bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The neglected nano-specific toxicity of ZnO nanoparticles in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Zhang Weicheng , Bao Shaopan , Fang Tao
Published: April 2016

Nanoparticles (NPs) with unique physicochemical properties induce nano-specific (excess) toxicity in organisms compared with their bulk counterparts. Evaluation and consideration of nano-specific toxicity are meaningful for the safe design and environmental risk assessment of NPs. However, ZnO NPs have been reported to lack excess toxicity for diverse organisms. In the present study, the nano-specific toxicity of ZnO NPs was evaluated in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nano-specific toxicity of ZnO NPs was not observed in the wild type yeast. However, the ZnO NPs induced very similar nano-specific toxicities in the three mutants with comparable log Te(particle) values (0.64 vs 0.65 vs 0.62), suggesting that the mutants were more sensitive and specific for the NPs’ nano-specific toxicity. The toxic effects in the yeast were slightly attributable to dissolved zinc ions from the ZnO (nano or bulk) particles. Oxidative damage and mechanical damage contributed to the toxic effect of the ZnO particles. The mechanism of mechanical damage is proposed to be an inherent characteristic underlying the nano-specific toxicity in the mutants. The log Te(particle) was a useful parameter for evaluation of NPs nano-specific toxicity, whereas log Te(ion) efficiently determined the NPs toxicity associated with released ions.
Theoretical Investigations of Optical Origins of Fluorescent Graphene Quantum Dots
Authors: Wang Jingang , Cao Shuo , Ding Yong , Ma Fengcai , Lu Wengang , Sun Mengtao
Published: April 2016

The optical properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were investigated theoretically. We focused on the photoinduced charge transfer and electron-hole coherence of single-layer graphene in the electronic transitions in the visible regions. Surface functionalization with donor or acceptor groups produced a red shift in the absorption spectrum, and electrons and holes were highly delocalized. The recombination of excited, well-separated electron-hole (e–h) pairs can result in enhanced fluorescence. This fluorescence enhancement by surface functionalization occurs because of the decreased symmetry of the graphene resulting from the roughened structure of the surface-functionalized GQDs.
Cooperative photoredox catalysis
Authors: Lang Xianjun , Zhao Jincai , Chen Xiaodong
Published: April 2016

Cooperative photoredox catalysis bridges visible-light photoredox catalysis with other types of catalysis like transition-metal catalysis, biocatalysis or electrocatalysis for establishing demanding organic transformations.
High spatial resolution mapping of chemically-active self-assembled N-heterocyclic carbenes on Pt nanoparticles
Authors: Levratovsky Y. , Gross E.
Published: April 2016

The properties of many functional materials critically depend on the spatial distribution of surface active sites. In the case of solid catalysts, the geometric and electronic properties of different surface sites will directly impact their catalytic properties. However, the detection of catalytic sites at the single nanoparticle level cannot be easily achieved and most spectroscopic measurements are performed with ensemble-based measurements in which the reactivity is averaged over millions of nanoparticles. It is hereby demonstrated that chemically-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene molecules can be attached to the surfaces of Pt nanoparticles and utilized as a model system for studying catalytic reactions on single metallic nanoparticles. The formation of a carbene self-assembled layer on the surface of a Pt nanoparticle and its stability under oxidizing conditions were investigated. IR nanospectroscopy measurements detected the chemical properties of surface-anchored molecules on single nanoparticles. A direct correlation was identified between IR nanospectroscopy measurements and macroscopic ATR-IR measurements. These results demonstrate that high spatial resolution mapping of the catalytic reactivity on single nanoparticles can be achieved with this approach.
Templated solvothermal synthesis of magnesium silicate hollow nanospheres with ultrahigh specific surface area and their application in high-performance protein adsorption and drug delivery
Authors: Sun Tuan-Wei , Zhu Ying-Jie , Qi Chao , Chen Feng , Jiang Ying-Ying , Zhang Yong-Gang , Wu Jin , Wu Chengtie
Published: April 2016

Magnesium silicate hollow nanospheres with ultrahigh protein/drug loading capacity and high anticancer activity are reported.
A fluorescence-based method to directly quantify antibodies immobilized on gold nanoparticles
Authors: Filbrun Seth L. , Driskell Jeremy D.
Published: April 2016

The ability to evaluate antibody immobilization onto gold nanoparticles is critical for assessing coupling chemistry and optimizing the sensitivity of nanoparticle-enabled biosensors.
Automated sample preparation in a microfluidic culture device for cellular metabolomics
Authors: Filla Laura A. , Sanders Katherine L. , Filla Robert T. , Edwards James L.
Published: April 2016

The microfluidic device for integrated cell culture and sample preparation reported here resulted in a ∼10-fold improvement over conventional lysis methods and enabled the detection of energy metabolites.
Cost-effective and sensitive colorimetric immunosensing using an iron oxide-to-Prussian blue nanoparticle conversion strategy
Authors: Fu Guanglei , Sanjay Sharma T. , Li XiuJun
Published: April 2016

A novel iron oxide-to-Prussian blue nanoparticle conversion strategy has been developed and applied to a sensitive, cost-effective and user-friendly colorimetric immunoassay without the aid of any complex signal amplification processes.
Investigation of an SPR biosensor for determining the influence of connexin 43 expression on the cytotoxicity of cisplatin
Authors: Wang Yijia , Zhang Shiwu , Zhang Chunze , Zhao Zhenying , Zheng Xiaoli , Xue Lihua , Liu Jun , Yuan X.-C.
Published: April 2016

