bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Light-switchable nanoparticles based on amphiphilic diblock, triblock and heterograft polyoxazoline
Authors: Korchia L. , Bouilhac C. , Aubert A. , Robin J.-J. , Lapinte V.
Published: September 2017

Photo-active nanoparticles (NPD, NPT, NPH) were elaborated in water from amphiphilic diblock (D), triblock (T) and heterograft (H) copolymers based on a chromatic unit, coumarin, linked to an alkyl chain and a hydrophilic polyoxazoline chain.
Physical and chemical dual-confinement of polysulfides within hierarchically meso-microporous nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages for advanced Li–S batteries
Authors: Wu Pan , Sun Ming-Hui , Yu Yong , Peng Zhao , Bulbula Shimeles T. , Li Yu , Chen Li-Hua , Su Bao-Lian
Published: September 2017

Lithium–Sulfur (Li–S) batteries with high theoretical specific energy, environmentally benign and low cost are considered to be one of the most promising next-generation energy-storage systems compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries.
A phosphine-free, atom-efficient cross-coupling reaction of triorganoindiums with acyl chlorides catalyzed by immobilization of palladium(0) in MCM-41
Authors: Miao Jiankang , Huang Bin , Liu Haiyi , Cai Mingzhong
Published: September 2017

The phosphine-free, atom-efficient cross-coupling of triorganoindiums with acyl chlorides has been achieved using a recyclable MCM-41-immobilized palladium(0)–Schiff base complex.
Design, crystal structure and atomic force microscopy study of thioether ligatedd,l-cyclic antimicrobial peptides against multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: He Runze , Di Bonaventura Ivan , Visini Ricardo , Gan Bee-Ha , Fu Yongchun , Probst Daniel , Lüscher Alexandre , Köhler Thilo , van Delden Christian , Stocker Achim , Hong Wenjing , Darbre Tamis , Reymond Jean-Louis
Published: September 2017

A new family of cyclic antimicrobial peptides is reported targeting multidrug resistantPseudomonas aeruginosaby membrane disruption.
A polysulfide reduction accelerator – NiS2-modified sulfurized polyacrylonitrile as a high performance cathode material for lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Liu Yonggang , Wang Weikun , Wang Anbang , Jin Zhaoqing , Zhao Hailei , Yang Yusheng
Published: September 2017

A NiS2-modified sulfurized polyacrylonitrile composite is prepared by simply co-heating a mixture of sulfur, NiCO3, and polyacrylonitrile.
Sulfonated polyether ether ketone/strontium zirconite@TiO2 nanocomposite membranes for direct methanol fuel cells
Authors: Gnana kumar G. , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: September 2017

The use of SrZrO3@TiO2 nanocuboids as an inorganic filler in SPEEK membranes enhances their performance in DMFCs with a power density higher than that achieved with a Nafion 117 membrane.
One-step synthesis of multilayered 2D Sn nanodendrites as a high-performance anode material for Na-ion batteries
Authors: Kim Tae-Hee , Hong Kyung-Sik , Sohn DongRak , Kim MinJoong , Nam Do-Hwan , Cho EunAe , Kwon HyukSang
Published: September 2017

Multilayered 2D Sn nanodendrites with high Na-storage capacity and excellent cycling stability were synthesized by a one-step electrodeposition process.
Ti-Doped WO3 synthesized by a facile wet bath method for improved electrochromism
Authors: Zhan Yi , Tan Ming Rui Joel , Cheng Xing , Tan Wei Ming Alvin , Cai Guo Fa , Chen Jing Wei , Kumar Vipin , Magdassi Shlomo , Lee Pooi See
Published: September 2017

WO3 based nanomaterials with a size as small as 5 nm were synthesized via a facile wet bath method that leads to Ti doping of WO3 based on the heterovalency of W(vi) and Ti(iv).
All inkjet-printed piezoelectric electronic devices: energy generators, sensors and actuators
Authors: Thuau Damien , Kallitsis Konstantinos , Dos Santos Fabrice Domingues , Hadziioannou Georges
Published: September 2017

Entirely inkjet-printed flexible P(VDF–TrFE) based piezoelectric sensors and actuators have been fabricated and characterized.
Optimizing thienothiophene chain lengths of D–π–D hole transport materials in perovskite solar cells for improving energy levels and hole mobility
Authors: Chi Wei-Jie , Zheng Dao-Yuan , Chen Xiao-Fang , Li Ze-Sheng
Published: September 2017

The energy levels and hole mobility of D–π–D hole transport materials can be optimized by changing the thienothiophene chain lengths.
Flexible nonvolatile resistive memory devices based on SrTiO3 nanosheets and polyvinylpyrrolidone composites
Authors: Chen Guilin , Zhang Peng , Pan Lulu , Qi Lin , Yu Fucheng , Gao Cunxu
Published: September 2017

A non-volatile resistive switching memory effect was observed in flexible memory device based on SrTiO3 nanosheets and polyvinylpyrrolidone composites.
Innovative CFAR detector with effective parameter estimation method for generalised gamma distribution and iterative sliding window strategy
Authors: Zhao Wei , Li Jiayu , Yang Xueqing , Peng Qichao , Wang Jun
Published: September 2017

