bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiential Engagement and Active vs. Passive Behavior in Mobile Location-based Social Networks: The Moderating Role of Privacy
Authors: Pagani Margherita , Malacarne Giovanni
Published: January 2017

The study aims to understand how social media and mobile change customer experiences and influence the online active behavior. We explore how leveraging differently on experiences that the users live online helps to increase experiential engagement and mitigate the negative influence of privacy concern on the active use of location-based social networking applications. We conceptualize experiential engagement as a second-order construct that is manifested in two first-order “experience” constructs (Personal Engagement and Social Interactive Engagement). We theorize that our engagement constructs are causally related to consumer active and passive use of a mobile location-based social network and we test (n = 379) the moderating role of privacy concern on this relation in EU and the US. Findings show that Personal Engagement plays an important role influencing active usage when users are more concerned with privacy issues. Social Interactive Engagement shows a significant effect on passive usage meaning that the more people experience a deep sense of community the more they are interested in reading other comments or collecting information. Managerial implications are discussed.
Will They Come and Will They Stay? Online Social Networks and News Consumption on External Websites
Authors: Mahmood Ammara , Sismeiro Catarina
Published: January 2017

This study explores the role of online engagement, homophily and social influence in explaining traffic and news consumption by social network users at an external news website. The authors jointly model visits and page views for a panel of users who registered with the news site using their Facebook accounts. In their model, the authors account for homophily using a latent space approach, and account for endogeneity, heterogeneity, and unobservable correlates. The results show that measures of an individual's activity on Facebook are positively associated with that individual's actions at the news site. In addition, knowing what a user's Facebook friends do at the content website provides insights into a focal user's behavior at that website, as visitors with friends who visit external news sites are more likely to visit the news website studied. In addition, news consumption (not just visits) also depends on friend's actions but such an impact varies with the individual's underlying browsing mode. We highlight the importance of social influence in news consumption and further show that homophily bias in news consumption is similar to prior research in other categories. Our study also highlights that visitors’ past browsing patterns are important predictors of future content consumption, although social network information significantly improves prediction beyond the effect of such more traditional behavioral metrics. Finally we find that Managers can use readily available data for both prediction and targeting.
Acquired and congenital coronary artery abnormalities
Authors: Young Ming-Lon , McLeary Michael , Chan Kak-Chen
Published: January 2017

Sudden unexpected cardiac deaths in approximately 20% of young athletes are due to acquired or congenital coronary artery abnormalities. Kawasaki disease is the leading cause for acquired coronary artery abnormalities, which can cause late coronary artery sequelae including aneurysms, stenosis, and thrombosis, leading to myocardial ischaemia and ventricular fibrillation. Patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery can develop adequate collateral circulation from the right coronary artery in the newborn period, which remains asymptomatic only to manifest in adulthood with myocardial ischaemia, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death. Anomalous origin of coronary artery from the opposite sinus occurs in 0.7% of the young general population aged between 11 and 15 years. If the anomalous coronary artery courses between the pulmonary artery and the aorta, sudden cardiac death may occur during or shortly after vigorous exercise, especially in patients where the anomalous left coronary artery originates from the right sinus of Valsalva. Symptomatic patients with evidence of ischaemia should have surgical correction. No treatment is needed for asymptomatic patients with an anomalous right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva. At present, there is no consensus regarding how to manage asymptomatic patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva and interarterial course. Myocardial bridging is commonly observed in cardiac catheterisation and it rarely causes exercise-induced coronary syndrome or cardiac death. In symptomatic patients, refractory or β-blocker treatment and surgical un-bridging may be considered.
Return to play in the athlete with cardiac disease: who decides and what is the protocol?
Authors: Silka Michael J.
Published: January 2017

Improved public awareness and advances in medical diagnostics have resulted in the development of criteria to determine eligibility or disqualification for the athlete with cardiovascular abnormalities. Simultaneously, protocols have been developed for athletes with concussion or orthopaedic injuries to guide team physicians and consultants in return-to-play decisions. However, there are currently inadequate data to allow the development of such protocols for athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities who have undergone treatment. Further complicating the decision process is the designation of the team physician as the ultimate authority in making return-to-play decisions – where the team physician often is an employee of the team and supports the team’s goal and players as well as the individual athlete. This review will discuss the ethical dilemma of the team physician and the role of the cardiovascular consultant. Following this, current data and practices regarding return to play will be discussed for the following conditions or diagnoses: following catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia; following pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation; unexplained syncope; and the athlete with a genetic mutation in the absence of any phenotype of associated disease. These recommendations will undoubtedly continue to evolve and improve and should be considered at this time as a point of departure.
How pacemakers work and simple programming: a primer for the non-electrophysiologist
Authors: Chiu-Man Christine
Published: January 2017

Paediatric pacemaker management is challenging because of the small patient size, complex cardiac anatomy, and unique programming considerations. Hardware placement options include epicardial and transvenous systems. When pacemaker malfunction is suspected, a systematic approach is required to determine whether there is malfunction in pacing, sensing, or no output due to hardware problem. In most cases, simple reprogramming may circumvent the problem and allow retention of the pacemaker system.
Seed Potato Growth and Yield as Affected by Mother Plant Exposure to Herbicides
Authors: Colquhoun Jed B. , Heider Daniel J. , Rittmeyer Richard A.
Published: January 2017

