bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expanding the scope of enzymatic carboligation reactions in flow-mode: production of optically active tertiary alcohols with packed-bed micro-bioreactors
Authors: Giovannini P. P. , Bortolini O. , Cavazzini A. , Greco R. , Fantin G. , Massi A.
Published: June 2014

A packed-bed microreactor functionalized with acetylacetoin synthase effectively produces valuable chiral tertiary alcohols under continuous-flow conditionsviaumpolung catalysis.
Role of zinc interstitials and oxygen vacancies of ZnO in photocatalysis: a bottom-up approach to control defect density
Authors: Kayaci Fatma , Vempati Sesha , Donmez Inci , Biyikli Necmi , Uyar Tamer
Published: June 2014

Comparison of the relative defect densities (Znis and VOs) and their photocatalytic efficiency.
Enhanced catalytic electrochemical reduction of dissolved oxygen with ultraclean cucurbituril[7]-capped gold nanoparticles
Authors: Lanterna Anabel , Pino Eduardo , Doménech-Carbó Antonio , González-Béjar María , Pérez-Prieto Julia
Published: June 2014

Gold nanoparticles capped with cucurbituril[7] have been prepared in the absence of metallic cations and organic ligands.
Nanoparticle conversion chemistry: Kirkendall effect, galvanic exchange, and anion exchange
Authors: Anderson Bryan D. , Tracy Joseph B.
Published: June 2014

Review article discussing recent advances in conversion chemistry of nanoparticles through the Kirkendall effect, galvanic exchange, and anion exchange.
Controllable conversion of plasmonic Cu2−xS nanoparticles to Au2S by cation exchange and electron beam induced transformation of Cu2−xS–Au2S core/shell nanostructures
Authors: Wang Xianliang , Liu Xin , Zhu Dewei , Swihart Mark T.
Published: June 2014

Self-doped Cu2−xS plasmonic semiconductor nanocrystals were converted into monodisperse Cu2−xS–Au2S nanocrystals of tunable composition, including pure Au2S, by cation exchange.
A micromotor based on polymer single crystals and nanoparticles: toward functional versatility
Authors: Liu Mei , Liu Limei , Gao Wenlong , Su Miaoda , Ge Ya , Shi Lili , Zhang Hui , Dong Bin , Li Christopher Y.
Published: June 2014

We report a micromotor which can achieve multiple functions, including autonomous and directed movement, enzymatic disassembly, sustained release and detection of molecules.
Emerging chitin and chitosan nanofibrous materials for biomedical applications
Authors: Ding Fuyuan , Deng Hongbing , Du Yumin , Shi Xiaowen , Wang Qun
Published: June 2014

This review highlights the recent advancements in the preparation and application of chitin and chitosan originated nanofibrous materials in biomedicine.
Bimetallic nickel and cobalt complexes as high-performance catalysts for copolymerization of carbon dioxide with cyclohexene oxide
Authors: Li Chi-Huan , Chuang Hui-Ju , Li Chen-Yu , Ko Bao-Tsan , Lin Chia-Her
Published: June 2014

Bimetallic nickel acetate 1 is a high-performance catalyst for CO2/CHO copolymerization in a controlled fashion.
Facile hydrothermal synthesis of a highly efficient solar active Pr6O11–ZnO photocatalyst and its multiple applications
Authors: Balachandran Subramanian , Thirumalai Kuppulingam , Swaminathan Meenakshisundaram
Published: June 2014

Heterostructrued Pr6O11–ZnO prepared by a simple hydrothermal process, shows enhanced solar photocatalytic activity for azo dye degradation, hydrophobicity and photoconductivity.
Sol–gel synthesis of highly pure α-Al2O3 nano-rods from a new class of precursors of salicylaldehyde-modified aluminum(iii) isopropoxide. Crystal and molecular structure of [Al(OC6H4CHO)3]
Authors: Sanwaria Anita Raj , Nagar Meena , Bohra Rakesh , Chaudhary Archana , Mobin Shaikh M. , Mathur Pradeep , Choudhary Banwari L.
Published: June 2014

Synthesis and characterization of salicylaldehyde-modified aluminum(III) isopropoxide, [(OPri)3−nAl(OC6H4CHO)n] precursors used for sol–gel synthesis of α-Al2O3 nano-rods.
A novel and environmentally friendly colorimetric method for detection of cystine in human urine using unmodified gold nanoparticles
Authors: Lu Li-Qiang , Gao Qian , Song Chi , Tian Xi-Ke , Xu An-Wu
Published: June 2014

A novel and environmentally friendly strategy based on unmodified AuNPs was developed for the colorimetric detection of cystine in human urine.
Orbitals in chemical education. An analysis through their graphical representations
Authors: Barradas-Solas Francisco , Sánchez Gómez Pedro J.
Published: June 2014

