bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scalable fabrication of a hybrid field-effect and acousto-electric device by direct growth of monolayer MoS2/LiNbO3
Authors: Preciado Edwin , Schülein Florian J.R. , Nguyen Ariana E. , Barroso David , Isarraraz Miguel , von Son Gretel , Lu I-Hsi , Michailow Wladislaw , Möller Benjamin , Klee Velveth , Mann John , Wixforth Achim , Bartels Ludwig , Krenner Hubert J.
Published: October 2015

Lithium niobate is the archetypical ferroelectric material and the substrate of choice for numerous applications including surface acoustic wave radio frequencies devices and integrated optics. It offers a unique combination of substantial piezoelectric and birefringent properties, yet its lack of optical activity and semiconducting transport hamper application in optoelectronics. Here we fabricate and characterize a hybrid MoS2/LiNbO3 acousto-electric device via a scalable route that uses millimetre-scale direct chemical vapour deposition of MoS2 followed by lithographic definition of a field-effect transistor structure on top. The prototypical device exhibits electrical characteristics competitive with MoS2 devices on silicon. Surface acoustic waves excited on the substrate can manipulate and probe the electrical transport in the monolayer device in a contact-free manner. We realize both a sound-driven battery and an acoustic photodetector. Our findings open directions to non-invasive investigation of electrical properties of monolayer films.
Multimaterial magnetically assisted 3D printing of composite materials
Authors: Kokkinis Dimitri , Schaffner Manuel , Studart André R.
Published: October 2015

3D printing has become commonplace for the manufacturing of objects with unusual geometries. Recent developments that enabled printing of multiple materials indicate that the technology can potentially offer a much wider design space beyond unusual shaping. Here we show that a new dimension in this design space can be exploited through the control of the orientation of anisotropic particles used as building blocks during a direct ink-writing process. Particle orientation control is demonstrated by applying low magnetic fields on deposited inks pre-loaded with magnetized stiff platelets. Multimaterial dispensers and a two-component mixing unit provide additional control over the local composition of the printed material. The five-dimensional design space covered by the proposed multimaterial magnetically assisted 3D printing platform (MM-3D printing) opens the way towards the manufacturing of functional heterogeneous materials with exquisite microstructural features thus far only accessible by biological materials grown in nature.
Modelling kidney disease with CRISPR-mutant kidney organoids derived from human pluripotent epiblast spheroids
Authors: Freedman Benjamin S. , Brooks Craig R. , Lam Albert Q. , Fu Hongxia , Morizane Ryuji , Agrawal Vishesh , Saad Abdelaziz F. , Li Michelle K. , Hughes Michael R. , Werff Ryan Vander , Peters Derek T. , Lu Junjie , Baccei Anna , Siedlecki Andrew M. , Valerius M. Todd , Musunuru Kiran , McNagny Kelly M. , Steinman Theodore I. , Zhou Jing , Lerou Paul H. , Bonventre Joseph V.
Published: October 2015

Human-pluripotent-stem-cell-derived kidney cells (hPSC-KCs) have important potential for disease modelling and regeneration. Whether the hPSC-KCs can reconstitute tissue-specific phenotypes is currently unknown. Here we show that hPSC-KCs self-organize into kidney organoids that functionally recapitulate tissue-specific epithelial physiology, including disease phenotypes after genome editing. In three-dimensional cultures, epiblast-stage hPSCs form spheroids surrounding hollow, amniotic-like cavities. GSK3β inhibition differentiates spheroids into segmented, nephron-like kidney organoids containing cell populations with characteristics of proximal tubules, podocytes and endothelium. Tubules accumulate dextran and methotrexate transport cargoes, and express kidney injury molecule-1 after nephrotoxic chemical injury. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of podocalyxin causes junctional organization defects in podocyte-like cells. Knockout of the polycystic kidney disease genes PKD1 or PKD2 induces cyst formation from kidney tubules. All of these functional phenotypes are distinct from effects in epiblast spheroids, indicating that they are tissue specific. Our findings establish a reproducible, versatile three-dimensional framework for human epithelial disease modelling and regenerative medicine applications.
A new mutually reinforcing network node and link ranking algorithm
Authors: Wang Zhenghua , Dueñas-Osorio Leonardo , Padgett Jamie E.
Published: October 2015

This study proposes a novel Normalized Wide network Ranking algorithm (NWRank) that has the advantage of ranking nodes and links of a network simultaneously. This algorithm combines the mutual reinforcement feature of Hypertext Induced Topic Selection (HITS) and the weight normalization feature of PageRank. Relative weights are assigned to links based on the degree of the adjacent neighbors and the Betweenness Centrality instead of assigning the same weight to every link as assumed in PageRank. Numerical experiment results show that NWRank performs consistently better than HITS, PageRank, eigenvector centrality and edge betweenness from the perspective of network connectivity and approximate network flow, which is also supported by comparisons with the expensive N-1 benchmark removal criteria based on network efficiency. Furthermore, it can avoid some problems, such as the Tightly Knit Community effect, which exists in HITS. NWRank provides a new inexpensive way to rank nodes and links of a network, which has practical applications, particularly to prioritize resource allocation for upgrade of hierarchical and distributed networks, as well as to support decision making in the design of networks, where node and link importance depend on a balance of local and global integrity.
TUBA1A mutation can cause a hydranencephaly-like severe form of cortical dysgenesis
Authors: Yokoi Setsuri , Ishihara Naoko , Miya Fuyuki , Tsutsumi Makiko , Yanagihara Itaru , Fujita Naoko , Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Kato Mitsuhiro , Okamoto Nobuhiko , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Yamasaki Mami , Kanemura Yonehiro , Kosaki Kenjiro , Kojima Seiji , Saitoh Shinji , Kurahashi Hiroki , Natsume Jun
Published: October 2015

