bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activation of β-adrenergic receptors is required for elevated α1A-adrenoreceptors expression and signaling in mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Tyurin-Kuzmin Pyotr A. , Fadeeva Julia I. , Kanareikina Margarita A. , Kalinina Natalia I. , Sysoeva Veronika Yu. , Dyikanov Daniyar T. , Stambolsky Dmitriy V. , Tkachuk Vsevolod A.
Published: September 2016

Sympathetic neurons are important components of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) niche and noradrenaline regulates biological activities of these cells. Here we examined the mechanisms of regulation of MSCs responsiveness to noradrenaline. Using flow cytometry, we demonstrated that α1A adrenergic receptors isoform was the most abundant in adipose tissue-derived MSCs. Using calcium imaging in single cells, we demonstrated that only 6.9 ± 0.8% of MSCs responded to noradrenaline by intracellular calcium release. Noradrenaline increases MSCs sensitivity to catecholamines in a transitory mode. Within 6 hrs after incubation with noradrenaline the proportion of cells responding by Ca2+ release to the fresh noradrenaline addition has doubled but declined to the baseline after 24 hrs. Increased sensitivity was due to the elevated quantities of α1A-adrenergic receptors on MSCs. Such elevation depended on the stimulation of β-adrenergic receptors and adenylate cyclase activation. The data for the first time clarify mechanisms of regulation of MSCs sensitivity to noradrenaline.
Salinity and Conductivity Amendment of Soil Enhanced the Bioelectrochemical Degradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Authors: Li Xiaojing , Wang Xin , Zhang Yueyong , Zhao Qian , Yu Binbin , Li Yongtao , Zhou Qixing
Published: September 2016

The extreme salinity and high internal resistance of saline-alkali soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons were two key limitations for using the bioelectrochemical remediation. In order to solve two problems, we simply rinsed soil, added carbon fiber to polluted soil. The charge output was enhanced by 110% with increase of the maximum current densities from 81 to 304 mA·m−2 while hydrocarbons degradation rate enhanced by 484%, especially the high molecular weight fractions (C28–C36 of n-alkanes and 4–6 rings of PAHs). These effects were possibly due to the selective enrichment of species belonged to δ-Proteobacteria (Proteobacteria), Flavobacteriia (Bacteroidetes) or Clostridia (Firmicutes), the activities of biological electron transfer and enzymes. As we know, oxygenase gene that directly decided the process of degradation, was surveyed for the first time in soil bioelectrochemical remediation system. The results confirmed that the bio-current stimulated the activities of naphthalene dioxygenase and xylene monooxygenase and thus the hydrocarbons degradation and the electricity generation. Given that electricity generation and the remediation performance are governed by multiple factors, understanding of microbial community and enzyme gene is crucial to promote the power yield and the bioelectrochemical remediation applicability.
Moderate salt treatment alleviates ultraviolet-B radiation caused impairment in poplar plants
Authors: Ma Xuan , Ou Yong-Bin , Gao Yong-Feng , Lutts Stanley , Li Tao-Tao , Wang Yang , Chen Yong-Fu , Sun Yu-Fang , Yao Yin-An
Published: September 2016

The effects of moderate salinity on the responses of woody plants to UV-B radiation were investigated using two Populus species (Populus alba and Populus russkii). Under UV-B radiation, moderate salinity reduced the oxidation pressure in both species, as indicated by lower levels of cellular H2O2 and membrane peroxidation, and weakened the inhibition of photochemical efficiency expressed by O-J-I-P changes. UV-B-induced DNA lesions in chloroplast and nucleus were alleviated by salinity, which could be explained by the higher expression levels of DNA repair system genes under UV-B&salt condition, such as the PHR, DDB2, and MutSα genes. The salt-induced increase in organic osmolytes proline and glycine betaine, afforded more efficient protection against UV-B radiation. Therefore moderate salinity induced cross-tolerance to UV-B stress in poplar plants. It is thus suggested that woody plants growing in moderate salted condition would be less affected by enhanced UV-B radiation than plants growing in the absence of salt. Our results also showed that UV-B signal genes in poplar plants PaCOP1, PaSTO and PaSTH2 were quickly responding to UV-B radiation, but not to salt. The transcripts of PaHY5 and its downstream pathway genes (PaCHS1, PaCHS4, PaFLS1 and PaFLS2) were differently up-regulated by these treatments, but the flavonoid compounds were not involved in the cross-tolerance since their concentration increased to the same extent in both UV-B and combined stresses.
State-dependent diffusion of actin-depolymerizing factor/cofilin underlies the enlargement and shrinkage of dendritic spines
Authors: Noguchi Jun , Hayama Tatsuya , Watanabe Satoshi , Ucar Hasan , Yagishita Sho , Takahashi Noriko , Kasai Haruo
Published: September 2016

