bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Floats with bio-optical sensors reveal what processes trigger the North Atlantic bloom
Authors: Mignot A. , Ferrari R. , Claustre H.
Published: January 2018

The North Atlantic bloom corresponds to a strong seasonal increase in phytoplankton that produces organic carbon through photosynthesis. It is still debated what physical and biological conditions trigger the bloom, because comprehensive time series of the vertical distribution of phytoplankton biomass are lacking. Vertical profiles from nine floats that sampled the waters of the North Atlantic every few days for a couple of years reveal that phytoplankton populations start growing in early winter at very weak rates. A proper bloom with rapidly accelerating population growth rates instead starts only in spring when atmospheric cooling subsides and the mixed layer rapidly shoals. While the weak accumulation of phytoplankton in winter is crucial to maintaining a viable population, the spring bloom dominates the overall seasonal production of organic carbon.
A partially-open inward-facing intermediate conformation of LeuT is associated with Na+ release and substrate transport
Authors: Terry Daniel S. , Kolster Rachel A. , Quick Matthias , LeVine Michael V. , Khelashvili George , Zhou Zhou , Weinstein Harel , Javitch Jonathan A. , Blanchard Scott C.
Published: January 2018

Neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSS), targets of antidepressants and psychostimulants, clear neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft through sodium (Na+)-coupled transport. Substrate and Na+ are thought to be transported from the extracellular to intracellular space through an alternating access mechanism by coordinated conformational rearrangements in the symporter that alternately expose the binding sites to each side of the membrane. However, the mechanism by which the binding of ligands coordinates conformational changes occurring on opposite sides of the membrane is not well understood. Here, we report the use of single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) techniques to image transitions between distinct conformational states on both the extracellular and intracellular sides of the prokaryotic NSS LeuT, including partially open intermediates associated with transport activity. The nature and functional context of these hitherto unidentified intermediate states shed new light on the allosteric mechanism that couples substrate and Na+ symport by the NSS family through conformational dynamics.
A bony-crested Jurassic dinosaur with evidence of iridescent plumage highlights complexity in early paravian evolution
Authors: Hu Dongyu , Clarke Julia A. , Eliason Chad M. , Qiu Rui , Li Quanguo , Shawkey Matthew D. , Zhao Cuilin , D’Alba Liliana , Jiang Jinkai , Xu Xing
Published: January 2018

The Jurassic Yanliao theropods have offered rare glimpses of the early paravian evolution and particularly of bird origins, but, with the exception of the bizarre scansoriopterygids, they have shown similar skeletal and integumentary morphologies. Here we report a distinctive new Yanliao theropod species bearing prominent lacrimal crests, bony ornaments previously known from more basal theropods. It shows longer arm and leg feathers than Anchiornis and tail feathers with asymmetrical vanes forming a tail surface area even larger than that in Archaeopteryx. Nanostructures, interpreted as melanosomes, are morphologically similar to organized, platelet-shaped organelles that produce bright iridescent colours in extant birds. The new species indicates the presence of bony ornaments, feather colour and flight-related features consistent with proposed rapid character evolution and significant diversity in signalling and locomotor strategies near bird origins.
Electric-field control of anomalous and topological Hall effects in oxide bilayer thin films
Authors: Ohuchi Yuki , Matsuno Jobu , Ogawa Naoki , Kozuka Yusuke , Uchida Masaki , Tokura Yoshinori , Kawasaki Masashi
Published: January 2018

One of the key goals in spintronics is to tame the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) that links spin and motion of electrons, giving rise to intriguing magneto-transport properties in itinerant magnets. Prominent examples of such SOC-based phenomena are the anomalous and topological Hall effects. However, controlling them with electric fields has remained unachieved since an electric field tends to be screened in itinerant magnets. Here we demonstrate that both anomalous and topological Hall effects can be modulated by electric fields in oxide heterostructures consisting of ferromagnetic SrRuO3 and nonmagnetic SrIrO3. We observe a clear electric field effect only when SrIrO3 is inserted between SrRuO3 and a gate dielectric. Our results establish that strong SOC of nonmagnetic materials such as SrIrO3 is essential in electrical tuning of these Hall effects and possibly other SOC-related phenomena.
Cytokine MIF Enhances Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability: Impact for Therapy in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Liu Yu-Chuan , Tsai Yung-Hsu , Tang Sung-Chun , Liou Houng-Chi , Kang Kai-Hsiang , Liou Horng-Huei , Jeng Jiann-Shing , Fu Wen-Mei
Published: January 2018

Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease with limited therapeutic options. It is very urgent to find a new target for drug development. Here we found that the blood level of MIF in ischemic stroke patients is upregulated. To figure out the pathological role of MIF in ischemic stroke, both in vitro and in vivo studies were conducted. For in vitro studies, primary cortical neuron cultures and adult rat brain endothelial cells (ARBECs) were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)/reoxygenation. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) rodent models were used for in vivo studies. The results show that MIF exerts no direct neuronal toxicity in primary culture but disrupts tight junction in ARBECs. Furthermore, administration of MIF following MCAo shows the deleterious influence on stroke-induced injury by destroying the tight junction of blood-brain barrier and increasing the infarct size. In contrast, administration of MIF antagonist ISO-1 has the profound neuroprotective effect. Our results demonstrate that MIF might be a good drug target for the therapy of stroke.
Mapping the epidemic changes and risks of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Shaanxi Province, China, 2005–2016
Authors: Liang Weifeng , Gu Xu , Li Xue , Zhang Kangjun , Wu Kejian , Pang Miaomiao , Dong Jianhua , Merrill Hunter R. , Hu Tao , Liu Kun , Shao Zhongjun , Yan Hong
Published: January 2018