In a repeated multi-year study, mother potato plants were exposed to herbicides at rates that simulated off-target application, such as through tank contamination. Following exposure of mother plants to herbicides, seed from mother plants was planted in the following growing season and crop growth, yield and tuber quality were quantified. Visual injury from herbicides was observed both in the mother plant and daughter tuber growing seasons and occasional impacts on tuber yield were noted. However, an inconsistent relationship was observed for herbicide related injury and tuber yield reductions of mother potato plants with daughter tuber growth and yield. The lack of consistency in the relationship between visual potato injury in the mother plant production and adverse daughter tuber growth and yield in the following year challenges traditional crop scouting as a tool to predict off-target herbicide risk near seed potato production.
New insights into marine group III Euryarchaeota, from dark to light
Authors: Haro-Moreno Jose M , Rodriguez-Valera Francisco , López-García Purificación , Moreira David , Martin-Cuadrado Ana-Belen
Published: January 2017

Marine Euryarchaeota remain among the least understood major components of marine microbial communities. Marine group II Euryarchaeota (MG-II) are more abundant in surface waters (4–20% of the total prokaryotic community), whereas marine group III Euryarchaeota (MG-III) are generally considered low-abundance members of deep mesopelagic and bathypelagic communities. Using genome assembly from direct metagenome reads and metagenomic fosmid clones, we have identified six novel MG-III genome sequence bins from the photic zone (Epi1–6) and two novel bins from deep-sea samples (Bathy1–2). Genome completeness in those genome bins varies from 44% to 85%. Photic-zone MG-III bins corresponded to novel groups with no similarity, and significantly lower GC content, when compared with previously described deep-MG-III genome bins. As found in many other epipelagic microorganisms, photic-zone MG-III bins contained numerous photolyase and rhodopsin genes, as well as genes for peptide and lipid uptake and degradation, suggesting a photoheterotrophic lifestyle. Phylogenetic analysis of these photolyases and rhodopsins as well as their genomic context suggests that these genes are of bacterial origin, supporting the hypothesis of an MG-III ancestor that lived in the dark ocean. Epipelagic MG-III occur sporadically and in relatively small proportions in marine plankton, representing only up to 0.6% of the total microbial community reads in metagenomes. None of the reconstructed epipelagic MG-III genomes were present in metagenomes from aphotic zone depths or from high latitude regions. Most low-GC bins were highly enriched at the deep chlorophyll maximum zones, with the exception of Epi1, which appeared evenly distributed throughout the photic zone worldwide.
Expeditious diastereoselective synthesis of elaborated ketones via remote Csp3–H functionalization
Authors: Shu Wei , Lorente Adriana , Gómez-Bengoa Enrique , Nevado Cristina
Published: January 2017

The quest for selective C–H functionalization reactions, able to provide new strategic opportunities for the rapid assembly of molecular complexity, represents a major focus of the chemical community. Examples of non-directed, remote Csp3–H activation to forge complex carbon frameworks remain scarce due to the kinetic stability and thus intrinsic challenge associated to the chemo-, regio- and stereoselective functionalization of aliphatic C–H bonds. Here we describe a radical-mediated, directing-group-free regioselective 1,5-hydrogen transfer of unactivated Csp3–H bonds followed by a second Csp2–H functionalization to produce, with exquisite stereoselectivity, a variety of elaborated fused ketones. This study demonstrates that aliphatic acids can be strategically harnessed as 1,2-diradical synthons and that secondary aliphatic C–H bonds can be engaged in stereoselective C–C bond-forming reactions, highlighting the potential of this protocol for target-oriented natural product and pharmaceutical synthesis.
Heterogeneity in mantle carbon content from CO2-undersaturated basalts
Authors: Le Voyer M. , Kelley K.A. , Cottrell E. , Hauri E.H.
Published: January 2017

The amount of carbon present in Earth’s mantle affects the dynamics of melting, volcanic eruption style and the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere via planetary outgassing. Mantle carbon concentrations are difficult to quantify because most magmas are strongly degassed upon eruption. Here we report undegassed carbon concentrations from a new set of olivine-hosted melt inclusions from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. We use the correlations of CO2 with trace elements to define an average carbon abundance for the upper mantle. Our results indicate that the upper mantle carbon content is highly heterogeneous, varying by almost two orders of magnitude globally, with the potential to produce large geographic variations in melt fraction below the volatile-free solidus. Such heterogeneity will manifest as variations in the depths at which melt becomes interconnected and detectable, the CO2 fluxes at mid-ocean ridges, the depth of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, and mantle conductivity.
Building logical qubits in a superconducting quantum computing system
Authors: Gambetta Jay M. , Chow Jerry M. , Steffen Matthias
Published: January 2017

