bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Tert-butylhydroquinone lowers blood pressure in AngII-induced hypertension in mice via proteasome-PTEN-Akt-eNOS pathway
Authors: Xu Bing-Can , Long Hui-Bao , Luo Ke-Qin
Published: July 2016

Tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), as an antioxidant, has been widely used for many years to prevent oxidization of food products. The aim of this study was to investigate whether tBHQ activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) to prevent endothelial dysfunction and lower blood pressure. The role of Akt in tBHQ-induced eNOS phosphorylation was examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) or in mice. tBHQ treatment of HUVEC increased both Akt-Ser473 phosphorylation, accompanied with increased eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation and NO release. Mechanically, pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of Akt abolished tBHQ-enhanced NO release and eNOS phosphorylation in HUVEC. Gain-function of PTEN or inhibition of 26S proteasome abolished tBHQ-enhanced Akt phosphorylation in HUVEC.Ex vivoanalysis indicated that tBHQ improved Ach-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in LPC-treated mice aortic arteries, which were abolished by inhibition of Akt or eNOS. In animal study, administration of tBHQ significantly increased eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation and acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation and lowered AngII-induced hypertension in wildtype mice, but not in mice deficient of Akt or eNOS. In conclusion, tBHQ via proteasome-dependent degradation of PTEN increases Akt phosphorylation, resulting in upregulation of eNOS-derived NO production and consequent improvement of endothelial functionin vivo. In this way, tBHQ lowers blood pressure in hypertensive mice.
Social Environment Shapes the Speed of Cooperation
Authors: Nishi Akihiro , Christakis Nicholas A. , Evans Anthony M. , O’Malley A. James , Rand David G.
Published: July 2016

Are cooperative decisions typically made more quickly or slowly than non-cooperative decisions? While this question has attracted considerable attention in recent years, most research has focused on one-shot interactions. Yet it is repeated interactions that characterize most important real-world social interactions. In repeated interactions, the cooperativeness of one’s interaction partners (the “social environment”) should affect the speed of cooperation. Specifically, we propose that reciprocal decisions (choices that mirror behavior observed in the social environment), rather than cooperative decisions per se, occur more quickly. We test this hypothesis by examining four independent decision time datasets with a total of 2,088 subjects making 55,968 decisions. We show that reciprocal decisions are consistently faster than non-reciprocal decisions: cooperation is faster than defection in cooperative environments, while defection is faster than cooperation in non-cooperative environments. These differences are further enhanced by subjects’ previous behavior – reciprocal decisions are faster when they are consistent with the subject’s previous choices. Finally, mediation analyses of a fifth dataset suggest that the speed of reciprocal decisions is explained, in part, by feelings of conflict – reciprocal decisions are less conflicted than non-reciprocal decisions, and less decision conflict appears to lead to shorter decision times.
Correction: Corrigendum: Experimental Models in Syrian Golden Hamster Replicate Human Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Wang Yunan , Kayoumu Abudurexiti , Lu Guotao , Xu Pengfei , Qiu Xu , Chen Liye , Qi Rong , Huang Shouxiong , Li Weiqin , Wang Yuhui , Liu George
Published: July 2016

Scientific Reports 6: Article number: 28014; published online: 15 June 2016; updated: 20 July 2016 This Article contains typographical errors in the Discussion section. “Our previous study8 had proven that the local high concentration of free fatty acids in hypertriglyceridemic mice resulted in increased susceptibility to acute pancreatitis.
DNA barcode for the identification of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis plant feeding preferences in a tropical urban environment
Authors: Lima Leonardo H. G. de M. , Mesquita Marcelo R. , Skrip Laura , de Souza Freitas Moisés T. , Silva Vladimir C. , Kirstein Oscar D. , Abassi Ibrahim , Warburg Alon , Balbino Valdir de Q. , Costa Carlos H. N.
Published: July 2016

Little is known about the feeding behavior of hematophagous insects that require plant sugar to complete their life cycles. We studied plant feeding of Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies, known vectors of Leishmania infantum/chagasi parasites, in a Brazilian city endemic with visceral leishmaniasis. The DNA barcode technique was applied to identify plant food source of wild-caught L. longipalpis using specific primers for a locus from the chloroplast genome, ribulose diphosphate carboxylase. DNA from all trees or shrubs within a 100-meter radius from the trap were collected to build a barcode reference library. While plants from the Anacardiaceae and Meliaceae families were the most abundant at the sampling site (25.4% and 12.7% of the local plant population, respectively), DNA from these plant families was found in few flies; in contrast, despite its low abundance (2.9%), DNA from the Fabaceae family was detected in 94.7% of the sand flies. The proportion of sand flies testing positive for DNA from a given plant family was not significantly associated with abundance, distance from the trap, or average crown expansion of plants from that family. The data suggest that there may indeed be a feeding preference of L. longipalpis for plants in the Fabaceae family.
Correction: Corrigendum: Unique human orbital morphology compared with that of apes
Authors: Denion Eric , Hitier Martin , Guyader Vincent , Dugué Audrey-Emmanuelle , Mouriaux Frédéric
Published: July 2016

