bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[HL2][P(1,2-O2C6Cl4)3] (L = THF, DMF): Brønsted acid initiators for the polymerization of n-butyl vinyl ether and p-methoxystyrene
Authors: Hazin Khatera , Serin Spencer C. , Patrick Brian O. , Ezhova Maria B. , Gates Derek P.
Published: April 2017

The development of solid, weighable Brønsted acids featuring the hexacoordinated phosphorous(v) anion [TRISPHAT]− are reported.
Time, pH, and size dependency of silver nanoparticle dissolution: the road to equilibrium
Authors: Molleman Bastiaan , Hiemstra Tjisse
Published: April 2017

Oxidative dissolution has large implications for the environmental fate and toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).
Understanding the choice of copper by heme-copper oxidase using biosynthetic models in myoglobin
Authors: Lin Ying-Wu
Published: April 2017

A long-standing question, why copper is preferred over iron for O2 reduction in heme-copper oxidases, has been answered by studying biosynthetic models in myoglobin.
Real time plasmonic qPCR: how fast is ultra-fast? 30 cycles in 54 seconds
Authors: Roche Philip J. R. , Najih Mohamed , Lee Seung S. , Beitel Lenore K. , Carnevale Matthew L. , Paliouras Miltiadis , Kirk Andrew G. , Trifiro Mark A.
Published: April 2017

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a critical tool for biological research investigators but recently it also has been making a significant impact in clinical, veterinary and agricultural applications.
Lanthanide coordination polymer nanoparticles as a turn-on fluorescence sensing platform for simultaneous detection of histidine and cysteine
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Wang Lu , Li Gaiping , Ye Baoxian
Published: April 2017

A turn-on fluorescent sensor for simultaneous detection of histidine and cysteine based on lanthanide coordination polymer nanoparticles.
Methods for preparing DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles, a key reagent of bioanalytical chemistry
Authors: Liu Biwu , Liu Juewen
Published: April 2017

Attaching DNA to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) enables a suite of analytical and nanotechnology applications, yet the conjugation reaction itself manifests many interesting concepts in fundamental colloidal and interface sciences.
A label-free aptasensor for highly sensitive ATP detection by using exonuclease I and oligonucleotide-templated fluorescent copper nanoparticles
Authors: Cai Qiyong , Ge Jia , Xu Huihui , Zhang Lin , Hu Yalei , Huang Zhongming , Li Zhaohui
Published: April 2017

A sensitive fluorescence method for ATP detection was developed based on Exo I and a multifunctional oligonucleotide, which holds the ability of synthesizing fluorescent copper nanoparticles and recognizing ATP.
Variable selection with a support vector machine for discriminating Cryptococcus fungal species based on ATR-FTIR spectroscopy
Authors: Morais Camilo L. M. , Costa Fernanda S. L. , Lima Kássio M. G.
Published: April 2017

Variable selection with supervised classification is currently an important tool for discriminating biological samples.
Optimization of a methodology for simultaneous determination of twelve chlorophenols in environmental water samples using in situ derivatization and continuous sample drop flow microextraction combined with gas chromatography-electron-capture detection
Authors: Karimaei Mostafa , Sharafi Kiomars , Moradi Masoud , Ghaffari Hamid Reza , Biglari Hamed , Arfaeinia Hossein , Fattahi Nazir
Published: April 2017

Continuous sample drop flow microextraction (CSDFME) combined with gas chromatography-electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) has been developed as a high preconcentration technique for the determination of chlorophenols (CPs) in environmental water samples.
Enhanced durability and activity of the perovskite electrocatalyst Pr0.5Ba0.5CoO3−δ by Ca doping for the oxygen evolution reaction at room temperature
Authors: He Dandan , He Guanghu , Jiang Heqing , Chen Zongkun , Huang Minghua
Published: April 2017

A promising Ca doping approach was reported to greatly improve the durability and electrocatalytic OER activity of the perovskite Pr0.5Ba0.5CoO3−δ (PBC).
Functional DNA-grafted supramolecular polymers – chirality, cargo binding and hierarchical organization
Authors: Vyborna Yuliia , Vybornyi Mykhailo , Häner Robert
Published: April 2017

The synthesis and functionalization of DNA-grafted supramolecular polymers with gold nanoparticles are described.
Cobalt-catalysed Markovnikov selective hydroboration of vinylarenes
Authors: Peng Jingying , Docherty Jamie H. , Dominey Andrew P. , Thomas Stephen P.
Published: April 2017

A bipyridiyl–oxazoline cobalt catalysttBuBPOCoCl2has been developed for the Markovnikov selective hydroboration of vinylarenes using pinacolborane and NaOtBu as thein situactivator.
Solvent-free on-surface synthesis of boroxine COF monolayers
Authors: Spitzer Saskia , Rastgoo-Lahrood Atena , Macknapp Klaus , Ritter Viktoria , Sotier Stefan , Heckl Wolfgang M. , Lackinger Markus
Published: April 2017

A protocol is proposed for the solvent-free on-surface synthesis of covalent organic framework monolayers by condensation of diboronic acids.
Site-selective carbon–carbon bond formation in unprotected monosaccharides using photoredox catalysis
Authors: Wan Ieng Chim (Steven) , Witte Martin D. , Minnaard Adriaan J.
Published: April 2017

One-step site-selective, protection group-free synthesis of branched monosaccharides.
Controllable nanothorns on TiO2mesocrystals for efficient charge separation in hydrogen evolution
Authors: Zhang Peng , Kim Sooyeon , Fujitsuka Mamoru , Majima Tetsuro
Published: April 2017