TUBA1A mutations cause a wide spectrum of lissencephaly and brain malformations. Here, we report two patients with severe cortical dysgeneses, one with an extremely thin cerebral parenchyma apparently looking like hydranencephaly and the other with lissencephaly accompanied by marked hydrocephalus, both harbouring novel de novo missense mutations of TUBA1A. To elucidate how the various TUBA1A mutations affect the severity of the phenotype, we examined the capacity of the mutant protein to incorporate into the endogenous microtubule network in transfected COS7 cells by measuring line density using line extraction in an immunofluorescence study. The mutants responsible for severe phenotypes were found to incorporate extensively into the network. To determine how each mutant alters the microtubule stability, we examined cold-induced microtubule depolymerisation in fibroblasts. The depolymerisation of patients’ fibroblasts occurred earlier than that of control fibroblasts, suggesting that microtubules bearing mutated tubulins are unstable. Both mutations are predicted to participate in lateral interactions of microtubules. Our data suggest that the TUBA1A mutations disrupting lateral interactions have pronounced dominant-negative effects on microtubule dynamics that are associated with the severe end of the lissencephaly spectrum.
Phosphatidic Acid (PA) can Displace PPARα/LXRα Binding to The EGFR Promoter Causing its Transrepression in Luminal Cancer Cells
Authors: Mahankali Madhu , Farkaly Terry , Bedi Shimpi , Hostetler Heather A. , Gomez-Cambronero Julian
Published: October 2015

The expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly regulated in normal cells, whereas some cancer cells have high constitutive levels. Understanding naturally-occurring ways of downregulating EGFR in cancer cells was investigated. Phosphatidic acid (PA) or Nuclear Receptors (NR) PPARα/RXRα/LXRα, enhance EGFR expression, mediated by the promoter region -856(A) to -226(T). Unexpectedly, the combination of NRs and PA caused repression. PA induces a conformational change in the nuclear receptor PPARα (increase of alpha-helices at the expense of decreasing beta-sheets), as evidenced by circular dichroism. This represses the naturally-enhancing capability of PPARα on EGFR transcription. PPARα-overexpressing cells in the presence of PA > 300 nM or the enzyme that produces it, phospholipase D (PLD), downregulate EGFR expression. The reasons are two-fold. First, PA displaces PPARα binding to the EGFR promoter at those concentrations. Second, NR heterodimer-dependent promoter activity is weakened in the presence of PA in vivo. Since other genes considered (β-catenin, cyclin D3, PLD2 and ACOX-1) are also downregulated with a PA + PPARα combination, the transrepression appears to be a global phenomenon. Lastly, the reported effect is greater in MCF-7 than in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which could provide a novel basis for regulating excessive expression of EGFR in luminal cancer cells.
Neurodegeneration and Cancer: Where the Disorder Prevails
Authors: Klus Petr , Cirillo Davide , Botta Orfila Teresa , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano
Published: October 2015

It has been reported that genes up-regulated in cancer are often down-regulated in neurodegenerative disorders and vice versa. The fact that apparently unrelated diseases share functional pathways suggests a link between their etiopathogenesis and the properties of molecules involved. Are there specific features that explain the exclusive association of proteins with either cancer or neurodegeneration? We performed a large-scale analysis of physico-chemical properties to understand what characteristics differentiate classes of diseases. We found that structural disorder significantly distinguishes proteins up-regulated in neurodegenerative diseases from those linked to cancer. We also observed high correlation between structural disorder and age of onset in Frontotemporal Dementia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, which strongly supports the role of protein unfolding in neurodegenerative processes.
Quasi-steady-state air plasma channel produced by a femtosecond laser pulse sequence
Authors: Lu Xin , Chen Shi-You , Ma Jing-Long , Hou Lei , Liao Guo-Qian , Wang Jin-Guang , Han Yu-Jing , Liu Xiao-Long , Teng Hao , Han Hai-Nian , Li Yu-Tong , Chen Li-Ming , Wei Zhi-Yi , Zhang Jie
Published: October 2015

A long air plasma channel can be formed by filamentation of intense femtosecond laser pulses. However, the lifetime of the plasma channel produced by a single femtosecond laser pulse is too short (only a few nanoseconds) for many potential applications based on the conductivity of the plasma channel. Therefore, prolonging the lifetime of the plasma channel is one of the key challenges in the research of femtosecond laser filamentation. In this study, a unique femtosecond laser source was developed to produce a high-quality femtosecond laser pulse sequence with an interval of 2.9 ns and a uniformly distributed single-pulse energy. The metre scale quasi-steady-state plasma channel with a 60–80 ns lifetime was formed by such pulse sequences in air. The simulation study for filamentation of dual femtosecond pulses indicated that the plasma channel left by the previous pulse was weakly affected the filamentation of the next pulse in sequence under our experimental conditions.
Significant Performance Enhancement in Asymmetric Supercapacitors based on Metal Oxides, Carbon nanotubes and Neutral Aqueous Electrolyte
Authors: Singh Arvinder , Chandra Amreesh
Published: October 2015