For high‐resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR), constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detectors are widely used to separate targets from background and it is proved that generalised gamma distribution () can model the non‐homogeneous clutter appropriately. However, CFAR detectors based on possess two problems. First, the methods for solving highly non‐linear equations of resort to numerical iterative algorithms, which are computationally expensive. To avoid this, the authors present a novel analytic solution for parameter estimation of by exploiting a third‐order approximation of the polygamma function. This novel analytic solution can result in more accurate parameter estimation and can fit a wider range of the parameters. The second problem is that in a multi‐target SAR image, some target pixels may be classified as clutter pixels. To select pixels of interest, an iterative sliding window approach is often used in CFAR. They analyse the relationship between the detection probability and the number of iterations, and prove that this strategy can reduce the miss rate and false detection rate effectively. On the basis of the aforementioned parameter estimation method and the iterative sliding window approach, an innovative and effective CFAR detector is proposed in this study and its superiority is demonstrated by experiments.
A Quantitative NMR Method for Silyllithium Analysis
Authors: Sieburth Scott , Bo Yingjian
Published: September 2017

A rapid and extremely simple method for silyl anion analysis is presented. The progress of silyllithium reagent preparation can be determined by quenching an aliquot with neat chloro(trimethyl)silane, evaporation, dilution with CDCl3, and direct proton NMR analysis. This procedure is fast, simple, and allows for identification and relative quantification of the starting reagent, intermediates, and the silyllithium product.
Rheumatic Diseases and Molecular Physical Medicine – New Aspects
Authors: Lange Uwe , Müller-Ladner Ulf , Dischereit Gabriel
Published: September 2017

A multimodal treatment of rheumatic diseases without physical medicine is incomplete. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical medicine are only partially understood. Modern molecular medicine offers new insights into pivotal mechanisms and mediators of the inflammatory process and into interactions between cells of the immune system and bone cells. Investigating the potential influences of different methods of physical medicine on the central regulatory processes of inflammatory rheumatic diseases is of great interest, highly fascinating and opens up new avenues of research for the future. This article focuses on the novel results of molecular physical medicine in rheumatic diseases and osteoporosis.
Prävention von Gehirnerschütterungen im Juniorenfußball – Ist eine Abschaffung des Kopfballspiels notwendig?
Authors: Krutsch Volker , Krutsch Werner , Jansen Petra , Hoffmann Helmut , Angele Peter , Lehmann Jennifer , Loose Oliver , Gänsslen Axel , Nerlich Michael , Weber Johannes
Published: September 2017

Fußball wird als beliebteste Sportart weltweit von einer Großzahl von Verletzungen begleitet. Zu den seltenen Verletzungen, mit zum Teil schwerwiegenden Folgen, zählen Schädelhirntraumen, deren Verletzungsmechanismen im Fußball multifaktoriell sind. Der Ball gehört im Rahmen des Kopfballspiels zu den seltenen Auslösern einer Kopfverletzung im Fußball. Kurz-, mittel- und langfristige Folgen von Kopfbällen im Fußball sind insgesamt nur unzureichend untersucht und es sind kaum praktische Fallbeispiele mit schwerwiegenden Folgen bekannt. Das seit dem November 2015 bestehende Kopfballverbot im Juniorenfußball der USA ist unter Berücksichtigung der Angst und des hohen Risikos für Schädelhirntraumen bei den beliebtesten amerikanischen Sportarten wie American Football oder Eishockey für den US-Sport im Allgemeinen nachvollziehbar, jedoch sollte diese Entscheidung zum Kopfballverbot im Fußball aufgrund fehlender wissenschaftlicher Daten und anderen Erfahrungen aus der Praxis in Europa nicht ungeprüft übernommen werden. Vielmehr sind andere Präventionsmaßnahmen für Schädelhirntraumen und weitere Verletzungen im Juniorenfußball notwendig und wozu die Anpassung der Ballgrößen für Juniorenfußballer gehört und bereits Alltag ist. Das Regelwerk so zu ändern, dass der Kopfball im Juniorenfußball gänzlich abgeschafft wird, ist nach Meinung der Autoren deswegen nicht zwingend erforderlich. Weitere Studien sind hier für eine Vereinheitlichung des weltweiten Fußballsports notwendig.
Ernährungsmedizinische Aspekte in der Rheumatologie
Authors: Adam Olaf
Published: September 2017

Für die Entzündungshemmung durch Omega-3-Fettsäuren haben Metaanalysen den Evidenzgrad IA ermittelt. Darüber hinaus belegen GCP-Studien (GCP: Good Clinical Practice) den zusätzlichen Effekt der antiinflammatorischen Ernährung auf die Gelenkentzündung, den Bedarf an nicht steroidalen Antirheumatika und Glukokortikoiden und sogar auf die Manifestation der Arteriosklerosefolgen.

Komponenten der antiinflammatorischen Ernährung sind die Senkung der Arachidonsäurezufuhr durch eine vegetarisch ausgerichtete Kost und die optimale Versorgung mit Antioxidanzien, Spurenelementen, sekundären Pflanzenstoffen und Mineralstoffen. Die Überprüfung der Zufuhr der Arachidonsäure und der Eicosapentaensäure mittels des fokussierten Food-Frequency-Questionnaire sollte durch die Bestimmung des Fettsäurespektrums in den Erythrozytenlipiden ergänzt werden. Zusätzlich sind die Begleit- und Folgeerkrankungen, körperlichen Einschränkungen sowie soziale und psychische Belastungen zu berücksichtigen, die in Kooperation mit Ergo-, Psycho- und Physiotherapeuten therapiert werden.