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a major rodent-borne zoonosis. Each year worldwide, 60,000–100,000 HFRS human cases are reported in more than seventy countries with almost 90% these cases occurring in China. Shaanxi Province in China has been among the most seriously affected areas since 1955. During 2009–2013, Shaanxi reported 11,400 human cases, the most of all provinces in China. Furthermore, the epidemiological features of HFRS have changed over time. Using long-term data of HFRS from 2005 to 2016, we carried out this retrospective epidemiological study combining ecological assessment models in Shaanxi. We found the majority of HFRS cases were male farmers who acquired infection in Guanzhong Plain, but the geographic extent of the epidemic has slowly spread northward. The highest age-specific attack rate since 2011 was among people aged 60–74 years, and the percentage of HFRS cases among the elderly increased from 12% in 2005 to 25% in 2016. We highly recommend expanding HFRS vaccination to people older than 60 years to better protect against the disease. Multivariate analysis revealed artificial area, cropland, pig and population density, GDP, and climate conditions (relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed) as significant risk factors in the distribution of HFRS.
Increased Expression of GLP-1R in Proliferating Islets of Men1 Mice is Detectable by [68Ga]Ga-DO3A-VS-Cys40-Exendin-4 /PET
Authors: Monazzam Azita , Lau Joey , Velikyan Irina , Li Su-Chen , Razmara Masoud , Rosenström Ulrika , Eriksson Olof , Skogseid Britt
Published: January 2018

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an endocrine tumor syndrome caused by heterozygous mutations in the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene. The MEN1 pancreas of the adolescent gene carrier frequently contain diffusely spread pre-neoplasias and microadenomas, progressing to macroscopic and potentially malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (P-NET), which represents the major death cause in MEN1. The unveiling of the molecular mechanism of P-NET which is not currently understood fully to allow the optimization of diagnostics and treatment. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) pathway is essential in islet regeneration, i.e. inhibition of β-cell apoptosis and enhancement of β-cell proliferation, yet involvement of GLP-1 in MEN1 related P-NET has not yet been demonstrated. The objective of this work was to investigate if normal sized islets of Men1 heterozygous mice have increased Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression compared to wild type islets, and if this increase is detectable in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET) using [68Ga]Ga-DO3A-VS-Cys40-Exendin-4 (68Ga-Exendin-4). 68Ga-Exendin-4 showed potential for early lesion detection in MEN1 pancreas due to increased GLP1R expression.
Dual functional dinuclear platinum complex with selective reactivity towards c-myc G-quadruplex
Authors: He Lei , Meng Zhenyu , Xu Dechen , Shao Fangwei
Published: January 2018

G-quadruplexes (GQ) folded by the oncogenic G-rich sequences are the promising targets for developing anticancer therapeutic molecules. However, the current drug development mainly focused on non-covalent dynamic binders to stabilize GQ structures, while the covalent targeting from inorganic complexes via chelating principles, as a potent therapeutic strategy was surprisingly lack of exploration. Herein, a series of dinuclear platinum complexes, [(Pt(Dip)Cl)2(μ-diamine)](NO3)2 (Dip: 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), were designed to contain two dual-functional Pt cores connected by an alkyl linkage. Pt3 with nonanediamine linkage optimized the specific binding towards c-myc G-quadruplex via dual functional clamp on GQ as 1) non-covalently π-stacking of aromatic ligands, and 2) two Pt(II) cores covalently chelated to guanines at both 3′- and 5′-ends.
Bacterial and Fungal Community Composition and Functional Activity Associated with Lake Wetland Water Level Gradients
Authors: Ma Yantian , Li Jinqian , Wu Juan , Kong Zhaoyu , Feinstein Larry M. , Ding Xia , Ge Gang , Wu Lan
Published: January 2018

The water regime is often the primary force driving the evolution of freshwater lakes, but how soil microbes responded to this process is far from understood. This study sampled wetland soils from a shallow lake that experienced water regime changes, Poyang Lake of China, to explore the features of bacterial and fungal community in response to water level changes. The soil physicochemical properties, T-RFLP based community structures and soil activities (including basal respiration, microbial biomass and enzymes) were all determined. Soil microbial eco-function was captured by testing the carbon metabolism with Biolog-Ecoplate. The results showed remarkable influence of the water level gradients on the soil physicochemical properties, microbial community structures and soil activities. However, the carbon utilization profile exhibited weak connections with the environmental variables and microbial community structures (p > 0.05). The microbial activities were significantly correlated with both bacterial and fungal community structures. Our results also emphasized the ascendant role of the deterministic process in the assemblages of microbial community structures and functions in wetland. In conclusion, this study revealed the discrepancy between community structures and eco-functions in response to water level gradients, and a relatively stable eco-function helped to maintain the ecosystem function of wetland from a long-term perspective.
Alteration in Fluidity of Cell Plasma Membrane in Huntington Disease Revealed by Spectral Phasor Analysis
Authors: Sameni Sara , Malacrida Leonel , Tan Zhiqun , Digman Michelle A.
Published: January 2018

