bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tiger Mother as Ethnopreneur: Amy Chua and the Cultural Politics of Chineseness
Authors: Hau Caroline S.
Published: March 2015

Amy Chua catapulted to fame in the United States with the publication of her bestsellingWorld on Fire: How Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability(2002) and a much-discussedWall Street Journalexcerpt from her next book,Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother(2011). A wry account of a ‘Chinese’ mother's efforts, not all successful, to raise her two daughters to be high-achievers,Tiger Mothercreated some controversy owing to its critique of ‘Western’-style parenting and its perceived advocacy of a ‘Tiger Mother’ brand of parenting that drew on the author's own experience of being raised by Chinese-Filipino immigrant parents in America. Not only didBattle Hymngenerate heated discussion in America about the stereotyping of Asian-Americans as ‘model minority’; it also tapped into American anxieties about the waning of U.S. power in the wake of a rising China, while provoking spirited responses from mainland Chinese women looking to raise their children in ‘enlightened’ ways. This article follows Amy Chua's career as an ‘ethnopreneur’ who capitalises on her claims of ‘Chineseness’ and access to ‘Chinese culture.’ Drawing on localised/provincialised, regional, and family-mediated notions of Chineseness, Chua exemplifies the ‘Anglo-Chinese’ who exploits – and profits from – national and cultural differences within nations as well as among Southeast Asia, the U.S., and China in order to promote particular forms of hybridised (trans)national identities while eschewing the idea of mainland China as the ultimate cultural arbiter of Chineseness.
Political Parties and the Power of Money in Indonesia and Beyond
Authors: Reuter Thomas
Published: March 2015

Political parties in Indonesia and in other parts of Southeast Asia have become vitally dependent on the financial support of individuals or conglomerates with large private fortunes. A remarkable new development is that some of the billionaires who have long sponsored political parties have decided to out themselves as political leaders, and thus to adopt the style of oligarchs. I define an oligarchy as a society featuring systematic conflation of political and economic power within the same individuals or within small, elite groups of such individuals in a manner that is visible, tolerated and hence legitimated. The gradual shift from clandestine money politics to open oligarchy is a significant challenge for contemporary liberal democracies. Conflicts of interest between the demands of public office and their private interests would seem difficult to avoid for politicians who also run large business empires and own great estates. On the other hand, for billionaire sponsors of political parties to come forward and stand for public office personally also means that their hitherto clandestine influence is becoming more transparent, and their conduct and decisions more subject to public scrutiny and accountability. This article describes how both direct and indirect ways of conducting money politics operate and coexist within different types of political parties in Indonesia today, what the significance of these differences is and what is changing; with special reference to the 2014 parliamentary elections in Indonesia.
Hyperkinetische Störungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Stegmann Benedikt , Rexroth Christian A. , Wenzel-Seifert Katharina , Haen Ekkehard
Published: March 2015

Fragestellung: Die vorliegende Auswertung untersucht Prävalenz, Medikation sowie Alters- und Geschlechterverteilung bei Patienten mit hyperkinetischen Störungen in den KinderAGATE Kliniken 2009–2012. Methodik: Zweimal im Jahr an den sog. «Stichtagen» wurden anonymisiert von jedem Patienten Alter, Geschlecht, Hauptdiagnose, Medikation und zugehörige Dosierung dokumentiert. Die so gewonnenen Daten stellen eine herausragende Grundlage für die Beobachtung der tatsächlichen Verhältnisse in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie dar. Ergebnisse: Die Patienten mit hyperkinetischen Störungen (25.5 % Pat) waren im Vergleich zum Gesamtkollektiv durchschnittlich zwei Jahre jünger und wurden statistisch signifikant häufiger mit Psychopharmaka behandelt. Obwohl männliche Patienten zahlenmäßig dominieren (84.3 % HPat; Durchschnittsalter 9.9 Jahre vs. 15.7 % HPat; 10.1 Jahre), wurde der gleiche Anteil an männlichen und weiblichen Patienten mit Psychostimulanzien behandelt (48.0 % vs. 52.2 %). Neben Methylphenidat, Amphetamin und Atomoxetin wurden häufig Verordnungen für die Antipsychotika Risperidon und Pipamperon sowie zunehmend auch für Quetiapin dokumentiert. Schlussfolgerungen: Methylphenidat bleibt Mittel der Wahl in der Pharmakotherapie von ADHS. Der Anteil der stationär behandelten Patienten, die mit Neuroleptika behandelt wurden, ist im Untersuchungszeitraum tendenziell, jedoch nicht statistisch signifikant, angestiegen. Aufgrund der Diskrepanz zwischen vorhandener Evidenz und Verschreibungspraxis besteht weiterhin großer Bedarf an neuen Studien zu den Langzeitwirkungen und -nebenwirkungen von Psychopharmaka bei Kindern und Jugendlichen.
United States to Chair Arctic Council at Challenging Time
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: March 2015

The proposed U.S. agenda during its chairmanship of the Arctic Council focuses on ocean safety, improving economic and living conditions, and climate change.
Comparison of Velocity- and Acceleration-Selective Arterial Spin Labeling with [15O]H2O Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Schmid Sophie , Heijtel Dennis FR , Mutsaerts Henri JMM , Boellaard Ronald , Lammertsma Adriaan A , Nederveen Aart J , van Osch Matthias JP
Published: March 2015

