bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tracer-based analysis of spatial and temporal variations of water sources in a glacierized catchment
Authors: Penna D. , Engel M. , Mao L. , Dell'Agnese A. , Bertoldi G. , Comiti F.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. Snow-dominated and glacierized catchments are important sources of fresh water for biological communities and for populations living in mountain valleys. Gaining a better understanding of the runoff origin and of the hydrological interactions between meltwater, streamflow and groundwater is critical for natural risk assessment and mitigation as well as for effective water resource management in mountain regions. This study is based on the use of stable isotopes of water and electrical conductivity as tracers to identify the water sources for runoff and groundwater and their seasonal variability in a glacierized catchment in the Italian Alps. Samples were collected from rainfall, snow, snowmelt, ice melt, spring and stream water (from the main stream at different locations and from selected tributaries) in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The tracer-based mixing analysis revealed that, overall, snowmelt and glacier melt were the most important end-members for stream runoff during late spring, summer and early fall. The temporal variability of the tracer concentration suggested that stream water was dominated by snowmelt at the beginning of the melting season (May–June), by a mixture of snowmelt and glacier melt during mid-summer (July–early August), and by glacier melt during the end of the summer (end of August–September). The same seasonal pattern observed in streamflow was also evident for groundwater, with the highest electrical conductivity and least negative isotopic values found during cold or relatively less warm periods, when the melt of snowpack and ice was limited. Particularly, the application of a two-component mixing model to data from different springs showed that the snowmelt contribution to groundwater recharge varied between 21% (±3%) and 93% (±1%) over the season, and the overall contribution during the three study years ranged between 58% (±24%) and 72% (±19%). These results provided new insights into the isotopic characterization of the study catchment presenting further understanding of the spatio-temporal variability of the main water sources contributing to runoff.
Factors affecting flood insurance purchase in residential properties in Johor, Malaysia
Authors: Aliagha U. G. , Jin T. E. , Choong W. W. , Nadzri Jaafar M. , Ali H. M.
Published: December 2014

Abstract. High-impact floods have become a virtually annual experience in Malaysia, yet flood insurance has remained a grossly neglected part of comprehensive integrated flood risk management. Using discriminant analysis, this study seeks to identify the demand-side variables that best predict flood insurance purchase and risk aversion between two groups of residential homeowners in three districts of Johor State, Malaysia: those who purchased flood insurance and those who did not. Our results revealed an overall 34% purchase rate, with Kota Tinggi district having the highest (44%) and thus the highest degree of flood risk aversion. The Wilks' lambda F test for equality of group means, standardised discriminant function coefficients, structure correlation, and canonical correlation has clearly shown that there are strong significant attribute differences between the two groups of homeowners, based on the measures of objective flood risk exposure, subjective risk perception, and socio-economic cum demographic variables. However, the measures of subjective risk perception were found to be more predictive of flood insurance purchase and flood risk aversion.
Buried object detection by means of a Lp Banach‐space inversion procedure
Authors: Estatico Claudio , Fedeli Alessandro , Pastorino Matteo , Randazzo Andrea
Published: December 2014

Electromagnetic inspection techniques are becoming powerful tools for buried object detection and subsurface prospection in several applicative fields, such as civil engineering and archeology. However, the nonlinearity and ill‐posedness of the underlying inverse problem make the development of efficient imaging techniques a very challenging task. In the present paper, an algorithm based on a regularizing approach in Lp Banach spaces is proposed for tackling such problems. The effectiveness of the approach is verified by means of numerical simulations in a noisy environment aimed at evaluating the reconstruction capabilities with respect to the choice of several model parameters. The reported results show that, for small targets, the use of Lp Banach spaces with 1 < p < 2 allows to obtain a better localization of different buried scatterers.
MRI/SPECT/Fluorescent Tri‐Modal Probe for Evaluating the Homing and Therapeutic Efficacy of Transplanted Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Rat Ischemic Stroke Model
Authors: Tang Yaohui , Zhang Chunfu , Wang Jixian , Lin Xiaojie , Zhang Lu , Yang Yi , Wang Yongting , Zhang Zhijun , Bulte Jeff W. M. , Yang Guo‐Yuan
Published: December 2014

Quantitatively tracking engraftment of intracerebrally or intravenously transplanted stem cells and evaluating their concomitant therapeutic efficacy for stroke has been a challenge in the field of stem cell therapy. In this study, first, an MRI/SPECT/fluorescent tri‐modal probe (125I‐fSiO4@SPIOs) is synthesized for quantitatively tracking mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplanted intracerebrally or intravenously into stroke rats, and then the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs delivered by both routes and the possible mechanism of the therapy are evaluated. It is demonstrated that (125)I‐fSiO4@SPIOs have high efficiency for labeling MSCs without affecting their viability, differentiation, and proliferation capacity , and found that 35% of intracerebrally injected MSCs migrate along the corpus callosum to the lesion area, while 90% of intravenously injected MSCs remain trapped in the lung at 14 days after MSC transplantation. However, neurobehavioral outcomes are significantly improved in both transplantation groups, which are accompanied by increases of vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases‐3 in blood, lung, and brain tissue (p < 0.05). The study demonstrates that 125I‐fSiO4@SPIOs are robust probe for long‐term tracking of MSCs in the treatment of ischemic brain and MSCs delivered via both routes improve neurobehavioral outcomes in ischemic rats.
Rastertunnelspektroskopisch gesteuertes Design maßgeschneiderter tiefblauer Triplettemitter
Authors: Sanning Jan , Ewen Pascal R. , Stegemann Linda , Schmidt Judith , Daniliuc Constantin G. , Koch Tobias , Doltsinis Nikos L. , Wegner Daniel , Strassert Cristian A.
Published: December 2014