Amongst the materials being investigated for supercapacitor electrodes, carbon based materials are most investigated. However, pure carbon materials suffer from inherent physical processes which limit the maximum specific energy and power that can be achieved in an energy storage device. Therefore, use of carbon-based composites with suitable nano-materials is attaining prominence. The synergistic effect between the pseudocapacitive nanomaterials (high specific energy) and carbon (high specific power) is expected to deliver the desired improvements. We report the fabrication of high capacitance asymmetric supercapacitor based on electrodes of composites of SnO2 and V2O5 with multiwall carbon nanotubes and neutral 0.5 M Li2SO4 aqueous electrolyte. The advantages of the fabricated asymmetric supercapacitors are compared with the results published in the literature. The widened operating voltage window is due to the higher over-potential of electrolyte decomposition and a large difference in the work functions of the used metal oxides. The charge balanced device returns the specific capacitance of ~198 F g−1 with corresponding specific energy of ~89 Wh kg−1 at 1 A g−1. The proposed composite systems have shown great potential in fabricating high performance supercapacitors.
Subdiffraction localization of a nanostructured photosensitizer in bacterial cells
Authors: Delcanale Pietro , Pennacchietti Francesca , Maestrini Giulio , Rodríguez-Amigo Beatriz , Bianchini Paolo , Diaspro Alberto , Iagatti Alessandro , Patrizi Barbara , Foggi Paolo , Agut Monserrat , Nonell Santi , Abbruzzetti Stefania , Viappiani Cristiano
Published: October 2015

Antibacterial treatments based on photosensitized production of reactive oxygen species is a promising approach to address local microbial infections. Given the small size of bacterial cells, identification of the sites of binding of the photosensitizing molecules is a difficult issue to address with conventional microscopy. We show that the excited state properties of the naturally occurring photosensitizer hypericin can be exploited to perform STED microscopy on bacteria incubated with the complex between hypericin and apomyoglobin, a self-assembled nanostructure that confers very good bioavailability to the photosensitizer. Hypericin fluorescence is mostly localized at the bacterial wall and accumulates at the polar regions of the cell and at sites of cell wall growth. While these features are shared by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, only the latter are effectively photoinactivated by light exposure.
Early-life experience affects honey bee aggression and resilience to immune challenge
Authors: Rittschof Clare C. , Coombs Chelsey B. , Frazier Maryann , Grozinger Christina M. , Robinson Gene E.
Published: October 2015

Early-life social experiences cause lasting changes in behavior and health for a variety of animals including humans, but it is not well understood how social information ‘‘gets under the skin’’ resulting in these effects. Adult honey bees (Apis mellifera) exhibit socially coordinated collective nest defense, providing a model for social modulation of aggressive behavior. Here we report for the first time that a honey bee’s early-life social environment has lasting effects on individual aggression: bees that experienced high-aggression environments during pre-adult stages showed increased aggression when they reached adulthood relative to siblings that experienced low-aggression environments, even though all bees were kept in a common environment during adulthood. Unlike other animals including humans however, high-aggression honey bees were more, rather than less, resilient to immune challenge, assessed as neonicotinoid pesticide susceptibility. Moreover, aggression was negatively correlated with ectoparasitic mite presence. In honey bees, early-life social experience has broad effects, but increased aggression is decoupled from negative health outcomes. Because honey bees and humans share aspects of their physiological response to aggressive social encounters, our findings represent a step towards identifying ways to improve individual resiliency. Pre-adult social experience may be crucial to the health of the ecologically threatened honey bee.
Genetic analysis of capsular polysaccharide synthesis gene clusters in 79 capsular types of Klebsiella spp
Authors: Pan Yi-Jiun , Lin Tzu-Lung , Chen Chun-Tang , Chen Yi-Yin , Hsieh Pei-Fang , Hsu Chun-Ru , Wu Meng-Chuan , Wang Jin-Town
Published: October 2015

A total of 79 capsular types have been reported in Klebsiella spp., whereas capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) regions were available in only 22 types. Due to the limitations of serotyping, complete repertoire of cps will be helpful for capsular genotyping. We therefore resolved the rest 57 cps and conducted comparative analysis. Clustering results of 1,515 predicted proteins from cps loci categorized proteins which share similarity into homology groups (HGs) revealing that 77 Wzy polymerases were classified into 56 HGs, which indicate the high specificity of wzy between different types. Accordingly, wzy-based capsular genotyping could differentiate capsule types except for those lacking wzy (K29 and K50), those sharing identical wzy (K22 vs. K37); and should be carefully applied in those exhibited high similarity (K12 vs. K41, K2 vs. K13, K74 vs. K80, K79 vs. KN1 and K30 vs. K69). Comparison of CPS structures in several capsular types that shared similarity in their gene contents implies possible functions of glycosyltransferases. Therefore, our results provide complete set of cps in various types of Klebsiella spp., which enable the understandings of relationship between genes and CPS structures and are useful for identification of documented or new capsular types.
Divergent biophysical controls of aquatic CO2 and CH4 in the World’s two largest rivers
Authors: Borges Alberto V. , Abril Gwenaël , Darchambeau François , Teodoru Cristian R. , Deborde Jonathan , Vidal Luciana O. , Lambert Thibault , Bouillon Steven
Published: October 2015

Carbon emissions to the atmosphere from inland waters are globally significant and mainly occur at tropical latitudes. However, processes controlling the intensity of CO2and CH4emissions from tropical inland waters remain poorly understood. Here, we report a data-set of concurrent measurements of the partial pressure of CO2(pCO2) and dissolved CH4concentrations in the Amazon (n = 136) and the Congo (n = 280) Rivers. The pCO2values in the Amazon mainstem were significantly higher than in the Congo, contrasting with CH4concentrations that were higher in the Congo than in the Amazon. Large-scale patterns in pCO2across different lowland tropical basins can be apprehended with a relatively simple statistical model related to the extent of wetlands within the basin, showing that, in addition to non-flooded vegetation, wetlands also contribute to CO2in river channels. On the other hand, dynamics of dissolved CH4in river channels are less straightforward to predict and are related to the way hydrology modulates the connectivity between wetlands and river channels.
Characterizing novel endogenous retroviruses from genetic variation inferred from short sequence reads
Authors: Mourier Tobias , Mollerup Sarah , Vinner Lasse , Hansen Thomas Arn , Kjartansdóttir Kristín Rós , Guldberg Frøslev Tobias , Snogdal Boutrup Torsten , Nielsen Lars Peter , Willerslev Eske , Hansen Anders J.
Published: October 2015