The real-time and label free detection abilities of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors provide a way of evaluating the influence of some genes’ expression on anti-tumor drug cytotoxicity.
A fully battery-powered inexpensive spectrophotometric system for high-sensitivity point-of-care analysis on a microfluidic chip
Authors: Dou Maowei , Lopez Juan , Rios Misael , Garcia Oscar , Xiao Chuan , Eastman Michael , Li XiuJun
Published: April 2016

A low-cost b̲a̲ttery-powered s̲pectrophotometric s̲ystem (BASS) was developed for high-sensitivity point-of-care analysis in low-resource settings on a microfluidic chip without relying on external power supplies.
Influence of cell size on cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Xinlong , Hu Xiaohong , Li Jingchao , Russe Adriana C. Mulero , Kawazoe Naoki , Yang Yingnan , Chen Guoping
Published: April 2016

Cell size affects cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).
Electronic defect states at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface revealed by O K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Palina Natalia , Annadi Anil , Asmara Teguh Citra , Diao Caozheng , Yu Xiaojiang , Breese Mark B. H. , Venkatesan T. , Ariando Ariando , Rusydi Andrivo
Published: April 2016

Interfaces of two dissimilar complex oxides exhibit exotic physical properties that are absent in their parent compounds.
Controlled rippling of graphene via irradiation and applied strain modify its mechanical properties: a nanoindentation simulation study
Authors: Martinez-Asencio J. , Ruestes C. J. , Bringa E. M. , Caturla M. J.
Published: April 2016

In this work we show how out-of-plane displacements can be modified by strain and irradiation. Compressed samples, irradiated at low doses are stiffened by the irradiation while samples under tensile strain do not show significant changes in their mechanical properties.
Gold nanoparticles in aqueous solutions: influence of size and pH on hydrogen dissociative adsorption and Au(iii) ion reduction
Authors: Ershov B. G. , Abkhalimov E. V. , Solovov R. D. , Roldughin V. I.
Published: April 2016

The shift of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band of gold nanoparticles to shorter wavelengths upon saturation of the hydrosol with hydrogen is used as a tool to study the electrochemical processes on the particle surface.
Shape-selective synthesis of Sn(MoO4)2 nanomaterials for catalysis and supercapacitor applications
Authors: Sakthikumar K. , Ede Sivasankara Rao , Mishra Soumyaranjan , Kundu Subrata
Published: April 2016

Size and shape-selective Sn(MoO4)2 nanomaterials were synthesized for the first time using hydrothermal route. Needle-like and flake-like nanomaterials were used for two applications, the photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes and in electrochemical supercapacitors.
Study on a series of novel self-assembly supramolecular solar cells based on a double-layer structured chromophore of Zn-porphyrins
Authors: Han Fa-Ming , Yang Jiong-yuan , Zhe Ying , Chen Ji-Wen , Liu Jia-Cheng , Li Ren-Zhi , Jin Xiao-jie , Zhao Guo-Hui
Published: April 2016

We prepared an anchoring porphyrin and a series of hat-porphyrins. Solar cell devices of the monomer anchoring porphyrin and its assemblies were fabricated and the photovoltaic performances were measured.
N2S2and N4S4precursors to PS2macrocycles and cyclic amidinium salts
Authors: Cox Katrina , Kariuki Benson M. , Smyth Alexander , Newman Paul D.
Published: April 2016

A PS2macrocycle and cyclic amidinium salts have been prepared from novel, asymmetric N2S2and N4S4macrocycles.
N-GQDs and Eu3+ co-encapsulated anionic MOFs: two-dimensional luminescent platform for decoding benzene homologues
Authors: Weng Han , Yan Bing
Published: April 2016

N-GQDs and Eu3+ co-encapsulated Mg-MOFs were prepared, and the ratio of IL/IEu and IEu/IN-GQDs was decoded on a 2D map for the recognition of benzene homologues.
An ultrahigh-rate electrochemical capacitor based on solution-processed highly conductive PEDOT:PSS films for AC line-filtering
Authors: Zhang Miao , Zhou Qinqin , Chen Ji , Yu Xiaowen , Huang Liang , Li Yingru , Li Chun , Shi Gaoquan
Published: April 2016

An electrochemical capacitor (EC) with H2SO4 treated PEDOT:PSS/graphite foil electrodes exhibited the highest areal and volumetric specific capacitances among the reported ECs with phase angles larger than −80° at 120 Hz.
Emerging investigators series: untangling the microbial ecosystem and kinetics in a nitrogen removing photosynthetic high density bioreactor
Authors: Price Jacob R. , Keshani Langroodi Saeed , Lan Yemin , Becker Jonas M. , Shieh Wen K. , Rosen Gail L. , Sales Christopher M.
Published: April 2016

Metabolic kinetics, microscopy, metagenomic analysis, and real-time PCR are applied to characterize nitrogen species transformation and identify and quantify the organisms key to these transformational processes.
Accelerated degradation of MOFs under flue gas conditions
Authors: Mangano E. , Kahr J. , Wright P. A. , Brandani S.
Published: April 2016

