bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aromatic N-oxide templates open inclusion and dimeric capsular assemblies with methylresorcinarene
Authors: Beyeh Ngong Kodiah , Puttreddy Rakesh , Rissanen Kari
Published: March 2015

Multiple weak interactions are manifested in the complexation of pyridine N-oxide and quinoline N-oxide by methylresorcinarene resulting to 1 : 1 assemblies in solution, with 2 : 3 and 2 : 2 host–guest dimeric capsules respectively in the solid state.
Induction of targeted necrosis with HER2-targeted platinum(iv) anticancer prodrugs
Authors: Wong Daniel Yuan Qiang , Lim Jun Han , Ang Wee Han
Published: March 2015

Platinum(iv) prodrug complexes based on the cisplatin/oxaliplatin pharmacophore, containing anti-HER2/neu targeting peptides, were designed to deliver their cytotoxic platinum(ii) payload selectively to highly HER2-expressing cells. Through induction of necrotic cell death, these platinum(iv)–peptide conjugates can circumvent apoptosis-resistance pathways in targeted HER2-positive cells.
Sulfonyl fluorides as privileged warheads in chemical biology
Authors: Narayanan Arjun , Jones Lyn H.
Published: March 2015

The use of sulfonyl fluoride probes in chemical biology is reviewed.
Sculpturing metal foams toward bifunctional 3D copper oxide nanowire arrays for pseudo-capacitance and enzyme-free hydrogen peroxide detection
Authors: Huang Jianfei , Li Huailong , Zhu Yihua , Cheng Qilin , Yang Xiaoling , Li Chunzhong
Published: March 2015

Nanoengineered copper foam with 3D free-standing CuO nanowires is used for enhanced pseudocapacitance energy storage and electroanalysis of H2O2.
Effects of fiber alignment on stem cells–fibrous scaffold interactions
Authors: Wang Shuo , Zhong Shaoping , Lim Chwee Teck , Nie Hemin
Published: March 2015

Fiber alignment-induced enhancement of cell adhesion and scaffold remodelling, and alignment of secreted ECM in differentiation.
Biocompatibility and osteogenic capacity of borosilicate bioactive glass scaffolds loaded with Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Hui , Zhao Shichang , Zhou Jie , Zhu Kaiping , Cui Xu , Huang Wenhai , Rahaman Mohamed N. , Zhang Changqing , Wang Deping
Published: March 2015

The MNP-loaded BG scaffolds are promising implants for regenerating bone in defects resulting from tumor resection.
A high-efficiency hybrid white organic light-emitting diode enabled by a new blue fluorophor
Authors: Chen Zhan , Liu Xiao-Ke , Zheng Cai-Jun , Ye Jun , Li Xin-Yang , Li Fan , Ou Xue-Mei , Zhang Xiao-Hong
Published: March 2015

High-efficiency hybrid white organic light-emitting diode enabled by a new blue fluorophor.
Simple and Highly Efficient Synthesis of Indolo- and Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines Promoted by Molecular Iodine
Authors: Jayaprakash Sarva , Ramamohan Mekala , Sridhar Regati , Raghavendrarao Kamaraju , Paradesi Naidu , Chandrasekhar Kothapally
Published: March 2015

A simple and highly efficient strategy is developed for the synthesis of indolo- and pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines from the corresponding 2-(1H-indol/pyrrol-1-yl)anilines promoted by molecular iodine in good to excellent yields.
Application of an ice thermal energy storage system as ways of energy management in a multi-functional building
Authors: Wu Chung-Tai , Feng Chih-Ling , Tsai Yao-Hsu
Published: March 2015

Peak-hour tariff typically troubles commercial office buildings in hot and humid climates where cooling demands are high during summer. Because the local power company rate structure strongly favors the practice of load shift and conversely penalizes peak load demand during peak hours, a multi-functional office building in Taipei seeks to reduce its cooling cost by ways of an ice thermal energy storage system in which harvested ice is stored during cheaper off-peak hours and thawing the storage medium during peak hours. The system uses partial storage approach to satisfy off-peak cooling demand while peak-hour cooling burden is relieved by chilled water built the previous night. Two screw chillers would be integrated with each other for the implementation to allow feeding chill water to the air-handler coils while producing ice for storage at the same time. The refrigeration cycle of water chilling operates under two modes, the ice mode for thermal storage, and the chill water mode for instantaneous air cooling. Super-cooled air from melted ice-water makes humidity levels to be lower than conditioned with conventional systems, as well as load shift incentives. Cool air is introduced to variable air volume terminal boxes and is mixed with induced plenum air to bypass any reheat, yielding additional saving.
Infrared magneto-spectroscopy of two-dimensional and three-dimensional massless fermions: A comparison
Authors: Orlita M. , Faugeras C. , Barra A.-L. , Martinez G. , Potemski M. , Basko D. M. , Zholudev M. S. , Teppe F. , Knap W. , Gavrilenko V. I. , Mikhailov N. N. , Dvoretskii S. A. , Neugebauer P. , Berger C. , de Heer W. A.
Published: March 2015