Students' understanding of the orbital concept has been subject to considerable research and debate and often found at variance with a quantum mechanical ideal. Could it be the case that orbitals as actually used by practising chemists in teaching and research also differ from that ideal? Our experience shows that this might often be the case. Through a series of examples of pictorial representations of orbitals found in textbooks and other educational materials, as well as in research papers, we argue that this is a common situation, which deserves to be stated explicitly. We point out that, in particular, there is a way in which orbitals are frequently employed deeply rooted in chemical thinking and compatible with a classical (in the sense of pre-quantum) approach. Many chemists employ quantum-like terms, and rely on concepts that look quantum, such as ‘orbital’, but they actually play on the well-known ground of the classical structural ideas that can be traced back to the work of pioneers like Cannizaro, Kekulé, or van't Hoff. We maintain that given the fundamental role of these semi-classical ideas in chemistry, it is nothing but natural to treat them in an equivalent fashion in chemical education.
Ultrathin g-C3N4/TiO2composites as photoelectrochemical elements for the real-time evaluation of global antioxidant capacity
Authors: Ma Weiguang , Han Dongxue , Zhou Min , Sun Hao , Wang Lingnan , Dong Xiandui , Niu Li
Published: June 2014

Using utg-C3N4/TiO2, a photoelectrochemical platform was designed for the sensing of global antioxidant capacity, which presented a rapid response, and anti-fouling and colour-interference-proof properties.
Phase behaviour of PMMA-b-PHEMA with solvents methanol and THF: modelling and comparison to the experiment
Authors: Padmanabhan P. , Chavis M. , Ober C. K. , Escobedo F. A.
Published: June 2014

Self consistent field theory predicts, consistent with experiments, that a symmetric block-copolymer forms a gyroid phase in a binary solvent.
Electron transfer properties of chemically reduced graphene materials with different oxygen contents
Authors: Tan Shu Min , Ambrosi Adriano , Chua Chun Kiang , Pumera Martin
Published: June 2014

Herein, we endeavoured to tune the surface composition and hence electron transfer properties of chemically reduced graphene oxides through varying the mass of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the reduction reaction.
Nanostructured copper oxide semiconductors: a perspective on materials, synthesis methods and applications
Authors: Zoolfakar Ahmad Sabirin , Rani Rozina Abdul , Morfa Anthony J. , O'Mullane Anthony P. , Kalantar-zadeh Kourosh
Published: June 2014

The oxides of copper (CuxO) are fascinating materials due to their remarkable optical, electrical, thermal and magnetic properties.
Photoactive rolled-up TiO2microtubes: fabrication, characterization and applications
Authors: Giudicatti Silvia , Marz Sonja M. , Soler Lluís , Madani Abbas , Jorgensen Matthew R. , Sanchez Samuel , Schmidt Oliver G.
Published: June 2014

The properties of TiO2within rolled-up nanotechnology are explored. Micromotors and optical microresonators are presented as possible applications.
Alkyl-triphenylamine end-capped triazines with AIE and large two-photon absorption cross-sections for bioimaging
Authors: Gao Yuting , Qu Yi , Jiang Tao , Zhang Hao , He Nannan , Li Bo , Wu Junchen , Hua Jianli
Published: June 2014

Three alkyl-triphenylamine end-capped triazines (ATT-(1–3)) with AIE were synthesized, and the two-photon absorption cross section of ATT-3 was 10 003 GM.
Supramolecular enhancement of aggregation-induced emission and its application in cancer cell imaging
Authors: Yu Guocan , Tang Guping , Huang Feihe
Published: June 2014

A ternary system of two tetraphenylethene derivatives containing naphthalene and paraquat groups, respectively, and a pillar[6]arene is utilized as an imaging agent for cancer cells.
Facilitating and securing offline e‐medicine service through image steganography
Authors: Kamal A.H.M. , Islam M. Mahfuzul
Published: June 2014

E‐medicine is a process to provide health care services to people using the Internet or any networking technology. In this Letter, a new idea is proposed to model the physical structure of the e‐medicine system to better provide offline health care services. Smart cards are used to authenticate the user singly. A very unique technique is also suggested to verify the card owner's identity and to embed secret data to the card while providing patients' reports either at booths or at the e‐medicine server system. The simulation results of card authentication and embedding procedure justify the proposed implementation.
Finite‐time stability of switched linear systems with subsystems which are not finite‐time stable
Authors: Lin Xiangze , Li Shihua , Zou Yun
Published: June 2014

Up to now, the potential assumption of most existing results for finite‐time stability and finite‐time boundedness of switched linear systems is that each subsystem should be finite‐time stable or finite‐time bounded. If any one subsystem of switched systems is not finite‐time stable or finite‐time bounded, the previous results may not be true anymore. In this paper, finite‐time stability and finite‐time boundedness of switched linear systems with subsystems that are not finite‐time stable or finite‐time bounded are discussed. Sufficient conditions are given under which switched linear systems with subsystems that are not finite‐time stable or finite‐time bounded is guaranteed to be still finite‐time stable or finite‐time bounded. The results also show the effect of the switching signals on finite‐time stability and finite‐time boundedness of switched linear systems. Moreover, finite‐time L2 ‐gain of switched linear systems with subsystems which are not finite‐time bounded is also given to measure its disturbance tolerance capability in the fixed time interval. A numerical example is employed to verify the efficiency of the proposed method.
Performance limits in the control of single‐input linear time‐invariant plants over fading channels
Authors: Maass Alejandro I. , Silva Eduardo I.
Published: June 2014

