bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drought dominates the interannual variability in global terrestrial net primary production by controlling semi-arid ecosystems
Authors: Huang Ling , He Bin , Chen Aifang , Wang Haiyan , Liu Junjie , Lű Aifeng , Chen Ziyue
Published: April 2016

Drought is a main driver of interannual variation in global terrestrial net primary production. However, how and to what extent drought impacts global NPP variability is unclear. Based on the multi-timescale drought index SPEI and a satellite-based annual global terrestrial NPP dataset, we observed a robust relationship between drought and NPP in both hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere, the annual NPP trend is driven by 19-month drought variation, whereas that in the Southern Hemisphere is driven by 16-month drought variation. Drought-dominated NPP, which mainly occurs in semi-arid ecosystems, explains 29% of the interannual variation in global NPP, despite its 16% contribution to total global NPP. More surprisingly, drought prone ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere, which only account for 7% of the total global NPP, contribute to 33% of the interannual variation in global NPP. Our observations support the leading role of semi-arid ecosystems in interannual variability in global NPP and highlight the great impacts of long-term drought on the global carbon cycle.
The role of silicon in enhancing resistance to bacterial blight of hydroponic- and soil-cultured rice
Authors: Song Alin , Xue Gaofeng , Cui Peiyuan , Fan Fenliang , Liu Hongfang , Yin Chang , Sun Wanchun , Liang Yongchao
Published: April 2016

Here we report for the first time that bacterial blight of rice can be alleviated by silicon (Si) added. In both inoculated and uninoculated plants, shoot dry weight was significantly higher in the +Si plants than in the −Si plants. A soil-cultured trial showed that disease severity was 24.3% lower in the Si-amended plants than in the non-Si-amended plants. Plants that were switched from −Si to +Si nutrient solution and simultaneously inoculated with Xoo also exhibited the same high resistance to bacterial blight as the plants that were treated continuously with Si, with control efficiencies of 52.8 and 62.9%, respectively. Moreover, total concentrations of soluble phenolics and lignin in rice leaves were significantly higher in the +Si plants than in the −Si plants. Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities in rice leaves were observed to be higher in the +Si plants than in the −Si plants. The expression levels of Os03g0109600, Prla, Rcht2 and Lox2osPil, were also higher in +Si plants than in −Si plants post-inoculation during the experimental time. Addition of Si resulted in increased Pal transcription, and inhibited CatA and Os03g0126000 expression in the earlier and later stages of bacterial inoculation, respectively.
Gpr97 is dispensable for metabolic syndrome but is involved in macrophage inflammation in high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice
Authors: Shi Jueping , Zhang Xiaoyu , Wang Shaoying , Wang Jinjin , Du Bing , Wang Zhugang , Liu Mingyao , Jiang Wenzheng , Qian Min , Ren Hua
Published: April 2016

Local inflammation in tissues is one of primary causes in development of metabolic disorder in obesity. The accumulation of macrophages in some tissues can induce inflammatory reactions in obesity. Gpr97 is highly expressed in some immunocytes, but its potential role in inflammatory regulation has not been revealed clearly. In our research, we investigated Gpr97 in regulating macrophage inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. The major metabolic phenotyping were not different after Gpr97 knockout in HFD-fed mice. Similar pathological alterations in adipose tissue, liver and kidney were observed in Gpr97−/− HFD mice compared with WT-HFD mice. In white adipose tissue, loss of Gpr97 reduced the ratio of M1-macrophages and increased the M2-macrophage ratio, which was opposite to that seen in the wild-type HFD mice. More macrophages invaded in the liver and kidney after Gpr97 knockout in HFD mice. Furthermore, the levels of TNF-α were higher in the liver and kidney of Gpr97−/− HFD mice compared to those in wild-type HFD mice. The data indicate that Gpr97 might be required for local inflammation development in obesity-relative tissues, but does not play a role in metabolic disorder in HFD-induced obesity.
Gene-set Analysis with CGI Information for Differential DNA Methylation Profiling
Authors: Chang Chia-Wei , Lu Tzu-Pin , She Chang-Xian , Feng Yen-Chen , Hsiao Chuhsing Kate
Published: April 2016

DNA methylation is a well-established epigenetic biomarker for many diseases. Studying the relationships among a group of genes and their methylations may help to unravel the etiology of diseases. Since CpG-islands (CGIs) play a crucial role in the regulation of transcription during methylation, including them in the analysis may provide further information in understanding the pathogenesis of cancers. Such CGI information, however, has usually been overlooked in existing gene-set analyses. Here we aimed to include both pathway information and CGI status to rank competing gene-sets and identify among them the genes most likely contributing to DNA methylation changes. To accomplish this, we devised a Bayesian model for matched case-control studies with parameters for CGI status and pathway associations, while incorporating intra-gene-set information. Three cancer studies with candidate pathways were analyzed to illustrate this approach. The strength of association for each candidate pathway and the influence of each gene were evaluated. Results show that, based on probabilities, the importance of pathways and genes can be determined. The findings confirm that some of these genes are cancer-related and may hold the potential to be targeted in drug development.
Facile preparation of salivary extracellular vesicles for cancer proteomics
Authors: Sun Yan , Xia Zhijun , Shang Zhi , Sun Kaibo , Niu Xiaomin , Qian Liqiang , Fan Liu-Yin , Cao Cheng-Xi , Xiao Hua
Published: April 2016