Here, we report on a magneto-optical study of two distinct systems hosting massless fermions—two-dimensional graphene and three-dimensional HgCdTe tuned to the zero band gap condition at the point of the semiconductor-to-semimetal topological transition. Both materials exhibit, in the quantum regime, a fairly rich magneto-optical response, which is composed from a series of intra- and interband inter-Landau level resonances with for massless fermions typical B dependence. The impact of the system's dimensionality and of the strength of the spin-orbit interaction on the optical response is also discussed.
Effect of electron-electron interaction on cyclotron resonance in high-mobility InAs/AlSb quantum wells
Authors: Krishtopenko S. S. , Ikonnikov A. V. , Orlita M. , Sadofyev Yu. G. , Goiran M. , Teppe F. , Knap W. , Gavrilenko V. I.
Published: March 2015

We report observation of electron-electron (e-e) interaction effect on cyclotron resonance (CR) in InAs/AlSb quantum well heterostructures. High mobility values allow us to observe strongly pronounced triple splitting of CR line at noninteger filling factors of Landau levels ν. At magnetic fields, corresponding to ν > 4, experimental values of CR energies are in good agreement with single-electron calculations on the basis of eight-band k ⋅ p Hamiltonian. In the range of filling factors 3 < ν < 4 pronounced, splitting of CR line, exceeding significantly the difference in single-electron CR energies, is discovered. The strength of the splitting increases when occupation of the partially filled Landau level tends to a half, being in qualitative agreement with previous prediction by MacDonald and Kallin [Phys. Rev. B 40, 5795 (1989)]. We demonstrate that such behaviour of CR modes can be quantitatively described if one takes into account both electron correlations and the mixing between conduction and valence bands in the calculations of matrix elements of e-e interaction.
Assessing the direction of climate interactions by means of complex networks and information theoretic tools
Authors: Deza J. I. , Barreiro M. , Masoller C.
Published: March 2015

An estimate of the net direction of climate interactions in different geographical regions is made by constructing a directed climate network from a regular latitude-longitude grid of nodes, using a directionality index (DI) based on conditional mutual information (CMI). Two datasets of surface air temperature anomalies—one monthly averaged and another daily averaged—are analyzed and compared. The network links are interpreted in terms of known atmospheric tropical and extra-tropical variability patterns. Specific and relevant geographical regions are selected, the net direction of propagation of the atmospheric patterns is analyzed, and the direction of the inferred links is validated by recovering some well-known climate variability structures. These patterns are found to be acting at various time-scales, such as atmospheric waves in the extratropics or longer range events in the tropics. This analysis demonstrates the capability of the DI measure to infer the net direction of climate interactions and may contribute to improve the present understanding of climate phenomena and climate predictability. The work presented here also stands out as an application of advanced tools to the analysis of empirical, real-world data.
Magnetic bead detection using domain wall-based nanosensor
Authors: Corte-León H. , Krzysteczko P. , Schumacher H. W. , Manzin A. , Cox D. , Antonov V. , Kazakova O.
Published: March 2015

We investigate the effect of a single magnetic bead (MB) on the domain wall (DW) pinning/depinning fields of a DW trapped at the corner of an L-shaped magnetic nanodevice. DW propagation across the device is investigated using magnetoresistance measurements. DW pinning/depinning fields are characterized in as-prepared devices and after placement of a 1 μm-sized MB (Dynabeads® MyOne™) at the corner. The effect of the MB on the DW dynamics is seen as an increase in the depinning field for specific orientations of the device with respect to the external magnetic field. The shift of the depinning field, ΔBdep = 4.5–27.0 mT, is highly stable and reproducible, being significantly above the stochastic deviation which is about 0.5 mT. The shift in the deppinning field is inversely proportional to the device width and larger for small negative angles between the device and the external magnetic field. Thus, we demonstrate that DW-based devices can be successfully used for detection of single micron size MB.
Surface enhanced Raman scattering as a probe of the cholesterol oxidase enzyme
Authors: Wojnarowska R. , Polit J. , Broda D. , Gonchar M. , Sheregii E. M.
Published: March 2015

In this work, we present a sensitive method for the determination of the enzyme concentration of cholesterol oxidase, which is one of the most important analytical enzymes. Although the method is affected by sensitivity limitations, recently the Raman scattering experimental data carried out on cholesterol oxidase conjugated via a 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid organic linker with gold nanoparticles due to the surface plasmon resonance confirmed the observation of surface enhanced Raman scattering, which enables us to detect the vibrational lines belonging to PO and C=C bonds assigned to the flavin prosthetic group. This means there is a stable binding of the enzyme with nanoparticles as well as the enzyme remaining active and substantiates the possibility that prepared bio-nanosystems can be used for analytical purposes as a sensing element.
Design and simulation of a gyroklystron amplifier
Authors: Chauhan M. S. , Swati M. V. , Jain P. K.
Published: March 2015

In the present paper, a design methodology of the gyroklystron amplifier has been described and subsequently used for the design of a typically selected 200 kW, Ka-band, four-cavity gyroklystron amplifier. This conceptual device design has been validated through the 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation and nonlinear analysis. Commercially available PIC simulation code “MAGIC” has been used for the electromagnetic study at the different location of the device RF interaction structure for the beam-absent case, i.e., eigenmode study as well as for the electron beam and RF wave interaction behaviour study in the beam present case of the gyroklystron. In addition, a practical problem of misalignment of the RF cavities with drift tubes within the tube has been also investigated and its effect on device performance studied. The analytical and simulation results confirmed the validity of the gyroklystron device design. The PIC simulation results of the present gyroklystron produced a stable RF output power of ∼218 kW for 0% velocity spread at 35 GHz, with ∼45 dB gain, 37% efficiency, and a bandwidth of 0.3% for a 70 kV, 8.2 A gyrating electron beam. The simulated values of RF output power have been found in agreement with the nonlinear analysis results within ∼5%. Further, the PIC simulation has been extended to study a practical problem of misalignment of the cavities axis and drift tube axis of the gyroklystron amplifier and found that the RF output power is more sensitive to misalignments in comparison to the device bandwidth. The present paper, gyroklystron device design, nonlinear analysis, and 3D PIC simulation using commercially available code had been systematically described would be of use to the high-power gyro-amplifier tube designers and research scientists.
Internal transport barrier triggered by non-linear lower hybrid wave deposition under condition of beam-driven toroidal rotation
Authors: Gao Q. D. , Budny R. V.
Published: March 2015

By using gyro-Landau fluid transport model (GLF23), time-dependent integrated modeling is carried out using TRANSP to explore the dynamic process of internal transport barrier (ITB) formation in the neutral beam heating discharges. When the current profile is controlled by LHCD (lower hybrid current drive), with appropriate neutral beam injection, the nonlinear interplay between the transport determined gradients in the plasma temperature (Ti,e) and toroidal velocity (Vϕ) and the E×B flow shear (including q-profile) produces transport bifurcations, generating spontaneously a stepwise growing ITB. In the discharge, the constraints imposed by the wave propagation condition causes interplay of the LH driven current distribution with the plasma configuration modification, which constitutes non-linearity in the LH wave deposition. The non-linear effects cause bifurcation in LHCD, generating two distinct quasi-stationary reversed magnetic shear configurations. The change of current profile during the transition period between the two quasi-stationary states results in increase of the E×B shearing flow arising from toroidal rotation. The turbulence transport suppression by sheared E×B flow during the ITB development is analysed, and the temporal evolution of some parameters characterized the plasma confinement is examined. Ample evidence shows that onset of the ITB development is correlated with the enhancement of E×B shearing rate caused by the bifurcation in LHCD. It is suggested that the ITB triggering is associated with the non-linear effects of the LH power deposition.
Magnetic, dielectric properties, and scaling behaviors of Aurivillius compounds Bi6−x∕3Fe2Ti3−2x(WCo)xO18 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15)
Authors: Zuo X. Z. , Yang J. , Yuan B. , Song D. P. , Tang X. W. , Zhang K. J. , Zhu X. B. , Song W. H. , Dai J. M. , Sun Y. P.
Published: March 2015

We investigate the structural, magnetic, dielectric properties, and scaling behaviors of Aurivillius compounds Bi6−x∕3Fe2Ti3−2x(WCo)xO18 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15). The room-temperature weak ferromagnetism is observed for the W/Co co-doped samples. The results of the dielectric constant εr, complex impedance Z″, the dc conductivity σdc, and hopping frequency fH manifest that the dielectric relaxation of the x = 0 sample and the doped samples in the dielectric anomaly region (450–750 K) can be ascribed to the trap-controlled ac conduction around the doubly ionized oxygen vacancies and the localized hopping process of oxygen vacancies, respectively. The scaling behaviors reveal that the dynamic process of both electrons in the x = 0 sample and oxygen vacancies in the doped samples is temperature independent. The ferroelectric Curie-temperature Tc decreases slightly from 973 K to 947 K with increasing the doping level of W/Co. In addition, the dielectric loss exhibits a dielectric relaxation above 800 K with the rather large activation energies (1.95 eV ≤ Ea ≤ 2.72 eV).
A new method for observing the running states of a single-variable nonlinear system
Authors: Meng Yu , Chen Hong , Chen Cheng
Published: March 2015

In order to timely grasp a single variable nonlinear system running states, a new method called Scatter Point method is put forward in this paper. It can be used to observe or monitor the running states of a single variable nonlinear system in real-time. In this paper, the definition of the method is given at first, and then its working principle is expounded theoretically, after this, some physical experiments based on Chua's nonlinear system are conducted. At the same time, many scatter point graphs are measured by a general analog oscilloscope. The motion, number, and distribution of these scatter points shown on the oscilloscope screen can directly reflect the current states of the tested system. The experimental results further confirm that the method is effective and practical, in which the system running states are not easily lost. In addition, this method is not only suitable for single variable systems but also for multivariable systems.
The magnetic origin of multiferroic Y2CoMnO6
Authors: Jia Ting , Zeng Zhi , Li X. G. , Lin H. Q.
Published: March 2015

It has been found experimentally that the ferroelectricity in Y2CoMnO6 is driven by a magnetic ordering of collinear up-up-down-down (↑↑↓↓). Here, the origin of the magnetism and thereby ferroelectricity is studied using first-principles calculations. We first confirm that the experimentally observed ↑↑↓↓ antiferromagnetic structure is the ground state of Y2CoMnO6. Additionally, both the Co2+ and Mn4+ are in the high-spin state. By analyzing the exchange coupling and corresponding pathways, we conclude that the ↑↑↓↓ spin order in Y2CoMnO6 originates from a subtle competition between the ferromagnetic Co-O-Mn super-exchange and antiferromagnetic Co-Mn direct-exchange along c axis.
An acoustic filter based on layered structure
Authors: Ma Jianguo , Steer Michael B. , Jiang Xiaoning
Published: March 2015

Acoustic filters (AFs) are key components to control wave propagation in multi-frequency systems. We present a design which selectively achieves acoustic filtering with a stop band and passive amplification at the high- and low-frequencies, respectively. Measurement results from the prototypes closely match the design predictions. The AF suppresses the high frequency aliasing echo by 14.5 dB and amplifies the low frequency transmission by 8.0 dB, increasing an axial resolution from 416 to 86 μm in imaging. The AF design approach is proved to be effective in multi-frequency systems.
Electronic properties of phosphorus doped silicon nanocrystals embedded in SiO2
Authors: Gutsch Sebastian , Laube Jan , Hiller Daniel , Bock Wolfgang , Wahl Michael , Kopnarski Michael , Gnaser Hubert , Puthen-Veettil Binesh , Zacharias Margit
Published: March 2015

We study the electronic properties of phosphorus doped Si nanocrystal/SiO2 superlattices and determine the carrier concentration by transient current analysis. This is achieved by encapsulating the multilayers between two electrical insulation layers and controlling the carrier mobility by a defined layer to layer separation. A saturation of the voltage dependent ionized carrier density is observed which indicates complete substitutional dopant ionization and allows to calculate the dopant induced charge carrier density. It is found that the doping efficiency of the superlattice is only 0.12% considering the full ionization regime which explains the unusual small dopant effect on transport characteristics.
Supercooling and cold energy storage characteristics of nano-media in ball-packed porous structures
Authors: Qunzhi Zhao , Xuelai Zhang , Xiaoyang Liang , Tiantian Liu , Xiaoxue Luo
Published: March 2015

The presented experiments aimed to study the supercooling and cold-energy storage characteristics of nanofluids and water-based nano-media in ball-packed porous structures (BPS). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) measuring 20nm and 80nm were used as additives and sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate (SDBS) was used as anionic surfactant. The experiments used different concentrations of nanofluid, distilled with BPS of different spherical diameter and different concentrations of nano-media, and were conducted 20 times. Experimental results of supercooling were analysed by statistical methods. Results show that the average and peak supercooling degrees of nanofluids and nano-media in BPS are lower than those of distilled water. For the distilled water in BPS, the supercooling degree decreases on the whole with the decrease of the ball diameter. With the same spherical diameter (8mm) of BPS, the supercooling degree of TiO2 NPs measuring 20nm is lower than the supercooling degree of distilled water in BPS. Step-cooling experiments of different concentrations of nanofluids and nano-media in BPS were also conducted. Results showed that phase transition time is reduced because of the presence of TiO2 NPs. The BPS substrate and the NPs enhance the heat transfer. Distilled water with a porous solid base and nanoparticles means the amount of cold-energy storage increases and the supercooling degree and the total time are greatly reduced. The phase transition time of distilled water is about 3.5 times that of nano-media in BPS.
Research on Thermodynamic Properties of Polybrominated Diphenylamine by Neural Network
Authors: Du Xi-hua , Zhuang Wen-chang , Shi Xiao-qin , Feng Chang-jun
Published: March 2015

Based on the location of bromine substituents and conjugation matrix, a new substituent position index 0X not only was defined, but also molecular shape indexes Km and electronegativity distance vectors Mm of diphenylamine and 209 kinds of polybrominated diphenylamine (PBDPA) molecules were calculated. Then the quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) among the thermodynamic properties of 210 organic pollutants and 0X, K3, M29, M36 were founded by Leaps-and-Bounds regression. Using the four structural parameters as input neurons of the artificial neural network, three satisfactory QSPR models with network structures of 4:21:1, 4:24:1, and 4:24:1 respectively, were achieved by the back-propagation algorithm. The total correlation coefficients R were 0.9999, 0.9997, and 0.9995 respectively and the standard errors S were 1.036, 1.469, and 1.510 respectively. The relative mean deviation between the predicted value and the experimental value of S⊖, ΔfH⊖ and ΔfG⊖ were 0.11%, 0.34% and 0.24% respectively, which indicated that the QSPR models had good stability and superior predictive ability. The results showed that there were good nonlinear correlations between the thermodynamic properties of PBDPAs and the four structural parameters. Thus, it was concluded that the ANN models established by the new substituent position index were fully applicable to predict properties of PBDPAs.
Synthesis of Hierarchically Porous CaFe2O4/Carbon Fiber Hybrids and Microwave Induced Catalytic Activity
Authors: Song Yi , Kong Chao , Li Jia
Published: March 2015

Hierarchically porous CaFe2O4/carbon fiber hybrids with enhanced microwave induced catalytic activity for the degradation of methyl violet (MV) from water were synthesized from kapok by a novel two-step process coupling pore-fabricating and nanoparticles assembling. The as-prepared samples exhibited characteristic hollow fiber morphology, CaFe2O4 nanoparticles dispersed uniformly on the surface of hollow carbon fibers (HCF). The effects of various factors such as CaFe2O4 loading, microwave power, catalyst doses, initial concentration of MV solution and pH value on the microwave induced degradation of MV over CaFe2O4/HCF were evaluated. It was found that the microwave induced degradation of MV over CaFe2O4/HCF had high reaction rate and short process time. The kinetic study indicated that the degradation of MV over CaFe2O4/HCF followed pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The high catalytic activity of CaFe2O4/HCF was facilitated by the synergistic relationship between microwave induced catalytic reaction and adsorption characteristics.
Investigation on Exciton Relaxation Kinetics of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS Quantum Dots by Time-Resolved Spectroscopy Techniques
Authors: Li Xue-cong , Sui Ning , Zhang Yu
Published: March 2015

The exciton relaxation kinetics of ZnCuInS/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) is investigated by time-resolved spectroscopy techniques in detail. Based on the rate distribution model, the wavelength-dependent emission dynamics shows that the intrinsic exciton, the exciton in the interface defect state and that in donor-acceptor pair state (DAPS) together participate in the photoluminescence process of QDs, and the whole emission process is mainly dependent on the DAPS emission. Transient absorption data show that the intrinsic exciton and the interface defect species maybe together appear after excitation and the intensity-dependent Auger recombination process also exists in QDs at high excitation intensity.
Observation of Excited νs(NO2) and Relaxation Process of HNS in Solution by CARS Technique
Authors: Chu Gen-bai , Shui Min , Song Yun-fei , Xu Tao , Gu Yu-qiu , Yang Yan-qiang
Published: March 2015

Investigation on vibrational excitation and relaxation process will provide important information for a better understanding of ultrafast dynamic response of energetic materials. Using sub-ps time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) experiments, we directly observe excitation of vibrational mode νs(NO2) and its relaxation process of ground state HNS (2,2′,4,4′,6,6′-hexanitrostillbenein) in solution. The results show that νs(NO2) at 1385 cm−1 has been excited and relaxation time of 0.38 and 8.5 ps is obtained. The possible quantum beat frequencies are also discussed via fs-CARS experiments. The original results provide an insight into ultrafast process of energetic materials.
Methanol Adsorption on TiO2 Film Studied by Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy
Authors: Feng Ran-ran , Liu An-an , Liu Shuo , Shi Jiao-jian , Liu Yi , Ren Ze-feng
Published: March 2015

A broadband infrared surface sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS) and an in situ UV excitation setup devoted to studying surface photocatalysis have been constructed. With a home-made compact high vacuum cell, organic contaminants on TiO2 thin film surface prepared by RF magnetron sputtering were in situ removed under 266 nm irradiation in 10 kPa O2 atmosphere. We obtained the methanol spectrum in the CH3 stretching vibration region on TiO2 surface with changing the methanol pressure at room temperature. Features of both molecular and dissociative methanol, methoxy, adsorbed on this surface were resolved. The CH3 symmetric stretching vibration frequency and Fermi resonance of molecular methanol is red-shifted by about 6–8 cm−1 from low to high coverage. Moreover, the recombination of dissociative methanol and H on surfaces in vacuum was also observed. Our results suggest two equilibria exist: between molecular methanol in the gas phase and that on surfaces, and between molecular methanol and dissociative methanol on surfaces.
Influence of Triarylamine and Indoline as Donor on Photovoltaic Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Employing Cobalt Redox Shuttle
Authors: Zhang Yue , Wang Zhi-hui , Hao Yu-jie , Wu Quan-ping , Liang Mao , Xue Song
Published: March 2015

Two organic dyes XS51 and XS52 derivated from triarylamine and indoline are synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) employing cobalt and iodine redox shuttles. The effects of dye structure upon the photophysical, electro-chemical characteristics and cell performance are investigated. XS51 with four hexyloxyl groups on triarylamine performs better steric hindrance and an improvement of photovoltage. XS52 provides higher short-circuit photocurrent density due to the strong electron-donating capability of indoline unit. The results from the redox electrolyte on cell performances indicate that the synthesized dyes are more suitable for tris(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(II/III) redox couple than I−/I3− redox couple in assembling DSCs. Application of XS52 in the cobalt electrolyte yields a DSC with an overall power conversion efficiency of 6.58% under AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm2) irradiation.
Temperature-Dependent Electrical Conductance of Bi Nanowires
Authors: Huo Peng-cheng , Fei Guang Tao , Zhang Yang , Zhang Li-de
Published: March 2015

The single crystal bismuth nanowire arrays grown along [011¯2] with the diameter of 30 nm was synthesized in the pore of anodic aluminum oxide templates through electrodeposition process. The temperature dependent electric conductance of Bi nanowire arrays was measured from 78 K to 320 K. We found that the semimetal-to-semiconductor transition happened around 230 K for 30 nm Bi nanowires oriented along [011¯2] and the electric conductance of the nanowires had a strong temperature dependence.
Effects of Carbide Formation in Graphene Growth
Authors: Wang Zhun-zhun , Luo Qi-quan , Zhang Wen-hua , Li Zhen-yu
Published: March 2015

Besides carbon solubility, the carbide formation possibility is another important factor to differentiate various substrate materials in graphene growth. A recent experiment indicates that the formation of transition metal carbides (TMCs) can suppress carbon precipitation. In this study, Mo2C, a representative of TMCs, is used to study the effects of carbide formation in graphene growth from first principles. Carbon diffusion in Mo2C bulk turns out to be very difficult and it becomes much easier on the Mo2C(001) surface. Therefore, carbon precipitation suppression and graphene growth can be realized simultaneously. A direction depended diffusion behavior is observed on the Mo2C(101) surface, which makes it less favorable for graphene growth compared to the (001) surface.
Electron Momentum Spectroscopy of Outer Valence Orbitals of 2-Fluoroethanol
Authors: Shi Yu-feng , Shan Xu , Wang En-liang , Yang Hong-jiang , Zhang Wei , Chen Xiang-jun
Published: March 2015

The binding energy spectra and electron momentum distributions for the outer valence molecular orbitals of gaseous 2-fluoroethanol have been measured by the non-coplanar asymmetric (e, 2e) spectrometer at impact energy of 2.5 keV plus binding energy. The quantitative calculations of the ionization energies and the relevant molecular orbitals have been carried out by using the outer-valence Green's function method and the density functional theory with B3LYP hybrid functional. The observed ionization bands in binding energy spectra, as well as the previous photoelectron spectrum which was not assigned, have been assigned for the first time through the comparison between experiment and theory. In general, the theoretical electron momentum distributions calculated by B3LYP method with aug-cc-pVTZ basis set are in line with the experimental ones when taking into account the Boltzmann-weighted thermo-statistical abundances of five conformers of 2-fluoroethanol.
Steering Vibrational Population Transfer via Double-∑-Type Laser Scheme
Authors: Li Li-hang , Han Yong-chang , Cong Shu-lin
Published: March 2015

The vibrational state-selected population transfer from a highly vibrationally excited level to the ground level is of great importance in the preparation of ultra-cold molecules. By using the time-dependent quantum-wave-packet method, the population transfer dynamics is investigated theoretically for the HF molecule. A double-∑-type laser scheme is proposed to transfer the population from the ∣v=16〉 level to the ground vibrational level ∣v=0〉 on the ground electronic state. The scheme consists of two steps: The first step is to transfer the population from ∣v=16〉 to ∣v=7〉 via an intermediate level ∣v=11〉, and the second one is to transfer the population from ∣v=7〉 to ∣v=0〉 via ∣v=3〉. In each step, three vibrational levels form a ∑-type population transfer path under the action of two temporally overlapped laser pulses. The maximal population-transfer efficiency is obtained by optimizing the laser intensities, frequencies, and relative delays. Cases for the pulses in intuitive and counterintuitive sequences are both calculated and compared. It is found that for both cases the population can be efficiently (over 90%) transferred from the ∣v=16〉 level to the ∣v=0〉 level.
Coordination of β-Ketoimine-Derived Ligands at Main Group and Transition Metals
Authors: Cummins Struan J. W. , Fraser H. Putri , Fulton J. Robin , Coles Martyn P. , Fitchett Christopher M.
Published: March 2015

The β-ketoimine HC[MeC(O)][MeC(NHt-Bu)] (1H) (Me = methyl) was used as a ligand in the synthesis of organo-aluminium and gallium compounds. With Al, the NH functionality was deprotonated to form the N,O-chelating β-ketoiminate ligand in Al{HC[MeC(O)][MeC(Nt-Bu)]}Me2 (3) (t-Bu = tertiary butyl), whereas the neutral form coordinated to trimethylgallium via the oxygen atom to form the adduct GaMe3·{HC[MeC(O)][MeC(NHt-Bu)]} (4). Reaction of 1H with Ar†NH2 (Ar† = 2-t-BuC6H4) afforded the new N-aryl β-ketoimine HC[MeC(O)][MeC(NHAr†)] (2H), which reacted with Pd(OAc)2 (OAc = acetate = CH3CO2–) to afford the heteroleptic dimer {Pd[HC(MeC(O))(MeC(NAr†))](μ-OAc)}2 ([5]2). The homoleptic bis(β-ketoiminate) Pd{HC[MeC(O)][MeC(NAr†)]}2 (6) was isolated as a minor product of this reaction. The crystal structures of compounds 3, 4, [5]2, and 6 are reported.
Adverse effects of obesity and/or high-fat diet on oocyte quality and metabolism are not reversible with resumption of regular diet in mice
Authors: Reynolds Kasey A. , Boudoures Anna L. , Chi Maggie M.-Y. , Wang Qiang , Moley Kelle H.
Published: March 2015

Obesity adversely affects reproduction and results in oocyte defects in both mice and humans. In the present study we used a mouse model to examine whether the adverse effects of an obesogenic diet on oocyte metabolism and morphology can be reversed by return to a control diet. The intervention group consisted of C57BL6/J mice placed on a high-fat diet (HFD; 35.8% fat and 20.2% protein by nutritional content) for 6 weeks and then switched to an isocaloric control diet (CD; 13% fat and 25% protein) for 8 weeks (HFD/CD mice). The control group consisted of age-matched C57BL6/J mice maintained on CD for 14 weeks (CD/CD mice). Although metabolic parameters (weight, glucose tolerance and cholesterol levels) of HFD/CD mice returned to normal after this ‘diet reversal’ period, several oocyte defects were not reversible. These HFD/CD oocytes demonstrated significantly higher percentages of abnormal meiotic spindles, lower mitochondrial membrane potential and lower ATP and citrate levels, and higher percentages of abnormal lipid accumulation and mitochondrial distribution compared with CD/CD mice. These results suggest that the negative effects of an obesogenic diet on oocyte quality are not reversible, despite reversal of metabolic parameters. These data may provide better insight when counselling obese women regarding reproductive options and success.
Accuracy of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in equine in vivo-recovered and in vitro-produced blastocysts
Authors: Choi Y. H. , Penedo M. C. T. , Daftari P. , Velez I. C. , Hinrichs K.
Published: March 2015

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis has great potential in the horse, but information on evaluation of equine embryo biopsy samples is limited. Blastocysts were biopsied using a Piezo drill and methods for whole-genome amplification (WGA) investigated. Results for 33 genetic loci were then compared between biopsy samples from in vitro-produced (IVP) and in vivo-recovered (VIV) blastocysts. Under the experimental conditions described, WGA using the Qiagen Repli-g Midi kit was more accurate than that using the Illustra Genomiphi V2 kit (98.2% vs 25.8%, respectively). Using WGA with the Qiagen kit, three biopsy samples were evaluated from each of eight IVP and 19 VIV blastocysts, some produced using semen from stallions carrying the genetic mutations associated with the diseases hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) or polysaccharide storage myopathy 1 (PSSM1). Three of 81 biopsy samples (3.7%) returned <50% accuracy. In the remaining 78 samples, overall accuracy was 99.3% (2556/2574 loci interrogated). Accuracy did not differ significantly between samples from IVP and VIV blastocysts. Allele drop-out in heterozygous loci was 1.6% (17/1035). Accuracy for sex determination was 100%; accuracy for heterozygosity for disease-causing mutations was 97.7% (43/44). In conclusion, Piezo-driven embryo biopsy with WGA has >95% overall accuracy in IVP and VIV embryos, and this technique is suitable for use in a clinical setting.
Age-associated changes in granulosa cell transcript abundance in equine preovulatory follicles
Authors: Sessions-Bresnahan Dawn R. , Carnevale Elaine M.
Published: March 2015

Age-related changes in follicle paracrine signalling are not defined, and follicular gene transcript abundance could predict oocyte viability. Granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles of mares considered Young (n = 12; 4–14 years), Mid-aged (n = 9; 15–19 years) and Old (n = 14; 20–27 years) were evaluated for transcript abundance related to systemic and follicle-specific pathways. Gene transcript abundance for receptors of insulin, adiponectin and peroxisome proliferating factor-γ were higher or tended to be higher in Mid-aged or Old than Young mares. Transcript abundance for interleukin (IL)-6 was elevated in Old versus Young mares, and IL-6 signal transducer was elevated in Old versus younger groups. Expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily member 1A was higher in Mid-aged than Young mares, whereas TNF-inducible gene 6 protein mRNA tended to decrease in Mid-aged versus Young and Old mares. Genes for LH receptor and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein tended to be increased in Old versus Mid-aged and Young mares, respectively. Young and Old mares had higher mRNA for tissue-type plasminogen activator than Mid-aged mares. Thioredoxin-2 mRNA was higher in Old than younger groups. We observed age-related changes in mRNA of receptors for metabolic hormones, inflammatory processes, steroidogenic hormones, tissue remodelling and mitochondrial function, which could contribute to and/or mark alterations in follicular function and fertility.
Data Availability for Red Snapper in Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean Waters
Authors: Rindone R. Ryan , Kellison G. Todd , Bortone Stephen A.
Published: March 2015

Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus populations support (or have supported) important commercial and recreational fisheries in Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters. Stock assessment results and related regulatory actions are contentious in both regions. We assessed the relative availability of information to support Red Snapper assessment and management between the two regions by performing a literature review and comparing the number of region-specific, Red Snapper–focused peer-reviewed publications. One hundred and ten publications (over the period 1982–2013) were identified in this search, with 94% focused on Gulf of Mexico waters. We then assessed the available information on juvenile (≤150 mm total length) Red Snapper. Twenty-eight peer-reviewed publications focused entirely or partially on juvenile Red Snapper in Gulf of Mexico waters. None documented the occurrence of juvenile Red Snapper in southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters. For the Gulf of Mexico, more than 50,000 records of juvenile Red Snapper were identified in a single trawl survey database. For southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters, a comprehensive search of fishery-independent survey databases (totaling >75,000 individual gear deployments and occurring across the range of habitats, depths, and seasons in which juvenile Red Snapper were collected in the Gulf of Mexico trawl survey) and institutional collections identified only 132 records of juvenile Red Snapper. These results highlight the need for additional information on Red Snapper in southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean waters and on the connectivity between Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. Atlantic Ocean Red Snapper populations to support Red Snapper population assessment and fishery management.

Received August 6, 2014; accepted November 13, 2014
Suppressive properties of ginsenoside Rb2, a protopanaxadiol-type ginseng saponin, on reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in UV-B-irradiated human dermal keratinocytes
Authors: Oh Sun-Joo , Kim Kyunghoon , Lim Chang-Jin
Published: March 2015

Ginsenosides, also known as ginseng saponins, are the principal bioactive ingredients of ginseng, which are responsible for its diverse pharmacological activities. The present work aimed to assess skin anti-photoaging properties of ginsenoside Rb2 (Rb2), one of the predominant protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, in human epidermal keratinocyte HaCaT cells under UV-B irradiation. When the cultured keratinocytes were subjected to Rb2 prior to UV-B irradiation, Rb2 displayed suppressive activities on UV-B-induced reactive oxygen species elevation and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression and secretion. However, Rb2 at the used concentrations was unable to modulate cellular survivals in the UV-B-irradiated keratinocytes. In brief, Rb2 possesses a protective role against the photoaging of human keratinocyte cells under UV-B irradiation.
A comparison of the impacts of continuous and interval cycle exercise on perceived exertion
Authors: Kilpatrick Marcus W. , Greeley Samuel J. , Ferron John M.
Published: March 2015

Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were developed to assess exertion during exercise testing. However, assessments of RPE prior to and after exercise have become common and potentially important in understanding exercise behaviour. The purpose of this project was to compare RPE taken before, during and after interval and continuous exercise sessions. Twenty‐four participants (12 men, 12 women, body mass index = 24, = 41 mL · kg · min−1) completed a maximal cycle ergometer test used to prescribe experimental trials: (1) moderate continuous (MC), (2) vigorous continuous (VC), (3) vigorous interval and (4) severe interval. All trials were 20 minutes in length and all intervals utilised 60‐second segments and a 1:1 work‐to‐rest ratio. Predicted exertion was highest in the continuous vigorous trial (p <. 05). Exertion increased from beginning to end in all trials (p <. 05). Session RPE values were highest for the continuous vigorous trial (p <. 05). Findings suggest that interval protocols produce perceptions of effort that are lower than VC exercise but similar to MC exercise. These results help describe the perceptions of effort associated with continuous and interval exercise and suggest that interval exercise can be performed with lower perceived work, which may encourage increased participation.
Biases and regularities of grapheme–colour associations in Japanese nonsynaesthetic population
Authors: Nagai Jun-ichi , Yokosawa Kazuhiko , Asano Michiko
Published: March 2015

Associations between graphemes and colours in a nonsynaesthetic Japanese population were investigated. Participants chose the most suitable colour from 11 basic colour terms for each of 40 graphemes from the four categories of graphemes used in the Japanese language (kana characters, English alphabet letters, and Arabic and kanji numerals). This test was repeated after a three-week interval. In their responses, which were not as temporally consistent as those of grapheme–colour synaesthetes, participants showed biases and regularities that were comparable to those of synaesthetes reported in past studies. Although it has been believed that only synaesthetes, and not nonsynaesthetes, tended to associate graphemes with colours based on grapheme frequency, Berlin and Kay's colour typology, and colour word frequency, participants in this study tended in part to associate graphemes with colours based on the above factors. Moreover, participants that were nonsynaesthetes tended to associate different graphemes that shared sounds and/or meanings (e.g., Arabic and kanji numerals representing the same number) with the same colours, which was analogous to the findings in Japanese synaesthetes. These results support the view that grapheme–colour synaesthesia might have its origins in cross-modal association processes that are shared with the general population.
Aurora B prevents chromosome arm separation defects by promoting telomere dispersion and disjunction
Authors: Reyes Céline , Serrurier Céline , Gauthier Tiphaine , Gachet Yannick , Tournier Sylvie
Published: March 2015

The segregation of centromeres and telomeres at mitosis is coordinated at multiple levels to prevent the formation of aneuploid cells, a phenotype frequently observed in cancer. Mitotic instability arises from chromosome segregation defects, giving rise to chromatin bridges at anaphase. Most of these defects are corrected before anaphase onset by a mechanism involving Aurora B kinase, a key regulator of mitosis in a wide range of organisms. Here, we describe a new role for Aurora B in telomere dispersion and disjunction during fission yeast mitosis. Telomere dispersion initiates in metaphase, whereas disjunction takes place in anaphase. Dispersion is promoted by the dissociation of Swi6/HP1 and cohesin Rad21 from telomeres, whereas disjunction occurs at anaphase after the phosphorylation of condensin subunit Cnd2. Strikingly, we demonstrate that deletion of Ccq1, a telomeric shelterin component, rescued cell death after Aurora inhibition by promoting the loading of condensin on chromosome arms. Our findings reveal an essential role for telomeres in chromosome arm segregation.
PAPC mediates self/non–self-distinction during Snail1-dependent tissue separation
Authors: Luu Olivia , Damm Erich W. , Parent Serge E. , Barua Debanjan , Smith Tamara H.L. , Wen Jason W.H. , Lepage Stephanie E. , Nagel Martina , Ibrahim-Gawel Hady , Huang Yunyun , Bruce Ashley E.E. , Winklbauer Rudolf
Published: March 2015

Cleft-like boundaries represent a type of cell sorting boundary characterized by the presence of a physical gap between tissues. We studied the cleft-like ectoderm–mesoderm boundary in Xenopus laevis and zebrafish gastrulae. We identified the transcription factor Snail1 as being essential for tissue separation, showed that its expression in the mesoderm depends on noncanonical Wnt signaling, and demonstrated that it enables paraxial protocadherin (PAPC) to promote tissue separation through two novel functions. First, PAPC attenuates planar cell polarity signaling at the ectoderm–mesoderm boundary to lower cell adhesion and facilitate cleft formation. Second, PAPC controls formation of a distinct type of adhesive contact between mesoderm and ectoderm cells that shows properties of a cleft-like boundary at the single-cell level. It consists of short stretches of adherens junction–like contacts inserted between intermediate-sized contacts and large intercellular gaps. These roles of PAPC constitute a self/non–self-recognition mechanism that determines the site of boundary formation at the interface between PAPC-expressing and -nonexpressing cells.
Balancing cell behavior at boundaries
Authors: Wilkinson David G.
Published: March 2015

The restriction of cell intermingling across boundaries is essential for the establishment of discrete tissues. Eph receptor signaling prevents intermingling at many boundaries. In this issue, Luu et al. (2015. J. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201409026) report a parallel pathway, mediated by Wnt signaling, Snail1, and paraxial protocadherin (PAPC). This pathway establishes a distinctive organization of cell adhesion and intercellular gaps at the interface between tissues.
The Conceptualized Environment
Authors: Lloyd Alan B.
Published: March 2015

Societies do not simply live in a physical environment. At least as important, if not more so, is the way in which they conceptualize that environment to make it comprehensible and tractable, which is the focus of this chapter. It discusses the Egyptian conceptualizations of the physical structure of the universe, time, and the inhabitants of the cosmos.