bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A label-free and portable graphene FET aptasensor for children blood lead detection
Authors: Wang Chenyu , Cui Xinyi , Li Ying , Li Hongbo , Huang Lei , Bi Jun , Luo Jun , Ma Lena Q. , Zhou Wei , Cao Yi , Wang Baigeng , Miao Feng
Published: February 2016

Lead is a cumulative toxicant, which can induce severe health issues, especially in children’s case due to their immature nervous system. While realizing large-scale monitoring of children blood lead remains challenging by utilizing traditional methods, it is highly desirable to search for alternative techniques or novel sensing materials. Here we report a label-free and portable aptasensor based on graphene field effect transistor (FET) for effective children blood lead detection. With standard solutions of different Pb2+ concentrations, we obtained a dose-response curve and a detection limitation below 37.5 ng/L, which is three orders lower than the safe blood lead level (100 μg/L). The devices also showed excellent selectivity over other metal cations such as, Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, suggesting the capability of working in a complex sample matrix. We further successfully demonstrated the detection of Pb2+ ions in real blood samples from children by using our aptasensors and explored their potential applications for quantification. Our results underscore such graphene FET aptasensors for future applications on fast detection of heavy metal ions for health monitoring and disease diagnostics.
Transcriptome sequencing of Crucihimalaya himalaica (Brassicaceae) reveals how Arabidopsis close relative adapt to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Authors: Qiao Qin , Wang Qia , Han Xi , Guan Yanlong , Sun Hang , Zhong Yang , Huang Jinling , Zhang Ticao
Published: February 2016

The extreme environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) provides an ideal natural laboratory for studies on adaptive evolution. Few genome/transcriptome based studies have been conducted on how plants adapt to the environments of QTP compared to numerous studies on vertebrates. Crucihimalaya himalaica is a close relative of Arabidopsis with typical QTP distribution, and is hoped to be a new model system to study speciation and ecological adaptation in extreme environment. In this study, we de novo generated a transcriptome sequence of C. himalaica, with a total of 49,438 unigenes. Compared to five relatives, 10,487 orthogroups were shared by all six species, and 4,286 orthogroups contain putative single copy gene. Further analysis identified 487 extremely significantly positively selected genes (PSGs) in C. himalaica transcriptome. Theses PSGs were enriched in functions related to specific adaptation traits, such as response to radiation, DNA repair, nitrogen metabolism, and stabilization of membrane. These functions are responsible for the adaptation of C. himalaica to the high radiation, soil depletion and low temperature environments on QTP. Our findings indicate that C. himalaica has evolved complex strategies for adapting to the extreme environments on QTP and provide novel insights into genetic mechanisms of highland adaptation in plants.
Microbial succession in response to pollutants in batch-enrichment culture
Authors: Jiao Shuo , Chen Weimin , Wang Entao , Wang Junman , Liu Zhenshan , Li Yining , Wei Gehong
Published: February 2016

As a global problem, environmental pollution is an important factor to shape the microbial communities. The elucidation of the succession of microbial communities in response to pollutants is essential for developing bioremediation procedures. In the present study, ten batches of soil-enrichment subcultures were subjected to four treatments: phenanthrene, n-octadecane, phenanthrene + n-octadecane, or phenanthrene + n-octadecane + CdCl2. Forty pollutant-degrading consortia, corresponding to each batch of the four treatments were obtained. High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the diversity, richness and evenness of the consortia decreased throughout the subculturing procedure. The well-known hydrocarbon degraders Acinetobacter, Gordonia, Sphingobium, Sphingopyxis, and Castellaniella and several other genera, including Niabella and Naxibacter, were detected in the enriched consortia. The predominant microbes varied and the microbial community in the consortia gradually changed during the successive subculturing depending on the treatment, indicating that the pollutants influenced the microbial successions. Comparison of the networks in the treatments indicated that organic pollutants and CdCl2 affected the co-occurrence patterns in enriched consortia. In conclusion, single environmental factors, such as the addition of nutrients or selection pressure, can shape microbial communities and partially explain the extensive differences in microbial community structures among diverse environments.
Disorganization of white matter architecture in major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of diffusion tensor imaging with tract-based spatial statistics
Authors: Chen Guangxiang , Hu Xinyu , Li Lei , Huang Xiaoqi , Lui Su , Kuang Weihong , Ai Hua , Bi Feng , Gu Zhongwei , Gong Qiyong
Published: February 2016

White matter (WM) abnormalities have long been suspected in major depressive disorder (MDD). Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) studies have detected abnormalities in fractional anisotropy (FA) in MDD, but the available evidence has been inconsistent. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of TBSS studies contrasting MDD patients with healthy control subjects (HCS). A total of 17 studies with 18 datasets that included 641 MDD patients and 581 HCS were identified. Anisotropic effect size-signed differential mapping (AES-SDM) meta-analysis was performed to assess FA alterations in MDD patients compared to HCS. FA reductions were identified in the genu of the corpus callosum (CC) extending to the body of the CC and left anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) in MDD patients relative to HCS. Descriptive analysis of quartiles, sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis further confirmed these findings. Meta-regression analysis revealed that individuals with more severe MDD were significantly more likely to have FA reductions in the genu of the CC. This study provides a thorough profile of WM abnormalities in MDD and evidence that interhemispheric connections and frontal-striatal-thalamic pathways are the most convergent circuits affected in MDD.
Magnetic properties of N-doped graphene with high Curie temperature
Authors: Miao Qinghua , Wang Lidong , Liu Zhaoyuan , Wei Bing , Xu Fubiao , Fei Weidong
Published: February 2016