Dendritic spines are the postsynaptic sites of most excitatory synapses in the brain, and spine enlargement and shrinkage give rise to long-term potentiation and depression of synapses, respectively. Because spine structural plasticity is accompanied by remodeling of actin scaffolds, we hypothesized that the filamentous actin regulatory protein cofilin plays a crucial role in this process. Here we investigated the diffusional properties of cofilin, the actin-severing and depolymerizing actions of which are activated by dephosphorylation. Cofilin diffusion was measured using fluorescently labeled cofilin fusion proteins and two-photon imaging. We show that cofilins are highly diffusible along dendrites in the resting state. However, during spine enlargement, wild-type cofilin and a phosphomimetic cofilin mutant remain confined to the stimulated spine, whereas a nonphosphorylatable mutant does not. Moreover, inhibition of cofilin phosphorylation with a competitive peptide disables spine enlargement, suggesting that phosphorylated-cofilin accumulation is a key regulator of enlargement, which is localized to individual spines. Conversely, spine shrinkage spreads to neighboring spines, even though triggered by weaker stimuli than enlargement. Diffusion of exogenous cofilin injected into a pyramidal neuron soma causes spine shrinkage and reduced PSD95 in spines, suggesting that diffusion of dephosphorylated endogenous cofilin underlies the spreading of spine shrinkage and long-term depression.
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Reveals Abnormal Fatty Acid Composition in Tumor Micro- and Macroenvironments in Human Breast and Rat Mammary Cancer
Authors: You Sixian , Tu Haohua , Zhao Youbo , Liu Yuan , Chaney Eric J. , Marjanovic Marina , Boppart Stephen A.
Published: September 2016

Fatty acids play essential roles in the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. To facilitate their avid growth and proliferation, cancer cells not only alter the fatty acid synthesis and metabolism intracellularly and extracellularly, but also in the macroenvironment via direct or indirect pathways. We report here, using Raman micro-spectroscopy, that an increase in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was identified in both cancerous and normal appearing breast tissue obtained from breast cancer patients and tumor-bearing rats. By minimizing confounding effects from mixed chemicals and optimizing the signal-to-noise ratio of Raman spectra, we observed a large-scale transition from monounsaturated fatty acids to PUFAs in the tumor while only a small subset of fatty acids transitioned to PUFAs in the tumor micro- and macroenvironment. These data have important implications for further clarifying the macroenvironmental effect of cancer progression and provide new potential approaches for characterizing the tumor micro- and macroenvironment of breast cancer in both pre-clinical animal studies and clinical applications.
An improved approach for measuring immersion freezing in large droplets over a wide temperature range
Authors: Tobo Yutaka
Published: September 2016

Immersion freezing (ice nucleation by particles immersed in supercooled water) is a key process for forming ice in mixed-phase clouds. Immersion freezing experiments with particles in microliter-sized (millimeter-sized) water droplets are often applied to detecting very small numbers of ice nucleating particles (INPs). However, the application of such large droplets remains confined to the detection of INPs active at temperatures much higher than the homogeneous freezing limit, because of artifacts related to freezing of water droplets without added INPs at temperatures of −25 °C or higher on a supporting substrate. Here I report a method for measuring immersion freezing in super-microliter-sized droplets over a wide temperature range. To reduce possible artifacts, droplets are pipetted onto a thin layer of Vaseline and cooled in a clean booth. In the Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test (CRAFT) system, freezing of pure (Milli-Q) water droplets are limited at temperatures above −30 °C. An intercomparison of various techniques for immersion freezing experiments with reference particles (Snomax and illite NX) demonstrates that despite the use of relatively large droplets, the CRAFT setup allows for evaluating the immersion freezing activity of the particles over almost the entire temperature range (about −30 °C to 0 °C) relevant for mixed-phase cloud formation.
Real-time prediction of cell division timing in developing zebrafish embryo
Authors: Kozawa Satoshi , Akanuma Takashi , Sato Tetsuo , Sato Yasuomi D. , Ikeda Kazushi , Sato Thomas N.
Published: September 2016

Combination of live-imaging and live-manipulation of developing embryos in vivo provides a useful tool to study developmental processes. Identification and selection of target cells for an in vivo live-manipulation are generally performed by experience- and knowledge-based decision-making of the observer. Computer-assisted live-prediction method would be an additional approach to facilitate the identification and selection of the appropriate target cells. Herein we report such a method using developing zebrafish embryos. We choose V2 neural progenitor cells in developing zebrafish embryo as their successive shape changes can be visualized in real-time in vivo. We developed a relatively simple mathematical method of describing cellular geometry of V2 cells to predict cell division-timing based on their successively changing shapes in vivo. Using quantitatively measured 4D live-imaging data, features of V2 cell-shape at each time point prior to division were extracted and a statistical model capturing the successive changes of the V2 cell-shape was developed. By applying sequential Bayesian inference method to the model, we successfully predicted division-timing of randomly selected individual V2 cells while the cell behavior was being live-imaged. This system could assist pre-selecting target cells desirable for real-time manipulation–thus, presenting a new opportunity for in vivo experimental systems.
Up-regulation of miR-370-3p restores glioblastoma multiforme sensitivity to temozolomide by influencing MGMT expression
Authors: Gao Yong-tao , Chen Xiao-bing , Liu Hong-lin
Published: September 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are believed to play an important role in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)chemotherapy. Our study aims to investigate potential miRNA biomarkers in GBM. Sixty GBM patients, which were given temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy and recurrent radiotherapy, were recruited. miRNA array was performed in cancerous and in paired normal tissues. Microarray results were further validated by a quantitative real-time PCR in selected tissues and GBM cell lines. TMZ resistance cells were developed and cell proliferation along with colony formation assays was determined. Our study employed H2AX formation and flow cytometry to analyse the role of miRNA in DNA damage and apoptosis. Our study illustrated 16 miRNA in which 9 were up-regulated and 7 down-regulated. and their differential expression were demonstrated in a recurrent GBM tissue. Among them, miRNA-370-3p demonstrated the highest level of down- regulation in tissues and in TMZ resistance cells. miRNA-370-3p mimic increased its expression and sensitivity of GBM cells to TMZ by suppressing the self-reparative ability of tumour cell DNA. O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) was identified as the direct target gene of miR-370-3p, and it was found to be inversely correlated with miR-370-3p expression in tissue samples obtained. Thus, our study demonstrated a critical clinical role of an up-regulated miR-370-3p expression in glioblastoma multiforme chemotherapy sensitivity.
Disease-specific classification using deconvoluted whole blood gene expression
Authors: Wang Li , Oh William K. , Zhu Jun
Published: September 2016