From Illumina sequencing of DNA from brain and liver tissue from the lion, Panthera leo and tumor samples from the pike-perch, Sander lucioperca, we obtained two assembled sequence contigs with similarity to known retroviruses. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the pike-perch retrovirus belongs to the epsilonretroviruses and the lion retrovirus to the gammaretroviruses. To determine if these novel retroviral sequences originate from an endogenous retrovirus or from a recently integrated exogenous retrovirus, we assessed the genetic diversity of the parental sequences from which the short Illumina reads are derived. First, we showed by simulations that we can robustly infer the level of genetic diversity from short sequence reads. Second, we find that the measures of nucleotide diversity inferred from our retroviral sequences significantly exceed the level observed from Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections, prompting us to conclude that the novel retroviruses are both of endogenous origin. Through further simulations, we rule out the possibility that the observed elevated levels of nucleotide diversity are the result of co-infection with two closely related exogenous retroviruses.
Lumazine Synthase Protein Nanoparticle-Gd(III)-DOTA Conjugate as a T1 contrast agent for high-field MRI
Authors: Song YoungKyu , Kang Young Ji , Jung Hoesu , Kim Hansol , Kang Sebyung , Cho HyungJoon
Published: October 2015

With the applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at higher magnetic fields increasing, there is demand for MRI contrast agents with improved relaxivity at higher magnetic fields. Macromolecule-based contrast agents, such as protein-based ones, are known to yield significantly higher r1 relaxivity at low fields, but tend to lose this merit when used as T1 contrast agents (r1/r2 = 0.5 ~ 1), with their r1 decreasing and r2 increasing as magnetic field strength increases. Here, we developed and characterized an in vivo applicable magnetic resonance (MR) positive contrast agent by conjugating Gd(III)-chelating agent complexes to lumazine synthase isolated from Aquifex aeolicus (AaLS). The r1 relaxivity of Gd(III)-DOTA-AaLS-R108C was 16.49 mM−1s−1 and its r1/r2 ratio was 0.52 at the magnetic field strength of 7 T. The results of 3D MR angiography demonstrated the feasibility of vasculature imaging within 2 h of intravenous injection of the agent and a significant reduction in T1 values were observed in the tumor region 7 h post-injection in the SCC-7 flank tumor model. Our findings suggest that Gd(III)-DOTA-AaLS-R108C could serve as a potential theranostic nanoplatform at high magnetic field strength.
Apoptosis of tumor infiltrating effector TIM-3+CD8+ T cells in colon cancer
Authors: Kang Chiao-Wen , Dutta Avijit , Chang Li-Yuan , Mahalingam Jayashri , Lin Yung-Chang , Chiang Jy-Ming , Hsu Chen-Yu , Huang Ching-Tai , Su Wan-Ting , Chu Yu-Yi , Lin Chun-Yen
Published: October 2015

TIM-3 functions to enforce CD8+ T cell exhaustion, a dysfunctional state associated with the tolerization of tumor microenvironment. Here we report apoptosis of IFN-γ competent TIM-3+ population of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in colon cancer. In humans suffering from colorectal cancer, TIM-3+ population is higher in cancer tissue-resident relative to peripheral blood CD8+ T cells. Both the TIM-3+ and TIM-3- cancer tissue-resident CD8+ T cells secrete IFN-γ of comparable levels, although apoptotic cells are more in TIM-3+ compared to TIM-3- population. In mouse CT26 colon tumor model, majority of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells express TIM-3 and execute cytolysis function with higher effector cytokine secretion and apoptosis in TIM-3+ compared to TIM-3- population. The tumor cells secrete galectin-9, which increases apoptosis of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Galectin-9/TIM-3 signaling blockade with anti-TIM-3 antibody reduces the apoptosis and in addition, inhibits tumor growth in mice. The blockade increases therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide to treat tumor in mice as well. These results reveal a previously unexplored role of TIM-3 on tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells in vivo.
Novel reversible and switchable electrolytes based on magneto-rheology
Authors: Ding Jie , Peng Gangrou , Shu Kewei , Wang Caiyun , Tian Tongfei , Yang Wenrong , Zhang Yuanchao , Wallace Gordon G. , Li Weihua
Published: October 2015

Replacing organic liquid electrolytes with solid electrolytes has led to a new perspective on batteries, enabling high-energy battery chemistry with intrinsically safe cell designs. However, most solid/gel electrolytes are easily deformed; under extreme deformation, leakage and/or short-circuiting can occur. Here, we report a novel magneto-rheological electrolyte (MR electrolyte) that responds to changes in an external magnetic field; the electrolyte exhibits low viscosity in the absence of a magnetic field and increased viscosity or a solid-like phase in the presence of a magnetic field. This change from a liquid to solid does not significantly change the conductivity of the MR electrolyte. This work introduces a new class of magnetically sensitive solid electrolytes that can enhance impact resistance and prevent leakage from electronic devices through reversible active switching of their mechanical properties.
Rapid Hepatobiliary Excretion of Micelle-Encapsulated/Radiolabeled Upconverting Nanoparticles as an Integrated Form
Authors: Seo Hyo Jung , Nam Sang Hwan , Im Hyung-Jun , Park Ji-yong , Lee Ji Youn , Yoo Byeongjun , Lee Yun-Sang , Jeong Jae Min , Hyeon Taeghwan , Who Kim Ji , Lee Jae Sung , Jang In-Jin , Cho Joo-Youn , Hwang Do Won , Suh Yung Doug , Lee Dong Soo
Published: October 2015