N-doped graphene with Curie temperature higher than room temperature is a good candidate for nanomagnetic applications. Here we report a kind of N-doped graphene that exhibits ferromagnetic property with high Curie temperature (>600 K). Four graphene samples were prepared through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and the doped nitrogen contents of in the samples were 0 at.%, 2.53 at.%, 9.21 at.% and 11.17 at.%. It has been found that the saturation magnetization and coercive field increase with the increasing of nitrogen contents in the samples. For the sample with the highest nitrogen content, the saturation magnetizations reach 0.282 emu/g at 10 K and 0.148 emu/g at 300 K; the coercive forces reach 544.2 Oe at 10 K and 168.8 Oe at 300 K. The drop of magnetic susceptibility at ~625 K for N-doped graphene is mainly caused by the decomposition of pyrrolic N and pydinic N. Our results suggest that SHS method is an effective and high-throughput method to produce N-doped graphene with high nitrogen concentration and that N-doped graphene produced by SHS method is promising to be a good candidate for nanomagnetic applications.
Growth temperature and genotype both play important roles in sorghum grain phenolic composition
Authors: Wu Gangcheng , Johnson Stuart K. , Bornman Janet F. , Bennett Sarita J. , Clarke Michael W. , Singh Vijaya , Fang Zhongxiang
Published: February 2016

Polyphenols in sorghum grains are a source of dietary antioxidants. Polyphenols in six diverse sorghum genotypes grown under two day/night temperature regimes of optimal temperature (OT, 32/21 °C"Equation missing" and high temperature (HT, 38/21 °C) were investigated. A total of 23 phenolic compounds were positively or tentatively identified by HPLC-DAD-ESIMS. Compared with other pigmented types, the phenolic profile of white sorghum PI563516 was simpler, since fewer polyphenols were detected. Brown sorghum IS 8525 had the highest levels of caffeic and ferulic acid, but apigenin and luteolin were not detected. Free luteolinidin and apigeninidin levels were lower under HT than OT across all genotypes (p ≤ 0.05), suggesting HT could have inhibited 3-deoxyanthocyanidins formation. These results provide new information on the effects of HT on specific polyphenols in various Australian sorghum genotypes, which might be used as a guide to grow high antioxidant sorghum grains under projected high temperature in the future.
Synthetic Capillaries to Control Microscopic Blood Flow
Authors: Sarveswaran K. , Kurz V. , Dong Z. , Tanaka T. , Penny S. , Timp G.
Published: February 2016

Capillaries pervade human physiology. The mean intercapillary distance is only about 100 μm in human tissue, which indicates the extent of nutrient diffusion. In engineered tissue the lack of capillaries, along with the associated perfusion, is problematic because it leads to hypoxic stress and necrosis. However, a capillary is not easy to engineer due to its complex cytoarchitecture. Here, it is shown that it is possible to create in vitro, in about 30 min, a tubular microenvironment with an elastic modulus and porosity consistent with human tissue that functionally mimicks a bona fide capillary using “live cell lithography”(LCL) to control the type and position of cells on a composite hydrogel scaffold. Furthermore, it is established that these constructs support the forces associated with blood flow and produce nutrient gradients similar to those measured in vivo. With LCL, capillaries can be constructed with single cell precision—no other method for tissue engineering offers such precision. Since the time required for assembly scales with the number of cells, this method is likely to be adapted first to create minimal functional units of human tissue that constitute organs, consisting of a heterogeneous population of 100–1000 cells, organized hierarchically to express a predictable function.
Seasonal variation in harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) blubber cortisol - A novel indicator of physiological state?
Authors: Kershaw Joanna L. , Hall Ailsa J.
Published: February 2016

Cortisol is one of the main glucocorticoid hormones involved in both the mammalian stress response and in fat metabolism and energy regulation, making it of increasing interest as a biomarker for stress, health and overall physiological state. However, transient stress responses to animal handling and sampling may be important sources of measurement artefact when investigating circulating concentrations of this hormone in wildlife. Here, cortisol concentrations were measured in the plasma and, for the first time, in the blubber of live captured adult harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Plasma cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with capture time, suggesting that they were largely driven by a stress response to the capture event. In contrast, blubber cortisol concentrations were shown not to be significantly affected by capture time and varied significantly by sex and by season, with higher concentrations during natural fasting periods of their life cycle, particularly during the moult. These results suggest that cortisol may play a key role in increased fat metabolism during highly energetically demanding periods and that blubber concentrations have the potential to be used as physiological state indicators in phocid seals.
Simultaneous knockdown of uPA and MMP9 can reduce breast cancer progression by increasing cell-cell adhesion and modulating EMT genes
Authors: Moirangthem Anuradha , Bondhopadhyay Banashree , Mukherjee Mala , Bandyopadhyay Arghya , Mukherjee Narendranath , Konar Karabi , Bhattacharya Shubham , Basu Anupam
Published: February 2016