The technological world is in the midst of a quantum computing and quantum information revolution. Since Richard Feynman’s famous ‘plenty of room at the bottom’ lecture (Feynman, Engineering and Science23, 22 (1960)), hinting at the notion of novel devices employing quantum mechanics, the quantum information community has taken gigantic strides in understanding the potential applications of a quantum computer and laid the foundational requirements for building one. We believe that the next significant step will be to demonstrate a quantum memory, in which a system of interacting qubits stores an encoded logical qubit state longer than the incorporated parts. Here, we describe the important route towards a logical memory with superconducting qubits, employing a rotated version of the surface code. The current status of technology with regards to interconnected superconducting-qubit networks will be described and near-term areas of focus to improve devices will be identified. Overall, the progress in this exciting field has been astounding, but we are at an important turning point, where it will be critical to incorporate engineering solutions with quantum architectural considerations, laying the foundation towards scalable fault-tolerant quantum computers in the near future.
Soluble Uric Acid Activates the NLRP3 Inflammasome
Authors: Braga Tarcio Teodoro , Forni Maria Fernanda , Correa-Costa Matheus , Ramos Rodrigo Nalio , Barbuto Jose Alexandre , Branco Paola , Castoldi Angela , Hiyane Meire Ioshie , Davanso Mariana Rodrigues , Latz Eicke , Franklin Bernardo S. , Kowaltowski Alicia J. , Camara Niels Olsen Saraiva
Published: January 2017

Uric acid is a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP), released from ischemic tissues and dying cells which, when crystalized, is able to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Soluble uric acid (sUA) is found in high concentrations in the serum of great apes, and even higher in some diseases, before the appearance of crystals. In the present study, we sought to investigate whether uric acid, in the soluble form, could also activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and induce the production of IL-1β. We monitored ROS, mitochondrial area and respiratory parameters from macrophages following sUA stimulus. We observed that sUA is released in a hypoxic environment and is able to induce IL-1β release. This process is followed by production of mitochondrial ROS, ASC speck formation and caspase-1 activation.Nlrp3−/−macrophages presented a protected redox state, increased maximum and reserve oxygen consumption ratio (OCR) and higher VDAC protein levels when compared to WT andMyd88−/−cells. Using a disease model characterized by increased sUA levels, we observed a correlation between sUA, inflammasome activation and fibrosis. These findings suggest sUA activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. We propose that future therapeutic strategies for renal fibrosis should include strategies that block sUA or inhibit its recognition by phagocytes.
Temperature shapes coral-algal symbiosis in the South China Sea
Authors: Tong Haoya , Cai Lin , Zhou Guowei , Yuan Tao , Zhang Weipeng , Tian Renmao , Huang Hui , Qian Pei-Yuan
Published: January 2017

With the increase in sea surface temperature (SST), scleractinian corals are exposed to bleaching threats but may possess certain flexibilities in terms of their associations with symbiotic algae. Previous studies have shown a close symbiosis between coral the and Symbiodinium; however, the spatial variation of the symbiosis and the attribution underlying are not well understood. In the present study, we examined coral-algal symbiosis in Galaxea fascicularis and Montipora spp. from three biogeographic regions across ~10° of latitude in the South China Sea. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) indicated a highly flexible coral-algal symbiosis in both G. fascicularis and Montipora spp. and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that temperature explained 83.2% and 60.1% of the explanatory subclade variations in G. fascicularis and Montipora spp., respectively, which suggested that temperature was the main environmental factor contributing to the diversity of Symbiodinium across the three regions. The geographic specificity of the Symbiodinium phylogeny was identified, revealing possible environmental selection across the three regions. These results suggest that scleractinian corals may have the ability to regulate Symbiodinium community structures under different temperatures and thus be able to adapt to gradual climate change.
Electronic Excitation Dynamics in Liquid Water under Proton Irradiation
Authors: Reeves Kyle G. , Kanai Yosuke
Published: January 2017

Molecular behaviour of liquid water under proton irradiation is of great importance to a number of technological and medical applications. The highly energetic proton generates a time-varying field that is highly localized and heterogeneous at the molecular scale, and massive electronic excitations are produced as a result of the field-matter interaction. Using first-principles quantum dynamics simulations, we reveal details of how electrons are dynamically excited through non-equilibrium energy transfer from highly energetic protons in liquid water on the atto/femto-second time scale. Water molecules along the path of the energetic proton undergo ionization at individual molecular level, and the excitation primarily derives from lone pair electrons on the oxygen atom of water molecules. A reduced charge state on the energetic proton in the condensed phase of water results in the strongly suppressed electronic response when compared to water molecules in the gas phase. These molecular-level findings provide important insights into understanding the water radiolysis process under proton irradiation.
A Nitric Oxide-Donating Statin Decreases Portal Pressure with a Better Toxicity Profile than Conventional Statins in Cirrhotic Rats
Authors: Rodríguez Sarai , Raurell Imma , Torres-Arauz Manuel , García-Lezana Teresa , Genescà Joan , Martell María
Published: January 2017

Statins present many beneficial effects in chronic liver disease, but concerns about safety exist. We evaluated the hepatic effects of a nitric oxide-releasing atorvastatin (NCX 6560) compared to conventional statins. Simvastatin, atorvastatin and NCX 6560 were evaluated in four-week bile duct-ligated rats (BDL) simulating decompensated cirrhosis and in thirteen-week carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxicated rats, a model of early cirrhosis. In the BDL model, simvastatin treated rats showed high mortality and the remaining animals presented muscular and hepatic toxicity. At equivalent doses, NCX 6560 eliminated hepatic toxicity and reduced muscular toxicity (60–74%) caused by atorvastatin in the more advanced BDL model; toxicity was minimal in the CCl4 model. Atorvastatin and NCX 6560 similarly reduced portal pressure without changing systemic hemodynamics in both models. Atorvastatin and NCX 6560 caused a mild decrease in liver fibrosis and inflammation and a significant increase in intrahepatic cyclic guanosine monophosphate. NCX 6560 induced a higher intrahepatic vasoprotective profile (activated endothelial nitric oxide synthase and decreased platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1), especially in the CCl4 model, suggesting a higher benefit in early cirrhosis. In conclusion, NCX 6560 improves the liver profile and portal hypertension of cirrhotic rats similarly to conventional statins, but with a much better safety profile.
Multiple quasicrystal approximants with the same lattice parameters in Al-Cr-Fe-Si alloys
Authors: He Zhanbing , Li Hua , Ma Haikun , Li Guowu
Published: January 2017

