bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency accelerates mitochondrial apoptosis by activating ceramide synthase 6
Authors: Schüll S , Günther S D , Brodesser S , Seeger J M , Tosetti B , Wiegmann K , Pongratz C , Diaz F , Witt A , Andree M , Brinkmann K , Krönke M , Wiesner R J , Kashkar H
Published: March 2015

Although numerous pathogenic changes within the mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) have been associated with an elevated occurrence of apoptosis within the affected tissues, the mechanistic insight into how mitochondrial dysfunction initiates apoptotic cell death is still unknown. In this study, we show that the specific alteration of the cytochrome c oxidase (COX), representing a common defect found in mitochondrial diseases, facilitates mitochondrial apoptosis in response to oxidative stress. Our data identified an increased ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6) activity as an important pro-apoptotic response to COX dysfunction induced either by chemical or genetic approaches. The elevated CerS6 activity resulted in accumulation of the pro-apoptotic C16 : 0 ceramide, which facilitates the mitochondrial apoptosis in response to oxidative stress. Accordingly, inhibition of CerS6 or its specific knockdown diminished the increased susceptibility of COX-deficient cells to oxidative stress. Our results provide new insights into how mitochondrial RC dysfunction mechanistically interferes with the apoptotic machinery. On the basis of its pivotal role in regulating cell death upon COX dysfunction, CerS6 might potentially represent a novel target for therapeutic intervention in mitochondrial diseases caused by COX dysfunction.
Degradation of misfolded proteins in neurodegenerative diseases: therapeutic targets and strategies
Authors: Ciechanover Aaron , Kwon Yong Tae
Published: March 2015

Mammalian cells remove misfolded proteins using various proteolytic systems, including the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system (UPS), chaperone mediated autophagy (CMA) and macroautophagy. The majority of misfolded proteins are degraded by the UPS, in which Ub-conjugated substrates are deubiquitinated, unfolded and cleaved into small peptides when passing through the narrow chamber of the proteasome. The substrates that expose a specific degradation signal, the KFERQ sequence motif, can be delivered to and degraded in lysosomes via the CMA. Aggregation-prone substrates resistant to both the UPS and the CMA can be degraded by macroautophagy, in which cargoes are segregated into autophagosomes before degradation by lysosomal hydrolases. Although most misfolded and aggregated proteins in the human proteome can be degraded by cellular protein quality control, some native and mutant proteins prone to aggregation intoβ-sheet-enriched oligomers are resistant to all known proteolytic pathways and can thus grow into inclusion bodies or extracellular plaques. The accumulation of protease-resistant misfolded and aggregated proteins is a common mechanism underlying protein misfolding disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease (HD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), prion diseases and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In this review, we provide an overview of the proteolytic pathways in neurons, with an emphasis on the UPS, CMA and macroautophagy, and discuss the role of protein quality control in the degradation of pathogenic proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we examine existing putative therapeutic strategies to efficiently remove cytotoxic proteins from degenerating neurons.
Marked seasonality and high spatial variability of protist communities in shallow freshwater systems
Authors: Simon Marianne , López-García Purificación , Deschamps Philippe , Moreira David , Restoux Gwendal , Bertolino Paola , Jardillier Ludwig
Published: March 2015

Small eukaryotes have key roles in aquatic ecosystems, influencing their local environment, global biogeochemical cycles and climate. Their impact depends on community structure, which varies along time. However, very few studies take into account temporal variation. This is especially true for small, shallow freshwater systems, which remain largely understudied despite their wide variety, global surface and intense microbial activity. We have monthly followed changes in the community structure of small microbial eukaryotes (0.2–5 μm cell diameter) for 2 years in four ponds and one brook located in North-Western France based on massive 18S rDNA amplicon 454 pyrosequencing. We detected a total of 3742 stringently defined operational taxonomic units (OTUs) encompassing all recognized eukaryotic supergroups and lineages of uncertain affiliation. Although geographically close, protist communities in the five ecosystems were contrasting, with very few shared OTUs, suggesting that environmental selection mainly drives community structure. The temporal dynamics of different high-rank taxa appeared complex and rapid at monthly scales. Despite this, a clear and reproducible seasonality was observed. As expected, low-abundance OTUs dominated the community. Although some of them appeared sporadically or remained at low frequencies during the survey, others occasionally reached relatively high abundances, sometimes recurrently. This shows that at least a fraction of low-abundance eukaryotes constitutes a seed bank. The annual proportion of primary producers, free-living heterotrophs and parasites appeared remarkably constant among the different ecosystems, suggesting underlying trends of ecosystem carrying capacity for these functional groups.
A high-resolution optically addressed spatial light modulator based on ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Shrestha Pawan Kumar , Chun Young Tea , Chu Daping
Published: March 2015

An optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM) can modulate the wavefront of a read light by displaying a phase pattern or a hologram configured by the intensity distribution of a write light. Using ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as a novel photoconductor, a high-resolution OASLM was fabricated. A ZnO NP suspension was spin-coated on an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate and annealed to form a photosensitive layer. The device was characterized electrically and optically. The device was operated at low driving voltages in the transmission mode. Updatable recording of a diffraction grating up to 825 lp mm−1 with a diffraction efficiency (DE) of 0.05% and binary holograms with pixel sizes from 2 µm down to 0.72 µm were demonstrated using a 405 nm wavelength write laser and a 635 nm wavelength read laser.
Pharmaceutical integrated stress response enhancement protects oligodendrocytes and provides a potential multiple sclerosis therapeutic
Authors: Way Sharon W. , Podojil Joseph R. , Clayton Benjamin L. , Zaremba Anita , Collins Tassie L. , Kunjamma Rejani B. , Robinson Andrew P. , Brugarolas Pedro , Miller Robert H. , Miller Stephen D. , Popko Brian
Published: March 2015