In the field of nanomedicine, long term accumulation of nanoparticles (NPs) in the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) such as liver is the major hurdle in clinical translation. On the other hand, NPs could be excreted via hepatobiliary excretion pathway without overt tissue toxicity. Therefore, it is critical to develop NPs that show favorable excretion property. Herein, we demonstrated that micelle encapsulated 64Cu-labeled upconverting nanoparticles (micelle encapsulated 64Cu-NOTA-UCNPs) showed substantial hepatobiliary excretion by in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) and also upconversion luminescence imaging (ULI). Ex vivo biodistribution study reinforced the imaging results by showing clearance of 84% of initial hepatic uptake in 72 hours. Hepatobiliary excretion of the UCNPs was also verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination. Micelle encapsulated 64Cu-NOTA-UCNPs could be an optimal bimodal imaging agent owing to quantifiability of 64Cu, ability of in vivo/ex vivo ULI and good hepatobiliary excretion property.
A novel molecular biosensor system model designed by using a couple composed of a fluorescent mutant binding protein and fluorophore-labeled ligand analogue based on the FRET mechanism
Authors: Zhu Xianwei , Shinohara Hiroaki , Hohsaka Takahiro
Published: October 2015

The design of a novel molecular biosensor system model using Trp120BFLAF mutant streptavidin and Alexa546-biotin based on the FRET mechanism.
Comparative characterization of amino acids in Abelmoschus manihot roots, stems and leaves during different growth periods by UPLC-TQ-MS/MS
Authors: Du Le-yue , Qian Da-wei , Jiang Shu , Guo Jian-ming , Su Shu-lan , Duan Jin-ao
Published: October 2015

UPLC-TQ-MS/MS was applied in this study toseparate and detect 22 amino acids in the samples of Abelmoschus manihot roots, stems and leaves harvested at different growth periods..
Analytical methods for sensing of health-hazardous arsenic from biotic and abiotic natural resources
Authors: Dhillon Ankita , Nair Manjula , Kumar Dinesh
Published: October 2015

The existence of arsenic in biotic and abiotic samples poses severe health threats globally.
Polymorphs of layered assemblies of hydrogen-bonded hexagonal networks caused by conformational frustration
Authors: Hisaki Ichiro , Ikenaka Nobuaki , Tohnai Norimitsu , Miyata Mikiji
Published: October 2015

Four polymorphs of 2D-nCOF crystals with a hydrogen-bonded, hexagonally-networked framework were generated due to the versatile location of conformational frustration.
Preparation of fluoro-functionalized graphene oxide via the Hunsdiecker reaction
Authors: Xing Ruiguang , Li Yanan , Yu Huitao
Published: October 2015

We report our effort in the development of a new synthetic method for fluoro-functionalized graphene oxide, which was prepared via the Hunsdiecker reaction, and the treatment of carboxylated graphene oxide with selectfluor at 90 °C for 10 h under an atmosphere of nitrogen, using silver nitrate as a catalyst.
The pH dependence of OH radical formation in photo-electrochemical water oxidation with rutile TiO2 single crystals
Authors: Nakabayashi Yukihiro , Nosaka Yoshio
Published: October 2015

The experimental results in photoelectrolysis with rutile (100) and (110) TiO2 single crystals support a plausible reaction mechanism that the surface Ti–O–O–Ti structure is an intermediate of water oxidation process, by which mechanism the O2 production becomes favorable in alkaline solution.
Demystifying fluorine chemical shifts: electronic structure calculations address origins of seemingly anomalous19F-NMR spectra of fluorohistidine isomers and analogues
Authors: Kasireddy Chandana , Bann James G. , Mitchell-Koch Katie R.
Published: October 2015

Understanding localization/delocalization of fluorine electron density is shown to be critical for predicting and interpreting fluorine chemical shift.
Investigating the properties of PODIPYs (phosphorus-dipyrromethene) with ab initio tools
Authors: Fihey Arnaud , Favennec Anthony , Le Guennic Boris , Jacquemin Denis
Published: October 2015

What are the differences between BODIPYs and PODIPYs?
Preparation of graphene/TiO2 nanotube array photoelectrodes and their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of alachlor
Authors: Zheng Dong , Xin Yanjun , Ma Dong , Wang Xu , Wu Juan , Gao Mengchun
Published: October 2015

Photocatalytic mechanism scheme of the degradation of alachlor by the GR/TNA photoelectrodes.
Highly active electron-deficient Pd clusters on N-doped active carbon for aromatic ring hydrogenation
Authors: Nie Renfeng , Jiang Hezhan , Lu Xinhuan , Zhou Dan , Xia Qinghua
Published: October 2015

Pyridinic nitrogen species in N-doped active carbon (xN-AC) are responsible for high activity of ring hydrogenation via the formation of a high percentage of electron-deficient Pd clusters.
Effect of the bulkiness of indenylidene moieties on the catalytic initiation and efficiency of second-generation ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts
Authors: Yu Baoyi , Luo Zhixiong , Hamad Fatma B. , Leus Karen , van Hecke Kristof , Verpoort Francis
Published: October 2015

