bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomics of yeast telomerase identified Cdc48-Npl4-Ufd1 and Ufd4 as regulators of Est1 and telomere length
Authors: Lin Kah-Wai , McDonald Karin R. , Guise Amanda J. , Chan Angela , Cristea Ileana M. , Zakian Virginia A.
Published: September 2015

Almost 400 genes affect yeast telomere length, including Est1, which is critical for recruitment and activation of telomerase. Here we use mass spectrometry to identify novel telomerase regulators by their co-purification with the telomerase holoenzyme. In addition to all known subunits, over 100 proteins are telomerase associated, including all three subunits of the essential Cdc48-Npl4-Ufd1 complex as well as three E3 ubiquitin ligases. The Cdc48 complex is evolutionarily conserved and targets ubiquitinated proteins for degradation. Est1 levels are ∼40-fold higher in cells with reduced Cdc48, yet, paradoxically, telomeres are shorter. Furthermore, Est1 is ubiquitinated and its cell cycle-regulated abundance is lost in Cdc48-deficient cells. Deletion of the telomerase-associated E3 ligase, Ufd4, in cdc48-3 cells further increases Est1 abundance but suppresses the telomere length phenotype of the single mutant. These data argue that, in concert with Ufd4, the Cdc48 complex regulates telomerase by controlling the level and activity of Est1.
The metabolic response of marine copepods to environmental warming and ocean acidification in the absence of food
Authors: Mayor Daniel J. , Sommer Ulf , Cook Kathryn B. , Viant Mark R.
Published: September 2015

Marine copepods are central to the productivity and biogeochemistry of marine ecosystems. Nevertheless, the direct and indirect effects of climate change on their metabolic functioning remain poorly understood. Here, we use metabolomics, the unbiased study of multiple low molecular weight organic metabolites, to examine how the physiology of Calanus spp. is affected by end-of-century global warming and ocean acidification scenarios. We report that the physiological stresses associated with incubation without food over a 5-day period greatly exceed those caused directly by seawater temperature or pH perturbations. This highlights the need to contextualise the results of climate change experiments by comparison to other, naturally occurring stressors such as food deprivation, which is being exacerbated by global warming. Protein and lipid metabolism were up-regulated in the food-deprived animals, with a novel class of taurine-containing lipids and the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, changing significantly over the duration of our experiment. Copepods derive these PUFAs by ingesting diatoms and flagellated microplankton respectively. Climate-driven changes in the productivity, phenology and composition of microplankton communities and hence the availability of these fatty acids, therefore have the potential to influence the ability of copepods to survive starvation and other environmental stressors.
Comprehensive urinary metabolomic profiling and identification of potential noninvasive marker for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Luan Hemi , Liu Liang-Feng , Tang Zhi , Zhang Manwen , Chua Ka-Kit , Song Ju-Xian , Mok Vincent C.T. , Li Min , Cai Zongwei
Published: September 2015

Urine metabolic phenotyping has been associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, few studies using a comprehensive metabolomics approach have investigated the correlation between changes in the urinary markers and the progression of clinical symptoms in PD. A comprehensive metabolomic study with robust quality control procedures was performed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC - MS) and liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry (LC - MS) to characterize the urinary metabolic phenotypes of idiopathic PD patients at three stages (early, middle and advanced) and normal control subjects, with the aim of discovering potential urinary metabolite markers for the diagnosis of idiopathic PD. Both GC-MS and LC-MS metabolic profiles of idiopathic PD patients differed significantly from those of normal control subjects. 18 differentially expressed metabolites were identified as constituting a unique metabolic marker associated with the progression of idiopathic PD. Related metabolic pathway variations were observed in branched chain amino acid metabolism, glycine derivation, steroid hormone biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism. Comprehensive, successive metabolomic profiling revealed changes in the urinary markers associated with progression of idiopathic PD. This profiling relies on noninvasive sampling and is complementary to existing clinical modalities.
Lyophilization protects [FeFe]-hydrogenases against O2-induced H-cluster degradation
Authors: Noth Jens , Kositzki Ramona , Klein Kathrin , Winkler Martin , Haumann Michael , Happe Thomas
Published: September 2015

Nature has developed an impressive repertoire of metal-based enzymes that perform complex chemical reactions under moderate conditions. Catalysts that produce molecular hydrogen (H2) are particularly promising for renewable energy applications. Unfortunately, natural and chemical H2-catalysts are often irreversibly degraded by molecular oxygen (O2). Here we present a straightforward procedure based on freeze-drying (lyophilization), that turns [FeFe]-hydrogenases, which are excellent H2-producers, but typically extremely O2-sensitive in solution, into enzymes that are fully resistant against O2. Complete dryness protects and conserves both, the [FeFe]-hydrogenase proteins and their inorganic active-site cofactor (H-cluster), when exposed to 100% O2 for days. The full H2-formation capacity is restored after solvation of the lyophilized enzymes. However, even minimal moisturizing re-establishes O2-sensitivity. The dry [FeFe]-hydrogenase material is superior also for advanced spectroscopic investigations on the H-cluster reaction mechanism. Our method provides a convenient way for long-term storage and impacts on potential biotechnological hydrogen production applications of hydrogenase enzymes.
In vitro and in vivo Evaluation of Synergism between Anti-Tubercular Spectinamides and Non-Classical Tuberculosis Antibiotics
Authors: Bruhn David F. , Scherman Michael S. , Liu Jiuyu , Scherbakov Dimitri , Meibohm Bernd , Böttger Erik C. , Lenaerts Anne J. , Lee Richard E.
Published: September 2015