Blood-based biomarker assays have an advantage in being minimally invasive. Diagnostic and prognostic models built on peripheral blood gene expression have been reported for various types of disease. However, most of these studies focused on only one disease type, and failed to address whether the identified gene expression signature is disease-specific or more widely applicable across diseases. We conducted a meta-analysis of 46 whole blood gene expression datasets covering a wide range of diseases and physiological conditions. Our analysis uncovered a striking overlap of signature genes shared by multiple diseases, driven by an underlying common pattern of cell component change, specifically an increase in myeloid cells and decrease in lymphocytes. These observations reveal the necessity of building disease-specific classifiers that can distinguish different disease types as well as normal controls, and highlight the importance of cell component change in deriving blood gene expression based models. We developed a new strategy to develop blood-based disease-specific models by leveraging both cell component changes and cell molecular state changes, and demonstrate its superiority using independent datasets.
Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging reveals striatal hypertrophy in a rat model of long-term stimulant treatment
Authors: Biezonski D , Shah R , Krivko A , Cha J , Guilfoyle D N , Hrabe J , Gerum S , Xie S , Duan Y , Bansal R , Leventhal B L , Peterson B S , Kellendonk C , Posner J
Published: September 2016

Stimulant treatment is highly effective in mitigating symptoms associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), though the neurobiological underpinnings of this effect have not been established. Studies using anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with ADHD have suggested that long-term stimulant treatment may improve symptoms of ADHD in part by stimulating striatal hypertrophy. This conclusion is limited, however, as these studies have either used cross-sectional sampling or did not assess the impact of treatment length on their dependent measures. We therefore used longitudinal anatomical MRI in a vehicle-controlled study design to confirm causality regarding stimulant effects on striatal morphology in a rodent model of clinically relevant long-term stimulant treatment. Sprague Dawley rats were orally administered either lisdexamfetamine (LDX, ‘Vyvanse’) or vehicle (N=12 per group) from postnatal day 25 (PD25, young juvenile) until PD95 (young adult), and imaged one day before and one day after the 70-day course of treatment. Our LDX dosing regimen yielded blood levels of dextroamphetamine comparable to those documented in patients. Longitudinal analysis of striatal volume revealed significant hypertrophy in LDX-treated animals when compared to vehicle-treated controls, with a significant treatment by time point interaction. These findings confirm a causal link between long-term stimulant treatment and striatal hypertrophy, and support utility of longitudinal MRI in rodents as a translational approach for bridging preclinical and clinical research. Having demonstrated comparable morphological effects in both humans and rodents using the same imaging technology, future studies may now use this rodent model to identify the underlying cellular mechanisms and behavioral consequences of stimulant-induced striatal hypertrophy.
CO2 exposure as translational cross-species experimental model for panic
Authors: Leibold N K , van den Hove D L A , Viechtbauer W , Buchanan G F , Goossens L , Lange I , Knuts I , Lesch K P , Steinbusch H W M , Schruers K R J
Published: September 2016

The current diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are being challenged by the heterogeneity and the symptom overlap of psychiatric disorders. Therefore, a framework toward a more etiology-based classification has been initiated by the US National Institute of Mental Health, the research domain criteria project. The basic neurobiology of human psychiatric disorders is often studied in rodent models. However, the differences in outcome measurements hamper the translation of knowledge. Here, we aimed to present a translational panic model by using the same stimulus and by quantitatively comparing the same outcome measurements in rodents, healthy human subjects and panic disorder patients within one large project. We measured the behavioral–emotional and bodily response to CO2 exposure in all three samples, allowing for a reliable cross-species comparison. We show that CO2 exposure causes a robust fear response in terms of behavior in mice and panic symptom ratings in healthy volunteers and panic disorder patients. To improve comparability, we next assessed the respiratory and cardiovascular response to CO2, demonstrating corresponding respiratory and cardiovascular effects across both species. This project bridges the gap between basic and human research to improve the translation of knowledge between these disciplines. This will allow significant progress in unraveling the etiological basis of panic disorder and will be highly beneficial for refining the diagnostic categories as well as treatment strategies.
Connectomics-based structural network alterations in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Reess T J , Rus O G , Schmidt R , de Reus M A , Zaudig M , Wagner G , Zimmer C , van den Heuvel M P , Koch K
Published: September 2016