Wir zeigen, dass Molekülorbitale visualisiert und selektiv beeinflusst werden können, um blau phosphoreszierende Metallkomplexe zu erzeugen. Hierzu werden die HOMOs und LUMOs von PtII‐Komplexen mit dreizähnigen Liganden mittels Rastertunnelmikroskopie und ‐spektroskopie vermessen. Das Einfügen von elektronenziehenden oder ‐schiebenden Seitengruppen ermöglicht das unabhängige Einstellen von Orbitalenergien. Wesentlich ist, dass die Energielücken mit den gemessenen und berechneten emittierenden Triplettzuständen und den experimentellen Emissionsspektren korrelieren. Dieses Zusammenspiel zwischen Synthese, Mikroskopie und Spektroskopie ermöglicht uns, tiefblaue Triplettemitter zu entwerfen. Das Erkennen und Einstellen der elektronischen “Stellschrauben” auf molekularer Ebene öffnet einen Weg zum rationalen Design von optoelektronischen Materialien mit maßgeschneiderten Energien der angeregten Zustände und definierten Orbitaleigenschaften.
Dendritische Nanostrukturen zur rezeptorvermittelten Aufnahme von siRNA in neurale Zellen
Authors: Brunner Korbinian , Harder Johannes , Halbach Tobias , Willibald Julian , Spada Fabio , Gnerlich Felix , Sparrer Konstantin , Beil Andreas , Möckl Leonhard , Bräuchle Christoph , Conzelmann Karl‐Klaus , Carell Thomas
Published: December 2014

Wir berichten über die Entwicklung von dendritischen siRNA‐Nanostrukturen, die das Einbringen von siRNA in schwierig zu transfizierende Zellen wie Neuronen mithilfe eines speziellen Rezeptorliganden ermöglichen. Die Nanopartikel rufen trotz ihrer dendritischen Struktur eine starke siRNA‐Antwort hervor. Durch siRNA‐Dendrimere gegen das Nukleoprotein (N‐Protein) und das Phosphoprotein (P‐Protein), zwei Schlüsselproteine des Tollwutvirus (RABV), konnte der Virustiter in Neuronen unter die Nachweisgrenze gesenkt werden. Die mithilfe von Klick‐Chemie aufgebauten siRNA‐Dendrimere weisen den Weg für eine neuartige Heilungsmöglichkeit dieser tödlichen Krankheit.
An Accurate Molecular Structure of Phenyl, the Simplest Aryl Radical
Authors: Martinez Oscar , Crabtree Kyle N. , Gottlieb Carl A. , Stanton John F. , McCarthy Michael C.
Published: December 2014

The phenyl radical (C6H5.) is the prototypical σ‐type aryl radical and one of the most common aromatic building blocks for larger ring molecules. Using a combination of rotational spectroscopy of singly substituted isotopic species and vibrational corrections calculated theoretically, an extremely accurate molecular structure has been determined. Relative to benzene, the phenyl radical has a substantially larger C‐Cipso‐C bond angle [125.8(3)° vs. 120°], and a shorter distance [2.713(3) Å vs. 2.783(2) Å] between the ipso and para carbon atoms.
β‐CuN3: The Overlooked Ground‐State Polymorph of Copper Azide with Heterographene‐Like Layers
Authors: Liu Xiaohui , George Janine , Maintz Stefan , Dronskowski Richard
Published: December 2014

An unexpected polymorph of the highly energetic phase CuN3 has been synthesized and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with a=3.3635(7), b=10.669(2), c=5.5547(11) Å and V=199.34(7) Å3. The layered structure resembles graphite with an interlayer distance of 2.777(1) Å (=1/2 c). Within a single layer, considering N3− as one structural unit, there are 10‐membered almost hexagonal rings with a heterographene‐like motif. Copper and nitrogen atoms are covalently bonded with CuN bonds lengths of 1.91 and 2.00 Å, and the N3− group is linear but with NN 1.14 and 1.20 Å. Electronic‐structure calculations and experimental thermochemistry show that the new polymorph termed β‐CuN3 is more stable than the established α‐CuN3 phase. Also, β‐CuN3 is dynamically, and thus thermochemically, metastable according to the calculated phonon density of states. In addition, β‐CuN3 exhibits negative thermal expansion within the graphene‐like layer.
Two‐dimensional modeling of polymer wet spinning: The effects of mass transfer dynamics on structural properties
Authors: Zerze Hasan , McHugh Anthony J.
Published: December 2014