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane surrounded structures released by cells, which have been increasingly recognized as mediators of intercellular communication. Recent reports indicate that EVs participate in important biological processes and could serve as potential source for cancer biomarkers. As an attractive EVs source with merit of non-invasiveness, human saliva is a unique medium for clinical diagnostics. Thus, we proposed a facile approach to prepare salivary extracellular vesicles (SEVs). Affinity chromatography column combined with filter system (ACCF) was developed to efficiently remove the high abundant proteins and viscous interferences of saliva. Protein profiling in the SEVs obtained by this strategy was compared with conventional centrifugation method, which demonstrated that about 70% more SEVs proteins could be revealed. To explore its utility for cancer proteomics, we analyzed the proteome of SEVs in lung cancer patients and normal controls. Shotgun proteomic analysis illustrated that 113 and 95 proteins have been identified in cancer group and control group, respectively. Among those 63 proteins that have been consistently discovered only in cancer group, 12 proteins are lung cancer related. Our results demonstrated that SEVs prepared through the developed strategy are valuable samples for proteomics and could serve as a promising liquid biopsy for cancer.
Superhydrophobic Ceramic Coatings by Solution Precursor Plasma Spray
Authors: Cai Yuxuan , Coyle Thomas W. , Azimi Gisele , Mostaghimi Javad
Published: April 2016

This work presents a novel coating technique to manufacture ceramic superhydrophobic coatings rapidly and economically. A rare earth oxide (REO) was selected as the coating material due to its hydrophobic nature, chemical inertness, high temperature stability and good mechanical properties and deposited on stainless steel substrates by solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS). The effects of various spraying conditions including standoff distance, torch power, number of torch passes, types of solvent and plasma velocity were investigated. The as-sprayed coating demonstrated a hierarchically structured surface topography, which closely resembles superhydrophobic surfaces found in nature. The water contact angle on the SPPS superhydrophobic coating was up to 65% higher than on smooth REO surfaces.
A protease-based biosensor for the detection of schistosome cercariae
Authors: Webb A. J. , Kelwick R. , Doenhoff M. J. , Kylilis N. , MacDonald J. T. , Wen K. Y. , McKeown C. , Baldwin G. , Ellis T. , Jensen K. , Freemont P. S.
Published: April 2016

Parasitic diseases affect millions of people worldwide, causing debilitating illnesses and death. Rapid and cost-effective approaches to detect parasites are needed, especially in resource-limited settings. A common signature of parasitic diseases is the release of specific proteases by the parasites at multiple stages during their life cycles. To this end, we engineered several modular Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis whole-cell-based biosensors which incorporate an interchangeable protease recognition motif into their designs. Herein, we describe how several of our engineered biosensors have been applied to detect the presence and activity of elastase, an enzyme released by the cercarial larvae stage of Schistosoma mansoni. Collectively, S. mansoni and several other schistosomes are responsible for the infection of an estimated 200 million people worldwide. Since our biosensors are maintained in lyophilised cells, they could be applied for the detection of S. mansoni and other parasites in settings without reliable cold chain access.
Knockdown of lncRNA-ATB suppresses autocrine secretion of TGF-β2 by targeting ZNF217 via miR-200c in keloid fibroblasts
Authors: Zhu Hua-Yu , Bai Wen-Dong , Li Chao , Zheng Zhao , Guan Hao , Liu Jia-Qi , Yang Xue-Kang , Han Shi-Chao , Gao Jian-Xin , Wang Hong-Tao , Hu Da-Hai
Published: April 2016

Abnormally high activation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling has been demonstrated to be involved in the initiation and progression of keloids. However, the functional role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-activated by TGF-β (lncRNA-ATB) in keloids has not been documented. Here we investigated the role of lncRNA-ATB in the autocrine secretion of TGF-β in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) and explored the underlying molecular mechanism. Using immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR analysis, we showed that lncRNA-ATB and ZNF217, a transcriptional activator of TGF-β, were overexpressed and miR-200c, which targets ZNF217, was under-expressed in keloid tissue and keloid fibroblasts. Through gain- and loss-of-function studies, we demonstrated that knockdown of lncRNA-ATB decreased autocrine secretion of TGF-β2 and ZNF217 expression but upregulated expression of miR-200c in KFs. Stable downregulation of ZNF217 expression decreased the autocrine secretion of TGF-β2. miR-200c was endogenously associated with lncRNA-ATB and inhibition of miR-200c overcame the decrease in ZNF217 expression in KFs. Taken together, these findings indicate that lncRNA-ATB governs the autocrine secretion of TGF-β2 in KFs, at least in part, by downregulating the expression level of ZNF217 via miR-200c, suggesting a signaling axis consisting of lncRNA-ATB/miR-200c/ZNF217/TGF-β2. These findings may provide potential biomarkers and targets for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for keloids.
Rapid climate fluctuations over the past millennium: evidence from a lacustrine record of Basomtso Lake, southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Li Kai , Liu Xingqi , Herzschuh Ulrike , Wang Yongbo
Published: April 2016