Given the strong involvement of affect in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and recent findings, the current cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) model of pathophysiology has repeatedly been questioned regarding the specific role of regions involved in emotion processing such as limbic areas. Employing a connectomics approach enables us to characterize structural connectivity on a whole-brain level, extending beyond the CSTC circuitry. Whole-brain structural networks of 41 patients and 42 matched healthy controls were analyzed based on 83 × 83 connectivity matrices derived from cortical and subcortical parcellation of structural T1-weighted magnetic resonance scans and deterministic fiber tracking based on diffusion tensor imaging data. To assess group differences in structural connectivity, the framework of network-based statistic (NBS) was applied. Graph theoretical measures were calculated to further assess local and global network characteristics. The NBS analysis revealed a single network consistently displaying decreased structural connectivity in patients comprising orbitofrontal, striatal, insula and temporo-limbic areas. In addition, graph theoretical measures indicated local alterations for amygdala and temporal pole while the overall topology of the network was preserved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study combining the NBS with graph theoretical measures in OCD. Along with regions commonly described in the CSTC model of pathophysiology, our results indicate an involvement of mainly temporo-limbic regions typically associated with emotion processing supporting their importance for neurobiological alterations in OCD.
Triggered isothermal PCR by denaturation bubble-mediated strand exchange amplification
Authors: Shi Chao , Shang Fanjin , Zhou Meiling , Zhang Pansong , Wang Yifan , Ma Cuiping
Published: September 2016

Here, we introduced the concept of strand exchange amplification (SEA) mediated by denaturation bubbles.
Copper-catalyzed N-thioetherification of sulfoximines using disulfides
Authors: Zhu Hui , Yu Jin-Tao , Cheng Jiang
Published: September 2016

A novel copper-catalyzed N-thioetherification of sulfoximines under mild reaction conditions was developed using readily available disulfides as the sulfur source.
Nitrogen-doped carbon dots with excitation-independent long-wavelength emission produced by a room-temperature reaction
Authors: Yang Chenhui , Zhu Shoujun , Li Zhenglin , Li Zhuo , Chen Chong , Sun Lei , Tang Wei , Liu Rui , Sun Ye , Yu Miao
Published: September 2016

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs) have been produced by a new facile “bottom-up” synthesis, using the room-temperature reaction between acetonitrile and sodium-naphthalene.
Infrared spectra and band strengths of CH3SH, an interstellar molecule
Authors: Hudson R. L.
Published: September 2016

Three solid phases of CH3SH (methanethiol or methyl mercaptan) have been prepared and their mid-infrared spectra recorded at 10–110 K, with an emphasis on the 17–100 K region.
Structures and spectroscopy of protonated ammonia clusters at different temperatures
Authors: Malloum Alhadji , Fifen Jean Jules , Dhaouadi Zoubeida , Nana Engo Serge Guy , Jaidane Nejm-Eddine
Published: September 2016

Protonated ammonia clusters are all Eigen structures and the first solvation shell of the related ammonium ion core is saturated by four ammonia molecules.
Nuclear spin hyperpolarization with ansa-aminoboranes: a metal-free perspective for parahydrogen-induced polarization
Authors: Zhivonitko Vladimir V. , Sorochkina Kristina , Chernichenko Konstantin , Kótai Bianka , Földes Tamás , Pápai Imre , Telkki Ville-Veikko , Repo Timo , Koptyug Igor
Published: September 2016

A series of newansa-aminoboranes was analyzed experimentally and theoretically for metal-free production of parahydrogen-induced polarization.
Visible light-driven photocatalytic Heck reaction over carbon nanocoil supported Pd nanoparticles
Authors: Guo Xiao-Wei , Hao Cai-Hong , Wang Cheng-Yu , Sarina Sarina , Guo Xiao-Ning , Guo Xiang-Yun
Published: September 2016

This paper presents a carbon nanocoil supported Pd nanoparticle system (Pd/CNCs) as a photocatalyst for coupling reaction of aryl halides and alkenes (Heck reaction) at 40 °C.
NaFe2PO4(SO4)2: a potential cathode for a Na-ion battery
Authors: Shiva Konda , Singh Preetam , Zhou Weidong , Goodenough John B.
Published: September 2016

Hexagonal Na3Zr2PO4(SiO4)2 is a well-known fast Na+ conductor commonly referred to as NASICON.
A vertical-flow bioreactor array compacts hepatocytes for enhanced polarity and functions
Authors: Zhu Liang , Xia Huanming , Wang Zhenfeng , Fong Eliza Li Shan , Fan Junjun , Tong Wen Hao , Seah Yen Peng Daphne , Zhang Weian , Li Qiushi , Yu Hanry
Published: September 2016

