bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The fish diversity in the upper reaches of the Salween River, Nujiang River, revealed by DNA barcoding
Authors: Chen Weitao , Ma Xiuhui , Shen Yanjun , Mao Yuntao , He Shunping
Published: November 2015

Nujiang River (NR), an essential component of the biodiversity hotspot of the Mountains of Southwest China, possesses a characteristic fish fauna and contains endemic species. Although previous studies on fish diversity in the NR have primarily consisted of listings of the fish species observed during field collections, in our study, we DNA-barcoded 1139 specimens belonging to 46 morphologically distinct fish species distributed throughout the NR basin by employing multiple analytical approaches. According to our analyses, DNA barcoding is an efficient method for the identification of fish by the presence of barcode gaps. However, three invasive species are characterized by deep conspecific divergences, generating multiple lineages and Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs), implying the possibility of cryptic species. At the other end of the spectrum, ten species (from three genera) that are characterized by an overlap between their intra- and interspecific genetic distances form a single genetic cluster and share haplotypes. The neighbor-joining phenogram, Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) identified 43 putative species, while the General Mixed Yule-coalescence (GMYC) identified five more OTUs. Thus, our study established a reliable DNA barcode reference library for the fish in the NR and sheds new light on the local fish diversity.
Acute and additive toxicity of ten photosystem-II herbicides to seagrass
Authors: Wilkinson Adam D. , Collier Catherine J. , Flores Florita , Negri Andrew P.
Published: November 2015

Photosystem II herbicides are transported to inshore marine waters, including those of the Great Barrier Reef and are usually detected in complex mixtures. These herbicides inhibit photosynthesis, which can deplete energy reserves and reduce growth in seagrass, but the toxicity of some of these herbicides to seagrass is unknown and combined effects of multiple herbicides on seagrass has not been tested. Here we assessed the acute phytotoxicity of 10 PSII herbicides to the seagrass Halophila ovalis over 24 and/or 48 h. Individual herbicides exhibited a broad range of toxicities with inhibition of photosynthetic activity (∆F/Fm′) by 50% at concentrations ranging from 3.5 μg l−1 (ametryn) to 132 μg l−1 (fluometuron). We assessed potential additivity using the Concentration Addition model of joint action for binary mixtures of diuron and atrazine as well as complex mixtures of all 10 herbicides. The effects of both mixture types were largely additive, validating the application of additive effects models for calculating the risk posed by multiple PSII herbicides to seagrasses. This study extends seagrass ecotoxicological data to ametryn, metribuzin, bromacil, prometryn and fluometuron and demonstrates that low concentrations of PSII herbicide mixtures have the potential to impact ecologically relevant endpoints in seagrass, including ∆F/Fm′.
Sample storage-induced changes in the quantity and quality of soil labile organic carbon
Authors: Sun Shou-Qin , Cai Hui-Ying , Chang Scott X. , Bhatti Jagtar S.
Published: November 2015

Effects of sample storage methods on the quantity and quality of labile soil organic carbon are not fully understood even though their effects on basic soil properties have been extensively studied. We studied the effects of air-drying and frozen storage on cold and hot water soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Cold- and hot-WSOC in air-dried and frozen-stored soils were linearly correlated with those in fresh soils, indicating that storage proportionally altered the extractability of soil organic carbon. Air-drying but not frozen storage increased the concentrations of cold-WSOC and carbohydrate in cold-WSOC, while both increased polyphenol concentrations. In contrast, only polyphenol concentration in hot-WSOC was increased by air-drying and frozen storage, suggesting that hot-WSOC was less affected by sample storage. The biodegradability of cold- but not hot-WSOC was increased by air-drying, while both air-drying and frozen storage increased humification index and changed specific UV absorbance of both cold- and hot-WSOC, indicating shifts in the quality of soil WSOC. Our results suggest that storage methods affect the quantity and quality of WSOC but not comparisons between samples, frozen storage is better than air-drying if samples have to be stored and storage should be avoided whenever possible when studying the quantity and quality of both cold- and hot-WSOC.
Pivotal Role of the Chromatin Protein Nupr1 in Kras-Induced Senescence and Transformation
Authors: Grasso Daniel , Bintz Jennifer , Lomberk Gwen , Molejon Maria Ines , Loncle Celine , Garcia Maria Noé , Lopez Maria Belen , Urrutia Raul , Iovanna Juan L.
Published: November 2015

Nupr1 is a chromatin protein, which cooperates with KrasG12D to induce PanIN formation and pancreatic cancer development in mice, though the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect remain to be fully characterized. In the current study, we report that Nupr1 acts as a gene modifier of the effect of KrasG12D-induced senescence by regulating Dnmt1 expression and consequently genome-wide levels of DNA methylation. Congruently, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytydine, a general inhibitor of DNA methylation, reverses the KrasG12D-induced PanIN development by promoting senescence. This requirement of Nupr1 expression, however, is not restricted to the pancreas since in lung of Nupr1–/– mice the expression of KrasG12D induces senescence instead of transformation. Therefore, mechanistically this data reveals that epigenetic events, at least at the level of DNA methylation, modulate the functional outcome of common genetic mutations, such as KrasG12D, during carcinogenesis. The biomedical relevance of these findings lies in that they support the rational for developing similar therapeutic interventions in human aimed at controlling either the initiation or progression of cancer.
Inhibition of insulin fibrillation by osmolytes: Mechanistic Insights
Authors: Choudhary Sinjan , Kishore Nand , Hosur Ramakrishna V.
Published: November 2015

