonates.
A [101̄0] oriented hybrid 3D ZnO nanowall architecture with enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell performance
Authors: Islavath Nanaji
Published: November 2019

[101̄0] oriented ZnO nanostructure was grown via low-temperature solution process; applied as ETL in DSSCs and device achieved almost 4-times higher PCE than the NW/NWLs. It is a new record efficiency of 4.08% in aligned nanostructure-based solar cells.
Non-elastic glassy coating with fouling release and resistance abilities
Authors: Chen Runze , Xie Qingyi , Zeng Haohang , Ma Chunfeng , Zhang Guangzhao
Published: November 2019

A novel hard coating with a non-leaching, self-enriched amphiphilic telomer has been developed, which exhibits excellent robustness, fouling release and fouling resistance.
Three-dimensional assemblies of carbon nitride tubes as nanoreactors for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Zhao Chen , Li Qi , Xie Ying , Zhang Liping , Xiao Xudong , Wang Dan , Jiao Yanqing , Hurd Price Cameron Alexander , Jiang Baojiang , Liu Jian
Published: November 2019

Three-dimensional assembly of carbon nitride tube was obtained from supramolecular precursor. The special morphology and triazole ring group modification endowed materials' enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution property (71 mmol g−1 h−1).
4-Coumarate:coenzyme A ligase isoform 3 from Piper nigrum (Pn4CL3) catalyzes the CoA thioester formation of 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic and piperic acids
Authors: Jin Zhehao , Wungsintaweekul Juraithip , Kim Sang-Hoon , Kim Jeong-Han , Shin Yongho , Ro Dae-Kyun , Kim Soo-Un
Published: November 2019

Black pepper, dried green fruit of Piper nigrum L., is a household spice most popular in the world. Piperine, the pungency compound of black pepper, is proposed to partially arise from phenylpropanoid pathway. In the biosynthesis of piperine, 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CLs) must play a pivotal role in activating intermediate acids to corresponding CoA thioesters to serve as substrates. Based on transcriptome data, we isolated three P. nigrum 4CL isoforms (Pn4CL1, -2, and -3) from unripe peppercorn. These Pn4CLs were expressed in E. coli for in vitro enzyme assay with putative substrates, namely cinnamic, coumaric, ferulic, piperonylic, 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic (3,4-MDCA), and piperic acids. Phylogenetic analysis and substrate usage study indicated that Pn4CL1, active towards coumaric and ferulic acids, belongs to class I 4CL for lignin synthesis. Pn4CL2 was a typical cinnamate-specific coumarate:CoA ligase-like (CLL) protein. The Pn4CL3, as class II enzyme, exhibited general 4CL activity towards coumaric and ferulic acids. However, Pn4CL3 was also active towards piperonylic acid, 3,4-MDCA, and piperic acid. Pn4CL3 possessed ∼2.6 times higher catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) towards 3,4-MDCA and piperic acid than towards coumaric and ferulic acids, suggesting its specific role in piperine biosynthesis. Different substrate preference among the Pn4CL isoforms can be explained by 3-dimensional protein structure modeling, which demonstrated natural variants in amino acid residues of binding pocket to accommodate different substrates. Quantitative PCR analysis of these isoforms indicated that Pn4CL1 transcript level was highest in the roots whereas Pn4CL2 in the fruits and Pn4CL3 in the leaves.
The quality of geothermal reservoir of the Lower Jurassic aquifer in the Mogilno-Łódź Trough (Polish Lowlands)
Authors: Kasztelewicz Aleksandra , Tomaszewska Barbara
Published: November 2019

The assessment of the geothermal potential should always take an accurate identification of the geological conditions into account. Petrographic and petrophysical investigations of the aquifers allow to estimate their productivity and infectivity. The area of the Mogilno-Łódź Trough is next to the Podhale basin, one of the most prospective regions in terms of geothermal potential in Poland. The Lower Jurassic aquifers are characterized by the largest dispositional resources among geothermal aquifers in the Polish Lowlands. The Lower Jurassic geothermal reservoir consist of fine and mixed grain-size sands and sandstones layers from 10-650 m thick, depending on the depth. The water within the reservoir exhibits mineralization ranging from 2 to over 250 g/L and its temperature ranges from 30 to 100°C. Boreholes profiles selected for study consist Lower Jurassic formations of the Polish Lowlands, which are perspective for the heat production in Poland. Sandstones are represent mainly by quartz arenites and subordinate by quartz wackes. Parameters measured include among others porosity, permeability and surface area. The results of the petrographic and mineralogical studies of core samples confirmed the presence of rock with favorable parameters for geothermal water accumulation.
Comparison of VLBI and GNSS common view for time transfer
Authors: Wang Pingli , Wang Guangli , Gao Yuping , Cai Hongbing , Liu Na
Published: November 2019

