bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microscopic fungus-like organisms and fungi of the Słowiński National Park. I.
Authors: Adamska Jwona , Błaszkowski Janusz
Published: August 2014

In the years 1996- 1998, the occurrence of microscopic fungus-like organisms and fungi in plant associations of seven permanent plots of the Słowiński National Park, Poland, was investigated. The plant associations included Betuletum pubescentis,Betulo-Quercetum roboris, Cirsio-Polygoneum, Filipendulo-Geronietum, Myrico-Salicetum auritae, Phragmitetum australis, and Ribo nigri-Alnetum. A total of 1509 plant samples representing 272 species in 48 families were collected. Three hundred and ten species in 79 genera of fungus-like organisms and fungi were found. Most species were recognized in the warmer and more humid year 1998. The highest number of species represented mitosporic fungi, and the lowest came from the phylum Oomycota. The fungi relatively frequently found also were those of Basidiomycota. The greatest diversity of species of the microorganisms was revealed in the Cirsio-Polygonetum and Filipendulo-Geranietum plant associations.
Effect of soil fungi communities on the growth of damping-off pathogens in relation to incubation temperature and medium pH
Authors: Kacprzak Małgorzata , Mańka Małgorzata
Published: August 2014

Four communities of saprotrophic fungi from a forest nursery soil were tested for their effect on the in vitro growth of damping-off pathogens: Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. oxysporum and F. solani in relation to incubation temperature (5, 10, 15, 20 or 25°C) and medium pH (4.3; 5.6 or 7.5). The soil fungi communities weakly suppressed the growth of pathogens studied only at the lower temperatures (5 or 10°C). At the higher temperatures the communities tested supported the growth of all pathogens. The supporting effct was increasing with the increase of temperature, independently of pH. The effect was highly dependent on incubation temperature and not dependent on medium pH (P<0.05, analysis of variance). Duncan's multiple range tests indicate no significant differences (in the majority of combinations) in the effect of soil fungi communities on the in vitro growth of tested pathogens between temperatures 15, 20 and 25°C, independently of medium pH. The growth of the pathogens studied was suppressed mainly by: Gliocladium catenulatum, Trichoderma atroviride, T. koningii, T. viride, Truncalella truncata and Zygorrhynchus moelleri
The structure of fungal population from Galega orientalis root system formed as the result of fertilization
Authors: Cwalna-Ambroziak Bożena , Majchrzak Barbara
Published: August 2014

The composition of the fungal population colonizing the rhizosphere, the rhizoplane and the roots of Galega orientalis Lam. plants was studied. The following factors had an influence on the quantity and the composition of the species: fertilization, the analysed root zone and the date of the completed analyses.
Pine wood decomposition ability of different Phlebiopsis gigantea isolates
Authors: Łakomy Piotr , Zarakowski Tomasz
Published: August 2014

The ability of Phlebiopsis gigantea isolates, derived from different parts of Europe, to decompose pine wood was investigated. This ability was expressed by the loss of dry weight of pine wood blocks. Pine wood decay caused by the isolates of Ph. gigantea was similar. In addition there were no significant differences the decomposition ability at all the isolates, which were displayed as the loss of dry weight of wood. When the wood decay ability of two isolates were compared there were significant differences only between the less and the most effective isolates. This might be attributed to the low genetic variation among European population of this fungus. The isolates used in Finland and Poland as biopreparation were the most effective.
Aleuria aurantia - indole metabolites of fruit bodies, mycelial culture and culture medium
Authors: Węgiel Janina , Kohlmünzer Stanisław
Published: August 2014

The aim of present study was to investigate and compare indole metabolites of fruit bodies, mycelium cultivated in vitro and culture medium of the fungus Aleuria aurantia (Fr.) Fuck. By use of a number of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods several indole metabolites have been detected and identified among other the 3-indolebutyric acid was produced and extracted to the culture medium. Furthermore 3-indoleatonitrile and tryptophane degradative products have been found both in fruit bodies and mycelium.
Beyond Conflict and Spoilt Identities: How Rwandan Leaders Justify a Single Recategorization Model for Post-Conflict Reconciliation
Authors: Moss Sigrun Marie
Published: August 2014

Since 1994, the Rwandan government has attempted to remove the division of the population into the ‘ethnic’ identities Hutu, Tutsi and Twa and instead make the shared Rwandan identity salient. This paper explores how leaders justify the single recategorization model, based on nine in-depth semi-structured interviews with Rwandan national leaders (politicians and bureaucrats tasked with leading unity implementation) conducted in Rwanda over three months in 2011/2012. Thematic analysis revealed this was done through a meta-narrative focusing on the shared Rwandan identity. Three frames were found in use to “sell” this narrative where ethnic identities are presented as a) an alien construction; b) which was used to the disadvantage of the people; and c) non-essential social constructs. The material demonstrates the identity entrepreneurship behind the single recategorization approach: the definition of the category boundaries, the category content, and the strategies for controlling and overcoming alternative narratives. Rwandan identity is presented as essential and legitimate, and as offering a potential way for people to escape spoilt subordinate identities. The interviewed leaders insist Rwandans are all one, and that the single recategorization is the right path for Rwanda, but this approach has been criticised for increasing rather than decreasing intergroup conflict due to social identity threat. The Rwandan case offers a rare opportunity to explore leaders’ own narratives and framing of these ‘ethnic’ identities to justify the single recategorization approach.
SOX9 as a Predictor for Neurogenesis Potentiality of Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells
Authors: Wei Pei-Cih , Chao Angel , Peng Hsiu-Huei , Chao An-Shine , Chang Yao-Lung , Chang Shuenn-Dyh , Wang Hsin-Shih , Chang Yu-Jen , Tsai Ming-Song , Sieber Martin , Chen Hua-Chien , Chen Shu-Jen , Lee Yun-Shien , Hwang Shiaw-Min , Wang Tzu-Hao
Published: August 2014

