bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic imaging of hyperpolarized [1‐13C]acetate and [1‐13C]acetylcarnitine ‐ investigation of the influence of dobutamine induced stress
Authors: Koellisch Ulrich , Gringeri Concetta V. , Rancan Giaime , Farell Eliane V. , Menzel Marion I. , Haase Axel , Schwaiger Markus , Schulte Rolf F.
Published: October 2014

Purpose

The metabolism of acetate in the heart resembles fatty acid metabolism, which is altered in several diseases like ischemia, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure. A signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) optimized imaging framework for in vivo measurements of hyperpolarized [1‐13C]acetate and its metabolic product [1‐13C]acetylcarnitine (ALCAR) in rats at 3 Tesla (T) is presented in this work.

Methods

A spectrospatial pulse was combined with IDEAL encoding to acquire well separated metabolic maps. The influence of dobutamine induced stress onto this metabolic system was investigated in spectra and in an imaging study.

Results

An increase of the ALCAR to acetate ratio with dobutamine induced stress was shown in slice selective spectra containing the rat hearts and skeletal muscles. Metabolic maps of acetate and ALCAR were acquired with an acceptable SNR. Quantification of the apparent conversion rate showed stable results in the heart in a time‐window of 30 s. The effect of dobutamine on the signal intensities was shown to originate mainly from skeletal than cardiac muscles.

Conclusion

The acetate activation was mapped with hyperpolarized [1‐13C]acetate in a clinical 3T system. Quantitative measurement of the activity was possible in the heart, indicating that dobutamine induced stress does not improve the ALCAR SNR in the heart. Magn Reson Med 74:1011–1018, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Properties and use of transdermal fentanyl
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Leach Austin
Published: October 2014

Steve Chaplin and Dr Austin Leach provide an overview of the properties of transdermal fentanyl preparations in the management of severe chronic pain in adults and opioid‐tolerant children.
Xigduo: dapagliflozin plus metformin for T2DM
Authors: Chaplin Steve , McCourt Claire , Joseph Frank
Published: October 2014

Xigduo, a combination of dapagliflozin and metformin, is licensed as second‐line therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. In our New products review, Steve Chaplin presents the data relating to its efficacy and adverse events and Drs Claire McCourt and Frank Joseph discuss its place in therapy.
Drug budgets and the strengthening of the PPRS
Authors: Baines Darrin
Published: October 2014

In our series on the history of prescribing policy, Dr Darrin Baines traces how successive governments have attempted to curb drug costs. Here, he describes the introduction of drug budgets and the renegotiation of the PPRS.
Effect of Curcumin on Hepatic Antioxidant Enzymes Activities and Gene Expressions in Rats Intoxicated with Aflatoxin B1
Authors: El‐Bahr S. M.
Published: October 2014

Twenty‐eight rats were examined in a 5‐week experiment to investigate the effect of curcumin on gene expression and activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes in rats intoxicated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The rats were divided into four groups. Rats in 1–4 groups served as control, oral curcumin treated (15 mg/kg body weight), single i.p. dose of AFB1 (3 mg/kg body weight) and combination of single i.p. dose of AFB1 with oral curcumin treated, respectively. AFB1 Liver damage and oxidative stress were evident in untreated AFB1‐intoxicated rats as indicated by a significant elevation in hepatic transaminases, elevation in lipid peroxide biomarkers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TBARS), reduction of reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration, reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes namely catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and down‐regulation of gene expression of these antioxidant enzymes compared to control. Liver sections of rats intoxicated with AFB1 showed a disrupted lobular architecture, scattered necrotic cells and biliary proliferation. Administration of curcumin with AFB1 resulted in amelioration of AFB1‐induced effects compared to untreated AFB1‐intoxicated rats via an up‐regulation of antioxidant enzyme gene expression, activation of the expressed genes and increase in the availability of GSH. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of air–sea exchanges over the Western Mediterranean Sea during HyMeX SOP1 using the AROME–WMED model
Authors: Rainaud R. , Lebeaupin Brossier C. , Ducrocq V. , Giordani H. , Nuret M. , Fourrié N. , Bouin M.‐N. , Taupier‐Letage I. , Legain D.
Published: October 2014

Air–sea exchanges play an important role during intense weather events over the Mediterranean Sea, especially in supplying heat and moisture for heavy precipitation events, which often affect the area. Observations collected during the first Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX) Special Observation Period (SOP1) over the Western Mediterranean area in autumn 2012 provide an unprecedented dataset for assessing the capabilities of numerical weather prediction systems to represent the air–sea interface and marine boundary layer during the heavy precipitation season. A HyMeX‐dedicated version of Application de la Recherche à l'Opérationnel à Méso‐Échelle, in French (AROME) covering the whole western Mediterranean basin, named AROME–WMED, was evaluated through comparisons against moored buoys, drifting buoys and ship measurements deployed during the HyMeX campaign. A general, good agreement is found for near‐surface meteorological parameters, whereas significant discrepancies are observed during strong air–sea exchange periods. The two main reasons are that (1) sea‐surface temperature (SST) is kept constant during the model runs and (2) sensible heat flux is overestimated in strong wind regimes by the AROME turbulent flux parametrization.