This study presents performance limitations in the control of single‐input linear time‐invariant plants when controlled over a fading channel. The authors consider two architectures where the controller is co‐located with the sensors. In the first architecture, the authors assume that delayed controller to actuator channel state information is available at the controller. In the second architecture, the authors relax that assumption and thus no channel‐state‐information is exploited at the controller. The authors’ main result is a closed form expression for the minimal stationary plant output variance, which is achievable in each scenario, as an explicit function of channel statistics and plant characteristics. To derive our results, the authors first show that there exists an equivalence, in a second‐order moment sense, between communication over a single fading channel and communication over an additive white noise channel subject to a stationary signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) constraint. Such equivalence is then exploited to state conditions for stabilisation, and to derive explicit performance limitations, as simple corollaries of known results in the literature on networked control subject to SNR constraints. Numerical examples are included to illustrate our findings.
Adaptive trajectory tracking control of output constrained multi‐rotors systems
Authors: Zuo Zongyu , Wang Chenliang
Published: June 2014

The design of output constrained control system for unmanned aerial vehicles deployed in confined areas is an important issue in practice and not taken into account in many autopilot systems. In this study, the authors address a neural networks‐based adaptive trajectory tracking control algorithm for multi‐rotors systems in the presence of various uncertainties in their dynamics. Given any sufficient smooth and bounded reference trajectory input, the proposed algorithm achieves that (i) the system output (Euclidean position) tracking error converges to a neighbourhood of zero and furthermore (ii) the system output remains uniformly in a prescribed set. Instead of element‐wise estimation, a norm estimation approach of unknown weight vectors is incorporated into the control system design to relieve the onboard computation burden. The convergence property of the closed‐loop system subject to output constraint is analysed via a symmetric barrier Lyapunov function augmented with several quadratic terms. Simulation results are demonstrated on a quadrotor model to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Semi‐global containment control of multi‐agent systems with input saturation
Authors: Su Housheng , Jia Gui , Chen Michael Z.Q.
Published: June 2014

This study investigates containment control of multi‐agent systems with input saturation and multiple leaders on directed networks. Both state feedback and output feedback containment control protocols are designed via low‐gain feedback approach. Under the assumption that the system is asymptotically null controllable with bounded controls and there exists at least one leader that has a directed path to each follower, semi‐global state feedback and output feedback containment control of the multi‐agent system can be attained. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Nose tip detection on three‐dimensional faces using pose‐invariant differential surface features
Authors: Li Ye , Wang YingHui , Wang BingBo , Sui LianSheng
Published: June 2014

Three‐dimensional (3D) facial data offer the potential to overcome the difficulties caused by the variation of head pose and illumination in 2D face recognition. In 3D face recognition, localisation of nose tip is essential to face normalisation, face registration and pose correction etc. Most of the existing methods of nose tip detection on 3D face deal mainly with frontal or near‐frontal poses or are rotation sensitive. Many of them are training‐based or model‐based. In this study, a novel method of nose tip detection is proposed. Using pose‐invariant differential surface features – high‐order and low‐order curvatures, it can detect nose tip on 3D faces under various poses automatically and accurately. Moreover, it does not require training and does not depend on any particular model. Experimental results on GavabDB verify the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method.
Switched resonator DC/DC converter with a single switch and small inductors
Authors: Reza Amini Mohammad , Farzanehfard Hosein
Published: June 2014

A new single‐switch, soft‐switching buck converter is presented here. The converter switch is turned on and off at zero current switching condition without using any auxiliary switch. The operation of the proposed converter is based on a resonance between two small inductors and a small capacitor. As a result, the size and weight of the converter is reduced. The proposed converter is analysed and its operating modes are explained in detail. The design considerations of the proposed buck converter are presented. The experimental results of the prototype converter confirm the theoretical analysis. Finally, it is shown that the proposed converter can perform as a buck‐boost converter by employing an additional switch.
Parameters selection criteria of proportional–integral controller for a quadratic buck converter
Authors: Morales‐Saldaña Jorge Alberto , Loera‐Palomo Rodrigo , Palacios‐Hernández Elvia
Published: June 2014

A criteria for selection of parameters of proportional and integral (PI) controller for a DC–DC quadratic buck converter is proposed here. This procedure was developed from a large‐signal model of converter in which a multiloop control scheme is added. This scheme has two control loops: an inner current loop, which improves the dynamic behaviour using a single gain, and a conventional PI controller as outer loop, which provides regulation. For the resulting system, the necessary conditions are derived for the existence of equilibrium point and stability in closed‐loop. In comparison with the traditional method of loopshaping, which uses small‐signal model, analytic expressions are found that simplifies the selection of controller parameters. At the end, the procedure is applied to 28 W quadratic buck regulator prototype and experimental results are given to verify the effectiveness.
Maximum power point tracking architectures for photovoltaic systems in mismatching conditions: a review
Authors: Bastidas‐Rodriguez Juan David , Franco Edinson , Petrone Giovanni , Ramos‐Paja Carlos Andrés , Spagnuolo Giovanni
Published: June 2014

