bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Zinc Status and Its Association with Allergic Sensitization: The Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Seo Hyun-Min , Kim Yeong Ho , Lee Ji Hyun , Kim Joung Soo , Park Young Min , Lee Jun Young
Published: September 2017

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element that plays important roles in the immune system. There is little known about the role of trace elements in allergic diseases, and previous reports have shown conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum Zn levels and total or allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. The initial candidates for this study were those who participated in the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010 (n = 8,958), and 1,867 adults who had serum total and allergen specific-IgE levels measured were included. Upon adjusting for covariates, mean total IgE, Dermatophagoides farinae and dog-specific IgE levels increased significantly as the Zn levels decrease from the highest to the lowest quartile (p = 0.009, 0.004, and < 0.001, respectively). The multiple logistic regression analyses showed significant negative linear correlations between serum Zn levels and total, D. farinae-, cockroach-, and dog-specific IgE levels (p-value for linear trend = 0.004, 0.006, 0.027, and < 0.001, respectively). This study demonstrated that total/allergen specific IgE and Zn levels are significantly inversely related.
Exogenous auxin represses soybean seed germination through decreasing the gibberellin/abscisic acid (GA/ABA) ratio
Authors: Shuai Haiwei , Meng Yongjie , Luo Xiaofeng , Chen Feng , Zhou Wenguan , Dai Yujia , Qi Ying , Du Junbo , Yang Feng , Liu Jiang , Yang Wenyu , Shu Kai
Published: September 2017

Auxin is an important phytohormone which mediates diverse development processes in plants. Published research has demonstrated that auxin induces seed dormancy. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the effect of auxin on seed germination need further investigation, especially the relationship between auxins and both abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs), the latter two phytohormones being the key regulators of seed germination. Here we report that exogenous auxin treatment represses soybean seed germination by enhancing ABA biosynthesis, while impairing GA biogenesis, and finally decreasing GA1/ABA and GA4/ABA ratios. Microscope observation showed that auxin treatment delayed rupture of the soybean seed coat and radicle protrusion. qPCR assay revealed that transcription of the genes involved in ABA biosynthetic pathway was up-regulated by application of auxin, while expression of genes involved in GA biosynthetic pathway was down-regulated. Accordingly, further phytohormone quantification shows that auxin significantly increased ABA content, whereas the active GA1 and GA4 levels were decreased, resulting insignificant decreases in the ratiosGA1/ABA and GA4/ABA.Consistent with this, ABA biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone reversed the delayed-germination phenotype associated with auxin treatment, while paclobutrazol, a GA biosynthesis inhibitor, inhibited soybean seed germination. Altogether, exogenous auxin represses soybean seed germination by mediating ABA and GA biosynthesis.
Proximity hybridization triggered rolling-circle amplification for sensitive electrochemical homogeneous immunoassay
Authors: Gao Fenglei , Zhou Fuyi , Chen Songjie , Yao Yao , Wu Jing , Yin Dengyang , Geng Deqin , Wang Po
Published: September 2017

A novel electrochemical homogeneous immunosensor strategy was developed based on proximity hybridization that regulated the RCA.
Self-assembly of peptide amphiphiles for drug delivery: the role of peptide primary and secondary structures
Authors: Song Zhenhua , Chen Xing , You Xinru , Huang Keqing , Dhinakar Arvind , Gu Zhipeng , Wu Jun
Published: September 2017

Peptide amphiphiles (PAs), functionalized with alkyl chains, are capable of self-assembling into various nanostructures.
Cu2+-Complex of hydrophilic nitrogen-rich polymer dots applied as a new MRI contrast agent
Authors: Hu Mengyue , Chen Jing , Wang Jingmin , Zhang Ye , Liu Li , Morais Paulo Cesar , Bi Hong
Published: September 2017

Cu2+-PVIm dot complexes served as a contrast agent and could label MCF-7 cells efficiently, applied for T1-weighted MRI.
Cooperative self-assembly and gelation of organogold(i) complexes via hydrogen bonding and aurophilic Au⋯Au interactions
Authors: Chen Jiangjun , Zhang Zhongxin , Wang Chengming , Gao Zhao , Gao Zongchun , Wang Feng
Published: September 2017

Organogold(i)-based fibers and gels have been successfully constructed, which involve Au⋯Au interactions in the self-assembled structures.
A novel photoswitchable enzyme cascade for powerful signal amplification in versatile bioassays
Authors: Wang Guang-Li , Li Xiao-Qin , Cao Gen-Xia , Yuan Fang , Dong Yuming , Li Zaijun
Published: September 2017

An exquisite photoswitchable enzyme cascade integrating tyrosinase and horseradish peroxidase demonstrates powerful signal amplification in tyrosinase-based versatile bioassays.
Molecular field theory for biaxial nematics formed from liquid crystal dimers and inhibited by the twist-bend nematic
Authors: To T. B. T. , Sluckin T. J. , Luckhurst G. R.
Published: September 2017

Theory shows the ability of flexible dimers to adopt bent and linear shapes facilitates the formation of biaxial nematic phases.
What Mn Kβ spectroscopy reveals concerning the oxidation states of the Mn cluster in photosystem II
Authors: Petrie Simon , Stranger Rob , Pace Ron J.
Published: September 2017

Structure of the Mn Cluster in the Oxygen Evolving Centre of Photosystem II, from Spectroscopy and Computational Chemical Modelling.
Dynamics of the crystal structure of tin-based type-I clathrates with different degrees of disorder in their cationic frameworks
Authors: Novikov V. V. , Pilipenko K. S. , Matovnikov A. V. , Mitroshenkov N. V. , Kornev B. I. , Likhanov M. S. , Tyablikov A. S. , Shevelkov A. V.
Published: September 2017