Huntington disease (HD) is a late-onset genetic neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide in the exon 1 of the gene encoding the polyglutamine (polyQ). It has been shown that protein degradation and lipid metabolism is altered in HD. In many neurodegenerative disorders, impaired lipid homeostasis is one of the early events in the disease onset. Yet, little is known about how mutant huntingtin may affect phospholipids membrane fluidity. Here, we investigated how membrane fluidity in the living cells (differentiated PC12 and HEK293 cell lines) are affected using a hyperspectral imaging of widely used probes, LAURDAN. Using phasor approach, we characterized the fluorescence of LAURDAN that is sensitive to the polarity of the immediate environment. LAURDAN is affected by the physical order of phospholipids (lipid order) and reports the membrane fluidity. We also validated our results using a different fluorescent membrane probe, Nile Red (NR). The plasma membrane in the cells expressing expanded polyQ shows a shift toward increased membrane fluidity revealed by both LAURDAN and NR spectral phasors. This finding brings a new perspective in the understanding of the early stages of HD that can be used as a target for drug screening.
Label-free photoacoustic imaging of human palmar vessels: a structural morphological analysis
Authors: Matsumoto Y. , Asao Y. , Yoshikawa A. , Sekiguchi H. , Takada M. , Furu M. , Saito S. , Kataoka M. , Abe H. , Yagi T. , Togashi K. , Toi M.
Published: January 2018

We analysed the vascular morphology of the palm using a photoacoustic tomography (PAT) instrument with a hemispherical detector array. The three-dimensional (3D) morphology of blood vessels was determined noninvasively. Overall, 12 females and 11 males were recruited as healthy volunteers. Their ages were distributed almost evenly from 22 to 59 years. In all cases, many vascular networks were observed just beneath the skin and were determined to be veins anatomically. To analyse the major arteries, the layer containing the subcutaneous venous network was removed from the image. The analysis focused on the common and proper palmar digital arteries. We used the curvature of these arteries as a parameter to analyse their morphologies. There was no significant difference in the curvature between genders when comparing the subjects as a whole. The blood vessel curvature increased with age. Good agreement was found between the 3D numerical analysis results and the subjective evaluation of the two-dimensional (2D) projection image. The PAT system enabled visualization of the 3D features of blood vessels in the palm and noninvasive analysis of arterial tortuousness.
Fc-modified exenatide-loaded nanoparticles for oral delivery to improve hypoglycemic effects in mice
Authors: Shi Yanan , Sun Xinfeng , Zhang Liping , Sun Kaoxiang , Li Keke , Li Youxin , Zhang Qiang
Published: January 2018

To improve the oral efficiency of exenatide, we prepared polyethylene glycol-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PEG-PLGA) NPs modified with Fc (NPs-Fc) for exenatide oral delivery. Exenatide was encapsulated into the NPs by the w/o/w emulsion-solvent evaporation method. The particle size of the NPs-Fc was approximately 30 nm larger than that of the unmodified NPs with polydispersity indices in a narrow range (PDIs; PDI < 0.3) as detected by DLS, and the highest encapsulation efficiency of exenatide in the NPs was greater than 80%. Fc-conjugated NPs permeated Caco-2 cells faster and to a greater extent compared to unmodified NPs, as verified by CLSM and flow cytometry. Hypoglycemic effect studies demonstrated that oral administration of exenatide-loaded PEG-PLGA NPs modified by an Fc group extended the hypoglycemic effects compared with s.c. injection of the exenatide solution. Fluorescence-labeled NPs were used to investigate the effects of Fc targeting, and the results demonstrated that the NPs-Fc stayed in the gastrointestinal tract for a longer time in comparison with the unmodified NPs, as shown by the whole-body fluorescence images and fluorescence images of the dissected organs detected by in vivo imaging in live mice. Therefore, Fc-targeted nano-delivery systems show great promise for oral peptide/protein drug delivery.
Role of hypoxia in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma: Metabolic repression and selective translation of HK2 facilitates development of DLBCL
Authors: Bhalla Kavita , Jaber Sausan , Nahid M. Nanaji , Underwood Karen , Beheshti Afshin , Landon Ari , Bhandary Binny , Bastian Paul , Evens Andrew M. , Haley John , Polster Brian , Gartenhaus Ronald B.
Published: January 2018

Published molecular profiling studies in patients with lymphoma suggested the influence of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1α) targets in prognosis of DLBCL. Yet, the role of hypoxia in hematological malignancies remains unclear. We observed that activation of HIF1α resulted in global translation repression during hypoxic stress in DLBCL. Protein translation efficiency as measured using 35S-labeled methionine incorporation revealed a ≥50% reduction in translation upon activation of HIF1α. Importantly, translation was not completely inhibited and expression of clinically correlated hypoxia targets such as GLUT1, HK2, and CYT-C was found to be refractory to translational repression under hypoxia in DLBCL cells. Notably, hypoxic induction of these genes was not observed in normal primary B-cells. Translational repression was coupled with a decrease in mitochondrial function. Screening of primary DLBCL patient samples revealed that expression of HK2, which encodes for the enzyme hexokinase 2, was significantly correlated with DLBCL phenotype. Genetic knockdown studies demonstrated that HK2 is required for promoting growth of DLBCL under hypoxic stress. Altogether, our findings provide strong support for the direct contribution of HK2 in B-cell lymphoma development and suggest that HK2 is a key metabolic driver of the DLBCL phenotype.
Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica to Simultaneously Produce Lipase and Single Cell Protein from Agro-industrial Wastes for Feed
Authors: Yan Jinyong , Han Bingnan , Gui Xiaohua , Wang Guilong , Xu Li , Yan Yunjun , Madzak Catherine , Pan Dujie , Wang Yaofeng , Zha Genhan , Jiao Liangcheng
Published: January 2018

Lipases are scarcely exploited as feed enzymes in hydrolysis of lipids for increasing energy supply and improving nutrient use efficiency. In this work, we performed homologous overexpression, in vitro characterization and in vivo assessment of a lipase from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica for feed purpose. Simultaneously, a large amount of yeast cell biomass was produced, for use as single cell protein, a potential protein-rich feed resource. Three kinds of low cost agro-industrial wastes were tested as substrates for simultaneous production of lipase and single cell protein (SCP) as feed additives: sugarcane molasses, waste cooking oil and crude glycerol from biodiesel production. Sugarcane molasses appeared as the most effective cheap medium, allowing production of 16420 U/ml of lipase and 151.2 g/L of single cell protein at 10 liter fermentation scale. In vitro characterization by mimicking a gastro-intestinal environment and determination of essential amino acids of the SCP, and in vivo oral feeding test on fish all revealed that lipase, SCP and their combination were excellent feed additives. Such simultaneous production of this lipase and SCP could address two main concerns of feed industry, poor utilization of lipid and shortage of protein resource at the same time.
TerraClimate, a high-resolution global dataset of monthly climate and climatic water balance from 1958–2015
Authors: Abatzoglou John T. , Dobrowski Solomon Z. , Parks Sean A. , Hegewisch Katherine C.
Published: January 2018

We present TerraClimate, a dataset of high-spatial resolution (1/24°, ~4-km) monthly climate and climatic water balance for global terrestrial surfaces from 1958–2015. TerraClimate uses climatically aided interpolation, combining high-spatial resolution climatological normals from the WorldClim dataset, with coarser resolution time varying (i.e., monthly) data from other sources to produce a monthly dataset of precipitation, maximum and minimum temperature, wind speed, vapor pressure, and solar radiation. TerraClimate additionally produces monthly surface water balance datasets using a water balance model that incorporates reference evapotranspiration, precipitation, temperature, and interpolated plant extractable soil water capacity. These data provide important inputs for ecological and hydrological studies at global scales that require high spatial resolution and time varying climate and climatic water balance data. We validated spatiotemporal aspects of TerraClimate using annual temperature, precipitation, and calculated reference evapotranspiration from station data, as well as annual runoff from streamflow gauges. TerraClimate datasets showed noted improvement in overall mean absolute error and increased spatial realism relative to coarser resolution gridded datasets.
Investigation of compacted DNA structures induced by Na+and K+monovalent cations using biological nanopores
Authors: Vu Trang , Davidson Shanna-Leigh , Shim Jiwook
Published: January 2018

Poly(C) single-stranded DNA can be quickly compacted by Na+or K+cations in the confined dimension of a biological nanopore.
Direct thermal desorption gas chromatographic determination of toxicologically relevant concentrations of ethylene glycol in whole blood
Authors: Robson James , Townsend Stephen , Bowdler Paul , Honeychurch Kevin C.
Published: January 2018

A simple and rapid method involving thermal desorption gas chromatography (TD-GC) with flame ionisation detection has been successfully developed for the determination of ethylene glycol in whole blood.
Polymersomes with asymmetric membranes and self-assembled superstructures using pentablock quintopolymers resolved by electron tomography
Authors: Haataja J. S. , Houbenov N. , Aseyev V. , Fragouli P. , Iatrou H. , Sougrat R. , Hadjichristidis N. , Ikkala O.
Published: January 2018

Polystyrene-block-poly(1,4-isoprene)-block-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-block-poly(tert-butyl methacrylate)-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine), PS-b-PI-b-PDMS-b-PtBMA-b-P2VP, self-assembles in acetone into polymersomes with asymmetric (directional) PI-b-PDMS membranes.
Saline hybrid nanoparticles with phthalocyanine and tetraphenylporphine anions showing efficient singlet-oxygen production and photocatalysis
Authors: Poß Marieke , Gröger Henriette , Feldmann Claus
Published: January 2018

Gd43+[AlPCS4]34− and La43+[TPPS4]34− ([AlPCS4]4−: aluminium(iii) chlorido phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate; [TPPS4]4−: tetraphenylporphine sulfonate) inorganic–organic hybrid nanoparticles show efficient 1O2 production upon daylight and red-light irradiation.
Oxidation of a [Cu2S] complex by N2O and CO2: insights into a role of tetranuclearity in the CuZ site of nitrous oxide reductase
Authors: Bagherzadeh Sharareh , Mankad Neal P.
Published: January 2018

N2O reactivity of a [Cu2S] complex implies that tetranuclearity imparts oxidative stability to the CuZ site in nitrous oxide reductase.
Metal–organic frameworks at interfaces of hybrid perovskite solar cells for enhanced photovoltaic properties
Authors: Shen Deli , Pang Aiying , Li Yafeng , Dou Jie , Wei Mingdeng
Published: January 2018

A ZIF-8 modified interface increases the grain size of perovskite crystals, resulting in a maximum PCE of 16.99%.
Syntheses, structures and theoretical calculations of stable triarylarsine radical cations
Authors: Li Tao , Tan Gengwen , Cheng Cheng , Zhao Yue , Zhang Li , Wang Xinping
Published: January 2018

Two stable triarylarsine radical cation salts have been synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray crystallography and EPR spectroscopy.
A novel fluoride-doped aluminium oxide catalyst with tunable Brønsted and Lewis acidity
Authors: Ahrem Lukas , Wolf Jakob , Scholz Gudrun , Kemnitz Erhard
Published: January 2018