With the rapid development of optical clock, the stability and system uncertainty of optical clocks has reached a 1.0e–18 level. Optical clocks will likely constitute the next generation of time-frequency standards for redefining the SI second. Because time and frequency transfer services that rely on satellite systems are not always reliable and currently available technologies are insufficient for comparing the next generation of frequency standards, high-precision time and transfer techniques are strongly desired. Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) is one of the space geodetic techniques that measure the arrival time delays between multiple stations utilizing radio signals from distant celestial radio sources. Not only can VLBI obtain the angle position measurement of the radio source with sub-millisecond accuracy and the station coordinate measurement with millimeter accuracy, but also, it can provide high-precision information regarding inter-station atomic clock differences. Therefore, it is theoretically feasible to use the VLBI technology to do the remote time transfer. Because of this characteristic of VLBI technology, VLBI has significant application potential in the field of remote time transfer. To confirm the suitability of VLBI to time-frequency transfer for future practical applications, the results of VLBI and GPS common view time transfer were compared using a Kunming-Urumqi baseline. The performance characteristics of time transfer based on VLBI are then analyzed. Experimental results show that VLBI technology can accurately measure the variation of clock differences between stations as same as the GPS common view time comparison technology. It briefly describes the challenges of future VLBI technology for practical applications of time transfer.
Couleurs et émaux. Des décors de la Manufacture de Sèvres à la réactivité des pigments
Authors: Verger Louisiane , Dargaud Olivier , Cormier Laurent
Published: November 2019

Un décor de porcelaine est obtenu à l’aide de mélanges de pigments et de composants incolores qui, en se vitrifiant, fixent l’émail à la surface de l’objet et révèlent ainsi la couleu.

Cet article s’intéresse à la stabilité d’un pigment de type spinelle au cours de la cuisson du décor. La caractérisation d’un grain de ce pigment par microscopie électronique, spectroscopie optique et absorption des rayons X, a permis de montrer que le changement de couleur parfois observé après cuisson résulte d’un enrichissement en chrome de la périphérie des grains de spinelle.
Physique de l’archéomagnétisme pour la datation de bâtiments du haut Moyen Âge
Authors: Lanos Philippe
Published: November 2019

La physique de l’archéomagnétisme, basée sur la mesure des aimantations thermorémanentes et sur l’étude du champ magnétique terrestre dans le passé, permet de dater les terres cuites archéologiques restées en place depuis leur dernière cuisson, mais aussi celles qui ont été déplacées depuis leur lieu de fabrication jusqu’au lieu de la construction.

La datation de monuments du haut Moyen Âge a permis de nouvelles interprétations des mesures d’aimantation effectuées sur les briques mises en œuvre dans les maçonneries. Ces avancées récentes sont illustrées ici dans le cas de la tour-clocher de la collégiale Saint‑Martin à Angers.
Foreigners in the town. Experience of voluntary immigrants living in a small town
Authors: Markovic Daniel , Zilova Anna
Published: November 2019

The aim of the paper is to unveil the experiences of voluntary immigrants to Slovakia related to their life in a small Slovak town and to identify opportunities for intervention through social work, particularly experience in the field of interpersonal relations, employment or during studies, and in the economic field. In research, we are interested in voluntary migrants who chose small towns in Slovakia, which are culturally and linguistically homogeneous. We have chosen a qualitative research strategy. Research design is grounded theory. As a research tool, we chose an individual structured interview (In-Depth Interview). For qualitative analysis of data, we used the coding; we set descriptive and inductive codes, subcategories and categories. The subject of research is eight voluntary immigrants to Slovakia who live in small towns for at least one year at the time of research. Thus, they meet the long-term migration criterion. Participants were selected on a deliberate basis to cover the phenomenon of voluntary migration. Due to the chosen research design, theoretical sampling is the case.
Preventative role of criminal law for traffic safety
Authors: Gutorova Nataliya , Rudnyeva Oleksandra
Published: November 2019

The purpose of the article is to raise awareness of and stimulate serious discussion about the necessity to improve the preventative role of criminal law in the field of traffic safety by adjusting criminal liability for crimes in this area, and determining the proportional amount of force that may be used by the police in order to stop the vehicle and detain the offender.
Human trafficking from Ukrainian cities and villages: Current trends
Authors: Babenko Andriy , Batyrgareieva Vladislava , Kalinina Alina
Published: November 2019