Spectinamides are new semi-synthetic spectinomycin derivatives with potent anti-tubercular activity. The reported synergism of the precursor spectinomycin with other antibiotics prompted us to examine whether spectinamides sensitize M. tuberculosis to other antibiotics not traditionally used in the treatment of tuberculosis to potentially expand therapeutic options for MDR/XDR Tuberculosis. Whole cell synergy checkerboard screens were performed using the laboratory strain M. tuberculosis H37Rv, lead spectinamide 1599 and a broad panel of 27 antibiotics. In vitro, 1599 synergized with 11 drugs from 6 antibiotic classes. The observed synergy was tested against clinical isolates confirming synergy with Clarithromycin, Doxycycline and Clindamycin, combinations of which were taken forward for in vivo efficacy determination. Co-administration of 1599 and clarithromycin provided additional bacterial killing in a mouse model of acute tuberculosis infection, but not in a chronic infection model. Further studies indicated that mismatched drug exposure profiles likely permitted induction of phenotypic clarithromycin resistance and subsequent loss of synergism. These studies highlight the importance of validating in vitro synergism and the challenge of matching drug exposures to obtain a synergistic outcome in vivo. Results from this study indicate that a 1599 clarithromycin combination is potentially viable, providing the drug exposures can be carefully monitored.
Equalization enhanced phase noise in Nyquist-spaced superchannel transmission systems using multi-channel digital back-propagation
Authors: Xu Tianhua , Liga Gabriele , Lavery Domaniç , Thomsen Benn C. , Savory Seb J. , Killey Robert I. , Bayvel Polina
Published: September 2015

Superchannel transmission spaced at the symbol rate, known as Nyquist spacing, has been demonstrated for effectively maximizing the optical communication channel capacity and spectral efficiency. However, the achievable capacity and reach of transmission systems using advanced modulation formats are affected by fibre nonlinearities and equalization enhanced phase noise (EEPN). Fibre nonlinearities can be effectively compensated using digital back-propagation (DBP). However EEPN which arises from the interaction between laser phase noise and dispersion cannot be efficiently mitigated and can significantly degrade the performance of transmission systems. Here we report the first investigation of the origin and the impact of EEPN in Nyquist-spaced superchannel system, employing electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) and multi-channel DBP (MC-DBP). Analysis was carried out in a Nyquist-spaced 9-channel 32-Gbaud DP-64QAM transmission system. Results confirm that EEPN significantly degrades the performance of all sub-channels of the superchannel system and that the distortions are more severe for the outer sub-channels, both using EDC and MC-DBP. It is also found that the origin of EEPN depends on the relative position between the carrier phase recovery module and the EDC (or MC-DBP) module. Considering EEPN, diverse coding techniques and modulation formats have to be applied for optimizing different sub-channels in superchannel systems.
Amino Acid Polymorphisms in Hepatitis C Virus Core Affect Infectious Virus Production and Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Molecule Expression
Authors: Tasaka-Fujita Megumi , Sugiyama Nao , Kang Wonseok , Masaki Takahiro , Murayama Asako , Yamada Norie , Sugiyama Ryuichi , Tsukuda Senko , Watashi Koichi , Asahina Yasuhiro , Sakamoto Naoya , Wakita Takaji , Shin Eui-Cheol , Kato Takanobu
Published: September 2015

Amino acid (aa) polymorphisms in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b core protein have been reported to be a potent predictor for poor response to interferon (IFN)-based therapy and a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis. We investigated the effects of these polymorphisms with genotype 1b/2a chimeric viruses that contained polymorphisms of Arg/Gln at aa 70 and Leu/Met at aa 91. We found that infectious virus production was reduced in cells transfected with chimeric virus RNA that had Gln at aa 70 (aa70Q) compared with RNA with Arg at aa 70 (aa70R). Using flow cytometry analysis, we confirmed that HCV core protein accumulated in aa70Q clone transfected cells and it caused a reduction in cell-surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules induced by IFN treatment through enhanced protein kinase R phosphorylation. We could not detect any effects due to the polymorphism at aa 91. In conclusion, the polymorphism at aa 70 was associated with efficiency of infectious virus production and this deteriorated virus production in strains with aa70Q resulted in the intracellular accumulation of HCV proteins and attenuation of MHC class I molecule expression. These observations may explain the strain-associated resistance to IFN-based therapy and hepatocarcinogenesis of HCV.
Laser light routing in an elongated micromachined vapor cell with diffraction gratings for atomic clock applications
Authors: Chutani Ravinder , Maurice Vincent , Passilly Nicolas , Gorecki Christophe , Boudot Rodolphe , Abdel Hafiz Moustafa , Abbé Philippe , Galliou Serge , Rauch Jean-Yves , de Clercq Emeric
Published: September 2015

