bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The flavone apigenin blocks nuclear translocation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 in the hepatic cells WRL-68
Authors: Wong Tsz Yan , Lin Shu-Mei , Leung Lai K.
Published: May 2015

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREBP-2) is a pivotal transcriptional factor in cholesterol metabolism. Factors interfering with the proper functioning of SREBP-2 potentially alter plasma lipid concentrations. Consuming fruits and vegetables is associated with beneficial plasma lipid profile. The mechanism by which plant foods induce desirable lipid changes remains unclear. Apigenin, a common plant food flavonoid, was shown to modulate the nuclear translocation of SREBP-2 in the hepatic cells WRL-68 in the present study. The processing of SREBP-2 protein occurred after translation, and apigenin blocked this activation route. Further examination indicated that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated by the flavone, and co-administrating the AMPK-specific inhibitor compound C could release the blockage. Reporter gene assay revealed that the transactivation of sterol responsive element (SRE)-containing 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) promoter was suppressed by the flavone. Similarly, electromobility shift assay result also demonstrated a reduced DNA-binding activity on the SRE domain under the same treatment. The reduced transactivity and DNA-binding activity could be attributed to a decreased amount of SREBP-2 translocating from cytosol to nucleus as depicted by confocal microscopy. Quantitative RT-PCR assay demonstrated that the transcription of HMGCR followed the same pattern of SREBP-2 translocation. In summary, the present study showed that apigenin prevented SREBP-2 translocation and reduced the downstream gene HMGCR transcription. The minimum effective dosage should be achievable in the form of functional food consumption or dietary supplementation.
Ecclesiology, Piety, and Presbyterian and Independent Polemics During the Early Years of the English Revolution
Authors: Chung Youngkwon
Published: May 2015

Religious controversy swept across England during the revolutionary decades of the 1640s and 1650s. Historians have studied the attendant ecclesiological debates meticulously. The piety as practiced by the puritans has also been carefully examined. Yet generally, these two subjects of ecclesiology and piety have been kept as separate compartments of analysis. The plethora of tracts that rolled off the press during the initial years of the 1640s, nevertheless, shows that many contemporary polemicists were keen to tie the two themes together. The Presbyterian and Independent polemicists were no exception. As this article seeks to demonstrate, a common feature of their publications was the belief that their preferred ecclesiastical polity best served the purpose of promoting individual piety and creating a godly society. Thus the Presbyterian and Independent conflict waged not only over issues of ecclesiology proper such as categories of church offices and of governing councils or composition of church membership to which historians have directed their attention hitherto, but also over questions of how ecclesiology affected piety. Such conflict was a reflection of the commitment of Presbyterians and Independents to their respective vision of reformation for the country. More broadly, this article shows a facet of religious controversy that ultimately led to the disintegration of the godly community and weakened the base of support for the Commonwealth and the Protectorate.
The Problem of Non-Human Animals in Levinasian Ethics and a Possible Corrective
Authors: SÖZMEN BERIL İDEMEN
Published: May 2015

Animals in Emmanuel Levinas’ ethics can neither respond to the ethical demand, nor can they be the Other from whom the demand emanates. Levinas’ characterisation of the Other as human seems to be incompatible with his description of the Other as infinitely transcendent and of the face as refusing to be contained. A corrective can be found in Martin Buber’s two-dimensional account of the encounter. Buber widens the scope of entities with which morally demanding encounters are possible. Complementing the Levinasian account of the encounter with Buber’s provides a way of recognising non-human animals as the Other in the moral encounter.
On conditions for semirings to induce compact information algebras
Authors: GUAN XUECHONG , LI YONGMING , KOHLAS JUERG
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we study the relationship between ordering structures on semirings and semiring-induced valuation algebras. We show that a semiring-induced valuation algebra is a complete (resp. continuous) lattice if and only if the semiring is complete (resp. continuous) lattice with respect to the reverse order relation on semirings. Furthermore, a semiring-induced information algebra is compact, if the dual of the semiring is an algebraic lattice.
Representation of algebraic domains by formal association rule systems
Authors: GUO LANKUN , LI QINGGUO , VALTCHEV PETKO , LIN YAPING
Published: May 2015

In this paper, we introduce the notion of consistent F-augmented contexts by adding a special family of finite subsets into the structure of a formal context, which essentially establishes the basis of the representation of general algebraic domains. In particular, we investigate the association rule systems which are derived from the consistent F-augmented contexts and propose the notion of formal association rule systems. By the notion of antecedent connections, we obtain the equivalence between the category of formal association rule systems and that of algebraic domains, which demonstrates that the proposed notion of formal association rule systems provides a concrete approach to representing algebraic domains.
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT
Authors: SONENSCHER MICHAEL
Published: May 2015

This essay is about the relationship between the moral and political thought of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the related concepts of autonomy, social science and industrialism. Its aim is to show why these three concepts throw more light both on Rousseau's theory of the relationship between democratic sovereignty and representative government, and on his explanation of the sharply counterintuitive historical trajectory followed by democracy in its passage from ancient to modern times.
NPM-ALK mediates phosphorylation of MSH2 at tyrosine 238, creating a functional deficiency in MSH2 and the loss of mismatch repair
Authors: Bone K M , Wang P , Wu F , Wu C , Li L , Bacani J T , Andrew S E , Lai R
Published: May 2015

