bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mixed-mode resins: taking shortcut in downstream processing of raw-starch digesting α-amylases
Authors: Lončar Nikola , Slavić Marinela Šokarda , Vujčić Zoran , Božić Nataša
Published: October 2015

Bacillus licheniformis 9945a α-amylase is known as a potent enzyme for raw starch hydrolysis. In this paper, a mixed mode Nuvia cPrime™ resin is examined with the aim to improve the downstream processing of raw starch digesting amylases and exploit the hydrophobic patches on their surface. This resin combines hydrophobic interactions with cation exchange groups and as such the presence of salt facilitates hydrophobic interactions while the ion-exchange groups enable proper selectivity. α-Amylase was produced using an optimized fed-batch approach in a defined media and significant overexpression of 1.2 g L−1 was achieved. This single step procedure enables simultaneous concentration, pigment removal as well as purification of amylase with yields of 96% directly from the fermentation broth.
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes–chitosan with a branched structure modified with ferrocenecarboxylic acid for carcinoembryonic antigen detection
Authors: Feng Taotao , Qiao Xiuwen , Wang Haining , Sun Zhao , Hong Chenglin
Published: October 2015

A novel electrochemical immunosensor for the detection of CEA was proposed based on Fc-COOH connected to the branched structure of a MWCNT–CS complex modified electrode.
Shikimic acid ozonolysis kinetics of the transition from liquid aqueous solution to highly viscous glass
Authors: Steimer Sarah S. , Berkemeier Thomas , Gilgen Anina , Krieger Ulrich K. , Peter Thomas , Shiraiwa Manabu , Ammann Markus
Published: October 2015

Humidity induced diffusivity changes drive the condensed phase ozonolysis kinetics of shikimic acid as a proxy for organic atmospheric particles.
Au13−nAgn clusters: a remarkably simple trend
Authors: Munoz Francisco , Varas Alejandro , Rogan José , Valdivia Juan Alejandro , Kiwi Miguel
Published: October 2015

The planar to three dimensional transition of Au13−nAgn clusters is investigated.
Ce1−xCoxOynanocatalysts: synthesis, characterization and environmental application
Authors: Anushree Anushree , Kumar Satish , Sharma Chhaya
Published: October 2015

In the present study, Ce1−xCoxOynanocatalysts were synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method. The synthesized catalysts were further characterized using various techniques (XRD, FTIR, N2adsorption/desorption, SEM, TEM, and EDX) in order to study their structural, micro-structural and textural properties.
Solid oxide electrolysis – a key enabling technology for sustainable energy scenarios
Authors: Hansen John Bøgild
Published: October 2015

Production of fuels and chemicals from steam and/or CO2with solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) and electricity have attracted considerable interest recently. This paper is an extended version of the introductory lecture presented at the first Faraday Discussions meeting on the subject. The focus is on the state of the art of cells, stacks and systems. Thermodynamics, performance and degradation are addressed. Remaining challenges and potential application of the technology are discussed from an industrial perspective.
Novel supercapacitor materials including OLED emitters
Authors: Kim Seungho , Jang Kihun , Park Beom-Soo Michael , Ahn Heejoon , Ko Jang Myoun , Park Jongwook
Published: October 2015

This study constitutes the first attempt to use an OLED emitter material as a novel supercapacitor component. In supercapacitor tests, the specific capacitance (33.07 F g−1) of a poly(9-(3-vinyl-phenyl)-anthracene) (PVPA)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) mixture was found to be approximately three times that of the system composed of the MWCNTs alone.
Lanthanide complex-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with multicolor emission covered from 450 nm to 1700 nm
Authors: Sun Lining , Liu Ying , Dang Song , Wang Zhuyi , Liu Jinliang , Fu Jifang , Shi Liyi
Published: October 2015

Six new hybrid materials covalently linking ternary lanthanide complexes to POSS were prepared, and the luminescent properties were investigated in detail.
A novel photocatalyst CeF3: facile fabrication and photocatalytic performance
Authors: Miao Hui , Huang Gui-Fang , Xu Liang , Yang Yin-Cai , Yang Ke , Huang Wei-Qing
Published: October 2015

The synthesized CeF3 nanoparticles can effectively decompose organic contaminants in aqueous solution and show high stability.
Ferromagnetism of three-dimensional graphene framework
Authors: Qin Sai , Sun Pingping , Di Qitao , Zhou Shuang , Yang Caiping , Xu Qingyu
Published: October 2015

A three-dimensional graphene framework (3DGF) was synthesizedviahydrothermal growth of graphene oxide (GO) suspension.
Microfluidic paper analytical device for the chromatographic separation of ascorbic acid and dopamine
Authors: Murphy A. , Gorey B. , de Guzman K. , Kelly N. , Nesterenko E. P. , Morrin A.
Published: October 2015

Cellulose-based filter papers were used as base materials to construct microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) coupling a separation channel with electrochemical detection.
Liquid crystal graphene oxide with different layers: fabrication, characterization and applications
Authors: Zhang Jianmin , Ren Yumei , Xu Tao , Yang Hongxia , Xu Qun
Published: October 2015