This paper reports on an original architecture of microfabricated alkali vapor cell designed for miniature atomic clocks. The cell combines diffraction gratings with anisotropically etched single-crystalline silicon sidewalls to route a normally-incident beam in a cavity oriented along the substrate plane. Gratings have been specifically designed to diffract circularly polarized light in the first order, the latter having an angle of diffraction matching the (111) sidewalls orientation. Then, the length of the cavity where light interacts with alkali atoms can be extended. We demonstrate that a longer cell allows to reduce the beam diameter, while preserving the clock performances. As the cavity depth and the beam diameter are reduced, collimation can be performed in a tighter space. This solution relaxes the constraints on the device packaging and is suitable for wafer-level assembly. Several cells have been fabricated and characterized in a clock setup using coherent population trapping spectroscopy. The measured signals exhibit null power linewidths down to 2.23 kHz and high transmission contrasts up to 17%. A high contrast-to-linewidth ratio is found at a linewidth of 4.17 kHz and a contrast of 5.2% in a 7-mm-long cell despite a beam diameter reduced to 600 μm.
Exploring causal associations of alcohol with cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in a Chinese population using Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Taylor Amy E. , Lu Feng , Carslake David , Hu Zhibin , Qian Yun , Liu Sijun , Chen Jiaping , Shen Hongbing , Smith George Davey
Published: September 2015

Observational studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may be protective for cardiovascular disease, but results may be biased by confounding and reverse causality. Mendelian randomization, which uses genetic variants as proxies for exposures, can minimise these biases and therefore strengthen causal inference. Using a genetic variant in the ALDH2 gene associated with alcohol consumption, rs671, we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis in 1,712 diabetes cases and 2,076 controls from Nantong, China. Analyses were performed using linear and logistic regression, stratified by sex and diabetes status. The A allele of rs671 was strongly associated with reduced odds of being an alcohol drinker in all groups, but prevalence of alcohol consumption amongst females was very low. The A allele was associated with reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decreased total and HDL cholesterol in males. The A allele was also associated with decreased triglyceride levels, but only robustly in diabetic males. There was no strong evidence for associations between rs671 and any outcomes in females. Our results suggest that associations of alcohol consumption with blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol are causal. Alcohol also appeared to have adverse effects on triglyceride levels, although this may be restricted to diabetics.
Alleviating Pressure on Water Resources: A new approach could be attempted
Authors: Sun Shikun , Wang Yubao , Wang Feifei , Liu Jing , Luan Xiaobo , Li Xiaolei , Zhou Tianwa , Wu Pute
Published: September 2015

Water and food safety are two major challenges which the world faces today. Traditional water management focuses on the reduction of water use through improvements in water saving technologies. However, quantitative research is needed to evaluate the effects of changing food consumption patterns on water resources. Here we report the water saving effects of changing diet pattern of the major crops and animal products in mainland China. By using the concepts of water footprint (WF) per weight unit and per calorie unit, provided by 13 primary crop and animal products, the WFs of the 13 agricultural products in each province are compared and their water/energy conversion efficiencies are analyzed. Then, impacts of different scenarios of changing diet pattern on water consumption were explored. Results show that there are obvious differences between the WF per weight and calorie unit provided by crop and animal products due to the nutritional properties of the agricultural products. Promoting water savings from the food consumption side could give a positive feedback on water consumption. Scenario analysis of adjustments to the diet pattern proves that it is potentially feasible to reach the objective of alleviating stress on water resources while guaranteeing nutritional value of the residents.
Tip-induced nanoreactor for silicate
Authors: Gao Ming , Ma Liran , Liang Yong , Gao Yuan , Luo Jianbin
Published: September 2015

Nanoscale scientific issues have attracted an increasing amount of research interest due to their specific size-effect and novel structure-property. From macro to nano, materials present some unique chemical reactivity that bulk materials do not own. Here we introduce a facile method to generate silicate with nanoscale control based on the establishment of a confined space between a meso/nanoscale tungsten tip and a smooth silica/silicon substrate. During the process, local water-like droplets deposition can be obviously observed in the confinement between the Si/SiO2 surfaces and the KOH-modified tungsten tip. By the combination of in-situ optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, we were able to take a deep insight of both the product composition and the underlying mechanism of such phenomena. It was indicated that such nanoreactor for silicate could be quite efficient as a result of the local capillarity and electric field effect, with implications at both nano and meso scales.
Direct production of XYDMY− sex reversal female medaka (Oryzias latipes) by embryo microinjection of TALENs
Authors: Luo Daji , Liu Yun , Chen Ji , Xia Xiaoqin , Cao Mengxi , Cheng Bin , Wang Xuejuan , Gong Wuming , Qiu Chao , Zhang Yunsheng , Ki Cheng Christopher Hon , Zhu Zuoyan , Hu Wei
Published: September 2015

Medaka is an ideal model for sex determination and sex reversal, such as XY phenotypically female patients in humans. Here, we assembled improved TALENs targeting the DMY gene and generated XYDMY− mutants to investigate gonadal dysgenesis in medaka. DMY-TALENs resulted in indel mutations at the targeted loci (46.8%). DMY-nanos3UTR-TALENs induced mutations were passed through the germline to F1 generation with efficiencies of up to 91.7%. XYDMY− mutants developed into females, laid eggs and stably passed the YDMY− chromosome to next generation. RNA-seq generated 157 million raw reads from WT male (WT_M_TE), WT female (WT_F_OV) and XYDMY− female medaka (TA_F_OV) gonad libraries. Differential expression analysis identified 144 up- and 293 down-regulated genes in TA_F_OV compared with WT_F_OV, 387 up- and 338 down-regulated genes in TA_F_OV compared with WT_M_TE. According to genes annotation and functional prediction, such as Wnt1 and PRCK, it revealed that incomplete ovarian function and reduced fertility of XYDMY− mutant is closely related to the wnt signaling pathway. Our results provided the transcriptional profiles of XYDMY− mutants, revealed the mechanism between sex reversal and DMY in medaka and suggested that XYDMY− medaka was a novel mutant that is useful for investigating gonadal dysgenesis in phenotypic female patients with the 46, XY karyotype.
Interrogation of the intersubunit interface of the open Hv1 proton channel with a probe of allosteric coupling
Authors: Hong Liang , Singh Vikrant , Wulff Heike , Tombola Francesco
Published: September 2015