The vast majority of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+ALCL) tumors express the characteristic oncogenic fusion protein NPM-ALK, which mediates tumorigenesis by exerting its constitutive tyrosine kinase activity on various substrates. We recently identified MSH2, a protein central to DNA mismatch repair (MMR), as a novel binding partner and phosphorylation substrate of NPM-ALK. Here, using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, we report for the first time that MSH2 is phosphorylated by NPM-ALK at a specific residue, tyrosine 238. Using GP293 cells transfected with NPM-ALK, we confirmed that the MSH2Y238F mutant is not tyrosine phosphorylated. Furthermore, transfection of MSH2Y238F into these cells substantially decreased the tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous MSH2. Importantly, gene transfection of MSH2Y238F abrogated the binding of NPM-ALK with endogenous MSH2, re-established the dimerization of MSH2:MSH6 and restored the sensitivity to DNA mismatch-inducing drugs, indicative of MMR return. Parallel findings were observed in two ALK+ALCL cell lines, Karpas 299 and SUP-M2. In addition, we found that enforced expression of MSH2Y238F into ALK+ALCL cells alone was sufficient to induce spontaneous apoptosis. In conclusion, our findings have identified NPM-ALK-induced phosphorylation of MSH2 at Y238 as a crucial event in suppressing MMR. Our studies have provided novel insights into the mechanism by which oncogenic tyrosine kinases disrupt MMR.
Temporal variation overshadows the response of leaf litter microbial communities to simulated global change
Authors: Matulich Kristin L , Weihe Claudia , Allison Steven D , Amend Anthony S , Berlemont Renaud , Goulden Michael L , Kimball Sarah , Martiny Adam C , Martiny Jennifer B H
Published: May 2015

Bacteria and fungi drive the decomposition of dead plant biomass (litter), an important step in the terrestrial carbon cycle. Here we investigate the sensitivity of litter microbial communities to simulated global change (drought and nitrogen addition) in a California annual grassland. Using 16S and 28S rDNA amplicon pyrosequencing, we quantify the response of the bacterial and fungal communities to the treatments and compare these results to background, temporal (seasonal and interannual) variability of the communities. We found that the drought and nitrogen treatments both had significant effects on microbial community composition, explaining 2–6% of total compositional variation. However, microbial composition was even more strongly influenced by seasonal and annual variation (explaining 14–39%). The response of microbial composition to drought varied by season, while the effect of the nitrogen addition treatment was constant through time. These compositional responses were similar in magnitude to those seen in microbial enzyme activities and the surrounding plant community, but did not correspond to a consistent effect on leaf litter decomposition rate. Overall, these patterns indicate that, in this ecosystem, temporal variability in the composition of leaf litter microorganisms largely surpasses that expected in a short-term global change experiment. Thus, as for plant communities, future microbial communities will likely be determined by the interplay between rapid, local background variability and slower, global changes.
Flatworms have lost the right open reading frame kinase 3 gene during evolution
Authors: Breugelmans Bert , Ansell Brendan R. E. , Young Neil D. , Amani Parisa , Stroehlein Andreas J. , Sternberg Paul W. , Jex Aaron R. , Boag Peter R. , Hofmann Andreas , Gasser Robin B.
Published: May 2015

All multicellular organisms studied to date have three right open reading frame kinase genes (designated riok-1, riok-2 and riok-3). Current evidence indicates that riok-1 and riok-2 have essential roles in ribosome biosynthesis and that the riok-3 gene assists this process. In the present study, we conducted a detailed bioinformatic analysis of the riok gene family in 25 parasitic flatworms (platyhelminths) for which extensive genomic and transcriptomic data sets are available. We found that none of the flatworms studied have a riok-3 gene, which is unprecedented for multicellular organisms. We propose that, unlike in other eukaryotes, the loss of RIOK-3 from flatworms does not result in an evolutionary disadvantage due to the unique biology and physiology of this phylum. We show that the loss of RIOK-3 coincides with a loss of particular proteins associated with essential cellular pathways linked to cell growth and apoptosis. These findings indicate multiple, key regulatory functions of RIOK-3 in other metazoan species. Taking advantage of a known partial crystal structure of human RIOK-1, molecular modelling revealed variability in nucleotide binding sites between flatworm and human RIOK proteins.
Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutants overexpressing chlorophyllide a oxidoreductase of Blastochloris viridis elucidate functions of enzymes in late bacteriochlorophyll biosynthetic pathways
Authors: Tsukatani Yusuke , Harada Jiro , Nomata Jiro , Yamamoto Haruki , Fujita Yuichi , Mizoguchi Tadashi , Tamiaki Hitoshi
Published: May 2015

In previous studies we have demonstrated that chlorophyllide a oxidoreductases (CORs) from bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a-producing Rhodobacter species and BChl b-producing Blastochloris viridis show distinct substrate recognition and different catalytic hydrogenation reactions and that these two types of CORs therefore cause committed steps for BChls a and b biosynthesis. In this study, COR genes from B. viridis were incorporated and overexpressed in a series of Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutants. We found that the following two factors are essential in making R. sphaeroides produce BChl b: the loss of functions of both intrinsic COR and 8-vinyl reductase (BciA) in the host R. sphaeroides strain; and expression of the BchYZ catalytic components of COR from B. viridis, not the complete set of COR (BchXYZ), in the host strain. In addition, we incorporated bchYZ of B. viridis into the R. sphaeroides mutant lacking BchJ and BciA, resulting in the strain accumulating both BChl a and BChl b. This is the first example of an anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium producing BChls a and b together. The results suggest that BchJ enhances activity of the intrinsic COR. The physiological significance of BchJ in pigment biosynthetic pathways will be discussed.
Acidification reduced growth rate but not swimming speed of larval sea urchins
Authors: Chan Kit Yu Karen , García Eliseba , Dupont Sam
Published: May 2015