Preclinical studies of amniotic fluid-derived cell therapy have been successful in the research of neurodegenerative diseases, peripheral nerve injury, spinal cord injury, and brain ischemia. Transplantation of human amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) into rat brain ventricles has shown improvement in symptoms of Parkinson's disease and also highlighted the minimal immune rejection risk of AFSCs, even between species. Although AFSCs appeared to be a promising resource for cell-based regenerative therapy, AFSCs contain a heterogeneous pool of distinct cell types, rendering each preparation of AFSCs unique. Identification of predictive markers for neuron-prone AFSCs is necessary before such stem cell-based therapeutics can become a reality. In an attempt to identify markers of AFSCs to predict their ability for neurogenesis, we performed a two-phase study. In the discovery phase of 23 AFSCs, we tested ZNF521/Zfp521, OCT6, SOX1, SOX2, SOX3, and SOX9 as predictive markers of AFSCs for neural differentiation. In the validation phase, the efficacy of these predictive markers was tested in independent sets of 18 AFSCs and 14 dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). We found that high expression of SOX9 in AFSCs is associated with good neurogenetic ability, and these positive correlations were confirmed in independent sets of AFSCs and DPSCs. Furthermore, knockdown of SOX9 in AFSCs inhibited their neuronal differentiation. In conclusion, the discovery of SOX9 as a predictive marker for neuron-prone AFSCs could expedite the selection of useful clones for regenerative medicine, in particular, in neurological diseases and injuries.
Identification of a new dust‐stratocumulus indirect effect over the tropical North Atlantic
Authors: Doherty Owen M. , Evan Amato T.
Published: August 2014

Over the tropical North Atlantic, during boreal summer, both stratocumulus clouds and mineral aerosols are ubiquitous. We find that low cloud fraction increases in response to high mineral aerosols loadings by 3% to 10% over much of the tropical North Atlantic, in International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISSCP) and Pathfinder Atmosphere Extended (PATMOSx) observations. Using the single‐column mode of the Community Earth System Model (CESM), we estimate that this indirect effect nets a surface cooling of approximately −3 Wm−2 to −12 Wm−2 per unit of dust optical depth (DAOD) increase in mineral aerosols, similar to observed radiative forcings of −4 Wm−2 to −6 Wm−2 per unit of DAOD in ISSCP and PATMOSx. Increases in stratocumulus clouds are linked to increases in atmospheric stability, reductions in boundary layer height, and moistening of the lower atmosphere in response to increased dust load. Mineral dust is shown to behave similarly to other absorbing aerosols in indirectly forcing a response in stratocumulus clouds.
Long‐lived explosive volcanism on Mercury
Authors: Thomas Rebecca J. , Rothery David A. , Conway Susan J. , Anand Mahesh
Published: August 2014

The duration and timing of volcanic activity on Mercury are key indicators of the thermal evolution of the planet and provide a valuable comparative example for other terrestrial bodies. The majority of effusive volcanism on Mercury appears to have occurred early in the planet's geological history (~4.1–3.55 Ga), but there is also evidence for explosive volcanism. Here we present evidence that explosive volcanism occurred from at least 3.9 Ga until less than a billion years ago and so was substantially more long‐lived than large‐scale lava plains formation. This indicates that thermal conditions within Mercury have allowed partial melting of silicates through the majority of its geological history and that the overall duration of volcanism on Mercury is similar to that of the Moon despite the different physical structure, geological history, and composition of the two bodies.
Electrospray Deposition of Energetic Polymer Nanocomposites with High Mass Particle Loadings: A Prelude to 3D Printing of Rocket Motors
Authors: Huang Chuan , Jian Guoqiang , DeLisio Jeffery B. , Wang Haiyang , Zachariah Michael R.
Published: August 2014

One of the challenges in the use of energetic nanoparticles within a polymer matrix is the difficulty in processing by traditional mixing methods. In this paper, electrospray deposition is employed to create high loadings of aluminum nanoparticles (Al‐NPs) in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) reactive composite films. The deposited films containing up to 50 wt% Al are found to be crack free and mechanically flexible. Thermochemical behavior characterized by thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis shows that the addition of Al‐NPs sharply reduces the onset decomposition temperature due to a pre‐ignition reaction occurring in the film. The combustion propagation velocity in air at three different mass loading of Al‐NPs shows burning rates of 5, 16, and 23 cm s−1 for loadings of 16.7, 30, and 50 wt% Al‐NPs. The results suggest electrospray deposition as a direct approach to make bulk polymer composites containing high metal particle mass loading and may be a prelude to 3D printing of rocket motors.
Patterning of Epitaxial Perovskites from Micro and Nano Molded Stencil Masks
Authors: Nijland Maarten , George Antony , Thomas Sean , Houwman Evert P. , Xia Jing , Blank Dave H. A. , Rijnders Guus , Koster Gertjan , ten Elshof Johan E.
Published: August 2014