Compaction by vertical flow perfusion induces anin vivo-like cuboidal morphology of hepatocytes in monolayer culture, which enhances polarity and hepatic functions in long-termin vitroculture for drug testing applications.
An on-demand gas segmented flow generator with high spatiotemporal resolution for in vivo analysis of neuronal response in C. elegans
Authors: Hu Liang , Ge Anle , Wang Xixian , Wang Shanshan , Gao Yue , Feng Xiaojun , Du Wei , Liu Bi-Feng
Published: September 2016

We report an on-demand gas segmented flow generator with high spatiotemporal resolution to analyze neuronal responses ofC. elegansto fluctuating gas cues.
Fully automated chemiluminescence detection using an electrified-Lab-on-a-Disc (eLoaD) platform
Authors: Delgado Saraí M. Torres , Kinahan David J. , Sandoval Fralett Suárez , Julius Lourdes Albina Nirupa , Kilcawley Niamh A. , Ducrée Jens , Mager Dario
Published: September 2016

Wireless power technology for centrifugal microfluidics to bridge the gap between Lab-on-a-Disc and Lab-on-a-Chip by placing the sensors in the frame of reference of the spinning disc.
A self-assembly strategy for fabricating highly stable silicon/reduced graphene oxide anodes for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Li Xiao , Tian Xiaodong , Zhao Ning , Wang Kai , Song Yan , Guo Quangui , Chen Chengmeng , Liu Lang
Published: September 2016

High initial coulombic efficiency and improved cyclic stability were obtained by introducting CATB into GO and Si NPs.
A facile approach for the synthesis of C13–C24 fragments of maltepolides A, C and D
Authors: Rao P. Sankara , Srihari P.
Published: September 2016

A linear, chiron approach for the synthesis of C13–C24 fragments of cytostatic maltepolides A, C and D consisting of a tetrahydrofuran subunit and a chiral alkenyl/alkyl substituent is achieved from (+)-diethyl l-tartrate.
Supramolecular radical polymers self-assembled from the stacking of radical cations of rod-like viologen di- and trimers
Authors: Zhan Tian-Guang , Zhou Tian-You , Lin Feng , Zhang Liang , Zhou Cen , Qi Qiao-Yan , Li Zhan-Ting , Zhao Xin
Published: September 2016

A series of π-conjugated oligomeric viologens have been synthesized, from which supramolecular radical polymers were constructed through the stacking of their radical cations.
Formation of coke during the esterification of pyrolysis bio-oil
Authors: Wu Liping , Hu Xun , Wang Shuai , Mourant Daniel , Song Yao , Li Tingting , Li Chun-Zhu
Published: September 2016

Aromatics with big ring structures were formed during the esterification of bio-oil.
Amino-functionalized mesoporous silica based polyethersulfone–polyvinylpyrrolidone composite membranes for elevated temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Zhang Jin , Lu Shanfu , Zhu Haijin , Chen Kongfa , Xiang Yan , Liu Jian , Forsyth Maria , Jiang San Ping
Published: September 2016

It is important to find alternative membranes to the state-of-the-art polybenzimidazole based high temperature proton exchange membranes with high proton conductivity at elevated temperature but with simple synthesis procedures.
Liquid oxygen compatibility and cryogenic mechanical properties of a novel phosphorous/silicon containing epoxy-based hybrid
Authors: Li Jialiang , Li Zhiwei , Wang Hongyu , Wu Zhanjun , Wang Zhi , Li Shichao
Published: September 2016

A novel phosphorous/silicon containing epoxy-based hybrid was synthesized by 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) containing epoxy resin and 3-glycidoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane (GLYMO).
Isoliquiritigenin and liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis inhibit α-synuclein amyloid formation
Authors: Liao Mingyan , Zhao Yudan , Huang Lizi , Cheng Biao , Huang Kun
Published: September 2016

Bioactive isoliquiritigenin and liquiritin inhibit α-synuclein aggregation and extend the life span of theC. elegansmodel of Parkinson's disease.
Isoelectronically doped CdSe/Te nanoalloys as alternative solar cell materials: insight from computational analysis
Authors: Sarkar Ritabrata , Sarkar Sunandan , Pramanik Anup , Sarkar Pranab , Pal Sougata
Published: September 2016

CdSe/Te nanoalloy as a solar energy harvesting material.
Innovative study of superparamagnetism in 3 nm CoFe2O4 particles
Authors: Blanco-Gutiérrez V. , Torralvo-Fernández M. J. , Sáez-Puche R.
Published: September 2016

Superparamagnetic moment evolution with temperature and applied magnetic field, corresponding to 3 nm particles of CoFe2O4.
A high-sensitivity printed antenna prepared by rapid low-temperature sintering of silver ink
Authors: Koga Hirotaka , Inui Tetsuji , Miyamoto Itaru , Sekiguchi Takuya , Nogi Masaya , Suganuma Katsuaki
Published: September 2016

Rapid, low-temperature, and eco-friendly fabrication of printed dipole antennas with high sensitivity is achieved by hot-water sintering of silver precursor-based ink.
Catalytic performance of a series of guanidinium-based ionic liquids in the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide with epoxides
Authors: Li Ping , Li Ya , Chen Ci , Wang Li , Zhang Jinglai
Published: September 2016

