bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomical review ofDoris verrucosaand redescription ofDoris januarii(Gastropoda, Nudibranchia) based on comparative morphology
Authors: Lima Patricia O.V. , Simone Luiz R.L.
Published: May 2015

Doris verrucosaLinnaeus, 1758 is the type species ofDoris, the type genus of Dorididae. Its currently accepted distribution includes the Mediterranean, Eastern (Europe and Africa) and Western Atlantic (Massachusetts, USA to Santa Catarina, Brazil). Until now, papers on the anatomy of this species dealt with restricted characters such as rhinophores, radula and reproductive organs, never comparing specimens from different localities. In this study we have examined the anatomy of species similar toD. verrucosafrom the Brazilian coast, and compared them with samples ofD. verrucosafrom Europe, the type locality. After an extensive complementary anatomical study of the circulatory, excretory, digestive, reproductive and nervous systems, the identity of the Brazilian specimens is clarified, proving that they belong to a different species. To solve the consequent nomenclatural gap, we revalidateStaurodoris januariiBergh, 1878, described from Brazil, transferred to the genusDoris. The nominal speciesDoris verrucosais, therefore, restricted to European waters.
Bullying victimization in childhood predicts inflammation and obesity at mid-life: a five-decade birth cohort study
Authors: Takizawa R. , Danese A. , Maughan B. , Arseneault L.
Published: May 2015

Background

We aimed to test whether childhood bullying victimization increases risk for age-related disease at mid-life using biological markers including inflammation and adiposity, independent of other childhood risk factors and key adult variables.

Method

The present study was a 50-year prospective longitudinal birth cohort study of all births in Britain in 1 week in 1958. Exposure to bullying was assessed prospectively when participants were aged 7 and 11 years (27.7% occasionally bullied; 14.6% frequently bullied). Blood inflammation biomarkers [C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen] and adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and waist:hip ratio] were measured at age 45 years.

Results

Participants who had been frequently bullied in childhood showed increased levels of CRP at mid-life [β = 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04–0.10] and higher risk for clinically relevant inflammation cut-off [CRP > 3 mg/l: 20.4% v. 15.9%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.35, 95% CI 1.12–1.64]. Women who were bullied in childhood had higher BMI than non-bullied participants and were at increased risk of being obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2: occasionally bullied: 26.0% v. 19.4%, OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.18–1.77; frequently bullied: 26.2% v. 19.4%, OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.09–1.83). Findings remained significant when controlling for childhood risk factors (e.g. parental social class; participants’ BMI and psychopathology in childhood) and key adult variables (e.g. adult social class, smoking, diet and exercise).

Conclusions

Bullied children show increases in risk factors for age-related disease in middle adulthood, independent of co-occurring childhood and adult risks. Given the high prevalence of bullying victimization in childhood, tackling this form of psychosocial stress early in life has the potential of reducing risk for age-related disease and its associated burden.
WHAT’S VIRTUOUS ABOUT THE LAW?
Authors: Brownlee Kimberley
Published: May 2015

Debates about our moral relation to the law typically focus on the moral force of law. Often, the question asked is: Do we have a moral duty to follow the law? Recently, that question has been given a virtue-ethical formulation: Is there a virtue in abiding by the law? This paper considers our moral relation to the law in terms of virtue but focuses on a different question from the traditional ones. The question here is: Can the law model virtue in beneficial ways that enable us to cultivate virtue? This paper shows that the law can do this by setting a moral example that we have good reason to emulate. This is significant given the distinctive influence the law has over our lives. The paper begins by examining the nature of a model, comparing different models of virtue, and then questions the possibility of a complete model of virtue such as the so-called Virtuous Person. The paper then articulates several ways in which the law can model virtue for us and responds to three objections: 1) the embodiment problem, 2) the poisoning problem, and 3) the emulation problem.
Molecular mechanisms underlying the close association between soil Burkholderia and fungi
Authors: Stopnisek Nejc , Zühlke Daniela , Carlier Aurélien , Barberán Albert , Fierer Noah , Becher Dörte , Riedel Katharina , Eberl Leo , Weisskopf Laure
Published: May 2015

Bacterial species belonging to the genus Burkholderia have been repeatedly reported to be associated with fungi but the extent and specificity of these associations in soils remain undetermined. To assess whether associations between Burkholderia and fungi are widespread in soils, we performed a co-occurrence analysis in an intercontinental soil sample collection. This revealed that Burkholderia significantly co-occurred with a wide range of fungi. To analyse the molecular basis of the interaction, we selected two model fungi frequently co-occurring with Burkholderia, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani, and analysed the proteome changes caused by cultivation with either fungus in the widespread soil inhabitant B. glathei, whose genome we sequenced. Co-cultivation with both fungi led to very similar changes in the B. glathei proteome. Our results indicate that B. glathei significantly benefits from the interaction, which is exemplified by a lower abundance of several starvation factors that were highly expressed in pure culture. However, co-cultivation also gave rise to stress factors, as indicated by the increased expression of multidrug efflux pumps and proteins involved in oxidative stress response. Our data suggest that the ability of Burkholderia to establish a close association with fungi mainly lies in the capacities to utilize fungal-secreted metabolites and to overcome fungal defense mechanisms. This work indicates that beneficial interactions with fungi might contribute to the survival strategy of Burkholderia species in environments with sub-optimal conditions, including acidic soils.
Cross-depth analysis of marine bacterial networks suggests downward propagation of temporal changes
Authors: Cram Jacob A , Xia Li C , Needham David M , Sachdeva Rohan , Sun Fengzhu , Fuhrman Jed A
Published: May 2015