Oligodendrocyte death contributes to the pathogenesis of the inflammatory demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Nevertheless, current MS therapies are mainly immunomodulatory and have demonstrated limited ability to inhibit MS progression. Protection of oligodendrocytes is therefore a desirable strategy for alleviating disease. Here we demonstrate that enhancement of the integrated stress response using the FDA-approved drug guanabenz increases oligodendrocyte survival in culture and prevents hypomyelination in cerebellar explants in the presence of interferon-γ, a pro-inflammatory cytokine implicated in MS pathogenesis. In vivo, guanabenz treatment protects against oligodendrocyte loss caused by CNS-specific expression of interferon-γ. In a mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, guanabenz alleviates clinical symptoms, which correlates with increased oligodendrocyte survival and diminished CNS CD4+ T cell accumulation. Moreover, guanabenz ameliorates relapse in relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Our results provide support for a MS therapy that enhances the integrated stress response to protect oligodendrocytes against the inflammatory CNS environment.
On a growth model for complex networks capable of producing power-law out-degree distributions with wide range exponents
Authors: Esquivel-Gómez J. , Arjona-Villicaña P. D. , Stevens-Navarro E. , Pineda-Rico U. , Balderas-Navarro R. E. , Acosta-Elias J.
Published: March 2015

The out-degree distribution is one of the most reported topological properties to characterize real complex networks. This property describes the probability that a node in the network has a particular number of outgoing links. It has been found that in many real complex networks the out-degree has a behavior similar to a power-law distribution, therefore some network growth models have been proposed to approximate this behavior. This paper introduces a new growth model that allows to produce out-degree distributions that decay as a power-law with an exponent in the range from 1 to ∞.
Luminescent Ruthenium(II) Complex Bearing Bipyridine and N-Heterocyclic Carbene-based C∧N∧C Pincer Ligand for Live-Cell Imaging of Endocytosis
Authors: Tsui Wai-Kuen , Chung Lai-Hon , Wong Matthew Man-Kin , Tsang Wai-Him , Lo Hoi-Shing , Liu Yaxiang , Leung Chung-Hang , Ma Dik-Lung , Chiu Sung-Kay , Wong Chun-Yuen
Published: March 2015

Luminescent ruthenium(II)-cyanide complex with N-heterocyclic carbene pincer ligand C∧N∧C = 2,6-bis(1-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine and 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) shows minimal cytotoxicity to both human breast carcinoma cell (MCF-7) and human retinal pigmented epithelium cell (RPE) in a wide range of concentration (0.1–500 μM) and can be used for the luminescent imaging of endocytosis of the complex in these cells.
MitoCeption as a new tool to assess the effects of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell mitochondria on cancer cell metabolism and function
Authors: Caicedo Andrés , Fritz Vanessa , Brondello Jean-Marc , Ayala Mickaël , Dennemont Indira , Abdellaoui Naoill , de Fraipont Florence , Moisan Anaïck , Prouteau Claire Angebault , Boukhaddaoui Hassan , Jorgensen Christian , Vignais Marie-Luce
Published: March 2015

Mitochondrial activity is central to tissue homeostasis. Mitochondria dysfunction constitutes a hallmark of many genetic diseases and plays a key role in tumor progression. The essential role of mitochondria, added to their recently documented capacity to transfer from cell to cell, obviously contributes to their current interest. However, determining the proper role of mitochondria in defined biological contexts was hampered by the lack of suitable experimental tools. We designed a protocol (MitoCeption) to directly and quantitatively transfer mitochondria, isolated from cell type A, to recipient cell type B. We validated and quantified the effective mitochondria transfer by imaging, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and mitochondrial DNA analysis. We show that the transfer of minute amounts of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) mitochondria to cancer cells, a process otherwise occurring naturally in coculture, results in cancer cell enhanced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) activity and favors cancer cell proliferation and invasion. The MitoCeption technique, which can be applied to different cell systems, will therefore be a method of choice to analyze the metabolic modifications induced by exogenous mitochondria in host cells.
Correcting positional correlations in Affymetrix® Genome Chips
Authors: Homouz Dirar , Chen Gang , Kudlicki Andrzej S.
Published: March 2015

We report and model a previously undescribed systematic error causing spurious excess correlations that depend on the distance between probes on Affymetrix® microarrays. The phenomenon affects pairs of features with large chip separations, up to over 100 probes apart. The effect may have a significant impact on analysis of correlations in large collections of expression data, where the systematic experimental errors are repeated in many data sets. Examples of such studies include analysis of functions and interactions in groups of genes, as well as global properties of genomes. We find that the average correlations between probes on Affymetrix microarrays are larger for smaller chip distances, which points out to a previously undescribed positional artifact. The magnitude of the artifact depends on the design of the chip and we find it to be especially high for the yeast S98 microarray, where spurious excess correlations reach 0.1 at a distance of 50 probes. We have designed an algorithm to correct this bias and provide new data sets with the corrected expression values. This algorithm was successfully implemented to remove the positional artifact from the S98 chip data while preserving the integrity of the data.
Transport of organic anions and cations in murine embryonic kidney development and in serially-reaggregated engineered kidneys
Authors: Lawrence Melanie L. , Chang C-Hong , Davies Jamie A.
Published: March 2015