In cancer progression, proteolytic enzymes like serine proteases and metalloproteinases degrade the basement membrane enabling the tumor cells to invade the adjacent tissues. Thus, invasion and metastasis are augmented by these enzymes. Simultaneous silencing of uPA and MMP9 in breast cancer cells decreased the wound healing, migratory, invasive and adhesive capacity of the cells. After simultaneous down regulation, cells were seen to be arrested in the cell cycle. There was a remarkable increase in the expression of cell to cell adhesion molecule E–cadherin, and decrease in Vimentin and Snail expression. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the expression of the stem cell marker Oct-4. In the breast tumor samples it has been observed that, tumors, expressing higher level of uPA and MMP9, express less amount of E–cadherin. It has also been observed that few tumors also show, Vimentin positive in the ductal epithelial area. Thus, our model can help for checking the aggressive tumor invasion by blocking of uPA and MMP9. Our present observations also give the concept of the presence of aggressive epithelial cells with mesenchymal nature in the tumor micro-environment, altering the expression of EMT genes.
One-step Multiplex Transgenesis via Sleeping Beauty Transposition in Cattle
Authors: Garrels Wiebke , Talluri Thirumala R. , Apfelbaum Ronja , Carratalá Yanet P. , Bosch Pablo , Pötzsch Kerstin , Grueso Esther , Ivics Zoltán , Kues Wilfried A.
Published: February 2016

Genetically modified cattle are important for developing new biomedical models and for an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of zoonotic diseases. However, genome editing and genetic engineering based on somatic cell nuclear transfer suffer from a low overall efficiency. Here, we established a highly efficient one-step multiplex gene transfer system into the bovine genome.
The impact of inhibitory mechanisms in the inner retina on spatial tuning of RGCs
Authors: Huang Jin Y. , Protti Dario A.
Published: February 2016

Spatial tuning properties of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are sharpened by lateral inhibition originating at both the outer and inner plexiform layers. Lateral inhibition in the retina contributes to local contrast enhancement and sharpens edges. In this study, we used dynamic clamp recordings to examine the contribution of inner plexiform inhibition, originating from spiking amacrine cells, to the spatial tuning of RGCs. This was achieved by injecting currents generated from physiologically recorded excitatory and inhibitory stimulus-evoked conductances, into different types of primate and mouse RGCs. We determined the effects of injections of size-dependent conductances in which presynaptic inhibition and/or direct inhibition onto RGCs were partly removed by blocking the activity of spiking amacrine cells. We found that inhibition originating from spiking amacrine cells onto bipolar cell terminals and onto RGCs, work together to sharpen the spatial tuning of RGCs. Furthermore, direct inhibition is crucial for preventing spike generation at stimulus offset. These results reveal how inhibitory mechanisms in the inner plexiform layer contribute to determining size tuning and provide specificity to stimulus polarity.
Highly Stable Nanocontainer of APTES-Anchored Layered Titanate Nanosheet for Reliable Protection/Recovery of Nucleic Acid
Authors: Kim Tae Woo , Kim In Young , Park Dae-Hwan , Choy Jin-Ho , Hwang Seong-Ju
Published: February 2016

A universal technology for the encapsulative protection of unstable anionic species by highly stable layered metal oxide has been developed via the surface modification of a metal oxide nanosheet. The surface anchoring of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) on exfoliated titanate nanosheet yields a novel cationic metal oxide nanosheet, which can be universally used for the hybridization with various biological and inorganic anions. The encapsulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the cationic APTES-anchored titanate lattice makes possible the reliable long-term protection of DNA against enzymatic, chemical, and UV−vis light corrosions. The encapsulated DNA can be easily released from the titanate lattice via sonication, underscoring the functionality of the cationic APTES-anchored titanate nanosheet as a stable nanocontainer for DNA. The APTES-anchored titanate nanosheet can be also used as an efficient CO2 adsorbent and a versatile host material for various inorganic anions like polyoxometalates, leading to the synthesis of novel intercalative nanohybrids with unexplored properties and useful functionalities.
Quantum state transfer and controlled-phase gate on one-dimensional superconducting resonators assisted by a quantum bus
Authors: Hua Ming , Tao Ming-Jie , Deng Fu-Guo
Published: February 2016

We propose a quantum processor for the scalable quantum computation on microwave photons in distant one-dimensional superconducting resonators. It is composed of a common resonator R acting as a quantum bus and some distant resonators rj coupled to the bus in different positions assisted by superconducting quantum interferometer devices (SQUID), different from previous processors. R is coupled to one transmon qutrit and the coupling strengths between rj and R can be fully tuned by the external flux through the SQUID. To show the processor can be used to achieve universal quantum computation effectively, we present a scheme to complete the high-fidelity quantum state transfer between two distant microwave-photon resonators and another one for the high-fidelity controlled-phase gate on them. By using the technique for catching and releasing the microwave photons from resonators, our processor may play an important role in quantum communication as well.
Molecular orbital analysis of the hydrogen bonded water dimer
Authors: Wang Bo , Jiang Wanrun , Dai Xin , Gao Yang , Wang Zhigang , Zhang Rui-Qin
Published: February 2016

As an essential interaction in nature, hydrogen bonding plays a crucial role in many material formations and biological processes, requiring deeper understanding. Here, using density functional theory and post-Hartree-Fock methods, we reveal two hydrogen bonding molecular orbitals crossing the hydrogen-bond’s O and H atoms in the water dimer. Energy decomposition analysis also shows a non-negligible contribution of the induction term. Our finding sheds light on the essential understanding of hydrogen bonding in ice, liquid water, functional materials and biological systems.
Oxidized plasma albumin promotes platelet-endothelial crosstalk and endothelial tissue factor expression
Authors: Pasterk Lisa , Lemesch Sandra , Leber Bettina , Trieb Markus , Curcic Sanja , Stadlbauer Vanessa , Schuligoi Rufina , Schicho Rudolf , Heinemann Akos , Marsche Gunther
Published: February 2016