The Hv1 voltage-gated proton channel is a dimeric complex consisting of two voltage-sensing domains (VSDs), each containing a gated proton permeation pathway. Dimerization is controlled by a cytoplasmic coiled-coil domain. The transitions from the closed to the open state in the two VSDs are known to occur cooperatively; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Intersubunit interfaces play a critical role in allosteric processes; but, such interfaces have not been determined in the open Hv1 channel. Here we show that 2-guanidinothiazole derivatives block the two Hv1 VSDs in a cooperative way and use one of the compounds as a probe of allosteric coupling between open subunits. We find that the extracellular ends of the first transmembrane segments of the VSDs form the intersubunit interface that mediates coupling between binding sites, while the coiled-coil domain does not directly participate in the process. We also find strong evidence that the channel’s proton selectivity filter controls blocker binding cooperativity.
Superresolution Pattern Recognition Reveals the Architectural Map of the Ciliary Transition Zone
Authors: Tony Yang T. , Su Jimmy , Wang Won-Jing , Craige Branch , Witman George B. , Bryan Tsou Meng-Fu , Liao Jung-Chi
Published: September 2015

The transition zone (TZ) of primary cilia serves as a diffusion barrier to regulate ciliogenesis and receptor localization for key signaling events such as sonic hedgehog signaling. Its gating mechanism is poorly understood due to the tiny volume accommodating a large number of ciliopathy-associated molecules. Here we performed stimulated emission depletion (STED) imaging of collective samples and recreated superresolved relative localizations of eight representative species of ciliary proteins using position averages and overlapped with representative electron microscopy (EM) images, defining an architectural foundation at the ciliary base. Upon this framework, transmembrane proteins TMEM67 and TCTN2 were accumulated at the same axial level as MKS1 and RPGRIP1L, suggesting that their regulation roles for tissue-specific ciliogenesis occur at a specific level of the TZ. CEP290 is surprisingly localized at a different axial level bridging the basal body (BB) and other TZ proteins. Upon this molecular architecture, two reservoirs of intraflagellar transport (IFT) particles, correlating with phases of ciliary growth, are present: one colocalized with the transition fibers (TFs) while the other situated beyond the distal edge of the TZ. Together, our results reveal an unprecedented structural framework of the TZ, facilitating our understanding in molecular screening and assembly at the ciliary base.
Carbon nanospikes grown on metal wires as microelectrode sensors for dopamine
Authors: Zestos Alexander G. , Yang Cheng , Jacobs Christopher B. , Hensley Dale , Venton B. Jill
Published: September 2015

Carbon nanospikes grown on metal wires are an ideal carbon electrode material for dopamine sensing. The growth of carbon nanospikes is catalyst free and amenable to batch fabrication.
Controlling nonspecific trypsin cleavages in LC-MS/MS-based shotgun proteomics using optimized experimental conditions
Authors: Fang Pan , Liu Mingqi , Xue Yu , Yao Jun , Zhang Yang , Shen Huali , Yang Pengyuan
Published: September 2015

The highlight of this study is the efficient control of nonspecific trypsin cleavages in shotgun proteomics and N-glycoproteomics using optimized experimental conditions, which greatly increased the specificity of trypsin.
Enantioselective synthesis of fused heterocycles with contiguous stereogenic centers by chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed symmetry breaking
Authors: Mori Keiji , Miyake Ayaka , Akiyama Takahiko
Published: September 2015

Highly enantioselective synthesis of fused-heterocycles was achieved by chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed symmetry breaking.
The Pd-catalyzed synthesis of benzofused carbo- and heterocycles through carbene migratory insertion/carbopalladation cascades with tosylhydrazones
Authors: Paraja Miguel , Carmen Pérez-Aguilar M. , Valdés Carlos
Published: September 2015

Indenes and benzofurans are synthesized from tosylhydrazones and o-substituted aryliodides through a Pd-catalyzed carbene migratory insertion/intramolecular carbopalladation cascade reaction.
The facile synthesis of mesoporous g-C3N4 with highly enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution performance
Authors: He Fang , Chen Gang , Zhou Yansong , Yu Yaoguang , Zheng Yi , Hao Sue
Published: September 2015

Mesoporous g-C3N4 has been obtained using a facile sucrose-mediated approach and displays a highly enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution performance.
Significant developments in rare-earth-containing polyoxometalate chemistry: synthetic strategies, structural diversities and correlative properties
Authors: Ma Xing , Yang Wen , Chen Lijuan , Zhao Junwei
Published: September 2015

In this article, the major progress in rare-earth containing polyoxometalates made in the past decade involving synthetic strategies, structural characteristics and some significant properties related to optics, catalysis and magnetism is highlighted and discussed.
A novel surface modification scheme for ITO nanocrystals by acetylene: a combined experimental and DFT study
Authors: Chen Z. X. , Xi Y. J. , Huang L. , Li W. C. , Li R. , Xu G. Q. , Cheng H. S.
Published: September 2015

