bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nb2O5-γ-Al2O3 nanofibers as heterogeneous catalysts for efficient conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Jiao Huanfeng , Zhao Xiaoliang , Lv Chunxiao , Wang Yijun , Yang Dongjiang , Li Zhenhuan , Yao Xiangdong
Published: September 2016

One-dimensional γ-Al2O3 nanofibers were modified with Nb2O5 to be used as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst to catalyze biomass into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). At low Nb2O5 loading, the niobia species were well dispersed on γ-Al2O3 nanofiber through Nb–O–Al bridge bonds. The interaction between Nb2O5 precursor and γ-Al2O3 nanofiber results in the niobia species with strong Lewis acid sites and intensive Brønsted acid sites, which made 5-HMF yield from glucose to reach the maximum 55.9~59.0% over Nb2O5-γ-Al2O3 nanofiber with a loading of 0.5~1 wt% Nb2O5 at 150 °C for 4 h in dimethyl sulfoxide. However, increasing Nb2O5 loading could lead to the formation of two-dimensional polymerized niobia species, three-dimensional polymerized niobia species and crystallization, which significantly influenced the distribution and quantity of the Lewis acid sites and Brönst acid sites over Nb2O5-γ-Al2O3 nanofiber. Lewis acid site Nbδ+ played a key role on the isomerization of glucose to fructose, while Brønsted acid sites are more active for the dehydration of generated fructose to 5-HMF. In addition, the heterogeneous Nb2O5-γ-Al2O3 nanofiber catalyst with suitable ratio of Lewis acid to Brönsted sites should display an more excellent catalytic performance in the conversion of glucose to 5-HMF.
Elevated First-Trimester Total Bile Acid is Associated with the Risk of Subsequent Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Hou Wolin , Meng Xiyan , Zhao Weijing , Pan Jiemin , Tang Junling , Huang Yajuan , Tao Minfang , Liu Fang , Jia Weiping
Published: September 2016

The aim of the current study is to assess whether total bile acid (TBA) level in first trimester pregnancy is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Biochemical parameters including serum TBA of 742 pregnant women were collected within 12 weeks of gestation and compared. At 24–28th weeks of gestation, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. The perinatal data of 330 women were collected. The results demonstrated women with GDM (n = 268) had higher first-trimester serum levels of TBA compared with healthy subjects (n = 474) (2.3 ± 1.4 μmol/L vs. 1.9 ± 1.0 μmol/L, P < 0.001). TBA was independently associated with GDM [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18–1.61, P < 0.001]. Compared to the first category of TBA, women in the highest category had a marked increase in risk for GDM (AOR, 7.72; 95% CI, 3.22–18.50, P < 0.001). In conclusion, higher first-trimester TBA levels, even within normal range, may help indicate increased risk of GDM.
In vitro and in vivo study of additive manufactured porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds for repairing bone defects
Authors: Li Guoyuan , Wang Lei , Pan Wei , Yang Fei , Jiang Wenbo , Wu Xianbo , Kong Xiangdong , Dai Kerong , Hao Yongqiang
Published: September 2016

Metallic implants with a low effective modulus can provide early load-bearing and reduce stress shielding, which is favorable for increasing in vivo life-span. In this research, porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds with three pore sizes (300~400, 400~500 and 500~700 μm) were manufactured by Electron Beam Melting, with an elastic modulus range of 3.7 to 1.7 GPa. Cytocompatibility in vitro and osseointegration ability in vivo of scaffolds were assessed. hBMSCs numbers increased on all porous scaffolds over time. The group with intended pore sizes of 300 to 400 μm was significantly higher than that of the other two porous scaffolds at days 5 and 7. This group also had higher ALP activity at day 7 in osteogenic differentiation experiment. The scaffold with pore size of 300 to 400 μm was implanted into a 30-mm segmental defect of goat metatarsus. In vivo evaluations indicated that the depth of bone ingrowth increased over time and no implant dislocation occurred during the experiment. Based on its better cytocompatibility and favorable bone ingrowth, the present data showed the capability of the additive manufactured porous Ti6Al4V scaffold with an intended pore size of 300 to 400 μm for large segmental bone defects.
Coalescence of Immiscible Liquid Metal Drop on Graphene
Authors: Li Tao , Li Jie , Wang Long , Duan Yunrui , Li Hui
Published: September 2016

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the wetting and coalescence of liquid Al and Pb drops on four carbon-based substrates. We highlight the importance of the microstructure and surface topography of substrates in the coalescence process. Our results show that the effect of substrate on coalescence is achieved by changing the wettability of the Pb metal. Additionally, we determine the critical distance between nonadjacent Al and Pb films required for coalescence. These findings improve our understanding of the coalescence of immiscible liquid metals at the atomistic level.
Global Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals the Involvement of Phosphorylation in Aflatoxins Biosynthesis in the Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus flavus
Authors: Ren Silin , Yang Mingkun , Li Yu , Zhang Feng , Chen Zhuo , Zhang Jia , Yang Guang , Yue Yuewei , Li Siting , Ge Feng , Wang Shihua
Published: September 2016