In the last decade spatially nonselective arterial spin labeling (SNS-ASL) methods such as velocity-selective ASL (VS-ASL) and acceleration-selective ASL have been introduced, which label spins based on their flow velocity or acceleration rather than spatial localization. Since labeling also occurs within the imaging plane, these methods suffer less from transit delay effects than traditional ASL methods. However, there is a need for validation of these techniques. In this study, a comparison was made between these SNS-ASL techniques with [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET), which is regarded as gold standard to measure quantitatively cerebral blood flow (CBF) in humans. In addition, the question of whether these techniques suffered from sensitivity to arterial cerebral blood volume (aCBV), as opposed to producing pure CBF contrast, was investigated. The results show high voxelwise intracranial correlation (0.72 to 0.89) between the spatial distribution of the perfusion signal from the SNS-ASL methods and the PET CBF maps. A similar gray matter (GM) CBF was measured by dual VS-ASL compared with PET (46.7 ± 4.1 versus 47.1 ± 6.5 mL/100 g/min, respectively). Finally, only minor contribution of aCBV patterns in GM to all SNS-ASL methods was found compared with pseudo-continuous ASL. In conclusion, VS-ASL provides a similar quantitative CBF, and all SNS-ASL methods provide qualitatively similar CBF maps as [15O]H2O PET.
Soft network composite materials with deterministic and bio-inspired designs
Authors: Jang Kyung-In , Chung Ha Uk , Xu Sheng , Lee Chi Hwan , Luan Haiwen , Jeong Jaewoong , Cheng Huanyu , Kim Gwang-Tae , Han Sang Youn , Lee Jung Woo , Kim Jeonghyun , Cho Moongee , Miao Fuxing , Yang Yiyuan , Jung Han Na , Flavin Matthew , Liu Howard , Kong Gil Woo , Yu Ki Jun , Rhee Sang Il , Chung Jeahoon , Kim Byunggik , Kwak Jean Won , Yun Myoung Hee , Kim Jin Young , Song Young Min , Paik Ungyu , Zhang Yihui , Huang Yonggang , Rogers John A.
Published: March 2015

Hard and soft structural composites found in biology provide inspiration for the design of advanced synthetic materials. Many examples of bio-inspired hard materials can be found in the literature; far less attention has been devoted to soft systems. Here we introduce deterministic routes to low-modulus thin film materials with stress/strain responses that can be tailored precisely to match the non-linear properties of biological tissues, with application opportunities that range from soft biomedical devices to constructs for tissue engineering. The approach combines a low-modulus matrix with an open, stretchable network as a structural reinforcement that can yield classes of composites with a wide range of desired mechanical responses, including anisotropic, spatially heterogeneous, hierarchical and self-similar designs. Demonstrative application examples in thin, skin-mounted electrophysiological sensors with mechanics precisely matched to the human epidermis and in soft, hydrogel-based vehicles for triggered drug release suggest their broad potential uses in biomedical devices.
Global mapping transcriptional start sites revealed both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of cold adaptation in the methanogenic archaeon Methanolobus psychrophilus
Authors: Li Jie , Qi Lei , Guo Yang , Yue Lei , Li Yanping , Ge Weizhen , Wu Jun , Shi Wenyuan , Dong Xiuzhu
Published: March 2015

Psychrophilic methanogenic Archaea contribute significantly to global methane emissions, but archaeal cold adaptation mechanisms remain poorly understood. Hinted by that mRNA architecture determined secondary structure respond to cold more promptly than proteins, differential RNA-seq was used in this work to examine the genome-wide transcription start sites (TSSs) of the psychrophilic methanogenMethanolobus psychrophilusR15 and its response to cold. Unlike most prokaryotic mRNAs with short 5′ untranslated regions (5′ UTR, median lengths of 20–40 nt), 51% mRNAs of this methanogen have large 5′ UTR (>50 nt). For 24% of the mRNAs, the 5′ UTR is >150 nt. This implies that post-transcriptional regulation may be significance in the psychrophile. Remarkably, 219 (14%) genes possessed multiple gene TSSs (gTSSs) and 84 genes exhibited temperature-regulated gTSS selection to express alternative 5′ UTR. Primer extension studies confirmed the temperature-dependent TSS selection and a stem-loop masking of ribosome binding sites was predicted from the longer 5′ UTRs, suggesting alternative 5′ UTRs-mediated translation regulation in the cold adaptation as well. In addition, 195 small RNAs (sRNAs) were detected and Northern blots confirmed that many sRNAs were induced by cold. Thus, this study revealed an integrated transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation for cold adaptation in a psychrophilic methanogen.
Distribution and heritability of diurnal preference (chronotype) in a rural Brazilian family-based cohort, the Baependi study
Authors: von Schantz Malcolm , Taporoski Tamara P. , Horimoto Andréa R. V. R. , Duarte Nubia E. , Vallada Homero , Krieger José E. , Pedrazzoli Mario , Negrão André B. , Pereira Alexandre C.
Published: March 2015

Diurnal preference (chronotype) is a useful instrument for studying circadian biology in humans. It harbours trait-like dimensions relating to circadian period and sleep homeostasis, but also has ontogenetic components (morningness increases with age). We used the Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) in the Baependi study, a family-based cohort study based in a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The population is highly admixed and has a cohesive and conservative lifestyle. 825 individuals (497 female) aged 18–89 years (average ± SD = 46.4 ± 16.3) and belonging to 112 different families participated in this study. The average MEQ score was 63.5 ± 11.2 with a significant (P < 0.0001) linear increase with age. Morningness was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in the rural (70.2 ± 9.8) than in the municipal zone (62.6 ± 11.1) and was also significantly (P = 0.025) higher in male (64.6 ± 10.9) than in female (62.8 ± 11.2) participants. Thus, in spite of universal access to electricity, the Baependi population was strongly shifted towards morningness, particularly in the rural zone. Heritability of MEQ score was 0.48 when adjusted for sex and age, or 0.38 when adjusted for sex, age and residential zone. The reported MEQ score heritability is more akin to those of previous twin studies than previous family studies.
Exciton Binding Energy of Monolayer WS2
Authors: Zhu Bairen , Chen Xi , Cui Xiaodong
Published: March 2015