The chemisorption of C2H2 molecules on the ITO(100) surface results in ethylene-like configurations as studied by DFT and experiment.
Structural switching from paramagnetic to single-molecule magnet behaviour of LnZn2 trinuclear complexes
Authors: Then Poh Ling , Takehara Chika , Kataoka Yumiko , Nakano Motohiro , Yamamura Tomoo , Kajiwara Takashi
Published: September 2015

Single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviors of Zn–Ln–Zn complexes were switched by slight changing of the molecular structures.
Synthesis of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid from biomass for producing PET
Authors: Pang Jifeng , Zheng Mingyuan , Sun Ruiyan , Wang Aiqin , Wang Xiaodong , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2015

This review presents recent advances in typical routes for drop-in replacement of poly(ethylene terephthalate) monomers from biomass.
Activation by zinc of the human gastrin gene promoter in colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Marshall Kathryn M. , Laval Marie , Estacio Ortis , Hudson Damien F. , Kalitsis Paul , Shulkes Arthur , Baldwin Graham S. , Patel Oneel
Published: September 2015

Over-expression of growth factors can contribute to the development and progression of cancer, and gastrins in particular have been implicated in accelerating the development of gastrointestinal cancers.
Light induced aggregation of specific single walled carbon nanotubes
Authors: Gopannagari Madhusudana , Chaturvedi Harsh
Published: September 2015

A conceptual model of optically induced aggregation of SWNTs from solution.
Enhanced oxidation-resistant Cu–Ni core–shell nanowires: controllable one-pot synthesis and solution processing to transparent flexible heaters
Authors: Chen Jianyu , Chen Jun , Li Yi , Zhou Weixin , Feng Xiaomiao , Huang Qingli , Zheng Jian-Guo , Liu Ruiqing , Ma Yanwen , Huang Wei
Published: September 2015

Coating nickel onto copper nanowires (Cu NWs) by one-pot synthesis is an efficient approach to improving the oxidation resistance of the nanowires.
B(OCH2CF3)3-mediated direct amidation of pharmaceutically relevant building blocks in cyclopentyl methyl ether
Authors: Karaluka Valerija , Lanigan Rachel M. , Murray Paul M. , Badland Matthew , Sheppard Tom D.
Published: September 2015

The direct amidation of pharmaceutically relevant carboxylic acids and amines with B(OCH2CF3)3 in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) is described.
Deuterated hydrazino-s-triazine as highly-efficient labelling reagent for glycan relative quantification analysis using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhao Ming-Zhe , Tie Cai , Zhang Yi-Wei , Deng Yan , Zhang Fang-Ting , Zhou Ying-Lin , Zhang Xin-Xiang
Published: September 2015

An innovative stable-isotope relative quantification strategy for N-glycans was achieved using self-designed non-reductive hydrazino-s-triazine deuterated derivative as labelling reagent combined with mass spectrometry.
Uptake of Nd3+ and Sr2+ by Li–Al layered double hydroxide intercalated with triethylenetetramine-hexaacetic acid: kinetic and equilibrium studies
Authors: Kameda Tomohito , Shinmyou Tetsu , Yoshioka Toshiaki
Published: September 2015

Li–Al layered double hydroxide intercalated with triethylenetetramine-hexaacetic acid (TTHA) was found to take up Nd3+ ions preferentially over Sr2+ ions from solutions, due to the difference in the stabilities of the Nd–TTHA and Sr–TTHA complexes.
Morphological diagram of a nucleating agent/poly(ε-caprolactone) and an in situ barrier strategy
Authors: Wu Siqi , Han Rui , Nie Min , Wang Qi
Published: September 2015

A temperature/composition morphological diagram of nucleating agent/poly(ε-caprolactone) blends to direct in situ formation of flake nucleating agents was constructed.
Determination of neonicotinoid insecticide residues in edible oils by water-induced homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid extraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection
Authors: Farajzadeh Mir Ali , Afshar Mogaddam Mohammad Reza , Alizadeh Ali Akbar
Published: September 2015

Development of a new version of homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction based on water induced followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for extraction of neonicotinoid insecticides from oil samples.
Preparation and pyrolysis characteristics of PNIPAM-grafted SiO2hollow spheres loading vitamin C
Authors: Hu Jing , Chen Meixia , Tian Huaixiang , Deng Weijun
Published: September 2015

Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)-grafted SiO2hollow spheres loading vitamin C exhibited excellent temperature-controllable release, and their pyrolysis was studied.
Encapsulation of food protein hydrolysates and peptides: a review
Authors: Mohan Aishwarya , Rajendran Subin R. C. K. , He Quan Sophia , Bazinet Laurent , Udenigwe Chibuike C.
Published: September 2015

Encapsulation of food protein hydrolysates and peptides using protein, polysaccharide and lipid carriers is needed to enhance their biostability and bioavailability for application as health-promoting functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals.
Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of lithium-rich cathode material Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 microspheres
Authors: Meng Juan , Zhang Shichao , Wei Xin , Yang Puheng , Wang Shengbin , Wang Jing , Li Honglei , Xing Yalan , Liu Guanrao
Published: September 2015

Lithium rich Li1.2Mn0.6Ni0.2O2 microspheres with a few mesopore and secondary microsphere have been successfully prepared, which could effectively shorten the Li+ migration length, and help a lot in improving the electrochemical performances.
Relationship between measurement conditions and energy levels in the organic dyes used in dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Gaidelis Valentas , Kamarauskas Egidijus , Malinauskas Tadas , Getautis Vytautas , Send Robert , Wonneberger Henrike , Bruder Ingmar
Published: September 2015