The cycloaddition reaction of CO2 into EO, catalyzed by a series of functional guanidinium-based ionic liquids, is schematically studied by the DFT.
Crystal structure and microwave dielectric characteristics of Co-substituted Zn1−xCoxZrNb2O8 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) ceramics
Authors: Pan H. L. , Liu Q. Q. , Zhang Y. H. , Wu H. T.
Published: September 2016

Wolframite structure Zn1−xCoxZrNb2O8 (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10) ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid state method.
DFT study of the mechanism of hydrogen evolution catalysed by molecular Ni, Co and Fe catalysts containing a diamine–tripyridine ligand
Authors: Ye Ke , Li Ying-Ying , Liao Rong-Zhen
Published: September 2016

Electrolysis of water to obtain hydrogen is a practical way to transform surplus electrical power into clean and sustainable hydrogen fuels.
Atelocollagen-templated fabrication of tangled fibrous silica
Authors: Nojima Tatsuya , Suzuki Seiya , Iyoda Tomokazu
Published: September 2016

An electrostatic complex of protein and ethylenediamine works as a catalytic template for the fabrication of structured silica and other metal oxides.
High-mobility p-type NiOx thin-film transistors processed at low temperatures with Al2O3 high-k dielectric
Authors: Shan Fukai , Liu Ao , Zhu Huihui , Kong Weijin , Liu Jingquan , Shin Byoungchul , Fortunato Elvira , Martins Rodrigo , Liu Guoxia
Published: September 2016

High-performance p-type NiOx thin-film transistors are fabricated via a low-cost solution process and exhibit a high mobility of around 15 cm2 V−1 s−1.
Study and implementation of the LED headlight driver with auto‐start function in specific location
Authors: Wang Jian‐Min , Wu Sen‐Tung , Su Wei‐Yuan , Lin Yu‐Liang
Published: September 2016

Conventional automatic headlight devices determine whether to switch vehicle headlights on or off according to the brightness of the environment. These devices cannot automatically switch on headlights during daytime unless the headlights are required in specific road conditions (e.g. mountainous or foggy areas), thus compromising the safety of road users and drivers. This study develops a light‐emitting diode (LED) headlight system that integrates the global positioning system (GPS) and a controller area network (CAN) bus communication interface. This system uses the GPS system to analyse the geographic location and then determines whether to switch on the LED headlight. To reduce the system complexity, a CAN bus is used to limit the number of control wires required. The LED headlight driver also uses an interleaved boost converter that has low conduction losses and input ripple currents, which improves the conversion efficiency of the headlight drivers and extends the battery lifetime. The feasibility of the proposed technology is verified using experimental results.
Temporal and spatial dimensions in the management of scientific advice to governments
Authors: Saner Marc
Published: September 2016

Scientific advice is given to governments through a variety of processes and structures. A key task is, thus, to understand the pros and cons of the various process design options. In this article, two very basic and abstract components of all process options are discussed: their temporal and spatial dimensions. The temporal axis is bracketed by processes that are either divided into entirely distinct tasks or joined into interactive processes. The spatial axis is bracketed by teams that are either physically or administratively embedded or sequestered. The separation of these two axes and their endpoints provides a foundation for a governance analysis that is highly universal and that provides some insights into all types of scientific advice to governments. This article is published as part of a collection on scientific advice to governments.
Zika: the cost of neglect
Authors: Sarkar Sahotra , Gardner Lauren
Published: September 2016

The Zika virus is vectored by mosquito species of the genus Aedes, particularly the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti and, very likely, the Asian tiger mosquito, Ae. albopictus. These species also vector a host of other viral diseases including dengue and chikungunya all of which are “neglected tropical diseases” (NTDs) because of the lack of attention given to them. NTDs are diseases of poverty: They have lacked due attention because they typically affect the poorest populations of the world and at the same time they are not common enough to be profitably exploited by the pharmaceutical industry. We argue that the depth of the current Zika crisis is because of the extent of neglect for NTDs: First, in spite of yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases vectored by Aedes mosquitoes, insufficient efforts have been directed towards their population control. Second, specific drugs for combating yellow fever, dengue, or chikungunya do not exist. For the last two, vaccines are yet to be developed (though some trials are finally taking place for one for dengue). Thus the pharmaceutical knowledge base for tackling related viral diseases is lacking. Third, thanks to the neglect even the epidemiological, sociopolitical and economic data required to make credible and timely risk assessments are not available. For instance, in the case of Zika, it would be useful to have a global risk map based on projected travel to and from Brazil for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Yet, projected travel volumes for chartered flights for the summer of 2016 are not publicly accessible, preventing the creation of credible risk maps. In addition, there is a severe lack of publicly available case data, especially in countries of the South where NTDs have the largest impact. Without reliable and comprehensive outbreak data, risk models necessary for outbreak prediction cannot be validated. Zika has only drawn attention to these problems because of the likelihood of its spread into the affluent North. It is high time that all NTDs are rescued from their dangerous oblivion.
Listening between the lines: medieval and modern science
Authors: Gasper Giles , McLeish Tom , E Smithson Hannah
Published: September 2016