We have studied here using a number of biophysical tools the effects of osmolytes, betaine, citrulline, proline and sorbitol which differ significantly in terms of their physical characteristics such as, charge distribution, polarity, H-bonding abilities etc, on the fibrillation of insulin. Among these, betaine, citrulline and proline are very effective in decreasing the extent of fibrillation. Proline also causes a substantial delay in the onset of fibrillation in the concentration range (50–250 mM) whereas such an effect is seen for citrulline only at 250 mM and in case of betaine this effect is not seen at all in the whole concentration range. The enthalpies of interaction at various stages of fibrillation process have suggested that the preferential exclusion of the osmolyte and its polar interaction with the protein are important in inhibition. The results indicate that the osmolytes are most effective when added prior to the elongation stage of fibrillation. These observations have significant biological implications, since insulin fibrillation is known to cause injection amyloidosis and our data may help in designing lead drug molecules and development of potential therapeutic strategies.
Quantitative Profiling of the Effects of Vanoxerine on Human Cardiac Ion Channels and its Application to Cardiac Risk
Authors: Obejero-Paz Carlos A. , Bruening-Wright Andrew , Kramer James , Hawryluk Peter , Tatalovic Milos , Dittrich Howard C. , Brown Arthur M.
Published: November 2015

Vanoxerine has been in clinical trials for Parkinsonism, depression and cocaine addiction but lacked efficacy. Although a potent blocker of hERG, it produced no serious adverse events. We attributed the unexpected result to offsetting Multiple Ion Channel Effects (MICE). Vanoxerine’s effects were strongly frequency-dependent and we repositioned it for treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter. Vanoxerine terminated AF/AFL in an animal model and a dose-ranging clinical trial. Reversion to normal rhythm was associated with QT prolongation yet absent proarrhythmia markers for Torsade de Pointes (TdP). To understand the QT/TdP discordance, we used quantitative profiling and compared vanoxerine with dofetilide, a selective hERG-blocking torsadogen used for intractable AF, verapamil, a non-torsadogenic MICE comparator and bepridil, a torsadogenic MICE comparator. At clinically relevant concentrations, verapamil blocked hCav1.2 and hERG, as did vanoxerine and bepridil both of which also blocked hNav1.5. In acute experiments and simulations, dofetilide produced early after depolarizations (EADs) and arrhythmias, whereas verapamil, vanoxerine and bepridil produced no proarrhythmia markers. Of the MICE drugs only bepridil inhibited hERG trafficking following overnight exposure. The results are consistent with the emphasis on MICE of the CiPA assay. Additionally we propose that trafficking inhibition of hERG be added to CiPA.
Principles of Green Chemistry and White Biotechnology
Authors: Ribeiro Bernardo Dias , Coelho Maria Alice Z. , Machado de Castro Aline
Published: November 2015

White Biotechnology can be regarded as Applied Biocatalysis, with enzymes and microorganisms, aiming at industrial production from bulk and fine chemicals to food and animal feed additives. In your turn, Biocatalysis has many attractive features in the context of Green Chemistry: mild reaction conditions (physiological pH and temperature), environmentally compatible catalysts and solvent (often water) combined with high activities and chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities in multifunctional molecules. This affords processes which are shorter, generate less waste and are, therefore, both environmentally and economically more attractive than conventional routes. The objective of this chapter is to comprise a brief introduction of the classification of biotechnology areas, including white biotechnology, as well as present enzyme classification and markets, and green chemistry principles, which are the basis of this book.
Microwave Assisted Enzyme Catalysis: Practice and Perspective
Authors: Yadav Ganapati D. , Devendran Saravanan
Published: November 2015

Green chemistry aims at reducing/eliminating the environmental impact of chemical processes by adopting the so-called dozen principles covering waste minimization strategies and sustainability. Waste minimization embraces the reduction in consumption of raw materials and solvents and also a reduction in energy consumption. Catalysis is one of the foremost principles of green chemistry, and both chemical and biocatalysis have been advocated in the manufacture of a variety of chemicals. In this context, biocatalysis has emerged as a clean and ecofriendly practice for the synthesis of organic compounds with high regio- and stereo-selectivity. Similarly, microwave radiation has also emerged as a simple, fast, energy efficient and green alternative heating source for organic and material synthesis. Microwave irradiation has the potential to intensify processes by shortening the reaction time and improving the reaction rate and yield vis-à-vis conventional heating. The combination of microwave irradiation and biocatalysis will definitely make a synthetic process much more sustainable and cheaper when compared to the conventional chemical process. This chapter is focused on the merits associated with microwave assisted enzymatic reactions for the synthesis of fine organic chemicals across several industries, and also the synergistic effects of microwaves on enzyme kinetics.
Biocatalysis in Ionic Liquids
Authors: Ribeiro Bernardo Dias , Santos Ariane Gaspar , Marrucho Isabel M.
Published: November 2015

In the context of green chemistry and white biotechnology, ionic liquids, solvents composed only by asymmetric cations and anions, have been highlighted as alternatives to molecular solvents, mainly because of their non-volatility at room temperature, huge liquidus range and tunable physicochemical properties. With these properties, ionic liquids can be utilized as potential new media for biocatalytic reactions involving enzymatic and whole-cell systems. This chapter summarizes recent studies which apply ionic liquids to these biotransformations. In enzymatic catalysis, they have been applied as pure solvents or co-solvents, and can improve the selectivity, yield, substrate solubility and catalyst stability. Similarly, ionic liquids have been applied in whole-cell processes as co-solvents in monophasic or biphasic systems to promote substrate solubility, and decrease the toxic effects of substrates and products on microorganisms. Here, will be reported systematically studies of ionic liquids and lipases, proteases, esterases and glycosidases, among other enzymes, showing their diverse applications, and results on the activity and stability of the biocatalysts. Furthermore, recent studies using ionic liquids in various biotransformations with microorganisms, mainly in asymmetric reduction of ketones will be reported.
Biocatalysis in Micellar Systems
Authors: Braga Adelaide , Belo Isabel
Published: November 2015