The temperature dependencies of heat capacity and cubic unit cell parameter for type-I clathrates were obtained to determine the influence of the concentration of vacancies and substituting atoms on the lattice dynamics.
An efficient and durable novel catalyst support with superior electron-donating properties and fuel diffusivity for a direct methanol fuel cell
Authors: Ghosh Arpita , Ramaprabhu S.
Published: September 2017

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is projected as one of the most promising next-generation fuel cell technologies and reducing the catalyst loading at the anode side with an improvement in the sluggishness of methanol oxidation has become the key research topic in the field.
Efficient chromium-based catalysts for ethylene tri-/tetramerization switched by silicon-bridged/N,P-based ancillary ligands: a structural, catalytic and DFT study
Authors: Zhang Le , Wei Wei , Alam Fakhre , Chen Yanhui , Jiang Tao
Published: September 2017

High performance catalysts switched by a series of silicon-bridged/N,P-based ancillary ligands have been explored.
Copper(ii)-directed synthesis of neutral heteroditopic [2]rotaxane ion-pair host systems incorporating hydrogen and halogen bonding anion binding cavities
Authors: Brown Asha , Mennie Katrina M. , Mason Owen , White Nicholas G. , Beer Paul D.
Published: September 2017

Neutral heteroditopic [2]rotaxane ion-pair host systems were synthesisedviaa copper(ii)-directed metal template strategy and shown to undergo cooperative anion recognition with a co-bound zinc(ii) cation.
Correlation between the pore resistance and water flux of the cellulose acetate membrane
Authors: Yin Cheng , Wang Shuai , Zhang Yongjing , Chen Zhe , Lin Zhidong , Fu Ping , Yao Lei
Published: September 2017

An inverse relationship between the pore resistance and water flux was found by theoretical calculation and confirmed by the corresponding experiment.
Correction: Fundamental studies of an atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma sustained in nitrogen for atomic emission spectrometry
Authors: Chalyavi Nahid , Doidge Peter S. , Morrison Richard J. S. , Partridge Guthrie B.
Published: September 2017

Correction for ‘Fundamental studies of an atmospheric-pressure microwave plasma sustained in nitrogen for atomic emission spectrometry’ by Nahid Chalyavi et al., J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7ja00159b.
Streamline-based purification of bacterial samples from liquefied sputum utilizing microfluidics
Authors: Wu Tian , Shao Changjun , Li Lingjun , Wang Shujing , Ouyang Qi , Kang Yu , Luo Chunxiong
Published: September 2017

The separation or purification of bacterial samples from a mixed cell suspension is critical in a variety of biomedical applications, such as sputum diagnostics and cell biology studies.
Two isomeric solid carbon nitrides with 1 : 1 stoichiometry which exhibit strong mechanical anisotropy
Authors: Bondarchuk Sergey V. , Minaev Boris F.
Published: September 2017

Two isomeric layered carbon nitride polymorphs are characterized using reliable theoretical methods. TheNCNCphase, which is predicted for the first time, has a number of differences with the isomericNCCNpolymorph in its electronic, spectral and mechanical properties.
Palladium nanoparticles embedded over mesoporous TiO2 for chemical fixation of CO2 under atmospheric pressure and solvent-free conditions
Authors: Khatun Resmin , Bhanja Piyali , Mondal Paramita , Bhaumik Asim , Das Debasis , Manirul Islam Sk.
Published: September 2017

Pd NPs have been embedded over a mesoporous TiO2 material and showed excellent catalytic activity for the fixation of CO2 onto a wide range of epoxides under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature.
Preparation of SBA-15 with penetrating pores and their performance in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis
Authors: Qiu Yanju , Chen Sufang , Wang Cunwen , Lyu Renliang , Zhang Daohong , Liu Chengchao , Zhang Yuhua , Li Jinlin
Published: September 2017

A novel SBA-15 material containing penetrating pores as supports of Co-based Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) catalysts exhibits high catalytic performance due to improving access for reagent molecules to reach the active site, resulting in a facile transport of heavy hydrocarbons.
Particle size effect of BaTiO3 nanofillers on the energy storage performance of polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Bi Meihua , Hao Yanan , Zhang Jiameng , Lei Ming , Bi Ke
Published: September 2017

The particle size effect of BaTiO3 nanofillers on the energy storage performance of polymer nanocomposites was investigated, which confirms the superiority of ultrafine nanofillers.
Enhanced blood brain barrier permeability and glioblastoma cell targeting via thermoresponsive lipid nanoparticles
Authors: Rehman M. , Madni A. , Shi D. , Ihsan A. , Tahir N. , Chang K. R. , Javed I. , Webster T. J.
Published: September 2017

Thermoresponsive lipid nanoparticles were formulated to transition into a liquid phase to pass the blood brain barrier to treat numerous brain disorders.
Optical detection of charge dynamics in CH3NH3PbI3/carbon nanotube composites
Authors: Tóháti Hajnalka M. , Pekker Áron , Andričević Pavao , Forró László , Náfrádi Bálint , Kollár Márton , Horváth Endre , Kamarás Katalin
Published: September 2017

This spectroscopic study of light-induced charge transfer in the methylammonium lead iodide/carbon nanotube composite confirms that carbon nanotubes can form efficient charge-transporting layers in organic perovskite based devices.
Unpicking the determinants of amide NH⋯OC hydrogen bond strength with diphenylacetylene molecular balances
Authors: Luccarelli James , Jones Ian M. , Thompson Sam , Hamilton Andrew D.
Published: September 2017