Scientific Reports 5: Article number: 11528; published online: 25 June 2015; updated: 20 July 2016 This Article contains typographical errors. In the Methods section under subheading ‘Measurement error evaluation’, “Measurement errors were 1.33° degree for OA, 0.93° for OA; 1.12° for OA-CA; 0.44 mm for orbital width; 0.
Battery of behavioral tests in mice to study postoperative delirium
Authors: Peng Mian , Zhang Ce , Dong Yuanlin , Zhang Yiying , Nakazawa Harumasa , Kaneki Masao , Zheng Hui , Shen Yuan , Marcantonio Edward R. , Xie Zhongcong
Published: July 2016

Postoperative delirium is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and cost. However, its neuropathogenesis remains largely unknown, partially owing to lack of animal model(s). We therefore set out to employ a battery of behavior tests, including natural and learned behavior, in mice to determine the effects of laparotomy under isoflurane anesthesia (Anesthesia/Surgery) on these behaviors. The mice were tested at 24 hours before and at 6, 9 and 24 hours after the Anesthesia/Surgery. Composite Z scores were calculated. Cyclosporine A, an inhibitor of mitochondria permeability transient pore, was used to determine potential mitochondria-associated mechanisms of these behavioral changes. Anesthesia/Surgery selectively impaired behaviors, including latency to eat food in buried food test, freezing time and time spent in the center in open field test, and entries and duration in the novel arm of Y maze test, with acute onset and various timecourse. The composite Z scores quantitatively demonstrated the Anesthesia/Surgery-induced behavior impairment in mice. Cyclosporine A selectively ameliorated the Anesthesia/Surgery-induced reduction in ATP levels, the increases in latency to eat food, and the decreases in entries in the novel arm. These findings suggest that we could use a battery of behavior tests to establish a mouse model to study postoperative delirium.
A distinct brain pathway links viral RNA exposure to sickness behavior
Authors: Zhu Xinxia , Levasseur Pete R. , Michaelis Katherine A. , Burfeind Kevin G. , Marks Daniel L.
Published: July 2016

Sickness behaviors and metabolic responses to invading pathogens are common to nearly all types of infection. These responses evolved to provide short-term benefit to the host to ward off infection, but impact on quality of life and when prolonged lead to neurodegeneration, depression and cachexia. Among the major infectious agents, viruses most frequently enter the brain, resulting in profound neuroinflammation. We sought to define the unique features of the inflammatory response in the brain to these infections. We demonstrate that the molecular pathway defining the central response to dsRNA is distinct from that found in the periphery. The behavioral and physical response to the dsRNA mimetic poly I:C is dependent on signaling via MyD88 when it is delivered centrally, whereas this response is mediated via the TRIF pathway when delivered peripherally. We also define the likely cellular candidates for this MyD88-dependent step. These findings suggest that symptom management is possible without ameliorating protective antiviral immune responses.
Temperature Assisted in-Situ Small Angle X-ray Scattering Analysis of Ph-POSS/PC Polymer Nanocomposite
Authors: Yadav Ramdayal , Naebe Minoo , Wang Xungai , Kandasubramanian Balasubramanian
Published: July 2016

Inorganic/organic nanofillers have been extensively exploited to impart thermal stability to polymer nanocomposite via various strategies that can endure structural changes when exposed a wide range of thermal environment during their application. In this abstraction, we have utilized temperature assisted in-situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to examine the structural orientation distribution of inorganic/organic nanofiller octa phenyl substituted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (Ph-POSS) in Polycarbonate (PC) matrix from ambient temperature to 180 °C. A constant interval of 30 °C with the heating rate of 3 °C/min was utilized to guise the temperature below and above the glass transition temperature of PC followed by thermal gravimetric, HRTEM, FESEM and hydrophobic analysis at ambient temperature. The HRTEM images of Ph-POSS nano unit demonstrated hyperrectangular structure, while FESEM image of the developed nano composite rendered separated phase containing flocculated and overlapped stacking of POSS units in the PC matrix. The phase separation in polymer nanocomposite was further substantiated by thermodynamic interaction parameter (χ) and mixing energy (Emix) gleaned via Accelrys Materials studio. The SAXS spectra has demonstrated duplex peak at higher scattering vector region, postulated as a primary and secondary segregated POSS domain and followed by abundance of secondary peak with temperature augmentation.
Secure information transport by transverse localization of light
Authors: Leonetti Marco , Karbasi Salman , Mafi Arash , DelRe Eugenio , Conti Claudio
Published: July 2016

A single-photon beating with itself can produce even the most elaborate optical fringe pattern. However, the large amount of information enclosed in such a pattern is typically inaccessible, since the complete distribution can be visualized only after many detections. In fact this limitation is only true for delocalized patterns. Here we demonstrate how reconfigurable localized optical patterns allow to encode up to 6 bits of information in disorder-induced high transmission channels, even using a small number of photon counts. We developed a quantum key distribution scheme for fiber communication in which high information capacity is achieved through position and momentum complementarity.
Glutathione peroxidase 3 localizes to the epithelial lining fluid and the extracellular matrix in interstitial lung disease
Authors: Schamberger Andrea C. , Schiller Herbert B. , Fernandez Isis E. , Sterclova Martina , Heinzelmann Katharina , Hennen Elisabeth , Hatz Rudolf , Behr Jürgen , Vašáková Martina , Mann Matthias , Eickelberg Oliver , Staab-Weijnitz Claudia A.
Published: July 2016

Aberrant antioxidant activity and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) are hallmarks of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). It is known that oxidative stress alters the ECM, but extracellular antioxidant defence mechanisms in ILD are incompletely understood. Here, we extracted abundance and detergent solubility of extracellular antioxidant enzymes from a proteomic dataset of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in mice and assessed regulation and distribution of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) in murine and human lung fibrosis. Superoxide dismutase 3 (Sod3), Gpx3, and Gpx activity were increased in mouse BALF during bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. In lung tissue homogenates, Gpx3, but not Sod3, was upregulated and detergent solubility profiling indicated that Gpx3 associated with ECM proteins. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that Gpx3 was expressed by bronchial epithelial cells and interstitial fibroblasts and localized to the basement membrane and interstitial ECM in lung tissue. As to human ILD samples, BALF of some patients contained high levels of GPX3, and GPX3 was upregulated in lung homogenates from IPF patients. GPX3 expression in primary human bronchial epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts was downregulated by TNF-α, but more variably regulated by TGF-β1 and menadione. In conclusion, the antioxidant enzyme GPX3 localizes to lung ECM and is variably upregulated in ILD.
Using stable isotopes to trace sources and formation processes of sulfate aerosols from Beijing, China
Authors: Han Xiaokun , Guo Qingjun , Liu Congqiang , Fu Pingqing , Strauss Harald , Yang Junxing , Hu Jian , Wei Lianfang , Ren Hong , Peters Marc , Wei Rongfei , Tian Liyan
Published: July 2016

Particulate pollution from anthropogenic and natural sources is a severe problem in China. Sulfur and oxygen isotopes of aerosol sulfate (δ34Ssulfate and δ18Osulfate) and water-soluble ions in aerosols collected from 2012 to 2014 in Beijing are being utilized to identify their sources and assess seasonal trends. The mean δ34S value of aerosol sulfate is similar to that of coal from North China, indicating that coal combustion is a significant contributor to atmospheric sulfate. The δ34Ssulfate and δ18Osulfate values are positively correlated and display an obvious seasonality (high in winter and low in summer). Although an influence of meteorological conditions to this seasonality in isotopic composition cannot be ruled out, the isotopic evidence suggests that the observed seasonality reflects temporal variations in the two main contributions to Beijing aerosol sulfate, notably biogenic sulfur emissions in the summer and the increasing coal consumption in winter. Our results clearly reveal that a reduction in the use of fossil fuels and the application of desulfurization technology will be important for effectively reducing sulfur emissions to the Beijing atmosphere.
New structural insights into Golgi Reassembly and Stacking Protein (GRASP) in solution
Authors: Mendes Luís F. S. , Garcia Assuero F. , Kumagai Patricia S. , de Morais Fabio R. , Melo Fernando A. , Kmetzsch Livia , Vainstein Marilene H. , Rodrigues Marcio L. , Costa-Filho Antonio J.
Published: July 2016

Among all proteins localized in the Golgi apparatus, a two-PDZ (PSD95/DlgA/Zo-1) domain protein plays an important role in the assembly of the cisternae. This Golgi Reassembly and Stacking Protein (GRASP) has puzzled researchers due to its large array of functions and relevance in Golgi functionality. We report here a biochemical and biophysical study of the GRASP55/65 homologue in Cryptococcus neoformans (CnGRASP). Bioinformatic analysis, static fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies, calorimetry, small angle X-ray scattering, solution nuclear magnetic resonance, size exclusion chromatography and proteolysis assays were used to unravel structural features of the full-length CnGRASP. We detected the coexistence of regular secondary structures and large amounts of disordered regions. The overall structure is less compact than a regular globular protein and the high structural flexibility makes its hydrophobic core more accessible to solvent. Our results indicate an unusual behavior of CnGRASP in solution, closely resembling a class of intrinsically disordered proteins called molten globule proteins. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first structural characterization of a full-length GRASP and observation of a molten globule-like behavior in the GRASP family. The possible implications of this and how it could explain the multiple facets of this intriguing class of proteins are discussed.
PETModule: a motif module based approach for enhancer target gene prediction
Authors: Zhao Changyong , Li Xiaoman , Hu Haiyan
Published: July 2016

The identification of enhancer-target gene (ETG) pairs is vital for the understanding of gene transcriptional regulation. Experimental approaches such as Hi-C have generated valuable resources of ETG pairs. Several computational methods have also been developed to successfully predict ETG interactions. Despite these progresses, high-throughput experimental approaches are still costly and existing computational approaches are still suboptimal and not easy to apply. Here we developed a motif module based approach called PETModule that predicts ETG pairs. Tested on eight human cell types and two mouse cell types, we showed that a large number of our predictions were supported by Hi-C and/or ChIA-PET experiments. Compared with two recently developed approaches for ETG pair prediction, we shown that PETModule had a much better recall, a similar or better F1 score, and a larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The PETModule tool is freely available at http://hulab.ucf.edu/research/projects/PETModule/.
Bio-compatible organic humidity sensor transferred to arbitrary surfaces fabricated using single-cell-thick onion membrane as both the substrate and sensing layer
Authors: Sajid Memoon , Aziz Shahid , Kim Go Bum , Kim Soo Wan , Jo Jeongdai , Choi Kyung Hyun
Published: July 2016

A bio-compatible disposable organic humidity sensor has been fabricated that can be transferred to any arbitrary target surface. Single cell thick onion membrane has been used as the substrate while it also doubles as the active layer of the sensor. Two different types of sensors were fabricated. In type-1, the membrane was fixed into a plastic frame with IDT patterns on one side while the other side was also exposed to environment. In type-2, onion membrane was attached to a glass substrate with one side exposed to environment having an IDT screen-printed on top of it. The electrical output response of the sensors showed their ability to detect relative humidity between 0% RH and 80% RH with stable response and good sensitivity. The impedance of the sensors changed from 16 MΩ to 2 MΩ for type-1 and 6 MΩ to 20 KΩ for type-2. The response times of type-1 and type-2 were ~1 and 1.5 seconds respectively. The recovery times were ~10.75 seconds and ~11.25 seconds for type-1 and type-2 respectively. The device was successfully transferred to various randomly shaped surfaces without damaging the device.
Impaired neuronal KCC2 function by biallelic SLC12A5 mutations in migrating focal seizures and severe developmental delay
Authors: Saitsu Hirotomo , Watanabe Miho , Akita Tenpei , Ohba Chihiro , Sugai Kenji , Ong Winnie Peitee , Shiraishi Hideaki , Yuasa Shota , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Beng Khoo Teik , Saitoh Shinji , Miyatake Satoko , Nakashima Mitsuko , Miyake Noriko , Kato Mitsuhiro , Fukuda Atsuo , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: July 2016

Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS) is one of the early-onset epileptic syndromes characterized by migrating polymorphous focal seizures. Whole exome sequencing (WES) in ten sporadic and one familial case of EIMFS revealed compound heterozygous SLC12A5 (encoding the neuronal K+-Cl− co-transporter KCC2) mutations in two families: c.279 + 1G > C causing skipping of exon 3 in the transcript (p.E50_Q93del) and c.572 C >T (p.A191V) in individuals 1 and 2, and c.967T > C (p.S323P) and c.1243 A > G (p.M415V) in individual 3. Another patient (individual 4) with migrating multifocal seizures and compound heterozygous mutations [c.953G > C (p.W318S) and c.2242_2244del (p.S748del)] was identified by searching WES data from 526 patients and SLC12A5-targeted resequencing data from 141 patients with infantile epilepsy. Gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp analysis demonstrated strongly suppressed Cl− extrusion function of E50_Q93del and M415V mutants, with mildly impaired function of A191V and S323P mutants. Cell surface expression levels of these KCC2 mutants were similar to wildtype KCC2. Heterologous expression of two KCC2 mutants, mimicking the patient status, produced a significantly greater intracellular Cl− level than with wildtype KCC2, but less than without KCC2. These data clearly demonstrated that partially disrupted neuronal Cl− extrusion, mediated by two types of differentially impaired KCC2 mutant in an individual, causes EIMFS.
3D structure determination of a protein in living cells using paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Pan Bin-Bin , Yang Feng , Ye Yansheng , Wu Qiong , Li Conggang , Huber Thomas , Su Xun-Cheng
Published: July 2016

The integration of site-specific labeling of proteins with a stable lanthanide binding tag, paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy and the GPS-Rosetta program presents an effective and fast way of determining the three-dimensional structure of a protein in living cells.
Enhanced photocatalytic H2 production on CdS nanorods with simple molecular bidentate cobalt complexes as cocatalysts under visible light
Authors: Irfan Rana Muhammad , Jiang Daochuan , Sun Zijun , Lu Dapeng , Du Pingwu
Published: July 2016

A noble-metal-free photocatalytic hydrogen production system containing a simple bidentate cobalt Schiff base complex as the molecular cocatalyst, CdS nanorods as the photosensitizer, and ascorbic acid as the electron donor is reported in this paper.
Supramolecular adducts based on weak interactions between the trimeric Lewis acid complex (perfluoro-ortho-phenylene)mercury and polypnictogen complexes
Authors: Fleischmann Martin , Jones James S. , Balázs Gábor , Gabbaï François P. , Scheer Manfred
Published: July 2016

The adduct formation of the trinuclear Hg Lewis acid [(o-HgC6F4)3] with polypnictogen complexes is described focusing on the varying interaction modes based on the nature of the donor atoms P, As, Sb or Bi.
Characterization of a highly efficient N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst prepared via factorial design
Authors: Borges Karen A. , Santos Lidiaine M. , Paniago Roberto M. , Barbosa Neto Newton M. , Schneider Jenny , Bahnemann Detlef W. , Patrocinio Antonio Otavio T. , Machado Antonio Eduardo H.
Published: July 2016

The preparation of a highly efficient N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst was optimized by factorial design and the resulting powder was fully characterized.
Rapid probing of the reactivity of P450 monooxygenases from the CYP116B subfamily using a substrate-based method
Authors: Li Ren-Jie , Xu Jian-He , Yin Yue-Cai , Wirth Nicolas , Ren Jiang-Meng , Zeng Bu-Bing , Yu Hui-Lei
Published: July 2016

Four types ofO-methylated substrates were designed as probes for the detection of fingerprints of Type IV P450s.
Editorial: Synthetic biology and bioinformatics
Authors: Medema Marnix H. , Zhao Huimin
Published: July 2016

Huimin Zhao and Marnix Medema introduce the Natural Product Reports themed issue on ‘Synthetic biology and bioinformatics’.
Isocyanates and isothiocyanates as versatile platforms for accessing (thio)amide-type compounds
Authors: Pace Vittorio , Monticelli Serena , de la Vega-Hernández Karen , Castoldi Laura
Published: July 2016

The addition of carbon (Grignard and organolithium reagents) and hydride nucleophiles (Schwartz reagent) to isocyanates and isothiocyanates constitutes a versatile, direct and high yielding approach to the synthesis of functionalized (thio)amide derivatives including haloamides and formamides.
An investigation on the interaction modes of a single-strand DNA aptamer and RBP4 protein: a molecular dynamic simulations approach
Authors: Torabi Raheleh , Bagherzadeh Kowsar , Ghourchian Hedayatollah , Amanlou Massoud
Published: July 2016

Monitoring and evaluating structural and functional alternations in RBP4 induced by its specific aptamer binding to design new aptamers for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes with reduced insulin resistance.
Glycidyl alkoxysilane reactivities towards simple nucleophiles in organic media for improved molecular structure definition in hybrid materials
Authors: Guillory X. , Tessier A. , Gratien G.-O. , Weiss P. , Colliec-Jouault S. , Dubreuil D. , Lebreton J. , Le Bideau J.
Published: July 2016

We report the first comprehensive study of the reactivity in organic media of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trialkoxysilanes towards common nucleophiles. Their reactivity have to be emphasized in order to design and to improve new sol–gel hybrid synthesis.
One-pot synthesis and characterization of tungsten-containing meso-ceria with enhanced heterogenous oxidative desulfurization in fuels
Authors: Li Yanan , Zhang Ming , Zhu Wenshuai , Li Meng , Xiong Jun , Zhang Qi , Wei Yanchen , Li Huaming
Published: July 2016

The sulfide was absorbed by the mesoporous ceria, and then oxidized to its corresponding sulfone by the active peroxo species.
Facile synthesis of MOF-derived ultrafine Co nanocrystals embedded in a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Zheng Fangcai , Xia Hongyu , Xu Shihao , Wang Rencui , Zhang Yuanguang
Published: July 2016

Non-precious metal-based catalysts with low cost and rich reserves are emerging as promising alternatives for Pt-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
A microscopic level insight into Pt doped TiZn (001) surface for hydrogen energy storage usage
Authors: Verdinelli V. , Juan A. , Marchetti J. M. , Germán E.
Published: July 2016

H-storage behavior on TiZn and Pt-doped TiZn alloys.
Photoelectrochemical performance of g-C3N4/Au/BiPO4Z-scheme composites to improve the mineralization property under solar light
Authors: Li Junqi , Yuan Huan , Zhu Zhenfeng
Published: July 2016

g-C3N4/Au/BiPO4as a hierarchical Z-scheme system was prepared through three steps at different reaction temperatures, using thiourea as a precursor to synthesize g-C3N4.
Elucidation of the mechanisms governing the thermal diastereomerization of bioactive chiral 1,3,4-thiadiazoline spiro-cyclohexyl derivatives towards their anancomeric stereoisomers
Authors: Menta S. , Carradori S. , Siani G. , Secci D. , Mannina L. , Sobolev A. P. , Cirilli R. , Pierini M.
Published: July 2016

Synthesis of bioactive 1,3,4-thiadiazoline-spiro-cyclohexyl-alkyl-substituted diastereomers by effective switching between kinetic and thermodynamic control.
Pulsed laser deposition of a Bi2S3/CuInS2/TiO2 cascade structure for high photoelectrochemical performance
Authors: Han Minmin , Jia Junhong , Wang Wenzhen
Published: July 2016

The possible mechanism for the improved performance of QDSSCs with a cascade structure of Bi2S3/CuInS2/TiO2.
Intrinsic high water/ion selectivity of graphene oxide lamellar membranes in concentration gradient-driven diffusion
Authors: Sun Pengzhan , Ma Renzhi , Deng Hui , Song Zhigong , Zhen Zhen , Wang Kunlin , Sasaki Takayoshi , Xu Zhiping , Zhu Hongwei
Published: July 2016

A combined experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study shows that intrinsic high water/ion selectivity of graphene oxide lamellar membrane was achieved in concentration gradient-driven diffusion, showing great promise in water desalination.
Physical‐layer security over generalised‐K fading channels
Authors: Lei Hongjiang , Ansari Imran Shafique , Gao Chao , Guo Yongcai , Pan Gaofeng , Qaraqe Khalid A.
Published: July 2016

In this study, the secrecy performance of the classic Wyner's wiretap model over generalised‐K fading channels is studied. The closed‐form expressions for the average secrecy capacity, the lower bound of secure outage probability, and the probability of strictly positive secrecy capacity are derived. The new expressions provide a unified form, which can handle several of the well‐known composite fading environments as special or limiting cases. Moreover, all the derived expressions are given in terms of Meijer's G‐function, which can be simply realised in MATLAB and MATHEMATICA. Monte‐Carlo simulations are performed to verify the proposed analysis models.
Positioning via direct localisation in C‐RAN systems
Authors: Jeong Seongah , Simeone Osvaldo , Haimovich Alexander , Kang Joonhyuk
Published: July 2016

Cloud radio access network (C‐RAN) is a prominent architecture for fifth generation wireless cellular system that is based on the centralisation of baseband processing for multiple distributed radio units (RUs) at a control unit (CU). In this study, it is proposed to leverage the C‐RAN architecture to enable the implementation of direct localisation of the position of mobile devices from the received signals at distributed RUs. With ideal connections between the CU and the RUs, direct localisation is known to outperform traditional indirect localisation, whereby the location of a source is estimated from intermediary parameters estimated at the RUs. However, in a C‐RAN system with capacity limited fronthaul links, the advantage of direct localisation may be offset by the distortion caused by the quantisation of the received signal at the RUs. In this study, the performance of direct localisation is studied by accounting for the effect of fronthaul quantisation with or without dithering. An approximate maximum likelihood localisation is developed. Then, the Cramér–Rao bound on the squared position error of direct localisation with quantised observations is derived. Finally, the performance of indirect localisation and direct localisation with or without dithering is compared via numerical results.
Sparsity‐aware multitarget localisation for distributed MIMO radar against phase synchronisation mismatch
Authors: Sun Bin , Chen Haowen , Zou Huanxin
Published: July 2016

The authors address the problem of coherent multitarget localisation for distributed multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) radar, in the presence of phase synchronisation mismatch between each transmitter‐receiver pair. The inherent sparsity of targets in the surveillance area can be exploited to represent radar data and then target locations are accurately estimated using sparse reconstruction. However, due to the difficulty of perfect phase synchronisation, the localisation technique is usually required to eliminate the phase errors. This study jointly considers the phase error correction problem in the context of multitarget localisation. In this novel method, the direct position determination of multitarget is obtained by estimating the spare reflection coefficients and phase errors alternately. Numerical simulation results demonstrate that the authors’ iterative block sparse Bayesian learning via maximum likelihood estimation algorithm obtains enhanced estimation accuracy against the phase synchronisation mismatch.
Control of networked systems with packet loss and channel uncertainty
Authors: Na Xitai , Zhan Yufeng , Xia Yuanqing , Dong Jianjun
Published: July 2016

This study considers the control problem of networked control systems (NCSs) concerning both bounded channel uncertainty and packet loss. First, the authors deal with the problems of state feedback control for NCSs concerning both bounded random packet loss and channel uncertainty. Based on a previous work which copes with packet loss only, a classic model is used to describe the NCS with both packet loss and channel uncertainty in an unified framework. The stability conditions of NCSs are given by a common quadratic Lyapunov function and an approach is given to design the dynamic feedback controller via solving linear matrix inequalities. Second, the problems of output feedback control for NCSs concerned both bounded random packet loss and channel uncertainty are considered. A new sufficient condition is developed to guarantee the exponentially mean square stability of closed‐loop networked systems and by using the stability theory, the controller and observer design problem is solved. Finally, numerical simulations and practical experiments are given to show the effectiveness of both approaches.
Increasing the applicability of density functional theory. V. X-ray absorption spectra with ionization potential corrected exchange and correlation potentials
Authors: Verma Prakash , Bartlett Rodney J.
Published: July 2016

Core excitation energies are computed with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) using the ionization energy corrected exchange and correlation potential QTP(0,0). QTP(0,0) provides C, N, and O K-edge spectra to about an electron volt. A mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.77 and a maximum error of 2.6 eV is observed for QTP(0,0) for many small molecules. TD-DFT based on QTP (0,0) is then used to describe the core-excitation spectra of the 22 amino acids. TD-DFT with conventional functionals greatly underestimates core excitation energies, largely due to the significant error in the Kohn-Sham occupied eigenvalues. To the contrary, the ionization energy corrected potential, QTP(0,0), provides excellent approximations (MAE of 0.53 eV) for core ionization energies as eigenvalues of the Kohn-Sham equations. As a consequence, core excitation energies are accurately described with QTP(0,0), as are the core ionization energies important in X-ray photoionization spectra or electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis.
Understanding the dynamics of glass-forming liquids with random pinning within the random first order transition theory
Authors: Chakrabarty Saurish , Das Rajsekhar , Karmakar Smarajit , Dasgupta Chandan
Published: July 2016

Extensive computer simulations are performed for a few model glass-forming liquids in both two and three dimensions to study their dynamics when a randomly chosen fraction of particles are frozen in their equilibrium positions. For all the studied systems, we find that the temperature-dependence of the α relaxation time extracted from an overlap function related to the self-part of the density autocorrelation function can be explained within the framework of the Random First Order Transition (RFOT) theory of the glass transition. We propose a scaling description to rationalize the simulation results and show that our data for the α relaxation time for all temperatures and pin concentrations are consistent with this description. We find that the fragility parameter obtained from fits of the temperature dependence of the α relaxation time to the Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann form decreases by almost an order of magnitude as the pin concentration is increased from zero. Our scaling description relates the fragility parameter to the static length scale of RFOT and thus provides a physical understanding of fragility within the framework of the RFOT theory. Implications of these findings for the values of the exponents appearing in the RFOT theory are discussed.
A photoelastic-modulator-based motional Stark effect polarimeter for ITER that is insensitive to polarized broadband background reflections
Authors: Thorman A. , Michael C. , De Bock M. , Howard J.
Published: July 2016

A motional Stark effect polarimeter insensitive to polarized broadband light is proposed. Partially polarized background light is anticipated to be a significant source of systematic error for the ITER polarimeter. The proposed polarimeter is based on the standard dual photoelastic modulator approach, but with the introduction of a birefringent delay plate, it generates a sinusoidal spectral filter instead of the usual narrowband filter. The period of the filter is chosen to match the spacing of the orthogonally polarized Stark effect components, thereby increasing the effective signal level, but resulting in the destructive interference of the broadband polarized light. The theoretical response of the system to an ITER like spectrum is calculated and the broadband polarization tolerance is verified experimentally.
Flow of DNA in micro/nanofluidics: From fundamentals to applications
Authors: Rems Lea , Kawale Durgesh , Lee L. James , Boukany Pouyan E.
Published: July 2016

Thanks to direct observation and manipulation of DNA in micro/nanofluidic devices, we are now able to elucidate the relationship between the polymer microstructure and its rheological properties, as well as to design new single-molecule platforms for biophysics and biomedicine. This allows exploration of many new mechanisms and phenomena, which were previously unachievable with conventional methods such as bulk rheometry tests. For instance, the field of polymer rheology is at a turning point to relate the complex molecular conformations to the nonlinear viscoelasticity of polymeric fluids (such as coil–stretch transition, shear thinning, and stress overshoot in startup shear). In addition, nanofluidic devices provided a starting point for manipulating single DNA molecules by applying basic principles of polymer physics, which is highly relevant to numerous processes in biosciences. In this article, we review recent progress regarding the flow and deformation of DNA in micro/nanofluidic systems from both fundamental and application perspectives. We particularly focus on advances in the understanding of polymer rheology and identify the emerging research trends and challenges, especially with respect to future applications of nanofluidics in the biomedical field.
Near-wall diffusion tensor of an axisymmetric colloidal particle
Authors: Lisicki Maciej , Cichocki Bogdan , Wajnryb Eligiusz
Published: July 2016

Hydrodynamic interactions with confining boundaries often lead to drastic changes in the diffusive behaviour of microparticles in suspensions. For axially symmetric particles, earlier numerical studies have suggested a simple form of the near-wall diffusion matrix which depends on the distance and orientation of the particle with respect to the wall, which is usually calculated numerically. In this work, we derive explicit analytical formulae for the dominant correction to the bulk diffusion tensor of an axially symmetric colloidal particle due to the presence of a nearby no-slip wall. The relative correction scales as powers of inverse wall-particle distance and its angular structure is represented by simple functions in sines and cosines of the particle’s inclination angle to the wall. We analyse the correction for translational and rotational motion, as well as the translation-rotation coupling. Our findings provide a simple approximation to the anisotropic diffusion tensor near a wall, which completes and corrects relations known from earlier numerical and theoretical findings.
Fluid modeling of a high-voltage nanosecond pulsed xenon microdischarge
Authors: Levko Dmitry , Raja Laxminarayan L.
Published: July 2016

A computational modeling study of high-voltage nanosecond pulsed microdischarge in xenon gas at 10 atm is presented. The discharge is observed to develop as two streamers originating from the cathode and the anode, and propagating toward each other until they merge to form a single continuous discharge channel. The peak plasma density obtained in the simulations is ∼1024 m−3, i.e., the ionization degree of plasma does not exceed 1%. The influence of the initial gas pre-ionization is established. It is seen that an increase in the seeded plasma density results in an increase in the streamer propagation velocity and an increase in the plasma density obtained after the merging of two streamers.
Methylated oligonucleotide (MON)-induced promoter hypermethylation is associated with repression of CDH1 expression and contributes to the migration and invasion of human trophoblast cell lines
Authors: Lan Xi , Fu Li-Juan , Hu Zhuo-Ying , Feng Qian , Liu Xue-Qing , Zhang Xue , Chen Xue-Mei , He Jun-Lin , Wang Ying-Xiong , Ding Yu-Bin
Published: July 2016

DNA cytosine-5 methylation plays a vital role in regulating the expression of E-cadherin, which is encoded by the CDH1 gene. In this study, we characterised the DNA methylation and expression pattern of CDH1 in an extravillous trophoblast cell line (HTR-8/SVneo) and two trophoblast cell lines ­– JEG-3 and JAR. Promoter hypermethylation with reduced E-cadherin expression in HTR-8/SVneo cells and promoter hypomethylation with increased E-cadherin expression in JEG-3 and JAR cells were observed. Demethylation treatment significantly restored E-cadherin expression, contributing to decreases in the motility and invasiveness of HTR-8/SVneo cells. Sense-methylated oligonucleotides (MONs) labelled with Cy5 and complementary to a region of the human CDH1 promoter were designed, with the cytosines in 5′-cytosine-phosphate-guanine-3′ (CpG) dinucleotides being replaced by methylated cytosines. Following MON transfection into JEG-3 cells, the level of CDH1 promoter DNA methylation as well as cell motility and invasiveness were increased and gene expression was significantly repressed. Our results indicate that MON-mediated DNA methylation of the CDH1 promoter and subsequent alterations in gene expression may contribute to trophoblast motility and invasion, suggesting a potential method for controlling the biological function of trophoblasts in vitro through epigenetic modification.
Home range, habitat suitability and population modelling of feral Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) on Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Authors: Cunningham Calum X. , Prowse Thomas A. A. , Masters Pip , Cassey Phillip
Published: July 2016

The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a declared alien pest species on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, where it is implicated in a range of social problems and potential ecological impacts. To inform the management of feral peafowl, we aimed to (1) provide an estimate of peafowl distribution and abundance; (2) measure peafowl home ranges; (3) calculate the area of suitable peafowl habitat; and (4) estimate how the population could change under various culling scenarios. Using expert and landholder surveys, we estimated that ~380 individuals (range 330–428) were distributed among 21 separate groups on Kangaroo Island. Habitat suitability modelling identified native vegetation near agriculture as the preferred peafowl habitat and indicated that substantial unoccupied suitable habitat is available. The mean home range of eight peafowl was 52 ha and one dispersal event of 4.5 km demonstrated that unoccupied suitable habitat could feasibly be colonised. Demographic models indicated that, if unmanaged, the peafowl population could exceed 2000 individuals after 10 years, but that culling ~85 individuals annually could maintain the current population size. We therefore suggest that control of the Kangaroo Island peafowl population is warranted while the current distribution of peafowl is well understood.
Probing the structure of Nun transcription arrest factor bound to RNA polymerase
Authors: Mustaev Arkady , Vitiello Christal L. , Gottesman Max E.
Published: July 2016

Significance

Bacterial viruses often express functions that affect host RNA synthesis. Phage HK022 Nun protein interacts with the
Escherichia coli
ternary elongation complex to arrest transcription elongation. This paper probes the structural basis of this interaction and shows that Nun approaches both ends of the RNA:DNA hybrid within the ternary elongation complex, making it unique among known transcription factors.
Fractional charge and inter-Landau–level states at points of singular curvature
Authors: Biswas Rudro R. , Son Dam Thanh
Published: July 2016

Significance

Identifying universal topological properties of quantum phases of matter, namely, signatures robust to variations in system-specific details, can elucidate the essential physics of these exotic phases. Here we demonstrate that quantum Hall states behave universally at experimentally accessible singularly curved points on a lattice. At such points they bind an excess fractional charge, universally relatable to their curvatures, as well as bound states with energies at universal fractions of the inter-Landau–level energy gap. These bound states are both spatially as well as energetically isolated, and thus provide a promising new platform for creating qubits for quantum computation. Extensions of these ideas to other lattice topological phases will result in a new method of characterizing such phases.
Prediction of welding stresses in WIC test and its application in pipelines
Authors: Alipooramirabad H. , Paradowska A. M. , Ghomashchi R. , Kotousov A. , Hoye N.
Published: July 2016

In the present study, the Welding Institute of Canada (WIC) restraint test was used to simulate the restraint conditions of full-scale girth welds on energy pipelines to ascertain the influence of welding process parameters on welding stresses. Finite element models are developed, and validated with neutron diffraction measurements, to evaluate the welding stresses for under-matched, matched and over-matched welds. The effects of heat input, wall thickness and variable restraint lengths of WIC sample are systematically investigated. As a practical outcome, this work can help in selection of the appropriate restraint length for WIC tests to simulate the specified stress conditions in the pipeline, and, ultimately, reduce the risk of Hydrogen Assisted Cold Cracking (HACC) in high strength low alloy.

This paper is part of a Themed Issue on Measurement, modelling and mitigation of residual stress.
Validation of a Side-Scan Sonar Method for Quantifying Walleye Spawning Habitat Availability in the Littoral Zone of Northern Wisconsin Lakes
Authors: Richter Jacob T. , Sloss Brian L. , Isermann Daniel A.
Published: July 2016

Previous research has generally ignored the potential effects of spawning habitat availability and quality on recruitment of Walleye Sander vitreus, largely because information on spawning habitat is lacking for many lakes. Furthermore, traditional transect-based methods used to describe habitat are time and labor intensive. Our objectives were to determine if side-scan sonar could be used to accurately classify Walleye spawning habitat in the nearshore littoral zone and provide lakewide estimates of spawning habitat availability similar to estimates obtained from a transect–quadrat-based method. Based on assessments completed on 16 northern Wisconsin lakes, interpretation of side-scan sonar images resulted in correct identification of substrate size-class for 93% (177 of 191) of selected locations and all incorrect classifications were within ± 1 class of the correct substrate size-class. Gravel, cobble, and rubble substrates were incorrectly identified from side-scan images in only two instances (1% misclassification), suggesting that side-scan sonar can be used to accurately identify preferred Walleye spawning substrates. Additionally, we detected no significant differences in estimates of lakewide littoral zone substrate compositions estimated using side-scan sonar and a traditional transect–quadrat-based method. Our results indicate that side-scan sonar offers a practical, accurate, and efficient technique for assessing substrate composition and quantifying potential Walleye spawning habitat in the nearshore littoral zone of north temperate lakes.

Received December 1, 2015; accepted March 24, 2016 Published online July 20, 2016