In practical photovoltaic (PV) installations the operating conditions of the panels the PV array is made of are different owing to different factors. Such irregular conditions are known as ‘mismatching conditions’ and produce multiple maxima in the power‐voltage curves of any PV array. The traditional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are able to track one of those maxima, but they cannot guarantee the extraction of the maximum power the PV array would be able to deliver. To overcome this problem, many techniques have been presented in the literature: they use one converter for the entire array (centralised MPPT), one converter for each part of the array (distributed MPPT) or they reconfigure the PV array (RMPPT). This paper presents the general architectures used by 61 different MPPT techniques, by discussing their main advantages and disadvantages, in order to give to the reader a comprehensive view of both the control strategies and the architectures for extracting the maximum power from a mismatched PV field. Moreover, the widely adopted techniques for each hardware structure are presented in a structured and compact way, thus providing to the reader some guidelines regarding the technique's operation principle and hardware requirements.
Improvement in voltage conversion ratio for step up converter established by KY and buck–boost converters based on coupled inductor
Authors: Hwu Kuo‐Ing , Jiang Wen‐Zhuang
Published: June 2014

In this study, a novel voltage‐boosting converter is presented, which combines a charge pump and a coupled inductor with the turns ratio. It aims to improve the intrinsic disadvantages of the traditional boost converter and buck–boost converter. In addition, the corresponding voltage gain is greater than that of the existing step up converter combing KY and buck–boost converters. Since the proposed converter possesses an output inductor, the output current is non‐pulsating, resulting in a relatively small output voltage ripple. Above all, part of the leakage inductance energy can be recycled to the output capacitor of the buck–boost converter. In this study, the operating principles and the power flow analyses are firstly discussed in detail, and finally, an experimental prototype with a 12 V input voltage, 96 V output voltage and 60 W output power is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.
Suppression of common mode voltage for matrix converter based on improved double line voltage synthesis strategy
Authors: Shi Tingna , Huang Qiyong , Yan Yan , Xia Changliang
Published: June 2014

Common mode voltage (CMV) is responsible for electromagnetic noise and bearing damage of an ac motor. This study presents the consistency between double line voltage synthesis (DLVS) and space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) on matrix converter, and proposes two improved DLVSs based on SVPWM, which can effectively reduce the maximum CMV. Both methods can reduce the peak value by 42.3% while keeping the local average values of the output voltage and the input current unaffected. In addition, compared with the existing optimised zero vector modulation, two strategies can improve the output and input current qualities, respectively. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Repetitive controller for improving grid‐connected photovoltaic systems
Authors: de Almeida Pedro M. , Duarte Jorge L. , Ribeiro Paulo F. , Barbosa Pedro G.
Published: June 2014

This study presents the modelling and design steps of a discrete time recursive repetitive controller (RC) to be used in a grid‐connected photovoltaic (PV) system. It is shown that the linear synchronous reference frame proportional‐integral controller, originally designed to control the converter's output currents, may have its effectiveness compromised because of non‐linearities in the system components. A RC is introduced as an alternative to overcome this drawback and improve the system's output currents. The performance of the designed hybrid controller is tested, under both steady‐state and transient operations, for variations on the power generated by a 30 kWp PV power plant. Experimental results obtained from the operation of the PV system connected to a distribution network, without output passive filters, only through a transformer that operates in a non‐linear region are presented. The results are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed compensation method and to validate the designed hybrid controller.
Analysis, design and control of single‐phase three‐level power factor correction rectifier fed switched reluctance motor drive
Authors: Rajesh Mutharath , Singh Bhim
Published: June 2014

In this study, a single‐phase three‐level power factor correction (PFC) rectifier fed switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive is proposed for improving the power quality at ac mains. The asymmetry in the dc‐link capacitors voltages of the midpoint converter fed SRM drive is improved by using a single‐phase three‐level PFC rectifier. This PFC rectifier configuration uses two active semiconductor switches, an inductor and operates as a boost PFC rectifier. The proposed single‐phase three‐level PFC rectifier fed SRM drive is designed, modelled and its performance is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink. The simulated performance of the proposed single‐phase three‐level PFC rectifier fed SRM drive is experimentally validated for dc‐link capacitors voltage balancing and power quality improvement.
Analysis and implementation of a zero‐voltage switching asymmetric pulse‐width modulation converter for high load current application
Authors: Lin Bor‐Ren , Yeh Hao‐Ping
Published: June 2014

A soft‐switching converter using low voltage and low current stresses of power components is presented for high input voltage and high output current applications. Two input capacitors and four power metal‐oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are adopted at high voltage side in order to reduce the voltage stress of power switches. Thus, the voltage stress of MOSFETs is clamped at Vin/2. Two flying capacitors are adopted at the AC side of two half‐bridge converter legs to balance the two input capacitor voltages. Three centre‐tapped rectifiers are used at low voltage side in order to share load current and reduce the size of magnetic core and current stress of passive components. Asymmetric pulse‐width modulation is used to generate the gate signals of power MOSFETs and regulate output voltage. Based on the resonant behaviour at the transition interval, all power switches can be turned on under zero voltage switching. Finally, experiments are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed converter.
Suppressing low‐frequency components of common‐mode voltage through reverse injection in three‐phase inverter
Authors: Huang Jin , Shi Haixia
Published: June 2014