Air–sea exchanges during SOP1 were characterized thanks to AROME–WMED short‐range (1–24 h) forecasts. This shows some areas of strong air–sea fluxes in the Gulf of Lion and the Balearic, Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. The Gulf of Lion is the area showing the highest variability of air–sea fluxes, due to dominant strong regional winds (Mistral/Tramontane). Whereas some heavy precipitation events occur without significant air–sea fluxes, all strong air–sea exchange events include, or occur only 1 or 2 days before, heavy precipitation events. A detailed analysis of an Intense Observation Period (IOP) dedicated to a heavy precipitation event (IOP13, from 12–15 October) illustrates how both dynamic (wind) and thermodynamic (temperature and humidity gradient effect) contributions influence air–sea flux evolution.
Impacts of Projected Climate Changes on Streamflow and Sediment Transport for Three Snowmelt‐Dominated Rivers in the Interior Pacific Northwest
Authors: Praskievicz S.
Published: October 2014

Anthropogenic climate change is likely to have significant impacts on river systems, particularly on rivers dominated by seasonal snowmelt. In addition to altering the timing and magnitude of streamflow, climate change can affect the energy available to transport sediment, as well as the availability of sediment to be transported. These hydrologic changes are sensitive to local climate, which is largely controlled by topography, but climate models cannot resolve processes at these scales. Here, I investigate impacts of climate change on streamflow and suspended‐sediment transport for three snowmelt‐dominated rivers in the interior Pacific Northwest – the Tucannon River in Washington and the South Fork Coeur d'Alene and Red rivers in Idaho – using downscaled climate simulations from regional climate models (a range of three models plus an ensemble average) to drive a basin‐scale hydrologic model. The results indicate that climate change is likely to amplify the annual cycle of river discharge, producing higher winter discharge (increases in ensemble mean January discharge ranging from 4.1% to 34.4% for the three rivers), an earlier spring snowmelt peak (by approximately one month), and lower summer discharge (decreases in ensemble mean July discharge ranging from 5.2% to 47.2%), relative to a late 20th‐century baseline. The magnitude of the largest simulated flood under the ensemble‐average climate change scenario increases by 0.6–41.6% across the three rivers. Simulated changes in suspended‐sediment transport generally follow the changes in streamflow. These changes in discharge and sediment transport will likely produce significant impacts on the study rivers, including changes in flooding, physical habitat, and river morphology. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydromorphology Meets Mammal Ecology: River Morphological Quality, Recent Channel Adjustments and Otter Resilience
Authors: Scorpio V. , Loy A. , Di Febbraro M. , Rizzo A. , Aucelli P.
Published: October 2014

The need for a multidisciplinary approach for characterizing water bodies in terms of morphological, chemical and ecological quality has hastened the growth of hydromorphology as a cross‐disciplinary topic at the interface of hydrology, geomorphology and ecology. Many authors have analysed how hydroecology may affect freshwater biodiversity, although little is known about how this biodiversity might be affected by river morphological quality. We examined how well the presence of the semi‐aquatic Eurasian otter can be predicted by the rivers' morphological quality and its adjustments over the last decades. We tested the morphological quality index (MQI) methodology in 38 reaches of five rivers in southern Italy, 23 of which were positive to otter presence. In each reach, we examined 28 indicators contributing to the MQI and its 11 sub‐indices. The results showed a significant relationship between the probability of the presence of otters, MQI, and some sub‐indices. The best performing sub‐indices were related to channel adjustments and the continuity of river processes. A more detailed analysis of channel adjustments showed a detrimental effect of channel incision (>3 m) and a positive effect of narrowing, particularly where it occurred simultaneously with the development of forest in the new floodplain. The continuity of river processes has driven the migration of river banks and the development of ponds and secondary channels, likely increasing the availability of dens and resting sites and the hunting capabilities of otters. Our results stressed the importance of fluvial dynamics and sustainable adaptive river management for the habitat quality of semi‐aquatic species. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The direction of the difference between Canadian and American erythrocyte folate concentrations is dependent on the assay method employed: a comparison of the Canadian Health Measures Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Colapinto Cynthia K. , Tremblay Mark S. , Aufreiter Susanne , Bushnik Tracey , Pfeiffer Christine M. , O'Connor Deborah L.
Published: October 2014

Fortification of select grain products with folic acid and periconceptional supplementation recommendations in Canada and the USA have improved folate status, and have been associated with a reduced risk of neural tube defects. In the present study, we aimed to conduct a comparison of erythrocyte folate concentrations from the 2007–9 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) and the 2007–8 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Erythrocyte folate concentration was assessed in participants aged 6–79 years (CHMS,n5248; NHANES,n7070). To account for different folate assays employed – Immulite 2000 immunoassay (CHMS) and microbiological assay (NHANES) – a conversion equation was generated (n152 adults) to adjust the CHMS data.tTests were used to examine country differences. Median Canadian erythrocyte folate concentrations (method-adjusted) were lower than those of Americans (988 and 1100 nmol/l, respectively), but unadjusted median Canadian erythrocyte folate concentrations were higher (1250 nmol/l). The upper 95 % CI boundary of the method-adjusted Canadian erythrocyte folate distribution overlapped that of the American erythrocyte folate concentrations, while the lower 95 % CI boundary of the method-adjusted Canadian erythrocyte folate data was below the American distribution. In summary, the fact that erythrocyte folate concentrations were either higher or lower in Canadians compared with Americans, depending on whether an adjustment was made to account for assay differences, suggests that caution must be exercised in evaluating erythrocyte folate data from different countries because analytical methods are not readily comparable. Furthermore, we cannot unequivocally conclude that there are true differences in erythrocyte folate concentrations between the Canadian and American populations in the post-fortification era.
Co-feeding transmission in Lyme disease pathogens
Authors: VOORDOUW MAARTEN J.
Published: October 2014