Graphene oxide liquid crystals with different layers were successfully preparedviasimple centrifugation. The self-assembled film demonstrates radial schlieren textures (in the background) and has a high electrical conductivity.
Trends of amino acid adsorption onto graphene and graphene oxide surfaces: a dispersion corrected DFT study
Authors: Tavassoli Larijani H. , Darvish Ganji M. , Jahanshahi M.
Published: October 2015

First-principle calculations based on DFT were performed to investigate the adsorption properties of amino acids onto graphene surfaces.
Core–shell nanospherical polypyrrole/graphene oxide composites for high performance supercapacitors
Authors: Wu Wenling , Yang Liuqing , Chen Suli , Shao Yanming , Jing Lingyun , Zhao Guanghui , Wei Hua
Published: October 2015

Novel core–shell polypyrrole/graphene oxide (PPy–GO) nanomaterials of uniform PPy nanospheres and GO have been synthesized by an in situ surface-initiated polymerization method.
Carbon dot/NiAl-layered double hydroxide hybrid material: facile synthesis, intrinsic peroxidase-like catalytic activity and its application
Authors: Guo Yali , Liu Xiaoyu , Wang Xudong , Iqbal Anam , Yang Chengduan , Liu Weisheng , Qin Wenwu
Published: October 2015

A C-dot/NiAl–LDH hybrid material is successfully prepared with intrinsic peroxidase-like activity.
Enzymatic approaches to the preparation of chiral epichlorohydrin
Authors: Jin Huo-Xi , OuYang Xiao-Kun
Published: October 2015

Enantiomerically pure epichlorohydrin is a key chiral synthon in the preparation of 4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate, pheromones,l-carnitine, and β-adrenergic blockers.
Mild deuteration method of terminal alkynes in heavy water using reusable basic resin
Authors: Yamada Tsuyoshi , Park Kwihwan , Monguchi Yasunari , Sawama Yoshinari , Sajiki Hironao
Published: October 2015

The mild and efficient deuteration method of terminal alkynes using a reusable anion exchange resin in D2O has been developed.
A new ratiometric fluorescent probe for the detection of thiophenols
Authors: Zhai Qisong , Yang Shengjun , Fang Yuli , Zhang Haiyan , Feng Guoqiang
Published: October 2015

A new ratiometric fluorescent probe was reported for the rapid detection of toxic thiophenols.
Arylfluorene based universal hosts for solution-processed RGB and white phosphorescent organic light-emitting devices
Authors: Zhang Xinwen , Yang Tao , Wei Qi , Chen Yuehua , Guo Xin , Xie Linghai , Lai Wenyong , Fan Quli , Qian Yan , Huang Wei
Published: October 2015

A series of easily synthesized arylfluorenes (AFs)/carbazole universal host materials have been demonstrated for efficient solution-processable phosphorescent OLEDs.
SAR studies on 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles as inhibitors of Mtb shikimate dehydrogenase for the development of novel antitubercular agents
Authors: Li Ziqiang , Liu Yishuang , Bai Xiaoguang , Deng Qi , Wang Juxian , Zhang Guoning , Xiao Chunling , Mei Yaning , Wang Yucheng
Published: October 2015

Triazolothiadiazoles are potent antitubercular agents with modest inhibitory forMtSD and without appreciable cytotoxicity.
Stable Si-based pentagonal monolayers: high carrier mobilities and applications in photocatalytic water splitting
Authors: Li Xinru , Dai Ying , Li Mengmeng , Wei Wei , Huang Baibiao
Published: October 2015

A new family of Si-based pentagonal monolayers is constructed on the basis of the okayamalite structure by means of first principles calculations.
Recent development in exfoliated two-dimensional g-C3N4 nanosheets for photocatalytic applications
Authors: Dong Xiaoping , Cheng Fuxing
Published: October 2015

In this review, the relatively systematic description of g-C3N4 nanosheets for photocatalysis is presented for the first time.
Facile synthesis of hyaluronic acid-modified Fe3O4/Au composite nanoparticles for targeted dual mode MR/CT imaging of tumors
Authors: Hu Yong , Yang Jia , Wei Ping , Li Jingchao , Ding Ling , Zhang Guixiang , Shi Xiangyang , Shen Mingwu
Published: October 2015

Hyaluronic acid-modified Fe3O4/Au composite nanoparticles can be synthesized for targeted dual mode MR/CT imaging of tumors.
Resistive switching in Ga- and Sb-doped ZnO single nanowire devices
Authors: Wang Bo , Ren Tianshuang , Chen Si , Zhang Bosen , Zhang Rongfang , Qi Jing , Chu Sheng , Huang Jian , Liu Jianlin
Published: October 2015

Self-rectifying resistive switching is demonstrated in Ga-doped ZnO single nanowire device. The current is not only self-rectifying but also self-compliance for Sb-doped single nanowire devices in which multilevel resistive switching has also been achieved by using different SET voltages.
Tubular structures from the LnS–TaS2(Ln = La, Ce, Nd, Ho, Er) and LaSe–TaSe2misfit layered compounds
Authors: Radovsky Gal , Popovitz-Biro Ronit , Lorenz Tommy , Joswig Jan-Ole , Seifert Gotthard , Houben Lothar , Dunin-Borkowski Rafal E. , Tenne Reshef
Published: October 2015