The output common‐mode voltage (CMV) will bring many negative effects in a three‐phase inverter, which is controlled by the sinusoidal pulse‐width modulation (SPWM) method. The carrier phase‐shift method and the carrier‐frequency modulation method can reduce the peaks of the CMV at the switching frequency and its harmonic frequencies, but they may cause increase of the low‐frequency (LF) baseband harmonics. A new reverse injection scheme is proposed to suppress the LF harmonics. In this scheme, the parameters of the interference peaks are obtained through CMV detection and real‐time harmonic parameters estimation. The estimated phase errors from the detection‐control delay are amended by the method of temporary addition of the standard phase signal. Then, the sinusoids with a reverse phase to the LF harmonics are generated and injected in the reference sinusoid of each phase to produce the SPWM. Thus, the LF peaks of the CMV are counteracted. The feasibility and the validity of this scheme are verified through the experiments under different control strategies.
Clofibric acid induces hepatic CYP 2B1/2 via constitutive androstane receptor not via peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha in rat
Authors: Ibrahim Zein Shaban , Ahmed Mohamed Mohamed , El-Shazly Samir Ahmed , Ishizuka Mayumi , Fujita Shoichi
Published: June 2014

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) ligands, fibrates used to control hyperlipidemia. We demonstrated CYP2B induction by clofibric acid (CFA) however, the mechanism was not clear. In this study, HepG2 cells transfected with expression plasmid of mouse constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) or PPARα were treated with CFA, phenobarbital (PB) or TCPOBOP. Luciferase assays showed that CFA increased CYP2B1 transcription to the same level as PB, or TCPOBOP in HepG2 transfected with mouse CAR But failed to induce it in PPARα transfected cells. CYP2B expressions were increased with PB or CFA in Wistar female rats (having normal levels of CAR) but not in Wistar Kyoto female rats (having low levels of CAR). The induction of CYP2B by PB or CFA was comparable to nuclear CAR levels. CAR nuclear translocation was induced by CFA in both rat strains. This indicates that fibrates can activate CAR and that fibrates-insulin sensitization effect may occur through CAR, while hypolipidemic effect may operate through PPARα.
Regulation of cargo recognition, commitment, and unloading drives cotranslational protein targeting
Authors: Saraogi Ishu , Akopian David , Shan Shu-ou
Published: June 2014

Efficient and accurate protein localization is essential to cells and requires protein-targeting machineries to both effectively capture the cargo in the cytosol and productively unload the cargo at the membrane. To understand how these challenges are met, we followed the interaction of translating ribosomes during their targeting by the signal recognition particle (SRP) using a site-specific fluorescent probe in the nascent protein. We show that initial recruitment of SRP receptor (SR) selectively enhances the affinity of SRP for correct cargos, thus committing SRP-dependent substrates to the pathway. Real-time measurement of cargo transfer from the targeting to translocation machinery revealed multiple factors that drive this event, including GTPase rearrangement in the SRP–SR complex, stepwise displacement of SRP from the ribosome and signal sequence by SecYEG, and elongation of the nascent polypeptide. Our results elucidate how active and sequential regulation of the SRP–cargo interaction drives efficient and faithful protein targeting.
BRCA1 establishes DNA damage signaling and pericentric heterochromatin of the X chromosome in male meiosis
Authors: Broering Tyler J. , Alavattam Kris G. , Sadreyev Ruslan I. , Ichijima Yosuke , Kato Yasuko , Hasegawa Kazuteru , Camerini-Otero R. Daniel , Lee Jeannie T. , Andreassen Paul R. , Namekawa Satoshi H.
Published: June 2014

During meiosis, DNA damage response (DDR) proteins induce transcriptional silencing of unsynapsed chromatin, including the constitutively unsynapsed XY chromosomes in males. DDR proteins are also implicated in double strand break repair during meiotic recombination. Here, we address the function of the breast cancer susceptibility gene Brca1 in meiotic silencing and recombination in mice. Unlike in somatic cells, in which homologous recombination defects of Brca1 mutants are rescued by 53bp1 deletion, the absence of 53BP1 did not rescue the meiotic failure seen in Brca1 mutant males. Further, BRCA1 promotes amplification and spreading of DDR components, including ATR and TOPBP1, along XY chromosome axes and promotes establishment of pericentric heterochromatin on the X chromosome. We propose that BRCA1-dependent establishment of X-pericentric heterochromatin is critical for XY body morphogenesis and subsequent meiotic progression. In contrast, BRCA1 plays a relatively minor role in meiotic recombination, and female Brca1 mutants are fertile. We infer that the major meiotic role of BRCA1 is to promote the dramatic chromatin changes required for formation and function of the XY body.
The cell biology of asthma
Authors: Erle David J. , Sheppard Dean
Published: June 2014

The clinical manifestations of asthma are caused by obstruction of the conducting airways of the lung. Two airway cell types are critical for asthma pathogenesis: epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Airway epithelial cells, which are the first line of defense against inhaled pathogens and particles, initiate airway inflammation and produce mucus, an important contributor to airway obstruction. The other main cause of airway obstruction is contraction of airway smooth muscle. Complementary experimental approaches involving cultured cells, animal models, and human clinical studies have provided many insights into diverse mechanisms that contribute to airway epithelial and smooth muscle cell pathology in this complex disease.
Poly(ADP-ribose): An organizer of cellular architecture
Authors: Leung Anthony K.L.
Published: June 2014