By means of atomic-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, we found three types of giant approximants of decagonal quasicrystal in Al-Cr-Fe-Si alloys, where each type contains several structural variants possessing the same lattice parameters but different crystal structures. The projected structures of these approximants along the pseudo-tenfold direction were described using substructural blocks. Furthermore, the structural relationship and the plane crystallographic groups in the (a, c) plan of these structural variants was also discussed. The diversity of quasicrystal approximants with the same lattice parameters was shown to be closely related to the variety of shield-like tiles and their tiling patterns.
Optimization-based design of a heat flux concentrator
Authors: Peralta Ignacio , Fachinotti Víctor D. , Ciarbonetti Ángel A.
Published: January 2017

To gain control over the diffusive heat flux in a given domain, one needs to engineer a thermal metamaterial with a specific distribution of the generally anisotropic thermal conductivity throughout the domain. Until now, the appropriate conductivity distribution was usually determined using transformation thermodynamics. By this way, only a few particular cases of heat flux control in simple domains having simple boundary conditions were studied. Thermal metamaterials based on optimization algorithm provides superior properties compared to those using the previous methods. As a more general approach, we propose to define the heat control problem as an optimization problem where we minimize the error in guiding the heat flux in a given way, taking as design variables the parameters that define the variable microstructure of the metamaterial. In the present study we numerically demonstrate the ability to manipulate heat flux by designing a device to concentrate the thermal energy to its center without disturbing the temperature profile outside it.
Heterogeneous patterns of DNA methylation-based field effects in histologically normal prostate tissue from cancer patients
Authors: Møller Mia , Strand Siri Hundtofte , Mundbjerg Kamilla , Liang Gangning , Gill Inderbir , Haldrup Christa , Borre Michael , Høyer Søren , Ørntoft Torben Falck , Sørensen Karina Dalsgaard
Published: January 2017

Prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis is based on histological evaluation of prostate needle biopsies, which have high false negative rates. Here, we investigated if cancer-associated epigenetic field effects in histologically normal prostate tissue may be used to increase sensitivity for PC. We focused on nine genes (AOX1, CCDC181 (C1orf114), GABRE, GAS6, HAPLN3, KLF8, MOB3B, SLC18A2, and GSTP1) known to be hypermethylated in PC. Using quantitative methylation-specific PCR, we analysed 66 malignant and 134 non-malignant tissue samples from 107 patients, who underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (67 patients had at least one cancer-positive biopsy, 40 had exclusively cancer-negative biopsies). Hypermethylation was detectable for all genes in malignant needle biopsy samples (AUC: 0.80 to 0.98), confirming previous findings in prostatectomy specimens. Furthermore, we identified a four-gene methylation signature (AOX1xGSTP1xHAPLN3xSLC18A2) that distinguished histologically non-malignant biopsies from patients with vs. without PC in other biopsies (AUC = 0.65; sensitivity = 30.8%; specificity = 100%). This signature was validated in an independent patient set (59 PC, 36 adjacent non-malignant, and 9 normal prostate tissue samples) analysed on Illumina 450 K methylation arrays (AUC = 0.70; sensitivity = 40.6%; specificity = 100%). Our results suggest that a novel four-gene signature may be used to increase sensitivity for PC diagnosis through detection of epigenetic field effects in histologically non-malignant prostate tissue samples.
Selective and Catalyst-free Oxidation of D-Glucose to D-Glucuronic acid induced by High-Frequency Ultrasound
Authors: Amaniampong Prince N. , Karam Ayman , Trinh Quang Thang , Xu Kai , Hirao Hajime , Jérôme François , Chatel Gregory
Published: January 2017

This systematic experimental investigation reveals that high-frequency ultrasound irradiation (550 kHz) induced oxidation of D-glucose to glucuronic acid in excellent yield without assistance of any (bio)catalyst. Oxidation is induced thanks to the in situ production of radical species in water. Experiments show that the dissolved gases play an important role in governing the nature of generated radical species and thus the selectivity for glucuronic acid. Importantly, this process yields glucuronic acid instead of glucuronate salt typically obtained via conventional (bio)catalyst routes, which is of huge interest in respect of downstream processing. Investigations using disaccharides revealed that radicals generated by high frequency ultrasound were also capable of promoting tandem hydrolysis/oxidation reactions.
Single PA mutation as a high yield determinant of avian influenza vaccines
Authors: Lee Ilseob , Il Kim Jin , Park Sehee , Bae Joon-Yong , Yoo Kirim , Yun Soo-Hyeon , Lee Joo-Yeon , Kim Kisoon , Kang Chun , Park Man-Seong
Published: January 2017