Nanotubes from LnS(Se)–TaS2(Se) (Ln = rare earths) misfit compounds produced by relaxation of the layers' mismatch energy and seaming of their edges.
Efficient ternary polymer solar cells with a parallel-linkage structure
Authors: Zhang Miao , Zhang Fujun , Wang Jian , An Qiaoshi , Sun Qianqian
Published: October 2015

We have successfully fabricated highly efficient parallel-linkage ternary PSCs with PTB7 and PBDT-TS1 as the donors and PC71BM as the electron acceptor. The optimum PCE achieved is 7.91% for the ternary PSCs with an 80 wt% PBDT-TS1 doping ratio in the donors.
Efficient soft bit estimation for joint iterative multiple‐input multiple‐output detection
Authors: Ahmed Saleem , Kim Sooyoung
Published: October 2015

In this study, the authors propose a joint iterative detection and decoding (JIDD) method for a turbo coded multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) system, with a linear order of complexity. Accurate estimation of soft information should be conditioned for excellent performance of the JIDD, but it usually requires an exponential order of complexity. They propose a method which improves the performance of soft interference cancellation minimum mean‐squared error (SIC‐MMSE) method by increasing the reliability of the soft information utilised for interference cancellation. The proposed method utilises a posteriori probabilities from the MIMO detector as well as a priori probabilities from the turbo decoder, and perform soft minimum mean‐squared error filtering for symbol level detection. With this approach, soft information is fully fed into the symbol detection process, and thus the reliability of soft symbol is increased. In addition, they can separate out the bit‐level soft estimation process by using a simple linear method. Simulation results show that the proposed method provides substantial complexity reduction, with a bit error rate performance comparable to the conventional SIC‐MMSE methods.
Decision directed iterative channel estimation and Reed–Solomon decoding over flat fading channels
Authors: Ogundile Olayinka Olaolu , Oyerinde Olutayo Oyeyemi , Versfeld Daniel J.J.
Published: October 2015

Iterative channel estimation and decoding over flat Rayleigh fading channels have been shown in literature to improve the performance of receivers in wireless communication systems. Turbo and low density parity check codes have mostly been used as the forward error correction (FEC) scheme in the iterative receiver structures. This study proposes a decision directed iterative channel estimation and decoding receiver using Reed–Solomon codes. In particular, the Koetter and Vardy, Reed–Solomon (KV–RS) soft decision decoder is adopted in the receiver structure as the FEC scheme. Two methods of deriving a priori information in joint iterative channel estimation and decoding receiver structures are also analysed in this study. The first method derives the a priori information employing the log likelihood ratio (LLR) method. A priori information derived using the LLR method is mostly used in iterative receiver structures in the literature. The second method derives the a priori information employing the distance metric (DM) method. The DM method is proposed in this study as an alternative approach to the LLR method of deriving a priori information in the iterative receivers. Hard and soft feedback information from the KV–RS decoder is considered to verify the performance of these methods. The performance of the two a priori information methods is documented through computer simulation assuming an M‐ary quadrature amplitude modulation system. Simulation results verify the improvement in symbol error rate (SER) performance in the KV–RS iterative receiver structure in comparison with the KV–RS receiver without feedback. Also, the proposed DM method exhibits the same SER performance in comparison with the LLR method which is mostly used in the literature. More importantly, the proposed DM method has the advantage of less computational delay and time complexity compared with the LLR method.
2.4 Silicon-Mediated Multicomponent Reactions
Authors: Wan J.
Published: October 2015

Silicon reagents are commonly employed in organic synthesis as catalysts or promoters because of their availability and versatile catalytic activity. Some typical silicon reagents, such as trimethylsilyl halides (where the halide is chlorine or iodine) or trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, are known to be capable of acting as Lewis acids, Brønsted acids (upon hydrolysis), and water scavengers. This section presents an overview of the particularly broad application of silicon reagents in multicomponent reactions. Silicon-mediated multicomponent processes that lead to both cyclic and acyclic products are summarized.
Influences of different gases on the terahertz radiation based on the application of two-color laser pulses
Authors: Moradi S. , Ganjovi A. , Shojaei F. , Saeed M.
Published: October 2015

In this work, using a two-dimensional Particle In Cell-Monte Carlo Collision simulation method, a comparative study is performed on the influences of different types of atomic and molecular gases at various background gas pressures on the generation of broadband and intense Terahertz (THz) radiation via the application of two-color laser pulses. These two modes are focused into Argon (Ar), Xenon (Xe), Nitrogen (N2), Oxygen (O2), and air as the background gaseous media and the plasma channel is created. It is observed that the THz radiation emission dramatically changes due to the propagation effects. A wider THz pulse is emitted from the formed plasma channel at the higher gas pressures. The significant effects of the propagation features of the emitted THz pulse on its energy at the longer lengths of the plasma channel are observed.
Phase synchronization in the cochlea at transition from mechanical waves to electrical spikes
Authors: Bader Rolf
Published: October 2015