This review examines the phenomenon of co-feeding transmission in tick-borne pathogens. This mode of transmission is critical for the epidemiology of several tick-borne viruses but its importance forBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, is still controversial. The molecular mechanisms and ecological factors that facilitate co-feeding transmission are therefore examined with particular emphasis onBorreliapathogens. Comparison of climate, tick ecology and experimental infection work suggests that co-feeding transmission is more important in European than North American systems of Lyme borreliosis, which potentially explains why this topic has gained more traction in the former continent than the latter. While new theory shows that co-feeding transmission makes a modest contribution toBorreliafitness, recent experimental work has revealed new ecological contexts where natural selection might favour co-feeding transmission. In particular, co-feeding transmission might confer a fitness advantage in the Darwinian competition among strains in mixed infections. Future studies should investigate the ecological conditions that favour the evolution of this fascinating mode of transmission in tick-borne pathogens.
Civil Aviation Cartography in Austria 1908–1938
Authors: Svatek Petra
Published: October 2014

This study attempts to offer the first ever analysis of Austrian aviation cartography from its origins in 1908 to 1938. The thematic focus is on Austria's contribution to the debate on the standardisation of aeronautical charts on an international scale, on the continuities and changes characterising the aeronautical charts produced in Austria, and on a comparison of these maps with similar ones from other countries. The paper aims to expound on the thesis that, while the theoretical basis for aeronautical charts had principally been in place internationally and in Austria during the 1910s, there had been almost no practical follow-up on this know-how in Austria between 1915 and 1922. After 1923 novel aeronautical charts were produced, but the Austrian output sometimes fell below international standards regarding both quantity and, in part, also quality. The international agreed rules were interpreted in keeping with Austria's own requirements. It appears, however, that this development was not limited to Austria, as the new rules took hold in other countries somewhat belatedly as well.
Selection for protection from insolation results in the visual isolation of Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes nests
Authors: CLARK RYAN D. , MATHIEU RENAUD , SEDDON PHILIP J.
Published: October 2014

The concealed and widely dispersed nests of the rare and endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes, or “hoiho”, have been considered to reflect an essential requirement for the visual isolation of nest sites from conspecifics. However, this may be a consequence of selection for habitat features that provide protection from insolation, thereby minimising the risk of heat stress. To help improve the understanding of hoiho nesting requirements and the effectiveness of habitat restoration, we aimed to determine whether visual isolation from conspecifics or protection from insolation is the primary driver of hoiho nest site selection. We compared the mean maximum distance of visibility and the mean percentage insolation cover of active nests with randomly sampled unused sites in flax Phormium tenax and Hebe elliptica coastal scrub at Boulder Beach, and in coastal forest at Hinahina Cove, New Zealand, 2006–2007. Results of univariate tests and the evaluation of logistic regression models suggested that the amount of insolation cover was more important than visibility for hoiho nest site selection, particularly in flax and scrub. In addition, Spearman's correlations indicated that decreasing insolation cover significantly increased the visibility of nests in the forest habitat, and had a similar effect on inter-nest distance in flax. We infer that hoiho nest site selection and distribution are influenced primarily by the location and density of micro-habitat features (particularly within 1 m of the ground) that provide optimal protection from insolation, possibly along with other important features such as a firm backing structure. Strong selection for these features results in the typical but non-essential visual isolation of nest sites from conspecifics. Restoration of nesting habitats with a relatively high density and diversity of vegetation and solid structures within 1 m of the ground may eventually provide an optimal availability and quality of suitable nest sites.
Effects of hunting management on Mediterranean farmland birds
Authors: CARO JESÚS , DELIBES-MATEOS MIGUEL , ESTRADA ALBA , BORRALHO RUI , GORDINHO LUÍS , REINO LUÍS , BEJA PEDRO , ARROYO BEATRIZ
Published: October 2014

Hunting and its associated management have significant costs and benefits for biodiversity conservation, which makes this socio-economic activity highly controversial at both international and regional levels. We investigated relationships between management for small game species (mainly Red-legged PartridgesAlectoris rufaand rabbitsOryctolagus cuniculus) and both abundance and richness of farmland and scrubland songbirds, raptors and ground-nesting birds, and on the abundance of three species of conservation concern (Little BustardTetrax tetrax, Eurasian Thick-kneeBurhinus oedicnemusand Montagu’s HarrierCircus pygargus) in southern Portugal farmland. We compared 12 game estates and 12 matching areas with similar sizes and land uses but no game management. Richness and abundance were estimated from fixed point counts, and were related to game regime (managed or unmanaged), habitat characteristics and census period. Our results showed that game management was associated, albeit weakly, with higher abundance of raptors and ground-nesting birds, but no relationship (either positive or negative) was found for other guilds and species. Habitat was generally the most important factor explaining bird species richness and abundance. Our results suggest possibilities for promoting management systems that could maximize both hunting sustainability and conservation value of managed areas, particularly when management helps to improve or maintain beneficial habitats or practices for farmland birds.
Array comparative genomic hybridisation testing in CHD
Authors: Hightower Hannah B. , Robin Nathaniel H. , Mikhail Fady M. , Ambalavanan Namasivayam
Published: October 2014