Swimming behaviors of planktonic larvae impact dispersal and population dynamics of many benthic marine invertebrates. This key ecological function is modulated by larval development dynamics, biomechanics of the resulting morphology and behavioral choices. Studies on ocean acidification effects on larval stages have yet to address this important interaction between development and swimming under environmentally-relevant flow conditions. Our video motion analysis revealed that pH covering present and future natural variability (pH 8.0, 7.6 and 7.2) did not affect age-specific swimming of larval green urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensisin still water nor in shear, despite acidified individuals being significantly smaller in size (reduced growth rate). This maintenance of speed and stability in shear was accompanied by an overall change in size-corrected shape, implying changes in swimming biomechanics. Our observations highlight strong evolutionary pressure to maintain swimming in a varying environment and the plasticity in larval responses to environmental change.
Helical Growth of Aluminum Nitride: New Insights into Its Growth Habit from Nanostructures to Single Crystals
Authors: Zhang Xing-Hong , Shao Rui-Wen , Jin Lei , Wang Jian-Yu , Zheng Kun , Zhao Chao-Liang , Han Jie-Cai , Chen Bin , Sekiguchi Takashi , Zhang Zhi , Zou Jin , Song Bo
Published: May 2015

By understanding the growth mechanism of nanomaterials, the morphological features of nanostructures can be rationally controlled, thereby achieving the desired physical properties for specific applications. Herein, the growth habits of aluminum nitride (AlN) nanostructures and single crystals synthesized by an ultrahigh-temperature, catalyst-free, physical vapor transport process were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The detailed structural characterizations strongly suggested that the growth of AlN nanostructures including AlN nanowires and nanohelixes follow a sequential and periodic rotation in the growth direction, which is independent of the size and shape of the material. Based on these experimental observations, an helical growth mechanism that may originate from the coeffect of the polar-surface and dislocation-driven growth is proposed, which offers a new insight into the related growth kinetics of low-dimensional AlN structures and will enable the rational design and synthesis of novel AlN nanostructures. Further, with the increase of temperature, the growth process of AlN grains followed the helical growth model.
Tailoring Plasmonic Enhanced Upconversion in Single NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ Nanocrystals
Authors: Wang Ya-Lan , Mohammadi Estakhri Nasim , Johnson Amber , Li Hai-Yang , Xu Li-Xiang , Zhang Zhenyu , Alù Andrea , Wang Qu-Quan , Shih Chih-Kang
Published: May 2015

By using silver nanoplatelets with a widely tunable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and their corresponding local field enhancement, here we show large manipulation of plasmonic enhanced upconversion in NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanocrystals at the single particle level. In particular, we show that when the plasmonic resonance of silver nanolplatelets is tuned to 656 nm, matching the emission wavelength, an upconversion enhancement factor ~5 is obtained. However, when the plasmonic resonance is tuned to 980 nm, matching the nanocrystal absorption wavelength, we achieve an enhancement factor of ~22 folds. The precise geometric arrangement between fluorescent nanoparticles and silver nanoplatelets allows us to make, for the first time, a comparative analysis between experimental results and numerical simulations, yielding a quantitative agreement at the single particle level. Such a comparison lays the foundations for a rational design of hybrid metal-fluorescent nanocrystals to harness the upconversion enhancement for biosensing and light harvesting applications.
The diagnostic targeting of a carbohydrate virulence factor from M.Tuberculosis
Authors: Chan Conrad E. , Götze Sebastian , Seah Geok T. , Seeberger Peter H. , Tukvadze Nestan , Wenk Markus R. , Hanson Brendon J. , MacAry Paul A.
Published: May 2015

The current clinical management of TB is complicated by the lack of suitable diagnostic tests that can be employed in infrastructure and resource poor regions. The mannose-capped form of lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM) is unique to the surface envelope of slow-growing, pathogenic mycobacteria such as M.tuberculosis (M.tb) and facilitates passive invasion of mononuclear phagocytes. The detection of this virulence factor in urine, sputum and serum has engendered interest in its employment as a biomarker for M.tb infection. In this study, we utilize a subtractive screening methodology to engineer the first high affinity recombinant antibody (My2F12) with exquisite specificity for the α1-2 mannose linkages enriched in ManLAM from M.tb. My2F12 binds to pathogenic mycobacterial species but not fast growing non-pathogenic species. Testing on matched urine and serum samples from TB patients indicates that My2F12 works in patient cohorts missed by other diagnostic methodologies.
Black tea protects against hypertension-associated endothelial dysfunction through alleviation of endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: San Cheang Wai , Yuen Ngai Ching , Yen Tam Ye , Yu Tian Xiao , Tak Wong Wing , Zhang Yang , Wai Lau Chi , Chen Zhen Yu , Bian Zhao-Xiang , Huang Yu , Ping Leung Fung
Published: May 2015