Die Ernährungstherapie kann die Pharmakotherapie nicht ersetzen, sondern soll diese unterstützen und hilft, als eine wichtige adjuvante Behandlung, den Therapieerfolg zu verbessern und die Compliance des Patienten zu fördern.

Prostaglandine sind an allen entzündlich-rheumatischen Prozessen beteiligt. Sie entstehen aus der Omega-6-Arachidonsäure, die im Körper gebildet werden kann, aber hauptsächlich mit der Nahrung zugeführt wird. Deshalb ist die richtige Ernährung bei Rheuma ein wichtiger Eckpfeiler der Therapie. Um die Patientenbetreuung zu optimieren, empfiehlt sich eine fächerübergreifende Zusammenarbeit von Spezialisten.
Uzara, Xysmalobium undulatum – eine afrikanische Arzneipflanze
Authors: Sosnowski Paul , Melzig Matthias
Published: September 2017

Xysmalobium undulatum (L.) R.Br., Uzara, ist seit Jahrhunderten ein bekanntes Phytopharmakon in der südafrikanischen Stammesmedizin. Die Anwendungsgebiete erstrecken sich von der Behandlung einer Diarrhoe, Spasmen der glatten Muskulatur bis hin zur Wundbehandlung. Das Inhaltsstoffspektrum (u. a. herzwirksame Steroidglykoside vom Cardenolid-Typ, Pregnenolon, Sistosterole, Gerbstoffe, Flavonoide) bietet die Grundlage für das Indikationsspektrum dieser Arzneipflanze. In Deutschland empfiehlt die Kommission E als Indikationsgebiet für die Droge Uzarawurzel (Uzarae radix) lediglich die Anwendung bei unspezifischen, akuten Durchfallerkrankungen.
Aloe vera-Gel – eine Literaturrecherche
Authors: Ochmann Knut , Beer André-Michael
Published: September 2017

Auf dem Gebiet der Phytotherapie hat die innerliche Anwendung der Aloe vera-Pflanze wegen ihres laxierenden Effekts zur Behandlung von Obstipation ihren festen Platz. Weitere Indikationen verknüpft man derzeit vornehmlich mit dem Blattmark (Gel), das von alters her zur topischen Applikation bei Wunden und Verbrennungen zum Einsatz kommt. Für mehrere Anwendungsgebiete hält der Markt das Gel in Nahrungsergänzungsmitteln bereit. Diese Literaturrecherche klinischer Studien, basierend auf den gängigen Datenbanken, zeigt, dass zwar nicht wenige Studien hinsichtlich einer Vielzahl von Indikationen die Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit des Aloe vera-Gels nachweisen, dass aber gleichwohl dringender Forschungsbedarf besteht.
Omega-3-Fettsäuren bei Herzinsuffizienz
Authors: von Schacky Clemens
Published: September 2017

Herzinsuffizienz ist der häufigste Grund für Krankenhausaufnahmen in Deutschland. Die beiden Omega-3-Fettsäuren Eicosapentaensäure (EPA) und
Docosahexaensäure (DHA) aus Meeresfisch und ähnlichen Quellen, nicht aber die pflanzliche Alpha-Linolensäure, werden in den Leitlinien bei
Herzinsuffizienz mit eingeschränkter linksventrikulärer Funktion empfohlen. Die Empfehlungen basieren auf Epidemiologie, Wirkmechanismen und
einer großen Interventionsstudie mit klinischen Endpunkten. Die Aufnahme von EPA und DHA ist von Person zu Person sehr variabel, und die
klinischen Wirkungen korrelieren nicht mit der Dosis, sondern mit ihren Spiegeln in Erythrozyten. Daher empfiehlt sich eine zielgerichtete
Therapie auf Basis einer standardisierten Fettsäureanalytik der Erythrozyten, die auch bei Herzinsuffizienz die umfangreichste
wissenschaftliche Datenbasis hat: der HS-Omega-3 Index® mit einem Zielbereich von 8–11 %.
Ambipolar spin diffusion in p-type GaAs: A case where spin diffuses more than charge
Authors: Cadiz F. , Notot V. , Filipovic J. , Paget D. , Weber C. P. , Martinelli L. , Rowe A. C. H. , Arscott S.
Published: September 2017

We investigate the diffusion of charge and spin at 15 K in p-type GaAs, combining transient-grating and energy-resolved microluminescence measurements to cover a broad range of photoelectron density. At very low optical power, in a unipolar nondegenerate regime, charge and spin diffuse at the same rate, implying that the spin-drag effects are negligible. Upon increasing the photoelectron concentration up to about 1016 cm–3, the charge diffusion constant decreases because of ambipolar electrostatic interactions with the slower-diffusing holes while the spin diffusion constant is reduced only weakly by the ambipolar interaction. A further increase in the excitation power causes increases in both the charge and spin diffusion constants as a consequence of the Pauli principle since the photoelectron gas becomes degenerate.
The new versatile general purpose surface-muon instrument (GPS) based on silicon photomultipliers for μSR measurements on a continuous-wave beam
Authors: Amato A. , Luetkens H. , Sedlak K. , Stoykov A. , Scheuermann R. , Elender M. , Raselli A. , Graf D.
Published: September 2017