The Graphical Abstract image shows the influence of fluoride doping and temperature on the catalytic activity.
Highly efficient Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over an alumina-supported ruthenium catalyst
Authors: Lian Chao , Yu Yulv , Zhang Kai , Gao Ang , Wang Yuan
Published: January 2018

A highly active catalyst for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis at 423 K was prepared, on which the adsorbed CO dissociated at 303 K.
Hydrogen bond-assisted homochiral lattice packing between inorganic helices built from heterometallic units
Authors: Chen Shuai , Narayanam Nagaraju , Zhang Lei , Zhang Jian
Published: January 2018

Two helical chains have been constructed using heterometallic {TiMn2(μ3-O)} clusters as building blocks, where hydrogen bonding plays a key role for the chirality transmission.
Host–guest capability of a three-dimensional heterometallic macrocycle
Authors: Fan Qi-Jia , Lin Yue-Jian , Hahn F. Ekkehardt , Jin Guo-Xin
Published: January 2018

Three-dimensional heterometallic macrocycles with half-sandwich Rh corners were studied for their ability to trap planar and non-planar guests. Furthermore, these heterometallic macrocycles can be destroyed in the presence of a soft base to form hexanuclear triangular prism complexes.
Slow magnetic relaxation influenced by change of symmetry from ideal Ci to D3d in cobalt(ii)-based single-ion magnets
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhou Jianjun , Cui Hui-Hui , Yuan Ai-Hua , Wang Zhenxing , Zhang Yi-Quan , Ouyang Zhong-Wen , Song You
Published: January 2018

Two mononuclear complexes including the same cation [Co(imidazole)6]2+ and the different symmetries Ci and D3d showed discriminatively slow magnetic relaxation.
Exploring the hydraulic fracturing parameter space: a novel high-pressure, high-throughput reactor system for investigating subsurface chemical transformations
Authors: Sumner Andrew J. , Plata Desiree L.
Published: January 2018

Hydraulic fracturing coupled with horizontal drilling (HDHF) involves the deep-well injection of a fracturing fluid composed of diverse and numerous chemical additives designed to facilitate the release and collection of natural gas from shale plays.
An eco-compatible pathway to new hydrotropes from tetraols
Authors: Herbinski Aurélien , Métay Estelle , Da Silva Eric , Illous Estelle , Aubry Jean-Marie , Lemaire Marc
Published: January 2018

An eco-compatible two-step synthesis for the production of new hydrotropes with attractive salt tolerance and solubilizing properties.
Biomass pretreatment using deep eutectic solvents from lignin derived phenols
Authors: Kim Kwang Ho , Dutta Tanmoy , Sun Jian , Simmons Blake , Singh Seema
Published: January 2018

In future biorefineries, the development of inexpensive and renewable reagents for biomass pretreatment is highly desirable.
Direct catalytic conversion of glucose and cellulose
Authors: Li Zhenhuan , Su Kunmei , Ren Jun , Yang Dongjiang , Cheng Bowen , Kim Chan Kyung , Yao Xiangdong
Published: January 2018

Biomass product 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) can be used to synthesize a broad range of value added compounds currently derived from petroleum.
Dual-mode upconversion and downshifting white-light emitting Ln3+:Gd2W2O9 materials
Authors: Liu Jing , Quinteiro González Elena , Kaczmarek Anna M. , Van Deun Rik
Published: January 2018

Both approaches (mixing two samples and co-doping with all the lanthanides) yielded materials which showed nearly identical downshifting white-light emission, while significantly different upconversion luminescence was obtained for the mixed powders and the co-doped synthesized materials.
Electronic and mechanical characteristics of stacked dimer molecular junctions
Authors: Magyarkuti András , Adak Olgun , Halbritter Andras , Venkataraman Latha
Published: January 2018

We investigate pi-stacked dimer molecular junctions using conductance, flicker noise and force measurements.
Protein-mediated anti-adhesion surface against oral bacteria
Authors: Liu Xi , Peng Liying , Meng Jingxin , Zhu Zhongpeng , Han Bing , Wang Shutao
Published: January 2018

Biomedical materials, such as orthopedic biomaterials, have a great impact on improving life quality and self-esteem of human beings.
A novel lysosome-targeted fluorogenic probe based on 5-triazole-quinoline for the rapid detection of hydrogen sulfide in living cells
Authors: Dou Yandong , Gu Xiaoxu , Ying Shasha , Zhu Shen , Yu Shian , Shen Wei , Zhu Qing
Published: January 2018

A fluorogenic probe based on the novel fluorophore 5-triazole-quinoline was developed for the detection of hydrogen sulfide, an endogenous signaling molecule associated with the development of various diseases.
Metallic organophosphate catalyzed bulk ring-opening polymerization
Authors: Chen Siming , Wang Haixin , Li Zhenjiang , Wei Fulan , Zhu Hui , Xu Songquan , Xu Jiaxi , Liu Jingjing , Gebru Hailemariam , Guo Kai
Published: January 2018

Metallic organophosphates have catalyzed the bulk ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters and cyclic carbonates through a bifunctional mode.
Electrochemically mediated ATRP in ionic liquids: controlled polymerization of methyl acrylate in [BMIm][OTf]
Authors: De Bon Francesco , Fantin Marco , Isse Abdirisak A. , Gennaro Armando
Published: January 2018

eATRP was successfully applied to methyl acrylate in [BMIm][OTf], then the PMMA-Br chain was extended with acrylonitrile under a catalytic halogen exchange.
Iron/zinc-catalyzed benzannulation reactions of 2-(2-oxo-alkyl)benzketones leading to naphthalene and isoquinoline derivatives
Authors: Zhang Changyuan , Chen Lianfen , Chen Kai , Jiang Huanfeng , Zhu Shifa
Published: January 2018