Recent advances in renal tissue engineering have shown that dissociated, early renogenic tissue from the developing embryo can self-assemble into morphologically accurate kidney-like organs arranged around a central collecting duct tree. In order for such self-assembled kidneys to be useful therapeutically or as models for drug screening, it is necessary to demonstrate that they are functional. One of the main functional characteristics of mature kidneys is transport of organic anions and cations into and out of the proximal tubule. Here, we show that the transport function of embryonic kidneys allowed to develop in culture follows a developmental time-course that is comparable to embryonic kidney development in vivo. We also demonstrate that serially-reaggregated engineered kidneys can transport organic anions and cations through specific uptake and efflux channels. These results support the physiological relevance of kidneys grown in culture, a commonly used model for kidney development and research and suggest that serially-reaggregated kidneys self-assembled from separated cells have some functional characteristics of intact kidneys.
Apoptotic effect of novel Schiff Based CdCl2(C14H21N3O2) complex is mediated via activation of the mitochondrial pathway in colon cancer cells
Authors: Hajrezaie Maryam , Paydar Mohammadjavad , Looi Chung Yeng , Moghadamtousi Soheil Zorofchian , Hassandarvish Pouya , Salga Muhammad Saleh , Karimian Hamed , Shams Keivan , Zahedifard Maryam , Majid Nazia Abdul , Ali Hapipah Mohd , Abdulla Mahmood Ameen
Published: March 2015

The development of metal-based agents has had a tremendous role in the present progress in cancer chemotherapy. One well-known example of metal-based agents is Schiff based metal complexes, which hold great promise for cancer therapy. Based on the potential of Schiff based complexes for the induction of apoptosis, this study aimed to examine the cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of a CdCl2(C14H21N3O2) complex on HT-29 cells. The complex exerted a potent suppressive effect on HT-29 cells with an IC50value of 2.57 ± 0.39 after 72 h of treatment. The collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the elevated release of cytochromecfrom the mitochondria to the cytosol indicate the involvement of the intrinsic pathway in the induction of apoptosis. The role of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway was further proved by the significant activation of the initiator caspase-9 and the executioner caspases-3 and -7. In addition, the activation of caspase-8, which is associated with the suppression of NF-κB translocation to the nucleus, also revealed the involvement of the extrinsic pathway in the induced apoptosis. The results suggest that the CdCl2(C14H21N3O2) complex is able to induce the apoptosis of colon cancer cells and is a potential candidate for future cancer studies.
Distributed ultrafast fibre laser
Authors: Liu Xueming , Cui Yudong , Han Dongdong , Yao Xiankun , Sun Zhipei
Published: March 2015

A traditional ultrafast fibre laser has a constant cavity length that is independent of the pulse wavelength. The investigation of distributed ultrafast (DUF) lasers is conceptually and technically challenging and of great interest because the laser cavity length and fundamental cavity frequency are changeable based on the wavelength. Here, we propose and demonstrate a DUF fibre laser based on a linearly chirped fibre Bragg grating, where the total cavity length is linearly changeable as a function of the pulse wavelength. The spectral sidebands in DUF lasers are enhanced greatly, including the continuous-wave (CW) and pulse components. We observe that all sidebands of the pulse experience the same round-trip time although they have different round-trip distances and refractive indices. The pulse-shaping of the DUF laser is dominated by the dissipative processes in addition to the phase modulations, which makes our ultrafast laser simple and stable. This laser provides a simple, stable, low-cost, ultrafast-pulsed source with controllable and changeable cavity frequency.
Tissue- and time-dependent transcription in Ixodes ricinus salivary glands and midguts when blood feeding on the vertebrate host
Authors: Kotsyfakis Michalis , Schwarz Alexandra , Erhart Jan , Ribeiro José M. C.
Published: March 2015

Ixodes ricinus is a tick that transmits the pathogens of Lyme and several arboviral diseases. Pathogens invade the tick midgut, disseminate through the hemolymph and are transmitted to the vertebrate host via the salivary glands; subverting these processes could be used to interrupt pathogen transfer. Here, we use massive de novo sequencing to characterize the transcriptional dynamics of the salivary and midgut tissues of nymphal and adult I. ricinus at various time points after attachment on the vertebrate host. Members of a number of gene families show stage- and time-specific expression. We hypothesize that gene expression switching may be under epigenetic control and, in support of this, identify 34 candidate proteins that modify histones. I. ricinus-secreted proteins are encoded by genes that have a non-synonymous to synonymous mutation rate even greater than immune-related genes. Midgut transcriptome (mialome) analysis reveals several enzymes associated with protein, carbohydrate and lipid digestion, transporters and channels that might be associated with nutrient uptake and immune-related transcripts including antimicrobial peptides. This publicly available dataset supports the identification of protein and gene targets for biochemical and physiological studies that exploit the transmission lifecycle of this disease vector for preventative and therapeutic purposes.
Optimizing Strontium Ruthenate Thin Films for Near-Infrared Plasmonic Applications
Authors: Braic Laurentiu , Vasilantonakis Nikolaos , Zou Bin , Maier Stefan A. , Alford Neil McN. , Zayats Anatoly V. , Petrov Peter K.
Published: March 2015