Human infection with an avian influenza virus persists. To prepare for a potential outbreak of avian influenza, we constructed a candidate vaccine virus (CVV) containing hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of a H5N1 virus and evaluated its antigenic stability after serial passaging in embryonated chicken eggs. The passaged CVV harbored the four amino acid mutations (R136K in PB2; E31K in PA; A172T in HA; and R80Q in M2) without changing its antigenicity, compared with the parental CVV. Notably, the passaged CVV exhibited much greater replication property both in eggs and in Madin-Darby canine kidney and Vero cells. Of the four mutations, the PA E31K showed the greatest effect on the replication property of reverse genetically-rescued viruses. In a further luciferase reporter, mini-replicon assay, the PA mutation appeared to affect the replication property by increasing viral polymerase activity. When applied to different avian influenza CVVs (H7N9 and H9N2 subtypes), the PA E31K mutation resulted in the increases of viral replication in the Vero cell again. Taken all together, our results suggest the PA E31K mutation as a single, substantial growth determinant of avian influenza CVVs and for the establishment of a high-yield avian influenza vaccine backbone.
TFEB-mediated increase in peripheral lysosomes regulates store-operated calcium entry
Authors: Sbano Luigi , Bonora Massimo , Marchi Saverio , Baldassari Federica , Medina Diego L. , Ballabio Andrea , Giorgi Carlotta , Pinton Paolo
Published: January 2017

Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles mainly involved in catabolic processes. In addition, lysosomes can expel their contents outside of the cell via lysosomal exocytosis. Some of the key steps involved in these important cellular processes, such as vesicular fusion and trafficking, require calcium (Ca2+) signaling. Recent data show that lysosomal functions are transcriptionally regulated by transcription factor EB (TFEB) through the induction of genes involved in lysosomal biogenesis and exocytosis. Given these observations, we investigated the roles of TFEB and lysosomes in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. We studied the effect of transient modulation of TFEB expression in HeLa cells by measuring the cytosolic Ca2+ response after capacitative Ca2+ entry activation and Ca2+ dynamics in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and directly in lysosomes. Our observations show that transient TFEB overexpression significantly reduces cytosolic Ca2+ levels under a capacitative influx model and ER re-uptake of calcium, increasing the lysosomal Ca2+ buffering capacity. Moreover, lysosomal destruction or damage abolishes these TFEB-dependent effects in both the cytosol and ER. These results suggest a possible Ca2+ buffering role for lysosomes and shed new light on lysosomal functions during intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.
Transcript profile analysis reveals important roles of jasmonic acid signalling pathway in the response of sweet potato to salt stress
Authors: Zhang Huan , Zhang Qian , Zhai Hong , Li Yan , Wang Xiangfeng , Liu Qingchang , He Shaozhen
Published: January 2017

Sweet potato is an important food and bio-energy crop, and investigating the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance will provide information for salt-tolerant breeding of this crop. Here, the root transcriptomes of the salt-sensitive variety Lizixiang and the salt-tolerant line ND98 were compared to identify the genes and pathways involved in salt stress responses. In total, 8,744 and 10,413 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Lizixiang and ND98, respectively, were involved in salt responses. A lower DNA methylation level was detected in ND98 than in Lizixiang. In both genotypes, the DEGs, which function in phytohormone synthesis and signalling and ion homeostasis, may underlie the different degrees of salt tolerance. Significant up-regulations of the genes involved in the jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and signalling pathways and ion transport, more accumulation of JA, a higher degree of stomatal closure and a lower level of Na+ were found in ND98 compared to Lizixiang. This is the first report on transcriptome responses to salt tolerance in sweet potato. These results reveal that the JA signalling pathway plays important roles in the response of sweet potato to salt stress. This study provides insights into the mechanisms and genes involved in the salt tolerance of sweet potato.
Synergy of Lewis and Brønsted acids on catalytic hydrothermal decomposition of carbohydrates and corncob acid hydrolysis residues to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Wang Chao , Zhang Liming , Zhou Tian , Chen Jiachuan , Xu Feng
Published: January 2017

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important platform molecule in the synthesis of various chemicals and materials. Herein, we reported a simple and effective dehydration of glucose-based carbohydrates to HMF in a biphasic system containing cyclopentyl methyl ether as the organic phase and AlCl3 with minute amounts of HCl as co-catalysts. The results showed that the mixed catalysts had a positive synergistic catalytic effect on glucose conversion to HMF compared with single AlCl3 or HCl catalyst. For glucose, the highest HMF yield of 54.5% was achieved at 175 °C for 20 min. More importantly, the optimal catalytic system was so efficient that it achieved one of the highest reported yields of HMF (30.5%) directly from corncob acid hydrolysis residues. Thus, the catalytic system can become a promising route for effective utilization of biomass in future biorefineries.
Molecular polypyridine-based metal complexes as catalysts for the reduction of CO2
Authors: Elgrishi Noémie , Chambers Matthew B. , Wang Xia , Fontecave Marc
Published: January 2017

Polypyridyl transition metal complexes represent one of the more thoroughly studied classes of molecular catalysts towards CO2 reduction to date.
Metal–organic-framework-supported immunostimulatory oligonucleotides for enhanced immune response and imaging
Authors: Zhang Yan , Liu Chaoqun , Wang Faming , Liu Zhen , Ren Jinsong , Qu Xiaogang
Published: January 2017

Iron carboxylate metal–organic frameworks supporting CpG ODNs were fabricated to enhance both the immune response of the CpG ODNs and the ability to image them using T2-magnetic resonance imaging.
Three-component carboarylation of unactivated imines with arynes and carbon nucleophiles
Authors: Xu Jing-Kun , Li Sheng-Jun , Wang Hai-Yang , Xu Wen-Cong , Tian Shi-Kai
Published: January 2017