Abrupt climate changes and fluctuations over short time scales are superimposed on long-term climate changes. Understanding rapid climate fluctuations at the decadal time scale over the past millennium will enhance our understanding of patterns of climate variability and aid in forecasting climate changes in the future. In this study, climate changes on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau over the past millennium were determined from a 4.82-m-long sediment core from Basomtso Lake. At the centennial time scale, the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA), Little Ice Age (LIA) and Current Warm Period (CWP) are distinct in the Basomtso region. Rapid climate fluctuations inferred from five episodes with higher sediment input and likely warmer conditions, as well as seven episodes with lower sediment input and likely colder conditions, were well preserved in our record. These episodes with higher and lower sediment input are characterized by abrupt climate changes and short time durations. Spectral analysis indicates that the climate variations at the centennial scale on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau are influenced by solar activity during the past millennium.
Maternal mid-pregnancy C-reactive protein and risk of autism spectrum disorders: the early markers for autism study
Authors: Zerbo O , Traglia M , Yoshida C , Heuer L S , Ashwood P , Delorenze G N , Hansen R L , Kharrazi M , Van de Water J , Yolken R H , Weiss L A , Croen L A
Published: April 2016

Maternal pregnancy levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) has been previously associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the offspring. We conducted a population-based nested case–control study with 500 children with ASD, 235 with developmental delay (DD) and 580 general population (GP) controls to further investigate whether elevated CRP during pregnancy increases the risk of ASD. Maternal CRP concentration was measured in archived serum collected during 15–19 weeks of pregnancy and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were generated. The levels of CRP were compared between ASD vs GP and DD vs GP. The genetic associations with CRP were assessed via linear regression. Maternal CRP levels in mid-pregnancy were lower in mothers of ASD compared with controls. The maternal CRP levels in the upper third and fourth quartiles were associated with a 45 and 44% decreased risk of ASD, respectively. Two SNPs at the CRP locus showed strong association with CRP levels but they were not associated with ASD. No difference was found between maternal CRP levels of DD and controls. The reasons for the lower levels of CRP in mothers of ASD are not known with certainty but may be related to alterations in the immune response to infectious agents. The biological mechanisms underlying this association remain to be clarified.
Dopamine–prolactin pathway potentially contributes to the schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes comorbidity
Authors: Gragnoli C , Reeves G M , Reazer J , Postolache T T
Published: April 2016

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are clinically associated, and common knowledge attributes this association to side effects of antipsychotic treatment. However, even drug-naive patients with SCZ are at increased risk for T2D. Dopamine dysfunction has a central role in SCZ. It is well-known that dopamine constitutively inhibits prolactin (PRL) secretion via the dopamine receptor 2 (DR2D). If dopamine is increased or if dopamine receptors hyperfunction, PRL may be reduced. During the first SCZ episode, low PRL levels are associated with worse symptoms. PRL is essential in human and social bonding, as well as it is implicated in glucose homeostasis. Dopamine dysfunction, beyond contributing to SCZ symptoms, may lead to altered appetite and T2D. To our knowledge, there are no studies of the genetics of the SCZ–T2D comorbidity focusing jointly on the dopamine and PRL pathway in the attempt to capture molecular heterogeneity correlated to possible disease manifestation heterogeneity. In this dopamine–PRL pathway-focused-hypothesis-driven review on the association of SCZ with T2D, we report a specific revision of what it is known about PRL and dopamine in relation to what we theorize is one of the missing links between the two disorders. We suggest that new studies are necessary to establish the genetic role of PRL and dopamine pathway in SCZ–T2D comorbidity.
A new biosafe reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanoplatform for drug delivery
Authors: Li Qing , Wen Yong , Wen Jie , Zhang Yun-Peng , Xu Xiao-Ding , Victorious Amanda , Zavitz Ryan , Xu Xin
Published: April 2016

.A new ROS-responsive nanoplatform was deleveloped to load anticancer drug for oral cancer therapy. The ROS in cytoplasm can efficiently destroy the nanoplatform, leading to a rapid release of loaded drug and apoptosis of oral cancer cells.
Negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy of P2N3−: electron affinity and electronic structures of P2N3˙
Authors: Hou Gao-Lei , Chen Bo , Transue Wesley J. , Hrovat David A. , Cummins Christopher C. , Borden Weston Thatcher , Wang Xue-Bin
Published: April 2016

The newly synthesized P2N3−, a planar all-inorganic aromatic molecule is investigated by negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy and high-level ab initio electronic structure calculations.
Raman spectroscopy as a novel tool for monitoring biochemical changes and inter-donor variability in stored red blood cell units
Authors: Atkins Chad G. , Buckley Kevin , Chen Deborah , Schulze H. Georg , Devine Dana V. , Blades Michael W. , Turner Robin F. B.
Published: April 2016

Raman spectroscopy has been used to retrieve biochemical information from the supernatant of stored red blood cells (RBCs), demonstrating that some units of donated RBCs accumulate lactate much more readily than others.
Synthesis of –CN– linked covalent organic frameworks via the direct condensation of acetals and amines
Authors: Li Zhi-Jun , Ding San-Yuan , Xue Hua-Dong , Cao Wei , Wang Wei
Published: April 2016

We demonstrate herein a facile approach for constructing –CN– linked COFs from acetals.
Chiral crystals from porphyrinoids possessing a very low racemization barrier
Authors: Śniechowska Justyna , Paluch Piotr , Bujacz Grzegorz , Górecki Marcin , Frelek Jadwiga , Gryko Daniel T. , Potrzebowski Marek J.
Published: April 2016

A novel chiral crystal of 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole was obtained and characterized by various methods including X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy.
Enhancement of two photon absorption properties and intersystem crossing by charge transfer in pentaaryl boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives
Authors: Küçüköz B. , Sevinç G. , Yildiz E. , Karatay A. , Zhong F. , Yılmaz H. , Tutel Y. , Hayvalı M. , Zhao J. , Yaglioglu H. G.
Published: April 2016