In this work, a two‐dimensional model of polymer wet spinning that couples simultaneous momentum and energy transport with ternary diffusion and phase separation processes is presented and its predictions for a model system are discussed. The uniqueness of the model lies in its two‐phase nature and ability to predict important characteristics of the wet spinning process, such as the locking‐in of axial velocity, mass transfer behavior, and internal structure formation along the spinline. The model predicts growth of the two‐phase gel that forms and the porous fractions within it, along with the compositions of the polymer‐rich and solvent‐nonsolvent‐rich phases. The appearance of a skin‐core structure that depends on the system and operating conditions is also predicted. These features are demonstrated through analyses of the isothermal wet spinning of poly(acrylonitrile) solutions in dimethlysulfoxide using two different nonsolvent coagulants, water and ethanol. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41772.
Effect of glass fiber on the electrical resistivities of polyoxymethylene/maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites
Authors: Zhang Bo‐Yuan , Xu Ling , Guo Zhao‐Xia , Yu Jian , Nagai Satoshi
Published: December 2014

The effect of glass fiber (GF) on the electrical resistivities of polyoxymethylene (POM)/maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene (MAPE)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites is investigated. The POM/MAPE/MWCNT composites at a MWCNT loading of 0.75% are nonconductive because most of MWCNTs are isolated in the MAPE islands, and their electrical resistivities decrease significantly after the addition of GF because of the formation of MAPE‐coated GF structure, which facilitates the formation of conductive paths and was confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The formation of MAPE‐coated GF structure is attributed to the interaction between GF and MAPE during melt compounding, as contrasted by the uncoated GF using high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) instead of MAPE. Nonconductive POM/5–20% MAPE/0.75% MWCNT composites become conductive upon the addition of 20% GF. This preparation method for conductive materials can be generalized to POM/5–20% maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (MAPP)/0.75% MWCNT composites. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41794.
Achieving Single‐Nucleotide Resolution of 5‐Methylcytosine Detection with TALEs
Authors: Kubik Grzegorz , Summerer Daniel
Published: December 2014

We report engineered transcription‐activator‐like effectors (TALEs) as the first DNA‐binding molecules that detect 5‐methylcytosine (mC) at single‐nucleotide resolution with fully programmable sequence selectivity. This is achieved by a design strategy such that a single cytosine (C) in a DNA sequence is selectively interrogated for its mC‐modification level by targeting with a discriminatory TALE repeat; other Cs are ignored by targeting with universal‐binding TALE repeats.
Ultrasonic Electrochemical Reaction on Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrodes: Reaction Pathway and Mechanism
Authors: Zhao Hongying , Wei Guangfeng , Gao Junxia , Liu Zhipan , Zhao Guohua
Published: December 2014

An ultrasound‐enhanced electrochemical oxidation process with boron‐doped diamond anodes is adopted and used for removing bisphenol A. The reaction activity and mechanism is evaluated and explained through experimental and theoretical methods. The structure and stability of the anode surface are illustrated and the electrochemical oxidation channels leading to ⋅OH formation are proposed using density functional calculations. Ultrasound increases the diffusion and mass transfer of ⋅OH at a high working potential (i.e., 3.0 V), while enhancing the collision frequency between organic pollutants and *O radicals at low working potentials (i.e., 1.7 V). The main intermediates determined by HPLC are hydroquinone, maleic and oxalic acids in both processes, suggesting the same degradation pathway even with ultrasound.
Combined Experimental and Computational Investigations of Rhodium‐Catalysed CH Functionalisation of Pyrazoles with Alkenes
Authors: Algarra Andrés G. , Davies David L. , Khamker Qudsia , Macgregor Stuart A. , McMullin Claire L. , Singh Kuldip , Villa‐Marcos Barbara
Published: December 2014

Detailed experimental and computational studies have been carried out on the oxidative coupling of the alkenes C2H3Y (Y=CO2Me (a), Ph (b), C(O)Me (c)) with 3‐aryl‐5‐R‐pyrazoles (R=Me (1 a), Ph (1 b), CF3 (1 c)) using a [Rh(MeCN)3Cp*][PF6]2/Cu(OAc)2⋅H2O catalyst system. In the reaction of methyl acrylate with 1 a, up to five products (2 aa–6 aa) were formed, including the trans monovinyl product, either complexed within a novel CuI dimer (2 aa) or as the free species (3 aa), and a divinyl species (6 aa); both 3 aa and 6 aa underwent cyclisation by an aza‐Michael reaction to give fused heterocycles 4 aa and 5 aa, respectively. With styrene, only trans mono‐ and divinylation products were observed, whereas with methyl vinyl ketone, a stronger Michael acceptor, only cyclised oxidative coupling products were formed. Density functional theory calculations were performed to characterise the different migratory insertion and β‐H transfer steps implicated in the reactions of 1 a with methyl acrylate and styrene. The calculations showed a clear kinetic preference for 2,1‐insertion and the formation of trans vinyl products, consistent with the experimental results.
Pressure‐Accelerated Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition: Micro Capillary versus Autoclave Reactor Performance
Authors: Borukhova Svetlana , Seeger Andreas D. , Noël Timothy , Wang Qi , Busch Markus , Hessel Volker
Published: December 2014