An efficient method for the synthesis of poly-substituted naphthalenes/isoquinolines via Fe(iii)/Zn(ii)-catalyzed [4 + 2] cycloaddition of 2-(2-oxo-alkyl)benzketones is described.
Correction: Facile synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles via Fe(iii)-catalyzed alkene hydrofunctionalization
Authors: Qi Jifeng , Zheng Jing , Cui Sunliang
Published: January 2018

Correction for ‘Facile synthesis of carbo- and heterocycles via Fe(iii)-catalyzed alkene hydrofunctionalization’ by Jifeng Qi, et al., Org. Chem. Front., 2018, DOI: 10.1039/c7qo00817a.
Effect of geometrical parameters on rebound of impacting droplets on leaky superhydrophobic meshes
Authors: Kumar Arvind , Tripathy Abinash , Nam Youngsuk , Lee Choongyeop , Sen Prosenjit
Published: January 2018

When a droplet impacts a superhydrophobic sieve, a part of the droplet penetrates through it when the dynamic pressure (ρU2) of the impinging droplet exceeds the breakthrough pressure (γΓ/A).
Correction: Flexible self-supported metal–organic framework mats with exceptionally high porosity for enhanced separation and catalysis
Authors: Liang Huixin , Jiao Xiuling , Li Cheng , Chen Dairong
Published: January 2018

Correction for ʻFlexible self-supported metal–organic framework mats with exceptionally high porosity for enhanced separation and catalysisʼ by Huixin Liang et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/c7ta08210j.
Correction: Bright and efficient light-emitting diodes based on MA/Cs double cation perovskite nanocrystals
Authors: Xu Bing , Wang Weigao , Zhang Xiaoli , Cao Wanyu , Wu Dan , Liu Sheng , Dai Haitao , Chen Shuming , Wang Kai , Sun Xiaowei
Published: January 2018

Correction for ‘Bright and efficient light-emitting diodes based on MA/Cs double cation perovskite nanocrystals’ by Bing Xu et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2017, 5, 6123–6128.
Correction: Towards microwave imaging of cells
Authors: Kelleci Mehmet , Aydogmus Hande , Aslanbas Levent , Erbil Selcuk Oguz , Hanay M. Selim
Published: January 2018

Correction for ‘Towards microwave imaging of cells’ by Mehmet Kelleci et al., Lab Chip, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/c7lc01251a.
Analysis of wireless transceiver power tradeoffs for green communications
Authors: Marojevic V. , Gomez‐Miguelez I. , Gelonch‐Bosch A.
Published: January 2018

The energy optimisation problem of wireless communications as a power consumption tradeoff between the transmitter and receiver is considered. The goal is finding the right balance between the transmission power and the amount of digital signal processing at the receiver. The problem then consists of deriving the optimal signal‐to‐noise ratio. Receiver cost functions from real implementations are defined and the constrained optimisation problem for single and multiuser links is solved. The numerical analysis shows that there is an optimal ratio between transmission power and signal processing which can lead to a 30% power reduction for noise limited systems.
Image decomposition and texture analysis via combined bi‐dimensional Bedrosian's principles
Authors: Guanlei Xu , Xiaotong Wang , Lijia Zhou , Xiaogang Xu
Published: January 2018

Image decomposition is an important issue in image processing. The existing approaches including the bi‐dimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) still fail to separate monocomponents in multicomponents in many cases. To solve this problem, this study proposes a new image decomposition method based on the new derived combined bi‐dimensional Bedrosian's principle that has not been reported anywhere else for image processing. First, this study investigates a few bi‐dimensional Bedrosian's principles according to the bi‐dimensional Hilbert transforms. Second, based on the derived bi‐dimensional Bedrosian's principles and the original multicomponents, the authors provide the combined bi‐dimensional Bedrosian's principle and the assisted components obtained through projections via optimisation so that these monocomponents in multicomponents can be separated in the case that the existing methods fail. Third, an iterative image decomposition method is proposed via the above principles to decompose the multicomponent image into true monocomponents. The proposed method can solve the problems caused by the cross‐angle and amplitude ratio and frequency ratio between these components that BEMD fails to solve. Also, the phase and amplitude are estimated for texture analysis after the decomposition is demonstrated. Experiments are shown to support the proposed methods.
Target coverage heuristic based on learning automata in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Manju  , Chand Satish , Kumar Bijender
Published: January 2018

In wireless sensors networks, the sensor nodes are densely deployed. Owing to this excessive deployment of sensor nodes, each target is covered by multiple sensors at a time. To prolong the network lifetime, the authors can schedule the sensor activity in such a way that only a subset of sensor nodes, called cover set, is sufficient enough to cover all the targets. In this study, they propose an energy‐efficient scheduling algorithm based on learning automata for target coverage problem. The learning automata‐based technique helps a sensor node to select its appropriate state (either active or sleep). To prove the effectiveness of their proposed scheduling method, they conduct a detailed set of simulations and compare the performance of their algorithm with the existing algorithms.
Properties of active galaxies at the extreme of Eigenvector 1
Authors: Śniegowska M. , Czerny B. , You B. , Panda S. , Wang J.-M. , Hryniewicz K. , Wildy C.
Published: January 2018

Context. Eigenvector 1 (EV1) is the formal parameter which allows the introduction of some order in the properties of the unobscured type 1 active galaxies.

Aims. We aim to understand the nature of this parameter by analyzing the most extreme examples of quasars with the highest possible values of the corresponding eigenvalues RFe.