The energy levels of new metal-free organic dyes for DSSC have been investigated by the photoemission in air, UV-Vis absorption and CV methods in the solutions of the dye molecules, in films of the dyes and in the dyes adsorbed on nanoporous TiO2.
Chitosan assisted synthesis of 3D graphene@Au nanosheet composites: catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Authors: Ma Zhuo , Qiu Yunfeng , Huang Yanmin , Gao Feng , Hu PingAn
Published: September 2015

We report the eco-friendly chitosan assisted synthesis of 3D graphene@chitosan@Au nanosheet (3DG@CS@AuNSs) composites without using any toxic reductants or capping agents.
Synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation and molecular modeling of some novel phenothiazine derivatives
Authors: Fadda Ahmed A. , Fekri Ahmed , Bayoumy Nesma M.
Published: September 2015

A novel series of phenothiazine derivatives were synthesized and examined for antimicrobial activity. Most of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited high antimicrobial activity and the results were proven using theoretical data.
Substrate stiffness regulates primary hepatocyte functions
Authors: Natarajan Vaishaali , Berglund Eric J. , Chen Dorothy X. , Kidambi Srivatsan
Published: September 2015

Liver fibrosis occurs as a consequence of chronic injuries from viral infections, metabolic disorders, and alcohol abuse.
Miscibility, crystallization behavior and morphology of novel poly(butylene suberate) and poly(vinyl phenol) blends
Authors: Shi Xiaoran , Qiu Zhaobin
Published: September 2015

Increasing degree of supercoolings increases the spherulitic growth rates of neat and blended PBSub.
Effect of mixing conditions on the selective localization of graphite oxide and the properties of polyethylene/high-impact polystyrene/graphite oxide nanocomposite blends
Authors: Amani Mahmood , Sharif Mehdi , Kashkooli Amir , Rahnama Nima , Fazli Ali
Published: September 2015

We develop here a new and effective strategy for compatibilizing immiscible polymer blend nanocomposites of polyethylene/high impact polystyrene/graphite oxide (PE/HIPS/GO) by combination of solution intercalation and melt mixing method.
An integrated temporary negative pressure assisted microfluidic chip for DNA isolation and digital PCR detection
Authors: Tian Qingchang , Yu Baodong , Mu Ying , Xu Yanan , Ma Congcong , Zhang Tao , Jin Wei , Jin Qinhan
Published: September 2015

An integrated DNA purification and digital PCR (dPCR) detection microfluidic chip was developed in this study.
Selective photocatalytic C–C bond cleavage under ambient conditions with earth abundant vanadium complexes
Authors: Gazi Sarifuddin , Hung Ng Wilson Kwok , Ganguly Rakesh , Putra Moeljadi Adhitya Mangala , Hirao Hajime , Soo Han Sen
Published: September 2015

Chemoselective aliphatic carbon–carbon bond activation photocatalyzed by vanadium oxo complexes under ambient conditions and visible light.
Synthesis of crosslinked polymeric nanocapsules using catanionic vesicle templates stabilized by compressed CO2
Authors: Dong Siming , Spicer Patrick T. , Lucien Frank P. , Zetterlund Per B.
Published: September 2015

The synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules in the approximate diameter range 40–100 nm (TEM/SEM) using catanionic surfactant vesicle templates stabilized by subcritical CO2is demonstrated.
Planar equilibrium shapes of a liquid drop on a membrane
Authors: Hui Chung-Yuen , Jagota Anand
Published: September 2015

The equilibrium shape of a small liquid drop on a smooth rigid surface is governed by the minimization of energy with respect to the change in configuration, represented by the well-known Young's equation.
A novel biobased epoxy resin with high mechanical stiffness and low flammability: synthesis, characterization and properties
Authors: Wan Jintao , Gan Bin , Li Cheng , Molina-Aldareguia Jon , Li Zhi , Wang Xin , Wang De-Yi
Published: September 2015

A novel bio-epoxy resin, TPEU-EP, was developed. It possesses good intrinsic flame retardancy, low smoke production, and excellent mechanical properties, showing high promise for application.
Highly mesoporous silicon derived from waste iron slag for high performance lithium ion battery anodes
Authors: Chun Jinyoung , An Sunhyung , Lee Jinwoo
Published: September 2015

We demonstrated the use of iron slag as a raw material to produce highly mesoporous Si for high-performance Li-ion battery anodes.
Uniform GeO2 dispersed in nitrogen-doped porous carbon core–shell architecture: an anode material for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Ngo Duc Tung , Le Hang T. T. , Kalubarme Ramchandra S. , Lee Jae-Young , Park Choong-Nyeon , Park Chan-Jin
Published: September 2015

Germanium oxide (GeO2), which possesses great potential as a high-capacity anode material for lithium ion batteries, has suffered from its poor capacity retention and rate capability due to significant volume changes during lithiation and delithiation.
Tailor-made graphene aerogels with inbuilt baffle plates by charge-induced template-directed assembly for high-performance Li–S batteries
Authors: Zhao Changtai , Yu Chang , Zhang Mengdi , Yang Juan , Liu Shaohong , Li Mingyu , Han Xiaotong , Dong Yanfeng , Qiu Jieshan
Published: September 2015