Distinct properties of poly(ADP-ribose)—including its structural diversity, nucleation potential, and low complexity, polyvalent, highly charged nature—could contribute to organizing cellular architectures. Emergent data indicate that poly(ADP-ribose) aids in the formation of nonmembranous structures, such as DNA repair foci, spindle poles, and RNA granules. Informatics analyses reported here show that RNA granule proteins enriched for low complexity regions, which aid self-assembly, are preferentially modified by poly(ADP-ribose), indicating how poly(ADP-ribose) could direct cellular organization.
Adam Cohen: Visualizing cellular voltage
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: June 2014

Cohen uses rhodopsins as optical sensors of cellular voltage.
First Report of Brown Rot Caused by Monilia mumecola on Chinese Sour Cherry in Chongqing Municipality, China
Authors: Yin L. F. , Chen G. K. , Chen S. N. , Du S. F. , Li G. Q. , Luo C. X.
Published: June 2014

Cherry is widely planted in China, from Liaoning, Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces (eastern China), to Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guizhou provinces (western China). The brown rot fungus Monilinia fructigena causes considerable production losses in cherry production in Liaoning Province (3). In May 2013, Chinese sour cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus) cv. Wupi displaying symptoms of brown rot was found in an orchard in Chongqing municipality. Diseased cherry fruit had a brown rot sporulating with grayish, conidial tufts. The fruit later succumbed to the soft rot or shivered and became a mummy. Single-spore isolations on PDA resulted in colonies with concentric rings of pigmented mycelium with lobbed margins. Conidia were broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, occasionally even globose, with an average size of 16 × 12.7 μm. Multiple germ tubes were produced from each conidium, a germination pattern unique to Monilia mumecola (1,2,4). The pathogen identity was confirmed by multiplex PCR as described by Hu et al. (2). The PCR resulted in a 712-bp amplicon, which is diagnostic of M. mumecola. Further sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region 1 and 2 and 5.8S gene further indicated 100% identity with that of M. mumecola isolates from China (Accession No. HQ908786) and from Japan (AB125613, AB125614, and AB125620). Koch's postulates were confirmed by inoculating mature cherry fruit with mycelia plugs. Inoculated fruit were placed in a sterilized moist chamber, and incubated at 22°C with 12 h light/dark cycle. Inoculated fruit developed typical brown rot symptoms only 2 days after inoculation, while the control fruit, inoculated with a sterile PDA plug, remained healthy. The pathogen isolated from inoculated symptomatic fruit was confirmed to be M. mumecola based on morphological characteristics and germination pattern. It should be noted that the conidia on inoculated fruit showed an average size of 20 × 15.3 μm, significantly bigger than that of from PDA, and most produced more than three germ tubes. The inoculation experiments were performed in triplicates. M. mumecola was first reported as the causal agent of brown rot of mume in Japan in 2004 (1). Later studies demonstrated that it is also pathogen on other stone fruits, e.g., peach, nectarine (2), and apricot (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of cherry brown fruit rot caused by M. mumecola, and the first report of M. mumecola in Chongqing municipality.

References: (1) Y. Harada et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 70:297, 2004. (2) M. J. Hu et al. Plos One 6(9): e24990, 2011. (3) Z. H. Liu et al. J. Fruit Sci. 29:423, 2012. (4) L. F. Yin et al. Plant Dis. 98:694, 2014.
Recombination impacts damaging and disease mutation accumulation in human populations
Authors: Hussin Julie G. , Hodgkinson Alan , Idaghdour Youssef , Grenier Jean-Christophe , Goulet Jean-Philippe , Gbeha Elias , Hip-Ki Elodie , Awadalla Philip
Published: June 2014

Many decades of theory have demonstrated that in non-recombining systems, slightly deleterious mutations accumulate non-reversibly1, potentially driving the extinction of many asexual species. Non-recombining chromosomes in sexual organisms are thought to have degenerated in a similar fashion2, however it is not clear the extent to which these processes operate along recombining chromosomes with highly variable rates of crossing over. Using high coverage sequencing data from over 1400 individuals in The 1000 Genomes and CARTaGENE projects, we show that recombination rate modulates the genomic distribution of putatively deleterious variants across the entire human genome. We find that exons in regions of low recombination are significantly enriched for deleterious and disease variants, a signature that varies in strength across worldwide human populations with different demographic histories. As low recombining regions are enriched for highly conserved genes with essential cellular functions, and show an excess of mutations with demonstrated effect on health, this phenomenon likely affects disease susceptibility in humans.
Packing considerations of 10-oxa-9-boraphenanthrene derivatives
Authors: Budanow Alexandra , Sinke Tanja , Lerner Hans-Wolfram , Bolte Michael
Published: June 2014