Interactions among microbes and stratification across depths are both believed to be important drivers of microbial communities, though little is known about how microbial associations differ between and across depths. We have monitored the free-living microbial community at the San Pedro Ocean Time-series station, monthly, for a decade, at five different depths: 5 m, the deep chlorophyll maximum layer, 150 m, 500 m and 890 m (just above the sea floor). Here, we introduce microbial association networks that combine data from multiple ocean depths to investigate both within- and between-depth relationships, sometimes time-lagged, among microbes and environmental parameters. The euphotic zone, deep chlorophyll maximum and 890 m depth each contain two negatively correlated ‘modules’ (groups of many inter-correlated bacteria and environmental conditions) suggesting regular transitions between two contrasting environmental states. Two-thirds of pairwise correlations of bacterial taxa between depths lagged such that changes in the abundance of deeper organisms followed changes in shallower organisms. Taken in conjunction with previous observations of seasonality at 890 m, these trends suggest that planktonic microbial communities throughout the water column are linked to environmental conditions and/or microbial communities in overlying waters. Poorly understood groups including Marine Group A, Nitrospina and AEGEAN-169 clades contained taxa that showed diverse association patterns, suggesting these groups contain multiple ecological species, each shaped by different factors, which we have started to delineate. These observations build upon previous work at this location, lending further credence to the hypothesis that sinking particles and vertically migrating animals transport materials that significantly shape the time-varying patterns of microbial community composition.
Long-term soil transplant simulating climate change with latitude significantly alters microbial temporal turnover
Authors: Liang Yuting , Jiang Yuji , Wang Feng , Wen Chongqing , Deng Ye , Xue Kai , Qin Yujia , Yang Yunfeng , Wu Liyou , Zhou Jizhong , Sun Bo
Published: May 2015

To understand soil microbial community stability and temporal turnover in response to climate change, a long-term soil transplant experiment was conducted in three agricultural experiment stations over large transects from a warm temperate zone (Fengqiu station in central China) to a subtropical zone (Yingtan station in southern China) and a cold temperate zone (Hailun station in northern China). Annual soil samples were collected from these three stations from 2005 to 2011, and microbial communities were analyzed by sequencing microbial 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicons using Illumina MiSeq technology. Our results revealed a distinctly differential pattern of microbial communities in both northward and southward transplantations, along with an increase in microbial richness with climate cooling and a corresponding decrease with climate warming. The microbial succession rate was estimated by the slope (w value) of linear regression of a log-transformed microbial community similarity with time (time–decay relationship). Compared with the low turnover rate of microbial communities in situ (w=0.046, P<0.001), the succession rate at the community level was significantly higher in the northward transplant (w=0.058, P<0.001) and highest in the southward transplant (w=0.094, P<0.001). Climate warming lead to a faster succession rate of microbial communities as well as lower species richness and compositional changes compared with in situ and climate cooling, which may be related to the high metabolic rates and intense competition under higher temperature. This study provides new insights into the impacts of climate change on the fundamental temporal scaling of soil microbial communities and microbial phylogenetic biodiversity.
Targeted DNA degradation using a CRISPR device stably carried in the host genome
Authors: Caliando Brian J. , Voigt Christopher A.
Published: May 2015

Once an engineered organism completes its task, it is useful to degrade the associated DNA to reduce environmental release and protect intellectual property. Here we present a genetically encoded device (DNAi) that responds to a transcriptional input and degrades user-defined DNA. This enables engineered regions to be obscured when the cell enters a new environment. DNAi is based on type-IE CRISPR biochemistry and a synthetic CRISPR array defines the DNA target(s). When the input is on, plasmid DNA is degraded 108-fold. When the genome is targeted, this causes cell death, reducing viable cells by a factor of 108. Further, the CRISPR nuclease can direct degradation to specific genomic regions (for example, engineered or inserted DNA), which could be used to complicate recovery and sequencing efforts. DNAi can be stably carried in an engineered organism, with no impact on cell growth, plasmid stability or DNAi inducibility even after passaging for >2 months.
C8orf4 negatively regulates self-renewal of liver cancer stem cells via suppression of NOTCH2 signalling
Authors: Zhu Pingping , Wang Yanying , Du Ying , He Lei , Huang Guanling , Zhang Geng , Yan Xinlong , Fan Zusen
Published: May 2015

Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) harbour self-renewal and differentiation properties, accounting for chemotherapy resistance and recurrence. However, the molecular mechanisms to sustain liver CSCs remain largely unknown. In this study, based on analysis of several hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) transcriptome datasets and our experimental data, we find that C8orf4 is weakly expressed in HCC tumours and liver CSCs. C8orf4 attenuates the self-renewal capacity of liver CSCs and tumour propagation. We show that NOTCH2 is activated in liver CSCs. C8orf4 is located in the cytoplasm of HCC tumour cells and associates with the NOTCH2 intracellular domain, which impedes the nuclear translocation of N2ICD. C8orf4 deletion causes the nuclear translocation of N2ICD that triggers the NOTCH2 signalling, which sustains the stemness of liver CSCs. Finally, NOTCH2 activation levels are consistent with clinical severity and prognosis of HCC patients. Altogether, C8orf4 negatively regulates the self-renewal of liver CSCs via suppression of NOTCH2 signalling.
The production of information in the attention economy
Authors: Ciampaglia Giovanni Luca , Flammini Alessandro , Menczer Filippo
Published: May 2015