Methods. We selected the appropriate sources from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and performed detailed modeling, including various templates for the Fe II pseudo-continuum and the starlight contribution to the spectrum.

Results. Out of 27 sources with RFe larger than 1.3 and with the measurement errors smaller than 20% selected from the SDSS quasar catalog, only six sources were confirmed to have a high value of RFe, defined as being above 1.3. All other sources have an RFe of approximately 1. Three of the high RFe objects have a very narrow Hβ line, below 2100 km s−1 but three sources have broad lines, above 4500 km s−1, that do not seem to form a uniform group, differing considerably in black hole mass and Eddington ratio; they simply have a very similar EW([OIII]5007) line. Therefore, the interpretation of the EV1 remains an open issue.
Ray optics hamiltonian approach to relativistic self focusing of ultraintense lasers in underdense plasmas
Authors: Curcio Alessandro , Anania Maria Pia , Bisesto Fabrizio Giuseppe , Ferrario Massimo , Filippi Francesco , Giulietti Danilo , Petrarca Massimo
Published: January 2018

The relativistic self focusing of an ultraintense laser propagating through an underdense plasma is analyzed from a geometrical optics point of view, exploiting the classical hamiltonian formalism. The distribution of the laser intensity along the self-generated plasma channel is studied and compared to measurements.
Graphite oxide based targets applied in laser matter interaction
Authors: Cutroneo Mariapompea , Torrisi Lorenzo , Badziak Jan , Rosinski Marcin , Havranek Vladimir , Mackova Anna , Malinsky Petr , Sofer Zdenek , Luxa Jan , Cannavò Antonino , Lorincik Jan
Published: January 2018

In the present work, we propose the production of a hybrid graphene based material suitable to be laser irradiated with the aim to produce quasi-monoenergetic proton beams using a femtosecond laser system. The unique lattice structure of the irradiated solid thin target can affect the inside electron propagation, their outgoing from the rear side of a thin foil, and subsequently the plasma ion acceleration. The produced targets, have been characterized in composition, roughness and structure and for completeness irradiated. The yield and energy of the ions emitted from the laser-generated plasma have been monitored and the emission of proton stream profile exhibited an acceleration of the order of several MeVs/charge state.
Very Fast Current Diagnostic for Linear Pulsed Beams
Authors: Nassisi Vincenzo , Delle Side Domenico , Turco Vito
Published: January 2018

Fast current pulses manage lasers and particle accelerators and require sophisticate systems to be detected. At today Rogowski coils are well known. They are designed and built with a toroidal structure. In recently application, flat transmission lines are imploded and for this reason we develop a linear Rogowski coil to detect current pulses inside flat conductors. To get deep information from the system, it was approached by means of the theory of the transmission lines. The coil we build presents a resistance but it doesn’t influence the rise time of the response, instead the integrating time. We also studied the influence of the magnetic properties of coil support. The new device was able to record pulses of more hundred nanoseconds depending on the inductance, load impedance and resistance of the coil. Furthermore, its response was characterized by a sub-nanosecond rise time (~100 ps), The attenuation coefficient depends mainly on the turn number of the coil, while the quality of the response depends both on the manufacture quality of the coil and on the magnetic core characteristics. In biophysical applications often, a double line is employed in order to have a sample as control and a sample stressed by a light source. So, in this case we build two equal plane lines by 100 Ω characteristic resistance connected in parallel. We diagnosed the current present in a line. The attenuation factor resulted to be 11,5 A/V.
Nanoimaging using soft X-ray and EUV laser-plasma sources
Authors: Wachulak Przemyslaw , Torrisi Alfio , Ayele Mesfin , Bartnik Andrzej , Czwartos Joanna , Węgrzyński Łukasz , Fok Tomasz , Fiedorowicz Henryk
Published: January 2018

In this work we present three experimental, compact desk-top imaging systems: SXR and EUV full field microscopes and the SXR contact microscope. The systems are based on laser-plasma EUV and SXR sources based on a double stream gas puff target. The EUV and SXR full field microscopes, operating at 13.8 nm and 2.88 nm wavelengths are capable of imaging nanostructures with a sub-50 nm spatial resolution and short (seconds) exposure times. The SXR contact microscope operates in the “water-window” spectral range and produces an imprint of the internal structure of the imaged sample in a thin layer of SXR sensitive photoresist. Applications of such desk-top EUV and SXR microscopes, mostly for biological samples (CT26 fibroblast cells and Keratinocytes) are also presented. Details about the sources, the microscopes as well as the imaging results for various objects will be presented and discussed. The development of such compact imaging systems may be important to the new research related to biological, material science and nanotechnology applications.
Photoionized plasmas induced in molecular gases by extreme ultraviolet and X-ray pulses
Authors: Bartnik Andrzej , Skrzeczanowski Wojciech , Fiedorowicz Henryk , Wachulak Przemysław , Fok Tomasz , Węgrzyński Łukasz , Jarocki Roman
Published: January 2018

In this work a laser-produced plasma (LPP) source was used to create low temperature plasmas. An extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray (EUV/SXR) radiation pulse was used for ionization of molecular gases, injected into a vacuum chamber synchronously with the EUV/SXR pulse. Energies of photons exceeding 100 eV were sufficient for dissociative ionization, ionization of atoms or even ions. The resulting photoelectrons had also enough energy for further ionizations or excitations. Time resolved UV/VIS spectra, corresponding to single charged ions, molecules and molecular ions, were recorded. For spectral lines, corresponding to radiative transitions in F II and S II ions, electron temperature was calculated based on a Boltzmann plot method. Numerical simulations of the molecular spectra were fitted to the experimental spectra allowing for determination of vibrational and rotational temperatures.
Effects induced by high and low intensity laser plasma on SiC Schottky detectors
Authors: Sciuto Antonella , Torrisi Lorenzo , Cannavò Antonino , Mazzillo Massimo , Calcagno Lucia
Published: January 2018