The optical properties of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) feature prominent excitonic natures. Here we report an experimental approach to measuring the exciton binding energy of monolayer WS2 with linear differential transmission spectroscopy and two-photon photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy (TP-PLE). TP-PLE measurements show the exciton binding energy of 0.71 ± 0.01 eV around K valley in the Brillouin zone.
Reduced MCMV Δm157 viral clearance in the absence of TSAd
Authors: Moussa P. , Abrahamsen G. , Fodil N. , Gopalakrishnan R. P. , Mancini M. , Dissen E. , Sæther P. C. , Wiltshire S. A. , Boivin G. A. , Caignard G. , Spurkland A. , Vidal S. M.
Published: March 2015

The T cell specific adapter protein (TSAd) is expressed in activated T cells and NK cells. While TSAd is beginning to emerge as a critical regulator of Lck and Itk activity in T cells, its role in NK cells has not yet been explored. Here we have examined susceptibility to virus infections in a murine model using various viral infection models. We report that TSAd-deficient mice display reduced clearance of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) that lack the viral MHC class I homologue m157, which is critical for Ly49H-mediated NK cell recognition of infected cells. In this infection model, NK cells contribute in the early stages of the disease, whereas CD8+ T cells are critical for viral clearance. We found that mice infected with MCMV Δm157 displayed reduced viral clearance in the spleen as well as reduced proliferation in spleen NK cells and CD8+ T cells in the absence of TSAd. Though no other immunophenotype was detected in the infection models tested, these data suggests that in the absence of the Ly49H ligand activation, NK cell and CD8+ T cell responses may be compromised in TSAd-deficient mice.
CASP7 variants modify susceptibility to cervical cancer in Chinesewomen
Authors: Shi Ting-Yan , He Jing , Wang Meng-Yun , Zhu Mei-Ling , Yu Ke-Da , Shao Zhi-Ming , Sun Meng-Hong , Wu Xiaohua , Cheng Xi , Wei Qingyi
Published: March 2015

Polymorphisms in Caspase-7 (CASP7) may modulate the programmedcell death and thus contribute to cervical cancer risk. In this case-controlstudy of 1,486 cervical cancer cases and 1,301 controls, we investigated associationsbetween four potentially functional polymorphisms in CASP7 and cervicalcancer risk and evaluated their locus-locus interaction effects on the risk.The genotype-phenotype correlation was performed by a generalized linear regressionmodel. We found that the rs4353229 polymorphism was associated with cervicalcancer risk (under a recessive model: crude OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.02–1.40).Compared with the TT genotype, the rs10787498GT genotype was associated withan increased cervical cancer risk (adjusted OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.00–1.41).Combination analysis showed that subjects with four putative risk genotypeshad a 1.54-fold increased cancer risk, compared with those who carried threeor less putative risk genotypes. We also observed significant locus-locusjoint effects on the risk, which may be mediated by the polymorphisms regulating CASP7mRNA expression. Subsequent multifactor dimensionality reduction and classificationand regression tree analyses indicated that the CASP7 genotypes mighthave a locus-locus interaction effect that modulated cervical cancer risk.Out data suggest that CASP7 polymorphisms may interact to modify cervicalcancer risk by a possible mechanism of regulating CASP7 mRNA expression.
Beyond EUV lithography: a comparative study of efficient photoresists' performance
Authors: Mojarad Nassir , Gobrecht Jens , Ekinci Yasin
Published: March 2015

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography at 13.5 nm is the main candidate for patterning integrated circuits and reaching sub-10-nm resolution within the next decade. Should photon-based lithography still be used for patterning smaller feature sizes, beyond EUV (BEUV) lithography at 6.x nm wavelength is an option that could potentially meet the rigid demands of the semiconductor industry. We demonstrate simultaneous characterization of the resolution, line-edge roughness and sensitivity of distinct photoresists at BEUV and compare their properties when exposed to EUV under the same conditions. By using interference lithography at these wavelengths, we show the possibility for patterning beyond 22 nm resolution and characterize the impact of using higher energy photons on the line-edge roughness and exposure latitude. We observe high sensitivity of the photoresist performance on its chemical content and compare their overall performance using the Z-parameter criterion. Interestingly, inorganic photoresists have much better performance at BEUV, while organic chemically-amplified photoresists would need serious adaptations for being used at such wavelength. Our results have immediate implications for deeper understanding of the radiation chemistry of novel photoresists at the EUV and soft X-ray spectra.
Genetic variations in sites of affinity between FVIII and LRP1 are not associated with high FVIII levels in venous thromboembolism
Authors: Bittar Luis F. , Siqueira Lucia H. , Orsi Fernanda A. , De Paula Erich V. , Annichino-Bizzacchi Joyce M.
Published: March 2015

Increased factor VIII (FVIII) levels are a prevalent and independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) has been associated with FVIII catabolism. After a median of 10 years of the first thrombotic episode, we evaluated FVIII activity levels in 75 patients with VTE and high FVIII levels and in 74 healthy controls. Subsequently, we evaluated the regions of F8 and LRP1 genes coding sites of affinity between these proteins, with the objective of determining genetic alterations associated with plasma FVIII levels. After a median time of 10 years after the VTE episode, FVIII levels were significantly higher in patients when compared to controls (158.6 IU/dL vs. 125.8 IU/dL; P ≤ 0.001]. Despite the fact that we found 14 genetic variations in F8 and LRP1 genes, no relationship was found between FVIII levels with these variations. We demonstrated a persistent increase of FVIII levels in patients with VTE, but in a much lower magnitude after 10 years when compared to 3-years after the episode. Moreover, we observed no relationship of genetic variations in the gene regions coding affinity sites between LRP1 and FVIII with FVIII levels.
Quantum Interference Induced Photon Blockade in a Coupled Single Quantum Dot-Cavity System
Authors: Tang Jing , Geng Weidong , Xu Xiulai
Published: March 2015