Plasma advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), a class of pro-inflammatory pathogenic mediators, accumulate in subjects with chronic kidney disease. Whether AOPPs contribute to coagulation abnormalities, which are frequently seen in uremic patients, is unknown. Here we report that AOPPs activate platelets via a CD36-mediated signaling pathway. Activation of signaling pathways by AOPP-platelet interaction resulted in the expression of several platelet activation markers and rapidly induced the expression of CD40 ligand, triggering platelet adhesion to endothelial cells and promoting endothelial tissue factor expression. AOPPs and serum tissue factor levels were considerably increased in end stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis and a significant correlation of AOPPs and serum tissue factor was found. Interestingly, serum levels of AOPPs and tissue factor were substantially lower in stable kidney transplant patients when compared with hemodialysis patients. Given that CD36 is known to transduce the effects of oxidized lipids into platelet hyperactivity, our findings reveal previously unknown pro-thrombotic activities of oxidized plasma albumin via a CD36 dependent pathway.
The fusion protein SS18-SSX1 employs core Wnt pathway transcription factors to induce a partial Wnt signature in synovial sarcoma
Authors: Cironi Luisa , Petricevic Tanja , Fernandes Vieira Victor , Provero Paolo , Fusco Carlo , Cornaz Sandrine , Fregni Giulia , Letovanec Igor , Aguet Michel , Stamenkovic Ivan
Published: February 2016

Expression of the SS18/SYT-SSX fusion protein is believed to underlie the pathogenesis of synovial sarcoma (SS). Recent evidence suggests that deregulation of the Wnt pathway may play an important role in SS but the mechanisms whereby SS18-SSX might affect Wnt signaling remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that SS18/SSX tightly regulates the elevated expression of the key Wnt target AXIN2 in primary SS. SS18-SSX is shown to interact with TCF/LEF, TLE and HDAC but not β-catenin in vivo and to induce Wnt target gene expression by forming a complex containing promoter-bound TCF/LEF and HDAC but lacking β-catenin. Our observations provide a tumor-specific mechanistic basis for Wnt target gene induction in SS that can occur in the absence of Wnt ligand stimulation.
Strength gradient enhances fatigue resistance of steels
Authors: Ma Zhiwei , Liu Jiabin , Wang Gang , Wang Hongtao , Wei Yujie , Gao Huajian
Published: February 2016

Steels are heavily used in infrastructure and the transportation industry, and enhancing their fatigue resistance is a major challenge in materials engineering. In this study, by introducing a gradient microstructure into 304 austenitic steel, which is one of the most widely used types of stainless steel, we show that a strength gradient substantially enhances the fatigue life of the material. Pre-notched samples with negative strength gradients in front of the notch’s tip endure many more fatigue cycles than do samples with positive strength gradients during the crack initiation stage, and samples with either type of gradient perform better than do gradient-free samples with the same average yield strength. However, as a crack grows, samples with positive strength gradients exhibit better resistance to fatigue crack propagation than do samples with negative gradients or no gradient. This study demonstrates a simple and promising strategy for using gradient structures to enhance the fatigue resistance of materials and complements related studies of strength and ductility.
High Throughput Profiling of Molecular Shapes in Crystals
Authors: Spackman Peter R. , Thomas Sajesh P. , Jayatilaka Dylan
Published: February 2016

Molecular shape is important in both crystallisation and supramolecular assembly, yet its role is not completely understood. We present a computationally efficient scheme to describe and classify the molecular shapes in crystals. The method involves rotation invariant description of Hirshfeld surfaces in terms of of spherical harmonic functions. Hirshfeld surfaces represent the boundaries of a molecule in the crystalline environment and are widely used to visualise and interpret crystalline interactions. The spherical harmonic description of molecular shapes are compared and classified by means of principal component analysis and cluster analysis. When applied to a series of metals, the method results in a clear classification based on their lattice type. When applied to around 300 crystal structures comprising of series of substituted benzenes, naphthalenes and phenylbenzamide it shows the capacity to classify structures based on chemical scaffolds, chemical isosterism and conformational similarity. The computational efficiency of the method is demonstrated with an application to over 14 thousand crystal structures. High throughput screening of molecular shapes and interaction surfaces in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) using this method has direct applications in drug discovery, supramolecular chemistry and materials design.
Large Scale Triboelectric Nanogenerator and Self-Powered Pressure Sensor Array Using Low Cost Roll-to-Roll UV Embossing
Authors: Dhakar Lokesh , Gudla Sudeep , Shan Xuechuan , Wang Zhiping , Tay Francis Eng Hock , Heng Chun-Huat , Lee Chengkuo
Published: February 2016

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as a potential solution for mechanical energy harvesting over conventional mechanisms such as piezoelectric and electromagnetic, due to easy fabrication, high efficiency and wider choice of materials. Traditional fabrication techniques used to realize TENGs involve plasma etching, soft lithography and nanoparticle deposition for higher performance. But lack of truly scalable fabrication processes still remains a critical challenge and bottleneck in the path of bringing TENGs to commercial production. In this paper, we demonstrate fabrication of large scale triboelectric nanogenerator (LS-TENG) using roll-to-roll ultraviolet embossing to pattern polyethylene terephthalate sheets. These LS-TENGs can be used to harvest energy from human motion and vehicle motion from embedded devices in floors and roads, respectively. LS-TENG generated a power density of 62.5 mW m−2. Using roll-to-roll processing technique, we also demonstrate a large scale triboelectric pressure sensor array with pressure detection sensitivity of 1.33 V kPa−1. The large scale pressure sensor array has applications in self-powered motion tracking, posture monitoring and electronic skin applications. This work demonstrates scalable fabrication of TENGs and self-powered pressure sensor arrays, which will lead to extremely low cost and bring them closer to commercial production.
BODIPY atropisomer interconversion, face discrimination, and superstructure appending
Authors: Doulain Pierre-Emmanuel , Goze Christine , Bodio Ewen , Richard Philippe , Decréau Richard A.
Published: February 2016