In this article the investigators of the Ordered Universe project will reflect on how a diverse range of disciplinary perspectives essential for effective research into medieval science have been identified, acknowledged and absorbed into a genuinely interdisciplinary methodology. The project operates with a radical interdisciplinary composition bridging science and humanities in particular. How to translate what might be termed current academic practices and expectations between disciplines and between colleagues is a key issue. The article explores the practices of collaborative discussion, collaborative reading and collaborative writing. Central to these issues is the notion of the “atmosphere of enquiry”: getting the best from disciplinary perspectives, respecting expertise and having the right to challenge disciplinary boundaries are integral elements within the process. Finally the experience of this project is set in the context of the wider discussion of what interdisciplinary research means. We discuss how the methods of the Ordered Universe might be used, by imitation or by analogy. This article is published as part of a collection on interdisciplinarity.
Self-similarity and scaling transitions during rupture of thin free films of Newtonian fluids
Authors: Thete Sumeet Suresh , Anthony Christopher , Doshi Pankaj , Harris Michael T. , Basaran Osman A.
Published: September 2016

Rupture of thin liquid films is crucial in many industrial applications and nature such as foam stability in oil-gas separation units, coating flows, polymer processing, and tear films in the eye. In some of these situations, a liquid film may have two free surfaces (referred to here as a free film or a sheet) as opposed to a film deposited on a solid substrate that has one free surface. The rupture of such a free film or a sheet of a Newtonian fluid is analyzed under the competing influences of inertia, viscous stress, van der Waals pressure, and capillary pressure by solving a system of spatially one-dimensional evolution equations for film thickness and lateral velocity. The dynamics close to the space-time singularity where the film ruptures is asymptotically self-similar and, therefore, the problem is also analyzed by reducing the transient partial differential evolution equations to a corresponding set of ordinary differential equations in similarity space. For sheets with negligible inertia, it is shown that the dominant balance of forces involves solely viscous and van der Waals forces, with capillary force remaining negligible throughout the thinning process in a viscous regime. On the other hand, for a sheet of an inviscid fluid for which the effect of viscosity is negligible, it is shown that the dominant balance of forces is between inertial, capillary, and van der Waals forces as the film evolves towards rupture in an inertial regime. Real fluids, however, have finite viscosity. Hence, for real fluids, it is further shown that the viscous and the inertial regimes are only transitory and can only describe the initial thinning dynamics of highly viscous and slightly viscous sheets, respectively. Moreover, regardless of the fluid’s viscosity, it is shown that for sheets that initially thin in either of these two regimes, their dynamics transition to a late stage or final inertial-viscous regime in which inertial, viscous, and van der Waals forces balance each other while capillary force remains negligible, in accordance with the results of Vaynblat, Lister, and Witelski.
Critical role of blockage ratio for flame acceleration in channels with tightly spaced obstacles
Authors: Ugarte Orlando J. , Bychkov Vitaly , Sadek Jad , Valiev Damir , Akkerman V’yacheslav
Published: September 2016

A conceptually laminar mechanism of extremely fast flame acceleration in obstructed channels, identified by Bychkov et al. [“Physical mechanism of ultrafast flame acceleration,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 164501 (2008)], is further studied by means of analytical endeavors and computational simulations of compressible hydrodynamic and combustion equations. Specifically, it is shown how the obstacles length, distance between the obstacles, channel width, and thermal boundary conditions at the walls modify flame propagation through a comb-shaped array of parallel thin obstacles. Adiabatic and isothermal (cold and preheated) side walls are considered, obtaining minor difference between these cases, which opposes the unobstructed channel case, where adiabatic and isothermal walls provide qualitatively different regimes of flame propagation. Variations of the obstructed channel width also provide a minor influence on flame propagation, justifying a scale-invariant nature of this acceleration mechanism. In contrast, the spacing between obstacles has a significant role, although it is weaker than that of the blockage ratio (defined as the fraction of the channel blocked by obstacles), which is the key parameter of the problem. Evolution of the burning velocity and the dependence of the flame acceleration rate on the blockage ratio are quantified. The critical blockage ratio, providing the limitations for the acceleration mechanism in channels with comb-shaped obstacles array, is found analytically and numerically, with good agreement between both approaches. Additionally, this comb-shaped obstacles-driven acceleration is compared to finger flame acceleration and to that produced by wall friction.
Handling the influence of chemical shift in amplitude-modulated heteronuclear dipolar recoupling solid-state NMR
Authors: Basse Kristoffer , Shankar Ravi , Bjerring Morten , Vosegaard Thomas , Nielsen Niels Chr. , Nielsen Anders B.
Published: September 2016

We present a theoretical analysis of the influence of chemical shifts on amplitude-modulated heteronuclear dipolar recoupling experiments in solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The method is demonstrated using the Rotor Echo Short Pulse IRrAdiaTION mediated Cross-Polarization (RESPIRATIONCP) experiment as an example. By going into the pulse sequence rf interaction frame and employing a quintuple-mode operator-based Floquet approach, we describe how chemical shift offset and anisotropic chemical shift affect the efficiency of heteronuclear polarization transfer. In this description, it becomes transparent that the main attribute leading to non-ideal performance is a fictitious field along the rf field axis, which is generated from second-order cross terms arising mainly between chemical shift tensors and themselves. This insight is useful for the development of improved recoupling experiments. We discuss the validity of this approach and present quaternion calculations to determine the effective resonance conditions in a combined rf field and chemical shift offset interaction frame transformation. Based on this, we derive a broad-banded version of the RESPIRATIONCP experiment. The new sequence is experimentally verified using SNNFGAILSS amyloid fibrils where simultaneous 15N → 13CO and 15N → 13Cα coherence transfer is demonstrated on high-field NMR instrumentation, requiring great offset stability.
Communication: Molecular gears
Authors: Burnell E. Elliott , de Lange Cornelis A. , Meerts W. Leo
Published: September 2016