Indication of charge transfer and an intersystem crossing mechanism for theB4compound by using ultrafast pump probe spectroscopy.
Self-assembled hybrid precursors towards more efficient propane ODH NiMoO4 catalysts
Authors: Farin B. , Eloy P. , Poleunis C. , Devillers M. , Gaigneaux E. M.
Published: April 2016

This work shows a novel method to synthesize bulk NiMoO4 from hybrid materials made of guest ions (Ni and Mo precursors) and a polyampholytic comb-like copolymer displaying a supramolecular organization.
Electronegative guests in CoSb3
Authors: Duan Bo , Yang Jiong , Salvador James R. , He Yang , Zhao Bo , Wang Shanyu , Wei Ping , Ohuchi Fumio S. , Zhang Wenqing , Hermann Raphaël P. , Gourdon Olivier , Mao Scott X. , Cheng Yingwen , Wang Chongmin , Liu Jun , Zhai Pengcheng , Tang Xinfeng , Zhang Qingjie , Yang Jihui
Published: April 2016

Electronegative guests filled into CoSb3yield a unique “cluster vibration” that provides a new perspective on designing novel inclusion compounds.
The design of nanostructured sulfur cathodes using layer by layer assembly
Authors: Osada Naoki , Bucur Claudiu B. , Aso Hikaru , Muldoon John
Published: April 2016

A polyelectrolyte multilayer based sulfur cathode.
Prolonged exposure to arsenic in UK private water supplies: toenail, hair and drinking water concentrations
Authors: Middleton D. R. S. , Watts M. J. , Hamilton E. M. , Fletcher T. , Leonardi G. S. , Close R. M. , Exley K. S. , Crabbe H. , Polya D. A.
Published: April 2016

Chronic exposure to arsenic (As) in drinking water is an established cause of cancer and other adverse health effects.
A portable smart phone-based plasmonic nanosensor readout platform that measures transmitted light intensities of nanosubstrates using an ambient light sensor
Authors: Fu Qiangqiang , Wu Ze , Xu Fangxiang , Li Xiuqing , Yao Cuize , Xu Meng , Sheng Liangrong , Yu Shiting , Tang Yong
Published: April 2016

A smart phone-based PNRP operates by measuring the intensity of transmitted light using the ambient light sensor of a smart phone.
Photo-crosslinking of clinically relevant kinases using H89-derived photo-affinity probes
Authors: Stolze Sara C. , Liu Nora , Wijdeven Ruud H. , Tuin Adriaan W. , van den Nieuwendijk Adrianus M. C. H. , Florea Bogdan I. , van der Stelt Mario , van der Marel Gijsbert A. , Neefjes Jacques J. , Overkleeft Herman S.
Published: April 2016

H89-derived photo-affinity probes can be used to label clinically relevant kinases as well as to screen known and identify novel kinase inhibitors.
Synthetic investigation toward apigenin 5-O-glycoside camellianin B as well as the chemical structure revision
Authors: Hu Yang , Tu Yuan-Hong , Liu De-Yong , Liao Jin-Xi , Sun Jian-Song
Published: April 2016

The first total synthesis of the proposed and authentic structures of camellianin B were achieved, based on which the chemical structures of camellianins A and B were revised.
Directing activator-assisted regio- and oxidation state-selective aerobic oxidation of secondary C(sp3)–H bonds in aliphatic alcohols
Authors: Ni Jizhi , Ozawa Jun , Oisaki Kounosuke , Kanai Motomu
Published: April 2016

In the presence of NOx species, a regio- and oxidation state-selective aerobic methylene C(sp3)–H oxidation was realized through a directing activator (DA) strategy.
ent-Abietane diterpenoids with anti-neuroinflammatory activity from the rare Chloranthaceae plant Chloranthus oldhamii
Authors: Xiong Juan , Hong Zhi-Lai , Xu Peng , Zou Yike , Yu Shang-Bo , Yang Guo-Xun , Hu Jin-Feng
Published: April 2016

Twelve new ent-abietane diterpenoids including four unprecedented structures were isolated and characterized from the rare plant Chloranthus oldhamii.
Cu-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of fused oxazepinone derivatives via sp2 C–H and O–H cross-dehydrogenative coupling
Authors: Zhang Zeyuan , Dai Zhen , Ma Xinkun , Liu Yihan , Ma Xiaojun , Li Wanli , Ma Chen
Published: April 2016

An efficient Cu-catalyzed cascade reaction protocol was developed for the synthesis of fused oxazepinone derivatives via sp2 C–H and O–H cross-dehydrogenative coupling.
Preparation of Sn-doped CuAlS2 films with an intermediate band and wide-spectrum solar response
Authors: Guo Chenguang , Yang Chongyin , Xie Yian , Chen Ping , Qin Mingsheng , Huang Rongtie , Huang Fuqiang
Published: April 2016

Doping Sn in CuAlS2 can introduce an intermediate band into the material, which effectively broadens the absorption spectra.
Solid-state polymerization of EDTA and ethylenediamine as one-step approach to monodisperse hyperbranched polyamides
Authors: Tomaz V. A. , Rubira A. F. , Silva R.
Published: April 2016