Herein, we investigated that sheet-like TiO2mesocrystals with controllable nanothorns on the {101} facet during the topotactic transformation exhibit facet-induced charge separation and anisotropic electron flow, realizing the superior facet-dependent photocatalysis in solar energy conversion.
Chemomechanical oscillations with a non-redox non-oscillatory reaction
Authors: Horváth J.
Published: April 2017

Periodic length changes, over 20%, were sustained in a pH-responsive gel by associating the methylene glycol–sulphite OH-producing clock-reaction with variations of the exchange time induced between the core of the gel and a steady chemical environment.
Photocatalytic metal–organic frameworks for organic transformations
Authors: Yu Xiao , Wang Le , Cohen Seth M.
Published: April 2017

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention for applications in heterogeneous photocatalysis.
Role of grain size on redox induced compositional stresses in Pr doped ceria thin films
Authors: Sheth Jay , Chen Di , Tuller Harry L. , Misture Scott T. , Bishop Sean R. , Sheldon Brian W.
Published: April 2017

In-situ wafer curvature and x-ray diffraction measurements were employed to investigate the grain size dependence of stress and strain in Pr doped ceria thin films.
Water structuring above solutes with planar hydrophobic surfaces
Authors: Schnupf Udo , Brady John W.
Published: April 2017

MD simulations find that planar hydrophobic solutes structure water above their surfaces differently depending on surface size, in qualitative agreement with field theory predictions, but with a transition from entropic to enthalpic-dominated hydration at smaller dimensions than expected.
A nematic to nematic transformation exhibited by a rod-like liquid crystal
Authors: Mandle Richard J. , Cowling S. J. , Goodby J. W.
Published: April 2017

A polar, rod-like liquid crystalline material was observed to exhibit two distinct nematic mesophases separated by a first-order phase transition.
Acceptor doping in the proton conductor SrZrO3
Authors: Weston Leigh , Janotti A. , Cui X. Y. , Stampfl C. , Van de Walle C. G.
Published: April 2017

Acceptor dopants in proton-conducting oxides act as proton traps, or can accidentally incorporate as donors, reducing proton conductivity.
Electrostatically stabilized hybrids of carbon and maghemite nanoparticles: electrochemical study and application
Authors: Baratella D. , Magro M. , Jakubec P. , Bonaiuto E. , de Almeida Roger J. , Gerotto E. , Zoppellaro G. , Tucek J. , Safarova K. C. , Zbořil R. , Cecconello A. , Willner I. , Santagata S. , Sambo P. , Vianello F.
Published: April 2017

Peculiar electrocatalytic properties emerged in electrostatically stabilized binary hybrids composed of maghemite nanoparticles and differently charged carbon nanomaterials.
Ab initio assessment of Bi1−xRExCuOS (RE = La, Gd, Y, Lu) solid solutions as a semiconductor for photochemical water splitting
Authors: Lardhi Sheikha , Curutchet Antton , Cavallo Luigi , Harb Moussab , Le Bahers Tangui
Published: April 2017

The electronic properties of Bi1−xRExCuOS (RE = La, Gd, Y and Lu) were computed by hybrid DFT to design new semiconductors for water splitting.
Effect of chemical structure of S-nitrosothiols on nitric oxide release mediated by the copper sites of a metal organic framework based environment
Authors: Taylor-Edinbyrd Kiara , Li Tanping , Kumar Revati
Published: April 2017

The effect of chemical structure of different biologically compatible S-nitrosothiols on the solvation environment at catalytic copper sites in a metal organic framework (MOF) suspended in a solution of ethanol is probed using computational methods.
Defect induced ferromagnetism in MgO and its exceptional enhancement upon thermal annealing: a case of transformation of various defect states
Authors: Pathak Nimai , Gupta Santosh Kumar , Prajapat C. L. , Sharma S. K. , Ghosh P. S. , Kanrar Buddhadev , Pujari P. K. , Kadam R. M.
Published: April 2017

Micron size MgO particles showed various defect induced ferromagnetism with an exceptional enhancement upon thermal annealing due to transformation of one kind of cluster vacancy to another.
Enhanced base-catalyzed activity and structural stability of nitrogen-doped carbon modified MgO–MgFe2O4 magnetic composites as catalysts for transesterification of tributyrin
Authors: Zhang Yanhua , Zhang Ming , Yang Lan , Fan Guoli , Li Feng
Published: April 2017

Magnetic nitrogen-doped carbon modified MgO–MgFe2O4 catalysts exhibited greatly enhanced base-catalyzed activity and structural stability.
A novel luminescent Pb(ii) – organic framework exhibiting a rapid and selective detection of trace amounts of NACs and Fe3+ with excellent recyclability
Authors: Luo Xuan , Zhang Xiao , Duan Yuanling , Wang Xiaolin , Zhao Jiaming
Published: April 2017

A novel Pb MOF used as a fluorescent probe for nitroaromatic explosives and Fe3+ shows high sensitivity and selectivity.
Flux synthesis, crystal structures, and physical properties of new lanthanum vanadium oxyselenides
Authors: Peschke Simon , Gamperl Lisa , Weippert Valentin , Johrendt Dirk
Published: April 2017

New vanadium-oxyselenides exhibit increasing structural complexity, mixed-valent vanadium and antiferromagnetism or metamagnetic transitions.
σ-Hammett parameter: a strategy to enhance both photo- and electro-luminescence features of heteroleptic copper(i) complexes
Authors: Weber Michael D. , Viciano-Chumillas Marta , Armentano Donatella , Cano Joan , Costa Rubén D.
Published: April 2017

Hammett was also right for devices. This work directly links the enhancement of both the photoluminescence properties in solid-state and the electroluminescence features in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) with a rational ligand design using the σ-Hammett parameter.
Lanthanide coordination complexes framed by sodium ions: slow relaxation of the magnetization in the Dy(III) derivative
Authors: Konstantatos Andreas , Sørensen Mikkel A. , Bendix Jesper , Weihe Høgni
Published: April 2017

Three tetranuclear lanthanide complexes framed by sodium ions were isolated and characterised and the Dy(iii) complex exhibited SMM behaviour.
Photoresponsive ionic liquid crystals assembled via halogen bond: en route towards light-controllable ion transporters
Authors: Saccone Marco , Palacio Francisco Fernandez , Cavallo Gabriella , Dichiarante Valentina , Virkki Matti , Terraneo Giancarlo , Priimagi Arri , Metrangolo Pierangelo
Published: April 2017

We demonstrate that halogen bonding (XB) can offer a novel approach for the construction of photoresponsive ionic liquid crystals. In particular, we assembled two new supramolecular complexes based on 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium iodides and azobenzene derivatives containing an iodotetrafluoro-benzene ring as XB donor, where the iodide anion acted as an XB acceptor. DSC and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the preferred stoichiometry between the XB donors and acceptors is 2 : 1, and that the iodide anions act as bidentate XB-acceptors, binding two azobenzene derivatives. Due to the high directionality of the XB, calamitic superanions are obtained, while the segregation occurring between the charged and uncharged parts of the molecules gives rise to a layered structure in the crystal lattice. Despite the fact that the starting materials are non-mesomorphic, the halogen-bonded supramolecular complexes exhibited monotropic lamellar liquid-crystalline phases over broad temperature ranges, as confirmed with polarized optical microscopy. Due to the presence of the azobenzene moieties, the LCs were photoresponsive, and a LC-to-isotropic phase transition could be obtained by irradiation with UV light. We envisage that the light-induced phase transition, in combination with the ionic nature of the LC, provides a route towards light-induced control over ion transport and conductance in these supramolecular complexes.
Ultrasound neuro-modulation chip: activation of sensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans by surface acoustic waves
Authors: Zhou Wei , Wang Jingjing , Wang Kaiyue , Huang Bin , Niu Lili , Li Fei , Cai Feiyan , Chen Yan , Liu Xin , Zhang Xiaoyan , Cheng Hankui , Kang Lijun , Meng Long , Zheng Hairong
Published: April 2017

We demonstrate an ultrasound neuro-modulation chip capable of activating neurons of theC. elegansdirectly.
A simple but effective fluorescent probe for the detection of bisulfite
Authors: Luo Jing , Song Guangjie , Xing Xujiao , Shen Shili , Ge Yanqing , Cao Xiaoqun
Published: April 2017

A simple but effective fluoresecent probe for the detection of bisulfite based on Michael addition reaction.
Polyvalent C-glycomimetics based on l-fucose or d-mannose as potent DC-SIGN antagonists
Authors: Bertolotti Benedetta , Sutkeviciute Ieva , Ambrosini Martino , Ribeiro-Viana Renato , Rojo Javier , Fieschi Franck , Dvořáková Hana , Kašáková Martina , Parkan Kamil , Hlaváčková Martina , Nováková Kateřina , Moravcová Jitka
Published: April 2017

New multivalent glycomimetics are synthesized to interact efficiently with the promising target DC-SIGN.
Zwitterionic pyrrolidene-phosphonates: inhibitors of the glycoside hydrolase-like phosphorylase Streptomyces coelicolor GlgEI-V279S
Authors: Veleti Sri Kumar , Petit Cecile , Ronning Donald R. , Sucheck Steven J.
Published: April 2017

We synthesized and evaluated new zwitterionic inhibitors against glycoside hydrolase-like phosphorylaseStreptomyces coelicolor(Sco) GlgEI-V279S which plays a role in α-glucan biosynthesis.
N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed stereoselective construction of olefinic carbon–sulfur bonds via cross-coupling reaction of gem-difluoroalkenes and thiols
Authors: Cong Zi-Song , Li Yang-Guo , Chen Lei , Xing Fen , Du Guang-Fen , Gu Cheng-Zhi , He Lin
Published: April 2017

A novel organocatalytic olefinic carbon–sulfur bond forming reaction was developed.
Solvent-free, uncatalyzed asymmetric “ene” reactions of N-tert-butylsulfinyl-3,3,3-trifluoroacetaldimines: a general approach to enantiomerically pure α-(trifluoromethyl)tryptamines
Authors: Mazzeo Giuseppe , Longhi Giovanna , Abbate Sergio , Palomba Martina , Bagnoli Luana , Marini Francesca , Santi Claudio , Han Jianlin , Soloshonok Vadim A. , Di Crescenzo Emilio , Ruzziconi Renzo
Published: April 2017

A novel approach to stereoselectively α-trifluoromethylated tryptamines is reported.
Synthesis of 2-amino- and 2-arylazoazulenes via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 2-chloroazulenes with amines and arylhydrazines
Authors: Shoji Taku , Sugiyama Shuhei , Araki Takanori , Ohta Akira , Sekiguchi Ryuta , Ito Shunji , Mori Shigeki , Okujima Tetsuo , Yasunami Masafumi
Published: April 2017

The SNAr reaction of 2-chloroazulene derivative 1 with ethoxycarbonyl groups at the 1,3-positions of the azulene ring with several amines afforded the corresponding 2-aminoazulenes 3–9 in excellent yields.
Synthesis of a self-healing siloxane-based elastomer cross-linked via a furan-modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane: investigation of a thermally reversible silicon-based cross-link
Authors: Nasresfahani Amin , Zelisko Paul M.
Published: April 2017

We have successfully prepared an elastomeric material exhibiting excellent temperature-controlled self-healing characteristics.
A dansyl-based fluorescent probe for the highly selective detection of cysteine based on a d-PeT switching mechanism
Authors: Xiao Yudong , Guo Yujin , Dang Ruili , Yan Xin , Xu Pengfei , Jiang Pei
Published: April 2017

A novel fluorescent probe DN-C for detection of cysteine (Cys) based on d-PeT switching mechanism was reported.
Synthesis, characterization and investigation of methyl orange dye removal from aqueous solutions using waterborne poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) stabilized poly aniline (PANI) core–shell nanoparticles
Authors: Prasad Anupama R. , Joseph Abraham
Published: April 2017

Waterborne polyaniline (PANI) core–shell nanoparticles were synthesizedviachemical oxidation of aniline in aqueous acidic medium using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer.
Intelligent ECM mimetic injectable scaffolds based on functional collagen building blocks for tissue engineering and biomedical applications
Authors: Ravichandran R. , Astrand C. , Patra H. K. , Turner Anthony P. F. , Chotteau V. , Phopase J.
Published: April 2017

A one-pot approach to fabricate in situ-gellable, thermo- and pH-responsive, hydrogels based on covalently crosslinked networks of collagen-I and thermo-responsive polymer.
Template-free synthesis of mesoporous manganese oxides with catalytic activity in the oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Lian Suoyuan , Browne Michelle P. , Domínguez Carlota , Stamatin Serban N. , Nolan Hugo , Duesberg Georg S. , Lyons Michael E. G. , Fonda Emiliano , Colavita Paula E.
Published: April 2017

Solvothermally synthesised MnCO3 leads to template-free formation of highly porous, defect-rich MnO2 with high activity in water oxidation.
Hydrothermal co-liquefaction of biomasses – quantitative analysis of bio-crude and aqueous phase composition
Authors: Madsen René B. , Bernberg Rikke Z. K. , Biller Patrick , Becker Jacob , Iversen Bo B. , Glasius Marianne
Published: April 2017

Hydrothermal liquefaction of 11 biomasses and their co-liquefaction mixtures show how product composition depends on feedstock biochemical components, while nitrogen and oxygen distribution is controlled by carbohydrate and protein interactions.
Parasitic‐enhanced circularly polarised sequential antenna array for dedicated short‐range communication applications at 5.8 GHz
Authors: Maddio S.
Published: April 2017

A compact printed antenna array for dedicated short‐range communication (DSRC) at 5.8 GHz is presented. The proposed device is based on the sequential rotation arrangement (SRA) applied to a parasitic loaded patch antenna. Despite the compact dimension, the proposed array presents a left‐hand gain of 10.5 dB at centre frequency, as well as an axial ratio equal to 0.5 dB and a return loss in excess of 16 dB. Therefore, the device is adequate to operate according to the European framework of DSRC for traffic monitoring in the C‐band.
Placement of large‐scale utility‐owned wind distributed generation based on probabilistic forecasting of line congestion
Authors: Masaud Tarek Medalel , Deepak Mistry Ronak , Sen P.K.
Published: April 2017

Integration of large‐scale utility‐owned distributed generation (DG) units can be a vital technique in relieving transmission line congestion and improving the reliability of the power grid. However, the impact of DG installation on line congestion management is significant at locations where transmission lines are most heavily loaded. This study presents a novel probabilistic method to forecast the most heavily loaded lines in the transmission network that might be at a higher risk of congestion. The proposed method can be utilised for determining candidate lines to install DG with the objective of relieving line congestion. The proposed method adopts the cumulative probability distribution function that accounts for the uncertainty of line loading. Furthermore, a congestion improvement ratio is developed to investigate the DG location impact on line congestion. The forecasting method is tested on a small modified IEEE 5‐Bus system. In order to demonstrate the proposed forecasting method on a larger and more complex system with several generators, the method is also tested on IEEE 30‐Bus test system. The simulation results have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Interval exchanges, admissibility and branching Rauzy induction
Authors: Dolce Francesco , Perrin Dominique
Published: April 2017

We introduce a definition of admissibility for subintervals in interval exchange transformations. We characterize the admissible intervals using a branching version of the Rauzy induction. Using this notion, we prove a property of the natural codings of interval exchange transformations, namely that any derived set of a regular interval exchange set is a regular interval exchange set with the same number of intervals. Derivation is taken here with respect to return words. We also study the case of regular interval exchange transformations defined over a quadratic field and show that the set of factors of such a transformation is primitive morphic. The proof uses an extension of a result of Boshernitzan and Carroll.
Paradoxical Tuberculomas Complicating Tuberculous Meningitis: About Two Cases
Authors: Mandour Cherkaoui , Laaguili Jawad , Gazzaz Miloudi , Brahim El Mostarchid
Published: April 2017

Paradoxical tuberculomas in patients with tuberculous meningitis during antituberculous chemotherapy is an unusual phenomenon. This reaction is due to the immune response of the host to antituberculous drugs. It is commonly seen in the intensive phase of chemotherapy. We report the cases of two patients with tuberculous meningitis who had developed tuberculomas during adequate and appropriate antitubercular therapy. Tuberculous meningitis requires the regular clinical and radiological follow-up to detect paradoxical response.
Do Flow and Pulsatility Index within the Accepted Ranges Predict Long-Term Outcomes after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?
Authors: De Leon Maximiliano , Stanham Roberto , Soca Gerardo , Dayan Victor
Published: April 2017

Background Transit-time flow measurement (TTFM) is the gold standard for intraoperative detection of graft failure. Several reports show that TTFM and distal coronary bed quality (DCBQ) may also be useful for midterm detection of graft failure. Nonetheless, there are no data regarding their predictive role on long-term outcomes.

Methods Patients with three-vessel disease who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 2006 and received at least one graft to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) or to the first obtuse marginal (OM1) or posterior descending artery (PDA) were included. Baseline characteristics, mean graft flow, pulsatility index, and subjective impression of DCBQ for each coronary territory were collected. Long-term cardiovascular (CV) and overall survival, operative mortality, and new percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were evaluated.

Results A total of 177 patients underwent isolated CABG. The OM1 was grafted in 131 patients, the LAD in 169 patients, and the PDA in 100 patients. Neither DQCB nor TTFM were predictors for new PCI. Independent predictors for overall survival were age, previous acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and DQCB of OM1 (odds ratio [OR] = 2.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–7.71). Age, previous AMI, and DCBQ of OM1 (OR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.39–4.81) were independent predictors for CV survival.

Conclusions TTFM on patients with functioning grafts does not predict long-term survival or performance of new PCI. Subjective evaluation of distal coronary bed, especially of the OM1, has a strong impact on long-term outcomes.
The Role of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in the Diagnosis of Biliary Atresia: 14 Years' Experience
Authors: Negm Ahmed , Petersen Claus , Markowski Andrea , Luettig Birgit , Ringe Kristina , Lankisch Tim , Manns Michael , Ure Benno , Schneider Andrea
Published: April 2017

Introduction Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare destructive inflammatory obliterative cholangiopathy of neonates. Early diagnosis is important in disease management. The aim was to evaluate the role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in diagnosing BA in a large cohort. In addition, we evaluated whether parameters such as bile trace, GGT, bilirubin, and laboratory values in combination can be used to develop a risk score that could indicate the referral to specialized centers.

Materials and Methods All infants with neonatal cholestasis (2000–2014) who presented to our endoscopy unit for suspected BA were included. Demographics, laboratory parameters, ultrasound findings, liver biopsy results, ERCP diagnosis, and surgical outcome were collected. Value and safety of ERCP and risk factors for BA were retrospectively analyzed.

Results We included 251 infants in our cohort (55% males, median age: 53 days). BA was intraoperatively diagnosed in 155 (83.4%) patients and was excluded in 30 (16.2%). Fifty-six cases were not operated due to the ERCP findings. ERCP was successful in 224/251 patients (89.2%) with no procedure-related complications. The operative and endoscopic diagnosis matched in 96.6% of the patients (positive predictive value: 92.2%, negative predictive value: 97.1%). In comparison to cases with excluded BA, the ones with this disease were significantly associated with absence of duodenal bile traces (98.4 vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001), higher bilirubin (p < 0.001, cutoff 7.3 mg/dL), and higher GGT (p < 0.001, cutoff 250 U/L).

Conclusion ERCP is safe and accurate in the hands of experts in diagnosing BA if the cause of cholestasis is unclear. While evaluating the role of ERCP for diagnosing this disease, we found that the secondary parameters GGT > 250 U/L, bilirubin > 7.3 mg/dL (125 μmol/L), and the absence of bile traces are risk factors.
Composition driven structural instability in perovskite ferroelectrics
Authors: Xu Chao , Li Qiang , Yan Qingfeng , Zhang Yiling , Chu Xiangcheng
Published: April 2017

Ferroelectric solid solutions usually exhibit enhanced functional properties at the morphotropic phase boundary separating two ferroelectric phases with different orientations of polarization. The underlying mechanism is generally associated with polarization rotational instability and the flattened free energy profile. In this work we show that the polarization extensional instability can also be induced at the morphotropic phase boundary beyond the reported polar-nonpolar phase boundary. The piezoelectricity enhanced by this mechanism exhibits excellent thermal stability, which helps to develop high performance piezoelectric materials with good temperature stability.
Infrared absorption of methanol-water clusters (CH3OH)n(H2O), n = 1–4, recorded with the VUV-ionization/IR-depletion technique
Authors: Lee Yu-Fang , Kelterer Anne-Marie , Matisz Gergely , Kunsági-Máté Sándor , Chung Chao-Yu , Lee Yuan-Pern
Published: April 2017

We recorded infrared (IR) spectra in the CH- and OH-stretching regions of size-selected clusters of methanol (M) with one water molecule (W), represented as MnW, n = 1–4, in a pulsed supersonic jet using the photoionization/IR-depletion technique. Vacuum ultraviolet emission at 118 nm served as the source of ionization in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to detect clusters MnW as protonated forms Mn−1WH+. The variations in intensities of Mn−1WH+ were monitored as the wavelength of the IR laser light was tuned across the range 2700–3800 cm−1. IR spectra of size-selected clusters were obtained on processing of the observed action spectra of the related cluster-ions according to a mechanism that takes into account the production and loss of each cluster due to IR photodissociation. Spectra of methanol-water clusters in the OH region show significant variations as the number of methanol molecules increases, whereas those in the CH region are similar for all clusters. Scaled harmonic vibrational wavenumbers and relative IR intensities predicted with the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ method for the methanol-water clusters are consistent with our experimental results. For dimers, absorption bands of a structure WM with H2O as a hydrogen-bond donor were observed at 3570, 3682, and 3722 cm−1, whereas weak bands of MW with methanol as a hydrogen-bond donor were observed at 3611 and 3753 cm−1. For M2W, the free OH band of H2O was observed at 3721 cm−1, whereas a broad feature was deconvoluted to three bands near 3425, 3472, and 3536 cm−1, corresponding to the three hydrogen-bonded OH-stretching modes in a cyclic structure. For M3W, the free OH shifted to 3715 cm−1, and the hydrogen-bonded OH-stretching bands became much broader, with a weak feature near 3179 cm−1 corresponding to the symmetric OH-stretching mode of a cyclic structure. For M4W, the observed spectrum agrees unsatisfactorily with predictions for the most stable cyclic structure, indicating significant contributions from branched isomers, which is distinctly different from M5 of which the cyclic form dominates.
On the accuracy of the LSC-IVR approach for excitation energy transfer in molecular aggregates
Authors: Teh Hung-Hsuan , Cheng Yuan-Chung
Published: April 2017

We investigate the applicability of the linearized semiclassical initial value representation (LSC-IVR) method to excitation energy transfer (EET) problems in molecular aggregates by simulating the EET dynamics of a dimer model in a wide range of parameter regime and comparing the results to those obtained from a numerically exact method. It is found that the LSC-IVR approach yields accurate population relaxation rates and decoherence rates in a broad parameter regime. However, the classical approximation imposed by the LSC-IVR method does not satisfy the detailed balance condition, generally leading to incorrect equilibrium populations. Based on this observation, we propose a post-processing algorithm to solve the long time equilibrium problem and demonstrate that this long-time correction method successfully removed the deviations from exact results for the LSC-IVR method in all of the regimes studied in this work. Finally, we apply the LSC-IVR method to simulate EET dynamics in the photosynthetic Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex system, demonstrating that the LSC-IVR method with long-time correction provides excellent description of coherent EET dynamics in this typical photosynthetic pigment-protein complex.
Shock-induced mix across an ideal interface
Authors: Bellei C. , Amendt P. A.
Published: April 2017

According to particle-in-cell and multi fluid simulations, as a planar shock propagates across an unperturbed classical interface, significant amounts of rearward shocked material are predicted to advect with the shock front over distances that are much larger than an ion-ion collisional mean free path of a shocked ion. This novel mechanism of interface mixing is found to scale strongly with the Mach number (∼M4) and produces an ion population bunch that penetrates the upstream material at nearly the shock speed. Possible implications for ignition capsule designs are conjectured.
Near white light emission and enhanced photocatalytic activity by tweaking surface defects of coaxial ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanorods
Authors: Kumbhakar Partha , Biswas Subrata , Tiwary Chandra S. , Kumbhakar Pathik
Published: April 2017

The enhancement in the emission of visible light in the synthesized coaxial ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanorods (CSNR) has led to the development of a nearly white light-emitting photoluminescent material as confirmed by the calculation of Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates. However, we have fabricated a nearly white light-emitting diode (WLED) by combining a commercial UV LED chip with our CSNR material, and it emits warm white light. The observed increase in the relative intensity of deep level (IDLE) over UV (IUV) photoluminescence emission is attributed to the addition of new defect states during the formation of the shell with a larger thickness as becomes evident from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study. Thanks to the presence of such defect states, whose effective exploitation enabled us to obtain ∼93% photodegradation of a test dye, namely, methylene blue, in the presence of core-shell ZnO@ZnS heterostructure within only 25 min of irradiation of UV-Visible light. Thus, apart from demonstrating the fabrication of a near WLED, we have successfully demonstrated the enhanced photocatalytic performance by tweaking the surface defects of ZnO nanorods via the formation of coaxial ZnO@ZnS core-shell nanorods with various shell thicknesses.
van der Waals epitaxy of CdS thin films on single-crystalline graphene
Authors: Sun Xin , Lu Zonghuan , Xie Weiyu , Wang Yiping , Shi Jian , Zhang Shengbai , Washington Morris A. , Lu Toh-Ming
Published: April 2017

van der Waals epitaxy (vdWE) of three-dimensional CdS thin films on both single-crystalline graphene/Cu(111)/spinel(111) and single-crystalline graphene/SiO2/Si substrates is achieved via thermal evaporation. X-ray and electron backscatter diffraction pole figures reveal that the CdS films are a Wurtzite structure with a weak epitaxy on graphene and accompanied with a fiber texture background. The epitaxial alignment between CdS and graphene is observed to be an unusual non-parallel epitaxial relationship with a 30° rotation between the unit vectors of CdS and graphene. A geometrical model based on the minimization of superlattice area mismatch is employed to calculate possible interface lattice arrangement. It is found that the 30° rotation between CdS and graphene is indeed the most probable interface epitaxial lattice alignment. The vdWE of CdS on graphene, transferrable to arbitrary substrates, may represent a step forward for the growth of quality CdS thin films on arbitrary substrates through a graphene buffer.
Experimental demonstration of fresh bunch self-seeding in an X-ray free electron laser
Authors: Emma C. , Lutman A. , Guetg M. W. , Krzywinski J. , Marinelli A. , Wu J. , Pellegrini C.
Published: April 2017

We report the generation of ultrahigh brightness X-ray pulses using the Fresh Bunch Self-Seeding (FBSS) method in an X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL). The FBSS method uses two different electron slices or bunches, one to generate the seed and the other to amplify it after the monochromator. This method circumvents the trade-off between the seed power and electron slice energy spread, which limits the efficiency of regular self-seeded FELs. The experiment, the performance of which is limited by existing hardware, shows FBSS feasibility, generating 5.5 keV photon pulses which are 9 fs long and of 7.3 ×10−5 bandwidth and 50 GW power. FBSS performance is compared with Self Amplified Spontaneous Emission/self-seeding performance, measuring a brightness increase of twelve/two times, respectively. In an optimized XFEL, FBSS can increase the peak power a hundred times more than state-of-the-art to multi-TW, opening new research areas for nonlinear science and single molecule imaging.
Isolation and characterisation of 16 novel polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
Authors: Lv Tianshu , Zhu Wanchao , Xue Shuyu , Zhang Huanxin , Gao Xiaodong , Wang Lidong , Zhang Honghai
Published: April 2017

To study the genetic diversity of the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), 16 novel microsatellites were isolated and characterised using a (AC)12-enriched genomic library. Polymorphism of each locus was detected in 19 individuals from Weishan Lake and Zhaoyang Lake, both located in Shandong Province, China. These microsatellite loci revealed 3–12 alleles in two populations. One locus (Fa6) showed significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in the Zhaoyang Lake population. By means of Principal Coordinates Analysis, 19 individuals were divided into two groups, which verified they were from two populations. These novel microsatellites will be useful for further studies and genetic analyses of the Eurasian coot.
Community trust reduces myopic decisions of low-income individuals
Authors: Jachimowicz Jon M. , Chafik Salah , Munrat Sabeth , Prabhu Jaideep C. , Weber Elke U.
Published: April 2017

Significance

More than 1.5 billion people worldwide live in poverty. Even in the United States, 14% live below the poverty line. Despite many policies and programs, poverty remains a domestic and global challenge; the number of US households earning less than $2/d nearly doubled in the last 15 y. One reason why the poor remain poor is their tendency to make myopic decisions. With reduced temporal discounting, low-income individuals could invest more in forward-looking educational, financial, and social activities that could alleviate their impoverished situation. We show that increased community trust can decrease temporal discounting in low-income populations and test this mechanism in a 2-y field intervention in rural Bangladesh through a low-cost and scalable method that builds community trust.
Fillet Weight and Fillet Yield: New Metrics for the Management of Panfish and Other Consumption-Oriented Recreational Fisheries
Authors: Lyons John , Rypel Andrew L. , Hansen Jonathan F. , Rowe David C.
Published: April 2017

Proposals for regulations to improve panfish size structure often lack angler support, in part because of a perceived loss of panfish harvest. We propose that fillet weight and fillet yield, the percentage of the body weight available as fillets, are useful metrics for exploring regulation options and potential outcomes. We determined fillet weight and fillet yield for 321 Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, 139 Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and 137 Yellow Perch Perca flavescens and developed equations to predict fillet weight from total length. Mean fillet yield was 29.5% for Bluegills, 28.6% for Black Crappies, and 33.1% for Yellow Perch. We used Bluegill size increases associated with a reduction in daily bag limits from 25 fish to 10 fish in seven Wisconsin lakes and then estimated fillet weights to compare the potential total weight of Bluegill fillets available to anglers under both a 10- and a 25-fish daily bag limit. We projected that many anglers might obtain a greater weight of Bluegill fillets per fishing trip under a 10-fish bag limit. We conclude that for consumption-oriented fisheries, fillet weight and fillet yield have value in demonstrating how more restrictive harvest regulations may sometimes lead to a greater weight of fillets for most anglers.

Received April 19, 2016; accepted February 10, 2017 Published online April 11, 2017
Sand training: Exercise‐induced muscle damage and inflammatory responses to matched‐intensity exercise
Authors: Brown Henry , Dawson Brian , Binnie Martyn J. , Pinnington Hugh , Sim Marc , Clemons Tristan D. , Peeling Peter
Published: April 2017

This study compared markers of muscle damage and inflammation elevated by a matched‐intensity interval running session on soft sand and grass surfaces. In a counterbalanced, repeated‐measures and crossover design, 10 well‐trained female athletes completed 2 interval‐based running sessions 1 week apart on either a grass or a sand surface. Exercise heart rate (HR) was fixed at 83–88% of HR maximum. Venous blood samples were collected pre‐, post‐ and 24 h post‐exercise, and analysed for myoglobin (Mb) and C‐reactive protein (CRP). Perceptual ratings of exertion (RPE) and muscle soreness (DOMS) were recorded immediately post‐ and 24 h post‐exercise. A significant time effect showed that Mb increased from pre‐ to post‐exercise on grass (p = .008) but not on sand (p = .611). Furthermore, there was a greater relative increase in Mb on grass compared with that on sand (p = .026). No differences in CRP were reported between surfaces (p > .05). The HR, RPE and DOMS scores were not significantly different between conditions (p > .05). These results suggest that in response to a matched‐intensity exercise bout, markers of post‐exercise muscle damage may be reduced by running on softer ground surfaces. Such training strategy may be used to minimize musculoskeletal strain while still incurring an equivalent cardiovascular training stimulus.
Oil production and abrupt institutional change: the multi-cyclic Hubbert model and the case of Iraq
Authors: El Joumayle Omar A. M.
Published: April 2017