The zero length column (ZLC) technique is used to investigate the stability of Mg- and Ni-CPO-27 metal–organic framework (MOF) crystals in the presence of water and humid flue gas. The design of the ZLC enables the stability test to be conducted over a considerably shorter time period and with lower gas consumption than other conventional techniques. A key advantage over other experimental methods for testing the stability of adsorbents is the fact that the ZLC allows us to quantify the amount adsorbed of every component present in the gas mixture. The developed protocol is based on a two-stage stability test. The samples were first exposed to a humid carbon dioxide and helium mixture in order to study the effect of water on the carbon dioxide adsorption capacity of the samples. In the second stage the samples were exposed to a flue gas mixture containing water. From the preliminary water stability test, the Ni-sample exhibited the highest tolerance to the presence of water, retaining approximately 85% of its pristine CO2 capacity. The Mg-MOFs deactivated rapidly in the presence of water. The Ni-CPO-27 was then selected for the second stage of the protocol in which the material was exposed to the wet flue gas. The sample showed an initial drop in CO2 capacity after the first exposure to the wet flue gas, followed by a stabilisation of the performance over several cycles.
Low concentration thermoresponsive hydrogels from readily accessible triblock copolymers
Authors: Despax Laurie , Fitremann Juliette , Destarac Mathias , Harrisson Simon
Published: April 2016

Dilute (<1 wt%) aqueous solutions of ultrahigh molecular weight triblock copolymers (with Mn up to 500 000 g mol−1) comprising a long central hydrophilic block of polydimethylacrylamide and shorter terminal blocks of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) form gels on heating.
Chitosan grafted with a heteropolyanion-based ionic liquid as an effective and reusable catalyst for acetalization
Authors: Zhang Wei-Hong , Liu Shan-Shan , Liu Ping , Xu Jie , Xue Bing , Wei Xian-Yong , Li Yong-Xin
Published: April 2016

Chitosan grafted with a heteropolyanion-based ionic liquid (CS–VImPS–PW) was developed via a radical addition and subsequent acidification reaction. It proved to be a green, effective and recyclable catalyst for various acetalization reactions.
Enhanced luminescence and abnormal thermal quenching behaviour investigation of BaHfSi3O9:Eu2+ blue phosphor co-doped with La3+–Sc3+ ion pairs
Authors: Xin Shuangyu , Zhu Ge
Published: April 2016

The investigation of the enhanced luminescence and abnormal thermal quenching behaviour of BaHfSi3O9:Eu2+ co-doped with La3+–Sc3+ ion pairs.
Control of magneto-transport characteristics of Co-doped ZnO by electron beam irradiation
Authors: Lee Seunghun , Park Ji Hun , Kim Won-Kyung , Park Hyung Dal , Lee Byung Cheol , Moriyoshi Chikako , Kuroiwa Yoshihiro , Lee Geun Woo , Chan Cho Yong , Jeong Se-Young
Published: April 2016

Electron beam irradiation can be used to remove shallow donor type hydrogen located in Zn(Co)–O bonding centers in Co-doped ZnO, which enables to modify the conduction band and the magneto-transport characteristics of Co-doped ZnO.
Separation of amino acid enantiomers by a capillary modified with a metal–organic framework
Authors: Ye Nengsheng , Ma Jichao , An Jianxin , Li Jian , Cai Zhimin , Zong Han
Published: April 2016

Covalent bonding of homochiral metal–organic framework in capillaries for amino acid enantiomer separation by capillary electrochromatography.
Laser irradiation induced photo-crystallization in nano-structured amorphous Se90−xHgxS10(x = 0, 5, 10, 15) thin films
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Asokan K. , Zulfequar M.
Published: April 2016

The present study focuses on the influence of laser irradiation induced photo crystallization on the modification of the optical and electrical properties of thermally evaporated amorphous Se90−xHgxS10(x= 0, 5, 10, 15) thin films.
Al2O3-modified Ti–Mn–O nanocomposite coated with nitrogen-doped carbon as anode material for high power lithium-ion battery
Authors: Bai Xue , Li Tao , Zhao Xin-Yi , Shen Dong , Lun Ning , Qi Yong-Xin , Bai Yu-Jun
Published: April 2016

Al2O3-modified Ti–Mn–O nanocomposite coated with nitrogen-doped carbon using simple method exhibits remarkable rate performance.
A facile strategy to fabricate covalently linked raspberry-like nanocomposites with pH and thermo tunable structures
Authors: Guo Ruiwei , Chen Xing , Zhu Xiaolei , Dong Anjie , Zhang Jianhua
Published: April 2016

A simple and controllable route to prepare covalently bonded raspberry-like composite particles with pH and thermal dual-responsiveness.
Kinetic modeling of nalidixic acid degradation by clinoptilolite nanorod-catalyzed ozonation process
Authors: Khataee Alireza , Fathinia Mehrangiz , Rad Tannaz Sadeghi
Published: April 2016

The removal of nalidixic acid (NAD) through the clinoptilolite nanorod (CN)-catalyzed ozonation process was modeled by three types of kinetic approaches.
Concurrent electrochemical CO2 reduction to HCOOH and methylene blue removal on metal electrodes
Authors: Yadav V. S. K. , Purkait M. K.
Published: April 2016

Experimental setup for CO2 reduction and MB removal.
Morphology engineering: dramatic roles of serine and threonine in supramolecular assembly
Authors: Bijesh M. B. , Mishra Rituraj , Kurur Narayanan D. , Haridas V.
Published: April 2016

Macrocycles containing serine self-assembled into fibres, while threonine induced vesicular self-assembly. Macrocycles with serine can be driven to form vesicular assembly by incorporating a non-planar spacer.
Green and catalyst-free preparation of triazinyl polyimide for the efficient adsorption of glycoproteins
Authors: Zhang Yue , Zhang Meng-Si , Zhang Yang , Chen Xu-Wei , Wang Jian-Hua
Published: April 2016