Hyperbranched polyamides (HBPAs), a special class of polymers with extended use in colloidal systems, is synthesized by an innovative method taking advantage of the ordered aggregation of positive and negative molecular ions in solid-state.
Enhancing intracranial delivery of clinically relevant non-viral gene vectors
Authors: Berry Sneha , Mastorakos Panagiotis , Zhang Clark , Song Eric , Patel Himat , Suk Jung Soo , Hanes Justin
Published: April 2016

Densely PEGylated poly-l-lysine gene vectors (DNA-BPN) provide more widely distributed transgene expression in the brain, compared to conventionally PEGylated counterparts (DNA-CPN).
Docetaxel-conjugated monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide) (mPEG-PLA) polymeric micelles to enhance the therapeutic efficacy in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shi Liang , Song Xiao-Bin , Wang Yong , Wang Ke-Tao , Liu Ping , Pang Bo , Wei Feng-Cai
Published: April 2016

In this study, docetaxel (DTX) was successfully conjugated to the monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide) (mPEG-PLA) polymer block via an ester linkage (DTX-PM).
Separation of fluorine/cerium from fluorine-bearing rare earth sulfate solution by selective adsorption using hydrous zirconium oxide
Authors: He Jingui , Li Yong , Xue Xiangxin , Ru Hongqiang , Huang Xiaowei , Yang He
Published: April 2016

Hydrous zirconium oxide can take the F− from [CeF2]2+, leading to the separation of fluorine and cerium.
Chemical components from the seeds of Catalpa bungei and their inhibitions of soluble epoxide hydrolase, cholinesterase and nuclear factor kappa B activities
Authors: Tang Hao-Yu , Bai Meng-Meng , Tian Jun-Mian , Pescitelli Gennaro , Ivšić Trpimir , Huang Xiao-Hua , Lee Hyunwoo , Son Ya Nan , Kim Jang Hoon , Kim Young Ho , Gao Jin-Ming
Published: April 2016

22 compounds, including two rare cage chlorinated iridoids, bungosides A (1) and B (2), were isolated fromCatalpa bungei. of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and BChE, and NF-κB activity.
Optimized Li and Fe recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries via a solution-precipitation method
Authors: Zheng Rujuan , Zhao Li , Wang Wenhui , Liu Yuanlong , Ma Quanxin , Mu Deying , Li Ruhong , Dai Changsong
Published: April 2016

A new process is optimized and presented for the recovery and regeneration of LiFePO4 from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
A novel sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer on a nanoporous gold leaf modified electrode for warfarin sodium determination
Authors: Li Yingchun , Zhang Lu , Liu Jiang , Zhou Shu-Feng , Al-Ghanim Khalid Abdullah , Mahboob Shahid , Ye Bang-Ce , Zhang Xueji
Published: April 2016

A novel electrochemical sensor was facilely fabricated by coupling nanoporous gold leaf (NPGL) with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), and afforded ultrasensitive and selective determination of warfarin sodium (WFS).
A 3D Co–CN framework as a high performance electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhou Haifeng , Huang Yongjun , Yu Huiwu , Huang Fuying , Zheng Fengying , Li Shunxing
Published: April 2016

A 3D Co–CN framework was synthesized with the Co–CN electrode showing exceptionally high catalytic activity and good durability. Only requiring overpotentials of 181 mV and 266 mV to afford current densities of 10 mA cm−2 in acid and alkaline electrolytes, respectively.
Core–sheath structured electrospun nanofibrous membranes for oil–water separation
Authors: Ma Wenjing , Zhang Qilu , Samal Sangram Keshari , Wang Fang , Gao Buhong , Pan Hui , Xu Haijun , Yao Jianfeng , Zhan Xianxu , De Smedt Stefaan C. , Huang Chaobo
Published: April 2016

In recent years, both the increasing frequency of oil spill accidents and the urgency to deal seriously with industrial oil-polluted water, encouraged material scientists to design highly efficient, cost effective oil–water separation technologies.
A core–shell polypyrrole@silicon carbide nanowire (PPy@SiC) nanocomposite for the broadband elimination of electromagnetic pollution
Authors: Zhang Kun , Sun Mengxiao , Jiang Wanchun , Wang Yuan , Wang Derong , Wu Fan , Xie Aming , Dong Wei
Published: April 2016

In this study, a convenient process has been developed for the in situ self-assembly preparation of core–shell PPy@SiC nanocomposites, which have been used for the elimination of electromagnetic pollution.
Tetrathiafulvalene-containing polymers for simultaneous non-covalent modification and electronic modulation of MoS2 nanomaterials
Authors: Selhorst Ryan C. , Puodziukynaite Egle , Dewey Jeffrey A. , Wang Peijian , Barnes Michael D. , Ramasubramaniam Ashwin , Emrick Todd
Published: April 2016

Polymers with pendent tetrathiafulvalene groups for solubilization and electronic modification of MoS2 nanosheets.
Integrating photovoltaic conversion and lithium ion storage into a flexible fiber
Authors: Sun Hao , Jiang Yishu , Xie Songlin , Zhang Ye , Ren Jing , Ali Abid , Doo Seok-Gwang , Son In Hyuk , Huang Xianliang , Peng Huisheng
Published: April 2016

A fiber-shaped self-powering device that can simultaneously realize photoelectric conversion and lithium ion storage is developed with high performance.
Graphene/ZIF-8 composites with tunable hierarchical porosity and electrical conductivity
Authors: Kim Daeok , Kim Dae Woo , Hong Won G. , Coskun Ali
Published: April 2016