We propose an experimental scheme to implement a strong photon blockade with a single quantum dot coupled to a nanocavity. The photon blockade effect can be tremendously enhanced by driving the cavity and the quantum dot simultaneously with two classical laser fields. This enhancement of photon blockade is ascribed to the quantum interference effect to avoid two-photon excitation of the cavity field. Comparing with Jaynes-Cummings model, the second-order correlation function at zero time delay g(2)(0) in our scheme can be reduced by two orders of magnitude and the system sustains a large intracavity photon number. A red (blue) cavity-light detuning asymmetry for photon quantum statistics with bunching or antibunching characteristics is also observed. The photon blockade effect has a controllable flexibility by tuning the relative phase between the two pumping laser fields and the Rabi coupling strength between the quantum dot and the pumping field. Moreover, the photon blockade scheme based on quantum interference mechanism does not require a strong coupling strength between the cavity and the quantum dot, even with the pure dephasing of the system. This simple proposal provides an effective way for potential applications in solid state quantum computation and quantum information processing.
A novel composite conductive microfiltration membrane and its anti-fouling performance with an external electric field in membrane bioreactors
Authors: Huang Jian , Wang Zhiwei , Zhang Junyao , Zhang Xingran , Ma Jinxing , Wu Zhichao
Published: March 2015

Membrane fouling remains an obstacle to wide-spread applications of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment and reclamation. Herein, we report a simple method to prepare a composite conductive microfiltration (MF) membrane by introducing a stainless steel mesh into a polymeric MF membrane and to effectively control its fouling by applying an external electric field. Linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses showed that this conductive membrane had very good electrochemical properties. Batch tests demonstrated its anti-fouling ability in filtration of bovine serum albumin, sodium alginate, humic acid and silicon dioxide particles as model foulants. The fouling rate in continuous-flow MBRs treating wastewater was also decreased by about 50% for this conductive membrane with 2 V/cm electric field compared to the control test during long-term operation. The enhanced electrostatic repulsive force between foulants and membrane, in-situ cleaning by H2O2 generated from oxygen reduction and decreased production of soluble microbial products and extracellular polymeric substances contributed to fouling mitigation in this MBR. The results of this study shed light on the control strategy of membrane fouling for achieving a sustainable operation of MBRs.
Organic–inorganic hybrid assemblies based on Ti-substituted polyoxometalates for photocatalytic dye degradation
Authors: Xu Li-Jie , Zhou Wen-Zhe , Zhang Li-Yuan , Li Bin , Zang Hong-Ying , Wang Yong-Hui , Li Yang-Guang
Published: March 2015

New organic–inorganic hybrid compounds based on Ti-substituted polyoxometalates exhibit high photocatalytic dye (MB) degradation activities.
Antihyperlipidemic bioactivity of Alpinia officinarum (Hance) Farw Zingiberaceae can be attributed to the coexistance of curcumin, polyphenolics, dietary fibers and phytosterols
Authors: Lin Li-Yun , Peng Chiung-Chi , Yeh Xian-Yü , Huang Bor-Yü , Wang Hui-Er , Chen Kuan-Chou , Peng Robert Y.
Published: March 2015

Rhizoma A. officinarum (Hance) Farw, synonymously is called rhizoma galangae or smaller galangal (hereafter abbreviated as AO).
Design, synthesis and characterization of indole based anion sensing receptors
Authors: Manivannan Ramalingam , Satheshkumar Angupillai , El-Mossalamy El-Sayed H. , Al-Harbi Laila M. , Kosa Samia A. , Elango Kuppanagounder P.
Published: March 2015

The fluoride binding ability of indole based receptors was found to depend on the electron deficiency of the acceptor unit and enhanced H-bond donating character of the indole N–H group.
QSAR-guided semi-synthesis and in vitro validation of antiplasmodial activity in ursolic acid derivatives
Authors: Kalani Komal , Cheema Harveer Singh , Tripathi Himanshu , Khan Feroz , Daroker M. P. , Srivastava Santosh Kumar
Published: March 2015

As a part of antimalarial drug discovery programme, a QSAR model was developed for the prediction of antiplasmodial activity in ursolic acid derivatives, followed by semi-synthesis of virtually active derivatives and their biological evaluation.
Facile and diverse microwave-assisted synthesis of secondary propargylamines in water using CuCl/CuCl2
Authors: Trang Tran Thi Thu , Ermolat'ev Denis S. , Van der Eycken Erik V.
Published: March 2015

A highly efficient microwave-assisted three-component reaction between an aldehyde, a primary amine and an alkyne was developed using an inexpensive Cu(i)/Cu(ii) catalytic system and water as solvent.
Highly dispersed MnOx nanoparticles supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous carbon: a novel nanocomposite for catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 at low temperature
Authors: Gao Xin , Li Ling , Song Lihong , Lu Ting , Zhao Jiaxin , Liu Zhi
Published: March 2015

A novel MnOx/3DOMC nanocomposite is fabricated via a simple multicomponent infiltration of three-dimensionally ordered templates, and exhibits superior NH3-SCR of NOx performance.
Processing of lignin in urea–zinc chloride deep-eutectic solvent and its use as a filler in a phenol-formaldehyde resin
Authors: Lian H. , Hong S. , Carranza A. , Mota-Morales J. D. , Pojman J. A.
Published: March 2015