Triazinyl polyimide is prepared via a solvent-free and catalyst-free imidization reaction by using melamine and pyromellitic dianhydride as precursors and it exhibits excellent selectivity towards glycoprotein.
Developments in conducting polymer fibres: from established spinning methods toward advanced applications
Authors: Mirabedini Azadeh , Foroughi Javad , Wallace Gordon G.
Published: April 2016

This review provides a comprehensive picture of the history and latest developments in the field of conducting polymer fibres as well as their current/future applications.
Solid phase syntheses of S,N-substituted 2-mercaptobenzoimidazoles
Authors: Susanto Steven , Jung Nicole , Bräse Stefan
Published: April 2016

2-Mercaptobenzoimidazoles are an important class of heterocycles showing biological activity in diverse therapeutic applications.
A highly expandable and tough polyacrylamide – alginate microcapsule
Authors: Li Yan-Li , Zhu Ming-Lu , Li Xiao-Yu , Li Xiao-Heng , Jiang Yong
Published: April 2016

A highly expandable and tough microcapsule was prepared by water-in-oil emulsion polymerization. The diameter of the prepared microcapsule could be expanded to about 75 times larger than the original size without breakage.
Nanocrystalline alumina-supported ceria–praseodymia solid solutions: structural characteristics and catalytic CO oxidation
Authors: Devaiah Damma , Thrimurthulu Gode , Smirniotis Panagiotis G. , Reddy Benjaram M.
Published: April 2016

The synergistic effect between ceria–praseodymia and alumina support is responsible for the efficient CO oxidation activity of the catalyst owing to the enhanced surface area, oxygen vacancy concentration, and active oxygen species formation.
Dendrimeric based microbicides against sexual transmitted infections associated to heparan sulfate
Authors: Ceña-Díez Rafael , Sepúlveda-Crespo Daniel , Maly Marek , Muñoz-Fernández Mª Angeles
Published: April 2016

Cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) represents a common link that many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) require for infection.
Superheated droplets for protein thermal stability analyses of GFP, BSA and Taq-polymerase
Authors: Ahrberg Christian D. , Manz Andreas
Published: April 2016

Here we describe a novel method for the study of protein thermal stability using superheated aqueous samples within virtual reaction chambers.
Light upconverting soft particles: triplet–triplet annihilation in the phospholipid bilayer of self-assembled vesicles
Authors: Poznik M. , Faltermeier U. , Dick B. , König B.
Published: April 2016

Large unilamellar vesicles (100 nm) were functionalised to obtain supramolecular particles capable of light upconversion in pure aqueous media.
Dendrimer like star polymer based on β-cyclodextrin with ABC type miktoarms
Authors: Tungala Kranthikumar , Adhikary Pubali , Azmeera Venkanna , Kumar Krishna , Ramesh K. , Krishnamoorthi S.
Published: April 2016

The present article reports the synthesis and self aggregation study of a novel dendrimer like star polymer based on β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), in which the primary alcoholic arms of β-CD have been linked to ABC type miktoarm star polymers.
Correction: Inkjet printing of silver rainbow colloids for SERS chips with polychromatic sensitivity
Authors: Yorov K. E. , Sidorov A. V. , Polyakov A. Yu. , Sukhorukova I. V. , Shtansky D. V. , Grünert W. , Grigorieva A. V.
Published: April 2016

Correction for ‘Inkjet printing of silver rainbow colloids for SERS chips with polychromatic sensitivity’ by K. E. Yorov et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 15535–15540.
Free-standing micropatternable nanocomposites as efficient colour converting filters for light emitting devices
Authors: Pareo Paola , Carbone Luigi , Mariano Fabrizio , Zacheo Antonella , Accorsi Gianluca , Arima Valentina , Gigli Giuseppe , Manca Michele
Published: April 2016

A set of engineered photoluminescent foils have been realized by incorporating three different types of CdS/CdSe colloidal nanorods into a transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix.
PAK5 is auto-activated by a central domain that promotes kinase oligomerization
Authors: Tabanifar Bahareh , Zhao Zhuoshen , Manser Ed
Published: April 2016

PAKs (p21 activated kinases) are an important class of Rho effectors. These contain a Cdc42–Rac1 interaction and binding (CRIB) domain and a flanking auto-inhibitory domain (AID) which binds the C-terminal catalytic domain. The group II kinases PAK4 and PAK5 are considered significant therapeutic targets in cancer. Among human cancer cell lines we tested, PAK5 protein levels are much lower than those of PAK4, even in NCI-H446 which has the highest PAK5 mRNA expression. Although these two kinases are evolutionarily and structurally related, it has never been established why PAK4 is inactive whereas PAK5 has high basal activity. The AID of PAK5 is functionally indistinguishable from that of PAK4, pointing to other regions being responsible for higher activity of PAK5. Gel filtration indicates PAK4 is a monomer but PAK5 is dimeric. The central region of PAK5 (residues 109–420) is shown here to promote self-association, and an elevated activity, but has no effect on activation loop Ser602 phosphorylation. These residues allow PAK5 to form characteristic puncta in cells, and removing sequences involved in oligomerization suppresses kinase activity. Our model suggests PAK5 self-association interferes with AID binding to the catalytic domain, thus maintaining its high activity. Further, our model explains the observation that PAK5 (1–180) inhibits PAK5 in vitro.
Lattice reduction‐based iterative receivers: using partial bit‐wise MMSE filter with randomised sampling and MAP‐aided integer perturbation
Authors: Bai Lin , Li Tian , Zhao Lewen , Choi Jinho
Published: April 2016

