bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geophysical investigations unravel the vestiges of ancient meandering channels and their dynamics in tidal landscapes
Authors: Boaga Jacopo , Ghinassi Massimiliano , D’Alpaos Andrea , Deidda G. P. , Rodriguez G. , Cassiani Giorgio
Published: January 2018

Whether or not one can detect relict signatures of the past imprinted in current landscapes is a question of the utmost theoretical and practical relevance for meandering tidal channels, owing to their influence on the morphodynamic evolution of tidal landscapes, a critically fragile environment, especially in face of expected climatic changes. Unravelling the sedimentary patterns of ancient channels is an expensive process that usually requires high resolution sediment coring. Here we use a novel inversion process of multi-frequency electromagnetic measurements to reveal the signature and characterize the dynamics of a salt-marsh paleo-meander in the Venice Lagoon. We show that the ancient meander migrated laterally while vertically aggrading, developing a peculiar bar geometry which is less common in analogous fluvial meanders. The observed point-bar dynamics and the associated architectural geometry are consistent with remote sensing and borehole data and contrast with current assessments of tidal meander morphodynamics mediated from classical fluvial theories. In addition, the proposed technique, rapid and non-invasive, bears important consequences for detecting buried stratal geometries and reconstructing the spatial distribution of ancient sedimentary bodies, providing quantitative data for the description of landscape evolution in time.
Membrane potential synchrony of neurons in anterior cingulate cortex plays a pivotal role in generation of neuropathic pain
Authors: Chen Zhiyu , Shen Xiaolu , Huang La , Wu Hai , Zhang Mazhong
Published: January 2018

The pathophysiology of neuropathic pain generation has not been fully investigated. Previous studies have primarily focused on changes in the properties of single neurons in the brain after nerve injury; however, little is known concerning the role of neuron-to-neuron connections in neuropathic pain pathogenesis. Synaptic transmission potentiation in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been confirmed to be responsible for the formation of neuropathic pain. Thus, analysis of interneuronal connections in the ACC is an important approach for understanding the mechanism of neuropathic pain since it provides information on the potency of synaptic transmission. Here, we recorded membrane potentials from pairs of ACC neurons in anaesthetised rats and found that cross-correlations between pairs of ACC neurons significantly increased after surgery for chronic constriction injury (CCI). Moreover, CCI surgery could also enhance the power spectrum density of lower and higher-frequency membrane oscillations while having no effect on middle-frequency oscillations. The activation of membrane potential synchrony and power spectrum was reversed by the electrical synapse blocker mefloquine and pain behaviour was simultaneously alleviated. Our results may indicate that activation of membrane potential synchrony contributes to generation of neuropathic pain.
Role of Quzhou Fructus Aurantii Extract in Preventing and Treating Acute Lung Injury and Inflammation
Authors: Li Lili , Zhang Sheng , Xin Yanfei , Sun Junying , Xie Feng , Yang Lin , Chen Zhiqin , Chen Hao , Liu Fang , Xuan Yaoxian , You Zhenqiang
Published: January 2018

Quzhou Fructus Aurantii (QFA) is an authentic herb of local varieties in Zhejiang, China, which is usually used to treat gastrointestinal illnesses, but its effects on respiratory inflammation have not been reported yet. In our study, the anti-inflammatory activity of QFA extract (QFAE) was evaluated on copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O)-induced transgenic neutrophil fluorescent zebrafish model. QFAE showed a significant effect of anti-inflammation in CuSO4·5H2O-induced zebrafish by reducing the neutrophil number in the inflammatory site. We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of QFAE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mice models and RAW 264.7 cells. QFAE had an anti-inflammatory effect on reducing total cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in BALF and attenuated alveolus collapse, neutrophils infiltration, lung W/D ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) protein expression and other pulmonary histological changes in lung tissues, as well as hematological changes. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF, IL-6, IFN-γ, MCP-1, and IL-12p70, were decreased, whereas anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased after treatment with QFAE both in vivo and in vitro. In summary, our results suggested that QFAE had apparent anti-inflammatory effects on CuSO4·5H2O-induced zebrafish, LPS-induced ALI mice, and RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, QFAE may be a therapeutic drug to treat ALI/ARDS and other respiratory inflammations.
SOX2 activation predicts prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chung Ji Hyun , Jung Hae Rim , Jung Ah Ra , Lee Young Chan , Kong Moonkyoo , Lee Ju-Seog , Eun Young-Gyu
Published: January 2018

SOX2 copy number and mRNA expression were analysed to examine the clinical significance of SOX2 activation in HNSCC. Gene expression signatures reflecting SOX2 activation were identified in an HNSCC cohort. Patients with HNSCC were classified into two subgroups according to the gene expression signature: SOX2-high and SOX2-low. The clinical significance of SOX2 activation was further validated in two independent cohorts. Moreover, clinical significance of SOX2 activation in response to radiotherapy was assessed in patients with HNSCC. The relationship between SOX2 activation and radiotherapy was validated in an in vitro experiment. Patients in the SOX2-high subgroup had a better prognosis than patients in the SOX2-low subgroup in all three patient cohorts. Results of multivariate regression analysis showed that SOX2 signature was an independent predictor of the overall survival of patients with HNSCC (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.92; P = 0.01). Interestingly, SOX2 activation was a predictor of therapy outcomes in patients receiving radiotherapy. Moreover, SOX2 overexpression enhanced the effect of radiotherapy in HNSCC cell lines. SOX2 activation is associated with improved prognosis of patients with HNSCC and might be used to predict which patients might benefit from radiotherapy.
The Altered Supramolecular Structure of Dopamine D2 Receptors in Disc1-deficient Mice
Authors: Onishi Taichi , Sakamoto Hirokazu , Namiki Shigeyuki , Hirose Kenzo
Published: January 2018

