bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tailoring the Synergistic Bronsted-Lewis acidic effects in Heteropolyacid catalysts: Applied in Esterification and Transesterification Reactions
Authors: Tao Meilin , Xue Lifang , Sun Zhong , Wang Shengtian , Wang Xiaohong , Shi Junyou 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn order to investigate the influences of Lewis metals on acidic properties and catalytic activities, a series of Keggin heteropolyacid (HPA) catalysts, HnPW11MO39 (M = TiIV, CuII, AlIII, SnIV, FeIII, CrIII, ZrIV and ZnII; for Ti and Zr, the number of oxygen is 40), were prepared and applied in the esterification and transesterification reactions. Only those cations with moderate Lewis acidity had a higher impact. Ti Substituted HPA, H5PW11TiO40, posse lower acid content compared with TixH3−4xPW12O40 (Ti partial exchanged protons in saturated H3PW12O40), which demonstrated that the Lewis metal as an addenda atom (H5PW11TiO40) was less efficient than those as counter cations (TixH3−4xPW12O40). On the other hand, the highest conversion reached 92.2% in transesterification and 97.4% in esterification. Meanwhile, a good result was achieved by H5PW11TiO40 in which the total selectivity of DAG and TGA was 96.7%. In addition, calcination treatment to H5PW11TiO40 make it insoluble in water which resulted in a heterogeneous catalyst feasible for reuse.
Formation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls on Secondary Copper Production Fly Ash: Mechanistic Aspects and Correlation to Other Persistent Organic Pollutants
Authors: Jiang Xiaoxu , Liu Guorui , Wang Mei , Zheng Minghui 
Published: September 2015