Biocatalysis and biotransformations are environmentally friendly, and allow the development of sustainable production processes on a large scale. Thus, these processes are becoming important alternatives to conventional chemistry in the drug, biochemical, and emerging biorenewable energy industries. Biocatalysts are required to function under non-conventional conditions, such as in organic solvents, being competitive in terms of cost and efficiency. In fact, the technological utility of enzymes can be enhanced greatly by using them in the presence of organic solvents, rather than in their natural aqueous reaction media. Multiphase systems are more complex but offer a new field of possibilities. The presence of hydrophobic solvents in biocatalysis allows the conversion of poorly water soluble substrates more efficiently. The accessibility of hydrophobic substrates to enzymes or whole cells presents an interesting challenge for researchers and technologists. In this context, microemulsions are a promising tool in enzyme technology. This chapter presents an overview of the characterization of biphasic and microemulsion systems and their applications in biotransformation processes.
Green Downstream Processing in the Production of Enzymes
Authors: Amaral P. F. F. , Ferreira T. F.
Published: November 2015

Green chemistry is the key to sustainable development. The use of enzymes is undoubtedly an ideal choice toward “greening” chemical reactions. However, a real green catalyst is one produced by technologies that integrate reduced impact on the environment as a performance criterion for the design of all production steps, including the downstream ones. As enzyme concentration in fermentation broth is often very low, concentration methods are required, which include precipitation, and a more advanced method, ultrafiltration. Ultrafiltration operates under mild conditions, promoting lower denaturation, deactivation and/or degradation rates of highly labile products. In recent decades, new purification technologies, such as two-phase systems, membrane separation and immune purification, have been studied. Additionally, old methods, such as chromatographic techniques, have been reformulated for more integrated use. A radically different approach to overcome the limitations associated with packed bed chromatography is to use synthetic microporous or macroporous membranes as chromatographic media. As for two-phase systems, they are based on the partition principles of the proteins in a two-phase aqueous system. Extractive fermentation is an emerging technique that involves the use of aqueous two-phase system based in situ fermentation processes.
Redox Biotechnological Processes Applied to Fine Chemicals
Authors: Rodrigues J. Augusto R. , Moran Paulo J. S. , Costa Bruna Z. , Marsaioli Anita J.
Published: November 2015

In this chapter, the authors present their work on the biotechnological process to obtain fine chemicals mainly by using microrganisms in reduction or oxidation of organic compounds giving important chiral building blocks in high ee as a contribution to the white technologies. The biooxidations processes involve the hydroxylation of benzylic and allylic moieties, alkene epoxydation, Bayer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones and sulfide oxidation of aryl alkyl thioester. On the other hand, halohydrins with one and two chiral centers were obtained by bioreduction of α-haloketone and α-haloenone. In addition, vicinal diols also with two chiral centers were giving by bioreduction of the correspondent diketones.
Production of Aroma Compounds by White Biotechnology
Authors: Bicas Juliano Lemos , Molina Gustavo , Cavalcante Barros Francisco Fábio , Pastore Gláucia Maria
Published: November 2015

Industrially, flavors and fragrances have wide applications in the food, feed, cosmetics, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors and have a global market estimated at billions (109) of dollars. In this respect, the biotechnological production of aroma compounds has emerged as an attractive alternative since it occurs under mild conditions, presents high regio- and enantio-selectivity, does not generate toxic waste, and the products obtained may be labeled as “natural”. Some problems related to these processes impact their final yield, making some of these bioprocesses not feasible for industrial applications to enable commercial application of most published processes. Nevertheless, the progress observed recently in this field has resulted in studies reporting satisfactory yields (on the order of grams per liter), which have potential applications on industrial scale. This chapter is intended to cover the main examples already reported for the production of aroma compounds through biotransformation, the main strategy compatible with industrial scale. Also, strategies from the “Green Chemistry” toolbox with potential applications in (bio)aroma technology will be presented.
Supersensitive and selective detection of picric acid explosive by fluorescent Ag nanoclusters
Authors: Zhang Jian Rong , Yue Yuan Yuan , Luo Hong Qun , Li Nian Bing
Published: November 2015

The combination of polyethyleneimine-capped Ag nanoclusters and picric acid (PA) containing a special structure facilitates the detection of PA, with a low detection limit and a remarkably high selectivity over other nitroaromatics.
Reactive electrospinning of degradable poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate)-based nanofibrous hydrogel networks
Authors: Xu Fei , Sheardown Heather , Hoare Todd
Published: November 2015

A direct, all-aqueous electrospinning method for fabricating degradable nanofibrous hydrogel networks is reported in which hydrazide and aldehyde-functionalized poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylate) (POEGMA) polymers are simultaneously electrospun and cross-linked.
Thermal properties of molecular crystals through dispersion-corrected quasi-harmonic ab initio calculations: the case of urea
Authors: Erba Alessandro , Maul Jefferson , Civalleri Bartolomeo
Published: November 2015