The official statistics of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine has recorded that in 2017 the number of cases of human trafficking from Ukraine increased threefold (342 cases versus 115 in 2016). Such a sharp growth of the aforementioned crime was last observed in 2005 to 2006. Today, there are no administrative and territorial districts in Ukraine from which future victims of human traffickers would not be recruited. According to criminal proceedings, about 70% of human trafficking victims are residents of large Ukrainian cities. The aim of this research is to investigate current trends of human trafficking phenomenon from Ukrainian cities and villages and to present the ways how the victims fall into slavery. The revealed trends of the human trafficking from Ukraine allow us to affirm that whereas similarity of social and demographic, moral and physiological characteristics of urban and rural residents, the second ones have a higher level of risk to become a victim of human trafficking. The results obtained allow us to develop evidence-based recommendations for the human trafficking from Ukraine decreasing as from the hole country, as rural locals, in particular. The new feature in human trafficking is a negative trend that Ukraine is changing from the country in which human trafficking victims originate into the destination country for human trafficking.
Problems associated with the right of access in the context of the rights of the child in Latvia
Authors: Kudeikina Inga
Published: November 2019

The child is a special right-holder. In the legal system, the status of the child is characterised by substantive rights that are typical only for children and by different means of exercising and safeguarding rights, i.e. the rights of a child are exercised by custodians acting on behalf of the child. It should be noted that the state, which uses the levers of public power, is also involved in the protection and safeguarding of the rights of the child in the most direct way. The right of access should be mentioned as a special right of the child. This comprises the right of a child to direct contacts with the child's parents and siblings. Communication forms an integral part of daily lives of people as social beings. Communication with parents is essential for a child undergoing the process of personality development. The right of access is an absolute right, which may be restricted only in cases specified in laws, provided that access is harmful to a child. Although the right of access is provided for by law, the existing legal framework is still deficient, which is confirmed by frequent disputes arising over the exercise of this right.
The right to private communication using telecommunication means: National and international legal aspects of protection
Authors: Panasiuk Olexandr , Grynko Larysa , Prokhazka Anna
Published: November 2019

Today's challenges dictate the need to strengthen the national and international legal mechanisms for the protection of personal data and the right to private communication. However, considered rights are not absolute. Legitimate restriction of guaranteed rights is possible, since these means of communication are a powerful tool in the investigation and disclosure of hard/very hard crimes, including transnational ones, especially considering the terrorist threats to Ukraine and other European countries. The possibility of restricting human rights, arising from the guarantees enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and consistently enshrined in the ECHR, demands from the state the least compulsory guarantee while interfering with the rights of individuals – to act “in accordance with the law”. Law protection of personal data and right to privacy are researched in the context of peculiarities of conducting investigative (search), secret investigative (search) and other procedural actions in criminal proceedings, which concern access to some telecommunication means (e.g., smartphones). Taking into account different functional purposes of technical means of telecommunication, access and collecting of evidence contained therein, should be carried out on a case-to-case basis, in a different procedural form, considering specifics of telecommunication technologies in each particular case.
Outpatient physiotherapy services in Latvian regional hospitals: Characteristics of receivers, the volume of services and source of funding
Authors: Heize Ilze , Smite Daina
Published: November 2019

Objective: To analyse the outpatient physiotherapy services provided in the regional hospitals of Latvia in 2017 and the profile of their receivers. Methods: In the research, 7 regional hospitals of Latvia participated, in which the analysis of statistical documentation of 2017 was carried out. The following data was collected about the receivers of outpatient physiotherapy services: age, gender, clinical diagnosis and place of residence; about the volume of service provided – the number of visits per patient; about the source of funding (state budget, private resources, insurance). Results:In the regional hospitals of Latvia, outpatient physiotherapy services in 2017 were received by 6957 patients, the most commonly adults of working age with basic clinical diagnosis of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases, and children up to the age of one year with diagnosis of certain conditions originating in the perinatal period. Among the regional hospitals of Latvia there are significant differences in the volume of outpatient physiotherapy services provided to one patient with a similar clinical diagnosis and age. Latvian regional hospitals still do not have electronic records of all outpatient physiotherapy services, which does not allow to judge about provided services and their receivers, which are financed by patients private resources.
Enhancing Export Diversification in Resource-Rich Economies – Policies and Evidence from Kazakhstan
Authors: Zhelev P.
Published: November 2019