Measured auditory nervous spikes often show synchronization, phase-locking, or entrainment (P. Cariani, Neural Plast. 6(4), 142–172 (1999) and Kumaresana et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 133(6), 4290–4310 (2013). Physiologically synchronization is found in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (Joris et al., J. Neurophysiol. 71(3), 1022–1036 (1994)) or in the trapezoid body also between critical bandwidths (Louage et al., Auditory Signal Processing: Physiology, Psychoacoustics, and Models (Springer, New York, 2004), pp. 100–106). The effect is an enhancement of pitch detection, spatial localization, or speech intelligibility. To investigate the presence of synchronization already in the cochlea, in the present paper, a finite-difference time-domain model of the cochlea is implemented with conditions for spike excitation caused by mechanical basilar membrane displacement. This model shows synchronization already in the cochlea at the transition from mechanical waves to nerve spike excitation. Using a sound as model input consisting of ten harmonic overtones with random phase relations, the output spikes are strongly phase aligned after this transition. When using a two-sinusoidal complex as input, and altering the phase relations between the two sinusoidals, the output spikes show the higher sinusoidal shifting the phase of the lower one in its direction in a systematic way. Therefore, already during the transition from mechanical to electrical excitation within the cochlea, synchronization appears to be improving perception of pitch, speech, or localization.
Electronic structure of NSO− and SNO− anions: Stability, electron affinity, and spectroscopic properties
Authors: Trabelsi T. , Yazidi O. , Francisco J. S. , Linguerri R. , Hochlaf M.
Published: October 2015

The low-energy electronic states of NSO anion and its SNO isomeric form for the singlet, triplet, and quintet spin multiplicities have been investigated by accurate ab initio approaches and large atomic basis sets. One-dimensional cuts of the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces (PESs) along selected interatomic distances and bending angles for these states have been calculated to assess the formation and stability of NSO− and SNO− in the gas phase. Results show that these anions have two low-energy states (X̃1A′ and 13A″) that are bound and stable with respect to electron detachment. Owing to the energetic position of the dissociating asymptotes of the neutral and anionic species, several electronic excited states are suggested to be stable with respect to the electron autodetachment process in the long-range parts of the potentials before reaching the molecular region. The nature of the PESs in these regions and their implications and effects on the formation of SNO− from atomic and molecular fragments are discussed. This information is essential for a better understanding of the potential role of these species in diverse media.
Super quantum measures on effect algebras with the Riesz decomposition properties
Authors: Xie Yongjian , Yang Aili , Ren Fang
Published: October 2015

We give one basis of the space of super quantum measures on finite effect algebras with the Riesz decomposition properties (RDP for short). Then we prove that the super quantum measures and quantum interference functions on finite effect algebras with the RDP are determined each other. At last, we investigate the relationships between the super quantum measures and the diagonally positive signed measures on finite effect algebras with the RDP in detail.
Dual-frequency glow discharges in atmospheric helium
Authors: Huang Xiaojiang , Dai Lu , Guo Ying , Zhang Jing , Shi J. J.
Published: October 2015

In this paper, the dual-frequency (DF) glow discharges in atmospheric helium were experimented by electrical and optical measurements in terms of current voltage characteristics and optical emission intensity. It is shown that the waveforms of applied voltages or discharge currents are the results of low frequency (LF) waveforms added to high frequency (HF) waveforms. The HF mainly influences discharge currents, and the LF mainly influences applied voltages. The gas temperatures of DF discharges are mainly affected by HF power rather than LF power.
Enhancement of current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance in Heusler-alloy based pseudo spin valves by using a CuZn spacer layer
Authors: Furubayashi T. , Takahashi Y. K. , Sasaki T. T. , Hono K.
Published: October 2015

Enhancement of magnetoresistance output was attained in current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) devices by using a bcc CuZn alloy for the spacer. Pseudo spin valves that consisted of the Co2Fe(Ga0.5Ge0.5) Heusler alloy for ferromagnetic layers and CuZn alloy with the composition of Cu52.4Zn47.6 for a spacer showed the large change of the resistance-area products, ΔRA, up to 8 mΩ·μm2 for a low annealing temperature of 350 °C. The ΔRA value is one of the highest reported so far for the CPP-GMR devices for the low annealing temperature, which is essential for processing read heads for hard disk drives. We consider that the enhancement of ΔRA is produced from the spin-dependent resistance at the Co2Fe(Ga0.5Ge0.5)/CuZn interfaces.
CO tip functionalization in subatomic resolution atomic force microscopy
Authors: Kim Minjung , Chelikowsky James R.
Published: October 2015

Noncontact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) employing a CO-functionalized tip displays dramatically enhanced resolution wherein covalent bonds of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon can be imaged. Employing real-space pseudopotential first-principles calculations, we examine the role of CO in functionalizing the nc-AFM tip. Our calculations allow us to simulate full AFM images and ascertain the enhancement mechanism of the CO molecule. We consider two approaches: one with an explicit inclusion of the CO molecule and one without. By comparing our simulations to existing experimental images, we ascribe the enhanced resolution of the CO functionalized tip to the special orbital characteristics of the CO molecule.
Negative-mass mitigation of Coulomb repulsion for terahertz undulator radiation of electron bunches
Authors: Balal N. , Bandurkin I. V. , Bratman V. L. , Magory E. , Savilov A. V.
Published: October 2015