Background: CHD is the leading cause of mortality due to birth defects. Array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) detects submicroscopic copy number changes and may improve identification of the genetic basis of CHD. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 1252 patients from a regional referral centre who had undergone aCGH. Of the patients, 173 had CHD. A whole-genome custom-designed oligonucleotide array with >44,000 probes was used to detect copy number changes. Results: Of the 1252 patients, 335 (26.76%) had abnormal aCGH results. Of the 173 patients with CHD, 50 (28.9%) had abnormal aCGH results versus 284 (26.3%) of 1079 non-cardiac patients. There were six patients with CHD who had well-described syndromes such as Wolf–Hirschhorn, trisomy 13, DiGeorge, and Williams. Of the patients with CHD, those with left-sided heart disease had the highest proportion (14/31; 45.13%) of abnormal aCGH results, followed by those with conotruncal heart disease (10/29; 34.48%), endocardial cushion defects (13/50; 26%), complex/other heart disease (12/52; 23.08%), and patent ductus arteriosus (1/11; 9.09%). Conclusions: Patients with CHD are at a substantial risk of having microdeletions and microduplications. The incidence of abnormalities on aCGH analysis is higher than identified with karyotype, and identification of copy number changes may help identify the genetic basis of the specific heart defects. However, aCGH may not have a significant diagnostic yield in those with isolated CHD. Further research using larger data sets may help identify candidate genes associated with CHD.
Dynamic localization in second language English and German
Authors: O’BRIEN MARY GRANTHAM , FÉRY CAROLINE
Published: October 2014

Marking new and given constituents requires speakers to use morphosyntactic and phonological cues within a discourse context. The current study uses a dynamic localization paradigm whereby German and English native speakers, with the other language as a second language (L2), describe constellations of pictures. In each picture a new or reintroduced animal is localized relative to other animals, thereby allowing for control of newness vs. givenness of animals. Participants completed the task in their native language (L1) and L2. English native speakers use predominantly canonical word order and often mark the new object with a falling pitch accent. German native speakers use a given-before-new word order, even when this is non-canonical, and they use a rising pitch accent in non-final position. The results indicate that speakers easily transfer unmarked grammatical structures – both word order and pitch accents – from their L1 to their L2.
Neuroplastizität und Lernen im Alter
Authors: Pinter Daniela , Weiss Elisabeth M. , Papousek Ilona , Fink Andreas
Published: October 2014

Trotz des Zitates „was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr“, ist man niemals zu alt um Neues zu lernen und diese Lernprozesse bewirken bis ins hohe Alter sowohl strukturelle, als auch funktionelle Veränderungen des Gehirns. Neuronale Plastizität beschreibt Veränderungen der Gehirnstruktur und/oder Funktion in Abhängigkeit von Veränderungen im Verhalten, in der Umwelt und in neuronalen Prozessen. Solche Veränderungen können adaptiv (z. B. durch Lernen) oder „restorativ“ (z. B. nach einem Schlaganfall) auftreten und finden ein Leben lang statt.

Das erwachsene Gehirn ist bemerkenswert formbar, aber im Vergleich zu Kindern scheint es für Erwachsene oft schwieriger Neues zu erlernen. Aber auch im Alter ist das Erlernen neuer Fähigkeiten bzw. eine körperliche oder kognitive Leistungssteigerung möglich. Insbesondere zugrundeliegende Veränderungen auf struktureller (Hippocampusvolumen) und funktioneller Ebene (Steigerung der Effizienz) dieser Lernprozesse werden in dieser Übersichtsarbeit exemplarisch dargestellt.

Der folgende Beitrag liefert einen selektiven Überblick über die Veränderungen im Gehirn während wir altern und stellt Möglichkeiten dar, wie erfolgreiches (Gehirn-) Altern gefördert werden kann. Sowohl eine erhöhte physische, als auch geistige Aktivität ermöglicht Leistungssteigerungen in spezifischen, geübten Bereichen und scheint förderlich für gesundes Gehirnaltern. Allerdings scheitert häufig der Transfer dieser Leistungsverbesserungen auf den Alltag. Die Förderung kreativer Denkprozesse, also der Fähigkeit konventionelle Muster des Denkens zu verlassen und Neues/Originelles zu generieren könnte eine Option bieten Transfereffekte zu erleichtern. Allerdings fehlen aktuell systematische, empirische Untersuchungen im Bereich der Kreativitätsförderung im höheren Alter.
Alternative meiotic chromatid segregation in the holocentric plant Luzula elegans
Authors: Heckmann Stefan , Jankowska Maja , Schubert Veit , Kumke Katrin , Ma Wei , Houben Andreas
Published: October 2014