AbstractEmission of unintentionally formed polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from industrial thermal processes is a global issue. Because the production and use of technical PCB mixtures has been banned, industrial thermal processes have become increasingly important sources of PCBs. Among these processes, secondary copper smelting is an important PCB source in China. In the present study, the potential for fly ash-mediated formation of PCBs in the secondary copper industry and the mechanisms involved, were studied in laboratory thermochemical experiments. The total PCB concentrations were 37–70 times higher than the initial concentrations. Thermochemical reactions on the fly ash amplified the potential toxic equivalents of PCBs. The formation of PCBs over time and the effect of temperature were investigated. Based on analyses of PCB homologue profiles with different reaction conditions, a chlorination mechanism was proposed for forming PCBs in addition to a de novo synthesis mechanism. The chlorination pathway was supported by close correlations between each pair of adjacent homologue groups. Formation of PCBs and multiple persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polychlorinated naphthalenes, occurred during the tests, indicating that these compounds may share similar formation mechanisms.
Electrospun Flexible Coaxial Nanoribbons Endowed With Tuned and Simultaneous Fluorescent Color-Electricity-Magnetism Trifunctionality
Authors: Shao Hong , Ma Qianli , Dong Xiangting , Yu Wensheng , Yang Ming , Yang Ying , Wang Jinxian , Liu Guixia 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn order to develop new-typed multifunctional nanocomposites, fluorescent-electrical-magnetic trifunctional coaxial nanoribbons with tunable fluorescent color, including white-light emission, have been successfully fabricated via coaxial electrospinning technology. Each stripe of coaxial nanoribbon is composed of a Fe3O4/PMMA core and a [Eu(BA)3phen+Dy(BA)3phen]/PANI/PMMA (PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate, BA = benzoic acid, phen = phenanthroline, polyaniline = PANI) shell. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), biological microscopy (BM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), Hall effect measurement system and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the coaxial nanoribbons. Emitting color of the coaxial nanoribbons can be tuned by adjusting the contents of Dy(BA)3phen, Eu(BA)3phen, PANI and Fe3O4 in a wide color range of blue-white-orange under the excitation of 273-nm single-wavelength ultraviolet light. The coaxial nanoribbons simultaneously possess excellent luminescent performance, electrical conduction and magnetism compared with the counterpart composite nanoribbons. Furthermore, the electrical and magnetic performances of the coaxial nanoribbons also can be tunable by adding different quantities of PANI and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, respectively. The obtained coaxial nanoribbons have promising applications in many areas, such as electromagnetic interference shielding, microwave absorption, molecular electronics, biomedicine, future nanomechanics and display fields.
Adjunctive Systemic Corticosteroids for Hospitalized Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2015 Update
Authors: Horita Nobuyuki , Otsuka Tatsuya , Haranaga Shusaku , Namkoong Ho , Miki Makoto , Miyashita Naoyuki , Higa Futoshi , Takahashi Hiroshi , Yoshida Masahiro , Kohno Shigeru , Kaneko Takeshi 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPrevious randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses evaluated the efficacy and safety of adjunctive corticosteroids for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the results from them had large discrepancies. The eligibility criteria for the current meta-analysis were original RCTs written in English as a full article that evaluated adjunctive systemic corticosteroids adding on antibiotic therapy targeting typical and/or atypical pathogen for treating hospitalized human CAP cases. Four investigators independently searched for eligible articles through PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Random model was used. The heterogeneity among original studies and subgroups was evaluated with the I2 statistics. Of 54 articles that met the preliminary criteria, we found 10 eligible RCTs comprising 1780 cases. Our analyses revealed following pooled values by corticosteroids. OR for all-cause death: 0.80 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.53–1.21) from all studies; 0.41 (95% CI 0.19–0.90) from severe-case subgroup; 0.21 (95% CI 0.0–0.74) from intensive care unit (ICU) subgroup. Length of ICU stay: −1.30 days (95% CI (−3.04)−0.44). Length of hospital stay: −0.98 days (95% CI (−1.26)–(−0.71)). Length to clinical stability: −1.16 days (95% CI (−1.73)–(−0.58)). Serious complications do not seem to largely increase by steroids. In conclusion, adjunctive systemic corticosteroids for hospitalized patients with CAP seems preferred strategies.
Beating the amorphous limit in thermal conductivity by superlattices design
Authors: Mizuno Hideyuki , Mossa Stefano , Barrat Jean-Louis 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe value measured in the amorphous structure with the same chemical composition is often considered as a lower bound for the thermal conductivity of any material: the heat carriers are strongly scattered by disorder and their lifetimes reach the minimum time scale of thermal vibrations. An appropriate design at the nano-scale, however, may allow one to reduce the thermal conductivity even below the amorphous limit. In the present contribution, using molecular-dynamics simulation and the Green-Kubo formulation, we study systematically the thermal conductivity of layered phononic materials (superlattices), by tuning different parameters that can characterize such structures. We have discovered that the key to reach a lower-than-amorphous thermal conductivity is to block almost completely the propagation of the heat carriers, the superlattice phonons. We demonstrate that a large mass difference in the two intercalated layers, or weakened interactions across the interface between layers result in materials with very low thermal conductivity, below the values of the corresponding amorphous counterparts.
Anion-Tunable Properties and Electrochemical Performance of Functionalized Ferrocene Compounds
Authors: Cosimbescu Lelia , Wei Xiaoliang , Vijayakumar M. , Xu Wu , Helm Monte L. , Burton Sarah D. , Sorensen Christina M. , Liu Jun , Sprenkle Vincent , Wang Wei 
Published: September 2015

AbstractWe report a series of ionically modified ferrocene compounds for hybrid lithium-organic non-aqueous redox flow batteries, based on the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple as the active catholyte material. Tetraalkylammonium ionic moieties were incorporated into the ferrocene structure, in order to enhance the solubility of the otherwise relatively insoluble ferrocene. The effect of various counter anions of the tetraalkylammonium ionized species appended to the ferrocene, such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, hexafluorophosphate, perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate and dicyanamide on the solubility of the ferrocene was investigated. The solution chemistry of the ferrocene species was studied, in order to understand the mechanism of solubility enhancement. Finally, the electrochemical performance of these ionized ferrocene species was evaluated and shown to have excellent cell efficiency and superior cycling stability.
Membranes of MnO Beading in Carbon Nanofibers as Flexible Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Xin , Du Yuxuan , Jin Lei , Yang Yang , Wu Shuilin , Li Weihan , Yu Yan , Zhu Yanwu , Zhang Qinghua 
Published: September 2015