It is proposed to utilize the effect of negative mass for stabilization of the effective axial size of very dense and short electron bunches produced by photo-injector guns by using combined undulator and strong uniform magnetic fields. It has been shown that in the “abnormal” regime, an increase in the electron energy leads to a decrease in the axial velocity of the electron; due to the negative-mass effect, the Coulomb repulsion of electrons leads to their attraction and formation of a fairly stable and compact bunch “nucleus.” An undulator with a strong uniform magnetic field providing the negative-mass effect is designed for an experimental source of terahertz radiation. The use of the negative-mass regime in this experiment should result in a long-pulse coherent spontaneous undulator emission from a short dense moderately relativistic (5.5 MeV) photo-injector electron bunch with a high (up to 20%) efficiency and a narrow frequency spectrum.
Optimisation of enzymatic transesterification of linseed oil and pork lard mixture with ethanol using response surface methodology
Authors: Makareviciene Violeta , Sinkuniene Dovile , Sendzikiene Egle
Published: October 2015

Transesterification of linseed oil and pork lard mixture with ethanol was studied by applying a biotechnological method. The effectiveness of 16 lipases was evaluated, and the most effective lipase, Lipolase 100 L (EX), was selected for reaction condition optimisation by response surface methodology based on a Box-Behnken design. The influence of the main process parameters was evaluated, including the reaction temperature, ethanol to triglyceride molar ratio, lipase amount, and reaction time on transesterification yield. The optimal reaction conditions were found as follows: reaction temperature of 32.79 °C, ethanol to oil molar ratio of 5.99, lipase concentration of 6.39%, and reaction time of 7.95 h, with an expected transesterification yield of 52.2%. Optimised enzymatic pork fat and linseed oil mixture transesterification with ethanol was less effective compared with the chemical transesterifications described elsewhere; therefore, the step-wise transesterification procedure should be applied by adding ethanol and percent preparation in the reaction mixture after glycerol phase separation.
Seasonal variations in performance loss of photovoltaic modules: A case study in Thailand Science Park
Authors: Limmanee A. , Udomdachanut N. , Songtrai S. , Kaewniyompanit S. , Sato Y. , Nakaishi M. , Kittisontirak S. , Sriprapha K. , Sakamoto Y.
Published: October 2015

Performance loss rates of five different photovoltaic (PV) technologies operating under Thailand's climate have been derived from the first 3-year data. Although ambient temperature throughout the year in the tropics is relatively constant, we found remarkable seasonal variations in performance loss of the PV modules. The performance loss rates in rainy and dry seasons were severe, while those in summer were relatively slight. The soiling had great effect on the PV performance in the dry season, while the temperature was a key factor in the summer. The high module temperature in the summer caused high temperature loss but it also provided positive effect of recovering performance of thin film Si modules. In the rainy season, with less amount of irradiance and high humidity at the module surface the PV modules showed the highest performance loss rate. Our findings can be used to develop a better operations & maintenance (O&M) strategy for PV systems in the tropics, e.g., proper cleaning of PV modules during the dry season.
The obstetrician, congenital cytomegalovirus, clinical and diagnostic approaches to the pregnant woman
Authors: Shand Antonia W
Published: October 2015

There is low awareness of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) in Australia. Routine pregnancy serological screening for CMV is not recommended, but all pregnant women should be given advice about CMV prevention. Obstetricians may be asked to see a pregnant woman when serology suggests CMV infection or when features of fetal infection are present on ultrasound. If maternal CMV infection is confirmed, the timing of infection (pre-pregnancy or gestation of pregnancy), must be determined to predict the fetal risks. In addition, it is important to establish whether maternal infection is primary or reactivation. If there is fetal infection, ultrasound can be used to attempt to establish whether the fetus may have been affected. Serial serology, CMV IgG avidity, maternal viraemia (using serum PCR), amniotic fluid CMV PCR, serial fetal ultrasounds, and possibly fetal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are investigations that may be useful to predict neonatal outcomes. Timely and accurate counselling is important to optimise maternal and neonatal management.
Genetic analysis of the contribution of LTBP-3 to thoracic aneurysm in Marfan syndrome
Authors: Zilberberg Lior , Phoon Colin K. L. , Robertson Ian , Dabovic Branka , Ramirez Francesco , Rifkin Daniel B.
Published: October 2015

Significance

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a connective tissue disorder caused by mutations of fibrillin-1 (FBN1), the main component of extracellular matrix microfibrils.
FBN1
mutations predispose to thoracic aortic aneurysm and rupture and are associated with increased TGFβ signaling. TGFβ is secreted from cells complexed with latent TGFβ binding protein (LTBP), a protein that targets TGFβ to the ECM through interaction with fibrillin-1. One hypothesis proposes that aortic disease in MFS is due to the release of LTBP/TGFβ complexes in the aortic wall. We suppressed the expression of
Ltbp3
in an MFS mouse model and observed essentially no aortic aneurysm and rupture in these compound mice. Our data suggest a key role for LTBP-3 in MFS aortic disease and provide a potential therapeutic point for intervention.
Metaphor and symbol
Authors: Díaz Peralta Marina , Piñero Piñero Gracia , Garcia Dominguez María Jesus , Boylan Geraldine
Published: October 2015