A multifacetedab initiotheoretical framework is presented for computing the thermal (structural, elastic, thermodynamic) properties of molecular crystals.
Phospha-fluorescein: a red-emissive fluorescein analogue with high photobleaching resistance
Authors: Fukazawa Aiko , Suda Shinji , Taki Masayasu , Yamaguchi Eriko , Grzybowski Marek , Sato Yoshikatsu , Higashiyama Tetsuya , Yamaguchi Shigehiro
Published: November 2015

Phospha-fluorescein, a phosphine oxide-containing fluorescein analogue, with pH-responsive red fluorescence as well as high photobleaching resistance, was synthesized.
Activation of Si–H bonds across the nickel carbene bond in electron rich nickel PCcarbeneP pincer complexes
Authors: LaPierre Etienne A. , Piers Warren E. , Spasyuk Denis M. , Bi David W.
Published: November 2015

Silicon–hydrogen bonds are shown to add to a nickel carbon double bond to yield nickel α-silylalkyl hydrido complexes.
Free-energy calculations using classical molecular simulation: application to the determination of the melting point and chemical potential of a flexible RDX model
Authors: Sellers Michael S. , Lísal Martin , Brennan John K.
Published: November 2015

Several methods are used in sequence to determine the chemical potential of atomistic RDX in the solid and liquid phases, and its corresponding melting point. Results yield the thermodynamic melting point of 488.75 K at 1.0 atm.
Dynamics of GCN4 facilitate DNA interaction: a model-free analysis of an intrinsically disordered region
Authors: Gill Michelle L. , Byrd R. Andrew , Palmer, III Arthur G.
Published: November 2015

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and proteins with intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are known to play important roles in regulatory and signaling pathways.
Tuning the threshold voltage from depletion to enhancement mode in a multilayer MoS2 transistor via oxygen adsorption and desorption
Authors: Jiang Jie , Dhar Sarit
Published: November 2015

In this work, a simple method based on low-temperature annealing in air is developed for effective chemical doping in MoS2. The threshold voltage of multilayer MoS2 FET can be effectively tuned from depletion mode (Vth = ¬1.8 V) to enhancement mode (Vth = 1.1 V) by annealing in air at 150 °C.
Superior adsorption of pharmaceutical molecules by highly porous BN nanosheets
Authors: Liu Dan , Lei Weiwei , Qin Si , Klika Karel D. , Chen Ying
Published: November 2015

Porous boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) are able to adsorb pharmaceuticals from aqueous solution with very high capacities. Regeneration is simple and performance maintained providing excellent recyclability of the material.
s-Block amidoboranes: syntheses, structures, reactivity and applications
Authors: Stennett Tom E. , Harder Sjoerd
Published: November 2015

The highly versatile amidoborane compounds of the group 1 and 2 metals are reviewed, with an emphasis on their synthesis, structures and reactivity.
A zwitterionic triphosphenium compound as a tunable multifunctional donor
Authors: Kosnik Stephanie C. , Macdonald Charles L. B.
Published: November 2015

We present a zwitterionic triphosphenium molecule which features dicoordinate, tricoordinate and tetracoordinate phosphorus centers in addition to a cyclopentadienyl moiety. Crystallographic, computational, electrochemical and spectroscopic data illustrate and rationalize the reactivity of this molecule as a multifunctional ligand for both transition metals and main group acceptors and suggest how the donor properties may be tuned.
Scandium(iii) complexes of monophosphorus acid DOTA analogues: a thermodynamic and radiolabelling study with44Sc from cyclotron and from a44Ti/44Sc generator
Authors: Kerdjoudj R. , Pniok M. , Alliot C. , Kubíček V. , Havlíčková J. , Rösch F. , Hermann P. , Huclier-Markai S.
Published: November 2015

The influence of the phosphonic/phosphinic acid pendant arm in DOTA derivatives on properties of their Sc3+complexes and efficiency of their44Sc labelling were investigated.
Synthesis, structure and magnetic ordering of the mullite-type Bi2Fe4−xCrxO9solid solutions with a frustrated pentagonal Cairo lattice
Authors: Rozova M. G. , Grigoriev V. V. , Bobrikov I. A. , Filimonov D. S. , Zakharov K. V. , Volkova O. S. , Vasiliev A. N. , Antipov E. V. , Tsirlin A. A. , Abakumov A. M.
Published: November 2015

Highly homogeneous mullite-type solid solutions Bi2Fe4−xCrxO9(x= 0.5, 1, 1.2) were synthesized using a soft chemistry technique followed by a solid-state reaction in Ar.
Turning around the electron flow in an uptake hydrogenase. EPR spectroscopy and in vivo activity of a designed mutant in HupSL from Nostoc punctiforme
Authors: Raleiras Patrícia , Khanna Namita , Miranda Hélder , Mészáros Lívia S. , Krassen Henning , Ho Felix , Battchikova Natalia , Aro Eva-Mari , Magnuson Ann , Lindblad Peter , Styring Stenbjörn
Published: November 2015

The uptake hydrogenase HupSL became a H2producer inN. punctiformeafter modifying the proximal FeS cluster with the single point mutation C12P.
Solar-to-hydrogen efficiency: shining light on photoelectrochemical device performance
Authors: Döscher H. , Young J. L. , Geisz J. F. , Turner J. A. , Deutsch T. G.
Published: November 2015