Pressure effects on regioselectivity and yield of cycloaddition reactions have been shown to exist. Nevertheless, high pressure synthetic applications with subsequent benefits in the production of natural products are limited by the general availability of the equipment. In addition, the virtues and limitations of microflow equipment under standard conditions are well established. Herein, we apply novel‐process‐window (NPWs) principles, such as intensification of intrinsic kinetics of a reaction using high temperature, pressure, and concentration, on azide–alkyne cycloaddition towards synthesis of Rufinamide precursor. We applied three main activation methods (i.e., uncatalyzed batch, uncatalyzed flow, and catalyzed flow) on uncatalyzed and catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition. We compare the performance of two reactors, a specialized autoclave batch reactor for high‐pressure operation up to 1800 bar and a capillary flow reactor (up to 400 bar). A differentiated and comprehensive picture is given for the two reactors and the three methods of activation. Reaction speedup and consequent increases in space–time yields is achieved, while the process window for favorable operation to selectively produce Rufinamide precursor in good yields is widened. The best conditions thus determined are applied to several azide–alkyne cycloadditions to widen the scope of the presented methodology.
Strongly singular and hypersingular integrals for aeroacoustic incident fields
Authors: Croaker P. , Kessissoglou N. , Marburg S.
Published: December 2014

Using the Burton and Miller formulation to predict the scattering of flow‐induced noise by a body immersed in the flow requires the near‐field pressure and pressure gradient incident on the body. In this paper, Lighthill's acoustic analogy is used to derive formulations for the near‐field pressure and pressure gradient at any point within the flow noise source region, including points on the body. These near‐field formulations involve strongly singular and hypersingular volume and surface integrals. To evaluate these singular integrals, an effective singularity regularization technique is derived. An analytical source distribution is used to demonstrate the accuracy of the method. A cell‐averaged representation of this analytical source distribution, similar to the data stored by computational fluid dynamics solvers, is also created. A piecewise linear, continuous source distribution is generated from these cell‐average values, producing a C0 distribution. A k‐exact reconstruction technique is then used to create high‐order polynomials of the solution variables for each volume cell. These high‐order polynomials are constructed from its cell average value and the average values of the nearby cells. The source distribution created using the k‐exact reconstruction is discontinuous across cell boundaries but exhibits a smooth polynomial distribution within each cell. The near‐field pressure and pressure gradient predicted using these reconstructed source distributions are compared with the results obtained using the analytical distribution. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Targeting of Intravenous Polymeric Nanoparticles by Differential Protein Adsorption
Authors: Staufenbiel Sven , Weise Christoph , Müller Rainer H.
Published: December 2014

The organ distribution of intravenously injected nanoparticles is determined by the composition of the blood protein adsorption pattern occurring after injection. This is exploited in the concept of “differential protein adsorption” for drug targeting, which is briefly discussed. The surface properties of the nanoparticles determine the adsorption patterns, by controlling the surface properties one can generate adsorption patterns required for achieving the desired organ distribution. The efficiency of this principle is shown by reviewing different organ distributions achieved using various polymeric nanoparticles with different surface properties. Surface modification can be obtained by polymer adsorption and can create nanoparticles circulating in the blood, or accumulating in targets such as bone marrow and brain. The protein adsorption patterns were analyzed using two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D PAGE). Here, adsorption patterns of dendritic polymer nanoparticles were investigated, where the used polymer was dendritic polyglycerol sulfate. They showed reduced opsonization and preferential adsorption of apolipoprotein A‐I with brain targeting potential. In perspective, the principle of surface property modification by polymer/stabilizer adsorption can be transferred to intravenous drug nanocrystals. A hybrid system of nanocrystal and polymeric nanoparticles is suggested, the polymeric nanoparticle with nanocrystal core.
Preparation of Magneto‐Sensitive Polymer Nanocomposite Microparticles from Copolyesterurethanes via Electrospraying
Authors: Zhang Quanchao , Sauter Tilman , Wang Li , Fang Liang , Kratz Karl , Lendlein Andreas
Published: December 2014

Small stimuli‐responsive magneto‐sensitive microparticles (<5 μm) have attracted broad interest for biomedical applications, since they can be delivered minimal‐invasively (e.g. via injection) and guided to a specific site or organ, while using their magnetic properties. In addition, such particles can be remotely heated, e.g., for hyperthermia therapy approaches. In this study, we prepared magneto‐sensitive polymer‐based nanocomposite microparticles by electrospraying of a 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro‐2‐propanol solution containing a mixture of a copolyetheresterurethane (PDC) and magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MNPs). Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed a weight content of 23 ± 0.5 wt‐% MNPs in the PDC magneto‐sensitive nanocomposite microparticles, which was identical with the initial starting composition. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated a bimodal particle size distribution for the prepared magneto‐sensitive nanocomposite microparticles around 1.2 ± 0.3 μm and 400 ± 100 nm, respectively. Decreasing the size of the magneto‐sensitive nanocomposite microparticles resulted in an increase in their reduced modulus, which was obtained via nanoindentation testing. The PDC magneto‐sensitive nanocomposite microparticles could be successfully manipulated in dispersion medium suspension with a permanent magnet, demonstrating their magneto‐sensitivity. In addition, the inductive heating capability of the microparticulate nanocomposites could be demonstrated for a thin compression molded test specimen, which could be heated to 44 °C in an alternating magnetic field. The results indicated that such magneto‐sensitive nanocomposite microparticles can be potentially used as magneto‐responsive shape‐memory microparticles for on‐demand and remotely controlled drug delivery.
Job-Related Well-Being Through the Great Recession
Authors: Green Francis , Felstead Alan , Gallie Duncan , Inanc Hande
Published: December 2014