A process is developed that combines soft lithographic molding with pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to make heteroepitaxial patterns of functional perovskite oxide materials. Micro‐ and nanostructures of sacrificial ZnO are made by micro molding in capillaries (MiMiC) and nano transfer molding, respectively, and used to screen the single crystalline substrates during subsequent PLD. ZnO is used because of its compatibility with the high temperatures reached during PLD and because of the ease of its removal after use by benefiting from its amphoteric nature. Sub‐micrometer sized lines of La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 are made by the transfer molding approach, preserving the anisotropic features expected for a fully oriented thin film and taking account for the magnetostatic contribution from the line shapes. Different patterns of SrRuO3 are made with lateral dimensions of a few micrometers having individual features for which electrical isolation is illustrated. The bottom‐up soft lithographic methods can be compliantly utilized for making epitaxial structures of various shapes and sizes in the μm down to the nm range, and offer unique opportunities for fundamental studies as well as for realizing technological applications.
Origin of Surface Coating Effect for MgO on LiCoO2 to Improve the Interfacial Reaction between Electrode and Electrolyte
Authors: Orikasa Yuki , Takamatsu Daiko , Yamamoto Kentaro , Koyama Yukinori , Mori Shinichiro , Masese Titus , Mori Takuya , Minato Taketoshi , Tanida Hajime , Uruga Tomoya , Ogumi Zempachi , Uchimoto Yoshiharu
Published: August 2014

Surface coating on lithium‐ion battery cathodes improves their durability at high potentials, which is a well‐known practical application. However, the mechanism is still unclear because the coating influences the electrode/electrolyte interface at a few nanometer‐scale and direct observation of the interface under real operating conditions of a battery is challenging. This study reveals the mechanism of the surface coating effect on lithium‐ion battery cathodes by using in operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) on well‐defined MgO‐coated LiCoO2 thin‐film electrodes prepared via pulsed laser deposition. Total‐reflection in operando XAS measurements reveal that LiCoO2 forms a reductive phase at the interface between the uncoated‐LiCoO2 electrode and the electrolyte, while the MgO coating layer inhibits the redox process, leading to an improvement in the cycle performance of the battery. Depth‐resolved in operando XAS measurements indicate that a solid solution of the magnesium phase forms at the LiCoO2 surface upon MgO coating. Magnesium ions function as pillars to stabilize the layered structure at the interface between the LiCoO2 electrode and the electrolyte for delithiated states upon cycling at potentials.
Near‐Infrared Light‐Induced Photocurrent from a (NaYF4:Yb‐Tm)/(Cu2O) Composite Thin Film
Authors: Jia Hong , Zheng Shu Hong , Xu Cheng , Chen Wei Bo , Wang Jue Chen , Liu Xiao Feng , Qiu Jian Rong
Published: August 2014

Utilization of photons of sub‐bandgap energy, mostly near‐infrared (NIR) photo­ns, is highly desirable for photovoltaic devices. We show that (NaYF4:Yb‐Tm)/(Cu2O) composite films formed by electrodeposition exhibit robust photoactive current generation under NIR light excitation. The composite films consist of homogeneous crystalline particles of the fluoride and Cu2O in sub‐micrometer size. From spectroscopic characterization, it is found that the NaYF4:Yb‐Tm layer in the composite film converts NIR radiation by up‐conversion into visible emission, which is efficiently absorbed by the covering semiconducting Cu2O film, producing photoelectrons. Accordingly, the composite films exhibit highly photoactive current generation by means of a photoelectrochemical process driven by NIR irradiation. The methodology demonstrated here may have certain implications for the utilization of NIR radiation in solar cells, photocatalysts, and infrared photodetectors.
Magnetic nanowire synthesis: A chemical engineering approach
Authors: Nassima Ouar , Samir Farhat , Silvana Mercone , Fatih Zighem , Frédéric Schoenstein , Noureddine Jouini , Ivaylo Hinkov , Guillaume Wang , Christian Ricolleau
Published: August 2014

Bimetallic one‐dimensional cobalt–nickel magnetic nanowires capped on both sides with conical heads were synthesized using the polyol process. Then, the process was scaled up to produce magnetic nanowires in sample aliquots of approximately 20 g. The scale‐up strategy involved improving the mixing reagents using either axial or radial mixing configurations and was experimentally validated by comparing the structural and magnetic properties of the resulting nanowires. The results indicated a connection between the flow patterns and the size and shape of the nanowires. When a Rushton turbine was used, shorter nanowires with unconventional small heads were obtained. Because the demagnetizing field is strongly localized near or inside these heads, the coercive field was enhanced nearly twofold. These results were confirmed by micromagnetic simulations using isolated nanowires. In addition, the development of flow patterns at the small and pilot scales was predicted and compared using three‐dimensional turbulent computational fluid dynamics simulations. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 304–316, 2015
UNIFAC model for ionic liquid‐CO (H2) systems: An experimental and modeling study on gas solubility
Authors: Lei Zhigang , Dai Chengna , Yang Qian , Zhu Jiqin , Chen Biaohua
Published: August 2014