We report on the design and commissioning of a new spectrometer for muon-spin relaxation/rotation studies installed at the Swiss Muon Source (SμS) of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI, Switzerland). This new instrument is essentially a new design and replaces the old general-purpose surface-muon (GPS) instrument that has been for long the workhorse of the μSR user facility at PSI. By making use of muon and positron detectors made of plastic scintillators read out by silicon photomultipliers, a time resolution of the complete instrument of about 160 ps (standard deviation) could be achieved. In addition, the absence of light guides, which are needed in traditionally built μSR instrument to deliver the scintillation light to photomultiplier tubes located outside magnetic fields applied, allowed us to design a compact instrument with a detector set covering an increased solid angle compared with the old GPS.
3D tomography of cells in micro-channels
Authors: Quint S. , Christ A. F. , Guckenberger A. , Himbert S. , Kaestner L. , Gekle S. , Wagner C.
Published: September 2017

We combine confocal imaging, microfluidics, and image analysis to record 3D-images of cells in flow. This enables us to recover the full 3D representation of several hundred living cells per minute. Whereas 3D confocal imaging has thus far been limited to steady specimens, we overcome this restriction and present a method to access the 3D shape of moving objects. The key of our principle is a tilted arrangement of the micro-channel with respect to the focal plane of the microscope. This forces cells to traverse the focal plane in an inclined manner. As a consequence, individual layers of passing cells are recorded, which can then be assembled to obtain the volumetric representation. The full 3D information allows for a detailed comparison with theoretical and numerical predictions unfeasible with, e.g., 2D imaging. Our technique is exemplified by studying flowing red blood cells in a micro-channel reflecting the conditions prevailing in the microvasculature. We observe two very different types of shapes: “croissants” and “slippers.” Additionally, we perform 3D numerical simulations of our experiment to confirm the observations. Since 3D confocal imaging of cells in flow has not yet been realized, we see high potential in the field of flow cytometry where cell classification thus far mostly relies on 1D scattering and fluorescence signals.
Emergence of MHD structures in a collisionless PIC simulation plasma
Authors: Dieckmann M. E. , Folini D. , Walder R. , Romagnani L. , d'Humieres E. , Bret A. , Karlsson T. , Ynnerman A.
Published: September 2017

The expansion of a dense plasma into a dilute plasma across an initially uniform perpendicular magnetic field is followed with a one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation over magnetohydrodynamics time scales. The dense plasma expands in the form of a fast rarefaction wave. The accelerated dilute plasma becomes separated from the dense plasma by a tangential discontinuity at its back. A fast magnetosonic shock with the Mach number 1.5 forms at its front. Our simulation demonstrates how wave dispersion widens the shock transition layer into a train of nonlinear fast magnetosonic waves.
Impact of second-order piezoelectricity on electronic and optical properties of c-plane InxGa1−xN quantum dots: Consequences for long wavelength emitters
Authors: Patra Saroj Kanta , Schulz Stefan
Published: September 2017

In this work, we present a detailed analysis of the second-order piezoelectric effect in c-plane InxGa1−xN/GaN quantum dots and its consequences for electronic and optical properties of these systems. Special attention is paid to the impact of increasing In content x on the results. We find that in general the second-order piezoelectric effect leads to an increase in the electrostatic built-in field. Furthermore, our results show that for an In content ≥30%, this increase in the built-in field has a significant effect on the emission wavelength and the radiative lifetimes. For instance, at 40% In, the radiative lifetime is more than doubled when taking second-order piezoelectricity into account. Overall, our calculations reveal that when designing and describing the electronic and optical properties of c-plane InxGa1−xN/GaN quantum dot based light emitters with high In contents, second-order piezoelectric effects cannot be neglected.
Identification of individual coherent sets associated with flow trajectories using coherent structure coloring
Authors: Schlueter-Kuck Kristy L. , Dabiri John O.
Published: September 2017

We present a method for identifying the coherent structures associated with individual Lagrangian flow trajectories even where only sparse particle trajectory data are available. The method, based on techniques in spectral graph theory, uses the Coherent Structure Coloring vector and associated eigenvectors to analyze the distance in higher-dimensional eigenspace between a selected reference trajectory and other tracer trajectories in the flow. By analyzing this distance metric in a hierarchical clustering, the coherent structure of which the reference particle is a member can be identified. This algorithm is proven successful in identifying coherent structures of varying complexities in canonical unsteady flows. Additionally, the method is able to assess the relative coherence of the associated structure in comparison to the surrounding flow. Although the method is demonstrated here in the context of fluid flow kinematics, the generality of the approach allows for its potential application to other unsupervised clustering problems in dynamical systems such as neuronal activity, gene expression, or social networks.
Universal evaporation dynamics of a confined sessile droplet
Authors: Bansal Lalit , Hatte Sandeep , Basu Saptarshi , Chakraborty Suman
Published: September 2017

Droplet evaporation under confinement is ubiquitous to multitude of applications such as microfluidics, surface patterning, and ink-jet printing. However, the rich physics governing the universality in the underlying dynamics remains grossly elusive. Here, we bring out hitherto unexplored universal features of the evaporation dynamics of a sessile droplet entrapped in a 3D confined fluidic environment. We show, through extensive set of experiments and theoretical formulations, that the evaporation timescale for such a droplet can be represented by a unique function of the initial conditions. Moreover, using same theoretical considerations, we are able to trace and universally merge the volume evolution history of the droplets along with evaporation lifetimes, irrespective of the extent of confinement. We also showcase the internal flow transitions caused by spatio-temporal variation of evaporation flux due to confinement. These findings may be of profound importance in designing functionalized droplet evaporation devices for emerging engineering and biomedical applications.
Instabilities and propagation of neutrino magnetohydrodynamic waves in arbitrary direction
Authors: Haas Fernando , Pascoal Kellen Alves
Published: September 2017