We present a new approach to introduce hierarchical porosity along with electrical conductivity into three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks.
N-functionalized nitroxy/azido fused-ring azoles as high-performance energetic materials
Authors: Zhang Jiaheng , Yin Ping , Mitchell Lauren A. , Parrish Damon A. , Shreeve Jean'ne M.
Published: April 2016

A series of fused ring-based nitrate esters/azides and a coupled-ring-based nitrate ester were prepared as high energy density materials.
Self-healing, superhydrophobic coating based on mechanized silica nanoparticles for reliable protection of magnesium alloys
Authors: Ding ChenDi , Liu Ying , Wang MingDong , Wang Ting , Fu JiaJun
Published: April 2016

Working mechanism of self-healing, superhydrophobic coatings.
Effect of aging and hydrothermal treatment on electrochemical performance of chemically pre-intercalated Na–V–O nanowires for Na-ion batteries
Authors: Clites Mallory , Byles Bryan W. , Pomerantseva Ekaterina
Published: April 2016

A chemical pre-intercalation approach was used to synthesize Na-containing vanadium oxide nanowires with the bilayered crystal structure for use as Na-ion battery cathodes.
Real-time monitoring of a controlled drug delivery system in vivo: construction of a near infrared fluorescence monomer conjugated with pH-responsive polymeric micelles
Authors: Chen Li , Chen Bizheng , Liu Xiaodong , Xu Yujie , Zhang Lifen , Cheng Zhenping , Zhu Xiulin
Published: April 2016

A self-assembled polymeric micelle from multifunctional amphiphilic copolymer with NIR and pH-sensitive groups can be used to monitor the dynamic process of its arriving at the tumor site in real time.
Bi-doped Sb2S3 for low effective mass and optimized optical properties
Authors: Shang Ming-Hui , Zhang Jing , Wei Shihao , Zhu Yuejin , Wang Lin , Hou Huilin , Wu Yulian , Fujikawa Takashi , Ueno Nobuo
Published: April 2016

Optical properties of Sb2S3 compounds can be significantly optimized by Bi-incorporation with appropriate density.
Continuous broadband emission from a metal–organic framework as a human-friendly white light source
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Haider Golam , Mendiratta Shruti , Luo Tzuoo-Tsair , Chen Yang-Fang , Lu Kuang-Lieh
Published: April 2016

Natural white light emission from a Sr-based MOF with the highest sensitivity for the human eye and a good resemblance to the solar spectrum makes this compound an ideal choice for potential applications as a high performance lighting source.
Exceptional microwave absorption in soft polymeric nanocomposites facilitated by engineered nanostructures
Authors: Pawar Shital Patangrao , Gandi Mounika , Saraf Chinmay , Bose Suryasarathi
Published: April 2016

Exceptional microwave absorption in soft polymeric nanocomposites facilitated by engineered nanostructures.
Enhanced 808 nm driven Ce3+ doped red-emitting upconversion nanocrystals by intercalated nanostructures
Authors: Shen Ji-Wei , Lu Junliang , Tu Jun , Ouyang Xiangyuan , Li Hua
Published: April 2016

808 nm driven intense red-emitting upconversion nanocrystals were constructed by intercalating NaYF4:Yb/Ho/Ce, as shell, into Nd3+ sensitized nanostructures to conquer the energy transfer barrier from the Nd3+ shell to the Yb3+ core in Ce3+ doped core–shell–shell nanostructures.
Finite‐difference time‐domain simulation of partial discharges in a gas insulated switchgear
Authors: Tanaka Hiroki , Tanahashi Daiki , Baba Yoshihiro , Nagaoka Naoto , Okada Naoki , Ohki Hideto , Takeuchi Masayasu
Published: April 2016

It is important to estimate the current magnitude and charge amount of a partial discharge (PD) in a gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS). In this study, electromagnetic fields generated by a PD in an 84 kV‐class three‐phase GIS for testing have been measured with a voltage probe installed on the outer surface of an insulation spacer of the GIS tank, and the corresponding simulations have been carried out using the three‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method. FDTD‐computed time‐domain voltages across spacers agree reasonably well with the corresponding measured ones, and the current magnitude of PD and its charge amount have been estimated.
Review of high thermal conductivity polymer dielectrics for electrical insulation
Authors: Xiao Meng , Du Bo Xue
Published: April 2016

Traditional insulation material is thermally insulating and has a low thermal conductivity. The miniaturisation and higher power of electrical devices would generate lots of heat, which have created new challenges to safe and stable operation of the grid. The development of insulating materials with high thermal conductivity provides a new method to solve these problems. The improvement of thermal conductivity would increase the ability to conduct heat and greatly reduce the operating temperature of the electrical equipment, which could reduce the equipment size and extend service life. On the other hand, inorganic thermally conductive particles and the improved thermal conductivity may have great effect on thermal breakdown. In this study, the factors affecting the thermal conductivity of dielectric polymer composites were explored. Intrinsic thermal conductive polymer and particle‐filled thermal conductive composites were discussed. Effect of thermal conductivity, shape, size, surface treatment of the particle and prepare process on thermal properties of the composites were illustrated. This study focused on the electrical and thermal properties of thermally conductive epoxy, polyimide and polyethylene composites. Tracking failure caused by thermal accumulation is a typical thermal breakdown phenomenon. The performance of the resistance to tracking failure was studied for these composites. The results showed that thermal conductive particles improved the resistance to tracking failure. Finally, application of thermally conductive epoxy in electrical equipment was discussed.
Influence of field emission on microwave microdischarges
Authors: Levko Dmitry , Raja Laxminarayan L.
Published: April 2016