The stereoelectronic properties affecting hydrogen bond strength are investigated with a series of diphenylacetylene-based molecular balances.
Hydroxyapatite: catalyst for a one-pot pentose formation
Authors: Usami K. , Okamoto A.
Published: September 2017

Hydroxyapatite powder catalyzes the production of ribose from C1 and C2 carbon sources in one pot in hot water.
Enantioselective organocatalytic Michael additions of N,N′-dialkylbarbituric acids to enones
Authors: Liu Ying , Zhang Yongna , Duan Hui-Xin , Wanyan Dong-Yan , Wang You-Qing
Published: September 2017

N,N′-Dialkylbarbituric acids as cyclic malonamide donors were successfully used in the organocatalytic asymmetric Michael additions with enones, affording the corresponding 5-substituted barbituric acid derivatives with 91–99% ee.
How intramolecular hydrogen bonding (IHB) controls the C–ON bond homolysis in alkoxyamines
Authors: Audran Gérard , Bikanga Raphael , Brémond Paul , Edeleva Mariya , Joly Jean-Patrick , Marque Sylvain R. A. , Nkolo Paulin , Roubaud Valérie
Published: September 2017

IHB between alkyl and nitroxyl fragments affords striking changes inkd, affording a nice control of the C–ON bond homolysis.
Exploration of a Au(i)-mediated three-component reaction for the synthesis of DNA-tagged highly substituted spiroheterocycles
Authors: Klika Škopić Mateja , Willems Suzanne , Wagner Bernd , Schieven Justin , Krause Norbert , Brunschweiger Andreas
Published: September 2017

A gold(i)-mediated reaction to a DNA-tagged spirocycle, and the tolerance of different nucleic acids to the reaction conditions are demonstrated.
Tunable intramolecular H-bonding promotes benzoic acid activity in polymerization: inspiration from nature
Authors: Xu Jiaxi , Yang Kun , Li Zhenjiang , Liu Jingjing , Sun Herui , Xu Songquan , Wang Haixin , Guo Tianfo , Dong He , Guo Kai
Published: September 2017

Intramolecular H-bonding of ortho-amido group(s) tuned benzoic acid into strong Brønsted acid active in ring-opening polymerizations of lactones and trimethylene carbonate at room temperature in solutions.
Probing the influence of molecular symmetry on the magnetic anisotropy of octahedral cobalt(ii) complexes
Authors: Ding Zhong-Yu , Meng Yin-Shan , Xiao Yi , Zhang Yi-Quan , Zhu Yuan-Yuan , Gao Song
Published: September 2017

A series of field-induced cobalt(ii) SIMs exhibit varying axial zero-field splitting parameter D values from positive to negative with the increased distortion of the octahedral geometry.
Hydrophilic cell-derived extracellular matrix as a niche to promote adhesion and differentiation of neural progenitor cells
Authors: Yang Lingyan , Jiang Ziyun , Zhou Linhong , Zhao Keli , Ma Xun , Cheng Guosheng
Published: September 2017

Cell-derived extracellular matrix exhibits excellent adhesion performance for neural progenitor cell anchoring and residency, resulting in promoted proliferation of the stem cells to basal forebrain cholinergic neurons.
Novel amphiphilic glucose-responsive modified starch micelles for insulin delivery
Authors: Wen Na , Gao Chunmei , Lü Shaoyu , Xu Xiubin , Bai Xiao , Wu Can , Ning Piao , Zhang Shaofei , Liu Mingzhu
Published: September 2017

Glucose-responsive micelles with Schiff-based was reported, which had excellent stability and biocompatibility. The release of the insulin accelerated in high glucose concentration due to the highly sensitive of glucose in physiological conditions.
Intriguing uniform elongation and accelerated radial shrinkage in an amorphous SiOxnanowire as purely induced by uniform electron beam irradiation
Authors: Su Jiangbin , Zhu Xianfang
Published: September 2017

The nanowire demonstrates a tensile pulling-free uniform plastic elongation and an accelerated radial shrinkage at nanoscale under uniform e-beam irradiation.
Biodistribution of upconversion/magnetic silica-coated NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+nanoparticles in mouse models
Authors: Kostiv Uliana , Rajsiglová Lenka , Luptáková Dominika , Pluháček Tomáš , Vannucci Luca , Havlíček Vladimír , Engstová Hana , Jirák Daniel , Šlouf Miroslav , Makovicky Peter , Sedláček Radislav , Horák Daniel
Published: September 2017

Upconversion magnetic nanoparticles emit visible light after NIR irradiation. Gd renders them with MRI contrast. Localization of the particles is excellently visible in blood vasculature of tumor bearing mice after intravenous administration.
Recent advances in synthetic facets of immensely reactive azetidines
Authors: Mehra Vishu , Lumb Isha , Anand Amit , Kumar Vipan
Published: September 2017

Recent developments in synthetic strategies towards functionalized azetidines along with their versatility as heterocyclic synthons.
Oligomers of cyclopentadithiophene-vinylene in aromatic and quinoidal versions and redox species with intermediate forms
Authors: Mayorga Burrezo Paula , Domínguez Rocío , Zafra José L. , Pappenfus Ted M. , Cruz Pilar de la , Welte Lorena , Janzen Daron E. , López Navarrete Juan T. , Langa Fernando , Casado Juan
Published: September 2017