AbstractFreestanding yet flexible membranes of MnO/carbon nanofibers are successfully fabricated through incorporating MnO2 nanowires into polymer solution by a facile electrospinning technique. During the stabilization and carbonization processes of the as-spun membranes, MnO2 nanowires are transformed to MnO nanoparticles coincided with a conversion of the polymer from an amorphous state to a graphitic structure of carbon nanofibers. The hybrids consist of isolated MnO nanoparticles beading in the porous carbon and demonstrate superior performance when being used as a binder-free anode for lithium-ion batteries. With an optimized amount of MnO (34.6 wt%), the anode exhibits a reversible capacity of as high as 987.3 mAh g−1 after 150 discharge/charge cycles at 0.1 A g−1, a good rate capability (406.1 mAh g−1 at 3  A g−1) and an excellent cycling performance (655 mAh g−1 over 280 cycles at 0.5 A g−1). Furthermore, the hybrid anode maintains a good electrochemical performance at bending state as a flexible electrode.
Seven neurons memorizing sequences of alphabetical images via spike-timing dependent plasticity
Authors: Osogami Takayuki , Otsuka Makoto 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAn artificial neural network, such as a Boltzmann machine, can be trained with the Hebb rule so that it stores static patterns and retrieves a particular pattern when an associated cue is presented to it. Such a network, however, cannot effectively deal with dynamic patterns in the manner of living creatures. Here, we design a dynamic Boltzmann machine (DyBM) and a learning rule that has some of the properties of spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP), which has been postulated for biological neural networks. We train a DyBM consisting of only seven neurons in a way that it memorizes the sequence of the bitmap patterns in an alphabetical image “SCIENCE” and its reverse sequence and retrieves either sequence when a partial sequence is presented as a cue. The DyBM is to STDP as the Boltzmann machine is to the Hebb rule.
Quantum Spin Hall States in Stanene/Ge(111)
Authors: Fang Yimei , Huang Zhi-Quan , Hsu Chia-Hsiu , Li Xiaodan , Xu Yixu , Zhou Yinghui , Wu Shunqing , Chuang Feng-Chuan , Zhu Zi-Zhong 
Published: September 2015

AbstractFor topological insulators to be implemented in practical applications, it is a prerequisite to select suitable substrates that are required to leave insulators’ nontrivial properties and sizable opened band gaps (due to spin-orbital couplings) unaltered. Using ab initio calculations, we predict that Ge(111) surface qualified as a candidate to support stanene sheets, because the band structure of √3 × √3 stanene/Ge(111) (2 × 2) surface displays a typical Dirac cone at Γ point in the vicinity of the Fermi level. Aided with the result of Z2 invariant calculations, a √3 × √3 stanene/Ge(111) (2 × 2) system has been proved to sustain the nontrivial topological phase, with the prove being confirmed by the edge state calculations of stanene ribbons. This finding can serve as guidance for epitaxial growth of stanene on substrate and render stanene feasible for practical use as a topological insulator.
Disclination mediated dynamic recrystallization in metals at low temperature
Authors: Aramfard Mohammad , Deng Chuang 
Published: September 2015

AbstractRecrystallization is one of the most important physical phenomena in condensed matter that has been utilized for materials processing for thousands of years in human history. It is generally believed that recrystallization is thermally activated and a minimum temperature must be achieved for the necessary atomic mechanisms to occur. Here, using atomistic simulations, we report a new mechanism of dynamic recrystallization that can operate at temperature as low as T = 10 K in metals during deformation. In contrast to previously proposed dislocation-based models, this mechanism relies on the generation of disclination quadrupoles, which are special defects that form during deformation when the grain boundary migration is restricted by structural defects such as triple junctions, cracks or obstacles. This mechanism offers an alternative explanation for the grain refinement in metals during severe plastic deformation at cryogenic temperature and may suggest a new method to tailor the microstructure in general crystalline materials.
Structural models of intrinsically disordered and calcium-bound folded states of a protein adapted for secretion
Authors: O’Brien Darragh P. , Hernandez Belen , Durand Dominique , Hourdel Véronique , Sotomayor-Pérez Ana-Cristina , Vachette Patrice , Ghomi Mahmoud , Chamot-Rooke Julia , Ladant Daniel , Brier Sébastien , Chenal Alexandre 
Published: September 2015