With 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates as aryne precursors, the title reaction proceeds smoothly to afford functionalized tertiary amines under transition metal-free conditions.
nBu4NI-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling of carbon dioxide, amines, and aryl ketones: access to O-β-oxoalkyl carbamates
Authors: Peng Youbin , Liu Juan , Qi Chaorong , Yuan Gaoqing , Li Jiawei , Jiang Huanfeng
Published: January 2017

The first nBu4NI-catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling reaction of carbon dioxide, amines and arylketones leading to O-β-oxoalkyl carbamates is reported.
An air stable radical-bridged dysprosium single molecule magnet and its neutral counterpart: redox switching of magnetic relaxation dynamics
Authors: Dolinar Brian S. , Gómez-Coca Silvia , Alexandropoulos Dimitris I. , Dunbar Kim R.
Published: January 2017

Addition of a radical to the bridging tetrazine ligand of a Dy2 complex dramatically alters the magnetic properties. The radical complex undergoes magnetic relaxation via a thermal relaxation pathway, whereas the neutral compound relaxes via quantum tunneling of the magnetization.
Direct supramolecular interacted graphene oxide assembly on graphene as an active and defect-free functional platform
Authors: Xiao Peng , Qiu Nianxiang , Gu Jincui , Wang Shuai , He Jiang , Huang Chih-Feng , Zhang Jiawei , Huang Youju , Chen Tao
Published: January 2017

Graphene oxide (GO) is employed to have a non-destructive and selectively asymmetrical activation of single layer graphene via microcontact-printing induced π–π stacking interaction.
Photoredox-catalysed redox-neutral trifluoromethylation of vinyl azides for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated ketones
Authors: Qin Hai-Tao , Wu Shu-Wei , Liu Jia-Li , Liu Feng
Published: January 2017

A redox-neutral, mild, and simple protocol is developed for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated ketones from vinyl azides upon visible-light irradiation.
In vitro kinetic study of the squalestatin tetraketide synthase dehydratase reveals the stereochemical course of a fungal highly reducing polyketide synthase
Authors: Liddle Emma , Scott Alan , Han Li-Chen , Ivison David , Simpson Thomas J. , Willis Christine L. , Cox Russell J.
Published: January 2017

The substrate selectivity of the isolated dehydratase (DH) domain of a fungal highly-reducing polyketide synthase is closely related to that of mammalian fatty acid synthase.
Physicochemical and tribophysical properties of trioctylalkylammonium bis(salicylato)borate (N888n-BScB) ionic liquids: effect of alkyl chain length
Authors: Gusain Rashi , Bakshi Paramjeet S. , Panda Somenath , Sharma Om P. , Gardas Ramesh , Khatri Om P.
Published: January 2017

The alkyl chain length in trioctylalkylammonium bis(salicylato)borate ionic liquids plays an important role in controlling the viscosity, friction and wear characteristics.
Direct mapping of the electric permittivity of heterogeneous non-planar thin films at gigahertz frequencies by scanning microwave microscopy
Authors: Biagi Maria Chiara , Badino Giorgio , Fabregas Rene , Gramse Georg , Fumagalli Laura , Gomila Gabriel
Published: January 2017

We obtained maps of electric permittivity at ∼19 GHz frequencies on non-planar thin film heterogeneous samples by means of combined atomic force–scanning microwave microscopy (AFM–SMM).
Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of pyridinium enabled by surface proton transfer reactions
Authors: Kronawitter C. X. , Chen Z. , Zhao P. , Yang X. , Koel B. E.
Published: January 2017

It is observed for the first time that pyridinium is hydrogenated at Pt electrodes in electrochemical conditions consistent with those previously shown to yield selective reduction of carbon dioxide to methanol and formic acid.
Potential roles of chemical degradation in the biological activities of curcumin
Authors: Zhu Julia , Sanidad Katherine Z. , Sukamtoh Elvira , Zhang Guodong
Published: January 2017

Substantial pre-clinical and human studies have shown that curcumin, a dietary compound from turmeric, has a variety of health-promoting biological activities.
Fluorescence enhancement of oligodeoxynucleotides modified with green fluorescent protein chromophore mimics upon triplex formation
Authors: Kanamori Takashi , Takamura Akihiro , Tago Nobuhiro , Masaki Yoshiaki , Ohkubo Akihiro , Sekine Mitsuo , Seio Kohji
Published: January 2017

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based molecular-rotor chromophores were attached to the deoxyuridines and incorporated into the oligodeoxynucleotides.
Asymmetric synthesis of 4-aryl-1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1-dioxides via Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation of cyclic ketimines
Authors: Zhu Zhou-Hao , Chen Meng-Lin , Jiang Guo-Fang
Published: January 2017

An efficient access to optically active sulfahydantoins, 4-aryl-1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1-dioxides, was developed through palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of the corresponding cyclic N-sulfonylketimines with up to 98% ee.
Carbon molecular sieve membrane from a microporous spirobisindane-based polyimide precursor with enhanced ethylene/ethane mixed-gas selectivity
Authors: Salinas Octavio , Ma Xiaohua , Wang Yingge , Han Yu , Pinnau Ingo
Published: January 2017