The universal quasichemical functional‐group activity coefficients (UNIFAC) model for ionic liquids (ILs) has become notably popular because of its simplicity and availability via modern process simulation softwares. In this work, new group binary interaction parameters (αmn and αnm) between CO (H2) and IL groups were obtained by correlating the solubility data in pure ILs at high temperatures (above 273.2 K) collected from the literature. the solubility of CO in [BMIM]+[BF4]−, [OMIM]+[BF4]−, [OMIM]+[Tf2N]−, and their mixtures, as well as that of H2 in [EMIM]+[BF4]−, [BMIM]+[BF4]−, [OMIM]+[Tf2N]−, and their mixtures, at temperatures from 243.2 to 333.2 K and pressures up to 6.0 MPa were measured. The UNIFAC model was observed to well predict the solubility in pure and mixed ILs at both high (above 273.2 K) and low (below 273.2 K) temperatures. Moreover, the selectivity of CO (or H2) to CO2 in ILs increases with decreasing temperature, indicating that low temperatures favor for gas separation. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J 60: 4222–4231, 2014
Prenatal findings in carpenter syndrome and a novel mutation in RAB23
Authors: Haye Damien , Collet Corinne , Sembely‐Taveau Catherine , Haddad Georges , Denis Christelle , Soulé Nathalie , Suc Annie‐Laure , Listrat Antoine , Toutain Annick
Published: August 2014

Carpenter syndrome is caused by mutations of the RAB23 gene. To date, 12 distinct mutations have been identified among 34 patients from 26 unrelated families. We report on the prenatal findings in a fetus with Carpenter syndrome with a novel RAB23 mutation. Cystic hygroma, bowed femora, abnormal skull shape and a complex heart defect were seen on ultrasound scan, and Carpenter syndrome was diagnosed at birth. Craniosynostosis and preaxial hexadactyly of the feet were retrospectively detectable on the fetal CT scan. Sequencing of RAB23 identified a homozygous mutation leading to skipping of exon 6 and premature termination codon (c.481G > C; p.Val161Leufs*16). This observation illustrates the difficulty of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of Carpenter syndrome. To our knowledge, this diagnosis was suggested on ultrasound scan in only one prior patient, although in five other patients abnormal skull shape and variable findings, mainly limb anomalies including bowed femora in one case, were described during the pregnancy. Heart defect and bowed femora are rare postnatal findings. The diagnosis of Carpenter syndrome should therefore be considered on prenatal imaging in cases of bowed femora and/or cardiac defect associated with abnormal skull shape. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The ARID1B phenotype: What we have learned so far
Authors: Santen Gijs W.E. , Clayton‐Smith Jill ,   the ARID1B‐CSS consortium
Published: August 2014

Evidence is now accumulating from a number of sequencing studies that ARID1B not only appears to be one of the most frequently mutated intellectual disability (ID) genes, but that the range of phenotypes caused by ARID1B mutations seems to be extremely wide. Thus, it is one of the most interesting ID genes identified so far in the exome sequencing era. In this article, we review the literature surrounding ARID1B and attempt to delineate the ARID1B phenotype. The vast majority of published ARID1B patients have been ascertained through studies of Coffin–Siris syndrome (CSS), which leads to bias when documenting the frequencies of phenotypic features. Additional observations of those individuals ascertained through exome sequencing studies helps in delineation of the broader clinical phenotype. We are currently establishing an ARID1B consortium, aimed at collecting ARID1B patients identified through genome‐wide sequencing strategies. We hope that this endeavor will eventually lead to a more comprehensive view of the ARID1B phenotype. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
De novo KCNB1 mutations in epileptic encephalopathy
Authors: Torkamani Ali , Bersell Kevin , Jorge Benjamin S. , Bjork Robert L. , Friedman Jennifer R. , Bloss Cinnamon S. , Cohen Julie , Gupta Siddharth , Naidu Sakkubai , Vanoye Carlos G. , George Alfred L. , Kearney Jennifer A.
Published: August 2014

Objective

Numerous studies have demonstrated increased load of de novo copy number variants or single nucleotide variants in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including epileptic encephalopathies, intellectual disability, and autism.

Methods

We searched for de novo mutations in a family quartet with a sporadic case of epileptic encephalopathy with no known etiology to determine the underlying cause using high‐coverage whole exome sequencing (WES) and lower‐coverage whole genome sequencing. Mutations in additional patients were identified by WES. The effect of mutations on protein function was assessed in a heterologous expression system.

Results

We identified a de novo missense mutation in KCNB1 that encodes the KV2.1 voltage‐gated potassium channel. Functional studies demonstrated a deleterious effect of the mutation on KV2.1 function leading to a loss of ion selectivity and gain of a depolarizing inward cation conductance. Subsequently, we identified 2 additional patients with epileptic encephalopathy and de novo KCNB1 missense mutations that cause a similar pattern of KV2.1 dysfunction.

