bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Middle-Eastern plant communities tolerate 9 years of drought in a multi-site climate manipulation experiment
Authors: Tielbörger Katja , Bilton Mark C. , Metz Johannes , Kigel Jaime , Holzapfel Claus , Lebrija-Trejos Edwin , Konsens Irit , Parag Hadas A. , Sternberg Marcelo
Published: October 2014

For evaluating climate change impacts on biodiversity, extensive experiments are urgently needed to complement popular non-mechanistic models which map future ecosystem properties onto their current climatic niche. Here, we experimentally test the main prediction of these models by means of a novel multi-site approach. We implement rainfall manipulations—irrigation and drought—to dryland plant communities situated along a steep climatic gradient in a global biodiversity hotspot containing many wild progenitors of crops. Despite the large extent of our study, spanning nine plant generations and many species, very few differences between treatments were observed in the vegetation response variables: biomass, species composition, species richness and density. The lack of a clear drought effect challenges studies classifying dryland ecosystems as most vulnerable to global change. We attribute this resistance to the tremendous temporal and spatial heterogeneity under which the plants have evolved, concluding that this should be accounted for when predicting future biodiversity change.
Plasmon-enhanced optical sensors: a review
Authors: Li Ming , Cushing Scott K. , Wu Nianqiang
Published: October 2014

This paper presents a critical review of recent research progress in plasmonic sensors, plasmon-enhanced fluorescence sensors, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors. It places emphasis on the sensor design strategies, and highlights the applications of sensors in healthcare, homeland security, food safety and environmental monitoring.
Separation of small metabolites and lipids in spectra from biopsies by diffusion-weighted HR-MAS NMR: a feasibility study
Authors: Diserens G. , Vermathen M. , Precht C. , Broskey N. T. , Boesch C. , Amati F. , Dufour J.-F. , Vermathen P.
Published: October 2014

Diffusion combined with relaxation time differences were used to eliminate lipid contributions from HR-MAS spectra of biopsies impeding metabolite analysis.
Dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of hormones in liquid cosmetics with metal–organic framework
Authors: Zhai Yujuan , Li Na , Lei Lei , Yang Xiao , Zhang Hanqi
Published: October 2014

The dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction based on the metal–organic framework MIL-101(Cr) was developed and applied for the extraction of hormones from cosmetics.
Portable platform for rapid and indirect photometric determination of water in ethanol fuel samples
Authors: Giordano Gabriela Furlan , Melo Ferreira Danielle Cristhina , Ribeiro de Carvalho Thiago , Silveira Vieira Luis Carlos , Helena de Oliveira Piazzetta Maria , Lima Renato Sousa , Gobbi Angelo Luiz
Published: October 2014

Custom-designed device for the on-site photometric determination of water in ethanol fuels. The method is both user-friendly and fast.
Ru-catalyzed decarboxylative cyclization of mandelic acids with acrylates: facile access to the phthalide skeleton
Authors: Chen Lili , Li Hongji , Yu Feng , Wang Lei
Published: October 2014

A Ru-catalyzed decarboxylative cyclization of mandeic acids with acrylates was developed, which provides an efficient route to the phthalide skeleton.
A rapid and divergent access to chiral azacyclic nucleoside analogues via highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of β-nucleobase substituted acrylates
Authors: Yang Qi-Liang , Xie Ming-Sheng , Xia Chao , Sun Huan-Li , Zhang Dan-Jie , Huang Ke-Xin , Guo Zhen , Qu Gui-Rong , Guo Hai-Ming
Published: October 2014

A rapid and divergent access to chiral azacyclic nucleoside analogues was developed via enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of β-nucleobase substituted acrylates.
Novel zwitterionic complexes arising from the coordination of an ambiphilic phosphorus–aluminum ligand to gold
Authors: Devillard Marc , Nicolas Emmanuel , Appelt Christian , Backs Jana , Mallet-Ladeira Sonia , Bouhadir Ghenwa , Slootweg J. Chris , Uhl Werner , Bourissou Didier
Published: October 2014

Upon coordination of Mes2PC(CHPh)AltBu2, bridging P→M–Cl→Al coordination was observed with Rh and Pd fragments, while chloride abstraction occurred with Au. The resulting zwitterionic complexes have been fully characterized and analyzed by DFT calculations.
Aptamer-mediated ‘turn-off/turn-on’ nanozyme activity of gold nanoparticles for kanamycin detection
Authors: Sharma Tarun Kumar , Ramanathan Rajesh , Weerathunge Pabudi , Mohammadtaheri Mahsa , Daima Hemant Kumar , Shukla Ravi , Bansal Vipul
Published: October 2014

A new ultrafast and highly sensitive ‘turn-off/turn-on’ biosensing approach that combines the intrinsic peroxidase-like activity of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with the high affinity and specificity of a ssDNA aptamer is presented.
Rutile TiO2 nanowire-based perovskite solar cells
Authors: Jiang Qinglong , Sheng Xia , Li Yingxuan , Feng Xinjian , Xu Tao
Published: October 2014

Different lengths of rutile TiO2 nanowires (NW) with wide-open space for effective material filling were used as photoanodes for perovskite solar cells.
Synthesis, electron microscopy and X-ray characterization of oxymagnesite, MgO·2MgCO3, formed from amorphous magnesium carbonate
Authors: Frykstrand S. , Strietzel C. , Forsgren J. , Ångström J. , Potin V. , Strømme M.
Published: October 2014

The first electron microscopy images of the peculiar oxymagnesite crystal are presented along with the synthesis description and crystallographic data.
N⋯I halogen bonding supported stabilization of a discrete pseudo-linear [I12]2−polyiodide
Authors: Peuronen Anssi , Rinta Heikki , Lahtinen Manu
Published: October 2014