The main goal of our research deals with a new greener and more efficient lignin modification method to optimize its structural performance as a phenol-formaldehyde resin filler.
Tunable wide blue photoluminescence with europium decorated graphene
Authors: Park Byeongho , Kim Sun Jun , Lim Juhwan , Some Surajit , Park Ji-eun , Kim Sung-jin , Kim Chulki , Lee Taik Jin , Jun Seong Chan
Published: March 2015

Europium decorated graphene provides photoluminescence feature changes with an enhancement of blue emission located at 458 nm after thermal reduction.
Revealing the role of cationic displacement in potassium–sodium niobate lead-free piezoceramics by adding W6+ ions
Authors: Ramajo L. , Castro M. , del Campo A. , Fernandez J. F. , Rubio-Marcos F.
Published: March 2015

The synthesis of potassium–sodium niobate lead-free piezoelectric ceramics has been widely studied during the past decade because of the promising industrial application of these materials.
Site-specific dynamics of amyloid formation and fibrillar configuration of Aβ1–23 using an unnatural amino acid
Authors: Liu Haiyang , Lantz Richard , Cosme Patrick , Rivera Nelson , Andino Carlos , Gonzalez Walter G. , Terentis Andrew C. , Wojcikiewicz Ewa P. , Oyola Rolando , Miksovska Jaroslava , Du Deguo
Published: March 2015

Distinct local dynamics of Aβ1–23 amyloid formation are characterized using an unnatural amino acid p-cyanophenylalanine as a spectroscopic probe.
Light-controlled reversible formation and dissociation of nanorods via interconversion of pseudorotaxanes
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhang Heng-Yi , Zhang Xu-Jie , Song Zhi-Hui , Zhao Xiao-Jun , Liu Yu
Published: March 2015

The formation and dissociation of nanorods can be modulated by the threading and dethreading process between trans-azobenzene and α-CD.
Lipopeptides: from self-assembly to bioactivity
Authors: Hamley Ian W.
Published: March 2015

This Feature Article discusses several classes of lipopeptide with important biomedical applications as antimicrobial and antifungal agents, in immune therapies and in personal care applications among others.
A single cis-2 regioisomer of ethylene-tethered indene dimer–fullerene adduct as an electron-acceptor in polymer solar cells
Authors: Tao Ran , Umeyama Tomokazu , Higashino Tomohiro , Koganezawa Tomoyuki , Imahori Hiroshi
Published: March 2015

A single cis-2 isomer of fullerene bis-adduct has been synthesized, isolated and applied as an electron-acceptor in polymer solar cells.
Highlights from Faraday discussion 170: Challenges and opportunities of modern mechanochemistry, Montreal, Canada, 2014
Authors: Friščić Tomislav , James Stuart L. , Boldyreva Elena V. , Bolm Carsten , Jones William , Mack James , Steed Jonathan W. , Suslick Kenneth S.
Published: March 2015

This Faraday Discussion brought together a diversity of academic and industrial researchers, experimentalists and theoreticians, students, and researchers, to discuss the changing face of mechanochemistry.
Critical size for the β- to α-transformation in tin nanoparticles after lithium insertion and extraction
Authors: Oehl N. , Hardenberg L. , Knipper M. , Kolny-Olesiak J. , Parisi J. , Plaggenborg T.
Published: March 2015

The formation of the α-Sn phase in Sn/SnOx core/shell nanoparticles after lithium insertion and extraction was investigated for the first time and a critical size for the transformation was determined.
Oligomeric interface modifiers in hybrid polymer solar cell prototypes investigated by fluorescence voltage spectroscopy
Authors: Reeja-Jayan B. , Koen Katherine A. , Ono Robert J. , Vanden Bout David A. , Bielawski Christopher W. , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: March 2015

Exploring the role of oligothiophenes as interface modifiers for TiO2 using fluorescence voltage spectroscopy.
Synthesis of grafted phosphorylcholine polymer layers as specific recognition ligands for C-reactive protein focused on grafting density and thickness to achieve highly sensitive detection
Authors: Kamon Yuri , Kitayama Yukiya , Itakura Akiko N. , Fukazawa Kyoko , Ishihara Kazuhiko , Takeuchi Toshifumi
Published: March 2015

We studied the effects of layer thickness and grafting density of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) thin layers as specific ligands for the highly sensitive binding of C-reactive protein (CRP).
Conjugated microporous polymers with chiral BINAP ligand built-in as efficient catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation
Authors: Wang Xu , Lu Sheng-mei , Li Jun , Liu Yan , Li Can
Published: March 2015

A series of conjugated microporous polymers with chiral BINAP ligand built-in have been synthesized as efficient catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation.
Effect of orthorhombic–tetragonal phase transition on structure and piezoelectric properties of KNN-based lead-free ceramics
Authors: Zhang Yang , Li Lingyu , Shen Bo , Zhai Jiwei
Published: March 2015

Lead free piezoelectric ceramics have been prepared by the conventional solid state reaction method and the effects of SrZrO3 content on polymorphic phase transition are investigated.
Direct oxidative amidation between methylarenes and amines in water
Authors: Wang Tao , Yuan Lin , Zhao Zhenguang , Shao Ailong , Gao Meng , Huang Yangfei , Xiong Fei , Zhang Huali , Zhao Junfeng
Published: March 2015