Self-closure graphene aerogels with inbuilt baffle plates were configured by charge-induced template-directed assembly, delivering an enhanced performance in Li–S batteries.
Synthesis and energetic properties of high-nitrogen substituted bishomocubanes
Authors: Lal Sohan , Mallick Lovely , Rajkumar Sundaram , Oommen Oommen P. , Reshmi Sasidharakurup , Kumbhakarna Neeraj , Chowdhury Arindrajit , Namboothiri Irishi N. N.
Published: September 2015

Bishomocubane based azides, triazoles and tetrazoles possess high heats of formation and specific impulse, and exhibit propulsive and explosive properties, superior to RP1 and HTPB.
Stabilizing hybrid perovskites against moisture and temperature via non-hydrolytic atomic layer deposited overlayers
Authors: Kim In Soo , Martinson Alex B. F.
Published: September 2015

Non-hydrolytic atomic layer deposited oxide overlayers fabricated directly on perovskites results in improved stability against moisture and temperature.
Porous and strong three-dimensional carbon nanotube coated ceramic scaffolds for tissue engineering
Authors: Newman P. , Lu Z. , Roohani-Esfahani S. I. , Church T. L. , Biro M. , Davies B. , King A. , Mackenzie K. , Minett A. I. , Zreiqat H.
Published: September 2015

A method to coat high-quality uniform coatings of carbon nanotubes throughout 3D porous structures is developed. Testing of their physical and biological properties demonstrate their potential for application in tissue engineering.
Porous microspheres of magnesium whitlockite and amorphous calcium magnesium phosphate: microwave-assisted rapid synthesis using creatine phosphate, and application in drug delivery
Authors: Qi Chao , Zhu Ying-Jie , Chen Feng , Wu Jin
Published: September 2015

Porous microspheres of magnesium whitlockite and amorphous calcium magnesium phosphate have been synthesized using creatine phosphate as a biocompatible phosphorus source by the rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal method.
The impact of atomic layer deposited SiO2passivation for high-k Ta1−xZrxO on the InP substrate
Authors: Mahata Chandreswar , Oh Il-Kwon , Yoon Chang Mo , Lee Chang Wan , Seo Jungmok , Algadi Hassan , Sheen Mi-Hyang , Kim Young-Woon , Kim Hyungjun , Lee Taeyoon
Published: September 2015

Metal–oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with an amorphous Ta1−xZrxO composite gate dielectric film and a SiO2passivation layer were fabricated on an indium phosphide (InP) substrate.
Probability hypothesis density filter with adaptive estimation of target birth intensity
Authors: Zhu Youqing , Zhou Shilin , Zou Huanxin , Ji Kefeng
Published: September 2015

Target birth intensity, which plays a role similar to track initialisation, is an important part of the probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter. In most papers, the intensity is always known as a priori, but it is too restrictive for real application. Besides, existing algorithms for the birth intensity estimation only consider the measured component of the target state (e.g. position), but the unmeasured component (e.g. velocity) is viewed as a priori or modelled by a simple distribution. As a result, they are not efficient enough to represent the initial states of newborn targets. To overcome that an adaptive estimation method combining with the single‐point and two‐point difference track initialisation algorithms is proposed. The target birth intensity is approximated by a Gaussian‐mixture (GM) form whose means are equal to the locations and velocities of the candidate newborn targets, so that the estimated intensity can be closer to the truth. On the basis of that both the GM and sequential Monte Carlo implementations of the extended PHD filter are presented in this study. Experiment results show that the proposed method can effectively estimate the target birth intensity and has a better performance in the simulated scenarios.
Waveform design for multiple extended targets in temporally correlated cognitive radar system
Authors: Chen Peng , Wu Lenan
Published: September 2015

In cognitive radar systems, a closed‐loop feedback is formed by the transmitter, environment, and receiver. Then, the transmit waveform can be optimised to improve the radar estimation performance. Unlike existing works that only consider single target with temporally correlated characteristic, waveform design for multiple extended targets is investigated in this study. The authors propose a Kalman filtering (KF)‐based method to exploit the temporal correlation of target scattering coefficients (TSCs) and improve the corresponding estimation performance. Additionally, for the targets of both closed and separated in range, a novel optimisation problem is established to design the transmit waveform and minimise the mean square error of estimated TSC at each KF iteration, where an additional weight vector is introduced to achieve a trade‐off among different targets. Since the optimisation problem is non‐convex and cannot be solved efficiently, a two‐step method is proposed to convert it into a convex problem, which can be solved by an optimisation toolbox such as CVX. Simulation results demonstrate that the joint method of waveform design outperforms the existing methods in TSC estimation for both separated and closed targets, and offers much more flexibility.
Relations entre les extractions de dents de sagesse et les dysfonctionnements de l’appareil manducateur : étude cas / témoins
Authors: Duval Florian , Leroux Agathe , Bertaud Valérie , Meary Fleur , Le Padellec Clément , Refuveille Laura , Lemaire Arnaud , Sorel Olivier , Chauvel-Lebret Dominique
Published: September 2015