We study how job-related well-being (measured by Warr’s ‘Enthusiasm’ and ‘Contentment’ scales) altered through the Great Recession, and how this is related to changing job quality. Using nationally representative data for Britain, we find that job-related well-being was stable between 2001 and 2006, but then declined between 2006 and 2012. We report relevant changes in job quality. In modelling the determinants of job-related well-being, we confirm several previously-studied hypotheses and present some new findings: downsizing, work re-organisation, decreased choice, and linking pay to organisational performance each reduce well-being; indicators of skills challenge in jobs have more of a positive association with Enthusiasm than with Contentment, while effort has a more negative association with Contentment than with Enthusiasm. Our estimates are largely orthogonal to the effects of personality traits and demographic controls on well-being. Using a standard decomposition, we find that the 2006–2012 fall in job-related well-being is partly accounted for by accelerations in the pace of workplace change, rising job insecurity, increased effort and changing participation.
Lässt sich körperliche Bestrafung durch ein Elterntraining reduzieren?
Authors: Kliem Sören , Foran Heather , Hahlweg Kurt
Published: December 2014

Körperliche Bestrafung ist in Deutschland keine Randerscheinung und mit einer Vielzahl von negativen Folgen für die leidtragenden Kinder verbunden. Mangelnde erzieherische Fähigkeiten gelten hierbei als ein bedeutender Risikofaktor für physische Disziplinarmaßnahmen. Demnach erscheinen Elterntrainings als sinnvolle Maßnahme zur Reduzierung der Prävalenz körperlicher Strafen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht, ob sich durch das Elterntraining Positive Parenting Program von Sanders (Triple P; 2012 ) die Häufigkeit körperlicher Bestrafung im Rahmen einer universellen Präventionsmaßnahme reduzieren lässt. Es wurden die Angaben von 279 Müttern im Rahmen einer 3-Jahres-Längsschnittuntersuchung aus einem randomisierten Kontrollgruppen-Design ausgewertet. Eine Analyse mittels latenter Wachstumskurvenmodelle ergab für die Selbsteinschätzung der Mütter einen signifikanten Rückgang der Häufigkeit von Körperstrafen bei kleiner Effektstärke. Da körperliche Strafen, neben einer Vielzahl negativer Entwicklungskonsequenzen, auch mit späterer Kindesmisshandlung im Zusammenhang stehen, erscheint dieser Befund relevant und vielversprechend.
The switching role of β-adrenergic receptor signalling in cell survival or death decision of cardiomyocytes
Authors: Shin Sung-Young , Kim Taeyong , Lee Ho-Sung , Kang Jun Hyuk , Lee Ji Young , Cho Kwang-Hyun , Kim Do Han
Published: December 2014

How cell fate (survival or death) is determined and whether such determination depends on the strength of stimulation has remained unclear. In this study, we discover that the cell fate of cardiomyocytes switches from survival to death with the increase of β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation. Mathematical simulations combined with biochemical experimentation of β-AR signalling pathways show that the gradual increment of isoproterenol (a non-selective β1/β2-AR agonist) induces the switching response of Bcl-2 expression from the initial increase followed by a decrease below its basal level. The ERK1/2 and ICER-mediated feed-forward loop is the hidden design principle underlying such cell fate switching characteristics. Moreover, we find that β1-blocker treatment increases the survival effect of β-AR stimuli through the regulation of Bcl-2 expression leading to the resistance to cell death, providing new insight into the mechanism of therapeutic effects. Our systems analysis further suggests a novel potential therapeutic strategy for heart disease.
Prediction of Metabolic Interactions With Oxycodone via CYP2D6 and CYP3A Inhibition Using a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model
Authors: Marsousi N , Daali Y , Rudaz S , Almond L , Humphries H , Desmeules J , Samer C F
Published: December 2014

Evaluation of a potential risk of metabolic drug–drug interactions (DDI) is of high importance in the clinical setting. In this study, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed for oxycodone and its two primary metabolites, oxymorphone and noroxycodone, in order to assess different DDI scenarios using published in vitro and in vivo data. Once developed and refined, the model was able to simulate pharmacokinetics of the three compounds and the DDI extent in case of coadministration with an inhibitor, as well as the oxymorphone concentration variation between CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers (EM) and poor metabolizers (PM). The reliability of the model was tested against published clinical studies monitoring different inhibitors and dose regimens, and all predicted area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) ratios were within the twofold acceptance range. This approach represents a strategy to evaluate the impact of coadministration of different CYP inhibitors using mechanistic incorporation of drug‐dependent and system‐dependent available in vitro and in vivo data.

CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmacol. (2014) 3, e152; doi:10.1038/psp.2014.49; published online 17 December 2014
Infrared imaging of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line phenotypes in 2D and 3D cultures
Authors: Smolina Margarita , Goormaghtigh Erik
Published: December 2014

Breast cancer cell lines in 2D (top) and 3D (bottom) culture: H&H, unstained bright field, and IR images.
Role of oxygen vacancies in the surface evolution of H at CeO2(111): a charge modification effect
Authors: Wu Xin-Ping , Gong Xue-Qing , Lu Guanzhong
Published: December 2014

Diffusion processes and reactions of H at stoichiometric and reduced CeO2(111) surfaces have been studied by using density functional theory calculations corrected by on-site Coulomb interactions (DFT + U).
Luminescent Pt(ii) complexes bearing dual isoquinolinyl pyrazolates: fundamentals and applications
Authors: Ku Hsiao-Yun , Tong Bihai , Chi Yun , Kao Hao-Che , Yeh Chia-Chi , Chang Chih-Hao , Lee Gene-Hsiang
Published: December 2014

Pt(ii) complex [Pt(Lx)2], LxH = 6-t-butyl-1-(3-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl) isoquinoline, with three colored morphologies can be interconverted by grinding and/or wetting with solvents.
Changing the magnetic properties of microstructure by directing the self-assembly of superparamagnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Ghosh Suvojit , Puri Ishwar K.
Published: December 2014

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in a liquid dispersion can be organized through controlled self-assembly by applying an external magnetic field that regulates inter-particle interactions. Thus, micro- and nanostructures of desired morphology and superlattice geometry that show emergent magnetic properties can be fabricated. We describe how superferromagnetism, which is a specific type of emergence, can be produced. Here, superparamagnetic nanoparticles that show no individual residual magnetization are organized into structures with substantial residual magnetization that behave as miniature permanent magnets. We investigate the emergence of superferromagnetism in an idealized system consisting of two MNPs, by considering the influence that interparticle magnetostatic interactions have on the dynamics of the magnetic moments. We use this model to illustrate the design principles for self-assembly in terms of the choice of material and MNP particle size. We simulate the dynamics of the interacting magnetic moments by applying the stochastic Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation to verify our principles. The findings enable a method to pattern material magnetization with submicron resolution, a useful feature that has potential applications for magnetic recording and microfluidic particle traps. The analysis also yields useful empirical generalizations that could facilitate other theoretical developments.
Imine modified ZnO nanoparticles: a luminescent chemodosimeter for Al3+ and S2− ions based on ligand displacement reaction
Authors: Kaur Kamaljot , Chaudhary Savita , Singh Sukhjinder , Mehta Surinder Kumar
Published: December 2014

A novel fluorescent chemosensor for rapid recognition of Al3+ and S2− ions using imine capped ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous media.
High-flux, antibacterial ultrafiltration membranes by facile blending with N-halamine grafted halloysite nanotubes
Authors: Duan Linlin , Huang Wei , Zhang Yatao
Published: December 2014

N-Halamine grafted halloysite nanotubes (N-halamine@HNTs) were used as an antibacterial agents to fabricate polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration (UF) hybrid membranes.
Coordination-enabled synergistic surface segregation for fabrication of multi-defense mechanism membranes
Authors: Zhao Xueting , Su Yanlei , Dai Heng , Li Yafei , Zhang Runnan , Jiang Zhongyi
Published: December 2014

Multi-defense mechanism membranes were fabricated through manipulating the synergistic surface segregation of amphiphilic copolymers and inorganic nanoparticles for efficient oil/water separation.
Polyaniline/Fe composite nanofiber added softmagnetic carbonyl iron microsphere suspension and its magnetorheology
Authors: Piao Shang Hao , Bhaumik Madhumita , Maity Arjun , Choi Hyoung Jin
Published: December 2014

We synthesized PANI/Fe0nanofibers and added them to a carbonyl iron based magnetorheological fluid to study its enhanced magnetorheological behavior and sedimentation stability.
Temporal evolution of surface ripples on a finite plasma slab subject to the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability
Authors: Weis M. R. , Zhang P. , Lau Y. Y. , Rittersdorf I. M. , Zier J. C. , Gilgenbach R. M. , Hess M. H. , Peterson K. J.
Published: December 2014

Using the ideal magnetohydrodynamic model, we calculate the temporal evolution of initial ripples on the boundaries of a planar plasma slab that is subjected to the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The plasma slab consists of three regions. We assume that in each region the plasma density is constant with an arbitrary value and the magnetic field is also constant with an arbitrary magnitude and an arbitrary direction parallel to the interfaces. Thus, the instability may be driven by a combination of magnetic pressure and kinetic pressure. The general dispersion relation is derived, together with the feedthrough factor between the two interfaces. The temporal evolution is constructed from the superposition of the eigenmodes. Previously established results are recovered in the various limits. Numerical examples are given on the temporal evolution of ripples on the interfaces of the finite plasma slab.
Numerical thermalization in particle-in-cell simulations with Monte-Carlo collisions
Authors: Lai P. Y. , Lin T. Y. , Lin-Liu Y. R. , Chen S. H.
Published: December 2014

Numerical thermalization in collisional one-dimensional (1D) electrostatic (ES) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations was investigated. Two collision models, the pitch-angle scattering of electrons by the stationary ion background and large-angle collisions between the electrons and the neutral background, were included in the PIC simulation using Monte-Carlo methods. The numerical results show that the thermalization times in both models were considerably reduced by the additional Monte-Carlo collisions as demonstrated by comparisons with Turner's previous simulation results based on a head-on collision model [M. M. Turner, Phys. Plasmas 13, 033506 (2006)]. However, the breakdown of Dawson's scaling law in the collisional 1D ES PIC simulation is more complicated than that was observed by Turner, and the revised scaling law of the numerical thermalization time with numerical parameters are derived on the basis of the simulation results obtained in this study.
Dust gravitational drift wave in complex plasma under gravity
Authors: Salahshoor M. , Niknam A. R.
Published: December 2014