Quinoidal-vs.-aromatic synergy: Cyclopentadithiophene-vinylene oligomers with different sizes, in different oxidation states and as pro-aromatic quinoidals are studied considering balanced contributions of aromatic and quinoidal forms.
Synthesis of a terminal Ce(iv) oxo complex by photolysis of a Ce(iii) nitrate complex
Authors: Assefa Mikiyas K. , Wu Guang , Hayton Trevor W.
Published: September 2017

Photolysis of a Ce(iii) nitrate complex generates a terminal Ce(iv) oxo complex, along with a Ce(iv) oxo cluster and a Ce(iii) silyloxide.
Cooperative behavior of biased probes in crowded interacting systems
Authors: Vasilyev Oleg A. , Bénichou Olivier , Mejía-Monasterio Carlos , Weeks Eric R. , Oshanin Gleb
Published: September 2017

We study, via extensive numerical simulations, dynamics of a crowded mixture of mutually interacting (with a short-range repulsive potential) colloidal particles immersed in a suspending solvent, acting as a heat bath.
Complex coacervates based on recombinant mussel adhesive proteins: their characterization and applications
Authors: Kim Hyo Jeong , Yang Byeongseon , Park Tae Yoon , Lim Seonghye , Cha Hyung Joon
Published: September 2017

Recombinant mussel adhesive protein-based complex coacervates are an effective underwater adhesive and have significant potential in practical applications that require underwater adhesion.
Gate opening effect of zeolitic imidazolate framework ZIF-7 for adsorption of CH4 and CO2 from N2
Authors: Arami-Niya Arash , Birkett Greg , Zhu Zhonghua , Rufford Thomas E.
Published: September 2017

Measurements of S-shaped adsorption isotherm as evidence of ZIF-7 gate opening in the presence of CH4 at 1245 kPa.
Block copolymer templated synthesis of PtIr bimetallic nanocatalysts for the formic acid oxidation reaction
Authors: Taylor Audrey K. , Perez Diane S. , Zhang Xin , Pilapil Brandy K. , Engelhard Mark H. , Gates Byron D. , Rider David A.
Published: September 2017

Arrays of PtIr alloy nanoparticle (NP) clusters are synthesized from a method using block copolymer templates, which allows for relatively narrow NP diameter distributions (∼4–13 nm) and uniform intercluster spacing (∼60 or ∼100 nm).
A simple molecular structure of ortho-derived perylene diimide diploid for non-fullerene organic solar cells with efficiency over 8%
Authors: Wang Helin , Chen Lingcheng , Xiao Yi
Published: September 2017

A simple molecular structure of ortho-derived perylene diimides (PDI) diploid has been developed for non-fullerene organic solar cells (OSCs) with a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.3%, indicating that such a concise molecular structure with a high PCE has great potential for the practical applications in OSCs.
Construction of a 3D multiple network skeleton by the thiol-Michael addition click reaction to fabricate novel polymer/graphene aerogels with exceptional thermal conductivity and mechanical properties
Authors: Song Shiqiang , Zhang Yong
Published: September 2017

Novel porous polymer/graphene composite aerogels with a multiple network structure, enhanced compressive properties and high thermal conductivity are first fabricated by adsorbing water vapour, reduction, and freeze-drying procedures.
Graphitized carbon-coated vanadium carbide nanoboscages modified by nickel with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution in both acid and alkaline solutions
Authors: Peng Lishan , Shen Jingjun , Zhang Ling , Wang Yao , Xiang Rui , Li Jing , Li Li , Wei Zidong
Published: September 2017

Three-dimensional Ni-modified VC nanoboscages with graphitic carbon coating structures were controllably synthesized as a highly active HER catalyst by inventively employing metallic Ni as a crystalline inducer.
Core–shell materials bearing iron(ii) carbonyl units and their CO-release via an upconversion process
Authors: Ou Jun , Zheng Weihua , Xiao Zhiyin , Yan Yuping , Jiang Xiujuan , Dou Yong , Jiang Ran , Liu Xiaoming
Published: September 2017

A core–shell nanoplatform was constructed with upconversion nanomaterials onto which iron carbonyl units were chemically loaded. The materials with excellent biocompatibility release CO upon irradiation with a NIR laser.
A new colorimetric and fluorescent probe with a large stokes shift for rapid and specific detection of biothiols and its application in living cells
Authors: Zhang Meng-Zhao , Han Hai-Hao , Zhang Shao-Ze , Wang Cheng-Yun , Lu Yun-Xiang , Zhu Wei-Hong
Published: September 2017

A new colorimetric and fluorescent probe with a large stokes shift for rapid and specific detection of biothiols, and its application in living cells.
Highly enhanced UV responsive conductivity and blue emission in transparent CuBr films: implication for emitter and dosimeter applications
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Rajani K. , Chandran Deepak , Vijayaraghavan Ratheesh K. , McCoy Anthony P. , Daniels Stephen , McNally Patrick J.
Published: September 2017

UV-responsive giant and persistent enhancements in the room temperature electrical conductivity and blue emission in CuBr films in ambient air.
Electric field control of magnetism in nickel with coaxial cylinder structure at room temperature by electric double layer gating
Authors: Wang Yunqiu , Song Yu-Xi , Tong Wen-Yi , Zhang Yuanyuan , Qi Ruijuan , Xiang Ping-Hua , Huang Rong , Zhong Ni , Lin Hechun , Tang Xiaodong , Peng Hui , Duan Chun-Gang
Published: September 2017