An unprecedented discrete nearly linear dodecaiodide, [I12]2−, can be stabilizedviaN⋯I and cation⋯I−interactions using a dicationic template based on the 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) diamine.
ZnO nanoplate-induced phase transformation synthesis of the composite ZnS/In(OH)3/In2S3with enhanced visible-light photodegradation activity of pollutants
Authors: Gu Yun , Xu Zhaodi , Guo Lan , Wan Yiqun
Published: October 2014

The as-synthesized composite ZnS/In(OH)3/In2S3by phase transformation induced by ZnO nanoplates exhibits excellent photoactivity due to the suitable energy band structure and wider pore size distribution.
Molecular dynamics study of coagulation in silica-nanocolloid–water–NaCl systems based on the atomistic model
Authors: Habasaki Junko , Ishikawa Masamichi
Published: October 2014

Structures obtained by coagulation of nanocolloidal silica in water with NaCl are examined by large scale atomistic molecular dynamics simulations for better understanding of the self-organization in aggregates and the gel.
Single-chiral-catalytic-surface-sites: STM and DFT study of stereodirecting complexes formed between (R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine and ketopantolactone on Pt(111)
Authors: Svane Katrine , Dong Yi , Groves Michael N. , Demers-Carpentier Vincent , Lemay Jean-Christian , Ouellet Mireille , Hammer Bjørk , McBreen Peter H.
Published: October 2014

Revealing the set of most stable bimolecular complexes formed by a prochiral molecule and a chiral modifier on Pt(111).
Tools for studying aqueous enantioselective lanthanide-catalyzed Mukaiyama aldol reactions
Authors: Averill Derek J. , Allen Matthew J.
Published: October 2014

Use of multiple techniques to study lanthanide-catalyzed reactions in the presence of water.
Achievements in uranium alkyl chemistry: celebrating sixty years of synthetic pursuits
Authors: Johnson Sara A. , Bart Suzanne C.
Published: October 2014

This Perspective highlights the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of significant organouranium complexes with σ-bonded alkyl ligands.
Trivalent acid radical-centered YLi4+(Y = PO4, AsO4, VO4) cations: new polynuclear species designed to enrich the superalkali family
Authors: Liu Jia-Yuan , Wu Di , Sun Wei-Ming , Li Ying , Li Zhi-Ru
Published: October 2014

A new series of polynuclear superalkali cations YLi4+(Y = PO4, AsO4, VO4) has been designed and characterized to enrich the superalkali family.
Synthesis, cytotoxicity, DNA interaction and cell cycle studies of trans-diiodophosphine Pt(ii) complexes
Authors: Medrano Angeles , Dennis Stephen M. , Alvarez-Valdés Amparo , Perles Josefina , McGregor Mason Tracey , Quiroga Adoracion G.
Published: October 2014

Diiodido phosphine Pt complexes were synthesized and their biological activity studied. The complex with isopropylamine was the best candidate.
Sterically driven synthesis of ruthenium and ruthenium–silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes
Authors: Cesari C. , Conti S. , Zacchini S. , Zanotti V. , Cassani M. C. , Mazzoni R.
Published: October 2014

A sterically driven synthetic route from non-bulky silver NHC to novel Ru(NHC) complexes and from bulky Ag(NHC) to unprecedented heterobimetallic Ru–Ag(NHC) complexes is presented.
Large scale, flexible and three-dimensional quasi-ordered aluminum nanospikes for thin film photovoltaics with omnidirectional light trapping and optimized electrical design
Authors: Leung Siu-Fung , Tsui Kwong-Hoi , Lin Qingfeng , Huang Hongtao , Lu Linfeng , Shieh Jia-Min , Shen Chang-Hong , Hsu Chin-Hung , Zhang Qianpeng , Li Dongdong , Fan Zhiyong
Published: October 2014

Optimized nanospiked solar cell achieved efficiency of 7.92 % which is among the highest on a flexible substrate.
Lead sulfate nano- and microparticles in the acid plant blow-down generated at the sulfuric acid plant of the El Teniente mine, Chile
Authors: Barassi Giancarlo M. , Klimsa Martin , Borrmann Thomas , Cairns Mathew J. , Kinkel Joachim , Valenzuela Fernando
Published: October 2014

Suspended solids in weak acid waste from a copper smelter have been identified to be anglesite, lead sulphate, nano- and microparticles. The particles bypass filters and could pose a serious environmental threat.
Organochlorines in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded along the southern North Sea between 2010 and 2013
Authors: Mahfouz Céline , Henry Françoise , Jauniaux Thierry , Khalaf Gaby , Amara Rachid
Published: October 2014

7 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 6 dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDXs) and 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in the blubber of 20 harbour porpoises stranded on the coasts of the southern North Sea between 2010 and 2013.
Impact of dietary fibers [methyl cellulose, chitosan, and pectin] on digestion of lipids under simulated gastrointestinal conditions
Authors: Espinal-Ruiz Mauricio , Parada-Alfonso Fabián , Restrepo-Sánchez Luz-Patricia , Narváez-Cuenca Carlos-Eduardo , McClements David Julian
Published: October 2014

Polysaccharides may decrease lipid digestion by promoting flocculation or gelation.
Bioactive composition, antimicrobial activities and the influence of Agrocybe aegerita (Brig.) Sing on certain quorum-sensing-regulated functions and biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Petrović Jovana , Glamočlija Jasmina , Stojković Dejan , Nikolić Miloš , Ćirić Ana , Fernandes Angela , Ferreira Isabel C. F. R. , Soković Marina
Published: October 2014