Interpretation

Our genetic and functional evidence demonstrate that KCNB1 mutation can result in early onset epileptic encephalopathy. This expands the locus heterogeneity associated with epileptic encephalopathies and suggests that clinical WES may be useful for diagnosis of epileptic encephalopathies of unknown etiology. Ann Neurol 2014;76:529–540
Cerebral localization of impaired phonological retrieval during rhyme judgment
Authors: Pillay Sara B. , Stengel Benjamin C. , Humphries Colin , Book Diane S. , Binder Jeffrey R.
Published: August 2014

Objective

Computation of a prearticulatory phonological representation (phonological access, or phonological retrieval) is an essential process in speech production whose neural localization is not clear. This study combined a specific behavioral measure of phonological access and multivariate voxel‐based lesion‐symptom mapping (VLSM) in a series of left hemisphere stroke patients to identify brain regions critical for this process.

Methods

Phonological access was assessed in 40 chronic ischemic stroke patients using a silent rhyming task to avoid confounds with motor planning and articulation deficits. Additional covariates were incorporated in the VLSM analysis to control for orthographic and working memory demands of the rhyming task, and for age, education, and total lesion volume. The resulting t statistic maps were thresholded at voxelwise p < 0.001 and cluster‐corrected at a familywise error of p < 0.05.

Results

Phonological access impairment was correlated with damage to a focal region of cortex and white matter caudal to the posterior sylvian fissure, which included the posterior supramarginal gyrus and adjacent anterior angular gyrus, planum temporale, and posterior superior temporal gyrus. No correlation was observed with Broca's area, insula, or sensorimotor cortex. An additional VLSM showed no correlation between damage in this posterior perisylvian region and spoken word comprehension.

Interpretation

This is the first demonstration of a specific lesion correlate for phonological access impairment. Although this posterior perisylvian region overlaps with some versions of the classical Wernicke area, the present results demonstrate its involvement in prearticulatory phonological production rather than speech perception or lexical–semantic processes. Ann Neurol 2014;76:738–746
Self‐Assembly of Molecular Borromean Rings from Bimetallic Coordination Rectangles
Authors: Huang Sheng‐Li , Lin Yue‐Jian , Li Zhen‐Hua , Jin Guo‐Xin
Published: August 2014

In contrast to conventional stepwise synthesis of molecular Borromean rings, a self‐assembly synthetic method which proceeds without the aid of a template has been developed. In the formation of molecular rectangles, by adjustment of the long‐arm length of the rectangles, a series of size‐dependent Borromean‐link frameworks were constructed. Both the shortest length of two arms and the relative proportion of the length of the long arm to that of the short arm play a key role in the formation of Borromean rings. DFT calculations were used to provide theoretical support for the formation of discrete interlocked frameworks.
Hydrogen from Formic Acid through Its Selective Disproportionation over Sodium Germanate—A Non‐Transition‐Metal Catalysis System
Authors: Amos Ruth I. J. , Heinroth Falk , Chan Bun , Zheng Sisi , Haynes Brian S. , Easton Christopher J. , Masters Anthony F. , Radom Leo , Maschmeyer Thomas
Published: August 2014

A robust catalyst for the selective dehydrogenation of formic acid to liberate hydrogen gas has been designed computationally, and also successfully demonstrated experimentally. This is the first such catalyst not based on transition metals, and it exhibits very encouraging performance. It represents an important step towards the use of renewable formic acid as a hydrogen‐storage and transport vector in fuel and energy applications.
Hot‐Electron‐Transfer Enhancement for the Efficient Energy Conversion of Visible Light
Authors: Yu Sungju , Kim Yong Hwa , Lee Su Young , Song Hyeon Don , Yi Jongheop
Published: August 2014

Great strides have been made in enhancing solar energy conversion by utilizing plasmonic nanostructures in semiconductors. However, current generation with plasmonic nanostructures is still somewhat inefficient owing to the ultrafast decay of plasmon‐induced hot electrons. It is now shown that the ultrafast decay of hot electrons across Au nanoparticles can be significantly reduced by strong coupling with CdS quantum dots and by a Schottky junction with perovskite SrTiO3 nanoparticles. The designed plasmonic nanostructure with three distinct components enables a hot‐electron‐assisted energy cascade for electron transfer, CdS→Au→SrTiO3, as demonstrated by steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. Consequently, hot‐electron transfer enabled the efficient production of H2 from water as well as significant electron harvesting under irradiation with visible light of various wavelengths. These findings provide a new approach for overcoming the low efficiency that is typically associated with plasmonic nanostructures.
Self‐Assembly of a Giant Molecular Solomon Link from 30 Subcomponents
Authors: Schouwey Clément , Holstein Julian J. , Scopelliti Rosario , Zhurov Konstantin O. , Nagornov Konstantin O. , Tsybin Yury O. , Smart Oliver S. , Bricogne Gérard , Severin Kay
Published: August 2014

The synthesis of topologically complex structures, such as links and knots, is one of the current challenges in supramolecular chemistry. The so‐called Solomon link consists of two doubly interlocked rings. Despite being a rather simple link from a topological point of view, only few molecular versions of this link have been described so far. Here, we report the quantitative synthesis of a giant molecular Solomon link from 30 subcomponents. The highly charged structure is formed by assembly of 12 cis‐blocked Pt2+ complexes, six Cu+ ions, and 12 rigid N‐donor ligands. Each of the two interlocked rings is composed of six repeating Pt(ligand) units, while the six Cu+ ions connect the two rings. With a molecular weight of nearly 12 kDa and a diameter of 44.2 Å, this complex is the largest non‐DNA‐based Solomon link described so far. Furthermore, it represents a molecular version of a “stick link”.
l‐Proline: an efficient N,O‐bidentate ligand for copper‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of 2‐iodoanilines with nitriles for the synthesis of benzimidazoles
Authors: Yu Jiatao , Xia Yonggen , Lu Ming
Published: August 2014