For iterative detection and decoding (IDD) in multiple‐input multiple‐output systems, the maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) detector would be ideal in terms of the performance. However, due to its high computational complexity, various suboptimal low‐complexity approximate MAP detectors have been studied. In this study, a lattice reduction (LR)‐based detector is considered for a near‐optimal performance for IDD. The authors improve further the performance by employing a partial bit‐wise minimum mean square error (MMSE) approach with randomised sampling, which has a lower complexity than that of the full bit‐wise MMSE method. Moreover, the list of candidate vectors obtained by randomised sampling is extended using a MAP‐aided integer perturbation algorithm for a better performance with low additional complexity. Through simulation results, it is shown that a near‐optimal performance can be obtained which is better than that of the LR‐based randomised successive interference cancellation and the full bit‐wise MMSE methods.
Three‐component decomposition technique for hybrid‐pol SAR data
Authors: Kumar Ajeet , Panigrahi Rajib Kumar , Das Anup
Published: April 2016

This study describes a three‐component decomposition of Stokes vector representing the hybrid‐polarimetry (hybrid‐pol) data. The three components are single‐bounce, double‐bounce and volume scattering. At the outset, the received backscattered wave is decomposed into completely polarised (CP) and completely depolarised (CD) parts based on Born and Wolf's wave dichotomy theorem. Then, the CP part is further decomposed into three independent components which indicate the contribution of three basic scattering mechanisms. In the proposed method, the CD part is considered as random noise and no physical meaning is attached to it. Whereas in existing hybrid‐pol decomposition techniques such as m − δ and m − α, this component has been considered as volume scattering. This results in volume scattering being overestimated by these techniques. The authors demonstrated that the performance of the proposed decomposition technique is better than these existing decomposition techniques.
Bleeding Assessment Tools: Limits and Advantages for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Inherited Bleeding Disorders
Authors: Tosetto Alberto
Published: April 2016

Bleeding assessment tools were first developed essentially as research tools, for the quantification of bleeding symptoms and the study of phenotype/genotype correlations. Interestingly, these tools have been proven useful also for clinicians diagnosing and treating bleeding disorders. The main advantage of these tools is the standardization of the diagnostic process, allowing the introduction of criteria with known specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of the most common mild bleeding disorders, particularly von Willebrand disease. This is important also for a rational approach to the laboratory diagnosis because for many mild bleeding disorders, a complex laboratory workup is required. Bleeding assessment tools should always be complemented by ancillary coagulation screening tests to exclude the presence of a bleeding disorder, however. Finally, bleeding severity assessed by such tools has been shown to correlate with the long-term probability of bleeding. Therefore, the bleeding assessment could become an important marker of disease severity.
Swimming microorganisms acting as nanorobots versus artificial nanorobotic agents: A perspective view from an historical retrospective on the future of medical nanorobotics in the largest known three-dimensional biomicrofluidic networks
Authors: Martel Sylvain
Published: April 2016

The vascular system in each human can be described as a 3D biomicrofluidic network providing a pathway close to approximately 100 000 km in length. Such network can be exploited to target any parts inside the human body with further accessibility through physiological spaces such as the interstitial microenvironments. This fact has triggered research initiatives towards the development of new medical tools in the form of microscopic robotic agents designed for surgical, therapeutic, imaging, or diagnostic applications. To push the technology further towards medical applications, nanotechnology including nanomedicine has been integrated with principles of robotics. This new field of research is known as medical nanorobotics. It has been particularly creative in recent years to make what was and often still considered science-fiction to offer concrete implementations with the potential to enhance significantly many actual medical practices. In such a global effort, two main strategic trends have emerged where artificial and synthetic implementations presently compete with swimming microorganisms being harnessed to act as medical nanorobotic agents. Recognizing the potentials of each approach, efforts to combine both towards the implementation of hybrid nanorobotic agents where functionalities are implemented using both artificial/synthetic and microorganism-based entities have also been initiated. Here, through the main eras of progressive developments in this field, the evolutionary path being described from some of the main historical achievements to recent technological innovations is extrapolated in an attempt to provide a perspective view on the future of medical nanorobotics capable of targeting any parts of the human body accessible through the vascular network.
Multi-scale gyrokinetic simulations: Comparison with experiment and implications for predicting turbulence and transport
Authors: Howard N. T. , Holland C. , White A. E. , Greenwald M. , Candy J. , Creely A. J.
Published: April 2016

To better understand the role of cross-scale coupling in experimental conditions, a series of multi-scale gyrokinetic simulations were performed on Alcator C-Mod, L-mode plasmas. These simulations, performed using all experimental inputs and realistic ion to electron mass ratio ((mi/me)1∕2 = 60.0), simultaneously capture turbulence at the ion (kθρs∼O(1.0)) and electron-scales (kθρe∼O(1.0)). Direct comparison with experimental heat fluxes and electron profile stiffness indicates that Electron Temperature Gradient (ETG) streamers and strong cross-scale turbulence coupling likely exist in both of the experimental conditions studied. The coupling between ion and electron-scales exists in the form of energy cascades, modification of zonal flow dynamics, and the effective shearing of ETG turbulence by long wavelength, Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) turbulence. The tightly coupled nature of ITG and ETG turbulence in these realistic plasma conditions is shown to have significant implications for the interpretation of experimental transport and fluctuations. Initial attempts are made to develop a “rule of thumb” based on linear physics, to help predict when cross-scale coupling plays an important role and to inform future modeling of experimental discharges. The details of the simulations, comparisons with experimental measurements, and implications for both modeling and experimental interpretation are discussed.
Communication: Toward an improved control of the fixed-node error in quantum Monte Carlo: The case of the water molecule
Authors: Caffarel Michel , Applencourt Thomas , Giner Emmanuel , Scemama Anthony
Published: April 2016