Holocentric chromosomes occur in a number of independent eukaryotic lineages. They form holokinetic kinetochores along the entire poleward chromatid surfaces, and owing to this alternative chromosome structure, species with holocentric chromosomes cannot use the two-step loss of cohesion during meiosis typical for monocentric chromosomes. Here we show that the plant Luzula elegans maintains a holocentric chromosome architecture and behaviour throughout meiosis, and in contrast to monopolar sister centromere orientation, the unfused holokinetic sister centromeres behave as two distinct functional units during meiosis I, resulting in sister chromatid separation. Homologous non-sister chromatids remain terminally linked after metaphase I, by satellite DNA-enriched chromatin threads, until metaphase II. They then separate at anaphase II. Thus, an inverted sequence of meiotic sister chromatid segregation occurs. This alternative meiotic process is most likely one possible adaptation to handle a holocentric chromosome architecture and behaviour during meiosis.
Combining high-throughput phenotyping and genome-wide association studies to reveal natural genetic variation in rice
Authors: Yang Wanneng , Guo Zilong , Huang Chenglong , Duan Lingfeng , Chen Guoxing , Jiang Ni , Fang Wei , Feng Hui , Xie Weibo , Lian Xingming , Wang Gongwei , Luo Qingming , Zhang Qifa , Liu Qian , Xiong Lizhong
Published: October 2014

Even as the study of plant genomics rapidly develops through the use of high-throughput sequencing techniques, traditional plant phenotyping lags far behind. Here we develop a high-throughput rice phenotyping facility (HRPF) to monitor 13 traditional agronomic traits and 2 newly defined traits during the rice growth period. Using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of the 15 traits, we identify 141 associated loci, 25 of which contain known genes such as the Green Revolution semi-dwarf gene, SD1. Based on a performance evaluation of the HRPF and GWAS results, we demonstrate that high-throughput phenotyping has the potential to replace traditional phenotyping techniques and can provide valuable gene identification information. The combination of the multifunctional phenotyping tools HRPF and GWAS provides deep insights into the genetic architecture of important traits.
Suppressing qubit dephasing using real-time Hamiltonian estimation
Authors: Shulman M. D. , Harvey S. P. , Nichol J. M. , Bartlett S. D. , Doherty A. C. , Umansky V. , Yacoby A.
Published: October 2014

Unwanted interaction between a quantum system and its fluctuating environment leads to decoherence and is the primary obstacle to establishing a scalable quantum information processing architecture. Strategies such as environmental and materials engineering, quantum error correction and dynamical decoupling can mitigate decoherence, but generally increase experimental complexity. Here we improve coherence in a qubit using real-time Hamiltonian parameter estimation. Using a rapidly converging Bayesian approach, we precisely measure the splitting in a singlet-triplet spin qubit faster than the surrounding nuclear bath fluctuates. We continuously adjust qubit control parameters based on this information, thereby improving the inhomogenously broadened coherence time "Equation missing" from tens of nanoseconds to >2 μs. Because the technique demonstrated here is compatible with arbitrary qubit operations, it is a natural complement to quantum error correction and can be used to improve the performance of a wide variety of qubits in both meteorological and quantum information processing applications.
Efficient generation of knock-in transgenic zebrafish carrying reporter/driver genes by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering
Authors: Kimura Yukiko , Hisano Yu , Kawahara Atsuo , Higashijima Shin-ichi
Published: October 2014

The type II bacterial CRISPR/Cas9 system is rapidly becoming popular for genome-engineering due to its simplicity, flexibility and high efficiency. Recently, targeted knock-in of a long DNA fragment via homology-independent DNA repair has been achieved in zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9 system. This raised the possibility that knock-in transgenic zebrafish could be efficiently generated using CRISPR/Cas9. However, how widely this method can be applied for the targeting integration of foreign genes into endogenous genomic loci is unclear. Here, we report efficient generation of knock-in transgenic zebrafish that have cell-type specific Gal4 or reporter gene expression. A donor plasmid containing a heat-shock promoter was co-injected with a short guide RNA (sgRNA) targeted for genome digestion, a sgRNA targeted for donor plasmid digestion and Cas9 mRNA. We have succeeded in establishing stable knock-in transgenic fish with several different constructs for 4 genetic loci at a frequency being exceeding 25%. Due to its simplicity, design flexibility and high efficiency, we propose that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in will become a standard method for the generation transgenic zebrafish.
Development and validation of a cryogen-free automatic gas chromatograph system (GC-MS/FID) for online measurements of volatile organic compounds
Authors: Wang Ming , Zeng Limin , Lu Sihua , Shao Min , Liu Xinglong , Yu Xuena , Chen Wentai , Yuan Bin , Zhang Qian , Hu Min , Zhang Zhanyi
Published: October 2014

A cryogen-free, automatic gas chromatograph system was developed for online measurements of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere.
Air stable NHCs: a study of stereoelectronics and metallorganic catalytic activity
Authors: Furfari Samantha K. , Gyton Matthew R. , Twycross Daniel , Cole Marcus L.
Published: October 2014

IPrBr: an air stable NHC. A stereoelectronic and catalytic study of IPrBr is reported.
Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheet-based composites
Authors: Tan Chaoliang , Zhang Hua
Published: October 2014

This review summarizes and discusses the synthetic strategies, properties and applications of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheet-based composites, with emphasis on those new appealing structures, properties and functions.
Convenient detection of metal–DNA, metal–RNA, and metal–protein adducts with a click-modified Pt(ii) complex
Authors: Moghaddam Alan D. , White Jonathan D. , Cunningham Rachael M. , Loes Andrea N. , Haley Michael M. , DeRose Victoria J.
Published: October 2014

cis-[Pt(2-azido-1,3-propanediamine)Cl2] is a reagent for high-yield post-treatment fluorescent labelling of Pt(ii) biomolecular targets using click chemistry and exhibits a bias in conformational isomers in the context of duplex DNA.
Excitation of higher levels of singly charged copper ions in argon and neon glow discharges
Authors: Weiss Zdeněk , Steers Edward B. M. , Pickering Juliet C. , Hoffmann Volker , Mushtaq Sohail
Published: October 2014