Uncontrolled spectral mismatch of laboratory light sources and inappropriate area definitions induce vast inaccuracies for solar-to-hydrogen efficiency measurement and reporting.
Spatially resolved flux measurements of NOxfrom London suggest significantly higher emissions than predicted by inventories
Authors: Vaughan Adam R. , Lee James D. , Misztal Pawel K. , Metzger Stefan , Shaw Marvin D. , Lewis Alastair C. , Purvis Ruth M. , Carslaw David C. , Goldstein Allen H. , Hewitt C. Nicholas , Davison Brian , Beevers Sean D. , Karl Thomas G.
Published: November 2015

To date, direct validation of city-wide emissions inventories for air pollutants has been difficult or impossible. However, recent technological innovations now allow direct measurement of pollutant fluxes from cities, for comparison with emissions inventories, which are themselves commonly used for prediction of current and future air quality and to help guide abatement strategies. Fluxes of NOxwere measured using the eddy-covariance technique from an aircraft flying at low altitude over London. The highest fluxes were observed over central London, with lower fluxes measured in suburban areas. A footprint model was used to estimate the spatial area from which the measured emissions occurred. This allowed comparison of the flux measurements to the UK's National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) for NOx, with scaling factors used to account for the actual time of day, day of week and month of year of the measurement. The comparison suggests significant underestimation of NOxemissions in London by the NAEI, mainly due to its under-representation of real world road traffic emissions. A comparison was also carried out with an enhanced version of the inventory using real world driving emission factors and road measurement data taken from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI). The measurement to inventory agreement was substantially improved using the enhanced version, showing the importance of fully accounting for road traffic, which is the dominant NOxemission source in London. In central London there was still an underestimation by the inventory of 30–40% compared with flux measurements, suggesting significant improvements are still required in the NOxemissions inventory.
Methanol formation from CO2catalyzed by Fe3S4{111}: formate versus hydrocarboxyl pathways
Authors: Roldan A. , de Leeuw N. H.
Published: November 2015

Carbon capture and utilisation is one of the most promising techniques to minimize the impact of the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Recently, the mineral greigite was shown to be capable of catalysing CO2conversion, leading to useful small organic molecules. Here, we have carried out a systematic study of the adsorption and selective reduction of CO2on the Fe3S4{111} surface. We have considered both formate and hydrocarboxyl key intermediates, leading to different reaction pathwaysviaEley–Rideal and Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanisms, and we have built a kinetic model considering the wide range of intermediates in the reaction network. Our results show that the mechanism to produce formic acid takes placeviaformate intermediate mostly on FeAsites, while methanol is formedviahydrocarboxyl intermediates on FeBsites. From the kinetic model, we have derived a reaction constant comparison and determined the limiting step rates. The overall process takes place under very mild conditions, requiring only a small energy input that might come from a chemiosmotic potential.
Retracted Article: Laser produced plasma diagnosis of carcinogenic heavy metals in gallstones
Authors: Gondal Mohammad A. , Shemis Mohamed A. , Khalil Ahmed A. I. , Nasr Mohamed M. , Gondal Bilal
Published: November 2015

Gall bladder cancer [GBC] is a highly fatal malignancy.
pH dependent synthesis of Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) coordination polymers with dicarboxyl-functionalized arylhydrazone of barbituric acid: photoluminescence properties and catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation
Authors: Karmakar Anirban , Paul Anup , Mahmudov Kamran T. , Guedes da Silva M. Fátima C. , Pombeiro Armando J. L.
Published: November 2015

Coordination polymers of Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) act as recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation reaction of aldehydes with malononitrile.
Aerosol construction of multi-shelled LiMn2O4hollow microspheres as a cathode in lithium ion batteries
Authors: Niu Xiaofeng , Li Yunfeng , Hu Yanjie , Jiang Hao , Hou Xiaoyu , Li Wenge , Qiu Shengjie , Li Chunzhong
Published: November 2015

Novel multi-shelled LiMn2O4hollow microspheres have been successfully prepared by a facile aerosol spray pyrolysis route through the controlled combustion of carbon species. These microspheres show a superior specific capacity and a good rate capacity in LIBs.
A ribbon-like ultramicroporous conjugated polycarbazole network for gas storage and separation
Authors: Qiao Shanlin , Wei Huan , Wang Ting , Huang Wei , Gu Chunyang , Yang Renqiang , Li Xiaoyun
Published: November 2015

Ribbon-like ultramicroporous conjugated polycarbazole network P-TCzTAT was synthesized having high BET surface area and narrow pore width distribution.
Synthesis, characterization and anti-diabetic assay of diorganotin(iv) azo-carboxylates: crystal structure and topological studies of azo-dicarboxylic acid ligand and its cyclic tetranuclear dimethyltin(iv) complex
Authors: Roy Manojit , Roy Subhadip , Singh Keisham Surjit , Kalita Janmoni , Singh S. Sureshkumar
Published: November 2015

Two novel cyclic tetranuclear and a cyclic dimeric diorganotin(iv) azo-dicarboxylates have been reported. The complexes exhibited effective anti-diabetic activity.
Hierarchically porous titanium phosphate monoliths and their crystallization behavior in ethylene glycol
Authors: Zhu Yang , Yoneda Koji , Kanamori Kazuyoshi , Takeda Kazuyuki , Kiyomura Tsutomu , Kurata Hiroki , Nakanishi Kazuki
Published: November 2015

A new hierarchically porous titanium phosphate monolithic material is synthesized via a sol–gel method and its crystallization in ethylene glycol is observed.
On the mineral core of ferritin-like proteins: structural and magnetic characterization
Authors: García-Prieto A. , Alonso J. , Muñoz D. , Marcano L. , Abad Díaz de Cerio A. , Fernández de Luis R. , Orue I. , Mathon O. , Muela A. , Fdez-Gubieda M. L.
Published: November 2015

We report a combined structural and magnetic study of the mineral core biomineralized by horse spleen ferritin and three prokaryotic ferritin-like proteins: bacterial ferritin and bacterioferritin from Escherichia coli and archaeal ferritin from Pyrococcus furiosus.
Rational design of hierarchically-structured CuBi2O4 composites by deliberate manipulation of the nucleation and growth kinetics of CuBi2O4 for environmental applications
Authors: Oh Wen-Da , Lua Shun-Kuang , Dong Zhili , Lim Teik-Thye
Published: November 2015

A versatile, eco-friendly synthesis scheme was developed to fabricate a series of hierarchically-structured CuBi2O4 composites for environmental applications.
Direct observation of structural and defect evolution in C-rich SiC using in situ helium ion microscopy
Authors: Liu Wen , Cheng Laifei , Li Xiaoqiang , Wang Yiguang
Published: November 2015

The microstructural effects of SiC swelling, mechanisms of He diffusion and aggregation in C-rich SiC are studied using an in situ helium ion microscope.
Functionalized graphene nanomaterials: new insight into direct exfoliation of graphite with supramolecular polymers
Authors: Cheng Chih-Chia , Chang Feng-Chih , Wang Jui-Hsu , Chen Jem-Kun , Yen Ying-Chieh , Lee Duu-Jong
Published: November 2015

Supramolecular polymers can be directly applied in the exfoliation of graphite due to the efficient interaction between the supramolecular microstructure and graphene.
Superior oxygen reduction electrocatalysis enabled by integrating hierarchical pores, Fe3C nanoparticles and bamboo-like carbon nanotubes
Authors: Yang Wenxiu , Yue Xiaoyu , Liu Xiangjian , Chen Lulu , Jia Jianbo , Guo Shaojun
Published: November 2015

More active Fe3C nanoparticles in the channels of bamboo-like carbon nanotubes with 3D hierarchical micro-, meso- and macropores for oxygen reduction.
Tunable doubly responsive UCST-type phosphonium poly(ionic liquid): a thermosensitive dispersant for carbon nanotubes
Authors: Biswas Yajnaseni , Maji Tanmoy , Dule Madhab , Mandal Tarun K.
Published: November 2015

Poly(triphenyl-4-vinylbenzylphosphonium chloride) synthesized via RAFT polymerization exhibits both tunable halide ion- and thermo-responsiveness (UCST-type) in aqueous solution and acts as a thermosensitive stabilizer for carbon nanotubes.
New unsaturated copolyesters based on 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and their crosslinked derivatives
Authors: Sousa A. F. , Fonseca A. C. , Serra A. C. , Freire C. S. R. , Silvestre A. J. D. , Coelho J. F. J.
Published: November 2015

The synthesis and characterisation of a novel family of unsaturated polyesters (UPs) and their crosslinked resins (UPRs), based on 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), are reported.
Synthesis of the 1,2,4-thiadiazole alkaloids polycarpathiamines A and B
Authors: Davison Emma K. , Sperry Jonathan
Published: November 2015

Synthesis of the 1,2,4-thiadiazole alkaloids polycarpathiamines A and B is described. The heteroaromatic core of the natural products was assembled using a one-pot benzylic oxidation–oxidative heterocyclization process.
NMR fingerprints, an integrated approach to uncover the unique components of the drug-like natural product metabolome of termite gut-associated Streptomyces species
Authors: Romero C. A. , Grkovic T. , Han J. , Zhang L. , French J. R. J. , Kurtböke D. I. , Quinn R. J.
Published: November 2015

A new NMR-based method to access to the unique components of the drug-like natural product metabolome of termite-gut associatedStreptomyces strainshas been developed.
Simultaneous reduction and nitrogen doping of graphite oxide by using electron beam irradiation
Authors: Kang M. , Lee D. H. , Yang J. , Kang Y.-M. , Jung H.
Published: November 2015

Nitrogen-doped graphenes were successfully obtained by electron beam irradiation from graphite oxide colloid solution in the presence of aqueous ammonia at room temperature under ambient conditions.
Luminescent hollow CaWO4microspheres: template-free synthesis, characterization and application in drug delivery
Authors: Tian Boshi , Wang Mengnan , Liu Chunxia , Liu Shaohua , Jin Lin , Yan Xiqing , Li Chunyang , Wang Zhenling
Published: November 2015

Luminescent hollow structural CaWO4microspheres prepared by a template-free method show a sustained-release property for IBU.
Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide supported poly(indole-5-carboxylic acid) nanocomposite for genosensing application
Authors: Zhang Wei
Published: November 2015

An ultrasensitive DNA electrochemical biosensing interface was developed for rapid determination of BCR/ABL fusion gene by employing ERGNO supported PICA.
Halogen-doping in LiCoO2 cathode materials for Li-ion batteries: insights from ab initio calculations
Authors: Li Guobao , Zhou Si , Wang Peng , Zhao Jijun
Published: November 2015

Using density functional theory calculations, we investigate the effects of halogen doping on the structural stability, electronic state, electrode potential, and Li diffusion behavior of LiCoO2 systems.
Expanded perlite: an inexpensive natural efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the green and highly accelerated solvent-free synthesis of 5-substituted-1H-tetrazoles using [bmim]N3 and nitriles
Authors: Jahanshahi Roya , Akhlaghinia Batool
Published: November 2015