Disc1is a susceptibility gene for psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. It has been suggested that excess transmission through dopamine type 2 receptors (D2Rs) in the striatum is an underlying mechanism of pathogenesis. In this study, we used super-resolution microscopy to study the distribution of D2Rs at the nanoscale in mice lacking exons 2 and 3 ofDisc1(Disc1-deficient mice). We found that D2Rs in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of wild-type mice form nanoclusters (~ 20,000 nm2), and thatDisc1-deficient mice have larger and more D2R nanoclusters than wild-type mice. Interestingly, administration of clozapine reduced the size and spatial distribution of the nanoclusters only inDisc1-deficient mice. Moreover, we observed that medium spiny neurons in the NAc ofDisc1-deficient mice had reduced spine density on their dendrites than did wild-type mice, and this was also reversed by clozapine administration. The altered D2R nanoclusters might be morphological representations of the altered dopaminergic transmission in disease states such as schizophrenia.
Optimizing OCT acquisition parameters for assessments of vitreous haze for application in uveitis
Authors: Montesano G. , Way C. M. , Ometto G. , Ibrahim H. , Jones P. R. , Carmichael R. , Liu X. , Aslam T. , Keane P. A. , Crabb D. P. , Denniston A. K.
Published: January 2018

Detection and evaluation of inflammatory activity in uveitis is essential to the management of the condition, and yet continues to be largely dependent on subjective clinical measures. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurement of vitreous activity is an alternative to clinical vitreous haze scoring and has passed a number of early validation studies. In this study we aimed to evaluate the impact of ‘operator factors’ on the variability of the technique as part of the validation process, and to help evaluate its suitability for ‘real world’ use. Vitreous haze index was calculated as a ratio between the reflectivity of the vitreous and of the outer retina in each scan. Different scanning conditions were tested and their effect on the measurement is reported. Our results show that the ‘quantitative imaging’ technique of OCT-measured vitreous activity had good reliability in normal subjects under a range of ‘real world’ conditions, such as when the operator changes the averaging value. The technique was however vulnerable to highly inaccurate focussing or abnormal downward displacement of the image. OCT-based quantification of vitreous activity is a promising alternative to current subjective clinical estimates, with sufficient ‘tolerance’ to be used in routine clinical practice as well as clinical trials.
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury after Gradual versus Rapid Flow Restoration for Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Rats
Authors: Xu Wan-wan , Zhang Ying-ying , Su Juan , Liu Ao-fei , Wang Kai , Li Chen , Liu Yun-e , Zhang Yi-qun , Lv Jin , Jiang Wei-jian
Published: January 2018

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important cause of adverse prognosis after recanalization in patients with acute occlusion of major intracranial artery (AOMIA). Here, we provided data indicating that gradual flow restoration (GFR) would be superior to rapid flow restoration (RFR) in alleviating cerebral IRIs in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. A total of 94 MCAO rats with 15, 30 and 60-minute occlusion were randomly assigned to receive either GFR or RFR intervention. There were significant differences between GFR and RFR group in mean neurological severity score (1.02 versus 1.28; p < 0.05), median infarct ratio (0.016 versus 0.12; p < 0.001), median neuronal apoptosis ratio (1.81 versus 14.46; p < 0.001), and mean histopathological abnormality score (0.92 versus 1.66; p < 0.001). In addition, these differences were mainly distributed in 30-minute and 60-minute occlusion rats, not in 15-minute occlusion rats. These results indicated that GFR rather than RFR could effectively alleviate cerebral IRIs in MCAO rats, especially in rats with longer occlusion duration, suggesting that GFR may be particularly applicable to AOMIA patients who are presented to neurointerventionalists in the later-time of recanalization therapy window.
Transcriptional Regulation on Aneuploid Chromosomes in Diverse Candida albicans Mutants
Authors: Tucker Christopher , Bhattacharya Soumyaroop , Wakabayashi Hironao , Bellaousov Stanislav , Kravets Anatoliy , Welle Stephen L. , Myers Jason , Hayes Jeffrey J. , Bulger Michael , Rustchenko Elena
Published: January 2018

Candida albicans is a diploid fungus and a predominant opportunistic human pathogen. Notably, C. albicans employs reversible chromosomal aneuploidies as a means of survival in adverse environments. We previously characterized transcription on the monosomic chromosome 5 (Ch5) that arises with adaptation to growth on the toxic sugar sorbose in the mutant Sor125(55). We now extend this analysis to the trisomic hybrid Ch4/7 within Sor125(55) and a diverse group of three mutants harboring a single Ch5. We find a similar pattern of transcriptional changes on either type of aneuploid chromosome within these mutants wherein expression of many genes follows chromosome ploidy, consistent with a direct mechanism to regulate genes important for adaptation to growth. In contrast, a significant number of genes are expressed at the disomic level, implying distinct mechanisms compensating for gene dose on monosomic or trisomic chromosomes consistent with maintaining cell homeostasis. Finally, we find evidence for an additional mechanism that elevates expression of genes on normal disomic Ch4 and Ch7 in mutants to levels commensurate with that found on the trisomic Ch4/7b in Sor125(55). Several of these genes are similarly differentially regulated among mutants, suggesting they play key functions in either maintaining aneuploidy or adaptation to growth conditions.
Positive interactions of major-effect QTLs with genetic background that enhances rice yield under drought
Authors: Sandhu Nitika , Dixit Shalabh , Swamy B. P. Mallikarjuna , Vikram Prashant , Venkateshwarlu Challa , Catolos Margaret , Kumar Arvind
Published: January 2018