In a previous work [Haas et al., Phys. Plasmas 23, 012104 (2016)], a new model was introduced, taking into account the role of the Fermi weak force due to neutrinos coupled to magnetohydrodynamic plasmas. The resulting neutrino-magnetohydrodynamics was investigated in a particular geometry associated with the magnetosonic wave, where the ambient magnetic field and the wavevector are perpendicular. The corresponding fast, short wavelength neutrino beam instability was then obtained in the context of supernova parameters. The present communication generalizes these results, allowing for arbitrary direction of wave propagation, including fast and slow magnetohydrodynamic waves and the intermediate cases of oblique angles. The numerical estimates of the neutrino-plasma instabilities are derived in extreme astrophysical environments where dense neutrino beams exist.
Current-mode deep level transient spectroscopy of a semiconductor nanowire field-effect transistor
Authors: Isakov Ivan , Sourribes Marion J. L. , Warburton Paul A.
Published: September 2017

One of the main limiting factors in the carrier mobility in semiconductor nanowires is the presence of deep trap levels. While deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) has proved to be a powerful tool in analysing traps in bulk semiconductors, this technique is ineffective for the characterisation of nanowires due to their very small capacitance. Here, we introduce a new technique for measuring the spectrum of deep traps in nanowires. In current-mode DLTS (“I-DLTS”), the temperature-dependence of the transient current through a nanowire field-effect transistor in response to an applied gate voltage pulse is measured. We demonstrate the applicability of I-DLTS to determine the activation energy and capture cross-sections of several deep defect states in zinc oxide nanowires. In addition to characterising deep defect states, we show that I-DLTS can be used to measure the surface barrier height in semiconductor nanowires.
Inducing conductivity in polycrystalline ZnO1-x thin films through space charge doping
Authors: Paradisi Andrea , Biscaras Johan , Shukla Abhay
Published: September 2017

We induce ultra-high carrier charge density in polycrystalline zinc oxide thin films on glass with a thickness of few tens of nm, achieving carrier concentrations as high as 2.2×1014 cm−2, well beyond the Ioffe-Regel limit for an insulator-metal transition in two dimensions. The sheet resistance is consequently lowered by up to 5 orders of magnitude to about 2 k Ω/◻ without alteration of transparency thanks to our space charge doping technique. Electrostatic doping of such a large band-gap semiconductor is quite challenging, and a high surface potential is required in order to induce conductivity at the interface. Through magneto-transport measurements performed at low temperature on the doped films, we show that both weak localization and weak anti-localization of charge carriers can be observed and that these quantum interference phenomena can be modulated by the carrier concentration and temperature.
Atomic level cleaning of poly-methyl-methacrylate residues from the graphene surface using radiolized water at high temperatures
Authors: Islam Ahmad Ehteshamul , Zakharov Dmitri N. , Carpena-Nuňez Jennifer , Hsiao Ming-Siao , Drummy Lawrence F. , Stach Eric A. , Maruyama Benji
Published: September 2017

Large-scale application of graphene requires its clean transfer from thin metal films, where it is grown via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), to any other substrates of interest. All the existing transfer methodologies, however, leave residues at different degrees on graphene surfaces and can only provide atomically clean graphene surfaces in areas as large as ∼10−4 μm2. Here, we transfer CVD-grown graphene using Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and present a method that can atomically clean the PMMA residues from a larger surface area of graphene using radiolized water obtained via electron-water interaction at high temperatures. The cleaning process was monitored in-situ using an environmental-mode transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. These showed the effectiveness of PMMA removal over areas as large as ∼0.02 μm2, whose size was only limited by the size of the electron beam and the presence of inorganic residues after the transfer process. By overcoming these limitations, we may achieve atomically clean graphene transfer to even larger areas—enabling more challenging device applications.
Al-doped TiO2 Photoanode for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Huang Fuzhi , Cheng Yi-Bing , Caruso Rachel A.
Published: September 2017

Porous aluminium doped TiO2 was prepared through a sol–gel process in the presence of a template. The doping enlarges the band-gap of the anatase TiO2, which modifies the TiO2 electrical properties. The porous Al/TiO2 films were assembled into dye-sensitized solar cells. A 45 mV enhancement of open-circuit photovoltage and 11% increase of fill factor at 2 wt-% doping concentration, and 8.6% improvement of the overall efficiency at 0.5 wt-% doping concentration were achieved relative to that of a cell containing non-doped TiO2 under the same conditions. This advance is attributed to the increase in conductivity with the Al-doping of the TiO2 electrode.
Synthesis, Physical Properties, Structural, and Electrochemical Characterization of Methimidazolium and Imidazolium-based Tetracyanoquinodimethane Anion Radical Salts
Authors: Martin Lisandra L. , Siriwardana Amal I. , Lu Jinzhen , Qu Xiaohu , Zhao Chuan , Bond Alan M.
Published: September 2017