Transition rate diagrams of copper ions in argon and neon glow discharges are presented, using data from Cu ii emission spectra.
Ionic liquid regioisomers: structure effect on the thermal and physical properties
Authors: Watkins John D. , Roth Elliot A. , Lartey Michael , Albenze Erik , Zhong Mingjiang , Luebke David R. , Nulwala Hunaid B.
Published: October 2014

Effects of side group placement was studied on triazolium ionic liquids and how a minor change in alkyl group placement results in very different properties.
Assembling CdSe/ZnS core–shell quantum dots on localized DNA nanostructures
Authors: Lee Junwye , Lee Jongtaek , Yeon Sung Mo , Min Sunmin , Kim Jinwoo , Choi Hyeokwoo , Kim Sunho , Koo Jonghyun , Kim Kyungseob , Park Sung Ha , Roh Yonghan
Published: October 2014

Demonstration of the assembly of CdSe/ZnS core–shell quantum dots on natural and artificially designed DNA templates.
Sintering behavior and thermoelectric properties of LaCoO3 ceramics with Bi2O3–B2O3–SiO2 as a sintering aid
Authors: Han Jiao , Song Ying , Liu Xue , Wang Fuping
Published: October 2014

Bi2O3–B2O3–SiO2 could remarkably reduce the sintering temperature of LaCoO3 ceramics to 950 oC, providing a low cost and facile approach to improve the sinterability and thermoelectric performance of oxides.
Facile synthesis of Co3O4porous nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide composites and their excellent supercapacitor performance
Authors: Ma Lianbo , Zhou Hu , Shen Xiaoping , Chen Quanrun , Zhu Guoxing , Ji Zhenyuan
Published: October 2014

Porous Co3O4nanosheets/RGO composite with excellent capacitive performance was prepared through a facile two-step strategy.
Tuning mechanical properties of nanocomposites with bimodal polymer bound layers
Authors: Senses Erkan , Akcora Pinar
Published: October 2014

Adsorbed bimodal chains on nanoparticles are shown to improve the mechanical and glassy properties of polymer nanocomposites.
Polythermal investigation of course of molten ionic bromide deoxidization by action of ‘bromine + carbon’ red-ox pair
Authors: Cherginets Victor L. , Rebrova Tatyana P. , Ponomarenko Tamara V. , Naumenko Vyacheslav A. , Datsko Yuri N.
Published: October 2014

The effect of bromide melt composition (oxoacidity) and temperature on carbohalogenation process course is studied. The corresponding kinetic order, rate constants, and the activation energies are determined.
Nucleic acid binding study of surfactant copper(ii) complex containing dipyrido[3,2-a:2′-3′-c]phenazine ligand as an intercalator: in vitro antitumor activity of complex in human liver carcinoma (HepG2) cancer cells
Authors: Nagaraj Karuppiah , Murugan Krishnan Senthil , Thangamuniyandi Pilavadi , Sakthinathan Subramanian
Published: October 2014

A new surfactant copper(ii) complex, [Cu(dppz)2DA](ClO4)2, where dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2′-3′-c]phenazine and DA-dodecylamine, has been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods.
Tween20 surfactant effect on the electrocatalytic performance of porous carbon micro-spheres supported MnO2
Authors: Li Qing-Yu , Wu Yong-Sheng , Zhang Xiao-Hui , Huang You-Guo , Wu Qiang , Wang Hong-Qiang
Published: October 2014

Tween20 surfactant facilitates transfer of ions to surface of MnO2/PCS and enhance electrocatalytic performance of the as-prepared material.
The synthesis and characterization of carboxybetaine functionalized polysiloxanes for the preparation of anti-fouling surfaces
Authors: Cheng Liujun , Liu Qiongqiong , Lei Yufeng , Lin Yaling , Zhang Anqiang
Published: October 2014

Nonspecific protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion have caused serious problems in biomedical devices, marine engineering, membrane separation and many other areas. In this research, a serials of carboxybetaine functionalized polysiloxanes were synthesized and the antifouling properties were demonstrated.
Preparation and adsorption behavior of new hollow-like spherical sludge chars for methylene blue
Authors: Wu Zhijian , Xiong Ya , Guan Guoqiang , Kong Lingjun , Tian Shuanghong
Published: October 2014

Hollow-like spherical sludge char (HSC) was prepared to decrease low pressure and increase high surface area to 1008 m2 g−1.
Pairwise interactions of colloids in two-dimensional geometric confinement
Authors: Park Bum Jun , Lee Bomsock , Yu Taekyung
Published: October 2014

Particle interactions confined to two-dimensional colloidal cages at the oil–water interface are highly pairwise.
Judicious selection of bifunctional molecules to chemically modify graphene for improving nanomechanical and thermal properties of polymer composites
Authors: Yang Yingkui , He Cheng-En , Tang Wei , Tsui Chi Pong , Shi Dean , Sun Zhengguang , Jiang Tao , Xie Xiaolin
Published: October 2014