Hypertensive patients have been found to be associated with elevated levels of homocysteine, known as hyperhomocysteinemia. Homocysteine (Hcy) can induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in endothelial cells. This study aims to investigate whether black tea (BT) protects against hypertension-associated endothelial dysfunction through alleviation of ER stress. Rat aortae and cultured rat aortic endothelial cells were treated with Hcy, BT extract and theaflavin-3,3’-digallate (TF3). Male Sprague Dawley rats were infused with angiotensin II (Ang II) to induce hypertension and orally administrated with BT extract at 15 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Hcy impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations of rat aortae and led to ER stress in endothelial cells, which were ameliorated by co-incubation of BT extract and TF3. The blood pressure of Ang II-infused rats and plasma Hcy level were normalized by BT consumption. Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations in renal arteries, carotid arteries and aortae and flow-mediated dilatations in third-order mesenteric resistance arteries were improved. Elevations of ER stress markers and ROS level, plus down-regulation of Hcy metabolic enzymes in aortae from Ang II-infused rats were prevented by BT treatment. Our data reveal the novel cardiovascular benefits of BT in ameliorating vascular dysfunctions, providing insight into developing BT into beneficial dietary supplements in hypertensive patients.
Early Miocene elevation in northern Tibet estimated by palaeobotanical evidence
Authors: Sun Bin , Wang Yu-Fei , Li Cheng-Sen , Yang Jian , Li Jin-Feng , Li Ye-Liang , Deng Tao , Wang Shi-Qi , Zhao Min , Spicer Robert A. , Ferguson David K. , Mehrotra Rakesh C.
Published: May 2015

The area and elevation of the Tibetan Plateau over time has directly affected Asia’s topography, the characteristics of the Asian monsoon and modified global climate, but in ways that are poorly understood. Charting the uplift history is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that link elevation and climate irrespective of time and place. While some palaeoelevation data are available for southern and central Tibet, clues to the uplift history of northern Tibet remain sparse and largely circumstantial. Leaf fossils are extremely rare in Tibet but here we report a newly discovered early Miocene barberry (Berberis) from Wudaoliang in the Hoh-Xil Basin in northern Tibet, at a present altitude of 4611 ± 9 m. Considering the fossil and its nearest living species probably occupied a similar or identical environmental niche, the palaeoelevation of the fossil locality, corrected for Miocene global temperature difference, is estimated to have been between 1395 and 2931 m, which means this basin has been uplifted ~2–3 km in the last 17 million years. Our findings contradict hypotheses that suggest northern Tibet had reached or exceeded its present elevation prior to the Miocene.
Inhibitors of thermally induced burn incidents – characterization by microbiological procedure, electrophoresis, SEM, DSC and IR spectroscopy
Authors: Pielesz Anna , Machnicka Alicja , Gawłowski Andrzej , Fabia Janusz , Sarna Ewa , Biniaś Włodzimierz
Published: May 2015

(DSC) and (TGA) investigations, acetate electrophoresis (CAE), infrared spectrometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microbiological procedures were all carried out after heating the samples to a temperature sufficient for simulating a burn incident.
Exploring the structure and formation mechanism of amyloid fibrils by Raman spectroscopy: a review
Authors: Kurouski Dmitry , Van Duyne Richard P. , Lednev Igor K.
Published: May 2015

Applications of Raman spectroscopy, a label-free non-destructive technique, for the structural characterization of amyloidogenic proteins, prefibrilar oligomers, and mature fibrils.
A strategy for analyzing bond strength and interaction kinetics between Pleckstrin homology domains and PI(4,5)P2 phospholipids using force distance spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Malkovskiy A. V. , Wagh D. A. , Longo F. M. , Rajadas J.
Published: May 2015

Use of AFM force–distance spectroscopy and SPR analysis to assess strong single-molecule binding between PH protein domains and phosphatidylinositol phospholipids.
Applications of two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Le Sueur Amanda L. , Horness Rachel E. , Thielges Megan C.
Published: May 2015

The potential of 2D IR spectroscopy is illustrated through select examples of recent applications in chemistry and biology.
A highly sensitive fluorescence assay for methyltransferase activity by exonuclease-aided signal amplification
Authors: Tang Feng , Xing Xi-Wen , Chu Jie-Mei , Yuan Quan , Zhou Xiang , Feng Yu-Qi , Yuan Bi-Feng
Published: May 2015

A highly sensitive fluorescence assay for DNA adenine methyltransferase activity was developed using exonuclease-aided signal amplification.
A new method for screening glutathione reductase inhibitors using square wave voltammetry
Authors: Karacan Mehmet Sayım , Tunç Turgay , Oruç Hatice , Mamaş Serhat , Karacan Nurcan
Published: May 2015

A novel square wave voltammetric method was developed for the detection of GR activity by measurement of diffusion current of GSH.
A comparative study for recognizing G-quadruplexes using dimeric cyanine dyes with different sizes of aromatic substituents
Authors: Yu Lijia , Yang Qianfan , Xiang Junfeng , Tang Yalin
Published: May 2015

A dye with a large aromatic substituent (AB-P4) presented higher selectivity for specific G-quadruplexes than those of small ones (B-P4 and TC-P4).
Single-walled carbon nanotubes–carboxyl-functionalized graphene oxide-based electrochemical DNA biosensor for thermolabile hemolysin gene detection
Authors: Yang Linlin , Li Xi , Yan Songling , Wang Mengmeng , Liu Peng , Dong Yulin , Zhang Chaocan
Published: May 2015

Illustration of the procedure for the preparation of a CFGO and SWCNTs-based electrochemical DNA biosensor.
Photo-triggered fluorescent labelling of recombinant proteins in live cells
Authors: Jung Deokho , Sato Kohei , Min Kyoungmi , Shigenaga Akira , Jung Juyeon , Otaka Akira , Kwon Youngeun
Published: May 2015