An instability in the stable operation of microdischarges sustained at microwave frequencies, is investigated by a self‐consistent one‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell Monte Carlo collisions model. The instability is caused by the field electron emission from electrodes and is triggered by the high electric fields at the sheaths in a dense microplasma. For an operating frequency of 9 GHz, and electrode gap of 60 µm, the field emission (FE) is not active at the breakdown voltage. However, once a stable dense plasma is produced post‐breakdown, a strong sheath results in an electrode electric fields that exceed the threshold for FE causing a runaway in the electron generation in the plasma.
Data Analysis and Decision Making: A Case Study of Re-accommodating Passengers for an Airline Company
Authors: Chongwatpol Jongsawas
Published: April 2016

This case is designed to illustrate the conceptual foundations of business intelligence; thus, the analysts can develop an understanding on how to utilize the business intelligence framework to make proper decisions in the turbulent and competitive business environment. The case started when Bob, the senior vice president of Thai ABC Airline, had to implement a new method of re-accommodating passengers in the case of canceled/delayed flights. The first incident was reported that the flight from Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) to Hong Kong (HKG) was expected to be delayed and seven passengers would definitely miss the original connecting flight from Hong Kong to Chicago, USA. Unfortunately, the next available flight to Chicago was almost fully booked and could accommodate only two more passengers. Thus, Bob and his team had to decide which two passengers should be on the next available flight and which others would have to stay overnight in Bangkok for the morning flight to Chicago on the next day. The following topics are discussed in or raised by the case: (1) Airline Industry and the incidence of passengers’ dissatisfaction because of delayed/canceled flights, (2) Business intelligence concept, (3) Customer acquisition and customer retention, (4) Social media and key influencers, and (5) Decision making based on different airline's strategic direction.
Queer art in Vietnam: from closet to pride in two decades
Authors: Nualart Cristina
Published: April 2016

Male and female artists in Vietnam from the early 1990s to the new millennium have contributed art that gives visibility to non-normative lifestyles that go against the traditional values espoused by national rhetoric. This article explores some of the first manifestations of queer art in contemporary Vietnam, outlining a short history of artworks that may be considered “queer” because of their subject matter, irrespective of whether they were made by straight or queer identified artists. Many of these artworks are not made in traditional media, or they break conventions in the local artistic canon. Frequently they have performative characteristics, an art form that arose in Vietnam in the 1990s, the beginning of the timeframe explored here. Photography, another medium not long or firmly established, is also extensively employed. The narrative attends specifically to the dissidence, in content or format, of selected artworks, and points to a correlation over time to an increased tolerance of homosexuality. This article is published as part of a thematic collection on gender studies.
Criteria for validating polaron pair dissociation in polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Inche Ibrahim M. L.
Published: April 2016

The dissociation of polaron pairs into free charge carriers in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells is a fundamental step in generating photocurrent and is still in debate. In this study, we propose two simple criteria that can be used to test the validity of any polaron pair dissociation model for polymer-fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells. The first criterion states that the ratio of the bimolecular recombination current density to the maximum photocurrent density should increase as a function of applied voltage. The second criterion states that the ratio of the bimolecular recombination current density to the maximum photocurrent density at short circuit should not be larger than 1. We apply these criteria to test the validity of the widely used Onsager-Braun model by using the experimental current-voltage data of poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′-7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene] (OC1C10-PPV) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methylester (PCBM) based solar cells. We find that our numerical analysis is not suitable to employ these criteria. Our analytical analysis, on the other hand, clearly demonstrates that the Onsager-Braun model simply cannot fulfill the first criteria. The reason is because the polaron pair dissociation given by the Onsager-Braun model is too strongly influenced by the electric field (i.e., decreases too rapidly as the electric field decreases). The analysis provides a further evidence against the widely used Onsager-Braun model. The proposed criteria can help us to determine the correct model for polaron pair dissociation by serving as a guideline on how strongly the electric field is allowed to influence the polaron pair dissociation.
Kinetic and thermal energy dissipation rates in two-dimensional Rayleigh-Taylor turbulence
Authors: Zhou Quan , Jiang Lin-Feng
Published: April 2016

The statistical properties of the kinetic εu and thermal εθ energy dissipation rates in two-dimensional Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) turbulence are studied by means of direct numerical simulations at small Atwood number and unit Prandtl number. Although εθ is important but εu can be neglected in the energy transport processes, the probability density functions of εu and εθ both show self-similarity properties during the RT evolution. The distributions are well fitted by a stretched exponential function and found to depart distinctly from the log-normal distribution for small amplitudes. Within the turbulent range, the intense dissipation events occur near the interfaces of hot and cold fluids, leading to a strong positive correlation between εu and εθ. Our results further reveal that although there is no constant fractal dimension for the fluid interfaces within the inertial range, the local fractal dimensions obtained at different times share similar scale-dependence.
Plasma-wall interaction in an electrostatic sheath of plasma containing a monoenergetic electron beam
Authors: Ou Jing , Zhao Xiaoyun , Gan Chunyun
Published: April 2016