The crystal structures of three products of the reaction of 2-phenylphenol and BCl3have been determined. The structures show intriguing packing patterns and an interesting case of pseudosymmetry. In addition, one of the two polymorphs has a primitive monoclinic crystal system, but it is twinned and emulates an orthorhombicC-centred structure. Tris(biphenyl-2-yl) borate, C36H27BO3, (III), crystallizes with only one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the planes of the aromatic rings in the biphenyl moieties are 50.47 (13), 44.95 (13) and 42.60 (13)°. The boron centre is in a trigonal planar coordination with two of the biphenyl residues on one side of the BO3plane and the remaining biphenyl residue on the other side. One polymorph of 10-oxa-9-boraphenanthren-9-ol, C12H9BO2, (Va), crystallizes with two almost identical molecules (r.m.s. deviation of all non-H atoms = 0.039 Å) in the asymmetric unit. All non-H atoms lie in a common plane (r.m.s. deviation = 0.015 Å for both molecules in the asymmetric unit). The two molecules in the asymmetric unit are connected into dimersviaO—H...O hydrogen bonds. A second polymorph of 10-oxa-9-boraphenanthren-9-ol, (Vb), crystallizes as a pseudo-merohedral twin with two almost identical molecules (r.m.s. deviation of all non-H atoms = 0.035 Å) in the asymmetric unit. All non-H atoms lie in a common plane (r.m.s. deviation = 0.012 Å for molecule 1 and 0.014 Å for moleculeA). Each of the two molecules in the asymmetric unit is connected into a centrosymmetric dimerviaO—H...O hydrogen bonds. The main difference between the two polymorphic structures is that in (Va) the two molecules in the asymmetric unit are hydrogen bonded to each other, whereas in (Vb), each molecule in the asymmetric unit forms a hydrogen-bonded dimer with its centrosymmetric equivalent. 9-[(Biphenyl-2-yl)oxy]-10-oxa-9-boraphenanthrene, C24H17BO2, (VI), crystallizes with four molecules in the asymmetric unit. The main differences between them are the dihedral angles between the ring planes. Apart from the biphenyl moiety, all non-H atoms lie in a common plane (r.m.s. deviations = 0.026, 0.0231, 0.019 and 0.033 Å for molecules 1,A,BandC, respectively). This structure shows pseudosymmetry; molecules 1 andA, as well as moleculesBandC, are related by a pseudo-translation of about 1 \over 2 in the direction of thebaxis. Molecules 1 andB, as well as moleculesAandC, are related by a pseudo-inversion centre at 1 \over 4,1 \over 8,1 \over 2. Neither between molecules 1 andCnor between moleculesAandBcan pseudosymmetry be found.
FORUM: Ecological networks: the missing links in biomonitoring science
Authors: Gray Clare , Baird Donald J. , Baumgartner Simone , Jacob Ute , Jenkins Gareth B. , O'Gorman Eoin J. , Lu Xueke , Ma Athen , Pocock Michael J. O. , Schuwirth Nele , Thompson Murray , Woodward Guy
Published: June 2014

Monitoring anthropogenic impacts is essential for managing and conserving ecosystems, yet current biomonitoring approaches lack the tools required to deal with the effects of stressors on species and their interactions in complex natural systems.

Ecological networks (trophic or mutualistic) can offer new insights into ecosystem degradation, adding value to current taxonomically constrained schemes. We highlight some examples to show how new network approaches can be used to interpret ecological responses.

Synthesis and applications. Augmenting routine biomonitoring data with interaction data derived from the literature, complemented with ground‐truthed data from direct observations where feasible, allows us to begin to characterise large numbers of ecological networks across environmental gradients. This process can be accelerated by adopting emerging technologies and novel analytical approaches, enabling biomonitoring to move beyond simple pass/fail schemes and to address the many ecological responses that can only be understood from a network‐based perspective.
Restrictions on the Religious Practices of Religious Minorities: A Global Survey
Authors: Fox Jonathan , Akbaba Yasemin
Published: June 2014

This study examines sources of religious discrimination with a particular emphasis on comparison of the identity-versus structure-related causes. Using a dyad-based analysis, it asks whether and when majorities behave differently in general and whether levels of religious discrimination are different against different minority groups. The Religion and State-Minorities (RASM) dataset, which includes data on 598 minorities in 177 countries covering the years 1990–2008, is used. The results show that specific minority and majority religions tend to have unique patterns of discrimination. Thus religious identity plays an important role in causing religious discrimination. Also, when controlling for other factors, Christian minorities experience the highest levels of discrimination around the world, including in the Christian world other than in Western democracies where Muslims experience the highest levels of discrimination.
Teaching Tolerance? Associational Diversity and Tolerance Formation
Authors: Rapp Carolin , Freitag Markus
Published: June 2014

Tolerance is a basic democratic principle that helps civil societies cope with rising levels of diversity stemming from increased immigration and individualism. During the last decade the question of how tolerance may be fostered has dominated debates in public and academic spheres. In this article, a closer look is taken at how associational diversity relates to the formation of tolerance and the importance of associations as schools of tolerance are evaluated. The main theoretical argument follows contact theory, wherein regular and enduring contact in diverse settings reduces prejudice and thereby increases an individual's tolerance toward objectionable groups. The empirical findings reveal a positive relationship between associational diversity and tolerance. It is observed, however, that the duration of active engagement in associations reduces this positive relation between diversity and tolerance. Accordingly, these results challenge the notion that associations serve as schools of tolerance in the long run.
Voter Election Frames: What were the Elections about?
Authors: Shamir Jacob , Shamir Michal , Lavi Liron
Published: June 2014