Fast initiation and high efficiency of ruthenium indenylidene catalysts induced by steric repulsion between two ligands (SIMes ligand and bulky indenylidene ligand).
Which one is faster? A kinetic investigation of Pd and Ni catalyzed Negishi-type oxidative coupling reactions
Authors: Xin Jie , Zhang Guanghui , Deng Yi , Zhang Heng , Lei Aiwen
Published: October 2015

The difference between Pd and Ni has been investigated based on the Negishi-type oxidative coupling reactions in which reductive elimination was proved to be the rate determining step.
Possibilities and limitations in separating Pt(iv) from Pd(ii) combining imidazolium and phosphonium ionic liquids
Authors: Papaiconomou Nicolas , Svecova Lenka , Bonnaud Céline , Cathelin Loïc , Billard Isabelle , Chainet Eric
Published: October 2015

The extraction of Pt(iv) using [OMIM][NTf2] and of Pd(ii) using (Cyphos 102) is reported. Pd(ii) was extracted quantitatively using Cyphos 102. Separation of Pt(iv) from Pd(ii) was carried out in a simple two step process.
Anxiolytic effects of ACE inhibitory peptides on the behavior of rats in an elevated plus-maze
Authors: Yu Zhipeng , Zhao Wenzhu , Ding Long , Yu Yiding , Liu Jingbo
Published: October 2015

Three novel egg white-derived peptides were demonstrated to display in vitro activities against the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE).
A pyrylium–coumarin dyad as a colorimetric receptor for ratiometric detection of cyanide anions by two absorption bands in the visible region
Authors: Shiraishi Yasuhiro , Nakamura Masaya , Matsushita Naoyuki , Hirai Takayuki
Published: October 2015

A pyrylium–coumarin dyad behaves as a colorimetric receptor for ratiometric detection of cyanide anions in aqueous media by two absorption bands in the visible wavelength region.
Organic nanotubes and belt shaped molecules based on norbornadiene tethers
Authors: Denis Pablo A. , Yanney Michael
Published: October 2015

One dimensional materials based on norbornadiene tethers showed outstanding electronic properties and can host large fullerenes with high affinity.
Palladium-catalyzed alkyne polyannulation of diphenols and unactivated internal diynes: a new synthetic route to functional heterocyclic polymers
Authors: Zhang Yun , Lam Jacky W. Y. , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: October 2015

A new polymerization route for the preparation of functional heterocyclic polymers was developed from diphenol derivatives and unactivated internal diynes.
Reduced graphene oxide coupled CdS/CoFe2O4 ternary nanohybrid with enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability: a potential role of reduced graphene oxide as a visible light responsive photosensitizer
Authors: Singh Simrjit , Khare Neeraj
Published: October 2015

We report the coupling of a CdS/CoFe2O4 core/shell nanorod heterostructure onto 2D platform of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets in which a role of RGO as a visible light responsive photosensitizer is shown for enhanced photocatalytic activity.
A molecular peptide beacon for IgG detection
Authors: Okochi M. , Sugita T. , Tanaka M. , Honda H.
Published: October 2015

A molecular peptide beacon was designed for fluorescence detection of IgG in a homogeneous assay.
Rich synthetic and structural chemistry of polynuclear Pb(ii)–Cu(i)/Ag(i) heterobimetallic thiolate clusters, their decomposition and generation of a Cu(ii) hydrosulfide variant
Authors: Gupta Geetika , Bhattacharya Subrato
Published: October 2015

Thermal decomposition of Pb(ii)–Cu(i)/Ag(i) heterobimetallic thiolate clusters yielded PbS nanoparticles along with a sought-after Cu(ii) hydrosulfide complex.
Supramolecular solvent-based microextraction method for cobalt traces in food samples with optimization Plackett–Burman and central composite experimental design
Authors: Aydin Funda , Yilmaz Erkan , Soylak Mustafa
Published: October 2015

A new microextraction method based on formation of supramolecular solvent (Ss) was developed by using of chemometric optimization method for cobalt determination with microsampling flame atomic absorption spectrometry (MS-FAAS).
New type of thermoplastic bio composite: nature of the interface on the ultimate properties and water absorption
Authors: P. S. Sari , Spatenka Petr , Jenikova Zdenka , Grohens Yves , Thomas Sabu
Published: October 2015

A new type of thermoplastic bio composite with coir fibre derived from coconut was fabricated by means of plasma modification of the polymer surface.
Effect of microwave irradiation on reduction of graphene oxide films
Authors: Han H. J. , Chen Y. N. , Wang Z. J.
Published: October 2015

In this study, the effect of microwave irradiation on reduction of graphene oxide films was investigated.
Hyperbranched self-assembled photoanode for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cells
Authors: Passoni Luca , Giordano Fabrizio , Zakeeruddin Shaik M. , Grätzel Michael , Di Fonzo Fabio
Published: October 2015

The photoanode morphology is key for improving photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells.
Luminescence and slow magnetic relaxation of isostructural 2D lanthanide metal–organic frameworks derived from both nicotinate N-oxide and glutarate
Authors: Liu Cai-Ming , Zhang De-Qing , Hao Xiang , Zhu Dao-Ben
Published: October 2015

The isostructural 2D lanthanide coordination polymers may exhibit either luminescence or slow magnetic relaxation, depending on the lanthanide ions.
A scalable and facile synthesis of alumina/exfoliated graphite composites by attrition milling
Authors: Lee Eunsil , Choi Ki Beom , Lee Sung-Min , Kim Jong-Young , Jung Jong-Yeol , Baik Seung-Woo , Lim Young Soo , Kim Seung-Joo , Shim Wooyoung
Published: October 2015