Aspergillus flavus is a pathogenic fungus that produces toxic and carcinogenic aflatoxins and is the causative agent of aflatoxicosis. A growing body of evidence indicates that reversible phosphorylation plays important roles in regulating diverse functions in this pathogen. However, only a few phosphoproteins of this fungus have been identified, which hampers our understanding of the roles of phosphorylation in A. flavus. So we performed a global and site-specific phosphoproteomic analysis of A. flavus. A total of 598 high-confidence phosphorylation sites were identified in 283 phosphoproteins. The identified phosphoproteins were involved in various biological processes, including signal transduction and aflatoxins biosynthesis. Five identified phosphoproteins associated with MAPK signal transduction and aflatoxins biosynthesis were validated by immunoblotting using phospho-specific antibodies. Further functional studies revealed that phosphorylation of the MAP kinase kinase kinase Ste11 affected aflatoxins biosynthesis in A. flavus. Our data represent the results of the first global survey of protein phosphorylation in A. flavus and reveal previously unappreciated roles for phosphorylation in the regulation of aflatoxins production. The generated dataset can serve as an important resource for the functional analysis of protein phosphorylation in A. flavus and facilitate the elucidation of phosphorylated signaling networks in this pathogen.
The interaction of excited atoms and few-cycle laser pulses
Authors: Calvert J. E. , Xu Han , Palmer A. J. , Glover R. D. , Laban D. E. , Tong X. M. , Kheifets A. S. , Bartschat K. , Litvinyuk I. V. , Kielpinski D. , Sang R. T.
Published: September 2016

This work describes the first observations of the ionisation of neon in a metastable atomic state utilising a strong-field, few-cycle light pulse. We compare the observations to theoretical predictions based on the Ammosov-Delone-Krainov (ADK) theory and a solution to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE). The TDSE provides better agreement with the experimental data than the ADK theory. We optically pump the target atomic species and measure the ionisation rate as the a function of different steady-state populations in the fine structure of the target state which shows significant ionisation rate dependence on populations of spin-polarised states. The physical mechanism for this effect is unknown.
Reappraisal of effects of serum chemerin and adiponectin levels and nutritional status on cardiovascular outcomes in prevalent hemodialysis patients
Authors: Chen Hung-Yuan , Chiu Yen-Lin , Hsu Shih-Ping , Pai Mei-Fen , Yang Ju-Yeh , Wu Hon-Yen , Peng Yu-Sen
Published: September 2016

Although chemerin, an adipokine, increases the cardiovascular (CV) risk in obese people, it is associated with a survival advantage in incident hemodialysis (HD) patients. We explored the potential effects of chemerin on CV outcomes in prevalent HD patients. This prospective study included 343 prevalent HD patients. The composite outcome was the occurrence of CV events and death during follow-up. We used multivariate Cox regression analysis to test the predictive power of different chemerin and adiponectin levels and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for the outcomes. HD patients with higher chemerin levels (≥211.4 ng/mL) had a lower risk of CV events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41–0.98) and composite CV outcome (adjusted HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.45–0.99) than those with lower chemerin levels (<211.4 ng/mL). When evaluating CV outcomes, we identified an interaction between chemerin levels and GNRI, but not between chemerin and adiponectin levels. The findings remained robust in the sensitivity analysis. Thus, in prevalent HD patients with negligible residual renal function, higher chemerin levels predict more favourable CV outcomes.
Theoretical Comparison of Optical Properties of Near-Infrared Colloidal Plasmonic Nanoparticles
Authors: Liu Kai , Xue Xiaozheng , Furlani Edward P.
Published: September 2016

We study optical properties of near-infrared absorbing colloidal plasmonic nanostructures that are of interest for biomedical theranostic applications: SiO2@Au core-shell particles, Au nanocages and Au nanorods. Full-wave field analysis is used to compare the absorption spectra and field enhancement of these structures as a function of their dimensions and orientation with respect to the incident field polarization. Absorption cross-sections of structures with the same volume and LSPR wavelength are compared to quantify differential performance for imaging, sensing and photothermal applications. The analysis shows that while the LSPR of each structure can be tuned to the NIR, particles with a high degree of rotational symmetry, i.e. the SiO2@Au and nanocage particles, provide superior performance for photothermal applications because their absorption is less sensitive to their orientation, which is random in colloidal applications. The analysis also demonstrates that Au nanocages are advantaged with respect to other structures for imaging, sensing and drug delivery applications as they support abundant E field hot spots along their surface and within their open interior. The modeling approach presented here broadly applies to dilute colloidal plasmonic nanomaterials of arbitrary shapes, sizes and material constituents and is well suited for the rational design of novel plasmon-assisted theranostic applications.
Excellent magnetocaloric properties in RE2Cu2Cd (RE = Dy and Tm) compounds and its composite materials
Authors: Zhang Yikun , Yang Yang , Xu Xiao , Geng Shuhua , Hou Long , Li Xi , Ren Zhongming , Wilde Gerhard
Published: September 2016

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of ternary intermetallic RE2Cu2Cd (RE = Dy and Tm) compounds and its composite materials have been investigated in detail. Both compounds undergo a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at its own Curie temperatures of TC ~ 48.5 and 15 K for Dy2Cu2Cd and Tm2Cu2Cd, respectively, giving rise to the large reversible MCE. An additionally magnetic transition can be observed around 16 K for Dy2Cu2Cd compound. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (−ΔSMmax) are estimated to be 17.0 and 20.8 J/kg K for Dy2Cu2Cd and Tm2Cu2Cd, for a magnetic field change of 0–70 kOe, respectively. A table-like MCE in a wide temperature range of 10–70 K and enhanced refrigerant capacity (RC) are achieved in the Dy2Cu2Cd - Tm2Cu2Cd composite materials. For a magnetic field change of 0–50 kOe, the maximum improvements of RC reach 32% and 153%, in comparison with that of individual compound Dy2Cu2Cd and Tm2Cu2Cd. The excellent MCE properties suggest the RE2Cu2Cd (RE = Dy and Tm) and its composite materials could be expected to have effective applications for low temperature magnetic refrigeration.
Abrupt switch to migratory night flight in a wild migratory songbird
Authors: Zúñiga Daniel , Falconer Jade , Fudickar Adam M. , Jensen Willi , Schmidt Andreas , Wikelski Martin , Partecke Jesko
Published: September 2016