Much has been said about how ideological tendencies can influence the content of a translation and the Spanish version of Prescott’s workHistory of the Conquest of Mexico, with a Preliminary View of the Ancient Mexican Civilization, and the Life of the Conqueror, Hernando Cortésis a clear example of this influence. Manipulation was the strategy that the Mexican editorial promoted and it is what the translator yielded to, but not in a way that was expected. Focusing on the account of the episode of the conquest of Mexico in which Montezuma and his tragic death are prominent, this article will show how Navarro, the translator, meticulously respects the North American’s portrayal of the Aztec ruler, whom he considers to be hypocritical, superstitious, lavish, weak and fainthearted. When Navarro does manipulate the description, it is principally in order to accentuate some negative trait of the Aztec leader which has already been presented in the original text or to prevent the Mexican reader from having to see in print the name of the emperor who was associated with incidents which many Mexicans might consider lamentable. At the same time, it will be clear that cognitive linguistics provides adequate theoretical support in order to be able to comprehend that both the original and translated texts highlight the idea of Montezuma as a metaphor and symbol of failure.
La crise hypothécaire et ses dénominations
Authors: Fernandez Rodriguez Aurea , Galanes Santos Iolanda
Published: October 2015

All living languages have the potential to coin neologisms which is indicative of their vitality to translate new knowledge and the ensuing changes in society. In economic and financial discourse, analysts, experts and popularisers often resort to figures of speech when explaining new realities in this area field, thus enabling them to have a greater impact on the recipients. The aim of this paper, based on a research corpus of texts spanning the 2007–2012 economic crisis taken from the press of four different European countries, is to attempt to resolve the difficulties involved with this kind of terminology. The questions addressed include the following: the attitude of the speakers of Romance languages towards the introduction of new concepts relating to the crisis; the field associated with each expression in the different cultures; to what extent conceptual metaphors coincide between cultures; the terminological variations involved in each case, etc. The answers to these questions can facilitate improved translator performance. The time lapse between the appearance of these terms and their inclusion in dictionaries poses a problem for translators who need to find solutions as quickly as possible, whilst at the same time providing a systematic approach to the problems encountered. Above and beyond solutions provided by dictionaries alone, translators are often faced with a choice between the terms found in vivo and those found in vitro. While an analysis of the way each concept is handled by dictionaries falls beyond the scope of our stated aims, it cannot be ignored completely inasmuch as it makes it possible to shed light on institutional terminological policies as well as divergences between the recommended standard and actual usage. At the same time, it should also be acknowledged that, despite the influx of terms within a globalised economy, there is still room for each community to maintain its own cultural specificity.
Implementation challenges in cluster policy making: the case of the Andalusian Furniture Technology Centre
Authors: Quesada-Vázquez José , Rodríguez-Cohard Juan Carlos
Published: October 2015

This article analyses the design and implementation of a cluster organisation, the Andalusian Furniture Technology Centre (CITMA). The case of CITMA illustrates how policy processes are inherently political and far more complex than portrayed in conventional accounts based on the linear model of innovation. Policies are, in fact, unpredictable and fraught with uncertainty, opportunity and local specificity. However, acknowledging this complexity is not enough; it has to be unpacked to foster policy learning. To this end, we have opened the black box of the organisation to understand the political process underlying its creation and dissolution. Through this narrative, we shall witness how the technology centre, initially conceived and approved as a publicly funded organisation with the aim of raising SME’s absorption capacity by providing technological services, turned into a semi-public consulting firm focused on selling business services to big companies. The outcome of this policy was precisely the opposite of what had been intended with this initiative and the consequence or the result of a top-down policy approach in which the regional ministry failed to take into account the needs, interests and resistance of the different stakeholders by unilaterally changing the project and the funding model approved by its predecessor. The CITMA case highlights the lack of a multi-disciplinary approach to innovation policy in Andalusia and the fact that innovation policies have been defined and implemented in a hierarchical and siloed fashion with little attempt at policy alignment across different areas and levels of government.
A Comment on “The Welfare Impacts of Commodity Price Volatility: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia”
Authors: McBride Linden
Published: October 2015

This comment discusses the robustness of the policy implications of Bellemare, Barrett, and Just's paper, “The Welfare Impacts of Commodity Price Volatility: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia” (2013). Bellemare, Barrett, and Just present a theoretical and empirical approach to the estimation of willingness to pay for food price stabilization that accounts for the covolatility of prices, making a significant contribution to the literature. However, in the course of applying their model to data from rural Ethiopia, the authors make an empirical assumption in the treatment of zero‐valued income households that produces a distortion in the distribution of household budget shares. This comment identifies the consequences of this assumption for the estimated relationship of poor and wealthy households' willingness to pay for food commodity price stabilization, and shows the results one would obtain under a different, distribution‐preserving treatment of zero‐valued income. The key finding is that the distributional benefit incidence of food price stabilization found in Bellemare, Barrett, and Just (2013) is reversed when the budget share of marketable surplus is calculated over observed, as opposed to mean, household income where available.
Passive immunotherapy targeting amyloid-β reduces cerebral amyloid angiopathy and improves vascular reactivity
Authors: Bales Kelly R. , O’Neill Sharon M. , Pozdnyakov Nikolay , Pan Feng , Caouette David , Pi YeQing , Wood Kathleen M. , Volfson Dmitri , Cirrito John R. , Han Byung-Hee , Johnson Andrew W. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Samad Tarek A.
Published: October 2015