A novel and highly efficient copper‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization reaction of 2‐iodoanilines with nitriles for the synthesis of benzimidazoles with l‐proline as the ligand has been developed. A variety of substituted benzimidazole derivatives can be synthesized with high yields using this approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Olive leaf extract as a crosslinking agent for the preparation of electrospun zein fibers
Authors: Erdogan Ipek , Demir Merve , Bayraktar Oguz
Published: August 2014

Incorporating active agents, reinforcing structure by crosslinking, thus changing release properties, can be listed as possible modifications in preparation methods of biopolymer fibers. This study introduces oleuropein, major component of olive leaf extract (OLE), as a natural functional crosslinker for electrospun zein fibers, owing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Incorporation of OLE causes morphological and structural changes indicated by a decrease in fiber diameter up to 27%, an increase in intensity of NH bending region due to interaction with –OH groups and observation of characteristic oleuropein bands. Extract addition also enhances thermal stability. Zein fibers without OLE is fully degraded at 600°C, whereas 10% of OLE loaded zein fibers is left undegraded. Fifty percent of initial phenolic content loaded into fibers is released which indicate the effect of OLE incorporation as accumulation of oleuropein. OLE‐incorporated fibers immersed in PBS are less fused than pure zein fibers, due to the crosslinking effect. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41338.
Using statistical shape theory for the monitoring of nonlinear profiles
Authors: Cano Javier , Moguerza Javier M. , Psarakis Stelios , Yannacopoulos Athanasios N.
Published: August 2014

The quality of a process or product can be characterized by a functional relationship between a response variable and one or more explanatory variables. In this work, we develop a novel hybrid nonparametric–parametric procedure for the monitoring of nonlinear profiles, that is, realizations of a noisy nonlinear functional relationship between variables. In particular, we focus on the ‘shape’ property of profiles as a way of measuring their quality. Starting from a nonparametric reference curve, we select our model from a universe of parametric deformations of such a curve with the property of preserving certain important shape characteristics. To this aim, we design a metric based on the solution of a related optimization problem. In addition, we show that the problem is well posed from a theoretical point of view. Finally, we illustrate the performance of the proposal with numerical examples from simulated and real environments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for the production of L‐ornithine
Authors: Kim Seo Yun , Lee Joungmin , Lee Sang Yup
Published: August 2014

L‐ornithine is a non‐essential amino acid for various industrial applications in food industry. In this study, Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 was metabolically engineered for the production of L‐ornithine. First, the proB and argF genes were deleted to block the competitive branch pathway and to block the conversion of L‐ornithine to citrulline, respectively. In addition, the argR gene encoding the regulatory repressor of the L‐arginine operon was also deleted. The resulting strain produced 230 mg/L of L‐ornithine from glucose in flask culture. This base strain was further engineered by the plasmid‐based overexpression of the argCJBD genes from C. glutamicum ATCC 21831, which resulted in the production of 7.19 g/L of L‐ornithine. To enrich the NADPH pool, the carbon flux was redirected towards the pentose phosphate pathway by changing the start codons of the pgi and zwf genes and replacing the native promoter of the tkt operon with the strong sod promoter. Fed‐batch cultivation of this final strain YW06 (pSY223) allowed production of 51.5 g/L of L‐ornithine in 40 h with the overall productivity of 1.29 g/L/h. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the possibility of efficiently producing L‐ornithine by metabolically engineered C. glutamicum. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 416–421. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluorescent protein‐based molecular beacons by zinc finger protein‐guided assembly
Authors: Blackstock Daniel , Sun Qing , Chen Wilfred
Published: August 2014

Molecular beacons (MBs) are stem‐loop structured oligonucleotides capable of sensitive and specific nucleic acid detection. However, large‐scale usage of MBs for high throughput applications has been hindered by the many expensive and tedious chemical modifications. In this paper, we reported a new class of fluorescent protein‐based molecular beacons (FP‐MBs) based on zinc finger protein‐guided assembly. The design consisted of a single oligonucleotide which forms a hairpin structure with an extending arm on both ends for the attachment of two different fluorescent proteins upon simple mixing. This new design allows for simplified MB assembly and modifications for a wide range of applications. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 236–241. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development and validation of a highly sensitive LC‐MS/MS method for the determination of dexamethasone in nude mice plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Yuan Yin , Zhou Xuan , Li Jian , Ye Suofu , Ji Xiwei , Li Liang , Zhou Tianyan , Lu Wei
Published: August 2014