Every year, billions of wild diurnal songbirds migrate at night. To do so, they shift their daily rhythm from diurnality to nocturnality. In captivity this is observed as a gradual transition of daytime activity developing into nocturnal activity, but how wild birds prepare their daily rhythms for migration remains largely unknown. Using an automated radio-telemetry system, we compared activity patterns of free-living migrant and resident European blackbirds (Turdus merula) in a partially migratory population during the pre-migratory season. We found that activity patterns between migrant and resident birds did not differ during day and night. Migrants did not change their daily rhythm in a progressive manner as has been observed in captivity, but instead abruptly became active during the night of departure. The rapid shift in rhythmicity might be more common across migratory songbird species, but may not have been observed before in wild animals due to a lack of technology.
Novel highly divergent reassortant bat rotaviruses in Cameroon, without evidence of zoonosis
Authors: Yinda Claude Kwe , Zeller Mark , Conceição-Neto Nádia , Maes Piet , Deboutte Ward , Beller Leen , Heylen Elisabeth , Ghogomu Stephen Mbigha , Van Ranst Marc , Matthijnssens Jelle
Published: September 2016

Bats are an important reservoir for zoonotic viruses. To date, only three RVA strains have been reported in bats in Kenya and China. In the current study we investigated the genetic diversity of RVAs in fecal samples from 87 straw-colored fruit bats living in close contact with humans in Cameroon using viral metagenomics. Five (near) complete RVA genomes were obtained. A single RVA strain showed a partial relationship with the Kenyan bat RVA strain, whereas the other strains were completely novel. Only the VP7 and VP4 genes showed significant variability, indicating the occurrence of frequent reassortment events. Comparing these bat RVA strains with currently used human RVA screening primers indicated that most of the novel VP7 and VP4 segments would not be detected in routine epidemiological screening studies. Therefore, novel consensus screening primers were developed and used to screen samples from infants with gastroenteritis living in close proximity with the studied bat population. Although RVA infections were identified in 36% of the infants, there was no evidence of zoonosis. This study identified multiple novel bat RVA strains, but further epidemiological studies in humans will have to assess if these viruses have the potential to cause gastroenteritis in humans.
Regioselective synthesis of multisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles: moving beyond the copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition
Authors: Wei Fang , Wang Weiguo , Ma Yudao , Tung Chen-Ho , Xu Zhenghu
Published: September 2016

Copper(i)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) provides an efficient synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles. This feature article highlights the recent progress on the regisoselective synthesis of multisubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles, which current click reaction (CuAAC) is unable to do.
Distinction of trans–cis photoisomers with comparable optical properties in multiple-state photochromic systems – examining a molecule with three azobenzenes via in situ irradiation NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Kind Jonas , Kaltschnee Lukas , Leyendecker Martin , Thiele Christina M.
Published: September 2016

In situ irradiation NMR spectroscopy allows for the distinction and quantification of different photoisomers.
Nuclease activity as a specific biomarker for breast cancer
Authors: Hernandez Luiza I. , Ozalp Veli Cengiz , Hernandez Frank J.
Published: September 2016

Detection of breast cancer cells using nuclease activity as a biomarker.
Synthesis of polycyclic spiroindolines by highly diastereoselective interrupted Ugi cascade reactions of 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles
Authors: Saya Jordy M. , Oppelaar Barry , Cioc Răzvan C. , van der Heijden Gydo , Vande Velde Christophe M. L. , Orru Romano V. A. , Ruijter Eelco
Published: September 2016

We report a highly diastereoselective interrupted Ugi reaction to construct a broad range of structurally congested and stereochemically complex spiroindolines from tryptamine-derived isocyanides.
Preparation and electrochemical properties of Li2MoO3/C composites for rechargeable Li-ion batteries
Authors: Kumakura Shinichi , Shirao Yotaro , Kubota Kei , Komaba Shinichi
Published: September 2016

Li2MoO3/C composites provide reversible Li intercalation based on the Mo(iv/vi) redox couple via enhanced electron conduction.
Size-dependent commensurability and its possible role in determining the frictional behavior of adsorbed systems
Authors: Restuccia Paolo , Ferrario Mauro , Sivestrelli Pier Luigi , Mistura Giampaolo , Righi Maria Clelia
Published: September 2016

The island size increases with coverage and temperature. Small islands are in register with the substrate, while larger islands are less and less commensurate.
Fluorescent chemosensors manipulated by dual/triple interplaying sensing mechanisms
Authors: He Longwei , Dong Baoli , Liu Yong , Lin Weiying
Published: September 2016

This review highlights the design strategies and response processes of the fluorescent chemosensors with dual/triple interplaying sensing mechanisms.
Crude oil to chemicals: light olefins from crude oil
Authors: Corma A. , Corresa E. , Mathieu Y. , Sauvanaud L. , Al-Bogami S. , Al-Ghrami M. S. , Bourane A.
Published: September 2016