Atropisomerism and atropisomer interconversion in the BODIPY series are presented. It was used to synthesize a picket-fence-like BODIPY and to examine the BODIPY face discrimination. Pickets are aimed at preventing π-stacking of the BODIPY platform.
Conducting polymer based electrochemical biosensors
Authors: Aydemir Nihan , Malmström Jenny , Travas-Sejdic Jadranka
Published: February 2016

Conducting polymer (CP)-based electrochemical biosensors have gained great attention as such biosensor platforms are easy and cost-effective to fabricate, and provide a direct electrical readout of the presence of biological analytes with high sensitivity and selectivity.
Nanometer-ranged attraction induced by multivalent ions between similar and dissimilar surfaces probed using an atomic force microscope (AFM)
Authors: Moazzami-Gudarzi Mohsen , Trefalt Gregor , Szilagyi Istvan , Maroni Plinio , Borkovec Michal
Published: February 2016

Forces between similar and dissimilar surfaces are quantified and a short-ranged attraction can be identified.
Modeling the photosensitizing properties of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters
Authors: Azarias Cloé , Adamo Carlo , Perrier Aurélie
Published: February 2016

An accurate computational strategy for studying the structural, redox and optical properties of thiolated gold nanoclusters (GNCs) using (time-dependent) density functional theory is proposed.
Mechanochromism in the luminescence of novel cyclometalated platinum(ii) complexes with α-aminocarboxylates
Authors: Ohno Keiji , Yamaguchi Shohei , Nagasawa Akira , Fujihara Takashi
Published: February 2016

Cyclometalated platinum(ii) complexes with α-aminocarboxylato ligands [PtII(ppy)L] (ppy = 2-phenylpyridinato, L− = Gly, Ala, Leu, Ile, Phe, Sar) in the solid state exhibited reversible luminescent mechanochromism.
Ag2CrO4 nanoparticles loaded on two-dimensional large surface area graphite-like carbon nitride sheets: simple synthesis and excellent photocatalytic performance
Authors: Shi Lei , Liang Lin , Wang Fangxiao , Liu Mengshuai , Sun Jianmin
Published: February 2016

Smaller Ag2CrO4 nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the large surface area g-C3N4 sheets and exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity.
Hydrogen evolution catalyzed by a cobalt complex containing an asymmetric Schiff-base ligand
Authors: Armstrong Jessica E. , Crossland Patrick M. , Frank Mariah A. , Van Dongen Matthew J. , McNamara William R.
Published: February 2016

A cobalt(iii) complex containing an asymmetric Schiff-base ligand has been found to be active for proton reduction.
Revisiting and re-engineering the classical zinc finger peptide: consensus peptide-1 (CP-1)
Authors: Besold Angelique N. , Widger Leland R. , Namuswe Frances , Michalek Jamie L. , Michel Sarah L. J. , Goldberg David P.
Published: February 2016

Zinc plays key structural and catalytic roles in biology.
Control of electronic properties of 2D carbides (MXenes) by manipulating their transition metal layers
Authors: Anasori Babak , Shi Chenyang , Moon Eun Ju , Xie Yu , Voigt Cooper A. , Kent Paul R. C. , May Steven J. , Billinge Simon J. L. , Barsoum Michel W. , Gogotsi Yury
Published: February 2016

Control of the electronic properties of 2D transition material carbides by replacing the outer Ti layers in Ti3C2Tx with Mo, creating Mo2TiC2Tx.
Temperature-controlled Mukaiyama aldol reaction of cyclododecanone (CDD) with aromatic aldehydes promoted by TMSCl via the (TMS)3Si intermediate generated in situ
Authors: Sathesh Venkatesan , Sathiyanarayanan Kulathu I.
Published: February 2016

A temperature controlled chemo-, regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of enones and Mukaiyama aldol reaction have been developed using sterically hindered CDD with organosilane as a catalyst.
Synthesis of a Ni(ii) ion imprinted polymer based on macroporous–mesoporous silica with enhanced dynamic adsorption capacity: optimization by response surface methodology
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Fangfang , Meng Minjia , Liu Zhanchao , Ni Liang , Zhong Guoxing
Published: February 2016

In this study, a Ni(ii) ion imprinted polymer (Ni(ii)-IIP) based on macroporous–mesoporous silica (MMS) was optimally synthesized using a response surface methodology (RSM) approach for enhanced dynamic adsorption capacity.
Catalytic hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone using an in situ synthesized Pd catalyst
Authors: Yao Hongbao , Shen Chun , Wang Yujun , Luo Guangsheng
Published: February 2016

Catalytic performance of anin situprepared Pd catalyst with egg–shell structure, which can weaken internal diffusion resistance effectively demonstrated by Thiele module values, was studied in detail for the hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone.
Lysosomal membrane response of the earthworm, Eisenia fetida, to arsenic species exposure in OECD soil
Authors: Wang Zhifeng , Cui Zhaojie , Xu Xiaoming
Published: February 2016