AbstractMany Gram-negative bacteria use Type I secretion systems, T1SS, to secrete virulence factors that contain calcium-binding Repeat-in-ToXin (RTX) motifs. Here, we present structural models of an RTX protein, RD, in both its intrinsically disordered calcium-free Apo-state and its folded calcium-bound Holo-state. Apo-RD behaves as a disordered polymer chain comprising several statistical elements that exhibit local rigidity with residual secondary structure. Holo-RD is a folded multi-domain protein with an anisometric shape. RTX motifs thus appear remarkably adapted to the structural and mechanistic constraints of the secretion process. In the low calcium environment of the bacterial cytosol, Apo-RD is an elongated disordered coil appropriately sized for transport through the narrow secretion machinery. The progressive folding of Holo-RD in the extracellular calcium-rich environment as it emerges form the T1SS may then favor its unidirectional export through the secretory channel. This process is relevant for hundreds of bacterial species producing virulent RTX proteins.
Characterization of the Transcriptional Complexity of the Receptive and Pre-receptive Endometria of Dairy Goats
Authors: Zhang Lei , An Xiao-Peng , Liu Xiao-Rui , Fu Ming-Zhe , Han Peng , Peng Jia-Yin , Hou Jing-Xing , Zhou Zhan-Qin , Cao Bin-Yun , Song Yu-Xuan 
Published: September 2015

AbstractEndometrium receptivity is essential for successful embryo implantation in mammals. However, the lack of genetic information remains an obstacle to understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of a receptive endometrium from the pre-receptive phase in dairy goats. In this study, more than 4 billion high-quality reads were generated and de novo assembled into 102,441 unigenes; these unigenes were annotated using published databases. A total of 3,255 unigenes that were differentially expressed (DEGs) between the PE and RE were discovered in this study (P-values < 0.05). In addition, 76,729–77,102 putative SNPs and 12,837 SSRs were discovered in this study. Bioinformatics analysis of the DEGs revealed a number of biological processes and pathways that are potentially involved in the establishment of the RE, notably including the GO terms proteolysis, apoptosis and cell adhesion and the KEGG pathways Cell cycle and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction. We speculated that ADCY8, VCAN, SPOCK1, THBS1 and THBS2 may play important roles in the development of endometrial receptivity. The de novo assembly provided a good starting point and will serve as a valuable resource for further investigations into endometrium receptivity in dairy goats and future studies on the genomes of goats and other related mammals.
Transport and retention of engineered Al2O3, TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles through various sedimentary rocks
Authors: Esfandyari Bayat Ali , Junin Radzuan , Shamshirband Shahaboddin , Tong Chong Wen 
Published: September 2015

AbstractEngineered aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) are utilized in a broad range of applications; causing noticeable quantities of these materials to be released into the environment. Issues of how and where these particles are distributed into the subsurface aquatic environment remain as major challenges for those in environmental engineering. In this study, transport and retention of Al2O3, TiO2and SiO2NPs through various saturated porous media were investigated. Vertical columns were packed with quartz-sand, limestone and dolomite grains. The NPs were introduced as a pulse suspended in aqueous solutions and breakthrough curves in the column outlet were generated using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. It was found that Al2O3and TiO2NPs are easily transported through limestone and dolomite porous media whereas NPs recoveries were achieved two times higher than those found in the quartz-sand. The highest and lowest SiO2-NPs recoveries were also achieved from the quartz-sand and limestone columns, respectively. The experimental results closely replicated the general trends predicted by the filtration and DLVO calculations. Overall, NPs mobility through a porous medium was found to be strongly dependent on NP surface charge, NP suspension stability against deposition and porous medium surface charge and roughness.
Nanobody-targeted E3-ubiquitin ligase complex degrades nuclear proteins
Authors: Ju Shin Yeong , Kyun Park Seung , Jung Jung Yoo , Na Kim Ye , Sung Kim Ki , Kyu Park Ok , Kwon Seung-Hae , Ho Jeon Sung , Trinh Le A. , Fraser Scott E. , Kee Yun , Joon Hwang Byung 
Published: September 2015