Prominent cerebral amyloid angiopathy is often observed in the brains of elderly individuals and is almost universally found in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is characterized by accumulation of the shorter amyloid-β isoform(s) (predominantly amyloid-β40) in the walls of leptomeningeal and cortical arterioles and is likely a contributory factor to vascular dysfunction leading to stroke and dementia in the elderly. We used transgenic mice with prominent cerebral amyloid angiopathy to investigate the ability of ponezumab, an anti-amyloid-β40 selective antibody, to attenuate amyloid-β accrual in cerebral vessels and to acutely restore vascular reactivity. Chronic administration of ponezumab to transgenic mice led to a significant reduction in amyloid and amyloid-β accumulation both in leptomeningeal and brain vessels when measured by intravital multiphoton imaging and immunohistochemistry. By enriching for cerebral vascular elements, we also measured a significant reduction in the levels of soluble amyloid-β biochemically. We hypothesized that the reduction in vascular amyloid-β40 after ponezumab administration may reflect the ability of ponezumab to mobilize an interstitial fluid pool of amyloid-β40 in brain. Acutely, ponezumab triggered a significant and transient increase in interstitial fluid amyloid-β40 levels in old plaque-bearing transgenic mice but not in young animals. We also measured a beneficial effect on vascular reactivity following acute administration of ponezumab, even in vessels where there was a severe cerebral amyloid angiopathy burden. Taken together, the beneficial effects ponezumab administration has on reducing the rate of cerebral amyloid angiopathy deposition and restoring cerebral vascular health favours a mechanism that involves rapid removal and/or neutralization of amyloid-β species that may otherwise be detrimental to normal vessel function.
Comparing Random Forest with Logistic Regression for Predicting Class-Imbalanced Civil War Onset Data
Authors: Muchlinski David , Siroky David , He Jingrui , Kocher Matthew
Published: October 2015

The most commonly used statistical models of civil war onset fail to correctly predict most occurrences of this rare event in out-of-sample data. Statistical methods for the analysis of binary data, such as logistic regression, even in their rare event and regularized forms, perform poorly at prediction. We compare the performance of Random Forests with three versions of logistic regression (classic logistic regression, Firth rare events logistic regression, andL1-regularized logistic regression), and find that the algorithmic approach provides significantly more accurate predictions of civil war onset in out-of-sample data than any of the logistic regression models. The article discusses these results and the ways in which algorithmic statistical methods like Random Forests can be useful to more accurately predict rare events in conflict data.
Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy–directed Pleural Tattoo to Aid Surgical Resection of Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions
Authors: Tay Jun H. , Wallbridge Peter D. , Larobina Marco , Russell Prudence A. , Irving Louis B. , Steinfort Daniel P.
Published: October 2015

Background:

Limited (wedge) resection of pulmonary lesions is frequently performed as a diagnostic/therapeutic procedure. Some lesions may be difficult to locate thoracoscopically with conversion to open thoracotomy or incomplete resection being potential limitations to this approach. Multiple methods have been described to aid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical (VATS) wedge resection of pulmonary nodules, including hookwire localization, percutaneous tattoo, or intraoperative ultrasound. We report on our experience using electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopic dye marking of small subpleural lesions to aid VATS wedge resection.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing VATS wedge resection of peripheral lesions. Preoperative bronchoscopy with electromagnetic navigation was utilized to guide a 25 G needle to within/adjacent to the target lesion with injection of 1 mL of methylene blue or indigo carmine under fluoroscopic vision.

Results:

Six patients underwent bronchoscopic marking of peripheral pulmonary lesions, navigation deemed successful in all patients, with no procedural complications. Surgery was performed within 24 hours of bronchoscopic marking. Pleural staining by dye was visible thoracoscopically in all 6 lesions either adjacent to or overlying the lesion. All lesions were fully excised with wedge resection. Pathologic examination confirmed accuracy of dye staining.

Conclusions:

Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopic dye marking of peripheral lesions is feasible, without complications commonly associated with percutaneous marking procedures. Further experience is required but early findings suggest that this method may have utility in aiding minimally invasive resection of small subpleural lesions.
Bronchoscopic Multimodal Management of Tracheal Neurofibroma
Authors: Rabeau Audrey , Mazieres Julien , Hermant Christophe , Projetti Fabrice , Didier Alain , Guibert Nicolas
Published: October 2015

Neurofibromas involving airways are rare and their management is usually surgical. Herein, we report the case of an endotracheal polypoid neurofibroma successfully treated by multimodal interventional bronchoscopy and cryotherapy.
Hemothorax After Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Authors: Franco José , Llopis Estefanía , Galán Genaro
Published: October 2015

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is a minimally invasive method for diagnosing paratracheal and peribronchial lesions, with a low rate of complications. However, as the procedure has gained widespread acceptance, major complications have occasionally been reported. In this report, we describe a case of hemothorax after endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in a patient with a right upper lobe mass.
Rawcopy: Improved copy number analysis with Affymetrix arrays
Authors: Mayrhofer Markus , Viklund Bjorn , Isaksson Anders
Published: October 2015