The NRRT assay was sensitive for toxicity assessment of inorganic arsenic pollution and it was affected more by As(iii) than by As(v).
A fascinating multifaceted redox-active chelating ligand: introducing the N,N′-dimethyl-3,3′-biquinoxalinium “methylbiquinoxen” platform
Authors: Leblanc Nicolas , Sproules Stephen , Fink Karin , Sanguinet Lionel , Alévêque Olivier , Levillain Eric , Rosa Patrick , Powell Annie K.
Published: February 2016

N,N′-Dimethyl-3,3′-biquinoxalinium, “Methylbiquinoxen”: a stable redox-active chelating ligand with easily accessible functional states.
Conjugation of thiol-terminated molecules to ultrasmall 2 nm-gold nanoparticles leads to remarkably complex 1H-NMR spectra
Authors: Schuetze Benjamin , Mayer Christian , Loza Kateryna , Gocyla Martin , Heggen M. , Epple Matthias
Published: February 2016

Gold nanoparticles, functionalized by aliphatic and aromatic mercapto-functionalized carboxylic acids and by two small peptides (CG and CGGRGD), respectively, were synthesized by the reduction of HAuCl4 with NaBH4 in the presence of the above ligands.
High-symmetry hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks: air separation and crystal-to-crystal structural transformation
Authors: Zhou Dong-Dong , Xu Yan-Tong , Lin Rui-Biao , Mo Zong-Wen , Zhang Wei-Xiong , Zhang Jie-Peng
Published: February 2016

A columnar supramolecular structure can reversibly transform to a porous HOF, which can selectively adsorb O2over Ar and N2.
Insights into the effect of surface ligands on the optical properties of thiolated Au25nanoclusters
Authors: Yuan Xun , Goswami Nirmal , Chen Weiliang , Yao Qiaofeng , Xie Jianping
Published: February 2016

Ligand shell engineering of Au nanoclusters could induce their structural distortions for generating interesting optical properties.
Photoactivatable cytotoxic agents derived from mitochondria-targeting luminescent iridium(iii) poly(ethylene glycol) complexes modified with a nitrobenzyl linkage
Authors: Tso Karson Ka-Shun , Leung Kam-Keung , Liu Hua-Wei , Lo Kenneth Kam-Wing
Published: February 2016

Novel photoactivatable luminescent iridium(iii) complexes were designed to show minimal cytotoxic activity in the dark and become significantly cytotoxic upon irradiation.
Hierarchically structured ZSM-5 obtained by optimized mesotemplate-free method as active catalyst for methanol to DME conversion
Authors: Rutkowska M. , Macina D. , Piwowarska Z. , Gajewska M. , Díaz U. , Chmielarz L.
Published: February 2016

In the presented studies, a new method for the synthesis of hierarchical porous materials with ZSM-5 zeolite properties was applied.
Variable coordination modes and catalytic dehydrogenation of B-phenyl amine–boranes
Authors: Kumar Amit , Priest Isobel K. , Hooper Thomas N. , Weller Andrew S.
Published: February 2016

The binding mode ofB-aryl substituted amine–boranes at {Rh(bisphoshine)}+fragments can manipulated by variation of the P–Rh–P bite-angle.
Electronic and steric Tolman parameters for proazaphosphatranes, the superbase core of the tri(pyridylmethyl)azaphosphatrane (TPAP) ligand
Authors: Thammavongsy Zachary , Kha Ivy M. , Ziller Joseph W. , Yang Jenny Y.
Published: February 2016

The Tolman electronic parameters (TEP) and cone angles were experimentally measured for a series of substituted proazaphosphatranes ligands by synthesizing their respective Ni(LR)(CO)3 complexes, where L = P(RNCH2CH2)3N and R = Me, iPr, iBu and Bz.
Four coordination polymers derived from a one-pot reaction and their controlled synthesis
Authors: Yan Wei , Hao Han , Zheng Hegen
Published: February 2016

Four different Co(ii) coordination polymers have been built by two flexible ligands in a one-pot solvothermal reaction. All the complexes show optical semiconductive properties.
In vivo synthesized 34S enriched amino acid standards for species specific isotope dilution of proteins
Authors: Hermann Gerrit , Møller Laura Hyrup , Gammelgaard Bente , Hohlweg Jonas , Mattanovich Diethard , Hann Stephan , Koellensperger Gunda
Published: February 2016

Production of 34S enriched amino acids using yeast.
A stable tetraphenylethene derivative: aggregation-induced emission, different crystalline polymorphs, and totally different mechanoluminescence properties
Authors: Wang Can , Xu Bingjia , Li Mengshu , Chi Zhenguo , Xie Yujun , Li Qianqian , Li Zhen
Published: February 2016

Two crystalline polymorphs of TMPE (Cp-form and Cc-form) exhibit totally different mechanoluminescence properties.
Synthesis of 2-diphospho-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate and a photocaged analogue
Authors: Pavlovic I. , Thakor D. T. , Jessen H. J.
Published: February 2016

Diphosphoinositol polyphosphates (inositol pyrophosphates, X-InsP7) are a family of second messengers with important roles in eukaryotic biology. A new approach targeting 2-InsP7and a photocaged analogue is described.
Mechanistic insight into the selective cyclization of arylnitrones to indolines via Rh(iii) catalyst: a theoretical study
Authors: Liu Tao , Zheng Xiao-Wen , Han Ling-Li , Li Ya-Ping , Han Shu-Min , Yu Zhang-Yu
Published: February 2016