L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer l’association entre les extractions des dents de sagesse et la survenue des dysfonctionnements de l’appareil manducateur (DAM). Une revue de la littérature et une étude clinique cas/témoins ont été réalisées. L’étude clinique permet de comparer la fréquence des extractions de dents de sagesse au sein d’un groupe de patients «cas» présentant un DAM et un groupe de patients «témoins» ne présentant pas de DAM. Le nombre de patients ayant subi des extractions de dents de sagesse est plus élevé dans le groupe cas que dans le groupe témoins. On note une différence statistiquement significative entre les deux groupes, cas et témoins, quand les patients ont subi l’extraction des quatre dents de sagesse ou quand l’extraction des quatre dents de sagesse a été réalisée en une séance ou sous anesthésie générale. L’étude des patients du groupe cas montre que l’ensemble des signes cliniques est plus important lorsque les extractions des quatre dents de sagesse ont été réalisées en plusieurs séances ou sous anesthésie locale. Les gnathosonies sont significativement plus fréquentes lors d’anesthésie locale. Dans le groupe cas, 85 à 92 % des patients présentent des parafonctions, et 5 à 11 % présentent des troubles de l’occlusion. Ceci conforte l’étiologie multifactorielle des dysfonctionnements de l’appareil manducateur.
A Biomechanical Comparison of Shape Design and Positioning of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Cages
Authors: Comer Garet C. , Behn Anthony , Ravi Shashank , Cheng Ivan
Published: September 2015

Study Design

Cadaveric biomechanical analysis.

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare three interbody cage shapes and their position within the interbody space with regards to construct stability for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Methods

Twenty L2–L3 and L4–L5 lumbar motion segments from fresh cadavers were potted in polymethyl methacrylate and subjected to testing with a materials testing machine before and after unilateral facetectomy, diskectomy, and interbody cage insertion. The three cage types were kidney-shaped, articulated, and straight bullet-shaped. Each cage type was placed in a common anatomic area within the interbody space before testing: kidney, center; kidney, anterior; articulated, center; articulated, anterior; bullet, center; bullet, lateral. Load-deformation curves were generated for axial compression, flexion, extension, right bending, left bending, right torsion, and left torsion. Finally, load to failure was tested.

Results

For all applied loads, there was a statistically significant decrease in the slope of the load-displacement curves for instrumented specimens compared with the intact state ( p < 0.05) with the exception of right axial torsion ( p = 0.062). Among all instrumented groups, there was no statistically significant difference in stiffness for any of the loading conditions or load to failure.

Conclusions

Our results failed to show a clearly superior cage shape design or location within the interbody space for use in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
P type porous silicon resistivity and carrier transport
Authors: Ménard S. , Fèvre A. , Billoué J. , Gautier G.
Published: September 2015

The resistivity of p type porous silicon (PS) is reported on a wide range of PS physical properties. Al/PS/Si/Al structures were used and a rigorous experimental protocol was followed. The PS porosity (P%) was found to be the major contributor to the PS resistivity (ρPS). ρPS increases exponentially with P%. Values of ρPS as high as 1 × 109 Ω cm at room temperature were obtained once P% exceeds 60%. ρPS was found to be thermally activated, in particular, when the temperature increases from 30 to 200 °C, a decrease of three decades is observed on ρPS. Based on these results, it was also possible to deduce the carrier transport mechanisms in PS. For P% lower than 45%, the conduction occurs through band tails and deep levels in the tissue surrounding the crystallites. When P% overpasses 45%, electrons at energy levels close to the Fermi level allow a hopping conduction from crystallite to crystallite to appear. This study confirms the potential of PS as an insulating material for applications such as power electronic devices.
Large area InN terahertz emitters based on the lateral photo-Dember effect
Authors: Wallauer Jan , Grumber Christian , Polyakov Vladimir , Iannucci Robert , Cimalla Volker , Ambacher Oliver , Walther Markus
Published: September 2015

Large area terahertz emitters based on the lateral photo-Dember effect in InN (indium nitride) are presented. The formation of lateral photo-Dember currents is induced by laser-illumination through a microstructured metal cover processed onto the InN substrate, causing an asymmetry in the lateral photogenerated charge carrier distribution. Our design uses simple metal structures, which are produced by conventional two-dimensional micro-structuring techniques. Having favoring properties as a photo-Dember material InN is particularly well-suited as a substrate for our emitters. We demonstrate that the emission intensity of the emitters can be significantly influenced by the structure of the metal cover leaving room for improvement by optimizing the masking structures.
Crossing the dividing surface of transition state theory. III. Once and only once. Selecting reactive trajectories
Authors: Lorquet J. C.
Published: September 2015

The purpose of the present work is to determine initial conditions that generate reacting, recrossing-free trajectories that cross the conventional dividing surface of transition state theory (i.e., the plane in configuration space passing through a saddle point of the potential energy surface and perpendicular to the reaction coordinate) without ever returning to it. Local analytical equations of motion valid in the neighborhood of this planar surface have been derived as an expansion in Poisson brackets. We show that the mere presence of a saddle point implies that reactivity criteria can be quite simply formulated in terms of elements of this series, irrespective of the shape of the potential energy function. Some of these elements are demonstrated to be equal to a sum of squares and thus to be necessarily positive, which has a profound impact on the dynamics. The method is then applied to a three-dimensional model describing an atom-diatom interaction. A particular relation between initial conditions is shown to generate a bundle of reactive trajectories that form reactive cylinders (or conduits) in phase space. This relation considerably reduces the phase space volume of initial conditions that generate recrossing-free trajectories. Loci in phase space of reactive initial conditions are presented. Reactivity is influenced by symmetry, as shown by a comparative study of collinear and bent transition states. Finally, it is argued that the rules that have been derived to generate reactive trajectories in classical mechanics are also useful to build up a reactive wave packet.