Several new plasmonic materials have recently been introduced in order to achieve better temperature stability than conventional plasmonic metals and control field localization with a choice of plasma frequencies in a wide spectral range. Here, epitaxial SrRuO3 thin films with low surface roughness fabricated by pulsed laser deposition are studied. The influence of the oxygen deposition pressure (20–300 mTorr) on the charge carrier dynamics and optical constants of the thin films in the near-infrared spectral range is elucidated. It is demonstrated that SrRuO3 thin films exhibit plasmonic behavior of the thin films in the near-infrared spectral range with the plasma frequency in 3.16–3.86 eV range and epsilon-near-zero wavelength in 1.11–1.47 μm range that could be controlled by the deposition conditions. The possible applications of these films range from the heat-generating nanostructures in the near-infrared spectral range, to metamaterial-based ideal absorbers and epsilon-near-zero components, where the interplay between real and imaginary parts of the permittivity in a given spectral range is needed for optimizing the spectral performance.
Vesicular exocytosis and microdevices – microelectrode arrays
Authors: Amatore Christian , Delacotte Jérôme , Guille-Collignon Manon , Lemaître Frédéric
Published: March 2015

Among all the analytical techniques capable of monitoring exocytosis in real time at the single cell level, electrochemistry (particularly amperometry at a constant potential) using ultramicroelectrodes has been demonstrated to be an important and convenient tool for more than two decades.
From unsuccessful H2-activation with FLPs containing B(Ohfip)3 to a systematic evaluation of the Lewis acidity of 33 Lewis acids based on fluoride, chloride, hydride and methyl ion affinities
Authors: Böhrer Hannes , Trapp Nils , Himmel Daniel , Schleep Mario , Krossing Ingo
Published: March 2015

From hard to soft: The ion affinities of a large set of 33 Lewis acids towards hard and soft bases were examined with a unified isodesmic approach.
New building blocks for iminosugars: a concise synthesis of polyhydroxylated N-alkoxypiperidines through an intramolecular azepine ring contraction
Authors: Barnes Korry L. , Chen Kelly , Catalano Vincent J. , Jeffrey Christopher S.
Published: March 2015

Polyhydroxylated piperidines are a functionally rich class of biologically active molecules that have broad therapeutic potential.
Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical properties and catalytic reactivity of N-heterocyclic carbene-containing diiron complexes
Authors: Wang Yanhong , Zhang Tianyong , Li Bin , Jiang Shuang , Sheng Liao
Published: March 2015

Four new [Fe–Fe]–NHC complexes were synthesized and used as highly selective homogeneous catalysts for the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol.
Development and characterization of an electrospun mat from Eri silk fibroin and PLA blends for wound dressing application
Authors: Shanmugam Kuberasampathkumar , Sundaramoorthy Subramanian
Published: March 2015

Eri silk fibroin blend with poly-l-lactic acid polymer and tetracycline hydrochloride were electrospun as nanofibrous mat and evaluated for properties required for skin contact layer of multilayer wound dressing systems.
(Un)suitability of the use of pH buffers in biological, biochemical and environmental studies and their interaction with metal ions – a review
Authors: Ferreira Carlos M. H. , Pinto Isabel S. S. , Soares Eduardo V. , Soares Helena M. V. M.
Published: March 2015

The present work reviews, discusses and update the metal complexation characteristics of thirty one buffers commercially available. Additionally, their impact on the biological systems is also presented and discussed.
How to measure elementary teachers' interest in teaching chemistry?
Authors: Herranen Jaana Kristiina , Vesterinen Veli-Matti , Aksela Maija Katariina
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to create an instrument to measure elementary teachers' interest in teaching chemistry. The interest in chemistry teaching instrument (ICTI) was created to measure both the affective and cognitive components of interest. After establishing the face and content validity of the instrument, the internal consistency of the instrument was verified by calculating Cronbach's alpha for the items. This was done using questionnaire data collected from 149 Finnish elementary teachers teaching chemistry in integrated chemistry and physics lessons. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to identify the underlying dimensions of interest. Based on the results of the factor analysis, elementary teachers' interest in chemistry teaching had two components: personal and value-related. The usefulness of the ICTI instrument was tested by conducting a correlation analysis of the measured level of interest and the reported use of teaching methods. As expected, the results indicated a positive correlation between the elementary teachers' interest measured with ICTI and the use of for example inquiry-related methods: creative problem solving and laboratory work. The ICTI may be used, for example, to evaluate and develop in-service and pre-service teacher training.
Coumarin–benzothiazole–chlorambucil (Cou–Benz–Cbl) conjugate: an ESIPT based pH sensitive photoresponsive drug delivery system
Authors: Barman Shrabani , Mukhopadhyay Sourav K. , Gangopadhyay Moumita , Biswas Sandipan , Dey Satyahari , Singh N. D. Pradeep
Published: March 2015

We have developed an ESIPT based drug delivery system, Cou–Benz–Cbl conjugate, with pH sensitive fluorescence properties and photocontrolled release of the anticancer drug chlorambucil.
High temperature sublimation of α-amino acids: a realistic prebiotic process leading to large enantiomeric excess
Authors: Tarasevych Arkadii V. , Sorochinsky Alexander E. , Kukhar Valery P. , Guillemin Jean-Claude
Published: March 2015

Reiterative high temperature co-sublimation of mixtures of racemic amino acids in the presence of an enantioenriched derivative leads to high enantiomeric excesses with a sense of the handedness identical to that of the enantioenriched starting material.
An old workhorse for new applications: Fe(dpm)3 as a precursor for low-temperature PECVD of iron(iii) oxide
Authors: Carraro G. , Maccato C. , Gasparotto A. , Barreca D. , Walter M. , Mayrhofer L. , Moseler M. , Venzo A. , Seraglia R. , Marega C.
Published: March 2015