The dispersion relation of electrostatic waves in a complex plasma under gravity is presented. It is assumed that the waves propagate parallel to the external fields. The effects of weak electric field, neutral drag force, and ion drag force are also taken into account. The dispersion relation is numerically examined in an appropriate parameter space in which the gravity plays the dominant role in the dynamics of microparticles. The numerical results show that, in the low pressure complex plasma under gravity, a low frequency drift wave can be developed in the long wavelength limit. The stability state of this wave is switched at a certain critical wavenumber in such a way that the damped mode is transformed into a growing one. Furthermore, the influence of the external fields on the dispersion properties is analyzed. It is shown that the wave instability is essentially due to the electrostatic streaming of plasma particles. It is also found that by increasing the electric field strength, the stability switching occurs at smaller wavenumbers.
Spectroscopic measurement of high-frequency electric fields in the interaction of explosive debris plasma with magnetized background plasma
Authors: Bondarenko A. S. , Schaeffer D. B. , Everson E. T. , Clark S. E. , Constantin C. G. , Niemann C.
Published: December 2014

The collision-less transfer of momentum and energy from explosive debris plasma to magnetized background plasma is a salient feature of various astrophysical and space environments. While much theoretical and computational work has investigated collision-less coupling mechanisms and relevant parameters, an experimental validation of the results demands the measurement of the complex, collective electric fields associated with debris-background plasma interaction. Emission spectroscopy offers a non-interfering diagnostic of electric fields via the Stark effect. A unique experiment at the University of California, Los Angeles, that combines the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) and the Phoenix laser facility has investigated the marginally super-Alfvénic, quasi-perpendicular expansion of a laser-produced carbon (C) debris plasma through a preformed, magnetized helium (He) background plasma via emission spectroscopy. Spectral profiles of the He II 468.6 nm line measured at the maximum extent of the diamagnetic cavity are observed to intensify, broaden, and develop equally spaced modulations in response to the explosive C debris, indicative of an energetic electron population and strong oscillatory electric fields. The profiles are analyzed via time-dependent Stark effect models corresponding to single-mode and multi-mode monochromatic (single frequency) electric fields, yielding temporally resolved magnitudes and frequencies. The proximity of the measured frequencies to the expected electron plasma frequency suggests the development of the electron beam-plasma instability, and a simple saturation model demonstrates that the measured magnitudes are feasible provided that a sufficiently fast electron population is generated during C debris–He background interaction. Potential sources of the fast electrons, which likely correspond to collision-less coupling mechanisms, are briefly considered.
Orbital-motion-limited theory of dust charging and plasma response
Authors: Tang Xian-Zhu , Luca Delzanno Gian
Published: December 2014

The foundational theory for dusty plasmas is the dust charging theory that provides the dust potential and charge arising from the dust interaction with a plasma. The most widely used dust charging theory for negatively charged dust particles is the so-called orbital motion limited (OML) theory, which predicts the dust potential and heat collection accurately for a variety of applications, but was previously found to be incapable of evaluating the dust charge and plasma response in any situation. Here, we report a revised OML formulation that is able to predict the plasma response and hence the dust charge. Numerical solutions of the new OML model show that the widely used Whipple approximation of dust charge-potential relationship agrees with OML theory in the limit of small dust radius compared with plasma Debye length, but incurs large (order-unity) deviation from the OML prediction when the dust size becomes comparable with or larger than plasma Debye length. This latter case is expected for the important application of dust particles in a tokamak plasma.
High 400 °C operation temperature blue spectrum concentration solar junction in GaInN/GaN
Authors: Zhao Liang , Detchprohm Theeradetch , Wetzel Christian
Published: December 2014

Transparent wide gap junctions suitable as high temperature, high flux topping cells have been achieved in GaInN/GaN by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. In structures of 25 quantum wells (QWs) under AM1.5G illumination, an open circuit voltage of 2.1 V is achieved. Of the photons absorbed in the limited spectral range of <450 nm, 64.2% are converted to electrons collected at the contacts under zero bias. At a fill factor of 45%, they account for a power conversion efficiency of38.6%. Under concentration, the maximum output power density per sun increases from 0.49 mW/cm2 to 0.51 mW/cm2 at 40 suns and then falls 0.42 mW/cm2 at 150 suns. Under external heating, a maximum of 0.59 mW/cm2 is reached at 250 °C. Even at 400 °C, the device is fully operational and exceeds room temperature performance. A defect analysis suggests that significantly higher fill factors and extension into longer wavelength ranges are possible with further development. The results prove GaInN/GaN QW solar junctions a viable and rugged topping cell for concentrator photovoltaics with minimal cooling requirements. By capturing the short range spectrum, they reduce the thermal load to any conventional cells stacked behind.
Nonlinear electron dynamics of gold ultrathin films induced by intense terahertz waves
Authors: Minami Yasuo , Takeda Jun , Dao Thang Duy , Nagao Tadaaki , Kitajima Masahiro , Katayama Ikufumi
Published: December 2014