Silicon-Carbide detectors are extensively employed as diagnostic devices in laser-generated plasma, allowing the simultaneous detection of photons, electrons and ions, when used in time-of-flight configuration. The plasma generated by high intensity laser (1016 W/cm2) producing high energy ions was characterized by SiC detector with a continuous front-electrode, and a very thick active depth, while SiC detector with an Interdigit front-electrode was used to measure the low energy ions of plasma generated by low intensity laser (1010 W/cm2). Information about ion energy, number of charge states, plasma temperature can be accurately obtained. However, laser exposure induces the formation of surface and bulk defects whose concentration increases with increasing the time to plasma exposure. The surface defects consist of clusters with a main size of the order of some microns and they modify the diode barrier height and the efficiency of the detector as checked by alpha spectrometry. The bulk defects, due to the energy loss of detected ions, strongly affect the electrical properties of the device, inducing a relevant increase of the leakage (reverse) current and decrease the forward current related to a deactivation of the dopant in the active detector region.
Experimental and theoretical study on emission spectra of a nitrogen photoionized plasma induced by intense EUV pulses
Authors: Saber Ismail , Bartnik Andrzej , Skrzeczanowski Wojciech , Wachulak Przemyslaw , Jarocki Roman , Fiedorowicz Henryk , Limpouch Jiri
Published: January 2018

Spectral lines of low-temperature nitrogen photoionized plasma were investigated. The photoionized plasma was created in the result of irradiation N2 gas using laser plasma EUV radiation pulses. The source was based on a 10J/10ns Nd:YAG (λ = 1064 nm) laser system and a gas puff target. The EUV radiation pulses were collected and focused using a grazing incidence multifoil EUV collector. The emission spectra were measured in the ultraviolet and visible (UV/Vis) range. It was found that the plasma emission lines in the lower region of the UV range are relativley weak. Nonetheless, a part of the spectra contains strong molecular band in the 300 - 430 nm originated from second positive and first negative systems band transitions of nitrogen. These molecular band transitions were identified using a code for study the diatomic molecules, LIFBASE. The vibrational band of Δv = 0 and ±1 transitions were significantly populated than of that with Δv = ±2 and 3 transitions. A comparison of the calculated and measured spectrum is presented. With an assumption of a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), the vibrational temperature was determined from the integrated band intensities with the help of the Boltzmann plot method and compared to the temperature predicted by SPECAIR and LIFBASE simulations. A summary of the results and the variations in the vibrational temperatures was discussed.
Magnetic and electric deflector spectrometers for ion emission analysis from laser generated plasma
Authors: Torrisi Lorenzo , Costa Giuseppe , Ceccio Giovanni , Cannavò Antonino , Restuccia Nancy , Cutroneo Mariapompea
Published: January 2018

The pulsed laser-generated plasma in vacuum and at low and high intensities can be characterized using different physical diagnostics. The charge particles emission can be characterized using magnetic, electric and magnet-electrical spectrometers. Such on-line techniques are often based on time-of-flight (TOF) measurements. A 90° electric deflection system is employed as ion energy analyzer (IEA) acting as a filter of the mass-to-charge ratio of emitted ions towards a secondary electron multiplier. It determines the ion energy and charge state distributions. The measure of the ion and electron currents as a function of the mass-to-charge ratio can be also determined by a magnetic deflector spectrometer, using a magnetic field of the order of 0.35 T, orthogonal to the ion incident direction, and an array of little ion collectors (IC) at different angles. A Thomson parabola spectrometer, employing gaf-chromix as detector, permits to be employed for ion mass, energy and charge state recognition. Mass quadrupole spectrometry, based on radiofrequency electric field oscillations, can be employed to characterize the plasma ion emission. Measurements performed on plasma produced by different lasers, irradiation conditions and targets are presented and discussed. Complementary measurements, based on mass and optical spectroscopy, semiconductor detectors, fast CCD camera and Langmuir probes are also employed for the full plasma characterization. Simulation programs, such as SRIM, SREM, and COMSOL are employed for the charge particle recognition.
Prediction of strontium bromide laser efficiency using cluster and decision tree analysis
Authors: Iliev Iliycho , Gocheva-Ilieva Snezhana , Kulin Chavdar
Published: January 2018

Subject of investigation is a new high-powered strontium bromide (SrBr2) vapor laser emitting in multiline region of wavelengths. The laser is an alternative to the atom strontium lasers and electron free lasers, especially at the line 6.45 μm which line is used in surgery for medical processing of biological tissues and bones with minimal damage. In this paper the experimental data from measurements of operational and output characteristics of the laser are statistically processed by means of cluster analysis and tree-based regression techniques. The aim is to extract the more important relationships and dependences from the available data which influence the increase of the overall laser efficiency. There are constructed and analyzed a set of cluster models. It is shown by using different cluster methods that the seven investigated operational characteristics (laser tube diameter, length, supplied electrical power, and others) and laser efficiency are combined in 2 clusters. By the built regression tree models using Classification and Regression Trees (CART) technique there are obtained dependences to predict the values of efficiency, and especially the maximum efficiency with over 95% accuracy.