To improve the grain yield of the lowland-adapted popular rice variety Samba Mahsuri under reproductive-stage drought (RS) and to understand the interactions between drought QTLs, two mapping populations were developed using marker-assisted selection (MAS) and marker-assisted recurrent selection (MARS). The mean grain yield of pyramided lines (PLs) withqDTY2.2 + qDTY4.1in MAS is significantly higher under RS and irrigated control than lines with single QTLs. Among MARS PLs, lines with fourqDTYs(qDTY1.1 + qDTY2.1 + qDTY3.1 + qDTY11.1) and two QTLs (qDTY1.1 + qDTY11.1) yielded higher than PLs with otherqDTYcombinations. The selected PLs showed a yield advantage of 0.3–2.0 t ha−1under RS. An allelic profile of MAS PLs having sameqDTYcombination but with different yields under drought was studied. Hierarchical clustering grouped together the selected lines with high yield under drought. Epistasis test showed the interaction ofqDTY4.1andqDTY9.1loci withqDTY7.1significantly increased yield under drought and all the lines with higher yield under drought possessed the conserved region ofqDTY7.1on chromosome 7. The positive interactions among QTLs, effectiveness of QTLs in different backgrounds, introgression ofDTYQTLs together with resistance to biotic stresses shall help enhance grain yield under RS.
Large Area Radial Junction Silicon Nanowire Solar Mini-Modules
Authors: Al-Ghzaiwat Mutaz , Foldyna Martin , Fuyuki Takashi , Chen Wanghua , Johnson Erik V. , Meot Jacques , Roca i Cabarrocas Pere
Published: January 2018

In this work, we introduce the demonstration of 5 × 5 cm2 mini-modules based on radial junction silicon nanowire (RJ SiNW) devices grown by plasma-assisted vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) technique. The mini-modules are obtained thanks to an industrial laser scribing technique. The electrical parameters have been highlighted to address the performance of these devices and perspectives towards competitive RJ SiNW solar modules. Moreover, electroluminescence (EL) measurements were also conducted to assess the uniformity of the fabricated mini-modules. In addition, the structural characterization of solar cells and laser scribed lines has been assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The challenges and perspectives are also discussed.
Lignin and cellulose dynamics with straw incorporation in two contrasting cropping soils
Authors: Chen Xiangbi , Hu Yajun , Feng Shuzhen , Rui Yichao , Zhang Zhenhua , He Hongbo , He Xinhua , Ge Tida , Wu Jinshui , Su Yirong
Published: January 2018

Incorporation of crop residues is essential to enhance soil organic matter in arable ecosystems. Here, we monitored the dynamics of cellulose and lignin, the most abundant constituents of plant residues, and their relationships with enzyme activities, microbial gene abundances and soil properties after 13-year long-term and one-year short-term crop straw incorporation into upland and upland-paddy soils in a field-based experiment. Lignin, rather than cellulose, accumulated in both soils following straw incorporation. Cellulose was almost completely converted into non-cellulose forms within 6 and 3 months after straw incorporation into upland and upland-paddy rotation soils, respectively. Whereas, lignin accumulated at the rate of 129 and 137 mg kg−1yr−1within 13 years’ straw incorporation in upland and upland-paddy rotation, respectively. The predominance of recalcitrant vanillyl monomers in upland-paddy rotation indicated a high stability of lignin. Structural equation models revealed that the key factor driving cellulose and lignin dynamics was available nitrogen, followed by enzymes activities (cellobiohydrolases and laccases) and functional genes abundances (cbhI andlaccase-like) as mediated by soil pH. Our findings highlighted that upland might have higher carbon sequestration rate, whereas upland-paddy rotation system was more beneficial for accumulation of recalcitrant organic fractions under crop residue incorporation.
Prevention of Invasive Aspergillus Fungal Infections with the Suspension and Delayed-Release Tablet Formulations of Posaconazole in Patients with Haematologic Malignancies
Authors: Leclerc Elisabeth , Combarel David , Uzunov Madalina , Leblond Véronique , Funck-Brentano Christian , Zahr Noël
Published: January 2018

Posaconazole is a triazole antifungal used to prevent invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in patients receiving chemotherapy or haemotopoietic stem cell transplantation. Due to highly variable bioavailability of the oral suspension formulation, a delayed-release tablet was developed which showed improved bioavailability. A minimal target posaconazole plasma concentration of 0.7 mg/L is recommended for prophylaxis of IFIs. However, the relationship between plasma concentration of posaconazole and its efficacy against IFIs remains unclear. We analysed trough posaconazole concentrations and response against IFIs in 50 and 104 patients with haematologic malignancies receiving prophylactic posaconazole as the tablet or suspension formulation, respectively. Mean plasma concentration of posaconazole was 1.91 ± 1.06 mg/L and 0.82 ± 0.57 mg/L in the tablet and the oral suspension group, respectively (p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients reaching the minimal target concentration of 0.7 mg/L was 92.0% and 47.1% in the tablet and oral suspension groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). Emergent aspergillosis occurred in 9 (8.7%) patients in the suspension group and in none of the patients taking the tablet formulation (p = 0.032). Our results show a relationship between plasma concentrations of posaconazole and its prophylactic efficacy in patients with haematologic malignancies. Target posaconazole concentrations are reached more efficiently with the tablet than with the suspension formulation.
Measurements of AMPs in stratum corneum of atopic dermatitis and healthy skin–tape stripping technique
Authors: Clausen Maja-Lisa , Slotved H.-C. , Krogfelt Karen A. , Agner Tove
Published: January 2018

Decreased levels of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in atopic dermatitis (AD) have previously been reported and have been linked to the increased susceptibility to skin infections found in AD patients. This study intents to identify AMPs: hBD-2, hBD-3, RNase7, psoriasin and LL-37 in AD patients and healthy controls, and determine concentrations in consecutive depths of the outer most skin layers. Tape stripping was used on lesional and non-lesional skin. From each skin site, 35 consecutive tape strips were collected and pooled in groups of 5. Commercially available ELISA kits were used to determine AMP concentration in stratum corneum samples. hBD-2, hBD-3, RNase7 and psoriasin were identified in stratum corneum samples. hBD-3-level was markedly higher in AD non-lesional skin compared to healthy controls, and a similar trend was observed for RNase7. Most AMPs were distributed evenly through 35 tape strips, implying a homogeneous distribution of antimicrobial defense in the outer most skin layers. The findings indicate that AD patients may not suffer from a general baseline deficiency in AMPs, and that the innate immune defense is present throughout the stratum corneum, both insights of importance for understanding the role of AMPs in AD.
Publisher Correction: Circadian preference towards morningness is associated with lower slow sleep spindle amplitude and intensity in adolescents
Authors: Merikanto Ilona , Kuula Liisa , Makkonen Tommi , Bódizs Róbert , Halonen Risto , Heinonen Kati , Lahti Jari , Räikkönen Katri , Pesonen Anu-Katriina
Published: January 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Publisher Correction: Freeform micropatterning of living cells into cell culture medium using direct inkjet printing
Authors: Park Ju An , Yoon Sejeong , Kwon Jimin , Now Hesung , Kim Young Kwon , Kim Woo-Jong , Yoo Joo-Yeon , Jung Sungjune
Published: January 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Publisher Correction: Functional coupling of human pancreatic islets and liver spheroids on-a-chip: Towards a novel human ex vivo type 2 diabetes model
Authors: Bauer Sophie , Wennberg Huldt Charlotte , Kanebratt Kajsa P. , Durieux Isabell , Gunne Daniela , Andersson Shalini , Ewart Lorna , Haynes William G. , Maschmeyer Ilka , Winter Annika , Ämmälä Carina , Marx Uwe , Andersson Tommy B.
Published: January 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
A new ‘Turn-on’ PET-CHEF based fluorescent sensor for Al3+ and CN− ions: applications in real samples
Authors: Gupta Akul Sen , Paul Kamaldeep , Luxami Vijay
Published: January 2018

An antipyrine and naphthoic acid-based hybrid molecular architect was synthesized and its photophysical behavior towards various cations and anions was further investigated.
Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of aldehydes with aryl halides via hydrazone intermediates
Authors: Tang Jianting , Lv Leiyang , Dai Xi-Jie , Li Chen-Chen , Li Lu , Li Chao-Jun
Published: January 2018

A novel nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between aldehydes and aryl halides via hydrazone intermediates has been developed. It merges the Wolff–Kishner reduction and classical cross-coupling reactions, thus opening up new routes in designing chemical synthesis.
Ligand mediated evolution of size dependent magnetism in cobalt nanoclusters
Authors: Hartmann Michael J. , Millstone Jill E. , Häkkinen Hannu
Published: January 2018

Density functional theory calculations show that the collection and distribution of local coordination environments, from both Co–Co and Co–L interactions, in CoNLM nanoclusters determine size dependent magnetic trends.
The fold preference and thermodynamic stability of α-synuclein fibrils is encoded in the non-amyloid-β component region
Authors: Xu Liang , Bhattacharya Shayon , Thompson Damien
Published: January 2018

The strain-dependent synucleinopathies may be partially imprinted in the fold-dependent thermodynamic properties of non-amyloid-β component (NAC) fibrils.
A DFT+U study of the catalytic degradation of 1,2-dichloroethane over CeO2
Authors: Yin Li-Li , Lu Guanzhong , Gong Xue-Qing
Published: January 2018

The catalytic degradation of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) at CeO2(111) have been investigated by periodic density functional theory calculations corrected by on-site Coulomb interactions, and the surface oxygen vacancies were found to be important by providing the adsorption sites as well as charge transfer to favor the C–Cl bond breaking.
The surface construction of Mo–O–Bi coordination for high catalytic performance in gas-phase epoxidation of propylene with O2
Authors: Xu Yanting , Guo Lijuan , Chen Xiaohui , Huang Qingming
Published: January 2018

Mo–O–Bi coordination was achieved by support modification in which MoO3 was anchored on the support, resulting in dramatically enhanced catalytic performance.
Redox-responsive UCNPs-DPA conjugated NGO-PEG-BPEI-DOX for imaging-guided PTT and chemotherapy for cancer treatment
Authors: Gulzar Arif , Xu Jiating , Xu Liangge , Yang Piaoping , He Fei , Yang Dan , An Guanghui , Ansari Mohd Bismillah
Published: January 2018

The disulfide bond (–S–S–) is an enormously valuable functional group in a variety of chemical and biological agents that display effective reactivity or biological activities (e.g., antitumor activities).
Ligand dynamics and protonation preferences of Rh and Ir complexes bearing an almost, but not quite, pendent base
Authors: Morrow T. J. , Christman W. E. , Williams J. Z. , Arulsamy N. , Goroncy A. , Hulley E. B.
Published: January 2018

Pendent nucleophiles can assist transition metals mediate bond rearrangements (e.g.as proton acceptors), but can also act as inhibitory hemilabile ligands. This dual nature has been studied in a series of rhodium and iridium complexes that exhibit disparate nucleophile binding ability in the ground state and in protonation reactions.
Bright green-to-yellow emitting Cu(i) complexes based on bis(2-pyridyl)phosphine oxides: synthesis, structure and effective thermally activated-delayed fluorescence
Authors: Artem'ev Alexander V. , Ryzhikov Maxim R. , Taidakov Ilya V. , Rakhmanova Mariana I. , Varaksina Evgenia A. , Bagryanskaya Irina Yu. , Malysheva Svetlana F. , Belogorlova Nataliya A.
Published: January 2018

A series of highly emissive Cu(i) complexes exhibiting green-to-yellow TADF is presented.
Bromine-rich complexes of bismuth: experimental and theoretical studies
Authors: Adonin Sergey A. , Gorokh Igor D. , Novikov Alexander S. , Samsonenko Denis G. , Plyusnin Pavel E. , Sokolov Maxim N. , Fedin Vladimir P.
Published: January 2018

Three novel polybromide complexes of bismuth(iii) – (2,6-MePyH)3[BiBr5(Br3)] (1), (H2bpp){[BiBr5](Br2)} (2) and (3-ClPyH)2{[BiBr5](Br2)} (3) – were synthesized.
Robust graphene composite films for multifunctional electrochemical capacitors with an ultrawide range of areal mass loading toward high-rate frequency response and ultrahigh specific capacitance
Authors: Zhang Miao , Yu Xiaowen , Ma Hongyun , Du Wencheng , Qu Liangti , Li Chun , Shi Gaoquan
Published: January 2018

Flexible electrochemical capacitors (ECs) with an ultrawide range of areal mass loading realize high-rate frequency response and ultrahigh specific capacitance.
Meta-analysis ofDaphnia magnananotoxicity experiments in accordance with test guidelines
Authors: Shin Hyun Kil , Seo Myungwon , Shin Seong Eun , Kim Kwang-Yon , Park June-Woo , No Kyoung Tai
Published: January 2018

This is the first attempt to perform meta-analysis on assay results in accordance with OECD and US EPA test guidelines forDaphnia magna. This study identified the significant experimental parameter that caused inconsistencies between the assay results from the novel dataset.
Diet and microbiota linked in health and disease
Authors: Requena T. , Martínez-Cuesta M. C. , Peláez C.
Published: January 2018

Diet has shaped microbiota profiles through human evolution.
A pre-column derivatization method allowing quantitative metabolite profiling of carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl group containing pharmaceuticals in human plasma via liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS/MS)
Authors: Li Sanwang , Klencsár Balázs , Balcaen Lieve , Cuyckens Filip , Lynen Frederic , Vanhaecke Frank
Published: January 2018

Novel analytical strategies for investigating drug ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion).
Novel synthesis of a Cu2O–graphene nanoplatelet composite through a two-step electrodeposition method for selective detection of hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Kumar J. Sharath , Murmu Naresh Chandra , Samanta Pranab , Banerjee Amit , Ganesh R. Sankar , Inokawa Hiroshi , Kuila Tapas
Published: January 2018

Optimized electrodeposition technique for the synthesis of Cu2O–graphene composite for H2O2sensing.
Temperature-induced self-assembly of two kinds Zn(ii)-based coordination polymers with luminescence properties for application in sensing and adsorption
Authors: Liu Yan , Liu Wei , Xu Cong , Dou Wei , Ju Zhenghua , Liu Weisheng
Published: January 2018

Temperature-induced self-assembly of coordination polymers (CPs) is of great importance for structural tunability and is quite necessary for further research on structure–property relationships.
Hexamethylenetetramine: an effective and universal nitrogen-doping reagent to enhance the photoluminescence of carbon nanodots
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhang Pu , Ye Cuiying , Fu Wensheng , Yuan Hua , Hu Pingping , Liu Yang
Published: January 2018

Guidelines of how to select nitrogen-doping reagents for enhancing photoluminescence of carbon nanodots are proposed by taking hexamethylenetetramine as a typical example.
Iodine–NH4OAc mediated regioselective synthesis of 2-aroyl-3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from 1,3-diaryl-prop-2-en-1-ones
Authors: Kour Dilpreet , Gupta Annah , Kapoor Kamal K. , Gupta Vivek K. , Rajnikant Rajnikant , Singh Deepika , Das Parthasarathi
Published: January 2018

An efficient, metal-free regioselective synthesis of 2-aroyl-3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from 1,3-diaryl-prop-2-en-1-ones has been developed by their reaction with 2-aminopyridine in the presence of I2/NH4OAc.
Ce(iii)-catalyzed highly efficient synthesis of pyridyl benzamides from aminopyridines and nitroolefins without external oxidants
Authors: Chen Zhengwang , Wen Xiaowei , Qian Yiping , Liang Pei , Liu Botao , Ye Min
Published: January 2018

An efficient Ce(iii)-catalyzed synthesis of amides and oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridines from 2-aminopyridines and nitroolefins via CC bond cleavage has been developed.
A phenol-fused tetrathiafulvalene: modulation of hydrogen-bond patterns and electrical conductivity in the charge-transfer salt
Authors: Ueda Akira , Mori Hatsumi
Published: January 2018

Elimination of one hydroxy group from a tetrathiafulvalene derivative changed hydrogen-bond patterns in the charge-transfer salt, leading to improved conductivity.
Synthesis of CrOx/C catalysts for low temperature NH3-SCR with enhanced regeneration ability in the presence of SO2
Authors: Yu Shuohan , Xu Sheng , Sun Bowen , Lu Yiyang , Li Lulu , Zou Weixin , Wang Peng , Gao Fei , Tang Changjin , Dong Lin
Published: January 2018

Novel CrOx@C catalyst with both remarkable NH3-SCR activity and satisfactory regeneration ability in the presence of SO2.
A DFT study on the mechanism of the sulfonic acid + alcohol esterification reaction
Authors: Salvatella Luis
Published: January 2018

A DFT study reveals the unfeasibility of pentacoordinate sulfur intermediates in the sulfonic acid esterification reaction.
Highly selective fluorescent carbon dots probe for mercury(ii) based on thymine–mercury(ii)–thymine structure
Authors: Li Yong , Zhang Zhan-Yao , Yang Hao-Fan , Shao Guang , Gan Feng
Published: January 2018

A novel thymine-functional fluorescent sensor was developed for Hg2+detection with high sensitivity and selectivity.
Many-body effects and non-local charge fluctuations in the double perovskite Sr2FeMoO6
Authors: Martins Henrique P. , Guedes Eduardo B. , Mossanek Rodrigo J. O. , Prado Fernando D. , Caneiro Alberto , Abbate Miguel
Published: January 2018

We studied the electronic structure of Sr2FeMoO6 using core level and valence band photoemission.
Corrosion behaviour of micro-arc oxidation coatings on Mg–2Sr prepared in poly(ethylene glycol)-incorporated electrolytes
Authors: Gao Dandan , Dou Jinhe , Hu Cheng , Yu Huijun , Chen Chuanzhong
Published: January 2018

The highest corrosion resistance and lowest biodegradation are observed on the ceramic coating prepared in electrolytes containing 8 g L−1PEG1000.
Identifying the molecular targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) in ox-LDL induced macrophage-derived foam cells based on the integration of metabolomics and network pharmacology
Authors: Xu W. J. , Chen L. M. , Wei Z. Y. , Wang P. Q. , Liu J. , Dong J. J. , Jia Z. X. , Yang J. , Ma Z. C. , Su R. B. , Xiao H. B. , Liu A.
Published: January 2018

The discovery of drug targets and the specific regulatory manner of active compounds based on a PPI network.
UV and blue-light anti-reflective structurally colored contact lenses based on a copolymer hydrogel with amorphous array nanostructures
Authors: Lai Chun-Feng , Li Jia-Sian , Fang Yu-Ting , Chien Chun-Jen , Lee Chien-Huei
Published: January 2018

Novel anti-reflective structurally colored contact lenses not only block UV- and blue-light but also avoid the risk of chemical dyes.
Controllable synthesis of raspberry-like PS–SiO2 nanocomposite particles via Pickering emulsion polymerization
Authors: Zhang Xiaotian , Sun Yangyi , Mao Yijing , Chen Kunlin , Cao Zhihai , Qi Dongming
Published: January 2018

Monodisperse and well-defined nanometer-sized organic–inorganic raspberry-like PS–SiO2 NCPs synthesized via Pickering emulsion polymerization using pre-hydrolysized MPS as directly auxiliary comonomer.
Synthesis and insecticidal activities of 5-deoxyavermectin B2a oxime ester derivatives
Authors: Sun Guoshao , Zhang Jingjing , Jin Shuhui , Zhang Jianjun
Published: January 2018

Three series of avermectin B2a oxime ester derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their insecticidal activity.
Synthesis of C14–C21 acid fragments of cytochalasin Z8via anti-selective aldol condensation and B-alkyl Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling
Authors: Han Weiwei
Published: January 2018

An efficient synthesis of the C14–C21 acid fragment of cytochalasin Z8 was accomplished in 10 steps with 14% overall yield.
Magnesium surface enrichment of CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles immobilized with gold: reusable catalysts for green oxidation of benzyl alcohol
Authors: de Abreu Wiury C. , Garcia Marco A. S. , Nicolodi Sabrina , de Moura Carla V. R. , de Moura Edmilson M.
Published: January 2018

Gold nanoparticles have shown excellent activity for selective oxidation of alcohols; such catalytic systems are highly dependent on the initial activation of the substrates, which must occur on the catalyst surface in heterogeneous catalysts.
Hydrogen-bond strength changes network dynamics in associating telechelic PDMS
Authors: Xing Kunyue , Tress Martin , Cao Pengfei , Cheng Shiwang , Saito Tomonori , Novikov Vladimir N. , Sokolov Alexei P.
Published: January 2018

A telechelic hydrogen-bonding PDMS exhibits properties of a dual network despite containing only one type of end-group.
Drag crisis moderation by thin air layers sustained on superhydrophobic spheres falling in water
Authors: Jetly Aditya , Vakarelski Ivan U. , Thoroddsen Sigurdur T.
Published: January 2018

A thin air layer sustained on the surface of superhydrophobic sphere can reduce drag by up to 80%.
Wettability control of droplet durotaxis
Authors: Bueno Jesus , Bazilevs Yuri , Juanes Ruben , Gomez Hector
Published: January 2018

Droplet motion on substrates with stiffness gradients is controlled by wettability.
Structure and rheology of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates
Authors: Marciel Amanda B. , Srivastava Samanvaya , Tirrell Matthew V.
Published: January 2018

Scattering investigations of the structure and chain conformations, and the rheological properties of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) comprising model polyelectrolytes are presented.
Bilayer sheet protrusions and budding from bilayer membranes induced by hydrolysis and condensation reactions
Authors: Nakagawa Koh M. , Noguchi Hiroshi
Published: January 2018

Shape transformations of flat bilayer membranes and vesicles induced by hydrolysis and condensation reactions of amphiphilic molecules are studied using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.
γ-FeOOH and amorphous Ni–Mn hydroxide on carbon nanofoam paper electrodes for hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Nguyen Tuyen , Fátima Montemor M.
Published: January 2018

High energy density, rate performance and long cycle life hybrid γ-FeOOH-carbon nanofoam paper∥amorphous Ni–Mn hydroxide-carbon nanofoam paper supercapacitors.
EMIMBF4–GBL binary electrolyte working at −70 °C and 3.7 V for a high performance graphene-based capacitor
Authors: Tian Jiarui , Cui Chaojie , Xie Qing , Qian Weizhong , Xue Chi , Miao Yonghua , Jin Ying , Zhang Gang , Guo Baohua
Published: January 2018

Addition of GBL in EMIMBF4 contributes to high capacitance performance of EDLC at −70 °C.
Sinapultide-loaded lipid microbubbles and the stabilization effect of sinapultide on the shells of lipid microbubbles
Authors: Liu Dong , Zhang Zuoheng , Qin Zhiguo , Xing Jing , Liu Yang , Jin Juan , Yang Fang , Gu Ning
Published: January 2018

Sinapultide-loaded lipid microbubbles were fabricated for ultrasound imaging, and the stabilization mechanism was investigated by molecular dynamics simulation.
Oxidized carbon quantum dot–graphene oxide nanocomposites for improving data retention of resistive switching memory
Authors: Qi Meng , Bai Liang , Xu Haiyang , Wang Zhongqiang , Kang Zhenhui , Zhao Xiaoning , Liu Weizhen , Ma Jiangang , Liu Yichun
Published: January 2018

Data retention was improved in GO-based RRAM through fabricating OCQD–GO nanocomposites, thanks to the increase in the oxygen group migration barrier.
Achieving better impedance matching by a sulfurization method through converting Ni into NiS/Ni3S4 composites
Authors: Lv Jing , Cheng Yan , Liu Wei , Quan Bin , Liang Xiaohui , Ji Guangbin , Du Youwei
Published: January 2018

A sulfurization method was applied to Ni to obtain a novel and excellent microwave absorber-NiS/Ni3S4 with good matching impedance.
Rod-shaped Zn–Ag–In–Te nanocrystals with wavelength-tunable band-edge photoluminescence in the near-IR region
Authors: Kameyama Tatsuya , Sugiura Kouta , Ishigami Yujiro , Yamamoto Takahisa , Kuwabata Susumu , Okuhata Tomoki , Tamai Naoto , Torimoto Tsukasa
Published: January 2018

The bandedge PL peak wavelength of ZnTe–AgInTe2 solid solution nanocrystals was tunable in the near-IR region by changing their chemical composition.
Perinatal exposure to 4-nonylphenol can affect fatty acid synthesis in the livers of F1 and F2 generation rats
Authors: Zhang Hong-yu , Xue Wei-yan , Zhu Ying-shuang , Huo Wen-qian , Xu Bing , Xu Shun-qing
Published: January 2018

To explore the effects of different dosages of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) on the fatty acid synthesis and estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the livers of F1 and F2 rats.
Bioinspired total synthesis of (−)-gymnothelignan L
Authors: Chen Peng , Huo Liang , Li Huilin , Liu Lin , Yuan Ziyun , Zhang Hao , Feng Shangbiao , Xie Xingang , Wang Xiaolei , She Xuegong
Published: January 2018

The first asymmetric total synthesis of gymnothelignan L has been accomplished in 14 steps with 11.2% overall yield. The synthetic approach features an anti Evans aldol reaction, a diastereoselective methylation, a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and a bioinspired desymmetric transannular Friedel–Crafts reaction.
Large electric machines for aircraft electric propulsion
Authors: Zhang Xiaolong , Bowman Cheryl L. , O'Connell Tim C. , Haran Kiruba S.
Published: January 2018

To achieve benefits similar to those seen in hybrid‐/all‐electric ground‐based and marine vehicles, electric propulsion has been proposed for large commercial aircraft. Among the main drivers of this are improved fuel economy, reduced harmful emissions, and lower audible noise. In converting to electric propulsion, the added electrical components’ masses must be minimised so that the benefits that the components enable – improved turbine efficiency, distributed propulsion and propulsion‐airframe integration – are not cancelled out by their weight penalty. This puts stringent requirements on the large electric machines used in the system, both those that generate electric power from the turbine shaft and those that drive propellers or ducted fans, because they are among the heaviest of the added electric components. A key machine design metric in this application is the specific power (SP), or the power‐to‐mass ratio. This study gives a comprehensive overview of large electric machines for aircraft electric propulsion applications, with a focus on methods for mass reduction and SP improvement.
Matrix completion via capped nuclear norm
Authors: Zhang Fanlong , Yang Zhangjing , Chen Yu , Yang Jian , Yang Guowei
Published: January 2018

Matrix completion is to recover a low‐rank matrix from a subset of its entries. One of the solution strategies is based on nuclear norm minimisation. However, since the nuclear norm is defined as the sum of all singular values, each of which is treated equally, the rank function may not be well approximated in practice. To overcome this drawback, this study presents a matrix completion method based on capped nuclear norm (MC‐CNN). The capped nuclear norm can reflect the rank function more directly and accurately than the nuclear norm, Schatten p‐norm (to the power p) and truncated nuclear norm. The relation between the capped nuclear norm and the truncated nuclear norm is revealed for the first time. Difference of convex functions’ programming is employed to solve MC‐CNN. In the proposed algorithm, a key sub‐problem, i.e. a matrix completion problem with linear regularisation term, is solved by using the active subspace selection method. In addition, the algorithm convergence is discussed. Experimental results show encouraging results of the proposed algorithm in comparison with the state‐of‐the‐art matrix completion methods on both synthetic and real visual datasets.
Hierarchical palmprint feature extraction and recognition based on multi‐wavelets and complex network
Authors: Zhou Lijian , Zhang Chen , Wang Zuowei , Wang Ying , Lu Zhe‐Ming
Published: January 2018