The possibility to fulfill the increasing market demand and producers' needs in processing straightforwardly crude oil, a cheap and universally available feedstock, to produce petrochemicals appears to be a very attractive strategy.
Asymmetric tetranuclear nickel chains with unidirectionally ordered 2-(α-(5-phenyl)pyridylamino)-1,8-naphthyridine ligands
Authors: Tsou Lien-Hung , Sigrist Marc , Chiang Ming-Hsi , Horng Er-Chien , Chen Chun-hsien , Huang Shou-Ling , Lee Gene-Hsiang , Peng Shie-Ming
Published: September 2016

The first tetranickel chain frameworks with asymmetric ligands possess amazing magnetic properties and the measurements of single-molecule conductance.
A low viscosity, low boiling point, clean solvent system for the rapid crystallisation of highly specular perovskite films
Authors: Noel Nakita K. , Habisreutinger Severin N. , Wenger Bernard , Klug Matthew T. , Hörantner Maximilian T. , Johnston Michael B. , Nicholas Robin J. , Moore David T. , Snaith Henry J.
Published: September 2016

We present a new solvent system which has the potential to overcome the manufacturing barriers associated with the currently used toxic high boiling point solvents.
Correction: The biology of environmental stress: molecular biomarkers in Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata)
Authors: Raftos D. A. , Melwani A. R. , Haynes P. A. , Muralidharan S. , Birch G. F. , Amaral V. , Thompson E. L. , Taylor D. A.
Published: September 2016

Correction for ‘The biology of environmental stress: molecular biomarkers in Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata)’ by D. A. Raftos et al., Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2016, 18, 1129–1139.
Genesis of pure Se(0) nano- and micro-structures in wastewater with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI)
Authors: Xia Xuefen , Ling Lan , Zhang Wei-xian
Published: September 2016

Formation of pure elemental selenium has important implications in the separation, purification and recovery of selenium, a trace but vital and increasingly important industrial material.
Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on the counterion effect of Cu(ii) ion and graphene oxide interaction with titanium dioxide
Authors: Yu Shujun , Wang Xiangxue , Ai Yuejie , Liang Yu , Ji Yongfei , Li Jiaxing , Hayat Tasawar , Alsaedi Ahmed , Wang Xiangke
Published: September 2016

The enhanced interaction of graphene oxide (GO) and Cu(ii) with titanium dioxide (TiO2).
Multidimensional high harmonic spectroscopy of polyatomic molecules: detecting sub-cycle laser-driven hole dynamics upon ionization in strong mid-IR laser fields
Authors: Bruner Barry D. , Mašín Zdeněk , Negro Matteo , Morales Felipe , Brambila Danilo , Devetta Michele , Faccialà Davide , Harvey Alex G. , Ivanov Misha , Mairesse Yann , Patchkovskii Serguei , Serbinenko Valeria , Soifer Hadas , Stagira Salvatore , Vozzi Caterina , Dudovich Nirit , Smirnova Olga
Published: September 2016

High harmonic generation (HHG) spectroscopy has opened up a new frontier in ultrafast science, where electronic dynamics can be measured on an attosecond time scale. The strong laser field that triggers the high harmonic response also opens multiple quantum pathways for multielectron dynamics in molecules, resulting in a complex process of multielectron rearrangement during ionization. Using combined experimental and theoretical approaches, we show how multi-dimensional HHG spectroscopy can be used to detect and follow electronic dynamics of core rearrangement on sub-laser cycle time scales. We detect the signatures of laser-driven hole dynamics upon ionization and reconstruct the relative phases and amplitudes for relevant ionization channels in a CO2 molecule on a sub-cycle time scale. Reconstruction of channel-resolved complex ionization amplitudes on attosecond time scales has been a long-standing goal of high harmonic spectroscopy. Our study brings us one step closer to fulfilling this initial promise and developing robust schemes for sub-femtosecond imaging of multielectron rearrangement in complex molecular systems.
The effect of geniste on Aβ25–35-induced PC12 cell apoptosis through the JNK-dependent Fas pathway
Authors: Zheng Yaojie , You Fuling , Li Qiao , Chen Jingrong , Yang Hong
Published: September 2016

The β-amyloid protein (Aβ) is considered to be the key factor for inducing Alzheimer's disease (AD).
High internal phase emulsions stabilized solely by whey protein isolate-low methoxyl pectin complexes: effect of pH and polymer concentration
Authors: Wijaya Wahyu , Van der Meeren Paul , Wijaya Christofora Hanny , Patel Ashok R.
Published: September 2016

Surfactant-free HIPE (φoil = 0.82) prepared using colloidal complexes of whey protein isolate and low methoxyl pectin at a very low concentration (0.3 wt% on total emulsion).
Structure–property reduced order model for viscosity prediction in single-component CO2-binding organic liquids
Authors: Cantu David C. , Malhotra Deepika , Koech Phillip K. , Heldebrant David J. , Zheng Feng (Richard) , Freeman Charles J. , Rousseau Roger , Glezakou Vassiliki-Alexandra
Published: September 2016

A reduced model connecting molecular structure to viscosity for single-component carbon capture solvents is presented.
Characterization of substrate binding and enzymatic removal of a 3-methyladenine lesion from genomic DNA with TAG of MDR A. baumannii
Authors: Tomar Jyoti Singh , Narwal Manju , Kumar Pravindra , Peddinti Rama Krishna
Published: September 2016

The binding parameters of substrates with enzyme TAG revealed that it exhibits selectivity for 3mA over the normal adenine base. The results obtained from the experiments are useful in designing of competitive inhibitors.
Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of the antitumor potential and chemo-sensitizing activity of fluorinated ecdysteroid derivatives
Authors: Csábi J. , Martins A. , Sinka I. , Csorba A. , Molnár J. , Zupkó I. , Tóth G. , Tillekeratne L. M. V. , Hunyadi A.
Published: September 2016