Vinyl-benzyl-contained isocyanate functionalized graphene was covalently incorporated into a polymer to produce homogeneous composites with improved nanomechanical and thermal properties.
Rapid templated fabrication of large-scale, high-density metallic nanocone arrays and SERS applications
Authors: Zhao Jing , Sun Wangning , Sun Weijie , Liu Lingzhi , Xia Xiaoxiang , Quan Baogang , Jin Aizi , Gu Changzhi , Li Junjie
Published: October 2014

A simple and universal soft-template approach is developed for fabricating large-area metallic nanocone arrays with nano-scale tips and high density.
Cooperative clustering‐based medium access control for broadcasting in vehicular ad‐hoc networks
Authors: Yang Fan , Tang Yuliang
Published: October 2014

Owing to the advancement of wireless communication technologies, the vehicular ad‐hoc network (VANET) has experienced a rapid development in recent years. However, it is challenging to design a reliable and efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol for safety messages with strict quality of service demands, owing to unreliable wireless links and frequent changes of topology. On the other hand, cooperative communication can enhance the reliability of wireless links by exploiting the spatial diversity. The authors present here a cooperative clustering‐based MAC (CCB‐MAC) protocol for VANETs, in order to improve the transmission reliability of safety messages. In CCB‐MAC, the selected helpers relay the safety message to the nodes that have failed in reception during the broadcast period. In addition, cooperation is conducted in idle slots, without interrupting the normal transmission. Both mathematical analysis and numerical results demonstrate that CCB‐MAC increases the successful reception rate of safety messages significantly.
Anomalous temperature dependence of the stationary Josephson tunnel current in junctions between d-wave superconductors
Authors: Gabovich Alexander M. , Voitenko Alexander I.
Published: October 2014

Stationary Josephson current Ic between d-wave superconductors was calculated for superconductor-insulator-superconductor structures with various rotations of crystals relatively to each other and the junction plane. The directionality of tunneling was taken into account. It was demonstrated that the temperature, T, dependences of Ic can become nonmonotonic for certain electrode orientations due to the T-dependent ratio between the contributions of positive and negative Ic components. This model gives an explanation to the effect observed in junctions involving cuprates and is an alternative to the well-known scenario that makes allowance for Andreev-Saint-James zero-energy levels.
Spatial shaping for generating arbitrary optical dipole traps for ultracold degenerate gases
Authors: Lee Jeffrey G. , Hill W. T.
Published: October 2014

We present two spatial-shaping approaches – phase and amplitude – for creating two-dimensional optical dipole potentials for ultracold neutral atoms. When combined with an attractive or repulsive Gaussian sheet formed by an astigmatically focused beam, atoms are trapped in three dimensions resulting in planar confinement with an arbitrary network of potentials – a free-space atom chip. The first approach utilizes an adaptation of the generalized phase-contrast technique to convert a phase structure embedded in a beam after traversing a phase mask, to an identical intensity profile in the image plane. Phase masks, and a requisite phase-contrast filter, can be chemically etched into optical material (e.g., fused silica) or implemented with spatial light modulators; etching provides the highest quality while spatial light modulators enable prototyping and realtime structure modification. This approach was demonstrated on an ensemble of thermal atoms. Amplitude shaping is possible when the potential structure is made as an opaque mask in the path of a dipole trap beam, followed by imaging the shadow onto the plane of the atoms. While much more lossy, this very simple and inexpensive approach can produce dipole potentials suitable for containing degenerate gases. High-quality amplitude masks can be produced with standard photolithography techniques. Amplitude shaping was demonstrated on a Bose-Einstein condensate.
Early oligomerization stages for the non-amyloid component of α-synuclein amyloid
Authors: Eugene Cindie , Laghaei Rozita , Mousseau Normand
Published: October 2014

In recent years, much effort has focused on the early stages of aggregation and the formation of amyloid oligomers. Aggregation processes for these proteins are complex and their non-equilibrium nature makes any experimental study very difficult. Under these conditions, simulations provide a useful alternative for understanding the dynamics of the early stages of oligomerization. Here, we focus on the non-Aβ amyloid component (NAC) of the monomer, dimer, and trimer of α-synuclein, an important 35-residue sequence involved in the aggregation and fibrillation of this protein associated with Parkinson's disease. Using Hamiltonian and temperature replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations combined with the coarse grained Optimized Potential for Efficient peptide structure Prediction potential, we identify the role of the various regions and the secondary structures for the onset of oligomerization. For this sequence, we clearly observe the passage from α-helix to β-sheet, a characteristic transition of amyloid proteins. More precisely, we find that the NAC monomer is highly structured with two α-helical regions, between residues 2-13 and 19-25. As the dimer and trimer form, β-sheet structures between residues 2-14 and 26-34 appear and rapidly structure the system. The resulting conformations are much more structured than similar dimers and trimers of β-amyloid and amylin proteins and yet display a strong polymorphism at these early stages of aggregation. In addition to its inherent experimental interest, comparison with other sequences shows that NAC could be a very useful numerical model for understanding the onset of aggregation.
Coupling of a scanning flow cell with online electrochemical mass spectrometry for screening of reaction selectivity
Authors: Grote Jan-Philipp , Zeradjanin Aleksandar R. , Cherevko Serhiy , Mayrhofer Karl J. J.
Published: October 2014