This study presents a hierarchical palmprint feature extraction and recognition approach based on multi‐wavelet and complex network (CN) since they can effectively decrease redundant information and enhance key points of main lines and wrinkles. The palmprint is first pre‐filtered and decomposed once using multi‐wavelet. Three components (LL1,2,3) corresponding to the pre‐filter except for diagonal component are extracted as the elementary features. Second, binary images (BLL1,2,3) are obtained by the average window method using different thresholds. Third, three series of dynamic evolution CN models (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd CNs) are constructed from global to local, which is based on the mosaiced images obtained from BLL1,2,3, BLL1 and four equally divided sub‐images of BLL1, respectively. Fourth, statistical features are extracted from complex networks, in which average degree and standard deviation of the degrees are extracted for the 1st CNs and average degrees are extracted for the 2nd and 3rd CNs. Fifth, the fisher feature is extracted using the linear discriminate analysis method. Finally, the nearest neighbourhood classifier is used to recognise palmprint. Based on the CASIA Palmprint Image Database, experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively recognise palmprint with good robustness and overcome the problem of small training samples number.
Contour detection model using linear and non‐linear modulation based on non‐CRF suppression
Authors: Lin Chuan , Xu Guili , Cao Yijun
Published: January 2018

Psychophysical and neurophysiological investigations on the human visual system show that most neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1) possess a non‐classical receptive field (nCRF) region in addition to the CRF region. The nCRF has a modulatory, normally inhibitory, effect on the responses to visual stimuli generated within the CRF. In computational terms, this mechanism suppresses the response to edges in the presence of similar edges in the surroundings. Many computational techniques have been proposed to address the surround suppression mechanism. These methods introduce an inhibition term that is required to suppress the textures and protect the contours. Several studies have found that the spatial summation properties over the receptive fields of retinal X cells are approximately linear, while they are non‐linear for Y cells. Inspired by the visual information processing in the X–Y channel and spatial summation properties of X and Y cells, the authors propose a contour detector using linear and non‐linear modulations based on nCRF suppression. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate that their contour detector significantly outperforms other algorithms. The methods proposed in this study are expected to facilitate the development of efficient computational models in the field of machine vision.
Implementation of UWB BPF with modularised design based on SQR and DCR
Authors: Liang Jun Ge , Wang Cong , Kim Nam Young
Published: January 2018

Two ultra‐wideband (UWB) bandpass filter (BPF) with fractional bandwidths of 30% (1.2 GHz) and 52% (2.5 GHz) are developed and named as UWB BPFs I and II, respectively. Two novel generation approaches of resonant mode (RM) are first presented and analysed, which are named as synchronous‐quasi‐resonance (SQR) and double‐curved‐route (DCR), assisting in generating more RMs with the same prototype. First, an admittance prototype and its equivalent network are proposed to realise an UWB with multi‐RMs and transmission zeros (TZs), whose detailed generation mechanisms are discussed. Then, two UWB BPFs are implemented employing the same prototype and design procedures. Their distinct characteristics of frequency response show that the one employing SQR and DCR can generate three more in‐band RMs and one more TZ in high rejection band over another, which leads to a 1.3 GHz wider bandwidth and 1.0 GHz more harmonic suppression. Finally, a modularised design model is proposed to build the UWB or multi‐band filters requiring arbitrary numbers of RMs and TZs.
Design of a tuneable and broadband absorber using a switchable transmissive/reflective FSS
Authors: Zeng Xianliang , Gao Meng , Zhang Linxi , Wan Guobin , Hu Bin
Published: January 2018

A new architecture for designing a tuneable wideband absorber using an active frequency selective surface (AFSS) is presented. The proposed AFSS is composed of 2‐D periodic array of two opposite directional anchor‐shaped metal strips printed on a dielectric substrate with no metallic screen on the back side, where positive–intrinsic–negative diodes as active components are embedded between each two anchor‐shaped strips. Biasing at different voltages to turn ON and OFF the diodes, AFSS structure can react as a switchable surface between transmissive and reflective states. While, the absorber consists of the designed AFSS structure and a metallic back‐plane, separated by a foam spacer. By dynamically changing the bias voltage of the diodes, the impedance of the proposed absorber can be adjusted and match with the free space at its resonant frequencies. Doing this, the presented absorber is able to offer a tuneable reflectivity level of less than −10 dB over a wide frequency band from 7 to 13.1 GHz. The detailed design of a switchable transmissive/reflective surface and a tuneable wideband absorber are reported. Both the simulated and measured results have verified the proposed performances. Furthermore, a good agreement between the measurement and simulation results has been obtained.
Highly squinted SAR imaging simulation of ship‐ocean scene based on EM scattering mechanism
Authors: Fan Wenna , Zhang Min , Li Jinxing
Published: January 2018

To investigate highly squinted spotlight synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of an electrically large ship target over a rough sea surface, this work focuses on the simulation analysis of SAR images from such a composite scene. For this problem, there are two key issues need to be considered, namely the simulation and the processing of SAR echoes. Considering the first issue, an efficient facet scattering model based on capillary wave modification facet scattering model and geometrical optics and physical optics hybrid method is applied to calculate the electromagnetic (EM) scattering characteristics from a real ship‐ocean scene, based on which SAR echoes can be obtained. For the second issue, a non‐linear frequency scaling algorithm (NFSA) is employed to efficiently process the highly squinted SAR echoes. Compared with the traditional frequency scaling algorithm, the NFSA extends the frequency scaling operation to the cubic order and makes a more accurate secondary range compression. With the solutions to the two issues, SAR images of a complicated ship‐ocean scene under different incident and squint angles are presented and analysed. The reasonable results demonstrate the validity of the simulation approach and the practicability of the model for highly squinted spotlight SAR images.