An environmentally friendly direct oxidative amidation between methylarenes and free amines was developed.
Water's tensile strength measured using an optofluidic chip
Authors: Li Z. G. , Xiong S. , Chin L. K. , Ando K. , Zhang J. B. , Liu A. Q.
Published: March 2015

The paper reports the tensile strength measurement using an optofluidic chip based on the displacement of air–water interface deformation with homogeneous nucleation.
Autoantigenicity of human C1q is associated with increased hydrophobicity due to conformational transitions in the globular heads
Authors: Stoyanova Vishnya , Bogoeva Vanya , Petrova Lidiya , Tchorbadjieva Magdalena , Petrova Svetla , Georgieva Ventsislava , Georgiev George , Deliyska Boriana , Vasilev Vasil , Tsacheva Ivanka
Published: March 2015

We analyzed the structural features of C1q that underlie its autoantigenicity by the means of a model system using an amphiphilic polyzwitterion (PZ).
Thickness control of graphene deposited over polycrystalline nickel
Authors: Lavin-Lopez Ma Prado , Valverde Jose Luis , Ruiz-Enrique Ma Inmaculada , Sanchez-Silva Luz , Romero Amaya
Published: March 2015

77% of a polycrystalline nickel sheet has been covered with monolayer graphene, demonstrating an inexpensive method to synthesize CVD-graphene.
N-doped carbon dots synthesized by rapid microwave irradiation as highly fluorescent probes for Pb2+ detection
Authors: Jiang Yuliang , Wang Yuxiang , Meng Fandian , Wang Bingxiang , Cheng Yixiang , Zhu Chengjian
Published: March 2015

New NCDs were obtained and exhibit highly sensitive response to Pb2+ which could be applied to real sample detection.
Regiochemistry of nucleophilic substitution of pentachloropyridine with N and O bidentate nucleophiles
Authors: Poorfreidoni Alireza , Ranjbar-Karimi Reza , Kia Reza
Published: March 2015

Anions derived from N-aryl formamides can be attacked to 4-position of pentachloropyridine via N or O site base on electron-withdrawing or electron-releasing groups attached to phenyl ring.
Velocity valleys enable efficient capture and spatial sorting of nanoparticle-bound cancer cells
Authors: Besant Justin D. , Mohamadi Reza M. , Aldridge Peter M. , Li Yi , Sargent Edward H. , Kelley Shana O.
Published: March 2015

Cancer cells are captured and sorted according to surface expression phenotype using velocity valleys.
Synthesis and antifungal activities of novel polyheterocyclic spirooxindole derivatives
Authors: Wu Jia-Shou , Zhang Xue , Zhang Ying-Lao , Xie Jian-Wu
Published: March 2015

A series of spirooxindole tetrahydrofuran derivatives were obtained in moderate to good yields via base-mediated cascade [3+2] double Michael reactions under mild conditions. Their antifungal effects on selected five target phytopathogenic fungi were investigated, and their structure antifungal activity relationships were also discussed.
Hot water-promoted cyclopropylcarbinyl rearrangement facilitates construction of homoallylic alcohols
Authors: Li Pei-Fang , Yi Cheng-Bo , Qu Jin
Published: March 2015

Hot water can promote the rearrangements of various types of cyclopropyl carbinols to afford acyclic or cyclic homoallylic alcohols in high yields.
Inhibition of a multiproduct terpene synthase from Medicago truncatula by 3-bromoprenyl diphosphates
Authors: Vattekkatte Abith , Gatto Nathalie , Schulze Eva , Brandt Wolfgang , Boland Wilhelm
Published: March 2015

3-Bromo prenyl analogues bind to the active site and act as competitive inhibitors for terpene cyclases and -synthases.
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel C3-functionalized oxindoles as potential Pim-1 kinase inhibitors
Authors: Sun Hong-bao , Wang Xiao-yan , Li Guo-bo , Zhang Li-dan , Liu Jie , Zhao Li-feng
Published: March 2015

A novel series of C3-functionalized oxindoles, 3-(2-oxo-4-phenylbut-3-en-1-ylidene) indolin-2-ones as potential Pim-1 kinase inhibitors, were designed, synthesized and investigated for inhibition of human cancer-cell proliferation.
The effect of temperature, heating rate, and ZSM-5 catalyst on the product selectivity of the fast pyrolysis of spent coffee grounds
Authors: Fischer Ari , Du Shoucheng , Valla Julia A. , Bollas George M.
Published: March 2015

Pyrolysis (fast and slow, catalytic and thermal) is explored for the conversion of spent coffee grounds into higher value chemicals.
Synthesis, crystal structure, and luminescence properties of a new microporous europium silicate: Na3EuSi6O15·1.47H2O
Authors: Liu Wei , Ji Ying , Liu Fuyang , Yang Min , Wang Ying , Zhao Xudong , Liu Xiaoyang
Published: March 2015

A new microporous europium silicate, Na3EuSi6O15·1.47H2O (denoted as 1), was synthesized under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, and structurally characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.
Biodegradation of heptadecane in hydrocarbon polluted dune sands using a newly-isolated thermophilic bacterium, Brevibacillus borstelensis TMU30: statistical evaluation and process optimization
Authors: Khazra Bahram , Mousavi Seyyed Mohammad , Mehrabi Sadaf , Hashemi Maryam , Shojaosadati Seyed Abbas
Published: March 2015

An enrichment culture was established to isolate a thermophilic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium from contaminated soil samples from the Tehran Petroleum Refinery.
Experimental and theoretical studies of the spectroscopic properties of simple symmetrically substituted diphenylacetylene derivatives
Authors: Wierzbicka Małgorzata , Bylińska Irena , Czaplewski Cezary , Wiczk Wiesław
Published: March 2015