Two methimazolium and two imidazolium-based salts derived from combination with the tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) radical anion have been synthesized (1–4). The 1:1 (cation:anion) stoichiometry of the chemically synthesized materials is fully supported by steady-state voltammetric measurements at a microdisc electrode in acetonitrile. The methimazolium TCNQ salts (1 and 2), which contain an acidic proton on the cation, exhibit a protonation step coupled to the TCNQ1–/2– charge-transfer process. Solid–solid transformations at a TCNQ-modified electrode also lead to electrochemical synthesis of 1–4, but also indicate that other cation:anion stoichiometries are accessible. Atomic force microscopy for electrochemically synthesized samples exhibit rod-like morphology. Conductivity measurements on chemically and electrochemically prepared salts are in the semiconducting range. Scanning electrochemical microscopy approach curve data support the substantial conductivity of these solids. Extensive physicochemical characterization of these materials is in complete accordance with the X-ray crystal structure of 1-acetonitrile-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoquinodimethane, [AMim+][TCNQ1–], 4.
Reduced efficacy of baiting programs for invasive species: some mechanisms and management implications
Authors: Allsop Sinéad E. , Dundas Shannon J. , Adams Peter J. , Kreplins Tracey L. , Bateman Philip W. , Fleming Patricia A.
Published: September 2017

‘Bait-resistance’ is defined as progressive decreases in bait efficacy in controlled pest species populations. Understanding the mechanisms by which bait-resistance can develop is important for the sustainable control of pests worldwide, for both wildlife conservation programs and agricultural production. Bait-resistance is influenced by both behavioural (innate and learned bait-avoidance behaviour) and physiological aspects of the target pest species (its natural diet, its body mass, the mode of action of the toxin, and the animal’s ability to biochemically break down the toxin). In this review, we summarise the scientific literature, discuss factors that can lead to innate and learned aversion to baits, as well as physiological tolerance. We address the question of whether bait avoidance or tolerance to 1080 could develop in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), an introduced predator of significant economic and environmental importance in Australia. Sublethal poisoning has been identified as the primary cause of both bait avoidance and increased toxin-tolerance, and so, finally, we provide examples of how management actions can minimise the risk of sublethal baits in pest species populations.
Demographic parameters of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in an urban forest remnant
Authors: Sharpe David J. , Goldingay Ross L.
Published: September 2017

The effective management of species requires detailed knowledge of key population parameters. A capture–mark–recapture study of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) was conducted in an urban forest remnant in Brisbane, south-east Queensland. A total of 187 adult gliders (96 females, 91 males) was captured 620 times, in 19 sessions over a 4-year period. A Cormack–Jolly–Seber model was employed to estimate adult survival and abundance. Factors that may affect survival (e.g. sex, year, season) were included in population models. The overall probability of annual apparent survival was 0.49 ± 0.08. The capture probability over the duration of the study was 0.38 ± 0.03. The size of the local population was highest in the first year of the study (70–113 individuals) but then declined and generally remained low in the last two years. Apparent survival may include an unknown component of dispersal. However, our study area was mostly surrounded by a hostile urban matrix, so the effect of dispersal may have been minimal. Further studies that assess the survival of squirrel gliders are needed to assess the extent to which this parameter varies among localities.
A more transparent science: recommendations to increase the informative value of articles submitted to the Revista de Psicología Social / Una ciencia más transparente: recomendaciones para aumentar el valor informativo de los artículos enviados a la Revista de Psicología Social
Authors: Willis Guillermo B. , Moya Miguel
Published: September 2017

In this article we present a series of suggestions that those submitting articles to the Revista de Psicología Social can follow with the goal of increasing the rigour and informative value of the articles submitted. Specifically, we discuss and present three general recommendations: the first on increasing the transparency of the methodological description; the second on increasing the statistical power of the studies; and the third on the distinction between confirmatory and exploratory analyses. We also offer several additional recommendations aimed at making social psychology a more open science. Summing up, we believe that these recommendations can help to increase the quality of research in social psychology and, in particular, the quality of the research published in this journal.
α-Catenin homodimers are recruited to phosphoinositide-activated membranes to promote adhesion
Authors: Wood Megan N. , Ishiyama Noboru , Singaram Indira , Chung Connie M. , Flozak Annette S. , Yemelyanov Alex , Ikura Mitsu , Cho Wonhwa , Gottardi Cara J.
Published: September 2017

A unique feature of α-catenin localized outside the cadherin–catenin complex is its capacity to form homodimers, but the subcellular localization and functions of this form of α-catenin remain incompletely understood. We identified a cadherin-free form of α-catenin that is recruited to the leading edge of migrating cells in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–dependent manner. Surface plasmon resonance analysis shows that α-catenin homodimers, but not monomers, selectively bind phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate–containing lipid vesicles with high affinity, where three basic residues, K488, K493, and R496, contribute to binding. Chemical-induced dimerization of α-catenin containing a synthetic dimerization domain promotes its accumulation within lamellipodia and elaboration of protrusions with extended filopodia, which are attenuated in the α-cateninKKR<3A mutant. Cells restored with a full-length, natively homodimerizing form of α-cateninKKR<3A display reduced membrane recruitment, altered epithelial sheet migrations, and weaker cell–cell adhesion compared with WT α-catenin. These findings show that α-catenin homodimers are recruited to phosphoinositide-activated membranes to promote adhesion and migration, suggesting that phosphoinositide binding may be a defining feature of α-catenin function outside the cadherin–catenin complex.
FATHMM-XF: accurate prediction of pathogenic point mutations via extended features
Authors: Rogers Mark F , Shihab Hashem A , Mort Matthew , Cooper David N , Gaunt Tom R , Campbell Colin
Published: September 2017

We present FATHMM-XF, a method for predicting pathogenic point mutations in the human genome. Drawing on an extensive feature set, FATHMM-XF outperforms competitors on benchmark tests, particularly in non-coding regions where the majority of pathogenic mutations are likely to be found.