A method to photo-chemically trigger fluorescent labelling of proteins in live cells is developed for background-free fluorescent labelling of target proteins with the necessary spatiotemporal control.
Computational design of an Iridium based catalyst for releasing H2from hydrogenated BN nanotubes
Authors: Roy Lisa , Paul Ankan
Published: May 2015

Theoretical investigations reveal that Ir pincer complexes can release molecular hydrogen from hydrogenated boron nitride nanotubes at room temperature accessible free energy barriers.
Synthesis and characterization of cell-microenvironment-sensitive leakage-free gold-shell nanoparticles with the template of interlayer-crosslinked micelles
Authors: Dai Jian , Li Qianqian , Liu Wenya , Lin Shudong , Hao Yaoyao , Zhang Chao , Shuai Xintao
Published: May 2015

Novel pH-GSNPs exhibit drug leakage-free behavior in a physiological environment, while achieving rapid drug release and remarkable nanogold interlayer aggregation in the intracellular microenvironment.
Some recent developments in surface and interface design for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic hybrid structures
Authors: Bai Song , Xiong Yujie
Published: May 2015

This feature article outlines recent progress in the surface and interface design of inorganic hybrid structures, which offers the possibilities to tune their catalytic performance, with a focus on the fundamentals behind each synthesis and catalytic application.
The first Fe-based Na+-ion cathode with two distinct types of polyanions: Fe3P5SiO19
Authors: Kan W. H. , Huq A. , Manthiram A.
Published: May 2015

Herein, we report the synthesis, structure, and electrochemistry of the first Na+-ion cathode with two distinct types of polyanions: Fe3P5SiO19.
Structural diversity of five coordination polymers based on 2,6-bis(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)pyridine ligand: solvothermal syntheses, structural characterizations, and magnetic properties
Authors: Fan Liming , Fan Weiliu , Li Bin , Liu Xinzheng , Zhao Xian , Zhang Xiutang
Published: May 2015

Five CPs, featuring diverse structures, have been assembled from the mixed ligands of H4BDP and bib under different reaction conditions.
A topotactic transition in a liquid crystal compound
Authors: Centore Roberto , Capitolino Valeria , Cerciello Francesca , Tuzi Angela , Borbone Fabio , Carella Antonio , Roviello Antonio
Published: May 2015

The title compound has two crystal phases related by an enantiotropic single-crystal-to-single-crystal transition and a nematic liquid crystalline phase before transition to the isotropic liquid phase.
Platinum–ruthenium bimetallic clusters on graphite: a comparison of vapor deposition and electroless deposition methods
Authors: Galhenage Randima P. , Xie Kangmin , Diao Weijian , Tengco John Meynard M. , Seuser Grant S. , Monnier John R. , Chen Donna A.
Published: May 2015

A comparison of bimetallic Pt–Ru clusters grown by vapor deposition (VD) and electroless deposition (ED) of Pt on Ru seed clusters.
An infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study on (CH3)3N–H+–(H2O)n, n = 1–22: highly polarized hydrogen bond networks of hydrated clusters
Authors: Shishido Ryunosuke , Li Ying-Cheng , Tsai Chen-Wei , Bing Dan , Fujii Asuka , Kuo Jer-Lai
Published: May 2015

Highly polarized water networks are found in the micro hydaration of protonated trimethylamine.
Advances in theory and their application within the field of zeolite chemistry
Authors: Van Speybroeck Veronique , Hemelsoet Karen , Joos Lennart , Waroquier Michel , Bell Robert G. , Catlow C. Richard A.
Published: May 2015

Advances in theory and their application in the field of zeolite chemistry and their rich applications are reviewed. The role of a broad range of theoretical methods to address the most challenging problems within zeolite science is highlighted.
Tuning the chemoselective hydrogenation of aromatic ketones, aromatic aldehydes and quinolines catalyzed by phosphine functionalized ionic liquid stabilized ruthenium nanoparticles
Authors: Jiang He-yan , Zheng Xu-xu
Published: May 2015

Aromatic ketones, aromatic aldehydes and quinolines can be hydrogenated with switchable excellent chemoselectivity under mild conditions catalyzed by ruthenium nanoparticles.
Novel AgI-decorated β-Bi2O3nanosheet heterostructured Z-scheme photocatalysts for efficient degradation of organic pollutants with enhanced performance
Authors: Zhang Zhengyuan , Jiang Deli , Xing Chaosheng , Chen Linlin , Chen Min , He Minqiang
Published: May 2015

Novel AgI nanoparticle-decorated β-Bi2O3nanosheet heterostructured Z-scheme photocatalysts were fabricated, which exhibited significantly enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity.
A responsive supramolecular metallogel constructed by coordination-driven self-assembly of a crown ether-based [3]pseudorotaxane and a diplatinum(ii) acceptor
Authors: Xing Hao , Wang Hu , Yan Xuzhou , Ji Xiaofan
Published: May 2015

A stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymeric metallogel was prepared by orthogonal coordination-driven self-assembly of a crown ether-based [3]pseudorotaxane and a 180° organic di-Pt(ii) acceptor.
Fabrication of a novel graphene oxide/β-FeOOH composite and its adsorption behavior for copper ions from aqueous solution
Authors: Jiang Tingshun , Yan Lu , Zhang Lei , Li Yingying , Zhao Qian , Yin Hengbo
Published: May 2015

A graphene oxide/β-FeOOH composite was prepared and its adsorption capacity was evaluated by Cu2+removal. The adsorption process was well fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The removal rate of Cu2+reached 93.8%.
Derivatization of (quinolin-8-yl)phosphinimidic amides via ortho-lithiation revisited
Authors: Fernández Sáez Nerea , García López Jesús , Iglesias María José , López Ortiz Fernando
Published: May 2015