Antimicrobial activities and the antiqourum effect onPseudomonas aeruginosaof anA. aegeritamethanolic extract were investigated.
Continuous release of bFGF from multilayer nanofilm to maintain undifferentiated human iPS cell cultures
Authors: Park Ju Hyun , Hong Jinkee
Published: October 2014

Schematic illustration of the release of growth factor from multilayer nano-coatings for iPS cell culture.
Retrieving the electronic properties of silicon nanocrystals embedded in a dielectric matrix by low-loss EELS
Authors: Eljarrat Alberto , López-Conesa Lluís , López-Vidrier Julian , Hernández Sergi , Garrido Blas , Magén César , Peiró Francesca , Estradé Sònia
Published: October 2014

A novel approach to disentangle the electronic features corresponding to pure Si-NCs from their surrounding dielectric material.
A cobalt–nitrogen complex on N-doped three-dimensional graphene framework as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Jiang Yuanyuan , Lu Yizhong , Wang Xiaodan , Bao Yu , Chen Wei , Niu Li
Published: October 2014

Effective preparation of a high-performance non-precious metal oxygen reduction electrocatalyst (a Co–N complex on 3D N-doped graphene) by a facile method from low-cost raw materials.
Discrimination between FRET and non-FRET quenching in a photochromic CdSe quantum dot/dithienylethene dye system
Authors: Dworak Lars , Reuss Andreas J. , Zastrow Marc , Rück-Braun Karola , Wachtveitl Josef
Published: October 2014

Reversible switching between the FRET and the non-FRET state in a highly defined nanostructure composed of CdSe quantum dots and a photoswitch is reported.
Study of Cytochrome c-DNA Interaction – Evaluation of Binding Sites on the Redox Protein
Authors: Wettstein Christoph , Kyne Ciara , M. Doolan Aishling , Möhwald Helmuth , Crowley Peter B. , Lisdat Fred
Published: October 2014

The characteristics of cytc-DNA complexation change from transient to permanent in dependency on the pH value and the ionic strength. Hereby, typical binding sites known from cytc-protein complex formation are affected by DNA.
Gold-catalyzed carboalkoxylations of 2-ethynylbenzyl ethers to form 1- and 3-substituted 2-methoxy-1-H-indenes: Brønsted acids versus gold catalysis
Authors: Chen Chun-Hao , Wang Chiou-Dong , Hsieh Yi-Feng , Liu Rai-Shung
Published: October 2014

Selective synthesis of 1- and 3-substituted 2-methoxyindenes from the carboalkoxylations of 2-ethynylbenzyl ethers is described.
Photoinduced HBr-catalyzed C–Si bond cleavage of benzylsilanes and their subsequent oxidation into benzoic acids with air as the terminal oxidant
Authors: Sun Jing , Wang Yu , Han Liqiong , Xu Dawen , Chen Yiyong , Peng Xinhua , Guo Hao
Published: October 2014

A photoinduced highly efficient C–Si bond cleavage reaction of benzylsilanes under the catalysis of HBr was developed. The in situ generated benzyl radical intermediates were aerobically oxidized into benzoic acids highly chemoselectively.
Rice husk as bio-source of silica: preparation and characterization of PLA–silica bio-composites
Authors: Battegazzore Daniele , Bocchini Sergio , Alongi Jenny , Frache Alberto
Published: October 2014

Silica has been extracted from rice husk, employing a simple extraction for preparing poly(lactic acid) bio-composites with different filler contents.
Halos show the path to perfection: peripheral iodo-substituents improve the efficiencies of bis(diimine)copper(i) dyes in DSCs
Authors: Malzner Frederik J. , Brauchli Sven Y. , Constable Edwin C. , Housecroft Catherine E. , Neuburger Markus
Published: October 2014

DSCs containing simple copper(i) dyes with peripheral halo (X) ligands give global efficiencies >3% for X = I; a new strategy for stepwise surface dye assembly is demonstrated.
Synthesis and characterisation of layered double hydroxide dispersions in organic solvents
Authors: Yang Miaosen , McDermott Olivia , Buffet Jean-Charles , O'Hare Dermot
Published: October 2014

Aqueous Miscible Organic Solvent Treatment (AMOST) Mg3AlCO3–LDHs have been prepared using twelve different (AMO) solvents.
Thermotropic gelation induced changes in micropolarity and microviscosity of hydrogel derived from glucose-triazole-hydrogenated cardanol conjugate: a study using fluorescent molecular probe
Authors: Swain Jitendriya , Kamalraj M. , Prakash Rao H. Surya , Mishra Ashok K.
Published: October 2014

Glucose-triazole-hydrogenated cardanol conjugates (GTHCC): A thermoreversible supergelator.
A multifunctional ionic iridium complex for field-effect and light-emitting devices
Authors: Li Jing , Dong Guifang , Duan Lian , Ma Dongxin , Hu Tao , Zhang Yunge , Wang Liduo , Qiu Yong
Published: October 2014

We synthesized a multifunctional ionic iridium complex used for field-effect and light-emitting devices.
A ratiometric fluorescent probe for fast and sensitive detection of peroxynitrite: a boronate ester as the receptor to initiate a cascade reaction
Authors: Zhou Ji , Li Yang , Shen Jiaoning , Li Qiang , Wang Rui , Xu Yufang , Qian Xuhong
Published: October 2014