How do citizens think about elections? Building on democratic theory, political psychology and political communication theories, we conceptualize how voters interpret elections in terms of election frames, and explore the interplay between them and media frames. Election frames are deduced from the empirical and normative body of work on elections and democracy and they are tracked empirically through in-depth interviews with citizens, carried out during the 2009 parliamentary elections in Israel. The article highlights three major findings. First, all election frames are represented in people's reasoning about elections, but there is considerable variability in their usage, and they are usually applied in rudimentary form. Second, the frames vary over different political contexts. And third, the public does not seem to absorb passively frames from the media, but rather plays an active role in the process of election interpretation, relying on diverse sources. It is proposed in the article that publics’ election interpretations are an important aspect of politics that should be placed on political scientists’ research agenda.
Supporting young people with dyslexia in international schools: a case study example of current provision inSoutheastAsia
Authors: Brown Julian , Bell Sheena
Published: June 2014

This small‐scale qualitative study examines professional and parental perspectives of dyslexia within international schools located inBangkok. The views of participants indicated that there is a need for a greater awareness of ‘dyslexia‐friendly’ approaches in these settings and a lack of resources to support the identification and teaching of individuals having specific needs. The findings also indicated that the collaboration between parents and professionals was central to what could be identified as ‘good practice’ and that the identification of difficulties alone, without the acknowledgement of an individual's strengths, could be detrimental. Opportunities for continuing professional development are highlighted as central to the needs of professionals working within this region.
Fertility treatment and child intelligence, attention, and executive functions in 5‐year‐old singletons: a cohort study
Authors: Bay B , Mortensen EL , Kesmodel US
Published: June 2014

Objective

To assess the association of fertility treatment and subfertility with offspring intelligence, attention, and executive functions in 5‐year‐old singletons.

Design

Follow‐up study.

Setting

Denmark 2003–2008.

Population

A cohort of 1782 children sampled from the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Methods

The children were tested with a neuropsychological battery at age five. In addition to tests of intelligence, attention and executive functions, the follow up included extensive information on important covariates. The analyses were conducted using multiple linear regression and adjusted for parental educational level, maternal intelligence, age, parity, body mass index, smoking in pregnancy, alcohol consumption in pregnancy and child gender, child age, and examiner.

Main outcome measures

Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence‐Revised, the Test of Everyday Attention for Children at Five, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions scores.

Results

A consistent pattern of nonsignificantly lower scores were only observed for intelligence and executive functions in children born after fertility treatment or by subfertile parents when the results were unadjusted for maternal intelligence and parental educational level. When adjusted for these and other covariates, there were no significant mean differences in intelligence (mean difference –2.8, 95% CI –7.8, 2.2), overall attention (–0.1, 95% CI –0.6, 0.3), or parent‐rated executive functions (–0.1, 95% CI –3.0, 2.9) between children born after spontaneous conception and children born to parents conceiving after fertility treatment. Similarly, there were no significant mean differences in intelligence (mean difference 0.6, 95% CI –2.2, 3.4), overall attention (0.1, 95% CI –0.2, 0.4), or parent‐rated executive functions (1.0, 95% CI –1.8, 3.7) between children born after spontaneous conception and children born to subfertile parents waiting more than 12 months before conceiving naturally.

Conclusions

This study suggests that parental subfertility and fertility treatment are unrelated to offspring intelligence, attention and executive functions.
Sell‐Side Analyst Research and Stock Comovement
Authors: MUSLU VOLKAN , REBELLO MICHAEL , XU YEXIAO
Published: June 2014

We document that a stock's price around a recommendation or forecast covaries with prices of other stocks the issuing analyst covers. The effect of shared analyst coverage on stock price comovement extends beyond analyst activity days. A stock's daily returns covary with the returns of other stocks with which it shares analyst coverage. These links between stock price comovement and shared analyst coverage are consistent with the coverage‐specific information we find in earnings forecasts; analysts who cover both stocks in a pair expect future earnings of the stocks to be more highly correlated than do analysts who cover only one stock from the pair. Collectively, our evidence indicates that analyst research produces coverage‐specific spillovers that raise price comovement among stocks that share analyst coverage. The strength of these spillovers is comparable to spillovers from broad industry and market information in analyst research.
The effects of emotional intelligence and stress‐related presenteeism on nurses’ well‐being
Authors: Karimi Leila , Cheng Cindy , Bartram Timothy , Leggat Sandra G , Sarkeshik Sara
Published: June 2014

Emotional intelligence has long been associated with lower levels of stress and enhanced well‐being. This paper contributes empirically by examining the direct and moderating effects of emotional intelligence on the presenteeism and well‐being relationship. A sample of 312 registered nurses who provide home‐based care in an Australian community nursing service were recruited to take part in the study. Results from structural equation modelling revealed that emotional intelligence has direct and moderating effects on well‐being. Stress‐related presenteeism significantly predicted nurses’ well‐being. These findings provide further support for the positive effects that emotional intelligence can have on the effective management of job stress and the enhancement of nurse well‐being. We advocate more nursing training on emotional intelligence, and examine the potential benefits of emotional intelligence training and other related HR initiatives.