A combined theoretical–experimental investigation on Fe(dpm)3 as a precursor for PECVD of iron(iii) oxide is presented. Pure Fe2O3 nanomaterials have been obtained at temperatures as low as 100 °C, even on flexible plastic substrates.
Towards a comprehensive insight into efficient hydrogen production by self-assembled Ru(bpy)32+–polymer–Pt artificial photosystems
Authors: Lin Huan , Liu Dan , Long Jinlin , Zhang Zizhong , Zhuang Huaqiang , Zheng Yi , Wang Xuxu
Published: March 2015

A self-assembled and spatially separated donor–acceptor complex Ru(bpy)32+–polymer–Pt shows a high efficiency for hydrogen evolution at an apparent quantum yield of 12.8% under visible light irradiation.
AMPED: a new platform for picolinate based luminescent lanthanide chelates
Authors: Guanci Claudia , Giovenzana Giovanni , Lattuada Luciano , Platas-Iglesias Carlos , Charbonnière Loïc J.
Published: March 2015

Anchoring three picolinate units on a AMPED scaffold affords a strongly pre-organized ligand for the formation of luminescent lanthanide complexes.
Enhanced cancer cell killing of a Pt(iv) prodrug promoted by outer-sphere coordination with polyethyleneimines
Authors: Garaikoetxea Arguinzoniz A. , Gómez Blanco N. , Ansorena Legarra P. , Mareque-Rivas J. C.
Published: March 2015

The cisplatin prodrug c,c,t-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(O2CCH2CH2CO2)2]2− (1) forms outer-sphere coordination interactions with non-toxic low MW PEI, which results in enhanced cancer cell killing.
Stereochemistry for engineering spin crossover: structures and magnetic properties of a homochiral vs. racemic [Fe(N3O2)(CN)2] complex
Authors: Wang Qiang , Venneri Shari , Zarrabi Niloofar , Wang Hongfeng , Desplanches Cédric , Létard Jean-François , Seda Takele , Pilkington Melanie
Published: March 2015

The first chiral FeII complex of an N3O2 macrocycle comprises of a 1 : 1 mixture of HS and LS states at 250 K and undergoes both a thermal and light induced SCO.
Designed synthesis of a series of zwitterion–polyoxometalate hybrid materials for selective scavenging and photolysis of dyes
Authors: Ou Sha , Zheng Jun-Ping , Kong Guo-Qiang , Wu Chuan-De
Published: March 2015

An effective strategy to immobilize both zwitterion and POM moieties into porous hybrid materials was developed. These materials demonstrate remarkable efficiency for selective scavenging and photolysis of cationic dyes from polluted water.
Electrochemical performance and biosensor application of TiO2nanotube arrays with mesoporous structures constructed by chemical etching
Authors: Wang Jinwen , Xu Guangqing , Zhang Xu , Lv Jun , Zhang Xinyi , Zheng Zhixiang , Wu Yucheng
Published: March 2015

Novel mesoporous structures on TiO2nanotube arrays were achieved for enhancing electrochemical performance.
Enhanced efficiency of polymer solar cells by adding a high-mobility conjugated polymer
Authors: Liu Shenghua , You Peng , Li Jinhua , Li Jun , Lee Chun-Sing , Ong Beng S. , Surya Charles , Yan Feng
Published: March 2015

The efficiencies of organic solar cells are substantially improved by introducing suitable high mobility conjugated polymers as additives.
Synthesis, conformational studies, and biological properties of phosphonomethoxyethyl derivatives of nucleobases with a locked conformation via a pyrrolidine ring
Authors: Pohl Radek , Poštová Slavětínská Lenka , Eng Wai Soon , Keough Dianne T. , Guddat Luke W. , Rejman Dominik
Published: March 2015

Novel phosphonate nucleotides were synthesized. An inhibitor of the P. falciparum HGXPRT with a Ki of 0.6 μM was found.
A novel transition metal free [bis-(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]benzene (PIFA) mediated oxidative ipso nitration of organoboronic acids
Authors: Chatterjee Nachiketa , Bhatt Divya , Goswami Avijit
Published: March 2015

A mild, convenient and transition metal free methodology for oxidative ipso nitration of organoboronic acids, including heteroaryl- and alkylboronic acids, has been developed using a combination of [bis-(trifluoroacetoxy)]iodobenzene (PIFA) – N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and sodium nitrite as the nitro source.
Synthesis, structural characterization and biological activity of two diastereomeric JA-Ile macrolactones
Authors: Jimenez-Aleman Guillermo H. , Machado Ricardo A. R. , Görls Helmar , Baldwin Ian T. , Boland Wilhelm
Published: March 2015

The synthesis and biological activity of two diastereomeric macrolactones derived from the partially inactive jasmonate 12-OH-JA-Ile are discussed. Both diastereoisomers induce nicotine production similar to methyl jasmonate inNicotiana attenuataplants.
Control of pore distribution of porous carbons derived from Mg2+ porous coordination polymers
Authors: Fujiwara Yu-ichi , Horike Satoshi , Kongpatpanich Kanokwan , Sugiyama Takashi , Tobori Norio , Nishihara Hirotomo , Kitagawa Susumu
Published: March 2015