We have developed a fluorescent probe connecting boronate ester oxidation andin situcyclization together for the sensitive and selective detection of ONOO−.
On the ionizing properties of supercritical carbon dioxide: uncatalyzed electrophilic bromination of aromatics
Authors: Delgado-Abad Thais , Martínez-Ferrer Jaime , Reig-López Javier , Mello Rossella , Acerete Rafael , Asensio Gregorio , González-Núñez María Elena
Published: October 2014

scCO2, a non-polar solvent with a dielectric constant lower than n-pentane, promotes the electrophilic bromination of aromatics as efficiently as strongly ionizing solvents such as aqueous acetic and trifluoroacetic acids.
Solution phase synthesis of homogeneously alloyed ultrathin CdSxSe1−x nanosheets
Authors: Maiti Pradipta Sankar , Meir Noga , Houben Lothar , Bar-Sadan Maya
Published: October 2014

Matching the reactivities of S and Se, homogenously alloyed ultrathin sheets of CdSxSe1−x were obtained. The 5–6 monolayer thick nanosheets showed promising optical properties (e.g. quantum yield) relative to the binary compounds.
A commercial approach for the fabrication of bulk and nano phosphors converted into highly efficient white LEDs
Authors: Dwivedi Jaya , Kumar Pawan , Kumar Arun , Sudama Sudama , Singh V. N. , Singh Bhanu Pratap , Dhawan S. K. , Shanker V. , Gupta Bipin Kumar
Published: October 2014

A novel approach for the comparative study of bulk and nano phosphors converted into highly efficient white LEDs.
Biodiesel synthesis over the CaO–ZrO2solid base catalyst prepared by a urea–nitrate combustion method
Authors: Xia Shengfei , Guo Xiaoming , Mao Dongsen , Shi Zhangping , Wu Guisheng , Lu Guanzhong
Published: October 2014

Efficient catalytic transesterification of soybean oil with methanol to produce biodiesel over the CaO–ZrO2solid base catalyst prepared by the urea–nitrate combustion method.
Using concept mapping to uncover students' knowledge structures of chemical bonding concepts
Authors: Burrows Nikita L. , Mooring Suazette Reid
Published: October 2014

General chemistry is the first undergraduate course in which students further develop their understanding of fundamental chemical concepts. Many of these fundamental topics highlight the numerous conceptual interconnections present in chemistry. However, many students possess incoherent knowledge structures regarding these topics. Therefore, effective assessments are needed to identify these interconnections. The use of concept-mapping and think-aloud interviews to investigate the knowledge structures of undergraduate organic chemistry students' regarding bonding concepts is the focus of this research study. Herein, we spotlight the bonding concepts of electronegativity and polar covalent bonds. In essence, the study found that understanding of electronegativity was weak among students with low concept map scores (LS students) compared to students with high concept map scores (HS students). Additionally, several common misconceptions of electronegativity were revealed through student interviews. An examination of LS student interviews further revealed that a lack of understanding of electronegativity led to a misunderstanding of polar covalent bonding. The think-aloud interviews were a reflection of the connections students made with the concepts of electronegativity and polar covalent bonding in their concept maps. Implications for the chemistry curriculum are also presented.
Liposomes tethered to a biopolymer film through the hydrophobic effect create a highly effective lubricating surface
Authors: Zheng R. , Arora J. , Boonkaew B. , Raghavan S. R. , Kaplan D. L. , He J. , Pesika N. S. , John V. T.
Published: October 2014

Liposomes tethered to a hydrophobically modified chitosan film, form a surface layer that exhibits biologically relevant coefficient of friction values.
The effect of position of (S)-2-octyloxy tail on the formation of frustrated blue phase and antiferroelectric phase in Schiff base liquid crystals
Authors: Huang Chiung-Cheng , Hsu Ching-Chung , Chen Li-Wen , Cheng Yu-Lun
Published: October 2014

Chiral salicylaldimine-based liquid crystals in which the (S)-2-octyloxyl tail close to or far from the salicylaldimine core possesses a frustrated blue phase and an antiferroelectric SmC*A phase.
Relating foam and interfacial rheological properties of β-lactoglobulin solutions
Authors: Lexis M. , Willenbacher N.
Published: October 2014

Interfacial elasticity can strongly increase the modulus and yield stress of protein foams by more than an order of magnitude compared to widely accepted model predictions only including contributions from Laplace pressure and gas volume fraction.
Local organization of Fe3+ into nano-CeO2 with controlled morphologies and its impact on reducibility properties
Authors: Moog Iona , Feral-Martin Cédric , Duttine Mathieu , Wattiaux Alain , Prestipino Carmelo , Figueroa Santiago , Majimel Jérôme , Demourgues Alain
Published: October 2014

Isolated Fe3+ in distorted octahedral sites and Fe3+ clusters are stabilized into ceria and contribute to enhance the reducibility properties.
Point defect-assisted doping mechanism and related thermoelectric transport properties in Pb-doped BiCuOTe
Authors: An Tae-Ho , Lim Young Soo , Choi Hyoung-Seuk , Seo Won-Seon , Park Cheol-Hee , Kim Gwi-Rang , Park Chan , Lee Chang Hoon , Shim Ji Hoon
Published: October 2014

In this article we report point defect-assisted doping mechanism and related thermoelectric transport properties in Pb-doped BiCuOTe compounds.
Heterostructured composites consisting of In2O3 nanorods and reduced graphene oxide with enhanced interfacial electron transfer and photocatalytic performance
Authors: Huang Hui , Yue Zongkuan , Li Gang , Wang Xiaomei , Huang Jie , Du Yukou , Yang Ping
Published: October 2014

UV-assisted fabrication of In2O3 nanorods/reduced graphene oxide composites with enhanced interfacial charge transfer and photocatalytic performance under visible light.
Centrifugation-free and high yield synthesis of nanosized H-ZSM-5 and its structure-guided aromatization of methanol to 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene
Authors: Shen Kui , Qian Weizhong , Wang Ning , Su Chang , Wei Fei
Published: October 2014