Electric-field manipulation of magnetism in nickel coaxial cylinders with an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) structure, with potential applications in spin capacitors.
Paper supported long-term 3D liver co-culture model for the assessment of hepatotoxic drugs
Authors: Wang Yaqing , Su Wentao , Wang Li , Jiang Lei , Liu Yang , Hui Lijian , Qin Jianhua
Published: September 2017

A paper-based 3D liver co-culture model was described for the long term maintenance of liver specific functions and the evaluation of drug induced hepatotoxicity.
IL-10-1082 A>G (rs1800896) polymorphism confers susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in Caucasians but not in Asians and Africans: a meta-analysis
Authors: Areeshi Mohammed Y. , Mandal Raju K. , Dar Sajad A. , Jawed Arshad , Wahid Mohd , Lohani Mohtashim , Panda Aditya K. , Mishra Bhartendu N. , Akhter Naseem , Haque Shafiul
Published: September 2017

Background: Earlier studies have shown that interlukin-10 (IL-10) -1082 A>G gene polymorphism is implicated in susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), but their results are inconsistent and inconclusive. In the present study, a meta-analysis was performed to analyze the potential association between IL-10 -1082 A>G gene polymorphism and PTB susceptibility.

Methods: A quantitative synthesis was done using PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, and Google Scholar web databases search and meta-analysis was performed by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for all the genetic models.

Results: A total of 22 eligible studies comprising 4956 PTB cases and 6428 healthy controls were included in the analysis. We did not observe any increased or decreased risk of PTB in allelic contrast (G vs. A: P=0.985; OR = 1.001, 95% CI = 0.863–1.162), homozygous (GG vs. AA: P=0.889; OR = 1.029, 95% CI = 0.692–1.529), heterozygous (GA vs. AA: P=0.244; OR = 0.906, 95% CI = 0.767–1.070), dominant (GG + AG vs. AA: P=0.357; OR = 1.196, 95% CI = 0.817–1.752), and recessive (GG vs. AA + AG: P=0.364; OR = 0.921, 95% CI = 0.771–1.100) genetic models. Likewise, no association of IL-10 -1082 A>G polymorphism with PTB risk was observed in Asian and African population for all the genetic models. Interestingly, the dominant model (GG + AG vs. AA: P=0.004; OR = 1.694, 95% CI = 1.183–2.425) demonstrated increased risk of PTB in Caucasian population.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis concludes that IL-10 -1082 A>G gene polymorphism is not significantly associated with overall, Asian and African population. However, this polymorphism is associated with Caucasian population.
Essential chemistry for biochemists
Authors: Jonsson Amanda L. , Roberts Mark A.J. , Kiappes J.L. , Scott Kathryn A.
Published: September 2017

Within every living organism, countless reactions occur every second. These reactions typically occur more rapidly and with greater efficiency than would be possible under the same conditions in the chemical laboratory, and while using only the subset of elements that are readily available in nature. Despite these apparent differences between life and the laboratory, biological reactions are governed by the same rules as any other chemical reaction. Thus, a firm understanding of the fundamentals of chemistry is invaluable in biochemistry. There are entire textbooks devoted to the application of chemical principles in biological systems and so it is not possible to cover all of the relevant topics in depth in this short article. The aim is instead to provide a brief overview of those areas in chemistry that are most relevant to biochemistry. We summarize the basic principles, give examples of how these principles are applied in biological systems and suggest further reading on individual topics.
DBR‐free semiconductor disc laser on SiC heatspreader emitting 10.1 W at 1007 nm
Authors: Mirkhanov S. , Quarterman A.H. , Kahle H. , Bek R. , Pecoroni R. , Smyth C.J.C. , Vollmer S. , Swift S. , Michler P. , Jetter M. , Wilcox K.G.
Published: September 2017

We report a distributed Bragg reflector‐free semiconductor disc laser which emits 10 W continuous wave output power at a wavelength of 1007 nm when pumped with 40 W at 808 nm, focused into a 230 μm diameter spot on the gain chip. By introducing a birefringent filter plate in the laser cavity the wavelength could be tuned from 995 to 1020 nm. The laser consisted of a gain chip located at the beam waist of a linear concentric resonator with an output coupling of 2.15%. The gain chip consists of a 1.574‐μm‐thick resonant periodic gain structure, with ten In0.13Ga0.87As quantum wells embedded in strain‐compensating GaAs0.94P0.06 barrier layers, van der Waals bonded to a silicon carbide intra‐cavity heat spreader.
Fault‐tolerant predictive current control with two‐vector modulation for six‐phase permanent magnet synchronous machine drives
Authors: Lu Hanxiao , Li Jian , Qu Ronghai , Ye Donglin
Published: September 2017

Multiphase machines and drives are attractive to researchers due to the capability of fault tolerance. Finite‐control‐set model predictive control (FCS‐MPC) has been introduced to the post‐fault operation of multiphase drives and is superior with rapid dynamic response. However, conventional FCS‐MPC is always troubled with low switching frequency and the consequent current ripples. This study proposes a fault‐tolerant two‐vector predictive control (FT‐TVPC) that utilises a zero voltage vector to modulate with the active vector in each sampling period. The post‐fault model of the machine and the drive is obtained in original phase frame with the purpose of achieving various control modes with different reference currents. A group of experiments are carried out and proves the effectiveness of the proposed control technique on improving the current quality. The average switching frequency of the inverter increases in exchange. The results also demonstrate that different control modes have little influence but working conditions have a great impact on the improvement of performance.
Estimation of rime icing weight on composite insulator and analysis of shed configuration
Authors: Xingliang Jiang , Quanlin Wang , Zhijin Zhang , Lichun Shu , Jianlin Hu , Qin Hu , Yang Pan , Yi Cai
Published: September 2017