Control of pore distribution of porous carbons from porous coordination polymers.
Effects of hydrogen peroxide on an upward flow biological filter bed (BFB) containing manganese dioxide fillers
Authors: Qian Wei , Xiong Ya , Tian Shuanghong , Sun Lianpeng , Chen Xin , Kong Lingjun , Zhang Jialin
Published: March 2015

An upward flow BFB with a high decomposition efficiency of H2O2 is constructed. This BFB removes the detrimental effect of H2O2 and turns it into DO to boost aerobic metabolism. A concentration of 120 mg L−1 H2O2 in feed wastewater increases COD removal efficiency by 39%.
“On water” synthesis of highly functionalized 4H-chromenes via carbon–carbon bond formation under microwave irradiation and their antibacterial properties
Authors: Rao L. Chandrasekhara , Kumar N. Satish , Dileepkumar V. , Murthy U. S. N. , Meshram H. M.
Published: March 2015

Microwave assisted synthesis catalyst-free synthesis water as a solvent anti bacterial properties.
ZnO–AlBw-reinforced dental resin composites: the effect of pH level on mechanical properties
Authors: Jin Jianfeng , Wei Gaoyan , Hao Ailian , Zhang Wenyun , Zhang Yumei , Wang Qintao , Chen Qinghua
Published: March 2015

Silanized ZnO–AlBws were synthesized and manually mixed by spatulation with a dental resin monomer consisting of UDMA, TEGDMA, CQ and DMAEMA. The paste was placed into a steel mold, and the specimens were cured by light at atmospheric pressure to make flexural specimens.
Controlled synthesis of ZnxCd1−xS nanorods and their composite with RGO for high-performance visible-light photocatalysis
Authors: Ma Anping , Tang Zhihong , Shen Shuling , Zhi Linjie , Yang Junhe
Published: March 2015

Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanorods with a suitable bandgap and aspect ratio displayed the highest photoresponse to visible light. Zn0.5Cd0.5S/RGO nanocomposites with line-to-line interface exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity.
Physicochemical studies toward the removal of Zn(ii) and Pb(ii) ions through adsorption on montmorillonite-supported zero-valent iron nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Jiao , Liu Guijian , Li Tanfu , Zhou Chuncai
Published: March 2015

Montmorillonite is a suitable material to hold zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) together. Zn(ii) and Pb(ii) were adsorbed spontaneously. The removal mechanisms are discussed.
Evidence for changes on the lithium conduction dimensionality of Li0.5−yNayLa0.5Nb2O6 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.5) perovskites
Authors: Jiménez Ricardo , Díez Virginia , Sanz Jesús , Kobylianska Sofia D. , V'yunov Oleg I. , Belous Anatolii G.
Published: March 2015

Evidence for changes on Li conductivity dimensionality of Li0.5−yNayLa0.5Nb2O6 (y = 0–0.5) perovskite on increasing Na content.
Effect of organically modified Ni–Al layered double hydroxide loading on the thermal and morphological properties of l-methionine containing poly(amide-imide) nanocomposites
Authors: Mallakpour Shadpour , Dinari Mohammad
Published: March 2015

This work deals with the synthesis of an organically modified Ni–Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) and the effect of the LDH loading on the thermal and morphological behavior of poly(amide-imide)/Ni–Al LDH nanocomposites.
Silarylene-containing oligo(ether-amide)s based on bis(4-(4-amino phenoxy)phenyl)dimethylsilane. Effect of the dicarboxylic acid structure on some properties
Authors: Terraza Claudio A. , Tagle Luis H. , Tundidor-Camba Alain , González-Henríquez Carmen M. , Coll Deysma , Sarabia Mauricio M.
Published: March 2015

Inherent viscosity and MALDI-TOF analyses suggest the formation of oligomeric chains with sequences A–B, (A–B)2and (A–B)3. The properties and therefore the eventual applications of these materials are modulated by the flexibility and the aromatic content of the chains.
Temperature and thickness dependence of the sensitivity of nitrogen dioxide graphene gas sensors modified by atomic layer deposited zinc oxide films
Authors: Xie Haifen , Wang Keke , Zhang Zhiqiang , Zhao Xiaojing , Liu Feng , Mu Haichuan
Published: March 2015

The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) grown graphene nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas sensors modified by zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films via atomic layer deposition (ALD) were fabricated and their sensitivity dependence on the temperature and ZnO film thickness was investigated.
Electrochemical potential-responsive tetra(aniline) nanocapsules via self-assembly
Authors: Lv Wei , Feng Jiangtao , Yan Wei
Published: March 2015

A new strategy is developed for electrochemical potential-responsive tetra(aniline) vesicles with tunable size via self-assembly.
Synthesis and stabilization of metal nanocatalysts for reduction reactions – a review
Authors: Hu Huawen , Xin John H. , Hu Hong , Wang Xiaowen , Miao Dagang , Liu Yang
Published: March 2015

A review of stabilizing systems for metal nanocatalysts, such as surfactants, complexants, polymers, SiO2, Fe3O4, graphene materials, and combined components thereof.
In operando morphology investigation of inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells by GISAXS
Authors: Wang Weijia , Schaffer Christoph J. , Song Lin , Körstgens Volker , Pröller Stephan , Indari Efi Dwi , Wang Tianyi , Abdelsamie Amr , Bernstorff Sigrid , Müller-Buschbaum Peter
Published: March 2015

The stable morphology of inverted solar cells during operation is revealed byin operandoGISAXS, which results in the stable photovoltaic performance.
Comb-shaped alkyl imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s as high performance anion-exchange membranes
Authors: Rao Anil H. N. , Nam SangYong , Kim Tae-Hyun
Published: March 2015