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of hexamethylbenzene orientationally ordered in the nematic liquid crystal ZLI-1132 is analysed using covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy. The spectrum contains over 350 000 lines with many overlapping transitions, from which four independent direct dipolar couplings are obtained. The rotations of the six methyl groups appear to be correlated due to mutual steric hindrance. Adjacent methyl groups show counter-rotating or geared motion. Hexamethylbenzene thus behaves as a molecular hexagonal gear.
Prevalence of interactions between Hawaiian monk seals (Nemonachus schauinslandi) and nearshore fisheries in the main Hawaiian Islands
Authors: Gobush K. S. , Wurth T. A. , Henderson J. R. , Becker B. L. , Littnan C. L.
Published: September 2016

We determine the prevalence and characteristics of interactions between the Hawaiian monk seal (Nemonachus schauinslandi) and nearshore fisheries in the main Hawaiian Islands and examine impacts to the subpopulation. We documented 139 monk seal–fisheries interactions between 1976 and 2014: 132 hookings typically involving large circle hooks accompanied by slide-bait rigging, and 7 gill-net entanglements. We individually identified 297 monk seals between 1988 and 2014 and recorded that 83 (28%) of these had at least one documented hooking or entanglement. Most individuals were aged two years or younger and a quarter of them were hooked or entangled multiple times. Documented fisheries interactions typically occurred at a monk seal’s natal island and most frequently on Kauai and Oahu. Fisheries interaction was directly implicated in 11 monk seal deaths and was slightly higher in frequency than other known mortality factors. The proportion of monk seals alive one year after a documented fisheries interaction varied by age class and ranged between 76% and 84%. Survival one year later for monk seals with a documented fisheries interaction versus matched controls (all age classes combined) was not significantly different. Nonetheless, fully understanding the scale and impacts of fisheries interactions, as well as mitigating these impacts, is important if the monk seal population of the main Hawaiian Islands is to maintain a positive growth trajectory.
Social acceptability of fuel management in the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding region
Authors: Mylek Melinda R. , Schirmer Jacki
Published: September 2016

Managing fuel to reduce wildland fire risk often creates substantial public debate. Although the acceptability of various fuel management strategies has been explored in some regions, particularly North America, the social acceptability of fuel management is less well understood in other countries. This paper begins to address this knowledge gap by exploring acceptability by residents living in and near the Australian Capital Territory, Australia of three fuel management strategies (prescribed burning, livestock grazing and mechanical thinning) used to reduce wildland fire risk to life and property. All three were considered acceptable by most survey respondents. Acceptability did not vary substantially between strategies or by the location in which the strategy was undertaken. Acceptability of fuel management was associated with trust in fire management agencies, having knowledge of fuel management, feeling vulnerable to wildland fire and respondent characteristics such as previous effects of wildland fires, location of residence, gender, age, income and employment status.
Hybridization can facilitate species invasions, even without enhancing local adaptation
Authors: Mesgaran Mohsen B. , Lewis Mark A. , Ades Peter K. , Donohue Kathleen , Ohadi Sara , Li Chengjun , Cousens Roger D.
Published: September 2016

Significance

Species colonizations frequently occur in regions already occupied by other species of the same genus, or by other genotypes of the same species. When hybrid genotypes become more invasive than their parents, improved local adaptation is inevitably assumed. Here, we show that there is another way that hybridization could facilitate invasions, by temporarily overcoming pollen limitation when populations are small. We verify this conclusion using two contemporary sequential invaders, a plant analog of the Neanderthal–modern human system. Our findings indicate that it may be misleading to assume that all cases of invasive hybrids result from enhanced phenotypic suitability. Our hypothesis may be even more relevant to animal species because, unlike plants, animals can rarely escape mate limitation by self-fertilization.
Instabilities and oscillations in coagulation equations with kernels of homogeneity one
Authors: Herrmann Michael , Niethammer Barbara , Velázquez Juan
Published: September 2016

We discuss the long-time behaviour of solutions to Smoluchowski’s coagulation equation with kernels of homogeneity one, combining formal asymptotics, heuristic arguments based on linearization, and numerical simulations. The case of what we call diagonally dominant kernels is particularly interesting. Here one expects that the long-time behaviour is, after a suitable change of variables, the same as for the Burgers equation. However, for kernels that are close to the diagonal one we obtain instability of both, constant solutions and traveling waves and in general no convergence to

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-waves for integrable data. On the other hand, for kernels not close to the diagonal one these structures are stable, but the traveling waves have strong oscillations. This has implications on the approach towards an

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-wave for integrable data, which is also characterized by strong oscillations near the shock front.