AbstractTargeted protein degradation is a powerful tool in determining the function of specific proteins or protein complexes. We fused nanobodies to SPOP, an adaptor protein of the Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, resulting in rapid ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome-dependent degradation of specific nuclear proteins in mammalian cells and zebrafish embryos. This approach is easily modifiable, as substrate specificity is conferred by an antibody domain that can be adapted to target virtually any protein.
Solar‐blind AlGaN MSM photodetectors with 24% external quantum efficiency at 0 V
Authors: Brendel M. , Helbling M. , Knigge A. , Brunner F. , Weyers M. 
Published: September 2015

By utilising an asymmetric metallisation scheme to fabricate an AlGaN‐based solar‐blind metal–semiconductor–metal photodetector, a zero‐bias external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 24% for illumination at 240 nm wavelength from the substrate side was obtained. Moreover, an asymmetric bias‐dependence of dark current and EQE is observed. The EQE saturates at about 38% in reverse direction, whereas in forward direction the presence of an internal gain mechanism is indicated.
Telecommunication wavelength GaAsBi light emitting diodes
Authors: Richards Robert Douglas , Hunter Christopher Jack , Bastiman Faebian , Mohmad Abdul Rahman , David John Paul R. 
Published: September 2015

GaAsBi light emitting diodes containing ∼6% Bi are grown on GaAs substrates. Good room‐temperature electroluminescence spectra are obtained at current densities as low as 8 Acm−2. Measurements of the integrated emitted luminescence suggest that there is a continuum of localised Bi states extending up to 75 meV into the bandgap, which is in good agreement with previous photoluminescence studies. X‐ray diffraction analysis shows that strain relaxation has probably occurred in the thicker samples grown in this study.
Innovative ultrasound approach to estimate spinal mineral density: diagnostic assessment on overweight and obese women
Authors: Casciaro Sergio , Pisani Paola , Conversano Francesco , Renna Maria Daniela , Soloperto Giulia , Casciaro Ernesto , Quarta Eugenio , Grimaldi Antonella , Muratore Maurizio 
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of a novel ultrasound (US) approach for lumbar spine densitometry on overweight and obese women of variable age through a clinical validation study. The US method was originally developed in women with body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2. In this study, 382 female patients were recruited (45–80 years, BMI > 25 kg/m2) and underwent dual X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) of lumbar spine (L1–L4) and an US scan of the same vertebrae L1–L4, performed with a dedicated device providing both echographic images and ‘raw’ radiofrequency signals. Acquired US data were analysed through a novel automatic algorithm that performed a series of spectral and statistical analyses to calculate bone mineral density employing an innovative method. Diagnostic accuracy of US investigations was quantitatively assessed through a direct comparison with DXA results. The average agreement between US and DXA diagnoses was acceptable for patients aged 45–65 years (81.5%), while a slight decrement was observed for older patients (69.6%), which can be partially due to a decrease in DXA accuracy because of age‐related degenerations. The adopted method has a potential for early osteoporosis diagnosis in people younger than 65 years, independent of their BMI.
Laser-based three-dimensional multiscale micropatterning of biocompatible hydrogels for customized tissue engineering scaffolds
Authors: Applegate Matthew B. , Coburn Jeannine , Partlow Benjamin P. , Moreau Jodie E. , Mondia Jessica P. , Marelli Benedetto , Kaplan David L. , Omenetto Fiorenzo G. 
Published: September 2015

Significance
In this paper we present results on 3D, multiscale laser machining of soft, transparent biomaterials suited for cellular growth and/or implantation. We use an ultrafast laser to generate high-resolution, 3D structures within the bulk of a transparent soft-biomaterial formulation that can support cell growth and allow cells to penetrate deep within the material. The structure is created by multiphoton absorption which, thanks to the clarity of the silk gels, is possible nearly 1 cm below the surface of the material. This depth represents an ∼10× improvement over other materials. The ability to create micrometer-scale voids over such a large volume has promising applications in the biomedical field and its efficacy was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo.