bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of sociodemographic characteristics on human mobility
Authors: Lenormand Maxime , Louail Thomas , Cantú-Ros Oliva G. , Picornell Miguel , Herranz Ricardo , Arias Juan Murillo , Barthelemy Marc , Miguel Maxi San , Ramasco José J.
Published: May 2015

Human mobility has been traditionally studied using surveys that deliver snapshots of population displacement patterns. The growing accessibility to ICT information from portable digital media has recently opened the possibility of exploring human behavior at high spatio-temporal resolutions. Mobile phone records, geolocated tweets, check-ins from Foursquare or geotagged photos, have contributed to this purpose at different scales, from cities to countries, in different world areas. Many previous works lacked, however, details on the individuals’ attributes such as age or gender. In this work, we analyze credit-card records from Barcelona and Madrid and by examining the geolocated credit-card transactions of individuals living in the two provinces, we find that the mobility patterns vary according to gender, age and occupation. Differences in distance traveled and travel purpose are observed between younger and older people, but, curiously, either between males and females of similar age. While mobility displays some generic features, here we show that sociodemographic characteristics play a relevant role and must be taken into account for mobility and epidemiological modelization.
SnO2 Nanosheet/Nanoparticle Detector for the Sensing of 1-Nonanal Gas Produced by Lung Cancer
Authors: Masuda Yoshitake , Itoh Toshio , Shin Woosuck , Kato Kazumi
Published: May 2015

A sensor has been developed for detecting 1-nonanal gas present in the breath of lung cancer patients by combining SnO2 nanosheets with SnO2 nanoparticles and noble metal catalysts. A significant change in the electrical resistance of this sensor was observed with increasing 1-nonanal gas concentration; the resistance decreased by a factor of 1.12 within the range of 1 to 10 ppm at 300 °C. The recovery of the sensor’s resistance after detecting 1-nonanal gas concentrations of 0.055, 0.18, 1 and 9.5 ppm was determined to be 86.1, 84.2, 80.4 and 69.2%, respectively. This high sensitivity is attributed to the accelerated oxidation of 1-nonanal molecules caused by the (101) crystal faces of the SnO2 nanosheets and should provide a simple and effective approach to the early detection of lung cancer.
Transient Blockade of ERK Phosphorylation in the Critical Period Causes Autistic Phenotypes as an Adult in Mice
Authors: Yufune Shinya , Satoh Yasushi , Takamatsu Isao , Ohta Hiroyuki , Kobayashi Yasushi , Takaenoki Yumiko , Pagès Gilles , Pouysségur Jacques , Endo Shogo , Kazama Tomiei
Published: May 2015

The critical period is a distinct time-window during the neonatal stage when animals display elevated sensitivity to certain environmental stimuli and particular experiences can have profound and long-lasting effects on behaviors. Increasing evidence suggests that disruption of neuronal activity during the critical period contributes to autistic phenotype, although the pathogenic mechanism is largely unknown. Herein we show that extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs) play important roles in proper formation of neural circuits during the critical period. Transient blockade of ERKs phosphorylation at postnatal day 6 (P6) by intraperitoneal injection of blood-brain barrier-penetrating MEK inhibitor, α-[amino[(4-aminophenyl)thio]methylene]-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzeneacetonitrile (SL327) caused significant increase of apoptosis in the forebrain. Furthermore, this induced long-term deleterious effects on brain functioning later in adulthood, resulting in social deficits, impaired memory and reduced long-term potentiation (LTP). Conversely, blockade of ERK phosphorylation at P14 no longer induced apoptosis, nor behavioral deficits, nor the reduced LTP. Thus, surprisingly, these effects of ERKs are strongly age-dependent, indicating that phosphorylation of ERKs during the critical period is absolutely required for proper development of brain functioning. This study provides novel insight into the mechanistic basis for neurodevelopment disorders: various neurodevelopment disorders might be generally linked to defects in ERKs signaling during the critical period.
SIRT1 protects rat lung tissue against severe burn-induced remote ALI by attenuating the apoptosis of PMVECs via p38 MAPK signaling
Authors: Bai Xiaozhi , Fan Lei , He Ting , Jia Wenbin , Yang Longlong , Zhang Jun , Liu Yang , Shi Jihong , Su Linlin , Hu Dahai
Published: May 2015

Silent information regulator type-1 (SIRT1) has been reported to be involved in the cardiopulmonary protection. However, its role in the pathogenesis of burn-induced remote acute lung injury (ALI) is currently unknown. The present study aims to investigate the role of SIRT1 in burn-induced remote ALI and the involved signaling pathway. We observed that SIRT1 expression in rat lung tissue after burn injury appeared an increasing trend after a short period of suppression. The upregulation of SIRT1 stimulated by resveratrol exhibited remission of histopathologic changes, reduction of cell apoptosis and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in rat pulmonary tissues suffering from severe burn. We next used primary pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) challenged by burn serum (BS) to simulate in vivo rat lung tissue after burn injury and found that BS significantly suppressed SIRT1 expression, increased cell apoptosis and activated p38 MAPK signaling. The use of resveratrol reversed these effects, while knockdown of SIRT1 by shRNA further augmented BS-induced increase of cell apoptosis and activation of p38 MAPK. Taken together, these results indicate that SIRT1 might protect lung tissue against burn-induced remote ALI by attenuating PMVEC apoptosis via p38 MAPK signaling, suggesting its potential therapeutic effects on the treatment of ALI.
Short-Range Mobility and the Evolution of Cooperation: An Experimental Study
Authors: Antonioni Alberto , Tomassini Marco , Sánchez Angel
Published: May 2015

A pressing issue in biology and social sciences is to explain how cooperation emerges in a population of self-interested individuals. Theoretical models suggest that one such explanation may involve the possibility of changing one’s neighborhood by removing and creating connections to others, but this hypothesis has problems when random motion is considered and lacks experimental support. To address this, we have carried out experiments on diluted grids with human subjects playing a Prisoner’s Dilemma. In contrast to previous results on purposeful rewiring in relational networks, we have found no noticeable effect of mobility in space on the level of cooperation. Clusters of cooperators form momentarily but in a few rounds they dissolve as cooperators at the boundaries stop tolerating being cheated upon. Our results highlight the difficulties that mobile agents have to establish a cooperative environment in a spatial setting.
Shallow methylmercury production in the marginal sea ice zone of the central Arctic Ocean
Authors: Heimbürger Lars-Eric , Sonke Jeroen E. , Cossa Daniel , Point David , Lagane Christelle , Laffont Laure , Galfond Benjamin T. , Nicolaus Marcel , Rabe Benjamin , van der Loeff Michiel Rutgers
Published: May 2015

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxic compound that threatens wildlife and human health across the Arctic region. Though much is known about the source and dynamics of its inorganic mercury (Hg) precursor, the exact origin of the high MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota remains uncertain. Arctic coastal sediments, coastal marine waters and surface snow are known sites for MeHg production. Observations on marine Hg dynamics, however, have been restricted to the Canadian Archipelago and the Beaufort Sea (<79°N). Here we present the first central Arctic Ocean (79–90°N) profiles for total mercury (tHg) and MeHg. We find elevated tHg and MeHg concentrations in the marginal sea ice zone (81–85°N). Similar to other open ocean basins, Arctic MeHg concentration maxima also occur in the pycnocline waters, but at much shallower depths (150–200 m). The shallow MeHg maxima just below the productive surface layer possibly result in enhanced biological uptake at the base of the Arctic marine food web and may explain the elevated MeHg concentrations in Arctic biota. We suggest that Arctic warming, through thinning sea ice, extension of the seasonal sea ice zone, intensified surface ocean stratification and shifts in plankton ecodynamics, will likely lead to higher marine MeHg production.
Structural Insights into Substrate Specificity of Feruloyl-CoA 6’-Hydroxylase from Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sun Xinxiao , Zhou Dayong , Kandavelu Palani , Zhang Hua , Yuan Qipeng , Wang Bi-Cheng , Rose John , Yan Yajun
Published: May 2015

Coumarins belong to an important class of plant secondary metabolites. Feruloyl-CoA 6’-hydroxylase (F6’H), a 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase (2OGD), catalyzes a pivotal step in the biosynthesis of a simple coumarin scopoletin. In this study, we determined the 3-dimensional structure of the F6’H1 apo enzyme by X-ray crystallography. It is the first reported structure of a 2OGD enzyme involved in coumarin biosynthesis and closely resembles the structure of Arabidopsis thaliana anthocyanidin synthase. To better understand the mechanism of enzyme catalysis and substrate specificity, we also generated a homology model of a related ortho-hydroxylase (C2’H) from sweet potato. By comparing these two structures, we targeted two amino acid residues and verified their roles in substrate binding and specificity by site-directed mutagenesis.
The alternate role of direct and environmental transmission in fungal infectious disease in wildlife: threats for biodiversity conservation
Authors: Al-Shorbaji Farah N. , Gozlan Rodolphe E. , Roche Benjamin , Robert Britton J. , Andreou Demetra
Published: May 2015

Emerging fungal pathogens have substantial consequences for infected hosts, as revealed by the global decline of amphibian species from the chytrid fungus. According to the “curse of the Pharaoh” hypothesis, free-living infectious stages typical of fungal pathogens lengthen the timespan of transmission. Free-living infectious stages whose lifespan exceeds the infection time of their hosts are not constrained by virulence, enabling them to persist at high levels and continue transmitting to further sensitive hosts. Using the only Mesomycetozoea fungal species that can be cultured, Sphaerothecum destruens, we obtained tractable data on infectivity and pathogen life cycle for the first time. Here, based on the outcomes of a set of infectious trials and combined with an epidemiological model, we show a high level of dependence on direct transmission in crowded, confined environments and establish that incubation rate and length of infection dictate the epidemic dynamics of fungal disease. The spread of Mesomycetozoea in the wild raise ecological concerns for a range of susceptible species including birds, amphibians and mammals. Our results shed light on the risks associated with farming conditions and highlight the additional risk posed by invasive species that are highly abundant and can act as infectious reservoir hosts.
Compressive Optical Image Encryption
Authors: Li Jun , Sheng Li Jiao , Yang Pan Yang , Li Rong
Published: May 2015

An optical image encryption technique based on compressive sensing using fully optical means has been proposed. An object image is first encrypted to a white-sense stationary noise pattern using a double random phase encoding (DRPE) method in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Then, the encrypted image is highly compressed to a signal using single-pixel compressive holographic imaging in the optical domain. At the receiving terminal, the encrypted image is reconstructed well via compressive sensing theory and the original image can be decrypted with three reconstructed holograms and the correct keys. The numerical simulations show that the method is effective and suitable for optical image security transmission in future all-optical networks because of the ability of completely optical implementation and substantially smaller hologram data volume.
Emergent rogue wave structures and statistics in spontaneous modulation instability
Authors: Toenger Shanti , Godin Thomas , Billet Cyril , Dias Frédéric , Erkintalo Miro , Genty Goëry , Dudley John M.
Published: May 2015

The nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is a seminal equation of nonlinear physics describing wave packet evolution in weakly-nonlinear dispersive media. The NLSE is especially important in understanding how high amplitude “rogue waves” emerge from noise through the process of modulation instability (MI) whereby a perturbation on an initial plane wave can evolve into strongly-localised “breather” or “soliton on finite background (SFB)” structures. Although there has been much study of such structures excited under controlled conditions, there remains the open question of how closely the analytic solutions of the NLSE actually model localised structures emerging in noise-seeded MI. We address this question here using numerical simulations to compare the properties of a large ensemble of emergent peaks in noise-seeded MI with the known analytic solutions of the NLSE. Our results show that both elementary breather and higher-order SFB structures are observed in chaotic MI, with the characteristics of the noise-induced peaks clustering closely around analytic NLSE predictions. A significant conclusion of our work is to suggest that the widely-held view that the Peregrine soliton forms a rogue wave prototype must be revisited. Rather, we confirm earlier suggestions that NLSE rogue waves are most appropriately identified as collisions between elementary SFB solutions.
Differences in the strength of cortical and brainstem inputs to SSA and non-SSA neurons in the inferior colliculus
Authors: Ayala Yaneri A. , Udeh Adanna , Dutta Kelsey , Bishop Deborah , Malmierca Manuel S. , Oliver Douglas L.
Published: May 2015

In an ever changing auditory scene, change detection is an ongoing task performed by the auditory brain. Neurons in the midbrain and auditory cortex that exhibit stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) may contribute to this process. Those neurons adapt to frequent sounds while retaining their excitability to rare sounds. Here, we test whether neurons exhibiting SSA and those without are part of the same networks in the inferior colliculus (IC). We recorded the responses to frequent and rare sounds and then marked the sites of these neurons with a retrograde tracer to correlate the source of projections with the physiological response. SSA neurons were confined to the non-lemniscal subdivisions and exhibited broad receptive fields, while the non-SSA were confined to the central nucleus and displayed narrow receptive fields. SSA neurons receive strong inputs from auditory cortical areas and very poor or even absent projections from the brainstem nuclei. On the contrary, the major sources of inputs to the neurons that lacked SSA were from the brainstem nuclei. These findings demonstrate that auditory cortical inputs are biased in favor of IC synaptic domains that are populated by SSA neurons enabling them to compare top-down signals with incoming sensory information from lower areas.
Innate lymphotoxin receptor mediated signaling promotes HSV-1 associated neuroinflammation and viral replication
Authors: Liang Yong , Yang Kaiting , Guo Jingya , Wroblewska Joanna , Fu Yang-Xin , Peng Hua
Published: May 2015

Host anti-viral innate immunity plays important roles in the defense against HSV-1 infection. In this study, we find an unexpected role for innate LT/LIGHT signaling in promoting HSV-1 replication and virus induced inflammation in immunocompromised mice. Using a model of footpad HSV-1 infection in Rag1–/– mice, we observed that blocking LT/LIGHT signaling with LTβR-Ig could significantly delay disease progression and extend the survival of infected mice. LTβR-Ig treatment reduced late proinflammatory cytokine release in the serum and nervous tissue and inhibited chemokine expression and inflammatory cells infiltration in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Intriguingly, LTβR-Ig treatment restricted HSV-1 replication in the DRG but not the footpad. These findings demonstrate a critical role for LT/LIGHT signaling in modulating innate inflammation and promoting HSV-1 replication in the nervous system and suggest a new target for treatment of virus-induced adverse immune response and control of severe HSV-1 infection.
Endovascular versus Non-Interventional Therapy for Cervicocranial Artery Dissection in East Asian and Non-East Asian Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Rongzhong , Niu Lingchuan , Wang Ying , Jia Gongwei , Jia Lang , Wang Yule , Jiang Wei , Sun Yang , Yu Lehua
Published: May 2015

Endovascular methods have been increasingly applied in treating cervicocranial artery dissection (CCAD). Anti-thrombotic therapy, which is used in non-interventional care of CCAD patients, has differential effects in East Asian patients. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of endovascular versus non-interventional therapy for CCAD in East Asians and non-East Asians. A search was performed for studies comparing endovascular and non-interventional approaches to CCAD patients. Rates of recovery, disability and mortality were used to assess these approaches in East Asian and non-East Asian patients. Subgroup analyses were conducted for CCAD patients with ruptured dissections. Eleven East Asian studies and five non-East Asian studies were included. The subgroup analyses for CCAD patients with ruptured dissections on mortality (East Asian odds ratio [OR] [95% confidence interval [CI]]: 0.24 [0.08-0.71], P = 0.01; I2 = 34%) and good recovery (East Asian OR [95% CI]: 3.79 [1.14-12.60], P = 0.03; I2 = 54%) revealed that endovascular therapy is significantly superior to non-interventional therapy for East Asians. No differences in treatment effect upon mortality, disability, or good recovery outcomes were found for the CCAD populations-at-large nor for non-East Asian CCAD patients with ruptured dissections. Endovascular therapy appears to be superior to non-interventional therapy for East Asian CCAD patients with ruptured dissections.
G-quadruplex induced chirality of methylazacalix[6]pyridine via unprecedented binding stoichiometry: en route to multiplex controlled molecular switch
Authors: Guan Ai-Jiao , Shen Meng-Jie , Xiang Jun-Feng , Zhang En-Xuan , Li Qian , Sun Hong-Xia , Wang Li-Xia , Xu Guang-Zhi , Tang Ya-Lin , Xu Li-Jin , Gong Han-Yuan
Published: May 2015

Nucleic acid based molecular device is a developing research field which attracts great interests in material for building machinelike nanodevices. G-quadruplex, as a new type of DNA secondary structures, can be harnessed to construct molecular device owing to its rich structural polymorphism. Herein, we developed a switching system based on G-quadruplexes and methylazacalix[6]pyridine (MACP6). The induced circular dichroism (CD) signal of MACP6 was used to monitor the switch controlled by temperature or pH value. Furthermore, the CD titration, Job-plot, variable temperature CD and 1H-NMR experiments not only confirmed the binding mode between MACP6 and G-quadruplex, but also explained the difference switching effect of MACP6 and various G-quadruplexes. The established strategy has the potential to be used as the chiral probe for specific G-quadruplex recognition.
Negative Differential Resistance in Boron Nitride Graphene Heterostructures: Physical Mechanisms and Size Scaling Analysis
Authors: Zhao Y. , Wan Z. , Xu X. , Patil S. R. , Hetmaniuk U. , Anantram M. P.
Published: May 2015

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is drawing increasing attention as an insulator and substrate material to develop next generation graphene-based electronic devices. In this paper, we investigate the quantum transport in heterostructures consisting of a few atomic layers thick hBN film sandwiched between graphene nanoribbon electrodes. We show a gate-controllable vertical transistor exhibiting strong negative differential resistance (NDR) effect with multiple resonant peaks, which stay pronounced for various device dimensions. We find two distinct mechanisms that are responsible for NDR, depending on the gate and applied biases, in the same device. The origin of first mechanism is a Fabry-Pérot like interference and that of the second mechanism is an in-plane wave vector matching when the Dirac points of the electrodes align. The hBN layers can induce an asymmetry in the current-voltage characteristics which can be further modulated by an applied bias. We find that the electron-phonon scattering suppresses the first mechanism whereas the second mechanism remains relatively unaffected. We also show that the NDR features are tunable by varying device dimensions. The NDR feature with multiple resonant peaks, combined with ultrafast tunneling speed provides prospect for the graphene-hBN-graphene heterostructure in the high-performance electronics.
EM shielding effectiveness of Pd-CNT-Cu nanocomposite buckypaper
Authors: Kumar Anil , Singh Avanish Pratap , Kumari Saroj , Srivastava A. K. , Bathula Sivaiah , Dhawan S. K. , Dutta P. K. , Dhar Ajay
Published: May 2015

We report the synthesis of a nanocomposite consisting of Pd doped multiwall carbon nanotubes decorated with Cu nanoparticles, as a lightweight and flexible microwave absorbing material, using an electroless technique.
Reply to the ‘Comment on “Simple fluorescence-based detection of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) using unmodified gold nanoparticles”’ by M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, J. Mohammadi and A. Bigdeli, Anal. Methods, 2015, 7, DOI: 10.1039/c5ay00005j
Authors: Alex Sruthi Ann , Elavarasi M. , Kumar D. Nanda , Rajeshwari A. , Chandrasekaran N. , Mukherjee Amitava
Published: May 2015

AuNP aggregation by Cr(iii) causes the reduction of the fluorescence emission intensity at 582 nm (λex = 490 nm).
Estimation of Brazilian charcoal properties using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectrometry coupled with multivariate analysis
Authors: Bezerra Rafaela M. R. , Neves Ana C. O. , Pimenta Alexandre S. , Lima Kássio M. G.
Published: May 2015

The aim of the present work was to estimate fixed-carbon, volatile matter and ash contents in Brazilian commercial charcoal.
Oxidative coupling of aniline and desulfurization over nitrogen rich mesoporous carbon
Authors: Goyal Reena , Dumbre Deepa , Konathala L. N. Sivakumar , Pandey Monica , Bordoloi Ankur
Published: May 2015

Tungsten loaded mesoporous nitrogen rich carbon materials were synthesized using SBA-15 as a hard template and these multifunctional materials ware successfully applied for oxidative coupling of aniline as well as desulfurization of dibenzothiophene.
Silica-immobilized Aquivion PFSA superacid: application to heterogeneous direct etherification of glycerol with n-butanol
Authors: Fang Wenhao , Wang Sheng , Liebens Armin , De Campo Floryan , Xu Hualong , Shen Wei , Pera-Titus Marc , Clacens Jean-Marc
Published: May 2015

Silica-immobilized Aquivion® resin with high mesoporosity and acid-site accessibility demonstrated good activity, selectivity and reusability for glycerol etherification withn-butanol.
Direct synthesis of a {CoIII6FeIII6} dodecanuclear complex, revealing an unprecedented molecular structure type
Authors: Chygorin Eduard N. , Kokozay Vladimir N. , Omelchenko Irina V. , Shishkin Oleg V. , Titiš Ján , Boča Roman , Nesterov Dmytro S.
Published: May 2015

A heterometallic Co6Fe6 complex has been prepared using the “direct synthesis” approach and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and magnetometry.
Synthesis of high aspect ratio (K, Na)NbO3plate-like particles and study on the synthesis mechanism
Authors: Li Lingyu , Zhang Yang , Bai Wangfeng , Shen Bo , Zhai Jiwei , Chen Haydn
Published: May 2015

Plate-like NaNbO3(NN) templates have been successfully synthesizedviaa two-step molten salt method using K2CO3as a raw material at 970 °C, which is below the topochemical reaction temperature using Na2CO3as the raw material (higher than 1000 °C).
Assembly of a large cerium(iii)-containing tungstotellurites(iv) nanocluster: [Ce10Te8W88O298(OH)12(H2O)40]18−
Authors: Chen Wei-Chao , Qin Chao , Wang Xin-Long , Li Yang-Guang , Zang Hong-Ying , Shao Kui-Zhan , Su Zhong-Min , Wang En-Bo
Published: May 2015

The second largest lanthanide-containing tungstotellurites(iv) nanocluster {Ce10Te8W88} was synthesized by combining cerium linkers and TeO32− heteroanion templates.
5-Iodo-2-arylalkylthio-6-aryl pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones as non-nucleoside anti-HBV agents
Authors: Zhang Yu , Sun Xuefeng , Fan Ningning , Zhao Jianxiong , Tu Jing , Chen Xiangmei , Liu Junyi , Wang Xiaowei
Published: May 2015

Pyrimidone derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated as anti-HBV agents, in which two compounds exhibited more potent activity than lamivudine.
Effect of the particle size of MoO3 on the catalytic activity of Mo/ZSM-5 in methane non-oxidative aromatization
Authors: Hu Jing , Wu Shujie , Ma Yuanyuan , Yang Xiaoyuan , Li Zhifang , Liu Heng , Huo Qisheng , Guan Jingqi , Kan Qiubin
Published: May 2015

The catalytic results confirmed that nano MoO3 modified ZSM-5 zeolites showed higher methane conversion and aromatics yield (14.1% vs. 9.5%) than micron MoO3 modified ZSM-5 (11.2% vs. 7.3%).
Design of ultrasensitive DNA-based fluorescent pH sensitive nanodevices
Authors: Halder Saheli , Krishnan Yamuna
Published: May 2015

Design to tune pH sensitivity of a DNA-based conformational switch to yield a palette of fluorescent pH sensitive nanodevices spanning whole physiological pH range.
N–B dative bond-induced [3.3.0] bicyclic boronate-tethered exo-selective intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction
Authors: Feng Chao , Wang Hong , Xu Liang , Li Pengfei
Published: May 2015

We report herein a highlyexo-selective intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of alkenyl boronates which employs an N–B dative bond-involved bicyclic rigid tether.
Towards a general understanding of hydrothermal polymerization of polyimides
Authors: Baumgartner Bettina , Puchberger Michael , Unterlass Miriam M.
Published: May 2015

Hydrothermal polymerization (HTP) yields highly crystalline polyimides. A general picture of the mechanisms leading to crystallinity and morphology is provided.
A biocatalytic approach towards sustainable furanic–aliphatic polyesters
Authors: Jiang Yi , Woortman Albert J. J. , Alberda van Ekenstein Gert O. R. , Loos Katja
Published: May 2015

A series of sustainable furanic–aliphatic polyesters and oligoesters is successfully producedvia Candida antarcticaLipase B-catalyzed polymerization of biobased dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate with various (potentially) renewable aliphatic diols.
Influences of sodium dodecyl sulfate on vulcanization kinetics and mechanical performance of EPDM/graphene oxide nanocomposites
Authors: Allahbakhsh Ahmad , Mazinani Saeedeh
Published: May 2015

In this work, influence of SDS presence on the physical interactions between EPDM macromolecules and graphene oxide functional groups are investigated.
Nutrimetabolomic analysis provides new insights into spermine-induced ileum-system alterations for suckling rats
Authors: Liu Guangmang , Yan Tao , Fang Tingting , Jia Gang , Chen Xiaoling , Zhao Hua , Wang Jing , Wu Caimei
Published: May 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effects of spermine supplementation on the ileum metabolism of suckling rats.
Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of pigments from Hylocereus undatus flowers: optimization, antioxidant activity, and HPLC analysis
Authors: Liu Yong , Zhang Huifang , Wei Shoulian
Published: May 2015

Optimization extraction, antioxidant activity, and HPLC analysis of pigments fromHylocereus undatusflowers.
A versatile bio-inspired material platform for catalytic applications: micron-sized “buckyball-shaped” TiO2structures
Authors: Erdogan Deniz Altunoz , Solouki Touradj , Ozensoy Emrah
Published: May 2015

A simple sol–gel synthesis method is presented for the production of micron-sized buckyball-like TiO2architectures using naturally occurringLycopodium clavatum(LC) spores as biotemplates.
Comprehensive chemical analysis of triterpenoids and polysaccharides in the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea
Authors: Qiao Xue , Song Wei , Wang Qi , Liu Ke-di , Zhang Zheng-xiang , Bo Tao , Li Ren-yong , Liang Li-na , Tzeng Yew-min , Guo De-an , Ye Min
Published: May 2015

Novel analytical methods (UHPLC/DAD/qTOF-MS, SFC/MS, IC/PAD) were established to determine chiral ergostanes, lanostanes and polysaccharide compositions in Antrodia cinnamomea.
Microwave assisted azide–alkyne cycloaddition reaction using polymer supported Cu(i) as a catalytic species: a solventless approach
Authors: Taher Abu , Nandi Debkumar , Islam Rafique Ul , Choudhary Meenakshi , Mallick Kaushik
Published: May 2015

Microwave assisted solvent less approach for azide–alkyne cycloaddition.
Anisotropic ion transport in nanostructured solid polymer electrolytes
Authors: Cheng Shan , Smith Derrick M. , Pan Qiwei , Wang Shijun , Li Christopher Y.
Published: May 2015

We discuss recent progresses on anisotropic ion transport in solid polymer electrolytes.
Hydrogenation of (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)nitrobenzenes to (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)anilines catalyzed by palladium–nickel bimetallic nanoparticles
Authors: Bao Hailin , Wang Dingsheng , Wang Xinyan , Cheng Chuanjie , Li Yadong , Hu Yuefei
Published: May 2015

A Pd–Ni bimetallic nanoparticles catalyzed hydrogenation of (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)nitrobenzenes to (N,N-disubstituted aminomethyl)anilines was achieved chemoselectively.
A pillar-layer MOF for detection of small molecule acetone and metal ions in dilute solution
Authors: Wang Hai-Ning , Jiang Si-Quan , Lu Qing-Yun , Zhou Zi-Yan , Zhuo Shu-Ping , Shan Guo-Gang , Su Zhong-Min
Published: May 2015

A pillared-layer MOFs as luminescent probes has been covered which can be used to detect metal ions and small molecules. The results exhibit that its luminescent intensity is highly sensitive to Ni2+ and Cd2+ ions and acetone molecules.
Fe(iv) alkylidenes via protonation of Fe(ii) vinyl chelates and a comparative Mössbauer spectroscopic study
Authors: Lindley Brian M. , Swidan Ala'aeddeen , Lobkovsky Emil B. , Wolczanski Peter T. , Adelhardt Mario , Sutter Jörg , Meyer Karsten
Published: May 2015

Fe(iv) alkylidenes are produced via protonation of Fe(ii) vinyl chelate complexes.
Effects of excluded volume and hydrodynamic interaction on the deformation, orientation and motion of ring polymers in shear flow
Authors: Chen Wenduo , Zhao Hongchao , Liu Lijun , Chen Jizhong , Li Yunqi , An Lijia
Published: May 2015

In the absence of excluded volume interaction, ring polymers show no significant difference from linear polymers, and tank-treading motion is nearly negligible.
Spatially directed vesicle capture in the ordered pores of breath-figure polymer films
Authors: Arora J. S. , Ponnusamy T. , Zheng R. , Venkataraman P. , Raghavan S. R. , Blake D. , John V. T.
Published: May 2015

A hydrophobically modified biopolymer (chitosan) when deposited in the pores of patterned polymeric breath figures insets its hydrophobes into liposomal bilayers. This is a facile method to capture and tether liposomes in a patterned porous polymer film.
A catalyst superior to carbon-supported-platinum for promotion of the oxygen reduction reaction: reduced-polyoxometalate supported palladium
Authors: Xie Xiaohong , Nie Yao , Chen Siguo , Ding Wei , Qi Xueqiang , Li Li , Wei Zidong
Published: May 2015

A palladium and reduced-polyoxometalate hybrid catalyst (Pd/rPOM) exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance for ORR in alkaline media, even better than the Pt/C catalyst.
Integration of network-like porous NiMoO4 nanoarchitectures assembled with ultrathin mesoporous nanosheets on three-dimensional graphene foam for highly reversible lithium storage
Authors: Wang Bo , Li Songmei , Wu Xiaoyu , Tian Wenming , Liu Jianhua , Yu Mei
Published: May 2015

Interconnected ultrathin mesoporous NiMoO4 nanosheets with a network-like porous structure supported on a 3D graphene network for highly reversible lithium storage.
Carbon dot-doped sodium borosilicate gel glasses with emission tunability and their application in white light emitting diodes
Authors: Ma Li , Xiang Weidong , Gao Haihong , Pei Lang , Ma Xin , Huang Yunyun , Liang Xiaojuan
Published: May 2015

Carbon dot (CD)-doped sodium borosilicate gel (CD-NBS gel) glasses were successfully prepared by incorporating the CDs into sodium borosilicate networks.
Energy level tuning of blue emitting and electron transporting vinylene bis(vinyl quinolinyl)benzene derivatives: synthesis, characterisation, thin film characterisation and performance in OLEDs
Authors: Kathirgamanathan Poopathy , Surendrakumar Sivagnanasundram , Ravichandran Seenivasagam , Kumaraverl Muttulingam , Antipan Lara Juan , Ganeshamurugan Subramaniam , Bushby Lisa M. , Tidey Jeremiah P. , Blake Alexander J.
Published: May 2015

Band gap tuning by attaching aromatic and heterocyclic substituents on the vinylene bis(vinylquinolinyl)benzene moiety results in multifunctional organic semiconductors with high thermal stability and electron mobility.
Poling efficiency enhancement of tethered binary nonlinear optical chromophores for achieving an ultrahigh n3r33 figure-of-merit of 2601 pm V−1
Authors: Li Ming , Huang Su , Zhou Xing-Hua , Zang Yue , Wu Jieyun , Cui Zhanchen , Luo Jingdong , Jen Alex K.-Y.
Published: May 2015

The poling efficiency enhancement of tethered binary dipolar chromophores significantly improves the performance of organic electro-optic materials for optical modulation.
Artificial opal photonic crystals and inverse opal structures – fundamentals and applications from optics to energy storage
Authors: Armstrong Eileen , O'Dwyer Colm
Published: May 2015

This review outlines the fundamentals and applications of artificial opal photonic crystals, their fabrication, development and adaption from optics to energy storage research.
Generation of balanced quadrature phase shift keyed sequences through guided scrambling
Authors: Fair Ivan J. , Martin David L.
Published: May 2015

Balanced codes (also called DC‐free codes) are widely used in binary communication systems to increase the likelihood of accurate symbol recovery with practical demodulators. Guided scrambling (GS) is recognised as a viable approach to efficiently generate DC‐free binary sequences. In this study the authors extend the use of GS to generate balanced sequences of quadrature phase shift keyed (QPSK) symbols by using arithmetic from the ring of polynomials defined over the Galois field of four elements. In addition to ensuring adequate timing information and consistent decision thresholds to improve the performance of practical demodulators, balanced encoding of QPSK symbol sequences creates a null at DC in the spectrum of the equivalent complex baseband signal. This corresponds to a null at the centre frequency of the bandpass QPSK signal that enables the insertion of a pilot tone and avoidance of narrowband interference without filtering or distortion of the signal. The authors outline sufficient conditions for the generation of balanced GS QPSK sequences, and based upon these conditions the authors recommend scrambling polynomials and quotient selection criteria. The authors then present analytical and simulation results that confirm the generation of balanced sequences using this approach.
Robust tracking with per‐exemplar support vector machine
Authors: Shi Rongmei , Zhang Jun , Xie Zhao , Gao Jun , Zheng Xinxiang
Published: May 2015

The authors extend exemplar representation to the field of tracking and propose a robust tracking algorithm with per‐exemplar support vector machine (SVM) classifiers. First, the authors train the simple yet effective exemplar SVM classifier using the target object as the single positive and mining its surroundings as hard negatives. Second, the authors propose an online ensemble tracker, which integrates the useful ‘key historical templates’ of the target to refine the current template, leading to better discriminative power of tracker and effectively decreasing the risk of drift. Experiments on challenging sequences demonstrate that the tracker performs well in accuracy and robustness, especially under the sequences with strong illumination variation and scale variation, as well as pose change and partial occlusion in the long‐time sequence.
Individual‐specific management of reference data in adaptive ensembles for face re‐identification
Authors: De‐la‐Torre Miguel , Granger Eric , Sabourin Robert , Gorodnichy Dmitry O.
Published: May 2015

During video surveillance, face re‐identification allows recognition and targeting of individuals of interest from faces captured across a network of video cameras. In such applications, face recognition is challenging because faces are captured under limited spatial and temporal constraints. In addition, facial models for recognition are commonly designed using a limited number of representative reference samples from faces captured under specific conditions, regrouped into facial trajectories. Given new reference samples (provided by an operator or through some self‐updating process), updating facial models may allow maintenance of a high level of performance over time. Although adaptive ensembles have been successfully applied to robust modelling of an individual's facial appearance, reference data samples from a trajectory must be stored for validation. In this study, a memory management strategy based on Kullback–Leiber (KL) divergence is proposed to rank and select the most relevant validation samples over time in adaptive individual‐specific ensembles. When new reference samples become available for an individual, updates to the corresponding ensemble are validated using a mixture of new and previously‐stored samples. Only the samples with the highest KL divergence are preserved in memory for future adaptations. This strategy is compared with reference classifiers using videos from the face in action data. Simulation results show that the proposed strategy tends to select discriminative samples from wolf‐like individuals for validation. It allows maintenance of a high level of performance, while reducing the number of samples per individual by up to 80%.
Influence of hybridisation on eco‐driving habits using realistic driving cycles
Authors: Chrenko Daniela
Published: May 2015

This study covers three main aspects. First, it presents a way to create driving cycles using only driver behaviour (acceleration, deceleration and maximum speed) and route data as input parameters. Second, a power‐based approach to describe different vehicle architectures from internal combustion engine vehicle, over stop and start to series and parallel hybrid solutions is presented and respective component modelling approaches are introduced. Finally, the fuel consumption on a given cycle in function of eco‐driving parameters is evaluated. It can be seen that hybrid solutions show minimum fuel consumption of about 3 L/100 km, whereas eco‐driving habits do change slightly when applied to hybrid architectures because of new technologies such as braking energy recovery.
Analysis of full‐duplex relay networks with opportunistic scheduling
Authors: Shao Lei , Rui Xianyi
Published: May 2015

This Letter addresses a two‐hop decode‐and‐forward relay system with full‐duplex relaying and opportunistic scheduling. Exact expressions for outage probability, average capacity and symbol error rate are presented in an independent identically distributed Rayleigh fading environment. Numerical and simulated results show the validity of the analytical results.
The angular dependence of the exchange bias under the planar domain wall model
Authors: Bai Yuhao , Xu Xiaohong
Published: May 2015

Based on the principle of minimal energy, the angular dependence of exchange bias (ADEB) under planar domain wall model has been investigated in detail. Three different types of the initial states, monostable, bistable and tristable states, will be formed in exchange-biased systems by adjusting the relative strength of the uniaxial anisotropy, unidirectional anisotropy and the planar domain wall energy. These initial states determine the ADEB directly. The jump phenomena were still existent in the ADEB. Additionally, it can be found that the magnetization reversal mode is sensitive to the orientation of the magnetic field. Two distinct modes of the magnetization rotation, half-plane rotation and whole-plane rotation, can be observed when the applied field points along different orientations. These modes of the magnetization rotation can be identified by different features of the transverse hysteresis loops. Our investigations about the ADEB and the magnetization reversal modes are helpful to interpret the magnetic behaviors of some exchange-biased systems, which can be described by planar domain wall model.
Impact of biaxial compressive strain on the heterostructures of paraelectrics KTaO3 and SrTiO3
Authors: Yang Yi , Lin Chen-Sheng , Cheng Wen-Dan
Published: May 2015

We have performed density functional theory calculations to explore the impact of biaxial compressive strain on the heterostructures of paraelectrics KTaO3 and SrTiO3. We find that the strain induces strong ferroelectric distortion in KTaO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures and it stabilizes the heterostructures in ferroelectric states.The strain influences the distribution of doped holes and leads to the localization of holes in TiO2 layer. It is very interesting that ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism simultaneously present in the strained heterostructures formed by the paraelectrics KTaO3 and SrTiO3. The reversal of ferroelectric polarization changes the interface magnetization and thus results in magnetoelectric coupling effect in the heterostructures.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Nanocatalysis Application of Core–Shell Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles of Fe3O4@Pd
Authors: Cappelletti Ariel L. , Uberman Paula M. , Martín Sandra E. , Saleta Martín E. , Troiani Horacio E. , Sánchez Rodolfo D. , Carbonio Raúl E. , Strumia Miriam C.
Published: May 2015

There is a wide number of different synthetic methods to obtain magnetite (Fe3O4) superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPNPs). However, only a few are able to produce very small and well defined SPNPs with narrow size distribution. We report a modification of the metal-complex decomposition in organic media method in which we replace iron(iii) acetylacetonate (Fe(Acac)3) with an iron–urea complex (Fe-Urea) as metal source for the synthesis. With this modification we were able to obtain small particle sizes with a good control in size distribution. The Fe-Urea complex is easy to prepare with excellent yields. Core–shell nanoparticles are then prepared using palladium(ii) acetylacetonate as a Pd source, to obtain a Pd0 shell stabilised by oleylamine. The core–shell superparamagnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4@Pd-OA are extensively characterized by FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and tested in a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling Suzuki–Miyaura reaction with promising results.
N,N-Dialkyl-N′-Chlorosulfonyl Chloroformamidines in Heterocyclic Synthesis. Part XII. Synthesis and Reactivity of the Pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]thiadiazine Ring System
Authors: Norman Rebecca E. , Perkins Michael V. , Liepa Andris J. , Francis Craig L.
Published: May 2015

N,N-Dialkyl-N′-chlorosulfonyl chloroformamidines 1 reacted regioselectively with 1-substituted 5-aminopyrazoles 2 via a 1,3-CCN dinucleophilic substitution to afford pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,2,4]thiadiazines 3 as the sole isolated products. Compounds 3, representatives of a very rare ring system, were shown to possess three nucleophilic sites at N2, N4, and N6. Methylation occurred at all three sites. Alkylation with benzylic halides occurred preferentially at N2, but some also occurred at N4, and at C7a. Alkylation with ethyl bromoacetate occurred at both N4 and N6, but the latter derivatives underwent a pyrazole ring expansion to afford pyrimido[4,5-e][1,2,4]thiadiazine derivatives. Compounds 3 were unreactive towards various acylating agents.
Heterogeneity of photosynthesis within leaves is associated with alteration of leaf structural features and leaf N content per leaf area in rice
Authors: Xiong Dongliang , Yu Tingting , Liu Xi , Li Yong , Peng Shaobing , Huang Jianliang
Published: May 2015

Increasing leaf photosynthesis rate (A) is considered an important strategy to increase C3 crop yields. Leaf A is usually represented by point measurements, but A varies within each leaf, especially within large leaves. However, little is known about the effect of heterogeneity of A within leaves on rice performance. Here we investigated the changes in gas-exchange parameters and leaf structural and chemical features along leaf blades in two rice cultivars. Stomatal and mesophyll conductance as well as leaf nitrogen (N), Rubisco and chlorophyll contents increased from base to apex; consequently, A increased along leaves in both cultivars. The variation in A, leaf N content and Rubisco content within leaves was similar to the variations among cultivars, and the extent of A heterogeneity within leaves varied between cultivars, leading to different efficiencies of biomass accumulation. Furthermore, variation of A within leaves was closely associated with leaf structural and chemical features. Our findings emphasise that functional changes along leaf blades are associated with structural and chemical trait variation and that variation of A within leaves should be considered to achieve progress in future breeding programs.
Effect of ovarian hormones on the healthy equine uterus: a global gene expression analysis
Authors: Marth Christina D. , Young Neil D. , Glenton Lisa Y. , Noden Drew M. , Browning Glenn F. , Krekeler Natali
Published: May 2015

The physiological changes associated with the varying hormonal environment throughout the oestrous cycle are linked to the different functions the uterus needs to fulfil. The aim of the present study was to generate global gene expression profiles for the equine uterus during oestrus and Day 5 of dioestrus. To achieve this, samples were collected from five horses during oestrus (follicle >35 mm in diameter) and dioestrus (5 days after ovulation) and analysed using high-throughput RNA sequencing techniques (RNA-Seq). Differentially expressed genes between the two cycle stages were further investigated using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. The expression of 1577 genes was found to be significantly upregulated during oestrus, whereas 1864 genes were expressed at significantly higher levels in dioestrus. Most genes upregulated during oestrus were associated with the extracellular matrix, signal interaction and transduction, cell communication or immune function, whereas genes expressed at higher levels in early dioestrus were most commonly associated with metabolic or transport functions, correlating well with the physiological functions of the uterus. These results allow for a more complete understanding of the hormonal influence on gene expression in the equine uterus by functional analysis of up- and downregulated genes in oestrus and dioestrus, respectively. In addition, a valuable baseline is provided for further research, including analyses of changes associated with uterine inflammation.