The structure of N-lithium Ph2P[= N(quinolin-8-yl)]NHtBu has been established based on NMR and computational studies. Its PCortho-functionalization is also reported.
The effect of curcumin on liver fibrosis in the rat model of microsurgical cholestasis
Authors: Barta Andrej , Janega Pavol , Babál Pavel , Murár Erich , Cebová Martina , Pechánová Olga
Published: May 2015

We aimed to determine the effects of curcumin on liver fibrosis and to clarify the role of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a model of microsurgical cholestasis in the early stage of extrahepatic biliary atresia.
Effects of Nigella sativa oil with a low-calorie diet on cardiometabolic risk factors in obese women: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Mahdavi Reza , Namazi Nazli , Alizadeh Mohammad , Farajnia Safar
Published: May 2015

Obesity is typically associated with increased risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Bioactive properties of commercialised pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice: antioxidant, antiproliferative and enzyme inhibiting activities
Authors: Les Francisco , Prieto Jose M. , Arbonés-Mainar Jose Miguel , Valero Marta Sofía , López Víctor
Published: May 2015

Pomegranate juice exerts antioxidant and protective effects, antiproliferative activity in cancer cells and inhibits COX-2 and MAO-A.
Deep eutectic solvents: biorenewable reaction media for Au(i)-catalysed cycloisomerisations and one-pot tandem cycloisomerisation/Diels–Alder reactions
Authors: Vidal C. , Merz L. , García-Álvarez J.
Published: May 2015

Cycloisomerisation reactions of (Z)-enynols can be conveniently performed in the eutectic mixture 1ChCl/2Glyunder standard bench experimental conditions by using the novel Au(i) complex3as catalyst. Furthermore, one-pot tandem cyclosiomerization/Diels–Alder reactions are reported in this eutectic mixture.
Binuclear Bi(iii) halide complexes with 4,4′-ethylenepyridinium cations: luminescence tuning by reversible solvation
Authors: Adonin Sergey A. , Rakhmanova Marianna E. , Smolentsev Anton I. , Korolkov Ilya V. , Sokolov Maxim N. , Fedin Vladimir P.
Published: May 2015

New binuclear chloride and bromide complexes of Bi(iii) demonstrate strong reversible solvatochromism.
Anisotropic thermal transport in phosphorene: effects of crystal orientation
Authors: Liu Te-Huan , Chang Chien-Cheng
Published: May 2015

The thermal conductivity of phosphorene is a smooth monotonic decreasing function of the crystal chirality, which exhibits sinusoidal behavior between 0° and 90°.
Surface-promoted aggregation of amphiphilic quadruplex ligands drives their selectivity for alternative DNA structures
Authors: Laguerre Aurélien , Chang Yi , Pirrotta Marc , Desbois Nicolas , Gros Claude P. , Lesniewska Eric , Monchaud David
Published: May 2015

The surface-promoted aggregation of a structurally fine-tuned TMPyP4 derivative allows for the straightforward visualization of the quadruplex/ligand interactionsviahigh-speed AFM.
A PEGylated colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent sensor based on BODIPY for Hg(ii) detection in water
Authors: Wu Bin , Xu Lei , Wang Shangfeng , Wang Yong , Zhang Weian
Published: May 2015

We herein reported a click strategy to fabricate two kinds of colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent dual-modal mercury sensors (PEG-DMS), which could detect mercury ion in pure water with high selectivity and sensitivity.
Pd-initiated controlled polymerization of diazoacetates with a bulky substituent: synthesis of well-defined homopolymers and block copolymers with narrow molecular weight distribution from cyclophosphazene-containing diazoacetates
Authors: Shimomoto Hiroaki , Asano Hironori , Itoh Tomomichi , Ihara Eiji
Published: May 2015

Pd-initiated polymerization of cyclophosphazene-containing diazoacetates proceeded in a controlled manner.
Operating temperature dependent ethanol and formaldehyde detection of spray deposited mixed CdO and MnO2 thin films
Authors: Chandiramouli R. , Jeyaprakash B. G.
Published: May 2015

Spray deposited mixed CdO–MnO2 films are used for ethanol and formaldehyde detection.
Controlled nitrogen insertion in titanium dioxide for optimal photocatalytic degradation of atrazine
Authors: Samsudin Emy Marlina , Abd Hamid Sharifah Bee , Juan Joon Ching , Basirun Wan Jefrey , Kandjani Ahmad Esmaielzadeh , Bhargava Suresh K.
Published: May 2015

Introducing defects into the intrinsic TiO2structural framework with nitrogen enhanced the photocatalytic response towards the degradation of atrazine as compared to undoped TiO2.
Preparation of a novel flower-like MnO2/BiOI composite with highly enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic activity
Authors: Liu Suqin , Liu Huizhen , Jin Guanhua , Yuan Hao
Published: May 2015

A novel flower-like MnO2/BiOI composite has been fabricated by a simple and cost-effective approach.
Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from agarose by using a solid acid catalyst in dimethyl sulfoxide
Authors: Oh Sang Jin , Park Juyi , Na Jeong Geol , Oh You Kwan , Chang Yong Keun
Published: May 2015