A versatile, green and highly accelerated protocol for preparing 5-substituted-1H-tetrazoles is reported using expanded perlite as a heterogeneous catalyst.
Zero valent iron particles impregnated zeolite X composites for adsorption of tetracycline in aquatic environment
Authors: Liu Minmin , An Dong , Hou Li-an , Yu Shuili , Zhu Yongqiang
Published: November 2015

Various weight percentages of zero valent iron particles (NZVI) were impregnated into the framework of zeolite X to synthesize a series of novel magnetic zeolites (n)FeX.
Sol–gel synthesis of ZrO2–SiO2 catalysts for the transformation of bioethanol and acetaldehyde into 1,3-butadiene
Authors: Han Zheng , Li Xiang , Zhang Minhua , Liu Zongzhang , Gao Meixiang
Published: November 2015

The sol-gel synthesized catalysts showed significantly higher selectivity for 1,3-butadiene (69.7%), at a high WHSV of 1.8 h−1.
Microwave assisted rapid conversion of fructose into 5-HMF over solid acid catalysts
Authors: Wang Jie , Qu Ting , Liang Minsi , Zhao Zhenbo
Published: November 2015

Microwave assisted efficient conversion of fructose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over solid acid catalysts in a very short reaction time.
Tunable morphologies of indium tin oxide nanostructures using nanocellulose templates
Authors: Lu Yuan , Poole II Joseph E. , Aytug Tolga , Meyer III Harry M. , Ozcan Soydan
Published: November 2015

Nanocellulose fibrils have been used as sacrificial templates for synthesizing ITO nanoparticles with controllable morphology.
A data mining approach to study the impact of the methodology followed in chemistry lab classes on the weight attributed by the students to the lab work on learning and motivation
Authors: Figueiredo M. , Esteves L. , Neves J. , Vicente H.
Published: November 2015

This study reports the use of data mining tools in order to examine the influence of the methodology used in chemistry lab classes, on the weight attributed by the students to the lab work on learning and own motivation. The answer frequency analysis was unable to discriminate the opinions expressed by the respondents according to the type of the teaching methodology used in the lab classes. Conversely, the data mining approach usingk-means clustering models, allowed a deeper analysis of the results,i.e., enabled one to identify the methodology to teach chemistry that, in students' opinion, is important for learning chemistry and increasing their motivation. The sample comprised 3447 students of Portuguese Secondary Schools (1736 in the 10th grade; 1711 in the 11th grade). Thek-means Clustering Method was used, withkvalues ranging between 2 and 4. The main strengths of this study are the methodological approach for data analysis and the fact that the sample was formed by students with different school careers that enables the use of the individual as the unit of analysis.
Deciphering the mode of action of the processive polysaccharide modifying enzyme dermatan sulfate epimerase 1 by hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry
Authors: Tykesson Emil , Mao Yang , Maccarana Marco , Pu Yi , Gao Jinshan , Lin Cheng , Zaia Joseph , Westergren-Thorsson Gunilla , Ellervik Ulf , Malmström Lars , Malmström Anders
Published: November 2015

DS-epi1 is a processive enzyme that sequentially epimerizes polysaccharide substrate towards the non-reducing end.
Hierarchical architecture of bacterial cellulose and composite plant cell wall polysaccharide hydrogels using small angle neutron scattering
Authors: Martínez-Sanz Marta , Gidley Michael J. , Gilbert Elliot P.
Published: November 2015

SANS data of bacterial cellulose and its composites with plant cell wall polysaccharides can be described by a core–shell model which accounts for the distinct solvent accessibility to the ribbons' inner/outer regions.
Durable and scalable icephobic surfaces: similarities and distinctions from superhydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Sojoudi H. , Wang M. , Boscher N. D. , McKinley G. H. , Gleason K. K.
Published: November 2015

Formation, adhesion, and accumulation of ice, snow, frost, glaze, rime, or their mixtures can cause severe problems for solar panels, wind turbines, aircrafts, heat pumps, power lines, telecommunication equipment, and submarines.
Relaxation dynamics of functionalized colloids on attractive substrates
Authors: Dias C. S. , Braga C. , Araújo N. A. M. , Telo da Gama M. M.
Published: November 2015

Particle-based simulations are performed to study the post-relaxation dynamics of functionalized (patchy) colloids adsorbed on an attractive substrate.
Visible-light-driven photocatalytic bacterial inactivation and the mechanism of zinc oxysulfide under LED light irradiation
Authors: Wu Dan , Wang Wei , Ng Tsz Wai , Huang Guocheng , Xia Dehua , Yip Ho Yin , Lee Hung Kay , Li Guiying , An Taicheng , Wong Po Keung
Published: November 2015

Zinc oxysulfide (ZnO0.6S0.4) nanoparticles were prepared and used as an effective visible-light-driven (VLD) photocatalyst for the inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12 for the first time.
High efficiency aqueous-processed MEH-PPV/CdTe hybrid solar cells with a PCE of 4.20%
Authors: Liu Fangyuan , Chen Zhaolai , Du Xiaohang , Zeng Qingsen , Ji Tianjiao , Cheng Zhongkai , Jin Gan , Yang Bai
Published: November 2015