Efflux pumps, like the ABCB1 transporter, play an important role in the chemo-resistance of various tumors and particularly of cancer stem cells.
EDTA capped iron oxide nanoparticles magnetic micelles: drug delivery vehicle for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and T1–T2 dual contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Shah Ekta , Upadhyay Pratik , Singh Mala , Mansuri Mohmmad Shoab , Begum Rasheedunnisa , Sheth Navin , Soni Hemant P.
Published: September 2016

This study shows that multiple functionalities like drug delivery and T1–T2 dual modalities can be achieved by a proper surface architecture.
Concise synthesis of a new triterpenoid saponin from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana and its derivatives as α-glucosidase inhibitors
Authors: Liu Qingchao , Guo Tiantian , Li Fahui , Li Dong
Published: September 2016

The natural triterpenoid saponin 1 and its derivatives 2–3 were synthesized and exhibited potent inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase in vitro.
Base mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of α-substituted vinyl phosphonates with diazo compounds for synthesis of 3-pyrazolylphosphonates and 5-pyrazolcarboxylates
Authors: Goulioukina Nataliya S. , Makukhin Nikolay N. , Shinkarev Egor D. , Grishin Yuri K. , Roznyatovsky Vitaly A. , Beletskaya Irina P.
Published: September 2016

1-Substituted vinylphosphonates could serve as convenient precursors for functionalized pyrazoles in condition-controlled 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions.
An intermolecular pyrene excimer in the pyrene-labeled N-thiophosphorylated thiourea and its nickel(ii) complex
Authors: Safin Damir A. , Babashkina Maria G. , Mitoraj Mariusz P. , Kubisiak Piotr , Robeyns Koen , Bolte Michael , Garcia Yann
Published: September 2016

(1-pyrene)NHC(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)2 (HL) and its NiII complex ([NiL2]) have been synthesized. Both HL and [NiL2] were found to be emissive in solution of CH2Cl2, which is due to the concentration dependent emission of the pyrene monomer and excimer.
A supramolecular hydrogel with identical cross-linking point density but distinctive rheological properties
Authors: Li Chuang , Zhou Xu , Shao Yu , Chen Ping , Xing Yongzheng , Yang Zhongqiang , Li Zhibo , Liu Dongsheng
Published: September 2016

A supramolecular hydrogel with identical cross-linking point density but distinctive rheological properties is developed by adjusting the DNA cross-linking stability.
Development and digestion of resistant malate starch produced by l-malic acid treatment
Authors: Tian Shuang-Qi , Wang Zi-Liang , Wang Xin-Wei , Zhao Ren-Yong
Published: September 2016

Resistant starch (RS) was esterified by l-malic acid, and the optimum conditions determined using a response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design (BBD) were: temperature, 146 °C; pH, 1.46; time, 5.52 h; and mass ratio, 0.60.
Carbon nanotube–silicon heterojunction solar cells with surface-textured Si and solution-processed carbon nanotube films
Authors: Muramoto Eri , Yamasaki Yuhei , Wang Feijiu , Hasegawa Kei , Matsuda Kazunari , Noda Suguru
Published: September 2016

Solution-processed carbon nanotube films fit with textured Si substrates, yielding solar cells with dark surface and improved power conversion efficiency.
Strychnos nuxvomica, Piper longum and Mucuna pruriens seed extracts as eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for copper in nitric acid
Authors: Savita Savita , Mourya Punita , Chaubey Namrata , Kumar Surendra , Singh V. K. , Singh M. M.
Published: September 2016

The inhibitive effect of theStrychnos nuxvomica(SN),Piper longum(PL) andMucuna pruriens(MP) seeds extract on the corrosion of copper in 3 M HNO3solution was studied using gravimetric and electrochemical techniques.
Ionic liquid based microextraction of targeted lipids from serum using UPLC-MS/MS with a chemometric approach: a pilot study
Authors: Panchal Smita , Asati Ankita , Satyanarayana G. N. V. , Raghav Alok , Ahmad Jamal , Patel Devendra K.
Published: September 2016

An ionic liquid based vortex assisted surfactant-enhanced emulsification microextraction method followed by using liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry have been used for the determination of fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids in serum samples.
Breathing to harvest energy as a mechanism towards making a liquid metal beating heart
Authors: Yi Liting , Ding Yujie , Yuan Bin , Wang Lei , Tian Lu , Chen Chenggang , Liu Fujun , Lu Jinrong , Song Sen , Liu Jing
Published: September 2016

Simulating nature to manufacture a self-powered device or motor has been an important goal in science and engineering.
Acetylene carbonylation over Ni-containing catalysts: role of surface structure and active site distribution
Authors: Xie Hao , Lin Tiejun , Shi Li , Meng Xuan
Published: September 2016

Traditional homogeneous catalyst with heterogeneous Ni catalysts (Ni-ZSM-5, Ni-IM-5 and Ni-MCM-41) for acetylene carbonylation. Using proper parameters to confirm the influence of surface structure and active site distribution on performance.
Harvesting red fluorescence through design specific tuning of ICT and ESIPT: an efficient optical detection of cysteine and live cell imaging
Authors: Diwan Uzra , Kumar Virendra , Mishra Rakesh K. , Rana Nishant Kumar , Koch Biplob , Upadhyay K. K.
Published: September 2016