A series of symmetrically substituted diphenylacetylene derivatives possessing electron-donating or electron-accepting character were prepared and studied with respect to their spectral and photophysical properties.
Polyelectrolytes in dilute solution: viscometric access to coil dimensions and salt effects
Authors: Suresha P. R. , Badiger Manohar V. , Wolf Bernhard A.
Published: March 2015

Viscometric and light scattering radii in water containing 0.25 mol NaCl per liter as a function of the reduced polymer concentration.
Fabrication of nanoprotrusion surface structured silica nanofibers for the improvement of the toughening of polypropylene
Authors: Liang Yongri , Wen Shipeng , Ren Yanyan , Liu Li
Published: March 2015

Nanoprotrusion surface structured silica nanofibers can be used as a novel nanofiller for improving the toughening of PP.
One-step synthesis of trimetallic Pt–Pd–Ru nanodendrites as highly active electrocatalysts
Authors: Eid Kamel , Malgras Victor , He Pei , Wang Kunmiao , Aldalbahi Ali , Alshehri Saad M. , Yamauchi Yusuke , Wang Liang
Published: March 2015

Trimetallic Pt–Pd–Ru nanodendrites synthesized by a one-step route are highly active electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction.
Dynamic behavior of curved double-wall carbon nanotubes with rotating inner tube
Authors: Cai Kun , Cai Haifang , Yin Hang , Qin Qing H.
Published: March 2015

Molecular dynamics simulation is adopted to study the dynamic behavior of an oscillator from curved double-walled carbon nanotubes with rotating inner tube. Effects of curvature and temperature on its dynamic response are investigated.
Structural evolution, magnetic properties and electrochemical response of MnCo2O4nanosheet films
Authors: Nguyen Tuyen , Boudard Michel , Rapenne Laetitia , Chaix-Pluchery Odette , Carmezim M. João , Montemor M. Fátima
Published: March 2015

Structural evolution of electrodeposited Mn–Co hydroxide into spinel MnCo2O4nanosheets by thermal annealing.
Microwave-assisted palladium-catalysed isonitrile insertion in 2-bromophenylureas for efficient synthesis of 4-substituted imino 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-2-amines
Authors: Pandey Garima , Batra Sanjay
Published: March 2015

The palladium-catalysed isonitrile insertion in 2-bromophenylureas leads to the formation of 4-substituted imino 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-2-amines via C–O cross coupling reaction of the intermediate imidoylpalladium species.
1,1-Dioxothiomorpholines with asymmetric environments: protecting group directed diastereoselectivity of glyco divinyl sulfone cyclization
Authors: Bhaumik Atanu , Pal Tarun Kumar , Pathak Tanmaya
Published: March 2015

Formation of 1,1-dioxothiomorpholines from divinyl sulfone-modified pyranosides dramatically varied when benzylidene protection is replaced by benzyl protecting groups.
A further electrochemical investigation on solutions to high energetical power sources: isomerous compound 0.75Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2·0.25LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4
Authors: Zheng Zhuo , Wu Zhen-Guo , Zhong Yan-Jun , Shen Chong-Heng , Hua Wei-Bo , Xu Bin-Bin , Yu Chong , Zhong Ben-He , Guo Xiao-Dong
Published: March 2015

A 0.75Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2·0.25LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode material with outstanding electrochemical properties has been synthesized by introducing spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 material to fill the surface gaps in pristine lithium-rich layered Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 in a molar ratio of 25 : 75.
The role of cerium(iii)/yttrium(iii) nitrate hexahydrate salts on electroactive β phase nucleation and dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride) thin films
Authors: Thakur Pradip , Kool Arpan , Bagchi Biswajoy , Hoque Nur Amin , Das Sukhen , Nandy Papiya
Published: March 2015

Electroactive β phase nucleation in cerium/yttrium nitrate hexahydrate salt modified PVDF thin filmsviaformation of hydrogen bonds.
In situ solution plasma synthesis of mesoporous nanocarbon-supported bimetallic nanoparticles
Authors: Kang Jun , Saito Nagahiro
Published: March 2015

We report a novel in situ simple synthesis method of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) supported on carbon black, which can markedly prevent the aggregation of NPs, resulting in a small particle size, good dispersion, and high-electrocatalytic-activity.
Controlling the buckling instability of drying droplets of suspensions through colloidal interactions
Authors: Lintingre É. , Ducouret G. , Lequeux F. , Olanier L. , Périé T. , Talini L.
Published: March 2015

We show that the control of the interactions between colloidal particles determines the shape of dried millimeter sized suspension droplets, which can remain spherical or buckle.
Na3V2(PO4)3/C composite as the intercalation-type anode material for sodium-ion batteries with superior rate capability and long-cycle life
Authors: Wang Dongxue , Chen Nan , Li Malin , Wang Chunzhong , Ehrenberg Helmut , Bie Xiaofei , Wei Yingjin , Chen Gang , Du Fei
Published: March 2015

Long-cycle stability with a capacity retention of 62% after 3000 cycles at a high charge rate of 10 C (2 A g−1).
Facile synthesis of Pd nanostructures in hexagonal mesophases as a promising electrocatalyst for ethanol oxidation
Authors: Ghosh Srabanti , Remita Hynd , Kar Prasenjit , Choudhury Susobhan , Sardar Samim , Beaunier Patricia , Roy Partha Sarathi , Bhattacharya Swapan Kumar , Pal Samir Kumar
Published: March 2015

Synthesis of self-assembled Pd nanostructures supported with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets as a promising electrocatalyst for the electrooxidation of ethanol.
Polyoxometalate-based organic–inorganic hybrids for stabilization and optical switching of the liquid crystal blue phase
Authors: Wang Jiao , Lin Chang-Gen , Zhang Junyan , Wei Jie , Song Yu-Fei , Guo Jinbao
Published: March 2015