Rawcopy is an R package for processing of Affymetrix CytoScan HD, CytoScan 750k and SNP 6.0 microarray raw intensities (CEL files). It uses data from a large number of reference samples to produce log ratio for total copy number analysis and B-allele frequency for allele-specific copy number and heterozygosity analysis. Rawcopy achieves higher signal-to-noise ratio than commonly used free and proprietary alternatives, leading to improved identification of copy number alterations. In addition, Rawcopy visualises each microarray sample for assessment of technical quality, patient identity and genome-wide absolute copy number states.
A highly diverse, desert-like microbial biocenosis on solar panels in a Mediterranean city
Authors: Dorado-Morales Pedro , Vilanova Cristina , Peretó Juli , Codoñer Franscisco M. , Ramón Daniel , Porcar Manuel
Published: October 2015

Microorganisms colonize a wide range of natural and artificial environments although there are hardly any data on the microbial ecology of one the most widespread man-made extreme structures: solar panels. Here we show that solar panels in a Mediterranean city (Valencia, Spain) harbor a highly diverse microbial community with more than 500 different species per panel, most of which belong to drought-, heat- and radiation-adapted bacterial genera, and sun-irradiation adapted epiphytic fungi. The taxonomic and functional profiles of this microbial community and the characterization of selected culturable bacteria reveal the existence of a diverse mesophilic microbial community on the panels surface. This biocenosis proved to be more similar to the ones inhabiting deserts than to any human or urban microbial ecosystem. This unique microbial community shows different day/night proteomic profiles; it is dominated by reddish pigment- and sphingolipid-producers, and is adapted to withstand circadian cycles of high temperatures, desiccation and solar radiation.
Crystallization and crystallographic analysis of anArabidopsisnuclear proteinaceous RNase P
Authors: Pinker Franziska , Giegé Philippe , Sauter Claude
Published: October 2015

RNase P activity is ubiquitous and involves the 5′ maturation of precursor tRNAs. For a long time, it was thought that all RNases P were ribonucleoproteic enzymes. However, the characterization of RNase P in human mitochondria and in plants revealed a novel kind of RNase P composed of protein only, called PRORP for `proteinaceous RNase P'. Whereas in human mitochondria PRORP has two partners that are required for RNase P activity, PRORP proteins are active as single-subunit enzymes in plants. Three paralogues of PRORP are found inArabidopsis thaliana. PRORP1 is responsible for RNase P in mitochondria and chloroplasts, while PRORP2 and PRORP3 are nuclear enzymes. Here, the purification and crystallization of theArabidopsisPRORP2 protein are reported. Optimization of the initial crystallization conditions led to crystals that diffracted to 3 Å resolution.
Cloning, expression, purification, characterization, crystallization and X-ray crystallographic analysis of recombinant Der f 21 (rDer f 21) fromDermatophagoides farinae
Authors: Pang Sze Lei , Ho Kok Lian , Waterman Jitka , Teh Aik-Hong , Chew Fook Tim , Ng Chyan Leong
Published: October 2015

Dermatophagoides farinaeis one of the major house dust mite (HDM) species that cause allergic diseases. N-terminally His-tagged recombinant Der f 21 (rDer f 21), a group 21 allergen, with the signal peptide truncated was successfully overexpressed in anEscherichia coliexpression system. The purified rDer f 21 protein was initially crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Well diffracting protein crystals were obtained after optimization of the crystallization conditions using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method with a reservoir solution consisting of 0.19 MTris–HCl pH 8.0, 32% PEG 400 at 293 K. X-ray diffraction data were collected to 1.49 Å resolution using an in-house X-ray source. The crystal belonged to theC-centered monoclinic space groupC2, with unit-cell parametersa= 123.46,b= 27.71,c= 90.25 Å, β = 125.84°. The calculated Matthews coefficient (VM) of 2.06 Å3 Da−1suggests that there are two molecules per asymmetric unit, with a solvent content of 40.3%. Despite sharing high sequence identity with Blo t 5 (45%) and Blo t 21 (41%), both of which were determined to be monomeric in solution, size-exclusion chromatography, static light scattering and self-rotation function analysis indicate that rDer f 21 is likely to be a dimeric protein.
Cloning, expression, crystallization and crystallographic analysis of CouR fromRhodopseudomonas palustris
Authors: Pan Chen , Hu Yong-lin , Jiang Xiang-ning , Gai Ying
Published: October 2015

CouR fromRhodopseudomonas palustrisis a member of the MarR transcriptional regulator family. It regulates the expression of CouA and CouB, enzymes that are involved in the degradation ofp-coumarate.In vivo, CouR binds to a DNA fragment containing thecouABpromoter and suppresses the expression of CouA and CouB, while binding ofp-coumaroyl-CoA attenuates its affinity towards DNA and activates the expression of CouA and CouB. Here, the crystallization and X-ray diffraction analyses of CouR alone and in complex withp-coumaroyl-CoA are reported. Apo and ligand-complexed CouR crystals diffracted to 2.5 and 3.3 Å resolution, respectively. The crystals of apo CouR belonged to space groupP22121, with unit-cell parametersa= 62.78,b = 76.15,c = 87.38 Å, whereas the crystals of the CouR–ligand complex belonged to space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 61.37,b= 69.82,c = 70.32 Å. The crystals were predicted to contain two CouR molecules or CouR–ligand complexes per asymmetric unit.