A highly selective carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membrane derived from a novel spirobisindane-based polyimide was synthesized. The mixed-gas ethylene/ethane selectivity of 15.6 at 20 bar is the highest reported value for CMS-type membranes to date.
Establishment and application of a structure evolution model for aqueous foam based on fractal theory
Authors: Wang Fei , Li Zhaomin , Chen Hailong , Zhang Xibin
Published: January 2017

A new model based on fractal theory is proposed for the simulation of aqueous foam. It reveals that the evolution trend of the fractal dimension of foam is non-linear with the changing of time following an exponential equation.
Catalytic impact of alloyed Al on the corrosion behavior of Co50Ni23Ga26Al1.0magnetic shape memory alloy and catalysis applications for efficient electrochemical H2generation
Authors: Amin Mohammed. A. , El-Bagoury Nader , Mahmoud M. H. H. , Hessien M. M. , Abd El-Rehim Sayed S. , Wysocka Joanna , Ryl Jacek
Published: January 2017

The electrochemical and corrosion behaviour of Co50Ni23Ga27−xAlx(x= 0 and 1.0 wt%) magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) was studied in 0.5 M NaCl solutions using various electrochemical techniques.
Porous silver coating fiber for rapidly screening organotin compounds by solid phase microextraction coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Zhen , Wang Le , Bian Weiwei , Zhang Min , Zhan Jinhua
Published: January 2017

Rapidly screening organotin by solid phase microextraction coupled with surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Synthesis and fungicidal activity of 3,4-dichloroisothiazole based strobilurins as potent fungicide candidates
Authors: Chen Lai , Guo Xiao-Feng , Fan Zhi-Jin , Zhang Nai-Lou , Zhu Yu-Jie , Zhang Zhi-Ming , Khazhieva Inna , Yurievich Morzherin Y. , Belskaya Nataliya P. , Bakulev Vasiliy A.
Published: January 2017

A series of 3,4-dichloroisothiazole based novel strobilurin analogs were synthesized, the compound8dwas discovered as a new fungicidal candidate with better efficacy than commercial standards.
On–off–on fluorescent oligomer as a chemosensor for the detection of manganese(vii), sulfur(ii) and aldehydes based on the inner filter effect
Authors: Ding Peng , Xin Xia , Zhao Lingli , Xie Zengchun , Zhang Qinghong , Jiao Jianmei , Xu Guiying
Published: January 2017

In this article, a sensitive and selective on–off–on fluorescence chemosensor, Tyloxapol (one kind of water soluble oligomer), was developed for the label-free detection of MnO4− ions in aqueous solution.
Thiol–ene chemistry of vegetable oils and their derivatives under UV and air: a model study by using infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Yu Hui , Hupin Sébastien , Lecamp Laurence , Vuluga Daniela , Afonso Carlos , Burel Fabrice , Loutelier-Bourhis Corinne
Published: January 2017

This model study highlights that oxidation of fatty unsaturated esters is beneficial to prepare coatings by photoinitiated thiol–ene process.
Formation of uniform PbS quantum dots by a spin-assisted successive precipitation and anion exchange reaction process using PbX2(X = Br, I) and Na2S precursors
Authors: Heo Jin Hyuck , Jang Min Hyeok , Lee Min Ho , You Myoung Sang , Kim Sang-Wook , Lee Jae-Joon , Im Sang Hyuk
Published: January 2017

We devised a straightforward spin-assisted successive precipitation and anion exchange reaction (spin-SPAER) process in order to deposit relatively uniform PbS quantum dots (QDs) on mesoporous TiO2(mp-TiO2).
Hetero-assembly of a Li4Ti5O12 nanosheet and multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite for high-performance lithium and sodium ion batteries
Authors: Tian Y. , Wu Z. L. , Xu G. B. , Yang L. W. , Zhong J. X.
Published: January 2017

Hetero-assembly of Li4Ti5O12 nanosheets and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for superior Li/Na storage is demonstrated.
MOF-derived RuO2/Co3O4heterojunctions as highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for HER and OER in alkaline solutions
Authors: Liu Haizhen , Xia Guoliang , Zhang Ruirui , Jiang Peng , Chen Jitang , Chen Qianwang
Published: January 2017

A RuO2/Co3O4heterojunction catalyst with a perfect OER and HER overpotential in 1 M KOH solution was synthesized. It contains only a small amount of precious metal oxides but demonstrates a better performance than most reported Co3O4-based electrocatalysts.
Discovery of new acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors through structure-based virtual screening
Authors: Chen Yao , Lin Hongzhi , Yang Hongyu , Tan Renxiang , Bian Yaoyao , Fu Tingming , Li Wei , Wu Liang , Pei Yuqiong , Sun Haopeng
Published: January 2017

Small molecule cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors represent one of the most effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of (Eu1−xMnx)MnO3−δ
Authors: Deng Jianming , Yang Aimei , Farid M. A. , Zhang Hao , Li Jian , Zhang Hongxing , Li Guobao , Liu Laijun , Sun Junliang , Lin Jianhua
Published: January 2017

The solid solution (Eu1−xMnx)MnO3−δ(0 ≤x≤ 0.126) has been synthesized using a conventional solid-state method.
Core–shell-structured Li3V2(PO4)3–LiVOPO4 nanocomposites cathode for high-rate and long-life lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Sun Pingping , Wang Xiuzhen , Zhu Kai , Chen Xiao , Cui Xia , Xu Qingyu , Su Dong , Fan Qi , Sun Yueming
Published: January 2017