Iraq, one of the world’s leading crude oil producers with the fifth largest share of proven global oil reserves, recently ranked as the second-largest producer among Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members. Nevertheless, performance of the upstream subsector in terms of oil production volume has been subject to severe disruptions for more than four decades. The main sources for these fluctuations are multi-institutional changes caused by nationalization, wars and United Nations sanctions. This article applies to the Iraqi case an extended version of the multi-cycle Hubbert model, developed by Reynolds and Kolodziej in 2008 and 2009. This econometrics model explores and attempts to quantify statistically the relationship between oil production and multi-institutional changes within Iraq. Findings indicate the negative and significant impacts of abrupt institutional change on the performance of the oil industry where this adverse impact varies in magnitude from one episode to another. As Iraq is still yet in the midst of a turbulent transition, the article also discusses the major challenges of the post-2003 era, associated with the present and potential future development of the Iraqi oil-producing sector. This is especially with regard to the increasing economic and political fragmentation that stems from the absence of a unified oil policy.
A Comparison of Fish Community Structure at Mesophotic Artificial Reefs and Natural Banks in the Western Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Streich Matthew K. , Ajemian Matthew J. , Wetz Jennifer J. , Stunz Gregory W.
Published: April 2017

Oil and gas platforms along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf have served as artificial reefs since oil and gas exploration intensified in the 1950s. As these structures are decommissioned, they must be removed; however, some are converted to permanent artificial reefs. Despite the potential effects these artificial habitats may have on marine fisheries, investigations that assess the fish communities inhabiting these structures relative to natural habitats are rare. During fall 2012, we used remotely operated vehicle surveys to compare fish communities between artificial reefs (i.e., reefed platforms; n = 5) and adjacent natural banks (n = 5) in the western GOM. Our surveys successfully documented 79 species representing 28 families. Multivariate analyses suggested that fish communities at artificial reefs were distinct from those at natural banks. Post hoc analyses indicated that the differences were driven by high abundances of transient, midwater pelagics and other gregarious species at artificial reefs. Many fisheries species, like the Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus, were found in both habitat types, with density at artificial reefs estimated to be nearly eight times greater than at natural banks. Despite lower densities at natural banks, the disproportionately large areas of these habitats resulted in relatively high total abundance estimates—approximately 5% of the 2012 GOM Red Snapper annual catch limit (3.67 million kg [8.08 million lb])—a finding that has significant implications for Red Snapper and artificial reef management in the GOM. Our study suggests that although fish community structure may differ between these two habitats, artificial reefs serve as important habitat for species like Red Snapper by potentially diverting fishing pressure from natural habitats; however, future studies that address species-specific life history traits will be needed to better understand the function and performance of artificial reefs in supporting fisheries productivity.
Plastin increases cortical connectivity to facilitate robust polarization and timely cytokinesis
Authors: Ding Wei Yung , Ong Hui Ting , Hara Yusuke , Wongsantichon Jantana , Toyama Yusuke , Robinson Robert C. , Nédélec François , Zaidel-Bar Ronen
Published: April 2017

The cell cortex is essential to maintain animal cell shape, and contractile forces generated within it by nonmuscle myosin II (NMY-2) drive cellular morphogenetic processes such as cytokinesis. The role of actin cross-linking proteins in cortical dynamics is still incompletely understood. Here, we show that the evolutionarily conserved actin bundling/cross-linking protein plastin is instrumental for the generation of potent cortical actomyosin contractility in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote. PLST-1 was enriched in contractile structures and was required for effective coalescence of NMY-2 filaments into large contractile foci and for long-range coordinated contractility in the cortex. In the absence of PLST-1, polarization was compromised, cytokinesis was delayed or failed, and 50% of embryos died during development. Moreover, mathematical modeling showed that an optimal amount of bundling agents enhanced the ability of a network to contract. We propose that by increasing the connectivity of the F-actin meshwork, plastin enables the cortex to generate stronger and more coordinated forces to accomplish cellular morphogenesis.
The BEACH-containing protein WDR81 coordinates p62 and LC3C to promote aggrephagy
Authors: Liu Xuezhao , Li Yang , Wang Xin , Xing Ruxiao , Liu Kai , Gan Qiwen , Tang Changyong , Gao Zhiyang , Jian Youli , Luo Shouqing , Guo Weixiang , Yang Chonglin
Published: April 2017

Autophagy-dependent clearance of ubiquitinated and aggregated proteins is critical to protein quality control, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report the essential role of the BEACH (beige and Chediak–Higashi) and WD40 repeat-containing protein WDR81 in eliminating ubiquitinated proteins through autophagy. WDR81 associates with ubiquitin (Ub)-positive protein foci, and its loss causes accumulation of Ub proteins and the autophagy cargo receptor p62. WDR81 interacts with p62, facilitating recognition of Ub proteins by p62. Furthermore, WDR81 interacts with LC3C through canonical LC3-interacting regions in the BEACH domain, promoting LC3C recruitment to ubiquitinated proteins. Inactivation of LC3C or defective autophagy results in accumulation of Ub protein aggregates enriched for WDR81. In mice, WDR81 inactivation causes accumulation of p62 bodies in cortical and striatal neurons in the brain. These data suggest that WDR81 coordinates p62 and LC3C to facilitate autophagic removal of Ub proteins, and provide important insights into CAMRQ2 syndrome, a WDR81-related developmental disorder.
Shaping proteostasis at the cellular, tissue, and organismal level
Authors: Sala Ambre J. , Bott Laura C. , Morimoto Richard I.
Published: April 2017

The proteostasis network (PN) regulates protein synthesis, folding, transport, and degradation to maintain proteome integrity and limit the accumulation of protein aggregates, a hallmark of aging and degenerative diseases. In multicellular organisms, the PN is regulated at the cellular, tissue, and systemic level to ensure organismal health and longevity. Here we review these three layers of PN regulation and examine how they collectively maintain cellular homeostasis, achieve cell type-specific proteomes, and coordinate proteostasis across tissues. A precise understanding of these layers of control has important implications for organismal health and could offer new therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases and other chronic disorders related to PN dysfunction.