The possibility of insulator flashover would be higher with the increase in icing degree. Therefore, the method of monitoring the icing weight of the insulator is of vital importance. In this study, the estimation method of icing weight on composite insulator in rime icing was proposed. By quite a few experiments under different rime icing conditions, results showed good agreement between estimated value and measured icing weight. Therefore, the estimation method of icing weight proposed by this study was effective and may be used for predicting icing weight. Based on the estimation method, this study discusses the effect of key structural parameters of composite insulator under different rime conditions on icing weight. In order to better apply the composite insulator to electric transmission line in icing area, several suggestions on design optimisation of structural parameters are proposed.
Optimal gain scheduling of VSC‐HVDC system sliding mode control via artificial bee colony and mine blast algorithms
Authors: Ramadan Haitham S. , Fathy Ahmed , Becherif Mohamed
Published: September 2017

This study focuses on the optimal gain scheduling of the robust non‐linear sliding mode control (SMC) for the voltage source converters high‐voltage direct current (VSC‐HVDC) systems, for ensuring the desired dynamic behaviour improvement and stability enhancement. First, the development of the system steady‐state mathematical model of non‐linear character is explored in order to control the active power, the reactive power, and the DC link voltage towards their desired set point values. Their measured signals, as the outputs, are controlled via the optimal SMC‐based controllers, using their reference signals directly. Both artificial bee colony and mine blast algorithm are considered to optimally select the optimal gains of SMC controller that will minimise the steady‐state error of the obtained dynamic behaviour. Therefore, the DC voltage, the active and reactive powers can be properly maintained at their reference values. Both optimal SMC‐based techniques are compared in terms of the behavioural analysis and robustness. Using MATLAB™‐Simulink, the results significantly verify that the designed controllers based on SMC can achieve favourable tracking performance and contribute efficiently towards improving the system dynamic behaviour.
Fast multi‐objective optimisation of pencil beam reflector antenna radiation pattern responses using Kriging
Authors: de Villiers Dirk I.L. , Koziel Slawomir M.
Published: September 2017

A Kriging interpolation‐based method for the rapid multi‐objective optimisation (MO) of the radiation patterns of pencil beam reflector antenna systems is presented. MO provides a designer with quantitative trade‐off information about conflicting design goals, but typically requires a large number of time‐consuming function evaluations. The smoothly varying response surfaces of pencil beam reflector systems (gain, receiving sensitivity, sidelobe levels, etc.), as functions of the design parameters, are well suited to an interpolation‐based response surface approximation optimisation strategy. By constructing Kriging interpolants of all the design goals and performing the MO on these fast models the optimisation can be significantly accelerated. This study presents an optimisation strategy where an iterative method is used to improve the accuracy of the response surface interpolants along the perceived Pareto front. Several examples are provided to illustrate the algorithmic flow, as well as confirm the accuracy and acceleration of the optimisation strategy achievable for typical reflector problems.
Simplified and accelerated PPM receivers for VLC systems
Authors: Sönmez Mehmet
Published: September 2017

This study presents two receivers for visible light communication (VLC) systems. First, modified pulse position modulation (PPM) (MPPMD) and variable pulse position modulation (VPPM) (MVPPMD) demodulators are considered for MPPM and traditional VPPM schemes. The aim of this study is to minimise complexity at the receiver. On the basis of the derived mathematical framework, the multiplication stage is removed from the coherent detector architecture. Moreover, the generation of mask signals is unnecessary for the proposed receiver because they would be multiplied by the modulated signal for the traditional coherent detector. The simulation results show that MPPMD has the same bit error rate (BER) performance compared with the traditional coherent demodulators. Additionally, the resource utilisation of MPPM and VPPM receivers is dramatically reduced with removing the multiplication stage and the mask generator. Second, an accelerated VPPM (A‐VPPM) algorithm is proposed to achieve a fast demodulation of the VPPM signal under the unknown dimming‐level condition. Compared with the earlier VPPM receivers, the A‐VPPM receiver can also demodulate the VPPM signal without any iteration stage and the mask generator. The BER performance of A‐VPPM receiver is close to that of the traditional VPPM demodulator at 30 and 70% dimming levels.
Wireless energy‐harvesting circuit and system with error‐correction ASK demodulator for body sensor network with ultra‐high‐frequency RFID healthcare system
Authors: Lee Shuenn‐Yuh , Chen Tsung‐Yen , Tsou Chieh , Chu Yuan‐Sun
Published: September 2017

This study presents a low‐power energy‐harvesting circuit with error‐correction demodulation for body sensor networks with radio‐frequency identification (RFID) systems. The proposed circuit adopts a new structure that facilitates the demodulation of amplitude‐shift‐keying (ASK) signals, and it includes a power unit consisting of a wake‐up circuit and a power‐on‐reset control circuit. The wireless bio‐signal acquisition system and the digital processor are implemented on a field‐programmable gate array to demonstrate the proposed RFID tag. The proposed energy‐harvesting circuit can substantially decrease the capacitance used by the demodulator circuit and the wake‐up circuit to as low as 14 pF. Moreover, a detection circuit and a correcting circuit are utilised to reduce the bit error rate of decoding. The wireless bio‐signal acquisition scenario is also set up and the communication signal between reader and tag is measured to demonstrate the system that can be employed in body sensor network with the healthcare system. The chip was implemented in complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor 0.18 μm technology. The sensitivity of this work is − 13 dBm. The pulse width error can be reduced to <1% by the error‐correction demodulator to fit the EPC Gen‐2 standard.
Radical Allylation: E-Selective Radical Conjugate Addition–Elimination Reaction from Morita–Baylis–Hillman Adducts
Authors: Lequeux Thierry , Lebargy Cyril , De Schutter Coralie , Legay Remi , Pfund Emmanuel
Published: September 2017