Nanosized H-ZSM-5, synthesized by a new centrifugation-free, vapor phase method, exhibited excellent performance in MTA reaction to achieve a high 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene selectivity.
Organic photovoltaic cells utilising ZnO electron extraction layers produced through thermal conversion of ZnSe
Authors: New Edward , Hancox Ian , Rochford Luke A. , Walker Marc , Dearden Chloe Argent , McConville Chris F. , Jones Tim. S.
Published: October 2014

A thin ZnSe layer was deposited by thermal evaporation in vacuum and thermally annealed in air to provide an efficient ZnO electron extraction layer for an inverted small molecule organic photovoltaic cell.
Fabrication and characterisation of a large-area solid oxide fuel cell based on dual tape cast YSZ electrode skeleton supported YSZ electrolytes with vanadate and ferrite perovskite-impregnated anodes and cathodes
Authors: Ni C. S. , Vohs J. M. , Gorte R. J. , Irvine J. T. S.
Published: October 2014

Infiltration of ceramic materials into a pre-formed ceramic scaffold for a solid oxide fuel cell with nano-structured ceramic electrodes through low-temperature processing led to high performance using H2 as well as carbonaceous fuel.
Palladium nanoparticles immobilized on core–shell magnetic fibers as a highly efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and Suzuki coupling reactions
Authors: Le Xuanduong , Dong Zhengping , Liu Yansheng , Jin Zhicheng , Huy Thanh-Do , Le Minhdong , Ma Jiantai
Published: October 2014

A novel core–shell magnetic fibrous nanocatalyst, Pd/Fe3O4@SiO2@KCC-1 with easily accessible active sites and a convenient recovery property, was successfully developed.
Influence of the structural and textural properties of ordered mesoporous materials and hierarchical zeolitic supports on the controlled release of methylprednisolone hemisuccinate
Authors: García-Muñoz R. A. , Morales V. , Linares M. , González P. E. , Sanz R. , Serrano D. P.
Published: October 2014

Influence of structural and textural properties of mesostructured siliceous and hierarchical zeolite materials in designing effective drug delivery vehicles.
Sequential release of drugs from hollow manganese ferrite nanocarriers for breast cancer therapy
Authors: Kumar B. N. Prashanth , Puvvada Nagaprasad , Rajput Shashi , Sarkar Siddik , Das Swadesh K. , Emdad Luni , Sarkar Devanand , Venkatesan P. , Pal Ipsita , Dey Goutam , Konar Suraj , Brunt Keith R. , Rao Raj R. , Mazumdar Abhijit , Kundu Subhas C. , Pathak Amita , Fisher Paul B. , Mandal Mahitosh
Published: October 2014

Single drug therapies for cancer are often ineffective and may not provide long term clinical benefits.
Aptamer-mediated nanocomposites of semiconductor quantum dots and graphene oxide as well as their applications in intracellular imaging and targeted drug delivery
Authors: Zhang Li , Xiao Sai Jin , Zheng Lin Ling , Li Yuan Fang , Huang Cheng Zhi
Published: October 2014

Fluorescent quantum dot–graphene oxide nanocomposites have been facilely fabricated and applied in bio-imaging and cell-targeted drug delivery.
In vivo assessment of grafted cortical neural progenitor cells and host response to functionalized self-assembling peptide hydrogels and the implications for tissue repair
Authors: Rodriguez A. L. , Wang T. Y. , Bruggeman K. F. , Horgan C. C. , Li R. , Williams R. J. , Parish C. L. , Nisbet D. R.
Published: October 2014

Functionalized N-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl self-assembling peptides are biocompatible in vivo, demonstrating their utility as a cell delivery vehicle for tissue engineering.
W‐band piezoelectric transducer‐controlled low insertion loss variable phase shifter
Authors: Abdellatif A. , Taeb A. , Ranjkesh N. , Gigoyan S. , Safavi‐Naeini S.
Published: October 2014

A low‐cost and low‐loss piezoelectric transducer‐controlled phase shifter for millimetre‐wave/sub‐terahertz applications is presented. The proposed idea is based on reducing the propagation constant of a high‐resistivity silicon image guide by a high dielectric constant slab loading. The proposed phase shifter has a measured insertion loss of <−2 dB across the range from 87 to 94 GHz. A phase shift of 85° at 90 GHz is obtained by a device length of 4 mm. The proposed phase shifter has an insertion loss variation of < 0.2 dB for 85° of phase shift at 90 GHz. Measurement results are in good agreement with the simulations.
Optically controlled reconfigurable band‐notched UWB antenna for cognitive radio systems
Authors: Zheng Shou Hui , Liu Xiongying , Tentzeris Manos M.
Published: October 2014

A compact optically controlled ultra‐wideband (UWB) antenna with reconfigurable band‐notched characteristics is investigated for cognitive radio (CR) applications. The rejection mechanism is realised by etching one symmetric folded slot on the U‐shaped radiation patch and the essence of the reconfigurable function is achieved by laser controlling photoconductive switches to change the effective length of the folded slot. A prototype with an overall size of 25 × 25 × 0.8 mm3 is designed and constructed. On the basis of simulated and measured results, the proposed antenna exhibits good radiation behaviour and operates in a wide band with the performance of switchable band rejection of the wireless local area network (WLAN) 2.4 GHz (2.2–2.9 GHz), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) (3.2–4.7 GHz), WLAN 5 GHz (4.8–6.6 GHz) and the ITU 8 GHz (7.5–8.7 GHz).
Polarisation rotation reflective surface based on artificial magnetic conductor and its application
Authors: Yang Wanchen , Tam Kam‐Weng , Choi Wai‐Wa , Che Wenquan , Hui Hon Tat
Published: October 2014