A facile strategy has been developed to construct unique core–shell-structured Li2.7V2.1(PO4)3 nanocomposites with a Li3V2(PO4)3 core and LiVOPO4 shell by using nonstoichiometric design and high-energy ball milling (HEBM) treatment.
Hyperporphyrin effects extended into a J-aggregate supramolecular structure in water
Authors: Zurita Adrián , Duran Anna , Ribó Josep M. , El-Hachemi Zoubir , Crusats Joaquim
Published: January 2017

5-(4-Aminophenyl)-10,15,20-tris(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin in acidic water self-assembles into a J-aggregate exhibiting a prominently red-shifted hyperporphyrin-type Q-absorption band at 742 nm.
Highly specific noninvasive photoacoustic and positron emission tomography of brain plaque with functionalized croconium dye labeled by a radiotracer
Authors: Liu Yajing , Yang Yanping , Sun Mingjian , Cui Mengchao , Fu Ying , Lin Yu , Li Zijing , Nie Liming
Published: January 2017

An NIR ultrahigh absorbing croconium dye for amyloid (CDA) was designed and synthesized .
The impact of lone-pair electrons on the lattice thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric compound CuSbS2
Authors: Du Baoli , Zhang Ruizhi , Chen Kan , Mahajan Amit , Reece Mike J.
Published: January 2017

The discovery and design of compounds with intrinsically low thermal conductivity, especially compounds with a special bonding nature and stable crystal structure, is a new direction to broaden the scope of potential thermoelectric (TE) materials.
Cooperative composite sequential detection and its application in spectrum sensing
Authors: Mirhosseini FahimeSadat , Tadaion Aliakbar , Gazor Saeed
Published: January 2017

In this study, the authors present a method to derive sequential detector (SD) for a general class of composite hypothesis problems. The authors first explain how the SD is constructed by employing a ‘weight function’. Then, the authors employ this method in the cooperative spectrum sensing (SS) in cognitive radio networks where the primary user transmits a phase shift keying (PSK) signal with unknown complex amplitude in additive white Gaussian noise. The noise power is assumed known in the first scenario and unknown in the second one. To evaluate the performance of the resulting SDs, the authors obtain the required average sample number (ASN) function to meet the bounds of false alarm and missed detection probabilities through some numerical evaluations. The results illustrate that the average sensing delay of the proposed SDs are less than the required number of observations in the traditional fixed sample size detectors. In the proposed SDs, the authors also demonstrate that the increase of signal‐to‐noise ratio leads to decrease of ASN.
Bit error rate analysis of generalised frequency division multiplexing with weighted‐type fractional Fourier transform precoding
Authors: Wang Zhenduo , Mei Lin , Wang Xiaolu , Zhang Naitong
Published: January 2017

Generalised frequency division multiplexing (GFDM) as a non‐orthogonal waveform candidate is posed to reduce the high out of band radiation of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system via pulse shaping. In this study, an analytical model of introduced interference from neighbouring subcarriers caused by pulse shaping is firstly proposed. Signal‐to‐interference‐plus‐noise ratio (SINR) is calculated according to related GFDM models with different weighted‐type fractional Fourier transform (WFRFT) precoding orders. Approximated bit error rate (BER) expressions are derived for the low complexity GFDM system over additive white Gaussian noise and fading channels based on the analysis of SINR. Particularly, the BER superiority of WFRFT precoding is highlighted over the fading channels. Furthermore, peak‐to‐average power ratio and out of band power suppression performances are simulated at different WFRFT orders to illustrate the advantages of WFRFT precoding.
Performance analysis of spatially modulated differential chaos shift keying modulation
Authors: Kumar Atul , Sahu Pravas Ranjan
Published: January 2017

A high‐data‐rate differential chaos shift keying (DCSK) scheme based on spatial modulation (SM), spatially modulated DCSK (SM‐DCSK), is proposed. By employing multiple transmit antennas and using transmit antenna index as information‐carrying unit, the proposed scheme offers a higher data rate compared with the conventional DCSK scheme. In particular, with two transmit antennas, the proposed scheme transmits a DCSK modulated bit from a selected antenna and hence can double the data rate. At the receiver, the maximum received signal is used to retrieve the block of transmitted bits. Mathematical expression for the conditional error probability of the proposed system is derived based on Gaussian approximation. The error probability of the antenna number estimation and the error probability of the transmitted bit estimation are evaluated numerically. Symbol error rate of the proposed scheme is compared with that of the quadrature chaos shift keying scheme. Numerical and simulation results are presented as a function of system parameters.
Closed‐form approximation of the capacity in multi‐sector cells: application to LTE tri‐sector antenna
Authors: Savaux Vincent , Siaud Isabelle , Legouable Rodolphe
Published: January 2017

This study deals with the ergodic capacity in multi‐sector cells. Due to the presence of the antenna gain pattern in the expression of the capacity, the latter may be difficult to express analytically. To overcome this problem, the authors propose to approximate the antenna gain pattern by means of a piecewise linear function, which leads to a general closed‐form formulation of the capacity. The obtained expression is applicable for any used antenna. The simulations results are performed by using the long term evolution (LTE) TR 36.942 antenna specification, showing that the proposed closed‐form capacity almost matches the exact one. In addition, the authors provide a practical use case of the method, by considering a scenario where the users are clustered within the area covered by the antenna.