Alkyl imidazolium-functionalized poly(arylene ether sulfone)s forming a comb-shaped structure were developed as novel anion exchange membranes.
Correction: Dithiocarbamate functionalized lignin for efficient removal of metallic ions and the usage of the metal-loaded bio-sorbents as potential free radical scavengers
Authors: Ge Yuanyuan , Xiao Duo , Li Zhili , Cui Xuemin
Published: March 2015

Correction for ‘Dithiocarbamate functionalized lignin for efficient removal of metallic ions and the usage of the metal-loaded bio-sorbents as potential free radical scavengers’ by Yuanyuan Ge et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 2136–2145.
Anchoring effects of surface chemistry on gold nanorods: modulating autophagy
Authors: Li Shengliang , Zhang Chunqiu , Cao Weipeng , Ma Benyu , Ma Xiaowei , Jin Shubin , Zhang Jinchao , Wang Paul C. , Li Feng , Liang Xing-Jie
Published: March 2015

The surface chemistry of gold nanorods modulates autophagy through the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway.
A luminescent double helical gold(i)–thiophenolate coordination polymer obtained by hydrothermal synthesis or by thermal solid-state amorphous-to-crystalline isomerization
Authors: Lavenn Christophe , Okhrimenko Larysa , Guillou Nathalie , Monge Miguel , Ledoux Gilles , Dujardin Christophe , Chiriac Rodica , Fateeva Alexandra , Demessence Aude
Published: March 2015

The first structure of a luminescent gold thiolate coordination polymer, [Au(SPh)]n.
SrCu3V2O8(OH)2 – dynamic Jahn–Teller distortions and orbital frustration in a new S = ½ kagome antiferromagnet
Authors: Boldrin David , Wills Andrew S.
Published: March 2015

In this article we report the synthesis of a new model S = ½ KAFM, SrCu3V2O8(OH)2, the Sr2+ analogue of vesignieite created by substitution of Ba2+ by isomagnetic Sr2+, hereafter referred to as ‘Sr-vesignieite’.
Competing Speech Perception in Middle Age
Authors: Helfer Karen S.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

This research forum article summarizes research from our laboratory that assessed middle-aged adults' ability to understand speech in the presence of competing talkers.

Method

The performance of middle-aged adults on laboratory-based speech understanding tasks was compared to that of younger and older adults.

Results

Decline in the ability to understand speech in complex listening environments can be demonstrated in midlife. The specific auditory and cognitive contributors to these problems have yet to be established.

Conclusion

There is evidence that the ability to understand a target speech message in the presence of competing speech messages changes relatively early in the aging process. The nature and impact of these changes warrant further investigation.
Listening Comprehension in Middle-Aged Adults
Authors: Sommers Mitchell S.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this summary is to examine changes in listening comprehension across the adult lifespan and to identify factors associated with individual differences in listening comprehension.

Method

In this article, the author reports on both cross-sectional and longitudinal changes in listening comprehension.

Conclusions

Despite significant declines in both sensory and cognitive abilities, listening comprehension remains relatively unchanged in middle-aged listeners (between the ages of 40 and 60 years) compared with young listeners. These results are discussed with respect to possible compensatory factors that maintain listening comprehension despite impaired hearing and reduced cognitive capacities.
Research Forum on Changes in Sensory Perception in Middle-Aged Adults: A Summary of a Special Session at Hearing Across the Lifespan (HEAL) 2014
Authors: Humes Larry E.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to introduce the special research forum on sensory-processing changes in middle-aged adults.

Method

This is a brief written introduction to the special session, which included five presentations, each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of sensory perception.

Conclusion

The effects of aging on sensory processing, including auditory processing and speech perception, are not confined to older adults but begin in middle age in many cases.
Age-Related Changes in Cognitive and Sensory Processing: Focus on Middle-Aged Adults
Authors: Humes Larry E.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this article was to examine the effects of age on (a) various psychophysical measures of threshold sensitivity and temporal processing in hearing, vision, and touch and (b) measures of cognitive processing as assessed by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (Wechsler, 1997).

Method

Age group differences and correlations with age were examined, as were associations among age, sensory processing, and cognition.

Results

The group analyses showed significant differences on most sensory and cognitive measures such that middle-aged adults performed significantly worse than young adults and significantly better than older adults. Correlations of performance with age were also significant when analyses were restricted to just the young and middle-aged adults. Last, sensory processing, but not age, was significantly correlated with cognitive processing when analyses were restricted to just the young and middle-aged adults.

Conclusion

Middle-aged adults experienced declines in both sensory and cognitive processing. The declines in both the cognitive and sensory domains were such that, for most measures in each domain, the performance of middle-aged adults fell somewhere between that of young and older adults.
Psychometric Evaluation of Lexical Diversity Indices: Assessing Length Effects
Authors: Fergadiotis Gerasimos , Wright Heather Harris , Green Samuel B.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

Several novel techniques have been developed recently to assess the breadth of a speaker's vocabulary exhibited in a language sample. The specific aim of this study was to increase our understanding of the validity of the scores generated by different lexical diversity (LD) estimation techniques. Four techniques were explored:
D
, Maas, measure of textual lexical diversity, and moving-average type–token ratio.