Availability and implementation

The FATHMM-XF web server is available at http://fathmm.biocompute.org.uk/fathmm-xf/, and as tracks on the Genome Tolerance Browser: http://gtb.biocompute.org.uk. Predictions are provided for human genome version GRCh37/hg19. The data used for this project can be downloaded from: http://fathmm.biocompute.org.uk/fathmm-xf/

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
DART: a fast and accurate RNA-seq mapper with a partitioning strategy
Authors: Lin Hsin-Nan , Hsu Wen-Lian
Published: September 2017

Motivation

In recent years, the massively parallel cDNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technologies have become a powerful tool to provide high resolution measurement of expression and high sensitivity in detecting low abundance transcripts. However, RNA-seq data requires a huge amount of computational efforts. The very fundamental and critical step is to align each sequence fragment against the reference genome. Various de novo spliced RNA aligners have been developed in recent years. Though these aligners can handle spliced alignment and detect splice junctions, some challenges still remain to be solved. With the advances in sequencing technologies and the ongoing collection of sequencing data in the ENCODE project, more efficient alignment algorithms are highly demanded. Most read mappers follow the conventional seed-and-extend strategy to deal with inexact matches for sequence alignment. However, the extension is much more time consuming than the seeding step.

Results

We proposed a novel RNA-seq de novo mapping algorithm, call DART, which adopts a partitioning strategy to avoid the extension step. The experiment results on synthetic datasets and real NGS datasets showed that DART is a highly efficient aligner that yields the highest or comparable sensitivity and accuracy compared to most state-of-the-art aligners, and more importantly, it spends the least amount of time among the selected aligners.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/hsinnan75/DART

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Was Planet 9 captured in the Sun’s natal star-forming region?
Authors: Parker Richard J. , Lichtenberg Tim , Quanz Sascha P.
Published: September 2017

The presence of an unseen ‘Planet 9’ on the outskirts of the Solar system has been invoked to explain the unexpected clustering of the orbits of several Edgeworth–Kuiper Belt Objects. We use N-body simulations to investigate the probability that Planet 9 was a free-floating planet (FFLOP) that was captured by the Sun in its birth star formation environment. We find that only 1–6 per cent of FFLOPs are ensnared by stars, even with the most optimal initial conditions for capture in star-forming regions (one FFLOP per star, and highly correlated stellar velocities to facilitate capture). Depending on the initial conditions of the star-forming regions, only 5–10 of 10 000 planets are captured on to orbits that lie within the constraints for Planet 9. When we apply an additional environmental constraint for Solar system formation – namely the injection of short-lived radioisotopes into the Sun’s protoplanetary disc from supernovae – we find the probability for the capture of Planet 9 to be almost zero.
Surgical Management of Intrinsic Tumors of the Facial Nerve
Authors: Prasad Sampath Chandra , Laus Melissa , Dandinarasaiah Manjunath , Piccirillo Enrico , Russo Alessandra , Taibah Abdelkader , Sanna Mario
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Intrinsic tumors of the facial nerve are a rare entity. Dealing with this subset of tumors is challenging both in terms of decision making and surgical intervention.

OBJECTIVE

To review the outcomes of surgical management of facial nerve tumors and cable nerve graft interpositioning.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed at a referral center for skull base pathology. One hundred fifteen patients who were surgically treated for facial nerve tumors were included. In case of nerve interruption during surgery, the cable nerve interpositioning technique was employed wherein the facial nerve palsy lasted for less than 1-yr duration. In cases of facial nerve palsy lasting for greater than 1 yr, the nerve was restituted by a hypoglossal facial coaptation.

RESULTS

Various degrees of progressive paralysis were seen in 84 (73%) cases. Sixty nine (60%) of the tumors involved multiple segments of the facial nerve. Sixty-two (53.9%) tumors involved the geniculate ganglion. Seventy four (64.3%) of the cases were schwannomas. Hearing preservation surgeries were performed in 60 (52.1%). Ninety one (79.1%) of the nerves that were sectioned in association with tumor removal were restituted primarily by interposition cable grafting. The mean preoperative House-Brackmann grading of the facial nerve was 3.6. The mean immediate postoperative grading was 5.4, which recovered to a mean of 3.4 at the end of 1 yr.