We present a facile one-pot synthesis of alumina/exfoliated graphite composite having excellent electrical conductivity (>1,000 S m−1), fracture toughness (5.6 MPa m0.5), and wear resistance, which is enhanced by 7.7 times compared to pure alumina.
Catalytic effect of two-phase intergrowth and coexistence CuO–CeO2
Authors: Ma Jiahui , Jin Guangzhou , Gao Junbin , Li Yuyang , Dong Lihui , Huang Meina , Huang Qingqing , Li Bin
Published: October 2015

A model of the catalytic reaction mechanisms for CO + O2 and NO + CO for a two phase intergrowth and coexistence CuO–CeO2 catalyst.
Mouse hepatic neoplasm formation induced by trace level and low frequency exposure to diethylnitrosamine through β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Li Yu-Sang , Leng Chang-Long , Chen Man-Tang , Zhang Wei Kevin , Li Xiao-Jun , Tang He-Bin , Shang Hong-Cai , Zhu Li-Hua
Published: October 2015

It has been reported that massive levels or/and high frequency exposure of diethylnitrosamine could induce hepatic neoplasm. However, it would be more interesting to figure out the hepatotoxic effects of diethylnitrosamine exposure at trace level and low frequency, which could be more common in our daily life. We found that both the mRNA and protein expression levels of β-catenin were aberrant in all liver tissues, accompanied by inflammation, steatosis, fibrosis and hepatic neoplasm after 10-week exposure of diethylnitrosamine (dissolved in sesame oil, 0.16 mmol per kg body weight) to mice. In addition, gradual increase in the mRNA expression of several pivotal risk factors (TNF-α, COX-2, PPAR-γ, AP-2, Smad-2, TGF-β1, and C-myc), as well as their protein expression levels, were associated with the aberrant expression or/and nucleus localization of β-catenin. Altogether, our results show that long-term diethylnitrosamine exposure at trace amounts and low frequency can also induce hepatotoxicity (including inflammation, steatosis and fibrosis) and consequently aberrant activation of β-catenin which in turn plays an important role in the initiation and promotion of liver tumors.
Pathogenic aspects and therapeutic avenues of intestinal fibrosis in Crohn's disease
Authors: Zorzi Francesca , Calabrese Emma , Monteleone Giovanni
Published: October 2015

In Crohn's disease, one of the two major forms of inflammatory bowel diseases in human beings, persistent and chronic inflammation promotes fibrotic processes thereby facilitating formation of strictures, the most common indication for surgical intervention in this disorder. The pathogenesis of Crohn's disease-associated fibrosis is not fully understood, but variants of genes involved in the recognition of microbial components/products [e.g. CARD15 (caspase-activating recruitment domain 15) and ATG16L1 (autophagy-related 16-like 1)] are associated with this phenotype, and experimental evidence suggests that intestinal fibrosis results from an altered balance between deposition of ECM (extracellular matrix) and degradation of ECM by proteases. Studies have also contributed to identify the main phenotypic and functional alterations of cells involved in the fibrogenic process, as well as molecules that stimulate such cells to produce elevated amounts of collagen and other ECM-related proteins. In the present review, we assess the current knowledge about cellular and molecular mediators of intestinal fibrosis and describe results of recent studies aimed at testing the preventive/therapeutic effect of compounds in experimental models of intestinal fibrosis.
Performance of polar coding for the power line communications in the presence of impulsive noise
Authors: Jin Liping , Li Youming , Li Bin , Wei Zhuanghun , Shi Jiong
Published: October 2015

In this study, the authors propose a polar coding (PC) scheme for the power line communication (PLC) system to cope with the impulsive noise and thereby promote the transmission performance. This new error‐correcting coding scheme is essentially inspired on a novel conception of channel polarisation. To be specific, via recursively channel combing and splitting, a group of channels with ideal transmission conditions, that is having a capacity of 1, will be constructed to carry the useful information, while the other band sub‐channels bear useless information. The decoding performance of PC under realistic impulsive noises is investigated under the condition that the impulsive noise is modelled by a well‐known Middleton Class‐A model. To mitigate the error propagation caused by sudden strong impulsive noises and further enhance the decoding performance, a matrix interleave operator is integrated. Simulations validate the suggested PC scheme in PLC systems. Compared with another commonly used low‐density parity‐check (LDPC) coding scheme, the suggested PC scheme, which has the low complexity, can significantly improve the bit error rate (BER) performance of PLC transmissions with impulsive interference. The PC scheme, as demonstrated by simulation results, can be of great importance to practical PLC systems.
Wearable self‐tuning antenna for emergency rescue operations
Authors: Baroni Andrea , Nepa Paolo , Rogier Hendrik
Published: October 2015

In this study, the design, hardware implementation and characterisation of a self‐tuning 406 MHz antenna of a Cospas‐Sarsat personal locator beacon are presented. The realised prototype is able to perform automatic tuning of the antenna under time‐varying environmental conditions due to human body movements and sea water proximity. The impedance tuning is performed by tracking the instantaneous value of the reflection coefficient and by modifying an appropriate impedance matching network according to a real‐time adaptive algorithm. A resilient default/backup software architecture has been designed to ensure that tuning guarantees a return loss higher than 10 dB for the personal locator beacon in most of impedance mismatching conditions.
2.1 Reactions Involving an α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compound or Analogue as Electrophilic Component
Authors: Rodriguez J.-A. , Bonne D. , Coquerel Y.
Published: October 2015