Triethylborane-mediated radical allylation was performed from Morita–Baylis–Hillman alcohols with no need of protecting group. The radical conjugated addition–elimination reaction is highly selective, and trisubstituted E-alkenes were obtained. This reaction opened a new route for the preparation of functionalized α,β-unsaturated ketones.
Synthesis of Isoxazolidinyl Epoxides by Oxone Treatment of 2,3-Dihydroisoxazoles in Acetone–Water Solution: A New Stereoselective Approach to Hydroxy-Substituted Isoxazolidines
Authors: Fischer Róbert , Záborský Ondrej , Štadániová Radka , Doháňošová Jana , Moncol Ján
Published: September 2017

A practical and efficient synthesis of new class of isoxazoli­dinyl epoxides by direct treatment of 4,5-unsubstituted 2,3-dihydroisoxazoles with Oxone and NaHCO3 in acetone/water solution is described. All epoxidation reactions proceed with excellent anti-selectivity and provide stable products in very good yields. A concept for the development of stereoselective approach to 3,4-trans-hydroxy-substituted isoxazolidines, namely triazole derivatives as important molecules in medicinal chemistry is presented. The synthesis is characterized by highly syn-stereoselective conversion of epoxides to anomeric bromoisoxazolidines, which are found to be powerful reaction intermediates for the coupling reactions with various nucleophiles.
Prostaglandin E1 Protects the Peripheral Nerve in Diabetics through Preventing Vascular Permeability Changes
Authors: Mo Feifei , Hu Guotao , Liu Wei , He Li , Wang Hailan
Published: September 2017

Objective The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of the vasodilator prostaglandin E1 on microvascular permeability, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as the structural and functional changes of the peripheral nerve in diabetic rats.

Methods Streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into two groups and intraperitoneally received, once daily, an injection of prostaglandin E1 at 1.6 μg/kg in normal saline or the same volume of normal saline (diabetic control), respectively. Six rats were randomly selected as normal controls.

Results Diabetic controls exhibited a significant increase in the tail flick threshold temperature, water content of the sciatic nerve, serum VEGF level, and VEGF level in the sciatic nerve; in addition, a decrease in the sciatic nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was observed, compared with normal rats (P<0.01). Treatment with prostaglandin E1 resulted in similar changes but at a slower rate than in those without treatment. Diabetic control rats also showed histological and ultrastructural abnormalities of the sciatic nerve, whereas prostaglandin E1-treated rats exhibited similar but less severe injury. The serum VEGF level was negatively correlated with the sciatic NCV (r=−0.932, P<0.01) and positively correlated with the tail flick threshold temperature (r=0.835, P<0.01) as well as the water content of the sciatic nerve (r=0.901, P<0.01).

Conclusion Prostaglandin E1 could protect the peripheral nerve by improving sciatic nerve function, reducing the VEGF level, and decreasing the vascular permeability. This study provides an experimental proof that prostaglandin E1 has potential benefits in improving DPN in early stage.
Novel Mutations in the NKX2.1 gene and the PAX8 gene in a Boy with Brain-Lung-Thyroid Syndrome
Authors: Hermanns Pia , Kumorowicz-Czoch Małgorzata , Grasberger Helmut , Refetoff Samuel , Pohlenz Joachim
Published: September 2017

Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanism which causes thyroid dysgenesis (TD) in a boy with brain-lung-thyroid syndrome.

Design, patients, measurements We describe a patient with TD, respiratory disease and cerebral palsy who is heterozygous for mutations in two different genes, the PAX8 (p.E234K) and the NKX2.1 (p.A329GfsX108). In vitro studies were performed to functionally characterize these mutations. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was identified by neonatal screening associated with a hypoplastic thyroid gland. Postpartum he developed a brain-lung-thyroid syndrome with severe respiratory failure, symptomatic epilepsy and a considerable psychomotor retardation. The DNA-binding capability and the transcriptional activity of the two mutated transcription factors were investigated in vitro.

Results The NKX2.1 mutation did not show any transcriptional activity and had almost no DNA-binding. The PAX8 mutation was normally located to the nucleus and showed a normal transactivation and a normal binding to the known downstream targets.

Conclusions The molecular defect explaining the phenotype of brain-lung-thyroid syndrome was identified. To what extent the PAX8 mutation contributes to the phenotype needs to be further investigated. We recommend to screen patients with CH and TD for mutations in all known TD candidate genes.
Ballistic transport of long wavelength phonons and thermal conductivity accumulation in nanograined silicon-germanium alloys
Authors: Chen Long , Braun Jeffrey L. , Donovan Brian F. , Hopkins Patrick E. , Poon S. Joseph
Published: September 2017