Aqueous-processed MEH-PPV/CdTe hybrid solar cells are firstly fabricated. A PCE of 4.20% is achieved. The nanoscale morphology of MEH-PPV/CdTe HSCs which impacts charge transfer and transport is deeply investigated. It is an important approach for efficient solution-processed MEH-PPV/nanocrystal hybrid solar cells.
Vertical SnO2 nanosheet@SiC nanofibers with hierarchical architecture for high-performance gas sensors
Authors: Wang Bing , Wang Yingde , Lei Yongpeng , Xie Song , Wu Nan , Gou Yanzi , Han Cheng , Shi Qi , Fang Dong
Published: November 2015

The SnO2 NS@SiC NF sensor shows an ultrafast response/recovery rate, high sensitivity, excellent reproducibility, good sensing selectivity and outstanding long-term stability toward ethanol, even at high temperature.
Self‐judgement flip coding for resistive random access memory
Authors: Xiang Zhongyuan , Zhang Feng
Published: November 2015

A novel low‐energy write scheme, self‐judgement flip coding (SJFC), for resistive random access memory (RRAM) is proposed. Lots of energy will be consumed in the write process of RRAM, especially in the reset process. Owing to RRAM being sensitive to heat, excessive heat accumulation will lead to thermal crosstalk. Through reading original data, SJFC analyses and computes the Joule heat produced in the write data flow and further judges whether to make flip coding on the write data flow. The result is that between the original write data flow and flip coding data flow, the one producing lesser energy will be transmitted to the write circuit to produce lesser energy in the RRAM write process. The stimulation result shows that SJFC could reduce energy consumption by 39% on average in the write process.
FPGA implementation of a high‐speed, real‐time, windowed standard deviation filter
Authors: Herbert J. , Wilson S. , Rakic A.D. , Taimre T.
Published: November 2015

Characterisation of the standard deviation of a time‐series signal has uncommon, yet widespread applications. The usual requirement for a representation of signal standard deviation in real‐time implies a high computation speed. A method based on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation is presented. The technique is benchmarked against conventional computational approaches and shows a single windowed standard deviation update calculation of a 16 bit sample can be achieved in 11 ns on a modern CPU. The FPGA implementation is found to be superior to all other approaches examined with an operation time of below 10 ns, and thus provides a useful tool for the real‐time measurement of the standard deviation of signals above 100 MHz.
Dynamic range rules in sensor acquisition chains
Authors: Tartagni M. , Crescentini M.
Published: November 2015

How dynamic ranges (DRs) of single stages are combined together in a sensor acquisition chain are shown. This is a key feature in sensor design, since it shows a simple way to understand how and where the DR has been enhanced or deteriorated along the chain. The relationship devised is applicable to any kind of transducing processes such as the mechanical one as implemented by micro‐ and nano‐electro‐mechanical devices.
Improved MDL method for estimation of source number at subarray level
Authors: Yang Xiaopeng , Li Shuai , Hu Xiaona , Zeng Tao
Published: November 2015

The eigenvalue‐based minimum description length (MDL) method for source number estimation is widely applied in practical scenarios. However, the performance of the MDL method degrades significantly when it is applied to an asymmetrical subarray situation due to the inequality of the noise power of each channel. Therefore, an improved MDL method for subarray level is proposed by normalising noise power to reconstruct the received signal covariance matrix. Simulation results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional source number estimation methods for a subarray situation.
Energy‐efficient adaptive optical character recognition for wearable devices
Authors: Son Seungjoo , So Hyun , Kim Joondong , Choi Dongkeon , Lee Hyuk‐Jun
Published: November 2015

As the computing power of mobile/wearable devices increases, computation‐intensive real‐time optical character recognition (OCR) becomes feasible for high‐resolution images. Developing mobile/wearable OCR applications is challenging because they should perform highly accurate OCR within users' tolerable waiting time and achieve low energy consumption. An adaptive power management scheme is presented that predicts the execution time for OCR and minimises its energy consumption via dynamic voltage and frequency scaling while meeting its time constraint. Tesseract, a popular open source OCR engine, is used to verify the proposed scheme. The experimental results show up to 48.25% reduction in energy consumption (with an average reduction of 34.53%).
Coupling capacitance in through‐silicon vias: non‐homogeneous medium effect
Authors: Ramadan T. , Yahya E. , Ismail Y. , Dessouky M.
Published: November 2015

To extract the coupling capacitance between any two neighbouring through‐silicon vias (TSVs) in three‐dimensional integrated circuits, most publications use the relation between the inductance matrix and the capacitance matrix (per unit length). However, this relation is based on a homogeneous surrounding medium assumption. It is shown that the previous assumption is inaccurate due to the fact that each TSV is actually surrounded by a non‐homogeneous medium (silicon and silicon dioxide materials). The theory behind this claim is provided and validated using ANSYS Q3D. The percentage error in coupling capacitance between the Q3D extraction results and the homogeneous medium model results can reach 70%.
Identifying the dominant interstitial complex in dilute GaAsN alloys
Authors: Jen T. , Vardar G. , Wang Y. Q. , Goldman R. S.
Published: November 2015

Significant composition-dependent incorporation of N into non-substitutional sites is often reported for dilute GaAsN alloys. To distinguish (N-N)As, (N-As)As, and (AsGa-NAs) complexes, we compare Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) spectra with Monte Carlo-Molecular Dynamics simulations along the [100], [110], and [111] directions. For the Monte Carlo simulation, we assume that (N-N)As is aligned along the [111] direction, while (N-As)As is aligned along the [010] direction. The measured channeling NRA spectra exhibit the highest (lowest) yield in the [111] ([100]) directions. Similar trends are observed for simulations of (N-As)As, suggesting that (N-As)As is the dominant interstitial complex in dilute GaAsN.