In this work, a 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT)-based ratiometric fluorescent probe exhibiting coupling between the ICT and ESIPT mechanisms was exploited for the optical sensing of cysteine and successfully utilised in the bio-imaging of cysteine in HeLa cells.
Ionomer-like structure in mature oil paint binding media
Authors: Hermans Joen J. , Keune Katrien , van Loon Annelies , Corkery Robert W. , Iedema Piet D.
Published: September 2016

We use ATR-FTIR and SAXS to demonstrate that oil paint binding media go through an ionomer-like state during ageing.
A flexible zirconium oxide based-ceramic membrane as a separator for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Suriyakumar Shruti , Raja M. , Angulakshmi N. , Nahm Kee Suk , Stephan A. Manuel
Published: September 2016

A flexible and thermally stable zirconium oxide (ZrO2)-based porous ceramic membrane (PCM) was prepared with PVdF–HFP as binder.
Investigation of adsorption and photocatalytic activities of in situ cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-modified Bi/BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst for organic contaminants removal
Authors: Li Wentao , Xiao Feng , Su Hang , Wang Dongsheng , Yang Xiaofang
Published: September 2016

Bi/BiOCl heterojunction was prepared via a hydrothermal method, using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a stabilizing agent.
High-surface-area activated red mud supported Co3O4 catalysts for efficient catalytic oxidation of CO
Authors: Hu Zhong-Pan , Zhao Hui , Gao Ze-Min , Yuan Zhong-Yong
Published: September 2016

Red mud is activated and employed as the support of Co3O4 catalysts, exhibiting high catalytic activity for low-temperature CO oxidation.
Efficient and microbial communities for pollutant removal in a distributed-inflow biological reactor (DBR) for treating piggery wastewater
Authors: Zhong Zhenxing , Wu Xiaohui , Gao Lan , Lu Xiejuan , Zhang Beiping
Published: September 2016

To treat piggery wastewater with a low C/N ratio, a novel distributed-inflow biological reactor (DBR) was developed that assures the proper organic flow for an efficient denitrification process.
Hydrogels generated by low-molecular-weight PEGylated luteolin and α-cyclodextrin through self-assembly for 5-fluorouracil delivery
Authors: Qing Weixia , Wang Yong , Li Huan , Zhu Jinhua , Liu Xiuhua
Published: September 2016

Hydrophobic luteolin (LUT) was conjugated to the oligomeric chain of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) to form novel amphiphilic mPEG1900–LUT conjugates.
Film formation of non-planar phthalocyanines on copper(i) iodide
Authors: Ramadan A. J. , Fearn S. , Jones T. S. , Heutz S. , Rochford L. A.
Published: September 2016

Structural templating and high substrate temperature growth are combined to study the differences in structure and morphology of two non-planar phthalocyanines using X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and low energy ion scattering.
One-step hydrothermal synthesis of novel Ag3VO4/Ag4V2O7 composites for enhancing visible-light photocatalytic performance
Authors: Ren Chaojun , Fan Jian , Liu Shixiang , Li Wenjun , Wang Fangzhi , Li Hongda , Liu Xintong , Chang Zhidong
Published: September 2016

The novel Z-scheme Ag3VO4/Ag4V2O7 heterojunction photocatalysts which constructed by one-step hydrothermal method had stable visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance and high efficiency.
Iodine-catalyzed oxidative cyclisation for the synthesis of sarisan analogues containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole as insecticidal agents
Authors: Guo Yong , Qu Lailiang , Wang Xiaoguang , Huang Mengxing , Jia Lu , Zhang Yanbing
Published: September 2016

A series of novel sarisan analogues containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole through iodine-catalyzed oxidative cyclisation were prepared as insecticidal agents against the pre-thirdMythimna separataWalker at 1 mg mL−1in vivo.
Convection in liquid-state NMR: expect the unexpected
Authors: Barbosa T. M. , Rittner R. , Tormena C. F. , Morris G. A. , Nilsson M.
Published: September 2016

Temperature gradients in liquid NMR samples cause convection, attenuating signals in experiments that use field gradients. Different spectrometers and probes show surprisingly different dependences of convection velocity vmax on temperature T.
Correction: Rhodium-doped titania photocatalysts with two-step bandgap excitation by visible light—influence of the dopant concentration on photosensitization efficiency
Authors: Kuncewicz J. , Ohtani B.
Published: September 2016

Correction for ‘Rhodium-doped titania photocatalysts with two-step bandgap excitation by visible light—influence of the dopant concentration on photosensitization efficiency’ by J. Kuncewicz and B. Ohtani, RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 77201–77211.
Substrate selectivity of an isolated enoyl reductase catalytic domain from an iterative highly reducing fungal polyketide synthase reveals key components of programming
Authors: Roberts Douglas M. , Bartel Christoph , Scott Alan , Ivison David , Simpson Thomas J. , Cox Russell J.
Published: September 2016

The complete stereochemical course and substrate selectivity of the enoyl reductase domain from the fungal polyketide synthase squalestatin tetraketide synthase (SQTKS) have been determined.
The IPEA dilemma in CASPT2
Authors: Zobel J. Patrick , Nogueira Juan J. , González Leticia
Published: September 2016

We show that the use of the IPEA correction in CASPT2 for excited state calculations of organic chromophores is not justified.
Phase transition of hollow-porous α-Fe2O3 microsphere based anodes for lithium ion batteries during high rate cycling
Authors: Hao Shiji , Zhang Bowei , Ball Sarah , Wu Junsheng , Srinivasan Madhavi , Huang Yizhong
Published: September 2016