In the current study, a simple, sensitive and rapid analytical method for the determination of dexamethasone was developed and applied to a pharmacokinetic study in nude mice. Using testosterone as an internal standard, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) approach after one‐step precipitation with acetonitrile was validated and used to determine the concentrations of dexamethasone in nude mice plasma. The method utilized a simple isocratic reverse phase separation over a Dionex C18 column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile–water (40:60, v/v). The analyte was detected by a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer via electrospray and multiple reaction monitoring was employed to select both dexamethasone at m/z 393.0/147.1 and testosterone at m/z 289.5/97.3 in the positive ion mode. The calibration curves were linear (r >0.99) ranging from 2.5 to 500 ng/mL with a lower limit of quantitation of 2.5 ng/mL. The relative standard deviation ranged from 1.69 to 9.22% while the relative error ranged from −1.92 to −8.46%. This method was successfully applied to a preclinical pharmacokinetic study of dexamethasone and its pharmacokinetics was characterized by a two‐compartment model with first‐order absorption in female nude mice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Short Antimicrobial Lipo‐α/γ‐AA Hybrid Peptides
Authors: Li Yaqiong , Smith Christina , Wu Haifan , Teng Peng , Shi Yan , Padhee Shruti , Jones Torey , Nguyen Anh‐My , Cao Chuanhai , Yin Hang , Cai Jianfeng
Published: August 2014

The last two decades have seen the rise of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to combat emerging antibiotic resistance. Herein we report the solid‐phase synthesis of short lipidated α/γ‐AA hybrid peptides. This family of lipo‐chimeric peptidomimetics displays potent and broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity against a range of multi‐drug resistant Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. These lipo‐α/γ‐AA hybrid peptides also demonstrate high biological specificity, with no hemolytic activity towards red blood cells. Fluorescence microscopy suggests that these lipo‐α/γ‐AA chimeric peptides can mimic the mode of action of AMPs and kill bacterial pathogens via membrane disintegration. As the composition of these chimeric peptides is simple, therapeutic development could be economically feasible and amenable for a variety of antimicrobial applications.
Mesoporous Carbons Functionalized with Aromatic, Aliphatic, and Cyclic Amines, and their Superior Catalytic Activity
Authors: Chakravarti Rajashree , Kantam M. Lakshmi , Iwai Hideo , Al‐deyab Salem S. , Ariga Katsuhiko , Park Dae‐Hwan , Choy Jin‐Ho , Lakhi Kripal Singh , Vinu Ajayan
Published: August 2014

A highly ordered mesoporous carbon has been successfully functionalized with various amino compounds including aliphatic, aromatic, and cyclic diamines via a simple C‐N coupling process. The bonding between the carbon wall structure and the amino groups was confirmed by FT‐IR, Raman, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The basicity of the materials can be tuned by simply changing the nature of the diamines on the carbon walls. The catalytic activity of the material as a solid base in the aza‐Michael reaction of amines to activated alkenes was investigated. The functionalized materials were found to be highly active at room temperature and without any solvents, selective and can be recycled several times with consistent activity. The nature of the amine groups on the carbons significantly affects the formation of the β‐amino carbonyl compounds. Among functionalized carbons, carbon with aliphatic diamines showed the highest performance with a high yield of β‐amino carbonyl compounds.
Quinone‐Modified Surfaces for Enhanced Enzyme–Electrode Interactions in Pyrroloquinoline‐Quinone‐Dependent Glucose Dehydrogenase Anodes
Authors: Babanova Sofia , Matanovic Ivana , Atanassov Plamen
Published: August 2014

An approach for enhancing the enzyme–electrode interface reactions with pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)‐dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) is described in this study. Modification of carbonaceous electrodes with ubiquinone or its functional analogues (1,2‐ and 1,4‐benzoquinones) that have the appropriate redox potential to provide a driving force for an electron transfer to occur, along with fast electron‐transfer rate through these molecules, creates an “electron sink” on the electrode surface that can pull electrons from the cofactor, increasing the electron‐transfer rate and generating higher current densities. Several important parameters are experimentally evaluated and/or calculated using density functional theory. Among the quinones investigated, 1,4‐benzoquinone has the greatest influence on the PQQ‐dependent GDH anodes, yielding 5.1‐fold higher current densities on single‐walled, and 3.3‐fold on multi‐walled carbon nanotube papers in comparison to unmodified PQQ‐dependent GDH anodes.
Complexation‐Induced Supramolecular Assembly Drives Metal‐Ion Extraction
Authors: Ellis Ross J. , Meridiano Yannick , Muller Julie , Berthon Laurence , Guilbaud Philippe , Zorz Nicole , Antonio Mark R. , Demars Thomas , Zemb Thomas
Published: August 2014

Combining experiment with theory reveals the role of self‐assembly and complexation in metal‐ion transfer through the water–oil interface. The coordinating metal salt Eu(NO3)3 was extracted from water into oil by a lipophilic neutral amphiphile. Molecular dynamics simulations were coupled to experimental spectroscopic and X‐ray scattering techniques to investigate how local coordination interactions between the metal ion and ligands in the organic phase combine with long‐range interactions to produce spontaneous changes in the solvent microstructure. Extraction of the Eu3+–3(NO3−) ion pairs involves incorporation of the “hard” metal complex into the core of “soft” aggregates. This seeds the formation of reverse micelles that draw the water and “free” amphiphile into nanoscale hydrophilic domains. The reverse micelles interact through attractive van der Waals interactions and coalesce into rod‐shaped polynuclear EuIII‐containing aggregates with metal centers bridged by nitrate. These preorganized hydrophilic domains, containing high densities of O‐donor ligands and anions, provide improved EuIII solvation environments that help drive interfacial transfer, as is reflected by the increasing EuIII partitioning ratios (oil/aqueous) despite the organic phase approaching saturation. For the first time, this multiscale approach links metal‐ion coordination with nanoscale structure to reveal the free‐energy balance that drives the phase transfer of neutral metal salts.
New Synthesis of α′‐Hydroxydienones
Authors: Tata Rama Rao , Hampton Carissa S. , Altenhofer Erich F. , Topinka Michael , Ying Weijiang , Gao Xuefeng , Harmata Michael
Published: August 2014