A novel polarisation rotating reflective surface (PRRS) based on a tri‐via artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) structure is proposed. It has three polarisation rotation (PR) frequency points, which can be adjusted by the offset of vias loaded in the AMC structure. When a proper offset is chosen, two adjacent PR frequency points will come together to form a wide PR band. As a result, two PR bands can be obtained. Moreover, the new PRRS is applied to the design of a low‐profile dipole antenna for the generation of circular polarisation radiation. Simulation and measurement results both demonstrate good right‐handed circular polarisation.
Enhancing transconductance of ultra‐low‐power two‐stage folded cascode OTA
Authors: Akbari M. , Hashemipour O.
Published: October 2014

Using the Gm‐C compensation technique, an ultra‐low‐power two‐stage operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with rail‐to‐rail input/output swing is presented. The input stage of the proposed OTA has the benefit of transconductance enhancement compared to the conventional OTA with the same power consumption and silicon area. Simulation results in a 0.18 μm CMOS technology show a DC gain enhancement of 9.5 dB as well as 88% improvement in gain bandwidth compared to the conventional folded cascode input stage structure.
0.35 V time‐domain‐based instrumentation amplifier
Authors: Mohan R. , Yan L. , Gielen G. , Van Hoof C. , Yazicioglu R.F.
Published: October 2014

A time‐domain‐based amplifier concept is proposed to obtain high‐voltage gains with low power consumption and at an ultra‐low supply voltage of 0.35 V. A prototype instrumentation amplifier designed using the proposed technique in the 180 nm technology consumes 210 nW of power and 0.1 mm2 of the active area.
Compact filtering antenna using CRLH resonator and defected ground structure
Authors: Chen L. , Luo Y.‐L.
Published: October 2014

A compact ﬁltering antenna with high band‐edge gain selectivity using a composite right‐/left‐handed (CRLH) resonator and a defected ground structure is presented. The CRLH resonator resonates at the zeroth‐order mode and acts as the first stage of the corresponding filter; an octagonal patch acts as a radiator as well as the last stage of the ﬁlter. The design procedure follows the circuit approach – synthesis of bandpass ﬁlters. The ﬁltering antenna has two poles in the passband and two radiation nulls (zeros) at the band edges. Compared to the conventional patch antenna, the proposed filtering antenna, with little extra circuit area, has flat gain response within the passband, good selectivity at the passband edge and wider bandwidth. Measurement results show that the ﬁltering antenna can operate at 5.29 GHz, has a 430 MHz bandwidth and a 2.5 dBi antenna gain in the broadside (+Z) direction within the passband.
Staff perceptions of primary healthcare service change: influences on staff satisfaction
Authors: Tham Rachel , Buykx Penny , Kinsman Leigh , Ward Bernadette , Humphreys John S. , Asaid Adel , Tuohey Kathy , Jenner Rohan
Published: October 2014

Strong primary healthcare (PHC) services are efficient, cost-effective and associated with better population health outcomes. However, little is known about the role and perspectives of PHC staff in creating a sustainable service. Staff from a single-point-of-entry primary health care service in Elmore, a small rural community in north-west Victoria, were surveyed. Qualitative methods were used to collect data to show how the key factors associated with the evolution of a once-struggling medical service into a successful and sustainable PHC service have influenced staff satisfaction. The success of the service was linked to visionary leadership, teamwork and community involvement while service sustainability was described in terms of inter-professional linkages and the role of the service in contributing to the broader community. These factors were reported to have a positive impact on staff satisfaction. The contribution of service delivery change and ongoing service sustainability to staff satisfaction in this rural setting has implications for planning service change in other primary health care settings.

What is known about this topic?
Integrated PHC services have an important role to play in achieving equitable population health outcomes. Many rural communities struggle to maintain viable PHC services. Innovative PHC models are needed to ensure equitable access to care and reduce the health differential between rural and metropolitan people.

What does this paper add?
Multidisciplinary teams, visionary leadership, strong community engagement combined with service partnerships are important factors in the building of a rural PHC service that substantially contributes to enhanced staff satisfaction and service sustainability.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Understanding and engaging local community members is a key driver in the success of service delivery changes in rural PHC services.
Structural Diversity and Fluorescence Regulation of Three ZnII Coordination Polymers Assembled from Mixed Ligands Tectons
Authors: Xin Ling-Yun , Liu Guang-Zhen , Ma Lu-Fang , Zhang Xue , Wang Li-Ya
Published: October 2014

By adopting a mixed-ligand strategy, three ZnII coordination polymers were prepared by hydrothermal reactions of zinc(ii) acetate with flexible 1,2-phenylenediacetic acid (H2phda) combining with three nitrogen-rich tectons namely, [Zn2(phda)2(bpo)2]n·2H2O (1), [Zn(phda)(pytz)]n (2), and [Zn(phda)(bib)]n·H2O (3) (where bpo = 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, pytz = 3,5-di(4-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole, and bib = 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-yl)benzene). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the three compounds contain metal(ii)-carboxylate chains further extended by such nitrogen-rich co-ligands to afford a vast diversity of structures from two-dimensional (2D) stepwise grids (1), 2D double layers (2), to three-dimensional (3D)→3D 4-fold interpenetrating diamondoid networks. Furthermore, the structural differences in these complexes are primarily affected by the introduction of N-donor ancillary co-ligands so that their solid-state photoluminescence properties exhibit various emission spectra. Especially, compound 3 shows a guest-sensitive luminescence behaviour, which may be useful in applications as guest sensors.
Seed and pollen morphology in the Orobanche alsatica complex (Orobanchaceae) from central Europe and its taxonomic significance
Authors: Piwowarczyk R. , Halamski A. T. , Durska E.
Published: October 2014