In the present paper, hollow-porous α-Fe2O3 microspheres are prepared via cation etching of zinc citrate microspheres and subsequent thermal treatment.
Structural, optical, magnetic, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of (Pb,Ba)(Ti,Fe)O3 perovskites: a macroscopic and nanoscale properties approach
Authors: Pontes F. M. , Chiquito A. J. , Bastos W. B. , Pereira-da-Silva Marcelo A. , Longo E.
Published: September 2016

Single-phase Pb0.50Ba0.50Ti1−xFexO3 (PBTF) polycrystalline thin films with different Fe doping contents were prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates using a chemical solution deposition method.
Chosen Listening Levels for Music With and Without the Use of Hearing Aids
Authors: Croghan Naomi B. H. , Swanberg Anne M. , Anderson Melinda C. , Arehart Kathryn H.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The objective of this study was to describe chosen listening levels (CLLs) for recorded music for listeners with hearing loss in aided and unaided conditions.

Method

The study used a within-subject, repeated-measures design with 13 adult hearing-aid users. The music included rock and classical samples with different amounts of audio-industry compression limiting. CLL measurements were taken at ear level (i.e., at input to the hearing aid) and at the tympanic membrane.

Results

For aided listening, average CLLs were 69.3 dBA at the input to the hearing aid and 80.3 dBA at the tympanic membrane. For unaided listening, average CLLs were 76.9 dBA at the entrance to the ear canal and 77.1 dBA at the tympanic membrane. Although wide intersubject variability was observed, CLLs were not associated with audiometric thresholds. CLLs for rock music were higher than for classical music at the tympanic membrane, but no differences were observed between genres for ear-level CLLs. The amount of audio-industry compression had no significant effect on CLLs.

Conclusion

By describing the levels of recorded music chosen by hearing-aid users, this study provides a basis for ecologically valid testing conditions in clinical and laboratory settings.
Generalised correlation index for quantifying signal morphological similarity
Authors: Olenko A. , Wong K.T. , Mir H. , Al‐Nashash H.
Published: September 2016

In biomedical applications, the similarity between a signal measured from an injured subject and a reference signal measured from a normal subject can be used to quantify the injury severity. A generalisation of the adaptive signed correlation index (ASCI) is proposed to account for specific signal features of interest and the trichotomisation of conventional ASCI extended to an arbitrary number of levels. In the context of spinal cord injury assessment, a computational example is presented to illustrate the enhanced resolution of the proposed measure and its ability to offer a more refined measure of the level of injury.
Inverse Alexander phase detector
Authors: Verbeke M. , Rombouts P. , Yin X. , Torfs G.
Published: September 2016

An improved bang‐bang phase detector (PD) for multi Gb/s clock and data recovery (CDR) circuits is presented. The proposed PD is based on inverting the Alexander PD. In a typical subsampled CDR circuit, this Inverse Alexander PD results in a ten times better bit error rate (BER) compared with the conventional Alexander PD. Additionally, in the case of duty‐cycle distorted input data, this Inverse Alexander PD can even reach 20 times better BER compared with the conventional Alexander PD.
Achieving upper mutual information bound precoding for V‐OFDM with MMSE receiver
Authors: Han Weiliang , Ge Jianhua , Ouyang Fengchen , Zhang Chensi , Gong Fengkui
Published: September 2016

Traditional vector orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (V‐OFDM) can obtain both multi‐path diversity and outage gain by transforming an inter‐symbol interference (ISI) channel into multiple ‘ISI‐free’ channel vectors. To achieve full multi‐path diversity and acquire better outage performance, a low‐complexity precoding scheme combined with simple minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalisation for V‐OFDM system is proposed in this study. First, the upper mutual information bound of the V‐OFDM system is derived with channel state information at transmitter. Based on the upper bound, an optimal precoding scheme for V‐OFDM is presented. Meanwhile, the closed‐form and asymptotic expressions on outage probability of the proposed scheme are derived. Simulations show that this low‐complexity scheme can achieve full multi‐path diversity and result in lower outage probability than the traditional V‐OFDM scheme. Besides, the proposed scheme in ISI fading channel is capable of approaching the upper bound with <0.1 bits/s/Hz performance gap and improving average channel capacity with 2 bits/s/Hz over the traditional V‐OFDM scheme.
Parameter‐dependent preview control with robust tracking performance
Authors: Li Li , Liao Fucheng
Published: September 2016

The problem of static output feedback preview tracking control is proposed for a class of polytopic uncertain discrete‐time systems by combining parameter‐dependent Lyapunov function method with linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique. First, the error system method of preview control theory is adopted and the difference operator is introduced, and then an augmented error system including previewed information is constructed, which transforms a tracking problem into a regulation problem. Then, a previewable reference signal is fully utilised through reformulation of the output equation for the derived augmented error system while considering the output feedback. Sufficient conditions for designing a robust static feedback preview controller are given in terms of solutions to a set of LMIs. Based on the criterion, a static output feedback controller with preview action is designed such that the output can asymptotically track the reference signal. Finally, the numerical simulation examples also illustrate the superiority of the desired preview controller for the uncertain system in the study.
Input‐to‐state stability of non‐linear systems with distributed‐delayed impulses
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Li Xiaodi
Published: September 2016

This study addresses the input‐to‐state stability (ISS) and integral ISS (iISS) of non‐linear systems with distributed‐delayed impulses. Based on Lyapunov method and the analysis technique proposed by Hespanha et al., the authors derive some sufficient condition for ISS/iISS, which depend on the distributed delays existing in impulses. They prove that the given system is uniformly ISS/iISS under the average dwell time conditions. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed results is evidenced by two illustrative examples.
Distributed control of periodic formations for multiple under‐actuated autonomous vehicles
Authors: Dong Yi , Hu Xiaoming
Published: September 2016