Herein, attempted oxidation of selected allenols with PCC affording α′‐hydroxydienones rather than simple oxidation products is described. The formation of the products observed is rationalized via a series of sigmatropic shifts, followed by hydrolysis.
Wheat straw fibre size effects on the mechanical properties of polypropylene composites
Authors: Fatoni Rois , Simon Leonardo , Elkamel Ali , Almansoori Ali
Published: August 2014

This study presents the work on process‐mixture design of an experiment for wheat straw polypropylene. Fibre length and aspect ratio are two process variables that have significant impact on the mechanical properties of the composite material. Wheat straw was powdered to produce fibres, and those were fractionated into different fibre fractions to create grades with distinct fibre length and aspect ratio. These grades of fibres were used to evaluate the performance of those fractions as grades of straw fibre with respect to the performance in the final thermoplastic composites. The composite samples were made from each fibre grade at two different fibre loadings: 30 and 50 wt. %. One of the important findings of this work is the pattern of fibre size reduction during the compounding processes. These patterns can be used to correlate and optimise the utilisation of different fibre sizes of straw fibre for different applications in thermoplastic composites. For example, fibres with initial width of about 360 µm are the best fibres when a balance between modulus and impact properties is needed.
Adaptive fuzzy control‐based projective synchronization of uncertain nonaffine chaotic systems
Authors: Boulkroune Abdesselem , Bouzeriba Amel , Hamel Sara , Bouden Toufik
Published: August 2014

This article aims to introduce a projective synchronization approach based on adaptive fuzzy control for a class of perturbed uncertain multivariable nonaffine chaotic systems. The fuzzy‐logic systems are employed to approximate online the uncertain functions. A Lyapunov approach is used to design the parameter adaptation laws and to demonstrate the boundedness of all signals of the closed‐loop system as well as the convergence of the synchronization errors to bounded residual sets. Finally, numerical simulation results are presented to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed synchronization system based on fuzzy adaptive controller. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 180–192, 2015
Asymptotic synchronization of continuous/discrete complex dynamical networks by optimal partitioning method
Authors: Rakkiyappan Rajan , Sasirekha Rathinasamy
Published: August 2014

The synchronization problem for both continuous and discrete‐time complex dynamical networks with time‐varying delays is investigated. Using optimal partitioning method, time‐varying delays are partitioned into l subintervals and generalized results are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). New delay‐dependent synchronization criteria in terms of LMIs are derived by constructing appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional, reciprocally convex combination technique and some inequality techniques. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed synchronization criteria. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 193–210, 2015
Choosing and using diversity indices: insights for ecological applications from the German Biodiversity Exploratories
Authors: Morris E. Kathryn , Caruso Tancredi , Buscot François , Fischer Markus , Hancock Christine , Maier Tanja S. , Meiners Torsten , Müller Caroline , Obermaier Elisabeth , Prati Daniel , Socher Stephanie A. , Sonnemann Ilja , Wäschke Nicole , Wubet Tesfaye , Wurst Susanne , Rillig Matthias C.
Published: August 2014

Biodiversity, a multidimensional property of natural systems, is difficult to quantify partly because of the multitude of indices proposed for this purpose. Indices aim to describe general properties of communities that allow us to compare different regions, taxa, and trophic levels. Therefore, they are of fundamental importance for environmental monitoring and conservation, although there is no consensus about which indices are more appropriate and informative. We tested several common diversity indices in a range of simple to complex statistical analyses in order to determine whether some were better suited for certain analyses than others. We used data collected around the focal plant Plantago lanceolata on 60 temperate grassland plots embedded in an agricultural landscape to explore relationships between the common diversity indices of species richness (S), Shannon's diversity (H'), Simpson's diversity (D1), Simpson's dominance (D2), Simpson's evenness (E), and Berger–Parker dominance (BP). We calculated each of these indices for herbaceous plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, aboveground arthropods, belowground insect larvae, and P. lanceolata molecular and chemical diversity. Including these trait‐based measures of diversity allowed us to test whether or not they behaved similarly to the better studied species diversity. We used path analysis to determine whether compound indices detected more relationships between diversities of different organisms and traits than more basic indices. In the path models, more paths were significant when using H', even though all models except that with E were equally reliable. This demonstrates that while common diversity indices may appear interchangeable in simple analyses, when considering complex interactions, the choice of index can profoundly alter the interpretation of results. Data mining in order to identify the index producing the most significant results should be avoided, but simultaneously considering analyses using multiple indices can provide greater insight into the interactions in a system.