This chapter focuses on multicomponent reactions involving an α, β-unsaturated compound as an electrophilic component and in which a Michael addition is a key step during the process. The Michael addition step can be either the starting point or a late event in the domino sequence. These reactions are extremely powerful processes, allowing the synthesis of diverse, valuable carbocyclic, heterocyclic, or acyclic scaffolds.
2.3 Boron-Mediated Multicomponent Reactions
Authors: Szabó K. J.
Published: October 2015

Organoboronates are important reagents in modern synthetic applications. However, some organoboronates are unstable or difficult to purify. A possible solution is to perform organic transformations with in situ generated organoboronates. The organoboronates react selectively with many substrates, such as carbonyl compounds (allylation reactions) or organohalides (Suzuki–Miyaura coupling). Furthermore, synthesis of organoboronates and the subsequent transformations can be easily combined in the same reaction vessel. This chapter presents examples of these reactions including generation of organoboronates from simple prefunctionalized substrates (such as alcohols) and via C—H functionalization processes.
Influence of dimensionality and interface type on optical and electronic properties of CdS/ZnS core-shell nanocrystals—A first-principles study
Authors: Kocevski V. , Eriksson O. , Gerard C. , Sarma D. D. , Rusz J.
Published: October 2015

Semiconducting nanocrystals (NCs) have become one of the leading materials in a variety of applications, mainly due to their size tunable band gap and high intensity emission. Their photoluminescence (PL) properties can be notably improved by capping the nanocrystals with a shell of another semiconductor, making core-shell structures. We focus our study on the CdS/ZnS core-shell nanocrystals that are closely related to extensively studied CdSe/CdS NCs, albeit exhibiting rather different photoluminescence properties. We employ density functional theory to investigate the changes in the electronic and optical properties of these nanocrystals with size, core/shell ratio, and interface structure between the core and the shell. We have found that both the lowest unoccupied eigenstate (LUES) and the highest occupied eigenstate (HOES) wavefunction (WF) are localized in the core of the NCs, with the distribution of the LUES WF being more sensitive to the size and the core/shell ratio. We show that the radiative lifetimes are increasing, and the Coulomb interaction energies decrease with increasing NC size. Furthermore, we investigated the electronic and optical properties of the NCs with different interfaces between the core and the shell and different core types. We find that the different interfaces and core types have rather small influence on the band gaps and the absorption indexes, as well as on the confinement of the HOES and LUES WFs. Also the radiative lifetimes are found to be only slightly influenced by the different structural models. In addition, we compare these results with the previous results for CdSe/CdS NCs, reflecting the different PL properties of these two types of NCs. We argue that the difference in their Coulomb interaction energies is one of the main reasons for their distinct PL properties.
The new ECR charge breeder for the Selective Production of Exotic Species project at INFN—Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro
Authors: Galatà A. , Patti G. , Roncolato C. , Angot J. , Lamy T.
Published: October 2015

The Selective Production of Exotic Species (SPES) project is an ISOL facility under construction at Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare–Laboratori Nationali di Legnaro (INFN-LNL). 1+ radioactive ions, produced and extracted from the target-ion-source system, will be charge bred to high charge states by an ECR charge breeder (SPES-CB): the project will adopt an upgraded version of the PHOENIX charge breeder, developed since about twenty years by the Laboratoire de Physique Subatomique et de Cosmologie (LPSC). The collaboration between LNL and LPSC started in 2010 with charge breeding experiments performed on the LPSC test bench and led, in June 2014, to the signature of a Research Collaboration Agreement for the delivery of a complete charge breeder and ancillaries, satisfying the SPES requirements. Important technological aspects were tackled during the construction phase, as, for example, beam purity issues, electrodes alignment, and vacuum sealing. This phase was completed in spring 2015, after which the qualification tests were carried out at LPSC on the 1+/q+ test stand. This paper describes the characteristics of the SPES-CB, with particular emphasis on the results obtained during the qualification tests: charge breeding of Ar, Xe, Rb, and Cs satisfied the SPES requirements for different intensities of the injected 1+ beam, showing very good performances, some of which are “best ever” for this device.
Proton-detected 3D 1H/13C/1H correlation experiment for structural analysis in rigid solids under ultrafast-MAS above 60 kHz
Authors: Zhang Rongchun , Nishiyama Yusuke , Ramamoorthy Ayyalusamy
Published: October 2015

A proton-detected 3D 1H/13C/1H chemical shift correlation experiment is proposed for the assignment of chemical shift resonances, identification of 13C-1H connectivities, and proximities of 13C-1H and 1H-1H nuclei under ultrafast magic-angle-spinning (ultrafast-MAS) conditions. Ultrafast-MAS is used to suppress all anisotropic interactions including 1H-1H dipolar couplings, while the finite-pulse radio frequency driven dipolar recoupling (fp-RFDR) pulse sequence is used to recouple dipolar couplings among protons and the insensitive nuclei enhanced by polarization transfer technique is used to transfer magnetization between heteronuclear spins. The 3D experiment eliminates signals from non-carbon-bonded protons and non-proton-bonded carbons to enhance spectral resolution. The 2D (F1/F3) 1H/1H and 2D 13C/1H (F2/F3) chemical shift correlation spectra extracted from the 3D spectrum enable the identification of 1H-1H proximity and 13C-1H connectivity. In addition, the 2D (F1/F2) 1H/13C chemical shift correlation spectrum, incorporated with proton magnetization exchange via the fp-RFDR recoupling of 1H-1H dipolar couplings, enables the measurement of proximities between 13C and even the remote non-carbon-bonded protons. The 3D experiment also gives three-spin proximities of 1H-1H-13C chains. Experimental results obtained from powder samples of L-alanine and L-histidine ⋅ H2O ⋅ HCl demonstrate the efficiency of the 3D experiment.