A density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to understand detailed mechanisms for the Rh(iii)-catalyzed coupling reaction of phenylnitrone with diphenylacetylene in different reaction conditions.
Structure determination of microbial metabolites by the crystalline sponge method
Authors: Inokuma Yasuhide , Ukegawa Tomoya , Hoshino Manabu , Fujita Makoto
Published: February 2016

The structures of metabolites produced in microgram quantities by enzymatic reductions with baker's yeast were analyzed using the crystalline sponge method. The crystalline sponge method coupled with HPLC purification would be a useful method for metabolic analysis and drug discovery.
Taste information derived from T1R-expressing taste cells in mice
Authors: Yoshida Ryusuke , Ninomiya Yuzo
Published: February 2016

The taste system of animals is used to detect valuable nutrients and harmful compounds in foods. In humans and mice, sweet, bitter, salty, sour and umami tastes are considered the five basic taste qualities. Sweet and umami tastes are mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors, belonging to the T1R (taste receptor type 1) family. This family consists of three members (T1R1, T1R2 and T1R3). They function as sweet or umami taste receptors by forming heterodimeric complexes, T1R1+T1R3 (umami) or T1R2+T1R3 (sweet). Receptors for each of the basic tastes are thought to be expressed exclusively in taste bud cells. Sweet (T1R2+T1R3-expressing) taste cells were thought to be segregated from umami (T1R1+T1R3-expressing) taste cells in taste buds. However, recent studies have revealed that a significant portion of taste cells in mice expressed all T1R subunits and responded to both sweet and umami compounds. This suggests that sweet and umami taste cells may not be segregated. Mice are able to discriminate between sweet and umami tastes, and both tastes contribute to behavioural preferences for sweet or umami compounds. There is growing evidence that T1R3 is also involved in behavioural avoidance of calcium tastes in mice, which implies that there may be a further population of T1R-expressing taste cells that mediate aversion to calcium taste. Therefore the simple view of detection and segregation of sweet and umami tastes by T1R-expressing taste cells, in mice, is now open to re-examination.
Microstrip fed square ring slot antenna for ultra‐wideband dual polarisation with good isolation
Authors: Ram Krishna R.V.S. , Kumar Raj
Published: February 2016

A square ring shaped planar slot antenna for dual‐polarised applications is presented and experimentally investigated. Each arm of the slot has a stepped rectangular section. Two of the adjacent arms are excited using microstrip feed lines printed on the other side of the substrate. To improve the isolation, a kite shaped slot stub is placed at the centre of the ring and is connected to one of its corners. The antenna has an impedance bandwidth from 3.0 to 12.0 GHz while the isolation is better than 20 dB. The dual polarisation is demonstrated by means of an aperture electric field plot. The antenna has a peak gain varying from 4 to 6 dBi. To check the diversity performance, the envelope correlation coefficient is calculated and found to be within the threshold limit. The antenna will be useful for applications requiring dual polarisation over the ultra‐wide bandwidth with good isolation.
Representations of U¯qsℓ(2|1) at even roots of unity
Authors: Semikhatov A. M. , Tipunin I. Yu.
Published: February 2016

We construct all projective modules of the restricted quantum group U¯qsℓ(2|1) at an even, 2p th, root of unity. This 64p4-dimensional Hopf algebra is a common double bosonization of two rank-2 Nichols algebras 𝔅(X) with fermionic generator(s). We show that the category of U¯qsℓ(2|1)-modules is equivalent to the category of Yetter–Drinfeld 𝔅(X)-modules in Cρ=HHY\kern -1ptD for H = ℤ2p ⊗ ℤ2p, where the coaction is defined by a universal R-matrix ρ ∈ H ⊗ H. As an application of the projective module construction, we study the basic algebra of U¯qsℓ(2|1) and find the associative algebra structure and the dimension, 5p2 − p + 4, of its center.
A megawatt solid-state modulator for high repetition rate pulse generation
Authors: Wang Y. , Pribyl P. , Gekelman W.
Published: February 2016

A novel solid-state modulator capable of generating rapid consecutive power pulses is constructed to facilitate experiments on plasma interaction with high power microwave pulses. The modulator is designed to output a 100 kHz tone burst, which consists of up to 10 pulses, each with 1 μs duration and 1 MW peak power. The pulses are formed by discharging a total of 480 μF capacitors through 24 synchronized MOSFETs and 6 step-up transformers. The highly modular design, as a replacement of an old single-pulse version used in earlier experiments which employs a pulse forming network, brings great flexibility and wide potential to its application. A systematic cost-effectiveness analysis is also presented.
Coexistence of multiple positive and negative electrocaloric responses in (Pb, La)(Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 single crystal
Authors: Zhuo Fangping , Li Qiang , Gao Jinghan , Wang Yujie , Yan Qingfeng , Zhang Yiling , Xi Xiaoqing , Chu Xiangcheng , Cao Wenwu
Published: February 2016

The electrocaloric effect has been investigated in antiferroelectric (Pb, La)(Zr, Sn, Ti)O3 (PLZST) single crystals grown by the flux method. The measurements of polarization versus electric field loops on unpoled crystals revealed that at room temperature, a critical electric field of 1.8 kV/mm is needed to induce a ferroelectric phase from an antiferroelectric phase. The dielectric properties demonstrated that the induced ferroelectric phase recovers to antiferroelectric phase when temperature is above the depolarization temperature (70 °C–100 °C). Coexistence of the negative and positive electrocaloric effect has been achieved in ⟨001⟩-oriented PLZST single crystals. Multiple electrocaloric response values of −0.054 °C at room temperature, 0.17 °C near the depolarization temperature, −0.14 °C at 125 °C, and 0.75 °C around Curie temperature have been observed under an electric field of 3 kV/mm. The coexistence of multiple negative and positive electrocaloric effects in one material provides a possibility to design solid-state refrigerator technologies to enhance the electrocaloric efficiency.
Absorption, autoionization, and predissociation in molecular hydrogen: High-resolution spectroscopy and multichannel quantum defect theory
Authors: Sommavilla M. , Merkt F. , Mezei J. Zs. , Jungen Ch.
Published: February 2016

Absorption and photoionization spectra of H2 have been recorded at a resolution of 0.09 and 0.04 cm−1, respectively, between 125 600 cm−1 and 126 000 cm−1. The observed Rydberg states belong to series (n = 10 − 14) converging on the first vibrationally excited level of the X 2Σg+ state of H2+, and of lower members of series converging on higher vibrational levels. The observed resonances are characterized by the competition between autoionization, predissociation, and fluorescence. The unprecedented resolution of the present experimental data leads to a full characterization of the predissociation/autoionization profiles of many resonances that had not been resolved previously. Multichannel quantum defect theory is used to predict the line positions, widths, shapes, and intensities of the observed spectra and is found to yield quantitative agreement using previously determined quantum defect functions as the unique set of input parameters.
Interaction-component analysis of the hydration and urea effects on cytochrome c
Authors: Yamamori Yu , Ishizuka Ryosuke , Karino Yasuhito , Sakuraba Shun , Matubayasi Nobuyuki
Published: February 2016

Energetics was analyzed for cytochrome c in pure-water solvent and in a urea-water mixed solvent to elucidate the solvation effect in the structural variation of the protein. The solvation free energy was computed through all-atom molecular dynamics simulation combined with the solution theory in the energy representation, and its correlations were examined over sets of protein structures against the electrostatic and van der Waals components in the average interaction energy of the protein with the solvent and the excluded-volume component in the solvation free energy. It was observed in pure-water solvent that the solvation free energy varies in parallel to the electrostatic component with minor roles played by the van der Waals and excluded-volume components. The effect of urea on protein structure was then investigated in terms of the free-energy change upon transfer of the protein solute from pure-water solvent to the urea-water mixed solvent. The decomposition of the transfer free energy into the contributions from urea and water showed that the urea contribution is partially canceled by the water contribution and governs the total free energy of transfer. When correlated against the change in the solute-solvent interaction energy upon transfer and the corresponding changes in the electrostatic, van der Waals, and excluded-volume components, the transfer free energy exhibited strong correlations with the total change in the solute-solvent energy and its van der Waals component. The solute-solvent energy was decomposed into the contributions from the protein backbone and side chain, furthermore, and neither of the contributions was seen to be decisive in the correlation to the transfer free energy.
A novel technique towards deployment of hydrostatic pressure based level sensor in nuclear fuel reprocessing facility
Authors: Praveen K. , Rajiniganth M. P. , Arun A. D. , Sahoo P. , Satya Murty S. A. V.
Published: February 2016

A novel approach towards deployment of a hydrostatic pressure based level monitoring device is presented for continuous monitoring of liquid level in a reservoir with high resolution and precision. Some of the major drawbacks such as spurious information of measured level due to change in ambient temperature, requirement of high resolution pressure sensor, and bubbling effect by passing air or any gaseous fluid into the liquid are overcome by using such a newly designed hydrostatic pressure based level monitoring device. The technique involves precise measurement of hydrostatic pressure exerted by the process liquid using a high sensitive pulsating-type differential pressure sensor (capacitive type differential pressure sensor using a specially designed oil manometer) and correlating it to the liquid level. In order to avoid strong influence of temperature on liquid level, a temperature compensation methodology is derived and used in the system. A wireless data acquisition feature has also been provided in the level monitoring device in order to work in a remote area such as a radioactive environment. At the outset, a prototype level measurement system for a 1 m tank is constructed and its test performance has been well studied. The precision, accuracy, resolution, uncertainty, sensitivity, and response time of the prototype level measurement system are found to be less than 1.1 mm in the entire range, 1%, 3 mm, <1%, 10 Hz/mm, and ∼4 s, respectively.
Loop statistics in polymers in crowded environment
Authors: Haydukivska K. , Blavatska V.
Published: February 2016

We analyze the probability to find a single loop in a long flexible polymer chain in disordered environment in d dimensions. The structural defects are considered to be correlated on large distances r according to a power law ∼r−a. Working within the frames of continuous chain model and applying the direct polymer renormalization scheme, we obtain the values of critical exponents governing the scaling of probabilities to find the loops of various positions along the chain as function of loops’ length. Our results quantitatively reveal that the presence of structural defects in environment decreases the probability of loop formation in polymer macromolecules.
On the charge density and asymptotic tail of a monopole
Authors: Harland Derek , Nogradi Daniel
Published: February 2016

We propose a new definition for the abelian magnetic charge density of a non-abelian monopole, based on zero-modes of an associated Dirac operator. Unlike the standard definition of the charge density, this density is smooth in the core of the monopole. We show that this charge density induces a magnetic field whose expansion in powers of 1/r agrees with that of the conventional asymptotic magnetic field to all orders. We also show that the asymptotic field can be easily calculated from the spectral curve. Explicit examples are given for known monopole solutions.