In this study, an effective method for 5-HMF production from agarose, a biomass material derived from red-algae, is proposed.
Monolayer of close-packed Pt nanocrystals on a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheet and its enhanced catalytic performance towards methanol electrooxidation
Authors: Zhou Lin-Nan , Zhang Xiao-Ting , Shen Wen-Jin , Sun Shi-Gang , Li Yong-Jun
Published: May 2015

A close-packed monolayer composed of (111)-orientated Pt nanocrystals was fabricated on reduced graphene oxide, exhibiting excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability towards methanol oxidation, ~3 times better mass activity than the commercial Pt/C.
Synthesis of nanoporous hypercrosslinked polyaniline (HCPANI) for gas sorption and electrochemical supercapacitor applications
Authors: Sharma Vivek , Sahoo Asit , Sharma Yogesh , Mohanty Paritosh
Published: May 2015

Microwave-assisted synthesis of high surface area (SABET = 1059 m2 g−1) nanoporous hypercrosslinked polyaniline for gas storage and supercapacitor applications.
Influence of hydrotropic coions on the shape transitions of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate aggregates in an aqueous medium
Authors: Thapa U. , Ray D. , Dey J. , Sultana N. , Aswal V. K. , Ismail K.
Published: May 2015

The slope change of the CH plot is a manifestation of the shape change of the ionic micelles. However, binding of the salicylate coion to ionic micelles is an exception to this inference.
Facile synthesis of a highly luminescent carbon dot@silica nanorattle for in vivo bioimaging
Authors: Fu Changhui , Qiang Li , Liang Qinghua , Chen Xue , Li Linlin , Liu Huiyu , Tan Longfei , Liu Tianlong , Ren Xiangling , Meng Xianwei
Published: May 2015

Carbon dots embedded in silica nanorattle (CDs@SN) nanocomposites with high luminescence are synthesized and exhibit brighter fluorescence in vitro and in vivo than CDs alone.
Reversible magnetic mercury extraction from water
Authors: Fernandes S. , Eichenseer C. M. , Kreitmeier P. , Rewitzer J. , Zlateski V. , Grass R. N. , Stark W. J. , Reiser O.
Published: May 2015

Magnetic carbon-coated cobalt nanoparticles functionalized with polyethyleneimine proved to be highly effective and selective for the detoxification of mercury ions from aqueous solutions.
A comparative study of high pressure behaviors of pyrochlore-type and thortveitite-type In2Ge2O7
Authors: Li Hui , Li Yan , Li Nana , Zhao Yongsheng , Zhu Hongyu , Zhu Pinwen , Wang Xin
Published: May 2015

Polycrystalline In2Ge2O7 with a monoclinic structure (thortveitite-type, T-type) and a cubic structure (pyrochlore-type, P-type) have been synthesized by using different methods.
On-line pulse-jet cleaning of pleated fabric cartridge filters for collecting pesticides
Authors: Yan Cuiping , Zhang Mingxing , Lin Longyuan
Published: May 2015

Cleaning performance of pleated fabric cartridge filters for collecting pesticide particles and the effect of cleaning on system operational process.
Optimization of the zinc oxide electron transport layer in P3HT:PC61BM based organic solar cells by annealing and yttrium doping
Authors: Das Sayantan , Alford T. L.
Published: May 2015

Yttrium-doped zinc oxide was utilized as an efficient electron-transport layer in P3HT:PC61BM based solar cells.
Fabrication and enhanced simulated sunlight photocatalytic activity of metallic platinum and indium oxide codoped titania nanotubes
Authors: Ma Fengyan , Geng Zhi , Yang Xia , Leng Jiyan
Published: May 2015

Pt/In2O3–TiO2-NTs were fabricated by a multicomponent assembly-solvothermal treatment, and showed excellent activity originating from an improved quantum yield and nanotubular geometries.
Metal free one-pot synthesis of α-ketoamides from terminal alkenes
Authors: Dutta Sayan , Kotha Surya Srinivas , Sekar Govindasamy
Published: May 2015

A practical approach towards the synthesis of α-ketoamides from terminal alkenes has been developed using I2/IBX under one-pot reaction conditions.
A novel strategy for 1,3-propanediol recovery from fermentation broth and control of product colority using scraped thin-film evaporation for desalination
Authors: Zhang Yuanman , Luo Ji'an , Zhao Xuebing , Liu Dehua
Published: May 2015

A novel strategy for 1,3-propanediol recovery from fermentation broth was developed to control the product colority by adjusting the pH of feeding stream before desalination using a scraped thin-film evaporation.
Effect of surface-functionalized reduced graphene oxide on mechanical and tribological properties of bismaleimide composites
Authors: Liu Chao , Yan Hongxia , Chen Zhengyan , Yuan Lingxia , Lv Qing
Published: May 2015

A new method for preparing resin matrix composites with excellent mechanical and tribological properties has been investigated.
One-pot synthesis of a polyaniline–gold nanocomposite and its enhanced electrochemical properties for biosensing applications
Authors: Soni Amrita , Pandey Chandra Mouli , Solanki Shipra , Sumana Gajjala
Published: May 2015

One pot synthesis of polyaniline–gold nanocomposite using chemical route in the presence of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid.
Facile morphology-controllable hydrothermal synthesis and color tunable luminescence properties of NaGd(MoO4)2:Eu3+,Tb3+microcrystals
Authors: Li Anming , Xu Dekang , Lin Hao , Yang Shenghong , Shao Yuanzhi , Zhang Yueli , Chen Zhenqiang
Published: May 2015