In this work the online coupling of a miniaturized electrochemical scanning flow cell (SFC) to a mass spectrometer is introduced. The system is designed for the determination of reaction products in dependence of the applied potential and/or current regime as well as fast and automated change of the sample. The reaction products evaporate through a hydrophobic PTFE membrane into a small vacuum probe, which is positioned only 50–100 μm away from the electrode surface. The probe is implemented into the SFC and directly connected to the mass spectrometer. This unique configuration enables fast parameter screening for complex electrochemical reactions, including investigation of operation conditions, composition of electrolyte, and material composition. The technical developments of the system are validated by initial measurements of hydrogen evolution during water electrolysis and electrochemical reduction of CO2 to various products, showcasing the high potential for systematic combinatorial screening by this approach.
Exploring two-dimensional electron gases with two-dimensional Fourier transform spectroscopy
Authors: Paul J. , Dey P. , Tokumoto T. , Reno J. L. , Hilton D. J. , Karaiskaj D.
Published: October 2014

The dephasing of the Fermi edge singularity excitations in two modulation doped single quantum wells of 12 nm and 18 nm thickness and in-well carrier concentration of ∼4 × 1011 cm−2 was carefully measured using spectrally resolved four-wave mixing (FWM) and two-dimensional Fourier transform (2DFT) spectroscopy. Although the absorption at the Fermi edge is broad at this doping level, the spectrally resolved FWM shows narrow resonances. Two peaks are observed separated by the heavy hole/light hole energy splitting. Temperature dependent “rephasing” (S1) 2DFT spectra show a rapid linear increase of the homogeneous linewidth with temperature. The dephasing rate increases faster with temperature in the narrower 12 nm quantum well, likely due to an increased carrier-phonon scattering rate. The S1 2DFT spectra were measured using co-linear, cross-linear, and co-circular polarizations. Distinct 2DFT lineshapes were observed for co-linear and cross-linear polarizations, suggesting the existence of polarization dependent contributions. The “two-quantum coherence” (S3) 2DFT spectra for the 12 nm quantum well show a single peak for both co-linear and co-circular polarizations.
Analysis of a new MoO transition in the near-IR: A combined theoretical and experimental study
Authors: Harms Jack C. , Womack Kaitlin A. , O’Brien Leah C. , Zou Wenli
Published: October 2014

The near-infrared electronic spectrum of MoO has been recorded in emission using the Fourier transform spectrometer associated with the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak, AZ. The gas phase MoO molecules were produced in a neon-based electric discharge using a molybdenum hollow cathode and a trace amount of oxygen. One MoO molecular band was observed in the spectrum with a red-degraded bandhead at 6735 cm−1 and is assigned as the (0,0) band of the c 3Π1 − a 3Σ−0+ transition. The assignment is based upon isotopologue shifts and ab initio calculations. Results from the ab initio calculations and analysis are presented. The new calculations support the assignment of the observed transition and have led to reassignment of several electronic states from previous work.
Pulsed laser deposition of epitaxial yttrium iron garnet films with low Gilbert damping and bulk-like magnetization
Authors: Onbasli M. C. , Kehlberger A. , Kim D. H. , Jakob G. , Kläui M. , Chumak A. V. , Hillebrands B. , Ross C. A.
Published: October 2014

Yttrium iron garnet (YIG, Y 3Fe5O12) films have been epitaxially grown on Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG, Gd3Ga5O12) substrates with (100) orientation using pulsed laser deposition. The films were single-phase, epitaxial with the GGG substrate, and the root-mean-square surface roughness varied between 0.14 nm and 0.2 nm. Films with thicknesses ranging from 17 to 200 nm exhibited low coercivity (<2 Oe), near-bulk room temperature saturation moments (∼135 emu cm−3), in-plane easy axis, and damping parameters as low as 2.2 × 10−4. These high quality YIG thin films are useful in the investigation of the origins of novel magnetic phenomena and magnetization dynamics.
Origins of the non-exponential reorientation dynamics of nanoconfined water
Authors: Fogarty Aoife C. , Duboué-Dijon Elise , Laage Damien , Thompson Ward H.
Published: October 2014

The dynamics of water are dramatically modified upon confinement in nanoscale hydrophilic silica pores. In particular, the OH reorientation dynamics of the interfacial water are non-exponential and dramatically slowed relative to the bulk liquid. A detailed analysis of molecular dynamics simulations is carried out to elucidate the microscopic origins of this behavior. The results are analyzed in the context of the extended jump model for water that describes the reorientation as a combination of hydrogen-bond exchanges, or jumps, and rotation of intact hydrogen bonds, with the former representing the dominant contribution. Within this model, the roles of surface and dynamical heterogeneities are considered by spatially resolving the hydrogen-bond jump dynamics into individual sites on the silica pore surface. For each site the dynamics is nearly mono-exponential, indicating that dynamical heterogeneity is at most a minor influence, while the distribution of these individual site jump times is broad. The non-exponential dynamics can also not be attributed to enthalpic contributions to the barriers to hydrogen-bond exchanges. Two entropic effects related to the surface roughness are found to explain the retarded and diverse dynamics: those associated with the approach of a new hydrogen-bond acceptor and with the breaking of the initial hydrogen-bond.