Linear and nonlinear electron dynamics of polycrystalline gold (Au) ultrathin films with thicknesses ranging from 1.4 to 5.8 nm were investigated via transmittance terahertz (THz) spectroscopy with intense electric field transients. We prepared ultrathin films with low surface roughness formed on a Si–(7 × 7) reconstructed surface, leading to the observation of monotonic decrease in THz transmittance with respect to film thickness. Furthermore, at all tested thicknesses, the transmittance decreased nonlinearly by 10%–30% with the application if high-intensity THz electric fields. Based on a Drude-model analysis, we found a significant decrease in the damping constant induced by the THz electric field, indicating that electrons are driven beyond the polycrystalline grain boundaries in Au thin films, and consequently leading to the suppression of the electron–boundary scattering rate.
Impact of superovulation and mating on the wellbeing of juvenile and adult C57BL/6N mice
Authors: Kolbe Thomas , Sheety Sarjoun , Walter Ingrid , Palme Rupert , Rülicke Thomas
Published: December 2014

Superovulation of mice is routinely used to increase the number of obtainable ova per female. Because of the better outcome, prepubescent females are preferentially used. Here, we provide results of the impact of superovulation and mating on the wellbeing of juvenile compared with adult C57BL/6N mice. Two groups of mice (3–4 weeks vs 7–8 weeks old) were superovulated and mated. Observation of mating behaviour showed that reluctant adult females tended to fight the male’s approach, whereas juveniles preferred to take flight. Faeces were collected daily for the analysis of stress hormones. There was no difference in the levels of glucocorticoid metabolites either between age groups or between treated animals and their controls. Histology after mating revealed intact vaginal mucosa without any detectable lesions in all animals regardless of age. In contrast to adults, almost all juveniles were synchronised in oestrus and produced significantly more ova. Taken together, our results reveal no increased welfare problem from using juvenile mice for superovulation and mating. Considering the higher yield of fertilisable oocytes and zygotes, it is advisable to use C57BL/6N prepubescent mice in order to reduce the number of donor females required.
Maternal temperature history activates Flowering Locus T in fruits to control progeny dormancy according to time of year
Authors: Chen Min , MacGregor Dana R. , Dave Anuja , Florance Hannah , Moore Karen , Paszkiewicz Konrad , Smirnoff Nicholas , Graham Ian A. , Penfield Steven
Published: December 2014

Significance

Seed behavior is known to be highly dependent on the temperature during seed set, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Here we show that the mother plant plays a central role in the control of progeny seed dormancy, integrating long-term temperature memories in fruit tissues using the same pathway that controls flowering time. Regulation of seed coat properties by maternal flowering time pathways effectively passes timing information across generations, aligning progeny behavior with time of year.
Social information use and the evolution of unresponsiveness in collective systems
Authors: Torney Colin J. , Lorenzi Tommaso , Couzin Iain D. , Levin Simon A.
Published: December 2014

Animal groups in nature often display an enhanced collective information-processing capacity. It has been speculated that natural selection will tune this response to be optimal, ensuring that the group is reactive while also being robust to noise. Here, we show that this is unlikely to be the case. By using a simple model of decision-making in a dynamic environment, we find that when individuals behave rationally and are subject to selection based on their accuracy, optimality of collective decision-making is not attained. Instead, individuals overly rely on social information and evolve to be too readily influenced by their neighbours. This is due to a classic evolutionary conflict between individual and collective interest. The result is a sub-optimal system that is poised on the cusp of total unresponsiveness. Individuals in the evolved group exhibit delayed reactions to changes in the environment, before responding with rapid, socially reinforced transitions, reminiscent of familiar human and animal social systems (markets, stampedes, fashions, etc.). Our results demonstrate that behaviour of this type may not be pathological, but instead could represent an evolutionary attractor for such collective systems.
MicroRNA408 Is Critical for the HY5-SPL7 Gene Network That Mediates the Coordinated Response to Light and Copper
Authors: Zhang Huiyong , Zhao Xin , Li Jigang , Cai Huaqing , Deng Xing Wang , Li Lei
Published: December 2014

Light and copper are important environmental determinants of plant growth and development. Despite the wealth of knowledge on both light and copper signaling, the molecular mechanisms that integrate the two pathways remain poorly understood. Here, we use Arabidopsis thaliana to demonstrate an interaction between SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE7 (SPL7) and ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), which mediate copper and light signaling, respectively. Through whole-genome chromatin immunoprecipitation and RNA sequencing analyses, we elucidated the SPL7 regulon and compared it with that of HY5. We found that the two transcription factors coregulate many genes, including those involved in anthocyanin accumulation and photosynthesis. Moreover, SPL7 and HY5 act coordinately to transcriptionally regulate MIR408, which results in differential expression of microRNA408 (miR408) and its target genes in response to changing light and copper conditions. We demonstrate that this regulation is tied to copper allocation to the chloroplast and plastocyanin levels. Finally, we found that constitutively activated miR408 rescues the distinct developmental defects of the hy5, spl7, and hy5 spl7 mutants. These findings revealed the existence of crosstalk between light and copper, mediated by a HY5-SPL7 network. Furthermore, integration of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation is critical for governing proper metabolism and development in response to combined copper and light signaling.