Micromorphology of seeds and pollen of Orobanche alsatica, O. bartlingii and O. mayeri, the central European representatives of the O. alsatica aggregate (Orobanchaceae) was investigated on the basis of 32 samples from 18 localities in Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Russia. Concerning seeds, the best taxonomic character is a narrow trough on external sides of radial walls of cells of the seed wall, which is always present and continuous in O. bartlingii, mostly absent in O. mayeri, and mostly present solely at wall segment junctions (vertices) in O. alsatica (individuals parasitising Peucedanum spp.; continuous in parasites of Seseli osseum). As for pollen, the exine sculpture is verrucate in O. mayeri, granulate in O. bartlingii, and granulate to scabrate in O. alsatica. O. alsatica parasitising Peucedanum spp. and Seseli osseum (host-related morphotypes) differ in seed shape, ornamentation and wall-perforation diameter. Variability of seed and pollen characters is high, and identical morphologies occur among the investigated species. The variation coefficient is too strongly correlated with the sample size to be a reliable estimator the taxonomic value of a character. Differences in seed and pollen sculpture, hosts and ecological preferences confirm the separation of the three examined taxa at species level.
Limbless geckoes hanging on? Lessons in exploiting arid-zone unpredictability from an elusive habitat-specialist pygopod
Authors: Pedler Reece , Brandle Robert , Fenner Aaron , Lennon Shontelle
Published: October 2014

Context
The study of threatened species is often challenged by their rarity and secretive life-history traits. Species adapted to extreme environments prone to stochastic conditions present further challenges because of fluctuating populations and patchy distributions. We employed a variety of methods to gather records and habitat information on the bronzeback legless lizard (Ophidiocephalus taeniatus), an endemic, nationally vulnerable monotypic pygopod reptile that is poorly understood because of fossorial, cryptic behaviour and remote distribution in the stony deserts of inland Australia.

Aims
Our aim was to determine foundational information on the distribution and landscape parameters relevant to this species and its disturbance-prone habitat and to formulate conceptual models to guide understanding, future research and management of threats.

Methods
We used multiple data sources, including targeted field surveys with Antakarintja traditional land owners across ~5000 km2 of previously unsurveyed habitat, sampled the catch of uncapped mine shafts with community volunteers, trialled artificial refuge substrates and elicited public opportunistic sightings.

Key results
We gathered 30 new records of the species from leaf litter mats of six shrub species, across four land systems. Examination of these records in the context of land system boundaries demonstrated a continuous distributional link between previously known areas of habitat and suggested large tracts of potential habitat that remain unsurveyed for the species. This information in combination with other published data was used to create conceptual models of habitat preference, population and disturbance, in which we suggest that O. taeniatus favours microhabitats that are prone to severe and long-lasting disturbance in some parts of the landscape, exacerbated by human land use practices.

Conclusions
Our study suggests that O. taeniatus distribution is unlikely to be severely fragmented, as had previously been suggested. Its total extent of occurrence may be greater than previously thought, despite a very low area of occupancy within this.

Implications
This study emphasises the value of using multiple, innovative data sources when studying rare and cryptic species. Further distributional surveys in identified areas of potential habitat in combination with testing and refinement of our conceptual model of habitat and population drivers are needed to fully assess the distribution, conservation status and ecological drivers of O. taeniatus.
Autism as a disorder of prediction
Authors: Sinha Pawan , Kjelgaard Margaret M. , Gandhi Tapan K. , Tsourides Kleovoulos , Cardinaux Annie L. , Pantazis Dimitrios , Diamond Sidney P. , Held Richard M.
Published: October 2014

Significance

Autism is characterized by diverse behavioral traits. Guided by theoretical considerations and empirical data, this paper develops the hypothesis that many of autism's salient traits may be manifestations of an underlying impairment in predictive abilities. This impairment renders an otherwise orderly world to be experienced as a capriciously “magical” one. The hypothesis elucidates the information-processing roots of autism and, thereby, can aid the identification of neural structures likely to be differentially affected. Behavioral and neural measures of prediction might serve as early assays of predictive abilities in infants, and serve as useful tools in intervention design and in monitoring their effectiveness. The hypothesis also points to avenues for further research to determine molecular and circuit-level causal underpinnings of predictive impairments.
Performance of Humans in Variable-Interval Avoidance Schedules Programmed Singly, and Concurrently with Variable-Interval Schedules of Positive Reinforcement
Authors: Ruddle H. V. , Bradshaw C. M. , Szabadi E.
Published: October 2014

Performance maintained under single variable-interval avoidance schedules, single variable-interval schedules of positive reinforcement, and concurrent schedules consisting of a variable-interval avoidance component and a variable-interval positive reinforcement component, was studied in three human subjects, using points exchangeable for money as the reinforcer. Response rate in the single variable-interval avoidance schedules was an increasing function of the frequency of monetary loss avoidance. Response rate in the single variable-interval positive reinforcement schedules was an increasing function of the frequency of obtained monetary reinforcement. In the concurrent avoidance/reinforcement schedules, the rate of responding in the avoidance component increased, and the rate of responding in the positive reinforcement schedule decreased (with one exception) as a function of the frequency of loss avoidance in the avoidance component. The logarithms of the ratios of the response rates in the two components, and the logarithms of the ratios of the times spent in the two components, were linearly related to the logarithms of the ratios of the frequency of loss avoidance in the avoidance component to the frequency of reinforcement in the positive reinforcement component. All three subjects exhibited marked undermatching of response rate ratios to reinforcement frequency ratios. The results are discussed in the context of Herrnstein's quantitative model of operant performance.
Chlordiazepoxide and Resistance to Punishment
Authors: Davis Nicola M. , Brookes Sorrel , Gray Jeffrey A. , Rawlins J. N. P.
Published: October 2014