Morphological control, formation mechanism and tunable photoluminescence of NaGd(MoO4)2:Eu3+,Tb3+microcrystals synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method.
Adsorption of Aun (n = 1–4) clusters on Fe3O4(001) B-termination
Authors: Yu Xiaohu , Zhang Xuemei , Wang Shengguang , Feng Gang
Published: May 2015

The adsorption of Aun (n = 1–4) clusters on stoichiometric, reduced and hydrated Fe3O4(001) B-terminations were studied using the GGA density functional theory including the Hubbard parameter (U) to describe the on-site Coulomb interaction.
Stainless steel felt as diffusion backing for high-performance microbial fuel cell cathodes
Authors: Qiu Zhaozheng , Wei Liling , Wang Gang , Su Min , Shen Jianquan
Published: May 2015

Novel 3D air-cathodes were constructed using stainless steel felt as the diffusion backing and current collector for performance improvement of MFC.
Synthesis and characterization of graft copolymers PnBA-g-PS by miniemulsion polymerization
Authors: Li Hui , Wang Wenwen , Tan Jiaojun , Li Chunmei , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: May 2015

PnBA-g-PS by emulsion AGET ATRP and miniemulsion polymerization.
Highly flexible and transparent film heaters based on polyimide films embedded with silver nanowires
Authors: Huang Qijin , Shen Wenfeng , Fang Xingzhong , Chen Guofei , Guo Junchao , Xu Wei , Tan Ruiqin , Song Weijie
Published: May 2015

Highly flexible AgNW/PI transparent film heaters with superior mechanical and thermal response behavior were fabricated using an all solution-coating method.
Synthesis of new surfactant-like triazine-functionalized ligands for Pd-catalyzed Heck and Sonogashira reactions in water
Authors: Iranpoor Nasser , Rahimi Sajjad , Panahi Farhad
Published: May 2015

N
2,N4,N6-Tridodecyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (TDTAT) is introduced as a new surfactant-like triazine-functionalized ligand for the efficient Pd-catalyzed Heck and Sonogashira reactions in water.
Effect of the nature of a transition metal dopant in BaTiO3 perovskite on the catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene
Authors: Srilakshmi Chilukoti , Rao G. Mohan , Saraf Rohit
Published: May 2015

Highly active and selective Fe, Co and Ni doped BaTiO3 catalysts for catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to azoxybenzene was reported.
Observation of electron transfer between bacteria and high conductivity graphene–PEDOT composites
Authors: Webb H. K. , Notley S. M. , Evans D. R.
Published: May 2015

The direct observation of electron transfer in a system comprising bacteria and a conducting polymer substrate is reported.
Compact polar moieties induce lipid–water systems to form discontinuous reverse micellar phase
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Patil Naganath G. , Choudhury Chandan Kumar , Roy Sudip , Ambade Ashootosh V. , Kumaraswamy Guruswamy
Published: May 2015

Macromolecules with a compact architecture and, that strongly interact with the lipid headgroup trigger an unusual pathway to the formation of a discontinuous AB2 micellar morphology.
Low temperature pseudomorphic synthesis of nanocrystalline carbide aerogels for electrocatalysis
Authors: Chen Ke , Huang Xiaowei , Zhang Zhuoxi , Du Ai , Zhou Bin , Xu Yin , Zhou Zhengji , Wang Yongqiang
Published: May 2015

Low-temperature pseudomorphic transformation of nanocrystalline TiC (NbC) aerogels with high surface areas and electrocatalytic activities is realized for DSSCs and the HER.
The role of nanoscale-range vanadium treatment in LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 cathode materials for Li-ion batteries at elevated temperatures
Authors: Lee Min-Joon , Noh Mijung , Park Mi-Hee , Jo Minki , Kim Hyejung , Nam Haisol , Cho Jaephil
Published: May 2015

A nano-scale surface protecting layer of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 consisting of substituted V4+ ions in 3b sites leads to structural robustness under the most challenging test conditions.
Sn– and SnO2–graphene flexible foams suitable as binder-free anodes for lithium ion batteries
Authors: Botas Cristina , Carriazo Daniel , Singh Gurpreet , Rojo Teófilo
Published: May 2015

A very simple approach for the preparation of flexible free-standing Sn-based graphene composites and their use as binder-free anodes for lithium ion batteries is reported.
Electrical property enhancement of electrically conductive adhesives through Ag-coated-Cu surface treatment by terephthalaldehyde and iodine
Authors: Li Chaowei , Gong Xike , Tang Lei , Zhang Kai , Luo Jie , Ling Lin , Pu Jun , Li Taotao , Li Mingxing , Yao Yagang
Published: May 2015

Weak reducing and substituting agents were selected to treat Ag-coated-Cu flakes to increase the conductivity of Ag-coated-Cu based electrically conductive adhesives.
Improved Markov models for terrestrial free‐space optical links
Authors: Wu Zifeng , Giggenbach Dirk , Lankl Berthold
Published: May 2015

Finite‐state Markov chains are a useful tool for modelling communication channels with correlated fading and have recently also been applied with success to terrestrial free‐space optical communication channels. However, the issue of how such Markov models should be optimised in order to accurately approximate the original continuous fading channel has not been addressed in a systematic manner. In this study, the authors improve on previous proposals by optimising the state space partitioning of the considered models. In particular, they investigate the properties and approximation accuracy of Markov models which are optimised according to information‐theoretic considerations. They validate and evaluate their approach using a set of experimental measurements over a 12 km link distance. The obtained results confirm that optimised Markov models can provide better accuracy at lower state complexity, yet there remain shortcomings in capturing the autocovariance of the fading process.