One of the unique global behaviours of a group of under‐actuated autonomous vehicles is known as cyclic pursue, which requires a group of vehicles to uniformly distribute on circles and at the same time, to orbit around a centre point, while circumnavigation further requires those vehicles to circumnavigate a predefined target of interest. Such behaviours can also be called periodic formations. This paper further studies the periodic formations for multi‐agent systems composed of a group of under‐actuated autonomous vehicles and a target of interest by proposing a distributed strategy to maintain any required distance between two vehicles and desired angle difference between vehicle's heading and the line of sight that takes directly towards its pursuing vehicle. The authors' distributed control law, dependent only on the information of its pursuing vehicle and itself, can not only enable a network of autonomous vehicles to circulate around a target of interest, but also achieve any physically feasible periodic formations, which include forming regular polygons as a special case.
A class of observer‐based fault diagnosis schemes under closed‐loop control: performance evaluation and improvement
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Zidong , He Xiao , Zhou Donghua
Published: September 2016

This study deals with a fundamental issue of evaluating the performance of widely used fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) schemes within a closed‐loop framework. The focus is to examine how certain implemented controller would impact on the FDD performance and how such performance can be further improved. For this purpose, the authors consider the FDD problem for a class of linear discrete‐time systems (with and without unknown disturbances) under typical proportional–integral control using observer‐based methods. It is revealed that some existing observer‐based FDD approaches are no longer applicable in the closed‐loop situation due to the feedback control. To solve the problem, by appropriately modifying the structure and re‐designing the parameters of the observers, it is proven that the dynamics of closed‐loop residuals can be made identical with those of the residuals obtained with known control inputs at each time step. A numerical example is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Control design of non‐homogeneous Markovian jump systems via relaxation of bilinear time‐varying matrix inequalities
Authors: Hyun Kim Sung
Published: September 2016

This study addresses the issue of control synthesis for discrete‐time non‐homogeneous Markov jump systems. Here, the concept of multiple boundary sets (BSs) is made to represent time‐varying transition probabilities of the system operation mode, and another kind of probabilities is exploited to describe the switching among the multiple BSs. Overall, the stabilisation condition is first derived in terms of bilinear time‐varying matrix inequalities with two kinds of probabilities that affect the evolvement of the modes. Then, to derive a finite number of solvable conditions from the stabilisation condition, this study introduces a relaxation technique capable of directly integrating some available constraints on the probabilities without resorting to any over‐bounding technique.
Tobit Kalman filter with time‐correlated multiplicative measurement noise
Authors: Li Wenling , Jia Yingmin , Du Junping
Published: September 2016

Kalman filters for discrete‐time linear systems with censored measurements have been developed, of which the Tobit Kalman filter has been shown an effective candidate. In this study, the authors expand the Tobit Kalman filter to discrete‐time linear systems with time‐correlated multiplicative measurement noise. By introducing several new terms including the estimates for the products of multiplicative measurement noise and the state as well as their error covariance matrices, the proposed filter can be implemented in a recursive manner. A numerical example involving radar tracking is provided to show the effectiveness of the proposed filter.
Results on stability of linear systems with time varying delay
Authors: Liu Yajuan , H. Park Ju , Guo Bao‐Zhu
Published: September 2016

The integral inequality approach has been widely used to obtain delay‐dependent stability criteria for dynamic systems with delays, and finding integral inequalities for quadratic functions hence plays a key role in reducing conservatism of corresponding stability conditions. In this study, an improved integral inequality which covers several well‐known integral inequalities is introduced, and improves thereby stability for linear systems with time‐varying delay. Three numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy‐model‐based control of three‐phase AC/DC voltage source converters using adaptive sliding mode technique
Authors: Liu Jianxing , Gao Yabin , Luo Wensheng , Wu Ligang
Published: September 2016

This study presents an adaptive sliding mode control (SMC) scheme for the output voltage regulation of the three‐phase AC/DC voltage source converters, based on interval type‐2 (IT2) Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model. Parameters of the whole system are considered with bounded perturbations, and the non‐linearities together with corresponding uncertain parameters existing in the input term are dealt with lower and upper membership functions of type‐2 firing intervals. SMC technique is employed to control the output capacitor voltage while keeping the power factor close to one, using the T–S fuzzy model. An integral sliding mode surface, in terms of the error dynamics generated by the system states and their references, is first designed with normalised central membership functions. Then, adaptive technique is applied to compensate the uncertain coefficients in the IT2 membership grades. Finite‐time reachability of the sliding mode is guaranteed under the resulting adaptive SMC. Finally, the robust and effective tracking performance of the proposed controller is tested and validated in the presence of the uncertain parameter perturbations.
Transformer model with saturation effects for frequency‐domain transients simulation
Authors: Luna Carlos M. , Moreno Pablo , Loo‐Yau José Raul
Published: September 2016

In this study, a model of one‐phase transformers with saturation effects, suitable for low‐ and mid‐frequency electromagnetic transient simulations using the numerical Laplace transform is presented. Substitution and superposition theorems are invoked to convert the saturation non‐linear condition of the transformer into a series of time‐sequential switching manoeuvres. Model advantage is that frequency dependence of electrical parameters is naturally taken into account and, together with the capability of including non‐linear phenomena, leads to a valuable tool to validate time‐domain models based on convolutions.