CONCLUSION

In patients with good facial nerve function (House-Brackmann grade I-II), a wait-and-scan approach is recommended. In cases where the facial nerve has been interrupted during surgery, the cable nerve interpositioning technique is a convenient and well-accepted procedure for immediate restitution of the nerve.
ARIBA: rapid antimicrobial resistance genotyping directly from sequencing reads
Authors: Hunt Martin , Mather Alison E , Sánchez-Busó Leonor , Page Andrew J , Parkhill Julian , Keane Jacqueline A , Harris Simon R
Published: September 2017

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major threats to human and animal health worldwide, yet few high-throughput tools exist to analyse and predict the resistance of a bacterial isolate from sequencing data. Here we present a new tool, ARIBA, that identifies AMR-associated genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms directly from short reads, and generates detailed and customizable output. The accuracy and advantages of ARIBA over other tools are demonstrated on three datasets from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with ARIBA outperforming existing methods.
Assessment of the impact of shared data on the scientific literature
Authors: Milham Michael P. , Craddock R. Cameron , Fleischmann Michael , Son Jake , Clucas Jon , Xu Helen , Koo Bonhwang , Krishnakumar Anirudh , Biswal Bharat B. , Castellanos F. Xavier , Colcombe Stan , Di Martino Adriana , Zuo Xi-Nian , Klein Arno
Published: September 2017

Data sharing is increasingly recommended as a means of accelerating science by facilitating collaboration, transparency, and reproducibility. While few oppose data sharing philosophically, a range of barriers deter most researchers from implementing it in practice (e.g., workforce and infrastructural demands, sociocultural and privacy concerns, lack of standardization). To justify the significant effort required for sharing data (e.g., organization, curation, distribution), funding agencies, institutions, and investigators need clear evidence of benefit. Here, using the International Neuroimaging Data-sharing Initiative, we present a brain imaging case study that provides direct evidence of the impact of open sharing on data use and resulting publications over a seven-year period (2010-2017). We dispel the myth that scientific findings using shared data cannot be published in high-impact journals and demonstrate rapid growth in the publication of such journal articles, scholarly theses, and conference proceedings. In contrast to commonly used ‘pay to play’ models, we demonstrate that openly shared data can increase the scale (i.e., sample size) of scientific studies conducted by data contributors, and can recruit scientists from a broader range of disciplines. These findings suggest the transformative power of data sharing for accelerating science and underscore the need for the scientific ecosystem to embrace the challenge of implementing data sharing universally.
The genome ofTrichoplusia ni, an agricultural pest and novel model for small RNA biology
Authors: Fu Yu , Yang Yujing , Zhang Han , Farley Gwen , Wang Junling , Quarles Kaycee A. , Weng Zhiping , Zamore Phillip D.
Published: September 2017

The cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a destructive insect pest that feeds on a wide range of plants. The High Five cell line (Hi5), originally derived fromT. niovaries, is often used for efficient expression of recombinant proteins. Here, we report a draft assembly of the 368.2 MbT. nigenome, with 90.6% of all bases assigned to one of its 28 chromosomes and predicted 14,037 predicted protein-coding genes. Manual curation of gene families involved in chemoreception and detoxification revealsT. ni-specific gene expansions that may explain its widespread distribution and rapid adaptation to insecticides. Using male and female genome sequences, we define Z-linked and repeat-rich W-linked sequences. Transcriptome and small RNA data fromT. nithorax, ovary, testis, and Hi5 cells reveal distinct expression profiles for 295 microRNA- and >393 piRNA-producing loci, as well as 39 genes encoding core small RNA pathway proteins. siRNAs target both endogenous transposons and the exogenous TNCL virus. Surprisingly,T. nisiRNAs are not 2´-O-methylated. Five piRNA-producing loci account for 34.9% piRNAs in the ovary, 49.3% piRNAs in the testis, and 44.0% piRNAs in Hi5 cells. Nearly all of the W chromosome is devoted to piRNA production: >76.0% of bases in the assembled W produce piRNAs in ovary. To enable use of theT. nigermline-derived Hi5 cell line as a model system, we have established efficient genome editing and single-cell cloning protocols. Taken together, theT. nigenome provides insights into pest control and allows Hi5 cells to become a new tool for studying small RNAs ex vivo.
What the structural-functional connectome reveals about brain aging: The key role of the fronto-striatal-thalamic circuit and the rejuvenating impact of physical activity
Authors: Bonifazi P. , Erramuzpe A. , Diez I. , Gabilondo I. , Boisgontier M.P. , Pauwels L. , Stramaglia S. , Swinnen S.P. , Cortes J.M.
Published: September 2017

Physiological ageing affects brain structure and function impacting its morphology, connectivity and performance. However, at which extent brain-connectivity metrics reflect the age of an individual and whether treatments or lifestyle factors such as physical activity influence the age-connectivity match is still unclear. Here, we assessed the level of physical activity and collected brain images from healthy participants (N=155) ranging from 10 to 80 years to build functional (resting-state) and structural (tractography) connectivity matrices that were combined as connectivity descriptors. Connectivity descriptors were used to compute a maximum likelihood age estimator that was optimized by minimizing the mean absolute error. The connectivity-based estimated age, i.e. the brain-connectome age (BCA), was compared to the chronological age (ChA). Our results were threefold. First, we showed that ageing widely affects the structural-functional connectivity of multiple structures, such as the anterior part of the default mode network, basal ganglia, thalamus, insula, cingulum, hippocampus, parahippocampus, occipital cortex, fusiform, precuneus and temporal pole. Second, our analysis showed that the structure-function connectivity between basal ganglia and thalamus to orbitofrontal and frontal areas make a major contribution to age estimation. Third, we found that high levels of physical activity reduce BCA as compared to ChA, and vice versa, low levels increment it. In conclusion, the BCA model results highlight the impact of physical activity and the key role played by the connectivity between basal ganglia and thalamus to frontal areas on the process of healthy aging. Notably, the same methodology can be generally applied both to evaluate the impact of other factors and therapies on brain ageing, and to identify the structural-functional brain connectivity correlate of other biomarkers than ChA.