The plasma-wall interaction in the presence of a monoenergetic electron beam has been studied by taking into account the self-consistency among plasma transport in a collisionless electrostatic sheath, deposited energy flux at the wall and material thermal response for carbon and tungsten as wall materials. The variations of the potential drop across the sheath, ion velocity at the sheath edge, and surface temperature of material as a function of electron beam flux are explored in the presence of the electron emission. It is found that when electron beam does not dominate the sheath, potential drop across the sheath depends strongly on the material properties due to the impact of electron emission while the surface temperature of material shows monotonic variation. In the case of carbon wall, the electron beam may dominate the sheath at a certain electron beam concentration or energy. Under this circumstance, both the potential drop across the sheath and surface temperature of material demonstrate the sharp increasing transition. The development of local hot spot on the plasma facing material is caused by the enhanced ion energy flux instead of the electron beam energy flux. If the electron emission is not taken into account, as a smaller electron beam flux, both the potential drop across the sheath and surface temperature of material display the significant change and then it may be easier to develop for the local hot spot on the plasma facing material.
Fabrication and characterization of p+-i-p+ type organic thin film transistors with electrodes of highly doped polymer
Authors: Tadaki Daisuke , Ma Teng , Zhang Jinyu , Iino Shohei , Hirano-Iwata Ayumi , Kimura Yasuo , Rosenberg Richard A. , Niwano Michio
Published: April 2016

Organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) have been explored because of their advantageous features such as light-weight, flexible, and large-area. For more practical application of organic electronic devices, it is very important to realize OTFTs that are composed only of organic materials. In this paper, we have fabricated p+-i-p+ type of OTFTs in which an intrinsic (i) regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) layer is used as the active layer and highly doped p-type (p+) P3HT is used as the source and drain electrodes. The 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ) was used as the p-type dopant. A fabricating method of p+-i-p+ OTFTs has been developed by using SiO2 and aluminum films as capping layers for micro-scaled patterning of the p+-P3HT electrodes. The characteristics of the OTFTs were examined using the photoelectron spectroscopy and electrical measurements. We demonstrated that the fabricated p+-i-p+ OTFTs work with carrier injection through a built-in potential at p+/i interfaces. We found that the p+-i-p+ OTFTs exhibit better FET characteristics than the conventional P3HT-OTFT with metal (Au) electrodes, indicating that the influence of a carrier injection barrier at the interface between the electrode and the active layer was suppressed by replacing the metal electrodes with p+-P3HT layers.
Digitally reconfigurable binary coded terahertz metamaterial with output analogous to NOR and AND
Authors: Ho Chong Pei , Pitchappa Prakash , Lee Chengkuo
Published: April 2016

We experimentally demonstrate a digitally reconfigurable binary coded terahertz metamaterial in the Terahertz (THz) frequency with the transmission output analogous to NOR and AND logic. An electric split-ring resonator with a released central arms is used as the switchable meta-bit. Isolation of controls in adjacent meta-bits allows for three distinct reconfiguration states of the metamaterial with the output analogous to NOR and AND at 0.26 THz and 0.36 THz, respectively. Further enhancement in controllability at the unit cell level will aid in the development of dynamically programmable metamaterial operating in the transmission mode for THz frequencies.
Quantitative interpretation of molecular dynamics simulations for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of aqueous solutions
Authors: Olivieri Giorgia , Parry Krista M. , Powell Cedric J. , Tobias Douglas J. , Brown Matthew A.
Published: April 2016

Over the past decade, energy-dependent ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has emerged as a powerful analytical probe of the ion spatial distributions at the vapor (vacuum)-aqueous electrolyte interface. These experiments are often paired with complementary molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in an attempt to provide a complete description of the liquid interface. There is, however, no systematic protocol that permits a straightforward comparison of the two sets of results. XPS is an integrated technique that averages signals from multiple layers in a solution even at the lowest photoelectron kinetic energies routinely employed, whereas MD simulations provide a microscopic layer-by-layer description of the solution composition near the interface. Here, we use the National Institute of Standards and Technology database for the Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA) to quantitatively interpret atom-density profiles from MD simulations for XPS signal intensities using sodium and potassium iodide solutions as examples. We show that electron inelastic mean free paths calculated from a semi-empirical formula depend strongly on solution composition, varying by up to 30% between pure water and concentrated NaI. The XPS signal thus arises from different information depths in different solutions for a fixed photoelectron kinetic energy. XPS signal intensities are calculated using SESSA as a function of photoelectron kinetic energy (probe depth) and compared with a widely employed ad hoc method. SESSA simulations illustrate the importance of accounting for elastic-scattering events at low photoelectron kinetic energies (<300 eV) where the ad hoc method systematically underestimates the preferential enhancement of anions over cations. Finally, some technical aspects of applying SESSA to liquid interfaces are discussed.
Fixed boundary toroidal plasma equilibria with toroidal flows
Authors: Hu Yanqiang , Hu Yemin , Xiang Nong
Published: April 2016

The fixed boundary toroidal plasma equilibria with toroidal flows are investigated by solving the modified Grad-Shafranov equation numerically in the cylindrical coordinate system. For normal equilibrium configurations with geometry and profiles similar to usual tokamaks with no flow, it is found that the effect of flow is to lead to an outward shift of the magnetic flux surfaces, together with the profiles of pressure, and mass and current densities. The shifts could become significant when the toroidal flow Mach number exceeds 0.5. For non-conventional current profiles, even for the usual tokamak geometry, novel current reversal equilibrium configurations may result, sometimes with changed topology in the poloidal flux function. This change in the topology of plasma equilibrium can be attributed to the large toroidal flow. The computed results may correspond to situations of intense tangential injection during the low toroidal current phase in expected experimental situations.