Method

Four LD indices were estimated for language samples on 4 discourse tasks (procedures, eventcasts, story retell, and recounts) from 442 adults who are neurologically intact. The resulting data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results

The scores for measure of textual lexical diversity and moving-average type–token ratio were stronger indicators of the LD of the language samples. The results for the other 2 techniques were consistent with the presence of method factors representing construct-irrelevant sources.

Conclusion

These findings offer a deeper understanding of the relative validity of the 4 estimation techniques and should assist clinicians and researchers in the selection of LD measures of language samples that minimize construct-irrelevant sources.
On the variation of magnetic anisotropy in Co/Pt(111) on silicon oxide
Authors: Winkler G. , Kobs A. , Chuvilin A. , Lott D. , Schreyer A. , Oepen H. P.
Published: March 2015

The structural properties and magnetic anisotropy of Pt/Co/Pt trilayers grown on thermally oxidized (Si/SiO2) and naturally oxidized silicon (Si/Siox) are presented. Although similar substrates and identical preparation conditions are used distinct differences in the structural composition are found which stem from the Pt seed layer created via ion assisted sputtering. While for thermal oxidized Si a Pt/Co/Pt trilayer is formed, for systems grown on naturally oxidized Si a complex PtSi alloy formation within the seed layer is observed as a consequence of the high ion energies of ion assisted sputtering. The composition of the PtSi alloy varies along the growth direction with a low Si content at the interface to Co and the lattice constant is similar to bulk Pt. The latter provides a much higher magnetic interface anisotropy constant compared to Pt/Co/Pt on thermal oxidized Si of about 0.9 mJ/m2 which is comparable to the highest values found for MBE grown Co on single crystalline Pt(111).
Comparison of the degradation characteristics of AlON/InGaAs and Al2O3/InGaAs stacks
Authors: Palumbo F. , Krylov I. , Eizenberg M.
Published: March 2015

In this paper, the degradation characteristics of MOS (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) stacks with Al2O3/AlON or Al2O3 only as dielectric layers on InGaAs were studied. The dielectric nitrides are proposed as possible passivation layers to prevent InGaAs oxidation. At negative bias, it has been found out that the main contribution to the overall degradation of the gate oxide is dominated by the generation of positive charge in the gate oxide. This effect is pronounced in MOS stacks with Al2O3/AlON as dielectric, where we think the positive charge is mainly generated in the AlON interlayer. At positive bias, the degradation is dominated by buildup of negative charge due to electron trapping in pre-existing or stress-induced traps. For stress biases where the leakage currents are low, the changes in the electrical characteristics are dominated by electron-trapping into traps located in energy levels in the upper part of the semiconductor gap. For stress biases with higher leakage current levels, the electron trapping occurs in stress-induced traps increasing the shift of VFB towards positive bias. The overall results clearly show that the improvement of the high-k dielectric/InGaAs interface by introducing N into the Al-oxide does not necessarily mean an increase in the reliability of the MOS stack.
Mechanisms of nonequilibrium electron-phonon coupling and thermal conductance at interfaces
Authors: Giri Ashutosh , Gaskins John T. , Donovan Brian F. , Szwejkowski Chester , Warzoha Ronald J. , Rodriguez Mark A. , Ihlefeld Jon , Hopkins Patrick E.
Published: March 2015

We study the electron and phonon thermal coupling mechanisms at interfaces between gold films with and without Ti adhesion layers on various substrates via pump-probe time-domain thermoreflectance. The coupling between the electronic and the vibrational states is increased by more than a factor of five with the inclusion of an ∼3 nm Ti adhesion layer between the Au film and the non-metal substrate. Furthermore, we show an increase in the rate of relaxation of the electron system with increasing electron and lattice temperatures induced by the laser power and attribute this to enhanced electron-electron scattering, a transport channel that becomes more pronounced with increased electron temperatures. The inclusion of the Ti layer also results in a linear dependence of the electron-phonon relaxation rate with temperature, which we attribute to the coupling of electrons at and near the Ti/substrate interface. This enhanced electron-phonon coupling due to electron-interface scattering is shown to have negligible influence on the Kapitza conductances between the Au/Ti and the substrates at longer time scales when the electrons and phonons in the metal have equilibrated. These results suggest that only during highly nonequilibrium conditions between the electrons and phonons (Te ≫ Tp) does electron-phonon scattering at an interface contribute to thermal boundary conductance.
Predicted impacts of proton temperature anisotropy on solar wind turbulence
Authors: Klein K. G. , Howes G. G.
Published: March 2015

Particle velocity distributions measured in the weakly collisional solar wind are frequently found to be non-Maxwellian, but how these non-Maxwellian distributions impact the physics of plasma turbulence in the solar wind remains unanswered. Using numerical solutions of the linear dispersion relation for a collisionless plasma with a bi-Maxwellian proton velocity distribution, we present a unified framework for the four proton temperature anisotropy instabilities, identifying the associated stable eigenmodes, highlighting the unstable region of wavevector space and presenting the properties of the growing eigenfunctions. Based on physical intuition gained from this framework, we address how the proton temperature anisotropy impacts the nonlinear dynamics of the Alfvénic fluctuations underlying the dominant cascade of energy from large to small scales and how the fluctuations driven by proton temperature anisotropy instabilities interact nonlinearly with each other and with the fluctuations of the large-scale cascade. We find that the nonlinear dynamics of the large-scale cascade is insensitive to the proton temperature anisotropy and that the instability-driven fluctuations are unlikely to cause significant nonlinear evolution of either the instability-driven fluctuations or the turbulent fluctuations of the large-scale cascade.