Two polyoxometalate-based organic–inorganic hybrids have been demonstrated to be capable of stabilizing and optically switching the liquid crystal blue phase.
Towards omnidirectional, large scale, full polarization, and broadband practical invisibility cloaks: challenges and progress
Authors: Yang Yihao , Zhang Baile , Li Erping , Chen Hongsheng
Published: March 2015

Invisibility cloaks have experienced a tremendous development in the past few years, but the current technologies to convert the cloaks into practical applications are still facing numerous bottlenecks. In this paper, we provide the review of the challenges and recent progress in the invisibility cloaks from a practical perspective. In particular, the following key challenges such as non-extreme parameters, homogeneity, omnidirectivity, full polarization, large scale and broad band are addressed. We analyze the physical mechanisms behind the challenges and consequently evaluate the merits and defects of the recent solutions. We anticipate some compromises on the ideal cloaks are required in order to achieve practical invisibility cloaks in the future.
Disordered artificial spin ices: Avalanches and criticality (invited)
Authors: Reichhardt Cynthia J. Olson , Chern Gia-Wei , Libál Andras , Reichhardt Charles
Published: March 2015

We show that square and kagome artificial spin ices with disconnected islands exhibit disorder-induced nonequilibrium phase transitions. The critical point of the transition is characterized by a diverging length scale and the effective spin reconfiguration avalanche sizes are power-law distributed. For weak disorder, the magnetization reversal is dominated by system-spanning avalanche events characteristic of a supercritical regime, while at strong disorder, the avalanche distributions have subcritical behavior and are cut off above a length scale that decreases with increasing disorder. The different type of geometrical frustration in the two lattices produces distinct forms of critical avalanche behavior. Avalanches in the square ice consist of the propagation of locally stable domain walls separating the two polarized ground states, and we find a scaling collapse consistent with an interface depinning mechanism. In the fully frustrated kagome ice, however, the avalanches branch strongly in a manner reminiscent of directed percolation. We also observe an interesting crossover in the power-law scaling of the kagome ice avalanches at low disorder. Our results show that artificial spin ices are ideal systems in which to study a variety of nonequilibrium critical point phenomena as the microscopic degrees of freedom can be accessed directly in experiments.
Ultraviolet relaxation dynamics of aniline, N, N-dimethylaniline and 3,5-dimethylaniline at 250 nm
Authors: Thompson James O. F. , Saalbach Lisa , Crane Stuart W. , Paterson Martin J. , Townsend Dave
Published: March 2015

Time-resolved photoelectron imaging was used to investigate the electronic relaxation dynamics of gas-phase aniline, N, N-dimethylaniline, and 3,5-dimethylaniline following ultraviolet excitation at 250 nm. Our analysis was supported by ab initio coupled-cluster calculations evaluating excited state energies and (in aniline) the evolution of a range of excited state physical properties as a function of N–H bond extension. Due to a lack of consistency between several earlier studies undertaken in aniline, the specific aim of this present work was to gain new insight into the previously proposed non-adiabatic coupling interaction between the two lowest lying singlet excited states S1(ππ∗) and S2(3s/πσ∗). The methyl-substituted systems N, N-dimethylaniline and 3,5-dimethylaniline were included in order to obtain more detailed dynamical information about the key internal molecular coordinates that drive the S1(ππ∗)/S2(3s/πσ∗) coupling mechanism. Our findings suggest that in all three systems, both electronic states are directly populated during the initial excitation, with the S2(3s/πσ∗) state then potentially decaying via either direct dissociation along the N–X stretching coordinate (X = H or CH3) or internal conversion to the S1(ππ∗) state. In aniline and N, N-dimethylaniline, both pathways most likely compete in the depletion of S2(3s/πσ∗) state population. However, in 3,5-dimethylaniline, only the direct dissociation mechanism appears to be active. This is rationalized in terms of changes in the relative rates of the two decay pathways upon methylation of the aromatic ring system.
Symmetry and conservation laws in semiclassical wave packet dynamics
Authors: Ohsawa Tomoki
Published: March 2015

We formulate symmetries in semiclassical Gaussian wave packet dynamics and find the corresponding conserved quantities, particularly the semiclassical angular momentum, via Noether’s theorem. We consider two slightly different formulations of Gaussian wave packet dynamics; one is based on earlier works of Heller and Hagedorn and the other based on the symplectic-geometric approach by Lubich and others. In either case, we reveal the symplectic and Hamiltonian nature of the dynamics and formulate natural symmetry group actions in the setting to derive the corresponding conserved quantities (momentum maps). The semiclassical angular momentum inherits the essential properties of the classical angular momentum as well as naturally corresponds to the quantum picture.
On the convergence of diffusion Monte Carlo in non-Euclidean spaces. I. Free diffusion
Authors: Curotto E. , Mella Massimo
Published: March 2015

We develop a set of diffusion Monte Carlo algorithms for general compactly supported Riemannian manifolds that converge weakly to second order with respect to the time step. The approaches are designed to work for cases that include non-orthogonal coordinate systems, nonuniform metric tensors, manifold boundaries, and multiply connected spaces. The methods do not require specially designed coordinate charts and can in principle work with atlases of charts. Several numerical tests for free diffusion in compactly supported Riemannian manifolds are carried out for spaces relevant to the chemical physics community. These include the circle, the 2-sphere, and the ellipsoid of inertia mapped with traditional angles. In all cases, we observe second order convergence, and in the case of the sphere, we gain insight into the function of the advection term that is generated by the curved nature of the space.