Computationally efficient modeling of the thermal conductivity of materials is crucial to thorough experimental planning and theoretical understanding of thermal properties. We present a modeling approach in this work that utilizes a frequency-dependent effective medium theory to calculate the lattice thermal conductivity of nanostructured solids. This method accurately predicts a significant reduction in the experimentally measured thermal conductivity of nanostructured Si80Ge20 systems reported in this work, along with previously reported thermal conductivities in nanowires and nanoparticles in matrix materials. We use our model to gain insights into the role of long wavelength phonons on the thermal conductivity of nanograined silicon-germanium alloys. Through thermal conductivity accumulation calculations with our modified effective medium model, we show that phonons with wavelengths much greater than the average grain size will not be impacted by grain boundary scattering, counter to the traditionally assumed notion that grain boundaries in solids will act as diffusive interfaces that will limit long wavelength phonon transport. This is further supported by using time-domain thermoreflectance at different pump modulation frequencies to measure the thermal conductivity of a series nanograined silicon-germanium alloys.
Magnetic flux pumping in 3D nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic simulations
Authors: Krebs I. , Jardin S. C. , Günter S. , Lackner K. , Hoelzl M. , Strumberger E. , Ferraro N.
Published: September 2017

A self-regulating magnetic flux pumping mechanism in tokamaks that maintains the core safety factor at q≈1, thus preventing sawteeth, is analyzed in nonlinear 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations using the M3D-C1 code. In these simulations, the most important mechanism responsible for the flux pumping is that a saturated (m=1,n=1) quasi-interchange instability generates an effective negative loop voltage in the plasma center via a dynamo effect. It is shown that sawtoothing is prevented in the simulations if β is sufficiently high to provide the necessary drive for the (m=1,n=1) instability that generates the dynamo loop voltage. The necessary amount of dynamo loop voltage is determined by the tendency of the current density profile to centrally peak which, in our simulations, is controlled by the peakedness of the applied heat source profile.
Modulational instability of ion acoustic waves in a multi-species collisionless magnetized plasma consisting of nonthermal and isothermal electrons
Authors: Dalui Sandip , Bandyopadhyay Anup , Das K. P.
Published: September 2017

This paper is an extension of the recent work of Dalui et al. [Phys. Plasmas 24, 042305 (2017)] on modulational instability of ion acoustic waves in a multi-species collisionless plasma by considering the effect of uniform (space independent) and static (time independent) magnetic field directed along a fixed direction. A three dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived to study the modulational instability of ion acoustic waves in a multi-species collisionless magnetized plasma consisting of warm adiabatic ions, nonthermal hot electrons, due to Cairns et al. [Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 2709 (1995)], which generates the fast energetic electrons and Maxwell-Boltzmann distributed isothermal electrons. The modulational instability of ion acoustic waves propagating along the direction of the magnetic field has been investigated theoretically. The instability condition and the maximum growth rate of instability have been derived analytically. It is found that the maximum growth rate of instability decreases with increasing values of the magnetic field intensity whereas the maximum growth rate of instability increases with increasing cos δ, where δ is directly related to the modulational obliqueness θ by the relation θ+δ=π2, i.e., δ is the angle between the direction of the modulated wave with the static uniform magnetic field.
Clocking plasmon nanofocusing by THz near-field streaking
Authors: Wimmer Lara , Schröder Benjamin , Sivis Murat , Herink Georg , Ropers Claus
Published: September 2017

We apply terahertz (THz) near-field streaking in a nanofocusing geometry to investigate plasmon polariton propagation on the shaft of a conical nanotip. By evaluating the delay between a streaking spectrogram for plasmon-induced photoemission with a measurement for direct apex excitation, we obtain an average plasmon group velocity, which is in agreement with numerical simulations. Combining plasmon-induced photoemission with THz near-field streaking facilitates extensive control over localized photoelectron sources for time-resolved imaging and diffraction.
Helical instability in film blowing process: Analogy to buckling instability
Authors: Lee Joo Sung , Kwon Ilyoung , Jung Hyun Wook , Hyun Jae Chun
Published: September 2017

The film blowing process is one of the most important polymer processing operations, widely used for producing bi-axially oriented film products in a single-step process. Among the instabilities observed in this film blowing process, i.e., draw resonance and helical motion occurring on the inflated film bubble, the helical instability is a unique phenomenon portraying the snake-like undulation motion of the bubble, having the period on the order of few seconds. This helical instability in the film blowing process is commonly found at the process conditions of a high blow-up ratio with too low a freezeline position and/or too high extrusion temperature. In this study, employing an analogy to the buckling instability for falling viscous threads, the compressive force caused by the pressure difference between inside and outside of the film bubble is introduced into the simulation model along with the scaling law derived from the force balance between viscous force and centripetal force of the film bubble. The simulation using this model reveals a close agreement with the experimental results of the film blowing process of polyethylene polymers such as low density polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene.
Repulsion between oppositely charged rod-shaped macromolecules: Role of overcharging and ionic confinement
Authors: Antila Hanne S. , Van Tassel Paul R. , Sammalkorpi Maria
Published: September 2017

The interaction between two oppositely charged rod-shaped macro-ions in a micro-ion solution is investigated via Monte Carlo simulations of the primitive model. The focus is on the asymmetry in rod and/or ion charge, i.e., conditions where oppositely charged objects can repel one another. For equally and oppositely charged rods with asymmetric z:1 micro-ions, repulsion may be induced by overcharging one of the rods with the z valent ions. For asymmetrically charged rods in a symmetric z:z micro-ion solution, a repulsive interaction—at separation of the order of one ion diameter—can arise via an unbalanced osmotic pressure contribution from the ionic atmosphere in the inter-rod space, and an attractive interaction—at a smaller separation—may occur due to a “squeezing out” of the micro-ions from the space between the rods (with a consequent gain in entropy). The thermodynamics of each mechanism is investigated in terms of rod charge and size and micro-ion valence, size, and concentration. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the complex role of charge asymmetry on the interaction of, for example, oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, functionalized nanotubes, and rod-like biomolecules, e.g., viruses.