All-electron Fixed-node Diffusion Monte Carlo calculations for the nonrelativistic ground-state energy of the water molecule at equilibrium geometry are presented. The determinantal part of the trial wavefunction is obtained from a selected Configuration Interaction calculation [Configuration Interaction using a Perturbative Selection done Iteratively (CIPSI) method] including up to about 1.4 × 106 of determinants. Calculations are made using the cc-pCVnZ family of basis sets, with n = 2 to 5. In contrast with most quantum Monte Carlo works no re-optimization of the determinantal part in presence of a Jastrow is performed. For the largest cc-pCV5Z basis set the lowest upper bound for the ground-state energy reported so far of −76.437 44(18) is obtained. The fixed-node energy is found to decrease regularly as a function of the cardinal number n and the Complete Basis Set limit associated with exact nodes is easily extracted. The resulting energy of −76.438 94(12) — in perfect agreement with the best experimentally derived value — is the most accurate theoretical estimate reported so far. We emphasize that employing selected configuration interaction nodes of increasing quality in a given family of basis sets may represent a simple, deterministic, reproducible, and systematic way of controlling the fixed-node error in diffusion Monte Carlo.
Self aligned hysteresis free carbon nanotube field-effect transistors
Authors: Shlafman M. , Tabachnik T. , Shtempluk O. , Razin A. , Kochetkov V. , Yaish Y. E.
Published: April 2016

Hysteresis phenomenon in the transfer characteristics of carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNT FET) is being considered as the main obstacle for successful realization of electronic devices based on CNTs. In this study, we prepare four kinds of CNTFETs and explore their hysteretic behavior. Two kinds of devices comprise on-surface CNTs (type I) and suspended CNTs (type II) with thin insulating layer underneath and a single global gate which modulates the CNT conductance. The third and fourth types (types III and IV) consist of suspended CNT over a metallic local gate underneath, where for type IV the local gate was patterned self aligned with the source and drain electrodes. The first two types of devices, i.e., type I and II, exhibit substantial hysteresis which increases with scanning range and sweeping time. Under high vacuum conditions and moderate electric fields (|E|>4×106 V/cm), the hysteresis for on-surface devices cannot be eliminated, as opposed to suspended devices. Interestingly, type IV devices exhibit no hysteresis at all at ambient conditions, and from the different roles which the global and local gates play for the four types of devices, we could learn about the hysteresis mechanism of this system. We believe that these self aligned hysteresis free FETs will enable the realization of different electronic devices and sensors based on CNTs.
Fabrication of Si(111) crystalline thin film on graphene by aluminum-induced crystallization
Authors: Høiaas I. M. , Kim D. C. , Weman H.
Published: April 2016

We report the fabrication of a Si(111) crystalline thin film on graphene by the aluminum-induced crystallization (AIC) process. The AIC process of Si(111) on graphene is shown to be enhanced compared to that on an amorphous SiO2 substrate, resulting in a more homogeneous Si(111) thin film structure as revealed by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy measurements. Raman measurements confirm that the graphene is intact throughout the process, retaining its characteristic phonon spectrum without any appearance of the D peak. A red-shift of Raman peaks, which is more pronounced for the 2D peak, is observed in graphene after the crystallization process. It is found to correlate with the red-shift of the Si Raman peak, suggesting an epitaxial relationship between graphene and the adsorbed AIC Si(111) film with both the graphene and Si under tensile strain.
Comment on “Propagation of surface waves on a semi-bounded quantum magnetized collisional plasma” [Phys. Plasmas 20, 122106 (2013)]
Authors: Moradi Afshin
Published: April 2016

In a recent article [Niknam et al., Phys. Plasmas 20, 122106 (2013)], Niknam et al. investigated the propagation of TM surface waves on a semi-bounded quantum magnetized collisional plasma in the Faraday configuration (in this case, the magnetic field is parallel to the both of the plasma surface and direction of propagation). Here, we present a fresh look at the problem and show that TM surface waves cannot propagate on surface of the present system. We find in the Faraday configuration the surface waves acquire both TM and TE components due to the cyclotron motion of electrons. Therefore, the main result of the work by Niknam et al. is incorrect.
Measurement of plasma density in the discharge maintained in a nonuniform gas flow by a high-power terahertz-wave gyrotron
Authors: Sidorov A. V. , Razin S. V. , Golubev S. V. , Safronova M. I. , Fokin A. P. , Luchinin A. G. , Vodopyanov A. V. , Glyavin M. Yu.
Published: April 2016

We performed measurements of plasma density in a “point-like” discharge, which is generated in a nonuniform flow of a gas (argon) under the action of high-power terahertz gyrotron radiation with a frequency of 0.67 THz, a power of 40 kW, and a pulse duration of 20 μs. The nonuniform flow was produced by injecting the gas to the vacuum chamber through a small hole (0.14 mm in diameter) under a background pressure at a level of 0.01 Torr. The discharge developed and was localized only in a small region of space (about 1 mm) near the gas injection hole, where the pressure was high (close to the atmospheric one) and the breakdown conditions (the “point-like” discharge) were fulfilled. The density of electrons in the discharge was measured by observing the Stark broadening of the atomic radiation line Hα of hydrogen (656.3 nm) which was present in the discharge as a minor admixture. The plasma density in the discharge was equal to about 2 × 1016 cm−3, which exceeds the cut-off density for a frequency of 0.67 THz used to maintain the discharge.
Electron injection from graphene quantum dots to poly(amido amine) dendrimers
Authors: Lin T. N. , Inciong M. R. , Santiago S. R. , Kao C. W. , Shu G. W. , Yuan C. T. , Shen J. L. , Yeh J. M. , Chen-Yang Y. W.
Published: April 2016

The steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) are used to study the electron injection from graphene quantum dots (GQDs) to poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers. The PL is enhanced by depositing GQDs on the surfaces of the PAMAM dendrimers. The maximum enhancement of PL with a factor of 10.9 is achieved at a GQD concentration of 0.9 mg/ml. The dynamics of PL in the GQD/PAMAM composite are analyzed, evidencing the existence of electron injection. On the basis of Kelvin probe measurements, the electron injection from the GQDs to the PAMAM dendrimers is accounted for by the work function difference between them.
On-chip photonic system using suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells device and multiple waveguides
Authors: Wang Yongjin , Zhu Guixia , Cai Wei , Gao Xumin , Yang Yongchao , Yuan Jialei , Shi Zheng , Zhu Hongbo
Published: April 2016

We propose, fabricate, and characterize the on-chip integration of suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) device and multiple waveguides on the same GaN-on-silicon platform. The integrated devices are fabricated via a wafer-level process and exhibit selectable functionalities for diverse applications. As the suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN MQWs device operates under a light emitting diode (LED) mode, part of the light emission is confined and guided by the suspended waveguides. The in-plane propagation along the suspended waveguides is measured by a micro-transmittance setup. The on-chip data transmission is demonstrated for the proof-of-concept photonic integration. As the suspended p-n junction InGaN/GaN MQWs device operates under photodiode mode, the light is illuminated on the suspended waveguides with the aid of the micro-transmittance setup and, thus, coupled into the suspended waveguides. The guided light is finally sensed by the photodiode, and the induced photocurrent trace shows a distinct on/off switching performance. These experimental results indicate that the on-chip photonic integration is promising for the development of sophisticated integrated photonic circuits in the visible wavelength region.
Selective-area growth of heavily n–doped GaAs nanostubs on Si(001) by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Chang Yoon Jung , Simmonds Paul J. , Beekley Brett , Goorsky Mark S. , Woo Jason C. S.
Published: April 2016

Using an aspect ratio trapping technique, we demonstrate molecular beam epitaxy of GaAs nanostubs on Si(001) substrates. Nanoholes in a SiO2 mask act as a template for GaAs-on-Si selective-area growth (SAG) of nanostubs 120 nm tall and ≤100 nm in diameter. We investigate the influence of growth parameters including substrate temperature and growth rate on SAG. Optimizing these parameters results in complete selectivity with GaAs growth only on the exposed Si(001). Due to the confined-geometry, strain and defects in the GaAs nanostubs are restricted in lateral dimensions, and surface energy is further minimized. We assess the electrical properties of the selectively grown GaAs nanostubs by fabricating heterogeneous p+–Si/n+–GaAs p–n diodes.
Greenhouse gas emissions from dung, urine and dairy pond sludge applied to pasture. 2. Methane emissions
Authors: Kelly K. B. , Ward G. N. , Hollier J. W.
Published: April 2016

Soil is known to be both a source and a sink for methane (CH4), while animal wastes can be a source. In experiments primarily designed to measure nitrous oxide emissions from the application of dairy cow urine, dung and pond sludge to pasture, CH4 emissions were also measured. Daily emissions from nil and urine treatments were the same and ranged from –7.1 × 10–3 to 6.4 × 10–3 kg CH4/ha.day and were strongly related to soil water content. Dung applied in September 2013 at 11 160 kg volatile solids (VS)/ha resulted in an immediate increase in flux, peaking at 1.7 kg CH4/ha.day on the day of application, and persisted for 35 days on a Chromosol soil type. Cumulative emissions (245 days) were 22.5 kg CH4/ha higher for dung than for no dung treatments, equating to 1.94 × 10–3 kg CH4/kg VS. Emissions were elevated for 5 days after the application of sludge (6680 kg VS/ha) in May 2014, with 80% of CH4 emissions in the first 24 h when applied to a Chromosol soil type. Where individual dung pats were applied in May, August and November 2014, and January 2015, at 5110, 3610, 4290 and 5350 kg VS/ha, respectively, emissions were elevated for up to 30 days after application, with cumulative net emissions (over 50 days) of 2.7, 4.7, 3.7 and 4.4 kg CH4/ha. Cumulative emissions from May 2014 (over 350 days) were –0.5, 1.6 and 15.0 kg CH4/ha for the nil, sludge and dung application treatments, respectively, corresponding to 3.3 × 10–4 and 8.5 × 10–4 kg CH4/kg VS for sludge and dung. Where dung was applied seasonally, net cumulative emissions from dung on a Chromosol soil were 9.4, 0.2, 2.5 and 11.1 kg CH4/ha, in spring summer, autumn and winter, respectively. On a Dermosol soil, cumulative emissions from dung were 6.4, <0.1, 3.8, and 14.4 kg CH4/ha. Seasonal emissions of CH4 ranged from 4.3 × 10–6 to 1.1 × 10–3 kg CH4/kg VS. These measured emissions were mostly lower than that calculated from the country-specific emission factors used in Australian Inventory for CH4 emissions from dairy cow dung in temperate Australia of 1.59 × 10–3 kg CH4/kg VS.
Daily growth patterns of juveniles and adults of the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) in northern Chile
Authors: Cerna Francisco , Plaza Guido
Published: April 2016

The Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) is a resource of considerable economic importance, whose stock unit is distributed between 16°00′S and 24°00′S and is shared between Chile and Peru. In the present study, daily growth patterns of juvenile and adult Peruvian anchovies in northern Chile were determined using micro-increments of sagittal otoliths for the recruitment and fishery seasons of 2009 and 2010. A characteristic feature was the existence of very distinctive daily micro-increments, through which a complete sequence of micro-increments was obtained from the primordium to otolith edge for juveniles (7.5–12-cm total length (TL)) and adults (12.5–18.0cm TL), whose ages were in the range 56–166 and 137–409 days respectively. Hatch dates extended from July 2009 to July 2010, where juveniles recruited to a fishery in a given month were the survivors of a spawning that had occurred approximately 3–4 months before. A Laird–Gompertz model fitted to length-at-age data for juveniles estimated maximum instantaneous growth rates that ranged from 0.98 to 1.57mm day–1, whereas overall mean individual growth rates back-calculated for the age range of juveniles ranged from 0.65 to 1.02mm day–1. The von Bertalanffy seasonal parameters estimated through the entire life history showed high growth, with a growth coefficient K=1.1 and mean length at the first year of 16.3cm TL. Consequently, E. ringens in northern Chile seems to maximize growth in the first year of life.
Awareness and knowledge of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among Australian gay and bisexual men: results of a national, online survey
Authors: Holt Martin , Lea Toby , Kippax Susan , Kolstee Johann , Ellard Jeanne , Velecky Marlene , Murphy Dean , de Wit John
Published: April 2016

Background Expanded access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is being actively debated in Australia. Awareness and knowledge of this HIV-prevention method have not been assessed in detail in the primary affected population, gay and bisexual men. Methods: Awareness and knowledge of PrEP were assessed among Australian gay and bisexual men, who were asked to complete a national, anonymous, online survey in 2015. Associations with PrEP awareness were identified with multivariate logistic regression and associations with PrEP knowledge were identified using multivariate linear regression. Results: Among 1251 participants, 954 (77%) were aware of PrEP. The most common sources of information were gay community media, Australian websites and friends. Awareness of PrEP was independently associated with older age, living in a capital city, having a university degree, being tested for HIV, being HIV-positive, having condomless anal intercourse with regular male partners, and ever having taken post-exposure prophylaxis. Men in monogamous relationships were less likely to be aware of PrEP. Among men who were aware of PrEP, the mean PrEP knowledge score was 6.8 out of 13. Relatively few participants knew that taking PrEP involved regular clinical monitoring and that in Australia PrEP was only recommended for people at risk of HIV. Better knowledge was independently associated with living in a capital city, having a university degree, being in full-time employment, being HIV-positive, and ever having taken post-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP. Conclusions: To assist in appropriate PrEP uptake, we recommend educating gay and bisexual men about current Australian prescribing guidelines and how PrEP is accessed in Australia.
On translation policy
Authors: González Núñez Gabriel
Published: April 2016

The term translation policy has become problematic for the field of
Translation Studies because it has meant so many things to so many authors
that it threatens to lose some of its efficacy (see Meylaerts 2011a, 163–166). In light of this, the
concept of translation policy should be developed so that it will be broad
enough to account for diverse phenomena in different places with multiple
agents, while retaining specific parameters that make the concept
methodologically useful. This article will consider insights from
Translation Studies and from other fields, especially from the field of
Language Policy, in order to develop such a concept of translation policy.
To illustrate how the understanding of translation policy that will be
proposed may be used in a descriptive paradigm, the article will present
translation policy in Scotland’s local government as a case study.
Identifying cell-specific microRNA transcriptional start sites
Authors: Hua Xu , Chen Luxiao , Wang Jin , Li Jie , Wingender Edgar
Published: April 2016

Motivation: Identification of microRNA (miRNA) transcriptional start sites (TSSs) is crucial to understand the transcriptional regulation of miRNA. As miRNA expression is highly cell specific, an automatic and systematic method that could identify miRNA TSSs accurately and cell specifically is in urgent requirement.

Results: A workflow to identify the TSSs of miRNAs was built by integrating the data of H3K4me3 and DNase I hypersensitive sites as well as combining the conservation level and sequence feature. By applying the workflow to the data for 54 cell lines from the ENCODE project, we successfully identified TSSs for 663 intragenic miRNAs and 620 intergenic miRNAs, which cover 84.2% (1283/1523) of all miRNAs recorded in miRBase 18. For these cell lines, we found 4042 alternative TSSs for intragenic miRNAs and 3186 alternative TSSs for intergenic miRNAs. Our method achieved a better performance than the previous non-cell-specific methods on miRNA TSSs. The cell-specific method developed by Georgakilas et al. gives 158 TSSs of higher accuracy in two cell lines, benefitting from the employment of deep-sequencing technique. In contrast, our method provided a much higher number of miRNA TSSs (7228) for a broader range of cell lines without the limitation of costly deep-sequencing data, thus being more applicable for various experimental cases. Analysis showed that upstream promoters at − 2 kb to − 200 bp of TSS are more conserved for independently transcribed miRNAs, while for miRNAs transcribed with host genes, their core promoters (−200 bp to 200 bp of TSS) are significantly conserved.

Availability and implementation: Predicted miRNA TSSs and promoters can be downloaded from supplementary files.

Contact:  jwang@nju.edu.cn or jlee@nju.edu.cn or edgar.wingender@bioinf.med.uni-goettingen.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.