Online traces of human activity offer novel opportunities to study the dynamics of complex knowledge exchange networks, in particular how emergent patterns of collective attention determine what new information is generated and consumed. Can we measure the relationship between demand and supply for new information about a topic? We propose a normalization method to compare attention bursts statistics across topics with heterogeneous distribution of attention. Through analysis of a massive dataset on traffic to Wikipedia, we find that the production of new knowledge is associated to significant shifts of collective attention, which we take as proxy for its demand. This is consistent with a scenario in which allocation of attention toward a topic stimulates the demand for information about it and in turn the supply of further novel information. However, attention spikes only for a limited time span, during which new content has higher chances of receiving traffic, compared to content created later or earlier on. Our attempt to quantify demand and supply of information and our finding about their temporal ordering, may lead to the development of the fundamental laws of the attention economy and to a better understanding of social exchange of knowledge information networks.
Structure of Slitrk2–PTPδ complex reveals mechanisms for splicing-dependent trans-synaptic adhesion
Authors: Yamagata Atsushi , Sato Yusuke , Goto-Ito Sakurako , Uemura Takeshi , Maeda Asami , Shiroshima Tomoko , Yoshida Tomoyuki , Fukai Shuya
Published: May 2015

Selective binding between pre- and postsynaptic adhesion molecules can induce synaptic differentiation. Here we report the crystal structure of a synaptogenic trans-synaptic adhesion complex between Slit and Trk-like family member 2 (Slitrk2) and receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP) δ. The structure and site-directed mutational analysis revealed the structural basis of splicing-dependent adhesion between Slitrks and type IIa RPTPs for inducing synaptic differentiation.
In Vivo Two-Photon Imaging of Axonal Dieback, Blood Flow and Calcium Influx withMethylprednisolone Therapy after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Tang Peifu , Zhang Yiling , Chen Chao , Ji Xinran , Ju Furong , Liu Xingyu , Gan Wen-Biao , He Zhigang , Zhang Shengxiang , Li Wei , Zhang Lihai
Published: May 2015

Severe spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause neurological dysfunction and paralysis.However, the early dynamic changes of neurons and their surrounding environmentafter SCI are poorly understood. Although methylprednisolone (MP) is currently thestandard therapeutic agent for treating SCI, its efficacy remains controversial. Thepurpose of this project was to investigate the early dynamic changes andMP's efficacy on axonal damage, blood flow and calcium influx into axonsin a mouse SCI model. YFP H-line and Thy1-GCaMP transgenic mice were used in thisstudy. Two-photon microscopy was used for imaging of axonal dieback, blood flow, andcalcium influx post-injury. We found that MP treatment attenuated progressive damageof axons, increased blood flow and reduced calcium influx post-injury. Furthermore,microglia/macrophages accumulated in the lesion site after SCI and expressed theproinflammatory mediators iNOS, MCP-1 and IL-1β. MP treatment markedlyinhibited the accumulation of microglia/macrophages and reduced the expression ofthe proinflammatory mediators. MP treatment also improved the recovery of behavioralfunction post-injury. These findings suggest that MP exerts a neuroprotective effecton SCI treatment by attenuating progressive damage of axons, increasing blood flow,reducing calcium influx and inhibiting the accumulation of microglia/macrophagesafter SCI.
Do deposit-feeders compete? Isotopic niche analysis of an invasion in a species-poor system
Authors: Karlson Agnes M. L. , Gorokhova Elena , Elmgren Ragnar
Published: May 2015

Successful establishment of invasive species is often related to the existence of vacant niches. Competition occurs when invaders use the same limiting resources as members of the recipient community, which will be reflected in some overlap of their trophic niches. The concept of isotopic niche has been used to study trophic niche partitioning among species. Here, we present a two-year field study comparing isotopic niches of the deposit-feeding community in a naturally species-poor system. The isotopic niche analyses showed no overlap between a recent polychaete invader and any of the native species suggesting that it has occupied a vacant niche. Its narrow isotopic niche suggests specialized feeding, however, the high δ15N values compared to natives are most likely due to isotope fractionation effects related to nitrogen recycling and a mismatch between biological stoichiometry of the polychaete and the sediment nitrogen content. Notably, highly overlapping isotopic niches were inferred for the native species, which is surprising in a food-limited system. Therefore, our results demonstrate that invaders may broaden the community trophic diversity and enhance resource utilization, but also raise questions about the congruence between trophic and isotopic niche concepts and call for careful examination of assumptions underlying isotopic niche interpretation.
Enhanced emission of charged-exciton polaritons from colloidal quantum dots on a SiN/SiO2 slab waveguide
Authors: Xu Xingsheng , Li Xingyun
Published: May 2015

We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the time-resolved PL decay process from colloidal quantum dots on SiN/SiO2 wet etched via BOE (HF:NH4F:H2O). The spectrum displays multi-peak shapes that vary with irradiation time. The evolution of the spectral peaks with irradiation time and collection angle demonstrates that the strong coupling of the charged-exciton emission to the leaky modes of the SiN/SiO2 slab waveguide predominantly produces short-wavelength spectral peaks, resulting in multi-peak spectra. We conclude that BOE etching enhances the charged-exciton emission efficiency and its contribution to the total emission compared with the unetched case. BOE etching smoothes the electron confinement potential, thus decreasing the Auger recombination rate. Therefore, the charged-exciton emission efficiency is high and the charged-exciton-polariton emission can be further enhanced through strong coupling to the leaky mode of the slab waveguide.
Triplex real-time PCR–an improved method to detect a wide spectrum of mitochondrial DNA deletions in single cells
Authors: Rygiel Karolina A. , Grady John P. , Taylor Robert W. , Tuppen Helen A. L. , Turnbull Doug M.
Published: May 2015

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are commonly found in the skeletal muscle of patients with mitochondrial disease, inflammatory myopathies and sarcopenia. The majority of these mutations are mtDNA deletions, which accumulate to high levels in individual muscle fibres causing a respiratory defect. Most mtDNA deletions are major arc deletions with breakpoints located between the origin of light strand (OL) and heavy strand (OH) replication within the major arc. However, under certain disease conditions, rarer, minor arc deletions are detected. Currently, there are few techniques which would allow the detection and quantification of both types of mtDNA deletions in single muscle fibres. We have designed a novel triplex real-time PCR assay which simultaneously amplifies the MT-ND4 gene in the major arc, the MT-ND1 gene in the minor arc and the non-coding D-Loop region. We demonstrate that this assay is a highly sensitive and reliable tool for the detection and quantification of a broad range of major and minor arc mtDNA deletions with the potential to investigate the molecular pathogenesis in both research and diagnostic settings.
New ambuic acid derivatives from the solid culture of Pestalotiopsis neglecta and their nitric oxide inhibitory activity
Authors: Qi Qiu-Yue , Li Er-Wei , Han Jun-Jie , Pei Yun-Fei , Ma Ke , Bao Li , Huang Ying , Zhao Feng , Liu Hong-Wei
Published: May 2015

Four new ambuic acid derivatives (1–4) and four known derivatives (5–8), were isolated from the solid culture of a plant pathogenic fungus Pestalotiopsis neglecta. Their structures were elucidated by extensive NMR experiments. The absolute configuration of the C-16 secondary alcohol in 1 was deduced via the CD data of the in situ formed [Rh2(OCOCF3)4] complex with the acetonide derivative of 1. The absolute configuration in 3 was assigned by comparison of the experimental and simulated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum. The NMR data of compound 5 was reported for the first time. In the nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay, compounds 4, 6 and 7 showed inhibitory activity against the NO production in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage with IC50 values of 88.66, 11.20 and 20.80 µM, respectively.
PALM-IST: Pathway Assembly from Literature Mining - an Information Search Tool
Authors: Mandloi Sapan , Chakrabarti Saikat
Published: May 2015

Manual curation of biomedical literature has become extremely tedious process due to its exponential growth in recent years. To extract meaningful information from such large and unstructured text, newer and more efficient mining tool is required. Here, we introduce PALM-IST, a computational platform that not only allows users to explore biomedical abstracts using keyword based text mining but also extracts biological entity (e.g., gene/protein, drug, disease, biological processes, cellular component, etc.) information from the extracted text and subsequently mines various databases to provide their comprehensive inter-relation (e.g., interaction, expression, etc.). PALM-IST constructs protein interaction network and pathway information data relevant to the text search using multiple data mining tools and assembles them to create a meta-interaction network. It also analyzes scientific collaboration by extraction and creation of “co-authorship network,” for a given search context. Hence, this useful combination of literature and data mining provided in PALM-IST can be used to extract novel protein-protein interaction (PPI), to generate meta-pathways and further to identify key crosstalk and bottleneck proteins. PALM-IST is available at www.hpppi.iicb.res.in/ctm.
Punitive preferences, monetary incentives and tacit coordination in the punishment of defectors promote cooperation in humans
Authors: Diekmann Andreas , Przepiorka Wojtek
Published: May 2015

Peer-punishment is effective in promoting cooperation, but the costs associated with punishing defectors often exceed the benefits for the group. It has been argued that centralized punishment institutions can overcome the detrimental effects of peer-punishment. However, this argument presupposes the existence of a legitimate authority and leaves an unresolved gap in the transition from peer-punishment to centralized punishment. Here we show that the origins of centralized punishment could lie in individuals’ distinct ability to punish defectors. In our laboratory experiment, we vary the structure of the punishment situation to disentangle the effects of punitive preferences, monetary incentives and individual punishment costs on the punishment of defectors. We find that actors tacitly coordinate on the strongest group member to punish defectors, even if the strongest individual incurs a net loss from punishment. Such coordination leads to a more effective and more efficient provision of a cooperative environment than we observe in groups of all equals. Our results show that even an arbitrary assignment of an individual to a focal position in the social hierarchy can trigger the endogenous emergence of more centralized forms of punishment.
Action observation: mirroring across our spontaneous movement tempo
Authors: Avanzino Laura , Lagravinese Giovanna , Bisio Ambra , Perasso Luisa , Ruggeri Piero , Bove Marco
Published: May 2015

During action observation (AO), the activity of the “mirror system” is influenced by the viewer’s expertise in the observed action. A question that remains open is whether the temporal aspects of the subjective motor repertoire can influence the “mirror system” activation.
15-year incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset of type 1 diabetes in children from a regional setting (Auckland, New Zealand)
Authors: Jefferies Craig , Cutfield Samuel W. , Derraik José G. B. , Bhagvandas Jignal , Albert Benjamin B. , Hofman Paul L. , Gunn Alistair J. , Cutfield Wayne S.
Published: May 2015

We assessed the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children aged <15 years with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in the Auckland Region (New Zealand) in 1999–2013, in a retrospective review of a complete regional cohort. DKA and its severity were classified according to ISPAD 2014 guidelines. Of 730 children presenting with new-onset T1DM over the 15-year time period, 195 cases had DKA of any severity (27%). There was no change in the incidence of DKA or the proportion of children with severe DKA at presentation. The incidence of DKA among children aged <2.0 years (n = 40) was 53% compared to 25% for those aged 2–14 years (n = 690; p = 0.005). In children aged 2–14 years, increasing age at diagnosis was associated with greater likelihood of DKA at presentation (p = 0.025), with the odds of DKA increasing 1.06 times with each year increase in age. Non-Europeans were more likely to present in DKA than New Zealand Europeans (OR 1.52; p = 0.048). Despite a consistent secular trend of increasing incidence of T1DM, there was no reduction in the incidence of DKA in new-onset T1DM in the Auckland Region over time. Thus, it is important to explore ways to reduce DKA risk.
Hydrothermally Grown In-doped ZnO Nanorods on p-GaN Films for Color-tunable Heterojunction Light-emitting-diodes
Authors: Park Geun Chul , Hwang Soo Min , Lee Seung Muk , Choi Jun Hyuk , Song Keun Man , Kim Hyun You , Kim Hyun-Suk , Eum Sung-Jin , Jung Seung-Boo , Lim Jun Hyung , Joo Jinho
Published: May 2015

The incorporation of doping elements in ZnO nanostructures plays an important role in adjusting the optical and electrical properties in optoelectronic devices. In the present study, we fabricated 1-D ZnO nanorods (NRs) doped with different In contents (0% ~ 5%) on p-GaN films using a facile hydrothermal method and investigated the effect of the In doping on the morphology and electronic structure of the NRs and the electrical and optical performances of the n-ZnO NRs/p-GaN heterojunction light emitting diodes (LEDs). As the In content increased, the size (diameter and length) of the NRs increased and the electrical performance of the LEDs improved. From the electroluminescence (EL) spectra, it was found that the broad green-yellow-orange emission band significantly increased with increasing In content due to the increased defect states (oxygen vacancies) in the ZnO NRs and consequently, the superposition of the emission bands centered at 415 nm and 570 nm led to the generation of white-light. These results suggest that In doping is an effective way to tailor the morphology and the optical, electronic and electrical properties of ZnO NRs, as well as the EL emission property of heterojunction LEDs.
A high-performance white-light-emitting-diodes based on nano-single crystal divanadates quantum dots
Authors: Yang Weiqing , Liu Zhongli , Chen Jun , Huang Li , Zhang Lei , Pan Hong , Wu Bo , Lin Yuan
Published: May 2015

We report a high-performance phosphors-free white light-emitting-diodes (w-LEDs) using Ba2V2O7 or Sr2V2O7 quantum dots that directly heteroepitaxially grown on common quartz substrates by polymer assisted deposition (PAD). The quantum efficiency of quantum dots is as high as 95%. More importantly, electronic local functions, band structure and partial density of states have been firstly calculated to study the luminescent and heteroepitaxial growth mechanisms by the Ab-initio Simulation. Additionally, the glaring white light excited at a wavelength of 325 nm was experimentally observed, which unambiguously demonstrated that such quantum dots can be efficient w-LEDs for solid state lighting.
The autism-associated gene chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) regulates noncoding RNAs and autism-related genes
Authors: Wilkinson B , Grepo N , Thompson B L , Kim J , Wang K , Evgrafov O V , Lu W , Knowles J A , Campbell D B
Published: May 2015

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) was identified as a leading autism spectrum disorder (ASD) candidate gene by whole-exome sequencing and subsequent targeted-sequencing studies. De novo loss-of-function mutations were identified in 12 individuals with ASD and zero controls, accounting for a highly significant association. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of CHD8 in human neural progenitor cells followed by RNA sequencing revealed that CHD8 insufficiency results in altered expression of 1715 genes, including both protein-coding and noncoding RNAs. Among the 10 most changed transcripts, 4 (40%) were noncoding RNAs. The transcriptional changes among protein-coding genes involved a highly interconnected network of genes that are enriched in neuronal development and in previously identified ASD candidate genes. These results suggest that CHD8 insufficiency may be a central hub in neuronal development and ASD risk.
Interaction of different prototropic species of an anticancer drug ellipticine with HSA and IgG proteins: multispectroscopic and molecular modeling studies
Authors: Thakur Raina , Das Anupam , Sharma Vandna , Adhikari Chandan , Ghosh Kalyan Sundar , Chakraborty Anjan
Published: May 2015

Studies on interactions between an anticancer alkaloid, ellipticine, and various carrier proteins in blood serum show tangible results to gain insight into the solubility and transport of the drug under physiological conditions.
Rainfall runoff modelling of the Upper Ganga and Brahmaputra basins using PERSiST
Authors: Futter M. N. , Whitehead P. G. , Sarkar S. , Rodda H. , Crossman J.
Published: May 2015

While tensions exist between parsimony and completeness, it appears that structural uncertainty is more important than parameter equifinality in controlling rainfall-runoff model performance.
microRNA miR-10b inhibition reduces cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells
Authors: Huang Junchao , Sun Chengchao , Wang Suqing , He Qiqiang , Li Dejia
Published: May 2015

Anti-miR-10b inhibits lung cancer cell growth and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Design and application of a versatile gas calibration for non-metal determination by carrier gas hot extraction
Authors: Kramer Claus , Ried Peter , Mahn Stefan , Richter Silke , Langhammer Nicole , Kipphardt Heinrich
Published: May 2015

Versatile gas calibration: flexible in composition and signal form by use of a gas mixing pump and an automated syringe.
Ruthenium pincer-catalyzed synthesis of substituted γ-butyrolactones using hydrogen autotransfer methodology
Authors: Peña-López Miguel , Neumann Helfried , Beller Matthias
Published: May 2015

The ruthenium pincer-catalyzed synthesis of γ-butyrolactones from 1,2-diols and malonates using borrowing-hydrogen methodology is reported.
An enzyme-free and DNA-based Feynman gate for logically reversible operation
Authors: Zhou Chunyang , Wang Kun , Fan Daoqing , Wu Changtong , Liu Dali , Liu Yaqing , Wang Erkang
Published: May 2015

A logically reversible Feynman gate was successfully realized under enzyme-free conditions by integrating graphene oxide and DNA for the first time.
Controlled proliferation and screening of mammalian cells on a hydrogel-functionalized small molecule microarray
Authors: Zhu Biwei , Jiang Bo , Na Zhenkun , Yao Shao Q.
Published: May 2015

Controlled proliferation and selective growth of mammalian cells were achieved on a small molecule microarray functionalized by hydrogels.
Deep catalytic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) with oxalate-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs)
Authors: Lü Hongying , Li Pengcheng , Deng Changliang , Ren Wanzhong , Wang Shunan , Liu Pan , Zhang Han
Published: May 2015

An oxalate-based DES with a tetrabutyl ammonium chloride and oxalate acid molar ratio of 1/2 (TBO1 : 2) exhibited high activity in oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) under mild reaction conditions.
A highly selective and fast-response fluorescent probe for visualization of enzymatic H2S production in vitro and in living cells
Authors: Wei Lv , Zhu Zhentao , Li Yanyan , Yi Long , Xi Zhen
Published: May 2015

The o-fluorinated-azido-capped rhodamine probe was developed for visualization of enzymatic H2S production both in vitro and in living cells.
Revealing highly unbalanced energy barriers in the extension and contraction of the muscle-like motion of a [c2]daisy chain
Authors: Zhao Yan-Ling , Zhang Rui-Qin , Minot Christian , Hermann Klaus , Van Hove Michel A.
Published: May 2015

Elongated and contracted forms of a [c2]daisy chain polymer under acidic vs. basic conditions optimized by computational simulation.
CASPT2 study of inverse sandwich-type dinuclear 3d transition metal complexes of ethylene and dinitrogen molecules: similarities and differences in geometry, electronic structure, and spin multiplicity
Authors: Nakagaki Masayuki , Sakaki Shigeyoshi
Published: May 2015

The spin multiplicities and coordination structures of inverse sandwich-type complexes of ethylene and dinitrogen molecules with 3d transition metal elements (Sc to Ni) were investigated by the CASPT2 method.
The rate constant of the reaction NCN + H2 and its role in NCN and NO modeling in low pressure CH4/O2/N2-flames
Authors: Faßheber Nancy , Lamoureux Nathalie , Friedrichs Gernot
Published: May 2015

The high temperature rate constant of the so-far neglected reaction NCN + H2 has been measured for the first time and its influence on NOx flame modeling has been evaluated by implementation into the GDFkin3.0_NCN mechanism.
Critical analysis of spectral solvent shifts calculated by the contemporary PCM approaches of a representative series of charge-transfer complexes between tetracyanoethylene and methylated benzenes
Authors: Budzák Šimon , Mach Pavel , Medved' Miroslav , Kysel' Ondrej
Published: May 2015

The performance of different state-specific methods was compared with experiment and state-universal LR method.
Ni3S2@CoS core–shell nano-triangular pyramid arrays on Ni foam for high-performance supercapacitors
Authors: Li Rui , Wang Senlin , Wang Jianpeng , Huang Zongchuan
Published: May 2015

Novel heterogeneous Ni3S2@CoS core–shell nano-triangular pyramid arrays on Ni foam were designed by electrodepositing CoS nanosheets on Ni3S2 nano-triangular pyramid arrays for high-performance supercapacitors.
Exploring the nature of the excitation energies in [Re6(μ3-Q8)X6]4− clusters: a relativistic approach
Authors: Rabanal-León Walter A. , Murillo-López Juliana A. , Páez-Hernández Dayán , Arratia-Pérez Ramiro
Published: May 2015

This contribution is focused on the characterization of the electronic transitions of the [Re6(μ3-Q8)X6]4− clusters, with the aim of understanding the substitution effect of the terminal and chalcogenide ligands, and the significance of the spin–orbit coupling over the description of excitation energies.
Role of lattice defects in catalytic activities of graphene clusters for fuel cells
Authors: Zhang Lipeng , Xu Quan , Niu Jianbing , Xia Zhenhai
Published: May 2015

Defects are common but important in graphene, which could significantly tailor the electronic structures and physical and chemical properties.
On the electrostatic nature of electrides
Authors: Kumar Anmol , Gadre Shridhar R.
Published: May 2015

The nature of electron localization in electrides is explored by examining their electrostatic features.
Interfacial sciences in unconventional petroleum production: from fundamentals to applications
Authors: He Lin , Lin Feng , Li Xingang , Sui Hong , Xu Zhenghe
Published: May 2015

With the ever increasing demand for energy to meet the needs of growth in population and improvement in the living standards, in particular in developing countries, the abundant unconventional oil reserves (about 70% of total world oil), such as heavy oil, oil/tar sands and shale oil, are playing an increasingly important role in securing global energy supply.
A TpyRu2+-based bismetallopolymer and its performance in catalytic water oxidation (Tpy = 4-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine)
Authors: Liu Die , Liu Qianqian , Li Yiming , Wang Meng , Yang Xiaoyu , Wu Tun , Moorefield Charles , Wang Pingshan , Newkome George R.
Published: May 2015

A novel, TpyRu2+/Ag+-based polymer exhibits excellent TONs and rates of reaction for catalytic H2O oxidation in comparison to the mononuclear TpyRu complex.
Stepwise synthesis and characterization of germa[4], [5], [8], and [10]pericyclynes
Authors: Tanimoto Hiroki , Nagao Tomohiko , Fujiwara Taro , Nishiyama Yasuhiro , Morimoto Tsumoru , Suzuka Toshimasa , Tsutsumi Ken , Kakiuchi Kiyomi
Published: May 2015

The stepwise syntheses of germa[N]pericyclynes, including [5]pericyclynes, and their characterization are described.
Bis(chalcogenones) as pincer ligands: isolation and Heck activity of the selone-ligated unsymmetrical C,C,Se–Pd pincer complex
Authors: Ghavale Ninad , Manjare Sudesh T. , Singh Harkesh B. , Butcher Ray J.
Published: May 2015

The reaction of meta-phenylene-bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2(3H)-selone) with [Pd2(μ-Cl)2(2-C6H4CH2NMe2)2] in dry benzene and glacial acetic acid resulted in the formation of an unsymmetrical 5,6-membered C,C,Se–Pd(ii) pincer complex.
Research highlights: elucidating the role of complex interactions affecting nanoparticle deposition
Authors: Louie Stacey M. , Pettibone John M.
Published: May 2015

We highlight recent works that advance our understanding of physicochemical mechanisms governing nanoparticle deposition in the environment.
Correction: Transformations of oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes exposed to UVC (254 nm) irradiation
Authors: Bitter Julie L. , Yang Jin , BeigzadehMilani Somayeh , Jafvert Chad T. , Fairbrother D. Howard
Published: May 2015

Correction for ‘Transformations of oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes exposed to UVC (254 nm) irradiation’ by Julie L. Bitter et al., Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2014, 1, 324–337.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of potential small moleculeinhibitors of tumor necrosis factor
Authors: Papaneophytou Christos , Alexiou Polyxeni , Papakyriakou Athanasios , Ntougkos Evangelos , Tsiliouka Katerina , Maranti Anna , Liepouri Fotini , Strongilos Alexandros , Mettou Anthi , Couladouros Elias , Eliopoulos Elias , Douni Eleni , Kollias George , Kontopidis George
Published: May 2015

A series of 39 novel SPD-304 analogs were designed synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of TNF.
Ionic liquid-derived nano-fibrillated mesoporous carbon based on solid-phase microextraction fiber for the analysis of volatile organic compounds from aqueous solutions
Authors: Abolghasemi Mir Mahdi , Karimi Babak , Yousefi Vahid , Behzadnia Hesam , Barzegar Hossein , Piryaei Marzieh
Published: May 2015

A nano-fibrillated mesoporous carbon solid phase microextraction fiber was successfully prepared and used for the extraction of volatile organic compounds.
Asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted tetrahydro-2-benzazepines
Authors: Quick Matthias P. , Fröhlich Roland , Schepmann Dirk , Wünsch Bernhard
Published: May 2015

Diastereoselective opening of a tricyclic oxazolidine with allyltrimethylsilane represents a key step in the synthesis of enantiomerically pure 3-substituted tetrahydro-2-benzazepines.
Tetrabutylammonium iodide-catalyzed oxidative coupling of enamides with sulfonylhydrazides: synthesis of β-keto-sulfones
Authors: Tang Yucai , Zhang Ye , Wang Kaifeng , Li Xiaoqing , Xu Xiangsheng , Du Xiaohua
Published: May 2015

A novel synthetic route toward pharmaceutically interesting β-keto-sulfone derivativesviaTBAI/TBHP-mediated oxidative coupling of readily prepared enamides with sulfonylhydrazides is described.
An efficient and practical approach to trifluoromethylthiolation of α-haloketones/α-haloarylmethanes
Authors: Jiang Min , Zhu Fangxia , Xiang Haoyue , Xu Xing , Deng Lianfu , Yang Chunhao
Published: May 2015

An efficient and practical approach to the trifluoromethylthiolation of α-haloketones/α-haloarylmethanes was developed, providing an unprecedentedly easy entry to various α-SCF3-substituted ketones/arylmethanes.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of copper(ii) pyrenethiosemicarbazone
Authors: Ingle Suwarna A. , Kate Anup N. , Kumbhar Anupa A. , Khan Ayesha A. , Rao Soniya S. , Gejji Shridhar P.
Published: May 2015

A fluorescent Cu(ii) pyrenethiosemicarbazone complex exhibits enhanced DNA-cleavage and cytotoxicity on photoexcitation.
Nanocrystalline potassium impregnated SiO2 as heterogeneous catalysts for the transesterification of karanja and jatropha oil
Authors: Mutreja Vishal , Singh Satnam , Minhas Tajbir Kaur , Ali Amjad
Published: May 2015

The formation of biodiesel from low grade feed stocks viz., jatropha and karanja oil having higher FFAs (5.62 and 11.28 wt% respectively) has been demonstrated in a single step using newly developed potassium impregnated SiO2 heterogeneous catalysts.
Binding to gold nanoclusters alters the hydrogen bonding interactions and electronic properties of canonical and size-expanded DNA base pairs
Authors: Rai Sandhya , Singh Harjinder , Priyakumar U. Deva
Published: May 2015

Structural perturbations, in terms of size expansion and metal binding, lead to exciting electronic properties which can be exploited in designing novel nano-electronic devices.
Zinc monoglycerolate as a catalyst for the conversion of 1,3- and higher diols to diurethanes
Authors: Kulasegaram Sanjitha , Shaheen Uzma , Turney Terence W. , Gates Will P. , Patti Antonio F.
Published: May 2015

An efficient approach to the synthesis of diurethanes from 1,3- and higher diols (n ≥ 3) is described.
Nitrogen-doped carbon decorated Li4Ti5O12 composites as anode materials for high performance lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Wang Feng , Luo Liangcheng , Du Jun , Guo Liangui , Li Bihui , Ding Yu
Published: May 2015

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials (NC) decorated nano-Li4Ti5O12 composites (LTO/NC) have been prepared by a simple high-energy ball milling with further heat treatment. The synergetic effects of NC and LTO can enhance the high capacity and impressive rate capability.
Ag@TiO2 nanocomposite; synthesis, characterization and its application as a novel and recyclable catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of benzoxazole derivatives in aqueous media
Authors: Maleki Behrooz , Baghayeri Mehdi , Vahdat Seyed Mohammad , Mohammadzadeh Abbas , Akhoondi Somaieh
Published: May 2015

A Ag@TiO2 nanocomposite/water as a novel catalytic system is used for the synthesis of benzoxazole derivatives. A shorter reaction time along with high product yield, catalyst stability and recyclability are the merits of this novel protocol.
Robust imogolite hydrogels with tunable physical properties
Authors: Shikinaka Kazuhiro , Yokoi Tomomi , Koizumi-Fujii Yumi , Shimotsuya Masaki , Shigehara Kiyotaka
Published: May 2015

Well-controlled physical properties depending on functional groups in organic polymer interacted with imogolite nanotubes.
Recent progress in the development of sortase A inhibitors as novel anti-bacterial virulence agents
Authors: Guo Yuchuan , Cai Shuihong , Gu Guofeng , Guo Zhongwu , Long Zhongzhu
Published: May 2015

Recent progress in the development of sortase A inhibitors as novel anti-virulence drugs for antibacterial therapy has been reviewed.
Isolation of doxorubicin from a bacterial culture using immobilised metal ion affinity chromatography
Authors: Nakano I. , Soe C. Z. , Codd R.
Published: May 2015

Doxorubicin was isolated as a free ligand from aStreptomyces peucetiusvar.caesiusculture using Ni(ii)-based IMAC. This easy-to-use, water-compatible method could improve the security of doxorubicin supply.
Self-assembly of a hydrophobically end-capped charged amphiphilic triblock copolymer: effects of temperature and salinity
Authors: Kahnamouei Farinaz , Zhu Kaizheng , Lund Reidar , Knudsen Kenneth D. , Nyström Bo
Published: May 2015

This study elucidates the intricate interplay between hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions in aqueous solutions of a responsive charged triblock copolymer.
Oxalyl amide assisted palladium-catalyzed synthesis of pyrrolidones via carbonylation of γ-C(sp3)–H bonds of aliphatic amine substrates
Authors: Wang Chao , Zhang Li , Chen Changpeng , Han Jian , Yao Yingming , Zhao Yingsheng
Published: May 2015

The first Pd-catalyzed regioselective γ-carbonylation of oxalyl amide protected aliphatic amines with carbon monoxide leading to synthesis of pyrrolidones has been developed.
Natural products triptolide, celastrol, and withaferin A inhibit the chaperone activity of peroxiredoxin I
Authors: Zhao Qian , Ding Yu , Deng Zhangshuang , Lee On-Yi , Gao Peng , Chen Pin , Rose Rebecca J. , Zhao Hong , Zhang Zhehao , Tao Xin-Pei , Heck Albert J. R. , Kao Richard , Yang Dan
Published: May 2015

The natural products triptolide, withaferin A and celastrol have been discovered to be novel Prx I chaperone inhibitors using synthetic chemical probes.
Reaction-activated palladium catalyst for dehydrogenation of substituted cyclohexanones to phenols and H2 without oxidants and hydrogen acceptors
Authors: Zhang Jingwu , Jiang Qiangqiang , Yang Dejun , Zhao Xiaomei , Dong Yanli , Liu Renhua
Published: May 2015

A combination of Pd/C and H2 is found to dehydrogenate a wide range of substituted cyclohexanones and 2-cyclohexenones to their corresponding phenols with high isolated yields, with H2 as the only byproduct.
Aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition of Ga-doped ZnO films for energy efficient glazing: effects of doping concentration on the film growth behaviour and opto-electronic properties
Authors: Chen Shuqun , Carraro Giorgio , Barreca Davide , Sapelkin Andrei , Chen Wenzhi , Huang Xuan , Cheng Qijin , Zhang Fengyan , Binions Russell
Published: May 2015

AACVD ZnO film growth as a function of doping concentration.
Stability of NdBaCo2−xMnxO5+δ (x = 0, 0.5) layered perovskites under humid conditions investigated by high-temperature in situ neutron powder diffraction
Authors: Bahout Mona , Pramana Stevin S. , Hanlon James M. , Dorcet Vincent , Smith Ronald I. , Paofai Serge , Skinner Stephen J.
Published: May 2015

NdBaCo2O5+δ Rietveld fit at 600 °C in wet air and SAED at RT along [11̄0] after 40 h of heating in a wet atmosphere.
Quantitative evaluation of power transfer efficiency of UHF RFID passive systems
Authors: de Souza A.C. , Duroc Y. , Vuong T.P. , Luce A.
Published: May 2015

A procedure to evaluate the power transfer efficiency of ultra‐high‐frequency (UHF) radio‐frequency identification (RFID) passive systems is presented. The ratio between the available power at the tag antenna and the input power into the reader antenna is measured for the first time in the UHF RFID frequency band. The power absorbed by the tag antenna is measured using a transition and matching circuit.