Kazakhstan has managed to benefit from its considerable endowments of natural resources during the commodity price boom in the 2000s. However, the global crisis of 2008-09 has demonstrated that relying on a single sector prone to high price volatility cannot be a viable strategy for development. The government of Kazakhstan well realizes that and for already 2 decades has been pursuing various industrial policy initiatives to build a more diversified and competitive economy. The paper aims to examine how successful were those policies by applying various indicators of export diversification. The results show that progress has been very limited as the country’s export basket is highly concentrated and still dominated by oil. This suggests that Kazakhstan should ensure better implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of its diversification initiatives.
Ukrainian Experience of State Regulation of Stock Exchange Activity
Authors: Reznik N. , Abuselidze G. , Ostapchuk A. , Tkachuk V.
Published: November 2019

Theme of stock market is on the level of development in some countries. It faces a number of problems for the first time and there are no mechanisms for its overcoming. There are offers how to overcome the most popular problems of countries where the stock market just start to develop. The main part is belonging to state intervention and formation of legislative bases. Due to methods of analysis and generalization the article offers measures and mechanism of action for countries which have the same problems like Ukrainian. This research can be applied as it is or become the basis for development of new recommendations for the regulation of stock market activity.
Statistical Research and Modeling of Retail Turnover in the Russian Federation
Authors: Sukhanova E.I. , Shirnaeva S.Y. , Repina E.G.
Published: November 2019

Retail trade turnover represents one of the most fundamental socio-economic indicators. Constant monitoring of such indicators has a pivotal role in modernization of the Russian economy. Retail trade turnover reflects countries’ economic capacity and standard of living. This paper proposes a statistically significant econometric model of the retail trade turnover dependence with respect to different factors. Such factors as consumer prices index, unemployment level and average monthly designed salary were taken as the explanatory variables. The variables were selected based on Granger causality test and time series analysis of several socio-economic indicators. For each explanatory variable, a statistically significant model ARIMA (1, 1, 0) was constructed, with the help of which the predicted values of the explanatory variables for October, November and December 2019 were calculated, which were used to forecast the retail turnover for these months.
New Functionality, Security and Protection of CCTV Systems: Technological Progress and Digital Society Development
Authors: Vaníčková R.
Published: November 2019

The objective of the paper is to analyse and evaluate the current state of the project of integrated security CCTV systems including the description of the original plan, the course of multiannual implementation, analysis of partial results. Next discussion of the current state and developmental technological changes in information and communication systems of the 21st century digital society including accepting the trends in developments, changes and forecasts in the field of cyber security. In the analytical part of the contribution, the author analyses and evaluates the planned/unplanned activities, the course of multiannual implementation and achievement of the strategic objectives including the characteristics of the current protection and security of the CCTV systems and the impacts of the installed security and monitoring systems in a banking institution. The final part of the contribution evaluates the project success with respect to the protection and security of the systems.
Virtual Machines Migration Technologies as a Strategy for Regional Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Bogomolov A.E. , Kreymer A.S. , Popok L.E.
Published: November 2019

Modern approaches to the automation of business processes are increasingly confronted with questions of increase of efficiency of use of available computing resources. The transition to cloud computing technology makes the company to revise approaches to the assessment of their own capabilities and look for ways to reduce operating costs, it does not complicate the process of information infrastructure management. In the competitive environment of the organization following the path optimization of capital and operating costs through the introduction of new technologies, as well as through the transition and migration to a more cost-effective technologies.
Structure of the Performance Management at the Regional Level
Authors: Simonova M.V. , Gunko N.N. , Kolesnikov S.A. , Parshin A.N.
Published: November 2019

In the article authors studied a problem of a practical use of scientific research on performance management on the regional level, suggested a mechanism of an institutional approach to solve the problem through the creation of a vertically integrated system with government and professional organizations in the region, which allows organizing cooperation on different management and economic levels. To justify the creation of the system, analysis of labor productivity growth in the regions of the Russian Federation had been carried out. In the system of productive factors social and economic drivers had been allocated, which can lead to dramatic improvements in productivity in the short term, without any use of considerable investment. Their implementation, however, requires well-developed institutional support. Functional and substantial structure of the regional center for competency of productivity had been developed. It is made for the scientific, methodological and organizational support of the project to improve productivity at the regional’s workplaces. The need of creation of harmonized methodology to increase productivity, qualification and methodological process support on the principles of project management had been demonstrated.