Rats were given intermittent electric foot-shock during food-rewarded alley training. In the test phase, food and shock were given on every trial. These animals persisted in running down the alley in the test phase compared to those without prior shock experience. The effects of chlordiazepoxide (CDP) on this learned resistance to punishment were examined using a long and short interval between trials. It was found that CDP abolished the effect at a long inter-trial interval, but left it unaltered if the interval was short. The results match those found previously with an analogous effect using non-reward. It is suggested that the effects of punishment and non-reward may be mediated by a common process, and that the benzodiazepines may act on this process.
Are Rats Short-Sighted? Effects of Stimulus Distance and Size on Visual Detection
Authors: Dean Paul
Published: October 2014

Behavioural evidence concerning short-sightedness in rats is apparently conflicting: in some experiments rats have performed poorly with visual stimuli further than about 60 cm distant, while in others they have made efficient use of more distant cues, for example to find their way through mazes. However, in the experiments suggesting short-sightedness, the physical size of the stimuli was not varied, so that stimulus distance and visual angle were confounded. In the present experiment, therefore, the size and distance of the stimuli to be detected were varied independently. Over the range tested (30–160 cm), distance was found to produce relatively slight effects on the smallest detectable visual angle, and these tended to diminish with practice. Thus, no good evidence was found for short-sightedness in rats up to 160 cm, a finding consistent with current views of the structure and image-forming capacities of the rat's eye. The smallest detectable targets were, however, surprisingly large in view of the rat's visual acuity (which is about 1c/deg): at the distances tested, animals required considerable training to run reliably to targets subtending less than 5–10° of visual angle. Difficulties in responding to stationary stimuli of this size are likely to restrict severely the use that rats make of vision both in the laboratory and in their natural surroundings.
The Effects of a Signal for free or for Earned Reward: Implications for the Role of Response-Reinforcer Associations in Instrumental Performance
Authors: Hall Geoffrey , Channell Stephen , Pearce John M.
Published: October 2014

Pearce and Hall (1978) investigated the effects of making a brief flash of light contingent upon response in rats lever-pressing for food on a variable-interval (VI) schedule. When this signal occurred in conjunction only with reinforced responses the response rate was lowered with respect to a condition in which an equal number of light flashes occurred uncorrelated with reinforcement. The experiments reported here compared these effects with those produced by signalling “free” food deliveries in a similar way. Experiments I and II compared the effects of presenting correlated and uncorrelated schedules of light and food to rats given no opportunity to lever-press. The different schedules did not produce differences in response rate when the levers were made available. In Experiment III, free food was delivered to rats responding on a VI schedule. Signalling the delivery of earned food pellets produced a low response rate in comparison with a condition in which the free pellets were signalled. It is concluded that signalling food delivery is effective only when the rat must respond to earn the food and it is argued that the signal has its effect by overshadowing a response-reinforcer association.
Instrumental Responding following Reinforcer Devaluation
Authors: Adams Christopher D. , Dickinson Anthony
Published: October 2014

In two experiments, hungry rats were given instrumental lever-press training for an appetitive reinforcer and, in addition, were exposed to another type of food which was not contingent on lever pressing. In the first experiment, exposure to each type of food was on separate days, whereas in the second experiment rats were exposed to each type of food in strict alternation within each session. Subsequently, a food aversion was conditioned to the reinforcer for the experimental group and to the non-contingent food for the control group. In both experiments, animals with an aversion to the reinforcer responded less in an extinction test than animals with an aversion to the non-contingent food. Subsequent reacquisition tests confirmed that the aversion to the non-contingent food in the control group was of comparable strength with that to the reinforcer in the experimental group. The results were discussed in terms of whether the reinforcer is encoded in the associative structure set up by exposure to an instrumental contingency.
Enhancement of Food-Rewarded Instrumental Responding by an Appetitive Conditioned Stimulus
Authors: Edgar David , Hall Geoffrey , Pearce John M.
Published: October 2014

Four experiments are reported in which a stimulus (with a minimum duration of 60 s) signalling the delivery of “free” food was presented to rats lever-pressing for food available on a variable interval schedule. It was found that responding was enhanced in the presence of the stimulus when the baseline schedule of reinforcement was lean (Experiment I) and that the enhancement was dependent upon the pairing of the stimulus with free food (Experiments II and III). Experiment IV showed that an enhancement could be found after initial training in which stimulus-food pairings were given to subjects that were not concurrently lever pressing for food. It is argued that these results are consistent with the suggestion that an appetitive conditioned stimulus can energise appetitive instrumental behaviour.
The Control of Appetitive Instrumental Responding does not Depend on Classical Conditioning to the Discriminative Stimulus
Authors: Holman J. G. , Mackintosh N. J.
Published: October 2014

In Experiment I, rats were exposed to a classical relationship between a clicker-light compound and response-independent food. Conditioning to the light was blocked if the clicker had previously served as a classical signal for food, but not if it had been established as a discriminative stimulus for food-reinforced lever pressing. In Experiment II, a tone-light compound served as a discriminative stimulus for lever pressing. Control by the light was blocked if the tone was independently trained as a discriminative stimulus, but not if it was trained as a classical signal for response-independent food. These results suggest that discriminative stimuli do not come to control appetitive instrumental responding by virtue of their implicit classical relationship to the instrumental reinforcer.